#my favorites are the turkish one and the first portuguese one
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Hongjoong Unique Nicknames
In writing an earlier post, I came to the conclusion that, out of all the members of ATEEZ, Hongjoong would be the most likely to look up/find nicknames in other languages to call his s/o because he would want the nickname to be unique. This mans doesn't want to call his partner something common or generic (or simple)!
I can see him falling reeeeeally hard when he finds 'the one' and to him they are ethereal, stunning, unique, one-of-a-kind (no1likethem😤) and he would want to address them as such.
Sooooo, struck with inspiration, I wanted to make a post of some pet names in other languages (masc. and fem.) that I could see him calling his s/o 💖
(My personal favorites/the names I can most see him using will be starred ✨ sparkled? )
~ If my translations or pronunciations are wrong/weird/wonky I apologize, I'm using a number of different sources here including google translate 😅 nicknames below the cut ♥️ ~
~One more side note: it's easier to find nicknames in some languages as opposed to others and I'm also more familiar/proficient in certain languages so I'm sorry if there are fewer nicknames for certain languages! I'm trying to get a wide range of languages on here and I love learning new things, so if you know of additional nicknames in other/your languages leave a comment! I know it can also be a cultural thing: finding cute nicknames in Romance languages (ex. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese) is much easier than finding nicknames in Germanic languages (ex. German, Swiss, Dutch) simply because of the cultures ~
First of all...treasure. Treasure is a common pet name all over the world so there's no shortage of variations to choose from. And like...COME ON! It just fits so well! A Captain needs his treasure 😍.
Treasure
Arabic - كنز (Kinz) : pronounced kahn.zohn
Danish - Skat : pronounced sk.eht
Dutch - Schatje : pronounced sch.hight.chee.en
[one source said this ⬆️ translated to 'little treasure' while another translated it as 'baby' ]
Esperanto - ✨ Mia Trezoreto : not sure on the pronunciation here, I couldn't find it anywhere...best guess would be mee.ah treh.zoh.reh.toh
{ If you're like me ten minutes ago and don't know what Esperanto is, it's a "constructed international auxiliary language" ; which means it was created to be a means of communication between people of different cultures who do not share a common first language. Created in 1887 by LL.Zamenhof, Esperanto was intended to be an international second language. (This concept is absolutely fascinating to me and if you or someone you know speaks Esperanto lmk cuz I'm curious how widely it's used, if at all). }
French - ✨ Mon Trésor : pronounced treh.zohr
Polish - Moja Scarbie : pronounced moh.yeh skar.b.ee.yeh
Greek - θησανρός (Thisavrós) : pronounced fay.sah.vrohs
Hindi - ✨ खज़ाना (Khazaana) : pronounced kah.zah.nah
Indonesian - Hartaku : pronounced har.tah.koo
Italian - Mio Tesoro : pronounced teh.zoro
Portuguese - Meu Tesouro : pronounced may.oh chez.ouro
Russian - мое сокровище (Moye Sokrovishche) : pronounced mahy.oh sah.kro.vih.che
Spanish - Mi Tesoro : pronounced tehs.oro
Turkish - Hazinem : pronounced hah.zee.nehm
Ukranian - мій скарб (miy skarb) : pronounced mee skar.b
Vietnamese - kho báu của tôi : pronounced koh bow kwah toy
Okay, totally went overboard with this nickname...😅 but I just love this idea so much abfursffkj
Anyhow...moving on
Arabic (Side note...y'all...I'm so sorry for probably butchering these...Arabic is hard as fuck, how do y'all do this!?) -
حبيب/حبيبة قلب (habib albi) pronounced hah.beeb ah.til.hah.lee.ah.tah : Love of my heart
يا حياتي (ya hayati) pronounced eey hie.ah.ti : My Life
حلو/حلوة (ya helo) : pronounced eey hooh.loon/hah.la.whe.toon : Sweet
✨ يا قلبي : pronounced eeyah kahl.bee : My heart
✨يا قمر (ya [g]amar) : pronounced eeyah koh.mah.roo : Moon
https://natakallam.com/blog/terms-of-endearment-in-arabic/
Mandarin
宝 (bǎo) : pronounced bahw : Precious ~or~ 宝宝 (bǎobǎo) : Baby
(I think bǎo also means dumpling?)
亲亲 (qīn qīn) : pronounced sheen sheen: Dear/dear one/kiss
太太 (tài tài) : pronounced tie.tie ~or~ 老婆 (lǎo pó): pronounced lahw poh: both mean Wife
~or~
老公 (lǎo gōng): pronounced lahw gohn : Husband
小公举 (xiǎo gōng jǔ): pronounced shahw gohng chu: Little princess
(Couldn't find a masc. equivalent)
✨ 心 肝 (xīngān): pronounced shin gahn: Darling, or, in a more literal sense - heart [心]and liver [肝]
(In Western cultures this would likely be a little weird and creepy, but in Chinese culture it's rather poetic in the sense that those are the two organs you can't live without. Therefore, it's like saying you can't live without them)
https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/chinese-nicknames/
Spanish
Mi amor : pronounced mee ah.mor : My love
Amorcito : pronounced ah.mor.see.toh : My little love
✨ Mi sol : pronounced mee sol : My sun
✨ Pastelito : pronounced pahs.tel.ee.toh : Little cake
Linda/o : pronounced leen.dah/doh : Cutie
Princesa : pronounced preen.seh.sah : Princess
-or-
Príncipe: pronounced preen.seh.pay : Prince
✨ Mi sirenita : pronounced mee see.rehn.ee.tah : My (little) mermaid
-or-
Mi Tríton : pronounced mee tree.tohn : My merman
Hermosa/o : pronounced air.moh.sah/soh : Beautiful
✨ Mi Chispita : pronounced mee chees.pee.tah : My spark
Conejita/o : pronounced koh.neh.hee.tah/toh : (little?) Bunny
✨Osita/o : pronounced oh.see.tah/toh : Little bear
https://www.berlitz.com/blog/cute-funny-nicknames-spanish
Dutch
✨Mijn lied : pronounced mine leet : My song
Lieve : pronounced lee.fuh : Dear
https://blogs.transparent.com/dutch/pet-names-and-loving-nicknames/
Gaelic
M'eudail : pronounced may.tahl : Sweetheart/darling
Mo ghraidh : pronounced moh ghreye : My love
Mo luiadh : pronounced moh lohy : My love/darling/sweetheart
Mo leannan : pronounced moh leh.non : Sweetheart
✨ Brèagha : pronounced bree.yah : Pretty
Mo ghaol : pronounced moh hill : My love
https://www.oursocalledlife.co.uk/lifestyle/learn-scottish-gaelic/scottish-gaelic-terms-of-endearment-with-phonetics/
Greek
✨αγάπɳ (agápi) : pronounced ah.gah.pi : love
μωρό μou (mόro mu) : pronounced moh.row moo: my baby
✨ αστερáκi (asteráki mu) : pronounced ahs.teh.ra.ki moo : my little star
✨ καρδɩá μou (kardiá mu) : pronounced kahr.dee.ah moo : my heart
https://www.greekpod101.com/blog/2021/08/26/greek-love-phrases/
Hawaiian
Ku`u Lei : pronounced k.oo lay : my beloved
E ku'u aloha : pronounced Ay k.oo ah.low.hah : my love
✨ Na'u : pronounced nah.oo : Mine
✨ Ipo : pronounced ee.poh : Sweetheart
https://www.hawaiian-words.com/hawaiian-words-for/love/
French
✨ Mon (petit) chou : pronounced moh.n (peh.tee) sh.oo : My (little) cabbage
Mon amour : pronounced moh.n ah.mooh : My love
Ma beauté : pronounced mah boo.thee : My beautiful
Ma chérie : pronounced mah sh.eh.ree : My dear/darling/sweetheart (fem.)
-or-
Mon chéri : pronounced moh.n sh.eh.ree : My dear/darling/sweetheart (masc.)
✨Mon bijou :pronounced moh.n bee.zhu : My jewel
Mon cœur : pronounced moh.n kh.ur : My heart
Ma moitié : pronounced mah moh.tee : My other/better half
✨Ma colombe : pronounced mah koh.loh.mb : My dove
✨Ma souris : pronounced mah soo.rhee : My mouse
Ma chatte : pronounced mah sh.ah.t : My cat (fem.)
-or-
Mon chat : pronounced moh.n sh.ah : My cat (masc.)
✨Mon nounours : pronounced moh.n noo.noor : My teddy bear
Mon ange : pronounced moh.n ohn.zh : My angel
https://langster.org/en/blog/48-words-of-endearment-in-french
Thought I'd finish up with some classic French nicknames there cuz...France...anyhow! LMK if you want more of this types of post (nicknames in other languages)!
Like I said above, message or comment if any pronounciations or spellings or anything are weird or wonky! I love learning cute little things in other languages 🥰
#ateez#ateez hongjoong#kim hongjoong#nicknames#terms of endearment#soft hours#arabic#mandarin#spanish#dutch#gaelic#greek#hawaiian#french
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Dani, my dearest ❤️ I hope you're doing well
So, about the memorable scene of a fic you wrote... Can I mention several? 😁
The first one, hands down, is the entire dialogue of If I Fell. Every now and then I remember the scene of Elizabeth ashamed of her feet and Hamid trying to see it and offering to show his feet. It cracks me up every time 🤣🤣🤣
Part 2 of Under A Different Light is also fantastic. I love the moment when Hamid talks about perfumes. The attraction between them is so tangible, even though nothing actually happens. It's a beautiful work.
Lost In Translation has three scenes that I adore: Hamid asking about curse words in Portuguese and mentioning how much Turkish and Russian have vast options in profanities 😂 and Elizabeth showing Brazilian memes to Hamid. That scene is just wonderful. And they look through her phone gallery, which means a lot in terms of how comfortable she feels around him.
Last but not least, Somewhere In Time. The whole story is beautiful, but the part by the end when Hamid and Elizabeth finally talk and he remembers everything 💕 that scene lives in my mind rent free.
You're super talented, my dear. Thank you so much for dedicating time to write all these beautiful stories and I hope you don't forget that you bring joy (high quality entertainment ofc) to your readers ❤️
Awwww Lori!!! Sua querida!!! Você não imagina como ler sua ask me fez sorrir ❤️❤️❤️
That scene from If I feel is one of my favorites too. It was such a silly idea and the fic was basically written just to fit that dialogue lol
Thank you so much for sending it my way and telling me about your favorites. It means a lot!
Wishing you a great week!
#ask box!#memorable scenes#desire and decorum modern au!#hamid x elizabeth#prince hamid x oc#choices fanfic
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Offline voice translator app free
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Windwalker Media, Kindle Nation Daily and its subdomains are published independently by Stephen Windwalker and Windwalker Media and is not endorsed by, Inc. This content is provided "as is" and is subject to change or removal at any time. Certain content that appears on this website is provided by Amazon Services LLC. Amazon, Kindle and the Amazon and Kindle logos are trademarks of, Inc. While all titles recommended on this website must meet our standards for price, quality, and appropriate content, some publishers or rightsholders compensate us for prominent placement on the site or in our email bulletins.Īpart from its participation in the Associates Program, Windwalker Media, Kindle Nation Daily and its subdomains are not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle in any other way. ITranslate – get it now, while it’s still FREE! Oh, my friend from Honduras will probably faint dead away when I ask, ¿Has visto alguna chupasavias amarillo vientre? unless, of course, he’s just seen a yellow-bellied sapsucker. I can’t wait until I run into my German speaking zoologist friend and ask him if he’s seen any alle schwarzen Schwanz Rehe? Of course, I’m going to have to practice for several hours pronouncing “alle schwarzen Schwanz Rehe,” but you never know when a black-tailed deer might have come along. I can put in any phrase in the app, and get the written AND spoken translation from English to more languages than I knew existed. Two of my friends speak German and Spanish, while my one friend in France has great difficulty with English. I have several acquaintances who speak English minimally, and I unfortunately, speak no other language (even after 7 years !!! of HS and college French and German). Supported languages: Afrikaans, Albanian, Arabic, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maltese, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish Landscape mode – Turn your phone to the side and type faster with the landscape keyboard. Share, save & copy – Send a translated text via Email, post it on Twitter, save it to your favorite list or simply copy it. Tablet Ready – iTranslate is optimized for use on your big screen tablet. Voice recognition – Simply speak and instantly see your translation! Available for many languages Voices – Listen to high-quality voices in most languages. Over 50 languages – Translate words, phrases and even whole sentences into over 50 languages.ĭictionaries – Now for many languages pairs: Dictionaries with additional translation results, meanings and suggestions! The popular iPhone translator app, now finally on Android!īy combining voice recognition, machine translation and voice output iTranslate is the first app to make the legendary SciFi dream of a Universal Translator reality. Over 50 languages – Dictionaries – Voices – Voice recognition – Tablet Ready – Share, save & copy You can’t use the app’s ability to “hear” and translate spoken language, because the Kindle Fire doesn’t have a microphone, but you can have iTranslate translate from one of over 50 languages into another language, view the text translation, and have the Fire “read” the translation aloud! iTranslate is very well-liked by users also, and has an average review rating of 4.5/5 across 318 reviews.
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Qknock is a social network based in Bangladesh
Understanding the Background of Qknock Now
Qknock is a social network based in Bangladesh. It was founded in 2012 by two friends who wanted to create a platform where people can share their ideas and thoughts. Qknock's mission statement is to promote positive change in society by providing a platform for people to freely express themselves.
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Qknock is free. Users do not have to pay anything to join the site. However, if users want to post content on the website, they have to pay a small fee. Qknock is open to everyone. Anyone can join the community. There are no age and gender restrictions. Qknock has over a million registered users. Qknock is available in Bangla (Bengali), English and Spanish. Qknock is currently working on translating its app into Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Turkish.
Qknock will be a thing of the past and this is why
Qknock is owned by a company called Qnap Solutions Limited. Qknock has been featured in many publications, including Forbes, TechCrunch, Mashable, and Business Insider. Qknock was named by Apple as one of the best apps of 2015. Qknock has won several awards, including Best New Startup at the 2016 Global Mobile Awards, Best App Design at the 2016 Global Web Awards and Most Innovative App at the 2016 Global Web Awards. global mobile bonus 2017.
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Qknock has received funding from Accel Partners, 500 Startups and Y Combinator. Qknock has raised $1.5 million in venture capital. Qknock has 2 billion monthly active users. It is a network to help users share their knowledge and experiences through online communities. Qknock has been used by thousands of people around the world. Join us today to stay up to date with what's new at Qknock.com. Just click the link below to get started.
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When I first learned how to code, I wanted to use my skills to give back to the community. I saw that there were not many social networks that focused on networking, friendship building, and sharing content with people who shared similar interests to mine. So I set out to build something that fit my needs.
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Yes, I plan to keep developing Qknock and adding more features.
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helloooo! here are google drive links (pt1 + pt2) to my 4hr cut of the hobbit trilogy :-) specs n more details under the cut!
runtime is 4hr 9m (including about 4m of credits)
all scenes have open captions in english (either screen recorded from hbo or manually added)!!
i didn’t have access to the extended editions for this but i was able to find some of the extended scenes i wanted on yt (hence the portuguese and turkish subtitles on a few scenes which makes it a little messy with the english caps sry!!)
it’s split in two parts so i could get the quality up to 1080p but the parts are not like. two coherent separate movies its just one big guy
i basically did this for one reason which is that the hobbit movies r incredibly nostalgic to me and i love them but i avoided rewatching them for years because i have adhd and i just could not be fucked to watch 9 hours of cgi when i only cared about half of it. so here’s the half!!
this is heavily informed by the tolkien edit! i have my own criticisms of that cut (which is why i made one lmao) but i absolutely used it as a roadmap of what the story could survive without so credit where credit’s due
but forewarning because i made this specifically for my own use it’s very tailored to Me and my favorite parts of the trilogy! im a tiny bit of a tolkien purist bc i love the book very much and for aforementioned adhd reasons i always want these movies to move SO much faster than they do. but if there’s a scene that seems pointless it’s there just bc i like it and if there's a line that's missing for no reason it's just bc it annoys me :) however i Did try really hard to make this a good movie experience bc i have terminal film major disease!
here are the most significant changes i made if ur curious:
in general this cut follows bilbo/thorin/the company’s pov pretty tightly! it’s the part of the story that i personally care about most and it’s where the most coherent and interesting arcs are in my opinion!
i could not care less for peter jackson’s cgi action scenes so most of of them are trimmed significantly or sometimes just deleted. this especially applies to the orc chase/fight scenes..i simply cannot sit through the full six minute barrel scene again. the big smaug scenes and botfa battle scenes are also especially cut down
gandalf’s dol guldur plot is completely cut (including radagast, galadriel, etc); ive never liked how the extra lore adds such huge All Of Middle Earth stakes to the hobbit (that's not bilbo’s fight and it never was! he didnt know what he was starting when he started it and neither should we!) so i took the tolkien edit’s line on this one. sorry to galadriel but i know what gandalf was doing during dos i dont need to see it
crimes against the kiliel community: this is my most dudebro tolkien opinion but i have never loved the tauriel/legolas/kili dynamic and they have SOOO many scenes that i Personally just do not want to watch every time. i love the version of tauriel that lives in my brain but i do not vibe w the movie universe >:-( to that end both tauriel and legolas are almost entirely cut and you ARE allowed to hang me in the town square for this. im sad about it
bilbo's prologue scene is moved closer to the middle of the movie rather than introducing that info immediately in auj. i like having the audience find out about thrain and dale only once the company has seen the lonely mountain for the first time! idk if it reads as well as i think it does so lmk what u think!!
iiiii recut thorin’s funeral scene with hozier’s version of the parting glass. this is simply because ive always thought the funeral music was boring and i wanted to have fun! it’s one of the biggest changes i made to a specific scene so pls tell me if u have thoughts....it's at around 1:50:00 of part 2 if you want to skip
there are about 4 minutes of (incomplete) credits because sitting and listening to the last goodbye after botfa ends is a ritual <3
ummm thats it! if you actually watch any of this and you have thoughts please come talk to me about it!! i want to talk to you specifically!!
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THE DIZI TAG GAME
Rules: Answer the questions and then tag people you want to participate! (Also tag it #The Dizi Tag Game so we can see everyone’s lists)
tagged by: @aycaysiin (miss u bby)
1. your first dizi & how you discovered Turkish dramas
it’s a little complicated hahahaha i first discovered dizis here on tumblr back on 2015 by seeing gifsets of magnificent century (nurbanu and selim, i miss them so much) but it was not the first dizi i watched bc the only channel i found had awful subtitles and sometimes russian dub; the first dizi i started watching was aşk laftan anlamaz, but around episode twenty-five the channel stopped posting the episodes; the first dizi i really watched through the end was kiralik aşk.
2. show(s) you’re currently watching
i’m not really watching that many dizis right now, i’m on day with maraşlı (bc i make the portuguese subtitles for it), i’m like six episodes behind in sen çal kapimi (and tbh i don’t want to catch up) and i watched the first episode of masumiyet last week.
3. your favorite genre of dizi (romcom, mafia show, contemporary drama, historical/fantasy, etc.):
i was always the rom-com girl type but i recently discovered that i’m more drawn to dramas/mafia shows that i could ever imagine. i’m also very found of historical dizis/movies/books bc that’s a huge part of me (well... after all i’m a history teacher).
4. the show you rewatch (parts of) the most:
i don’t know if it’s considered a dizi or just a netfix show, but i watched aşk 101 like... eight times last year. my yt is always recommending me videos of leyla and hakan in the protector, so i’m counting it. i’m always watching scenes of kiş güneşi too... and güneşin kizlari (lost count of how many times i watched videos of savnaz).
5. favorite Turkish actor and actress (feel free to pick multiples):
all my faves: çağatay ulusoy, ayça ayşin turan, merve boluğur, berk atan, hande erçel, burak deniz, mert yazıcıoğlu, ipek filiz yazıcı, sude zulal güler, emre bey, neslihan atagül, uraz kaygılaroğlu, alperen duymaz, melisa döngel, esra bilgiç. i’ll stop here but there’s a lot more.
6. a show you quit before finishing:
that dizi i refuse to say the name (y’all know which one, the one that made awful decisions with the best characters they had... and now that these actors jump off the boat the writers are trying to survive by bringing into this mess another great actress just to make that hateful character someone worth watching) (yeah, i hold a lot of grudges) (at least now neslihan and uraz are free) and erkenci kus.
7. favorite song(s) you’ve discovered in dizi’s:
i don’t pay much attention on the soundtrack :(
8. the show whose plot disappointed you the most:
again, the one i refuse typing the name. i think iyi günde kotü günde disappointed me but bc i was so invested and they didn’t gave us a reason for everything.
9. a show that was cancelled too soon / ran too long:
again, iyi günde kotü günde. but i think zemheri had such a short life too. and i think that çukur and hercai are running too long. i mean, i don’t even know what’s happening anymore (ok that çukur had this kind of time jump and things revived a little)
10. favorite character(s):
sinan (ask 101), osman (ask 101), işik (love 101), gediz işıklı (you know from where), defne topal (kiralik ask), nurbanu sultan (magnificent century), turhan hatice sultan (magnificent century: kosem), firuze pinar (zemheri), yildiz yilmaz (yasak elma), sibel yildirim (ramo), eda yildiz (sen çal kapimi, but like until episode 15), nare çelebi (from that dizi, until the 5th episode)
11. your favorite romantic pairing(s):
sinan and işik (love 101), gediz and nare (from that one), ramo and sibel (ramo), omer and defne (kiralik ask), and so far marasli and mahur (marasli)
12. favorite side character(s):
melek (sen çal kapimi), ceren (sen çal kapimi), leyla (the protector), burcu (ask 101), sinan (kiralik ask)
13. best kiss:
sinan and işik on the water (ask 101)
14. an underrated show more people should watch:
maraşlı
15. a show everyone loves that you aren’t interested in:
emanet
16. a show you want to recommend right now:
maraşlı, masumiyet, halka
17. the next show on your list:
teşkilat (waiting for it to start on sunday) and son yaz (but alperen as 20 y’old boy creeps me a little)
tagging: @izbellas @mayuamakura @sparkledesign @ofrumours @savkennas and anyone who wants to do it!
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BOSTON BY CASEY AFFLECK
October 25, 2020
For the record, what follows is nostalgia, false memories, and generalizations. But it’s all true. I grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston proper. Cambridge was one of the most diverse, multicultural cities in America. It was a beautiful, colorful, vibrant place. People from all over the world lived there, all mixed-up together. It is the place I was born and will return to, God willing. It is the city with the smells and sounds and tastes and people I love the most.
Despite how much I loved it, when I look at old photos, I often look like this:
I’m in the front in the blue shirt. My best friend was Michael, the tall kid in the red shirt, whose family came from Barbados. Through the middle school years, anytime we weren’t in school we were roaming the streets like Dickensian urchins.
In the ‘90s, Cambridge got rid of rent control. Families who had lived there for four or five generations were squeezed out. Now the city is gentrified; but when I was growing up there, it was scrappy and beautiful. It was mostly working people, except for West Cambridge—where wealthy families lived, where professors lived. Where Cornel West, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Governor lived. East Cambridge was working-class Portuguese families, butcher shops, funeral parlors, and tow yards. Cambridgeport, where I lived, was mostly poor, Italian, Black, Greek, and Irish families. North Cambridge had some big housing projects and the school where my mom taught fifth grade—in a gigantic cement structure called The Tobin School that felt like it was far away because I would have to take a train AND a bus to get there. In reality, it’s like three miles from where we lived.
This is me hanging out in her classroom:
As people and places evolve, the past always reveals blemishes unseen at the time. However, Massachusetts manages, as time unfolds, to be a place that was so often on the right side. Not always, but often enough that I am proud to be from Cambridge, Massachusetts, no matter what.
From Massachusetts came the first national publication denouncing slavery, America’s “first feminist”, and The Cambridge Woman’s Suffrage League, which formed in 1886. My high school had the first girl to play tackle football in that division. Cambridge voted-in the first openly gay African-American mayor in our country. Right now our mayor is a very popular and forward-thinking Muslim woman who immigrated from Pakistan named Sumbul Siddiqui. We have marvels of architecture, science, and tech. It was in Cambridge that the very first email was ever sent (and received). And every year the Red Sox stand up to the wealthier bullies from the Bronx. These are all things we are immensely proud of, but nobody is resting on these laurels.
I am going to tell you about the places I remember fondly, whether they are still there or not.
Luckily, the city’s history isn’t going anywhere, and it hasn’t lost all of its charms. It is a place best seen by walking. So just walk. It’s also seasonal. Different activities for different seasons. But if you can hoof it for a few miles do this: start at the Old North Church and go by Paul Revere House, through Faneuil Hall, by The Old State House through Boston Common, through the Back Bay, go left and pass through Roxbury, another left, and go through South Boston till you hit the water and go left till you hit the Children’s Museum. Sit down and relax. If you just want a path, walk that. Map it or wander around. The city is full of little back streets with lots of character.
MY BOSTON FAVORITES
When looking for things to do and see in the area, you can ask ten people and get ten different answers. You will get a long list of historical buildings, or you will get names of some of the country’s prettiest parks, or you will get pointed toward the campuses of some of the very best schools in the world. But for every Bunker Hill, there are ten other places you haven’t heard of. So I am going to tell you about the places I remember fondly, whether they are still there or not. The thing about Boston is you can miss all the best stuff, and you will still leave thinking it is one of the best cities on Earth. Have fun.
Pinocchio Pizza, Harvard Square. I asked my son to describe it. He says, “the food is good but the vibe is fire, old school; whatever, just get a slice and sit on the ground. That’s why I like it.” I have no idea why he wants to sit on the ground, but I guess that’s part of the charm of the place. We’re both vegan so we both scrape the cheese off and eat bread and sauce. That should tell you something.
Oleana Restaurant on Hampshire Street in Cambridge. Chef Ana Sortun is a baller. The food is Turkish inspired, and it is delicious. Always. Friendly people, pretty inside, and it is in a nice residential neighborhood. My dad lived in an apartment a few blocks away behind a Store 24 until he was evicted back in 1989.
Maharaja, Harvard Square. Incredible Indian food. And it has one of the only third-story views of Harvard Square.
Veggie Galaxy is great diner food. It is vegan. It has breakfast, lunch, dinner, milkshakes and other deserts. All day and all night food that is filling and really good.
Life Alive Organic will serve you the healthiest and heartiest meal you can find anywhere. It’s across the street from City Hall, the post office, and the oldest YMCA in the country.
Cantab Lounge, where my dad was a bartender, and then a janitor when he was too drunk to be a bartender. I drank six thousand ginger ales, sitting in the corner at a sticky table while he worked. Forever it was a bar for postal workers that opened at 10 am, where alcoholics ate hard-boiled eggs from jars that had been sitting on the bar top for two weeks. A couple of days after initially writing this, I got an email from the owner. It is being sold after tens of thousands of years. I don’t know why I care because I don’t exactly have any fond memories from the place, but seeing the brick-and-mortar of your childhood torn down is a kind of mid-life, coming-of-age moment. Life is change.
Darwins Ltd coffee shop and attached mini-grocer and sandwich spot. If you get a coffee and then walk west two blocks on Mt. Auburn St. you will discover on your right a nice little park with a fountain to hang out. It is called Longfellow Park. Or you can look to your left and you will see the Charles River, and you can stroll there.
Fomu for dessert.
Zhu Pan Asian Cuisine and True Bistro for good vegan food.
Newbury Comics is famous and cool.
Million Year Picnic is for comic connoisseurs. They are both great. And they were both plagued by roving bands of middle school thieves in my day. The most notorious was named Mathew Maher. He is now a well-known theater actor on Broadway and appeared in the comic book movie Captain Marvel. But back then he stole shit.
Harvard Coop is the best place to browse for books. Especially the kids section. We spend hours there and nobody kicks us out.
After the game ended everyone would come out and buy sausages [from me] on their way home, then I would clean up and go into a bar outside the park, where my boss was drinking and I’d wait till he was done so I could get a ride home. I was 12 years old. A couple of years ago I threw out the first pitch. Life is change.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is my favorite museum in town, maybe anywhere. It was once her home and it features an indoor garden that is perfect. It also has a great collection of art from around the world. Back on March 18, 1990, two famous paintings were stolen from the museum. As I remember it, a couple of guys showed up in the morning in police uniforms and the guard let them in. They tied the guard up and took a dozen paintings—Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas—and vanished. The FBI never found them and never found the art. There are two plaques below two empty spaces on the walls to this day. On some days, classical musicians perform in random rooms while you walk around. You won’t want to leave.
Fenway Park. Greatest professional sports arena of any kind. I used to sell sausages in front of the Cask ‘N Flagon, a bar behind The Green Monster.
It is the best baseball bar in the country. When everyone was in the park watching the game, and there was nobody buying food, I would go in and find a seat and watch the game with whoever I was working with; I have seen hundreds of games from every part of the park. After the game ended everyone would come out and buy sausages on their way home, then I would clean up and go into a bar outside the park, where my boss was drinking and I’d wait till he was done so I could get a ride home. I was 12 years old. A couple of years ago I threw out the first pitch. Life is change.
Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, which is 40 minutes from Boston. It is amazing. The actors working there are some of the best I have seen anywhere. If you are even mildly interested in history you have to go there.
Fresh Pond is where you can go running or biking. Two and a half-mile loop.
Or you could hit The Emerald Necklace which is a great run that hits many of the best green areas, Franklin Park included. When we were young we would hop the fence and swim in the water. That isn’t done anymore ever, and everyone has grown up and leading better, more responsible lives.
John Weeks Footbridge is a very pretty, very old, brick walking bridge that spans the Charles River. Watching the Charles Regatta from here is awesome. That is in the Fall. But it’s also great any night.
The King School is a grade school not too far from there. It has maybe the best playground in the city. If you are there in the summer you can just walk on. When I was a kid, the King School is where a girl went who I was head over heels in love with. I finally got a shot at winning her heart in my early twenties and blew it.
Mount Auburn Cemetery is beautiful if you like that kind of thing. Lots of cool people are buried there, and the trees and stones are really nice. It’s a maze but just walk uphill. You will reach a monument with a great view of the city.
The American Repertory Theater puts on good plays. I grew up going there cause a friend of my mother’s directed many of the shows and could sneak us in the back. I wasn’t the adult making that decision; had I known better I would have scraped together the ticket price and supported the arts.
Boston Common is beautiful but you have to avoid all the shopping around it. If you have to shop go to:
NOMAD on Mass Ave in Cambridge is a store that you shouldn’t miss. In a world lost to chain stores and general homogenization of everything, Nomad is the real deal. Deb Colburn has been curating this place since I was ten. It is her store, and she has been trying to wake people up to folk art from around the world since Reagan was in office.
Bodega is a hidden high-end sneaker and casual wear store that must be entered through an unmarked door inside a bodega on a nearby side street. It’s cool how they have done it. Great presentation. Kids will like it.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
There are lots of things you can force your kids to do—things they won’t like the sound of at first, but will ultimately enjoy.
IMAGE CAPTIONS, LEFT TO RIGHT
On a rainy day, hop on the T and ride around town all day reading comics. Then stand outside in the warm rain (kids from LA don’t get this much).
Looking at murals. Cambridge has great murals everywhere. They are old and, incredibly, not vandalized. This one has been on this wall near the river since I was a kid. The child is mine and he is sick of walking around Cambridge.
If you feel like a pilgrim hit the gift shop at Plimoth Plantation.
Playing chess at Leavitt & Pierce Tobacco. You can inhale the scent of pipe tobacco without smoking it, and rent a chess set, clock, and table for $2 an hour in a beautiful old, wood-paneled shop with great ambiance.
Going to the oldest YMCA in the country.
Kayaking on the Charles River. You can get your kayak on Soldiers Field Rd. Take it east under all the bridges until you get to the inlet at Kendell Sq. It will all be clear. It will take about an hour.
Climbing the stairs at Harvard Football Stadium.
Reading books at the Harvard Coop.
NEARBY BOSTON
If you wanna go a little farther, go out to Gloucester for the day. Swim, eat, walk around, go back.
Whale watching sounds like a lame tourist trap but seeing whales up close will change the way you think about life on Earth.
You can take the ferry from Downtown Boston to Provincetown. It is a great place to visit or stay a few days while in town. Ptown is the eastern-most point on the continent. I might be making that up, but it’s close. It’s an arm that sticks out into the Atlantic. It’s really lovely there with a great vibe all around. You can’t have a bad time and everyone is super happy to be there. The beaches are all beautiful. Sharks mostly only eat the seals and won’t come any closer to shore than two feet—but if you want to see a great white up close, we can make that happen.
Cape Cod has some great flea markets. If you plan on spending time on vacation with your family you can find some essentials, like a medieval battle helmet, at the flea market.
SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
30 minutes on the local train line from downtown. Made famous by the Salem witch trials; a fun place to visit and walk around for about 128 minutes. Newburyport and Rockport lines, which depart from Boston’s North Station, stop at the Salem station. You can go into the homes of people who lived during the witch hunt.
The House of the Seven Gables, made famous by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne‘s novel The House of the Seven Gables, is a 1668 colonial mansion in Salem, Massachusetts named for its gables. The house is now a non-profit museum, with an admission fee charged for tours, as well as an active settlement house with programs for children. It was built for Captain John Turner and stayed with the family for three generations.
The Jonathan Corwin House in Salem, Massachusetts, known as The Witch House, was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. It is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692, thought to be built between 1620 and 1642. Corwin bought it in 1675 when he was 35, and he lived there for more than 40 years. The house remained in the Corwin family until the mid-19th century and is located in the McIntire Historic District.
A MECCA FOR ARTISTS
Lastly, for centuries, Cambridge has been a mecca for artists, especially writers. Here are some spots to see if you like that kind of thing:
The corner of JFK Street and 1390 Massachusetts Avenue. This is a good spot. Here is why: America’s FIRST PUBLISHED POET was a woman named Anne Bradstreet who died in 1672 and lived on this spot! It went through lots of changes, and 300 years later, by the time I was walking around, it became a great burger place called THE TASTY. In 1996 or whatever, The Tasty appears in the movie Good Will Hunting in the scene when Matt Damon kisses Minnie Driver. It might have also appeared in the film Love Story back in the 70s. I mix them up. Now it is a CVS. God help us.
The Longfellow House. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived at 105 Brattle Street. The great poet taught at Harvard and lived in the Georgian mansion from 1837 until his death in 1882. Before the author, George Washington used the house as his headquarters during the Siege of Boston. The house is open to the public, and it is where I had my eighth-grade graduation ceremony. The mayor attended and forgot the name of our school in his address to the kids. I heard people mutter that he was drunk. I can’t blame him. I had my first drinks hours before that ceremony.
71 Cherry Street, Cambridge. The woman considered to be American’s FIRST feminist, Margaret Fuller, was born and lived here.
Henry and Alice James lived at 20 Quincy Street. The house was knocked down in 1930 and the Harvard Faculty Club was erected there.
W.E.B. DuBois lived at 20 Flagg Street. The writer and pioneer of civil rights rented a room in this Cambridgeport home from 1890 to 1893. This is blocks from my childhood home. He was the first African American to receive a degree from Harvard.
Robert Frost lived at 35 Brewster Street. Frost, who attended high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts, lived in the West Cambridge home from 1943 to 1963.
T.S. Eliot lived at 16 Ash Street.
E.E. Cummings lived at 104 Irving Street. He was an innovator. He also wrote a poem about “Cambridge Women”. He lived at the Irving Street home from 1892 until about 1917.
Also you can find homes of the genius Nabokov and the great and beloved Julia Childs if you look around.
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Rating Every Single Name of the Wind Cover
Why? Because I can. I am not a graphic designer, just a person with opinions.
Criteria for consideration: Must be a cover in a published edition of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Hardcover, paperback, and ebook are all fair game, as are foreign language editions. Some editions reuse the same cover art, in which case I only rate one cover. Some editions modify cover art from another edition. If the differences are substantial, I’ll rate both.
Kindle March 2007 Edition
Ah, the famous shirtless redhead cover. This cover is a bit infamous in the fandom for being both bad and cringey. This is not good art. It’s cheesy. The shirtless aspect is silly, and the windswept hair is so windswept, you’d think Kvothe was in a tornado. Nice balance with the title and author text, although it looks like the title and author text are slightly off center.
3/10
Hardcover April 2007 Edition
This is just a zoomed in crop of the above cover, which is a little lazy. It does make for a better cover image, except the creepy goat man bust has nothing to do with the plot of Name of the Wind. So I suppose they cancel out.
3/10
Mass Market Paperback April 2009 Edition
I despise this cover. It’s a lazy design, and the photo manipulation is terrible. Points I guess for good title text placement. But the photo manipulation is so! So! Bad! This is also the start of the trend of a hooded, cloaked figure with his back to the viewer staring out into the void. It is a bad trend.
2/10
Paperback UK June 2008 Edition
We’re still with the hooded, cloaked figure, but at least he’s facing front this time. I like the embellishment on the ‘W’ in the title text, although it gets a little pumpkin viney. Overall, it’s an ok cover. It doesn’t make me cringe, but it doesn’t grab the viewer’s interest, either.
4/10
Paperback Spanish May 2009 Edition
Same image as the previous cover, but this one is uncropped and has a different plant border. I’m not sure how successful the changes are. On the one hand, shrinking the image of the figure makes the figure look more mysterious, which is good. But on the other hand, this is a bad plant border. I thought there was some corn on the right side for a minute.
4/10
Hardcover 10th Anniversary October 2017 Edition
10th Anniversary edition got fancy, and it shows. I love the ruin influence in the title text, which is a great callback to the use of ruins in the novel and also a more creative and unexpected choice than making the title text leafy. That being said, the “of the” in the title text is very oddly formatted and doesn’t fit the style. The cover illustration is pretty great, with lots of symbolism for old fans while still maintaining visual interest for new readers who are browsing and happen to pick the book up. The Cinder statue is delightfully creepy and much more relevant to the novel than the dumb pan statue from the earlier cover.
9/10
Paperback Turkish March 2007 Edition
Another trend starting here: Cloaked figure staring out at a city in the distance. I like the painting, at least what I can see of it. I find the choice to crop out most of the painting really bizarre. Is this supposed to be a telescope we’re looking through? And the leaves look like lily pads. The title and author text leaf embellishments are quite nice here, but I don’t know why there’s a metallic color shift. Overall, a poor use of space.
4/10
Hardcover German March 2007 Edition
Oh look! A cloaked figure staring at a city. What a surprise. I rather like the title text design, which is pretty creative and a good way to make the title visually appealing. I wish the city in the painting weren’t so damn faded and distant – I think it’s a mistake to keep the visual focus on the figure exclusively and only hint at the city beyond.
6/10
Paperback Portuguese September 2009 Edition
This cover is terrible. I would say the worst, but there’s more still to come. Anyways, this is incredibly bad. We’re once again with the hooded, cloaked figure with his back to the viewer, which is a lazy and uninteresting pose. The image is badly photoshopped and looks like an alternate movie poster for The Blair Witch Project. There’s nothing interesting about the image, nothing that interests the viewer. The title font isn’t boring, I guess. That’s the only good thing I have to say about this.
1/10
Paperback Portuguese July 2009 Edition
Still another cloaked figure staring off at a distant city, but this is one my favorite versions of this trope. The city is far enough in the middle distance that the figure is the main focus, but we can still see enough of the city to see that it’s cool looking. I’m glad to see the bridge from the books, which is a nice detail. The title text does a good job of filling in the empty space of the painting without crowding the other elements.
9/10
Paperback French November 2009 Edition
This is the same cover image as before, but it’s been cropped so that the figure is centered. I don’t like the change – the balance is better when the figure is off center. Also, the title text is way too big and dominates, which is unfortunate because the Spanish cover had such a lovely balance throughout.
7/10
Hardcover Dutch July 2007 Edition
Yet. Another. Hooded figure. Staring. At a city. Wow. This one has a tree, at least. The image is… fine? I might be kinder to it if I hadn’t seen several better iterations of this right before. Because so much of the image is shrouded in fog, there’s very little to go on in terms of visual interest. And while I don’t mind the shadowed, muted color scheme, it also means that there’s very little to distinguish the cloaked figure and make him intriguing. The shadow initials behind the title text is horrific and obscures the title somewhat, so docking a couple of points for that.
5/10
Hardcover UK January 2017 Edition
Ahahahaha. This looks like the My Neighbor Totoro edition of Name of the Wind. It’s very silly and lighthearted, but wholly inappropriate for a book whose reading level is above first grade. If this was a kid’s book, I’d give it full marks. But Name of the Wind is very much for adults, and this cover is way too young and childish.
1/10
Paperback Polish August 2008
YIKES. I cannot figure out which scene or location from the book this image is trying to evoke, which makes me think the cover artist did not have the book or a text excerpt to work from. What the hell are those weird horse skulls? Why is this taking place in a desert? Why is the texture so bad? So many questions. And the effect on the title text is bad.
0/10 YES WE CAN GO LOWER THAN 1
Hardcover Russian 2010 Edition
This looks like the cover to a Dungeons and Dragons manual. I suppose that’s supposed to be from the Dracchus scene with Denna, but the image doesn’t look quite right for Name of the Wind. It’s just so generic fantasy. I also don’t like how the image is cropped top and bottom to make way for a very generic marble background. Still, the image is colorful and exciting, even if it could be the cover for any fantasy novel ever.
5/10
Paperback UK 2011 Edition
What the FUCK happened here? Who let this shit happen?
-10/10
Hardcover Finnish August 2010 Edition
Ooooh, more Miyazaki fanart! This is actually quite lovely, and it fits the tone of the books much better than the kids book cover from before. I love how soft and gentle the painting is. Notice the color balance. I don’t know if this cover really ‘grabs’ you or draws interest, but it’s one of my favorites of the bunch.
10/10
Paperback Bulgarian October 2010 Edition
I reserve the right to change my opinion later, but this may be the worst contender in the cloaked and hooded figure from behind category. I actually had to double check that this wasn’t a reused image from the mass market paperback edition, but nope! This is a brand new cover image, and it’s absolute shit. The lighting is so dark it’s impossible to make out details, the balance is way off, and the cover and title text are placed over the figure (aka the only object of interest) instead of the boring, generic storm clouds.
0/10
Hardcover Lithuanian 2011 Edition
YIKES times two. This cover art is truly awful in ways I didn’t know could still happen. Kvothe’s face looks ‘off’ because the facial proportions are all wrong. The blue mystical katana is bizarre because there’s no magical sword, much less a katana, in the story. And is that a photo of Stonehenge in the background? With yet another hooded figure?! I do like the gold foil of the title and the golden dragon embellishment, but the rest of this is such shit.
0/10
Paperback Serbian February 2011
And we’re back in the safe territory of a cloaked figure staring off at a distant city! All these covers are starting to run together, but this is a new cover art. It just looks like all the others. Once again, it’s fine. The city is a little too distant and greyed out to hold interest, and the figure is kind of generic.
5/10
Paperback Italian 2008 Edition
I do not know what happened here. Who is this figure supposed to be? I cannot for the life of me figure out which character this is. It’s a shame, because it’s well-done art with a cool character and costume design. The title and author text obscure the image, though, and the shadow on the text is so extreme it’s hilarious.
0/10
Hardcover Hungarian 2009 Edition
This is just boring. There’s no information conveyed here, nothing interesting or arresting to attract the viewer’s attention. The translucent overlay on the title is an odd choice.
2/10
Paperback Persian 2016 Edition
I believe this was originally a fanart of Kvothe (correct me if I’m wrong please), but it’s a good one. The tree shadow in the back is distracting and obscures the handle of the lute on his back, though. I wish there was more here – it feels very spare in an unintentional way.
6/10
Hardcover Georgian 2016 Edition
Cloaked and hooded figure staring off into the distance, check. I’m not crazy about this one – the art is very soft in a blurred kind of way, and it reads as a little humdrum. The tower in the distance is quite dull – it looks like a modern office building.
4/10
Hardcover Italian October 2016 Edition
The title text is a little too high – I don’t like how it covers the figure’s chin. It’s not a bad idea to make Kvothe’s green eyes a focal point, and it’s certainly more of an original idea than most of these covers have shown. But the muted color pallete drags the whole mood down. It’s not evocative, just kind of damp.
5/10
Hardcover 10th Anniversary French November 2019
I LOVE this cover. It’s gorgeous. I love the gold foil, love the text, love the clouds. It’s stunning and timeless. Amazing.
10/10
Hardcover Latvian October 2013 Edition
It’s a cloaked figure with a city in the distance, but he’s NOT looking at the city! What!! I’m rather surprised at how few covers feature Kvothe actually playing the lute – this may be the only one, actually. I don’t like the bottom fade, and I think the design is a little generic fantasy. But it’s a nice balance, and the title text is fancy and eye-catching.
7/10
Paperback Polish 2017 Edition
This cover artist also clearly wasn’t working off an excerpt from the book. The character design is so off and unlike Kvothe, except for the cloak. Wall texture looks like a photo manipulation, which is cheap. This whole thing is bad.
0/10
Hardcover Russian 2015 Edition
What is with the Stonehenge imagery? And why is that guy floating off of Stonehenge in a modern hoodie? Why is that one leaf in the top right so huge? Why is the title text red and difficult to read? At least there’s a broken lute, I guess.
1/10
Paperback Chinese May 2012 Edition
This is incredibly lazy and the photoshop job is terrible and generic. Zero effort was put into this cover.
0/10
Hardcover Russian 2011 Edition
I’ve been pretty harsh on Russia, mostly because the Russian covers have been terrible. This is ok-ish. It’s very generic fantasy, and the castle looks like Hogwarts. But it has visual interest, even if the title text color is garish.
2/10
Japanese 2017 Edition
I quite love that they turned Kvothe into an anime character. And he’s doing stuff, too, and not just staring out into the middle distance. There’s so much imagery of the broken lute in these covers, so it’s refreshing to see the other part of this scene – when Kvothe loses his shit and finally calls the name of the wind. Fun cover, good artwork. The red title text works here because it matches Kvothe’s hair.
9/10
WORST:
BEST:
#The name of the wind#kingkiller chronicle#patrick rothfuss#book cover art#books#apologies for poor image quality i was working with what god and goodreads gave me#which was variable image quality i guess#I've been told I'm very judgemental so I decided to put those judgey skills to good use
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Why So Jaded Chapter 8
FFN AO3
Enjoy.
Chapter 8
Violet was all too happy to get Buddy out of SEB and even let him drive her SUV to where they needed to go on her first official "Raid Day". Where all the "spiders" would be "sleeping" and it would give Buddy and Violet some breathing room.
"Oh my God, may the heavens themselves bless you, I almost forgot how nice it is to drive and not be driven around everywhere." Buddy thanked her gratefully as he drove her very nice SUV around Metroville, surprisingly remembering his way around here as he marveled at how the city had grown and developed since he drove around in it last.
"So are we clear?" Buddy breathed.
"Yes, all the "spiders" are sleeping. They're not gone but they're sleeping. And I've been practicing turning some that Phillip doesn't control and isn't keeping track of off and on again along with every other one I can get my hands on so I can turn them on and off on my own." Violet divulged.
"You do realize that you are officially the coolest person I know right? Like that is mind blowing cool." Buddy told her which got her to giggle as he drove them to their first destination because Buddy had surprised Violet with breakfast in his apartment.
"Thanks, I try, I just needed to witness them being put to sleep in order to figure out how to do it. Because all I've been able to do before is just know that they're on and where they are. But that's it, I mean there have been a few that I've purposefully overpowered and fried. Like turning a burner on its highest setting. But I hadn't been able to figure out how to turn it down." Violet continued.
"That's a really good metaphor." Buddy realized.
"Thanks." Violet grinned and Buddy looked over to see her hand resting on her arm rest and resisted the urge to just reach over and hold her hand before they went to a butcher shop to get their main course as Buddy was all too happy to give her some pointers and how to pick out a great steak or chop, and then it was onto a Merry Cherry to order a good cake for dessert that Violet would be picking up Saturday morning and then to a big box store to get all kinds of things, from a playpen and toys for the kids to other ingredients and then they stopped for lunch at one of Violet's favorite places to get lunch on her days off when she wasn't in a suit, which was a 'FUBU' Mexican place which she explained was a "For Us, By Us" Mexican place and Buddy was impressed when she spoke flawless Spanish in ordering for them.
"How many languages do you speak?" Buddy asked.
"A lot." Violet answered.
"How many is 'a lot'." Buddy posed curiously.
"Take a guess." Violet prompted.
"Obviously, at least two." Buddy guessed as he dug into the chips and salsa.
"Higher." Violet gestured for him to up his guess as she helped him decimate the delicious chips and salsa because both were super fresh and delicious.
"Five?" Buddy blinked and his eyebrows rose in surprise when she gestured to go higher.
"Ten?" Buddy pressed.
"Close, 12, complete fluent languages."
"What are they? Can you tell me?" Buddy prodded.
"English, Latin- and it's the Latin that made learning Italian and Spanish a breeze but I learned Mexican Spanish first and then Spain Spanish second. Let's see- I know French, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Russian and lastly Portuguese, I know bits and pieces of Swedish, German, Hindi and Greek. So technically more like 16. But I have to because Phillip is a world traveler and businessman and wants to make sure that he understands what everyone around him is saying, because again, paranoid." Violet explained.
"That and I already knew most of those before I ever worked for him because of my other work." Violet shrugged nonchalantly.
"And that's why you're the best at what you do." Buddy realized.
"It's one of the things, yes." Violet agreed before their tacos and other ingredients were brought out.
"Ok, these tacos are already amazing but to make them better, squeeze the lime to cut the fat, a spoonful of rice, a scoop of refried beans, a dash of mole, cover in queso, and just a dab of the green salsa unless you love really spicy then add the red and viola, the perfect taco." Violet urged as she did what she preferred to her own tacos as Buddy copied her pattern as they lifted their tacos and bumped them together.
"Cheers," they both smiled at each other before they each took their first bites before Buddy outright moaned and Violet giggled again and hummed in agreement.
"Oh, oh this is amazing." Buddy praised between mouthfuls.
"Now you see why I like to come here. FUBU anything is always better than the "mainstream" version and these are handmade, hand pressed corn tortillas that were being made as we were ordering and you always double up on the tortillas." Violet appraised.
"How many other little gems like this have you found in the city?" Buddy asked.
"Oh, dozens. Any and every kind of ethnic food you can think of, all of them 'FUBU's' . A year ago, in an effort to get a break from all the spiders, I would take myself out to lunch all on my own, I'd leave all the electronics in the car and park it like down the street and sometimes over a street from where I was really going and take like an hour and a half lunches, trying to find all these little hole in the wall places where there wasn't so many watching eyes and listening ears. And along the way, I found some amazing food and then I never showed any of them to him. Because I didn't want him to invade what little spaces of freedom and breathing room I had found. Not that he would be caught dead in any eatery that didn't have a five star rating and at least one Michelin star."
"So why are you bringing me to a place like this?" Buddy asked.
"Because I have a very good feeling you won't invade them. That you'll appreciate sharing them with me, and if anything happens and I disappear, it'll be one of the few places I'll reappear in." Violet answered softly.
"Well, count me honored and privileged then and if I'm ever in a position that I think I'm being tailed, I won't come anywhere near here or anywhere else you would take me, cause I would hate for an invasion, much less an infestation to take place." Buddy vowed.
"Good." Violet smiled appreciatively.
Once they finished lunch, which ended up taking a few hours because they got lost in conversation, they went to Violet's favorite wine and liquor store that was huge because they had everything under the sun where Buddy felt like a kid in a candy store as Violet showed him all her favorites and made suggestions based on his chosen menu and Buddy noticed that the more the day progressed, the closer to him she came, to the point that she was always taking his arm when they were walking side by side or simply standing looking at wines and other spirits and he was all too happy to get her doors for her and did his best to be a perfect gentleman which Violet appreciated and it was there in the cold room of the liquor store where Violet and Buddy were staring at one of many walls of floor to ceiling craft beer before none other than Keith and Greg showed up since they just got off of work and stopped in their tracks and stared when they saw Buddy in there with Violet as they huddled together in the cold room, trying to pick out beers but Violet didn't really drink beer and Buddy didn't either so they weren't sure what exactly they were looking at.
"Bud?" They called out before Buddy turned his head.
"Hey guys." Buddy greeted happily as Violet put on a friendly smile since she had already been running background checks on them and recognized them from meeting them in Vegas when Buddy had introduced them to her formally at the casino.
"Are you out on a walk?" They teased Buddy.
"He is, I figured if I held his hand, he wouldn't have to be on a leash." Violet answered with a shit eating grin which got them all to laugh as she slipped her hand into Buddy's and held it for emphasis but wouldn't let it go and Buddy was unbelievably pleased about that and gently squeezed it a little in appreciation.
"It would look a little strange." Greg allowed.
"Especially when he has to wear a shock collar to go with it." Violet clicked her teeth with a wink that got all of them to erupt into further laughter as Buddy's cheeks were beet red along with his ears and suddenly the cold room wasn't so cold anymore.
"So you're into that kind of thing?" Keith teased Violet.
"No, it was just a dig." Violet answered with a shake of her head.
"Damn." Buddy sarcastically snapped his fingers in his other hand in mock disappointment as Violet raised a challenging brow at him.
"I mean, whew, am I glad you're not." Buddy re-answered with a cheesy grin which earned some snickers from his friends as Violet just chuckled and shook her head.
"I'm gonna go back out and check out the cordials with the cart and warm back up, you guys can stay and pick out beer, help him pick out something you guys will like and enjoy on Saturday." Violet offered sweetly before she excused herself and Buddy immediately missed her by his side.
"Dude!" Keith quietly congratulated as he came and did the handshake hug with Buddy.
"Bud, be careful, you're playing with fire." Greg warned as he did the same.
"I know there's a risk for both of us, that's why we're just friends." Buddy reassured Greg.
"You didn't look "just friends" when we came in, you guys looked like 'cute couple' and even 'wow what's a dime like her doing with a nickel like him'." Keith murmured as he got to work getting some really good beers for Buddy to take to Violet which earned a humph from Buddy.
"Really? I'm a five." Buddy deadpanned.
"Four, five was generous." Greg added with a playful punch to the shoulder as Buddy gave him an unimpressed look.
"Sad part is I agree. So what beers should we get?" Buddy asked.
"Oh Dragon's Milk for sure. We need to cover the bases, we need to get a good stout or two, perhaps a porter, maybe a couple of lagers and pilsners and IPA's to round it out." Keith urged as he started pulling out what looked good.
"You and craft beers." Greg just shook his head at Keith who started handing him six packs and four packs before he handed the others to Buddy to hold.
"Yeah, but I'm grateful because anything other than whiskey or vodka and I'm lost." Buddy shrugged.
"Speaking of how are you doing with that?" Greg asked.
"Doing good, surprisingly." Buddy answered honestly.
"Well with a tall glass of water like the one you're with. I'd think you'd want to stay sober so you don't miss a second of her." Keith answered before he snagged two dessert beers himself.
"This is true." Buddy agreed with a fond grin.
"You know, even though she's kind of off limits. She did look pretty happy with you and vice versa. Whenever I see her with Phillip, she looks so serious and looks like she's just always on and always working and can't relax. With you it's like she's just hanging out and it's a lot more casual." Keith appraised.
"And you would be absolutely right and that's why she likes hanging out with me more than him." Buddy grinned victoriously.
"Just don't screw the pooch by screwing the boss' pet." Greg warned.
"Like I said, just friends...so far." Buddy admitted as he tried to keep his smile in check because the thought of anything more was too much to hope for yet strangely well within reach.
"So you've thought about it." Greg prodded.
"Yeah, I mean I'm still alive and have a pulse don't I?" Buddy returned as his friends hummed and murmured their agreement to that sentiment.
"Yeah I thought I saw your smile grow a little brighter when she held your hand and teased you like a proper girlfriend." Keith grinned.
"Ok, I don't know about you guys but I'm freezing my ass off in here, can we be done? Please?" Buddy requested before Keith grabbed one more.
"Yes, now we're done." Keith assured him as the three managed to get out and look through the store for Violet who was perusing the cheeses because the liquor store had a couture snack market to go with all the wine and spirits and had a really good selection and was putting some cheeses and crackers together and was getting hit on by some guy who was trying to lean into her personal space while he spit his best game at her and judging by her own body language, she was doing what she could to ignore him.
"Here's your chance, play her boyfriend and scare off the creeper, do it, do it, do it!" Keith urged in an excited whisper to Buddy who was already picking up his steps to come to her rescue.
"Honey? You pick out the cheeses you wanted?" Buddy took a chance and asked as he slipped the beer into the cart next to her and the smile Violet gave him was pure magic.
"Almost, I can't decide between the brie and the camembert. Did you guys get enough beer?" Violet giggled as Keith and Greg unloaded their beers into the cart too as she held up the cheeses in question to Buddy.
"I think we should get both." Buddy decided.
"Very smart decision Dear. I knew there was a reason I married you." Violet cooed as she stole into his side after she slipped them into the basket of the cart with the others.
"Oh, I..I didn't see a…" the guy tried to say as he started backing up at the sight of Buddy and his friends around him and knew he was outmanned and outgunned.
"Oh it's at the jewelers, one of the accent diamonds was coming loose." Violet waived off. "You ready to check out Handsome?" Violet urged Buddy as she practically moved Buddy into place pushing the cart so she could still wrap her hand around the crook of his elbow as he pushed it.
"If you are Darlin." Buddy answered as he followed her lead.
"Then let's go." Violet agreed as they walked to the check out as Violet let her head fall on Buddy's shoulder as they waited in line before she kissed his shoulder.
"Thanks for the save." Violet thanked him as she let her lips linger there and the utter delight in her eyes had Buddy hoping and praying and wishing on every lucky star he had that one day he'd make that a reality.
"You're welcome." Buddy answered before he took a chance and kissed her forehead sweetly which practically made her beam a happy smile at him as Keith and Greg knew then, that there were serious sparks there and were torn between being happy for their friend yet terrified for them both.
"You guys are gonna help us load all this up right?" Violet put to Keith and Greg who were buying their own packs of beer as they stood in line behind Violet and Buddy.
"Yeah, of course." They agreed from their place behind them and once through the line, the guys did their best "Tetris" it all into the back of Violet's SUV with everything else they had bought.
"Guys, it would be appreciated if not a word is breathed about what happened in there." Buddy reminded his friends as Violet was happy and relieved that he said something instead of her having to.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Greg answered.
"I didn't even know anything even happened." Keith shrugged.
"Thanks guys." Violet answered appreciatively as Buddy smiled proudly.
"Well, say hi to the missus' from us. See you Saturday guys." Buddy bid them before he opened the door for Violet to get in the SUV before going around and getting in it himself and was pleasantly surprised when Violet laced her fingers in his after he got the SUV in gear.
"Thank you for saying something to them, it meant that I didn't have to slip back into Ms. Parr and could just stay Violet." Violet thanked him in a soft murmur but her adoring smile was utterly divine.
"I didn't want that to happen either, if there's anything I can say or do to keep you as Violet, doesn't matter who I'm with, just let me know." Buddy returned as he chanced a gentle squeeze to her hand and was happy when she squeezed back but made no move to remove her hand from his.
"So where did you want to go out to dinner?" Buddy asked.
"Ok, I know another really good place." Violet answered as he gave him directions on where to go where she brought him to a dim sum/tapas place that was run by a couple where the wife was Chinese and her husband was from Spain and it worked beautifully as Violet once again ordered off both menus in both languages since their server was the couple's daughter and was herself trilingual, flipping from one to the other flawlessly to get all her favorites and Buddy was utterly enchanted to see her smile so excitedly and once all the food came out and soon covered every surface of the table and the dim sum had to be triple stacked because the tapas couldn't be, Buddy just beamed a proud smile to see her do a happy dance as she uncovered everything before she went around and identified everything that she ordered before she got her own plate and began getting one of everything, using her chopsticks like a pro before going for the soup dumplings first and walked Buddy through trying to eat them without burning his mouth before they alternated between the tapas and dim sum, slowly but surely getting through most of it, and making sure to at least try one of everything and Buddy felt he would have to loosen his belt and ate until he was just about stuffed.
"Ok, we have to get one more, it's a dessert dumpling." Violet said as she waived down the waitress and ordered what she wanted before she nodded and left again.
"I don't know if I could eat much more Vi." Buddy admitted as he took a breath, and tried not to belch too loudly.
"Just one more bite, find that extra pocket everyone keeps for dessert and get it ready to receive amazingness." Violet urged as she organized what they would be taking home in leftovers in the to-go boxes and in a few moments one last steamer box was brought out and Buddy could smell chocolate.
"Behold, chocolate soup dumplings, with chocolate, Nutella and bananas." Violet revealed as she took the top off as Buddy oohed. Then he carefully got the little pillow of mochi dough surrounding the gooey center and Buddy melted in his seat when he bit into it.
"See? Best last bite." Violet urged as she began to bire into one of her own.
"Do you know how to make this?" Buddy asked.
"Yes I do. The mochi dough is hard but the filling is easy." Violet answered as she finished hers just about the same time Buddy did.
"Do you want another or are you good?" Violet asked.
"I'm good, now if I take another bite, I'll pop." Buddy admitted.
"Wouldn't want that to happen." Violet replied with a fond smile before she checked the time.
"Well, we have two hours before our 12 hours of freedom is up. How do you want to spend it?" Violet asked.
"I don't care. However you want to spend it." Buddy returned.
"Could you do me a favor?" Violet asked thoughtfully as she tilted her head curiously.
"Name it." Buddy furthered.
"As sad and shallow as this is going to sound, I have not hung out socially with anyone except for other "gifted" individuals. In...well in years and being from a "gifted" family, all they know are other "gifted" people too and with other gifted people, you don't worry about hiding your gifts cause everyone has them and we always play and try to one up each other. So to try to be "normal" yet feel comfortable is going to be especially hard for me. It's going to be a challenge for me to stay Violet especially when I'm around anyone and everyone, but you, as Ms. Parr or simply "Vi" with my family. So...would you help me pick something to wear? Like set the tone, something actually casual but nice but not...intimidating. Because Ms. Parr is always commanding and intimidating wherever she goes and I don't want to be like that with your friends cause they'll never feel comfortable around me and if they're not comfortable, it's going to ruin it and this is your first social visit and I want it to go well and I don't want to ruin it for you. And I would ask Jack but he would see to it that I come in head to toe designer labels." Violet confessed lowly as they once again leaned across the table so they could drop their voices and have a private conversation despite the very busy restaurant.
"Of course." Buddy agreed.
"Awesome, then let me pay for dinner and we'll go." Violet offered and once they got their things, Violet directed Buddy to one of the high rise apartment buildings in town. Not the most luxurious, but close.
"Ok, now go to the tenth floor of the parking garage and park in parking space 10245." Violet directed as Buddy did as she asked, still not letting go of her hand as he drove his way up the parking garage. Not surprised when he saw a sea of Mercedes Benz, BMW's, Land Rovers and even some classic cars and sports cars before he found the right spot and parked her SUV into it before they got out and walked into the building where a doorman let them in from behind tinted glass of the entry way.
"Good evening Ms. Parr."
"Good evening James, how's Linda faring today?" Violet returned politely.
"She's doing better, thanks for asking." He answered before he looked questioningly from Violet to Buddy.
"Awesome, this is my guest Mr. Bartholomew Pine, This is Mr. James Conner. " Violet introduced before the two shook hands inside the entryway.
"Welcome to Sky Way, Mr. Pine." James said as he opened the door both of them as Violet came into the building and into the lobby of the floor.
"Good evening Ms. Parr." The receptionist greeted cheerfully.
"Good evening Samantha, how are you this evening?" Violet politely greeted.
"I'm doing great, thanks for asking, you have three packages today. Let me go get those for you from cold storage." She said as she quickly left and went into the office behind the desk and promptly returned with three packages, which were chilled before Buddy offered to carry them for Violet which Violet was grateful for before Buddy went with Violet to her apartment where she opened the door for him so he could get in and Violet blew out a breath of relief when she could tell that the "spiders" were still sleeping in her apartment.
"You can put them on the island." Violet directed as she got her actual mail that had been scattered on the floor since it overflowed the little mail basket and threw a small forcefield around all of it and pulled it back to her hand.
"That's a neat trick." Buddy commented as he passed her in the little hallway.
"Thanks, Jack calls it my 'yo-yo' powers. It comes in pretty handy so I don't have to bend over and pick anything up off the floor." Violet murmured a little distractedly as she looked over her mail and sighed as she began to look through it and started to organize it according to what it was before she used her powers to yo-yo two letter openers into her hand once they both came to stand at her kitchen island.
"You get the packages, I get the mail." Violet offered as she handed him one of them.
"Ok." Buddy agreed and took it and started opening her boxes which were all meal kits, which was why they were in cold storage to keep the contents fresh before he put all the food away for her as Violet opened her mail as she opened her bills first and looked those over before she opened all her other mail, ignoring the junk mail and going straight to the checks and opened those before she got a pen from a drawer in the island and signed the checks then got her phone out and took pictures of her checks to deposit them into her accounts directly before she put the checks into an envelope with the date written on the envelope to signify which checks she got which days before she put the envelope into a filing cabinet under the month folder.
Buddy couldn't help but notice that her income was far exceeding her expenses but kept his observations to herself as he realized her apartment was just as nice, if not nicer than his own apartment space. Quite luxurious and modern actually.
"You have a nice apartment." Buddy praised.
"Thanks, I'm never here enough to enjoy it, I only sleep here and eat about two meals a week here. Phillip insisted that I stay at a "safe, protected and respectable" place, so that left either here or a place at Green Gardens or Garden Square where he owns the penthouse there and that was way too close to comfort for me. Besides it has a spider and a mole problem and in two years when I'm not working for Phillip, I'll very happily be walking away from it." Violet answered as she took off her jacket and put it into the closet.
"I can take your jacket." Violet offered before Buddy took off his jacket and handed it to her.
"A mole problem?" Buddy repeated.
"Yeah not only does this place have thirty something "spiders" but the door men at both the ground level and this floor and half the reception staff and every single one of my neighbors on all sides are on Phillip's payroll to keep tabs on me and if I had to guess Phillip just got either two calls or texts or whatever saying that I've taken you to my place and so the spiders are about to wake up here, any minute." Violet predicted as she closed her eyes and focused on them around the place.
"Jeeze. Yeah, gilded cage." Buddy realized as he looked around and suddenly frowned at all of it, wondering where the spiders had their webs.
"Yup. So, let's go to my closet." Violet urged as Buddy followed her to her frankly gorgeous bedroom before she opened up a door that led to the most amazing walk in closet that was practically full of gorgeous dressy business clothes, handbags and heels before Buddy noticed that Violet stopped and stared at a little sliver of regular looking clothes before she took them all off the rack and then laid them over the bed before she decided to try to pull just a few of her more flattering blouses.
"Too much?" Violet asked as she held them out for Buddy as she held them in front of herself.
"No, like if you were to pair that with a pair of jeans it would be just fine. Granted Tammy, Lisa and Beth are probably going to dress up just a little bit too. You don't have to compete with them and you don't have to be the most beautiful woman in the room, I mean you will be no matter what, but that's just my opinion, but this isn't a competition. Just be Violet. Wear what you would if you were hosting a get together at your place with people you're comfortable with. Wear what you would be comfortable in. Remember almost all of them have kids and kids are messy so don't wear anything that won't be the end of the world if Beth's baby throws up on you or the kids decide to finger paint you with ketchup or something." Buddy explained as Violet just smiled appreciatively at him.
"Well, these are dry clean only, so something washable." Violet decided as she put them back and went through her other blouses before she came across one of her favorites that would 1. Make her look beautiful. 2. Was machine washable. 3. Not too dressy and it would go with the necklace Buddy had gotten for her that she had yet to take off.
"This." Violet decided before she held it up to her jeans before she found a nice pair of jeans to go with it.
"Perfect." Buddy nodded in approval.
"Are you sure it's not too dressy?" Violet questioned.
"You'll be fine. Honestly you could show up in just a plain t shirt and jeans and be fine." Buddy reassured her.
"Well, ok, well how about I pack, this and...this. Just in case Beth's baby practically leaks out of every orifice." Violet decided as she gathered what she wanted and put them into a small duffle bag before throwing in some unmentionables quickly from her dresser as Buddy simply sat on the bench at the foot of her bed and contentedly watched as she got what she wanted from around the room as he fantasized about how she would pack if they were actually together and he had told her that he was taking them away on vacation as he thought of all the places he would like to take her as he started to fidget with the skin around his left ring finger, wondering what kind of wedding ring she would get him if they ever did or could get married. He remembered fantasizing the same thing with Tali. But part of him was grateful that she had turned him down, because if she hadn't he would have never grown out of his obsession. And would have she been truly happy with him? Especially the person he was back then? Or would she have felt the way Violet felt about Phillip? Grin and bear it and then bolt at the first opportunity as he realized what had been Tali's breaking point. When he had shot down the plane that had them all on it. He had been so hell bent on revenge on Mr. Incredible that he hadn't even felt the slightest bit of guilt or shame in ordering to kill kids. He had no respect for the sanctity of life, especially young and innocent life and how much he deserved what he had gotten. He had earned it. That was for sure.
"You ok?" Violet asked as she noticed Buddy get withdrawn as he seemed to stare off into space before she settled next to him and reached out and held his hand again and brought him out of it.
"Yeah." Buddy took a deep breath and tried to clear his head of his accusing thoughts.
"Just deep in thought." Buddy tried to brush off.
"About what?" Violet asked curiously.
"The spiders are still sleeping." Violet whispered as she decided to rest her chin on his shoulder again and give him a curious look.
"Just wondering how close the parallels are between Tali and I and you and Phillip." Buddy confessed and Violet took a deep breath through her nose.
"Would you be surprised to learn not a lot?" Violet returned.
"I was an asshole, how could she stand me?" Buddy questioned, almost rhetorically before Violet lifted her head and just shook her head with a fond grin of her lips.
"Because of who she was at the time herself. You were strong and powerful and knew how to throw your weight around and she felt that you were simply misunderstood and she was genuinely attracted to all of that, especially when you treated her like a goddess and catered to her every need, want and whim and she was bound and determined to turn the two of you into a powerhouse couple. Be the next Beyoncé and Jay-Z but of the tech world. She appreciated your genius and knew it would just be a matter of time before the rest of the world recognized and appreciated it too and she was in it for the long haul. And if you hadn't tried to blow me and my family up and then when we survived how you treated us when you captured us, even as kids. Those were the steps too far and really bothered her conscience as they should have anyone. Otherwise she would have stayed. But messing with kids was her line in the sand as is mine. And when you stomped on it, that shook her hard enough to really see you for who you really were in that moment and it made her question if her genuine attraction was to you or to everything around you and question if it was worth it and she decided it wasn't. So she acted accordingly." Violet explained, not sugar coating it but telling him the truth, but still trying to be tactful.
"She made the right choice." Buddy concluded.
"She did." Violet nodded, proud of him for seeing that too.
"But the biggest difference is, her relationship with you was built on genuine, mutual respect that grew from there. Phil's relationship with me isn't. It's built off of power and control and manipulation and secrets and lies on both sides and Phillip adores Invisigirl and Ms. Parr -which is what his own fantasy of who I am is- that I have to live up to whether it's real or not and it doesn't matter how much I like it or hate it, it's part of the performance and he's happy with the act and buys the performance over and over again and he's never bothered to get to know Violet, the real Violet anyway. But you have, so our relationship is built off of um, let's see…." Violet took a deep breath and sighed as she brought his hand into her lap to consider how nicely their fingers interlaced together as she once again was drawn to all the scars on his hand as she couldn't help but trace them as she searched her thoughts and feelings for a moment.
"I feel ours is built on genuine mutual respect, honesty, understanding, sympathy and empathy and kindness. Which all good relationships should have and be built on to begin with, no matter what kind of relationship it is. And it's why it works as well as it does. Even with our shared history." Violet honestly appraised as Buddy carefully considered her words and was elated that it was even that much.
"What do you think?" Violet posed as she turned to him and looked at him curiously.
"I agree. Even though I'm not all that respectable, I'm a…"
"Don't. Don't start down that self deprecating pity party of a path. You're better than that and it's not fair to the guy you are now. In the past you were misguided and self righteous and vengeful. And then Karma handed you your ass and you humbly took the beating. And it's what you did after and since- that's mattered and it's what you're doing now that matters the most and who you are in this moment that matters too. Especially to me. Forgive yourself for the rest. I know I have." Violet appraised as the two shared a meaningful look and just as Violet gave his lips a glance as Buddy did the same and was seriously considering kissing her, her eyes went wide and she withdrew and bolted a few steps from him.
"Spiders are waking up." Violet whispered as she did her best to look and act "natural" again but even Buddy could see, the Violet he adored, shrunk back and Ms. Parr stepped back into the fore, he saw it in her posture and body language and Buddy was once again filled with anger and resentment towards Phillip, for doing such a thing to her. She deserved better than to live in fear, even in her own private space. Which should be sacred.
"Well, it's about that time Mr. Pine, we should be heading back, thanks for all your help." Violet thanked him as she put the bag over her shoulder and held onto it tightly as Buddy got up and left with her again and even in her SUV, Violet stayed withdrawn and eerily quiet as Buddy drove them back to SEB and the whole way over Buddy just got more and more angry and resentful to Phillip.
Violet stowed her bag of clothes in Buddy's room, in the closet before she helped Buddy unload everything else from her SUV and it was almost enjoyable to see and feel them slipping back into such domestic tasks in an effortless tandem. Even as mundane as putting away groceries was. But even Buddy could tell that Violet stayed withdrawn as Ms. Parr had taken over fully again because there was a surgical precision to her movements. She was trying to get things done as quickly and thoroughly as she could. Just a step below rushing before Buddy simply stopped and held her hands.
"The spiders won't always be around." Buddy breathed.
"I know. It's hard to know when they'll go to sleep again." Violet answered, her words barely a whisper before she reluctantly pulled her hands from his with an apologetic look as she finished what she needed to.
"Thanks for today though, I'll see you in the morning Mr. Pine." Violet said as she put her shoes back on before she left and drove home and finished putting her mail away and broke down her boxes and put them in a closet where she kept spare boxes to ship things out and was grateful that the "spiders" in her own apartment had been put back to sleep before she got ready for bed, brushing her hair and braiding it so it wouldn't tangle in her sleep and when she went to bed, she thought over all the events of the day in her head and actually smiled softly in the darkness. Buddy had been amazing, all day, and for him to slip into 'boyfriend/husband' at the liquor store had been so natural for both of them. Had her wishing maybe someday...because she couldn't deny or dismiss the feelings she had started to develop for him. It had started off as just two birds in side by side cages, sharing a toy or two. And it developed and bloomed from there. Natalia had even said that she had always been surprised when her attachment to Buddy had seemingly grown overnight and how one day she was his employee, and the next, she was his everything in all things. And how that seemed for her to be the same. One day, he was an an enemy, the next- an obligation and objective, the day after, an acquaintance, the next day he was a friend, and the day after that it felt like he was so much more but she was so scared of putting any names or labels on any of it because she didn't want to try to force it into anything or cut it into shape before it could fully sprout. She was genuinely curious to see how much more this would develop and bloom, like a growing vine despite the concrete around it.
But there was the issue of his name. Buddy wasn't exactly the most romantic name to call out during the throws of passion, Bud was informal but not quite right, although all his friends called him Bud. Buddy was a little infantilizing. Buddy is what you called other little boys on the playground when you didn't know their names. Bart was too old. Barret could possibly work before she got her phone and looked up common nicknames for Bartholomew. Barty was ridiculous. Tolly was too much like Tali. So that left...Barly, possible, but maybe too similar to barley, the grain, Barret, kind of like the gun, but it was the only good alternative she could like. But she needed something other than dead give away pet names, like Honey, Darling, Baby, Sweetie, Handsome that kind of thing that Phillip would immediately flag and get jealous and suspicious over, but still something a little more intimate than 'Bud' . Something she could use that was special but not something that would make others look at her strangely if she started to use it. It would be good on Raid days to call him something to go with Violet or Vi. Violet still came to the conclusion that Barret was as good as it was going to get because Barret and Violet did go together. Maybe he had something he preferred? Maybe something to do with his middle name. Maybe. But for now, she just needed sleep.
Violet found herself walking through another very luxurious home like space, normally, such a thing would make her a little nervous but she wasn't because Buddy was with her and held her hand as he excitedly showed her everything and explained what was what. And she was dressed casually and happily walked around barefoot as the windows were open and there was a warm breeze and bright sunshine coming in from all the windows, most of which were open and she could almost hear the ocean and to see him so animated and excited as she showed it off made her happy that he was happy. And that's all that mattered.
"And this is the bedroom, it has the best views." Buddy insisted as he opened the double doors for her before he brought her into the space as Violet softly gasped. It was even prettier than any bedroom she had ever seen in any magazine.
"We need to check out the bed." Buddy immediately hopped up on the bed, his own bare feet sinking into the softness of the mattress and the covers as he held out his hand to beckon her before she stood up on it with him before he started to bounce which got her to laugh as she started bouncing too before the two of them were outright jumping and bouncing all over the bed, laughing their asses off before they happily fell down and crashed into the bed on their backs next to each other as their laughter eventually died down.
"So what do you think of the house?" Buddy asked as they rolled to face each other.
"I love it. Even if you had not designed and practically built it yourself, and even if we had just bought it, I would still love it." Violet insisted as the two scooted closer to each other until they were chest to chest with Buddy's hand softly stroking down her back and her side as Violet reached around him and scratched his back, dipping her hands under his shirt to scratch at his bare skin, which earned her an appreciative keen from him as he rolled over her slightly to one- pin her to the bed, two- give her more access to his back.
"Really? You're not just saying that?" Buddy asked.
"I mean every word of it. Honest. It's perfect, you did so good, I'm so proud of you." Violet cooed before he dipped her head and kissed her happily as she kissed him back with all she was worth as the two of them seemed to follow a familiar pattern and chain of events as they pulled down the covers down as they tried to bare the other before they were finally rejoined.
"I'm not hurting you or the baby am I?" Buddy asked as he palmed her belly which had barely bulged as he positioned himself over her and began stroking himself into her.
"No, you're not, you're fine, I'm just happy the house is done before they come." Violet reassured him as she pulled him to herself so she could feel more of his body weight anchoring her in all the ways she needed it to before he continued.
"Me too." Buddy cooed in her ear before he playfully bit it before blazing a trail from her ear down her neck to her shoulder as Violet keened and sighed happily, letting him do as he pleased as she was all too happy to receive his affections as he poured all the love he possessed into her as she did the same.
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The Society with No Name
The Society with No Name
I had taken the train in from our temporary accommodation in the English countryside to deal with a few pressing matters back in London. Our house in Hackney has been packed, and while most of it will go to storage some is on its way to Portugal. We have taken offices there, and are preparing to sign the papers for our new home in Portugal in the coming days.
There are many things I will miss about London, though these days of plague mean that I miss them already. The bookshops and private libraries, the lectures and occasional events that bring me out into the night. But this country has become a shambles, and more sensible accommodation is in our future.
Among those things that I will think of even in the brightest of Portuguese sunshine is a place that I have come to consider a second home in London. One of the few reclusive lairs in central London that affords one such as myself a bit of respite, and a proper coffee, or whiskey as the case may be.
Located down a street too narrow for any but foot traffic, two right turns from Leicester Square station, is a rather peculiar building that seems to have grown like a weed among the more traditional structures around it.
Painted these days where there is wood on its two facades in a dark blue, the building is narrow at its base, a corner slot some 20 feet on either of its two street facing sides. Stretching some five or so stories tall it is impossibly angled outward over the sidewalk as it rises. Not in any modernist architectural style, just in a centuries long battle with gravity.
The door is nondescript, black painted wood under a stone mantel that bears the number "13", though the vagaries of London's postal code system mean that it hasn't had that number as a street address since shortly after Queen Victoria expired.
If one were to knock at the door, no one would answer. To enter, one needs to have a key.
+++
I became a member or "key holder" of the society sometime during the summer of 2009. It had long been on the fringes of my social group, small though it has always been. Though it was only through a chance meeting of a standing member that I was invited to join.
As many will know I have spent my life politely declining membership in a range of secret societies, handshake clubs, and masonic fraternities dressed up in various historic ethnographic fashions. I have never been much on membership in anything, initiatory or otherwise. I am not a very social fellow when it comes down to it.
It was the complete lack of any "club" like structure that the society presented that drew my attention. Members are not encouraged to interact, no events public or otherwise are planned. One simply pays annual dues and receives a key that grants them access to the building, including a small lobby bar staffed 24 hours a day, a number of rooms of various sizes furnished with arrangements of chairs and tables with doors that can be closed, and access to one of the largest private esoteric libraries in the world, taking up an entire floor of the building.
Not only is one not compelled by the society to interact with other members, but if you have not been introduced it is considered impolite to attempt conversation. Ideal for the recluse who seeks a perfect Turkish espresso at 1am, with the least amount of social interaction possible.
When one has entered through the front of the building the hall is modestly lit, a short entry that has a coat room to one side and opens into a sort of lobby, with a cafe style bar set into the rear of a small room, a few chairs and a table or two along one wall and three booths along another.
The bartender on duty never comes from behind the bar to serve, and it is expected that each member bus their own tables before they leave. A hallmark of the society is courteousness.
Opposite the entry way across the tiny lobby is the staircase, which goes upward around a tattery old iron lift. The stairs creak as you climb them, but the hand railing is fixed solid. Not something that can be said for the lift.
I have ridden the lift on several occasions, each time being reminded why no one ever rides in the lift. The noise alone is enough to think a banshee was the operator.
One climbs the slender stairs, pausing on the occasional landing to peer out of the crooked windows onto the street below. No one ever seems to be on the streets when you look out of the windows, regardless of how crowded the streets were just moments ago when you were approaching the building.
On each floor the stairs open to a landing that leads into various rooms. Some more private than others. The rooms are decorated minimally, with shelves of books and curiosities left over the years by members.
On the third floor is the library.
+++
The origins of the society seem to have come out of a select group within the British supper club the "Ye Sette of Odd Volumes." Members of that organization seem to have acquired the building in the early 1900s and from there the society evolved.
It is unknown to current members who actually owns the building, or if the society holds it in some obscure trust. Though a general trust fund was setup in the 1950s and covers staff pay and building upkeep, the annual dues each member pays seem to come to about the required budget each year.
The building was built sometime in the 18th century, though from its ill fitting the upper few stories must have been a later addition. Typical of the period the rooms are mostly wood trimmed plaster walls. Each of the member rooms is painted in a particular colour scheme, though these seem to change as years go by.
As was typical of societies of the early 20th century membership is coed, with women being key holders from the beginning. The only restriction to membership is that members must live within commuting distance of London. Those members that leave the region must relinquish their key. It is intended as a place of solitude for those who need it in their dealings with the city, a place to coordinate and consult with the volumes in the library.
It is said among older members that the building was a well known opium den in the late 19th century, frequented by literary types and dragon chasing aristocrats. The layout of the rooms certainly lends itself to the idea of opium beds and servitors, with the rooms' high ceilings perfectly suited to smoke filled chambers.
The rooms on the top two floors of the building are more open, like small ballrooms. Though furnished with a few chairs they are easily emptied out for purposes privy to only the society members behind closed doors. These rooms, unlike those on the lower floors, have windows that can be opened. It is considered polite to book a room ahead on the calendar if one plans to need it for more than a day, though exceptions are often made.
+++
Unlike the other floors, which are divided into smaller rooms, the landing of the third floor has only a single door, made of glass and requiring a key to open, the same as the buildings front door. This is the entrance to the society's library, a densely packed but well organized room full of books, maps, papers and other ephemera.
The society's library grew out of the private libraries and individual donations of previous members of the society, usually upon their death. It takes up the entire third floor, with fiction and other non essential volumes found across the shelves of many of the members rooms on other floors.
The first member whose private collection was to form the core of the original library, who willed a portion of their collection to the society upon their death, was William Sharp, former Golden Dawn member and founder of the Celtic Society. After his collection was sorted other members began to add works, then as members passed on it became a custom for their private libraries to be donated to the society.
By the end of the second World War a librarian had been employed as part of the staff trust. Initially just a job of sorting and keeping records it has evolved into a more curatorial role as the members who donate their collections often have a great overlap in their private libraries' holdings and there is only so much space on the third floor.
Works from the library can not be removed from the building. Anyone attempting to do so is banned without recourse. They may be taken to the members rooms but must be signed out at the time, though signing out is on an honors system of a paper list on a clipboard near the library door. In the history of the society a book has never gone missing.
The holdings of the library are much of what you would expect, rare volumes, original manuscripts. The society holds the personal papers and effects of several of its former members. Possibly my favorite object in the library, though in no way occult, is a stack of love letters written between botanist and writer Edith Wheelwright and Beatrix Potter in the late 1920s. An eloquent longing preserved in a private way that will never be seen by public eyes. The two women's handwriting alone makes one ache with decadence.
+++
The gentleman who primarily works behind the bar is an eloquent older Italian who speaks a dozen languages in passing and can read one's tarot on a rainy day. He makes a distinguished espresso as well.
I have long attempted to get him to stock some pastries at the bar but he refuses, serving only liquids hot and cold. On days where I am holed up in one of the rooms I often pop around the corner to an unremarkable ramen noodle shop. A tiny place decorated in a trendy colourful style but a passing bowl of noodles if one knows how to order.
I was able, sometime after a year or so of being a key holder, to insist that the bar stock my preferred bourbon. Though I had to personally supply the first few bottles kept behind the counter they eventually began to replenish themselves.
I do run into friends who are also members occasionally on the stairs, though more often I am in the building to meet them directly during daylight hours. The hours I generally keep tend to be late, and while there are others who frequent the society at similarly nocturnal intervals, like myself, they keep to themselves and their business.
It will be a shame to have to hand in my key in the coming month, I will be unable to spend as much time as I would have liked here in this comfortable late 19th century chair, whose time for a reupholstering was ages since, and to look out of the window on the landing outside of the library, where no one ever passes by below regardless of the time of day, and the park across the way from the building seems to go unnoticed to anyone but the squirrels.
Perhaps London will lure me back one day, after the plague and the war have passed? Previous members in good standing are always welcome to return if they find themselves living full time in London again. In the meantime I drink a final espresso or two from Silvio, taking the bourbon with me, and spend some time in the library saying my goodbyes.
#skepticaloccultist#occult#folkwitch#occult books#grimoire#ritual magic#witch#witchcraft#wizard#secret society#london#witchesoflondon#witchy#bruja#bruxa#alchemy#necromancy#hedgewitch#cunning craft#magick#black magic#posioner's path#Veneficium#library#private library#bibliomania#bibliophile
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Scottish Sailors and Commanders
Although some may wonder but there was actually a Scottish Navy which was founded in the 11th century and peaked at the end of the 15th at the beginning of the 16th century. The troop not only grew to 38 ships, but the ships themselves were also successfully deployed in Scottish waters by English, Danish and Portuguese buccaneers.
James IV also added new shipyards and under his rule the first Lord High Admiral position was established. Most importantly, the Scots built the largest warship in the world at the time. The 240 foot long, 1,000 tonne Great Michael had a crew of 1,000 men and carried the famous Mons Meg cannon, a 22 inch giant of a weapon that is distinguished as the largest cannon in history. Founded in 1512, the Scots found Michael far too expensive to maintain. Within two years it was sold to France. Its new owners renamed it The Big Ship of Scotland and released it to the English. Later she fought in the Battle of Solent in 1545 and sunk an English ship.
Scotland relied largely on buccaneers in subsequent wars with England, but during the 19th century Scottish ships fought alongside English ships in various wars against France and Spain. In the 18th century the Scottish naval forces were united to those of Great Britain.
Perhaps this merger is also an explanation for the fact that there are very few representations and images of Scottish sailors or Commanders.
A scotish sailor wearing a kilt- Sailor’s farewell by John Hodges Benwell 1746-1800
Now it may be maybe only my impression but most of the time when i works my way through the history of the Royal Navy. Scottish personalities are mentioned only marginally unless they are really such an outstanding personality that you simply can't ignore them. like e.g. my all time favorite Lord badass Cochrane
But there were some and from the Commanders there were some really successful ones.
There we have a few:
Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721)
Born in Lower Largo, Fife, Alexander Selkirk spent a number of years as a buccaneer on the South Seas, but it was his actions on dry land that lent him notoriety. In 1703, on a privateering expedition, Selkirk argued with the commander about the vessel’s seaworthiness and chose to be put ashore on an uninhabited island rather than sail any further. Selkirk was rescued four years later, by which time he had developed his hunting and wood crafting skills. Many believe that Daniel Defoe based his fictional character, Robinson Crusoe, on Selkirk.
Samuel Greig (1736-1788)
Greig was born in Inverkeithing, Fife, and entered the Royal Navy early. He soon became renowned for his skill, zeal and attention to detail, and quickly rose to Lieutenant. He joined the Russian navy after the Russian Court asked the British to send skilled naval officers to help them and he soon rose to Captain. Greig distinguished himself first at the Battle of Chesma in 1770, where he bore down with fire ships and destroyed the entire Turkish fleet, and the Battle of Hogland against the Swedes in 1788. It was in the latter that Greig, or Count Orlov as he was then, contracted fever and died. He received a full Russian state funeral in Talinn.
Lord Thomas Cochrane the Seawolf (1775-1860)
Born near Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on 14 December 1775, Thomas Cochrane became the model for Hornblower and Jack Aubrey. During the Napoleonic Wars, Lord Thomas Cochrane’s ship, Speedy, captured 53 French ships and £75,000 in prize money in 13 months, but in 1814 he was dismissed when imprisoned for stock exchange fraud. A daring buccaneer, Cochrane successfully led the rebel navies in Chile, Brazil and Greece before being reinstated as a Rear-Admiral in 1832.
Admiral Andrew Wood (1450-1538)
‘Scotland’s Nelson’ was born in Upper Largo in Fife and owned two ships trading from Leith. Wood was also a privateer who preyed on English ships, and was the personal sea captain to James III. In 1488, Wood captured five English privateers and became an admiral in the Royal Scots Navy. In 1511, he took command of the Navy’s flagship, Great Michael, then the largest ship in Europe, and commanded the Scottish fleet against the English in 1513.
Charles John Napier (1786-1860)
Napier’s distinguished 60-year naval career included service in the Napoleonic Wars, Syrian War, Crimean War and the Anglo-American War of 1812-15. An innovator concerned with the development of iron ships, he was also a Liberal MP. During the Syrian War, Napier negotiated peace with Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali. ‘I do not know if I have done right in settling the eastern question,’ he wrote to Lord Minto. Napier was knighted in 1840 and became aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria in 1841. He had three nicknames: Black Charlie, because he was 14 stone and walked with limp; Mad Charlie, because of his eccentric behaviour; and Dirty Charlie, for his unsuitable clothing.
Aleksey Greig (1775-1845)
Son of Samuel Greig, Aleksey Greig studied at the Royal High School of Edinburgh and on HMS Culloden under Admiral Trowbridge. After serving in the Royal Navy from 1785-1796 he returned to Russia to take part in expeditions against revolutionary France. In 1801 he was banished to Siberia for arguing with Emperor Paul about the treatment of British prisoners, but distinguished himself in 1807 during the Battle of Athos and Battle of the Dardanelles. In 1816 he was put in command of the Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol.
John Paul Jones (1747-1792)
The son of a gardener, Jones was born in Kirkcudbright, began his naval career aged 13 as an apprentice, and sailed aboard a number of British merchant and slave ships. The vicious flogging of one of his sailors and the killing of a member of his crew over a dispute over wages tarnished Jones’ reputation, but it was this ruthless streak that led to his triumph fighting for the American navy against the British during the Revolutionary War. In that conflict he distinguished himself in American and British waters, becoming a hero of the American revolution. Jones later served in the Russian Imperial Navy and retired to Paris in 1790, where he died two years later.
@bantarleton i told you i do it ;) and to all others, the list may of course be extended
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Ask game
Thanks for the tag @dalishessence 😊
Nickname: Dani
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Height: I'm 1.57 meters (I'm even shorter, Nanda lol)
Last Movie I Saw: The Green Knight
Last thing I googled: news about a crime that happened in the city i live in 🥺
Favorite Musician(s): Marisa Monte, Alanis Morissette, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, and many others.
Song stuck in my head: Under a violet moon - Blackmore's Night
Other blogs: I have three others, but only my The Wayhaven Chronicles blog @detective-odell has seen some activity at all besides this one.
Blogs following: hundreds lol mostly are Choices, but there's also many with Star Wars/Rogue One content and other fandoms I enjoy, and many writing blogs and some writers too.
Sleep Patterns: I'm a night owl. I'm not in bed before 1am, but I need to wake up early, around 7-8am. If I wake up any earlier, I'll be a total zombie. I'm not even functional before 10am and I'm envious of people who can do a lot of things in the mornings and even workout. Seriously, my dudes, how??
Lucky numbers: I don't know 🤷♂️ but I like 6
What am I wearing: right now? my comfy pyjamas with a Maneki Neko print.
What would I do of capitalism didn't exist: definitely be a writer, and maybe work at a bookstore or at a library too. I'd love to be surrounded by books 💗
Dream trip: right now it's Mexico, I'm daydreaming about beaches, and Turkey too (I'm in love with the sights from the Turkish series I watched)
Favorite Food: pasta
Instruments I play: I had piano lessons as a kid and learned to play the guitar later, but I don't play anymore.
Languages I speak: Portuguese, which is my mother tongue, English, and French.
Favorite Song: I have so many favorite songs as my Spotify playlists can testify, but I'd say Marisa Monte's Ainda Lembro.
Random facts about me:
1. I like to draw and I'm glad that I got to go back to it with my daughter. We have so much fun drawing together;
2. I started reading fanfic around 2018, and I never knew there was so many talented writers and so many content for free... How amazing is that? I was in awe. Fanfic kept me entertained during many sleepless nights ever since;
3. I started writing fanfic in 2018;
4. I always loved to photograph and took classes in 2016, and almost considered changing career around that time;
5. I'm finally pursuing a Masters and I finished my first semester and I'm really excited.
Tagging: @princess-geek @noesapphic @lorirwritesfanfic
@thequeenofpixels @i-put-the-sin-in-sinclaire @lxncelot
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Colour Me In (Part 5)
Eliza gasped as a blue butterfly landed on her nose and giggled when she looked over at Calum. He had a yellow butterfly in his dark curls and his mouth was hanging open, eyes wide as he fed several others from his hand. He'd brought her to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
They'd started in the butterfly jungle and Eliza swooned at Calum trying to be extra careful with the tiny delicate creatures.
Next was the aviary where Eliza stared at the birds the zoo keeper brought out one by one following along with the script on Calum's phone. He seemed a little more skittish around the birds as they were brought up close, but he tried to play it off. She marveled at the colors, and judging by the way Calum flinched when it opened its beak she guessed it was very loud.
Calum bought behind the scenes tickets so they learned about kangaroos for about an hour, even holding and feeding a baby roo. The park employees teased Calum about being a natural, being from Australia and all. Eliza noticed the side glances cast her way, some girls nodding at her and smiling in appreciation of the man she was on a date with. Other females shot her looks of pure envy and venom, but Eliza ignored them, she was too happy to care what anyone thought.
They grabbed a quick snack before Calum took her on a caravan safari through the Asian and African savannah. Calum had preloaded the guides script into his phone so Eliza could read along, but he kept poking her and pointing, signing “What's that?”
She'd sign back “lion, rhino, antelope,” and so on and the tour continued. A couple of kids sitting in front of them turned around to watch the impromptu lesson and were soon asking their own questions.
Calum grinned watching Eliza answer every one while still paying close attention to the animals they were there to see. He brushed a curl off her cheek tucking it behind her ear earning him a smile that made his heart catch in his throat. He took a video of her teaching the kids to sign “giraffe” and he couldn't help but think she'd be such a good mom someday. The thought unnerved him for a second, but he squeezed her knee and smiled back. The kids got distracted by their parents who felt bad intruding on what was obviously a date, and Eliza snuck in a quick kiss, pressing her lips to his briefly, just long enough to let Calum know he was already in too deep.
The safari was about two hours long with Eliza alternating between signing for Calum and the kids and holding his hand enjoying the scenery. Every now and then resting her head on his shoulder so her hair tickled his face, and he noticed it smelled like honeysuckle flowers and coconut. Cal couldn't remember the last time he'd taken a girl out on a date and he'd never done anything like this before.
By the time the tour was over they were both hungry and the parents of the two kids offered to treat them to lunch at the restaurant on that side of the park. They wandered back through the park deciding to try the zipline even though Eliza objected not wanting Calum to spend any more money. He overruled her objections and flying above the animals she was glad he'd insisted. He'd gone first so he was waiting when she landed. Eliza was so overwhelmed at the days experience, and this gorgeous man grinning at her with his arms out, she couldn't help but throw her arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. His hands tangled in her hair and his tongue parted her lips when they were asked to move along. Calum frowned as he pulled back, leading Eliza back down the trail.
They held hands as they made their way out of the park, stopping occasionally to look at an exhibit and even popping in to feed some colourful lorikeets. Eliza laughed when Calum seemed to finally be warming up to birds until one pooped right in his hand. He looked so embarrassed and grossed out, she felt bad for him but laughed harder as she handed him a wet wipe. They stopped at the petting kraal so Calum could brush a goat which Eliza just had to get video of.
They made their way to Calum's car, and he acted like he was gonna reach around to open the passenger door for her. Instead his hands found her waist backing her against the car. Eliza stood on her toes tilting her head up as his mouth came crashing down on hers continuing where they'd been rudely interrupted. The kiss was deep and passionate, his hands running down her sides gripping her hips, her fingers pulling his curls as her teeth grazed his bottom lip. He started to dip down to kiss her neck and Eliza pushed him away, suddenly.
“I'm sorry I'm sorry” she signed, wide eyed and shaking her head. She grabbed her phone.
I can't have marks on my neck. Where my mom and boss could see them.
Calum backed up and nodded before leaning in and kissing her lips again.
If I ever leave marks, they'll be where no one can see them.
Eliza's jaw dropped and Calum burst out laughing. He opened the door for her, before walking around and getting in himself.
I'm still hungry, let me buy you dinner
That's not how this is supposed to work ya know
Calum was using voice to text so he could talk to her while driving.
Don't care, you just dropped several hundred dollars taking me out today, I can buy you a pizza.
Okay fine, but let's go back to the hotel and let me get a quick shower before we get dinner.
Shower? Where?
I got a room this morning because I figured I'd be too tired to drive back tonight after getting up that early to drive down
How much is this costing you?
Don't worry about it, I can afford it and it was worth it to come see you.
Eliza got freshened up in her room and changed into a yellow sundress with sneakers and a white denim jacket over the dress. Calum was at her door looking handsome as always in a black tank top with an unbuttoned red shirt over it. Ripped black jeans and boots with his hair still wet from his shower, Eliza had to fight the urge to forget about dinner.
The desk clerk was a fan and insisted they try her favorite restaurant about twenty minutes away. The menu was California cuisine with a Greek twist. Eliza skipped it and went straight for the kebab, the smell of the lamb meat already had her mouth watering. Calum followed her lead and it was a slow night so the owner was also running food. He stopped to chat them up and they had a laugh how international the table was, a Maori-Scottish man on a date with an Portuguese-Iranian woman at a Greek restaurant in a Mexican named city eating Turkish food.
He insisted they take a shot of Ouzo on the house, only relenting when Eliza explained she was Muslim, insisting Calum take two in her place.
Calum texted her can you drive a stick? Eliza nodded with a wink and he took the shots. He nursed a beer for the rest of the night not wanting to get silly around Eliza. The liquor got him feeling a bit loose and he couldn't stop touching her. He kept playing with her fingers, rubbing her shoulder, bumping her knee with his, Eliza wasn't drunk but felt intoxicated by the attention.
The food was amazing finally breaking the spell as they concentrated on their meal.
Afterwards they were absolutely stuffed but the owner insisted they take some of his wife's famous kourabiedes, Greek walnut sugar cookies, with them to go.
They got back and Calum walked her to her room. Eliza stopped and pulled out her phone
I want you to come in and hang out, but I don't want you to think this is an invitation to fool around
Okay but you're looking really pretty tonight so I can't promise I won't try and kiss you
I'll consider myself warned
They ended up sitting on the bed holding their phones to chat. Calum was sitting up with a pillow behind him with Eliza sitting between his legs, her back resting against his chest. They were both fully clothed although she'd changed into yoga pants and an oversized t shirt with a sports bra underneath and Rocket and Groot knee socks.
If you're trying to look unappealing, it's not working, but what's with the socks
Maggie is Rocket and I am Groot
He giggled and she looked back at him receiving a kiss before settling back against him.
They stayed that way until after 2am. Cuddling and texting eventually putting one phone one the charger while they passed the other back and forth. Calum talked about his two girlfriends in high school and how awful he'd been to them. He'd had sex for the first time at 15 and he was embarrassed to admit he honestly couldn't tell her how many girls he'd slept with. After that he told her about the girl who'd convinced him he was finally in love. She'd been a drummer and a tattoo artist about a year older than him. He'd become jaded when that fell apart piece by piece until they hated each other. He never missed them as a couple, but sometimes he still missed her.
Eliza nodded she told him about her first boyfriend, Miguel who'd been deaf like her. They'd met at school, as there was only two high schools in the district that had ASL interpreter. They'd dated from sophomore to senior year, and he'd been the one to take her virginity, convincing her they would marry after college and live happily ever after. She found out he was cheating a week before graduation. Her second serious boyfriend was Patrick who she met in literature class her first week of college. They'd been together a little over a year despite Maggie and Kevin never being fully happy with the relationship.
As far as sex was concerned she and Miguel had been kids, sneaking around, figuring things out together, and it had been enjoyable. Patrick had been boring in bed, she knew enough to know that. When she'd gotten the courage to suggest trying something different he'd turned it around on. Patrick had blamed her extra weight and her lack of experience for his poor performance. Their relationship crumbled quickly after that.
Eliza felt suddenly bashful explaining her limited sexual experience and prowess.
I hope if something ever happens you won't be disappointed
Eliza felt Calum's whole body tense up as he read that.
You could never disappoint me, don't ever think that.
He turned her head so she was looking at him and mouthed “Never” before pulling her into a kiss.
Soon they were tangled together in a flush of heavy breathing, roaming hands and passionate kisses. Calum stopped and pulled away watching her face. Eliza was still unsure if she was ready for this and Calum understood that. He got up of the bed and helped her up.
“Not yet” she signed.
“I understand” he signed back before kissing her forehead. “I should go get sleep.”
He kissed her goodnight and went to the desk to see if he could keep his room until Monday.
The next day Calum slept till 10 but Eliza was already up and ready with a bagel sandwich and a coffee for him. She'd decided that since Calum had planned yesterday, and it had been expensive, that today would be the opposite.
They went to Balboa Park to explore the gardens. She only expected to be there a couple hours but the place was huge and breathtakingly beautiful. They marveled at the stunning Spanish-Moorish fountains in Alcazar Park, took pictures at the lily pond in front of the Botanical Building and delighting at the rare orchids inside. They grabbed a light lunch before heading to the carousel.
It was a gorgeous historic menagerie carousel with many animals to choose from. Calum picked a horse but Eliza wanted the dragon. She smiled the entire ride her eyes kept wandering around taking it all in. Calum's heart was in his throat, and he couldn't stop staring. Reputation be damned, he liked this girl, and he had to make sure she knew.
The rest of the short day was spent wandering hand in hand through the Memorial Rose Garden, Calum memorizing which flowers were her favorites. Then the Japanese Friendship garden where they enjoyed strolling through authentic buildings and reading the exhibits. He stole kisses walking down the paths before standing behind her holding her and resting his chin on top of her head while they silently watched the koi ponds.
Calum stepped back and turned her around to face him and raised his eyebrows carefully signing “want girlfriend my will.”
It took Eliza half a second to realize what Calum just asked her.
“Of course” she signed back at him beaming before raising up on her toes to kiss him.\
@wildhearthood @kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @cal-puddies @biba3434 @babygirlcashton @angelbabylu @itstheholls @5sos-ficssmut @cal-pal-cuddles @calumh-excess @1dthewantedlove
#calum hood#calum hood fanfiction#deaf#eliza#colour me in#asl#sign language#calum 5sos#calum imagine#calum hood imagine#calum hood fanfic#calum hood blurb#calum hood smut#5sos#5sos calum
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MP3 CD Ripper
Convert MP4, MP3, WAV, MOV and extra to any format on-line. A: Folks Convert CDA recordsdata to OGG format for varied objective, nonetheless, most of them Convert CDA for the two frequent ones, first the Audio CDs files are too massive, they need to avoid wasting house, second their portable units do not recognize CDA format at all, but these devices are capable of taking part in OGG recordsdata with none compatibility issues.
We only examined audio converter software program that was suitable with the preferred video formats. Nevertheless, in the event you plan to make use of conversion software program primarily for converting video recordsdata and sometimes for changing audio, buy a video converter software as a substitute. Along with video format compatibility, cda mps oggi the most effective video converter programs are additionally suitable with most the favored audio codecs. Listed here are a few our favorites.
My Grandson obtained an MP3 Player for Christmas and has asked me to load some music for him. Drawback is the converter, Format Factory, I have will not convert CDA to MP3. And, I am afraid to obtain a converter from simply any website. Does anybody know of a protected website that I may obtain such a "free" coverter program from. As at all times I recognize all replies and would thanks in advance.
For those who think volume of your media file is just too giant or too low, you should use CDA to MP3 Converter to extend or decrease the sound volume. The software program may normalize quantity robotically as effectively. Numerous strategies can be found if you want to convert CDA files to MP3. Nonetheless, bear in mind that not all applications perform exactly the identical. There are pitfalls and disadvantages you could think about with every methodology.
Eusing Software now invites you to change into our volunteer UI translator to localize our popular Free CD to MP3 Converter into your language. The translation course of is straightforward, easy and fast. Now we assist the next languages: Arabic, Catalan, Chinese language, Czech, Danish, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Nederlands, Portuguese, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.
Free Audio Dub - This standalone program promises to allow you to cut a variety of audio codecs, including aac, ac3 and m4a (in addition to mp3, wav, ogg, wma and mp2). So Free Audio Dub may come in useful for iTunes recordsdata. SET UP WORD: The installer asks you to put in the Ask toolbar and set Ask as your house web page and default search engine: to decide out, uncheck all three tick boxes when putting in.
A: The CDA to MP3 Converter download for PC works on most present Home windows working techniques. Free Audio CD to MP3 Converter. Copy audio CDs into digital music. It's just gorgeous in its simplicity. Step three: Choose info. After loading the provision info, they will be displayed inside the file document. Maintain "Ctrl" button and left-click on one after the other to concentrate on info you wish to convert.
Mбte-li plno hudebnнch cйdйиek a nechcete nм pшijнt, vytvoшte si jejich zбlohu. Programy cйdйиka nejen nagrabujн, ale navнc okay nim dohledajн a pшidajн dalљн informace z internetu (nбzev sklady, interpreta, rok vytvoшenн apod.) a pшemмnн je napш. v OGG, WAV, MP3 иi jinй soubory. The off command (or the F1 () operate in visual mode) can be used to terminate the cda daemon and release the CD drive for use by other software.
Convert your audio recordsdata to the M4A format with this free online audio converter. The converter uses the free Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) and ensures top quality. Add a file or present a URL to a music file and begin converting. Optionally choose additional choices to alter the standard of the target audio. You can also present a URL to a video to extract the audio of a video to M4A.
However, must you still have problems with this, you could possibly use the choice of CDA file conversion to a particular format. Sky DVD-Audio WAV Midi to CDA Rippingninety 4 Sky DVD-Audio WAV Midi to Cda Mps Oggi Ripping is an excellent CDA to MP3 converter which might convert CDA to MP3 and likewise a strong CD to MP3 ripper which can rip CD to MP3 quick and simply.
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2019, Buying Guidance
Buying a computer, a smartphone, or tablet in 2019 is different than it has been in years past. Usually, I'm lurking in anticipation of my "next", and have a lot of ready recommendations for friends and family. That isn't to say there aren't a lot of great options, they just seem to be more arcane.
My current technology arc consists of incrementally shedding Apple, Google, Microsoft, and any hardware, or digital service, that doesn't provide me with a great deal of value. Also, I'm looking for those services and products that have a community around them, and with whom one can have some kind of relationship.
I look at everyone; Apple, Asus, Dell, Google, HP, Huawei, LG, Microsoft, MSI, Samsung, Vaio, before I make a purchase. I look at their products, support documentation, warranty, social media presence, how transparent they are with consumers, and whether or not they understand how to engage in basic marketing and commerce.
So, what's good? The plucky upstarts and potential market disruptors first.
Pine64
From the FAQ on their site:
"What is Pine A64? The Pine A64 is an index card sized 64-bit single board computer. It can perform like your desktop or portable PC with browsing the Internet, playing games, watching video, and execute programs like spreadsheets and word-processing. The Pine A64 board can also play ultra high definition 4Kx2K video."
I waited in the queue for almost a year to be able to buy this $99 laptop. They sell them at zero or little profit so people can tinker with them, learn, and make stuff. They're working on a tablet, more powerful "Pro" version of their laptop, and a phone. It can run 64 bit Ubuntu, Debian based Linux things, and Android 5.1.
I cannot wait to get my PineBook next month and start monkey'ing around with it. Also, it comes in completely unadorned white, AKA Stickertown! I need to start gathering my adhesive sartorial accoutrements now.
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Pop!_OS, and System76
I've been using their Pop!_OS with my Lenovo Thinkpads for a couple of months, and really like it. With Canonical focusing Ubuntu away somewhat from the desktop user, going to a curated version, like Pop!_OS, tends to deliver a better experience. System76 has a live Pop!_OS Chat where I've gotten help and guidance along the way.
I resisted installing Pop!_OS for a while, because it looked kind of cool. I know, right? Linux isn't supposed to be "cool". So I was wary, haha.
Pop!_OS is, basically, set up the way I would set up vanilla Ubuntu after some tinkering. It has AMD or Nvidia Drivers and GPU switching baked in, power management options, and the only thing I had to install with the terminal was GIMP. Everything else I know and love was in the Pop!_Shop. Pop!_OS 18.10 get regular updates, and they're always adding keen new things to their offerings.
Where vanilla Ubuntu is kind of squeaky, garish, and clunky, Pop! is quiet, nocturnal, and polished. It encrypts your install by default, full disk, out of the box with minimal effort. "Out of the box, with minimal effort" is something I say a lot with Pop!. It's just really (really) nice. I'm a fan, bought the t-shirt, put the stickers on my laptop, all the things.
I haven't tried their hardware, and while I'll be sticking with a Thinkpad for mobile computing, their mini "Meerkat" and Thelio Desktops are very compelling options. System76 isn't very transparent about the types of displays offered with their desktops, or their laptops, but have responded swiftly to my queries by email, and via social media.
They are very transparent about their internal components, and have an array of options, including AMD on their Thelio line, for folks looking to distance themselves from Intel. The Thelio desktops look very nice, with the only flaw being no IO up front. Everything else is custom, with open source daughter boards, and other keen aesthetic features.
I worry more about which configuration of Thelio I would get, than what I'd actually use it for. I just want one.
Recently, Pop!_OS got featured on the Linus Tech Tips YouTube Channel, as a gaming platform. A. Linux. Gaming. Platform. Yes, you heard that correctly.
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ReMarkable
This continues to be a good value, for a product that receives frequent quality of life updates. For minimalists looking to replace all the paper in their lives, this device delivers. I really like that they don't stop making it better, simply because the makers believe in the form factor and use case.
ReMarkable has a lot of competition in the hardware space, but I haven't seen much in the software space that is half as good. The ability to nest notes and documents in folders and organize your work is an incredibly attractive feature. The Linux-based operating system is incredibly stable, and reliable.
The ReMarkable tablet isn't fast, or cutting edge, but it feels really nice to use. It's easy on my eyes, and the hand taking notes and reading documents. It really is just like paper, only better, and taking up way less space in my bag.
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Light Phone 2
I love E Ink devices, particularly when they aren't being used simply to read ebooks. Marketed as "a simple 4G phone with e-ink, messaging & other essential tools—a phone that actually respects you," the Light Phone 2's marketing is compelling. The promotional video hits all the right notes and feels for anyone that is in a love/hate relationship with their smartphone.
This is definitely me, and I ordered the couples package for my wife and I. From the two surveys I've received, and the updates they've posted, this is something I've only grown more excited for. The very simple and elegant aesthetics of the device are interesting to me, and I can't wait to have one in hand. It's gotten bad enough that I lurk on Ebay, looking for a deal or steal on their first Light Phone. Ugh, haha.
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On to my favorite services.
Discord
I pay the monthly for their upgraded service. I'm not entirely sure what I get for my subscription, but I don't care, the service is that good, and I want to support it. For chatting with my friends, playing games, communicating, community curation, and similar, Discord is doing it right. Their user experience is good, even if the user interface is a little confusing at first.
The confusion comes with being used to Skype, or Face Time, and a distinctly limited feature set. With Discord I keep figuring things out, and saying "oh, it can do this? And, also, this? Cool". Discord also works pretty much everywhere, on everything, with no service interruptions (that I've been aware of). I can use with a Linux machine with a dedicated app, in a browser tab, or on my smartphone, whatever I want.
I can use it to communicate text, images, video, audio, broadcast my desktop, all the things. Keen.
ProtonMail
End-to-end, client side encrypted, with servers located in Switzerland outside of US and EU jurisdictions, and available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian. I am getting a paid account soon, and their Linux bridge is in beta.
Obvious privacy advantages aside, I really like the service, the options they provide, and their pricing structure. They have a really nice web client, and dedicated iOS and Android apps. It feels like email done right, as a product that you pay for, as opposed to you being the product, or part of some other service you're passively subsidizing.
Feels good. Definitely considering a paid version.
Lutris and Steam For Linux
Linux Gaming used to be an oxymoron. It just wasn't that great, but with Steam Play + Proton I can play Skyrim, with a controller, on my Linux machine. I click a box, hit play, it downloads some things, and boom, I'm good to go. I haven't explored all the different games compatible with this new service, but it looks to be expanding every day.
Lutris is a newer service, and was recently added to the Pop Shop on Pop!_OS. From Wikipedia:
"Lutris is a FOSS game manager for Linux-based operating systems. Lutris has one-click installation available for hundreds of games on its website, and also integrates with the Steam website. Installer scripts are available for some difficult to install WINE games including League of Legends."
The day when I can play Fallout 76 without maintaining a Windows partition is on the horizon. *Cherubs blow heavenly horns of glory* I'd really like this to take off, and take a small, but painful bite out of Microsoft's market share. I don't hate Microsoft, but I'd like them to hurt bad enough they work a little harder to make Windows not suck so hard.
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Among the big manufacturers, there are a few that are doing it right, in my humble opinion.
Lenovo
I recommend them, particularly if you need a machine for getting work done, and running Linux. I've been part of their INsiders Customer Advocacy Program since late 2015, and have gotten a candid look at their company culture. Previous to that, I had been using their products since late 2011, mostly for game and web development, digital art, and publishing my novels.
A Thinkpad running Linux is my weapon of choice. The Yoga Book, more recently the C930, continues to be a singular companion device, with little else competing with it in the marketplace. Lenovo warranty, support, and customer service is still five stars. No one, absolutely no one, is more transparent about the hardware you're buying, down to the tiniest detail, I can look it up easily.
In the consumer range, they make a pretty good gaming rig, that I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry around. In fact, the look, IO, and cooling system on the new Legion series gaming laptops is better than many Thinkpads, excluding the P-Series of course. I want to try a new Legion with Linux, now that Lutris, Gamehub, and Steam are making gaming on Linux easier than ever.
On the horizon, Lenovo has some additions to their Yoga line that fall into a totally new zone. In my "lurking" browser tab are the Yoga S940 Laptop, and Yoga A940 Desktop. These devices are in the "Smart" category, packed with features. For the professional that wants style, as opposed to the tuxedo and dress shoes Thinkpad, these are just nice looking machines. I could see people in sales, design, marketing, and other fields that deal heavily in aesthetics, wanting devices like these.
Lenovo A940 Yoga Review
Why do I have a lurking tab in my browser full of Lenovo things? Because they regularly run sales. For the consummate lurker, one can get a new device from Lenovo for 30-45% off retail with patience, and a keen eye for clickable coupons. Lenovo understands how to commerce.
LG
If someone told me they were going to get an LG Gram (any model) I'd understand the desire, even though I haven't owned one myself. The reviews are all pretty positive, some are MIL-STD 810G, good value for the money, and they have a keen aesthetic about them. Also, you can get a couple of the models in white, AKA Stickertown!
Because LG is trying to break into the laptop market, they seem to making a pretty good product, or trying very hard. I'd look at the warranty and support options, warily, just because they're a little new to the game.
Their Gram 2-in-1 comes with a full size Wacom AES 2.0 Stylus Pen, with tilt, and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. There's no screwing around with bundles or paying an extra Benjamin for the pen, they just include it with the product, like everyone ought to. Also, they're very transparent about their displays, internals, and specs, so you know what you're buying.
I've read in a couple of places that they are supposed to get better Linux support by the next Kernel, but that there are some issues at the moment. If you're looking for something to run Windows, give them a look, but for Linux maybe hold off, or just get a Thinkpad.
Motorola
A lot of how Lenovo does business has bled over into Motorola. I've owned a couple Motorola Phones, both from before they joined Lenovo. I have friends and family that own the more current models, and are very satisfied. I'll probably own a Motorola in the future, as I'm probably on my last Apple iPhone.
They make a keen, and modular product. Smartphones have always struck me as an opportunity to stack accessories and components to produce value for different use cases. Motorola Mods let one do exactly that, swapping a battery pack, for a game controller, for example.
Samsung
For core computing, and the aspiring digital artist, Samsung makes a nice thing. I've owned their Notebook 9 Pro, Windows Phone, and a Galaxy Book 12. Where Samsung does really well is in aesthetics, making a device that is both nice to look at, and nice to use. They are very transparent about what you get, market their devices well, and offer pretty good value for the money.
When I bought my Notebook 9 Pro, the only thing extra I had to buy was the Staedtler Pen Stylus, because, hey, it was cool. With the Galaxy Book 12, it came with everything, keyboard accessory, S Pen, a nice charger, and even a 128GB microSD card to expand the storage. There was none of the Apple/Microsoft nonsense where you're paying hundreds of dollars extra for things that should just be included.
Even Samsung's new el-cheapo laptop, the Samsung Notebook Flash, is pretty great. Aesthetically, it's compelling. It looks to have a decent 1920x1080 display, lots of ports, a microSD slot for expandability, and you can get it in white, AKA Stickertown! It has eMMc Memory, that is slower for read and write speed, but tends to be very reliable.
Conclusion
What are you using? Have a keen service or computing product that has served you well? Drop me a line, I’d like to know all the things.
#tech#buying guide#lenovo#samsung#system76#Pine64#Discord#ProtonMail#Lutris#Steam#Linux#Ubuntu#remarkable tablet#Microsoft Go#LG Gram#Light Phone#Light Phone 2
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