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tabloidtoc · 3 years

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Star, May 3

You can buy a brand new copy of this issue without the mailing label for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Shiloh Jolie-Pitt

Page 1: Christina Aguilera at 40 -- she talks about child stardom, learning to love her body, and what she wants her daughter Summer to know

Page 2: Contents, Renee Zellweger, Phoebe Dynevor and James McAvoy at the BAFTAs in London

Page 3: Mariska Hargitay and Law & Order: SVU co-star Ice-T take a selfie during a break from shooting the cop drama in NYC, Heather Graham at the beach in Mexico, stepping into the America's Got Talent studio Sofia Vergara elevated her casual cropped jeans with strappy platform sandals in L.A., Jason Momoa cutting a rug with an unidentified partner ahead of filming a scene for his upcoming fantasy film Slumberland in Toronto

Page 4: Colton Underwood comes out -- saying he's the happiest and healthiest he's ever been, the former Bachelor clarifies his orientation

Page 5: Lena Dunham is no stranger to controversy, so it comes as no surprise that her foray into fashion design has also come under fire as she partnered with a plus-size label to create the capsule collection 11 Honore x Lena Dunham, but the kicky line quickly came under fire as critics are calling it tone-deaf, mediocre and not inclusive at all since its largest size is a 26 and some are even going so far to call Lena a grifter who gained weight in order to make money off the plus-size community but Lena, who underwent a hysterectomy at 31, has pointed to early menopause as the cause of her straight-up gut -- while Lena refuses to be intimidated by bullies, she is listening to the complaints about sizes and is planning to address it

* Once a cautionary tale of the perils of child stardom, at age 40 Macaulay Culkin is a father himself as he and girlfriend Brenda Song welcomed a son, Dakota -- he's finally overcome his demons and Brenda has been a huge influence on his life and helped him get back on the straight and narrow and he's even pursuing acting again, shooting season 10 of American Horror Story; his life has taken such a positive turn

* A year after announcing her split from Jay Cutler, Kristin Cavallari is seeing the upside of divorce, saying it's made her a better mom in some ways because she has her kids half the time now so when she has them for her week, she is so incredibly present with her kids Camden, Jaxon and Saylor and she is not distracted by her phone or anything else; she is with them -- Jay and Kristin each have the kids 182.5 days a year and court papers also revealed that her ex is allowed two phone calls and two FaceTime or Skype calls a week and vice versa so now every moment is precious and if someone is having a temper tantrum or something, she remains calm because she knows that she is losing them in a few days

Page 6: Gwen Stefani is widely thought to have had some help in the nips and tucks department, and as her wedding to Blake Shelton approaches, he is starting to object to her constant tweaking of her face -- she's always messing with it by getting more fillers and Botox and Blake is afraid of what he'll see at the altar and he's freaking out at Gwen's increasingly extreme beauty routine which is becoming increasingly over-the-top; Gwen can barely move her face to smile at him anymore and it looks weird -- while he frets, he's trying to reassure his wife-to-be because Blake thinks she's beautiful just the way she is

* As an executive producer on the long-running Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay has tasked the writers to come up with more storylines featuring one of her favorite characters: defense attorney Trevor Langan, played by none other than her husband Peter Hermann -- Mariska and Peter originally met and fell in love when Peter guest-starred on the show and she loves to keep that magic alive by bringing him back to play Trevor but the trouble is he is busy with his own gigs as a series regular on Younger and his recurring role on Blue Bloods and Peter loves working with his wife, but he has his own acting career apart from Mariska -- still, he may soon have his day in court because Peter understands how Mariska feels and is trying to work his schedule to allow him some guest spots in the near future

Page 8: Star Shots -- Lenny Kravitz with a guitar flaunted his well-sculpted midsection during a stroll on the beach, Suki Waterhouse with her on-the-go grub on the set in Liverpool

Page 9: Louisa Jacobson and Taissa Farmiga and Denee Benton on the set of The Gilded Age in NYC, Conan O'Brien sipped on a soda at lunch in L.A., Katy Perry in the American Idol bathroom

Page 10: Kate Hudson with mom Goldie Hawn and kids Ryder and Rani, Kate Hudson twirled solo modeling in a pal's swimwear collection, Jude Law's daughter Iris Law who will make her acting debut in Danny Boyle's upcoming Sex Pistols biopic makes a call in London

Page 12: Kelly Osbourne handed out items at a food distribution event as the Islamic Center for Southern California, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the gym, despite a no-social warning a cheeky Nicole Kidman shared a pic from the set of Aaron Sorkin's Being the Ricardos in which she portrays Lucille Ball

Page 13: Anabella Sciorra and Donnie Wahlberg gloved up for a Blue Bloods scene in NYC, Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz started their morning during a walk on the beach in L.A.

Page 14: Travis Barker showed off his body art stepping off a Hollywood tour bus shirtless after filming a music video, a cheerful Britney Spears gave a fun look into her wardrobe in a pink floral frock, Scott Disick and Amelia Hamlin color-coordinated for a walk near the beach in Miami

Page 16: Lamar Odom and Aaron Carter put up their dukes to promote their Celebrity Boxing Match in Philadelphia, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and husband Nick Jonas at the BAFTAs in London, Ellen DeGeneres on the phone during a stroll in her main hood of Montecito

Page 18: Normal or Not? A denim-on-denim clad Jay Leno scratched an itch while filming a project in Los Angeles -- not normal, dressed in a Siggi sweatshirt Katie Holmes picked up some seasonal blooms on Manhattan's Upper East Side -- normal, Kate Beckinsale multitasked during a car ride by applying undereye patches -- not normal

Page 19: Gavin Rossdale appeared to be pleased with his Kitson purchase by doing a little dance after leaving the popular L.A. store -- not normal

Page 20: Fashion -- stars wow in statement-making capes -- Gisele Bundchen, Charlize Theron, Zoey Deutch

Page 21: Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning

Page 24: Justin Bieber: How Love Saved Me -- the formerly troubled pop singer gives praise for wife Hailey Bieber

Page 25: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles' romance has already cooled and the pair are giving each other space -- turns out Olivia and Harry don't actually have much in common -- the two jetted to London after wrapping Don't Worry Darling, but they were soon waylaid by their respective responsibilities as Olivia has been spending time with her kids Otis and Daisy while her ex Jason Sudeikis shoots Ted Lasso while Harry, who was spooked by how quickly intense things got, is gearing up for his role in My Policeman -- for now, the two have decided to reassess things when they're back in L.A., which leaves the window open for Jason, whose strategy was to let her and Harry fizzle out, then see where she is at, and it's going according to plan

* Jennifer Lopez calls off her relationship with Alex Rodriguez

* Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher are better than ever after overcoming a rough patch, one that had their inner circle convinced they were headed for divorce -- Mike had a serious roving eye that made Carrie anxious and she would treat him like he was Mr. Underwood and tensions between the two were at an all-time high when the pandemic hit, forcing the two into extra one-on-one time, but as it turns out, their new routine is just what they needed because they set boundaries, divided up tasks and put time aside for fun things and they prioritized romance, which has made all the difference -- Carrie and Mike are re-committed to their marriage and they've been through so much so much and neither wants to throw it away

Page 26: Cover Story -- Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's model kid -- Shiloh Jolie-Pitt the gorgeous teen is ready for her close up, but Brad and Angie are at odds about Shiloh's new passion -- Shiloh's been experimenting with girlier styles lately, including growing out her hair and she's at the age where she's starting to change things up -- Brad isn't thrilled about Shiloh's modeling dreams and idea of her walking into the lion's den gives him cause for concern -- Angelina began modeling at 16, just one year older than Shiloh and Shiloh knows that's what set her mom on her path to fame and Shiloh is constantly asking Angie about the pros and cons of the modeling world

Page 29: Model Kids -- these celeb offspring also know how to strike a pose -- Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie, Amelia Hamlin, Lily-Rose Depp, Brooklyn Beckham, Paris Jackson, Kendall Jenner, Corinne Foxx, Ireland Baldwin, Margaret Qualley, Kaia Gerber, Leni Klum, Patrick Schwarzenegger

Page 30: Prince William and Prince Harry: Behind Closed Doors -- the estranged princes are forced to reckon with their rift as the royal family gathers for Prince Philip's funeral

Page 32: High Anxiety -- it's not so simple for celebs who struggle with panic attacks -- Emma Stone, Stephen Colbert, Amanda Seyfried

Page 33: Hugh Grant, Ryan Reynolds, Ariana Grande

Page 36: Beauty -- nail it -- self-care essentials to score the perfect at-home manicure and pedicure -- Kaley Cuoco

Page 38: Style -- cute cases -- step up your tech, and fashion, game this season with a trendy cellphone cover -- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Page 40: Entertainment

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Corey Feldman embraced wife Courtney Anne Mitchell as the two ventured out for a romantic outing in L.A.

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cosmica-candy · 4 years

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Chapter two: one pretty fishy

Another chapter written by @mechamastermind with illustrations done by yours truly for our Coraline NSR Au!! I apologize for the lack of illustrations

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING, Abandonment and Neo getting in trouble

Chapter one

Neo was returned back home later as his Daddy grabbed the last of the briefcases, before calling Neo back over.

“Neo! Come on, help me carry Papa’s luggage up to his room!”

Neo was stomping around angry cause of the way his father treated him, he got a proper scolding when he came home just for being over the hill with Yinu, to Neo he was out playing with a friend, but to Neon he was out far past where he could see him, and that demanded a scolding apparently.

Neo kicked his feet through the dry piles of dirt, the terrain so old and worn out that a mini cloud of dust filled the surrounding area, leaving Neo to cough and try to fan away the debris. When the dust settled though Neo looked down and saw a glint in the yard. Buried under the falling dust seemed to be a palm sized metallic object, and Neo's natural curiosity would drive him to pick up said object.

“Neo! Come on!”

He looked closely at the thing in his hands now, pressing a little button at the top as it sprung open, revealing a system of moving gears and clicking springs. A pocket watch. None like Neo had ever seen, it was clearly very old in design yet shiny despite its age. A jade ring around the minute and hour hands, and the X’s in the roman numerals were all made in gold.

“Woah…” neo simply said, before hearing his daddy call out to him a second time.

“Coming daddy!”

Neo pocketed the watch and ran after his daddy following him up the stairs. Neon carrying the big heavy briefcase with all of Nova’s shorts, and Neo carrying the small little snow globe with the solar system in it, gently shaking it as they walked up the creaking stairs, and past bits of wallpaper peeling down like the curled nails of an elderly woman. The second story was so much more quiet than the first, the wind blows outside and into the front door, but once it starts making its way upstairs it stops dead in it's tracks. The insects they refuse to chirp on the second story, instead they do their best to crawl through the walls of the mansion without disturbing a thing. Even the wood of the stairs as they go up begins to silence itself, as creaks become quieter and quieter with each step, until even the wood falls peacefully somber. The second story was so much more quiet, it was certainly peaceful in its own way.

But even silence has its own killer, and does not live forever. As the quiet and dull silence that has draped over the second floor is suddenly cut down in its prime by a deep gutteral animalistic growling, air flowing in and out of a mighty beast. Neo froze when he first heard the hall suddenly filled with the boom of something much larger than him making its presence clear, meanwhile neon had no such fear… as he simply opened up the master bedroom door to reveal the source of sound, being that of a passed out nova face down in the bed, his snores pouring into his pillow and shaking the bedframe.

Neon walked over to the dresser, beginning to unpack the briefcase of shorts he carried, while neo walked to the bedside with his snowglobe in hand. Placing it on the nightstand next to nova, as he turned the key on its side… playing Neo’s favorite tune. Neo looked to his Papa for approval, thinking it might rouse the beast from his slumber. But nova’s eye was still shut even if pointed at Neo… Neo reached up to tug on his papa’s sleeve. Tug tug. He was only responded to with a small groan as Nova laid their still asleep.

“Papa… Can you play yet?” Neo asked, and before he could get his answer Neon scooped him up under his arms and held him to his chest.

“No buts neo… If you want to play with someone so badly, let's go find someone then!”

“No No Neo, let Papa rest, he had a long night driving…”

“But…”

“I…” Neo looked down at his feet, kicking them softly as Neon took him out of this room, and watched the door shut on his sleeping father.

“...Can I go play with Yinu?” He asked,

“Oh neo no one lives around here but us in the mansion… Oh! How about we go meet our new neighbors! I hear there’s a group of young kids!”

“Yinu? I don’t know any Yinu here.”

“Oh! She’s the girl I met in the field!”

Neo pouted once more, he knew of the group his father was talking about, he overheard him talking with papa about the other mansion tenets, the people living on the first floor were a group of college students, still much older than Neo, but comparatively young to Neon. But he was already in daddy’s arms and he couldn’t quite reach the floor anymore, so it was off to meet the neighbors, to his disappointment.

First it was down the stairs, the first floor, past the entry room that led up the stairs to the other tenants. Neon stood in front of the first floor housing, with Neo in his arms. The door was the oldest one in the house, the tenants having done nothing to repair it even as it hung off its hinges. What they did do was manage to carve their initials into the front of it, “D, R, S, T.” there was also a newly installed doorbell made of sleek and shiny plastic, sticking out against the backdrop of the aging house. Neon reached out and pressed the button, making a horribly loud buzzing noise, as both Neon and Neo had a bit of a jump. Neo was set down at the door, as the crashing of foot steps came from behind it, door knob slowly turning, breathing heavy, shadow stretching out underneath the doorframe. Click.

Door swung open, and a tall man with blue skin, covered in large white orbs all across his jacket looked down at Neo, holding all the emotion in his face. For a few seconds there was just silence between Neo and this stranger. Neo’s eyes quickly scanning him up and down as his child mind raced to try and find anything comforting, but he looked so cold, and what didn’t help was the katana strapped to his back, worrying neo even more. The silence finally broken by Neon as he greeted the young man,

“Dodo! How are you?” Neo felt reassured by the sound of his Daddy’s voice, but the blue man would not respond… Neo still felt unnerved by his lack of a smile…

“I wanted my boy to see your fun project! Perhaps you can show him?” Neon said, and this lit up the blue man's eyes, as he looked down at the young neo with a smile of excitement now, he stepped out of the doorway to reveal a hall lined with fish tanks, and at the very end was a door with many flashing colors coming from underneath it. Neo felt his fear all wash away as suddenly he felt at ease seeing the man finally smile, and the beautiful tanks full of fishies behind him. Neon gently pushing him inside as Dodo lead him in.

Neo ran straight up to the fish tanks along the wall, bouncing on his toes with glee. He peered into the glass boxes, and into their bright colorful miniature worlds, each one designed specifically for them. Each one seemed to only hold a single fishy, and it was given the entire tank to play around inside of, filled with glowing castles, divers that created bubbles, and plenty of moving parts to keep the small fishes entertained.

Atop her shoulders in place of a head, there was blue ringed octopus instead, gurgling its tentacles out at neo much to his fright as he leapt like a cat into Mr. Dodo’s arms. The others extremely disappointed as well as their creation turned into a half fish, half human, half octopus monster of legend. So they gave it all a hard reboot, and once it was gone from their sight everyone slowly began to laugh at the experience. The girl in the pink hoodie hanging to Neo a poster, a design of what it was meant to be, and there on that poster was “Sayu”, a pretty mermaid girl with adorable features, bouncy hair, and a fish tail.

Mr. Dodo opened the next door, the sound of music bopping in the background as it led into a backroom, lit only by colorful nontraditional lights, like Christmas lights strung up against the wall, or the dozens of computer monitors sat around a small glowing table. Sitting at that table were three other kids, all college aged roughly the same as Mr. Dodo. There was a larger man in a yellow tee, wearing an umbrella hat. Next to him was a girl in a pink hoodie, her face hidden by her attire as she didn’t look much at Neo. And lastly there was a boy in a plaid shirt and shorts. Each one hunched over a monitor with a piece of recording equipment in front of them, a microphone, drawing tablet, and a simple mouse and keyboard. Everyone's eyes lit up though when neo walked into the room, the boy in the plaid shirt standing up. He began pointing at the others in the room, despite their silence they all seemed to be on the exact same page, they began to work overtime for Neo, as the table in front of them lit up like a mini projector beaming its light upwards at the ceiling. All the other lights were switched down until there was only the glowing of the projector. And suddenly the light began to move and form a shape, starting from the bottom neo watched particles fall together and form a fishy tail, a bright and colorful pattern along its scales, then the middle, the waist was made, the torso and the arms, of a pretty and thin little woman, dainty and elegant her form was, complimenting her bubble gum like skin… Neo was enthralled seeing this amazing light show turn the air into this pretty lady.

At that moment one of the monitors exploded, lights began to flicker, as the rest of the girl was rendered. Poorly.

Neo enjoyed the rest of the hour he spent with the Sayu Crew, even though they did not talk very much at all, they mostly sat around on their devices trying to remake Sayu again and get her modeling correct, occasionally taking breaks to drink sparkling water and stare at the fishes in the tanks for inspiration. Neo’s favorite part was the fish tanks, each fish seemed so happy in that little box, and shined so brightly.

At the end of the hour neon came back around to see a much happier looking Neo being brought out to him with a little mini bottle of lemon sparkling water. Scooping him up under the arms and holding him to his chest, Neon thanked the Sayu crew for their friendliness and carried his boy back outside and down the steps, towards the lower floor now, residing under the house itself.

Neon held neo in his arms, and stood in front of a painted door split down the middle in two coats of paint, on one half was white, and the other half was pink. To Neo the bright colors of the door were slightly alarming, they weren’t gently painted like the rest of the house, they were bright and vibrant, splattered on by paintbrush.

Neon took his hand and pounded it lightly against the door, only to find it slowly creak open…

Neon sat his boy down on his feet, taking his hand as he walked him into the bottom tenants housing, calling out to her.

“Miss Eve? Miss eve? Are you home?”

Neo looked around the hallway they walked in, to see the divots in the walls, and along those divots there rested statues of a woman's head, her skin tone split down the middle, pink and white, long blonde hair, her busts lined the walls.

At the end of the hallway Neon and Neo walked into a large dugout, surrounding this hexagonal room were even more statues of this woman, standing in various positions and holding various objects. And in the middle standing atop a ladder with a chisel and bucket of paint in hand, was the very subject of all these statues, Miss Eve herself. Neo was wandering around the room, excited at all the fresh buckets of paint, as Eve was mindlessly painting her latest statue.

Neo tapped a green paint can, expecting it full but finding it very empty, it shifted off the edge of the desk and fell onto the floor. The sudden sound shifted Eve off her ladder as she took a step off the ladder from surprise. The buckets of paint she was holding in her hands going flying and clattering against the floor completely recoloring the room.

Neon gave his boy a scolding look as neo began to rub his arms. He ran over to help eve up as she seemed quite upset.

“Did you not hear us coming in, eve?”

“Neon could you go fetch me more buckets, they’re in the back room.” Eve asked, Neon nodding as he went and fetched buckets.

“I was in my minds eye…”

She looked over at Neo, frowning at him as he shrunk in on himself…

Eve walking up the step ladder again, but when she walked up the top she looked down at the floor, and saw what the paint cans had fallen into, the paint splattered in a beautiful but completely random pattern, and this put a smile on eve’s face, suddenly from upset to very happy as she looked down at neo now, seeing a tiny artist.

She stepped off the ladder and knelt down in front of the boy with cupped hands against her cheek.

“Well hello there little artist! I’m afraid we didn’t get introduced properly… I’m eve.”

But neo didn’t respond back, he was still startled by the mess he made and worried about the trouble he was in. It was quite clear he was very close to crying… that’s when eve got an idea.

She went over to her fridge and pulled out one of her Artistic Juice boxes, neo’s eyes almost instantly lit up as he saw her pull it out.

She walked back over to him with the juice box in hand, as she looked down at the tiny artist,

“Perhaps you’d like some juice? I find juice helps me when I feel down…”

Neo bounced as he looked at the extremely tall woman with the juice. Reaching up with the grabbiest of hands, clamming up at her wanting the juice already.

She pulled the straw off the back and poked it into the top for him, kneeling down as she handed it off. His eyes sparkling for a moment as he took a long hard sip.

Neon walked back in to see his boy and eve giggling over two juice boxes, their feet covered in paint as they stomped around on the wet floor.

Neon darted over taking neo up into his arms, a mix of frustration and concern.

“Thank you miss eve for your hospitality but I think we must be going now.” Said Neon, as he took away neo and carried him back up to their floor, passing by the other boys as they all walked to their rooms for the night.

Neon set him back down in the kitchen as he sat him against a kitchen chair, pulling his shoes off as they were absolutely covered and ruined with paints.

Neon was upset for sure, so he left neo in the kitchen for a moment, coming back escorting a half asleep Nova into the kitchen, as Neon pointed down at his feet and the shoes on the floor.

“Look what our boy did, his shoes got ruined!” Neon exclaimed, as Nova began to frown at neo… Neo felt a new level of fear he didn’t know he had before… as he watched his large space dad kneel in front of him, picking up one of his shoes and holding it.

“Neo… What were you doing to make your shoes all messy?” Nova asked, as neo couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes.

“I was… painting with miss eve… and stepped in the wet paint…” Nova simply sighed as he shook his head.

“You can’t be ruining your shoes like this Neo… Your father will take you to get new ones in the morning.” He was so stern and direct, and Neo felt his heart sink…

“You mean… you won’t take me, Papa?”

“No Neo, i’ve got work to do.”

“...But I didn’t… get to see you all day…”

Neo felt his little heart twist as he was about ready to cry, he hadn’t spent time with his Papa in days it felt like, and it was just too much for him to handle… He tilted his head down as a few tears began to roll down his cheeks, hidden to both of his father’s… as nova simply turned away and went back to bed.

Neo felt the tears burst like dams holding back too much water, as Nova leaving felt like the last straw. He hopped off his chair with one arm covering his eyes, darting past Neon who was too slow to catch him. Neo ran to his room, eyes tucked into his elbow soaking his sleeve as Neon stood back and just watched him run, gently sighing as he felt pain in his heart as well…

Neo leapt into his bed, boxes upon boxes of unpacked toys and clothes stacked to adult height levels in his room, the only thing he had ready for him was a blanket and pillow, of which he held onto tightly as he poured the rest of his tears into it…

Minutes and one tear stained pillow later, neo was laying there clutching onto it still, as his sobbing turned to sniffling and all he could do was look at his door, wishing, waiting, hoping that maybe Papa would come back and apologize, and tell him they’ll look at the stars again together…

Neo ended up staring at the door for hours.

Waiting.

He fell asleep waiting.

Another time, another place… large fingers, massive like loaves of bread descended down carefully against a workshop desk. Atop this desk laid a small mouse, as if disassembled of all it's parts. One by one the pieces were picked up, cogs and gears, springs and levers, in such massive hands carefully putting it back together again. The eyes put back into place, a tail reattached. But when all the pieces came back together it looked like any other mouse, just with a small keyhole in its back. It was missing the final touch. The massive hands reached into the desk, pulling open the large drawer to reveal a collection of hundreds of keys, various shapes and sizes, materials and textures. It hovered over the pearl section for the longest time, sometimes switching back and forth between it and the silver keys… but ultimately deciding on the bronze keys, picking one up and rubbing it in oil and wiping it clean with a delicate rag, before slowly pushing it into the back of the mouse. Locking into place as it turned the key several times, winding up now…

The mouse sprung to life as soon as the hands let go, scurrying across the desk before leaping into a grandfather clock and disappearing.

“You’re coming home soon, neo.”

Chapter three

#nsr #no straight roads #cora au #neon j #dj subatomic supernova #neo

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vividracing · 3 years

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New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-5-best-exhaust-upgrades-for-the-toyota-tacoma/

Top 5 Best Exhaust Upgrades for the Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma has been America’s best-selling mid-size pickup for 16 years in a row, and has been outselling the nearest two competitors by more than two-to-one just last year. How did the Japanese automaker achieve this feat? Well, the Toyota Tacoma did not get there by following others. Instead, it set the groundwork for its overwhelming success by offering a wide range of models to appeal to just about any pickup truck buyer. Six model trims include the work-ready SR; high-style, high-value SR5; athletic TRD Sport; adventurous TRD Off-Road; ultimate off-road TRD Pro; and luxurious Limited.

With that, some Tacoma owners want to further enhance their truck by taking advantage of the plentiful aftermarket products available for the mid-size pickup. One of the most popular mods to do is upgrade the Tacoma’s exhaust system. Replacing the OEM cat-back on your truck is recommended for a number of reasons, because it is a great way to increase the power, styling, sound, and performance of your vehicle. Swapping out the restrictive, quiet factory exhaust with a free-flowing aftermarket upgrade will take your Tacoma to the next level with improved styling, an enhanced soundtrack, higher power figures, and better fuel efficiency.

Here, we have listed the top 5 cat-back exhausts for your third-gen (2016+) Toyota Tacoma based on the aforementioned factors. These are in no particular order and check all of the boxes that pertain to a quality system that looks good, sounds great, and is fully functional. Be sure to also check out the other exhaust systems available for your Tacoma truck right here.

1. Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System

The& Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust with Single Side Exit is a top choice for your Toyota Tacoma because it provides increased power figures, an enhanced soundtrack, improved performance, and good looks in a high-strength package. Alex Borla actually coined the term “cat back” when he introduced the bolt-on replacement performance exhaust back in 1978. All Borla cat-back systems use vehicle-specific (not universal) mufflers that are designed, tested, and optimized for your make and model to deliver the highest levels of overall sound and performance.

Borla S-Type Mufflers (like the one featured in this product) are engineered to provide exceptional exhaust emission and internal power generation. These mufflers use multi-core technology and are manufactured from T-304 corrosion-resistant stainless steel which offers long-lasting durability. They are equipped with ultra-smooth mandrel bends that ensure maximum flow and power. The design reduces pressure build-up that could dampen the engine’s performance, thereby giving you better horsepower and torque numbers.

The Borla S-Type exhaust is perfect for those looking to enjoy a more aggressive exhaust note that will stop people in their tracks. With a black chrome T-304 stainless steel exhaust tip, this exhaust not only delivers in performance but also in aesthetics. Lastly, the entire system has been precision CNC-machined to guarantee a precise fit without any issues to provide a seamless installation.

Features:

Increases horsepower and torque

Better fuel economy at cruising speeds

S-Type provides an aggressive exhaust tone

Straight-through muffler design reduces backpressure

Mandrel-bent stainless steel tubes reduce restriction

Made from austenitic stainless steel for long-lasting durability

Fully welded construction for the ultimate strength

Exhaust tips come in polished and black chrome options

Includes everything required for installation

Backed by the exclusive Borla Million-Mile warranty

2. MBRP XP Series 3-Inch Cat-Back Exhaust

The XP Series Cat-Back from MBRP is a budget-friendly entry into stainless steel exhaust systems. Rugged and dependable, this system is crafted from T409 stainless steel and built to withstand even the harshest of road/off-road conditions (i.e. salt, grime, rocks). One of the first things you’ll notice is the rich, mellow sound delivered by the chambered muffler. The second is the improved performance as reduced backpressure and improved scavenging let your Tacoma engine push out more horsepower and torque. Last, but not least, you’ll notice that there is more money in your pocket after you fill the tank.

MBRP’s exhausts are designed to maximize exhaust flow and minimize exhaust temperatures so your truck will use less gas and perform better. Built to the most exacting standards in the industry, MBRP cat-back exhausts are designed with fully mandrel-bent tubing and minimal bend degree angles to get exhaust out fast. The result is an increase in horsepower, torque, and overall sound. This exhaust system, like others from the brand, has been specifically tuned to get the optimal sound from your pickup.

You can also rest assured that your MBRP exhaust system has undergone countless hours on the company’s in-house Mustang 1100 AWD-SE Chassis Dynamometer, hundreds of miles on the road and track, and numerous modifications to get the most out of your Tacoma. The XP Series 3-Inch Cat-Back with Dual Split Side Rear Exit is the performance exhaust of choice for enthusiasts who need a system that can take anything the road throws at it. The rugged 16-gauge T409 stainless steel construction is so tough that MBRP backs it up with an industry-leading Lifetime Warranty.

Features:

T409 Stainless steel piping

Heavy-duty overall construction

Improves performance and efficiency

3” to dual 2.5” mandrel-bent tubing

Cat-back with dual split rear side exit

Easy direct-fit, bolt-on installation

4″ OD tips included (T304)

Backed by a Lifetime Warranty

3. Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust

The Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust for the Toyota Tacoma will give you exactly the sound that is promised by its name. The exhaust note of the American Thunder series has become a symbol of American power that is globally recognized. It is also the most popular of all the Flowmaster exhaust systems for those looking to increase power figures and mileage, improve throttle response, and enhance the sound of their vehicle. This system is perfect for anyone who wants a system that delivers a moderately aggressive exterior sound while still maintaining a comfortable interior tone with all of the performance benefits associated with the Flowmaster brand.

The Flowmaster American Thunder Dual Exhaust Side Exit Cat-Back uses Flowmaster’s patented Delta Flow Technology and a welded baffle muffler to let your Tacoma let out a rich and clear note that will hold your attention and grab that of passersby. Apart from its unique growl, it is manufactured to enhance the performance of your truck by freeing up the vehicle’s exhaust outflow so that the engine does not overwork itself. This reduces the risk of overheating and also lets the engine generate more power without compromising fuel efficiency.

This flanged stainless-steel system connects directly to the back of the catalytic converter and the 2.50-inch mandrel-bent tubing runs into a single inlet/dual outlet Super 50 Series muffler exiting into dual 2.50-inch mandrel-bent stainless steel tailpipes. The system uses the Tacoma’s factory hanger locations and is finished off with a pair of 3.50-inch polished stainless steel exhaust tips exiting out the left and right side behind the rear tires, which is perfect for towing. Designed for a perfect fit, this cat-back system includes all of the necessary parts, hardware, and detailed instructions for an easy installation that you can do at home.

Features:

Large 3.50-inch polished stainless steel tips

Side exit tailpipes are ideal for towing

Moderately aggressive exterior tone

Made with Delta Flow Technology

Includes a Super 50 stainless steel muffler

Full stainless steel construction

Offers the dual exhaust look and sound

4. Corsa Performance 3-Inch Cat-Back Exhaust

The Corsa Performance 3-Inch Sport Cat-Back Exhaust will transform your Toyota Tacoma in terms of styling, sound, and performance. This system delivers a custom-tuned, aggressive exhaust note that showcases a distinctive sound of power that will be music to your ears. In addition to offering a high-performance sound, this exhaust provides increased airflow and performance. The Pro-Series exhaust is designed for straight-through, non-restrictive airflow that results in it flowing 15 percent better than stock while also being lighter than the factory system. With the Corsa cat-back, you’ll get improved performance and fuel efficiency both on and off the road with improved horsepower and torque figures to boot.

Getting an excellent-sounding exhaust that will turn heads when you drive by is simple with CORSA’s patented Reflective Sound Cancellation (RSC) technology. The RSC allows the exhaust to have an aggressive sound through the gears, a deep rumble during idle, and zero drone when cruising. Another benefit of the innovative RSC is reduced backpressure which is part of what helps the engine produce gains in power. Corsa’s patented frees up additional power to get your vehicle moving faster, functioning more efficiently, and, thus, providing better fuel economy with mellow driving habits.

The Pro-Series exhaust features 3-inch tubing with mandrel-bent, premium 304L stainless steel for the ultimate tough construction. The exhaust’s handcrafted 4-inch powder-coated black tip stands out from the rest and enhances the styling of your truck. Resistant to both rust and corrosion, you won’t have to worry about unwanted deterioration as a result of extreme temperatures or organic wear and tear. The no-drill, bolt-on installation is super easy, saving you time and unnecessary aggravation. CORSA has designed the Pro-Series Cat-Back to perfectly fit your Tacoma and backs it with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, clearly showing the confidence the brand has in its technology.

Features:

Reflective Sound Cancellation (RSC) Technology

Drone-free experience when cruising

Custom-tuned, aggressive exhaust note

Durable 304 stainless steel construction

Polished/Black PVD stainless steel tips

Flows 15 percent better than stock

3″ Stainless steel tubing

4″ Black Pro-Series tip

Easy direct-fit, bolt-on installation

Limited Lifetime Warranty

5. Carven Exhaust Progressive Series Cat-Back

Carven Exhaust is leading the new era in aftermarket performance exhaust products. Its Progressive Series Cat-Back Exhaust will give your Tacoma a deeper, more desirable growl under startup and acceleration, while having little to no drone at highway cruising speeds. This way, your truck can leave a lasting impression on passersby while you and your passengers can enjoy minimal in-cabin noise. Apart from improved sound and, of course, better overall performance, this system is a direct bolt-on replacement for your Tacoma’s factory setup so no welding or cutting is required.

Carven Exhaust Systems are handcrafted and built from quality stainless steel material assembled with TIG welding processes to maximize strength and performance. Carven manufactures its Progressive Series Exhaust from 304 stainless steel tubing for superior strength and long-lasting corrosion resistance. This system features mandrel-bent tubing throughout with a TR Performance muffler to dramatically outflow your Tacoma’s stock exhaust. This exhaust also includes a 4-inch 304 stainless steel polished exhaust tip with a bright mirror finish for that classic appeal.

All Carven Exhaust products are proudly made in the USA to strict exacting standards and undergo rigorous testing to ensure they can stand up to the elements of harsh conditions. Best of all, Carven Exhaust backs its products for up to a period of 100 years against manufacturer defects in the materials or workmanship.

Features:

100% stainless construction

Fully TIG welded for added strength

Utilizes a TR Performance muffler

4″ Stainless polished exhaust tip

Direct-fit OEM replacement

No cutting or welding required

Covered by 100-Year Limited Warranty

Handmade in the USA

#aftermarket #Borla #Catback #Exhaust System #flowmaster #Tacoma #Toyota #toyota tacoma

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fandomrewrites · 4 years

Text

Season 2; Episode 9: Party Guessed

Hello all! No Isaac in this chapter, sorry. But I still I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always constructive criticism is appreciated.

Season 2; Episode 9: Party Guessed

Pairings: Scott McCall x Twin Sister, Lydia Martin x Best Friend, Isaac Lahey x Reader

Warnings: Mention of stalking

Word Count: 2,562

Season 2 Masterlist

After the rave I drove Matt home in an awkward silence. Once the car pulled up to his house and slowed to a stop the brunette beside me reached for the door handle but paused. “About that really, incredibly bad idea I had-”

“You mean the kiss?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s the one.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“For real?”

I nod, “Definitely.”

“So, I know Nate and you are over. Or at least I’m pretty sure that’s true. But is there anyone else?”

“Nate and I are definitely over. Like so over I don’t even want t breathe the same air as him.” I pause, sucking in a breath.

“And anyone else?” He asks once more.

“Not.. really.”

“I hate not reallys. You never know what to do with a not really.”

I awkwardly smile at him, “Sorry. Would you understand if I said it was complicated?”

“Not really. But I’ll try.” He sends me a gentle smile and places his hand over mine. Then opens the door and steps out. I lock the door and sigh, taking a breath before I start driving away.

When I reach over to change the gear shift to drive I notice Matt’s forgotten bag left on the floor of the passenger side. I reach over to pick it up and bring it to him but his camera falls out. Reaching for the camera to put it back, my thumb accidently hits a button lighting up the screen.

I see Matt’s pictures from the lacrosse game and start smiling, these are really good. I click to the next picture and then the next. When I make it to the fourth picture my back straightens in alarm. The picture is of Scott, his eyes glowing, the next picture shows the same thing.

Clicking onto the next picture already thinking I was prepared for what I was about to see then being shocked when it was something completely different. Rather than it being a picture of my twin with glowing eyes, it was a picture of me on the bleachers during the lacrosse game.

The next picture, another picture of me, this one in the hallway during school. The next, a picture of me during lunch. My heart begins racing as I continue to hit the next picture, seeing more and more pictures of myself. Pictures of me at school and in my room.

Finally, knuckles pounding on the passenger window makes me jump and nearly drop the camera. I shakily look up and see Matt with a weird smile, that I can’t quite place. He mouths, “open the window” still smiling.

I hesitate for just a brief moment before doing what he said.

“Forgot my bag.”

“Yeah,” I breathe out. Reaching over and handing him his bag and camera.

“Some good pics in there, you think?”

I nod, trying to smile. “Yeah. You’re really talented. I saw the lacrosse ones.”

“There’s a good candid of you in there too.”

“Oh. Really?”

“You want to see some others? I mean this tiny screen doesn’t really do them justice. I could show you some on my computer.”

“That sounds great. But maybe another night.”

“Come up. Just for a few minutes.” He insists.

“I told my mom I would be home soon.”

“It’s the weekend. I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“I know, but-”

“And it’s spring break. You don’t have anything to do tomorrow, do you?”

“Yeah, actually I do. Things with Lydia. I should really get going.”

“You sure?”

I nod once more, “I’m sure.” I insist, thankful that he can’t hear how fast my heart is beating.

Finally, Matt backs away from the car, pulling his bag over his shoulder. I quickly roll up the window and leave.

*_*_*_*_*_*

The next day Lydia and I went shopping for her birthday party later tonight. After our trip to Macy’s she insisted we got to Allison’s and include her in our usual party ritual, which I of course happily agreed to.

Once Mr. Argent let us in we made our way up the stairs and without knocking, Lydia swung Allison’s bedroom door open. “Clear your schedule. This could take a while.”

She brushes past the hunter with me following after closing the door. Lydia dumps the handfuls of bags onto the girls bed as Allison begins to talk. “How many outfits do you plan on wearing tonight?”

“It’s my birthday party. I’m thinking, a host dress, evening wear, then after hours casual.”

I shake my head and smile as Lydia starts laying out the outfits. “I noticed you didn’t send out any invites.” Allison hesitantly says.

“She never does. It’s the biggest party of the year.” I reply.

“Everyone knows.” Lydia adds.

“I’m just wondering if maybe this year things might be... different.” Allison says.

Lydia turns to her bewildered, “Why would anything be different?” She then turns to me for an explanation.

I sigh, “Things have been a little off lately.”

“Like Jackson.” Allison pipes up.

“What do you care about Jackson?” Lydia asks.

Avoiding the question, Allison asks one of her own, “Do you know if he’s coming?”

“Everyone’s coming.” Lydia confidently replies. She then models a dress in front of the mirror, “This one’s Material Girl. I love it. On me. Not you. This is for you.”

She then pulls out another item from one of the bags.

Though Allison doesn’t pay much attention to it as she continues, “No one’s seen him since last night and i heard his parents are getting really worried. So if you know where he is-”

Lydia interrupts, “This is definitely your color. Although, honestly, Allison you have to start spray tanning. You’re starting to look goth and I don’t even know if it’s called goth anymore. It’s just pale and pasty and not good.”

Before Allison or I can say anything a knock sounds at the door. Mrs. Argent steps in looking towards her daughter. Lydia turns to ask, “Mrs. Argent, what do you think of this one?”

Mrs. Argent briefly looks at the dress, “It’s lovely. Allison, can I grab you for a moment to talk? Just the two of us.”

“Can we do it later?” She asks as she gestures to all of the clothes spread out on her bed.

“To be honest, sooner is better.” She replies as she reaches a hand to her shoulder.

“Party starts at 10.” Lydia informs.

“You’ll be around before then?” Mrs. Argent questions.

“I think so.” Allison casually replies.

“You think so?”

“I don’t know.”

Mrs. Argent gives a nod as Allison’s attention moves back to Lydia. She turns and leaves the room as we continue looking at the clothes for tonight.

*_*_*_*_*_*

After a couple of hours Lydia and I left to get ready for the party at her house. I was wearing an all black outfit that consisted of a black see through short-sleeved top, a black top underneath, a faux leather black skirt with a zipper up the front, and strappy black heels.

Once we were both ready, we made our way downstairs and waited for the guests to arrive. Once the first couple of guests arrive, music starts blaring as Lydia stays inside to greet her guests.

Though it’s officially past 10, there are only a few guests at the party. I walk towards Scott and Stiles when I see them by the pool. But before I have the chance to say anything Allison walks up to us too. “Jackson’s not here.”

“No one’s here.” Stiles deadpans.

“Maybe it’s just early?” Scott questions, sounding unsure.

I shake my head as Stiles answers, “Or maybe no one’s coming because Lydia’s turned into the town whack job.”

Allison turns to Scott, “Should you even be here?”

Scott nods, “I’ll be okay.”

We turn our attention to Lydia who hands a drink to the last of her party guests. She glances around to see who else needs one but there is no one else.

“We have to do something to help. I’m going to message some people from school.” I say.

Pulling out my phone I hesitate when Scott speaks, “She’s completely ignored Stiles for the last ten years.”

“I prefer to see it as me not having been on her radar, you know?” Stiles pipes up.

“We don’t owe her a party.” Scott continues.

I roll my eyes, “That’s my best friend you’re talking about. But fine, if you don’t want to do it, I have practically everyone in the school’s number anyway.”

I turn to walk away, annoyed with my twin, “(Y/N) wait!”

I ignore him and continue walking back inside the house as I send out a mass text: Come to Lydia’s birthday party - Great music and great food - Invite everyone!

A few minutes later more and more people start to trickly in. I sigh in relief and make my way back outside with a cup in my hands. “(Y/N)!” I look to my right and see Scott coming up to me. “I’m sorry about earlier. I ended up texting the lacrosse team.”

I nodded and smiled, “I know that Lydia isn’t or at least wasn’t the nicest person. But she means a lot to me and I want her to have a great birthday.”

He nods, “She will. How was your date with Matt? I never got the chance to ask.”

Not wanting to get Scott worked up I hesitate, “It wasn’t a date. But it was fine.”

Scott raises his eyebrows, “You’re lying.”

I open my mouth to respond but no words come out. I close my mouth trying to think of something to say but stop when Stiles comes up to us, “So you going to apologize to Allison?”

I don’t hear the rest of the conversation because I slip away, making a mental note to avoid Scott for a while and to thank Stiles for the interruption.

*_*_*_*_*_*

I stand leaning against the house and taking sips of the punch Lydia made. Looking across the yard at all the party guests, I make eye contact with Matt. I quickly break eye contact and turn to try and blend in with the crowd.

Unfortunately I was not fast enough in my attempt to escape. Matt gently grabbed my hand just before I made it inside, halting my movements. “What do you need?” I question as I pull my hand out of his.

“Could we talk? We left things kind of awkward and I want the chance to explain.”

I bite my lip and eye him. Sighing, I finally answer, “Fine, follow me.” I bring him upstairs to a guest bedroom before turning to give him my attention, “You get two minutes.”

He moves to close the door but stops when he sees me give him a look. “Right, okay. I know I took some pictures of you that I should’ve told you about. But try to look at it another way. Is it really that bad? That I think you’re beautiful? That I think you should be the subject of a perfect photograph?”

“It would be flattering if it wasn’t so creepy. I mean, some of those pictures - I don’t even know how you took them.”

“With a telephoto lens. Come on. Photographers call them candids.”

“And police officers call it stalking.” I say matter-of-factly.

Matt raises his eyebrow, “So I’m a stalker now? Is that it? YOu think my bedroom is wall-papered with photos of you? You think I’m the kind of guy who’s going to say something like if I can’t have her, no one can? Well, get over yourself. There’s another pretty girl walking in the room every five minutes.”

I immediately cross my arms and narrow my eyes, “Great. Then all you need to do is wait another three. Good luck. And don’t talk to me again.”

“(Y/N), hold-on-” Matt tries to grab my arm as I pass him but I rip it out of his grip and glare at him, quickly making my way out of the room.

Rather then move downstairs to the party I moved down the hall to Lydia’s room.

I shut the door and move to sit on her bed holding my head in my hands. I sit in the quiet, blocking out the sounds of the people and the music from downstairs. After a few minutes the sounds fizzle away, but then I hear it.

I look up suddenly, my head spinning to the closed door. I hear a voice yelling. A voice that, though I haven’t heard it for years, is something I cannot erase from my mind.

I shakily stand up and slowly take step after step to the closed bedroom door. I listen as another voice starts yelling at the first. A man and a woman having an argument.

I blink back the tears threatening to spill as I listen intently at the door. Finally, I reach towards the handle and rip the door open. “I can’t believe you’re drinking again! Don’t you want to do better! We can’t be a family if you keep doing this!” The woman yells.

“Who cares about this family? The kids are worthless and I should have left you when I had the chance!” The man yells back, just as angry, possibly even angrier.

The man makes eye contact with me, a bottle of whiskey in his hand, “You hear that (Y/N)! You’re worthless. Worthless and pathetic. You should have never been born.” He spits out. He then raises the bottle to his lips, taking a swig of the alcohol inside and starts to stumble his way over to me.

The through gritted teeth the man speaks once more, “Maybe I should just end you’re worthless life now.” He raises a hand.

I flinch stumbling backwards and falling to the floor. Tears now freely flow down my face as I push myself against the wall and try to find the man, but he is nowhere in sight.

Not too long after that Stiles rushes up the stairs, “(Y/N)! Are you okay?”

“I... I don’t know.” I pause sucking in a breath and finally raising my hands to wipe my eyes, though the tears have already dried, “I think I was hallucinating.”

“Yeah, we all did. Have you seen Lydia?”

I shake my head as Stiles helps me up. We make our way back downstairs to find Scott, “I can’t find her. But I found (Y/N/N). And dude, everyone - anyone who drank that crap. They’re freaking out.”

“I can see that.” Scott replies.

People are jumping and pushing others into the pool. Shrieks can be heard from the party goers. “What the hell do we do?” Stiles asks.

“I don’t know but-” Scott is cut off by someone’s panicked voice.

“Stop! Don’t - Don’t-” We all turn to see Matt. He gets thrown into the pool and starts desperately thrashing around calling, “I can’t - I can’t swim!”

Jackson calmly reaches down, dragging Matt out of the pool as the music fades. Someone’s voice breaks the quiet, “Cops are here!” Suddenly everyone starts running as they try to leave the house.

As we get shoved to the side we step around the house trying to keep an eye out for Matt and Jackson. Scott gets separated from Stiles and I but when we finally meet back up Scott looks shocked, “Matt is the master.”

#teen wolf imagine #series rewrite #sister mccall imagine #lydia martin imagine #isaac lahey imagine

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artificialqueens · 4 years

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Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, 7 (Branjie) (and background everyone) - Ortega

a/n: ayo folks! ur all getting a slightly earlier chapter from me this week because i happened to write it very quickly! i had so much fun writing this one, it’s a bit eventful so hang onto your hats!! hope u all love it, feel free to give it a little like or a reblog or send some love!! love u all xo

fic summary: Strictly Come Dancing enters its 18th series and its producers, after being goaded by a rival dance show on its inclusivity, commission it to be an all-female cast. Unlike Akeria who’s just here to bone her potential dance partner, dancer Vanessa is ready to act like a professional.

And then TV presenter Brooke Lynn walks into the rehearsal room.

***

18th October 2020

Vanessa sits on the floor opposite Crystal, both of their knees tucked in under their chins, both of them glugging from their water bottles. It’s Sunday and Vanessa’s wasted no time in choreographing, having roped Crystal in to help her after their pro dance rehearsal. Crystal is doing a Waltz this week, which Vanessa could only be of minimal help with, but her friend didn’t really mind all that much.

“Ten of us left,” Crystal comments in the silence, and Vanessa nods with her. The dance off last night consisted of Scarlet and Plastique again and, to the shock of no-one, Farrah and Aja. The judges elected to save Farrah and Aja, and so poor Scarlet’s Strictly journey came to an end. Vanessa feels sorry for her but secretly she’s happy Plastique’s been knocked down a peg or two and has bowed out early this year. She doesn’t dislike the girl, but she’s too confident for her taste. Nothing wrong with being humble every now and again.

“Hard to believe this is dance number four.”

Crystal hums quietly in response. She’s got a sort of look on her face that prompts Vanessa to narrow her eyes at her.

“What’s the drama, mama?”

Crystal lets out a sigh, stretches herself out so she’s lying on her stomach and props her head up with her elbows. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Depends what it is, boo, I’m not tryin’ to be in no courtroom.”

Crystal laughs in her own, airy-fairy way. Then she sighs. “I think I like Gigi as more than my dance partner.”

“Oh, Lord above,” Vanessa mutters without thinking, the amount of schoolgirl crushes flying around Elstree studios becoming suddenly overwhelming. Crystal gives her a funny look and Vanessa waves her away. “Sorry, Crys. Ignore me, I’m just bein’ cynical.”

Crystal winces as if she’s put her foot in it. “Right. Yeah, God, sorry, Vanj.”

Vanessa thinks for a moment back to what Crystal’s told her. She cracks a smile. “You got feelings for a model, that’s when you know you’re fucked.”

“There’s a moment you know…you’re fucked,” Crystal sings quietly. It makes Vanessa snort. Crystal pouts, lets out a whine. “It was all the Rhumba’s fault. Stupid sexy Rhumba.”

“Don’t blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame it on the moonlight, don’t blame it on the good times…” Vanessa deadpans, and Crystal is already giggling as they finish the joke together.

“…blame it on the Rhumba.”

“It was a hot Rhumba, though. Nobody could blame you,” she shrugs. Vanessa is still riding the high of briefly topping the leaderboard last night, even if she was toppled off by Jan and Jackie, Akeria and Asia, and Crystal and Gigi themselves. But still…fourth is the best they’ve ever done, and she’s proud of them both.

“You’ve got a bit of a hot one this week, you know,” Crystal cocks an eyebrow at her. “Anything you want to tell me?”

Vanessa shoves her on the shoulder and sends Crystal rolling over the dusty floor. “Behave.”

Crystal shrugs in spite of the brief attack from her friend. “All I’m saying is I’ve seen the way Brooke Lynn looks at you.”

Vanessa’s brain hotwires and she says about twenty sentences at once. “Shut up! No, she doesn’t. That’s not…that’s not a thing, Crystal, you…how does she look at me?”

Crystal blurts out a laugh and Vanessa supposes she has to join in. As their laughter dies down, Crystal thinks for a moment. “It’s like she’s the moon and you’re-”

“The sun? Jesus, Crystal, how predictable can you be?”

“Will you let me finish my damn sentence! Hostia…” Crystal exhales in irritation, and Vanessa has to stifle a laugh at her swearing. Her face softens and she gazes at Vanessa with intrigue. “She’s the moon and you’re the stars. She’s happy to coexist with you, she’s happy to just be beside you and admire you for as long as you’ll let her.”

Vanessa feels as if her insides are glowing. She smiles at Crystal. “So you think she likes me back?”

“A-ha! I knewit! Back! You said back!” Crystal screeches, and Vanessa only has the willpower to roll her eyes, because Brooke looks at her like that. Crystal calms down, and then shrugs. “Well if she doesn’t want you now, she will after this Salsa. Fuck knows how the BBC allowed that song, but they did.”

“Is it too sexy?” Vanessa frowns, suddenly doubtful.

“Yes,” Crystal says instantly and seriously. She pauses before she allows a smile to spread across her face. “It’s perfect.”

The next morning, Vanessa has carefully strategised to ensure she looks the best she can in her rehearsal gear. She’s got her black exercise leggings on- the ones with the high waist that make her bum look good- and she’s gone for a red oversized jumper that’ll inevitably need peeled off when they start warming up. Underneath she’s picked a strappy sports bra that somehow doesn’t completely flatten her chest, and there’s a strip of toned skin between where it stops and her leggings begin. She’s pulled her waves of hair into a messy ponytail and she’s done an ever-so-tiny amount of makeup too- mascara, eyeliner, the tiniest bit of concealer, a little bit of liquid highlighter to make things pop. She’s standing looking at herself in the mirror when Brooke arrives, and she chooses to ignore the way her eyebrows raise involuntarily when she sees her.

“Hey, boo,” Vanessa greets her lightly, giving her a wave. “How you feelin’? Still ridin’ the high of Saturday night?”

“God, yeah. That was incredible, we smashed it!” Brooke gushes, throwing her gym bag to the floor. “Fourth is good. We just need to stay there.”

“Or move up,” Vanessa shrugs. Brooke points and nods at her in agreement as she throws her hair into a ponytail. She looks good herself- she’s in an oversized t-shirt which she’s tied at a knot at her stomach and a pair of loose-fitting black shorts. Fuck, why hadn’t she thought of shorts?

“What’ve we got this week?” Brooke asks, hair finally fixed. Vanessa feels like taking a deep breath before answering.

“We’re doin’…a Salsa,” she reveals. Brooke claps her hands together, excited. Vanessa smiles. “Do you know much about what a Salsa involves?”

“Uh, I know it’s a Latin one,” Brooke shrugs, leaning against the barre so she’s opposite Vanessa.

“Cuban.”

“That’s what I meant.”

“Sure. Okay, well…the judges last week said they wanted to see some more chemistry,” Vanessa prefaces her explanation. “So a Salsa’s a bit of a hot one. We’ve done a couple’a fun dances, we did the angry Paso, and now we gotta sexy Salsa.”

“Okay,” Brooke nods, a little hint of a smile on her face. Vanessa had been waiting to see her reaction and it’s not what she’d expected- she thought Brooke would maybe get a little bit bashful about it, but Vanessa supposes the woman’s a professional. “I can do sexy, that’s fine.”

“I’m sure you can,” Vanessa finds herself saying before she can think, and as soon as the sentence is out of her mouth she turns away from Brooke, slaps a hand over her mouth and fiddles with her phone so that Brooke doesn’t see her blush. “Uh…you warmed up?”

“Yeah. Ready to get even more warmed up,” she replies, and when Vanessa turns around she sees that Brooke’s wiggling her eyebrows at her. It makes her laugh.

“Okay, sweet. I’m gonna show you what me an’ Crystal choreographed yesterday for it,” she says casually, despite the fact that her heart is beating out of her chest, so anxious is she to see Brooke’s reaction. Vanessa motions for Brooke to come close to her so she can see her phone and as soon as Brooke can see, Vanessa hits play.

The dance starts.

“Oh,” Brooke comments quietly. It’s only about ten seconds in and Vanessa’s already whining against Crystal who’s got her hands behind her head. “Oh, wow.”

The appreciative noise makes a proud smile spring to Vanessa’s lips. There’s a lot of very intricate arm movements to a salsa, and she explains this to Brooke as she and Crystal twist and twirl each other around the dancefloor, their arms moving and intertwining like clockwork. The song reaches the part where they both stop, press close together, and Crystal runs her hands up Vanessa’s thighs, her waist and her sides. The lyrics are loud through the speakers.

“And baby I know what you’re after…it’s all in the details, and every inch of me matters…”

“Oh wow,” Brooke comments again, her voice little above a whisper. It makes a little thrill of electricity shoot down Vanessa’s spine. “Oh shit!”

“Oh yeah, we’re gonna do a bit of a lift,” Vanessa explains a little late, as the video has just shown Crystal swinging Vanessa up and holding one of her legs tight so she can kick her other leg in the air while upside down.

“Christ,” Brooke laughs. The music is still blaring from the speakers. They’re both silent as the lyrics ring out, but there’s a certain atmosphere in the air and it’s making Vanessa anticipate the moment they start dancing.

“I know you love it when you go down under, I’ll be moving for you like no other, so much body for your lips to discover…”

Vanessa sneaks a look in the studio mirrors at Brooke’s expression. She’s got an impassive facade as she watches but Vanessa can see the pink blush on her cheeks, her face betraying her. She bites her lip in a smile as she looks back down at her phone. Vanessa’s hooked her leg over Crystal’s thigh as Crystal dips her and brings her up, her hands supportive on her back and Vanessa’s hair skimming the floor. They spin each other round again and then Vanessa stops, her leg positioned out. Crystal is down on one knee, runs a hand up her leg from her calf to her thigh. Brooke is silent as she watches.

“Me an’ Crys got the giggles so many times doin’ this,” Vanessa attempts to lighten the mood. Brooke gives a small laugh.

“I bet,” she murmurs. There’s something in her tone that makes Vanessa squeeze her thighs together.

“Mmm, go back, go back…I think you missed a spot…”

The dance finishes with Vanessa on one knee and her hands on Crystal’s popped thigh. She puts her phone back into her gym bag and fixes Brooke with a smile that she makes deliberately cheerful and light. “So! Thoughts?”

Brooke blinks about six times in quick succession. She runs a hand through the ends of her ponytail and looks to the floor. “God, um. Yeah. It’s definitely, uh…God. I’m flustered!”

Vanessa’s heart feels like singing. Her plan’s working and they’ve not even started dancing yet. “Good, it’s meant to make you flustered when you watch it! As long as you don’t get flustered dancin’ it.”

“That’s um…that is just a song about oral sex, right?”

Vanessa lets out a hoot of a laugh. “Oh, baby, it gets way worse.”

“Worse! How can it get worse?” Brooke laughs. Vanessa decides to wind her up a bit, starts swinging her hips as she sings the second verse that the BBC has insisted they can’t air before 9pm.

“You wanna hit it, wanna hear me hit a high note, I let you rub it, touch it, lick up on this, I know-”

“Aah!” Brooke cries comedically, planting her hands over her ears. Vanessa giggles, decides to stop teasing her.

Well. They’re about to start the routine, so she supposes she’s just going to start teasing her in other ways.

“We don’t really have a story to tell this week. We’re gonna be the story,” Vanessa explains, and Brooke nods, taking a deep breath at the same time.

“Right. Let’s get started.”

So Vanessa starts teaching Brooke. And it’s more fun than she’d ever imagined. She peels her jumper off too early just so she can feel Brooke’s hands on her bare skin a little more than usual. When they practise the part where Brooke runs her hands up Vanessa’s thigh she almost goes into cardiac arrest at the thought of doing it in costume, where both of them are going to be in tiny dresses and bare legs. But just because there’s lots of fun, sexy moments doesn’t mean the dance isn’t tricky, and a lot of their first rehearsal is spent getting the arm movements right.

“I think it’s going okay,” Brooke comments during their first break, after taking a long drink from her water bottle. “There’s this one bit though I think I need help with.”

“Okay, shoot,” Vanessa shrugs. Suddenly, she swears she can see a little glint in Brooke’s eye as she starts talking again.

“Uhh, the bit where you like…grind against me. What am I doing there again?”

Vanessa pauses for a moment before she speaks. She swears Brooke’s playing a game, but she doesn’t mind playing along. She shows her what she’s meant to be doing, says the counts at the same time. Brooke nods like she understands. “Let’s see you do it first?”

Brooke does it perfectly. Then, she speaks again. “Can we just run that section a couple more times?”

Vanessa narrows her eyes and quirks her a smile. Brooke laughs. “What? What is it?”

Some things are better left unsaid, so Vanessa bites the smile away. “Nothin’, nothin’. Okay, we can run it a couple times.”

They run it again three times and Vanessa makes sure to whine incredibly slowly and deliberately against Brooke each time. She certainly doesn’t mind, and from the looks of it neither does Brooke. Brooke then asks if they can run the bit where they’re pressed up against each other again, because apparently she’s forgotten what to do with her hands. Vanessa realises that she’s being well and truly played at her own game, but if she gets to have Brooke’s hands all over her again she’s not going to mind. She stands in position with her arms looped over Brooke’s shoulders and around her neck, and Brooke’s hands are on her thighs. They’re so close together that it’s almost painful.

“Okay so on the counts, you’re going-” Vanessa takes Brooke’s hands in her own and moves them confidently where they’re meant to be going. She instantly notices the way Brooke’s eyes fly open ever so slightly. “- thighs, ass, waist, ribs, like one, two, three, four. But obviously it’s gonna be a lot more fluid than that.”

Brooke looks like a deer in the headlights, so Vanessa smiles as she follows it up with, “An’ remember eye contact. Don’t be afraid to look at me, baby, ‘cuz your hands are already all over me.”

Brooke gives a sort of choked laugh. Vanessa counts her in. “Five, six, seven, eight-”

As Vanessa sways her hips she feels Brooke’s hands glide up her body, and it’s almost entirely too much. Brooke’s obediently taken direction about eye contact and her gaze is dark as she looks into Vanessa’s eyes. When she stops, neither of them move. Vanessa’s still got her arms looped around Brooke’s neck, and her face is so close. Brooke’s got both her hands positioned on either side of Vanessa’s back and her palms are touching the bare strip of skin Vanessa’s got on show. The skin-on-skin contact is almost burning.

They’ve still not looked away from each other, and Vanessa sees Brooke’s bottom lip drop over a little bit. She wets her own, bites it. Vanessa can feel her eyes fluttering closed-

“Morning!” there’s a loud, cheerful voice, and Vanessa almost leaps out of Brooke’s hold as the door to their studio is almost booted off its hinges by the film crew. “Just here for the first day rehearsal shots!”

Right. Of course. Because they’re filming a TV show.

Vanessa greets the crew politely and then looks at Brooke. She’s rubbing the back of her neck and looking to the floor, and when she looks up at Vanessa they share a guilty smile. Vanessa punctuates it with a wink before clapping her hands together and striding over to the film crew and asking them what they need from them both.

Because Vanessa hadn’t imagined it- they’d shared a moment, and they definitely, 100% had been about to kiss before the fucking film crew had strode in. The thought buoys the rehearsal process for the rest of the week, and the atmosphere between them, whatever it is, doesn’t dissipate. It takes Vanessa until Tuesday afternoon to realise that the “it” is sexual tension. The lingering looks between them during breaks have turned longer, the dance seems to flow way easier. Brooke’s paying attention to detail and getting things right every time, and it’s fast becoming their best dance, but the lift is still a bit of an issue. Every time they attempt it Brooke freaks out, doesn’t follow through because she’s scared of dropping Vanessa. Vanessa doesn’t mind, she doesn’t care, but she just wishes Brooke would at least attempt it.

And then it gets to Wednesday, the 21st of October.

The earth has turned on its axis 365 times since the event, and Vanessa wishes she didn’t remember the whole thing as clear as day but it’s hard not to when it’s exactly a year to the day since it all happened. She tortures herself that morning before Brooke arrives, looks up the articles written by tabloid newspapers, looks at the photos again even though they still embarrass her. Akeria and Monique send her supportive texts and Vanessa is appreciative of them but they don’t help. She blocks it all out of her mind and when Brooke arrives Vanessa is positive that they’re going to tackle that lift today. Brooke knows there’s something up, Vanessa can tell, but she doesn’t let on. She pushes and pushes her, makes Brooke practise it more than she knows she should, but when she’s rehearsing and dancing she’s not thinking about what happened a year ago so they do it again, twice, three times. Vanessa knows that Brooke’s also fallen silent, isn’t enjoying the repetitiveness.

“One more time. You need to get me higher off the ground so I can extend my leg,” she tells her. Brooke simply nods once.

It’s Vanessa’s fault when it happens. She starts counting Brooke in when she’s not ready, so Brooke is fumbling to support her and get her arm locked in place at her knee, but she doesn’t manage in time. She drops her, Vanessa’s head hits the floor, and Brooke recoils in shock.

“Fuck,” they both say at the same time, but for two very different reasons. Brooke then follows it up with two more while Vanessa rubs the back of her head. She didn’t fall that far but she did land on her head, so she can’t be too careful.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Brooke panics. Vanessa feels guilty, waves her away.

“No, I’m sorry. It was my fault, I was pushin’ you too hard.”

Brooke kneels down beside her, helps her up with gentle hands and strong arms. She puts one hand to her cheek and another to the back of her head, feeling for a lump. “Fuck, Vanessa…”

“Brooke, please, it’s not your fault. I’m sorry, you weren’t ready,” Vanessa sighs. She can feel a lump starting to form at the back of her throat. Why the hell is she so upset?

“I’m going to get you an ice pack. Stay there,” Brooke babbles, dashing out of the room. Vanessa’s head is sore but her heart is warmed by Brooke’s caring nature. She sits up. She’s not dizzy or sick which is a good sign but she shuffles over to lean against the mirror, puts her head in her hands and exhales in a bid to calm herself down. Brooke returns quickly carrying a bag of frozen chips wrapped in a blue paper towel. Vanessa can’t help but laugh.

“Jesus Christ, I know the NHS is underfunded these days, but is this what it’s come to?” she quips. Brooke smiles at her, glad to have got a laugh.

“It’s all the canteen had. Here, put it on the sore bit,” she says soothingly, sitting down close beside her and positioning the bag of chips against her skull. Vanessa thanks her, leans back against the mirrors and sighs. She can feel Brooke’s eyes on her.

“Anything you want to talk about?” she asks her quietly. When Vanessa turns to meet Brooke’s gaze she snaps her eyes away and down to her lap. She finds it endearing. Brooke’s voice is hesitant as she continues. “You don’t seem your happy self today.”

Her words are heartwarming, and God knows she needs them. She supposes it wouldn’t do any harm to talk everything through with someone other than a therapist, Akeria or Monique.

“Uh, today’s a year since…everything happened last year. With, y’know. Kameron. And her dance partner,” Vanessa explains. Brooke screws her face up, winces.

“I’m sorry.”

Vanessa snorts a sardonic laugh. “You don’t need to be sorry, you didn’t fuckin’…do anything.”

Brooke sighs beside her. Vanessa knows that Brooke knows what happened. She will have seen the photographs the paps took of the pair of them in the street, pressed up against each other in a drunk kiss. She’ll have seen the papers with said photos splashed on the front cover. She’ll have seen the interview with the two of them where they both grovelled and sent their futile apologies to the viewers. For a moment, Vanessa is embarrassed. She voices this to Brooke.

“What do you have to be embarrassed about?” Brooke frowns at her. Vanessa shrugs helplessly.

“Just…I don’t know. I know you know what happened, everyone knows what happened. That’s the worst bit. That was the worst part about the whole thing. Everyone’s fuckin’…pity.”

Brooke cocks her head, thinks. “Yeah, but what would you rather have? Pity or the whole nation wanting your head on a stick?”

Vanessa laughs a little more genuinely this time. She sighs. “I know Kam didn’t do it to hurt me. These situations…I mean, fuckin’ look at our dance. You get close with people…I get that. Just…”

“She didn’t trip and fall on his mouth, Vanessa,” Brooke says sharply. Vanessa narrows her eyes at her, and Brooke shrinks back a little. “Sorry. That was out of turn. Just…in public too. Paps fucking everywhere. It wasn’t even like it was the one kiss and then she pushed him away, it was-”

“Yeah, I know what it was, thanks, Brooke,” Vanessa snaps at her. She instantly regrets it. “I’m sorry. That’s not fair of me to take my problems out on you.”

Brooke smiles sadly at her, reaches a hand out to lace in hers. Vanessa accepts gladly. Brooke mumbles as she speaks again. “I remember feeling so sorry for you at that time. Even though I didn’t know you then. To be cheated on is bad enough, but in the public eye like that…and with her partner too. I’m sorry it happened.”

“I feel more sorry for her,” Vanessa shrugs. “I mean she left the show…we tried to make it work but it just wasn’t there any more…and there’s no damage to his fuckin’ career. Because…of course there ain’t. You know apparently his new standup tour is actually about the whole damn fiasco?”

“Fuck, I hate men so much,” Brooke sighs. Her gaze turns steely again. “But you don’t have to feel sorry for Kameron, V. She still kissed him when she was with you and working with you on the show. That’s bad. That’s low.”

“It was so shit. She came home and she told me the next morning. I can still remember the whole conversation…” Vanessa says, her voice quiet. It’s not a lie. The memory sometimes jumps out and scares her just before she goes to sleep. The hurt, the betrayal. Trust cracking and breaking, a foot on a thin sheet of ice.

She feels Brooke tug gently on her hand, a soft c’mere with it. Vanessa doesn’t resist and before she knows it she’s discarded the bag of frozen chips and Brooke’s holding her against her chest, the pair of them curled up on the floor. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t hurt. Brooke is holding her, and it feels correct. She feels safe and protected, like her feelings will never be hurt again (she knows this isn’t true, but she goes with the feeling like a leaf floating on water).

“Just for the record, and I know you’ve probably heard this about a thousand times over the course of the last year,” Brooke mutters against her hair. “You deserve way more than that. I can’t imagine anyone being lucky enough to have you and then idiotic enough to cheat on you.”

Brooke’s right- Vanessa has heard it all before, but it means something different coming from Brooke. She feels her heart speed up as Brooke continues. “I would never do that to you.”

Vanessa feels as if her heart is a grenade and the pin’s just been pulled out. She must have stiffened in Brooke’s arms, because Brooke tenses up and relaxes her hug. “I mean, to anyone. I would never.”

Vanessa doesn’t follow it up because she can tell Brooke’s backtracking, but it’s already out- she would never do that to Vanessa, Brooke’s promising her her trust and they’re not even…anything at all. She doesn’t know why she finds that so comforting. Maybe because there’s an unspoken element of yet to it all.

“How’s the head?” Brooke asks swiftly. Vanessa cracks a smile, gives Brooke a wink.

“Ain’t had any complaints.”

Brooke grins back at her, softly pulls her up from their position on the floor. “Let’s try that lift again, then.”

They try it again. Then again, and again, until Brooke finally nails it and Vanessa can get her leg extended the whole way. The speedbump they hit in the rehearsal process has been steamrollered, and the rest of the days pass easily.

Until it gets to Saturday, the rehearsal before the performance later that evening, and Vanessa can’t really remember how she arrived at rehearsals or what they were doing before now- it’s odd. For some reason they’re also dressed in full costume even though they’re just rehearsing at their usual studios.

There must be a reason for it.

Vanessa can’t really concentrate though, as she and Brooke are rehearsing that part of the dance again, the one where Brooke’s got her hands all over her and their faces are close together and Brooke’s eye contact is dark and sultry. Brooke’s hands are on her thighs and Vanessa bucks her hips a little, all part of the dance, but then suddenly out of nowhere Brooke’s pulling her close and their lips meet, she’s kissing her and it’s deep and urgent and Vanessa’s moaning a little against her mouth and fuck, this feels so right. She pushes a hand into Brooke’s hair- it’s loose and down her back. She wonders why it’s like that in rehearsal (Brooke always wears it in a ponytail) but there must be a reason for it. Brooke’s hands are on her waist now, and Vanessa is suddenly acutely aware of the fact that her legs are still spread and Brooke’s are straight in between them. Brooke’s lips drop down to her neck.

“Fuck, wanted this since I met you,” she whispers against her skin, and Vanessa lets out a whine.

“Touch me.”

Brooke’s hands slide back down to her thighs, lips back against Vanessa’s as she keeps one hand steady against her leg and brings the other up to rub against the silk of her underwear, and fuck, it already feels so good and Brooke’s barely even touched her at all.

“Fuck, so good…”

“I bet you taste fucking amazing,” Brooke murmurs against her lips, and Vanessa lets out a gasp, brings her hand round to tug at Brooke’s ponytail-

Wait.

How come her hair’s in a ponytail?

But Vanessa doesn’t have time to question it because she can feel her orgasm building quickly with every little movement of Brooke’s fingers and she can hear herself telling her, and she squeezes her eyes shut as she starts to throb and when she opens her eyes-

She’s in her room. In her bed. She’s just woken up from a sex dream about her dance partner.

And she just came from it.

Vanessa is disorientated, confused, and wet. She feels on her bedside table for her phone. It’s Saturday morning.

“What the fuck?” she questions out loud. Then she gives a tired giggle. She rubs her eyes, still a little sleepy, and then scrolls to Whatsapp. Akeria and Monique are going to die when she tells them.

V: guys i just woke up from a sex dream about her

V: like i literally just orgasmed myself awake

She locks her phone after she’s sent the messages, sighing and shaking her head. Fuck her fucking brain. Vanessa lies in bed and stretches a little, a few minutes ticking by. She’s surprised that the girls haven’t immediately pounced on the message. She knows they’ll be awake- after all, they’ve got rehearsals to go to as well. Frowning, she unlocks her phone again to see if the message has sent.

It has sent.

But not to the girls.

The realisation dawns slowly and ice cold over Vanessa as she realises that, in her half-asleep state, she’s not sent the revelation to her group chat with the girls. She’s sent it to Brooke Lynn.

She shoots up in bed, at once entirely wide awake with horror and adrenaline. She could always un-send the messages and she contemplates doing so, but the two blue ticks beside each one and the “Online” under Brooke’s name glare back at her mockingly. So Vanessa’s heart sinks and she swallows her pride with a crimson face, typing frantically before Brooke can get there first.

V: oh my god. Oh my fucking god. PLEASE ignore that it wasn’t meant for you

She’s already cringing so much she thinks she might die, but Brooke’s reply makes it worse.

B: Well good morning to you too x

Vanessa wonders what she could even type to get herself out of the situation. At least she’s still leaving a kiss at the end of her texts.

V: i’m cringing so much i’m SO sorry x

B: Who’s the lucky girl x

Christ it just gets worse. But then as Vanessa’s head clears a little, she wonders if this is Brooke’s way of flirting with her. She plays it safe, decides not to risk things especially since she’s already embarrassed herself and it’s only eight in the morning.

V: god can we please pretend this never happened x

B: Whoever she was she clearly did a good job x

Vanessa’s heart thuds and she can feel the heat building between her legs again. She throws caution to the wind and decides to fuck the element of risk as she types her next message.

V: Yeah she did x

B: She the same person you’ve got a crush on? x

Vanessa’s heart is beating much the same as if she’s drunk three red bulls back to back (she knows because she’s done this before during a particularly stressful pro rehearsal day). She thinks about admitting, her body ruling her head, because the thought of some early morning dirty texts followed by sex in Brooke’s dressing room is entirely too tempting right now, but ultimately her head decides to make a sensible decision because being woken up via literal orgasm is probably the best she’s going to get today.

V: Might be x

V: A lady never tells x

B: You’re no fun. See ya at dress run x

Vanessa locks her phone and hops out of bed to take a freezing cold shower that she hopes will eliminate every iota of sexual thought out of her brain.

It works, until she gets to costume that night and sees Brooke in her outfit and her jaw almost hits the floor. She’s in red, a short dress with a plunging neck which stops midway at her chest and is strung together with glittering silver thread. It’s tight with a little skirt that flares out, and Vanessa knows it’ll look good during the dance. It’s also backless, and the sight of Brooke in it makes Vanessa instantly reach for her water bottle.

“Shit,” she says, and Brooke turns around in surprise. She can’t find any more words. “You look insane.”

Brooke smiles bashfully, motions to the hanger. “Thanks, baby. Yours is the same, it’s just black.”

Vanessa is suddenly gripped by nerves. She wonders if she’ll even be able to do this dance at all. But then Brooke’s smile grows on her face and she bounces on the balls of her feet. “I’m really looking forward to tonight. I think we’re going to do great.”

And if Brooke is so confident, who is Vanessa to let her down?

They’re up last tonight, so they get to watch most of the dances from the Divinatorium. Monet and Monique do a showstopping Jive to Dance Apocalyptic and Vanessa thinks the applause they get might rip the roof off of the studios. Willam and Phi Phi Charleston to a version of Fancy, but she struggles manfully and her scores plummet again. Vanessa can tell she’s disappointed but she doesn’t miss the hug she gets from Courtney once it’s over. Maybe that makes up for it, Vanessa doesn’t know.

Shea and Peppermint Viennese Waltz to If I Ain’t Got You, and it’s lovely even if Peppermint does mess up the footwork a little. Akeria and Asia Quickstep to Yeah (it shouldn’t work but it does), and Jan and Jackie are also doing a Salsa to Wrapped Up. Their performance is more fun and flirty than fiery and hot, and it worries Vanessa a little that she’s perhaps taken things too far. They also complete a lift, Jackie hoisting Jan in the air and holding her there at the end of their dance and making it look easy. They score 30 altogether, the same as Vanessa and Brooke last week. Vanessa’s stomach churns.

Eventually their time rolls around, and they’re standing in the darkness watching Gigi and Crystal Waltz to a version of Perfect with no pronoun changes through gaps in the curtains. Vanessa can feel her pulse surging through her like the bassline of a dance track, her nerves only building with every passing moment. Brooke’s standing behind her to watch, and when she wraps her arms around her waist in a hug from behind it does absolutely nothing to calm her down. Brooke’s swaying softly as she watches Crystal and Gigi together, the two girls holding each other steadily and their gaze tender as they look at each other. The sight makes Vanessa’s heart melt. She lets herself be swayed in Brooke’s arms, and Brooke drops her head to rest in the crook of Vanessa’s neck, her lips moving against her skin as she softly sings along to the song.

“I have met an angel in person, and she looks perfect…”

Vanessa feels like telling Brooke everything. How much she likes her, how calming a presence she’s been in Vanessa’s life even though she’s only been in it for six weeks. How beautiful she thinks she is. But Gigi and Crystal’s dance comes to an end. They’re holding each other tightly on the dancefloor as the audience claps. Vanessa wonders if maybe Brooke’s holding her just as tight. She feels Brooke’s arms drop to her sides as she straightens up, takes her hand.

“Fuck. It’s us. You ready?” she whispers to her. Vanessa looks into her eyes. She doesn’t think she’s ever been more or perhaps less ready to dance with a gorgeous woman she’s partnered with and finds entirely too attractive, but she cracks a smile anyway.

“So ready. Let’s crush it.”

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deathtriangles · 3 years

Note

I've got a fun game for you to play! Book an AEW trios tournament with RANDOM TEAMS! Put the AEW roster into a random generator and generate trios teams with 1 woman and 2 men. Even more fun - put the managers in too and generate managers for the teams! Then, deduce who you think would win and why! Have fun!

THIS SOUNDS SO FREAKING FUN AND I AM HERE FOR THIS !!!!! LETS GO !!!! ✨✨✨ So for this, I’ve randomly generated 16 teams ~ each has 2 men, a woman and a manager as requested~ As for who i think would win, I, as a lover of a good babyface team, am going with TEAM 4 !!! 👀

TEAM 1 : Angelico, Wardlow & Diamante, managed by Matt Hardy: OKAY THIS IS PRETTY BADASS!!!!! With Matt Hardy managing them, this would be a heel team for sure!

TEAM 2 : Matt Jackson, Serena Deeb & Chuckie T, managed by Jake Roberts: OMG this is a far cry from Lance for poor old Jake the Snake!!! 😂 I feel like Jake’s role as manager would basically be that one grumpy grandad at all the school meets. A face team which Jake would want to be a heel team

TEAM 3 : Stu Grayson, The Butcher & Riho, managed by Arn Anderson: this is even more random than the last one LMFAO !!!! would pop for riho and stu doing their flying moves off of the butcher’s shoulders! like jake arn is just looking at his team like 👁👄👁 A face team for sure, as the sweet Stu and Riho melt the Butcher’s hard exterior and let him have fun!

TEAM 4 : Jon Moxley, John Silver & Yuka Sakazaki, managed by Billy Gunn: FAVOURITE TEAM SO FAR I STAN THESE 4 !!!! this team , especially with lovable goofballs Yuka and Silver, is so freaking fun! Billy would be like that dad who cheers his kiddos on with everything he has ! 🥺🥺🥺 A proper baybface team who i would book TO WIN for the lovable goofballs to come out on top!

TEAM 5 : Cody Rhodes, Alan Angels & Nyla Rose, managed by Sting: OKAY BUT NYLA BULLYING FIVE WOULD BE SO FUNNY !!!! A proper tweener team, Cody and Nyla butt heads all the time while poor Five is stuck in the middle. Would definitely go out of the tournament early due to bad teamwork dynamics costing them the opening match

TEAM 6 : Pac, Cash Wheeler & Thunder Rosa, managed by Taz: THIS TEAM IS F*CKING BADASS!!!!!!! A trio of absolute asskickers with the baddest manager!!! Cash would like Pac since even though he flips, he uses a lot more fists nowadays! A tweener team who just wants to kick ass and take names and this philosphy will lead them to the finals, but sadly not to the win.

TEAM 7 : MJF, Luchasaurus & Kris Statlander, managed by Vickie Guerrero: MJF IN BIZARRO WORLD BASICALLY ! 😂 mans forced to team with a dinosaur, a cougar and a freaking alien. He would pull a Mox from Episode 3 and just flip them off and leave. Wouldn’t make it far.

TEAM 8 : Dax Harwood, Miro & Red Velvet, managed by Tully Blanchard: Dax keeps his manager !!! A heel team with Velvet outnumbered in the dynamics and she leaves the trio early in the tournament, therefore forfeiting their place, because the team keeps using dirty tactics to get ahead.

TEAM 9 : Rey Fenix, Orange Cassidy & Jade Cargill, managed by Reba: OMG THIS IS RANDOM BUT AMAZING ! 😂 orange takes every opportunity to not get involved. the reba scream haunts everyone. think they’re a heel team but in reality they’re a face team 💅🏻

TEAM 10 : Hangman, Brian Cage & Tay Conti, managed by Paul Wight: This is a babyface team of badasses as well !!! PLUS tay and hangman can technically recreate the buckshot/v-trigger combo! 🥺 their teamwork would take them far, likely to the semis!

TEAM 11 : Chris Jericho, The Blade & Dr Britt Baker D.M.D., managed by Don Callis: A BUNCHA CARNIES !!!! Chris and Britt together is lit as anything, gotta love the role models~ ofc they would come in to Callis’ amazing IMPACT entrance music

TEAM 12: Lance Archer, Sonny Kiss & Anna Jay, managed by Jerry Lynn: Sonny and Anna being together is EVERYTHING !!!!! lance doesn’t care as long as everybody dies. jerry is the wholesome dad. babyfaces for sure

TEAM 13 : Brandon Cutler, Jungle Boy & Penelope Ford, managed by The Bunny: What happens when a D&D Geek, Tarzan, a psycho bunny and Penelope meet in a bar ??? weird team for sure but honestly it could work! At least penelope got her book club bestie there

TEAM 14 : Kenny Omega, Evil Uno & Big Swole, managed by -1: VIDEO GAME DORKSSSS !!!! Swole better be organising their cosplay gear is all I’m saying !!!!

TEAM 15 : Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero M & Maki Itoh, managed by Tony Schiavone: I’M CREASING THE WAR BETWEEN EDDIE AND TONY CONTINUES 😂 maki sings over every promo the team cuts for her simps. a fun comedy team for sure, with some heat from the former best friends Eddie and Penta!

TEAM 16 : Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks & Hikaru Shida, managed by Excalibur: THEY DID THE DEAL!!!! Amazing luck that Ricky and Hobbs get paired together and Shida is badass enough to carry any team. Would make it far for sure~

#THE LONGEST POST EVER FMLLLLL #BUT THIS WAS SO FREAKING FUN NONNIE !! I HAD A BLAST !!!#THANK U SO MUCH!#finally according to my booking JOHNNY HUNGIE gets the win he deserves !!! 😤#x . galaxy booking

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quickspinner · 4 years

Text

Motorcycle Fairy Part 2

Part 1 | Part 3

I was planning on just a two part story, but it’s gonna be three. Motorcycle Fairy isn’t on AO3 yet, I’ll post it as a chapter of I’ll Never Not Know You when all the parts are complete.

It was a really nice day, Luka reflected as he sat on the bench outside of the shop, playing his guitar. The remains of his lunch sat beside him. He let his eyes fall closed, lost in the music, enjoying the breeze that ruffled his hair.

“Luka!”

Luka jumped slightly, the song cutting off inelegantly. He looked up and saw Marinette standing there with her hands over her mouth and an expression of horror. “I’m so sorry,” she gasped. “I just—we were listening and it was so pretty, and then I saw your face and I was surprised—I didn’t mean to interrupt you!”

“Marinette!” Luka scrambled to his feet and shrugged out of the strap of his guitar. “Hey, how’ve you been? Oh, uh, don’t worry about it, I’m just on my break and I was just messing around, you really didn’t interrupt anything.”

She relaxed a little, her shoulders coming down from her ears and her hands coming down from her mouth, and his attention was much too focused on that mouth when she spoke again. “It sounded great, though, what you were playing.”

“Well...thanks,” he grinned, moving his gaze quickly back up to her eyes. “Glad to see you back. I saw the helmet on your Instagram, by the way, it looked sick.”

��I’m surprised you remember me,” Marinette hunched her shoulders slightly again. She had on shorts today, pink with a white flowy top, and her hair done in pigtails, like in the picture she’d shown him, only longer.

“Of course, your art was really fantastic,” Luka said, not even really knowing what he was saying. “I really wanted to see the finished picture so I’ve been following your Instagram, and you had a lot of cool stuff on there, so...yeah, I remembered.” God, just kill him.

“Ah, yes, my little Marinetta is so talented,” said the older woman standing beside her, putting her hands on Marinette’s shoulders and squeezing. “The new helmet was a lovely surprise.”

Marinette beamed up at her. “Luka, this is my grandmother Gina Dupain. Grandma, this is Luka, he’s the one who helped me out last time.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mme Dupain,” Luka offered his hand.

“Call me Gina,” the grey haired woman smiled, shaking it. “Well, we won’t disturb your break, my dear, we just came to do a little shopping. I am taking my little Marinetta to Le Mans with me.” Gina put her arm around Marinette’s shoulders and smiled at her affectionately. “We need to get her some equipment so that my fairy will be safe and comfortable for the ride.”

“I’m actually just about due back, so let me clean up here and I’ll meet you inside.” Luka smiled at Marinette, trying to pretend his heart wasn’t trying its best to escape his chest. “We’ll get you all set.”

The ladies went inside and Luka scrambled to clean up the rest of his lunch quickly. He zipped up his guitar, reminding himself to breathe. He was at work and there was no way he was going to let the butterflies in his stomach keep him from doing his job. He rubbed his hands on his jeans, blowing out a slightly frustrated breath. Sure she was cute and sweet and talented and he’d maybe been nursing a small (maybe not so small anymore) crush since she came in the first time and maybe he’d daydreamed once or twice about what he’d do or say if she ever came in again, but this was his job and this was real life and Michel trusted him to not screw this up, so he was going to go in there and at least pretend that he had himself together.

She was the same girl who had knocked over his displays and chattered nervously the last time she was here. Before he knew that in addition to being cute and sweet, she was a video game champion, a creative genius who rubbed elbows with rock stars, and a savvy marketer for her fashion business. On top of that she still made time to decorate cookies with her dad, promote her friends’ accomplishments, and plant trees for community projects.

Not that he’d been stalking her social media or anything. He just...followed her. And noticed when she put up new things. She was just so interesting and her projects were amazing...

Luka shook his head at himself and picked up his guitar. Okay. I can get through this without sounding like a stalker or a perv.

Michel was already talking to Gina when Luka made it inside. “—and my Marinetta says your boy was so kind to help her last time,” Gina was saying. “And that you had a bigger stock of materials for women than the other shops she visited.”

“Yes ma’am,” Michel nodded with grave politeness. “It’s certainly our goal to make sure we have everything our customers need—all our customers.”

“I will have to let my club know about this place,” Gina remarked.

“And with those words, your grandma just won Michel’s heart forever,” Luka leaned over Marinette’s shoulder to murmur. She giggled, and he grinned. “I’ll be right back, just let me drop my guitar in the back.”

“Take your time,” she said, reaching up to pat his shoulder. “We’re not in a hurry.”

Luka blushed all the way to the back, and felt like a fool for it. Thankfully Jean was nowhere in sight. Luka suspected Michel had sent him on break as soon as the women walked in. He stashed his guitar and practically jogged back to the front of the store.

“Okay, I’m all yours,” he said, hopefully not too breathlessly, and wanted to kick himself. “What can I help you find?” he tried instead.

“Oh, um…” Marinette glanced at Gina, but she was still talking to Michel. “Um, well I have a helmet, but Grandma said I needed riding boots? And glasses. And a jacket with padding?”

“Okay, we can do that,” Luka smiled. “Boots are probably easiest, we only have a few kinds for women, so there’s not as much to pick from. We have about eight thousand different kinds of glasses,” he rolled his eyes but grinned back at her when she giggled. “Should we wait for Gina, or…”

Marinette shook her head. “It’s fine, she’ll come find us. She’s very chatty, so she might be a while.”

“Okay, then, right this way,” he touched her arm with the tips of his fingers and indicated the direction with his other hand. “So, Le Mans, huh?”

“Yes, Grandma’s club is racing and she said she has to—how did she put it—” Marinette put her nose in the air and said in an affected Italian accent, “Nonna Gina will teach these young idiots why they should respect their elders!”

Luka laughed a little harder than he should have as he gestured toward the shelf with their display models. “So your choices are a little limited, like I said, but you can go with the ankle boot or the taller ones, that’ll probably come up to about—” He looked down at her legs and then paused and ripped his gaze away. “Um, a little below the knee? Maybe a little higher on you because you’re—”

“Short?” Marinette finished with a giggle.

“Yeah,” Luka grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s a fact,” Marinette shrugged. “I’ve accepted it. I’m taller than my mom, at least, but on the height front it looks like the Cheng blood won out over the Dupain.” She grinned.

“They do look a bit of an odd couple,” Luka chuckled. “Adorable though. I saw them on your Insta too. It looked like there was a lot of love there.”

Marinette’s grin widened. “There really is. So do you have a recommendation?”

“I like the taller boots when I ride,” Luka shrugged, “More protection is always good, plus you’re less likely to accidentally burn yourself on the exhaust.”

“Ooh, good point,” Marinete said, wincing in a way that made Luka think she had experience with that hazard.

“Oh, we do have one mid-calf model, that’s new,” Luka pointed to it. “Some women prefer to wear the men’s boots, so we have more options in those, but to be honest I don’t think they’re going to come small enough for you.”

They discussed it a little further, and then Marinette picked out a couple of options. She took a pair of socks—knee socks, as it turned out—out of her purse and Luka made the mistake of watching her pull them on and up her leg. Marinette flashed him a smile in the middle of his internal meltdown that didn’t help at all.

Even worse, the stiff new leather gave her some trouble and Luka had to get down on one knee to help her get the boots on, trying desperately not to touch her any more than necessary. “Thanks,” she sighed when her foot was finally in the first one. He helped her get the second option on her other foot, and held her hand to steady her as she walked back and forth with them, a little wobbly as one had a thicker heel than the other. She picked one and then he had to help her get the wrong one off (professional, he promised Michel he’d be professional) and put on the mate of the one she’d picked. Marinette walked carefully back and forth in them and Luka folded his arms, bringing one hand up over his mouth and praying he wasn’t too obvious.

“What do you think?” Marinette asked, turning to look at the boot in the mirror. It was nearly knee-high on her as he predicted, a black harness boot with pink hardware all the way up one side for lacing and a rugged rather than decorative sole and heel. It had enough height in the heel for her to ride comfortably, but not enough to cause her any trouble.

I think you’re going to be so hot all geared up, Luka groaned in his head. “I think you’ll need to wear them for a bit and break them in, but other than that—are they comfortable? Because they look great on you.” That wasn’t too much, right? Still professional.

“They feel pretty good,” she said thoughtfully. “The size feels right. They’re a little stiff, but they don’t rub anywhere weird.”

Luka was saved from having to reply to that by Gina descending on them. She made Marinette walk in them again, cooed over her “fairy” until Marinette was red-faced and Luka was trying not to laugh at her. “You can keep them on while we find the rest of your gear if you want,” Luka suggested. “That way you can walk around in them a bit, make sure they’re still comfortable.” Marinette gave him an excited smile and did a little eager bounce and Luka maybe died just a little bit.

It actually didn’t take too long for Marinette to pick a pair of glasses; she went straight for a chrome and pink pair with rhinestones along the top and mirrored lenses, and she looked so adorable with them and so pleased with herself that Luka couldn’t help his grin. While Gina teased her about her pink addiction, Luka slipped away into the racks and came back with a mesh padded jacket that had pink panels with reflective piping in the front and back and down the arms. Marinette squealed and nearly hugged him as Gina laughed. Marinette put on the jacket and zipped it up. Gina checked the padding placement with the air of experience, and asked Luka for the next size down. He brought it and this time Gina nodded in satisfaction.

Nearly vibrating with excitement, Marinette put on her new glasses and checked herself out in the mirror. “How do I look?” she giggled, turning toward him. With her pink shorts and pigtails she looked more like a poster model than an actual biker, but even so—

“You look amazing,” he told her, maybe more honestly than he should have. “Would you mind if I took your picture for our social media page?” He looked at Gina. “I’m sure Michel told you we’re looking to expand our female clientele.”

“It is Marinetta’s decision,” Gina said with an indifferent shrug, “I have no objections if she does not.”

With Marinette’s permission, he took her picture and then a picture of her and Gina together.

“You’re adorable,” he chuckled absently as he posted the pictures.

“Adorable?” Marinette repeated, deflating slightly, and Luka flushed. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. So much for professional, although...that didn’t seem to be what was bothering her. As cute as she was she probably got that all the time, he realized, glancing at her pouting face. Adorable probably wasn’t what a lady wanted to hear when she was decked out in motorcycle gear for the first time.

Luka glanced at her and then at Gina, who had gotten distracted again. Then he leaned over slightly to look pointedly at Marinette’s new boots, hugging the curve of her calf. He met Marinette’s eyes.

“I’m working,” he told her, lowering his voice a little, “So I’m just going to say the gear suits you. But...change the hair and get some skinny jeans and I guarantee everybody else will use a different word.” He grinned at her and went back to his phone and Marinette giggled, blushing.

“You can go ahead and tag me,” Marinette said, tipping her glasses up and peeking over—or rather around—his shoulder. “Grandma too.” She dictated Gina’s handle and then pulled out her own phone. “That should help get people from Grandma’s club to check it out. Will you take a selfie with me for mine?”

Luka was more than willing to put his face next to hers and smile as she flashed her peace sign at the camera.

“All right, let’s check you out—get you checked out,” Luka corrected quickly, shaking his head. “Unless there was anything else you needed?”

“Um, I don’t think so,” Marinette said, sounding both thoughtful and maybe a little disappointed. Or maybe that was just him.

“Okay, well follow me and I’ll get everything rung up,” Luka said, tipping his head toward the counter. “You want me to package it up or do you want to wear it out?”

“I can do that?” Marinette asked, eyes wide.

Luka shrugged and smiled. “It’s all yours once it’s paid for, so why not?”

Marinette leaned her elbows on the counter, admiring her purchases.

“So,” Luka said, glancing at her as he started going through the pile. “I gotta ask, what’s it like working for Jagged Stone?”

Marinette’s head shot up and a blush bloomed on her face. “How did you—oh, right, I gave you my—so you saw the—um, yeah.” She laughed awkwardly, reaching up to fidget with one pigtail. “It’s, um...it’s an experience?”

“High maintenance?” Luka grinned.

“So high maintenance,” Marinette groaned. “Oh, it’s embarrassing to admit it, but my first try bombed completely. It’s a long story but I basically got assigned to be his gopher for the day and he was bound and determined that he wanted those glasses and nothing I could find was good enough and so finally I was like forget it, he’s impossible I’m just going to make them myself and...and…” She spread her hands.

“And now you’re friends with a rock star,” Luka laughed. “That’s awesome, Marinette.” He shook his head. “You must be incredibly patient as well as talented.”

“Oh...I…” She looked down at the counter, tracing a line of the grain with her finger. “I’m just...I like people. I like making people happy. I guess I’m a people pleaser.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing,” Luka commented as Gina came up to the counter.

“Well, sometimes—“ Marinette cut off and bit her lip and looked at the total on Luka’s screen. “Grandma, are you sure—”

“Hush, Marinetta,” was all Gina said, and Marinette just sighed with a fond smile.

“Thank you, Grandma.”

Luka gave Gina her receipt, and she immediately went back to whatever debate she’d been having with Michel. Luka looked at Marinette. “Well, you want to wear it?”

Marinette nodded eagerly and Luka chuckled, pulling out his pocket knife. He cut the tags off of the jacket and Marinette slipped it back on and zipped it up. Then she pressed her lips together for a moment before reaching up to pull her pigtails out. She retied her hair in a low ponytail over one shoulder instead as Luka cut the tags off her glasses and peeled away the protective plastic. “Better?” she asked. She took the glasses Luka handed her and slid them on.

“Well—” Luka glanced over at Gina and Michel, and leaned over, settling his elbows on the counter and speaking low. “I’m still working, but...ask any guy on the street and I think you’re going to get the answer you’re looking for.” He winked at her and Marinette grinned, looking pleased as she tilted the glasses up onto her head.

“So I’m guessing you’re not racing,” Luka said, straightening up and sweeping the tags into the trash. He came around the counter and crouched next to her to cut the tags off of the boots she was still wearing.

“No, definitely not,” Marinette laughed. “I’m just going to cheer Grandma on. And, you know, get out in the fresh air, have some fun. The races are open to the public,” Marinette added brightly as Luka straightened up and folded his knife. “It’s a big fundraiser and recruitment event for them actually, so it’s kind of a big party. I’m sure there will be plenty for me to do. Have you ever been there? To the track I mean?”

“The Bugatti Circuit? Yeah, a couple times for different things,” Luka replied, tucking the knife back in his pocket and leaning one elbow on the counter. “It’s a cool place, I’ve stayed at the campground nearby a few times. Great place to see some really cool bikes and cars, if you’re into that kind of thing. Most people who come to stay there are there for the tracks so they all have crazy machines.”

“Oh, that’s good to know,” Marinette exclaimed. “I don’t know much about cars but I bet I could get some amazing inspiration there.” She pouted a little. “I kind of wish my friends were going,” she whispered, glancing back to where Gina and Michel were chatting. “Grandma will be in the races and I’ll be stuck on my own. It’d be nice to be there with someone, especially someone who knew their way around.” Her eyes widened slightly and she blushed as she added in a rush, “I’m good at making friends though, I’ll find someone to hang out with.”

“No doubt,” Luka said, glancing over at Gina with a slight frown. He was sure Marinette wouldn’t lack for company and the idea of her being on her own made his big brother bone itch. So he told himself, anyway. “Just be safe, okay? You never know who’s going to show up at an event like that. People get a little bit of alcohol in them and they start acting stupid.”

“I’m a good judge of character,” Marinette smiled. “I know how to stay out of trouble. Besides, I may be adorable,” she rolled her eyes. “But I’m not helpless.”

You’re a snack and guys are going to be lining up like there’s only one vending machine, Luka thought grimly, but he kept his pleasant expression. “Well, is there anything else I can do for you, Marinette? It looks like you’re all set.” He put one hand on the boot box that now carried her street shoes and slid it closer to her.

“Oh,” Marinette blinked, like she’d forgotten why she was there. “Oh, no, I think that’s everything. I, um...thanks, Luka.” She picked up the box slowly, and her blue eyes were soft when she looked up at him. “Really, thank you. I was super nervous about coming to a place like this last time and you really made it easy, and today too, and I just...I’m grateful.”

Luka could feel his cheeks reddening. “I didn’t do anything special,” he shrugged, “A customer’s a customer, right? That’s Michel’s policy.” She made an affirmative noise and looked down and Luka knew he couldn’t just leave it at that. “But...I’m really glad I met you, Marinette. You’re a cool person. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime, just...around or whatever.”

His eyes skimmed over Marinette’s head as he resisted the urge to ruffle his hair, and found Gina watching him with slightly narrowed eyes. Luka didn’t react outwardly; he wasn’t doing anything wrong and he didn’t care if she knew he thought Marinette was cute. Really, he’d managed to get out of this encounter so far without embarrassing himself too badly or letting Michel down too much, so he was counting it a win. He forced himself to look back at Marinette though and smile.

“Maybe I will see you around sometime,” Marinette said, suddenly not quite meeting his eyes either, and Luka’s pulse spiked. “Like you said, you never know who might show up at an event, right? Who knows, maybe I’ll be going to more events now that I’m all geared up for it.” She grinned and put her glasses back on. They did nothing to hide her suddenly flaming blush. “Well...bye Luka. Thanks again!”

She nearly tripped in her sudden hurry to get out of the shop. Laughing, Gina caught her arm and said something quietly to her before glancing back at Luka and sending one more smile and a “Ciao, dear!” at Michel.

“What did I tell you?” Michel said with satisfaction. “Good customer service is never wasted.”

“Yeah,” Luka said with a smiling sigh. “You told me.” Man, what he wouldn’t give to be in Le Mans next weekend.

It’d be nice to be there with someone, especially someone who knew their way around.

No...no, he couldn’t. That was crazy. No way she’d meant it the way he suddenly wanted to hear it.

Like you said, you never know who might show up at an event, right?

Luka shook his head and went back to work. No. No way. He wasn’t that lucky. He’d really look like a stalker if he showed up in Le Mans, two hours away, on a couple of vague hints that he was probably reading too much into.

The next time he had a quiet moment, Luka pulled up Marinette’s Instagram. There was the selfie of the two of them together. The caption read, Gearing up for the trip to Le Mans next weekend! Had a great experience at Michel’s Motor Gear. The owner Michel is awesome and Luka took great care of me! Super patient, very professional, and soooo nice! AND he plays awesome guitar! #great shop #great service #great guy

Luka put his head down in his arms on the counter and whined. He was doomed. Worse, he wasn’t going to be able wipe the dumb grin off his face for hours.

He was still grinning stupidly at the picture when Michel walked by.

“Boss,” Luka said absently, not looking up from his phone. “Can I have Saturday off?”

Michel saw the picture in his hand and frowned. “I don’t think I approve of dating customers.”

“Fair,” Luka agreed, the dopey grin not budging a millimeter. “I quit.”

Michel stood stunned for a moment and then sighed. “Of course. I forgot for a moment you’re Anarka’s boy.” He chewed his mustache for a moment. “Ah, you don’t have to quit. I was watching, I know you’ve acted like a pro. As long as you ask her out on your own time, got it?”

“Yeah. So, Saturday? I’m thinking about a day trip to Le Mans.”

Michel sighed. “Fine, take the weekend. Get it out of your system before Monday.”

Luka snorted softly. “No promises.”

#quickspins #motorcycle fairy #i'll never not know you #lukanette #i am lukanette trash i admit it #luka couffaine #marinette dupain-cheng #miraculousladybug #miraculous ladybug #ml fics #meet-cute

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rassicas · 4 years

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Splatoon gear information from Haikara Walker

In Haikara Walker, there’s a section in the book that gives some additional flavor text to many of the pieces of gear in Splatoon. I translated these a long time ago and put them on twitter, but it was incorrect in some places, so I corrected those translations here. I also translated info for a few more pieces of gear. Because tumblr sucks, I can’t have every description be accompanied by a picture of the gear without the formatting getting weird. Also its too much effort. Anyway, here’s a google docs mirror, or just keep reading below. Enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Pearlescent Hoodie amiibo A fluffy hoodie that feels amazing, it's the same model as the one Pearl wears. There are two rings shining brightly on the left hand, and three on the right hand. "Pearl-scout” seems to be the generic name for fans of Pearl. Marinated Top amiibo Designed to boldly expose arms and waist, it's the same model of top as the one worn by Marina. There are silver accessories on the left hand, one of which is a digital watch. It seems that Marina’s fans call themselves members of the "Marination".

Rockin' Leather Jacket Annaki A thin jacket with a striking two-tone color scheme, based on the Inky Riders. Even the smiling blobfish badge on the chest shows the sense of style given off by this jacket.

Fresh Octo Tee Cuttlegear It looks exactly like the official T-shirt made by SquidForce, but it's a specially-made shirt that Cuttlegear created for Octolings. It has been carefully recreated, down to the reflector print on the back. Octarian Retro Cuttlegear Like the "Retro Sweat", this is a vintage treated sweatshirt that has a piece of a classic comic printed on it. On the bottom-right of the illustration is the author's signature. Of course, the pale colors are popular. Octo Layered LS Cuttlegear An octopus version of the squid tee dealt at the Global Testfire two years ago. An expert coordinator superimposed these different shades of red. Many Inklings pair this shirt with the Studio Octophones, and both envy and respect towards the Octolings is something that can really be felt.

Navy Eminence Jacket Enperry This jacket has a straightforward design that completely covers the body from above the knees. The overwhelming presence given off by it hangs in the air, keeping others from getting too close. The lower garments worn with it completely change the impression it gives off, which is appealing. It's possible to remove the hood.

Octoking Facemask Enperry At first glance it seems hard to breathe in, but it's made of a special material that even allows you to complete a full marathon with ease while wearing it. Even if one doesn’t talk as much, the star design around the mouth speaks for itself. Octoglasses Firefin A luxurious design with gold accents that have an "8" motif, all in a bold crimson frame. If one puts it on their head, they'll totally feel like a celeb.

Noise Cancelers Forge Headphones used to shut out external noise, such as when maneuvering a helicopter. Because it also has the effect of increasing the wearer's concentration, it is favored by chargers who like to bet on a single shot. Squidlife Headphones Forge In the days when it was prevalent to carry music outside, these handy headphones were sweeping the world. As time passed, it became popular among young people who prefer a cheap yet daring style.

Skull Bandanna Forge A bandanna with a design that has a strong impact. It features an image of an Inkling skull. It's common to it fold in half and wrap it around the mouth. Whether or not Inklings actually have a skull is a mystery. Custom Painted F-3 Forge This perfectly reproduced military jacket has been hand-painted, making it a luxurious item. The squid's silhouettes lined up on the back represents the number that have been defeated. The inner lining prevents body heat from escaping.

Brown FA-11 Bomber Forge A custom model of the FA-01 jacket. The inner sleeve has been replaced with a sweatshirt material, and it's been customized with things such as embroidered badges. It's an extremely rare item that you won't see much of in the city. Forge Inkling Parka Forge It's recommended to dress in a mod-like way with the military parka and a slick, 3-button suit. The jacket hides the buttocks completely, so even in shorts, one doesn't know the cold.

Crustwear XXL Grizzco This T-shirt is from Crusty Sean’s fast food truck in Inkopolis Square. Whether it's genuine or not is a mystery, but one feels better if they wear it. The illustration of the fried shrimp topped with an ample amount of whipped cream is adorable. Squiddor Polo Grizzco The uniform from iShipit, the company that’s helped us all out at one point or another, somehow leaked out of the company. Highly absorbent and quick-drying, it is comfortable to wear even while sweating. It looks so refreshing that it makes one want to start running. Juice Parka Grizzco It's the uniform of a famous oil company, but somehow it's made it to the streets. It's made of a special cloth that’s easy to move around in, and makes it easy for dirt to fall off of. With a weapon such as a Hydra Splatling or a Goo Tuber, one can perfectly resemble an employee of that company. Shrimp-Pink Polo Splash Mob A polo shirt made in collaboration with Shrimp Kicks in Inkopolis. The shirt features a vivid pink color, and has sleeves that are slightly rounded like puff sleeves. It has a shrimp embroidery on the chest. Whale-Knit Sweater Splash Mob Part of Splash Mob's House-Tag series. It's a traditional knitted handmade sweater with cute designs of whales, squids and coral. It's warm because it uses plenty of wool, and it has a pleasant, moderately weighty feeling.

Takoroka Windcrusher Takoroka An impressive, crazily-colored nylon jacket. The large printed Takoroka logo is a sharp design. The classic design is popular among young squids.

Takoroka Nylon Vintage Takoroka The second model in the Takoroka Nylon series. It can be summarized by it's carbon color as well as it's shining presence and mixing and matching of colors. The boldy-designed backside is also worth paying attention to. It goes well with sporty and outdoorsy activities. Crazy Arrows Takoroka Among the popular Arrows, there are many different colorations. Once one sees this shoe's crazy colors, the unforgettable and bold colors will make the personality of the person wearing it shine even more.

Silver Tentatek Vest Tentatek A down vest that aims to be lightweight. Many are also happy with the arm band for squidphones, which can handle heavy exercise. It is extremely popular with runners. Arrow Pull-ons Toni Kensa This is the first in a series of special order Kensa models titled "Takoroka for Toni Kensa." The multiple combinations of materials shows Kensa’s attention to detail. Even the design on the sole is lovely. Inkfall Shirt Toni Kensa The quality of the materials, sewing, and silhouette are uncompromised in Kensa's masterpiece shirt. The way the asymmetrical black smear pattern contrasts with the white background of the shirt is beautiful. One can be sleek and stylish.

Anglerfish Mask SquidForce A familiar, surreal mask that's a party good. As the part of the anglerfish glows, the visibility of the wearer's surroundings is enhanced, making it very convenient in the dark. It smells a bit like rubber when worn. Hockey Mask SquidForce A mask made of a phosphorescent material, designed after the motif of a cut open mackerel.* Because it glows dimly in the dark, the wearer can make their opponent tremble with fear. Keep this mask on, and do not go near the lake. *There’s an untranslatable pun here on how the word for hockey( ホッケー )is similar to the word for a specific kind of mackerel( ホッケ). I think the red arrows on the side of the mask are supposed to resemble fish bones?

Red Hi-Horses Zink An eternally classic model from its popular series that brought a revolution to basketball courts and the streets. The brand logo is decorated on the sole, so even the footprints are cool.

#Haikara Walker #splatoon translations #splatoon #splatoon 2

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bleakcreek · 4 years

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If it’s almost the end of the year, and we think i can safely say that this has been an AMAZING year for fic in the rhink fandom! there have been so many incredible new authors, on top of authors that have been around for years who are still writing about our boys, and i wanted to give a little bit of recognition to some of my personal favorite fics written in 2019!

i am not in any way implying these are “the best” fics, just the ones that i’ve personally enjoyed. i’m mostly sticking to either completed mutli-chapter fics or longer one-shots, and i’m limiting myself to no more than one fic per author so i spread the love.

without further ado, my (personal) top rhink fics of 2019. (behind a cut, because this post is very long.)

If You’re Wondering If I Want You To by @ssodangdark Rating: Teen Chapters: 5 Words: 10,234

Summary: “The year is 2006 — you just crafted the perfect away message, The Fray is playing on your clock radio, and you're trying to figure out what band t-shirt to wear to school today. Meanwhile, two teenage boys meet for the first time and navigate their feelings for one another through the songs on one of their iPods.”

this fic is everything you could want in a high school au. it’s sweet, and full of pining, and comes with it’s own built-in soundtrack. i can’t recommend this fic enough. this fic is so sweet, you might get a cavity reading it.

Honorable Mentions: most of em’s other fics are oneshots, so i wanted to feature a longer fic, but i also have to acknowledge her oneshots too! Three’s a Crowd (rhett/link/jessie) and Chris Springs are two of my favorite fics and i would highly recommend reading them.

Don’t Hold Back by @likeaswitchinheat Rating: Explicit Chapters: 26 Words: 86,501

Summary: “Link has a lot of responsibilities resting on his gorgeous shoulders. It’s Rhett’s job to unburden him of all that. When Link is Rhett’s, he doesn’t have to think about a thing. Rhett will take care of him.”

laika is another ridiculously prolific author, and i’m actually ashamed that it took me until a few weeks ago to read this fic even though it’s been finished for months. this fic is basically half shameless filth and half feelings and angst, which is pretty much exactly what i look for in a fic.

Honorable Mentions: i absolutely love all of laika’s oneshots, of which there are far too many to name, but i’ll put myself on blast for my particular tastes by giving special mention to Man Bites Dog and Selfie.

Candids by @captainsourwolf Rating: Explicit Chapters: 8 Words: 19,635

Summary: “Rhett is a photographer fresh out of SCAD. He lands his first gig soon after graduation, just a simple print ad for a high school advertising their new senior class wear. At the shoot he meets in-demand fashion model Link Neal. It's tense from the start. Rhett ends up being his photographer on most of his shoots, and at every single one Rhett starts a collection of candid shots that he keeps for himself, in a box of trinkets he finds comforting.”

i absolutely loved this fic. i loved the premise, and the slowburn and build up, and the tender longing between rhett and link in this fic. i’m such a slut for pining, which is why this ultimately won out over a couple of elizabeth’s other fics, which are also very good.

Honorable Mentions: a very close second for this my favorite fic of elizabeth’s was None Like This, but i ultimately had to give it to Candids because i’m a sucker for that softness. Aftercare and hump a little also deserve to be mentioned, too, if you’re looking for oneshots.

Rhinestone Cowboy by @soho-x Rating: Explicit Chapters: 15 Words: 26,439

Summary: “If he was honest with himself, he could admit the glamour of being on tour for one of Country Music’s biggest acts had clouded his better judgement. He’d quickly dismissed all apprehensions regarding living in a conversion van for three months, instead focusing on the idea of working a stage during a live show, standing in the wings while country maverick Roy Walker played to crowds bigger than the population of the town Rhett grew up in. It was a dream come true for a small town boy like him.”

this fic hooked me right from the first chapter! i was absolutely in love with the premise of rhett and link as country music stars, and this fic did not disappoint. if you like tender slowburn and pining, you’ll absolutely love this fic. it killed me in the sweetest possible way.

Honorable Mentions: for how recently em jointed the fandom, she’s written a ton of fic! Stolen Moments, No Good Very Bad, #Dormlife, and Only For Your Very Space (unfinished) are some of my other favorites from her.

Apartment 69 by @apparentlynotreallyfinnish Rating: Explicit Chapters: 18 Words: 86,501

Summary: “Link has it all figured out. He has a plan for his life. He has a nice girlfriend and a nice job and a nice routine. It really doesn't mean anything that sometimes he gets off on watching men fuck each other. He's just curious. But when a famous gay porn star moves next door to him, his perfect plans start to fall apart.”

appa is one of the most prolific writers in the fandom, so it was really hard to narrow it down to just one fic from her. i actually almost put another fic of hers on here instead, but apartment 69 was the first fic of hers that i read, so i felt like i had to give it the edge over incognito if only for that.

this fic had me on the edge of my seat with every update, and it should be a testament to how much i loved this fic that i was genuinely shocked by how long it was, because i could have sworn it was less than 10 chapters. that’s how quickly i tore through it all.

Honorable Mentions: while i didn’t officially include them, i also want to mention her fics Incognito, I Only Want You to See Me (unfinished), NSFW, Wingman, and Let Me Be Your Light, as well as her entire library of oneshots. she is INCREDIBLY prolific so you can easily spend weeks going through her ao3 page and never run out of things to read.

remember that time in college I found your handcuffs? by @egocentrifuge Rating: Explicit Chapters: 3 Words: 10,435

Summary: “Rhett feels antsy, wants to leave this entire conversation about the fetish gear he found in their dorm behind, but he still wants to know despite his better judgement.

“Okay, the - dom? takes control of a scene. Why wouldn’t the dom just do whatever he wants?”

“Because it’s all about trust, man.” Link’s face is open and sincere in that way he only gets when he believes in something; Rhett can’t look away. “The sub trusts the dom to make it good for them, and so the dom does their best to. It can be a lot of pressure, but it’s - good, too, being able to make someone feel safe and taken care of, you know? For someone to be willing to be that vulnerable…”

Something in the way Link says it trickles warmly down Rhett’s spine, and he puts his beer down.

“Alright,” he says firmly. “Fine. I don’t understand it completely but that’s - that’s fine. As long as you’re both happy or whatever.” There are more questions Rhett wants to ask, but it’s - too much, for some reason. Not just knowing weird kinky details of Link’s sex life, but the way he’s talking about it.

It's twenty years before they discuss it again.”

eggsy has the market cornered on a very particular genre i like to call “porn that makes you cry.” this fic mostly gets the spot because a lot of eggsy’s other fics are much shorter and/or not on ao3, and for purposes of a fic rec, i really wanted to give something long enough to really sink your teeth into, but i an assure you that every single one of their fics should and would be on here if i didn’t limit myself to one fic per author.

eggsy packs an incredibly amount of feeling into a small amount of words, and strikes a perfect balance between hot, angsty, and loving. i cannot recommend eggsy’s work enough.

Honorable Mentions: what of eggsy’s fics isn’t an honorable mention? Reciprocation, You Know What They Say, Men Who Dress Like They Do in California, Reprobates, Unbuttoned, and literally everything on their tumblr (which has a lot of stuff that isn’t on their ao3).

The Murmur of Yearning by @its-mike-kapufty Rating: Explicit Chapters: 35 Words: 108,811

Summary: “When burnt-out professor Link Neal is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that whisks him to the farthest reaches of the world, he isn't as ready as he thought he would be for the biting cold or the overwhelming darkness of Antarctica. Though at least he'd been given fair warning of those hazards.

The same couldn't be said of his new boss and research partner.”

mike has so many amazing fics that it by all rights should have been impossible to narrow it down to my one favorite, but honestly, this was a surprisingly easy choice. in spite of how much i love every single fic of mike’s, this one was so beautifully written and poignant, and i don’t think any other fic has ever made me cry the way this fic did. it hurts — in the best possible way.

i started reading this fic one evening after work, and was so captivated by it that i stayed up until 3 am, passed out midway through a chapter, then went home early from work the next day (sick! i was legitimately sick!) and laid in bed with a fever reading through the rest of this fic. the last written work i plowed through with that kind of speed and determination was harry potter and the deathly hallows...ten years ago.

Honorable Mentions: truthfully i could just link to mike’s whole ao3 page here, but i have to at least give special mention to You Have (1) New Message for making me sob (and being the first fic of mike’s that i read), Feel Good for being delightfully fluffy and soft, Untethered for being so incredibly creative and exciting and having me on the edge of my seat for the entire month it was coming out, and And Sundowns Mend Rhett for making me feel things, as mike is wont to do.

The Traveler by @the-average-bear Rating: Mature Chapters: 13 Words: 52,712

Summary: “Rhett's on a journey.”

this fic is probably tied with The Murmur of Yearning for my favorite rhink fic of all time, but i had to give The Traveler the edge only because it’s not...quite an au, and while both fics gave me a lot of feelings, this fic focuses on the rhett and link we know and love. it explores what might have been and what could be — and it touches on my favorite genre of fiction, which is sci-fi.

rhett finds himself accidentally traveling between timelines, exploring what his life could have been like under different circumstances. the build up to the rhink content is slow, and while there’s some smut, it’s pretty minimal, so this is a very different type of fic than a lot of the others here. but god, if you want to feel every feeling possible about these boys, if you want to cry, if you want to be overwhelmed by how much rhett loves link (and vice versa)...?

please, please read this fic.

Honorable Mentions: a lot of their other stuff is from pre-2019 so it’s kind of cheating to rec them on a post of the best fics of 2019, but seriously, please read any and all of their stuff.

More Honorable Mentions: i was going to do a lot more, but this list got really long and time consuming and i wasn’t able to do as many as i wanted. but some other authors i absolutely adored this year (in no particular order) are:

Rhincoln | @bloodbros

evenlypaced | @youdidinthedark

cockymclaughlin | @cockymclaughlin

pringlesaremydivision | @pringlesaremydivision

ohmyflavors | (not sure if they have a tumblr?)

LinksLipsSinkShips | @linkslipssinkships

missingparentheses | @missingparentheses

festivalofpudding | @festival-of-pudding

RileyRooin | @rileyrooin

crackers4jenn | @crackers4jenn

TheMouthKing | @themouthking

chronicallyilltrashcan | @chronicallyilltrashcan

#rhink #fic #fic recs #this is incredibly long and it would have been a lot longer if i didn't get tired in the middle of it and decide to be lazy #i'm sorry if i missed anyone #we have so many talented writers i'm sure there are a lot of people i didn't list #but that doesn't mean i don't love your fic

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traveladventuresinnepal · 3 years

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Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is one of the top center points for free voyagers just as a significant vacationer location of Nepal. The valley is encircled by four slopes. They are Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. The different idea of Kathmandu will give you amazing encounters and is fit for providing food a wide range of vacationers. Known as one of the world's most established capitals, Kathmandu Valley has 7 UNESCO destinations in the legacy list. These 7 locales gloats of social and verifiable landmarks that speak to different time and systems.

The 7 legacy locales are; the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, the stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and the sanctuaries of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. These legacy locales hold a long history of confidence and conviction and their entrancing engineering will leave you stunned. Kathmandu is the doorway to a few journeys where you get the occasion to appreciate fabulous Himalayas of Nepal. Heading out to Kathmandu will leave you with loads of exceptional encounters of mountain ranges, scenes, verifiable landmarks, antiquated conventions, different culture, and so on

Activities

Pashupatinath Temple is a critical journey objective for Hindus around the globe. Arranged on the banks of the Bagmati River, the sanctuary is committed to Lord Shiva, one of the divine beings in the Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Master Pashupatinath is a manifestation of Lord Shiva, and his name means "Ruler, everything being equal."

Additionally, Changu Narayan Temple is another well known Hindu sanctuary devoted to Lord Vishnu. The sanctuary is viewed as the most established sanctuary throughout the entire existence of Nepal. The sanctuary was inherent third century BC and isUNESCO site patan durbar square situated on a peak in Bhaktapur. Swayambhunath Stupa, which is most likely over 2,500 years of age is the most established legacy of Kathmandu Valley on the UNESCO list. The Stupa has two eyes speaking to intelligence and sympathy and 13 rings speaking to the 13 stages of stepping stool prompting Nirvana. Another UNESCO recorded site is the Boudhanath Stupa. Worked around fifth century the stupa is a mandala-style structure and is perhaps the greatest landmark of Nepal. Boudhanath's region is brimming with social attractions, particularly Tibetan culture and antiques.

The 3 durbar squares of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur were capitals of the three conditions of the valley. These durbar squares have the novel engineering and layered sanctuaries and many-sided works of wood and metals. The staggering engineering of these durbar squares will tempt you to wonder about their bombastic. Thamel is the top traveler zone where food, music, experience and a bit of personal opportunity arrive together. Wander around the entrancing roads of Thamel. You will discover heaps of shops offering everything from glass lines to Tibetan Singing Bowls. On the off chance that traveling is your strength, Thamel even sells journeying gear at moderate costs. For a quiet reprieve from the clamor of the city, you can go to Garden of Dreams, which is several minutes stroll from Thamel. The feel inside will loosen up your faculties, as you loosen up among the structures of the nursery.

Look into a boutique lodgings and gambling clubs. Boutique inns are extremely well known these days as a result of their structures and designs. The old Rana structures, Newari and Upper Mustang models are incorporated in these lodgings.

Food and Drinks

Probably the best thing about venturing out to a spot is to attempt its nourishments in kathmandufood. From different road sellers and side of the road cafés to significant inns serving different cooking styles is a strength of Kathmandu. Momo is considered as the most well known dish in Nepal. Dal Bhat is the conventional dish including rice, curry, pickles and vegetables.

Kathmandu is the best spot to evaluate Newari and Tibetan foods. Newari cooking has assortments of dishes to attempt like Chatamari (roti made with rice flour and various garnishes), Bara (seared lentil based bite), Choila (seared and spiced meat), Juju Dhau (meant King of Curds and is local to Bhaktapur), Samay Baji (a food platter of the previously mentioned dishes), and so forth Essentially, Tibetan foods incorporate Sha Phaley, Thenthuk, Tingmo, Gyurma, Masan, Tu (cake) and Laphing. Among them, Laphing is very well known. You can see different road merchants serving Laphing in the city of Boudhanath.

Shopping

You can have the best shopping involvement with Kathmandu. Top spots of shopping are Thamel, Asan and Indra Chowk. Shop sell different garments, made in Nepal items, ancient rarities and other exceptional keepsakes. Thanka artistic creations and sacred texts of divine beings are similarly well known.

In the event that you need to eat some nearby food or wish to purchase dabs and bangles, look at them at Indra Chowk. Thamel has gained notoriety for the garments and clothes. Generally known as "The Thamel Style", this dress style and business has been flourishing in Thamel.

Close by Places

Chandragiri Hill is a 2,540 meter high peak in the south-west of the valley. It has chronicled, strict and ecological importance. At the point when you get to the highest point of the view tower at Chandragiri Hills, you can get clearing perspectives on Nepal's Himalayas. Other than venerating Bhaleshwor Temple, you can likewise appreciate different attractions like kids' jungle gym, horse rides, shopping, and so forth The recently presented streetcar is the most convenDhulikel Kathmanduient approach to arrive at Chandragiri Hill. The base of the station is at Thankot. From that point, you take a 2.5 km trolley ride to arrive at the highest point of the station.

Lying 30 km east of Kathmandu and 21 km from Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Dhulikhel was at one time the focal point of Nepal-Tibet exchange. The unassuming community of Dhulikhel has numerous noticeable attractions that guests will appreciate. Some of them are Kali Temple, antiquated Newari houses, all encompassing Himalayas, Swet Bhairab Temple, Harisiddhi Temple, Narayan Temple, Gaukhureshwor Temple, Buddhists stupas and Shanti Ban. From Dhulikhel, the Himalayan pinnacles resemble the edge of a bowl - white, unadulterated and alluring. The pinnacles you will see from the overhang or cafés of Dhulikhel are Annapurna (8091 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Gaurishankar (7134 m), Ganesh Himal (7429 m) and Phuribichyachu (6637 m). Namo Buddha, a popular Buddhist journey site, is about an hour drive from Dhulikhel.

Situated in the northern piece of the Kathmandu Valley, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth public park in Nepal. It was set up in 2002. The essential target behind this park is to secure the valley's principle water source and untamed life. The recreation center restrains a few greenery and faunas. It is home to 318 types of fowls including Eurasian falcon owl, Slender-charged scimitar-motor-mouth, White-gorgeted flycatcher, Barred cuckoo-dove and Golden-throated barbet. It is a famous objective in the valley for feathered creature viewing and normal touring. Pokhara, Hetauda, Bharatpur and Bhairahawa are the absolute closest city to visit from Kathmandu. These urban communities are a portion of the top travel objections you would prefer not to pass up a great opportunity.

Affordable Holiday Packages with Buddha Holidays

Experience and Activities

There are many sanctuaries, places of worship and graveyards on the banks of the Bagmati River like Pashupatinath, Guheshwori, Gokarneshwor, Koteshwor Mahadev, Tripureshwor, Pachali Bhairav, Kalmochan and Jala Binayak Temple. Different strict areas arranged on the waterway bank are Shankhamul (juncture of Bagmati and Manohara streams), Kalmochan Ghat, Teku Dovan (conversion of Bagmati and Bishnumati waterways) and Sundari Ghat. Hindus incinerate the dead bodies at the banks of this heavenly stream, which you can likewise observe.Trishuli River is an ideal area to complete exciting advenRafting at trishuli riverture of boating. This mainstream boating spot is effectively available from Kathmandu and Pokhara. You can have the perspectives on the great little chasms, energizing rapids and a brief look at the trolley prompting the popular Hindu sanctuary, Manakamana.

Found 100 km away from Kathmandu, close to the Nepal Tibet guest, Bhote Koshi is another ideal spot to encounter boating and bungee hopping. Bhote Koshi is utilized for both boating and kayaking and viewed as the steepest waterway boating involvement with Nepal. Bhote Koshi's bungee hopping is remembered for the rundown of the Top 10 World's Highest Bungee.Nagarkot is situated on a ridge, 32 km north east of Kathmandu. It is an acclaimed visit for the time being remain, touring, cycling, traveling and short excursions. Encircled by the lavish green backwoods, it offers huge normal magnificence with all encompassing perspectives on the Himalayas. The cool and wonderful atmosphere adds to the beguiling vibe. It is a notable as an overnight objective, particularly to encounter the rising and setting sun.

For a trip of immeasurable scope, why not attempt a mountain trip with Buddha Air. The Everest Experience mountain flight takes off promptly in the first part of the day from Kathmandu and takes you to see the glorious pinnacles like Gauri Shankar, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, and the tallest mountain on the planet, Everest! Get a review of the mountains' highness from solace of your plane seat. To get full subtleties, you can visit Everest Experience.Kathmandu is a heaven for travelers. It offers you the best short and long journeys which will paralyze you with excellent perspectives on nature and mountains. Phulchowki, Helambu, Gosaikunda, Arun Valley, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo and Cho-la Pass journey are the absolute best trips you can begin from Kathmandu.

Culture

Considered as the first occupants of the Kathmandu Valley, Newars are individuals with different culture, conventions and exercises. The vast majority of the design of the social legacies and houses have immense Newari impacts. In the valley, there are Buddhist Newars and Hindu Newars, and their way of life is a combination of the two religions. Individuals can observer the intermixing of music, dance and religion in each social occasion. The best part is, you don't have to hold on to encounter them, there is continually something occurring in the valley.

Individuals in Kathmandu generally communicate in Nepali, and particular ethnic gatherings talk their first language. There are three significant religions continued in Kathmandu which are Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity with more noteworthy thickness of Hindus. The significant celebrations commended here are Buddha Jayanti, Indra Jatra, Mha Puja, Gai Jatra, Bisket Jatra, Seto and Rato Macchindranath, Maha Shivaratri, Dashain, Tihar, Losar and so forth

Sightseeing in Kathmandu with Buddha Air

Buddha Air works every day departures from Kathmandu to 13 objections including Varanasi, Kolkata, India. Buddha Air has in excess of 90 flights for each day working from TIA, Kathmandu. Tribhuvan International Airport, otherwise called Kathmandu Airport is the sole worldwide air terminal of Nepal.

An outing to Kathmandu is not normal for some other you will involvement with Nepal. It will be extraordinary experience that will give you best occasions to dive into its different societies and a ceaseless rundown of objections to visit inside the valley. The recollections you make are the ones you will value until the end of time.

Source - Buddha Air

#culture kathmandu #sightseeing kathmandu #tour kathmandu #nepal tour #world heritage kathmandu #travel kathmandu #day tour kathmandu

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nctinfo · 5 years

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[TRANS] NYLON: WayV here to report, the secret to becoming the new generation of male idol groups revealed here!

WayV: The dream launch plan of the new generation of male idol groups. People who have wanted to “launch [their] dreams faraway, straight to space” have never been the minority. The idols that are appearing in our sights usually have been through rounds and rounds of strict training. You don’t need to be curious about where the screaming and shouting surrounding “The Chosen Ones” came from, what you should be curious about is what challenges the likes of WayV, the unstoppable boygroup, have been through before appearing in front of us. Despite only debuting early this year, they have shown much potential. When you inquire the reason behind their success, the members’ statement of “all the one can do is work harder” is enough to explain. When you’re still “[waiting] for [your] dream to launch and gain speed”, they’ve already moved on from waiting at the same place, and “never look for excuses to dampen the blow” instead.

Wherever male idol groups go, camera lenses, shining lighted sights, and the heartfelt shouts of young girls follow. Youth is valued because it is limited, dreams are valued for the road to it. In today’s idol ecosystem, the new replaces the old quicker than ever before, while competition is tougher as well. Defeating the cruel rules of a boygroup’s survival, WayV officially debuted in China in January this year, with members LUCAS (Huang Xuxi) becoming “Keep Running’s” new fixed cast member. WINWIN (Dong Sicheng) participated in a Hunan Television celebrity variety show, and the episode of Happy Together, which all 7 members participated filming in, also aired recently...this new boygroup power just started gearing up for their “Dream Launch Plan”.

The 7 members are from different cities. Carrying the same dream of standing on stage, they chose to leave their hometowns, becoming trainees overseas, they must attain many skills to walk the flower road.

Member TEN (Li Yongqin), 23 years old this year, is overseas Chinese and has the longest training period in the group. In his six years of training, he had to learn Mandarin on top of singing and dancing. TEN says that he would practice alone in the practice rooms even if it wasn’t a training day. To TEN, dance is his comfort zone, and is also a way for him to calm down and destress. As for his Mandarin standards, he can now accurately and specifically explain the difference between Malatang and hotpot.

(t/n: context is that hotpot means you cook the meat and vegetable and everything else yourself, the soup base is served, then the raw ingredients; malatang is something where you order and it comes all cooked in a big pot)

Leader KUN (Qian Kun) is from Fujian province. He was culturally knowledgeable as a child, and is a classic example of “someone else’s child”. He never regretted traveling overseas along to become a trainee - for a bigger, better stage, 3 years of hard work is all worth it. Even though there are tiring times, but many interesting things are bound to happen between boys. To him, the greatest allure of the stage is if he was able to show the results of his practice. That moment on stage sparks the biggest sense of accomplishment in him.

(t/n: “someone else’s child” is a phrase in China/Chinese society representing the children one’s parents compared them to, eg. “someone else’s child” always scores higher in the same exam, and is such a filial child, why can’t you be more like them?)

XIAOJUN (Xiaojun) was already confirmed for debut when he was recruited into the company, so he had to catch up with his teammates’ progress quickly. “Entering the company, I felt a difference in skill, so I had to work harder.” But when he looks back on this memory, Xiaojun thinks that his improvement and newfound ability to confidently stand on stage was nothing on the tough times.

Perhaps the charm of male idol groups is the knowledge that the opportunity to stand on stage was earned by the people on stage putting all their effort in. And what refracts out of the moment one steps on stage is not just the success of 7 youths, but also the well wishes of fans in the audience. Like member WINWIN said, “[he] most wants to thank the [him] that worked hard before”.

LUCAS’ childhood dream was to be a firefighter, and because of his striking height and looks, he was meant to debut as a model, but debuted with his excellent singing and dancing skills after all. This boy (directly it’s big boy though verbvuidw) from Hong Kong usually employs his own humour to set the mood and make everyone laugh. At the same time, he switches to serious mode when discussing the significance of “idols”. “An idol is only an idol if they invoke pride in the public, and influence the people who like them via positive acts.”

HENDERY (Huang Guanheng), on the other hand, is more fortunate. Having been scouted in the streets, he simply wanted to try things out, but unexpectedly sparked his interest in music in the training process. Unlike the members who have some professional background, HENDERY started out as a fresh sheet, and is very grateful for the members’ help, “Without exaggeration, I might not have debuted without the members.”

To the youngest member YANGYANG (Liu Yangyang), the 7 members’ function like a family, and having bonded fo an extent, they all take care of one another whether in work or life. “Usually when we want to eat something, KUN would make it for us, and it’s delicious too.” “Once, my microphone fell off on stage. LUCAS swiftly picked it up at the back and passed it to me, only then could the performance have been unaffected.”

That day, the shoot was filled with laughter. As long as they are together, they will never run out of things to say. WINWIN says that the 7 of them sometimes gather in a circle to talk about their thoughts and feelings, in order to lessen one another’s stress. Before stepping on stage to perform, they would also encourage one another, and help with any nervousness. To him, empathy and tolerance are the most important dynamics in a boygroup, teamwork is the force that supports them in their journey forward. “Just like how a single chopstick is easily broken, but a handful is much stronger”.

Through the interview, the seven’s desire for the stage shone through. They anticipate the opportunity to show themselves to more people, let more people listen to their musical works. Whether singing or dancing, each one has a unique charm. Because of their want to be seen, they cherish every opportunity.

They believe that hard work will not go to waste, that all the times spent in the practice room is all part of their confidence. The days the seven of them stood shoulder to shoulder and pushed forth won’t be wasted either. Thank you, you who is beside me, for being a part of my youth. The flower path forward is a crowded one, and the moment you receive the entrance ticket, you are destined for more challenges. No one is forever young, but there is always someone young. WayV is now orchestrating the story of their very own youth.

👇Quick-fire question time👇 1. When filming for a show, how do you quickly become familiar with others? LUCAS: I would open up myself, and take the initiative to talk to others and get to know them better. 2. Are there any skills you’ve wanted to learn lately? WINWIN: I want to learn how to cook, I think men who can cook are really cool. 3. What do you think of bodybuilding? KUN: Men do have to build their strength when they reach a certain age, but I wouldn’t train excessively. 4. If you had a week off, where do you want to go the most? YANGYANG: To Europe, and visit where I went to school when I was younger. 5. If you had to choose one member to go to Mars with, who would you choose? XIAOJUN: YANGYANG, because we probably could talk all the time, and never have to worry about having nothing to say. 6. Have you ever thought about at what age you’d stop dancing? TEN: I’ll dance till I can’t anymore. 7. Do members send memes to one another? HENDERY: Two-thirds of my phone is occupied by memes of the members, of which feature LUCAS and KUN the most.

Translation: Jess @ FY! NCT (NCTINFO) | Source: NYLON CHINA — Do not repost or take out without our permission!

#NCT #wayv #ten #kun #winwin #lucas #xiaojun #hendery #yangyang #t:trans #t:article #t:interview #Nylon China #Nylon China: July 2019

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the-blind-assassin-12 · 5 years

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Empty Frame

A/N: Continuing to check off the smooches with another one shot, not connected to anything at all. I had no idea what to do with this prompt until this morning and it all just sort of fell together. This one is #19- one more left for Billy!

Word Count: 2,464

Prompt from: @audreychaz

Billy hadn’t added many personal touches to the place. Growing up without much privacy or many possessions taught him that practicality should take precedence over sentiment, his years of military service enforcing that idea. Only carry with you what you need to survive. Don’t get too attached to things that can break or get lost or stolen. You ran your hand along the back of the couch as you walked through the space, taking in its emptiness. Furniture. That’s it, that’s all there was. No decorative items, no plants to bring some color to the room, no blankets draped on the chair to make it warmer or more comfortable. It was just a space to be in, and on first glance it would be impossible to know who lived there. No clues, no cues no context, just your standard New York apartment, creaky floorboards and crown molding, walls painted in neutral tones. It could even be a model just for show, staged to create the illusion that it was ready to live in.

The sound of the shower, muffled through the walls and through two closed doors, was the only thing that made it clear that the dwelling wasn’t uninhabited. That, and the hefty, packed bag that sat by the entrance, his name embroidered in bold block lettering with olive green thread. Your eyes fell to the pack, stuffed with necessities, and it hit you like a punch to the gut that the place was about to become infinitely more empty. You closed your eyes and turned away, swallowing the tears that threatened to spill. No. Don’t start that. Not yet.

Clearing your throat, you pulled your sweater more tightly around your body and left the living room, suddenly unable to share the space with that bag and what it stood for. You padded down the short hall, socked feet taking you to the bedroom. You opened the door, the sound of the shower becoming louder, the air a bit warmer from the steam, the clean scent of his soap overwhelming your senses. The bedroom looked more lived in. Pillows and sheets still ruffled from when you’d lazily pulled yourselves from them a few hours earlier, last night’s clothing in a pile on the floor. Reaching out you touched the mattress, pressing your hand down into it. Images from the night before and from countless other nights filled your mind; his hands on your thighs as they hooked over his hips, his breath on your throat as his beard raked against your skin, your fingers in his hair and your name falling from his lips. Removing your hand, the images vanished and you felt a sharpness in your chest that you weren’t ready for.

The pipes shuddered in the walls as the cascade of water hitting the tile slowed to a drip and then stopped. You heard the shower curtain, it’s metallic rings clanging together as he pulled it aside, followed by a sniff and the rickety towel rack as he yanked the towel from the bar. He’d be getting out of the bathroom soon, and then you’d only have an hour or so with him. That sharpness deepened and twisted, but you shook your head. He hasn’t left yet.

You crossed to the dresser, to the one spot in Billy Russo’s home where he’d dared to display a personal item: a photo of himself and Frank, drenched in rain and covered in mud, lips and noses bloodied, and smiles wide with their arms thrown around one another. He’d told you the story behind the photo one morning while you walked around the room wearing the first rays of the sun and one of his shirts, sleeves too long and bottom hem reaching almost to your knees.

“That was one’a the toughest days in trainin’ I ever had.” He spoke from the bed, lounging with one arm bent behind his neck and his eyes focused sharply on you. You picked up the frame and turned around towards him. He beckoned you back over to the bed with a tilt of his head, and you obliged, climbing in next to him as he moved into a seated position. Licking his lips and raking his hair back with one hand, he continued. “We just finished up this brutal two week camp, Frankie and me and our unit. This was the last night.” His arms came around you as he pulled your back to his chest, one hand leaving your body to take the frame. “It was about 37 degrees that night, been rainin’ for hours, and we’d just finished a 12 mile run wearin’ all our gear.” He laughed. “The last fuckin’ thing any of us wanted to do was take a bunch of punches and get thrown in the mud, but” he shrugged. “Gotta prove yourself, ya know? So Frankie pumped me up, told me these guys ain’t shit, that I’m tougher than they are.” You listened raptly, noting the difference in his voice when he talked about Frank as opposed to any other friend or acquaintance. “I stumbled my way through that goddamn gauntlet and I waited for him on the other side, and when he got to me I socked him right in the gut.” He laughed again. “Fucker laughed so hard. He’s the toughest son of a bitch I ever met, and that’s not the last time he’s got me through some tough shit. Frank’s like my brother, only family I got.”

“I’m glad you have each other, Billy,” you’d turned to kiss his cheek as he set the frame on the bedside table.

“Yeah, yeah me too.” Both hands were on you again, gripping your waist to turn your body. He pulled you on top of him then. “But I’m even more glad I got you,” he growled low into your ear, the rest of the morning melting into the sheets.

The photo was as much a part of the room as the pillows on the bed or the clothing on the floor, so its presence wasn’t out of the ordinary. What shocked you was the addition of a second photo that you hadn’t noticed last night. Your breath escaped your lips in a rush and for a few seconds it was impossible to take another. Your trembling fingers came up to the second frame, the same plain, simple black wood design that held the picture of Billy and Frank, this one also containing a snapshot of a moment in the rain.

It had been a hot summer afternoon, the two of you walking down by the waterfront in Hunter’s Point. You’d sat for a while sharing a carton of french fries and a few beers at a bright yellow picnic table, music and chatter filling the air as seagulls and pigeons swooped low to dine on fallen crumbs. It was in that perfect pocket of time when he’d been back from deployment for long enough that things felt normal again, and his next was far enough away that neither of you were thinking about it. It was just an average day, no special meaning other than his hand around yours; a Thursday, if you were remembering correctly, that you’d spontaneously used a vacation day for. You’d been so engrossed with one another that you hadn’t noticed the ominous clouds gathering on the Manhattan side of the water, or the increasingly empty tables and sidewalks around you as people started heading for shelter as the storm rolled in. By the time the sky darkened enough to get Billy’s attention, it had opened up, dousing you both in a matter of seconds, your squeal pulling genuine laughter from deep in Billy’s soul as his arms wrapped around you. He tugged you under the covered picnic area to get you out of the downpour, but you were both already soaked, your t-shirt sticking to your skin and your hair plastered to your face. Looking around you realized that you were alone, save for the workers in the food stall, withdrawing from the windows so they didn’t get splashed by the fat raindrops. “Hey,” you looked back up to him, blinking water from your eyes as he grinned. “You okay?”

You bit your bottom lip and looked up at him. “Yeah, Billy, I’m okay,” your voice came out in a breathless laugh.

“Good,” he swiped a droplet of water from your bottom lip, staring at you like it was the first time he’d seen you, like the rain had turned you into something else. “You know somethin’?” he asked, a tilt to his head.

“What’s that?” You asked, clinging close.

“You’re perfect.” He said it matter of factly, as though he’d just had the realization and couldn’t imagine why it had taken him so long to come to it. “You’re perfect for me.”

Without giving you time to respond, he caught your lips with his own, his hands moving over your rain slicked body to cradle your head and pull your hips closer to his. He kissed you slowly, tongue easing between your lips and tasting of rain and beer and the words he wasn’t saying out loud. I love you. You felt it in the beat of his heart as he pressed you closer to his chest, and you responded immediately, gripping his hair in fistfuls to lock yourself into that kiss. I love you too Billy. You said it back with a roll of your hips into his, pulling a soft groan from his throat as you tugged gently on the long locks twisted around your fingers. It was different from the kisses you shared in bed in the dark; short little nips, biting lips and tongues fighting for dominance, when your hunger for each other eclipsed everything else. This was slow, building and deepening with each movement of your tongue, each pass of his lips over yours, every flex of his fingers. This was a promise, an offering, a pledge. It was more than he’d given anyone, and you knew that without question, trying to give him just as much back.

When he finally broke the kiss he didn’t pull away immediately, instead pressing his lips to yours once more, leaving them there for long seconds, his breath mingling with yours as you both fought to steady your lungs. He moved his fingers in your hair, other hand climbing between your shoulder blades to hold you close. “Perfect,” he said once more, so softly it was almost washed away with the rain.

You laid your head against his shoulder, heart glowing so much that it was hard to believe that you were standing in the middle of a storm. You hadn’t said the words, but you felt them and you knew that he did too. The idea came over you as suddenly as the sky had opened up; you wanted to capture this moment, this change, forever. Pulling your phone from your pocket, you kissed him again, snapping a photo that caught the slight smile on his lips as yours reclaimed them.

Your fingers slid over the glass as the tears you’d been fighting all morning finally formed in the corners of your eyes. You hadn’t heard the door open, too lost in the perfect memory of the afternoon that you held in your hand. He came up behind you, hands planted on the dresser on either side of your body, pressing himself against your back, lips in your hair. “That was a good day, wasn’t it?” One arm came around your waist, hand closing around your far hip as the other reached around to take the photo from your hands. He pressed a kiss to the side of your head as you let go of the frame.

It was a perfect day. “Yeah, Billy, it was.” You turned to lean against the dresser, wiping at your eyes so you could look at him clearly. “I didn’t know you had that picture...I…”

He dropped his hand from your hip, turning the frame over in his grasp to open the back of it. “You posted it on...I dunno instagram I think? Or you sent it to me or...somethin’...and I printed it out…” The back of the frame popped open and he lifted the glossy print away from the glass, setting the empty frame back on the dresser. “Wanted to put it here,” he indicated the dresser and the framed photo of him and Frank.

“What are you doing...why did you take it out?” You felt a few more tears roll down your cheeks at the realization that framing that photo meant that he’d added you into his family.

He smiled, eyes scanning every inch of your face before leaning in to kiss the corner of one eye. “Takin’ you with me.” He answered. “Takin’ that perfect day…” he leaned further in, arms coming around you to hold you to him and lips coming up to whisper in your ear. “Takin’ my perfect girl with me.”

Your heart swelled as waves crashed against and inside of it. “We’ll have lots of perfect days when you get back home, Billy,” you said, assuring yourself as much as him.

“Yeah,” he said, pressing another kiss behind your ear before he disentangled to finish getting dressed. “Yeah, we will.”

Two hours later, you were almost on borrowed time if Billy was going to make his flight. “Alright, you ready?” He asked, as though you were the one that was leaving civilian life to head to an active war zone. You nodded, but then froze mid nod and ran back to his bedroom. “What are…” You were back in seconds, and his eyes were drawn to your hands. “What are you doing?”

You were holding the frame that he’d taken the picture out of, lips pressed together to fight against the tears that threatened to fall again. No, hold it together until you’re back home. Don’t let him leave with your tears. “Just gonna hold on to this…” you said quietly. “Til you get home.” In your head, the empty frame was already on your bedside table, already in a spot where you could see it as soon as you woke up or as you were drifting off to sleep, reminding you that the man you loved loved you, too, that he was coming home to you, that you’d have so many frames to fill in the future. You sniffed, hoping he’d understand.

He nodded, reaching for your hand to lead you out as he locked up. “Good idea.” With a click of the lock, the apartment was left even emptier than usual; Billy taking all that he had, all that he needed with him- his gear, the necessities, and you.

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#billy russo #billy russo x you #billy russo x reader #billy smooches #kiss prompts #kiss requests #a kiss in the rain #admiration

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