#Italy wine map

[nanamiskentos]

SALVATORE — jujutsu kaisen x reader minors dni

prologue. → going on summer vacations with the jjk men and things get a little...hotter?

pairings. satoru gojo x afab!reader / suguru geto x afab!reader / nanami kento x afab!reader / choso kamo x afab!reader / ryomen sukuna x afab!reader / toji fushiguro x afab!reader

warnings+. non-sorcerer/jujutsu au, from the back, exhíbitíonism, mild food play, ríding, máting press, creámpíe, against the wall, oral (f. receiving), fíngeríng, hey even in a cave! reader is called good girl, princess, baby, darling, my love.

word count. 4.1k! song inspiration. salvatore — lana del rey

a/n. update #1 writing this fic had me looking up shit on wikipedia pages abt cities around the world, had me checking meteorology maps...tried to choose cities i've been to but i was still racking my brains. update #2 btw whenever i write smut like this i'm filled with outstanding self awareness and minor shame but thats the fun of it 😭 this is day no.3 of me trying to rewrite this all from scratch update #3 day 4! fawkkkk i wanna go on holiday too now. lmao if i was in the sukuna one, i would have been mad as hell, istanbul is stunning <3

mp3. everything looks better from above my king, like aqua marine, ocean's blue

TOJI FUSHIGURO — all the lights in miami begin to gleam 📍 miami, america

"o-oh, fuck. think she's really tellin' me to keep going like this, don'tcha think?"

your boyfriend is mean when he's like this. sharp, jade eyes narrowed as they take in the sight of your puffy folds swallowing him up over and over as he's stuffing himself into your sticky walls. and if you turn your head away, from where you're smashed against the pillow, you can see the floor-to-wall ceilings of the high-rise penthouse that offers an uninterrupted view of miami's glittering skyline.

"how - how, did you even get this place, hah, toji?" it's a wonder you can even get a coherent sentence out right now, your guts are practically being stuffed with inches of your boyfriend's veiny cock, and it's leaving you, well, delirious.

but with humble credit and thanks to what you can assume is your own nasty grip, toji's not faring much better either. his brawny frame is practically shuddering, and while you can't see his face in this position, you're certain that a sharp canine has sunk into his lip, and his breath is coming out in hulking groans.

"heh, you're n-not meant to ask questions like that, princess? gotta, ohhh, gotta keep some business s-secrets up my sleeve, huh?" and he's practically a beast right now, handling you on all fours of this king-sized bed, draped in silk sheets the colour of red wine, "just a reward for a-, haah, a job well done."

any job well done from toji was most likely something illegal, but you can't even bring yourself to care, not when there's a bucket of chilled champagne on the glass table to your left, and certainly not when his fat cock is smearing right through you, leaving a coil in your abdomen that only he can unravel.

you whine, feeling the fat tip of his cock practically rummage and make a home in your cunt, "toji, wan' more," and you're pushing the plush of your ass against his pumping hips, and you hear his sharp intake of breath.

a rough hand has snaked underneath you, creating a small gap between you and the bunched-up fabric on the bed, and his callous fingertips are now circling sloppy, messy circles over your clit, leaving you bucking in his hold.

"n-now, stay still, princess. not done with you yet."

SUGURU GETO — ciao, amore. soft ice-creams. 📍 amalfi coast, italy

you're not sure how long you've been trembling under suguru's mouth, but it must have been an eternity under the ministrations of his tongue.

the sun has been blazing high, casting a golden glow over this part of the private beach, hidden away from the towns bustling with tourists like yourselves who had descended upon the coast for the summer.

soft waves lapped in ebbing waves, the rhythm breaking the perfect stillness of the afternoon, in this wooden cabana, separated from the terracotta villas.

and no, your mind was nowhere near admiring the turquoise waters of the ocean, but rather your lover's mouth practically exploring every inch of your cunt like this.

the tapered tip of his tongue had long been probing around your fluttering pussy, taking in every last drop of your pearlescent luster that was practically dripping over his chin.

not to mention the absolutely sticky and languid trails of melting ice-cream, each biting cream drop that fell on your hot swollen folds getting promptly cleaned up by the one who was enjoying this sweet game.

"shhh! don't wanna get kicked off this beach, do ya, pretty?"

and suguru looks positively devious, his violet eyes gleaming with crude intent. his black hair is a tangled mess, long locks falling victim to your clawing nails that tumble carelessly over his bare back, kissed by the sun and glowing with a soft, rosy pink hue.

and when he smiles, the sunlight catches onto his lips, making the slick on his mouth sparkle and wink up at you.

"been - it's been an entire hour by now, can't you just let me cum," you huff, closing the plush of your thighs around his ears, boxing him in.

geto flashes you a mischievous grin, running a slow finger through your sopping folds, and lightly brushing over your entrance as you mewl again.

"where would the fun in that be, pretty?" he murmurs, "love seeing how wet this cunt gets for me, need to let me have my fun."

what a devil. clearly, getting under your skin is a sport for him.

you're hardly given a moment to breathe before he's jostling two thick digits right into the thick of it once more, in and out, in and then out, as his thumb find its home on the slope of your bare mound again.

"besides, we can take it slow for 'nother hour, can't we?" and now suguru's toying with your clit, and his teeth lean down to graze the swollen, throbbing bud, "gotta see just how much you can beg for me."

NANAMI KENTO — catch me if you can, working on my tan 📍 gold coast, australia

"w-wait, darling," nanami shudders under your touch, under your fresh set of nails raking small patterns over his neck, "anyone could just walk past here, y'know."

you curl your lip, before pressing your mouth in an open mouthed kiss to his stretched neck, warm and flushed.

you can feel the galloping thrum of his pulse beneath your lips, the heat almost intoxicating, mingling with the faint tang of the pool water's chlorine, and the scent of banksia and frangipanis in the air.

you can also feel his thick cock dragging through your walls, as you ram the weight of your hips over and over again. it seems like the shimmering skyline of surfer's paradise was just what nanami needed, after months of work, and you're determined to make the most of your time here.

he's got you bouncing practically like a ragdoll, heavy balls swinging up and smacking your skin in what little space remains between the two of you, and he's panting into your chest, "whatd'ya gonna do if someone sees?"

"mhm, don' care, no-one's here, nanami."

his broad arms loop around you in the pool chair, as you straddle the sizeable bulge that's making a tent in his briefs, "nasty, sometimes, aren'tcha?"

you smile, as your husband's large hands roam over your back, making you arch your back into his touch — as he deftly pulls at the tight knot holding your damp bikini top together.

"ah, don't get shy now. let me see these," and you can only nod hazily as he lets your tits spill out, and press up against his bare, chiselled torso, "wanted this so bad, just a minute ago, yeah?"

"s-still want this," and for good measure, you grind your hips down over his cock with even more pressure, feeling him jolt with a quiet 'fuck!' underneath you.

"haah, that's not fair, darling," and he's crashing his weeping, curved tip so far into you, that you're certain you're seeing stars on the saltwater horizon, "what happened to playing nice?"

you know you should be weary of the flicker of challenge that glints in his stern brown eyes, softened by the haze of your squelching cunt, "do y-your worst, otherwise what? can't keep up?"

a cocky smile curves over his mouth, and that's the wave of satisfaction you were looking for, hoping that he'd take the bait.

he leans further back in the pool chair, now with an arm wrapped lazily around your gyrating hips, but you can feel his grip tighten, stealing the humid air right out from under you, "we'll see who can't play nice when you're begging for my cock to fill you up."

CHOSO KAMO — all the lights are sparkling for you, it seems 📍santorini, greece

"hey, shh, shhh..."

choso's voice is a low rumble as he glides his thick, leaking tip down your slick core, and you shiver as the cool ocean breeze mixes with the warm slick gathering between your bodies, "w-wow, you're doing so good, handling it so well, my love."

you must have made a good choice, choosing this suite. one carved seamlessly into the tan-rock of one of the island's famous caves. and well, your sweet boyfriend has been fucking you so incredibly that you feel your eyes start to water, blear away from the pretty blue and terracotta accents on the mantelpiece.

his girthy cock sinking into you send shivers to your pussy that leave you fluttering and squeezing around him tighter, clenching around the veins as he sinks even deeper, so the thickened head is practically kissing your cervix, and filling you in ways you didn’t know were possible.

"d-does it feel good for you too, cho?” you gasp, wrapping your arms around his broad shoulders, fingers playing with the soft choppy strands that fall around his shoulders, "this...this is what you wanted, right, baby?"

the pale mauve of his lips curves into a faint smile, and despite the sharpness of his thrusts making a home in your gummy walls, there's a tenderness in his shadowed, hazel eyes as his palm glides down your torso, cupping your tits gently, "w-would go anywhere in the world, if it was with you."

and he's looking at you with such love that you just cannot help but believe him when he says, no, shudders out a "you're so beautiful."

the sound of the water lapping against the rocks below fills the room, mixing with your soft whimpers, as the slow roll of choso's hips leave your puffy folds weeping. the thick, throbbing head of his cock brushes against your g-spot, right there, and you moan, lost in the sensation.

"god, y-you’re so good at this," he breathes into your ear, his voice hoarse and strained, and suddenly far more shaky, "ah - could do this forever."

"w-will you?" you whisper, eyes fluttering as you lose yourself in what is surely ropes of stringy white cum painting you lovingly inside, "wan' feel you all the time, cho."

choso's misty, flushed gaze locks onto yours, filled with a heat that makes your heart race, and fireworks shoot through your abdomen, "think you're g-gonna be my wife someday, yeah?"

you bite your lip, a shy smile painting your face despite the way that he's practically jostling inch after inch into your pussy, pressing into you like a vice, "really mean t-that, cho?"

"ahh, 'course i do," he shudders, brushing a thumb down the swan-arch of your neck, "now, hold onto me."

RYOMEN SUKUNA — dying by the hand of a foreign man, happily 📍istanbul, turkey

"huhh, oh my god! you're an animal," you huff at your fiancé, who's currently sprawled on the plush bed underneath your straddling thighs, under the sheer curtains that billow softly in the warm breeze from the open latticework windows.

and right now, sukuna looks like a mess.

and it brings you a great deal of satisfaction to see your usually composed and aloof fiancé so undone and disheveled, as he grins up at you — the black markings on his face creasing with the movement.

his rosy-pink hair is a tangled heap, but you can't resist running your fingers through the short, tousled spikes.

and his lips, which have been marking you up consistently for the past ten minutes, gleam glossy and full, as his crimson eyes lock onto yours with the smug satisfaction of a cat who's gotten its way.

he'd barely waited a mere minute after the two of you had arrived back to your hostel's room, from a whirlwind tour of the sultanahmet district, before he had pounced on you, and had practically tore your long skirt off.

you don't quite think it's worth mentioning that you've been pawing equally at your boyfriend in the same time as well, pulling his thick and lengthy shaft out of the confines of his boxers, and swiping a thumb over the angrily-gleaming tip.

"d-didn't even take a second to think about all the places we just saw? the history lessons, and - sukuna, were you even listening?"

by now, you're fighting back heaving shivers at the way the pads of his calloused fingers run under your top.

"hah! yeah, yeah. history and all that," he murmurs, low and amused, but his focus is clearly elsewhere, his lips now resuming their previous task of snapping at your torso, letting pretty berry-red marks beam.

you roll your eyes, though a smile tugs at the corners of your own glossy mouth, "y-you're impossible," and you try not to squirm as his forefinger and thumb on each hand pinch at a nipple under your top, "don' even know why i bothered bring this...this camera around. the guide said that these sights were o-once, oh fuck, sukuna, get a grip, said the sights were once-in-a-lifetime b-breathtaking."

"breathtaking, huh?" sukuna shifts closer to you, scooting you further over his wide lap, and his voice has dropped to a low and sultry whisper that sends a shiver down your spine, and leaves you aching, "i think you're breathtaking. wan' explore this," and here, he snaps at the elastic band of your lace panties, "instead."

"and besides, i was listening," and now, he's patting his sculpted, exposed thighs behind the plush of your ass on him, "the guide said that this city straddles two continents."

he's emphasising his words with a deliberate tap, clearly hoping you'd catch the awful word-play.

"say something like that again, and i'm booking the next flight home."

"hah, so now you hate it when i am cultured."

by now, his two rough hands kneading at you has left you...airless. thick heat has been pooling in your core, and you just can't help but let out a soft whimper, "sukuna…only wanted y-you to focus."

he shakes his messy head, laughter rumbling deep in his chest, under thick pectoral muscles, "no can do, brat. you’re my focus now. done enough sightseeing outside today, wanna do something inside."

"you’re impossible!" but you gasp as he skims a thumb over your cloying, dewy clit, making you jolt.

you know he must be in a rare, mellowed mood because he breathes, "impossibly in love with you," and it's quiet, teasing as the heat of his breath ghosts over your skin, "now tell me how much you want this, and maybe i'll think about giving you a different type of lesson."

franky, by now you want nothing more than to be filled with heavy, hot inches that curl into you, sloshing their way to the most sensitive spot of all, and sukuna must see that on your face.

"i -," you begin, but the words falter as he leans in, his lips brushing against your ear, and the weeping tip of his cock taps against the wet pool staining your underwear darkly translucent.

"just say it, brat. tell me how bad you want it, i'll even be nice this time," he urges, his voice a sultry purr, "just gon' give it to you as you ask, yeah?"

"wan' you in me, 'kuna," you finally admit, breathless, "i want you so much it hurts."

"good girl," he mutters, his eyes darkening with desire. "now you're getting the right idea."

you sigh, content, but then still your rocking hips suddenly, "but after this, we're still going out to the bazaar for dinner."

"for fuck's sake."

GOJO SATORU — like a boss, you sang jazz and blues 📍paris, france

you're not quite sure where exactly you should be training your ears, whether you should be listening to the sultry notes of a saxophone that wrap around the plush velvet booth where you and gojo are seated.

or the thick, clingy swish of his fingers practically bullying themselves in and out of your pussy. the air is thick with the scent of expensive cigars that make you wrinkle your nose, and fine whiskey (that makes gojo wrinkle his nose) and the sweet tang of your own slick, privately, just for the two of you.

your boyfriend sits close to you, his left hand tight on your waist, and the other working a fine instrument, bunching up underneath your ysl silk dress.

"baby, look at how your perfect cunt's talkin' to me," he's whispering, and you can hear the sheer glee in his voice, his breath hot against your ear.

meanwhile, your jaw is slack and you're doing your best to not meet his touch with a sultry, rhythmic grind of your own hips, but the knot is quickening and tightening within you.

but gojo just smiles, and you can see the blue in his eyes darken underneath his sunglasses that have slipped slightly down the slope of his nose, "but can't have everyone hearing this melody, can we? might think you were the main fuckin' attraction for the night and not -" he cocks his head to the quartet serenading the paris night sky, and the other patrons of this filthy wealthy club.

you just sink your teeth into your painted lip, suppressing a whine as he curls three fingers within you, reeling you entirely pliant and having you lean against his broad chest under his jacket, "b-but satoru, 'm getting close."

he's being awful, you think. and when he had pulled his hand out earlier, it had been entirely coated in a ribbon of your arousal, the slow syrup beginning to run down his slender digit, but he had parted his lips and let not a drop go to waste on his tongue.

the music is swelling, it's a jazzy crescendo that fills the air, and your gaze hazes and wonders, focusing on the open window where the eiffel tower stands ablaze in lights. soft gasps are escaping your lips, when gojo starts slamming his fingers up and up further, right up to his glossy knuckle, clearly searching for your g-spot.

and you are so glad that this booth is turned away from the rest of the club's patrons, for if they saw you, it would be no secret as to what exactly was going on underneath your gown.

"focus on me, love. just focus on how you're soaking me."

he's pressing his fingers impossibly deeper, stroking your walls in a way that make it impossible to think of anything else but him.

"gojo, please…" you breathed, struggling to keep your voice low, "what if someone sees?"

he laughs, pressing his mouth to your neck, and you know he's inhaling the new scent that you had picked up at the luxury flagship stores earlier, his treat.

"let them. paid good enough money to get in here," and now he's getting more insistent, practically ravishing your aching pussy now, "besides, they wanna say anything about it? i'll cut out their tongue."

"p-pretty sure that's, mmph, i'm sure that's i-illegal, 'toru."

"don't want your pretty head thinking about anything else right now, 'kay?" and god, it's one of life's greatest works, how he just knows how to work his magic like this, and the way that he's pinching, rolling and twirling his fingers has you convinced that the holy six-eyes technique, passed down in the sacred tradition of the gojo clan, is being put to nasty work.

sure enough, a little spark! there, and a bigger zap! against your clit practically confirms your suspicions, as does the unearthly glow you catch in gojo's wide eyes, and you can feel yourself hurtling towards a precipice, panting open-mouthed against him.

"dirty girl, you don’t want to make a scene, do you?" he says this like he was not the one who pulled you into this booth, and palmed his way up your slip-dress. like he's not the one who tore into your lace panties, and shoved them into his pocket.

"it feels so good, satoru,” you babble, barely able to contain yourself, as he scissors his fingers wide, nudging your walls apart, "i can’t — "

"then don't," he interrupted, his voice low and commanding, "just let it happen. i want to hear you, i wanna hear her too, but only if you can keep it down."

you nodded, breathless, watching as waiters in impeccable black-and-white attire glide between the tables, carrying trays of delicate hors d'oeuvres and glasses of dom pérignon.

"good girl," he murmured, his fingers curling just right, pushing you closer to that exquisite precipice, "now, be quiet and enjoy the moment."

just as he pinches your clit, you feel everything around fall away in shattering starfall. bolts of lightning shoot and splash through your lungs, stilling your heart, leaving your cunt pulsing with a life of its own, fluttering against satoru's fingers which still haven't stopped.

it's only then you realise that the band has stopped playing, and the other patrons of the clubs are leaning out of their seats, slapping their hands together in fervount applause.

but you can only stare, dazed and boneless from the remnants of an excellent fucking orgasm, as gojo leans in, just over the shell of your ear.

"how about we go back to the hotel room? wanna see an encore?"

[wintfleur]

༝ ˚ ｡⋆ 𓇼 ⋆｡ ˚ ༝ ITS NOT LIVING IF ITS NOT WITH YOU !

aka some headcanons for our fav throuple in Italy

── ୨୧ 𝓹airing : Mat barzal x f!Leclerc f1 driver (oc) x Quinn Hughes

Mat is the one who plans the trip and he refuses any help from Julie or Quinn, wanting to surprise them with everything. He organized the plane tickets, rented a beautiful villa for them and everything.

He’s had the idea of the three of them going to Italy together for a long time, it just took a while for the perfect opportunity for them to actually go.

When they first get to the villa, they all have ideas on what they want to do first, Julie wants to unpack, mat wants to go explore, and Quinn wants to take a nap. Quinn ends up convincing Julie to take a nap with him, then both of them drag Mat to join them, promising to explore after they get some rest. 

After their much-needed nap, they shared a quick shower and got ready to explore the lovely town and go out for dinner. They walked the streets together, fingers locked. Julie and Quinn both smiling at how excited mat was. 

After some exploring and shopping, they find a restaurant where they have a wonderful candle lit dinner, shared with many glasses of wine. After dinner they made their way back to the villa, cuddling on the couch on one of the many balconies, watching the stars. 

Mat has a packed itinerary for them, they are doing new things every day, with a ton of exploring. 

They spend a lot of time by the water, either it being the sea or the pool at their villa. Julie likes to lay and suntan while she watches mat and Quinn mess around in the water, feeling nothing but relaxed, but that peacefulness is always broken when one of the boys is grabbing her and tossing her into the pool to join them. 

They spend hours in the pool, and it always leads to mat and Quinn taking a nap while Julie starts on lunch, loving to cook authentic Italian dishes, using the cookbook that was in the kitchen.

Mat rents them a boat -- honestly it was more like a yacht . . . he likes to spoil them. They have lunch and dinner on the boat, spinning the day and night out on the boat, swimming in the water, cuddling on the love seat on the deck. 

the whole trip they are off their phones, taking a very much needed break from everything. They always do their daily chickens with their parents to let them know they are okay but other than that their phones are put away. 

Julie is fluent in Italian, so they don't need their phone for a translation, and mat knows his way around, so they don't need their phones for a map, and if they do need a map, they use a paper one. 

Julie had brought her camera so they all took turns taking pictures, the camera was always with them, taking every chance they could to take a picture. 

Vacations like these were always so healing for them, not just as people but also for their relationship. It's a time where they don't have to worry about any of their responsibilities and they only need to focus on each other and the love they share.  

Mat loves taking them to hidden gems of Italy, and all the places that aren't so busy. They love learning more about the culture. 

They honestly just spend a day of their trip just exploring different shops, buying gifts for their friends and family and of course for each other. 

they definitely are a lot more touchy and clingy with each other, knowing that when the vacation ends they have to get back to their busy schedules.

Mat and Quinn secretly plan a romantic evening for them and julie, renting out a small restaurant to have a romantic dinner, then they take a small stroll in the moonlight before making their way back to the villa where their bedroom was filled with roses and candles. 

they really don't want to leave, but they know they have to. On the flight back home they are mostly sleeping for the whole flight, tired from their amazing vacation. And Mat is already planning their next vacation! 

au masterlist ~ everything for the AU is under #🍂 ͡ ꒱ Juliette Leclerc

˖ ་ 💭 roro’s notes ( I accidentally deleted the ask that asked for this, but I had so much fun making this!! I’m sorry it’s so short, I just couldn’t think of anything else…my creativity ran out! I missed writing for them so much! )

˖ ་ feel free to send in any thoughts/requests you have !! And please let me know if you want to be added to the taglist mwah

˖ ་ taglist : @toasttt11 @winterbarnesblog @lesrflms @ru-kru @cixrosie @alwaysclassyeagle @theopenlocker @callsignwidow @willowpains @iceflwers

[fetidfruit]

application.

──   (  evan mock. 25. cis man. he/him.  ) thank god you’re here, man - have you seen DEXTER ZANE anywhere? i totally lost them after their rendition of idiot box by sharon van etten last night. no? they’re like, aye - high and go to LANGSTON - i think they’re a FRESHMAN studying ANTHROPOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN POETRY? but who knows, these days. all i know is that they’re DISHEVELLED, PHILOSOPHICAL and an AQUARIUS . last night they kept going on and on about how they won MOST LIKELY TO OWE A GAMBLING DEBT TO A BLOODTHIRSTY ITALIAN NUN WITH SHARP INCISORS last year, which is cool and whatever, but i just wouldn’t expect it out of them, considering they’re so, like, NONCHALANT & INTELLECTUAL, you know? anyways - i’m going to check down by rabbithole, i think that’s where they like to hang. text me if you see them, okay? bye! / as penned by nai.  28.  she/her.  gmt.

student file.

full name — dexter zane. or is it?

nickname(s) — dex.

place of birth — noone knows girl!

date of birth & age — feb 1st, 25.

sexuality — he doesn't believe in labelling. shrugs. probably pan.

occupation — creative writing tutor.

astrology — aquarius.

dormitory —

interests — . untranslatable japanese words with niche meanings; specifically wabi-sabi and the concept of living leaving an impression on the world around u. sipping red wine frm an old teacup perching on the ledge of a balcony. distinctive cowboy belt buckles. the paddling resilience of bees that fall into swimming pools. helping said bees out with a stick and overseeing their wings drying process. similarities between trees and the human body. making up stupid little songs about the most inane of things on his trusty acoustic guitar. well loved books with cracked and worn spines. playing card games with strangers to bridge language gaps. listening to the life story of a random old man in a bar late at night that he'll never see again. tall candles shoved in the necks of empty wine bottles. stray cats. church architecture. writing poems on trains. time lapses of decay and rot through an artistic lens. the immortalisation of the dead through literature. the beauty n brutality of nature.

aversions — karaoke. assuming the worst or best of someone without having the facts to back it up. assumptions in general. making art to follow trends rather than express something personal. instagram poetry. menthol cigarettes. incel entitlement. sugarcoating anything. projecting ur own pessimism onto those around u. nihilism. satnavs in the place of crinkly maps that fold out bigger than an entire car. social media. clothes without frayed edges and moth bitten holes. sleeping in pyjamas. being a cunt just to be a cunt. breaking a spider's carefully woven web. stiffly posed photos. autotuned wank.

quirks — has bought an old pocket watch frm every city he's travelled to. hs a drawer full of them all set to different timezones ticking in sync. calls it his crocodile drawer bc of the ticking crocodile in peter pan who swallowed a clock. also has a collection of lots of different buckled belts and various intense flyers from religious door-to-door callers titled things like AM I GOING TO HELL? with cartoon flames on the front. types shit up on a typewriter he's #thatgirl unfortunately. fings always smell like tobacco im sawry he's sick in the head. has a bunch of post it notes all over his walls haphazardly slapped with a random detail or image he saw tht stirred him tht day / he thinks he might need to remember later. somehow gt into an underground gambling game w these nuns in italy n owes one of them like 1000 euros bc things got crazy. one of his most prized possessions is a mosquito trapped in amber tht he keeps on his window ledge to glint in the sunlight.

most played — through the eyes of a child by aurora.

notable features — buzzed bleached hair thts growing out slightly to show black roots. semi hedgehog vibes. black chipped gnawed-to-stub nails. a lot of muted shades n threadbare clothes. a safety pin thru his left earlobe. dark circles under his eyes like something has a habit of keeping him up at night.

general disposition — pretty chill n laidback tbh. doesn't rly seem to get properly Bothered abt anything half of the time. kind of contradictory bc he'll engage in these deep discussions sometimes depending on who he's talking to n rly philosophise abt the whole universe n the meaning of everything bt then shrug n be like whatever n move on next second like he doesn't care. it's like. he does care bt he's too drained to rly put energy into his words.

character study — emily frm waves. jess frm gilmore girls perhaps. leonard cohen. hmmmmm idk who else.

public record.

there is a great big [REDACTED] in the place of dexter's origins. he keeps it that way on purpose. somebody asks how he came to be a freshman at 25 n he jst shrugs n says he wanted to see the world first. ppl ask abt his family n he gives minimal generic answers. his childhood is a blank cereal box w nothing to shake inside.

TRAUMA TW to expand upon it minimally, dexter's family was normal until it wasn't. dexter's family were happy until they weren't. there is a before that dexter remembers as if rewatched inside his head through the distorted refractions of a clear cut jewel. he thinks of this before like a television show he watched on a sunday afternoon once. he remembers open windows and the air smelling like freshly cut grass, the whir of a lawnmower. he remembers kicking back and forth a football with his brother when the sun was out. he remembers rolling his eyes at his dad's bad jokes and helping his mum to set the table. he remembers that it was nice, until it wasn't.

after [redacted] [smirks mysteriously bt also with a deep ominous n forlorn glint in my eye] [shaking slightly] dexter couldn't b there any more. anything he'd had planned for his life went out of the window. the world was a different place than it'd been before. his family were separate pieces of a previously assembled unit and some were such new and horrifying shapes that he didn't know how to make sense of them any more. he left town as soon as he finished college bc he couldn't stand it. how do u keep living in the before when it's no longer there?

he travelled frm 18 scraping by the skin of his teeth on various bartending jobs. he's always been pretty intelligent nt to honk his horn so he'd pick up languages fairly easily. making friends is easy when ur personable in the smoking area or u play guitar and harrowing bt brief acoustic sets at random open mic nights. he'd listen to people's stories n try to make sense of a world n humanity he no longer knew how to understand, all the while jotting scruffy poems in a tattered leather journal.

he's been to lots of places. dusseldorf. berlin (yes he went to the exclusive sex clubs he's seen it all) various small towns all over italy. he did a brief stint of silence at a monastery it ws a whole thing. sometimes he'd fall in w groups n stick w them for a couple fo weeks bt he'd never stick anywhere for too long. growing roots didn't appeal to him when he knew there was never any certainty in the soil. he lived w a bunch of people in thsi warehouse in paris for a week or so. he's like a flea thts leapt all over europe frankly....

after amassing sm poetry n art n experiences n stories ig something jst clicked n he finally wanted to pursue like. getting it all Down somewhere. finally sitting n taking a second to give making a sense of things a go. like Hm ok mayb i'll finally do what the before me wanted to n give this university thing a try.....

personal details.

nt even religious bt sometimes u will find him just sitting in silence in a church staring up at the front w such solemn resignation that ur literally like omg? have i intruded upon something? is he praying? n he just has this vacant look in his eyes like someone that has Lived n Seen things that they frankly wish they hadnt

has a pretty ok singing voice actually like it's nothing crazy doing whistle notes bt it's deep and a bit haunting n he sings like he has a deep sadness that's leeching the marrow frm his bones and making it drip black out of his ears. so fun!

isn't rly a Serious Sally despite the fact that he likes to think deeply and analytically and philosophically abt things like. likes to have a laff bc at the end of the day connection n finding the absurd n wonderful in the every day is wot its all abowt innit x

hates when ppl r dramatic abt dog earing pages in books like alright if i want to document a page that moved me i will SLAP that shit in half like a bongo drum with all of my might and nobody can stop me!

i suppose he is a bit secretive abt his life in general like is his name even rly dexter zane. it's all a bit up in the air. bt he doesn't necessarily keep ppl at arms length otherwise like he can be friendly it just depends what mood u catch him in. sometimes if he's feeling introspective n dwelling on past shit a bit too intently it can jade him and mean he doesn't want to fking chitchat. luck of the draw i suppose.....

that said he won't be an asshole just to be an asshole like he will do his best to be civil bt sometimes a guy jst snaps. it is what it is. (particularly if someone is trying to pry like mind ur business)

rly lights up when talking abt artistic pursuits like he jst finds what someone else has to say rly interesting n important n will fully get into ti n ask questions n care to learn more. ok inquisitive king!

pretty laissez faire w hookups like he's very french abt it almost like whatever happens happens n thats fine! typically won't rly care enough to pursue things like it's not at the forefront of his mind to be some Ladies Man or whatever the fk he just goes w the flow n if it happens cool. does sort of have a habit of jst happening upon these things tho i will say like he's like whatever. bt then historically is kind of a harlot if we're looking at the cold hard facts.... n that's fine!

umm bartends at rabbithole. bye

[olympeline]

Liquor headcanons, in order of best to worst tolerance, for the Hetalia main cast:

America: Never gets drunk, ever. His super strength makes it that alcohol simply doesn’t affect him. Guy can chug absinthe like water and wake up the next day with a sunny smile. USA #1!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅😍⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ Because of his sweet tooth, he doesn’t bother with alcohol much, preferring soda and milkshakes instead. If he had to pick a favourite, it would be one of the cheap, popular American beers like budweiser. Always drunk from one of those cliche college red cups, natch!

Russia: Ridiculously strong tolerance. He is the land of vodka after all. Plus his sheer size (both in map area and as a man) gives him a huge edge in drinking. Only America and his cheat code metabolism can beat him. Everyone else is just plain doomed. Favourite drink is vodka (duh)

Canada: A dark horse! Canada takes after his papa France - the wine connoisseur of the world - but his height and huge map size gives him an edge in the tolerance game even beyond that. Favourite drink is anything maple flavoured, but especially beer

France: A lover of fine wines! Francy-pants can hold his liquor like a champ. Also his natural grace and poise make him seem less drunk than he is. Even wasted, the guy can walk in a straight line like a model on a catwalk. Has many favourites because the alcohol from his place is just so good! How can he possibly pick just one?

Italy: Another wine lover! Italy is a step down from France, but still puts up strong competition. All the carbs he eats play a big role. And he acts drunk a lot of the time anyway so pinpointing when he gets smashed is hard lol. Favourite drink is whichever wine pairs best with the delicious Italian meal he’s eating. Just never give him beer 🤮

China: Mid-tier. His long life has let him grow a better tolerance than some nations, but his slight build and tendency to flush comes back to bite him. Favourite drink is beer when he wants to relax, and baijiu when he’s feeling more traditional

Germany: Surprisingly low on the list for a man of his size. Mostly because he’s one of the youngest nations and so hasn’t had time to build up a good tolerance to alcohol. Also he mainly drinks beer so harder stuff tends to crater him. Favourite drink? Beer, beer, more beer 🍻

Japan: Very bad. His small frame and vulnerability to alcohol flush means only a glass or two goes straight to his head. Then he turns scarlet and falls asleep on someone. Favourite drink is sake while at home, beer while travelling

England: Dead last. Embarrassingly bad, especially for an ex-pirate! How is he so bad? No one knows. Favourite drink is anything

[sixohsixoheightfourtwo]

What are the qualities of the most common types of grapes (e.g. Chardonnay, Cab Sav, Merlot etc)? I can identify wines that I do or don't like when I try them but I currently have NO ability to map that onto grapes / the name of the wine

Ok so - just to make it more difficult for you. grape varieties can vary a certain amount in what flavours they express, depending on the climate, the growing choices and the winemaking choices. Eg. for white wine typically a cooler climate expresses more green-apple and more lemony citrus flavours, a moderate climate gets you more stone fruit and riper citrus, and a warmer climate takes you through to tropical. Red wine will go from more austere just-ripe black and red fruits in a cool climate to riper, jammier, cooked fruits in a warmer climate. But the growing choices eg. where it's planted, when it's harvested, also affect the final style of the wine. And the winemaking choices affect it too. BUT obvs fundamentally varieties do have particular qualities and tend to get treated by winemakers in particular ways.

Chardonnay -

very different in cool climates vs warmer climates! & very different styles made depending on winemaker choices. It expresses terroir and winemaking techniques really well.

broadly, cool climate chardonnay = high acidity, flavours of green apple, lemon, wet stones.

As you move into warmer climates - it starts to express more stone fruit aromas, let's say peach, apricot, and become fuller in body, and a little lower in acidity.

Into even warmer climates - really ripe fruit aromas, like ripe yellow peach, even tropical fruits like banana, pineapple, mango.

importantly: chardonnay has a real affinity with oak barrels & a real affinity with something called malolactic fermentation. Use of new oak barrels (or staves or chips .. literally just chucked into the vat) can give vanilla, baking spice aromas, & toasty flavours. Malolactic fermentation is a process that softens the acidity and creates creamy, buttery aromas. Both of these are common for chardonnay. Really cheap wine often aims for some of this flavour profile but does everything in a more industrial way ... eg yellowtail.... melted vanilla ice cream flavour profile which i Personally do not like

can age well! aged chardonnay: hazelnut, mushroom, creamy

classic regions: Chablis, Burgundy, Champagne, California, northern Italy, Australia

Sauvignon Blanc -

super aromatic variety! High acidity!

Very distinctive aromas that variously people refer to as blackcurrant bud, gooseberry, or cat pee.

in cooler climates the aromas will be more citrus, grassy, green fruit, with some of that gooseberry/ blackcurrant bud but more restrained

in New Zealand with longer ripening, the aromas are way more prominent and get more tropical but always sour-tropical - kiwi, passionfruit, pineapple, and the gooseberry is much more prominent

notably often has a 'green bell pepper' smell which you may or may not love.

personally i think SB is very trustworthy even as a cheap wine because it's such a distinctive variety and because it suits relatively simpler winemaking. I did a cheap-wine tasting with some ppl and the cheap SBs came out extremely well bc frankly you could tell what they were and bc the acidity was high enough that it felt like a real wine.

does not really age well; the crazy intense aromas just die away after a couple of years. U gotta drink it fresh. Except for the sweet wines eg Sauternes which can age for many many years.

classic regions: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume in France. New Zealand obviously.

Riesling -

wine people are obsessed with riesling.... it has high acidity (desirable), the wines are culturally undervalued, it can be made in many styles, it's varietally very distinctive. It ages really well. It gets incredible complexity with age. There's great old-world Riesling and great new world riesling. Sparkling riesling sweet riesling toxically sweet riesling bone-dry riesling.

High acidity, green apple, lime, peach, delicate floral notes.

BUT can be left on the vine to ripen more and more it gets more tropical fruit aromas, dried fruit aromas, higher and higher sugar levels, more concentration & more intensity. So you get wines of different sweetness levels but always with very high acidity.

as these wines age you tend to get aromas of petrol or gasoline,,,,, this i s a good thing guys. also honey, ginger, more dried fruits

Aussie riesling is particularly distinctive. Classically these are very very limey, lime flower, peach, lemon, but the petrol aromas can come when the wine is much younger.

classic regions: various regions of Germany. Austria, Alsace. Clare Valley and Eden Valley in Australia.

Chenin Blanc -

maybe not one people talk about a lot BUT she's quite important. can be used for dry still, sweet, and sparkling wines.

can express very varied fruit aromas even in a cool climate, particularly with age - citrus, green fruit, stone fruit, tropical, ginger, floral, honey. Quince or ripe yellow apple is for me the archetypal Chenin Blanc aroma.

with age, it can develop aromas of lanolin (this is a GOOD thing guys..) beeswax honey and a real umami / soy sauce kind of thing, plus a quite distinctive oily texture

classic regions: the central Loire valley. South Africa.

Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio -

it's the same variety, it gets labelled differently depending on which winemaking tradition it's following: Pinot Gris is classically made in a richer fuller style; Pinot Grigio is made in a light, refreshing style.

as pinot gris: u get ripe apple, pear, peach, melon aromas, and acidity that's kind of .... medium

u can do late-harvest pinot gris ie riper & sweeter version that leans more tropical and honeyed

as pinot grigio: harvested earlier so fresh and crisp, more fresh citrusy and melony. Potentially a bit generic, just vaguely 'fruity', but there are high quality pinot grigios out there.

classic regions: Alsace for Pinot Gris. Northeastern Italy for Pinot Grigio but it's grown all over the place.

Muscat -

this is really a family of aromatic grapes: Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains/ Moscato Bianco, Muscat Rouge/ Brown Muscat, Muscat o of Alexander, all with really prominent aromas of, well, GRAPES. grapes, peaches, orange blossom. It's theorised that Muscat is the oldest domesticated grape variety.

really good muscat has very well defined aromas. It's usually made into sweet wines, but at varying levels of sweetness and varying alcohol levels.

classic regions: fortified unaged muscat from southern France and from Spain. Fortified aged muscat from Spain (Moscatel Sherry) and Australia (Rutherglen Muscat). Sweet low alcohol sparking Moscato d'Asti from Italy. Idk anything about american moscato.

Cabernet Sauvignon -

the most planted wine grape in the world. people like it. It needs a decent amount of warmth to ripen properly.

high in tannin high in acidity, black fruit flavours, blackcurrant black cherry, mint, eucalyptus (in Australia), potentially green bell pepper (it's related to Sauvignon Blanc). Big dark dense.

one of the main varieties in Bordeaux, where it's blended with Merlot and a few other varieties. But now grown all over the world.

affinity with Merlot, affinity with oak. Cedar, baking spice notes from oak. Can age well, and some wines require ageing before they are at their best.

in warmer climates it's a lot BIGGER... more ripe more fruity

classic regions: Bordeaux obvs. California. Australia.

Merlot -

typically softer and fruitier and easier than Cab and also easier to ripen easier to grow. Lower in tannin lower in acidity which makes it in winespeak more ~approachable

red-fruit flavours rather than black: red plum, red cherry.

classically blended with Cab S. or other varieties

some of the greatest wines in the world are made from it but bottom shelf Merlot is generally really generic

classic regions: Bordeaux. widely grown around the world tho.

Pinot Noir -

famously finicky - doesn't like a warm climate, susceptible to disease, low yielding...

red fruit aromas but slightly sourer red fruits - strawberry, cherry, redcurrant, cranberry.

can age! with ageing it gets very complex - mushroom, forest floor, earthy

classic regions: Burgundy. Cooler parts of California. Washington State. Oregon. New Zealand.

Syrah/Shiraz -

it's the same grape.

black fruit & blue fruit aromas: blackberry, blueberry, black plum

in cooler climates (France) - black pepper

in warmer climates (Australia) - liquorice

with age, can be very complex: tobacco, meat, leather

classic regions: Northern Rhone. Australia. South Africa.

Grenache / Garnacha -

red juicy fruit like ripe strawberries, raspberries, cooked cherries

really distinctive white pepper aromas

often blended with Syrah

often made into rosé bc it has thin skins so doesn't impart too much colour (all the colour is in the skins)

also made into sweet fortified wines in southern France eg. Banyuls, Maury

classic regions: southern Rhone. Southern / southwestern France. Spain, particularly Priorat.

There are plenty more that are important in one or two countries eg. Nebbiolo in Italy. Important to note many European wines from specific regions do not have the name of the variety on the label unless they are from very broad regions or entire countries (eg. Vin de France). Outside Europe the norm is to put it on the label.

[bardic-tales]

Villa Tenebris

Tucked away in the secluded hills outside Florence, Villa Tenebris is no mere estate. It is the ancestral heart of the Delacroix clutch, where elegance and dread intertwine beneath terracotta tiles and frescoed ceilings. Modeled after the Renaissance grandeur of Villa La Petraia, this reclusive haven masks a world of immortal order and occult legacy, ruled by the enigmatic vampiric incubus patriarch Mordecai Delacroix.

With its catacombs, candlelit chapels, and air of timeless melancholy, Villa Tenebris stands as both sanctuary and stronghold. It's a place where silence is sacred, and every shadow has a memory.

Type of Setting: Residential estate / Ancestral home

Characters Living in This Setting:

Mordecai Delacroix – Patriarch of the vampire clutch, CEO of Dark Light Publishing

Bianca Moore – His platonic consort and apprentice

The Delacroix Clutch – A small, elite family of vampiric incubi / succubi under Mordecai’s protection

Location Summary: Tucked into the cypress-dotted hills of Tuscany, Villa Tenebris stands as a grand echo of the Medici era. Modeled directly after the historic Villa La Petraia, it blends Renaissance opulence with centuries-old secrecy. Its weathered sandstone walls, red terracotta roof, and formal gardens are kept in pristine condition, masking the shadows of immortal lives within. Though its architecture speaks of art, wealth, and peace, the presence of its ancient master makes it a place of discipline, reflection, and haunting power.

Basics

Building Type: Medici-style Tuscan villa

Levels: 3 main floors with a subterranean vault and catacombs City / Town: Outside Florence, Italy

Suburb / District: Hills of Castello, near Fiesole

Street & Number: Via del Tramonto Nascosto 6

Neighbourhood

The villa is nestled in a private, heavily forested area shielded by ancient stone walls and illusionary wards. While it appears on old maps, it’s marked as an inactive estate. Local superstition keeps people at bay. The area is quiet, dignified, and steeped in both Renaissance legacy and occult unease. No gangs, no thugs. Just the weight of history and the silence of secrets. Living here feels like existing in a liminal space. Outside of time, where modernity dares not intrude. Residents live with luxury, but also under the unspoken rules of the Delacroix household.

Neighbours: Distant vineyards and villas are technically “neighbors,” but no one comes close. The locals speak of the estate in hushed tones, calling it la casa del silenzio. Occultists and historians speculate, but no one truly knows. No one dares knock.

Setting Detail

Overall Feeling: Serene but eerie; regal but reverent. Villa Tenebris feels like a living museum curated by a man who’s seen centuries of grief, beauty, and blood. Every room holds silence like a held breath, and every corridor seems aware of the footsteps that tread upon its marble. A place of beauty carved from mourning.

Sights:

Vaulted ceilings with Renaissance frescoes

Polished marble floors and winding staircases

Private chapel with candlelit alcoves

Sunken gardens with cypress trees and blood-red roses

Library tower filled with ancient tomes and relics

Horse stables and a private archery range

Sounds:

The rustle of vines in the breeze

Distant hooves on stone paths

Gregorian chant softly playing in the music room

The ticking of an ancient grandfather clock

Quills scratching parchment late at night

Smells:

Aged parchment and sandalwood in the library

Iron-rich roses in the courtyard

Burning incense and myrrh from the meditation room

Old wine, candle wax, and faint traces of cedar oil

Occasionally, the coppery tang of blood behind sealed doors

Miscellaneous Notes:

Mordecai’s private study is off-limits to all but Bianca. It contains centuries of journals, relics, and letters. Many never opened.

The villa has defensive enchantments woven into its foundation stones: warding off the sects of the Templar Order, demons, and scrying attempts.

Bianca has claimed a tower alcove filled with telescopes and maps, where she journals and reflects.

Though luxurious, it is not a place of indulgence: order, etiquette, and quietude are expected at all hours.

[galway-girlatwork]

Fandom: PPCU/AU-We Can Be Heroes

  Rating: Mature-There is deep conversations and smut.

  Central Characters: Marcus Moreno/Original Female Character

  Central Relationship: Marcus and Priestly

  Word Count: 3,181

  AO3

  Please do not copy my work. If you liked it, please re-blog and tag me. Please do not steal the mood board. I do not give permission to copy, translate, or post my work to any other platform.

  Music inspiration: Helium by Sia

  Back at the end of July, @iamasaddie posted a “create your story” video. The concept was to screen shot each segment and you would get a story outline. Well, here is my story. Enjoy.

Summary

In the shadows of the ancient city, a dark romance blossoms between a healer and a sinner. It is a connection of light and dark, life and death. Can he accept her past? Can she believe there is redemption for what she’s done? Can carefully guarded secrets stay that way?

(Some) Bodies

The rain had ceased, leaving the cobblestones of Rome's streets glistening under the dim streetlights. Marcus, a skilled surgeon from New York, had taken a rare vacation to explore the city's depths. Drawn by a fascination with history and art, he found himself wandering the grand halls of the Vatican Museum, lost in the splendor of Renaissance masterpieces.

It was in the Gallery of Maps, a vast corridor adorned with intricate cartography, that Marcus first noticed her. It was the way she held her self, chin lifted ever so slightly, an air of defiance about her. There was something about her, cliché he thought, a blend of power and beauty, that wrapped around her. He knew he was openly staring at her, just on the edge of gawking, really when she looked over, eyes meeting and for a split second, the world outside the museum’s walls faded and it was just the two of them. He was curious, drawn to her, he found himself walking towards her, as she offered a slight nod of acknowledgment.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Marcus said, gesturing to the ceiling, which was adorned with elaborate frescoes depicting various regions of Italy.

She stood within the gallery, immersed in the art that was before her, not noticing the man who was openly staring until she heard footsteps coming towards her. He was handsome, she’d give him that, dark hair, dark eyes, well-muscled. That is where she stopped judging him, as he stopped, turning until he was staring at the same piece of work. “Indeed,” she replied, voice steady, calm, deep for a woman, like aged wine. “It’s remarkable, how they captured an entire nation on these walls.”

Marcus introduced himself, and the woman responded with a name that sent a shiver down his spine—Priestly. It was an odd name, he thought, almost righteous, holy. "What brings you to Rome?" he asked, cringing inward at the cheesy pick-up line. To say he was out of practice was an understatement.

She gave a small roll of her yes, lifting her chin just a fraction of an inch. “Why does anyone come to Rome? Vacation, Mr. Moreno. I am assuming you are here for the same.” She knew her voice sounded bitter, harsh and hard, more than she had intended but the walls always ran high with her, even with her early retirement, wondering how many could say that at the ripe old age of thirty.

"You’re right. Escaping the chaos of life, I suppose," Marcus answered, feeling an underlying current of tension radiating from her, wondering if he should just walk away now but again there was something about her. Wasn’t that always the case when a man met a woman? Something about them that made them want to find out all the secrets they hid from the world? “I’m sorry if I am bothering you.”

“You are not a bother, if you were I would have already left.” As they stood before a statue of Apollo, her head turning towards him, her expression contemplative. “You know, it’s not really that complicated,” she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

"What isn't?" Marcus asked, feeling a deepening curiosity.

"Life," Priestly replied. "We complicate it with our choices, our pasts, but at its core, it's simple. We seek connection, understanding, and perhaps a sliver of redemption.”

She knew all about redemption, it was why she was really here. It really isn’t all that hard to imagine those lyrics fitting her life. She was a small-town girl living in the farmlands of Montana. There was nothing there but fields, cattle, lots and lots of cattle. The first thing she did to get out was go to college, the second thing she did, met someone who could get her out. Oh, and he did that along with so much more. Years later she found herself a widow, the keys to the kingdom in her hand. So, to speak. Too long had she lived in his shadow, watching him make mistake after mistake, letting others take advantage of his big heart. Realizing she needed to move operations elsewhere, she made the necessary arrangements and took what she could, and moved to the Big Easy, right on the cusp of the river where it was easy transportation of things that needed to in and out, running everything, she could get her grubby little hands on. The criminal scene in New Orleans, had never be the same. There had been so much death by her hands and she wondered if she’d ever be forgiven for her sins.

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Marcus felt a shift within himself, a realization that his own life, filled with saving others, was also a quest for something more—something he saw reflected in Priestly's eyes. Watching her, it almost felt as if she was describing her life when in truth, she could be describing anyone’s. She turned, moving towards the exit, and he followed, like a moth to a flame, leaving together, the night air cool and refreshing. Walking through the quiet streets of Rome, their conversation flowed effortlessly, each word a step closer to understanding.

How in the fuck could she be so attracted to someone she’d just met? Usually, every man she’d been with since Matthew died was nothing but something to fill a void, then she’d grow bored and they would disappear, never wanting to know what Tony did with the bodies because when they had served their purpose, they became a liability. That is when she cut bait. But there was something about Marcus. Maybe it was the way he looked at her, seeing no sin beneath the skin she wore, that sometimes felt uncomfortable when she breathed. Suddenly the thought of food sprang to mind as she noticed a small café. Stepping ahead and then in front, she turned towards him. “Have dinner with me.” It wasn’t a question or a request but more of a command, an edge to her voice, the word please was never an option where she was concerned.

“I would like that.”

She knew he would not because she was arrogant but because she could see the small flicker of want beneath the surface. It wasn’t because she was manipulating him but she was simply being herself, something most didn’t know how to do because they didn’t know who they were, stumbling through life. She knew who she was, powerful, rich, murderous but at her core? She was someone’s daughter, a widow and lonely.

Dinner was uneventful, both of them talking of their past, his more than hers, learning he was a doctor in Chicago, a general surgeon. He could put you back together, he said and for a split second she wondered if he could put her back together but she doubted it, she was already a patchwork quilt of bad decisions and a violent heart. He was surprised when she pulled money from her purse, paying for dinner, wondering why he was. His offer to walk her to her hotel was not turned down, but that wasn’t what had shocked her, it was the offer of his arm, like they did in the old black and white movies she watched with her parents. Linking hers with his, she asked him. “Why were you surprised that I paid?”

He wondered for a minute of it was a trick question but, in the time, he’d spent with her, a grand total of four hours, he realized one thing about Priestly, she was straightforward and blunt, something most women he dated weren’t. They played games, probably why he hadn’t dated in the last two years. “Because most women expect the man to pay.” “But I asked you to dinner so wasn’t it my obligation to pay?”

“I am not sure how to answer that without me looking like an asshole but just to let you know, I would have taken care of dinner no matter who asked who.”

“Well, that’s just stupid.” Shaking her head, she took a breath. “I didn’t mean you were stupid, just the concept is stupid.”

Stopping abruptly, he stared at her. “Who are you?” He didn’t mean it in the literal sense of the word but let’s face it, most women didn’t act the way she did, which is what led him to ask.

“I’m not sure how to take that question. Who am I as in where am I from and where I’ve been or who am I as in am I some alien that just landed because that is how you are looking at me.”

“Ok this isn’t a cheesy line but you are nothing like the women I’ve dated.”

“Well, I should hope not.” If they were bodies would litter the Windy City. “Isn’t that the point of exploring the world? To find something or someone that you’ve never experienced before?” To prove a point, she moved towards him, leaving barely an inch between them, hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down to her, before she kissed him. A deep seeded want, commanded attention in that moment, it was almost feral, the desire she suddenly felt for him, wondering just how much of a gentleman he really was.

The kiss was not something he was expecting from a total stranger. Let’s be real, he just met her and here he was kissing her in the middle of Rome, things like this just didn’t happen but something she said, tugged at the back of his mind…it really wasn’t that complicated. He decided in that second that he wasn’t going to overthink the situation, he was going to follow her lead and see what happened.

When he kissed her back, a soft moan escaped her before she pulled away, eyes glazed over like a crack whore who just got high. That’s what he could be, right? Her high? Her escape from reality? Taking his hand, she dragged him into a darkened alley, pulling him towards her, hand cupping him, feeling a semi-hard cock. “Take me. Now.” Again, she wasn’t asking or requesting, she was demanding. Kissing him again, hands went to the button and zipper of his pants, freeing him. A single red tipped nail, gently ran down the center of his cock, tracing the mushroom shaped head before she dipped down, taking him in her mouth, eyes fluttering closed, feeling his hardness against het tongue. She wanted, no needed to be in control, something she craved and the way she was fucking him with her mouth, was proof of that.

Holy fuck, what in the hell was happening. One minute they were walking and talking, the next she was squatting down in front of him, wondering how the fuck she was balancing on the heeled boots she was wearing but that thought was fleeting as her nails dug into his ass, pulling him deeper within the wetness of her mouth. A hand went to the wall behind her, the other tunneled into her hair, hips with a mind of their own, began pumping against her. He was teetering on the edge before he tugged on her hair, looking down at her, eyes searching hers. Slowly she gave one more suck before he fell out of her mouth. Hands went up her skirt, tugging at her underwear before her joined his, ripping them at the seam, wadding them up, shoving them into her jacket pocket. She brought her leg up, his hand going to the back of her thigh, lifting her up, feeling her other leg, wrap around his waist. He watched in amazement as she reached between them, guiding him to her wetness, groaning when he sank into her.

Fuck, she thought as he bottomed out, swearing the tip of his cock was hitting her cervix. This was probably not the best place to fuck but she didn’t care. It was the feral part of her, the darkness, like spilled ink, spreading through her. Locking her ankles at the base of his spine, it was now her turn to tug on his hair, pulling his head back, so she could kiss him, before laying her head against the ancient brick, hand sliding down between them, fingers playing with her clit, as he drove into her. She bit her lip to keep from screaming when she came, body jerking against him as she held onto him, needing more of that euphoria from him. “Again. Oh god again.” Ask and you shall receive as the second one hit, just before he exploded inside of her, his muscles tense beneath her hands before he stilled. Sagging against him, he slowly lowered her legs to the ground, holding her up before she nodded, letting him know she could stand on her own.

He had no idea what the fuck just happened but he wasn’t going to question it. Who in their right fucking mind would do that? Question the fact that a beautiful woman just let him fuck her in an alley in Rome? Not anyone sane that was for damn sure. He watched as she leaned back against the building, tugging her skirt back down before grabbing her purse from the cobblestone. As he tucked himself away, zipping up his pants, she asked where he was staying. “Not far from here. Trastevere.”

“Perhaps we should get a taxi then.” Again, telling him, not asking. “Unless you would just like to go our separate ways now?”

“No, I’d like you to stay with me.” Did that sound desperate? Yea it probably did. Taking her hand, he led her out of the alley and within ten minutes, they were in the back of a cab, one leg draped over his lap as she laid against him, his head laying on top of hers, inhaling her perfume. When the cab pulled up to the hotel, he handed the driver twenty euros as she slid out. She took his hand, letting him lead her through the doors and lobby before they got into his room. They wasted no time, fully undressing, making use of the shower, the bed, the desk where he sat in the chair, tasting her orgasm on his tongue.

When he woke up, the bed empty, he looked around the room and saw her standing at the window, in his shirt. Getting out bed, he moved towards her, slipping his arms around her waist. “You, okay?”

“Not really.” Freeing her self from his embrace, she sat on the bed, legs crossed, patting the empty space in front of her. When he sat down, she took his hands in hers. “Marcus there’s things about me that you don’t know. Once I tell you, you will look at me differently than you are now but I need you to listen and then decide.” She told him her life, of where she grew up, her parents, about Matthew, what she was, a woman who did things that would make any human cringe. Did she give details on how she tortured people? No, that was between her and whatever higher power that would judge her in her time of death. She explained her “retirement” and that it was the reason she was in Rome, tying up loose ends. And he laughed.

“Wait, you mean to tell me you’re in the mafia or you were in the mafia? Priestly that is the craziest thing I’ve heard.” But something in the back of his mind told him, that it just might be true. What he wasn’t expecting was the way she looked at him, like she was disgusted by his presence.

“Why? Because I’m a woman?”

“No, well yes. I thought it was only old men who did those kinds of things. I mean are there even still mobs that do that kind of thing?”

Getting up, she slipped his shirt off, hunting for her clothes. This is why men were a liability, thinking a woman didn’t have the brains or guts to do the things she’d done, all in the name of survival. “Actually yes. I just came from Sicily, was taking care of things here in Rome before heading home to New York.” She’d found her skirt and boots, putting them on before searching for her shirt, finding it in the bathroom, bra no where to be found. Damn it, she thought, La Perla was fucking expensive but right now she just wanted to leave.

“Priestly wait, where are you going?”

“Back to my hotel where I will not be ridiculed or doubted for who and what I am. I was trying that whole honesty thing, what ever was I fucking thinking?” She wanted to see the light, to feel it after living in the darkness for so long. She was free now, her obligations taken care of, in the eyes of her bosses, bosses, boss. And they were fuckin proud of her for it. For taking Matthew’s part of the pie, making it bigger so they could gorge on it when she secretly prayed, they fucking choked on it.

“Wait, don’t. God, damn it wait a fucking minute. You drop something like this in my lap, a man you met eight fucking hours ago, and expect him to buy it, no questions asked and then get fucking pissed when he doubts you. What the hell did you think would happen?” Leave it to him, to pick up the only woman in the entire city that just confessed she was former mafia. But what if he didn’t care? Yea yea he knew his job was to save people but maybe he had a darkness to him as well? He knew he didn’t but how could he let her just walk out. He reached out grabbing her arm, pulling her to him, before he pinned her beneath him. “Look at me. Fucking look at me. If you want to walk away, tell me. Say it. If you can say it to my face then I’ll let you go and I won’t look for you but if you feel anything, then stay.”

He’d taken control, something she was not used to. For her to survive after Matthew’s death, she couldn’t show any emotion, had to constantly be in control, never let them see anything but strength because weakness could get you killed. His ultimatum to her, caught her off guard. She wanted to stay, she wanted something normal in her life, whatever the fuck that was. “I can’t,” was all she could get out before he kissed her. She was going to hell, she knew she was but if she was going, she wanted to commit every single cardinal thing she could with him.

When dawn crept through the sheer curtains of his room, she rolled over to find him still sleeping next to her, no polizia waiting to take her into custody. She wondered as she watched him sleep, if it was the beginning of a story, intertwining their fates, proving that old line right…Darkness can’t be without light.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.2

Holidays

Acacia Day (French Republic)

American Indian Citizenship Day

Autograph Day

Children’s Day (North Korea)

Civil Aviation Day (Azerbaijan)

Coastal Cleanup Day (Russia)

Contango Day

Coronation Day (UK)

Decoration Day (Canada)

Donati’s Comet Day

Elfreth's Alley Day (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Emancipation Day (Tonga)

Father’s Day (Lithuania)

Festa della Repubblica (Italy)

Festival of Light and Dark Spots

Festival of Utter Confusion

Happy Neil Diamond Day

Hristo Botev Day (Bulgaria)

I Love My Dentist Day

Important People Day

International Sex Workers Day (a.k.a. International Whore's Day)

International Volkswagen Bus Day

Isabel Province Day (Solomon Islands)

Lesbian Pride Day

Local Industry Workers Day (Ukraine)

Lou Gehrig Day

Mother Earth's Day

National Bubba Day

National First Ladies Day

National Greyhound Day

National Janice Day

National Leave the Office Early Day [6.2 or Closest Weekday]

Pimpernel Flower Day

retail, Consumer Services and Public Utility Company Employees Day (Tajikistan)

Sir Randol Fawkes Day (Bahamas)

602 Day

Social Forestry Day (Bhutan)

Telangana Day (India)

Textile Industry Workers’ Day (Turkmenistan)

3-Ring Circus Day

Water Resource Management Employees Day (Ukraine)

World Day to Fight Myasthenia Gravis

World Eating Disorder Action Day

World Mind Map Day

World Peatlands Day

Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Fish & Chips Day (Australia)

National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day

National Rotisserie Chicken Day

Vanilla Coke Day

Velveeta Day

Independence & Related Days

Aenderia (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Republic Day (Italy)

Telangana State Formation Day (India)

1st Sunday in June

Armed Forces Day (Canada) [1st Sunday]

Children's Awareness Memorial Day [1st Sunday]

Day of the Rice God (Japan) [1st Sunday]

Father’s Day (Haiti, Switzerland) [1st Sunday]

Fisherman’s Day (Iceland) [1st Sunday]

German World Heritage Day [1st Sunday]

International Mother's Peace Day [1st Sunday]

National Animal Rights Day [1st Sunday]

National Cancer Survivors Day [1st Sunday]

National Child’s Day [1st Sunday]

National Frozen Yogurt Day [1st Sunday]

National Godparent’s Day [1st Sunday]

Philippine Independence Day Parade (New York City) [1st Sunday]

Sjómannadagurinn (Seamen’s Day; Iceland) [1st Sunday]

World Breakfast Day (Turkey) [1st Sunday]

World Meditation Day [1st Sunday of Every Month]

World Naturist Day [1st Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 2 (1st Full Week)

America The Beautiful Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Bedbug Awareness Week (thru 6.8)

Black Single Parents Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Community Health Improvement Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

End Mountain Top Removal Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Healthcare Executives Appreciation Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Boating Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Business Etiquette Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Commuter Challenge (thru 6.8) [During Canadian Environment Week]

National Fishing Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Flag Football Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Garden Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

National Headache Awareness Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Pet Appreciation Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Teacher Thank You Week (thru 6.8) [1st Full Week]

Festivals Beginning June 2, 2024

Asheville Springfest (Asheville, South Carolina)

Baby Jumping Festival [a.k.a. El Colacho] (Castrillo de Murcia, Spain)

Calgary Lilac Festival [a.k.a. 4th Street Lilac Festival] (Calgary, Canada)

Cape May Restaurant Week (Cape May, New Jersey) [thru 6.9]

Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival (Camarillo, California)

Culinary Coast Restaurant Week (Various locations, Delaware) [thru 6.7]

Heritage Fire (Savannah, Georgia)

Paso Pinot & Paella Festival (Templeton, California)

Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off (Tustin, California)

Feast Days

Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Alexander (Christian; Martyr)

Binkham Tamino McDoyal III (Muppetism)

Blandina (Christian; Martyr)

Buddha Day (Indonesia; Buddhism)

Elmo (Christian; Saint)

Émile Munier (Artology)

Erasmus (Christian; Saint)

Eugene I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Felix of Nicosia (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Light and Dark Spots (Shamanism)

Finneces (Celtic Book of Days)

Frank Runacres (Artology)

St. Gregory the Great (Positivist; Saint)

Isaac van Ostade (Artology)

Juno Regina’s Day: Queenship Rite (Pagan)

Laugh Like a Bad Guy Day (Pastafarian)

Marcellinus and Peter (Christian; Martyrs)

Marquis de Sade Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

The Melissae (Ancient Crete; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Mindfulness Day (Zen Buddhism)

Nicholas the Pilgrim (Christian; Saint)

Paul-Albert Besnard (Artology)

Pothinus, Bishop of Lyon, and Attalus, Blandina, and other martyrs of Lyon (Christian; Saint)

Shapatu of Ishtar (Everyday Wicca)

Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Christ (Roman Catholic)

Stephen of Sweden (Christian; Martyr)

Thomas Hardy (Writerism)

Vesak Day (Buddha Day; Singapore)

Yell “Fudge” at North American Cobras Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Betty Boop Mystery (Animated Film; 1989)

Churchill (Film; 2017)

Cooked, by Michael Pollan (Food Book; 2013)

Corvette Summer (Film; 1978)

Darkness on the Edge of Town, by Bruce Springsteen (Album; 1978)

Dead Poets Society (Film; 1989)

Deliverance, by James Dickey (Novel; 1970)

De-Lovely (Film; 2004)

Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym (Novel; 1952)

Hells Heels (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, by Tim O'Brien (Memoir; 1972)

Isabeau (Lady Godiva), by Pietro Mascagni (Opera; 1911)

The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1986) [Discworld #2]

Obscured by Clouds, by Pink Floyd (Album; 1972)

Oil!, by Upton Sinclair (Novel; 1926)

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster (Novel; 1961)

The Prize Guest (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

Room and Bird (WB MM Cartoon; 1951)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Animated Film; 2023)

Storms of Life, by Randy Travis (Album; 1986)

The Unexpected Pest (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

The Wire (TV Series; 2002)

Whitney, by Whitney Houston (Album; 1987)

Wonder Woman (Film; 2017)

Today’s Name Days

Armin, Erasmus, Marcel, Petrus (Austria)

Erazmo, Eugen, Marcelin, Petar (Croatia)

Jarmil, Jarmila (Czech Republic)

Marcellinus (Denmark)

Veevi, Viiva, Viive, Viivi, Viivia, Viivika, Vivian (Estonia)

Venla (Finland)

Blandine (France)

Armin, Blandine, Erasmus (Germany)

Marinos, Nikiforos (Greece)

Anita, Kármen (Hungary)

Emilia, Erasmo, Marcellino (Italy)

Emma, Emmija (Latvia)

Auksė, Ąžuolas, Erazmas, Eugenijus (Lithuania)

Runa, Runar, Rune (Norway)

Efrem, Erazm, Eugeniusz, Marcelin, Maria, Marianna, Mikołaj, Nicefor, Piotr, Racisław (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Oxana, Xénia (Slovakia)

Eugenio, Marcelino, Pedro (Spain)

Roger, Rutger (Sweden)

Elma, Elmer, Elmo, Elmore, Erasmo (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 154 of 2024; 212 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 22 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 26 (Ding-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 25 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 25 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 4 Blue; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 20 May 2024

Moon:18%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 13 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Gregory the Great]

Runic Half Month: Odal (Home, Possession) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 76 of 92)

Week: 1st Full Week of June

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 13 of 31)

[fromthecellarsofoldnewgate]

A bit of writing inspired by a summer trip.

Firmament Ch.2 Spoilers below the cut.

Naples. Oh, Naples!

The ceremonies and celebrations, while very much in order, were affairs he paid little attention to. He was a ragged fellow, in threadbare tweed- simply not built for wining and dining and partying; plus, a noted distaste for mushroom wines, and a fear of ridicule stayed his attendance.

With a clap on the back, a wine pushed into his hand, one of the few vintages he liked, he notes, and a muttered excuse about research projects in the hands of students (Dear God) he shuffles his way out into the street, and to a carriage.

To the University he went, yes, but not for some fear of students. Few ever came by- even his lab was often only host to a singlular assistant. Surface Studies was not a popular elective. Not like photography, everybody loved that course.

Bitterness towards his own nebulous (and lax) enrollment campaign subsided when he entered his office. Small, cramped, and right next to the bloody Photography Department’s main dark room. But, that just meant it was quiet, and nobody looked twice when he stayed all night, or ducked out and in at odd hours. And the lack of students had allowed him freedom with planning and committing larcenies, so it was more of a blessing than curse- even if he did play into the academic rivalry.

The door locks instantly upon closing. He throws open a drawer. Illegal maps, collected and smuggled and stolen from wherever he could get them. A map of Europe from before the Fall. A map of America from a gunslinger. And a map of Europe, from 1901. This final map is his goal, and he spreads it out over his desk, leaning over it like a hungry man over a bowl.

Naples.

Naples.

Naples.

Italy. Unified the year before the Fall- 1861. Yes, does he have a map from there?

He searches, swearing as he does. No current map. He has an older one, from before unification. He pulls it out, and finds Naples.

“Oh, Naples.”

He traces his finger through the streets and alleys. Retracts his and Tatterdemalion’s steps, where he met the Duchess, and Summer. The miners- the bookseller. Some places are named differently, some do not exist. But it is enough for him- for a man who wishes desperately to feel the Sun, it is enough.

“If only…” He says, wistfully. “I could have truly gone.”

His finger traces a road by a cafe he considered eating at.

“Oh, Naples.” He repeats, like a mantra, as if saying it will bring him there- or back, whichever it is. “Summer and Sun, and warmth, and…”

He trails off, silent, as he trails his finger across boulevards. He will get there. He will surpass his father. He will Return.

[suesmusings]

Finding Florence

We left the boat and made it to our train connection pretty easily. We had some time to kill so planned to visit an amazing cake shop we had seen with meringues as big as our hands … but Venice police stopped us as we didn’t have a tourist day pass (interestingly the gondolier told us Venetians are not happy with the new tax - they’re not sure what it will be spent and worry where will it end - all cities can’t start taxing tourists to enter an Italian city as all have amazing and unique sights.

Here’s our top highlights from Florence:

Experiencing Italy’s fast trains - comfy, air conditioned and free wifi at 250kph with our luggage never leaving our line of sight.

After getting lost and a few dead ends we finally found one of the famed hole in the wall wine windows. They are scattered around Florence and often attached to a wine bar. ‘Buchette del Vino’ were used by noble families to sell wine , without opening a shop to avoid paying taxes for hundreds of years. They are so pretty and have a little bell.

Leather shopping! we soon learned how to tell the fakes from the real stuff and bargained like a boss. See Carl’s new overnight bag in one of the pics. He looks the part.

We admired some of Florence’s top spots including the Florence cathedral, Michelangelo’s David, impressive fountains, Ponte Vecchio, and the river Arno.

The wine window guy gave us a hot tip on a great sunset lookout and off we went - climbing hills for 2k’s that nearly did us in, in the 38 deg heat. Needless to say Carl is in charge of the walking maps now haha. We did see some pretty impressive mansions that were coveted by invading armies.

A carafe of wine on the street at night people watching.

[terreboattourcinque]

Map Insights, Weather Tips & the Best Boat Tour Experience

Nestled along the stunning Ligurian coastline of Italy, the five colorful villages of Cinque Terre—Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso—form one of Europe’s most magical travel destinations. And while hiking and trains are popular, a Cinque Terre boat tour offers a uniquely relaxing and panoramic experience of this picturesque paradise.

In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the best way to explore this coastal gem by using the Cinque Terre Map, understanding the Cinque Terre Weather, and booking a boat tour that matches your travel style.

Why Choose a Cinque Terre Boat Tour?

A boat tour lets you witness Cinque Terre from a rare perspective—offshore. You’ll glide past vineyards clinging to cliff faces, stone villages glowing in the sun, and secluded beaches unreachable by foot. With us, you can enjoy:

Sunset cruises

Private or group charters

Wine tasting aboard

Swimming stops in crystal-clear coves

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just seeking serenity, the boat tour offers both luxury and local charm.

Navigating with the Cinque Terre Map

Before setting out, it’s essential to understand the Cinque Terre Map. The five villages stretch along 18 km of rugged coastline, with limited car access, making boats and trains the primary ways to travel between them.

Each village offers something unique:

Riomaggiore: Traditional charm and romantic vibes

Manarola: Known for stunning sunset views

Corniglia: Perched on a hill, rarely seen from sea—yet visible on our tour

Vernazza: The classic postcard shot of Cinque Terre

Monterosso: Best beaches and easiest harbor access

Our tours often begin or end in Monterosso or Riomaggiore depending on tide and weather, but the full route gives you the complete coastal view.

Understanding Cinque Terre Weather

Cinque Terre weather plays a crucial role in planning your trip. Summer offers ideal boating conditions, but spring and early autumn are often the most comfortable.

Spring (April–June): Mild temperatures, lush hillsides, and fewer crowds

Summer (July–August): Hot, dry, and perfect for swimming, though busier

Autumn (September–October): Still warm, with golden sunsets and grape harvest season

Our team keeps an eye on forecasts daily, and tours are adjusted to ensure your safety and enjoyment.

What to Expect During Your Boat Tour

Our boats are well-equipped and captained by local experts who love sharing stories of the sea and land. Expect:

Smooth rides with scenic views

Onboard refreshments or meals

Opportunities to snorkel, swim, or simply sunbathe

Knowledgeable guides to point out hidden landmarks

You’ll get plenty of photo ops of each village as you coast past—and we even offer drone-captured memories for private bookings.

Final Thoughts

Seeing the Cinque Terre by boat is not just a travel recommendation—it’s a must. From the intricate layout of the Cinque Terre Map to adapting to seasonal Cinque Terre Weather, we make every element of your journey seamless and stunning.

Let Cinque Terre Boat Tour show you the heart of Liguria from the sea. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, there’s always a new wave of beauty to explore.

[harshieurovibes]

🌍 Wanderlust Alert: 7 European Gems You Can’t Miss

1. Paris, France – The City of “Oui Oui” and Croissants If Eiffel Tower selfies were a sport, you’d be an Olympian here. Paris smells like fresh baguettes and fashion sense, all day every day. Warning: May cause sudden urges to say “Bonjour” with a fancy accent. Perfect place to pretend you’re in a romance movie (even if you’re just fighting a tourist map). Don’t forget: calories don’t count when you’re eating macarons.

2. Venice, Italy – Gondola Goals and Pasta Dreams Floating through Venice is like being in a fairy tale… if your fairy godmother was a gondolier with a great singing voice. Beware of pigeons that think your gelato is their dinner. Streets are so narrow you might accidentally bump into 10 strangers in 5 seconds—social distancing, who? Bonus: Every corner looks like a movie set. Just don’t fall into the canal while posing.

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands – Bikes, Blooms & Chill Vibes Where else can you bike, eat waffles, and admire tulips all before noon? Amsterdam’s canals are basically the city’s version of scenic Instagram filters. Pro tip: Watch out for those speedy cyclists—they don’t stop for tourists posing. The coffee shops here might not be what you think... wink wink. Perfect for anyone who loves art, bikes, and chilling hard.

4. Santorini, Greece – The Blue & White Dream You Didn’t Know You Needed White houses with blue domes so bright, you’ll need shades at night. The sunsets here will make your heart and camera overflow. Don’t try to outshine the caldera views—spoiler: you can’t. Warning: You might never want to leave this postcard-perfect island. Pro tip: Drink wine and pretend you’re a Greek god or goddess.

5. Barcelona, Spain – Tapas, Gaudí & Fiesta Forever This city is like a party that never ends—thanks to endless tapas and flamenco beats. Gaudí’s architecture looks like someone went wild with Legos and paint. If you don’t try churros dipped in chocolate, did you even visit? Bonus: Beaches + city vibes = vacation goals. Don’t be surprised if you start dancing in the streets.

6. Prague, Czech Republic – Fairy Tale Meets Real Life Cobblestone streets that make you feel like you time-traveled (without the risk of paradox). The castle views will have you saying “wow” more than once a minute. Beer here is basically liquid gold—cheers to that! Beware of the Astronomical Clock’s hourly show; it’s cooler than most concerts. Pro tip: Get lost intentionally—it’s part of the magic.

7. Edinburgh, Scotland – Castles, Kilts & Ghost Stories The city looks straight out of a fantasy novel (or your wildest Harry Potter dreams). Kilts everywhere—yes, you might want to try one on. Ghost tours are a thing here, so bring your bravest face. Don’t forget to try haggis, even if you’re not sure what it is. Bonus: The locals’ accents might make you want to move here ASAP.

[mumbaiorbit]

🗺️ Nashik Ultimate Tourist Guide! 🗺️

Nashik, known as the "Wine Capital of India," offers a perfect blend of spirituality, history, and beauty. Here's a quick guide to top attractions, dining, and more!

📍 Top Attractions:

Trimbakeshwar Temple – Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva.

Sula Vineyards – Wine tasting & tours.

Pandavleni Caves – Ancient Buddhist caves.

Kalaram Sansthan Mandir – Historic temple.

Saptashrungi Devi Temple – Pilgrimage site with panoramic views.

🛍️ Shopping:

Saraf Bazaar – Spices, jewelry, handicrafts.

College Road – Fashion outlets.

Makhmalabad Market – Local food & souvenirs.

🍽️ Dining:

Sula Vineyards – Little Italy – Italian with wine pairing.

Panchavati Gaurav Thali – Traditional thali.

The Gateway Hotel – The Square – Indian & Continental cuisine.

🚍 Transport:

Nashik Road Railway Station & Bus Stations.

Taxis & Rideshare (Ola/Uber) available.

📅 Best Time to Visit:

Winter (Oct-March) for sightseeing.

Monsoon (June-Sept) for waterfalls.

🚨 Emergency Info:

Tourist info, hospitals, and police stations nearby.

For more info, the full guide is here: https://www.mumbaiorbit.in/blog/tourist-map-guide-of-nashik/

[visatips]

Best Portugal Holiday Packages from India – Explore Europe’s Hidden Gem

Portugal Holiday Packages from India

Introduction

Planning a European getaway that’s rich in culture, beaches, food, and charm—but not overcrowded? Portugal is calling! And guess what? Portugal holiday packages from India are more affordable and exciting than ever.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best Portugal holiday deals, must-visit places, travel tips, and how to get the most out of your journey—from India to this sunny slice of Europe.

Why Choose Portugal for Your Next Vacation?

Portugal is like Europe’s best-kept secret. Imagine cobbled streets, sun-drenched coastlines, historical castles, and soulful Fado music. It’s less touristy than France or Italy, but equally mesmerizing—and way more budget-friendly.

Top Reasons to Book Portugal Holiday Packages from India

Affordable European destination

Visa-friendly for Indian citizens

Ideal blend of culture, beaches, and cuisine

English is widely spoken

Schengen visa allows travel to other EU countries

Best Time to Visit Portugal

Spring (March to May): Beautiful weather and fewer crowds

Summer (June to August): Beach lovers’ paradise

Fall (September to October): Warm, wine season begins

Winter (November to February): Off-season discounts and mild winters

Popular Portugal Holiday Packages from India

1. Classic Portugal – 7 Days Tour

Cities Covered: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto

Inclusions: Flights, 3-star hotels, breakfast, guided tours

Approx. Cost: ₹1.2 – ₹1.5 Lakhs per person

2. Portugal & Spain Combo – 10 Days Tour

Cities Covered: Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville

Inclusions: Inter-country flights, hotels, sightseeing

Approx. Cost: ₹2.5 Lakhs per person

3. Honeymoon in Portugal – 6 Days

Highlights: Sunset in Algarve, private wine tasting, luxury stays

Cost: ₹1.6 – ₹2 Lakhs per couple

4. Budget Backpackers Tour – 9 Days

Stay: Hostels & shared accommodations

Cost: ₹80,000 – ₹1 Lakh per person

Top Cities to Visit in Portugal

Lisbon

Portugal’s capital is a mix of old-world charm and modern vibes. Ride the vintage trams, enjoy pastel de nata (custard tarts), and catch sunset views from São Jorge Castle.

Porto

Home to port wine, Porto is colorful, romantic, and filled with riverfront cafes and ancient architecture.

Sintra

A fairytale town with palaces and mountains. Don’t miss Pena Palace—it looks straight out of a Disney movie.

Algarve

The southern coastline filled with golden beaches, caves, and dramatic cliffs. Great for beach bums and adventurers alike.

Flight Options from India to Portugal

Major Airports: Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO)

Airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Turkish Airlines

Flight Duration: 12-16 hours (1 stop)

Visa Information for Indian Citizens

Type: Schengen Tourist Visa

Processing Time: 15-21 working days

Documents Required: Passport, travel itinerary, bank statement, hotel bookings, travel insurance

Visa Fee: Approx. ₹7,000

What’s Usually Included in Holiday Packages?

Return airfare (economy class)

Schengen visa assistance

3 or 4-star hotel accommodations

Daily breakfast

Sightseeing tours with guides

Airport transfers

Travel insurance

What’s Usually Excluded?

Lunch and dinner

Optional tours and activities

Tips and personal expenses

PCR test (if required)

Early check-ins or late check-outs

How to Book Portugal Holiday Packages from India?

Online Travel Portals:

MakeMyTrip

Thomas Cook

Yatra

SOTC

Veena World

Travel Agents:

Reach out to reputed tour operators with Schengen visa expertise. Some even offer EMI options.

Travel Tips for Indians Visiting Portugal

Carry a universal travel adapter (Type C & F plug)

Learn a few Portuguese phrases (locals love it!)

Indian restaurants are available in Lisbon and Porto

Use Google Translate—it helps!

Get an international SIM or roaming pack for maps

Budgeting for Your Portugal Trip from India

Expense Type

Approx. Cost (Per Person)

Flights

₹45,000 – ₹60,000

Visa & Insurance

₹9,000 – ₹11,000

Hotels (6 nights)

₹30,000 – ₹50,000

Food & Local Travel

₹15,000 – ₹20,000

Tours & Activities

₹20,000

Total

₹1.2 – ₹1.6 Lakhs

Best Souvenirs to Bring Back

Portuguese wine and port

Hand-painted tiles (azulejos)

Cork products (bags, wallets)

Olive oil and spices

Local ceramics and art

Conclusion

From romantic coastal towns to ancient cities with rich heritage, Portugal holiday packages from India offer something for every kind of traveler. It’s the perfect mix of affordability, beauty, and culture—all with a European flair.

So why wait? Book your Portugal dream holiday today and say “Olá” to unforgettable memories!

FAQs

1. Is Portugal good for Indian honeymooners?

Absolutely! Portugal’s romantic cities, scenic coasts, and cozy stays make it a top choice.

2. Do I need a visa to travel from India to Portugal?

Yes, you need a Schengen tourist visa.

3. Can I customize my holiday package?

Most tour operators allow full or partial customization based on your interests and budget.

4. Are there Indian restaurants in Portugal?

Yes! Lisbon and Porto have many Indian eateries serving both North and South Indian cuisine.

5. What’s the cheapest month to visit Portugal?

February and November are generally cheaper due to fewer tourists and off-season discounts.

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Unique And Personalized Honeymoon Gifts That Create Lasting Memories

Curated list of unique and personalized honeymoon gifts that go beyond the usual and truly create lasting memories for newlyweds:

🎁 Experience-Focused Gifts Customized Travel Journal Engrave their names or honeymoon destination. Include prompts like "Best meal we had" or "Funniest moment." Private Photo Shoot Book a local photographer at their honeymoon destination. Capture candid vacation memories in stunning settings. Couples' Adventure Experience Think hot air balloon ride, scuba diving, wine tasting tour, or zip-lining. Gift a prepaid voucher for a surprise excursion.

🛏️ Romantic Room Add-ons Honeymoon Suite Decor Package Rose petals, candles, and custom champagne flutes. Arrange through their hotel or Airbnb in advance. Personalized Luggage Tags & Passport Holders Matching his & hers (or theirs & theirs) sets with initials or cute quotes.

💕 Sentimental Keepsakes Custom Star Map Shows the night sky from their wedding or honeymoon date/location. Frame it with a romantic quote or song lyric. Personalized Soundwave Art Turn their vows, first dance song, or a honeymoon message into soundwave artwork. Engraved Jewelry or Coordinates Bracelet Add the coordinates of the honeymoon spot or wedding venue. Subtle and meaningful keepsake they’ll actually wear.

📸 Memory Makers Instant Camera Set (like a Fujifilm Instax) Include extra film and a scrapbook. They can document their trip in the moment. Custom Video Message Compilation Gather heartfelt messages from friends/family for them to watch together on the trip.

🍽️ Gourmet & Relaxation Gifts Private Chef or Cooking Class Book a honeymoon cooking class or tasting session. Especially memorable in foodie destinations like Italy, Japan, or Thailand.

Couples Spa Set Personalized plush robes, massage oils, and a Spotify playlist for ultimate relaxation.