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#best hairdresser london
taylortaylorlondon · 10 months
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Look who has joined our team ...Sian Wood
Hairdressing since she was 15, Sian brings her magnetic energy to the salon and along with it comes the unique pairing of her incredible hairdressing skill alongside her natural warmth and humour.
From the moment she began to cut both her sisters (and her Barbie’s hair) Sian knew what direction her career would go and we are honoured that she has chosen Taylor Taylor London as her salon home. With a wealth of experience and a loyal clientele Sian is talented in all aspects of cutting but she also has a natural skill and intuition with curly, textured hair which brings confidence back to clients who may have struggled to find a stylist who truly understands curls. 
In Sian’s own words “My love of curls runs deep - my curl mastery and ongoing learning brings real pride. I find beauty in subtle sun-kissed colour that enhances the shape of my cuts and works harmoniously with face shape and features - my favourite is the smile."
Sian can be booked in our Shoreditch salon on Commercial Street , just a short walk from Liverpool Street , Aldgate East or Shoreditch High Street.
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nehasws · 14 days
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London’s Best Hairdressers: Top Stylists for Stunning Looks
At Bojangles Hair Salon, we pride ourselves on featuring London’s best hairdressers, renowned for creating stunning looks tailored to your style. Our top stylists combine expert techniques with the latest trends to deliver impeccable haircuts, vibrant colors, and flawless finishes. Whether you're seeking a bold transformation or a classic update, our professionals use high-quality products and personalized care to ensure exceptional results. Experience unparalleled service and leave feeling confident and refreshed. Choose Bojangles Hair Salon for a top-tier hairdressing experience in London.
Contact Information Finchley Road 158, London, United Kingdom Email - [email protected] Phone No - 02074313373
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bojanglessalon · 1 month
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Top Hairdressers in London: Where Style Meets Excellence
At Bojangles Hair Salon in London, we redefine hairdressing with our team of top-rated stylists who bring unparalleled expertise and creativity to every appointment. Located in the heart of London, our salon offers a blend of cutting-edge techniques and personalized service to ensure you leave with a look that truly reflects your style. From stunning cuts to vibrant colors, experience the best in haircare where excellence and style come together seamlessly. Transform your hair and embrace a new level of sophistication with us.
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alaminhpi2 · 1 year
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How to manage a beauty salon business, Please watch this video and more details.
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natailiatulls07 · 11 months
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Do you have anymore platonic fics in those drafts of yours 👀
The f1 fandom has a severe drought of those and your my supplier lol
The Menace
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Austin Butler x female!reader Formula one grid & female!driver!reader
Summary - After Y/n’s boyfriend cheated on her, she really had that post break up glow!!
Warning - swearing, alcohol, cheating, break ups
A/n - Your wish is my command, currently sat in the hairdressers with toner on lolll 😚
Few notes -
1. No shame to Austin Butler
2. Face claim is Kaia Gerber
3. Reader drives for Ferrari, taking Carlos’ spot
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f1gossip
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Rumour has it: Ferrari driver Y/n L/n and her boyfriend, actor Austin Butler have been rumoured to be broken up after Butler was seen in a club just outside of London Soho. L/n had to dnf from the Sunday race in São Paulo last weekend after her car suffered some mechanical damage in the formation lap.
Liked by username and 2,836 others
username After the season Y/n had this year in Ferrari, she doesn’t deserve this!!!
username Oooo he has fucked up!
= username Lost a rare find, he’ll never find one like herrrr
username Y/n just get with me, I’ll treat you right😚
f1gossip
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Rumour has it: After it was rumoured that Ferrari driver Y/n L/n and actor Austin Butler had broken up, L/n was seen this morning supposedly with bloodshot and puffy eyes on the streets of not so sunny Monte Carlo. With a few days to go until the new Las Vegas Grand Prix, how will Y/n spend her short time off?
Liked by username and 3,922 others
username Poor girl is going through a breakup but paparazzi still want to barge into her busy, disgusting 😒
username She still slays tho!!
username I would say she’ll get redemption in Vegas but with the car atm I highly doubt
= username AGREED
username Hoping for a post break up glow 🥹
= username OMFG CAN YOU IMAGINE 🥵🤤
scuderiaferrari
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Las Vegas…we’re coming for you
Liked by f1 and 87,926 others
username Hoping for a good Ferrari weekend pleaseee
username After Y/n’s break up she deserves a miracle this weekend 🙌🏻
username Charles what are you wearing??? 😃
username Just wait it we all see Austin crawling back for her, just you wait!!
username Polar opposites, Charles all dressed up and Y/n keeping it simple but effective
username Please someone beat Max and get first PLEASEEE
yourusername
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Any boys in Las Vegas, I’m here early but please no Elvis 🤮
Liked by georgerussell and 107,936 others
username YOOO MISS GURL
username She really out here shaming him publicly. Love it 😍
landonorris And this is why we call you the menace
= yourusername So glad I live up to the name 😋
username austinbutler Look what you missed out on loll
username Not her mentioning his biggest role and then putting a throwing up emoji next to it LMAO
maxverstappen1 Y/n don’t get to crazy
= yourusername No promises 😇
= danielricciardo She is definitely going to get black out drunk tonight omfg
= maxverstappen1 100%
austinbutler
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Never really liked red Ferrari, it’s tacky and old fashioned
Liked by username and 54,926 others
username Oh shit he’s fighting back!!
username Their pr teams are gonna be so annoyed with both of them frrr
username Patiently waiting for mother to put him in his rightful spot 😌
yourusername Everyone is a ferrari fan, even if they say they’re not, they are Ferrari fans - Sebastian Vettel 😚
~~ Liked by sebastianvettel and 123,037 others
username OMFG SHE SNAPPED BACKKK
username The Menace is back at it again!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
charles_leclerc Sort yourself out mate
~~ Liked by yourusername and 109,935 others
username Not both Ferrari drivers clapping back LMAO
yourusername
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Babes get over yourself 🍾
Liked by lewishamilton and 113,025 others
username Girl really said ‘Calm your fucking ego down’ 🙌🏻
username LOVING THIS 🤍🤍
username Hot ass female driver and some random drivers
sebastianvettel Loved see the grid again, thank you
= yourusername Always 🫶🏻
username austinbutler
username You just know that Y/n and Lewis were best dressed there!! Hands down!!
mickschumacher You definitely brought the party 👏🏻👏🏻
= yourusername It’s my job Mickey!!
username THE CAPTION She really is the menace!!! 🤩
f1 posted a story
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username FERRARI DRIVERS ARE SERVING CUNT OMFG 😍😍
username Y/n is really showing her really style and I’m living for itttt
username THE HAIR SUNGLASSES MAKEUP AND WHOLE OUTFIT 🥵🥵
username Charles really let her have spot light and rightfully so!!!
username Austin really fumbleddd
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paracosmic-murdock · 1 year
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Tell me what are my words worth ; Benedict Bridgerton x Reader
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Chapter 1: "La détermination qui coule dans mes veines"
Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader
Summary: While the other ladies have grown with the mindset of marrying and having children, you, as the daughter of a man who wanted a son, grew up being both. You learnt how to embroider, play the pianoforte, fence and manage the estate. However, there were some things that not even the Duke of Burgundy could do, so after he passed and you thought there was nothing left for you, you decided to move to London for a while and go to the Royal Academy of Art.
Nothing was going to keep you from what you wanted, and you would do whatever it takes: you would lie to everyone, you would live to death, you would pretend to be a man. You had a plan and it would be a piece of cake for you. But again, when has something that she wants and should not do easy for a woman? Especially when a man like Benedict Bridgerton gets in the way in more ways than one.
Warnings/tags: idiots in love, eventual smut, love triangles (but not really), lgbtq+ themes, bisexual benedict bridgerton, feminist themes, historical inaccuracy (for the sake of the plot), inspired by mulan (1998), song: the lakes (taylor swift), other tags to be added
Chapter summary: Going to London was an easy decision though a difficult change, but nothing was going to stop you from getting what you wanted, and what you wanted was to go to Art School. For now, you only had to arrive and attend whatever event your godmother told you to. The only good thing that came from all of it, was that you reunited with a dear old friend of the family.
Word count: 2.9K
❁ Series masterlist
❁ mila's anthology (main masterlist)
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You knew you would leave for London for a while. You had made the decision, you had sent the letter, you had packed the suitcases, but you were yet to announce your departure.
The possibility of being stopped by your cousin was higher than the mountains, and in order to avoid it, you would only let him know about your trip to London the day before you left. However, his plans did not leave you the chance to.
Running away was not easy because everything you have keeps you attached to that piece of land that belongs to you, that is your father's legacy and your responsibility to keep alive.
Not a change was easy for any human, and you wouldn't be the exception.
So you looked at yourself in the mirror, hesitation long gone after minutes of silence.
You didn't know how to do it, you just hoped for the best of fates as the scissors cut short your dampened hair. No hairdresser would give you the cut you wished for, the one you needed, so you had to do it yourself.
After a quick glance at the packed suitcases and the room that will remain vacant for a pair of months at least, you put on the black cloak and ran away.
The determination ran through your veins just like you were running through the hallways of the Château de Germolles, it has been doing so since the moment your father passed because there was nothing left for you at home if you did not have a man by your side saying the opposite. Certainly, your cousin replaced your father as the lord of the house, but he has never given you any sort of security in your own home. Two years have passed, and you would wait no more.
"Lady Y/N," le Seigneur Cartier, your father's right hand, interrupted your path. "Are you entirely sure about this?"
"Lord Carrington is expecting me, Seigneur Cartier," you answered. "And I have never been more sure about anything in my life."
He nodded, helping you get inside the carriage. "I will send you letters weekly."
"I will be expecting them," He closed the carriage door, and you peeked through its window. "I trust you to honor my father's wishes while I am gone."
Cartier nodded and made a gesture for the carriage to start, and you looked at the Château for the last time in God knows how long.
"One day until we arrive in Calais, one hour to Dover and seven hours to London," Antoinette, your maid, commented with a tired sigh. "Lady Y/N, are you sure about this journey?"
"I am sure, and I would appreciate it very much if all of you just stopped asking me that," you stated, annoyance slipping through your voice. "I am to be received by Lord Carrington, my godfather, and I will live in London for however long it takes."
"They are not in the Social Season, or so I have heard." You pursed your lips.
"I am not looking to marry as of now, my wish is to fall in love, Antoinette, because whoever is to be my husband must love me dearly before I display my everything to him. There shall be love, trust… He must be a man capable of ruling, not some mere lord. I will not hurry, and a specific time of the year will not stop me from finding a reliable husband. And I am not here to find a husband either way."
"I apologize, Lady Y/N."
The following hours were ruled by silence, there was little to no sentence said even during the hours of rest before continuing the lengthened voyage. No thing other than instructions were told during the two days and a half that it took to arrive in Lord Carrington's mansion.
It was bigger than you remembered, but again, the last time you were there was about ten years ago.
You were welcomed inside, not without looking around and admiring the art your godfather was a fanatic of.
"Oh, Lady Y/N! You have grown so much! You are a ravishing young lady, dear," Lady Carrington exclaimed, taking your hands in hers with a smile. Her loud nature was always remarkable, annoying to most but adored to you. "Hugh, darling! Lady Y/N just arrived!"
Lord Carrington appeared in the room with a smile that matched his wife's, an exuberant chuckle as he saw you. "Dear Heavens, you look just like your Mama!"
You laughed tiredly. "I am grateful to you, Lord and Lady Carrington, for welcoming me into your home. I had been setting my heart on spending some time here in London."
"So were we," he noted with a nod.
"Hmm, you must be dead tired, my dear. Let me show you your room for your stay." Lady Carrington motioned you to follow her.
"I am indeed, thank you," You smiled, to then announce your departure. " Excusez-moi."
You followed her through the infinite hallways and endless words, hearing her talk about the ball they were invited to just last week and the one they will host in five days.
"Did you bring ball gowns with you, my dear?" she asked you. "You must attend the ball as our guest of honor."
"I could not fit much in these suitcases, Lady Carrington," you replied. "However, I figured you could take me to the modiste soon. I will pay whatever the price is for some Paris here in London."
She smiled. "The modiste, Madame Delacroix, is French, my dear! I shall take you there tomorrow first thing in the morning."
"It is a plan, then, Lady Carrington."
"Perfect, dear," She nodded. "Rest, I will have someone wake you up for dinner. Tomorrow, in the afternoon, you will accompany me to Lady Danbury's for tea. She is a lovely woman, you will get along pretty well, I am certain!"
"I'd be honored."
"There is a lot of catching up to do, my Lady," she commented. "I had not seen you in a year."
"Not many remarkable events in my life, but I sure will have thought of one by the time we speak," you complied. "Uh, I was wondering when, and if, I could join Lord Carrington to the Royal Academy of Art."
"Well, that you must converse with him." She smiled and left your room.
You quickly changed your clothes to your nightgown, and fell asleep in less than a minute.
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"Bonjour !"
You smiled politely at the woman who greeted you and Lady Carrington. " Bonjour, ça va ?"
"Very well, merci." she replied. "I am afraid we have not been introduced yet. Madame Delacroix, enchantée."
"Lady Y/N Voclain," you nodded slightly. "Êtes-vous française ? Lady Carrington m'a dit."
"Oh, speak in English, dear," Lady Carrington commanded. "Some of us don't speak French."
"Of course, I apologize," you chuckled slightly. "Lady Y/N Voclain, enchanted as well… Lady Carrington told me you were French, Madame, that is what I was asking."
Madame Delacroix just smiled. "Oui, indeed. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"My dearest Lady Y/N of Burgundy, always so modest… She is the daughter of the late Duke of Burgundy," Lady Carrington informed, and you nodded uncomfortably. You did not want people to know about your title during your stay in London, but perhaps it was inevitable. "Her dresses must reflect her greatness."
You approached the table where many colorful fabrics were displayed. "I will have one red that matches the rubies my Grandfather sent from their mines in the Americas, as well as some in different shades of green for the emeralds. Oh, for the ball I will have a white one with gold here and there… I would adore embroidered flowers but not too many, crystals, sequins, your finest silks," you explained everything you wanted in your dresses. "I trust you entirely, Madame. I want them unique, no one else will have the same dress, not even a similar one. I am willing to pay the price. Eight dresses for now, and the urgency is the dress for the ball. Do not disappoint me."
"Bien sûr," she replied with a nod. You raised your eyebrow at the odd pronunciation, but ignored her. "The length of your hair will be a challenge, Lady Y/N."
"Yes. Why did you cut it, dear?"
"Uh… I-" The bell saved you as its sound announced the arrival of a woman and her three daughters, calling for Madame Delacroix.
"I will be right back." she promised, and left you and Lady Carrington alone.
"Lord Carrington agreed to take you to the Academy tomorrow."
You smiled widely, making her curve her lips. "Oh, that is wonderful news, Lady Carrington! I am beyond grateful!"
"He wants your portrait painted, Lady Y/N, so it seems that you will spend many hours there."
"I am eager to!" you exclaimed.
She gave you a look you couldn't quite decipher, but if there was something you recognized in it, it was a threat. "Careful with the artists, Lady Y/N… We would not want you involved with any of them."
"Oh," You frowned. "I- I will not-"
"I know, dear… A lady like you has nothing to do with men like them, you deserve a man of title, with a surname that speaks for himself."
"Can't there be both?" you wondered out loud and she chuckled dryly.
"Those men spend their nights in clubs and brothels, and will certainly not stop doing so after marrying. Poor Lady Goldwyn, married to an artist who had a bastard child before having hers… Never at home, I got lucky with Hugh, but God forbid you stumble upon a similar fate."
You gave her an amused glance. "I know I can make a suitable pick."
"He must be rich, dear, how else will you afford living the life you always have had?" she commented. "A true gentleman, one that respects you and loves you dearly. If he has brothers or sisters it will be ideal, that way you will know he is a man of his family… Oh, Her Majesty, the Queen has a nephew, a prince, she brought to London last season, maybe he is still an eligible bachelor."
"A prince?" you questioned, surprised.
"The Prince of Prussia, my dear. I suppose that is a man worthy of a duke's daughter."
A laugh left your lips. "Do you truly believe that he would be interested in courting me, Lady Carrington?"
"Oh, he most certainly would!"
"Seeing is believing, then." You chuckled.
While you and Lady Carrington were talking, Madame Delacroix's clients struck up a conversation.
"I have never seen that lady before, who is her?" Lady Featherington questioned, seconded by her two daughters.
"Lady Y/N of Burgundy, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy," she replied. "She is French, a relative of the Carringtons."
"Oh, you two should befriend her! The Carrington ball is next week and we have not received our invitation yet."
"You are right, Mama," Prudence agreed. "I will go now."
Both sisters approached you and Lady Carrington, gaining a look full of disdain from the latter.
They introduced themselves, and their mother soon joined.
"We would be delighted to have you this afternoon for tea, Lady Y/N."
"I am afraid there is no empty spot in my schedule for now, but I will make sure to let you know once I am available." you replied after noticing Lady Carrington's discomfort.
"Well then." Lady Featherington nodded, and so did you. Then, she looked at Lady Carrington with a slight smile and disappeared.
"That woman is insufferable!" your godmother yelled.
Then you couldn't contain your laughter.
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"Lady Carrington!"
"Oh, Lady Danbury!"
You both stood up as she entered the room, and you greeted her with a smile.
"This is Lady Y/N of Burgundy, she is my guest and Lord Carrington's," Lady Carrington introduced you. "She will stay until she finds a husband!"
You widened your eyes at her explicit purpose. "I- I am not- well, I am, but-"
She laughed. "Oh, dear. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. This woman has not stopped talking about receiving you."
"Enchanted to meet you, Lady Danbury," you finally said, chuckling slightly.
While it is true that you must marry and that your requirements are vast, on this particular visit to London, you are not looking to find a husband. You, however, were planning on doing a thing you clearly should not. An alibi was needed, and that way you could kill two birds with one stone.
"Take a seat, let's wait for the other guests," she commanded and you and Lady Carrington complied. Not many seconds later, three women joined you. "Well, this is Lady Mary and her daughters, Miss Kate Sharma and Miss Edwina Sharma… These are Lady Carrington, as you know, and her guest Lady Y/N of Burgundy."
You smiled. "Enchanted to meet you all."
"Us as well." Miss Kate Sharma answered for her mother and sister.
They took a seat, and soon another woman arrived.
"Lady Bridgerton!" Lady Danbury welcomed her.
"Lady Bridgerton?" You stood up at her mention and excitement painted your features.
Lady Bridgerton raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Yes…?"
"Oh, my bad!" you excused yourself before a happy grin. "Of course you don't remember me, the last time you saw me I was nine years old! Y/N, daughter of the Duke Sébastien of Burgundy."
"Oh, Heavens, look at yourself!" she exclaimed when she realized. "Dear, you have become a wondrous young lady!"
"Do you know each other?" Lady Danbury asked.
"Her late father, the Duke, was great friends with my husband," she replied with a tender smile. "I met her when she was a baby and saw her last about eleven years ago."
You laughed. "Oh, it has been so long, Lady Bridgerton! How are your children?"
"They are all great, Daphne married the Duke of Hastings just last season."
"How thrilling! Congratulations, Lady Bridgerton."
"Thank you, my dear."
"So you know the Bridgertons?" Lady Carrington questioned.
"Only Lady Bridgerton," You smiled. "I have not met her children yet, will you be attending the Carrington Ball next week?"
"Of course we will, especially knowing you will be there."
"I cannot wait, Lady Bridgerton."
"You are always invited to our home, dear. That invitation is still current."
"Many years ago, Lord Bridgerton said to me that I was invited to their home whenever I pleased, but I have yet to make honor of the offering." you explained to the rest of the ladies.
Lady Carrington smiled before interrupting. "So, Lady Y/N traveled from France to be here."
"Was it a long way?" Edwina wondered.
You nodded, taking the cup of tea that was offered. "Yes, it took almost three days to arrive here in London."
"And why did you decide to come?" Lady Danbury asked.
"To find a husband, of course." Lady Carrington announced, and you accidentally spilled your tea all over your dress.
"Dear!"
"Mon Dieu !, I- my apologies, it's-"
Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina were trying hard not to burst out laughing, but it was almost impossible when they noticed Lady Carrington giving you a handful of napkins and scolding you for being so clumsy. Then, as the other women in the room chuckled, they did too and so did you.
When everything was in order, you looked at everyone. "I apologize."
"Do not," Lady Danbury stopped you. "Are you not looking for a husband, then?"
"Uh, yes," you lied, an embarrassed look in your eyes.
"Miss Edwina came from India to find a husband here, dear, do not be ashamed!" Lady Carrington noted. "I was telling her about the Queen's nephew that came the previous season."
"He was a charming young man." Lady Bridgerton mentioned.
"And there are still one or three Bridgertons available to wed." Lady Danbury added, making Lady Bridgerton laugh slightly and the three Sharmas look at each other uncomfortably.
"There is also the new Lord Featherington, he has mines in the Americas, just like your Mama's family."
You nodded. "I shall ask Grandfather about the Featherington mines in my next letter, then… You would not believe the amount of men in Europe swindling the rich, saying they have the most prosperous mines in the Americas while that is the furthest thing from the truth," you mentioned. "My cousin, Lord Voclain, almost made a tremendous investment until I took a look at the jewelry the man gifted him for me. Glass painted green, as if he could cheat my eye."
"And Lord Featherington is engaged to his cousin Prudence." Lady Bridgerton reminded.
Cousins?, dear God.
"Well, he was courting Miss Cowper when that happened, so forgive me for being skeptical."
"It is disgusting nevertheless." you said.
"It is."
"I will be ready to list the eligible bachelors in London at the upcoming ball just for you, Lady Y/N."
You chuckled. "I am not in a hurry to wed, Lady Danbury. I wish to fall in love instead of marrying as if it is my duty."
"Is it not your duty to marry?"
"Technically, it is, yes," you replied to Miss Edwina as her older sister gave her a look. "But my father raised me to know my worth and not marry a man I do not love… He married my mother against his family's wishes, all because they loved each other dearly. That is what he wanted for me."
"He was an amazing man." Lady Bridgerton smiled.
"He was indeed." you agreed, an afflicted grin replacing your smile.
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kumezyzo · 1 year
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i just saw a best moments video of george + nick getting haircuts in london recently. and i obviously had brainrot moments 😌
so enjoy! ......or dont :) m.list
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before anything happens, bf!sapnap asks for you opinion during the consultation.
"yea, idk do what you want really.... but what do you think mama's?" (chat obviously went crazy, teased, and clowned him for calling you mama's)
like, imagine george asking your opinion on every little thing that the barber (?) does every five seconds.
"what do you think y/n?" as he shoves the camera in your face.
"literally nothings happened yet, leave me alone."
"what about now?"
"he hasnt even done one side yet 😭"
or when they talk about sapnap shaving his head.
"y/n, how do you feel about your boyfriend shaving his head?" george would ask like an interviewer, using his phone as a fake microphone.
"i would say, maybe dont?" you laugh nervously making eye contact with bf!sapnap through the mirror.
and that would spark a conversational topic between you and the barber(?).
"oh so you two are dating?" he would ask, motioning with the clippers between you and nick.
"oh, yea," you chuckle awkwardly.
"for how long?"
"about a year and a half," nick would answer, glancing to you through the mirror with a small smile.
and when the cut is over, he would be looking at himself through the mirror, rubbing at the beard. and almost at a comical speed, george would turn over to you and ask you what you though about it.
"yea, it looks good," you say, trying to get a better look at his face straight on.
"you sound like you dont like it," the hair dresser says as he also gets a better look at nicks face. "i know girlfriends dont usually like it when the moustace is more full but-"
"no no no, dont worry! it looks great," you tell him with a smile. "no, its just that i think all that matters is if he likes it."
"oh okay, good," he would say, smiling to nick through the mirror.
when bf!sapnap gets up from the chair, he goes to stand in front of you to get a better look.
"what do you think?"
"it looks really good," you smile, almost forgetting george was live streaming.
"thanks peaches," he would say softly before giving you a quick peck on the cheek.
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yea.....didnt mean to make this a whole fic but here you go! also fr fr... hairdresser? barber? idk man help me 😭
i also wrote this in like... two seconds -Nony
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justforbooks · 4 months
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Jeannette Charles
The Queen’s most famous lookalike, who enjoyed a long career in film and television thanks to their uncanny resemblance
In 1972, Jeannette Charles was in her mid-40s and settling down to life in an Essex village, having returned, with her husband, Ken, from Libya. They had been living there for some years, but left following the army coup led by Muammar Gaddafi.
On reading about the artist Jane Thornhill in a local newspaper, Charles decided to commission a painting of herself for her husband’s birthday. Thornhill asked whether she could submit it for the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition in London, but when she did, the venerable institution returned the picture, believing it to be a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and having been told by Buckingham Palace that the monarch had not sat for it.
The resulting publicity began a new chapter in the life of Charles, who would spend the next 40 years as the Queen’s most famous lookalike, and who has died aged 96. She appeared on British television and in Hollywood films, alongside stars such as Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and Mike Myers, and also modelled for Spitting Image when the satirical TV show was making the Queen’s puppet.
Charles said of her uncanny resemblance to the monarch, whom she never met: “We both have the same bone structure, so the same style of makeup and hairdressing suits us best. But I’m 2 inches shorter than her, so my clothes wouldn’t always look well on her and vice versa.”
She also made personal appearances – opening shops, handing out gifts with the flamboyant piano virtuoso Liberace and presenting a silver disc to the rock group Queen – and Muhammad Ali put in a special request to have a photograph taken with her. Commercials kept her busy, too, but Charles insisted: “I am not an actress. I only do the one role.”
Her first job as the Queen was posing for a London Weekly Advertiser poster that featured her reading a paper, with a stuffed corgi at her feet. However, London Transport, which was due to display it on buses and Tube trains, objected and never used it. Charles said it was a lesson: “too real … a little vulgar”. She insisted she was a staunch royalist, and told the Guardian in 2022: “I would never do anything that reflected badly on the monarch or myself. Over the years, I’ve turned down large sums to pose for Page 3-type pictures and insisted I should never be introduced as the Queen when making appearances.”
Jeannette was born in London, 18 months after Princess Elizabeth, to Yetta (nee Wonsoff), who was Dutch, of Polish descent, and Alfred Clark, a chef, later restaurateur, and was brought up in Perivale, Middlesex. Her resemblance to the future monarch was spotted when she was still a child. She recalled: “On a trip to Greenwich when I was 11 or 12, a photographer asked if he could use me in some shots, saying, ‘She looks like Princess Elizabeth.’ Later, I’d draw crowds, especially abroad, and sometimes had to run away.”
After leaving Wembley high school, she took a job as a secretary and spent evenings acting with an amateur group in Acton. She dreamed of acting professionally, and passed an audition to train at Rada, but could not afford the fees. Instead, she emigrated to the US at the age of 24 and settled in Midland, Texas.
While working there as an au pair, she met Ken Charles, a British oil drilling engineer with BP. His work took him to Canada – where they married in Alberta in 1957 – and then to South America and Libya.
They returned to Britain in 1969 and, when regal fame came to Charles, she found herself travelling the world again. At home, her early screen appearances were in the sketch shows Rutland Weekend Television (1975), with Eric Idle and Neil Innes, Spike Milligan’s Q series (from 1976 to 1980), and Not the Nine O’Clock News (1980). She was also in sitcoms such as Mind Your Language (1978) and Never the Twain (1990), and jetted to the US for a 1977 appearance on Saturday Night Live.
When Hollywood came calling, she put on the royal tiara to appear in National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985). In The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), she was seen flat on her back with Nielsen on top of her as they slide down a royal banqueting table – when his inept detective believes the Queen is about to be assassinated and jumps to her rescue. For Charles, another highlight of filming that wacky movie was being invited to Presley’s trailer for lunch. “We became good friends,” she said.
She was back in Hollywood for The Parent Trap (1998), with Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), when she mistook its star, Myers, for a crew electrician on first meeting him.
Alongside chat shows, corporate events, fete openings and other appearances, she appeared in Motörhead’s music video promoting their version of the Sex Pistols song God Save the Queen in 2000.
Charles’s autobiography, The Queen & I, was published in 1986.
Her husband died in 1997. She is survived by their three children, David, Peter and Carol, and her sister, Delinda.
🔔 Jeannette Dorothea Louise Charles, lookalike, born 15 October 1927; died 2 June 2024
Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?
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junikicker · 1 year
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Under Her Spell - Lady Bellaston x fem!reader
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Under Her Spell - Lady Bellaston x fem!reader
warnings: smut
word count: 2.3k
note: Lady Bellaston has my heart. Well, Hannah does. Anyways here is something I just came up with.
You were the only heir to your family’s wealth and fortune. Desperately, your father had hoped for a beautiful baby boy to take his spot someday. Your mother died giving birth to you, a little girl. Your father couldn’t help but grieve. But after losing the only hope for a male heir, the only thing that seemed to reason with him was to raise you as his son.
From the beginning you were dressed in boy’s clothes, learned to hunt, and play sports. You grew up wealthy, your father being the Viscount, making you the Hon.
You sure had noticed the shift of atmosphere around your home in London upon the arrival of the infamous Sophia Western. Your father had made it more than clear that she would be a suitable match for you as you were almost twenty-two years of age and had yet to be wed. Upon his request, you had agreed to see her.
You were greeted by a great entrance hall, people running around, carrying things from one place to another. “I am here to see Miss Western?” You asked a young lady that looked as if she knew how you could find her.
“Of course, follow me.” She spoke and started walking. “My Lady, I’m here to introduce Viscount Huntington’s heir upon request to meet Miss Western.” She spoke to someone you couldn’t yet see. “Very well then. Let him in.” You heard the reply. Sometimes you’d forgotten that to the public you were a male.
The young lady stepped aside and let you in, closing the door behind her and leaving. “My Lady Bellaston. It’s an honor to meet you.” You spoke, gently bowing down in front of her. You’d heard a lot of stories about her. Her wealth and how she loved to seduce young men.
“If it isn’t the Viscount’s only son.” She flashed you a smile and stood up, walking towards you. You wanted to correct her but decided your chances were best if you didn’t.
“I must admit you would be a good fit for my niece.” She stated, starting to circle you. “Tell me, what are your intends in marriage?” She asked you, coming to stand in front of you, looking down on you.
Lady Bellaston was, undoubtedly, a beautiful lady. Her features were so detailed. She could have easily been a marble statue made by the great Michelangelo himself. She stood taller than most women did. She stood taller than you. You thought she might take suspicion.
“The question should be what do you see for her if she and I were wed?” You inquired, looking straight into her green eyes. “A tough one we have here, don’t we.” She smiled again.
“I shall lead you upstairs.” She replied and started walking, you followed her suit. She led you through the hall you had come in just a few moments earlier and up two flights of stairs. “Sophia is a bit occupied at the moment, would you mind waiting with me for a few more minutes?” She asked you, leading you to a room a bit further down the hall.
The theme of the room seemed to be the color blue. It also seemed to be a bedroom, but that was something you didn’t really pay attention to. The view out of the windows was nice, you could see most of London looking out of it.
There was a table close to the fireplace. That’s where the two of you had sat down. Someone had brought in tea just as you entered. You never really understood how things like this just worked. Even after living your whole life in wealth, you never seemed to understand how meals and beverages just appeared at the right place and time.
You ran a hair through your short hair. Your father had it cut by a hairdresser every three weeks so that under no circumstance anyone would ever think you to be a woman.
“You will do your best to try to capture her with your charms, I believe. But do remember what I tell you now.” Lady Bellaston began, standing up from the chair opposite you and taking a seat on the one closest to you. “A woman does not only fall for the charm of a man.” She rested a hand on your thigh. “A woman adores the subtle touches. The feeling of something soft, the art of eye contact.” She spoke further and placed a hand under your chin, making you meet her eyes.
“A look that lingers and that promises so much more.” She continued as you held the eye contact, unable to tear your eyes away from hers. “And lastly.” She started, leaning in closer so that your faces were only a breath apart. “Taste.” She whispered and with that, placed her lips to yours.
You couldn’t quite believe you had fallen for her act. You were no better than all the other men that she seduced over the years. But it all was so intoxicating. Her taste and the smell of her perfume. The way she moved with such grace and caution.
Her lips felt soft against yours. When you had slipped your tongue into her mouth, you drew a small moan from her that traveled to your lips.
Once air became a problem, the two of you drew apart. “You’re so young still.” She whispered. “So eager to follow your father’s request and marry already. But for someone like you. So kind and handsome, you could sure have yourself anyone you want.” She continued and stood up, taking your hand, having you stand up as well.
And then she kissed you again and you felt the world dissolve around you, her soft lips feeling like heaven. You press kisses along her jaw and down to her shoulder before turning her around and starting to undo the strings of her dress on her back, continuing to press kisses to her shoulders and neck.
Once the strings were close to being completely opened, the blonde spun back around and started to undo the buttons of your clothes, sending one after the other either to a completely different part of the room or just letting the item fall right to the floor.
You stopped her just as she was about to remove the last thing covering your torso and lower half. “Let me help you out of your dress.” You offered and she immediately agreed with a feverish kiss on your lips. She had been just as eager as you. Once she was down to her corset and undergarments, you pulled her in for another fierce kiss. You bit down on her lip and she let out a whimper. Music to your ears.
“Such a pretty lady.” You sighed as you shoved her down on the bed, trapping her glorious body between your legs as you straddled her lap. You had a perfect view of her breasts as you looked down on her. “That corset of yours must be quite restricting. I’d love if you were to have your full range of motion.” You stated and pulled her up, your eyes now one level with hers. She kissed you deeply and passionately. She had not yet muttered a plead so that you would start pleasuring her. But you could practically taste the need on her tongue.
During the kiss, you undid her corset. She immediately relaxed into the new found comfort. You drew away to lift the corset over her head. “For heaven’s sake.” You breathed as you took in her figure. She had this tiny waist, wide hips, and her chest was huge. Nothing like you’d ever seen before.
You pushed her back down and started pressing kisses to her shoulders and chest. Her hands had a firm hold on your hair and started dragging you down toward her core. “I could cherish your body for all eternity.” You breathed against the soft skin of her stomach. “Please.” The word had left her lips so quietly that you almost didn’t hear them. “I will need you to elaborate, my Lady.” You teased her.
“Make love to me.” She whispered and you were happy to oblige, once again, your lips locked. You hooked your fingers under the hem of her undergarments and gently slips them down her legs before sending them to the floor next to her dress. Once that was done, you leaned down to place kisses on her breasts. You weren’t sure if she had never experienced someone paying much attention to that part other than occasionally giving it a squeeze here and there during the act, but the way she arched into your touch and how her eyes widened in shock and ecstasy when you wrapped your lips around her nipple made you almost certain that this had been something new for her. Not to mention the stream of moans that left her mouth like a waterfall.
You let your hand wander down her body again, making sure to trace as much of her soft, pale skin as she could, as her breathing got heavier by the second, anticipation growing.
Her breathing was even heavier when you reached her thigh and let your hand slide between her legs. She was dripping wet, and you let your finger slide up her slit before you took it to your mouth. “You taste heavenly, my Lady.” You groaned, throwing your head back at the taste. “As sweet as honey.” You added, looking into her eyes. Her pupils were blown, and very little of the emerald green color was left. She seemed to regain some sense of the situation and grabbed your hand, placing it between her legs again and leading the other one up her body, to her breasts. You started circling her sensitive bundle of nerves and she let out a rather loud moan now that she finally had what she wanted. You pressed kisses to her breast while your hand started to caress the other one. The sight of her face, so full of pleasure in front of you had you feeling intoxicated.
“What sort of witchcraft is this?” She breathed out between moans and you couldn’t help but smile. “Do you want me to stop, my Lady?” You asked her and she immediately shook her head. “Don’t you dare. I’m not gonna last very much, oh, longer.” She breathed and you bit your lip. The fact that you could have her tumbling over the edge by as little as you had done to her made you confident.
True to her words, she unraveled before you moments later, a loud moan leaving her throat that was unlikely not to be noticed by anyone.
You gently guided her through her high and once she had calmed down, lay down next to her. You pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and met her eyes, pupils still blown wide with lust. Now it was your turn to hold her chin and crash your lips into hers.
This time, you took your time to cherish her body, taking the time with exploring every part of her that you hadn’t had the time to before.
Eventually, you settled between her legs, placing kisses up her thigh, skipping the area where she needed you most before kissing down the other thigh. When she least expects it, latch onto her clit. Her grip on your hair tightens harshly as she tries to comprehend what is happening. Her scent was overwhelming and intoxicating. Within minutes, she was a whimpering, moaning mess, head and back arched, eyes closed, her body on fire. A fire you had started,
“Oh, please!” She moaned. “Just a bit more!” And you gave her that bit more, expertly inserting your fingers into her, feeling her clench around them immediately. The feeling of your fingers inside her was something that, based on her reaction, seemed rather new to her as well. You couldn’t help but grin as she released around your fingers just moments later.
Once again you helped her calm down and then lay down beside her. “Where did you learn this?” She asked, genuinely interested. “Let’s just say I got around a lot.” You replied and tugged a strand of hair behind her ear.
“How am I to repay you for this?” She asked, something in her feeling as if you were left unsatisfied. “I have to return the favor.” She said, sitting up in bed, pulling the covers over her chest. “Oh no. You don’t have to.” You said genuinely. “I cannot possibly-” You cut her off with a finger on her lips. “Shh.” You hushed her. “I can wait till next time.” You said and climbed out of the bed. You had spent about enough time in her bed, your father would be asking questions upon your return if you were to stay much longer.
“What about Sophia?” She inquired as she watched you gather your clothes and get dressed again. “I still deem you a suitable fit for marriage.” She added, looking a bit disappointed. “We both know that I am no match for her. She is in love with Tom Jones. The heart wants what it wants, I suppose.” You explained.
“What are you going to tell your father?” She asked as you slipped your shoes back on. “I suppose I’ll tell him that lovely Lady Bellaston did not quite share my intention to marry her niece.” You explained with a smirk.
You walked over to the small desk in the room, sitting down and wrote a quick note.
“Meet me here. Thursday. At eight.” You said as you handed her the note. Champagne Lane. Thursday. 8pm sharp. X Huntington
You placed one last kiss to her lips before heading out. You weren’t quite sure what you were doing but it did feel better than you expected it to. And you were looking forward to what was going to become out of this.
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uramilf · 1 year
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The Record Shop - Chapter One
A/N: Surprise!! It wasn’t bedtime after all
Warnings: SMUT. Oral (f receiving), weed mentioned, alcohol consumption, Matty being a bit too hot to handle also how cutesy is this gif
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*Penny’s POV*
“Can I help you with anything darling?”
I opened my eyes wide at the sight of the beautiful boy in front of me. He smiled at me, and I blinked, pulling myself together.
“You can, actually,” I nodded. “I’m just looking for some Jeff Buckley?” He grinned. “You like him too, huh?”
I smiled back. “Yep, do you have Grace?”
“Of course, let me go grab one from the back.”
He left for a moment or two, and I heard him rummaging about through the back of the store. When he returned, he was holding a Grace vinyl. “I swear this is one of my favourite albums of all time.”
“Oh totally, it’s amazing,” I smiled back. He stood there for a moment, looking at me with those deep brown eyes. I looked back, meeting his gaze. We were quiet, but it somehow wasn’t awkward. It almost felt like I was meant to walk into his store.
After a moment or two, he broke his gaze and cleared his throat. “Sorry, do you need anything else darling?”
I shook my head. “No thanks, it was my first day at a new job today so I thought I would come treat myself to a record. I usually go record shopping after something big like that, you know?”
He looked surprised. “New job, huh? Where are you working?”
“Attitude hair salon, just down the street. I’m a hairdresser, just moved up here from London though.”
“Oh hey, my friends girlfriend gets her hair done there,” he replied. “She got it cut there last week and she’s been going on about it ever since.”
I grinned and he made his way behind the counter and scanned my record for me.
“I’m Matty, by the way. Oh sorry, you probably already saw that. Name tag. Duh.” I could tell he was getting slightly nervous, so I smiled at him again.
“I’m Penny.”
“That’s a pretty name, love. You mustn’t know many people here if you’re from London, then.”
“Nope, pretty much nobody, apart from the girls at work. I met them when I came down for an interview.” Matty nodded slowly whilst putting my new record into a plastic bag for me. I handed over some cash and he put it into the register, handing me back my change. Our fingertips brushed slightly and I saw a ghost of a grin on his lips. I could tell I was turning red.
“Will you wait here for just one second, darling?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Um, sure.”
He disappeared into the back of the shop once more and I heard him talking frantically to another man, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I definitely heard my name, along with ‘London’ and ‘doesn’t know anyone yet.’ I blushed a bit. I didn’t want him thinking I was pathetic for having no friends in Manchester. However, when he returned, he was accompanied by a man quite a bit taller than him, who had fair curly hair and dark eyes, with the same logo on his t-shirt: the word “fusion”, which was the name of the store, and a little embroidered vinyl record, and his shirt was dark grey instead of black.
“Penny, this is George. He’s my best mate, we’ve been working here together since we left school.”
George stepped forward and shook my hand.
“Hi, George, lovely to meet you.”
He returned the sentiment, smiling confidently. I have to say, it was turning into the strangest interaction I’d ever had in a record shop.
“So basically, George is having a party tonight, and all our friends are gonna be there. I thought since you haven’t really met anyone down here yet that you could come along? Don’t feel pressured to say yes, of course, but it could be nice for you to get to know some people in the area.”
I felt overwhelmed by their kindness and nodded eagerly. “That would be amazing, guys. Thank you so much.”
“No problem, Penny. Why don’t you gimme your number and I can send you my address?” George asked. Matty looked panicked.
“Actually Penny, if you give me your address I could always pick you up and take you. You know, that way you could have a drink without worrying about getting home.”
I laughed to myself. “Thanks Matty, that would be great.” I gave him my number and scribbled down my address quickly, before grabbing George’s number too in case of emergencies. I thanked the boys again, taking my record in the plastic bag and leaving the store.
“I’ll pick you up at nine, Penny!”
—————
I looked in the mirror one last time. I had opted for a tight black dress that reached my mid-thigh, but had a slit that went up my leg and left little to the imagination. My makeup looked good, some dark eyeshadow and a red lip making me look quite bold, a feeling a wasn’t used to. I was wearing black strappy heels that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk in after a few drinks, but I supposed I would just have to chance it. My phone buzzed and I checked to see a text from Matty: “I’m outside your building love x”
My heart fluttered at the message, especially the “x” at the end. I shook the feeling off. I had just met this guy, and he was really only inviting me out because I had no friends. Super romantic.
I grabbed my keys and headed out of the flat, getting the lift down to the ground floor. Stepping out the main door of the building, I shivered slightly at the cold air against my bare arms. My eyes fell on Matty, standing against his car.
“Hi darling. You look stunning.” He was in a similar pair of black jeans as he had been in earlier, but he was now wearing a white button-up and a leather jacket. He shrugged the jacket off when he saw me shiver and made his way to me, draping it round my shoulders right away. Holy shit. That was fucking hot. He even opened the car door for me, as if we were on a date. I tried to shake that thought from my mind. Of course we weren’t on a date. We had just met. It was just a party. I didn’t know anything about him - fuck - did he have a girlfriend?
Matty shutting his car door and switching on the radio pulled me out of my train of thought. Arctic Monkeys was playing - Fluorescent Adolescent. The song seemed to fit Matty. He must have been must older than me but he had a kind of boyish air about him, like a teenager constantly in trouble, but in a cheeky way that you couldn’t help but find funny. He turned his head to look at me. “You ok love?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. You look great, Matty.”
He began to pull out of the car park, smiling at me.
“Thanks darling. I meant it when I said you looked stunning. You really do.”
My stomach was churning now. Even my ex boyfriend Alex had never made me feel this way, and I dated him for three years.
“Thank you Matty,” I said quietly. He eyed me again, for longer this time, until he had to look at the road again.
“Really, Penny. I know we’ve just met but if there’s something wrong, you can tell me. If you’re not comfortable hanging out with us this quickly it’s ok.”
I shook my head and giggled.
“No, Matty. It isn’t you. Honestly I’ve never been as glad to meet someone as I was to meet you, I thought it was gonna take me forever to get to know people.”
“So what’s up then, love?”
“I was just thinking about my ex. Our breakup was kinda the reason I moved, to start over. Me and Alex were together for three years, and it ended pretty badly.”
“I’m sorry to hear that lovely, I’ve been there.”
His hand crept onto my knee and gave my leg a reassuring squeeze, before placing his hand back on the wheel. My breath caught in my throat. I don’t think he knew how attractive he was without even trying.
—————
We arrived at George’s house at a quarter last nine, and there seemed to already be quite a few people around. I spotted George almost as soon as I walked through the door, wearing faded blue jeans and a button up similar to Matty’s. He strode over to me, wrapping me in a warm hug. George was someone I couldn’t help but like, even having only met him once very briefly before.
“I’m so glad you could make it, Penny! You look great.”
“Thanks George, great house,” I said, looking around. The house was small but, much like myself, he had made it beautiful. I noticed a photo of him and Matty hanging on the wall above the stairs and smiled to myself. It had clearly been taken years ago, when the boys were teenagers. Matty’s hair was longer and curlier, and George’s was less blonde. They stood at a similar height and had their arms around each other, grinning into the camera. They were both in shorts and Newcastle United shirts, and their arms were stick thin and bare of tattoos. In front of them was a little boy with light brown hair and a grin similar to Matty’s, who was clinging to one of George’s legs.
“That’s a nice picture,” I commented.
George looked up and laughed. “I think that was taken about 7 years ago now. We were only 17. That’s Matty’s little brother Louis in the picture, he was only 5.”
George led me into the living room, where most of the people were. A girl around my height came running over excitedly. She had long, black, straight hair which tumbled down her back and moved beautifully when she moved. I found my weird hairdresser brain thinking about how much I wanted to touch it. She slung an arm around George’s waist, barely coming up to shoulder height on him.
“Oh my god, you must be Penny! George said he met you earlier.”
“Yeah, that’s me!”
“I’m Charli. It’s so nice to meet you, babe. Let’s go get a drink.”
With that she stood on her tiptoes to give George a kiss on the cheek before linking her arm with mine and pulling me towards the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Charli introduced me to Adam and Ross, who were apparently some of Matty and George’s closest friends. Adam worked in a bar down the street from my flat, and I promised to call in next time he had a shift. Ross worked in a place a few streets over that did tattoos and piercings, and told me he had done most of his friends’ tattoos. Adam called his girlfriend Carly over to meet me, and she embraced me warmly much as George had when I arrived. The boys left to go for a smoke and I was left with their wonderful girlfriends.
“So Penny, George said you’ve just started at Attitude. We both get our hair done there,” Charli remarked, whilst pouring me a vodka lemonade (which seemed like a lot more vodka than lemonade, not that I was complaining.)
“Wait, really?” I took a sip of my incredibly strong drink. “I hope I get both of you when you next come in, I always prefer customers I know.”
After a short conversation with the girls about work (and how much I loved their hair), Matty appeared in my peripheral vision and draped an arm around my shoulder. “Sorry girls, do you mind if I steal Penny for a bit? I wouldn’t want such a beautiful girl to leave without me getting to know her.”
Carly raised an eyebrow. “You’re such a flirt, Matty. Give the girl a break, you just met her for god’s sake!” I giggled, unable to resist walking away with Matty, after catching Charli give me a knowing look.
—————
George had a small balcony attached to his bedroom which Matty and I had ended up on, sharing a blunt. We were sat side by side on the cold ground, the night air cooling us down. The weed hadn’t kicked in yet, but we were chatting away with no awkwardness whatsoever.
“So how old are you anyways, Matty?”
“24, you?”
“21.”
“So it’s totally ok for me to do what I’m about to do then.”
I snapped my head up to look at him. He gently cupped my jaw and pressed his lips to mine. I was shocked but kissed him back. Our lips moved together for a few more seconds before he pulled away. “Shit, love, I’m sorry. I should’ve asked before I did that.”
“Hey,” I whispered, lifting his chin so our eyes were aligned. “I wanted you to.”
Matty’s smile could’ve lit up a thousand cities. “I know we only met today, and we know virtually nothing about each other, but I want to know you. I just have to.”
I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, taking the blunt from his hand and inhaling deeply. I put out the blunt in the ashtray next to me and snaked one hand around Matty’s neck, the other resting on his cheek. I pressed my lips to his and exhaled the smoke into his waiting mouth, where he inhaled it and breathed out the excess.
Matty stared at me for a moment, before leaning back on his hands and patting his lap. I swung a leg over his to straddle him, before crashing my lips to his again in a much more desperate kiss. His tongue swiped against my bottom lip and I opened my mouth slightly, allowing his tongue to enter my mouth. He tasted of weed and smoke and mint. My hands crept up to play with his hair, fingertips grazing against his shaved sides which seemed to be growing back a little. I was glad. Mullets were definitely not my thing.
Matty’s hands were venturing up and down my sides and my back, sometimes coming up to tangle themselves in my carefully curled hair or cup my jaw. I pulled away to catch my breath, and Matty used the time to press small kisses onto my neck and jawline. He began to get a little more cocky, sucking a bright red mark into the skin of my neck. I giggled; usually I would be a little annoyed but the weed was beginning to kick in and everything he did felt perfect.
“Hey, Penny?” Matty pulled away from sucking on my collarbone to speak. I took his face in my hands and whispered “what?”
“I just smoked weed and I drank a bit so I probably shouldn’t drive. Do you wanna get a taxi?”
“To where?”
“My flat. If you want.”
I couldn’t have thought of anything better at that moment, so I rose from his lap and pulled him along with me. I went to slide open the balcony doors, but Matty pulled me in for one last kiss, even dipping me back slightly in his strong arms. How could a stranger be more romantic than my ex-boyfriend of three years? I felt like I was going insane. I couldn’t even believe I had kissed him within only a few hours of knowing him, never mind going home with him. Maybe it was the weed talking, but I trusted Matty.
—————
Matty and I managed to get a taxi fairly quickly. He slid into the back seat beside me and told the driver his address. As soon as we started driving, his lips were attached to my neck again, kissing the skin gently. I turned my head and placed a hand on his cheek, pressing my lips to his. His tongue entered my mouth once more and I could still taste the weed in his mouth, along with some red wine he had downed before we left. I started to feel bad for the taxi driver and broke the kiss, resting my head on his shoulder and reaching for his large, calloused hand. He continued to press soft kisses to the top of my head and stroke my hand with his thumb for the remainder of the short taxi drive. It felt odd to be so intimate with a stranger. I had hardly even felt this close to past boyfriends. What was it about Matty that made me feel so safe?
When we arrived at Matty’s apartment building he paid the taxi driver quickly and basically pulled me out of the car and all the way inside, pressing the lift buttons frantically. I laughed at him, placing my hand on his jaw and pulling him down to look at me. “Chill out Matty, we have time.” I kissed his cheek as the lift doors opened and he pulled me inside, barely waiting until the doors had closed to pull me into another deep kiss. He bent down slightly to wrap his hands around my thighs. “Jump,” he whispered with a grin. I jumped up and he caught me, pushing me against the cold metal wall. I moaned into the kiss as his hands made their way to my ass, squeezing gently. The doors began to open again but Matty didn’t put me down, instead running down the corridor with me in his arms, until I was screaming with laughter and begging him to drop me. He lowered me to my feet when he reached the door to his flat as he fumbled with his keys to open the door.
No sooner were we through the door than he slid his jacket off his shoulders onto the ground and kicked off his shoes, connecting our lips again. “Please, Matty,” I whispered into his mouth, and he ran his hands up and down my back a few times before finding the zip of my dress and pulling it down. As the dress fell to the floor, he devoured me with his eyes. I had gone braless to the party and my nipples were rock hard with the cool air and anticipation of what was to come. My lower half was barely covered by a lacy black thong which seemed to attract Matty’s attention. He was already hardening in his jeans, and I couldn’t wait any longer, so I stepped forward to start unbuttoning his shirt. He yanked it off and threw it behind him, before pulling his jeans off and kicking them away from himself. He stood in a pair of black Calvins, eyeing me up and down and smiling. “How did I get this lucky? It’s not often girls as perfect as you come into the shop, babe, never mind me taking them home on the first night of knowing each other.”
I blushed, before saying “get a move on, Matty. I’m not standing here all night.”
He lunged towards me, tackling me onto the sofa and attacking my nipple with his tongue, making me cry out between bursts of laughter. He sucked a few dark red marks into the skin of my breasts, to match the one he had given me on my neck. He scooped me up, making me giggle, and carried me into his bedroom, throwing me down on the bed before stripping himself of his boxers and pulling off my thong, dropping to his knees when he saw my exposed pussy. He looked up at me for permission. “Can I?”
I nodded. He started by licking the whole way from my hole to my clit, making me cry out in pleasure, before settling on my clit and sucking, licking, grazing it with his teeth. I was dripping now, and one of his hands crept up and was catching some of the wetness on his fingertips. He inserted two finger into me, thrusting them in and out, curling them to hit my g-spot, while he kept licking my clit over and over. I screamed his name and clutched at his dark hair, nearing the edge. Him sucking my clit again and thrusting his fingers into me faster than before had me cumming over his hand and mouth, my arousal dripping down my thighs. He retracted his hand and placed his fingers in his mouth, sucking them clean of my wetness. I lay panting, heart pounding, legs shaking.
“Fuck, baby. You’re incredible,” he whispered, as if I was the one doing the work.
He crawled up to hover above me and kiss me, the taste of my cunt on his tongue.
—————
Matty had tucked me under his duvet with a kiss to my forehead, crawling into bed beside me and pulling me tight to his chest. We had decided not to take things any further that night, realising that despite the feelings that had obviously generated extremely quickly and the connection we seemed to have, we didn’t want to rush into anything. I knew we were both drunk, both high. I didn’t want to wake up the next morning and think I had made a mistake. I rolled over to face him, pressing a kiss to the smooth skin of his cheek, before tucking my head into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent, and drifting off to sleep; our hearts beating in sync and our breathing matching each others.
—————
A/N: First chapter! Lemme know what you think PLEASE I’m begging give me feedback. Hope y’all enjoyed. Btw in the future when a few more parts are out I would LOVE to take requests for Record Store!Matty blurbs. We’ll see though 🫶
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patientlibrarian · 3 months
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Goran Thursday.
Hello everyone, everywhere, it's "Goran Thursday" and still very hot here in the UK. Lots of Goran about at the moment.
Talking of hot:
Translation:
Goran Višnjić and Zrinka Cvitešić together on stage for the first time: "We became like a small family "
The most successful Croatian actors abroad, who play the main roles in the play 'Equinocija' at the Dubrovnik Summer Games, discover what the atmosphere is like at rehearsals led by director Krešimir Dolenčić and recall their summers in Dubrovnik where their professional paths have never crossed before.
Location: Croatian National Theater in Zagreb. Weather: three in the afternoon, end of the week, heat, steam. Wardrobe no. 106, make-up artist, hairdresser, Gloria's team and two of the most outstanding actors of contemporary Croatia - Zrinka Cvitešić (44), laureate of the highest British theater award Olivier, and Goran Višnjić (52), our most successful representative in Hollywood.
The reason for the meeting: the Dubrovnik Summer Games and their collaboration on the play "Equinocija" by Ivo Vojnović, directed by Krešimir Dolenčić. Goran plays a rich returnee from America, Nika Marinović, and Zrinka plays his love from his youth, Jela. This time, Višnjić did not return from America, but from Great Britain, where he lives with his family in the southwest of the island - in Cornwall, while Cvitešić is still at two addresses, one in Zagreb and one in London with his partner, former soccer player Niko Kranjčar .
In preparation for our recording, Zrinka and Goran excitedly exchange impressions from the rehearsal they just came from. Both she and he have the text with their notes in their hands and are commenting on younger colleagues from the play's team - whose performance they are delighted with. Lovers of acting recognize each other, one might say. Director Krešimir Dolenčić , however, did not choose this "duo fantastikus" by chance.
"Nothing is a coincidence, and then again, it is. We met by chance after a performance at the &TD Theater and then he told me that he had a meeting the next day regarding the Games and that we would talk to each other when he knew exactly what it was about. I am in that moment I said that I would like to work at the Games, I just don't know when and which show. And then he called me the next day and offered to do "Equinocia", to which I immediately said - come on! Krešo and I have known each other for almost thirty years. ever since he was an assistant to our professor Neva Rošić at the Acting course. When I was a student, he gave me a scholarship at Gavella," recalls Goran Višnjić with a laugh.
Zrinka agrees with the statement and complements the answer with his memory. "An actor should be very lucky to work with directors like Krešo in his career. I've had very few of them so far - they're directors you don't ask what, how, why... When you're invited to a project, you just ask them when and where you should come. They are unreservedly guided, inspired, and loved by you. It's nice to come back to Kreša after more than ten years, but we both asked ourselves - is it really so?! Because we both feel like we've worked together before. In short, we had a great time at the rehearsals. The ensemble is not big and after a week we have become like a small family. The young actors Lara Nekić and Karlo Mrkša are wonderful and curious actors. It's best when it's created together, when there's no "this is not my scene and I'm not interested in it". The most beautiful ideas are born from togetherness, this has been confirmed to me again and again throughout my life, and so it is this time," says the actress who, together with Goran Višnjić, recalled her first associations with the Games, and they also revealed to us something about their summer plans.
PLUS: Wonderful 'presentation' for a new concept Verne car by Goran on his instagram page. Must have taken ages to do. Has priceless references to a couple of old tv series!!
Hope your day goes as you would wish it to.
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taylortaylorlondon · 11 months
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THE BEST HAIR SALON IN LONDON 2023 ! Its official .....We are beyond delighted to be voted as the best hair salon in London by the British Lifestyle Awards . The only awards voted for by the public we need to say a massive THANKYOU to our incredible salon team and to our amazing customers whose votes took us straight to the top 🏆
As we are due to celebrate our 21st birthday next year this award is the very best present we could ask for .
Taylor Taylor London - 21 Years and Still On Top
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tctteredwings · 9 months
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[ harry shum jr., genderqueer, he/they ] — whoa! KIAN ZHANG just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for THEIR WHOLE LIFE, working as the HEAD STYLIST AND OWNER OF KIAN ZHANG HAIR. that can’t be easy, especially at only 41 YEARS OLD. some people say they can be a little bit DRAMATIC and BLUNT, but i know them to be INNOVATIVE and ACCEPTING. whatever. i guess i’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to MANHATTAN!
IN A NUTSHELL; a smudge of eyeliner, vintage clothing, piano solo's when the sun's gone down, the slight scent of hairspray, an extensive collection of disney pins, willing to do anything for their son.
tw: bullying
ABOUT.
Name: Kian Zhang Nicknames: Ki Age: Forty-one Date of birth: 21st February 1983 Birth place: Manhattan, New York Occupation: Head Stylist and owner of Kian Zhang Hair Romantic/sexual orientation: Panromantic/pansexual
Kian was born in Manhattan, New York, along with his twin sister, his best friend from the word go.
He’s second-generation Chinese-American.
As the years ticked by they found themselves not entirely happy in their own skin, they started dressing differently, wearing the occasional smudge of eyeliner, something they attempted to embrace in high school.
It didn’t go well, the bullying soon followed; accepting apparently himself was frowned upon. Despite the multicultural city he lived in, his expression was limited in his youth.
He didn’t really listen, continued on in private, with close friends he made… with a boyfriend, someone who meant the world to him as time went on. He was someone who stayed a close friend long into his thirties, despite the break-up in senior year.
It was shortly after high school that they began to go by both he and they pronouns, something that has stayed the same ever since.
Their creativity came out over time and they embraced it, choosing in the end to make their way into the beauty industry and the Carsten Institute of Cosmetology was the place to do it.
He eventually chose to specialise in hairdressing, becoming a stylist to the stars within a couple of years of graduating.
Shortly after that they found themselves caught up in a new relationship, something that was difficult to balance, but he tried his hardest.
Within a year or so a wedding was on the cards, each detail planned out meticulously. It was to be the beginning of a new chapter for him and when they found out only six months later that she was pregnant, he realised it really, really was.
Somehow, at some point during all of this he managed to open up his own salon in the Upper East Side —- somewhere that ended up with a three-month wait for appointments at all times of the year.
Not long after their 30th birthday, the family of three relocated to London, UK, a decision that was made for her work. Kian chose to work on opening a salon there instead, a small franchise that they intended to let someone else run, but with their ethics and style.
As their time in London ticked on, cracks in the relationship began to show, attempting a slower lifestyle ( despite the location ) wasn’t working —- they were both so used to being rushed off their feet.
Two years later a divorce was finalised and Kian moved back to New York. A rocky few years followed, the pair attempting to handle parenting from different continents.
He soon met someone who changed things for him, someone who made them want to try again. A couple of years passed, they moved in together, they were complete opposites in a way, yet that only seemed to make their bond stronger. They complimented one another and it was as simple as that.
But then that ended, too, abruptly and painfully. Kian did all they knew how to do, focus on work and ignore everything else going on around them. Thankfully his son is back in the States now, his ex-wife's job changing a couple of years ago, meaning she could return.
HEADCANONS.
Their wardrobe is a rather eclectic mix of things, although their most colourful side comes out when they’re working and less so at home. At home they really are about being comfortable and nothing else.
There’s always the slightest hint of eyeliner with them, they’ve never been able to let that go.
He’s been playing piano since he was small and he’s pretty damn good at it now —- can definitely give Beethoven a run for his money.
He’s got a bit of thing for 80′s music and are playing it constantly, especially in the salon.
Can’t play sports to save their life, although they like to think they were an amazing high-jumper in high school ( they weren’t, but still mention it if anyone ever brings sports up ).
They collect Disney pins and have never been particularly shy about it.
Once got stabbed with their own scissors by an unhappy client.
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holdmytesseract · 2 years
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Welcome to the High Rise
Robert Laing x fem!Reader
Request: "Hi friend! If/when you do decide to open up your requests, would it be possible for you to write about Robert Laing meeting the reader in the high-rise for the first time? I'll leave it up to you to decide what the reader's background is - whether or not she works at the medical school like Robert, where she's from, etc. Thank you so much for everything you do :)" - Requested by @five-miles-over ! 😄
Summary: Dr. Robert Laing just moved into the High Rise. On a visit to the supermarket, he runs into a woman, who sweeps him off his feet on the first look...
Warnings: none, actually... one swear word
Word Count: 1,4k
a/n: Thank you for the request and your kind words, my friend @five-miles-over ! I loved writing this! I hope you like! 😊
Tagging: @lokisgoodgirl @lovingchoices14 @evelyn-kingsley @jennyggggrrr @acefeather2002 @lulubelle814 @vbecker10 @fictive-sl0th
If you want to be added to my Tom Taglist, please let me know! 😄
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The High Rise. A luxurious, modern, but also uncommon and quite a bit strange skyscraper. A skyscraper bigger than anything the people in London had seen before; built to afford the residents a whole new experience of luxury. The High Rise was separated from the rest of the civilisation, but living in this brand-new building didn't require contact to the rest of the world, oh no... Everything a human being needed could be found inside the skyscraper. Supermarkets, gyms, schools, swimming pools, drug stores, hell even a hairdresser. All it took was a trip to another floor. People were fascinated and so, the High Rise quickly came to life with countless residents. The spectrum ranged from families and singles to students and retired couples. Everyone wanted to live in this new, strange and spectacular house. So was Robert Laing. The young, quite wealthy doctor in physiology desperately needed a change of scenery after the split up with his now ex-wife and so the decision was made quickly. Robert wanted a fresh start, enjoy life, have fun and not think about the troubles in his past. So, the new destination was quickly set... The High Rise.
With an audible huff, Robert placed the stack of moving boxes down on the ground in his brand-new apartment. He didn't bring quite much from his old apartment. All he needed was five boxes - which eyed him from the floor now. The young doctor ran a hand through his short, blonde curls with brown hues, before he looked around. This could become a nice and cosy home, he thought with a smile. His plan was to unpack the boxes immediately and turn this flat into a home, but Robert was way too curious about this lively building, so he decided to look around and explore. His feet led him through the whole building - that was how it felt, at least. He was at the gym, in the swimming pool area, the sports hall, at almost every floor - yes, he even paid the big parking area a visit. And what could Robert say? This place was bustling with people, trying to live their best life. He was utterly fascinated by this seemingly perfect and flawless system of living.
His last destination although was the supermarket. This thing even had a supermarket! Robert grabbed one of the shopping baskets and made his way through the seemingly sheer endless racks, stuffed to the brim with different food, drinks and everything else you needed for a living. But also completely different articles. Paint for example. Paint. That was where Robert came abruptly to a halt, as a thought crossed his mind. He could paint his apartment, couldn't he? Change the boring white walls into a... His eyes roamed the rack, reading the labels of the different cans with paint. Grey! He could change the boring white walls into a decent, professional grey. Yes. That was exactly what he was going to do. The young doctor had been so focused on the truly fascinating range of paint in front of him, that he didn't even notice the woman standing only a few steps away from him. With a small smile to himself, he lifted his hand up high to reach for the can. Although, that smile quickly faded, turned into a surprised shock, as his bigger hand came suddenly into contact with a smaller hand. Shocked, he pulled his hand away; his eyes snapped down to his left, where he suddenly looked straight into a pair of Y/E/C eyes. They belonged to a woman. A woman with Y/H/C hair, which framed her beautiful face and fell in soft curls over her shoulders. A white dress with floral patterns wound itself around her smaller body and ended just above her knees. It looked sweet and innocent, yet it highlighted the curves of her body to perfection. Robert tried to keep his eyes on her face - what was pretty difficult for him. He was literally overwhelmed by the sudden beauty he came across. She stood beside him, surprised and shocked just like him. It was written all over her face - but suddenly his ears heard her sweet voice for the first time. A heart-warming giggle left her lips and Robert witnessed, how she covered her mouth with her hand, in an attempt to hide her embarrassment and probably shyness. "Oh my, I-I am so sorry, I..." She took a deep breath and gave Robert a beautiful, astonishing smile. He had the feeling it made the world light up around him. "I-I didn't think you'd reach for the same can of paint as I do... What a funny coincidence." Another, slightly insecure giggle left her soft lips - assumingly to play it cool and to somehow comprehend this slightly awkward situation. The sound of her kind voice seemed to get him out of his 'daze'.
Robert shook his head with a laugh himself, "A funny coincidence, indeed." before he gave her that charming smile of his. "Please, don't apologise, Miss..." "Oh, right, sorry!" The woman exclaimed, accompanied by another nervous giggle, while she stretched out her hand towards the doctor. "Y/N Y/L/N." He took her hand with a smile and brought her hand to his lips to place a soft, gentle kiss there. Gentlemen-like. Well played, Laing. He could've sworn she was blushing. "Please don't apologise, Miss Y/L/N. If someone should be apologising, it's me. I was lost in my thoughts. And I am taller. I should've noticed it, so... I am sorry." Y/N giggled once again and shook her head. "I guess we both were somewhere else with our minds..." Robert nodded, still smiling. "Guess so, yes." The two looked at each other for a short moment, awkwardly. "What's your name, actually? If I may be so bold to ask you." The doctor's eyes widened shortly. He didn't even introduce himself... That was usually not his way of behaviour. "How rude of me, I am, once again, apologising..." He straightened his tie and announced with a smile: "Doctor Robert Laing." The woman's eyebrows lifted in awe and surprise. "Doctor?" He nodded. "Yes. I work at the medical school, teaching students in physiology." "That's truly fascinating, Dr. Laing. I think I never met a doctor before." Robert frowned slightly at her words, so the young woman noticed and jumped quickly to correct her words. "I-I mean outside of a doctor's office or the hospital." There she was, blushing for the second time in front of the - without a doubt, handsome man. Robert smiled at her nervous, awkward stutter. "I see... What are you doing for a living, Miss Y/L/N?" The way Doctor Laing rolled her name off his tongue brought the woman's legs close to edge to turn into jelly. Paired with those mesmerising blue eyes... "Uh, I-I am a primary school teacher." Once again Robert smiled that charming, attractive smile. "Seems like we have something in common then... Are you working here in the High Rise?" Y/N nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. A nervous habit. "Yes, yes, I do. Not long, though... About five months." "Well, you live longer here than I do. I just moved in." Her eyes widened with a small laugh. "Oh, really?" Robert joined her laughter, nodding. "Yes." "Which floor?" Y/N's boldness made another appearance. "Twenty-five." And once again the doctor witnessed the woman's eyes widen. "No way! That's a joke, Mr. Laing, right?" He shook his head, laughing. "Absolutely not. Why?" "Because I live there, too! But given the fact that you just moved in, explains why I never ran into you before." What another funny coincidence... "This place is so big and yet so small..." Robert stated, chuckling. Y/N giggled, too, before her gaze settled coincidentally on the big clock hanging in the supermarket. Half past three... Oh shit! She had to go! There was a very important school staff meeting waiting for her! All she wanted to do was a quick grocery shopping, but well... "I-I'm so sorry, Dr. Laing, but I have to go! I'll see you around - and..." She gave him a last smile, before she turned to leave. "Welcome to the High Rise!"
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businessid-uk · 5 months
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MM Hair London
Hairdressers 
London
Here at MM Hair London our goal is simple… to bring the best Balayage techniques to London and empower our clients along the way! We believe great hair can change everything and give us so much confidence, that’s why our expert balayage specialists are so passionate about their work and making sure every hair they touch looks incredible and makes the client glow inside and out.
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carladuquette · 1 year
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happy speak now tv day! a couple of years ago i wrote a little something based on speak now (the song) and it turned into a whole taylor x elite series. next chapter - no body no crime - coming when i my wrists/arms will let me type without pain again.
ANYWAY, Speak Now - Carla/Samuel
Carla pulled at the hem of her dress, then took another sip from the small champagne bottle Lu had pressed into her hand as soon as she had gotten into Carla's car.
"I'm really not sure this is a good idea," she said one more time. "Maybe we should go home."
"Carla." Lu took her hand and waited until Carla looked at her. "We've talked about this. We're going. You need this. It'll give you… closure or something? Anyway, you can't let that little hairdresser tell you what to do. And we look way too hot to turn back now, ok? Trust me, it'll be fine."
Carla smiled briefly. Whenever Lu said that, there was at least a 50 percent chance whatever they were up to would end in disaster. Hopefully today would be different.
She braced herself and took a deep breath in the back of the car. It wasn't like she was heading to her own execution. Weddings were a happy occasion. A couple expressing their undying love for each love. Two families united as one. A never-ending flow of alcohol from the open bar. Only that she and Lu would never get to the part with the alcohol. They wouldn't go to the reception because neither of them had actually been invited to the wedding they were about to attend.
Well. Technically…
It seems that I was uninvited by your lovely bride-to-be
Samuel had been dating Maria when Carla had returned from London and she'd been determined to be happy for him. They had gone on a few double dates, always with a different guy by Carla's side (and a girl once, Carla had learned some things about herself in college), but eventually they'd stopped.
Samuel had canceled a dinner first, then Carla had feigned a headache and bowed out of a movie she and Sergio (or was it Raul?) were supposed to go see with Samuel and Maria. When Carla had texted Samuel a few days later with the suggestion for another date, he'd said it was a bad time, that he was studying for the final exams for his Bachelor's and Maria was busy at work.
The mean part of Carla had wanted to reply asking what exactly Maria was so busy with at the salon, but she'd just texted him a "Sure, let me know when you come up for air." He never had.
Carla hadn't minded. In fact, she'd been grateful. Going out with him and Maria had been more painful than she had been willing to admit to herself.
They'd seen each other one more time after that, at Guzman's birthday. Maria hadn't been there - "She's visiting her mom on Lanzarote," Samuel had explained - and it had been the best night Carla had had since returning to Madrid. She and Samuel had been inseparable all night. They had talked for hours. His jokes had still been stupid, his dance moves had still made him look like he was having a seizure and Carla still hadn't cared one bit. The way he'd looked at her… No one had looked at her like that in years. Carla had felt like she was right back in high school.
It had happened when Guzman had finally kicked the last guests out at 3:30 am. They had awkwardly hugged goodbye in front of Guzman's apartment building. And then they had kissed.
For the first time Carla had felt like she was actually home again. Then she'd opened her eyes and had seen the guilt written all over Samuel's face.
"I'm sorry," she had rushed to say.
"Carla…"
"No no, don't worry about it. We're both drunk, this didn't mean anything." As if it could ever not mean anything with him. "You're fine. Go home. We'll just forget this ever happened."
A few months later she'd been out for drinks with Guzman, Ander and Lu. Guzman hadn't been able to look her in the eye all night, until Lu had kicked her ex's leg under the table and exasperatedly said "Will you just tell her already?"
Samuel, as it turned out, had apparently done exactly as she had suggested, forgotten all about their kiss and proposed to his girlfriend. By the end of that night, Lu had had to hold Carla's hair back as she threw up in the bar's bathroom.
The invite had been in the mail a few weeks later. "A July wedding, it'll be way too hot," Carla had thought idly as her legs had given out. She had fully planned to attend, with a plus one, of course. But before she'd been able to send her RSVP back, Maria had shown up at her office on a Thursday. It had been raining and Carla had just gotten dropped back off at the winery after a business lunch with a buyer from Italy when she'd seen Maria in the lobby. (She still remembered every single detail of that day down to the color of her shoes - bordeaux - and the overly sweet smell of Maria's vanilla-scented perfume.) Samuel's fiancée had made it very clear that she did not want Carla to show her face at the wedding.
I sneak in and see your friends And her snotty little family all dressed in pastel
They had actually sneaked into the church where her high school boyfriend was about to get married like it was Teatro Barcelo and she and Lu were 15. Carla took a moment to appreciate the absurdity of her life before she looked around. People were still arriving, so there was enough of a hustle and bustle that the two of them didn't attract attention standing off to the side next to a large shelf holding fliers about the church's membership drive, its Thursday night soup kitchen and the Alcoholics Anonymous group that hosted its meetings in the building's basement. The snob in Carla was appalled that no one had bothered to remove the shelf, or at least the fliers, before the wedding. Stop judging, she reminded herself. You shouldn't even be here.
Lu had no such qualms. "That has to be Maria's mother up there, right?" She scoffed. "Who wears mint green to a wedding? Honestly, that whole outfit is a disaster. I am itching just looking at the fabric from here. What is that, polyester?"
Carla nodded absentmindedly, looking for faces she'd recognize. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Nano already standing up front next to the altar, looking uncomfortable in an ill-fitting suit. "Look." She tugged on Lu's arm. "Samu must be so happy to have his brother here. I bet Nano is his best man."
"Yeah, he is." Lu chuckled. "Guzman was pretty hurt he didn't get the job. Oh my God, is that-"
Both of their mouths were hanging open as they watched a tall brunette walk past them at a distance, quietly cursing and pulling at the ruffles covering her torso. "Wow," was all Carla managed. She couldn't drag her eyes away from Rebeka in a pink tulle atrocity that she realized had to be a bridesmaid dress.
"She and Samuel must still be really good friends for her to be wearing that." Lu was laughing so hard she had to lean on the shelf and Carla shushed her. When she had calmed down she turned to Carla.
"So, I hang back here while you go find Samuel? I can text Guzman about where the room is that the guys-
"Are you insane?" Carla took a step closer to Lu so their faces were almost touching. "I am not going to talk to him! That is not why we came here!"
She was about to elaborate when a familiar voice made her freeze. "Nano!" Pilar shouted as she entered the church, cellphone in hand. "Did you tell the DJ it was next weekend?!"
Carla roughly grabbed Lu's elbow and dragged her along as she hurried behind the shelf and ducked.
Lu stared at her. "What the-"
"Sssshhh!" Carla covered Lu's mouth with her hand. Only when Pilar was far enough away they couldn't hear her shouting anymore did she remove it. "She can't see us, she'd immediately tell Samu I'm here."
The gentleness in Lu's eyes was a rare sight. "Carla, what are you doing?" she asked softly.
"Samu and I just missed our moment." Carla shrugged. She knew her hard work to look nonchalant was in vain, but that didn't mean she'd give up. "He's getting married, there's nothing I can do about it."
"Bullshit! Have you not seen a single romcom ever? Damn it, you are so clearly still in lo-"
"Shut up!" Carla could feel her face heat up. "You wanted us to come here, you dragged me to this even though I told you in no uncertain terms I did not want to go and I still very much don't want to be here! But you don't care because you thought this could be some fun little anecdote for you to tell down the road, right? 'How I crashed a working-class wedding.'"
"That's not true and I hope you know that," Lu said quietly.
Seeing hurt flash across her best friend's face and knowing she had caused it still came with the exact same mix of surprise and regret it did in high school. "I'm sorry," Carla said immediately. "No, of course I do. It's all of this, being here... It has me on edge. But you're right, it'll be good for closure. Let's just find seats in the back and get through it, ok?"
Lu smiled half-heartedly and hugged her. "If that's what you really want."
Horrified looks from everyone in the room But I'm only looking at you
The ceremony passed in a haze. Lu covered a laugh with a cough as Rebeka walked down the aisle, other than that the two of them were silent. Carla kept staring at Samuel, trying to decipher whether he looked happy, but they were too far back for her to really read his face. When Maria floated down the aisle like a pageant queen, Carla grabbed Lu's hand without taking her eyes off the bride. She was squeezing so hard that she thought she could hear their bones crack - she'd definitely have to buy Lu a drink or five once this was over. Once this was over… when Samuel would be married. Carla closed her eyes.
After what felt like hours, when the sickeningly adorable story of how Samuel and Maria had met had been told and a friend of Maria's had sung some 90s love song off-key, the pastor cleared his throat and declared: "Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
"Carla." When she didn't react right away, Lu pulled away her hand and pinched her arm hard enough to hurt. "Carla! This is your last chance! If you don't do something now-"
It was a physical reflex. That was the only possible explanation, because Carla certainly didn't want to get up, but there she was, on her feet, hands shaking.
"Uhm." She cleared her throat. The effect would have been comical had she not been this terrified: Every last person in the church turned to look at her. And they clearly weren't happy. Carla took a deep breath and focused on Samuel, who hadn't moved a single muscle and was staring at her slack-jawed.  
"I… I don't usually do this sort of thing-" Here she could see Rebeka laugh, the only one in the bridesmaids line-up who didn't look horrified. "But I wanted…" What exactly was it that she wanted? What was the plan here? Carla was ready to just sit down again (or, even better, have the ground open up and swallow her whole), when she felt Lu squeeze her hand. Fuck it.
"I didn't want to miss my moment. Not again. Samu, we've done that enough times. I'm sorry I didn't say this earlier, right when I got back from London or even before that, but I love you. I love you." Carla was having an out-of-body experience, but she was still pretty sure the smile slowly spreading across Samuel's face wasn't a hallucination.
"So… You shouldn't be marrying the wrong girl, I guess is what I'm saying."
A collective gasp traveled through the pews. Maria threw her bouquet to the ground and looked like she was ready to tackle Carla, but Rebeka had taken a step forward and grabbed her by the arm. Carla felt like she was floating, like she had drunk an entire bottle of champagne too quickly. Nothing could touch her. She actually giggled. "I'll be going, but if you're not going to be saying any vows, come find me outside."
She turned around and made her way out of the pew. Lu was right behind her. Once they were outside, the enormity of her actions hit her in the face. "Oh my god." Carla had to sit down on the church's front stoop because the world was spinning. She had apparently forgotten how to breathe right and struggled for tiny gulps of air. "What did I do? What just happened? I never should have come! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my-"
"Hey!" Lu was kneeling in front of her, grabbing her face with both hands. "You were fucking fantastic. That was the bravest thing I have ever seen, really, Carla."
"She's right, you know?"
Carla's heart stopped. She didn't dare turn around, so when Lu got up with a wide grin on her face, Carla just kept staring straight ahead. A pair of tux-clad legs appeared in her field of vision. Carla's mouth opened without any contribution from her brain. "You can't wear sneakers with a tuxedo," she said, her voice hoarse.
Samuel's laugh rang in her ears. When she finally looked up at him, his dark eyes were serious.
"Did you really mean what you said in there?"
For the first time Carla allowed the hope that she had pushed down to unfold. She got up and grabbed Samuel's hands. "I just got up in front of all your friends and family and ruined your wedding. Of course I fucking meant it. Every word."
Before she could ask how he felt, Samuel pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. Carla moaned into the kiss and only broke away when Lu cleared her throat.
"You're welcome, bitch."
Carla practically ran the few short steps towards Lu and all but jumped into her arms. "Thank you," she whispered in her ear. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Her cheeks were wet when she pulled away.
"Any time." Lu wiped away a tear, too. "But can we get going now? I don't want to be here when the angry mob gets out."
They started walking towards their car, but Carla could feel Samuel tug at her hand. "Yeah?" She smiled at him.
"I'm really glad you came."
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