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evan4ever · 1 year

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Girlll don’t make us wait any longer and write episode 3 of Unlikely Lovers plsssss!!!

(And a smutty one would be the cherry on top ❤️‍🔥)

Unlikely Lovers

Part 3 — part 2 here

Warnings - smutty smut 🤪 unprotected sex, fingering, blowjob, penetration

a/n: honestly can’t believe the popularity this series has 😅 I never intended to make a part 2, yet here I am with part 3 😂. Love it and all of you peeps!! 🫶🏻 also sorry for the length, I always say I’ll keep it shorter but it never happens LOL

Others requesting part 3 minus one or two I already answered

Where’s Unlikely Lovers part 3 girllll??? 🥺🥺

Omg!! Unlikely Lovers pt 3? Do we see this in our future? 🥹🥹

—

It was your turn to visit Evan, though instead of going to LA where he lived, he insisted on a trip to New York City. Of course you were more than happy to take a trip with him. No, you weren’t “official” yet, but there was no doubt in either of your minds that that’s exactly what you both wanted — to be together. To be in a relationship.

You spent the last two months FaceTiming, calling, and nonstop texting. Since the day he left from visiting you in Montana until the day you arrived together at the airport in New York. It was a long two months, but it was more than worth it. Evan never had you questioning if you were wasting your time, since you were giving your all to him. In fact, he made it perfectly clear that his intentions were the same and he, too, was giving his all. He reminded you often, not even to your own asking, that he wanted you. And you wanted him more than anything in the world.

“You booked a hotel already?” You raised your eyebrows as if it was a big surprise, even though it shouldn’t be considering hotels booked fast in NYC. Evan chuckled and nodded, turning his phone screen to you to show you the hotel he had chosen for the two of you to stay at. Your jaw nearly hit the taxi floor seeing the luxurious building, quickly recollecting yourself and letting out a breath. “Evan, you didn’t have to book such an expensive hotel? We could’ve stayed at like.. a Holiday Inn or Best Western?” You urged, feeling guilty at the pricing of the hotel and that you hadn’t pitched in, only because Evan wouldn’t let you. He didn’t even want you paying for your own flight tickets but you insisted and you weren’t going to lose, him finally giving in.

“I didn’t have to do anything, I wanted to. I want your first experience in New York to be amazing and nothing less.” He grinned at you, meeting your eyes that were already on him. You dropped your eyebrows slightly and returned a soft smile.

“My first experience will be amazing because I’m here with you.” You assured, laying your head to rest on his shoulder as you both now looked out the taxi window and watched all the tall buildings go by with every pedestrian walking along the streets and sidewalks. You were in complete and utter awe in being in such a place. You had dreamed of visiting NYC one day, you knew it would be magical, but it was nothing compared to how you felt now being here with Evan by your side.

Soon, the taxi came to a stop at the front of the building that Evan had shown you and it looked even more mesmerizing in person. Evan got out and took your hand helping you out next, your eyes wandering to the people taking your bags for you from the trunk. You had never seen a valet in person, only in movies, so that was quite the experience as well. You felt Evan’s hand on the small of your back as he began leading you into the front doors of the hotel, the lobby alone looking like a place only dreams were made of. It was full of people filing in and out, some standing at the Starbucks, others talking in groups. Many dressed professional, like they were on a business trip. You were flooded with an overwhelming sense of insecurity, like you were definitely not meant to be in the presence of some of these people, but feeling Evan move his hand from your back to taking your hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze, you finally tore your eyes from those around you and glanced up at him. He looked down at you and gave you a reassuring smile before continuing to the front desk.

You stood patiently and quietly while he gave the clerk your guys’ info, watching as he handed Evan the room keys and directed him in the correct direction of your room. Evan retook your hand in his and once again led you down the hallway, the valet following behind with a cart, your bags placed carefully on it. Up the elevator and down another hallway. Once at your hotel room door, Evan gave you the key and turned to grab your bags while you opened the door, revealing the most beautiful hotel room you’ve ever seen. You walked in with Evan following behind, your mouth agape as you take it all in in complete awe. Evan watched you from behind, grinning ear to ear at your admiration. He wanted nothing more than to give you the best of the best.

“This place is just… wow” you sigh out, walking over to the window and looking out. You were on the 18th floor and everything looked like ants from below you. “This is incredible Evan.” You words came out in a whisper of disbelief.

Evan walked up from behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and placing gentle kisses up your neck to your ear before resting his chin on your shoulder and looking out the window with you. Goosebumps raised on your skin from Evans gentle kisses, your arms placed around his that were around you.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Almost as beautiful as you.” He spoke against your cheek now, a smile creeping on your lips as you leaned your head into his, turning your face and meeting his lips in a soft kiss, one of Evans hands making its way up and holding your face carefully to him.

When you pulled back just enough to see his face, your smile grew just looking at the beautiful man beside you. “Thank you for bringing me here.” You spoke quietly, Evan only placing a kiss on your cheek and then on your shoulder before stepping away from you and back to your bags.

“There’s so much to do here, so you have any specific places you’d like to go first?” He asks, you walking over to where he was.

You shook your head and shrugged. “I only know of Central Park, from movies.” You chuckle. “Anywhere you want to take me, I’m happy to go.”

He glanced up at you and shot a smile your way before digging through his bag again. You watched curiously until he pulled out a small but long, navy blue box. Your eyebrows furrowed still confused, meeting his eyes when he looked at you.

“I got you something” he stated, walking so he now stood before you. You glanced back down at the box then at him again.

“Evan..” you shook your head, already overwhelmed with what he’s done for you.

“Shh” he grinned, “I wanted to.”

You let out a breath then finally gave him a small smile, looking down as he opened the box and revealed a beautiful diamond heart necklace.

Your eyebrows shot up as you gazed down at the simple yet beautiful necklace, your hand placing itself over your heart. Your teeth bit down hard onto your bottom as your heart pounded like crazy in your chest.

“God, Evan..” you looked back up to him, seeing his famous goofy smile you loved so much. “It’s so beautiful, thank you.” Your hands reached and placed themselves on either side of his face bringing him to your lips again, kissing him much more deeply than the last one. His free hand wrapped around your waist and pulled you into him, your heads tilting opposite allowing you to kiss with more passion.

You honestly couldn’t understand how you got so lucky. One day you were paying for this famous actors coffee thinking he’d never even know it was you who did, and now, you were in New York City with this man, kissing him passionately. The months seemed to be flying by even though the time apart feels like it’s drawn out. You couldn’t ask for anything more than what you have right now.

You pulled back and quickly turned around, pulling your hair from your neck so Evan could latch the necklace around it. His hands felt so soft against the bare skin on your neck as he connected the ends, carefully setting it down against your skin and letting his fingers trace gently down your neck to your back, your backless shirt giving him the access he needed to do so.

Your eyes fluttered shut at the feeling, chills being sent throughout your body. You sucked in a sharp breath when you felt his lips against your shoulder, kissing your bare skin before placing another one below it.

Your breathing deepened as he continued kissing your skin all over, his hands having placed themselves on your hips holding them tightly. You dropped your head to the side so he was able to kiss back up your neck and behind your ear, wanting him now more than ever.

You hadn’t had sex yet, obviously deciding to wait until you had gotten to know each other better. But after the last two months of learning everything possible about the other, you were ready.

“Evan..” you breathed his name out softly, slowly, feeling him hum against your skin as his kisses began placing themselves from your ear up your jaw. “Please” you whisper, your voice shaky from nerves and neediness.

Evan’s grip on your hips tighten hearing your desperation, slight worry that you may not actually be ready like you feel, but also wanting nothing more than to give into your plea.

You feel him pull your hips to turn you around, doing so and looking up at him. His eyes flicker down to the necklace around your neck, loving how it looks on you and turning him on more before flickering back to your eyes below him.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” He says lowly but completely serious. Your gaze shifts from his eyes to his lips, to his clenched jaw then back up to his eyes. Your hands slowly find their way to his cheeks, holding them gently still maintaining eye contact.

“I am.” You confirm, leaning in and placing a gentle kiss it his lips. You hear him suck a sharp breath from his nose as his lips move perfectly against yours, his hands carefully finding their way around you and caressing up and down your waist slowly, as if allowing you to be sure before he moved any faster.

When you didn’t back out, completely ready to give yourself to him, you feel his hands then move down your legs and to the back of your thighs, gripping them and hiking you up in one easy motion. You immediately wrap your legs around his waist, your hands still holding his face to yours while you both deepened the kiss into another passion filled one. Your tongue slips from your mouth and glides across his bottom lip slowly asking for access, his mouth opening to grant it and your tongues colliding against the other for dominance. Though you were eager, you were no match to him, his tongue sliding into your mouth now and tasting every inch of you.

Evan carry’s you carefully over to the bed, lowering you onto and resting above you with on hand holding him up while his other explored your clothed body. Your hands slide down his chest to his torso, lifting his shirt for him to take off, Evan pulling back from your lips and sitting up enough to pull it over his head, tossing it somewhere in the room as he quickly leans down and finds your lips again. Your hands find their way back to his now shirtless body, feeling his warm skin under your touch.

“Sit up” he mumbles against your lips, helping you sit up on the bed, his hands finding the bottom of your shirt while his eyes meet yours silently asking if he could remove it. You lift your arms to grant him his request, feeling his slide your shirt up and over your head. He gazes over your almost bare torso with a smile, your eyes watching him admire your body already.

Your arms reach behind you, unclasping your lace black bra while Evans gaze intensifies, eager to see you bare. You slide the straps of the bra slowly down your shoulders before removing it completely, tossing it aside and looking back up to him. Your body quickly tenses with insecurity, scared that he might not be attracted to what he sees, but he quickly leans back into you and presses a kiss on your lips.

“Beautiful” he breathes out, his hands sliding down your waist gently, reassuringly. Your eyes look up at him through your long lashes, nothing but complete lust filled within them. Your body was trembling ever so slightly from all the nerves you felt, and Evan could feel it under him.

“Is this okay?” He asks quietly, looking sternly into your eyes wanting your complete honesty, ready to make a full stop if you weren’t. But, you only nod, looking between his eyes and leaning your head up to reconnect your lips, carefully pushing you back down against the bed.

You feel his hands make their way down to your legs that were still clothed as his own were, gently massaging into your thighs with his thumbs. You softly buck your hips into him, feeling his bludgeoned against your core and letting out a quiet moan against his lips, causing him to let out his own moan that drives you insane.

His hands quickly unbutton your pants, you lifting your hips for him to slide them down your legs painfully slow. You watch as he pulls them off and begins placing open mouthed kisses back up your legs, the ache between your thighs growing with every touch. You let your head fall back against the bed, your eyes fluttering shut feeling him slide your panties down next, his hands taking ahold of your knees and carefully spreading them. Once again feeling slightly insecure being completely bare and vulnerable to him, you control your heavy breathing and allow his hands to slide up your thighs gently, so close to where you need him the most.

Finally, his thumb presses against your clit making you suck in a sharp breath at his touch, holding it in as he begins rubbing slow circles over it.

“F..fuck” you stutter out, your hands flying to your head and holding your face in them, completely withering in his every move. Evan glanced up at you, the way you hold yourself and the sounds you make for him making his dick throb through his jeans. He bites onto his lip and looks back down at your pretty, wet pussy in front of him, groaning at the beautiful sight. Continuing his thumb movements, he uses his middle finger from the same hand and slides it into you, smiling at your long moan. As he begins pumping it in and out of you, his other hand moves up placing itself on your abdomen and pressing your body down against the bed denying your body from the bucking it had began doing and adding more pressure onto your heat helping your climax build.

“God.. Evan” you moan, lifting your head to watch the picture in front of you, seeing Evan working on your pussy so effortlessly and beautifully. The sight alone could’ve made you cum, but you held it in, wanting to reach your orgasm with him inside of you. Sucking in and letting out a few more shaky breaths, you reach for Evan, grabbing his arm and pulling him back up and onto you. You quickly reach down and fumble with his jeans, eager for them to be off. He helps undo his buttons and wiggles them down his legs, his boxers following. Your eyes immediately land on his boner, clenching your pussy at the sight. Your eyes look up to Evan’s as you reach out and wrap your small hand around him, watching his eyes flutter shut as you begging stroking gently. Seeing him melt in your touch gives you a new sense of confidence, leaning yourself up and licking a strip from the bottom to the tip.

“Fuck… yes” Evan groans, his hand resting against the side of your head for support as you take all of him into your mouth. You bob slow at first, looking up so you could watch his face, his eyes already on you, and allowing yourself to begging bobbing faster. Your hand rests on his stomach, sucking his dick so perfectly that his legs began shaking from under him, his hold on your head tightening and strings of long, deep moans escaping from his beautiful mouth. You pull back and suck on his tip, paying extra attention to the sensitive spot and feeling him tensing up.

You were determined to make him cum right there, but he pulled your mouth from him and let out a breath, light chuckles leaving his mouth as you looked up at him with a pout.

“I wanna cum from that perfect pussy of yours” he said, his voice deep and eager as he lifted you further onto the bed and placed himself between your legs. He took ahold of his dick and slid it through your folds a few times, both of your eyes fluttering shut from the sensation.

“Fuck me” you breathe out, and Evan doesn’t hesitate to line himself up and allow his dick to slide inside of you slowly, looking up to your face for assurance that you give with quick nods, wanting him to continue. He pulls out before reentering, groaning at how perfectly wet you are for him, making it so easy to fuck you.

As he pulls out and slides back in, his head falls onto your chest, one of his hands gripping tightly onto your hip. Your mouth falls open with each deeper thrust, head falling back in pure ecstasy at the perfect tempo.

“So fucking good” he groans against your skin, opening his eyes to find one of your tits and taking your already hardened nipple into his mouth, a moan-muffled yelp from you at the surprise and new feeling and feeling your hand against the back of his head encouraging more. His other hand reaches up and plays with your other nipple, pinching and rubbing his thumb over it and listening to the sounds you make in response.

After a few more thrusts, he removes his mouth from your nipple and leans back, grabbing your legs and resting them over his shoulders so he could fuck you deeper, thrusting hard into you and hitting that perfect sweet spot.

“Yes, oh god.. don’t stop” you encourage him, his thrusts speeding up at your words. You could feel your climax building again, your hands finding your face again as it grew closer. “Fuck Evan I’m gonna cum” you nearly shrieked out, only making Evan slam into you hard repeatedly wanting to make you cum all over his dick.

“That’s okay baby, let it go… cum for me” he encourages, his words sending you over the edge and your thighs attempting to squeeze together but to no avail with Evan between them. You arch your back as your orgasm floods through your body, releasing on his dick while he continued thrusting into you closing in on his own orgasm.

He watches your body react to the way he keeps fucking into you, your trembling legs and heavy rising and falling chest finally sending him over the edge. He thrusts once more before pulling out and pumping his dick while he cums onto your stomach, his head falling back and your eyes on his dick watching as he cums all over you.

You suck your lip into your mouth, biting down onto it while he strokes his dick coming down from his own orgasm, your eyes flickering up to him and watching his face scrunch up before relaxing, his eyes opening to meet yours. You press your lips into a smile, his copying yours as he leans down and connects your lips again, much more gentle this time.

“That was so..”

“Perfect” he finishes for you, grinning down at you before pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Perfect.” You nod, agreeing with him. You wrap your arms around him into a hug, his arms sliding under your body and wrapping you up against him.

You both lay there embracing the other for some time, listening to his breaths slow and feeling his pulse calm down. You nuzzle your face into his neck, kissing the skin softly.

“Do you want to go out?” You hear him ask, smiling against him.

“Mhmm” you hum, breathing in his scent before loosening your hold on him. He presses another kiss to the side of your head before he stands to his feet, walking over and grabbing a towel before returning to you and wiping his cum from your stomach, cleaning you first before he cleans himself. You smile at his choice of aftercare, your stomach bursting butterflies at how gentle and caring he was.

“I think I know the perfect place to go” he grins to you before turning and finding his clothes, pulling his boxers up before his jeans. You sigh, so happy and fucked out, sitting up in the bed and admiring Evan as he dressed.

“Where might that be?” You question. He looks back at you and shrugs playfully, walking over to you.

“You’ll just have to wait and see” he says quietly, leaning down to kiss your lips again, your lips smiling through it against his.

“Okay..” you sigh again, breathing in a deep breath before standing from the bed, finding your clothes and going to the bathroom to wash up first.

—

Tags: @evanpetersmood @witchsbitchestime @demxnicprxncess @yes-divine-ruler @shjjpm @evanpsrealwife @iruzias @jangsuzchap @quicksilversg1rl l @submissiveforahsmen @angelmenace @lovelizzie-blog1 @justa19 @daylas-life @simp4petermaximoff @totta69

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correlance · 17 days

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Theory: Valentino was the famous 1920s actor Rudolph Valentino, the "Latin Lover".

Who was Rudolph Valentino?

Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed the "Latin Lover", was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred in several well-known silent films from 1921 to 1926, including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik.

Valentino was a sex symbol of the 1920s, known in Hollywood as the "Latin Lover" (a title invented for him by Hollywood moguls), the "Great Lover", or simply "Valentino". His early death at the age of 31 caused mass hysteria among his fans, further cementing his place in early cinematic history as a cultural film icon.

Valentino was born in Castellaneta, Apulia, Italy…unable to secure employment in Italy, he departed for the United States in 1913. He was processed at Ellis Island at age 18 on December 23, 1913. Valentino never applied for American citizenship, and retained his Italian citizenship.

Arriving in New York City, he supported himself with odd jobs such as busing tables in restaurants and gardening. Around 1914, restaurateur Joe Pani who owned Castles-by-the-Sea, the Colony, and the Woodmansten Inn was the first to hire Rudolph to dance the tango with Joan Sawyer for $50 per week.

Eventually, he found work as a taxi dancer at Maxim's Restaurant-Cabaret. Among the other dancers at Maxim's were several displaced members of European nobility, for whom a premium demand existed…Valentino left town [in 1917], and joined a traveling musical that led him to the West Coast.

[…] With his dancing success, Valentino found a room of his own on Sunset Boulevard, and began actively seeking screen roles. His first part was as an extra in the film Alimony, moving on to small parts in several films. Despite his best efforts, he was typically cast as a "heavy" (villain) or gangster. At the time, the archetypal major male star was Wallace Reid, with a fair complexion, light eyes, and an All-American look, with Valentino the opposite; he eventually supplanted Sessue Hayakawa as Hollywood's most popular "exotic" male lead.

[…] With the Douglas Fairbanks type being the supposed epitome of manhood, Valentino was sometimes portrayed as a threat to the "All American" man. One man, asked in a street interview in 1922 what he thought of Valentino, replied, "Many other men [say they] desire to be another Douglas Fairbanks. But Valentino? I wonder…"

Women in the same interview found Valentino, quote, "Triumphantly seductive. He puts the love-making of the average husband or sweetheart into discard as tame, flat, and unimpassioned."

Some journalists were still calling [Valentino's] "masculinity" into question, going on at length about his pomaded hair, his dandyish clothing, his treatment of women, his views on women, and whether he was "effeminate" or not. Valentino hated these stories, and was known to carry clippings of the newspaper articles around with him and criticize them.

In July 1926, the Chicago Tribune reported that a vending machine dispensing pink talcum powder (face powder) had appeared in an upscale hotel's men's washroom. An editorial that followed used the story to protest the supposed feminization of American men, and blamed the talcum powder on Valentino and his films. The piece infuriated Valentino, and he challenged the writer to his choice of a boxing or wrestling match, since dueling was illegal. Neither challenge was answered.

Shortly afterward, Valentino met with journalist H. L. Mencken for advice on how best to deal with the incident. Mencken advised Valentino to "let the dreadful farce roll along to exhaustion" (i.e. "do nothing"), but Valentino insisted the editorial was "infamous", [and must be answered for in a one-on-one fight].

After Valentino challenged the Tribune's anonymous writer to a boxing match, the New York Evening Journal boxing writer, Frank O'Neill, volunteered to fight in his place. Valentino won the bout, which took place on the roof of New York's Ambassador Hotel.

Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, who trained Valentino and other Hollywood notables of the era in boxing, said of him: "He was the most virile and masculine of men. The women were like flies to a honeypot. He could never shake them off, anywhere he went. What a lovely, lucky guy."

Mencken found Valentino to be likable and gentlemanly, and wrote sympathetically of him in an article published in The Baltimore Sun a week after Valentino's death:

"It was not that trifling Chicago episode that was riding him; it was the whole grotesque futility of his life. Had he achieved, out of nothing, a vast and dizzy success? Then that success was hollow as well as vast—a colossal and preposterous nothing. Was he acclaimed by yelling multitudes? Then every time the multitudes yelled, he felt himself blushing inside…the thing, at the start, must have only bewildered him, but in those last days, unless I am a worse psychologist than even the professors of psychology, it was revolting him. Worse, it was making him afraid…here was a young man who was living daily the dream of millions of other men. Here was one who was catnip to women. Here was one who had wealth and fame, and here was one who was very unhappy [in spite of that wealth and fame]."

[…] Valentino was also the "sex symbol" of his time in the 1920s. The sheet music cover for "Rodolph Valentino Blues" written in 1922, to quote the lyrics, "Oh Mister Rodolph Valentino / I know I've got the Valentino blues / And when you come up on the screen / Oh! You're so romantic, I go frantic at the views!

[…] [Prior to his death], Valentino was fascinated with every part of movie-making. During production on a Mae Murray film, he spent time studying the director's plans. He craved authenticity and wished to shoot on location, finally forming his own production company, Rudolph Valentino Productions, in 1925. Valentino, George Ullman, and Beatrice Ullman were the incorporators.

[…] Valentino once told gossip columnist Louella Parsons that: "The women I love don't love me. The others don't matter." He claims that despite his success as a sex symbol, in his personal love life, he never achieved happiness.

[…] In 1919—just before the rise of his career—Valentino impulsively married actress Jean Acker, who was also [romantically] involved with actresses Grace Darmond and Alla Nazimova.

Acker became involved with Valentino in part to remove herself from the lesbian love triangle, quickly regretted the marriage, and locked Valentino out of their room on their wedding night. The couple separated soon after, and the marriage was never consummated [on account of Acker being a lesbian].

The couple remained legally married until 1921, when Acker sued Valentino for divorce, citing desertion. The divorce was granted, with Acker receiving alimony. She and Valentino eventually renewed their friendship, and remained friends until his death.

[His second marriage to actress Winifred Shaughnessy, known by her stage name, Natacha Rambova—an American silent film costume and set designer, art director, and protégée of Alla Nazimova, his ex-wife's lesbian lover—ended far more poorly.

The two married in 1922, remarried in 1923, and divorced in 1925. Towards the end of their marriage, Rambova was banned from his sets by contract. The end of the marriage was bitter, with Valentino bequeathing Rambova one dollar in his will.]

[…] From the time he died in 1926 until the 1960s, Valentino's sexuality was not generally questioned in print. At least four books, including the notoriously libelous Hollywood Babylon, suggested that [Valentino] may have been gay, despite his marriage to Rambova. For some, the marriages to Acker and Rambova, as well as the relationship with Pola Negri, added to the suspicion that Valentino was gay, and that these were "lavender marriages".

Some claim that Valentino had a relationship with Ramón Novarro, despite Novarro stating they barely knew each other. Hollywood Babylon recounts a story that Valentino had given Novarro an art deco dildo as a gift, which was found stuffed in his throat at the time of his murder. It is believed that no such gift existed.

There were also claims that he may have had relationships with both roommates Paul Ivano and Douglas Gerrad, as well as Norman Kerry, and openly gay French theatre director and poet Jacques Hébertot. However, Ivano maintained that it was untrue, and both he and Valentino were heterosexual. Biographers Emily Leider and Allan Ellenberger generally agree that [Valentino] was most likely straight, [though others have disputed this].

There was further supposed evidence that Valentino was gay; documents in the estate of the late author Samuel Steward indicated that Valentino and Steward were sexual partners. However, evidence found in Steward's claim was subsequently found to be false, as Valentino was in New York on the date Steward claimed a sexual encounter occurred in Ohio.

[Valentino died on 23 August 1926, at the age of 31, due to complications from perforated ulcer surgery, resulting in sepsis (bacterial poisoning), a collapsed lung, and other fatal conditions.]

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel theory #hazbin hotel headcanon #hazbin hotel fan thory #valentino #hazbin valentino #hazbin hotel valentino #the vees #the vs

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phoenixyfriend · 9 months

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Ko-fi prompt from @thatclichedwriter:

If possible, could you explain why airline overbooking happens and how it “works”?

The answer to this one is actually pretty simple, and the same reason that hotel chains overbook.

The short answer is that in order to maximize profits, every seat needs to be full, and on average, there will be a handful of passengers cancelling at the last moment, so overbooking leads to Just Barely filling every seat after cancellations, most of the time.

Let's play with an example!

Our example flight is 100 seats. It goes from Houston to Pittsburg, and takes just under three hours. This is a flight that goes between two cities in the same country, and is comparatively cheap, in relation to international or intercontinental flights.

It is much more likely to be a flight taken for business purposes than for vacation, especially if it's not during a holiday season where someone might be visiting family in another city.

Version 1: The airline books 100 seats. Of those 100 seats, 5 cancel at the last moment due to a change in the business obligation, or an emergency at home. The airline is now flying 95 seats of the 100, leaving 5 seats empty. If each seat is $300 on average, then they have lost out on $1,500 of revenue. (If there's a cancellation fee, then they've lost out on less, but they've still lost money.)

Version 2: The airline books 110 seats. As in the first version, 5 cancel at the last moment. The airline still has 105 bookings, which is 5 more seats than the plane has. They need to either refund or reschedule the flights for 5 passengers in order to take off. They offer travel credit, possibly a hotel, in exchange for several passengers to delay to a less full flight. The airline loses money, but probably less than the $1,500 they would have lost if they'd had 5 empty seats, instead of 5 doubled ones. Depending on how willing customers are to compromise for a new flight, slightly overbooking is better than slightly underbooking.

Version 3: The airline books 105 seats. 5 cancel at the last moment. When the plane takes off, all 100 seats are full, and the airline has not lost any revenue to empty or overbooked flights.

This whole process is pretty complex, and varies based on the most common cause for travel (Sacramento to Fort Worth is going to have a very different set of customers than New York to Athens), the time of year, the time of week, the airline's popularity, and so on.

The causes of cancellations can vary or come in waves, say, a flu epidemic at a university causing a bunch of students to stay at the dorms for Thanksgiving, forcing half-full flights for a few days in November, which would be unexpected and difficult to plan for when most of the flights around a holiday are more than likely booked far in advance, due to the cost.

There are a lot of people on the internet that have done much longer, more math-heavy examples of this entire process. It's a science of its own, though I'd hesitate to call it an art.

But you came here for "explain it to me like I'm five" explanations, and I'm hoping I've managed to fulfill that!

(Prompt me on ko-fi!)

#economics #ko fi prompts #economics prompts #business #overbooking #phoenix talks

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visit-new-york · 1 year

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Gapstow Bridge

Gapstow Bridge, New York, NY 10019

Gapstow Bridge is one of the charming and iconic bridges located within Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. It is renowned for its picturesque setting and is a favorite spot for park visitors, photographers, and tourists. Here are some key details about Gapstow Bridge:

Location: Gapstow Bridge is situated in the southeast section of Central Park, spanning across the eastern end of the Pond. It is in close proximity to Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo, and The Plaza Hotel.

Design and Architecture: The bridge was originally designed by Jacob Wrey Mould in 1874, and it was rebuilt in its current form in 1896. Gapstow Bridge is a graceful and elegant structure, characterized by its curved, semi-circular shape and elegant stone arches. It is constructed primarily of Manhattan schist, a type of local bedrock.

Scenic Views: Gapstow Bridge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including the Pond, with its reflections of the city skyline, and the lush greenery of Central Park. The bridge's stone parapets and balustrades provide a perfect frame for capturing memorable photographs.

Seasonal Beauty: Gapstow Bridge takes on a different charm in each season. In the spring, it is surrounded by blooming flowers and vibrant greenery. During the fall, the surrounding trees display a riot of autumn colors, creating a stunning backdrop.

Cultural Significance: The bridge has been featured in various films, television shows, and photography exhibits, contributing to its cultural significance. Its timeless design and tranquil setting make it a popular choice for filmmakers and artists.

Ice Skating: In the winter months, the Pond below Gapstow Bridge often freezes, providing a picturesque setting for ice skating. The nearby Wollman Rink is a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking winter recreation.

Accessibility: Gapstow Bridge is accessible by pedestrian pathways within Central Park, making it a convenient stop for visitors exploring the park on foot or by bike.

Historical Significance: Like many features in Central Park, Gapstow Bridge is a testament to the park's historical and architectural heritage. It serves as a reminder of the park's original design by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the mid-19th century.

Adjacent Landmarks: The bridge's location near the Central Park Zoo and Wollman Rink makes it a central part of the park's recreational and cultural offerings. Visitors often combine their visits to these nearby attractions with a stroll across Gapstow Bridge.

In summary, Gapstow Bridge is a beloved and picturesque landmark within Central Park, known for its graceful design and stunning views. Whether you're seeking a scenic spot for photography, a tranquil place to enjoy nature, or a beautiful backdrop for leisurely walks, Gapstow Bridge offers a serene and timeless experience in the heart of Manhattan.

#Gapstow Bridge #Bridge #Central Park #New York City #new york #newyork #New-York #nyc #NY #manhattan #urban #city #USA #buildings #visit-new-york.tumblr.com

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justrainandcoffee · 11 days

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The Wandering Jew (Alfie Solomons x fem!OC)

"Welcome to end of the World", Alfie said.

Alfie x Rose Masterlist

Summary: It was like an apocalyptic movie. First it wasn't that bad, or that was people thought, until it was that bad. Rose landed in London with the idea of returning home a week and a half later, but few days after that, the PM decided to close everything. His flight was cancelled and getting a new one was an impossible mission. The world is facing a new era and she's there trapped in an Inn, in a distant city with a complete stranger and his dog.

Warnings: Just topics related to covid-19.

Words: 2K. || I'm rewriting the first chapters I posted last year. I changed several things and I'm happier now. You can find the rest of their modern story here.

Series masterlist.

18th March 2020.

The world was starting to panic because of the new virus created in China. Or maybe it was a sick bat that, like a domino effect, caused thousands of deaths already. China was closed, countries around it, too. Italy was collapsing slowly and the WHO already declared that this new virus, called COVID-19, was a pandemic.

Yet, millions of people continued with their lives as always. Working, going to classes, visiting friends or relatives and others, like Rose, were travelling.

Born in London in 1988, Rose Coldwell was returning to her city after eight years living in New York where she moved with her mother and two brothers. She received an important job offer back then and the money was beneficial for the four of them. Louis, her youngest brother went to high school and Samuel, the second brother, begun to study law in a good college there. Now the youngest was studying architecture and Samuel was part of a law firm in Manhattan.

Rose, on the other hand, ran her own fashion blog and had a small business. Nothing too extraordinary, but something that made her happy. After several years of sending mails and filling out forms to be part of any international fashion event and equal numbers of rejections, she sent a mail to be part of an international convention there in London and she was accepted. 2020, it was going to be an unforgettable year, she thought.

And she was right… but the reasons were going to be quite different.

The plane landed and she felt she was returning home like the prodigal son, or daughter. Not even once since she left the country she returned there and it was a pleasant feeling to be back on her land.

Some people around her in the airport were walking fast avoiding the multitude. Some were wearing masks, some not. A woman wearing one was offering alcohol to sanitize people's hands. An old man sneezed and caused several disgusted faces from people around him.

'Probably he's just allergic,' she thought.

While she was waiting for her baggage, she checked her phone. Her mother called her several times and also one of her brothers. She ignored them for now, once she was in her bedroom, she'd be able to call them.

"I think he needs to close everything."

Rose heard two men talking near her, one already had his suitcase, but the other not.

"Johnson already denied that, Luke. We're safe, he said."

"And you believe him?" the one named Luke, asked. "Give the virus a couple of days and we're doom, Fred."

Rose's heart started to beat fast. The fact that she was on the other side of the ocean away from her family, suddenly terrified her. But she shooed those thoughts from her mind. The UK under a strict lockdown sounded ridiculous.

The Wandering Jew was an Inn that opened its doors in 2017. The most popular in all Candem Town and its surroundings. Rated by its guests with five stars in websites like booking.com and full of positive feedback.

The Wandering Jew had over 60 rooms and five of them were almost a suite. Not like a the ones you would find in the most expensive hotels, but still quite elegant.

But most of all, The Wandering Jew had a man named Alfie Solomons, the owner.

Alfie bought the building, that was about to be demolished, in 2016 and hired people to reconstruct it. From engineers and architects to construction workers. One and a half years later, it was finished it. It costed him several thousands pounds but it was worth and he was happy with it.

His apartment was above the Inn, so he never really left that place, except to walk his dog and closest friend: Cyril. Every late afternoon it was common to see both of them walking out the Inn to go to a park and spend an hour or two there.

During the day, while Alfie was behind the reception counter, Cyril usually was sleeping next to his feet or greeting some guests.

And that was exactly what Cyril did that 18th of March.

The reception was empty in that moment, most of the guests were out visiting some places and few others were sleeping or at least they were in their bedrooms. Cyril had been chewing his favourite tennis ball, when he heard a taxi and he stood up quickly. The dog ran towards the glass door and spied from there. Alfie barely paid attention to him.

Cyril was excited. He didn't know her, but the dog was still happy. He could smell her as soon as she left the taxi and now that he could see her, his tail was wagging faster than before. His excitement caused to Alfie to finally raise his eyes from the newspaper and put attention to Cyril who was now hopping.

Alfie saw Rose for the first time while she was pushing the glass door with her body. In one hand she had her baggage and in the other her phone. She was speaking with someone and was clearly upset. And had every reason to be mad. The one on the other side of the line, was a bastard whose only purpose in his life was to harass her. No matter how many times she blocked him, he always get a new number to call her.

"Go and fuck yourself, dickhead!"

Alfie was amused, without no doubts that was the best entrance ever. And a very pretty one.

He saw her sliding her phone in her pocket and then watching at Cyril who seemed to be more than happy after she petted him gently. Cyril ran towards Alfie and barked at him.

"Did you see her? Did you?" He seemed to say.

"Calm down, boy," Alfie said to the animal and then he looked at her who was already in front of him at the reception counter. "I'm sorry, he's usually quieter."

"Don't worry, he's nice! And I love dogs." Rose smiled at him and he did the same. "I booked for a room online, two weeks ago. Coldwell is my last name," she told him.

After giving him her ID, and while he was checking the information she paid attention to the place. She had already seen several photos online and she liked it but the Inn was really nice. The paintings on the walls were warm and several represented the sea. A plant over the counter called Wandering Jew, like the Inn itself, captured her attention. Her mother used to have that kind of plans when they lived in London. She asked herself if the Inn's name was because of those plants or there was another reason.

"Everything is okay, Ms. Coldwell," he said giving her ID back and also a key "Room 44. Welcome and I hope you enjoy your days here."

"Thanks! I will!"

"Every room has a phone that communicates directly with this one," he said pointing at a black one over the counter, "if you need anything you can call me... us. Call us."

Rose chuckled and nodded "Thanks…"

"Alfred. Alfie."

"Thanks, Alfie."

Two days later, the 20th of March, it was obvious that things were out of control. Hospitals were saturated, the numbers of sick people were increasing, flights become to be a necessity and there weren't enough planes. Countries like Italy, Greece and France were collapsing under the virus. And several of them closed their frontiers. Boris Johnson had already a rope around his neck but he refused to start a quarantine yet.

"No, I'm not admitting new guests," Alfie said to the person who called the Inn "I'm sorry."

His right hand, Ollie, was next to him. Both of them were waiting news from the government but there was nothing except empty words and promises about a bright future.

The convention were Rose had to go was cancelled because the organisers were sick and it was suspended. And in top of that she received an email saying that her original flight to return home was cancelled. The company gave her the money back but they didn't say anything about a reschedule.

She returned to the Inn that afternoon only to see in the TV that was in the reception, that there were riots everywhere. Demanding a lockdown, demanding more medical assistance and some demanded Johnson's and the Queen's heads.

Both men, Rose and an old woman were paying attention to the BBC journalist who was in front of one of the hospitals.

"Welcome to the end of the world," Alfie commented.

He wasn't that wrong.

The night of the 22th of March, it was chaotic. Finally the lockdown was imminent and some people was already leaving the Inn. Ollie, who worked the night shift, was giving them their money back for the days that they couldn't stay. That night Rose didn't sleep. She tried to get a flight and she could hear her mother's voice in her head "you should listen to me."

And yes, Mary Coldwell was right but it was too late now for any regrets. Rose needed to return with her family, the thing was how.

The next morning it was officially confirmed the beginning of the quarantine. Alfie again behind the counter, was attending the remaining guests who were living the Inn. Including those who refused to leave. One particular woman was complaining about the lockdown and she was basically blaming Alfie because of that.

Alfie was trying to remain calmed but this Karen wasn't making things easy.

"You can't expelled me like that. I paid for my bedroom for three weeks and I've been here for only one. I want to stay here for three weeks!"

"But you can't. You can go to 10 Downing Street and talk with the Prime Minister about your holidays, if you want. I'm just a citizen following these new rules, ma'am. Pick up your belongings and get in your car and return home. Stay there until the Quarantine is over."

Rose was sitting on one of the armchairs at the reception. Phone in hand, refreshing the airlines website every two seconds, but not avail. Everything was collapsed and there wasn't any flights. The news showed people sleeping on floors and she knew that was her fate and she was really upset. So hearing that woman was ending with her patience.

"I'm going to sue you, you'll see! And you're going to regret it! This is a complete nonsense! There's no such thing as a virus!! It's the media! And the left and…"

"Shut the fuck up, for once! Fuck!"

Both Alfie and the woman stared at Rose who was frowning. The first one smiled, but the woman seemed offended.

"I didn't pay to be insultated!"

"I'm doing this for free," Rose replied.

Gasping, the woman warned Alfie with a lawyer one last time and left the Inn, according to her, to search a better place to stay. She found none.

The rest of the guests left the Inn without drama and by 4pm only Rose remained there. From all the guests that The Wandering Jew had there at the moment, she was the only one living in United States, the rest were all over Britain. In consequence, the only one having problems was Rose.

"Any luck?" Alfie asked watching her with her phone still in hand.

"No. Not really. My brother is trying to help from his home but he's not having luck either."

"You can stay here for tonight if you want," Alfie said.

"I was planning to go to the airport and stay there."

"Sleeping on the cold tiles in middle of a pandemic? I'm sorry but it sounds risky."

"But…"

"I hanged the sign. For everyone here, the Inn is closed. Don't worry."

"Just for tonight, I promise," she said.

Alfie agreed.

"Just tonight."

How wrong both of them were.

#alfie solomons #alfie x rose #alfie solomons x oc #alfie solomons x ofc #tom hardy #peaky blinders #modern au #the wandering jew

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mariacallous · 8 months

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Thousands of Airbnbs and short-term rentals are about to be wiped off the map in New York City.

Local Law 18, which came into force Tuesday, is so strict it doesn’t just limit how Airbnb operates in the city—it almost bans it entirely for many guests and hosts. From now on, all short-term rental hosts in New York must register with the city, and only those who live in the place they’re renting—and are present when someone is staying—can qualify. And people can only have two guests.

Gone are the days of sleek downtown apartments outfitted for bachelorette parties, cozy two- and three-bedroom apartments near museums for families, and even the option for people to rent out their apartment on weekends when they’re away. While Airbnb, Vrbo, and others can continue to operate in New York, the new rules are so tight that Airbnb sees it as a “de facto ban” on its business.

Short-term rentals can bring noise, trash, and danger, and they can price local residents out of their own neighborhoods. Some landlords in New York are prolific and have hundreds of Airbnb listings. But other New Yorkers who have listings on Airbnb are trying to make ends meet, either leasing their place while they’re out of town or renting half of a duplex to help cover their mortgage costs.

Airbnb is also popular with some of the 66 million visitors a year looking for accommodations that are cheaper and sometimes larger than hotels. In 2022 alone, short-term rental listings made $85 million in New York. The city might be a relatively small slice of Airbnb’s global market, but the new rules show how local governments can effectively stamp out short-term rentals overnight and lessen their impact on dense residential areas. And New York is just one of many cities around the world trying to calm the short-term rental gold-rush.

And everyone is taking a different approach. Dallas has limited short-term rentals to specific neighborhoods to avoid disruptive and dangerous parties. Elsewhere, the Canadian province of Quebec and Memphis, Tennessee, among others, now require licenses for short-term rentals. In San Francisco, the amount of time someone can list their entire residence for rent on Airbnb is limited to 90 days each year; Amsterdam puts that limit at 30 nights per year, Paris at 120 days. Berlin previously banned nearly all Airbnbs but walked the decision back in 2018.

Airbnb’s attempts to fight back against the new law have, to date, been unsuccessful. The company sued New York City in June, but a judge dismissed the case in August, ruling that the restrictions were “entirely rational.” Airbnb did not comment on whether it would appeal the decision. Hosts are also fighting for the right to list their apartments as short-term stays by meeting with city officials to try to change the law.

The rules “are a blow to its tourism economy and the thousands of New Yorkers and small businesses in the outer boroughs who rely on home sharing and tourism dollars to help make ends meet,” says Theo Yedinsky, global policy director for Airbnb. “The city is sending a clear message to millions of potential visitors who will now have fewer accommodation options when they visit New York City: You are not welcome.” Yedinsky says Airbnb has a goal of working with the city on “sensible” home-sharing rules, but he did not elaborate on the company’s next steps.

The change will make short-term rentals “a lot less attractive” for many people coming to New York, says Sean Hennessey, a professor at the New York University Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. And in a city where hotel rooms are small and expensive, it could “make the city a little less accessible.”

There are currently more than 40,000 Airbnbs in New York, according to Inside Airbnb, which tracks listings on the platform. As of June, 22,434 of those were short-term rentals, defined as places that can be booked for fewer than 30 days. Many Airbnbs are concentrated around downtown Manhattan, along the Upper East Side, and in Williamsburg and Park Slope in Brooklyn. While the number of rentals may be small compared to New York City’s population of 8 million people, Murray Cox, founder of Inside Airbnb, says some desirable neighborhoods are overly burdened by short-term rentals, which can result in housing shortages and higher rents. The new law, in theory, could open these homes to local residents. New York City is facing a housing shortage that has increased rents and rates of homelessness.

The implementation of the law shows “very clearly you can cut down on short-term rentals,” says Cox, who was part of the Coalition Against Illegal Hotels, a group that advocated for the registration law. “You can make these platforms accountable.”

There’s an older law on the books that prevents short-term rentals of entire apartments for less than 30 days in New York, but it’s been difficult to enforce without the registration mandate that takes effect Tuesday in place. Compounding the sudden shortage of Airbnbs in New York is another piece of the new law that allows landlords to ban entire buildings from short-term rental platforms. As of July, nearly 9,000 buildings across New York City were on the list. New York’s laws on short-term rentals exempt certain entire apartments on rental platforms that are zoned as hotels and boarding houses, meaning there will still be some entire units advertised on rental platforms.

Some small-time hosts feel the law unfairly loops them in with professional landlords. Margenett Moore-Roberts rents out a two-bedroom apartment in her Brooklyn brownstone; she lives in the home’s other unit with her husband and teen daughter. She says she doesn’t want to rent the apartment to a full-time tenant and lose the flexibility to host family and friends there, or, as she did during the pandemic, use it as a home office. But because her family doesn’t occupy the second two-bedroom unit, it can no longer be listed on Airbnb for stays of less than 30 days.

Restore Homeowner Autonomy and Rights, a group of homeowners in New York, is advocating for amendments to the regulations that would allow owner-occupied one- and two-family homes to register their units with the city and do away with capacity limits. They believe people like Moore-Roberts should be able to rent out units, and that they don’t fall into the same category as bigger landlords.

Moore-Roberts says she isn’t against the rule change entirely, but she wants to see the law reworked with more nuance to protect renters with just one property, like herself. “They’ve used a very blunt object when they should have used a scalpel,” Moore-Roberts says. She is currently out of work, and she says a drop in income from the short-term rental compounds that financial stress. “Putting us all in that same bucket of players is really unfair and not helpful.”

Airbnb says it is canceling and refunding reservations in unregistered accommodations from December 2 onwards, but those up until December 1 can remain in effect to lessen the impact on hosts and guests. Guests won’t be penalized if they book and stay in an unregistered rental, but hosts and the platforms they advertise on could be as of September 5.

Airbnb also says unregistered stays were blocked from future bookings past September 5 as of August 14, but a search showed dozens of entire apartments for more than two people still available to book beyond September 5. These listings should not pass New York’s registration requirements for short-term rentals. Airbnb did not comment on why these are still on the platform. Vrbo declined to comment for this story. Booking.com did not return a request for comment.

There are 3,250 short-term rental hosts who had submitted applications for registration by August 28, according to Christian Klossner, executive director of Office of Special Enforcement in New York City. More than 800 applications had been reviewed, and the office had granted 257 registrations, returned 479 to seek additional information or corrections, and denied 72. As of Tuesday, the office will focus on working with booking platforms to make sure they are using the verification system for registrations and that they are not processing unverified transactions, Klossner says.

A growing number of cities might be trying to clamp down on Airbnb rentals, but the company continues to grow. It made $2.5 billion in the second quarter of 2023, up 18 percent year-on-year, with the number of nights and experiences booked on the platform growing by 11 percent in the same period.

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i-care-4u · 2 years

Text

UN VERANO SIN TI | J.HARLOW

part one | part two | part three

pair: jack harlow x actress!reader

requests are closed | masterlist

A/N: i’ve been doing instagram au’s recently, and i haven’t written these types of fics in like a year, so it feels so refreshing writing them again. btw, apologies if there’s any grammar mistakes or any typos.

‘17-‘20

For the past five years, you’ve pretty much made yourself a big name in the entertainment industry. Since your debut, critics and the people were quickly mesmerized by your talent, which later contributed to your nominations at big award ceremonies.

While filming your second project four years ago, you discovered Jack and his music. However, it wasn’t until a year later when you first met him.

Jack was starstruck the moment he saw you. He couldn’t believe that one of today’s leading actresses is a big fan of his. Around this time, he was recording a new mixtape. You still remembered the conversation that occurred, which was now an ongoing joke between you and him.

“Hi, I’m Jack,” Jack introduced himself as you came up to him to give him a hand shake.

“I know,” you replied, letting out a soft laugh.

After the interaction, you exchanged numbers, and began hanging out together.

By early 2020, you and Jack started dating. Since Jack wanted more of a private life, you both agreed to keep the relationship that way, with the exception of close family and friends. However, due to one of his songs becoming popular, it pushed him to a more mainstream audience. Although you and Jack were celebrating for reaching such achievements, unfortunately, you both knew that going out together was going to be such a conflict.

‘22

With your upcoming project being the most anticipated film of the year, and Jack releasing his new album, it was going to be quite a year for you two.

You and Jack barely had the time to see each other, and the only interactions came through the phone. You didn’t like that feeling. The feeling that you were dating your own screen just felt weird to you. The next time you were going to see him again was during the MET Gala, which happens to be the same week Jack releases his album.

By that point, you had the thought to end things with Jack. It was an upsetting thought, but both of you were booked and busy if you really think about it. You were busy with your film, which was set for a summer release, and there’s also an upcoming press tour alongside it. Meanwhile, Jack had upcoming performances left and right, traveling from France to Australia. As much as it hurts to let go of someone, you believed that now was the right time.

MET GALA ‘22, MAY 2nd, 2022

You arrived to New York City a couple of days ago, which was nothing new for you. Tonight was going to be your first MET since 2019, and your first with Jack.

At the hotel, your stylist picked out a dress from (brand choice), while you were in charge of doing your own makeup. Considering the way people were dressed last year, you’d say that your team did a great job on their research and finding a dress that represented “gilded glamour.”

Before putting on the dress, you heard a knock on the door. You opened the door to see that it was Jack. He was already red carpet ready and he wanted your opinion of his look. He showed up wearing a silky brown suit from Givenchy, a little different from the regular tuxedos that a lot of men tend to wear at the MET.

“How do I look, baby?” Jack asked you as he was fixing up his tie.

“You look amazing, Jack,” you smiled, fixing the outfit for him.

“I knew I could rely on you,” Jack said, quickly giving you a kiss on the forehead before he closed the door.

After a few hours, you arrived at the MET Gala. Your appearance was the most anticipated tonight, based on past looks. It was exciting to see what you were going to wear next. Like every award ceremony, there’s cameras flashing, people cheering from all angles, and of course, the interviews.

“Y/N LOOK OVER HERE!”

“SMILE Y/N!”

“Y/N TURN AROUND!”

“I LOVE YOU Y/N!”

Everyone was obsessed with your MET look. You were the highlight of the night, earning the title of “best-dressed” alongside other celebrities.

Following the pictures taken on the MET stairs, you went to their dinner party, where you got greeted by Jack.

You and Jack went towards the food table. The food looked quite exquisite, having a Sofia Coppola feel to it. Jack grabbed a plate and asked, “You want something to eat or drink?”

“Not at this moment,” you nodded. “Thank you, though.” Before Jack put the plate back, he asked you again, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll eat once the MET is over.”

You weren’t upset, but rather overwhelmed. The next thing you wanted to do was to leave the dinner, and stay at the hotel, but you just couldn’t. Instead, you rushed to the bathroom, which you quickly regretted.

By the time you opened the door, there was a group of celebrities attempting to take the MET Gala picture. Instantly, all eyes were on you, “Y/n, care to join us?”

Giving them an awkward smile, you tried to fit into the frame. For the next ten seconds, everyone was fixing their outfits and thinking of a pose. By the last second, one of the celebrities announced that they were taking the picture, “MET Gala ‘22, everybody say cheese!”

After the picture, you headed back to dinner where you sat in the empty seat next to Jack’s.

“Having fun?” you looked over to Jack.

“Yeah, I’m getting a little tired though. Are you tired yet?”

“Sort of,” You had a monotone voice, showing no emotion whatsoever.

“Let me take you outside for some fresh air, no?” Jack held your hand, but you refused, thinking about your private relationship with him. “Jack, we can’t. Remember?”

“Right.”

“Speaking of going out, I don’t think I want to attend that afterparty anymore.”

“That’s fine,” Jack kissed your cheek as you got out of your seat. “Do what you need to do, okay babe?”

“Okay. See you tomorrow morning.”

TUESDAY, MAY 3rd, 2022

The next morning, as you were getting ready, you received some text messages from Jack.

Jack: are you in your hotel room right now?

Jack: let’s talk

You: i’m here

You turned off your phone and continued getting ready. After doing some final touches to your makeup, you decided to order some tea for you and Jack.

"Room service. How may I help you?”

"Uhm, yeah. May I have two hot teas?"

"Which one?" You didn’t specify what kind prior, but you knew that Jack loves the hottest kind of tea.

"The hottest one. Just any of the—"

"You want black or green tea?"

"Green for both, please. Thank you. "

While you were waiting for your orders, someone knocked on the door. "It’s Jack," you thought.

You opened the door, and it was no surprise that it was him. As he walked into your room, he couldn’t resist giving you a hug. You missed that feeling, that rare feeling. You knew, however, that you and he weren’t destined to be together for this long.

"How’s my baby feeling today?" Jack asked you.

"Better than yesterday," you assured. "And by the way, I ordered some tea, which should be here any minute now."

"Very generous of you," Jack said sarcastically. He was glad to see you doing better and getting the rest that you needed after yesterday. However, it wasn’t the case for you. Instead, you felt nervous about having this talk, scared that you were going to slip up really badly.

"What if he doesn’t want to see me ever again?" you thought. The only goal here was for you and Jack to be cool as just friends.

You two walked together and found a seat at the empty table that was in the room. You relax for a few seconds, hoping that everything goes as planned. Afterwards, you began to talk to him.

"I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but I think it’d be cool if we stayed as just friends," you began. "I feel like we’d become so distant this past year to the point where I’m just dating my own screen, you know?"

Jack got up from his seat, and you tried to question him, feeling startled that he was leaving immediately. Luckily, he opened the door and grabbed the two teas that you ordered earlier. He placed your tea on the table while he began to take a sip of his tea, "Sorry, the tea arrived. Go on, Y/n.”

You continued, "We’re literally at our prime right now, and I’m really proud of what you achieved. I truly am. I just don’t think that I’m the right person for you anymore.”

Silence, but not the awkward kind. Jack respected your decision. "I get it, our schedules can get packed like right now. Either way, I’d still be proud of you for what you've done to your fans and to my music as well. Thank yo-“

You interrupted him, "Jack, this is not a farewell."

"I still mean everything that I said earlier. I’m so glad that I met you, Y/n.”

“Thank you, and thank you for understanding where I’m coming from, Jack.”

After two years of dating, you and Jack officially broke up. It went smoothly like you planned, and you are now friends with Jack.

Things were going to be different, of course. Looking at the schedules, it was going to be a long year, starting with summer. It begins, a summer without Jack, a summer without you.

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evanspresso · 1 year

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when darkness met innocent magic

listen to mr. march and y/n's song

note: I wrote this on a whim and I didn't proof read so if you see a typo... nOOooO you don't 🪄🪄🪄

The heels of her shoes clicked against the pavement while she skipped across the busy Los Angeles street, her heart bouncing up and down as she made her way to the large steel doors.

She had found a job request on Indeed, working the front desk at a hotel, which was something that she had done before. Back when she was taking a year off from university and that year turned into two, but who was counting?

She wasn't sure where she was headed in her life, and she found herself quitting her minimum wage job in New York before biting the bullet and moving to Los Angeles, where she found another front desk agent job. She figured she would start with something she already knew so the whole transition wouldn't be too hard on her.

Her interview was over the phone which she thought was odd, but she figured it was a win for her. She hates interviews and she was always nervous- so when they requested she call the hotel for the interview, she just went for it.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Hotel Cortez was bigger than she had imagined, her mouth fell agape as she walked further and further inside. Y/n's eyes furrowed when she noticed barley anyone was in the common area, empty seats, and and empty bar was something she was not used to, especially in the hotel business that was based in a popular city.

She shrugged it off and continued to make her way towards the desk, which was of course, empty. She puffed out her chest and stood in front of the desk for a minuet, looking around in confusion before finally tapping on the bell causing her to cringe.

"Can I help you?" a dark and seemingly sarcastic voice dragged from behind her, causing her to jump in bewilderment.

"I- I'm y/n and I'm here for my first day." she said awkwardly as she turned around, revealing a shorter women with large, outdated glasses and another woman with dramatic, glittery makeup and a beautiful silk dress.

"Since today is your first day and you are probably going to be in training with me for a week, let's take it slow today." Liz said, smiling down at y/n.

"Okay" Y/n nodded.

They stood behind the desk after Liz showed her what was behind the door behind the desk, where the cameras were and where she could hide out if it was a slow evening.

"We're not tech savvy here, and we're not up to date on the latest computer systems that you might be used to." Liz said.

Liz slid a large dark red book that had 'reservations' written in big gold letters across the front. "We really use a book?" Y/n said in disbelief.

"Were authentic to tradition here at the Cortez." Liz chuckled. "We go by the books here." she added causing them to both giggle lightly.

"Um, okay." y/n said wearily as she opened the book, she knew it would take her longer to learn how to book a reservation and how to check and check people out. Y/n had her work cut out for her, but she knew she could do it.

"What do we have planned today?" she finally asked after writing down some notes in the small notebook that Liz had given her.

"A tour of the hotel my darling." Liz gleamed making y/n smile excitedly.

"After you!" y/n said happily, following Liz as they made their way around the extravagant lobby.

They walked the left and right, here and there, and all around the common areas that were still eerily empty. Y/n felt out of breath as she followed Liz around like a lost puppy and they both laughed at how y/n would "ohh" and "ahh" at the architecture that surrounded them.

"Okay, let's go up the elevator, I'll go show you the hallways and what kind of room types we offer here." Liz said, motioning y/n into the elevator.

"This is our most popular room type. This is the studio queen which is equipped with a queen bed, a kitchenette and bathroom." Liz started as she stood in the middle of the room, letting y/n soak up her surroundings.

"And before you ask, no. We do not have a room that had two queen beds. Our studio King room does have a couch that pulls out into a bed as well if guests need two beds." Liz explained.

"Do we have long term guest that stay here?" Y/n questioned causing Liz to lift up her brow.

"Are you familiar with long term stay hotels?"

"At my old property, it was a catered to more longterm guest than short term.We had a mixture of both, especially when it was peak tourist season in the city." y/n smiled as she looked around the room.

"I see." Liz nodded. "Well, in fact we do have quite a few long term residences." she said as her eyes traveled around the room, not being able to stay in one place at a time causing y/n to give her a funny look.

"Good to know."

They strode back to the desk, joining Iris who stayed behind while y/n was getting the grand tour. The lobby was still as quiet as can be and y/n sighed as she looked around, her cheeks burning as she looked over at her two coworkers.

"Are we at high occupancy?"

Iris and Liz glanced at one another before iris flipped through the pages of the book and shook her head, "We're at 63 percent." she announced.

"I have a question." y/n said timidly.

"What is it dear?" Liz said quietly as Iris shifted from one foot to the other.

"Do you think it would be okay if I stayed here while I look for an apartment? It's so competitive out there and I lost the one I had my eyes on." y/n shrugged.

The pair laughed making y/n blush lightly as she watched Iris reach towards the keys and hand one to y/n. "There three of us will be living here then. It's going to be hard for you to call out now." she joked making all three of them laugh.

"You two live here?"

"It's basically the same as living in an apartment downtown. We've been living here for years." Liz said quickly making Iris nod.

When evening finally rolled in, it was time for y/n to punch out and head up to her room after running back to the car to retrieve her bags she had stuffed in her trunk.

She waved goodnight to her two new favorite coworkers and made her way up to her new home, which she hoped she wouldn't have to stay in for very long.

The ride up to room sixty three was quiet and y/n couldn't help but feel that this hotel had an aura hat she couldn't quite understand.

It was grand and beautiful, yet it felt empty and sad somehow. She walked down the quiet and dimly lit hallway, not passing anyone the whole time she had been here.

weird.

Y/n jolted causing her to giggle as her phone started to vibrate against her jean pocket. She had gotten a text from her best friend back home and smiled to herself as she read the text, stopping in her tracks as she looked at the screen.

Sarah: How's the first day on the job?

Y/n looked around and shuddered at the quietness before pressing her thumb down to speak into the phone as she made her way towards her room.

"Good. I'm just surprised that the people here don't hang out in the lobby or the bar, you know? Like, You'd think this place would be packed with people. It's a beautiful hotel." she sent.

As she placed her key into the key slot she squealed loudly- she heard a raspy voice boom behind her, causing her to drop her bag onto the carpeted floor.

"It is a beautiful hotel indeed. Thank you." The voice boomed as she turned around to face the culprit.

Y/n's features scrunched up as she turned to face a man who towered over her, his dark features popping out of the shadows of the dimly lit hall that engulfed them.

They were the only two people around and she gulped as she looked up at him through her lashes. He smelled of bergamot and vanilla and she pressed her lips together as her eyes scanned his tall and strong frame, his business attire causing her to give him questionable look as he smirked.

"I-"

The man laughed as she backed away from him, her body hitting into her door causing her to gasp as he followed her movements, making her back stick up against her door.

"Are you a guest?" she questioned.

"I own this hotel." He said proudly, lifting his arms up cockily. "This is all mine, my dear."

Y/n giggled at his choice of words and he furrowed his brows at her as she cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing right in front of this man's face.

"I- I'm sorry. Long day, I actually work here. Today was my first day." she mused making him look at her in shock. "It's nice to meet you." she added, pushing her hand out to greet him.

The man gave her a surprised look before taking her small hand into his, causing her to gasp at his ice cold touch as he brought it up towards his lips.

Y/n's mouth fell agape as she looked up at him, his breath fanning her soft skin before his lips greeted her hand softly. "Pleasure is all mine." he said in a dark voice. "What is you name?" he wanted to know.

"Y/n." she stammered.

"Well. I am sure I will se you around y/n, we seem to be neighbors." he smirked, pointing to the door across from hers.

"O-oh." she blushed.

She watched as he bent down to pick up her bag, butterflies erupting as he handed it back to her.

His dark eyes bore into her's while he backed up towards his door, watching her shift awkwardly under his gaze causing him to bite his bottom lip at the way her innocent eyes watched him move. "Goodnight."

"W-wait!" she squeaked making her clear her throat as he chuckled lightly, pausing with his hand on the door handle. "Whats your name?"

"Mr. March."

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sitp-recs · 2 months

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BL Reclist - Part 4

Hello hello, here I am with another BL rec list no one asked for 😌 I’ve been reading a lot these days, while I wait for my fandom spark to come back. Most of these manhwas are still ongoing which means I’ve been busy with: alpha x alpha romance! Break up make up! Identity porn! Revenge! Mafia love triangles! It’s all here folks, pick your poison and have fun. If you’re looking for completed works, better start with 4, 8 and 9. You can also check my previous BL lists here, here and here for a few more completed series. I know these lists are a bit niche and not very popular but who knows, maybe I’ll find fellow BL fans who will enjoy these as much as I did!

1. Aren’t You My Type? by Ha tae jin / Toffee (M, ongoing)

Geon-ah responds to Hyun-dal's message, who mistook him for Hye-sung. As they continue to communicate, they grow closer and closer, their first face-to-face meeting seems like it will never come. An alpha x alpha romantic comedy that starts with a misunderstanding!

2. Blaze Out by Chepali, Zelnut & Kkoyo (E, ongoing)

Once a promising high school baseball player, Yeon Hong’s bright future is shattered by a tragic car accident, leading him to uncover the involvement of private loan sharks. Seeking revenge, he transforms into a loan shark himself, establishing “Coco Loan.” However, twelve years later, Hong’s journey takes a surprising turn when the powerful President Yoo Jaeyoung orders Hong to mentor his mysterious lover, ‘Panther.’

3. God’s Identity Card by Ni sansui & Djun (M, ongoing)

Lu Lanqiao, a forensic science student, became the most likely suspect in the murder of his elder brother overnight. His brother's last words put him on the run. While trying to find out who killed his brother, Lanqiao meets Fu Cheng, the police inspector who was hot on his trail. However, the relationship between the fugitive and the pursuer gradually changes.

4. Here U Are by Djun (M, complete)

Receptioning the newcomers is a task for YuYang, and he ends up helping the unsociable and towering LiHuan, the kind of person that does everything to be disliked. But after better knowing each other, he discovers that the giant isn’t that bad of a person at all.

5. Payback by Samk & Fujoking (E, ongoing)

While other students were preparing to take their CSAT exams, Lee Yoonhan was swept up in an exhilarating lifestyle of crime and debauchery. While working for a loan shark, karma catches up to him when a family member dies from an act of revenge against him. After years of repenting for his sins and trying to turn over a new leaf, he meets a man in the entertainment industry who gives him the opportunity to get his revenge.

6. Private Scandal by Totiko (E, ongoing)

Known as the muse of a renowned designer, Iliyan Moore has achieved almost everything a model could want: celebrity status, money, full bookings…and a reputation as a man-seducing home wrecker. Stalked by the paparazzi and harassed by an obsessed boss with a jealous wife, Iliyan is on guard against everyone around him. So, one could only imagine his shock when dashing Kyle Hackman manages to effortlessly charm his way past his defenses and into his bed on their first meeting.

7. Sparkling Baby by Zec (E, ongoing)

Due to a recent heartbreak, Hanjoon arrives in New York. Not only is he delighted to meet a Korean in an unfamiliar city, he has a one-night stand with him. "I should've asked for his name." However, these two end up meeting again years later, in an unusual place. Where will their one-night stand lead them to? Spin off from Lover Boy, featuring side character Baek Hanjoon.

8. Spring, the Color of Love by Chepali & Park Ji-yeon (M, complete)

"Je te veux. I want you." Cheongsun and Gonghyeon meet as college students, but their different social background and experience lead to a painful falling out. Ten years later, the two meet again in the world of hotel management and get to reminisce about their short spring love all those years before.

9. Unintentional Love Story by Pibi (M, complete)

Wonyoung gets unjustly suspended from work after getting caught up in a corruption scandal. When he accidentally discovers the chairman's favorite artist Yoon Taejun living under an alias, he is tasked with a tricky new mission. Could this be Wonyoung's chance to get his job back?

10. Wet Sand by Doyak (E, ongoing)

Click. A thoughtless finger slip leads Jo to snap a picture of Ian smoking on his balcony - and thus, their fates begin to intertwine. Jo can't stop fantasizing about the tall, handsome stranger on the balcony, and grabs any chance to get to know him better. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that Ian does the dirty work for one of the region's largest, most unsavory gangs... and is the lover of one of their most powerful people.

#bl recs #part 4 #Sitp recs

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pixiedust0 · 2 years

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𝐴 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠

❥𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢 - 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎

❥𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 - 𝟸.𝟶𝙺

❥𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 - 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚒 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜? 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚜.

❥𝙰/𝚗 - 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚡 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝙰 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜 (𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝟺 𝚞). 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚢𝚒 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚐 𝚕𝚘𝚕 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚍𝚘 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟸 𝚒𝚏 𝚢'𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚓𝚘𝚢.

Masterlist Part two

It had been eight months.

Eight months since Jack lost the love of his life. Eight months since he was truly happy. Eight months since he could get a decent nights sleep. He missed you. Way more than he thought he would.

He thought about you every day. He was a mess. Everyone saw it, urban the most since he lived with him. He hadn’t talked you in almost five months. His choice of course. He told him self he cutting ties and getting a fresh start.

You two have dated for three years and in those three years you did everything together. You had developed an emotional attachment to each other which was understandable. The last time you had spoken was the day his album had released.

It was a short conversation. You shot him a quick Text saying congratulations on the album and he just responded with a thank you. He didn’t even know if you had heard it. He hoped you did most of the song were about you. Hell all of them had something in them that applied to you.

He was getting bigger and the Recognition he deserved but all he think about was how you weren’t by his side. How when he bought his first house you wouldn’t be staying in it with him. Now it was just him and urb. God he missed you.

He will admit it was his fault for the break up. He didn’t even really want to break up. He knew the long you were together the more serious it would get. He wanted kids with you he want marriage. He wanted all of that. He just got scared so he packed all his things and left.

He moved back to Kentucky and you were in New York now. He heard that from urban. He knew you guys kept in contact which he was fine with. Apparently after he left your shared Atlanta apartment you ended up leaving the city as well. When he asked urban why he told him you said ‘𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠’

Which to be fair there were. After the break up his management convinced him (more like made him) start a fake PR relationship. He liked Selena she was nice. He didn’t have any romantic feelings towards her and she didn’t have any towards him. She had actual boyfriend anyway. They had been faked dating for six months.

She was a really famous actress and he was a very popular rapper. There teams thought they just fit. Maybe in hindsight if she didn’t have a boyfriend and he wasn’t still so in love with you they would have. Every time they were forced to go out and be seen in public they mostly talked about you or her boyfriend.

Which one of the times they were walking Jack swore he saw you. He wrote it off on his imagination playing very cruel tricks on him. Fake dating an actress and real dating a musician were two very different things. He missed going to the studio with you. He missed bouncing ideas off of eachother.

He just missed you.

Like right now he was just staring at the ceiling of his hotel room thinking about you. He was in New York filming him co hosting with jimmy Fallon. He didn’t have to be on set for another six hours and he was supposed to be resting but he just couldn’t. A text message on him phone disturb him every more.

He reached over looking at the name on the screen ‘Selena’.

Selena: Hey…you okay?

Jack: Yeah why wouldn’t I be?

Selena: You haven’t seen it then..

Jack: Seen what?

He waited for a few minutes his nerves starting to increase as the three little dots kept appearing and disappearing. Finally she replied with an article from tmz. The headline made his breath catch in his throat.

‘𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑌／𝑛 𝐿／𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑥 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑤’

You hadn’t made music in a year. Solely because you working on your album and if you finally Put out one song meant there were two more to come before you finally put out the whole thing. He was scared you made a song about him? He was scared about all the things you could have said.

His phone soon flooded with messages and calls from all his team and friends. One stuck out though it was for Urban.

Brother👏🏼: *Location* go see her while you have the chance she lives on the penthouse floor you gotta be buzzed up

He quickly got up grabbing his wallet and phone stuffing it into his pockets. Putting on his shoes, throwing on a hoodie grabbing his keys and walking out the door. He made it to his car and got inside. Grabbing his phone turning on the gps.

You only stayed fifteen minutes way from the hotel. He opened Apple Music and searched your name finding the song. ‘A mess (Happy 4 u)’. You were a mess too? He hadn’t heard your voice in so long. He honestly didn’t cared the whole song you were talking shit about him he just missed hearing you sing.

He knew you wouldn’t be though. You were the kindest person he had even met and you had the biggest heart he had ever seen. You were ridiculously funny and supportive. One of the things he loves about you was how down to earth your were to him you were just so in tune.

He clicked on the song placing his phone in the little stand on the dashboard and took off to your apartment.

Hey!

 Hmm, mmm

As soon as he heard the beat he got nervous. Maybe all this was a mistake he could just show up after eight months. He left he hurt you shit he hurt himself. You deserve so much better he went to turn the car around but it was to late he heard it.

No bad blood but we don't speak

It's been one-hundred-fifty days or twenty-one weeks

Wah-oh

Who's countin' though?

God there it was that beautiful voice he missed so much. You knew exactly how many days since you two had talked? I mean he wasn’t one to talk he did too. To be honest he probably had it broken down to the second. But he would never admit that.

I saw you holdin' hands on New Bond street

She in the same cute tee that you bought me

Wah-oh

She rockin' it though

He wasn’t crazy he did see you. He knew it. It just hit him you like the rest of the world thought him and Selena were together. But he wasn’t he was in love with you.

And you know I'd be lyin' if I said, "I don't feel nothin' at all"

I've been tryna be the bigger person but it's hard when I've been feelin' so small

And nobody knows

I'm still a mess

Oh, since you left

If I can't be happy, happy with you

I'll be happy, happy for you

I guess, no hard feelin's

'Cause love's lookin' good on you

If you're happy I'm happy, I'm happy for you

No you thought he was happy with her? He wasn’t he loved you. He didn’t know how many times he would have to say that. You were happy for him? See that’s that big heart he was talking about.

We fine (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Got my peace sign (in the air, yeah, yeah)

Baby we fine (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

If you're happy I'm happy, I'm happy for you

Don't wanna be sour but it's bittersweet (oh-oh)

A bad taste in my mouth 'cause you're over me (oh-oh)

Wah-oh

Time to let go

Please don't say, "Hi", I don't wanna be rude

She seems so sweet and I'm tryna be cool

Wah-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hold tight all my broken-hearted

And you know I'd be lyin' if I said I don't feel nothin' at all

And I

I'm gon' get my drink on, fix my makeup, ain't got time for bein' emotional

And nobody knows

You thought he was over you? You thought it was time to move on? No you were the love his life he could’ve sworn you are his soulmate. He couldn’t picture life without you and for the last eight months he had to live it with out you and he just couldn’t stomach it anymore.

Jack told him self he could see you writing this song like he was in the room or something. He could see you pacing around listening to the beat over and over again making sure it was perfect. He could just see the crumbled up balls of paper on the ground filled with verses you hated.

He could see you in the bouth recording the way you would squeeze you eyes shut every time you hit a high note. The way you probably walked in there with a salad drenching it in ranch fully planning on eating it. But Your probably ending up throwing it away because it got soggy because you forgot you had it, to busy writing.

You probably ended up ordering yourself a pepperoni pizza with stuffed crust because it was your go to. Which you would also end up drenching in ranch. Another thing he loved about you. You obsession with ranch was almost as big as his.

When I see you walkin' by

(Check, check myself)

Don't wanna look into your eyes

(Protect myself)

'Cause the feelin's never lie

We fine (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Got my peace sign (in the air, yeah, yeah) (oh-oh)

Baby we fine (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

If you're happy I'm happy, I'm happy for you

Once the song ended he could hope but feel sad. Even though the song was about him leaving you and breaking your heart. You had a way with words that made it feel like something else. He could listen to it over and over again just to hear your voice.

He finally reached your apartment and parked his car looking over at his phone seeing multiple missed calls and texts from his team and a text from Selena

Selena: I talked to urban go get your girl lover boy AND DON’T SCREW IT UP THIS TIME!

He got out the car walking in the building and into the the elevator. It was a nice place although he thought it was super fancy he just knew you place was the complete opposite. He looked at the button before his eye’s landed on the one he was looking for. ‘Penthouse’

He saw the little buzz in button and clicked on it after a few seconds he heard you. “Who is it.” You sound even more beautiful than he remembered. Now that might not make sense but it did to him.

“It’s me… it’s Jack.” He was freaking out right now. Was this a mistake? Would you even want to see him? Would you tell him to fuck off and leave you alone? After what felt like an eternity he heard and buzzing noise and the elevator doors closed and began to move taking him to your room.

You buzzed him up.

Once he reached the top floor the doors slowly opened and there you were. You were wearing Nike joggers and small cropped top. Your hair was thrown into a lazy bun and you had on your glasses. Another thing to add to the list you both couldn’t see for shit.

He thought you looked breathtaking. Looking at you was like time slowed and it was just you and him. “Hi” He stepped out of the elevator. The doors closing behind him. The distance between you and him getting shorter. He would began to panic that was until he saw a genuine smile break out across your face. Your dimples on full display. “Hey superstar.”

#imagine #jack #jack harlow #jack harlow fic #jackharlow #fluff #jack harlow fanfic #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow fluff #Spotify

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girlmontage · 7 months

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GIRL MONTAGE is an eight member girl group that debuted on MARCH 18, 2018 under GARDEN LABS. they debuted with the song GIRL'S CAPITALISM with mixed reviews from netizens. the song didn't get popular until 2023, FIVE YEARS after the group's debut.

despite their underrated status as a girl group when debuting, GIRL MONTAGE would slowly begin to gain popularity throughout their rookie year. however, their slow gain in popularity would come to a halt when member ROSIE would announce that she would be leaving the group in DECEMBER 2018. losing one of their most popular members without any explanation, many netizens would voice their concern as Garden Labs never officially explained what happened.

however, despite losing a member, GIRL MONTAGE would continue forward until MARCH 2019 when the group would be surrounded in a scandal. a twitter account would claim that former member Rosie had left the group not due to personal reasons, but instead because of "bullying among the members and staff" which immediately caused a witch hunt on the remaining members by netizens. this would force the group to go on a YEAR LONG HIATUS.

in late 2020, the group would eventually comeback; however, not without backlash from the previous scandal. the group would continue to make comebacks and slowly gain more popularity thanks to all the girls' solo careers. everything for the group would seem to be going well until JULY 2022, when Garden Labs announced that member LONDON had passed away. this sudden news of her passing would shock everyone in the k-pop community along with the members who would once again go on a SIX-MONTH HIATUS in order to mourn their passed member.

it wouldn't be until FEBRUARY 2023, that leader and main producer of the group ARA would announce that she and the other members of GIRL MONTAGE had filed a lawsuit against Garden Labs due to mismanagement and not protecting their artist. the court would rule in favor of the eight members and their contracts with Garden Labs would be terminated. this would put the group on an indefinite hiatus.

in SEPTEMBER 2023, Ara would announce that she and ARTEMIS had made their own label L'S MUSIC and that the rest of the members had joined them under this new label.

Im Gyuri was born in Busan, South Korea on September 14, 1998 to office worker parents. She has an older sister who's an art teacher. From a young age, Gyuri had been in love with music. Often singing, dancing, and even putting on small shows for her family when she was younger. It wouldn't be until middle school did she begin to explore music as a career option when her sister gifted her a piano for her thirteenth birthday.

From there, she would begin recording herself playing both covers and original songs and uploading them to youtube under the name ARA. Gyuri would begin to skip school in order to audition to entertainment companies and practicing her singing and dancing. When she was sixteen, Gyuri would be accepted into Garden Labs originally as a producer, but would be put into the trainee system.

For the next four years, Gyuri would train under Garden Labs before she would officially debut under the company as the Leader, Lead Vocalist, and Main Producer for the group in 2018. Along producing 90% of the songs for Girl Montage, Gyuri has also produced for a number of other artist in both K-Pop and the west. When producing she goes by the producer name PRICE X.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : ARA

FULL NAME : Im Gyuri

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Yuri, GG, PRINCE X ( producer name )

BIRTHDAY : September 14, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : Busan, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Producer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Leader, Lead Vocalist, Main Producer

Harlow Janet was born in New York City, New York on October 1, 1998 to a hotel owner father and boutique owner mother. Growing up, Harlow lived in the luxury hotel her father owned with her parents. Throughout most of her childhood and teenage years, Harlow was mainly with her mother while her father traveled the world to manage his other hotels. Despite the lack of her father's presence, Harlow would grow up as a happy child who had a love for dance. This caused her mother to enroll her in different dance academies before she eventually joined the dance team "WANNABE" which covered K-Pop songs.

Through the dance team, that's how Harlow and several of her teammates were able to be scouted by entertainment companies like YG and JYP. Harlow would be scouted by YG Entertainment and would accept their invitation and fly to Korea with her mother. Throughout her time at YG, Harlow would grow better and better in her dance along with her singing ability. This is where she would be put into the lineup for BlackPink. Unfortunately, she would be kicked out of the lineup and moved to a smaller company, Garden Labs, where she would continue her training.

In 2018, Harlow would debut as the group's Main Dancer, Visual, Lead Vocalist, and Sub-Rapper. She would also easily become one of the group's most popular members ranking up there with Artemis and former member Rosie. In October 2019, Harlow would make her solo debut and would eventually start to stream on Twitch where she would become popular on the platform from both her idol status and comedic personality.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Harlow

FULL NAME : Harlow Janet

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Low, Janet, Monster Dancer

BIRTHDAY : October 1, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : New York City, New York

NATIONALITY : American

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Streamer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Visual, Lead Vocalist, Sub-Rapper

Juniper Fujiwara was born in Kyoto, Japan on January 1, 1999 to her single father. She has a twin sister who is a popular model in Japan. Growing up, Juniper's father was a popular retired singer in Japan and because of that music was a large part of her life. Since she was younger, her and sister have done both singing and dance lessons together. By their elementary years, Juniper and her sister were in a performing duo together that became popular all over Japan with their dad as their manager.

As she grew up though, the more she would sing and dance, the more she would eventually start getting compared to her father who was a singer in his earlier years. This caused her to slowly begin to resent singing and dancing as she got got older. It wouldn't be until she was scouted by an SM Entertainment agent that she would decide to give it another chance.

Training in Korea, Juniper would be wildly known as a popular SM Rookie and also appearing on the Mickey Mouse Club. She was also suppose to debut in Red Velvet; however, she was removed from the lineup last minute. This caused her to leave the company a year later where she would join Garden Labs to finish her training.

In 2018, Juniper would debut as the Main Vocalist and Sub-Rapper of the Girl Montage. During their hiatus she would find a passion in painting and begin working as a painter as a side career. She is seen as the most popular member in Japan which is where most of her fanbase is.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Juniper

FULL NAME : Juniper Fujiwara

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : June, The Shadow

BIRTHDAY : January 1, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Kyoto, Japan

NATIONALITY : Japanese

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Painter

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Vocalist, Sub-Rapper

Artemis Song was born in London, England on February 14, 1999 to a professor father and writer mother. She is an only child. Artemis grew up as a social butterfly, not afraid to talk to anyone. She also had a natural talent for singing with her parents letting her compete in several singing competitions. It wouldn't be until her and her parents traveled to Korea to visit family that she would be scouted by several different companies after participating on the TV show "Sing It!" which also introduced her to the Korean public who all immediately fell in love with her and her personality.

This is was also when Artemis decided that she wanted to be a professional singer and idol. Originally she joined Jupiter Home Entertainment and after seven years she would be transferred to Garden Labs, their sub-label. Continuing her training her, Artemis would do several public busking performances and meet and greets, being seen as one of the most popular trainees at the time. Her popularity was also boosted thanks to placing 2nd on the first season of Produce 101 and becoming a member of I.O.I.

After I.O.I disbanded, Artemis would finish her training with Garden Labs and prepare for her official debut.

In 2018, Artemis would debut as the Face of the Group, Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, and Visual of Girl Montage. She is the most popular member of the group thanks to all the invitation of variety shows, commercials, magazines, etc. she has gotten over the years.

In 2020, she started a podcast called "Art's Poetry" where she invites other K-Pop idols onto the show and talk with them. Along with that, she has also been an MC for SBS's "The Show" since 2022.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : ARTEMIS

FULL NAME : Artemis Song

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Art, Artie

BIRTHDAY : February 14, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : London, England

NATIONALITY : English

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Podcaster, Actress

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Face of the Group, Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual

Jeon Chaeryoung was born in Jeju, South Korea on May 4, 1999 to an art teacher father and math teacher mother. she has an older brother. Chaeryoung grew up as a shy girl who instantly enjoyed music thanks to her older brother. As she got older, the two of them would begin to busk around Seoul in order to earn extra money. This would continue until her brother went off to college.

After her brother went off to college, Chaeryoung would continue to busk on the streets, performing covers of different songs. She would then get the chance to perform on the TV show "Sing It!" where she would meet her future group member Artemis.

While she was eliminated early on the show, her talent was able to get her recognized by JYP who would recruit her as a new trainee. Chaeryoung would first be known for competing on the survival show SIXTEEN before she was eliminated. Two years after SIXTEEN, she would choose to leave JYP and move to Garden Labs.

In 2018, Chaeryoung would debut under the stage name "Cherry" as the Main Dancer and Lead Rapper of the group. She chose the stage name Cherry because that was the nickname her older brother gave her. Chaeryoung made her solo debut in 2023. She is seen as one of the lesser known and popular members of the group.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Cherry

FULL NAME : Jeon Chaeryoung

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : ChaeChae, Youngie, Pink Cherry

BIRTHDAY : May 4, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Jeju, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Lead Rapper

Kwon Yulli was born in Gangnam, South Korea on November 17, 1999 to two lawyer parents. she is an only child. since she was born, yulli was raised by her nanny while her parents were away at work. She had always had a natural talent for the arts that her parents would force her into after seeing how good she was. Being forced to paint all day and night to improve on her painting skills.

When she was in middle school, Yulli would attend an art school and would compete in multiple art shows, place first most of the time. It wouldn't be until she was fifteen that she was scouted by Garden Labs. At first her parents refused to allow her to become a trainee, but after some convincing and several deals that Yulli would be allowed to become a trainee at the company.

Yulli would train for the next few years along with the other members of Girl Montage. Her parents would regularly check in on her and after her third year as a trainee told her that if her debut wasn't successful then she would have to leave the company in order to focus on school and painting.

In 2018, Yulli would debut as the Visual and Main Rapper for the group. Around 2020, Yulli would be diagnosed with social anxiety and would begin therapy in order to help her mental health. During the group's first hiatus, she would began creating and writing a Webtoon under the pen name Double Y. The Webtoon would become an immediate success to the public.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Yulli

FULL NAME : Kwon Yulli

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Lily, Double Y ( pen name )

BIRTHDAY : November 17, 1999

BIRTHPLACE : Gangnam, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Webtoonist

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Rapper, Visual

Lane Gillian was born in New York City, New York on March 20, 2000 to a business man father and a model mother. She has two older sisters. Growing up, Lane was an active attender to her mother's shows and watched as she walked the runway. This caused Lane to want to grow up and become just like her mother. However, when she was in middle school her parents would divorce and she would forced to go and live with her grandmother and aunt.

This caused Lane to resent both her parents and she would begin to act out at school and as a result she her aunt put her in a ballet class. After several classes, Lane would fall in love with the dance. Because of this, she would also venture into other dance styles until she came across Hyuna and K-Pop. Lane would immediately fall in love with the genre and learn how to do several group dances.

It wouldn't be until her and her grandmother took a trip to South Korea that she would be scouted by SM Entertainment due to her looks and busking skills. This is where she met Juniper who was also a new trainee at the time. Lane would continue to train at SM and even become a popular and well-known SM Rookie. In 2015, Lane would decide to leave the company after Juniper, telling the other girl that they either "succeed together or fail together."

Lane would go on to debut as the group's Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, and Visual in 2018. She is also considered as one of the most popular members to both netizens and brands. In 2021, she would become an ambassador for Vivienne Westwood and in 2022 she would become ambassador for Selkie.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Lane

FULL NAME : Lane Gillian

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Laney, Vivienne's Girl, Fashion Guru

BIRTHDAY : March 20, 2000

BIRTHPLACE : New York City, New York

NATIONALITY : American

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Fashion Designer, Model

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual

Juliet Carlson was born in Wellington, New Zealand on December 23, 2000 to a nurse mother and professor step-father. She has a younger half-brother. Growing up, Juliet never really had an interest in music like her group members. Instead she wanted to a game developer due to her love of video games.

This interest would only continue to skyrocket as games such as Five Night's at Freddy's and Undertale came out which were created by mainly one developer. This is where she would begin to full start working and making her own video game. However, this would eventually be put on the back-burner when during a trip to Korea, Juliet would be scouted by a Garden Labs agent due to her nature looks. Her mother was the one to force her into auditioning, as she originally wanted to be a singer before she became pregnant.

With Juliet passing her audition, her whole family would move to Korea in order to support her. Her mother would soon become unbearable with pushing Juliet to do better and better than the other trainees, and her original dream of being a game developer was soon lost. Juliet; however, didn't have the heart to say no to her mother and did what her mother wanted.

Juliet would debut as the group's Maknae, Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, and Sub-Vocalist in 2018. Along with becoming an idol, Juliet would also be pushed into acting. Apart from that, Juliet would also get to work on her game again and get to officially release it 2022.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Juliet

FULL NAME : Juliet Song but legally changed to Juliet Carlson

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Julie, Princess Julie, Princess Maknae

BIRTHDAY : December 23, 2000

BIRTHPLACE : Wellington, New Zealand

NATIONALITY : Australian

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol, Actress, Game Developer

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - Present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2023 ), L's Music ( 2023 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE

POSITIONS : Maknae, Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Sub-Vocalist

MEMBER FOR ETERNITY

tw. death / suicide

London Kang was born in Stockholm, Sweden on June 12, 1998 to a actor father and an actress mother. She has an older sister and brother. Growing up, London was always in the spotlight thanks to her famous parents. London, herself, would also begin acting at a young age, appearing in several commercials and even became a regular on the Korean drama "Happy Ways."

However, London would realize that she didn't want to act anymore and would instead want to pursue a career as an idol. Thanks to who her parents were, London was able to easily get into CUBE Entertainment and start her training in 2012. This however didn't sit right with several other trainees at the company who would bully and mock London despite her being at the same level as the rest of them.

Eventually, London would move companies and join Garden Labs. When she joined, she immediately became friends with the other trainees like Ara and Harlow. London was one of the more popular trainees at the company thanks to her talent and hard working attitude.

In 2018, London would debut as the group's Lead Vocalist and Visual. While not an immediate favorite member, many Pathfinders feel in love with London and her natural charm, catching the eye of many new fans. During the group's first hiatus, she would go back to acting and do several small, indie films.

Unfortunately, in July of 2022, London would be found dead in the group's dorm by member Juliet. The cause of her death as remained out of public knowledge due to her family; however, many netizens and fans have suspected it was suicide.

In 2023, two members of Girl Montage, Ara and Artemis, would start her own music label called L's Music in memory of London. The song "BLUE" was also dedicated to her.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : London

FULL NAME : London Kang

KOREAN NAME : Kang Sowon

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : London Bridge, Lonnie, Blue, L

BIRTHDAY : June 12, 1998

BIRTHPLACE : Stockholm, Sweden

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - 2022

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 - 2022 )

POSITIONS : Lead Vocalist, Visual

FORMER MEMBER

tw. death

Rosa Jung was born in Seoul, South Korea on April 1, 1997 to convenience store worker parents. She has two younger brothers and a sister. Growing up, Rosa had to take care of her younger brother while her parents worked. Compared to her former group members, Rosa grew up in a struggling household where her parents worked day and nightshifts in order to provide for themselves.

When she was in middle school, Rosa took a likening to idols and was inspired by idols like BoA and Girl's Generation. She realized while watching them on variety shows that she wanted to become an idol in order to famous. However, her parents discouraged her as the idol industry was a tough and ruthless place and had little faith in their daughter. Instead, they forced her to get a job when she was fourteen in order to help support her younger brothers and newly born sister.

It wasn't until two years later that tragedy would strike Rosa when her parents would end up in a car accident, killing them both. This left Rosa and her three younger siblings as orphans; however, their aunt would take them all in allowing them to be taken care of without the worry of money and support. Rosa's aunt would be the one to encourage her to audition and pursue her idol dream.

Rosa would pass her audition at Garden Lab's and be one of the last trainees to join the group that would eventually become Girl Montage. In 2018, Rosa would debut under the stage name "Rosie" and was the group's Main Dancer and Lead Vocalist. She was also quickly seen as one of the most popular members.

However, her idol dream soon changed as Rosa seen her popularity and began bullying the other members for not being as successful as her. This would cause a huge rift between Rosa and the other members to the point that she began hating all of them. A physical fight would break out between Rosa and Ara which would result in Rosa's contract being terminated in December 2018. Since then, Rosa has redebuted as a soloist under a new company.

BASIC INFORMATION

STAGE NAME : Rosie

FULL NAME : Rosa Jung

NICKNAMES / ALIAS : Rosie Posie, That Fucking Bitch, The Joker

BIRTHDAY : April 1, 1997

BIRTHPLACE : Seoul, South Korea

NATIONALITY : Korean

CAREER INFORMATION

PROFESSION : Idol

YEARS ACTIVE : 2018 - present

COMPANY : Garden Labs ( 2018 ), Petal Music ( 2019 - present )

GROUP : GIRL MONTAGE ( 2018 )

POSITIONS : Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist

ib : the blueprint @venusvity

#( the montage ) : profile #tw suicide #tw death #oc kpop idol #fake kpop group #kpop oc #kpop addition #oc kpop group #fictional idol group #fake girl group #girl group oc

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nodominion · 7 months

Text

Rue Royale | Rose & Viktor | Vamptember Day 24 (Free Day) | Claudia Day 7

Rose wants to see Rue Royale to connect with her lost sister, Claudia. Viktor is there as moral support. Tagging this for Claudia Appreciation Week as well, though it does not have Claudia in it, it is about her. @claudiadelionlac

Like mortals, summer became a quieter time at the chateau, though their reason differed from the mortals. While mortals cavorted in the extra heat and sunshine, vampires were confined to shorter waking hours. Only the ancients or those with extraordinarily powerful blood could overcome the rising sun, though even they were constrained to a time limit. Rose was able to stave off the effects of the sun for a few extra minutes, giving her the chance to look over Viktor as he slept, smooth his hair, kiss his temple without him reacting, she still succumbed without fail. In the evenings it was Viktor who rose first, though Rose never had confirmation whether he was as affectionate as she was before drifting off.

Since the summers at the castle were so quiet, they always took advantage of the time to travel themselves. Of course they promised to be careful, to be smart, to not arouse any suspicion. She would have thought that after almost a decade of them exploring the world that Lestat would have lightened up a little, but he was always so serious the night before Viktor and she were due to leave. This trip would take them across the Atlantic, far too long for them to fly on their own. While they were both skilled flyers, any ocean was a step too far. This trip Lestat himself offered to take them both, an offer so sweet that Rose couldn’t help but kiss his cheek. After that meeting she was sure that the only reason he suggested himself was because they were going to New Orleans.

Neither of them had been in the city, and with it holding so much history for their kind, their family, they both knew it was long overdue. Louis had said nothing when she told him of their plans, at least not at first. But Louis was often silent during many of Rose’s ramblings, simply taking in what she had to say. She was flighty by nature, so perhaps he didn’t take her initial statement as seriously as she had been. It wasn’t until she and Viktor were confirming places to visit, venues to pretend to eat at, that Louis had rested his hand on her shoulder, quietly saying that they should try to have a good time, that the city was prime for youth and vitality, and that they ought to explore the city as it is now. The unspoken part of his words was not to go seeking the past.

But that was the whole point of the trip for Rose. Viktor was less convinced that they would find anything worthwhile at Rue Royale, but Rose was sure she would see a connection or feel something that explained so much of their lives. While he didn’t fully understand her need to see the house for herself, he was supportive of her idea, insisting that he join her when she visited the home. Rose didn’t overly like the idea of him feeling the need to look after her, but she was grateful that he wanted to support her. Viktor was often that way, with less ideas of where they should travel but with all of the encouragement in the world for her usual half-baked ideas.

They packed light, only what they could carry, and not very heavy items so as not to encumber Lestat. He would never tell them if what they brought was too heavy, but to save his muscles it felt better to be considerate. The trip to America meant that Lestat could visit Trinity, and Louis had already made plans to join them in New York after a few days. Let Lestat and Armand work out their pent up desires on their own.

The hotel was in the French Quarter, but not one of the most popular. Smaller, boutique hotels often acquiesced to their strange requests better than hotels that had a larger clientele base. Especially with a few extra bills slipped in during check in. Lestat left them soon after, kissing both of their heads, telling them to be good and if they needed a tour guide he would be back in the city sooner than one could say laissez le bon temps rouler.

Viktor’s hand pressed on her shoulder, eager to begin their exploration. But it was Rose who tempered his excitement. After all, she couldn’t sense Lestat and if he was lingering in the city then only he would be able to sense where Lestat was. Rose wasn’t convinced that Lestat had left New Orleans, sure that he was hanging around, at least for a bit, to ensure that they were getting on properly.

So they became drunk college students for the night. Screw the fact that Rose was turned at 20 and Viktor at 19, they were able to get into every bar they wanted and order drinks for those they thought smelled divine. They got a little blood drunk and blended in with the mortals cavorting in the streets. It felt like the ideal cover to act so uninhibited. They were both careful with how they took blood, not a drop spilt, and if Lestat had still been spying on them all he would have seen is them acting their age. Nevermind that Rose turned 30 this year, and Viktor 29. They were being normal. Not preoccupied with events from centuries before.

They waited a few days before they went in search of the past. Their nights had been filled with sightseeing and little adventures. They dined at the best restaurants, Rose sometimes biting a bit of the food only to be disappointed each time. If this were merely a simple vacation, they had done their best to have a wonderful time, both beginning to understand why this city entranced anyone who came close to it. There was an air to New Orleans wholly different from the rest of the South. Though she’d grown up near Miami, as far south as south goes, she and her aunts had gone on quite a few road trips to states their car could reach comfortably. She wondered if Lestat had instructed them to never enter Louisiana, but that hardly mattered now. The city and the outskirts beckoned, and they were both enjoying it immensely. From flowers that seemed to never stop blooming to even a pre-season football game that had begun just at dusk.

But Rue Royale waited impatiently. Rose kept her hand tight in Viktor’s as they walked the street up to the home, certainly squeezing his palm though aware she could not hurt him.

“Do you think it’s just as they left it?”

“No, Rose. Don’t you remember? Lestat wrote of this place recently. How the furnishings were modern and it was maintained. They could turn it into a museum, most likely, but neither of them ever would.”

“That would be too much for them to bear. Our fathers. Well, some of our fathers.”

Rose never begrudged Viktor holding Seth and Fareed as his primary parents, and Lestat and Louis as his secondary pair. She understood that he grew up among scientists and labs and beakers and she grew up with luxury and excess and privilege. Their second daughter, however. Not that Louis had much of a say in the matter. But he loved her now just as Lestat did, just as they both did Viktor, and if their words were not enough, it was clear from the way they looked at both of their children, especially when they thought Viktor or Rose weren’t looking at them.

The gate was secure and neither one of them wished to break it. It was lovely, with clear craftsmanship put into every detail, each swirl expertly wrought. They opted to fly over instead, landing gently in the back garden, a fountain gurgling nearby.

“We did not think this through. We have no key. We cannot break in like a pair of hooligans!”

“Charming, did you think I didn’t come prepared?”

From her boot, Rose pulls out a key, waving it in front of Viktor’s face.

“I found the spare at the castle and made a duplicate. Put the original back before they ever knew it was missing.”

She earns a kiss from Viktor for being the one to actually think ahead for once. Using the key at the back door, there was half a second where neither of them were sure that it would work, but the door opened upon a back parlor. Rose tentatively stepped in first, an odd sensation passing over and through her. Not a chill, not like the way others talk of ghosts, but a sense that she was stepping into a place where she didn’t belong.

Viktor thankfully locked the door behind them, though it was unnecessary, it did help to ease her mind. The parlor itself seemed typical. The furnishings matched the time period based on her study of the years that this house had been occupied by three vampires. There were a few modern touches, but to her untrained eye they were easy to miss. Viktor didn’t remark on the decor either, instead making his way further into the home, to the stairs, flicking a light on, though their vampire eyes had been able to see properly in the dark. Some of the bulbs still emitted an incandescent light, and Rose reached up out of curiosity to feel the burgeoning warmth.

“We should tell them to get those energy efficient bulbs. These can’t be good on their electric bill.”

“Or the environment. If we are meant to live forever then we must live sustainably.” Though Viktor’s words were earnest, even he knew that a vampire’s life inherently meant living unsustainably. There was a meeting once with the council with a group of younger vampires who had all grown up with climate change as part of their human education. The elders were not phased by their calls for the coming end of the world, as they could survive without humans if need be, and live only off of the blood of animals, or the prisoners far beneath the council chamber.

As Viktor began to head up the stairs, Rose stayed behind. She was trying to picture what this room would have been like for her fathers and their daughter. Did they sit together reading, writing, playing small games? Were they happy? Could they have been? Even with both Louis’s and Lestat’s account of those years she could never imagine an average night for them. Their lives now were so much more complicated, with the court and playing host for guest vampires from all over the world. They all made time for leisure, but the nagging feeling of needing to get something done always lingered.

She sat in one of the chairs, running her fingers across a table’s edge. Dust, but minimal. Vampire dwellings were never quite as dusty as human ones. Did her sister, the one she was deprived of ever meeting, sit in this chair? Did she see the way the moonlight filtered through the curtains in the same way Rose was watching it now? The brightest light in the night’s sky. They would never see the sun again. The sun had been taken from them, though Viktor and Rose had been given a choice. The one…

I’ve found her room.

Viktor spoke into her mind, rousing her from her thoughts. She was incapable of sending back a reply, but she rose from the chair, sensing out her mate through the house, taking note of the decor, the deliberate choices that must have come from a woman’s touch.

The room instantly made her think of her own bedroom in the house she’d lived in the longest. With Aunt Marge and Aunt Julie and so much pink it felt like an explosion of everything feminine. Here, the pinks were muted, in tones that were achievable before modern methods of color fabrication. The bed was made, a doll sitting in the middle of the pillows, its blonde curls perfectly styled to frame the angelic face. The room smelled of nothing, disappointing Rose. She had hoped to find a perfume that had been left behind, or perhaps a scent that lingered on the sheets. But there was nothing, nothing to truly help her envision what life was like here.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, she reaches down to caress the doll. How long had it been sitting here? Who had placed it? Was it as old as her fathers, or was it a new purchase? One for a daughter that was lost but never forgotten.

The pain was unfathomable, as if all of the anger and hatred and suffering that existed here was coursing through Rose currently. To be underestimated by all, with little recourse to change how her sister had been perceived. If… but what could Rose have done? Lestat had wanted a sibling for the home in Antoine and that plan disintegrated. Rose wouldn’t have existed in that time to begin with. And if she had, she was sure that her existence would be looked down upon with the same harsh cruelty.

She hadn’t spoken since they were downstairs, and Viktor was equally quiet, letting her absorb this moment. Rose looks back to him, taking his hand, kissing his knuckles. “Thank you for coming with me. Can you give me a few minutes? I’ll be down soon, I just want some time alone.”

He nods with such ease that perhaps he had been thinking of suggesting he leave her for a bit. Ever the gentleman, Viktor kisses her hair before vanishing, the room suddenly colder in his absence.

Rose picks up the doll properly, setting it in her lap, combing through the curls with her fingers, though not to loosen them. This would be the closest she would ever get to Claudia. Until she herself died, of course.

“I’m sorry. You don’t know me but… I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to help you. I would… you could have my body if it was possible, but I… you deserved a chance to live. To live properly. I’d always wanted siblings. The curse of the only child. You… we could have been sisters. Claudia… I don’t know if you still hate our fathers. But I will try to love them for both of us. They deserve that, at the very least.”

With a kiss to the doll’s forehead, Rose arranges it back upon the bed as it had been, smoothing the sheets so no one would be the wiser that anyone had been here. Viktor was on the road already, smelling flowers that wove their way through the bars of the gate by the sidewalk. The moment he sensed Rose he opened his arms for her, and she ran to him, embracing him tightly. Though she did not cry, it felt as though she were releasing all of the emotions of the house, the home, the past that neither of them had had a chance to experience. Hand in hand they began to walk the streets of New Orleans, hunting for prey as had been tradition in this city for hundreds of years.

#rose de lioncourt #viktor de lioncourt #claudia de lioncourt #rue royale #vamptember #claudiaappreciationweek2023

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dwellordream · 2 months

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“The market for farm products increased dramatically in urban areas because city dwellers had less ability or need to produce farm goods themselves. Before 1800, town and city dwellers often kept poultry and livestock in their backyards or on the town common, and they kept a well-stocked garden going as well. As cities grew, leading citizens worked to ban animals that had become health problems and nuisances. As land became more scarce and more expensive, the working class was forced into crowded tenement apartments.

Because of these changes, women in cities like Boston and New York were no longer making the farm products that their grandmothers had. But the new manufacturing technology had done little to transform life for most city women. For working-class women, the new cash economy made life harder and meaner. Then as now, women earned far less than men and were grouped into industries, such as textile, millinery (hat-making) and shoe-making, that were recognized as primarily ‘women’s work.’ A New York charity reported in 1817, ‘The great disproportion which exists between the price of labor of men and women is a matter of serious regret.’

…The problem was that conditions for working men were not much better than for women. Although they were paid more than women, most working-class men brought in just enough money to provide the basics. Any unforeseen emergency, such as a medical problem, could send a family to the poorhouse. If the man was too sick to work, or injured on the job, the family could starve. With little access to medical care, and with abysmal working conditions, death was an ever-present possibility. Such protections as unemployment insurance, Social Security, and Medicare were a century away. Given these pressures on the head breadwinner, many a man abandoned his wife and children for a fresh start in another town. His family, meanwhile, was left with few ways to survive.

…After 1800, elite society came to expect that ‘ladies’ would refrain from menial chores around the house. One domestic writer observed, ‘Women might work, but not ladies; or when the latter undertook it, they ceased to be such.’ There was thus an ever-widening gulf between mistress and servant during this period, and the domestic was made to understand this difference in rank. The growing distance between mistress and domestic led to numerous tensions between the two. Advice about the home in the newly popular magazines written for women increasingly described the role of the lady of the house as being a manager. She was to ensure that those beneath her performed their duties exactly as she prescribed them.

…Many working women chafed under such tight supervision. They felt that while domestic work paid well, the job just wasn’t worth it. Many women fell back on domestic work when all other options were unavailable. Some domestics even chose prostitution rather than submit to the orders of a mistress. Though opportunities for prostitution ranged from high-class hotel establishments to the lowest waterfront saloon side-rooms, all prostitutes were vulnerable to a wide range of sexual diseases. Those women plying their trade independently, or in the less genteel establishments, were especially vulnerable to violence by customers, proprietors, or criminals.

When working women chose prostitution over domestic service, they were rejecting in no uncertain terms the moral assumptions of middle-class America. It was a choice most mistresses explained away by pointing to the ‘natural’ moral laxness of the poor. Certainly, upper-class women were not ready to admit that servants were so scarce because working conditions were so trying. Domestics became even more scarce in the 1820s, after the development of power mills in New England. These mills provided American women with their first opportunity at respectable, relatively safe work at reasonable wages.

…Mill workers believed they were in a partnership with the owner--subordinate partners, to be sure, but nonetheless members of the company who were crucial to the success of the business. When owners responded to increased competition and poor business conditions with sharp reductions in wages and increases in the rents they charged in their boardinghouses, many women workers were outraged, As conditions continued to decline during the 1840s, mill owners began to turn to recent immigrant women, such as the Irish, who would accept lower pay and more work.

…Slave women, of course, had even less choice of jobs and working satisfaction. Their master or mistress usually determined which tasks they would perform. Women were sent to the fields just as men were, and they were expected to do their share of the work. Slaveholders cared little about preserving a ‘women’s sphere’ for field workers. …A small percentage of the slave work force, about 5 to 10 percent, worked in the ‘Big House,’ as the plantation manor was called. Most of these workers were women, who labored as cooks or maids.

…White southern plantation women, while certainly benefitting from slave labor, also were responsible for much of the plantation’s labor. Whereas the master hired an overseer to do much of the dirty work, the mistress was in effect the overseer of the Big House, including the tending of livestock and poultry and the production of food and clothing. Additionally, the mistress took on a number of tasks for which she did not trust her slaves. Even the most privileged mistress had to take on fairly strenuous tasks from time to time, such as processing the various by-products of slaughtered animals.”

- Michael Goldberg, “Working in the Home, Working in the Fields, Working for Wages.” in Breaking New Ground: American Women, 1800-1848

#michael goldberg #breaking new ground #american #history #class #servants #slavery #gender #19th century

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fatehbaz · 9 months

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In the March 1923 issue of National Geographic, a sketch of a tired-looking businessman invites the reader to the Tucson Sunshine-Climate Club. In the accompanying text, Benj. Lowe -- the archetype of the tired, busy, urban, white businessman -- attempts to coax all the other Benj. Lowes out there on the East Coast to recover from their unhealthy lifestyles by spending some time in Tucson, Arizona:

That night, for the first time in his hard-working, rushing life, Lowe came to himself. No vacations for ten years. Heavy responsibilities. Making money? Yes. Now on the verge of breakdown. What was it all worth, anyway? And then his eyes fell on a booklet his worried wife had sent for. It was “Man-Building in the Sunshine-Climate.” …Perhaps you, like Lowe, may find in “Man-Building in the Sunshine-Climate” the clue to robust health.

This form of health tourism began to appear in journal and newspaper advertisements not long after Tucson was originally incorporated as a city, in 1877. A promotional item published in the Arizona Daily Star in 1890 even went so far as to designate Tucson a place to cure serious pulmonary diseases. The rhetoric in these advertisements often framed the Sonoran Desert as “empty,” a place to be “discovered,” as if the Western lands of the continent had remained unoccupied and untouched all along. The process of “Man-Building” advertised by the Sunshine-Climate Club, therefore, carries a double meaning: building oneself and building one’s environment. [...]

With the proliferation of advertisements in magazines such as Ladies Home Journal and Journal of American Medical Association, a large number of [...] tourists [...] arrived to discover what the desert could offer. [...]

Throughout the late-nineteenth and early twentieth century, hospitals, sanatoria, health resorts, and other structures dedicated to medical treatment multiplied throughout the city of Tuscon [...]. These buildings were not in isolation, in the manner of nineteenth-century sanatoria in Europe or New England. Instead, they were open and integrated into the urban fabric [...]. In the late nineteenth century, upstate New York was among the most popular destinations for pulmonary health pilgrimages. With the opening of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880, however, towns with dry climates -- whose “pure and dry air … was not subject to severe seasonal changes” -- started bringing in crowds. [...]

Tucson reached its peak as the “health capital” during the 1930s, when the city’s roughly 30,000 residents were joined by about 10,000 health tourists visiting its twenty-one sanatoria, four hospitals, and four luxury hotels during the peak season. [...]

By 1928, Tucson’s planning and zoning commission had developed a new zoning system for such developments. Spatial buffers were instituted for sanatoria to ensure proper ventilation and isolation, dramatically altering the density and porosity of the city. In a residential neighborhood, for example, sanatoria had to be “set back 200 feet from the property line” and could only occupy “20 percent of the lot.” [...]

---

Sanatoria quickly became a refuge only the rich could afford [...].

Tucson’s Desert Sanatorium was a massive complex of eleven buildings built in 1926 spread out over 160 acres. [...] Telescopic devices called radiometers were housed on the roof of the main hospital building, channeling and directing sunlight through small lenses into the treatment rooms and sunbaths below. The sanatorium’s research center, hospital, and nurse’s residences were scattered across the site [...]. Each patient’s room was annexed to a small wooden balcony visible on the façade. Wet spaces were tiled and interiors white-washed, with baseboards curving away from the walls to prevent dust from settling on their surfaces. Window openings or balconies were carved out from the massive, Pueblo-style exterior walls. The Pueblo style also appears in the interior common spaces as Navajo carpets, mural reproductions, and quilts. Patient’s rooms were named after native tribes such as Pima, Papago, and Navajo. [...] The appropriation of indigenous culture and symbols persisted in the visual language of the Desert Sanatorium. One patient handbook came with a postcard featuring an image of a highly cultivated Navajo garden, and a description of the Sanatorium’s services and facilities adorned with sketches of a “teepee,” “rain cloud,” “thunderbird tracks,” “broken arrow,” “mountain range,” and “bear track.” The symbol of eagle feathers is placed alongside the welcome note by the director to denote his status as “chief” of the complex. The last page of the handbook even contains a personal message from the illustrator, in which he wishes that “each little figure brings happiness … and a very quick recovery. May the Great Spirit Bless and Protect you.”

Despite the generous application of native iconography and mythology in the sanatorium’s literature, few measures were taken to actually care for the infected people in local indigenous communities. By the early twentieth century, indigenous communities, along with other poor minority groups in Arizona had the highest rate of tuberculosis in the region. [...] Carlisle Indian School dedicated an issue of [...] [their] magazine to provide news and guidelines to counter the disease. [...] These analyses are accompanied by photographs of the architectural conditions of the buildings. [...] The issue further suggests the American Indians whose lifestyle shifted from the “more sanitary teepee to the one and two-room box house” could not keep up with hygiene. The magazine sought to enable the “medicine man” to cure the sick [...] but not, however, without yielding to an institutional form of governmentality. The narratives [...] yielded to the top-down institutional logic of controlling bodies by prescribing protocols. [...]

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The disease, then, is not only a medical construct, but is firstly an environmental construct shaped by the climatic imaginaries which, in turn, shapes the urban context. Secondly, it is a social construct that privileges a certain lifestyle and class through its contagion and access to treatment. Lastly, it is a political construct, as it perpetuates the asymmetrical relationship between communities in the eye of the government and institutions. Amid these racial and economic imbrications, architecture is instrumentalized to facilitate institutional agendas. [...] Architecture perpetuates violence against the figure of the other.

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Text by: Gizem Sivri. “Desert Fever: Harvesting the Sun, Colonizing the Land.” e-flux (Sick Architecture series). December 2020. [Screenshots were edited by me and display only part of the advertisement, which is shown in its entirety in Sivri’s article. Caption is as it appears in Sivri’s article. Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

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cevans-is-classic · 11 months

Text

Warnings: Drug and Alcohol use — manipulation ideology, language.

18+ only.

My Masterlist

Pedro Pascal Masterlist

He met you long before cliff beasts ruined his life before the drugs took over way before rehab failed three times.

Before.

You’d both been up-and-coming stars — well, he was — you preferred behind the camera. Which worked for the best when you collaborated and made student films together. Running around New York filming scenes you’d written, and he painstakingly acted out.

It’d been the time of his life. He’d never known happiness in such a pure form then when you were lying on his chest as you stared at the sky, listening to the surrounding city.

“When everyone knows your name, Dieter, you’ll be unstoppable.”

He had been unstoppable, but not in the "Name in lights" kind of way you’d envisioned years before.

No, he was an unstoppable car wreck coming to a head, veering off the edge.

His first box office hit found both of you in the back of a limo with heated kisses and borrowed clothing.

The second brought him across the pond with you trailing along, eyes wide, mouth open in awe.

He’d taste champagne for the first time on your skin and wondered if he’d died and gone to heaven.

The third one — that’s the one where before became after.

After taking his happiness and turning it into pills and booze — into acid trips and pretending you hadn’t left him in a pile of his own bullshit life with vomit on his shirt and a nameless man licking his come off faceless woman’s chest.

After was when Dieter lost himself.

Where Dieter lost you.

His movies grew in popularity, fans coming out of the woodwork to celebrate him, cheer him on, shout his name from the sidelines as he walked down a carpet and pretended his vision isn’t crossing.

After is when he sees you for the first time in a year with the hand of a beautiful redhead clasped with yours.

You’d smiled at him, kissed his cheek, and walked away all in a rush of flashing lights and shouting voices.

The after is seeing him in a heap on his bathroom floor because he wants to feel you in his arms, but the best he can do is taste the acidic vomit in his mouth and left over vodka from the night before.

You had always been the best part about before.

Before, when he’d brush a finger over your cheek, dip down for a kiss, spin you around and around, wondering when he’d marry you and if you’d say yes.

Before when all he had to do was hold your hand to know he was going to be okay.

All the befores where you were there. Here. With him.

None of the afters where he's alone in a hotel room for a movie he doesn't want to be aching for the blonde woman down stairs to suck his cock and make him forget you exist.

He wants more from before.

He hates after.

Here, he has to remember the soft smile you give him anytime you cross paths or the people he sees with their arms around you and that laugh you hate bubbling from your chest.

Here he doesn't have you.

No matter how many pills he takes or how much alcohol he drinks — you'll never be a part of the after.

He wants you to be.

Dieter needs you to be.

The mushrooms in front of him sway sideways as he lays down, and an evil tendril of a thought slithers to the surface. It's tinged in red fire and shame that burns his chest and down to his stomach.

He could call you.

You always answer when he calls.

"I'll only ever love you, Dieter Vasquez."

He could bring you into the after and feel your arms around him as he dry heaves and begs for help.

No.

You belong in the before.

Dieter Bravo belongs in the after.

That's how it works. Before and After, that is.

Right?

#dieter bravo #dieter bravo x reader #dieter x reader #dieter bravo x you #pedro pascal character #pedro pascal

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alexturne · 2 years

Text

Arctic Monkeys aren’t done evolving (Alternative Press)

By Ashley Reese. Published: October 18, 2022

ALEX TURNER IS THINKING ABOUT a parking lot. Specifically, one in Hollywood, California where Arctic Monkeys performed on April 26, 2007 as musical guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live. At the time, Turner was 21 years old, delivering a blistering rendition of “Brianstorm” to a crowd that lined up around the block to see the latest from the most hyped band coming out of the British indie-rock scene. There were the Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, the Rapture, Bloc Party, the Cribs, the Kooks, but there was no one quite like Arctic Monkeys.

“It’s funny, innit?” Turner smirks. Currently, the Arctic Monkeys bandleader is at ease and upbeat sitting at a New York City hotel restaurant, awaiting a cappuccino. “I haven’t thought about that for a while, but when you said it then… I feel like I can remember what T-shirt I was wearing or something.”

As Turner, 36, muses about how surreal it is to reminisce about gigs they played 15 years ago, he pauses. “Not to get bogged down in memory lane,” he says apologetically. “But there’s something about how vividly some of that stuff stays with you, and maybe not what you would expect to.”

Memory lane for Turner is largely paved in polo shirts and leather jackets, shoulder-length locks and buzzcuts, tiny gigs and stadium tours, unremarkable Sheffield pubs and bohemian Hollywood bungalows. He has spent the majority of his life in a band, and most of that time in the limelight.

Too much reminiscing about the old days, though, is enough to make anyone feel washed, perhaps even someone as effortlessly cool as Turner. But after 20 years as one of the biggest rock bands around, it’s hard not to get hung up on the past every once in a while.

IT WAS 2002 WHEN Arctic Monkeys formed, gaining popularity by word of mouth and via free demo CDs making the rounds in their hometown of Sheffield and elsewhere in Northern England. From the jump, this was a band that was associated with their loyal fanbase: Even their MySpace page back in the mid-aughts was run by fans, not the band itself. By 2005, the band signed with Domino, and in 2006, their frenzied debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not became the fastest-selling debut album in U.K. music history.

This success was swiftly followed by Favourite Worst Nightmare in 2007, but they managed to avoid becoming nothing more than a landfill indie band in 2009 with the release of Humbug, a dark, sonic departure for the band that set the stage for a musical legacy that defied stagnancy and predictability. Their 2011 album Suck It And See was followed by AM, the record that not only solidified the band’s success in America — beyond the Anglophiles and indie sleaze veterans — but introduced them to Gen Z Tumblristas. The AM-era sound and aesthetic arguably overshadowed the previous iterations of the group, threatening to damn them — and especially Turner — to a leather-jacket-and-mop-top image forever.

Their 2018 album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, put a swift end to that. The band’s delightfully oddball exploration of politics, tech and cheese from the perspective of characters on a lunar resort was a reminder to fans old and new to never make assumptions about where Turner is going next.

And yet, the band’s forthcoming studio album, The Car, still manages to defy expectations of what an Arctic Monkeys album can sound like. If TBHC was a divisive response, The Car may very well be seismic. So whether fans like it or not is almost irrelevant: It won’t stop them from stanning and duking it out over coveted concert tickets.

“The way the project was put together this time was not unlike, what in my mind I imagine, making a movie might be like,” Turner says of The Car. “Obviously, I have no idea what that's actually like, but there was a longer post-production period in this, trying to take a lot more care of how everything fits together, the space and the dynamics within it… making it a thing that works from start to finish,” he ponders, before smirking and pivoting to self-deprecation. “It isn’t like I haven’t been trying to do all along.”

But this time, he thinks, they’ve nailed it. This wasn’t the case with their first two albums.

“They’re all over the place when I think about them now,” Turner reflects. “It's fast and everything is just done really quickly and kind of reaching all over the place to figure out where it's going.”

And now, Turner’s attempt at this meticulously crafted project culminates into a record that feels like a natural progression from TBHC, if only in that Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O’Malley have decided to continue down the path of “fuck it, let’s make it weird.”

“The first song that really gave me a sense of ‘OK, this is a direction that feels like it might be quite exciting to move in’ was ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball,’” Turner says. From there, he built out a mellow and complex album over the next two years.

So it feels reductive to say that the first thought that came to mind when “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” debuted was to conclude that they’re in their soft-rock era. Their dad-rock era. Their Steely Dan era.

Perhaps those are pejoratives, but at times the album does little to distance itself from such epithets, and it’s impossible to miss the Frampton-esque twang in “Jet Skis On The Moat.” Yet, it doesn’t find itself trapped in it. This project is lush, string-heavy and has a decidedly cinematic flair, with songs like “The Car,” evoking a scene of an outlaw driving out west with a body in the trunk like a scene out of Fargo, and “Hello You,” which has a decidedly funky Quincy Jones film score-like bent.

“I mean, I’m absolutely all right with that [comparison],” Turner says, visibly chuffed. (And, yes, he’d love to try his hand at a film score).

As Turner continues to explain — or, rather, justify — the heavy use of strings on the album, he stops; the conversation at a table nearby has grown louder by the second. He thoughtfully frets over the integrity of our recorded interview, but he also admits that he’s distracted. After suggesting we relocate to another part of the room, he grabs both of our coffees and belongings and perches at the bar. He says distractions help keep him on his toes, preparing him for the next gauntlet to come his way. And Turner is always careful with his words, rolling them around in his mouth a bit and seeing how they taste before sharing them with the class. It makes for a slightly slower interview, but a meaningful one without the puff. He’s methodical and patient, with himself above all else, at one point going as far as to regret not using a different synonym for the word “distortion.” And it’s this meticulousness that translates into his lyrical prowess, crafting words and phrases into increasingly cryptic songs.

So it’s fitting that The Car’s best and most striking song is neither groovy nor soft; instead, it’s a pulsating, spooky track called “Sculptures of Anything Goes,” and it’s the first song co-writing credit with Arctic Monkeys guitarist Cook since “Still Take You Home" on their debut album.

Turner immediately perks up when the song is mentioned.

“Jamie got the Moog synthesizer and was playing with this sort of computer rhythm, like a rolling drum machine,” Turner explains. “He was putting that through the synth, so when you hit the key, you'd hear the drum machine and then it’d fade out. I basically wrote a song for that sound.”

The result: an ominous little earworm with the dark sex appeal of 2013’s AM and the eerieness of Humbug. “There's a bit of [a] desert thing still hanging around,” Turner agrees, referring to Joshua Tree where much of Humbug, their third album, was recorded.

Drummer Helders also cited the track as his favorite, noting that “there's a lot of scope for a cool video for that one.” He even assumed that “Sculptures” would be the first single from The Car. But that would have been misleading. Turner was correct in saying that “Mirrorball” sets the tone for the album at large, and the reception of that one mirrors how well they might receive the album in general.

There’s plenty to love about The Car: Turner has never sounded so confident in his singing voice, and his songwriting still cements him as one of the generation's most talented songwriters. But there will be Arctic Monkeys fans — longtime devotees who knew the band from their frenzied “Teddy Picker” days, “Arabella” bandwagoners and “Batphone” evangelists alike — who will find themselves uninspired by the band’s latest.

Following the release of “Body Paint,” someone tweeted, “Free Matt Helders, let him play drums on the new album.” Fair enough: Helders’ spirited drumming style has certainly taken a backseat on this album, but it’s a move Helders says he doesn’t mind (he suggests seeing them live or listening to the older albums for those who miss his drumming so much). And while Turner doesn’t seem entirely indifferent about the idea of alienating his fans, he’s not interested in placating them to the point of regression. If anything, Turner is perplexed by those who don’t see that their growth as a band is less about abandonment and more about evolving.

“Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I'm like, can't you see that [throughline]?” Turner says.“ I feel like we’ve got to move on… it’s been almost 10 years since [AM]. I don't think there's a way to keep doing that. And I think [we] sound like the same band that we did in the beginning.”

In short, Turner is ready for AM’s pomade-laden funeral pyre.

THROUGHOUT ALL OF Arctic Monkeys’ eras, Turner maintains an admirable level of faith in his fans; but maybe that’s because he doesn’t see all the shitposting on social. Turner famously — and, perhaps, smartly — doesn’t have a public social media account. In fact, his aversion has led his fans to jokingly refer to him as a Luddite who doesn’t know how to operate a smartphone.

So, does that mean we shouldn’t expect Turner to show up on TikTok one day and do a dance challenge?

Over Zoom, Helders quipped, “That’s the day I leave the band.”

“I’m not ruling it out!” Turner exclaims. Then, he adds, somewhat distressed, “There aren’t enough hours in the day! And this is not a criticism of anyone at all… I just don't know how I would be able to do a good job.”

No need. The TikTok generation has picked up his slack, and they’re out in full force waiting in line for the band at gigs and online. While old heads stick to the official forums to theorize the meaning behind song snippets (for a while, its members debated whether “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am” is about The Great Gatsby), the stan accounts who shitpost all day get the most spotlight. The band’s single “Body Paint” — a cynical love song, accompanied by a beautifully shot music video — has already been memed to death with Turner’s faraway staredown set to elevator music and clips of him playing guitar on a rotating platform compared to food heating up in the microwave. The shitposts come from a place of love, but it’s hard to imagine Turner having a full understanding of some of his loudest online fans’ antics. Still, it’s undoubtedly them who will help shape the narrative following The Car’s release, and help the band continue to build their legacy.

But it’s a fool's errand, bothering to have any real expectations going into a new Arctic Monkeys release. Every record has offered something different — even their sophomore album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, released just a year after their record-breaking debut, experimented with some darker elements that would be fully explored in the psych-rock-adjacent Humbug, turned lovesick in Suck It And See, terminally horny on AM and out of this world on Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.

No noise will prevent anyone from clamoring to see them live next year when they travel to North America, Europe, the U.K. and Ireland to promote The Car on their stadium tour; the bloodbath over concert tickets in recent weeks has become so unhinged that some fans have jokingly tried to cancel the band in an attempt to dissuade potential concertgoers from buying tickets. Every tweet announcing additional tour dates is met with fans wondering — or rather, demanding to know — why the band aren’t hitting their neck of the woods: “Come to Brazil in 2023;” “Drop Asia tour;” “Eastern Europe when?”

It’s a far cry from the parking lot.

#arctic monkeys #alex turner #interview #the car

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