#Rock the Red Kettle Tour

[greensparty]

Concert Review: Janes's Addiction

Friday 9/13/24 @ Leader Bank Pavilion (Boston, MA)

Remember that old joke "Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?", well that's kind of how I feel writing this review. I set out to cover a concert and write a review and then the show ended abruptly and made national news, before I even had a chance to begin processing my thoughts!?! So I'm going to begin this review as I would a normal concert review with everything up until that ending that everyone is talking about.

Navarro, Farrell, Perkins and Avery onstage

In August 1991, I attended the MA stop of the very first Lollapalooza Festival, headlined by Jane's Addiction and created by singer Perry Farrell. I had been hearing some of JA's stuff and really dug what I heard, so prior to the festival, I picked up their 1990 album Ritual de lo Habitual. It was unlike anything at that time, a combination of hard rock, psychedelia, funk, art rock, and even raga sounds. That performance at Lollapalooza was epic, they did a ton of songs from Ritual and their 1988 studio debut Nothing's Shocking. Just as the band was breaking through to the mainstream and Lollapalooza was a success, JA broke up. Side note: about a month after Lollapalooza '91, I began high school. In english class we had to do an assignment about famous people who have the same name as us. I mentioned Eric Clapton, Eric Stoltz and JA bassist Eric Avery. My classmate Scott was the only one to respond to Eric Avery. From then on he and I bonded over bands we both liked like JA and Red Hot Chili Peppers and I'm happy to say we have remained good friends since then. Scott has brought his photography skills to a number of film projects I've done over the years and I've helped him out on some of his as well. When the opportunity came for me to cover this JA concert, I was thrilled to get Scott a photo pass, where he could photograph the first few songs. Truly a full circle moment for both of us to see JA together after all these years!

Navarro

We arrived mid-way through Love and Rockets' set, but enough for me to see them do all the hits like their cover of The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion", "No New Tale to Tell" and of course their biggest hit "So Alive". I am no expert, but I was impressed. After seeing them and The Church a few months ago, I'm starting to wish I could time travel to be a college radio DJ in the 1980s!

Navarro and Avery

Back the headliners: After JA ended in 1991, they reunited briefly in 1997 and again in 2003 in a number of different lineups. But this classic lineup of Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins has not toured since they were all together circa 2008-2010. In 1997, I did see Farrell and Perkins' post-JA band Porno for Pyros at the WBCN River Rave and with the exception of "Pets" it wasn't particularly memorable. There is just a magic of the JA lineup, four distinct personalities who come together and are bigger than the sum of their parts. Navarro just re-joined this year after long COVID sidelined him for the last few tours. Prior to this show there had been some music press complaining about some of the recent concerts, but I went in hopeful. This show also happened to be Perkins' birthday and Love and Rockets made a birthday dedication to him.

Avery

The show kicked off with "Kettle Whistle", a song that goes back to their 80s live shows and was recorded for the 1997 compilation of the same name. Then they went into some deep cuts like "Whores" and "Pigs in Zen". Farrell mumbled something about how the one thing we can all agree on is that it's "football season mother***ers". Farrell is truly a great singer, but at this show, he seemed quite off (wrong lyrics, coming in at the wrong time in songs, etc). Musically the band was tight. Navarro especially is one of the great guitarists to emerge from the 90s Alternative Nation and he seemed to be on fire during certain songs. The highlights of the show for me were "Summertime Rolls", "Jane Says" and "Three Days". There had been some tension within the band between Farrell and Navarro during a few songs, but it seemed like the show was going on.

Farrell

And then as they were doing "Ocean Size" things fell apart. Literally! During the song, I looked away for a nano-second and Scott said "Dude, are you watching this?!", I looked up and Farrell apparently went up to Navarro in the middle of the song and shoulder-bumped Navarro and then he actually took a swing at him as the band and crew had to restrain him and Navarro, while holding a guitar, looked like a deer in headlights as they removed Farrell from the stage. Navarro, Avery and Perkins waved goodnight and then the lights came on. At other shows on this tour there were a good three or four more songs. We did not get "Stop", "Been Caught Stealing" (possibly their biggest hit) or my all-time favorite JA song "Classic Girl".

Navarro

As we walked from the venue to the car, Scott and I pondered if we had actually witnessed the last JA show ever. By the time I got home, social media had already blown up about this concert. A pic I had posted on my FB of Scott and I garnered tons of comments asking what happened. By the next morning national and international press was now reporting this incident. Fans were dissecting the fan-made videos like it was the Zapruder film. Farrell's wife took to social media to explain that he had lost it due to tinnitus and a sore throat and that the loudness of the music caused him to not hear be able to hear the music properly and that he went from anger to sadness for what had happened. She singled out Avery, who tried to hold him back, for getting in some cheap shots at Farrell. Then JA issued a statement apologizing for what had happened and that they would be canceling the next show in CT. Earlier today, the band announced the cancellation of the remaining tour dates. All of this before I even had a chance to write a review!?!

Avery

My hot take: If this was, as Scott and I wondered the final JA show before they break up again, that's sad because they are ending on a sad rock cliche of inter-band tension. It wasn't a deranged fan or someone in another band that attempted to hurt Navarro, it was a bandmate!?! I get it - it takes a lot to be in a band especially one with larger-than-life personalities. But when they ended in 1991, they went out at the top of their game with the end of the Lollapalooza tour that was now a success. Violence is wrong but to go after Navarro (who just overcame some health issues of his own) onstage during a concert due to sound issues that had nothing to do with him is wrong. That's something I expect of a hack unprofessional not a singer that has been doing this for almost 40 years. You have issues with the sound or how the songs are being played deal with the band and the crew during soundcheck. This is also sad because we're talking about a band that have made two of the greatest albums of all time (don't just take my word for it, both Nothing's Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual are in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list) and there was an opportunity to put on a great show filled with classics and deep cuts. Musically the band sounded good, but Farrell (whether it was tinnitus or him getting in his own way) was way off. I'm glad that I got to see this band in 1991. I'm glad I got to cover this as a member of the press because if I had paid I would've been disappointed.

Farrell

But in the end, it was exciting to have my friend Scott, who I talked JA with in high school, and 33 years later we got to see that lineup together...even if we wished it had gone differently.

Photos by Scott Patrick Wiener

For info on Jane's Addiction

[joslincox]

No Sleep Till Frank

Cover of: No Sleep Til Brooklyn by Beastie Boys

No sleep 'til

… Frank

… Foot on the pedal, never ever false metal

Engine running hotter than a boiling kettle

My job ain't a job, it's a damn good time

Body to body, I'm running my rhymes

… On location, touring around the nation

Bladder Cells always on vacation

Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable

I do what I do best because I'm willing and able

… Ain't no faking, your money I'm taking

Going zit to zit to watch all the red blood cells shaking

While you're at the cop job working nine to five

The Bladder Cells at the Garden, cold kickin' it live

… No sleep 'til

… Another helicopter, another car

Another bottle in the brain

Another red blood cell, another fight with germs

Another drive all night

… Our chief's crazy. He always smokes dust

He's got his own room at the back of the FPD

Tour around the world, you rock around the clock

Ride to the stomach, red blood cells on the cop

… Trashing hotels like it's going out of style

Getting paid along the way 'cause it's worth your while

Four on the floor, Ad Rock's out the door

MCA's in the back because he's skeezin' with a whore

We got a safe in the trunk with money in a stack

With dice in the front and Frank's in the back

White cells got more rhymes

… No sleep 'til

No sleep 'til Frank

No sleep 'til Frank

… Ain't seen the light since we started this band

MCA get on the mike, my man

Born and bred in Downtown, the City of Frank

They call me Adam Yauch but I'm MCA

Like a lemon to a lime, a lime to a lemon

I sip the def ale with all the fly red blood cells

… Limos, arenas, and TV shows

Autograph pictures and classy hoes

Step off, Homes, get out of my way

Taxing little red blood cells from here to L.A

Waking up before I get to sleep

'Cause I'll be rockin' this party eight days a week

… No sleep 'til

No sleep 'til Frank

No sleep 'til Frank

No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

No sleep 'til Frank, yeah

… No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

No sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

Never sleep 'til Frank (Frank)

[lost-in-the-80s]

You Don’t Want My Love - Chapter 7

Pairing: Duff McKagan x reader

Words: 3,899k

Summary: Guns n Roses hires a new tour assistant, but nobody thought that Duff would fall for her.

In this chapter:  Late night talks on the bus can sometimes be your best friend. The band goes to a Scottish pub, but what happens when you mix love with beer? 

A/N: The only thing I can say after finishing this chapter is that I want Duff McKagan in my life! Enjoy… (new chapters every Tuesday)

Tag list: @roger-taylors-car @ladieswttda @teasid @metalheartofgold @ginny-rose-sixx @rumoured-whispers @vinylvintage @metalupyourash ​ add yourself to my tag list :)

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

“Where’s my vodka?” Duff asked, searching inside the cabinets in the dressing room.

“Duff, don’t you think you’ve had enough for a day?” Y/N asked, concerned, he had drank a bottle already.

“Relax, sweetheart, I’ll be fine, I just want to ease my nerves....” He opened the last door, grinning widely. “Here it is!”

He placed the bottle on the top of the table, searching for a new plastic glass.

Y/N reached forward, grabbing the bottle just when Duff placed a glass beside it.

“Y/N, let go of the vodka, please.” He looked into her eyes, his tone was serious but his eyes had a glimpse that she couldn’t quite identify.

“No.” She took the bottle away from the table.

“Y/N…” He prolonged her name. “You don’t want me to go there and pick it, right?” He smirked, the glimpse in his eyes getting intensified, allowing her to identify it - mischief.

He started walking slowly towards her, while she started backing off.

“Y/N…” He said it again but she sprinted off the room, running through the corridors with him chasing her. 

At some points he almost got her, but there was always someone passing by that could be used as an obstacle. 

She grinned seeing the exit door at the end of the hallway. Pushing the door open, she met with bright sunshine. Looking back she couldn’t see Duff, she started moving backward slowly, facing the door trying to see any sight of the blonde.

Y/N abruptly stopped when her back hit against something, or better, someone. 

Turning around slowly she found Duff, he moved his arms and she closed her eyes by instinct, opening them when she felt him circling her waist and pulling her closer. 

He pressed his lips against hers, in a sweet and slow kiss. Forgetting completely about the bottle, she reached behind his neck with her arms, dropping the bottle beside her and pulling him even closer.

The crackling sound made him smile in the kiss, before he slowly pulled away from her.

“You good?” He looked down to see if she hadn’t cut herself.

---

A strong glow accompanied by a deafening crash woke Y/N. Looking out of the window she could see the rays covering the sky as heavy rain hit the road.

Great, we're under a storm. She thought to herself.

Hitting her head against the pillow, she grunted, running her hands over her face. Obviously it was a dream, Y/N.

She even tried to sleep, but she never liked storms, even when she was a child, they always made her scared and alert, two things that made it impossible for her to fall asleep.

Looking for her slippers on the floor, she got up, walking slowly to the common area of ​​the bus, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with both hands.

Opening the door, her eyes locked on Duff’s. He was sitting in one corner of the couch with an acoustic guitar on his lap, the radio was turned on at a low volume, playing some band that she had never heard before.

They stared at each other for a few seconds under the bad lighting generated by the red emergency lamps on the bus, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she recalled the dream she had just had, internally hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Can't you sleep?"

"I don't like storms very much." She headed for the small kitchen on the bus, turning on the lamp in the wall cabinet. "I came to make tea to see if it helps."

"It's been raining for a while, but the lightning started a little ago."

"Haven't you gone to sleep yet?" She looked at the clock on the bus, 4:10 am.

"I wasn’t sleepy, too many thoughts in my head."

"I know how it is." She murmured. "Do you want tea?"

"No, thank you."

Silence washed over the room, and she turned to face the electric kettle, waiting for the water to boil.

Focusing on the ambient sounds, the beat of the music enveloped her ears and she realized that Duff was playing the same song on the guitar, but on notes so soft they could hardly be heard in the rain.

"Which band is this?" She turned to him.

“Ramones. They are from New York. ” He stopped playing, looking into her eyes.

"It looks like a movie soundtrack ... of those that play before an adventure scene."

He smiled at her words. “It’s a tape I made, they are my favorite songs of theirs. This is I Wanna Be Sedated.”

"It's a good song." She turned, taking the boiling water to finish her tea.

"Now you can't say that you've never heard anything punk." He said remembering the conversation they had had at the record store a few months ago.

"Is that punk?" She opened her eyes wide. "I thought it would be something worth scaring little children." She laughed a little.

"No, it's not like that." He giggled. “They were the first band, you know? They arrived at the label with this tape with several 2-minute songs and ended up revolutionizing rock ”

She smiled when she saw the sparkle in his eyes when he spoke.

"Do You Wanna Dance?" He said calmly and she choked on the tea.

"What!?"

He laughed. "The music." He pointed to the radio, she hadn't even noticed that another song was playing. "This is the last one of the tape."

"Well, I don't know if I would listen to them willingly, but they are good!" She sat on the same couch as him, leaving some space between them.

"I figured you’d like it." He smiled putting the guitar on the floor.

"Yeah, but you're not always right."

"What you mean?"

"Those Dead Kennedys suck!" She said laughing.

"Oh no!" He touched his chest. "You’re hurting me, Y/N!"

“Like… Drug Me? What song is that!?”

"Yeah, maybe I gave you the wrong band." He laughed, leaning his head against the wooden panel that blocked the bus ladder.

The tape came to an end and the bus went silent again, only the noise of rain and wind being noticeable.

"What now?" She pointed with her thumb at the radio.

"I'll let you choose something."

Standing up and adjusting her knit shorts, she walked over to the radio, turning the station knob until she found a song she liked, playing at a local station.

"Scorpions?" He frowned.

"Is that their name?" She asked laughing, returning to sit next to him, this time closer.

He laughed as he shook his head. "I think I'm going to have to give you some rock lessons."

"Only if I give you some pop lessons!" Y/N smiled.

He pursed his lips. "That makes it difficult."

She laughed at his response, but then I Want To Know What Love Is started playing and she went silent with embarrassment, afraid that Duff would realize that the song represented exactly how she felt.

“So, where are you from?” She looked at him, trying desperately to initiate some conversation that could take her mind away from the song. 

“Seattle. Born and raised there.” He smiled.

“Just you or you have siblings?” 

“I have seven older siblings.”

“Wow! God bless your mom!” She widened her eyes.

“She’s a good woman. She would like you.” 

Y/N looked down, trying to cover the smile that formed on her lips.

“What about you? Any siblings?”

“I have one brother. He’s five years younger.” 

“The two of you get along well?” 

She yawned, the tea finally bringing sleep back to her. "Most of the time. He's a good boy. Started in college last year. ” A small smile formed on her lips.

“What’s his name?”

"Kevin." She placed the cup on the coffee table, resting her head against the back of the couch. "The nickname is Kenny." She closed her eyes, trying to fight sleep.

"I bet he’s very proud to be your brother." Duff said, looking at her closely and realizing that she was almost asleep.

"Yeah, maybe." She murmured.

After a few seconds of not moving, Duff called her name, but got no answer. She had slept.

He laughed softly, stretching his long legs on the coffee table, pulling Y/N to lie against his chest. She looked so small in that big sweater.

She moved a little while still sleeping, finding a comfortable position for her head right over his heart.

Duff wrapped his arms around her, gently kissing the top of her head. "Good night, Y/N."

And the sleep that had disappeared, finally came, if the cause of it was the sun coming up or the smell of her perfume? He couldn't say. But he closed his eyes, sighing deeply, allowing himself to sleep.

---

"Awn, look at them!" Steven said excitedly.

"Shut up, you're going to wake them up!" Axl replied.

"And isn't that the intention, idiot?" Slash asked, slapping the back of Axl's head.

Slowly, Duff started to open his eyes, all four were standing in front of him. Looking down, Duff saw her sleeping, she looked so peaceful, her hand was on his chest and her lips were slightly parted.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." Izzy said, smirking.

Looking at the watch, he saw that it was 9:30 in the morning.

"We stopped for breakfast." Axl said, throwing a leather jacket over his shoulder before getting off the bus, being accompanied by Izzy.

"You guys look so cute together!" Steven exclaimed and Y/N moved a little.

Slash started pushing Steven lightly by the shoulders off the bus, leaving Duff and Y/N there.

She started to open her eyes slowly and Duff removed some hair from her face.

"Hey, good morning." He said in a soft voice.

Hearing Duff's voice she got up quickly, sitting on the couch and looking around, finally realizing that she had slept with him, or on him.

"My goodness! I'm sorry, Duff! Wow, I fucked up big this time!” She ran her hands through her hair, trying to untangle it, avoiding looking him in the eye.

"It's alright."

She kept looking ahead, so he touched her chin, gently turning her face to him. "It's alright." He smiled gently.

Slowly, Y/N nodded.

"Axl said we stopped for breakfast."

"Oh my God, did he see me like that?" She covered her mouth with her hand.

"Everyone saw it, but relax, they don't care." He smiled trying to comfort her.

"You coming?" He asked getting up, ducking his head so he wouldn't hit the ceiling.

“I'm going to change first. I'll be there in a few minutes. ” She smiled slightly.

Duff nodded and left the bus.

"Oh. My. God." She said slowly. The thought of spending the night in Duff's arms made a smile come over her lips as she slowly walked over to her suitcase, still not believing what had happened.

Wearing the first jeans she found, she kept her sweater on, brushing her teeth quickly and heading toward the cafe.

Sitting next to Slash and Axl, she asked for coffee with pancakes, avoiding the look in the boys' eyes.

"So Duff, did you sleep well?" Axl asked, smirking, making Slash nudge him.

"Yes, I did." Duff tried to be casual, but there was no way to make the situation any less embarrassing.

"Y/N." Izzy's voice made her look at him, hoping it wasn't another joke. "The driver said that we’ll get to Edinburgh in the early afternoon, do we have anything to do today?"

She breathed a sigh of relief. "No, today is a free day."

Izzy nodded, turning his attention to the coffee.

"I want to go to a pub tonight." Slash announced.

"Hell yeah!" Duff agreed, high fiving the friend over the table.

"You know what, I'm going with you!" Axl announced, leaning against the chair.

“I think we could all use a night of fun. Izzy? Y/N? What do you say? ” Steven said, his eyes sparkling with the idea.

"Maybe." Izzy said without taking his eyes off the newspaper he was reading.

Steven looked at her hopefully.

"Why not?" She brought a piece of the pancake to her mouth.

"I think the night is going to be good!" Slash said smiling.

“8 o'clock, in the hotel lobby? What do you say?" Axl asked, receiving confirmation from each of them.

---

For the rest of the day she found a book in her suitcase, sitting near the bus window and listening to a tape of The Rolling Stones that Izzy had loaned her.

As much as her eyes were on the book, her mind wandered freely about the night before. Recalling how his skin glowed with the thin red light, how relaxed he looked and how soft his voice was when he spoke to her.

He had become the first good memory during a storm. And to be honest, she had even forgotten that it was raining when she was with him.

Around two in the afternoon they arrived in Edinburgh. Checking in and choosing a coat, she went out for lunch, meeting Slash in the hotel lobby, the two of them decided to have lunch together, walking quietly through the city streets.

“How was your night, Y/N? Sleep well?" Slash asked, smirking.

"Oh no! You too!?" She crossed her arms.

"Relax, I'm just bugging you." He laughed. "But you were so cute cuddling together this morning." He smiled, mocking her.

She pushed him lightly by the shoulder. "You will never let me forget this, will you?"

"Nope!" He smiled proudly and she rolled her eyes, not holding herself and giving a small smile.

After placing their orders, the two sat at a table by the window.

Looking at the gray sky and the cold wind that hit the streets, she sighed. "I wanted to go with a skirt tonight, but I think it's too cold for that."

“We are going to drink! You won't even know what's cold after the third beer.”

She pursed her lips, making them a thin line. "Yeah, that worries me too."

"Why?"

"Let's say I get drunk very quickly." She gave a nasal laugh as she remembered the last Christmas party, when she had a few glasses of punch she ended up sleeping in the middle of the party.

“Relax, we'll be with you. We take care of each other. ” He offered her a smile and then the two started eating, remaining in comfortable silence, except for some comments about the food here and there.

After returning to the hotel, Y/N found herself without much to do. She reorganized her bags, watched MTV and even danced when some music she liked was playing on television.

When the clock struck 7, she took a shower, drying her hair with the hotel dryer and applying light makeup. Searching among her clothes she chose a white and black skirt that she combined with a black long-sleeved blouse and long black boots. Wearing a long black coat and applying perfume, she left the room, heading for the lobby.

After a few minutes, everyone arrived and together they took two taxis towards a famous pub in the city.

Sitting at a table at the back of the establishment, “Beer Night” began, as Axl decided to call it.

The place was poorly lit, there were dark wooden tables matching chairs with red upholstery. The walls were exposed brick and there were some decorative pictures scattered around.

To her right, Y/N could see a tall counter, behind it were several craft beer machines, as well as a variety of other drinks like whiskey and liquor on shelves on the wall.

Choosing a round table in the corner of the establishment, Y/N sat down between Duff and Axl, widening his eyes when a big glass mug full of beer was placed in front of her.

"Am I supposed to drink all of this?" She pointed to the mug, looking at the boys.

"Relax, there's food to go with it." Axl told her, and then two servings of appetizers were placed in the center of the table.

When the second round of beer arrived, Y/N was already more than dizzy, she found everything funny, while the boys started talking louder and louder.

"Tell her how you broke your hand, Popcorn!" Duff said laughing, his arm was supported on the back of her chair.

"Oh no!" He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head.

"Come on! I want to know!!" She prolonged the last word by making puppy eyes.

“Okay… It was just a few weeks before the tour started, I was leaving this bar and a guy and I got into a fistfight. As you can imagine, I was not very sober, I tried to punch the guy, ended up slipping and hitting my fist against a street lamp.”

Everyone at the table laughed at the incident, Axl even put his hand on his belly to try to relieve the pain that formed in his abdomen thanks to his laughter.

Two mugs and many excuses to go to the bathroom later, they decided to go to the hotel. To be fair they didn’t decide to go to the hotel, in fact, the owner of the pub expelled them saying that it was closing time.

It was funny to see the man getting mad, none of the six were used to the Scottish accent, understanding what he was saying became even more difficult with all the beer they had had.

The last thing Y/N heard was the man growling "Fucking cunts!" before slamming the door behind them.

To be fair, it took them 15 minutes to get out of there, drinking the rest of the beer from the mugs and laughing at his accent. So she understood why he was so angry.

Stumbling to get into a taxi with Duff and Izzy, Y/N found herself leaning against the blonde's side, who put his arm over her shoulders.

"Your hair is so beautiful." She laughed, touching his hair.

"You are beautiful." He replied smiling.

She laughed again, laying her head on his shoulder, rubbing her nose against the skin of the blonde's neck. "I love your smell." She whispered and it was the last thing she saw before everything became black.

"Y/N! ... Y/N, we're here!" She opened her eyes, realizing that the taxi had parked in front of the hotel, Izzy had already left and Duff was waiting for her.

"Hum? Are we here yet? ” Her voice was drunk, skidding on every word.

"Yes, love." He smiled, getting out of the car and waiting for her.

Stumbling on the sidewalk step, Duff caught her, laughing.

"Damn boots!" She murmured, breaking free of Duff's arms and sitting on the floor in the middle of the sidewalk.

"What is she doing?" Slash asked in a slurred voice.

"Taking off her boots." Duff said. The two looked at each other and started laughing.

Trying to get up, she realized that it was a more difficult task than she imagined, as she fell down sitting again.

"Ouch ... I can't get up." She complained.

Rolling his eyes, Axl pulled her by the hands, helping her to her feet.

Analyzing the situation from the outside, it was clear that Axl and Duff were the two most sober people there, as far as possible, of course.

"Where's Izzy?" Axl asked Duff.

"He's already in." He pointed to the hotel door.

"Okay, take the lady “I can't stand up” to her room while I take care of these two."

Duff nodded, putting an arm around her waist, guiding her into the hotel.

Standing in front of the elevators, Y/N looked at Steven, he was already looking at her.

"What?" She asked.

"What?" He frowned and they both started laughing again.

Duff's elevator opened the doors and he entered, taking the girl with him.

"Good night boys. I love you!" She said in her slurred voice, but the doors closed before she could receive an answer.

Stopping in front of her bedroom door, she took a few seconds to find the lock, turning around abruptly before opening the door, facing Duff.

One of his arms was propped against the doorframe, making him only inches away from her.

“Can’t you open it? ” He asked.

"I already opened it." She smiled victoriously, leaning her head against the door and tilting her chin to stare into his eyes.

"What is it then?" 

"I want you to kiss me." She whispered, moving her face close to his.

"Y/N." He prolonged her name in a warning tone.

"Please." She sighed, standing on her tiptoes.

Slowly, Duff leaned his head down and she closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss, but it never came.

Opening her eyes again, she found two brownish-green orbs staring at her.

"Not like this, you’re drunk." He said in a low voice. "Can you handle yourself or do you need help with anything else?" He pulled away from her, clearing his throat.

"I can handle it." She said looking down, unable to hide her disappointment. "Good night Duff." Entering the room she closed the door before he could respond to her words.

---

The next morning, Y/N woke up to a loud noise echoing in the room. Opening her eyes, it took her several seconds to realize it was the phone.

She frowned when a severe headache hit her as soon as she stepped out of bed.

"Hello?" Her voice was slurred with sleep.

"Good morning Y/N." It was Tom, he had traveled the week before. The initial plans were for him to accompany the band for at least three months, but an unforeseen event with a band in the United States made him rush back.

"Good morning, Tom." She rubbed her eyes, lying back on the bed.

"How is it going?"

“Everything is going ok. The boys are behaving, just the usual delays and problems” She said referring to drugs and drinking.

"Good to know, because I’ll need you to take care of everything for a few more weeks."

"What happened?"

“It is difficult to explain over the phone, many things have not gone as planned and they are about to lose their contract. I will have to stay longer. ”

"Ah, yes ... I understand."

"Call me if something serious happens, and if they start to get out of control let me know and I'll get someone to help you."

"Alright, and don’t worry, I’ll warn you if something happens. ”

"Right." She could hear the sound of something metallic falling on the floor. “Sorry, I have to go. Take care, Y/N. ”

"You too, Tom." She hung up the phone, realizing it was 11 am, the soundcheck would start in a few hours.

Closing her eyes, flashes from last night hit her, fast like lightning. A dark-haired man yelling at them, Duff waking her up in the taxi and her taking off her boots on the sidewalk.

She couldn't remember entering the hotel, much less arriving in her room. Looking around she saw her clothes from the night before scattered on the floor, all except the shirt she was wearing. Her hair smelled like a mixture of cigarettes, shampoo and beer and she noticed that she had broken a nail.

"What the hell happened last night?"

[xxisxxisxxis]

Gateway Drug | Part Seventy-Eight

Words: 3k

Warning(s): explicit language, violence, substance abuse

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"H-Hi." Deana tries to keep her composure upon the sight of Nikki freshly off-stage. 

He looks more pale than he was before heading to play, his sweat cloaked body shaking slightly. 

His mother, her dark hair curled and bright red lips tugging into a sappy smile as tears bubble in her eyes.

Even without probably knowing the whole story, Axl and the guys know Nikki doesn't have a relationship with his mom, and the nightmare about to take place has them slowly leaning against the wall of the hallway, quietly looking down, uncomfortable with getting caught in the middle of this. 

"What are you doing here?" Nikki asks, confused, more than likely questioning if its a hallucination from mixing too many drugs or not. 

"I made the arrangement." Doc states chipperly, stupidly thinking Nikki would be happy. "An early Christmas present." He adds. 

"I wanted to see you," She tells her son, taking a few steps closer, "I wanted to see both of you...I've already missed out on so much." She explains, looking at me. "I-I know the timing is off, but I really wanted to talk to you." 

"No, the timing isn't off--" I try to assure her. 

"--Don't waste your breath, Viv, she's just gonna ask for money and then disappear for another ten years." Nikki scoffs, brushing past her. 

"Frank--"

"--That's not my name." He snaps to her. 

"It's the name on your birth certificate, Frankie. Frank Ferana. It might not be as glamorous as 'Nikki Sixx' but--" 

"--It's Nikki. Legally. It's Sixx. Legally. It's her last name. Legally." He refers to me and she clenches her jaw. "And any kids I have are gonna have that last name. Legally. I'm not 'Frank', or 'Frankie', and I'm certainly not a fucking 'Ferana' so don't even start that shit."

"You're still my baby." She tells him, trying not to cry. "I came all this way to see you." She adds, wrapping her arms around him. 

I see the glimmer of a little boy in his eyes, for a split second, then it's quickly pushed aside and replaced with that of an angry, abused, hurt, scorned, abandoned dog. 

And he's going for the throat in a moment the second she says:

"Oh, my Frankie." 

He's shoving her off of him so hard she nearly goes to the floor. 

"That's not my fucking name!" He screams at her, throwing his bottle of Jack at the ground at her heeled-boot covered feet. 

He's storming off, Doc following after him, and Fred takes a breath and goes to Deana, to politely usher her out. 

"That's fucked." Izzy mumbles, shaking his head slightly, going to their dressing room and I walk behind them. 

"Nikki--"

"--Who the fuck do you think you are?! Huh?! Who the hell are you to bring my personal life front and center for every God damn body to see?!" 

"I didn't realize you and your mother weren't on good terms." Doc tells him, honestly. 

"You think I'm this fucked up for the hell of it?! You think I'm this way after growing up with parents who gave a shit?! Really?!" Nikki laughs humorlessly.

"Nikki, I'm sorry, alright?" 

"No, you're not, you don't give a shit and you never have, you're just another greedy fuck getting his rocks off from the money in my pocket but I'm done!" He yells, turning to walk away. "You don't know what's fucking best for me, you don't care about me, you don't care about the band, you're not my fucking father and you sure as shit aren't my manager anymore so just go get fucked, Doc, you're fucking fired!" He calls. 

"You're not fired." I assure Doc, wanting to go after him, but not able to bring myself to. 

He doesn't want to talk to me about it. 

I am surprised to see Axl rub his forehead and roll his jaw before stalking past me, Nikki's way. 

"Where you going?" I ask him. 

"I fucking hate my mom." Is all he says as he goes by. 

I didn't know what exact issue Axl had with his own mother, but I'd later find out it was because her horrible judgment in men and what abuse she'd allow him and his siblings to endure from those men, along with her forceful hand in religion that she and Axl's stepfather enforced brutally on their kids.

"Did Doc really not mean to set that up?" Steven asks me when I get into their dressing room. 

"No, he didn't." I reply. 

"Is Nikki gonna be okay?" Tansy asks quietly. 

"I don't know, Tansy." I roll my eyes and she furrows her brows, slightly. 

"Do you even care?" She asks me and I look at her. 

"Tans--" Duff starts. 

"--No, I mean, really, Vivian. Do you even care?" She cuts him off. 

"Excuse me?" I ask, practically seeing the dullness in her eyes of a mixed-drug high.

Without a doubt coke and smack.

"Of course I care, Tansy. Just because he and I are separated doesn't mean I want him to suffer."

"Way to take one for the team by sleeping with Duff, then, because surely that is the one thing that has to be done to prevent Nikki's suffering." She states. 

"What I do and who I do it with is my business, Tansy." I tell her, crossing my arms. 

"Sure doesn't sound that way when everybody on the same floor as you can hear nothing but, 'ahh, ahh, Duff, ahh!'" She mimics moaning. 

"Maybe I'm staying under Duff so much because if I don't, you'll take it as an open invitation, and there really are some people you don't have to try to sleep with mandatorily based on their wallet size, Tansy." 

"Just like there are some people you don't have to sleep with based on whether or not they're gonna be big rockstars or not." She shoots back. 

"Wanna be the pot or the kettle?" I ask. 

"I want you to stop adding fuel to the fire and then acting like your hands are clean while smiting all of us." She outbursts. 

"Smite you for adding to his problems? Offering him drugs when he's already going down hill? Letting him think screwing another woman is okay--not even screwing her, having an entire relationship with her." I correct myself. 

"Given the circumstances of your marriage, he needed an escape." She says next. 

"Given the circumstances of your new-found smack-induced courage, you act like you need my fist to knock your teeth out." 

"Viv--"

"--Then you'll really be laying on your back to get work." 

"But at least I do work. What do you do? Aside from spend Nikki's money and sleep with his friends?" 

"I'm not killing him like you and Sparkie have been with your junkie bullshit." I manage to keep myself from having an outburst, more concerned with Nikki's crisis with his mom. 

"Not yet, at least." She mumbles as I'm walking out. 

"Where you guys going?" Tommy asks as we head to leave for the bus. 

"Um… about to pack our stuff up and head out?" Izzy replies.

"No, no, no, just because Nikki's parade's been pissed on doesn't mean ours has to be." Tommy suggests to them. 

"Yeah, c'mon it's our last night hangin' out for a while." Vince points out, two groupies already under each arm. 

"I was gonna check on Sixx." Slash explains. 

"I'm fine." Nikki shows up, his hands on Slash's shoulders, tightly in an aggravating manner, making Slash chuckle as he twists away from him. 

Axl isn't far behind, he and Izzy looking at the invitation to hangout with the guys one last time on this tour, hesitantly. 

"What the hell," Izzy shrugs. 

"So glad you said that, man, because we have a special surprise." Nikki grins, beckoning them with his finger. 

"Stevie, c'mon!" Duff exclaims from behind me, Steven exiting their dressing room with Tansy behind him. 

"You good?" He asks Nikki. 

"Yeah." Nikki assures him. "I have a present." He adds, leading the guys to the double doors of what I assume is a bigger room. 

Sure enough, he opens the door, and at least ten girls are lined up, naked, asses up, thick lines of coke down their spines. 

Nausea nestles it's way into my stomach, but Tommy, Vince and Nikki look as if this is their promised land. 

Even Steven looks slightly off-put by the brazen display. 

Complete disinterest cascades off of Duff, a heavy puff of cigarette smoke leaving his nostrils with the huff of his unamused breath. 

"Who's first?" Nikki asks. 

Naturally, the guys look to their "leader," and Axl reluctantly rolls his eyes and walks over to the first girl. 

It's like he refuses to acknowledge she's naked, his main focus is the line of coke on her back. 

He snorts one-eighth of the line before deciding that's enough. 

I don't blame him--the way his fingers hold at the bridge of his nose makes me wince because I know it probably burns like a bitch. 

"Boo!" Tommy disappointedly calls to Axl as he walks out. 

He's had his party. 

Izzy follows. 

"More for us." Nikki shrugs, smirking. 

He looks at me directly in the eyes, heavy black liner sharpening the contrast of his hazel eyes as he keeps my gaze, spitefully unbuckling his belt and he starts unlacing his pants, making his way to the girl Axl was at earlier. 

He is not…

Duff's snatching me out of the room only milliseconds before Nikki enters the girl in sync with snorting the line up her skin.

That was that.

It's a bittersweet draw to an end, "thank you" and "damn, I'm gonna miss you" seeming to be on everyone's lips as hugs and high-fives go around between all the boys once we get back to L.A.

I rub my lips together and smile softly as I hand Fred my purse to put in the car, sighing softly, smiling when he looks down at me. 

"See ya later, kid." He tells me and tears swell in my eyes as I wrap hug him tightly, taking him off guard a little. "Don't kill each other...not even over that dumb shit he pulled tonight." He says, referring to the groupie cocaine platter. 

"I'll try." I mumble, wiping my eyes quickly before stepping up to say bye to the guys. 

Steven and Slash are pretty easy, but Axl just stares at me for a moment before reluctantly wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tightly. 

"I'm sorry I was an asshole this entire trip." He mumbles lowly in my ear. 

"I'm sorry I almost got you kicked off." I reply in the same low tone. 

"You're one of the reasons they took us in the first place." He states, pulling away to look at me, cupping my face in his hands, grinning. "You're gonna keep up my lie that we're siblings, right?" He asks and I chuckle. 

"You guys are gonna make it big and I need a meal ticket so of course." I shrug and his smile grows wider. "I love you." I tell him. 

"I love you, too." He assures me, kissing me on the cheek, giving me one last squeezing hug before heading to their bus. 

Izzy looks at me for a moment. 

"Izzy." I say to him. 

"Viv." He acknowledges me and steps to the bus. 

Just before Duff can tell me 'bye', arms are locking around my waist, and pulling me against the person they belong to. 

"Izzy?" I ask after a moment. 

"We're not friends." He says, pulling away to leave, leaving me and Duff. 

"Um, I'll see you later?" I offer and he rubs his lips together, his eyes over my shoulder, and I look to see Nikki and a woman that we'd picked up from the airport, getting into the car. 

I turn back to face Duff, biting my tongue to keep my tears back. 

"You can stay with me tonight." Duff offers. 

"Really?" 

He just smiles down at me. 

I inhale the familiarly comforting scent of cigarette smoke as we walk into Duff's apartment, dropping my bags and running to the bedroom, face planting into the mattress, exhausted. 

The weight of Duff's body laying on top of me making me laugh, his own chuckle further making me grin. 

"I'm so tired." I tell him.

"Me too." He replies, and I turn over underneath him, wrinkling my nose.

"You stink." I say. 

"I think I smell pretty sexy." He grins, teasingly. 

"No." I shake my head a little, scrunching my face to my shoulder when he tries to kiss my neck. "Go shower." I giggle when he tries again. 

"Come shower with me." He counters. 

"I don't feel like it and I don't stink, so--ew, Duff!" I squeal as he takes his shirt off that reeks of sweat and rubs it all over my face and hair. 

"What about now?" He asks and I pick up the pillow above my head and start hitting at him with it.

After a few hits are gotten in, he's getting off the bed, stretching. 

"You coming?" He asks when he walks to the bathroom. 

"I guess." I reply, following after him. 

Once I get out and have one of Duff's shirts on, I go to the kitchen to grab some water before bed, the quietness of the apartment allowing different thoughts to invade my mind. 

I can't help but wonder what Nikki's doing. Is he high? Is he drunk? Is he even still alive? They leave in a few days for Japan but I honestly don't believe they should go. They need help. 

I think at this moment everyone's just trying to see if they can get away with pressing at them a little more without anybody snapping. 

But by the looks of it, Nikki is pretty damn close to snapping, and Tommy anf Vince and Mick aren't far behind at all. 

Nikki. 

My heart tightens in my chest, remembering last Christmas, how he sat curled under our tree, shooting up. 

He'd get strung out, then lay underneath the tree and stare up at the lights for hours. 

"Are we gonna buy a Christmas  tree?" I ask, looking at the empty living area. 

"If you want to." He calls to me from the bedroom.

"I want to." I reply, going into the room and getting in bed while he follows. 

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah. You know, homey-ness and stuff." I add. "Especially if I'm gonna be here longer." I add and he falls beside me. 

"I'll get a tree tomorrow." He assures me, kissing me chastely before yawning and getting comfortable, and I turn off the lamp and lay down, too. 

He goes to sleep in no time, but two hours later, in the early hours of morning, I smile to myself in the dark room, Christmas lights from the street shining into the window, lighting up the room and cascading a comforting dim light over Duff's sleeping body next to me. 

Reaching over, I run my fingertips softly against his cheek, pushing blonde strands of his hair out of the way, his eyes slowly blinking open slightly before a small tug of a smile pulls his lips slightly. 

"Sorry." I whisper, not meaning to have woken him up. 

"It's okay." He says quietly, closing his eyes again. "I love you, Vivian." He adds, his eyes staying closed, but he grabs my hand that's on his cheek, and presses a kiss to my palm, holding my hand when he's done. 

I snuggle closer to him, laying still and closing my eyes, too, while I reply, "I love you, too," the way I wish I would have done to Nikki all these years. 

Years later, while on what I presumed to be his deathbed, he told me that simple moment was what made him feel sure that I was the one. I took everything he had done up to that point with stride. But thinking he was going to die, reflecting on everything that could have been between us but never got to be, and hearing him tell me, "there's a ring I got you years ago when we thought we were gonna be together, but I never gave it to you. Mandy never knew about it. Linda doesn't know about it, but it's on my closet shelf and I don't want to go without giving it to you," broke my heart more than anything he could've done up to that point.

NIKKI

I turn over, seeing the silhouette of the brunette I picked up at the airport, her sheet-covered chest rising and falling with each breath. 

A part of me feels irritated because her perfume is contaminating Vivian's side of the bed that still smells like her. 

I've been reduced to plucking Viv's clothing from drawers or from in the closet and smelling it. That makes me sound like a fucking stalking creep, but it's the truth. 

How the fuck did we get here, again? 

Oh, right, me not able to keep my dick in my pants, and the woman I didn't keep my dick in my pants for, didn't keep her mouth shut.

I sit up, walking to the bathroom to piss. When I'm done I look at myself in the mirror and feel a little impressed. 

I don't look as bad as I thought. 

Well, kinda. 

I splash water on my face, wincing at the dark circles under my eyes. 

I end up staring at myself for God knows how long, remembering how Vivian would wake up and come in here to get me back in bed if I left her for too long because she didn't like sleeping by herself. 

I smile a little, slowly closing my eyes, feeling her touch across my back, the softness of her lips pressing to the skin of my spine before her cheek presses to the same place before she sleepily mumbles out, "come back to bed." 

Opening my eyes, for a split second, I see her. Standing behind me, green eyes peering at me over my shoulder, the feeling of her holding me...it's gone in a flash. She's gone in a flash. 

My nose burns with the oncoming tears cooking up in my eyes, and I erase them quickly with another splash of water to thr face. 

[cayenne-twilight]

Hi! Could you write something about Sophia and Anton's daughter (let's call ber Iris) if she knew her father? Bonus for baby Katia! Thank you!

The little girl sat on her mother’s lap, dressed in pajamas. Her mother brushed her vibrant purple hair, a trait she had passed down from herself.

“Ow mama, stop,” the girl pouted. “You’re pulling.”

“Sorry, Iris,” Sophia said, pulling the brush more gently. “If you quit rolling around in the fields, you wouldn’t have these tangles.”

Admittedly, Dropstone did have the most charming landscape. That was why she chose this particular area to settle, after all. Well, that was part of the reason at least. The pond near town center, the rolling fields, the mountains in the distance, beaten paths winding between sparse clusters of trees; it was all very lovely. A change of scenery.

“That better be it, mama,” Iris said, pulling her hair over her shoulder protectively.

“Thank you for being patient,” Sophia smiled.

“You have to tell me a real good bedtime story to make up for the yanks,” Iris said.

Sophia hoisted the girl onto her bed and tucked her in, kissing her cheek. “Hmm, would you like a fairy tale from the storybook?”

“Nuh-uh. I’ve heard all of those over and over again. How about a brand new story?”

‘I should add a public library to my list of projects,’ Sophia thought. “I suppose I can make something up, but I can’t guarantee it’ll be as good as the old stories.”

“No matter, just as long as it’s fresh.”

“Here goes nothing then,” she brainstormed for a moment. “Did any of your stories have vampires in them?”

“Vampires?” Iris’s eyes widened. “This better not be a scary story. You’re supposed to be putting me to sleep, not keeping me up all night, remember?”

Sophia petted her hair. “No, love. This was a good vampire. He lived in a big castle in the forest, and he liked to throw balls with lots of music and dancing. The decorations and tableware were made out of the most brilliant gold. After all, vampires can’t touch silver, you know. His hair was golden, too, and he had a flowing cape that swooshed around as he danced. He was awfully charming, and lots of ladies wanted to dance with him.”

“But don’t vampires have to drink blood?” Iris asked.

“This one had a penchant for um… grape juice, and it kept him satisfied.” Sophia started the story from the beginning.

It would be a lie to say that the drive to Herzen mansion wasn’t daunting. The surrounding town of Folsense may have been welcoming with its warm glow and interesting brand of night life, but this maiden’s destination was detached from the outside world. The road took her through a shadowy thicket, gangly trees arching over her on either side. She tried to imagine what this trail must look like on a sunny spring day, but she couldn’t quite put the image together. She arrived at the massive building’s doors, parking her car. The maiden grabbed her clutch purse and pulled her faux fur coat tightly around her torso as she scuttered inside, taking care to not trip over her heels.

A short, bespectacled man with a downward hooked nose took her coat and pointed her towards the main hall. She was amazed at the sheer size of it. Sure, her father had a countryside mansion of his own, but she could probably stuff most of it into this room alone. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like upstairs or inside those turrets visible from outside.

“And what might your name be?” The young man approached her, a champagne flute in each hand.

She accepted the drink. “Sophia. And you?”

“Anton. Anton Herzen.” He winked.

So this is Duke Herzen’s son. He was certainly handsome-

“Whoa, mama! The girl has the same name as you?” Iris said.

Sophia laughed. “Yes, what a coincidence.”

Sophia and Anton made small talk over fine hors d’oeuvres, seated in the cloister above the main hall.

Anton popped the last piece of a finger sandwich into his mouth. He gestured towards the couples dancing below. “Care to join them?”

They walked down the stairs arm in arm, getting into position to waltz as the live orchestra flipped their sheet music to the next song. They met eyed and smiled. The first hum of strings cued them, stepping back and forth to the rhythm. They swirled across the floor, performing spins at the proper moments.

“So tell me what it’s like, being a Herzen,” Sophia said.

“Being a Herzen? Why, it’s nothing to write home about, save for the family wealth perhaps.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Father’s got himself occupied with some silly new business venture. I gather he’s going after pharmaceuticals now, which rubs me the wrong way considering that he doesn’t even know how to alleviate the common cold.”

“Pharmaceuticals? That is odd. He already owns the gold mining company, doesn’t he?”

“That’s just it. The miners have discovered some sort of hallucinogen trapped in the rock, and now they’re searching for a way to harvest it and rework it into anesthesia or anti-anxiety medication.”

“I can’t imagine there being a safe way to do that,” Sophia said.

“There must be, and I hope to God father knows of it.”

With the end of the song, they returned upstairs to continue the next course of food.

Iris yawned. “Now I mean this as constructive story-telling criticism, but this is getting a bit boring. What about the part where the guy is a vampire? Or was that a surprise for later? *Gasp* Maybe the girl will find out he’s secretly a monster and will have to decide whether she’s afraid of him or if she’ll love him anyways!”

“I should’ve thought of that,” Sophia said. “Maybe you should be the one telling stories.” She booped Iris’s nose like a button. “At least I’m succeeding in making you sleepy.”

“What’s Folsense like?” Sophia asked.

“It’s lovely. The lights are beautiful at night, and I’m not just saying that because of the cabaret.”

“I’d love to take a walk there one of these days. Would you be so kind as to give me a tour?”

“Yes, of course. I know Folsense like the back of my hand, and it knows me. Well, except for the people I pranked last Halloween when I ran around convincing them I was a real vampire. That reputation still follows me among the less social townsfolk.”

“I would love to have been there and seen it. Halloween must be a blast in a mansion like this, what with the gothic architecture and spooky forest.”

“I’ve never thrown a Halloween party before, but now that you mention it, it would be surely be smashing.”

Anton took a long drink of his red wine and spoke again, “Where are you from?”

“I live pretty close to London.”

“London? But that’s so far off! It must have taken you, what? Two hours to get here?”

“It’s really not as long as it seems.”

“But it’s already so late! If you left early you’d still only get home in the wee hours of the morning.”

“I could stay at the Folsense hotel-”

“Or you could stay here.”

“You have vacant rooms available?”

“If you want a vacant room, that’s all right too.”

“I don’t.”

Sophia decided it would be best to skip that part of the story.

Anton was still asleep when she woke up the next morning. She put yesterday’s clothes back on and took the chance to explore the castle. Sophia ducked in and out of unlocked doorways, looking for something like a living room or dining room. She found the sheer number of unused spaces odd, thinking that she would surely use them for something more useful, or at least make each room more unique. She stumbled upon the dining room where the Duke was taking his breakfast.

“Nigel, fetch the kettle, would y- DEAR GOD girl, who are you?” the shock faded as soon as it set in. “You wouldn’t happen to be one of Anton’s-“

Sophia laughed nervously. “No, no, nothing like that. He just let me stay the night because I live so far away. Really.”

The Duke’s eyes narrowed as he dabbed the jam from his whiskers with a napkin. “Leave.”

Sophia thought about Anton still asleep in his room. “Um… right. I’ll be right out.” She smiled fakely, trying to remember how to get to the front door.

She gently cracked open the door to Anton’s bedroom. “Antoooon,” she stage-whispered.

He opened his eyes and pushed himself up. “Eh?”

“Your father wants me out. When can I see you again? Maybe we could meet in Folsense?”

“Ah, sorry about him. Are you free next Saturday? We could meet in front of the museum around noon, perhaps.”

“Sounds great! See you there.” Sophia left him, walking through the hallway into the main hall and down the steps to the front door. She retrieved her purse and coat, leaving for her car. Sophia drove home through the rolling hills and fields of the countryside in a dreamy state of highway hypnosis.

“She fell in love with the guy,” Iris stated.

“Yes.”

“And his dad doesn’t want them to be together. It’s a story of forbidden love! Do they have to meet up in secret and serenade each other through the window from outside?”

“Don’t worry, Iris. The Duke isn’t a bad guy, he just cares about his son in his own way, I suppose.”

Sophia and Anton would meet up periodically about town, but although it was good fun, they couldn't do this forever. Anton led Sophia by the hand into the mansion and up to his office.

“Father.”

“What is it Anton? I’m busy.”

“I’ve come to say that I love Sophia whether or not you agree with it, and that she will be coming over no matter what you think.”

The Duke sighed. “You’re right; I can’t stop you two, no matter what I think.”

To Duke Herzen’s distaste, Sophia ended up practically moving in. He appeared to be in denial, engaging young Freidrich in conversation or turning to his legal documents whenever they were in the same room. The young couple tried to keep to themselves, which one would think to be easy in a house of that size, but he seemed to turn up at every corner as if watching them.

Sophia sat down next to him in his library one day. “I didn’t take you for the type to read Poe for fun.”

“Well here I am. Do you read him?”

“Oh of course! I love that surreal macabre stuff. I’ve actually been curious about the mines below the castle; isn’t it a dangerous setup?”

Duke Herzen closed his book. “There were reports of coal being collected when they first built the foundation. I had the idea of digging deeper. I see how having a gaping pit under your home may seem precarious, but I trust in the beams and supports holding us up.”

“Anton mentioned some sort of gas discovered down there…”

“Did he now? That was meant to stay confidential.”

“Oh don’t get mad at him for it, it was but a slip.”

“Still, I’m sure this could become the next big thing in pharma. I need to find the men to research and rework it, but after that it’ll be smooth sailing. I didn’t think you’d be interested in this sort of thing.”

“I can’t deny that I have my concerns, but admittedly this is all very curious.”

Duke Herzen reopened the novel. “Look after him, will you?”

“The vampire’s dad was very cold at first,” Sophia said. “But his heart started to warm up as he got to know the maiden. Soon enough, he began confiding in her. The maiden and the vampire lived together in his castle until one terrible day, tragedy struck.”

“Aww come ooon. I thought this was gonna be a sappy feel good love story. No tragedies,” Iris whined.

“Okay fine. No tragedy.”

“There’s more of it seeping out and diffusing into the air than we thought,” Duke Herzen said from his sickbed.

“What does this mean? Have you lost all hope in stopping it?” Sophia asked, masking panic.

“There’s not much we can do but leave it alone and move somewhere else. Not that I would make it much longer anyhow.”

“Oh don’t say that rubbish.”

“You can’t change the fact of the matter, my dear.” He smiled weakly. “I’ll leave it up to you to lead the evacuation.”

“But so many people don’t plan on leaving. What of them?”

“We can’t force anyone to go.”

“That’s awful- don’t they know-”

“Whatever they’re thinking, their minds won’t change.”

“Awful,” Sophia muttered again.

“I’m staying!” Anton yelled. “I know the risks, and I know that I feel responsible for this town, so I can’t just leave it.”

“You idiot!” Sophia retorted. “There’s no future for Folsense, so stop acting like you’re immune from this gas unlike everybody else.”

“And here I was thinking you’d stay with me.” He turned away.

Sophia grimaced.

“How about we just go to bed and talk this over like normal people tomorrow morning?” he sighed.

Tomorrow morning Sophia was gone. She got up before the sun and kissed Anton’s sleeping head. Lugging her trunk down the ornate staircase, she took a final look around the home she called her own, around the hall where he and she shared their first dance. Nigel handed Sophia her coat, he was staying as well. She stepped out into the crisp air where birds were only beginning to chirp and walked through the woods to the station. They really weren’t all that spooky in the daytime. Charming, really. Friedrich helped her pull the luggage up from the platform.

“Is it really okay? To leave him here, I mean.”

Sophia scanned the rooftops of Folsense once more. “I don’t know, Friedrich. I don’t know.”

She didn’t tell him the train was today. She didn’t tell him that they didn’t plan on coming back once this all “blew over” because she suspected it wouldn’t. She didn’t tell him about the baby.

The train hissed and whistled, pistons coming to life and shoving the wheels along the tracks. This was it. Her last look at Folsense. Her last chance to be with him. The town disappeared before she could notice, replaced with a view of rolling fields and sparse trees. She took a deep breath. This was it.

Sophia snapped back. “The vampire and the maiden threw a grand big wedding and invited all the townsfolk. At first they were wary of the vampire, but it turned out to be a jolly fun evening. They lived together happily ever after, and even had a little daughter who hated having her hair brushed. The good vampire protected the town for the rest of time, no matter what, so all the people could be safe and happy like them.”

“Wow, it’s like I was there, mama,” Iris giggled. “You should start writing this stuff down.”

“Oh hush, dear. It’s far past your bedtime.” Sophia kissed Iris on her sleepy head and left the room. It’s like she was there again.

[mrsimoshen]

Mated By The Sea

Title: Mated By The Sea

Link: Mated By The Sea on AO3

Square filled: AU on the SPN Kink Bingo Card Square filled: Benny on the SPN Rare Ship Bingo Card

Ship: Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester

Rating: Explicit

Tags: AU, Merman!Benny, sailor!Dean, Marking, Mating, mention of mpreg, Slight Impregnation Kink

Summary: Dean returns home from a tour at sea. His lover welcomes him back home. 

Word count: 2369

created for @spnkinkbingo and @spnrareshipbingo

tagging:

@lucibae-is-dancing-in-hell, @silvaxus, @blakechaos08, @dreamyarchangel, @masterpieceofturkeycleverness   @ajcza​, @buggre-alle-thisss-ineffability​, @brieflymaximumprincess, @captain-winchester-27

Fic beneath the cut:

They say mermaids are real, even if you don’t see them.

“Keep away from the cliffs and the caves,” those who live on dry land will tell you, “that’s where their riches are hidden, and they don’t take kindly to trespassers.”

“Don’t stare into the waters too long when they’re calm,” the sailors will tell you. “They don’t appreciate you seeing them by accident, and they will know you when you step into the shallows.”

 Dean Winchester knows those superstitions are just that, superstitions. Mermaids don’t hide any treasures in caves or cliffs, and they usually swim far enough down in the deep that a human won’t spot them even if they stare into the water until the glare of the sun has them blind.

However, he will agree that mermaids are damn real. Or, more correctly said, merpeople are damn real.

He should know.

 Its damn late when Dean slips out of the bar where the rest of his ship’s crew is drinking and celebrating their safe return. The sea is a fickle mistress and jealous of lady luck, but this time, they worked hand in hand and their ship returned to the harbor without running afoul of pirates or storms. Dean’s on vacation for the next three months – he’s not a regular part of the crew, but part of a three-person security team the ship owner added to every ship after pirate attacks became more common again, and they usually do a tour of three to four months and then get time off. He didn’t drink that much, though most of his comrades won’t have noticed – Dean plays drunk very, very well.

By now, his fellow crewmen are either very drunk or have found willing company for the night (some the paid kind, and if they want to spend their money that way, Dean’s content to let them. The girls certainly work hard enough for the money.) and Dean himself has plans for tonight that don’t include curious questions, which is why he offered to accompany Charlie home. The waitress laughed and accepted, and when he handed her off to her wife, she kissed his cheek and told him, “whatever you plan to do, have fun.”

(Dean loves Charlie and Rowena, in the purely platonic way. The women are decent folk, have let him sleep under their roof more than once when money was short and he didn’t want to bother Sam and Jessica, and really – he’d be the pot calling the kettle black.)

Dean heads home, past the modern houses inland until he reaches the houses directly at the water’s edge, and at the end of these, the small house he calls his own these days. He’d never believed he’d ever own a house, but then his life took a turn he hadn’t seen coming. The small house stood empty for many years, because it’s just too small and too impractical in it’s layout to be a good choice for most people, but Dean doesn’t care. The old house is perfect for his needs, sitting on top of sheer rock and an old cave that’s only accessible via the sea unless the tide is really low. He has no idea who originally built the house, and the access to the cave below (probably smugglers) and he also really doesn’t care as he unlocks the door and slips inside.

He knows he’ll be expected – there’s no way his lover missed his return to the town. Dean smiles as he slides the bolt home and walks into the house. He doesn’t bother to turn on the lights, knowing his space well enough to navigate in the dark. Instead, he finds the stairs leading down to the water and descends them, impatient now.

The sea laps gently against the sand in the cave, there’s a nest waiting for him made out of furs and blankets, and storm lanterns light up the whole small beach with their warm light.

His lover is lounging in the shallows, waiting for him with a soft smile. Firelight has wet scales gleam and shine like precious jewels, turns tanned skin even darker, and Dean sighs happily as he steps onto the sandy shore and sheds his boots and clothes to store them on the dry stairs. He learned a long time ago to take that measure, as no matter how far away from the shallows he put them down, his clothes always ended up wet before.

His lover watches him with dark eyes, strong fins gently swaying in the water and creating small ripples. Dean shivers as he steps into the warm water, grateful he met his lover in the warm waters of Florida and not further north. Then he stops thinking as his lover sits up and pulls him down with strong arms. The kiss is slow and almost chaste at first, then turns hard and possessive as Dean winds his fingers into wet hair and kisses back, hungry for his lover’s taste.

Sharp teeth nip his lower lip, and Benny smiles as Dean gasps.

“Welcome home, my sailor.”

Dean smiles back and lets his merman tug him down into the shallow water with him, relaxes against the muscled body that’s so different and yet so like his own. The water slides over his skin in its own caress, and Benny’s hands follow, mapping familiar territory once again. He always does that, and Dean stretches out on the sand and lets his lover look and touch his fill.

“Where did you travel to this time?” Benny asks, tugging Dean fully against his body and holding him close as he strokes and caresses.

“India,” Dean hums and closes his eyes, stroking his hands over Benny in return. He gently rubs at the spot where fine, fine scales become skin, fascinated as always by the merman’s body. Benny shivers, and Dean smiles and rubs at the same spot again. “Mumbay… and then South Africa… and we stopped in Portugal before crossing the Atlantic. Madeira is beautiful, I wish I could show you.”

“Maybe someday,” Benny murmurs, trailing his fingertips down Dean’s spine to cup his ass with both hands. Dean gasps quietly and rocks against Benny’s body, smooth scales against his skin a familiar sensation by now. The merman laughs and pulls Dean tighter against him, rolling them until Dean is on his back, Benny resting between his legs.

“My marks have disappeared,” he murmurs, running a fingertip over Dean’s collarbone. Dean shivers, moving his head back to give Benny more room. The merman leans down to suck at the unblemished skin, and Dean moans as sharp teeth dig in. Benny has teeth meant to tear into prey, sharp and pointed, and Dean’s going to wear a shirt regardless of the weather for the coming weeks to keep the marks from sight. His fingers dig into Benny’s hair and hold on as the merman trails kisses and bites along his collarbone and down his chest, renewing his claim on Dean with dark red marks on his skin.

“Benny,” he breathes, “fuck, Benny… need you, please.”

It’s been too long, the months at sea with almost no privacy, no touch but his own hand on the rare occasions he had time and the minimal privacy of his tiny room. Now that he’s with the one he wants, Dean has no patience left. “Please,” he repeats, and Benny moans against his skin and pushes himself up again to kiss Dean, hard.

“Reach up between the furs, Dean.”

Dean stretches and digs between the furs, quickly finding the hard surface of glass. He’s never asked Benny if the merpeople who live in these waters trade in some way or have their own means to make what they need, but he knows the viscous liquid inside is of their own make and used in matings of merpeople as well. He hands the vial to Benny and laughs as his lover pulls him back down further into the water until he’s floating just a little. He’s getting kissed again as the merman slides slick fingers down to his ass, and Dean moans into the kiss as Benny slowly opens him up, thick fingers sliding into him and stretching him deliciously. He arches and moans and Benny lets go of his mouth to keep nipping and biting at his neck. Dean whines as three thick fingers push into him, rocking up against Benny’s water-slick scales. “Fuck!”

“So eager, my little human.” Benny smiles, showing sharp teeth, and Dean moans and reaches up to pull him down for another kiss. The merman gives him the demanded kiss before pulling his fingers free. “Turn for me, Dean.”

Dean rolls to his side and sighs happily when Benny fits himself against his back, slick scales rubbing against his skin. He then groans when hard, slick flesh nudges against his loosened hole. “Oh yes.”

“My greedy human,” Benny teases him, slowly pushing in. Dean groans, digging his fingers into the wet sand. Benny tugs him back by his hip until his ass is flush to Benny’s scales, stretched and full, sharp nails digging in. Dean moans and shifts to feel them dig in even more, and Benny chuckles, breathless, and starts to move. The merman’s strong tail moves them, rocks Benny’s cock inside him, slow and lazy despite their hunger, until Dean is close to insanity, writhing in Benny’s hold.

“Mark me, please,” he breathes, and Benny makes a hungry sound. Sharp teeth dig into the meat of his shoulder, and Dean shouts and arches. Benny moans, letting go and licking over the mark.

“I love how tight you get when I do this,” he breathes, sliding his mouth a little lower before biting down again. “One day, I’m going to mark you as my mate, Dean.”

Dean lets his head roll back to rest against Benny’s shoulder, his cock twitching at the thought. “Do it.”

Benny groans deep in his chest, his grip on Dean tightening. “Dean.”

“Do it,” Dean repeats, breathless. He hadn’t thought about it, but now the need for that bite, that mark, is burning in him. “Please, Benny, want to be yours.”

“Fuck, Dean.” Benny nuzzles the spot high on Dean’s neck. “There’s no way to hide that anymore,” he breathes. “Are you really sure?”

“Yes,” Dean moans, “please, Benny, do it.”

Benny growls, gripping Dean tighter. Dean hisses as sharp nails dig into his skin, and then Benny’s teeth are at his neck. Dean shouts as Benny bites him, the merman’s sharp teeth easily sinking in. The bite burns for a second, and then Dean shouts again as his body is suddenly trembling with the force of an unexpected orgasm that has him see stars and black spots.

Throughout his orgasm, Benny’s teeth stay buried in his neck, but the bite stopped burning when Dean came. When he calms a little, still trembling but able to think again, Benny slowly releases his neck, and Dean moans as the bite tingles – the salt water washing over it should burn, as it does on open wounds, but instead it feels amazing, and Dean moans again as he realizes his cock is still rock hard despite his orgasm. Benny chuckles behind him, and when Dean turns his head a little, the merman smiles at him with slightly bloody teeth.

“You’re mine now, Dean… for all to see,” Benny purrs, and Dean shivers and smiles and deliberately clamps down on the thick cock still splitting him open. Benny moans and rocks them again in the water, his tight grip on Dean’s hip turning into a caress as his hand slides up to rest, palm down, on Dean’s flat belly.

“If you were a merman,” Benny murmurs into his ear, “you’d probably end up pregnant after tonight.” His hand rubs gently over Dean’s belly, and Dean moans.

“Mating does that?” he asks, voice rough from shouting and his arousal, and Benny chuckles.

“Oh yes…most mated pairs have their first child with their mating.” He presses down a little, holds Dean tighter to him, and Dean purrs with the possessive gesture. “You’d look so pretty, all swollen with my child,” Benny purrs into his ear, and Dean moans and nods, breathing faster again. A tiny part of him is surprised this turns him on so much, but pretty much everything else of him wishes he’d be able to change species right the fuck now.

Benny chuckles, feeling his reaction. “Do you like that thought?” he murmurs, moving his hand to Dean’s hip again to rock him slowly back and forth on his cock. “Like the thought of having my child in your belly? I bet you’d look amazing, sweetheart.”

Dean groans, reaching back to cling to Benny as his lover moves him like he weighs nothing. “I do,” he admits with a moan, “fuck, Benny…”

Benny laughs and bites at Dean’s neck again, softer this time, picking up his pace, holding Dean still now as he fucks him. Dean moans and moves his head to give him more room, reaching down to wrap a hand around his own cock, stroking himself in time to Benny’s thrusts.

When he comes this time, he can hear Benny groan and feel him cling even harder to his hips, and then he’s filled with hot wetness. Benny breathes something so low Dean can’t make it out as he holds him close, gentle now.

Dean relaxes into his lover’s hold, smiling as Benny strokes gentle hands over his body. He sighs as Benny slips out of him, and then his lover gently nudges him up onto the beach and into the nest he made for him. The merman follows, pulling furs and blankets around them and holding Dean close, nuzzling at the mating bite on Dean’s neck from time to time as they rest in each other’s arms.

Dean smiles, playing with Benny’s wet hair gently.

He’s home.

 “Keep away from the cliffs and the caves,” those who live on dry land and who know what they speak of  will tell you, “that’s where their riches are hidden, and they don’t take kindly to trespassers. Not all riches are silver and gold, child. One day, you will understand.”

[harryandmolly]

The Long Way Home - 8-

Summary: His world is a little rocked when Shawn is joined on his 2019 world tour by Emma, a former child star with a chip on her shoulder and a voice that haunts him.

Warnings: Language, a dream or two fulfilled

Word count: 5.5k

Emma’s eyes burst open.

She can’t see anything, she can’t figure out why. It takes her far too long to realize it’s because her room is dark -- it’s the middle of the night.

There’s sound coming from… everywhere. It’s impossibly loud. She sits up and pulls her knees into her chest, but something’s wrong, she can’t stay upright. She tips over and falls off the bed with a thump. With her hands clamped around her ears, she can’t catch herself – she falls directly onto her arm and cries out, breaking the whining of the sound with her sharp yelp.

Disoriented, and unsure why, she looks around, still blind.

The sound feels louder down here. She has to turn it off. It has to stop. She can’t think, she can’t breathe.

Emma only wants one thing when she’s feeling like this.

She fumbles for her phone and dials.

“Emma, what is that noise?” Shawn barks, bolting upright on the too-firm hotel mattress.

“Sh-shawn?” she stutters.

His already pounding heart goes right into overdrive. He’s standing before he realizes he’s moved.

“Emma, what’s going on? Are you ok?”

She’s quiet for too long. He thrusts a hand into his hair and snaps his eyes shut, trying to force air into his lungs.

“It’s too loud,” she whimpers.

“What is it, honey? What’s that noise? Where are you?” he begs.

“I’m… I’m home. It’s my alarm,” she gasps. She’s started to cry.

“Is someone in your house?” he screams, reaching for his jeans and almost dropping his phone as he pinches it between his chin and shoulder.

“I don’t know,” she sobs, “I can’t see.”

Something’s off – he thinks maybe she’s taken something. He’s never been so fucking panicked in his life. His head is whistling like a kettle. His hands aren’t reacting as fast as his brain needs them to. He has to try to slow down.

“Emma, listen to me,” he pleads, “Will your alarm company call the cops?”

“Y-yes,” she moans.

“Ok,” he breathes, nodding desperately, “Ok, go outside. Just go outside right now and wait for the cops. I’m on my way—fuck. Fuck, I don’t have a fucking car. Ok, I have to get a Lyft. Emma, can you text me your address?”

She mumbles a yes and pulls the phone away from her ear, squinting through the shrieking din to focus on texting him.

“Em, stay on the phone with me. Please,” he calls, knowing he has to yell over the alarm noise. He curses his shaking fingers as he plugs in her address to the Lyft.

“Shawn, I—”

Her voice cuts out. There’s a loud clatter – she dropped the phone. He races out of his hotel room, bounding down the hallway and opting to sprint down the stairs rather than take the elevator.

Of course, his fucking hotel is downtown and she lives in the Hills so even once he’s in the car, it takes them half an hour to get to her. She did eventually get back on the phone and go outside to sit in her driveway and listen to him talk to her while he begs the Lyft driver to please, go a little faster.

Shawn’s heart plummets into his stomach when they turn up the long, winding driveway. He sees flashing red and blue lights through the whispering palm trees. Shawn flings himself out of the car before it’s stopped, muttering thank you and reminding himself to leave the driver a very large tip later.

Shawn barrels up the driveway, gaining the confused attention of the two officers standing beside Emma, standing barefoot and pantsless, looking bleary, but no longer panicked.

“What happened?” Shawn barks, launching himself into her, wrapping his arms securely around her waist, leading one up her back comfortingly to tangle in her hair when she nuzzles her face into his chest. He eyes the officers carefully.

“Her alarm battery was low,” the taller, tired-eyed officer explains, glancing at Emma almost accusingly. Shawn bristles, “Her security company informed her six months ago that a replacement needed to be installed. She ignored it.”

Emma mumbles something into Shawn’s right pec. He looks down.

“What was that, honey?”

“Margaret. Margaret does it,” she says weakly, keeping her eyes shut and mouth half-buried against his shirt.

Shawn notices after too long that the sound is gone. The officers take him aside, leaving Emma shivering and blinking slowly, to explain they’ve disabled the alarm and notified the company. They start to lecture him about whatever it is she may have taken, because she’s clearly not sober, but he shuts it down and sends them away.

He’s left in the dark, silent driveway with Emma staring at him like she’s not sure how he got here. He finally feels his heart rate return almost to normal – or what’s normal around Emma. He nods at the house.

“C’mon, let’s… get you inside,” he murmurs, trying not to look down at her naked, shivering legs.

Even though the cops did a check of the place to make sure the alarm battery was the only activity at the sight, Shawn feels creeped out. Emma’s house feels like a museum – unnaturally cold, dark and way too quiet. Like no one really lives here.

She’s stumbling a little, guiding him to her bedroom, which he’s trying not to think about too hard. Her room is a different story from the rest of her house.

The only way he can think to describe it is he feels like he’s stepped inside Em’s head. There are photos everywhere, collaged teenage-girl style. Em with Georgie, with Ashley, with her parents, with her Fake It costars, with boys she’s crossed out the faces of. That makes him chuckle. Her bed is enormous but it’s clear she only sleeps on the one side. He grins at her Ravenclaw duvet and sheet set, complete with an authentic-looking luggage trunk at the foot of her bed scattered with stickers – The Three Broomsticks, the Holyhead Harpies, Zonko’s Joke Shop, to name a few.

He’s distracted from his anthropological study of her inner fortress when she stumbles on a stray pink Nike sneaker and he has to swing his arm out to catch her. She goes limp in his arms and he sees her eyes are closed.

“Oh god, Em,” he whispers, “Hey, hey listen.” He slides a hand under her chin to tilt her face up as the other arm is holding all her weight. She blinks at him, dazed.

“What did you take?”

She smacks her lips and frowns, opting to bury her face in his arm. He has to chase after her, holding her head up by the back of her neck.

“Emma, please.”

“Don’ call m’that,” she mumbles, turning her face toward him. Her eyes are shut. She’s getting heavy.

“Don’t… why?” he probes, brow wrinkling.

“You always call me Em,” she explains like it should be obvious. She’s not slurring as much as she was on the phone, which is encouraging, “You’re the only one. No one calls me Em. I like it.”

Shawn doesn’t mind holding her up because her legs are about as stable as a baby colt’s, not when she’s talking like this. Even so, he thinks she’d be more comfortable lying down. He pulls her face away from his arm so he can secure her around his neck and scoop her up. She’s definitely heavier than she looks and he figures it’s all that lean Pilaticardio muscle she works so hard for. If he ever gets the chance to pick her up again, when she’s sober and carrying her to bed for another reason, he’ll be sure to tell her how fucking great she feels.

“Em, what did you take?” he asks a little more gently as he settles her against an enormous overstuffed Hippogryff plushie. She sinks into her wide array of pillows and pouts. He rearranges them behind her so she can sit more upright. She grabs at the Hippogryff pillow to hold onto in her lap. He smiles again.

“Ashley… sleeping pills. Lit—little ones. Just two,” she sighs, like it’s a chore, glancing at the glass of melted ice. Shawn picks it up and smells vodka. He puts it down and bites his lip.

Shawn doesn’t know much about prescription meds but she’s sobering up and if she were going to be in bad shape, she’d already be there. But just because she’s physically safe doesn’t mean anything else is ok.

He looks her over, again avoiding the bare legs that make a shiver rip up his spine. Her hands are twitchy and picking at her perfectly manicured nails. Her skin looks sallow and cold. He absently tugs her duvet up around her and squishes the pillows a little closer to cocoon her in warmth. She doesn’t notice. She’s staring at one of the emblems on her Ravenclaw quilt, looking so sad he wants to peel inside her brain and find out what’s hurting her. He wants to make it stop.

That thought aside, he takes one of her fidgeting hands and stills it between his own. She looks up at him.

Her dark circles are usually covered by her team of make-up artists. Her hair is all over the place. Her lips are bitten and swollen. She looks ready to apologize for something she hasn’t done.

“What happened, Em?” he breathes, bringing her hand up, still sandwiched between his, to kiss the fingertips peeking out from between his palms. She watches, confused as he attends to her, keeping his eyes trained on her closely.

“Nothing,” she says automatically. She winces. That won’t fly.

She keeps her gaze down until she’s sure her hair will set on fire from how hard he’s staring at her. She looks up. He doesn’t look angry or disappointed or resentful or any of the myriad of things she was expecting to see after the stunt she pulled. She’s still feeling loopy enough to get this off her chest now.

“I had a bad day,” she tells him softly, her quiet voice a little shredded from exhaustion. He nods, watching as she settles in. He’s still perched on the edge of the bed, reaching across to her, sitting on his folded leg. She frowns and tugs at his hand, jerking her head to imply he should join her.

He doesn’t really know what to do other than kick off his boots and crawl up to sit against the pillows stacked up on the unused side of the bed. He nestles in and holds on to one wing of the Hippogryff, rubbing his thumb over its soft fur as she prepares to speak.

“They kept touching me,” she says, stroking the Hippogryff’s beak. He sees the fur looks a little worn away there. He wonders if she does this a lot when she’s sad or anxious.

His eyes snap up from the plush toy. “Who?” he hisses.

“The video… it was supposed to be a meadow,” she hums, closing her eyes. She’s not making sense. He’s trying not to get frustrated.

“Who touched you, Em?” he almost begs. Shawn doesn’t have a temper, he really doesn’t. He’s the most level-headed popstar ever. But he could snap necks with his bare hands right now if the people that made Emma uncomfortable were put in front of him.

He takes a breath, wills himself to relax.

“Boys in the video… they were grabbing me. Kissing me. Biting me,” she chokes.

Shawn feels like he’s gonna be sick.

“Maybe I should call Georgie…” Shawn offers, glancing to the night table to look for her phone.

Emma springs to life. “No! No. She can’t know. She—she can’t ever see that. She’d—oh god,” she barks, slamming her eyes shut and closing in on herself, folding over her stomach and wrapping her arms around her knees like she’s being torn apart inside out.

“She’s going to see it and she’ll know. She always knows. She sees right through me. She’ll be so scared. And hurt. How… how can I protect her if I can’t protect me?” Emma sobs.

Shawn feels his chin wobble. A building tear spills out down his cheek. He thinks about pulling her into his chest and letting her cry like he wants to – but she’s been touched enough today.

“Em, listen, listen,” he pleads, squeezing the Hippogryff like it’ll get her attention for him. Her cries quiet enough to let him talk.

“Georgie’s ok. You won’t let anyone hurt her. She doesn’t have to see the video. We can talk about it in the morning. Georgie is going to be ok.”

Emma blinks at him wide-eyed, childlike. He skims his fingers over the plushie’s wing to reach hers. He just wants to comfort her, not scare her. She looks down at the tips of his fingers on her little hands, the bones as delicate as a bird’s. She turns one hand over to let him trace the lines in her palm. Her breathing calms. Her body is heavy, her soul feels a little broken. Nothing that can happen tonight will fix her, she knows that. Nothing he can do can make her feel like herself again. It’s a feeling of deep resignation, a reality that’s been building for years, if she’s honest with herself.

“I think you should try to sleep,” he tells her, moving to stand, “Those sleeping pills you took are going to kick in again and—”

“Please don’t leave,” she whispers, unable to look him in the eye.

He shakes his head, reaching for the phone he dropped on her bedspread, “No, I’m not, I’ll just sleep on the couch and then—”

“Please stay,” she says again, even softer. She raises her eyes to his. He can tell she can hardly bear to ask. He drops his phone on the night stand and slouches back into his pillows.

“Ok. I can stay here.”

She looks a little flummoxed, like she’s surprised he agreed. She turns on her side toward him and her hair falls back a little, exposing a small hickey on her shoulder. Shawn tries not to grimace but she doesn’t notice. She closes her eyes and breathes like she’s trying to push out the memories of the day but she’s choking on them. She reaches for his hand again but when she takes it, the firm contact of his warm skin startles her into dropping it.

“I’m—I’m sorry, I… can… can I?” she squeaks timidly. Shawn swallows and nods. He offers his hand to her. She takes it slowly, linking their fingers, watching in intoxicated fascination as their hands join. She absently rubs her thumb over his, looking a little lost.

A thought occurs to him. He shifts closer, the Hippogryff still wedged between them like it’s guarding its mistress. She looks up from his fingers.

“Do… do you want me to—I mean, I know you… fuck, sorry, I’m being weird,” he mutters, looking away.

“Shawn?” she whispers. With a heavy flush hanging around the tips of his ears, he lifts his eyes to hers.

“Do you want me to hold you?”

The relief on Emma’s face validates his bold offer immediately. She nods as eagerly as she’s done anything all day and pulls Buckbeak away from his perch to shuffle into his chest. He gingerly folds an arm under his head and pulls her in with the other. She nuzzles her nose against the fabric of his undershirt and warmth blooms under his skin comfortingly. He gently works on untangling knots in her hair with his free hand. She’s snoring against his chest in no time, squirming further into him under her heavy blanket of sleep. He’s a little keyed up from the events of the evening so it takes him a little longer. He presses his nose into the crown of her head. She smells like expensive salon shampoo. He leaves his arm resting heavily over her waist and snuggles in, chasing after her in sleep.

+

Shawn wakes up to a curtain of butter blonde hair over his eyes. He blinks and it’s a mistake because he gets some of her hair trapped in his eyelashes and he swats at her head sleepily.

For just a few seconds, he’s comfy in bed, snuggled up against someone warm who smells nice and it’s a feeling so viscerally comforting that reality takes longer to reach him than usual. But it does eventually and he’s faced with the instinct to check and make sure she’s breathing, which she is. In fact, she’s drooling a little. So that’s good.

He takes stock of the situation. They’ve ended up under the covers which explains why he’s sweating. He’s still in jeans and a t-shirt. She’s pressed up against his chest, still, but now she’s the little spoon to his big spoon and her ass is nestled right up against his hips and he should probably move away before she wakes up and he feels like a 16-year-old again, a little.

But he’s still thinking about the way she looked at him last night when he offered to hold her, which is one of the weirder things he’s ever said to a girl, and it makes this weird feeling of deep-seated affection and distaste for whoever made her feel that way bloom in his gut. He’s battling with it quietly when she stirs.

Watching her wake up feels creepy in the periphery of his mind but she’s so fucking stunning he can’t bring himself to care. It starts with a twitch of her fingers which are curled up under her chin. She pops her lips a little and tilts her head back and forth on the pillow. Awakeness takes hold, spreading down through her shoulders and hips and knees and ankles as she wriggles gently like she’s saying hello to all her limbs. He’s enthralled. He almost doesn’t notice when she stiffens upon finding someone else in her bed. She rolls over onto her back to get a look at him.

“Hi,” he croaks, guilty. He should’ve gotten out of bed when he woke up. She wasn’t sober when she asked him to stay. She probably doesn’t even remember how he got here. He’s about to open his mouth to start spewing apologies when her lips curl up gently and she brushes a hand up his arm to his shoulder.

“You’re still here.”

He noses at her temple. “Still here.”

She’s quiet, admiring the glint of her glittery blue nail polish against the pale pink skin of his arm.

“I’m so sorry,” she breathes, shaking her head a little, closing her eyes and tightening her jaw.

“Don’t be. I’m glad you knew you could call me,” he tells her, “Especially after what happened the other night.”

She smirks and he’s so delighted to see it he could cry. “The other night? You might have to specify. We have a streak of weird nights going.”

His eyebrows lift. She’s right.

“Yeah. Do you… I mean, do you want to talk?”

She mashes her dry lips together, considering. “I do. But can we Postmates breakfast?”

She wants him to stay for breakfast. He pecks her forehead. “Fuck yeah.”

+

Forty-five minutes later, Emma is pouring French press coffee into two mugs while he accepts the Commissary delivery box from the Postmates guy and it feels so goddamn domestic Shawn can’t keep the stupid smile off his face. He thanks the guy profusely, telling himself he’s just happy because he’s got pancakes waiting for him.

Emma sets out plates and napkins and utensils and it’s all kind of adorably formal but she seems to do it automatically. He guesses she doesn’t have a lot of people over.

He seats himself at the breakfast bar across from her and places her overdressed avocado toast on her plate. She moans at the sight of it.

“God, yes,” she murmurs, stroking it with her fork lovingly. He snorts through a bite of lemon ricotta pancakes.

“Ok. I’m ready to start apologizing,” Shawn announces, wiping his mouth on his napkin after his second or third massive bite. Emma puts down her toast and nods at him, ceding the floor.

“I’ll start with the night of the “Bad Rep” thing. I… I was out of line. I don’t know Ashley. I don’t have the right to judge your friendship with her. I won’t keep bugging you about it,” he tells her earnestly.

Even through her embarrassingly fierce hangover, she wants to throw herself at him and barricade them inside her house away from the world. Instead, she bobs her head shyly.

“Thank you. But for the record, after some soul searching, you were probably right about Ashley.”

“Oh thank god,” Shawn gasps, bowing his head over his mug and shaking with laughter. Emma chuckles, poking his shoulder playfully.

“But,” he continues, holding up a hand in peace, “But I still got all weird and preachy and in-your-face so I’m sorry.”

She tilts her head. “Apology accepted.”

“And the “Bad Rep” thing was a little… extra.”

Her face turns down toward the plate. Her smile falters. He regrets bringing it up.

“That song is so beautiful, Shawn,” she tells him. He realizes with a start it’s the first time she’s talked to him about his music directly. His eyes go a little wide, “You should be so proud of it. And your performance. Don’t be sorry for that. For leaving it all on the table.”

Shawn goes pink and bashful. It makes her smile.

“I… should also apologize for the other night at Trench. I went off the rails a little seeing you with Kyle. I’ve never done anything like that before in my life. I… I don’t get jealous. I don’t know what that was,” he admits, clearly still bothered by it.

She leans in. “We were fighting. If you showed up at that opening with a girl, I might’ve done the same thing.”

He smiles. “No, you wouldn’t have. You would’ve just gotten up and danced and made me forget anyone else was there.”

Emma releases a surprised giggle. “Maybe.”

They’re quiet for a while as they eat. Emma is in her own world, focused on her coffee and toast. She doesn’t seem bothered at all by his presence. She seems soothed by it.

“We’ve never really gotten to do this. Just hang out like this. Eat a meal together,” he points out. He blinks hard, flinching at how sentimental and vulnerable he sounds.

Emma looks up from her mug thoughtfully. “We haven’t,” she confirms.

“Do you… do you want to talk about yesterday?”

She swallows. “I don’t even want to think about yesterday. I feel disgusting.”

Shawn’s heart sinks. “You can kill the video, Em. If you hate it that much you can kill it.”

The look on her face says she’s already thought of that. “Can we not talk about the video? Please?”

He surrenders the point and nods. He looks around. The house feels a little less hollow in the daylight. He warily checks his phone. He’s got a couple “where are you, man?” texts to attend to.

“Do you have to leave?” she asks, clearing her throat like she’s trying to pass off her wounded whisper as morning voice.

He jams his phone back in his pocket. “No. I mean—not if you want me to stay. I have a thing tonight, a dinner. I’m off today.”

She blinks. “Me too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” she laughs, “Wow.”

They’re quiet again. “You should stay. Hang out,” she says.

He nods. “Sounds good.”

+

Emma gives Shawn an awkward, stilted tour of the house. He gets the feeling she didn’t pick it out. It doesn’t feel like her, anyway. Neither does anything in it.

Until their last stop.

She takes his hand before they go in, so he’s already grinning like an idiot, and then she opens the door and he’s in Valhalla.

The room is full of guitars.

They paper the walls in a colorful gradient, but there are also racks of them throughout the room. She’s a collector.

And, he notices, a restoration expert?

Upon noticing his curious glance, Emma guides him over to her work table. It’s covered in intricate tools and an old acoustic she’s fixing up.

“My grandfather taught me,” she tells him proudly, looking around the room, “A lot of these were his.”

Shawn smacks his lips as he gazes around. She giggles.

“Were you close with him?” he asks softly, squinting at an old Gibson that makes his fingers twitch. She notices and gets it down for him. She hands it off and feels a rush of pride at seeing him preciously holding something she brought back to life. He smooths his hand over the surface as he clutches the neck.

“My grandfather was not a good man,” Emma explains plainly, sounding detached, “He was an old, close-minded bigot who raised his children to be obsessed with money because he had very little. This guitar collection, and the records in my room, are all that’s left of him and I think it’s better that way. But he taught me everything I know about country music.”

Shawn’s eyes remain turned down to the instrument as she speaks so casually about her family dysfunction. He clears his throat.

“Well, then the guitars aren’t all that’s left. He did one good thing, at least. Gave you your passion.”

Emma’s gaze goes soft. He lifts his head and smiles at her. She smiles back and reaches behind her for what she knows is there – her old Taylor, her favorite acoustic, sitting on a stand where she’s always kept it. She nods at the door and he follows her out, with one last lustful glance around her room of treasures.

They wind their way back to her bedroom. Shawn’s hesitant at first, because the bedroom feels very intimate, but he recognizes it’s the only room in this sprawling estate that feels like her. She plops down on her bed cross-legged, little sleep shorts riding up her thighs. She pays them no mind – she’s plucking out the opening chords to something he doesn’t recognize but it sounds a little twangy.

He listens to her play while he tunes up, bobbing his head. He keeps looking up at her but she seems to have forgotten entirely that he’s there until he speaks.

“What is this?”

Her head jerks up and she chuckles at herself. “”’Til I Get It Right” by Tammy Wynette.”

He smirks. “Should’ve guessed. You’re obsessed with her.”

Emma tries not to blush at his observation. “She had quite a life. I find her fascinating. And she was the First Lady of Country Music. Can you imagine? Being the First Lady of something? Or, like, whatever, being the President of something?”

Shawn’s quiet, listening to her pluck away, watching her bob and sway her head, mouthing the words like he does when he plays alone in his bedroom.

“Your album. The real one, the one you wrote when you… I mean, when you finished Fake It. It’s a country album, isn’t it?”

Emma doesn’t look up from the guitar but he sees her eyes move from her fingers on the strings to the sheets below her. “Yeah.”

His jaw tightens. “But your mom—”

“My mom does what the label and Margaret tell her to do. At the time, before the label, it was Margaret and Disney. She doesn’t—I mean, honestly, she doesn’t care as long as we’re making money. But she said no.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “I shouldn’t have let her.”

Shawn blinks. He watches her fingers slide around gracefully, watches her hair fall over her shoulder and onto the neck of the guitar. He reaches out and moves it for her before she tangles it in the strings. She closes her eyes and stops playing.

“I’ve been meeting with Andrew for a few weeks.”

He frowns and looks up from her hands. She’s staring at him, expression flat.

“Why?”

“I asked his advice about replacing Margaret. I needed to talk to someone I could trust, someone who could help me headhunt quietly so she won’t see it coming. He was the only person I thought, maybe, if I’m lucky, won’t fuck me over. But at this point, I’m so close to not caring what happens to my godforsaken career.”

Shawn makes a mental note to shake Andrew’s hand when he gets the chance.

“Ha—have you gotten anywhere?” Shawn almost chokes, still in shock.

Emma plants her hands on the top panel of the guitar and looks at him earnestly. “I don’t know. I mean, we’ve looked at a couple people – good country managers. I just—I’m so wary of ending up in the same situation all over again. Having my every move controlled. I—”

“But you’ll never let that happen to you again,” he interrupts, leaning toward her slightly and feeling his eyes widen desperately, “Not after yesterday. Not after what they’ve put you through. Em, you… you deserve so much better. I hope you know that.”

Emma closes her eyes and tilts her head to rest on the headboard. “I’m trying to.”

Shawn feels the air crackle between them when she looks up. She fidgets with the guitar in her lap like it’s an extension of her. He wants to pull it aside and kiss her. He doesn’t.

“I don’t really know much country music, you’re going to have to teach me,” he says softly, glancing down at his guitar that he’s gripping too hard. She smiles in his periphery.

“What’s not much?”

He raises his eyebrows. “Couple Luke Bryan songs. Florida Georgia Line. Old Taylor. And Hunter Hayes.”

Emma tries not to wince and he laughs.

“Can you play any?” she asks.

He shrugs noncommittally. “I can do some justice to “I Want Crazy.””

She lifts her guitar back into place with a knowing smile. She starts off. He scrambles to keep up. It feels kind of perfect.

She charges ahead with vocals so he harmonizes where he can. They’re grinning, playing faster, allowing for a few deviations from Hayes’s version to add their own flares. They’re giggling, wiggling a little in their seats, headbanging, watching each other sing and play like they never have before. And they never have like this.

Shawn howls as Emma trails off on an impressive vocal run. He feels his cheeks go red. They finish the song slowly, reluctantly. Emma’s smiling until she’s not. Her face begins to crumple. Shawn panics.

“Em? Wh—what’s wrong?” He puts his guitar aside. She clings to hers.

“Sorry,” she hiccups, smiling through her tears like she’s well-trained to do, “Sorry, I just—fuck. I’ve—never really done this before. Played with—someone. Played… with someone like you.”

The words weigh heavy in the air. Emma looks ready to take them back as soon as she says them. Shawn carefully, ever-so-slowly edges forward, looking for signs of panic on her face as she sniffles and watches him. He takes the guitar and puts it aside. His eyes bear into hers. She blinks quickly.

He reaches out for her, inhaling sharply as she throws herself into his arms and almost tackles him onto the bed. He catches them to keep them from sliding off the end. Once they’re secure, he cradles his arms around her and breathes into her hair. She’s racked with sobs.

He doesn’t need to know exactly what’s in her head or heart right now. He holds her as tight as he’ll allow himself, closing his eyes and willing her to let it out.

She doesn’t really know exactly what floodgates this moment opened for her. But she has somewhere to cry other than a pillow. She’s probably drenching his t-shirt with snot and tears but he’s holding her so securely she’s pretty sure he doesn’t care.

Emma notices the way he strokes her back, not lecherously, not leading down to the swell of her ass or around to her breasts, but just to soothe her with the rhythm of it. She notices the way he shifts them so she’s not resting her weight on her arm. She notices the way he buries his face in her hair and inhales. She notices the way her breath leaves a riot of goosebumps on his neck.

She pulls away when she feels her chest empty of whatever hell she was holding onto. He’s looking at her, not with pity, not even with too much concern, just… Shawn. Watching her, waiting to see what she’ll do next.

She sighs, resigned. She sweeps a hand through his hair, gripping the back of his neck. She leans in and kisses him, soft and sweet. It lasts only a moment. His lips are a little rough and taste like morning and lemon. She shudders.

He has lost any sense of the world around them. He shrugs an arm around her, uses the other to move some hair out of her tear-streaked face. He leans back in and she shuts her eyes, waiting for another kiss. Instead, he trails his lips over her hair, her cheekbones, her nose, her fluttering eyelashes.

“Emma,” he breathes into her ear. Her body tightens against his in response.

The name doesn’t sound so scary anymore.

Taglist: @the-claire-bitch-project @smallerinfinities @crapri @stillinskislydia @carlaimberlain @abigfatmess @rosecolouredtimes @heavenly—holland @wanderingmendes @blush-and-books @oyesmendes @embracehappy

[vexdrolo]

MY BABIES, INCLUDING TWO COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU.

please give me all the plots, just hmu and we can talk things. (especially for the two new ones bc i don’t know what i’m doing with them yet.) if you click on their names i added links to their pinterests because that’s where i do most of my character development. 

LUELLA MAE “LUE” NASH. 22. artist. creek.

a plain white tee shirt covered in dried paint, honeysuckle, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, skipping rocks, the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, stargazing, messy blonde hair catching sun rays, lemon and honey, love letters spritzed with perfume, floral sundresses and floppy hats, power ballads, holding a butterfly on an outstretched finger, accidental bruises and band-aid covered knees, blowin’ big pink bubblegum bubbles until they pop, pinky promises, hushed bedtime prayers.

Literal god damn ray of sunshine. Painting is her drug of choice, thank you very much. And wine. Her tolerance is non-existent though. Likes trashy romance novels, pretty things, and people liking her. Sheltered and naive and extremely unworldly. A burnout, but like, a classy burnout. Also an orphan. The apple of her brother’s eye and he will protect her at all costs. Has been in slaughter for the last four years and was really angry about it at first but like it’s not the worst. Teaches beginners painting classes at Vino and Van Gogh and cries a lot for various reasons.

ANGELINA OPHELIA “ANGEL” BOOKER. 24. tour guide. bone.

angelic ○ shimmery eye shadow and highlighter dusted cheekbones ○ cocoa butter ○ spearmint gum ○ velvet scrunchies ○ eyes that roll back in her head so far all you can see is the whites ○ theatrical hand gestures ○ bong hits and acid trips ○ ripped jeans and silky camisoles ○ cheap costume jewelry ○ poetry about flowers and the burden of existence ○ the worn down spine and dog eared pages of a beloved book ○ sun kissed skin ○ wishbones snapped in half ○ a smile that never reaches the eyes

[ tw: drugs]

Angel, doesn’t the name say it all? Grew up on the old Booker Salvage Yard, the youngest of a large brood who word hand-me-downs until she left for college. Majored in English Lit at ASU, now gives enjoyably theatrical tours through old town Slaughter. Seems nice, but is she really though? Seems chill, but is really dramatic as fuck. Seems like she isn’t really what she seems. Just wants to get high, trip balls, and write about her own existential dread. Extremely articulate and well read, but still calls everyone “bro”, “dude” and “my guy”, (regardless of gender).

IMOGEN MATILDA “GINNY” BEAUFORT. 27. guidance counselor. mist.

wrinkled button down’s with the sleeves rolled up ○ perfume covering up cigarette smoke ○ the creak of an old floorboard in an empty house ○ a screeching forgotten tea kettle ○ wilting bluebells ○ scratched out words in a journal ○ dark red lipstick feathering at the edges ○ photoalbums collecting dust on a shelf ○ color coded sticky notes on a wall calendar ○ worn brown leather ○ fingerprints on a fog covered mirror ○ night terrors and cold sweats ○ the evenly paced clicking of a flat heel ○ a thousand yard-stare ○ cut-out obituaries held together with an alligator clip ○ broken porcelain dining plates ○ the flickering light of a candle you swear you blew out .

[ tw: death ]

Que Yoav’s cover of Where Is My Mind playing in the background. Haunting and a bit peculiar - with a deep love of button down shirts dark wash and brown leather shoes. May or may not be convinced that she sees ghosts, and that’s really none of your damn business. Smokes like a teenager worried her parents are gonna catch her doing it - but they can’t, because they’re dead. Depressed, afraid, and emotionally constipated. But she’s mostly a good person, and has a really cute dog named sable to make up for it. Came back to Slaughter about a year ago (and some change), currently trying to deal with the newest in a long string of deaths in her family. 

NADINE MARIE “NADS” BERNARD. 22. fashion student. iron. 

double-breast trechcoat; cat-eye sunglasses; a passport with too many stamps / monogrammed paper shopping bags hanging from each arm / bleach-stained washcloths; lysol wipes / pencil skirts with thick white stockings / a piano scale / milk & honey; champagne kisses / words of ice; temper of fire / tennis bracelets and silk blouses / the cut of skates across fresh ice / pale lips; pale skin; dark eyes / a silent scream.

nadine is one of my unfinished babes so i don’t have her entirely fleshed out. but she’s a little carrie bradshaw and a little miranda priestly, and a pinch of serena van der woodsen. she’s taking a break from fashion school to look for her half-sister, manon, which is why she’s in slaughter.

DARLA JANE  “DJ” AUERBACH. 26. cam girl. rot. 

oops don’t have an aesthetic thing written for her yet, please see pinboard. 

darla is also unfinished and yet again i do not have her entirely fleshed out. but idk she’s fiona gallagher meets effy stonem with a super tragic backstory. she’s one of a set of co-dependent triplets. an actual train wreck. yes she’s a cam girl but is she a successful one? not really, she doesn’t enjoy men telling her what to do. :/

[emthetimelady]

A way to find out - 2

A/N: Okay so part two of the marauders fic. Sorry if there’s grammar misstakes or so. Wanna read on Ao3? I hope the link works~ https://archiveofourown.org/works/17340566/chapters/40797356#workskin

Tags: @ashrain5 @royallyanxious @logical-but-anxious

Chapter 2. A Bright day 

The next day James woke up pretty late. Remus was already awake and Sirius was getting up too. Peter however, was still sleeping. Not that it was unusual though, Peter was always the one who got the most sleep, with could be a pain. Someone always had to wake him up if it was a school day, especially if it was the start of the year. Mostly it was the one closest to the bed. But this time Remus, who had the closest bed to Peter, was too busy fixing his outfit and Sirius was stumbling into the bathroom. James groaned and sat up on his bed. He would have to get up and wake Peter. He walked the short distance and nuged Peter a little. “Peter… Pete…” He pushed him a little harder when Peter didn’t wake up. “Peter! Wake up!” That seemed to do it. Peter yawned and opened his eyes. Stretching out his arms and legs. James shook his head and gave him a small punch. “Come on, we’re going to miss breakfast if you don’t hurry up” Remus said. James just yawned and and went back to his bed to get dressed. Deciding on just wearing the pants, shirt and tie. It wasn’t so cold after all. Luckily there was space at the table. Since most eats early to find the right classroom. Mostly first years was eating early. As James put some eggs and bacon on the plate McGonagall came up to them. ”Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew. I have your schedules” she said. She was always direct and cold. James had never figured out why. They had tried. However they got detention for a week because of it and a prank they had done. As soon the four schedules was at their respective owners, she left. “I hope we get some good lessons” James said. Soon stuffing his face with eggs and bacon. “Well, do you consider potions with Slytherin first lesson on friday and today a good lesson?” Remus said casually. James swallowed the breakfast quickly. “Of course not!” James said as if he had gotten personally offended. Well he sort of had. “I agree wit’ Jame’. Potion’ a’e the wor’t” Sirius said. Having way too much food in his mouth. Remus made a disgusted noise making James look up. “I’ve told Peter a thousands of times, swallow your food before talking” Remus said. James shook his head at him but he had to agree. It’s just disgusting. He turned to see if there was any left. It was mostly empty by now and they would leave soon too. But he saw Severus sitting at the table. He smirked and turned to the others. “Are you ready to leave soon? Snivellus is still here” James said. They hated each other since first day. Besides Severus ‘Snivellus’ Snape was a Slytherin. It was always known that Gryffindors and Slytherins don’t just go together. They had pulled a lot of pranks on him and his fellow Slytherins. Mostly James and Sirius enjoyed it. Peter too sometimes. The older Slytherins could be really scary. “Sure, let’s go.” They all got up and took their bags. James looking over the schedule as they walked down to the lesson. Slughorn was the teacher for potions. He was also head of Slytherin and favorited his house a bit. He even had a club for his best students. No one in the friendship group was in it though. Remus was terrible and Peter was pretty bad too. Mostly they had to work with Sirius or James who was good at it. But they kept messing with each other and sometimes it ended bad. Like once last year when Remus and James was nearly done with it but Sirius threw an extra bit in. It had resulted in the kettle brewing over and then blowing over both including Severus and Lily. They had ended up with swelling body parts and had to be taken to the hospital wing. Luckily they were allowed out at dinner, fully okay by then. However Sirius and Peter had to clean it all. James and Peter sat down at one table in front of Lily and Severus. Lily was a beautiful girl according to James. She had long red hair. Often in a ponytail or braid, but sometimes let out. She had green eyes that always shined of happiness. She was in Gryffindor too. However she was friends with Severus. Severus was the difference to Lily. His hair was black and greasy and -to Sirius irritation- long, right under the ears. His eyes grey and without emotions. James didn’t understand how a beautiful girl like Lily could ever be with a greasy Slytherin like Severus. Slughorn started to talk about what they were going to do and explained it step by step. Peter wrote down it quickly to not forget. ”Pete, can you get the stuff?” James asked. It was always best for just one to go and get it since a lot of students was there in a crowd. Luckily it didn’t take long time before he came back. They started the potion. ”Hey, Pete” James whispered as Peter was stirring the potion. ”Yeah?” He looked up. James looked back with a smirk. ”I think Snivellus need a shower” James whispered quietly. Peter started to understand. They needed water in the potion and they still had some water left in the bowl. ”Just don’t blame me like last prank from last term” Peter said. Going back to count the stirrs. James just smirked. Taking his sand out. ”Leviosa” he mumbled and pointed at the bowl. It slowly rose up and followed the way James focused. Soon it was at the other table. Over Severus head. Everyone was too focused on the potion to notice it. Until James let go after quickly turning it upside down. The bowl fell down as the water poured over the Slytherin boy. Soon the bowl landed on his head too. Everyone now looked at the pair, most of them laughing. Some Slytherins didn’t. ”Potter!” Slughorn yelled out over the laughter. ”10 points from Gryffindor!” ”Are you okay Sev?” Lily asked worry in her voice. James rolled his eyes and continued on with the potion. Smirking at Sirius who looked his way. Potion was finished and luckily all tour managed to finish it. They were now walking up one of the many stairs to History of magic. It was one of the most boring lesson ever. Since Professor Binns was a ghost and all he did was talking and giving out homework. James was close to fall asleep every lesson but Remus was constantly taking notes. ”We need a map for this” Sirius groaned as the stair moved. ”Don’t be silly” Remus said. ”Rem, we have been here for a year and with this castle I always get lost!” They all hurried off the stair once it stopped at the right place. ”He has a point” James agreed. ”And maybe there’s secret passages! Like Gryffindor would probably want the future Gryffindor students to find out!” ”But how would we do it?” Peter asked. ”This castle is huge and how would we find if there is secret passages? There’s teachers all over and we’re not allowed to walk around at night!” They all stopped and looked at him. ”Pete. I have my cloak” James said. “Oh right…” They all hurried up. Not that Binns would really notice them being late. It was 5pm. The four was sitting outside, taking out on the sun while it was there. They were sitting by the lake. James and Sirius having a throwing rocks competition. Peter was writing down all of the points. One point for the one throwing the longest. Remus was watching them. Making sure neither was cheating. ”One point for Sirius” Remus said as Peter put a new line in the left spalt. “Ey!” James let out offended. Sirius sticking his tongue out to James. “I came longer!” He pointed at Sirius. “You’re just jealous” Sirius chuckled. James hit his head gently. “I’m not, I’m just tired. I would win otherwise!” ”Sure keep telling yourself that” Remus rolled his eyes. Remus stood up to brush the dust off his shirt. “EY! Oh I will so get you Rem-” He said and started to run. Remus started to run too as the other two watched. After a few minutes Remus stopped. Breathing heavily. James jumped on him. More tackling the taller boy to the ground. Remus tried to get away but James stayed there. Talking about how he would win. Sirius and Peter laughed at the sight. Nearly forgetting dinner.

[dfhvn]

Deafheaven Live At Brooklyn Steel // Consequence Of Sound

Full article with photo gallery via Consequence Of Sound. Setting The Stage: It takes a lot to get folks in New York City out to a concert, with the myriad of things to do any given night and dozens of competing shows across the city. So packing an 1,800 cap venue like Brooklyn Steel is a feat in and of itself, but that’s exactly what Deafheaven did on Tuesday night.

Arriving at Brooklyn Steel, the crowd was a mix of devoted metalheads and indie-minded hipsters, t-shirts tucked in and tote bags in hand. It’s clear that the band’s wide appeal beyond just the metal community is in full swing. Ultimately, the band is one of many gateways for those who’d never otherwise be exposed — more than just a black metal band but not completely distanced from it either.

With the recent release of their fourth full-length album, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, Deafheaven have never sounded more comfortable and confident in their skin — all seemingly disjointed elements making that much more sense in the context of their songs and exploring new sonic territory with dream inducing piano, slide guitar, and chorus-like vocal elements. Lyrically, the album takes on more a hopeful tenacity, blending vivid imagery with life-affirming mantra that’s hard won with the band’s tumultuous years on the road.

Taking The Stage: As the stage lights dimmed, Deafheaven burst into one of the strongest cuts off OCHL, “Honeycomb”. Custom-made Dunable guitars in hand, they roared with caustic tremolo picking that’s equal parts Burzum and My Bloody Valentine. Vocalist George Clarke even busted out the tambourine during the song’s classic-rock guitar solos, tying to the central ethos of the band’s roots in DIY punk rock and their uncompromising sonic vision that says: “Don’t tell us what kind of band we can and cannot be.”

For “Honeycomb”, guitarist Shiv Mehra used an envelope filter on the post rock leaning passages, while Clarke moved around with an elf-like stage presence, his greased mop of long hair flailing clouds of sweat on the front row. For “Canary Yellow”, their big single off OCHL, bassist Chris Johnson and Mehra contributed vocals that worked like a choir against the tortured skyward screeches of Clarke’s vocals.

Naturally, they revisited the past, and on 2015 single “Brought to the Water”, the band transitioned from black metal darkness to melancholically hopeful passages, reminiscent of Red House Painters or even Hum. (Is it weird to say both?) It was an obvious crowd pleaser and a standout of the band’s catalogue. Shortly after, the band dove into “Worthless Animal”, the closing track on OCHL, in which fans could catch a smile from guitarist and principle songwriter Kerry McCoy.

That One Song: The encore started with the piano and slide guitar of OCHL album opener “You Without End”, the spotlight firmly planted on McCoy manning the keys. The spoken-word passage played as a backing track, corny as it it could easily be, until Mehra kicked in with a solo that could arguably match up to the ostentatious heights of Queen.

A Perfect Finish: Closing with “Dream House”, the song that introduced the non-metal world to Deafheaven, the room flew into a push-pit frenzy, fans rushing past each other, clamoring towards the stage as Clarke dove into the crowd. It was a succinct way to end a night that did everything live music is supposed to do: make you feel completely weightless and closer together.

To seal the night, the band offered a final bow as Johnson triumphantly held his bass above his head. It was warranted as the band ended one of the biggest headlining shows of a career that’s now solidified at new heights — and only growing.

Opening Acts: NYC industrial metal act Uniform kicked off the evening, blazing through their 30-minute set with crushing guitar tones and Converge-esque frenetic energy, giving way to dark industrial dirges complete with triggered drums and billowing, slapback delay-laden vocals.

Directly supporting Deafheaven was Los Angeles based band Drab Majesty, who took the stage donned in matching alien-like outfits, sunglasses, blond wigs and all. Their cosmic, synth driven, post punk songs had the atmospheric touch of ’80s new wave, providing a stark contrast to the pummeling nature of Uniform’s set. Deafheaven have a history of bringing varied support acts on tours, which speaks to the different sonic worlds they inhabit.

Deafheaven Setlist: Honeycomb Canary Yellow Sunbather Brought To The Water Worthless Animal Encore: You Without End From The Kettle Onto The Coil Dream House

[bensbuttercup]

Saturday’s

So Claire Requested this gem for my blurb night

@the-claire-bitch-project : Lazy Saturday Morning with the boys that included pancakes (made by Harrison, duh), watching cartoons (Scooby-Doo), and lots of snuggles and lazy kisses.

And I am impulsive ass turend this into half a one shot so Reagan and Phoebe are back.

Reagan rolled over in bed, throwing a strong arm off her waist as she did. She sat on the edge of her bed checking her missed texts before finishing rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She fixed Shawn’s shirt she had slept in before looking to see who ad made their way into her bed. Tom laid on the other side of the mattress, blanket pulled up to his nose and messy baby curls sticking to his forehead.

Reagan quietly pulled on a pair of pajama shorts before taking a picture of Tom, posting it on her instagram story with the caption ‘Lazy Saturday mornings with my Shortstack’, before she slipped out of her room and down the stairs into the kitchen. Halfway down the stairway Reagan smelled bacon, fresh coffee and pancakes, assuming that Shawn and Phoebe were on breakfast duty as per usual. Instead she was greeted by Harrison’s muscled back and the sound of a soft rock playlist filling the kitchen.

Reagan watched Harrison flip the last two pancakes before quietly making her way behind him, wrapping her arms around him. Harrison didn’t even have to think about whose arms were around his waist before he was humming a quiet “Morning beautiful,” to Reagan. Reagan let a few gentle kisses fall on Harrison’s shoulders as he moved the last two pancakes to the plate with the others that were finished cooking.

“Morning Nugget.” Reagan replied, pulling away to go make a cup of coffee for herself. She mixed the cup together before taking a small sip, setting it down to help Harrison put the dishes in the sink. “Everyone’s home this weekend!” Reagan beamed looking to Harrison who had a similar smile on his face. The group of five had expanded to seven and it was hard to find everyone together at the same time. Leslie had joined the relationship five months earlier and Cole followed two after, all in the middle of Tom filming and Shawn’s festival tour.

“First time in three months that everyone’s together on a weekend.” Harrison hummed backing Reagan into a counter. “You know with Tom and Shawn home I’m going to miss having you all to myself sometimes.” Reagan rolled her eyes before leaning in to kiss Harrison gently.

“All you have to do is ask.” Reagan remind Harrison as he rubbed gentle circles into her hips. The kiss continued to heat up, Harrison’s hands snaking up the back of Reagan’s shirt while hers found their way up his warm chest. Lips moving lazily together, not rushed or worried about having t0 do anything quick.

“Good morning to you two.” Leslie’s voice filled the kitchen. Leslie walked over to the bowl of bacon and stole a piece before moving to the coffee pot that was next to Harrison and Reagan. Reagan pulled out of Harrison’s hold to pull leslie into a hug, placing a kiss on her forehead while Harrison did the same. Reagan let go of Leslie so she could make her coffee when another set of feet were heard on the staircase.

“You left me.” Tom’s morning voice filled the room as he walked up to Reagan, pulling her into a tight hug. His arms were wrapped around Reagan’s middle and his face tucked into the crook of her neck where he left a few gentle kisses of his own. “You bed got cold.” Tom complained further. Leslie responded by walking over and pulling Tom into a tight hug of her own, her hope was that she would make him ‘not cold anymore’. Leslie held Tom for a few minutes while Reagan and Harrison made four plates of food.

“Wait.” Leslie mumbled pulling back from Tom. “We’re all up before the morning birds?” She asked hoping someone would catch the question. Harrison checked the clock and noticed it was nearly ten before nodding.

“That’s weird, they were all asleep early too, I went in at eleven thirty just to check and Phoebe and Shawn were already asleep.” Tom answered. Harrison looked up the stairs to Phoebe’s door, which was right at the top of the staircase. The door was slightly cracked and the only light in the room was the soft glow of the television which is always left on.

“I guess we’ll let them sleep.” Leslie mumbled taking a bite of bacon. “Shawn did only get home yesterday and Pheebs feeds of his energy.” Leslie shrugged as soft chatter filled the kitchen.

“I was thinking to just have a lazy day.” Tom spoke a little louder getting the attention of the other three. Lazy days were rare around the house, with Shawn always recording and Tom’s filming schedule days always felt fast paced and hectic.

“Maybe one of our cuddle days where we break out the blankets and pillows in front of the big TV and just cuddle and eat junk food all day.” Reagan lit up at Tom’s idea. Unwinding with everyone sounded like the perfect way to keep distracted from upcoming midterms. Tom was wearing a sleepy, yet happy smile and nodded at Reagan’s excitement.

“Well we really just have to wait for the three musketeers to wake up then.” Harrison sipped his coffee after pushing his mostly empty plate away while the others finished eating.

“Breakfast already?” Cold yawned walking into the kitchen, a pair of Shawn’s sweatpants hung low on his hips while he walked over to make a mug of coffee for himself. Cole finished what was left and put a new pot on to brew before Harrison smiled brightly at him.

“Morning sunshine!” Harrison knew Cole was always grumpy when he first woke up and tired to push any buttons he could. Cole finished making a plate, kicking Harrison’s shin when he walked past and took his seat at the table.

“Yeah morning.” Cole replied taking a bite of bacon. After Cole let the coffee kick into his system slightly he spoke up again. “Pheebs and Shawn are still sleeping. Phoebe woke up at four thirty and didn’t feel good, she was up for a while her and Shawn are catching up on sleep.” Cole answered Reagan’s question before she could even ask it. Everyone looked concerned at the mention of someone being sick and Cole shook his head before mumbling ‘the usual’ seeing everyone relax.

The five who were at the table happily chatted about what movies they would be watching and where they would be ordering lunch and dinner from while the waited for Shawn and Phoebe to find their way downstairs. Around ten thirty quiet mumbles of ‘no I want your hoodie’ followed by Shawn’s small hums of acknowledgement were heard upstairs telling everyone that Phoebe and Shawn were awake.

Soon after feet were heard moving down the stairs and Shawn, in sweats and a tee shirt pulled his mug out. Phoebe walked in a few seconds later in Shawn’s pink hoodie, a soft blanket wrapped around her shoulders a small smile on her lips. She waved to everyone and gave Leslie and Reagan kisses on the cheek before sitting in Cole’s lap. “You want hot chocolate this morning baby girl?” Shawn asked pulling the kettle out to boil water.

“Thank you bub!” Phoebe smiled grabbing a piece of Cole’s bacon.

“Oh!” Tom suddenly spoke up. “You are okay!” Phoebe laughed lightly as Shawn slid her a mug of hot chocolate. Phoebe nodded as Cole slid a hand under Shawn’s hoodie and rested it on Phoebe’s stomach.

“Well if everyone else is almost done we can go grab all the blankets and pillows.” Reagan spoke up looking at Leslie and Tom who’s smiles only grew wider. Tom was out of his seat before Reagan could finish speaking and Leslie wasn’t far behind. Reagan gave Harrison a kiss as she passed him and followed Leslie and Tom up the stairs. While Shawn finished his breakfast Phoebe slipped off of Cole’s lap and went to start putting the dishes in the dishwasher so the sink didn’t pile up too far later in the afternoon.

Fifteen minutes later Reagan came down the stars followed by Leslie and then Tom, all three carrying an array of pillows and blankets. Tom’s hair was messy and Phoebe took note of the red marks that were fresh on his neck and his swollen lips, but he looked happy. “We just have to get Pheebs and Tom’s blankets and pillows and we’re done.” Leslie said as Harrison stood up and walked up the stairs, turning left towards Tom’s room.

“I’ll go grab yours go help the others.” Cole told Phoebe who took the blanket she had brought down with her earlier. Phoebe walked over to where Shawn was pouring a second mug of coffee and wrapped herself and the blanket around him. Shawn laughed lightly as Phoebe closed her eyes and rested her head on Shawn’s back listening to his heartbeat.

“Let’s go snuggle bug.” Shawn hummed tuning around and walking slowly towards the living room. Phoebe followed him and watched as Tom slipped a DVD into the player as Leslie and Reagan laid out the first layer of blankets on the floor. Cole and Harrison found their way back downstairs with the remaining blankets and everyone started finding their places in the cuddle puddle. Reagan laid down first along with Shawn and Cole, everyone else following. Tom laid down on one side of Reagan and Harrison on the other. Leslie laid between Tom and Shawn as Phoebe wedged her way between Shawn and Cole. Blankets were pulled over and on everyone as they settled down, Tom picking up the remote and starting the first movie.

A few quiet and excited gasps were heard as the opening screen to Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island was seen. Everyone wore wide smiled as Leslie leaned over to kiss Tom gently, resting her head on his chest. Harrison yawned and Reagan ran her fingers through his messy hair hoping to help him relax. Reagan knew he had woken up early to cook and wanted him to be able to catch a small nap.

“Scooby!” Shawn gasped lightly and Phoebe laughed gently closing her eyes on his chest. Tom was watching intently as Leslie played with his hair, the boy fighting to stay awake also. Reagan watched as both Tom and Shawn drifted off on her chest, knowing that both her boys were with her for a few weeks now.

“I missed this.” Shawn hummed running his fingers through Phoebe hair while she slowly drifted in and out of sleep. Reagan and Leslie nodded in agreement while Tom and Harrison were out cold themselves the two boys Even breath fanning across Reagan’s neck.

“I think we all missed this.” Cold added looking across the pile of bodies to give Reagan a warm smile. They knew despite whatever anyone said this is where they wanted to be, and it’s where they would always be.

[writerspink]

Basic Topics

Food

cook bread cake pie noodles pasta eggs meat milk cheese oil chocolate chips cookies crackers treats snacks muffin rolls biscuit cupcake brownies bagel biscotti French fries sandwich hamburger salad meatloaf breakfast lunch super dinner snack fruit juice soda pop tea coffee wine beer

Outdoors

snow rain wind sunny cloudy tornado hurricane hail ice freeze thaw hot cold earthquake sand mud dirt dust mountain river lake sea ocean valley plain field park sidewalk fresh air camping campfire barbecue picnick

Animals

cow donkey horse rabbit dragonfly deer squid kangaroo bear wolf chipmunk squirrel dog fox cat pheasant brontosaurus mouse eagle clam parrot crow duck cricket swan housefly pterodactyl goose chicken oyster turkey sheep goat hummingbird raptor owl eel hornet zebra bird mosquito whale cougar shrimp elephant lion bee pigeon gazelle cheetah hippopotamus fish tiger gecko grasshopper rhinoceros walrus octopus otter spider jellyfish penguin falcon snake rat crab leopard T-Rex dolphin orca lizard shark hawk giraffe dinosaur starfish snail

Clothes

hat gloves scarf coat trench coat rain coat umbrella shirt pants shorts underwear vest sweater sweat shirt sweat pants sweat suit jogging suit boots shoes sandles slippers swimming suit suit dress skirt blouse hood hoodie fedora flat cap fedora polo shirt dress shirt T-shirt tank top muscle shirt blazer tuxedo cufflinks necklace bracelet earring

Home

house garage workshop window door screen wall floor ceiling kitchen bathroom living room bedroom window door garbage trash can clean wash rinse mob broom washcloth sink shower bath soap toilet toothbrush towel curtain bed blanket pillow bed sheets table chair bench knife fork spoon plate cup bowl water glass bottle cutting board rolling pin toaster blender stove oven fry pan wok pot kettle baking sheet crock pot coffee maker dish washer refrigerator freezer cellar pantry cupboard counter top cabinet closet toybox chest wardrobe vanity coat rack stand sofa couch love seat coffee table footstool ottoman recliner

Office & School

desk computer phone tablet printer clock watch memo note pencil pen ink eraser glue paper clip stapler rubber band sharpen dull shavings shred ruler protractor compass classroom pencil holder calendar pin board thumb tack desk lamp board room whiteboard blackboard conference table manager supervisor teacher principal team & teammates classmates employee student project assignment study work learn correct edit fix repair update upgrade install enroll graduate finish late on time communicate network energy electricity announcement speakers PA system (public announcement) public private corporation company school district industrial park factory building commerce money market

Roads

car truck motorcycle semi truck pickup truck sport car sedan coup scooter dirt bike bicycle BMX bike skates skateboard helmet seat belt air bag crash collision fender bender ticket parking lot speed limit lane highway onramp expressway freeway toll road bridge overpass underpass train tracks railroad train station bus stop yield distance limousine chauffeur driver taxi tour guide travel

Farm & Garden

barn tractor trailer crops harvest irrigation pesticide herbicide weed-killer fertilizer lawn mower bumper crop hay loft straw alfalfa pasture horse fence gate work gloves planting watering weeding trimming trowel plow hoe rake shovel pruning shears hedge trimmer watering can hose hose butler hose reel hose trolley spigot nozzle sprinkler turret sprinkler spray gun rain barrel rain gauge wood chips seeds blossom pollen silo grainery grain elevator cheesecloth cheese curd dairy butcher cellar canned vegetables frost dew perennial annual tulip bulb rose garden walled garden shrubbery

Sports

baseball basketball football soccer lacrosse golf tennis badminton swimming hockey bat glove mitt hoop basket net goal cleats shin guards pads jersey baseball cap court racket pool referee coach team manager stadium arena referee guard forward pitcher catcher offense defense goalie umpire puck penalty disc frisbee quarterback fowl pitch tee-off green rough course field flag boundary out of bounds clock period inning half quarter round match set play (a football play) line sponsor spectator stands bleachers nose-bleed section admission season playoffs tickets finals halftime

Music

piano clarinet oboe bassoon saxophone French horn trumpet trombone tuba flute percussion drum snare tympani bell chimes harp synthesizer instrument sampling director symphony orchestra band marching band parade color guard cadence harmony melody counter melody solo duet quartet march concerto composer tempo beat dynamics volume drum major field commander captain genre jazz blues pop rock n’ roll big band dixieland waltz tango alternative boogie woogie ragtime classical baroque romance medieval pentatonic scale Major minor harmonic

Cyberspace

computer monitor tablet stylus writing tablet touchscreen smartphone mouse keyboard battery power cord cable display desktop wallpaper firmware software application (app) app store runtime environment operating system kernel motherboard integrated circuit transistor processor processor core central processing unit (CPU) graphics processing unit (GPU) random access memory (RAM) read only memory (ROM) user account website profile page Internet web page homepage dependency software stack markup language scripting language cascading style sheet (CSS) hypertext markup language (HTML) database structured query language (SQL) universal resource identifier (URI) (https://write.pink/vocab) universal resource locator (URL) (https://write.pink) web address texting global positioning system (GPS) geolocation temp file directory structure file system email web application blog (weblog) content management system (CMS) human resource management (HRM) customer relations management (CRM) enterprise resource planning (ERP) personal information management (PIM) words per minute (WPM) social media multimedia terminal command line console client server client side language server side language legacy version version history product road map scope creep bug report feature request install update upgrade beta security malware virus spyware cookie meta data content menu navigation heading header footer article post tag search engine web crawler contacts share embed log error message runlevel priority foreground background radio select checkbox dropdown select text field encrypt certificate session web browser desktop application email client

Hospitality

reservation checkin checkout key deposit hotel motel hostel resort bead & breakfast cruise ship country club waiter waitress server maître d’hôtel concierge host butler bus boy bell hop kitchen crew dish crew chef assistant menu chef’s surprise soup of the day cup of joe appetizer soup & salad main course side dish dessert bread basket pitcher order make ticket make line make table make time delivery time serving tray goblet water glass pilsner glass martini glass shot glass wine glass soda fountain on tap deli deli cut tip / gratuity buffet all you can eat take out doggy bag delivery refill silverware napkin place setting cost per plate guest linens dining room floor bedding double bed queen size bed king size bed twin beds room service wake up call bar bar stool high boy bartender barista clerk open shop close shop “we’re all out” first in first out first in last out last in first out cost of sales five star three star

Travel

navigation driving directions baggage luggage carry-on hand-baggage check in checked baggage baggage claim ticket pass boarding pass departure arrival departure time travel time arrival time estimated time of departure (ETD) estimated time of arrival (ETA) delay on time commute journey embark boarding disembark boarding gate departure gate time table service counter first class business class economy class premium economy frequent flier membership card priority boarding priority seating lounge pass call button flotation device evacuation instructions bulkhead cabin wings air pressure altitude tunnel crash landing splash landing touchdown splashdown turbulence in-flight meal in-flight entertainment airplane mode stow dinner tray reading lamp climate control overhead compartment seat number isle seat window seat dining car sleeper car truck stop weigh station fuel station gas station petrol station passengers crew captain pilot copilot navigator conductor flight attendant helm deck terminal dock ferry plane ship airline cruise ship train bus subway space shuttle transporter beam flying saucer teleportation warp drive hyperdrive hyperspace supersonic lightspeed nautical mile time zone

Dinning Out

Dress

“dressy” festive casual jeans and tie dress pants and tie suit and tie three piece suit dress shirt nice shirt nice T shirt old shirt old T shirt jeans nice jeans rockstar jeans stone washed jeans blazer vest dress short nice shorts jean shorts skirt blouse dress high heels dress shoes slippers loafers sandals sneakers casual shoes [sport] shoes wingtip shoes

Menu

orange soda grape soda red soda cola Dr. Pepper lemon lime root beer ginger ale cream soda bread basket sub sandwich fruit platter cole slaw burrito taco nachos melon lemonade snacks popcorn hot dog chips

Camping

camper trailer mobile home campfire fire pit firewood kindling starter fluid charcoal coals ashes marshmallow s’mores graham crackers hot dog roast hot dog bun condiments relish ketchup mustard paper plate disposable silverware tin foil dinner wrap foil wrapped dinner grill barbecue cookout roasting stick campground toiletries bath house dump station park service park ranger national park state park county park city park recreation off road vehicle recreational vehicle speed boat water skiing wake boarding beach sand dune mountain climbing hiking walking stick mosquito net insect repellent tent tarp AstroTurf picnic table lawn chairs lantern kerosene sing-along

Construction

scaffold nails hammer sledgehammer jackhammer allen wrench screws screwdriver torques head Phillips head straight edge concrete flexcrete cement mortar bricks foundation chimbney threshold partition fire escape story loft lean-to foundation basement construction crew construction site building code building permit detour road construction earth moving equipment shovel rake bulldozer backhoe dumptruck studds drywall log cabin blueprints I-beam welding molding trim work framing carpeting tiling tile floor grout trowel hardhat work gloves safety glasses safety goggles face mask plaster paintbrush pain roller paint can paint can opener paint thinner wallpaper window frame door frame hinge deadbolt lock electric outlet breaker switch breaker box fuse box pluming faucet pipe drain septic tank septic system drain field landscaping survey crew land surveying acre shelf awning tarp fence rebar power grid power lines power transformer electrical pole wiring linoleum formica veneer lumber particle board plywood sandpaper palm sander belt sander saw horse table saw band saw jig saw radial arm saw drill press lathe C-clamp wood glue wood putty wood stain varnish lacquer

Basic Topics was originally published on PinkWrite

[dawnjeman]

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Horse Farm

  Hello, my dear friends! How are you today? I am so happy to have Beth from @mytexasfarm (please, make sure to follow her and you can shop her home here) on our weekly series “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”, and you’ll understand why when you look at her pictures. Her home makes you happy and “hugged” just by looking at it and I must  warn you… this post might make you want to leave your city life and move to a farmhouse far away from all the noise.

Here, the homeowner talks more about her “home-sweet-home”:

  “Hello! I am so grateful for being featured on Home Bunch! We live in a small little farmhouse and I’m just doing my best to make it feel like home! My name is Beth and I am a wife and mom of three crazy little kids! We live on a horse farm in Texas. All of my kids ride and help take care of our place. I love to decorate and make spaces feel cozy, clean, and still keep them functional for a family with three young children. When its warm outside we all basically live outside. My kids love running around barefoot and they are always up to something. When we first bought out house it needed a lot of updating. We have lived here for 8 years and we are finally almost finished fixing it up! We love having privacy and a place to call our own. I love decorating with white and it can happen when you have young children! I want each room to feel like a home but still keep it trendy and always in style. I like to change things around a lot in my home. It saves tons of money and makes it feel like a whole new space just to move things around! It also lets me be creative and have something to do instead of chasing my kids around all day! I have enjoyed sharing our little home and horse farm with everyone! I love that people want to see what I am doing in my own home! Thank you so much for sharing Home Bunch!”

I truly hope Elizabeth’s home brings a warm feeling to your heart… just like it did to mine. Life is beautiful.

  Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Horse Farm

Allow yourself to be transported into the peaceful and happy energy this home exudes… Blessings will follow.

“Hello” Doormat: Overstock.

Topiary in Planters: Wayfair.

Planters: here & here – similar.

Wreath: Joss & Main.

Chairs: Wayfair.

Front Porch

Our house used to be a red brick. We painted it white 2 years ago. I love having a White House! It instantly made the house look bigger and made the landscaping just come to life. The girls love walking on the river rocks.

Foyer

The front door opens to a foyer with impressive views.

Beautiful Foyer Tables: here, here, here, here & here.

Mirror: All Modern.

Similar “Farmhouse” Sign: here.

With Love

Walls are Alabaster by Sherwin Williams in eggshell.

Console Table: Signature Design by Ashley – out of stock – similar here & here.

Let the Light in

This image give me chills… positive chills!

I feel this home is so Blessed and just seeing this Light coming through the windows to reach the table… it makes me even a little emotional.

Dining Room

We use this area a lot! I wanted it to feel cozy but still functional. The table has been through a lot but it is the perfect complement to this space and has held up well over the years.

Dining Table: Etsy – similar here, here, here & here.

Dining Chairs

Dining Chairs: Overstock – also here.

Flooring

The floors are Laminate from Lumber Liquidators in a Natural Oak color – Others: here, here, here & here.

Chandelier: Quorum.

Kitchen Area

Paint color is Sandstove Cove by BEHR – eggshell.

Wood Wall Decor: here.

Barstools: DIY – similar here.

Kitchen

Kitchen- my favorite area! We cook almost every single meal and having an all white kitchen has been great! Nothing is stained, and I think it actually helps keep things clean. It used to be so dark and now its so bright. White kitchens get me every time!

Kitchen cabinets are maple.

Kitchen Island

Beth added DIY shiplap boards to the peninsula.

Countertop

The kitchen countertops are laminate in “Carrera marble”.

Cabinet Hardware

Cabinet hardware is from eBay.

Similar knobs: here.

Kitchen Sink

Kitchen Sink: here – similar.

Smell the Roses

Flowers always add beauty to any space…

Kitchen Faucet

Kitchen Faucet: Vigo.

Hello, Pretty Flowers

I much rather see flowers inside of a sink than dirty dishes.

Easter Inspiration

 We used nail polish for these. So easy! Take a cup of room temperature water, I dumped a little of the nail polish in a swirl pattern and dip the egg. Repeat this for each egg! Some tutorials I have seen said to use a fork and stir, but the polish just sticks to the fork. The water must be room temperature too. This is so easy and requires buying nothing!

Backsplash

Backsplash is a subway tile with a beveled edge in a herringbone pattern by MSI. The grout is light gray.

Copper Tea Kettle: here – similar.

Cabinet Paint Color

Kitchen cabinets are painted in Glidden Grab-and-go for high traffic areas in semi-gloss white.

Breakfast Nook

Kitchen nook is our favorite breakfast spot/ laundry table. We love to eat here and the kids help me fold laundry and look out the windows to see the horses.

Paint color is Sandstove cove by BEHR – eggshell.

Similar Dining Table: here.

Dining Chairs: here.

Similar Rug: here & here.

Living Room

We hang out here the most. Our couch is leather and I can’t imagine having anything else. We had a dog who sheds a lot and I love being able to just vacuum up the hair! Things get spilled daily and its so nice just to wipe it up. 

Similar Sofa Sectional: here.

Baskets under Coffee Table: HomeGoods – Other Beautiful Baskets: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Paint Color

Walls are painted in Alabaster by Sherwin Williams in eggshell.

Fireplace

I have not seen anyone decorate their fireplace with cutting boards before but I am LOVING this idea! Everything is just perfect and each element complement the next.

Cutting Boards: Circular & Rectangular.

Throw: Classic Waffle Weave Tassel Throw.

Mesh Metal Basket: here.

Rug & Coffee Table

My brother built the table for me. I love the baskets underneath, they are full of toys, but when people come over we just throw the toys in the basket and you do not see any of them!

Similar Coffee Table: here.

Rug: Overstock – also similar here & here.

Barn Door

A beautiful wreath adds beauty to this diy barn door.

Master Bedroom

My husband and I made the headboard. He traced out what I wanted on a piece of maple and then simply cut it out with a jigsaw. I stapled the foam on and then my mom did the upholstery on it. Shockingly its still white and looks beautiful! It costs right at $100 to make the headboard! Our room is so comfortable and my favorite place to curl up at night!

Master Bedroom Paint Color: Silver Strand by Sherwin Williams – eggshell.

Beautiful Headboards: here, here, here & here.

Light Blue & White Duvet Cover Set: here.

Similar Nighstands: here & here.

Similar Quilt: here, here & here.

Pillows

Awww… how charming!!! Look at the bow! So cute!!!

Pompom Shams: Levtex Home.

Throw Pillows: here, here, here & here.

Back Porch

We live out here spring, summer, and fall. My kids are usually playing in the playhouse or swinging and we can just kick back and relax. I found this beautiful giant table for $50!

Outdoor Dining Table: similar here.

Similar Host Dining Chairs: here, here, here & here.

String Lights: here & here.

Exterior Paint Color

The exterior brick color is Alabaster SW 7008 by Sherwin Williams in eggshell.

Trees

Look at the trees, take a few deep breaths and imagine walking on the grass and on the stones with your bare feet…

Playhouse

Someone gave us the playhouse and it was falling apart. We replaced some wood and painted it white and its a whole new playhouse! It costs about $100 to redo it! I love keeping things on a very low budget.

Little Steps

This picture fills my heart with happiness…

  Many thanks to Beth for opening the doors of her beautiful home to us and for sharing all of the details above.

Make sure to follow her on Instagram and you can shop her style here.

  Best Sales of the Month:

Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!

  Serena & Lily: 20% off Dining Event. Use code: ENTERTAINING

  Wayfair: Up to 75% OFF – President’s Day Huge Sales on Decor, Furniture & Rugs!!!

  Joss & Main: End of Season Sale: Up to 85% Off!!! Free shipping with code: STARS

  Pottery Barn: 20% off + Free Shipping. Use Code: WEEKEND

  One Kings Lane: High Quality Design Decor for Less – Save 20% Sitewide Puls and Extra 10% with code: OKLPRES19

  West Elm: 20% Off your entire Purchase + Free Shipping: Use Code: WINTER

  Anthropologie: Take an extra 40% off all sale items! See Joanna Gaines Exclusive line here!

  Urban Outfitters: Hip & Affordable Home Decor.

  Horchow: High Quality Furniture and Decor. Up to 30% off the entire site!

  Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF!

  Arhaus: Up to 60% OFF!

  Posts of the Week:

Modern Coastal Shingle Home.

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“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

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[jonahmatranga]

I don't know who deemed me Stoner Rock, but I like it. Don't know who Red Sun Records is, but cool. The soundperson cares and the room feels good. I've heard Zeppelin, Otis, Torn, and REM in the last half hour while eating a simple, nutritious, house-made buffet. The band apartment is 50 meters away. There's a kettle in there. Way to be, Blah Blah. I'm on around 10. Let's see what happens. #everysurfaceisleepon #everystage #tour #music #love jonahmatranga.com/tour (at BLAH BLAH)

[gwhoffmeister]

Wow! What an action packed 3 days.

We took a boat up the Chobe River and visited an African village (population 50). That’s right, 50. It was an eye opening experience to see how these native Namibians live. Their houses are about 10’ x 15’ one room rectangles made out of sticks and mud/clay which form the walls. The roofs are made from sheets of corrugated metal held down by cinder blocks and rocks.

Our village guide walked us through the “town”. We saw an 88 yr old grandmother boiling water in a kettle over an open fire and we also saw a beautiful 5 yr old girl waddling around in a red coat watching her father build a house.

The villagers performed a traditional African dance for us and then my daughters entertained the children of the village who were mesmerized by the iPhone and specifically selfies and Snapchat’s augmented reality feature where you can turn your selfie into a bunny rabbit or a dog.

The villagers work together to provide each other with basic shelter and minimal sustenance consisting of vegetables from the community garden, eggs from the free ranging chickens and porridge made with milled corn. It struck me how happy the villagers seemed. Smiles on their faces and overall positivity. They don’t have much, but they do have trust in each other and they have family and they have an unspoiled environment that allows them to sustain themselves. Sometimes we lose perspective. We get caught up in our busy, self inflicted, hectic, developed world chaos and forget that full life can be lived and happiness can be achieved with very little.

After the village tour we headed back to Chobe Savanna Lodge. I went for a 3 mile jog around the grounds which involved looping 15 times around the brick pathway that connected the 12 bungalows. While I was running the rest of the crew was playing a soccer match against the Chobe Savanna staff. It was awesome! Everyone had a smile on their face. How refreshing to see 4 yr olds and 68 yr olds and every age in between engaging in competition and experiencing sportsmanship and the joy of playing a game just for fun. An extra bonus was that no one got hurt 👍

At 3pm we all loaded back into the boats for one more safari cruise. We saw elephants and hippopotamus and returned to the lodge where we had a special cocktail hour out in front of the main lodge where we had an unobstructed view of another beautiful African sunset before dinner.

We had an early wake up the next morning because we needed to eat breakfast before the 7:30 am sharp boat departure back to Botswana. We loaded into a bus and navigated 3 different immigration offices and about a 1 hour bus ride before finally pulling into Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We checked into the hotel and then jumped back into a shuttle which brought us to the Vic Falls visitor center where we began our tour of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It didn’t disappoint. We were about 2 minutes into our walk when we were met with one of the most amazing views we have ever witnessed. The powerful white rapids of the falls encircled by a radiant rainbow 🌈

The rest of the tour wove through a meandering tree tunnel pathway that occasionally spiked out to various viewing points. Towards the end the walk the spray from the crashing water combined with the wind forms a cloud of moisture that basically creates what feels like a massive rain storm. The 23 of us walked single file through the pouring rain 🌧 to the final viewing point (where you couldn’t see anything due to the heavy rain/moisture in the air) and then emerged back into the blue sky sunny day as we hiked inland away from the falls and about a mile back to the visitor center.

Back at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge we showered up and got ready for dinner. The next morning we gathered at the front desk at 6:15 am to load the jeeps for the first of two safari rides. It was quite chilly on the open air jeeps and I was glad I had my winter hat and multiple layers and the wool blanket the tour company provided. We headed into the bush to look for lions, who apparently like to roam around in the early morning hours. We saw some paw prints but that was about it. We did run across a lone giraffe and plenty of pretty African terrain. We drove to the edge of the Zambezi river where we unloaded the Jeeps and enjoyed hot coffee as we took in the sights and sounds of the Zambezi and the surrounding Zimbabwe National Park.

Back at the hotel I took a well needed nap 😴. Then it was lunch at 1 pm followed by another Jeep safari at 2 pm which took us to a different wildlife preserve in Zimbabwe. The afternoon proved a bit more fruitful from an animal spotting standpoint and we saw zebra 🦓 giraffe 🦒 rhinos 🦏 and several impala and kudu. Still no pictures of lion but the trip isn’t over yet! Back at the hotel we showered up and got ready for dinner which was located next to the hotel and was the ultimate traditional African barbecue buffet. We ate impala, crocodile tail, warthog and boar sausage. Some of us even choked down a worm 🐛 that was supposedly an African delicacy. 😝 Kind of tasted like a clam neck combined with a raisin. Yup. One and done Berta. Won’t be doing that again. We were then entertained by an African drum troop. They handed out dozens of African drums so we all participated which was cool. Back to the hotel to pack bags for another early morning departure.

Woke up at 6:30 am. Had a brief buffet breakfast and then loaded the bus to head for the Zambian airport for our flight to Cape Town. Had a little scare along the way as we somehow misplaced my passport. We had no problem departing Zimbabwe and entering Zambia but when we got the airport we ran into a little trouble and panic started to kick in. Kenyan Air wouldn’t let me onto the plane without a passport. They said I had to report the missing passport to the police and then travel 500 km to the American embassy in order to get a replacement passport. This was going to be a challenge since 21 others, including my 4 kids had already gone through security and were about to board a flight to Cape Town. Just when I was starting to wrap my head around how Michelle and I were going to navigate this unexpected “Amazing Race” like obstacle to reunite with our family, Michelle took one more look through her back pack and found my passport at the very bottom of the bag. Two of us, including me, had searched that backpack 🎒 and had not located the missing passport. Just goes to show you, third time’s a charm! With passport in hand we got through security and boarded the plane to Cape Town to begin the second half of this incredible family adventure.

[floraexplorer]

Cloudberries & Woodsmoke Tea: a Newfoundland Beach Boil-Up

The sun is setting on our Fortune beach Boil-Up in Newfoundland, Canada.

We sip our tea from patterned china cups, looking out at the lapping waves, and Brian tells us this is the second cup of tea he’s ever drunk in his life.

“I never really thought I’d like the taste of tea – but it’s actually quite good!”

Brian Rose is a man who wears many hats. He’s lived in the tiny town of Fortune in Newfoundland & Labrador for most of his life, and is so proud of his hometown that he’s always planning new ways to attract more tourists. Brian runs the Fortune ferry offices, which shuttle passengers back and forth from the nearby French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon each day. He owns the Fortune Hotel, which welcomes visitors venturing to the Fortune Head Geology Centre.

And now this native ‘Fortuner’ is branching out into his next endeavour: taking guests on ATV tours along the stunning coastline.

What was I doing in Fortune, Newfoundland?

The town of Fortune, on the southern tip of the Burin Peninsula, is about 360km from Newfoundland’s capital city of St Johns. It’s set in a valley, with water on both sides, and like many places in Newfoundland it was hugely affected by the cod moratorium in 1992 and the earlier resettlement program of the 1950s.

Unfortunately, I’d never heard of either of these crucial elements in Canada’s history before arriving in Newfoundland. Yet I quickly realised that both events have significantly shaped the lives and culture of modern-day Newfoundlanders: it’s the reason why communities were split apart, businesses dried up, and places were left empty and abandoned.

By the time we made it to Fortune, Kim and I had been exploring Canada for a week, driving our way across the province of Nova Scotia before catching a flight to Newfoundland and Labrador. We’d spent a few days in St John’s and left early that morning to drive four hours across the island.

It meant our journey to Fortune and its sister town of Grand Bank was our first real experience of Newfoundland.

Our first stop: arriving in Grand Bank, Newfoundland

Before meeting Brian in Fortune, we stopped off in nearby Grand Bank where we were spending the night: a town which immediately felt unusual to us both.

The landscape of this place was flat and empty, like a windswept beach. There were virtually no people on the streets – and although our quiet guesthouse, the Thorndyke Inn, had no staff around, there were two young builders walking across the roof instead, hammers and tape measures in hand.

Unsure where to go, we headed for the Provincial Seaman’s Museum, an angular and stark white building with a large mural on the wall which faced the street.

As we stood and looked up at the mural, an echo shivered through a hollow metal flagpole while its flag hung taut in the buffeting wind. It sounded like a strange kind of music. The gulls squawked, and I felt a chill skate across my skin.

There was an undeniable sense of anticipation. As if life was lived on some kind of edge out here.

Embarking on an ATV tour along the Newfoundland coast

We drove onwards to Fortune in order to meet Brian at the ferry offices for 3pm. Brian was red-faced, dressed in an orange shirt and cargo shorts, with an immediate question on his lips: “Would you ladies like me to pick up some beers for later?”

We drove behind Brian’s car, heading out of Fortune and into the countryside before eventually arriving at a covered ATV vehicle outside Brian’s house. He’d already packed it full with cooler bags and large bottles of water.

We added our own bags into the mix and clambered inside. I’d only ever ridden ATVs during off-roading trips – through desert sand dunes in Peru, for example – and those experiences are high paced and adrenaline fuelled. I wasn’t sure if that kind of trip was on the cards for Newfoundland!

But Brian’s ATV tour style was entirely different. He drove us through tall grass which towered over the vehicle’s framework, flinging his arm towards a variety of plants on either side.

There were clusters of pitcher plants, the carnivorous bell-shaped plants with pitfall traps. There were blueberry bushes, their fruits not yet ripe. There were bright purple petals known as fireweed – “it’s like caviar for honey bees,” Brian told us.

We moved further along a bumpy track until the cliff edge opened out beside us. Across the water was a thin stretch of flat land: Brunette island, the largest island in Fortune Bay. Once home to a small fishing community, Brunette island was resettled in the 1950s and now lies totally abandoned.

Brunette Island is a magical place for Brian. Occasionally he sails there with his teenage son: their friends drop them off with bags and drinking water in the afternoon and don’t return until the next morning.

When Brian spoke about the solitude of those overnight camping trips – the sense of space, the calm, the quiet – his eyes shone. It was fascinating, because it seemed at odds with his clear desire to bring more visitors to this part of Atlantic Canada.

Foraging for cloudberries and bakeapples

Approaching a large field, we saw two figures wandering in the distance. Brian practically leapt from the ATV — “Quick! Before they pick them all!”

‘Them’ turned out to be cloudberries, an amber-coloured fruit with a sharp tang. These tiny jewel-like berries have a myriad of other names: salmonberries, yellowberries, and bakeapples. The latter is a quintessentially Newfoundland & Labrador term – and this part of the province is famous for them.

We stopped the ATV and stepped out into the peaty moss land. I took care not to tread too heavily, cautious of squashing what I assumed were a finite number of cloudberries. But within moments I realised the entire field was covered with these tiny bursts of amber fruit, and I set to picking.

Eventually we reached the two figures who’d stopped their foraging to greet us. Wayne was with his niece from Toronto, who visits a few times each year – “and always now,” she said, “when we can pick berries.”

We stood in a little huddle as the wind whipped my hair across my face. Wayne grinned throughout our conversation: a Fortune man in his 70s, his thick Newfoundlander brogue meant I understand one word in ten. Brian’s accent changed when he spoke to Wayne too. It sounded like water.

The next hour saw us driving through wide open fields and down rocky gullets before eventually arriving at the empty house of Brian’s friend. We settled on the patio, cracked open our beers and soaked up the afternoon sunshine while delving into a surprisingly complex set of conversation topics: politics, tourism, the concept of home and what our origin stories mean to us.

And then we headed down towards the sea.

A Newfoundland Boil-Up on the beach

The ATV shrugged and jolted over wide flat stones, making a wide berth of the shoreline. When the vehicle pulled to a juddering halt, we jumped out to scavenge for driftwood.

Brian found an overhanging rock and began to construct a fire, slotting the wood together. He nestled a green pea can, its edges threaded with strong wire as a makeshift handle, into the fire, and then carefully poured a slug of fresh water inside.

He could have boiled our tea in a kettle – but, he explained, “I wanted it to be authentic.”

In the open flatbed of the ATV truck, Brian twisted the lids of jars filled with homemade jam – one of rhubarb and one of strawberry, both made by his Aunt Jean. He unpacked a tiny tupperware container of sugar; unwrapped fresh tea buns gifted by his mother that morning; carefully pulled bunched up paper towels from inside three china cups with painted details on the rim.

“This is essentially a Boil-Up,” he told us – a quintessential Newfoundland tradition where people gather on the beach for an outdoor picnic in a rural landscape.

As the woodsmoke continued to rise, we collected flat rocks to act as plates, spread the scones with fresh butter and even fresher jam, and Brian poured out the tea from its can.

We clinked our china cups together and sipped. The hot tea tasted delicious – almost as if it was flavoured with woodsmoke.

Sunset at Fortune Head Lighthouse

Once Brian learned that both Kim and I had a particular love for lighthouses, we decided to pack away our boil-up gear and drive to the Fortune Head lighthouse in time for sunset. “Fortune Head is the only place in North America where you can see the sun setting on France!” he told us with pride.

Up at the lighthouse in the fading light and amidst a suddenly strong wind, I breathed in the crisp air and gazed across the water to the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. I wondered if their lives were anything like the one Brian enjoyed in Fortune.

Kim wandered off to take photos of the lighthouse against the setting sun and Brian beckoned to me. “Come here!” he whispered, indicating to the very edge of the cliff. “Listen!”

Amongst the sound of the gulls, I could hear water swishing back and forth over the jumbled collection of rocks far below us. It was so simple, but from the expression on his face it was a sound that Brian adored.

What’s next for Brian Rose, the man of Fortune?

The tiny town of Fortune may not receive hordes of visitors each year, but the place nonetheless exemplifies what rural Newfoundland is all about: simplicity, community, and a connection to nature.

Brian is acutely aware of what Fortune has to offer, and he already has bright ideas for the future of his ATV tours. He wants his guests to make crafts with old fishing ropes, courtesy of his fisherman friend; to go foraging in the fields with Wayne; to use the foraged fruits to make jam with his aunt Jean – different jams depending on the seasons, of course.

But hopefully the boil-up on Fortune beach will always be a part of the experience. It’s probably one of the most special memories I have from my fortnight travelling through Atlantic Canada – and as Brian pointed out to us, “You’ll never have a cup of tea that tastes better.”

He was right.

Pin this article if you enjoyed it!

NB: the majority of these photos are by Kim Leuenberger (except for a couple of my own which I snuck in). This trip was in paid partnership with Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism, but my immediate love for Brian’s newest venture is all my own. If you happen to be in Newfoundland, I highly recommend driving four hours from St Johns to Fortune, booking Brian’s tour and enjoying the best cup of woodsmoke tea you’ll ever drink!

The post Cloudberries & Woodsmoke Tea: a Newfoundland Beach Boil-Up appeared first on Flora The Explorer.

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