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mrs-kmikaelson · 10 months

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04| The Tribrid

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x daughter!reader, Elijah Mikaelson x niece!reader Summary: A while after the party, you're approached by Elijah at Rousseau's who has a request that you would've never expected. Warnings: none Words: 3.1K

Masterlist | Part 5

I shook a cocktail shaker vigorously before pouring whatever pink liquid it was into a glass and sliding it over to the customer on the other side of the counter, running a hand through my hair right afterward as I glanced around at the full bar.

Full fucking bar and I'm the only person here.

Camille had a date with Marcel tonight, but there was no one else who could possibly take her shift tonight because there was no one else working tonight. I told her I could cover for her because I had experience bartending in the eighties, but I didn't know it was gonna be like this.

I guess there was some sort of festival going on tonight, but in New Orleans, when isn't there?

It's been a week since the Mikaelsons through their party, a week since I had my 'family reunion', and I haven't seen any of them since. Don't know if I'm happy about that or not.

I sighed, tossing back a shot of my own before moving onto the next customer. I'll overthink later.

"Drinking on the job?" Or not.

Speak of the fucking devil, because I looked up and, sitting in the stool in front of me, was Elijah Mikaelson. He had a small, playful smirk on his lips, leaned back in his chair nonchalantly, but not in a way that made him look like he wasn't alert, but in a way that showed the world he wouldn't even dream of someone stepping to him.

I forced a laugh, wiping down a glass while I responded, "Yeah, well it's a little hard to be surrounded by all this and not get any." He smiled, nodding while I threw the rag over my shoulder. Inside, I was shaking, but I tried my hardest to treat him like he was any other person so he wouldn't take notice.

I raised my brows. "Let me guess, whiskey? No- bourbon?" I didn't wait for a reply and grabbed the bottle while Elijah chuckled.

"Bourbon would be nice, thank you, Y/N," he said. I wonder if he had an inkling how freaked out I was that he remembered my name.

Half of me was hoping they'd forget all about me. The other half, well... I tried not to give that one a microphone.

I handed him the glass in a hurry, hoping to get away from him as fast as possible, but of course, the universe wasn't so kind because he stopped me, calling my name when I turned around.

Fuckkkk. I screwed my eyes shut before spinning back around with that perfect customer service smile on my face.

"Good luck," he said, and my brows furrowed. He saw the confusion on my face and nodded to the rest of the bar, elaborating, "With the customers." I held in a sigh of relief and smiled to him in thanks, moving on.

I'd normally ask customers how they were doing, what brought them to Rousseau's, but not only did I not have enough time what with all the customers, but I also did not feel like making conversation with Elijah Mikaelson after I've been drinking.

So, to resolve my frazzled state that was typically caused by drinking, I drank some more. And I continued to work, per usual, trying to bring my mind back to positive memories of me in the past instead of the dramas of my present.

I was in auto-pilot, serving customers while drifting off into a world of my own, thinking about a time when I wasn't so obsessed with finding my family. The reason why was that I already had one.

My mother and I were very close when I was young, and she did everything she could to protect me before the world took her from me, taking me in the process. Niklaus, obviously, was never in the picture.

He and his entire family did not even know I existed. For all I knew, Klaus just had a one-night stand with my mother and never saw her again. So there was no way he could ever find out who I was, not on his own. But Elijah... Elijah was as smart as Klaus was strong. I didn't want to talk to him too often and have him put together any puzzle pieces.

The night went on without any interruptions. I periodically checked the clock. Rousseau's closed a bit later than usual bars since it was in the middle of the Quarter, but I only had about an hour left before both my shift was over and the bar closed. Thank the heavens.

Things were going as smoothly as far as I could tell what with me half listening to everything going on, but suddenly, I was brought back to my sense by someone yelling.

My head shot up and, on the other side of the bar, I saw two people I recognized almost immediately, a man and a woman. The man was a member of Marcel's crew, and the girl was a witch I was familiar with since Marcel left the witch dealings to me back when practicing magic wasn't punishable by fucking death.

The vampire, Dimitri, was yelling obscenities at Talia, the witch, as she yelled over him. He went to shove her and, without thinking, I rushed over in a blur and blocked him with my arm, separating them both.

"Break it up right. now," I ordered, glaring at them both but mostly Dimitri. He always bugged me. The bar was less full now and I could tell that people had stopped to watch the encounter.

Talia crossed her arms and Dimitri glared back at me. "She's being a fucking bitch, Y/N-"

She scoffed, "Oh, would you just-"

I raised my voice. "Both of you, enough!" They both stopped and stared at me. "As far as I'm concerned, neither of you should even be talking to each other right now, much less arguing or physically fighting. That's violating so many different agreements at once." This time Dimitri scoffed and so I turned to him, raising a brow, feeling the annoyance in me bubble. "What, do you have something to say?"

He looked at me and smirked in a way that made me want to bite into his neck or turn his blood to acid, and responded, "Yeah- those were your rules when Marcel ran the city and let his bitch boss us around-"

I cut him off, an incredulous look on my face. "His what?"

He ignored me. "But the Mikaelsons are in charge now, and he is not," he boasted. "Which means- neither are you." His smirk widened like he'd just made some huge declaration, like he was in the one in control here.

But he couldn't be more wrong. You see, Marcel left negotiations to me, knowing I could talk to people a little better than he could. And since I kept the peace for him, he let me make a few rules. I was in charge, and I'd be damned if I let some newbie vampire think he bested me.

I took a step closer to him, ready to fucking tell him how it is, but before I could even get a word out, someone had sped right next to me and cut me off.

I looked up, startled, and was even more surprised when I saw that the man that had sped over was Elijah. Fan-fuckin-tastic.

Talia took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself while Dimitri swallowed. Elijah smiled a tight-lipped smile, staring at Dimitri in a way that would be perceived to be friendly if it were anyone else, but with him, it just looked condescending. With one gaze, he was saying he was better than you without ever really having to say it.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but I would rather not stand and watch this altercation from the sidelines," he expressed. "See, in my time, you'd treat a woman with respect, and it looks to me that you are treating both of these young women with anything but." I held back a snort at the 'young' bit. I'm older than Dimitri by a long shot, but I get the memo.

Dimitri stuttered back, but couldn't form a response. "I-"

"You what? You think that because the Mikaelsons are in charge now that you can run amuck and act as you please?" Elijah paused as if he was waiting for an answer and scoffed when he didn't get one. "Well, I am a Mikaelson," he announced, "and right now I am granting you the privilege of walking away from this because, from what I can see, Y/N holds more relevance than you do or ever have." Not once did he glare at Dimitri, simply holding his stare strongly, and Dimitri most definitely tried to hold that stare in challenge, but after a few seconds, he gave up, swallowing, and walking away quickly.

Elijah's lips curved slightly before they were forced down as he held back a smirk, turning to me and Talia. She nodded at Elijah--in thanks, I'd assume--and he reciprocated the action before she, too, walked away, leaving just me and him standing there.

I looked around at the rest of the bar and realized that everyone left was supernatural in one way or another, or at least knew about it because everyone had returned to their own conversations, not even batting an eye at the inhuman speed displayed.

Elijah glanced around too before looking back to me and nodding towards the door. I quickly understand the motion and nodded back. He wanted to get away from the prying ears, but I could do him one better.

I raised my voice and exclaimed to the crowd, "Sorry guys, party's over!" I heard a few groans and Elijah raised a brow at me, but I ignored it. It was closing time, anyway. "You can go home now! Like right now." I saw some people about to protest, but one look from Elijah and they were silenced. They did not want to fuck with that.

The clear-out was one of the fastest ones I'd ever seen, especially on a night like this, but in minutes, the bar was empty. When I was sure no one else was around, I finally looked at Elijah and felt my previous nervousness return, but still chastised, "I had that handled."

Instead of being offended, he gave me that same smile he's been smiling all night and told me, "I know. But I couldn't help myself." Although that was meant to be somewhat of an apology, there was a smugness in it that I couldn't stand.

I hummed in a way I hope 'bullshit' was conveyed, turning around the clean up the bar. He chuckled. Good, message received then.

Even I was a little surprised with how bold I was being, but I guess that, even after 500 years, alcohol still gave me a little courage.

I picked up the glasses people had left scattered, putting them into the sink and tidying everything up so that, tomorrow, Camille wouldn't have to deal with any of it.

"So you handled business for Marcel?" I glanced at him to see his hand casually tucked into a pocket of his slack. Again, it was such a small, insignificant stance, but there was just something about it that made you want to fold into yourself.

I looked back to the glasses I was scrubbing, affirming, "Yeah, I'd negotiate with all sides to come to agreements we could all, well, agree on, I guess."

His lip quirked up as he sat down on a barstool right in front of me. I wordlessly handed him a glass and a bottle of bourbon, and the small quirk of his lips became a grin.

While he poured himself a glass, I kept working on the dishes and decided to make small talk so I didn't look like an alien creature that didn't know how to communicate with others.

"You've been here a while, and it's just after closing now. What's the occasion- or is it more of a you just needed a drink kind of occasion?"

Even though my back was turned, it was still like I could sense him smirking. "It's the latter," he revealed. "In fact, I'm drinking because of the disagreements within the factions."

"Oh?" I kept scrubbing.

He continued, "Yes. It's the same story every time: everyone wants power and no one is satisfied with what they have."

I snorted, "Yeah, Tears For Fears wasn't kidding. Everybody really does want to rule the world." And that was a joke, but it was completely true, especially in a city like New Orleans.

"Precisely that, Y/N. And Niklaus-" I refrained from taking in a breath. "Oh, my brother is not handling it well." I'd imagine he wasn't. From what I've heard about Klaus, he didn't take kindly to people trying take what he thought was rightfully his. That's why he tried banishing Marcel, even though he was meant to be like a son to him.

I scoffed at that in my head. Klaus was a father to Marcel, raised Marcel, and was gonna raise another child in the near future, and yet he'd never even met me.

My brain was bombarded with the thoughts I tried to keep in at that moment. I wondered if he knew about me at all, if he knew and just didn't care, or if he had no idea of my existence. I wonder what he'd do if he knew. Would he care?

I pushed back those thoughts and shook my head, bringing myself back to the conversation and replying, "That's pretty expected. I mean, it took Marcel years to create what he had, and he also had me to keep the peace, too, so it's different."

Elijah hummed, briefly reminding me of Klaus. For a few seconds, all that could be heard was the scrub-a-dub-dubbing I was doing and the steady response I was getting from him stopped. Until he resumed with enough fervour to knock me out.

"And what if we had you to keep the peace for us?""

I dropped the glass I was scrubbing in shock, quickly using my speed to stop it from hitting the sink and breaking. I put the glass down and turned the faucet off, turning to face him fully. I was half expecting to see a smile on his face, for him to tell me he was joking, but he had a completely serious look on his face.

If I didn't know any better, I'd see he even looked hopeful.

I looked at him, analyzing his face for a few seconds before lowering my guard slightly for the first time around a Mikaelson and whispering, "Oh my God, you're not kidding."

He smiled a little. "No, Y/N, I'm afraid I'm not." I blew out a breath through my lips, feeling the gears in my head turn 70 miles an hour.

What the fuck?

He's asking me to work for them.

My family.

Me.

Klaus' daughter.

But they don't know that.

No, they don't know about my relation to them. But Elijah does know that Marcel's my friend. I made this known, just in case he forgot in the few seconds it'd been since it'd been brought up. "You do know Marcel's my friend, right? Maybe even my best friend, if you want to get technical."

He took a sip of his bourbon before responding, "Yes, I'm aware."

I nodded. "Right, so then you know why I cant accept that offer." I wasn't thinking about the opportunity or power or really anything important at that moment. I was thinking about Marcel. And I was thinking about how coincidental it was that, a week after I got back to the city, Elijah takes interest in me of all people.

Maybe it's not a coincidence, my subconscious reasoned.

Oh, but hell, I really hoped it was.

Elijah took another sip of his drink. "You know these people, they trust you." I gave him a look, but hid my skepticism at the way he phrased his sentence. He said it like he already knew about my history with the factions. Honestly, knowing him, he probably did.

He used my silence and went on, "Arrangements could be made about Marcellus." My brows raised at that. "I'm fine with negotiating, Y/N."

I narrowed my eyes. He was to trying to broker a deal with me. Smart. But a Mikaelson choosing to negotiate for someone with as little 'relevance' as me is odd, to say the least.

I stared at him for a few seconds before stating the obvious. "I have a feeling your brother wouldn't like what exactly you're offering me."

Elijah chuckled, shaking his head. "Believe me, Y/N, I don't have much care for what my brother does or doesn't like at the moment."

I pursed my lips, running it all over in my head in disbelief that I was even considering it. The offer alone was suspicious, but the situation was riskier than many situations I'd put myself into in my lifetime, and that was saying something.

I'd been chasing after the Mikaelsons for ages, watching the family I never got from a distance, the always and forever I wasn't apart of. Right now, Elijah Mikaelson was offering up the opportunity to see them up close on a silver platter, and I was hesitant?

I held Elijah's stare, contemplating. And perhaps it was the alcohol that made the decision for me, but soon enough I found my mouth opening, words spilling out of it. "Marcel is allowed back into the Quarter, and him and Klaus call a truce." He didn't flinch. "You agree to that, and you have yourself a deal."

Elijah continued to stare at me in silence for a few seconds after that, and as time passed, I began to think I royally fucked up, trying to order him around, but he proved me a wrong by holding a hand out. I looked at it in bewilderment.

"You have yourself a deal, Miss Y/L/N." I held back any surprise at the fact that he knew my surname when I never gave it to him, but really, there was nothing to be surprised about.

I reluctantly reached out and clasped my hand in his, ignoring the rush of power I felt when my skin made contact with his and tried not to show it on my face.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

#klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus x daughter!reader #klaus mikaelson imagine #klaus mikaelson #tvd #tvdu #tvd fandom #tvd fanfiction #the originals #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson x reader #camille o'connell

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mxyx-rx444 · 1 year

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Let the Good Times Roll

Sevika x NOLA!reader x Izogie part 1

summary- it's mardi gras down in New Orleans and your lovers decide to participate in its festivities this year, what they don't know is that they're in for a surprise with the style of dancing that's known around this time of year.

(18+) MEN & MINORS DNI!! this is for the sapphics only, mentions of alcohol, drug use (weed), ass shaking, maybe smut??

music to follow along with the story below

(Y/N's POV)

I sat at my vanity finishing up the final touches on my hair, making sure it was straight and checking my make up when my lovers walked into our shared bedroom. "Look at what we have here sevika, a beautiful princess getting all dolled up, what's the special occasion sweetheart?" I heard izogie ask as I made eye contact with her in the mirror. "Yeah, what's the special occasion doll? Did we miss a memo or something? " Sevika chimed in raising a perfect eyebrow in question. "Its Mardi gras, I'm one of the dancers on the floats, are y'all gonna come to the parade this year or stay here and be cooped up inside again?" I questioned my accent heavy on my tongue as I turned to face them. "Dancer? You never told us you dance." Sevika stated as she looked over at izogie who looked just as puzzled as her and shrugged. "Well, it's a...form..of dancin' , y'all are free to come and watch it won't hurt to have fun, it is the most fun holiday in New Orleans after all." I said sending them a wink as I went to put my shoes on. "You dance in that outfit doll? You look amazing though so I'm not complaining." Sevika commented coming behind me to give me a slap on the ass. "The type of dancing I do requires me to be as comfortable as possible baby." I said turning to check my outfit in the body length mirror by the bedroom door. A black long-sleeved crop top that stops right under my boobs paired with black ripped biker shorts and my black platform Converse. "So you two comin' or no? The parade starts in twenty minutes and it takes 10 to walk there since they have the streets blocked off and the streets are crowded." I explained grabbing my bag, making sure theres enough water for the three of us and stuffing a sweater in there. "Why not, we have nothing better to do than sit here all day. What about you sevika?" Izogie asked walking to the front door to put her shoes on. "Sure why not, but the first person to try anything we're leaving, got it?" Sevika said sitting on the couch putting her boots on. "Like anyone would try anything with two 6ft tall intimidating women walking with me, as long as you dont go on Bourbon Street that is." I stated walking to the door unlocking it. "What's wrong with Bourbon Street?" Izogie asked walking up behind me. "Its where all the crime happens. More now than ever as it's a holiday, everybody getting drunk and some not knowin' how to hold their liquor, they get rowdy. We ready ready to go?" I asked opening the door hearing the jazz band a few houses down and seeing people crowding the streets. "Yeah let's go so we can find a good spot to see you dance." Izogie said closing the door and locking it behind her. I turned to look at them with a wide grin on my face, "Let the good times roll baby." I said as I began walking towards the huge crowd with my 'bodygaurds' right behind me.

•time skip•

As we're walking through the crowd of dancing people to find a good spot for sevika and izogie to see the floats and the performances I see my best friend who's dancing on the float with me and some other dancers. "Sookie sookie if it ain't Ms. Cookie, what's up baby how you doin'? You shakin' on the float this year?" Tootie asked as she hugged me placing some beads around my neck and looking over my shoulder at sevika and izogie who are giving each other weird looks. "Who's these two with you?" She asked raising a pierced eyebrow at me. "These my ol' ladies I was telling you about at practice, and yeah I'm shakin' on the float this year, they're here to watch." I said turning to introduce them to each other, "Sevika. Izogie. This is my best friend Tootie, I've known her since we was in primary school. she'll be dancin' on the float with me and some others. Tootie, these are my girlfriends Sevika and Izogie," I said standing in between the two buff women. "Old? We're not that old, do we look that old sevika?" Izogie questioned looking down at me as I laughed.It's just a sayin' we have down here in the dirty south, we say ol' lady or ol' man when we're talkin' about our lovers." Tootie explained to the confused women standing beside me as she laughed. "Hey, the parade's about to start you comin' ?" My best friend asked as she turned to walk to our float. "Yeah I'll catch up to you in a second hol' on." I said said turning to the silent duo standing behind me to find their eyes already on me. "Alright, it was nice meetin' y'all enjoy the parade," tootie said as she began walking away. "What does she mean by 'shaking' I thought you were dancing?" Sevika questioned, "Yeah and why did she call you baby? Is there something we dont know about going on?" Izogie joined in as I chuckled. "Like I said, it's a form of dancin' and no ain't nothing goin', on that's what everyone calls each other, it's a New Orleans thing. Are y'all okay though? This a good enough spot to see the floats and the performance? " I asked looking around at where we're standing. "Yeah, this is good enough for us." Sevika said grabbing me by my waist, pulling me to her and giving me a rough kiss. Izogie was next to do the same pulling me towards her, wrapping her arms around my waist and giving me a soft kiss. "Break a leg pretty girl," izogie said pulling away from the kiss, both of them leaving me a bit dazed as she slipped my bag off my shoulder handing me the sweater I stuffed in there. "Thank you baby, I love both of you and catch some beads for me I'll see you when it's over," I said hugging them both as I ran off to catch up with tootie linking arms with her once I did. "Ready to shake the house down?" She asked looking over at me with a smirk.

a/n: here's part oneee!!!!I haven't written in so long feel like i forgot how to😭. let me know what you think. thank you for reading<333333

taglist: @zestgodtj

#Spotify #sevika #arcane sevika #sevika smut #sevika x poc!reader #the woman king #izogie #Izogie x poc!reader #mardi gras #new orleans #wlw story #sevika x reader #izogie x reader

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ausetkmt · 3 months

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Mardi Gras History

The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.

On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras.

In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the "Boeuf Gras Society" was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull's head pushed along on wheels by 16 men. Later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. This occurred on Fat Tuesday.

New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.

The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. That year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans.

By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras. Dazzling gaslight torches, or "flambeaux," lit the way for the krewe's members and lent each event an exciting air of romance and festivity. In 1856, six young Mobile natives formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, invoking John Milton's hero Comus to represent their organization. Comus brought magic and mystery to New Orleans with dazzling floats (known as tableaux cars) and masked balls. Krewe members remained anonymous.

In 1870, Mardi Gras' second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws."

Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). At first, these reproductions were small, and details could not be clearly seen. But beginning in 1886 with Proteus' parade "Visions of Other Worlds," these chromolithographs could be produced in full, saturated color, doing justice to the float and costume designs of Carlotta Bonnecase, Charles Briton and B.A. Wikstrom. Each of these designers' work was brought to life by talented Parisian paper-mache' artist Georges Soulie', who for 40 years was responsible for creating all of Carnival's floats and processional outfits.

1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival, Rex, to preside over the first daytime parade. To honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, the businessmen introduced Romanoff's family colors of purple, green and gold as Carnival's official colors. Purple stands for justice; gold for power; and green for faith. This was also the Mardi Gras season that Carnival's improbable anthem, "If Ever I Cease to Love," was cemented, due in part to the Duke's fondness for the tune.

The following year, floats began to be constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France, culminating with Comus' magnificent "The Missing Links to Darwin's Origin of Species," in which exotic paper-mache' animal costumes served as the basis for Comus to mock both Darwin's theory and local officials, including Governor Henry Warmoth. In 1875, Governor Warmoth signed the "Mardi Gras Act," making Fat Tuesday a legal holiday in Louisiana, which it still is.

Like Comus and the Twelfth Night Revelers, most Mardi Gras krewes today developed from private social clubs with restrictive membership policies. Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by their members, New Orleanians call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth!"

#mardi gras history #mardi gras #new orleans #mardi gras season #carnival

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age-of-greta · 1 year

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The Lovers

The Lovers represent relationships and choices. Its appearance in a spread indicates some decision about an existing relationship, a temptation of the heart, or a choice of potential partners. Often an aspect of the querent's life will have to be sacrificed; a bachelor's lifestyle may be sacrificed and a relationship gaine, or one potential partner may be chosen while another is turned down. Whatever the choice, it should not be made lightly, as the ramifications will be lasting.

Author’s note: hi!! as always, this fic has two time jumps, then and today. I proofread by typos happen! The LAST (omg) chapter will be out next Wednesday at midnight. Then the epilogue will be out the next week. Can’t believe it’s coming to an end!! Enjoy :)

Pairing: Jake x reader & Sam x reader

Warnings: language, alcohol consumption, angsttt, adult content

Word count: 4k

PART 12:

THEN:

“Sammy there’s no way in hell I’m doing that again.” You said.

You had just beat Sam in a hand grenade chugging challenge and you were slumped. It was your last night in New Orleans. The guys played at a festival here yesterday and they killed it. You were now all out on bourbon street drinking and getting into trouble.

“It was that goddamn gumbo!” Sam exclaimed, still recovering.

“We are going to miss the ghost tour, let's go!” You hear Danny yell at you two.

You grab Sam’s hand and drag him to catch up with the others. Jake eyes you strangely when Sam continues to hold your hand. You had let go, but Jake still seemed off about it. Everyone was buzzed to say the least, and you were about to embark on a haunted pub crawl. You all finally made it and got on the bus just in time, there were three bars you would be visiting tonight, each with special stories and drinks. The first two stops went smoothly. Everyone had gotten along and enjoyed the drinks and tales. It was the third stop that had gotten a little weird.

“Shit I’m drunk.” Josh says , entering the final bar for the night.

You giggle at him. “Me too Joshua, me too.”

Josh links arms with you as you two make your way to the bar. Jake had been acting strangely all night. He wasn’t necessarily snippy with you, but something was pissing him off. He was standing near you and Josh, while Sam and Danny had found their way a few people over from you.

“This next drink is called the devil’s delight. It has been said that the circles of hell reside under this very bar.” The bartender says, holding up a bottle of fireball.

“Oh hell yes.” You hear Josh say.

Jake snakes his hand around your waist while you all wait, you lean slightly into him. You look over and his expression is somewhat blank. When he looks over at you a small smile creeps over his face.

“Enjoying yourself, lover?” Jake asks.

You smile back at him. “Yes. Maybe a little too much.”

Jake snickers at that. Now is your chance to try and get some information.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” You ask, casually.

Jake takes a small breath and nods. “Of course. I’m getting my favorite things, booze and you.”

There are cups of the drinks being passed around. Jake grabs two and hands you your cup.

“Are you ready to be delighted by the devil my darling?” You ask dramatically.

Jake smirks at you. “Bottoms up baby.”

You clink your glasses and choke down the cinnamon liquid. Whew, it was strong.

“Fuck.” You say setting your cup down.

Jake chokes back a laugh. “Yeah. That’ll do it huh.”

The bartender makes another round of drinks for his next story and you, Jake, and Josh shoot those back as well. When the story is over Danny and Sam find their way over to you.

“We ordered everyone another devil’s delight.” Sam announces.

You make a face. “I don’t know if I can do another one, Sammy.”

Sam laughs at you and throws his arm around you. “Oh come on you can take it.”

You notice Jake’s expression and he looks like his bad mood is coming back.

“I really don’t think I can.” You say.

Then the drinks arrived and everyone took one. Sam takes two and hands you the other.

“Give mine to Josh. He enjoys it way more than me.” You say with a laugh.

Sam squeezes the grip on your shoulder and smiles big at you. “Come on sorority girl! Do it for me.”

“She said she doesn’t fucking want it.” Jake spits out. “And why the fuck do you always call her that? She doesn’t need a pet name from you.”

Sam makes a face at his older brother. “What is your deal?”

Josh clears his throat before Jake can respond. “Hey, looks like the bus is back! Come on guys- oh and Sam I will take the extra one- thank you.”

Josh takes your cup and grabs Sam, dragging him towards the door. Danny looks at you and raises his eyebrows before walking off. You look back at Jake, who has finished his drink and is running his fingers through his hair.

“You ready?” You ask, cautiously not wanting him to bite your head off too.

“Yep.” He stands up and takes your hand.

That was weird? Why is he upset that Sam calls you the name he always has since you met? You figured Sam had probably pissed Jake off prior and now Jake was just looking for reasons to lash out on him.

The rest of the bus ride back was normal. Jake acted as if nothing was wrong and drunkenly held your hand and pointed out all kinds of sights on the way back to bourbon street. When you finally returned, you had all decided to call it a night. Sam’s buzz had dwindled immensely and you could tell he was still pissed at Jake. Nevertheless you all ubered back to your hotel like nothing was wrong.

“Jake, you have to take off your shoes.” You say through laughs as Jake lay face down on the bed.

He groans in response and reluctantly sits up and gets them off. He strips down to just his underwear and crawls under the blankets, making a patting motion next to him for you to join.

“I’m going to grab some water from vending machines in the hall. It looks like we’re going to need it.” You say, grabbing your wallet and heading out the door.

When you make it to the vending machine you see Sam standing there pondering at the snack options. Then you smell it on him.

“Holding out on me Sammy?” You ask approaching him.

Sam jumps a little. “Jesus, you scared me. But, yes sorry I didn’t know if you would be up for it.”

You give him a smile. “It’s okay, I definitely didn’t need it. I’m about to buy out all the water in this machine as we speak. Jake has passed out already.”

“Ah I see.” Sam says, a little weary of that name.

You bite your lip, suddenly aware of the tension. “I’m sorry he bit your head off. I’m not sure why he’s in a bad mood but the alcohol didn’t help.”

Sam furrows his brows and looks down at you. “Did he go off on you too?”

“No, not at all.” You clarify. “I think he’s probably mad about something minuscule that happened during the festival. You know how he can be.”

Sam nods his head. “Right, I'm sure that’s it.”

After getting your water, Sam selects his snacks and looks over at you. “If you want you can come to my room and we can smoke.”

You give him a soft smile. “Raincheck? I’m exhausted and need to get a start on packing.”

“Sure. Next time then.” Sam responds.

“Goodnight Sammy.” You say, starting to shift back towards your room.

“Goodnight.” He responds nodding his head.

You and Jake had woken up the next morning and immediately decided to grab some greasy breakfast.

You found yourselves at a 24 breakfast diner, washing down aspirin with coffee and orange juice.

“So, I have news.” Jake says, sipping his coffee.

“Do tell.” You respond.

Jake takes a breath. “Well we booked another mini tour.”

Your face lights up at that. “Jake, that's amazing!”

He shrugs. “Yeah, I just found out about it yesterday. It’s in Europe.”

Your heart sinks a little. “Oh wow.”

“Mhm. It’s about a month long, this summer.” Jake says, fumbling around with his napkins.

“That’s great. I’m so happy for you, truly. Congratulations.” You say, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

“Would you like to come?” Jake asks, cautiously.

You let out a small laugh. “To Europe? For a month? Sounds beyond fun and all, but I think I’ll have to keep my tag along trips on the weekends- and probably stateside.” You respond.

Jake sucks in his cheeks. “Understandable. Just know the offer stands.”

You smile at him. “I appreciate that. Now, can we order some damn waffles?”

The dreaded goodbye time had come along. Jake was flying back to Atlanta with you for a few days, but you had to say bye to everyone else. Your flight was before the Nashville flight, so when your uber arrived you had to say goodbyes quickly while Jake loaded up.

“Bring it in mama.” Josh says, pulling you into a hug.

“I trust we’ll be seeing you soon.” Danny says, a statement more than a question.

When you got to Sam he was standing with his hands in his pockets. You embraced him in a hug.

“Call me when you make it home?” You ask, still nuzzled in his chest.

“Absolutely.” Sam replies, lightly patting your back.

“Bye Sammy. Be safe.” You say ending the hug.

Sam offers you a smile. “Bye. You too.”

That was now two encounters where Sam did not use your nickname. There would be many more.

***

TODAY:

It had been a month since you saw Jake. You had tried to call a few times, but it was to no avail. You spoke to Sam on the phone two times since he had left. The first time was a day after he had gotten back. He told you how pissed Jake still was, but he thought they would move past it eventually. The second and last time was a week after that. It was a brief call, just checking in on you. You tried to ask about Jake, but just got vague bullshit. Sam had texted you sporadically, but nothing meaningful.

How are you? Thinking about you. I hope you’re doing okay. I miss you.

Were the the common ones. You knew he was being cautious because of Jake. But you didn’t feel like interacting with Sam much either. You were too sad. You couldn’t think of Sam without thinking of what happened.

Two days before Christmas a package arrived for you. It was a vintage Bob Dylan poster from one of his early shows. The only note attached said:

Ordered this a few months ago. It just came in, I have no use for it.

It wasn’t signed, but you knew Jake’s handwriting. That made you spiral again. But you had been trying to let go. To get over him, it wasn’t working.

Other than wallowing in your self pity, you had taken up yoga more seriously. It calmed you and gave you a reason to leave your apartment on the weekends. Your mom had commented that you looked “good” when you came home for Christmas. But you felt anything but good. Nevertheless you faked it for two days, before returning to your usual 10pm crying session. Lana had been there for you through all this. She was heaven sent actually. But tonight you did not want her encouragement at all.

Danny’s birthday/New Years celebration was tonight. You felt sick about going. In fact you absolutely did not want to go. The thought of seeing Jake made you want to vomit. How were you supposed to act around Sam? It was the worst idea for you to go. But you felt like shit because it was Danny’s birthday, and you hadn’t been uninvited. In fact Danny had texted you telling you that you were still more than welcome to come and he missed you. You felt like that may have been a cop out, but Lana was also invited and she bugged the shit out of you to go. Danny had decided to have his birthday celebration in Atlanta and you knew they had all landed yesterday. Originally they were all supposed to stay with you, but that was out of the question now. You hadn’t left your apartment in two days from paranoia of running into them. Even at the damn yoga studio. Danny had rented out the bar that you took them to after the first concert you went to of theirs. It was right down the street from your office.

You had switched up your look a little. You added blonde highlights, got sewn in hair extensions, started self tanning regularly, and professionally whitened your teeth. You thought it would make you feel better, it didn’t. Lana took you to get your nails and toes done three days ago, you had chosen black for both. You knew she was taking you because you had the party coming up, but you didn’t question it. There you sat now staring at yourself in the mirror. You had just showered and you were wrapped in a towel. Even though you had dried off your face it was wet, you realized you were crying. Fuck. How could you even go about pulling this off. Lana had texted you an hour ago that she would be over soon to get ready and pregame. You splashed yourself with water and decided to make a cup of tea to calm your nerves. Then Lana showed up, cheery and peppy at the door with two dress bags and a bottle of wine in hand.

“Hey you gloomy bitch! Lose the sad face, tonight is going to be fun.” She says as she hugs you in the doorway.

You huff out and try to smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Three hours later and you were both ready to go. Lana looked so cute, she wore a silver metallic dress with black heels. She has also bought you a dress, it was something you might have never chosen for yourself but you loved it. It was an emerald green square necked glitter bodycon dress with long sleeves. It was tight, but not uncomfortable. It was short and it complimented your tan perfectly. You paired it with gold strappy heels and gold large snake earrings that had emerald gems as eyes. Your hair was blown out with waves, full and significantly more blonde than you even realized. You had put on sparkly body oil and enough perfume to choke a horse. You had a full face of makeup, with extra lashes on, and a matte pink lip. You had a little more than half a bottle of wine and you were feeling yourself. You knew you looked hot, and you had hoped that Jake might think so as well. You both giggled as you plopped into the Uber, you were ready to face tonight.

When you and Lana pulled up outside of the bar your nervousness was back. She took your hand and gave it a squeeze before you entered inside. The bar had a good amount of people there, maybe 30 in total. John Denver played on the jukebox as you entered the bar. You took a deep breath and put on your bravest face. You wouldn’t allow your eyes to wander a lot because you were terrified to make eye contact with Jake.

“Oh my god hi guys!” You see Danny beeline for you two. He hugs Lana then hugs you. “I’m so glad you made it!”

You smile at him. “Happy Birthday Danny.”

“Thank you!” Danny smiles back. “The bar is over there if you guys want some drinks.” He points over.

Then you see him. His eyes are burning holes into you. But he’s not alone. He’s sitting at a booth with a blonde girl. Holy fucking shit. It’s Jessica. Jessica who has a huge crush on Jake and he brought her here. You watch him flick his eyes off of you and turn to Jessica and smile and put his arm around her while she talks. Her hands are all over him. She looks beyond tacky in a rose gold metallic tank dress with bright red lipstick. You knew you didn’t have a ton of room to speak on it, but damn he moved on fast and it hurt. You felt a tug at your hand and it snapped you out of your daze.

“Oh perfect thank you.” Lana said to Danny.

You gave him a small smile as Lana dragged you towards the bar.

“Don’t look at him. It will make it harder. I’m getting us tequila sodas.” Lana says motioning to the bartender.

“Hey mama.” Josh says as he approaches you.

You give him a weak smile, he and Jake rarely have secrets so you’re sure he has heard all about it. “Hi Josh.”

He pulls you into a hug and kisses your forehead. “I’ve missed you, we all have.”

You can't even begin to know how to reply to that.

“I hope you two have a lovely night, and always know I am here if you need me.” Josh says with a genuine smile.

You give him a nod and try to keep your hands from shaking as he walks away.

Lana gets your drinks and guides you to a table three rows back from Jake. You can still see him from where you’re sitting but don’t let Lana know or she would make you switch sides with her. You and Lana have a few drinks rather quickly. It’s about 10:40. You had decided you would stay for the cake, but would be gone before midnight as you didn’t care to see Jake kiss Jessica. Right on cue a decent sized cake is brought out with sparklers on top. Everyone stands up and claps before starting to sing Happy Birthday to Danny. You notice Jessica standing and clinging onto Jake’s arm with her head on his shoulder. You want to die, but continue to smile as Danny blows out his candles.

“I’m going to grab us another round.” You say to Lana as you get up and head to the bar.

Once there you order and patiently wait. Out of the corner of your eye you catch Sam standing a person over from you. You weren’t sure how to navigate this. Sam catches a glimpse of you and gives you a small smile before walking to you.

“You look nice. I like the hair.” He says almost awkwardly.

“Oh thanks, so do you.” You say back with the same awkwardness.

“Here’s your tequila sunrises miss.” The bartender says, sitting your drinks in front of you.

You thank him and grab the glasses. Sam smiles down at your drink of choice.

You huff a laugh. “I know I’m predictable. I’m going to take this to Lana. It was good seeing you Sammy.”

He flinches ever so slightly at that familiar nickname. You try not to notice or feel somber at that fact. “Yeah, it was good to see you too.”

Sam gives you a smile, but you can’t tell there is much more he wants to say to you. You smile back before walking away. You return with your drinks and try your best not to look at Jake. This night was nowhere near as fun as Lana pitched it, but she kept making flirty eyes with a guy from across the bar.

“Go talk to him.” You say.

She scoffs at you. “No, I'm not leaving you alone.”

“Lana, I'm a big girl. I’ll be fine, I promise. Go shoot your shot.” You reply with a smirk.

“Okay fine. But I’ll be back.” She says getting up from the booth.

You swirl your drink around with your straw trying not to look like the loneliest loser here. About 25 minutes pass by and you notice a significant change in music as Lord Huron’s The Night We Met comes on the jukebox. You glance over and see a happy couple punching it in. Gross. This song is not only a vibe killer for the party atmosphere, but also guts you slightly. You look up from your drink and see Jake peering back at you.

I had all and then most of you. Some and now none of you.

Take me back to the night we met.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do haunted by the ghost of you.

Oh take me back to the night we met.

You see Jake take a deep breath and get up and lightly smack the table before walking away. You can feel the threat of tears brimming in your eyes and you decide you’ve had enough. You call an Uber on your phone but it says it won’t arrive until 12:05. Damnit. It’s 11:45, but you decided you would rather spend the rest of the time freezing outside waiting, than do further damage to your sanity. You say goodbye to Lana. She raises her eyebrows high at you, but you whisper assuring her you’re fine and you want her to stay and have a good time. You find Danny before you leave and hug him, he also looks at you worried but doesn’t say anything. It’s freezing outside, but you still feel numb. You had bummed a cigarette from a fellow patron outside, but shut down his attempted conversation. You stood on the wall outside, alone now dragging the end of your cigarette. You can hear the 60 second countdown until the New Year beginning. You put your cigarette out and flick it in the trash can. You take a deep breath and they’re in the twenties. You hear the door open but don’t think anything of it until someone is standing right next to you.

You glance over and your eyes almost pop out of your head when you see Jake.

He isn’t looking at you. They’re in the tens now.

5…4…3…2…1… Happy New Year!

Jake walks in front of you and grabs your face lightly. He caresses your cheek with his thumb and looks down at you with soft eyes, you hadn’t seen those in a while. You look up at him, you probably look like a deer in the headlights, not daring to move to say anything. Jake dips in and plants a deep kiss onto your lips. You can taste the whiskey and nicotine on him. You kiss back, absolutely bewildered at what is happening, but he breaks the kiss as fast as it started. He lets out a small shaky breath before he taps the side of the building with his fist. He doesn’t even look at you again, then walks straight back inside. Not a word spoken between the two of you.

What the fuck?

Your head is spinning and your heart is pounding. You have never felt more confused in your life, and you’re not sure you didn’t just hallucinate that whole thing. A few minutes later you still haven’t recovered as your Uber pulls up. You climb inside and look out the window at the bar as you pull away.

You wake up the next morning with a text from Sam.

Hi, sorry I missed you leaving last night. I will be in Atlanta until the 4th if you want to grab lunch or something. I hope you’re doing okay.

You groan at the text message. You have no idea what to respond, so you leave it for now. Last night quite literally felt like a fever dream. You still can’t make sense as to why Jake had kissed you. But he kissed you at midnight, not Jessica. That made you feel better but also somehow worse? Would spending time with Sam make things better or worse? You had no idea. Lana had texted you that she had gone home with the guy from the bar. At least she had a good night.

Today was about self care. You ran a hot bath and made a coffee and sat there staring at the wall for an hour. Then forced yourself to do your whole skincare routine. You threw on a pair of pajama shorts, a large band tee, and fuzzy socks. Then you made a turkey wrap with grapes before sitting on the couch and turning on a horror movie. You sat there all day only getting up to pee and make popcorn. Around 8pm there was a knock at your door. Ugh you didn’t want to get up and you didn’t want to hear Lana rave about her new hookup. You placed the popcorn down on the table and dusted off your hands. Your favorite part of the Conjuring had just come on. You shuffled over to the door and began undoing your locks. When you opened it your heart skipped a beat.

Jake was standing there with his hands in his pockets.

***

- thanks for reading!! :)

#greta van fic #greta van fleet #greta van fleet fic #jake gvf #jake kiszka #jake kiszka x reader #sam gvf #sam kiszka #sam kiszka x reader #the lovers

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livlepretre · 11 months

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Hi! Could you make a post of some headcannons on what alcohol the mikaelson siblings prefer to drink, and what they'd order at a bar if they weren't drinking for whatever reason - especially Elijah? we know damon drinks bourbon but i don't think anything is canon ab the mikaelsons and i was thinking ab that but i don't know anything ab alcoholic drinks and the culture around it lol bc no one really drinks in my part of the world so I'd appreciate it!

Well, I have thought the most about Klaus and Rebekah for sure, since they drink a lot in my fic Fairytale Ending, but here goes:

I think Klaus also likes bourbon-- beyond the seeming in joke in tvd that that seems to be what all of the main characters drink, there is a scene when he is possessing Alaric's body when his henchman Maddox holds up a bottle of bourbon and says "this was all I could find, guy likes his bourbon" and Klaus replies "I knew there was something about him I liked." So I have taken that and run with it. Beyond that, I think he likes champagne (of course he does, he's a bon vivant at heart) and I also think he drinks any of the typical New Orleans drinks, like Ramos gin fizzes, sazeracs, and even brandy milk punches, etc. (a lot of those are breakfast drinks though, although the sazerac is definitely NOT). I suspect he also likes cognac.

Rebekah is a gin drinker. And a champagne drinker because she is Klaus's usual sidekick and that is what they drink together. But she prefers gin, and she still drinks a lot of old fashioned sidecars and prohibition era drinks because she hasn't really moved on from that phase yet, even though she' is well and truly awake's been undaggered awhile. She likes sweet drinks in general though. She's got the palate of a teenager, and likes her fun fruity drinks.

Elijah prefers scotch, neat, but he also drinks all sorts of other things-- brandy, cognac, bourbon, VODKA, etc-- but again, basically always served neat. He's not fussy but he does have expensive taste. He also likes wine when he's feeling social, but it's not what he drinks when he's by himself.

Kol is the most widely travelled and the most sociable. I suspect he drinks whatever is popular wherever and whenever he is, because he likes to have a good time and to show others a good time (even if he also often eats his friends, whatever). Like I think he has the vibe of someone who prefers tequila but idk how often that actually translates to drinking tequila.

Finn drinks the way a medieval person drinks. He drinks beer during his meals because it's habitual/pretty much the same idea as drinking water. While I could see him getting fixated on various hipster beers, he is preoccupied with Higher Things so he has not had a chance to pursue that. When he is feeling festive he drinks mead. He, also, likes vodka.

#anonymous #the originals

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fiercerebekah · 1 year

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❝Hello, dear sister, REMEMBER me? It has been a few years since we last saw each other.❞

@evolvingheartisms

Rebekah was back in New Orleans for a jazz festival. One last hoorah to end her three-year tour around the world. During her travels she'd had time to reminisce over the many different lives she'd led over the centuries, and what she'd discovered was that there was something truly SPECIAL about this city. It had a way of evoking feelings of nostalgia that that were so much more intense than anything she'd felt in all the other places she'd called home. Perhaps thats why returning was so difficult.

Naturally, she was getting good and liquored up on her balcony overlooking the festivities on bourbon street, enjoying the jazz and feeling a bit sorry for herself, when she was interrupted. Surely this lurker was the luckiest man in the French Quarter, as Rebekah didn't snap his neck on sight for disrupting her. In fact, she found that his presence stirred up more of that SENTIMENTAL LONGING she'd been hanging onto.

DAMN HER SOFT HEART for having hope in the moment, however fleeting or daft it might have been. There was just something so FAMILIAR in the stranger's eyes, that she allowed herself to indulge in the fantasy she was creating for herself, ❛ Elijah? ❜ She said it so softly, unsure if she wanted his answer.

#evolvingheartisms #;t #╳┊♔ v; a city forsaken ( MAIN )#IDK WHY THIS GOT LONG IM SORRY #IT GONNA BE SHORT AFTER THIS BC YOU KNOW A BISH CANT WRITE MORE THAN A FEW SENTENCES #I COULDNT FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE THIS TO A NEW POST IT A STRUGGLE TODAY

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90363462 · 1 year

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A One Night Stand Changed How I Feel About Sex

Sheriden Chanel

Oct. 19, 2018 07:33PM EST

I've never had a one night stand. Despite how sexually liberated and free I feel, it's a realm I've never dared to enter. And not for lack of opportunity, just for lack of thought. As an emotional person, I feel things deeply and I believed that a one night stand would do nothing for me. I would have the physical and not the emotional, which takes a toll on the overall quality of a sexual experience.

Even in my casual experiences, emotion has lived there. It's why sex with the same person gets better over time. It's why my most powerful orgasms unearth and unravel. It's why I feel full instead of empty afterwards. The emotion is there, so the connection runs deep.

But my mind on the matter changed this summer. It was blown. Thoroughly and completely.

New Orleans has always been a city of magic, so I shouldn't have been surprised by the transformative experience that enlightened my life and my perspective on hit it and quit it sex. It was a work trip, but he insisted on bringing me pleasure. I had been in town for a couple of days for the festival, and when I met him I was absolutely exasperated by my schedule and made that sentiment clear in the backseat of his Lyft.

A vent session about work quickly became a conversation about oral sex and the importance of reciprocity with our perfect stranger, all because of a DJ Khaled track that popped up on the radio. It wasn't a surprise to me when he dropped me in front of the Ace Hotel that he insisted I take his number so that he could be a tour guide and show me the city. I said okay. Aside from my crab roll I devoured for lunch, it was one of the highlights of that day.

On the eve of my flight back to Atlanta, I decided to take him up on his offer. I had seen the city but so far underneath a very curated lens and I wanted to be with the people, so I decided to skip Sunday night's concert series for fun with Mr. Tour Guide aka Bearded Bae. He picked me up from my hotel and asked me what I wanted. I told him about a weak ass Hurricane I had a couple of hours before and told him I wanted something frozen. He had the perfect place in mind.

With our frozen margaritas in hand, we strolled down Bourbon, immersed in jazz being played in the outside air and impromptu twerk sessions and tangos. It was the laughter and the fun I had been missing. And his smile was everything. As a true lightweight, I was tipsy halfway through my cup, but it didn't stop the conversation from flowing as we gave one another our backstories and present truths. He made me feel an ease that was reminiscent of knowing someone for years versus days and a few text messages here and there.

I don't know if either of us knew sex would be in the cards for us, but after we left a rooftop bar and he pulled me into his arms for a kiss that made my knees buckle and my back arch simultaneously, I was sold.

I wanted to give myself over to the moment.

Despite what my brain told me about how I felt about one-nighters or casual sex with someone I barely knew, I wanted to be true to the way he made me crave and melt with lust and desire. I didn't realize it until then, but I had been fantasizing about juices dripping in his beard since the first time I laid eyes on him. I had just been telling myself "no" until I said "yes."

And that night, I kept saying "yes".

As he grabbed my booty and bit my lip to access my tongue. He suggested a quick stop to the store to get condoms.

As he followed me into the elevator of my hotel and continued to pepper me with hot kisses, I was a faucet by the time we entered my room. We took turns undressing each other and I caressed his caramel skin before he picked me up and walked us to the bed, guiding the length of my body against my disheveled sheets. It was such a gentle careful act and it surprisingly took me higher.

He fulfilled my dripping beard fantasy briefly before I tapped him, begging him to end my misery and grant me what he promised me: Him.

When he penetrated me, I felt like I was flying. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the thought of every fantasy I had envisioned about him in the past couple of days being fulfilled. Maybe it was a combination of them both. All I knew was everything was so heightened. "Give it to me," he kept whispering in my ear in between languid, purposeful thrusts.

I came undone almost instantly. And after the third or fourth time, he followed me over pleasure's edge, announcing his orgasm. Music to my ears.

We cuddled briefly before he had to bounce to attend a club outing with his homeboys, but he promised to be back, if he was welcomed. I agreed even though I didn't believe he'd return. But hours later, he did. We held one another for the remainder of the late night early morning we shared together, pressing play from where we had paused. He overslept and missed his early a.m. shift at the clinic but unbegrudgingly helped himself to seconds with a round of morning sex before I had to catch my flight.

It was a night to remember and one I reminisce on often. Not only because the pleasure I experienced was one for the books, but also because it changed my stance on how I thought about one night stands altogether. I understand them now. It's not about time, it's about feeling. And I think although it's a feeling that's coursed through my veins before, it's another part of me that I inherently swallow because as a woman, it's frowned upon to move through the world a certain way.

No matter how much we lift it up and bear the weight of it on our backs.

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Sheriden Chanel

Sheriden Chanel is the senior lifestyle and relationships editor at xoNecole.com, covering all things love, life, beauty, and wellness. She has an affinity for travel, self-care, and anything BTS touches. Keep up with her on social@sheridenchanel.

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jp-vampyrian616 · 2 years

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Pagan and witchcraft festivals confront growing Christian harassment

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/08/26/christians-pagans-harassment/

As widespread immunity and milder coronavirus strains have spread across the United States, pagans and witches, like their neighbors, have begun to gather more freely this summer at annual community events after two years of relative isolation. So have some unwelcome guests. Street preachers and Christian protesters have long been a fixture of Earth-based religions’ gatherings as they try to distract and deter people from enjoying what are typically outdoor festivals and ritual gatherings. But this year, some attendees say, these opponents of witchcraft and paganism have become more aggressive and even dangerous.

“There were about 30 [evangelists] this year,” said Starr RavenHawk, an elder and priestess of the New York City Wiccan Family Temple and organizer of WitchsFest USA, a street fair held in the city’s West Village in mid-July.

Over the past seven years, barely a half dozen of these disrupters would show up, RavenHawk said. But the groups that have appeared this year “aren’t just protesting,” she added. “They are collectively at war with us. They made that clear.”

RavenHawk said the evangelists and street preachers walked through WitchsFest, holding up signs and preaching through amplifiers. By the day’s end, their presence had caused class cancellations and vendor closings. Without formal networks of houses of worship and often living far from fellow practitioners, American pagans and witches depend heavily on assemblies with names such as Pagan Pride and Between the Worlds to share information and camaraderie. While some are held inside conference centers or in hotel ballrooms, summer events tend to be visible and hard to secure.

In 2016, Nashville Pagan Pride Day was visited by street preachers Quentin Deckard, Marvin Heiman and Tim Baptist, who marched through the event with signs, Bibles and a bullhorn. In 2017, the Keys of David church protested Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day. In 2018, a Christian men’s group encircled a modest crowd at Auburn Pagan Pride Day in Alabama in an attempt to intimidate them.

Indoor events aren’t entirely immune. In 2018 and 2019, members of TFP Student Action, a division of American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, were joined by Catholics in New Orleans to protest HexFest, held annually at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Religious fliers placed under hotel doors informed attendees they were surrounded. “Your only hope is to accept defeat and surrender your life to One who created you,” read one flier.

On the same weekend as WitchsFest USA, attendees at the Mystic South conference in Atlanta found Christian pamphlets in the lobby and on car windows outside the hotel where it was taking place. In Texas, pastor Kevin Hendrix has encouraged Christians to take a stand against the Polk County Pagan Market, held in October.

Many pagan events are not held in public spaces for this reason, although that has been changing over the past 10 years as occult practices have found more acceptance in the public eye.

Held in busy Astor Place, a tourist crossroads, the day-long WitchsFest USA is one of the most visible pagan festivals and, therefore, one of the most vulnerable.

“RavenHawk creates this marvelous event every year in the heart of New York City as a public celebration where everyone is welcome as long as they maintain an atmosphere of respect towards others,” said Elhoim Leafar, who was scheduled to lead a workshop at WitchsFest USA and has attended for years.

The Christian group took up a prominent position on one street corner as the festival began at 10 a.m. and began talking to attendees and preaching into amplification devices. Among them, RavenHawk said she recognized members of the New York City chapter of Christ’s Forgiveness Ministries, a Toronto organization that had sent visitors before.

After her security team asked the preachers to leave, RavenHawk called the police as she has done in past years. But, for the first time, the cops did nothing, she said.

“The Christians say nobody is being bothered,” RavenHawk was reportedly told by the officers. In past years, officers would relocate the preachers to the far side of Astor Place, where they would continue without the use of speakers, which require a permit.

This year, the Christian groups were allowed to remain at the festival with their sound amplification. According to RavenHawk, the officers called the preaching “freedom of speech.” It is unclear whether the groups had permits.

One attendee, Soror Da Glorium Deo, said, “When the police had the opportunity to downgrade things by possibly escorting the troublemakers off the area, they chose not to de-escalate.”

The New York Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

“[The officers] treated us as if we were invading the Christians’ space, as if they had more rights than we do,” RavenHawk said. “[The preachers] were loud, and they were carrying on. Of course it was disruptive.”

When organizers moved the workshop tent away from the corner near the preachers, the Christian groups followed. “At a certain point, the protesters were not only in the surroundings and corners of the event with microphones and banners, but inside it,” said Leafar, whose class was canceled due to the preachers.

“We are not publicly protesting at their churches on a Sunday,” he said.

“It is not correct, moral or ethical to harass any individual in public or in private based on their individual or family beliefs,” Leafar said. He believes that this behavior comes from ignorance and a “contempt for our individual values.” By the middle of that day, two vendors had left, said RavenHawk, telling her that “they didn’t feel safe.”

RavenHawk said she is tired of “turning the other cheek.” She has called the city’s Street Activity Permit Office, the community board and the NYPD’s 9th Precinct. “I want a paper trail,” she said. “I want to know exactly what my rights are.”

RavenHawk also called Lady Liberty League, a pagan civil rights organization based in Wisconsin, for legal advice and support. “The United States is founded on religious freedom for all,” said Lady Liberty League co-founder the Rev. Selena Fox in a statement to RNS. “Safe gathering and the right to practice our faith is as much our right as it is anyone else’s,” she said. Some attendees have suggested that RavenHawk move the event to a less public location, such as a park or hotel.

“We shouldn’t have to move,” she said. “We fought for this location for eight years.” It took that long, according to RavenHawk, for the community board to designate “WitchsFest USA” an “annual” event. Until then she was required to reapply every year, she said, enduring questions such as, “Are you going to burn babies?” Leafar agrees that it is important to not back down. “If we remain silent in the face of these protesters, those people who are new to our community are going to feel that they do not have the right to express themselves and pursue their individual faith openly.”

— Religion News Service

#harrassment #eclectic pagan #washington post #witchcraft #paganism #wicca

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inaducursehq · 16 minutes

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☆ﾟ.*・ ◞ zane phillips / bisexual / white / he/him ——— is that nikolas mikaelson on bourbon street ? the 23 year old tribrid who stays in the french quarters ? i heard their parents are caroline forbes and klaus mikaelson. they are notoriously known for being charismatic & intelligent but also unpredictable & manipulative. which is probably why they are considered the spitfire around town. i wonder if they had their tarot cards reading, yet? either way, the cards on the table will reveal their fate soon enough // cyn, 25+, they/them, estd

accepted! welcome to new orleans, louisiana nikolas mikaelson [ zane phillips ] ! this city is known for its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably mardi gras. nevertheless, the catfish city has many cards and it's only a matter of time before you pull yours. please send in your account within 24 hours ! and be sure to take a look at the checklist now that you've arrived! we're happy to have you with us, cyn!!

#accepted

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cksmart-world · 13 days

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SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart

April 23, 2024

THONG BIKINIS — CHEEKS AHOY, RIO COMES TO ZION

Remember the “Girl from Ipanema?” In Brazil they've been wearing thong bikinis for quite a while now. You've seen the pictures, all those tanned butts up and down the beach. That's what you expect in Rio de Janeiro. Well Wilson, it's hard to believe but thong bikinis have come to the states — and even right here in Utah you see bare butts all over the place. Rio comes to Zion. Luckily the “Word of Wisdom” has nothing to say about thong bikinis. And we're not talkin' one here and there. Go to the park and take a gander at the young women sunning themselves. It's butts up. No Wilson, we don't know if there is a special butt-tanning lotion, but there could be a good business opportunity there. You could call it Cheeks Ahoy. Makes you wonder what young kids are going to think around the pool come summer. Hey mom, why is that lady's butt hanging out? Look away, Bobby. But mom, why does she have that thing in her butt crack? Bobby here's some money go get a candy bar and don't hurry. Butt-crack bikinis can be attractive — or not. Beautiful butts are in the eyes of the beholder. Speaking of which, there's trouble on the horizon. Hold on to your California baggies, soon men will be wearing thong bikinis. Yecht. You're right, Wilson, that's just wrong.

TIME TO KILL OFF THE HOMELESS

There are too many homeless people and it's high time we get rid of them. They're camping everywhere and using parks for restrooms and they drive real estate down. The U.S. Supreme Court soon will consider making homelessness illegal. The idea would be to ticket them and fine them and even jail them. HUD estimates there are some 650,000 homeless but the reality is closer to 1 million. Luckily there are some good ideas out there. One is to drive them like cattle to Canada. Another is to hire the Israelis and force them into the sea, kinda like Gaza. Or we could just send them all to Phoenix, Ariz. where they would soon burn up. But right now homelessness is legal following a ruling from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals: “[T]he Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment precludes the enforcement of a statute prohibiting sleeping outside against homeless individuals with no access to alternative shelter.” If the Supreme Court lets that ruling stand the whole country could look like San Francisco or New Delhi. Of course, about the time Ronald Reagan moved into the White House homeless people were hard to find. But what's the sense in talking about what causes homelessness when we can just outlaw it and send them to the Galapagos.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Salt Lake City's Rio Grande district is a miracle waiting to happen... and waiting and waiting and waiting. Walt Disney took a barren chunk of land in Souther California and turned it into a magic wonderland. Well image the magic makeover the mayor and city could could do for the Rio Grande district — once home to the homeless and an open-air drug market. You may be pleased to know there are brand new plans for the area just west of the historic Rio Grande Depot. It's going to be swell — even more sweller than the last plan that wasn't implemented. It'll be something like Bourbon Street in New Orleans sans the Bourbon and the beads. With a cost $5 billion it will be so cool as to be unbelievable. Many of the details are under wraps, but sources who wished to remain anonymous tell Smart Bomb that plans include coordinating transportation systems with a wild mouse connecting Front Runner to the light rail — people could jump off at Festival Street. OK, what is Festival Street? Much like Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland, it will feature fun stuff for the whole family, like Mr. Toads bridal gowns, Bear County lingerie and Frontierland Gun Shop. But like it has been for decades, plans remain in flux. For updates check back in 2028. It's going to be so cooooool. Just wait.

Lost script — Alright that's going to do it for another fun-filled week here at Smart Bomb where we keep track of the room temperature at Trump's “hush-money” porn star trial so you don't have to. Fact is, it's just damn cold in there. But even with the AC on blast the former president keeps dozing off. His defense team is working feverishly to come up with ways to keep him awake, including putting chili powder in his Gucci loafers and Bengay in his Jockeys. Something burning? Here's an item from our “New Celebs”-file. “The Devil Wears Prada” and so does Caitlin Clark. At the presser where she announced signing with the Indiana Fever, the b-ball scoring phenom who was No. 1 in the WNBA draft, was outfitted by — you guessed it — Prada. She cut a stylish figure sporting a double white satin shirt and skirt with an embroidered rhinestone mesh top — the first basketball player to be dressed by the luxury label for draft night. Prada isn't paying her, but Nike is. Clark has reportedly signed a eight-year, 28 million dollar deal with the shoemaker. That should help make up for her $76,000 WNBA salary. Just imagine, five years ago she was a kid trying out for the Iowa women's basketball team. You're right Wilson, that's one heck of an education.

Well Wilson, swimsuit season is upon us. Soon there will be a lot of flesh on display. At the pool and the park young folks will be working on tans and the side-effect called skin cancer. Utah has the highest skin cancer rate in the nation. For real. But forget that for a minute and get the band to play a little something for our soon-to-be thong-wearing friends:

Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking And when she passes Each one she passes goes - ah When she walks, she's like a samba That swings so cool and sways so gentle That when she passes Each one she passes goes - ooh But I watch her so sadly How can I tell her I love her Yes I would give my heart gladly But each day, when she walks to the sea She looks straight ahead, not at me Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking And when she passes, I smile But she doesn't see She just doesn't see, she never sees me...

(Girl From Ipanema — Lyrics written in Portuguese by Vinicius de Moraes, 1962, with music by Antonio Carlos Jobin. English lyrics written by Norman Gimbel, 1963.)

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danny-wagners-bestie · 1 month

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2024 concert lineup:

Greta Van Fleet (SCWT Lou) May 16

Noah Kahan (WABHF tour Nashville N2) May 25

Railbird Festival (Days 1 & 2 Lexington KY) June 1 & 2

Niall Horan (TSLOT Nashville) June 3

Jenny Lewis (Joy’all Tour Lexington) opening night June 18

Bourbon & Beyond (all four days Louisville KY) september 19-22

Pilgrimage Festival (both days Franklin TN) september 28 & 29

Taylor Swift (Eras Tour New Orleans N1) October 25

ALREADY WENT:

Grace Potter (Mother Road Tour Nashville ) February 9

Jenny Lewis (Joy’all Ball Tour Nashville ) March 13

Bob Dylan (Rough & Rowdy Ways tour Louisville) March 23

#concerts #gvf #greta van fleet #noah kahan #festivals #niall horan #the show live on tour #jenny lewis #b&b #pilgrimage #eras tour #grace potter #bob dylan #concert lineup

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faregarage1 · 1 month

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What Are the Best Places to Travel in the US in May?

May bursts onto the scene as a vibrant month for travel in the US. Spring fever is in full swing, shaking off the winter chills and ushering in comfortable temperatures, blooming landscapes, and a calendar packed with exciting festivals and events. Whether you crave outdoor adventures, cultural immersion, or cityscapes teeming with life, the US has a perfect May getaway waiting for you.

To help you plan your dream trip, we've compiled a diverse list of the best places to travel in us in may, catering to a range of interests and travel styles:

Nature Lovers:

Zion National Park, Utah: Carved by the Virgin River, Zion National Park boasts towering red cliffs, emerald canyons, and cascading waterfalls. Hike the scenic Canyon Overlook Trail, navigate the thrilling Narrows slot canyon, or embark on a whitewater rafting adventure. May offers pleasant weather for exploration before the summer heat arrives.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee: Spanning two states, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise. Lush forests ablaze with wildflowers provide a breathtaking backdrop for exploration. Take in panoramic views from Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee, or visit the charming mountain town of Gatlinburg.

Kauai, Hawaii: Nicknamed the "Garden Isle," Kauai offers a tropical escape unlike any other. Kayak along the dramatic Na Pali Coast, hike through the lush Fern Grotto, or witness the cascading power of Wailua Falls. May offers a shoulder season advantage, with fewer crowds and pleasant weather.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: Descend into a wonderland of otherworldly beauty at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Explore vast cave chambers adorned with glittering speleothems, witness the nightly emergence of thousands of bats, or take a guided tour to learn about the park's fascinating geology.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska: Immerse yourself in Alaska's breathtaking wilderness at Kenai Fjords National Park. Kayak amidst glaciers, spot wildlife like bears and whales, or cruise through the dramatic fjords for an unforgettable Alaskan experience. May offers a glimpse of spring arriving in this dramatic landscape.

City Slickers:

New Orleans, Louisiana: The Big Easy comes alive in May with a vibrant energy. Immerse yourself in the city's rich culture with a stroll through the French Quarter, indulge in decadent Creole cuisine, or experience the musical magic of Bourbon Street. Don't miss the iconic Kentucky Derby held the first Saturday of May (occasionally bleeds into early June).

San Francisco, California: San Francisco's iconic landmarks and cable cars provide a charming backdrop for your May adventures. Explore the winding streets of Lombard Street, visit the bustling Fisherman's Wharf, or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge for breathtaking views. May offers pleasant temperatures before the summer fog rolls in.

Charleston, South Carolina: Steeped in history and Southern charm, Charleston is a delightful destination in May. Explore historic sites like Fort Sumter and the Battery, wander through the picturesque streets lined with antebellum architecture, or take a carriage ride for a quintessential Southern experience. Enjoy pleasant spring weather and vibrant blooms.

Chicago, Illinois: The Windy City offers a dynamic mix of architecture, art, and culture. Marvel at the architectural wonders along the Chicago Riverwalk, explore world-class museums like the Art Institute, or cheer on a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. May offers comfortable temperatures for exploring the city on foot.

Portland, Oregon: Portland's quirky charm and dedication to sustainability make it a unique urban escape. Explore independent shops on Alberta Street, sip craft beer at a local brewery, or stroll through the Portland Saturday Market, a haven for local artisans. May offers pleasant weather and a vibrant atmosphere.

Festival Fanatics:

Holland, Michigan: Celebrate Dutch heritage and springtime beauty at the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan. Witness fields bursting with colorful blooms, participate in traditional Dutch dance performances, and indulge in delicious Dutch treats. Held in early May.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Immerse yourself in the revelry of the French Quarter Festival, a vibrant celebration of New Orleans' music, food, and culture. Enjoy live music on multiple stages, sample delectable cuisine from local vendors, and experience the contagious energy of the city. Held mid-May.

Sacramento, California: The California State Fair, held in Sacramento in mid-May, offers a quintessential summertime experience. Enjoy carnival rides, explore agricultural exhibits, indulge in fair food favorites, and witness livestock competitions.

Louisville, Kentucky: The Kentucky Derby, held the first Saturday of May (occasionally bleeds into early June) in Louisville, is a bucket-list experience for horse racing enthusiasts. Witness

#best places to visit in the united states in may #best place to travel in may in usa #best places to visit in usa in may #best places to travel in us in may

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