Tumgik
#an arranged affair - milestone story
purple-haired-faerie · 5 months
Text
Azriel, a Mate and a Step-Daughter HC
A/N: Mabel and Felicity are some OC I have. Mabel is a Forensic psychologist and Criminologist with more than enough life trauma. Felicity is her daughter, the only good thing to come out and abusive relationship. She doesn't know her biological father, having been told her is a 'bad man who hurt mummy and mummy left him when she was born.'
A/N let me know if you want to see more of Mabel and Felicity
Felicity had always wanted a Dad like all her friends at school but had soon realized it only upset her Mum when she asked so she stopped asking
Mabel had sworn off relationships. Had promised herself not to allow a repeat of her last relationship, one that had left her with physical and emotional scars.
That was until she had to work with Azriel on a case. He needed her input and expertise and soon it became apparent it wasn't just work that had them spending time together.
Eventually Mabel admitted to Azriel about her ex, explaining that as much as she wanted whatever it was between her and the shadowsinger she was also afraid. Az promised they could take it slow and she could be in control
After a few months she introduced Azriel to Felicity as a special friend of hers. Felicity wasn't a daft kid so understood what her mother hadn't explicitly said
As promised Az let Mabel have control. The first major milestone was inviting Az round for dinner. As she is cooking As makes conversation with Felicity. He finds out she has a creative side and loves anything performing or artist. She asks about his shadows who are curious about her. The night is a success and becomes a regular thing.
Once Mabel and Azriel become more secure in their relationship and it looks like Azriel is in for a long run, he tentatively asks if he could spend time with Felicity who is becoming equally important to him.
Once a week Az gets to spend time with Felicity. Sometimes it's simple, a trip to the park, ice cream or whatever. Sometimes he'll do something a bit more special but will pass it by Mabel first. He doesn't want to overstep a boundary.
A massive hurdle is the family introductions. Mabel invites her grandparents (her parents are another story) brother and sister round for dinner with Azriel. He knows how important these people are and he's super nervous to make a good impression. They can tell he treats Mabel and her daughter right
Then Azriel introduces them to the inner circle, having begged them to behave. Az bringing a significant other round is huge so they behave. Nyx, the same age as Felicity recognizes her from school and immediately puts her at ease, drawing her into consideration with Cass, Nesta and Mor. Rhys, Feyre and Elain talk to Mabel and try not to overwhelm her. Amren just drinks wine and observes.
That night, as Azriel stays the night at Mabels they feel the bind snap. It was like it was waiting for her to feel truly safe and accepted by Azriel. That night is the final part of that feeling for her.
Felicity stays with Feyre and Rhys when. Mabel accepts the bond. Of course they had discussed it with her and her immediate response was "does this mean I can call you my Dad?". Az isn't above admitted the simple question makes him emotional. " If you want to of course". He has seen her as a daughter for a long time.
Once they have gotten the frenzy out of their system they decide to buy a new home that's fully their own and of course Felicity gets involved. They find a nice place on the outskirts of Velaris with a big garden and a tree for a tree house (Az, Cass and Rhys make her one. It takes a lot of swearing and sweating but once it's done she loves it, "thank you Daddy, and Uncle Rhys and Uncle Cass. It's the bestest tree house ever")
Rhys and Feyre arrange them a mating ceremony. A small cozy family affair. Not as small as the elopement Feyre and Rhys had nor the extravaganza Nesta and Cassian had either. What makes everyone cry is Azriels vows to Felicity to be the best Das he can be for her and to always protect her.
After the ceremony Azriel formally adopts Felicity as his own daughter making it official. It's one of the best days of his life
6 notes · View notes
Text
Examining the Technique of Making the Best Chocolate Platter to Give
In gift-giving, few delights rival the allure of a meticulously curated chocolate platter. Whether commemorating a milestone or expressing gratitude, the thoughtful arrangement of decadent chocolates is a gesture that resonates deeply with recipients. Crafted with care and precision, these platters serve as a testament to the artistry and expertise of chocolatiers worldwide.
Craftsmanship Beyond Compare:
At the core of every exceptional platter lies the mastery of artisanal chocolatiers. These skilled craftsmen and women infuse their creations with passion and dedication, blending premium ingredients and time-honoured techniques to produce chocolates of unparalleled quality. From velvety ganaches to crunchy pralines, each piece is a symphony of flavour and texture, meticulously crafted to delight the senses.
A Kaleidoscope of Sensory Delights:
What sets handcrafted artisanal chocolates apart is their remarkable diversity. With an array of flavours and textures to explore, each bite offers a journey of sensory discovery. Whether infused with exotic spices, tangy fruits, or fragrant nuts, every chocolate contains a story of innovation and creativity, inviting the palate on a compelling adventure.
Crafting the Perfect Platter: 
Building the ideal chocolate platter for gift requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Begin by selecting a diverse assortment of chocolates, ranging from rich dark varieties to creamy milk and delicate white options, catering to various tastes. Complement these milk candies with an assortment of nuts, dried fruits, and gourmet confections, adding depth and complexity to the platter's flavour profile.
Enhancing the Experience:
To elevate the tasting experience, consider pairing these treats with carefully selected beverages. Whether it's a crisp glass of wine, a celebratory flute of champagne, or a comforting cup of coffee, the interplay of flavours between these milk candies and their accompaniments creates a harmonious balance that tantalizes the taste buds and enhances the overall enjoyment of the platter.
The Perfect Gift Versatile and universally beloved, a chocolate platter is the quintessential gift for any occasion. Whether marking a birthday, anniversary, or holiday celebration, its universal appeal transcends age and taste preferences, making it a fitting choice for recipients of all backgrounds. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, a beautifully presented platter is guaranteed to be the centrepiece of any event.
Conclusion: 
In a world saturated with mass-produced confections, handcrafted artisanal chocolates shine as beacons of excellence and refinement. Their exquisite flavours, impeccable textures, and captivating presentation elevate gifting to an art form, leaving a lasting impression on both giver and receiver alike. Explore Gourmet Pretzels at sarahsgourmetpretzels.com to indulge in a range of handmade artisanal chocolates that are sure to fascinate and surprise even the most discriminating taste for those who are ready to experience the world of gourmet chocolates and find the ideal present for any occasion.
0 notes
Text
Rajyog Lawns and Banquet Hall
Welcome to Rajyog Lawns and Banquets, where cherished moments are transformed into unforgettable memories. Nestled in the heart of Bibwewadi, Pune, our magnificent wedding venue sets the stage for a wide range of events, from lavish weddings and grand receptions to joyous birthdays, exhilarating sports events, and professional corporate gatherings.
Rajyog Lawns and Banquets was born out of a vision to create a haven of beauty and elegance, where celebrations resonate with luxury and warmth. With years of experience in hosting diverse events, we have curated a space that perfectly blends sophistication with comfort. Our journey began with the goal of providing a venue that turns your special occasions into moments etched in time.
Our sprawling lawns and exquisite indoor AC banquet hall provide a canvas for your dreams to come to life. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand extravaganza, we have the perfect setting to match your vision. The outdoor lawn, surrounded by lush greenery and adorned with impeccable landscaping, offers a magical ambiance for open-air ceremonies and receptions. Our indoor banquet hall, complete with modern amenities and elegant décor, ensures that your celebrations continue seamlessly, regardless of the weather.
At Rajyog Lawns and Banquets, we understand the significance of breathtaking decorations in creating an unforgettable event. Our team of skilled decorators possesses an artistic flair that transforms your ideas into reality. We take pride in offering some of the most stunning decorations in Pune, tailor-made to suit your theme and preferences. Every detail is meticulously crafted, from the vibrant floral arrangements to the enchanting lighting that sets the mood for your celebration.
Make your wedding a fairytale affair with Rajyog Lawns. Picture exchanging your vows under the open sky, surrounded by the people you cherish, as a gentle breeze rustles through the leaves. Imagine dancing the night away in a beautifully adorned indoor banquet hall, where every moment is illuminated with love and joy. With our team of dedicated professionals by your side, your wedding experience will surpass all expectations, ensuring that your special day is etched in your hearts forever. While weddings hold a special place in our hearts, our versatile venue is ready to accommodate a range of events. Whether it's a corporate seminar that demands a touch of elegance, a milestone birthday that calls for grandeur, or a sports event that needs the perfect backdrop, Rajyog Lawns and Banquets is your canvas to paint unforgettable memories.
We invite you to join us at Rajyog Lawns and Banquets, where dreams are woven into reality and celebrations take on a new meaning. Let us be a part of your journey, turning your events into stories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. Contact us today to embark on a celebration that will be remembered forever.
Contact Us
Rajyog Lawns and Banquet Hall
S. No. 655, Bibwewadi, Hill top, Ganga Dham, road, near Aai Mata Mandir, Kondhwa, Pune, Maharashtra, 411037, India
+91 97300 43478
https://www.rajyoglawnsandbanquets.com
Find us On Social Media
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Linkedin
Find Us On Web
https://in.enrollbusiness.com/BusinessProfile/6551633/Rajyog-Lawns-and-Banquet-Hall-Pune-411037-Maharashtra/Home
1 note · View note
maeakevents · 4 months
Text
Why Choose Maeak Events for Your Next Calicut Gathering? Let's Explore the Possibilities
Tumblr media
Are you gearing up for a special celebration in the enchanting city of Calicut? Whether it's the union of two souls in a grand wedding, a corporate event that demands sophistication, or a personal milestone that deserves a memorable celebration, the key to turning your vision into reality lies in choosing the right event management team. In the heart of Calicut, Maeak Events stands out as the go-to partner for creating unforgettable moments. Let's delve into the reasons why Maeak Events should be your top choice for your next gathering. know more
Local Expertise, Global Standards
Calicut, with its rich cultural tapestry, demands an event management team that understands and appreciates the nuances of local traditions. Maeak Events prides itself on possessing deep-rooted knowledge of the local culture while maintaining global standards of excellence. Our team comprises seasoned professionals who are not only experts in event management but are also intimately familiar with the unique flavors of this vibrant city.
From traditional weddings adorned with cultural intricacies to modern corporate affairs demanding cutting-edge sophistication, Maeak Events seamlessly blends local customs with global standards. We believe that each event should be a reflection of its host, and our commitment to understanding and respecting Calicut's cultural heritage ensures that your event is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.
Tailored Solutions for Every Occasion
No two events are alike, and we understand the importance of personalization. Maeak Events is committed to crafting bespoke experiences that reflect your individual style and preferences. Our meticulous planning process begins with understanding your vision, and we work tirelessly to ensure that every detail, from venue selection to decor and entertainment, is curated to align with your unique requirements.
Your event is not just another project for us; it's an opportunity to tell your unique story. Whether it's an intimate family gathering or a large-scale corporate event, our team approaches each project with a fresh perspective, ensuring that your event stands out from the rest.
Vendor Network and Relationships
One of the key elements that set Maeak Events apart is our extensive network of reputable vendors and suppliers in Calicut. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with professionals who share our commitment to excellence. This not only ensures the highest quality of services but also gives us the leverage to negotiate on your behalf, providing cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.
From catering services that tantalize the taste buds to photographers who capture moments with artistic finesse, Maeak Events has your event covered with the best in the business. Our strong vendor relationships not only guarantee top-notch services but also give us the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of budgets.
Innovative Designs and Concepts
Creativity is at the core of Maeak Events. We understand that an exceptional event requires more than just impeccable planning; it demands innovative designs and concepts that leave a lasting impression. Our team of designers and concept creators are always pushing the boundaries to bring fresh and imaginative ideas to the table.
Whether you have a specific theme in mind or are looking for inspiration, Maeak Events excels in transforming ideas into visually stunning realities. From breathtaking floral arrangements to avant-garde stage designs, our commitment to creativity ensures that your event is a unique and unforgettable experience for both you and your guests.
Seamless Execution for a Stress-Free Experience
Planning an event can be a daunting task, but with Maeak Events, you can relax and enjoy the process. Our experienced project managers take the reins, ensuring seamless coordination from the initial planning stages to the final moments of your event. We understand that the devil is in the details, and our team is dedicated to taking care of logistics, timelines, and troubleshooting, allowing you to focus on being a gracious host.
With Maeak Events by your side, you can rest assured that every aspect of your gathering is in capable hands. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond planning and design; it encompasses flawless execution, ensuring that your event unfolds seamlessly, leaving you with nothing but cherished memories.
Conclusion
Choosing Maeak Events for your next Calicut gathering is more than just a decision; it's an investment in an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. With our local expertise, personalized approach, strong vendor relationships, innovative designs, and flawless execution, we are ready to turn your vision into a reality.
Let's embark on this exciting journey together and create an event that surpasses your expectations. At Maeak Events, we believe in turning possibilities into unforgettable moments. Your event is not just an occasion; it's a narrative waiting to be written, and we are here to help you tell your story in the most spectacular way possible. Maeak Events - where possibilities become unforgettable memories.
0 notes
thedaycaredream23 · 4 months
Text
Building a Library Culture
The Magic of Mini Libraries In the enchanting world of daycare, the introduction of a mini-library can spark a lifelong love affair with books. A mini-library, thoughtfully curated with age-appropriate literature, becomes a gateway to countless adventures and a haven for young minds to explore. Consider discussing how the arrangement of books, cozy reading corners, and inviting displays can transform a corner of the daycare into a magical realm of imagination.
Curating Diverse Genres and Authors Diversity is the cornerstone of a vibrant library culture. Explore the importance of stocking the mini-library with books that represent various cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Discuss the positive impact of exposing children to stories from around the world, fostering empathy, and nurturing an appreciation for diversity. Highlight specific genres and authors that resonate with young readers, ensuring that the library reflects the richness of the literary world.
Encouraging Exploration and Curiosity A well-designed mini-library serves as a playground for intellectual curiosity. Discuss strategies for encouraging children to explore the shelves independently, empowering them to select books based on their interests. Share anecdotes of children discovering new genres or authors and how this exploration contributes to their cognitive development. Consider implementing a system where children can recommend books to their peers, fostering a sense of community and shared excitement about reading.
Creating a Reading Ritual Explore the power of establishing a reading ritual within the daycare. Whether it's a designated storytime each day or a weekly library visit, rituals help instill a sense of routine and anticipation. Discuss the benefits of consistent reading sessions, including improved language skills, enhanced concentration, and the cultivation of a calming and enjoyable atmosphere within the daycare.
Storytelling Workshops and Author Visits Elevate the library culture by organizing storytelling workshops or inviting authors to engage with the children. Discuss the impact of firsthand interactions with storytellers and authors, fostering a deeper connection with the world of literature. Share the excitement of children meeting the creators behind their favorite stories and how these experiences contribute to their overall development.
Tracking Progress and Celebrating Achievements Implementing a system to track each child's reading journey adds an extra layer of engagement. Discuss the benefits of keeping a log or using creative methods like a "reading passport" to record the books a child explores. Explore the joy of celebrating milestones, such as completing a certain number of books or discovering a new favorite author. Emphasize the positive reinforcement that comes from acknowledging and celebrating each child's unique reading achievements.
To sum it up The discussion on building a library culture, reinforce the idea that the mini-library is not just a physical space but a doorway to endless possibilities. By encouraging diversity, fostering exploration, and celebrating the joy of reading, daycares can create an environment where children develop a lifelong love for learning and a curiosity that knows no bounds. A well-cultivated library culture becomes a cornerstone in expanding a child's worldview and preparing them for a future filled with imagination and knowledge.
Tumblr media
0 notes
seventzz · 7 months
Text
Making Birthday Decorations to Unforgettable Heights with Crafting Joy!
Birthdays are more than just milestones; they're a celebration of life and happiness! Elevate your birthday decorations to new heights with creative and unique ideas that will leave everyone in awe. Whether you're planning a small intimate gathering or a grand extravaganza, the right decorations can transform the ambiance and make the day truly magical.
Imagine a world of vibrant colors, elegant themes, and personalized touches coming together in a symphony of celebration. From enchanting balloon arches that guide you into the wonderland of the party, to intricately designed table centerpieces that mirror the essence of the celebrant, every detail can weave a story of joy.
Picture a cascade of fairy lights illuminating the night, creating an ethereal aura that wraps around the festivities. Custom banners and photo booths not only add a fun element but also capture cherished memories that will be revisited for years to come. And let's not forget the delectable cake – the centerpiece of every birthday bash. Imagine it showcased on a dessert table adorned with intricate floral arrangements, mirroring the sweetness of the occasion.
Crafting joy through birthday decorations is an art that brings happiness to both the host and the guests. It's a way of showing love and appreciation to the birthday star while creating an immersive experience for everyone present.
So, whether it's a whimsical garden party, a retro-themed blast from the past, or an elegant black-tie affair, let your imagination run wild and let the decorations speak volumes. With the right ambiance, even the simplest moments can turn into lifelong memories. Let's celebrate and make this birthday truly exceptional with decorations that are as unique as the person you're celebrating!
0 notes
infoblogifyzen · 8 months
Text
Stunning Flower Centerpieces for Anniversary Party in NYC
An anniversary is a special occasion that celebrates love, commitment, and the journey of two hearts intertwined. Whether it's a milestone anniversary or a yearly celebration of love, adding stunning flower centerpieces for anniversary party in NYC decor can elevate the ambiance and create a truly magical experience. In the bustling heart of New York City, Lenox Hill Florist stands as a beacon of elegance and creativity, offering exquisite floral arrangements to make your anniversary party unforgettable. In this blog, we explore the art of stunning flower centerpieces and how Lenox Hill Florist can turn your NYC celebration into a dreamy affair.
The Significance of Flower Centerpieces:
Flower centerpieces hold a special place in event decor, and for good reason. These beautifully crafted arrangements serve as the focal point of the table, captivating guests' attention and setting the tone for the celebration. Flowers, with their enchanting beauty and varied symbolism, convey emotions and sentiments that words often fail to express. For an anniversary party, carefully chosen blooms can reflect the couple's journey and the love they share.
Lenox Hill Florist: Where Elegance Meets Creativity:
Lenox Hill Florist has been a cornerstone of floral artistry in NYC for decades. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship and eye for detail, the florists at Lenox Hill take pride in curating flower centerpieces that leave a lasting impression. Each centerpiece is a masterpiece, thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the event theme, color scheme, and the couple's unique preferences. From classic and romantic arrangements to contemporary and avant-garde designs, Lenox Hill Florist caters to a diverse range of styles.
Customizing Your Flower Centerpieces:
At Lenox Hill Florist, personalization is key. Our expert florists understand that every couple and their love story is unique. When you choose us for your anniversary party, we take the time to listen to your vision and aspirations. Whether you prefer a timeless arrangement of roses symbolizing love and passion or an assortment of wildflowers representing the adventure of marriage, we infuse your preferences into each centerpiece. Our goal is to ensure that your flower arrangements reflect your love story and create a memorable experience for you and your guests.
The Magic of Fresh Blooms:
Freshness is at the heart of what we do. Lenox Hill Florist sources the finest blooms from trusted growers, ensuring that your flower centerpieces exude beauty and fragrance. Our commitment to quality extends to every aspect of our craft, from selecting the blooms to arranging them with precision and care. As you walk down memory lane and create new memories on your special day, the enchanting presence of fresh flowers will surround you with a sense of wonder and joy.
Unveiling the Elegance:
When the day arrives, and your anniversary party is in full swing, the true impact of stunning flower centerpieces will be revealed. Guests will be enchanted by the beauty that adorns each table, and the romantic atmosphere will be palpable. Every time they glance at the flower arrangements, they'll be reminded of the love and commitment that brought everyone together. The elegance of Lenox Hill Florist's creations will turn your celebration into an unforgettable affair, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of all who attend.
As you plan your anniversary party in the vibrant city of NYC, remember that the beauty of stunning flower centerpieces can transform the atmosphere and evoke emotions beyond words. Lenox Hill Florist takes pride in crafting exquisite floral arrangements that tell the story of your love and commitment. With a focus on elegance, creativity, and personalization, our flower centerpieces are designed to make your celebration unforgettable. Choose Lenox Hill Florist to add an enchanting touch to your anniversary party, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Create magical memories with our stunning flower centerpieces! Contact Lenox Hill Florist today and let our expert florists design personalized arrangements for your NYC anniversary party.
0 notes
denimbex1986 · 8 months
Text
'“Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s staggering film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man known as “the father of the atomic bomb,” condenses a titanic shift in consciousness into three haunted hours. A drama about genius, hubris and error, both individual and collective, it brilliantly charts the turbulent life of the American theoretical physicist who helped research and develop the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II — cataclysms that helped usher in our human-dominated age.
The movie is based on “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” the authoritative 2005 biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Written and directed by Nolan, the film borrows liberally from the book as it surveys Oppenheimer’s life, including his role in the Manhattan Engineer District, better known as the Manhattan Project. He served as director of a clandestine weapons lab built in a near-desolate stretch of Los Alamos, in New Mexico, where he and many other of the era’s most dazzling scientific minds puzzled through how to harness nuclear reactions for the weapons that killed tens of thousands instantly, ending the war in the Pacific.
The atomic bomb and what it wrought define Oppenheimer’s legacy and also shape this film. Nolan goes deep and long on the building of the bomb, a fascinating and appalling process, but he doesn’t restage the attacks; there are no documentary images of the dead or panoramas of cities in ashes, decisions that read as his ethical absolutes. The horror of the bombings, the magnitude of the suffering they caused and the arms race that followed suffuse the film. “Oppenheimer” is a great achievement in formal and conceptual terms, and fully absorbing, but Nolan’s filmmaking is, crucially, in service to the history that it relates.
The story tracks Oppenheimer — played with feverish intensity by Cillian Murphy — across decades, starting in the 1920s with him as a young adult and continuing until his hair grays. The film touches on personal and professional milestones, including his work on the bomb, the controversies that dogged him, the anti-Communist attacks that nearly ruined him, as well as the friendships and romances that helped sustain yet also troubled him. He has an affair with a political firebrand named Jean Tatlock (a vibrant Florence Pugh), and later weds a seductive boozer, Kitty Harrison (Emily Blunt, in a slow-building turn), who accompanies him to Los Alamos, where she gives birth to their second child.
It’s a dense, event-filled story that Nolan — who’s long embraced the plasticity of the film medium — has given a complex structure, which he parcels into revealing sections. Most are in lush color; others in high-contrast black and white. These sections are arranged in strands that wind together for a shape that brings to mind the double helix of DNA. To signal his conceit, he stamps the film with the words “fission” (a splitting into parts) and “fusion” (a merging of elements); Nolan being Nolan, he further complicates the film by recurrently kinking up the overarching chronology — it is a lot.
It also isn’t a story that builds gradually; rather, Nolan abruptly tosses you into the whirl of Oppenheimer’s life with vivid scenes of him during different periods in his life. In rapid succession the watchful older Oppie (as his intimates call him) and his younger counterpart flicker onscreen before the story briefly lands in the 1920s, where he’s an anguished student tormented by fiery, apocalyptic visions. He suffers; he also reads T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land,” drops a needle on Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” and stands before a Picasso painting, defining works of an age in which physics folded space and time into space-time.
This fast pace and narrative fragmentation continue as Nolan fills in this Cubistic portrait, crosses and recrosses continents and ushers in armies of characters, including Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh), a physicist who played a role in the Manhattan Project. Nolan has loaded the movie with familiar faces — Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman — some distracting. It took me a while to accept director Benny Safdie as Edward Teller, the theoretical physicist known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb,” and I still don’t know why Rami Malek shows up in a minor part other than he’s yet another known commodity.
As Oppenheimer comes into focus so does the world. In 1920s Germany, he learns quantum physics; the next decade he’s at Berkeley teaching, bouncing off other young geniuses and building a center for the study of quantum physics. Nolan makes the era’s intellectual excitement palpable — Einstein published his theory of general relativity in 1915 — and, as you would expect, there’s a great deal of scientific debate and chalkboards filled with mystifying calculations, most of which Nolan translates fairly comprehensibly. One of the film’s pleasures is experiencing by proxy the kinetic excitement of intellectual discourse.
It’s at Berkeley that the trajectory of Oppenheimer’s life dramatically shifts, after news breaks that Germany has invaded Poland. By that point, he has become friends with Ernest Lawrence (Josh Hartnett), a physicist who invented a particle accelerator, the cyclotron, and who plays an instrumental role in the Manhattan Project. It’s also at Berkeley that Oppenheimer meets the project’s military head, Leslie Groves (a predictably good Damon), who makes him Los Alamos’ director, despite the leftist causes he supported — among them, the fight against fascism during the Spanish Civil War — and some of his associations, including with Communist Party members like his brother, Frank (Dylan Arnold).
Nolan is one of the few contemporary filmmakers operating at this ambitious scale, both thematically and technically. Working with his superb cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, Nolan has shot in 65 mm film (which is projected in 70 mm), a format that he’s used before to create a sense of cinematic monumentality. The results can be immersive, though at times clobbering, particularly when the wow of his spectacle has proved more substantial and coherent than his storytelling. In “Oppenheimer,” though, as in “Dunkirk” (2017), he uses the format to convey the magnitude of a world-defining event; here, it also closes the distance between you and Oppenheimer, whose face becomes both vista and mirror.
The film’s virtuosity is evident in every frame, but this is virtuosity without self-aggrandizement. Big subjects can turn even well-intended filmmakers into show-offs, to the point that they upstage the history they seek to do justice to. Nolan avoids that trap by insistently putting Oppenheimer into a larger context, notably with the black-and-white portions. One section turns on a politically motivated security clearance hearing in 1954, a witch hunt that damaged his reputation; the second follows the 1959 confirmation for Lewis Strauss (a mesmerizing, near-unrecognizable Downey), a former chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission who was nominated for a Cabinet position.
Nolan integrates these black-and-white sections with the color ones, using scenes from the hearing and the confirmation — Strauss’ role in the hearing and his relationship with Oppenheimer directly affected the confirmation’s outcome — to create a dialectical synthesis. One of the most effective examples of this approach illuminates how Oppenheimer and other Jewish project scientists, some of whom were refugees from Nazi Germany, saw their work in stark, existential terms. Yet Oppenheimer’s genius, his credentials, international reputation and wartime service to the U.S. government cannot save him from political gamesmanship, the vanity of petty men and the naked antisemitism of the Red scare.
These black-and-white sequences define the last third of “Oppenheimer.” They can seem overlong, and at times in this part of the film it feels as if Nolan is becoming too swept up in the trials that America’s most famous physicist experienced. Instead, it is here that the film’s complexities and all its many fragments finally converge as Nolan puts the finishing touches on his portrait of a man who contributed to an age of transformational scientific discovery, who personified the intersection of science and politics, including in his role as a Communist boogeyman, who was transformed by his role in the creation of weapons of mass destruction and soon after raised the alarm about the dangers of nuclear war.
François Truffaut once wrote that “war films, even pacifist, even the best, willingly or not, glorify war and render it in some way attractive.” This, I think, gets at why Nolan refuses to show the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, world-defining events that eventually killed an estimated 100,000 to upward of 200,000 souls. You do, though, see Oppenheimer watch the first test bomb and, critically, you also hear the famous words that he said crossed his mind as the mushroom cloud rose: “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” As Nolan reminds you, the world quickly moved on from the horrors of the war to embrace the bomb. Now we, too, have become death, the destroyers of worlds.
***'
0 notes
fountainevents · 10 months
Text
Best Wedding Planners In Lucknow
Are you dreaming of a perfect wedding day that is meticulously planned, flawlessly executed, and truly unforgettable? Look no further than Fountain Events, the leading wedding planners in Lucknow. With their impeccable attention to detail, creative vision, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Fountain Events is your trusted partner in turning your wedding dreams into reality.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, with numerous decisions to be made and countless details to consider. That's where Fountain Events steps in, offering their expertise and guidance every step of the way. With years of experience in the industry, their dedicated team of wedding planners possesses the skills and knowledge to handle every aspect of your wedding, ensuring a smooth and stress-free planning process.
At Fountain Events, they understand that your wedding day is one of the most important milestones in your life. They take the time to listen to your desires, preferences, and vision, working closely with you to create a personalized wedding experience that reflects your unique style and love story. Whether you envision a grand, opulent affair or an intimate, romantic gathering, Fountain Events will bring your dreams to life with meticulous attention to detail.
From venue selection and décor arrangement to catering, entertainment, and beyond, Fountain Events handles every aspect of your wedding with utmost professionalism and creativity. They collaborate with a network of trusted vendors and suppliers in Lucknow to ensure that every element of your wedding is of the highest quality, creating a seamless and enchanting experience for you and your guests.
What truly sets Fountain Events apart is their commitment to exceeding expectations. They understand that every couple is different and strive to create weddings that are as unique as their love stories. Their innovative ideas, combined with their meticulous planning and execution, result in weddings that are nothing short of extraordinary. Your wedding day will be filled with magical moments and cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
When you choose Fountain Events as your wedding planners in Lucknow, you can rest assured that every detail will be taken care of with precision and care. Their team will be by your side throughout the planning process, providing guidance, support, and a calming presence, ensuring that you can relax and enjoy every moment leading up to your special day.
WEBSITE : www.thefountainevents.com Contact : +91- 9511118936 | +91- 9511118935
Tumblr media
0 notes
ketsxeki · 3 years
Text
an arranged affair - chapter 1: the girl of my dreams
Tumblr media
a/n: my very late 100 follower celebration! for every 100 followers, a new chapter will be posted! i hope you enjoy 
word count: 1.1k
pairing(s): pregame!gonta gokuhara x reader
premise: an arranged marriage takes a wild run for young gonta gokuhara, as he deals with love and a chance to be free from his family’s name 
warning(s): none
Tumblr media
the perfect little gentleman.
that was who gonta gokuhara was supposed to be. a perfect little gentleman to appease his parents and be worthy of the gokuhara name. everything he did had to be perfect.
he longed to escape, to flee from his hell and run into the woods. gonta missed the woods dearly. in the woods, he could be himself without fear. he could be happy and free.
yet, life had other plans. 
a plan in the form of a girl named (y/n).
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
“you’re getting married,” his father informed gonta one tuesday evening in typical blunt fashion. gonta looked up from his book on butterflies and stared at his parents. both parties matched one another with their deadpanned expressions. 
“no, i’m not,” gonta resumed reading his book. his mother gently grabbed the book and snapped it shut. gonta wanted to glare at her but his mother’s cold eyes made him freeze up.
“we have arranged you to marry the eldest daughter of the jaimeson family,” gonta’s mother set the book aside on the table, “their corporation is good friends of our family. it’s only natural that you would marry one of their children.”
“why now?” gonta asked, sitting up from his lounge chair.
“you’re nearing the end of your high school career. you need to start focusing on the future,” his father answered impassively. gonta frowned. that was his destiny, to take over the family business and produce another heir. hopefully, a heir that wasn’t a fuckup like his parents thought gonta was. 
“we’ve arranged the two of you to meet tomorrow,” gonta’s mother handed gonta his book back. gonta grunted and held onto it tightly as a safety blanket. gonta’s father glared at him and continued, “you will be on your best behavior, son.”
“yes, father,” gonta murmured before sticking his nose back into his book.
“tadashi will pick you off from school and take you to see her,” gonta’s mother wrapped her arm around his father’s side, “i wish you the best of luck.”
gonta didn’t need luck, he thought to himself, he needed an escape plan.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
if his home life was hell, school was ten times worse. 
attending an international prep school for trust fund brats meant dealing with spoiled assholes with too much money and time on their hands. 
gonta managed to get through his days without people bothering him too much. his size definitely helped with that, a such muscular and tall frame for a seventeen year old boy.
he mainly spent his afternoons reading and watching the clouds roll by while waiting for his personal assistant tadashi to chauffeur around town to his various after school lessons. 
yet, when he went to his usual reading spot, gonta found someone already there. a girl around his age dressed in the prep school uniform sat under the cherry blossom tree, nose deep in a book about beetles. gonta liked beetles, he never met a girl who was interested in beetles before.
“what’s your favorite beetle?” gonta found himself asking the girl. she yelped in surprise and looked up from her book, eyes wide and breath labored. gonta raised his eyebrows at her, “d.. did i scare you?”
“n- no!” the girl replied with a nervous smile, “you just surprised me, that’s all! i didn’t think anyone was out here.”
gonta plopped down on the ground next to her, “i saw the book you were reading. beetles of eastern north america, right? by arthur v. evans? it’s a favorite of mine.”
“really?” the girl looked intrigued, her (e/c) eyes shimmering under the sunlight.
“yes,” gonta attempted to smile. why did he want to smile? that was unusual for him. smiling wasn’t commonplace in the gokuhara family.
“i.. i really like the carolina metallic tiger beetle,” answered gonta. 
“no way!” the girl broke out into a toothy grin, “that’s my favorite, too! besides the hercules beetle- but i mean- who doesn’t like the hercules beetle?”
gonta could feel his cheek heat up when the girl he just met went off on a tangent about beetles. did he just find his soulmate?! this had to be a dream. a cute girl that gonta never met until today talking about beetles? insanity, pure and unadulterated insanity. 
“who are you?”
those words slipped out of gonta’s mouth without warning.
the girl furrowed her brow at gonta and questioned to him, “what do you mean?”
“i mean.. this is the first time i’ve seen you around the school and i don’t know your name..” gonta elaborated to the girl.
the girl merely smiled and answered, “well, i just moved here because of family matters,” she extended a hand to gonta, “and my name is (y/n).”
“that’s a-” gonta pondered on how to reply, “-nice name.”
he stood her hand carefully. (y/n)’s hands were surprisingly soft. did she moisturize? 
“ms. (y/n)!” a woman’s voice called out from afar. (y/n) looked up and sighed at the outline of a woman approaching the two of them, “i got to go.. but i hope to see you again-”
“gonta,” he answered, “my name is gonta.”
“well, i’ll see you around, gonta!” exclaimed (y/n) before running off to the woman who was presumably looking for her. gonta sat there in awe. did he just meet the girl of his dreams?
“mr. gonta?” tadashi approached the young man curiously. gonta looked up and greeted his personal assistant, “hello, tadashi. did i keep you waiting?”
“no, not at all but we should get going,” replied tadashi. gonta nodded in agreement and stood up, walking off with tadashi.
gonta could only hope to see (y/n).
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
forced into a stuffy tuxedo, gonta found himself dumped outside a five star restaurant. tadashi informed him that his parents set up a reservation inside and that the jamieson girl was waiting inside. 
“is it too late to make a run for it?” gonta asked tadashi with a grumble.
“sadly, no. i do wish you luck,” tadashi reassured gonta. 
gonta took a deep breath and made his charge into the restaurant. immediately, gonta was greeted by violin music and the smell of gourmet food hit his nose. he despised it, every aspect of it was met by hatred. 
“gonta gokuhara?” a waiter greeted him. gonta nodded. the waiter smiled, “ms. jamieson is waiting for you. please follow me.”
gonta followed the waiter up the stairs and to the private floor of the restaurant. only a few tables were there, the floors polished spotlessly and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. 
“here’s your table, sir.”
gonta stared at the girl standing down at the table.
“gonta?” the girl asked.
“(y/n)?”
there was no doubt about it.
the girl he was arranged to marry.. was the girl he fell in love with.  
19 notes · View notes
dwellordream · 3 years
Text
“...While on his travels Augustus would have continued to be preoccupied with the old issue of what would happen after his death. He had clearly demonstrated at the time of his departure that he could not manage without Marcus Agrippa, married at the time to Marcella, Octavia’s daughter. Agrippa now divorced her (her compensation was to be married to Iullus Antonius, the son of Antony and Fulvia), so as to be free in 21 to marry the widowed Julia. Plutarch says that this marriage came about through Octavia’s machinations and that she prevailed upon Augustus to accept the idea. It is not clear what her motives would have been.
If we are to believe Seneca we might see pure spite. He claimed that Octavia hated Livia after the death of Marcellus because the hopes of the imperial house passed now to Livia’s sons. This could well be no more than speculation, and Seneca does not even hint at any specific action by Octavia against her supposed rival. The whole story sounds typically Senecan in its denigration of dead individuals who are easy targets. Once again, we are told nothing about Livia’s reaction to the marriage. She might not have been able to object to the earlier marriage between Julia and Augustus’ nephew Marcellus, but in 21 the situation was different. Her older son, Tiberius, who was not yet married, had been passed over in favour of an outsider to the family. 
But whatever his sense of obligation to his wife, Augustus probably felt that he had little choice in the matter. Agrippa’s earlier reaction to having to take second place to Marcellus, a blood relative of Augustus, would have provided a good hint to Augustus of how his friend would have taken to playing second string to Tiberius. Agrippa was now a key figure in the governing of Rome. He was not a man to be provoked. If Livia had been entertaining hopes that this early stage of a preeminent role for either of her sons (and such a suggestion, while reasonable, is totally speculative), such hopes would have faded with the birth of two sons to Julia and Agrippa.
Gaius Caesar was born in 20 bc, and, as if to confirm the line, a second son, Lucius Caesar, arrived in 17. Augustus was delighted, and soon after Lucius’ birth signalled his ultimate intentions by adopting both boys. He thus might envisage himself as being ‘‘succeeded’’ by Agrippa, who would in turn be succeeded by either Gaius and Lucius, who were, in a sense, sons of both men. In late 16 bc Augustus set out on an extended trip to Gaul and Spain, where he established a number of veteran settlements. Livia may have accompanied him. Dio does report speculation that the emperor went away so as to be able to conduct his affair with Terentia, the wife of his close confidant Maecenas, in a place where it would not attract gossip. 
Even if the rumours were well founded, the implication need not necessarily follow that he had left Livia behind. Livia had a reputation as a femme complaisante, and Augustus may simply have wanted to get away from the prying eyes of the capital. Certainly at one stage Livia intervened with Augustus to argue for the grant of citizenship to a Gaul, and this trip provides the best context. Moreover, Seneca dates a famous incident to this trip, Livia’s plea on behalf of the accused Gaius Cornelius Cinna. It could well be that Seneca misdated the Cinna episode, but he at any rate clearly believed that Livia had been in Gaul with her husband at the relevant time.
…Agrippa lived to see the birth of two other children, his daughters Julia and Agrippina. The first (born about 19 bc) is the namesake of her mother, and, in the historical tradition, cut from the same cloth; the second was to be somewhat eclipsed in the same tradition by her own daughter and namesake, the mother of the last Julio-Claudian emperor, Nero. Agrippa thus became the natural father of four of Augustus’ grandchildren during his lifetime (a fifth would be born posthumously), and his stock rose higher with each event. He had served his princeps well, and could now take his final exit. In 13 he campaigned in the Balkans. At the end of the season he returned to Italy, where he fell ill, and in mid-March, 12 bc, he died. 
His body was brought to Rome, where it was given a magnificent burial, and the remains were deposited in the Mausoleum of Augustus, even though Agrippa had earlier booked himself another site in the Campus Martius. In the following year Octavia died. She is celebrated by the sources as a paragon of every human virtue, whose only possible failings had been the forgivable ones of excessive loyalty to an undeserving husband and excessive grief over the death of a possibly only marginally more deserving son. As noted earlier, we should be cautious about Seneca’s claim that Octavia nursed a hatred for Livia after the death of Marcellus. But there can be no doubt that her death was in a sense advantageous to Livia, for it removed one of the main contenders for the role of the premier woman in the state. Only Augustus’ daughter Julia might now lay claim to a precedence of sorts, but she in fact became an agent in furthering Livia’s ambitions, rather than an obstacle. Once her formal period of mourning was over, Julia would need another husband. Suetonius says that her father carefully considered several options, even from among the equestrians. 
Tiberius later claimed that Augustus pondered the idea of marrying her off to a political nonentity, someone noted for leading a retiring life and not involved in a political career. Among others he supposedly considered Gaius Proculeius, a close friend of the emperor and best known for the manner of his death rather than of his life: he committed suicide by what must have been a painful technique—swallowing gypsum. This drastic action was apparently not in response to the prospect of marriage to Julia but in despair over the unbearable pains in his stomach.
In 11 bc, the year of Octavia’s death, Augustus made his decision. He could hardly pass over one of Livia’s sons again. They were the only real choices, given the practical options open to him. Both were married, and Drusus’ wife was the daughter of Octavia, someone able already to produce offspring linked, at least indirectly, by blood to the princeps. Divorce in this case would not have been desirable. Augustus had already demonstrated his faith in Livia’s other son, Tiberius, by appointing him to replace Agrippa in the Balkans. He was the inevitable candidate for Julia’s next husband. In perhaps 20 or 19 Tiberius had married Agrippa’s daughter Vipsania, to whom he had long been betrothed. Their son Drusus was born in perhaps 14. In 11 Vipsania was pregnant for a second time, but Tiberius was obliged to divorce her, although he seems to have been genuinely attached to her. Reputedly when they met after the divorce he followed her with such a forlorn and tearful gaze that precautions were taken that their paths would never cross again. 
He was now free to marry Julia. This marriage marks a milestone in Tiberius’ career and in the ambitions that Livia would naturally have nursed for her son. Augustus was clearly prepared to place him in an advantageous position, and the process could be revoked only with difficulty. It is inevitable that there should be speculation among modern scholars that Livia might have played a role in arranging the marriage. Gardthausen claimed that she brought it off in the teeth of vigorous opposition. Perhaps, but the suggestion belongs totally to the realm of speculation. If Livia did play some part in winning over Augustus, she did it so skilfully and unobtrusively that she has left no traces, and the sources are silent about any specific interference on this occasion.
Nor can it be assumed that Augustus would have needed a great deal of persuading. No serious store should be placed in the claims in the sources that he held Tiberius in general contempt and was reduced to turning to him faut de mieux. Suetonius quotes passages from Augustus’ correspondence that provide concrete evidence that the emperor in fact held his adopted son in high regard. Suetonius chose the extracts to show his appreciation of Tiberius’ military and administrative skills, but his words clearly suggest a high degree of affection that seems to go beyond the merely formulaic. 
He addresses Tiberius as iucundissime, probably the equivalent in modern correspondence of ‘‘my very dear Tiberius.’’ He reveals that when he has a challenging problem or is feeling particularly annoyed at something, he yearns for his Tiberius (Tiberium meum desidero), and he notes that both he and Livia are tortured by the thought that her son might be overtaxing himself. Livia’s other son, Drusus, although arguably his brother’s match in military reputation and ability, seems to have been quite different from him in temperament. Where Tiberius was private, inhibited, uninterested in courting popularity, Drusus was affable, engaging, and well-liked, and there was a popular belief, probably naive, that he was committed to an eventual restoration of the republic. He had found a perfectly compatible wife in Antonia the Younger, a woman who commanded universal esteem and respect to the very end.
They produced two sons, both of whom would loom large on the stage of human events: Germanicus, who became the most loved man in the Roman empire and whose early death threatened to erode Livia’s popularity, and Claudius, whose physical limitations were an embarrassment to Livia and to other members of the imperial family, but who confounded them all by becoming an emperor of considerable acumen and ability. They also had a daughter, Livilla, who attained disrepute through her affair with the most loathed man in the early Roman empire, the notorious praetorian prefect Sejanus.
Drusus dominated the landscape in 9 bc. The year seemed to start auspiciously for Livia. In 13 bc the Senate had voted to consecrate the Ara Pacis, one of the great monuments of Augustus’ regime, as a memorial to his safe return from Spain and the pacification of Gaul. The dedication waited four years and finally took place in 9, on January 30, Livia’s birthday, perhaps her fiftieth. The honour was a profound one, but indirect and thus low-key, in keeping with Livia’s public persona. Her sons continued to achieve distinction on the battlefield. A decorated sword sheath of provincial workmanship has survived from this period.
It represents a frontal Livia with the nodus hairstyle, and shoulder locks carefully designed so as to flow along her shoulders above the drapery. She appears between two heads, almost certainly her sons, and the piece pictorially symbolises Livia at what must have been one of the most satisfying periods of her life. To cap her sense of well-being, Tiberius, after signal victories over the Dalmatians and Pannonians, returned to Rome to celebrate an ovation. Following the usual practice after a triumph or ovation, a dinner was given for the Senate in the Capitoline temple, and tables were set out for the people in front of private houses. 
A separate banquet was arranged for the women. Its sponsors were Livia and Julia. Private tensions may already have arisen between Tiberius and Julia, but at least at the public level they were sedulously maintaining an outward image of marital harmony, and Livia was making her own contribution towards promoting that image. Similar festivities were planned to celebrate Drusus’ victories. Presumably in his case Livia would have joined Antonia, Drusus’ wife, in preparing the banquet, as she had joined Tiberius’ wife on the earlier occasion.
While Tiberius had been engaged in operations in Pannonia, Drusus had conducted a highly acclaimed campaign in Germany. By 9 bc he had succeeded in taking Roman arms as far as the river Elbe. So awesome were his achievements that greater powers felt the need to intervene. He was visited by the apparition of a giant barbarian woman, who told him—she conveniently spoke Latin—not to push his successes further. Something was clearly amiss in the divine timing. Suetonius implies that Drusus heeded the warning, but calamity befell him anyhow. In a riding accident Drusus’ horse toppled over onto him and broke his thigh. He fell gravely ill. 
His deteriorating condition caused consternation throughout the Roman world, and it is even claimed that the enemy respected him so much that they declared a truce pending his recovery. (Similar claims were later made about his son Germanicus.) Tiberius had been campaigning in the Balkans at the time but had returned to Italy and was passing through Ticinum after the campaign when he heard that Drusus was sinking fast. Travelling the 290 km in a day and a night, a rate that Pliny thought impressive enough to record, he rushed to be with his brother. He reached him just before he died in September, 9 bc. Drusus was universally liked, and his death at the age of twenty-nine could not seriously be seen as benefitting anyone.
Nevertheless, it still managed to attract gossip and rumours. The death of a young prince of the imperial house would usually drag in the name of Livia as the prime suspect. In this instance such a scenario would have been totally implausible, and Augustus became the target of the innuendo instead. Tacitus reports that the tragedy evoked the same jaundiced reactions as would that of Germanicus, three decades later in the reign of Tiberius, that sons with ‘‘democratic’’ temperaments—civilia ingenia—did not please ruling fathers (Germanicus had been adopted by Tiberius). 
Suetonius has preserved a tradition that Augustus, suspecting Drusus of republicanism, recalled him from his province and, when he declined to obey, had him poisoned. Suetonius thought the suggestion nonsensical, and he is surely correct. Augustus had shown great affection for the young man and in the Senate had named him joint heir with Gaius and Lucius. He also delivered a warm eulogy after his death. Even Tiberius’ grief was portrayed as twofaced. To illustrate Tiberius’ hatred for the members of his own family, Suetonius claims that he had earlier produced a letter in which his younger brother discussed with him the possibility of compelling Augustus to restore the republic.
But events seem to belie completely the notion of any serious fraternal strife. Tiberius’ anguish was clearly genuine. His general deportment is of special interest, because of the light that it might throw on his and Livia’s conduct later, at the funeral of Germanicus. According to Seneca, the troops were deeply distressed over the death and demanded Drusus’ body. Tiberius maintained that discipline had to be observed in grieving as well as fighting, and that the funeral was to be conducted with the dignity demanded by the Roman tradition. He repressed his own tears and was able to dampen the enthusiasm for a vulgar show of public grief.
Tiberius now set out with the body for Rome. Augustus went to Ticinum (Pavia) to meet the cortege, and because Seneca says that Livia accompanied the procession to Rome, it is probably safe to assume that she went with her husband. As she travelled, she was struck by the pyres that burned throughout  the country and the crowds that came out to escort the funeral train. The event provides one of the few glimpses of Livia’s private emotions. She was crushed by the death and sought comfort from the philosopher Areus. On his advice, she uncharacteristically opened herself up to others. She put pictures of Drusus in public and private places and encouraged her acquaintances to talk about him.
But she maintained a respectable level of grief, which elicited the admiration of Seneca. Tiberius may well have learned from his mother the appropriateness of self-restraint in the face of private anguish. It was an attitude that was later to arouse considerable resentment against both of them. During the funeral in Rome, Tiberius delivered a eulogy in the Forum and Augustus another in the Circus Maximus, where the emperor expressed the hope that Gaius and Lucius would emulate Drusus. 
The body was taken to the Campus Martius for cremation by the equestrians, and the funeral bier was surrounded by images of the Julian and the Claudian families. The ashes were deposited in Augustus’ mausoleum. The title of Germanicus was posthumously bestowed on Drusus and his descendants, and he was given the further honour of statues, an arch, and a cenotaph on the banks of the Rhine. Augustus composed the verses that appeared on his tomb and also wrote a prose account of his life. No doubt less distinguished Romans, of varied literary talent, would have written their own contributions.
The anonymous Consolatio ad Liviam represents itself as just such a composition, intended to offer comfort to Livia on this very occasion, although it was probably composed somewhat later. Livia was indeed devastated, but as some form of compensation for her terrible private loss, she now, after some thirty years in the shadows, came into greater public prominence. The final chapter of Drusus’ life seems to have opened up a new one in his mother’s.”
- Anthony A. Barrett, “In the Shadows.” in Livia: First Lady of Imperial Rome
23 notes · View notes
karajaynetoday · 4 years
Text
ours, for the rest of forever | ashton irwin
Tumblr media
Hello friends! Here is a godparent!Ash one shot, based on this blurb about being godparents with Ashton and also inspired in part by that scene in Season 5 of One Tree Hill when Brooke is randomly looking after a baby but has to also finish fashion sketches so Lucas comes to her rescue with babysitting and it is overall very soft and cute. You know the one! Lol. 
A very big thank you to Jex @sadistmichael​ , Anna @cheekysos​ , Jae @jae-writes-fanfiction​ and Hailey @talkfastromance4​ for proof-reading and providing feedback on this when it was in its draft stages. You’re all absolute gems! 
Anyway, enjoy the softness and as always, please let me know what you think! I’ve got some thoughts for a potential part 2, so we’ll wait and see how part 1 goes :)
(This is a fem reader insert)
Word count: 3.3k words
Warnings: none
More writing here | send feedback/thoughts/suggestions here
When your best friend Alice told you she was having a baby, you were over the moon. She was honestly one of the most kind-hearted people you knew, and the amount of love in her heart for others would only bloom more for a little baby to hold and cherish. Her partner James had been by Alice’s side since your university days, and their relationship was one that was literally #goals. They’d moved over to Los Angeles because James had an opportunity to work at an indie creative agency working with music artists, and when you followed a year or so later to pursue a consulting job, they’d welcomed you with open arms into the little community they’d formed of Australian ex-pats, LA creatives and generally good quality, salt of the earth people. 
In the early days, there were lots of late nights (that became early mornings) running amok in West Hollywood, going from one house party to the next, but as you grew older, it became more likely to be a quiet Sunday sesh in someone’s backyard, with a barbeque cooking and someone playing their favourite tunes on a portable speaker while you floated in the swimming pool or lounged about on the grass with everyone’s various pets in attendance. When you met Ashton, he was drumming shirtless at his own house party, and then doing shots with James and their friend Calum. You were more than a little intimidated, although he had a kind face and welcoming nature, Ashton was forthcoming his opinions. On the other hand, you were always more reserved, and it took you  time to feel like you belonged with their crazy crew of friends. One night, you and Ashton ended up alone in the kitchen sharing some chicken nuggets and potato gems tater tots after a wild night on the house part dancefloor, and from there you could feel a solid friendship starting to take hold. 
A few months after Alice and James told you they were expecting, they’d invited you and Ashton out to brunch at one of your favourite spots. It was a little hole-in-the-wall café in Studio City that you’d first come to after Ashton wouldn’t stop raving about how good their iced coffees were. You all ordered your favourites (avocado smash with a side of smoked salmon and a hash brown for you, raspberry hotcakes for Alice, a breakfast burger for James, and pulled pork eggs benedict with a side of halloumi for Ashton) and were chatting away about your weeks at work when Alice reached down and pulled two envelopes out of her tote bag and handed on to you and one to Ashton. You took them, looking confusedly at Alice and James, who had big goofy smiles on their faces.
“Well, go on! Open them!” Alice half-shouted excitedly, squeezing James’ hand on top of the table. You and Ashton glanced at each other, perplexed, before tearing open the envelopes and finding a card inside. Yours read, “Will you be my godmother?” in gold writing on the front, and inside was an ultrasound photo with a handwritten note from Alice that made you tear up when you started reading it. You could see in your peripheral vision that Ash had a corresponding card in his envelope too, and he was standing up to give James and Alice a hug with an enthusiastic “Fuck YES! Of course I will!” that garnered some disapproving looks from the middle-aged women sitting near you. You held it together just enough to stand up and exchange hugs and choke out a “Y-y-yes” to Alice and James, before basically bursting into full blown tears of happiness and apologising profusely as your brunch was delivered to the table. As you wiped away your tears and managed to begin eating your avocado smash, you felt Ashton squeeze your hand reassuringly under the table, and when you glanced towards him he was grinning at you with a smile that was as bright as a thousand suns. 
It was a normal June day at the office a few months later when your phone pinged with a text from Alice in your group chat with her, James and Ashton that 
 read “It’s go-time. We’ll keep you updated!”. You replied with lots of exclamation points and crying emojis, and for Alice and James to let you know if they needed anything, and a few minutes later Ashton had penned a full paragraph about the beauty of the creation of life, how he knew that Alice and James would be incredible parents, and that he couldn’t wait to meet the little one once they made their way into the world. Ashton was frustratingly eloquent sometimes. Later that night, you received a photo message of a small, pink baby snuggled up on Alice’s chest, with James’ arm thrown around her shoulders, and the caption “Charlie Rose, ten fingers, ten toes. Come visit tomorrow, she can’t wait to meet you x” and you could barely sleep from the anticipation of meeting your darling goddaughter for the first time.
Ashton insisted on meeting you at the hospital so you could visit Alice, James and Charlie together (“Dude, we’re a godparent team here! A package deal! A dynamic duo! Can’t have you getting in there as the favourite from day one!”) and you’d never seen him more gentle or smitten than when the small, wriggly bundle of blankets that was Charlie Rose was placed in his arms. Ashton rocked her gently, kissing her head, and whispering to her about how incredible she was and how excited he was to see her grow. James was snapping away with his camera, and he asked you and Ash to stand together for a photo holding Charlie, which would later be stuck on your fridge for years to come (and possibly be your phone lockscreen, but no need to mention that to Ashton). 
Charlie was a tricky baby at first, resisting sleep and struggling with colic, but Alice and James were incredible and persistent and by the time she was 6 months old, they basically had the hang of this parenting thing. They didn’t want to christen Charlie in a church, but instead decided to hold one of your cherished backyard barbeques as a naming celebration for her. All of your nearest and dearest were there, and Alice’s mum had even flown in from Australia to meet her newest granddaughter. Despite it being an incredibly informal affair, Ashton insisted on making a speech about how he felt to be in Charlie’s life, to love and support her through every milestone and challenge she might encounter along the way. Charlie was happily gurgling in Ashton’s arms as he spoke, and she reached up to grab at his cheeks when he told her he loved her. Alice’s mum insisted on getting photos of everyone, including you and Ashton holding Charlie, and you tried to ignore the butterflies you felt when Ash slid his arm around your waist and pulled you into his side for a cosy photo pose. Were you actually starting to fall for him, or was it just the baby fever talking? Because damn, that man looked good with a baby in his arms.
When Charlie was almost 12 months old, Alice decided that she wanted to go back to work a few days a week. Charlie would be in childcare for most of the days, but you’d recently adopted a flexible working arrangement with your own office, and you insisted that you would love to look after Charlie for one day a week. The older Charlie got, the more adventurous she became, so what you’d originally envisioned as nice, quiet days of baking and craft activities and napping soon became full of visits to the playground and the beach and the zoo. Once Ashton heard about your regular babysitting day, he insisted on clearing his schedule as best he could, and joined the outings you and Charlie went on. It’s so much easier to cope with her boundless energy (and occasional temper tantrums) when you and Ash are together, and you have to admit it’s just as nice on the quieter days as well, when you snuggle in on your couch to watch a Disney movie, or do some puzzles with Charlie on the lounge room floor. 
When Ashton was back out on tour, he’d insist on FaceTiming with you and Charlie on your babysitting day so he didn’t miss out on all the fun. Sometimes he’d read her a story or sing her a lullaby before naptime, and sometimes the timezones wouldn’t work out and he’d end up calling during naptime, so the two of you just spent a little time catching up on each other’s lives from your opposite sides of the country or the planet. Ashton also loved collecting little souvenirs for Charlie on his touring travels, and your group chat with Alice and James was regularly filled with photos of snow globes or little soft mascot toys he’d found in one city or the next. It was so cute how excited Ashton got when he found a new souvenir for Charlie, and you couldn’t help but imagine how adorable he’d be when he had his own children and carried on little traditions like this for them too. 
One particular weekend, Alice and James were going away overnight to attend a friend’s wedding nearby, and despite their anxiety and nerves (and admittedly, your own), they decided to leave Charlie with you for the night as your house is the main one besides their own that she spends time in. They dropped Charlie off just after lunchtime, and after a teary goodbye, she’s soon happily playing with her toy cars and trains on the lounge room carpet (including making broom-broom noises, what a cutie) when you get an unexpected call from your boss. They’re rambling about a client needing an urgent rewrite on something that you’d submitted the previous day, a pretty sizeable project, and you could feel yourself starting to fill with dread at the idea of having to rework the entire thing while also keeping Charlie happy and entertained. After managing to jot down the gist of the rewrite on the back of a colouring in page you found on your coffee table and ending the call with your boss, you took a deep, calming breath before looking over to where Charlie was still playing on the floor. Sure, she looked content and adorable now, but nap time was fast approaching, and then dinner, and then eventually bedtime, and there was nothing Charlie liked more than stomping her feet and putting up a fight where sleep was involved. It was time to call for help, and your fingers found Ashton’s contact in your phone and hit “call” before you realised what you were doing.
“Hey, how’s it going with my favourite girl?” Ashton answered cheerily, and your heart stopped beating for a moment before you mentally face-palmed when you realised that he was talking about Charlie, not you, being his favourite girl.
“Hey Ash! All good so far, but um… I think I’m going to need some help. My boss is having a crisis, so I need to smash out some edits and new content in the next three hours, but Charlie’s due to go for a nap and you know that she -” You could feel yourself starting to sound more panicked with each word that you spoke, but Ashton quickly cut you off with his soothing voice.
“That she likes to pick a fight at nap time, yes. A truly assertive future world leader on our hands, I reckon. I’m just finishing up a demo, but I’ll be there in 20 minutes. I’ll sort dinner as well, spaghetti sound okay?” He mused, sounding as calm as ever.
“That… would be amazing. Thank you. You’re actually the best human to exist, you know that?” You gushed, feeling some of your anxiety immediately begin to disappear. 
Within half an hour, Ash was in your lounge room handling Charlie’s nap time negotiations while you were furiously typing away at your laptop at the kitchen counter and fielding more frantic phone calls from your boss. Another 20 minutes passed before Ash proclaimed victory as Charlie lost her battle against sleep, and he came to see you in the kitchen and make a start on dinner. You were so lost in your task that you didn’t hear him come in, and you jumped a mile out of your seat in fright when he gently touched your shoulder in greeting.
“Jesus christ, Ash! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” You huffed, taking your glasses off and rubbing your eyes in exhaustion. 
Ashton leaned on the counter opposite you and raised his eyebrows in concern. “Sorry love, didn’t realise you didn’t hear me come in. You good?” 
Damn it, why was he always so nice to you these days? Remember the days when you were scared of him because he used to argue with you about politics and the state of the world? Why did those seem somehow easier because fear was more natural to you than whatever this other feeling was that you were starting to have whenever Ashton was around you. 
You sighed and put your glasses back on, frowning briefly at the screen before hitting save one more time (just in case your bad luck took a turn and fucked you over with lost documents). 
“Yep. Sorry. It’s just been a bit of a day. Did Charlie go down okay?” You forced a smile as you glanced up at Ashton over the top of your laptop screen. 
“Yeah, she gave in once I offered another bedtime singalong. And maybe, juuuust maybe, I might have mentioned something about some sweets after dinner…” Ash looked at you guiltily, licking his lips nervously. You rolled your eyes and shook your head at him, but you couldn’t keep the small smile off your face.
Ashton got started on making spaghetti while you tapped away at your computer, and soon enough you heard Charlie calling out for Ashton in her little sing-song voice on the baby monitor you had set up on the kitchen counter (“Asht-aaaaa! Where are youuuuu! Asht-aaaaa!”). The spaghetti smelled incredible, and when Ashton brought Charlie into the kitchen from her nap and she’d had a little while to play a bit more, you settled at the kitchen table to tuck into some dinner. Well, Charlie was more interested in playing with her food than actually eating it, but yours was delicious and for the third or fourth time that day, you thanked Ash profusely for being such a gem (to which he just gave you one of those dazzling smiles in response).  
After dinner, Ashton took Charlie for a bath and read her a bedtime story while you powered through the final part of the project edits you needed to finish before your boss burst a blood vessel. You could hear Ashton reading to Charlie on the baby monitor, doing all of the different character voices, and her little giggles in response were both breaking and warming your heart. Warming it with the cuteness and how much you loved that little girl and her cheeky soul, and breaking it with the guilt about how it was supposed to be you snuggled up reading to her, but instead you were frantically typing about key messages, marketing strategies and budget lines. You were doing your last section of re-writes when Ash came back into the kitchen, and this time you didn’t jump when he gently placed his hands on your shoulders. In fact, you leaned into his touch, and moaned quietly in relief as his thumbs began to work into the tension in your muscles.
“How’s it going?” Ashton asked quietly, continuing to press his hands into your back and shoulders.
“Almost there. Mostly just proof-reading now, and then I can send it and not fucking think about it for another second until at least Monday. Ash, I’m so sorry again, I know this isn’t what you had in mind for your Friday night and I should’ve been more organised but I just didn’t think that -” You began to ramble, feeling the guilt wash over you.
“Hey, hey. Stop. It’s fine. We’re a team, remember? The dynamic duo? Gotta stick together. We’ve got a whole lifetime of dealing with Charlie meltdowns and milestones ahead of us, love. It’s our job and our blessing, for the rest of forever. Don’t feel guilty over one night.” Ashton said softly, squeezing your shoulders and pressing a soft kiss to the top of your head. There were those butterflies again, and your skin was almost burning from where his hands had touched you. You simply nodded at his words, before returning to your laptop and the task at hand. Ashton stepped away and quietly began washing the dishes (honestly, is there anything this man didn’t do?) as you began typing again. 
Finally, about twenty minutes later, you hit send on the email to your boss with the completed rewrites, and shut your laptop with a deep sense satisfaction, letting out a triumphant whisper-yell, mindful of the sleeping child down the hallway from you. Ash looked up from where he was sat on the couch, scrolling on his phone, and rushed over to high-five you when he realised that you’d shut your laptop.
“Right. You go shower and I’ll put the kettle on, then it’s one episode of Sons of Anarchy and then off to bed with you.” Ash began, tugging you out of your seat and pushing you towards your bedroom before you could protest.
“Wait… how did you know I was watching Sons of Anarchy?!” You turned and asked, with one hand on the door to your bedroom.
“I was stalking through your Netflix earlier when you were lost in editing land. Plus, I know you can’t resist a charming male lead who has a killer smile and looks damn good in a leather jacket.” Ash chuckled, shooting you a wink and one of those goddamn smiles. 
You hated to admit it, but you felt so much better after your shower, and having Ash pull your feet up over his lap and absentmindedly run his hands softly across your legs from time to time wasn’t exactly bad either. You stuck to your promise of only one episode of Sons of Anarchy, and after pulling your groaning self up off the couch and jokingly half-carrying you to your bedroom door, Ashton bid you goodnight with a hug and a kiss to the forehead before disappearing into your guest room. 
As you settled into your own bed, alone, and pulled the blankets up over you, you couldn’t help but think how nice it was to have Ash so present with you and with Charlie, and how sweet it would be in the morning to wake up together in the same house and go for breakfast at your favourite little brunch spot down the street, before waiting for James and Alice to return in the early afternoon. It was all your own little family unit, and as you felt yourself being lulled into sleep, you also felt a deep sense of content in your heart about the loved ones in your life. And then also there were those butterflies, just slowly but surely making their presence known, and getting a little bigger every time you thought of Ashton, and how much he loved Charlie, and how much she loved him and you, and how much you loved them both.
Shit. Did you actually love him? Were you falling in love with Ashton Irwin? Before you could panic too much, the need for sleep won out, and you slept peacefully knowing two of your favourite people were also sleeping calmly in the rooms either side of you. 
More writing here | send feedback/thoughts/suggestions here
91 notes · View notes
lambourngb · 4 years
Text
Get me out of here - places to go when canon is complicated
It’s Day 3, time to celebrate those stories that I turn to when I can’t deal with canon, or when I don’t have the emotional energy to untangle all the emotions I have for what’s going on in canon. Alternative universes, the safe harbor for us. Below are a mix of rewrites of canon, remixes of canon, or out right not even set in Roswell- to fill every type distance you want from canon- from near to far.
The first story I’m reccing is a long one,- so pardon the very long review below.
my love is a life taker by @jocarthage (267,600) So one day, Jessi popped into discord to share a dream she had about timetravel and being able to save yourself in the past basically, particularly Alex getting to give his baby-self a hug, and we all went, “holy shit that’s a cool fic idea please write it!” and really reality sucks right now with quarantine and whatnot, so what better thing to do than follow a WIP? I can’t tell you how badly I needed to something to look forward to as I was staring down a milestone birthday with all my plans in tatters, and this story filled the void.
Okay- now about the actual story itself, the world building about time travel in this is incredible but easy to absorb. Jessi dumps you straight into the action in chapter 1 with Alex, at 28, assassinating an Iraqi intelligence agent in 2009 that averts a bomb that was planned on US forces. You learn so much about both the story-universe and Alex here- one, that even dressed in mask and killing someone, Alex is kind and uses morphine as an overdose and has arranged for his victim’s family to be compensated, you learn that time agents can only visit places they themselves have visited during that time, and Jesse Manes had dragged his son, who was ‘time aware’ to every place of war and ruin on the planet before he was 18 and that, Alex’s victim, even as he’s dying, recognizes what a shit childhood Alex had but that Alex doesn’t.
The next part is where Alex’s time crystal malfunctions, instead of returning him to 2018, it takes him to 1998 where an 8 year old Michael is getting beaten by his foster dad and Alex, out of his time line mysteriously, visible to only Michael, saves him, but only temporarily. We all know with abusers, until you’re out of the house, it’s just a matter of time before the next beating. However, with one act, Alex at 28 starts putting into action (even though he doesn’t recognize it at the time) the steps to save his own life as he works to save Michael from his childhood. Each mission, each jump through time, Alex meets Michael, always a year apart and only for 1000 seconds, or almost 17 minutes. Jessi takes you through some of the darkest points of US foreign policy, only as Alex takes control of his life, he also starts to change the missions, and change the world. The details of places, people, food, etc are authentic from the author’s experience, if you don’t click on the links at the end of the chapters and disappear down google-rabbit holes about the events in history, well- you’re made of stronger stuff than I am.  There are lots of heavy subjects discussed, but there’s always care and honesty behind the intent. The way Michael grows, the way Alex grows, and of course the journey to the present time when they could be together? It’s like pining on steroids but it’s so wonderful. I wish I could pull out one thing that I loved in particular in this story- but it’s impossible, only to say that I love that I could disappear completely within the confines of ‘my love is a life taker’ knowing that I would be kept safe by the author, that goodness prevails.

when I’m oceans away by @neapeaikea (28,000) this is a post-2008 shed canon-divergent AU where Alex Manes, after the best/worst night of his life bolts from Roswell and leaves Michael behind. 10 years later, on the hunt for a child conceived at Caulfield, Michael walks into a youth home in California and finds Alex. A few things, I love that this author writes an Alex who didn’t join the Air Force but still lost a leg, I don’t really enjoy disability erasure in modern AUs (I’m better at looking past that in historical or sci fi aus) . It’s pretty clear after five minutes that the connection between the two men is still there and strong despite anger, secrets and guilt. The teasing and flirting between them is great but so is the acceptance of baring their vulnerabilities. I loved the care they take with each other, and the tie in to an alien child is just so perfect.
Crucibles (series) @ninswhimsy (9,000)- I’m cheating and naming both here, but obviously nin had her finger on the pulse of fandom, by writing crusade-set queer stories before The Old Guard ever boomed into a fandom from the movie. I was lucky enough to trade DMs over the ideas of holiness and the body, and how Alex would have treated himself, certain of his doomed soul, and how Michael would have responded in turn. It’s no secret I love everything Nin writes, but this series stuck in my mind. I will be drifting off to sleep, and think about Alex walking through the ancient city of Aleppo, ready to be done with his burden and Michael there with soft palms and scented oil, and boom! I reach for my kindle to re-read it.
no regrets if we walk this new road by @andrea-lyn (97,000) This author has written so many amazing AUs, some quite far away from canon events like her Mummy AU or her Avengers AU, but I have to say, I have a very soft-spot for this rewrite of season 1 for a lot of reasons. I mean, it’s 2020, so my appetite for Cop!Max is definitely at an all-time low, so the idea of exchanging his job with Kyle’s was extremely appealing. At least Kyle is a POC holding the badge, not a white man like our canon. Anyway, politics aside, this story is special to me for the scorching good Isobel/Kyle relationship that develops, the way Isobel sharpens herself into a lawyer (not an event planner) and how Michael rounds his own edges off in turn by becoming a teacher (and being secretly married).  Each deviation from canon made complete sense once you alter the way Rosa’s death affects the pod squad, and how they covered it up ripples out toward Liz, Kyle, etc. 

Layer on layer, down on down by @dotsayers (9,440) I love sci-fi tropes, especially time-loops, but they are incredibly hard to write (I know, I abandoned mine a while ago) so this story stands out because of just how well done the execution is and also the angst. Michael in a time loop about Caulfield, like how great/agonizing is that? The plot is so good, how it ties into Caulfield and why it happens in the first place, like wow.  The care, and the hurt, and the fatigue that Michael has in this story, oh you just want to wrap him in a blanket. There’s a tiny throwaway line about how one of the first things Michael learned to do in foster care was to make himself heavy and unmovable- and you instantly picture kid!Michael not wanting to be removed from a house - like my heart broke! The structure of the story, with the background of his just how much he loves Alex but how badly it hurts to see him die, really makes this study of 1x12 special. Along with all the angst, there’s tiny gallows humor lines, so am I weird, that I laughed through a couple of these scenes even as Michael kept dying?
Petty pace by @aewriting (11,600) Aewriting has a couple of stellar AUs, so trying to pick just one was difficult, but I rather feel this story is sadly underappreciated it (mind the tags). It was a remix of @iwontbeyourmedicine ‘s fantastic ‘Freaky Friday’, where the humans and aliens swap roles. Alex in the role of Michael basically was something I had never pictured until Ly wrote that story, and now feel utterly changed by it, especially with this backstory- the idea of Jesse Manes bringing a foster child home? Incredibly well done because there’s an off the charts level of menace in this story. The way Jesse watches Alex, who at first mistakes it for how a pedophile might size up a victim, but then catches on quickly that it’s so much worse in a lot of ways. And Alex is such a loner in the beginning, even as he reconnects with his pod siblings Liz and Maria, he’s still planning on keeping his head down and leaving Roswell far behind. Like freedom is literally the only thing he can conceive of for himself, no real dreams outside of that until Michael slips under his defenses. I probably could have saved this story for angst day- because the second half of the story, if you don’t sob while you read it, then I dunno. It’s helpful to read Ly’s story right afterward as a reminder that things do get better for Alex ten years later. In a lot of ways this story is sadder than canon (though there’s no murder of Rosa/4th alien), I’m comforted that at least Alex has Liz in the aftermath, alike in heartache in a way that Michael didn’t have because of the pact he and Max made about Isobel in canon.
Unexpected tidings by @bestillmyslashyheart (24,800) Another rewrite of canon, that explores a couple of very interesting questions, like what would it look like if Michael never made it back to Roswell as a kid but met Alex by chance in 2008? Imagine the cornerstone of the Lost Decade love affair revolving around the mundane questions of a long distance relationship that wasn’t built on the pain of the shed or Rosa’s death? Marlo writes an amazing take on this, that is both real and deep with the normal couple problems, before introducing that spanner in the works of oh yeah, aliens are real. With Michael on the east coast, and Alex finishing off his service in Roswell, Project Shepherd still entangles Alex with Liz bringing him in on the secret in hopes that with his hacker skills he can track down the third alien child that Max and Iz remember so they can warn him. As interesting as the current plot was, I found myself absolutely revitted the slow piecemeal reveals that Marlo doled out about Alex and Michael’s relationship over time. (I also while rereading this recently got very nostaglic for season 1 Alex who didn’t trust Jesse as far as he could toss him.) 
Don’t Punish Me For What I Feel by @winged-fool (3,600) Tarsus IV AU - another wonderful author with a catalog of great AUs, both sci-fi and dark, and honestly it was difficult to narrow it down to one. This story, well in 2009 I was a hard core Trek movie fan, so when I saw a trek-fusion story appear, I knew I would love it just on that basis. The thing is, this gave me Michael as the Captain, a surprisingly rare role for these space fusions, even though genius level repeat offender Jim Kirk and genius level repeat offender Michael Guerin seems pretty married in my mind as a connection. As a Tarsus-like story, all the tags are well earned by the story that Alex finally shares with Michael. It hit on so many levels, the hurt/comfort level for sure, but also to have a story where Michael is this stalwart protector of Alex was really nice to find. 
this isn’t the ‘holiday best friends championship’ by @usbournejez (6,090) alright to leave this on a lighter note, my final AU rec is this masterpiece by Kieran that was part of Malex Secret Santa gift fics- and what a gift it was to all of us! The way she writes established Malex is first-rate, because she always includes their canon-levels of snark/sharpness but it’s never directed at each other and that’s something I love. Here we have Alex, where we learn in just a few short lines, is a huge control freak but has the extremely big emotional handicap, and that’s his love/fondness/deserve to caretake Michael. Emotional cactus Alex who is soft for Michael? Love it. There are small drops of angsty backstory peppered in this, but really that just fuels just how sweet and wonderful the main theme of the story- which is Alex might hate the whole world at large, he loves, protects and worships Michael (and vice versa). As someone who can bake cookies, but that’s about it, I was still enthralled with the baking details and this story has never failed to encourage me to eat dessert before dinner basically. 
40 notes · View notes
itsuki-minamy · 4 years
Text
BEFORE ZERO: CHAPTER 2 “BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION”
Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia
A cat that has disappeared recently appeared at the front of the garden with a prey that it had killed.
When Akio, who went to a distant university, visited a young man about six months later, Shiotsu was immediately associated with such a scene.
"Marry this boy."
Contrary to Akio's expression at the entrance, which is something she's good at, she brought a strange one.
Shiotsu thought.
The young man in front of him is slightly shorter than him. The age is the same as her, who is 20 or two younger, but when it comes to Akio, who is mistaken for a high school student at eighteen, she appears to be an adult and a child.
What kind of person does it mean to show up at someone else's house after being after a girl?
No, the reason he sees them with such colorful glasses is that he has probably been involved in Akio's love affairs several times in the past. If he looks at it without prejudice, the young man in front of him seems to be a very ordinary person without any special points. On the contrary, polite behavior makes he feel even better.
However, there was a sense of incongruity, like "why is Akio such a genuine person", which made him feel like it was strange.
Unfortunately, there was no advance notice for the day's visit, and her parents were paying, so Shiotsu decided to deal alone.
"I'm sorry to have arrived suddenly."
The young man, who called himself Hayatoshi Minato, sat down by the table and bowed deeply.
"Today, I was visiting Akio's parents' house to receive a greeting, and suddenly there was a story that said," I will show my face to Brother Gen."
From the first glance impression, it was a reasonable greeting, he was calm and uncomfortable.
On the other hand, Akio,
"Well, this is also like a family home. It's another home."
She immediately stretches her legs to make it easier.
"Akio... I don't mind if you relax, but at least after the greeting."
Minato nodded his head as Shiotsu frowned.
"I was planning to show you what I'm doing today."
"Oh, by the way... it's a pain."
Akio sat in a sitting position next to Minato, even though she was scared. Since she is experienced in kendo, when she sits down seriously the form is determined.
"Oh..."
It wasn't his attitude that attracted Shiotsu's interest.
Akio obeyed what the others said.
It is the fact.
"Akio told me that she has a family relationship with Shiotsu-san."
"Oh..."
Shiotsu returned to Minato's words.
"Well, it's a long-distance relationship, but this street and my house are in the neighborhood."
"Especially, Shiotsu-san was like a brother and sister, and they went to the dojo together."
"They told me to be careful not to hurt their son..."
"I see... Akio-san is committed to everything. The parents would have been relieved to see Shiotsu-san."
"Yes, I'm fine with that."
He was caught up in an indirect conversation, and Akio got in the way.
"Yes. Then..."
Minato corrected his posture towards Shiotsu.
"I think I was surprised by the sudden story, but I'm not overly cheerful. I don't know if it will be five or ten years before I get married, but I look to the future. I would like to apologize for the relationship I established."
"Ah..."
It is a long time to say that two people, who have just met, will ask for forgiveness ten years in advance...
"Sorry, nothing... what if I say 'I won't forgive you'?"
After blurting out such a word, Shiotsu rushed in and added Minato.
"No, I'm sorry. Right now, I want to say, "I don't mean to speak in the first place."
As a social resignation, it should be possible to say "Congratulations" or "Cheers to Akio" here. However,
"But it's okay."
Once again, he was afraid to say it again.
"Besides, brother Gen says that."
Akio sharpened her mouth.
“It's the cancer that makes you think 'it's not going to last any longer', so I came all the way to see you. You'll be fine next time."
"Eh?"
Minato bows his head and...
"Oh. Are you hanging me "decently"? I see, I see."
He didn't seem to feel uncomfortable with "next time", Minato cried, laughed and turned to Shiotsu again.
"Again... that's why, Shiotsu-san..."
Minato said, leaving a smile on his cheek.
“I want “brother Gen” to support me. Both Akio-san and me."
++++++++++
After that, the situation changed more quickly than originally expected.
Far from "five years, ten years ahead," he entered the group six months after the greeting, and a year later, Akio had twins.
Akio wanted to get married and give birth, of course, but Akio's parents and others around her with their "we want to summarize the story this time" and "we want to calm Akio" helped.
The other party, Minato,
"So, it's faster than I thought, but let's start over."
He made arrangements for important things like finding a job and moving.
Minato's parents died prematurely and it was said that a small inheritance had allowed his to earn a living until his income was stable. He said, "It's a long time before we can give back to all of you...", but he had no tactic to rely on public support or the home of Akio's parents.
Although Minato is calmer than the average person, Minato, who has not passed the age of 20,
"It's okay. You have plans for the future; I think there is something like a life plan."
I confirm Shiotsu every time,
"If I say it strongly, my plan is to complete it with Akio."
Saying that, Minato laughed at ease.
"I will not be bored for the rest of my life."
"Not boring." Shiotsu, who tends to accept unplanned situations as stress, is an idea that never comes to light.
"If it is okay..."
Rather, it is less flexible.
Have thought about it,
"I think it's good for Shiotsu-san to have the ideal of 'being there' in things," he said.
About five years later, the relationship between Shiotsu and the Minato family continued unabated.
Shiotsu, who dropped out of college to become a policeman, and Minato, who became a general clerk. Akio, who has had several short-term jobs while raising her twins. In general, they are a very ordinary citizen.
Akio's parents died one after another when the twins were three or four years old, and Shiotsu decided to take care of them on behalf of their relatives, but Shiotsu also had his own job and his own life. When he visited the Minato family on occasion, he was surprised by the growth of the twins.
The reason it changed is the appearance of a person named "Blue King".
The "Blue King" Habari Jin recently established an organization called "Scepter 4". As a result of the aptitude test within the police, Shiotsu was chosen as one of them, and was soon placed in the position of the King's official lieutenant.
Furthermore, the Minato family, who were related to Shiotsu, underwent a similar test, and it was found that everyone, including children, was fit to have powers.
Unlike Shiotsu, who originally had an ideal of social order, they had the option of living as ordinary people while being watched by the authorities. However, mainly due to Akio's high hopes, the Minato couple received an installation from the "Blue King", and they both became members of the "Scepter 4" maneuvering section.
Of course, Shiotsu objected. The functions assigned to the new organization are those in which the exchange of lives is normal.
Not recommended for couples with young children. That is something common sense cannot admit.
But there were some extraordinary factors in the situation.
One is that Minato Akio has displayed unusual aptitude that surpasses Shiotsu's. If she accidentally wakes up to a Strain and become a stray person, along with her own direct personality, it cannot be left out in the general public.
And one more thing is the rise of the "Red King" Kagutsu Genji. The number of people who can control the members of the red clan led by Kagutsu is scarce, and the breakwater that stops the collapse of society must be reinforced no matter what.
++++++++++
These are ancient stories.
Akio's twins are 12 years old. They will become middle school students this spring. It seemed to him a great achievement that this family was able to enter milestone season without missing any.
By the way, the twins' birthday is in early March. He tried to adjust the shift for the Minatos to celebrate this with their family, but he couldn't make it easy for Minato and Akio to go home at the same time, so the month was halfway there.
And now that day.
"It's a bit late so start first."
Said Minato who got the phone call from Akio,
Shiozu was a bit gloomy.
"Uh."
There are already five plates on the table. Minato's home cooking. He knows it's always good to work, but it will take a certain amount of time to prepare this beautiful dining table.
It was planned that Minato after the night shift would get ready for today's party, and Akio, who will be leaving the office for the night, will join him later. Shiotsu, who happened to be working at the same time as Akio, also decided to participate, but he remember that he was just an "uncle of a relative" and is in an extra position.
Although, that's...
Akio, the mother of this family, wonders what she would do later than that. Where the hell would she stray on a day like this?
While Shiotsu was irritated, Minato and their sons were...
“I can't help it. Hayato and Akito. Let's cut the cake."
"Yes, I'll get a knife."
"I'll serve you a plate."
Then she changed her schedule and started working. He's used to Akio not moving as planned.
Also,
"I'm glad Shiotsu-san is here. Only three of us really lack emotion."
"Oh."
It made him worry about it.
Akio returned home about an hour later.
"Oh, have you already given a gift? Did you give it to Hayato and Akito, brother Gen?"
The twins waited in time, looked at each other and responded with their voices.
"Catalog gift."
"Buhahaha! What is that?"
Taking the catalog brought by Hayato, Akio laughed even more.
"Brother Gen, this is what you will give them! It's like tableware or futon!"
"It's not interesting and I'm sorry."
Truth be told, a paper cutter similar to the one custom made the other day for "Blue King" Habari Jin.
The twins of the Minato family are said to have a strong longing for the "Blue King" Habari Jin.
If he gives a gift that matches Habari, Shiotsu's thoughts that would make him happy would collapse on his birthday.
The paper cutter that was supposed to be given to Habari was used to kill the member of the “Purgatory” clan at the hand of Zenjo, a member of the Mobile Task Force. A similar one is too sinister to give away.
"Brother Gen is really boring. He's too boring to laugh."
"Akio, I'm not saying that."
Minato gives up on Akio who keeps laughing,
"I am happy, Shiotsu-san."
"I have fun choosing."
The twins said to Shiotsu.
"It's good to be funny."
Akio said with a smile and satisfaction.
“Because we are like that. It's just ordinary boredom."
Namely, this year's gift that the twins were given with the couple's joint name, chosen by Minato, is a fountain pen with the names Hayato and Akito.
“It is a souvenir. It won't force you to be interesting."
Minato smirked.
"Thanks Dad."
"I appreciate."
The twins said.
"This house would be useless without me."
Speaking like this, Akio went to the front door and returned with a large box in both hands.
"What are you doing with that big box?"
When Shiotsu asked, Akio raised the box to her face level,
"I bought a set at an electronics store."
"Wow!" Said the twins.
"Akio..."
When Minato yelled, Akio looked back in trouble.
"I know. I spoke with the children and "decided to graduate the toy". This is not a gift, it is mine."
"Is there such a graduation?"
Akio ordered the twins, ignoring Shiotsu's words, if there was such a graduation.
“Hayato and Akito. I'll let them do it, so I can connect various things."
While Akio was late and ate, the twins clashed, hooked up a game console to the TV in the living room, completed the initial setup, and started playing together. For the game software, they choose what they bought together with the main unit and tested it.
Finally,
"Okay, let me do it too."
Akio, who had finished eating, also intervened there.
"The controller is not enough."
"There are only two."
"I am the owner. You take turns."
"She is not willing to give it to her son."
Minato said to Shiotsu who leaned forward.
"Apparently that was the correct answer."
"Correct answer...?"
"The children said:" We are adults now.", So I thought about putting them together... but I'm afraid I still don't have enough time to play."
The appearance of Akio and her children addressing the television in the living room is more like a close brother and sister than parents and children.
"But in high school, playing with parents would be boring."
"Perhaps it is a great distance from children of the same age. After all, the occupations of their parents and the qualities of children's blood are special."
"I see... it's a job."
"Even if I'm working or raising a child, I'm trying to find everything... I trust Akio's nose."
"What is that "nose"?"
"I call it instinct... She always looks messy and always makes the right decisions where necessary."
Shiotsu looked towards the living room. Both Akio and the children play seriously, shake their bodies and raise their voices. When he was really serious and Akio's legs stopped, Minato rushed over and stopped.
"That's it…"
Marriage, childbirth and enlistment in "Scepter 4". Akio's actions and choices thus far seemed to always be hasty and reckless from Shiotsu's perspective.
If everyone is connected to this scene,
"I see, it's true."
It certainly feels that way now.
(To be continue…)
21 notes · View notes
hellreads · 4 years
Note
hello!!! could you recommend some filthy/ explicit maknae line fics, also with good plot?? angst is welcomed too HEHE
hi there love, so I’m not sure if you’re asking for maknae line together in a fic or fics for Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook that contain good plot (this will be a mix of all the genres I read, may contain dark themes and some indulgent pwp as well) + explicit/filthy smut, but I’ll just list them all for you! | 🍒
Tumblr media
Park Jimin
❥ Power Play by @dovechim➴ Pornstar!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ You know him as the A lister of all porn stars; a man who sits pretty in his place at the top of the food chain. But you also know him as the Park Jimin who single handedly humiliated you and ruined your own career as a rookie just starting out, the epitome of the biggest dick in the entire industry… and you’re not talking about his assets. But when Park Jimin comes to you, saying he’s in a slump that only you can get him out of and begs you to sign an exclusive contract with him; things get messy… in more ways than one.
❥ Me, You, and This Thing Between Us by @boymeetsweevil➴ Married/Pregnancy!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ You’re pregnant and Jimin is… happy about it.
❥ Bless Me Father by tesselate➴ Priest!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable. - Mark Twain
❥ Side to Side by @forgottenpasta➴ Idol/Therapist!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ Jimin loves massages and as his physical therapist it’s your duty to help him relax. Even if it means blurring professional boundaries and going a little too deep with your “hands on” approach.
❥ Otherworldly by @sinning-on-a-sunday➴ Coraline!AU | Jimin x Reader | Two-Shot➴ When you discover a tiny door in your home that leads to a much better version of your own life, it seems too good to be true. little do you know, the man posing as your boyfriend may be a lot more dangerous than you care to admit. and he is not intent on letting you leave.
❥ Dear Father by @gukptune➴ Priest!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ Drowned in their belief that a demon has encased itself to your soul, your parents send you away to be cleansed.
❥ Eradicate by @gukptune➴ Purge!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot➴ A hotel intern finds himself trapped between death and lust.
❥ Neighbors by @jkeuphoriadreamland➴ Neighbor/Stalker!AU | Jimin x Reader | Series➴ Finally achieving your successes in life you never expected the distraction that came with your new hot neighbor. He, however, had been trying to get your attention for a much different reason.
Tumblr media
Kim Taehyung
❥ Effervescence by fringesofsanity➴ Idol/Secret Affair!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series➴ Just like the fizz of a cola on a hot summer’s day, your encounter with Taehyung is short but sparkly sweet.ORGetting married in three months, you and your girls attend Ultra Miami to cap your single life, a final hurrah of some sort. What you didn’t expect is meeting a beguiling boy with a boxy smile who gives you a festival you’ll forever reminisce.
❥ Teddy by @dom-joonie➴ FWB!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ //
❥ Of Lace and Lust by @hobidreams➴ BFF/F2L!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ Friendship rule number one: don’t imagine how amazing your bestfriend’s cock would feel inside you. except that’s all you can think about after accidentally discovering Taehyung’s kink for panties. specifically, the lacy ones you’re so fond of wearing.
❥ Slow Burn by fringesofsanity➴ Idol/Escort!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series➴ He was just supposed to be one of those clients. But then he gives you a night you’ll never forget.
❥ Aperture by @maliby➴ Idol/Fanboy!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ You met Taehyung at a fansign and you knew right away that he was trouble, are you willing to risk it all for a fan?
❥ Hush Baby by @jimio-nnie➴ Idol/MUA!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ You’re a new staff at BigHit entertainment and it will be your first time in participating in their photoshoot as a makeup artist. What happened if you got left behind by your seniors and unknowingly ended up sitting in the same van as BTS; more specifically on your celebrity-crush’s laps? It wouldn’t take long until the friction against his crotch peaked your arousal.
❥ Baby, Oh Baby by @jungkookiebus➴ Lovers/Pregnancy!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ Taehyung and you have been trying for months to get pregnant; you’ve tried crazy diets, stuck to your calendar, got him to diet, but it’s all been for nothing. No matter how healthy your doctor says you are, you can’t conceive. Taehyung tries everything within his power to show you that everything is going to be okay and for one night he makes you forget all about the calendars, schedules, and all the crazy things that came with you trying to have a baby.
❥ A Matter of Shyness by @jjungkookislife➴ College/Sex Worker/Lovers!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series➴ Taehyung is your regular college student, who happens to do sex work on the side to pay his bills, who just happens to have a crush on Y/n from Sociology class. She has no idea she’s been thirsting over Taehyung (Kim95) and he has no idea she’s been following him on all his NSFW platforms.
❥ Fill You Up by @littlemisskookie➴ Married/Pregnancy!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series➴ Your husband’s been very horny since you got pregnant.
❥ Dichotomy by @kpopfanfictrash➴ Arranged Marriage!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ You hate him. He hates you. It’s a fine line though, isn’t it – between love and hate?
❥ Flower Arrangements by @iq-biased➴ Lovers/Pregnancy!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ From the moment you met Taehyung, his flourish for life drew you in completely. It wasn’t long before you fell head over heels for the tattoo artist who was so wrong for you, it felt right. But your story hasn’t always been an easy one, and just recently it’s become a whole lot more complicated…
❥ Partition by @iq-biased➴ Mafia/Infidelity!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series➴ Namjoon. Head of one of the fiercest gangs in Seoul, and your boyfriend. You know he has been working on something big lately. Whatever it is, he’s keeping it very quiet. So quiet, that you’re beginning to doubt whether he’ll ever get any time with you.But when his driver, the infamous Kim Taehyung, is tasked with taking you home during a date-gone-wrong, he’s got nothing but time for you. And time is something you’re finding it really hard to resist…
❥ Blush by @bang-tan-bitches➴ Idol!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot➴ “Will you kiss me here?”
Tumblr media
Jeon Jungkook
❥ My Way by @ellieljade➴ FUBU/Infidelity!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ Jungkook doesn’t appreciate your boyfriend’s insistence that he stop sleeping with you and he knows just how to prove that you like it his way.
❥ Illicit Photography by @jkeuphoriadreamland➴ Photography/Student!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ You’re a well-respected university professor who assigns a portfolio project to your photography students, but your best student, Jungkook, doesn’t follow the rules very well.
❥ Taken at Dusk by @yeontanismypresident➴ Hybrid/University/Stalker!AU | Jungkook x Reader (x Hoseok) | Series ➴ The moment you sauntered into the party, his gaze was locked in on your form. Everywhere you went, his eyes followed along, not wanting to lose you in the huge crowd of sweaty bodies. There was something about you that drove his instincts wild. Was it your scent? Your attitude? The manner in which you held yourself? He didn’t have a clue and he couldn’t have cared less, so long as you were his and his only. And he would do anything to make that happen.
❥ Skirt Chasers by @koo1aid➴ University/F2L!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ “Baggy clothes are in, but you wouldn’t know that, Miss I Draw Inspiration From Catholic School Girls.”
❥ Milestone by @koo1aid➴ Brother’s Best Friend/University!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ Part of you is touched that Jungkook really has been there for every milestone in your life. The other part wishes he hadn’t shown up looking so ridiculously sexy.
❥ Blackjack by @kpopfanfictrash➴ Mafia/Lovers!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series ➴ Bangtan is one of the most vicious mafias on the west coast. Only six members are known by name though, with a mysterious seventh member dubbed only as ‘the shadow.’ When you become indebted to the worst of the worst – how, exactly can you find a way out?
❥ Chasing Butterflies by @ddaenggtan➴ Nerd/Jock/University!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ You never meant to be a jock in school. the volleyball team had just needed people and you were there and then you had a knack for it. you just happened to be good at it and went with it. similar to how you saw jeon jungkook in your friend’s orientation group and thought he was absolutely radiant and just went with it. for two years. you’ve spent the entire time pining from afar, mostly because you always seem to make a fool of yourself when he’s around, but also because jungkook is part of that exclusive crowd, the ones that you never can seem to penetrate: the weebs. that is, until your friends get sick of your hopeless pining and decide to do something about it.
❥ Sugarplum Elegy by @bymoonchild➴ FWB/F2L!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ You know no bounds nor depth with Jungkook. While your fuck buddy loves sleeping in your bed and doing laundry for you with his favourite fabric softener, you are in love with a mysterious honeyed, velvety voice on Soundcloud. All’s fine, until you find out that the voice that metaphors your heart to a sweet sugarplum melody actually belongs to the boy who has been taking up a special spot in your bed and in your heart, strumming at your heartstrings all this while.Or, Jungkook has one braincell, but it’s heart-shaped.
❥ DNA by @btssavedmylifeblr➴ Breeding/Dystopia!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ Jungkook’s career is in jeopardy when he begins falling for a woman he’s supposed to impregnate.
❥ Bite Me by @jeonsweetpea➴ Vampire/Fuckboy!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ You’re not very fond of your fuckboy blood donor, who’s an open masochist.
❥ Block Party by @minlucent➴ E2L/Neighbors/Fuckboy!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ Moving into your new apartment brings back memories of your biggest mistake.
❥ New Rules by @tayegi➴ University/Frat/Sports!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ //
❥ The Kids Aren’t Alright by @sketchguk➴ FWB/F2L!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ Sneaking around with Jeongguk during your Christian retreat is complicated when you’re both dedicated to your jobs as co-youth group counselors at your father’s ministry.
❥ The Fitting by @noona-la-la-la➴ Idol/Staff!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ The younger Jungkook has a workplace crush on you, but you let the flattery get to you and make a proposition you can’t take back.
❥ Sleepy by @floralseokjin➴ Lovers/Domestic!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ Jungkook’s never too sleepy for sex…
❥ Altar Boy by @gukptune➴ Church/Cult!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ Altar boys tend to serve a much higher purpose than lighting candles in the church, though those purposes may be seen as sinful in the eyes of god.
❥ Secret Slut by @jeonsweetpea➴ Office/Christmas!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Two-Shot➴ Jungkook accidentally gifts you, his boss, a sex toy for Secret Santa.
❥ What’s Mine is Mine by @avveh➴ Idol/Fangirl!AU | Jungkook x Reader | One-Shot➴ You caught his eye from day one. As far as Jungkook was concerned, you were always meant to be his.
❥ Lust and Errors by @imaginethisbts➴ Step-Siblings!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series➴ Step brother, fuck buddy… They were one and the same now. But what started out as some mindless fucking game, quickly turns into something much more difficult and complex.
Tumblr media
Maknae Line (x2/x3)
❥ Number 23 by fringesofsanity➴ BFF/FWB!AU | Jimin x Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | One-Shot➴ Your good friends - Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook - find your bucket list and helps you fulfill the 23rd item.
❥ The Pearl of the Temptation by vultras➴ Maid!AU | Jimin x Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series➴ You are working as a maid when you’re suddenly in charge of cleaning the shared apartment of Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook. One night you happen to be working late when Jimin stumbles into the apartment drunk. You help him to his room and he forces you to help him change out of his clothes. You try your best but you quickly realize the situation has turned for the worst when his erotic expressions turn you on- and what’s worse? Jungkook happens to be there egging you on… what started as an innocent job turns into something you only thought happened in dreams.
❥ Maid for You by @forgottenpasta➴ Idol/Maid!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | One-Shot➴ As Bangtan’s dorm maid you’re expected to be professional, your identity anonymous. Until Jeongguk finds you on your knees beside his bed, with his rolex in your hand.
❥ Right of Way by fringesofsanity➴ Infidelity!AU | Jimin x Reader x Jungkook | Series➴ In theory, things were simple: your best friend was Jungkook’s girlfriend while your boyfriend, Jimin, was Jungkook’s best friend. In reality, things weren’t always that simple. And mutually exclusive.
❥ When You Least Expect It by @johobi➴ F2L!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series➴ You’re in love with your childhood friend, Taehyung. The problem is, you treasure your friendship with him far too much to ever risk losing it. Oh, and he’s quite the Casanova. At your wits’ end with feelings you can no longer hide as diligently as you once did, you ask him to set you up with someone, anyone, in a last ditch attempt to avoid a heartbreaking conversation.
❥ Shameless by @imaginethisbts➴ Party/Voyeurism!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | One-Shot➴ Taehyung’s the new guy in town, just trying to make some friends. And when Jungkook invites him to a party, he thinks he’s finally gotten a good opportunity to meet some new people. But what he doesn’t expect is witnessing his new friend Jungkook and his girlfriend, you, getting it on in front of him, and all of the other guys, at this so-called party.  
❥ Clandestine by @ditzymax➴ Assassin!AU | Taehyung x Named OC x Jungkook | Series➴ As a professional assassin, Kim Kinsoo has many shrouded secrets in her life. Some of them she shares openly with her loving boyfriend, but there are other things he must never know.
❥ Jimin, Please Don’t Take My Man by @countrysundae & @hobiwonder➴ E2L/Office/Law!AU | Jimin x Reader x Jungkook | Two-Shot➴ And in that moment, you made the most selfish proclamation to yourself in your head, looking at the two men in front of you, one a devil and one an angel. You would make Jeon Jungkook yours - in some way, somehow. You would not let Park Jimin win this round.
❥ In the Dark by @caramelkth➴ FWB!AU | Jimin x Reader x Jungkook | One-Shot➴ Jungkook and Jimin have a very short attention span, and when you three are lost in the middle of nowhere with a truck that won’t drive, they find you to busy themselves with.
❥ Don’t Swallow by @gotmetalkinginmysleep➴ Idol/Poly!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Maknae? | One-Shot➴ Admitting your inner thoughts with your partner wasn’t a sensible idea.
❥ Money, Power, Respect by @minnpd➴ Married/Gang!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | One-Shot➴ //
❥ Cherry by @kpopstories ➴ FWB!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series❥➴ “Forgive me, ____.” He was whispering now. 
“We didn’t get back together.”You felt his hands skirt down your sides and it made you shiver a little. He was pressing his body against yours and his skin felt like the sun, warm and achingly pleasant. You were no longer worried about the wet clothes you had on, but only the scent of him. He smelled like rain and barely-there cologne and deodorant. He smelled like the man you had been sleeping with for months and who you hadn’t been with for two weeks. He smelled like desperation. Well, maybe you made that part up, but it felt right so you let him hug you tighter even as you asked,
“Are you still considering it?”
❥ House of Cards by @aiimaginesbts➴ Exes/Infidelity!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series➴ A love from high school days lasted until marriage. Just not yours.
❥ The Doms Next Door by @tatertotthethot➴ Tattoo/Poly!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series➴ In which you unknowingly accept the offer to become a tattoo model for the two, sexually-crazed men next door.
302 notes · View notes
tabloidtoc · 3 years
Text
OK, January 4
You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks
Cover: Ashton Kutcher haunted by his mistakes
Tumblr media
Page 2: Contents 
Tumblr media
Page 4: Jennifer Garner ready for romance -- Jennifer has proven she’s fine on her own but she’s eager for her happy ending and has even set her sights on some of Hollywood’s most eligible hunks like Chris Evans but seems happily single; she binge-watched Outlander and was totally taken with Sam Heughan and she also finds Martin Henderson very sexy but heard he has a girlfriend 
Page 6: After a tumultuous few years Hayden Panettiere’s 2021 is looking bright and she’s been working on herself since her split from toxic ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson -- she’s taken control of her life and is making good choices -- she’s been able to rebuild her life and her relationship with her daughter Kaya who lives in Ukraine with her dad and next on her agenda is reviving her once-hot career
Page 7: Justin Bieber who’s been a devoted member of the controversial celeb-favored Hillsong Church for years is studying to become a minister -- Justin has long credited Hillsong and especially charismatic and recently fired pastor Carl Lentz for saving him from his dark period of drugs, public meltdowns and arrests -- Justin doesn’t plan to give up his music career but he feels there’s a bigger calling out there for him
* Jessica Simpson has signed deals for both a docuseries and a fictionalized series based on her life but not everyone is so pumped about her tell-all tendencies and least of all is her ex-husband Nick Lachey -- for Nick it’s just dredging up a past that’s better left alone and Nick hopes that Jessica goes easy on him in the scripted series but deep down knows there’s precious little chance of that
* Madonna is majorly inserting herself in her daughter Lourdes Leon’s love life and she’s constantly on the phone asking how things are going between Lourdes and her socialite beau of three years Jonathan Puglia and she wants to know when they’re making things official -- Madonna even pushes for double dates so she can bring her 26-year-old boyfriend Ahlamalik Williams -- Lourdes appreciates how much her mom cares but she’s finding all the micromanaging too much to handle 
Page 8: Jason Aldean who boasts an $80 million fortune loves splashing his cash around especially when it comes to his children -- the singer who shares son Memphis and daughter Navy with wife Brittany and girls Kendyl and Keeley with his ex likes being seen as the moneybags and leaves tough love to the kids’ moms and he’s always pulling out $100 bills for his teens and buying his little ones new clothes, toys and high-tech gadgets even though they’re so young -- he’s definitely spoiling the kids but nobody complains about it so he just keeps on buying them stuff because nothing makes him happier 
* The milestone 6-0 is still months away but George Clooney is planning to do some serious partying for his birthday and he’s sparing no expense -- he’s looking at celebrations across the States and Europe plus a boys-only getaway to Mexico 
* Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are having a blast filming their first movie together so much so that tongues are wagging about the pair’s fiery chemistry on the set -- even though Leo and Jen behave like total pros when the cameras aren’t rolling there’s a running joke among the cast and crew that Jen’s marriage to Cooke Maroney could be in trouble -- of course the reality is that Jen is crazy about her husband and Leo who is dating model Camila Morrone has a strict rule never to get involved with costars but still there’s an attraction that can’t be denied 
Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars get glamorous in glitzy looks -- Alexa Chung, Tiffany Haddish
Page 11: Maya Hawke, Sarah Hyland 
Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Yara Shahidi vs. Cindy Bruna, Becky G vs. Sofia Carson 
Page 13: Celine Dion vs. Shailene Woodley
Page 14: News in Photos -- Jessie James Decker in a pink bikini in Nashville
Page 15: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt and their son Gunner doing a Christmas card shoot in L.A., Jessica Alba spent the day handing out Honest goodies at the Baby2Baby Holiday Drive-Thru Distribution in L.A. 
Page 16: Gwen Stefani rocked a cat-themed holiday jumpsuit while on the way to the recording studio in Santa Monica, Leighton Meester surfing in Malibu 
Page 17: Maria Sharapova brought back the 1970s during a photoshoot in L.A., Pink kept it casual during a coffee run to Starbucks in L.A., Tia Mowry returned home with a full trunk of gifts and goodies in L.A. 
Page 18: Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas exploring London 
Page 20: Let’s Get Physical -- Robin Wright took her bicycle out for a spin in L.A., Chris Hemsworth shows off his ripped body while lifting a tire, Winnie Harlow in L.A. 
Page 22: Deck the Halls -- newly-engaged Jonathan Bennett gushed of spending his first Christmas with fiance Jaymes Vaughan, Jonathan and Drew Scott dressed as elves 
Page 23: Jon Bon Jovi and his dog, Selena Gomez with her dog Winnie in front of the Christmas tree, Brooke Burke kicked off the season by signing ornaments that will be auctioned off by Operation Smile 
Page 24: Malin Akerman arranged the sheets and blankets and pillows at a Hotel Style Collection from Walmart event in NYC, Jeremy Renner filmed a scene for Hawkeye in NYC, Chrishell Stause stepped out for a morning walk with her rescue pooch Gracie in L.A. 
Page 26: Inside My Home -- Marc Anthony’s elegant estate in Coral Gables, Florida 
Page 28: Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart are planning to renew their vows on Valentine’s Day which is 12 years to the day after Harrison proposed to Calista on their sprawling Jackson Hole, Wyoming ranch -- Calista is incredibly touched that Harrison is organizing this and he’s thoughtfully arranging to have her favorite flowers to be flown in and has already booked a local band and a caterer and baker 
Page 29: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski might be ready for baby No. 3 but friends are encouraging them to get their marriage on track first -- the two have had a tough couple of years and John can be hard to deal with and cranky when he’s working -- while the duo tend to put a super-positive spin on their marriage in public not everyone is convinced things are so rosy at home but Emily wants another child and so does John so they’re willing to take the risk 
* Meghan Markle and Prince Harry plan to kick off 2021 with a much-needed tropical vacation -- after an emotionally turbulent year Meghan and Harry are ready for this break -- following a quiet Christmas at home the couple is looking forward to relaxing on a warm beach somewhere, sleeping in, soaking up nature’s beauty and reconnecting as a couple -- they’re considering a private island in Hawaii or off the coast of Fiji 
Page 30: Taylor Swift who’s been collecting bridal magazines and wedding ideas since she was a teen will have to adjust to the idea of a small sequestered affair when her boyfriend Joe Alwyn officially pops the question -- the once-outgoing singer has turned into a hermit since hooking up with the British actor who insists on total privacy and loathes attention and now Tay’s inner circle is said to be worried that in Joe’s continued efforts to fly under the radar he’ll ultimately nix the lavish nuptials Taylor’s long envisioned
* Justin Timberlake and Olivia Wilde have a past -- dating briefly in 2011 and costarring in two films but they won’t have a future if Justin’s wife Jessica Biel has any say -- Justin is eager to work with newly single Olivia again but the collab between the old pals is a total no-no as far as Jess is concerned because she’s always seen Olivia as a threat and particularly now that she’s split from Jason Sudeikis
* Love Bites -- Bachelor Nation’s Emily Ferguson and hockey player William Karlsson are engaged, Christina Milian and Matt Pokora have another baby on the way, Gleb Savchenko and Cassie Scerbo dating 
Page 32: Cover Story -- Ashton Kutcher haunted by his past -- the actor is wrestling with major demons and regrets -- the grisly murder of his then-girlfriend Ashley Ellerin has stayed with him -- Ashton and wife Mila Kunis have weathered some storms but they’re in a good place now
Page 36: Celebrity Dads and Their Darling Daughters -- Michael and Carys Douglas, John and Ella Bleu Travolta, Lionel and Sofia Richie 
Page 37: Don and Dakota Johnson, Phil and Lily Collins 
Page 38: Ryan and Ava Phillippe, Mark and Lola Consuelos, Johnny and Lily-Rose Depp 
Page 39: Lenny and Zoe Kravitz, Clint and Francesca Eastwood, Alec and Ireland Baldwin, Rod and Ruby Stewart 
Page 40: Interview -- Charlize Theron does it all -- the actress, mom and producer talks about taking on projects that are close to her heart 
Page 42: New Year, New You -- kick-start a healthy 2021 with these celeb-approved wellness resolutions 
Page 46: Style Week -- Good American cofounded by Khloe Kardashian recently launched its first-ever footwear collection 
Page 54: Entertainment 
Page 55: Q&A with Brian Austin Green 
Page 58: Buzz -- Prince George and Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined their parents Prince William and Duchess Kate on the red carpet for the very first time and held hands on their way to London’s Palladium to watch the National Lottery’s Pantoland
Page 60: Sound Bites -- Gwyneth Paltrow on getting starstruck, Kurt Russell on wife Goldie Hawn’s penchant for sleeping in total darkness, Jimmy Fallon on which SNL costar he’d want to be stuck on a desert island with (Tina Fey), Chrissy Teigen on being embarrassed 
Page 61: Megan Thee Stallion on the guidance she gets from Jay-Z and Beyonce, Frances McDormand on hooking up with husband Joel Coen, Chad Michael Murray on seeing pics from his heartthrob days, Rachel Brosnahan on what the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fans can look forward to 
Page 62: Horoscope -- Capricorn John Legend turned 42 on December 28
Page 64: By the Numbers -- Larry David 
5 notes · View notes