#that. should put paintings of that in the louvre. gorgeous thing to see. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

firstbeachgoblin · 4 years ago

Note

Hey! I hope you’re well, can i request an imagine where reader is Embry’s imprint and they haven’t seen eachother in months because reader has a life she can’t just drop for him but she comes back when the pack is blowing up her phone ? Thank youu and don’t worry if you don’t write it, it’s fine!

Thank you for the request! It took a Long time But It's now complete with a total whopping 5k words!! Any way I hope you enjoy the fic.

I put it under the cut because it's so long but it's my brain baby at the moment lo.

Returning to you.

Embry Call x Reader

5058 words

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of my life has been spent in the Forks area so getting to travel to Europe for six months to see the art and culture was a dream come true. The past four months I’ve been travelling through Europe, starting in Greece and ending my trip in the Irish countryside.

The old art and architecture filled me with a joy that I could not get anywhere else in the world. The smells, sounds and sights all played their own part into the experience. I got to see the moon rise over Mount Olympus, the David by Michelangelo in the Vatican, tour through the Louvre, drink wine on the beaches of France and so much more. I’ve been living my best life.

It's been a dream to see the world, I've met so many new people and tried so much food. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my trip, but there was a part of me that longed for the beaches of La Push.

That part is Embry. Embry Call. My boyfriend, my pal, my love and my light. To me Embry is my everything and to him I’m his everything. That is one thing that has been made perfectly clear the past four months I’ve been away. Every day he’s told me he misses me and I know he means it, I’ve been told not just by him but also the rest of the pack.

Everyday I’ve woken up to ‘Good morning I miss you.” Sometimes he phones to tell me that he feels like he might die if I’m away for any longer. I always chuckle and tell him he will survive, it’s not like I’m going away forever; but that's what he feels like it is. This usually earns me a long winded whine from the other end of the line.

My phone buzzed against the smooth surface of the bedside table while Embry’s face flashed across my screen signalling that he’s calling. A smile graces my lips as I pick up the phone to be greeted with his loving voice.

“Hi (y/n)!! I miss you so much.” sadness was laced in his usual cheery greeting, it hurt my heart to be away from him but I would never trade this experience for anything. I’ve been planning this for years and I wasn’t going to pass up cheap plane tickets.

He filled me in on the pack's shenanigans, complaining about how they keep teasing him for being glued to his phone awaiting any updates I would send him. The later it got the heavier my eyelids seemed to feel, my speech started to slur with exhaustion of time zones while Embry continued to become more energetic with each passing minute.

“Em. . .” A yawn interrupted me mid sentence, a low whine emanated from the phone as he knew I would want to get to bed to have the energy for the long trip I’ll embark on tomorrow for Ireland, which is my last stop. I’d be spending the remaining two months of my trip in the lush countryside.

“I think I should get to sleep, I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.” I mumbled into the phone.

“But (y/n)!” he dragged out. I knew he wanted to talk longer but I physically cannot do it. Even though Embry and I don’t live together officially yet, we’d talk into the early morning till one of us fell asleep.

“But (y/n) what?” I dragged out the ‘a’ matching his whine.

“I miss you and want you to come home.” I could hear him pause over line before he continued.

“Besides, sleeping isn’t the same without you.”

I ran my hand through my hair gently tugging on the roots easing the tension that’s built up over my trip. As much fun as I’ve had, he does have a point. Sleeping just isn’t the same without Em. My nights have been spent restless in beds that aren’t mine without the comforting touch of my boyfriend; but that doesn’t mean I can just drop everything and go back home.

“Em you know I can’t just pack everything and go home. . .” I looked at the painting that hung over the tv that sat opposite of my bed. A puppy-like whimper fell from his lips when he spoke again, his voice cracked like he was going to cry. It broke my heart hearing him upset.

“I-I know I just really miss you.”

“I know Embry I miss you too, but it’s only two more months then I’ll be home.”

We chatted for ten more minutes before I fell asleep on the phone. As much as I missed falling asleep in his warm embrace I can’t just fly back home, not yet at least.

The blaring of my alarm woke me from my slumber. The clock face read 6:02 a.m. taking everything within myself to peel back the blankets that encased me in their warm grip. I patted through the bed sheets to find my phone only to knock it onto the floor in the process.

My lock screen adorned a photo of Embry with icing smudged across his face from his birthday party but a swamp of text messages from the pack covered my favourite photo of him. Five texts from Leah, seven from Jake, nine texts from Paul, 12 texts and two missed calls from Sam and a whole group chat titled ‘(y/n) come home.’

The group chat kept pinging with the members of the pack who were still awake discussing the logistics of flying out to Ireland to take me back home. Was Embry really causing that much strife in the pack for them to create a group chat? Knowing him, it couldn’t be too far from the truth.

Leah and I call once a week to check in and make sure the other is doing okay since I left. It’s one of my favourite parts of the week being able to have a one on one with someone sensible. Every week she fills me in on Embry begrudgingly, she does it because she knows it makes me happy which I appreciate.

Reading through her texts she didn’t say much in regards to Em’s behaviour the only message relating to him was “come get your man child please, he’s getting snot on the floor.”

I listened through Sam’s voice mails which were begging me to come home, he informed me that once Em knew I was asleep he started moping around Emily’s house again for the fourth consecutive night in a row. This was news to me.

The texts entailed that Embry was becoming a pain on patrol and that Paul ‘couldn’t take another minute of the incessant whining.’ I told them the same thing I told Embry; I’m not dropping everything and rushing back home to sooth the wails of a love sick boy. There isn’t much I can do from across the ocean anyway.

I stretched my body and headed towards the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower before I had to leave for the airport.

I packed the few remaining things I left out to prepare for the flight and headed my way to the lobby to check out. I enjoyed travelling but I wasn’t going to miss sleeping in hotels and hostels.

Two weeks have passed since I touched down in Ireland and to say I’ve been having the time of my life is an understatement; I’ve been having a ball living my best life.

The land was capped in a luscious emerald green sea of grass that waved in the wind, the roads were lined with hand built stone walls that marked the division of farmers fields.

Sheep and cattle grazed in pastures, and old castles dotted the countryside. It was gorgeous. It was a view that I wanted to see again, a view I want to see with Embry.

It felt like time was flying by between sight seeing, trail hiking, museum tours and calls with Embry and Leah. It has already been a month. I had one more month before I was to jet set back to the U.S. and see my Embry.

One more month before I was back in La Push surrounded by the scent of sea water and trees with the looming threat of rain constantly overhead except in the summer. For two months of the year La Push was bright and sunny with the expected summer storms that happened.

I had fallen asleep on the phone with Embry again when I realized my phone was lost in the sea of sheets as it buzzed with an incoming phone call.

I couldn’t find it until the call had gone to voicemail and my phone landed on the ground when I gave up and ripped the blankets off of the bed but whoever called must have felt it was really important. Picking up my phone the most unflattering photo of Jacob was plastered on the screen, his name in white.

“Hello?” I asked groggily into the phone, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I looked over at the clock which said in bold red numbers 1 am.

“Hey (y/n)! You sound like you just woke up.” I heard him chortle from the other end.

“That’s because I just woke up Jake, it’s one in the morning.” a yawn escaped my lips, I know I’ll have a rough time getting over jet lag when I go home.

He occupied twenty minutes with idle chatter and borderline interrogation about all the sights I’ve seen before I asked him why he was calling me so early in the morning

“Embry has spent the week at my house, you need to come home there’s nothing we can do anymore to occupy him till you return.” He sighed, Jake knows I want to finish my trip but we made a deal that I would come home early if there were absolutely no options left to keep Embry from sending the pack into hysterics.

I knew he was buttering me up for something.

“Are you sure you can’t figure something out? It’s just another month!”

“Another month of him eating my cereal and getting dirt on me from my dad!”

I snorted with laughter at the fact that Billy was telling Embry every embarrassing detail from his childhood.

“Jake please just let me think about it okay?” I sighed, flopping back into my hollowed cave of blankets and sheets.

“Okay, I’ll let you think about it but don’t think I won’t be telling Sam.” he warned.

We laughed together and he wished me a good night before hanging up the phone, before I slipped back into slumber I sent Jake one more text.

‘You wake me up at one in the morning again and it’s over for you.’ in which he responded with ‘Oh no I’m so scared lol.’

I reached over to the bedside table and plugged my phone in before the sweet embrace of warmth and slumber took over my senses.

The next three days I was bombarded with texts from Paul whining about the wolf mind link and how every patrol shift he had with Embry was spent tuning out his constant thoughts of me.

Standing in the shower with hot water running over my skin soothing my tense muscles I heard my phone buzz against the granite countertop. I rolled my eyes and continued to bask in the endless hotel hot water.

As bad as staying in hotels could be, the hot water made up for the early breakfast and sheets that were tucked in a little too tightly.

I had shampoo in my hair when my phone started buzzing again, this time with a call. I grumbled under the stream of water washing away the soap before it could get in my eyes; whoever's calling can wait.

I moved on to conditioning my hair, letting it sit while I wash the rest of my body with a lightly scented lavender soap.

I refused to use the complimentary soap because it dried out my skin and the lotion just left me feeling sticky instead of moisturized.

Watching the soap run down the drain my phone rang again, I clenched my fists, who could possibly be calling me now? I still refused to get out of my steamy heaven to answer my phone.

My gut told me that whoever was calling wouldn’t let up until I answered. I washed out the conditioner from my hair and wrapped it in a towel.

The mirror was coated in a layer of steam, the tiles were cool against my feet. I wrapped the plush towel around my body, mopping up the droplets of water that remained.

My phone started vibrating with rapid fire text messages from the pack’s group chat they made a month ago. I sighed, picking it up to sift through the messages. I read a message from Jared telling me he’d pay me to return.

The pack always made me laugh, together they’re a walking sitcom. There is never a dull moment with them, someone always had something witty or sarcastic to say.

I checked to see who had called me and it turned out it was Sam, I listened to his voice mails and immediately phoned him back.

As soon as I hit the call button it only rang for half a second before he picked up.

“Thank you for calling back, I thought I’d have to call two more times.” he chuckled.

“Well I was in the middle of a shower, can’t really take a call there.” I moved through the room with my phone pressed between my shoulder and cheek. Stopping at my suitcase to pick out what I was going to wear for the day.

“I’m going to be frank with you, I need you to come home. . .” I let out a huff before he continued.

“Embry needs you badly, he’s just a pile of mush on the floor now. It’s a chore to get him up to go on patrol. Please?”

“Fine, I’ll see what I can do Sam, I’ll try to book a flight for the earliest date I can find.” I knew I was giving in but from what they were telling me and the constant texts were getting to be difficult to manage.

“Thank you, when you get back I’ll buy you take out for a month okay?”

“I hate that you know what my weakness is.” I laughed through the phone, a month of free take out? Hell yeah. It made the prospect of going back a little brighter since I wasn’t going to complete the rest of my trip.

I wasn’t losing out on too much though, I had seen and done everything that I wanted. It wouldn’t be too bad to go home early.

We talked for a couple more minutes before parting ways, I threw my phone on the bed and watched it bounce a couple times before turning my attention back to getting dressed. Since I had a flight to book it was okay to spend the rest of the day lounging in pj’s.

The soft fabric of my pj’s brushed against my skin as I jumped into bed with my computer in hand, and now it was time to book a flight back home. Maybe text Paul and tell him he can quit complaining as well.

I woke up the next morning with my flight booked for take off in the afternoon and my daily good morning text from Embry. I felt a little sad to be leaving such a beautiful country but the trees, ocean and Embry all called my name.

Pacing through the room I grabbed the comfiest set of clothes I packed for my return flight back to Seattle, I had enough time to sleep on the plane to be conscious enough for the three and a half hour drive back to La Push.

I was set for a long day ahead of me but it was going to be worth it in the end, seeing the bright and happy face of my boyfriend, getting to hug him and kiss him again.

I made one last check of the room before I gathered my clothes and toiletry kit and made my way into the bathroom to shower before my long flight. As I was stepping into the shower my phone pinged from the counter with a text from Sam.

“Have you booked that flight yet?” it read.

“Yeah I’m due for take off at 1. I should be back in La Push some time tomorrow!”

My fingers brushed the cool surface of the counter top as I put my phone back and got into the shower, hot water immediately running down my back; this time my phone wasn’t being blown up by a desperate wolf pack trying to get my attention.

I can’t sit in the shower for hours on end this time, I have a flight to catch and a boy to surprise. Embry was currently still under the impression that I would be coming home in two weeks. Boy would he be in for a surprise.

The residual steam wafted out of the bathroom while I brushed my teeth revealing my towel wrapped body and hair in the mirror behind the skin. I checked the time and noted that I had two hours to check out, make my way to the airport, and check into my flight back home. Two more hours before I could smell the trees and ocean, two more hours before I could see my friends and hug Embry.

The time managed to move by in a blur by the time I was shutting the trunk of the yellow cab that was going to drop me off at the airport. I got into the back seat and the driver peeled away from the hotel front onto the winding roads.

“Aye where are you headin’?” The driver inquired in a thick Irish accent.

One thing I noticed in my stay here was that the accent changed in every town or village I passed through. It added to the charm

“Well, I’m on my way home after spending six months in Europe.” My eyes scanned over the green hills that rushed past in a blur.

“My favourite places I’ve been have definitely been Ireland and Greece.” I smiled towards him.

The lines around his eyes crinkled with the smile that graced his face at the mention of Ireland.

“Well that’s good to hear innit? Glad you’ve enjoyed your stay. We welcome ya with open arms if you return.”

We held a light conversation until we arrived in front of the drop off area for passengers, thanked him and grabbed my bags before heading into the crowded lobby.

The front of the terminal was metal and glass that reached towards the heavens with automatic doors gaping open like a mouth. Inside was a dull white with light grey floor which my shoes clicked against with each step.

It was packed with people like a can of sardines, I weaved my way through the masses towards the check in desk which thankfully only had a short line to get through.

Under the mix of fluorescents and natural light the desk lady’s bags that donned under her eyes glared with visible exhaustion from the mass amounts of people that swarmed the terminal.

Despite her clear drowsiness she still greeted me with a warm smile and a soft hello.

I grabbed my ticket and thanked her then turned and pushed myself through to the security check, dropped my luggage off and took a seat to wait for the boarding call for my flight.

As I waited grey clouds started to fill the sky blocking out the little sun that was once shining in its place.

My eyes grew heavier by each minute that passed, waiting could be hard, but waiting in an airport where there’s no sense of time is worse. So I distracted myself by people watching.

A lady was bouncing her baby, the old man across from me was snoring. A businessman paced back and forth speaking urgently into his phone, a family chatted excitedly for their family trip to the Canary Islands.

I pulled my eyes away from them as the call for my flight rang out over the crowded terminal, grabbing my suitcase and making my way towards the gate.

Excitement filled my every step as the anticipation grew and bubbled inside me. I gave the greeting flight attendant a small smile and made my way to my seat, for being last minute I managed to get a window seat.

We sat on the tarmac for twenty minutes before taking off and before I knew it the seat belt light pinged off and I was fast asleep jet setting my way back to America, back to my home.

I couldn’t tell what time it was when I woke up but the clock on the tv screen said 2 a.m. and that we’re due to arrive in an hour. I sat up in my seat and gazed out the window into the starry night sky.

Energy started to course through me as I watched the arrival time tick closer and closer. A light rain misted down over Seattle as I left the Seatac terminal and made my way through the maze of cars in the night that was made darker by the rain.

I spotted my blue Subaru and popped the trunk so my interior and seats wouldn’t get wet. It had been a long six months since I last sat in my driver's seat, the wheel almost felt foreign in my hands as I turned the key and listened to the engine roar to life.

I drove through the winding roads of the city to the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry to take the 45 minute ride into Bainbridge and headed North to get on the 101 then turn onto 110 which would take me back into the heart of La Push.

The closer I got to Forks the brighter the sky became; well as bright as it could be on a gloomy day. The clouds became painted in the glow of purple and pink as the sun rose over the horizon, the rain had let up and left me with an overcast sky for the remainder of the drive back.

Since I slept virtually the entire flight back I didn’t feel the weight of exhaustion at all, but surely when I arrived back in the arms of Embry I knew I’d hit the wall with sleep deprivation.

As I barreled through the corridor of trees I passed the signature ‘welcome to Forks’ sign and turned right onto the 110, twenty minutes to home. I was so close but my soul felt like it was light years away.

The clock on my radio told me that it was currently 6:45, the pinks and purples that coated the sky faded away to the typical grey that fills my senses with delight. Sea salt and washed up kelp started to seep into the air that circulated into my car making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Closer to Beach Drive I got the stronger the smell of the ocean became. The turn signal clicked as I turned onto the road that gave way to Sam and Emily’s house so they could take me over to Embry’s in the off chance that he happened to be awake at this hour.

It’s highly unlikely that he would be up at this hour but it’s not something I could be one hundred percent positive about. I stepped out of my car and turned around to see Emily running as fast as she possibly could towards me with open arms and a huge smile plastered across her face.

Dropping my bags I dashed across their lawn into her embrace.

“Oh (y/n)! I missed you so much, you must be so tired.” She released me from her hug and settled her hands on my shoulders giving them a gentle squeeze.

“I missed you too Emily, I knew I’d be tired but not this tired.” I chuckled while wiping at my under eyes in a feeble attempt to wipe away the exhaustion.

She put her hand on my lower back and led me inside for the awaiting cup of tea while Sam moved my bags into his truck.

The warmth of their home embraced me, the comfort of their kitchen was familiar. The only thing missing was the rowdy group of boys that made up the pack who usually occupied every available seat in the home.

I took a seat at the kitchen table where three cups of tea sat waiting, I should have expected a q and a when I returned. Wrapping my hands around the mug the warmth that radiated from it filled my hands.

Emily took a seat beside me and Sam entered through the door and sat adjacent to both of us.

“So how was the trip?” We sat around their table chatting until our cups were empty and filed out of the house into the early morning air.

“Emily and I will drive your car back to your place after I drop you off at Embry’s, the kid’s been sleeping in my living room more often than I’d appreciate.” Sam’s eyes crinkled with a smile, I knew he was joking but at the same time there was truth to his words; and honestly I couldn’t blame him.

“Thank you for putting up with him while I was gone, I owe you guys one and you owe me take out for a month.” He rolled his eyes and ruffled my hair turning into the Call's driveway. Embry’s mom had already left for work leaving him to his own devices; which meant he would sleep in as late as his heart desired.

We got out of Sam’s truck and he dropped my bags on the doorstep. I turned and gave him a quick hug and a thank you before sticking my key into the lock.

The door creaked open and I dragged my suitcases to a stop in their front entry way and shut it behind me.

My shoes landed on the floor with a soft thud and I gingerly walked up the stairs to ensure I wasn’t too noisy while making sure to avoid the one squeaky stair.

I got to the top of the stairs and hung a left down their light beige hallway that gave way to the oak door that guarded Embry’s room. His soft snores filtered through the door, it’s door knob was cool in my hand. Making an audible click with the turn of my wrist.

Dark mahogany brown hair peaked up from beneath the sheet that tucked Embry’s body out of view. One pillow was on the floor while the other was tucked firmly between his cheek and arm, I smiled at the sight of my sleeping boyfriend which filled my every inch with the utmost joy.

My sock covered feet pressed into the carpeted flooring with each step I took towards his bed making sure to step over the piles of dirty clothes that were scattered around the room.

The sun filtered through the gaps in the window blinds casting pools of golden light on the floor and along his walls causing the crystal prism that hung above his closet to sweep dashes of colour across his walls.

I pulled back the grey top sheet to reveal his peaceful face and I swear my heart was going to burst with the amount of love that I feel for him. His hair was tousled in every direction and a cow lick stuck straight up on the left side of his head.

My hands ran over his hair, smoothing it out while I whispered his name. Embry groaned a bit and rolled over, I whispered his name a little bit louder and moved my hands from his hair to his shoulders running them along his arms finally waking him from his slumber.

“Hi Em!” I gushed out as his brown eyes opened and focused on me. His face split with his toothy smile and his arms shot around me, pulling me down into his chest.

“Do you know how much I missed you?” Embry mumbled into my hair.

“I figured a lot with the amount of texts I got from the pack.” I reached up brushing the hair from his face.

“You can never leave me for that long again. . .I didn’t know what to do without you here.” He ran his hands through my hair placing a gentle kiss upon the top of my head.

“I was so worried about you. I couldn’t protect you and make sure you were safe.”

“Well next time I’ll make sure you can come, then you don’t have to worry.” Craning my neck up I placed a kiss upon his lips which were still a bit swollen from slumber.

“The important thing is that I returned safe and in one piece. The other important thing is I get to spoil you with the gifts I brought back!”

His laugh filled the room sending vibrations through my body.

“Hey! That’s my job to spoil you, not the other way around.” He ruffled my hair causing us both to laugh. I peeled off my socks and wiggled my way under his blanket.

“I think it’s time we catch up on six months worth of cuddling.” I poked a finger into his side.

“Yeah I think that’s a good idea, you owe me for being gone so long.”

“What? I came back early!” His hands made their way under my shirt to rest on the bare skin of my back sending waves of heat through my body from being pressed into him. Oh how I missed my heater.

“Yeah, by like what? Two weeks?” his silky voice chuckled out.

“I missed you Embry.” I told him, placing a kiss on his exposed shoulder.

“I missed you too. Now let's go back to sleep, you look tired.” He said to me as he rested his chin atop my head and pulling me closer.

#embry call imagine #embry call x reader #twilight wolves #twilight wolf pack #twilight renaissance #twilight revival #twilight saga #wolf pack #embry call #jared cameron #jacob black #sam uley #paul lahote #quil ateara #seth clearwater #leah clearwater

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lostcoves · 4 years ago

Text

– parisian nights

+ ft. tamaki amajiki

+ wc: 2.5k

+ format: one-shot

+ premise: tamaki amajiki, heir to amajiki enterprises, has it all. yet, all he wants is you. could a sudden trip to paris be enough to win your heart?

+ note: my piece for @bakugohoex’s 3k collab! hope you all enjoy!

tamaki amajiki, in a literal sense, had it all and anything he wanted was at a snap of his well-manicured fingertips. every luxury sports car, every trip to the tropics, every gaming system was only one lip pout to his daddy and mommy. he was spoiled to say the least but what kind of rich kid wasn’t?

it wasn’t until tamaki stumbled upon you that he took a moment to reevaluate his life as a rich boy.

you had humble beginnings, coming from a family of average societal standing. your family didn’t have to worry about money but they were nowhere close to the standing of the amajiki family. humble and modest, tamaki thought you were the cutest thing in the whole wide world!

and what tamaki liked, tamaki got.

he remembered flashing you a fat tip for your service at the coffee shop you worked as a barista at. tamaki struggled with social interaction at times but all of that went out the window the moment he locked eyes with you. he found that he didn’t have to work on his social skills, as long as he had the money to buy the friendships and interactions.

he thought you were the same as the others, easily swayed by money.

yet, you weren’t.

you rejected the tip and told him to put it in the communal tip jar for all the baristas shared from. tamaki was stunned but did what you asked of him. anxiety bubbled in his stomach and his facade of suave rich guy nearly cracked.

but tamaki wouldn’t give up so easily.

─────────────────

“morning, amajiki-san,” you greeted him every morning with that same gentle smile of yours. barely any customers were in the coffee shop, which tamaki preferred. he utterly despised crowds of people.

“good morning, (l/n)-san,” he returned the greeting and the smile.

“the usual?” you already got a medium-sized cup out.

“yes please,” he hummed. tamaki actually hated coffee, it made his anxiety worse but he would risk an anxiety attack if it meant he could interact with you.

you nodded and got to work, preparing a medium iced coffee for tamaki. he watched you move around from behind the counter, his eyes fixated on your gorgeous form.

“one medium iced coffee for amajiki-san!” you handed the coffee to tamaki.

“thank you,” tamaki fished out an envelope from his pocket, “your tip.”

you furrowed your eyebrows at the envelope and took it cautiously, “what’s this, amajiki-san?”

“your tip,” tamaki repeated.

carefully, you opened up the envelope and pulled out its contents.

“amajiki-san..” you uttered his first name, “what the hell is this?”

“two tickets to paris,” tamaki leaned against the counter, “well, the tickets are more of a formality. we’ll be taking my private jet to the city.”

“amajiki-san..” you sighed.

“pretty please, (l/n)-san?” tamaki flashed you his famous puppy eyes.

“why should i go with a guy i barely know?”

ouch, that hurt.

“well, we can use this as an opportunity to get to know one another.”

you frowned, “i’ll have to think about it.”

“come to this address in a week from now at two in the afternoon,” tamaki got out a pen from his pocket and wrote down an address on a piece of napkin, “if you’re interested in coming.”

you took the napkin and nodded, “very well then.”

tamaki could only hope that you would come.

─────────────────

tamaki paced around outside the private jet, frantically checking his watch every two minutes. it was nearly two o’clock and you still weren’t near yet. you weren’t coming, tamaki decided, much to his dismay.

“amajiki-sama?” the pilot poked his head outside the jet, “ready to take off?”

“no, not yet!” tamaki hollered. the pilot flashed a thumbs up and returned inside the plane. tamaki let out a heavy sigh, where were you?

“am i late?”

tamaki perked up at the sound of your voice. he saw your figure approaching the jet, the wind ruffling your white sundress and sunhat. a lone suitcase rolled behind you.

“you came,” tamaki stated in surprise.

“didn’t think i was gonna show?” you chuckled.

tamaki let out a soft laugh and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, “yeah..”

“well, i’m here!” you smiled, “you’re gonna treat me to the trip of a lifetime, correct? why in the world would i miss out on that?”

tamaki’s heart fluttered at the sight of your smile, “well, what are we waiting for? let’s get this trip started.”

a flight attendant exited the jet and took your luggage. tamaki took your hand and guided you inside the jet. your lips formed a small ‘o’ in shock at the interior of the jet. it was much larger on the inside than it was on the outside with push-lined seats and entertainment systems galore. a person could live without worry in this jet.

“you own this?” you asked tamaki, as you took a seat in one of the comfortable looking seats.

“my parents do,” he answered, “they use it for business trips.”

“i see,” you eyed at the approaching concession cart. the flight attendant before earlier was operating it and she offered you a wide selection of drinks and snacks. you ended up getting a plain green tea while tamaki got a bag of honey barbecue flavored chips.

“so what made you decide to invite me on this trip?” you took a long drag of your green tea.

tamaki paused from munching on his chips. he cleared his throat, “i thought ‘why not?’ in all honesty,” that was a lie, tamaki wanted to impress you with a flashy trip to the city of love.

“do you take all the girls you’ve met on trips to paris?”

“only the girls i like.”

tamaki almost choked at his comment, his cheeks flushing a nice shade of pink. you raised your eyebrows at him in an act of bewilderment. tamaki attempted to change the conversation and informed you, “we should be there in thirteen hours, so it’s best to “get situated.”

you gave him a nod, “alrighty. well, i’ll be asleep so you have fun.”

tamaki opened his mouth to reply, only to given the cold shoulder as you reclined your seat and got noise canceling headphones on. he watched, as you situated yourself and promptly fell asleep. he chuckled, that was adorable.

a two day trip to paris, what could possibly go wrong?

─────────────────

“(l/n)-san.”

tamaki gently removed your noise cancelling headphones from your head.

“we’re here, in paris.”

you let out a groan, as your eyes slowly opened. how long were you out? a couple of hours?

“you slept the whole trip,” tamaki laughed quietly.

“oh.. i did? sorry,” you murmured, rubbing the guck out of your eyes.

tamaki brushed a loose hair out of your face, “it’s alright.”

you blushed slightly at his warm touch but masked with a cough, “so! uh! whatcha wanna do in paris?”

tamaki blinked, he hadn’t planned that far ahead.

“would you like to see the louvre?”

─────────────────

japan had nothing on the bustling streets of paris. the sidewalks were filled to the brim with people mulling about, some on their phones with shopping bags and others chatting amongst themselves. the louvre was only a block away, crowded with tourists eager to see the mona lisa.

“no need to worry about the crowds,” tamaki gave you a smile when you two approached the louvre, “i set aside us a private tour of the musuem.”

“oh really?” you crossed your arms with disdain.

tamaki pouted, “would.. would you rather do a normal tour?”

you smiled, “yes please.”

the two of you pushed your way through the crowds and entered the louvre, you staring in awe of the artworks. tamaki concealed a small smile at your wonderment, he found it to be absolutely cute to watch.

you’re more than a work of art, (f/n). was what tamaki wanted to say but he didn’t have the courage nor the guts to say it.

“wow, the mona lisa is so tiny!” you commented to tamaki when you two found the famed piece of art. you were right, the mona lisa was surprisingly small. you grabbed tamaki by the hand and pulled him closer to the painting, “look how beautiful it is, amajiki-san.”

tamaki grew flustered at your touch but gave your hand a light squeeze, “(l/n)-san.. you can call me tamaki, if you want.”

you gave him a look and tamaki cursed internally. was it too soon to be on a first name basis?

“okay, tamaki.”

tamaki let out a sigh of relief.

“where would you like to go next?” tamaki questioned to you after the two of you finished your tour of the louvre.

you pondered on the question for a moment.

“let’s go shopping.”

─────────────────

tamaki patiently waited outside a fitting room, as you tried on various articles of clothing. he offered to pay– his parents gave him an allowance for the trip– and to his surprise, you actually accepted his offer.

“you alright in there..?” tamaki asked, not wanting to walk in on you half naked.

there was some rustling and you emerged from the dressing room, “how do i look?” you asked tamaki, twirling around in your new dress.

tamaki gulped at the sight of the dress. its neckline highlighted your collarbone quite nicely and hugged your curves just right. he pulled at his collar and adverted his gaze, “er.. you look.. uh.. very nice..”

“i do?” you hugged his arm and pressed yourself against tamaki. he was sweating bullets now, “yes! y- yes, you d- do!” his eyes widened, not his stutter coming back at the worst possible moment.

“you have a stutter?”

shit. shit. shit. shit. shit.

“so wh- what if i d- do..”

“it’s cute.”

tamaki’s eyes widened.

“y- you th- think so?”

you nodded rapidly, “of course i do! i’m not gonna poke fun at it.”

tamaki coughed, “th- thanks.”

“of course,” you released your hold on his arm, “the night is still young, what should we do next?”

tamaki peered outside, nightfall was upon the city.

“a trip to paris isn’t complete without a visit to the effiel tower now, isn’t it?”

─────────────────

being on top of the effiel tower made the world seem so small.

tamaki took a moment to enjoy the cold breeze that passed through his indigo locks, closing his eyes and just enjoying the feeling of being on top of the world for a moment. you stood next to him, doing the same thing. you hated to admit it but this had been the most fun you have had in a while. all thanks to tamaki amajiki, of course.

“hey tamaki?”

“yes, (f/n)?”

“can i tell you a secret?”

tamaki opened his eyes, “of course.”

you stared out onto the city of lights and leaned against the guardrail.

“i never left japan until yesterday.”

tamaki laughed, “that’s not much of a secret. it was a little obvious.”

you scrunched your nose up in annoyance, “meanie.”

tamaki acted wounded, “that hurt.”

you rolled your eyes, “i enjoyed today. i hope you can ensure the same for tomorrow.”

tamaki looked down at his shoes and sighed, “i hope i can.”

“hey tamaki?”

“yes?” he looked up.

“what’s the real reason you invited me on this trip?”

tamaki hung his head down low.

“tamaki, look at me.”

he looked back up.

“tell me the truth.”

tamaki couldn’t lie to you anymore.

“it’s because.. i like you, (f/n).”

now it was your turn to hang your head low.

“why me, tamaki?”

tamaki pressed his lips together, “what do you mean?”

taking his hands into yours, the two of you were forced to look one another in the eye. you took a deep breath and began to speak your piece.

“i want to know the real tamaki amajiki. not this fake version. i think the closer we got was what happened in the fitting room. i get it, you’re rich.. but you didn’t have to whisk me away to paris just to confess that you had a crush on me, tamaki.”

“wh- what should have i done instead..?” not the stutter!

you half-smiled, “take me out for coffee, silly.”

was it really that simple?

“maybe i- i do that next time.”

“next time?”

fuck, was there not going to be a next time?

“there won’t be a next time until you tell me about yourself,” you gave tamaki a playful punch in the shoulder. he winced a bit but played it off. tamaki looked back out onto the city, “what would you like to know?”

“what’s it like being an heir?” you leaned against the guardrail.

tamaki tilted his head back and let out a long breathe, “exhausting.”

you cocked your head to the left, “how so?”

“my parents have high expectations of me. forcing me to go to college to study business for the sole purpose of taking over the company. this might sound silly but i wanted to study food science and become a nutritional therapist,” tamaki clasped his hands together tightly, “there’s no true freedom. money has a price and that price is your freedom. the public hounds you, the elite is full of backstabbers, and i just want to settle down with a nice girl.”

“and that nice girl would be?” you smiled.

“you, of course.”

you blushed at tamaki’s response.

“i would give up all the money i have if it means i can be with you,” tamaki confessed with tears in his eyes, “i truly mean it. i fell in love with you the moment i saw you in that coffee shop, (f/n) (l/n).”

“re- really?” now you were stuttering.

“truly,” tamaki cupped your cheeks and bore his eyes into yours, “i truly mean it. i only want you, (f/n). i would give you everything and anything you could have ever wanted. i want to be there for you.”

“b- but you barely know me!” you protested.

“then let me get to know you,” tamaki fired back.

you were rendered speechless. you adverted your gaze from tamaki and he removed his hands from your face. tamaki bowed his head in disgrace, “i- i’m sorry, (l/n)-san.”

“it’s okay, tamaki!” you exclaimed, “really it is. i admire your fire. i want to get you better, as well. truly, i do.”

tamaki relaxed his shoulders and placed a hand against his chest in an effort to calm his rapidly beating heart. you looked heavenly under the lights of the effiel tower with your new dress and your pearly white smile. he just wanted to kiss your damn face already.

“tamaki.”

“yes, (f/n)?”

“here,” you pressed a kiss to his lips. tamaki’s eyes widened for a moment before he closed them, allowing himself to get lost in the kiss. your lips tasted like the croissant you had earlier that day. tamaki could kiss you forever.

“let’s get to know one another better before a second date, okay?”

tamaki was more than fine with that.

one day, he’ll be yours.

#bee scribbles #rich boy collab #boku no hero academia #bnha #my hero academia #mha #boku no hero academia x reader #bnha x reader #my hero academia x reader #mha x reader #tamaki #tamaki amajiki #tamaki x reader #tamaki amajiki x reader #original work

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babbushka · 5 years ago

Text

Beautiful, Beloved (1/8)

You had met three times: The first, an introduction. The second, a lunch. The third, your wedding. Can bonds be made in such short a time as a week long honeymoon aboard the immensely impressive RMS Titanic?

Yes, yes they can.

Kylo Ren x Reader

Word Count: 4400

Warnings: NSFW

Also available on AO3!

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You had met him three times in total.

The first had been an introduction. The second, a luncheon. The third was today, your wedding.

You never imagined being married, let alone married to a stranger.

Of course that was a silly thought to be had, because of course you would need to marry – but something about actually holding the title was a feeling you for some reason had never imagined.

Lady Ren. How thrilling, you thought with a smile.

There certainly were worse strangers to be married to, you thought.

Your smile turned to an expression of mild panic as you tightened your grip on your newly wedded husband’s arm, the car making a sharp left turn out of the blue. His gloved hand rested gently on your arm, gave it a reassuring pat.

“I think that went rather well, don’t you?” Lord Ren, your newly wedded husband offered dryly.

The two of you were seated in the back of a brand-new automobile, a wedding present from your in-laws.

It was the new model of Rolls Royce, something called the silver ghost. Aptly named, for the sunlight glittered off the highly polished exterior and the engine was the softest you had heard yet.

The mechanic drove well, although you were still suspicious of the machinery. The clean streets of the city gave way to beautifully manicured parks and gardens as the world zipped past, making the journey from your wedding venue to the place you would call home forever.

You tore your eyes away from the blur of trees and pavement to Lord Ren, who was referring to the wedding no doubt.

It had gone off without a hitch, a beautiful afternoon ceremony as was fashionable for the day. Your dress remained crisp and clean the whole way through, and all the guests left well fed. It was a long wedding, but a pleasant one, the only tears that were shed were those of happiness.

“Yes, I think so too.” You nodded, holding on as the car made another turn.

“No one was punched, anyway.” Lord Ren muttered, seemingly under his breath.

“Punched?” You asked with eyebrows raised, amused.

“A fist-fight broke out at my parent’s wedding. My uncle had to step in and break it up; so I’d say we’re already doing better than them.” Lord Ren ran a hand through his hair, unusually long for societal standards.

You found that you liked that about him, his deviancy.

“May I ask who was fighting whom?” You hedged, not wanting to overstep.

“My father, and the man who had come to collect his debts.” Lord Ren replied, surprisingly unashamed.

“What a scandal!” You couldn’t help but laugh, “Who won?”

“My father did. I’m surprised you never read of it in the papers.” Lord Ren regarded you with something akin to warmth, tucked a stray hair underneath your veil from where the wind had pulled it free.

You lingered on the moment, already feeling yourself grow fond for this man. Perhaps he wouldn’t be a stranger for long.

“I’m afraid I don’t have much time for reading the news, my charity work keeps me busy.” You admitted.

You hoped that wouldn’t be an issue, your charity work. You took a great deal of pride in it, and had no intention of reigning in your efforts for the eradication of child labor, and the education of young lower class girls.

You had heard much about Lord Ren’s politics, and you knew him to be quite a charitable man as well, albeit one with a more…explosive reputation.

“Not too busy that I won’t see hide nor hair of you, I hope.” He surprised you with his gentleness, how reserved he was.

This did not look like the man who angrily drew his sword and held it to the throats of barons, who threw large tantrums and shattered antiques with ease when a letter came bearing bad news, who once choked a poor footman near-half to death -- as the stories went.

You had been afraid at first, when your parents announced the plans for you to marry such a man.

You were worried that he would be unkind towards you, or distant altogether. An heir and a spare, as they said. You had been assured that taking a lover was perfectly acceptable once the children had been born and the inheritance would have a viable heir to go to, but something in you spoke loudly, wanting to love the man you married. Everyone called you a romantic.

Everyone said there was no place for romance in marriage. You had intended to prove them wrong.

So when it was announced that Lord Kylo Ren was to be man, you suddenly grew unsure. He was a man with a reputation. People feared him, you did not want to fear him too.

Lord Ren looked intimidating, you had to admit, what with his entirely black ensemble and large scar that adorned his face. You understood how it could be so easy to fear him, this appearance combined with the personality that was so heavily gossiped about.

Perhaps it was this combination that he was working to counter-act; being ever so slightly more careful, as to not scare you.

The thought, however true or false it may be, made you warm.

“I should ask the same of you.” You said, as the automobile slowed.

Lord Ren smiled when you did not immediately remove your arm from his, content to leave it there as the grand entryway of the estate came into view.

“We’re here, ready to see your new home?” He asked you, and you nodded.

“Close your eyes.” He said, and you did, keeping them shut as you felt the engine putter underneath you.

Only a few moments later did Lord Ren carefully, ever so gently, remove your satin gloved hands from your face, giving you the hint to open your eyes.

The estate was, in a word, extravagant.

The land and gardens were a sight to behold, lush greenery that felt almost like a painting -- grass could certainly not be so green! But the house itself, was a sight to behold all on its own.

It was a beautiful shade of yellow, like that of freshly churned butter, or daffodils. It seemed to stretch on forever, at least three stories tall. There was even a circular tower near the front, you hoped it sported views of the pond just across, where swans leisurely floated atop crystal clear waters. You wondered if the estate had a rowboat, or if one could be purchased.

The automobile came to a halt just outside the grand courtyard, where the mechanic put the car in park. The entire staff was lined up outside to greet you and your husband, a footman hurried to open the door for you.

“Lord and Lady Ren, welcome home.” A man whom you assumed to be the butler greeted you, as the line of staff bowed or curtsied.

“Oh it’s gorgeous!” You replied, gratefully taking the butler’s hand and stepping down from the Rolls Royce, eager to stretch your legs after the nearly hour long journey from the city.

“Do you like it? I had it built especially for you, I tried to emulate the countryside with the landscaping.” Lord Ren joined you and stood by your side, careful not to step on your train or veil.

“Just for me?” You asked in return, eyes widening at the beauty and sheer newness of the house. It must have only just finished being constructed, there was no trace of dirt or wear on the yellow brick.

“Yes, I didn’t want you to feel like you had to conform to my estate.” Lord Ren replied.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re incredibly considerate?” You asked, a rhetorical question.

“No, they certainly haven’t.” He answered anyway.

You smiled, you were happy to be the first.

The inside of the house was just as magnificent as the outside, perhaps even more-so. Everything was so light, windows as tall as you were with open curtains allowed sunshine to pour into the rooms.

All the furniture was painted a light brown, with cream or ivory or golden upholstery to match the beautifully papered walls. Crystal chandeliers reflected light which bounced around the room through freshly polished mirrors, little rainbows dancing across the vases and various ornaments.

Portrait paintings hung on the walls in large ornate frames that reminded you very much of the Louvre. Pity the French couldn’t maintain their monarchy, you thought with the smallest of laughs.

“Can we go to the bedroom?” You asked, boldly.

Lord Ren quirked a smile, and nodded, leading you down a set of corridors and hallways.

The bedroom was small, and you liked that. Liked that it meant you could be closer to your husband, should you both be in the room at the same time.

The walls were a beautiful camel color, with decorative crown molding that ran the perimeter of the ceiling. They were papered in an ornate filigree style, and thoughtfully covered with old paintings. You wondered who the people in the paintings were, if they were relatives, or just purchased for their aesthetic value.

There were large windows and desks which faced them, a beautiful rug that must have come from Persia if the weaving was anything to go by, but most impressive of all was the bed.

It wasn’t a very wide bed, but that you didn’t mind. You envisioned many nights spent pressed against your husband, if he were amicable towards such a thing. You would soon find out, you supposed, as the sun was already beginning to dip below the rolling hills of the horizon.

The bed was a canopy, with thick golden curtains that were drawn – for the time being. You took a step towards them, ran your fingers over the fabric. It was velvet, with a pressed satin design which matched the wallpaper. It seemed as though Lord Ren had a very developed eye for decoration, you thought, letting your fingers run through the satin fringe that lined the curtains.

The sheets were the softest of cottons, pure white. You couldn’t wait to muss them.

Your husband stepped behind you, placed a hand on your waist. It was so large, warm. Even through the layers of your clothing you could feel the heat radiating off of him.

“Lord Ren – ” You started, turning around only to have him shake his head.

“Please, (Y/N), call me Kylo.” He interrupted softly, making you blush.

You didn’t know when the last time someone other than your parents called you by your first name was.

“Kylo,” You rectified, “Are you happy? With this arrangement, I mean.”

He looked at you for a little while, sun shining in his incredibly brown eyes. You wondered what he was thinking, what was going through his mind.

He carefully took one of your hands and placed the palm against his cheek, the one free of the scar. You furrowed your brow slightly, removed your hand, only to replace it with your other one. You cupped his other cheek, not minding in the slightest how the scar rippled and puckered the skin there.

“Yes, I daresay I am.” He said, his eyes searching yours. “Are you?”

“Yes, I am.” You nodded, sparing a glance down to his lips.

You hadn’t done much kissing, but you thought if ever there were a pair of lips to practice on, these were them. Kylo’s lips were so full, plush. They had a natural redness to them that made you wonder if he had spent his youth biting them to make them so pigmented.

Kylo’s own hand mirrored yours as he gently held your face and pressed his lips to yours. The first kiss outside of your wedding, and it was magical in its innocence.

It did not, however, remain innocent, as only mere moments passed before Kylo’s tongue was pressing against the seam of your lips, your mouth yielding to him, opening for him. You could feel your pulse quicken, and it suddenly seemed stifling, so hot in your dress. You wondered if Kylo was burning up as well.

“They’ll be waiting, won’t they?” Kylo said, breaking the kiss. He leaned his forehead against your own, and you nodded.

“Yes, they will. We’d do best to not disappoint them, wouldn’t you say?” You asked with the hint of a tease to your tone, licking your lips, already feeling the goosebumps down your arms.

“I’ve wanted this for a long time.” Kylo quirked the smallest of smiles, ran his hands down your sides.

“I know we know very little of one another, but please know this: I won’t ever keep you in suspense.” You said, daring to press the words into the skin of his neck, leaving a kiss there before pulling away.

“Good, I don’t like to wait.” Kylo replied, heat in his eyes.

You grinned.

You had never seen such a sculpted body as your husbands, but you would have a chance to marvel once the heat of your clothing was removed from your own body.

Getting Kylo out of his clothes was a fast affair.

Getting you out of yours, however, was slightly more laborious.

You sweetened the deal with a kiss, the sliding of your tongue against his spurred his hands.

Wasn’t the wedding night supposed to be a passionate affair? How could anyone get away with such a thing when there required at least ten minutes of unlacing and unhooking?

He first began by unclasping your belt and deftly unbuttoning the front of your dress bodice, sliding that and the jacket off of your shoulders, the both of you watching as it fluttered gracefully to the floor.

The skirt, a light petticoat, and all your underclothes remained, and Kylo just had to take a break to kiss you.

“I’ll never understand why there are so many layers.” Kylo grumbled as he carefully removed your corset cover, making you laugh so much that his hands stilled in shock.

“I’m sorry! Please don’t stop,” You said in a fit of giggles, “It’s just, neither will I.” You smiled up at him, earning a smile back.

You let out a sigh of relief when the corset came off, Kylo carefully plucking the strings away. It was never too tight of course, the hysteria and trends of tight-lacing long gone, but still, there was something so refreshing about letting yourself loose after a long day.

Down to your chemise, drawers and stockings, Kylo took a step back, kneeling before you.

His eye contact was smoldering, as he lifted the chemise enough to snap off the garters that held the stockings up. He took care to unlace the tie holding up your drawers, letting the cotton fall to the floor.

Your cunt throbbed, the wetness between your legs slippery. Kylo was handsome, kneeling there in front of you, his bare chest and hard cock on display.

You liked that he was hard, liked that he wanted you, really wanted you.

“Let me see you?” He asked, and your hands shook with eager anticipation as you pulled the chemise over your head, letting it fall as well.

Finally, you removed the pins that held your hair up, let it fall down with everything else. This act, letting your hair down, felt like the most intimate thing you had ever done.

You were completely on display for him, nipples hardening against the fresh air, stomach tensed with a nervousness reserved for a first fuck such as this.

“You’re gorgeous.” He licked his lips, hands twitching, wanting to touch you. You wanted nothing more than just that.

You walked backwards to the bed, stopping only when the backs of your knees hit the mattress.

Kylo was on you in an instant, finally finally finally able to get his hands on your skin.

He kissed and kissed you, mouth hot and incessant, pressing against your lips, your throat, your shoulders. His hands, large as they were, spanned across your breasts with ease, and he gave them a strong squeeze, pinched at those nipples of yours that were begging for attention.

He laid you down, settled himself on top of you, your legs parting for him so easily. You couldn’t help but grin, feeling the thrill of the moment. Your stomach was doing flips, like how it would on an automobile driving too quickly. You never wanted him to pump the brakes.

“Kylo, please.” You whined, wanting to feel him already.

“Not yet, I’ve got to get you ready for me.” He kissed your face, bit at your jaw just the slightest amount. It wouldn’t do to have marks on your skin, at least where they could be seen.

You were grateful for the high collars of fashionable dress.

“But – ” You protested with a frown, you wanted to feel him, all of him, right down to that cock of his that was poking and prodding at your stomach as he kneaded your chest.

“You see this?” He sat back on his heels, dipping the mattress.

You were laid on your back by now, on top of the covers, lace pillows propping up your head.

He took his dick in his hand, stroked it. You nodded, you did see it, you saw all of it, your mouth watering from it.

You rose onto all fours, crawled to where he kneeled.

“I see it.” You swallowed.

He his lip and nodded, a hand guiding the back of your head forward, until you were close enough to lick a stripe up the shaft, making him take in a sharp breath.

“There’ll be plenty of time for that,” Kylo said, pulling his cock away much to your disapproval, “I’ve got to prepare you, and fast, or I might just come all over these perfect tits of yours.”

“Would that be such a shame?” You asked, making him grin.

“Let me at least come in you first.” He reasoned, and you sighed dramatically, laying on your back theatrically.

From this view, you could see the blotches of flush blooming on his chest – and how muscular it was! You knew that the physique was undesirable for men of his status, but you couldn’t help but grow ever more wet for him, the way his abs flexed under his smooth skin.

The scar traveled down his face and shoulders onto his chest, shiny and white, long healed.

You didn’t give any more thought to it as his fingers wasted little time sliding between your legs, the tips just barely grazing your folds.

He looked to you, cock dripping and hanging heavy between his legs, and you nodded, wanting to hurry the process along, desperately wanting to feel how full this would make you.

His fingers were thick, and when he thrust them into your cunt you let out a long oh at the feeling.

“Relax for me.” He murmured, his hair falling into his face.

You dropped your hips, not realizing how tense you had made them just out of sheer desperation. He bent down to kiss you, a droplet of sweat landing on your cheek, as he took advantage of your calm and pushed those fingers into you some more.

“Please Kylo, I can’t take much more of this.” You begged, and he huffed, clearly wanting to spend more time than you did with his fingers up your cunt, but he gave you what you wanted as he pulled away.

“If it’s too much, you tell me, okay?” He asked, and you nodded, eager, so eager.

Your eyes fluttered shut at the feeling of him lining himself up, the head of his cock parting your lips and sinking into you.

“Yes!” you gasped, head thrown back as he pulled you down the mattress by your hips, pulling you onto his cock.

“God damn,” Kylo breathed out, pushing his way into you further and further. “You’re so tight.”

“You’re so big!” You replied, making him laugh. You liked the sound of his laugh.

“I fucking told you, didn’t I?” He grinned up at you, eyes going glassy as his hips slowly started thrusting, trying to get deeper and deeper and deeper into you.

“Yeah, you did, come on give me more.” You encouraged, lifting your legs and wrapping them around his hips.

It felt so natural, so good, and you moaned, embarrassingly loud noises coming from your throat as he fucked you well and true.

His cock seemed to go on forever, and by the time he had managed to open you up all the way, slide his cock as deep into you as it could go, you were both panting from the exertion.

You held onto him, his shoulders, gripped at his back as he had to plant one of his feet on the floor to give himself the proper leverage to fuck you.

You latched your mouth to his neck, sucked and kissed there as you clenched around him, wanting to make this feel just as good for him as it did for you. You couldn’t believe how much the both of you were sweating, the noises that you were making.

Kylo was grunting like he was in pain, his face pinched up, mouth open. You kissed him, your hands groping his strong pectorals, pinching at his own nipples. You figured if it felt so good for you, it’d feel good for him too.

He let out a long low groan when you did that, reaching up to tweak one of yours playfully in return.

“Kylo!” You cried his name, and he did his best to fuck you and kiss you at the same time. “I’m going to – ”

He cut you off with a kiss. He was tall, you hadn’t realized how that might pose a problem; the poor man had to bend himself down just to reach your lips as his hips pistoned into you.

“Me too, just a minute longer.” He asked, and you nodded, tried your best.

His hips grew more and more erratic, his grip on your waist bruising. He was almost white-knuckled, fingers leaving a print when he pulled on away to reach down to your pussy, push between your folds and find your clit.

When he did, he rolled it between his fingers, making you shout out and come, your cunt clamping down around his cock, come gushing and making the most obscene of sounds. You felt like you were on top of the world, all of the nerves in your body alight with pleasure; you couldn’t stop crying out his name, a chant of Kylo spilling from your lips.

“Oh shit!” Kylo gasped as he ground his hips as far into you as they could go, bordering just shy of painful.

You had to wiggle and lift your hips to get a better angle, only allowing him to pump his come deeper into you. You could feel it, you swore you could, how hot it was, coursing through you.

Finally, it seemed like all the tension in his shoulders melted away, and he collapsed on top of you, crushing you under his chest from his height.

“Was it good?” Kylo asked, panted.

“Yes,” You replied with a hazy smile, “I’m going to want this all the time.”

“We’ll make the family very happy then,” Kylo smiled back, “All the heirs we’re going to have.”

You just laughed, and despite his hardened exterior, he laughed too.

Kylo pulled out eventually, fascinated by the sight of his come slowly dripping out of you. He pushed it back in before wiping his hand on the sheets, making you smile.

“Are you hungry?” He asked, even as he rubbed his cheek on your breast, settled his face down there against your skin, nose prodding your softened nipple.

He got comfortable, and you gently brushed his hair out of your face, combed your fingers through it. It was silky and soft, albeit a little wet from sweat.

“No, I’m still stuffed from the dinner.” You replied, and he hummed.

Kylo wedged a hand under your back, holding you.

The sun had officially gone below the horizon, and night time had arrived. You didn’t think you had ever seen this many stars, through the great big windows just opposite the bed.

In the light of the moon, Kylo’s back shone with cooling sweat. You traced patterns across the skin there with the lightest of touches.

“You’re not like anything I thought you’d be.” You admitted with a yawn.

“And what was that?” He asked, voice muffled by your skin.

“When your name is spoken, people tend to recoil in fear. I find nothing frightening about you.” You combed through his hair, pushed it back away from his face and neck, exposing an ear.

It was big, just like the rest of him. You gave it a gentle squeeze, and he huffed, clearly self-conscious.

“Careful now, it’s only been one day.” He hummed, before snuffling and breathing in your scent. “I could get used to this.”

“You can have me whenever you’d like, provided just one thing.” You mused.

“What’s that?” He left his other hand lightly squeeze at your other breast, the one he wasn’t currently using as a pillow.

“I get to have you whenever I’d like.” You grinned, and his shoulders shook with a gentle laugh.

“I think I can manage that.” He nodded, kissing your sternum. “I imagine I’d like to have you all over our rooms on our honeymoon.”

The honeymoon!

“Would you believe I completely forgot we were going on such a trip?” You thought out loud, making him chuckle. He was exceptionally affectionate, you were coming to find. “Do you mind me asking where we’ll be going? I’d like to pack accordingly.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.” He replied, but you were having none of that.

“Please?” You tried, feeling quite victorious when he let out a resigned sigh.

“Have you heard of the Titanic?” He asked, lifting his head and regarding you with a smile.

You were stunned, not knowing what to expect, but certainly not expecting that.

A surprise indeed.

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

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! My apologies for it being so short, the future chapters to come will be much longer!

Tag list for some pals (please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed from the list!) @adamsnackdriver @dreamboatdriver @kyloxfem @imaginedreamwrite

#reader insert #kylo ren x reader #kylo x reader #historically accurate au #titanic au #my writing #beautiful beloved

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elizabethemerald · 5 years ago

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Stealing a Jule’s Heart: Chap 3

Please reblog if you enjoy!

AO3

After the Musem

Julia stood at the balcony door of her hotel room. The view of the Eiffel Tower was breathtaking. Privately this was one of the best parts about working for ACME. Interpol never paid for the best rooms, but now she had an uninterrupted view of Paris. She turned away from the view, glancing at the clock as she walked into her room. Two in the morning. She was exhausted but couldn't sleep.

Julia had spent the past couple of days working tirelessly in preparation for the Louvre Gala, then the ACME agents and the Interpol officers had their work cut out for them, arresting would be thieves and filling out paperwork.

The Chief was annoyed that Julia had Carmen Sandiego literally in her arms but didn't capture her. Julia was able to get Chief off her back by saying that Carmen Sandiego had hinted at other VILE operatives also being there.

ACME was now investigating the blonde Carmen had called Tigress, and the Frenchman who had danced with Julia. Hopefully eventually they would realize Carmen wasn't working with VILE. But she wasn't going to hold her breath.

Julia walked into the bathroom, maybe a shower would help her fall asleep. As she showered she couldn't help but feel a tingle on her lips. Carmen Sandiego had kissed her. She almost felt like she was in a daze.

The note Carmen had given her sat on her bedside table. Julia had read it again and again. "Thanks for the dance!" It read, signed Carmen. It had been folded into an origami heart. And sealed with a kiss in her red lipstick.

Julia toweled off and wrapped herself in the plush bathrobe. She was glad Carmen had worn a different lipstick to the dance, there was no trace of the kiss they shared while the lights were off, other than her burning ears. And she had managed to pass that off as embarrassment at letting Ms. Sandiego get away.

She emerged from the bathroom, a cloud of stream following her out. She was wearing the bathrobe, her damp hair swept back from her face. She felt a slight chill and hurried to close the balcony door. Curious. She was sure the door had been closed when she entered the shower. Unless…Julia turned around and there sitting on one of the chairs was Carmen Sandiego. She was back in her trademark hat and jacket.

"I've already swept the room for bugs. We can speak freely." Carmen said softly.

"Are you making house calls now Ms. Sandiego?" Julia asked.

"I just wanted to talk, and apologize."

Julia sat down on the bed. She spent a few silent seconds organizing her thoughts. Yes she loved Carmen, but she was also an officer of the law. She needed to be sure of a few things.

"If you want me to trust you, you need to answer some of my questions." Julia finally said. Carmen sat forward resting her arms on her knees, she nodded for her to continue. "You said you were no longer with VILE, but you were at one point?"

"I was raised by the faculty of the VILE crime academy. We had a...falling out, after I left." Carmen seemed to curl in on herself, she avoided eye contact, but she could see the glisten of tears in her eyes. Julia had never seen her looking this vulnerable. She decided against pursuing that line of questioning further.

"What were you doing at the gala tonight?" Julia asked instead.

"Every thief worth their salt knows the one time the Louvre collection is vulnerable is the yearly Gala. There's too many guest for security to keep an eye on everything. From my own reconnaissance I knew there was only going to be one moment where anyone could steal something and hope to get away with it. And worse of all the infamy of the theft and press coverage would increase the value of anything sold."

Carmen sighed and rubbed her face. Julia couldn't help but notice how tired the woman in red looked. "Tigress needed to knock out the power during that precise moment and she could get away with whatever she wanted. The only thing I could do was stall her. So I did. The signal blocker worked for a little while. Then I danced with you. Got everyone's attention, so the other thieves wouldn't be able to take advantage. I knew Tigress would get jealous when she wasn't the center of attention."

"Were you two...close?" Julia asked.

"We never dated if that's what you're asking. She was the closest rival I had at the academy. She's been the angriest since my departure, the most aggressive when we meet in the field."

Julia didn't say anything. She was glad she didn't have to compete with the gorgeous blonde. After a second of silence Carmen continued.

"We fought during the dance. You saw the aftermath of that." She gently rubbed her chest and Julia could tell she was going to have a bruise under her eye. "She was able to cut the wires of my signal blocker. But I picked her pocket and got the trigger for the EMP. I set it off before she could get in position or take it back."

Carmen leaned back a satisfied smile. "It took months of work to figure out their plan. Weeks of sleepless nights to make sure VILE had no other options while maintaining the smoke screen that they had found something no one had thought of. And it all came down to a single pocket picked during a dance.”

This was more the Carmen, Julia knew. Confident and self-assured. She couldn’t help but smile at her.

“You said you wanted to apologize, what for?” The smile slipped from Carmen’s face. Julia almost regretted asking the question.

“I may have painted a bit of a target on your back now. VILE will soon learn that I danced with you. They may send someone after you like they did with Chase. I’m so sorry.”

That actually wasn’t that surprising. Chase had already been targeted, Julia felt it was only a matter of time before they came for her as well.

“I may be able to talk to my superiours about increasing my security.” Julia said slowly.

“It might also help if you can describe a credible threat. For instance famed villain Carmen Sandiego tossing your hotel room?” Carmen suggested.

“And have you labeled forever as a violent criminal?” Julia sat up aghast.

“I may not be violent, but I am a criminal.” She said with laugh, then she grew serious again. “It would be worth it to make sure you stay safe.”

“Then how would you come to see me again?” Julia asked. Carmen’s smile grew sad.

“Do you actually want to see me again?” She asked in response. At Julia’s ernest nod, her smile brightened again. “I’m the greatest thief in the world. I’ve stolen from an organization of master criminals, and it seems I’ve stolen your heart as well. If I want to be close to you I’ll find a way! But for now I think it’s time for me to leave. I’ll be back in the morning to make it look like we had a fight.”

Julia smiled at her again. Carmen smiled back, then stood and walked to the balcony door.

“Carmen! Wait!” The woman in red turned. “Stay with me. At least till morning!”

Carmen turned, taking off her hat and jacket as she did so, draping them on the arm of the chair. She kicked off her boots and crawled into the bed beside Julia. They leaned against each other, hands intwined. Julia laughed to herself. The infamous thief Carmen Sandiego was in her bed! She wasn’t sure she had ever dared to dream that something like this would happen.

It only took a few minutes for Carmen to fall asleep completely. Julia kissed her cheek gently, then allowed herself to doze off, Ms. Sandiego sleeping against her.

Julia awoke in the early morning. Carmen was still sleeping against her. She gently carded her fingers through her red locks. Carmen made a small noise then turned and put her arm across Julia. She could tell that she was awake by the change in her breathing.

“Good morning beautiful.” Julia whispered.

“Mmm. Good Morning. Are you ready for me to toss your room?” Carmen said, her voice still heavy with sleep.

“I think I’ll go down for breakfast in a little while. That should give you plenty of time to make it look convincing.” Julia murmored. “But right now I just want to stay with you.”

“So are we officially dating?”

“I think so.” Julia smiled and kissed the top of Carmen’s head.

#carmen sandiego #julia argent #jule thief #carmen sandeigo netflix #carmen sandeigo 2019 #writing emerald #please reblog

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xodaniellevictoria · 5 years ago

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8 Days in Paris

I’ve been wanting to visit Paris for as long as I can remember. 2 weeks ago my life long dream, CAME TRUE! My fascination with the city began with my love for ballet. For those who don't know I was a ballet dancer for 16 years, and the type of ballet I was taught, originated in Paris. I have envisioned myself walking amongst the city streets for years and to finally cross this off my bucket list was an indescribable feeling. I want to share everything we did while we were there, and any quick tips to help you out if you’re wanting to visit this amazing place for yourself!

Alright lets start with planning. I searched for EVER to find affordable flights. Typically out of California round trip tickets to Paris are around $1200 each. By some miracle I was able to find round trip tickets for $500 each. (Because it’s off season for tourism and once the weather gets colder, the ticket prices drop) I didn't use any specific sites or cheap airlines, I was just always looking for a deal. So I definitely recommend going on off season (Fall to early spring) to avoid high ticket prices.

While you're planning, I would also really recommend staying at an Airbnb over a hotel. We really felt like we got the true Parisian experience and most Airbnbs are cheaper then hotels is what I noticed while planning.

HERE IS A LINK to the cute private apartment we stayed at while we were there. It was PERFECT for what we wanted. The iconic Parisian windows, a great view to a little courtyard, in the city center, and 3 minute walk to the subway. (Photo below for the ideal Parisian windows I was talking about.)

We decided to break up our trip by spending the majority of our time in Paris at the Airbnb, and then the last 2 nights we splurged and stayed at a hotel I’ve had my eye on for awhile now. Hotel Providence is the Parisian hotel of my dreams, and it did not disappoint. The stunning lush decor and rich color palette of the entire hotel checked off all my aesthetic points. We had champagne waiting for us in our room, and they were accommodating for early check in and leaving our bags at the front desk after we checked out, since we had some time to kill before our flight. I found the hotel on Instagram and I’m so glad I did. They have an amazing bar downstairs that was great for pre and post dinner drinks. They serve food as well but we unfortunately never got to try any. The front desk and service at the bar was amazing, super friendly, spoke great English and would absolutely recommend staying here if your budget allows. See below for pictures of our beautiful room and the outside seats of the bar / restaurant! CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE HOTEL

Another thing I would highly recommend is getting the PARIS CITY PASS. This pass will get you into the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Versailles, you name a Parisian attraction, and this pass will most likely get you in, and the best part is you won't have to wait in ticket lines. At the Louvre, there was a 2 hour wait to get tickets, and we literally walked RIGHT in... Sorry everyone in line! Should have done your research!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SITE TO GET YOUR PARIS CITY PASS

While planning, something else to think about is transportation. Basically the entire trip, we took Paris’s subway system ‘Le Metro.’ If you have an iPhone, using apple maps is going to be your best friend. Switch your directions to transit instead of walking or driving. The apple maps directions will tell you exactly where to go for the train stations, which lines to take, and which direction you need to be heading. There are signs in English in the subway so don't worry about not being able to understand French signs. There are trains right at the airport, and everywhere you will want to go in the city. Its truly amazing and so affordable compared to trying to Uber everywhere. We honestly preferred taking the subway way more than taking Ubers, because traffic in the city is.... Intense, and most of our Uber drivers didn't speak any English. The trains were always much faster and just easier in general.

Now I want to share the things we did that were noteworthy, and that we would recommend to anyone who is coming to Paris for the first time.

1. Eiffel Tower. Just as magical as you would think it would be. Head to the Tracadero across the river Seine to get an amazing view and its a GREAT picture spot. Another amazing picture spot is on the same side of the river as the Eiffel Tower and its a little dead end street with the perfect view of the tower with some French buildings in the line of view as well.

Heres the address: 228 Rue de l’Universite (the picture below was taken HERE)

2. Versailles. The grandest palace in all of Europe. It is breath taking. Especially if you're a history nerd like me. I got an audio guide so we didn't have to take a tour, and it was perfect. Also highly recommend renting a golf cart to get around the gardens and to see the other buildings and Marie Antoinette’s little village she created. PICTURE SPOTS: Hall of mirrors, Petite Trianon, and the Grand Trianon. Advice for getting pictures here, PATIENCE. Just wait for people to move so you can get cool shots with no one in them.

3. Crazy Horse. Ok this one won't be for everyone, but when I think of Paris I think of burlesque. Crazy Horse was one of the coolest burlesque shows we’ve seen and its a must if you're wanting a sexy night out. ( We preferred this over Moulin Rouge. )

4. MontMarte. MontMarte is the cities highest point. resting on a hill, there's a gorgeous old church, the Sacre Couer. MontMarte is also the cities historic artist district. Artists such as Van Gogh, and Renoir, found inspiration in this quaint part of town. Behind the church is the cutest little area where local artists are still paining city scapes and personal portraits. Seeing this area was a highlight for me. It felt so like what I thought Paris would be like. Good rooftop bar with the view of the city and the Eiffel Tower: Terrass Hotel, the rooftop bar is open to the public, you don't have to be staying at the hotel.

5. Le Marais. This is where you need to go if you're wanting to shop. Clothes, local pastries, apothecaries, you name it this area has it. Our favorite stores were Blue Garage, System Vintage, Luka Luna,

6. Notre Dame. A Paris staple. Currently closed for renovations but still worth seeing from afar. The streets around the Notre Dame are covered with vintage magazine / book stands. They make for great home decor. Make sure you have euros pulled out though because they don't accept credit cards!

7. Musee d’Orsay. Paris’s second biggest and most famous museum. Is in an old train station which makes for a cool setting for a museum. (See picture below) We liked this museum more than the Louvre...Way less crowded, and more modern artists that we actually knew. Holds famous paintings from Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Highly recommend grabbing a drink on the 5th floor cafe behind one of the old clocks!

8. The Catacombs. Super interesting walk through some of Paris’s old Limestone quarries that they filled with bones from the cemeteries, when the cemeteries were getting too crowded in the 1700′s. I didn't get any spooky vibes. Just felt like a museum.

9. Palais Garnier. The Opera house in Paris. Reminiscent of Versailles, this grand Opera house is soooo extravagant and gorgeous. The first real Ballets were put on here. How cool is that?

That wraps up the things to see that we loved most. Now lets move on to my favorite part... THE FOOD!

Basically everywhere you look in Paris there are little cafes. Sometimes as many as 4 on a block. Eat at as many of them as you can. They're all pretty incredible. If you're from America and have never traveled to Europe, something to note is that in Europe, slow service is good service. You have to ask for your check. dining out in Europe is an experience and they want you to relax and enjoy your time dining. There is no rush with food there. Its pretty life changing coming from a country where you are accustomed to being in and out of a restaurant within an hour and getting angry if your food hasn't shown up in 15 minutes.

Things you need to try at any Parisian restaurant: bread, butter, wine, and cheese. They're all usually locally sourced and man let me tell you... It just tastes DIFFERENT over there. The butter is the best butter I’ve ever had. When we got home I legitimately looked up where I can buy French butter here in San Diego... The wine? INSANE. One night I had 6 glasses (which is WAY way way too much for me) and the next morning I didn't wake up with any sort of hangover... I don't know what they're doing in France but wow it is amazing. The cheeses are also wonderful. All so different depending on the restaurant, and all taste soooo much fresher then any cheese I’ve had here in the US. It’s hard to describe.

Some of our favorite restaurants we came across while we were there:

BREAKFAST / LUNCH-

Any cafe usually has a Croque Monisuer or a Croque Madame which is basically a grilled cheese sandwich with ham and egg, they're amazing and make a great breakfast sandwich. We also ordered Cafe Au Lait’s everywhere we went for breakfast (Coffee with steamed milk.) And croissants are always a good idea.

La Terrasse Des Archives for an amazing avocado toast eggs Benedict

Hollybelly 5 for some americanized / English style breakfasts and some amazing lattes

Hardware Societie for another amazing Americanized / English breakfast

Breakfast in America is a full on American diner in the heart of Paris.

DINNER-

My favorite meals we ate in Paris were our dinners. There is endless amazing food options but here are some of our favorites.

Sacree Fleur did not disappoint. Located in MontMarte, this cozy restaurant will blow you away. We started with the cheese course, wine, and bread. Had steak and mashed potatoes as our main course, which by the way, continues to cook at your table on a hot slab of rock. SO COOL! And we finished with the creme brûlée, which actually made me CRY, it was so good.... (Terrass Hotel is walking distance away, the rooftop bar is open to the public and you get an amazing view of all of Paris including the Effie tower while enjoying some after dinner drinks, and you don't have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the rooftop bar.)

Le Petit Italien is an amazing option if you're wanting some Italian food in Paris.

Le Sancrerre in MontMarte was another stand out. I got the beef bourguignon and it was incredible.

Chez Janou was also outstanding. Perfect French dishes, great service. Our waiter was actually living in San Diego for awhile before he moved back home to Paris so it was a super random coincidence to eat there and have him as our waiter!

#paris #travel #france

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goodwriterwithbadhabits · 6 years ago

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Midnight Muse

I hope I managed to capture the angst correctly. I really like this.

Masterlist (And don’t forget, requests are still open)

Ever since you were young, only two things had ever been consistent, your art, and the beautiful man in your dreams. Well, he hadn't always been so beautiful and neither had your art, but they both grew with you. Ever since you were a little kid another person had always been in your dreams. You had never heard his voice, but you had watched him grow, watched as he dyed his hair different colors, and tried different styles. During the day, you were simply an art student, but at night the two of you played out strange and beautiful dreams. Sometimes you were a prince and a princess dancing at a ball with unfamiliar music playing in the back, other times you were saving him from a storm in the ocean, but you were always together, whether it be in dream or nightmare.

In the mornings when your alarm broke you from your beautiful revelry, you'd grab the nearest sketchbook and draw whatever he had looked like that night. Your sketchbooks were your life, and in them, the man of your dreams, but somehow, today you had managed to forget one of them in another class.

You ran across the college campus, trying to get back to the pottery classroom before the teacher started questioning your drawings. When you threw open the door, it wasn't the professor that held your book, but your classmate Xu Minghao.

“Excuse me, that's mine.” He looked up from your work, peering at you over the rim of his wire spectacles.

“You drew these?” He inquired, gesturing to the book.

“Yes, can I have it back please, I'm running late.” He obliged, closing the book and setting it in your hand.

“Do you know what you're putting in for the end of the year gallery for your evaluation?” He asked just as you had managed to get one foot outside. You turned back to him where he was nonchalantly examining his nails.

“Not yet, why?”

“Well, we don't have many pieces in the photo-realistic section. You should submit some pieces, I'm sure they'll end up with wall space.” Wall space was coveted, and the photo-realism section was where only top students presented their pieces. You had initially planned to submit one of your landscapes or maybe even an abstract piece but Xu Minghao, literally one of the top artists and co-coordinator of the gallery, was complimenting your photo-realism.

“I- I wouldn't even know which piece.” You stuttered finally, coming back into the room. He motioned for your book, casually flipping through it once you handed it to him. How long had he been looking at your art? He paused at one of the pages.

“This one I like, It has potential. Most of them do.” He offered, handing the book back to you. It was your dream boy, leaning on the ledge of a bridge overlooking the ocean as the sun set behind him. It wasn't done. You hadn't added nearly any color, save for his eyes, and the bridge was completely plain. “Here.” Minghao handed you a piece of paper with his number scrawled on it. “Finish a few of these and send me pictures, I'll see which one's you should submit.”

“Are you sure?” You tucked the number into your sketchbook and hugged it close to your chest. “Why do you care?”

“How do you know the man in your drawings?” He answered your question with one of his own.

“I-I don't” You mumbled.

“You don't? Then how can you draw him so well? The human mind can't make up faces, you must have seen him somewhere.” You looked everywhere but him, not seeing the smirk firmly planted on his lips.

“Its- its weird.” You really didn't want to tell this complete stranger about the dream boy.

“I won't tell anyone, I promise.” He assured you.

“He's from my dreams.” You said after a moment of silence. “I've seen him since we were kids.”

“Ah, okay. Well, text me soon so I can have your number. See you, Y/n” He left you alone in the room, staring after him as he so casually disappeared out the door.

“What, the fuck?” You questioned yourself. ~~

Jeonghan really didn't want to come to Minghao's gallery. All the pieces Hao had submitted he made all the members vote on so he would know their favorites, but for some reason, he was still forcing Jeonghan to go.

“Why am I here again?” He asked the younger man.

“There's something I need to show you,” Hao replied, dragging Han past most of the art towards a specific section.

“I'm not even getting a chance to look at the art,” Han complained.

“Hyung, you don't care about the art, but you'll care about this.” Hao pulled him in front of a series of paintings hanging on the wall.

“Its art.” Han shrugged.

“Hyung, look,” Hao stressed. “Really look at them.” Han huffed, pushing his hair back before looking at the works. He actually gasped out loud when he finally realized what was before him. It was him. He was in every painting, and every painting was one of the dreams. There was one of him on the black horse from when he was only a teenager, there was one of him as a soldier and a prince.

“That’s, that’s me.” He gasped again, pointing at the canvasses.

“Yeah, it is.” Hao nodded excitedly.

“How are they drawing me?” He turned back to the paintings. “And with such detail.”

“She says she's seen you in her dreams. Its destiny. She must be your soul mate.” Hao shook Han's arm with enough force Han thought it might pop out of its socket.

“But what if she isn't the girl from my dreams? That happens sometimes, I'd hate to be one of the exceptions.” Han reasoned.

“If everyone thought that way no one would ever find their soulmates.” Hao practically whined.

“I'm not going to look for her. And you aren't going to do anything about it, understood? Don't tell her you know me, I don't want to know her.” Hao stared up at his older friend in shock.

“You don't want to meet the love of your life?”

“Who said she's the love of my life? I'll decide who the love of my life is, thank you very much.” Han pulled away from Hao, clenching his fists so the younger man couldn't see his hands shake. “Have fun at the after-party Hao, and make sure you call one of us for a ride home. I'll see you later.” Han stormed away, leaving Hao speechless for the first time in a long time.

On the other side of a large vase of flowers, Y/n stood, having seen Jeonghan the moment he had walked in the gallery, and having heard everything. Her soulmate wanted nothing to do with her. Blinking up at the ceiling, Y/n forced back her tears, and with a shaking breath, she plastered on a fake smile and bounded over to Minghao.

“Hao!” She called, tapping him on the shoulder. He automatically beamed.

“Y/n, you look great.” He commented, eyes trailing down the sleek white and silver dress she wore.

“Thank you, and you were so right, I've been getting scouted by art galleries all over, who would have thought a 19-year-old would have been even looked at by the curator of the Louvre.” You gushed, pretending not to have even known Hao had come with a friend.

“The Louvre?” Hao gasped, “That’s amazing.”

“I know, I've actually been offered a place at an art school in Paris.” You seemed so excited, Hao couldn't help but be excited with you.

“Are you going to accept?”

“An all expenses paid, extended vacation in Paris? Why wouldn't I? Maybe my soulmate will be there?” It felt wrong to lie to the person who had quickly become one of your closest friends and little did you know, Minghao felt the same way.

“Maybe! When do you leave?”

“Oh I still have to finalize things, but I'll keep you updated.” You promised.

As you promised, you kept Minghao updated. You met up only a few more times before you moved away, the last time being the day before you flew out. You both tried to remain friends as long as possible, but with his band picking up and your schooling becoming more and more inundating, the friendship seemed to fade away, save for encouraging comments on Instagrams and the obligatory happy birthday wishes.

Five years passed quickly for both of you, you continued to see Jeonghan in your dreams, but you both became distant. Neither of you spoke about your dreams to others, instead pretending as if you simply didn't have soulmates, which wasn't unheard of.

Minghao was almost certain he was never going to see you again, until, one day as he was repacking his bag for the European leg of their tour, he received a text message. A real one, not a message on Instagram like usual.

From: Y/n L/n

Minghao, I know its been a very long time, but I saw that your coming tour dates correspond with the opening of my gallery. Would you and your bandmates like to come to the opening? I can reserve tickets for all of you.

To: Y/n L/n

I'd love to, but let me speak to my brothers and our managers, and I'll let you know for certain.

When the day of the gallery opening arrived, the boys and their managers found themselves outside of a gorgeous building, being prevented from entering.

“We're friends of Y/n's, she said she reserved tickets for us,” Minghao explained as best he could, but the French guard wouldn't budge, instead muttering into his walkie talkie. A moment later, a woman in a crisp suit stepped out from the building and made her way to them. Her dark hair was pulled up into a tight bun, she carried a clipboard, and gave the group a bright red smile as she approached.

“Madame Roxanna, these men claim to know Madame Y/n.”

“Qui, they do. These are her favored guests. Our apologies for the delay, please, this way.”

“Minghao, who is this woman you know?” Seungcheol asked. Minghao just smiled.

The inside of the building was just as beautiful as the outside. The group was led into a room with a large angel statue facing away from them in the center.

“Minghao! You made it.” A woman, draped in a flowing silver dress excused herself from the conversation she was having with some old socialite and floated over to them.

“Y/n?” Minghao gasped. “The pictures don't do you justice.” He complimented.

“You've only gotten more handsome as well.” She clasped his hand, kissing his cheeks in classic French fashion. “And these must be your bandmates, its a pleasure to meet you. I must say I've become quite a fan.” She smiled warmly, making Jeonghan's heart twist as he remembered the last gallery of hers he went to and all the things he had declared. “Please, enjoy the party, have some fun.” She locked eyes with Jeonghan for a split second before returning to Minghao. “Come, I have so much to show you.”

As they walked away the others began to disperse, taking in the paintings, and plates and sculptures that adorned the many rooms of the gallery.

Jeonghan moved slowly through the pieces, admiring the way her brush strokes were evident on her acrylic paintings. Making his way back to the first room, the angel room, he maneuvered around the large statue to see its face, finally understanding why so many people had been staring.

The angel was him.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but he was sure people were taking pictures.

“This is my favorite piece, “Cupid, the Killer Angel” it took nearly five years to complete.” Jeonghan recognized your voice but continued to look at the statue.

“Why such a heartbreaking name?”

“Because the muse broke my heart.” Jeonghan's heart twisted, and he wondered if she had noticed how distant he had become in their dreams.

“How did he do that?”

“I heard you all those years ago, Jeonghan.” His name sounded so right in her voice, but his heart sank to his stomach at her words. “When you declared you didn't want to know me. When you forced someone as sweet as Minghao to lie to his friend, when you turned your cheek towards fate and became a coward.” Her words dripped both venom and sadness. He wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure what. She sighed heavily, “And yet, I cannot hate you.” He finally turned to her, finding her staring up her statue, “Had you not said all that, I would never have run away to Paris, and all this,” She gestured to the expanse of the building. “This would have never happened.”

“I'm sure it would have, you're an amazing artist.” She finally looked him in the eyes, eyes she had seen every night for most of her life, and yet they somehow still seemed so foreign.

“But I would have only ever painted you, I wouldn't have created this, or any of the paintings here, because I would have been too busy chasing after the idea that you might have loved me.”

“Y/n.” Jeonghan began.

“Don't, there's no need to lie to me now. After all these years, I know you too well.” She closed her eyes, holding up a hand to stop him. “Enjoy the gallery Jeonghan, then please leave, don't break my heart further.” She dropped her hand, walking away before he had the chance to say anything.

As he watched her make her way to the other end of the room a sudden burst of courage washed over him. He leaped up onto the pedestal that “Cupid” stood on and cleared his throat, wanting to figure out his words.

“Jeonghan, what the hell? Get down from there.” Seungcheol ordered.

“You're right. I was a coward, I am a coward. I was too scared of accidentally breaking your heart, I didn't want to give you a chance.” You spun to face him, as did everyone else in the room. “I never wanted to hurt you and yet I did just that. I made Minghao lie to you, but worst of all, I made you lie to yourself. I made you try to convince yourself that fate was wrong, that I wasn't meant for you, that you aren't meant for me.” He felt a weight lifting off his shoulders even as security officers made their way into the room. “But I was a fool. I am a fool. I am your fool. I will always be your fool, even if you decide never to speak to me again, if you decide to cut all ties, to never sleep again in order to never see me again, I will still be your fool, I will still be in love with you. I tried to pretend I didn't want you, I tried to pretend I wasn't in love with you but I am. Every time I perform a love song, I'm thinking of you, every time I see a happy couple in the street or see soulmates find each other, I wish it was us.” Jeonghan blew out a breath. “What I'm trying to say is, I am so sorry, for breaking your heart, for being a dick, for ruining yours and Hao's friendship. I know saying sorry isn't enough, and it probably doesn't help that I'm standing on a statue of myself. I know this seems like a publicity stunt or a ploy to get you to fall for me, but I swear, on every god out there, that I mean every word I have said.” The room was silent for a few moments as you simply stared at him, making his heart race faster with every passing second. “Please say something, anything, even if its just ordering those officers to arrest me.”

“Jeonghan, I can't just forgive you for five years of utter suffering.” You started, looking off to the side as you thought, “Not in one moment, but if you mean it, you truly mean everything you just said, well.” You finally locked eyes with him, a smile dancing across your lips. “Then I suppose, its a start.”

“I mean it, I do, I would do anything to earn your forgiveness.” He gushed, making you cross your arms over your chest and stare at him.

“Anything?”

“Anything.” He nodded.

“Then get off my damn statue, pabo.”

#yoon jeonghan #Seventeen Jeonghan #jeonghan imagines #Seventeen #soulmates #goodwriterwithbadhabits #request

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the-zodiacs-written-in-the-stars · 5 years ago

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Writer’s Month Day 19: Mythology

Set in about chapter 3ish or so, time-wise!

Mythology had always fascinated Angelique. For most her age, it came from TV, growing up around Disney's Hercules and shows like Xena. Angel however, she had gotten her passion for it from something else entirely. Her papa worked as a curator at the Louvre. It had always been Angelique's favorite place in all of Paris. The Louvre. She loved visiting her papa at work. And she still remembered, when she had been really little and the only child still, for just how long her papa would entertain her. He would give her private tours in his time off and even during his lunch-breaks when she was lucky. The paintings were pretty, but what had always fascinated her the most were the statues. The renaissance statues of ancient heroes. She would sit in front of them for hours, staring in awe at every detail and listening to her papa tell her the stories behind it.

Her parents had mistaken that interest for her wanting to become an artist. Her mamma had been incredibly excited about it – Adelheide had always been an artistic soul and she had thought she would get to share her passion with her daughter too. Especially considering the bond Angelique shared with her papa over the museum-visits so she too wanted something of her own. She tried a lot, tried teaching Angelique to draw and paint and sculpt, and then she moved on to photography – and that was where they figured it out. Angel hated being behind the camera. But in front of it? Twirling, posing, just like the amazing statues. She wanted to be immortalized posing in fun dynamic ways just like the statues. She loved modeling.

She was sixteen when she took her first modeling gig, after a lot of begging with her parents. Much to everyone's surprise, she blew up. Then again, she was a delicate, very fair white-skinned blonde with large, blue eyes. She was what sold. All too soon, France loved her. Then, Europe loved her – and then the US did. At nineteen, Angel moved to Los Angeles to work for Gold Standard.

“You've been even more chipper than usual, Liebling”, murmured her boyfriend. [German: darling]

He had rolled onto his side to wrap his arms around Angel's waist and keep her in place where she sat on the edge of their bed. She smiled softly as she turned to look down at him while he, in snail-pace, crawled up to rest his head in her lap. Gently, she started running her fingers through his wild ginger curls as Sebastian looked up at her with sleepy, bright eyes.

“Did I wake you, mon amour?”, asked Angel softly. “I'm sorry. You should sleep some more.”

“How can I when my girlfriend is looking radiant like a goddess?”, asked Sebastian.

“I look like always”, laughed Angel confused while tying her favorite bow into her hair.

“Yes. Like I said. A radiant goddess”, confirmed Sebastian.

He smiled and buried his face in Angel's stomach while she laughed even louder. “You're such a charmer. Come on, I have to go to work, you have to let go of me.”

“...Can't I just come with you?”, hummed Sebastian. “I love watching you pose. You look so happy and excited when you do. Pretty please?”

“Basty”, laughed Angel and shook her head. “You know you can't. Company secrets and all. No one is allowed to see it before it is all done. Besides... you have work to go to too?”

“I know”, sighed Sebastian. “But it's not nearly as exciting as spending a day with you, my love.”

“Truly, truly cheesy”, commented Angel and flipped his nose.

He grinned up at her. “Okay, fine. You're right. I'm meeting Mel for breakfast.”

“See?”, chimed Angel and reached for her pearl-earrings. “Have a good day, Sebastian.”

“You too. I'll see you tonight”, replied Sebastian and kissed Angel's cheek.

With a spring in her steps did Angel leave the apartment and head to work. She got six drinks from a café on her work there and left one coffee with the receptionist, who always had a smile for everyone. Upstairs, she first went to visit her best friend Joss. Every morning, after waking up, Angel quickly texted Joss to ask for the preferred pronouns of the day.

“Looking grumpy as ever, my dear”, chimed Angel and kissed Joss' cheek.

“Mh?”, grunted Joss, blinking a couple times. “Been here for two hours already. Got to settle a dispute between Lizzy and Aline about color-schemes. Had to navigate... three galas for Miss Gold. So yes, the day started off irritating enough to make me grumpy.”

“Good thing I brought you your favorite tea then”, smiled Angel, handing it to her. “Join me?”

Joss looked contemplative for a moment before he decided that he might as well check in on the biggest project they currently had. With the tea in one hand, Joss got up and followed Angel toward the shooting, where Noxia was already in the middle of barking orders and setting everything up for today's shoot. Angel stopped in front of Noxia and handed her a pitch-black coffee.

“Here. So there will be less yelling”, smiled Angel, kissing Noxia's cheeks.

“...Thank you”, grumbled Noxia. “Go get changed. And make-up. Shoo.”

Angelique smiled knowingly at her before making her way into make-up, handing the next cup off to her make-up artist. Now there were only two left, one for herself and the other – for her partner.

“Coffee”, groaned Tony relieved as he sank into the chair next to her. “Blessed coffee. Thank you.”

“You're a very bad Brit”, noted Angel teasingly. “You should drink tea.”

“Coffee is one of the few things Americans do right”, stated Tony seriously. “Few.”

“So snarky. Comes into our country, takes jobs away from hard-working hot American models and then complaining about the country”, noted Noxia very dryly. “Typical Brit. Get changed. Go.”

Tony offered her the most dazzling smile and very slowly took a sip of his coffee. Joss chuckled as he came to lean against the vanity and waiting while Tony and Angel hurried off to get into their costumes. Gorgeous, well-fit classic Greece style but made of fur. Angel looked at herself in the mirror, smiling at how powerful she felt like that, with the silver tiara.

“Artemis and Apollo were always my favorites, you know?”, commented Tony from the changing room next to her. “I don't know, the sun and the moon as siblings, actual siblings who also share something – the realm of celestial bodies and also both being archers. I always liked that. All the other gods were always so... so all over the place, with no real connection or sense to their realms.”

“I always liked the duality of Artemis and Apollo”, tagged Joss on when the two joined the others again. “The strength of the female moon, the softness of the male sun.”

Angel and Tony took their seats again to get their make-up and hair done. “I guess Artemis and Apollo are pretty cool. Though personally, I always loved Poseidon the most. I've always been a fan of The Little Mermaid and living under the sea.”

“Yeah, that checks out”, confirmed Tony when he side-eyed her.

Joss smiled at them with a thoughtful look. He had to admit, he had always found the Greek gods interesting too. Now even more than before. His fingers round his cuff-link, the one with the Gemini gem on it. Gemini, the former companion of Athena. The gods used to just be stories Joss found interesting because they mirrored a different culture than the one he had grown up in – and in a way, he had liked to dive into a different culture, put a new paint-job on his soul to distance himself from his family and those who had turned their backs on him. But now he looked at the gods with different eyes. They had just been human. Humans, who had bonded with aliens to gain their special powers and abilities, fighting evil and turning into the stuff of legends. Over the millennia, the Zodiacs had bonded with so many heroes throughout different countries.

He watched how Tony and Angel, in full make-up and costume, got ready for their shoot and he watched them. Artemis and Apollo. There was something so fierce and authentic to them that it felt more like a window into the past. Artemis and Apollo were not just myths, pieces of fiction, they had been real people. And Joss found himself wondering, had they looked anything like Tony and Angel, or entirely different? What had the been like, their personalities and life? There was so much to learn and so much to see, not just the present and the past, but also the future.

#writersmonth2019Story: Written in the Stars #Project: Written in the Stars

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grumpyhedgehogs · 7 years ago

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Enough

Tahani Al-Jamil should not be in this supermarket parking lot. She really, really should not. But here she is anyway, staring vaguely around her in search of her car and determinedly refusing to acknowledge the blurriness in her vision. Someone is yelling at that poor boy who was handing out environmental flyers earlier. Her groceries (a bottle-okay, maybe three bottles- of the most expensive wine in the place, which was much too cheap all the same, so it’ll probably be godawful) bang dully against her hip. Tahani can feel them leaving smears of condensation on her skirts.

Something bumps into her impeccable, sky blue, designer heels. It’s a bottle of something called “Lonely Girl Margarita Mix.” Tahani thinks she might have a simply ravishing dress that same color.

“Hey, you jag, a little help here?” Tahani, still a little dazed, believes she should probably be at least a bit affronted, and turns to the clumsy stranger. She’s a short- tiny really, she reminds Tahani of that Disney fairy- blonde. Her clothes are truly atrocious, and do the woman no favors.

“Oh shit, not just a jag,” the woman says, face going strangely blank. “A really, really sexy jag.”

“Excuse me?” Tahani can feel the moisture in her eyes receding a bit. “What is a jag? I have the feeling you’re insulting me, ma’am.”

The other woman’s face goes red in less than a second. It doesn’t match her lipstick. “Ma’am? Wh-“

“Look out!”

“Duck!”

“Get out of the way!”

There’s a cacophonous jangling somewhere off to the side and behind her. Instinctually, Tahani lunges forward, tipping precariously on her heels, and collides roughly with the tiny woman. She and Tahani go crashing to the ground, and the jangling (shopping carts, what on Earth?) passes by. The woman bangs her head hard against the concrete, and even though she’s trying not to, Tahani can feel that her bodyweight is crushing the woman’s chest. (It’s a very nice chest, very nice, very soft, but Tahani should really not be thinking about that right now.)

Before either of them can move, another terrible noise, that of grating metal and screeching tires draws Tahani’s attention. A truck with a quite uncouth sign being hauled on it has smashed into the shopping carts. Well, then.

“Holy shit,” the blonde underneath Tahani wheezes, not even struggling to get up. “A really, really sexy jag just saved my life. You’re my hero, sexy skyscraper lady.”

This is how Tahani meets Eleanor Shellstrop.

It starts with the art. It’s small, she really shouldn’t make this big of a deal out of it. Really, she’s making a scene. Mother would be so disappointed.

But she wanted to remember that day in the garden with Mother. She loved that day. They were alone, walking the grounds. It was spring, and beautiful. Tahani loved the lavender blooms the most.

Mother was listening to her, nodding along as Tahani chatted about China’s growing GDP, the newest additions to the Louvre, and other small talk. And then the bird.

It was such a small creature, Tahani’s heart tightened instantly. She’d always had a soft spot for small things, like if she didn’t protect them they might break.

And it was so-normal. Not richly colored or feathered, not regal and proud. But it was still fine, still delicate, and so, so still. She wasn’t used to seeing something like a bird, something so active and joyful, be so still.

So she draws it. She starts as soon as they get home, because Mother hadn’t seemed to notice anything special about the bird when Tahani pointed it out to her, and if Tahani can just get this drawing right, maybe Mother will understand.

Mother doesn’t understand.

The woman who would turn out to be Eleanor Shellstrop is bleeding from the back of her head. Tahani lets her hands flutter over her fine blonde strands for a moment, feeling useless. Goodness Tahani, don’t you know you need to stop the bleeding? Head wounds are quite dangerous you know, says the Kamilah in her head. She grits her teeth so hard her jaw creaks and offers the woman her silk handkerchief.

“Thank you, gorgeous,” the fairy woman says, and then, “holy hell, I can’t believe you actually just saved me from being crushed by an erectile dysfunction ad. I owe you, man.”

Tahani is so numb, she can’t react to the abrupt change in nicknames. “I have to get you to a hospital. Head wounds are quite dangerous, you know.”

The blonde, now listing dangerously to the side and trying to dab the blood away from her hair ineffectually, leers. “You asking me out on a date now, skyscraper?”

Tahani doesn’t know what to say to that, so instead she puts a steadying hand on the woman’s elbow and leads her to her car.

She tries again and again, over the years. Straight A’s at boarding schools, fine art exhibits and modeling in Paris, charity drives and trips to undeveloped Africa. She tries and tries and keeps trying and it’s not enough, never never nevernevernevernevernevernever-

Eleanor Shellstrop is sent home from the emergency room with a mild concussion, the good kind of painkillers, and instructions not to sleep that night. The passenger seat in Tahani’s tasteful hybrid is stain with blood. She tries not to look at it, which means not looking at Eleanor Shellstrop, which means there’s an awkward silence from the hospital to Eleanor’s apartment. It’s in-a not very good part of town. She doesn’t like the look of the sagging roof or the peeling paint of the walls, but continues to say nothing.

Eleanor avoids eye contact as she unbuckles herself-Tahani thinks maybe she’s embarrassed by the address, or maybe just tired, or annoyed that Tahani cost her hundreds in medical bills or-

“Hey man, thanks for bringing me home.” Eleanor swipes her hair out of her face and gives Tahani a strained smile. “And for saving my life. Have I already thanked you for that?”

Tahani has answered this question five times now. “Yes, Eleanor, I think it might have come up.”

The (sweet) smile falters, and Tahani’s gut twists immediately. She isn’t trying to be mean. “Ok, well, thanks again, but you’re probably really tired, and I don’t have enough room in my bed for two, if you know what I mean, so I’ll just be going.” She makes to get out of the car, and Tahani is surprised to find her hand clamped on the other woman’s arm.

“Wait!” Too loud, too loud is such a small car, God, what has happened to you, Tahani? “Do you have someone to, you know…?”

“Make sure I don’t crack my head open again and die horribly?” Eleanor says grandly, but her eyes are darting down and to the left. “Nah, I’m fine on my own, thanks, really-“

“No no no,” Tahani has no idea what’s coming out of her mouth right now, “that won’t do at all. The doctor said you have to be kept awake and you won’t be able to do it yourself. I’ll come with you.”

“Look, I know you’re on like, a heroic streak or something, but I’m done being a damsel in distress for this week. Check back later, yeah?” Eleanor tries to pull away, annoyance evident in the curl of her lips, but Tahani can’t make her hand uncurl from the strange-parking-lot-fairy-woman’s arm.

“I’m not trying to condescend, Eleanor. I just want to make sure you’re alright. It’s my fault you got hurt in the first place.”

Eleanor snorts. “You got a martyr complex lady? I don’t even know your name.” But she isn’t trying to pull away anymore, and her hand holding her keys has loosened around them.

“I’m Tahani Al-Jamil,” Tahani smiles, for the first time in a long damn time. The muscles moving in her cheeks feel foreign. “Lovely to meet you. Now won’t you invite me in?”

1. It’s not like Kamilah is mean per se. She never hurts Tahani, doesn’t punch or kick or bite. No, that would be improper for a girl of her sophisticated twelve years. And Tahani, at fourteen, can’t say she’s being bullied by her little sister.

No, it’s just-well.

It’s sort of like Tahani just disappears as soon as Kamilah is in the room. She walks in and it’s like Mother has finally found something to distract her from Tahani’s dreadful conversation. She appears at the doorway and Father seems to need to discuss politics and art with her at once.

Tahani, while acknowledged is not-there. She’s alone, but not. She feels like the hallways are growing longer, the walls between herself and her family thickening, closing in, suffocating her in silence. She’s on an island.

But like she said, Kamilah is never mean. She’s just not ever very nice either.

Eleanor, it turns out, can be kind of an asshole. Not that Tahani will ever say that to her face of course. Or even out loud. She kind of feels bad even thinking it.

Nevertheless, it’s sometimes true. Eleanor took Tahani’s phone that night and plugged her number in under “Parking Lot Hottie,” and wouldn’t give it back for another hour, which she spent running down the battery playing Angry Birds. She even beat Tahani’s high score, the little twerp. It was dead by the time Tahani got it back in her clutches. She raved for half the night about something called “Jersey Shore,” complained when Tahani won’t let her drink anything but water, and eventually threw up on Tahani’s designer shoes. She’d actually seemed to feel pretty bad about that last one, seeing as how Tahani couldn’t shut her apologies up for hours. Eleanor finally fell asleep on the couch after Tahani concluded that she wouldn’t die in her sleep in the very early morning light. She’d mumbled something about Tahani taking the bed for all her hard work, but Tahani felt she didn’t want to see how this mess of a woman kept her bed. She’d left in the morning wondering vaguely what she’d gotten herself into with “Parking Lot Hottie” and feeling a strange lack of regret about it. (She didn’t even remember her forgotten wine and misery session planned for that night until three days later.)

Eleanor texts constantly too. Not even just a few times a day, but all. The. Time. Little things like “Just saw a kid on a skateboard eat it. LOL!”

“Do you think I could score Hamilton tickets if I went all out pretending I have cancer?”

“Ugh, work sucks, I know, she left me roses by the stairs, surprises let me know she cares!!!!”

(There’s a twinge in Tahani’s chest at that last one. Who is this mystery woman leaving Eleanor roses?)

She seems to have taken a shine to Tahani, which works out pretty well because there’s something about Eleanor. Something makes Tahani keep coming back to check up on her, make sure she’s alright. At first, she believes it might be residual guilt, seeing as how she caused the woman’s concussion, or maybe she herself is just lonely. She’s never really lived alone before, and now here she is in a forgiven country and her family-. Well. She thinks maybe Eleanor knows a little something about loneliness, anyway, because she never fails to let Tahani in, no matter how late it is.

But still, when it comes down to it, Tahani thinks maybe-well, maybe Eleanor is a good thing. She doesn’t seem to realize who Tahani is, anyway, and never really mentions things like Tahani’s expensive car and house and designer clothes further than to cat-call her when they meet. She doesn’t mention anything about the time when Tahani first shows up on her doorstep at midnight, doesn’t say anything about her running eyeliner or the imprint of her phone on her cheek or the way her dress isn’t hanging just so on her frame tonight. She lets Tahani in, takes her to the bathroom and stuffs a package of makeup removing towelettes in her hand (terribly cheap material, she worries for the fragile skin of Eleanor’s cheeks having to endure this every night) and puts on something called “The Real House Wives of Atlanta” when Tahani composes herself. It’s a horrid show, but Tahani doesn’t mind it as long as Eleanor keeps pressing up against her side like that.

“Do you need to, like, talk about it or something?” Tahani turns but Eleanor isn’t looking at her. She’s twisting her hands (long, delicate fingers, they’re painted the same sky blue Tahani had been wearing that first day) in her sleeves and staring resolutely at the T.V.

“Not really, thank you.” The words feel stiff in her mouth, and Tahani shuffles just a bit closer to Eleanor to take the bite out. Eleanor, for her part, leans in even more, warm and soft and comforting.

“Oh thank God, because honestly I’m terrible at this.”

“At what?”

Eleanor’s smile isn’t pleasant. “Being friends with people, I guess. Used to being on my own.”

“You’re not terrible at it, Eleanor,” Tahani objects softly. On the spur if the moment, she reaches over, slipping her hand between Eleanor’s worrying ones and laces their fingers. “You’re not terrible at all.”

Okay, maybe Eleanor isn’t an asshole, after all.

She packs her bags, calls the chauffer, and buys a plane ticket, the first one she sees. It’s to Austin, Texas.

Her parents don’t realize she’s gone until about a month later. Tahani declines the call. She can hardly see the phone through tears. She decides she needs some wine.

They forgot her fucking birthday. She’d called, specially, to invite them. They said they’d be there. They said they’d be there.

She really needs that wine.

“Is it too early in our friendship to ask favors?” Tahani blurts as soon as Eleanor opens her door. She shifts anxiously, feeling unsteady on her heels for the first time in years, and nearly pitches forward when Eleanor moves aside.

“Um, I guess it depends,” Eleanor says uncertainly, laying a hand on her arm. “Is this in any way illegal, having to do with dead bodies, or could get me put on a watch list?”

“No, of course not!”

“Darn.” She smiles up at Tahani, and not for the first time, Tahani catches herself tipping toward the blonde, pulled into orbit. She wonders how her lipstick tastes, if it’s chalky like her own or chemically flavored. Oh, maybe that tasteful natural stuff some companies are rolling out.

Eleanor has been speaking. She looks bemused. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” Nice, Tahani.

“I asked what have you got for me, chief?”

“Oh. Oh! Yes! Well, you see, I’ve been trying to get back out there, see what’s going on in the charity world, maybe help funding for some hospitals, cancer research, you know, and I was talking to this nice young doctor, Wilson, I believe, you’ll love him, and he said that they might be able to set something up in a few months and so I-“

“Tahani, I love you, but you need to breathe.” Eleanor laughs, and misses the way Tahani feels like she’s been hit by a truck. “What’s the endgame?”

“I’m putting on a charity function at John’s Hopkins in the fall. Do you-would you like to come as my-with me?”

“Why Ms. Al-Jamil,” Eleanor smiles slyly, “I thought you’d never ask.”

She’s sent to a boarding school when she’s old enough (she doesn’t want to go, she wants to stay, here with Mother, please, she’s only eight). She tries her hardest, ignores the whispers and the stares she gets because she’s rich and new and she cries at night. She ignores that she hasn’t gotten a call from her parents by Christmas.

They forget her there. The Headmaster has to call, coughing awkwardly as his secretary offers Tahani a lukewarm mug of instant coffee. It’s all they have. The pantries are empty-they weren’t expecting to put up a student all winter.

Her father sounds put-upon and annoyed. He says she’ll have to wait till morning; the private jet is being used at the moment, his other daughter has a dance recital in front of some very important political figures. He says Tahani will understand.

The night of the ball, Tahani cruises to a stop in the parking lot of Eleanor’s apartment building and steadfastly refuses to wipe her clammy palms on her dress. (It’s a nice, sophisticated black number, off the shoulder and long.)

“It’s just a night out, Tahani. You’re just friends. You do this with friends.” She utters, ignoring the squeeze in her heart at the words. “You dolt, just go up and ring the bell.”

She goes up. She does not ring the bell.

Instead, Tahani rocks back and forth on her heels, chewing her lip and worrying about lipstick stains on her teeth to distract herself from the fact that her heart is beating much too fast and she can’t seem to raise her hand to the doorbell. Finally, lacking the grace and elegance she was raised to possess, Tahani bumps her elbow accidentally on the wall, and the bell goes off. Oh, hell.

The door swings open only seconds later, like Eleanor had been waiting nearby. It sends a flush of warmth into Tahani’s stomach, but that’s nothing compared to the heat in her face when she sees Eleanor.

She’s beautiful. Her dress is much shorter than Tahani’s, to her knees, and a dark forest green. It’s also very, um, form-fitting. There’s a large, beautiful necklace settled between her collarbones which are much too prominent in this dress, fragile and beautiful, and has Tahani mentioned that Eleanor looks quite beautiful tonight?

The green reminds Tahani of that Disney fairy again, for a moment, and her cheeks flame.

“Oh. Hello, Eleanor. How-“ She cuts off, coughing lightly. Her throat is too tight all of a sudden. “How are you? Don’t you look lovely tonight.”

“Same goes for you, stud!” Eleanor’s voice seems a bit too loud. “Look at that hot stuff.” She gestures to Tahani’s cleavage, grimaces and drops her hand. “Uh, sorry.”

“Oh no, no, I mean, thank you.”

Silence.

“Well!” Still too loud. “Should we get this party rolling, or what?”

Tahani sighs in relief. “Yes, please, I mean, of course, I mean, um…” Stupidly, she offers her arm.

Eleanor takes it and sighs in relief. Tahani absolutely does not pull her closer.

Tahani cannot take this anymore. Her own father, who not moments before berated her for raising over five million dollars, offered the same amount for a lunch date with his daughter who was not her. Like it was nothing. Like it was obvious. Like Tahani was nothing. He didn’t even look at her.

She can’t do this anymore. She’d done, tired, wrung out. She’s tried everything, all her life. Nothing pleases them, not like Kamilah can. She’s an afterthought to her own parents and God damn them, Tahani is better than that. She has to be. She has to be. She has to be something.

It’s silent in the car after the auction. Her parents sit across from her in the limo, her sister beside her (she can’t help herself, the flesh on the arm nearest Kamilah crawls). No one looks at her. She looks at no one. She doesn’t want to see their faces.

Eleanor is a terrible dancer. In the span of three hours, she’s stepped on the toes of no less than twelve doctors. She slinks back over to where Tahani has been watching (not giggling!) and slumps in her seat. Tahani determinedly does not look at the fantastic view of Eleanor’s cleavage that gives her.

“Cheer up, Eleanor, it’s not so bad!” She hands the other woman a flute of champagne. Eleanor gulps it down like a man dying of thirst. Tahani winces.

“It is too. All these hot, rich people are watching me make a fool out of myself. They probably think I’m some loser.”

Tahani knows from experience that she needs to stop this train before it derails any further. Eleanor has this thing with inferiority (not that Tahani sees what she has to worry about-she’s by far the most interesting person here).

“They aren’t. No one thinks you’re a loser.” She’s shaking but the champagne seems to have loosen her tongue. “I don’t think you’re a loser. I think you’re the best person here.”

Eleanor snorts inelegantly and side-eyes her. “How much have you had to drink, beautiful?”

“I’m serious.” Tahani turns to her fully, on the edge of her seat. “You’re the only real person here, you know? And you’re beautiful too, Eleanor.”

Eleanor blinks, stares, blushes. She adverts her eyes. Tahani feels a smile coming on. Adorable.

“Geez, charming, buy a girl dinner first.”

“I did. I bought everyone here’s dinner.”

“Oh shut up,” Eleanor’s grinning now. “Well if I’m so great, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, skyscraper?”

Tahani thinks for only a moment before she’s on her feet, a hand extended. “May I have this dance?”

Eleanor opens her mouth and closes it, doing her best impression of a fish. She takes Tahani’s hand silently. With confidence and a giddiness that threatens to overwhelm, Tahani leads them both out onto the floor, clearing a path with a dazzling smile. The patrons stare a bit before going back to their food and conversation. No doubt word would get back to her family that their eldest was now interested in women by the end of the night.

But Tahani doesn’t care about that or the stares as she swivels around to take Eleanor into her arms. She guides Eleanor’s hand to her own shoulder, but Eleanor’s other hand needs no help finding hers and lacing their fingers (not traditional, but what about this is?). She wraps her own arm securely around Eleanor’s waist, hand spread high on the shorter woman’s back. Can’t be too indecent now. They begin to move slowly in a circle, Tahani’s skirts brushing Eleanor’s legs. She can feel the heat of her skin through the fabric. It makes Tahani’s mouth go dry.

Oh dear.

Eleanor does step on her feet. Tahani doesn’t react. At least she’s not wearing terribly pointed heels.

Eleanor feels so small in her arms. She’s got at least a foot of height on the blonde, and her heels aren’t helping the situation, low as they are. But the awkward height difference is made up for when Eleanor tentatively rests her head on Tahani’s shoulder. The weight is reassuring.

Tahani can see those fragile collarbones again. She feels those elegant fingers in between her own, lets the blonde hair tickle at her nose as she drops her head to press her cheek against Eleanor’s scalp. She realizes she’s marveling, but she can’t seem to bring herself to care. Eleanor is something small and soft, (maybe with a hard shell, but Tahani knows better than to accept that from Eleanor) something comforting. She reminds Tahani, in that moment (and others, from then on) of that bird she’d seen in the garden that day with Mother. Tiny and average, but so beautiful amidst the extraordinary surroundings. Entirely different. She feels that same urge to protect the delicate woman in her arms that she felt for that bird. Like if she just kept Eleanor in her arms, everything would be okay.

When Eleanor raises her head, Tahani doesn’t move back and they end up staring into each other’s eyes. It’s really too unfair that Eleanor has got disarming eyes in addition to her-everything else, really.

She kisses her before Eleanor can break the nebulous silence they’d fallen into. Her lipstick doesn’t taste much of anything, actually, but Eleanor tastes of champagne and shrimp for some reason, and laughter, too, when she giggles into Tahani’s mouth.

They break apart, and Tahani can’t stop smiling.

Tahani and Kamilah stop talking. Or maybe they never really started, she can’t honestly tell at some point. She tries but she can’t recall an exact time Kamilah has ever spoken directly to her, when it’s not to correct her on some political point or definition or other.

Tahani can’t think of a time her sister has even looked her in the eye. For something so small, it amazes Tahani how dehumanized she feels by it.

But again, Kamilah never says anything insulting to her, never lashes out or yells or cries to their parents because of her. She’s just better than that. (The silence is worse than screams, sometimes.)

She’s better than Tahani. And they (and their parents) both know it.

She hasn’t spoken to her parents in months. Even Eleanor, who Tahani knows understands what it’s like to have more than a little disappointment in your own parents, is starting to ask her about calling them. On the one hand, it’s heartwarming that Eleanor has changed so much that she cares deeply enough to bug her about this, but on the other hand, it’s annoying.

“C’mon, skyscraper, it’s just one ten minute conversation. Break the ice, let them know you’re alive, rub your continued and thriving existence in their faces. Easy!”

“It’s not that easy, Eleanor,” she sighs over breakfast. “I’ve been out of the public eye for so long, it’s just a matter of time when I call them before they ask me to hold one charity ball or another and I just- can’t.”

Eleanor shuffles over to her, wrapping her arms around Tahani’s shoulders and dropping her chin on her head. Like this, with Tahani sitting and Eleanor standing, they’re almost the same height. Tahani will not admit that she might abandon her ramrod sitting technique to sink into Eleanor’s soft skin for a moment.

“Your birthday’s still got you fucked up, huh?” Oh Eleanor, always the blunt approach.

“They didn’t even show up.” Tahani’s voice is smaller than she thought it’d be. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. “I’m sorry, I’m making a scene.”

“Tahani, there’s no one else here. Make a scene if you want to.” Eleanor slides into the seat adjacent to hers, and Tahani’s shoulders feel colder for her absence. “And BT-dubs, this ain’t a scene, mister. A scene has to at least involve tears, screaming and/or items being thrown. This isn’t even a tantrum. I, personally, would be having what is termed a meltdown if my parents were even half-good and still missed my humongous birthday bash that Beyoncé attended.”

Tahani’s cheeks heat and she ducks her head. “She only showed her face before going home, really.”

“Um, sorry, all I heard was that you and Beyoncé were in the same room. Honestly, if I saw you two standing together, I think my heart might give out. Too much attractive in the same vicinity, know what I’m sayin?”

Tahani laughs, and neglects to call her parents for one more day.

The will is the last time Tahani sees her sister. Lead lines her stomach, and she can barely stop herself from checking her make-up repeatedly after reapplying it after the funeral. Waterproof eyeliner my ass, says the Eleanor in her head, and even with the pit swallowing her heart, with the fog in her brain and her silent, judgmental sister at her elbow, Tahani fights down a giggle.

She’s trying not to react, really she is, but the familiar ache is still there when the lawyer reads out all that was left for Kamilah. It worsens when she glances at her sister and sees those lips twisted up into that satisfied smile. She can’t resist one last jab.

“And what about their second favorite daughter?”

And then, the final blow-they spelled her name wrong. The name they picked, the name on her birth certificate, the name she’s lived with for over two decades now. God damn them.

She knows what Eleanor would say. Eleanor would throw caution to the wind, would yell and scream and throw things. She’d make herself known in ways Tahani has never and will never be able to, she’d leave here experiencing at least some small bit of catharsis.

Tahani just puts her cardigan on inside out and makes a fool of herself.

Eleanor is quiet when Tahani gets back. She helps her out of her cardigan, doesn’t comment on the fact it’s on the wrong way round, and puts it in the closet. (It’d taken a long time after she’d moved in for Eleanor to realize the floor didn’t count as available closet space.) When Tahani slouches onto the couch, Eleanor bustles into the kitchen. Tahani can hear her rummaging in the pantry, then running water, then setting something on the stove. She’s thankful the blonde is taking her time. She doesn’t think she can talk at the moment.

When she returns, Eleanor’s got a steaming mug in hand. It’s got a disgruntled looking cat on it with the words “This Is My Happy Face.” It’s Eleanor’s.

“Tea,” Eleanor says softly, prodding Tahani in the shoulder with her foot until she sits up. “Hopefully I didn’t burn it this time.”

“Th-“ Tahani’s voice comes out like gravel. She clears her throat. It’s too tight. “Thank you.”

“Hush, gorgeous,” Eleanor says, slipping onto the couch beside her and reaching up to card her fingers through the hair pooling over Tahani’s shoulder. “Just drink it. Give yourself some time. God knows you need it.”

“I didn’t talk to them after my birthday.”

“I know.”

“It’s been almost a year.”

“I know.”

“I was angry at them when they died.”

“I know.”

Tahani bursts into tears. Years ago, Eleanor would have rushed out of the room screaming. Now she takes the mug and sets it on the coffee table before reeling Tahini in. She doesn’t seem to mind the tears soaking into the skin of her neck, her hair. “Let it go, skyscraper. I got you.”

“Why didn’t they love me, El-El-“ She hiccups, sobs. “I tr-tr-tried so h-h-h-hard.”

“Hey,” Eleanor takes her head in her hands and lifts Tahani’s eyes to hers. “I know, okay? Parents can be pretty shitty. Yours were. Mine were. But it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault okay? You are smart, and caring and kind, and that’s not to mention you’ve got a rockin’ bod’, and anyone who makes you feel any less than you deserve can catch these fists, got that? No one rags on my girl.”

Tahani is surprised in a laugh. With her nose congested it sounds disgusting. Eleanor smiles and pulls her head back to her own chest. “So you take all the time you need, okay? ‘Cuz I know you’ve been fighting this for a long-ass time. It’s hard to give up on them. Maybe you never will. But you gotta know that you did nothing wrong, okay? You are enough. You were always and will always be enough. The way you were treated isn’t on you. It’s on them. You’re the best thing, like, ever. Best thing that happened to me was you tackling me in a parking lot, okay?”

She goes on like that, holding Tahani on the uncomfortable, fashionable couch Tahani never should have convinced Eleanor to buy and letting her soak Eleanor with all the tears in her body.

After a long time, Tahani turns her head to look up at the blonde. “I think I got snot on your hoodie.”

Eleanor smiles down at her. “It’s cool, bro. A little bodily fluid ain’t gonna send me running.”

Tahani tightens her arms around Eleanor and sighs. “You’re the best thing in my life too, you know.”

“Yeah?”

Tahani hates the tentativeness that always lingers in Eleanor’s voice. “Yes. I love you.”

The (small, delicate, forever sky blue painted) fingers in her hair still, curl and uncurl, and move on. “Cool beans. I mean, uh- shit. I love you too, Tahani.”

Tahani smiles. It doesn’t feel so strange in her face anymore.

#Here it is!!!!#tahani al jamil #eleanor shellstrop #eleanor x tahani #tahani x eleanor #my writing

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bulletjourneyy · 5 years ago

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Paris: The City of Lights

“We’ve exited the Palace of Versailles, we cannot go back in for macarons from Ladurée, Aanya :(”

“Arre, what’s the big deal, I’ll go get them, don’t worry”

“But there’s a really long queue to enter again, even with our passes.”

“Watch me!”

I managed to wiggle through by convincing a member of security at one of the restaurants in Versailles and we got our macarons. There were a lot of failed attempts before that though– my okay French got me decently far; I also picked up some stray members of our group on the way!

Trip length: 10 days

General Tips:

· Be polite: Though the stereotypical Parisians are said to be rude, they are often very polite – so don’t forget your thank you (merci), please (s’il vous plâit), excuse me (pardon/ excusez-moi s’il vous plâit)

· Watch out for scams and pickpockets: This might seem obvious, but it is a good idea to look up and beware of the scams and where they are most prevalent. As for pickpockets, make sure never to leave your items unattended, avoid putting valuables in your back pockets, make sure the zipper of your tote bag is in front, and if you have something particularly valuable that is large, maybe cover it with a scarf inside the bag.

· Dress smart casual: Everyone in Paris is well-dressed. You might feel very touristy and out-of-place in jeans and a tee-shirt, so dress up a bit, but still make sure to be comfortable because you will walk around quite a bit!

· Don’t take taxis, take the trains/metros instead: Paris and its suburbs are so well networked, and traveling by public transport is much cheaper than taking the taxis, and it gives you a true feel of Paris! Beware of pickpockets though!

· Be centrally located: Walking around Paris is the best way to experience it

· Try an apartment instead of a hotel for potential better rates (AirBnB)

· Carry your own water bottles to avoid paying for expensive water – there are often water fountains, especially near public washrooms

Top 10 Places to Click Instagram Worthy Shots

1. Trocadéro: Best photos against the Eiffel Tower

2. In front of Sacré-Cœur (against the panorama)

3. The Louvre: Click inside the Pyramid

4. Arc de Triomphe

5. Ladurée (or any macaron shop)

6. The bridges on the Seine (especially Pont Alexandre III)

7. Les Quais Along the river Seine

8. Latin Quarter

9. Notre Dame

10. Inside a narrow street

Honestly, everything in Paris is Instagrammable

Paris

Places to Visit and Things to Do:

As clichéd as these suggestions might seem, do read them, as you will see certain tips and tricks that will make your trip!

· The Eiffel Tower: Go up, right to the top, and click lots of pictures. With the help of a map, try and identify all that you can see from the top. From the first floor, there’s also a zip line that you can take across.

· Arc De Triomphe: Located on Champs-Élysées, this is one famous monument. But what most people miss (including me) is going up top. It is said that you get one of the best views of Paris, and of course the Eiffel Tower, from there.

· Sacré-Cœur: This serendipitous church is an absolute stunner, inside out. Its walls echo the sounds of silence despite the sheer number of people inside, lending peace to the ambiance, while the external façade is an architectural marvel. And as soon as you turn your back to the church, you face a beautiful panorama of Paris – do not miss this! The sunset here is really very beautiful!

· Montmartre: The little locality at the base of Sacré-Cœur, one must spend some time here – there are quaint shops, street artists and caricaturists, and cute cafés.

· Notre Dame: The hype about the stainless glass windows? Yeah, it’s not a hype. An art lover's dream come true – the sheer grandeur of the structure will bring you to your knees in awe (the insides are closed now for renovation due to the fire)

· Louvre (and its gardens): Everyone knows about the Mona Lisa, but what else is interesting in the Louvre? (Especially if you’re not really an art person and would like to be in an out in an hour or two, here’s a list of the stuff you should still see)

o Level -1: Chevaux de Marly (Massive horse sculptures)

o Level 0: Vénus de Milo

o Level 1: Apartments of Napoleon, French paintings, Mona Lisa, The Scribe, Greek sculptures

· Cruise along the Seine: It speaks for itself – you cannot miss this!

· Cycle through Paris: Best. Experience. Ever! It’s been 5+ years since I cycled in the night through Paris – one of the best ways to see the city, especially if you have a short timeframe

· Versailles: Honestly, though the palace is beautiful, for me, the gardens stole the show. They’re absolutely beautiful, and the perfect place for a picnic (and even a date!). There’s a little lake as well, where you can paddle-boat, which is a lot of fun! The gardens are quite expansive, so you may want to rent a golf cart, though I don’t recommend it.

· Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde: My first stop during my first trip to Paris, I recommend starting at Place de la Concorde and walking down Champs-Élysées toward Arc de Triomphe. Even if shopping at Champs-Élysées is out of your budget, it’s still worth a visit!

· Museé de l’orangerie: Monet’s water lilies. That was my favorite part of this museum. They also have some shifting exhibitions that are fairly fascinating.

· Panthéon and Sorbonne area (Latin Quarter): I’ve missed going here in both my short trips to Paris, but I’ve heard that it’s a truly wonderful area to immerse yourself in the culture

Places to Shop

Shops Local (or Local-ish) to Paris

· Galérie-Lafayettes

· Printemps

· Le Bon Marché

· Camiou

· Flying Tiger Copenhagen

· Fnac

Malls/Streets in Paris

· Souvenir shops near Notre Dame (bargain here!)

· Street vendors along the Seine (bargain here too!)

· Rue du Rivoli

· Rue du Commerce

· Boulevard St-Germain

· La Defense (this is a really huge mall)

The Standard Shops, Must-Go-In-Europe

· H&M

· Topshop

· ASOS (online only)

· Urban Outfitters

· Forever21

· Anthropologie

· Pimkie

For Cute Stationery (Most of these are at Rue de Rivoli and Rue de Commerce)

· Papier Tigre

· Merci

· Atelier Nota

· Lavrut

· Tout note

· Papier Plus

Places to Eat

· Berthillion: Gélato heaven

· Angelina: Hot chocolate dreams

· Ladurée: Macarons

· Streetside Crepes

· Local boulangeries and patisseries

· Le Pain Quotidien: This was sentimental for me as LPQ has shut down in most of Mumbai

Foods to Eat (Select personal favorites, otherwise this post would never end)

· Crêpes

· Éclairs

· Baguette

· Pain au chocolat

· Croissants

· Croque Monsieur

· Cheese (as many as you can try – it’s normal if you don’t like all of them)

· Hot chocolate

· Gélato

· Profiteroles

· Onion soup

· Éscargot (I never thought I’d eat this, and funny enough, I loved it!)

Maisons-Laffitte

Maisons-Laffitte is a quaint little neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris, about an hour away by train. It is perfect for a day trip with a picnic, relaxed vibe.

Places to Visit

· Château de Maisons-Laffitte: A baroque architectural beauty, this castle adds beauty and more character to the suburb. Its 1600s architecture creates a feeling of stepping back in time.

· Parks and gardens (any and all): Maisons-Laffitte is full of quintessential picnic spots, and you’ll often even find the stereotyped French person eating a bit of a plain baguette from the whole

· Hippodrome: Known as the horse-riding city, one must see the gorgeous stadium, and if you’re lucky enough to be there during the farmer’s/local market, shop to your heart’s desire!

Places to Shop

· Fellini: This boutique has shoes and clothes that are reasonably priced and extremely cute!

· Casino Supermarché: Though this might seem odd, this supermarket (this chain of supermarkets) has this an organic version of Nutella (no palm oil), called ‘noisette,’ and it’s absolutely delectable

Places to Eat

· La Pâtisserie de Longeueil: French Pastry. Need I say more? (Éclairs are my whole entire life<3)

· La Bonne Humeur: Crêpes, and more crêpes, and some more crêpes

· Le Ballon Voyageur: Semi-formal dining, but delicious European food

#paris #tourism #travelblog #travel #memories #ideas #bulletjourney

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gingerandwry · 6 years ago

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Week 2

After the sweltering, unseasonable heat during my first week in Rio, the forecast for the next week called for rain. It’s rained everywhere I’ve been so far, but the short bursts and high temperatures meant that the rain did not hold me back. I was not prepared for the flood that was heading toward Rio.

I approached Monday trepidatiously, unsure when the clouds would burst and end my day. But it was sunny and hot as usual (and especially humid) when I woke up so I walked up to the lagoon and over to Leblon. The lagoon offers some lovely views from the running/cycling path that surrounds it.

Leblon is adjacent to Ipanema and almost indistinguishable. It’s known to be quieter and more laid back (and ritzier it seems). And on Monday morning the crowd was much older, kind of a Palm Beach to Ipanema’s Miami. I walked along the beach on the delightfully, swirly designed sidewalk promenade that lines the beaches all the way up to Leme (and some of the city streets too). I reached the base of Dois Irmaos, the iconic peaks that cap the beach’s eastern end, and enjoyed the views from the Mirante do Leblon there. And then I walked inland to my real destination: BB Lanches. In “The Beastie Boys Book” the band mentions that this is their favorite juice bar in Rio, and they named one of their songs (”Suco de Tangerina”) after an item here. So naturally I had to stop by for some tangerine juice.

With no sign of rain yet, I took an Uber to the Urca neighborhood at the base of Pao de Acucar. Just south of the Morro de Urca is Praia Vermelha, a small sheltered beach. At the end of the beach is Pista Claudio Coutinho, a popular 2k walking path that wraps part way around the hill. It’s a pleasant jungle stroll where you can hear waves crashing below and take in expansive views of the ocean and nearby islands.

I reached the end of the trail, turned around and walked back to the beach and up to the west side of the hill. The Urca neighborhood felt very distinctive. It begins with a small marina full of little fishing boats and then turns into a cute residential area, tucked in to the base of Acucar. Most of the homes are modest (with a few princely estates, especially up the hill), and there is just one small commercial strip. The most notable feature is the Mureta, or sea wall, that looks out over the city and the bay. It’s a popular place to sit, hang out, drink beer and enjoy a quiet moment in this hectic city. The area feels like a small coastal town unto itself. In fact Urca is actually where the city of Rio started before it moved farther north. And there are still a few military bases here, presumably protecting the city from seaborne attacks.

With clouds forming, I decided to head home. I took a short nap, and when I awoke, rain was pounding the city, dumping buckets while thunder and lightning jolted the sky. This continued for several hours, and when I walked outside for dinner, a river was gushing down the street (which must be why it’s called Rio...). Water was up to my ankles on the sidewalk and my calves in the intersection. Fortunately I did not have to go far to eat dinner before I retreated back to my apartment. The rain calmed down a bit by midnight but it did not stop until....

Tuesday around 3pm. Rio normally receives 95mm in April. In nine hours on Monday night it got 246mm. Some neighborhoods saw walls of water taking out cars, and some favela endured mudslides (which killed at least three people). Apparently the lagoon overflowed too. My friend here said he had never seen anything like it in 15 years here. I was relieved that the event was as cataclysmic as it seemed to me and not a commonplace carioacan affair. The rain was less intense on Tuesday, but the city was recovering from the impact so many things were closed. I had to cancel my plans and stay shut in.

On Wednesday I re-emerged and headed to the Museu de Arte Moderna. It’s looking a little run-down these days but still has a good collection of mostly Brazilian art from the 20th century. It’s displayed according to traditional painting subjects (landscape, portrait, still-life, etc.), and they have some fun with modern artists’ takes on the classics. I particularly enjoyed the last exhibit on illusion and how context changes art.

My day took a turn for the frustrating after that. I wanted to go to the Flamengo FC match at Maracana stadium on Thursday night. I bought tickets online, but this being Brazil, it was not so simple. First I had to print out a voucher, so I asked my friend to do this at his office, then I met him to pick it up. Then I brought the voucher and my passport and credit card to one of Flamengo’s stores. There I was informed that I had bought student tickets so I could not use them (the website said nothing about this). The game was sold out, so I could not get other tickets. My tickets were supposedly refundable (minus the service fee of course), but as of this writing, the money had not been returned. I was disappointed not to get to see Maracana, a legendary stadium, but mostly annoyed at having to go through this big hassle for nothing. I know that Latin American countries require saintly patience, but I was really missing good ol’ American (and Silicon Valley) efficiency at that point.

Nevertheless, I persisted. I stopped by Igreja Sao Francisco de Paula, a gorgeous church whose interior is covered with intricately detailed carvings. It looks more like an opera house, but with the refreshing lack of gilding it felt more tasteful than the other churches I’ve seen.

I carried on to Museu Nacional de Bellas Artes. The collection is supposedly formidable, but most of the museum was closed for construction and/or exhibit rotation. Really just a few rooms upstairs were open, as well as two hallways with some busted-up Grecian marble statues that were copied from the Louvre and some oddly configured side rooms that did not look interesting. (Brazil does not seem to be aware of central air conditioning since most buildings have separate A/C units for each room (if any at all). This fits uncomfortably with places like museums that should be open and lend themselves to a flow, rather than a series of rooms behind closed doors.) After a short look around I stopped for some beers then returned home for the night.

On Thursday the clouds had mostly parted and the sun was high and hot again, so I could resume my outdoor activities. I took a car back to Parque Lage (the first place I visited when I arrived) so that I could take the steep hike up to Cristo Redentor. It was only upon reaching the trailhead-- some ten minutes into the park-- that a security guard informed me the trail was closed due to the rain. Thwarted again. I explored some more of Lage (which is just a small section of the tropical Parque Nacional de Tijuca, something I would now not be able to see) before calling another Uber to take me to the Corcovado train station.

The “Christ the Redeemer” statue is probably the most iconic, recognizable feature in Rio. The most popular way to get to it is on a small old train that slowly runs up the steep incline three times an hour. Stepping off the train and up a few flights of stairs, the view at the top is spectacular. Corcovado hill is right in the middle of the city, and it’s one of the tallest, so you can see everything, past Maracana in the north, past Niteroi across the bay and past Dos Irmaos to the south. I was pleased with how much of the city I could identify at this point and with the realization that I had covered a good chunk of it. The statue itself, while a feat of engineering, is nothing special, as it’s meant to be viewed from afar. (I’ve actually been surprised at how small it is. I think I’m used to aerial photos taken from above it where it seems to loom over the whole city. Or as Homer Simpson put it, “It’s like he’s on the dashboard of the entire country.”) The journey has two notable downsides tho. One: all the tourists, clogging the best viewpoints and all taking the same photos of themselves with their arms outstretched under the statue. The other drawback is the waiting. When I arrived the next available train was almost two hours off (although you can make reservations online). Then you wait to board the train. Then you sit on the train for 20 minutes, mostly looking out at dense, unspectacular forest. Then you wait for an opening to take the photos you want. Then you wait to board a drain down and then another 20 minute ride. There are so many hills around; I wonder if any others offer a similarly thrilling view while being more accessible. At the very least, I would take a van up (which they offer from a few parts of the city) since the train adds considerable time and nothing more than kitsch value.

When I was back in the Cosmo Velho neighborhood, I walked east to its other attractions. The first is Largo do Boticario, an old square surrounded by colorful colonial houses near a babbling brook in a jungle canopy. One hundred (plus) years ago, it must have been a charming area reminiscent of an old Portuguese plaza, but it’s completely decrepit now. (Apparently the buildings have been bought by a hotel company that will restore them.) Farther up the road is the brand-new Casa Roberto Marinho. Roberto founded Globo, now a huge Brazilian media empire. He restored this Mediterranean villa and grounds as his home and hosted who’s-who parties in the 1960s and 70s. The building has now been turned into a private museum to display his art collection, with a heavy emphasis on modern Brazilian art. The works are phenomenal and the home and gardens beautiful. You really get a sense of what it might have been like to hobnob at one of his parties. After that it was time to call it a day and have a relaxing evening at home.

Before I went to bed I developed a stomachache that kept me up much of the night. (In Brazil a lot of restaurants offer cheap per-kilo buffets; it’s probably best not to eat at these places at the end of the night.) The next morning I still felt ill and tired so I stayed in bed most of the day. Bummer since my days in Rio were nearing an end.

I felt well enough (and well-rested enough) on Saturday to get myself to the ferry for Ilha de Paqueta. This is a car-less island deep into Guanabara Bay. I mostly wanted to go to see the views from the ferry, but the island is nice too. I rented a bike and rode around the perimeter (without stopping you could do this in under 30 minutes). The shore is dotted with little beaches and parks and (questionably) Brazil’s only baobab trees. Other than a small commercial area near the dock, the rest is full of homes (and a cemetery). I really enjoy enclosed, flat bicycling like this, and it was a nice, calm respite from the city. For the people of Rio it seems to be a mostly working-class getaway-- the beaches are not really that nice but the general environment is. I was mostly intrigued by the locals who live there. Although there is no local economy the island seems to encompass the full social strata-- large gated mansions, lovely cottages, modernized townhouses, abandoned waterfront estates, even a favela. It’s so Brazil to have all of this side-by-side on a tiny, beautiful island.

After a few hours I took the ferry back to the city. I stumbled upon a street party (Rivalzinho) and ambled around it a bit. I returned home and chilled out on my final Saturday night in town.

And then I awoke for my final day in Rio. I had planned to walk or bike around, but the on-and-off light rain showers made that less desirable. So I walked over to Copacabana beach since I still had not been. (Yes it’s one of Rio’s most famous sites, but Ipanema is a better beach, and I’m not much interested in hanging out on the beach anyway.) Copa is beautiful indeed, especially its graceful northeastward curve.

It made me consider what makes Ipanema and Copa so special and enticing. I realized that for both the natural beauty lies in the views: the jutting peaks at the ends, the water and the mountains and islands on the other side. But the immediate surroundings are not lovely at all-- the beaches are thick with barracas (vendors) and lined with densely-packed, (mostly) unattractive high-rises. It’s a very different approach than we take on the US west coast. There, beaches tend to be removed from cities and kept close to their natural state. Where there is nearby development it is usually minimal and often “beach-appropriate”, e.g. boardwalks, cottages, surf shacks, etc. But I’m not sure which I prefer. While I love an unspoiled, untouched beach (which Rio has if you go farther out), I like the way they incorporate their beaches into the city. It’s not pretty in a natural sense but it does add to the urban appeal. Perhaps on the west coast in our drive to “protect” our coastline we are actually under-utilizing public space. That said, Rio’s beaches do have two huge drawbacks. One, the vendors: it’s nice to know you can get anything you want right on the beach but it’s impossible to relax with someone in your face trying to sell you something every few minutes. And two, the stench: the waters here must be seriously polluted because every time I approached an open body of water (ocean, bay or lagoon), I was hit with an overpowering, stomach-turning scent of human waste. It doesn’t blanket the shoreline so you can settle into a spot out of smell’s way, but good luck getting there without wanting to vomit in your mouth.

And so my time in Rio drew to a close. (Well not before one final aggravation. For my flight to Brasilia, I was departing from the smaller Santos Dumont airport, which is on a tiny strip of land in the bay next to downtown. I opted for a window seat so that I could look out over the city as we took off. But on this plane, 7F did not have a window, just a wall. It was torture. Thanks Gol Airlines!) Rio is a beautiful, exciting city, and I enjoyed my adventure there. However I left with mixed feelings and wonder if I will return. The longer I spent there the more I missed things I take for granted at home: pedestrian right-of-way, good customer service, lower urban density, leafy greens, buildings that aren’t walled off, friendly strangers, punctuality.... And as much as I complain about our gay scene, it’s relatively friendly and low-attitude, unlike Rio’s. Rio is a big city that comes with big city people and problems, and despite its sweltering heat, it can be a cold place, at least to an outsider. I had a fantastic visit, perhaps just a few days too long. And I think I would like to return but next time it will be with friends or a loved one so that I can share all the good times the city has to offer.

#riodejaneiro #brazil #brasil #travel #gaytravel #intentionaltravel

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dnodes18 · 6 years ago

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New Year Bathroom Remodel https://thd.co/2FK99dg

Rick LaFaver of Wood Work Life gave his mother in law a house warming gift of a lifetime. With a little help from The Home Depot, he completed a gorgeous bathroom remodel in her new home. Find out his tips on how to pull off a DIY bathroom remodel project.

New Year Bathroom Remodel

This holiday season, I felt like doing something really over the top for my mother in law. She has been so helpful this year and just moved into her own place for the first time, so I felt like really hitting one out of the park with a bathroom remodel. The bathroom in her house had some major layout issues, but fortunately no major structural issues (short of being in a house built in 1895 and the complications that creates.)

For this bathroom remodel I wanted to give a super premium look and feel, but I wanted to minimize costs by making the process as simple as I could. I built the whole bathroom around Delta’s UPstile system, which gets you that custom tiled shower feel while still just technically being an alcove shower insert. Even so this is going to a huge undertaking, and I am on a bit of a time crunch, but there is only one way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time.

4 Considerations to Make Prior to Starting a DIY Bathroom Remodel

There are obviously a ton of things to consider before you start a bathroom remodel, but here are the top 4 for me in no particular order.

1. Anticipate potential problems to avoid road blocks

With any home DIY project, you should take the opportunity to address any glaring issues with the layout, functionality, or design of a space. BUT, some of these problems can be colossal undertakings and can derail an otherwise simple project. Before I started this project, I wrote a list of any problems I could think of and researched what each of them would entail.

In this bathroom the challenges I chose to take on were: the layout of the tub/shower, an incorrectly vented tub drain (often the cause of a slow draining tub), and an incorrectly installed tile floor. The stones I chose to leave unturned…the lack of square and plum in any room in the house (no one will ever fix this,) the bowing ceiling/roof (this will need to be addressed when a new roof goes on this house) and replacing the glass louvred door and wood framed window.

2. Be mindful of timeline and budget

You can do anything, if you have the time and/or skill. It is obviously important to keep every project to a timeline and a budget or things will get out of hand real quick. Where will you spend your money? Where will you spend your time? In other words, what will you do or even try to figure out how to do, and what will you hire a contractor for? I am personally pretty comfortable with basic electrical, carpentry, and drywalling but plumbing is not my thing. Since I wanted to finish this in a month, rather than learning how to fix the plumbing issues left behind from a hack job remodel in a hundred year old house, I hired a plumber.

Looking back at this project and seeing the finish on my walls, I wish I would’ve also hired out the drywalling and taping, those finishing touches can really make a difference.

3. Prepare for permits and inspections

Permits vary a lot from city to city and state to state and I am no expert but your local municipality’s website will probably be able to point you in the right direction. Typically you have the obvious stuff plumbing and electrical permits, an inspections after demo, another one after electrical and plumbing rough in, and the final inspection after the project is complete.

Please, do your research. Nothing will derail a project like having to rip everything out and do it all over again.

4. Plan your project in manageable steps

Define needs to come before or after what to make for the smoothest process. If you are having a plumber come out, try not cover any of the pipes, or finish drywalling beforehand. Make sure the tub and sink are on site to get the most out of your plumber’s time. If you are going to paint, (which you should even if you don’t have to, a fresh coat of paint is always so refreshing) try and keep all the finishes out of the space so you can paint as quickly as possible without worrying about masking, drips, and overspray. Figuring out the logistics ahead of time just makes everything so much easier.

Ok enough with mental gymnastics, let’s get to work.

Tear it up!

Demo is always my favorite part of a DIY project, taking a very large hammer to a room you hated is cathartic for some reason. Don’t forget to keep your mess contained because unlike on TV you actually have to clean up the mess after demo day. Make sure you rent a dumpster to haul away all the mess.

A reciprocating saw and a demo hammer can be a huge help during a tear down, I actually used the RIDGID MEGAMax, which is both for my remodel.

Fortunately, the previous installer didn’t properly bed in the subfloor with mortar, so even though I have had to re-grout this bathroom 3 times already, it came up super easily during demo. Everything else was easy enough to cut out or remove.

Rough In

For this project, rough in was a bit more involved than your average bathroom remodel. In a lot of bathroom remodels with an alcove tub (walls on 3 sides, only one long side of the tub accessible often identified as left drain or right drain) you could simply drop the Delta UPstile tub or shower system right in with little modification. In my bathroom, I had to rotate the tub 90 degrees and move the drain which meant I had to frame an entire new shower stall and a new tub rough in.

This is actually my second bathroom remodel this year and my second using Delta hardware. I have been nothing but satisfied with the ease of installation. Even the lower-priced models of the Delta hardware come with hardware and rough in kits that simplify install and eliminate a lot of the pitfalls of generic “builder grade” faucets.

While the plumber was there, I also set the bathtub into a bed of mortar and hooked up the drain. My plumber didn’t want to appear on camera, so I didn’t get any shots of that.

Installing the Delta UPstile System

My first bathroom remodel this year had a full custom-tiled tub surround. While it doesn’t replace the look of a subway-tiled tub surround, the Delta UPstile system is A LOT more simple and affordable than a custom tiled tub surround.

First, there is no waterproofing to worry about; once you caulk your seams, you’re good. Second, you don’t have to first install cement board so no cement dust or special cutting wheels to worry about. Third, you don’t need to involve yet another trade in your bathroom remodel and that much more time and money to tile the whole surround.

All of these things are true with any tub or shower insert, but with the UPstile system, you still get the look of a subway-tiled custom shower install. You even get a slot to install your own glass or decorative tile insert.

The decorative tile insert is designed to be used with 6” mesh backed tile squares and 1/8th inch grout lines (6 ¼” slot), but you can easily install other tile as well. Since the shower surround is made of pronamel, which doesn’t bond with mortar, you have to use silicone-based kitchen adhesive to attach the tiles for the insert. I used DAP Kwik seal plus kitchen and bath adhesive in clear. This is super easy to do, but do give the manufacturer’s FULL dry time before removing the spacers. Kitchen adhesive remains a lot more flexible than mortar when partially cured, so if you take the spacer out early you can really ruin the look. I cut some 2 and half inch by 8 inch tiles on a wet cut tile saw to fit the slot to continue to the subway tile look.

After installing the tile, you can treat it like usual and grout using whatever color you like. I recommend a bright white grout to match the rest of the tub surround kit.

Tiling the Floor

For the floor, I went with a wood look porcelain floor tile from The Home Depot’s Home Decorator collection. Wood look tile has come a long way; it used to be 7 or 8 prints duplicated ad nauseum, but the new stuff is great, I didn’t see a single repeat in 6 boxes. Pro Tip: If you ever want to see some cool and unique products for your next project, go to The Home Depot’s website and search: “Home Decorators Collection.”

The problem the previous installer had left me behind was a blessing and a curse. I had re-grouted this floor three times because he didn’t put a bed of mortar under the cement board subfloor. At least it was easy to tear up the old tile floor though. After installing the new cement board subfloor, I installed the floor.

When cutting porcelain tile like this to get clean scores, use and angle grinder and a continuous rim diamond blade, I used a Ridgid brushless grinder and a Ridgid continuous diamond blade. Another pro tip I ran across when designing the bathroom: With wood look tile, pick a grout that is one tone darker than the darkest tone in the tile in my case this led me to charcoal grout.

Installing the Toilet and Sink

Installing a toilet is super easy and it is usually the first thing I do when I move into a new house. I am not incredibly comfortable sitting on someone else’s throne. It is as simple as press fitting the wax ring, dropping it on and tightening a few bolts. It is important to level the toilet with a few composite shims and tighten down the toilet bolts evenly so you don’t crack the porcelain. In my case, I also had to use an adapter for the cast iron waste stack. but otherwise no big deal.

For the sink and vanity, I chose another piece from the The Home Depot Home Decorator’s Collection. I wanted a vanity that matched the wood look flooring and added a bunch of storage, so I went with a 3 door vanity with a weather oak finish to match the floor.

I used Delta’s Venetian bronze faucet hardware kit to finish it off. Again, I love the equipment this kit came with. Rather than running your own braided hoses from the water supply, this kit comes with its own integrated pex fittings. There’s something about a really nice sink faucet in a kitchen or a bathroom that just really puts the cherry on top of a remodel.

I approach kitchen and bathroom remodels using luxury car design philosophy, the contact surfaces are the most important elements to give a space a luxurious look and feel. Everything from the door knob, to the faucet handle, to the toilet flusher should be quality materials and interesting textures, these little details really bring a spaces feel together.

Trim Paint and DONE

FINALLY, I mean this bathroom went quick and it was pretty easy, but just the sum of all of it in one month was just…a lot. One of the most enjoyable parts of any project is putting on the trim, those last little touch ups of paint and putting on the finishing touches. With this one, I was able to really decorate it to get all the oohs and aahs from my mother in law.

After a month of making all manners of dust and mess in her house, I was finally able to show my mother in law Ruth the bathroom remodel. I think the look on her face said it all, but she loved it. It is such a nice space to just soak in a bath and go through your morning routine for work. I have always said a bathroom is like a mattress, you are going to use it everyday, so you might as well make it as nice as you can.

By properly framing the wall for the new alcove, adding insulation and getting rid of a poorly installed glass block window, the bathroom is a lot more comfortable now as well. I hope it serves her well, Merry Christmas, Nana – from me and family!

The post New Year Bathroom Remodel appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Rick LaFaver

#The Home Depot Blog

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thoughtsandlife23 · 8 years ago

Text

When In Paris

@flabbergabst I’m your valentine. You wanted me to surprise you so I hope you like this Gabbs. It got a bit long though and please don’t kill me for the ending.

Also I wanted to thank @dragonydreams for betaing this fic for me, if it wasn’t for her I don’t think this fic would have made actual sense, thank you so much it was such a big help.

Thanks for organising this @freyreh

Crosposted to AO3

Len wouldn’t call himself the giving type (being the mayor you were expected to be cold), but when his sister had told him that the one thing she had always [wished] to do was go to Paris, he knew that he would have to grant it. Especially when she had given him the puppy dog eyes (not that it always worked on him that is, he was just a really good brother, honest). So now here they were, his sister leaning her head against his shoulder while she looked at the sunset as the plane descended to the tarmac of Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France.

He sighed as Lisa excitedly got off the plane while talking about everything she wanted to visit and see as they walked towards baggage claim to get their bags. He nodded along at her excited words, trying to block them out and make sure that the bags they got were theirs when he spotted familiar blonde hair on the other side of the airport.

“Sara,” he thought as he dropped the bag on the floor and ran to catch up to her, he put his hand on the blonde’s shoulder and was disappointed when she turned around only for him to see confused brown eyes instead of the gorgeous blue ones that he used to love staring at.

“Oh sorry,” he said as he turned to walk back to where his sister was waiting, no doubt with a scowl on her face.

“Lenny, thank God,” Lisa grumbled as he returned to where she was standing and struggling with lifting the bags from the machine. “Where did you go?”

“Nowhere,” he said with a blush on his face as he recalled his mistake earlier.

“Nowhere?” Lisa questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you say Sara’s name. Really, Lenny?”

“What?” Len asked defensively.

“It’s been four years, Lenny,” Lisa replied with a sad tone in her voice. “And you’re still not over her.”

“I am,” he insisted.

“Really?” Lisa asked softly. “Because what just happened really isn’t good evidence for that.”

“Let’s just, let’s just go,” Len insisted as he walked faster to the terminal exit.

“Sure, but this conversation isn’t finished,” Lisa insisted as she walked next to him to the terminal exit and raised her hand to hail the cab that was about to speed past them.

The conversation was done, at least for now, and that was enough for him. He sighed and put the bags in the trunk of the cab, got inside, and leaned his head against the window. He was so tired of everything and these feelings that he may still have for his ex.

He had met Sara Lance during his last year of college and fallen for her six months after meeting her. Their relationship had been a whirlwind that had taken him by surprise. Sara had been a third year majoring in medicine while he had been majoring in international relations (which had been ironic considering he absolutely hated politics and everything that it stood for).

He had met her after accidentally running into her one day after leaving the library. He had been carrying a stack of books in his hands, completely focused on not running into anything or anyone when, just his luck, he accidentally trips and body slams into someone, causing Leonard, the books in his arms, and the person he ran into to fall to the floor.

He had gotten up and was about to apologize to the person but when he turned to her he had been stunned speechless by the laugh that she let out, blue eyes shining with mirth at their predicament and he couldn’t help but join in. They must have looked like crazy people standing there right outside of the library laughing their asses off but, in that moment, they could care less about what anyone thought, they were lost in their own little world.

"I'm so sorry," Len had said with a blush after they had gotten themselves under control and stopped laughing.

“It’s fine,” she had said still with a smile on her face and then held out her hand. “I’m Sara, Sara Lance.”

“I’m Leonard, Leonard Snart but you can call me Len,” he had replied with a laugh.

"Well, there goes my coffee,” she had said as he looked down and saw the spilled latte on the floor. “And your mountain of books, too.”

As they both leaned down to pick up some of the books, Sara asked, “Hey want to go out for coffee after you’ve finished reading this entire mountain of books?”

“Sure,” Len had replied and coffee had lead to the start of a beautiful friendship and love story. They had been friends for almost a year when he had asked her out on a date. He would never forget her response of, “Finally! I thought you were never going to ask.”

He had been so happy. When they started going out things were great; they went on a date and she kissed him first (they liked to tell everyone that he kissed her first but no one really believed them), she had even met his sister and he had met her sister and had gotten along great with her.

He and Sara had spent Christmas and New Year's together, kissing under the mistletoe and watching the fireworks together. And he could swear that he would never love anyone the way he loved her. He had told her that when they were lying in bed together and he had expected her to reply with the same thing but all she had done was smile and kiss him.

He should have taken that as a warning, really, because he had learned a long time ago that things never stayed this good. More specifically, every time he was happy and content things went to shit.

Everything going to shit began after he had graduated and started his new job at one of the most prestigious firms in Central City. He had chosen to stay there because Sara had still been in college and he had wanted to stay near her, so he had gotten an apartment near the university and by then Lisa had been in her first year of university.

Then things had started getting out of hand. Sara had apparently discovered the joys of partying, spending almost every night in a bar with friends and dancing the night away. It had created arguments between them that were forgotten about, arguments which began to pile up again and again. It had lead to one of their biggest fights yet and she had left. He had waited up for her after their fight planning to cook her a romantic dinner or surprise her with breakfast but when he had gotten home the day after from work, he had noticed all of her things missing and hangers on the floor.

He had called her phone only to get a message saying, “Your call cannot be connected��. He had tried her sister and even gone to her dorm but all her friends had no idea where she had gone. He had been stunned and unable to process anything. Later, when he had been able to think clearly again, he had called Laurel again only for her to tell him that Sara had quit university and no one knew where she was; not even their parents.

He had lost it then, had grabbed everything that reminded him of Sara and thrown it against the wall. Picture frames shattered into a thousand pieces and the pictures in them fluttered to the ground in a million pieces. Clothes she left behind had been put in boxes and he had never gotten more drunk in his entire life than the month that she had left him.

It had taken Lisa coming home from college with a resigned and tired look on her face during the second month and throwing away all the bottles that had littered the floor to get him out of his funk and get him to start eating again. She had sat down on his couch after she had cleaned everything out and hugged him, begging him to please get out of this funk because she still needed him and that he was all she had.

He had hugged her back and promised to do better, vowing to himself that he would forget about Sara and move on. He had showered and the next day gone to work; he spent the next four years throwing himself into work. He had tried to go on dates but they had never been successful because they were either not Sara or too much like Sara, he always found flaws for them that resulted in them never going past a first date or a one night stand.

After four years, he had admitted to himself that no one would ever hold a candle to how he felt about Sara. He still loved her and he didn’t know how to feel about that. She had hurt him by leaving and yet he didn’t know what he would do if he ever saw her again, whether he would kiss her or glare, he guessed that particular question would never be answered.

On the seventh day of their stay in Paris, Len found himself alone. Lisa had met a man named Cisco Ramon in one of the cafes two days ago and needless to say, she was infatuated, choosing to change her itinerary so she could tour the country with him instead. This had left Len alone to tour the city by himself, something which he was unexpectedly happy about because it gave him the chance to be alone and decide which places he wanted to go to.

Today he had decided he decided to go to the Louvre, one of the most popular museums in Paris. He loved museums, loved seeing the pieces of art by various artists. His first stop was the Denan Wing where he was enticed with the portrait of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, he loved the painting especially the intricate part of it as well the use of dark colors instead of the usual bright colors of blue, yellow or red.

He walked around the building for almost four hours just looking at the art pieces and ended up in the Richelieu Wing. He was particularly fascinated with the sculpture of the horses of Marly which were large marble statues that were created in the 18th century. He also loved the Napoleon IIII apartments; he loved the color of them and how much they resembled what the history books said.

He bought coffee and was about to go to another wing when he bumped into someone. He grimaced as hot coffee dripped along his fingers and to the floor. He looked up to apologize and saw the last person that he had expected to see in Paris. It was Sara, she still looked as gorgeous as the day that he had met her, blonde hair in a messy top bun and wearing a brown leather jacket over a white shirt and jeans. Nothing about her had changed.

He felt the wind knocked out of him as she looked up, he saw the look in her eyes change the minute she realized it was him, a sad smile appeared on her face before she quickly wrapped her arms around him. His arms flailed at his sides; he had no idea whether he should wrap his arms around her or just leave them there, seeing no other option that wouldn’t look awkward he decided to reciprocate and wrap his arms around her in return.

He really shouldn’t have because she still smelled the same as she did before, Sara had always preferred a frosted apple scent (which was ironic because it had a sweet smell but Sara, he had decided during his relationship with her, was anything but sweet, no he decided she was deadly and enticing) that engulfed his senses and took him back to their college days and reminded him of days spent lounging in bed with her and doing nothing but kissing and being happy just because they could. It reminds him of times when they used to take drives up the coast to just watch the sunset and all he would do then was stare at her just sitting on the hood of the car staring at the sky with the sunlight hitting her face, looking gorgeous.

“How are you?” Sara asked hesitantly as she pulled away from him.

“I’m good, I’m here with Lisa actually,” he replied with a strained smile on his face. He wants to get out of there, wants to forget about this meeting and seeing her again, wants to put a stop to the way that his heart sped up when she had smiled and hugged him, wants to shower and scrub away the feeling of her hands on his body and the feelings and memories that they bring up.

"Here," Sara said as she handed him a piece of paper with what he guessed is her number. “I have to go but let’s do coffee sometime; it’d be good to catch up.”

She looks up at him so eagerly and so earnestly that he doesn’t want to disappoint her. That’s always been one of his problems; ever since the day he met her he has found it difficult to resist and disappoint her. So he took the piece of paper that she’s written her number on and tears off a piece, grabs the pen from her and writes his number in it.

“Call me or maybe I’ll call you;” he says as he leaves. He tries to walk normally but even he knows that he performs some kind of sprint as he nears the exit of the museum wing.

He becomes a mess the minute he returns to his hotel, out of breath and still reeling from his encounter with Sara. It feels like his chest and head were about to explode in pain and an endless amount of questions keep streaming through his mind: Why had she left him, Was it because she didn’t love him enough? Is she going to call? The most important question to him is: “What is he going to do if she calls, is he going to ignore it or answer it?”

He has so many questions going through his brain that he was starting to get a migraine, he tried to turn his mind off so that he could take some form of a nap but that only lasted for two hours before he decided that the best thing to do was stare at the ceiling. His staring at the ceiling was interrupted by the sound of a phone. He quickly got up and saw Sara’s number on the screen. He scrambled to grab the phone and stared at it for almost a minute frozen in fear before he took a deep breath and hit accept.

“Hey,” a soft voice said as he answered the phone. “It’s Sara.”

“I know," he breathed softly into the phone.

“Right," Sara said as she cleared her throat. “So do you want to meet for coffee or dinner tomorrow maybe?”

“Yeah, dinner sounds fine. Where?” Len said reluctantly.

“Um, how about Le Cinq, it’s this really good restaurant; definitely one of my favorites here in Paris. It has some of the best lobsters and truffles ever," Sara said excitedly as she told him of the restaurant.

After confirming the meeting place and the time, Len hung up and nose dived into the bed feeling nervous and second guessing his decision. Was he making the right decision deciding to accept Sara’s offer to have coffee and lunch because he wasn’t so sure.

He sighed and closed his eyes because maybe meeting her tomorrow would help him move on from her. He was hoping that she would be able to answer his questions especially the one that had been plaguing his mind since the moment she had left him four years ago. He didn’t know what was going to happen tomorrow or whether he would get all his questions answered but all he could hope for was that everything would go smoothly.

He enters the restaurant, palms sweating and heart beating as he sees her sitting at one of the tables, carefully looking at the menu, He feels his heart speed up when she raised her head and smiled at him as he walked to her. She stood up and just like yesterday wrapped her arms around him before quickly pulling away. He sat down on the table and looked at the menu.

“So you said the lobster was good?” Len asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“Yup” Sara replied.

“Maybe that and some pasta and wine?” Len asked her.

“Yeah,” she replied with a small smile. “That sounds good.”

He nodded and turned back to the menu to look at their pasta selection and when he raised his head up after deciding on which pasta he saw Sara opening her mouth to speak again before she was interrupted by the waiter who had arrived to take their order. They had decided to order the lobster and for the pasta he had decided on the spaghetti Bolognese along with some wine.

“So how have you been?” she asked as the waiter left with a quick smile in their direction and both their menu’s on his hands.

"I've been fine; I'm the mayor of Central City now," he said proudly.

"I know," Sara said with a smile and a proud look in her eyes. "Laurel told me when I called her last year, I'm so proud of you; I knew you would get far.”

“Yeah?” Len asked with a smile on his face.

“Yup,” she replied with a grin on her face.

They had no more time to talk as after a good 15 minutes the waiter arrived and put their food down in front of them. His eyes went wide when he saw the giant lobster and the plate full of pasta with a plate of salad on the other side. He gulped and heard Sara do the same.

“That is one big ass lobster," Sara said as she glanced at the lobster with wide eyes.

“And a lot of food,” Len continued as he stared at everything on the table. “Will we be able to finish this?”

"Probably not," Sara remarked as she let out a snort. "This is just like the time when we went to that place in Star City, you know the one that served the most humongous steak.”

“Yeah, but that place didn’t have servings this big,” Len countered. He had missed this, when they had been together they bantered about everything from where they were going for the day to what they were going to eat. He had always let her win, helpless to resist the pout that would form on her face.

“It was good, though," she affirmed.

“You absolutely hated the sauce with chili, though, I think that was when your hatred for anything spicy or with chili in it started.” Len laughed as Sara’s face turned red.

“It did not and I don’t hate it.” Sara pouted, face still as red as a tomato.

“Oh really?” Len asked with a smile. “Is that why every time we went out I was the one who had to eat every serving of spicy food on both our plates, Ms. Lance?”

Sara put her head on her folded arms, he could see that she was smiling and laughing beneath it though. He loved it when she was shy and happy because she was absolutely adorable like this.

“Shut up,” she replied with a pout.

"Fine," Len said with a smile on his face. "We should start eating though, otherwise, we'll be here 'til December."

Sara shook her head at him and laughed at his words before reaching for a knife at the same time as he did. Their hands touched and he felt electricity go through his body before he quickly pulled his hand away and gave her the knife.

There was silence throughout the rest of the meal but it wasn’t awkward nor did he feel uncomfortable; it felt like something two friends would do if the two friends hadn’t seen each other naked and one of them wasn’t still madly in love with the other, that is. He did notice Sara shooting him looks throughout dinner, though, he didn't know why she did that and not knowing made him uncomfortable.

After dinner, they decided to walk the streets near the restaurant, the night sky lights up as they near the middle of the Seine River. The river is beautiful but not as gorgeous as Sara, who looks like an angel when the moonlight hits her, her blue eyes shine and sparkle as the moonlight hits her cheeks.

"So how long are you here for?" Sara asked hopefully. (He thought that maybe she was hoping that he'd say that he was there to stay for a month, or a year, but he doesn't know this Sara. He has become so unfamiliar with her mannerisms, yet he sees aspects of her that reminded him of who she was before………everything.)

“I’m here for five weeks. It was a present to Lisa; she’s been begging to come here since the start of the year. We arrived seven days ago,” Len said.

“It was inevitable wasn’t it?” Sara asked sadly.

“Us meeting again?” Len questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," Sara replied with a smile.

“I guess we're just inventible," Len said with a shrug. "So what did you do after we broke up?”

“Um, after we broke up I drifted around for a bit; you know took a road trip, took odd jobs here and there," Sara said.

Len looks at her disbelievingly. She had left him to take a road trip and be a nomad. If that had been all she wanted to do he could have come with her. He would have followed her to the ends of the earth if he'd had to.

“Is that why you didn’t come back after the fight?” Len asks as he takes a deep breath to ask the question; the question that hadn’t left his mind since the day he had woken up all those years ago. “To take a road trip?”

“I didn’t come back because you deserved so much better than what I had to offer you, Len. I mean, do you remember me back then? I partied every night and I was never serious about med school; the only reason I even agreed to it was because I was expected to choose a career. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do with my life. I was just cruising through life and you, you knew what you wanted to do, you had everything planned from the minute you graduated,” Sara pointed out.

“I was willing to let go of those plans for you,” he pointed out to her.

“I know and that’s why I didn’t come back; I couldn't let you do that for me, Len, you had a sister to take care of and besides this has been your dream since you started school again. I have made many mistakes in my life but not coming back after the fight was not one of them,” Sara says firmly.

“If you don’t regret it then why are we here?” he asks as he steps forward. He was in her space for the first time in 4 four years and he couldn't breathe, his chest feels like It was going to explode.

“We’re friends, I just wanted to catch up with you and I really missed you,” she says as she stares deep into his eyes.

“So how long are you here for?” he asks. He wonders whether she had decided to move here. He remembers that she used to talk about her desire to move somewhere peaceful; he used to joke that she would end up living the two kids and white picket fence lifestyle just like everybody dreamed of but she had shaken her head at him then and told him she was too cool to live that kind of lifestyle.

She had a desire for adrenaline and adventure and no matter how many times he joked about it, he would never in a million years be able to imagine her living in a house with a white picket fence.

“I’m here for eight weeks, I arrived four weeks ago but I’m here for a conference for work. I work with different organizations to stop violence against women and I teach martial arts for women and kids as a part time job,” Sara explained. “I moved to Boston after I finished traveling and started taking classes for martial arts and helping out at the women’s shelter. I decided that that was what I wanted to do and started taking a course for counseling and here we are."

“Why choose that career?” Len asked curiously.

He wasn’t really surprised that this was the career she had decided to get into because when they had been dating she had loved to help people. And while he knew that there were many careers that would allow her to do that but there would have been a big problem as Sara didn’t like taking orders from anyone and had a very strong personality which more often than not got her into big trouble as it often lead her to start fights with other people.

During their relationship he had always found it hard to believe that Sara had decided to take a career in medicine because from what he had known of her personality, her being a free spirit and being very adventurous a career in medicine was too controlled for her and having to work with other doctors who would tell her what to do would have driven her insane. A career helping women and teaching martial arts for kids on the other hand was something that he thought was perfect for Sara.

"No woman should ever suffer at the hands of men," Sara said in a firm voice. The words sounded like a mantra that she had been repeating and one he understood well. He had grown up with an abusive drunk for a father who would target his mother and his sister because he felt like it, he could understand why Sara had that mantra.

Growing up, Len had tried to take the hits for his mother and sister but it was never enough for Lewis, it seemed like he took joy in hitting Lisa and his mother. They had gotten out and his father had been put in jail but his mother, it turned out, had had cancer and had succumbed to her disease when Len had been eight, leaving Len to raise Lisa by himself.

They had been put into foster home after foster home with the system trying to separate them but it had never succeeded and Len had had to learn how to defend not only himself but his sister as well from other abusive foster parents. When he had turned eighteen the first thing he had done was take custody of Lisa and made sure to raise her correctly.

"I'm proud of you," Len said with a smile. "I always knew you would go into a career that had to do with helping people.”

“Yeah?” Sara asked him hopefully.

“Yeah, I always knew you would make something out of yourself and medical school just wasn’t right for you.” He added firmly.

“What do you mean?” she asked with a quirk of her eyebrow.

"I always thought that going into medicine might be a little too constricting for you. You love adventure and thrive on adrenaline; you in a controlled environment with patients and nurses would have driven you nuts," Len answered before letting out a small laugh.

Sara laughed along with him before she put her arm through his and they continued to walk in silence. Before long it was time for him to return to his hotel room.

“I know this is unlikely. But hear me out first,” Sara began. “Since you and I are both in Paris for the month and we really have no idea which sites to see, do you want to maybe tour the city together?”

“I’ll think about it because I was thinking of going to other cities besides Paris while here. Besides, didn’t you say you were here for work?” Len said.

“Oh ok. My last conference finished yesterday so I’m free to go wherever I want before going back to Boston,” Sara explained sadly as they separated outside his hotel.

He went inside and spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, unable to stop thinking about her offer. He would be able to see her and at the same time be able to see the city. (He may have had an ulterior motive of wanting to see the city and travel when he had agreed to go to Paris, but Lisa didn't need to know that.)

He would be alone for the rest of the trip since Lisa had told him that she was spending the rest of trip with Cisco, insisting that she would meet Len when they were due to leave the city together and until then Len was free to go wherever he wanted and with whomever he wanted.

He woke up early the next morning and showered, planning to walk the streets to find a suitable breakfast café to eat at. He had decided to walk back to the Louvre today, wanting to see more of the artwork and the other wings in the museum, but when he gets outside he sees Sara looking gorgeous and leaning against what he assumes is a rental car.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he jogged towards her.

“I know you said that you wanted to travel to other places while here and I asked around,” she began as she took out a map with markings of red pen on it. “These places are some of the best places to go to and if we have time we can go to St.Tropez. What do you say?"

She looks so hopeful that he can’t say anything but, “Yes”.

They go inside to get him some breakfast and then get into the car and with a whoosh they were off. He takes the map from her and they both decide to go to the Notre Dame De Paris, or as it was more commonly known the Notre Dame Cathedral, first, Neither of them was religious but according to the guide this was one of the most beautiful places to go to, second on the list to the Eiffel Tower, which they had decided to go to on the last day of their time together.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is beautiful; the moment they step inside they feel a sense of tranquility and calm warm over them. The inside of the cathedral is lined with rows and rows of chairs and the side windows are lined with stained glass windows with the sides of the church being supported by statues which acted as columns supports and water sprouts which consisted of famous gargoyles and chimeras.

He laughed when Sara ran up to the side of one of the many column supports, kneeled down next to one of the columns and ran her hands over it while going, "It's huge," with wide blue eyes.

Both their eyes had lit up when they had seen the famous bell in the cathedral. It was huge and as gorgeous as the people who had seen it had said, but what enticed him wasn’t the bell, it was the rose window on top of the cathedral because it was the perfect example of the Gothic Rayonnant style which was something he had always wanted to see.

Their first week traveling together also saw them visiting the Musee d O’rsay which was another one of Paris's most famous museums. It stood on the left bank of the Seine and housed French art that was dated all the way back to 1848.

They had more than 2,000 sculptures, paintings, and photographs but also furniture from the 19th-20th century which Len had been fascinated by. It wasn’t every day a person was able to see what kind of things people had used as furniture in the olden days. Len had also been fascinated by Edward Manet’s The Luncheon On The Grass and Gustav Courbet’s The Artist Studio. He loved the color schemes in the painting. French art was truly magnificent.

The museum also housed Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portrait and his painting The Church at Auvers which Sara had spent almost an hour staring at. It was fascinating watching her get entranced by something as simple as a painting. He had smiled at her reaction fondly. This was like the time that he had taken her to a concert in Coast City, (her first ever concert outside of her home town) and she had spent the entire time thanking him for it on the way home.

They stayed there for almost the entire day before they decided that they had seen everything that could be seen and trudged toward the exit of the museum.

“Leonard,” she screamed at him in fury as she chased him around the outside of the Museum after he had accidentally, (maybe not so accidentally,) spilt the entire bottle of water he was holding on her as they left the museum.

“Oh shit.” He turned and realized he was trapped; they had ended up right in front of the Seine River. He saw a dangerous glint in her eyes and gulped before he felt himself being tackled to the ground. She took both of his hands as he flailed about trying to push her off of him.

“Are you sorry?” Sara asked with a smug smile on her face.

He nodded frantically before he accidentally nudged her and she fell on top of him, her lips a mere centimeter away from his. He saw her eyes widen before she struggled to get off of him and in an unexpected move her lips landed on his.

For a moment Len felt Sara press her lips harder against his before she got off of him and they both stood up and dusted themselves off, he felt water hit him and saw Sara holding a bottle with water he assumed was from the river.

“Now we’re even,” she said as she walked off and he followed her with a scowl on his face.

They visited other museums and churches like the Montmarte which housed the white-domed Basilica Of Sacre-Cour and nightclubs. It was also known for its past as the location of studios of artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, and Claude Monet.

They had even gone on to see the Arc De Triomphe which was a famous landmark in Paris that stood on the west of Champs Elysees at the center of Place Charles De Gaulle. The memory of her lips against his never left his mind during the entire week and he was eager for a repeat.

The second and third week consisted of visiting other sites like the Sainte-Chappelle and the Jardin du Luxembourg. The Sainte-Chappelle was a gothic Chappelle with stained glass windows, according to the guide it was the place the king of France had lived in until the 14th century.

They had spent almost an hour there taking in the view; it was a magnificent Chappell full of color. Everything glittered from the glass which surrounded it and its supporting frame of stone vaulting. Its architect, Pierre De Montreuil, had experimented with it by using glass instead of stone. The Chapelle was a work of art and had every single color covering it. Len had been impressed by it and personally agreed with others who had said that it was one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. They had stayed there well until it was dark finding peace and tranquility in the way the Chappelle's architect used color on the building, Sara had leaned her head against Len’s shoulder and they had just stared at the Chappelle in wonderment.

The Jardin Du Luxembourg was a park located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It had a pool and an amazing view of the Pantheon, its garden was a marvel. He had seen one of Sara’s favorite flowers and when no one was looking sneakily picked almost ten of them before giving them to her, her smile was worth almost getting caught.

There had been free performances there and a carousel that Sara insisted they ride, despite his insistence that the ride was only for kids. Sara had been like a child in the playground insisting that he push her on the swing despite the stares they were getting from the parents and some of the older kids.

They had toured the entire park and ended up in the Orangerie where they saw displays of art, photography, and sculptures. He had marveled at the figures of French queens and illustrious women like Anne of Austria and Saint Genevieve standing on pedestals that were created by Louis-Phillipe.

Their next stop had been the Odeon which was a theater that stood next to the garden. They had watched one of the shows and Len had had a hard time understanding what was happening, needing Sara, who spoke French, to translate what was going on for him. Sara had poked fun at him for not being able to understand what was going on and he had given her a scowl in return. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t know how to speak French.

They had returned to the park and spent the rest of the day there, choosing to have a picnic instead of going to an expensive restaurant to eat. They had laid a blanket on the ground and decided to wait for the sunset so that they could watch it. After they had gazed at the stars and while Sara explained to him which star was which all he had been able to do was stare at her.

She was perfect, especially while trying to explain something to him. (He really was a sap if he found simple things like her explaining things to him romantic; Lisa would totally tease him for this.) The moonlight glittered against her hair and he reached for one of her hands and tangled it with one of his, stopping her mid-sentence. She had looked at him and smiled a smile so bright that it had taken up her whole face and he couldn’t help but smile back at her before he pulled her on top of him and kissed her on the forehead.

Their last week together came quickly. He knew that they had both been dreading it, especially having to separate again. She had been holding onto his hand the entire week and he couldn’t blame her. He had this feeling that if he let go of her for even one second she would disappear and he didn’t think that he would be able to handle that. He was still so in love with her and he was unable to fathom how he would be able to be without her again. The last week was spent seeing the Latin Quarter, the Pantheon, and their last stop which was the Eiffel Tower.

The Latin Quarter was basically a mall. He followed her dutifully as she walked around and entered stores. He held bags and helped her choose which trinkets and gifts to buy for her family. He had complained earlier, before they had entered the mall, and all that had ended up happening was Sara using puppy dog eyes (no he was not a sucker for her puppy dog eyes, it was one time and it would never work again) and promising to reward him later for being good, which he scowled at, before quickly agreeing.

The Pantheon was a building located in Latin Quarter. According to the book he had read during the trip there, it had been a church dedicated to St. Genevieve. It was an amazing and elegant place that housed burials of fallen heroes like Voltaire and Rousseau. Sara was in awe of everything from the columns to the statues of the fallen heroes. One of the guides had said that the model of the building was an example of neoclassicism, Sara, he noticed had spent the entirety of the trip listening to the guide in front of them. Her wonder and awe of the statues astounded him, she was like a child who was getting a new toy and it was adorable, especially the way that her eyes would light up when she learned new facts about the building or when she saw new statues like the statue of Voltaire near his crypt. He trudged after her as she proceeded to explore the building and tangled her hands with his as she raced through the halls of the monument.

Later, after they had left the Pantheon, she had kissed him on the cheek and thanked him for indulging her fascination with the building. After she had pulled away from him, his cheek tingled with the remembrance of her kiss and left him frozen before she had dragged him away to the car and they had driven towards one of the restaurants located in the Latin Quarter. She had told him that because he had indulged her she would let him choose where they were going to eat today. He had shaken his head at her and sighed before and choosing a place that he knew she would love.

Lisa called him during the week and made sure that he was okay. She had told him excitedly of the places that Cisco had brought her to and her happiness was evident throughout the conversation. He hadn’t had time to see her or talk to his sister during his weeks with Sara, choosing instead to text her messages and updates about where he was. He hadn’t even told her that he was with Sara, knowing that she wouldn’t be happy with him.

Lisa had liked Sara when they were together, but when they had broken up she had developed anger towards the other woman; especially after seeing and being there for Len post break up. Lisa was very protective of him (which he could understand seeing as he was the only family she had left) so she had been understandably livid to find out that he had been spending the week with Sara going as far as to warn him during the phone call of the dangers of spending time with Sara again.

When he had countered that everything was different this time because, as he had said, he wasn’t expecting anything from Sara, Lisa had told him that him being still in love with Sara was only going to lead to trouble. Especially since both of them had created separate lives and achieved their dreams away from each other. They had ended the phone call with Lisa warning him to be careful and reminding him that he had a life back home and that life wasn’t with Sara.

He had sighed as he put the phone down. She was right, he and Sara had separate lives. And Even if she was still in love with him how was this even going to work and was this even the right time for them to restart their relationship? He didn't know what to do, but he knew he would have to figure it out.

After that day, a feeling of dread began to spread through him; it was their last day together and as they drove hand in hand to the location of the Eiffel Tower he couldn’t help but feel his chest tighten and for the breath to be knocked of his lungs. It was their last day together, tomorrow he would be meeting his sister so that they could catch a flight back to Central City and go back to their lives.

He knew from the way that she was gripping his hand that Sara was dreading it too. He didn’t know how to bring it up; they had spent the day strolling through the city hoping maybe that they could extend their time together but they both knew it was impossible.

He loved her and she loved him but the way their lives had gone hadn’t been able to accommodate that. As the Eiffel Tower came into view, his chest began to tighten more and more and he gripped her hand tighter. He smiled as she dragged him to the top of the iconic structure and when they reached the top she dragged him to one of the windows. Paris was beautiful on top of the tower because you could see everything from the people walking home from work to the number of shops that were in Paris; from up here he could the lights and every single building in Paris.

He banged his head on the window before he felt Sara’s hand grab his and turn him to face her.

“I love you,” he said softly as he gave her a sad smile.

“I love you, too,” she replied with a smile on her face.

“Come back to Central City with me?” he begged with tears in his eyes.

As he asked the question all Sara did was smile at him sadly.

“I can’t, you know I can’t,” she replied.

“I know, I just had to try,” he replied sadly.

“Maybe someday when everything in our lives is sorted out,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“Maybe someday,” he echoed.

Maybe someday they would see each other again and they would be able to be together without all the complications of jobs and their lives but all they could do for now was wrap their arms around each other and make the few remaining minutes they had in each other’s arms last.

Early the next day, Len packed his bag to meet his sister at the airport. He couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Sara would change her mind and decide to go with him. As soon as he entered the airport he felt someone engulf him in a tight hug and saw his sister’s long brown hair in his arms.

"I missed you, Lenny," Lisa said with a smile. She looked happier than he had seen her in months; maybe Cisco really had been good for her.

“Apparently not enough to abandon Cisco and travel with me," Len teased sarcastically with a small pout. His sister laughed and hugged him.

“You know this doesn't mean you're out of trouble. We’re gonna have to talk about your chosen travel companion. You know that right?” Lisa asked him with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah yeah, whatever," Len said with a roll of his eyes, his sister huffed before dragging him through the door for Passport control.

As he and Lisa lined up, he turned and saw Sara looking at him with a sad smile. Someday, he promised himself as he walked away. Someday.

#Captain Canary #ccbmv #Sara Lance #Leonard Snart #Legends Of Tomorrow

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elizabethemerald · 5 years ago

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After the Museum Date

I had an anon that requested: I wish you would write a fic where Julia and Carmen are able to interact without Chase and V.I.L.E. interrupting them

Tumblr won’t let me add read more’s to asks so rather than torture all my lovely readers I’m going to post it here. Thanks for the request!

This is the direct sequel to the previous Jule Thief piece. (Museum Date), (Coffee Date)