#their appeal is in their extensive menu

[rimouskis]

the turtle arctic swirl wasn't too shabby

[causenessus]

love notes

part 0.14. ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK.

"let me hang around, even if it's just some way to have a common burn."

from common burn by mazzy star, left in himeji, hyōgo

he hasn’t texted her back all day. she’s sure it’s because he’s busy. if he’s really going to catch a train in time, he’ll have to pack everything he’s bringing back with him, get to the station, take the train, drop everything off back at his apartment, and dozens of other things. he's busy. she tells herself that’s why he hasn’t texted back. and she shouldn’t be bothered, she’s not the only person in his life. she can't expect him to immediately reply to any of her texts.

she tries to stay positive. there's other possible explanations, too. he’s just as mischievous as he was in high school, and it's possible he's just playing with her, so she won’t know when he’s coming.

that’s probably the most likely answer, but she can’t help pacing around her apartment in anticipation. it’s a cold day, and kuroo and kenma are lazing around in the living room by the heater to stay warm as they scroll on their phones while she tries to make sure she’s thought everything out. although maybe she’s thought too much.

too much about their time spent together, about if he’s coming back to town just for her or if she just happens to be part of the reason why. and he’s come to keep her company and eat at onigiri miya when she’s working, but rarely have they ever gone out to eat together. she stayed awake laying in bed for hours thinking about the implications of his texts last night. was he asking her out? she couldn't be sure, and she was tired of overanalyzing every text between them when it was getting her nowhere.

she’d double-checked her outfit–simple and casual, but enough to keep her warm–with both kuroo and kenma who gave her a thumbs up. she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to trust their opinions on fashion, but they were the best she had at the moment and kenma was prone to saying whatever he was thinking anyway (which was both a blessing and a curse, depending on the day).

she's also learned her lesson from last year and spent the morning searching up what places would be open on new year's eve. then, she triple-checked on the phone with overworked hostesses that their holiday hours were correct.

she decided on a place that the pottery shop owner next to onigiri miya had recommended her. it was a new place that had risen to popularity within the last year; the ravens eye diner.

the name had already drawn her in from the start, and the old-fashioned, brick exterior of the building and neon sign in addition to their extensive menu was all she needed to decide it was the perfect spot. despite it being a holiday, they were still open all 24 hours. she felt bad for the employees, but at the same time, the more she thought about it, the more appealing the idea of spending the new year in a diner became. she was sure from the looks of their warm environment, it wouldn't actually be a bad place to spend the night at. but suna already had a plan for them, so maybe she’d bring up the idea next year if they liked the diner.

‘would there even be a next time? a next year with him?’ what if she managed to mess up or say something to him that was so bad it broke off their friendship? what if she got so tired of keeping her feelings pushed down she ended up finally confessing to him and ruining everything? what if they got distant and stopped talking altogether?

she groans, putting her hands in her face as she leans against the edge of her kitchen counter, tired of thinking. she just wants to see him, and be with him. he always distracts her from everything else. it's always just the present with him.

oh shit, had she gotten him a present?

“can you stop worrying for three seconds?” kenma’s voice comes from behind the couch, and she can only barely see his grown out bleached hair peeking out from the arm of the couch, where he’s resting his head on it.

she gives him a dirty look, which he can’t see but can still feel. “it’s not my fault i have no idea where he is or when he’s coming. he’s messing with me and it's stressing me out! and i just realized that i didn’t get him a gift because i didn’t know when he’d be coming back and didn’t want to be weird but now–”

 a knock against the door makes her immediately shut up, and kenma lifts his head up slightly, looking at the door. kuroo spares it a glance as well before giving her a sly grin as she makes her way towards the door with a red face, each step feeling heavier and heavier.

it’s suffocating, standing in front of their brown wooden door. the silver lock and knob are right in front of her, and she’s frozen in place. she can feel him waiting on the other side, and then she decides ‘fuck it’ and swings the door open.

it’s only been maybe a week since she’s seen him, and she heard his voice just last night, but the sight of him makes her breath hitch; dark gray, wide-legged denim jeans and an oversized black sweater, with a white t-shirt peeking out from underneath. he has the same hooded eyes she’s been caught staring at multiple times, and he’d be wearing his trademark neutral expression as always if not for the small smile on his face that she immediately mirrors.

“hi,” he says, arms shifting. they’re behind his back, holding something she can't see

“hi,” she breathes, trying to remain composed. “what do you got there?” she asks, gesturing to his poor attempt to hide whatever he's carrying.

“just flowers,” he shrugs, brushing it off as if it's something completely casual. he takes his right arm out from behind him, revealing the bundle of lilies in his hand. they’re all still buds, closed but standing tall and she can’t help the way her smile grows at the sight and his lips follow. “i was busy trying to get this all together that i didn’t have time to text you back, i’m sorry. i mean– i probably could’ve, but in all honesty, i thought it’d be fun to leave you guessing about when i’d show up.”

“i can’t believe you,” she laughs, taking the flowers from him. “thank you for these. i'm not sure i forgive you for leaving me on delivered all day, but i can't say i didn't expect that to be your answer. did you get these from calico blooms? i would’ve thought they were closed today.”

“they were,” he answers and she tilts her head, brows furrowed in confusement. “like i said, i pulled some strings to get these. since you like lilies, right? unless you were just making up stuff when you tweeted about them.”

she’s quick to shake her head, starting to pull at one of the leaves on the stems of the bunch. “no, you were right. i love them.” she tries not to let his words get to her head. ‘for her? he had gone through the trouble of buying flowers for her?’

the conversation goes silent between them before he reveals what he’s been hiding in his left arm. it’s an inconspicuous rectangular box wrapped in brown paper with a smiley face drawn in the corner in black ink. she looks up from the present to his face as she takes the box from him with a small thank you and he only gives her a grin, “that’s your actual gift, but you should open it later. if you unwrap it now and like it, we'll be stuck here forever. which wouldn’t be the worst way to spend new year’s eve, but i’m starving. did you find somewhere we could go?”

“i did!” she brightens up at the question, reminded of the night they have ahead of them. “let me put these down and we can go.”

it’s like she’s lost all ability to function like a normal human being; she’s not sure what to do with the door in the meantime. she doesn’t want to shut it on him but she also doesn’t want to leave it open, where he’ll be able to see her embarrassment of ha roommate and his friend giving her the sleaziest, snarkiest smirks she’s ever seen that she wants so desperately to slap off both of their faces. she opts for the middle between her two choices and leaves the door slightly ajar as she places the flowers and gift on the kitchen table gently. she rolls her eyes at the two boys on her couch, flipping them off. they send up their own fingers as a goodbye before she grabs an overcoat and her keys before slipping out the door. she locks the door behind her, letting out a breath, finally glad to be out of kenma’s sight. she knows he’ll tease her to no end when she gets back, or maybe he’ll be spamming her phone with texts throughout the entire night.

“everything okay?” he asks with a small laugh, watching her pull her keys from the door with another sigh.

she gives him a smile back, “yeah. just kenma and kuroo being little shits, that’s all. but now we’re ditching them so things are great.”

she starts down the hall and he follows after her, falling into step. his presence next to her is comforting; she’s no longer nervous about tripping over her own feet being side by side with him like she was during the first two years they had known each other. instead, she's just hyperaware of every time their hands and arms brush against each other, the contact sending chills down her neck and spine. “i didn’t even notice them,” he comments, looking forward down the hall. “but i completely understand. that night i went to your exhibit literally everyone was waiting for me to come home, we're surrounded by little shits.”

she snickers at the image in her mind of his roommates sprawled out on their couches and suna’s deadpan when he walked through the door. “so, where are we going?” he asks, yellow-gray eyes narrowing as they look at her.

“it’s a diner my friend told me about,” she says, returning his gaze with an excited glint in her eyes. “the one from the pottery shop that osamu likes. she spoke really highly of it so i’m hoping it’s good. and they’re open all night, too.”

his brows raise with a nod, “even on new year's eve? good for them, i guess. how are the lovebirds doing, by the way? anything new between them?”

she hums in thought, trying to rack her brain for any new interactions between her boss and the girl next door, “i don’t think so. since osamu went out of town, they haven't really talked. she’s come into onigiri miya a few times to see if he’s back but i told her he won’t be returning until later this week.”

they step into the elevator to take them down to the ground level of her apartment building. the doors close as he responds, “maybe we’ll put together a plan when he gets back in town. he was always on twitter trying to see if she had posted something new when i hung out with him back home.”

she nods, “i was thinking the same thing. maybe i’ll force her to take him to this diner too if we like it.” the elevator door chimes as they reach the first floor, and he lets her go out first before walking beside her again.

the diner is everything she could have hoped for and more. she's resisted the urge to pull out her phone and text osamu about it all night; the two of them often go out to try places together because of their shared passion for food, but she wants to keep the place a secret until the pottery shop owner can take him here. they spend most of the night catching each other up on any stories they’ve missed while they’ve been apart and haven't gotten the chance to discuss over the phone yet. he tells her about the twins' latest pranks in hyōgo, and she tells him about the late nights spent gaming with kuroo and kenma.

the diner’s menu is colorful and glossy, each page laminated and spotless. there are countless items to choose from on each side, front and back, but she settles for something plain and simple. she orders half a grilled cheese and a bowl of tomato soup while he gets a soda and sandwich, seemingly unfazed by the freezing weather outside. they end up stealing parts of each other’s dinners, staying for around an hour before they pay, leaving a tip and heading towards the door. the blond hostess squeaks out a goodbye who they wave to before they wander back into the cold.

she lets him lead them as they keep chatting. even after the long nights they’ve spent on the phone over the break, they never run out of things to say. they climb up a tall hill until they reach a plateau, gravel crunching under their shoes. at the edge is a low concrete barricade overlooking the city. with such an important holiday being only minutes away, the city is as alive as it can get. minuscule yellow squares are scattered haphazardly across towering buildings, where lights are still on in offices, and she can barely make out the bright, colorful digital billboards that display advertisements, covering the walls of other structures entirely. on the surface of the barricade, a phrase has been spray-painted onto it, reading out “life is beautiful.” 

they climb over the barrier, sitting on the top of its cold surface. a quick glance at her phone tells her the time. there’s just under 10 minutes until midnight.

he breaks the silence with a question, “how did this break goes for you?” he asks, drawing her attention to him. “i know you had kenma, and we called a lot, but i saw your tweet yesterday– about feeling lost. how are you doing now?”

she looks down at her hand, splayed atop the smooth stone surface they're seated on. he’s given her a chance to tell him how she feels. that he’s the one she feels lost without. she just needs to take the risk. “i’m doing better now,” she starts, trying to be honest. “it was fun to hang out with kenma and kuroo, and i’m thankful for them, but they also would’ve been fine on their own without because they're a pair, you know? and for me, that’s how i feel about you.” she's still staring at her hand, unable to look at him. she wants to see his reaction, but she can't bring herself to lift her head and her confidence slips away, “about you and omi. you guys are like my closest friends, and my other half. so i was really missing you guys.”

it’s silent and it feels like her entire body is burning. her face is burning, and strangely, her eyes are burning. she regrets her words; both her original statement and the excuse she added to it in a poor attempt to play it off. she's missed the perfect moment to tell him how she feels, but she's also not sure she wants to tell him. it’s hard for her to navigate through their friendship when it feels like she's in the dark, feeling around blindly for a boundary between them and what they are that doesn't even exist.

he tries not to let her last sentence get to him. he froze initially at her original explanation, but now the word is ringing through his head. she values him and omi equally. she sees them both as her closest friends.

he nods, because he doesn't feel like he can formulate words yet after that blow. but he needs to say something back, and pretend like everything is fine. “you know, if you’re ever feeling lonely, you can always just come back to hyōgo with me. i’ve mentioned you to my family before–”

“you’ve talked about me to your family?” she asks, face lighting up, and the awkward repercussions of her statement that formed between them have melted away again.

“yeah, just in the passing. i told them you were the inzarizaki's sports photographer, and you know my sister a little bit, so they all like you,” he says, nervously tugging at the collar of his sweater. “but if you’re not comfortable staying with us, atsumu and osamu’s mom is nice, if you could bear being in the same house as the both of them,” they both grimace at the idea and immediately reject it. “or why don’t you stay with omi? i’m sure he’d let you,” he suggests.

she shrugs with a sigh, looking towards the sky and he follows her gaze. “i don’t know. i just feel like i’m overstepping boundaries. like he shouldn’t have to care for me at our apartment and outside of it, too. i want him to enjoy his break. i want all of you to.”

he chuckles at her words, and the lazy smile on his face when she looks back at him makes her face feel warm again, “it’s not like you made us food after every game in high school, and still do even now. i wouldn’t mind if you stayed with me, really. you’re not a burden. we're friends, and we hang out because we like being around each other, not because we're forced to. you're talking like we're taking a break from you but no one thinks of you like that. we all love you.”

his words make the hair on the back of her neck stand up. they sound so genuine, and she hates the way he says friends even though just moments ago she said the same thing. she purses her lips with a sigh, “you sure know to be convincing, but i’m still not sure. cooking for you guys was different.”

“in what way?” he quips, raising his brows.

he laughs when she’s unable to respond because she's bluffing, there really isn't a difference. he’s right, but she doesn’t want to admit it. “i’ll think about it,” she finally says after taking in a breath. “about you and your family. maybe i can suck up to them when i meet them. that’d be fun.”

their conversation is cut short by a loud explosion that startles both of them. he stands up, slipping back down from the barrier to look around. “it was probably an early firework,” he guesses, standing a few feet away. she’s looking back at him, and his face is lit up by the screen of his phone as he looks down at it. “it’s 11:59, so we’re almost there.”

she turns back to face the city, waiting for him to return to his spot next to her. however, the sound of a camera shutter makes her look back again, an amused smile on her face as she sees his phone held up in her direction. “hey, i’m the photographer here,” she teases as he makes his way back towards her.

he sits next to her again, their legs brushing, and she can feel the heat radiating off his body. “well someone’s gotta take photos of you. and i’ve decided it’s my job now,” he replies, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

she doesn’t respond, she just looks at him with a smile.

his throat feels a little tight, staring back at her. he can’t help the way his sight flicks down just a bit to look at her lips, despite how hard he’s trying to stay focused on her eyes. 

he almost says something. it almost escapes his chest before another boom makes them jump. they look forward, just in time to see yellow sparks fizzing high above the city, followed by red and white specks glittering amidst the background of the midnight sky.

she taps on her phone, just to check the time before she looks back up at him, “happy new year, rin.”

she’s finally remembered to say his first name, and he swears his heart stops for a second. he returns her smile, “happy new year, y/n.”

it’s their second new year together. another year of sitting close side by side, another year that he's not actually looking at the fireworks. he's admiring her while she watches the sky.

it's been another year.

another year of doing nothing more than stealing glances and covering up the truth with faux words; taking one step forward, then two steps back.

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extras <3

i'm sorry if there's any typos </3 i've proofread and changed things like four times now and i want to move on <3

MY BISQUE BEAU, INKED, AND THE RAVEN'S EYE DINER PLUGS!! u should go check out all of these :)

by “pulling strings” to get y/n flowers, suna texted osamu about knowing the owner of the flower shop down the street from onigiri miya and osamu said he’d text mbb yn about it because she was good friends with the owner of the store.

kiyoko met him out front of the store, giving him the bouquet of flowers, telling him they’ll last around two weeks and they’ll bloom over the next few days, although she’s sure they both know that (from y/n’s original tweet about lilies <3)

she was giving him the biggest "i know ur in love with her and it is so cute" smile and look ever

he took them and thanked her. and he assumes they’re probably just white lilies (man doesn’t know anything about flowers although he wishes he does </3) but they’re PINK <3 and y/n will find that out later

inked y/n DEFINITELY helped kiyoko pick those out

hmmmm i wonder what y/n’s gift is

taglist: @0moonii @iluvmang @bluebeanbee @wyrcan @oyasumeii @froyaoya @gyuijns @nbcvs @milkteade @eggyrocks @guitarstringed-scars @makkir0ll @mylahrins @cherrypieyourface @vivian-555 @sharkerino @r0seandth0rns @staileykout @lunavixia @thvvluvr @elliott0o0 @wolffmaiden @rockleeisbaeeee @toges-cough-syrup @cnnmairoll @ryeyeyer @hibernatinghamster @localgaytrainwreck @lemonocity @bows4life @sereniteav @madiexuberant @eclecticeggknightpsychic @phoenix-eclipses @sonicsolos @httpakkeiji @brkfclub @snail-squasher @starry-magicshop @cr4yolaas @kitnootkat @zzzlevislothzzz @iluv-ace @iluvaquaphor @stayyyyyyyyyyyy21 @applepi25 @twiishaa @girlkissersco @sleepystrwbrryy @encrypta

[vintagehellfire]

All For Show | E.M

Musician!Eddie x Showgirl!reader

summary: 1955 New York City, where dreams come true. You get to dance and perform for crowds every night, bringing in good money for yourself and for daddy’s jazz club. The regulars love you, the women envy you, and the musicians are strictly banned from flirting with you (and the other dancers of course). This wasn’t a problem until your father up and coming musician Eddie Munson to perform at his jazz club. Eddie was the first man to catch your eye, and you the first performer to be worth his time, and your fathers wrath.

warnings: implied female reader, mysoginy, eventual smut, swearing, no use of y/n, nudity, drugs, smoking, slow-burn, alcohol, anger issues, controlling father, derogatory names against reader, talks of abusive childhood, 18+ only. mdni

Chapter IV: I’m Kind of Nervous but it Sure Is Fun | 12.2k words

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The question lingered in the open air temporarily, not so much an inquiry of whether you actually knew of Reuben’s but much more a warm invitation to the establishment in itself. There was a teasing smirk that adorned Eddie’s features, a mischief, and a certain glint in his eyes that spelled out trouble. Trouble that you actually wanted to get in, trouble that you wanted to dive headfirst into without thinking of the consequences. His intonation gave him away and yet you couldn’t help but allow your heart to flutter at his suggestion.

That’s how you and Eddie make your way over to Reuben’s — it was a brisk eleven minute walk from Latin Quarter to Reuben’s. The diner sat on 6 E 58th and seemed to be bustling with life at this strange hour. Most people were stumbling over their own feet trying to find the front door, unsteady hands trying to grab at the door handle and stabilize themselves enough to let themselves in for a post party snack. It was tradition for beatniks and dollies* to frequent the diner in the wee hours of the morning. The neon sign in front adorning the large lettering flirted with you, inviting you in for a bite, and if that wasn’t enough, the doorman beckoned you and Eddie forward with a wave of his gloved hand and a polite smile. Once you stepped in, the hustle and bustle faded out and was replaced by a black and gold world of a sort of art nouveau style from the tail end of the mid thirties. It was charming and warm, nothing to scoff at, and best of all was that if you weren’t coming from a night of jive they still had what it took to meet your needs.

Both you and Eddie settled into a booth, paying attention to each other, tending to who was to go forth and choosing their seat first. If Eddie had been any braver he would have wrapped his arm around your waist and led you to his favourite seat in the house but as reality proved it, the curly haired musician was too chickenshit to initiate such an intimate gesture - it would overstep an imaginary line that you’ve both already crossed. And so with grace, you slid into the seat opposite of the man, back towards the front door, and consequently the general public. You cared not for the idle chatter of the other patrons, nor for the rowdiness of those who had overindulged, no, you had eyes and ears for nobody but Eddie.

Soon after having sat down, a waitress came by with the menus and a jug of water, filling up your glasses before telling you that she’d be back in a moment to take your orders. You and Eddie clearly needed a moment to make your decisions - with a menu so extensive it wasn't easy but the longer your eyes trailed over the yellowed paper, the more appeal the simpler things had. Especially after a night of drinking. As you finished looking over the menu, your eyes flicked over the musician’s features; his hair frizzy from the sweat and his cheeks flushed from the brisk night air. You were sure your cheeks were just as frozen over and yet you didn’t seem to mind, not when you had just been dancing with the most handsome man you had the pleasure of meeting in… in god knows how long.

“Well, I’ll grab us a pot of Reuben’s special blend. Should sober us up and keep us warm.” You suggest, opting to divert your gaze back to the menu before you. This elicits a small hum of approval from the man, a fraction of a nod being earned in addition to the small sound, in case you hadn’t heard it over the clattering of plates and various cutlery. The timbre of his voice was enough to warm your heart.

“What are you thinking about eating, sweetheart?” Eddie then glances your way, smiling crookedly, eyes sparkling under the fluorescent lighting. “I was thinking of grabbing the beech-nut bacon and scrambled eggs.” He voices coolly, as if it was his usual. It came second hand to him, he knew what he wanted immediately, and it made you wonder if he was so certain of his decision making in other aspects of life, in other contexts…

“I was thinking about those french pancakes. They look pretty good, I have to say.” You giggled out. Normally you’d opt for something savoury after a night of drinking but tonight you were in the mood to break some rules. After all, rules were meant to be broken, right? The desire for the pancakes just about dies after the words flow out of your mouth because no sooner than you have finished your sentence, your eyes land on the cherry cheesecake. “On second thought, what do you say to splitting a slice of cheesecake?” You ask, eyes daring to meet his. He snorts out a little laugh before shaking his head. You weren’t impossible, but you were close, and you’d be the death of him without even attempting homicide.

“Cheesecake for breakfast?” He chuckles out, a teasing lilt to his tone of voice. It was playful if anything, and you knew it.

“You’re not the only one who likes to break the rules, Munson.” You tease right back, earning a little shake of the head. What you hadn’t realised is that you’d set him right up for his next line.

“Mmm but any more sugar and I might overdose.” He shoots you a wink, his dashing smile stretching across his features causing his right eye to crinkle just a touch more than his left,and dear god now that you’ve noticed this little detail, you need to uncover more. You wanted to be able to read Eddie like a book, to know what constellations his moles map out on his pale skin. At his wink, there’s a heat that finds itself creeping up your neck only to find home on the apples of your cheeks.

“Okay, okay, french pancakes, and scrambled eggs.” You decide just as the waitress comes to ask for your orders. As you both give her the small list of items you’d like, you steal glances at one another, as if for confirmation that those were the correct choices. She tutts happily, announcing she’ll be back with a pot of coffee but that the wait would be a short while for the food, which frankly neither you nor Eddie minded. If anything, a little wait could stall you both, give you enough time to open up and to explore each other as people, get to know each other even if it were on the surface level and nothing more. As ridiculous as you’d always believed such trivial things to be, you found yourself caring about Eddie Munson’s favourite colour or even the way he took his coffee, you found yourself caring to find out whether he put his left or his right sock on first and if he had a particular brand he bought over others.

The kind waitress comes back a few minutes later, interrupting your discussion about the evening you’d both shared, a big coffee pot in one hand,and two white mugs in another. She carefully placed them on the table, a certain grace to her movements,though you suppose that comes with the profession, before she informed you it would be just a bit longer for the food. With a dazzling smile she was on her way to the next table over. You thanked heras she left before reaching for the hotpot of Reuben’s Special coffee. As your hand made contact with the handle you felt a warmth envelop your fingers.

“Sorry, I- I wanted to get that for you.” A heat crept up Eddie’s neck as he slowly pulled his hand away,ghosting it over your fingers just a little longer, letting the warmth linger a fraction of a second longer than would be seen as appropriate.

“No, no, don’t be sorry, Eds.” You coo out, a shyness taking over your person all of a sudden. “Really, it’s fine.” He allows you to pour his coffee first before you decide to serve yourself some. As you put the pot down, you reach for your mug, wrapping both hands around it in order to warm you up just a pinch quicker. The wind that had whipped your hair around managed to seep into your bones just enough to leave a lingering chill but it wasn’t anything that a cup of joe couldn’t solve. “I actually, I wanted to thank you.” You started before drifting your eyes away from him.

“What ever for, sweetheart?” He mused, mirroring the way you held your mug, propping his elbows on the table and leaning in closer to you. It wouldn’t do anything in way of him hearing you, as much as you both told yourselves that that was it, no, Eddie just wanted to get closer and if you were being completely honest, as did you.

“For earlier. It’s-it wasn’t easy growing up.” You sigh out, hesitating to continue your train of thoughts, yet it was too late to go back now. You had started something that you wouldn’t be able to backtrack on and so within the small window of time that your sentence took up you began fiddling with your hands.

“S’okay, s’not your fault, you know?” Eddie softly responds, his worn musician’s hand instinctively reaching for yours only to stop himself and allow it to drop onto the hard plastified surface of the diner table. You had to admit that you found your heart sinking at how soon he dropped his hand, stopping it short of yours. You so desperately hoped he would change his mind and reach over to wrap his hand securely around yours, hell, you’d even abandon the heat radiating from your mug if it would guarantee being replaced by the much more comforting heat of Eddie’s hands. Yet his even in the absence of his touch, his words still had a profound effect on you. Your heart sped and hammered into your chest as your breath hitched. His understanding would be the death of you, and if death meant finding yourself in front of Eddie, would it be so bad?

“No, no, it’s not, and I know that deep down, but I can’t help but feel like I could have a better control over everything. I feel like I could have had a better handle on the situation.” You suspire, not quite berating yourself over your panic attack but something akin to it. Eddie doesn’t say anything, instead he listens, honey brown eyes trying to meet yours and for a split second you allow it. The sincerity in the emotion written behind his eyes is unmatched, it urged you to keep going, eager to listen to every last word you had to say. There was a twinkle of something there that conveyed an understanding, one that Eddie maybe wasn’t ready to share just yet.

“My mum, she, god, she was a force to be reckoned with when I was young. She was this strong woman who I looked up to and whom I loved dearly. She would take me to the theater and sometimes even the opera house when we had the money — usually that was around Christmas. The opera for us was a whole family affair, father, cousins, aunts, uncles, and all the likes. Father would treat everyone to it and well, it’s what started my love for dancing. Mother encouraged me for a while and she even started me in these children’s ballet classes.” You smiled fondly at the memory, peering into your coffee cup after finally managing to tear your eyes from Eddie’s own. His eyes were pools you could drown in, sinking deep, deep, deep, never hitting the bottom. “You know, she was quite proud of that when I was young. Said it gave me something to do and that it was quite dignified if I were to ask anybody around.

“Somewhere after my sixteenth birthday she became quite wicked,” You recalled the venom she spat at you through gritted teeth and boozy breath, “especially since I didn’t seem to want to give up my practice. It- It gave me freedom, and I think at some point I couldn’t separate it from my person. Dancing became a core part of who I am and how I express myself, a part of how I manage my emotions.” Suddenly Eddie recalled the shocking burlesque performance you put on for your first performance together, different than what you had both practiced yet more passionate, filled with a certain fire that he had only seen again this past evening— yet this evening the fire didn’t flicker and burn him, no, this night it danced in tandem with his newly lit flame. It suddenly made sense to him and he saw you in a clearer light. “My mum eventually thought that I should settle down. I was eighteen when she tried to convince me to take a lover and settle down, play happy little housewife,” you said the last word with air quotes, “but I didn’t want to take any happy pills to be able to stand my life… I’ve seen her, she wasn’t ever happy.” Your grip on your coffee mug tightens slightly, your shoulders becoming stiff.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Eddie murmurs gently, a comforting tone laced into his voice and a hesitation present - a hesitation given away by the subtle twitch of his fingers begging to reach out and touch you. “You shouldn’t be forced into marrying anyone. That should be your choice.”

“Yeah, well it’s not like I was really going steady with anyone, or really planning on finding someone to go steady with. I was a little too preoccupied with distracting myself from how nasty she was… I was,” your words caught in your throat, forming a lump that was becoming far too hard to swallow, “I was told I was spreading my legs for strangers.” You admit unfeelingly, voice devoid of all emotion. You had to distance yourself from it altogether in fear of letting any tears or ugly emotions loose. It was this moment that you chose to take a sip of coffee, allowing the bitter liquid to tether you to this very moment instead of to the past. You didn’t want to remember the past and waste your time in front of Eddie, not when time with him was so limited and such a rare commodity.

The waitress came back carrying your late night indulgences and placed them in front of the two of you, cheerily telling you both to enjoy before sending Eddie a little wink that caused an ugly emotion to boil in your blood. It coursed through your veins and lit your body on fire - a white heat that was so hot that it became unbearable and you just prayed that Eddie couldn’t see it. You thanked her bitterly, though hoping that your true emotions wouldn’t seep through. She seemed not to notice, and if she did, she paid no mind. Little did you know that the frizzy haired man hadn’t even noticed the wink, his eyes never having left your figure since you began telling your tale. He felt for you, your backstory incredibly similar to his own, and he’d be damned if you weren’t one of the first people he opened up to about it.

“I hope you don’t feel like that when you dance at the club.” Eddie noted gently, picking up his fork and cutting into his eggs. “I- I- may I permit myself, and pardon me if it’s inappropriate, but may I permit myself to say that you are absolutely breathtaking when you take to the stage.” A red tint blossomed across the apples of the musicians cheeks, as if shy, embarrassed even, of his admission.

“Eds, you don’t ever need to apologize for such kind words.” Your face heated gently, forcing you to engage in a staring contest with one of the many coffee rings on the table. “I- anyway, father was actually really supportive. I’m his only child and he’s- while he’s really protective, he wanted to see me happy, you know?” You shrugged, a small smile dancing across your lips, soft, remembering. “Eventually he suggested I dance at the club because I was so dedicated to it and well, it would be safer than others. I get it, I do. I wish sometimes that he would let up a little but I know it’s coming from a place of love.” A small shrug finds itself in your body language. “I don’t know too much about father, but from what I’ve overheard, I think- I think he’s protective because I’m the only child he can have, and even then I was a miracle.” Eddie’s features softened and in that moment he understood a wider scope of what was actually going on behind the scenes, why your father was such a hardass, and why he was so protective of you — his only child, and likely the only one he’d ver have.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He breathed out, his doe eyes softening as he looks over your features, the frown lines settling into his soft features, eyebrows furrowing gently.

“No, no,” you wave off, lifting your mug to your lips once again, taking a long sip before opting to cut into your crêpe, “I’m over it, mostly anyway.” You wave off before taking in a mouthful of the sugary and glutinous dessert. “What about you?” You opt to pry into Eddie’s life, desperate to change the subject, shift the focus from you and to maybe learn a little something about the musician before you… for professional reasons only.

“There isn’t much to tell, darling.” He sighed as if trying to gear himself up to confess his deepest sins. You were the church confessional and he was the poor transgressor ready to divulge his deepest wrongdoings and beg for forgiveness still, you encouraged him with a small nod and a ghost of a smile that painted itself onto your features. The sweet look that adorned your features only pushed his bravery to the very edge, begging him to take a sip of the bitter liquid before him before he jumped into it, his thoughts running so quickly they might as well have been a film reel playing out a scene in front of him. “Look, I did not have an easy childhood. I was seen as a neerdowell by classmates and their parents alike - I was a leper, nobody would come near me and that’s when I picked up playing the guitar. I’d learn to play radio hits by ear and eventually that evolved into teaching myself more complex pieces. Eventually my parents caught wind that I was playing what they called the devil’s music.” He lets out a sordid chuckle, a little dark in nature. It told you that it wasn’t something Eddie had managed to fully get over.

“Well, I’ll tell you there’s definitely a devilish charm to it.” There’s a devilish charm to you. You try to ease the tension, a smile threatening to tug at your lips but instead it ghosts over them shyly, hesitant to make itself known in case it wasn’t a welcome reaction. Your small tease taunted Eddie in ways you couldn’t have known — the man looked down into his coffee mug, hair falling into his face, a curtain to hide the dusty rose colour that coated his cheeks while he took your little quip as flirting. Little did he know that that was exactly how you had meant it. He shook his head at you, acknowledging that he appreciated the little joke you had made before clearing his throat and continuing on.

“I don’t think my parents found it as charming as you do, darling.” He dared meet your eyes, his whiskey gaze piercing yours. At his unabashed boldness your breath caught in your throat, the light flirtation dying out only to be replaced by the blossoms of desire. “They had initially forbidden me from playing it but when I didn’t let up, spirit of teenage rebellion and all that, they kicked me out. I went to live with my Uncle Wayne after that.” He took a beat to let you process what he was saying, your eyes scanning his face for any ounce of malice or discomfort but. You found none. “Wayne might have danced with the devil a little himself.” Eddie broke out in a wolfish grin and god did it send a shiver down your spine. His smile was stunning, a real megawatt smile that you thought would be perfect for Hollywood, and yet he was right here with you.

“I’m willing to bet he didn’t discourage you.” You hummed out before tearing your eyes away from the musician and back to your plate, carefully cutting another piece of your breakfast. While you spoke Eddie did the same, and through a quick mouthful chased down with some bitter coffee he answered earnestly.

“No, god no, he indulged in jazz as much as I did and he encouraged me to play music of whatever sort I wanted. He even encouraged me to pick up multiple instruments. I know you haven’t really seen it quite yet but I primarily play guitar. You think I’m good with my hands on the keys, just wait ‘til you see my fingers moving across those strings.” He sent you a wink which had your face heating. “Anyway, as soon asI was old enough to play clubs, I would. I applied to s’fuckin many of em and would sing, play piano or guitar, anything that was thrown my way, I’d try.” He shrugged, cutting into his meal. Little did you know that his singing voice was beautiful and melded perfectly with his guitar playing. His voice was gruff - it was something you’d discover someday soon, and it had women swooning over the young beatnik. It wasn’t something he expected and yet it didn’t affect him as much as one would have thought.

“Okay mister big shot,” you teased, “if you learned so much on your own, where did you learn to dance like you did tonight?” You propped your elbows up on the table and leaned in, a mischievous smile adorning your features, a glint in your eyes. In all truth, you wanted to know Eddie inside and out. Your heart ached for him as he told his story, similar to yours in ways that you wouldn’t have imagined. You wanted to reach across the way and hug him, you wanted to hold him tight and tell him you were proud of him and how far he has come, that you were grateful for him already. You wished desperately to be able to show him a small ounce of affection but you sat frozen.

“I- uh- s’no big deal, really.” He mumbled, a little embarrassed to admit the following. “I learned at these clubs. If I wasn’t playing music I had some dancers and other folks teach me.” Your heart skipped a beat before falling into your guts, your stomach growing queasy with the turbulence. “I just wanted to hone my craft,” the man rushed out after sensing your discomfort. Why he felt the need to clarify it was unclear, why he wanted to spare your feelings also wasn’t exactly clear but here he was trying to make sure you knew he wasn’t looking at other people in the same manner he looked at you, “it wasn’t about indulgence or being close to these people, I swear. It was about being able to move up in the industry and make it to 52nd.” He assured you. The tornado of emotions flooding your body settled and your heart slowly crawled its way back into your chest. “Honestly, it was also about affording my uncle his new place.” He opted to hide behind his hair, dropping his utensils and bringing his mug up to his face in order to obscure his features even more. At this your heart warmed.

“Oh, Eddie.” You cooed out, his name on your tongue sending a wave of warmth through the man. There was something about it that he adored. Maybe it was how soft the ‘e’s’ were, maybe it was just your honey voice dripping with amber sweetness, but something tugged at his heart. While a forbidden desire was always present when it came to you, this was something else. There was nothing exciting about the way you said his name, nothing forbidden, and yet it elicited a certain reaction in him that he wasn’t used to.

“‘S the least I can do for Wayne, you know? He gave me everything, and he deserves a good and comfortable life.” He took a long sip of his coffee before putting the mug down. “Besides, I have him to thank for meeting you.” He beamed, flirtation creeping into his voice, his lopsided smile allowing his dimples to become pronounced. God did you love his dimples.

“You seem really fond of your uncle.” You softly let out, mirroring his gentle smile, stars hung in your eyes for the way he spoke of his true family. “Do you still get to see him often?” You dare pry a little further.

“Yeah, yeah I do. I visit him every second weekend of the month actually. He lives in Brooklyn now. He wanted something a little quieter and didn’t want me to break the bank buying him a place.” He shrugs. “He actually put in a good word for me for uh… the club.” He admits to you. “Phoned your dad up and practically begged him to give me a shot, and for that I’m grateful.The old man didn’t want to tell me about it but I pried it out of him. I really owe everything to him.” Your heart ached for Eddie and yet it soared all the same. His admiration for his father figure had you yearning for that same admiration from him or rather the passion and love he spoke with. It was enough to prick tears into your eyes that you quickly blinked away.

“Oh bullshit there isn’t much to tell.” You chuckle from behind your coffee mug, a smile cracking across your features as delicately as the cracks in a porcelain doll and Eddie swears that your laugh is his favourite sound, and your smile is his favourite thing. Likewise, the little smile that tugs at Eddie’s plush lips ignites a fire in your heart that you didn’t even realise you- no, he’d been kindling. That smile that he offered you ripped open the floodgates to new emotions that he was slowly chipping his way to, and suddenly it dawned on you that maybe, just maybe the turbulent changes in emotions, all ranging from adoration to misplaced jealousy could be the lead up into something more than carnal desire for the man.

“You got me there, sweetheart.” There it is, that pet name that he had for you. You swore that little night blooming flowers grew around your heart, the stems encircling it and squeezing as they grew. “I guess there is a lot to tell, I just never thought of it as important enough to share.” He shrugged before reaching for his coffee. It was warm enough to go down smoothly but not hot enough to burn — enough to cover the growing warmth in his cheeks that you caused him. There was a pause before he took his next sip, eyes flicking to you, “Not until now anyway.” And with that he swallowed down another mouthful of coffee, letting it overwhelm his taste buds, drowning out the overwhelming thoughts that threatened to swirl at his admission.

A you’re full of shit is on the tip of your tongue but with the sincerity that spilled from his voice, and the gentle look he had given you, the words died in your mouth. “You mean that?” You asked, a small tremble in your voice. Being privy to this man’s inner most thoughts had you reeling with a certain anxiety that you couldn’t completely pinpoint. It dawned on you then that it mattered what he thought of you, what a man thought of you was hardly ever of your concern and often you dismissed it, it didn’t matter, not until now. If you were being honest, that scared you. If it were true that Eddie was cultivating a garden around your heart, threatening to take care of it through gentle words, ernest secrets, and stolen evenings, you were done for. There is not much one can do when a person so choses to invest time and love into another.

“Every word, sweetheart.” He let himself breathe, a pit settling into his heart, gentle, subtle, but ever present. He couldn’t tell exactly what the sensation was, but he knew that it was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It was something sacred between the two of you, a secret kept between two people, teetering on forbidden sin.

“You know, I never cared for a man’s opinion of me,” you looked down to your plate as you gently placed the mug on the table, clasping it with both hands as if for support, and god knows you needed it, “and yet I find myself caring for yours. It scares me.” You admit, hands starting to tremble from nerves. No amount of white hot heat of spotlights elicited such a reaction from you, no amount of eyes made your breath catch and your body tremble, and yet one look from the curly haired man could have your knees buckling. It was with great surprise that you weren’t overcome with anxiety after your confession and yet you still refused to meet his gaze.

“You have nothing to be scared about.” His voice flows smooth, words soft and tender, a certain truth spilling over into them without hesitation. Internally, Eddie fought with himself, willing himself to sit still, and yet he wanted so desperately to be able to see your eyes in this moment. In a soft whisper, a ghost of a breath you heard a “forgive me darling.” Before his mug clattered gently against the surface of the table, a few drops of the cacao coloured liquid splashing onto the linoleum surface of the table in his haste and his calloused fingers made their way to your chin delicately - the complete opposite of how he had handled his coffee cup. Your eyes flick up to meet his, the honey warm tones sparkling under the warm lights of the diner. “You’re allowed to care about my opinion of you as I care about your opinion of me. It’s… sweetheart, no matter how hard I try to act cold in favour of your father, I couldn’t do that to you. I care too deeply about what you think of me, god only knows why, but I need you to know that the feeling is mutual.” He breathes, allowing his hand to finally drop to the table, leaving it palm up as a sort of offering if you’re so willing to take it.

“What’s so special about me?” You egg him on, a certain amusement sprinkling itself into your voice as you try to diffuse the tension. To say you hadn’t recited a silent prayer that the gap between the two of you would close would be a blatant lie. It was a desire that flicked across your mind before you opted to push it down.

“I could ask you the same thing.” He counters, mirroring the intonation in your voice.

“Touché.” Your eyes flick to his hand before you opt to bring your coffee to your red lips, allowing the liquid to spill down your throat with a bite. You were still afraid to give Eddie too much of yourself and especially so soon but to say his touch wasn’t welcome and that it didn’t fill you with a foreign feeling would be a blatant lie so as you replaced the mug onto the flat surface and pulled your hand from the warm porcelain, you caved in and peeled your fingers one by one away from the handle and slowly crawled them over to Eddie’s fingers, daring to allow yourself the luxury of his touch. His breath caught in his throat, heart speeding faster than greasers who burn rubber for fun on Saturday nights, not having expected you to take him up on such an offer, much less an unspoken one.

“Hey, what say you to getting out of here and watching the sun rise over Queensboro bridge?” He pushes his luck this time, hoping for you to go along with his like-criminal plan. The answer is on the tip of your tongue and yet it fizzles out almost as soon as the excitement had you caught up with the offer.

“I can’t.” You let out, dejected, hoping he wouldn't take it badly but the gentle tug of his hand pulling back tells you otherwise. In a split second you give his fingers a squeeze, a plea to stay as you were for just a second longer, to pretend you two weren’t what you were or who you were for just a fleeting moment and he complies, surprised by your sudden move. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I don’t want to push my luck with my father. I’ve probably already disappeared for too long.” With that, his rejection melts from his face, replaced with a look of slight concern, and yet he can’t bring himself to wallow in self pity for long because your warm hand is still in his, boldly squeezing it in fear that he’d pull back, and if he were being frank, it’s the last thing he wants to do right now. He wants to keep this moment alive for much longer than he is realistically able to and so it’s with great reluctance that he calls for the bills, making sure that the cost of the coffee pot would be split down the both of them. He made sure that he took on a penny more than you did, taking on thirteen cents while you covered twelve. All in all, both bills were very reasonable and did not leave a hole in your pockets.

Once all was paid, Eddie tugged his coat on only after he held yours out for you, and he promised to walk you back to your father’s club, not willing to leave you alone for a second. The morning air is chilly, nipping at your cheeks as you walk towards the aforementioned establishment. It was still dark and the streetlights and neon signs illuminated your way, creating a certain slice of peace that was hard to come by for folks such as yourselves. You both people watched as you spoke to each other in hushed voices, and to any onlooker, you both appeared as a couple that was so painfully in love with each other that it made those around you sick, and yet you were neither in love, nor a couple, or at least that’s what you would tell yourselves for the time being. The world, however, had other plans in the works.

Too soon was your arrival at the club, and being the gentleman he is, the beatnik with dreamy eyes walks you all the way back to your dressing room door, wishing you a goodnight and letting his eyes flick to your lips momentarily. You barely have time to register the movement as you too are busy wondering whether he might offer you a small parting gift but it never comes.Instead it’s all pining and longing stares while his fingers ghost across the backs of yours. Part of your heart sinks, but what would it even be? What did you even want? A hug? A kiss? No, no, you never looked at your father’s club musicians that way. Besides, what good would it do hoping for something of the sort when you’d only known him a short while, right? No matter how magical the night was, it was just that, the magic of a scandalous evening with daddy’s best musician.

“Thank you, Eds, it was a really lovely evening.” You chose to admit to him, tilting your head down and tugging your bottom lip between your teeth. Your eyes flick up at Eddie through your thick lashes, unbeknownst to what exactly it was doing to him but if it was anything like what his next move would do to you, so lord help him. In a smooth move the suave musician leans in, allowing his plush lips to brush your ear before allowing himself the luxury to whisper a small sugary sweet parting.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.” The murmur of the two simple words against your ear send an electric shock down your spine, your body yearning for him to invade your space like that once again but almost as soon as he had overstepped the line that wasn’t to be crossed, he retreated back to his own territory, a sort of no man’s land of space being left between you. A warm drunken smile dances across his lips before he pulls away, turning around ready to head down the hallway.

“Goodnight, Eds.” You call sweetly behind him, mirroring his movement before pushing your dressing room door open. As you close the door behind you, you rest your back against it, completely in disbelief over the evening itself and just how perfect it was, how seamlessly it blended into the morning. Truthfully, you couldn’t wait to go to bed, and surely you’d be in late tomorrow, but that was tradition after all. You quietly padded over to your wardrobe, stripping away your clothing and changing into your day dress, spraying two puffs of perfume and gathering your things before moving to take off your makeup. Just as you’re doing so, your dressing room door opens in a panic, your father in front of you, face riddled with anxiety until his eyes land on you - relief flooding his features.

“Where were you all night?” There’s a roar threatening to come out behind his words but he makes a gallant attempt to even his tone of voice, a quiver finding itself threaded through every word. He was worried about you, especially after the happenings earlier in the evening. All he cared about was your protection, your well being, and when he couldn’t find you, he practically tore the club apart hoping to locate you.

“I was just on the roof smoking. I needed a breather.” The irony of your statement wasn’t lost on either of you but the lie was. It slipped out almost effortlessly and your father was none the wiser. You wanted to pay attention, to console him, but part of you couldn’t bring yourself to give half an ounce of care, not when he was so overbearing that he needed to know your every move, and so you continued taking your makeup off.

“And you just decided to pull the ole Irish goodbye on your own father and worry him half to death?” He pressed further, malice starting to seep in through the cracks. His brow furrowed at how little you seemed to be affected, pleading for a reaction from you, a plea you did not comply with.

“Father, please,” You beg, voice devoid of emotion, flat, unfeeling, “I just needed to get away, to clear my head. I needed a moment to think. I know you want to protect me but you can’t keep me under lock and key.” You allow the cotton balls you were using to fall to fall to the surface of your vanity, a knot in your stomach over the protectiveness your father exerted over you. You understood his intentions but while he viewed his protectiveness as a freedom, it started to wear on you more and more. A bigger enclosure was an enclosure nonetheless. You felt like a bird that got moved into a bigger cage — one big enough to accommodate for its wingspan but not enough to allow it to fly. It was suffocating.

“While you’re working at my club I can damn well try to keep you safe.” He roared out, immediate regret flooding him almost as quickly as the regulars flooded their stomachs full of alcohol, though their regret came the morning after.

“Father, that’s enough.” You suddenly snapped, you never spoke harshly to him, always the grateful one for everything he has done for you, but as soon as he introduced a certain neerdowell to the club your eyes were opened to the constraints you were put under. “I do not live with you anymore and I certainly don’t live under a roof you’ve given me. I’m an adult, and as much as I love you, and I do, I don’t need you over my shoulder or breathing down my neck. I needed room to breathe,” and he left the cage door open for a split second, “so I went and got air on the roof. Please just… Give me a little freedom of my own.” Frustrated, that was the only way to describe how you were feeling about this conversation. After the wild night of dancing and temptation that you’ve had, you didn’t want it ruined.

“But,” your father starts, but you cut him off quicker than he could say lickitysplit.

“Father, please. It’s enough that you see the worst in Mr. Munson, who has been nothing but a gentleman by the way, but I am capable of holding my own and you know I’ve gone out by myself many a time, so please just trust me a little.” Part of you hopes that this might sway him to let up on this whole ban on dating the musicians,or rather the club musicians dating you, but the next thing from his mouth has your heart sinking into the deepest pit in your stomach.

“Fine, but if any of them musicians make any moves just know they’ll be paying with their hands.” Your father threatened before sighing and rubbing over his face. “I just want to protect you.” A tick of irritation shot through your body, who was he to tell you who could and could not be in your presence, much less to threaten bodily harm to them. To you, violence was rarely the solution, and frankly you couldn’t believe that your father would stoop so low or even go so far as to dare attempt such a thing.

“Father.” You warn. “I know you want what’s best but… what if one day,” you try, you do, but he cuts you off almost immediately.

“There will not be one day with a musician, you hear? I know what indulgences they play with. I won’t set you up like your mother desperately wants to, but for your best interest, musicians are forbidden, you hear?” You don’t answer him, in fact you turn and swallow hard, desperately willing tears not to slip down your face. You never got into arguments with your father and never over men. You had but an inkling of an idea over why this would upset you but part of you couldn’t bring yourself to understand, it had never been a problem, not until a certain curly haired man entered your life. And that was the root of the problem, wasn’t it, that one musician. You were certain that even if it weren’t a title he held, the effect would nonetheless be the same. After all, it was your very first meeting with him, the moment your eyes fell upon him, that you were completely and utterly done in. You swallowed hard before opting to wet another cotton ball, this time with a toner that might take off the remainder of the grime before you could wash your face propper, only using this move to hide the tears that welled over. Your fathers words shouldn’t have made a difference, Eddie had only entered your professional life a day or so ago, so why was this affecting you so much? “I love you, I just want what’s best for you.” Your father chokes out through your deliberate ignorance.

“I’m going to head home.” The cold reply shocks your father, the frosty reply seeping into his bones and freezing him to his core. There was hardly ever a moment you spoke to him in such a detached and unfeeling manner, and when you did it was often for good reason, so what could it have been this time? The ugly emptiness wormed its way into your soul, a darkness nestling cobwebs into the deepest crevices of your heart. With haste you found yourself storming through your dressing room, collecting your belongings, and shoving past your father.

“You know I,” he attempts to patch up the rift he had created but without any avail, not realising that with every word he tore a fabric into the bond that you both shared.

“Goodnight, father.” You respond curtly before walking out and shutting the door behind you, heels clicking down the hall as you make your way out the club door. Luckily you had nothing to practice that you haven’t already and so your tradition of coming in later wouldn’t be impeded, and besides if he was going to pester you about the events that transpired then you’d rather not be around him. You are an adult, you should be able to manage your own relationships without the interference of your family or an overprotective father.

Early mornings were strange for performers and musicians alike,the hustle and bustle of the city waking up while the entertainers were just tripping back into their apartments to get some shut eye, and you were no exception. You burst through your door around five in the morning, prepared to make yourself another coffee and wash your face while you waited for it to brew. Your checklist was simple: get ready for bed, slip on a nightgown, wash your face, and have your coffee before brushing your teeth and tucking yourself into bed for the night… Technically morning. And so while your coffee brewed, you shut your curtains and placed the book you were reading in bed last night back onto your nightstand, pulling the beaded metal string to turn on your table lamp. A warm glow was cast across the room as you paced around searching for your little black number. It was satin with lace adorning the decolletage, and it made you feel absolutely stunning even when in between the waking world and Mr.. Sandman’s realm.

You did manage to pour yourself a small amount of coffee, sipping it before allowing yourself to abandon it on your kitchen counter, saving it for a few hours from now. Worst case you’d just reheat it. You then brushed your teeth before padding your way across your hardwood floors and crawling into bed, turning off your little Victorian style lamp. You allowed your thoughts to lull you into a calm and pleasant sleep, thinking of the “not date”, allowing a smile to grace your features. Your slumber is pleasant, undisturbed, and for once you sleep solidly through the morning and through to about two in the afternoon, at which point you roused with a small yawn and a hunger burning a hole through your stomach.

The rest of the week is filled with learning a new number, a jaunty little tune that drove Eddie mad. He had to sit and watch you dance with someone else, some relatively known fellow whose name escaped him and frankly it escaped you as well. You weren’t performing a little burlesque strip tease this week, no, it was a swing number that had you fuming. Whether this was your father’s idea of punishment or whether it was for the good of the club to bring in someone relatively famous you didn’t know but your heart wasn’t in it like it should have been. Dancing with this newcomer was wildly different than dancing with Eddie. While Eddie was a breath of fresh air, this man was a suffocating smog, making it hard to breathe. It seemed that every move needed to be perfectly calculated with him, he was stiff, something a good swing dancer shouldn’t have been. He was essentially incapable of improvisation and would chastise you for any trip ups that came from how meticulous he wanted to assure you both were. There wasn’t room for error which was starting to get on your nerves incredibly so. You wanted nothing more than to dance with Eddie at this moment, permitting yourself to steal glances his way every time your current dance partner spun you around.

On the other side of the room, however, the musician behind the swing piece was steaming from his ears, the little green monster having crawled into his heart, squeezing unbearably tight while it fed poisonous thoughts into his ear. With each word, each interaction, each fleeting touch, the musician became more and more possessive. over something, or rather someone, that wasn’t even his. He wasn’t even sure why he was overcome with such an ugly emotion but still it burned through him like a cold fire. Thankfully the practice reached its apex before coming to a rather swift conclusion, one that both you and Eddie welcomed. You curtly wished your partner a better practice next time, and told him that you’d see him tomorrow for the show before you sauntered over to the man you actually wanted to see. As you reached him, you planted your elbows firmly on the hornbeam surface of the piano.

“Hey, sweetheart.” His smile immediately melted any fears you held in your heart, and your anxieties were smoothed over, even just temporarily. “You looked like you were having a ball.” He notes, a sliver of sadness tinged his tone of voice, immediately giving his true emotions away, not that you minded. You understood in fact, but instead of jealousy leading your actions, it was a desire.

“Oh yeah, a real dreamboat that one.” You chuckled out with a delicate roll of your eyes, extending one arm out and over to his side, silently hoping he might be so daring as to take your hand even if only for a second. “Honestly, he bashed my ears* a little much, a real wet rag* for the amount he had to say and improvise.” You openly admit through a small snort, one that causes Eddie’s lips to tug up in a quick motion, tension breaking away completely, easing any worries he might have had about your new dance partner. “Say daddy-o,” you tease, eyes flicking up at him through your lashes, “you wouldn’t happen to be free tonight, would ya?” You purred out, squishing your elbows against your chest in a tantalizing manner.

“Mmm, depends on who’s asking.” A grin splits across his handsome face, dimples appearing on his cheeks, gracing his features gently, his toothy smile making your heart swell. The flirtation had you on your toes, it was thrilling knowing that this little bit of banter that you allowed yourselves was forbidden, and that’s the thing about all things forbidden, they were much much more thrilling.

“Oh, just a little bird.” You wink his way, flashing him a gentle smile in return. You couldn’t help but act in a more daring way around the beatnik, there was something about being around the bad boy that gave you a burst of newfound confidence, one that wasn’t solely reserved for the stage. That was the thing, the stage was yours and you commanded it, and the music moved you, but when it came to speaking to people it was different. You had so little experience being suave around others that it wasn’t second nature, if you weren’t actively trying to seduce, you didn’t know how to act, subtlety wasn’t your forte, nor was it particularly desired in your field. You always held sway over crowds, over men, forwardness was rewarded, and some even begged for it.

“Oh well in that case I’m convinced, sweetheart. What do you have in mind?” He entertains, his eyes trailing down your figure before coming back up to meet your own. It was a risky move but it was a risk he was willing to take. Your soft smile split into a wicked grin, unable to contain yourself any longer.

“I was thinking maybe we can have a quiet evening, a little rehearsal, my place? After all, you’re the best dance partner.” You admit with a flush of heat to your cheeks. “If you need to make an excuse, I trust you to come up with one.” Eddie couldn’t pinpoint why, but something about voicing that you trusted him after only a week had his heart soaring like a bird free to fly south for the cold winter. It cracked the wall that he had attempted to build up even further than you had cracked it the first few days. He just couldn’t help himself around you, everything sang to him as if you were a song written for only his ears. You take a minute to bite your lip before you turn around, hair tossing over your shoulder with the speed at which you spun on your heel, and sauntering off to your dressing room to pick up your things when you run into your father.

“What are you doing?” He hissed out at you, not meaning to sound so harsh as his hand came out to grab your arm but he stopped himself in his tracks, knowing it was too harsh of a gesture. “What were you talking to Mr. Munson about?” He pries, his tone gentler this time around.

“The next number. This one is too jaunty - it’s good for an old barrelhouse but not for this club. Besides, that man you have me dancing with is a wet rag. Famous or not, he’s only good at one thing and that’s moving his feet.” You scoff out, pushing past your father to gather your belongings. What you don’t see in doing so is the sad expression that adorns his features. He messed up, that much he knows,, yet your father was much too stubborn to admit it, almost like an ox in that sense, yet all he wanted was to keep you safe. Why wasn’t that something that you wanted to see? With a disheartened sigh he brings his hands across his face, rubbing it in frustration and hoping that it might wake him up a little bit after his nearly sleepless night. He glances between you and his newest musician before shaking his head and walking away.

On your way out of the club you managed to catch Eddie, catching his arm and begging him to wait before he heads out too. You pull out your fountain pen and a scrap paper from your bag and scribble loopy numbers out for him, your penmanship not being the most immaculate at this moment, and how could it be when you were using your hand as a notepad. You jot down your address for him, telling him to show up at eight on the dot to which he tells you that he wouldn’t miss this for the world.

Your evening is filled with running menial errands to ensure your soirée is as near perfect as it can be. Buying a new vintage, a few candles, and the last few ingredients you needed for your stuffed mushrooms and cucumber canapés. Once you get home, you don’t hesitate to put on one of your favourite records, Quando Ella Sai/Meia Luz by Joao Gilberto. It softly flowed through the air and guided your hips in slow and steady movements, swaying from side to side as you pulled out your wine glasses and lit candles, bringing out an older vintage that you had laying in your wine rack. A special wine for a special occasion. You take the chance to lay your coffee table books out more neatly, stacking them perfectly one on top of the other, the largest finding itself at the bottom. You dust off your bookshelves and rearrange your plants into a more pleasing manner before moving back to your fragrant kitchen, turning the oven off and leaving your stuffed mushrooms to keep warm until your guests arrival.

A sharp knock knocks you from your anxious concentration and rapidly guides you to the front door, causing you to rip it open in record speed. You’re met with Eddie’s war features and you can’t help but drink him in, his attire much different from his white button up and black slack. His toned chest is covered in a tight black t-shirt, over it a well fitted leather jacket, and a nice pair of cuffed black jeans hugged his hips just right. Your mouth salivated at the sight of him, never having seen him dressed so casually, and you couldn’t help but admit that you adored this look on him. If you’d run into him on the street, you’d never have been able to tell that he played jazz for a living.

“O-oh.” You let out inadvertently. “H-hello, handsome.” Your voice comes out much more hoarse than you’d meant it to, all other greetings dying on your tongue as soon as you’d laid your eyes on him.

“Well hello there, bunny.” He winked, a small chuckle escaping past his lips and tumbling into the open air, whiskey eyes sparkling in the candlelight. Everything about him screamed sex appeal and you could barely contain yourself, but you had to. The chances of him even sharing the same inkling of a feeling for you that you held for him were slim to none, at least in your eyes, but little did you know that he could barely contain himself just looking at you. The outfit you were wearing hugged your waist just right, exposing enough skin to be tantalizing but not enough to give away too much, it left him curious, and yet it burned a hole through his heart as heat creeped lower. That wasn’t the only problem though, his honey eyes darkened with a desire to pull you into him, to tell you how you take his breath away and yet make it so hard to breathe without you. His eyes then focus on what’s going on behind you. “This all for me?” He asks as you allow him to step in,

“For us, yeah. I figure it would be a quieter, more private place to talk.” You close the door behind him as he takes his shoes off in consideration. You didn’t care if your neighbours thought you to be fast*, you just wanted to enjoy the company of the man before you behind closed doors, away from interruptions and prying eyes. Your counterpart hums in approval before padding over to your couch, sitting down and uncorking the wine, pouring you a glass.

“You’re bad,” He chuckles out, “but you’re right. I- I’m glad you invited me over.” He mentions as he hands you your glass, ears straining to hear the record that you were playing. His heart rate picked up as you sat next to him, fingers brushing as he handed you your glass. If it were up to him, you would never serve yourself a glass of wine ever again, he’d be the one to do it for you.

“It’s João Gilberto.” You tell him as he pours your wine. “It’s a record that came out three years ago and I’m in love with it.” You admit bashfully. “My father went on a vacation to Brazil and discovered this record, their jazz is much different from ours but I can’t complain, sometimes it can be a breath of fresh air.” You bashfully admit, looking away from Eddie. He doesn’t judge you though, he couldn’t, he loved the passion you spoke with and he found that it mirrored his own. It was rare to find someone so driven for the music itself as opposed to the dancing and fame. To some even the promiscuity was alluring, and yet you were driven by nothing but a fiery passion for your craft and that which drove it.

“It’s beautiful.” The man breathes, like you, he thinks but the words die on his tongue. Instead, he shrugs his jacket off, folding it over the back of your couch. His tattooed arms were exposed to you in full for the first time, and you found yourself pining over something you hadn’t even realised you found attractive. The dark ink that littered his skin beckoned you to discover anecdotes that tied his life together with a little red string, and yet you wouldn’t dare ask him about these until much later. The amount of tattoos he had was certainly near felonious and if you weren’t sitting, you were sure you’d be on your knees for the man, and while you might have thought that you’d be praying to a false idol before, falling to temptation, it rang even more true now.

As Eddie takes a sip of his wine, he glances over your apartment, eyes landing on your neat bookshelves, littered with books of all sorts, fiction, non fiction, fantasy, biographies, you even had a section dedicated to textbooks and frankly, your guest couldn’t believe the assortment you had. He stayed seated, however.

“Thank you, Eds. I was hoping you’d like it.” With a smooth move, you set your glass upon your wooden coffee table. “Would you like to dance?” You inquire “Not to pressure you, but it might make this special album hold an even fonder place in my heart.” You bashfully whisper the last part, as if your neighbours had an ear to the wall.

“There is nothing that would bring me more pleasure.” With a bite of his lip and his eyes welling to the brim with an unnamed emotion, he too placed his wine glass back onto your coffee table, replacing his grip on the stem with a gentle grip to your fingers, loose and inviting. He stands up, tugging you with him, guiding you over to an open space in your living room, pulling your hand to his chest, placing it directly over his rapidly beating heart. “So…” He trails off, teasing, “best dance partner?”

“Oh fuck off.” You giggle out. “Yeah, you are. I think you’re probably the best dance partner I’ve had in years.” You admit as he begins to sway gently, one of his hands trailing to your waist while the other gently envelops the hand placed over his right side. You follow his lead as he begins gently moving his feet to the music, slow quarter turn after slow quarter turn, holding your waist tight to hit body, cherishing it and this moment as if it might be the last time he gets to experience this. Slowly his head drops down next to yours, his lips next to your ear, his caramel hair tickling your face softly. There is nothing in this moment you’d rather be doing than dancing with him, breathing in the same air, breathing in his intoxicating perfume. The sweetness of it filled your lungs and the lemon notes left a fresh tang, balancing out with a woody scent that complimented him so well that it made your head spin. This is exactly where you wanted to be, to stay curled up in his arms and hidden from the rest of the world.

While your internal monologue spun, Eddie couldn’t help but feel like the devil had sunken his claws into him and pulled him from the high heavens, a fallen angel in a world of scandalous temptation, and it was working. His lips against your ear were but a slippery slope into the plushness pressing just below and trailing down your neck as he told you how right this forbidden fruit felt. Your body to his and your head to his shoulder felt right, and if his fall from grace meant having you by his side, why wouldn’t he take that chance? All warnings against this sinful slice of heaven were moot when it came to you, especially now that he had started to get to know you for who you actually are. As the song drew to an end, the mop headed man knew he had to keep this proximity, or at least he would damn well try.

“Thank you.” He murmured against your ear, squeezing you a pinch tighter than he had been mere moments earlier, a movement that allowed him to feel the shiver that ran from the top of your spine all the way down to the tip of your tailbone. The sudden sensation forced you to snuggle into him, lips falling open, a jagged breath leaving you.

“For what?” It was muffled against his t-shirt, almost inaudible, as you fisted the black fabric on his lower back for stability. It had him swallowing hard, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, as he thought of how he was going to respond to you. The words were lodged behind a sort of barrier, refusing to make their way to the tip of his tongue and yet he managed a choked breath against the shell of your ear.

“For giving me the time of day.” At this, the proximity had become a bit much and he pulled away but his hands stayed cemented on you, unable to pull them away as much as he tried. There was a certain pull to you that he couldn’t shake.

“Oh, uh,” you softly stammered, missing the warmth of his body against yours, “well technically I’m giving you the time of night, but I don’t see why I wouldn’t.” You recovered jokingly, hoping to smooth over any tension that had been created. A soft laugh emitted from the musician, hair shaking in time with his little chuckles. “Afterall, sin is the only note of vivid colour that persists in the modern world.” You tease. His head shoots up, eyes boring into yours before you catch the gentle tug at his lips.

“Did you just quote Oscar Wilde to me?” A mischievous twinkle finds home in his eyes. As if you couldn’t be more perfect for him, you had just given away a tangible part of your person, something that wouldn’t signify much to most but it had his heart swelling. He knew you had bookshelves filled to the brim with all sorts of books, but maybe he should have paid more attention to what they actually contained. You clearly weren’t just a dancer at daddy’s club, no, you were much more rounded out as a person, a depth to you that most wouldn’t even have the chance to see. Nobody would have the chance to see this intelligent and inquisitive side of you that quoted authors as a means of flirting, as a means of communicating. Not many got to see the deeply devoted bookworm in you, and the care that you put into your collection of novels and textbooks. You surrounded yourself with knowledge during your spare time and it was a rare sight, even for your family.

“I might have.” Your smile mirrored his, albeit shy, as if a trickle of embarrassment found itself in it. The fact was that you had read The Picture of Dorian Grey maybe one too many times for it to be healthy, it was one of your favourite novels. It allowed you to escape from your own reality and indulge in different lives all while living your own. While you were often trapped in a birdcage, books gave you a temporary reprieve and allowed you to spread your wings farther than you were ever allowed to.

“The Picture of Dorian Grey.” The man whispered out, breath barely reaching your face. “What other secrets do you hold?” He pried, a glimmer flashing across this expression, of what you didn’t know. That’s when you decided to tug him towards your hardwood bookshelves, covered in books from floor to ceiling, a gesture that spoke ‘be my guest’. He didn’t think he’d be so lucky as for you to show him your little private world, and yet here you were, opening up to him more than you had ever opened up to anyone since you began your career. His eyes flicked over a few of the titles you had, authors he knew and others he didn’t. A healthy dose of French literature as well such as Bonjour Tristesse, Mme Bovary, Les Misérables. It was sprinkled in amongst some Fitzgerald and Salinger, but one particular book caught his eye. This is the one moment he pulls away from you, reaching out to take a closer look at the thick novel nestled gently into your shelf but he stops himself short, fingertips ghosting against the spine of the book the same way his fingertips had been ghosting across your waist just moments prior. “May I?” And with an affirmative nod his nimble fingers grasp the book and tug gently, allowing it to dislodge from its spot. He tenderly places the book in his hands, holding it as gently as he wanted to hold you.

As he flips through the pages, he picks up on little nuances like how you don’t annotate directly inside the book, instead you have little scrap papers that you’ve scribbled over in semi attached cursive writing. Sometimes your writing was neat and legible, print writing, others it was scrawled out, unable to be read by anyone other than that person who had penned it in the first place. His heart swells at this little piece of information, noting that the book was in near perfect condition and that it was in fact a first edition. How you managed to get a first edition of The Lord of the Rings was far beyond him, it was not possible, was it?

“Is something wrong, Eds?” When he turns to you, beckoned by your angelic voice, his pupils are blown and his eyes are searching you over for something that neither of you are sure of. He closes the book delicately, wanting nothing more than to languidly kiss you in this very moment, instead he takes a step closer and bites his lip, opting to place his forehead to yours in a tender moment. “Take it,” you say, his eyes widening in shock, “the book. I can always get myself a new one but this- this looks like it means a lot to you. I- I know what my dad pays his musicians, and I know it’s not enough for luxury, so please take it, it’s yours.” It’s yours rang through his head. It’s yours like your heart was his for the taking too. He holds it tighter to his chest, closing his eyes to savour this moment with you, with his favourite fantasy book, his two favourite escapes. He asks in the intimacy of the situation, repeating the mantra that this is in fact what friends do.

“Darling,” he starts, breath ghosting your lips, tantalizing, inviting even, filling you with a desire of a person possessed. You want to close the gap, desperately so, but it’s not the moment to do so, you don’t know when it would be, if ever. Instead, the two of you opt to dance this line between friends and lovers, staying coworkers was long thrown out the window.

“Eddie,” your breath mixes with his, mingling together to create an intoxicating cloud between you both. His face pushed a hair closer to yours, noses brushing together causing your eyes to flutter shut.

“I-I don’t know if I can accept this.” The illusion shatters and at his words you jerk back, eyes opening wide, slightly glassy from the heightened emotions. “I mean, it’s just so personal, giving a book to someone I mean. That’s like giving a part of yourself over to someone and I,” his breath catches in his throat, I don’t want to take a part of you with me, I want to take all of you with me. His brain screamed at him.

“Eddie, it’s yours if you want it.” I’m yours if you want it, you promise him. “I want you to have it. Look, I’ve read this book over and over, it’s an escape into a new world, and if it helps you escape half as much as it helps me, which it looks like it does, then I want you to have it.” You admit to him openly.

“Darling, I can’t take this from you,” He boldly takes a step into your space once again, “but if you really want me to have it, I will do nothing more than borrow it from you, because what good would I be if I took something so precious from you, keeping it all to myself?” You couldn’t believe his words, offering you a considerate alternative, refusing to take without giving back. You offer him a nod, taking your bottom lip between your teeth. The move isn’t lost on Eddie and so while holding the book tenderly in one hand, he reaches his other to entangle his fingers with your own. “Come on, what say you to another dance?” He asks you.

“I’d love nothing more.”

Glossary:

Having a ball: to enjoy oneself greatly

Bash ears: Talk too much

Wet rag: Someone boring

Fast: someone who is sexually active/someone who quickly allowed dating relationships to become physical

Dolly: a really cute girl

a/n: thank you for bearing with me on this update, she’s long, leaves you yearning, and definitely not proofread because I have ANOTHER sinus infection. But either way, here you are.

Tag list: @ali-r3n @cryingglightningg @honey-eyed-munson @munson-blurbs

[johnalexcooper]

The Future of Digital Aesthetics: Insights from a Leading Web Design Company

In the current era of extensive digital connectivity, a website serves as more than merely an online presence; it represents your brand's identity, acts as the initial interaction with prospective clients, and frequently plays a crucial role in customer engagement. the deciding factor in whether a user engages further with your business. As the digital landscape evolves, the role of a Leading Web Design Company in the USA becomes pivotal in shaping this transformation. These experts create digital experiences that captivate audiences, enhance usability, and drive success.

Why Website Design Matters More Than Ever

In the digital marketplace, first impressions are everything. Research indicates that individuals develop an impression of a website in just 50 milliseconds. A thoughtfully crafted website not only captures interest but also builds credibility and fosters trust. It communicates the brand’s ethos and facilitates seamless user interactions, ensuring visitors stay longer and engage deeper.

The Leading Web Design Company in the USA recognizes these critical elements. It integrates cutting-edge strategies to ensure that your website is not only visually stunning but also functionally superior.

Emerging Trends in Web Design

The web design landscape is dynamic, constantly adapting to technological advancements and user preferences. Here are some trends shaping the future of digital aesthetics:

1. Minimalistic Design with Purpose

Less is more. Minimalism in design helps declutter websites, focusing on what truly matters—content and functionality. Leading web designers in the USA are perfecting the art of combining simplicity with impactful visuals.

2. Dark Mode and High-Contrast UI

Dark mode has become increasingly popular due to its aesthetic appeal and user comfort. It alleviates eye fatigue and provides websites with a stylish, contemporary appearance.

3. AI-Driven Personalization

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing web design. AI tools analyze user behaviour to offer personalized experiences, making interactions more intuitive and effective.

4. Immersive 3D Elements

Three-dimensional visuals add depth and interactivity to websites, providing an engaging experience. From product displays to virtual tours, 3D elements bring a new dimension to design.

5. Voice-Activated Interfaces

With the rise of voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, websites are beginning to incorporate voice-activated interfaces to make navigation even more user-friendly.

6. Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Inclusive design guarantees that websites are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This approach is not just ethical but also expands the reach of businesses.

Key Features of a Well-Designed Website

To ensure your website stands out, a Leading Web Design Company in the USA focuses on these essential elements:

Responsive Design: A website must perform seamlessly across all devices—desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Fast Loading Speeds: Users expect a site to load within two seconds; anything longer can lead to lost opportunities.

User-Friendly Navigation: Intuitive menus and logical layouts guide users effortlessly through your website.

SEO-Optimized Content: High-quality content integrated with strategic keywords ensures visibility on search engines.

Engaging Visuals: High-resolution images, videos, and animations captivate users and convey messages effectively.

Secure and Reliable: Robust security measures protect user data, fostering trust and confidence.

The Role of Creativity and Strategy in Web Design

Creativity is the lifeblood of web design, but strategy ensures that creativity serves a purpose. A Leading Web Design Company in the USA combines these two elements to create designs that are not just visually appealing but also strategically aligned with business goals.

Understanding the Brand

Each business has its own distinct characteristics, and its website ought to showcase this uniqueness. Web designers delve deep into understanding a brand’s identity, audience, and objectives before crafting the design.

Data-Driven Decisions

Modern web design relies heavily on analytics. User behaviour data helps identify areas of improvement, ensuring that the website evolves with user needs.

Focus on Conversion

Ultimately, a website should drive results. Whether it’s generating leads, making sales, or increasing engagement, the design should be optimized for conversions.

Why Choose a Leading Web Design Company in the USA?

The USA is home to some of the most innovative and talented web design professionals in the world. These companies set the benchmark for global web design standards by combining technical expertise with creative excellence.

Unmatched Expertise

Web designers in the USA are equipped with the latest tools and technologies to deliver world-class designs.

Tailored Solutions

Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the Leading Web Design Company in the USA offers customized solutions that cater to the unique needs of businesses.

Ongoing Support

A great website is not a one-time project. Ongoing updates, maintenance, and support ensure that your digital presence remains relevant and effective.

Preparing for the Future of Web Design

As technology progresses, the future of web design presents thrilling opportunities. From augmented reality (AR) integration to blockchain-secured websites, the next decade will witness groundbreaking innovations. Collaborating with a Leading Web Design Company in the USA ensures that your business stays ahead of the curve, leveraging these advancements to build a digital presence that stands out.

Conclusion

In the competitive digital landscape, having a cutting-edge website is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Partnering with a Leading Web Design Company in the USA guarantees that your business receives a website that is not just aesthetically pleasing but also strategically designed to achieve your goals.

Invest in your digital future today. Embrace the expertise of the USA’s top web designers and create a website that resonates, engages, and converts. The future of digital aesthetics is here—are you ready to be a part of it?

[amazonmarketingtips]

How to Optimize Design and Layout in Amazon Store Setup in Amazon App Marketing?

In the competitive world of e-commerce, having a well-designed Amazon store is essential for capturing customer attention and driving sales. Your Amazon store is not just a digital storefront; it’s a vital part of your brand’s identity on the platform. To maximize the impact of your Amazon advertising and overall digital marketing efforts, it's crucial to optimize the design and layout of your Amazon store. This blog will explore key strategies for optimizing your Amazon store setup, helping you enhance your Amazon advertising services and support your broader Digital Marketing company strategy.

1. Understand Your Brand Identity

Before diving into the design and layout, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your brand identity. Your Amazon store should reflect your brand’s values, style, and messaging consistently across all pages.

Steps to Define Your Brand Identity:

Consistent Branding: Ensure that your Amazon store uses the same color schemes, logos, and fonts as your other marketing materials. Customers' faith in the brand is increased by its constancy.

Target Audience Alignment: Consider who your target audience is and design your store to appeal to their preferences and expectations. For instance, a tech brand might opt for a sleek, modern design, while a children’s toy brand might use brighter, more playful colors.

Brand Storytelling: Use your store layout to tell your brand’s story. Include sections that highlight your brand’s history, mission, or unique selling points (USPs). This not only sets your business apart from competitors', but it also forges an emotional bond with buyers.

2. Create a User-Friendly Navigation

A well-organized, user-friendly navigation system is crucial for keeping customers on your Amazon store and guiding them to the products they are interested in. A confusing or cluttered navigation can lead to high bounce rates and lost sales.

Best Practices for Navigation:

Categorize Products Logically: Group similar products together and create clear categories and subcategories. Customers may now quickly and easily find what they're seeking for thanks to this.

Use Drop-Down Menus: For stores with a wide range of products, consider using drop-down menus to declutter the navigation bar while still providing easy access to all categories.

Add a Search Bar: Including a search bar allows customers to quickly find specific products without having to navigate through multiple pages. This is particularly useful for stores with extensive inventories.

3. Optimize Product Listings

Your product listings are the heart of your Amazon store. They need to be optimized for both search engines and customers to ensure they attract attention and convert browsers into buyers.

Key Elements of Optimized Product Listings:

High-Quality Images: High-quality Photos: Make use of expert, high-resolution photos that highlight your items from various perspectives. Images should be clear, well-lit, and free of clutter to give customers a detailed view of what they’re purchasing.

Compelling Product Titles: Craft concise, informative product titles that include relevant keywords. This improves your product’s visibility in Amazon’s search results and makes it easier for customers to identify the product.

Detailed Descriptions: Provide clear, detailed descriptions that highlight the features, benefits, and USPs of your products. Use bullet points for easy readability and ensure that your descriptions address any potential customer questions.

Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. High ratings and positive feedback can significantly influence purchasing decisions and boost your product’s credibility.

4. Leverage Enhanced Brand Content (EBC)

Enhanced Brand Content (EBC), also known as A+ Content, allows you to add more detailed information, images, and videos to your product listings. This feature is available to brands that are registered in the Amazon Brand Registry and can significantly enhance your product pages.

Benefits of Using EBC:

Improved Visual Appeal: EBC enables you to use rich media content such as videos, comparison charts, and high-quality images to make your product listings more visually appealing and informative.

Better Conversion Rates: By providing detailed, engaging content, EBC helps answer potential customer questions and reduces the likelihood of returns, leading to higher conversion rates.

Brand Storytelling: Use EBC to share your brand’s story, values, and mission, helping to build a stronger connection with customers and differentiate your brand from competitors.

5. Design for Mobile Users

With an increasing number of customers shopping on Amazon through mobile devices, it’s critical that your Amazon store is optimized for mobile users. A mobile-friendly design ensures a seamless shopping experience, regardless of the device.

Tips for Mobile Optimization:

Responsive Design: Ensure that your Amazon store layout adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes. Elements such as images, buttons, and text should be easily viewable and navigable on smaller screens.

Streamlined Navigation: Simplify your navigation menu for mobile users by using drop-down menus or hamburger icons. This helps keep the interface clean and user-friendly.

Fast Load Times: Optimize images and reduce the use of heavy elements to ensure your store loads quickly on mobile devices. Slow load times can frustrate users and lead to higher bounce rates.

6. Utilize Analytics to Continuously Improve

Finally, to optimize your Amazon store effectively, it’s important to track its performance using analytics. Amazon provides various tools and reports that offer insights into how customers are interacting with your store.

How to Use Analytics:

Monitor Traffic and Sales: Track how many visitors your store is receiving and how well those visits are converting into sales. This data helps you identify successful elements and areas for improvement.

Analyze Customer Behavior: Use analytics to understand which products are most popular, which pages have the highest bounce rates, and how customers navigate through your store. This information can guide your design and layout decisions.

Test and Iterate: Regularly test different layouts, product placements, and content formats to see what works best. Continuous testing and optimization help keep your store effective and aligned with customer expectations.

Conclusion

Optimizing the design and layout of your Amazon store is essential for maximizing your Amazon advertising services and driving sales. By focusing on brand consistency, user-friendly navigation, high-quality product listings, mobile optimization, and continuous improvement through analytics, you can create an Amazon store that not only attracts customers but also converts them into loyal buyers. Integrating these strategies into your broader Digital Marketing company efforts will help you achieve lasting success on Amazon.

[spiribia]

extremely real post. i really agree that a lot of games have such extensive menus that 99% of players will never use because Baked Potato Meta or whatever. the biggest example of a game i dont feel this about, and the food actually appeals to me, is monster hunter world. i think the canteen cutscenes really add something to make it seem edible and appealing, especially since you can actually see your character devouring the food. and the mechanics of making meals encourages making something besides what looks like the "most meta" option and instead personalizing your meal to your character. just some thoughts

YEAH I don’t know specifics of its function but saw clips of the food scenes in that game so mouthwatering. I want that roast beastt

[skygremlin]

Dunno if anyone's done anything more extensive with this but I wanted to translate things in honkai star rail :> like- words you see on posters and whatnot. I saw the wanted posters and wanted to know what everything else says lol

Me: I'm not going to do everything and put it up here

Also me: does most if not everything in the administrative district

I'll be using the capitalization that's used in the in game writing (i.e. one sign might say BELOBOG and another might say Belobog) also note that there are in game typos and I'll mention that after writing them. If I get anything else wrong though, feel free to lmk. I tried to get things as accurate as possible but it's hard to make out letters sometimes and/or I may just mistype ^^

I mainly go from top to bottom/left to right

Anyhoot, let's get to it! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ sorry they're out of order, I basically just put them in the order which I saw them

Administrative district, Belobog

• Theatrical posters:

THE STARS ROSE (stardust rose poster. Interactable)

NVASILISA AND BARBARAYAGA (unsure if the first letter for nvasilisa is correct. Leisha and Mrs. Trude poster. Interactable)

Masks and robes (small text)//AFTER THE WHITE

AFTER THE WHITE

THE STARS ROSE (L)// LOVE OR RESPONSIBILITY (R)

THE STAG GOS__ (?can't make out the last 1/2 letters)

• Assorted signage/billboards:

GO PACK

Want to go on a trip (on arrow)

Speed efficiency safety (efficiency looks like efficienca but the poster has a worn look with some letters fading so it could just be efficiency)

Clocks and watches

TAKE A BREAK

TOSTATO

cafe club

Ubemouhau Masagun

MGUIGE

Nodconheunuk

Pomawkabp

UBemok Poge

Konokonbwyoulb (yeah, idk. Also all of these signs are the same. I think only one is interactable)

PASSION

it's in everything we do

GRAND GOETHE

WELCOME TO THE BEST HOTEL IN TOEN (in game typo)

????//OUTSKIRT (top sign. Not sure what the small text is)

Identify Belobog

BELOBOG HARDWARE

Durable and convenient (bottom/right sign)

JUICE

Daily Milk

MOOMOO FARM

MILK⋅BUTTER⋅CHEESE

ARTIFICIAL MILK & HEALTH DAILY

ARTIFICIAL MILK// HEALTH DAILY

MOOMOO FARM

SWEET BUTTER (had to flip the image to make sense of the words)

I might kick myself later for it not being in my "correct" category but I wanted all the milk ones together

ARTIFICIAL MILK

MOOMOO FARM

Start your day fresh as Moomoo

Daily Milk

Parterre Honey

100% honey

• Storefronts/buildings:

KAMOGAN (shop with Ronald)

menu

cappuccino, lemon Red tea, ice milk, cappuccino (again. All 3 parts of the menu basically say the same thing. I'm not sure what the small text says on the middle menu)

Keep quiet in the museum// Half price for children

using history as a mirror (top mid)// going astray by rev (bottom mid)// UNION MUSEUM

BELOBOG

APPEAL OFFICE

Belobog Appeal Office

Belobog Grand Theatre

BELOBOG SOUP FACTORY (idk what the small text says)

Read freely// Belobog Book Shop// read if you want

BOOK NWY (spelled like that)

Do a good job in residential heating and provide better service

UNION HEATING SUPPLY

GOLDEN OPERA HOUSE

WELCOME TO THE BEST HOTEL (top bit says GOETHE)

Gonna be a multi-parter bc I didn't realize I'd hit the image limit lol continued

[holofoiltowercard]

The Journey of The Tarot Haiku

I: The Magician - Resources

I used a variety of tools and resources in creating the book, so I thought I would share the most important ones.

At one point I purchased Scrivener because I heard good things about it, and initially I was planning to use it to create the book, only to discover that it didn't support the type of layout I wanted to design. I was stubborn, however, and decided to use it anyway because the way you can create folders and pages in it really appealed to the creature in me that wanted to squirrel away the poems like nuts for the winter. I also used it to manually keep track of my progress, and I still love opening it to go through all the folders.

To make sure the syllable count was accurate, I used this Syllable Counter to double check as I was typing down the poems. I tried others, but some of them were inconsistent, and this one was really easy to use!

I used to draw extensively and did digital art, and in the course of looking for software, I purchased Clip Studio Paint, which can be used for digital art as well as designing printable volumes like comics and zines. I was first and foremost going to concentrate on the Tarot cards in my poetry project, but eventually decided to supplement them with more poems explaining the fundamentals of reading and understanding the Tarot, so the next step was to create some digital illustrations to accompany those. I ended up learning about vector art because I wanted to create crisp images that could be resized if needed, and then went on to design the original manuscript using CSP. For the longest time I thought I would be using that for publication, but it did not have a working Table of Contents and I worried that any reformatting might take it apart, so I didn't use the manuscript, just the digital illustrations I made.

The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., but the illustrations are technically public domain, so you can use them for different projects and products. Because I wanted to feature the cards in my book but I only had access to a Hungarian language version of the deck (and so my scans would have shown Hungarian text), I purchased a set of high quality scans of the original Rider-Waite Tarot from ElementalEmpress on Etsy. I first used these in my project proposal and later in the manuscript.

In some of my posts, you might have noticed a Tower mandala watermark. I commissioned the design from Mixtichin - check out their Square Space or their Ko-fi if you want cool mandala designs! (The holofoil effect was my doing.)

I ultimately decided to self-publish by signing up to Kindle Direct Publishing, and there I downloaded Kindle Create in order to prepare my manuscript for publishing. This was the point where I realized that my original manuscript created in CSP might not survive a reformatting and the non-functional Table of Contents would be irritating, so I fired up Microsoft Word and recreated the entire manuscript from scratch. Thankfully I figured out how to do upside down text in it, which is how the ebook retains the original ergodic layout. I had to convert it to PDF using the built-in conversion function because Kindle Create is very fickle and will not sometimes recognize completely legitimate DOCX files, but that turned out to be for the best because I had an image heavy layout and could thus use the Print Replica option. Kindle Create is kind of vital for KDP projects because it will take care of things like borders, trim, bleed, etc. and when I got the hang of it, submitting the paperback and hardcover became much easier.

Last but not least, I used this website to convert PNG to PDF because KDP asked for the cover to be submitted as a PDF, but whenever I tried to open the PNG and use the convert to PDF option in the menu, it came out the wrong size. Once I converted it using the above linked site, however, the size was perfect and I could proceed with publication!

This is all I could think of for this post - see you next time!

Buy the ebook

Buy the paperback

Buy the hardcover

[harry-w123]

Seamless Transition: Best Practices for Website Migration to Shopify

In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, staying competitive requires not just a robust online presence but also adaptability to emerging platforms. As businesses strive to enhance user experience, streamline operations, and optimize sales, many are turning to Shopify for its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and powerful marketing tools. However, migrating an existing website to Shopify can be a daunting task if not approached strategically. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the best practices for a seamless transition to Shopify, ensuring minimal disruption to your online business.

Thorough Planning and Preparation:

Before embarking on the migration process, it's crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of your current website. Identify all existing content, including product listings, images, blog posts, and customer data. Take inventory of any custom features, integrations, or third-party apps that may need to be replicated or replaced on the new platform. Establish clear goals and timelines for the migration process to keep it on track.

Choose the Right Shopify Plan:

Shopify offers a range of plans tailored to different business needs, from startups to enterprise-level corporations. Assess your requirements in terms of product catalog size, expected traffic volume, and desired features to select the most suitable plan. Consider factors such as transaction fees, credit card rates, and additional services offered within each plan.

Data Migration and Integration:

Transferring your existing data to Shopify accurately is crucial for maintaining continuity and avoiding disruptions to your business operations. Utilize Shopify's built-in migration tools or third-party apps to seamlessly import product listings, customer information, and order history. Ensure compatibility with any existing integrations or third-party services your business relies on, such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and accounting software.

Design and Customization:

One of the key advantages of Shopify is its customizable design options, allowing you to create a unique and visually appealing storefront. Choose a Shopify theme that aligns with your brand identity and offers the features you require. Customize the design elements, layout, and color scheme to reflect your brand's personality and enhance user experience. Leverage Shopify's drag-and-drop editor and CSS customization capabilities to fine-tune the design to your liking.

Optimize for SEO:

A successful website migration should not only maintain your existing search engine rankings but also provide opportunities for improvement. Prioritize SEO best practices throughout the migration process, including:

Properly redirecting old URLs to their corresponding new URLs using 301 redirects to preserve link equity and prevent 404 errors.

Updating meta tags, headers, and image alt texts to optimize for relevant keywords and improve search engine visibility.

Submitting updated sitemaps to search engines to ensure they crawl and index your new Shopify site efficiently.

Implementing schema markup to enhance the appearance of your site's search results and provide rich snippets to users.

User Testing and Quality Assurance:

Before making your Shopify site live, conduct thorough testing to identify and address any issues or inconsistencies. Test the functionality of all features, including product pages, navigation menus, checkout process, and payment gateways, across different devices and browsers. Solicit feedback from beta users or employees to uncover any usability issues or bugs that may have been overlooked.

Launch and Post-Migration Optimization:

Once you're confident in the stability and functionality of your Shopify site, it's time to go live. Monitor closely for any post-migration issues, such as broken links, missing images, or discrepancies in data. Implement tracking tools such as Google Analytics to monitor site traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Continuously optimize your Shopify site based on performance metrics and user feedback to maximize its effectiveness in driving sales and achieving your business objectives.

In conclusion, migrating your website to Shopify can be a transformative step in enhancing your online presence and driving business growth. By following these best practices and approaching the migration process with careful planning and attention to detail, you can ensure a seamless transition that preserves your existing assets while unlocking the full potential of the Shopify platform.

[gateofindiacalgary]

A Flavorful Showdown: Top-Rated Indian Veg vs. Non-Veg Dishes In Calgary

India's culinary heritage features a wide range of diverse flavours and traditions, offering an extensive range of authentic and mouthwatering delicacies. This rich tapestry has enticed palates from around the globe, sparking a shared fondness for Indian cuisine, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian. People from all across the world have started growing a liking for Indian dishes in both veg and non–veg. However, some people prefer the former and vice versa. This notion has led to a great debate among people-what are better veg dishes or non-veg dishes? Both these Indian dishes have their special quality both are equally appealing in taste and preparation method, authenticity, and culinary history. 

However, this culinary mystery is often the stem of lively debates among various food enthusiasts, giving rise to questions like “Which is better? Veg or non-veg?”. So we decided to clear your confusion and shed some light on some of the most delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in Clagary and the best place to eat in the region.

The Art Behind Indian Vegetarian And Non-vegetarian Dishes  

Traditional Indian cuisine features its charm through a blend of diverse cultures, distinct flavours, and the generous use of a wide variety of herbs and spices. Each region in India offers a wealth of delicious and unique dishes enjoyed by people globally. The category of Indian food includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights, and the diversity within these categories is truly mind-blowing. Both these culinary creations make use of fresh ingredients, with vegetarian dishes featuring vegetables, legumes, grains, and dairy, while non-vegetarian options feature meats, poultry, and seafood. The excellence and freshness of these ingredients ensure the crafting of the desired flavours that define Indian cuisine. The cooking techniques employed in both categories vary. Veg dishes often involve sautéing, simmering, or roasting, while non-veg dishes may include grilling, marinating, and slow cooking. The methods used play a significant role in infusing flavours into the dishes. 

Both veg and non-veg dishes offer a balance of flavours. This balance involves getting the right amount of sweetness, saltiness, sourness, bitterness, and umami, depending on the type of dish.

Top 5 Indian Vegetarian Dishes You Must Try 

For our vegetarian enthusiasts, we've thoughtfully prepared a selection of the most cherished items from the Indian vegetable menu. These dishes are not only a delight for vegetarians but are also enjoyed by those who appreciate both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Take a moment to explore these flavorful options.

Aloo Gobhi

Aloo Gobhi is one of the most beloved dishes in the Indian cuisine. This lip-smacking vegetarian dish features tender florets of cauliflower and sliced potatoes cooked in a delicious blend of Indian spices including turmeric, cumin, and coriander, which infuse the vegetables with a rich, earthy aroma. 

Aloo Gobi strikes the perfect balance between soft and slightly crisp textures, making it a favourite comfort food in Indian households. It is often garnished with fresh cilantro and served alongside fluffy naan bread or steamed rice. 

2.Palak Paneer 

This vegetarian dish has grown fans from all across the world. The healthy Palak Paneer features cubes of paneer (Indian cheese) and Palak (spinach) in aromatic Indian spices and herbs. The spinach leaves are blended into a fine paste that gives out a vibrant green hue. This green sauce of spinach is sauteed and stir-fried in a pan and then paneer cubes are added to it. The spices used, such as cumin, garam masala, and coriander, infuse the dish with a mild, earthy warmth. Palak Paneer is not only a feast for the taste buds but also a healthy choice, as spinach is packed with nutrients and vitamins.

3. Mutter Paneer 

Another classical Indian vegetarian dish, the delicious Mutter Paneer features Mutter (green peas) and Paneer (Indian cheese). The dish is prepared by sautéing paneer cubes in a rich tomato-based gravy, which is infused with a medley of aromatic spices such as cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The addition of green peas adds a sweet and earthy element to the dish. 

Mutter Paneer is a popular choice among vegetarians and often finds its place on restaurant menus and dinner tables across India and beyond.

4.Channa Masala

Probably one of the best authentic Indian food in Calgary, the Channa Masala is also known as Cholle Masala. Channa (chickpeas) are simmered in a spiced onion and tomato-based gravy. The preparation starts with a blend of fragrant spices, such as cumin, turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander, and garam masala, which are used to create a thick and fragrant gravy. The chickpeas are then added to this gravy, absorbing the flavours and creating a delicious, protein-rich dish. 

Channa Masala is known for its diverse, spicy flavours, and it's often topped with fresh coriander leaves and served with naan, roti, or rice.

5. Sweet And Sour Eggplant 

Sweet & Sour Eggplant is a dish that features the unique flavours of sweet and tangy in a vegetarian delight. This dish features slices of eggplant, which are coated in a light batter and then fried until they achieve a crispy, golden-brown texture.

The "sweet and sour" flavour comes from the sauce which includes ingredients such as vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. This sauce is infused with a blend of flavours, ranging from the sweetness of sugar to the tanginess of vinegar. It creates a contrast to the crispy eggplant, resulting in a saucy and slightly sweet coating that complements the eggplant's mild flavour.

Top 5 Non-Vegetarian Dishes You Must Try 

No need to fret, dear non-vegetarian food enthusiasts! We've put together an enticing culinary collection of some of the finest Indian non-vegetarian dishes that are sure to leave you craving for more. Without further ado, here they are:

Tandoori Chicken

 Your mouth starts watering thinking of this dish! Doesn’t it? undoubtedly, tandoori chicken has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beloved Indian non-vegetarian dishes. This dish features tender and juicy pieces of chicken, marinated in a blend of yoghurt and fragrant Indian spices and herbs. 

The marinated chicken is then cooked in a tandoor (clay oven) that infuses a smoky and charred flavour to the meat. Tandoori Chicken is known for its bold and smoky flavours, with the yoghurt-based marinade adding a creamy and tangy element.

2. Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a much-loved Indian non-vegetarian dish that has achieved international credit for its rich flavours. This dish consists of juicy pieces of chicken, usually marinated in a spiced yoghurt blend imparted with ingredients like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The marinated chicken is then roasted, grilled, or baked to perfection. It is traditionally served in a tangy tomato-based gravy topped with cream and spices, including cumin, paprika, and fenugreek. 

3. Lamb Vindaloo 

Lamb Vindaloo is a spicy Indian curry known for its spicy flavours and tender pieces of lamb. This dish originates from the Goan region of India and portrays the influence of Portuguese cuisine. The lamb is marinated in a mixture of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and red chillies, along with vinegar or tamarind, which provides the dish with a tangy kick. The marinated lamb is slow-cooked in a tomato-based gravy, creating a rich sauce.

4. Prawn Malai Curry

Prawn Malai curry is a deliciously creamy seafood dish that originates from the coastal region of India. This dish is prepared by taking plump prawns marinated in a blend of aromatic herbs and spices including turmeric, cumin, and coriander, which impart a subtle and aromatic warmth to the curry. 

5. Chicken Biryani

Another popular Indian dish is the delectable non-vegetarian rice dish popularly known as Chicken Biryani. The preparation begins with marinating the chicken in a blend of spices, including cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The marinated chicken is then layered with partially cooked rice in a heavy-bottomed pot. This pot is then sealed to trap the steam and allow the ingredients to cook together, infusing the rice with the rich flavours of the chicken and spices.

Where to Find the Best Indian Food In Calgary?

Calgary is home to some of the best restaurants to eat in the region. You can easily order Indian food online or dine in according to your mood and preference. If you’re planning to try some of the most amazing dishes in the area, we suggest you try Gate of India, an East Indian restaurant that specialises in serving traditional Indian food from various regions in the country. Their preparation method is very hygienic and they strongly believe in sourcing their ingredients from local vendors. 

The usage of authentic Indian herbs and spices makes their dishes all the more special. You can order Indian food online from this restaurant or dine in as per your choice and taste tradition like never before. 

[formeryelpers]

Luzianne Café, 481 Girod St, New Orleans (Warehouse District), LA 70130

Luzianne Café emphasizes their connection to New Orleans, using iconic local brands (e.g., Blue Plate salad dressing, French Market Coffee, Tiger Sauce, Swans Down, Luzianne Tea) and serving New Orleans classics. Breakfast is served all day. They make their biscuits and pancakes with Swans Down flour. The menu isn’t extensive but everything sounded appealing – including the biscuit sandwich, omelette, po boys, and fried chicken sandwich. They also had a case of baked goods and a full coffee and tea menu. Luzianne Tea was established in 1902. They also have their own line of coffee.

Swans Down triple stack ($9): Three large fluffy pancakes served with maple syrup and powdered sugar. The pancakes were light and fluffy with crispy edges. They weren’t too sweet.

Iced Vietnamese coffee ($4): blended with chicory, I assume, milky and pleasant, not as strong as the Vietnamese coffee that I’m used to

It’s a large space with images of old Louisiana food brands. They even play old TV commercials for Louisiana brands. And they have a small marketplace that sells some of these local products. There’s also a giant fake plastic po boy sandwich in the dining room.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[possiblymaybesam]

The Ultimate Secret Of Corporate Web Design

For a business to have a well established and verbalized arrangement of a reputed kind and broad reach, it is important to have a website that says so and matches a comparable interest. For the motivations behind showing off his work and services, he would need two elements featured in the website he decides for his business. For Ronald's prerequisites of the business, we need a corporate web design of such sort that shows his work outrightly and in an extremely appealing manner. Thus, every web design depends and shifts with the idea of the business, you can't have an out of control web design for a non-benefit association website which obviously doesn't suits its temperament of business.

Hear ye! hear ye! For a business to have a well established and verbalized arrangement of a reputed kind and broad come to, The Ultimate Secret Of Corporate Web Design Articles it is important to have a website that says so and matches a comparable interest. For such purposes, you needn't bother with an out of control and insane kind of website, aside from specific regions that require so. Thus, we should jump into the discussion appropriately.

The corporate web design you need relies upon the kind of business you have. How about we meet Ronald. Ronald owns a business of catering services. He holds occasions for individuals and frets about the occasion's stylistic layout, food, planning, and beverages. From the setting to feeling, he deals with such an occasion. For the reasons for showing off his work and services, he would need two elements featured in the website he decides for his business. These two elements would be, first and foremost, a menu that shows his foody contributions all through his cookbooks. From courses to dessert, everything must be shown, and with pictures that would burn some serious calories. Secondly, he would need a place for pictures for example an exhibition which shows a lot of arrangements he has made for the occasions over the long run. This would articulate the services he brings to the table, consequently, at the main example, he would have the option to show Every one of his contributions even before an individual jumps profoundly into the web.

For Ronald's necessities of the business, we need a corporate web design of such sort that shows his work outrightly and in an exceptionally appealing manner. What's more, he will have a request presently kind of page on which he might get orders straightforwardly and furthermore have the option to give a statement.

Presently, we should meet Gavin. Gavin maintains the business of designing. He makes pipes.

He doesn't need to have a menu of the kind Ronald did. He needs to show his items off the most. Thus, how about we conclude that the two key highlights he needs for his business website are, first and foremost, that his design must be to such an extent that he needs to show his items the most. In this way, he needs pages that show items and cost records against every one of those items. Secondly, he needs to have a region on the website that has articles, on what kind of circumstance needs what kind of lines. These articles are best when they are kept short, brief, and enlightening inside such extension. These would show individuals type of shrewdness, and moreover for the better reason that any inquiry, question, and pondering would be tended to immediately.

[maacsatara]

UI and UX Design in Games  

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design play a vital role in the success of modern video games. They not only influence how players interact with the game but also determine whether the overall experience is seamless, engaging, and enjoyable. From menus and HUDs to visual cues and intuitive controls, effective UI and UX design ensure that players remain immersed in the game world without frustration or confusion. Aspiring designers can enhance their skills by learning these principles at a VFX institute in Pune, where they gain hands-on experience in creating user-friendly and visually appealing interfaces. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of UI and UX design in games, the principles that guide them, and how they contribute to creating a memorable gaming experience.   

---

 Understanding UI and UX Design  

While closely related, UI and UX represent distinct elements of game design:  

- User Interface (UI): Refers to the visual and interactive components through which players interact with the game. This includes menus, buttons, HUDs (Heads-Up Displays), inventory systems, health bars, and icons. A good UI is clear, functional, and visually aligned with the game’s theme.  

- User Experience (UX): Focuses on the overall experience of the player, including how intuitive and enjoyable the interactions feel. UX involves the flow of gameplay, ease of navigation, responsiveness, and accessibility. A strong UX ensures players can focus on gameplay without unnecessary distractions or obstacles.  

Together, UI and UX ensure that games are accessible, functional, and engaging, ultimately enhancing player satisfaction.  

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 The Role of UI in Game Design  

UI elements are critical for providing players with information, controls, and guidance. Poor UI can frustrate players, while a well-designed interface feels like a natural extension of the game world.  

1. HUD and On-Screen Information:  

   HUDs display critical real-time information such as health, stamina, ammunition, and objectives. Balancing visibility and minimalism is key to avoid overwhelming the player. Games like The Last of Us and Call of Duty effectively use HUDs to keep the interface clean while providing necessary data.  

2. Menus and Navigation:  

   Menus must be visually appealing, functional, and easy to navigate. Options for settings, inventory, and quests need clear labels and icons. For instance, RPG games like The Witcher 3 utilize well-organized inventory and quest logs to avoid clutter.  

3. Visual Hierarchy and Design Consistency:  

   Using consistent colors, typography, and iconography helps players intuitively understand UI components. Important elements, such as “attack” buttons or map markers, should stand out while maintaining harmony with the game’s aesthetics.  

4. Feedback through Visual Cues:  

   Good UI provides immediate feedback to player actions. For example, a button changes color when clicked, or a damage indicator flashes red. These subtle visual cues improve responsiveness and keep players informed.  

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 The Role of UX in Game Design  

UX design focuses on how the player feels when interacting with the game. An intuitive UX ensures players spend less time figuring out how to play and more time enjoying the experience.  

1. Flow and Navigation:  

   The progression of menus, levels, and gameplay should feel logical and smooth. Whether it’s moving between inventory and quests or seamlessly transitioning between levels, navigation must be natural. Games like Hades offer excellent UX by integrating easy-to-follow interfaces with fluid gameplay transitions.  

2. Intuitive Controls:  

   Controls play a significant role in UX. Well-optimized button layouts and control schemes allow players to react quickly. Games like Fortnite and Dark Souls succeed in part due to their responsive and customizable controls.  

3. Minimizing Cognitive Load:  

   Players should not feel overwhelmed by too much information at once. UX design simplifies decision-making by prioritizing relevant details. For example, survival games use visual cues like red icons to signal low health or warnings, keeping players focused on immediate concerns.  

4. Accessibility and Inclusivity:  

   Great UX also prioritizes accessibility for players with varying abilities. Features like subtitles, colorblind modes, and adjustable difficulty settings make games enjoyable for a broader audience. Games such as The Last of Us Part II have set benchmarks for accessibility options in gaming.  

5. Player-Centric Design:  

   The ultimate goal of UX is to create a player-centric experience. Playtesting is an essential part of this process, helping developers understand where players may struggle and optimizing the game based on feedback.  

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 Best Practices for UI/UX in Game Design  

1. Clarity and Simplicity:  

   UI elements should be clear, simple, and easy to understand. Overloading players with too many visuals or options can hinder the experience.  

2. Immersive Aesthetics:  

   The UI should align with the game’s theme and atmosphere. For example, a futuristic game like Cyberpunk 2077 uses neon-drenched interfaces, while fantasy games might use parchment-like textures for their menus.  

3. Seamless Integration:  

   A successful UI blends seamlessly into the gameplay without breaking immersion. Games like Dead Space integrate health bars directly into the protagonist’s suit, removing traditional HUD elements.  

4. User Feedback:  

   Ensuring that players receive feedback for their actions—through animations, sound effects, or visual changes—keeps the experience dynamic and interactive.  

5. Iterative Playtesting:  

   Both UI and UX benefit from rigorous testing. Observing how players interact with the game allows designers to refine the experience and fix any areas of frustration.  

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 The Importance of UI/UX in Modern Games  

In today’s competitive gaming industry, where attention spans are short and options are abundant, great UI and UX design can be the difference between a successful game and a failure. Players expect a polished and intuitive experience, and any frustration caused by clunky interfaces or confusing mechanics can result in abandonment.  

Games like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn stand out because their UI and UX are carefully designed to balance functionality with immersion. Similarly, mobile games thrive on intuitive design, as they often have limited screen space and rely heavily on user-friendly interfaces.  

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 Conclusion  

Here’s the revised paragraph with the keyword included:

UI and UX design are essential for delivering games that are engaging, intuitive, and player-friendly. By combining aesthetic appeal with functional design, game developers can ensure that their players remain immersed in the experience. Whether it’s a triple-A title, indie game, or mobile experience, a well-thought-out UI/UX enhances satisfaction, encourages retention, and contributes to the game’s overall success. Aspiring game designers and developers can greatly benefit from mastering UI/UX principles at the best VFX institute in Pune, where they learn to create compelling experiences that resonate with players worldwide.

[alexanderkylesworld]

Top Restaurants in Stafford for Indian Food Enthusiasts

Indian cuisine is celebrated for its diverse flavors and rich culinary traditions. It offers a wide array of dishes that cater to various tastes. In Stafford, Indian restaurant in Stafford have become popular spots for food enthusiasts. They provide an opportunity to explore the vibrant and aromatic world of Indian cooking. From spicy curries to flavorful biryanis, there is something for everyone.

The Growing Popularity of Indian Restaurants in Stafford

In recent years, the number of Indian restaurants in Stafford has increased significantly. This growth reflects the rising interest in Indian food among locals and visitors. The unique flavors and cooking techniques have captivated many. As a result, Stafford has become a hub for Indian cuisine, offering a variety of dining options for those seeking authentic experiences.

Ambiance and Atmosphere

The ambiance of an Indian restaurant is essential to the dining experience. Many Indian restaurants in Stafford feature traditional decor that showcases the cultural heritage of India. Colorful fabrics, intricate artwork, and soft lighting create a warm and inviting atmosphere. This setting enhances the enjoyment of the meal and makes it a perfect place for gatherings with family and friends.

Must-Try Dishes

When visiting Indian restaurants, certain dishes are essential to try. Popular options include Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh, and Vegetable Samosas. Each dish is prepared with a unique blend of spices that highlight the flavors of the ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options are also widely available, ensuring that everyone can find something delicious to enjoy.

The Role of Spices in Indian Cooking

Spices are the cornerstone of Indian cuisine. They not only add flavor but also offer health benefits. Common spices used in Indian cooking include turmeric, cumin, and garam masala. Indian restaurants in Stafford pride themselves on using authentic spices to create traditional flavors. The careful selection and combination of spices are what make Indian food so distinctive and enjoyable.

Catering to Different Dietary Needs

One of the appealing aspects of Indian cuisine is its ability to cater to various dietary preferences. Many Indian restaurants in Stafford offer a range of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. This inclusivity ensures that everyone can enjoy the rich flavors of Indian food. Chefs are often willing to customize dishes to accommodate specific dietary restrictions, making dining a pleasant experience for all.

Exceptional Customer Service

Indian restaurants are known for their hospitality. The staff in Stafford's Indian restaurants are typically friendly and attentive. They strive to create a welcoming environment for diners. Whether it's recommending dishes or accommodating special requests, the emphasis on customer service enhances the overall dining experience. Guests often leave feeling valued and appreciated.

Takeaway and Delivery Services

In today's fast-paced world, many Indian restaurants in Stafford offer takeaway and delivery services. This convenience allows customers to enjoy their favorite dishes at home. The packaging is designed to keep the food fresh and flavorful. Delivery options ensure that the culinary delights of Indian cuisine are accessible to everyone, even those who prefer dining in the comfort of their homes.

Popular Indian Restaurants in Stafford

Several Indian restaurants in Stafford stand out for their exceptional food and service. Each restaurant offers a unique menu and dining experience. Some popular choices include The Spice Lounge, known for its vibrant atmosphere and extensive menu, and The Indian Kitchen, which focuses on traditional recipes and flavors. These restaurants are favorites among locals and visitors alike.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Stafford is home to a variety of Indian restaurants that cater to food enthusiasts. With their rich flavors, inviting ambiance, and exceptional service, these establishments provide an unforgettable dining experience. Whether you are a fan of traditional Indian dishes or looking to explore new flavors, Stafford's Indian restaurants have something to offer for everyone. The culinary journey through Indian cuisine is sure to leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.

[datamyte2022]

How to Design an HTML Inspection Form Using Notepad: A Comprehensive Guide

Ensuring your inspection team has an efficient way to access and complete their tasks is essential. One method to enhance your team’s productivity is by creating an HTML form for your website. But how can you build an HTML inspection form using Notepad? This guide walks you through the process step by step.

Understanding HTML

HTML, short for HyperText Markup Language, is the fundamental language used to design and structure websites and webpages. It forms the foundation of web content, defining the structure for text, images, multimedia, and more. HTML relies on tags (elements enclosed in angle brackets, such as <p> for paragraphs, <h1> for headings, and <a> for links) to determine how content appears on a webpage.

When combined with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling and JavaScript for interactivity, HTML enables the creation of fully functional, visually appealing, and interactive websites. The current version, HTML5, is widely used for modern web development. Learning HTML may seem challenging at first, but it’s a valuable skill that offers numerous benefits, such as:

Expanding your email subscriber list

Capturing leads effectively

Enhancing sales performance

Streamlining inspection processes

Collecting accurate data

Supporting customer interactions

And more!

Steps to Create an Inspection Form in HTML with Notepad

Providing clear and straightforward inspection forms on your company’s website can improve efficiency, teamwork, and overall workflow. Using Notepad to create an HTML form is a straightforward process. Here are the five key steps:

Step 1: Select an HTML Editor

Numerous HTML editors are available, each with similar features. For simplicity, Notepad, pre-installed on most computers, can serve as your editor.

Step 2: Create Your HTML File

Open Notepad and create a new file. Save this file with a ".html" extension (e.g., inspection_form.html). This ensures that your computer recognizes it as an HTML document.

Step 3: Add Text Fields and Build the Form

Once your file is ready, start by adding the essential elements of your inspection form. Use HTML tags to include text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, or dropdown menus as needed.

Step 4: Incorporate Placeholders

Placeholders are text prompts inside form fields that guide users on how to respond. They improve form usability and engagement by providing clear instructions.

Step 5: Save and Test

Save your file and open it in a web browser to test your form’s functionality. Adjust as necessary to ensure it meets your requirements.

Drawbacks of Using HTML for Inspection Forms

Although it’s possible to create inspection forms with HTML, this method isn’t always practical. Modern productivity tools, such as DataMyte Digital Clipboard, streamline form creation and offer a more polished user experience.

Why HTML Forms May Not Be Ideal

While building an HTML inspection form can be an enjoyable way to learn coding, it’s not always the most efficient or professional solution for business needs. Without coding expertise, the results may look unrefined, which can impact your company’s image. Additionally, using HTML can be time-consuming, taking attention away from other critical business tasks.

If you’re looking for professional, user-friendly inspection forms, consider leveraging specialized tools that simplify the process and ensure high-quality results.

[reversedout-blog]

Proper Steps To Create A WordPress Website For A Dental Clinic

Visitors are more likely to return to your dental business if your website is visually appealing. Even if your clinic is small and you rely on word of mouth, patients are likely to search for your business online. Creating a stunning website for dentists doesn’t have to break the bank, and we’ll show you how in this guide.

Choosing A Dental Clinic Website Template

Choosing a WordPress dental clinic website theme is the first step in constructing your WordPress site. To begin, you can choose between general healthcare or a dentist’s theme. To make a significant effect on the internet, we suggest that you select a specialist theme from our list of the finest dentist themes. A cross-browser-compatible, responsive WordPress theme is the best way to make sure that your website visitors see a beautiful site regardless of their device type and size.

It’s even better to use a theme that includes a page builder like visual composer or Elementor page builder. It allows you to create new pages with greater freedom and control over the look and feel of your website. If you’re looking for a dental clinic WordPress theme, establish a list of all the features you need, and then look for a theme that supports a plugin that can help you get them all.

For instance, an appointment booking form if you wish to have online appointments, a full-width layout, a giant menu for your site, or any number of other options. When you have a clear picture of what you want your website to look like, picking a theme becomes easy.

Subscribing For Hosting And Domain Name

A domain name and web hosting can now be obtained in conjunction with the dental clinic website theme you’ve previously purchased.

In the same way that other website builders don’t charge a fixed monthly fee, WordPress does not. It’s free, but you’ll need to find a place to put your site on the internet.

Hosting

Because of the fierce rivalry amongst web hosting firms, it is now easy to locate a host for your website that is both affordable and reliable. Your site can be hosted by finding the best options in your area. To host your website, we recommend Bluehost, which has the finest uptimes, top-notch customer service, and security.

Domain name

You can think of your domain name as essentially representing your online persona and location. Because of this, you should always take your time while picking a domain name.

Choosing A Domain Name Might Be Tricky, So Here Are Some Pointers:

Short and easy to remember

Make spelling mistakes a thing of the past

Do not use symbols or numbers

Use caution while selecting a domain name extension

Include the keywords if you can

Symbolize your company’s identity in a unique way

Bluehost is a great option for hosting your domain name, as we’ve said before. Search for the availability of two or three distinct domain names. For your dental clinic’s website, purchase the domain name.

Installing WordPress for a Dental Clinic Website Theme Is A Simple Process.

Following purchase and download, you’ll be given access to all of the components that come with the template, including a parent theme and a subtheme. Our WordPress dashboard is now ready for theme installation, so let’s get to it! We need to go to the ‘Appearance’ area and click on ‘Themes’ in order to do so.

What we really want is for you to be taken to a page that lists all of the installed themes, but we’re not interested in that! Select the “Add New” option. By now you should have selected the “Dentario” zip package by selecting “Upload Theme” and then “Upload”. After you’ve installed the theme, WordPress will inform you which plugins are required.

This is critical since it will ensure that all of the template’s features perform as expected. Just select all of the plugins you need and click the “Install” button to begin the process of installing them. You’ll have to go through the same process again to activate them when they’ve been installed.

Content Of Your Website

Your website’s content is unquestionably king!

What keeps your site’s users interested and motivated to take action is the variety of content you offer them on your site. Your website’s success is entirely contingent on how successfully you prepare and implement the content.

Material writers can be hired to develop a wide range of different types of content for you.

Mobile-Friendly Dental Clinic Website

Optimizing your website for the mobile platform will increase the number of visitors to your site. It is important to take notice of spacing, image sizes, and features that may not look good or perform properly on mobile devices. You don’t want to be in a situation where your dentist’s website development appears bad on a mobile device and causes customers to go to other, better-looking dentist websites.

Tips for Building a Dentist Website

Add Statistics

Even if the numbers are bad, people enjoy reading them. Add a few numbers on the homepage to show how many people have visited. Customer satisfaction, procedures, or anything else you think is significant can be included in these numbers.

Use Popups

Using popups for messages that you want the user to focus on is a good practice. Anything from a discount to an invitation for you to get in touch is possible.

Use Forms

Users can easily reach out to you by filling out forms on your website. Become their favorite dentist by making their life easy.

Having a website for your dental practice is a good idea. We’re not just referring to a pretty website that doesn’t actually do anything. It should be able to help with things like scheduling an appointment, finding a dentist, and looking at their work. All of these elements were incorporated into ‘Dentario’ by its designers. Just a few blocks are all you need to do to get there. A few tweaks are all that is needed before you’re ready to launch your website. If you’re seeking help with dental website development, you should consider contacting a WordPress development company in Cincinnati.

Contact Us

At Reversed Out Creative, we understand the challenges and opportunities presented by AI disruption. Our team of experts specializes in web design, SEO, graphic design, and digital marketing services. Reach out to us through our contact form to learn more about navigating the evolving job market and embracing the potential of AI. Together, let’s shape a future that combines human ingenuity with the power of AI.

Content source: https://reversedout.com/benefits-of-wordpress-for-dental-clinic-website/