#salsa photo booth

[djinnewyorkcity]

How to Choose the Perfect Event Production Companies for Your Next Event

Are you planning a special event and want it to be an unforgettable success? You’ve come to the right place! Choosing the right event production company can make all the difference between a lackluster event and a memorable extravaganza. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of selecting the perfect event production company that aligns with your vision, budget, and objectives. So, let’s get started!

1. Understand Your Event Needs and Objectives

The first step is to clearly define your event’s purpose, theme, and objectives. Ask yourself questions like: What is the main goal of the event? Who is the target audience? What type of atmosphere do you want to create? Understanding your needs and objectives will help you communicate effectively with potential event production companies.

2. Research and Shortlist Potential Companies

Time to hit the search engines! Look for event production companies in your area and make a shortlist of potential candidates. Check their websites, portfolios, and client reviews to get a sense of their expertise and reputation. Don’t forget to look for testimonials from previous clients to gauge their level of satisfaction.

3. Experience and Expertise Matters

An experienced event production company is worth its weight in gold. Look for a team that has successfully organized events similar to yours. A well-established company with a proven track record can handle any challenges that may arise during the event planning and execution process.

4. Budget Considerations

It’s essential to have a clear idea of your budget before you start contacting event production companies. Communicate your budget to the shortlisted companies and see if they can work within your financial constraints. Keep in mind that the cheapest option might not always be the best, as quality matters.

5. Creative and Innovative Approach

You want your event to stand out and leave a lasting impression on attendees. Seek an event production company that brings a creative and innovative approach to the table. Look for fresh ideas and unique concepts that align with your vision.

6. Excellent Communication Skills

Effective communication is the backbone of successful event planning. Choose a company that listens to your ideas, provides valuable input, and communicates clearly throughout the planning process. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and avoids misunderstandings.

7. Flexibility and Adaptability

Events can be unpredictable, and last-minute changes are not uncommon. Look for an event production company that is flexible and adaptable, capable of adjusting to unexpected situations without compromising the quality of the event.

8. Quality of Equipment and Resources

A top-notch event production company should have access to state-of-the-art equipment and a wide network of reliable vendors and suppliers. This ensures that your event is equipped with the latest technology and resources.

9. Check for Insurance and Permits

Event planning involves various risks, and it’s crucial to choose a company that has proper insurance coverage. Additionally, they should be well-versed in obtaining the necessary permits for your event, ensuring legal compliance.

10. Evaluate Their Team and Crew

The success of your event relies on the expertise and professionalism of the event production team and crew. Ensure that the company has skilled personnel who can handle different aspects of the event efficiently.

11. Social Media and Online Presence

In today’s digital age, social media and online presence play a significant role in event promotion and engagement. Look for an event production company that is well-versed in leveraging digital platforms to maximize event visibility.

12. Client References

Don’t hesitate to ask for references from past clients. Talking to previous clients will give you valuable insights into the company’s performance, work ethic, and overall satisfaction levels.

13. Sustainable Practices

If sustainability is important to you, inquire about the event production company’s green practices. Many companies are adopting eco-friendly approaches to event planning, which can align with your values and make a positive impact.

14. Compare Proposals and Quotes

Once you’ve gathered proposals from different event production companies, take the time to compare them. Look beyond the numbers and consider the overall value they offer, the level of service, and the extent to which they can meet your specific needs.

15. Trust Your Instincts

Last but not least, trust your instincts. If you feel a strong connection with a particular event production company and believe they truly understand your vision, it’s likely the right choice for your event.

In conclusion, choosing the perfect event production company is a critical step in ensuring the success of your special event. By understanding your needs, researching thoroughly, and considering factors like experience, creativity, and communication, you can find the ideal partner to bring your vision to life. Remember, your event is a reflection of your aspirations, so don’t settle for anything less than excellence!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

    1. Q: How do I find event production companies near me?

A: You can start by searching online or asking for recommendations from friends, colleagues, or other event organizers.

    2. Q: What should I look for in a company’s portfolio?

 A: Look for events they have organized that are similar in scale and style to your own event.

    3. Q: How can I ensure my event stays within budget?

A: Communicate your budget clearly with the event production company and prioritize essential elements.

    4. Q: Can event production companies handle both small and large-scale events?

A: Yes, many event production companies are equipped to handle events of various sizes.

    5. Q: What if I need to make last-minute changes to the event plan?

A: Choose a company known for its flexibility and ability to adapt to unexpected changes.

    6. Q: Do event production companies provide event promotion services?

A: Some companies offer event promotion as part of their services, while others may collaborate with marketing agencies.

    7. Q: How can I assess the quality of equipment used by an event production company?

 A: Ask about the brands and technology they use and inquire about equipment maintenance practices.

    8. Q: What permits are typically required for events?

A: The permits needed depend on the type and location of the event. Common permits include those for venue usage, food service, and alcohol if applicable.

    9. Q: Can event production companies handle virtual or hybrid events?

 A: Yes, many event production companies have adapted to handle virtual and hybrid event formats.

    10. Q: How soon should I book an event production company for my event?

 A: It’s advisable to book as early as possible, especially for popular event production companies with limited availability.

[901dreamy]

[nadvs]

we need a second part of imperfect strangers where he actually comes and visits her for the weekends🤭 (random but i can so see them at chipotle being all cutesy)

aw tysm 💘 wrote a blurb and rly leaned into the goofy fluff but it’s NEEDED with zach imo!!

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

continuation of this fic

Zach acts like a four-hour drive to your college is nothing.

You know he’s tired every time he pulls up in front of your dorm. You can see it in the bags under his eyes and the yawns he tries to hide from you.

But matter how many times you tell him he doesn’t have to come visit you every weekend, he won’t hear it. He’s determined to show you how badly he wants to see you, refusing to take the risk of hurting you again.

When you mention to Zach that you’re craving Chipotle the night before his visit, he finds the closest one to your campus while still on the phone with you.

The second you get into his car the next day, he kisses you before you can even get a chance to put on your seatbelt.

“Missed you, too,” you laugh when he pulls back.

After he buys lunch, you sit in a booth by a window in the restaurant, feet bumping beneath the table. He always wants to find a way to touch you, no matter how minor.

“This is a masterpiece,” he says, holding out his bowl, ridiculously competitive as usual. “I don’t know what that is.”

You gasp as he points at your meal.

“What makes yours so perfect?” you ask. He loves how you always play along with him, that you’re as much of a goofball as he is.

“Look,” Zach says, his delivery deadpan but his motive silly like usual, “I got the protein - the steak, of course…”

“Of course,” you echo amusedly.

“And brown rice, great for lowering cholesterol,” he says.

“You take one nutrition course and suddenly you’re a genius,” you sigh, recalling how he told you about one of his elective classes on the phone a few nights ago.

“Babe, I’m being serious here,” Zach says, the smile curling on his lips telling you he’s not being serious at all.

“Continue.” You take a bite of your lunch.

“Corn, a vegetable,” he says, raising his eyebrows, “salsa, extra cheese-”

“I think you’re cheesy enough,” you interrupt, putting a palm up. Zach laughs and nudges your knee with his.

“You love it,” he says. You smile, confirming it.

“Is this who you are now that you’re a local celebrity?” you tease. “All ego?”

A few days ago, a photo of him playing soccer in a home game was posted on his college’s Instagram account, celebrating the team’s most recent win.

As you expected, the top comment was by a girl who wrote what’s his @ i’m asking for a friend (i’m the friend).

“Afraid so,” he responds.

“I noticed you changed your profile picture on Instagram,” you say. It used to be his athletic headshot, but now his profile boasts an image of the two of you smiling outside of a café.

“Yeah,” he says plainly.

“Why?”

“What do you mean? Am I not cute in it?” he jokes.

“Zach,” you laugh. “Was it because girls were messaging you?”

His cheeks flush pink. He pulls out his phone and sets it in front of you.

“Yeah. I changed it so they know I have a girlfriend,” he says, gaze fluttering away. You know him so well. “And I didn’t message any of them back. You can check.”

“You’re so sweet,” you giggle. “I trust you, but I kind of want to look just out of curiosity to see what they’re saying.”

Sure enough, he has a few messages from pretty girls sitting in his inbox, some simple hi’s, others much more flirty.

“Can’t blame them,” you reply, sliding his phone back to his side of the table. “You’re hot.”

“Are you only in this for my looks?”

“I thought you knew that,” you say. “This is awkward now.”

Zach grins, bumping your knee again before sliding out of his side of the booth and settling beside you. You can smell his cologne, clean and gentle.

“Yeah, we’re the kind of couple that sits on the same side of the table, so what?” he mumbles, planting a kiss on your temple. You smirk, kneeling against his shoulder before sitting straight again.

“I’m sorry if that made you jealous, babe,” Zach says after a beat. At times, it’s hard to believe how sensitive he is. “I can ask them to take the photo down.”

“Oh,” you say with a laugh. He has a bit of a jealous streak stemming from insecurities, but you never felt it yourself, knowing how loyal he is. “I have a cute boyfriend. I can accept that it comes with a little competition sometimes.”

“There’s no competition,” he says resolutely, blue eyes hard on you. You squeeze his bicep and smile at him and he dips to kiss your fingers, right above the promise ring he gave you.

“You know that goes both ways, right?” you tell him softly. “You’ve ruined all other men for me, MacLaren.”

Your words send butterflies swirling in his stomach.

“Good thing we’ll be together forever then,” Zach says, a glint in his eyes.

“Good thing,” you agree.

(continuation blurb)

[leatherforhell]

Things I Like About Myself, addressed to a Mr. Hobart Brown (@arachstar)

look at my hair isn’t it gorgeous

my eyes are dark brown which is so the best color

I have MULTIPLE ear piercings so I have OPTIONS which means I can have a goth earring a cute earring AND a seasonal earring. all at the same time. I’m a genius

I am so smart actually that should be its own point

I’m also hilarious. no one appreciates my humor enough 

speaking of kissing I am an excellent kisser 

Have you seen my tattoo?? gorgeous. designed it myself. can you believe

you have never in your life met anybody as good at menial chores as I am

I’m also great with kids. except for the swearing. but other than that I am so good

I have an excellent fashion sense

Actually my fashion sense is so impeccable that I can change styles every day and still look cute. have you ever seen me wearing the same outfit twice?? no you haven’t

I may not be good at cooking but I am good at finding food in a pinch, no one’s ever gonna be hungry around me

I also make the best fast food combos. stuff you’ve never even thought off. back to the genius thing

I do ALL THE JOBS and I do them ALL THE TIME!! construction? that’s me! janitorial? also me!! plumbing, electrical, tech?? damn I’m on a roll

did you know I can make a perfect circle without a stencil

I’m also good at juggling

dogs love me. actually all animals love me but like… dogs though

I might be bad at strategy games but I am a killer at fps

haha. killer. I am also good at puns

I have good taste in friends 🥰 nudge nudge

and also everything else tbh but especially music. hint hint

I’ve never once broken a bone despite all the dangerous Gotham bullshit. do you understand how impressive that is

Oh I didn’t even think about it because I never do my makeup but I’m great at that too. go me

I’m very expressive, which is great, because I live in the gloom capital of the world

I smell nice. or like, my soap smells nice. but I feel like it counts because I’m deliberately trying to smell nice

sometimes I can scare people just by using my I’m Not Mad I’m Just Disappointed face, which is always fun

I’m very good at shenanigans. you wanna do a hijink, I’m there

I have watched the pride and prejudice bbc miniseries in its entirety no less than eight times because I am Good Person and Jason wants to so I do it

I’m friends with some of the rogue gallery even though they are, infamously I would say, hard to get along with

I tip well

I’m bisexual

I’m very high energy

I am an EXCELLENT thief. literally how could anyone do better than ‘just teleport the thing to where I am.’ catwoman has nothin on me

I’m very good under pressure

I fall asleep and then STAY asleep, which is probably not a great one to list but I’m very glad I do it because I would be a monster if I didn’t sleep well

I’m a fast texter. speed demon 

as I said I’m not a good cook but I CAN make some mean tortillas. there’s an old lady in one of the apartment buildings I work on that was determined to make me learn how to cook one singular thing and that was the best we got

oh shit I speak so many languages! how did it take this long to mention that! I’m like a god damn universal translator! 

I’m very good with names AND faces

automatic designated driver and very good at it. nobody’s getting lost in an alley around me I’m keeping a close eye 👀

I’m a good dancer too! I used to be able to do pointe but I might break an ankle if I tried it now. but I’m still a good dancer in other styles

like did you know I can salsa. so sexy of me fr

I also know how to ice skate

and bowl! I’m so good at bowling!

I was a pretty cute kid, too. I wish I had pictures. I’ve only got one and it’s from a Photo Booth at the mall

my powers are really cool, actually. I can bend metal with my brain. that’s fucking cool

I know the subway and bus schedules by heart

oh and I can teleport! not just stuff but I can teleport ME 

I am also the person picking up all those leftover batarangs and whatnot. and putting them in neat and orderly piles. and then returning them to the Batmobile. in case anybody was wondering.

I picked a pretty badass name if I do say so myself 

I can do a back flip. fuck you thats 51 I’m so fucking good at this. bite me

[nflhawaiianshirt]

The Perfect Game Day: How to Plan a Tailgate Party with NFL Hawaiian Shirts

Game day is more than just watching football; it’s an experience that brings fans together. One of the best ways to celebrate game day is with a tailgate party. Tailgating is a time-honored tradition filled with food, fun, and team spirit. But how can you take your tailgate party to the next level? By incorporating NFL Hawaiian shirts into your theme, decor, and activities, you can create an unforgettable event. Here are some tips and ideas for planning the ultimate tailgate party with NFL Hawaiian shirts.

Setting the Theme Why NFL Hawaiian Shirts? NFL Hawaiian shirts are the perfect blend of team pride and tropical fun. They are vibrant, comfortable, and stylish, making them ideal for any game day event. By incorporating these shirts into your tailgate party, you set a fun and festive tone that everyone will enjoy.

Choosing the Right Shirts Start by selecting NFL Hawaiian shirts that represent your favorite team. These shirts come in various designs and colors, so choose ones that best showcase your team’s spirit. Make sure to let your guests know in advance so they can come prepared in their team-themed Hawaiian shirts.

Coordinating Decor To match the NFL Hawaiian shirt theme, decorate your tailgate area with tropical elements. Use team-colored leis, palm tree inflatables, and hibiscus flowers to create a festive atmosphere. Hang team banners and flags to reinforce the theme. The combination of team colors and tropical decor will make your tailgate party stand out.

Planning the Menu Game Day Classics with a Tropical Twist Food is a crucial part of any tailgate party. To match the NFL Hawaiian shirt theme, give your game day classics a tropical twist. Here are some ideas:

Grilled Pineapple BBQ Chicken: Marinate chicken in a pineapple BBQ sauce and grill to perfection. The sweet and tangy flavor will be a hit. Hawaiian Sliders: Use Hawaiian rolls for sliders filled with pulled pork, ham, or chicken. Add a slice of pineapple and some teriyaki sauce for extra flavor. Tropical Fruit Kabobs: Skewer chunks of pineapple, mango, and watermelon for a refreshing snack. Coconut Shrimp: Serve crispy coconut shrimp with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Mango Salsa: Pair this vibrant salsa with tortilla chips for a tasty appetizer. Refreshing Beverages Don’t forget the drinks! Offer a variety of refreshing beverages to keep your guests cool and hydrated. Consider serving tropical drinks like:

Pina Coladas: Blend pineapple juice, coconut cream, and rum for a classic tropical drink. Mai Tais: Mix light and dark rum with orange curacao, lime juice, and orgeat syrup. Mocktails: Provide non-alcoholic options like pineapple lemonade or coconut water with a splash of lime. Tailgate Essentials Make sure to pack essential tailgate items like a portable grill, coolers for drinks, plates, napkins, and utensils. A well-stocked tailgate makes for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Creating Fun Activities Tailgate Games Keep your guests entertained with a variety of tailgate games. Here are some ideas that fit the NFL Hawaiian shirt theme:

Cornhole: Decorate the boards with team colors and tropical designs. Ring Toss: Use palm tree or pineapple-shaped targets for a fun twist. Football Toss: Set up a target and see who can throw the football through it. This is a great way to get everyone in the spirit. Photo Booth Set up a photo booth with tropical props and team gear. Provide items like oversized sunglasses, leis, and foam fingers. This gives guests a fun way to capture memories from the day. You can also create a backdrop with team colors and tropical decorations for perfect photo ops.

Best Dressed Contest Encourage your guests to dress up in their best NFL Hawaiian shirts and hold a “Best Dressed” contest. Offer a prize for the winner, such as team merchandise or a tropical-themed gift basket. This adds an element of friendly competition and encourages everyone to participate in the theme.

Setting Up the Space Comfortable Seating Ensure there is plenty of seating for your guests. Use folding chairs, picnic blankets, and even inflatable loungers to create a comfortable space. Arrange seating in a way that promotes conversation and socializing.

Shaded Areas Provide shaded areas to keep your guests cool. Use pop-up tents, umbrellas, or canopies. Decorate these areas with tropical-themed items to keep the festive atmosphere going.

Sound System Set up a sound system to play music and, of course, to hear the game. Create a playlist with a mix of tropical tunes and team fight songs. This keeps the energy high and adds to the fun.

Game Day Prep Team Spirit Gear Encourage your guests to bring additional team spirit gear. Items like foam fingers, face paint, and team flags add to the excitement. You can even provide some of these items as party favors.

Tailgate Timeline Plan a timeline for your tailgate party to ensure everything runs smoothly. Start with set-up, then move on to games and activities, followed by food and drinks. Make sure you’re ready to watch the game when it starts.

Clean-Up Plan Have a clean-up plan in place to keep your tailgate area tidy. Provide plenty of trash bags and recycling bins. Encourage guests to help with clean-up to make the process quick and easy.

Making It Memorable Personalized Touches Add personalized touches to make your tailgate party special. Create custom name tags for guests, personalized drink koozies, or even team-themed temporary tattoos. These small details show your guests that you’ve put thought into the event.

Sharing on Social Media Encourage your guests to share their photos and experiences on social media. Create a unique hashtag for your tailgate party and ask everyone to use it when posting. This not only spreads the fun but also helps you gather all the great moments from the day.

Follow-Up After the party, send a thank-you message to your guests. Share some of the best photos from the day and maybe even a highlight reel. This shows your appreciation and keeps the memories alive.

Conclusion Planning the perfect game day tailgate party with NFL Hawaiian shirts is all about blending team spirit with tropical fun. By incorporating these shirts into your theme, decor, and activities, you create a unique and festive atmosphere that everyone will love. From coordinating decor and planning the menu to setting up fun activities and ensuring a comfortable space, these tips will help you host an unforgettable event.

So, gather your friends, don your NFL Hawaiian shirts, and get ready for a game day celebration like no other. With the right preparation and a dash of creativity, you can create a tailgate party that’s both stylish and spirited. Game on!

See More: https://nflhawaiianshirt.wordpress.com/2024/06/06/top-10-places-to-rock-your-nfl-hawaiian-shirt-this-summer/

[groundzeroevent]

Get ready to embark on a globe-trotting adventure with this exciting birthday bash!

Decorations: Transform your space into a mini world. Hang colorful travel bunting across the ceiling, and create a backdrop featuring iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal. Scatter inflatable globes and miniature airplanes around the room. Use world map tablecloths and decorate chairs with flags from different countries.

Food: Let the food be your passport to deliciousness! Set up a variety of stations offering international fare. Have a taco bar with all the fixings for a taste of Mexico. Offer mini pizzas and build-your-own pasta for an Italian adventure. Don't forget a sushi station with chopsticks for a trip to Japan. Keep it simple with bowls of popcorn and mini hotdogs for a classic American touch.

Activities:

Boarding Pass Invitations: Design invitations that look like boarding passes, with the party details as the flight information and the birthday guest of honor as the pilot!

Passport to Fun: Craft paper passports for guests upon arrival. Throughout the party, they can collect stamps at different activity stations. The completed passport can be their entry for a grand prize draw.

Globe Scavenger Hunt: Hide small travel trinkets or candies around the room. Create a list of clues referencing different countries, leading guests on a scavenger hunt to find them.

DIY Crafts Corner: Set up a station with supplies for guests to create their own travel souvenirs. They can decorate miniature suitcases, design postcards to their future selves, or color world maps.

Photo Booth Fun: Create a photo booth area with a fun backdrop like a world map or a hot air balloon. Provide silly hats, boas, and props representing different cultures for guests to take wacky pictures.

Entertainment:

World Music Playlist: Create a lively playlist with upbeat music from different countries. Salsa, Bollywood tunes, Irish jigs – let the music take you on a journey around the globe!

Limbo Contest: String up a limbo bar and play energetic world music. Guests can compete to see who can limbo the lowest while representing different dance styles from various cultures.

Pin the Landmark on the Map: Blindfold guests and have them try to pin a paper landmark cutout onto a giant world map on the wall.

Favors: Send your guests home with a taste of the world! Fill small suitcases (favor boxes) with candies or trinkets from different countries. You can also give mini globes, inflatable world maps, or colorful friendship bracelets.

This "Around the World" theme is perfect for any age group and can be customized based on the birthday person's interests. So, pack your bags, grab your boarding pass, and get ready to celebrate in style!pen_sparktunesharemore_vert

[sepanbanquet]

Blending Tradition and Sophistication At Sepan’s Quinceanera Venues

In the heart of Mexican culture, the quinceañera is a vibrant, deeply ingrained celebration that marks a young woman’s entry into adulthood. This beloved event is more than simply a celebration; it’s a rite of passage, an indication of adulthood, and a happy representation of family and custom. As one of the best quinceanera venues, Sepan Banquet Hall pays homage to this beautiful tradition by offering a wonderful blend of cultural elegance and cutting-edge sophistication.

Quinceañera Traditions and Trends The quinceañera is rich in traditional customs that have been handed down through the years. A custom that represents the final vestiges of childhood is known as “La última muñeca,” or “the last doll.” The “changing of the shoes,” in which the young woman transitions from flat to heeled shoes, is another one of the quinceanera traditions symbolizing her entry into womanhood.

But quinceañeras of today are also adopting modern styles. Theme-based events, from sophisticated fairy tale ideas to more daring Hollywood glam, are becoming more and more popular. These contemporary touches give each event a special and unforgettable touch by expressing the personality and current styles of the quinceañera.

The quinceañera celebration is not only centered around these new trends and rich traditions but also around music and dancing. At Sepan Banquet Hall, we see a lot of families incorporate modern pop and dance music with classic Latin dances like salsa and waltz. This blend ensures that guests of all ages feel connected and involved while also honoring tradition and bringing in a contemporary ambiance. The music selections during a quinceañera set the rhythm for the evening and provide a very joyful and celebratory environment.

Current Quinceañera Trends Being one of the top quinceanera venues, Sepan Banquet Hall stays up to date with these evolving styles. We’ve witnessed an increase in innovative entertainment alternatives, like photo booths with entertaining props, live bands, and even choreographed dance routines, which bring excitement and interaction to the event.

Decor has also evolved; lavish floral arrangements, sophisticated lighting, and vivid color palettes are common at modern quinceañeras. These modern decorating ideas provide a dramatic visual effect and establish the mood for a glamorous and joyous occasion.

Invitation design is another aspect where new trends are certainly making their mark.  Modern quinceañeras typically use sophisticated invitations that match the event’s color scheme and theme. One thing our team has noticed is an increase in digital invitations that are not only environmentally friendly but also allow for creative expression through animation and interactive features.  

Mexican Cuisine with a Modern Twist We understand that food is at the heart of any celebration. Authentic Mexican food is our specialty, and we serve classic dishes like tamales, chiles en nogada, and mole. However, our culinary experts are skilled in incorporating contemporary elements into these time-honored dishes, resulting in a cuisine that is both familiar and captivating.

We have selections that go beyond the typical; we have fusion meals that blend ingredients from Mexico into modern cuisine. Whether you prefer traditional Mexican cuisine or something more experimental, our menus may be tailored to your preferences and theme, guaranteeing a delicious dining experience for everyone.

Sweet Quinceanera Treats In order to complement our main meals and fusion creations, as well as add a genuine touch to your quinceanera, Sepan Banquet Hall provides a range of Mexican-inspired sweets and beverages. From traditional churros and flan to creative margarita and horchata-based cocktails, these sweet treats and drinks pay tribute to Mexican culinary heritage. They not only satisfy the palate but also provide a whimsical and culturally rich element to the eating experience, making your event even more memorable.

Sepan’s Quinceanera Venues Experience Sepan Banquet Hall takes pride in offering a complete experience rather than merely a place to hold events. Just paint flowing through a canvas, our venue may be easily customized to suit your quinceañera’s theme and vision. Our venues are made to suit celebrations of every size, from glamorous bedrooms to elegantly appointed eating areas.

Our commitment to detail extends to décor as well. Whether you choose a traditional setting or a modern design, our team will work hard to make your vision a reality. Sepan guarantees that your quinceañera will be as distinctive and memorable as the young lady being honored, all thanks to our great service and hospitality.

Blending Culture and Sophistication Quinceañeras are far more than just birthday parties; they are milestone celebrations that deserve to be marked with magnificence and joy. At Sepan Banquet Hall, we understand the importance of this special day. Known as one of the best quinceanera venues in LA, we excel in bringing every aspect of your quinceañera vision to life.

Our team of experts is dedicated to blending traditional elements with modern flair to create a celebration that beautifully bridges the past and present. With our unique mix of cultural and contemporary offerings, exceptional Mexican cuisine, and unwavering commitment to service, Sepan Banquet Hall stands out as the ultimate choice for hosting your quinceañera.

If you’re seeking more tips and expert planning for an extraordinary quinceañera, look no further than Sepan Banquet Hall, where every celebration is crafted with passion and precision.

[unitywedding]

2024 Wedding Dance Trends

One of the most anticipated aspects of any wedding is the dance floor, where couples and guests can show off their moves and have a blast. But what are the hottest wedding dance trends for 2024? Here are some ideas to inspire you: - Disco fever: Some believe that disco died, but 2023 and 2024 wedding trends beg to differ. Retro, gaudy, and joyful '70s vibes are trending in a big way at weddings, with shimmering disco balls at the center of it all. You can also add some flair to your dance floor with LED monograms, vinyl floor wraps, and fun colors and shapes. Don't forget to play some classic disco hits like "Stayin' Alive" and "I Will Survive" to get everyone grooving. - Cultural fusion: As more couples embrace their diverse backgrounds and heritage, they are also incorporating cultural elements into their wedding dances. Whether it's a traditional folk dance, a Bollywood number, or a salsa routine, you can showcase your roots and celebrate your union with a dance that reflects your identity and values. You can also invite your guests to join in and learn some new steps from different cultures. - Flash mob: If you want to surprise and delight your guests with a choreographed dance, why not go for a flash mob? A flash mob is a group of people who suddenly break into a coordinated dance in a public place, usually with music playing from hidden speakers. You can enlist the help of your bridal party, family members, or even professional dancers to create a flash mob that will wow your audience. You can choose any song or theme that suits your personality and style, from pop hits to movie soundtracks. - Interactive stations: Another way to spice up your dance floor is to add some interactive stations where guests can have fun and express themselves. For example, you can set up a photo booth with props and costumes, a karaoke machine with a microphone and screen, or a DIY cocktail bar with ingredients and recipes. These stations will encourage your guests to mingle, socialize, and create memorable moments at your wedding. #WeddingPlanning #WeddingDirectory #WeddingTips #Weddings #unitytheweddingdirectory #unity #weddingdirectory #weddingplanner #weddinginspiration #weddingideas #weddingtrends2024 #weddingdancetrends2024 #weddingdance #weddingreception Read the full article

[don-lichterman]

HOTELS OF THE DISNEYLAND RESORT CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL HOUSEKEEPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WEEK – Orange County Register

HOTELS OF THE DISNEYLAND RESORT CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL HOUSEKEEPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WEEK – Orange County Register

By Krystal Rhaburn In honor of International Housekeeping and Environmental Services Week from Sept. 11–17, cast members from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland Hotel spiced things up with an annual salsa-making competition and enjoyed an end-of-summer celebration that included mariachis, a photo booth and buffet provided by Disney’s Grand…

[limirrorfotobooths]

If you are looking for quirky digital booths like salsa photo booth rentals, you can contact Li Mirror Fotobooths. Photographs are an important way for participants to keep event memories fresh in their minds and encourage them to return season after season. Read more: https://timmyarcus.medium.com/creating-memories-with-a-digital-photo-booth-26fde14d2c70

[lumosinlove]

Between Fifth And You

AO3

chapter two

~

It’s Saturday night for Manhattan’s elite, and we know what that means. The Noble House of Black beckons, and one particularly family seems to be a little behind on preparations—at least, their youngest son is.

Spotted—Logan Tremblay, looking hot in nothing but basketball shorts. Better soak up that fading blue August heat while you can, Lo. Or are you more interested in something a little more…fiery? But in the LES? Why so far from home, Dorothy? Eye color isn’t the only thing green about the Tremblay family. And they have a bad habit of sorting everything out with a little help from Ben Franklin.

“Shoot, shoot!”

Logan pivoted on his heel and was able to toss the ball around his opponent’s shoulder. He only caught a glimpse of red hair as Finn caught it with ease and jumped it up to the rim.

Finn O’Hara. One of these days Logan was going to step on his own shoes watching Finn O’Hara. His pale chest looked like sugar dusting, his exertion-red cheeks the goddamn cherry.

“Point moo-oi!” Finn shouted, slapping Will Morgan and Percy Marshall on their bare backs. “That’s how you say it, right, Tremblay?”

Logan feigned a shudder. “Non.”

“Shorty’s got game,” Will laughed, sweat dripping down his dark brown skin, darkening the leather bracelets he wore.

Percy shook his head, swallowing over a caught-breath, his silver Star of David swinging at his throat. “Shorty must be cheating with his Upper Side shoes.”

Logan just narrowed his eyes and laughed, pushing his hair out of his eyes. “You’re just tall. Doesn’t mean you’re good.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mazel tov, you fucker.”

“I’m finally winning,” Finn grinned. “And now I gotta get back to the shop. I said be back in five…pretty sure it’s been fifty-five.”

Logan swallowed. “I’ll—I’ll walk you.”

Percy slapped him on the back as they left, and Finn held the cage door of the basketball court open for him.

“So, you’re back at school?” Finn asked as he pulled his shirt on. Logan nodded, following suit, picking at the neck where it stuck to his sweaty skin.

“Yeah,” Logan nodded. “I’m supposed to be getting fitted for a suit right now.”

Finn snorted. “What does that have to do with school?”

“Oh,” the corner of Logan’s mouth raised as he realized. “Nothing, I…well, you know. The social scene. It sort of all feels like one thing, up there.”

Finn pouted at him. “Poor baby. Too many parties.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Logan laughed.

“Hey, feel like lunch?”

“I thought you had to be back.”

Finn shrugged. “I’m hungry.”

Logan bit his lip, wondering how many different ways his older sisters could actually kill him. Honestly, he thought he’d just die on the spot of he passed up the change to be squeezed into one of the small restaurants that Finn frequented. Screw the grand tables of his life. Logan wanted cracked leather booths small enough to let their ankles brush. Not that he’d ever say that out loud.

Finn didn’t disappoint. They walked down the shade of Mott street, then turned at a bakeshop on the corner. Finn pointed at it.

“You’ve been here, haven’t you?”

Logan raised a shoulder. “I don’t get down here much.”

Finn snorted. “Listen to you. Down here. You’re down here enough to pop into my bookstore all the time.”

Logan studied the cakes in the windows, biting his lip when he realized Finn’s eyes were still on him in the reflection. “I…yeah.”

Finn flicked the bill of Logan’s hat which shaded the back of his neck. “How’s that latest book you bought?”

Logan turned away from the window to get them walking again, not sure where they were going but trusting Finn to lead. “I’m starting school, man, I don’t have all the time in the world.”

Finn just laughed. “Come on, let’s catch the 6.”

Logan found himself squeezed into a tiny French restaurant in the West Village that served them even tinier croissants.

“I know the chef,” Finn said popping one he had spread jam and butter on into his mouth. “Dumo. Don’t pay a cent. I fucking love these things.”

Logan would have bought Finn a thousand of the tiny pastries without a blink just to see him lick a bit of jam from his thumb again.

“Dumo doesn’t sound very French…” Logan began cutting up his waffle.

Finn laughed. “Pascal Dumais does.”

“Oh. Yeah, that’s more like it.”

Logan glanced at a woman and her baby, who had started crying. He tried to think of something to say. For someone who’s job seemed to be making small talk at various parties and charming people with his accent—or so his mother sometimes said—he sure was horrible at it.

“So, what’s the suit for?” Finn asked, taking a sip of his black coffee.

“A fashion show,” Logan sighed, hiding his surprise—and maybe delight—at Finn’s unknowing shrug. “It’s…sort of a lot. Lots of people and cameras. And I always have to wear something green.”

Finn hummed in understanding. “It’s the eyes, yeah?”

Logan nodded. “A lot of fast English, too.”

Finn tilted his head. “I didn’t know that was hard for you. You’re perfect.”

Logan tried not to flush and covered it with a shrug. “I lived in France until I was fifteen before we finally moved to my dad. It’s still nice to be able to read lips sometimes. With the flashes and they make it super dark…I don’t know.”

“No, that makes sense,” Finn said, brown eyes soft. He smiled. “Hey, well, if you don’t want to go to the fitting, come man the shop with me. I’d love the company.”

Logan looked at him and ached, but saw his older sister Noelle’s pleading, excited expression in his mind. He might not love the scene, but he loved his sisters. “I wish I could. Really.”

They finished up their food and Logan had to admit that he lingered over his coffee until Finn said he absolutely had to leave.

“Hey, Tremblay,” Finn called from down the sidewalk, and Logan turned in the full knowledge that seeing the smile Finn sent him would only make him want to stay more.

The dutiful son wants the bookshop boy…I don’t know, Lo. How will their royal highnesses feel about that?

“Come buy more books you don’t read soon, okay?”

Logan couldn’t help but smile back. “D’accord.”

Finn walked backwards a few steps, yelling, “And bring me something green!” before turning and jogging down the subway stairs.

Logan laughed as he called his driver to him, escaping the heat for air conditioned leather.

XOXO

Pearls or diamonds, Upper Siders? Armani or Ralph? What, like you have other questions tonight?

Well, I have one for you. A tip from a friendly scroller gave me a peak at tonight’s guest list. Do you think we’re in for more than just a showdown on the runway? Cat fights over cat walks is what I always say.

XOXO.

[Image description: Two name cards reading, from left to right, Leo Knut and Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Sebastian Montague]

Remus found Julian already dressed and tapping at a game on his phone when he descended the winding staircase of their penthouse.

“You waiting for mom and dad?” Remus said, dropping a kiss to the top of his head.

“And you,” Julian said.

“Right, right,” Remus smoothed his black tuxedo, trying to ignore the subtle glint of blue-silver embroidered into the black velvet. His mother was a planner—which Remus liked usually—but this design had not aged well. This suit had a twin that it no longer belonged with. Remus clenched his jaw as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He’d hoped wearing it would feel like defiance.

But it only felt like he was lonely. He gave his head a hard shake. He had Leo. He couldn’t let New York throw him.

“Gossip Girl’s going crazy. Of course,” Julian said.

“Jules, you shouldn’t read that stuff,” Remus sighed. “It’s just gossip—”

“Just posted about Sirius,” Julian murmured.

Remus huffed, pushing his hair out of its too neat style in the mirror. “So?”

Julian shrugged, but pointedly looked away when Remus took out his own phone.

The photo looked like one from the paparazzi, but the sight of Sirius on the red carpet made Remus’ throat close up.

I spy a statement piece. Or maybe it’s just a statement. Sirius Black arrives on the red carpet—or should I say black carpet—with none other than New York’s favorite icon, in worship and fashion alike. The Saint of these streets is looking particularly dashing tonight, hand in hand with the heir of this city. Ouch, Re. Looks like you’ve been dethroned.

Remus stared down at the screen, neck hot. Sirius’ suit sleeves had the barely there leather half moon cut-outs that Remus remembered tracing onto his skin.

Sirius had smiled into their kiss. Think anyone will notice?

Remus had just laughed. Everyone will notice.

But there was Saint, a crown of moonstones in his golden hair.

Remus looked down at his own suit. Of course Saint had thought of a way they’d match, that was all it was, but it still felt like a snub.

“I sort of miss him,” Julian said quietly.

Remus’ heart pulled. He swallowed and clicked his phone off. He looked at Julian, who looked almost sheepish.

“Do you?” Julian asked even more quietly.

“Don’t you like Leo?” Remus asked.

“Of course,” Julian nodded quickly. “But…”

“Remus,” Hope smiled, coming down the stairs arm-in-arm with their father. “Jules. Ready, boys?”

Remus didn’t think saying no was an option. He cleared his throat, pushed his hair back.

“Almost,” he said, backtracking towards the stairs. “Just a second. Gotta call Leo, make sure he hasn’t left yet.”

XOXO

“We can watch a livestream of the red carpet and the show,” Natalie said. “Sit.”

Finn groaned, squished beside Natalie on her tiny sofa. “That feels like I’m stalking him.”

“We’re allowed to stalk the boys we like.”

“You’re dating my brother, Nat. Does this mean you stalked him?”

“It really does,” Alex said, coming in from the kitchen with their margaritas and dropping a kiss to Natalie’s temple.

“Hm,” Natalie smiled up at him, accepting a kiss to her lips. “Scruffy.”

Finn sighed and pulled a knee up to his chest, watching the loading video Natalie had pulled up.

“Your wifi sucks,” he mumbled.

“It’ll load,” Natalie scooted over for Alex and passed Finn his drink.

“Salsa, too,” Finn said, waving it over.

Finally, the video popped up to a view of the red carpet.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Alex said.

“Be nice,” Natalie laughed. “It’s fashion!”

“Look,” Alex sighed. “I know they’re wealthy and it’s suppose to be all, I don’t know sandy beaches and wristwatches, but not a single one of these people look remotely happy. Like take a look at this guy—“

Finn looked over the sandy-haired man posing in front of the cameras—well, not posing, really. Kasey Winter, the commentators were saying.

“Nice hair,” Natalie crunched on a chip. “And listen to that, his mother’s one of the biggest producers at Weird Sisters Records.”

“Fine, but he looks like he’s ready to kill someone. I mean, anyone else think its kind of fucked up that the New York families go to a New York university where New York businesses draw from New York’s elite?”

“Yes,” Finn and Natalie said in unison.

And then there was Logan.

Finn let out an embarrassing sound and set his drink down, leaning forward.

Logan walked out in front of the cameras with three girls—his sisters, Finn remembered. Not to mention he followed all of them on Instagram. They had a lot of shoes, sure, but they seemed all right.

“I saw this thing on Gossip Girl about one of the sisters,” Natalie said. “She—”

“Nat, why the hell do you read that?”

Natalie shot him a look. “Like you don’t.”

Finn ignored them, too focused on the dark, nearly black, velvety green cape—or was it cloak?—that covered Logan’s shoulders down to above his elbows, falling to an elegant point at the small of his back over his black suit. The sisters had a similar get-up in one way or another—a green train, a shawl, a corset. Logan’s clasp was a silver fleur-de-lis.

“Green,” Finn breathed.

“What?” Alex asked.

Finn bit the inside of his cheek at Logan’s expression. It was meant to be blank, Finn thought, at-ease and untouchable, but it came off almost enticing. His dark eyelashes swept against his cheeks. Finn watched his throat bob around a swallow, his adored eyes shifting from flash to flash.

“Nothing,” Finn answered his brother.

“How’d you meet this kid anyway, Fish?” his brother asked.

“I was closing up shop about a month ago,” Finn said. “And he stopped at one of our windows. Looked like he’d run the entire island, he was breathing so hard. Not to mention it was pouring like nothing else. Thought he was gonna pass out, so I unlocked the door and let him in to get dry. I don’t know, he was kind of shy at first. Listened to me talk for about an hour before he started giving anything back.” Finn shrugged, watching Logan walk off screen. “I invite him to play basketball with me, Morg, and Percy now. We get lunch after sometimes.”

Natalie sighed. “He looked like one unhappy camper.”

“I think his family puts a lot of pressure on him. He’s the baby. Only son. All that bullshit.”

“I kind of want that cape,” Natalie said.

Alex sighed. “That’s the idea.”

Natalie slapped his chest, then kissed his cheek, and Finn watched Logan walk off-screen.

XOXO

“What say you, Capulet?”

Sirius looked down at Saint at his shoulder. “They’re out of crab puffs.”

“Boo,” Saint said. “You still closing the show?”

“Yep.”

“Shouldn’t you be in hair and makeup?”

“Yep.”

Saint stepped in front of him, the gold band of moonstones nestled in his curls glinting in the dark stage lights. “Looking for someone?”

Sirius just reached out and ran a gentle thumbnail beneath where Saint’s golden eyeliner had smudged against his brown skin, striking it back to a point. “Nope. See you after the show.”

Saint clucked his tongue. “I’m unimpressed.”

“What else is new?” Sirius said.

Saint went to smile, when his eyes flickered behind Sirius and he raised his eyebrows. “That.”

Sirius turned around, and quickly schooled his expression. The cameras were going wild, and in front of all the flashing lights was Remus, hand-in-hand with Leo Knut.

“They make a sunshine pair,” Saint said from beside him. “How’re you feeling?”

Sirius touched two fingers to one of the black-leather moons on his jacket sleeve. They were meant to go with Remus’ stars. He remembered planning for them. He’d thought…part of him had thought if he’d worn them tonight—

“Cloudy sky,” he replied to Saint.

“I was gonna say dappled sunlight in…” Saint glanced around. “A dark forest.”

Remus and Leo were wearing dress shirts, collars rumpled and unbuttoned at their throats, each in a smooth shade of cream. Their hands, decked out in golden rings, were laced together, and they both wore pale gray slacks, slim cut, and laceless nikes.

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…hmm, but don’t I spy some burning jealous?

“What are we going for here,” Saint raised an eyebrow. “Left in a hurry and didn’t get the dress code?”

“We’re going against me,” Sirius replied, slipping his hands into his pockets and trying to stand straight. “That’s all.”

“Sunlight in a dark forest, indeed.”

Sirius watched them looking out over the flashes, and tried not to look surprised when golden eyes met his own. Remus’ expression didn’t change either. Instead, he simply blinked, then looked away. Leo, tall and lean, leaned into his ear, and Remus smiled. The cameras popped like champagne.

I love right here, Sirius remembered his own voice, the feeling of the soft skin by Remus’ eye beneath his thumb. I love right here when you smile.

“I need to get backstage,” Sirius said shortly, and turned on his heel.

“I’ll be watching.”

“Don’t I know,” Sirius called as he weaved his way through the crowd, heading backstage. The woman with a radio in her ear looked annoyed and nervous when he slipped past her, and radioed that he had arrived to whoever it was that needed to know.

“Sirius!” Alice called, hands full of makeup brushes and up in the air. “Jesus Christ, do you think I have all fucking night?”

Sirius shrugged out of his red carpet jacket—which someone took—and slid into her chair. “Sorry, Al.”

She twirled a protective cape around his shoulders, snapping it at the base of his neck. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty. But then again, I think everyone’s pretty.”

Sirius closed his eyes, letting her begin. “People are.”

Alice had just finished contour when Sirius all but felt his mother’s presence. A shift in the air. A cooler wind. People standing up straighter and shivering.  

“Sirius,” his mother’s face appeared in the mirror. Her red lipstick was the brightest thing about her, and even that was almost mauve. Her dress was tight around her breasts, but cascaded in thick waves of velvet behind her, and she wore tall leather boots. It almost looked like armor. “You’re very late, darling.”

“Sorry,” Sirius said. “Saint and I got caught up in the crowd, I guess.”

She hummed. “You two looked fetching out there. He’s much more pleasing than that other boy ever was. His family is important, too.”

It was true, that his mother had never liked Remus much. Though, Sirius couldn’t compare him and Saint. They were two different oceans.

“Get dressed,” his mother breathed, and was already snapping her fingers at one of the other models before Sirius could say another word.

“All right?” Alice asked him quietly.

Sirius looked at himself in the mirror. Her contour made his face look almost gaunt, as was the general makeup for all of the models, and he knew he’d be given dark eye makeup next, his hair fluffed into perfect curls.

“Fine,” Sirius said, and closed his eyes to let her work.

Sirius was shrugging into his given outfit—a billowing longcoat, 20th century in fashion, and a longer tunic made almost entirely of the thinnest black silk. It would shimmer when he walked, he knew, and his tall, lace-up boots, the flat sole so thin and delicate that he almost felt barefoot, would disappear beneath the shimmer. His mother was cold, stubborn, and cruel sometimes, an unfeeling, yawning sort of dark, but she was talented.

“Lord Vader,” came a voice from behind him, and Sirius laughed even before he turned to face Thomas Walker.

“Sounds about right,” Sirius said, and they clasped hands, pulling them into a one-armed hug. “You look fantastic, though.”

Thomas spun slowly on his heel, letting the long, loose fitting white linen of his button-down—which went out in two, tuxedo-like tails at his back—flare out above his slim, black trousers. He wore a thin scarf of distressed wool.

“Like a fallen gentleman, no?” Thomas grinned. “I might try and steal these pants. And maybe the shirt for Noelle.”

“Oh, yeah,” Sirius smiled, spying Noelle’s green eyes behind his shoulder. “She’ll love that.”

Noelle wrapped her arms, which were draped in a transparent green cloth, around Thomas’ waist. “Thanks for thinking of me, T baby.”

Thomas laughed in surprise. “Who let you back stage?”

“I’m a Tremblay, they’ll let us in anywhere.”

Thomas turned his head to capture Noelle in a soft kiss.

“See you after, hm?” Noelle said. “I’m gonna go say hi to my friend, she’s walking tonight, too.”

“Yeah, we’ll ride to Honeyduke’s together.”

Noelle raised an eyebrow at him. “You coming, Black?”

“Saint all but owns the place,” Sirius said. “Of course I am.”

Sirius walked. He didn’t look down, or hear the cameras. It wasn’t his favorite thing in the world, to be up here, not able to see past the lights—but something tonight was different. It felt as it had the night of his and Remus’ first kiss.

In that show, he had had one, thin line of black lipstick traced over the center of his bottom lip. It had marked Remus’ throat and cheeks like soot by the end of it all.

Remus had been waiting for him back stage.

“Come here,” Remus had whispered, and laced their fingers together.

“Where?” Sirius had answered, surprised by their palms pressing together.

But it hadn’t been a place. Remus had pressed them back in between clothing racks, and crashed their mouths together.

Here, Remus had whispered, and kissed him again.

Sirius felt the absence of the stage lights like a wash of cold air, and he stretched out his back, letting his stony face drop a little. He glanced around, but there was no one to be found. His cheeks were warm just thinking about it.

“Good,” his mother said as he passed her by to take off the makeup, and that was all.

XOXO

Saint looked across Honeyduke’s and felt like it was his. Logan was laughing with Thomas and Noelle, and he had Kasey Winter beside him, securing tickets to one of their favorite bands to see together.

“Done,” Kasey said, and flashed one of his rare smiles.

“I knew you were my favorite,” Saint took a sip of his drink, and Kasey scoffed.

“Me or my mom?”

“Maybe a little of both. Oh, and we’re going to sushi beforehand.”

Kasey’s smile was larger now. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. You gonna leave with that drummer again? What’s her name?”

Saint smiled. “Oh, Sally. And I make it a habit to always leave with the drummer.”

Kasey just shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. I’m getting a drink and leaving you to your one-liners.”

Saint watched him go, feeling settled, and set about scanning the room for Sirius. He was sure he’d know if he was there—people tended to swarm to Sirius, even if he didn’t ask for it. It was part of the reason they were so close. People flocked to Saint, too. So, they asked for each other’s company. A more intimate, calm part of life. Sirius was quiet. Saint wasn’t, but he let Saint , for a moment, be that way, too. Saint was loud. Sirius wasn’t, but Saint had his ways to fire him up.

“Another drink, sir?”

Saint looked over his shoulder, only to turn all the way around, interest peaked. The bartender had sandy hair, and a strong jaw, his cheeks textured by acne scars in some places. He had brown eyes—save for a sliver of green in one.

“Only if you have one with me,” Saint said, and glanced down at his name-tag. “Luke.”

Luke arched an eyebrow, pressing the heels of his palms onto the bar between them, revealing rolled up sleeves and some type of vine tattoo, wrapping all around both of his forearms.

“I’m working, sir.”

“Is that a later?” he nodded at the tattoo. “Nice.”

“I don’t think so,” Luke said.

“Oh, no?”

Luke scowled—how did he look so handsome doing that?

“Do you make it a habit to go home with all the waiters, too?”

Saint didn’t let his expression flicker, just smiled nice and slow.

“Hillrock,” Saint said. “Neat.”

The barkeep turned away.

Ouch. Looks like not everyone worships at your alter, Saint.

XOXO

The elevator doors opened, revealing the party to Sirius one outfit after the next. He had changed for the afterparty—the first of three. He wore a tight, thin black t-shirt and dark jeans. He hadn’t bothered to wash off the dark, smudged eyeliner from the show. His combat boots went up to just below his knee, and had the same nearly naked feeling sole. It made him feel soundless, like a shadow.

Maybe that’s why it was easy to find Remus and stand beside him without him stirring.

“You’re a little underdressed,” Sirius said without looking at him.

“Says the boy wearing a t-shirt,” Remus replied evenly.

Sirius scowled. “I meant at the show.”

“People like to be surprised,” Remus replied evenly.

“Who’s Leo?”

“My boyfriend.”

Sirius turned towards him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”

Remus matched him. They were nearly chest to chest. “You didn’t say a word to me in class.”

“You didn’t—“

“I had the last word,” Remus snapped. “I figured maybe you’d finally have something to say back.”

Sirius stared at him, heart pounding in his ears. For a moment, he let himself look. At the golden eyes, hair more blond than ever from the summer’s sun. Sirius couldn’t stand that mouth set in a frown.

“Guess not,” Remus said softly, lips dropping open in the way they used to before they kissed.

Sirius all but felt him vanish into the writhing crowd.

XOXO

Finn looked up when a flash of color on the morning-silent street outside caught his eye. He set the books he was holding down, took the pen out from between his teeth.

Green.

“What the hell?” Finn laughed as he pulled open the door to his bookshop to find Logan standing there. “It’s five in the fucking morning, what are you doing here? Couldn’t sleep?”

“Never did,” Logan said, and that’s when Finn saw that Logan was still in his suit from the livestream.

“Ah, I see,” Finn said, eyes flicking up and down his broad form. He swallowed dryly. “The nature of afterparties, I suppose. Well, you—you look good. For someone who’s been up all night, I mean.”

Logan just smiled, one of his small, secretive ones. Finn watched as he stepped forward so they were almost toe to toe in the doorway.

“Wh…” Finn’s voice dropped off with a breathless laugh. He couldn’t help but look at Logan’s mouth. His full lips that could speak a language Finn couldn’t even begin to describe.

Logan just reached up to the base of his own throat and unclipped the fleur-de-lis clasp there. In one smooth swoop, he drew his short cloak from his shoulders and around Finn’s, right over his worn gray t-shirt, clicking it in place. The fabric brought a gentle scent, and he figured it must be Logan’s cologne.

“Something green,” Logan said softly. A warm, early morning breeze ruffled his hair, pushing the curls forward. Finn couldn’t move. “What are you doing here?”

“Inventory,” Finn whispered, then cleared his throat. “Inventory.”

“Okay,” Logan said. “I’ll help.”

[ahockeywrites]

One Chance is All Some Get - 2

Part One // Part Three- Masterlist

Word Count: 7.3k Warnings: family being stupid, swearing, allusions to sex

Mathew Barzal couldn’t believe it, he was helping his best friend into an outfit appropriate for a first date. “Anthony, you’re going to a coffee shop, not the Ritz. You don’t need to pick something that you would wear before a game, keep it simple,” Mat advised Anthony and he couldn’t help but to roll his eyes at how stupid he was being. It was obvious to anyone who looked into their apartment that Anthony hadn’t been on a date for longer than he would like to admit. 

“The date isn’t for another three hours, why are you stressing so much?” Mat was genuinely curious, he had never seen his best friend act in this way before.

“Because,” Anthony started as he went to pick out a black pair of jeans to go with the shirt he had already selected, “I think she’s the one. Fate keeps bringing us together, so it has to mean something, eh?” 

It took Mat a few seconds to figure out who he was on about, but his face lit up as soon as he figured it out. “It’s that doctor girl, eh?” he spoke as he started poking him. Anthony didn’t need to say anything as the blush on his face gave away the answer but still, he nodded to confirm Mat’s suspicion. “Good on you mate, she’s pretty and has the brains for the two of you.”

Anthony looked at him sternly but wasn’t able to hold it for too long as he burst out laughing. He had to agree with his friend and linemate because he was absolutely right, Anthony wasn’t as smart as he would have liked to be and hoped that this wouldn’t hinder him on his date. Surely Sarah wasn’t going to delve into the depths of something she had learnt in school because she knew that he was simply a hockey player. He knew about concussion, mainly because he had been subject to the league’s protocol more frequently than he would like to admit. But anything past that, he was clueless.

As she slipped on a pair of ballet flats, Sarah called out to Rebecca letting her know that she was about to leave for her date. Rebecca basically sprinted out of her room to wish her best friend a nice day and reminded her to keep her location on in case she forgot to text her. Sarah rolled her eyes, even though she understood the intent behind it and knew that Rebecca always had her back, no matter what.

The subway wasn’t overly packed and Sarah found her way to the coffee shop a little after three as she had to use Google Maps to find the shop but was thankful to see Anthony sat at a table near the front of the shop. He had what looked like to be some sort of coffee (Sarah honestly had no clue about the different sorts of coffee, she knew the difference between an iced and hot and that was the extent) and a few different pastries that looked to be untouched, she could only hope that he had selected them hoping to try them with her, but she didn’t want to make any assumptions. As she moved through the tables, she was able to get Anthony’s attention and he pushed himself up from where he was at.

It seemed like both of them had the same thought as both went in for a hug, but awkwardly stopped as their arms were a small distance from their torso. Their eyes met and both let out a small chuckle and realised that the other wanted the same thing so shared in a quick hug and greeting. Anthony walked around to pull out the chair for Sarah to sit on, thanking his lucky stars that he didn’t accidentally pull it out from underneath her, but when she was sitting at the table he asked her what she wanted to drink. Her response was amusing, to say the least, “if it has caffeine, it's good. But some sort of vanilla coffee would be perfect.” He nodded and quickly headed over to the barista to get himself a refill and whatever the barista suggested that contained vanilla in. The barista nodded and said that he’d bring them over when they were ready and as Anthony paid, he slipped a twenty-dollar bill into the tip jar because the service he had received so far was above and beyond what he expected. 

“They’ll be over in a few minutes,” Anthony told Sarah and indicated that she was to help herself to any of the snacks on the table. Sarah raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth to protest, but Anthony was quicker. “You are not paying me back, my treat for you having to deal with me multiple times in multiple places,” he said with a smile. 

Sarah couldn’t help but smile back, you could tell that Anthony was a hockey player as he had a fighting sense about him, but in a soft way. He wasn’t trying to get into anyone’s face but he was more than happy to look after those who he cared about, and it seemed like Sarah was already one of those people.

The barista walked over with their drinks and Anthony started a simple conversation by asking about college and how she was enjoying the city. Sarah knew she could have spoken for days about that so kept it short and sweet, but Anthony immediately noticed that she was holding back and encouraged her to talk truthfully about the course. She had never been in the company of someone like this before, usually, the friends she had made before wanted to talk about themselves and their problems and couldn’t care for the issues she was experiencing. Anthony was different, he allowed her to express her emotions truthfully and she immediately felt at ease opening up to him, not fully yet, and letting him know about the hardships that she was facing at the moment.

Their conversation flowed better than either of them could ever imagine; by the time they had finished their second and third coffees, Sarah checked the time on her phone to realise that it was almost 6 pm. She didn’t want to leave Anthony because she was enjoying the time that she was spending with him, bringing him home wasn’t an option. After all, that would insinuate that she wanted something out of him that she wasn’t comfortable doing just yet, so she suggested the next best thing. “I know a place that does really good Mexican food, want to grab dinner?” Sarah really hoped that it didn’t come across as too demanding or wanting more out of this than either of them wanted, but the date was going well and she wanted to spend more time in his company.

“As long as they do a pitcher of margaritas, I’m in,” Anthony replied with a laugh. He was really enjoying himself and didn’t want to leave Sarah’s company. She was funny, quick-witted, but most of all, she was understanding. He could understand exactly why she was the sort of person people would want to be their doctor. When he was speaking to her, he could tell that she was paying her full attention to him, as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.

The fact that she genuinely wanted to spend more time with him was a mystery, to Anthony at least. Most people he knew tried to spend as little time with him as possible because he was such a closed book and it took the majority a few cracks to break through the hard exterior he had built. Sarah had broken through it within the first minute of their date. He knew that she was going to be special to him.

Sarah told Anthony the address and he quickly called an Uber for the two of them to share. It was a few minutes before it was to arrive, so he went back up to the barista to thank them for their drinks once again and he did slip another bill into the tip jar on behalf of himself and Sarah. The barista that made their drinks gave him a cheeky wink and told Anthony that he expected to see him again but this time as more than friends. Anthony knew that he had picked a good place for a first date and he would have to bring the team there as the ambience was good, but the quality of the coffee was something that other establishments wished they could make. 

The Uber pulled up on the sidewalk and Anthony checked that it was the right one for the two of them before opening the door to allow Sarah to slide into the car. They shared a short conversation with the driver on their drive to the restaurant but most of the time Sarah spent sneaking looks at Anthony. It wasn’t like she was the first person to take a liking to his looks, but the more that she got to know him, the more she started to fall for the person he was.

As they pulled up to the restaurant, they both thanked the driver and Anthony was quick to dart around to open the door for Sarah once again. He really hoped that his acts of kindness weren’t too much for Sarah but continued to act in the same way as he opened the door to the restaurant for her. The pair waited to be seated and Anthony started looking over the menu to see what there was. It seemed like the majority of it was soft shell tacos and you picked the fillings that you wanted and he completely understood why Sarah liked this place so much. The variety was large and the cost was low.

They were seated in a small booth and ordered a pitcher of margarita to share, Anthony insisted that they got some glasses even though they both knew that they would be using straws to drink out of the jug. “Usually, I just get the steak, chicken and black beans as a filling, but that’s just what me and Rebecca are a fan of,” Sarah told Anthony. He nodded back in appreciation and quickly scanned the menu but told her as she was the one with the knowledge of this place, she should get what she knew was good. When the food arrived, Anthony’s eyes widened. They only ordered a few bowls of food, but they were filled to the top, almost overflowing, and he knew that if Sarah knew of this gem in the city, what other gems could she know of.

Anthony quickly whipped out his phone to take a few photos of the beautiful girl across from him as she wrapped her lips around the straw in the pitcher. Sarah looked incredibly carefree and she asked him to send her the photos to remind her of this date. He kept making a mess of his tacos and she kept laughing at him as somehow he had spilt salsa onto the side of the pitcher, this should have been impossible for the average person, but Sarah was learning that Anthony was more than just the average person. He had the ability to make her laugh for hours on end, as shown by the fact that their date had continued for much longer than either of them were expecting.

“Could we get a portion of churros too?” Sarah asked Anthony sweetly, “I know it might not be on your meal plan, but they’re so good.” Anthony nodded, knowing that his trainers would be able to notice he had gone off plan, but how could he say no to the girl he had it bad for.

Sarah knew that this might be out of her comfort zone, but she wanted to try it nonetheless. She picked up a churro from the small bucket on their table, dipped it in the chocolate sauce and leant over to try and feed Anthony the dessert. She was lucky that he noticed what she was trying to do and opened his mouth to try the sweet treat. As he started chewing on it, he realised why Sarah had wanted to try these. These churros were the best that he had ever had and by the smile on her face, Sarah knew that she had made a good choice in bringing him to this place.

Quietly, Sarah excused herself from the table to go to the washroom when they had finished the churros. She texted Rebecca to let her know that she could do whatever she wanted for dinner as she had already eaten, then fluffed her hair up in the mirror, ensuring that she was still presentable. When she returned to the table, Anthony was finishing off the margarita and she couldn’t help giggle. “Everything has been paid for,” Anthony told her. “As I said, my treat.”

Sarah rolled her eyes slightly, which didn’t go unnoticed by Anthony but he chose to ignore it as he offered her his hand and the pair walked out of the restaurant. Sarah wasn’t particularly sure what had come over her during the evening, but she still hadn’t had enough of his company so asked if he just wanted to go on a walk before she headed home. He agreed and they began to walk the streets of New York city aimlessly. 

Eventually, somewhere in the city, Anthony checked his watch hoping that it was before 8 pm so he could get a relatively good sleep before the morning skate. He was in luck, it was half-past seven so he told Sarah that he needed to get back to his place soon but wanted to make sure that she had gotten home safe too. Sarah blushed slightly as she had heard from Rebecca’s many failed dates that most of the men she went to dinner with didn’t care if she got home safely unless they wanted sex from her. Both Sarah and Rebecca wanted to find someone who cared about them, not someone who wanted to use their body and add another notch to their bedpost.

Sarah pulled out her phone to figure out where she was and which train lines she needed to jump on to get back to her apartment. “Sarah,” Anthony said, “let me call you an Uber, that way I know you’ve made it back safely.”

She flinched slightly, unsure if she could trust Anthony with her address so offered a compromise, “how about I pay for the Uber and you pay it back to me if you’re so insistent on paying for it,” Sarah laughed. Anthony agreed and allowed the girl to call the car. 

The ride took about 15 minutes as the traffic had passed rush hour and both of them were sitting comfortably in the back seats of the car. Anthony had kept his hand clasped with Sarah and began to rub small circles on the back of her hand, to ensure that she felt safe. Sarah quickly checked to see what Rebecca was doing, watching Brooklyn 99 in bed, and sent her a message to say that she was almost back. Rebecca swiftly responded making sure that Sarah knew that she would want all the details of what happened to which Sarah rolled her eyes. 

Anthony caught her doing this, so Sarah passed her phone to him so he could read the text too. He lightly chuckled but before he could type a reply to Rebecca, the car began to slow down as they reached the complex where she lived. The pair thanked the driver, and Sarah made the split-second decision to tip him well as he drove them safely. As Sarah stepped out of the car, Anthony was there offering her his hand and they walked to the front door. He waited until the Uber was out of sight before speaking.

“I had a really good day today,” he started, remembering Anders' words of encouragement, “and I’d really like to see you again.”

“I’d love to see you again too,” Sarah replied, looking up into Anthony’s eyes. She rose onto her tiptoes and leant in towards him and he almost had an internal meltdown, but instead, he leaned in towards her too. The pair shared a short but sweet first kiss and Anthony brought Sarah into a tight hug.

“I don’t know if this is too fast or not,” Anthony started, trying not to ramble his head off, “but, would you like to be my girlfriend? You’ve caught my eye every time we’ve met and I just thi-”

He was cut off by Sarah pressing her lips to his once again but this kiss was slightly less innocent. Her tongue slipped into his mouth gently and it felt right, but Anthony knew that if he didn’t stop now, he would have a harder time stopping further down the line. “Yes,” Sarah told him firmly, “yes, I would love to be your girlfriend.” He pulled her in for one final kiss before wishing her a good night. 

Anthony, thank you for an amazing afternoon and evening, I can’t wait to see you again. Classes will probably be kicking my ass, but we can grab coffee whenever you’re near the hospital?x

Sarah sent the text as she was slumped on her bed. Anthony had made her feel things that she hadn’t felt in years. The affection that he showed towards her made her feel loved? Was that the right word, it was something new that she enjoyed, he was an amazing person to spend time with and she couldn’t wait to see him again.

Rebecca pushed a mug of coffee towards Sarah as she tried to scope out the situation from the previous night. All she knew was that the two of them had spent a lot longer with each other than they had planned to. She wanted detail, but not too much detail as sex lives should stay private, to which Sarah blushed, reminding her friend that she still hadn’t done that with anyone yet. Sarah told her everything, from the coffee shop, to the Mexican place, to just wandering around the city. Rebecca could sense that there was something that Sarah hadn’t told her, she knew not to push as this would be unfair on her friend.

“Andhekindakissedmeandaskedmetobehisgirlfriend,” Sarah rambled. Rebecca’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Did Sarah just say what she thought she did?

“Could you say that again, but slightly slower?” Rebecca asked, trying to process what Sarah had just said to her.

“And he kinda kissed me, and asked me to be his girlfriend,” Sarah repeated, hiding behind the sleeves of her shirt, making sure that her blush wasn’t visible.

“You’re dating him, aren’t you?” Rebecca asked, even though she knew the answer.

All Sarah could do was nod and Sarah brought her into a tight hug, “you deserve to be happy, and I can tell he makes you happy,” Rebecca whispered into her best friend’s ear.

It seemed like the next month went a lot faster than Anthony or Sarah could imagine. He met up with her two or three times a week for a coffee or to take her out for lunch. It was the best time for them as they were less likely to be spotted by fans and Anthony was often at games or on a plane during the evening so dinner dates were hard to come by. Now, this wasn’t to say that they didn’t go for dinner, it was usually at one of their places, they did kick their roommates out for the eating portion of the evening, but they usually crashed by the time the couple were watching a movie to end the evening. When Sarah went to Anthony’s place, she began to stay over because she didn’t want to risk going home alone late at night, which he understood. 

He said that she could sleep in his bed and he’d take the sofa but Sarah told him that couples could share a bed. He was stumped, he knew that if he shared a bed with her he might start thinking with something other than his brain, but she insisted that the Islanders couldn’t have their star winger hurting himself because he was sleeping on a sofa. Anthony sighed, but agreed to share a bed with her. 

As she left his en-suite barefaced, he was able to take in her natural beauty. His oversized shirt engulfed her petite body and he opened his arms to bring her in for a cuddle. Sarah immediately relaxed into Anthony’s arms, it had become her safe space, and he kissed her forehead softly. “C’mon,” Anthony whispered, “you’re tired, let’s sleep yeah?” He didn’t receive a verbal answer, but the gentle snores were an answer enough.

Anthony didn’t know what to expect when Sarah asked him to accompany her Christmas shopping. Was she a shopaholic, someone who knew exactly what gift to get for each member of her family, or did she pick up what she thought looked good? Apparently, she had a list for each family member that she needed to get a gift for but she refused to show him what was on the list for him. They went to Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue and after three hours following his girlfriend and helping her carry the bags around, his feet were aching. He had managed to find somewhere for them to grab a quick lunch.

“So,” Anthony started as he placed down their drinks on the table in front of them, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Sarah raised one of her eyebrows, she was slightly worried because Anthony was radiating some nerves.

“I don’t need to hide a body, do I?” She laughed, trying to ease some of the nerves that he was clearly feeling.

“Nah, I promise,” he replied. “It’s technically two questions but-”

“Baby,” Sarah reached over to grasp his hand in hers, “take your time.” She looked at him lovingly, they hadn’t said the words to each other just yet, but Sarah was feeling things for Anthony that she hadn’t felt for anybody else.

“You know how I’m playing on Christmas Eve,” Anthony began. Sarah nodded as she took a bite into her sandwich, allowing him to continue. “I was wondering if you and your parents wanted to come and watch?”

“Of course baby,” Sarah replied enthusiastically. “I mean, they know I’m dating you, and have been asking about coming to a game as Newark really isn’t far.” Anthony rolled his eyes at this as he knew exactly how close Newark was. “You said there were two questions?” Sarah prompted him.

“Yeah, do you want to come to Quebec with me during bye week?” He asked. Sarah almost choked on her bite of sandwich, was he really asking her to come home with him for a week?

“I’ll need to see if I’m free,” she stuttered out, not really sure how to answer the question. 

“Let’s get through the game with your family first,” Anthony reassured her, “you can make your decision on Quebec at any time, baby.”

At practice the next day, Anthony was quick to corner Anders and explain the situation. He had invited his girlfriend and her family to their game and was wondering if he should offer them all jerseys or nothing, and he was starting to overwork himself. “Dude,” Anders told the young winger, “get her a jersey if you want her to wear one, get the rest of the family scarves or something. Aren’t they all Devils fans anyways?” Anthony nodded after hearing how much Steven could ramble on about the stats of the current Devils team. “Something small, maybe get them to be left on their seats?”

And that’s exactly what Anthony did, he gave Sarah one of his game-worn jerseys and left a scarf and hat on the seat of her parents and two brothers. The five of them took in the atmosphere present and consumed slightly too many nachos. Anthony made sure that they came down to ice level before puck drop and he flicked a puck over the ice for each member of the family. It was a lot easier to get one to Steven and Simon because they towered over both their parents and younger sister.

“That boy of yours is nice,” Sarah’s mother commented, genuinely taking an interest in the boy who her only daughter was seeing.

“I wouldn’t be dating him otherwise,” Sarah replied, mesmerised at the speed Anthony could reach on the ice. “He’s been good to me so far, but it's only been a month and a half.”

“It seems like a lot longer,” Steven butted in. “She’s been heart-eyed over him since they first met.” Sarah resisted the temptation to roll her eyes but reluctantly nodded in agreement. It wasn’t like her eldest brother was wrong, so she had no basis to argue.

“Just be careful,” Simon, her other brother, advised. “I know how hockey players can be.”

“Just because all the players you knew in your frat were sleeping with a different girl every night, doesn’t mean that all hockey players do that,” Sarah sighed, hoping that the puck was going to drop soon. She chose to sit between her parents, with the hat that her boyfriend had gifted to each family member perched on her head. 

Hockey wasn’t the easiest sport to understand, but she was able to explain the basics to her mother as the first period went by. Anthony behaved himself for the most part aside from a few swears that the entire crowd could hear when he missed a shot that was apparently easy for him. Sarah sent him a text during the intermission, but she wasn’t sure if he would be able to see it, so she made her way to the food stands to collect some more snacks for the game.

As she made her way back through the crowd to her seat, she felt some eyes giving her more attention than she thought that she deserved. It was strange, to say the least, but she tried to shake it off and wanted to enjoy the rest of the evening with her family. They all cheered when Anthony got his first point of the game, an assist for a Barzal goal. They all booed when the Bruins scored to level the playing field. But the best moment was when there were 5.8 seconds left on the clock and Anthony broke away from the defenders, took on the goaltender and scored. He looked up to see Sarah in the stands and pointed in her direction, not trying to give away who she was, but their eyes met and that was when Anthony knew.

Anthony knew that he wanted Sarah to be at all of his games, he wanted her to be the one he came home to, he wanted her to be the one at his side at the galas. Anthony loved her.

Did he really have to be named the first star of the night? All Anthony wanted to do was see his girlfriend who he hoped was waiting outside the dressing room. He tried to stay focussed when talking to the reporters, and when he made his way back onto the ice but his mind was somewhere else. He wanted to get a quick shower and then go out for dinner with his girlfriend’s family. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently so.

As Anthony walked out of the changing room, Anders had to remind him that he either needed to tie his tie or lose it completely somewhere in the middle wasn’t ideal, he spotted his girlfriend. Sarah ran towards Anthony and pulled him into a hug. “Well done Mr first star of the game,” she whispered into his ear, slightly seductively.

“If you keep talking like that, we won’t be going to dinner tonight,” Anthony joked. In response, Sarah rolled her eyes but dragged him towards her family. 

“Anthony, meet my mother, my father and Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Steven and Simon,��� Sarah explained, pointing at each member as she said their name. Anthony felt like he had already been accepted by the family as Sarah’s mother brought him into a tight hug. He shook hands with her brothers and father and Simon immediately brought him into a quick conversation about his intentions with his sister. Anthony was truthful saying that he saw a future with her, even though they hadn’t been together for too long. It seemed to be the right answer as Steven then started a conversation about where they were going for dinner.

The walk from the area to the restaurant took about five minutes and the six of them were quickly seated. Meeting the parents was never something that Anthony was good at, but Sarah made it easy for him. Her parents asked him about Canada, playing for a hockey team and what life was like being someone who could be recognised frequently. Her brothers asked about what he spent his beefy, their words not his, paycheck on, how he was looking after their younger sister and the one that Sarah physically stopped Anthony asking, how often did he pick up girls on the road.

“Shut up and eat your pizza,” Sarah scolded her brothers for even thinking of asking her boyfriend about his previous escapades. She didn’t want to think of Anthony in that way and she hoped that he didn’t have eyes for anyone other than her. 

Aside from this question, Anthony felt like a member of the family and could tell that they all wanted him to genuinely be a part of the family. They got along like a house on fire and Anthony loved the dynamic between the siblings, they were able to chirp each other much better than anyone on the ice could. Simon or Steven could say something, but Sarah always had a much better comeback than either of them were prepared for. He was happy that he integrated into the family so quickly and couldn’t wait to bring Sarah home to Quebec.

Dinner finished up and Anthony refused to let Sarah’s father pay the bill, however much he insisted that Anthony was a guest of the family and didn’t need to foot the cost. Eventually, the older man caved and said that he would leave a tip on behalf of everyone but Anthony was allowed to pay for the dinner. As Anthony went to the bar to pay, Sarah’s father whispered in her ear, “don’t let him get away, he’s amazing.” Sarah blushed, the compliment wasn’t even directed at her but at someone else she cared about. Anthony fitted seamlessly into their family dynamic and it made Sarah realise; she was in love with Anthony.

“Thank you for having me tonight,” Anthony spoke to all members of the Milkins family. “I hope you have a great Christmas and I hope to see you all at another game soon.”

“It’s been a pleasure having you tonight, Anthony,” Mr Milkins said as he shook Anthony’s hand once more. “As for the hockey, tell us a time and place and we’ll be there.” He let out a hearty laugh as he let the other members of his family say goodbye to the young couple.

Anthony watched as Sarah embraced both of her parents, reminding them that she and Rebecca would be over at 11 am to open presents with them, and opened his phone to call an Uber to her apartment complex. It was a short wait for the two, once the Milkins’ had left them, and this time Sarah made sure that she was wrapped up for the New York winter.

Sarah had wanted to invite Anthony to the celebrations that her family were having, but she thought that it would be slightly too early. They both shared what they were doing in the car to her apartment. Apparently, Mat was going to attempt to cook himself and Anthony a roast ham but were both prepared to go to the Martin house in case everything went wrong. So, Sarah knew that she expected to see photos of them with the Martin family because there was no way in hell that either of them would be able to make food. Sarah was going to drive across to her parents’ house, with Rebecca in the passenger seat singing Christmas songs. It was going to be like every other Christmas. They’d have turkey because that was what her father’s family always did, they were British, open presents as soon as all members of the family were there, and end the day by playing an obnoxious number of board games.

It made Anthony think about his future, would he want to go back to Quebec or would he go to New Jersey? Would he spoil every family member he had? How about the food, would it be a fancy meat in the centre of the table or would they just decide to eat something they usually ate? It didn’t even cross his mind that Sarah was in every single one of the plans because it felt right for him to include her. There wasn’t anyone else who he wanted to include in a family occasion, it would be crazy for him to think that anyone else could be in her position.

The car slowed to a halt and both Anthony and Sarah jumped out of the car. He followed her into her house so they could share their Christmas wishes with each other. No gifts were being shared as they were meeting up on Boxing Day to exchange gifts, even though Sarah was adamant that she didn’t need him to buy anything because she had everything that she needed. Anthony said the exact same thing, but both of them knew that the other had bought gifts. It was basically impossible for them not to buy gifts for the other because they both wanted to show how much they appreciated one another.

“Have a good Christmas day baby,” Anthony said, bringing Sarah into a tight hug as the pair stood in her hallway. “Don’t eat too much turkey and drive safe, yeah?”

“You got it,” Sarah replied, looking up into her boyfriend’s eyes. “Mom will probably give me a load of leftovers that I can cook on boxing day?” Anthony nodded and agreed that it would be a super simple idea for them to do and would be an easy lunch for them both to pick at as they shared gifts. The two of them stood in the hallway for a bit longer before Anthony checked the time and realised that he should probably head home so that his girlfriend could get a decent amount of sleep before driving. He called an Uber for himself back to his place and kissed Sarah a few times more before the honks from his car got so frequent that she pushed him out of her front door. She waved at him as his day started to drive away.

Christmas Day at the Milkins house was chaotic, to say the least. Sarah and Rebecca arrived just before 11 am and there was excess wrapping paper covering lampshades and on almost every soft surface. Sarah’s younger cousins were running around the house, causing havoc as usual, and both of the girls found refuge in the kitchen along with the other adults. Most of the adults had an alcoholic beverage in their hand, but both of them decided that if one of them wasn’t going to drink, the other wouldn’t drink either.

Gifts were exchanged, non-alcoholic beverages were drunk by the girls, and a lot of food was consumed. Turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables, pigs in blankets, nut roast, gravy, cranberry sauce. You name it, it was on the long, beautifully decorated table. The children pulled crackers with each other and the flimsy paper hats rested on their heads. Laughs filled the house and Sarah was enjoying herself until one of her aunts asked her a question.

“So,” her aunt started, “where is this big hockey shot of your boyfriend?” Sarah wanted to let out a loud sigh and roll her eyes, but the entire room had gone silent, expecting an answer from her imminently. 

“Anthony is back in New York, spending time with his housemate and is going to call his family later,” she replied, hoping that people would understand that she didn’t want to talk to her extended family about her very new relationship. Her aunt didn’t seem to understand her tone and continued to question her.

“But, you haven’t had a relationship ever. Why do you think that dating a hockey player is a good idea? Are you dating him for his money? Because I saw the contract that he signed,” Her aunt pushed.

Sarah watched her parents’, her brothers’ and Rebecca’s eyes widen at this comment. Anyone who knew a shred of knowledge about Sarah knew that she would never date anyone for their money, she wasn’t like that. She was dating Anthony because she enjoyed being in his company, he filled a hole in her heart that she didn’t even know was there. Sarah was dating him because she loved him. There didn’t need to be another reason.

“I am dating Anthony, because he is a lovely person to be around and I enjoy spending time with him,” Sarah replied sternly. “There doesn’t need to be another reason.” Sarah placed her fork down on the table and took a large gulp of the apple juice in her champagne glass.

Her aunt understood that she didn’t want to take any more questions about her boyfriend and Sarah picked up her fork again, stabbing a potato forcefully. The tension in the room was present and no one knew how to cut it, except for Sarah’s mother. She noticed that most people had already finished their food and asked Sarah and Rebecca if they wanted to help clear and the girls agreed quickly.

Sarah’s mother apologised profusely for the behaviour of her sister, but the medical student told her mother that she didn’t need to apologise for something that she didn’t do. It was up to Sarah’s aunt to apologise if she felt it fit, it was no one else’s responsibility but her aunt’s. 

The tension was eased with Christmas pudding, cheesecake and a plethora of other desserts. The family resumed their comfortable chatter that only occurred at events such as Christmas or Easter. Rebecca and Sarah were some of the first to leave after the games were played, stating that neither of them wanted to drive in the snow whilst it was dark, which everyone understood. They chatted about the behaviour of some of the family members, purposely excluding that one aunt because it wasn’t something that either of them wanted to discuss. It was a comfortable atmosphere, and both were glad because it was the most at home either of them had felt all day. It wasn’t that they didn’t enjoy the day, because they did, it was the number of family members that neither of them were expecting to see. They arrived home safely and once they had lazily strewn their gifts on the couch, they both called it a night and headed to bed. Sarah was looking forward to Boxing Day as Rebecca needed to go to work so she and Anthony would have the apartment to themselves.

A loud knock on the front door of Sarah’s apartment started her as she drank her morning coffee. She was expecting Anthony to arrive a bit later so was slightly unsure of who could be at the door, but she was positively surprised by the sight of her smiling boyfriend behind the door. Anthony pulled Sarah into a hug and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Joyeux noël mon amour,” he whispered into her hairline. He had missed her on the main day of festivities and hoped that her mother had given her some leftovers as Mat was able to make something for Christmas Day, but it was a bit of a disaster.

“So,” Sarah had to compose herself as she was laughing, “you’re telling me that Mat put a ham in the oven for 10 hours and didn’t check it once?”

“It was worse,” Anthony continued with the story, “he didn’t even want to go to the Martin house so we just made a stirfry and ate it whilst watching Elf.” Sarah had to control her laughter because she didn’t want to disturb any of her neighbours. Anthony shuffled over to sit next to Sarah and pulled out a small bag that she hadn’t noticed until just then. “I know you said no gifts, but I couldn’t not get you something.”

“Baby,” she groaned but moved slightly to find the bag that she had prepared for him. 

“So, I’m not allowed to get you anything, but you’re gonna get me some stuff?” he moaned, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t care,” Sarah stated, passing the small bag across to Anthony. He handed her a small bag, filled to the top with crepe paper and she responded with a roll of her eyes. 

“You first,” Anthony, well, he tried to suggest it but it came out a little more forceful than he hoped. She made her way through the obnoxious amount of paper, throwing a small amount across the couch to hit Anthony until she made her way to a small box. It was a dark blue jewellery box, from a place that Sarah had never heard of but looked incredibly fancy. She carefully opened the box, revealing a bracelet with a charm attached. A heart, with the date they started dating. Sarah lifted her head and met eyes with Anthony. She couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.

“Do you like it?” he asked, slightly nervous that he hadn’t picked something good.

“Anthony,” Sarah replied breathlessly, “it’s beautiful.” She lifted the bracelet out of the box and offered her wrist to Anthony so he could put it on for her. Although she could put it on herself, she thought that it would be nicer for him to do it. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles before unclasping the bracelet and caressing the soft skin of her wrist. Gently, he placed the jewellery over Sarah’s wrist, then after he clasped it closed, he kissed her wrist. 

“Ma chérie,” Anthony gasped, trying to keep his emotions in check. His girlfriend, who he loved even though he hadn’t told her yet, was wearing a gift from him. He did take a lot longer than he thought was necessary to find something that he thought was perfect. “It looks perfect on my perfect girl.” He lifted Sarah’s knuckles to his lips and kissed them softly. 

“How am I meant to top that?” Sarah sighed, still looking into Anthony’s eyes. She passed him his gift and he pulled out three neatly wrapped gifts. He started with the smallest one and opened it to find a set of three ties with matching socks. Sarah claimed that he needed to up his tie game on game day and this was her way of solving that issue. The medium-sized one was a new leather wallet with a matching Airpods case. Anthony’s wallet was falling apart and he had to use an elastic band to hold it together so that he didn’t lose cash or his cards. He thanked her profusely because it was something he genuinely needed a new wallet. The Airpods case was something that he also needed as his current case was absolutely filthy and Sarah refused to even touch his set when they were watching something together. 

The final box was slightly larger and he opened it to find a classic style radio. Sarah knew that he wanted something nice to have on his workbench to show off when his mother came to visit and this connected to AM/FM along with Bluetooth capabilities which he absolutely loved. Anthony struggled to be in the kitchen, even when he wasn’t cooking, without music so to have something like this was perfect for him. He pulled her into his lap to thank her with a kiss but it immediately became heated. Their tongues danced around each other and both of his hands found their way just above the swell of her butt, staying at a respectable distance from crossing her boundaries. Sarah’s hands didn’t know where they should be placed, they moved from around his neck, to on his abs and ended up settling with one around his neck and the other resting on his bicep. 

Anthony tested the waters by moving one of his hands to cup her butt cheek and resting it there without doing anything else. She didn’t complain so as they continued to kiss, he gently grasped the soft flesh, allowing Sarah to moan into his mouth. “Shall we move this to the bedroom?” Anthony asked and Sarah responded with a nod.

[carnationcreation]

Hi! I have a request for a Jason x reader. Jason and the reader are best friends and/or dating. One day, the reader needs to be rescued by the Power Rangers. The reader recognizes Jason's voice and confronts him about it. Thanks so much! 💞

TITLE: Dear Diary (Jason Lee Scott x reader)

✌🏻Masterlist Taglist, Requests, and Works in progress!

Please check bio to see if requests are open before sending any in! 

Request: Hi! I have a request for a Jason x reader. Jason and the reader are best friends and/or dating. One day, the reader needs to be rescued by the Power Rangers. The reader recognizes Jason's voice and confronts him about it. Thanks so much! 💞

Prompt/summary:  Jason keeps running off from his best friend, until a chance encounter reveals a secret he wanted to keep hidden. 

Word Count: 1,705

Authors note: Italics are written in a diary. Tbh I’m really feeling this format and might do more like this in the future!

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

Dear Diary, 

The past few days have been… strange. I’m not even sure how to properly explain it, but I think Jason’s hiding something from me.

He was supposed to meet me at the youth center yesterday to help me with some of my self defense moves I learned in class that day. He never showed up though.

“I’m so sorry,” Jason said over the phone. It was almost midnight when he called my house, luckily my parents were out of town so it wasn’t a problem.

I sighed, “It’s fine Jace. We can just go over them some next week.”

“I promise I won’t miss it,” he said, “Besides I like seeing you kick ass.”

“Oh shut up,” I said, he could probably hear my smile through the phone.

And over the weekend he said we could go out to lunch to celebrate being nominated for senior homecoming candidates. He was almost an hour late.

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Jason said. He sat down at the table and dug into some chips and salsa.

“You’re lucky I didn’t get up and leave earlier Mr. Jason Lee,” I said, closing the book I had open on the table.

“I know, I know, I’m the worst best friend ever.”

I don’t know what’s going on with him. In school I’ll try to stop him in the hallway but he’s always in a rush to get somewhere. It’s really making me worry.

I just really want my best friend back.

I closed the diary and wrapped the elastic cord around it to keep it closed before it went into my bag. The warm sun felt amazing on my face. The park was bustling today as people of Angel Grove enjoyed the clear sunny day.

I hadn’t heard from Jason in a few days. His absence was really starting to make me worried. Yeah, I had other friends, but Jason and I had been best friends for years ever since we met in primary school. 

The sound of laughter made me look up. I watched as Jason passed by with no more than a glance in my direction.

I grabbed my bag before trying to catch up to them, “Jason!”

He turned around with a slightly surprised expression on his face.

“Hey,” I tried to smile and not make things awkward, “Are we gonna meet up at the Youth Center this Friday?”

“Oh… I’m sorry (Y/n) but the gang and I already had plans.”

My heart sunk as I looked at his new group of friends with a solemn expression, “Oh, alright then. Guess I’ll catch you later…”

I tried so hard to not let the pain come out in my words, but I never was a good actor. I left the park holding back tears and walked all the way home with them staining my cheeks.

 ~~~

Three weeks flew by in a hurry and I was sucked into the frenzy of the prom committee. To my surprise (and some dismay) Jason’s new friends had volunteered to help decorate the gymnasium. The exact area I was in charge of. Luckily I was too busy to even dwell on the fact that my ex-bestfriend came to talk to them more than he did me. 

“Hey (Y/n),” Kimberly said, “Which spot do you think would be best for the drink table?”

“Over by the photo booth,” I said, writing down every task we had gotten done that day on a clipboard. I must’ve gotten so caught up in my work I didn’t realize that Jason’s whole friend group had entered the gym.

“Wow! This place looks amazing!” Trini said.

Kimberly smiled, “Yeah all thanks to (Y/n).”

“It was no big deal. Mrs. Saslow bought all the decorations we just had to set them up.”

“Well,” Billy adjusted his glasses, “You did a phenomenal job coordinating everything.”

“Thanks guys.”

My eyes caught Jason and I looked away quickly. Maybe it was the awkward silence, or maybe they were in a rush, but Trini quickly led the boys back to the hallway to help her bring in more folding chairs.

“What happened between you and Jason?” Kimberly asked while putting a light blue tablecloth over the drink table.

“Nothing.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” she said, “Everytime you’re around him anymore you just seem so sad. You two used to be inseparable and everyone knew it.”

“I mean it literally, nothing happened. He kept promising to hang out and do all the things we used to do together but then never did. I’m not even sure why.”

Kimberly sighed, “I promise, Jason’s just going through a lot right now.”

She must’ve noticed the tears forming in my eyes when she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Are you in love with him?”

“I- I’m not exactly sure,” I sighed.

Kimberly chuckled, “For you to be as heartbroken as you are whenever you see him there has to be something a little more than friendship there.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll figure it out one day, right now he doesn’t even want to be around me so I should just move on.”

“That’s not true.”

I huffed, “He hasn’t called or stopped to talk to me in three weeks Kimberly. He doesn’t want me around.”

“Kim! A little help here?” Zack yelled from the hallway.

Kimberly grabbed a napkin and the pen from my hand, “Here, call me this weekend and we can hang out instead. No stupid, idiotic boys, just some girl time.”

“Thanks Kimberly, I appreciate it.”

 ~~~

Dear Diary,

Jason finally got back to me today. He asked for us to meet up at the park. I’m not sure exactly why, but I’ll update you on it when I get back.

 The swings had always been my favorite part of the park, so as I sat and wrote the latest entry in my diary my legs swung back and forth slightly.

Wham!

My diary is knocked out of my hands and before I could react my arms were being tugged on by two weird gray looking creatures. One of them has rope in their hand as they lead me to the nearest tree. I swiveled my arm out of one's grip and knocked its legs out from under it. The other tries to do the same to me but I jump and flip it over onto it’s back before it even got the chance.

A bright flash goes off to my right knocking me to the ground.

When I finally get my bearings I'm being tied to the tree by those weird creatures.

From the corner of my eye I see people in bright colored suits running towards the gold monster. 

Holy shit, it's the power rangers. 

“Stop right there Goldar!” the one in red yelled.

My eyes narrow as I try to place where I had heard that voice before. I barely even noticed some of the fighting as I wracked my brain trying to think. He sounded so familiar.

One of the rangers came crashing into me with a hard hit to my stomach.

“Sorry!” the girl in pink yelled.

Wait a second…

Finally the monster teleported away and the rangers rushed over to untie me from the tree.

“You’re safe now,” the one in the black suit said.

“Here’s your stuff,” the yellow ranger said.

“Uhh, thanks…”

“Are you alright?” the red ranger said. Hearing his voice for a second time made everything click.

“Jason?”

I could visibly see him freeze up causing me to chuckle, “Is it really you?”

With a sigh him and the rest of the rangers demorphed. In front of me stood Kim, Zack, Billy, Trini, and a really embarrassed looking Jason. 

“I promise I was on my way to meet you.”

“It’s alright,” I said, picking up my bag and grabbing my diary from Trini, “It looks to me like you had bigger problems to handle at the moment.”

“Yeah,” he said shyly. 

“What did you need to meet me here for?” I asked.

“Oh!” Kimberly yelled, “You guys wait here, Jason I’ll let you know when it’s ready!”

“When what’s ready?”

“Just don’t worry about it, see you guys later!” Billy said as he, Zack, and Trini took off after Kimberly.

I looked to Jason only for him to smile shyly and take my hand. My heart was racing as he led me over to the swings. Was his hand always this nice to hold? Why hadn’t I noticed this before?

“I’m really sorry for avoiding you. I promise I was trying to keep you safe.”

“Safe?” I asked, “Safe from what?”

“Rita. The one who keeps sending all these monsters. I promise I’ll make it up to you, whatever way you want me to.”

“I understand Jace, but…”

“But what?”

“Hmmm maybe a proper dinner at our favorite restaurant on main street might help me forgive you.”

He chuckled, “It’s a deal, right after this though.”

“After what?”

The bracelet on his wrist went off before he could answer me, “Jason! We’re ready!”

He smiled and grabbed my hand again, leading me down the path that leads to the parks gazebo.

“Oh, wait,” he said, stopping me before we could round the corner, “You, uh, might wanna cover your eyes for a second.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see, please?”

“Fine,” I huffed.

He placed my hands over my eyes before guiding me by the small of my back. Which made my heart beat even faster. 

“Alright, open them.”

I pulled my hands away from my face and looked around in awe. Fairy lights had been strung around the banisters and a giant sign was placed in front of where he stood.

“PROM?”

A laugh rang out from my chest as I jumped into his arms in a bonecrushing hug.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes you dummy!”

“She said yes!” he yelled.

“YAY!” the rest of the rangers yelled and clapped from the edge of the clearing where the gazebo stood.

I laughed as he finally set my feet on the ground, blushing madly from his friend's reaction. 

He kissed me gently on my forehead making me smile and lean my head on his chest.

 Dear Diary,

He made it up to me. 

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

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[atlafan]

Take it Slow - Part Nine

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

(fluff and smut)

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight

Masterpost

Harry left early the next morning. He needed to get home to edit the photos he took on Friday. You took a shower, and got ready for your mom. She picked you up at noon like she said, and you headed to the mall.

“So, what do you need to shop for?” You ask her on the drive there.

“I wanted to go to Macy’s to look for a new comforter set. I had some coupons, and I’d really like a new one. You can pick one out too, if you want.”

“Thanks, I may have to take you up on that. How’s the baby?”

“Oh, he’s wonderful. I have my day with him tomorrow. I can try to Facetime you during lunch so you can see him, if you want.”

“I’d love that!”

Your mom pulls up, and parks near the Macy’s entrance. You walk with her to the bedding, and look at some sheets, these you could definitely use.

“Hey, mom what do you think of this color?”

“You really like blue don’t you?” She laughs. “Don’t you have these already? Why not go for like a blush purple.”

“Oo, that would be nice. I love a light purple.” You grab a pack of light purple sheets.

“Let’s go find some comforters to match.”

You two discuss which comforter would look good on her bed, and which one would look good on your bed. You find a white comforter that had purple and black flowers on it. A nice change from your plain, navy comforter. You two put everything in the car, and then head back into the mall to look at clothes.

“Do you need anything new for work?”

“Mom, you just spent like $200 on me, you don’t have to buy me clothes.”

“I really don’t mind sweetie, I like being able to do these things for you.”

“I have so many work clothes.”

“How about date clothes? You’re seeing someone now right? You’ll need some new clothes to add into your date night rotation.” You’re not sure how to explain that you’ve already moved past the date night phase.

“That would be great.” You smile at her.

You go in and out of a couple of stores, not finding the right fits. You start to wonder what stores Harry shops at.

“Honey?”

“Yeah, mom?”

“Do you have any pictures of Harry you could show me? I’d love to see what he looks like.” You reach for your phone, but then you remember you don’t have any pictures together.

“I don’t have any of him, but let me check his insta real quick.” You remember you haven’t even looked at the private account he let you follow. He’s not the selfie type, but you do find a pretty recent picture of him and Niall from around Niall’s birthday. “Here, he’s on the left, obviously, you know what Niall looks like.” Your mom takes your phone and squints.

“Oh my, he’s handsome! Well done.” She hands you back your phone.

“He’s kind of my boyfriend.” She stops short.

“Come again?”

“Last weekend, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, I was just trying to enjoy it before I told everyone.”

“He must really like you.”

“He does, and I really like him. I know it’s only been a month, but we have a great connection.”

“Alright, I’ll trust your judgement on this.”

You both continue walking. You decide to go into H n M. You could usually find something cute here. You and your mom split up so you can divide and conquer. You meet at the back where the dressing rooms are. You end up getting a green jumpsuit that had a cut out in the stomach. You and your mom decide it’s cute, and she buys it for you.

“Okay, you are now done spending money on me.” As your mom is about to respond, you hear someone call after her.

“Mrs. (y/last name)!” You both turn around and see Niall…and Harry. Shit. You’re not ready for him to meet your family. His face is red, he clearly isn’t ready either. Niall jogs over to you both, and Harry takes his time. He stands awkwardly, and mouths I’m sorry to you.

“Niall Horan, is that you?” She says, giving Niall a light hug. “Good to see you, honey.”

“Good to see ya too, what brings you into town.”

“Just taking my baby here shopping.” She coughs.

“Oh, sorry, um, mom, this is Harry, my boyfriend.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He sticks his hand out to shake, but she swats it away.

“Don’t be silly.” You watch as your mom gives Harry a hug.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask. You suddenly feel like a teenager, bumping into your crush.

“Boyo here needed some new jeans, so we’re on our way to J. Crew.” Niall answers for him.

“Would you boys like to have lunch with us before you shop? We were thinking of grabbing some food.” Your mom says.

“Mom, I’m sure they were just making a quick trip.”

“Lunch would be great.” Harry says, surprising you. “I’m starved actually. We were on our way to the Mexican restaurant just down there.”

“Mexican sounds great, are you okay with that sweetie?” Everyone is looking at you.

“Um, sure.”

Harry takes your hand in his as you walk to the restaurant. Niall makes conversation with your mom.  He pulls you closer to him so you can speak without being heard.

“I’m so sorry, I completely forgot you said you and your mum were coming to the mall.”

“No, it’s not your fault at all. Does Niall always go shopping with you?” You giggle.

“No! He asked me what I was up to, and I said I might come here, and he asked if he could come. I think he wanted to brag about Sarah. He also was really worried about you. Sarah told him everything.”

“Of course she did.” You roll your eyes.

You get to the restaurant and your mom asks for a table of four. You get seated pretty quickly at a booth, which makes things awkward because you really want to sit next to Harry, but don’t want your mom to feel awkward either.

“You two can sit next to each other.” Your mom smiles warmly. “You don’t mind, right Niall.”

“Not at all.” He slides in next to your mom. You sit across from her, and Harry across from Niall.

A waitress comes over with four waters, chips, and salsa. She leaves us to look at the menus.

“Honey, what do you think would work best for me?”

“I think taco salad would be pretty mild, mom.”

“So you don’t like spicy, but your daughter does? Interesting.” Harry says.

“When I was pregnant with her, I had cravings for buffalo chicken and all sorts of spicy food. I think that’s why she likes it so much. And it’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just more of an age thing.” She laughs. “(y/n), what are you gonna get?”

“I’m thinking some tacos with just veggies.” You furrow your eyebrows at the menu. “Would everyone eat guac if I order guac?” Everyone nods. “Great.” You smile.

The waitress comes back to take your orders. Harry orders vegetable nachos with dairy free cheese. No wonder he liked this place, lots of vegan options. Niall, being courteous, orders a vegetable enchilada. Niall has seen you gag at a table too many times, he knows better than to order meat around you.

“So, Harry, what do you do for work?” Your mom asks kindly.

“I’m a photographer. I work for a geographical magazine, and also do some freelance work on the side.”

“Oh wow, (y/n) used to be quite the skilled photographer. She took her own senior photos in high school.”

“Is that so?” He looks at you and smiles.

“Mom, please.” You beg her not to embarrass you.

“What? Everyone asked you where you got them done, remember?”

“Why did you take them yourself?” Niall asked.

“Because I know my best angles, and I actually hate when other people take my picture, so I just did it myself.” You shrug.

“Seems valid to me.” Harry also shrugs.

“So, tell me again, how exactly did you two meet?”

“I set them up.” Niall says proudly.

“We went out for dinner, and just hit it off.” Harry says with a smile. He places his hands on the table, and you think your mom’s eyes are going to pop out of her head.  

“Are those real gold?” She asks pointing to the rings.

“Um, yeah. I’m not sure, like, how many karats they are though. My mum got them for me when I finished grad school two years ago.”

“Ohh, well, they’re lovely nonetheless.” She squints at his nails. “What beautiful colors to have your nails painted. Not many people can pull that off, but it suits you dear.” Harry sees where you get your kindness and understanding from.

“Um, thank you, very much.”

“Now the tattoos on the other hand…” Your mom begins to tease, “well, if you ever meet my mother, you’ll want to cover them up.”

“Is she conservative?” He asks.

“No, we just can’t really do tattoos, and she’s a little blunter about that fact. She’s blunt about a lot of things.” Your mom starts laughing, and you start laughing because you know exactly what she’s thinking of. Harry and Niall give each other a confused look.

“Sorry, it’s so stupid. This one time my Nannie.” You stop because you can’t stop laughing and neither can your mom. “My Nannie saw that my uncle added to the sleeve he has, that already pisses her off, and from the other room we hear go ‘You look like a fucking idiot!’, and my mom started laughing, and my Nannie heard so, she started laughing and she laughed so hard she.” Tears are streaming down your cheeks, and the guys have started laughing. “She peed her pants!”

The waitress awkwardly brings all the food to the table while you all wipe your eyes. You all dig in, and enjoy light conversation as you eat. You and Niall talk about your recent project at work, and your mom shows everyone pictures of your nephew. The waitress bring the check over, and Harry and your mom both grab for it.

“Oh, that’s very kind dear, but I got it.”

“I insist, please let me pay for lunch.” Harry gives your mom a warm smile.

“Harry, you really don’t need to.” You start to say, but he ignores you. Your mom slowly lets go of the check.

You feel bad, he pays for way too many things for you.

“Thank you.” Your mom says.

“Not a problem.” Harry takes out some cash from his wallet, and Niall throws a few bills in as well. “That should take care of it.”

The boys slide out, and Harry extends his hand to help you up. You all walk out of the restaurant. It was a good lunch, and you were happy your mom seemed to get along with Harry, but you couldn’t shake the odd feeling in the pit of your stomach.

“Well, it was so nice to meet you Harry.” Your mom gives him another hug, and turns to Niall to hug him. “And it’s always a delight sweetheart.”

“It was nice to meet you too. I’ll call you later, (y/n).” He leans in to give you a kiss on the cheek.

“Bye Mrs. (y/last name).” Niall waves, and the boys walk away.

“Oh, he is a keeper honey. I have never seen you with such an attractive man.”

“Mom, please.”

“Seriously, hold on to that one.” You roll your eyes at her, and make your way out to the parking lot.

Harry and Niall make their way into J. Crew. Harry grabs three pair of black jeans, and two pair of dark blue jeans. He grabs some t-shirts, and a couple of button ups. Niall mostly grabs some shirts and just one pair of pants. They each pay for their things, and head to Harry’s car.

“So, what did you think of (y/n)’s mum?” Niall asks him.

“She seemed really nice.” He shrugs. “Kind of an awkward way to meet her. Sort of a little soon to be meeting family, no?”

“Oh no, don’t start. You don’t get to ask that girl to be your girlfriend three weeks in, and then ask if it’s too soon to meet her mum.”

“You seemed to know her well.”

“I’ve been to a few of their family functions, yeah.”

“So what, were you like her go to date for things?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you went with her to Kate’s wedding.”

“I went with her to Kate’s wedding because it was right after she recovered from everything. She didn’t feel strong enough to go alone, otherwise she would have. Are you jealous?”

“No, I guess I’m just confused. You’ve known her for like what? Almost two years? How come you waited so long to introduce her to me?”

“You were still finishing up grad school, and honestly, you were still bein’a prick to girls.”

“Did you ever like her?”

“I thought she was cute, but the more we got to know each other, we both realized a friendship was what we both needed.”

“How did you not meet Sarah at Kate’s wedding?”

“We talked about that actually. We met briefly, but everyone was so preoccupied all night, so it’s not like we had time to really chat. You and (y/n) both came to my holiday party last year, you know?”

“Yeah, but we weren’t introduced.”

“Why are you gettin’ pissy all of a sudden?”

“I’m not gettin’ pissy.”

“Are you really mad that I know her mum well?”

“No.”

“Don’t do this.”

“Do what? What am I doing?”

“You’re actin’ like a fuckin’ baby. She’s yours, man, all yours. I’m her friend, her good friend that happened to be around during a shitty time. She didn’t know how to tell her mum about what happened, so she asked me to go with her the day she did for support. After that if there was a family party, I was also invited.”

“Wasn’t her family curious as to why you two weren’t dating though?”

“They asked us a couple times, but we just kept telling them it wasn’t like that.”

“You never thought of it?”

“Maybe once or twice, but after what happened, happened I stopped seeing her that way. I saw her as this woman who I wanted to be there for, almost like a sister.”

“I cried like a baby when she told me. Do you know if she ever pressed charges?”

“She didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve talked with her about it until I’ve been blue in the face, I think she just wanted to forget about it.”

“But he could easily do that to someone else.”

“Harry…”

“And then the next night when we hung out, we did stuff, man, good stuff, but I was so confused.”

“She’s in control of the situation with you. She feels safe, she doesn’t think you’re gonna do anything to hurt her. I’m really happy that she’s getting back to her old self. For a while there, I thought I had lost her. But slowly she’s been coming back to life, and you, well, every day she comes into work after one of your dates, she floats through the halls. Nothing could kill her good mood. Don’t doubt yourself. Besides, she’s good for you too.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re better when you have a lady in your life. You make more time for fun. You fall into your work too much, it’s not healthy, mate.”

“You know that night you came to pick her up from my place?”

“Yeah.”

“She mentioned how she didn’t have a toothbrush, and I literally went out the next day and got her a toothbrush. So the next time she came over, she’d feel more comfortable to stay over. I have this weird need to like keep her safe or something. Ugh, and she’s so cute and shy in the morning. Like it takes her an hour to come into herself.”

“You’ve really got it bad, huh?”

“You have no idea.”

Harry didn’t call you Sunday like he said he would, but you figured he was just busy. You went to bed early, and actually couldn’t wait to get to work Monday morning. You settled in, with a coffee waiting for you on your desk. You told Niall your mom would be Facetiming during lunch so you could see your nephew, if he wanted to join. The baby was in good spirits, and the call went by way too quick. You hadn’t heard from Harry all day. He did say this was a busy time of year for him. You couldn’t help but think your lunch yesterday truly was awkward.

You and Niall walked out of the building together, and headed your separate ways home. You contemplated driving straight to his apartment, but you didn’t want to push it. You went to the gym, and had a good session. When you got to your apartment, you decided to draw a relaxing bath for yourself. You had done some HIIT, and knew you’d be sore tomorrow. When you looked at your empty tub you sighed. You didn’t want to take this bath alone. You grab your phone and call Harry.

“Hi, love.”

“Hey.”

“What’s up?”

“Um, well, are you busy?”

“Right now?”

“Yeah.”

“Um, I’m still at work, why?”

“Well, I was thinking of taking a bubble bath.” You say lowly, slightly embarrassed.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, and well, my tub…”

“Are you asking me to come over and take a bath with you?”

“Maybe.”

“I can be there in about twenty minutes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I should have wrapped up here a while ago anyways.” He sighs.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.” You hang up and smile.

You get the bath ready, and put the bubbles in. You wrap yourself in your robe, and wait for Harry to show up. In thirty minutes, in true Harry fashion, you heard the buzzer go off, and you let him in. He walks in with his beanie on, dark circles under his eyes. He’s wearing a tattered blue t-shirt and black jeans. He looks at you in your robe, and nearly melts. He takes you in for a hug, and hold you tight.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. By the time I got back from the mall, I realized how much work I really needed to do on my freelance shit. And then I got wrapped up in some other shit today. I have some sort of annoying news.”

“What’s that?” You ask, leading him down the hall to your bedroom.

“They’re making me travel this week.” You stop short, and look up at him. “Someone else was supposed to go, but they got strep throat, so they’re not allowed to go. I have to catch a flight tomorrow afternoon.”

“Where are they sending you?”

“New Mexico.”

“That’s exciting! How long will you be gone for?”

“Until Sunday.”

“That’s not so bad. I’m glad you came to see me tonight.”

“Me too. Now, let’s not let this warm water go to waste.”

He takes his beanie off, and shakes his hair out. He takes his shirt off, and you can’t help but stare at his perfect torso. As he goes to unzip his pants, he makes eye contact with you.

“Staring?”

“N, no.” You say as he chuckles.

You untie the front of your robe, and slip it off. He watches you climb in, and you lean your back against one end. Harry slips his boxers off, and gets in, leaning against the oppose side. He furrows his eyebrows while looking at you.

“What?” You finally say.

“Why you so far away from me? C’mere.” He holds his arms out for you. You inch towards him, and turn around, so you can lean your back against him. “See, much more comfortable.”

“You just wanted to stretch those long legs out.” He squeezes his leg against yours, and wraps his arms around your stomach. “So, what did you think of yesterday?”

“Not how I pictured meeting your mum, but it was fine. Did she like me?”

“Like you? She raved about you the entire time. She thought you were cute and funny.”

“When you two were telling that story about your grandmum, I thought she was going to wet herself.” You immediately start laughing at the memory of your Nannie peeing her pants in front of you. It’s a throaty laugh, but you don’t care. You start to feel tears in your eyes.

“I’m so sorry, that is just one of the funniest things I have ever seen her do. And she has done a lot of funny things.”

“You’re close with her?”

“Very.”

“That’s nice.”

“She had my uncle and mom at a really young age, so they’re all close too. It’s nice to see. My mom was like old when she had me.”

“How old is old?”

“Thirty-five. She was twenty-six when she had my oldest sister.” There’s a pause between the two of you as he takes in this information.

“What made you want to take a bath tonight?”

“I did sort of an intense workout and I wanted my muscles to relax.”

Harry starts rubbing your shoulders, and you lean into him further. Your head leans forward as he works your neck. His large hands feel like heaven as they knead into you. His hands move lower down your back. He kneads just above your bum.

“Oh, Harry.” You lean your head back against his shoulder. His hands travel around to your stomach and move up to your breasts. You hiss at his touch as he twists your piercings slightly.

“Are you sure you got these just for fun?” He says into your ear.

“What, what do you mean?” You’re breathing heavy.

“You really like when I pinch you, and twist.”

“Y,yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Harry.” You lean as far back into him as you can, and you feel him harden against you.

He’s going to be gone for the rest of the week. You want to make him feel good. You turn around to face him, breaking contact for only a moment, his hands go right back to your chest. Your hands reach below the water, and slide up his thighs, sending a shiver up his spine.

“Harry, can I touch you?” You say looking up at him through your eye lashes.

“Please.”

You scoot closer, putting your legs over his. He leans in to kiss you. You taste mint as his tongue goes into your mouth. Your fingers trail up to his tip, and your thumb runs over his slit. He takes a deep breath, and presses his lips to the crook of your neck, biting down slightly. Your hand starts to pump him slowly, as his breathing becomes more rapid, so does your hand. You love the way you need to basically pump him with both hands because his length is so big. You had been with taller men before, they usually had a bigger dick, but none had one like Harry’s. He had girth, and you couldn’t help but imagine would it would feel like to have him stretch you out as he pushed inside you. You shake the thought from your head, and focus on pumping him. You feel his slick precome all over your hands. His kisses on your neck become sloppy, and his hands move from your breasts to around your hips, pressing into you. For a moment, you think it might leave a bruise with the way he’s holding onto you. Normally this would make you stop, but you know he’s not intentionally trying to hurt you. You hear groans and curse words come from his mouth.

“I’m gonna come, (y/n).” He says releasing his teeth from your skin. “Can I come on your tits?”

You nod your head yes. He swiftly stands up in the tub, your hands cling to his thighs as he takes control of himself. Your eyes nearly pop out of your head as you watch his own hands work over himself. You tilt your head back, and push your breasts up to give him a target.

“Ah, fuck.” You hear him say as the warm liquid shoots to your chest, and drips down to your torso. He slowly sits back down in the water, planting a kiss to your forehead. You reach for your washcloth, but he snatches it from you. Harry dips it into the water, and wipes you off.

“Thank you.” You coo.

“No, thank you.” He smiles at you hazily.

You both stand up, and he grabs two towels. He wraps one around his waist, and wraps the other around you.

“Harry, will you stay tonight?” You ask as you climb over the edge of the tub.

“On a school night?” He asks with an eyebrow raised and a grin. “Isn’t that against the rules?”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” You wink at him.

“I’d love to stay.” He wraps his arms around you, bringing you close to his chest.

You put on a large t-shirt and a pair of cotton panties, while he just puts his boxers back on. You make a couple of smoothies for dinner, and then climb into bed together. You’re snuggled to his chest, while you both scroll on your phones.

“(y/n), I have a favor to ask you.” You look up at him, he seems nervous.

“What’s up?”

“Well, I was wondering, if I left a key to my place with you, could you water my plants while I’m gone this week?” You think for a moment. Niall has a key to his place, why not just ask him? Because Harry wanted you at his place. He wanted to know that you were there while he was gone. He wanted you to take care of his things.

“Sure, I could do that.”

“Really? You don’t mind?”

“Not at all, babe.” You give him a quick peck on his cheek. You notice the time on the clock, and see it’s almost ten. “I need to try to go to sleep now so I’m not tired tomorrow morning.

“Alright.” He leans over and turns the side table lamp off. You both slide further under the covers. “Could I, um, be little spoon?”

“Of course!”

Harry turns over with a smile on his face as your legs become tangled, and you’re pressed against his back. You both soon drift off into sleep happy and comfortable.

[possiblyawesometmblr]

Unus Annus: A Complete Ranked List

well, now that every single video has been released, i’ve compiled them all into a complete ranked list, from best video to worst! this took way longer than it had any right to.  (also, please note this is just my opinion, and in all honesty, this list was really hard because so many of these videos are fantastic. you could tell me that you’d rearrange anything in the 50-250 range and i’d probably agree with you.) 

And if you don’t feel like going through the whole list, here’s Unus Annus ranked by month!

If the video is in: Top 50: 5 points 51 - 100: 4 points 101 - 150: 3 points 151 - 200: 2 points 201 - 250: 1 point 251 - 300: 0 points 300 or below: -1 point (Any ties settled by which month had the highest ranking video overall.)

November: 93 October: 72 December:70 September: 66 February: 66 August: 63 June: 60 January: 59 July: 53 May: 43 March: 37 April: 1

The Truth of Unus Annus (Oct. 31st)

Ethan Finally Becomes a MAN (Jan. 10th)

Phasmophobia in Real Life (Oct. 25th)

Mark and Ethan Attempt an Escape Room (Dec. 6th)

Hunting HeeHoo (Aug. 29th)

DIY Geriatric Simulator (Jan. 18th)

Recreating Every Single Unus Annus Video (Nov. 4th)

Mark Teaches Ethan to Read with Hooked On Phonics (Jun 6th)

Ethan Gives Mark a Viking Funeral (Dec. 9th)

Cooking with Sex Toys (Nov. 15th)

Mark Reviews the Impossible Burger But There’s a Looming Sense of Impending Doom (Dec. 13th)

Helium Therapy (Nov. 29th)

2 Truths and 1 Lie -- Waxing Edition (Nov. 26th)

Ethan Will Be Kicked in the Balls (Nov. 22nd)

Being Brutally Honest With Each Other (Nov. 3rd)

Would Chica Save Us From Drowning? (Jul. 24th)

Mark and Ethan are Now Fathers (Mar. 22)

Ethan Kidnapped Mark (Oct. 30th)

Mark’s Outdoor Escape Room (Aug. 28th)

The Unus Annus Last Supper (Nov. 2nd)

Mark and Ethan Go Casket Shopping (Jan. 11th)

The Sensory Overload Tank (Jan. 7th)

Mark and Ethan Summon a Ghost (Nov. 25th)

Mark Knows What Ethan Did… (Sep. 22nd)

Pee Sauna (Jun 17th)

We Made Nude Paintings of Each Other (Dec. 14th)

All of Our Video Ideas that Never Happened (Nov. 5th)

Mark Teaches Ethan How to March in a Marching Band (Sep. 4th)

Hiding Our Sins From Amy’s Holy Peepers (Jan. 2nd)

Our Perfect (and last) Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14th)

The Barrel - Official Music Video (Mar. 9th)

Edward Pumpkin Hands (Oct. 26th)

This Video Is Completely Unedited (Oct. 17th)

Ethan Teaches Mark How to Swim (Jun. 28th)

The Unus Annus Annual Sleepover (Nov. 12th)

Everything’s Legal if You’re Dead (Nov. 10th)

Harnessing Our Dogs’ Unlimited Energy (Dec. 23rd)

2 Grown Men Attempt the Presidential Fitness Test (Dec. 31st)

Learning to Breathe Underwater (Jan. 13th)

Playing Children’s Games in Total Darkness (Aug. 17th)

The Unus Annus Annual Costume Contest (Oct. 28th)

Saying Goodbye to All Our Guests (Nov. 9th)

We Got Pepper Sprayed (Mar. 10th)

The Cryptid Olympics (Oct. 24th)

Mark and Ethan Get Into a Fight (Mar. 8th)

Mark Punishes Ethan (Jan. 27th)

Ethan Watches as Mark Achieves the Impossible (Sep. 29th)

Drunk College Party Simulator (Feb. 15th)

God’s Fitness Test (Nov. 8th)

3 Big Boys Attempt the King’s Royal Fitness Test (Feb. 18th)

The Beginning of the End (Jul. 26th)

Mark Cooks Blindfolded While Ethan Guides Him Through FaceTime (May 22nd)

Pitching a Tent in the Woods But There’s a Bear 15 Feet Away (Aug. 22nd)

We Forced James Charles to Run a Military Obstacle Course (Mar. 23rd)

We Tried a Labor Pain Simulator (Mar. 20th)

The Bad Kind of Cupping (Nov. 20th)

Ethan Destroys Mark’s Van with a Bat (Dec. 7th)

Duct Tape Crucifixion (Amy, Please Don’t Watch This Video) (Dec. 29th)

A Bear Attacked Us in the Middle of the Night (Aug. 24th)

Mark and Ethan Look at a Puppy for 10 Minutes (Jul 7th)

Building the World’s First IKEA Boat (Jun 27th)

Goat Yoga (Feb. 22nd)

10 Strange Amazon Products Ethan Bought Mark Because He Doesn’t Know How To Spend Money Responsibly (Feb. 16th)

Top 10 Worst Things Your Friend Could Possibly Spend Their Money On (Feb 29th)

Fixing Mark’s Hole with Ramen But Every Time We Add Glue We Get 5% Closer to God (Jan. 14th)

Being Attacked By a Fully Trained Bodyguard Dog (Feb. 19th)

Preserving Ourselves in Wax (Dec. 26th)

Santa’s Mukbang (Drinking 1 Gallon of Eggnog) (Dec. 24th)

The Unus Annus Space Program (Jul 11th)

Ethan Explores Mark’s Haunted Basement (Dec. 17th)

Dummy THICC for Dummies | A Tale of Two Butts | Pushing Our Butts Even Further Beyond (Jul. 4th)

DIY Bungee Jump (please don’t try this) (Jan. 4th)

Unregulated Axe Throwing (Feb. 7th)

Making the Ultimate Unus Annus Burger (Sep. 15th)

How to Rescue a Cat from a Tree (Aug. 23rd)

Beer Sauna: Turning a Portable Sauna Into a Portable Hell (Mar. 16th)

The End of Unus Annus Is Almost Here… (May 15th)

We Accidentally Made an SCP While Amy Was Away (Sep. 13th)

We Play The Newlywed Game While Consuming That Which Will Kill the Other (May 23rd)

Building IKEA’s Hardest Piece of Furniture Without Instructions (Jun 18th)

Recharging Our Phones Using Only Brute Strength (Jul. 30th)

Eating Only Onions for 24 Hours: How Many Onions Does It Take to Kill a Man? (May 8th)

The Candy Bra Challenge (Jul 6th)

We Bought Every Grinch Costume on Ebay (Oct. 13th)

Only UNUS-es/ANNUS-es May Watch This Video (May 28th)

Only Watch From 2:25-6:11 --- DO NOT WATCH ANY OTHER PART OF THIS VIDEO (May 29th)

We Force Mark to Swim in the Ocean (HIS GREATEST FEAR) (Oct. 22nd)

Recreating The Miracle of Childbirth (Mar. 21st)

Making Our Own Sensory Deprivation Tank (Nov. 18th)

Turning Mark into an E-Boy (Feb. 2nd)

The First Annual Unus Annus Roast (Nov. 7th)

Reacting to Your Hilarious Green Screen Memes (Jun 5th)

The Ultimate Trolley Problem (Feb. 21st)

We Looked at Unus Annus Memes (Apr. 30th)

Exploring the Unus Annus Subreddit for Your Delicious Memes (May 16th)

BLACK LIVES MATTER: Resources and How You Can Help In The Description (Jun 2nd)

The Chubby Gummy Challenge (Dec. 4th)

Who Can Teach Their Dog a Trick the Fastest? (Mar. 5th)

Taped and Afraid (Dec. 20th)

We Played Strip Poker (May 20th)

Consuming the World’s Hottest Chip (Sep. 30th)

Mark and Ethan Learn About the Human Body (Jan. 26th)

1 Man 100 Accents (Dec. 1st)

Mark Steals Ethan’s Face (Jan. 15th)

Chickens Teach Us About Life and Death (Feb. 17th)

We Lubed Our Floor for a Sliding Competition (Aug. 3rd)

Mark Conquers His Fear of Night Swimming (Oct. 11th)

The Ultimate Paper Airplane Showdown (Jun 20th)

We Pierced Each Other’s Ears (Sep. 11th)

Crushing Watermelons Betwixt Our Mighty Thighs (Jun 3rd)

7 Minutes in Heaven | 7 Minutes in Hell (Nov. 11th)

Two Men in a Trench Coat Teach You How to Save Money at the Movies (Jun 26th)

Having an Adventure in VRChat Because We Can’t Go Outside (Mar. 27th)

Preparing a 5-Star Meal for Our YouTube Famous Dogs (Jul. 16th)

Mark and Ethan Shave Chica (Aug. 8th)

The Wubble (Aug. 7th)

How to Start a Fire (except don’t…) (Aug. 27th)

Unus Annus (Nov. 15th)

This Is Goodbye (Aug. 5th)

Puberty Simulator (Aug. 13th)

This Video Went Completely Out of Control (Oct. 1st)

This Video Will Never Make Sense (Sep. 23rd)

Blowing Our Souls into Some Hot Glass (Feb. 28th)

We Attempted to Create THICC Water (May 10th)

Brick Soccer (Sep. 19th)

Accepting the Truth (Nov. 1st)

Drinking Real THICC Water...How Bad Does It Taste? (May 19th)

How Far Can We Chuck a 16lbs Rock? (Sep. 10th)

Recreating Ourselves as a Cursed Mannequin (Jan. 8th)

Recreating Childhood Photos (Jun 13th)

Nutball: The Most Dangerous Game (Feb. 10th)

Mark Teaches Ethan How to Play the Trumpet (Aug. 1st)

How to Safely Bury Your Friend (Aug. 25th)

Mark Breaks His Nose on an Aerial Hoop (Oct. 4th)

DIY Bed of Nails: OH GOD, PLEASE DON’T EVER TRY THIS (Jul. 20th)

Pee Soda (Sep. 17th)

We Had to Drink Each Other’s Pee (Dec. 16th)

Creating Mark FISHbach (Jun 21st)

Making Our Own Gravestones to Prepare for Our Inevitable Demise (May 11th)

We Made Fanart for Each Other (Jun 11th)

Bear Trapping 101: An Elegant Knot for an Elegant Beast (Jun 25th)

Pressure Washing Our Sins Away (Oct. 21st)

Literally Finding a Needle in a Haystack (Oct. 8th)

We Ate Dog Treats so You Don’t Have To (Sept. 12th)

Giving Away Our 1,000,000 Subscriber Gold Play Button (Dec. 18th)

2 Idiots Get Crushed By 18-Ft Giant Snakes (Mar. 15th)

We Cryogenically Freeze Ourselves (Jan. 20th)

DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2080 (May 27th)

Fighting Fish to the Death in the Deep Blue Sea (Oct. 23rd)

DIY Teeth (Jul. 17th)

We Attempt to Make UNHOLY Water (Sep. 24th)

We Attempt to Make Holy Water (Sep. 20th)

DIY Cheese (Jan. 29th)

Making an Indoor Tornado to Flex on Mother Nature (Feb. 9th)

Literally Eating Fire (Feb. 6th)

2 Absolute Beginners Experience the Dancing Glory that is Salsa (Jan. 17th)

Team Building for 2: Trust Fall, Tug-of-War, and More! (Aug. 26th)

The Great Ice Cream Cake Race (Sep. 27th)

The Unus Annus Confessional Booth (May 26th)

Blood Bath (Oct. 27th)

2 Dirty Boys Wash Their Filthy Mouths Out With Soap (Jun. 30th)

Who Can Make Themselves Taller? (Jan. 6th)

Mark and Ethan Share a Drink (Aug. 6th)

2 Adults Take a 4th Grade Math Test  (Sep. 6th)

Bobbing for Literally Anything But Apples (Oct. 16th)

Momiplier Teaches Self Defense (Aug. 15th)

The Human Mop (Jul. 21st)

We Attempt Pottery Without Amy’s Help (Sep. 8th)

Becoming One With the Horse (Jun 19th)

Wikifeet: A Tale of Two Tootsies (Apr. 4th)

We Found Websites That the World Forgot About (Apr. 11th)

1 Gallon of Jello Nearly Broke Us (Aug. 20th)

We Finally Drank Our DIY Wine (Sep. 5th)

We Do It Better Than Icarus Ever Could (Jul. 25th)

We Turned Our Bodies Into Art (Jan. 25th)

You Blink, You Lose (Dec. 30th)

Can You Bake a Cookie from Cookie Dough Ice Cream? (Jul. 13th)

Mark Turns Ethan into a Mummy to Prepare Him for the Great Beyond (Dec. 3rd)

Ethan Turns Mark Into a Werewolf (Oct. 29th)

Making Soda with Literally Anything But Soda (Sep. 16th)

Dunking Oreos in Literally Anything But Milk (Jul. 15th)

Making Snow Cones With Literally Anything But Normal Flavors (Sep. 7th)

How Many Slaps Does it Take to Cook a Chicken? (Sep. 2nd)

Play Doh Thanksgiving (Nov. 28th)

Hot Dog’d to Death (Nov. 17th)

Mark and Ethan Build a Scarecrow (Oct. 20th)

Transforming Mark into the Eighth Wonder of the World (Aug. 16th)

Unus Annus Try Pole Dancing (Jul 8th)

Mark Teaches Ethan to Wrestle (Sep. 28th)

Ethan Teaches Mark Gymnastics (Sep. 26th)

Who’s Cutting Onions in Here? (Nov. 6th)

How to Escape from a Hostage Situation (Jul. 18th)

Are We Already Dead? (Feb. 13th)

Bored? Press This Button (Apr. 27th)

Judging Your Terrible Unus Annus Ideas (Aug. 10th)

This is for FUN and NOT a Fetish (Oct. 10th)

This is What Being Tased Feels Like (Jan. 21st)

Learning the Ancient Art of Chinese Archery (Feb. 20th)

Tearing a Phone Book in Half With Our Huge Manly Hands (May 31st)

Beating Inanimate Objects to Death (Dec. 27th)

Edible Slime was a Mistake. (Feb. 23rd)

We Eat Bugs (Jan. 3rd)

Amy Sent Us a Mystery Box (Sep. 21st)

Hydro Dipping a Baby (Aug. 11th)

The Egg Smashing Game (Jul. 12th)

BEYBLADE NUTBALL (Sep. 14th)

Discussing the Idea of Murdering Each Other But It’s Just a Joke and Definitely Not Serious Haha (Feb. 12th)

Mark is Guilty. Ethan Has the Proof. (Jul 1st)

Learning How to Lockpick (FBI Please Don’t Watch) (Jun 22nd)

Mark Needs to Rub Ethan and Only His Mom Can Help Him (Mar. 14th)

Learning to Use the Force (Sep. 18th)

The Secret Unus Annus No-Touchy-Touchy Hand Shake (Apr. 25th)

We Google Each Other to Find Our Darkest Forgotten Sins (Apr. 6th)

Shooting Archery ON A HORSE (Oct. 6th)

Ethan Redefines Male Beauty (Feb. 3rd)

Ethan Roasts Mark for 15 Minutes Straight (Jun 7th)

Playing Cards: The World’s Deadliest Weapon (Aug. 2nd)

Morphing Our Bodies Into Superhero Poses (Jun 4th)

Becoming a Master of Mime (Feb. 11th)

This is the Most Dangerous Children’s Toy Ever Made (Jul. 23rd)

A Serious Conversation Under the Stars (Jul. 29th)

Is Mark a Masochist? (May 1st)

Literally Laying On Literal Broken Glass (Feb. 8th)

Bad, Bad Beans (Jan. 23rd)

DIY Wine (May 30th)

2 Men 200 Accents (Apr. 18th)

DIY Boob (May 24th)

Mark and Ethan Go On a Drum Date (Feb. 27th)

10 Miracle Products to Give YOU the Thiccest Jaw On Planet Earth (Jun. 29th)

Ultimate Horseshoes (Jul. 28th)

Mark and Ethan Get a Full Body Scan to See What Secrets Lay Hidden Within (and learn their body fat) (Mar. 13th)

Acupuncture is NOT Painful (Dec. 11th)

What the Hell is a Pink Trombone? (May 2nd)

Donating Toys to Charity w/ Jacksepticeye (Dec. 22nd)

Poopsie Sparkly Critters (a slime surprise…) (Nov. 27th)

The Great Meat Mistake (Dec. 10th)

DIY Minesweeper (Oct. 7th)

Popping Popcorn with a High Powered Laser (Aug. 12th)

Bobbing for Apples but the Water Keeps Getting Thiccer (Oct. 3rd)

We Buy a Professional Hypnosis Video and React to It (Dec. 5th)

Long Hair, Do We Dare? (Feb. 25th)

Recreating Mark’s Childhood (Jul. 2nd)

Professional Fire Cupping (Going Even Further Beyond) (Feb. 4th)

An Extremely Sour, Not-at-All Sour Meal (Feb. 5th)

Purging Our Sins with a Neti Pot (Nov. 16th)

Attempting to Build IKEA Furniture Without Instructions (Jun 9th)

The Annual Unus Annus Dunk Contest (Jul. 27th)

Our Fans Try to Scare Us With Their Homemade Creepypasta (Jun 12th)

There’s Something Horribly Wrong With This Picture… (June 8th)

Too Many Pickles (Aug. 21st)

5 Products to Grow Your Patchy Beard (Jul. 31st)

What is the Least Viewed Video on YouTube? (Apr. 10th)

Baby Hands Operation (Nov. 24th)

Mark Builds a Pillow Fort for the Very First Time (Apr. 2nd)

Are Reptilian Humanoids Living Among Us? (May 6th)

Mark and Ethan Bet Everything on a Wikipedia Race (Apr. 15th)

We Will Churn Thy Butter (Sep. 25th)

We Take a Lie Detector Test to Uncover Our Darkest Sins (Jan. 12th)

Drawing on Each Other’s Backs in Total Darkness (Oct. 9th)

Drawing Memes from Memory (Nov. 30th)

We Made Every YouTuber Battle in the Hunger Games (Apr. 5th)

Ultimate YouTuber Boxing Showdown (Mar. 30th)

Tasting Weird Food Combos: Pickles and Chocolate? Ice Cream and Soy Sauce? (Jul 10th)

How to NOT be the Perfect Boyfriend (Apr. 13th)

Help Us Break a YouTube World Record (Apr. 17th)

Momiplier Tells Us True Scary Stories from Korea (Oct. 18th)

DO NOT TRY THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES (Aug. 9th)

The Most Dangerous Shave (Jun 23rd)

We Took the Polar Plunge (Jan. 1st)

2 Complete Amateurs Enter a Body Building Competition (Jun 1st)

Does This Magnetic Skincare Routine Really Work? (Jul. 19th)

Mark and Ethan Milk a Goat (Oct. 5th)

Pumpkin Spice “Challenge” (Oct. 19th)

Doing Each Other’s Makeup in the Dark (Nov. 23rd)

We’re Better Than Dogs (Aug. 18th)

We Have the Best Bellies on YouTube (May 25th)

The Good Kind of Cupping  (Nov. 19th)

Hacking the Very Fabric of the Universe (Jan. 30th)

Where in the World is Unus Annus? (Apr. 1st)

Mark and Ethan Become United States Citizens (Jun 10th)

Mark and Ethan Desperately Attempt to Feel Something (May 4th)

We Took an IQ Test (Jan. 9th)

Mark Teaches Ethan Korean (May 13th)

Lost Omegle Video (Mar. 31st)

Finding the Most Cursed Image on the Internet (Jun 15th)

Amazon Shopping for the Apocalypse (Mar. 28th)

Desperately Trying Not to Touch Our Faces (Mar. 24th)

Going on an Internet Scavenger Hunt (Mar. 26th)

Reading YOUR Scariest True Stories (Apr. 21st)

The Scariest True Stories on the Internet (Apr. 12th)

REAL Ghost Hunting At An Abandoned Zoo (March 2nd)

Bleachus Annus (Jul. 14th)

Pumpkin Taste Tier List (Oct. 14th)

Floating in a Real Sensory Deprivation Tank (Dec. 12th)

Was 2020 a Bad Year for Unus Annus? (Aug. 30th)

Speed Reading 1000+ WPM to Gain a Complete Understanding of All Human Knowledge (Apr. 9th)

We Give Each Other Tattoos Blindfolded (Mar. 11th)

Mark’s 1 Weird Talent Leaves Ethan Absolutely Speechless (Apr. 3rd)

Learning to Jump Higher in 16 Minutes and 16 Seconds (Oct. 15th)

You Breathe You Die (Jan.16th)

Breaking Glasses With Our Screams (Aug. 4th)

The 1000 High-Five Challenge (Oct. 2nd)

Becoming the World’s Greatest DJs (Mar. 4th)

Grip Strength Test: Loser Becomes the Winner’s Butler for a Day (Aug. 14th)

Forcibly Turning Mark into Santa Claus Against His Will (Dec. 25th)

We Smell Every Smell (Sep. 1st)

We Wrote a Hit Pop Song in 30 Minutes (Feb. 26th)

Unus Annus Carves the Roast Beast (Mar. 18th)

The Painful World of Aerial Skills (Oct. 12th)

The Koala Challenge: TikTok’s Intimate Couples Trend (Aug. 19th)

Ethan Traps Mark’s Soul in the Palm of His Hand (Jun 24th)

Will We Break the Boards...Or Will They Break Us? (Jun 14th)

DIY Chiropractor (Mar. 7th)

Mark Gives Ethan a HOT (stone) Massage (Aug. 31st)

We Bought a Camera That Can Look Inside Us (Mar. 3rd)

Can Plants Feel Pain? (Sep. 9th)

This is Hiding on Your Body RIGHT NOW. (Jul 9th)

Strange (and legal) Things You Can Do With Your Body After Death (Jan. 28th)

Like It Or Not...This is What The New Human Looks Like (May 7th)

Looking at Long Lost Memes (Jan. 31st)

We Played Mad Libs and Ran It Through Google Translate (Apr. 7th)

Running Internet Drama Through Google Translate (Apr. 24th)

Mark and Ethan Desperately Try to Name a Single State in the USA (Apr. 8th)

Professional Fetish Scientists Rank the Best/Worst Fetishes of 2020 (May 3rd)

Reddit 50/50: Two Player Edition (Mar. 25th)

Mark and Ethan Find the Lost City of El Dorado (Apr. 14th)

Using Google Maps to Find the Lost City of Atlantis (Apr. 20th)

We Hired a Real Hypnotherapist to Analyze Our Darkest Dreams (Jan. 24th)

2 Boys 2 Poops (Sep. 3rd)

This is How We’ll Die... (Jan. 19th)

Nutball Extreme: Taser Edition (Mar. 1st)

You Made Beautiful Music for The Barrel...But Only One Could Win (Dec. 15th)

Can Sound Therapy Heal All Wounds? (Jul. 22nd)

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[croissantbae]

April 9, 2021

Okay I feel kind of bad about the things I wrote about naya before. She’s been back to 100% the past few days and she is a joy and a pleasure to be around lol. She’s funny. Sweet. And just the right amount of naughty. Like regular kid naughty (dumping her toys on the ground kind of a thing).

We went to the farm today wth Naomi and Naomi’s sil/kids. When we got there it seriously felt like a magical place. So many different activities and booths set up. Fruits and veggies everywhere. Easter egg decorations. Just so quaint and fun. Naya was a little shy at first and scared of the animals but soon she was having a blast. Gina brought kimbap and I contributed nothing so I wanted to buy the kids a treat. I got them each an ice cream cone with sprinkles and like it was super cute but I also felt bad to Gina and Naomi because a little bit of chaos / mess ensued. I can also tell that I am definitely the loosest of most moms. I give naya so much sugar and tv time... as well as my mom. As soon as we got back from the farm my mom turned on the tv and gave them snacks. Earlier she gave them vitamin c gummies too. She gave naya 4 so she’d give somi 2 but of course she gave somi one and stuffed the remaining 3 in her cheeks. I really need to examine if I want to / need to become more strict...

Last night we went to the south pas farmers market on a whim and that felt magical too! Everything worked out perfectly. We were on our way for a target run bc we’d run out of diapers for naya and such (and just wanted an excuse to get out) when Jason said south pas was having its farmers market. We decided to go and texted Eileen/Jordan to see if they might be able to come and they were! We get there and there’s live music playing, good food stands, fresh produce and the sun is just about to set. I buy 2 cauliflower To take home (I’m really into making cauliflower), and then we bought roasted corn (which naya devoured. Her past few poops have been corn kernels in their original form. Like she’s not even biting them once it seems), baked potato (holy moly so good. They put sour cream and cheese and salsa), fish soltado, Indian food and for Nayas final treat, a “healthy” strawberry popsicle. This night too felt magical and perfect. Like why haven’t we been doing this sooner?? It was soooo nice that Eileen and Jordan could just pop over and meet us. Only one more month-ish of this left. :(. Gonna try to go every week from here on out.

Here are a few photos

Jason is actually being completely candid in the thumbs up photo. He just really liked his food. Because the trip was impromptu we didn’t have a blanket to lie on or even warm clothes for Dani so Jason wrapped her in his shirt and made a hat out of an extra onesie.