#apple hooking up with some guy at literally every party she goes to… i’m seeing a pattern….

[claudtrait]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY APPLEEEEEE 😋😋

[romantic-witch]

Next to Me // David [pt.1]

imagine: letting david go

part 2 is now available on my page!

inspired: next to me (imagine dragons)

where: as soon as you start to realize your feelings for david, you also realize david and liza still have feelings for each other. (well at least that’s what you thought)

warning: english is not my first language. please warn me if i have any grammar mistakes.

I couldn’t focus on any of my work. Zane’s vlog’s due date was two days from now but David said we were all invited to this CRAZY party so I was trying my best to finish it as soon as possible. But I know that was going to be impossible since I chose the wrong house to edit it. I was going to edit it in Alex and Dom’s place but then Alex said Dom had a girl over, and I thought I couldn’t bare listen the poor girl’s moan. But David doing crazy stunts was some other level shit. I didn’t want to go to my dorm as well since it’s literally an hour away from here. I was editing it in kitchen while all of the “fun” stuff was happening in the living room. It was Saturday night, tons of good films opened yesterday, all my friends are having a bonfire near the beach... I have zero clue on why am I here. I could just fucking leave and finish it tomorrow. I didn’t even want to go to the party, which was probably on USC and I am still bitter that they didn’t accept me. I looked up in the blank ceiling and thought “God, I don’t even know if you are up there, but can you just give me a clue on why I am here. I thought you were suppose to guide me through my problems.” 

I sighed and grabbed my tiger milk boba tea. I took a big sip and edited the video to zoom in on Heath’s face. I put the boba to the right hand sight of my laptop and then David came in.

“Hi Pearl, I didn’t know you were here.” 

He grabbed a Red Bull out of the fridge while I almost choked from the boba.

“Are you okay?”

I swallowed the boba and barely said “Yes.”

He came right next to me and asked: “Zane’s new video?”

His face was literally 3 or 4 inches away from my face, scrolling through the vlog with his left hand, while his right hand was holding the energy drink, his thumb was “wandering” around my back. He took a quick glance at me and then take a sip from the drink while getting back to his “normal” position. 

“You’re coming tonight, right?” he asked.

“I don’t know David, I have shit ton of work to do and really can’t handle frat boys yelling “chunk” every five seconds.” 

“We are not going to a frat party, it’s at Liza’s place.”

“Oh.” 

“Yeah, she’s heading New York to shoot some stuff for MTV and said she didn’t buy any tickets back to LA, so she’s throwing a one last party.”

“David, I really need to-”

“Come on it’s Liza’s last day and she never throws parties and her house is massive. Pleaseee.”

He started doing his puppy face, which I’ll admit, was too adorable. 

“Okay, you dork, I’ll come.”

-

I got some decent clothes from my small suitcase in my car and realized these were the only clothes I bring with me to LA so I had to drive back to Long Beach if I need clothes for tomorrow. Great. I head to the only bathroom that didn’t smell like puke, put on a black blouse, wore a mini plaid black and white skirt to match my black converse. I was washing my hands when David opened the door. 

“Oh, sorry. I thought no one came to this one.”

“Why do you think I came here?”

He bursted a classical David Dobrik laugh and handed me the towel. The second I grabbed the door handle he added:

“You look really nice by the way.” 

I thanked him and got out of the bathroom with the other clothes I had, as quick as I can. I thought my heart was going to came out of my chest. The fact that David complementing me, this one wasn’t the first, only made it worse. 

Only Alex, Matt and Heath were ready and chilling in the living room. Matt and I started to talk about Avengers: Endgame and after maybe 5 minutes David came to the living room. He wore a black and white striped shirt and black jeans. At least he wore something other than a black t-shirt. He looked casual and confident at the same time, which is probably one of his traits that made him have big dick energy.

"We are not gonna fit anyways, should we just go?" asked David.

All of the guys accepted it and right before David started the Tesla, Natalie came out of the door and hop on. David put the Tesla in the autopilot mode and start to vlog the guys while they were discussing whether we should turn around to wait the others or not. After two minutes of discussion we decide not to and head to Liza's place.

This was going to be my first time going to her house and I was nervous. Liza knows who I am but for some reason I get so anxious while talking to her.

Maybe it's because you like her ex you dumbass.

"Pearl!" I hear my name coming from Matt.

"I asked about that crazy theory of yours?"

"Oh, I think Scott is not the real one. He could not be able to get out of that microcell universe thing."

Matt than, desperately, added:

"Maybe it's Loki."

I smiled and suddenly catch eyes with David. He was looking at me with that half smile of his. He then immediately start to go through the footage in his camera. I turn back to Matt and start to analyze the trailer the third time today.

-

Liza’s house was huge. The second we get into “mansion” I spot three youtubers I used to adore as a middle schooler. 

I said hi to Liza and agreed with her when she said:

“The Big Apple has been better than the Angels all this time.”

-

The party goes on with me talking to a bunch of people, including my childhood fave Tyler Oakley, but not even having a word with David. He mostly hang out with Liza, and I get it it’s her last day, but man just say hello to other guests as well. I was talking to James and when I said I came with David, his face went sister shook and said:

“David’s here?!”

He was all over Liza. She went to a other room once and David just stood there ‘till she came back. Literally just stood there and drink his beer. They were happy together, and I get it. It is hard to let go of those feelings. But man it’s almost been a year and a half since they broke up. I thought it’s been long gone by now and had a chance.

I feel even more selfish thinking these. Me ever having a shot with David? His heart belongs to Liza, literally everyone knows it. He might not admit it, but he deep down knows it as well.

Me, Natalie and James were sitting on the couch. It was almost 1 am and I needed some sleep. 

“Natalie, do you know when are we going?”

“Uhm, you just missed Scott and Kristen. They headed back to the house. Our last option is David I guess.”

James immediately hopped in and said:

“Hello, I can take you back as well kitty girls.”

While Natalie tried to convince James not to, I got my phone and my wallet and said:

“I’m heading out for a walk.”

Well my intention was to walk to the nearest bus stop. For a student who is coming to LA every weekend had to know some of the busses here and there. And I knew 302 was passing two street away from the house so I was hoping to catch one of those. 

It was almost 1 am and I was walking on my own in the hills. What was I thinking? With both making the decision to walk to the stop and come to Liza’s at the first place. I am probably going to get kidnapped.  The map on my phone said I was almost there, just got to make a two minute walk, that’s all.

“Where are you going?” someone shouted from a far.

I was getting scared so I didn’t even look behind.

“Pearl!” 

I stopped. I turn around to see David maybe 300 meters behind me.

I said: “I’m going back to Long Beach.”

He was getting closer to me.

“I mean- I am going to the house first, because my car is there, then I’m heading to Long Beach.”

He was coming closer and closer.

“I should’ve never come David. I hate to introduce myself as the editing girl, like why would you invite me anyw-”

David pressed his lips against mine. For just a split second I let myself enjoy the moment, his fluffy lips and his smell but like I said just a second. I stopped kissing him and looked him in the eyes.

“David you’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not. Test me.”

“Okay. How many fingers do you see?” 

I put my middle finger up.

“Hahaha, very funny Pearl Manglona.”

I start to walk to the bus stop, again.

“Hey, hey, hey. I’m serious. I’m not drunk.”

“David, I know you for almost four months now, I know you are not someone who hooks up with every girl you see, so I’m assuming you are drunk or maybe wasted. Like stage five of being drunk.” 

“Is it too cliché to say you are not like every other girl?”

I just roll my eyes and continue to walk. I turned right and saw the bus I suppose to be right now, turning left and going to my destination. I sighed and sit on the edge of the sidewalk. David sat right next to me just a couple seconds later. I pulled my legs closer to my tummy while David sat cross-legged. 

“Who are you David?

“Who am I?” 

He was confused.

“Yeah, that’s what I asked.”

“I mean, I’m David Dobrik?”

“Who is in love with Liza Koshy.”

David opened his mouth pretty quickly but I also added:

“David, look me dead ass in the eye and tell me you are not in love with Liza, then I’ll consider believing you.”

He could’t. 

“Those feelings don’t go away that easily, I understand. Just please think your actions a hundred times before doing it.”

Another 302 numbered bus was coming towards us. I get up, my eyes were starting to tear up. 

“Because others might have going through the same shit as well.” 

I hop on to the bus. The bus slowly passed David and the bus stop. I sat in the back of the bus and cried silently. I texted Zane that I’ll be finishing the video from Long Beach and put my phone to sleep mode. What a waste of a lovely night.

-

Follow me to access part 2 as soon as possible. 

lots and lots of love <3

zayn :)

[benzyonart]

Original Arogos

Arogos is my first DnD character that I had. He is by far my favorite character to play as far as DnD goes. My friends characters Xanth and Danric however are not quite as fond of him as I am. Arogos literally met those two because he was trying to steal the amulet that Danric [who is a ghost] was tied to. After that he was dragged into basically a war. He met who he considers friends though he will never consciously tell them that. Theres Danric, Xanth, Claw, Smoke [deceased], Pen, and Hagenborn.

I would love to write a whole list of his adventures but honestly I can’t remember it all. His original campaign lasted almost 2 years and a lot happened in that time. I do have his backstory written which I will place below and below that I will write down some of the more notable things from his adventures that I remember, but to the back story.

Before the age of 5 Arogos has no memories whether they were repressed or he just doesn't remember. His first memory he can recall is when he ran into a stable to sleep in one of the stalls. The master of the stables found him and was less than pleased to have a weird elf sleeping in his stalls, as the world is rather racist to elves but given what was going on, that wasn’t a major thing in the campaign. The guy told him he could “Take an arrow or go”. Arogos pleaded with him and the guy agreed to keep him there as long as he worked for him. He then started calling him Arrow-go.

When he was about 6 he found a silver on the ground and this is the first time he believes he ever saw money. A street kid walked up and saw his silver. She explained the concept of money to Arogos and told him “if you have money you can do anything. Everyone respects you and does what you say. You would never have to sleep in a barn again and get ordered around.” This started Arogos’s mentality that money is everything. With his silver he got a room at an inn and slept in a bed for the first time. At this point he started stealing to get more money and try and get other goods.

The kid who showed him the ways of money was a human named Lola. The two soon became friends and thieving buddies.

When he was age 10 he got his first ear piercing. When the ring was put in, he had the two ends, that were open to get through his ear, “welded” together so unless it was ripped off, no one would be able to take it from him. Throughout the next 20 years he continues getting more piercings until he has the ones he has now.

At age 15 Arogos and Lola tried to steal from one of the richer households. They got seen and during the escape Lola was shot down from the rooftops. The two had already agreed before they started if the other was caught then they would keep on running so he did. He never saw her again but he knew what had most likely happened.

When Arogos turns 17 he officially left the stable after the owner got sick of his shit and kicked him out. He shortly after got his tattoo and started just living off the streets alone.

When Arogos is 40 he tried to pickpocket a middle class looking fellow but failedand got caught. The guards threw him in jail. Later that day the person he pick pocketed came to visit him. The man was curious and started chatting with Arogos. When Arogos refused to talk back the man just told him about his life until Arogos warmed up. He introduced himself as Todd and a human. He started visiting every few days, every week for sure. At age 55 Arogos was released from jail. Todd found him and they still met up after that though Arogos didn't drag him into his thieving and made it a point more or less to keep him out of it.

He watched Todd grow old every time they met and when Arogos was 92 Todd died of old age. He had never met the man's wife or kids and wondered if Todd ever told them about him. He figured that they moved away after Todd died.

After the funeral Arogos went to the near by inn to eat and mope. At that point in time he met the barkeeper who was starting to buy the things Arogos stole instead of working with the thieves guild.

Arogos for the most part had started to avoid people. Not only because of the racism but he didn't want anyone to die on him anymore. He tried not to make friends or joining groups like the thieves guild.

At age 95 he had the metal on his chest placed. He spent the rest of his days up until meeting the party valuing the company of himself and objects instead of people. He tried entertaining himself and not giving a damn what anyone thought of him. This lead into him finding random and strange things fun.

At age 123 he mets the party and his life just gets crazy from there. He is taken into a guild called “the Sons of Prophecy” even though he didn’t really want to join it, he more or less got roped in and didn’t complain.

I don’t quite remember the original reason for the party going to the capital of the country they live in I think it was on the way to the guild but I remember they went to a bar during the prohibition. They got a job from a bartender to take care of some guys in the sewer. It ended with Arogos discovering Alchemy fire [an explosive liquid fire] and the party accidentally blowing up the entire sewer system of the city. Needless to say, they were very much arrested after that.

After they were in jail for a short amount of time, they were thrown in a dungeon like area that normally means certain death. Well the creature that was supposed to be there and kill them wasn’t there so they just explored the area more or less. Arogos found a chest that he couldnt get open so instead of giving up he stabbed it. Well it had explosives in it and he knocked himself out, nearly dying while the others were looking at a statue and didn’t even know what he was doing until ‘boom’.

After that whole bit, they made their way to the guild that Arogos had never been before but the other members had [because I joined a session late]. The party was then told to catch this rogue that was causing trouble in the town. Xanth had the great idea of pretending to be rich and got hella drunk trying to lure them out. Arogos was in the crowd looking around when he was pickpocketed by the thief. They chased him down, Arogos managed to accidentally get shot by one of the characters in the shoulder, ripped out the arrow and climbed a 4 story building after the thief. After chasing him across the roof tops, falling from said roof tops, and by sear luck someone else in the party catching him. It turned out the thief was a member of the guild who was sent to pose as the thief they needed to catch and thus started Arogos’s hatred/rivalry with Claw who he very soon later considered a mentor. Who later introduced them to Smoke and the rest of the guild.

To spark note the rest:

----Arogos and crew went to get a golden apple, Arogos threw what might as well have been considered a grenade into a tree and was almost drown on accident by Xanth. He later threw a book at Xanth knocking him out and stuck a worm up his nose

----There was one point when Arogos got blasted with a fire trapped door

----They went to a town that got infested with Zombies. Arogos was attacked by one, saw that it had gold teeth, cut its head off, climbed on a roof, cut the jaw off, took the teeth and tossed the rest of the head just to get the gold.

----Arogos tried to sell to an official thieves seller person and got marked by the thieves guild. He later spent the night sleeping on a roof. Later the party was with an Arogos that seemed slightly off, well it turned out that that was a doopleganger trying to kill the prince and Arogos was kidnapped by the thieves guild who was saved by Claw who broke his hand because Arogos was smack talking him while he was saving his ass.

----At one point in this area the party went into docs futuristic lab. Since arogos couldnt read any of the signs he asked Danric to read what was under the big red button. “Do not Press.” Danric said. “Press?” arogos responded pressing the button and basically destroyed the multiverse [Start of Arogos 2 in another campaign]

----Later Arogos had to do a favor for the thieves guild to get out of it though he didnt tell the party right away. During this he got bit by a mimic and got a future seeing crystal.

----Later they went to the Penny worth lottery to get a lot of money for their town that was getting sort of destroyed by orcs and the like [I think] they went around disqualifying other contestants for breaking the rules. At this time Arogos also met elves that looked like him for the first time ever in his life.

----After getting a bunch of money the party when shopping and got a bunch of stuff. Arogos got himself the best horse money could by and named him Beans. He also got himself a hook blade [assassins creed style] and custom made a cross bow to shoot explosive crossbow bolts.

----After that they went to the thieves town [this is where they got the crystal] and went to the thieves guild. There they met Marz, the thieve guild leader who is a major prick in the sense that he’s really strong and easily bored so he does some not so good stuff that I wont list

----After leaving the thieves guild I think we went to Norstag because Claw had ditched us when their emergency stuff went off [Norstag is Claws home] we got there and fought a legendary like beast and met a kid that doesn’t speak who Arogos called Skunk later after he got a white strip of hair. On the way back they encounter this demon god guy who played evil games. If you died, you had to stay there. Smoke ended up taking all the punishment and dying while since Danric wasn’t alive he was messing with the stock market and doing great though it was just a pass time while he waited.

----It was a sad time. It was at this time Arogos’s trinket became a box of buttons of all his friends who died. [I rolled at d20 and true to his luck Arogos got a 2]

----There is something I’m missing but I know we did go to Saful [Arogos’s kind [Morkal Elves] originate there] They spend time converting the locals from their ‘god king’ to Danrics god, found the cave of wonders and got a few magic items from it. [Magic carpet, fancy magic map]

----After Arogos blew up the temple, Danric converted all the people with the help of another angel, and Xanth killed the god kings healer, they killed the god king and freed the people.

----In Saful Arogos got rather close to Bejen who was later secretly killed by her uncle and temporarily destroyed Arogos’s map that he loved dearly when they returned to the guild.

----After this they defended the town while Arogos was going to the goddess tree because Pen was having his soul burned. He made it to the tree, saved the lady there from the assholes [he met this lady before in the campaign] and she was restored her powers from her god. Pen was brought there and the party went to the country of lust to get the other golden apple for Pen.

----They met a hag who took a fancy to Arogos [much to his disgust as DnD hags are supposed to look terrible and what not] they managed to get the apple and save pen.

----After that they recruited Danric’s grandpa [king of the moon elves], two dwarf clans, and a good few monks to fight with them to save the country form the orcs that had been invading since like the start

----After that there was the huge battle the capitol. For a while Arogos got stuck with two monks named Catty and Bratty [like undertale] for a while and he hated it. He also got a singularity from Doc and set it off clearing out a good amount of the other army.

----One of the last things that happened was how Arogos temporarily died. When they were up on a great wall surrounding the capital everyone was was staring in shock at someone else who came onto the battle field. Arogos felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned around he was stabbed in the gut by a Saful guy with the god king who was out for revenge. The blade was laced with poison and Arogos was shoved towards the wall edge that was well over a hundred feet high. He managed to grab Claw’s arm as he feel, trying to catch himself but Claw ended up falling as well. Claw’s monk friend managed to grab Claw who was grabbing Arogos so he wouldnt fall. The monk lifted them up and then whipped them down the side of the wall. Claw tried to slow them down with his magic gauntlet that helps him move farther through the air and moves Arogos [who cant move at this point because of poison] on top so he would take the force of the fall. Well Danric who after awful got angel wings himself tried to fly after them but wasn’t fast enough. The monk ran down the wall much faster and right before they hit the ground, he grabbed Claw out from under Arogos saving him but making arogos go splat. Arogos did have a regeneration rock on him though so he was shortly back with everyone

----He later shot the monk with one of his exploding bolts that had gorilla glue on the end as he was dodging everyones attacks. After that he and the party ran into the chaos plain that one of the big bads ran into to stop him and thats where we have ended the campaign so far.

More on Arogos here

[truthofherdreams]

surreal, but nice (part 2)

also on ao3 + good things come to those who wait.. or something

It always feels weird, going back to her childhood room – mostly because of the Harry Potter bed set and the Brad Pitt posters on the walls. This Emma, closed-off and lonely, is so far from what Emma has become that she sometimes has a hard time remembering how she was back then – she’ll never forget completely, some scars preventing her from really putting her past behind her, but the memories don’t make her as angry as they used to.

She drops her bag on the bed before she turns to her old desk. The lamp is worse for wear and the computer from another century (literally) but more importantly there is a large cork board on the wall, dozens of pictures and postcards pinned to it. Emma smiles at a picture of Ruby and her hugging each other and holding the camera to take a sloppy selfie, an invitation to Lance’s birthday party, an old ticket to Treasure Planet.

“Mom.” She turns her head to Henry leaning against the doorframe, blinking up at her. There are crumbs on his shirt and chocolate on his upper lip, so he obviously found Belle’s cakes in the fridge. “Ingrid wants us to go to the movies tonight.”

Emma grins, and nods. “Sure thing. I’ll be meeting with people at Granny’s, you can join us later.”

“Yeah!”

And with that off he goes, running back to his own room and slamming the door behind him. Emma winces through her grin, and rolls her eyes – Henry doesn’t get to see his grandmother nearly enough these days, only once every couple of months when she comes to LA for a short visit. Ingrid pampers him way too much every time, and Emma has no doubt he’ll be on a sugar rush tonight from all the popcorn and soda he’ll have at the movies. Typical, not that Emma can complain much – she’ll never complain about having an adoptive mother who loves them both like they’re her own blood. She’ll never complain about people caring.

So she lets Henry be fussed over, and goes to take a shower instead. The pipes groan when she turns on the hot water, but she still hears the front door closing and Ingrid’s car leaving the driveway before silence settles on the house. It’s weird, how quiet Storybrooke is, but a relief too after the buzz that is Hollywood. So Emma takes the time under the shower, washing her hair and scrubbing her skin until it’s pink.

By the time her hair is dry and she has put on comfortable clothes, the sun is low in the sky so she grabs her wallet and heads out. Granny’s is only a five-minute walk from the house, and then the little bell is chiming above her head. There are a few seconds of stillness as customers turn their head to the door, and then a booming voice comes from the back of the room.

“And here is the child prodigy, coming home at last!”

Emma barely has time to scoff at Lancelot’s joke whenRuby is already engulfing her in a hug and stealing the air away from her lungs. She grew out of boots with sky-high heels, and it makes her smaller, throwing Emma off balance a little as she hugs her friend back. Not that she has time to dwell on it when she receives many other hugs after this one – Lance, of course, and Gwen, Mulan, Merida. Granny even comes from behind the counter to greet her, cups her face and presses a kiss on each of her cheeks.

The fussing stops quickly enough, thankfully, and Emma soon finds herself sitting at the booth in the back of the room, the way the gang always did in high school. It’s both familiar and foreign at once, especially since Granny makes her a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon before she even asks – it’s like she never left, really, and she feels a pang of guilt at not coming back to Storybrooke as much as she’d like. The “I’m busy” excuse only goes so far after all, especially when she gets to lean her head against Ruby’s shoulder, the brunette pressing her cheek to the top of her head.

Coming back to Storybrooke is always something – it’s hardly a secret that she is the Emma Swan, but everyone is good enough at pretending nothing out of the ordinary is going on. In Hollywood, she’s the talented actress you stop on the street for a picture or a signature. Here, she’s just a face in the crowd, just a woman spending time at Granny’s with her friends, speaking too fast and talking too loud. It makes for a refreshing few days away from the madness that are her job and life, truth be told.

Emma lets her friends do the conversation, happy to just listen and smile at this or that joke. She takes Ruby's hand in hers, turns it just slightly for the ring on her fourth finger to catch the neon light of the diner. The diamond sparkles beautifully, expensive, and Emma glances at Dorothy, who sits opposite Ruby in the booth. Emma doesn't know much about the woman, beside the fact that she comes from Kansas and makes Ruby happy. Emma had already been long gone when Dorothy came to Storybrooke to take care of her sick aunt, and now she fits better in their group of friends than Emma probably ever will. The thought makes her sigh.

“She makes me happy,” Ruby whispers to her, misinterpreting her sigh.

Emma can only smile at that. “Was about time someone made an honest woman out of you.”

“Oh shut up,” Ruby grins, and chuckles. “I hear a cute baker could make an honest woman out of you.”

Emma thanks her years as an actress, for they help her keep her emotions in check and the blush away from her cheeks. She isn't surprised in the least that Ruby --- and all of their friends, most likely -- already knows of her encounter with the new baker in town. Belle is a great many things, but subtle about new gossip she is not. And it doesn't help that her girlfriend is even more nosy than she is. Bells probably told Merida, who told everyone else. Typical.

“Oh I missed Storybrooke,” Emma deadpans.

If Ruby isn't fooled by her obvious change of conversation, she doesn't point it out. Instead, her grin widens a little, before she leans her head against Emma's shoulder. That she can do. Cuddling with her best friend at Granny's, like the exhausted high schoolers they used to be.

She's listening to Gwen as the brunette explains something that happened at work today, when the little bell at the front door chimes with new customers. Merida sits straighter in her chair, grin on her lips, and Emma barely has time to brace herself before Belle and her new employee show up next to their booth.

It's a bit of a mess at first, pushing a table closer and gathering enough chairs for everyone and everything; soon Emma finds herself squeezed between Ruby and Lancelot, with the cute baker next to Dorothy, just in front of her. She tries not to meet his eyes, fails miserably, and offers him a tight-lipped smile. Pathetic.

That's when Granny shows up to take new orders. Belle asks for her usual iced tea with a piece of apple pie on the side, before Granny turns to the other baker.

“What about you, Jones?” she asks with a gruff to her voice that speaks of affection.

His ears are red from all the stares pointed his way, but he still manages to smirk at Granny. It’s the kind of smile that would have gotten him a slap on the back of his head when he was a teenager. As it is, Granny only rolls her eyes, apparently used to the banter she shares with the baker. Once again, familiarity Emma isn’t privy to. They all know him, and welcome him into their group like the old friend he is, and Emma can’t even tell his name.

“Just a coffee,” he replies.

“Make that two,” Emma adds with a smile to Granny.

His eyes shift from the older woman to her, and for a moment Emma finds herself holding his stare – only a few seconds, but it’s more than enough for his cheeks to flush too and for Ruby to swallow down a chuckle. Emma is used to it, but those reactions usually come from teenagers. Men tend to get way too cocky around her, as if they need to be assholes to pick the actress’ interest – it never works, but it doesn’t stop them from trying every time. So this guy’s reaction, much softer, throws Emma off balance.

Or perhaps it is the fact that she finds it endearing.

Merida nudges him in the ribs then, starting a conversation with him and Dorothy both, so he finally looks away from Emma. The sigh out of her mouth might be relief or disappointment. She isn’t sure which.

“Rubs has been meaning to set you up for months now,” Lancelot whispers to her.

Emma stares at Ruby, who glares at Lance. “Don’t be so loud about it!”

“That’s the part where you deny it,” Emma reminds her. Ruby blinks at her. “Oh my god, don’t set me up with strangers.”

“Killian is not a stranger!” Ruby argues.

Ah, so Killian is his name. Good to know. For totally unrelated reasons, of course, not because Emma might agree with Ruby on the subject. Even if she did, she never would say it out loud anyway, because Ruby would just rub it in about her matchmaking skills. It’s thanks to her that Belle finally agreed to go on a date with Merida, and that Gwen broke up with her fiancé so she could get together with Lance. Emma doesn’t want Ruby to actually believe she’s good at that Cupid thing.

“I leave in a week anyway.”

Ruby shrugs. “Hook-up it is, then.”

Lance snorts inelegantly, and Emma knows she lost.

…

Emma has always loved Storybrooke’s harbour. She’s always been fond of the ocean, for as long as she remembers, something soothing about the waves and the salty air and the cries of seagulls. It’s not the same in Los Angeles – Santa Monica is alright, but too crowded, with too many paps waiting for a picture of her in a bikini. Here, there are clouds, and angry waves, and fishermen calling at each other from one ship to another. Here, she can stand on the edge of the harbour and know nobody will come to disturb her.

“Hangover?”

Well, almost nobody.

She finds herself facing Killian, the last person she expected to see – well, she didn’t expect to see anyone, anyway. He doesn’t look any better than her, purple bags under his eyes from sharing drinks at the White Rabbit until late into the night. Or early into the morning, depending on the point of view. Emma vaguely remembers playing darts against him at some point, but her memories are still blurry. Which means vodka was involved. Never good.

“That’s Ruby and Merida for you.”

He laughs softly, the sound deep and rich in the back of his throat, as he comes to lean next to her against the railing. Even in his hangover state, he was cleverer than her, wearing a big sweater. The cold wind sneaks beneath her leather jacket and bites her skin, and she curses herself for forgetting what the weather actually is like in Maine. But she is here now, and she will not go back home just for a cardigan.

Silence stretches between them, comfortable, until he laughs once more. He has the kind of laugh that warms you from the inside out, and Emma finds herself smiling when she looks back at him.

“Can’t believe I got drunk with the Emma Swan.”

“I get that a lot,” she replies with a nod.

“Do you?”

She holds his eyes for a few more seconds, before her lips twitch. “No.”

He chuckles and shakes his head at her, even rolls his eyes a little, before he focuses back on the ocean in front of them. Emma can’t remember the last time she got drunk, let alone had fun while doing so – there was that dreadful awards show a few months back, Graham and her drinking way too much wine out of boredom, but that was it. The real partying, the one she truly enjoys, has always been in Storybrooke.

“At least we grew out of playing spin-the-bottle,” she comments.

His ears are red, perhaps from the cold, perhaps from something else, and he clears his throat loudly before he looks back at her. “Thank god for that.”

“Yeah.”

He glances at her lips, and it tells Emma everything she needs to know. It tells her she isn’t alone in thinking it’s a shame they have retired this game, that she wouldn’t mind playing even if she isn’t a teenager anymore, that Seven Minutes in Heaven has never looked more tempting before. But then she thinks about leaving at the end of the week, and her life in Hollywood, and Henry, and she turns away awkwardly.

Ruby is wrong – even a hook-up could be dangerous with that guy. Because he’s handsome, and charming, and so unlike the celebrities she sometimes decides to date. Because she looks at him and sees something different; something she can’t afford right now.

He must sense the change within her, for he stands a little taller, scratching his ear. “I will leave you to your headache then.”

She wants to stop him from leaving.

She doesn’t.

[jeremystrele]

How To Ace Apartment Living

How To Ace Apartment Living

Interiors

Lauren Li

Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby and her husband Charlie Casely-Hayford live in this restored 1950s former BBC Television Centre Helios building in west London. Sophie designed the interiors to be versatile yet still with loads of interest and personality. The custom wall unit allows the artwork to slide across to reveal the TV. Photo – Alexander James. Interiors –  Studio Ashby. Styling – Olivia Gregory.

I’m not talking about apartments today, I’m talking about homes. The kind of apartments that people actually live in, because apartments should not simply be financial packages. Apartments can be spaces with a personality just like a house, and look beyond the bare, white wall ‘AirBnB’ aesthetic. I’m really excited about this story, because almost two years ago we moved from our little place by the beach to an inner-city apartment. Our little family loves it.

Sure, apartment living is not for everyone, however all around the world, from Stockholm to Hong Kong, New York to Paris, families are living in apartments. Here in Australia, we are building a lot of apartments (there are 123 cranes in the sky in the Melbourne CBD and 60% of the construction is residential) but there is still a mindset that a family with kids need a backyard and white picket fence.

However, a strange thing is happening. Australia builds some of the biggest houses in the world and at the same time, there are fewer people living in each house than ever before. Picture big houses sprawled out at the edges of the city, with a sprinkling of people living alone. To me, that sounds quite lonely. Apartment living, on the other hand, has the ability to foster real community. In an apartment building, when we step outside our door, we see people and, quite surprisingly, we see the same people. And this, folks, is where community begins.

It’s kind of nice walking down the street and waving at Jags, our friendly coffee guy, or glimpsing through the window to see Joey cutting hair. Or walking past the window of the Chinese restaurant, as the chef chops off a roast duck’s head on the chopping block! Seeing these little interactions of life happening around my family feels good (maybe not the duck). Having people around also means great Neighbourhood Watch and that makes me feel very safe. Passive surveillance doesn’t happen so much on a quiet cul-de-sac where no one is around.

I know what you’re thinking ‘those poor kids need a backyard’. You’re right, we don’t have our own backyard, so our backyard is Fawkner Park. It can be an effort to get out of the house, and go to the park but once we’re there, we absolutely love it. Our kids know half of the kids there from school and childcare, so it ends up being an accidental playdate. They are sociable little people! Maybe one day we might move, but for now, this suits us perfectly.

Below are some reflections on how we’ve optimised the space we have, and tips for you to do the same too!

Sophie didn’t let the compact space stop her from decorating in her signature maximalist style with patterns, colours and gorgeous moments everywhere. Photo – Alexander James. Interiors –  Studio Ashby. Styling – Olivia Gregory.

The small entry of Marcus Hay’s former New York apartment didn’t stop him from thinking big when displaying artwork. This entry is decorated like a gallery and although small, it is rich in stories and layers. Interiors – Marcus Hay. Photo – Jonny Valiant.

The living room, which gets flooded with natural light. ‘Meditating is a big part of my world, so it’s a beautiful spot to sit in the mornings with the sun falling on your face,’ Paris explains.  Interiors – Marcus Hay. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paris had this sofa made specifically for her Collingwood apartment and it looks like she’s chosen comfort and style in equal measure. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

A city girl ‘through and through’, Paris has lived between warehouses and apartments her whole life. This has encouraged a very thorough ‘less is more’ mindset when it comes to her living spaces – who knew bathrooms this minimal could exist?! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Think Big

The number one mistake that you can make in a small space, is to fill it with tiny furniture. It may seem counter-intuitive to have one large comfortable sofa in a small space, however it’s better than a few small armchairs.

Rather than have lots of smaller pieces cluttering up a small space, go for fewer, larger pieces. Same goes for artwork – just because a room is on the small side, doesn’t mean you can’t go floor to ceiling with a WOW factor painting or print. In many spaces, a hero artwork like this can actually make the room feel bigger, not to mention adding character and personality.

A study nook doubles as a display shelf, which I’m sure inspires Marcus Hay when he’s working on new concepts! Interiors – Marcus Hay. Photo – Jonny Valiant.

The eclectic New York apartment of Australian super-stylist Marcus Hay has made every inch count. The pinboard above the desk creates a ‘home office’ within the main living area. Interiors – Marcus Hay. Photo – Jonny Valiant.

A vintage cabinet doubles as a mini bar – and there you have it, an instant party! Photo – Alexander James. Interiors –  Studio Ashby. Styling – Olivia Gregory.

Our Art Director’s Tiny Terrazzo Palazzo! Kitchen table made by Thomas Lentini. Woven leather chair by Douglas and Bec. The chairs in-between are second hand. The mustard hanging pendant light is Verner Panton’s Flowerpot lamp, from &tradition. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli. 

Versatility & Zoning Areas

Just because a space may be small, doesn’t mean that you can’t create distinct zones. A pendant light over a dining table delineates the space, and creates a sense of occasion. A desk with a pinboard over it creates a ‘home office’. A ‘non-area’ like a hallway can be decorated with artwork to create a gorgeous little entry moment – every inch should be considered.

Think about dual-purpose furniture such as a coffee table that doubles as a toy box, a bench seat with baskets under and a dining table with a fold-out leaf to extend when using it as a desk. Even a bare wall can store bags with a few hooks installed.

That blue!!! What a gorgeous cosy space to enjoy breakfast whilst the world goes by outside in the Big Apple. Interiors – Marcus Hay. Photo – Jonny Valiant.

If these walls could talk, they would say that a fabulous couple live here. Yellow is such a joyous colour to paint a bedroom because life is too short for boring spaces. Photo – Alexander James. Interiors –  Studio Ashby. Styling – Olivia Gregory.

(left) The dining room. How incredible is that blush feature wall? Painting by Neil Tomkins. Sculpture by Sanné Mestrom. Tulip dining table by Saarinen. Restored Cesca-style chairs. Pendant by Laal. Herringbone floors by Storey. Photo – Sean Fennessy. Styling – Jessica Lillico. (right) Matt Woods Perfect Storm. The grey walls add to the enveloping effect to this bedroom in this incredible apartment by Matt Woods. Photo – Kat Lu.

This apartment in Southbank is one of (very) many, however, not many of them have a cosy bedroom like this! The soft grey grasscloth wallpaper and sheer curtains give this bedroom a bespoke and luxurious feel – a far cry from the white ‘AirBnB’ room aesthetic. Interiors – Berkeley Interiors. Photo – Tess Kelly.

Colour

White isn’t always the best colour in small spaces, believe it or not! In a compact apartment, particularly where natural light is limited, darker colours actually recede, creating the illusion of depth, and helping to make artwork and furniture pop. Using different wall colours in each room can also make a home feel bigger, because of the variety.

So, instead of bland white, embrace colour where you can, then add in some mood lighting and you’ve got loads of atmosphere.

A floor lamp next to the armchair gives a beautiful ambient light in the evenings. Photo – Alexander James. Interiors –  Studio Ashby. Styling – Olivia Gregory.

Lighting is not an afterthought in this lofty apartment designed by Matt Woods, it integral to the overall design of the space. I can only imagine how this double ring of light would softly illuminate the space in the evening – it’s so gorgeous. Photo – Kat Lu.

(left) Our Art Director’s Tiny Terrazzo Palazzo! In amongst the bits and bobs on the shelf is a swan watercolour by Annie’s Dad when he was in high school. Beside it (right) sits  Alice Oehr’s annual Christmas cards, with wall lights from Beacon Lighting. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Lighting

New apartments developments often lack character, big time. A major issue is that they’re usually severely lacking in lighting – most only have a grid of downlights – literally the worst way to light a room!

One way to add interest is to use wall lights (even if you’re renting, as some wall light options don’t need to be hardwired). Also experiment with floor lamps and table lamps at the very least, you can thank me later!

Instead of wall to wall storage, some breathing space can greatly enhance the overall feel of the apartment as seen in this interior by The Stella Collective. Interiors – The Stella Collective. Photo – Maegan Brown.

Wall to wall cupboards are all well and good, but it’s what’s inside that counts. The inside of this pantry has been designed by The Stella Collective specifically for purpose to provide maximum efficiency in the apartment. Interiors – The Stella Collective. Photo – Maegan Brown.

Even the kids’ dining area is chic! Cooking pot from Hub General Store. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Shelf/desk wall designed in collaboration with and made by AKWT painted in a Dulux Chalk Finish paint. Ceramics on top shelves made by Georgie at age 12. Kate Jones ceramic planter. Mark Alsweiler statues. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Design Clever

You can store everything you need in a small apartment with some clever design solutions and a shift in mindset. Well-designed cupboards can store coats, appliances and even a laundry. Often, to maximize the efficiency of space, they may need to be custom made.

It’s also worth considering that some breathing space can greatly enhance the overall feel of the apartment, so putting cupboards on every single wall isn’t always the best solution either; sometimes just having less stuff is.