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-> with the band chapter 15

mrs. shepherd

warning: new beginnings and personal growth.

A/N: izzy in the aftermath. i tried to write what i thought thriving with anxiety disorder would be like, based on some progress i’ve seen. major new year 2023 vibes.

word count: 4.1k

Izzy lay down in her bed on her first night back at home with her phone against her stomach, the glass on her bare skin. She could hear her mom close up the store below. But Izzy’s mind was somewhere else.

I got out of a bad situation, Izzy said to herself. That was the most comfortable way for her to look at it: Tara’s overdose, George’s needle stuff, Harry not texting her back and leaving her there in the arena, plus all those horrible things he said. People pleaser, no job, not famous, terrible family, not an artist. Harry clearly didn’t respect her. Izzy left a bad situation. This explanation made sense; it was so easy.

Izzy turned the events of the last 72 hours over and over in her mind.

I put things back the way they’re supposed to be; I wasn’t even supposed to be on that tour. But this explanation was even more sus. Izzy didn’t really believe it as she thought it. It was true that she wasn’t supposed to be there, but the tour was one of the few places she had ever felt at home as herself. It felt more at home to her than the room she lay in now, which felt like it didn’t belong to her anymore. The store was thriving without her there. Her parents didn’t need her as much as she thought. She was unanchored—the feeling was freeing, but lonely.

A guy who was (is?) genuinely in love with me told me about it and I immediately put as much distance between me and him as as I possibly could. Izzy knew that this explanation was true, and it hurt. She believed Harry when he said he was in love with her, despite what he did afterwards. She remembered Harry’s soft eyes and hard hands. Yeah, he was in love with her. She left. He left first—he left me in that arena, Izzy thought. But then you took a bus across the country, a mean voice (but honest) in her head said back. She checked her phone again. Nothing from Harry or Lydia. Every minute that went by chipped away at her belief in Harry’s love for her.

Am I in love with him? Izzy had been punching down this thought since she and Harry had slept together three nights ago. It was too painful to even consider, that someone she was in love with had left her by herself on a concrete floor—and then not sent a single text for three days.

When Izzy woke up the next morning, California and Harry both seemed so far away. She thought about George and the apartment. Was he there now, alone? She thought about Harry and Jess, rehearsing together for the next dates. She checked her phone: still no reply from Harry.

She felt light. Heartbroken, but light. A giant burden was gone: the boulder had been destroyed. Not by fucking Harry, but by telling him about it and having him embrace it rather than run away. Her one major fatal flaw was gone. Now she just had to deal with the rest of them.

Before Izzy could check her messages again, Olivia burst into her room, already dressed for the day.

“This place is so cute! Your mom is amazing, she made us breakfast.”

Izzy remembered her breakfasts on the tour: toast off random trays in hotels, whatever she could scrounge for - usually an orange and some old coffee - at the co-ops. She smiled: this was so much better, and it was different this time, because Olivia was here. And she was different.

Izzy fought the urge to lie in bed and scroll, or open her laptop - the way all her bad days started, streaming time briefly punctured by other people, instead of the other way around, the way the tour had been. Hearing the past tense applied to the tour in her head hurt Izzy: she was thinking about what it had been. But it was still going on, just without her.

When Izzy arrived in the kitchen, the table was laid out as usual: brioche, butter, eggs, and coffee. Very Italian, just like her grandmother had made it. The eggs were an American concession for her dad. Olivia was eating as if she had been starved for months.

“Where’s dad?” Izzy asked, looking around—he wasn’t at the table on his phone, or in the living room watching TV as usual.

“At the store. Opening up for the day. He adjusted his work hours at his job.” Her mom sounded proud.

Izzy grabbed the chair in front of her and sat down quickly—she could have fallen over from shock. Her dad, helping out with the store? While her mom enjoyed a leisurely breakfast?

Between massive gulps of coffee, Olivia explained their plan for the day. Izzy’s mom didn’t blink. There was no covert guilt-trip about working in the store, no complaints about the amount of inventory to count or cleaning to do.

After cleaning up breakfast, she and Olivia took the bus to the local community college lugging giant tote bags stuffed with clothes. It was November, an odd time to enrol, but the college offered some shorter courses that they could start with. The campus was next to big box store on a highway and looked mostly concrete from the outside, with no visible entrance. It looked like a little like the outside of the Riot Hyatt, but there weren’t any rock stars or buzzing roadies here. Looking at the grey facade, Izzy felt a fleeting urge to pick up her phone, dial Lydia, apologize profusely and ask to come back.

Determined, Izzy found a side entrance, and found the admissions office through a pretty courtyard dotted with students reading on benches, with beautiful Japanese maples, bright red, and maple trees dropping bright yellow and orange leaves onto a green lawn. Izzy had only half a plan but she knew she had to do something. The woman behind the desk side-eyed all the gear they were carrying, but Izzy didn’t care. She didn’t want to work at the store anymore, and she wasn’t following a band around any more, staying on hotel and co-op couches. She enrolled in two short courses in something she’d always been interested in: botany, leaving the weekends free. Olivia got the details about a teaching course that started in January—she’d have to apply, but she still had a few days before the deadline. Oh my god, it was so much easier to do things with other people than it was alone, Izzy thought.

Izzy had never walked so much in her home town. It reminded her a bit of all the walking she did in New York, but instead of skyscrapers and stunning parks, they were walking past an endless parade of fast food joints on an ocean of asphalt. Finally, they got to the old town center.

They had to wait a few minutes outside the consignment store before it opened. Izzy’s fanny pack was bursting with brochures and notes about course codes and enrolment fees.

“Should we, like, donate part of it to a charity in his name?” Olivia asked.

“Maybe?” Izzy responded.

“I feel weird,” Olivia said.

“Me too,” Izzy added. “But I don’t need this stuff.”

A girl who looked 23 or 24, their age, dressed in the same mix of vintage that Izzy had picked up in New York, knelt down behind the double glass doors inside and unlocked them.

“I see Gucci,” she said, trying to contain her eagerness. “We may be able to buy some items up front.”

Izzy felt a bit self-conscious laying out all the clothing on the store’s counter: the weird rubber crop top, the black dragon dress, one of the suitcases, and so many other clothes. Everything that didn’t feel like her. A hint of green caught her eye from the bottom of her bag: the green dress had made it into the jumble some how. She took it out and held it up. It was still smeared with a bit of red lipstick from where Lydia had drawn a heart.

“Oh, that’s so cute! We can definitely sell that,” the girl behind the counter said.

“Sorry,” Izzy said. “I think I’m going to keep that one.”

“I can take these and pay you when we sell,” she said, taking a bunch of the clothes. “And I can pay you for these up front: the suit case and the dress. We usually eBay high value items, because they don’t really sell in this neighbourhood.”

“What about the rest?” Izzy asked. There were four clothing items left on the counter, including the rubber crop top that she had hated so much.

“I won’t be able to sell those.” Izzy nodded. Not a surprise. She couldn’t believe how much George had paid for these things that were basically unwearable.

“I can do 3k for the suitcase and 400 for the dress,” the girl said nonchalantly.

“I guess that works,” Izzy said, trying to echo her tone before she lowered the price. Izzy didn’t want to negotiate. It was more money than she had ever seen at one time. They exchanged details and Izzy was surprised that the etransfer happened right then: $3,400 hit her account immediately.

With the money, a new thought punched through: another perspective on what happened. I lied. I lied to everyone. I broke George’s heart. Izzy remembered at that moment everything George had done right and wrong. The apartment, the drugs. Disappearing all the time, pulling her up on that streetlight. It had sometimes been right with him; it had been almost the happiest she had ever been, but he never really knew her. Izzy tried to remember when he had ever asked her a question about herself. And she hid plenty from him, too: it’s not like she had volunteered information. You’re back on your bullshit, living for other people. Harry was right: Izzy had fallen back into that pattern with George. Helping him to hide herself. Izzy remembered the way that Jess had echoed Harry’s words, doubling their sting—it meant that they had talked about her, together. It meant that they were closer than she knew.

Olivia threw her bags on the counter and was able to offload most of it; they took the rest to a Salvation Army, but Izzy kept the green dress. Izzy couldn’t help but giggle at the prospect of the absurd rubber top selling for 99 cents to some teenager. A text from her mom wiped the smile off her face: I have some news for when you get home. Izzy winced—it was like old times, Izzy being independent, and her mom crashing in with some emergency.

“Come on,” Olivia said, “two more stops.”

The first stop was a music store with a series of desperate HELP WANTED signs in the window, obscuring most of the instruments they were trying to sell. WE HAVE BENEFITS! BE SURROUNDED BY THE MAGIC OF MUSIC! They had printed out their resumes. They were going to try old school job hunting to try to speed things up.

“Thank god for this supposed labor shortage,” Olivia said. She looked a bit nervous, the most tense Izzy had ever seen her - Olivia was always so serene. She took a deep breath before going in and Izzy waited outside—she heard a bit of Boyfriends when Olivia swung open the door. Harry was everywhere. It felt like he was haunting her. Memories from just a few nights ago bubbled up all of a sudden and Izzy realized she was in danger of crying outside the store. She could hear Harry’s words on the music: I know I’m not the only one. I’m in love with you. Elisabetta.

Izzy pressed her palms into her eyes and took a deep breath. She picked up her phone and called Meg, spilling out what she was feeling. Reproachful silence was the response from Meg.

“Just say it!” Izzy said. “Whatever you’re going to say, I can take it.”

“He’s probably thinking the same thing,” Meg cautioned.

“He’s the one who left me in that arena! He’s the one that should call.”

“You’re the one with a boyfriend, as far as he knows. He’s probably waiting for you.”

Just then, Izzy heard a squeal from inside. She made a plan to visit Meg soon and they ended the call.

Olivia burst through the door (mercifully, the song was over by then).

“I got it!” Olivia said, throwing her arms around Izzy.

“Of course you did!”

“They’ve been looking for two months and the manager has had to be behind the counter like seven days a week. $14 an hour, four shifts a week.”

“Amazing! You can take classes around that.”

“I could even move out and get a roommate on that.” Olivia exhaled. Relief flooded her face. “Now I can go home. I can go home and say that I have a plan.”

“That’s good,” Izzy said, though she felt her stomach knot at the prospect of losing her.

“In a few days,” Olivia added quickly. “Not today, don’t panic!”

Olivia pulled Izzy toward the plant nursery—she was almost running, fuelled by excitement. Before Izzy could do a deep breath, Olivia shoved her inside.

The nursery was about an hour walk from the store, and Izzy had been only a few times—but it was her favourite place in town, and the only nursery in driving distance. It was an old glass greenhouse surrounded by new plastic ones, all teeming with seedlings, plants, and tiny trees. When she stepped inside she had to take her coat off, it was so humid. She felt herself instantly relax, surrounded by so many green and growing things. The reception desk was empty, so Izzy wandered around a little bit and called out for someone, then wandered back. She could only hear plant leaves rustling and sprinklers turning off and on. Izzy fixed her hair and took her resume out of her bag. She rang the bell on the desk and waited. A few minutes later, a frantic man with huge glasses came flying out of the back greenhouse.

“Please, please, please tell me you’re here about a job,” he said. Izzy could only smile.

…

Izzy had a new job, part time at the nursery. Olivia had a new job, part time at the music store. Izzy would start three short community college courses: Deciduous Care 102: Identifying Health Concerns, Inspection Certification: Plant Quarantine and Nursery Inspection, and History 403: Arcadia—a History of Botany in the Romantic Era. The first two were practical, the last one she couldn’t resist. Izzy always felt calm when she was in nature. And right now, calm was what she needed. When she worked at the store, she had spent so many hours reading job postings and planning some other career, daydreaming about options. She had three career boards on Pinterest, all filled with ideas. But now she just wanted to do something. Daydreaming time was over.

When she got home, Izzy’s mom was waiting at the door with a thick envelope. Izzy had forgotten her ominous text.

“I’m sorry, Izzy,” she said. “Mrs. Shepherd has passed away.” Izzy wrapped her mom in a tight hug and Olivia made them tea upstairs.

“Peacefully, in her sleep,” she added. Izzy apologized to her mom and held both her hands in her own. Her closed up the store for the day, while Olivia retreated to her room.

“Izzy, I’m going to leave you this to read alone. Mrs. Shepherd was very generous—she gave me something, too. And something for Lydia. I might be able to do some repainting and even take a vacation,” she said. “It’ll help with retirement. She was a saver, you know. Well, except when it came to her clothes.” She wiped a tear away. Mrs. Shepherd was one of the most soft-handed people Izzy had ever met. Always kind. But tough when she needed to be. Holding her mom’s hands in her own, Izzy remembered Mrs. Shepherd’s tight grip on the night of that first concert, and her urgent words: Go! Dance! Izzy really owed Mrs. Shepherd everything. Izzy went to her room; she wanted to be alone, to run over all her memories with Mrs. Shepherd in her mind.

She Izzy was left in the silence of her room, wishing Lydia was there with her. She looked at the envelope. It was well worn, dog eared and yellowing at the edges, and still sealed. It was heavy—there was something she couldn’t identify at the bottom. She picked up her phone and texted Lydia, again: I know I was dishonest with your friend and I’m sorry. I’ve told George I’m sorry myself. I miss you and want to talk to you. Please call me.

Her phone rang, still in her hand. Izzy jumped, and scrambled to pick it up.

“Lydia! Finally. Are you okay? You’ve been scaring me—“

“Izzy.” That voice. It wasn’t Lydia.

“Harry,” Izzy replied. She sat down on the floor of her room.

“I’m sorry it took so long for me to call.”

“I’m really happy you called.”

“I wanted to tell you—I wanted to explain something. George and I—“

“I don’t really want to hear about George, Harry.”

“This is something you need to hear—it’s the truth, Izzy. What you said in the arena... I knew I had to tell you. Your story is wrong.”

Izzy waited.

“I met George for the first time when I was recording in London. He was backpacking—not backpacking, on an expensive holiday really—with some of his public school friends. He grew up pretty comfortable, yeah? I heard him play at a bar there, open mic. He had just finished high school. He wanted recording time and Jess knew Elijah, so we said okay. He paid for it, anyway. The studio time.” Harry was talking slowly and steadily, and Izzy couldn’t find a place to cut in. He sounded dark, depressed. This wasn’t the information she was interested in at all: it didn’t answer any of her burning questions, like, where did you go after you left me? Why haven’t you texted me back? “George got into trouble, fast, trying to live like he had in high school and even more than that, like a literal rock star, before the Jess Harper band had even recorded anything. He flew over his band—Jess anyway, before Olivia and Lisa joined—and borrowed so much to record the first album without a studio behind him that his fees on the tour were set up to pay his debts - he’s still paying on that debt. Lot of the money never even hit his bank account. I lent him money, to help out Jess and the band and the rest of it, and I doubt I see that money again. I found this out later, but he got his first contract by telling everyone that he knew me, that we were collaborating. Ryan bought it when he brought him on. Fake it to make it, yeah? It sort of worked. The entire tour, he was somehow spending what he didn’t have again. He wasn’t supposed to be on the plane, in the same hotels. They were scraping. His cards were getting declined toward the end.” It all made sense to Izzy, but it was still so painful for her to hear. This isn’t the truth she wanted. But it felt like something she already knew; as Harry recounted more details about his debt, Izzy remembered the comments from George’s friends at that gala at the Frick in New York. It all lined up perfectly with him going broke and his friends watching his ‘recovery’, or fake recovery. “Yeah, so it’s not because I’m jealous,” Harry concluded, “it’s because he’s an asshole. He’s a user. I know you don’t want my advice, and I might have no right to give you advice, but you shouldn’t try to contact him anymore or check in on him. Same with Lydia. I thought you should just have that information, whether or not you go any further with him.” Then, before she could say anything, Harry hung up. She scrambled to text him: we broke up that night, I’m not with George any more

Then Izzy stopped herself.

It felt like a no, what Harry said: whether or not you go any further with him. Like going further with George was a possibility. How could he think that? She sent the message anyway. Something she heard on TikTok popped into her mind: if he wanted to, he would. And what did Harry mean by “same with Lydia”? Again, criticizing her family. And they couldn’t even go 30 seconds without fighting! They were bickering right at the beginning of the call. And he had known Jess for far longer than she thought—almost 10 years? Izzy threw the phone against her wall, prompting Olivia to knock on her door.

“What was that? Did you open it yet?”

Izzy stood up slowly, shaking her head. Olivia walked over and picked up the envelope, reading the front with Izzy’s full name handwritten in beautiful script.

She opened the envelope, pulling out a two-page handwritten letter in cursive, with some smudges. Behind it, a stack of papers printed out on some type of old machine on thin, receipt-like paper. They read the letter from Mrs. Shepherd together:

“My dearest Elisabetta,

For your entire life, I have watched you and Lydia grow up - beautiful, free girls so very much like your grandmother. I have gone to join her and I hope you will be not too sad - I hope that when reading this you are well and thriving. This is what I want for you, to thrive, and it’s what your grandmother wanted for you to. It’s why she came here, to this country. Before she knew you, she wanted for you. She was always planning for you and thinking about you, even before you were born - even before your mother was born.

This is for you, Elisabetta. It is not for your mother: she is strong and can manage this all without what’s in this letter. I have given her something of her own to help her. This is not for the store. This is just for you and it is not for you to sell. It is for you to go see. You are more like your grandmother than you know.

The town your grandmother and I were born - it is a beautiful place, and at the time, very small, very close. She could not stay after her mistake and she was cast out, and I went with her. My best decision. I went back to visit often as you know, and your grandmother never returned. But her parents were not so bitter toward everyone. I saw them often. They kept something for me and now I give it to you, as it should have been given to you in the first place.

382 Contrada Magaro, Caltagirone, Sicily

I hope you go and find out who you really are.

All my love,

Maria Platania La Rosa Shepherd”

Izzy felt Mrs. Shepherd’s arms wrap around her, like they had when she was a little kid.

She and Olivia looked at each other, Olivia putting her hands on Izzy’s shoulders in excitement. Izzy jangled the envelope: from inside, the sound of metal keys.

“Is it a… safety deposit box?” Olivia asked.

Izzy carefully took out the rest of the papers and turned the envelope upside down, emptying the rest of its contents into her hands: three keys, each the length of her fingers—all heavy, metal, and slightly rusted. Izzy smiled: grandparents she never knew, passing something down to a granddaughter they had never met. How beautiful. Her anger at Harry melted away. He and Jess and George weren’t her entire world.

“I think it’s a house,” Izzy said. She heard Mrs. Shepherd’s words in her mind again: Go! Dance!

Izzy held up the keys. Another possibility of escape dangled in front of her. She could run away again, ditch the courses, ditch the new job, forget the tour, forget everything that happened. She imagined herself on a plane tomorrow morning instead of in the plant nursery, filling in her paperwork for health insurance. It was really tempting. She had the money, after all - the money from selling the clothes. That would at least get her over there. She thought about George: spending and running and spending and running.

Izzy handed over the keys to Olivia, who was looking up the address in the letter on her phone. Izzy picked up her phone and sent yet another message to Lydia: If you need money to come home, or money to go to rehab, or to get established in your own apartment, I have it. I have no problem lending it to you. Or gifting it to you. You’ve given me so much.

As soon as she sent it, her phone rang again. Izzy put it to her ear right away.

“Harry?” Izzy asked hopefully.

Static on the other end.

“Izzy, it’s Lydia.” Lydia’s voice sounded shaky. Izzy was ecstatic and concerned at the same time.

“Thank you so much for calling me back,” Izzy said, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear your voice!” Izzy mouthed to Olivia: it’s Lydia! Olivia gave a tight smile, put the keys back in Izzy’s hand, and left the room.

“Izzy,” Lydia said, steadying her voice. Izzy thought she heard a familiar voice in the background. “I have something to tell you.”

chapter16

#love on tour fic #love on tour au #harry styles fic #harry styles au #harry styles #angst #romance #anxiety feels #personal growth #codependency #angst!harry

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gmanwhore · 1 month

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YEAH LMAO. I think Gimeur would say something stupid like Brioch Winner? More like Brioch Losser or something like that to tease them

Brioch: *heavy breathing accompanied by concrete scraping noise.*

#asks

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menuandprice · 1 year

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Taverna – Kapalua, Maui, HI

Happy Hour at Taverna – Kapalua, Maui, HI

Updated 10/20/2022 by the Maui Happy Hours team

Happy Hour at Taverna Tuesday-Sunday 2pm-4pm

Taverna Happy Hour Food Menu - Ceci – Italian Style Hummus, EVOO, Sea Salt, Cucumbers, Carrots, House Olives, Pizza Flat Bread $11 - Insalata Cesare – Romaine Lettuce, Focaccia Croutons, Roasted Garlic Caesar Dressing, Parmesan $13 - Carnivore Flatbread – Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan $15 - Vegetariano Flatbread – Mushrooms, Peppers, Asparagus, Artichokes, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella $14 - CPD House Burger – 1/2 Pound Beef Patty, House Made Brioche Bun, Roasted Garlic-Bacon Aioli, Gruyere, Caramelized Onions, Bacon, Greens, Balsamic Syrup $16 - Joe’s Chicago Style Hot Dog All Beef Hot Dog, Yellow Mustard, Onions, Tomato, Relish, Celery Salt, House Made Bun $13 Taverna Happy Hour Drink Menu Happy Hour Drink Specials - Margarita, Old Fashioned, or Moscow Mule $10 - 2-Step Well Drinks $7 - Draft Beers $7 - Glass of House White or Red Wine $7 Happy Hour Bottled Beer - Peroni Lager $9 - Modelo Especial $9 - High Noon Vodka Seltzers $10 - Heineken $8 Happy Hour Classic Cocktails - Taverna’s Old Fashioned $18 - Mai Tai $18 Happy Hour Craft Cocktails - A Lil Coy $17 - Peaches & Dreams $17 - Uamahina $17 - Pressed About My Ex(presso) $18 - Attitude Adjustment $16 - Mauka-side $18 Happy Hour Mocktails - Tropicasa $10 - Il Succo Del Giorno $10 —————————— Address: 2000 Village Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761 Phone: (808) 667-CIAO Website About: Opened in March 2016, Taverna Italian Eatery was created as a gathering place. Taverna is a place where longtime residents, returning guests, and first-time visitors can come together to relax, enjoy the beauty of Maui’s mountains and sea, and feed their bodies and spirits with Italian cuisine created from fresh ingredients by an innovative, world-renowned Chef. Pleasing to the eye and the palate; comfortable for the body and yes, the pocketbook; heartening to the soul. Dine at Taverna Maui for fresh house-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and other favorite Italian dishes in their lovely and rustic open-air restaurant. Or enjoy a meal on the spacious patio with views extending across the greens to the ocean, and up into Mauna Kahalawai, the West Maui Mountains. At night, flickering tiki torches lend a tropical glow to the warm darkness as you linger over a favorite beverage…maybe a refreshing craft cocktail, one of the locally brewed cold beers on tap, or a glass of Italian wine. Taverna’s sleek, concrete-top bar offers 32 bar chairs and is the perfect place to meet a friend or watch the game. Welcoming, delicious and comfortable any time of day—from the heart of Kapalua, you are bound to enjoy your dining experience at Taverna.

According to these Taverna Maui patrons:

“Great dinner at Taverna. Wonderful setting and outstanding service staff. Food was great. A must when in Maui.”Robert K., October 2022 “Great food, very attentive service, and a cozy modern atmosphere. Great views of the golf course and the mountain ranges in the distance.”Kyle F., September 2022 “Best Italian place in Maui—heck, all of Hawai’i. Food was absolutely delicious and filling. Wine list is as good as it gets, with very honest prices. Service is the best. Alex was our server and he was awesome, very knowledgeable and friendly! Would recommend Taverna to anyone looking for a good place to eat and hangout. Great atmosphere and ambiance, too.”Jose M., October 2022 “Loved everything I tried! The carbonara was my favorite with the caprese salad to start. The bread olive oil and sea salt combo that came out right away was wonderful. I also tried some of the lasagna which was good and the pesto lumache which was definitely my second favorite! Great selection of wines, we ended up with a bottle of the Nebbiolo and the sauv blanc. Great choices

Great service, great views of the mountains and pretty rainbows. Rained a lot but was a pretty setting.”Jackie G., September 2022 “Excellent spot – great pizza and pasta and just a wonderful place to visit

Do try the cocktails as well!”Surbhi D., September 2022 “Julie was amazing! Every time we come to Maui we come to Taverna! The bartender was on point (we are picky about Old Fashioneds) and our server Julie was incredible! We will be back!”Lisa A., September 2022 Happy Hour at Taverna is daily from 2pm-4pm and features discounted food, beer, wine, and cocktails.

Want to make a comment or ask a question? Are you a fan of this business? Tell us in the comments below.

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sneakydragon · 3 years

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Sneaky Dragon Listening Party - Ep. 66

Hello, partygoers!

Welcome to the 66th episode of your favourite “they play music and then talk about it” podcast!

This bi-week we tackle side two of listener Trevor Lynn’s mixtape. We hear some sunshine pop, sweet demos, religious metaphors, psych lite, a woulda, coulda, shoulda band, down under post punk, and folk weirdos.

So join us in the rumpus room where we’re listening to:

The Sundowners – “Edge of Love” – Captain Nemo, 1968 – 12:12

Michael Fennelly – “Iris Please” – Love Can Change Everything (Demos 1967-1972), 2013 – 43:31

Joan As Police Woman – “Holy City” – The Classic, 2014 – 55:17

Turquoise – “Tales of Flossie Fillett” – Decca Records single b-side to “53 Summer Street”, 1968 – 1:05:45

Metronomy – “Trouble” – The English Riviera, 2011 – 1:27:34

Dwight Twilley – “Baby’s Got the Blues Again” – Tulsa, 1999 – 1:33:49

Rolling Blackouts CF – “French Press” – The French Press EP, 2017 – 2:11:49

Teenage Fanclub – “Baby Lee” – Shadows, 2010 – 2:20:07

Richard Dawson – “Ogre” – Peasant, 2017 – 2:31:19

Also spinning on the old Victrola:

The Sundowners – “Ring Out Wild Bells” – Filmways Records b/w “When the Sun Goes Down”, 1966 – 21:55

The Sundowners – “Always You (Single version)” – Decca Records b/w “Dear Undecided”, 1967 – 33:01

Crabby Appleton – “The Other Side” – Crabby Appleton, 1970 – 50:38

The Brood – “Wrong Way” – The Further Adventures of Flossie Fillet, 2006 – 1:18:33

The Dwight Twilley Band – “You Were So Warm” – Shelter Records b/w “Sincerely”, 1976 – 1:39:49

The Dwight Twilley Band – “Sleeping“ – Twilley Don’t Mind, 1977 – 1:48:08

Phil Seymour – “Then We Go Up” – The Prince of Power Pop, 2017 [originally appeared on Seymour’s self-titled debut album in 1980] – 1:56:55

Dwight Twilley – “Out of My Hands” – Twilley, 1979 – 2:00:11

Concrete Brioche – “Newcastle”, 2015

Thanks for listening.

If you would like to hear Trevor Lynn’s mixtape without David’s endless yammering, you might follow this link!

If you enjoyed Trevor Lynn’s song, “Newcastle”, you can find his other songs on Soundcloud!

Please check out our fellow party goer Ed Draganski’s funtastic designs for show mascot Peanut Duck and, while you’re there, buy a shirt!

https://media.blubrry.com/sneakydragon/p/content.blubrry.com/sneakydragon/Sneaky_Dragon_Listening_Party_66.mp3

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Sneaky Dragon Listening Party – Ep. 66 was originally published on Sneaky Dragon

#Concrete Brioche #Crabby Appleton #Dwight Twilley #Joan as Police Woman #Metronomy #Michael Fennelly #Phil Seymour #Richard Dawson #Rolling Blackouts CF #Teenage Fanclub #The Brood #The Dwight Twilley Band #The Sundowners #Turquoise

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chronicallylatetotheparty · 2 years

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Float Like A Butterfly... Ch. 8: As It Should Be?

Summary: An unexpected revelation.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Father hasn't said anything so I don't think I can go out," Adrien stated gloomily, shoulders drooping.

"Dude, that sucks!" Nino scowled through the screen like he was contemplating giving Gabriel a piece of his mind. "... Waddya mean? Did he, like, ignore you?"

Adrien flopped onto his bed, holding the phone over him. "That implies he actually met with me," Adrien scoffed. "No, I asked Nathalie."

"Every time," Nino muttered, glaring past Adrien at the absent so-called parent. Shaking his head, Nino's expression softened as he refocused on Adrien. "We could video chat like we're doing now? Won't be the same as you being there but it's something."

Adrien smiled at Nino's thoughtfulness. "That sounds-"

Terrible.

Expression falling, Adrien pressed his lips together. Spending any time at all with his friends was always great. But... But he could be there! With them! Having fun instead of watching them have fun!

Adrien set his jaw and furrowed his brow. "Y'know what? No. I'll meet you guys at Alya's."

"You gonna sneak out!?" Nino leaned into the camera, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Plausible deniability!" Adrien countered, trying to keep his twitching lips from morphing into a smile.

Vibrating in place, Nino's grin got even bigger. "Ooh! Whatever you say, bro. See ya there!"

Ending the call, Adrien leapt to his feet. "C'mon, Pollen! We're going to see my friends!" Adrien took out the Bee's comb and used it to anchor his ponytail.

Finishing the last of her brioche, Pollen dabbed at her mouth with a mini handkerchief.

Adrien resisted the urge to comment on how adorable she looked. "So cute," he whispered. Dang it.

Zipping toward him once she was done, Pollen dipped in a bow. "Alya, Nino and Marinette, yes?"

Brightening in excitement, Adrien nodded. "We're all going to Alya's place! I've never been but Nino and Marinette have gone tons of times!"

Pollen smiled softly as Adrien practically bounced on his feet. Hands animatedly flowing with his words.

"This'll be the third, no fourth, time I've been invited to a friend's house!" Adrien grinned. "I haven't hung out with them since..." He looked down, smile slipping hands falling to his side. "Since..."

"... Well, then we better make this time count," Pollen prompted gently. "Let's go have fun!"

"Yeah." Adrien shook his head and set his jaw. "Yeah! Pollen, transforme-moi!"

--------------

Aristos detransformed as he landed in a nearby alley, hanging back until his friend's arrived. Pollen ooh-ing at the Cesaire's apartment building. Adrien's foot tapping against the concrete.

"You mentioned that Alya runs the preeminent information network on superheroes in all of Paris?" Pollen asked.

Adrien felt a twinge in his chest at the mention of the Ladyblog but Pollen's curious eyes soothed it. "That's a good way to put it. Alya gets the best videos," Adrien smiled fondly, "She's a little too cavalier about rushing into danger though."

"How industrious," Pollen praised. "And Alya is courting Nino, your bond brother, correct?"

Adrien hid a giggle behind his hand. "I wouldn't call it 'courting' but yeah. Nino's the coolest! He always has my back and tries to include me in stuff. Like now, actually."

Catching Adrien's giggles, Pollen smiled. Watching Adrien light up as he spoke about his friends was definitely a highlight to being outside the Box. "And Marinette?"

"Oh, she's so thoughtful and compassionate and I really admire her for standing up for others." Adrien rubbed the back of his head. "I'm, so lucky to have them."

Pollen floated a bit closer to him. "I'm sure they're lucky to have you too, Adrien."

Adrien's smile softened at her words, ducking his head a bit. Eyes flickering to the alley's entrance he spotted an unmistakable red cap. "They're here! C'mon, Pollen!"

Zipping into his pocket Pollen peaked out as Adrien ran towards the entrance.

"Bro, you made it!" Nino offered his fist in greeting.

"Wouldn't miss hanging out with all of you, dude!" Adrien bumped it with a grin.

"Adrien! I'm-" Marinette cleared her throat. "Happy you could come."

"Right!?" Nino wrapped an arm around Adrien's shoulders. "It's been forever, dude."

Pollen felt Adrien lean into the contact as his heart sped up, just a bit.

"Yeah... Missed you guys." Adrien smiled softly.

Nino grinned. "C'mon, I wanna see if we can beat Alya and Mari's high score!"

In the end Adrien and Nino held the top spot just long enough for Alya and Nino to take it back. Adrien may have had more practice at dance games but that was by himself. Playing as a team wasn't the same. It was much more fun!

Sneaking a piece of Mme. Cesaire's cooking to Pollen when no one was looking, Adrien held a finger to his lips.

Giggling silently, Pollen nodded as she accepted the treat.

"They're so in sync," Marinette commented as Alya and Nino mirrored each other's dance moves.

"You're right," Adrien agreed, smiling fondly. "Someday I hope I'll find someone I can share everything with...like they... do..." A pressure bloomed in his chest, expression falling as Adrien gripped his arm with his other hand.

Marinette's brow furrowed as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Adrien, you okay?"

"Big finish, here we go!" Nino flourished his arms over his head and stood on one tiptoe. "Yeah!"

Alya laughed at her boyfriend's pose. Nino grinning at the sound.

"Ah, shoot! Did I miss the ballet?" A mocking voice called from the entryway. Alya's older sister stood there with a bag slung over her shoulder and boxing helmet still on her head.

"Nora? Is your match over already?" Alya asked, surprised.

Adrien tried to shake off his melancholy. It was the first time he met Nora, or, uh, Anansi, after all. But still he could only focus on every other word. Like Nora being a professional boxer. That was cool. Adrien wondered how different that was from being a professional fencer. Besides the level of injury, obviously. Maybe he should ask her-

"-can go with Model Boy if they want but you're staying here! It's way too dangerous!" Nora declared.

Wait, what? Adrien's mind sprang back to the present.

"But Nora, I mean, Anansi. You can't do that!" Marinette protested.

Okay, if Marinette was against the idea it was probably bad.

"Yeah, no way, dude! We're not going without Alya!" Nino crossed his arms.

Oh, they were talking about going to the Place de la Concorde! Adrien smiled to himself for piecing it together. Then frowned as he realized Nora -Anansi- didn't want Alya to go with them.

"Listen, I appreciate you worrying about me and all," Alya began reasonably. "But I'm not a little girl anymore. Besides, Maman and Papa are totally cool with it!"

Nora tsk, tsk, tsk-ed at her sister's argument. "There have been way too many akumatized peeps in Paris these last few weeks. Look how many times you've been in direct danger! So you're staying home, safe and sound, period."

"That's so ridiculous! The twins were akumatized right here at home!" Alya pointed out.

"Well, that would've never happened on my watch! I won't let anybody mess with my family!" Nora boasted, slamming a fist into her palm.

Alya gave her a look. "You mean like the other day at the square?"

Adrien remembered hearing about the M. Banana incident. Oh, he'd needed that laugh!

"Uh, er, how was I supposed to know it was just some stupid costume? And besides," Nora deflected, "what would happen if the Ferris wheel stopped working 'cause some akumatized dude refused to pay his fare? Once you flyweights can actually defend yourselves like me-" Nora released a rapid series of attacks to her hypothetical opponent, "-we'll talk about it."

"It doesn't matter because Ladybug and Ch- Ladybug would save us if there were any problems!" Marinette piped up.

"And she'd have Aristos' help!" Adrien felt pink tinting his cheeks for including himself but he wasn't wrong.

"Oh, yeah? And what are you gonna do if that pair of bugs gets hit with bug spray? What'll you do then?" Nora challenged.

Nino stepped up. "I can protect Alya if I have to!"

Nora laughed. "Yeah? And how exactly are you planning to defeat the villain? A dance off?"

"I-" Nino's brow furrowed, eyes downcast. "I'd do anything to protect Alya."

Alya looked at her boyfriend. Not quite able to place the feeling Nino's statement inspired in her chest.

Adrien placed a hand on Nino's shoulder. "And besides, he's got me backing him up!"

"You?" Nora scoffed. "What's a baby handed pretty boy like you gonna do?"

"Thank you," Adrien was oddly pleased Alya's sister thought he was pretty.

Nora's brow furrowed for some reason.

Pressing on, Adrien squared his shoulders and pointed a thumb at his chest. "I've been fencing since I was three and I'm the number one-" Number two but Nora didn't need to know that. "-fencer at the best school in Paris."

"Oh, really?" Nora leaned down so her nose was mere centimeters from Adrien's.

Suddenly very aware of his own heartbeat Adrien refused to break eye contact.

"...Heh. Alright, Alya can go with you."

Adrien blinked, a smile blooming on his face. "Really? That's-"

"But I'm going with you."

------------------

Alya smiled tightly as Nora scanned the Ferris wheel for threats.

"Are you sure it's okay that she came along?" Adrien asked with a frown.

"Yup! No problem. Why would it bother me that my older sister feels like she has to chaperone me?"

Adrien patted her on the back in sympathy.

Alya sighed. "Still, thank you. It's not easy changing Nora's mind, believe me."

Rubbing the back of his head, Adrien's smile softened. "I had to back up my bro."

They glanced behind them were Marinette was making progress with a slightly sulky Nino.

"Besides, I... know what it's like not being allowed out."

Alya bumped shoulders with Adrien and gave him a grin. "Good thing we have you then."

Eyes widening, Adrien averted his gaze. Suddenly warm and fuzzy all over. "Yeah-" he grinned, "-guess so."

---------------

"I can't believe you got akumatized over this!" Alya exclaimed, masking the tremor in her voice with annoyance. Anansi, currently a badass looking spider, unfortunately webbed up the Ferris wheel's workings so she could more easily grab the glass bubble they were trapped in.

"Told ya it was dangerous, little sis!" Anansi leapt from the wheel to the ground-

"WHOA!"

-and grabbed Alya from inside.

"Alya!" Nino grabbed for her but his hand closed around empty air.

"Thought you said you could protect everybody, Blondie!" Anansi called down from her perch. "Come and get her if y'all aren't flyweights!"

"No no no no!" Nino bolted after the akuma, dodging the webs she shot back.

"Nino!" Adrien and Marinette called in unison.

"I'm not a flyweight and I don't need your help to prove it!"

Adrien stared after him as Nino crawled over cars to avoid the webs. Hand outstretched...

"Adrien we should find somewhere to hide!"

Shaking his head, Adrien looked at Marinette. "Right... Probably better if we go separately."

"We don't have to- I mean! Yes, absolutely! It's... safer that way."

I don't need your help.

Shut up! Adrien ran as his heart was squeezed in a vice. He didn't mean it like that!

I don't need your help.

Finding a secluded corner, Adrien paused and took deep breaths.

I don't need your help.

Pollen flew out of his pocket and hovered uncertainly.

Exhaling shakily, Adrien glanced up at her. "That is the upteenth time... Hawkmoth has ruined my day."

"... Then we should educate him on how valuable a king's time can be, Adrien."

Adrien wiped at his eyes, which narrowed dangerously. "Hell, yeah. Pollen, transforme-moi!"

---------------

Ladybug swung down and transformed back into Marinette. Practically running towards Master Fu's door. Worry Nino might do something foolish gnawing at her insides. Aristos would come, Marinette knew he would, but he couldn't purify the akuma without her.

And that meant, she knocked loudly on the door, that she had to hurry!

The Miracle Box was barely open before she was reaching for his ring again.

"Marinette."

Something in Master Fu's voice made her hesitate.

Clearing his throat, the Guardian continued. "This is the fifth time in a row you've chosen the Black Cat Miraculous."

"I know, Master. But it's the only one that stands out! All the other Miraculous blur together but Chat's- I mean, the ring, calls to me... Because I know that he should still be by my side." Marinette gave him a pleading look.

Master Fu sighed, looking away. "Be careful, Ladybug."

Face falling, Marinette nodded. "I will, Master." And took her partner's ring from the Miracle Box for the last time.

--------------

Nino was being an idiot. He knew that. Letting an akumatized villain bait him into confronting her head on? Total noob move.

Still. Turning back never crossed his mind. Nino had always been the protective type... Granted his protection generally took the form of staving off Adrien's loneliness as much as he could or reminding his little brother to share his toys.

But still! Nora wasn't wrong. Nino did feel like he could be doing... more.

Hence him 'fighting' Anansi with a random pipe he found lying around.

"Babe, your doing great but I really think you should let the heroes handle this one!" Alya called down from the web Anansi had spun between the pillars of the Arc de Triomphe.

Nino swung again as Anansi easily evaded his attacks. "Everything's fine!"

"Psh! You haven't even landed a hit!"

As soon as the taunt left Anansi's lips Nino connected with her face. His pleased expression fading as she turned her glare on him.

"... Heh."

Nino was sure his screams could be heard in the next arrondissement as he sailed through the air.

"Gotcha!"

The sound of whirring preceded Nino's sudden shift in direction. Looking up from the strong arms keeping him from going splat he saw yellow. "Aristos!"

"Sorry I'm late!" The Bee grinned. "A naughty spider trapped a buncha people on a Ferris wheel!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Anansi launched a strand of webbing at the Bee; latching onto his ankle.

"Whoa!" Aristos curled around Nino as Anansi pulled them to the ground. Taking the brunt of the impact.

"You're just a little bug trapped in my web!" Anansi leapt forward with her right arms cocked back.

Without thinking, Aristos rolled over his best friend, back to Anansi. Nino's eyes widening as he realized what was about to happen.

"NO!"

Anansi was yanked backwards mid leap. Landing awkwardly as Ladybug reeled in her yo-yo, which was tied around two of Anansi's right arms.

"Not this time!" Ladybug called.

Turning on the ball of her feet Anansi rushed towards the hero. "Finally! You show up!" Her fists crack the asphalt where Ladybug was just standing.

Leaping over her opponent's long limbs Ladybug set her foot against Anansi's back. Taking the opportunity to tie her yo-yo around a left arm she pulled tight.

"Hey! Let go!" Anansi struggled against her restraints, muscles straining.

Ladybug's grip slipping. "Aristos now!"

"Venom!" Aristos launched himself forward.

Right as Anansi wrenched Ladybug off her feet.

Aristos had just enough time to twist his top away from Ladybug as they collided in midair. Top spinning away from him as a black blur did the same from her. Landing roughly in a tangle of limbs.

Anansi loomed over them with a triumphant grin. "Ha! Got ya now you flywei-"

There was a clanging sound as Nino got his second swing in. The metal pipe bending in the middle where he struck Anansi. Who slowly turned to face him. Glaring murder. An I'm-totally-gonna-die grin on his face.

But before Anansi could literally tear him apart Ladybug leapt onto the tall supervillain's back and wrapped her arms around Anansi's head. "Get him outa here!"

The breath was knocked out of Nino as Aristos tackled him over his shoulder none too gently and bolted.

"Get off!" Anansi pulled Ladybug off and hurled her away.

Only for Ladybug to wrap her yo-yo onto a nearby lamp post and use her momentum to swing herself into a flying kick.

----------------

"Um, dude, I think we're safe now."

"Right!"

"... You can put me down now, dude."

"R-right!" Adrien put Nino back on his own two feet and awkwardly gave him a once over. There was a beeping sound from his comb. "You seem okay..."

Brow furrowing slightly, Nino pulled out a small, octagonal, black box. "Yeah, but Ladybug dropped this when Anansi sent you two crashin' into each other. IDK what it is but..."

Adrien stared at the Miraculous box in his hands, mouth parting in a silent exclamation. He- He knew those symbols.

"Uh, dude?"

Reverently taking the box Adrien took a deep breath and opened the lid.

A blinding flash of green light shot out and materialized into a familiar face.

"Well, it's about time!" Plagg said.

"Plagg!" Adrien reached out and cradled the tiny god in his palms. "I- Um..." He rubbed the back of his head. "I'm glad to see you again."

"Me too, kid." Plagg zoomed to Adrien's chest to give him a hug.

Nino gapped at them as the realization that Aristos was Chat Noir clicked.

"... Ahem, well enough of that mushy stuff. We've got an akuma to catch!"

Wiping at his eyes, Adrien nodded. "You said it!" A spark of mischief lit up his face. "Hey. Hey! Let's have Nino use the ring!"

Nino shook his head to clear it. "Say what now?"

"Someone has to use it and it can't be me! We have to give you back after." This last part Adrien directed at Plagg.

"... Well, we don't have to."

Aristos snorted. "Tempting as that is, Ladybug has enough on her plate without losing half of the most powerful Miraculous."

"Bit late for that," Plagg snickered.

"Be nice."

"I'm always nice!"

"Sure you are." Adrien pet Plagg's head with a fond smile.

"Wait... You mean... I'm going to be Chat Noir!?" Nino pointed at himself in disbelief. "He's- I mean, you're, my favorite hero dude! It sucked when you disappeared. Man, I- Hey, you alright?"

"Yup!" Aristos squeaked, blinking back tears that had no business coming this easily damnit! "Totally fine!" Clearing his throat, Adrien straightened his shoulders and offered the Black Cat Miraculous to his best friend. Another beep sounding from his Miraculous. "What about it? Wanna help us kick some butterfly butt?"

Nino grinned as he accepted the ring. "Hell yeah!"

---------------

"Oh, Teacher's Pet has some backbone!" Anansi shot out webs in rapid succession.

Ladybug sidestepping them as she retreated. Anansi was too strong to take on directly; she really hoped Aristos would get there soon so she could tag out.

"Is that all you got?" Ladybug bluffed.

Smirking, Anansi grabbed a nearby car and threw it at the Bug.

Sliding underneath it Ladybug hooked her yo-yo around the vehicle and spun it back at Anansi.

The supervillain easily dodging as she raced toward Ladybug.

Bringing her yo-yo up as a shield Ladybug used her smaller size and greater maneuverability to evade Anansi's punches. Even with all the arms she had.

"Hold still!" Anansi demanded as her swings got more precise.

Taking a risk, Ladybug leapt back. "Lucky Charm!"

Anansi aimed three fists downward and struck the ground. Concrete cracking as the force of impact knocked Ladybug off her feet.

"Ugh, ow. Hey!" Ladybug protested as she was hoisted by her ankle. The world turning upside down as her Lucky Charm was kicked away.

"I said-" Anansi pulled her arm back. "Hold-" Aimed up. "Still!" And pitched Ladybug into her web next to Alya.

Squeezing her eyes shut as the web shook with the impact, Alya popped one eye open. "... This can't be good."

"Ha! Gotcha! Now there's only one left!" Anansi hit her fists into her palms in anticipation.

"Well aren't you buzzing with confidence," Aristos called from atop a lamppost.

Head whirling to the sound of his voice the supervillain zeroed in on the hero. "If Teacher's Pet over there didn't stand a chance against me what makes you think you do, Bumblebee?"

"What's the matter? Scared?"

Taking the bait Anansi charged at him.

"At least he's got his top again," Alya noted.

Just as a new face showed up.

"Uh, hey girls." The new guy balanced on a staff that extended all the way to the ground. Wearing a mostly black costume with green gauntlets and boots that went up to his elbows and knees. A hoody with cat ears framing a face covered by green tinted goggles. The Black Cat symbol emblazoned on his chest.

Ladybug's face drained of color as her eyes widened. Unable to pull her gaze away as her fingers clenched into fists.

"Alright dude- er, Ladybug."

Alya gave the cat an inquisitive look.

"Get ready to drop!" Wrapping an arm around Alya's shoulders he held the other above Anansi's web. "Cataclysm!"

Ladybug fell on her feet as the web turned to dust. The unknown Black Cat descending with a tight grip on Alya. Forcing her thoughts to move, Ladybug shook her head. "We have to help Aristos."

"Uh, I think he's done du- Ladybug." The Black Cat pointed at Anansi in a frozen position on the ground.

She blinked. "Aristos?"

"Here!"

Ladybug spotted his hand waving from beneath the akuma villain.

"A little help?"

Ladybug rolled the frozen Anansi over and gave Aristos a hand up.

"Thanks. That was a close call-"

Ladybug's grip tightened involuntarily. "W-why does he have that?"

Aristos followed Ladybug's gaze to see Alya asking for Nino's superhero name. Who was puzzling out how to break Anansi's helmet without Cataclysm.

"That's Chat's ring!"

Cruel warmth panged in Adrien's chest. Chat's ring... "Easy, Ladybug." Aristos placed a gentle hand over her own. "He's gonna hand it over-"

Ladybug's earrings beeped. "Like you did?"

Aristos stepped back, breaking contact, as he scowled. "Lucky for you he's not me then."

Wincing, Ladybug tried to backtrack. "I didn't mean-"

"Sure, sure."

"It's just... The Black Cat Miraculous is the most dangerous one of all. If the wrong person is chosen to wield it..."

"I think I know my Miraculous better than you, tha-" Adrien snapped his jaw shut.

A vice gripped Marinette's heart. "... Your Miraculous?"

Aristos backed away as blood drained from his face. "Slip of the tongue." He pulled out his top, ready to launch himself away.

"Chat wait!" Ladybug reached for him but her fingers stopped just shy of his suit. Her earrings giving out another beep.

Chat Noir stood stock still as his Miraculous echoed hers.

"Wait! Just... wait."

Adrien's shoulders hunched as he kept his eyes on his shoes.

Ladybug's chest felt like it would choke the words down. But she swallowed down the lump in her throat instead and forced them out. "Are- Are you okay?"

Hand going to the back of his neck Adrien glanced up at her. "I'm... doing better."

"Come back."

He jerked ramrod straight.

"Please, come back."

The beeping became more insistent.

"I'll... Think about it."

And then he was gone and Marinette had to catch a quickly tossed Lucky Charm, a Bee comb, so she could call down Miraculous Ladybug.

-----------------

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Adrien shoved the voice down as he made his way to Nino's. A question turning in Adrien's head. Aristos landed at his open window silently.

"Okay, so how is this gonna work, little dude?" Nino watched in fascination as the kwami ate triple it's size in cheese without gaining an once.

"Eh, beats me. Don't know what she's thinking but Ladybug always has a plan," Plagg said before swallowing another wedge.

"O-kay?" Nino didn't quite follow but it looked like Plagg was going to stay a while. "Make yourself at home?"

"Trust me, he'll do that whether you like it or not," Aristos announced himself.

Nino jerked as he spun around. "Holy sh- You can't sneak up on a dude like that!"

"Sorry." Adrien gave a rueful smile as he rubbed the back of his neck.

The movement drawing Nino's attention for reasons he couldn't quite place.

"So she left the Miraculous with you?"

"Yeah, how did-"

Aristos pointed at the Miraculous on Nino's finger.

He blinked. "Oh yeah." Nino pulled it off and offered it to Adrien. "Dudette said to give this back to ya. Said it belonged to you anyway."

Adrien stared, eyes wide, as his heart hammered against his chest. Uncomprehending despite the simplicity of Nino's statement. Just like that? Ladybug wasn't one to put something like this in another's hands. Wasn't one to bend the rules more than necessary. She was too stubborn for that. But she had. For him. For him Ladybug had said fuck the rules.

Nino shifted awkwardly on his feet as Aristos just stood there.

"A-" Plagg hiccupped green bubbles. "Chat Noir?"

"...Fuck the rules." Aristos pulled his comb out, letting his transformation drop to reveal Adrien once the light faded.

Nino's jaw dropped.

Adrien's hand going back to rubbing his neck. Not quite looking at his best friend.

Pollen gave an encouraging nod which Plagg quickly copied.

"Um, hi?"

"...Bro." Nino's shock melted as his lips began to tremble. "Bro." Stepping forward, Nino placed a hand on both of Adrien's shoulders. Squeezing hard as his red eyes watered. "Bro." Nino pulled Adrien into a tight hug.

Adrien's arms returning the embrace, his surprise at the contact fading. Burying his head into Nino's shoulder as his face burned with it's own tears. Adrien's legs giving out as he sagged against his best friend. Body trembling as he took slow, shaky breaths.

"I got you," Nino promised, holding firm. "I got you."

#adrien agreste #bee!adrien #ml au #ml fanfic #nino lahiffe #marinette dupain cheng #plagg #float like a butterfly #alya cesaire #ml #miraculous ladybug #canon divergence #canon divergent au

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felix21im · 3 years

Text

"Ice Cold", a Leon Kennedy x reader fanfiction

As an Art and Design student all you want to do is just knuckle down and finish that one goddamn piece you've been working on for months. Too bad your time is constantly stolen by your Waiter job with minimal pay, but hey, at least the tips are good if you unbutton your shirt that one more time.

Masterlist

Chapter 8: Alone

You woke up early the next morning. The sun shone through the big window next to your bed and warmed your skin. You slowly opened your eyes and looked over to Leon. His breathing was calm so you figured he was still sleeping. You made sure to get up quietly, making sure not to wake Leon up.

You went to the bathroom to have a quick shower and change into something nice to wear. Since the weather was good you chose a white polo shirt and some shorts. After brushing your teeth and styling your hair you went back to the bedroom and sat down on Leon‘s side. You brushed some hair out of his face and placed a kiss on his forehead. You felt him move and he slowly opened his eyes. “Good morning, Sleepy. I hope you don't mind me waking you up.” Leon covered his eyes with his arms to prevent the sun from shining in his face. He didn't answer you but instead grabbed your wrist and pulled you into his arms. You chuckled lightly as he hid his head in your chest, reminding you of a little kid. You two lay there for a few more minutes before you sat up again next to him. “Come on now, Leon. You wanted to go out to eat breakfast, right? So get up!” You turned around to see him lying on his stomach and hiding under the blanket. You shook your head and laughed as you began pushing him out of the bed until the thud of him falling on the floor was heard, followed by subtle laughter. Moments later Leon lay on the ground beside the bed looking as tired as ever. You were laughing too hard so you didn't even hear him standing up and grabbing a pillow from the bed. The next thing you felt was the soft cushion hitting your face, stopping your laughing. You looked at Leon surprised and opened your mouth to say something but before you had the chance to, another pillow was thrown into your direction. You stood up from the bed and grabbed the two pillows Leon threw at you before. Instead of throwing them at him though, you ran around the bed and started hitting Leon with them. Leon was able to take one of the pillows out of your hand and tried defending himself. At some point you two were laughing too hard and didn't have the strength to continue fighting anymore. You lay on the bed together, legs hanging from the side. You turned and looked at Leon who was now also looking at you. “I love you, Leon.” You said with a smile on your face without even thinking twice about it. Leon looked at you surprised before saying it back after a short moment. He kissed you on the cheek before finally standing up and going to the bathroom. You let out a deep sigh as he closed the door behind him and closed your eyes for a second. You then decided to clean up the mess the two of you created and put the pillows and blanket into the bed again. After you were done you grabbed your phone and fixed your hair again. You didn't have to wait long before Leon came out of the bathroom. He was wearing some dark jeans and a light blue button up. His hair was also looking as perfect as ever, no signs of the pillow fight from before. You grinned at him as you stood up.

“Ready to leave, Buttercup?” He asked as he grabbed his wallet and his fancy sunglasses. You nodded as you put on some sneakers and put your phone in your pocket.

You realized you didn't bring sunglasses so you looked at Leon and pointed at his pair. “You don't have another pair of sunglasses by any chance, do you?”

Leon let out a small laugh and shook his head. “You didn't bring your own? Give me a second, I think I actually have another pair.” He turned around and went over to his suitcase to look for them. A few minutes later he came back to you and handed you some fancy looking round sunglasses. You thanked him as you put them on and opened the door. You two left the room together and walked the long hallway to the front door.

As you left the building the morning sun was already hot and warmed your skin. You took a deep breath as you looked around the front yard.

Your face went back to Leon as you heard him unwrapping a piece of paper. As it turns out it was a map of the city, which made you laugh. “A map? Really Leon? You know we both have working phones, right? If you wanna go somewhere I can just look it up online.”

You went to grab your phone out of your pocket but Leon stopped you. “I want this day to be phone free. I just want to enjoy the time with you. And also using this map feels more like a vacation, don't you think?”

You let out a small laugh again as you nodded and put your phone back. “Alright, whatever you say, Mr. Kennedy.” Leon also smiled now and soon after began walking into one direction. You quickly followed and put your hand in his to keep up.

Leon led you through the streets and as the day started more and more people filled the streets around you. He ended up leading you to a small bakery and brought you to a small table outside. It felt like you had been walking for days when realistically it was only a few hours. “Perhaps some breakfast will help you walk a bit faster?” Leon chuckled as he poked at your slow walking pace.

You rolled your eyes as you sat down at one of the tables outside of the bakery. “Not all of us are superstar athletes, Leon.” He still continued his laugh as he sat down too. “Oooo! Pastries!” You got excited at the selection of foods available, back home it would always be quickly bought junk food as neither you nor your roommate had time to cook.

“You like pastry?” Leon looked up from the menu. “You could have just asked Angel if that's what you ever wanted, we would have bought it specifically for you.”

Your face went hot from the embarrassment. “Oh please no, I’m honestly so grateful when Angel cooks for me, I don't want her to think I’m taking advantage by ordering something specific…”

“How about I ask then?” He smirked as he then looked back down at the menu. “I think I'm going to go for the brioche and some coffee.” He announced as he then tucked his menu back to where he found it.

You smiled at him as you began to read out what you were struggling to pick from. "I’m not sure if I want to go with the pain au chocolat or the cornetto…”

“Well the first one is actually French so that depends on if you want to stick to italian foods or not, but personally…” He scratched the back of his head. “I think both.”

“Both?” You flurried your eyebrows. “I’m not that hungry Leon, a-and these are expensive! Twelve euros for a coffee?!” You whisper-shouted for the last part, sure they were extortionate prices but maybe it was worth it?

“Really, Buttercup? You do realise that money isn’t an issue, right?” He smirked.

“I just feel guilty spending your money, that’s all..”

“Trust me, Buttercup. I like seeing yo-”

“Buongiorno!” A small woman exited the front of the bakery with a notepad and a pen in her hand. “What can I get for the two of you?” She asked as she looked at Leon so he went first.

“Would I be able to get the brioche and a shot of espresso?” He asked politely as he gave her his million dollar smile.

“And for the compagno?” She asked as she wrote down Leon’s order.

Just as you were about to state your order Leon did it for you. “They’ll have both the pain au chocolat and the cornetto, with a moka coffee please.” Leon then turned his head to smile at you as you chuckled and smiled back. The waitress nodded her head and then went back into the bakery, preparing your food. “Now you get to try them both.”

“I have had them both before, you know…” You shook your head at him.

“Oh… Well now you get to try them… Italian style!” He smiled again as he dramatically waved his hands, emphasising the ‘Italian style.’ You simply rolled your eyes at him and smiled. The two of you waited quite a while for your food but it didn't annoy either of you as it simply meant that it was being made fresh for you, besides it also gave you time to look at the view of both the ocean and Leon. Considering you never left the US and you stayed landlocked you've never actually seen the ocean before, sure you saw big lakes and stuff but this was so much more intense. Not only was it humongous it was almost crystal clear. “How about we go snorkeling or something once I'm back?” Leon suggested.

“I would love that.” You nodded your head and just as you answered your waitress came over with your dishes and drinks. You simply squealed to yourself as your senses engulfed the food that sat before you, not even stopping to talk to Leon once. Eventually you looked up at him and you noticed he was simply smiling at you, lost in his thoughts as he watched you eat. “Leon?” You lightly waved at him and you raised your eyebrow.

He then snapped back to reality. “Sorry, just thinking about how at first you said you weren't very hungry.” He chuckled as he took a bite out of his own food.

“I guess pastries just do something to me?” You replied to him as you went back to eating your food. Leon simply took his time, he slowly drank his coffee and ate his bread as he looked at both you and the view on his left.

“Much different than the view at home. Here we get flowers, the ocean and beautiful trees, whereas at home we get a jungle… a concrete jungle..”

“How about in twenty years time when you retire, just move to Italy?” You joked at him in response to his little monologue about the different landscapes. “You can get a beautiful little villa on the mountain side that looks over the ocean, all you would need is three kids and a beautiful wife so that you can have the american, nuclear-family, dream.” You copied his hand gesture from earlier and chuckled.

“How would that be the american dream if i'm living in Italy?” He questioned as he placed his empty cup on the metal table.

“That was what stuck out to you about that entire bit?” You raised your eyebrow at him as you wiped your hands with your napkin. “Are you not going to eat your food?” You asked him as you looked down at his plate, him only being about halfway through.

“Sorry, sorry.” He picked up a piece. “I just wanted to take my time so we could be together longer. Just before we got here I got a text from Chris saying I had to meet him after we ate, thought I could drag it out as much as possible.” As he spoke he held out his free hand on the table, wanting you to place your hand in his. Obviously you accepted and he lightly squeezed it. You let him continue eating his food as the two of you sat in comfortable silence until the waitress came and collected the dirty dishes, replacing them with two new coffees for the two of you.

You took another sip from your mug as you noticed how Leon's eyes scanned the area and he seemed to be deep in his thoughts again. You put your mug on the table again and searched his eyes. He didn't notice you staring and only reacted when you mentioned his name. "Leon? You still there?" You snapped your fingers in front of him, making sure he was listening.

Leon turned his head and faced you. "Oh, sorry Buttercup. Did you say anything?"

You shook your head in response before talking again. "I'm worried about you, Leon. Even though we're here together, you seem so far away. Are you really okay?" You looked at him with puppy eyes and reached out to his hand. He just shook his head and looked away again. You sighed and felt hopeless. It was the first time Leon took you with him on a big mission, so of course you were worried. You always were when he was away, even though it wasn't the first time for him to do this stuff. Whatever it really was that he was doing now.

"Leon, please don't do this now. Tell me what's going on, maybe I can help you, distract you or whatever. Anything to help you, okay?" It took Leon a minute before finally giving it. He sighed as he rubbed his forehead.

"It's just.. this mission is different. I didn't get much information beforehand and I don't know. Something feels odd. And now that you're here, too, I'm just.. worried about you. Maybe it was the wrong idea to bring you with me." He said the last sentence more to himself than you, but you still understood every word of it. Even though he probably didn't mean it like that, you felt hurt. Did he think you were a helpless child who would only cause trouble? You didn't really know what to say but you had to do something about his mood.

"Leon. Listen to me. I don't know what you do all the time when you're gone, but you always manage. I'm sure everything will turn out fine, alright? And you don't have to worry about me. I'll stay inside the hotel or around your big bodyguards, I'm sure they could take care of tons of bad guys." You gave Leon an optimistic smile, hoping he would lighten up a bit.

"Yea, you're right. I guess. I just never.. had someone close to me in this kind of situation."

"Everything that matters now is that you're concentrated, Leon. If it helps you can tell me the information you already have, maybe we can work on this together. And who knows, maybe I'll end up being a better agent than you." You jokingly said and finally Leon let out a laugh as well. As you waited for his response you saw a pen on the table behind Leon so you ran to grab it, getting ready to write your notes on a clean napkin.

"Yea sure, whatever you say, Buttercup." You two continued joking for a while longer before ordering something else to drink. As the drinks were delivered to your table, you noticed someone sitting at a table close to you. You didn't know why exactly he caught your eye so you shrugged it off and continued talking to Leon. Soon he began talking about his mission and all the information he had. Which was, as he said before, really not much. All he knew was that someone in this city intended to initiate a virus-breakout similar to ones Leon had to fight before. You wrote down what he said but it wasn't really the equivalent to much. You sighed as you tried your best to help him out. Sure, he was a professional, but it was worth a shot. Especially if you could make him smile with your stupid ideas. In the end that's all that mattered to you, anyways.

You two continued chatting a while longer before Leon's phone suddenly rang. He excused himself, showing you who called. Chris. Leon stood up and left the table to talk to him in a more quiet place. You watched him walk away as you noticed the man from before staring at you again. He seemed to have seen you noticing since he suddenly looked away. You raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling growing in your stomach. Even though you were worried slightly, you didn't want to tell Leon. Maybe you were just starting to imagine things and you didn't want to make Leon worry any more. Speaking of him, he finally returned to the table. He didn't seem too happy though, so you knew what was coming next.

"Chris is already waiting for me. I guess I really tested his patience today. I'm sorry that it has to end so abruptly, Buttercup, but I really have to go now. We have new information and it seems like quite a big deal." Leon grabbed his wallet and handed it to you. "Get yourself something nice with it if you want. And don't forget to pay for our breakfast. I really need to go now, please be careful on your way home." He gave you a kiss on the forehead but you stopped him before he went to leave. "I love you, Leon. Don't worry about me and please come back soon.." He nodded lightly and gave you another kiss, this time on the mouth. You didn't want this moment to end but you knew there was no other option. You watched him leave and suddenly felt so alone and lost. Sitting down again you waited for someone to bring you the bill.

A few minutes passed until someone came over to your table, grabbing the last dirty cups. You asked them for the bill and after paying a ridiculous high amount of money for breakfast you left the table and went back to the main street. You sighed as you thought about what to do for the rest of the day since it was still not that late. With no destination in mind you just started following the street and seeing where it would take you.

Leon carefully closed the door behind him as he was escorted into the home. “Couldn’t have picked a basic home?” He shrugged as he looked over at Chris who was sitting at a table in the kitchen. “This mansion is fucking huge.”

“The fuck you mean?” He snarled at Leon as he pushed back the chair adjacent to him for Leon to sit in. “We’re in an upper class neighbourhood, it blends in.”

“Where’s Angel and Daisy?” Leon asked as he sat down in the chair and gestured at the two empty ones opposite him.

“Miss Badawi and Miss Chu are doing some recon.” He passed over a singular folder and Leon opened it to the first page.

“You call me by my first name, why not those two?” He always thought it was weird but now that it was just those two alone he actually was able to ask.

“Neither of them have passed the required rank for me to call them my equal, meaning they haven’t deserved the right yet."

“They’ve both saved your life countless times-”

“-Oh please! You think we care about validation from some old white man?” Angel laughed as both her and Daisy entered the room and sat down at the table.

Now that all three of them were sitting opposite Chris he could begin his briefing.

“We’re going to be heading to a small provenance called Valtorta, there’s no such thing as tourists there which means this is a stealth operation. Miss Chu, your favourite.” Daisy smiled and lightly clapped her hands together as she heard about the standards of the operation.

Angel raised her hand. “Miss Badawi?” Chris accepted.

“Where is Valtora?” She asked.

“Near the border of Italy and Switzerland.” He replied as he flicked Angel’s folder to the map page. “Around a two hour drive from Milan which is where we’re going to be starting after a three hour helicopter ride. Which means a five hour trip so that you kids can catch up on your podcasts or whatever it is that you guys do nowadays.”

“I’ve been listening to this really interesting podcast about a woman who kills her boss because he didn't give her a payrise… Pretty inspiring if you ask me.” Angel smirked as she looked towards her boss, Leon.

“Depends on how good you do after this operation, and if you can get some pastries for us to bring back home.” He replied as he looked up from the folder and at Angel.

“I think that’s a very fair trade, croissants for an extra one hundred percent markup on your pay?” Daisy smirked at her girlfriend.

“How about we focus on our jobs rather than the pay?” Chris interrupted them. “So the woman we’re looking for is Leona Capulet.” He placed a photo of the woman holding a small child onto the wooden table. “Forty five, six foot tall and batshit crazy.” He then placed another photo on the table. “For the last four years she’s been attempting to recreate another virus, called the LC-020-Virus. Ever since we found out about it we’ve been calling it the ‘Loco-virus’.”

“Let me guess…” Angel interrupted. “Rather than it turning you into a zombie it just makes you go crazy?”

“Bingo.” Chris nodded as he placed another picture on the table. “Blueprints of the town, and the suspected laboratory Capulet has been working in.”

“How have you got so much information?” Leon asked.

“Inside man.” Chris replied. “Capulet’s son, Valentino, has been helping us. Once his mother tried to use him for a human trial experiment he had enough and tried to shut her down. After failing he turned himself in and he’s been helping us for around four months now.”

“And you trust him?” Daisy asked as she looked at the picture of Leona. “How do we know it isn’t a trap?”

“The boy is a millionaire and he gets nothing out of betraying his family, it's personal to him.” Chris picked up his pictures from the table and placed them back into his folder. “But that doesn’t mean we can fully trust him, we all need to stay vigilant.” Chris stood out of his chair and tucked it under the table. “Our mission is to capture the target Leona Capulet, destroy any trace she has of the virus and figure out where her funding comes from. Any questions?” All three of them nodded their heads as they looked at Chris. “Great. We’re heading out at nine A.M. tomorrow morning, I expect everyone to be ready with a maximum of two standard issue duffle bags with the essentials needed for the maximum of two weeks.”

“A fortnight?” Leon asked. “I was told only three days.”

“A maximum Leon, just in case. If we all work well enough we can be back here within two days so let's all get some sleep so we can make that happen.” Chris left the three of them at the table. Angel and Daisy just began chatting amongst themselves about what they were going to do once they were back and could enjoy their time together in the countryside, whereas Leon was thinking about you. He pulled out his phone and called your number but to his surprise you didn’t answer, he looked at the time and saw that it was around seven at night so he thought that maybe you were in the shower, at home you usually showered at that time. So rather than calling you again he simply sent you a text message.

‘Done with work for the night so give me a call when you can. Leon <3’

The sun began setting as you felt your stomach growl. You've been walking around for so many hours, you didn't even think about stopping somewhere to eat or drink anything. Thankfully, you weren't somewhere in the woods but rather close to the city. Your phone battery died a while ago, so you didn't have a chance to just google where to go now or call a taxi. "I should have taken the map from Leon earlier." You muttered to yourself as you scratched the back of your head. Instead of giving up though you tried to follow the signs all around the streets. Most of them were in Italian but you still managed to find your way back.

Even though it wasn't that late, or so you assumed since it was not dark yet, there weren't many people outside. You hoped to find a store to get something to eat and drink and maybe ask for the time or your current location but it felt like you were going in circles and as the time passed you felt really tired. Suddenly everything felt like too much and you had to sit down. You almost fell to the ground, feeling the effects of not eating or drinking for a few hours in the heat. Your head was spinning and your vision blurred and you just barely saw a silhouette walking in your direction. You rubbed your eyes in hope of seeing clearly again. A young man stood before you, reaching a hand out. He soon seemed to notice that you didn't understand what he was saying, so he repeated himself in English. "Are you okay? You look really pale and I'm assuming you're not from here, right?" You slowly nodded your head and tried forming words in your mouth.

"Water.. Do you have water?", was all that came out in the end. The man let out a small laugh and nodded. He pointed towards a house just on the opposite side of the street before helping you get up.

"That's where I live. There aren't any stores open around here so that's all I can get offer now. If you feel comfortable with it you can rest a while before continuing your way."

You looked at the man and thanked him as he supported you walking. The two of you slowly walked towards his house and you waited in silence as he opened the door for you. You walked inside the small house and looked around. It was something completely different from the hotel you slept in last night, but it seemed very friendly. The man led you into the living room and you sat down on the old couch. He left the room to get you something to drink and shortly after returned with a coke, a bottle of water and some cold lasagna.

"This was my dinner today. I'm guessing you are hungry, the way you look. Please eat as much as you like." He went over to a cabinet and got a plate, a fork and a knife. He placed it on the small table in front of the couch as you gulped down the coke. You already felt better as the sugar spread through your body.

"Thank you so much. Where I come from most people wouldn't care for strangers, like you're doing right now. I don't know how I can repay you." You said as you put down the can and took a piece of the lasagna. The man put up his hands and shook his head. "Oh please, don't worry about it. This is nothing, I'm just glad to be helping." You smiled at him in return and enjoyed the rest of the lasagna in silence as your body finally regained strength. After you were done you leaned back on the sofa and sighed. "Now that was a really good lasagna. I definitely need the recipe!" You said jokingly and the two of you laughed.

You two talked for a while longer before you noticed the time on a clock hanging on the wall. It was almost 11pm. You opened your eyes in shock and stood up abruptly. "It's so late already?! I'm so sorry, but I think I really need to go. Please, if there is any way to thank you, tell me." The man now also stood up and walked you to the front door. "Like I said before, I don't want anything in return. I'm just grateful to be of help." You smiled at him and went for a hug. It just felt right at that moment. He returned the gesture but you soon parted again. You unlocked your now almost fully loaded phone and checked the route to the hotel.

"Thanks for letting my phone charge as well, I don't think I would ever find my way back without it." You laughed as you stepped outside. By now the moon was shining high in the sky, making the night light up.

"If I'm not mistaken your way back shouldn't be too long. Please text me when you're back so I don't have to worry." The man said as handed you a piece of paper with his number. You smiled as you added him to your contacts.

"Oh, I don't think I've gotten your name, did I?" Now it was his time to laugh. "That's right, I believe. My name's Leonardo." You couldn't believe what you were hearing and let out a laugh. "No way. That's kind of a funny coincidence, my boyfriend is actually called Leon."

"Oh, well.. That really is a funny coincidence." Leonardo scratched his head as you two laughed again.

"Well, it was nice meeting you Leonardo, but I really have to go now. Maybe our paths will cross again." You waved him goodbye as you put in your earphones and followed the route that was presented on your display.

As you followed the instructions you felt like you were being watched. You looked around, not seeing anyone. Shaking your head you began walking faster, the feeling of being watched never vanishing. Just when you thought the feeling of being watched had gone you heard some footsteps behind you. You slowly pulled out your earphones and looked back. Nobody. "Jesus.. What is wrong with me?" You could already see the tall building you left earlier this day and felt relieved. Only a few more minutes and you were safe. From whatever it was that you felt afraid of. Not realizing you started walking faster again you suddenly tripped and fell to the ground, your phone sliding away. "Fuck.." You rubbed your knee and felt blood on your fingertips in return. You stood up with a pain filled groan and slowly went over to your phone. Just before you were able to reach it something hard hit the back of your head, sending you in a realm of darkness...

----

Taglist: @trinswhimsys @dixanadu @oppsie--channie

#resident evil #re2 #re4 #re6 #resident evil vendetta #leon kennedy #leon s kennedy #leon x reader #leon kennedy x reader #leon s kennedy x reader #resident evil x reader #x reader #x male reader #x female reader #x gn reader #x gender neutral reader

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kareofbears · 3 years

Text

long lines and cold nights

“Sakamoto-san!” the voice of a gruff middle-aged man a few spots behind Akira yells out. Akira’s smile splits even wider, knowing what will happen next. “Is that the Akira you keep telling us about?”

———

Akira visits Ryuji at work and witnesses how he interacts with his customers.

read on ao3 or below the cut :)

Akira didn’t think that bread would be so popular during Christmas.

It’s evening, and every store in Tokyo seemed to be flashing with multicolored fairy lights. The roads have long since turned the snow to slush, but the sidewalk still had white flurries piled high on top of each other. No matter where anyone looks, there are shoppers lugging around gift bags and wearing thick mittens, all eager to hide away from the freezing temperatures and numbing fingers. Despite the hustle, there’s a collective attitude from everyone present that exudes a certain liveliness that’s only ever present during the holiday season.

He’s next in line to get into the bakery, a thick, bright-red scarf wrapped tight around his neck and hands clutching a heavy paper bag. The scent of baked goods wafts from where he’s standing, and it makes him salivate just a little. Akira’s been standing here for half an hour now, the line moving at a horrifically sluggish pace that would get employees crucified during the holiday shopping rush. Yet, for some reason, the line doesn’t ever seem to get impatient.

The bakery exudes warm lighting through its glass windows, and Akira glances inside. It hasn’t changed much since he came in here last, but now it’s slathered with pine-colored wreaths and garlands, all twisted with bright-red ribbons and over-the-top bows that would have been ridiculous had he not known who put them up in the first place. Now, it’s just endearing.

An old woman hobbles to the glass door from the inside, hands full with bags of brioche, and just as Akira is about to open the door for her, it swings open—

“Oh! So kind of you, Sakamoto-kun!”

“Don’t worry about it, ma’am. I’m sure neither of us can take the heartbreak if that bread of yours hits the concrete, huh?”

They both share a genuine laugh, and Ryuji holds the door open as the woman shuffles away, still smiling. Instrumental Christmas music is playing from inside, and with it comes a burst of heat that’s packaged with every bakery during the wintertime.

Akira presses his lips together. “Does that mean I can come in now?”

Ryuji blinks, before his head jerks towards him, eyes wide. “Akira!”

This is probably his second favorite part of visiting Ryuji when he works; with a white button-up and khakis topped off with a red apron, he looks incredibly endearing in a way that Akira can’t begin to describe. It’s only ever improved during December, when he chooses to wear reindeer antlers for a more festive look. (His words. Apparently, the regulars love it.)

“Ryuji.” He can’t hold it back anymore—a smile splits wide across his face. “Looking good.”

“Looking hot you mean,” he gives Akira a slow spin. “Bet you’ve never seen anyone rock an apron this hard.”

He meant it as a joke, but it still rings true. Both of them are older now. A little taller, a little broader than they were in high school, but there’s something in the way that Ryuji’s changed that makes people flock to him. His hair is still bleached blond (there’s no getting rid of that one), but he has an undercut that shows his natural hair underneath, and he has bright red studs on both earlobes that have the tendency to catch light when he’s at the right angle.

When he smiles, it’s bigger than it was. When he laughs, it fills in every empty crevice in the room. When he speaks, it’s with a little more confidence.

But despite everything that had changed, when his eyes meet Akira’s, it’s still the loveliest feeling in the world.

“Nope,” he answers honestly, despite seeing him in that apron dozens of times before. “And I’ll never get tired of it.”

“Wait, the Kurusu Akira?” Someone else pipes in—a girl in her early twenties. “Huh, you’re right! He’s just as good-looking as you said he was.”

“Thank you for your kind words,” Akira replies, but his eyes are trained on the boy in front of him, refusing to look embarrassed. “That’s really nice of you to say.”

“Aw, and he seems like such a sweetheart, too. How’s the cafe doing? Heard you got promoted to assistant manager there recently. Good on you!”

He gives Ryuji an amused look. “Is there anything you haven’t told them about me?”

“When have I ever learned to shut up when it came to you?” he shrugs. “Pretty sure even the bookstore next door knows about your promotion too, by now.”

“Kurusu-kun, congrats on finishing your essay! Foreign policy is a tough thing to write on, you know.”

“Oh Kurusu-san, you’re absolutely going to adore what Sakamoto-chan got you for Christmas! He worked so hard on it, you’re going to love it to shreds.”

“Hold on, I thought you worked Thursday nights, Kurusu-kun. What are you doing here?”

It seems that even Ryuji has a breaking point—his face has grown scarlet, and his eyes are flittering away. It’s mind-numbingly charming. When Akira responds, his small smile has worked up to become a full-on grin. “I just got off work, actually.”

“Guys,” Ryuji groans loudly and leans over to give the long line a stern look. “We can’t keep doing this every time Akira comes over, it’s getting embarrassing.” Laughter rumbles through the lineup, warm and familiar and not a hint of maliciousness to be heard.

He clears his throat, but his soft voice does little to carry over the bustle of the city’s shoppers during their prime. “Sorry, I just wanted to drop something off for him. I didn’t mean to hold up the line or anything—”

“Dear,” an aging woman cuts him off. “Trust me when I say that we love seeing Sakamoto-san here be happy. After everything he’s done for us, this must be the least that we can do.”

“Yeah! He’s always giving us scones when there’s too many—”

“—and croissants—!”

“—once, he gave me a danish for free—”

Ryuji shushes them, panicked. “Quit yelling it out like that, or I might get fired.”

“As if we’d let that happen to you!” someone snorts, and there’s a chorus of agreements that ripple from the crowd.

Belatedly, Akira realizes that his cheeks are starting to hurt, but this wouldn’t be the first time this happened. Or the second. Or the tenth.

This is his favorite part about visiting him at work—to see him at work, to see him play the role of working in customer service.

But it never feels like that. When Ryuji’s speaking to customers, it doesn’t matter what they’re buying or how busy they are; he gets to know them. He could give less of a damn about the product they sell; it’s less about the selling, and more about reaching out to them and to make sure that they’re doing alright. He takes the time to talk to them, to learn their names and their preferences and who they are.

It just so happens that they also get to know him in return.

“I should go,” Akira mummers. “You’ll never get through this line if I keep distracting you like this.”

He rolls his eyes. “Sure, blame me and not the actual gang of people bullying a poor bakery sales associate.”

“They love you, Sakamoto-san,” he teases.

“Oh, shut up.”

“I just wanted to drop by to say hi, and also—” Akira holds up the still-warm bag in his hand. “To drop off some ramen, in case you got sick of eating bread during your break.”

Ryuji’s eyes are sparkling. Quickly glancing inside the bakery to make sure his manager isn’t watching, he pecks his cheek. He smells like sugar glaze and warmth.

“I love you,” he whispers, ignoring the small cheer behind them like some sort of romcom.

“And I love you. Go kick some ass, and I’ll pick you up at 8:30, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” Ryuji salutes, taking the weight off his hands, before turning to the person behind Akira. “Saito-san, welcome back! Two loaves of the Country Grain, right?”

Akira moves out of the way to finally let the line flow, touching Ryuji’s shoulder as he passes by. He takes one last look behind him and feels a pang of sympathy.

He’s been here enough times, has eaten enough of this bakery’s products to know that there really isn’t anything special about it. The food is fine; the scones are good, but he’s had better. Sometimes the flour loaf is tasty, but it’s hit or miss. The danishes are sweet and fluffy, but it’s guaranteed to be sold out by the time it hits noon.

It’s a mediocre bakery in the middle of Tokyo. You could find five more just like it down the street, and three better ones if you’re willing to take the bus. But, for some reason, there are also very few bakeries with this long of a line-up during the busiest time of the year.

Akira was the first person to line up for Sakamoto Ryuji’s attention all those years ago and it’s ridiculous that it’s taken this long for more people to start doing the same thing.

#mine #fic tag #persona 5 #akiryu #pegoryu #remember when i said i was gonna write a bakery au?#anyway this is my last fic for the year and ill probably make an emotional post later #ryuji sakamoto #akira kurusu #happy holidays!

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piacemia · 2 years

Text

4+ days with you!

On the events of Jan 5 - Jan 11

1/5/22 What a time to be alive. Drove down to san diego, such an exhausting trip alone. stopped over at tita's for some thai food. Ava decided to order the buffalo wings and the steamed duck and actually tried it! felt refreshed and made my way back to the house. Threw everything into the house and then over to el cajon to be of very little help with packing. bed time, and then babysitting the baby.

1/6/22 early early morning texts, getting out of the condo with dog in hand. to my house with a very confused otto who would not go up the stairs because he is a small scared baby and also will not go outside past the concrete. brought my blanket down and ended up sleeping with him on the couch. quick walk around the block and then k finished around 11, came over and we relaxed for a bit with my new babysitting plants. watched some ted lasso and then at 3 headed over to the airbnb. very nice place, set it up and figured out the shower, grabbed MORE thai and then to my house! tried to watch grand budapest but it wasn't working, so more ted lasso instead. then off to bed we went

1/7/22 not a great sleep, but it was the first day of adjusting to a new setup, so that's ok. decided to not go to work so we could have some time and i am just so over the moon about it. walked the puppy around town and to matteo, which i've always wanted to do!! grabbed some croissants and then tried out dark horse coffee which i've also always wanted to do!!! checked out the book shop store front and then time to walk back. did some yard work together, so so so fun. weeding, raking the leaves, having otto zoom around. so fun. off to trader joes for a replenishing of groceries (i bought way too much stuff because i'm used to feeding 4 people), dropping groceries off at the airbnb, and then back to my home base. cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. unpacking finally and also tidying up all the excess from our house. again, so pleased. decided to grab some wine and a pizza. tried enoteca and it was just very confusing and annoying but tasty. then got a pizza next door! home, warmed it up, enjoyed it so so so much. then we spent all night playing each other music and talking, and i just couldn't ask for a better night. 1/8/22 Late wakeup, very good. Blueberry pancakes for breakfast after our morning walk and music. k left to shower and regroup at his airbnb, i continued trying to finish "big summer". played some donkey kong together, walked to fernside for burgers, and i made a whole french chicken for dinner. more cleaning around the house, and unboxing the beautiful kitchen aid. in the meantime, FINALLY watching grand budapest! i really liked it and k didn't hate it, so i took it as a win for both of us. a little time left so we watched some silicon valley and then we were distracted and not watching silicon valley, so off to bed. showed me his letterbox, and talked movies/i started to fall asleep because i like listening to him lots but also movies are not so much my thing. also messed around alllllll day, which is enjoyable to me and maybe not k. i keep thinking about the looks he gives me, oh man. lucky me. 1/9/22 walking the dog, grabbing some coffee at secret sister which is still not really a coffee place but more of a pastry place with occasional coffee and NO MENUS. iced tea it is. greek omelette breakfast, so happy to cook again and also to try to recreate that omelette from home. oldies playing, a wonderful morning breakfast. i made poolish for the first time in anticipation of brioche. k left to shower and i showered/got some laundry together and then we were both back for some mitsuwa! of course the most important part is the pickles, but also the onigiri. k grabbed a bento box, we bickered over who should pay because i forgot my wallet and wanted to buy it all with apple pay and then he couldn't figure out how to scan his box without flipping it, and then it wouldn't even scan when flipped which made me laugh. but also i was figuring out apple pay. slight chaos, big fan. home, onigiri, more cleaning. making brioche and curry at the same time because i can't be chill. incredibly fun until we hit the snag of a missing egg that drove both of us nuts trying to figure out where it went. i had been adamant about only cooking us 3 eggs since 4 would be too much, so the mystery egg haunted us until i remembered a day later that we used one to make pancakes. 10 minute timed trip to food bowl, back in business. very fun to make brioche but also very, very loud. tossing butter in was the best part. dinner served, brioche finished and stashed for proofing, kitchen cleaned up. some tv watching some laying around in bed, some decisions to be made about staying or going. finally landed on going, which is ok and understandable. cleaned up the kitchen and put the brioche away one more time, and then off to bed.

there comes a time when you have to figure out if you can be alone with unstructured time together. this week seemed like a good chance to feel out that unstructured time with no real repercussions. if he wanted to leave he could, and the break could be as long as was needed since he had the airbnb. i didn't expect to spend the entirety of the 4 days with him (i did think that maybe it was a possibility but expected him to be working). i like that his dog was comfy here, i like that he could eventually sleep comfortably here, i like that i could say what i wanted to do and go do it on my own. i hope he felt comfy enough to do whatever he wanted to do and not hold back on it. it made me feel so grateful for his company, it made me continue to love my little neighborhood, it helped me go a little deeper into this and settle into this new role. so odd

#it's a recap #2022

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svnnysidevp · 3 years

Note

🎉 eunsang and jimin pwease

new years are never particularly special to him; typically, jimin spends them alone in his apartment, watching fireworks go off from his bedroom window a little too listlessly. some years he’d spend with his mom, until she had seemed to convince herself that she was keeping him from FRIENDS ( like he had any ), and that he ought to spend his time ringing in the start of a new year with other people he loved.

but until recently, jimin didn’t have that, though –– people he loved. because where people had windows, he had walls, stone and concrete and STRONG, keeping him from letting anyone else in and vice versa. jimin didn’t want to spend the night celebrating a new start with people who were fickle; people who were fleeting; people who, in the blink of an eye, could just be GONE.

but that was then.

because the NOW –– the now is his and eunsang’s apartment, with his mom and eunsang’s grandparents laughing over a bottle of sparkling cider. the now is brioche lapping up all the attention the family is giving him, padding across the floor in his little bow tie jimin had insisted on buying him for the occasion ( yes, he knows he said he hadn’t wanted a dog; no, he doesn’t want to talk about it ).

and the now is eunsang in the moonlight –– staring outside the window with him as his mom begins to count down enthusiastically. they share a glance and suddenly all jimin can feel is utter WARMTH, radiating through frame and capturing this moment, wholly, hopefully forever.

( because where people had windows, he had walls, stone and concrete and STRONG –– and eunsang tore them down from the inside out, and now jimin can take his hand in his as they watch the sky. )

the timer goes off, and a collective HAPPY NEW YEAR !! rings through the apartment, joyous and abundant in love. and when jimin smiles, cupping eunsang’s jaw and kissing him, he finds he means it.

some people are fickle, and some people are eunsang –– constant, like the ocean waves always finding their way home to the shore.

#goldhhearts #// * jang jimin ! a meme .#jimin + eunsang !#THEY !!!!!#i LITERALLY FINISHED TYPING THEY N U WOKE UP #NJSKBSKJSB

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okimargarvez · 5 years

Text

PENDING ISSUES

Original title: Questioni in sospeso.

Prompt: Penelope is forced to change team.

Warning: none.

Genre: drama, family, romantic.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, BAU team, O.C.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot 53 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 💏😘🔦🎈.

Song mentioned: Quando ritornerai, Tiziano Ferro.

GARVEZ STORIES

PENDING ISSUESS

She can't believe it, but there is no room for any uncertainty, no doubt. The e-mail, with a lot of official virtual "stamps", seems to make fun of her with all those high-sounding and cold words. But... but it could be a joke of some technician colleague.

The blonde woman moves away from the screen, as if it possessed an evil spirit, had a life of its own. Almost. She starts browsing her phone contacts, discarding them one by one. In the end, she decides to open the door and head towards Prentiss's office. She doesn’t have time to knock that her friend, as well as chief of the unit, is already there, standing with a pained look. Penelope then understands how sadly real it all is.

-Garcia...- says the brunette, inviting her to come in with a wave of her hand. The blonde drops into the chair on the other side of the desk.

-So that's true. They are really doing it, as with JJ eight years ago.- she only says, with a resigned and not too depressed tone, not how much anyone would have expected from one who hates (hate to say the least) changes.

Emily takes a moment before nodding, only in the eyes can one sense the anger at the helplessness she is forced to bear despite her high position, which she also detested so many times, precisely because of the decisions she was forced to make... and now she can't even use it to prevent the team from losing an important piece of their chessboard, so that the family doesn't loses the glue that holds them together. -Penelope, I'm sorry, I tried to do everything, but...- the friend shows her that there is no need to justify herself, she already knows.

-How long have you known?- she asks her rather, sensing, despite her naivety that it is part of her charm, far more than Prentiss would like.

-A week.- she admits, in a guilty tone, lowering her eyes for a moment to a stack of papers on her desk. The most prominent cases. Cases that she won't be able to solve, Penelope thinks, sighing.

An awkward silence follows, something that between the two women hadn’t happened since the time of the attempted murder of the brunette.

-We have to tell others.- it is the latter who breaks it. For the first time, the informatic technician seems really shaken by the news. She shakes her head, vehemently denying, silently protesting with those dark yet strangely unclear eyes. -I know, I understand what you're thinking. But they have the right to know, don't you think?- turned this way, the question is different; the friend can only agree. They stand up almost in sync, Garcia waits for the one with the highest position to come out first. Prentiss overlooks the balcony and immediately meets Rossi's eyes. -Guys, we need to talk.- she announces gravely. JJ can't help staring at her two best friends, passing from one to the other all the time. It is clear to everyone that their IT has something to do with it, but how specifically, how much does it involve them personally, this cannot yet be said. -Meeting room in five minutes.- the woman turns, placing a hand on Penelope's shoulder and the two start to walk, turning their backs to the others. They don’t therefore notice how each one quickly abandons their activity, saving documents, putting the cap on the pen and hurrying to reach them. The last to enter the round room is Matt, less than a minute later.

-We are all here.- says Rossi with a warm and calm voice. -Talk.- he takes matters into his own hands, because he understands that Emily is in trouble. She has the same look as when they unjustly arrested Reid.

-There is no painless way to say it.- she begins, making them fear the worst. -Garcia, Penelope- she corrects herself -will be transferred to another unit next week.- six mouths open up almost simultaneously. Then, six pairs of eyes rest on the shapely blonde, who can't stand all those looks and feels faint. She tightens her wrist, planting her nails in the flesh, without the others being able to notice it. It was a method she had discovered to manage anxiety when panic seized her after Battle had shot her. She hadn't used it for a while, since the last anniversary.

A few seconds of silence, full of disbelief. Then a storm of questions is unleashes, more or less all together; overlapping words, different voices all united by the same pained tone.

-How?- JJ. She already has tears that press at the corners of the eyes to get out. Penelope sees her again, in a kind of deformed flashback, while she tells her for the first time that she considers her as part of her family, shortly after having shot the killer policeman; while they are accessing the CIA's encrypted files and fails to take possession of Prince William's phone number; as she walks, beautiful in her mother's white dress, heading for Will, on the lawn of Rossi's house.

-Why?- Spencer. The youngest of the team, immediately looking for a reason, a motivation, which however was not there. Or rather, it was there, but it was certainly not the one he wanted to hear. Penelope remembers perfectly the day he entered her office, bringing her a brioche as a gift and she declared her eternal platonic love; or that time he made a dollar appear from behind her ear, astonishing her almost more than Henry and Jack; and again his look of gratitude when she had shot a false nurse, Baylor, and when he had got out of the elevator, after he had risked becoming the three hundredth and last victim of the Believers, despite the past years.

-When?- Tara. The psychologist and university professor with whom she had been in love at first sight (as with Kate). How forgetting the enthusiasm with which she had received her arrival and the joy she had felt when Hotch had confirmed that the research was completed, there was no need to conduct other interviews; or when she had given her that carrot, which she had decided to keep and not to eat.

-Where?- Matt. That man as intelligent as he is charming and likeable. Penelope revisits various moments in a disorderly way: the phone call in a panic when the team had not responded to her numerous calls and the car ride to the accident; the friendly malice when he asked her if she had a tattoo and where; finally the sweet sensation of tranquility when they danced together at the wedding of Krystall and the older agent.

-Who?- Rossi. He himself, who has always detested the bureaucracy, wonders who the culprit is, who is behind what he perceives as a real crime against the whole unit. Losing Garcia would be as if the team's heart were rudely torn off. The young blonde remembers perfectly how the Italian-American treated her in the beginning, and feels something stirring at the thought of how he is now a real father to her, and he even told this to her.

Only one remains silent, quiet, doesn’t open his mouth. But his eyes are screaming, his eyes are the only one that really pierces her. Luke. Oh, Luke. Thinking of him as agent Alvez would be much more convenient, because when he becomes Luke, he makes her think of Roxy, the kitten-shaped anti-stress that he gave her, his jokes and provocations, the way he had kissed her on the cheek before hugging her, or he had taken her hand in Bradenton, or he had stolen her remote-control, he had consoled her in court, in front of the SUV with the body of Walker, he had involved her in the gift for Phil. Phil... No, better think of him as Alvez.

Emily leaves them a few seconds to recover, so she begins to answer their questions as much as possible. -It's a direct order from the Director.- she explains. -It hasn’t yet been specified the destination, in fact, in all likelihood they will come to take her directly from here and we will never know.- even worse than what had happened with JJ. Who was there at the time, catches the connection and winces. -There is not a how, nor a why. Or, like the rest, we cannot know it.- the brunette crosses her arms, considering the matter closed. There is really nothing else to add.

Everyone seems to understand it, yet, they each struggle to control themselves. A familiar sound awakens them from the trance they had fell into. Garcia grabs the phone and reads the message. -There is a case.- she says, trying to sound normal, but she just can't.

Everyone thinks the same thing. Their last case with her.

* When, will you come back? Tell me when, will I can see you...

It is a case that doesn’t require the use of the jet, fortunately. So, they can take care of it by staying close to the base. They work sitting around the round table, like the time they were been awake all night to find a proof that had exonerated Spencer and allowed them to simultaneously save Diana.

The atmosphere is tense, Penelope feels eyes on her about every ten minutes, but ignores everything to concentrate on her work. She rejects the thought that this time it's really over, that it won't be just for two weeks, like with that witch (Barnes). Her fingers beating on the keyboard mark the thoughts of many of her colleagues. They all speak less than usual; they only open their mouths when they have something concrete to say.

On the second day Prentiss is forced to separate from them for other "pending issues", so she defines them. Bureaucracy, surely. She locks herself in her office. Rossi and Dr. Lewis have already drawn the right conclusions; perhaps the others too, but one just can't get it. That's why, when he leaves the room after hours to go to the toilet, Agent Alvez is stunned to stare at a line of people, mostly women, mostly blondes, queuing outside the office of the chief of the BAU. When another woman, who looks like a clone of the others, comes out, without knowing how, he manages to precede the next one and slip inside.

-Luke!- Emily exclaims, in truth not too surprised. She doesn't even ask him what he does there. She waits patiently for the outburst.

-Who are all these girls?- he begins to ask, but inside he already has the answer, he just needs to have the courage to take it out. -Are you replacing Garcia while she's still here with us?- here it is, as she imagined. Indignation, anger, disbelief and disappointment.

Prentiss gives him a particularly maternal and understanding look. -There is no replacement worthy of Garcia, Luke.- he nods, immediately agreed. -But life goes on unfortunately. It doesn't matter who dies, or who goes away. How important it is.- the woman just shudders. -The leaders want a name by Friday. Someone else will have to find the addresses of the unknown subjects.- she tries a joke, but with little conviction.

The man remains silent. He's trying to get over it. But he can't do it.

-Alvez, listen to me well, because I will say it only once: don’t behave with the person who will take the place of Penelope...- seeing his shocked gaze, she hastens to add: -…yes, it is so, however bad it sounds. I've replaced Hotch, you've replaced Morgan, and someone will replace Garcia. Not in our hearts, it is obvious.- another nod of assent. -But professionally, it's so. So, I repeat, don’t do to this person, who has no fault, what Garcia did to you. Don't make her feel in the wrong place. Penelope did it as self-defense, to protect herself, and she didn't last long.- a slight smile grazes the lips of the Latin. -I have my doubts about how it would work with you.-

** When, will you be with me? Tell me when, tell me if... inside you, I also live a little, or not...

They solved the case, but the week is not over. Theoretically, there are still two days. Garcia made the decision, perhaps a bit selfish, but justified, to shut herself up in her bunker, to breathe a little. She knows that the attentions of her colleagues are irrefutable proof of their affection, but... but they are suffocating her. They make it all that much more difficult.

The worst thing is not go away. But staying and seeing the others disappear, she thinks, shaking her head, struggling with herself.

She jolts when she hears a knock on the door, the outer one, but she recovers quickly. -Forward, human.- she says aloud, while the first of the two armored doors closes behind her. -Speak and reveal your identity.- she stills to type words and codes and doesn’t divert attention from the main screen. But from the sound of footsteps she understands that it is a man. Ankle boots. She restricts the search to two subjects. Simmons or Alvez.

A large hand rests on her backrest. Then a voice, strangely weak. -Garcia...- she so surprised that she stops for a moment, but doesn’t turn to look at him. An awkward silence follows, which forces her to say something, any bullshit is better than that deafening nothingness.

-Luke? If you need some information I warn you that I am already off duty...- it sounds like one of her usual jokes, but lacks intensity. -Although I could make an exception, if it's just a small thing...- she can see him evaluate her words and move to the left, leaning on her desk, like Derek did.

The man takes a breath, clears his throat, procrastinates in every possible way. -Yes, well, I wanted to talk to you about... your transfer.- this time Penelope takes her hands away from the keyboard and can't avoid showing a hint of fear. Of all the subjects she could face and seem calm, indifferent, he went right to hit that. The woman holds her breath until her head begins to turn.

-Huh.- she strives to avoid at least looking into his eyes, convinced that he would be able to read them inside everything. Indeed, she is sure of this. Practically from the beginning, since they met and did this not push her to curl up like a hedgehog more?

He opens his mouth without saying anything, spreads his arms. -Is there anything you can do to avoid it?- he asks, finally. It could have been much worse. She sighs with relief, a little too noticeable. Luke watches her for a moment, finally deciding not to venture too much.

-Of course, I could hack the system and create a thousand slowdowns...- she replies, immediately lighting a smile on his lips. -I could go on like this for months, but they'd find out right away, who's behind it, I mean- once again she escapes his gaze -and in the end, I'd still have to go away.- her tone is a little too tough, but it is the only way left to save herself. -So I don't think it's worth it.- she folds her arms, waiting for his reply.

-But it's not fair.- it's the big phrase that comes out of him. The man feels stupid, but it is certainly not the first time that this happens when he is with her. -They can't treat us this way.- she merely stares at him, doesn't go to him in any way, doesn't make it easier for him. -Do they know that we are not just a group of people working together? We are a family and...- he hesitates for a moment, perhaps realizing that it is the first time he has said it aloud, even if he thought of it often and especially when Barnes tried to make him say something to discredit his colleagues and he realized how much he was willing to fight for the team -and we need each other-- he spits it out in the end, surprising her positively. Even if she would have preferred the opposite.

-Alvez, really, I appreciate your interest, but... it has already been decided.- she feels the need to release his anxiety in some way. -Nothing can be done to change things.- if he doesn’t leave by himself in a hurry, she will be forced to throw him out with badly manners. She knows perfectly the movement that runs through her belly, she knows what the consequences will be.

-It's not possible, I refuse to accept it.- but Luke behaves incredibly stubbornly. -How can they not realize that without you the percentage of cases solved will be reduced?- this time she doesn’t resist, she bursts into laughter with some bitter nuance, given by the inability to believe in the veracity of his words, which for a while she eliminates the risk of collapsing in front of him and ruining everything.

-Don't you think you're exaggerating now?- she realizes that her lips have folded into a grimace similar to the one he made when she called him "Newbie" or treated him "badly”. -Of course, I'm good, but...- he interrupts her. For him it is not conceivable that there is a but after such a statement.

-You are more than good, you said it yourself, no?- he blushes slightly, remembering that day, not long ago, in fact, that he had expressed his appreciation for her abilities, without hiding behind a joke , this time; and the way she had answered. Dios, it shouldn't be legal to flirt so subtly. -You're great.- Penelope is silent, barely closing her mouth, always red, always inviting. -And in any case, we have seen in those two weeks in which it seemed that the BAU was destined to disappear and also in those days when you were in San Francisco...- he begins to argue, as a perfect lawyer. His father would be proud of him.

-I'm sure anyone who chooses Prentiss will be worthy of occupying my place.- the woman replies, taunting herself. -And that you all will make it through this.- he nods, but gets a little closer to her chair, perhaps not quite consciously.

-But managing it and running like a train, they are two different things.- the man is not intentioned to give up. It tilts slightly downwards, always unaware, under the terrified look of her.

-What is it, Luke, why do you care so much?- she decides to go straight to the point. She will not be able to get rid of him with the good ways, now it is clear. -Did something happen?- she hopes to turn the matter around him, his problems, anything to keep him away from her.

Luke opens his mouth, considering whether to say directly the first thing that went through his head. -You ask me why I care?- it sounds like a question, but it really isn't. His tongue passes over the teeth. -I told you, we are a family and... no one will ever be at your level.- it's not all what he wanted to tell her, but one step at a time, something is better than nothing.

At least he gets a smile not too much felt, certainly not comparable to her true smiles full of joy, like the one when she had seen Roxy for the first time, when he had shown her his gift... -Thank you, I'm flattered.- it sounds so... fake. -But now, if you allow me, I need to finish this job.- actually they are just paperwork that she could complete even from her house, because they will take away her access tomorrow. -I don't want to leave anything... unfinished.- he further reduces the distances and stares her with such intensity as to paralyze her. Leaving it, you will still leave something unfinished. You will leave this story in abeyance, what is between us, it will remain forever undefined, we will never know how it could have gone. You're not just abandoning the unit, you're letting go of your family, the people who love you... me.

But, of course, he doesn't say anything of what's on his mind. -Ok.- almost neutral tone. -Even if I can't understand how you can have took it so well...- he chooses to be magnanimous. It's late, Roxy is waiting for him, maybe a midnight walk will help him clear his head. -... good night.- he whispers in a slightly sweeter tone, wishing to place a kiss on her hair, or even on her cheek, he could be satisfied with it.

-Night.- she echoes him, and as soon as he is out, she bursts into tears, overwhelmed by the wave of pain that has done nothing but go up and down her body since she received that damn e-mail.

*** Tell me about you, when you are alone at night and you never sleep...

She didn't even try to sleep. She knew it would be completely useless, she would "wake up" the next morning (or a few hours later, because when she went under the covers the first lights were already visible) with a terrible headache, more tired than she had just stayed up late, as she had actually done.

She preferred to try to take her mind off, reading a book, one of those that usually obliged her to finish it, no matter that she had other commitments, that she should go to work or eat. It worked, but only briefly.

Here, she is parking her Esther for the last time, pressing the elevator button and go down to the fourth floor. She caresses every detail with her eyes, every fragment that manages to capture about those places where she experienced so many different emotions...

She came very early, to avoid meeting the others. She knows it is a cowardly, unjust thing, but she just can't make it to greet them, to live a moment like that. No, she would burst into tears, flood the bullpen. Better to avoid. Better this way. They will forgive her, perhaps, a day not very close.

She crosses the desks area, deserted; she observes them one by one, recognizing the owner of each with affection. She tries hard not to dwell too much on the one with dog statuettes, her gifts, of course. She sighs and continues down the stairs to Prentiss' office. She is the only one already present. She opens the door without knocking.

-Are you already here?- asks the other woman, but she has already understood everything. Damn profilers. Why is it so easy to love them and fall in love with them?

-Yes, I... I'm sorry, Em', I can't do it.- she shrugs. -You know I hate goodbyes. Will you explain it to the others?- the brunette just nods, not particularly convinced. When Penelope comes out, she understands the reason.

They are all there, standing, waiting for her. She feels a hand caress her shoulder. She turns to Emily, who smiles slightly. Together they go down and join the rest of the team. No one talks for a few minutes, then the hugs begin. JJ, sobbing, hugs her tightly, whispering -How could you think of leaving without saying goodbye?- but not demanding an answer. Tara waits for her turn, but is dragged into a female hug. Men observe in the background. The BAU women promise to remain friends and sisters, no matter what happens. And they know that they really mean it.

So, after at least fifteen minutes of giggles, interspersed with tears and anecdotes, they leave her free. And the first one she meets is Spencer, the man who didn't love hugs. He has changed his mind, deeply. They don't exchange a single word, because they don't need it. They have always been kindred souls. They remain hugged for a long time, it seems that there are no other people besides them. To the point that someone starts to feel far more than a pinch of jealousy, and doubts and uncertainties resurface.

When, finally, with the enormous joy of that someone, they separate, it is the latecomer that welcomes her in his arms. Theirs is a patently friendly and fraternal gesture, there is no room for ambiguity, not even trying to strive. Matt strokes her hair and feels her trembling. For this reason, he holds her a little longer.

Then it's Rossi's turn. Not even when Morgan left, he felt all this pain. Because he knew it was the best choice, he didn't want Hank to grow up as Joy, without a father, and as bad as it was, it was pretty easy to accept. But not this time. No, it was all so wrong. -Kitten, oh, kitten...- he sighs, almost in a rattle that suddenly reveals his age.

Only one remains. Why does she always end up putting him last? It is so obvious that he feels as the fifth wheel on the wagon. Fortunately, he doesn’t know that she is used to keeping the best, especially when it comes to food, but also to reading, lastly, to be able to do it... to enjoy it better. In fact, she tries to avoid everything, knowing that she is just fooled herself. Luke drags her in a hug that can be defined with a single adjective: tragic. After a second of stiffness, Penelope abandons herself to his grip and deflates like a balloon, pouring all the tears on him, that she was able to hold back up to that point. It was his fault. His hand that caresses her back so delicately, like her mother did when she was little. And the heat emanating from his body. Its natural scent, which also reminds her of Roxy. And then simply because it's Luke. Luke, and not Alvez. For his part, the man rocks her as if she were a child, making her sway more or less like when they danced slow at Rossi's wedding. In his head he confesses everything. In his head he pleads with her, on his knees, tearing his hair as in Greek tragedies, to not go, because he can't live without her. He wouldn’t even have joined the BAU if he hadn't known a colorfully dressed computer technician, terribly sexy in body and spirit.

It is the sound of a cell phone to revive them. The others would never have had the courage to separate them. What was between them, of whatever specific form it was, was so obvious. Emily pulls out her cell phone and sighs. Everyone knows what it means.

There is a case.

This time they won't have Garcia's abilities at their service.

The woman breaks away from him (and it hurts, without the almost, it hurts her body) and looks at her family one last time. She starts to walk towards the elevator, but they follow her and stay there, staring at her, until the doors close and lead her away, away from her family.

**** When will you return, when? Or will you always be away?

The months pass, so fast and anonymous that, if he stops to think about it, it's almost scary. Garcia is regularly in touch with them, at least once a week, especially through the chat she herself created on WhatsApp. Of course, it is not the same thing, but again, it is better than nothing.

This is what Luke repeats every morning to force himself to get out of bed, he, who had always been an early riser, super active even at dawn. Roxy tries to console him, but this time not even her can help him.

He finds himself more and more frequently re-reading her messages. He caresses the words with his fingertips, smiling with melancholy sweetness. He doesn’t allow himself to think of a single thing: that he misses her (here, he has just done it). He tries to settle for something, but it's hard.

Everything loses its importance when he sees her (it is she, she has no doubts, his heart has recognized her first than his eyes) walking in the park, in flesh and bone, not a fucking message, even a vowel or a short call. He heads towards her feeling like being reborn. It's Sunday, there are no cases to solve. He smiles, just before she notices his presence.

-Hello.- he says, containing himself slightly. She looks at him strangely.

-Hello.- she repeats. The man notices with pleasure that she is wearing one of her floral-themed clothes. He feared that in the new place (whatever it was, since she could not say anything, extra top secret mission) they had forced her to completely change appearance, to homologate her to the mass. Not that he wouldn't find her beautiful, this never.

-How are you?- he asks her. The woman understands that he is really interested in her answer.

-Pretty good.- she seems sincere, the man thinks. -And you?- she doesn’t give him time to reply. -Few days ago I met Lisa and... she told me that you two are no longer together.- silence. -Since six months.- she doesn’t mask in any way the accusatory and disappointed tone. Does she believe that others know it?

-Yes.- he shrugs. -It’s happened.- Penelope opens her beautiful brown eyes and glares at him. -I'm fine, really. Did she tell you it was a common decision?- they start walking again, a little too far for Luke's taste.

-Something like that.- she grants to him.

-Do you want to take a cup of tea with me?- he asks her, even to force her to stop mulling over his relationship with Lisa. She nods. In truth, she accepts only for get real information about the girl who replaced her. The man keeps the door open, making her passing first and enjoying a certain view accordingly. He is able just to avoid helping her sit down. If they had been in a restaurant though, he would surely have done it. They order and he doesn't notice at all the attempts of approach of the waitress, a beautiful curly woman. His former colleague is convinced that it is because he is still in love with Lisa.

As soon as they are alone, she throws herself away. -Then, let's not talk around it. How is she?- but he plays the role of the naive, a part that he does very well.

-How is who?- he asks, frowning.

Penelope shakes her head and sighs, annoyed. -How is the new girl.- she precises.

-Oh.- a shadow passes into his eyes. -You mean Sophie.- Sophie, repeats the woman in her head. Even the name sounds sweet and nice. Luke understands that he won't get away easily. He should say everything. -Well, she is very young, I think she is about the age of Spencer.- he starts to explain. -She graduated in computer science at MIT.- that is, like her, if she hadn't given up everything after her parents died. -It is very organized, precise... nice.- still not enough. She wants more. -Smart.- he adds then. Of course, Emily wouldn't have chosen any unprepared.

-Well.- she sounds like a demanding professor who expects more details to give 30/30 and laudation. -I'm happy for you.- the curly maid comes back, who serves them, almost pouring the contents of Penelope's cup on the table, as too intent on staring her partner. But it is only a dilation, a temporary suspension. -And then?- she asks him, in fact, almost malignant and pleased to put him in difficulty.

-Then what?- she doesn’t understand if he is really so stupid.

-How she is... aesthetically, I mean.- she gestures, pointing herself. It is destined to end badly, there is nothing to do. Needless to oppose fate. -Physically.- she adds.

-Oh.- another embarrassed pause. -She is blonde.- to this adjective, he suddenly starts to giggle, without a sensible reason. Penelope doesn’t catch the fun side. -High. Thin.- ok, this is too much. True, she asked it, but...

-Fantastic.- she comments. She stands up and risks to overturn the entire table. -Now... I have to go.- he grabs her quick hand like an iguana's tongue when sees a prey to catch. What a beautiful image that came to his mind.

-But we haven’t yet drunk our tea.- he says, quietly, rationally. Perhaps he thinks that this is enough to keep her here, to make her hear the praise of Sophie, blonde, thin, tall, smart... She is behaving like an idiot, even if only in her head.

-It doesn't matter, some other time then.- she instead replies, with a sad and resentful tone.

But he doesn't let her go. -Penelope.- he never calls her by name. He manages to capture her attention.

-What?- she snorts, falling back into her chair. The patrons who followed the entire scene as if they were shooting a famous Argentine soap opera, immediately stop, pretending to be very busy.

Luke is still holding her hand, but he has moved to cover her fingers. -Sophie is smart, nice, pretty, but it's nothing comparable to you.- he declares with tone and above all an intense look. That look. She slips her hand from his.

She stares at the amber liquid in front of her, almost hoping to see the answer to her problems inside. -Uh, I appreciate the attempt, but you've always been a bad liar.- the man bangs his fist on the table. Give to this cup of tea a medal, it has survived more attempts than those to assassinate the president of the United States in any VHS action movie.

-It's not a lie, I'm serious.- the man insists, trying to catch her eyes; but she doesn’t grant him. She is not so stupid as not to know how it would end. -She can’t fill the void you left.- he continues undaunted. -She will never replace you.- does he not understand that every sentence of it is like a stabbed in her stomach? Why is he not silent? -It’s clear?- he asks her instead, suddenly being hard.

-Yes, clear.- she teases him and it's a good feeling. He was no longer used to it. -But now I really have to go...- she stands up and leaves him alone, shaking his head; actually in the company of Abraham Lincoln.

***** When will you return? Just tell me if, only if, if you're still just here...

It's ironic. It has been another three months since he last met her, that she only let him in that bar, and he had a thousand reasons to do what he is only now finally accomplishing. And yet, it was enough to talk about the thing with someone totally foreign to the story. Sophie, dear Sophie. Prentiss was naturally right. It wouldn't have been right to blame her. No, not really. Also, because she helped him. Without her, not as good as Garcia, but... in short, without her he wouldn't be here.

He wouldn’t be able to spy on the woman he is in love with while she is working, she exchanges a few words with her colleagues, she looks for a second her phone and smiles. Perhaps another wouldn’t have been able to observe her so comfortably, but he was a former hunter of men. This was his bread and butter. He missed that thrill.

So different with those normal clothes, from mere mortals, exactly as she had imagined, but always she, always sexy. Sometimes the content of a book is so strong that it doesn't matter which cover it represents. She looks like a manager, her hair straight and without frills, her wardrobe completely gray. Better than beige, he thinks, smiling. Even the glasses are dark, black, though. Above all he observes the way she interacts with colleagues, how her smiles are forced and fake. She seems so fragile and lost, like a fish out of water. He stays in his post so long as his back is in pain.

But it's worth it and every pain vanishes when he finally sees her come out of that door, immersed in a multitude of anonymous people. Even in this costume she stands out like a butterfly in the midst of moths. He leaves his hiding place and walks to meet her. -Garcia.- hearing her name, she jolts, bringing a hand to her chest.

But she has recognized the voice. -Alvez, you made me take an heart attack.- she reproaches him with familiarity, immediately putting him at ease. -What are you doing here?- what she doesn't ask instead is how the hell did he get here since her work place is a secret assignment.

But Luke looks different from last time. Stronger and more aware. Yes, really aware. She begins to tremble, and not just from the cold. -I came to surprise you.- he smiles, but it's not one of his good, sweet, tender smiles. -See, it's a bit 'that I don’t hear from you...- there is malice in his voice, malice of those who want something more than just having fun flirting.

But she tries to ignore it. -I have been very busy.- any sentence, the first one that came to her mind. It looks like it's out of a bad movie. -I'm not yet used to the rhythms of the office...- but she doesn't last long. At the end, she falls into those eyes. -Why do you look at me like that?- the man tries to contain himself, but it's too hard, a losing game.

-Nothing, just... you're so different that I almost don't recognize you.- so spontaneous, so devoid of filters. So damn Luke. Shit. Shit. Shit.

She's clever enough to hide the battle that's happening inside her. -Even!- she exclaims in a somewhat exaggerated and shrill tone. -I only wear ordinary mortal clothes.- just the same words he had used in his head. -So... how are you?- she only asks him to change the subject, and he understands it.

-Do you mean me or the team?- this time he's too smart, the right opposite of naive. She shrugs her shoulders. -Both are pretty good, Sophie is integrating, but, you know...- he had to name her, yes, he just couldn't help it. Blonde, smart, skinny, MIT graduate...

She speaks to block the destructive flow of one's thoughts. -Yes, "she can’t replace me" and bla bla.- she sighs. She's tired, she hates this job, she really hates it, it's worse than the other to the cybercrime unit. Much worse. -Listen to me, Luke. I know she won't replace me, there's no need for you to insist.- a yawn escapes and she doesn't try to hold it. -As Rossi said once, there are many agents who have entered and left the team, and everyone has had their own identity, a role of their own.- this time it is she who looks him in the eye. -An own path.- and she manages to put him in difficulty.

-Yes, but...- she shakes her head.

-I'm tired.- she says then, since he really doesn't want to get there. -Tomorrow it will be another very heavy day.- silence. -If you came here for another reason, then, talk. Otherwise...- it sounds like the last warning before declaring two people husband and wife. But what damned thought is this? Luke inadvertently shakes his head to chase it away. If he begins to imagine Penelope in white dress, is over. -...I would like you to let me go home.- she concludes.

Luke understands that he must jump in, now or never. -Penelope, you don't understand. I'm not here on behalf of the team, I'm not here because the pace of case resolution is slowed down, despite all of Sophie's efforts.- a selfish thrill of pleasure in hearing him say it. What kind of person has she become? She wasn't like that before. -I didn’t come here as a former colleague.- she focuses on his words, to forget what she feels.

-No?- she looks around. It is getting dark. The night falls quickly in this part of the city. Quick as a killer on his victim. -Then, I just don't get there.- the man nods, confusing her if possible more.

-I don't miss you just as a colleague.- he starts to talk freely. -I miss you as a person. I miss hearing your voice, your jokes, seeing your smile, meeting your eyes... I miss your presence at O'Keefe and... I miss you so much.- Penelope opens her eyes, mentally listens again to what he has said, convincing herself that she has misinterpreted, then accepts it, but with some premises.

She approaches his face, but only to smell his breath. -Luke, did you drink before you got here?- she asks. -Are you sure you feel good?- she places a hand on his forehead, which is not warm. She's not teasing him, maybe; she really believes it.

-Yes, fuck, I'm fine, and no, I'm sober.- he bends over her, but with other intentions. - Do you need further proof to believe it?- her expression is like a yes. He doesn’t let her respond and gives her a short kiss. She doesn’t even have time to realize that it has happened, that it is already over.

But nothing, her fears are much stronger than he could imagine. -I think I understand what's going on, you're a little dazed because you haven't accepted the situation yet.- she explains in a perfectly reasonable tone, unable to eliminate the sensation of the man's lips on her body. She will never forget it. Oh, Luke, why did you do it? -It happened to me too with Derek.- he looks at her as if she had three heads, so he slaps his forehead, having to vent his frustration.

-According to you I would have kissed you just because I'm in the denial phase?- he tests her and she nods.

-Yup. I probably would have done it too, except that Morgan was married and that was the reason he had to leave...- he is almost tempted to silence her with another kiss, a little longer, a little longer and explicit. But he wants her to kiss him back the next time. He wants to feel her completely immersed in their gesture.

-Enough.- he exclaims with an authoritative tone, what he had when he was head of a team of recruits in the rangers. -Don't say another word. Did you come here by car?- he grabs her by the arm, not very gently.

-Yes, because...- without needing to say anything she understands and leads him to the car. Not even a second to take a breath, he pushes her in, but instead of the passenger. He sits behind the steering wheel and closes the doors. The car is not Esther, so she can't run away. It is one of those minivans that companies lately love to give to their employees.

He turns to her. -Penelope, I didn't kiss you because I'm confounded, crazy or unable to accept reality.- he allows her a moment to metabolize. -But simply because I'm in love with you, and if I can't have you in my workplace... I want at least have you in my life.- he has said, he has really said it. He is not so stupid as to believe he can find a way to bring her back to the BAU. But there is not only that way to see each other.

He sees from the way she looks at him that she is beginning to believe him. -Luke, you're not serious...- she's challenging him to deny. And he is in.

-You really need another demonstration...- he leans forward to grab her chin between two fingers and kisses her again, longer, then taking her hands to rest them on his chest, so she can feel the beat of his heart, while his hands hold her face. This time Penelope kisses him back, passing a new level, passing the baton to their tongues, until both of them are in oxygen debt.

-Did you come on foot?- she asks, and her whole attitude has changed. Luke nods. -Then I'll give you a ride to your house.- but she's sitting on the wrong side. He grabs her hand and places a kiss on the back of it. An ancient gesture that suits on him terribly.

He turns on the engine, but after a few miles he breaks the silence, which in this case is not due to embarrassment, as in the previous ones. -What are you thinking, honey?- a nickname is enough to make her vibrate like a jackhammer. She can now stop denying having wanted to hear it from the first time he called her chica.

She tells him the truth, instead of censoring herself like she would have done less than five minutes ago. -I still can't believe that you... It seems absurd to me.- she is not talking at all about only the physical aspect, and the man understands it perfectly. It is as if, after kissing her, her mind was cleared. Now he sees everything with such lucidity.

-There is nothing absurd.- he places his hand on the gearbox to down shift from third gear to the second and after a few moments feels a sweet weight. -You are a wonderful person and I am sure that your new colleagues have already noticed.- she accepts the compliment, but doesn’t want to talk about work.

-I don’t know. It is very different from the BAU...- how could it not be? She feels stupid for having expressed such a foolish thought. But the way he looks at her, as soon as they find themselves at a busy intersection, it reassures her that he doesn't think it at all.

-I know, baby- a new nickname, it sounds so different from those coming out of Derek's mouth -but you don't have to feel alone. You will always be part of the team and you can come to the evenings at O'Keefe... as my girlfriend.- he blushes to the tips of his ears, but he is satisfied with himself as never before.

-Luke Alvez, are you really asking me that?- it is at this point that the man understands how it is necessary to go to phase two (or three). He puts the arrow and approaches a clearing lit by a single lamppost. She watches him, his every move, trying to figure out what he wants to do. He gets out, slams the driver door, goes around, opens the passenger door and gets her down too. Then he sits down, taking her in his arms, intertwining their legs and starting to kiss her again from the point where they were interrupted. At one point, Penelope opens her eyes and leaves his mouth. A loud pop is heard. -Oh, Luke, I feel something solid, and I don't think it's the gearbox.- yes, from her position it would be a little impossible.

He nods, staring at her intensely. She lets herself melt, she doesn’t oppose. -Yes. Now do you believe it?- because there is something presses against her thigh, it's a bit hard to ignore it or consider it as her hallucination.

-I think I do.- she throws all the air out and a little cloud forms between their faces. -It's a good thing that this is a company machine, otherwise you would have already laid me on the back seats, right?- it's a joke, but she is also profoundly serious. The mix between candor and malice is decidedly explosive and it is only thanks to twelve years of Catholic school if Luke doesn’t concretize the words of his girlfriend.

-Touché.- he says, moving back to his seat. The rest of the journey continues in silence. When they see the apartment building where his apartment is located, they both feel their heart skip a beat. He parks, she goes down, but not to take his place. He grabs the keys and sets the alarm on, blocking all the doors, including the trunk. She accompanies him to the door. This gesture, which usually belongs to males, excites him even more. He smears her against the jamb, but the handle planted in her back prevents her from letting go completely. -Are you sure you don't want to stay?- he asks her between kisses. Penelope is really tempted. A little more pressure in the right places...

-Mmm, no, I really can't, there's Sergio alone and then...- a spark in her eyes -on the first date you shouldn't even kiss your pretender, you don't know?- he catches all the hints and bends the face in a pout childish.

-Then, I have to give you the good night.- he sighs, but instead of bending down to catch her lips, he opens the door. -Listen, Roxy, how disappointed she is...- the dog is actually staring at her as if asking her what she is doing there, outside, in the doorway.

-You are a bastard, Alvez.- and so they enter the house. Roxy searches her, as if she hasn't seen her for a year (well, almost). And when the dog finishes, the owner starts again, precisely from his gray blouse.

-I always wanted you to wear one to remove it...- he whispers in her ear. Here, everything has its positive sides, she is able to think. -If you want me to stop, as hard as it is, literally hard, if you understand what I mean... I'll do it.- ruined, with these last words Penelope is ruined. -If you don't feel ready...- she grabs him by the neck and overturn the situation.

-What the hell.- now he too is bare-chested. -But remind you that tomorrow I have to get up early.- the echo of Luke's laughter accompanies her up to the moment before sleep catches her. How peacefully you can rest, when nothing is pending.

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TAGS: @arses21434 @martinab26 @reidskitty13 @thinitta @garvezz @mercedes-maldonado @shyladystudentfan @criminalminds14 @pegasus-scifichick @paperwalk @inlovewithgarvaz @the-ellen-stuff @astressedwriter @kdramanmore @kamieshep @sk1l4targ @badrwadan majo0803 @ilovecatswwehp @isaurebnnd @symphonyashley @jess-the-introvert

#garvez #criminal minds #cm #penelope garcia #luke alvez #BAU team #penelope x luke #luke x penelope #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia #tiziano ferro #quando ritornerai

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p-redux · 5 years

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From Anon...

Hi Anon, no I haven’t heard any updates. The last info I heard was that Sam and Mackenzie were indeed broken up. I don’t know anything concretely after that. My post yesterday was to point out THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED because I found them interesting. That’s all. After that, people can make up what THEY think of them without any help from me...like grown adults. What a concept. :-)

As for MY opinion on whether Sam and Mackenzie are back together...I don’t know. But Mackenzie following Romann RIGHT WHEN Romann is in Paris with Sam makes me think that either Sam and Mackenzie are broken up, but left the door open with a case of “see ya when I see ya” type of agreement, and now that Sam FINALLY has a real break maybe they decided “see ya,” OR they got back together and decided to give it another try, OR maybe Mackenzie saw Romann’s posts with Sam and thought he was an adorable little French brioche like the rest of us do, and decided “hey, I’m not following this cutie, and he’s following me,” and clicked “Follow.” WHO KNOWS? I don’t. And I’m not saying I do. Again, all us grownups can make up our OWN MINDS as to what our thoughts and opinions are.

As for your statement “let’s not be coy,” now, Anon, where’s the fun in that? ;-)

#samheughan #mackenziemauzy #romann berrux #paris #coy

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lepetitlugourmand · 4 years

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La Nature a repris ses droits au restaurant Le Mirazur, magistralement interprétée et sublimée par le Chef triplement étoilé le plus emblématique de notre époque : Mauro Colagreco. En effet, depuis sa réouverture en juin dernier, et après trois mois de confinement, le meilleur restaurant au Monde ( élu en 2019 par “The World’s 50 Best” ) s’est réinventé avec une nouvelle philosophie entièrement vouée au rythme et aux cycles des forces de la Nature. Ces forces varient chaque jour, selon la position de la Lune et déterminent les moments où l’énergie est la plus favorable et concentrée dans chaque partie de la plante – Une nouvelle expérience à vivre, là où la Lune fait vibrer les assiettes.

Le Chef et son épouse Julia, tous deux à l’hyperactivité créatrice, ont comme beaucoup subi les premiers mois de non activité et de lenteur inhabituelle, mais très vite, ils ont su faire profit de cette période inédite pour se rapprocher au plus près de la Nature environnante pour mieux la comprendre : en l’observant, l’écoutant vivre et grandir. Déjà très proche de la Nature, le chef a été l’un des premiers à insuffler et à instaurer dans son établissement une dynamique et une conscience des valeurs respectueuses de l’environnement ( produits de proximité, artisans locaux, saisonnalité, éthique et protection des espèces….); de nos jours, la plupart des chefs ont sauté le pas et appliquent dans leur cuisine cette idéologie primordiale et salutaire.

Peu de temps après l’ouverture de son établissement, le Chef Mauro Colagreco a été, là aussi, visionnaire, en cultivant ses propres légumes dans les jardins environnants du Mirazur. Une nature inspirante nichée, suspendue comme en apesanteur, entre mer et montagne, qui s’exprime dans toute sa force et offre un spectacle féérique et concret à la fois. Actuellement, l’établissement peut s’appuyer sur ses 5 jardins d’une superficie totale de trois hectares, travaillés avec les techniques de la permaculture, et peut s’approvisionner quotidiennement, tout au long de l’année. Une fois par semaine, un membre de l’équipe des cuisines et de la salle vont travailler à tour de rôle dans les jardins, afin de mieux connaitre les produits qu’ils vont cuisiner ou servir. Ces Jardins-vergers sont de véritables sanctuaires vivants, qu’il est possible de visiter sur demande.

Le Chef italo-argentin aux nombreuses récompenses, au parcours fulgurant et exemplaire, est arrivé en France en 2001 et s’est “construit” chez les plus grands : de Bernard Loiseau à Alain Passard, en passant par Alain Ducasse ( au Plaza Athénée ) et Guy Martin. Très vite, il a eu l’envie et le besoin de s’exprimer dans toute sa dimension en ouvrant son propre établissement en 2006 avec Le Mirazur. Six mois plus tard, le chef est élu “Révélation de l’année” par le Guide Gault & Millau et en 2007 le Mirazur reçoit sa première étoile au Guide Michelin. En 2009, le chef est élu “Cuisinier de l’année” par le Guide Gault & Millau, puis la seconde étoile arrive en 2012. A partir de là, chaque année, le chef verra arriver une distinction que cela soit : “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, “Grand Chef” par Relais & Châteaux, “Chef de l’année” et “Meilleur Chef au monde” par le magazine Le Chef … jusqu’à la consécration des trois étoiles en 2019 qui sera accompagnée du classement à la première place par The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. En 2020, le Mirazur conserve ses trois étoiles et devient lauréat de la nouvelle catégorie du Guide Michelin “Gastronomie Durable 2020” et est également le premier restaurant au monde à obtenir la certification « Plastic Free ».

En effet, le chef Mauro Colagreco, aux idées subjuguantes et brillantes, raconte une histoire : celle d’un terroir riche et opulent qu’il s’est approprié pour créer sa propre cuisine “locale pleine d’influences”, vouée entièrement à la Méditerranée dans toute sa grandeur entre Mer, Jardin et Montagne. Une cuisine “cosmique” parfaitement enracinée qui va à l’essentiel et à l’épure du produit, qui émeut et réveille tous les sens.

Depuis sa réouverture, le Mirazur vous offre la possibilité de “vivre et de déguster la Nature” dans toute sa vérité et intensité avec une réelle expérience multi-sensorielle unique qui sera différente suivant le jour de votre visite car basée sur le calendrier biodynamique. Quatre menus et univers distincts fondés sur les quatre forces formatrices attribuées aux différentes parties de la plante : Jour Racines ( terre ), Jour Feuilles ( eau ), Jour Fleurs ( air ), Jour Fruits ( feu ).

Découverte du menu Univers Mirazur Feuilles : “un voyage guidé par le mouvement de la sève dans les plantes”…

C’est entre Ciel et Terre, à quelques pas de la frontière italienne, au creux de la roche que le Mirazur se niche, superbe bâtisse aux lignes pures de style moderne des années 30. La végétation luxuriante, quasi tropicale, tel un écrin, encercle judicieusement avec malice la propriété. Le bleu azur du ciel plonge sans vergogne à l’infini dans la Méditerranée, contrasté du vert des feuilles des palmiers qui jouent au gré du vent… Vous voilà au Mirazur. C’est dans une sincère et sereine délicatesse que l’on vous accueille et vous accompagne à emprunter l’escalier qui vous conduit simplement au plus près de la Nature, dans les extraordinaires jardins aromatiques du Mirazur. Vous voilà, intrigué, fasciné, enjoué et émerveillé de voir cette grande nappe à carreaux rouge et blanc, délicatement posée sur l’herbe à l’ombre d’un figuier, d’un citronnier ou d’un olivier, faisant face à une mer limpide et assagie… vous comprenez que tout commence par un fascinant et élégant pique-nique et vous avez alors la sensation de vivre un moment unique en toute simplicité vraie dans le meilleur restaurant au monde. On vous propose, pour vous remettre de vos émotions en douceur et pour vous immerger progressivement dans l’univers Feuille, un verre d’eau infusée Menthe/Verveine-citronnée. La coupe de champagne ou le Negroni commandé est posé avec attention et simplicité sur un rond de bois brut, puis arrive, telle une offrande, un panier en osier à l’élégance champêtre des Britanniques du début du siècle en villégiature sur la Riviera… soudain une frénétique envie d’en soulever son couvercle s’empare de vous pour y découvrir un véritable buisson d’amuse-bouches végétal à la précision d’un jardin à la française.

Pour commencer, des fines feuilles aromatiques de toute ardeur disposées en éventail et liées les unes aux autres par un pesto d’herbes, le tout posé sur un fin cracker vous invitant directement dans l’Univers Feuilles.

Juste à côté se trouve un petit ramequin de fines salades, croquantes, tel un gressin végétal que l’on trempe dans la crème montée de tetragone (épinard sauvage) qui rappelle la saveur des oeufs mimosa.

Des mini-cônes croustillants de patate douce farcis aux herbes et trèfles, une belle association de texture qui met en appétit, tout comme le cannelé moelleux. Une autre surprise vous attend dans un panier vapeur où se cache de très légers Bao ( petite brioche vapeur asiatique ) à la farine de sarrasin farcis tel un barbajuan aux herbes, un véritable petit “péché” qui vous donne cette impétueuse envie d’en déguster sans fin.

Mini-cônes croustillants de patate douce farcis aux herbes et trèfles / Cannelés moelleux / Bao ( petite brioche vapeur asiatique ) à la farine de sarrasin farcis tel un barbajuan ©lepetitlugourmand

Après ces instants bucoliques dans cette atmosphère détendue et décomplexée, on vous invite et escorte avec des regards pétillants et attentionnés d’un sourire masqué jusqu’à votre table à l’étage afin de découvrir la suite de votre expérience gastronomique multi-sensorielle. Vous voilà serein et détendu, immédiatement happé par la vue panoramique en constant mouvement de rose, de bleu, de rouge, d’un ciel s’enflammant au coucher du soleil d’un soir d’été. La salle à l’épure moderne et naturelle, les tables de bois d’un brut maitrisé, mais sensuel, où sont posées de grandes feuilles à la texture velours vous accompagnent dans votre parcours végétal et vous libère d’artifices pompeux parfois pesants.

Tout commence par un rituel ancestral qui apporte toute sa signification et prend tout son sens actuellement : la purification des mains, dans une superbe bassine individuelle en céramique d’un limpide bleu-vert emplie d’eau tiède à l’huile essentielle de “Tea-Tree” et de feuilles de sauge-verveine aux vertus nettoyantes et désinfectantes.

Le pain de partage Bordier déposé dans un plat en bois d’olivier est d’une gourmandise addictive, la recette venant de la grand-mère du chef est respectée dans la tradition de générosité, ici pétri avec le beurre de la maison Bordier. Ce pain de plaisirs délivre un parfum beurré des goûters d’autrefois. Mais il n’est pas interdit de le tremper dans l’huile d’olive parfumée à la livèche de l’Huilerie Saint-Michel à Menton.

Bassine individuelle en céramique d’eau tiède à l’huile essentielle de “Tea-Tree” et de feuilles de sauge-verveine. ©lepetitlugourmand

Emietté de tourteau et cube de céleri, voile d’un bouillon de carcasses, feuilles d’oxalis : sublime assiette en filigrane des feuilles d’oxalis et du voile d’une transparence rare. A la première bouchée, vous voilà percuté de fraîcheur de pleine mer pure et iodée de la chair du tourteau, venant juste d’être décortiqué. Les dés de céleri légèrement en croque donnent une identité délicate en fin de bouche. Le voile de carcasses où sont pétrifiées les feuilles d’oxalis apporte une texture élégante et subtile d’une note herbacée qui arrondit le tourteau.

Pour suivre dans le Jardin et la Mer, on plonge à saveurs perdues dans l’incroyable Raviole feuille de capucine et Gamberoni de San Remo. Une gamberoni amoureusement enlacée de feuilles de capucines et tiédie par un bouillon des carcasses d’une finesse rare et clair comme de l’eau de roche, mais aux saveurs puissantes, en équilibre parfait. La gamberoni est ferme et fondante à la fois, tel un beurre iodé : véritable bonbon de gourmandise à la pureté des goûts. La tige de capucine à la saveur poivrée renforcée de l’huile de laurier finalise et parachève avec éclat l’ensemble pour une belle longueur en bouche. Un seul mot vient directement en tête : Umami. Une assiette d’une émotion gustative incroyable qui transcende le corps et l’esprit à la fois.

Coeur de salade rôtie sucrine, pickles de navet et amandes fraiches, crème vermouth Noilly Prat : éclat croquant d’une sucrine à peine cueillie et rôtie dans l’instant. Les pickles d’un navet proche de la terre et d’une amande vive et laiteuse renforcent les textures et lient le tout. La crème de Noilly Prat est non sans rappeler les plats de poissons et crustacés d’autrefois, ici dans une version végétale à la gastronomie moderne et réconfortante, qui stimule et flatte subtilement le palais.

Calamar de Bordighera, pomme verte granny smith et tétragone : le calamar est ingénieusement snacké à plancha japonaise, qui lui donne une double texture en iode affirmée entre croustillant et fondant, ravivé en finesse par la pomme cuite. Le curry vert au gingembre et tétragone apporte une belle puissance en équilibre herbacée, renforcée par les feuilles de citronniers en empreinte. Un ensemble qui balance et “crépite” de saveurs en bouche, tel un sucre pétillant.

Coquillages et pesto au basilic du Pra’ est une assiette qui virevolte en force et délicatesse, entre mer des coquillages et montagne du pesto ( à base du basilic du Pra’, petite ville proche de Gênes, coincée entre mer et montagne, réputée pour son basilic au goût puissant et anisé ). On découvre sous cette intense mer de pesto, les pistes, les vongole, les moules d’une cuisson merveilleusement ajustée. Les courgettes trompettes et les pois mange-tout sont le jardin croquant et le parmesan mâturé apporte à l’ensemble une intensité velours et une gourmandise à l’infini des pâtes au pistou.

Comme une sorte d’intervalle, le pain maison, cuit au four à bois dans les jardins du Mirazur, est fabriqué à base de farine de seigle de Roland Feuillas ( le meunier-boulanger humaniste à Cucugnan, qui produit également la farine pour la pizzeria Pecora Negra du chef Mauro à Menton ). Ce pain d’autrefois, qui raconte le terroir aux farines anciennes, accompagné du beurre d’algues est une transition en douceur vers le plat de poisson.

Pain maison, cuit au four à bois dans les jardins du Mirazur, est fabriqué à base de farine de seigle de Roland Feuillas et Beurre d’Algues ©lepetitlugourmand

Turbot feuille de shiso et pickles, gel de shiso : est à nouveau un plat Umami. Le turbot en décolleté de sa “robe” feuille de shiso, se laisse admirer de sa cuisson exemplaire à la nacre brillante et esthétique, telle une fine traîne, la sauce texturée et onctueuse infusée au saké de Kochi enrobe et percute le tout avec élégance. Les saveurs sont vivantes, tri-dimensionnelles et enveloppantes à la fois.

Tel un buisson de verdure séché par la chaleur estivale, le Millefeuilles d’herbes et d’algues s’est posé sur l’agneau de Castellane confit juteux et mordant de saveurs, soutenu par la truculente tuile de sésame. Les feuilles de moutarde et algues wakamé séchées apportent une structure enjouée, aux notes salines renforcées par le jus d’agneau à l’algue Kombu confit.

L’impressionnante sélection de fromages judicieusement affinés, n’est certes pas une obligation, mais un sillage inévitable pour certains. Il ne faut surtout pas manquer les chèvres et tomes de l’arrière pays accompagnés d’une fine et ardente salade et d’un pain à la fine feuille craquante.

Le premier dessert : Figue dessert sous un figuier en été est une belle histoire de famille et de transmission. Les figues viennent du figuier situé en contre bas dans le jardin, venant d’une bouture de celui du grand-père du chef en Argentine. Le granité de feuilles de figues est parfaitement en place pour rafraîchir et réveiller les papilles, tout comme la gelée et la panna-cotta de figues qui confortent le tout.

Chocolat du Pérou 70%, feuilles de pimprenelle – Dans un menu dégustation la création chocolat est toujours tant attendue. Les chips d’un chocolat puissant craquent d’une glace végétale à la pimprenelle prise en sandwich tel un cookie glacé et la noisette apporte une envergure renforcée et rassurante au chocolat.

Les 5 mignardises finalisent admirablement ce menu Feuilles pour un dernier hommage à la Nature et à ses forces gustatives et variées : Basilic / Sauge- fleur de lait / Mélisse / Dés de chèvre, crème de capucine et Chocolat romarin. De véritables bouchées d’herbes médicinales et digestives.

Mignardises : Basilic / Sauge- fleur de lait / Mélisse / Dés de chèvre, crème de capucine et Chocolat romarin ©lepetitlugourmand

Un accueil à l’irréfutable délicatesse, le service est tel un ballet contemporain et chaleureux. Les équipes prennent soin de vous à chaque instant, leurs attentions et petits mots ou explications sont une véritable valeur ajoutée d’un trois étoiles admirablement dans l’air du temps. Le Chef et son épouse vous reçoivent en toute amitié complice, sincères, passionnés et ravis de partager avec vous et pour vous leur amour de la Nature et de “leur” Gastronomie.

La carte des vins est ingénieusement étoffées de références très pointues, mais également de grands classiques et belles maisons, le tout à des tarifs raisonnés et doux pour un établissement de cette catégorie.

Dîner au Mirazur est un instant vibrant qui s’ancre dans la mémoire sensorielle et émotionnelle, où tous les sens sont sollicités et magistralement accompagnés avec harmonie et délicatesse, en toute sobriété. Chaque assiette est un acte d’une histoire qui vous transporte au firmament de la haute gastronomie contemporaine. Un désir fou et presque incontrôlable vous envahit alors de vouloir revivre cette expérience à l’infini et de découvrir les trois autres Univers Mirazur aussi vite que possible.

Les Menus en quatre déclinaisons suivant le jour :

Univers Mirazur Racines : la terre nous murmure un menu inspiré par l’ensemble de racines disponibles

Univers Mirazur Feuilles : un voyage guidé par le mouvement de la sève dans les plantes

Univers Mirazur Fleurs : un menu qui met en lumière l’expansion de la beauté avec l’ensemble de fleurs disponibles dans nos jardins

Univers Mirazur Fruits : la force régénératrice de la nature nous inspire un menu avec l’ensemble de fruits disponibles

320€

Mirazur

30, avenue Aristide Briand 06500 Menton Tél : +33 (0)4 92 41 86 86

https://www.relaischateaux.com/fr/france/mirazur-alpes-maritimes-menton

https://lesgrandestablesdumonde.com/

https://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50

Mirazur – Mauro Colagreco – Menton La Nature a repris ses droits au restaurant Le Mirazur, magistralement interprétée et sublimée par le Chef triplement étoilé le plus emblématique de notre époque : Mauro Colagreco.

#Chef #Cuisine créative #France #Gastronomie #Les Grandes Tables du Monde #Mauro Colagreco #MEMBRE DU COLLÈGE CULINAIRE FRANÇAIS #Menton #Mirazur #Relais & Chateaux #Restaurant #Restaurant Côte d&039;Azur #The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants

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