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Magic Comes to Alphabet City
Waking up covered in tattoos of song lyrics is totally normal, right? Jeez, quitting drinking is rough.
Elliot woke up with the terrible sensation that he'd become seventeen years old again.
Fortunately when he rolled over, away from the light coming through his window, he was greeted by all the aches and pops and grouchy sour-mouthedness that he relied on from his body to keep him convinced he was actually closer to thirty. So reliable, the old body, even if his mind wanted to play silly buggers with him, blending into those first moments of wakefulness whatever dream about ink on skin he'd been having. He'd opened his eyes and the first thing he'd seen had been words written on the inside of his forearm, black over the muted blue line of his vein, and that was nothing he'd done since he'd been in high school and still wearing too much eyeliner on a daily basis. He closed his eyes again.
Words: 18838
Elliot woke up with the terrible sensation that he'd become seventeen years old again.
Fortunately when he rolled over, away from the light coming through his window, he was greeted by all the aches and pops and grouchy sour-mouthedness that he relied on from his body to keep him convinced he was actually closer to thirty. So reliable, the old body, even if his mind wanted to play silly buggers with him, blending into those first moments of wakefulness whatever dream about ink on skin he'd been having. He'd opened his eyes and the first thing he'd seen had been words written on the inside of his forearm, black over the muted blue line of his vein, and that was nothing he'd done since he'd been in high school and still wearing too much eyeliner on a daily basis. He closed his eyes again.
Words: 18838
34 pages, ebook
36 people want to read
About the author
Domashita Romero
35 books95 followersDomashita Romero is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York. They are co-editor and frequent contributor to Shousetsu Bang*Bang. They once upon a time swore they’d never mention a cat in their bio, but then they got a cat. They enjoy the cat, making soup, and making gayer versions of stuff that isn't gay enough.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 28, 2021
It fizzes and sparkles and gives me shivers and makes me giggle stupidly.
I actually [started to] reread it [and then I couldn't stop] to figure out if it really was as good as I must have considered it when I first read it, since I gave it five stars, and man, it is. It's fantastic. It's dreamy and down-to-earth at the same time (okay, magical realism helps with that), romantic and mindblowingly sexy, and pretty fucking funny too.
I can't get over how good Domashita Romero's writing is - it flows so easily, but sometimes I just have to stop and stare at the page, because she has this weird ability to notice tiny little everyday things that most authors don't even consider, mundane details, and put them in words beautifully.
Not everything will be explained at the end of the story, and it's kind of totally way too fucking short, but the length is actually perfect for the story it's trying to tell. It's a glorious, glimmering slice of a changing life. I have a crush on this story. You know the feeling.
---
It's not worth it. Really, just don't. I can't just up and delete it, but the original review could be done without.
For the first time in my life I just can't pinpoint why an author's work is so incredibly perfect. So vivid, passionate, hysterically real and happening right there next to you.
Oh, and there's also the humour - dry quick smooth scintillating wit hidden in a clever turn of phrase or just in the way an action or thought is phrased.
Then there's the way just enough boring daily stuff is described to make the story realistic and relatable, but not enough to make it dull, perfectly balancing with the uncommon and marvellous in a way that makes every part of the story nothing short of scintillatingly wondrous. (Wordy much?)
It could also be just the story, the sequence of events that ends up forming such a gorgeous little gem, and the idea behind it, pretty much always creative and original.
I honestly don't know, so let's just say it's magic.
Possibly, best ff (or not) writer ever.
Elliot - not shy, awkward - and Marc - rock star sex on a very short stick - make for really delicious stuff. There are bars, geek love, lyrics, tattoos, bathroom blowies and alcohol (or not), but the best thing is probably how just plain wonderful the MCs are. There's no other way to put it: they are good, beautiful people.
But then, that's probably because I can only see beautiful people tonight. (Read the story, get the reference.)
Oh my god, Nina, no, what the hell. *smh*
I actually [started to] reread it [and then I couldn't stop] to figure out if it really was as good as I must have considered it when I first read it, since I gave it five stars, and man, it is. It's fantastic. It's dreamy and down-to-earth at the same time (okay, magical realism helps with that), romantic and mindblowingly sexy, and pretty fucking funny too.
I can't get over how good Domashita Romero's writing is - it flows so easily, but sometimes I just have to stop and stare at the page, because she has this weird ability to notice tiny little everyday things that most authors don't even consider, mundane details, and put them in words beautifully.
Not everything will be explained at the end of the story, and it's kind of totally way too fucking short, but the length is actually perfect for the story it's trying to tell. It's a glorious, glimmering slice of a changing life. I have a crush on this story. You know the feeling.
---
It's not worth it. Really, just don't. I can't just up and delete it, but the original review could be done without.
Oh, and there's also the humour - dry quick smooth scintillating wit hidden in a clever turn of phrase or just in the way an action or thought is phrased.
Then there's the way just enough boring daily stuff is described to make the story realistic and relatable, but not enough to make it dull, perfectly balancing with the uncommon and marvellous in a way that makes every part of the story nothing short of scintillatingly wondrous. (Wordy much?)
It could also be just the story, the sequence of events that ends up forming such a gorgeous little gem, and the idea behind it, pretty much always creative and original.
I honestly don't know, so let's just say it's magic.
Possibly, best ff (or not) writer ever.
Elliot - not shy, awkward - and Marc - rock star sex on a very short stick - make for really delicious stuff. There are bars, geek love, lyrics, tattoos, bathroom blowies and alcohol (or not), but the best thing is probably how just plain wonderful the MCs are. There's no other way to put it: they are good, beautiful people.
But then, that's probably because I can only see beautiful people tonight. (Read the story, get the reference.)
Oh my god, Nina, no, what the hell. *smh*
August 12, 2019
A man wakes up to find unfamiliar words inked on his skin.
Excellent hook, and Romero's writing really flows, and glows.
Excellent hook, and Romero's writing really flows, and glows.
November 8, 2013
3.5 Stars
”You feel like the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Magic…Magic in the music. Magic in the words. Magic in meeting someone new.
Domashita Romero’s Magic Comes to Alphabet City (And to Certain Parts of Greenpoint) is a warm, fun swirl of music, imagination, inspiration and geeky adorableness. Marc and Elliot meet and flirt over barroom trivia. From Ghostbuster love to Battlestar Galactica, these guys cover it all! They capture that oh-god-oh-god-I-want-him first date glow, fear, and chemistry perfectly. So cute and sexy!
“The stage lights caught the sweat on his skin and the shadows of the lines on his throat, and his eyes closed as his mouth went round to shape out his note. How could anyone look at that and not think of sex?”
My favorite part of this little ditty was the music caught on the page though. Is there anything Romero can’t do? :D She made the music pulse and hum with her words. And not just the show up on the stage, but the press of bodies in the crowd, the need to sway or sing along, and that electric spark in the air right before and after a show. It was all there humming on the page! I loved it.
But this was the first time a Romero gem left me in need of more. I need to know. Will Marc write more songs? Does he stay with the band? Will Elliot stay sober? My need for more left me feeling a bit left out and excluded from their future. Usually I’m all warm and happy with her endings, but here I just…I don’t know. I want to see them again.
A rocking read filled with tats, piercings, music, and geeks! A story that will make its way into your heart and beg for more.
Recommended for sure!
July 6, 2013
Another quirky and cute free story by Domashita Romero, whose work has managed to wriggle its way into my heart. And who has triggered a compulsive disorder in me, namely to greedily download everything by her I can get my paws on.
And then he smiled, and life was absolutely perfect for a few seconds. "That's me. Can I buy you a drink?" Elliot opened his mouth to say 'yes, please', but instead a little 'urk!' noise came out. Perfection was short-lived.
November 29, 2015
Just re-discovered this fic and realised who it's by - hardly surprising I like it.
A soft magical tale of two geeks getting together. Sweet and full of Romero's familiar soft humour. Their attraction, feeling each other out, learning each others favourite ghostbuster, and getting together; then the added touch of magic.
I think the magical element is accepted very quickly but the true magic is the connection between the two and that's vivid and heart warming. Nice pacing, just the right amount of depth to both characters and several great lines.
A soft magical tale of two geeks getting together. Sweet and full of Romero's familiar soft humour. Their attraction, feeling each other out, learning each others favourite ghostbuster, and getting together; then the added touch of magic.
I think the magical element is accepted very quickly but the true magic is the connection between the two and that's vivid and heart warming. Nice pacing, just the right amount of depth to both characters and several great lines.
January 13, 2014
Lovely, as usual. Ms Domashita Romero never fails to amuse me.
March 31, 2015
DNF at 37‰
Too much blah-blah-blah IMO, I got lost and I'm not Interested enough to carry on.
Too much blah-blah-blah IMO, I got lost and I'm not Interested enough to carry on.
March 8, 2024
An original and fun little tale, this was really enjoyable. Romero’s descriptions are excellent. I could picture every person and every movement and location without it being overwrought. I could identify with the situation, too. The plot was sweet and fun. Well done. I think I need to seek out more by this author.
January 29, 2014
This is the perfect story for people who like sweet shorter stories that just make you feel all warm and happy inside. Also, if you are worried about reading it because it's online and you worry about the quality: Don't. The writing is amazing and it just flows really well with each story from this author. I mean, I know it's hard to judge sometimes, but this authors writing flows really well.
I love how cute these two are. Elliot and Marc are just, ugh, it's just so hard to describe. But a geeky rock star! Come on, now. How often do you see that in a story?
I love how cute these two are. Elliot and Marc are just, ugh, it's just so hard to describe. But a geeky rock star! Come on, now. How often do you see that in a story?
August 5, 2013
How how how does Domashita Romero do it, every time?!
It was too short that is why the 4 stars.
It was too short that is why the 4 stars.
February 25, 2014
~ ~ ~
This has a pretty neat concept, but it just lacked some flow for me.
Still enjoyable though.
This has a pretty neat concept, but it just lacked some flow for me.
Still enjoyable though.
January 2, 2015
Pretty blah, the magic did not make any particular sense and the characters were forgettable.
August 6, 2014
3.5
Sweet, well written short story with a hint of magic.
Sweet, well written short story with a hint of magic.
February 1, 2015
Awesome and adorable! The lyrics and paranormal aspect was sweet! <3 I loved all the characters especially Elliot and Marc. And nerds just rule! Totally! What a great read!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews