#he is the centerpiece for the symbolism to go through

[crystallinestars]

How they choose an engagement ring for you

Short little headcanons (scenarios?) about how the boys go about picking the perfect engagement ring for you.

Features: Diluc, Kaeya, Childe, Zhongli, Ayato, Itto, Kaveh, and Alhaitham. Reader's gender isn't mentioned, but Ayato's part implies fem!reader.

🦉Diluc – The more time Diluc spent with you, his lover, the more sure he was that you are the one. He knows he wants to spend he rest of his life with you, and so he decides to ask you to marry him. But first, he must find the perfect engagement ring to convey his sincere feelings for you. The Ragnvindr family is of noble origins, and Diluc is no stranger to expensive and beautiful jewelry. He decides to have your ring custom-made to ensure it encompasses all your favorite design elements. Diluc wants it to appeal to your tastes as much as possible because he wants you to like it, and he’s more than willing to spend extra mora to achieve this. The engagement ring will look beautiful and feature a garnet as the centerpiece—specially requested by Diluc. Garnet symbolizes unconditional love and protection for one’s partner, and Diluc swears to love you unconditionally and keep you safe for as long as he lives, even if he doesn’t say it aloud. He takes a more traditional approach in asking you to marry him, first wining and dining you before taking you out to a scenic place. He’ll get down on one knee and show you the ring, finally asking the question. It will be one of the few moments in his life where he will bare his heart to you and leave himself vulnerable.

🦚Kaeya – He never thought he’d find someone he’d want to marry, but here he is, browsing through Marjorie’s selection of engagement rings out of drunken impulse. He imagines how each ring would look on your hand, taking into account whether you would like the style and color because he knows your preferences down to a science. Kaeya tells himself this isn’t that serious, it’s just a fun little ‘what-if’, but he sees the perfect ring he knows will look stunning on your hand, and the same drunken impulse makes him buy it. Kaeya considers returning the ring when he sobers up the following day, but something stops him. He keeps telling himself he’ll do it later, but that later never comes. Days turn to weeks, and week into months, and that ring still sits in its box in his pocket. He’s joked about marrying you plenty of times before as a form of flirting, but asking the real thing feels impossible to Kaeya. It’s not until you find the ring by pure accident and piece things together yourself that the impossible turns to reality. Kaeya will play it cool and try to make light of the situation, but internally he will be a nervous wreck. If you accept, he’ll be over the moon, but if you reject him, he’ll be crushed.

🐋Childe – Nothing is too expensive for Childe to afford, especially if it’s a gift for you. While picking out an engagement ring for you, he will focus more on the look and style of the accessory rather than the price. His main concern is finding something he thinks you will like and will look good on you; he’s literally not concerned about the price at all. Childe buys you a ring with a large gemstone in your favorite color and an engraving on the band about his undying love for you. The Harbinger loves spoiling you by giving you gifts since it’s one of his love languages, and to him, nothing speaks louder than an engagement ring of the highest quality money can afford. Plus, an extravagant and expensive-looking ring will clearly indicate to other men that you are taken and provided for. It’s both a show of love and a means to stake his claim. He’ll wine and dine you before posing the question and pulling out the ring. Childe will be visibly excited because he really wants to take your relationship to the next stage—he knows he wants a future with you, and he hopes you do too.

🔶Zhongli – Another man that’s not concerned about the price when purchasing you the ring (Hu Tao will chew him out for putting the bill on Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s tab again). Zhongli has a very discerning eye when it comes to minerals and craftsmanship. He carefully appraises every ring on display, studying the quality of the metal in the band, the cut and polish of the gemstone, and the skillfulness of the craftsmanship. He will easily spot any flaws in the ring’s design or any fakes that a sneaky merchant might try to sell, so rest assured that you will receive a ring made of only top quality materials. He takes his time in selecting the perfect ring. His love for you is pure and true, and he wants the ring to reflect that. Anything less than the best won’t convey his feelings for you properly, or so he thinks. He’ll take you out for dinner first and then on a nice stroll around Liyue Harbor before asking the question and pulling out the ring, being very charming and polite as he does. He’s very calm about the whole thing, but will hide his disappointment if you say no.

🧋Ayato – After the passing of his parents, Ayato kept their wedding and engagement rings as a memento of sorts. The rings symbolized the loving bond between his parents, and he wanted to remember that. When Ayato developed a deep, intimate bond of his own with you, the thought of marrying you crossed his mind. He knew he could easily afford a high-quality, expensive engagement ring since he was the head of the Kamisato Clan, but he ended up choosing to give you his mother’s engagement ring. The passion and love that his father harbored when giving the ring to his mother are the same feelings Ayato feels towards you. In his mind, this engagement ring is the perfect physical representation of those feelings, and also a good way to welcome you into the Kamisato family. He would be slightly nervous about asking you to marry him, but he would hide his nervousness well. He truly wants to form a family with you, but he’s aware being the spouse to the Kamisato Clan head will come with it’s fair share of responsibilities, and he will understand if you choose to reject him. But if you accept, then Ayato hopes to use his parents’ old wedding rings during your marriage ceremony too.

🐂Itto – It is well known that Itto barely has a single mora to his name. The man can barely afford to buy food much less an engagement ring. Itto thought about giving you a cheap imitation of one, or crafting one out of flowers because it’s the thought that counts, right? But after some thought, he decides that no, he wants to get you a proper ring to show you how serious he is about wanting to marry you. With his mind made up, Itto will work hard to earn money by taking on various odd jobs. He can’t hold down a single job for long, but for the sake of your ring, he tries. It takes the oni a long time to scrounge up the necessary money because he will turn down any help from his gang members. He wants to obtain the ring through his own effort and nobody else’s. Itto won’t be able to afford a fancy ring with the money he saves up, so expect it to look simple but tasteful (thank Shinobu later for helping Itto choose a nice ring for you and avoid getting scammed). His proposal will be public and flashy, but he’d be really nervous about asking you to marry him, even dropping the ring and almost losing it because of his nerves, but rest assured you will receive it.

🍷Kaveh – The architect is very picky when it comes to choosing you gifts, more so this time since it’s an engagement ring to you from him. Kaveh went to a local jeweler to look at their selection of engagement rings, but he wasn’t satisfied with anything they had. This ring’s jewel is the wrong size, that ring’s metal is the wrong shade, and this one’s design isn’t pretty enough for your likeness. Disappointed, Kaveh decides that he will make you the perfect engagement ring himself. He takes weeks to design it, filling his sketchbooks with sketches of potential designs and crossing off failed attempts before he finally settles on one he thinks will look perfect on your hand. When the time comes to craft it, Kaveh buys only the best quality materials, taking on more commissions to be able to afford them. He works on the ring in his spare time, being careful to ensure every aspect of it looks as perfect as his artistic skills will allow. Once its finally finished, Kaveh feels proud of himself, confident that his ring will be one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry you will ever see—and it honestly is. Even so, he’s still nervous about actually popping the question and giving it to you. When he finally works up the courage, he will take you out on a super romantic date that’s been planned down to every detail. The only unpredictable part about it will be your response to his proposal.

🎧Alhaitham – He’s not exactly frugal when it comes to buying things he likes or thinks are necessary, but he won’t buy you a super expensive engagement ring. In fact, he will get you a simple silver ring with minimal decoration. Haitham prioritizes function over fashion. He doesn’t see a point in giving you an extravagant and flashy ring that would probably hinder you in your daily activities when a simple ring will serve the exact same purpose and be less bothersome. But just because it doesn’t look extravagant doesn’t mean it’s cheap. Oh no, Haitham makes sure the metal is the real deal and made by a professional craftsman. He understands this would be a big step in your relationship, and he wants the ring to convey the seriousness of his feelings for you. The Scribe also won’t make a fanfare out of gifting it to you, he will simply pose the question during a calm and private moment between the two of you. He won’t show any nervousness or excitement on his face, and will be very understanding if you refuse but a part of him does hope you will agree. Haitham seldom likes to spend his time in the company of others, so for him to want you to be a permanent part of his life speaks volumes to how much he loves you. Not having you be a part of his life would certainly leave a mark on him.

#genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #kaveh x reader #alhaitham x reader #childe x reader #diluc x reader #diluc ragnvindr x reader #kaeya x reader #kaeya alberich x reader #zhongli x reader #tartaglia x reader #ayato x reader #kamisato ayato x reader #itto x reader #arataki itto x reader

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

On Air [Chapter Three] Talk Shop [Alastor]

Warning(s): consumption of meat, original female character, deal-making, sealed with a kiss, mentions of murder, manipulation, mixed emotions, jealousy, OC is a serial killer.

Tag list (please let me know who'd like to be added): @dndmaniac

No Minors Allowed!!

Alastor was, in Aelia’s opinion, beyond her expectations. While she was daunted by his predatory smile, as he sauntered around the rustic-styled kitchen, she noted how dapper he was, not only in appearance. 

Each step he took was lively; from stirring the spices in a cast iron kettle, to expertly twirling his thin cane from one arm to the next as he cooked. Aelia was spellbound. But what made her feel this way?

She had never been fond of a man as much as she was of Alastor. His voice alone brought her comfort while she was alive and now that she had met him, Aelia was having a hard time controlling her urge to touch him. It drove her mad. 

What was it about him? His voice? His mannerisms? It was like her body and mind were in perfect sync; weak for him. And no matter how much she tried to steal herself, the temptation was too much. Aelia wondered if this was how an addict felt. 

Alastor certainly was not making matters easier for her with the sleeves of his bright red dress shirt rolled up to his elbows; he shed his pinstripe coat before he started to prep the kettle. 

Aelia took an uneasy breath and clutched the handle of a double-bevel knife tight in her hand. The vèvès on her wrist, she noted, were still glowing. Was this Alastor’s doing? Turning her eyes to him, she watched him stir the kettle as he hummed, standing with his back to her.

“Ah ah ah,” Alastor chided, waving his finger in the air. “It's not polite to stare, my dear.”

Aelia felt her face heat up. How did he know?

“Do you have eyes on the back of your head?”

“Perhaps,” Alastor answered with a wide grin. 

He was aware that Aelia had been on and off watching him since he ushered her into the kitchen. Whenever he would veer around to do something, her soft eyes would avert and she would return to the task he had given her of chopping green onions for a garnish.

Alastor turned and tucked his cane beneath his arm. The tilt of her brow, however, told him that Aelia was troubled. He leaned his head to the side in question.  

“A penny for your thoughts.”

“It's nothing,” Aelia lied. 

She did not want to tell the man she looked up to that she felt uncomfortable around him. 

“I insist that you don't do that,” Alastor stated. His voice sounded much clearer now, then with a buzz it went back to the same old-time radio tone he always spoke in. “Level with me.” 

Aelia swallowed the lump in her throat; her wings sank to the floor. 

“I feel…uneasy in this body. I'm not sure if it's me, or because of the symbols around my wrist. It was you who put them there, was it not?”

She was an astute one. Alastor smiled widely. Raising his arm, he snapped his fingers. The 

Alastor understood. With a wide grin, he snapped his fingers and the vèvès vanished. It was fine; he did not need them to be there anymore.

“How does that feel?”

Not any better, honestly. Aelia pouted. 

“It's me.”

Alastor guffawed, and an ensemble of laughter followed. Her discomfort was delightful. Sinking into his shadow, he reappeared behind her and caged her in between the counter. 

“Go on and sit down,” he ordered near her ear. Aelia shivered in response. Vanishing again, Alastor materialized on the other side of the counter. “I won't be long.” 

Was that necessary? Her body felt like a surge of electricity had coursed through it. Stepping back without a word, she strode from the kitchen to the dining room and did as Alastor had instructed. As she waited for him, she sat at a deco walnut table with an antler centerpiece. It was going to be hard to keep her composer. At least for the moment, she could breathe easier.

However, the air went stiff the moment Alastor strolled in.

Setting the plates down, he took a seat across from her and then snapped his fingers. A set of silverware appeared on the table and the candles lining the centerpiece lit with a green supernatural glow. 

Aelia waited for Alastor to start before she dug in, humming in delight as the spices invaded her taste buds.

“This is delicious.”

“It was my mother’s recipe,” Alastor retorted with pride.

Mostly. In his serving, he left the meat uncooked as per usual. It is how he liked it.

Aelia swallowed a bite of rice. She had never had Jambalaya before. Despite its spicy flavor, she rather liked it. 

For the next 30 minutes, the two ate in silence. Then, once Alastor was full, he dabbed his mouth with a napkin and picked up his cane. 

“Now we can talk shop.” 

Aelia raised a curious brow and sat her fork down. What sort of business did he want to talk to her about?

“You mean your plans for me.”

Alastor grinned.

“Yes…well we shall see how this partnership pans out. First, it's a matter of an agreement.”

An agreement. What did he mean? Aelia watched as Alastor stood and strolled over to her. 

“There is something you owe me; a small fee.”

Aelia felt faint. At the time, she did not realize what Alastor had wanted in return for her favor, but now that she was in Hell, she realized just who the man in front of her was. 

He says ‘small fee’ as though it is just that. 

“You’re a demon, aren't you?”

The smile on his face widened and from over his shoulder materialized a sinister-looking shadow.

“That is astute of you, my dear.”

“It makes sense,” Aelia admitted. Her wings sunk to the floor. “No angel asks someone to kill for them.”

She did not think much of it at first. The people she killed deserved it; child abusers and murderers. In the end, though, she was also a murderer and wound up in Hell for her actions. 

“I owe you my soul.”

Alastor clapped, taking her off guard. 

“Delightful. Your soul you do officially owe me but I must say, you went beyond expectations for me, my dear, and for that, I will offer you a stipulation. Either way, you are mine.” 

Aelia felt her heart race. She wasn't certain if it was because he was being lenient with her, or because he claimed her as his own, but she was grateful.

“What will become of my soul?”

Alastor leaned his cane forward and tapped her head with it. 

“Nothing, so long as you follow my words.” 

He spun the cane around and shoved it into her face. The single eye on the microphone blinked and then spoke. 

“What do you say?”

Aelia was in shock. 

“Um…I–”

“Don't forget your stipulation,” Alastor reminded her. 

A stipulation. What could she ask for? Aelia tightened her jaw. She already got what she wanted; freedom from her tragic life.

“I just want to be with you…to stand with you.”

Alastor smiled wide. This could not have gone better in his opinion. Twirling his cane, he tucked it beneath her chin. The light around them tinted to an ethereal green. 

“Do we have a deal?”

Aelia shook her head, and then to her shock, Alastor stepped forward and pressed his lips against hers. She trembled in elation, then closed her eyes, unaware that a glowing green chain had materialized around her neck, and then faded. Her mind was much too occupied. Not able to control her urge to taste him, she tried to deepen the kiss, but Alastor pulled away.

“The bank’s closed, bèt kay (pet).”

It would be in her best interest not to do that again.

Aelia apologized in shame. She felt a bit dirty. 

Alastor took her napkin and dabbed his mouth with it, then tucked his cane beneath his arm.

“Come along, there is something I want to show you.”

Aelia stood and walked close behind Alastor as he led her through the living room to a studio of sorts. Upon further investigation, she realized that it was a broadcast booth. Was this how Alastor contacted her? 

Sitting on a plush couch, he handed her a sheet of paper, encouraging her with a wave of his hand to read it. A list of names was elegantly scribbled down, some with marks through them and some with crude nicknames. Whoever Vox was, the clout-chasing mediocre video podcast, Alastor cared little for. 

There was, however, a familiar name on the list.

“Miss Rosie is on here.” 

Alastor hummed.

“Those are the names of Overlords, powerful Demons that reside in Pentagram City. I too am one, you see.”

Was he? Aelia widened her eyes. 

“And the names that are marked out?”

“Finished off,” Alastor answered with a sinister smile. The gleam in his eyes insinuated that he had something to do with them.

But why? 

“They couldn't have been easy to kill,” Aelia stated. 

Alastor hummed, shrugging his shoulders as though it was no problem. 

“Overlords are as only strong as the number of souls they own. We make deals with the sinners who reside in Hell and in some cases, humans.” 

That was no easy feat, however. In Aelia’s case, he could not leave Hell, so he had to coax her into doing as he asked. The radio was a long shot, but due to it being an antique from his time, in addition to it belonging to him while he was alive, he was able to contact her. The turn of events surprised even him. 

A twinge of jealousy overtook Aelia. She did not understand what came over her.  

“I reckon based on your strength that I am not the first human you have made a deal with.”

Alastor narrowed his eyes. 

“You are the first, bèt kay (pet) whose soul I have not torn apart and broadcasted on my radio broadcast. But that can change, so be respectful of the rules.” 

Aelia paled. She was not aware.

“Yes sir.”

“In any case,” Alastor furthered. “There is a series of projects I am passionate about. It's time to initiate them, and the first involves you.”

Her. Aelia felt a bit uneasy. Her wings sank to the floor.

“Does it involve the names on this list?”

“Perhaps.” Alastor paused to pluck the list from her hand. “But we can sweat the details tomorrow on our outing. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a welcome back broadcast to rehearse.”

Aelia perked up. She did not want to nag him, but honestly, she did not want to leave his side either. 

“May I listen?”

Alastor widened his eyes in pride. He knew there was a reason he favored Aelia. Whether it be because she adored him or because she found his discussions tasteful, she did not dismiss him. 

“Sit, and if you value your soul, you will not make a sound.”

Aelia was ecstatic. Her wings lifted and spread as she closed her mouth and pretended to lock them. She made herself comfortable beside Alastor and watched him fondly as he prepared. 

This was something he was passionate about and she was more than eager to share this moment with him.

#hazbin hotel fandom #alastor x oc #hazbin hotel fanfiction #alastor hazbin hotel #original female character #murderer oc #Spotify

[krafterwrites]

Rows Of Roses

All the way back in October 2022, I held a raffle to celebrate hitting 500 followers, and promised the winner that I would write a fic for them. It may have taken a long time to get back enough energy to write again, but I stuck to my word, and now I've finally finished making a fic based on the prompt that my friend @4filen0tfound4 gave me. Hope it was worth the wait

Summary: Amy invites Silver over to her garden, where he learns about the many meanings that different colors of roses can hold

Words: 2847

In the city of Station Square, Amy's home stood out a bit. Unlike the apartment she had moved out of some time ago, which was no different than the rest in terms of its exterior, this small house situated close to the edges of the metropolis served as a small beacon of greenery through its yard and the garden contained inside of it. Amy was waiting in that yard when she heard a faint sound slice through the typical ambience, an ethereal humming sound. A second later, what she had suspected to be the source of the noise hovered into view

"I'm here! Hope I'm not late," Silver said as he dispersed the field of energy that had been carrying him and softly dropped onto the ground

"Nope, you're right on time," She reassured him. "Do you want anything before we start? I just got some tea from the store"

She gestured towards the front door of the home as she asked, and Silver couldn't tell if this meant she had planned to have a snack before they started, or if she was just being very inviting. He did really want to get to gardening right away, since he knew it would be fascinating to learn more about the plants of the past from someone who knew a lot about them, but he didn't want to accidentally mess up her plans after she'd been nice enough to invite him over. He hadn't known Amy for as long as her other friends, but she had always been just as sweet to him as everyone else during that relatively short period, so he decided that something little like this didn't matter

"I'd like to start right away, if that's alright," He told her with a slight bit of uncertainty. "Tea does sound great afterwards, though"

"Sounds good to me," She answered, beginning to turn and move towards the back of the plot's land

Silver internally relaxed a bit, and then began to follow Amy as she walked to her garden. The walk was very brief due to the small size of the yard, but even so it was still pleasant because of the perfectly maintained grass, and the perfect weather that was looking down on it. Once he had caught up with her, his eyes were caught by the centerpiece of the place. Laid out in a rectangle formation were what must have been at least a hundred roses, not just red, but in all sorts of new colors that he didn't even know were possible. White, yellow, green, even blue. The pretty display and the realization that even one of the few plants he thought he knew relatively well had so much more to it excited him a lot, which she noticed

"I see you like the roses I planted," Amy said joyfully

"I love them! They're all so beautiful, I didn't know that they came in colors other than red," He exclaimed

"Oh, yeah, there's tons of different colors they can have. Most people just think about the red ones when they hear roses, so romance is commonly associated with them since that's the meaning the reds have, but each color symbolizes different things"

He was intrigued even more by this revelation than the previous one. Each of the differently colored flowers in front of them all had meaning to them, like hidden messages of some sort. He began to wonder if the other flowers he'd seen up until this point represented things as well, if they might have been giving him signs that he hadn't been aware of

"Can you tell me about all of them?" Silver questioned

"Well, there's a lot of colors here to go through, and they can each have quite a few things associated with them," She explained. "Why don't you pick out one for us to start with?"

He looked at the arrangement of flowers intently, and tried to think about which ones caught his eye the most. Yellow and orange were such great colors, they reminded him of the sun and how its light felt on his fur, and the flames that Blaze could conjure. However, after thinking about it for some time, Silver decided that the most interesting shade was blue. It reminded him of the ocean, and one of his most precious memories that had been made there

"What about those blue roses?" He asked

"These can symbolize uniqueness, or things that are impossible. It's like they were made for Sonic," Amy replied as she crouched down to the earth to get a closer look at them. "Heh, but that's just my opinion. What do you think of them?"

While the color of the flowers had immediately brought water into his mind, hearing about the impossible made him think of the fact that he was standing here in this moment, thinking about this at all. Not just because of the miracle of time travel, but also because of how harsh the world he'd been in for so long was. All it would've taken was for one of Silver's many near misses to have not been a near miss, and he never would've been able to see the past. Surviving for long certainly seemed impossible at the time, let alone changing the world. But here he was, able to relax, with his future no longer desolate. Telling Amy all of what he said verbatim would probably drag the mood down a little, so he decided to just state the last part instead

"It seemed impossible for things to ever change," Silver began explaining. "But once I was brought back here, I was able to fix everything. Now my future is just as beautiful as this place is"

"That's amazing to hear, Silver. It's good to know that even 200 years from now, this world will still be full of life," Amy complimented him. "Are the plants from your future anything like the ones here?"

"Uhh, I think so? I haven't seen too many from either time yet, so it's hard to know if anything I see is unique to that period or not"

"I see. Next time, you should describe some of your future plants to me, and I can tell you if they're ones that exist in this time. Maybe you could even bring one back, it would be fascinating to see"

"Oh, um, I'm not sure if I can, it could mess things up. I guess I could fix things even if they did go wrong, but-"

"No, you're right, I wasn't thinking about it. Let's get back to the flowers that are in front of us now, which ones are catching your eye?"

The green roses were the first ones that Silver thought of this time around, they almost looked like immature sprouts that hadn't finished growing yet, but they were the same size as everything else. A flower lacking the vibrant splash of color that it usually had at the top, and instead having the same color as its less treasured parts such as the leaves, had a lot of potential for interesting meanings. Plus, in the event that his thought about the green roses not being finished growing was true, it would lead to the just as interesting revelation that these ones would end up being much larger than all of the others

"What's up with the green ones?" Silver asked, phrasing it so that the answer would tell him which one of his assumptions about them was right

"They mostly mean life and abundance. Perfect for a day like this, right?" Amy remarked

He took a second to look up into the sky as well as into the street behind him, and saw that she was very right. Life stretched far past Amy's yard, it was in the skies above them as Flickies flew overhead, and in the streets behind them as people went about their day walking to who knew where

"Abundance… yeah!" Silver exclaimed. "That's the perfect word for what the past is like, there's so much stuff here. Every day I'm here, I see a bunch of new things"

"Did you see anything new today on your way here?" She asked

"I did! I passed by a bakery, and I saw these little colorful things that had cream in the center, and the outsides were kind of like little cookies"

"Oh, you mean macarons? Those are really good, did you get to try one?"

"I actually did, I asked the person eating them if I could have one, and they handed it to me. It was super sweet, I wish I could've had more, but I didn't want to be rude"

"Well, if you want to have more, we could always go to there ourselves and order some next time"

"That would be fantastic, I love visiting restaurants! It seems like there's infinite choices, and all of them are delicious"

"Yeah, the places here all have a lot on the menu, even I haven't tried all of them yet. Say, what's your favorite thing you've had so far?"

"It was this amazing apple pie I ate at a bakery. Back in the future, I ate a lot of old ration bars, the best ones were the apple flavored ones. The closest I ever felt to being in a natural world was when I ate one of them, but then when I had that pie, it was like experiencing that times a million. It was the first time I felt something familiar in a new way, instead of something completely new"

"Wow, if I'd only gotten to have things flavored like fruit my whole life before getting to eat the real thing too, it would probably have been as magical as you were describing. Did you have anything with the pie?"

"Nope. What do people usually have with it?"

"The most popular toppings are vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It's actually kind of funny, since they're both like you"

"Huh? How are they like me?"

"They're both white like your fur, and they're both really sweet"

"Aww, thank you!"

"No problem!"

Since Silver was now thinking about things that looked similar to him, when he looked back to the garden after the conversation had died down, he immediately thought of the white roses. Like vanilla ice cream and whipped cream (supposedly), the petals did look a lot like his fur, he would probably be able to hide pretty well behind all of them if he needed to. While their potential hide and seek applications were fun to think about, Silver was also even more curious about what they could mean than he'd been about the other two. If they looked like him, would they have meanings that reflected him?

"What meanings do the white roses have?" He chose, silently beginning to get a bit excited as his anticipation grew

"These can stand for a lot of things, but some of the most prevalent meanings are innocence, loyalty, and new beginnings," Amy shared. "They're mostly used at weddings, but I think with meanings like those, they're good for a lot of events"

"New beginnings, huh?"

"Yep! I bet that makes you think of traveling back here for the first time, doesn't it?"

"How did you know that?"

"Oh, I just guessed based on what you've told me before. Good to know my guess was right!"

"Well, you only guessed half of it"

"Hm?"

"My other new beginning was meeting you"

The answer caught Amy off guard. She hadn't thought that she'd had that much of an impact on Silver, she just treated him the same way she did to everyone else. Knowing that her meeting with him was apparently so important that he considered it the start of a new chapter in his life made her feel a deep happiness, followed by a small bit of curiosity

"Really?" Amy asked, still a bit shocked

"It's true," Silver began. "The first person who I ever felt a real connection with was Espio, but since we were working together to save the future, I thought it was just because of our shared goal. But then, the next time I went back here, you saw me. You didn't know why I was here, or even who I was, but you were so nice to me… It made me realize the truth. Espio, Shadow, everyone else; they weren't being kind for the sake of the future, it was because they cared about me"

"Wow. That's… really something. I'm glad that I was able to help you"

"I'm glad about it too"

As Silver reminisced about the change that his meeting with Amy had brought to him, he was facing her, since he had just finished a conversation. However, since it was followed by a short period of silence while both were busy thinking about that information, his eyes went back to the flowerbed

It was just a default position at this point, since he had previously looked at it a lot in order to make his choices for rose variants to learn about. Spending time in silence instead of asking about that, though, made him notice a part of the rose other than their colors: their thorns

The first time Silver saw a rose, he'd grabbed it with his hand in his excitement, and it pierced through his glove into his hand. Even though it had drawn blood, it still had the same gorgeous appearance that had drawn him to it in the first place, so he chose not to leave it behind. Instead, he grabbed it gently with his psychokinesis, and carried it beside him as he walked and floated across the land

Everyone he'd met during his times chasing Eggman Nega, he'd been rude and harsh to at one point or another. While Espio was the only one who had brushed it off and followed him at the time, he had seen all of the others at later points, and they all seemed to at least tolerate him. Maybe it was because they had been told he wasn't actually that bad by Espio, or maybe it was because his urgency during his first time saving the future had faded, and no longer forced him to push everyone out of his path. Maybe it was both

Suddenly, Silver snapped out of his thoughts when he realized that Amy had moved over to the garden in front of them again. Unlike last time, though, she was plucking a rose from the dirt instead of just looking at them. It was yellow, close to his bracelets and eyes, although not exactly like either of them

"Oh, you're picking them now? That's fine, I wanted to hear about the yellow ones next anyways," Silver said as Amy turned around to face him, slightly confused

"I'm giving it to you, silly!" She explained as she stretched out her arm for Silver to take it. "Yellow roses symbolize friendship. You looked so happy seeing all these roses here, so I figured this would be a great gift for you"

"You'd… really do that for me? We're friends?" He asked, sounding very touched

"Of course we are! I know we haven't known each other for so long, but every time we talk, it's so enjoyable. You just have so much love for this world, and you share it with everyone you're around. Whenever you talk about how amazed you are by something I see everyday, it reminds me of just how great this place really is, of what I fight to protect"

Silver didn't respond verbally at this point, as he was a little overwhelmed by just how kind Amy had been to him, but tears welling up in the corners of his eyes showed he appreciated it very much. Remembering the lesson he had learned before, he held his hand forward and gently encircled the flower with his psychokinesis, lifting it out of Amy's hand and bringing it close to his side

"Thank you," he managed to choke out. "Thank you so much. I'm going to take the best care of this as I can"

"Maybe you could even start your own garden someday," Amy suggested.

"That would be fantastic," He replied, before turning to look at the lone plant. "But for now, I've got to take care of this"

"I understand. It was great hanging out with you today, hope I can see you again soon!"

"Me too. Bye, Amy"

"Bye, Silver!"

With that, Silver flew off similarly to how he had arrived. Amy was left in her yard next to the garden that she had just taken her gift to Silver from, and thought about the future. There was no way she'd be alive to take care of it in Silver's time, so it would likely have disappeared long before then. However, even if the garden she was standing next to would eventually fade away, she knew there would still be one like it 200 years from now. A very beautiful, and very yellow, garden of roses

#Sth #Silver the Hedgehog #Amy Rose #Krafter Writes

[broken-clover]

*poke poke* hey. Hey. Since you have overture on the brain, master ghost ideas for the other characters? Hmm??

Ohhh wow, now this is something we could be on all day, huh? So many options! So many opportunities to pick through a character and who they are.

-Dizzy is an easy start, I think. A counterpart to Ky. It's sort of like their treasures in Johnny's Xrd special being a family photo and a picture of Dizzy holding baby Sin. It'd be Ky holding him, or all of them together. Though since she has so much association with the Grove, instead of the church building imagery that Ky has in the detailing of his masterghost, hers would be more organic, trees and flowers and the like framing everything

-Also, let's give one to Sin! He can also have a lot of the same motifs, since he's young at the time a lot of it is more literal and self-centered because that's how a younger kid's mind works. It's a rather exaggerated depiction of himself, standing atop a mountain with a flag waving in victory. Dizzy gets a lot of focus as well, and Sol has an appearance too. You have to be very careful when looking, but if you poke your head in near the back, you can see Ky watching on too. Even if it's a less conscious part of his mind, Sin still loves his father and acknowledges him as part of his life

-As long as he's already here, too, let's give Raven his own one as well instead of having to share with Valentine. I feel his motifs are similarly easy, lots of gothic architecture and torture tools strewn about. The centerpiece is himself, mutilated and stabbed in several place, hanging from an upside-down crucifix. The inverted cross is commonly associated with other satanic motifs, like how Raven appears to be a violent individual whose fundamental existence goes against the natural order of nature, but in actuality, the symbol is related to martyrdom, specifically that of Apostle Peter, who felt unworthy being crucified in the same way as Jesus, tying into how Raven is ultimately a well-intentioned man who rejected being treated as a god.

-For some reason I want to do Axl next. Maybe just because he has a lot of obvious motifs as well. His is a little snapshot of home, similarly to how his stages have a lot of archetypical British motifs. Tall buildings, a clocktower, and a train cutting through the whole thing. All the components move, but they start and stop rather jarringly, like the playback is glitching out. Nothing is operating in synch, and none of the structures are quite 'correct,' being exaggerated echoes based on memory

-Might as well do I-no, too, though hers would be tricky. I could see most of it being shrouded in a veil of fog, being something not even she knows the true meaning of. Maybe it's in some sort of big fancy bottle, with the impression that it's going to be released and fulfill some grand potential someday, but in its present form it exists confined and limited. If you listen closely, sometimes you can hear something thumping against the walls...

#wheeee #ask #dizzy #sin kiske #raven #axl low #I-no #guilty gear

[deadpresidents]

January 22, 1973: Triumph and Tragedy

At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, a young man from Texas won a gold medal in heavyweight boxing while an old man from Texas proudly watched from the White House in Washington, D.C. As a teenager growing up in Houston's rough Fifth Ward, George Foreman was spending his days and nights fighting in the streets and committing petty crimes.  Foreman had little education, few role models, no direction and found the crippling poverty that he lived in to be unbearable.  Then, in 1965, he heard of the Job Corps. One of the foundations of Lyndon B. Johnson's War On Poverty, the Job Corps was created in 1964 to provide vocational training and technical education, free of charge, to students aged 16 through 24.  For many young Americans, the Job Corps as an opportunity.  For George Foreman, it was a path to superstardom and success. After beginning his Job Corps training in Oregon, Foreman was stationed at a center in California where a Job Corps supervisor named Doc Broadus encouraged the 6'4" Texan to consider boxing.  Just three years after he signed up for the centerpiece program of LBJ's Great Society, George Foreman was representing his country in the Olympics. To this day, Foreman credits the Job Corps for saving his life.  Later, he would proudly declare that "Job Corps took me from the mean streets and out of a nightmare lifestyle into a mode where the most incredible dreams came true." Following Foreman's gold medal victory at the 1968 Olympics, he was invited to the White House by President Johnson and became a proud symbol of a Great Society success story.  At the White House, President Johnson asked Foreman when he thought he'd win the world championship and Foreman recalled that "I told him I hoped it would be quick, as I needed the money.  He laughed about that." As LBJ headed into retirement in Texas, George Foreman embarked on a successful professional boxing career and with a 37-0 record, he prepared to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship against the undefeated champion -- Joe Frazier.  Foreman started going by the nickname "The Fighting Corpsman", paying tribute to his Job Corps roots because "it had been President Johnson's Job Corps which changed my direction in life.  I thought all those Job Corps men out there would see that one among them was making it, and maybe it would help them believe they could as well." The Fighting Corpsman was a heavy underdog on January 22, 1973 as he challenged Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight championship in Kingston, Jamaica.  Most boxing reporters and students of the game thought that the match wouldn't last very long and they were correct.  Foreman dominated Frazier, knocking him down six times in two rounds before the referee finally stepped in and stopped the beating.  As millions watched the fight on television, sportscaster Howard Cosell made one of the most famous calls in history, "Down goes Frazier!  Down goes Frazier!  Down goes Frazier!".  At just 24 years old, George Foreman -- the Fighting Corpsman -- was the heavyweight champion of the world. The victory was George Foreman's, but no one would have taken more pride in the results of that fight than the architect of the program that turned Foreman's life around, Lyndon B. Johnson.  Sadly, Johnson never saw the fight.  Just hours earlier on the very day that Foreman won the title in Jamaica, Lyndon Johnson suffered a fatal heart attack at the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City, Texas.  As fans were filing into the arena in Jamaica, Lyndon Johnson died en route to a hospital in Texas. For the new champion, the victory was bittersweet.  "I felt robbed that night while winning it as I had hoped he would be able to read what happened in Jamaica which could never have been possible had he not had that Job Corps idea and that it would include me."  In 1983, George Foreman donated the championship belt that he won on the day of LBJ's death to the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas where it is on display today -- a memento from a coincidental day 50 years ago when two Texans were united by accomplishment and cemented in history.

#History #Lyndon B. Johnson #LBJ #President Johnson #George Foreman #Boxing #Presidential History #World Heavyweight Championship #Joe Frazier #Death of Lyndon B. Johnson #LBJ's Death #Death of LBJ #LBJ Library #Great Society #Job Corps #January 22nd #War On Poverty #50th Anniversary #50th Anniversary of LBJ's Death

[pommedepersephone]

Okay I have to ask about Dog Days are Over because I had a WIP called like that last time 🤣🤣 i'm so curious to know what the song inspires you!!

Okay, okay, so this is a very fluffy-fun-OH-FUCK-FEELINGS follow up to A Disaster Puppy and his Dog. The basic premise is Crowley thinking through the dangers of promises - putting off the things one wants for a future you may not get, and not seizing the moment when it arrives unexpectedly.

BUT I have to confess that there is a really long, rambling story behind my obsession with this song and the art that inspired it. And somehow it is all very Good Omens.

If you don't know, the song was inspired by a London art installation by Ugo Rondione -

AND this isn't his first installation with this name.

"...one of Rondinone’s first institutional exhibitions (“dog days are over”), in 1996, at Zurich’s Museum für Gegenwartskunst, where he created an installation that brought together live actors, sound, painting, and video and took the figure of the clown as its centerpiece. At the show’s opening, several paunchy, middle-aged men made up as clowns lounged lazily on the floor of one of the museum’s galleries, moving only to change position or to yawn. Fits of hysterical laughter could be heard from hidden speakers activated by sensors whenever a visitor entered... If the ensemble’s initial effect was carnivalesque, with time, a creeping sense of unanswered expectations, boredom, and emptiness took over. This was due partly to the fact that the clowns never performed (they barely moved) and partly to their pathetic appearance."

You can read the full article about this installation.

And so, there is something about the idea of expectation of performance, something about "Crawley" saying - “You’ve got to admit it’s a bit of a pantomime, though... I mean, pointing out the Tree and saying ‘Don’t Touch’ in big letters. Not very subtle, is it? I mean, why not put it on top of a high mountain or a long way off?” and the idea that you will be punished simply for fulfilling your assigned role...

And there is something about the symbolism of rainbows, something about Aziraphale saying "Oh, and when it's done, the Almighty's going to put up a new thing called a rainbow, as a promise not to drown everyone again." and the idea of being expected to be grateful for being punished...

I just have a lot of feelings about it all. Which SOMEHOW ended up shaping this seemingly silly but actually serious little WIP that I haven't finished yet.

#wip ask game #my wips #good omens fanfiction #dog days are over

[firestar-fr]

Drabble: The Warrior’s Guild

Dragons in this story: - Crisis - Loki - Technically the rest of these too

Characters in this story are Anthro

Crisis walked up to the top of the hill outside the Hewn City, observing the large fields around them as he did. It was at the edge of the clan territory, watching over the Emperor’s Wake in the distance. It was a warm afternoon, and the breeze coming in from the Sea of a Thousand Currents was nice and cooling in the sun. Crisis wasn’t wearing his armor today, but rather a brown cotton jacket, nothing underneath. His chest scars were on full display, both the battle scars, and the surgical ones. He wasn’t alone either, the clan’s warriors all following him up there. He stopped at the top, his mane flowing in the wind. “This is where I shall plant the foundations of our new purpose.” He spoke to his clanmates. The Shade that once had tried and failed to claim him was flowing along his wings and neck. He drew his sword, plunging it into the soil. “From this day forward, we shall not only pursue justice, but also aim to raise the future warriors of these lands. Teach them to be better than the warmongering warriors of the past!” The clan cheered to his declaration, the warriors all raising their fists in support. He took a deep breath, pulling the blade up again. He pulled a seed from a pouch, dropping it into the hole. “Let this tree be our symbol. A sign of unity, and of home.” He closed the hole with his tail. “Now lend me your magic, and give the seed what it needs to grow.” Every warrior put their hands on the ground, channeling their powers into it. Seconds later, a cherry blossom tree sprouted up from the soil, the trunk growing thick and solid, branches unfurling and going into bloom. Crisis turned around, facing the tree. “It is done. Call the Construction Crew. This shall be the centerpiece of the Guild Hall, and the Dojo.”

Crisis was sitting under the Cherry Blossom Tree in the atrium garden of the Clan Hall, meditating. A year had passed since the founding of the guild, and they had taken in quite a few aspiring dragons hoping to become warriors. He sensed someone walk in, remaining in his pose as his eyes remained closed. “Ah, Loki.” He spoke. “Settling in well, I hope?” The young skydancer had recently been taken into the dojo. He had been found wandering the lands aimlessly, picking fights needlessly. The metallic obsidian skydancer stopped before him. He didn’t respond. Crisis sighed. “Troubled, are we?” He had a concerned tone. “This is a Warrior’s Dojo, is it not?” Loki asked. His tone was rather impatient. “That is true.” Crisis opened his eyes now. The radiant gold iris was surrounded by a black sclera, tiny tendrils of Shade making them almost seem like a sun. His gaze shifted to the skydancer before him. Loki shook his head. “Then why don’t I get any sword practice?” He crossed his arms. “No duels or anything. Just lessons about meditation, gardening, medicine?!” “Tell me.” Crisis stood up. He was looming over the Skydancer quite a bit. “What does it mean to be a warrior to you?” “It means to fight with superior skill and might!” Loki bragged. “To win at all costs!” Crisis sighed. “Then show me this skill.” Loki gleamed at this. Didn’t have to ask him twice. He reached for his blade, drawing it. The sound of metal clashing with metal rang out, once. Loki’s blade went soaring through the air, landing behind Crisis, who was sheathing his own blade again. Loki was stunned, knocked on his back and with a cut across his left cheek. “W-what?! I didn’t even see that!” “Because you lack discipline.” Crisis stretched. “Your form is sloppy, your resolve weak. You lack focus, and you absolutely lack understanding.” He knocked the tree with his tail, catching the single twig that came falling down. “To be a warrior is more than just about fighting. It’s about protecting life.” He offered the twig to Loki. Loki blinked, a bit unsure. “B-but...” “You wish to be a warrior?” Crisis remained calm. “Then be prepared to learn the way of the warrior, the way my guild is willing to teach it.” The skydancer took the twig, studying it. “Plant that where you see it fit to be. Nurture it. Let it grow.” Crisis explained. “A warrior who cannot nurture life, should not be allowed to take one either.” Loki nodded, listening now. “But, where.” “Wherever you see fit.” Crisis had a tendril of Shade recover Loki’s blade. “Most plant theirs where they will eventually call home, so they have something familiar to return to.” Loki sheathed his blade too, drying the blood off his cheek. “I. Understand.” He bowed, before heading out. “Thank you, Master Crisis.” Crisis settled back down, starting to meditate again. He could sense the sapling get planted not far from the guild hall, and he knew he had made the right choice. Because just a few years later, it would grow to be a great tree, and Loki would become a formidable and honorable warrior within the guild.

#FR #Flight Rising #FRFanArt #FRFanWriting

[bestworstcase]

there is also something with jaune—and i know i keep repeating myself here lol but it’s because hatter/hatta is rapidly emerging as the centerpiece of the wonderland allusion and how could they do this to meeee—with jaune specifically and the mirror self and the transformation into the mirror self without escaping the consequences of the original self; hatter becomes hatta (and is hatta) but hatta is not liberated from being hatter by this transformation (in a way, not a transformation at all), and further i think there is an argument to be made for a reversal of causality on the other side of the looking glass such that alice is six months older and wonderland six months younger, thus making hatta both hatter’s future and his past through a literalization of the white queen’s reversed memory of things that both have and have not happened yet.

obviously a lot to tease out here vis-a-vis what the ever after is doing with ascension (‘the you you wanted to be when you were still you’ -> we can argue that this is precisely the relationship between hatter and hatta in that hatter murders time and becomes stuck and becomes hatta who is both unstuck and moving backwards, put into the ever after’s context this is very in the vein of what’s going on with ascension and that is part of why i do think ascension itself must play some role in the narrative relationship between jaune and the rusted knight, the only question is how)

but for jaune in particular i’m interested to see how it pans out (is he the hatter, is he hatta, is the rusted knight his reflection) because it’s sort of the pin holding the ever after’s worldbuilding together. i have a granule of a thought here too about how rwby potentially is nodding to things like the pop cultural use of the jabberwock as the monster to fight and typically alice being the one to fight it, and perhaps specific references being made to pre-2011 iterations of wonderland(!) wherein the jabberwock is similarly representative of the ending of stories in a literal way and ‘defeated’ peacefully through culmination of alice’s internal turmoil which opens the doorway to confrontation with the dark-mirror of the hatter. i cannot believe i’m actually considering the possibility of deliberate allusion to the nichest of my ultra-niche interests but if the shoe fits, and at this point it really seems like it does.

anyway, the point is that positioning jaune symbolically as the jaded heroic grown-up alice to ruby’s broken lost child alice is fascinating in itself and fascinating again for how these two experiences of wonderland are synonymized; a little girl grows up with a sense of wonder and hope but quickly becomes a woman and forgets all the dreams that reside in her head, etc, etc. if nothing else it’s evident that identical(!) themes are being mined from the original text, which is cool and fun and i’m feeling so very normal about it.

also the cat leads them to the tea party lol lol lol

#rwby v9 spoilers

[gerogerigaogaigar]

Portishead - Dummy

Trip hop is one of those genres where there are like three artists in the whole scene and all of them are legendary. That was kind of an early 90s mood honestly what with grunge being the same. Portishead's sound may be indistinguishable from their contemporaries for a lot of listeners but where Massive Attack and Tricky are coming from a hip hop sound Portishead has more in common with dub and jungle. They have slowed down the breakbeat to the point that its more implied than extant. Dummy develops a spacey, smokey atmosphere thats a little more tripped out and mellow than any other trip hop artist.

Prince - 1999

Yes! YES! In a sane world this would easily be Prince's best album. It's only by the grace of some flamboyant fag god that it isn't. 1999 is filled with huge funky beats and extremely corny synth lines. All the while Prince sing about what Prince knows best: sex. A third the album is made up of seven plus minute funk jams. Three in a row in fact. You'd think that going from the seven minute Let's Pretend We're Married to the eight minute D.S.M.R. to the nine minute Automatic would be tiring, but there is nothing tiring about 1999. This album which ranks 2nd or 3rd in Prince's discography for me would easily best most other artists best work by a mile.

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Roger Waters clearly decided at the height of Pink Floyd's popularity that, instead of going to therapy, he should just get all his problems out in the form of a sprawling concept album. The Wall is lyrically and thematically dense and careful in its use of musical motifs. The four note riff that accompanies main character Pink at every turn becomes a musical symbol of his downfall. And lyrically Waters is working through so many things. His feeling toward his dad, war, stardom, and his fans. His hatred for Thatcherism and the boarding school syatem. Disillusionment and the desire to escape. It may be a lengthy album, but it still packs a lot into that time. The Wall weaves a rich tapestry, its a lot to take in, but there are enough catchy songs to make the first listen as enjoyable as hundredth.

Queen - A Night At The Opera

It seems like a crime to separate A Night At The Opera from its sister album A Day At The Races, but this is the only one that critics liked. A Night At The Opera is a deliciously eccentric album. Its content to jump back and forth between ripping hard rock solos, jaunty little ukelele tunes, prog rock epics, and other miscellania. The whole thing really earns the right to be named after a Marx Brothers film with all the camp and it does feel as dramatic as an opera at times. Nearly every song feels like it could be the centerpiece to a different album. Most people probably consider meme legend Bohemian Rhapsody to be the album's centerpiece, but for me it has to be The Prophet's Song because not a lot of songs can pull off the transition from prog rock number to acapella fugue and back with such ease and style. Everything is so tight and ao technically proficient. The whole album is a well oiled machine that just produces serotonin.

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music

In an era when soul, gospel, and R&B were still called 'race music' it was an incredibly bold move to release this record. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music consists of lush soul covers of contemporary country ballads. Not only was this the most popular album of Ray Charles' career it also revitalized interest in country music. Where the nashville sound is lush he went lusher with more strings and backup vocalists. Where country musicians croon he croons like he was trying out for the rat pack. He takes everything that country music does well and then does it better as a soul songs. This man outdid an entire genre of music! This album has the biggest dick energy in musical history probably.

Mary J. Blige - My Life

Mary J. Blige is back and her second album brings more of the R&B with hip hop beats rhat we saw on her first album. Although there is more neo soul style crooning and less funkiness which makes My Life a little less interesting than her debut. Its still a pretty great album though if you liked Whats The 411? then you'll probably like My Life.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

This is the most nonsensical, unfocused, chaotic, and stupid album in the entire Beastie Boys catalogue. It is one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time. The rowdy childlike goofiness is so fucking infectious. I dont know how they get away with singing an entire song about eggs and then asking me to take anything seriously ever again. I love it. The beats are next level though. Look up a list of the samples used on Paul's Boutique and you'll be floored by the sheer number. The Sounds Of Science samples five different Beatles songs and then also samples Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Pato Bantin, and Boogie Down Productions. It feels like they chose half their samples strategically to make brilliant beats and then a few goofball choices like the theme from Magilla Gorilla or Folsom Prison Blues. The incredibly vortuosic production combined with the childlike off the cuff sound is really amazing. They worked so hard to make it sound like they weren't even trying.

U2 - Achtung Baby

#500 album gauntlet #portishead #prince #pink floyd #queen #ray charles #mary j blige #beastie boys #U2 #Youtube

[bluemoonfantasiesiii]

Stellar Eclipse (Rhinesons AU)

If you asked Albedo to pinpoint when it began, he wouldn’t be able to answer. But at some point, he began feeling a slight sense of nausea every time he caught sight of his birthmark in the mirror. Nigredo’s was easy to cover up, resting between his shoulder blades, but Albedo’s was smack in the middle of his throat. The golden marking stood out in clear contrast to his pale skin, and after spending so much time with Nigredo, he had begun to hate it. The four-pointed star on his neck was a symbol of his artificial origins; a lingering tie to Rhinedottir.

He wanted to sever it, to be done with her once and for all. She didn’t deserve even a moment of his thoughts, yet he couldn’t stop his mind from drifting to her every time he looked at the mark. The alchemist worked through his options on how to cover it. Makeup was unreliable at best since he spent much of his time outside, exposed to the elements. Changing out his usual shirt for a turtleneck was a viable option while he was on Dragonspine, but the rest of Mondstadt would leave him overheating. The simplest option would be to conceal the mark with an accessory like a choker.

He announced his departure to his brother and nephew and set off for the city. Fashion was not Albedo’s forte, and while ridicule toward his appearance didn’t phase him, he preferred to avoid it, so before he went to Marjorie, he slinked into the tavern to consult his boyfriend’s assistance. Kaeya immediately understood and jumped at the chance to help the alchemist pick a few chokers.

Much of the selection was too thin to effectively cover Albedo’s birthmark, and the wider ones were a bit too decorative for his taste. After some back and forth, and Kaeya half-jokingly trying to get him to purchase a choker that looked suspiciously like a dog collar, Albedo agreed to get a plain, black choker to wear for everyday activities and a more ornate choker for special occasions. The second one he picked out was comprised of a series of gold chain links with a centerpiece made of pearls surrounding a topaz, set to resemble a flower. After making the purchases, Kaeya offered to help Albedo put on the gold choker.

“That one is supposed to be for special occasions only, though,” the alchemist said with a tilt of the head.

Kaeya chuckled, a light, smooth sound. “Is this not a special occasion?” he asked. “You’re finally cutting the final thread tethering you to your former master. I’d say that calls for a bit of dressing up and a few drinks~”

Albedo shook his head with a smile. “Well, it’s hard to argue with that logic.” He turned so his back was to Kaeya, lifting his hair out of the way as he felt the other’s fingers brush his neck and cool metal against his skin while the other clasped the choker in place. Once he felt the hands retreat, he turned back around to face the other. “How does it look?”

“Beautiful,” Kaeya purred, leaning in to press his lips to Albedo’s. “The flower covers up your mark perfectly.”

“Good,” Albedo sighed in relief. “Now, about those drinks~”

—————————

Nigredo was just finishing capturing the last of the cecelias he’d accidentally given legs by fusing them with butterflies when he heard familiar footsteps in the snow. He quickly hid the jar behind a shelf just as Albedo appeared in the doorway of the camp, face slightly flushed and gold choker sparkling in the setting sun. Nigredo let out an appreciative whistle as Rubedo jumped up from his seat on the bed to hug his uncle.

“Whoa!” Albedo exclaimed with a giggle, ruffling the Blumeprinz’s hair. “Easy there, Ruby. I’m still a bit wobbly.”

“Sorry, Uncle Albedo!” said the whopperflower, stepping back. “Your new necklace looks really pretty!”

“Thank you~ Kaeya helped me pick it out. I got a more casual one, too.”

“Ah, so you did go on a date,” Nigredo teased. “I thought that might’ve been the case. I can smell the champagne on you.”

“Yeahhh,” Albedo drew out, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “I might be a liiiittle drunk.” He snapped his fingers as he suddenly remembered something. “Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you why I wanted to buy a choker.”

Nigredo raised a brow with an amused grin, thoroughly entertained by his brother’s tipsy behavior. “Oh? Do tell.”

“I couldn’t stand looking at my birthmark anymore. It reminds me of her. So from now on, I’m gonna cover it! So neither of us ever have to look at it again!”

Nigredo’s eyes widened. “Oh,” he said dumbly. “I, uh, wasn’t expecting that explanation. But…thanks, Albedo. I really appreciate that.” In another unexpected move, Albedo stumbled forward to give him a hug, throwing his arms around the elder's neck.

“I did it for me, too,” he said. “I don’t wanna waste any more of my time thinking about her. She doesn’t deserve it.”

Nigredo wrapped his own arms around his little brother, rubbing his back. “I’m proud of you, Αστέρι.” He chuckled when he felt the younger alchemist slump against him. “And you are very intoxicated and in need of sleep.”

“Not sleepy,” Albedo mumbled against Nigredo’s shoulder.

“Mm-hmm. The fact that I’m the only thing protecting your face from hitting the floor right now says otherwise. Come on. Bed.” With a grunt, the Erdeprinz lifted the Kreideprinz’s feet off the ground and dumped him onto the mattress to help him get his jacket and boots off.

“Wait,” Albedo slurred out. “I don’t wanna wear my nice choker to bed. Help me switch them out.”

“Right, right, of course. Ruby, could you bring the other choker here?”

“Okay!” Rubedo said before scurrying to do just that.

Once Nigredo helped his brother into the black choker and tucked him in, he and Rubedo followed suit, settling in early just as the sun disappeared completely below the horizon.

#moon writes shit #genshin impact #albedo #subject two #nigredo #subject three #fellflower #rubedo #kaeya alberich #kaebedo

[thecompletebookworm]

My two sisters and I watch Stranger Things together and unfortunately they both have work today. We squeezed in the S4E8 before their shift, but will have to wait to watch the finale till 11 PM tonight. In the meantime, I will be ranking how likely I think a character is going to die out of 10. There was a tweet a while back from the Duffer Brothers about this season having consequences and this two major character deaths. (I don’t have the exact wording and I sure as hell am not going on twitter to check). But point was we know someone’s going to die so in this torturous wait, I’m guessing whom. Please no spoilers in the replies or reblogs.

The Kiddos

El: 8 She’s always going to be at the thick of things. She’s seen as the only hope since she forced Henry into the Upside Down the first time. Pretty sure she’s going to just go into a coma but death is a possibility.

Mike Wheeler: 7 The love confession from Will was very emotional. Lots of feelings all around if “the heart of the group” dies. Also Nancy’s vision which was meant to frighten her specifically included her mom and Mike’s deaths. I don’t like him so probably higher rating than it strictly needs to be, but still solid odds.

Will Byers: 5 I think possession by Vecna is far more likely than death and that he would be a more symbolic death in the final season. (Unclear if Season 5 is the last one but point is the show starts with his disappearance and should end with his death.)

Dustin Henderson: 9.5 I am pretty certain Dustin is either going to die or almost die and be saved last minute by Erica based on the Hellfire D&D game. Also the moment when Eddie told him to always stay like this made my brain go he can stay like that if he’s dead. Plus he’s the guy who puts things together for them; imagine the consequences of not having that next season. Points in favor of his survival: he’s such a fan favorite I feel like I already would have been spoiled if it happened, he was the first kid cast and really helps with the unity of the group.

Lucas Sinclair: 8 This ranking largely inspired by my middle sister who feels pretty certain Lucas is going to die. And I sort of see where she’s coming from since he’s less a centerpiece of the group and his relationship with Max/all the emotional conversations he’s been a part of because of that make him a good candidate for the sacrifice play. (Plus I’ve gotten 2 spoilers from Twitter accidentally one of them being Max and Lucas trended. But I’m just really counting on that being from shipping moments because they’ve been so gosh darn cute this season.) I also firmly believe next season will play up the satanic ritual/witch hunt side of things now that the ideas in the town’s head at large. His place as someone who tried to play the middle ground with Jason and the rest of the basketball team makes that plotline especially interesting.

Max Mayfield: 8 Easily the most foreseeable death. She’s acting as bait in a situation likely to kill her. But I don’t think they’ll do it. It feels a little too obvious and I want May to grow and be forced to recon with Billy’s death and the overall trauma she’s been through.

Erica Sinclair: 2 Is my love for her clouding my ranking? Undoubtedly yes. However I stand by my theory that would happens in their D&D games is a reflection of real life. Erica threw the saving throw that defeated Vecna. She isn’t dying. Plus as much as I love her not sure if she would still qualify as a “major” character with this large of an ensemble.

The Scooby Doo Gang

Steve Harrington: 1 I think I read somewhere the writers love him too much to kill him. I could have dreamed it but I don’t care, my boy lives.

Nancy Wheeler: 7 I feel like it’s telling Vecna showed her his backstory. But there hasn’t been anything specific that makes me go that’s foreshadowing she isn’t going to make it.

Robin Buckley: 6 Her line about having a bad feeling about this is pretty much solely responsible for her bump in this rating. We also really haven’t seen her in fighting circumstances the way we’ve seen some of the others. Definitely think either she or Will can die but the other is relatively safe due to writers being conscious of the Bury your Gays trope and Will’s death packs the larger punch.

Jonathon Byers: 4 I can’t really justify this one. He’s driving to the action, pursued by the military so he’s not safe but in comparison he certainly feels like it. Also besides getting his life together to go to a different college than Nancy, no real foreshadowing or emotional conversations that would make me consider the authors were trying to build up his death as this extreme moment of sadness.

Eddie Munson: 8 He’s new so it feels like this is a toss up. His declaration that he’s going to be brave makes me think he’ll be in the thick of the action. He’s had emotional moments with Dustin that could be foreshadowing. Kinda think he’s going to be murdered by Jason and his crew though instead of Vecna. (He has lots of bad memories that could be used against him though.) Still waiting for him to sing while trying to safe someone from Vecna because of the mention of his MS band to Chrissy.

Argyle: 2 This man is the comedy, the automatic mood lightener. Yes his death would show that things had gotten serious but we already know they’re serious. On the flip side, minor enough that he could be killed with impunity.

The Russian Crew:

Joyce Byers: 3 She’s not in any real danger right now (besides you know potentially crashing in a helicopter.) Plus Winona Ryder has enough star power she could stick around for that reason alone.

Hopper: 2 If they really wanted to, he would have just died last season.

Murray: 2 Another gut feeling one. His death doesn’t really further the plot in any way. Already done impossible things this season that make it seem odd for him to die now.

Dimitri/Enzo/Traitor Guard guy: 9 From the moment he mentioned wanting to see his son again to Hopper I knew he was going to die. It felt like foreshadowing. Don’t know how but am convinced it’s happening.

Yuri: 4 This man is crazy and should not be given control of a helicopter and yet pretty sure he’s going to live.

Others:

Vecna/1/Henry: 7 If he dies he’s not really dead. We need him for next season.

Mrs. Wheeler: 8 Another one where I’m unable to articulate beyond this character doesn’t really serve a purpose and they had a major enough foreshadowing/threat that I think it’s valid.

Officer Powell: 7 He’s a man in deep over his head.

Jason: 10 Accidental Spoiler on my sister’s part. Apparently his death is brutal

#stranger things #st #stranger things spoilers #stranger things season 4 #stranger things season 4 part 2 #I think that covers the spoilers tags but let me know if I’m missing something you want tagged. #it’s really fun watching with them so I’m not really complying #baby bookworm and I watch a lot together but middle sister barely ever joins in so this is a real treat #stranger things predictions #s4e8 #predictions made post s4e8 but I’ve been hoping Papa would be killed basically every season so that was cathartic #on mobile so can’t add read more sorry

[frowningfox]

(Asim) Canvas: Does your OC have any scars, piercings, tattoos, or other markings? Do they display or cover them up at all?

Yes! To all!

He has many ear piercings and facial(eyebrow, nose, lip and tongue) piercings, but when in paladin gear he often doesn't wear them. He went to a strict school that gave him a specific image of how a paladin is Supposed To Be. He doesn't always follow that and it's kind of a whole character arc he's going through.

Oh and he has bar piercings on his pectorals. He leaves those and his tongue piercing in most of the time because he doesn't think anyone will see them.

He has an orcish holy symbol tattooed on his chin, an eye entwined with snakes on his shoulder (another holy symbol, but mixed with fey symbology [snakes have a fey story where they have long tongues because they were lying liars that lied a lot, but they sacrificed their legs as an apology and have become since then the most trustworthy creature)

The star on his chest used to be a tattoo but a god blessed it and now it's a crystal that gives him extra lay-on-hands points. the entwining tattoo around it is still a tattoo - it was to the god that crystalized the star centerpiece of the tattoo. but instead of inking, this tattoo is an embroidery tattoo.

He has a prominent scar on his throat from nearly tearing it out, it has a magical effect to it and he usually hides it unless in private with his family/friends. He's kind of touchy on how he got it.

Under his eyepatch uh. I don't know if it counts as a scar. A good portion of his skull is blown away by a bullet. He ALWAYS covers this.

He has scars all over his body that I never take the time to draw because there's so many and I haven't nailed them down to specifics yet. But. I do have some drawn on his hands and arms here. Because it was such an intimate close up picture I was able to focus more on them. Some of these are from his line of work, some is from his darling gobdaughter and some are from him biting himself when he's stressed. He doesn't really cover any of these.

Him, Daoinrai, and yunuen all have this mark above an eye. it's an old symbol for the god of knowledge and truth. Asim got kissed there but the god :) right on his forehead :)

Asim's hair usually covers this mark. It's not really intentional, but he has fairly unkempt hair most of the time and kind of lets it do what it wants. And as someone with long hair, I can attest "what long hair wants" is usually to be in your face

Oh and he has a bat tattoo on his back! It's a coverup of a branding done by a rogue wannabe cult he kept bothering as a kid. He stole from them and bit them a lot. He doesn't show that one off a lot in case people notice it's a coverup. It's a rough memory he doesn't like explaining.

#asim

[nitunio]

hcing ryo as a person with npd only because i relate to him on a level i cannot comprehensibly describe. i hate him i love him i care for him i couldn't care less if he fell down and died. i see the bitter and rage-filled figure staring back at me like im looking in the mirror, i see such specific sadness covered by an almost indestructible outer shell of grandiosity, self importance. the pettiness the malice the core that is never full and always craves. the longing for joy one could never have in a lifetime

i cannot stop thinking about how empty his apartment is. would he die if another person saw anything that had even a touch of his personality on it? would he be disgusted to share something like that with people he invited over? are the masks mounted on the wall near the table just a symbolic part of him, layers of skin he wears just to go through the day?

how everything in his apartment is gray and inoffensive. how i crave the same place, the same space that i saw in his apartment. its so nothing, so torn away from me, so comforting in its lack of attachment to me? one piece of greenery, a plastic plant that looks almost alive if you don't look too much at it. if you don't look too mcuh.

there's just a tiny childrens building blocks toy somewhere on the shelf, such fun in innocence that is far away, surrounded by the same cold gray walls and completely out of place. everything feels out of place, because that's how living is. there's nobody around me, nobody who's like me, nobody that can understand me. alienated from experience in my inadequate reaction to everything, so childish and laughable to the outside world, yet so important to me, such a centerpiece on the shelf surrounded by nothing.

because truly there is nothing in this world around me that is worth to be noted.

#nitunio.txt #<<< daily reminder this fucking guy has npd. please discard this fact from your memory as soon as you see this #nitu i7 ramble #im mad at him because i see myself in him in a way #being alive is embarrassing so i will pretend i never posted this

[lexallisonthailandtrip]

Another perfect day in paradise. We woke up early again for the sunrise and walked on the beach. We are pretty much going to sleep and waking with the sun, which feels right. But also means that we’re going to sleep at like 8pm. Our bungalow faces east, so it’s ideal for the morning sunrise!

After the stroll on the beach, we walked up the steps to the restaurant next to our accommodation and got a coconut and a coffee before breakfast at our place even opened … Then walked across the driveway to eat our daily breakfast of fruit smoothie, mango and sticky rice, and pancake with fresh fruit. This is the life!

We started to go down to the morning yoga session at the nearby resort, but locked the door without the key to the scooter and the lock jammed! We walk-jogged down, but the session had started and we didn’t want to interrupt, so we went for a swing and sat by the beach, and a second beach stroll down to a little island and found a bamboo stick to hit rocks with, and a soccer field with a ball!

After that we went and got the key to the scooter, and a second scooter, and went north to Long Beach. 2 scooters today! It was fun and challenging as part of the route is dirt road, but an amazing ride through the tropical jungle, past a bunch of rubber trees, and the best beach yet.

Long beach was completely empty, just a few people stopping and parking their scooters. We walked to the end and passed one other couple, and sat to watch a hermit crab walking around on shore, and a fisherman pull crab traps set along the shore up to his long tail boat.

After a bit we rode back to town and ate lunch at the same spot - couldn’t stop thinking about the Thai coffee from yesterday. Lex got the crab stir fried in pepper with rice, and Allison got some French fries and fried tempura. Insanely good food for incredibly cheap.

We looked in a couple shops then went back to our place… then decided to walk down to the beach again. At this point Allison started making the joke that we’re exactly like Ken in Barbie, and all we do is “Beach.”

It is Christmas Eve! So we decided to take some baht to the market to buy gifts for each other. We have a tradition of finding an ornament, typically from a thrift store, to hang on the tree each year. We rode to the market, got a scoop of coconut ice cream, each walked a different direction then met back at our restaurant after 30mins. This island is primarily Muslim, so there isn’t a ton of Christmas celebration going on, but our hotel made tiny Christmas tree centerpieces for the tables at breakfast and most places in Thailand love Santa! He is everywhere. It’s also kind of cool that everything will be open on Christmas Day! Just got a bite to eat from the restaurant next door and they also have a Christmas tree set up. It feels strange to be away from family, but also reminds us of a few years ago during Covid when it was just the two of us.

…I walked over to grab dinner and bring it back for both of us, and on the walk back a black cat tried to follow me in to the bungalow! He was just a kitten and reminded me of when I first met Charlie. I kept him out on the porch after a few head scratches to stop his meowing, and moved a mat onto the porch chair for him but he chose to lay down right next to the door. I just walked back to the door to see if he was still there and he ran over meowing again. Wish we could keep a Christmas kitten!

According to ChatGPT: In Thailand, a meowing black cat is often considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity. It is believed to bring positive energy and fortune to those who encounter it. This belief is rooted in Thai cultural superstitions, where certain animals are associated with auspicious qualities.

A wonderful sign for Christmas and the new year. We’re watching elf now and going to sleep - getting ready for a visit from Santa! 🎅🌲

[valorxdrive]

Ophelia chuckles daintily behind one hand. "Oh my. What a smooth talker you are, dear boy." She is smiling now. "True enough, I suppose. I'm me, after all." How long that would last, she didn't know. Each year, she lost a little more. She put such ominous thoughts from her mind for now. "Sora. In all truth, I don't believe you will have any cause for concern over sharing my fate. Whether you know it or not, I suspect your own limit is far beyond that of the mortal limit imposed by the Great Laws." She flipped another tarot card. World Arcana. "However, make no mistake. One day, you will find yourself up against that great limit. I wonder if you'll make the same choice I did? Will you shatter that great wall? Time will tell."

With a wave of her hand, the cards vanished. She held a finger to her lips, giving the boy a wink. "Sorry, dear. Spoilers~"

The initial tease comes wholly unexpected. Conviction hadn't often found itself layered with that idea, nearly throwing him off entirely for a fleeting moment. Composure like his always finds itself malleable with 'this' kind of unexpected. "Wha-- Mm, I hadn't exactly intended for.. Ermmmmm." In the end, he relinquishes whatever half-hearted prompt that was about to escape his mouth. Again does his mind delve into the positives of a matter such as this. Seeing Ophelia find the sweep of a second wind from more solemn corners of the heart was a victory worth keeping.

Never would he want her to be twisted too deep in that sort of oblivion. It hardly matters the span of time that they do know each other.

Short as the time has been, it's theirs, and the good faith shared between them compels him to see it extend as long as it can be managed. Thus, he comes to listen as she allows her heart's thoughts unravel on the matter. The faith that's forged, to say that with such confidence when the certainty felt so real to Ophelia when it involves her own life...

He keeps silent as the table before them unveil another part of the great Arcana, this time, a symbol that feels important reflecting off of his irises. "Could it really be at an extent like that.." Sora muses, openly but soft, initially cutting himself into silence as the irony of that statement doesn't escape him. With a heart that finds itself cemented in the newest heights of resolve, even now, how could that modesty find itself trying to peek through the underside?

"Who knows? I think in truth, that's the great thing about the future.. Least for someone like me, much as I try to handle now, not having a genuine clue of how it can all turn out, I think that's an important power in itself. ...!"

Part of him has to wonder if the sorceress knows how infectious such a quality can be! Laughter ends up being another centerpiece for the table after the disappearance of the cards. "Fine by me then. My eyes have more than enough I'm happy with as is, they'll just wait to get that point on their own terms. Which! It looks like I'm going to be needing your hand in knocking out too."

"After all, a road like mine hasn't been made by my lonesome at all. There's countless people I have to thank for that, something you're a part of now as well!"

#Anon #| Bottle Mail #And so their chronicles continue!

[gembleu]

5 FANTASTICALLY FAMOUS JEWELRY PIECES

Embedded in every imaginable piece of jewelry, gemstones of all kinds, colors and value have made their mark. But there are those special designs and creations, over time, that have captured the world’s attention simply because of the statement they made, and their thoroughly unique qualities. Here are 5 such jewelry pieces that are as gorgeous as they are valuable: - The Famous Faberge eggs The imperial Faberge Eggs came into existence through the Romanov family. The last Tsar, Alexander III started the tradition which was continued by his son. He rested the responsibility of creating faultless Easter eggs, studded with jewels, on then-famous jeweler Faberge. Each egg, unique, and although not jewelry per se, is a masterpiece in design, decorated with precious gemstones, metals and more.  

The Crown Jewels The priceless ‘Crown Jewels’ have rested at the London Tower since the 1600s. They project incalculable cultural, historical, and symbolic values. The Coronation Regalia is the heart of the set’s collection that includes sacred objects like the Imperial State Crown with the Kohinoor diamond (105.6 carats), the Sovereign’s Scepter holding the South African Cullinan Diamond (3106 carat)s, and the Sovereign’s orb, in gold. This breathtaking set collects a total of 23,000 precious gems.

The Napoleon Diamond Necklace Napoleon gifted this extravagant gold and silver necklace, studded with 234 diamonds to his second wife, Marie-Louise on the day their son was born. Completed in 1811 by jeweler Etienne Nitôt and Sons of Paris, this magnificent necklace has an estimated total weight of 263 carats.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond Elizabeth Taylor is known for her beauty and possession of legendary jewels. One of the most famous is the Taylor-Burton diamond. The 69.42-carat, pear-shaped diamond is one of the most magnificent examples of diamond necklaces for women of our times. Even though the actress owned the gemstone for less than a decade, it is referred to as the Taylor-Burton Diamond, since Richard Burton chased it down for his beloved wife, making it a lasting symbol of romance.

The Hope Diamond The Hope diamond sits next to the Napoleon Necklace and Marie Louise’s Diadem in the National Museum of Natural History. The Pierre Cartier-designed blue diamond centerpiece weighs 42.52 carats and is surrounded by 16 pear and cushion-shaped white diamonds. Legend has it that it was stolen from an idol in India. It is said to carry a curse that foretold bad luck and death not only to the owner but to anyone who touched it, making the name a bit of an irony.

Being in the industry for over 10 years, at GemBleu, we have an unmatched collection of stunning gemstone pieces for anyone who wishes to buy jewelry online. Our jewelry is designed with finesse and passion by some of the world’s best artisans, so go ahead, find a piece, make it your own and make it famous.

Visit our website for some of our exquisite jewelry for sale, and follow us on social media for some updates and offers.

Source Url:- https://www.gembleu.com/blogs/news/5-fantastically-famous-jewelry-pieces

#diamond necklaces for women