#top tropical vacation spots

[owlespresso]

dogged pursuit. dr veritas ratio. pt 1 of ? summary: you've been appointed as the bodyguard of one doctor veritas ratio after a failed attempt on his life. he's easy to get along with, so long as you learn when to plug your ears and focus on his washboard abs. tags. suggestive content, reader insert is a bit of a freak

—

The planet of Orchestron-IIV is a classic vacationing spot. Though it’s covered by floodplains and forests, the real attractions are its coasts and its tropical islands—a region lovingly named Sene Verde. White sand beaches stare out into the glistening waters, where the capital city sits beneath the waves. You’re sure the underwater city is a sight to see. 

Pity that your client’s itinerary doesn’t include a visit to it. Instead, you’re stranded in an IPC-sponsored villa, a three-story home with three bedrooms and a pool which is ridiculously large for being right next to the ocean. Veritas, Intelligensia Guild prodigy, notorious bastard, and smoking hot piece of ass, prefers it much to the beach. He lounges next to it or inside of it, stretched underneath umbrellas or beneath the cool chlorinated waters. 

You don’t really get all the complaints going around about him. He’s pretty easy to work under, as long as you follow his every command. Which, as a bodyguard, is not very many. He’s pretty capable of handling himself. He made that much painfully clear from the moment you first met. You recall, fondly, the fit he pitched after he learned you’d be shadowing him through this entire trip. 

You don’t remember the specifics of what he said. Just a lot of belly-aching. You were too busy staring at his arms to really care—and that slutty little cut out on the side of his outfit. And really, what business does a scholar have wearing something so revealing? Surely, his students must be beside themselves at how distracting it is. He’d nearly wrung your neck when you posed the question, only half in jest.

Throughout the past two weeks, you’ve come to understand him better, you think. He comes from a planet where nudity isn’t that big of a deal. He wants people to know more things, and thinks it should be free for people to gain said knowledge. In the long hours you spend together, idling between his various meetings, he tries to teach you. At first, it begins with complex theorems and equations you never had any hope of solving. Then, surprisingly, he adjusted his ravings to be gentler on your poor, uneducated brain.

As big the stick up his ass is, he sticks to his principles. He always makes time to talk to you, to explain the vast mysteries of the universe in terms that you mostly understand. 

��I don’t really get the wind,” you say, dropping unceremoniously onto the beach chair beside him, stretched beneath the shade of another wide umbrella. You rest your cheek on your forearm, look him up and down through half-lidded eyes. He’s wearing satin robes today. They’re milk white, with golden embroidery, little patterns stretched across the sash tied around his waist. They reach only his mid-thigh and drape over only half of his torso. The rippling muscle of his chest and taut abdomen are bare for you to admire, his nipple pebbled atop the bountiful curve of his pec. 

He looks like you’ve just spat in his coffee, eyeing you exasperatedly over the tops of his sunglasses. “You don’t get the wind?”

“Like… where it comes from,” you drawl, absentmindedly dragging a finger over the course material of the chair. “I didn’t go to any fancy school growin’ up, so…”

This is your favorite game. 

He purses his lips and narrows his eyes, as if contemplating if engaging with you is worth it or not. In the end, he falls prey to his own, most fervent desires: the urge to dispense knowledge and the cloying need to make his intellect known.

“Well, the basic principles would have been taught in a rather elementary course,” Veritas says, matter-of-fact, in a way that means he isn’t intentionally looking to demean you. “Wind forms due to differences in pressure within a given planet’s atmosphere. The amount of it—or whether it happens at all varies from planet to planet.” he begins—and you linger in the sound of voice rather than the words themselves. You already know the basics of what you’ve asked. You just like to hear him talk. 

Because once he gets to talking, he can hardly ever stop.

Sometimes, he isn’t good at it. He’s abrasive. He agitates the IPC’s clients. You can see it in the taut pull of their shoulders, the way their lips twitch to fight their oncoming frowns. He’s too direct. He doesn’t mouth off, per say, but there’s something in his demeanor that lets them know he thinks they’re not as intelligent. It’s all tight handshakes and tight smiles in the end, but when he’s at last alone with you, shrugged off the heavy mantle of mandatory pleasantries, he fumes.

Midday has lapsed into early evening. Blue burgeons and encroaches on all the sun had once touched. The shadows grow long and the temperatures at last begin to dip, though remain balmy as you tread up the sandbar. A series of wooden staircases zigzag up the slope, leading up to your villa’s street. You trail after him as he talks—rants, really.

“They reached that conclusion based on a survey done by a prospective Genius Society member—one who doesn’t even specialize in the field!” he says with an exasperated sigh, kicking up grains of soft white sand. “He likely hasn’t even set foot upon Orchestron-IIV. How are we supposed to trust the word of a man who hasn’t even directly interacted with its native population?”

“Good point. I guess you can’t,” you agree, nodding factually. The stairs creak underfoot as you reach them, beginning the small climb up the bar. You don’t really remember the fine points of the argument—some prospective IPC investment in an underdeveloped, neighboring planet, one plagued by mysterious weather phenomena and potentially combative native populations. 

“They should have consulted Aventurine before dragging me all the way out here for consultation. He would have known better than to trust such a half-baked proposition, and with such little data to back it up!” he repeated, as if in disbelief, before looking at you sharply. “Do not tell him I said that. This conversation stays between us, and us alone.”

“I like it when we keep secrets together,” you sigh dreamily, skipping up the last few steps with a flourish. The sunbleached wood creaks beneath your leather boots. He tosses you an eyeroll over his shoulder.

“I’m serious,” he fixes you with a fiercely scrutinizing look. “If he is to receive any of my praise, it will come from me, and me alone. And when I deign to give it.” 

The relationship your charge has with one Aventurine should, in all respects, be of little to no interest to you. Yet, you are still human. You fall prey to petty curiosity as easily as any other. The good doctor would no doubt pitch another fit were you to pry now, so you simply guess it’s a power thing between the two of them. You don’t know Aventurine well enough to think otherwise.

“You seem awfully close to that guy,” you remark instead, testing the waters. 

“We’re business partners. Nothing more, nothing less. When the IPC is in need of my expertise, it is he who they reach out through and he who I collaborate with most often,” Ratio informs you, crisp and unfeeling, like he didn’t just say something incredibly odd and potentially possessive about the individual in question.

“Mm,” you hum in assent, pretending all of that is normal. “Well, keep on your toes around him.” You reach the top of your ascent, tailing him onto the quiet streets. Most of the avenue’s occupants are likely still on the beach or further in town, enjoying the resort city’s nightlife. 

Veritas looks at you, then, something sharp in his eyes. “And why would you say that?”

You tilt your head to the side as you regard him, coming into step beside him. He slows down his strides, eyes suddenly flinty, countenance withdrawn into something deliberating, defensive.

“He’s high up in the IPC, isn’t he? I wouldn’t trust any of those Stonehearts further than I can throw ‘em,” you say with a small shrug. 

“And yet, here you are on their behest.” Veritas says.

“Awh, you caught me,” you give him a roguish smile, lifting your hands in a gesture of surrender. “But answer me this: does anyone really trust their employer? I’m not gonna bite the hand that  feeds, but I’m not gonna love on it, either.”

“I see,” he says with a small sigh, and that strange steeliness vanishes. The taut line of his shoulders loosens and his eyes shut for a long moment.

“It helps that I like you, too. You’re real easy to work with,”

He gives you an incredibly skeptical look. “Am I?”

“Yeah. Why so surprised?” you give him a toothy grin. Even he knows how insufferable of a reputation he has. “You get fussy sometimes, but it’s not a big deal. And I like hearing you talk, so it’s not a big deal.”

“I am not ‘fussy’. I have standards befitting someone of my intellect and station,” he says, looking down his nose at you. He pauses beneath one of the street lamps as it flickers on, yellow light glimmering on all the gold bobbles attached to his ridiculous outfit. He opens his mouth to speak again, to give you another tongue-lashing, but he must realize by now that you like those, so he shakes his head and sighs instead, like you’re the difficult one. “Forget about it. I have better things to do than dawdle around with you.”

He’s still pissy from that meeting, earlier, you observe passively. Your gaze lingers on his back as he speed walks away from you, broad muscle rolling beneath taut, pale skin. Your mouth waters. You follow him.

[bettyfrommars]

Dirty Metal Summer

a Dirty Dancing au

Part 3: Crimson and Clover

Eddie x fem!Reader & Steve x older!OC

masterlist playlist

18+MDNI, not too many warnings for this part just mention of losing a parent, hint to an abusive relationship, alcohol consumption, tons of awkward flirting, eventual smut, but very much a slow burn. Steve is in his mid-late 20's, aunt Kim is mid 30's to early 40's, or whatever age you are, dear reader.

wc: 4.5k

Summary: Hello! We're getting to know a bit more about the character dynamics, listening to some of Eddie's thoughts, and catching a glimpse at a third possible romance on the horizon. Preparing us for the wild ride that starts in the next chapter.

Songs for this chapter: Under the Milky Way/The Church Edge of a Broken Heart/Vixen Seek and Destroy/Metallica

The shores of the resort were thick the next day with people who worshiped the sun, playfully kicking at the water in their bathing suits, stretched out in their lounge chairs, glistening in layers of Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil.  

You, on the other hand, were still fully clothed, covered in SPF, under one of the big umbrella’s the resort offered with your headphones on to drown out the sound of the screaming children.  Your dad was in the shade next to you, absorbed in a book, while aunt Kim caught some rays on her backside in a black one-piece that was high at the hip, flipping through an issue of People magazine.  It was the Summer of Love issue celebrating the 1960’s with the Beatles on the front and the quote: “It’s 20 years later, do you know where your love beads are?”

“Don’t you want to get in the water, Bird?” Your aunt cooed politely, adjusting her big sunglasses on her face.

You shook your head, pulling your headphones down.  “I think I’ve developed a phobia of public watering holes.”

“Suit yourself,” she sat up and brushed herself off.  “I think I’ll take a quick dip.”

“Watch out for sharks,” you quipped, earning the weight of a magazine being thrown at your hip.

“This has been enough excitement for me,” your dad cleared his throat, placing a bookmark to save his spot, standing from his chair, knees popping.  “I think I’ll head in, get some writing done before dinner.”

“Later dad,” you mumbled, wishing you had an excuse to hide in a room by yourself all day.  

Once he was gone, Kim took a drink out of her water bottle and heaved a sigh.  “I wish the two of you would give this place a chance.  Look at that lake!” She stretched her arm out, pointing. “It’s breathtaking.”

You gazed out at the expanse of the cheery, vacation scene, bursting with melancholy.  “Mom would’ve loved this place,” you choked on the last word, not sure where that fresh pang of emotion had come from.  

Kim chewed the inside of her cheek, equally adrift in reverie, when a body stepped up to block the sun, putting her in its shadow.  “I was hoping I’d run into you again.” 

The body belonged to Steve, and he was shirtless, in a pair of navy-blue Staff swim trunks, short and slightly snug against his hairy thighs, and flip flops.  His lips were glossy, and even though he wore sunglasses, he had to shield his face with his hand, squinting against the sun so hard that his top lip curled.

Kim tried to speak so fast she coughed, wondering if she looked too frumpy in the suit she had on.  What was she thinking? He had to be a good 10 years younger than her, no way he was interested in—

“Kim, right?” He aimed a finger gun at her, but then he struggled a bit with your name, snapping his fingers to ignite recollection.

“And you’re Steve,” Kim's eyes couldn’t help but land on the silver chain nestled in his ample chest hair.  “Did you, um, are you working on your tan?”

It took him a second to catch what she was referring to, and then he smirked, pulling a crumpled polo from his back pocket.  “I jumped in to cover lifeguard duty for a buddy of mine,” and then he shifted his sunglasses to the top of his head and so did she.  “If you ever need a swimming lesson, I’m your guy.”

“You’re a swim instructor too?” Kim asked, impressed. Steve put his hands on his hips, accentuating broad shoulder muscles.

“Nah,” he shrugged, tucking his chin. “But I’d do my best.”

You dropped your gaze to the sketchbook you’d been doodling in, trying to pretend like you weren’t listening.  From the headphones around your neck, the song Under the Milky Way by The Church played and a handful of kids ran by you giggling, dusting sand onto your blanket.

Steve wished you a good afternoon just before he excused himself, seemingly headed back to the pool area.  You thought he’d been on his way somewhere else, but you were mistaken.

“I think he likes you,” you swirled a few doodles, raising an eyebrow.

“Noooo,” Kim gave a long protest, adjusting the straps of her bathing suit.  “He works here, it’s his job to be friendly.  

“Yeah? Is it his job to keep checking over his shoulder at you as he walks away?”

Kim peeked just as the man in question tripped over his own feet.  Regaining his balance, he waved and said, “I’m okay,” and then proceeded to put his shirt back on as he approached the lifeguard station. 

It was your turn to stiffen and feel tingly all over when you spotted Eddie strolling down the sidewalk from the main house, wearing a tool belt loose at his hips to accompany his denim and staff shirt attire.  

From the way he knocked that Lance guy out with one punch the other night, you wondered if his hand hurt.  Adjusting yourself, you wet your lips, as if he’d spot you or something, which was impossible from that distance.  He cut in front of the fenced pool area, heading for the outdoor bar that had a thatched roof like you’d see at a tropical beach.  For the first time that day, you noticed that Chrissy was working the area, carting fancy drinks around to the guests at the pool.  Her blonde ponytail bobbed as she turned from what she was doing to talk to him.  

She dipped her chin a few times in answer to whatever questions he was asking, and then he squeezed her arm affectionately before taking off again.  

“Do you want anything from the bar?” You got to your feet, dropping your Walkman to the towel.

Kim cocked her head, considering the question.  “Is it too early for alcohol?”

Eddie was back on the path, his back to you as he got further away, but your attention was on Chrissy mixing cocktails in a metal shaker.  

“I can see if they have mimosas?” You weren’t thirsty, really, but you were curious.  

Kim decided on a bloody mary and asked you to put it on her tab, slipping you a few bucks for a tip.  

The smile Chrissy gave you as you approached was polite, but it did not reach her eyes.  “What can I get for ya?”

You told her, fumbling over your words a bit, and then waited on one of the five stools for her to make your drinks.  She scooped ice into a Styrofoam cup and tossed in a jigger of alcohol. You noticed a gold, heart shaped locket around her neck with something engraved on the front.  

“Is it true you used to play with Vixen?” You asked, in awe.

Chrissy’s face fell and she paused to stare at  you.  “Who told you that?”

“Oh, um, Joyce, she, well—sounded like she was proud of you.”

Chrissy went back to work.  “That was a long time ago, back when life was good.”

“It’s not good now?” You were intruding, and you knew it, but still, you couldn’t help yourself.  

Chrissy scoffed. “You could say that. Lemon in your tea?”

You nodded, wondering if there was anything you could say or do to cheer her up.  

“How long have you and Eddie been together?” 

She frowned down at what she was doing.  “Eddie’s not my boyfriend,” she corrected.  “He’s like a brother to me. Known him since I was a kid.”

“Oh I see,” you pressed your lips together, trying not to appear relieved at that news.  

There was a lull of silence as she finished up and you felt compelled to fill it.  “I saw you play with the house band last night.  I think you’re really talented.”

You could hear the click of her molars gnashing together when she placed both drinks in front of you. “Playing lame cover songs for a no-name house band is the best I can do with my life right now. Music is the only thing I’ve ever cared about.”

You used some of your own cash to give her an even bigger tip and scooped up your drinks.

“Hey, wait,” Chrissy called after you. She rubbed her forehead and tried to smile.  “Listen, I’m sorry that I’m, that I’m being such a bitch,” she shrugged. “It’s been a shit couple days.”

You shook your head, cold drinks sweating in your hands, about to tell her that you understood, but the two of you were interrupted.  

“Bird, there you are,” you froze at the sound of Troy’s voice. “Glad to see you’re enjoying the amenities.”

Troy had a green and white tennis outfit on with a racket in his hand, and you caught the way Chrissy tensed and quickly turned away at his entrance.  She folded the tip you’d left and put it in the front pocket of her apron.  He came up close to  you—too close, invading your bubble—and so you shuffled back, bumping into one of the stools.  

“The staff is treating you well, I hope?” He leaned against the tiki bar, and it was not lost on you that Chrissy pretended to be so busy she didn’t notice him.

“Just about to bring this to my aunt,” you lifted the red drink with the celery stick sticking out of it. You glanced at Chrissy, but she went to the other side of the bar to help someone else.  “The service here is impeccable,” you said, loud enough for her to hear.

You headed out and he kept up, sticking by your side. “I’ll walk with you,” he winked.

“Great,” your smile was a tight, thin line.  

—-------

Eddie bent at the waist to sip from the stone drinking fountain near one of the utility sheds and splashed water on his face a few times, combing wet fingers through his hair so that his bangs were off his forehead.  He worked the cool water around the back of his neck, wondering if he had a sunburn.  He loved Indiana for the fall colors and the long winters, but the summer? The summer heat could go fuck itself.  

Water was still dripping from his chin and nose when Steve walked up, sunlight through the leaves making patterns on his face.   

“Did Robin mention we need to borrow your van tomorrow night?” Steve bent down to take a sip from the fountain after he asked it.  

Eddie pulled the bottom of his shirt up to wipe his face, exposing his stomach and trail of hair from his belly button to his waistband.  “As long as you don’t bring it back on empty. What’s wrong with your car?”

“We need to pick up a bunch of Robin’s stuff from her ex’s house,” Steve raised his brows high, locking them in place. “Girl is a bit of a psycho, I don’t want Robbie to go alone.

Over Steve’s shoulder, he caught sight of you making your way back to the umbrella with Troy by your side and he hoped that you were smart enough to know that guy was a piece of shit.

“I work late tomorrow, but I’ll help you unload when you get back,” the tip of Eddie’s tongue rested at the corner of his mouth, eyes darting to you again.  You weren’t some goddess from the cover of a hotrod magazine, or one of the metal babes who always tried to go down on him when he used to play shows with his old band, but yet, without knowing anything about you, the sight of you made his heart jump into his throat.

“Nah, we got it,” Steve talked as the two started walking.  “It’s just a mattress and a chair and some clothes I think.  I told her just to let them go, but it's the principle I suppose.”

“I get it man, believe me,” Eddie once drove three states just to get a rare Scorpions concert tee back from an ex who stomped his heart.

“Hey,” Eddie caught Steve before he headed off in the other direction.  “Jam at the Hideout tonight?”

They bumped fists. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

—-------

The movie Casablanca was the offering at the outdoor theater that night, and respective families cuddled on the lawn on their various blankets and camp chairs under cover of generous tree branches.  Halfway through, you excused yourself from your aunt’s company to find the restroom, and that was when you spotted Chrissy and Troy having what appeared to be a heated conversion at the curve of the sidewalk near the rose garden.  You ducked behind a tree just as Humphrey Bogart said one of his infamous lines on the screen.  

Since everyone’s attention was occupied elsewhere, no one but you saw the way Chrissy pointed in Troy’s face, only for him to snatch her wrist in a way that made you gasp.  She yanked her arm away and turned on her heel, but then he caught up and lunged in front of her.  Whatever he said to her then calmed things down for a moment, she stopped trying to break free, and then he cupped her face as if he were about to kiss her, but she shoved away again.  That time, he let her go.  Hands balled into fists in his pockets, head down, he stormed off in the opposite direction, toward you.

You stood very still, hoping to be mistaken for the thick trunk of the tree, and thankfully, it worked. You came around to glare at his backside, but then trotted after Chrissy.  She was long gone, walking as fast as her feet could carry her along the treeline, and you didn’t think she’d appreciate you screaming her name at the top of your lungs in front of the other guests.  

It was pure luck that made you take notice of something shiny on the ground, a pile of glistening gold on the sidewalk.

It was a necklace, a heart locket to be exact, much like the one you’d noticed around Chrissy’s neck earlier that day.  You ran your thumb over the engraving on the front and let the delicate chain drag along the back of  your hand.  

You were sure that it belonged to Chrissy, the clasp must’ve broken during the struggle with Troy.  You had to get it back to her somehow.  

—-------

“Where are you going?” Your dad asked as you sailed through the living room on your way to the door later that evening.  He looked at his wristwatch.  “It’s almost 11.”

You’d planned on him being in bed already.  “I, well, I ahh—” you scrambled for an excuse, something that wasn’t “I’m going off the property to where people fight and get drunk and listen to metal”.  You were 21 and technically, by the law of the land, could do anything you wanted, but anyone who has ever traveled with family is familiar with the tendency to be treated like a child infinitely.  He loved  you, he worried about you, and you didn’t want him to stay up all night pacing, so, you lied.  

“There’s a meteor shower tonight, and a bunch of the guests are watching from the boat docks,” god, you hoped he wouldn’t fact check you on that.

He shuffled some saltines absently out of a tin.  “You’re still coming on the boat with us tomorrow morning?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” you beamed, clenching the front of your jean jacket closed to hide the revealing shirt you wore underneath.  

You raced down the porch steps once you were able, dashing into the night with Chrissy’s necklace safe in your pocket.

—-----

A guy in a Black Sabbath shirt and a drastic mullet with hair down his shoulders moved out of the way for you as you crossed the bridge, and then you had to stand there and take a breath. Robin wasn’t with you and you hadn’t been invited to the Hideout this time, maybe they wouldn’t want you?  Surely you could find Chrissy at work the next day and give her the necklace then? Fuck it, you were almost there.  

You could hear the shrill feedback from a guitar and then someone speaking into a microphone.  Was that Eddie’s voice? Your heart raced.  People cheered at whatever was said, and then the drum beat kicked in a few times, followed by guitar riffs, and a woman’s voice singing the Vixen intro to Edge of a Broken Heart.

“I can't believe I could have been so blind

But love is strange

I thought about it for a long long time

But the truth remains”

You could feel the music in your chest.  Was that Chrissy? Perhaps it was the “band practice” Robin told you about, but the music didn’t sound at all like what you’d expect to hear from the conservative house band. The sliding door was open once you were in view, with people mingling outside, and you dodged around them, sucking in a plume of secondhand smoke from a passerby.   

Slithering through a few more bodies, you stepped right over the spot where Lance had gone down the night before, and then you had the perfect view of Chrissy exercising her impressive pipes on the microphone under a few ropes of tiny, pale string lights.  

Steve was on bass, hair flopping in his face, his mouth holding an “O” shape as he played. He had on a thin white tee that was soaked through with sweat on the front atop belted blue jeans.  Eddie arched back, exposing his throat, his fingers deftly working the strings on his smoke black Warlock guitar.  He had a Bark at the Moon shirt on with wide, ripped out arm holes exposing the tattoo work on his ribs.  His hair hung in his face when he bent over to play, a frown of concentration knitting his brows together.

Chrissy jabbed her fist in the air for the chorus and the crowd screamed it:

“I've been living on the edge of a broken heart

I don't wanna fall, I don't wanna crawl

I've been living on the edge of a broken heart

Don't you wonder why I gotta say goodbye”

She commanded the stage, playing guitar as she sang. You were too absorbed to realize that you had made your way forward and were right there front and center when Eddie glanced up.

He wasn’t expecting to see you, so he did a dramatic double take, nostrils flaring the moment your eyes connected.  Why couldn’t you just stay away?

A smile teased at the corners of your mouth, but faded to an unsure lip bite when he averted his gaze, scowl deepening.  He ignored you for the rest of the song. 

When it was over, there were cheers and whistles all around.  The drummer with the mop of tawny hair twirled one of their drumsticks in the air with a flourish and caught it, clapping the high hat.  Voices murmured around you as people fell back into conversation while they had a break from the volume of the amps, and you shuffled to the side, following Chrissy as she took her guitar off and held it by the fretboard.  She had on a cropped shirt with her shorts, golden hair loose and wild around her shoulders, her short fingernails painted black.  There were a few old, wooden apple box crates stacked on top of each other to act as a makeshift table, and she grabbed the neck of the beer that was waiting there to take a sip.   

Eddie continued to play, wailing on the guitar with precision, while Steve and the drummer followed his lead to the tune of Seek and Destroy by Metallica.

You tapped Chrissy on the shoulder, and she jumped.  “Oh shit, you scared me,” she said, spinning around. She checked around as if she were expecting to see someone else there.  “Where’s Robin? Is she with you?”

“No, I, just a sec—” you dug around in the front pocket of your jacket, panicking for a moment that you forgot to bring the locket with you. “I found this on the sidewalk, and I thought maybe you dropped it?”

Chrissy gasped at the sight of it and her eyes began to water.  “How did you–?” A sob caught in her throat, and she reached out to gently take it from you.  She shook her head in disbelief.  “I looked everywhere, I thought it was gone forever, I—”

“I thought that was you!” It was Robin, bobbing on the balls of her feet as she came up to nudge your shoulder.  But then, her attention turned to Chrissy and her face tensed with concern.  “What happened, why are you crying?”

“No, no,” Chrissy sniffed and opened her fist to show Robin the piece of jewelry.  “It’s my grandmother’s locket I told you about.  Bird found it.”

Robin bent to get a closer look and the two women knocked their heads together, sharing a laugh.  “The clasp is broken though,” Chrissy mused.  “It must’ve come off when—” she swallowed, deciding not to finish that sentence.  “I’ll take it into town to get it fixed this weekend.”

“Give it here, I’ll fix it for you,” Robin volunteered.  “Not only can I unclog a toilet, but I’m also pretty crafty.”

“Y-you’d do that for me?” She asked as she was passing it over.

“Of course,” Robin chuckled.  “I’d do anything for y—I mean, what are friends for right?”

Chrissy turned her attention back to thank you properly when Steve pushed in between the other two girls and slung his arms around their shoulders.  “What's going on?”

Robin cringed.  “Gross, Dingus, you’re all sweaty,” to which he shook his head and droplets from his hair flew everywhere, making the girls scream and push him off.

The three of them got into conversation about something and you sank back against the corrugated metal wall to observe.  You hadn’t noticed the music stopped but the drummer was in the crowd having a beer and just as you were on your toes trying to find Eddie, a warm body sank in next to you.  

“Hey,” Eddie said.

You looked just in time to catch his gaze traveling down your body, but then he was quick to lift his beer to his mouth and pretended to be watching the crowd. 

“Hey,” you returned, suddenly full sentences and conversation felt so foreign.  You were acutely aware that there was plenty of space along the wall, but he was pressed close, bare arm touching yours.  

“They let you stay out this late on a school night?” He grinned against the aluminum rim, amusing himself.  He had a second beer in his other hand, and he passed it to you.

“Ha. Ha.” 

He had one knee bent with his foot on the wall while the other leg stretched long to show the heavily scuffed toe of his black boot.  

You shuddered despite the heat.  “So, how long have you and Chrissy been playing music together?”

He hummed, shifting so that his bicep rubbed against you, squinting one eye shut in thought, tilting his head back.  “Been something like a decade now, I think? Feels longer.  Feels like I’m 60 years old some days.”

“How old are you though?” You swallowed so hard your throat clicked.  “45? 50?”

He leaned into you, hard enough to push you over if your feet weren’t planted, his hair skimming your shoulder.  “Close enough,” he paused to say something else, but then puffed out his cheeks and exhaled.  

He wanted to ask how long you’d been playing the cello, but how would he even know you did without admitting he’d watched you that night from the street like a stalker? “Do you think you’re gonna stick around, watch us play some more?”

“I could,” you were about to add something super cheesy like, “if you want me to,” but opted for nonchalant.  “I love watching Chrissy play.”

He nodded a few times, and pushed off the wall, handing you his beer.  “Hold this for me?” His silky brown eyes locked onto yours, the tip of his tongue resting between parted lips.  “Please?”

There you were, holding Eddie Munson’s beer.  He got behind the mic and took his shirt all the way off to wipe his face with it before strapping his guitar on.  The next song they did was an original, something that Eddie and Chrissy wrote, and Chrissy came in on backup vocals, while Eddie growled out the lyrics, banging his head every so often.   He swiped his bangs from his forehead, wet with perspiration, and his fingers worked like magic along the strings.  At one point, he and Chrissy shared the same mic, belting out the words.  

He made eye contact with you three times, not that you were counting.  Each time longer than the last.  When it was over, he came out and took his beer from you, fingers touching as he did so.

“Eddie, I think I—” you were about to let him know you should probably get going, but he’d already turned, chugging the rest of the beer as he went, and then they were right into the next song.  

Eddie wasn’t sure why you made him so curious, but the voices in his head were screaming at him to shake it off.  Somehow, he’d gone four years without getting involved with a summer person, he’d never even been tempted really.  Nothing good could come of it, especially since he’d probably end up being nothing but a vacation fuck for you to brag to your friends about.  

He glanced around but couldn’t find you during the song.  When he went to check for you at the wall, you were gone.  

---

thank you again for the love on this and for reading!

---

taglist: @micheledawn1975@kurdtbean@katethetank@elvendria@spookysqaush86@somethingvicked@stylesxmunson@laurenlokirby@sapphire4082 @kellsck @motherfckerrr @emxxblog @justdamnpeachy @dashingdeb16 @corrodedcoffincumslut @bexreadstoomuch @ohmeg@marrowfrog00

[thechy-fychannel]

I have finally decided to shamelessly (I feel nothing but shame at any attention at all) promote my hilson fics on here 💕

Organized from shortest to longest:

it's gone to the dogs in my mind (1.5k)(T+)

"He gets more visitors in his subconscious as he's coming off the vicodin than he did when he was on it. Every night, a different visitor in between the excruciating hours of consciousness." A glimpse into a series of dreams that House has as he's detoxing after he first gets to Mayfield.

let me be the wallpaper that papers up your room (2.9k)(E)

“I'll meet you at your place at 8.” He knew when he said it that he wasn't just coming over for dinner. Takes place at the end of Season 8, Episode 2 after Wilson punches House in the face.

and I long for this mirrored perspective (3.3k) (GA)

"Because something about him beckons to you, drawing you in. Morons are boring, you're repelled by morons. You're the opposite of repelled by the warm shades of brown and a cold type of ache coming from this handsome stranger." House spots Wilson for the first time at a conference in New Orleans and stalks him like the creep he is.

caught you hiding in the smoke (3.3k)(E)

“Look at me, House.” His pretty blue eyes opened and looked up at her with the kind of intensity that she could only describe as devotion. Like she was something holy. “Good. Look at you, barely holding on. If only he could see you like this…”

House is distracted while making out with Cuddy. The reason why isn't at all surprising, but Cuddy's reaction to it is.

dot line dot (4.2k)(E)

Wilson apologized for not being there. House told him not to be, he's with his wife. That's where he's supposed to be. And yet Wilson wanted him. And House was going to make him prove that. He was going to force him to wreck his own marriage rather than have the decency to do it for him. The bastard. House uses his oral fixation to his advantage when he refuses to initiate an affair with Wilson after he marries Bonnie. Wilson wants to have his cake and eat it too and House is a petty bitch about it.

on my way to believing (6k)(E)

“I like what this says about you, Wilson.” Wilson knows what this says about him— that the only piece of furniture that he could pick out himself was something House alone would use. He knows it says that the only thing inside him that matters is the man sitting on that bench.

get in line for the masquerade (7.1k)(M)

5 times people find out about House and Wilson's secret relationship and the 1 time they decide to stop keeping it a secret.

my tongue has now become a platform for your lies (12k)(E)

5 times Wilson cheats with House, + the 1 time they get caught.

love is the coal (19.5k)(E)

"House, I can't just up and leave-” “Yes, you can. I already talked to Cuddy about it.” “You already—” Wilson blanched, “House, I told you not to say anything to her about what's going on. Great, this is just great. Now my boss knows that I'm-” “That you're going through a hard time right now. That you're stressed and overworked and burnt out. She was the one who suggested we go on a vacation. It really wasn't even a suggestion, she practically demanded that I whisk you away to tropical paradise somewhere and fuck you until your legs stop working.” Wilson is struggling, House would do anything in the world to help him, and Cuddy is a wonderful boss. House and Wilson take a much needed vacation and spend the entire thing on top of each other.

puppies, tiramisu, and other things james wilson loves (20.9k)(E)

He looked over at Wilson, about to lament to him about the lack of creativity at this animal shelter when he was met with a big toothy grin. “What?” Wilson shook his head, but his smile grew to the point of being painful. “Nothing. I just- I didn't expect you to be a small dog kind of guy.” “I'm—” House looked back at the dog and then at Wilson. “I'm not. I was just giving it some attention.” “I think you're giving it a home, House.” A fic about them adopting a dog that House ends up falling in love with. And then he does something stupid and they have kinky sex about it.

[cinnbar-bun]

Vacation

Pairing: Jinbei x AMAB!GN!Reader

Rating: NSFW

Word Count: ~1.5k

Summary: After finally getting a vacation, you and Jinbei decide to ditch the others and return to your hotel room to "enjoy" the wonderful room.

Notes: AMAB!GN!Reader, anal, "rougher" dom!Jinbei. Jinbei is in his Egghead outfit cuz we love a dad bod on the beach here!!!!

------

“Why don’t we take this back to our room? I would like to enjoy our vacation just us two, if that’s alright?” Jinbei glanced at you, placing a gentle arm around your shoulder. His cheeks were a dusty pink, a sign that he was being truthful about his feelings. 

You recognized right away where this was going. Jinbei, always a gentleman, never wanted to make you uncomfortable or put you on the spot. But this was a rare vacation opportunity for you and the other Straw Hats. Even if it was short, there would perhaps not be another chance to take a break for a while. Why waste it hesitating?

You nodded at him as you brought out your keycard from your swim trunks. “That’s very fine with me.” 

You winked, knowing damn well the minute you got into that room, you perhaps would not be leaving anytime soon. Jinbei chuckled and pulled you close, escorting you back to the room. The others were too busy drinking by the pool and swimming to care, giving you two the perfect chance to start your vacation right. 

The resort was cooler inside than on the outside, making you shiver slightly. 

“Too cold?” Jinbei asked. “A bit.” 

“Don’t worry, I think you’ll be forgetting the cold in a bit,” Jinbei gave a toothy smirk and you found your face heating up alongside your body. He always had a way of distracting you. You fumbled with your key as you two approached the door, letting Jinbei walk in first as he closed the blinds of the large window overlooking the resort below. “There, that should give us some privacy.” 

Jinbei sat on the edge of the bed and jovially laughed, looking at you with excitement. “Well? Are you coming?” 

You forgot you were staring and strode to the large fishman, matching his enthusiasm. “I’m really sad I have to take off the shirt. You look great in it.” 

“I’m glad you think so,” he replies as he strokes your hair. Your fingers reach out to unbutton his tropical shirt, knowing the rules to this little “game” you two play by now. 

“Can’t you keep it on,” you whine playfully, while Jinbei shakes his head. 

“You know we can’t. I don’t want it ruined by all the fun we’ll be having,” Jinbei says as he cranes his neck to you after you throw his shirt to the ground. “You might want to hurry up, though. We don’t want to miss our dinner reservations, do we now?” 

“No, sir,” you shake your head as you slowly pull down his shorts, letting his large cock spring free. 

It’s massive, almost intimidating, except for the fact it had given you so much pleasure previously. You know what to do and you know what Jinbei expects, even if he hasn’t said a word yet. 

You lick a careful stripe on the underside of his member and kiss the head, noticing the tip leak some fluid. Another little kitten lick at the top earns you a hard yank on your head from Jinbei. 

“You keep playing around like that, and I might just end this,” he sternly responds. Your body is already too invested and yearning for him. Jinbei doesn’t mess around with you when it comes to this sort of thing. You know if he’s unsatisfied with your behavior that he’ll leave you begging and hanging dry for the rest of the vacation, if he so felt like it. He had done it before, and he didn’t look like he would relent now. 

So you do the one thing you know you should do. 

You kiss his weeping cock and take it down your throat with practiced motions, using your hands to massage his balls and the rest of his large member. Jinbei seems pleased with your actions, humming in content as he rubs his hands on your head in small circles. 

You do your best to breathe with every action- Jinbei isn’t small by any means- and work a good rhythm with your mouth and hands. 

“Good… good, like that,” Jinbei comments, before he roughly shoves himself down your throat. Your nose is met with his hairs as you have to hold back from gagging. The tears in your eyes are plentiful, and Jinbei, despite his hardened persona now, wipes it off with a quick flick of his finger. He releases your mouth from him as you try to catch your breath. 

“Why’d you stop? That’s now how you’re supposed to do it,” he chuckles, and you immediately go back to pleasuring him. 

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

You’re thankful Jinbei does his best to prepare you for him, but even with all that preparation, the swell and size of him still manages to take your breath away. You’re gripping the sheets tightly as Jinbei continues to fill your ass with him. 

“Guess we have to work on making you take me better, hm, (Y/n)?” Jinbei taunts while you weakly struggle to remain on your hands and knees for him. He’s already stretching you out widely and pressing deliciously into you, making you delirious. But you have to contain yourself. You’re not allowed to cum unless he says so, not allowed to finish unless he decides to be merciful upon you for once. 

Jinbei, ever the observant man, gently thrusts into you once, reminding you just how amazing he can make you feel. You let out a garbled moan while Jinbei laughs. 

“Don’t tell me you’re close,” he says, but with the mocking tilt in his voice, you know he’s aware of your current feelings. He thrusts once more, this time putting his whole body into it and making you grip the sheets tighter. “We’re not even close to being finished, dear.” 

You weakly apologize for your excitement as Jinbei holds your hips and moves in and out of you. He doesn’t think of you right now, only focused on using you to give him the pleasure he desire. Your soft body meeting his every thrust and swallowing him whole makes Jinbei let out a throaty groan. 

“Take it,” he orders as he moves faster. Jinbei grunts and grips you harder, digging his fingers into your body while you do your best to meet his heavy thrusts. You cry out his name over and over, nails clenching the sheets as you wailed into the pillows. Jinbei grabbed your head to remove you from the pillows. “I want to hear you. Don’t cover your voice.” 

“Jinbei!” you yell his name loudly as you feel your body tightening and ready to burst. Jinbei can feel your climax approaching and hurries his pace. 

“Hold it in!” Jinbei shouts. You want to beg and plead, but you’re a jumble of whines and moans while you helplessly take Jinbei. There’s nothing you can do but try and not come right this second while he pleasures you. 

Thankfully, Jinbei decides to spare you some mercy and removes his hand from your head. He continues to pound into you and huffs. 

“Go on, be louder. T-take it and show me how much you enjoy this!” Jinbei gives you a final order as his hand wraps around your member. You feel the coil in you about to snap and you do your best to meet with Jinbei. With a loud cry of his name, you release onto the sheets and Jinbei’s hand while he keeps moving. The overstimulation makes your eyes water again and your body give out, but not before Jinbei leans over to pick you and hold you. 

“Almost there…” Jinbei warns you, not being able to handle how your body flutters around his cock. 

One. Two. Three. 

With tight hold on you and a guttural moan, you feel Jinbei release inside you, the warm fluid filling you and dripping down your thighs. You shakily try to catch your breath as Jinbei remains holding you. 

“J-Jinbei,” you groan, panting heavily at the exhausting round. 

“You okay?” He asks, losing the aggressive demeanor he had immediately. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” 

You shake your head and Jinbei sighs happily. He lays you down gently on the bed, removing himself from you as he goes to get a few towels to clean you up. 

“I’m relieved, then,” Jinbei comments. With careful movements, he wipes your body and the mess of sheets on the hotel bed. You whine at the contact before Jinbei presses a kiss to your forehead. “Easy, now. Rest up, I’ll wake you in a couple hours so we can get ready for dinner.” 

You nod tiredly, not really hearing what Jinbei is saying as he gives you another kiss and strokes your head soothingly. 

“Love you…” you mumble. 

“I love you, too,” Jinbei replies, covering you both with a blanket. You lean into him and yawn while your eyes flutter shut. 

Jinbei chuckles at your behavior. 

Perhaps you two should consider more vacations in the future.

[blackcherryvelvet0909]

Feathered Good (Crowley x GN!Reader)

Content Warning: Alcohol (no intoxication), implied depression, implied unhealthy coping mechanisms, mild angst

Note: Reader is an adult NRC staff member

A pleased hum vibrated along your lips and rumbled through your throat as a soft breeze kissed your skin. It smelt of sand and sea, beneath that the delectable scent of various dishes cooking in the restaurant kitchen. You took another sip of your drink, the taste of [favorite fruit] wonderfully flooding your taste buds once again. You savored the flavor as your gaze lingered on the view before you, out towards the vast body of saltwater beyond. It was an excellent idea, coming out here; you’d have to thank Divus for the recommendation later. This was exactly what you needed. 

You were tucked into a nice little corner as well. Your table was situated on the lower deck of the restaurant - you thought it too nice an evening to remain inside. The spot wasn’t too far from the kitchens, either, so your food and drink didn’t take long to reach you. There was only one thing missing: company. When you first planned to eat out here, you thought Divus and Trein would come with you. However, as usual, their duties as professors got them into a bit of trouble, and a little injury. Thank goodness it wasn’t too bad of a fall; even so, the men had been in no mood to walk two to three flights of stairs, whether short or long. 

So, here you were, split between happiness for the alone time and disappointed in the lack of friendly conversation. Your eyes made another once over of your surroundings, watching the other patrons chat and laugh amongst themselves. Just as you were about to focus back on the waning sunset, your gaze settled on a familiar figure on the floor above. You could scarcely make out his frame, but you knew that mask from anywhere. What was Crowley doing here? Well, that was a dumb question. When was the headmage not making the most of the trip - either on or off the clock, to you and your coworkers’ misfortune. 

You couldn’t try and scold him, since it was technically both your off times. There was no reason to go and talk to him. Still…you found yourself rising from your seat. You placed a few madol on the table for your waiter; as you passed by the person at the register, you mentioned you were moving up to the top floor. That way they wouldn’t try and chase you, thinking you were trying to skip paying your bill. When the cashier gave you a nod and a smile, you headed up the long flight of stairs. It was a bit of a struggle to not spill your drink in your ascension, but you managed. Within minutes you reached the top - the view was even better from this height. 

Crowley faced away from you, the rim of his glass pressed to his lips as he took a sip of the liquid within. You couldn’t tell if it was alcoholic or not - did he even drink? Guess it was time to find out. “I’m surprised to see you here,” were the words you greeted him with. He turned to you as you rested your glass on the wooden edge of the balcony, wide enough for patrons to settle small plates of food or beverages. 

The headmage greeted you with a smile as he straightened his posture. “I make a point to visit this restaurant whenever I get the chance to travel here.” Crowley leaned against the railing, arm rested atop it, clawed hands almost folded in front of him. He looked more casual than usual - relaxed, even. If he were not a man who constantly plucked at your nerves, you’d think him rather dashing, especially since, this evening, he was not clad in that gaudy tropical shirt and khakis. Aside from his cloak, top hat, and cane, he was dressed in his usual ensemble. “Is this your first time here?” he asked. 

“The restaurant or this beach in general?” 

He shrugged his shoulders. “Either.” 

“Yes, to both,” you answered. Your body relaxed as you rested your arms against the wooden railing, glass placed next to you. “This is my first vacation in forever, I think. Usually, when I’m not working, I just hang out at home.” You chuckled, “I wouldn’t exactly call this a vacation, anyway; it’s basically a work trip.” 

“True,” Crowley agreed, “but I have done my best to work some ample time for you and the other staff to enjoy yourselves as well.” You seriously questioned that, with the way the man would sometimes outright abandon you and the students in favor of some other unknown activity. He picked up his small glass with his fingertips, swirling the brown liquid within as his eyes cast back out at the waves beyond. “This is truly a charming place, despite the hustle and bustle of the tourists.” Crowley lifted the glass to take another sip of his beverage. Feeling a bit mischievous, you decided to ask him another question. 

“Is that why Royal Sword and Noble Bell also chose this place to hold their field trips?” You held back a laugh as the headmage nearly choked on the drink. Patiently, you waited for him to regain himself before he answered. 

“Well…I suppose that is the reason.” You could almost picture the sweat that surely beaded under his shirt collar. “As I said, this is a wondrous place! What better destination for students to learn and play?” 

“It is, indeed, a place to do both - for all ages.” A little smirk played on your lips as you pried more. “It’s just strange we arrived right as the other schools did.” You lifted your drink to your lips as you added, “Coincidence, perhaps?” 

The headmage now avoided your gaze - a clear sign he was nervous. “Ah…yes!” Crowley let out a nervous laugh. “Quite so! Us three headmasters must be in sync with one another. As they say, great minds think alike!” 

Or a certain one didn’t want to look bad in front of his peers, you thought to yourself. For now, you decided to keep that thought to yourself. After all, there was no proof to that…yet. Divus said he would keep you posted.

“While it does allow our students to mingle with ones from other schools, it is a little chaotic.” You sighed as you placed your drink back down on the space next to you, the taste of [drink of choice] fresh upon your tongue. “I’m surprised there haven't been that many fights. Aside from Spade’s confrontation with those Royal Sword boys, there hasn’t been much of an incident. It’s either we finally have peace in the valley,” another sigh left your lips, “or all will come crashing down in the final days of the trip.” 

“Come now,” Crowley chuckled. “Do you have such little faith in our flock?” You sent him a look - without words, he seemed to get the point. He nodded his head, “Yes, our students are a rowdy bunch, to be sure. But perhaps this change of scenery will calm those rebellious natures enough for them to put away their fists.” 

“Hopefully,” you wished, with all of your being. You really didn’t get paid enough for the hassle sometimes. 

A silence fell between you two for a few moments, nothing but the sound of distant chatter and ocean waves filling your ears. Crowley was the one to break that hush. “[Y/n]?” You perked up at the sound of your name - your first name. It was odd for him not to address you formerly, even when off duty. With your attention back on him, he continued. “What do you think makes a good person?” 

“I didn’t know you partook in philosophy,” you said, perplexed by the question. Where did this come from?

“I read up on the subject from time to time,” Crowley mentioned. “Will you humor me?” 

Well, you didn’t see why you couldn’t. You did yearn for conversation earlier - now you had it. For a few seconds, you thought his question over, tossed and turned it in your mind. What made a good person? “I guess it depends on the person,” you finally replied. “No one will answer the same; it all weighs on someone’s life experience, I think.” 

“That was not what I asked.” Crowley’s expression was different, you realized. He looked sincere - more serious than you’d ever seen him. Even when a certain group of students overblotted in the past year, he hadn’t appeared this way. “I am asking you what makes a good person. In your eyes, what makes a good person?” 

You rarely ever experienced this man look directly into your eyes. It was almost like he wanted to peer into your very soul to find the answer. The tone of his voice had shifted as well, you noticed. Has Crowley ever been so earnest? You couldn’t answer that. You said you would humor him, so humor him you would. After a bit more contemplation, you explained to him what, to you, made a good person. 

The man listened intently, hung on your every word. He gave a slight nod of his head from time to time, truly taking in your beliefs. You secretly wished he’d take his work as seriously as this opinion of yours. Once you said your piece, he nodded once more, and then another long moment of silence washed over you both. That yellow gaze, obscured behind Crowley’s dark mask, was cast down to the ground. The rest of his expression, along with his body language, was almost…solemn, you thought. Did he find your answer disappointing? 

Before you could ask, he raised his head and smiled at you. Though it looked a little strained, he sounded genuine. “Thank you, [Y/n]. I will keep your words in mind for the future.” You watched as he picked up his glass once more, clasped a little tightly in his palm as he held it up to his lips. He then tilted his head back and drank the entirety of his beverage in a few short gulps. 

Your eyes must have widened at the display, for he let out a small laugh. “What’s that look for?” 

“What was that?” you asked, pointing at his now empty glass. 

“My drink?” Crowley shook the glass and the remaining ice clinked around within. “Scotch.” 

“You chugged it that quickly?!” The audacity of this man. “Will you even be able to walk back to the hotel?” It wasn’t too far away, the restaurant was located just outside the resort, but…

Crowley let out another laugh, much louder than the last. “Aww, you worry for me? I’m flattered!” Who wouldn’t worry? “But I assure you I’m quite alright. It takes a lot more than that to get me tipsy.” 

That was a pretty sizable amount of liquor though. Even Trein, someone who himself partook in scotch from time to time, would get a little blitzed after such a chug. How…how much did it take to get Crowley drunk? How much had he drunk in the past to build that high of a tolerance? Your expression must have revealed your inner thoughts, for Crowley let out another chuckle. 

“It has been my friend on many a late night,” he explained. Crowley eyed the glass in his hand almost as though it were an old friend. He appeared…almost sad, for the way he smiled. “This evening is one of few where it is not required.” 

Your heart sank. Not required? Sure, you knew Crowley was probably the type to drink a good bit, like Divus, but…that sounded rather ominous. Crowley appeared no different than the depressed protagonist in a movie. What exactly did he have to be depressed about? You thought back to the odd question he asked you minutes before. ‘What makes a good person?’ 

You thought about all the times Crowley praised himself. How kind he claimed to be with every little thing he did. Always out of arrogance, narcissism, maybe. Now, in light of the question he gave you, how he reacted and mulled over your answer. It now seemed those praises were affirmations to himself…assurances he was doing good. The confidence he showed when he made such claims always fueled the frustration within you. When put in this light though, it sounded like…like a man desperate to be a good person, when he didn’t know how to be. 

“Dire-” 

Your elbow hit something as you adjusted your position: Your glass. You gasped as it fell over the railing; you were just in time to watch it fall down to the sand three flights of stairs away. Thankfully it didn’t hit anyone on the way. A few guests and servers looked up in confusion - you suddenly felt embarrassed. You nearly jumped out of your skin when Crowley belted out in laughter. “It happens to the best of us!” he reassured. “I can’t count how many times I’ve made such a blunder.” 

With a wave of his hand, he called a waiter over. “Would you get my companion here another -” he glanced over at you “ - what were you having?” 

“[Drink of choice],” you mumbled, still flustered beyond belief. 

“[Drink of choice]!” Crowley repeated to the waiter. He handed them his empty glass as he added, “And another glass of scotch for me, if you wouldn’t mind.” Crowley slipped the waiter a several madol as a tip - or as a way to get your drinks quicker. Either way, the waiter uttered a ‘yes, sir’ before they headed down to the bar. As they went out of sight, Crowley turned back to you. “Where is that smile from before? You’re not the first to knock over a glass, you know.” 

“I know…” You shied away as you rubbed your arm. “I just hate someone has to pick it up.” 

“I’m sure that isn’t the worst thing they’ve ever done.” Crowley sat himself in a cushioned chair at the corner of the floor. You followed suit and took the one across from him. “If it broke, I will pay for that as well.” 

You raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t I have to pay for it?” 

“Usually,” he rested his chin against the back of his hand, “if I were not treating you.” 

Dire Crowley, the stingy headmage of Night Raven College, treating you? You couldn’t hold back the small laugh that escaped your throat. “I didn’t know you had a sense of humor,” you quipped. 

He scoffed, taken aback by your statement. “Whatever do you mean? I have a great sense of humor! And that was not a joke: I intend to pay for the drinks you may have in my presence.” 

Who clocked him over the head? “You’re serious?” you questioned with a skeptical raise of your brow. “Not going to take this out of my paycheck or something?”

“You think me that cruel?” He seemed to flinch by the look that crossed your face. “No no, I’m not going to take it out of your check - or any thereafter.” Another smile twitched at his lips. “Consider this my thanks for your company - and for answering my question.”

You wanted to ask more - more than him treating you. Yet something told you to hold back for now. Apparently this man was more cryptic, held more mysteries than you ever thought him to. There likely wouldn’t be anything to garner from his question - tonight, at least. Might as well take your good luck and accept the offer, before he changed his mind. You put your skepticism aside and smiled. “Thank you - I really appreciate it.”

Those masked eyes seemed to brighten a little at your gratitude. His posture straightened a bit more, his characteristic confidence back in full force. “Of course! I cherish the opportunity to reward one of my fellow peers for their hard work. After all,” his smile wavered into what looked like a smirk, “I am ever so kind~” 

Another reassurance…to you, or to himself? You seriously would question that from now on. 

If only you knew just how much Dire Crowley valued your opinion.

[izznts]

Bahamas Double Meal

The soft breeze that hits the white cotton curtains, flowing in the room shining some daylight. Sol gets hit with the bright sun, squinting his eyes and yawning. Leaning up, his muscular biceps and soft toned pecs in his plaid boxers stretching. Next to him his boyfriend Izzy, laying with his cheetah print top and pant set, sleeping softly. Sol smiled laying on top of him, giving his neck some kisses making Izzy squirm underneath him waking up.

"Sol, Jesus you couldn't wake me up properly?" Izzy asked annoyed, rubbing his eyes to show his dark chocolate color. Sol smirked, giving Izzy a soft kiss getting up.

"And where would the fun in that be? Now get up, we got to enjoy the rest of our vacation!" Sol cheered, running to the bathroom with clothes in hand. Izzy rolled his eyes getting up himself and looking through his suitcase. The both of them were on an anniversary trip to the Bahamas for a week. The first day they enjoyed the spa and massages that was provided, the cuisines that were made to their delight, and some shopping in stores they have never thought of enjoying.

Today was the day of the beach, Sol coming out of the bathroom with his white tropical swim shorts, with a matching top that was left open too show off his toned body. Izzy staring too long, Sol pec bounced to have Izzy's eyes hungrily dart to them, making him roll his eyes blushing at being teased.

"Don't worry, there's enough of me to go around~" Sol purred, Izzy turning around and changing in front of him. Izzy's smaller frame putting on his tight rose shorts with a white-lace kimono, topping it off with a black and rose ascot, tying it around his neck. Sol hugged Izzy from behind, kissing his neck softly, getting a small giggle from him.

"Alright, let's go to the beach!" Sol cheered, grabbing Izzy's hand and their packed belongings for this day, running off out of the room to walk to the beach.

Seeing the huge crowd tanning on beach chairs, playing volleyball in different areas, children playing with sand, swimming in the oceans, and many of those with pets throwing toys for them to chase. Both of them looked for a spot to sit, seeing an empty area with a beach umbrella placed near the front of the ocean. Izzy walked too it (more like speed-walked) to claim the spot. Sol following behind dragging the cooler. Laying their towels on the chairs, Sol opened up a water bottle drinking it quickly.

"Sol, can you close the umbrella, I just want to tan for a few minutes." Izzy asked him, Sol nodded, getting up and closing the umbrella, getting a thank you in return. Sol took off his shirt and placed it on the chair.

"Hey, I'm going to go for a quick swim." Sol reminded, Izzy giving a thumbs up and placing himself to lay on his stomach, taking his kimono off too get the heat on his back. Sol runs off in the sand to the shallow waters, the small waves touching above his ankles, making him shiver with delight of the cold water. He was about to walk closer to swim till he heard Izzy turning around.

"Jesus watch the hell you are going you prick!" Izzy yelled holding his head wincing at a couple surfers who ran with their surfboards in hand, cockily laughing and jokingly saying sorry. Sol got out of the ocean and sprinted too him, passing by the surfers earlier.

"Izzy let me see, is it bad?" Sol asked trying to get him to move his hands out of the way. Izzy slowly moving his hands down to see a small scratch and redness on his head.

"Is it bad?" Izzy asked, Sol shook his head, getting a cold water bottle and having him hold it on his head. Izzy wincing from the coldness. Sol looked at the ocean and gritted his teeth, getting up.

"Keep on tanning, I will be right back." Sol stated, Izzy nodding his head and laying down with the water on his head, putting his sunglasses on to cover his eyes from the sun. Sol sprinted to the ocean diving in swimming further towards the deep end of the water. Hearing laughter, he saw the surfers from earlier together waiting for the next wave. They both were far from shore, and even far from anyone else, making this a lot easier than he thought. Sol gave them a death glare, swimming underwater towards them. He swam closer, pushing both of the surfers into each other falling off their surfboards. Grabbing the first surfer that fell, unhinging his jaw and swallowing their head. The first surfer thrashing as he was being swallowed, the second surfer keeping his head above water looking for his friend. Ducking his head underneath just to see his friend having half of his body in Sol's mouth. The surfer swimming trying to tug his friend out. Sol grabbed the other surfer dudes hands and kept it locked onto the first ones hips, taking a big gulp, swallowing both hips and the hands, keeping the second surfer in place. The surfer duo thrashed as Sol kept swallowing, finishing up the first surfer dude and getting up too the second one's head. His toned abs now expanding immensely in the cool water, a face imprint was seen above his bellybutton making the surfer friend scream underwater as his friends fate is sealed. Sol grabbing the head and forcing him into his mouth, his belly slowly squirming with his first meal. Sol swallowing up to the friends butt, he swam up to the top of the water, the friends thrashing legs being slurped down burping loudly. Sol swam too shore, his belly squirming violently each stroke.

"Man, you guys are heavy." Sol commented, patting his belly as he makes it to the shallow end. Getting out of the ocean, people were staring and whispering amongst each other, Sol smiling widely as he winks at the bystanders near him. He walks too Izzy, lifting his belly up and letting go, his belly hitting Izzy's legs, making him scream lightly. Before he could get yelled out he stares at his boyfriends belly.

"Sol what did you do?" Izzy asked curiously concerned. Sol smirked rubbing his belly, joking around by tapping his chin.

"I might have gotten a double meal of surfer dudes from earlier.~" He teased, wiggling his eyebrows. Izzy rolled his eyes, staring at the engorged belly, giving it a small rub, Sol purred from the touch.

"Next time, give me a heads up that you are going to hunt." Izzy stated, Sol nodded sitting down in the sand in front of Izzy, letting him rub his belly as it thrashes around. Both of them enjoying the rest of the day at the beach.

[izvmimi]

cw: minors dni. exhibitionism kinda. reader has breasts.

"they're gonna see-ee!" your voice hitches, going up an octave from your hushed tone, as your husband keenly lifts you up, folding you like a lawn chair, and slips himself inside you.

frankly you should have expected this strong of a reaction from the moment you emerged from your vacation cottage in that particular swimsuit, but what you didn't expect was for him to be this bold, pretzeling you and pulling your bikini bottom to the side to stuff you full.

he thrusts upwards with a soft grunt, one that jostles your breasts in your bikini top and nearly knocks the sunglasses perched atop your head; it might as well be a warning for what's about to come.

"this is a private section," he reminds you, kissing your neck. "who's gonna see?" he coos.

he's not wrong. the beach is empty as far as the eye can perceive, and the gently sloping waves hitting the shore and the tropical birds chirping overhead to herald the early morning are all you can hear. the sun tinges your skin warm as you stare out towards the water, but you're not yet as hot as you'll be in the next few moments, guaranteed.

"p-passerbys? i.., i don't know!" you stammer as he laughs, something musical that tickles the back of your neck, and he just as quickly kisses the spot making you moan.

"come on, let's give nature a show."

[ladybugsimblr]

simshaderoom If you were wondering where #Bailey Kay was hiding out, it looks like she is in Sulani, her fave vacation spot. The whole family was out and about today. Even our favorite unicorn #Rebi finally made a public appearance! That tantrum looked serious tho and BK wasn't very friendly with fans. Everyone's faces giving we are not feeling the island vibes. Trouble in paradise?

d-lo Some of these fans don't respect time with the fam. You can't always get a hug or a pic. Y'all gotta chill. Not even addressing the paps. But it looks like my dude Jason got busy with at least one of them! 👊🏽

simsagainstBK I don't think that's an appropriate outfit to wear around your children. She's so worried about "slaying" instead of being a good role model. Shame.

kingb It's summer on a tropical island... What is she supposed to wear? Get a life.

anon I heard little Rebi's tantrum was crazy and BK just acted like nothing was happening. Yikes. At least we know she really exists.

perfect_family Everyone looks miserable. My husband and kids are never so unhappy. This is why you should be available and tend to your family 24-7.

queenbk Actually you're the one that's miserable. But you're right about one thing. You, your husband and your kids could NEVER. Good day!

bflyhive WOW! You would be over it too if you had camera flashes going off in your face every second. Leave the Queen and the babies ALONE.

anon I also heard the twins were running wild without supervision. No parental control in that household.

c.spiracy I read that celebrity children grow at a faster rate than normal children. They'll probably all be teens by the end of the week.

rubberbandshan I leave to study for a few hours and come back to this???? I miss seeing the Queen too but damn. Can they have a little bit of privacy and quality family time? And on top of that here the dummies go looking at pics taken at the worst moments and swear they know everything going on. Y'all are so annoying. I hope she's somewhere hugging on her hubby and kids and ignoring all haters. Sidenote: Jason, inquiring minds want to know if you're single. Sorry not sorry.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Mexican Fritillary - Euptoieta hegesia

I'm absolutely overjoyed to share these beautiful Butterfly pictures! Not only is the insect in question a real stunner, but these images also represent the first close-ups of the ornate and elegant Fritillary Butterflies (Tribe Argynnini) on this blog. In general and from my own experience, Fritillaries are incredibly quick to flee if they sense danger approaching! They only ever seem to land when they investigate flowers, but otherwise keep their distance. In fact, the genus "Euptoieta" name originates from a Greek word meaning 'easily scared'. Prior to this, I've only been able to share one image of my own photography from High Park, and even then it was taken from far away and merely included as a comparison photo to Fritillary pictures shared with me by a dear friend on her yearlong Asia trip (who was available to get much closer than I did). With these pictures from a very dear friend enjoying a Mexico vacation (for which I'm very thankful for), the beauty and detail of these royal and gilded Butterflies can be observed gloriously. The sole exception here being the legs which are concealed by the wings. Just keep in mind that as a Brush-Footed Butterfly (family Nymphalidae)* it only has 4 legs in use for walking and landing.

As this Butterfly's common name suggests, its range includes Mexico where it can be seen year-round due to the favorably warm weather. It can also apparently be found in the states of Texas and Arizona (and occasionally Florida) in the latter half of the year and has made its way to other tropical areas such as Cuba. When you see a Fritillary Butterfly flying around, no matter where you find it you'll recognize every future Fritillary as soon as you see one. These gorgeous Butterflies are easily recognized by their marvelous wings, the tops of which are laced with orange scales and accented with dark striped patterns and spots; the undersides tend to have large white or silvery spots. The Mexican Fritillary is a slight exception to this rule as the underside of its wings (not seen here) have a mostly mottled appearance similar to autumn leaves with a small section of vibrant orange featuring white patches on the forewing. Moreover, this Butterfly has a bare, pure orange area on the distal section of its hindwings (where the wings meet the body). Keep an eye out for this bare section of bright orange scales: it is key for identifying this specie if you spot a Fritillary in the south-US/Mexico area. The similar looking Variegated Fritillary (E. claudia) has a completed marking pattern across its hindwings and tends to be a more golden orange rather than the saturated orange of E. hegesia. The two species are much easier to tell apart in adulthood than when enjoying leaves as Caterpillars!

*Note: In the classification hierarchy of taxonomy, remember that Family is ordered before Tribe (which itself comes before Genus). As such, all Fritillaries are Brush-Footed. Their wings are among the most magnificent of all Brush-Footed Butterflies, wouldn't you say? Although...the Monarch is still the most iconic of all.

Pictures were taken on February 11, 2024 in Mexico with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

[hotcat37]

*🥁🥁🥁🥁 EVENING DOUBLE DELIVERY 4 MY BELOVED BELGIEN KAARYLEET/BABY BOO MOOT, CAT!! X)) *🥁🥁🥁🥁

🚚_____.______._____.—>🎁🎁

(Frank the Flamingo got his own lil moodboard After seeing that mii! vers is all grown up now N has his own lil apartment N Bojere! Ice skating date cuz there’s a ton of fics 4 that but not enough moodboards + the Story that comes with it is a prequel 2 the Pokémon Café date! moodboard <33) imagine it tho,it’s coming up 2 Christmas N Jere’s spending it with his Jokerman N the rest of the Jokermen N with our bbg being a somewhat professional hockey player on the side,why wouldn’t Bojan take him 2 the best Christmas fair in all of Ljubljana which also just so happens 2 have one of biggest ice rinks in the city! With Jere N Bojan being well..Jere N Bojan they ofc do all Thinge U see couples do in hallmark Christmas movies,holding hands N skating around the sides of the rink,making heart shapes with the bottoms of their skates on the ice,holding one another like their in the titanic,even making it onto the middle of the rink without Bojan falling on his ass (N ever so coincidentally ends up tripping into the perfect position 4 his angel 2 kiss him on the lips which he definitely,totally didn’t plan so that would happen anyway ;3).Heading over 2 one of the many hot chocolate stands scattered throughout the fair,they spotted a golden retriever puppy N a husky puppy playing in the snow together which each of them immediately went 2 pet,the couple’s fans weren’t joking when they kept comparing Bojan 2 a puppy N Jere 2 a husky after all.Both of them were sitting opposite eachother in one of the festively decorated booths sipping hot chocolate N occasionally taking a bite out of the others cookie (as U can probably guess Jere infact made many flirty jokes using the whipped cream that topped the two’s drinks,turning our darling Bojci into a giggling,blushing mess tho he did manage 2 get his own back when he licked the icing off a sugar cookie VERY suggestively,making his Finn’s cheeks slightly rosey N not just from the frosty air that comes with a month like December ☺️).Bojci knew they couldn’t end the night without visiting the reindeer stables that were near the ice rink from earlier that day,a tradition his family had done since they first took him N his sister as children but with him being much,much older now this time he’d be taking his beloved boyfriend 2 see the creatures.Feeding them carrots N petting the animals all while never taking his eyes off the way Jere smiled N giggled like a kid when one of the reindeers licked his hand instead of the carrot,wondering how he’d gotten so lucky 2 not only create a unbreakable bond with the guy with a funny bowlcut who conquered Europe just by being himself but knowing that the same guy is the one he gets 2 call his,not just now but forever N he’ll finally be able 2 keep that promise soon,it might take a few months 2 get the perfect ring tho..

THESE ARE TOO FREAKING CUTE the Frank moodboard is so tropical core I just love the pink vacation Jere vibes <33 I love Frank the flamingo so much i need to see him again rn!!! And the prequel to the Bojere date :"D honestly I really like cheesy ice skating dates, there are loads of opportunities for angst and smut when it comes to Bojere but I also just love the more silly and sweet side of the pairing. I'm in love with their love <33💞🦭 Thank you so much for blessing my inbox with these!!

[kobalttheelemental]

Map of Elementia- Biomes of Arcania

🎆 Crystal Crags- Probably one of the most beautiful biome of Arcania. The crystal crags is biome covered in gigantic magical crystals and vibrant flora species, a perfect place for mining rare minerals and ore.

The giant crystals make perfect home for magic elementals.

🎆 Enchanted Forest- A magical forest of amazing and rare flora species and friendly mythical fauna, magic elementals come here to gather ingredients to brew different kinds of potions.

🎆 Stardust Plains- A biome of vast sea of grass and tall trees dotted the plains and megafauna peacefully grazing. It may look normal but at nighttime the plains began to glow along with bioluminescent plants, animals, and even watering holes!

🎆 Dream Garden- They say if you enter this biome it will make you feel relaxed and feeling a bit drowsy. Elementals with insomnia come here to sleep peacefully and feeling refreshed.

Sometimes faunas from the Dreamscape Realm will randomly appear.

🎆 Mt. Dreamweaver- A tall mountain peak located in the Dream Garden Biome, on top of its peak is a tranquil oasis and a portal that teleports you to the Dreamscape Realm. To get there you must rest on top of the dream cloud and sleep, once your in the Dreamscape Realm you will meet the Dream Guide a friendly fellow that safety guides you on the quest for rare materials, once you have what your looking for you'll wake up and see the items you brought next to you.

🎆 Healing Springs- a tranquil biome of hot springs dotted the lands, the springs have healing properties that can heal injured Elementals.

🎆 Crystal Dunes- many travelers who visit the crystal dunes biome will see spirits dancing in the distance or maybe it's just a mirage tricking your eyes. Elementals say there is cave full of treasure hidden somewhere in the vast sea of white sand.

🎆 Manaroot Jungle- just like the enchanted forest biome, the manaroot jungle is home to exotic and rare flora and fauna species. Magic Elementals come here for a relaxing vacation or explore the jungle.

🎆 Mysterious Bog- Very weird things happen in this creepy bog.. Many report seeing strange creatures lurking in the distance, paranormal activities, and unidentified flying objects in the sky. A very popular spot for paranormal investigators to document strange sightings.

No one wants to live there except for gypsies who find this place home.

🎆 Moonlit Reef- a magical coral reef with bioluminescent tropical fish and vibrant coral species, a perfect spot to scuba dive and makes you feel like your floating in space.

[thewillofdeez]

Worth the Risk: A Smoker/OC Romance - Chapter 2: Changing Currents

Summary: Kuzan forces Smoker into a much-needed, but not wanted, vacation. While there, Smoker runs into a pirate who's been eluding his capture for years. They decide to put their differences aside, just for a little, and as it turns out, two people don't have to be enemies just because they're a pirate and a Marine. They might even fall in love.

Chapter 2 word count: 5668

**There is smut at the end of this chapter! It's the only one with smut. Minors DNI.**

The place Kuzan had recommended as a prime spot for Smoker’s vacation was called Pufferfish Island, a medium-sized island about three days’ journey from Marineford. Twenty years before, Pufferfish Island had been a bustling, tropical vacation spot known for its incredible food, white sand beaches, and vibrant culture and nightlife. It had been popular with pirates, Marines, and civilians alike. But changing currents on the ever-capricious Grand Line had caused it to become more difficult to reach over time, and so it was now something of a relic visited only by skilled sailors aware of its existence. The island and its main port, Minami Town, were still populated mostly by the island’s native residents, and only the occasional visitor. Kuzan ensured Smoker that there was enough there to keep him entertained, but it wasn’t what it once was back in the day, and as a guy who didn’t like being overwhelmed with people, it would be perfect.

As Smoker’s boat approached the marina, he took in the surrounding buildings; they had once been painted vibrant shades of reds, blues, yellows, and greens with beautiful murals lining the streets, but the colors were now faded and the paint chipped. Smoker guided the craft into the marina and spoke with the attendant, paying him to keep an eye on the boat while he was out. He’d planned to return to the boat to sleep each night - Kuzan could force him to take a vacation, but he couldn’t force him to spring for a hotel when he had a perfectly adequate cot on board.

With that, Smoker made his way into the town in search of…something. Maybe food, he’d heard it was supposed to be amazing here, and it was getting close to dinner time. Or a drink, that might be nice too. The rum produced on the island was supposedly something of a hidden gem of the Grand Line.

Smoker wandered through the streets as the sun descended across the horizon, streetlights flickering on as he passed. The town was much what Kuzan had told him it would be. The island was decently resourceful, so while the lack of visitors had hampered the economy significantly over the decades compared to its heyday, it didn’t severely damage the population’s ability to survive on their own. It was clearly less well-kept than it had once been, but it was also lively, and the people seemed well-fed and healthy enough. Stores and market stalls lined the streets, and people spoke animatedly with their friends and neighbors as they moved about their daily lives, paying the tall, white-haired Marine little mind.

The smell of cooking meat caught Smoker’s attention, and he ducked into a bar with a faded sign out front in search of the source of the smell. The inside of the bar was bustling with people. Plates piled high with meat and local vegetables he didn’t recognize were on every table, and drinks of various colors garnished with tropical fruits were in every hand. It was almost too crowded and too loud for him, but he noticed a single empty seat at the bar, and decided he’d deal with the noise while he got some food in him.

Smoker took the seat and ordered a drink from the bartender (“Whatever you recommend as long as it’s strong. And keep ‘em coming.”). The bartender passed him a food menu, then made him something dark orange in color and topped with a slice of fruit impaled on a toothpick. Taking a sip, the drink was sweet but not overly so, and he could tell he’d been given a double shot of rum.

“Fancy seeing you here, Captain Smoker,” a female voice said, causing his head to turn in search of the familiar voice. Sitting to his right, her elbow on the bar and her head resting on her open palm was Ruby. She smiled at the familiar man, her amusement apparent at his shock. Smoker straightened himself out quickly. He hadn’t even noticed her there.

“Ruby,” he said in acknowledgement, facing forward and returning to his drink. He said nothing more. Ruby narrowed her eyes in confusion.

“That’s it? You’re just gonna sit there and drink, you’re not gonna try to arrest me?”

“Nope,” he said, sipping the fruity concoction and doing his best to ignore the pirate next to him. The pirate he’d been after for three years. The one with a bounty of almost 600 million. The notorious and very well-connected Ruby ‘The Ally’ Read.

Ruby couldn’t let it go. She couldn't say she knew the guy well, but this wasn’t like him. “Smoker. Smokey. Come on. This is what we do! We run into each other, we fight a little, I narrowly escape, you shake your fist at me and say something like ‘I’ll get you next time, Ruby!’” She punctuated the statement with what Smoker felt was a horrible impersonation of him, fist-shaking and all.

“I have never once done that, I’m not a comic book villain,” he responded with a scoff.

“You get the idea,” she said with a smile. “So what’s the deal? Am I getting off scot-free today? And if so, why?”

Smoker sighed. “If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”

Ruby considered this. “Maybe.”

Smoker rolled his eyes. “Good enough. If you must know…I’m on vacation.”

“Huh,” Ruby replied, “I didn’t think Marines got vacation time.”

“Oh we do,” he said, “I just don’t like taking it.”

“So what brought you out here then? Nervous breakdown?”

“No, but you’d think it by the way Aokiji practically pushed me out the door,” Smoker replied with a scoff. “Apparently working all the time is ‘unhealthy’ or some shit. I’m outright banned from arresting pirates while I’m here, too, so consider yourself lucky.” Smoker didn’t bother to hide his annoyance at the situation. She was right there, practically begging him for a fight.

Ruby giggled. “Ahh, I get it. A forced vacation. Well, you’ve picked a good spot. This place isn’t as hopping as it used to be, but it’s nice. Good food, good beaches, good people…you’ll enjoy your stay.”

“And what about you?” Smoker asked. “What brings you here?”

“Well I’m only telling you this because I like you,” Ruby said with a grin. “I actually live here when I’m not out at sea. The island isn’t often under threat, but it’s also sort of unofficially under my protection. I handle things when trouble occasionally rears its ugly head, and I use money from my various legal and not-so-legal business dealings to help the community. I take care of the people here, and they take care of me. It’s sort of my whole thing.”

With perfect timing, the bartender came by and plopped a basket overflowing with chips and a variety of dips in front of her. “For my favorite customer,” he said with a smile.

“Aww, thanks, Carlos!” she said, popping a chip in her mouth. She pushed the basket closer to Smoker in invitation. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“I promise, it’s not poisoned,” she said with a laugh. “It’s delicious, try the green stuff.”

Hesitantly, Smoker grabbed a chip and dipped it in the green sauce, then brought it to his mouth. It was, indeed, delicious.

Ruby smiled. “Told you. So what’s your plan while you’re here? I could show you around. There’s this–”

“Why are you talking to me like we’re friends?” Smoker cut her off. “I may be functionally neutered for two weeks, but don’t forget, you’re still my enemy, and I will still bring you down one day.”

“You might,” Ruby said, taking a sip from her own fruity rum concoction, unbothered by the turn in the conversation. “I don’t think you will though.”

“Oh really?” Smoker said. “You sound awfully confident about that.”

“I mean, you might,” she replied. “You certainly could. But that's the thing, isn’t it? We’ve been doing this for what, three years or so? We run into each other every so often, we fight, I get away, you act pissed about it.” Smoker looked at his drink, knowing where this was going, regretting pushing the subject, and more importantly knowing that she was right. “But let’s be real, Smoker - you’re bigger than me, you’re stronger than me, you have a powerful Devil Fruit and I have none. Which isn’t to say I’m not a good fighter, we both know I am, but if you really wanted to bring me in, you would have done it by now.” Smoker lifted his eyes from his drink to meet hers. “I think you enjoy our interactions as much as I do. I think you like fighting me. And if you arrest me, that ends.”

Smoker said nothing for a moment, looking her up and down. She looked annoyingly satisfied with herself.

“You’re…not wrong,” he finally acknowledged. “A lot of the pirates I bring in are lower level guys, ones who think they’re more powerful than they actually are because they have a wanted poster and some treasure under their belts, but the truth is their overconfidence makes them sloppy. They’re not great fighters, and some end up being fucking cowards when the reality of the situation hits them. But you’re a challenge, and I like a challenge. You don’t do things the way other pirates do. You’ve never once come at me with anything less than your all. You’re small but you’re skilled. You’ve got a lot of fight in you, and sometimes a good fight with a well-matched opponent is all I really want.”

Ruby smiled. “Aww, I like you too, Smoker.”

Smoker huffed out a laugh and downed the last of his drink. The bartender placed another in front of him shortly after. “It’s not gonna last forever, Ruby. I don’t mind the slap on the wrist I get from the higher ups when you get away from me, but one day it’ll have to end, so don’t get too comfortable. I’m still a Marine before anything else.”

“And I’m still a pirate,” she replied. “Always will be. But - and hear me out before you say anything - what if, while you’re in town and I’m in town, we just…weren’t?”

Smoker’s brow furrowed. “I’m not following.”

“You’re on vacation and under orders to not arrest any pirates. I’m just hanging out at home until I feel like heading back out to sea, not doing anything particularly pirate-y. And we’ve established that we have a mutual respect and, dare I say, like for each other. I’m saying we don’t have to be a pirate and a Marine right now. We could just be….two, relatively normal people. Who enjoy sharing chips and talking over drinks. What do you say?”

Smoker smiled and sipped his drink as he considered her proposition. It certainly went against his better judgment, and maybe it was the rum in his system on a mostly empty stomach, but it didn’t sound like a bad idea. “All right, I’m in. I could use the distraction.” Smoker raised his glass towards her. “To being relatively normal people for a change.”

Ruby laughed and clinked her glass to his. “To being relatively normal.”

As the night passed, Smoker and Ruby shared more drinks and ate dinner together, talking and laughing the whole time. Smoker was kind of amazed at how easy she was to talk to. He was careful not to reveal too much about his life as a Marine, but she didn’t seem to be too concerned about talking to him about her dealings as a pirate, especially when it came to the work she did to help the local community. He wondered if he should be worried about her level of confidence. He meant what he’d said earlier - he would bring her in one day. Just not today. Not any time soon.

The topic turned to Smoker’s vacation plans, and he brought out the checklist Kuzan had given him, sliding it along the bar towards her. “Think you can help me out with any of these?”

Ruby picked up the paper and read through the list, letting out a chuckle.

“Any one in particular?” she said with a raised eyebrow.

Smoker immediately remembered a certain item on the list and blushed. “I didn’t mean–”

Ruby laughed. “I know, I’m kidding! But yeah, I can help. There’s a library in town we can hit tomorrow if you want. I also know a few good fishing spots. Can you cook?”

“I absolutely cannot,” he replied. “Can you?”

Ruby shrugged. “It’s a hobby as much as a necessity. I’ll help you figure it out. And there’s a bunch of old roads around the island that would be great for a ride. You’ll knock this list out in no time. And hey, you haven’t even been here a full day and you’ve already done two things on it!”

“Two?” Smoker said.

Ruby reached over the bar to grab a pencil and made an X next to two items on Smoker’s list:

Talk to a pretty lady.

And

If you see a pirate, don’t arrest them.

Smoker chuckled. “That sure is two, huh?” He met her eyes. She certainly was a pretty lady. But also a pirate, he had to remind himself.

“Last call!” Carlos’s voice rang out.

“Holy shit, it’s almost 2AM,” Ruby said. “I hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed. I’m sorry, you’re probably pretty beat from the journey here. I should let you go for the night.”

Smoker waved her concern away. “Not at all. I’m feeling pretty good, actually. I’m down to keep going if you are.”

Ruby smiled. “Hey Carlos,” she said to the bartender. “Could you hand me that half bottle of rum over there? And add it to my tab and close us out, please.” Carlos smiled and handed her the bottle of the local brand the two had been drinking all night, then gave them their checks. They were the last ones out of the bar, poor Carlos had to practically kick them out.

Now outside in the still, mostly empty streets, Smoker pulled out a cigar. “So,” he asked, “Where to?”

“Follow me,” Ruby said and led him along a winding street and down some old wooden stairs shaded by wide-leafed tropical trees to a boardwalk. Beyond that was the beach. All but a few lights were off and the stores and bars were shuttered for the night. The moon and stars shone brightly, reflecting on the surface of the ocean, and rippled by the gentle waves. Ruby led them to a bench overlooking the beach and sat down, taking a swig of the rum and passing it back to Smoker. And the conversation continued like it hadn’t even stopped.

“So what made you want to join the Navy?” Ruby asked at some point later in the evening.

Smoker shrugged. “It wasn’t really a matter of ‘want.’ The men in my family have been Marines for generations. Some of the women, too. My dad was, my older brother was…I knew since I was a kid that I’d be enlisting as soon as I turned sixteen. Which isn’t to say I don’t love what I do,” he added quickly, “I’m proud to be a Marine, and I’m satisfied with my career. But I also don’t pretend I had much of a choice in the matter.”

Ruby nodded. “Family pressure. I get it. Are your dad and brother still in?”

“Nah,” Smoker replied. “Dad died about a decade ago, and don’t say you’re sorry because he was a dick.” Ruby chuckled in response. “He never liked me and I never liked him. My brother got injured a few years into his career and was discharged. He was a Master Chief Petty Officer, same rank my mentee Tashigi is now. He’s always sort of resented me for surpassing him. But he’s got two kids who think I’m the coolest uncle in the world, so I’ll take that as a win. So what about you?” he asked, turning the conversation tables. “What made you want to become a pirate?”

Ruby smiled. “I just sort of fell into it, to be honest. Like a lot of pirates, I didn’t have a great home life. My parents were horribly controlling people. They made it clear from when I was a kid that my life wasn’t my own, and I only existed to be the person they wanted me to be, which was a wife and mother and absolutely nothing else. I have three younger siblings that I put more effort into raising than our parents did. I ran when I was fourteen because I knew if I didn’t I’d be stuck there forever. Found a crew that was willing to take me in, and have been a pirate ever since.”

“You don’t have a crew nowadays,” Smoker said. “You haven’t as long as we’ve been fighting, anyway. What happened to the ones who took you in?”

“Eh,” she replied, “They were shitty pirates. The kind of guys you were talking about earlier - all bravado but very little skill. Most of them didn’t treat me much better than my family, but at least I was free so I dealt with it. They’re no longer an active crew, some are dead and some are in jail, as far as I know. But they taught me the basics and provided the bare minimum, and that was all I needed to get started. After a few years with them I decided I didn’t want to commit to one crew, so I traveled around, made myself useful where I could, picked up all kinds of allies along the way, and that’s how I got where I am now.”

“You’re an interesting pirate,” Smoker said with a smile. “Not many people do it that way. Most pirates worth their salt are all about loyalty to one captain ‘til the end.”

Ruby shrugged. “Commitment issues, I guess. But I know it’s unusual. I only know a few other pirates who are successful without a crew. And on top of that, I deal in favors and allies more than fighting and power.”

“Most people would be dead if they tried to play the field like that,” said Smoker. “And I know you’ve got some powerful people at your back.”

“I do. I’m very close with two of the Four Emperors and their crews, on reasonable terms with the other two.”

“Any aspirations to be one yourself?”

“Nah. I sort of like working in the background and making the pieces move where I want them to,” she said with a smirk. “I don’t want my own crew, I don’t want the responsibility. As long as I’m able to do what I want, a title doesn’t matter to me.”

“And what do you want to do?” Smoker looked at her. She had an answer she was tempted to give, but she held back.

“I want to help people.”

Smoker laughed. “I’ve heard a lot of reasons why people turn to piracy, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard ‘helping people.’” 

“You think pirates don’t help people?” she said, somewhat offended. “I get that most people are afraid of us, and a lot of times they’re not wrong to be. But some of us do a lot more than just steal and kill. I’m living proof of that.”

“I’m sorry,” Smoker said. “You’re right. You do help this community, and the people here obviously love you for it. Any other philanthropic pirates I should know about?”

“Well you know about the Emperors and how they protect islands. Big Mom and Kaido ask for offerings in return from their islands, but Shanks and Whitebeard do it with no expectation of anything except occasionally resources and a safe place to port. Oh, there’s also Mihawk.”

“Dracule Mihawk?” Smoker said, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. “A philanthropist? The guy’s a dick.”

Ruby let out a bark of laughter. “Honestly, he’s not that bad once he learns he can trust you. I wouldn’t say we’re close friends, but we get along well enough. He’s got dozens of properties around the world that he anonymously rents out to low income families for practically nothing. They’re not slums either, they’re pretty nice. He operates them at a loss because he grew up dirt poor and knows what it’s like to not have stable housing. He has the power and the funds to help, so he does. Not much different than what I do here.”

Smoker was sort of shocked. He’d never really considered before that pirates could use their wealth and power for good, especially not someone with a reputation like Mihawk’s. “Huh,” he said.

Ruby chuckled. “Right? I wouldn’t have expected it either. Of course, I do expect you not to report any of this back to headquarters. Mihawk would be fine, but his tenants potentially wouldn’t.”

“Of course. I’m not a Marine right now, right?” Smoker responded with a smile. “Just a normal person.”

As the sky began to brighten ever so slightly with the break of a new day, they grew quiet, watching the waves crash on the shore before them. The bottle of rum was long empty, and all that was left was the two of them and the light breeze off the ocean.

“We talked all night,” Smoker said. He could have kept going, he could have kept talking to her. There was so much more he felt an almost insatiable urge to know. He didn’t want to focus on how strange that made him feel.

Ruby smiled at him. “I had fun.” A beat of silence. “Where are you staying while you’re here?” she asked.

“On my boat, at the marina east of town,” he replied quietly.

“My place is on the way,” she said, rising to her feet. “Just a few blocks inland from there. Walk with me?” Without a word, he stood up and stretched broadly. He followed her back onto the boardwalk and through town, not a word passing between them, but the silence was comfortable. Smoker was both exhausted and strangely energized. He felt like he couldn’t get enough of his unlikely companion. He almost dreaded parting from her, but looked forward to seeing her the next day. Or, later that same day, as the case might have been. His brain was a little foggy. He was tired, with a fading buzz from the rum, and perhaps something else as well.

Ruby guided him through the winding streets, the sun becoming brighter as they walked. She stopped in front of a pink stucco building with terracotta tiles along the roof and a steep stairway lined with flowers leading to the front door. “This is me,” she said.

Smoker looked up at the building, then back to her. “I’ll see you later today?” he said.

Ruby nodded. “I’d like that.”

Smoker turned and began walking towards the marina, he only made it a few steps when she called out to him. “Smoker?” Her voice, usually so strong and confident, was almost timid. “Would you….do you want to stay? With me?” He turned back to her and met her eyes. He knew she wasn’t offering him a spot on the couch. He wanted to say yes so, so badly; every cell in his body was crying out for him to respond in the positive.

Smoker smiled softly, sticking his hands in his pockets to prevent them from reaching out to her. “Want to and should are two very different things,” he said.

Ruby nodded, letting out a soft laugh. “I figured. But I had to ask. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he replied. He watched her as she ascended the stairs. Opening the door, she looked back at him one last time and smiled, then closed the door behind her. "Fuck," she exhaled, leaning against the door.

Ruby closed her eyes and focused on her Observation Haki. She saw Smoker's shoulders slump.

"Fuck," he said. She couldn't help but giggle. In her mind she saw him start to walk away. He then stopped, walked back towards her front stairs, then turned and walked away again. She watched in her mind with both amusement and desperation as he paced back and forth. Please, please stay, she thought. She could tell he wanted this as badly as she did, but everything he knew, everything he was, was telling him not to. Eventually, she opened the door, and the sound caught his attention.

Smoker looked up at her, her frame silhouetted from within the house.

Fuck it, he thought. Smoker held her gaze as he ascended the stairs until he was in her doorway, standing in front of her. He placed a hand on her face, then leaned down and kissed her. It was heavy, passionate, and was soon followed by a tongue asking for entrance to her mouth, which she readily allowed. Smoker wrapped his arms around her waist and he pulled them both inside, the door closing behind them.

In the privacy of her house, Smoker allowed his hands to explore her body, running them up along her waist, her breasts, her neck, and back down again, and landing on her hips. He pulled her close to him and she could feel how badly he wanted her.

Smoker's kisses moved south, engulfing her neck. When his teeth hit that perfect junction between her neck and shoulders, she let out a moan. Smoker pulled away and smiled at her, his hands unable to remove themselves from her skin. Ruby used the opportunity to guide him into the bedroom, sitting herself on the edge of the bed. Smoker took a moment to remove his shirt, then placed a knee on the bed leaning over Ruby for a kiss and pushing her onto her back. She pushed herself up towards the top of the bed and he followed, his mouth hardly leaving hers for a second. When her head rested comfortably on the soft pillows, he leaned his whole body into her, the hardness in his pants hitting her just right.

Ruby removed her top as Smoker stripped the skirt from her hips, leaving her in a bra and panties. He kissed down her body, burying his face in her beasts and allowing his tongue to follow her curves up to the edge of the lacy fabric, which he pulled aside, taking one nipple in his mouth and biting gently. Ruby reached behind her to remove the fabric from his way completely. As his tongue paid attention to one breast, one large hand reached up to squeeze the other, then ran back down her waist to the edge of her panties, teasing their removal. He worked her body so well already, and his tongue was so skilled, she couldn’t wait to see what else he could do.

Smoker raised himself from her chest and brought her back into a passionate kiss, pulling his body up over hers. She looped her legs around his waist, holding him close and arching up into him, desperate for friction where she needed it most. She allowed her fingers to run over the firm, defined muscles of his chest, tracing the scar on his right shoulder then running her fingers down his abdomen to the hem of his pants. Smoker rose to his knees and let his head roll back as she ran her hand over the bulge in his pants and began unbuckling his belt. He rose from the bed and kicked his shoes and pants off, resuming his position over her. Ruby tugged at the hem of his boxer briefs, but one of his hands grabbed her by the wrist and pulled it away.

“Nuh-uh,” he said quietly, a devilish grin on his face. “You first.” How could she say no to that?

Smoker looped his fingers around the hem of her panties and pulled them down, allowing her to kick them off at her ankles. She laid before him completely naked, and he took a moment to take in every inch of her body. Smoker had been with a few women, but he’d never felt something like this. He’d never felt both the physical passion he was accustomed to, as well as a connection to a partner on another level like he felt with Ruby. It was strange and a little scary. But now wasn’t the time to think about that.

Ruby spread her legs as Smoker ran one hand down her body, her breath hitching as he came ever closer to where she wanted him most. His hand settled on her lower belly, and his thumb ghosted softly over her clitoris. He then brought his fingers down to her core, savoring how wet she was for him.

“Smoker,” she called for him breathily. There was nothing else to say, he knew what she needed. Her head fell back against the pillow as one thick finger entered her, curling up to hit her at just the right spot. Smoker leaned back down over her, running his tongue along the column of her neck and latching on as he interested another finger into her core, and his thumb came back to rest on her clit. Now fully at his mercy, Smoker picked up the pace, curving his fingers as they moved in and out of her, listening for every moan, every hitch of her breath, that told him he was in the right spot. He kissed her neck, her jaw, her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Ruby could feel her end approaching, her body tensing. “Smoker, I’m close, please keep going.” Smoker kissed her deeply, then pulled away as she crested the edge and went over, calling his name. Her head thrown back, her body tensing and relaxing from the movement in her core, his name on her lips - he couldn’t help but think it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. I’ve got it bad, he found himself thinking as her eyes opened and she smiled at him, lifting her head to meet him in a soft kiss. Really bad.

Smoker removed his fingers from her core, and kissed her deeply. She pushed him back until he rested on his knees, and he felt her hands sneaking back down his abdomen again, reaching for his cock. She was desperate to touch him, to feel his heaviness in her hands and in her body. As her hands explored, she kissed his chest, his neck, his jaw. Smoker savored the feeling as she palmed him over the soft fabric, then pulled down the offending barrier, taking him completely in her hand and stroking him up and down. His head rolled back and he let out a soft “Fuck, Ruby…” He could hear her giggle softly. He liked her laugh a lot.

“Condom?” he asked. She rolled over and pulled a box from the bedside table as he removed the last of his clothing. Smoker grabbed one and unwrapped it, pulling it on, then positioning himself over her. “Ready?”

Ruby nodded, her smile wide. “Absolutely.”

Ruby moaned as Smoker entered her, feeling her walls stretch in the most amazing way she’d ever felt. Their eyes met as he bottomed out, his hips meeting hers. Smoker rested his forehead on hers as he began to thrust into her with a slow and steady pace, savoring the feeling of her body wrapped around him, under him, everywhere. They kissed languidly as he rocked his body into her, every moan he could pull from her sending shivers down his spine.

Smoker’s pace began to quicken, his brain begging him to go slow but his body needing more, faster, harder. He rested his head on the curve of her shoulder, leaving marks along her neck as he felt her fingernails dig into his back. A hand moved down to her clit as he fucked into her, wanting so desperately to bring her over the edge again. In time he could feel her body tensing, her moans growing louder, her nails digging deeper. She was so close, and he wanted to go over the edge with her.

“Hang on, Ruby, just a little longer. I’m so fucking close,” he begged, his voice lower than usual.

“Smoker, please…” she begged. Smoker’s pace quickened, his body connecting with hers roughly with every thrust. He felt her body tense again and, knowing she was just about there, he allowed himself to let go. “Smoker!” she cried out for him, holding him tightly as her second orgasm wracked her body. Smoker let out a grunt and followed seconds later, allowing her contracting walls to see him through his own end.

Panting, sweaty, exhausted, he brought a hand to her face and kissed her hard, just like he had at her front door. She smiled up at him, her eyes slightly glazed from pleasure and exhaustion. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling back.

Smoker rolled off of her and removed the condom, disposing of it. After taking a few minutes to clean themselves up, Ruby crawled back into bed, bringing the covers over her body.

“Stay?” she asked.

Smoked huffed out a laugh. “I’m not going anywhere.” The morning sun was shining brightly through the windows now, and he pulled the curtains closed so they could sleep undisturbed.

“I mean while you’re in town,” she clarified. “Stay here. With me. I promise my bed is much more comfortable than whatever you have on your boat.”

Smoker crawled into bed next to her, wrapping an arm around her and allowing her to rest her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head softly and ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said again. “I’ll get my stuff from the boat when we wake up.”

She looked up at him and smiled. With one more soft kiss, they both closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep, locked in each other’s embrace.

Previous - Chapter 1: Confessions, Part 1

Next - Chapter 3: Decisions

[cityofdreamsrp]

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US IN THE MALDIVES FOR OUR SUMMER TRIP!

As voted on by you, the members, City of Dreams will be heading to none other than… THE MALDIVES!

The Maldives is a prime vacation destination, where guests can get lost in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. From tropical destinations to unique experiences, the Maldives provides a prime spot for guests to take a trip into peak relaxation.

Guests will be staying at the the Nautilus Maldives, a luxurious resort in the middle of the ocean that boasts private beachside homes, top of the line spas, and top of the line experiences and excursions. Upon landing in the Velana International Airport, guests will be transported via boat to the resort's private VIP lounge. Once you arrive at the resort, you will be immediately checked into your rooms and your fun in the sun can begin! Those in ships will automatically be paired together and we will also be taking roommate requests until AUGUST 11TH. If you'd like a request, just shoot us a message and let us know! Those who don't request a roommate will be randomized.

The City of Dreams summer trip is a MANDATORY event for all celebrities taking place from AUGUST 12TH - AUGUST 19TH. If your muse has children, they are more than welcome to bring them along or leave them back home with a babysitter! Daycare services will be provided throughout the entire week if needed. There will be more information to come, including the roommate list and detailed posts about the events taking place during the trip, so please keep a look out for all of that!

We can’t wait for everyone to join us and embark on a week full of relaxation and adventure! Please be sure to tag all event related posts with: #CODGOESTOMALDIVES

OFFICIAL ITINERARY:

8/12 - Guests Arrive/Truth or Dare Meme Night

8/13 - Free Day

8/14 - Game Night

8/15 - Free Day

8/16 - Cooking Contest

8/17 - Free Day

8/18 - Dinner Dance at Subsix

8/19 - Free Day/Departure of Guests

[puntacanacitytours]

Discover Saona Island The Best Caribbean Attraction

When it comes to the best excursions in the Caribbean, Saona Island stands out as a must-visit destination. Known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking natural beauty, Saona Island is the crown jewel of Punta Cana's excursions, offering an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking the ultimate tropical getaway.

Saona Island tours with Punta Cana city tours Why Saona Island is the Top Attraction in the Caribbean Saona Island isn’t just another beach—it’s a slice of paradise that perfectly captures the essence of the Caribbean. Located off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, this island is part of the protected Cotubanamá National Park, making it a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. From its powdery white sands to its vibrant marine life, every aspect of Saona Island offers something extraordinary. What to Expect ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByVEIjUVw2I When you book a trip to Saona Island with Punta Cana City Tours, you’re in for a day filled with exciting activities and serene moments. Start your adventure with a scenic boat ride across the turquoise waters, where you might even spot playful dolphins or graceful stingrays along the way. Upon arriving at Saona Island, you can relax on the beach, swim in the warm waters, or explore the island's diverse ecosystems. Snorkeling is a popular activity, allowing you to get up close with vibrant coral reefs and colorful tropical fish. If you’re a fan of photography, the island’s lush mangroves and secluded lagoons offer plenty of picture-perfect moments. Book Now, Pay Later with Punta Cana City Tours At Punta Cana City Tours, we make it easy for you to plan your dream excursion. You can book your Saona Island trip in advance and take advantage of our convenient pay later option. This flexibility ensures that your vacation planning is stress-free and tailored to your needs. We recommend booking your excursion early, as Saona Island is one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean. By securing your spot ahead of time, you can avoid the last-minute rush and ensure that your place in paradise is reserved. Explore More Tours and Attractions While Saona Island is a top highlight, there’s so much more to discover with Punta Cana City Tours. From exhilarating adventures to tranquil retreats, our wide range of tours and attractions will cater to every traveler’s desires. And with our 24/7 online support, we’re always here to help you plan the perfect getaway. Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline-filled experience or a relaxing day by the beach, Punta Cana City Tours is your go-to for the best excursions in the Caribbean. Read the full article

[severewizardphilosopher]

Places to Go for Vacation

Introduction

Planning a vacation is an exciting endeavor, and the world is brimming with remarkable destinations to explore. Whether you're seeking natural beauty, cultural richness, adventure, or relaxation, there's a perfect vacation spot for everyone. In this article, we'll take a tour of some of the top places to go for vacation, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience.

1. Bali, Indonesia

Known as the "Island of the Gods," Bali is a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture. Visitors can explore ancient temples, enjoy water sports, and savor Balinese cuisine. Don't miss the tranquil rice terraces and the energetic nightlife in Seminyak.

2. Santorini, Greece

Santorini, an enchanting island in the Aegean Sea, is famous for its iconic white-washed buildings, crystal-clear waters, and dramatic sunsets. It's a romantic destination with breathtaking views, ancient ruins, and delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

3. Kyoto, Japan

For a taste of Japanese culture and history, Kyoto is a must-visit. This city is renowned for its traditional tea houses, stunning cherry blossoms in spring, and beautiful temples. Stroll through bamboo forests, participate in tea ceremonies, and admire the art of the geisha.

4. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is synonymous with paradise. Its turquoise lagoons, overwater bungalows, and coral reefs make it a dream destination for honeymooners and water enthusiasts. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and relaxation are the order of the day.

5. Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany's rolling hills, historic cities, and delectable cuisine make it a favorite European destination. Explore the charming streets of Florence, sample world-class wines in Chianti, and savor the simple pleasures of life in the Tuscan countryside.

6. Maldives

The Maldives, a collection of over a thousand coral islands, is a tropical haven with luxury resorts and stunning marine life. It's an ideal spot for beach lovers, honeymooners, and those seeking seclusion in paradise.

7. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel nestled in the Andes Mountains, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's most iconic travel destinations. Hike the Inca Trail or take the train to witness this archaeological wonder.

8. New York City, USA

For the bustling urban experience, New York City is a top choice. Explore iconic landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. The city offers a vibrant arts scene, diverse cuisine, and endless entertainment.

9. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a city of breathtaking beauty, nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. Explore vibrant neighborhoods, visit the Cape of Good Hope, and savor South African wines in the surrounding vineyards.

10. Patagonia, Argentina and Chile

Patagonia offers awe-inspiring natural beauty with its glaciers, mountains, and remote wilderness. It's a dream destination for hikers, nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts.

11. Iceland

Iceland's dramatic landscapes include geysers, waterfalls, volcanoes, and geothermal springs. The Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle, and the Northern Lights are just a few of the attractions that make Iceland a unique vacation destination.

12. Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech is a bustling and exotic city in North Africa. Explore the bustling souks, visit the historic medina, and relax in stunning riads. Marrakech offers a blend of tradition and modernity.

13. Sydney, Australia

Sydney, with its iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, is a vibrant city with beautiful beaches, world-class dining, and a variety of cultural attractions. The city's coastal charm and natural beauty are hard to resist.

14. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is known for its lively Carnival, stunning beaches, and iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Enjoy samba music, relax on Copacabana Beach, and explore the lush Tijuca Forest.

15. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia, offering a rich blend of cultures, history, and architecture. Visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar for an unforgettable experience.

Conclusion

The world is a treasure trove of vacation destinations, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, history, and adventure. Whether you're drawn to tropical paradises, ancient cities, or remote wilderness, there's a place for every traveler to discover and savor. When planning your next vacation, consider the experiences that ignite your wanderlust and create memories that will last a lifetime.