#approaching puerto rico

[rantsintechnicolor]

Ship log: flying fish, approaching puerto rico

I went down one deck to “central park,” resplendent with real plants but recorded bird and cricket song. The park cafe opens at 6:45a for coffee and continental breakfast. It is calm and quiet in comparison to the anxiety-inducing energy of deck 15 breakfast buffet; there is plenty, but they still behave like sharks, kind sharks, “Oh, excuse me,” “oh sorry, I didn’t see you there,” and “whoops, pardon!” 

I go through the exit and see the drink area conveniently there. I pour two coffees and survey the offerings, knowing I will just be eating leftover wedding cake. I see there is an espresso machine and it looks like the barista is helping a woman get it just the way she likes it. A few other servers are in their stations nodding helpfully, saying, “yes, mem,” “of course, my lady,” and “thank you, ma’am” like the British pronounce it. I leave through the entrance to go back up a deck. I smile at a black man when he is twenty feet away. I get the feeling he won’t smile back so I look away. And then hopefully back up. He gives me a small smile and a polite nod. 

(Everyone has been so kind, except two Australians who pronounce deck to almost sound like dick. Now deck/dick jokes penetrate all conversations with our group.)

I set down a coffee cup on a cruise branded fan masquerading as a cabinet near the elevators. I grasp both handles in one hand so I can get to my key. I take the stairs back to my room without incident. I set a coffee cup down for my wife, who emerges momentarily from her doze, and I take mine out on the balcony with the eighth of a full sheet wedding cake and snap a photo. It looks decadent yet simple; white whipped cream frosting with some  decorative lavender pipping and layers of dark chocolate cake with actual dark chocolate and some sort of fruit jelly (apricot?) set on a white table with a white coffee cup with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and a landmass that could almost be mistaken for clouds on the horizon. I watch the coast of Puerto Rico become more detailed as flying fish flee the path of our massive cruise ship.

[donatellawritings]

𝜗𝜚 ⊹ ‧₊˚ 🐇 introducing princess!reader, ugh i love her sm <3

you were fairly new to kildare island, completely wet behind your chanel-adorned ears. it had only been a few days, since your parents had made the switch from the cozy countryside of puerto rico, unpacking their final cardboard box that harshly clashed against the dreamy interior of your bright and sunny lakeside home. you weren’t surprised that your parents had chosen such a picturesque home of grandeur, they always had a niche for the finer things in life, a trait that was undoubtedly passed down to you.

you see, you had always been a spoiled princess, always insisting of having anything and everything that you wanted — and it was always given to you, without question. perhaps it was the fact that you were an only child? who cares, you were the precious little girl that your parents would go to the ends of the earth for, so why should you accept anything less, from anyone else?

as privileged as it may seem, you did have to admit that you loved living a life where you were pampered and had every single need, no matter how minute or ridiculous, fulfilled without question. you always wore the finest of fabrics from the most upscale brands, exercised in the cutest athleisure wear as you worked up a sweat on your peloton, i mean, you even made it a point to get your hair and nails done every other week. your parents’ banking statements were essays long, detailing your multiple visits to sephora, mainland boutiques, your hefty car note, and monthly spa membership fees.

but, you were far from a ditzy girl, in fact, you were so entitled to the point where you turned your button nose upward at every guy who approached you. you had yet to find a man who didn’t allow you to walk him like a pathetic little dog, you knew that you needed a man who would put you in your place, yet shower you with adornment and lavish gifts.

carefully scraping the tiny smear of residual lipgloss with the tips of your long almond french-manicured nails, you huffed as you flipped your blown-out hair over your shoulder. “ma, m’going to drop this off now!” you called out, tugging on your light grey mini skirt, your fingers dancing over the black lace and pink ribbon adornment, before you grabbed ahold of the white ceramic tray of lemon squares that your mother prepared the night prior.

you’d been given the task of introducing yourself to your neighbors, especially since you father had made it a point to extend the services of his construction company to the fellow members of the country club. your parents had praised you for being their sweet little girl who would be staying home for college to the community, so it was now your turn to seal your reputation as the perfect girl next door, and help uphold your parents’ fresh reputation as newcomers on figure 8.

your perky tits were cutely pushed up against the undone buttons of your undersized button up top, your gold rosary glinting against the sunlight as you made your chanel mules stepped out on the floorboards of your front porch.

𝜗୧

after about an hour of walking from door to door and exchanging your rehearsed pleasantries, while offering the sweet and tangy sticky treat, you’d finally made it to the final home that seemed to overlook the entirety of the community. your puffy cheeks ached from your stretched smile as the soles of your french-pedicure feet throbbed — maybe wearing heels as you walked from porch to porch wasn’t the smartest idea? balancing the tray of lemon gooey lemon squares onto one hand, you brushed a strand of hair from your extended lashes, letting out a small huff, before you mushed your finger into the doorbell.

it didn’t take long before the front door was answered, your rehearsed introduction flitting away from you as you looked up at the blue eyes that stared down at you. your lipstick stained lips parted as the twenty-something year old man stood, his jaw tight as he raised his eyebrows at you, before his eyes shamelessly fell to your pushed-up tits, “i, uh, hi! my family and i recently moved in, so i just wanted to introduce myself,” you smiled, a blush creeping to your cheeks as you revealed your name to the tall man.

“ah, s’that right?” he questioned, clearing throat with a nod to himself as he took it upon himself to lift the plastic wrap that concealed the melted lemon squares, before his curtain bangs fell in front of his eyes. “y’walked all the way here, by yourself, huh,” he mumbled, placing the wrapping to close around the tray, before bringing his intimidating gaze to yours.

with a nod, you nudged the tray in his direction, “would you like one? my mother made them fresh!” you beamed, restoring your role as the mannered girl next door, your trained resolve slowly burning away under the unforgiving north carolina sun.

oh, how he saw right through you.

wordlessly, the young man lifted the plastic wrap, one more, being the small gooey treat to his lips as he kept his eyes on yours, not missing the way you swallowed thickly as he wiped the corners of his pink lips with his ringed index finger and thumb. you watched pathetically with your lips parted as he licked over his lips, “rafe cameron,” he smiled smugly, extending a hand to you.

there was something dark, yet tantalizing about the young man that towered over you, it even brought an undeniable ache to the bundle of nerves between your plush thighs.

accepting his hand, you batted your dolly lashes at rafe, a warmth growing in your tummy as his large hand enveloped yours in a firm grip, his thumb barely kneading into the soft skin between your forefinger and thumb.

deciding to fall back into your stuck-up persona, you were the first to break the hold between you and race, your eyes squinting a bit as you took one step backwards, “it was a pleasure, rafe,” you sang, clutching the empty tray to be tucked into your side.

spinning on your heels, you could feel rafe staring at the under-curve of your soft ass that peeked beneath the tight knit fabric of your skirt, watching as your hips swayed with each step you took. it wasn’t until you were far enough from the young man that you tugged on your skirt to remain secure around your thighs. internally, you scolded yourself for losing event the slightest bit of your cool. you were too good for him, you were too good for him. way too good.

rafe knew this as well, yet he was always proactive when it came to getting what he wanted — even if he had to get a little dirty.

[marbleheavy]

as ao3 approaches almost 6x what they asked for, here are some other places to give your money to

Iranian American Woman Fund

Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

Taller Salud (which is non-profit in Puerto Rico currently collecting donations for support after Hurricane Fiona)

Out & Equal (which supports LGBTQ+ during the hiring process + helps defend against workplace discrimination)

The Foundation for AIDS Research

Center for Black Equity (supports the black queer community)

Funds for Writers (which offers grants to aspiring writers so they can afford publication, time off from work, etc.)

The Audre Lorde Project (which directly supports queer POC in New York City)

PEN America (which helps writers in financial need across the United States)

This is an entire list of organizations supporting queer and BIPOC STEM students you can donate to

The BGD Press (which specifically publishes queer POC)

****but if you want to directly support the people who make you free content, the next time your favorite fic writer or artists makes a crowd funding post, opens commissions, talks about their patreon/ko-fi, donate your money there!!****

literally Wikipedia would be better at this point

[agentstarkid]

ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU ✦ DR3

✦ summary: Amid the vibrant energy of a New Year's Eve party, chance encounters led to unexpected connections where captivating eyes, a charming accent, and a carefree personality were all she needed to be forever enchanted by his presence.

✦ pairing: daniel ricciardo x famous!latina!reader

✦ words: 7.3K

✦ warnings: female!reader, latina!reader, fluff, really sappy thoughts, there's a nine-year age gap.

─── The Joker & The Queen (Masterlist)

✦ pit wall live: holis babes! i'm back with another attempt at writing! the last chapters were angsty and i needed a lil bit of equilibrium so please enjoy reading how the night they met went. Y'all can thank Tally for it <3 + FYI, the next chapter is nowhere being finished yet—this is a little treat for y'all because of that— this past month has been crazy at my job and the chia seeds' harvest season starts in June so I'm not sure how much time—or energy—I'll have. I'd probably be a bit absent but I'll try my best to keep this show going. Also, can you guys find all the references? 👀 PLEASEEEE let me know what you think of this. 'kay, byeee.

December 31st, 2019 | 6:27 p.m.

As the world buzzed with excitement in anticipation of the approaching New Year, with its promises of new beginnings and fresh starts, I found myself yearning for something different. While others eagerly made plans for extravagant celebrations and wild parties, my heart longed for the simple comforts of home. The allure of crowded festivities and glittering fireworks paled in comparison to the warmth of my own cozy sanctuary, where I could embrace solitude. In a world that seems to thrive on noise and commotion, all I desired was the quiet embrace of familiarity and peace.

Despite my steadfast resolve to stay home, I found myself facing relentless persuasion from a certain Dutch DJ, my long-time friend Martin Garrix. His invitations to join him at a New Year's Eve party in New York, where he was scheduled to perform, grew more insistent with each passing week. Not content to pursue this endeavor alone —and knowing he wouldn’t be able to win this battle by himself—, Martin enlisted the help of my closest confidantes—Fio, my ever-reliable personal assistant; Vittoria, the vivacious soul who never shies away from adventure; and Danna, the wise and grounding presence in our lives.

You'd think that at 21, with a career that keeps reaching new heights everyday, I'd be excited to join those types of celebrations.

Nuh-uh.

Years ago, the prospect of attending a high-profile party filled with celebrities and socialites would have thrilled me beyond measure. Back then, I reveled in the glamour and excitement, relishing the chance to mingle with the elite and bask in the spotlight.

Furthermore, the aftermath of my final breakup with Harry —after two years together and the last year of it being on-and-off— had left me feeling disillusioned and wary of the intentions of those around me. Once the darling of the celebrity circuit, I now found myself excluded from the inner circles I once frequented, my invitations to exclusive events dried up almost overnight. It's a harsh reality I had to come to terms with, one that has left me questioning the true nature of the friendships I once held so dear.

With Martin's persistent pleas ringing in my ears, I gathered my resolve and attempted to explain my desire for a quiet evening in. “Guys, I really appreciate the effort, but I just want to stay home tonight,” I insisted, sinking deeper into the cushions of the couch. “I've been looking forward to a High School Musical marathon all week.”

Fio, my fiery assistant, raised an incredulous eyebrow. “High School Musical? Are you serious, chica? This is New Year's Eve! Yo lo que quiero es que salgas a janguear patabajo y pasarla de show. You can watch Zac Efron dance any other night!” Hailing from the sun-kissed shores of Puerto Rico, she wore her heritage proudly, her voice ringed out with the rhythmic cadence of her native land.

Vittoria, the true embodiment of Brazilian beauty and spirit with her sun-kissed complexion and luminous smile, chimed in with a playful grin. “Yeah, fofinha, come on! You can even ask Martin to play ‘The Start of Something Newʼ if it pleases you,” she grabbed my left hand between both of hers and tugged at it, “We can dance and sing along to Zac Efron together at the party!” she exclaimed, shaking my arm excitedly. 

Well... I could definitely ask Martin to play it, he'd probably say yes in a heartbeat if it meant I would cave in and go to this party. After all, he's been awfully insistent on my attendance. 

Danna, the 23-year-old American with an effortless grace and quiet confidence, offered a gentle smile. “I understand wanting a cozy night in, but trust me, you'll regret missing out on this party. It'll be a night to remember.” she punned with a wink and smiled when Vitto offered her an enthusiastically high five. Vitto sometimes reminded me of a puppy with an impressive amount of energy and excitement, always prompting me to try and keep up with her and leave my comfort zone.

Despite their protests, I remained steadfast in my decision. There was no way I was moving from this couch. “Thanks, guys, but I'm sticking to my plan. You all go ahead and have fun without me.” However, I was but a simple human surrounded by three forces of nature and it was super clear that my friends had other ideas and soon they were bustling around me, pulling me off the couch and insisting I get ready for the night ahead.

Reluctantly, I allowed the girls to coax me off the couch and into action. With Fio's enthusiastic energy, Vittoria's impeccable sense of style, and Danna's calming presence, they transformed my quiet night in into a whirlwind of preparation for the party.

Fio rummaged through my closet, pulling out a stunning short dress made with net-woven high-end silver jewelry that would—quoting her—help highlight and show mi sazón latino among the precious stones, while Vittoria offered her expert opinion on the perfect outfit. “Uff mami, that definitely screams ‘New Year's Eve glam’!” she declared, holding up the sparkling ensemble that catched the light just right. 

Meanwhile, Danna took charge of my hair and makeup, opting for a soft, glamorous look. “You're going to turn heads tonight, babes,” she assured me, brushing a hint of shimmer onto my cheeks. 

Despite my initial resistance, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as I watched my reflection transform before my eyes.

“Who knows, babes,” Danna paused, carefully applying a nude shade gloss to my lips. “Maybe you’ll find your own Troy Bolton tonight, and have your own The Start of Something New moment” she wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

“You are on a roll tonight with the puns and references, aren’t you Dannita?” Fio peeked out her head from inside my closet and asked jokingly, letting out a laugh while she ducked from a damp sponge lightheartedly tossed her way by Danna.

“Nossa, cara! Você parece uma deusa!” Vitto exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration. (Wow, dude! You look like a goddess!)

A blush crept up my cheeks at her compliment, and I turned to Danna with a grateful smile. “Seriously, Danni, you've outdone yourself,” I praised her, marveling at her skill in transforming me for the evening. “Thank you for making me feel like royalty.”

With a modest smile, Danna accepted my gratitude, her eyes shining with pride at the success of her handiwork. And then, just as the last finishing touches were being applied, she posed the inevitable question: “So, what are your New Year's resolutions?”

With a playful grin, I shrugged, the weight of the question settling over me like a familiar cloak. “I think this year,” I replied, my voice tinged with determination, “I just want to have fun and focus on myself. No boys, no drama, just me.” It was a simple resolution, yet one that carried a weight of significance, a commitment to prioritize my own happiness and well-being above all else.

As I sat there, unaware of their subtle exchange, the girls exchanged knowing glances and smiles, a silent understanding passing between them. Little did I know, they had orchestrated this moment with a shared knowledge of Martin's plans for the evening.

After I was allowed to rose from my seat, I grabbed and put on the large hoops and a set of very discreet rings that Vitto opted for, she explained to me that the expensive design I was wearing ‘perfectly adorned my tanned skin in such a way that I did not need almost any other accessory to elevate the look to its maximum potential’. 

As I waited for the girls to finish getting ready, I idly scrolled through my WhatsApp contacts' status updates, seeking a distraction from the anticipation bubbling inside me. My mom uploaded a video showing all the food they had cooked for dinner. A homesick feeling hit me even if I just came back from spending two weeks at home. Next, Martin’s status showed up on my screen, he posted a photo showcasing his DJ set getting set up for the party. I tapped on his name and took a quick selfie flipping him off playfully and sent it, he didn’t take long to respond with “Does this mean I won?” followed by two pairs of eyes emoji. “Yes” I answered, also followed with the rolling eyes emoji. 

I scrolled through a couple others, when I stumbled upon Selena’s. She posted a selfie all dolled up with her friends and pinned New York City as her location which piqued my curiosity. I composed a brief message, my fingers dancing over the keys as I typed out a casual inquiry about her plans for New Year's Eve in NYC. A response appeared on my screen moments later, “Hey girl! We’re actually heading to a party at The Bowery Hotel. What about you?” a smile tugged at the corners of my lips as excitement coursed through my body, I haven’t seen Sel in a while! We’ve been friends for years and she was one of the few people that was always there to lend me an ear and words of advice whenever I went through a rough patch in my life. “No way! That's where we’re going too! Maybe we'll bump into each other!”

“That’s awesome!!!!! I'll keep an eye out for you. See you there!” she replied. I let out a little happy sigh and shook my head. With my friends by my side, laughter filling the room, I began to anticipate the night ahead with a newfound sense of anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, this New Year's Eve won't be so bad after all.

Unbeknownst to the singer, Martin's persistent efforts to persuade her to attend the party were driven by a secret agenda. For months, he has harbored a hidden desire to introduce her to a friend of his, in the hopes of sparking a connection between them. Despite Martin's best intentions, his attempts to orchestrate their meeting have thus far been thwarted by her obliviousness to his matchmaking schemes.

After receiving the confirmation that the first part of his plan had been successful, Martin discreetly sent a text message to his friend, informing him of her attendance. “She's finally agreed to come,” he typed, a hint of excitement evident in his words. “Be ready to charm her off her feet.”

On a different hotel floor, a 5'10'' curly-haired Aussie’s mind raced with possibilities, wondering who this mystery woman could be.

With a shrug, he tapped out a quick reply, his fingers flying over the keys as he crafted a response. “Sounds intriguing,” he typed, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. “Looking forward to meeting her. Just hope I can keep up with your high expectations mate!” As he hit send, Daniel couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation that lingered in the air.

Daniel's phone buzzed again with a response from Martin, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the playful banter that ensued. “Oh, don't worry,” Martin's message read, “I have complete faith in you. Just be yourself, that’s all you need”

Daniel grinned at his friend's confidence. Despite not knowing much about this mysterious woman, he couldn't deny the thrill of anticipation that coursed through his veins. With a sense of determination, he resolved to make the most of this opportunity, determined to leave a lasting impression on whoever this enigmatic figure turned out to be.

Little did he know, this chance encounter would set the stage for a fateful meeting that would change the course of his life in ways he never could have imagined.

As the sleek black car pulled up to the curb outside The Bowery Hotel, the pulsating energy of New York City's nightlife enveloped us like a warm embrace. Stepping out onto the bustling sidewalk, we were greeted by the soft glow of string lights and the distant hum of music drifting from the rooftop above.

Linking arms, we made our way through the elegant lobby of the hotel, the click of our heels echoing against the polished marble floors. Excitement crackled in the air as we rode the elevator to the top floor, anticipation mounting with each passing moment.

As the doors slid open to reveal the rooftop terrace bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights, we were met with a breathtaking view of the city skyline glittering against the night sky. The sound of laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the infectious beat of the music that pulsed through the crowd.

We stepped out onto the terrace and navigated through the crowd, the scent of champagne and laughter filled the air; our eyes alight with wonder as we took in the scene before us. The air was alive with the hum of excitement for the new year ahead.

Finding a secluded corner of the rooftop, I paused and craned my neck in search of the blond responsible for me being away from my cozy apartment that night. I spotted him talking with some people near where his set was set up. When our eyes met, he waved enthusiastically, his excitement palpable even from a distance.

Exchanging quick pleasantries, Martin excused himself from the group he was chatting with, his strides purposeful as he made his way towards our little circle. With a grin that could light up the entire city, Martin reached our group, his charismatic presence immediately drawing us in. “Ladies, you look stunning tonight,” he greeted us with a cheeky smile on his face, “and well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence,” he teased, his voice laced with playful banter as he directed his attention towards me.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes in mock exasperation, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. “I had four people ganging up on me, Martin, I couldn't exactly resist for long” I replied, my tone teasing as I shot him a playful glare.

Martin chuckled, his laughter infectious as he leaned in to give me a playful nudge. “That's what I like to hear! Now, let's show you what you almost missed by being a grumpy old lady tonight,” he exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious as he gestured towards the bustling rooftop party surrounding us.

Half an hour later, Daniel made his way through the vibrant crowd, his eyes scanning the faces around him, he caught sight of Martin amidst the sea of revelers. With a nod of recognition, he approached his friend, a curious glint in his eyes. 

Martin turned towards him with a grin, anticipation dancing in his eyes. “Hey! What’s up, mate?” he gave him a quick hug. “She's already here," Martin exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement.

Daniel's interest was piqued, and he glanced around the crowded rooftop, searching for any indication of who Martin was referring to. “Oh, really?” Daniel replied, his curiosity evident in his tone.

Martin nodded eagerly, but instead of gesturing towards our group, he simply smiled mysteriously. “Yep, but I'll introduce you later. Duty calls,” he said with a shrug, gesturing towards the stage where he was needed.

Daniel's brow furrowed slightly in confusion, but he simply nodded in understanding as Martin hurried off to fulfill his obligations. 

Martin's cryptic reply intrigued Daniel, sparking his curiosity further. He decided not to dwell on it for too long. With a shrug, he turned his attention back to the lively atmosphere of the party, eager to enjoy the night ahead. As he mingled with his friends, his thoughts occasionally drifted back to Martin's enigmatic words, wondering who exactly the DJ was referring to and what significance they held. But for now, he was content to simply soak in the excitement of the moment and let the night unfold as it may.

As Daniel's gaze lazily scanned the room, it landed on a group of vibrant individuals, among whom stood a figure that instantly commanded his attention. His eyes locked onto hers, and he felt a jolt of electricity course through him as their gazes met. In that fleeting moment, the noise of the party faded into the background, and all he could focus on was the captivating presence of the woman before him. Despite the nagging reminder of his supposed obligation to meet someone else, he found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her, his curiosity piqued and his interest unmistakably piqued.

Throughout the night, I found myself engaged in conversation with Selena and both of our friend groups, along with a few others who had approached us. However, the initial excitement I had felt was beginning to wane as my social battery ran low. I forced laughter and plastered on fake smiles as the people around us tried to create conversation, drawn to us for our status and connections rather than genuine friendship. My walls were up and I couldn’t help but be filled with nostalgia for the days when I effortlessly navigated the social whirlwind. God knows how I was able to endure all that, but now, that shiny façade of fame no longer held the appeal it once had. My eyes kept shifting around the multitude, trying to find an escape in the midst of the bustling party. Martin had to leave us after a while to greet other people that I’m sure he also invited. And now he was on the stage making sure everything was ready for the show, so that ruled him out of the equation. 

I found myself wishing I could channel Fio's bold attitude, and just tell all these phonies to go pal’ carajo. She had this undeniable strength and fearlessness about her that I envied. I couldn't imagine myself possessing even a fraction of her confidence. Yet, all of these thoughts melted away when my gaze landed on his face across the rooftop.

In that moment, it felt as though the chaos around me dissipated, leaving only him in sharp focus. Our eyes met, and a smile graced his lips, instantly captivating me. There was something magnetic about him, an inexplicable allure that drew me in without a word spoken.

His smile held a warmth that felt achingly familiar, as if we shared some unspoken connection that transcended the bounds of time and place. With each passing moment, his gaze seemed to deepen, as though delving into the depths of my soul with a silent question: “Have we met before?” It was a question that echoed in the recesses of my mind, sparking a curiosity that I couldn't shake.

As I stood there, locked in this wordless exchange, I couldn't help but wonder about the secrets hidden behind those piercing eyes. Despite the throng of people around us, it felt as though we were the only two souls in the room, bound together by an invisible thread of fate.

Suddenly, his silhouette cut through the crowd, moving with purpose and determination. With each step he took, my heart quickened its pace, anticipation rising in tandem with the rhythm of my pulse. The air crackled with a silent energy and I found myself holding my breath caught in the gravity of his presence. The distance between us narrowed, until finally, he stood before me, his eyes locking onto mine with a magnetic intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

As he extended his hand towards me, a rush of warmth flooded through me, tingling at the touch of his skin against mine. “Hey,” he said, his voice smooth and resonant, sending a ripple of anticipation coursing through me. “I'm Daniel.” His name rolled off his tongue with a certain charm and a twinge of an accent, and I couldn't help but feel drawn to him even more. 

“Hi” I managed to say, attempting to regain my composure. “I'm Y/N.”

“Y/N,” he repeated, the name rolling off his tongue with a hint of curiosity. “Lovely name for a lovely lady.”

I could feel my cheeks flush at his compliment. “Thanks,” I replied, trying to play it cool. The spell broke for a moment as he suddenly realized that there was a group of people staring at him, his own cheeks seemed to redden for a second but he recovered fast and greeted them with a radiant smile. I couldn't help but admire the way he carried himself with such effortless charm. The realization sinked in that this wasn't just any charming stranger – holy shit, this was Daniel Ricciardo, the Formula 1 driver. 

A playful glint danced in his eyes as his eyes drifted back to me, and a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips. His easy charm catched me off guard, and I found myself blushing involuntarily. I stole a quick glance at my friends, who shot me knowing looks, clearly amused by my reaction. It's as if they could read my mind, teasing me silently. 

Okay Y/N, keep your cool. He is just a dude, I thought as I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. He is a gorgeous, smoking hot dude with a megawatt smile who smells wonderful. ¡Agh, mierda!. 

Yeah, I was fucked. I guessed it was time to put those acting skills to use.

“So, Daniel, what brings you to this fabulous party?” I tilted my head as I asked, I prayed it came out in a flirty but nonchalant way and not in a way that revealed the nervous flutter in my stomach. Daniel grinned, his gaze lingered on me. “Well, a friend insisted that I come, said it was going to be the party of the year. And, I must say, meeting someone as captivating as you was an unexpected bonus.”

A light blush spreaded across my cheeks at his words, and I glanced away momentarily, trying to regain my composure. “Flattery will get you everywhere, won't it?”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I certainly hope so.”

I chuckled, trying to play it cool. “Well, we'll just have to see about that, won't we?”

He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Challenge accepted,” he replied, leaning in closer. With a playful smirk, he asked, “But first, would you like to grab a drink?”

The playful exchange between us continued as we made our way towards the bar, the atmosphere around us seemingly faded into the background as we became engrossed in each other's company.

Our playful banter flowed effortlessly, each quip and witty remark met with a matching response from the other. It's like we were in our own little world, oblivious to the party swirling around us as we exchanged jokes and anecdotes. There's something about him that feels like coming home, yet I know we've never crossed paths before. His genuine smile and easygoing demeanor put me at ease, and I found myself opening up to him more than I had in a long time. 

We both paused to stare at the DJ in his element, the corners of my mouth turned up when the Dutchy’s words ringed in my head: I almost missed this by being a grumpy old lady. I glanced over to find him already fixated on me, he smiled at me softly and a soft flutter danced in the pit of my stomach as I caught his eyes lingering on my lips. Was it just my imagination, or did the air around us suddenly crackle with an electric charge?

I tried to keep my tone light, “So, what's been the highlight of your evening so far?”

“If you’d asked me this about two hours ago I’d say the good vibes and great company,” he replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving mine. “But now that I've found you, I think I've found the best part of the evening.”

“Oh, stop it,” I chuckled, feeling my cheeks warm further.

“I mean it,” he insisted, his eyes sparkling with sincerity. “You've got this magnetic energy about you. I couldn't resist coming over to say hi.”

I felt a flutter in my stomach at his words. “Well, I'm glad you did,” I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “It's nice to meet someone genuine at a party like this.”

Daniel grinned, leaning in a little closer. “Tell me about it. Most people here seem more interested in flashing cameras and rubbing elbows with celebrities than having a real conversation.”

I nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief wash over me that he felt the same way. “Exactly. It's refreshing to find someone who values authenticity.”

His smile widened. “Well, authenticity is my middle name,” he quipped, earning a laugh from me.

“Is it really?” I teased back, raising an eyebrow playfully.

He chuckled softly. “Not quite, but close enough,” he replied. The sound of his laughter was like music to my ears, washing over me in gentle waves. I couldn't help but smile in return, feeling a warmth spread through me at the sight of his genuine amusement. There was something so effortlessly charming about him, something that made it impossible not to be drawn to him.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Martin, from his place behind his console, grabbed the microphone, sending a burst of excitement through the crowd. The music softened, and all eyes turned towards him, eager to hear what he had to say. With a smile, he leaned into the mic.

“Alright, everyone! Get ready, because we're about to kick off the countdown to the new year!” his voice boomed over the speakers, igniting cheers and applause.

Daniel and I exchanged surprised glances, realizing how swiftly time had slipped away during our conversation. A sheepish grin spread across our faces as we chuckled at the realization.

“Wow, can you believe it?” Daniel exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I replied, “I know, right? It feels like we just got here!”

But despite our astonishment, there was an undeniable excitement in the air as we eagerly awaited the start of the countdown. Time may have slipped away unnoticed, but we were more than ready to welcome the new year with open arms.

With the pulsating energy of the crowd and the anticipation building up, Martin's announcement seemed to mark a pivotal moment in the night. It was as if time paused for just a brief moment, allowing us to reflect on the year gone by and the possibilities that lay ahead.

As the countdown began, the atmosphere on the terrace grew electric. Each second ticking by felt charged with anticipation, drawing us closer to the threshold of a new beginning. Daniel and I joined in with the crowd, counting down in unison as the numbers on the screen dwindled.

“Ten!... Nine!... Eight!” The voices around us echoed, filling the place with excitement and joy.

As the final seconds ticked away before the stroke of midnight, I stole a moment to scan the crowd, searching for familiar faces amidst the sea of revelers. My gaze locked onto Fio, Vitto, and Danna, who were huddled together nearby. Fio, ever perceptive, caught my gaze first. With a playful nudge to Vitto and Danna, she directed their attention towards me, and they turned in unison, their eyes met mine with knowing looks and a mischievous grin spread across their faces.

With playful antics, they puckered their lips in exaggerated kissy faces, teasing me in a lighthearted manner. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their antics, a light blush tinting my cheeks in response to their jovial teasing.

Amidst the playful exchange, a fleeting thought crossed my mind. I wondered, for just a moment, if perhaps Daniel, standing closer than before, was considering the same playful gesture. But before I could dwell on the thought, the clock struck midnight, and the room erupted into cheers and celebration.

As the cheers filled the air, Daniel and I turned to each other with shy smiles, caught up in the infectious excitement of the moment. “Happy New Year,” we said simultaneously, our voices barely audible above the din of the crowd.

For a brief moment, there was a subtle shift in the air, a silent pause that seemed to linger between us. In that fleeting instant, it felt as if time slowed down, and I found myself meeting Daniel's gaze, our eyes locking in a silent exchange filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions.

There was a palpable tension, a delicate balance hanging in the air, as if both of us were teetering on the edge of something unspoken. In that moment, it seemed as though Daniel might lean in, his movements tentative and hesitant, as if contemplating a gesture that could change everything.

Was he gonna kiss me? Oh, I wouldn’t be mad if he stole a kiss. 

Or several.

But then, just as quickly as the moment had arisen, it passed. With a soft smile and a gentle nod, Daniel seemed to reconsider, pulling back slightly as if to preserve the moment's delicate equilibrium. And in that simple gesture, the unspoken understanding between us remained.

As the moment hung in the air between Daniel and me, on the brink of something uncertain, the sounds of joyous screams suddenly pierced through the atmosphere, drawing our attention away.

Before I could fully process what was happening, I felt warm arms wrap around me, pulling me into an exuberant embrace. It was the girls, Fio, Vitto, and Danna, their laughter mingling with the cheers of the crowd as they enveloped me in their enthusiastic greeting.

"Happy New Year!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with genuine warmth and excitement.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the timing of their arrival, grateful for the distraction from the almost-kiss tension that had begun to linger between Daniel and me. With their infectious energy and playful banter, they effortlessly diffused the slight awkwardness that had threatened to overshadow the moment.

As we exchanged hugs and well wishes, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for their timely intervention. In their presence, the lingering tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of sisterhood and shared joy.

And as we laughed and celebrated together, I couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps some moments were meant to be savored, not rushed. Whatever the future held for Daniel and me, I knew that in that moment, I was exactly where I was meant to be.

With infectious enthusiasm, the girls dragged me towards the terrace railings, eager to get a better view of the fireworks illuminating the night sky. Laughing and chatting animatedly, we leaned against the railing, our eyes fixed on the colorful explosions lighting up the darkness.

As we marveled at the spectacle unfolding before us, Daniel excused himself with a smile, promising to join us in just a moment. I watched him disappear into the crowd, his easy charm drawing smiles and greetings from everyone he came across.

Alone for a brief moment amidst the excitement of the celebration, I took a deep breath, allowing myself to soak in the energy of the night. The air was alive with anticipation, the promise of new beginnings hanging in the air like a tangible presence.

And as the fireworks continued to paint the sky with bursts of color and light, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the moments shared with friends, old and new. In that fleeting moment of tranquility, amidst the chaos of the celebration, I found solace in the knowledge that no matter where life took us, our bonds would always endure, guiding us through the highs and lows of the journey ahead. I felt grateful to call these incredible women my friends. And as the last remnants of the fireworks faded into the night, I turned to raise my glass in a toast with the girls following, my heart full with the promise of the new year ahead.

Just as I turned back to try and catch a glimpse of a certain Aussie in the crowd, Daniel appeared at my side with a warm smile. His eyes sparkled with the residual excitement of the celebration, and his easygoing demeanor put me at ease.

“Hey there,” he greeted me, his voice carrying over the lingering echoes of the fireworks. “Did you enjoy the show?”

I returned his smile with a nod, the exhilaration of the moment still coursing through my veins. “It was amazing,” I replied, my voice filled with genuine awe. “I can't believe how quickly the year flew by.”

Daniel chuckled softly, his gaze drifting towards the horizon where the last traces of the fireworks faded into the darkness. “Yeah, 2019 feels like it was yesterday,” he quipped, a playful twist to his words.

I couldn't help but laugh at his silly joke, shaking my head in amusement. Despite its simplicity, his humor didn’t fail to bring a smile to my face. And as my laughter echoed into the night, I noticed Daniel's own smile widening, his eyes alight with infectious joy.

As my laughter subsided, Daniel's eyes softened, his gaze lingering on me with a warmth that sent a flutter through my chest. In the soft glow of the terrace lights, his features seemed to soften, his smile taking on a tender quality.

“You know,” he began, his voice gentle, “you look absolutely beautiful under the firework lights.”

A blush rose to my cheeks at his words, a rush of warmth spreading through me at the unexpected compliment. It was a simple gesture, but it carried a weight of sincerity that touched me deeply.

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, but filled with genuine appreciation.

Daniel's gaze held mine for a moment longer, his expression softening even further as he had the purest beam of light on his face that made my heart melt.  “Actually,” he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “you outshine even the fireworks themselves.”

A surprised chuckle escaped my lips, and I could feel my cheeks flush with a warmth that spread from his endearing words. His unexpected compliment caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.

It was such a simple yet profoundly sweet sentiment, and it took me by surprise in the best possible way.

As Daniel's sweet words lingered in the air, a comfortable silence settled between us, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the continuing celebration. It was a couple minutes after midnight, and there were already a couple resolutions broken.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the thought, the warmth of Daniel's presence enveloping me like a comforting embrace. Despite the inevitable imperfections of the past year, there was a sense of hope and possibility lingering in the air for this new one, a reminder that every moment held the potential for growth and renewal.

We continued to chat and laugh as we made our way to one of the high tables to continue our conversation in a more comfortable setting. Martin even made an appearance, greeting us with his usual kind and friendly attitude. A shit-eating grin adorned his face as he saw us talking. He inconspicuously winked at me which prompted me to affectionately roll my eyes. 

Okay Martin, I get it, you were right...again. 

But one curious thing happened when Martin approached. I noticed a flicker of apology in Daniel's eyes, a subtle shift in his demeanor that caught my attention. Confused, I glanced at him, wondering what had prompted this sudden change. It wasn't until much later that I would come to understand the reason behind his apologetic expression.

Unbeknownst to me, Daniel had misunderstood Martin's intentions, believing that the girl he had spoken to him about was someone else entirely. In his mind, there was no connection between Martin's matchmaking scheme and the girl he had been conversing with all along—me.

And so, we were unaware of the intricate web of plans and schemes being woven around us. Little did I know, the seeds of something special had already been planted, waiting to bloom and blossom in the days and weeks to come.

A while later, one of the waiters passed by, weaving through the crowd. Seizing the opportunity, Daniel called out to him, “Excuse me, do you have a pen?”

The waiter nodded and swiftly produced one, handing it over with a friendly smile. Once he left, Daniel grabbed a napkin from the table and quickly sketched out a tic-tac-toe grid with the pen. With a mischievous grin, he declared, “Let's make a deal. If I win, you have to give me your number.”

I couldn't help but laugh at his spontaneous challenge, the playful glint in his eyes infectious. “Alright, you're on,” I replied, picking up the pen to make my first move. 

“But,” I paused with a smirk. I raised an eyebrow at Daniel, unable to suppress a playful grin. “What do I get if I win?” I challenged him, my tone teasing and light. 

Daniel's lips curled into a flirtatious smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well,” he replied, leaning in closer with a playful glint in his eyes, “if you win, you get my number instead.”

His response elicited another laugh from me, the playful banter adding to the already vibrant energy between us. With a nod of agreement, I made my move, determined to give him a run for his money.

However, despite my best efforts, Daniel proved to be a formidable opponent—athletes do tend to have another level of competitiveness after all, even with the smallest and silliest things—, and before I knew it, he had emerged victorious, marking the final square with a triumphant flourish.

With a mock sigh of defeat, I conceded, acknowledging his win with good humor. “Alright, you got me,” I chuckled, conceding to his victory. “Looks like I owe you my number.”

With a pleased smile he passed me his phone. As I began typing my number into Daniel's phone, focused on the task at hand, I felt a sudden movement beside me. Glancing up, I saw Daniel grab another napkin, his expression mischievous as he quickly scribbled something onto it. 

Curious, I watched as he slid the napkin across the table towards me. My eyes widened in surprise as I read the words written in his handwriting: “You are cute.”

A warmth spread through me at his unexpected gesture, a rush of flattered excitement tingling in my veins. With a playful smile, I looked up to meet his gaze, my heart fluttering with anticipation.

“Smooth move,” I teased, unable to hide the smile that danced on my lips. “But I think you've already won me over with your charm.”

As I finished adding my number to his phone, I slid it back across the table towards him. With a grin, Daniel accepted his phone back, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction at my response. “Can't blame a bloke for trying,” he quipped, his tone light and playful. 

The playful energy between us only seemed to intensify and I found myself drawn further into the magnetic pull of Daniel's presence, captivated by his whiskey-colored eyes that held a depth that seemed to unravel the secrets of the universe. And when he spoke, his Australian accent danced with a melodic cadence that resonated deep within my soul, infusing every word with a warmth and charm that was impossible to resist.

But it wasn't just his accent that captivated me—it was his carefree personality, his easygoing demeanor that made every moment feel effortless and free. He laughed with abandon, his infectious joy spreading like wildfire and igniting a spark of laughter within me.

And then there were his hands, expressive and animated as he spoke, each gesture painting a vivid picture of his thoughts and emotions. It was as if his hands had a language of their own, weaving tales of adventures that left me hanging on his every word.

Just as the party was reaching its peak and the energy in the room soared, one of the girls came up to me with a sense of urgency in her expression. “Hey babes, we need to head out already,” she informed me, a hint of regret in her voice.

My heart sank at the sudden announcement, realizing the abrupt end to the evening's festivities. With a mixture of disappointment and resignation, I turned to Daniel, silently conveying my apologies with a glance.

“I'm sorry, but Vitto's had a bit too much to drink,” Danna explained, her tone apologetic as she gestured towards our intoxicated companion. “We need to get her home.”

There was a flicker of disappointment in Daniel's eyes, mirrored by my own sense of frustration at the untimely interruption.

With a sympathetic smile, Daniel nodded in understanding, his expression reflecting a mixture of disappointment and acceptance. “Of course, safety first,” he replied, his voice filled with empathy. “Take care, and hopefully, we'll see each other again soon.”

As I exchanged final farewells with Daniel, a pang of regret lingered in the air, accompanied by the bittersweet realization that our time together had been cut short. Yet, amidst the disappointment, there was a glimmer of hope, a silent promise of future encounters.

With a nod of gratitude, I turned to join my friends. And as I reached the girls, I couldn't help but sigh softly, my concern for Vitto mixing with a hint of amusement. “Ay, Vitto,” I murmured, shaking my head in disbelief at how quickly she had managed to get drunk in just an hour.

Vitto, in her intoxicated state, offered a drunken apology and let out a soft laugh, her carefree demeanor infectious. “Sorry,” she slurred, her words accompanied by a playful giggle.

I couldn't help but smile at her antics, reassured by her good spirits despite the unexpected turn of events. “It's okay,” I assured her, placing an arm around her shoulder. “Let's get you home safely.”

As I turned to leave, I couldn't resist stealing a last glimpse back at Daniel. To my surprise, I found him still staring at me, his smile widening as he waved goodbye. A rush of warmth flooded through me at the sight.

On our way home, the girls couldn't resist teasing me about Daniel, joking about how we had spent the whole night together. Their playful banter only served to deepen my blush, fueling the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. The city lights blurred into a mosaic of colors outside the car window and the laughter of the girls faded into the background as I found myself lost in the memory of Daniel's captivating smile, the warmth of his gaze still lingering in the corners of my mind.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something truly special about that smile, something that lingered long after the party had ended and the night had grown quiet. To me, it wasn't just any smile—it was warm, genuine, and filled with an undeniable spark that seemed to reach straight into my soul. It was a smile that spoke volumes, conveying a sense of understanding, a twinge of mischief, and unspoken promise that left me breathless with anticipation.

With a soft sigh, I couldn't help but reflect on the serendipitous twist of fate that had brought us together tonight. In that brief moment of connection, amidst the music and laughter, I had felt a spark of something special—a connection that defied explanation and left me yearning for more.

And as I stared out into the night, the city lights twinkling like stars in the darkness, I knew that I would carry the memory of that encounter with me forever. In that moment, meeting him felt like a spell had been cast upon me, capturing my heart in an instant.

The thought made a soft smile tug at the corners of my lips, my heart fluttering with the anticipation of what the future might hold.

At the end of the night, all I knew was, 

Daniel, I was enchanted to meet you.

[cripplecharacters]

What are your thoughts on people making random characters albino (especially regardless of their race, even if they aren't black? Would it count as fetishizing under certain ways?

I've heard that albinism can appear in any race group, but I'd just like to know how you view just random characters casually having albinism (even without it being sexualized for fetishized)

Hi!

Casual representation is great! Not just albinism, but disability in general. You don't always have to go into complicated details of "how's it like to be disabled". But just because it isn't meant to be a work about a certain condition doesn't mean you shouldn't do your diligent research - if by making random characters have albinism you mean giving them the "aesthetic" and nothing besides that, it would be fetishization or at least just poor representation.

Also, for this answer I'll be talking about oculocutaneous albinism because I'm fairly sure that's what you were referring to, but please be aware that there are other types, like;

ocular albinism (has 3 different subtypes)

Heřmanský–Pudlák syndrome

Chédiak–Higashi syndrome

Griscelli syndrome

oculocutaneous albinism also has multiple (7) main subtypes, with some of them splitting further. You should take that into consideration as well when deciding on what kind of albinism your character(s) has :-) I'm not saying that you should write "X has oculocutaneous albinism, type OCA1b" in your book, but it will help to inform you what their needs and symptoms could be!

First thing I will mention is that the word "albino" is generally not the preferred term and you probably shouldn't use it unless you have albinism yourself. Here's a page on it by the National [USA] Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation or this post we reblogged recently.

To make sure that your representation works, you need to understand how albinism works. Even if it's a side or minor character, you should be aware of the symptoms other than just the lack of melanin. Prime example, the extreme majority of characters with albinism in media don't have any vision issues at all, which is not how it is in real life. If you make a character with albinism, you're making a character who is blind or low vision. It's important to research aids and assistive technology, as well as blindness tropes that your character could fall into. For a character that only shows up occasionally, it's still important to show things like a white cane, their light sensitivity, them having to avoid the sun.

If that's your approach to "making random characters be disabled" then you should be good. A lot of disabled characters end up boxed into specific tropes (for albinism: being evil, being emotionless, having magic powers, or being mystified because of their disability) so having e.g. a background character with albinism who has a regular job and shows up in the story from time to time would mitigate that. People with albinism are normal people.

It's true that a person of any race or ethnicity can have albinism! Some types of albinism are more common in certain demographics; for example, Heřmanský–Pudlák Syndrome appears much more frequently in Puerto Rico and OCA4 is almost exclusively seen in Japan, and oculocutaneous albinism is more common in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole (which is a giant area, but there's not much statistics about it). But your character could be of any background to have albinism in general.

In short, if the representation would end at "giving a character white skin, white hair and red eyes*" then it's more fetishistic than representative; that's just using the appearance but ignoring everything else. Keep in mind that it's a medical condition, not an aesthetic. If a character stops having albinism when they dye their hair, tan, and wear colored contacts, then that's just a character who happened to have light hair skin and eyes, not a person with albinism. Good representation of disability means showing the disabling parts of it - again, you don't have to go into detail about how it is to have albinism if the character shows up for two chapters, but show them navigating with a white cane!

*note - in real life, people with albinism don't have red eyes. I mention it because it shows up in media all the time. It just screams fetishization because it's not a thing - most people with albinism will have blue, hazel, or brown eyes.

I hope that this helps - if you have a more specific question, feel free to send another ask. I also recommend going through our #albinism representation tag, it might answer some of the questions you might have! :-)

mod Sasza

[raya-hunter01]

Cruising Love Pt. 2.1

Two Shot Request

Jey Uso x Black Female OC! (Kayla)

Jimmy Uso x Trin

Roman x Black Female OC! (Robin)

Sefa x Black Female OC! (Cameron)

Montez Ford x Bianca Belair

Rating: 18+

Warning: Smut,

Thank you for the request and for trusting me once again @royalkay23

Jey has planned a five-day cruise to the Bahamas and Puerto Rico for his girlfriend Kayla’s birthday. Jey is determined to make sure the trip goes smoothly as he’s enlisted his family and friends to help him plan the perfect wedding proposal.

His plans are in danger of going up in smoke as his toxic ex is also on the cruise and is desperate to rekindle their toxic burning flame.

Will Jey give in, or will he stand strong in his love and devotion to Kayla and leave the past in the past?

Regen Seven Seas Cruise

Nassau, Bahamas

Middle Deck

Jey’s POV

“I don’t know what the fuck happened, I swear,” I said looking into the cold eyes of Joe as we ate lunch. “Kayla cried almost all night and that I have a problem with that. She didn’t deserve that,” he said, each word stabbing me in the chest.

“I know she didn’t, but I deserved everything I damn got last night,” I said as Jimmy laughed out loud.

“Damn right you deserved to get your shit rocked. What I can’t figure out is why you did it purposely,” Jimmy said as I frowned at him.

“What the hell you talking about? Are you still drunk from last night?” I asked as he chuckled.

“Oh, I’m sober and now that you are, when are you gon’ admit your ass was drunk and them demons was talking to your ass,” he said as it was my turn to chuckle.

“I ain’t got no demons twin, I’m good,” I said as Sefa raised his eyebrow at me. “I beg to differ; I think Jimmy on to something. Now spill it or we won’t help you fix this fuckin shit show',” Sefa said as I sighed dropping my fork.

“It ain’t nothing to tell. One minute she was actin’ nice and the next minute, it was the old Danielle trying to reel my ass back in. I just thought if I danced with her, I could get her off my back,” I said as Jimmy frowned at me.

“Yo ass shoulda’ walked away the minute she approached you. That’s why you in this mess now, always too afraid to hurt folks’ feelings even when they’ve treated you like shit,” he hissed as I felt my frustration building as he looked at me.

 Judging me for being human and trying to give people the benefit of the doubt.

“Stop looking at me like that, I knew it was wrong and I stopped it. I told her I loved Kay, and I couldn’t do that to her and wouldn’t. I just don’t can’t imagine how it looked to ya’ll though,” I said to Sefa as he seemed in deep thought.

“It looked real bad bro; I saw you before the girls did and I couldn’t believe you would put yourself out there like that.”

“So, ain’t no old feelings hiding inside you for Danielle?” Joe asked as I growled at the thought.

“Stop playin’ with me Joe, you know I love Kayla,” I said as he sipped on his beer almost questioning if I was lying or not.

“Your subconsciously insecure,” Jimmy blurted out as I looked at him like he was crazy.

“Subconsciously insecure...What the hell you talkin' bout?" I hissed as Sefa pointed at Jimmy and nodded. “That’s the word I was thinking too,” he said as I felt attacked.

“Ok, since ya’ll got a therapist degree? What am I insecure about what?” I asked as Joe looked at the three of us confused.

“Yourself and whether you feel someone will love you for you or have a motive,” Jimmy said sending chills down my spine.

 He called me out on it and I couldn’t say anything as he read me like a book.

 “Jey, you seem to forget Sefa stayed wit ya’ll before he bought his house. He’s seen a lot of shit, we all have,” Jimmy said as Sefa sighed putting his head down, avoiding my gaze as the table got quiet and my thoughts began to drift.

Man, that was a crazy time when Sefa moved in with me. Danielle and I were at the height of our craziness, and it was a month before I found out about the money she had stolen.

The fighting was almost nonstop at that point every word out of her mouth was something to try to rile me up. Then when I would explode, she would throw on the tears and I would give in because I loved her.

Yea, definitely toxic shit…..

------

One Month before breakup.

“Look, my brother is upstairs can you keep it down,” I hissed as Danielle whined. “Ugh, why did you tell him he could move in. He could have gone to your parents, he is their kid,” Danielle said as I chuckled.

“Because I said he could, but I see what this is about. Your pissed because I didn’t buy that diamond bracelet you wanted so now you trying to get me worked up and start an argument,” I said onto the bullshit.

“You should count your blessings that I am even here. No woman wants a man who’s gone all the time, you should be kissing me feet. I’m still here and you should have no problem giving me anything I want. No woman will ever want you, your life is too fuckin’ complicated, Jey.” Danielle said sipping out of her wine glass.

 “Well, you can leave anytime you like because I ain’t buying that bracelet. You just spent three grand yesterday on clothes and shoes. Hell, I don’t want another you, I’ll stay single and die first. You gettin’ more shit than me and it’s my money,” I countered as she scoffed pouring herself another glass of wine.

“Fine, I guess I can cut back on shopping a little. I need to remember you’re not going to go far with this wrestling thing.  You need to save your little coins for when the glory ride is over.”

“Are you really sayin’ this shit to me because I wouldn’t buy you a fuckin bracelet or is this how you really feel,” I hissed in anger.

“I mean ya’ll a good tag team, but I don’t see ya’ll splitting up and taking the world by storm as single competitors. The crowd will never rock with you like that,” she said laughing.

“Danielle, you can be such a bitch,” I whispered sipping on my glass of brandy.  “What? I’m just letting you know the real deal; you know that right?” she said casually as I put my glass down and went upstairs.

“Aww, did that hurt your feelings! I’m sorry baby,” she said laughing walking behind me. “Leave me alone Danielle, I ain’t doin’ this shit tonight,” I whispered slamming the door in her face as she began pounding on it.

“Come on, I’m just preparing you because I love you.” she said as I began packing her a bag.

“Tired of this shit, it’s like begging for punishment. This toxic shit ain’t normal,” I muttered slanging the bag over my shoulder, storming out of my room.

“What are you doing?” Danielle asked in shock, seeming to sober up as I walked down the stairs. “Getting you out of my house since its very obvious you don’t want to be here,” I said opening the door and throwing her bag outside.

“Josh, don’t do this baby, I’m so sorry,” she cried going outside to get her bag as I slammed the door.

“Don’t do this to me! You know I love you, don’t do this,” Danielle cried beating her hands against the door as I fought the angel and devil inside me as to let her back in or not.

I couldn’t stand to see her cry, not even after the hurtful shit she had just said. I loved her and she knew it.

“Don’t give up on us baby, you know nobody will ever love you like me. Open the door so we can talk, I love you,” she sobbed as I hit the door in frustration, wiping my tears. Damn, why couldn’t we just be normal!

I looked up and saw Sefa at the top of the stairs frozen. “Do I need to call the cops.”

“Nah, everything is alright, Uce. I’m sorry we woke you up with this shit,” I whispered as he frowned.

“Don’t let her keep doing this to you, Jey. She is using you and you need to open your eyes,” he said before going back to his room.

“Jey, please open the door!” Danielle cried as I unlocked the door and let her back in. “I’m so sorry! I don’t know what came over me,” Danielle whimpered, running into my arms.

After all the shit she said to me I’m comforting her, WTF is wrong with me.

���I’m sorry Jey, I just feel like sometimes I don’t belong, and I don’t want to lose you. So, I just say things I don’t mean,” she cried as I held her close.

 “You ain’t gon’ lose me Dani, I love you. If it will make you feel better, we can go get the bracelet tomorrow,” I said as she nodded.

“Thank you, baby, you’re the best,” she sniffed as I cringed. Damn, the tears sure stopped really quick. She had got me again….

--

Sitting in the midst of the silence and remembering the chaotic shit that I had pushed out of my brain was making me see things even clearer.

“I feel fucking sick,” I mumbled as Joe’s eyes softened.

“Let’s lay off ya’ll, he doesn’t look so good,” Joe said as I felt my stomach churning even more.

“I am subconsciously insecure, they right. Sometimes I don’t think I’m not worthy of Kayla," I said actually relieved that I finally admitted it to myself.

“I saw firsthand some of the shit you went through. So, I get it, we all get it,” Sefa said as Jimmy nodded in agreement.

“How much does Kayla know about Danielle?” he asked as I sighed.

“Only that we broke up about her stealing the money, I could tell she knew it was more to the story, but she never pushed me,” I said as Joe rubbed his beard.

“Uce, you need to tell her everything and I mean everything. She deserves to know,” Sefa said as I nodded in agreement.

I’mma tell her, I just hope she listens when I do tell her.”

“You know we got ya’ back and gonna help anyway we can,” Jimmy said as we got quiet seeing Montez heading our way.

“Sorry I missed ya’ll text, Bianca had to check on some stuff and needed my help.”

“Nah, you good, Uce, it gave us a chance to have a lil family chat,” I said wondering what Kayla was doing.

--

Top deck

Kayla’s POV

After a good cry I dusted myself off and got ready for the day. This evening was supposed to be my first pre-birthday dinner and I was miserable sitting at the table with my girls.

“Passengers enjoy your time here in the Bahamas. Enjoy your island experience and be safe. Announcements and corresponding messages will be sent out as we grow closer to our departure time,” the announcer said as I sighed playing over my food.

“I’mma need you to snap out of this, we in the damn Bahamas,” Trin said as I took a deep breath.

“I’m pissed and I can’t help it. I mean why would he ever go near her? Does he still love her?” I asked truly trying to figure out how the hell did she even end in his arms.”

“Look, I know you’re mad but don’t let this spoil your trip. Tonight is your first birthday dinner and we all helped Jey plan it,” Cameron said as I cracked a small smile.

“Ya’ll always helping us out. What would we do without ya’ll?” I asked as Robin shrugged her shoulders and snickered.

“Catch some cases because I just knew you were gon’ throw that girl overboard last night,” she said as the rest of the girls laughed.

“It’s not funny ya’ll,” I said trying to avoid looking at them, hiding my own smile.

She better stay outta my way, I can tell you that. I always believe that you check your man, but I wanted to beat her ass so bad I could taste it.”

“She ain’t crazy, I heard when you mushed dat big ass forehead she got the hell on,” Bianca said as I laughed in spite of how I was feeling on the inside.

“She was doing all that big talk and hauled ass too quick,” Trin said as I played with my bracelet on my wrist trying to not think about beating Danielle’s ass.

“Look, go get a nap and get yourself together because we gon’ party tonight,” Robin said sensing my discomfort.

“Ok, I’ll try,” I said getting up giving them each a hug before I took that long lonely walk back to our suite.

Meliza Restaurant

Jey’s POV

“You think you slick putting that up under my girl post,” Bianca said looking at Kayla’s Instagram post and liking it.

“Look, I told no lies, she is mine,” I whispered as Kayla and Cameron walked ahead of us.

“You lucky she didn’t cuss yo’ ass out,” Sefa said as I smirked.

“She done told yo’ ass she is the visuals. You better get it together,” Montez said as we walked into the restaurant.

 “I am, ya’ll just stick to the plan to get us to sit by each other,” I said as Bianca snickered. “She gon’ cuss ya’ll asses out and I can’t wait,” she said walking away and shaking her head as I fixed my tie.

“Relax man, Joe is on it, that’s why he’s walking up there with Jimmy. They plannin’ to make sure ya’ll end up beside each other,” he said as I silently prayed that she’ll love the dinner and after this maybe we could talk.

Kayla’s POV

Reservation for Fatu,” Jey said as the host smiled. “We just got everything done Mr. Fatu, and we hope it’s to your satisfaction,” he said leading us to our table.

“Oh, this is nice,” Robin whispered as I looked at Jey in disbelief everything was beautiful. No matter what was going on at the moment I was thankful.

 “Thank you, everything is really beautiful,” I whispered as he smiled at me making my heart race.

“You never have to thank me baby, I love you,” he said kissing my hand as I felt some of my anger resolving but not for long as I saw everyone rushing to a seat leaving only the two chairs in the middle.

 “Come on sit by me Kayla,” Cameron said as I scoffed. “Ya’ll ain’t slick, I’m not sitting by Jey tonight. Somebody gotta move,” I said as Jey sucked on his teeth.

 “Your being childish,” he said as I rolled my eyes. “And you were acting single last night so I decided it’s only right to oblige you,” I said as he growled.

“I can move Kayla, come on,” Joe said waving me over as Robin slyly slid over and Jey took her seat previous seat.

“Sit down Kayla,” Jey whispered as I stood looking at him like he was crazy.

“Can I sit by you Cameron?” I asked as she got up and switched seats with me. Hearing the snickers at the table I knew Jey wasn’t giving up.

 “Sefa, can we switch?” Jey asked as I raised an eyebrow at his antics.

“Fine, we can sit in the middle together. I don’t feel like playin’ musical chairs wit yo’ ass all night, but don’t talk to me Fatu,” I said going back to my original seat, wanting to knock the smile off his face.

“See how easy it is when you just cooperate,” Jey said sitting down beside me as I looked over at Bianca who silently told me to take a deep breath.

Yea, this was going to be a long ass night.

The food was excellent, and the girls did a good job in keeping me preoccupied on the dance floor. I ignored Jey but it didn’t seem to faze him. “We need to talk babe,” he whispered as I nodded knowing he was right, but I didn’t feel like it tonight.

“So, what is the plan for tomorrow?” Joe asked as I shrugged. “Maybe check out the shops and the beach,” I said Jey cleared his throat as I looked at him. “Maybe we could grab dinner on the beach and get some alone time.”

“Aww, I thought after last night you would be asking Danielle,” I said without missing a beat as he sighed. “Damn, that’s cold,” Jimmy whispered as Trin hit him on the shoulder.

“Stop making it worse,” she hissed at him as rubbed his shoulder.

Jey’s POV

“Look, we are talking after this dinner, and I mean it,” I hissed as Kayla sipped on her glass of wine with a frown.  I didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh, I’m just frustrated as hell.

Out the corner of my eye I see the waiter approaching us carrying a glass of wine and sitting it in front of Kayla who seems perplexed.

“Uh, nobody here ordered another glass of wine,” I said as the waiter smiled.

“Compliments of the gentleman at the bar,” the waiter said pointing to a man sitting at the bar with his glass raised towards Kayla.

“Who the fuck is that and why is he sending you drinks?” I asked, pulling the glass of wine in front of me wanting to get some answers.

“I don’t know who he is, but give me back my shit,” Kayla said reaching over and taking the glass back.

“Kayla who is that?” I asked trying to keep my cool. “I don’t know but it was a nice gesture,” she said lifting her glass into the air towards the stranger before taking a sip.

“Ah, shit,” I heard Joe whisper as I shot him a look before looking back at Kayla.

“So, some random motherfucka just wants to buy you a glass of wine, huh?” I asked as she shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess so,” she said casually sipping her wine enjoying my discomfort.

“Hey, that’s the cutie from the club last night that bought us that round of shots,” Cameron whispered to Bianca and Robin as I sneered.

I didn’t have time to let my thoughts run away for long as he stood up and began walking towards us.

“Aye, keep your cool, ain’t nobody trying to go to jail. We ain’t in the states,” Jimmy whispered as this motherfucker stood boldly in front of Kayla and me.

He literally is eying her up and down like she’s dessert.

“I heard it was your birthday, so I ordered you a glass of wine,” he said reaching down, taking Kayla’s hand in his and placing a kiss on her hand.

“What the fuck?” I hissed as Kayla seemed confused but smiled. “Uh, well, it’s not my birthday yet, but thank you for the kind gesture,” she said as I rolled my eyes. “You are very welcome, my name is Colton,” he said as I growled.

“Ok, you can move on now Colton, this is a family dinner and you ain’t invited,” I said as Sefa touched my shoulder. “Aye, just breathe man,” Joe whispered as unclenched my fist.

Who the fuck does he think he is? Kayla is my woman, how dare he even fucking look at her.

“Could I trouble you for a dance.”

“Nah, she’s good, move on,” I said as Kayla sipped on her wine. “Sure, I would love to Colton,” she said standing up.

“So, you just gon’ act like I ain’t sitting right here, Kayla?” I asked as she looked back at me.

 “Yep, just like how you acted like I wasn’t on the ship last night when you were dancing with Danielle,” she whispered as Robin and Joe cringed.

I flinched at her words but didn’t say anything, instead I watched them like a hawk as she followed him onto the dance floor.

 “Uce, you need to breathe,” Jimmy said as I ignored him and looked over at Joe who seemed like he was just waiting for me to say the word.

“Go get her Joe, before I kill this mothafucka,” I hissed as Joe got up without hesitation and went over to get Kayla.

“You trippin ‘Jey,” Robin said as I growled seeing Joe coming back over without her.

“Aye, you gon’ have to handle that, Uce,” he said sitting down clearing his throat.

“What did she say?” Bianca asked as Joe sighed. “She told me she loved me, but to take my ass back to my seat. Yea, and to tell you to fuck off,” he said pointing at me.

“How bout you take your ass over there and get your own woman,” Trin said as I sucked on my teeth.

“Jimmy and Sefa go get her,” I said my eyes focused on this clown’s hands resting on her lower back as they danced.

“I don’t see why she can’t dance with him? What they doin’ is a simple two step, barely even touching. What you had going on last night was a ho bumping and grindin’ up on you and trying to kiss you,” Robin said as Joe leaned over and whispered in her ear as she rolled her eyes at me.

“I agree, it ain’t the same,” Trin said as Jimmy looked at me and I gave him the signal tuning the girls out.

“A’ight let’s go Sefa, but I ain’t trying to get cussed out,” Jimmy said as Trin shook her head. “I hope she do cuss yo’ ass out because he needs to be takin’ his ass over there and not ya’ll,” Trin said as Bianca shook her head and looked over at Montez who he held his hands up.

 “I ain’t goin’ over there so don’t look at me like dat. I do got some sense,” he said as she seemed pleased with her answer.

Kayla’s POV

I want him to feel how I felt last night. If you feel how I felt last night, maybe you will think before you put yourself in these stupid positions.

“Ya’ man seemed very upset, I didn’t mean any harm,” Colton said as I nodded. “He’s really mad about something else, it has nothing to do with you. Plus, it’s just a harmless dance and I’m Kayla by the way,” I said as he smiled.

“Yes, it is, and I meant no disrespect. It’s just you looked like you could use a break and it’s nice to meet you Kayla,” he said as I smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said as he looked over my shoulder.

“Here comes some more of your friends,” he whispered as I rolled my eyes. I knew it was Sefa and Jimmy

“Uh, sis, Jey wants to holla at you right quick,” Jimmy said gently touching my shoulder as Colton cleared his throat and stepped back.

“I don’t give a damn what he wants Jimmy.”

“Let’s get some air sis, tensions are high, and we just need to cool off. Uce, is feeling some type of way-” Sefa started as I interrupted him.

“Tell your brother I’m a grown ass woman and I don’t give a damn how he’s feeling. He can kiss my ass for all I care, now relay that message,” I whispered to him so Colton nor Jimmy could hear me.

Sefa nodded, rubbing his hand over his beard before walking back towards our table with Jimmy in tow.

The anger that flashed across Jey’s face as Sefa relayed the message didn’t frighten me at all as he stood up and began walking towards us.

“Look, Imma head out, my friends are back,” Colton said pointing at two guys standing by the entrance as they smiled and waved.

“I think it’s best,” I said waving back at them as Colton nodded. 

“Have a good rest of your trip, and Happy Birthday Kayla.”

“Thank you and the same to you,” I said as Jey casually tapped him on the shoulder before we could go our separate ways.

“Sorry to cut in, but it’s my turn,” Jey said grabbing my hand, pulling me to him before Colton could even respond.

Reading the room, Colton held his hands up in surrender. “She’s all yours big guy, I was just about to leave anyway,” he said as Jey smirked at him.

“I’m glad you realize that, now take yo’ ass on,” Jey said as I shook my head. “Bye Colton and thanks,” I said as he smiled and waved before walking back over to his friends as Jey wore a deep frown.

“That was rude,” I said as he scoffed. “Yea, it was rude and I don’t give a fuck. You really think I was gon’ let that shit ride, another man trying to push up on you, fuck you thought was gon’ happen.”

“Jey, I’m a grown ass woman,” I hissed as he licked his lips caressing my hips.

“Yea, you are and I’m a grown ass man. So, I don’t mind coming to get my woman,” Jey said as I smiled.

 “Oh, really, because I wasn’t aware I was your woman because you damn sure seemed to have a lapse of memory last night,” I said as he pulled me closer.

“Look, I get it, Kay. I hurt you, but when are you going to actually listen to me and let me explain,” he said as I pushed him away.

“When you actually understand how that shit made me feel and want to have a real conversation about why you even put yourself in that kind of position to begin with, especially with her, and speak of the devil, there she is.”

“What are you talking about?” he whispered as I pointed to the entrance and there stood Danielle with a smirk.

“Let’s just go Kayla, it ain’t worth it.”

“No, I ain’t going nowhere, this is my night. That bitch can leave,” I said as Danielle, and I stared each other down from across the room.

Sefa’ POV

“I know this isn’t happening,” I whispered seeing Danielle and hearing Cameron’s sharp intake of breath.

“I’mma beat this bitch ass,” Bianca said as Montez shushed her.

“Don’t shush me….I’m just sayin’ she got one time and she mine,” Bianca said as he tried to calm her down.

“All the places on this fuckin’ island and she’s here,” Robin said as Joe seemed speechless. “It’s the audacity for me,” Trin said as Jimmy nodded.

“Damn, she really just thinks she can do what she wants,” Jimmy said as Kayla and Jey came and sat back down.

“Boo, you ready to go?” Robin asked as Kayla laughed.

“Nah, I’m about to beat her ass and then we can leave.”

“Excuse me, what?” Jey asked as Kayla took off her earrings.

“You heard me, I’m bout to beat her motherfuckin’ ass, and then we can leave,” Kayla said louder as Bianca smirked.

“That’s my girl, whoop dat bitch ass. She been playin’ in your face like she ain’t got no sense.”

“Maybe we should just leave,” Joe said as Danielle walked in front of Jey and Kayla.

“Joe, I love you for trying to be the voice of reason, but she got this one coming,” Trin whispered as I saw Kayla shift in her seat wearing a smile.

Danielle had just walked into the lion’s den and didn’t even know it.

Kayla’s POV

“Aww, Jey you still going all out for special occasions I see,” Danielle said picking up a glass from off the table as I smirked at her, as Jey was livid.

“Leave Danielle-” Jey hissed as I interrupted him.

“Jey, don’t say another word, I got it. Danielle, let me holla at you on the terrace,” I said standing up with my glass a wine as everyone looked on almost scared to move.

“Oou, you in danger girl, and don’t even know it,” Trin whispered as I smiled, playing it cool.

“Sure, I see no reason as to why we can’t have a conversation like grown women,” she said heading towards the terrace as Jey stood up.

“Kayla, baby, I can-”

“Your not needed for this conversation,” I said as his eyes pleaded with me to not do anything crazy.

“I’m fine….It’s cool,” I said giving his hand a comforting squeeze before following her onto the terrace and closing the door behind me.

The waves crashing upon the shore represented my own anger that was raging inside me as we were finally standing face to face.

Her smugness pissing me off, but I couldn’t let it show. I needed answers first, and after that…..  Oh, I’mma  beat dat ass for the 9-9- and the 2000’s.

“I’m glad we could talk after last night,” Danielle said as I nodded.

“After last night, I was so crazy angry. I was wondering what I’d do if I saw you again.  I mean would I just lose control and beat yo’ ass on site.” I said as Danielle backed up slightly holding her hands up.

“Now, you said we were going to talk,” Danielle said as I smiled.

“You know I even dreamed about throwing your ass overboard last night,” I said casually taking a sip of my wine as she seemed nervous.

“So, are we going to talk, or are you going to keep threatening me.”

“We are talking Danielle, but let’s be real…..I don’t know you, but let me make it crystal clear.  Stay away from Jey, or we’re gonna have a problem,” I said as she smirked.

“Oh, so you speak for him now. Man, where did he find you, Ms. Perfect?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, but it’s none of your business. Danielle, why did you show up here?” I asked truly curious.

“Well, you are the longest relationship he’s been in since we broke up four years ago. I’m trying to figure out what makes you so damn special,” she said as I shook my head, this bitch was asking for it.

  “I speak life into him and I’m actually there for him. Something, you didn’t do, apparently,” I said as she rolled her eyes.

“Look, Jey knew he couldn’t do better than me, so he was ok with it. Normally he realizes the error of his ways and then we fall right back into our routine within a month. It’s just takin’ us a little longer this time,” Danielle said as I looked at her like she was crazy.

“It’s been four years!” I shouted as she sneered at me. “Like you are delusional as fuck. Baby, it’s been over between you and Jey. It was over a year before I even came in the picture.”

“I’m not delusional, I’m speaking facts.”

The more she rambled, the more things started to make sense. She was a toxic ass narcissist, emotionally abusive, and God knows what else and in that moment of realization, I saw red.

“You made his life a living hell, didn’t you?” I whispered as she smiled.

 Yea, I’m done talking now. Without hesitation, I flicked my glass of wine in her face as she gasped in shock.

“That was for showing your fuckin’ face here,” I said as she tried to wipe her face off with her hands. “You fuckin’ bitch,” she said whispered through gritted teeth.

“Yea, that’s me, and don’t you forget it.” Rearing back, I punched her in the face, as she collapsed to the ground holding her jaw.

“That one was for Jey,” I said as she used the railing for support to pull herself up. “I’m going to kill you,” she whispered as I tackled her, our momentum causing us both to go over the railing, and onto the sand.

The force of our landing knocking the wind knocked out of both. “Shit!” I hissed, rubbing the back of my head momentarily, but regained my senses seeing Danielle trying to run away.

Shaking the cobwebs loose, I kicked off my heels and grabbed her by the leg “Nah, you been talkin’ all dat shit, what’s good!” I yelled slanging her back down onto the sand.

“Ah! Your crazy!” Danielle screamed as I climbed on top of her punching anywhere I could as she tried to block my fists with her arms.

“Bitch you gon’ learn today, this ain’t what you want!”

Jey’s POV

The loud crash was enough for us all to run onto the terrace to see what the hell was going on.

There was Kayla on top of Danielle in the sand unloading on her ass as Danielle was screaming trying to cover herself up.

“Uce, get her ass before they call the damn cops,” Sefa hissed as we both jumped over the rail running to separate the girls.

“Kay, come on that’s enough,” I said pulling her off of Danielle as she kept a tight grip on her hair.

“Let go! Let go!” Danielle screamed as Sefa pried Kayla’s hands out of her hair, but not before Kayla broke her other arm free from my grasp and punched Danielle a couple times on the back of the head.

“Damn! You can’t get her, Jey!” Joe yelled as Jimmy was helping him get ahold of Danielle.

“I got her! Ya’ll just get her ass outta here!” I yelled as Kayla tried to break free.

“You bitch! This ain’t over!” Danielle screamed as Jimmy and Joe were dragging her away.

“You damn right it ain’t, cause’ every time I see you, it’s on-site bitch!” Kayla yelled struggling against me as the girls came over to help calm her down.

“Calm down, Kayla, you got her, and it’s done,” Trin said as Kayla finally stopped fighting against me.  

“I got you, just calm down baby. It’s over, alright,” I whispered as Kayla turned and looked at me with tears in her eyes.

 “I’m sorry,” she whispered as the girls surrounded her, pushing me away in the process before I could respond.

“Ya’ll take her and get her cleaned up,” Sefa said as Montez picked up Kayla’s shoes up the ground and handed them to Cameron.

“I’ll go check on Joe and Jimmy,” Montez said as I nodded feeling a migraine coming on. All this was my fault….

“I’ll go pay so we can head back to the ship,” I said just feeling defeated watching the girls comforting Kayla when it should have been me.

Yep, night two official had gone to shit.

@reci24 @southerngirl41 @vebner37 @jeyusos-girl

@melaninsugababy @romanreignkisser @bebesobrielo

@arination99 @2-muchsauce @bakugoumarianawrites

@empressdede @alyyaanna @christinabae @anonandwannakeepitthatway @venusesworld @jeyusosgirl  @theninthwonder @mya2real  @justazzi @whatdoeseverybodywant @reignsboy19 wooahmiri alichesmi pytbgeezy

[strrwbrrryjam]

on youtube there is a florida man who explores the everglades, the amazon, the puerto rico rainforest and more in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt and he's insane, he just goes around literally yoinking the wildlife to show them to the camera and putting them back down, except if their invasive which he takes with him, he's yoinked snakes, centipedes, birds, sea animals (including a stingray) and even held hands with several crocodiles and alligators, he sometimes comes out with a handful of tokay geckos, baby burmese pythons as they're invasive and he's apparently searching for a 20ft burmese python and anaconda.

all I'm saying is this is how Arthur Morgan would be spending his time if he were born today. just exploring daunting forests with a bold and fearless approach, getting up close and personal with animals that can kill him and removing invasive species from the land to preserve the natural balance of the ecosystems.

[imashoe69420]

Can I request a shy Leo x shy male reader, where they both have a nice sleep over together alone, and then the reader timidly asks Leo what kissing feels like, and Leo says that he doesn't since he never kissed anyone or know how to kiss, and the reader say the same. So Leo nervously asks if they could try it together, and the reader agrees, and they both bashfully try it together at the same time on 3?

The reader is Puerto Rican

Happy Pride everybody!!! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

★彡 On Three ★ 彡

Rise!Leo X Shy!Male!Reader

Genre: Fluff

Relationship: Romantic

Timeline: Post-Movie

Pronouns: Masculine (he/him)

Warnings ⚠️: Language

===================================

One thing you weren’t known for was being up front with your thoughts and emotions. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust anybody, it was just the second you would open your mouth, nothing would come out. Or someone would talk over you, which always annoyed you.

That being said, you never had many close friends until you met Leo. For once, you’d found a person that had identical interests as you and would hyper-fixate on such topics the same way you did.

On top of this, the both of you weren’t inclined to make many friends; for different reasons, of course. But this only brought you closer to each other.

After a few months of hanging out, you noticed a change in your relationship with the blue clad turtle.

When he would come over to your apartment, he would bring gifts such as food or a new issue of your favorite comic. Leo would adamantly listen when you would speak, but you often questioned if he was really listening, or just admiring your visage. You didn’t mind it, but the question was always in the back of your head.

Aside from the gifts, the turtle would often brush up against you or place his hand right beside your own. If you pointed it out, he would automatically shrink away and try to deny his attempt at the intimate gesture while stuttering and blushing furiously.

In all honestly, you thought his little blatant attempts were adorable, frequently laughing at his embarrassment. You yourself had been questioning not only your attraction to him, but your sexuality as well.

You’d only had a girlfriend or female interests. The only guy you’d ever liked was a celebrity that was absolutely ripped. It would be fair to say that you were questioning.

~~~

It wasn’t long after the sun officially set when you heard a familiar tapping at your window. When you entered your living room from the kitchen, you saw a smug Leonardo playfully wiggling his factitious eyebrows at you.

You couldn’t hide the redness of your cheeks, instead opting to quickly open the window and scurrying into the kitchen to continue cooking.

Before you could even say hello, Leo had a quip about how good your cooking smelled.

“Yeah, they’re Empanadillas. Most people call them empanadas. Same thing.” You clarified. “You want some?”

He nodded, approaching the beef filling sizzling in its pan. “I’m sure anything you cook will amaze my tastebuds, (Y/N).”

Your heart betrayed you as it gained speed at his compliment, causing your face to be even more red. “I-I wanted to make the dough from scratch but I didn’t want to ask the workers where the corn oil was so…” your words trailed off as you admitted that. Being shy sometimes felt like your greatest curse.

Leo chuckled. “It’s alright! I’m sure it’ll taste the same.”

You knew he was just being kind, but you’d had authentic Empanadillas when you went to visit your grandmother in Puerto Rico every spring. The ones you were making could never measure up to your abuela’s.

Soon, you finished cooking and offered Leo one of them. To say he was absolutely in love would be an understatement. You only ended up having two or three while the blue clad turtle downed about six of them without getting up for air. In your culture, food was a way to express your love for people, so the fact that he was thoroughly enjoying your food warmed your heart despite only having a few of them yourself.

After the meal, you played an obscure romantic comedy in the background as the two of you talked about a recent episode of a show you’d been watching.

You eventually started to pay more attention to the movie as Leo tried to find the name of an actor from the show on his phone. The two main characters kissed briefly before continuing their conversation. This sparked a question in your mind for Leo.

“Hey, Lee?” You said barely audibly.

He gazed up at you with a curious expression, causing you to immediately backtrack.

“No, tell me. What’s up?” Leo smiled.

“I-I… well… no, it’s stupid.”

Leo laughed as he took hold of your hand in a friendly gesture, giving it a light squeeze. That was another thing he would often do. “See, now I have to know.”

You hesitated. “I… have you… well, probably not, but… have you ever… kissed anybody?”

The turtle nearly choked on his own spit, which only made you more embarrassed.

His face man act soon returned, though. “You see, not everybody can appreciate good looks such as this.” Leo waved a hand in front of his face, that iconic smirk plastered on his face. “So that’s unfortunately on the back burner. How about you?”

You shrugged pathetically. “I had a girlfriend in middle school, but that doesn’t really count. And we never kissed.”

Noticing his face suddenly fall, you subtly clarified that you were questioning your sexuality. Leo perked back up in no time.

After a few seconds of silence as the movie’s credits rolled, he came up with a unique proposition.

“Y’know… we could try.”

Your eyes practically bugged out from your head. “W-what?”

The turtle raised his three-fingered hands in defense. “We don’t have to! I-I mean, I was just… offering?”

More silence fell over the two as they stared at each other. You began laughing at the awkward exchange.

“I-I mean… I’m down for… whatever.” You said bashfully.

Leonardo exhaled in relief. “Should we, like… do it on three?”

The duo chuckled before you leaned in closer toward his face.

“Ok, on me. One, two… three.”

Leo was the first to close the space between the two of you. It was only for a second, though; a peck. When you parted, admiration was laced in the blue turtle’s features. He came back again.

Then again for a little longer.

Then again long enough to the point where you subconsciously maneuvered to sit in his lap.

After a minute or so, you and Leo parted. He exhaled a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” You teased.

“Nothing… I just think I like kissing you.” The turtle revealed shyly.

The corner of your lips pulled up into a smile; a real genuine smile.

“I think I like kissing you, too.”

[dino-fart]

I Found You | Chapter 1: The Golden Leaf

Summary + Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Pairing: Namor x Female!Reader

Genre: Romance, Angst

Summary: You find yourself in deep depression and decide to take a trip to the sea. While you go on your soul searching journey you meet a mysterious man. You come back every night to try and find him and when you do you only hope you can get to know more about him. Will he let you in? Will you let him in?

Warning: Depression, Verbal Abuse from Family

You had fallen into a deep depression, the stress of work and everyday life was weighing you down. Your mom picked up on it on your last call with her and she decided to plan a trip. A trip to the beautiful city of San Juan in Puerto Rico. You were excited when she told you and for the first time in months, you had a smile on your face. Unfortunately, that smile lasted five minutes when you heard the rest of your family was joining, especially your father. 

You had a rough relationship with him, after all, you were the oldest of four, and being the oldest meant the most pressure. You felt you were in a pretty good place in life, despite being stressed out, but now anytime you’d visit your family, you could feel the tension. You were courteous to your father just to keep the peace. But inside your blood was boiling any time he criticized you for every little thing. You ended the call with your mom and decided that once you would land, you’d find your own hotel and join them every now and then. 

That was your plan and you booked a separate hotel room next to the hotel they were staying at.  You landed in Puerto Rico and got into your hotel.

The next day, you met your family at an outdoor café to join them for coffee. You wore your cat eye sunglasses, white sunhat, and blue sleeveless dress with matching sandals and your hair was in a half updo. You sat next to your mother and across from your father and your two brothers and sister. 

“You look nice! This dress is gorgeous on you!” Your mom beamed and embraced you. 

You hugged her tightly and pulled back. 

“Do you have a jacket or something, that’s too much skin you’re showing.” Your father scolded. 

“It’s fine.” You simply replied. 

“Tell her to change the dress.” Your father looked at your mother. 

“Can we not do this the first day?” Your younger sister chimed in and glared at him. 

“I have four coffees and two cappuccinos.” The waiter said approaching the table. 

“Yes, thank you.” Your mom smiled and the waiter set the coffee down on the table and left. 

“So what’s the plan for today?” You asked, taking a sip of your cappuccino. 

“We’re either thinking of the train around the island or a walk on the beach.” Your sister said. 

“Those sound great to me!” You nodded. 

“We’re not going anywhere until you change.” Your father said with gritted teeth. 

“She’s an adult, are you serious right now?” Your brother spoke up. 

You sighed and set the cup down, “It was nice to see you all, let me know what you decide, I’m going to walk along the beach.” You had enough, you were here to relax. You stood up from the table and your mother gave you a sad smile. 

You walked off toward the path to the beach. “Fucking asshole.” You muttered and kicked a rock across the sand. You stopped walking and stood at the shoreline, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. It took everything in your power to not cry, you wouldn’t let yourself do it. You wouldn’t let him win. 

You opened your eyes when you felt something on your foot. You looked down to see a small pearl necklace. You furrowed your brows and leaned down to pick them up. They were beautiful and the reflection of the sun made them shine so elegantly. You stroked your thumb over the pearls and then looked around. 

Surely, the owner must be close by? Then it hit you...You turned your gaze to the sea and covered your mouth. You hoped this wasn’t someone who drowned or was lost at sea. You couldn’t see a lifeguard or anyone of authority nearby, you decided to keep the necklace for now and maybe return later in the day and see if anyone is looking for it. You left the beach and headed back to the hotel. 

6:00 pm 

You received a text from your mom wanting to meet at an outdoor restaurant by the beach for dinner. You told her you were on the way and changed your outfit. You wore your eyeglasses, dark green long-sleeve shirt, white shorts, and brown sandals, and your hair was in a bun. You brought your small purse with pearl necklaces in it so you could explore the beach. You sat there at the table, sitting across from your parents. 

“Where are the kids?’ You asked noticing how empty the table was. 

“They didn’t want to come, they weren’t feeling well.” Your mom answered. 

You just nodded and thanked the waiter when he brought the plates and drinks. 

“So how was your walk on the beach?” Your mom said. 

“It was nice, I found a pearl necklace and spoke to some authorities. They said they didn’t see anyone or have any reports of someone drowning. I’m going to walk around more to see if anyone is looking for them.” 

“All she asked was how was your walk, we don’t need all that information.” Your father scoffed. 

You took a bite of your food and made no eye contact with him. 

“Maybe I’ll join you and we can solve the mystery together.” Your mom smiled. 

“I don’t think so. It’s too dark and your knees will hurt. Why waste your time with her, running around the beach?” Your father said to your mom and glared at you. 

Your mom set her fork down and glared at him now. You continued to eat, doing your best not to let him affect you. There was a long period of silence as the three of you finished your food and drinks. 

“Can I see the necklace?” Your mom said breaking the silence. 

“Yeah, let me get them out.” 

“No. Stop indulging in her fantasies, she’s still a stupid girl. Take the necklace to the police.” Your father demanded you. 

“You know what...You’re right. I will go do that. Right. Now.” You stood up from the table and grabbed your purse. 

Your mom tried to call you back but you continued walking. You stopped at the waiter’s podium and paid for the entire meal including your parents’ then left. It was the best way to say ‘fuck you’ to your dad, by embarrassing him and his ego this way. 

You made it back to the beach and sat down on the sand, you took your glasses off and put them in your purse. Your legs moved up and pressed against your chest. Your wrapped your arms around your knees and buried your head in your thighs, taking in a deep breath. Your breaths became shaky and tears formed in your eyes. The sheer anxiety and stress from this whole day finally hit you. 

You decided to not hold it back anymore and sobbed loudly in your thighs. “Fucking...Prick.” You sobbed. You were quiet now and closed your eyes. 

“Why do you cry, jats'uts ko'olelo' (pretty woman)?” You heard a male voice ask and raised your head up to see a muscular, half-naked man adorned in jewelry crouched in front of you. 

You gasped softly and quickly wiped your tears away. “I-I’m fine.” You stuttered. 

“It’s okay, ch'úupal (miss), I’m not going to hurt you. I heard you crying...I just wanted to see if you were okay.” The dark-haired man smiled kindly at you. 

You felt your cheeks heat up at how gentle his voice was. “D-Don’t worry about it, I...Wait a minute...” You cut yourself off and observed the small pearl necklace around his neck. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head at you. “This is yours.” You said moving to open your purse and take out the necklace. 

The man’s eyes grew wide and watched you offer it to him. He smiled and bowed his head to you. “Nib óolal, in ko'olelo' (Thank you, my lady).” He gently took the necklace from your hands and put them around his neck. 

You gave him a small smile, “Your jewelry is beautiful...And so is the language you speak...What is it, if you don’t mind me asking? It doesn’t sound like Spanish.” 

The man gave you another one of his charming smiles and moved to sit next to you. “I said thank you, my lady. It is the language of my people, a language that is quite old.” The man said looking out into the sea. 

You observed his features and his profile, admiring how handsome he was. You liked his nose and his soft eyes the most. He turned to look at you and you blushed, realizing he caught you staring. The man didn’t seem to mind, in fact, now he was staring at you. You shyly tucked a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. 

“You looked very sad earlier, I am glad to see that you are okay. Maybe my presence has something to do with it?” He grinned. 

You chuckled softly, “I mean it definitely helped to have a handsome, half-naked man with a charming smile sit next to me.” 

The man laughed softly and nodded, “You like my smile?” 

“Oh come on, I’m sure I’m not the first person to say that.” You teased and nudged his shoulder. 

“True but it’s definitely the first time I’ve heard it from such a beautiful woman.” 

“Smooth talker.” You smiled shyly. 

The man moved his hand over to gently cup your cheek. “I wish to thank you for reuniting me with my necklace.” 

“No need, this is plenty.” You nuzzled your cheek into his touch. 

The man moved his hand away and stood up. You bit your lip, shit did you say too much? “Wait right here, I think I know just what to get you.” 

The man’s smile reassured you and you watched him dive into the water. Now, the logical side of your brain should’ve been questioning everything that was going on, especially how this man could dive so quickly into the water and what his jewelry meant. But the emotional side of you didn’t care, he had such a gentle way of speaking, and you were smitten. After a few minutes, the man walked out of the water like it was nothing. He brushed his wet hair back with his hand and moved to sit next to you. “For you.” He said as he held up a shimmering golden fern leaf. 

You gently took it from him and twirled it gently. 

“That is a golden water leaf. Stroke the leaves and you’ll see why it’s called that.” The man said.

You cupped the leaves and gently ran your fingers over the leaves. The sound it made was music to your ears, it sounds like soft waves. You smile brightly at the sound and looked over at him. “It’s amazing...Thank you.” You held it close to your heart. 

“No thank you.” The man smiled. He gently cupped your cheek again and leaned in close to you. You leaned in as well, giving in to this man immediately. You two were about to kiss when your phone rang. 

You pulled away and sighed, “Sorry, let me just see who this is.” You took out your phone and saw it was your mom. “Hello?” You answered the phone. 

“Honey, I’m so sorry about him...Are you okay?” Your mom asked. 

“I’m fine...” You smiled as you looked over at the man. 

“Come meet me at the Café Cuatro Estaciones, they’re still open and I could use a hot drink.” 

“Sure, I’ll be there soon.” 

“Love you.” 

“Love you too.” You hung up the phone and looked over at the dark-haired man. 

“You have to go?” He said softly. 

“Yes...I’m sorry, my mom wants to meet me. I...Can I see you again?” 

The man leaned over and took his hands in yours. He gently pressed his lips against your cheek. “Tomorrow night, same spot.” He whispered in your ear. 

“I realized...I don’t even know your name.” You whispered back. 

“Namor.” 

You turned your head to press your lips against his. You told him your name when you pulled back from the kiss. 

Namor smiled and pecked your lips again. “Until tomorrow, jats'uts (beautiful).” 

“Until tomorrow.” You nodded and slowly stood up and took your purse. You began to walk away from him and before you left the beach, you turned your head to look at him. Your heart skipped a beat when you saw he was watching you. He waved at you and you waved back. 

You made your way to the restaurant, maybe this vacation wouldn’t be so bad after all. 

Dividers By: @silkholland​

Author’s Note: A lot of the family dynamic is based on real experiences with my family. This fic is a comfort piece for me after visiting my family for Christmas and being harshly insulted by my father. He’s the primary source of my depression. I’m fine, in case anyone is concerned, I just wanted to write something comforting, hopefully it can comfort others too.​

[fatehbaz]

Sandra [Ruiz]: I think the other word, too, to add to "resonance" and "vignette" [...] would be "score". [...] The idea is to feel each of the words as they join one another, but also how they live singularly; [...] one way for us to think of how to metaphorically play with the traps of representation mobilized by words, categories, colonial forms. In doing so, we were also trying to think about the borderless, the leaking frame. Or, how do you leak out of the frame, how do you move beyond it? [...]

Stefano [Harney]: [...] Studying together, writing together [...]. It shares you out. [...]

Fred [Moten]: Sometimes I’m fascinated by these videos of birds swarming, of murmuration. [...] [T]he murmuration that we see from outside is [...] a collection of vignettes; in any given moment, that duet becomes trio becomes octet, and then it goes back down to quintet, so that there’s this constant [...] preformation going on [...]. [H]ow we make that our practice, our constant study. [...]

Hypatia [Vourloumis]: The murmuration is very important for us because it is [...] materialized through a necessary sharing out of motion, one where its swooping nebulousness is dependent on intense coordination between a small number of groups of starlings that overlap. It seems to me that it’s an important paradigm in terms of collective flight and questions of social organizing, of instituting, or de-instituting, de-structuralization [...]. What would that look like? [...] [R]evolutions happen by way of resonance [...] in the context of the Athens uprising of 2008, and they were thinking how that insurrection resonated with the uprisings of the banlieues of Paris in 2005. [...] After [...] that, you saw Tunisia, and for those of us who live in the Mediterranean, there’s this sense that, for example, if we’re on the Northern Mediterranean, we’re more connected to the Middle East and to the Maghreb across on the Southern Mediterranean, even though we’re supposedly on this continent called Europe with its militarized lethal border. [...] [Y]ou could sense [...] a ricocheting “resonance,” because squares were then occupied in Barcelona and Madrid, then you saw it in Athens, then you saw it in Istanbul. These uprisings were sharing out across the Mediterranean, and then [...] the Occupy movements across the Atlantic or up in England. This seems to raise questions about form, about how we organize ourselves [...].

---

Fred: Sandra and Hypatia, your collaboration is also a collaboration of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. It’s a non-continental, archipelagic thing, or thinking. Y’all think by way of islands, rather than by continental landmasses [...]. You link up with a long line of thought that approaches beach, and shoal, and delta. 

Hypatia: Yes, and I would say that this non-continental “tidalectic” thinking, to cite Brathwaite, spans all the way towards the nusantara (archipelago) of Southeast Asia as well. In my research I think about the islands of the “former East Indies” and the “former West Indies” together too, and, working with Sandra, also Puerto Rico and Greece. What I appreciate so much about Sandra’s book Ricanness is her insistence on the use of the word “anticolonial,” which resonates for me because Puerto Rico and Greece share a history of being ongoing debt colonies. 

Fred: [...] So that resistance to geopolitical brutality is a kind of oceanizing of land mass or an archipelagizing of land mass, which islands [...] realize, or surrealize. [...] It turns on this radical refusal of scale and the way scale is all bound up with the concept of static, statist land mass.

---

All text above by: Stefano Harney, Fred Moten, Sandra Ruiz, and Hypatia Vourloumis. “Resonances: A Conversation on Formless Formation.” e-flux Journal Issue #121. October 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[applejuicefruit]

Can u make one with Adrien pleaaaase ! where someone disrespects you, he doesn't like it at all and "fights" with that guy? Thank you !

I feel like Adrien would be so protective of his girl like he is with his teammates!

adrien rabiot x reader

Fight me

You and your boyfriend Adrien were currently spending some time in one of your favorite rooftop bars in Torino. Just you and him, sitting on a very comfortable couch watching the beautiful Torino skyline during sunset, it was perfect. Your head on his shoulder and his arm around your waist as you both drank your cocktails. You were talking on where to go these holidays, he wanted to come back to France for a few days and you couldn’t agree more but he was also saying how he wanted to go somewhere tropical, maybe Puerto Rico or Colombia. Adrien was a sun man, but you, on the other hand, wanted to visit some cold places, maybe Iceland and everytime you brought up the topic he bursted out laughing, saying how different but perfect for each others you were. And he was right.

“Mon amour” he called you waking you up from your light day dreaming “as much as I love staying here I should really use the restroom for a minute” he said and you bursted out laughing.

“If you have to go…” you joked lifting your head from his shoulder.

“I’ll be as quick as possible” he said before leaving for the restroom.

It only took ten seconds of Adrien being gone when a man approached you and set on the couch next to you.

You didn’t want to sound rude or anything but the bar was almost half empty as it was a week day and most of the people were still at work or busy with their lives, so you thought, why did he have to sit there?

“Hey beauty” he tried to talk to you but you simply looked away. This situation was making you very uncomfortable and you were mentally counting the seconds for Adrien to come back.

“I’m talking to you” he said again as you ignored him “what a bitch! I’m just trying to be nice to you and your making it very difficult you know I could fuck anyone I want, you’re nothing special” he said laughing a bit and in that moment all you wanted to do was crying but you didn’t want to look or sound weak.

“What did you say to her?” that voice. Right in the moment you needed him the most.

“You heard man” the so-called man sat next to you didn’t even turn his face to see who he was talking to.

“Stand up, that was my seat” Adrien said with a very annoyed voice.

“Chill out man…” he said standing up “…I just wanted to see if the girl wanted to get some, you know, but apparently she’s more of a saint, anyway not my type, she’s not even that pretty” he said but before he could leave Adrien saw his opportunity and punched the guy right in the face. He fell to the floor and Adrien knelt down “if a woman say no is no, don’t you ever forget that! Just because you’ve been rejected that doesn’t give you the right to treat them bad…and, for what you said to my girlfriend, don’t you ever try to speak or even look in her direction again, clear? I’m ashamed to be called a man when people like you exist…what a pity” Adrien said standing up again “…I think we should leave mon amour” he said in a calmer and sweeter voice while he grabbed your hand and led you out of the bar. Once in the car you still tried to process everything that happened ten minutes ago.

“You okay mon amour?” Adrien asked you as he saw you looking out of the window.

“Mh-mh” you said too scared of sounding weak if you spoke.

“Cherie?” he called you with your favorite nickname that made you melt all the time.

“I’m fine…it’s just…” you let a few tears fall and Adrien quickly wiped them away “…I panicked a bit when I saw him sitting next to me and I hate it because I never know what to say or do in these situations…but thank you for being there when I needed you…” you thanked him.

“I will always be there for you mon ange…always” he grabbed your hand and gently kissed it while he started driving back home as he promised you to stop and buy your favourite take away and watch you favourite barbie movie once you were both comfortably laying in bed.

[missyling]

AG Historical Character Wishlist

I was really delighted by Claudie and I feel like although the Harlem Renaissance is probably the third Black history moment that comes to mind after slavery and the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement, it’s definitely a more distant third. My next pitch would be to go more of a route like Claudie and Cécile, show a Black girl growing up in a less commonly known era and place and center less Black suffering while still giving a historical accurate picture of her life. Set her pre-Cécile.

Similarly, another Jewish girl! I think it would be really interesting to see what life would be like for her pre-1900s and in the South? Like it makes sense to me why they put Rebecca on the Lower East Side in the early 1900s, I’d just like to explore/highlight lesser-known stories too.

A Muslim girl! It’s really terrible that we don’t have one at all, not even outside the Historical Chararacters line as a Girl of the Year. There are so many different angles this could be approached - is she Turkish in XXXX? Indian? Georgian ? (African nation with a high Muslim population)? Bosnian ? Iranian ?

We need another Latina girl as well! One of my personal historical custom character projects is a girl who was brought to the U.S. as part of Operation Pedro Pan but that still leaves fertile space between 1824 and 1962 for another Latina story and right now the 1800s are pretty sparse. I know AG won’t do a girl before Kaya which makes 1700s a bit difficult but does still leave two decades after Felicity.

Another Indigenous girl. I know that Indian schools are a heavy subject but maybe we could go the route of Addy and Cécile, where two complementary stories illustrate different parts of the Native experience. I also know there was Minuk in the Girls of Many Lands line (sidenote: I would cry tears of joy if they brought back GoML and expanded it), but Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian stories would be great to highlight too. And this mostly belongs in a different post but I think it would be wonderful to have an Indigenous Girl of the Year.

A Biracial girl. Arguably Nanea counts here but I’m talking

The fact that we have no Asian historical girls is so sad and disappointing. Okay, sorry, that was dramatic and not quite correct, there is Nanea but she’s and also she’s another in the twentieth century. East Asian - , South Asian -

I think another US territory would be a fascinating idea. Either Puerto Rico or Samoa or Guam. Philippines would be interesting too but given they’re not part of the US anymore and their own sovereign nation (which is good!), it might be a bit weird to do. AG’s done characters in places before they were part of the US but never places that were part of the US but no longer are. Probably better to have a Filipina girl in the US.

Okay, these two are mostly for me but this is my post and what I want to see so, a French Huguenot girl and an Irish immigrant girl before the 1900s.

They’ll never do a French Huguenot because she’d have to be early 1700s. Look, I respect the fact that AG’s earliest girl is Indigenous and marketed as “the first American Girl” but I feel that they really shot themselves in the foot by having her as late as the 1760s. If it were up to me, the first American girl would be in the 1500s.

I feel the obvious route would be the famine but it would be interesting too to do earlier, like say 1810s-early 1840s.

A somewhat superficial note but we need another glasses-wearing historical! Molly can’t be the only one.

[granvarones]

camp challenges conventional notions of what is “tasteful” and “beautiful.” some proclaim that camp celebrates the “tacky” by subverting social norms. and yes, that’s why we live for it! i think camp requires an unabashed courage to be theatrical and humorous in an approach to fashion, art, and culture. and one performer who employed all this and so, so much more is the legendary puerto rican icon that is iris chacón.

lovingly regarded as “la bomba de puerto rico,” iris chacon rose to fame as a singer, dancer, and television personality in the 1970s and 1980s. her extravagant stage outfits, elaborate headdresses, and provocative choreography propelled her to stardom across latin america and captured the imagination of LGBTQ+ fans.

as the host of her top-rated variety show “el show de iris chacón,” which aired for 15 years until 1985, chacón challenged traditional gender expectations that loomed large within the social climate of the 1970s with her boundary-pushing stage presence. her performances were often tongue-in-cheek and punctuated by male backup dancers who exuded queer sensibilities.

before “breaking the internet” and “going viral” was a thing, iris chacón accomplished the 1982 equivalent when her feature in a 30-second television commercial for amalie coolant, a heavy-duty motor oil, made waves with its play on words (coolant sounded similar to “culo,” the spanish world for ass). the ad was so impactful it landed chacón on the front page of the wall street journal and remains a hallmark of 80s pop culture in puerto rico.

chacón was able to parlay her international notoriety into sold-out concerts at radio city music hall in new york, one of the first latino artists to do so. she also broke ground stateside and helped introduce puerto rican culture to the mainstream with memorable guest spots on the merv griffin show, the joan rivers show and several appearances on the david letterman show.

in 1989, the latin-freestyle music movement was at its zenith. chacón not only had a prominent role in the campy-as-hell freestyle music movie “an eastside story,” which starred a marc anthony, but chacón also released the cooing sergio george-produced freestyle track “am i a tease.”

as the 1980s ended, so iris chacón’s bid for mainstream success. after starring in movies, hosting her variety TV show, and playing to sold-out crowds worldwide, chacón stepped out of the public eye in the late 1990s. she has re-emerged for the occasional performance at gay pride parade in puerto rico.

in june 2023, puerto rican drag icon jessica wild impersonated iris chacón during the “snatch game of love” challenge on the fifth episode of the eighth season of “rupaul’s drag race all stars.

[almadesarrollo]

WISH "this Wish" SONG SPAIN VERSION WHAT IS THIS? WONDERFUL ¡Ole! ese acento( testimony of someone with roots in Andalusia and its surroundings).

Continuing with the matter of Wish, I am always going to say what I see wrong or right, ALWAYS, SO WHEN THINGS ARE DONE WRONG I SAY THEM, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATING ANYTHING, WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE RIGHT I SAY IT, SO WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

MUSIC AND SONGS

MUSIC IS SOMETHING CRUCIAL, and if you are going to do it from a period or at least from a country with a certain accent and tradition, it must have that, both in voice, sound, and instruments that accompany it.

With WISH I agree yes and no, so let's go in parts before addressing the topic of my main title, which is the wish song in Spanish version and its singer. On the one hand I agree with his music and his songs, it is SPECTACULAR WITH THE CASTANETS IN THE BACKGROUND, IT IS AMAZING and honestly it is very faithful to the time, culture and country it deals with. 3 songs have been released."this wish" (which is the main song)

welcome to de rosas (which amazes me, I've been singing it all the time hahaha)

and the song from the magnificent king, This Is The Thanks I Get?! (which I also love)

Now, although it is true that the villain's theme does not have that touch, like the other themes, it is good because the most important thing is the MAIN song, THE ONE THAT DEFINES, THE ONE THAT MARKS THE MAIN STORY and above all, the most important thing is the that OUR PROTAGONIST SINGS, is well done, but, or at least you can identify it, because it is approaching, but, but,here is the but, once again we return to Disney, it is Disney.

I say, so much effort that hundreds of GIRLS put into MOANA! quite a few according to DISNEY, DUDE, from people who were from Hawaii and its surroundings, and they came up with the perfect candidate, Auliʻi Cravalho.

FOR this, THE ACCENT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND EVEN HIGHLIGHTED, And if not (well, if there are no resources) something that is close and you can recognize, because you are representing a COUNTRY or island with certain language, customs and culture. YOU CAN NOTICE IT IN THIS GIRL, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, WORK AND RESEARCH, ENCANTO THE SAME, WORK AND RESEARCH, COCO, MEXICAN CULTURE, MORE OF THE SAME. COULD YOU NOT DO THIS WITH WISH? Well no.

The woman who dubs ASHA and sings is ARIANA DEBOSE,

this woman sings SPECTACULAR, I think she IS even the winner of several awards, she is FROM NORTH CAROLINA, and has African American and Italian roots, but also from Puerto Rico due to her father . Now, I don't know where her mother is from, because she doesn't say it, but she is white.

Look, I'll show you where she is from so you can see that there is no indiscrimination, she DOES NOT HAVE THE ACCENT THAT THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS SHOULD HAVE, she does not have the MARKED ACCENT.

I'm not saying that it's not good, it certainly is, but it is not suitable for singing this type of songs with that accent and culture, since they have a characteristic accent. Yeah? Well, there will be people who will say that I am bad, racist, etc..., when it is not done well, it is not done well and it does not matter where you are, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ACCENT, THEREFORE IT IS NOT WELL REPRESENTED, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT NOTHING AT ALL, Couldn't they choose someone with an Andalusian or Córdoba accent? By the way, THE MOSQUE OF CORDOBA IS WHAT THEY HAVE BASED ON TO BE PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF ROSAS, SO WITH MORE REASON, WOULD YOU LIKE? to someone who does speak and pronounce Spanish well but DOES NOT HAVE A REALLY MARKED ACCENT? Well, they will still say that I am cruel, racist and blah blah blah.

Well, I am happy to know that in SPAIN WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOES IT JUSTICE, I PRESENT HER TO YOU, SHE IS Ana Guerra, She is from TENERIFE, SHE HAS AN ACCENT THAT IS CLOSER TO WHAT THESE SONGS SHOULD BE SING.

"She has been the winner of OT, a very good singing competition in Spain, something similar to GOT TALENT"

Listen to how this woman sings, THE STRONG ACCENT SHE HAS, IT'S A SHAME THAT SHE DOESN'T DUBBLE, BECAUSE IF THE ONE WHO DUBBED ASHA IN SPAIN WAS HER, IT WOULD BE PERFECT, but that's not the case, since in Spain, the theme of dubbing does not work like in the UNITED STATES.

Now, I don't know if she is going to sing all the songs that Asha sings, and I was thinking about the song at the beginning, Welcome to Rosas. You have seen how Asha dances, the turns she does, that way of dancing she has, That is so typical of those regions but with this voice it would simply be the perfect mix, imagine for a moment the Welcome to Rosa song with this voice and you will feel like dancing and playing castanets, that IS quite representative of SPAIN, ANDALUSIA , AND ALL ITS NEAREST REGIONS, but I don't know if it will be like that in the end (we'll see as more trailers for the movie come out in Spain)

"Here you can hear when he speaks what accent he has, you don't need to understand anything if you don't know Spanish, just listen"

WAS IT SO DIFFICULT? I TOLD YOU, IN SPAIN, ANDALUSIA AND GRAN CANARIAS WE HAVE INCREDIBLE VOICES, but not Disney, I chose that woman because she is from the roots that she is, convenience, they have not had respect, what do you want me to tell you (it is not enough to just speak fluent Spanish, It is more than that because the Spanish of Colombia is not the same as that spoken in Córdoba or Mexico, all of this is defined by the accent)

NOW SPAIN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS CAN FINALLY SHOW OFF, BECAUSE WHAT IS THE PHYSICAL OF ASHA AND HER DUBBING AND ORIGINAL SINGER, I ALREADY TELL YOU NO.

I mean, this is for me the most faithful thing to what Disney is TRYING TO REPRESENT with this movie after the customs, the songs and OF COURSE SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE.

The lack of respect towards the people of this country, islands and its surroundings.

I'm almost sure that then people will come and say:

"boo, you don't love Ariana or ASHA", "you're a racist", "it doesn't matter if it's Disney", "it's fantasy" "why do you care so much?" "black people deserve prominence" "YOU DON'T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE" etc. etc etc

Well, look, it matters for two reasons, 1 I am part of THAT REGION AND 2 because they themselves (Disney) have said location, era and they have not respected that, they have made a mix and have added what suited them, I have roots in Andalusia , and I have been living there for a short time, this is not bad. IT IS FATAL and (and I am being very soft, because there are people who have been born and raised in these regions all their lives and don't you see, everything is terrible, I at least see the certain inspiration in the music to save something haha) I think that The people of these regions are taking it very calmly, because I have seen shit of this type or even worse, and the people of those regions see us, imagine if it were the other way around in, for example, Africa or New Orleans, ahh !! Be careful, right? to defend that to the death, then how about they make a history of the people who criticize us and change them and their race or ethnicity? What about that? Not annoying, but criticizing us, right? We are bad, we are racist... I believe that if you are from a certain place, no matter how much fantasy you have wanted to be represented well, there is no study or research here.

That's fine!!, with the lack of respect towards our person, which is that I have taught this to people from Morocco and others and the first thing they thought is: is she Afro-Latin? They haven't even said that she is African-American, so you can see the mess there is, after telling them the truth they have freaked out, because not even by feature, in nose, mouth... and dubbing let's not even talk about it and what can you tell me about Dhalia , pufff my mother.

Dhalia, Asha's friend, has an air of Chinese or at least Asian culture. ASIA SINCE WHEN?! Because I understand that there is a mix, but not ALL CULTURES ARE THERE, HISTORICALLY THE ASIAN SHOULD NOT BE, of course! "As it is a tribute to Disney movies, well of course we have to put the Asian one in because let's remember that there are movies from that culture, Raya, Mulan, Big Hero 6 etc...and along the way we add diversity, and with that we justify it", AJJA It's enough for Disney, well then, don't take culture, aesthetics inspired by such, don't locate the history, don't say that Asha from Al-Andalus (name given by the Muslims to the Iberian Peninsula, Muslims!!) Make it all up, you know, either ONE or THE OTHER, we can both because then historical inconsistencies like this occur, which is that today I remember being in Cádiz and not seeing a single Asian, and this is today! !, Disney does not care about Spain, nor its culture, nor its history, it is a reality.

Now it will turn out that an American or someone from the United States or from other places who IS NOT FROM THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, will know more than a Spaniard or Moroccan or someone from Jaén or Córdoba, who were born and raised there! and they have ancestors from those places!! oh really? HOW PEOPLE GO.

SO THIS IS SIMPLE, WHEN IT IS DONE WELL IT IS DONE WELL WHEN IT IS DONE WRONG IT IS DONE WRONG, PERIOD. THIS IS CONVENIENCE, AND AGENDA 2030.

Thanks for reading, a hug and see you.

[bisexualvalve]

All of Puerto Rico is Without Power Right Now

Power has gone out across all of the US territory of Puerto Rico on Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us, as Hurricane Fiona bears down on the islands, which are already grappling with the threat of flooding and mudslides stemming from the Category 1 storm.

“Puerto Rico is 100% without power due to a transmission grid failure from Hurricane Fiona,” the website said.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi confirmed the outage in a tweet, noting the entire electric system was out of service and officials have activated the proper protocols to work to restore power.

The blackout – whichfollowed hours of progressively worsening power outages – comes five years after Puerto Rico’s power grid was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, leaving many residents without electricity for months.

Fiona has continued to strengthen Sunday and now packs sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center’s update at 2 p.m. ET, at which point the storm was about 25 miles southwest of Ponce.

The storm’s impacts have already been felt: At least one death has been reported in Basse-Terre in the French territory of Guadeloupe, according to the vice president of the territory’s environmental agency, who said the capital had been devastated by flooding. And in Puerto Rico, nearly 570,000 customers – or 40% of the island’s total – were without power as of 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us. And the flash flooding has already begun.

Pierluisi warned the storm “will cover our entire island” in a news conference Sunday, noting winds and rain bands from the storm may extend outward up to 100 to 120 miles. “This is impacting us now,” Pierluisi said. “It’s south of Puerto Rico but very close to our coast.”

Evacuees are seen in a classroom of a public school being used as a shelter as Hurricane Fiona and its heavy rains approach in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, on Sunday.Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters

There is a possibility Fiona’s center might skirt Puerto Rico, precluding a traditional “landfall.” But regardless, the impacts of the storm remain the same.

“Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours while Fiona moves near Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and over the southwestern Atlantic,” the hurricane center said. “Hurricane conditions are expected on Puerto Rico today, and are expected in portions of the eastern Dominican Republic tonight and Monday.”

The National Weather Service on Sunday warned of life-threatening to catastrophic flooding, issuing flash flood warnings for south and east Puerto Rico, including Ponce and Yabucoa, through at least mid-afternoon. The service said flooding had started after an estimated 1 to 4 inches of rain had already fallen.

Fiona's current forecast storm track across the Atlantic.CNN Weather

The northern and eastern Dominican Republic, too, is forecast to see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 12 inches possible.

“These rains will produce life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding across Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic, along with mudslides and landslides in areas of higher terrain,” the hurricane center said.

Already, authorities have responded to one such landslide: Emergency officials responded Saturday evening to a landslide around 8 p.m. ET at an apartment complex in Guaynabo, according to fire and public safety officials. There were no initial reports of injuries.

Puerto Rico officials continue to closely watch the island’s mountain regions, which have suffered landslides in the past and where the soil is saturated from the rain, Pierluisi said.

‘This is not Maria’

Around 120 shelters with 25,000 cots have been opened for those in need, the governor said. Classes Monday have been canceled and government workers – save emergency workers – should stay home, too.

Meantime, utilities authorities plan to repair and restore electricity with the help of local government agencies, according to Abner Gomez, a spokesperson for LUMA Energy, which operates Puerto Rico’s power grid.

Forecast rainfall accumulations due to Tropical Storm Fiona.CNN Weather

A hurricane warning – indicating hurricane conditions are expected – was issued for Puerto Rico, including the islands of Vieques and Culebra, and later expanded to include the eastern Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo Frances Viejo. The Dominican Republic’s northern coast, from Cabo Frances Viejo west to Puerto Plata, are under a hurricane watch Sunday morning, meaning hurricane conditions are possible in the next 48 hours.

President Joe Biden on Sunday morning approved an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico, freeing up federal resources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for emergency response and disaster relief efforts.

The threat won’t end once the storm passes between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Further strengthening is expected, and the official forecast track indicates Fiona could be a major hurricane by Wednesday as it tracks to the east of the Bahamas and toward Bermuda.

“It appears likely that Fiona will become the first major hurricane of this Atlantic season in a few days,” the hurricane center said.

[thenationaltreasuregazette]

Aftermath, pt 2

Last time, we discussed the medical and legal aftermath that might have followed Team Treasure’s return of the Declaration of Independence to the FBI.

Now it’s time to turn to the next category our list:

Archeological

Sadusky would likely have Trinity Church cordoned off for as long as it took to make other security arrangement but like, yeah: Where is the treasure going? Does it stay in the cavern until it can be distributed among the museums? Who is doing that? Does Ben have to form an LLC and hire a Treasure Return Coordinator? How does he do that? When does he do that? What happens in the meantime?

An abundance of logistical questions, and a deep dive on triaging the Declaration of Independence ↓

Does he go to Columbia University’s archeology department and ask for help? From who? He just wanders into the dean's office? Some poor professor's office hours? Maybe he knows an American history professor in the area who once laughed him out of a lecture and turns to her for help figuring out what to do next.

What are Abigail’s connections like with New York-based institutions? Who has jurisdiction over which pieces? If there are American papers in the treasure cache they probably belong at the National Archives, but most of the treasure is, you know, treasure. Do different museums and institutions start squabbling over who gets what? There’s no way that many academics agree with each other about how to even go about cataloging the place let along distributing the artifacts.

When do foreign institutions and governments get involved? And who is overseeing that to make sure nobody starts an international incident when they can’t agree which country a particular artifact belongs to?

What becomes of the cavern once its emptied? Does it become a museum? If so, does Trinity Church own admission to the museum? Are they expected to run it?

Speaking of the cavern, who’s in charge of safety? Who’s going to be hired to build a stable freight elevator down there? What kind of construction firm do you even approach to consider a project like that?

Needless to say, there are a lot of logistics to figure out regarding the safety of the treasure, both from theft and deterioration, as well as the safety of anyone going down to work with it. There’s the matter of who is running point on this operation, and which institutions are involved to what degree. And then there’s the probably months- or years-long process of getting all of this work done.

I don’t envy them, and 100% no judgement if Ben hands off a lot of these responsibilities as soon as he finds competent people to give them to.

More immediately than even the immediate items regarding the rest of the treasure, there’s the matter of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration

As you point out, there is a branch of the National Archives in New York City! I did not know that! Actually, there are National Archives branches all over the country. That makes sense I guess, but I never stopped to think about it. Each one holds records from that state or regions. For example, the New York branch holds records generated in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

So yes, I think it’s safe to say that the Declaration will be moved to the National Archives at New York City. If I were the FBI, I would move it by armored truck—not taking any more chances for nonsense!

The FBI likely brought a documents expert with them, or at least they should have. Someone internal, from say, the FBI’s Questioned Documents unit may be the best bet from a security standpoint, but from a conservation perspective, Sadusky ought to have a person or team from the NY archives en route to the church as soon as he gets Ben’s call. And since he seems to care about what happens to the Declaration and the treasure, it makes sense to me that he would have a document rescue plan.

Because although Sadusky doesn’t know where or under what circumstances he’ll get the Declaration back, he fully intends to get it back. And I have to assume that part of that means a plan to take care of it as soon as it’s out of criminal hands. There are National Archives branches in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, as well as in Washington D.C. My guess is that all of them were on alert and in communication, ready to receive the Declaration at the closest location to its recovery point, and generally aligned on the treatment process.

Stan or someone else from the D.C. Archives might have been heading this up once they were cleared of involvement. As the keepers of the Charters of Freedom, they'd be the experts in the Declaration’s exact preservation requirements.

So as soon as the Declaration is recovered, the plan is launched into action. The National Archives—officially known as the National Archives and Records Administration, NARA—runs tests such as this flood-soaked document simulation to test various drying methods on archived materials. They offer multiple resources on preserving family documents after floods, and seem generally prepared to respond to document emergencies. The “Preservation” page of their website even has a tab for “Records Emergencies.”

Now, most of these emergencies envision large amounts of documents damaged by water. Think floods, hurricanes, burst water pipes, etc. None of them involve Nicolas Cage squeezing lemon juice onto the Declaration of Independence. However, we can extrapolate a bit about what the priorities and methods might be based on the more plausible scenarios.

First of all, as @arsenicalbronze put it in their guest post on Ben’s dubious relationship with invisible inks, Abigail

goes with damage control. She takes the lemon from Ben so that she can paint the juice on the back in the least destructive way possible (e.g. not just squeezing lemon juice all over it and soaking it).

This spares the Declaration from some of the potential moisture damage from the cypher process, but not all.

Actually, the Wikipedia on Conservation and restoration of parchment lists the most common threats to parchment documents as

Relative humidity changes

Water and excessive moisture

Oxygen

Mold

Heat

Light exposure

Flaking and friability

Poor storage

Throughout the course of the treasure hunt Team Treasure managed to hit…pretty much all of them, lol.

While revealing the cypher, Abigail is likely doing double duty with the hair dryer. She’s both trying to dry out the moisture added by the lemon juice and use the minimum amount of heat necessary to reveal the text. If hot breath can do it, they don’t actually need much heat.

Every source I read mentioned that mold is a major risk to wet documents, whether paper or parchment, and can set if if not dried within 48 hours of moisture exposure. Based on our timeline we’re approaching that window, and that brings us to an important item that the archivists at the NY NARA will have to contend with. In fact, this is their first order of business:

How are they going to dry out the Declaration?

Despite Abigail’s best efforts there is likely still some moisture on the document, and for most of the rest of the treasure hunt it’s sealed in a plastic container with no air flow. It will need to be dried. Possibly even humidified to combat any warping and then dried.

Interestingly enough, when the Charters of Freedom went through their last major conservation project in 2001, the Constitution and Bill of Rights underwent this humidification and drying under tension, but the Declaration did not because it has sustained much more damage over the years than the other documents. However, the treasure hunt might lead to a different approached. The Declaration’s been acidified, heated, rolled and unrolled multiple times, touched, turned over, and run over with a car. Ouch.

When it does come time to dry the document, the archivists have some options.

Air drying

Freezer drying

Dehumidification drying

Vacuum freeze-drying

Vacuum thermal drying

Thermaline or cryogenic drying

Some of these are exactly what they sound like, and again, they’re described in the context of a damaged collection of material. How much material they’re suited for, how accessible they are, whether records are still available when drying, and whether they require being moved off site are all take into consideration.

For the Declaration of Independence, I’m looking straight at “cryogenic drying.” This is “intended for manuscript and rare book collections bound in leather of vellum” and while the most expensive technique, is also the one that minimizes distortion of the material the most.

And distortion is one of the most significant risks to the Declaration. Parchment expands and contracts in response to heat and moisture, and it’s been out of its controlled environment for a significant amount of time. Since that 2001 restoration, the Declaration has been kept in an aluminum and titanium case filled with argon gas, with a relative humidity of 40% and a stable temperature of 67 °F. Fluctuations in these variables up or down can cause damage. Too humid and it warps, too dry and it cracks.

Restoration is also a very manual process. Obviously technology is a huge help, and conservation science has come a long was in recent decades. Still, that lemon juice is going to be washed off by hand. Every crease and crack the Declaration sustained is going to be evaluated and steamed or repaired by hand.

Speaking of the people involved in this process, Abigail is probably feeling a lot of things as the Declaration gets taken away to the NY Archives. She saw her initial goal through to the end—she kept the Declaration safe, sometimes at the risk of her own safety. She also willingly put lemon juice on it. And heated it up. And let Ben keep rolling it up. She did or witnessed more damage to the Declaration in one day than it’s seen in decades. And now she doesn’t get to help clean up the mess.

I bet part of her wants to run to the Archives and start work right that moment. Forget that she’s so exhausted she can barely see straight. Forget the pounding headache in her skull or the strange numb ache in her shoulder or the way every muscle in her body is begging to collapse. Forget all the FBI eyes on her, and everyone who’s waiting for answers. The Declaration is hers. She is the Custodian of the Charters of Freedom after all. (Or at least, that was her title in the 2003 script.) Abigail is the person most qualified to be handling this emergency, and she can’t.

The best she can do is tell the archivist(s) who come to retrieve the Declaration what exactly happened to it since it left the National Archives two days earlier. The more information they have, the more accurately they can diagnose and treat any damage that occurred. (Like, lemon juice straight out of a goddamn lemon might not be their first guess?)

If you just want to be kind to Abigail, I would make this person someone she doesn't know or know well, but whose work she respects, or even a friend.

If you want to torment her I'd make it someone she hates or is academic rivals with.

I will leave you with this 144 page document on parchment conservation which I did not read, but you may find useful in your National Treasure-related adventures!

Next time: Interpersonal fallout