RA Pocket Shrine 267/? - HooRay [And Hooray Indeed]
RA Pocket Shrine 267/? – HooRay [And Hooray Indeed]
A huge big thank you to all readers here for their prompt and shopping-happy reaction on yesterday’s charity flash sale. Even without prior notice, orders came pouring in within minutes of publishing my blog post. Kate’s tags and RAngels were hot sellers, with all but one, single tag snapped up last night. A huge massive thank you to Kate for donating her fabulous creative work, as well as to all…
The world as it is today cannot go unmentioned even here in this ‘happy place’. With Russia invading Ukraine, war has become tangible in Europe. I am old enough to feel catapulted back in the times of the Cold War. Even though I was a child back then, I was keenly aware of an ever-present threat – due to living in the centre of Europe, right at the line that marked the border between East and…
The week was really busy for me. Lots of work came in, and I was finally back to writing original pieces for my fashion blog. (It’s way more work but also way more rewarding.) I now know everything there is to know about the best sneakers to expect and invest in in 2022 . Yesterday I went back to volunteering in MoLI and had some really extensive and interesting conversations with visitors.…
Good morning on a spring-y Saturday. Their is a tentative sun outside my window, the first daffodils are peeking out with their yellow heads from my window box, and the great tits are tweeting in our garden. That makes for a happy start into the weekend. How far has spring come where you are?
But now, let’s look at this week’s tumblr offerings.
Starting off with some camera-cum-Levine porn, not…
It’s February!!! *phew* We’ve left the darkest month behind and are heading towards the light. Or that’s how I see it. Have you noticed how it’s a little brighter every afternoon? I’ve even had a couple of days with “lie-ins” until 8am, and it is not dark at that time anymore ☀️.
Next port of call is Valentine’s Day. Not that I am really that huge a fan of said “occasion”, but anything to cheer…
… in Ireland. Well, in Ireland spring time begins on Saint Brigid’s Say, the 1st of February. Quite frankly, it feels more like a typical winter day today. It’s wet, windy and cloudy today, with temperatures of 10°C, so I am not quite in spring mood yet. But I have started my spring cleaning. Of sorts. I have a nasty allergy. Against cleaning. Ahem. So I cleaned my Mac instead. I was effectively…
Uh, ugh, I am frustrated. My current craft project has just gone tits up and it literally looks shite. Meh. Let’s hope, this week’s round-up will cheer me – and you – up.
New fan fic on the way to you, courtesy of i-did-not-mean-to. Here is a teaser for a Francis Dolarhyde fan ficStaying with fan fic, here is legolasbadass’ “Office Hours” – part 4And to make the fan fic triumvirate complete,…
Trope: Only one bed Quote: “I never knew it’d be like this.”
Relationships: Ray Levine (Stay Close) & an unexpected friend Rating:G You can find this fic on AO3.
The Stray
They say that New York never sleeps. Neither does Ray Levine. At least not tonight. His hotel room has turned out to be overbooked and all the other hotels in the vicinity seem to be full. Some conference or symposium. He does not remember nor does he care. And so he walks through the wet streets of the city with a camera in his hand, trying to ignore the effects of jetlag and exhaustion. People pass him by from time to time, seemingly not noticing his presence, busy returning to their homes. Only Ray walks aimlessly, waiting for the night to end, trying to ignore the chilling raindrops on his face.
Neon lights paint stunning images on the camera’s lens and he manages to take several decent photos. Just before the shutter clicks for the last time, a dog limps into the frame. The image of a three-legged stray, his soft fur glistening with raindrops, against the clean, sharp lines of the asphalt jungle burns into the camera’s memory card. Not a Pulitzer-worthy shot for sure, but something in the dog’s eyes strikes a chord deep inside Ray. “Come here, buddy,” he extends his hand to the stray. There is no collar around its neck and he wonders whether there has ever been one.
The dog yelps tentatively and wags his tail once. Then it takes a couple of steps toward him.
“Rough night for you too, huh?” Ray speaks softly and finally, the dog sniffs his fingers with a few more waves of its tail. The animal looks thin and shivers slightly. No wonder. The poor beast is soaking wet.
“What would you say about finding somewhere warm and dry to spend the night?” Ray offers.
The dog gives out another yelp and wags his tail again.
“That’s settled, then,” Ray smiles and takes out his cellphone.
***
The hostel is located in a side alley and looks as cheap as they come, but there is a big green sign “Dogs & Pets Welcome” on the wall and that is everything Ray needs. Besides, they have just one last room available.
“The window doesn’t open, and there’s only one bed,” the elderly receptionist says in a tired voice.
“I’ll take it,” Ray puts a couple of bills on the counter. The stray sniffs suspiciously at an artificial plant in the corner.
The room is minuscule but clean. In the past, Ray stayed at much worse places. This will do.
Soon, both of them, the man and the dog, are both washed, dry, and full of pepperoni pizza. New York’s best, according to the receptionist.
Ray sits down on his bed with a yawn and sees the dog curled up into a ball on the top of the duvet. Its fur is now soft and yellow like wheat. The stray snores slightly, oblivious to the fact that it lies in the middle of the bed. Ray shakes his head in disbelief but decides against waking the animal.
“I never knew it’d be like this,” he murmurs to himself, looking around the room. His other sleeping options are one wobbly and the hard floor – and Ray’s back protests against both. He is not a young war photographer any longer. Instead, he tries to fit somehow next to his new buddy, cursing his long legs. When he closes his eyes, the reassuring warmth of the dog’s body lulls Ray to sleep.
