#home businesses hotels marketing sells
Text
Experience the future of fragrance with Hotel Collections! Our state-of-the-art technology lets you infuse your home or business with incredible scents. Discover the magic today. Shop Here >> https://bit.ly/3D0V4UG. #HotelCollections #HomeFragrance #BusinessFragrance #LuxuryScents
#diffuser#entrepreneur#home businesses hotels marketing sells#fragrant fragrance fresh scents#gifts fathersday homedecor moms scents electronics
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Genie: Javier's Wishes
Click here to see the genie’s first master.
Click here to see the genie's previous master.
When the club finally closed at 3 AM, Javier breathed a sigh of relief. Sure, now he had to clean the whole place after a night of metalhead raving, but after that, he could go home and get some blessed sleep before his shift at the grocery store in the morning.
Javier was putting himself through college. On paper, the job at the club was great, way better than his other stocking and retail jobs. For most of his shift, he could do his readings while making sure that the patrons didn’t get too randy in the bathroom every 20 minutes or so. Even so, the constant cycle of work, sleep, class, repeat was draining. More than anything, Javier wanted some time off to travel.
While tossing a bag of garbage out into the alley, a glimmer of light in the dimness caught Javier’s eye. Just to one side of the door, as if it had been dropped carelessly, was an antique lamp.
Javier picked it up and stuck it in his hoodie pocket. If nothing else, it seemed to be real brass. He could probably sell it. With heavy, tired feet, Javier finished with clean-up and headed home. Before he could even think to unpack his things, he collapsed on his bed.
It wasn’t until the next day, after a shift at the grocery store, afternoon classes, and an evening at his tutoring job, that Javier slumped at the desk in his studio apartment and took out the lamp.
The thing was definitely real brass. There was just one discoloured spot on the side. Javier grabbed a washcloth, but he had barely begun to rub it when a stream of rainbow smoke erupted from the spout. Seconds later, a buff genie in a pair of form-fitting satin pants and a billowy white shirt was hovering in the middle of Javier’s room.
“You know how this goes, right babe?” the genie said, grinning down at Javier. “You make a wish each day, and I make it come true.”
Javier barely had to think. He knew what he needed in his life. “I wish I could travel,” he told the genie.
“Perf,” replied the genie, and clapped his big hands. A burst of dark blue smoke shot from between his hands and then thickened, filling Javier’s vision. In particular, it centred on his old flip phone, the cheapest thing that he had been able to buy.
When the smoke cleared, Javier looked down at himself and was shocked to see that he was in a sharp business suit, holding a briefcase. Instead of his old apartment, he was standing in a hotel room. On the desk, a sleek new Samsung flip phone was open, an appointment blinking. Javier had to get to the airport to fly to London.
In the taxi, Javier took a few work calls. He found that the information he needed for his new job as a marketing professional appeared in his mind as he reached for it. But, by the time he boarded the plane, he realised that he had to create a presentation and do hours of research before he landed at Heathrow. Thankfully, the company paid for his business class seat and in-flight wifi.
After the meeting in London, it was only a few hours until Javier was on his way to a meeting in Lagos. From there, he flew to Kuala Lumpur, and then Hong Kong. It was three days before Javier was sitting on a plane without any pressing work tasks to complete. After so many flights, he wasn’t sure where he was flying to. He went into the airplane toilet and rubbed the lamp.
The genie appeared in the mirror, disdaining to diminish his bulk in the cramped quarters. “You got another wish?” he purred, grinning out at Javier.
“I wish I didn’t have to work,” Javier said, his voice slurring from tiredness.
“Haven’t heard that one before.” The genie winked, and the vent in the bathroom issued a cloud of dark blue smoke. Instead of a suit, Javier found himself in perfectly fitted loungewear as the tiny commercial toilet expanded into a luxurious bathroom. Stepping out of the door, Javier stood in the bedroom of a private jet decorated in a classy, understated style.
A cute young man in a steward uniform stepped into the room. “Can I help with anything, sir?”
“Please, just call me Javi,” Javi said, the words seeming to fall from his lips unbidden in a smooth, laid-back tone. “And no, I’ll call if I need anything.” The full-size bed and fresh satin sheets were calling to him.
After a nap, Javi felt refreshed. The plane was coming in to land in some exotic locale or another. As a trust fund baby with several million dollars in the bank, Javi loved to fly from place to place around the world as the mood took him. He would just stay at a local resort until he got bored and flew out again.
And yet, all the days of partying and living it up felt strangely empty. Javi found himself remembering his life before the genie. All his classmates, friends, and coworkers still living from paycheque to paycheque while Javi ate off of plates worth more than they made in a year. Still, even his indescribable wealth wasn’t enough to support all of them for the rest of their lives. Not if Javi wanted to live as he was becoming accustomed to. So he summoned the genie.
“I wish I could help my friends.”
“Finally, something I can work with,” the genie groaned dramatically, and snapped his fingers.
Instantly, Javi’s vision filled with dark blue smoke. There was a wrenching sensation as he seemed to be pulled across a great distance. When his vision cleared, Javi found himself seated in a well-appointed lounge. He was in a perfectly tailored, fashionable suit, and looked over the rims of his round sunglasses as another young suited man entered.
“Your Highness,” the man said, making Javi’s head spin, “announcing tonight’s young lords.”
Behind him, two more men, some of Javi’s old coworkers from the grocery store, entered. They had fresh haircuts and were wearing perfectly tailored suits that left nothing about their trim bodies to the imagination. Javi found his mouth watering.
The memories rushed in. In order to help the most people in his circle, Javi had used his trust fund to establish a sort of feudal fraternity. He was the Prince, and beneath him were a selection of Dukes who invested in Counts, Viscounts, and Barons. This way, the money went farther, and there was a sense of decorum among Prince Javi’s modern “nobility.”
Of course, judging by the way the two Barons being presented before him tonight were undressing him with their eyes, appearances could only be kept up so long. The Prince was owed his due from those sworn to his service, and Javi could feel his cock hardening in his wool slacks. “Take this to the vault,” he told the steward, one of the rotating Dukes, handing him the lamp. “My lords, with me.” Javi crooked a finger at his Barons and led them to the adjoining playroom.
The Duke handed the lamp off to the nearest non-noble staff member, who took the next exit out of Prince Javi’s court/club. He had been planning to steal some silverware before leaving, but this was a much better haul.
Click here to see all the genie’s adventures.
#male transformation#mental change#reality change#male tf#wealthy tf#genie of the lamp#wish#all fwkong
127 notes
·
View notes
Text
The morning light pulls me from my sleep as the headache reminds me that I've probably had a little too much to drink but not too much to have forgotten about yesterday.
The room around me is bland and simple, a space that's mine but one can hardly tell with how impersonal it is right now. It might as well be a hotel room.
Still I am thankful. I do miss home, deeply, but at the same time I realize I can't go back and that here, Oasis Springs, isn't so bad. My father, a man I don't enjoy mentioning as he is a horrible person and yet for some reason he's done me this kindness.
I wanted to deny this, to say no to this simple bit of fortune, but that would have left me as prey among wolves...
The kitchen is my sanctuary. Despite waking up with darker thoughts the moment the mixer starts mixing a smile forms on my face. Ideas push into my mind about how to give my waffles a bit more kick but not only that, what else can I sell for my food stand?
Just the act of cooking is meditative for me. It's ancient alchemy you know? Our ancestors would just stuff whatever they found in their mouths and might throw it over a fire but how far have we come from those times?
I am surrounded by modernity. Bottles of sauces and jars of spices. Each honed over the decades to add texture, flavor, and aroma, making this all a science not only to enhance taste but also to tickle the soul.
Making simoleons however is not so much a science. I started earlier in the day which might have hurt me because in the end only forty simoleons were made. I could say that this was the worst day ever but then again forty is better than four.
Perhaps there is a secret to it, finding the right time, the right dishes, the sweet spot? I don't know. All I can do is pack up and try again tomorrow.
The day's light fades and with it the realization that expectations were not met. Again. This whole food stand business has really been a story of ups and downs and while I'm sure I can take it, it doesn't make the process any less frustrating.
I sink into the cushion of my couch, flip on my TV, and spend some time wondering what can be done to be a lot more consistent. Improving my skills obviously, the better the food tastes the more likely people come back over and over again. Skill will come with time, practice, and patience.
Perhaps its my marketability that is lacking? Watching commercials is a reminder that sometimes a good advertisement campaign is all a product or service needs to make simoleons.
An insistent knock at the door breaks up my thinking. That's right, I do have an expected guest today...
Of course my visitor is the increasingly familiar face of Pascal of of course I step aside and invite him inside. He takes a moment to take in my small place, the hint of being impressed on his face but its only a hint because he opts not to say anything other than to ask if he might sit.
There isn't much here, a couch, a table, and a bed. My only income is my food stand and that's not at all reliable yet and so the dining table seems as good a spot for a conversation as any.
"So, what's up?" I ask, suddenly feeling nervous, even more so than my conversation with him yesterday? How does that happen? I guess because then I thought he was just some random handsome guy and now I know that he's very ambitious and might just be the most eligible bachelor in town.
"Dunno, just wanted to see you again is all," he says casually but still looks around some. "You have a nice place."
"Gracias," it's then I take a small breath and calm myself. He's here, isn't he? He doesn't have to be and yet he is. The attraction is mutual, I assure myself, so I should act like it.
"Flower Day is tomorrow," he mentions, as if that has some meaning to me. It doesn't, not really. I've always thought of it more as a filler holiday. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to do something together?"
"A date?"
He chuckles. "I guess you can call it that, yeah."
There's a lot of confidence in his offer as if it is a formality itself, he expects a yes, and I plan to give him one but only after one question is answered. "Why me?"
"Why you?" This catches him off guard. "What do you mean?"
"You don't have a lack of options, I am sure, so what makes me stand out from the others?"
This draws another laugh and a look my way as if I have asked a silly question. I suppose I'm just not used to seeing the worth in myself. I mean eventually I figured I'd find love and settle down and start a family but I certainly didn't come to Oasis Springs with that in mind. It was more like I was pushed out into the desert and forced to survive. Any friendly travelers I meet on the way would be appreciated but not necessary, never necessary.
"You're humble," he says breaking a silence between us I wasn't aware of until his voice made it apparent. "A lot of the women that approach me or vice versa expect it all and its clear that they only see my ambition, not me. They make me feel like I'd be the supporting character in their story and nothing else."
"There is nothing wrong with being a supporting character-"
"But mainly, I want a woman who is prepared for failure."
"Failure?"
He leans in just a little, taking the measure of me, seeking eye contact as if it was all he needed from me. "If I break my leg in three places would you still be with me?"
"I-I didn't even know you played for a pro team!" I say jokingly but also defensively.
"Exactly!" He says with some satisfaction. "So, tomorrow? Date?"
I push out a breath and give my head a nod. Before, the answer would have been yes but now? Yes? I'm a little less sure, this conversation felt more like a try out than just two people getting to know each other. "Yeah, sure, let's see what happens."
Episode List - Next
#the sims#the sims 4#sims legacy#iggleverse#sims 4 legacy#my sims#generation 1#frida varela#pascal alcocer#The Sims#The Sims 4#ts4#Sims#Sims 4#soot#sims of our time
40 notes
·
View notes
Text
Shadybug/ClawNoir supporting character Headcanons
Jagged Stone? More like Jared Smith. He wanted to be a rockin musician, but his type of music is banned by the Supreme so his career never took off. Instead, he ended up marrying his girlfriend, Nannette Couffaine, after accidentally knocking her up with twins, released his pet crocodile into the Seine, got an apartment, and works a regular job that he HATES. But, he secretly still tries to record music and sells it on the black market where it has become somewhat popular in the indie underground, but if he were caught he would go to prison for sure. It’s not a happy marriage but he does what he has to. His kids last names are hyphenated Couffaine-Smith.
No houseboat, and without Royalties from music labels, neither Juleka or Luka could afford to go to Francois Dupont
Penny works as an assistant for Bob Roth and HATES IT. The man is a sexist slave driver, but this business is brutal.
Nadja Chamack is not a news anchor. You can’t be a single mother AND have a career that takes up so much of your time. As a result, Marinette has never had to babysit Manon.
Lila wants to challenge Chloe’s position as queen of the school, but there are no lies about charity work, only lies of what powerful and famous connections she has.
Adrien is not interested in being friendly with Lila, and definitely not going to help her with schoolwork. But he is still the ultimate trophy and key to winning popularity in Lila’s eyes, so she is determined to “win him over”, even though he finds her almost as annoying as Chloe, but Chloe he is stuck with due to her mom’s working relationship with his dad.
Gabriel doesn’t trust Lila one bit.
The sad and negative emotions he is forced to sense due to the power of the Butterfly brooch cause him distress, and he often has to excuse himself due to “headaches” from overworking, as a creative’s work is never done… But he is always listening for the emotions of people crying out for justice, for help, for people who wish they had the power to help.
Andre Glacier is still the Sweetheart’s ice-cream maker, but Sweetheart’s ice-cream is just a special menu item that you can request. Otherwise he has a scheduled route and serves the ice-cream that customers ask for.
Alya’s dad wishes the zoo could focus more on animal enrichment and larger enclosures but they don’t have the budget for such “unnecessary extravagences”.
Mr. Haprel hopes to make it as a famous Mime one day so he can be rich enough to afford to send his daughter, Mylene, to the school he works at as a janitor.
Everyone avoids Ivan.
Thomas Astruc never made it as a famous director, rather, the Supreme favored his University Rival, Andre Bourgeois, who also owns the Le Grande Paris Hotel.
Gina and Roland Dupain are not divorced/separated per say… Gina was sent to prison for civil disobedience. That’s why Tom is a doormat and just goes along with whatever discipline Sabine decides on because he doesn’t want his precious little girl to end up a criminal like her grandmother.
Sabine does not teach an inkpainting class on the weekend or practice tai chi or feng shui.
The walls of Marinette’s home are not pink, they are a boring beige that she hates.
The Agreste Manor is not a sterile, black and white modern decor dungeon. It is a prism of color, function, form, beauty and nature with nods to antiquity and the whimsical. Adrien HATES it. All color and light left this world when his mother died. The art in his house mocks his pain.
There is no school blog for Nathaniel to post his art on… But Marc ended up in that class instead of Marinette. (So did Mireille) He’s still too shy to admit he’s a writer. And even more shy to admit he has a crush on Nathaniel, so all he can do is watch the boy quietly. Rose thinks it’s a romantic tragedy and wants to play matchmaker. Alex thinks it’d be a disaster waiting to happen.
There is no Prince Ali who gives toys to sick kids in hospitals.
There is nothing as frivolous as videogame tournaments, so Max devotes all his spare time to his hobby of robotics and developing an AI… but developing an artificial intelligence is frowned upon. Luckily, Alya can keep a secret… that is, if Max is willing to spare some of his time to helping her havkninto the dark web to research conspiracy theories.
Wayhem is obseesed with Adrien, who can’t stand crazy fanatics and won’t lose any sleep if the Gorilla tackles the scrawny boy to the ground.
After much convincing, bullsh**ing, and bribes, Gabriel is able to host his derby hat design competition at Francois Dupont, (and hopefully, modelling his classmate’s creations will be a bonding point for Adrien to make a new friend) Rose sees it as an opportunity to tries to get Marc and Nathaniel to work with her to create a hat, hoping sparks will fly between them.
Even if Marinette WANTED to enter a stupid contest involving that spoiled, stuck-up Agreste boy, which she DOESN’T, her mother won’t allow it because sewing and doodling outfits is a distraction from her schoolwork.
Chloe still cheats.
But Shadybug discreetly sabotages the fashion show the winning hat is supposed to feature in.
Nathalie never became Gabriel’s assistant or even acquaintance. Instead, she is in charge of the department of the Louvre that archives and locks away all “banned” art and artifacts (aka anything related to Miraculous holders)
Alex thinks she’s creepy and hates how she coldly bosses around her dad.
Audrey is the same as ever, with the exception that she recognizes that her younger daughter Zoe has some talent, and wants Andre to find a movie part for her to play, and ignores Chloe’s bitter jealousy which causes her to lash out at others even nastier than in Ladybug and Cat Noir’s universe.
Nino is treated rudely and ignored by Adrien. Adrien would never agree to play a role in Nino’s movie and even accuses Nino of trying to use Adrien’s celebrity status to give himself an unfair advantage in the student movie competition.
Adrien doesn’t have time for stupid group projects or after school activities. But not because he has a full schedule since this Universe’s Gabriel is a decent father who does not demand perfection and give a 14 year old a burdensome schedule… It’s because outside of fencing and modeling, Adrien plans to spend his time planning out which sections of the city he’s going to take his anger out on that night.
Gabriel never forgot his roots as the son of a fry-cook, and occasionally tries to cook comfort food (NOT PANCAKES) for Adrien, who insists he’s not hungry or that junk is bad for his skin/weight, which has Gavriel worried about Adrien developing body dysphoria and eating disorders… These worries are put to rest when he finds out Adrien has suddenly developed a sweet tooth for baked goods. Therefore he has no qualms about his son frequenting the local bakery so often because a growing boy needs to eat and a treat is good for the spirit.
He wishes he could be more honest with Adrien, but he knows that it would destroy his son if he ever found out that the sickness that took his mother’s life was caused by his creation… He’s also not sure what kind of trauma Adrien would have to the fact he’s not human.
Gabriel also doesn’t want Adrien in danger. Gabriel wants to create a better world for his son to live in, a world where he and everyone else can be free! Where people can throve without stepping over others, and the poor don’t have to suffer. Where people have rights to love freely and express opinions without fear. A world where people help one another.
Gabriel would never use the rings to control Adrien, instead, he keeps them locked away in a safe, and plans to give them to Adrien someday when he is an adult and less likrly to misplace them because if they were to fall into the wrong hands, Gabriel shudders to think of what would become of Adrien.
Audrey still has a low key crush on Gabriel which makes him cringe but he still acts polite to keep up working relations, and he also pities his friend Andre, trapped in a one-sided marriage and bullied by his daughter and his wife.
#miraculous paris#miraculous world#miraculous fandom#miraculous ladybug#shadybug#toxinelle#claw noir#griffe noire#adrien agreste#gabriel agreste#marinette dupain cheng#hesperia#miraculous special#mlb paris special#mlb s5#chloe bourgeois#alya cesaire#jagged stone#luka couffaine#nathalie sancoeur
43 notes
·
View notes
Text
A Trip To Naples - Bruno Bucciarati x Reader
Here is a commission piece I did where the reader goes on a trip to Italy and falls in love with a lovely stranger :)
Naples: the birthplace of pizza, home of the famous Amalfi Coast and, of course, the destination of your impulsive getaway. With the stress of work pushing down on your shoulders, you needed some sort of break; those winning tickets couldn’t have come at a better time. Three weeks living in the bustling Campanian city in an all-expenses paid hotel was a perfect way to spend your annual vacation time.
One of the highlights of Naples was its colourful markets: picturesque stalls and shops lining the cobblestoned streets selling various trinkets, clothing and flowers. You found yourself in the Market of Antignano, deep in the centre of Vomero. The jovial sellers beckoned you over to look at the various slippers, cosmetics and linen sitting on the displays, eager to squeeze some money out of you before lunch. An elderly woman with thick black hair selling keyrings waved at you, shaking one of them in her hand. It was a cute little thing, a brown plastic bear holding a red heart between its paws, all connected to the metal ring. You figured that you might as well replace your old worn-out one with a new souvenir.
“Questo è perfetto per voi zucca!” She smiled, placing the ring in your hand. To your knowledge, she said it was perfect for you.
“Il mio Italiano…non è buono” You laughed awkwardly. The only fault in this seemingly perfect holiday was that you only had very little knowledge of the language. You could say enough to scrape by, but in this case, you found it easier to say you don’t know the language well.
“Ah! You speak English, zucca?” The woman asked, not phased by your inability to speak her Italian.
You sighed loudly, thankful that you could converse in a language you understood. “Yes, I do. Sorry, this is my first time in Italy.”
“Oh? How lovely!” She beamed, giving you a toothy grin. She looked down at her watch, 1 pm, almost time to close up for today. "Have you got somewhere to go for lunch?"
"Nowhere, in particular. I'll just walk around and see what looks nice." You had researched local places to eat earlier. Most of them were within the same vicinity so you planned to go to whatever seemed less busy to avoid long queues.
"Zucca, you must go to Libeccio!" She shook your hand, almost like her life depended on you going there. "It's marvellous, oh you'll love it!" She squealed. "Plus," She said with a smirk, "it's owned by such a sweet young man, Bucciarati. He's so graceful and kind, you’ll love him!”
You remember searching up Libeccio - it was a beautiful restaurant, though you were worried it was a little out of your price range. It screamed expensive from the pictures you saw online. Well, you were on holiday, you might as well allow a little bit of luxury. You paid for the keyring, placing it in the side pocket of your bag before waving the kind woman off as she packed up her stall for the day.
Libeccio was about a ten-minute walk away, allowing you to explore parts of the region a bit more. You took note of some stylish boutiques along the way, thinking about how your wardrobe could do with a revamp. As well as some grocery stores for if you ever needed a snack.
Libeccio, unsurprisingly, was an Italianate-style building. Bay windows with pink and shamrock-like decorative window trims along both stories of the tawny-coloured building. The inside had half-cream half-dark oak walls, and a soft crimson carpet covering the entire dining area. It was a little intimidating to see so many well-dressed people sitting together. Eating meals you probably couldn’t pronounce and drinking wines you had never heard of. You felt like you stuck out like a sore thumb. You swallowed the lump in your throat and made your way to the waiting table where one of the floor workers stood, writing some notes in a large black book. He greeted you with a wide smile as his hazel eyes and tanned skin shone under the bright lights that reflected off his silver name badge that read ‘Alejandro’. He held up a finger, presumably asking you if you were the only diner, to which you nodded. Before you could get a word in, he placed you on a two-seater table near one of the windows with a menu and a glass of water to get you started.
You opened the sleek black booklet, revealing extensive lists of appetisers, starters, mains and desserts, all in clean, fancy, Italian writing. The best thing you could do was whip out Google and try to search for all these meals. You tried to note what sounded best, whittling down the list as best as you could, but you barely scratched the surface of the menu when the waiter returned, asking if you would like to order. With an embarrassed blush, you tried to explain how you were struggling to read the menu. But it seemed like he couldn’t understand you, especially over the noisy restaurant.
You didn’t notice that this interaction had caught the attention of a group of men who sat a couple of tables down from yours. “Scusi.” A sultry voice said. You looked up to see a tall man with darker skin standing next to the waiter. The mas w `A`1as dressed in a cropped sweater and sleek black jeans, offering a perfect view of his toned abdomen. His hair was thick and curly, framing his roundish face and drawing attention to his dark eyes. The man whispered something to the waiter, making him run off, before pulling a chair next to you.
“Buongiorno signora. Are you having trouble with your menu? I see you switching between it and your phone.” Before you could begin to question who this man was and how he knew you would speak English, he took the menu from your hands and began flicking through the pages before tapping one of the options. “This is gravlax bella, it's just cured salmon, comes in thin slices.” He turned over the page. “Ah and capricciosa! You’ve got mushroom, artichokes, baked ham, olives, my absolute favourite!” He said with gusto as he scooched a little closer to you. Truth be told, you didn’t feel too comfortable in this situation, a strange man in a strange country acting so familiar with you made you uneasy. And the way he so easily managed to get rid of the waiter rubbed you the wrong way, who knows what his intentions were? You simply tucked your lips in and nodded at his rambling about the menu, thankful that you at least had some options to order.
You avoided eye contact with the strange man until suddenly his voice stopped. You looked over to see another man standing behind him, one with lighter skin and short black hair. “Mista,” He sighed, his voice a smooth baritone, “la stai mettendo a disagio.” He whispered with a smile, squeezing the man’s shoulder. Instantly he looked back at you, bowing his head.
“I’m so sorry signora, I’ll get out of your way!” He dropped the menu back on the table and walked back to his original seat. He was met with the disapproving headshakes of the third man on the table. The new man moved the chair back to its original place opposite you before holding out a hand.
“Bruno Bucciarati, I’m the owner.” He shot you a dazzling smile. Thankful that he was at least affiliated with the restaurant and not another stranger, you calmly shook his hand. You had to admit, the woman from the market was right, he was handsome. His frame was tall and lean and he had a certain youthful essence in his speech and gestures. His hair was cut to his shoulders, neatly styled to form bangs that reached his thin black eyebrows. His eyes were the most noticeable feature on his face, soft blue ones surrounded by long lashes. If you had to guess, he was probably in his mid 20s. Part of you wondered how a young man like him could own such a lavish restaurant. “You’ll have to forgive my friend, he was only trying to help and he got a bit carried away.” Bruno turned around to face the man you now know to be Mista, presumably staring him down, before facing you again and rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward laugh.
“It’s fine, thank you for clarifying.” You smiled back. “I’m really glad we can speak in English, my Italian isn’t good at all.”
He cocked his head to the side, thin eyebrows furrowed. “You weren’t able to request a menu in English?”
Your jaw dropped slightly, realising this could have been resolved if you simply asked for a different menu. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know I could!” You pressed your hands against your cheeks in shame.
Bruno laughed gently, his shoulder relaxing, grateful that this wasn’t a staff complaint in the works. “It’s okay, I’m glad you know for next time, I will go get you one.” He came back shortly with an identical menu, this time with everything in English. “We get a lot of tourists here, so we print a couple menus in different languages, mainly English and French.”
“Thank you so much sir, it helps a lot.” You waved him goodbye as you flicked through the new one, picking up all of the meals you had missed out on earlier. You decided to give Mista’s suggestion a go, after all, he was just trying to be nice. A different waiter met you this time, a woman with her hair tied back in a long, blonde ponytail and an exuberant expression across on her face, ready to take your order: the capricciosa pizza, and a slice of chocolate cake with gelato for dessert.
By now the restaurant had more customers, different groups of people huddled around the tables, filling the room with the smell of their meals and another layer of noise above the soft music in the background. Couples, families and friends chuckled and chatted together, enjoying the lively mood that the Naples summer put into them as they shared glasses of wine and scrumptious desserts. It didn’t take long for your waitress to return with a piping hot thin crust pizza on a large round plate with a rich cheesy and meaty aroma exuding from it as she placed it in front of your nose. She refilled your glass of water, adding a few blocks of ice to cool you down as the weather had begun to increase, before leaving you to enjoy your meal.
You took a bite from one of the slices, enjoying how the base crunched in your mouth and sighed, it was incredible. The meat was perfectly seasoned and paired wonderfully with the assortment of vegetables. This particular version had an additional drizzle of olive oil, but to your delight, it didn’t make the dish greasy at all. You had never had a pizza as wonderful as this, you saw why that nice old lady recommended Libeccio to you, as well as why Naples is known as the pizza hotspot. It’s like the meal had some sort of hold on you, its smell wrapped around your body, making you focus on the rich ham and savoury sauce. You ordered one of the smaller sizes, making sure you had enough space for dessert, which was just as delightful. The cool vanilla gelato was a perfect pair for the thick, warm chocolate cake. You always tried to limit your sugar intake, not wanting to sacrifice your health for a few treats, but it didn’t take long for your sweet tooth to activate and completely devour the rich cake.
“Did you enjoy your meal?” Mr Bucciarati returned once your plates had been cleared, sitting on the chair opposite you. “I hope everything was to your taste?” He placed his elbow on the table, resting his head on his hand.
While wiping your lips with a napkin, you nodded enthusiastically. “I did! I guess your friend was right about the capricciosa, it’s really amazing!” You definitely planned to return to Libeccio soon, especially since it wasn’t as expensive as you thought it would be.
His cerulean eyes lit up as a toothy grin formed. Libeccio had been his favourite restaurant since he was young. When he bought the establishment from the previous owner, he spared no expense to continue to do its name justice, not wanting to cut any corners regarding the quality of service or food as some would do. “Well I’m glad you liked it, it’s one of my favourites too.” He leaned in a little towards you, clearing his throat. “Can I ask, is this your first time in Italy?”
You paused a little before replying. “Yes. I never travel much, it’s far too expensive these days. I actually won these tickets in a lottery.”
He gave an understanding nod before switching to another beaming smile. “Ahh well that’s lucky, Naples is one of the best cities here. Call me biased since I grew up here, but I thoroughly prefer it to cities up north.” He folded his arms against his chest with a jokingly smug expression on his face. To Bruno, no amount of glitz and glam in Florence or Milan could match the warm pleasure that Naples made in his heart.
“Well, I’m glad I’m in the right place.” You smiled, turning to face him a little more.
“May I ask where you’re from?”
With slight hesitation, you revealed your home country to the kind stranger, watching his eyes light up at your words.
He leaned forward, resting both elbows on the table. “Oh? I hear how beautiful it is there, especially in the Spring. I have an old friend who moved to,” He snapped his fingers as he tried to recall the name. “It’s escaped me now, but you know the small town in the south, the one with all the mountains and forests? I had a friend who moved there when we were younger. We would send each other postcards when we were little.” Bruno didn’t have many friends his age, especially as he grew up in a quieter area with an older population. This meant he cherished the few he had greatly. When his friend Mikhail moved away due to his father getting a job abroad, they vowed to always send each other letters and postcards. Sadly, this was cut short when he was twelve. You were familiar with the town he was referring to having visited there several times. It was a gorgeous area, filled with a lively artistic and historical culture, as well as being one of the largest cities from your home.
“Were you given any sort of activity list? Things to do here?” Bruno asked, fiddling with his fingers.
You shook your head. “Nothing, in particular, I don’t really know where to start.” You simply planned to rely on whatever the Internet suggested.
“If you would like anyone to go with you or show you some nice places, I’d be more than happy to show you around.”
“Oh no that’s completely fine! I don’t want to intrude on your schedule.” You grit your teeth, not wanting to inconvenience the lovely owner.
He scoffed with a light-hearted tone, shaking his head. “No, it's fine! You won’t be interrupting anything, I promise.” He paused, briefly before pulling a pen out of his shirt pocket and writing something on a napkin. “Here, this is my number. If you would like to go anywhere or need an idea, I would be more than willing to help.” He neatly folded it and handed it to you. “You don’t have to agree, this is just a suggestion! I know that being in a new country can be hard and sometimes daunting.” He quickly explained, holding his hands up as if to prove that this was just an innocent suggestion. The last thing he wanted was to make you feel as overwhelmed by a stranger as you did when Mista approached you.
You took the napkin from him, placing it in your purse. “Thank you Mr Bucciarati.” There was something about him that made it easy to talk to him: maybe it was his calm body language or his soft facial expressions, but it felt nice talking to him. In your gut, he seemed like a good guy. Besides, it would be nice to have a native speaker around to guide you.
“You can just call me Bruno by the way.” Usually, he was fine with being referred to as Bucciarati, but something in him felt like being less formal with you. “What can I call you?”
“y/n.”
He smiled and tilted his head to the side, causing his hair to fall slightly as he slowly repeated your name. “That’s such a beautiful name.”
**************************************************
It had been two days since you visited Libeccio, and still, the kind man’s napkin sat in your bag, stuffed underneath your purse. Bruno did seem nice, and at least he was the well-known owner of Libeccio, so he wasn’t a completely random stranger. It would be nice to have a personal tour guide, especially someone native to the area, it would also make your trip a lot less lonely. You pulled out the napkin and used the hotel phone to call him. After two rings, he picked up.
“Salve, Bucciarati parla.” He said, his voice was deep and groggy like he had just woken up and you could hear the sizzling of a frying pan in the background.
“Mr Bucciarati - Bruno?” You cleared your throat. “It’s y/n, I hope I didn’t call at a bad time.” You heard ceramic plates clanging against each other as well as the opening and closing of wooden drawers.
Bruno yawned before replying, rubbing his neck, soothing it after an uncomfortable night’s rest. “From Libeccio right?” His voice sounded a little chippier as he placed some bread in the toaster. He couldn’t deny that he was hoping you would call, at least this was something pleasant to start off his otherwise boring day.
“Mhm…I’m sorry I responded so late I-”
“It’s fine, it was a bold move on my part.” He cut you off with a light chuckle as he spread some butter on a crisp slice of toast. He was never usually so forward, especially with new people, the last thing he wanted was to make you feel pressured or preyed on. “Does this mean that you’ve decided to take up my offer?”
“Yes.” You nodded, perching on the end of your double bed.
He was thankful that you couldn’t see the wide grin that spread across his face. “How do you feel about pasta making?” The kettle whistled in the background, steam bursting out of the spout before settling. “There’s a place in the Spanish Quarter, they do pasta-making sessions for pretty much anyone, they’re supposedly quite fun.” Bruno poured himself his usual morning drink, a cup of coffee with a little milk and a dash of honey. He had visited his area several times before, though never to attend a class.
The opportunity to be taught how to make a true Italian pizza did sound intriguing, and a public session would be a safe option to go with a stranger. You concluded that this would be a decent idea. “That sounds great! How much does it cost?” You eyed your purse, knowing that you put yourself on a reasonably tight budget.
“Don’t worry about that, I’ll cover you.” He said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his warm coffee.
“No no, I can’t just let you pay for me!”
Bruno let out another soft chuckle as took his usual seat on the sofa. “Don’t worry, the owner owes me anyways. So how does this afternoon sound?” He asked before taking a bite out of the soft buttered bread.
You turned to face the clock on the nightstand. “I can do two o’clock if that’s okay.”
“Meet me at Libeccio then.”
Bruno sat on a long wooden bench just outside the restaurant, arms resting on the back with his head tilted backwards. He wore a blue button-up shirt, opting to leave the top few buttons, exposing the top of his toned chest. Today was a lot warmer than the rest of the week, hence the cool lemonade sitting next to him with already melted ice cubes.
“Sorry I’m late!” You waved shyly, placing a hand on the bench. “I took a wrong turn and ended up at a marketplace.” An awkward laugh left your lips as Bruno sat up to face you, holding a hand above his eyes to avoid the glare of the Sun.
“No problem, the next bus will be here in a few minutes.” He smiled, looking down at his watch. You took a seat next to him, crossing your legs as you waited for the next bus to arrive. Libeccio was even busier than the last time you were there, the chatter from inside the restaurant poured out into the busy streets. This particular street seemed to be the centre of food service in the area, with cafes, bakeries and restaurants lining the road. Across from you was a small coffee shop with outdoor seating, while a dessert parlour with a white and lilac interior sat beside it. Through the window, you could see a group of kids and adults sitting in a booth enjoying an array of ice-creams and milkshakes, the perfect treat for such a hot day.
“That place does incredible cheesecakes,” Bruno’s voice caught your attention. “Probably the best you can get in Naples.” He pointed to the dessert place you were staring at.
“Do you go there often?” You asked, turning to face the man as he sipped his drink.
“Sometimes, when I have the chance. You should try it one day!” He gave you an enthusiastic grin. Libeccio only had limited dessert options, mainly a couple variations of cake with a simple scoop of vanilla gelato, but that wasn’t enough to soothe his sweet tooth. His usual order was a chocolate milkshake with a slice of either cheesecake or a brownie. The positions of Libeccio and Più Golosi (Sweet Tooth) complimented each other well, a savoury and sweet place just across the street from each other, a perfect, tempting pair for customers.
Before you could respond, the small yellow bus pulled up to the stop, stuffed to the brim with a flood of travellers. The double doors swung open, releasing a swarm of people as they rushed to jump off the stuffy vehicle. As Libeccio was in the city centre, the majority of the travellers were ending their journeys here, leaving the bus nice and spacious for the two of you. Bruno led you to a seat in the middle of the bus, slightly behind a group of teenagers chatting away about whatever trip they were on. The bus drove slowly along the street, giving you a chance to gaze at the array of bright and beautiful buildings lining the road. Naples really was a gorgeous city, decorated in bright buildings of various styles: gothic, classical, italiante, modern. Its proximity to the water not only guaranteed you a few nice days at the beautiful beach, but it also meant that you would get some of the best seafood around. As schools were closed for the holidays, you weren’t surprised to see so many kids and teens walking around. Some were in swimwear, most likely from the aforementioned beach, while others were in various summer wear, laughing with friends over smoothies as they moved from shop to shop.
It didn’t take long to reach the place, a large stone building with several cars parked in front. Near one of the entrances was a tall man with cropped black hair, treating himself to a smoke break. “Cardinale.” Bruno waved at the man, causing him to look up from his lighter. On closer inspection, the man, Cardinale, had a large tattoo on his forearm reading “Frederica.”
“Bucciarati.” Cardinale nodded with a smile, walking towards the two of you. “Oh, you brought a friend?” He faced you, looking you up and down before reaching out a hand towards you. “Cardinale, as you have heard.”
You took his hand, noting his strong grip on your hand. “Y/n, a pleasure to meet you.”
“Lovely to meet you too,” He let go of your hand, looking down at his watch. “If you’re here for a class, the next one is in about five minutes, Angelica is leading. Just put on an apron and wait in the hall with the rest of the group.” He pointed you in the direction of the large entrance next to him. “Don’t worry about a fee.” He took a puff of his cigarette as he waved the two of you off.
Contrary to its rustic exterior, the inside of the culinary school was extremely modern and polished. In the long hallway stood a group of about ten people, presumably the other people joining the class, chatting amongst themselves. Along the wall was a line of aprons, well, what would have been a line of aprons if they hadn’t been taken by the rest of the group, you and Bruno helped yourselves to the last two.
The wooden door at the end of the hall swung open, revealing a young woman with thick curly hair, beckoning everyone in. “Welcome welcome! Come inside!” She held the door open for everyone, greeting each member as they entered the pristine kitchen. She was quite tall, with dark skin and hazel eyes, all complimenting the friendly smile spread across her face, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. “Two people to a bench, please wash your hands before you touch anything.”
By default, you and Bruno stayed as a pair, choosing one of the benches near the large arched windows. The woman introduced herself as Angelica, explaining that she was a final-year culinary student and would be leading this session. She took you through all the steps, from making the dough, to forming the various shapes and preparing the sauce. Bruno seemed to be a master already, calmly forming little portions of perfect gnocchi, enough to get some praise from Angelica as she walked around the benches. At first, you were dreading this, worried that you would be the only one to mess up the shapes. The first few pieces of garganelli came out rather flat or irregularly folded, but after the fourth one, you started to get the hang of it. You decided to mix it up with some gemelli, they were much easier than the radiatori which Bruno made.
“You’re so good at this.” You laughed awkwardly, eyeing the array of styles Bruno had made.
He scoffed in return. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, trust me when I say that I was worse than you when I first started.” He tutted loudly, realising he had squashed the riccioli in his hands. “As you can see, I still make mistakes.”
“I don’t think I’ll even attempt the ruote or the spighe.” Angelica had a camera set up at her station, it projected a birds-eye view of her work onto the screen slightly to the left of her. On her board were roughly thirty different types of pasta she made on the spot, ready to be cooked. They were all perfectly shaped with no sign of imperfections.
“Well, maybe when you return from your holiday you can continue practising. Being able to make pasta from home can save a lot of money sometimes.”
“Do you make all of yours from scratch then?” You asked, using the pasta machine to flatten out a new section of dough.
“I try to if I have the time.”
You shook your head. “Owning a restaurant must take a lot of your time, I can’t imagine how much work goes into it.” You began sectioning out the dough for a batch of casarecce.
“Well yes…sort of.” Owning a restaurant was time-consuming, Bruno wouldn’t deny it. But it wasn’t the only thing that limited his time and availability. His position with Passione didn’t concern you, after all, you were a tourist and a stranger. Before the conversation could continue any further, Angelica called everyone’s attention to the front where she took everyone through the sauce.
It was a simple cream sauce with bacon, parmesan and swiss cheese, a perfect match for the pasta. While the food simmered in the separate posts, the opportunity arose for the group members to mingle with each other, only for a few minutes. You ended up conversing with the couple behind you, a pair of 19-year-old university students on a date. The four of you talked about the summer, they shared their plans to travel around Naples before returning to Rome for their studies. While you and Bruno explained that you were also on holiday here and he was showing you around.
Once everything was cooked and plated to Angelica’s standards, everyone made their way to the dining area just down the hall from the kitchen. You both sat by a round wooden table situated by a window, helping yourselves to the freshly squeezed juice offered. You squeezed your eyes shut, bracing for the worst as you took a bite of your dish. To your surprise it was delightful! The thick creamy sauce paired wonderfully with the light pasta, and the bacon gave an extra savoury crunch to the dish.
“See, I knew you weren’t as bad as you thought.” Bruno asked, topping up his glass of juice.
“I surprised myself honestly.” You laughed, collecting another forkful of food. “How is yours?” You noticed that he had already eaten half of his plate.
“As you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was lovely if I do say so myself.” He smirked proudly, his expression making you giggle. “Though I think I’ll add more vegetables to it if I remake it.” He ate another forkful.
The two of you conversed a little more as you cleaned up your plates and washed them up. Bruno was a real gentleman, even with the smallest things like holding the door open for you, he was a good listener and showed genuine interest in your stories about back home. There was something about him that made you very comfortable, he genuinely seemed like a friend to you, despite how little time you had known him for.
“Thank you so much for inviting me,” You said as you walked towards the bus stop. “I’m very grateful that you did this.” You rubbed the back of your neck shyly.
Bruno gave you a smile as he dug his hands into his pocket, “It’s no problem.” The bus back to Libeccio arrived and you both got on board. It was just as empty as it was when you got on it earlier, allowing the two of you to speak openly. “Y/n? While I enjoy your company and would love to show you more interesting places, I just hope you don’t pressured to meet with me. I know that being in a new country can be daunting and I don’t want you to feel unsafe around me.” Bruno said, squeezing the fabric of his trousers.
“Well, I’m thankful that you appreciate boundaries. I’d like to think I can trust you, I would like to see more places, its better than travelling all alone. You replied, resting your back against the window so you faced him.
The corners of his lips upturned lightly. “I would like that too.” He cocked his head to the side. “Just give me a call whenever you feel like meeting again.”
**************************************************
Today marked two weeks of your trip, and of those fourteen days, ten of them had been spent with Mr Bruno Bucciarati. After the success of the pasta-making class, you met up the next day to try out that dessert place you were looking at, Più Golosi. He treated you to an ice cream sundae with a fluffy waffle, while he had a tall glass of hot chocolate with a slice of carrot cake. The day after that, he took you through the underground world of the Napoli Sotteranea, through the ancient labyrinth of aqueducts, passages and cisterns, weaving through the narrow passages by candlelight. Later you visited some of the other marketplaces, trying out some of the local street food like cuoppo and graffa. Graffa was a kind of fried fluffy, potato-based doughnut covered with sugar. Cuoppo came in land and sea variations, with the land version consisting of potato crocché stuffed with cheese and ham, pasta zeppole, zucchini flowers, ricotta and scagliuozz, arancini rice and more. With the sea version contains squid and shrimp rings, seaweed fritters and fried fravaglietti. You both shared a love for music and art and expressed these through trips to the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte and the busy busking-rich streets where guitarists and pianists were often found entertaining crowds dotting the area.
You and Bruno had grown closer over time, sharing more intimate sides of you over cups of coffee and walks through the shopping centres. You ended up meeting some of his friends, Giorno, Fugo and Mista. The latter you had already met through the awkward encounter in Libeccio, but you were thankful that now you had a more pleasant encounter with him. Mista was quite the comedian, loud and unhinged, while Giorno and Fugo were more mellow and casual like Bruno. You hit it off with them immediately, you bounced off each other quite well. You learnt about his childhood, how his parents were separated and he bought Libeccio just a couple of years ago; while letting him in on details of your life back in your home country. Bruno never pried into your personal affairs, always tiptoeing around anything that could seem intrusive (he didn’t even know which hotel you were staying at), respecting the boundaries set as new companions while remaining amicable. That little connection you felt to him when you first met had increased over time, and something inside you wanted to see him more and more. Maybe it was just a silly little crush, after all, having a handsome Italian gentleman showing you around the city would make anyone blush. And besides, you were on holiday, maybe the new scenery had changed you in a way. Regardless, you were not going to act on anything, you’d had enough bad luck with past relationships, no need to cripple yourself with a fantasy-like ordeal with a strange man in another country, and it’s not like you knew if Bruno felt the same.
Today you were at the beach again, for the third time this trip, basking in the Sun and soaking up a nice tan.
“Fancy a drink?” You pulled off your sunglasses, looking up at Bruno as he stood beside you, holding out a chilled can of Coca-Cola. You thanked him for the beverage and cracked it open, enjoying the refreshing drink. “I have to leave soon, a friend is coming to pick me up in a few minutes.” He said with an apologetic tone as he packed up his belongings. “We can drop you off at Libeccio if you would like us to?” He folded his towel, placing it in his small travel bag.
You had grown a little tired of today’s beach trip anyways, with it being a Saturday, more families were free to visit the beach making it more crowded and louder than normal. “If you could that would be great.” You began packing up your own items, making sure to not leave anything behind like your water bottle or sunscreen. The two of you walked over to the parking lot after changing, where a black Honda sat with the driver resting his head on the open window.
“Who’s that.” The man looked up, pointing to you.
“She’s a friend, y/n, I need you to drop her off at Libeccio.” Bruno opened the back door for you to get in, before making his way to the front passenger seat.
“I’m not your personal driver Bucciarati.” The man scowled, starting the car and pulling out of the parking space. Bruno scoffed and leaned on the window.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve done a lot more favours for you Abbacchio,” He turned around you face you, “don’t mind him, he’s just bitter for no reason.” He gave you a reassuring smile before facing forward once more.
The journey was short, just a few minutes of driving with very little traffic. Bruno and Abbacchio talked for most of the journey, presumably about something important as they only spoke in Italian, despite them speaking in English earlier. The man Bruno was with looked about your age with pale skin, long greyish hair tied back and a few bruises on the back of his hands. You assumed this was just a friend, or maybe someone he worked with at Libeccio. They dropped you off outside of the restaurant and Bruno waved you goodbye as the car drove off.
“So are we not going to address her?” Abbacchio asked, a sly smile creeping onto his face. “I didn’t know you liked picking up foreign girls, I guess this is the person you show around.”
Bruno rolled his eyes at the teasing, refusing to let it get to him.
“Oh? Trying to act like the bigger man now?” Leone turned into the next street. “I thought you’d given up on dating after Ambra? Or Esta? Or even Genevieve?” He looked at Bruno through the corner of his eye. He picked up on the way Bruno’s jaw clenched slightly after hearing his exes' names brought into the conversation. Despite what many people would assume, Bruno Bucciarati never had any luck with girlfriends. Yes he was sweet, outgoing, polite, a great cook, loving, he checked most if not all boxes on the typical ‘perfect boyfriend’ list; but his involvement with Passione was enough to render his pros useless. Ambra and Genevieve were both frightened by this connection, cutting the relationship short and eventually just ending communication with him as a whole, while Esta ended up using him for his money, despite knowing that Bruno was in love with her. These three relationships were enough to crush his spirit and deter him from dating as a whole, not wanting to have his heart shattered by anyone else. His coping mechanisms were focussing more on Passione and buying a restaurant close to his heart, Libeccio.
“She is just a friend, that’s all.” Bruno shrugged, eyes focused on the traffic lights up ahead.
“Ha! That’s rich!” Leone snorted, stopping for the red light, he paused, considering his words before saying them. “Does she know you’re in Passione?” Abbacchio had known Bruno through two of his relationships, and as one of his closest friends, he could also tell that Bruno was already interested in you and he didn’t want him to make another mistake.
“No, she doesn’t.”
Leone sighed, his skepticism growing. “Why not?”
“Because she doesn’t need to know.” Bruno snapped, winding down the window slightly for air. In his gut, he was sure that Leone knew his feelings for you, he was good at reading people. But still, Bruno was stubborn and would rather avoid such an intrusive conversation.
They had reached their destination, an old motel on the outskirts of the city. “It’s very clear that you like her Bucciarati, she’s the one you’ve been touring the city with right?” Leone sighed, knowing that he would be treading on an uncomfortable, but necessary conversation. “How do you know she’s not using you? Taking advantage of a rich guy to improve her time here, how much have you spent on her?”
“Not much.” This was technically true, anytime Bruno paid for anything, you paid him back or simply split the fee.
Abbacchio grunted, stepping out of the car and making his way to the motel room with Bruno right behind him. “Jeez, you never learn do you?” He scoffed, trying to find the right key for the room. “Don’t give me any of that ‘I don’t like her’ crap, you know you do that’s why you spent all your time with her.” He managed to unlock the door. “Just don’t let her break your heart again, I can’t say I’m expecting anything good from this.”
**************************************************
“Do you know the Amalfi Coast?” Bruno asked, poking you lightly.
You tapped your chin. “I’ve seen a few pictures, it looks beautiful.” You turned back to your plate of lasagne, cutting another piece of the dish and piling some salad on top.
Bruno cleared his throat, poking his carbonara as he tried to figure out how to word his next comment. His words were stuck in his throat leading him to continue tiptoeing around the topic as he had before. “There’s a very nice hotel that I go to sometimes, its so close to the water.” He looked up at you, trying to gauge your interest. You simply nodded and sipped your water, humming in response. “I think it's the kind of place to go with someone.” His voice upturned slightly, almost like he was asking a question. You still didn’t react much as you sipped your lemonade. Bruno huffed and placed his fork down, leaning towards you. “Y/n, I’m asking if you would like to join me.” He blurted out, making your eyes widen.
“Oh.” That was all you said as your hands paused in the middle of loading another forkful. There was an awkward pause and the air grew thicker. A bead of sweat trailed down the back of Bruno’s neck as the regret pooled at the bottom of his stomach. How could he think you would even agree to this? You had only known each other for just over two weeks, him suddenly inviting you to a hotel in another area just made him look like a creep. Now you knew he had some sort of interest in you and there was no backtracking.
‘I just want to curl up in a ball and-’
“I would love to go with you Bruno.” You said, cutting off his thoughts. You folded your lips in, fiddling with your thumbs as you stared at your plate bashfully. With such close proximity, Bruno could see the slight redness of your cheeks. So it looked like you both shared similar feelings towards each other, Bruno wondered how long the two of you had been in this state without knowing.
“I’ll drive us there tomorrow then.” He smiled, refilling his mocktail.
It felt like forever for Saturday morning to arrive, you spent hours fretting over what to wear. You hadn’t been on a date in a while (was this a date?), even longer since you went on a trip with someone you were interested in, and that most certainly didn’t end well. But you felt like Bruno was different. Despite his classy sense of style or his popularity among the locals, he never came across as judgemental or arrogant and that made it easier to get ready for the trip.
At 10 am, Bruno arrived at your hotel. This was the first time you ever told him where you were staying and you would rather he picked you up than you took a suitcase with you to meet at Libeccio. This was also the first time you ever saw his car. It looked expensive, a shiny black convertible that people kept looking at as they walked in and out of the hotel’s front doors. He wore a plain white t-shirt and had a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses on his head. He shot you a confident smile as he waved at you, getting out to help you put your suitcase in the back.
The journey was a little longer than expected, around three and a half hours with the traffic that clogged the highway. Bruno had a designated travel playlist, burned onto a CD which he played for any long journey. It was a mix of American and Italian songs, mainly different variations of jazz or romantic songs, he made sure to sing along to most of them, even when he fumbled the lyrics. Bruno had a very smooth singing voice, his baritone voice made every word sound like honey as he sang, you could listen to it for hours.
You and Bruno conversed for a while, passing the time as you sat in traffic once more between Trecase and Torre Annunziata. Bruno told you how Mista and Giorno had asked about you, hoping to see you again before you leave, carefully excluding how they teased him for planning this trip to Amalfi, well aware of your shared interest in each other. Abbacchio was still skeptical, this spontaneous trip to Amalfi, which was completely covered by Bruno, didn’t help his gut feeling about you using him. But seeing how the two of you acted around the rest of the group made him a little more optimistic about the situation. He just hoped you wouldn’t run back home and block his number instantly.
“We’re here!” Bruno pulled up in front of a grand hotel, ‘’. It was a large classical building with pillars along the front, all coated in bright white. The inside was a soft gold colour with a gorgeous chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Being here was breathtaking, you always thought your hotel in Naples was fabulous, but this was extraordinary, does Bruno really make so much money to afford this just through restaurant owning?
After Bruno checked you in, he handed you the key to your room. You and Bruno were staying in separate large rooms next to each other on the sixth floor which gave you the perfect view of the water. After a couple hours of settling in, you took a tour around the coast. Amalfi was an interesting place, it was made up of thirteen towns, all clinging to the cliffs, reaching all the way down to the beautiful shore. Tourists traipsed up and down the area, some hiking on the Path of the Gods, while others explored the Blue Grotto caves in Capri. Bruno told you that when he was younger, he assisted his father with his duties as a fisherman: from gathering bait, to fishing, to following him on deliveries to the local fishmongers. He arranged a boat for recreational fishing just off the coast of Postiano, but for the sake of preserving the natural ecosystem, participants were asked to just catch and release.
The small boat rocked slowly on the water as Bruno guided you through fishing, holding your hands in the right position to be able to reel the fish in properly. It took a couple of tries, but you managed to catch a few small sardines.
That evening, Bruno had arranged dinner at a small restaurant near the hotel.
**************************************************
La Galleria was a cosy little place specialising in seafood from the local fishing ports. Your table was on the roof with a breathtaking view of the water below as the cooler evening breeze hit the back of your neck. You wore a simple red dress, while Bruno wore a red turtleneck with a black blazer. You both had bowls of chicken caesar salad, drizzled in a rich sauce, followed by a miso-glazed black cod on white rice for Bruno, and shrimp scampi with pasta for you. As the soft jazz from below wafted up to the roof, you and Bruno reminisced on your time together these past couple weeks, from strangers in Libeccio to sharing a meal in Amalfi. Your knee brushed against Bruno’s innocently as you talked, the close proximity making your heart race. Bruno was so handsome, and even though you told yourself that you wouldn’t let a crush grow to anything more, you couldn't help but feel the urge to have his muscular arms wrapped around you or run your fingers through his soft black hair made your stomach twist. You could listen to his voice for hours on end, enjoying his cute hand gestures and his rich accent. He was so kind to you too, planning so many trips, including paying for this one. He was way too generous to you and the last thing you wanted was to come across as a golddigger of some sort, Bruno was a genuinely nice guy, so patient and attentive.
Bruno’s heart was racing too, worried he would trip on his words or forget how to say something in English as he had before when talking to you. You always looked so beautiful to him, no matter what, you always took his breath away. He couldn’t imagine the last time he had felt so at ease around someone, much less a stranger he met a couple of weeks ago.
“Thank you so much Bruno, for tonight, for everything.” You said, your fingers lightly brushing against his on the table. He wanted to hold your hand badly, to kiss it again like he had before and tell you how much you meant to him.
“You’re welcome bella, I’ve really enjoyed these past-” He was cut off by the ringing of his phone, “please excuse me.” He got up immediately, excusing himself downstairs in a rush. You didn’t see the caller ID, but usually, Bruno was fine with answering calls around you, but his behaviour made you worry. The call was short and Bruno returned within a few minutes, facing his meal as if nothing happened. Ordinarily this would be normal, but it seemed like something was on his mind, like his mood was suddenly soured. You noticed how the space between you had grown slightly bigger than before, you were no longer lightly brushing against his knuckles, and nor were your knees connected.
“Bruno, is everything okay?” You mustered up the courage to ask, worried that you would be prying too much into private affairs. You hoped he would just tell you everything was fine, that it wasn’t anything serious, but you knew it must have been.
“Y/n…” He sighed, biting on his bottom lip, “there’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been completely honest about myself.” He avoided making eye contact with you, which was more than enough to elevate your worry. Your stomach dropped, a million possibilities racing through your head. Maybe he didn’t really like you, maybe he was using you for attention, reeling you in with a charming persona? Maybe he had a partner and was using you to cheat?
Bruno turned to face you, clutching your hand in his as he looked earnestly into your eyes. “I’m still Bruno, bella, I’m still the same person who owns Libeccio, and likes fishing. And I do like you, so much, but I can’t keep hiding this from you and I understand if this means you don’t want to be around me anymore.” His breathing was rapid as he squeezed your hand tightly. His mind was prepared for the worst scenario, he was ready for you to scream or run away from him, locking yourself in your room and finding your way back to Naples without him. He was ready for you to get angry or upset at him for not telling you sooner. Part of him regretted bringing it up already, feeling like he had thwarted his best attempt at love, but it wouldn’t be fair to keep you in the dark if he genuinely cared.
“Y/n, do you know what Passione is?”
You exhaled deeply, yes, you had heard of Passione, a hub for organised crime in the south of Italy. Was Bruno really part of them? When you think of mafiosi you imagine much older men, using laundered money for drugs, weapons, and exploiting women, at least that is the stereotype, was Bruno really one of them? Sweet, kind, generous, optimistic Bruno who you adored being around? The same Bruno who always helped anyone he saw? Who showed the utmost respect for all the older citizens and acted with integrity? You 100% believed that not everyone involved in crime is inherently bad, many people fall into it at low points of their lives, you knew that Bruno was a good man, regardless of his affiliation with the group.
When you didn’t respond, Bruno let go of you. “I knew this was a mistake, I should have just listened to Abbacchio and stopp-”
“Bruno,” You placed a hand on his, making him lose his train of thought, “I’m not upset that you’re in Passione.” You whispered, interlocking your fingers with his. “I don’t think less of you for it, I know that people can be put in situations that make them choose that path,” your eyes darted to the side, “but I believe you’re a good person Bruno, I really do. I’m not exactly in the safest position as a woman in a foreign country, but I feel so safe with you Bruno, regardless of Passione.” You meant everything you said, keeping your eyes locked on him to show your sincerity. “I-”
Before you could speak, Bruno’s lips were on yours.
His hand remained holding yours, though squeezing slightly tighter now, while his free hand held the side of your face. His lips were soft against yours as his thumb pressed against your cheekbone. Slowly he pulled away, rubbing his nose against yours slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologise, really.” You squeezed his hand gently.
Bruno’s hand found itself fitting perfectly in the curve of your waist. “I want to be with you y/n, not just for this trip.” His voice was shaky, he tried his best to not push too hard. “It’s okay for you to say no, it is.”
“I want to be with you too Bruno, I really do.” Without thinking, your hand moved up to hold the side of his neck, feeling the heat radiating off him before moving down to his shoulder. “Can I ask, Bruno…why are you with them?”
He took a deep breath, already regretting what he was about to say. Bruno never liked talking about this incident, he never told anyone this story, not even his old girlfriends. “My father was in an accident when he was 12. He was in the hospital and one night some people tried to…to kill him.” The sympathetic look in your eyes made it easier for him to talk. “He wasn’t in a gang or anything, he was just an ordinary person. I was in the room when they snuck in, two men, I-” His words got trapped in his throat. “I killed them.” He could tell from the small changes in your breathing, your posture, the glint in your eyes, that despite keeping an open mind about Passione, you couldn’t fully wrap your head around him being tied to murder. “If I didn’t they would have killed my father and come after me, there was nothing else I could do.” He begged, pleading for you to at least hear him out, scared that you would leave him after such a confession. “I had to go underground, I can’t do anything with something like that on my record.” The silence that followed was deafening, the sound of his heartbeat rang through his ears as his chest heaved slowly.
“It’s okay Bruno…it really is.” You whispered, “You’re the first person to know this and not run away or use me.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you, I’ve had my fair share of bad relationships. You’re the first person I’ve been able to actually feel happy with, Bruno, the first person to actually make me feel like you care.”
“Of course, I care about you bella, you mean the most to me. I hate that people have treated you that way, you deserve everything I could possibly give you and more…everything.”
The rest of dinner carried on smoothly, with Bruno’s seat much closer to yours and his hand resting on your knee. His eyes were more focused on you than the delicious food in front of him. His heart felt like it was going to leap out of his chest as your leg brushed up against him and your perfume wafted into his nose. Bruno really did think you were beautiful, the way your dark hair fell to your shoulders, contrasting your crimson dress. How your cheeks turned rosy when you laughed, or your tendency to fiddle with the hem of your clothing when you were tired. There had always been something in him that knew he had feelings towards you, but kissing you, even though it was brief, solidified his feelings.
Neither of you pushed any further about the kiss, nor did you talk about your beat-around-the-bush confessions. Instead, once dinner was over, you made your way back to the hotel silently.
“I guess I will see you in the morning then?” Bruno asked, letting out a soft laugh as you stood in front of your respective doors.
“Yeah, I guess I will.” You smiled as you waved each other goodbye. It wasn’t until you had both returned to your rooms that you were able to release the tension in your body. The kiss still lingered on your lips as you pulled your night shirt over your head and you could feel your face get warmer. You couldn’t deny that the idea of him kissing you was something buried in the back of your mind, especially when he would hold you in close embraces and his natural scent would waft into your nose. There was a part of you that wanted to continue, that wanted to go to his room and lie with him on this warm evening in Amalfi. To feel what it would be like for him to hold you in his arms as more than just a friend. You shook your head, feeling like a young teenager having their first kiss.
With a heavy sigh, you turned your attention to the TV opposite your bed and flicked through the channels, landing on what looked like a random soap opera. By your bed was a small menu with all the items available for room service and decided on a jug of lemonade to cool you down. When there was a knock just two minutes later, you were a little surprised by the speed of service. You were even more surprised by seeing Bruno standing by your door.
Bruno had been standing outside your door for the past five minutes, contemplating knocking on your door. Would he be intruding? Jumping to conclusions over a simple kiss?
Ah, but it wasn’t a simple kiss was it, you had confessed your feelings to each other.
But you only had three more days in Naples, maybe this was your way of getting some sort of closure, getting your feelings out on the table before you disappear and never cross paths again. Even on the off chance that anything came from this, it doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be weird for him to approach you like this.
While Bruno reasoned this in his head, his body had other plans. It wasn’t until you swung the door open that he realised he had already knocked.
“Hi,” He swallowed, awkwardly placing his hands behind his back. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
You shook your head as you opened the door wider, welcoming him into your room. “No no, I just haven’t been able to sleep.”
“Me neither.” He perched on the edge of the desk, watching the television next to it. “What are you watching?”
“I have no idea, I couldn’t figure out how to put it in English.” The silence from both of you overpowered the noise from the TV. Usually you would bounce off each other better, but the events at dinner seemed to leave you both somewhat shy. Deep down, you both wanted more, but neither of you had the confidence to make the first move.
Bruno walked over to you, sitting next to you on your bed, knee brushing against yours.
“Y/n…” He started, taking your hand in his, “I meant everything I said earlier, about how I feel about you.” His slender fingers traced the lines of your palm slowly. “In a perfect world, I’d want you to be with you, properly. But I know that you have to go back home soon, I understand if this has to end here.”
“It doesn’t have to.” The words spilt out of your mouth before you could even process them properly. “I mean…I can always come back, maybe sometimes you can visit me.” A long-distance relationship wasn’t something you ever really thought you would find yourself pursuing, but you couldn’t miss this opportunity with Bruno.
“I like that idea.” Bruno smiled, interlocking his fingers with yours before ducked down for another kiss, this one was shorter and sweeter, the type that gives you a warm feeling in yout gut. It was like a bridge had formed between the two of you and any worries about intimacy had been crossed out. “Out of curiosity, when are you next free?” His enthusiasm made you giggle.
You tapped your chin, recalling what you discussed with your boss before you left for Italy. “I have to use up my holidays within the next three months, maybe I can come back before they’re over.” You grinned widely, enjoying the way he his face softened at your words.
“Can’t you stay a little longer? Use up your holidays now?” He pulled you onto his lap, kissing all over your face. His demeanour had suddenly changed, knowing that he might only have to wait a couple of months to see the woman he cared so much about. You giggled as you held his broad shoulders, squeezing them lightly as you tried to pull him away from your face. He ducked down to nibble where your neck connected to your head, trying to coax you into staying.
You wrapped your arms around his neck, “I can’t afford it Bruno, and besides, I signed papers with my boss saying I would be back to work next week.” You felt him sigh against your neck.
“How much more time do you have left to use on holidays?”
“10 days I think.”
“I’ll book you a flight.”
“Bruno!” You pulled away, pinching his soft cheek “Do you not trust me?”
“Of course I do bella, but I just think it’s easier to book now that the prices are cheaper.” He wrapped his arms tighter around your form. It didn’t take long for his lips to fall back on yours, moving between them and your neck, only to be broken by a knock on your door.
“So sorry for the wait signorina, the machine wasn’t working.” The waiter apologised profusely as he placed your lemonade on the table.
“It’s no problem, thank you.” You smiled, closing the door behind him. You both shared a few glasses of the cool drink, talking more about the possibility of you coming back to Naples. Despite his earlier energetic behaviour, Bruno was quite understanding of the situation. He knew that compromises would have to be made and that things may not always work out, but regardless, he chose to be optimistic about the situation.
Once the jug’s contents had been thoroughly depleted, you found yourselves tucked under your bedsheets. You didn’t realise how tired you were until you fell asleep so quickly against his soft t-shirt, to the sound of his heartbeat. Cool air blew through the window, making you press up against him in your sleep as his hands moved down to hold your waist. Bruno’s heart was pounding like it wanted to leap right out of his ribcage. Being here, holding you, this was all he wanted. For the first time in so long, he felt like he was happy again, like you were the one for him. He gave up on this feeling ages ago, not wanting to risk another heartbreak, but now he couldn’t resist it.
He was in love.
**************************************************
Sunday was quite simple. Breakfast at a lovely little cafe, a bike ride through Sorrento and lunch back at the hotel. This was certainly not the first time you and Bruno had gone out together, but this time was different. The way he held your hand, your waist, hugged you, everything felt different now, a good type of different.
This “good different” continued to Monday and Tuesday, with Bruno being even more of a gentleman to you. He made sure to cherish every moment with you like he was making up for lost time.
The sun peeked through the window, highlighting your body as you hummed in your sleep. Bruno had been awake for a while now, the lump in his throat and the twists in his stomach making it harder to enjoy the warm summer morning.
Today was your last day, the last time he would be able to see you for who knows how long. He always knew you would leave, Naples wasn’t your home after all, and there is a chance it may never be. But now that the dreaded day had come, it just made his chest ache to the point where it made his head spin.
He wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer until your back was pressed against him, allowing him to nuzzle into your neck. You groaned quietly, fidgeting in your sleep before settling once more. Bruno used this as an opportunity to place a kiss on your neck, enjoying the sweet natural scent emanating from your body. He slid his other arm under your body, hugging you properly as your legs tangled together under his sheets.
“Bruno…” You grinned, feeling the pressure of his body against you as he had you in a tight embrace. “I need my sleep you know?” You patted the side of his face lightly, enjoying the warmth emanating from his soft cheek.
His heart hurt even more hearing your voice, knowing this would be the last time he would hear it in person. “y/n…” He whispered, holding your hand gently in his, bringing it down to the soft mattress and interlocking your fingers with his. “When is your flight?” He mumbled into your neck, eyes locked on his thumb stroking your skin.
You inhaled sharply, realising why his tone had been so mellow this morning. “6 pm, there’s been a car arranged.” You bit your bottom lip, feeling Bruno lean away from you with a deep sigh. His arms left your body cold air hit your back.
“I’ll come with you, I’ll see you off at security.” Bruno said, laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. You turned around to face him, watching the sun highlight the lower half of his face and chest, coating them in a pale yellow glaze. His lips were downturned slightly, forming an involuntary frown as his eyebrows furrowed. His expression made your heart sink to your stomach, you knew you would miss him so much.
You scooched closer, resting a head on his flattened shoulder as your fingers traced his chest gently. “I’ll come back Bruno,” You dragged your fingers down to his navel. “I promise.” You looked up at him, catching how his eyes shifted from you as soon as you made eye contact, realising that you caught him staring. His cheekbones were softly dusted with pink as he cleared his throat.
“I know you will, and I’ll find time to visit you.” He cupped the side of your face, “but you can’t blame me for being a little upset that you’re leaving.”
“I know, I am too.” You gave a half-smile, holding his wrist. Seeing you frown made his heart sink even more, it wasn’t his intention to dampen the mood so early in the morning.
“Y/n, why don’t we go to Libeccio? For your last meal here?” Bruno asked. Ending the trip with the place you met seemed perfect. It also gave Bruno the opportunity to make sure you received the best service possible.
“I’d love to.”
You both laid in bed for a while, enjoying each other’s warmth until noon when you finally got up for lunch. You wore a simple sundress with a red flower pattern along it, something that Bruno absolutely adored on you. Hand in hand, you left his home for the restaurant, deciding to have one last walk through the streets you grew to love. Libeccio was slightly quieter than usual, what with it being lunchtime on a Wednesday, this at least made it easier to talk to each other.
“Oh? If it isn’t the two lovebirds!” A familiar voice called, you looked up to see Mista leaning on the back of Bruno’s chair, much to his dismay, poking his nose into his menu. Bruno had made the mistake of being open to the group about his feelings for you, this ultimately left him vulnerable to childish teasing which would surely get worse when you weren’t around. “Y/n, Bucciarati says you’re leaving today?”
“Mhm, I need to leave for the airport in a few hours.”
“Ah, this one will certainly miss you,” He nudged Bruno with his elbow, “he goes on and on about you all the time anyways.” He scoffed.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Bruno asked, not bothering to look up from the menu.
“I actually came to collect an order,” He lifted up the black bag in his hand, that explained the sudden smell of shrimp. “But I might as well give Y/n a goodbye hug.” Mista walked towards you, pulling you out of your seat and hugging you tightly. Bruno knew what Mista was doing by pressing his palms on your lower back and hugging you for much longer than what was needed. But it was in his nature to tease people like that, after all, you and Mista grew to be quite good friends, and you both knew he was playing around. “Make sure to come back soon!” Mista waved as he left the restaurant.
Bruno turned back to you to see a smirk across your lips. “What?” He asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Your face when Mista hugged me, I didn’t think it would get to you.” You laughed, flicking through the calzones section of the menu.
“Can you blame me for being a little jealous?” Bruno sighed, closing his menu and placing it on the table. He waved at one of the waiters, a tall, slender young man with long wavy hair, eager to take your orders.
Over lunch, you discussed plans for when you went back home: how to fit your schedules around each other, the possibility of sending each other gifts, and Bruno travelling to visit you. The thoughts alone brought butterflies to your stomach, the idea of Bruno being in your home, visiting your favourite places, your family and friends even. You already had a list of things to do with him buried at the back of your mind.
Once the plates were cleared and the bill was paid, you found yourselves in a small park, wandering along the footpaths that weaved along the luscious green grass, between the thick oak trees.
“Y/n…we need to get to the airport soon.” Bruno whispered, pulling your waist towards him as he sandwiched you between him and an old tree.
“Mhm.” You rest your head on his shoulder in a warm embrace, his rich cologne flooding your nose with a scent you would soon miss.
“Y/n…mi bella.” The pet name made your heart well up. “I know we haven’t been together for a long time but…the feelings I have for you, it’s like I-”
“I know what you mean Bruno.” You cut him off quietly, tugging his soft cotton shirt. You felt the same way Bruno did, the tingles you got when he held your hand, the way your body perfectly moulded into his, how your stomach twisted and turned anytime he looked you in the eye. Somehow, somewhere, along the line, you realised that you had fallen in love with the kind mafioso that swept you off your feet.
“So you love me too bella?” Bruno asked, a teasing tone to his words as his lips met your forehead.
You rolled your eyes playfully, enjoying how his soft lips felt against your skin. “Well if I have to put it in words, then yes.”
Bruno’s heart pounded in his chest, he could feel the shakiness in his breathing from the relief of knowing that you felt the same way he did. It was almost laughable how quickly the chains around his heart loosened when you appeared. How his vows to never give in to another person were discarded as he got closer and closer to you. You were perfect to him, everything he wanted and more, and he knew he couldn’t just let you leave without letting you know how much power you had over him and his weak heart.
“Bella, I love you so much, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Please remember that, always, even if I’m not there with you.”
“I love you too Bruno, truly I do. I haven’t felt this way with anyone in so long I-” Bruno’s lips pressed gently against yours, stealing your breath away.
“I’m sorry to cut you off but you just look so cute, why do you have to leave today bella, stay here with me a little longer.” He groaned, placing a soft kiss on your forehead, knowing how much he would miss this.
“Believe me, I want that more than anything, but I have to go back, Bruno.” The thought of not being able to hold him like this, to not stroke his soft black hair or look into his warm eyes, ate away at you.
“We should probably head to the airport soon then.”
Within the hour, you were at the airport, waiting in the busy queue to check in your luggage, while Bruno held you from behind, chin resting on your head. You ended up with one extra bag, filled with gifts for your friends and family: trinkets, snacks, clothing, as well as things that Bruno bought you.
“When you land, let me know okay?” Bruno hugged you one last time, his hands memorising the curve of your body, ingraining everything from your scent to the softness of your skin in his memory. His lips moved to kiss your forehead gently, “Y/n…I won’t pretend like I’m not going to miss you every day. I want us to work out bella, I’ll take time to visit you whenever I can okay?” The slight sniffles and breaks in his voice made your heart sink. Bruno loved you so much, more than he could contain, and you felt the same way about him as you inhaled his rich cologne.
“Bruno, I’ll miss you just as much, if not, more.” You whispered, wrapping your arms around his neck. “I’ll call you as soon as I get back mi amore.” Hearing you use that name on him made his stomach twist and turn. Being called that, by you, in your voice that soothed his soul made his heart beat even faster. At that point, he just had to steal another kiss from you, a passionate one that stuck on your lips even after you pulled away.
Reluctantly, he pulled away, letting you cross the barrier to find your gate, and with tears welling in both of your eyes, you waved each other goodbye, thankful for this spontaneous trip that brought the two of you together.
#bruno bucciarati x reader#bruno buccellati x reader#bruno bucciarati#bruno buccellati#fluff#romance#holiday#reader insert#jojo x reader#jjba x reader#leone abbacchio#abbacchio
191 notes
·
View notes
Text
Here me out, secret agent/spy AU where Natsu is a field agent and Lucy is his support, basically feeding him his Intel through a piece in his ear while he's on missions. They rarely ever spend time in person, rather they bond almost entirely through banter while on missions.
Honestly, this reminds me of Healer—a kdrama where the guy was also kind of like a field agent and he had this woman (no ship or anything, this lady was way too older) who was his partner through the ear thing. She would arrange his missions, get the information for him, all through the computer BUT!! They didn’t know each other personally, he didn’t even know how she looked like, only she knew him physically because she would always see him through the computers and everything.
Now lemme drop some headcanons for that:
•Lucy’s office is a mess. Scattered books, manila folder, and files all over the place, a map with red strings pinned to her wall and ceilings, book shelves attached to the wall like a whole fvcking library, the place is always dark as she sits in front of the computer, being the only source of light in the room. She always wears skimpy outfits and likes to chew gum a lot, which drives Natsu insane when he can hear it through the earbud, not to mention he has super sensitive ears. She wears glasses sometimes. She’s one of the youngest in the organization Fairy Tail (lolol, can't think of any other name) because of her hacker skills and her tactician brain, and she gets paid very well, but she doesn’t have a fancy house or anything because she’s just horrible at being responsible with her money. She just buys lots of pink cars, pink motorbikes, and books. And just recently, she purchased different types of whips, and a set of latex. And she doesn't have any idea why she bought them, let alone where and when to use them.
•Anyway, quick background. Basically, Fairy Tail is a home for missions, agents, retired CIA, military or whatsoever. Their main vision is to destroy rings, auction and underground markets that sell women and children for -----graphy and blood rituals. They also take requests from the government, sometimes helping the paramilitary from destroying the terrorist. They also once unraveled the dirty secret of the previous government, some of them funding rings and auction. The previous gov can't overthrow their org since they're worldwide 🤷, and has several co-org like the Sabers, Lamia, and Mermaid. Has several warehouses and hq where they can take care of their saved victims and give them shelter and protection before reuniting them with their families. If they don't have one, FT gladly takes them in. Their org is invisible. The main hq, which is sitting in the middle of the busy city, is a tourist hotel. Some of their hq(globally) are restaurant, boutique, arcade, hotels, resorts, apartment, and etc. It takes any form and names, but they are all in one org, to not look too suspicious in the eyes of rivalry and corrupt gov. With Mira as the receptionist of the main hq, when someone slides a gold coin with intricate insignia of their org on her counter, she knows who they are, what is their position and rank based on the carved symbol on the back of the coin, and she exactly knows what to do with them (just watch John Wick. But the coin in JW is not exactly the way I describe it above) And Lucy is not working in any of their hq, she decided to have her own apartment and make it her own workplace instead. But from time to time, she would pay a visit. Only Mira and the manager (of course, Makarov) knows the faces of their field agents and hackers. While the agents themselves didn't know their support (their hacker partner) faces and identities, their support exactly knows who they are. Some field agents didn't even know that they already bumped their support in the middle of the street.
•Natsu's first meeting with Gray, and they almost killed each other. They didn't know each other, and didn't even know that they're co-field agents of FT. It just happened, you know, bumping into each other's shoulder in a banquet while they were in the middle of their own mission when they started throwing punches. Got them punished by the second arm of the manager, Erza. And finally learning each other's identities, they would still be at each other's throat. But seriously, they started to have a drink in an exclusive club after their tiring mission. They wouldn't admit it to themselves but they became the best of best friends. Still trying to kill each other, tho.)
•Natsu is a mess. Literally, a mess. He could look like Natsu with his hair down (idk, I like him more if his hair is down or wet🤷), but his role as a secret field agent forces him to use a black wig sometimes and other things, which he hates—no, loathes since it reminds him of Gray. He didn't have any other choice. With his unusual hair color, he'll be doomed if someone recognizes his trademark. Have this intricate dragon tattoo in his back. So whenever it's his duty, he needs to cover it with full coverage cream, can't take the chance of the enemy catching a glimpse of his tattoo if he ever ruined his attire, especially if he was wearing a tux.
•One day, he has this very difficult urgent mission and Lucy sends him a box, with a letter neatly folded inside, "Use this attire for tomorrow.” (Sometimes, field agents are obliged to wear a dress code like for example a tux, camouflage, waiter uniform, etc., according to the higher ups orders). So when Natsu opens the box he sees the female clothes: a tight sexy ass dress, heels, blonde wig, some makeup, full coverage cream to cover his tattoo, skin tone silicone gloves, fake silicone boobs and butt, a flash drive, and some special firearms with silencer. Fresh from the bath and with only a towel wrapped around his hips, he curses under his breath and brushes his wet hair back. He picks up the earpiece from his nightstand, and puts it in his ear, ready to wage war with her. It's not like it's her fault, it's the higher ups' order, anyway. Becoming a bait.
•Because she needs to hack the cameras of the building or whatsoever to keep track with him, whenever Lucy sees Natsu fights and manhandle someone, she can't help her mind but to wonder what would it feel like to be manhandle or headlock by him. And Natsu would literally yells at her because she's not answering him.
•They like to troll each other. But Lucy is in different level. She LOVES to troll Natsu as she talks to him through the intel earbud, in the middle of their assignment. When he has to talk to some people to get information, she would sometimes tell him the things he has to say, and sometimes she says random shit like “Fix your uneven eyebrows” or "I fvck with your mom" and since he's obedient as a fvcking dog, he would literally say it. Out loud.
•Like I mentioned before, they have never met personally. Natsu always complains and whines about the fact that she does know how he looks, but he doesn’t. After a mission is over, they *insert romantic ballad from kdramas* have some cute talks at night while Natsu wanders the nights of the city by himself. There are moments when they just stay silent...not really knowing what to say, and Natsu can’t see that Lucy is repressing a smile, and sometimes it’s like “Uhh, uhm…okay, so… I guess we’ll talk tomorrow". And Natsu would be like, “Oh, s-sure, yeah, if I need anything, uh, I’ll call you”. Lucy: "Don’t bother me too much, it’s really annoying having to listen to your whiny voice 24 hours at day. I'm done.” Natsu would snorts, and then she ends the call with a smile sjhsfkhdjghsddgja.
•Natsu smokes sometimes, but he's not a chain smoker. He just smoke to calm his nerves or if he's stressing the fvck out. So whenever Lucy see him through the camera or hear him inhaling the cancer stick, she will raise hell. She will constantly reminds him not to smoke nor litter. And guess what? He will listen, grumbling something under his breath as he crashes the stick in his fist before flicking it right to the trash can. He has this whole pack inside his drawer, and when Lucy got tired of scolding him, she said she hates the smells of it and hates people smoking it. He throws it all away in a heartbeat. Literally, emptying his drawer and throwing away all of his lighter.
•Natsu always tells her that one day he will take her out for dinner or for stargazing because she had mentioned before that she loves staring at the sky covered with twinkling star, and Natsu know some spot perfect for that. Lucy makes fun of him, but at the same time she feels a little bad because for some weird reason, the policy of their org doesn’t allow the field-agent and their support to meet personally? Who knows, but that increases their frustration when they are starting to like each other. Natsu has never seen her, so he literally ends up falling in love with her voice only. Sometimes, he spends time talking to her about how he thinks she looks.
"Brunette?"
"Nu-uh."
“Ginger?”
“Nope.”
“Uh, are you tall?”
“Jeez, are you really expecting me to be a super tall ginger or brunette porn star?”
“What? I wasn’t—!”
“I'm super short, you would probably have to look at the floor to see my face.”
•And he makes fun of her and her height, which ends up of him eating her series of curses and screeches before she cuts the connection.
•One day, he asks her if she has big boobs, big butt and wide hips. Lucy dies in embarrasment and ends the call.
•The fact that they’re constantly talking through an earbud DOESN’T GIVE YOU AN AMAZING NSFW THOUGHTS????👀👀👀👀👀🔥🔥🔥🔥 INTENSE AND MIND FVCKING ORGASMIC PHONESEX!!!!
•Talking about nsfw, imagine how intense their first encounter would be, after talking through a little device for years without being in front of each other…They would probably stay up all night, eating each other out, fighting for dominance, and fvcking each others' brains out. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) idc what anyone says but Mashima's artwork definitely confirmed that they were both sub and dom. You know, that chain thingy.
•Also it’s super bad for Natsu because sometimes Lucy gets into trouble with the organization (Lol, let's reverse the role. She’s a rebel here—Actually, no, they're both rebels. Idc), and they sanction her for days, even weeks, and she’s not allowed to speak to him or any of her co-workers friends out of work, so Natsu feels super worried all the time because she doesn’t get the chance to warn him first. He was given a temporary support, and he hates every minute of someone giving him instructions instead of Lucy. She just disappears and their organization is very dangerous (they’re spies, so they get into trouble with other people quite often) so he’s always scared that something bad might had happened to her. She then returns telling him that she’s fine, that she just got sanctioned for answering back or something. He then gets super mad at her, and she would give her rebuttal, "You're no better than me, idiot! Don't tell me you've already forgotten about the last month issue? YOU GOT SANCTIONED AS WELL! AND WORSE PUNISHED BY HER!!! BY ERZA!!!" And he would be like, "Oh, yeah? Then let me tell you something." And then they stays up late all night bickering and annoying each other. But once they're done and finally cuts the connection, there's a smile on their faces as Lucy laid her head on her pillow, while Natsu blows out a thick icy smoke from the cold as he rest his arms against the bridge railings, and looks up at the dark sky.
•Natsu once picks up a strange blue cat while still in the middle of the mission. Literally holding the poor blue cat close to his chest as he bangs his assailants' head against the table and wall. And he can hear Lucy's little cheer through the ear piece. They become fur-parent for this blue cat (we know who it is).
•Lucy also gets a bit salty when he’s on a mission and he has to flirt with a girl to get information, or when the girl starts flirting with him. Natsu doesn’t know how to flirt, so he’s always asking her to tell him things to say to the girls. As a little revenge, Lucy says “Tell her that her hair smells like spicy chicken salad". And oh boy, Natsu thinks that the smell of spicy chicken salad is really good, he loves that food, but the girl in front of him takes that as an insult and ends up slapping him. Lucy giggles at the other side, even if that will get her into trouble with the organization for not helping Natsu in the mission.
•I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. Lucy gets in trouble one day like one of their enemies storm her work place and abduct her to get information out of her, and Natsu's next mission is to retrieve her.
•Well, you know, the night before the retrieving-Lucy mission as he prepares, he gets anxious. Literally freaking himself out. And itching to inhale his old addiction (after meeting Lucy and becoming his partner, she became his new addiction, tho). And now that she's gone, he can't help but to light the devil. With only a first puff, he immediately regrets it. With the cigarette stick resting in between his lips, he can hear her in his ears. Angry adorable voice scolding him. He grits his teeth, nearly crushing the stick between his lips, before he chuckles softly and forcibly pulls out the stick out of his mouth and throws it away in the river under the bridge. He looks up at the night sky(his usual spot) and whispers, "I'm sorry, I littered again. Please, come back home. It's getting lonely here."
•Just imagine trying to stay calm as he infiltrate the enemy's base. But he can't help but be brutal to them. Silently yet brutally ending them with a bullet, and not giving them any mercy. He will stare at them dead in the eyes, asking them with only one question in his head, "Where is she?" And probably his eyes will be the last thing they see as he sends them off dead when they can't give him the answer.
•Imagine him first time seeing her personally. (well, he has already seen her in the picture before the mission). After an agonizing two weeks without hearing her voice, he finally hear her calling his name. She's here, in the flesh. Her in a not-so-good situation, tied up, black and blue bruise, blood, but she's putting up a fight. And him going in a rampage, sending someone in hell with his death burning glare. Insert dramatic kdrama OST.
#nalu#lucy heartifilla#natsu dragneel#fairy tail#fairy tail 100 years quest#natsu x lucy#Jannaaaa writes
52 notes
·
View notes
Text
A Night to Remember - 2
She monotonously paced around the room to burn off her restlessness. She repeated the principles of management and profit planning, hoping it’ll ground her.
Her mind and body were far too desperate to know about him. Did he already know she was here? Was he happy or sad to see her? Does he want her back? Should she play hard or fall into his arms?
Maybe she should just avoid him, treat him as a stranger she weakly sighed
Her thoughts raced a mile an hour, punctuated by the loud rainfall outside. The thought of crossing the waterlogged grounds irritated her, but at least she’ll be left alone with her thoughts for now.
This family’s problems are as intricate as their mansion’s décor she chuckled. Their long term CAs- Anirudh & Pazhuvur- were a well known firm run by two senior professionals. They were from nobility themselves and handled elite clients. Though well meaning, they needed some help to untangle their client’s mess given the ever changing business laws.
She found a remote under the newspaper stand faced it towards the small, early 2000s BPL TV. She tsked when it didn’t switch on. Restlessness made her bang the remote on the sofa armrest repeatedly -and voila! The TV worked.
She shifted through the channels….. ethirneechal serial, suryavamsam movie,teleshopping, BBC, live telecast of a temple..no no no she chanted before settling on an Indian news channel.
An immaculately dressed man addressed the eager reporters. “Pandyan corp will venture into buying other heritage properties too”, he said that they’d already eyed a few old forts and palaces to turn into tourist sweetspots.
“Sir, you had already announced such a project 2 years ago, but it failed to take off” clamoured a journo
The official smoothly assured them that this time it will take off, dismissing the previous plan that fell through.
Nandini smirked, thinking of how they lost their most lucrative purchase due to her ‘skills’.
The Pandya’s were the royal clan who lost the most to colonialism. But they persevered, ignored public criticism, cut costs and started a real estate business- unthinkable for a clan of their stature. They’d changed their last remaining fort into a Heritage hotel and entered the luxury real estate market. Other noble clan’s looked down on them then, only to regret their decisions now.
The Chozhas were one of them. They had maintained autonomous rule long enough, so they settled into a complacent lifestyle. Their palatial homes (including their current residence), agricultural lands overseen by locals all seemed grand. Their money was locked up in trust funds and wills, rendering them unable to withdraw funds for their immediate needs. Their business investments were failing and it looked like they had to sell atleast one property.
Pandyas might’ve modernized into a corporate now, but their executive committee’s bitterness remained. They had lost a lot to the Chozhas but couldn’t retaliate when the British slammed them with the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.
Their core team, on behalf of the young son of their late CEO, was full of “old guards”- people from families who’ve long been faithful servants of the owner’s kingly forefathers.
They were the top players in the luxury segment, their plan to buy heritage properties was just a century old thirst to one up the Chozhas
She’d interned with them as a gangly 23 year old fresh out of uni. The opportunity was great- they were one of the patrons of her college’s scholarship program. Veer pandyan had personally taught her, despite knowing real estate wasn’t her main interest.
The talent scouts at HR had run a background check, the results of which intrigued the big boss.
Born and adopted in Madurai, moved to a suburb of Thanjavur at 10 where her dad worked as a Archagar in temple before moving to Chennai after grade 11.
It was the last fact that caught his eye.
No sane Indian family, no matter their financial woes would shift cities when their child has completed 11th. Something drastic must’ve occurred. It no doubt involved the Chozhas as nothing moved from that estate without their consent.
The pandyan corp executives were nice to her. Really nice, that some of the older employees began envying her- an intern! Veer pandyan had a friendly uncle demeanor as he taught her the practicalities of real estate, investments and predicting markets. But soon his real interest began to show, he tried to pry into her past.
“It’s just odd, you know, you did grade 11 in one city and grade 12 in another “ he innocently asked.
Hoping to tolerate the intrusion for the sake of her job, Nandini replied “ My dad found a better position in Chennai, besides my brother wanted to join the OTA” hoping it sounded rational. She loved using her military intelligence officer bro as an excuse.
He left it for the day, but circled back to it often. “You went to THAT school right? The one where the Chozha kids studied… did you talk to them?”
Nandini cursed herself for being so naïve. She initially presumed he wanted to know about her past genuinely.
The topic was too painful. A sore spot she rarely thought of even in private- afraid of the emotional fallout. No amount of casual dismissal of her acquaintance with them sated her boss.
The heckling of journalists of the suited man snapped her to the present.
She began chuckling madly at the TV, at the slimy man trying to convince the reporters that all was well in paradise. Uncaring of been seen, she wheezed with laughter, knowing all wasn’t well- they had her to thank for that!
The low grumbling of the skies masked her outburst and made her anticipate the next loud thunder. It settled into silence but she wasn’t completely at peace yet. She’d stolen biscuits, borrowed a blanket and used the living room of her former flame.
She looked every bit the confident career woman she was, but his presence threw her off the cool headspace she maintained. And she’d have to leave this place anyway.
A fainted shadow fell on the foyer. “The rain must’ve messed with the porch lights” Nandini dismissed it and continued to change the channels. She chose to watch a Djokovic vs Nadal match to pass time. Engrossed as she was in their rally, she didn’t notice the shadow shift closer to her.
The door lock clicked and forced her to notice. “holy shit please don’t be a murderer” she inwardly thought before deciding to turn.
Her stuff shoulders turned, her eyebrows curled in fear but the sight of the form at the door step made them turn up in anger. “You…you brat!” Nandini bared her teeth as the tormentor of her dreams just smirked
@nashibirne @nspwriteups @favcolourrvibgior @vibishalakshman @thelekhikawrites @dr-scribbler @kovaipaavai @budugu @dosai-maavu @matka-kulfi @curiousgalacticsoul @harinishivaa @chiyaanvikram @celestesinsight @inveter @deepti1011 @itszhunotz @babayagahunt @thegleamingmoon @maisadalawa @ragkee @inlovewithfictionalbeings @happysharkdragon @gowrimenonop-1 @ramcharanobsessed @nature-writes29 @voidsteffy @whippersnappersbookworm @hollogramhallucination @thereader-radhika @sowlspace @rang-lo @nirmohi-premika @love-ps1ff @canonless5 @sampigehoovu @ambidextrousarcher
#ponniyin selvan fanfic#ponniyin selvan#nandhini#aditha karikalan#nandini x aditha#ponniyin selvan fanfiction#nandini x karikalan
28 notes
·
View notes
Text
Less than two months ago, parts of Port-au-Prince seemed like a ghost town. Streets and parks normally bustling with commerce and people were nearly empty.
Market women, who normally lined the roads selling everything from food to second-hand cellphones, were few and far between. Charred tires, piles of rocks, and makeshift barricades, the remnants of months of protests against the government, could be seen throughout the capital. The once pristine Petionville, an affluent suburb of Port-au-Prince, was barely recognizable in some parts, with trash overrunning the streets.
Over the last 18 months, Haiti has been in the throes of a perpetual cycle of protests — some violent — and unrest that has destabilized the country for weeks at a time. Years of pent-up frustration over rising inflation and basic costs of necessities on the island came to a boil during a week in July 2018, when the Haitian government nearly doubled fuel prices over night. The move, which was a condition for future aid imposed by the International Monetary Fund, sparked outrage that spilled into the streets, leaving Haiti’s capital charred by flames and fury. People were barricaded in their homes, offices, restaurants, while thousands of people took to the streets rallying against the fuel hike.
The Best Western, which permanently closed its doors on Oct. 31, loomed over Petionville as a symbolic and literal reminder of the state of affairs in Haiti. For many, the U.S.-based hotel chain’s arrival in the country had marked a positive new turn in Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake.
Now, it seems, the hopeful signs have come undone. While daily life in Haiti has always been difficult for most Haitians, the past 18 months on the island have been particularly hard. As the country finds itself in the throes of a fluctuating political, economic and social crisis, the capital city has been virtually paralyzed, with schools, businesses, and banks closed for days, if not weeks, at a time.
This was not the Haiti anyone had hoped for 10 years after the disaster.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010 killed roughly 300,000 people and displaced nearly a million more. While the epicenter of the earthquake was only 16 miles from Port-au-Prince, the tremor could be felt as far away as Cuba and Venezuela. The devastation was the single greatest humanitarian crisis the small-island country had ever faced. The capital’s already fragile infrastructure was nearly decimated, while the airport and seaports were rendered inoperable. The National Assembly building and Port-au-Prince Cathedral were also destroyed.
“There was a natural expectation that things would be done differently from there on because it was such a big tragedy and the way that that tragedy unfolded was in itself a reflection of choices that were made historically in the country in terms of governance,” said Ludovic Comeau Jr., professor of economics at DePaul University and former chief economist of Haiti’s central bank.
According to Comeau, most of the country’s wealth was severely impacted by the earthquake because of the centralization of Haiti’s economy in Port-au-Prince, with damages totaling 120 percent of the country’s GDP.
“[It was] not only our hope, but almost our certainty, that things would be done differently [in Haiti] and within the next 20 years, Haiti would be an emerging economy,” Comeau said. “It’s certainly not the path we took. There’s no way Haiti will become an emerging economy by 2030.”
“This is worse than the earthquake”
Melinda Stephanie Dominique, a medical student at Quisqueya University, spent the fall semester waiting to find out when it would be safe enough for her to return to school. Instead of studying for exams and walking the halls of her campus with her classmates, she was home weighing the risks she would face if she did decide to venture out.
“We watch the news, we see the videos,” said Dominique, who has three years left in her program. “We’re not going out just like that. Especially when you can hear the bullets yourself. There’s no way to know whether you’ll be able to make it back home.”
While some schools sent notice and formally closed their doors at the height of the protests, others simply shuttered their doors because students stopped coming in. In Dominique’s case, Quisqueya University opted to suspend classes until the protests subsided.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen in this country,” Dominique said.
The political and social turmoil in the country is exacerbated by a feeling of hopelessness that has taken hold in the country, in large part due to the disappointment surrounding earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts.
For the first time in decades Haiti had the world’s attention. However the overwhelming consensus is that the Haitian government and members of the CORE Group — composed of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the European Union, the United States of America, and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States — squandered what little chance Haiti had to emerge as a growing and stable economy.
Comeau says the last decade is one of “missed opportunities, endemic corruption sustained by an equally endemic impunity.”
“You have a situation where public officials in charge of budget in some administrations pilfer the country’s money, and there’s no accountability,” he said. “There’s this mentality that people can do whatever they want, including mismanaging and essentially embezzling public funds. You see all of this culminates in the PetroCaribe scandal.”
In 2005 Venezuela launched the PetroCaribe program that allowed Caribbean countries to buy oil at market value, with only a portion of the payment made upfront, while the remainder of the balance could be paid through a 25-year financing agreement with a 1 percent interest rate. The aim of the program was to spur development and fund social programs in recipient countries. In Haiti, however, nearly $3 billion of the PetroCaribe funds went missing, with Haitians having little to show for the billions of dollars that were poured into the country.
“There’s nothing that can be shown for that $3 billion,” Comeau said. “This is what I’m talking about when I say missed opportunities. Here you have this money from 2008 – 2017 that was available to do something great. We could have built a major hospital in every major region in the country. We could have built universities in every department. We could have improved our infrastructure and modernized, which would have attracted foreign investors. We missed all of this.”
Since the earthquake, more than $7 billion in foreign aid has been disbursed to Haiti, according to research from the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Haitian organizations and firms, however, received just over 2 percent of the funds that had been allocated to the country.
Criticisms and accusations of fraud, mismanagement and misappropriation of funds plagued relief efforts for years, spurring accountability campaigns demanding answers to the whereabouts of billions of dollars that were meant for reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
Bill and Hillary Clinton were at the center of many scandals surrounding Haiti and the relief funds.
In the days following the earthquake, Bill was tapped as co-chair of the commission tasked with allocating relief funds, while Hillary oversaw more than $4 billion Congress earmarked recovery efforts. However, emails released through a Freedom of Information Act request, revealed officials from the Clinton Foundation — the couple’s personal philanthropic fund — were looking out for bids and proposals from the Clintons’ friends and associates. In the end, the foundation secured 34 projects in the country, including the $350 million Caracol Industrial Park project. The project led to the creation of 10,000 jobs in Haiti, instead of the 65,000 the Clintons promised.
“Billions of dollars were donated to Haiti after the earthquake and we have no idea what was done with that money,” Comeau said.
“In 10 years, nothing has changed,” Dominique said. “We didn’t move forward; we stayed static.”
For many, the current state of affairs in Haiti is worse than any damage the country suffered because of the earthquake. This was more devastating because of its “man-made” nature.
The chain of events to follow would set the stage for a Haiti that many are saying is at its lowest point ever. The Kot Kob Petrocaribe movement would highlight more than ever the endemic corruption in Haitian politics, and pave the way for the dismissal of prime ministers and eventual calls for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise. The movement, which started on Twitter, has since been co-opted and used by Haitian politicians and oligarchs to further their political interests by calling for the ouster of Moise.
Haiti’s already fragile tourism sector has been one of the biggest casualties of Haiti’s unrest. Following the earthquake, former President Michel Martelly made a big push for tourism in the country, with then-Minister of Tourism Stephanie Voulledrain leading an international branding tour, selling Haiti as an untapped tourism treasure trove.
Several fruitful projects began as part of the effective branding campaign. Airlines added flights to the country, new hotel brands were drawn to Port-au-Prince and more and more members of the Diaspora and their friends made their way to Haiti for vacation, conferences and more.
However, in a matter of months, years of work has been reversed. Best Western closed its doors. Delta ceased flights to Haiti, while other carriers significantly reduced their service to the country. Popular resorts and hotels like Decameron Indigo Beach Resort and Spa, and Karibe are virtually empty.
Searching for understanding
There are several theories as to why Haiti is in the state it is in, despite the billions of dollars in aid and donations the country received. Some point to neo-colonialism, imperialism and U.S. intervention, while others place blame on the Duvaliers, the corrupt Haitian government, or the lack of engagement among the Diaspora. The truth is, it’s a melange of it all, which is what makes imagining what comes next for Haiti so difficult.
“The Haitian-American convention did away with Haiti’s sovereignty and it’s a sovereignty that Haiti has never gotten back,” Alain Martin, director of The Forgotten Occupation, said. The documentary tells the story of the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 from the perspective of Haitian historians, authors, journalists and politicians. “To this day, nothing happens in Haiti without the say-so of the State Department.”
The Haitian-American Treaty of 1915 gave the U.S. control over Haitian finances, and the right to intervene in Haitian affairs whenever the U.S. government deemed necessary. That same year, the U.S. government placed Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave as president of Haiti, making him the first leader in the country under the U.S. occupation.
“He represents the father figure of the modern Haitian president. Ever since Dartiguenave, with maybe one or two exceptions, every president we’ve had, has been beholden to the State Department,” said Martin.
“You have to look at Haiti as a Shakespearean tragedy. Those of us who truly love Haiti and would like to see the country move forward, don’t have the physical resources to make that happen,” he said. “How can we fight against the State Department? We need allies that we simply don’t have. What the US wants to happen in Haiti is what’s going to happen.”
So what comes next for Haiti?
“The change will have to come from the U.S.,” Martin said. “We need to build a leftist movement in the U.S. that elects leaders that are going to have different policies toward Haiti. But it’s a long shot. Regardless if there were Democrats or Republicans in power in the U.S., their foreign policies toward Haiti have never changed.”
As for Moise, he at least has public support from the U.S., which is enough to keep him in power for now. Over the last three months, U.S. officials have made their way to Haiti or Haitian communities in the United States to “encourage dialogue” over the political impasse that has held the country in its grip for almost two years. Their efforts have been met with gratitude from some and with anger from others.
“There’s always a segment of Haitian society that is looking to the U.S. to be a sort of savior for the county,” Martin said. “They are incapable of seeing Haiti foster its own destiny and barely its own institutions to get the country going. It’s a subconscious collective insecurity that we do not have the capability of doing it on our own.”
In October 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson — who represents the largest Haitian constituency in the U.S. — participated in a roundtable discussion with members of South Florida’s Haitian community over the growing unrest in Haiti.
Ambassador Kelly Craft’s November 2019 meeting with Moise was met with anger and disapproval from Haitians over what they perceive to be U.S. interference and meddling. And just last month, Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale met with members of the opposition and various Haitian business leaders in a closed-door meeting where he pressed for a functioning government that can work together.
“Haitians in Haiti acknowledge now that the Diaspora is the backbone of Haiti,” Comeau said. “The Diaspora is the primary source of foreign funds in the country.” In 2019 the Diaspora sent $3.5 billion to Haiti. While remittances are primarily sent from those living in the United States and Canada, more money is starting to come from Chile and Brazil, where there are growing Haitian communities.
“The Haitian government needs to think more strategically in terms of Diaspora remittances,” he said. “Most of the money sent is spent on consumption. Haiti needs to tap more systematically into the resources of the Diaspora.
We need to have Haitians in the Diaspora invest in Haiti instead of sending money.”
One of the consistent U.S. voices when it comes to Haitian / U.S. affairs has been Marco Rubio, whose comments regarding Haiti have fluctuated from supporting the will of the people calling for Moise’s ouster, to urging calm and support for Moise.
While protests had subsided and a sense of normalcy seemed to return to Haiti as the 10th anniversary of the quake approached, what happens next is uncertain, and Haitians remain discouraged.
“The earthquake came and there were so many promises to build back better,” Martin said. “Yet the earthquake is forgotten, the people who died in the earthquake are forgotten and the promises made have been forgotten.”
#Haiti#Haiti Since the Earthquake: A Decade of Empty Promises#bill clinton#hillary clinton#clinton foundation
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Carlisle House promotion...?
I noticed that There were a few things else besides the family talk in the People’s Family article and the other article that got published yesterday. The articles had focus on the home town as well.
Sudbury Massachusetts: Family moved to Sudbury, Chris lives near his family in MA, Carly is an English teacher and the head of the drama program at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Concord and Concord Youth Theatre: Siblings taking classes at Concord Theatre, Lisa the artistic director, Shanna costume designer, and Chris sits on the advisory board. Chris attended the grand opening of the theatre in 2019 in West Concord.
Massachusetts, Lisa grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts, her brother and father held imp political positions in MA
Love of the whole family about Boston Sports teams
The other article also talked about their roots in MA and again their connection to Concord Theatre.
If you notice there has been a side-by-side focus on Chris’ home town and state. I think these articles might be one of the initial stepping stones towards the promotion of his “Carlisle House”
Let’s go back to how the fandom got to know about this house.
In Nov 2022, a team real blog shared some info about this house that they had received from a stan of LSA.
In Feb 2023 the house talk got rehashed. People compared the trees but mostly people were not convinced.
In May, the real push about the house came around. (I am going to refer to the Main Team Real Blog which is also the oldest one as MTRB. Also, AD stands for Architectural Digest)
4 May – MTRB got the info about a sighting in PT, but they didn't publish it due to a lack of proof
5 May - Chris' autograph from PT
6 May - PT photo
10 May - house talks inside the fandom (acc to MTRB's source a pottery video was filmed on the same day)
11 May - DM podcast about an engagement in the new house and fall wedding
13 May - Chris announced the pottery winner; MRTB revealed later about Alba being in the house during the pottery video shooting
14 May – Sighting of Chris and Alba on their way (allegedly) to the new house; I think it came from another team real blog.
15 May - House Beautiful article about them being engaged in the new house;
22 May - MTRB posted about their engagement confirmed by 2 sources that were credible in the past; RadarOnline article about the summer wedding;
23 May - MTRB posted the ask from AD anon (Allegedly Conde Nast staff knew about the engagement since April) about AD feature for June that was delayed by Chris' rep;
9 June - MTRB received updated info about the AD feature for September but they didn't publish it until they talked to AD anon;
21 June - MTRB published the update about the AD feature.
What I am thinking is the AD feature about the Carlisle house might be true. We all know teams have used the fandom to breadcrumb about this relationship. It seems Chris has been using this rs, Jinx, SMA, and Carlisle house that will be featured in AD to promote himself. The information about the house has made its way to the fandom and has been discussed with animation on different sm platforms that give this house more publicity. This house might be a business investment. It doesn’t seem like it will go to the market as it was also mentioned to MTRB too. The reason seems to be he has spent a lot of money on renovations, taxes and maintenance of the house and it seems he might not get a big profit by selling it. The more reasonable explanation seems to be, it might be set up as a mini hotel, B&B and might be up for rental. It will bring New business spot, New Jobs and infrastructure. For that, he needs promotion of that house. It’s a beautiful place near the forest and river. New England is an attractive spot for tourists. We have also heard rumors this house is a real challenge for realtors. It makes sense for him to use pr for the house promotion. It seems like he is collaborating with local authorities to promote his hometown and if I remember correctly he has also promoted local Museum in the past.
I think the reason why the pr push for the rs and the house was massive in the month of May, might be because of the upcoming strike, Scott’s promotion, his shooting in Hawaii and AD deadlines. We know actors can’t promote themselves in the strike but fans can do. If they are able to create chatter about them and their movies, gossip mags pick it up.
Now the question arises why this rs has been used and why the engagement rumors. Tbh AD is more for couples than single. Most celeb couples promote their homes through AD. Also, the massive attention that a rumored engagement can bring to his house is more than if he only promoted it himself. If you notice the house info came into the fandom after the announcement of this rs and not before although the house has been bought in 2018.
Another question that arises is why use the fandom. Tbh teams have used the fandom right from the start to promote this rs. Mags took gossip from the fans and then started to run articles about Chris and Alba. Alba was nobody. They used third parties that create the illusion of a real rs. Alba was given free publicity in the States using his fandom. That is exactly what actually happens in PR rs.
If we notice MTRB was dropped info about upcoming pr content like the pottery video to make MTRB believe the info. Then the engagement info was dropped. It seems like pure manipulation. No idea if it was MTRB’s initiative or sources’ tactic to give teasers to gain trust from fans in order to convince them the rs is real. MTRB informed about upcoming Chris content in advance then the pottery video came out and fans believed MTRB's info was real and truthful.
A few other interesting things that I have noticed. If you notice the Conde Nast mention, it seems like someone from the journalist team might have also used the fandom to create chatter for upcoming content and bring in clicks. Let’s look at which mags come under the Conde Nast group and Hearst as well.
If we see, Cosmopolitan and House beautiful, both mags published about a rumored engagement and also the new house. Vogue and AD comes under Conde Nast. Vogue promoted Alba for PFW. I initially thought it was impossible that someone from the office of these media groups drop would info to fans but now it actually makes sense. Fans are always used for publicity. It again proves how this pr rs has been used for pr and how things have been done in advance and also how hints were dropped for the fanbase to create gossip.
Architectural Digest is a great way for celebs for promotion. Even movies are promoted through AD as we saw for Barbie. For AD, celebs’ homes are a great attraction too.
-https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/ja8hch/how_is_architectural_digest_able_to_get_so_many/
- https://www.laineygossip.com/in-absolutely-brilliant-marketing-move-margot-robbie-takes-architectural-digest-on-tour-barbie-dreamhouse
Now about if Alba’s name or engagement would be mentioned in the AD article. From the posts on MTRB and DM it seems like they wouldn’t. First, the info was dropped for AD to be revealed in June but now the date has been pushed to September. If you notice DM mentioned a Fall wedding and there have been other deliberate drops about a Fall Wedding as well. If we look at the chronology, it actually now makes sense why the bits and pieces were dropped to create a narrative about a Fall wedding if they are after getting fans interested in the AD feature for Carlisle House in September. Fans would check it out because they are anxious and intrigued. House Beautiful mentioned a DM podcast about their engagement. AD doesn’t seem to be a gossip mag so seems like the reason why Alba or engagement wouldn’t be mentioned. Seems like it will be strictly about his house.
Another thing that is noticeable is MTRB was informed about AD feature being published in Summer. There have been rumors about a Summer wedding also. The point here is to see, there is a link btw feature dates and wedding dates. Initially, AD was supposed to be released in June and the wedding is supposed to happen in summer.
-https://radaronline.com/p/chris-evans-rushing-summer-wedding-alba-baptista/
Then MTRB got updated about the feature date. It was shifted for September AD release and DM informed about the wedding in the fall.
What is interesting is there is asynchronicity with the info drops between the wedding and the AD feature. It seems the info was dropped by different people who were not coordinated.
All of this shows how wedding rumors have been used for the promotion of the Carlisle house. If there was a real wedding would the info be synchronized with the AD feature? And will DM or a blog would be used like this? Real weddings don’t need to have the date around an AD feature or the date doesn’t get postponed accordingly with the date of the release of the AD feature.
As for the question of why DM or the said blog have been used, like it or not but DM has a lot of viewers and MTRB is the oldest and the most reliable blog and is read by fans from all platforms including LSA, IG and Twitter. I would also like to make a request that as you can see the MTRB has been dropped info and they are just sharing what they get so let’s not throw hate their way. We can certainly disagree with the info but harassing or sending the Mods hateful msgs is not okay at all.
IMO, neither BUA nor an engagement/wedding is coming. These rumors have been set up to achieve certain aims which is always the main objective of the PR rs.
27 notes
·
View notes
Text
House and Rent prices and Inflation (and real estate speculation)
What the previous post implies is that it's housing and rent prices that are the primary driver of inflation.
This includes prices at your local store and restaurants. They typically pay rent to a landowner (who doesn't own the business, and just allows people to setup there.) Which means that the rent is the base-price of doing business.
They don't lower rental prices, because it's *just business* they'll get somebody else who can afford it soon enough. Even if the customers can't really afford to do business with you.
In some cases, they're trying to pay off mortgages and loans on the plot, and that's a real estate speculation thing. See, what happens is people try to sell their home, building, or land to the next bidder at both their loan and profit. (They wanna make an easy flip.)
And if the economy allows it, the next person will do the same thing. These peak highs that we're seeing on real estate are because of this. Because people have to pay off their mortgages. (And in some cases, reverse mortgages) and the city (in America) will tax about 0.1% in taxes per year on the value of your property. (on top of the loan) *unless* like in many places; they only tax the value of the land it is on. (You should thank Kant & Descarte if you both love their philosophy but hate land tax. They are the reason for the season after all.)
People get caught taking these high loans for homes *because* they need a house, and supposedly; a mortgage payment should be about the same as a rental payment. The difference is if you need to fix your own stuff, which is how you *should* eventually*per the systemic design* actually pay off your home loan. (If your landlord isn't fixing stuff; you have a problem.)
Because of a whole class of unregulated landlords and shady business practices in the Franchise market; we have the current issue of high rent.
So for an average person; don't rent from somebody who is unaffiliated with some larger group. They will do what individuals tend to do, and freak out when things go sideways. They'll also charge more and provide less.
Never rent directly from a landlord is what I'm saying.
For the businesses? There's not much that can be done except; don't pay for any place to do business. If you don't own the land outright, they'll just charge more, and that will increase your own prices going out.
And nobody needs that stress if it isn't something affordable to begin with.
Anyway, if you're looking for cheaper rent costs, 70$ a day at a hotel for 30 days is only 2100$. (It's between 30$ and 50$ in the warm months because you could also go camping instead).
So if you're paying that much for a studio apartment... Maybe think about it... Just saying.
7 notes
·
View notes
Note
Any headcanons about how many homes America and Canada have?
Yes! They have many homes.
⭐ America ⭐
In New York City, America spent decades jumping from place to place. As the city grew, he moved from a house in Manhattan, to a Brooklyn apartment, to a flat in Queens, etc. Now, despite his best efforts, his current apartment is just a box with an AC unit sticking out the window. He wishes he could have a nicer place in NYC, but the market is too hot even for him.
In Los Angeles, he managed to snag a gorgeous Santa Monica house in the early Hollywood days before prices exploded into the stratosphere. Just a short walk to the Pacific ocean, he never sold it and it’s worth its weight in gold by now.
His spot in Washington D.C. is the one he most uses; a stately, historical home that would probably be turned into a small museum if he ever decides to sell it (but he never will). Sometimes, the place can get a bit messy, with papers, file folders, and take-out containers scattered about, but he’ll tidy up when company is coming.
A farm in Ohio that has seen better days. In the early 20th century, he used the barn as a workshop to tinker with automobiles and flying machines. As a result, the barn is quite damaged, but America won’t repair it. He thinks the oil stains “add character”.
A lively hotel in Louisiana with a restaurant on the first floor. Yes, he owns the whole thing. It’s been managed by humans for generations within the same family. They cook massive Creole feasts whenever America drops by.
America doesn’t seek solitude often, but when he does, he goes to his mountain home in Colorado.
He stubbornly hangs onto his Texas ranch even though he doesn't raise cattle anymore.
Once he owned a beachfront property in Florida, but sold it after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, his childhood home in Boston caught fire after the Revolution and burnt down. The land it was on is now a popular public park with swing sets, monkey bars, and a huge curly slide. Many local children say it’s their favourite park in the city.
There are many more, of course, but those are some of his standout homes.
🍁 Canada 🍁
Of all his homes, Canada stays at his Ottawa house most often. The backyard is filled with a rainbow of tulips and it’s within cycling distance to Parliament Hill. He keeps several pairs of ice skates for himself and whoever visits during the winter, so they can go skating over the frozen Rideau Canal.
Canada’s Toronto flat is the most modern-looking of his dwellings, but that isn’t saying much. It’s an industrial loft with mismatched furniture still stuck in the 1980s. It really isn’t his favourite place, but he likes the view of the skyline at sunset.
One of his childhood homes is still standing; a humble, stonework Montreal house. It’s been restored by historical societies; fresh paint on the door, a tidy lawn, and black soot swept away. He made an arrangement to lease it as a museum, but has the opportunity to return and stay there whenever he chooses.
There’s a ramshackle log cabin he built himself in Algonquin park, many years before it was designated as parkland. To quote my NedCan fic: “... a stone base decorated in moss. Turn-of-the-century windows and an amber-stained porch pleasantly frame the main door, while the modernized roof and chimney stack create a mishmash of different eras... like a favourite worn blanket; too beloved to be discarded, and so instead is repeatedly patched.”
On the east coast, he has a home in Halifax proper. Sadly, his original was destroyed in the Halifax Explosion and was rebuilt to the standards of the 1920s. He misses his older house, because it was where Scotland would visit during his childhood.
In St. John’s, he has a very colourful building, painted bright red with white window frames and small gardens in both the front and back.
A simple, suburban bungalow in Red Deer, Alberta. Perfect for business and relaxation, because it’s halfway between both Edmonton and Calgary and keeps the Rocky Mountains within reach. Piles of hiking gear are stored in the attic, basement, and the garage. When he can spare the time, he’ll drive out to the Rockies for weeks of camping, climbing, hiking, or skiing.
His British Columbia home is surrounded by old-growth trees.
Overall, Canada tries to have at least one home in each of his provinces and territories. If, at the time of travel, he doesn’t, he'll try to lodge in a wildlife research centre. The scientists, who usually work for the government, don’t mind his presence at all.
Thank you for the ask!! 💜
#aph america#aph canada#hws america#hws canada#hetalia headcanons#alfred f jones#matthew williams#my writing#my headcanons
95 notes
·
View notes
Text
🏠✨ Introducing Aroma360 - The Ultimate Scent Solution for Homes and Businesses! ✨🏢
Are you looking to create a memorable and inviting atmosphere in your space? Look no further! Aroma360 is here to revolutionize the way you scent your home or business. As the leader in scent marketing and technology, we offer a wide range of state-of-the-art diffusers and high-quality fragrances that are perfect for any space. 🌸💼
CLICK HERE ➡️➡️ https://bit.ly/3MqH8c3
#Aroma360 #ScentMarketing #HomeFragrance #BusinessFragrance #ScentedUnits #Diffusers #EssentialOils #Aromatherapy
#hotel booking system#home businesses hotels marketing sells#workforcedevelopment#moms#busou shinki#make money online
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Elevate Your Lifestyle: Exploring Luxury Residential and Commercial Projects in Gurgaon
Gurgaon is a major city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is situated in the National Capital Region (NCR) and is a hub for business and technology. The city is known for its high-rise buildings, modern infrastructure, and affluent lifestyle. In recent years, Gurgaon has emerged as a major destination for luxury real estate.
Residential Projects in Gurgaon:
There is a wide variety of luxury residential projects available in Gurgaon. These projects offer a range of amenities, including swimming pools, gyms, clubhouses, and landscaped gardens. Some of the most popular luxury Residential Projects in Gurgaon.
Check Out Some Residential Projects in Gurgaon:
DLF GROVE:
DLF unveils DLF Grove, The First ultra luxurious low-rise residence in the most prominent address of Gurgaon. Enjoy the benefits of urban living with the added privilege of independence and privacy in skillfully designed independent floors on Park Drive, DLF Phase 5, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon.
2. City of Dreams:
Welcome to City of Dreams, a gated township where you will discover an unmatched lifestyle. Festooned in the heart of Gurugram, a residential paradise that is made with impeccable craftsmanship and elite designs. Intricately planned three and a half BHK M3M boutique floors are studded with a plethora of modern amenities.
Commercial Projects in Gurgaon:
We have a number of luxury commercial projects in Gurgaon. These projects offer a range of office spaces, retail shops, and restaurants. Some of the most popular luxury Commercial Projects in Gurgaon.
DLF Garden City Arcade:
DLF Garden City Arcade is a high-street retail destination located in Sector 92 of Gurgaon, India. This premium retail project offers a diverse mix of retail spaces, including shops, showrooms, restaurants, and cafes. The arcade is strategically located in a rapidly developing area of Gurgaon, making it an ideal destination for both established brands and new entrants.
2. M3M Jewel:
M3M Jewel is a new-age commercial project launched by M3M India in Sector 25, MG Road, Gurgaon. The project is sprawled across wide acres of land. The commercial expansion is a mix of office spaces, shops, and service apartments. The size of retail shops in numerous sizes. The commercial development is surrounded by premium communities, suburban societies, five-star hotels, educational institutes, hospitals, and much more.
Contact Anaheeta Homes: Best Real Estate Consultant in Gurgaon
Contact Anaheeta Homes, your go-to destination for the Best Real Estate Consultant in Gurgaon. As seasoned professionals, Anaheeta Homes specializes in providing expert guidance and personalized solutions for your property needs. Anaheeta Homes Provides Solutions for Residential, Commercial Properties. Whether you're buying, selling, or investing in real estate in Gurgaon, our dedicated team ensures a seamless experience. With a reputation for excellence, we prioritize client satisfaction, offering tailored advice and comprehensive market insights. Trust Anaheeta Homes to navigate the Gurgaon real estate landscape with precision and integrity.
Main Source:
#ResidentialProjects#ResidentialProjectsinGurgaon#ResidentialProjectsforSale#ResidentialProjectsinforSaleinGurgaon#Villa#BuilderFloor#Apartments#Flats#CommercialProjects#CommercialProjectsforSale#CommercialProjectsinGurgaon#CommercialProjectsforSaleinGurgoan#OfficeSpaces#AnaheetaHomes#AnaheetaHomesinGurgaon#RealEstate#RealEstateinGurgaon#RealEstateConsultantinGurgaon#DreamHomes
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Day Twenty-Eight: All Good Things Must Come to an End; Final Thoughts
The itinerary for this last day was to include a visit to the Jim Thompson House and then my transfer to the airport for the flight home. But since I’d already visited the Jim Thompson House on the day I arrived in Bangkok, I had the entire day to myself.
So, I decided to divide it (like Caesar's Gaul) into three parts. First thing in the morning, while it was still cool (or more accurately, when it was only blazingly hot but not to the point where it would cause you to combust spontaneously), I decided to take a stroll around Bangkok’s Chinatown because my hotel was right in the middle of it.
Here is about one minute of a three-minute stroll through the morning market:
If you want to see the full three-minute clip, you’ll need to go to shared photo album. I’m delighted to bring you the sights and sounds out this market, but not (fortunately or not) the aromas.
Of course, what Chinatown would be complete without a Mister Hotdog directly across the street from a Texas Suki and a shop selling “Authentic Chinese Cuisine”?
And it’s always nice to be reminded that “We are a part of your delicious.”
In my walk, I chanced upon a small neighborhood shrine
that was complete with gifts, which had just been brought there by people on their way to work that morning.
Then, a bit later, I saw this lovely statue of Confucius
and a singularly elegant spirit house with a prang on top.
The non-random part of my walk was my one pre-determined destination: the Wat Traimit,
Temple of the Golden Buddha.
Now perhaps, if you’ve been keeping up with this blog, this must be a temple of a golden Buddha since you've already seem more than your fair share of golden Buddhas. Ah, but here’s the difference. All the other golden Buddhas were made of other materials and then covered with gold leaf. This particular Buddha is solid gold, 15’9” high and 12’5” wide, weighing 5.5 tons … of solid gold. In times of invasion, the statue was covered with plaster so that it would look less valuable than it was.
In time, since the statue looked as though it was merely made of plaster, people forgot what was inside. Only in 1955, when there were plans to move the statue from another site to here at the Wat Traimit, did some of the plaster fall off, and it became clear that underneath a shallow façade was a virtual mountain of gold.
And today, if you like, you can buy a pre-packaged bottle of holy water at the temple for only twenty baht.
After visiting the Golden Buddha, I returned to the hotel for breakfast, a shower, and a brief rest before checking out.
The second part of the day has not yet occurred, but I need to post this entry now while I have access to the Internet. Since I’ve yet to experience Thai massage or, for that matter, any massage in Southeast Asia, I've booked a few hours in a spa this afternoon between my check-out time and my departure for the airport. Thai massage is one of the things that people often talk about after visiting Bangkok, and I have a few empty hours on my hands, so …
When booking the appointment I told them that my spa visit would occur shortly before a thirty-hour flight back home, so I wanted to feel “clean and refreshed but also relaxed.” They assured me they have “just the thing.” (When do businesses not have “just the thing” when you make an inquiry?) I'll be in for a body cleanse and scrub, followed by a gentle aromatherapy massage.
We’ll see how that goes. If you truly want to know, ask me in person sometime.
Now, the third part of my day will be to engage in a bit of post-trip reflection. And I've already given that topic a lot of thought during my walkabout this morning. So, here goes.
This experience in Southeast Asia was one of my long-term goals. You might even say it was a life goal. At least, it was something I'd talked about for years and felt I absolutely needed to do. So, life goal accomplished!
But here's the funny thing about life goals. Once you achieve them, you have mixed feelings. On the one hand, there's a major sense of accomplishment. On the other, it feels as though a milestone in life has now past, and you wonder whether there will ever be other goals that you’ll long for quite that much. Not to exaggerate, but it feels as though a part of your life is now over and that you’ve passed one more signpost on the road toward mortality.
I remind myself that I’d had similar feelings before. When I was very young, my life goal had been to get a Ph.D. and become a college professor. (Seriously. I remember telling people this as early as fifth grade.) Then, when I was 26 and had achieved that goal, I thought, “Well, now what?”
Other goals came along, of course. There was a period when, if people asked whether I had a “bucket list,” I’d say, “I want to do three things. See the pyramids in Egypt, visit Kyoto, and attend the Wagner festival at Bayreuth.” Then, by a strange turn of fate, I did all three of those things within the same six-month period and again thought, “Now what?”
But there was always that Southeast Asia trip left for me to plan. So, now it's over. Okay, now what?
The honest answer is “I don’t know” but also “I’m sure I’ll think of something. I always have.”
As this trip comes to an end, I find myself reminded of that article I mentioned on Day Nine: “The Case Against Travel.” The author’s argument was that people always say they travel because travel changes them, but everyone returns from a trip no different from the person they were before setting out.
So, am I the same person I was before this trip?
Absolutely.
But I don’t really think that’s the point. Certainly, there can be zen-like, blinding flashes of insight during a trip, like a flash of gold appearing from beneath a thin façade of plaster. I already mentioned once being in Rome and realizing, “Oh! That’s what Horace meant in his poetry!” and never seeing his works in the same way again. But those experiences are rare.
More often, travel changes you slowly over time. You don’t see those changes in a single day, a single week, or even a single year. Rather it’s like the slow polishing of a stone into a statue. It takes time. It happens almost imperceptibly. And eventually you realize that you actually aren’t the same person you were before. You’ve broadened your perspective, left behind a few assumptions, and made connections between ideas you never would've made before.
That’s a good thing.
No. I'm wrong.
That’s a great thing.
In fact, as far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the best things a person can do.
And I wonder where I’ll go next and how that experience might change me.
I can't wait.
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Miami lakes homes for sale
Have fun and get to know the Aventura Valdivia Home Team! It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. The websites of each Aventura hotel include information about its past, photos, and responses to frequently asked questions. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. Houses for sale We guarantee to keep you informed of any Aventura property that becomes available that matches your criteria.
It has been rumored that some of the most expensive real estate in the world may be found in Bal Harbour, Miami. inhabitants of Valdivia, Argentina It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. Start learning about the Bal Harbour community in Florida right away. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. We will contact you as soon as a suitable Bal Harbour rental property becomes available.
HONOLULU STATES
Information on Bay Harbor Islands real estate in Florida. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. If you're interested in buying a house in Bay Harbor Islands, get in touch with us using the form on this page. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. As soon as a suitable home in Bay Harbor Islands becomes available, we'll let you know.
An annoyance You must right away begin investigating the Coral Gables real estate market. Miami lakes homes for sale It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. Take your time looking through the real estate listings in Coral Gables, Florida. inhabitants of Valdivia, Argentina We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. You can register on our website if you're looking for a new place to live in Coral Gables and would want to be informed when a suitable option becomes available.
Now is the time to buy real estate in Doral, Florida. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. If you have any questions regarding the highlighted Doral homes, please contact us using the enquiry form on the listing description page. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. Feel free to ask me any market-related questions if you're considering buying or selling a home in the Doral, Florida region.
A GOLDEN BEACH
This page is a list of all recently listed properties in Golden Beach, Florida. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. inhabitants of Valdivia, Argentina To find out more about the goods and services that Golden Beach businesses offer, browse their online stores. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. Don't let the opportunity to buy the Golden Beach property of your dreams slip through your fingers simply because you weren't looking.
These properties are all located in Hallandale Beach, Florida, and The Play of Hallandal is the first real estate company to offer them. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. You may request more information for any of these Hallandale Beach properties using the "request more info" button. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. We will notify you right away if a prime rental or purchase opportunity in Hallandale Beach, Florida materializes.
Florida's Hialeah recently marketed properties. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. To get more information about this listing in Hialeah, Florida, click the "request more info" button. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. As soon as a property meets your criteria and is offered for sale in Hialeah, FL, you'll receive an email notification.
The Florida city of Hialeah is home to a number of beautiful parks.
You've come to the correct place if you're looking for the most recent information on real estate offers and listings in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. The people of Valdivia can access additional information about each of these Hialeah Gardens properties on the listing detail page, which includes things like the owner's contact details. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. Please register with us if you haven't already so that we can alert you as soon as a suitable Hialeah Gardens rental property becomes available.
Current Kendall, Miami, Florida, real estate listings and specials. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. If you're interested in learning more about the real estate market in Kendall, Florida, please complete the form below. The best way to reach me is by phone at (786) 628-8032.
We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. If you haven't done so already, subscribe to our email so we can notify you when we find Kendall, Florida properties that meet your needs.
The present state of the Homestead, Florida real estate market is examined in this report. It is essential to regularly check recently listed properties and adjust your search parameters in the real estate market of today. Please complete and submit this form if you would like to be added to Homestead's list of authorized merchants. We have access to information that is not commonly known, like current real estate transaction dates and prices. inhabitants of Valdivia, Argentina
We will notify you as soon as any appropriate rental properties in Homestead, Florida become available.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
@deadaim asked : "I thought I'd find you here."
hands rise up in the air as soon as she hears leon's voice, head turning just enough to see his expression when she says "i swear officer, i wasn't stealing the extra soap bars!" - except that she was totally about to, if anything to remember the brand to buy back home. eventually she lifts up and bars are left in the little basket under the sink, suddenly more interested in the agent's presence in her hotel room.
wrinkles on sweatpants get smoothed as she walks out of the bathroom, leg still dragged behind though acting tough in front of leon rather than give him another reason for him to think she always gets in trouble. "before you ask, i'm fine. doctor stitched me up and everything." hand pats gently on her thigh before leaning towards the bed to retrieve an hoodie to throw on the crop top she's wearing - sudden change of air in the room almost making claire feel like she's standing inside an ice cube.
"downing, or whatever his name actually is, said he got a sample from the G-virus right in raccoon city, but there's something about it that doesn't make sense to me." she begins - a bad feeling sitting at the pit of her stomach even though her theories could be totally wrong, after all she's no scientist. "they were selling to the black market, but do you think sherry could be in danger? should we try to reach out?" there's an hint of uncertainty in her tone, last think claire wants to do is scare the girl but then again she's already had this bad feeling for a long time by now, and the secrecy her current legal guardian puts sherry through sure doesn't do any favours.
frustrated sigh pushes out of lips as gaze drops on her watch - it's past midnight and she can't help but wonder if this visit is supposed to be a goodbye before going back to their busy schedules. finally she looks up at leon, curious gaze studying him behind glasses. "do you need me for your report notes or you're waiting for me to ask if you're staying over?" light hearted laugh is paired with question, though claire would be lying if she didn't admit company would be good in a moment like this. "because in that case, be my guest."
#ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ response.#deadaim#a little post degeneration moment i guess since toward the end it was night then suddenly it was morning lol#also claire and her glasses my beloved 🤓
2 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
the-knights-of-the-nerds-table
The Knights of the Nerd’s Table
ace-lagaan
visual shitposting is my love language
all-again-foryou
Time stands still
condoshomesdevelopment
Untitled
annagraziano1809
i love you ❤️