#Ceramic Beads Bracelets

[mineral-vulture]

The toony style witch charm was from a chain bracelet that had these other cute Halloween metal charms. I removed the witch charm from the chain and decided to make it into it's own bracelet.

This piece is made with glass orange swirl oval beads, slime green odd shaped glass beads, black glass round beads, lampwork glass pumpkin beads, dyed green agate round beads, and ceramic beads with black stars on it.

Since the vocal point of the bracelet came from a piece of jewelry from an event there is only one of this bracelet.

If you're interested in this bracelet you can purchase it on my storenvy here.

#jewelry #handmade jewelry #bracelet #handmade bracelet #halloween #witch #lampwork beads #glass beads #ceramic beads #stars #dyed green agate beads #bead jewelry #bead bracelet #pumpkin #pierce's jewelry making #mineral vulture art

[senoraackerman]

You & Choso Dating HC’s (1 of 2)

I need this man in a way that’s concerning to feminism

This man is a certified Latina lover (he told me himself. I’m very delusional)

Matching Doc Martens >>>>

Just like Geto, LOVES when you comb through his hair

Let’s you practice eyeliner on him

Fucking him till the eyeliner comes off (PAUSE)

You paint his nails for him

He is so shy with you in public

He’s not afraid to show you off, don’t get me wrong but homie is scared of PDA

He has a tongue piercing that you didn’t know about until he ate you out

(tehehehe)

He doesn’t sleep, he hibernates.

You will wake up with this man wrapped around you: legs, arms, fingers, toes, EVERYTHING

You steal his shirts all the time

Loves making things for you

Beaded bracelet? Never coming off

A crappy ceramic mug? Never using another cup AGAIN

Loves when you watch him play video games

Going to concerts with this man is other worldly

He will be buying merch, food, even more merch

Like where is the money coming out of?

Is scared of your dad

He in fact does not boosts your delusions

A/N

I want to say I’ve been busy, but that would be a lie 💀

Spending money on the JJK fortnite megumi skin? Who would ever do that (I did. Fourteen dollars down the drain. I don’t even know how to play fortnite on the computer)

I’m also starting college in like two weeks and the realization has started sinking in. I was thinking ‘I should fix my sleeping schedule’ (it’s almost 3 am)

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk x you #jjk x reader #jjk #jjk headcanons #jjk smut #jjk season 2 #choso my beloved #choso #choso x female reader #choso imagines #choso x you #choso smut #jujutsu kaisen choso #choso fluff #choso x reader #jjk choso #jujustu kaisen choso #choso kamo #choso kamo smut #choso x y/n #choso x latina reader #jjk fluff

[blueiskewl]

A Major Tomb With Gold and Ceramic Artifacts Discovered in Panama

In an archaeological find in the El Caño Archaeological Park, located in the district of Natá, province of Coclé, in Panama, a tomb has been discovered that sheds light on the sophisticated Coclé society of pre-Hispanic times.

The tomb thought to belong to a Coclé lord and dating back to 750 CE, was found to contain a wealth of funerary offerings, including ceramic and gold artifacts.

The El Caño Archaeological Park is well-known for its necropolis of tombs and stone monoliths that date back to 700–1000 CE. American explorer Hyatt Verrill first realized the importance of the site in 1925 when he discovered ancient monoliths beside the Rio Grande River.

Linette Montenegro, National Heritage Director of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), explained that this discovery is part of the ongoing archeological project in the park.

The project, started in 2022 and financed through a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the El Caño Foundation, aims to thoroughly explore Tomb No. 9 during the 2021-2024 campaigns.

The tomb’s contents, consisting of 5 pectorals, 2 belts of gold beads, 4 bracelets, 2 earrings in the shape of human figures, an earring in the shape of a double crocodile, 1 necklace of circular beads, two bells, bracelets, and a skirt made with dog teeth, and a set of bone flutes, is testimony to the cultural and social wealth of the Coclé society.

Dr. Julia Mayo, director of the El Caño Foundation and leader of the archaeological project since its inception in 2008, highlighted the importance of this discovery.

The collection, which probably belonged to a high-status adult male, represents a window into life and death in the Rio Grande chiefdom. The tomb, built around 750 A.D., is especially intriguing due to the presence of sacrificial attendants buried alongside the lord, indicating multiple and simultaneous burial practices.

Dr. Mayo noted that the excavation process is ongoing, making it difficult to determine the exact number of individuals buried within the tomb. She said that this type of burial, known for burying a variable number of people in the same tomb, provides valuable information about the beliefs and funerary rituals of the Cocle society.

Dr. Mayo explained that the Coclé lord was buried in a face-down position, a customary practice in this culture, often atop the remains of a woman.

El Caño Archaeological Park, built around 700 A.D. and abandoned around 1000 A.D., has yielded significant archaeological discoveries. In addition to the known monoliths, the site includes a cemetery and a ceremonial area with wooden structures. This discovery stands out for its uniqueness and the insight it provides into Cocle society’s funerary practices.

By Oguz Buyukyildirim.

#A Major Tomb With Gold and Ceramic Artifacts Discovered in Panama #El Caño Archaeological Park #Coclé lord #ancient tomb #ancient grave #ancient necropolis #ancient artifacts #gold #gold artifacts #treasure #archaeology #archeolgst #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #Coclé society #pre-Hispanic times

[cvlutos]

Thoughts on scarameo- scaramouche 👉👈

This is my first ever time writing about Scara, so bare with me.

♡ THOUGHTS ON SCARAMOUCHE

He struggles keeping his emotions in check, opting from yelling and being snappy to simply giving you the silent treatment, but he also views it as useless if you don't care that he's ignoring you and that you're giving him space. So he goes from being upset to whatever you did, to being upset that you're not worried that he's upset and trying to get him to not be upset. (He really wants your attention honestly, so he's definitely going to stay mad purposely until you give him 100% of your attention. And if you point it out that he simply wants your attention, he's extremely embarrassed.)

Scara also loves and adores the elderly and children, he won't outright tell you this, but he's noticeably gentler with small children, always wanting to support that small nonsensical stores children set, always paying extra for a simply made plastic bead bracelet. And with the elderly, if he sees an old lady crossing the street, he won't assist them outright, but he will sorta lurk behind them, just in case.

He also loves going on walks, usually in the dark parts of the days, merely keeping himself into his thoughts and at times disappearing for hours on end. Though if you want to walk with them, he'll act annoyed, but take you on his favorite paths and possibly share some of his less personal thoughts.

Scara hates bitter and sour tasting things, always scrunching up his face when he tastes it, staring at you like you've gone mad if you dare give him something so gross. Unless he knows how hard you worked to make it, don't get it wrong, he still wont eat it, but he won't get mad at you, merely lying that he's full and or not hungry.

He loves the rain! He likes sitting next to an open window, and listening to the crackle of thunder and gently sprinkle of rain, merely closing his eyes for a moment and basking in the calmness. Even more so in the dead of night, only the random strikes of lightning, brightening the sky as you sit across from him in the dark, with a thin blanket draped over his shoulders as he holds a ceramic cup.

Scara also has a habit of waiting for you, especially if you're running errands and he'll tag along. He'll wait for you outside, following you around and waiting for you to be done. Even if it's all day long and you've planned to meet at some location, he'll wait exactly where you told him, probably with a glare and scowl, growing angrier by the moment, but he still wont leave, until hours later. Yet even as he's walking away, he's still looking around for you, hoping that you'll show.

#t.manor.headcannons #scaramouche x reader #Scaramouche #scaramouche x y/n #scaramouche x you #scaramouche #wanderer x reader #wanderer #genshin impact drabbles #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact headcanons

[honey-minded-hivemind]

To give a small update, I've been making jewelry the past few days with pearls and necklaces with repurposed charms/earrings. It's pretty fun, to be honest. Has anyone here ever made jewelry before? A few relatives of mine used to make jewelery and sell it/gift it to people as a side job/hobby. It might just run in the family😅 This being said:

Imagine a Reader who makes jewelry...

Necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, rings, anklets, you name it, they can and will make it.

Picky about your beads? Never fear! They have TONS of them! Bags and boxes and crates full, some repurposed from old pieces, some brand new, some from thrift stores or craft sections, it's all there! You like a certain color but want a gem for it? Reader has you covered! Amethyst, crystal, pearl, amber, fluorite, tiger's eye, garnet, pyrite, obsidian, etc. ! You want something more down-to-earth? Reader can do that, too! Wooden beads in all shapes and sizes and shades, crafted glass beads in different flora and fauna or abstract forms, even charms of metal and plastic and ceramic, if that's your style!

The platonic yamderes would definitely ADORE whatever Reader themed after them! A pair of earrings with lighting bolt charms and cloud puffs after Storm, complete with a weather-inspired necklace full of little cloud puffs and sun beads and rain crystals? She'd model it for you if you wanted! You want to make an entire cottage-core themed bracelet set with frogs and toads and mushrooms? Toad would love to be your muse, so you can capture their essence! You used animal bones and rough stones based on how Wolverine and Sabretooth are? Ohhhhh honey, they'd be supplying you with any bones you want, all while seeing how it looks on them. Point is, if you have ANYTHING that is based on or themed after any of the mutants, they are so going to be taking a look and talking about it!You want to sell your jewelry? They're your hype men. You need to find customers or a crowd who enjoys your craft? Surprise, the entire superhero, supervillain, and mutant communities are informed about it, and suddenly you have a steady stream of buyers. Oh, someone wants to show them in a gallery or show? They'll be pushing people towards your masterpieces, all while talking about the artist, who they know personally (you). You can bet the mutants who have some money tucked away buy the entire collections that are based on/themed around them (and they are NOT cheap when it comes to buying every last piece centered on them).

You can bet yourself that the platonic yans would be all for you and your craft, no matter the cost or trials it brings. H*ck, they're probably funding/donating to your art at this point, making sure you're never out of jewels, beads, threads, wires, metals, or jewelry pliers. If you need an extra hand with something, you have several willing volunteers. You need a new muse? Sign them up, they'll do all sorts of stuff with you to give you that inspiration you crave. You need a break from working too hard? Sit down, have some tea or coffee or orange juice, and let them help you wind down. They love you, and they love what you do, but they won't have you stretching yourself thin just to make ends meet. If you need anything, say the word and they'll be there. You've always been a pal, a friend, a sibling, or kid to them; let them repay the favor. You're their jewel, their gem, their lucky charm, and they wouldn't ever want to let you down.

(Should I make a post about the type of jewelry/sets/collections each X-Men Evolution character would have made by Reader based on them and their theme/colors/powers?)

#honeycomb thoughts #platonic yandere marvel #yandere platonic marvel #platonic yandere xmen #yandere x-men #platonic yandere #platonic yandere x reader #platonic yandere marvel x reader #platonic yandere xmen evolution #platonic yandere xmen: the animated series #platonic yandere xmen evolution au #platonic yamdere xmen

[eclecticcollectics]

🌶️ Peppers & Pottery 🫖✨

Crafted this darling pair of charm earrings recently~ they were such a hit, these have found a home already & we’ve already been requested to make another set! These feature gold-rimmed, ceramic pots with flower designs, faceted Azurite & Golden Tiger’s Eye beads, along with glass lamp-work beads shaped like little Chili & Bell peppers, on stainless steel with gold-plated chain accents~

I’ve always loved miniatures & charms since I was little. Getting to combine two of my favorite things with my passion & creativity is so much fun ❤️‍🔥🙏

I’ve been making “Trinkets & Oddities” charm necklaces, and have now made a couple bracelets & pairs of earrings. What fun charm accessories would you like to see next? 👁️

#y2k aesthetic #charms #charm jewelry #handcrafted #handmade jewelry #handmade earrings #miniatures #miniature lover #cottagecore aesthetic #cottagecore #y2k #goblincore #shiny things

[catt-nuevenor]

hi, sorry if this have been asked before, but do you have any refs/inspos of clothes that the characters use/is time/region appropriated for myrk mire?

(also, sorry if this question is confusing - english is not my first language :") )

Hi,

Your English is very good!

Clothing, this has proven a topic of flux in the development of the story. I'll include the original answers I gave concerning clothing style below, but I think it's about time I updated this for you all, as things have changed...

Original answers and historical resources concerning clothing:

Historical costume

Source Material 1

Where the world is currently:

I use a little source document to keep track of clothing, so for the most part I'll be copy pasting the text from that into the post. It's quite cliff notes style, but it gets the important information across and the reasons for various stylistic choices.

Quick terms breakdown for those not 100% up to date with the wider lore around the story.

The Four Shores is a collection of four realms containing Diota, Eard, Jǫkull, and Þinda, located on a collection of islands widely considered north of pretty much everything else. Eard is the realm in which the story of Myrk Mire and TBT takes place.

A Wealdend is a leader within the rulership structures used in the Four Shores, a male wealdend is called a Cyning, a female a Cwén, and nonbinary individuals use the Wealdend title itself.

The Riverlands is a separate region on the Southern Continent, with little to no political, social, or cultural ties to the Four Shores.

Falatu is another island in the north, but not a member of the Four Shores. They have sympathetic political and cultural systems, but maintain their own very separate identity in comparison to their unified neighbours.

The Eahtung is a ruling collective of skilled individuals who work alongside the Wealdend. More information than this would open up a deep rabbit hole...

"Warmth is everything to the Four Shores, so layers are favoured.

Rather than high necklines, shawls are favoured, these decorated with swirling patterns.

Lacking a clearly defined nobility, showing evidence of one’s craft or skill is favoured higher than material expense. A metal smith would display their skill by wearing more metal upon their outfit, a weaver a more elaborate hemming, a woodworker finely carved beads.

Amber is the sole reserve of the Wealdend, and should not be worn by anyone else.

All have their ears pierced, women both ears, men just one, others may choose. Rings are worn here, usually made of silver or gold, often times studded with gems.

Everyone wears stringed beads about their necks. These beads can be ceramic, wooden, bone, metal, or stone.

There is no shame in underdresses or tunics being shown.

Women wear linen underdresses, typically white, with woollen overdresses secured at the shoulders with preónas or brooches and lacing at the sides. The lacing only extends as far at the hips, and the overdress is either slit long these lines without further lacing, or it is one unified flair of fabric.

Men wear mid-thigh length linen undershirts with woollen overshirts that are slightly shorter. In colder months this is supplemented by a wraparound jacket secured by belts or ties. Men also wear trousers of ankle length similar to the Riverlands, but these are secured by fur, or cloth wraps up to the mid-calf.

Everyone wears calf height boots. In the winter months these are fur lined.

 Everyone wears belts.

Hair is traditionally worn long by all genders, and is braided back from the face and tied in horse tails or buns at the back of the head.

Hoods and hats are used out of doors in colder seasons, but it is seen as rude to continue to wear these coverings indoors as it implies that the host does not keep their home warm enough to be comfortable.

The finest of outfits are hemmed with embroidered banding, these vary from simplistic geometric patterns, to full scenes of foliage or animals.

Bracelets are seldom worn, favoured more by the peoples from Falatu, and rings are only really worn as a symbol of office, guild status, or position as Wealdend. The Tug Stone rings are the sole use of the Wealdend, Eahtung and the respective heads of each province.

The ruling families align themselves to animals incorporating them into their surnames, once picked, they cannot wear anything taken from that animal. Otherwise furs are used to line apparel for warmth.

Cloaks are not worn indoors for similar reasons to hats, but out of doors are acceptable, they range from calf-length to lower-hip length."

As for visual aids, I'm a bit lacking in those right now.

Basic rules:

Warmth and practicality are key.

Linen underclothes, woollen overclothes.

Head coverings for outdoor use.

Ear piercings for everyone.

Belts are the toolkit for all and hold pouches and exterior pockets.

I can do a bit of visualisation for weapons, though (surprising no one). The Four Shores use two main forms of bladed arms, the sæx, and the méce.

A sæx in this context is a short, single edged blade with a tapered point.

Image of the Seax of Beagnoth currently held at the British Museum. Image attributed to Wikipedia contributor BabelStone.

A Méce is a long single edged blade with a slightly curving profile. Wielded one-handed or two-handed, it favours a cutting sweep rather than a thrust approach. If you fancy seeing two chaps demonstrate the historical weapon that inspired this, the messer, I highly recommend this video:

The first section though, they later switch to different weapons.

Most important features to look at are the pin crossguard that sits at angle to the blade, how the single edge is used to advantage in the application of force, and the length of the hilt to suit the single versus two-handed approach to wielding it.

Anyway, that's enough to be chewing over, I think.

I'll keep an eye out for visual sources on dress and clothing, so folks have a clearer idea on all that.

#myrkmire #asks #background research #tbt #clothing and costume

[flowersforvax]

Woop woop I went to the flea market

7 CDs: 25,-€ [Judas Priest -Painkiller, 3 Rainbow albums, 2 by Tracy Chapman, Frankie goes to Hollywood -Liverpool]

Bracelet: uhhh 2,-€? I also bought a clip brooch in shape of a wreath from the same vendor but I somehow lost it 💀 So 2€ just for the bracelet instead of for both (I'm currently obsessed with watching video tutorials for beaded beetle brooches and I thought the beads have potential for that)

Ceramic lion medallion: 1,-€ idk he spoke to me

#flea market breakdown #flowers talks

[jupiter-moonchild]

I've been making bracelets and decided to make a few for myself.

Don't Open

Dead Inside

The large ceramic skull beads were a Christmas gift from Hannah, she's my boyfriend's niece. The smaller ones are plastic and I have a hundred of them.

The bracelets with the big skulls.

The smaller skull beads.

I'll post the other bracelets later but these are mine and I felt they deserved their own post.

#art #bracelets #dead inside #goth #goth things #gothic humour #dark humour #skulls #skull beads #handmade

[mineral-vulture]

The cat charm was one of several charms I got from a bracelet I bought last year from an antique event. I decided to use these charms to make separate bracelets. This one I decided would be a personal one I keep for myself.

The beads I used were glass black round beads, slime green odd shaped beads, lampwork glass pumpkin beads, orange swirl glass beads, dyed green agate beads, ceramic round beads with stars on them, and glass purple beads.

#jewelry #bracelet #handmade jewelry #handmade bracelet #halloween #black cat #autumn #pumpkin #lampwork beads #dyed green agate beads #glass beads #ceramic beads #stars #bead jewelry #bead bracelet #pierce's jewelry making #mineral vulture art

[fukuzawa-armeddaddyagency]

hey mr boss man, the dishes are gonna take a but because the kilns at dads shop decided to break down but have this bracelet I made!!

[its a handmade bracelet with colorful star shaped ceramic beads]

//from @pottery-boy

That's lovely.

What a kind gift ... I'll wear it always.

Thank you.

#bsd rp blog #ask #bsd fukuzawa

[blueiskewl]

Archaeologists in Armenia Discover an Ancient ‘Golden Tomb’

It's the latest find from a joint Polish and Armenian excavation effort begun in 2013.

Archaeologists at Metsamor, an ancient necropolis in Armenia, have discovered a tomb filled with gold pendants and more than a hundred amber and carnelian beads. Dating to the late Bronze Age (1,300 to 1,200 B.C.E.), the grave also held the remains of a man and a woman, who appear to have be buried at the same time.

“Their death is a mystery to us, we do not know the cause, but everything indicates that they died at the same time, because there are no traces of tomb reopening,” Krzysztof Jakubiak, an archaeology professor at the University of Warsaw, said in a statement.

Laid to rest in an eternal embrace, the couple was buried in a cist, a stone-lined chamber dug into the ground. Believed to have died in their 30s, one wore bronze bracelets, the other a tin wire ring.

The grave also included a wooden burial bed, a faience flask, and about a dozen ceramic vessels. According to researchers, the beads and pendants were originally part of three necklaces, and the flask would have been imported from the Syrian-Mesopotamian borderland.

The research project at the Ararack Valley is a joint effort the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw and Armenia’s Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum-Reserves, led by Jakubiak and Ashot Piliposian. The partnership has been ongoing since 2013, according to the Greek publication Archaeology; an exhibition of their findings opened last fall at the Armenian History Museum in nearby Yerevan.

To date, archaeologists have discovered about 100 graves in the cemetery, but the newly found golden tomb is one of the few that were not looted prior to the start of excavations in 1965. The cist graves would have been covered with burial mounds of earth that have eroded over the centuries.

Because the ancient Armenians do not appear to have been illiterate, and left behind no written records, archaeologists know little about Metsamor society. The walled settlement was at its height from 4th to the 2nd millennium B.C.E., with temple complexes surrounding a central fortress.

“It was a very large settlement. Even fortifications made of huge stone blocks have survived to our times, encircling the so-called citadel on the hill,” Jakubiak said. “There was no other settlement in the region that could be compared in terms of importance and size.”

By Sarah Cascone.

#Archaeologists in Armenia Discover an Ancient ‘Golden Tomb’ #Metsamor #ancient tomn #ancient grave #ancient necropolis #ancient artifacts #archeology #archeolgst #gold #gold jewelry #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #bronze age

[casualpersonapersonpeach]

It's art and crafts night, here's what the Slashers are making (headcannons)

Brahms Heelshire:

He makes macaroni art 💀😭 he's a little too proud of it. It is depressing how gratified he is from it. Brahms will make you hang it on the fridge.

Jason Voorhees:

Crocheting clothing. Jason loves making cosy sweaters and warm hats. He's even made a pair of gloves!. He will definitely start learning how to make little blankets etc.

Michael Myers:

Finger painting. He would definitely paint a dumpster on fire, but he would also paint a sun in the corner and a field for his inner childs sake. Michael is absolutely the master of painting stick men.

Thomas Hewitt:

Beaded jewelry making. Thomas loves the intricacies of making jewelry and wanted to try something a bit different from sewing. He loves making pearls.

Bubba Sawyer:

FLOWER. ART. He would be creating really cute bouquets and would be tying it off with ribbons that suit the colour scheme.

Jesse Cromeans:

Candle making. Jesse would create the most delicious blends for his candles. He'd make floral scented candles. They'd turn out surprisingly good. He will threaten Asa if he annoys him one more time, he will pour wax on him-.

Asa Emory:

Yarn weaving. Asa likes yarn weaving because it's pretty relaxing for him. He will create friendship bracelets. He might make a rope to threaten Jesse back with (i swear he's joking 😭).

Vincent Sinclair:

Handmade pottery making. Vincent is the overall king at crafts (aside from Hannibal, they're pretty neck and neck). He will create such beautiful pieces of pottery. Vincent would also create plates and bowls for Lester to paint on.

Bo Sinclair:

Wood burning. Bo would be spending the evening with pieces of wood etching in designs and maybe learning to write a bit of cursive too. Bo will threaten anybody with his heated tool if they try taking his favourite spot in the craft room 😭.

Lester Sinclair:

Decorating ceramics. Lester would be painting all sorts of designs onto bowls, and plates. He would paint frogs, mushrooms, and,, well, bugs. It's cute tho.

Leslie Vernon:

Rock painting. Leslie would pick rocks from his garden and paint designs or faces on them. He'd even stick googlie eyes on them too. Leslie names his rocks also and creates plotlines for them.

Hannibal Lecter:

He is would show off and gloat 💀😭 Hannibal thinks he is above it all. He's extra and will somehow complete an intricate mosaic vase in one night.

#brahms heelshire #jasom voorhees #michael myers #thomas hewitt #bubba sawyer #jesse cromeans #asa emory #vincent sinclair #bo sinclair #lester sinclair #leslie vernon #hannibal lecter #headcannons #craftnightgoingupinflames #house of wax #friday the 13 #halloween #texas chainsaw massacre

[orkowhereheshouldntbe]

[ID: three pictures of me holding my ceramic Orko figurine. I'm wearing a colorful shirt, overalls with "she/her they/them" embroidered on the front, a pink sash that says "birthday girl", poofy pink and blue earrings, and a blue and yellow bead bracelet. /End ID]

Orko hanging with me for my birthday!

#orkowhereheshouldntbe #real life #happy birthday to me i am 23 today #sorry i look so tired that is the Default State #also sorry the post is late i had to shower first

[two-crabs]

They wake up, not for the first time, face-down on the floor of a stranger’s apartment. Their cheek is pressed into a plush multicolored rug that smells like burnt sage and potting soil. When they lift their head, their vision swims for a moment before steadying on a sliding glass door; outside the Los Angeles dawn paints a small balcony in thick orange light. There’s a cafe table and chair, and a dozen or more pots and boxes full to bursting with strange, thriving plants. 

The sound of shuffling feet startles them, but when they turn to look over their shoulder, their neck is painfully stiff, and the world lurches again. Slowly, they push themself up into a hunched, cross-legged seat, and rub their knuckles into their eyes. They notice, then, the white paper hospital bracelet around their wrist, and their stomach drops. It has a name on it, and a date that was four days in the future the last time they knew, and it’s dug a thin red line into their skin. On the back of the same hand, there’s a cotton ball plastered down with a dusty, peeling bandage, and the sticky residue of IV tape. They yawn, and count their teeth; their mouth tastes like saline. 

When they finally look behind them, the rest of the apartment is decked in luxurious jewel tones and glimmering gold fixtures. From where they’re sitting, they can see three pink salt lamps, and a hanging pot rack full of copper cookware. There are tapestries on the walls, and a foot tall stack of photography books on the coffee table, and a couch with four throw pillows all in different colors. On the other side of the couch there is a record player and an elaborate sound system, but no television, and a marble-top side table with a wooden incense holder. 

There is a click from the kitchen, and then the sound of a coffee machine burbling to life. 

It only takes a few seconds for them to smell the coffee, and they stand, buoyed by it, on wobbly legs. The t-shirt they’re wearing is oversized and unfamiliar, as are the basketball shorts that reveal two badly bruised and scraped knees. Hurriedly, they check the rest of their body for damage. There’s a long scratch on their forearm, and their lips are chapped and splitting, and every time they breathe they’re wracked with a deep all-over ache…but other than that they feel mostly intact.

When they hear more movement from down the hall, they drop to the ground again, hiding behind the couch, and wince as their lower back screams out in protest. They screw their eyes shut and hold their breath, trying to imagine whoever lives in this apartment. An older woman, probably. A hippy who comes by all the witchy shit honestly. No kids of her own, but enough of a maternal instinct to take in an ailing burnout and let them sleep it off at her place. Long grey hair, lots of turquoise jewelry and beaded robes and moccasins.  Retired, perhaps, after a long career teaching art history or ceramics or—

“—A-hem.”  

They open their eyes, and look up. 

The person staring down at them over the back of the couch is not an old hippy woman with eyes full of parental care and concern. It’s…some guy. And he looks annoyed. 

They cringe, and their joints crack and groan as they unfurl themself. Once they’re finally standing, the guy takes a step back and gives them a once over. They blink into the sun over his shoulder and do the same. He’s young, thirty at most, and fashionably skinny, draped in a Halsey t-shirt so large it’s falling off one shoulder, and his blonde hair is sticking straight up from sleep. There are several golden piercings in his nose, lip, brow, and both ears, and the faint, smudgy remains of liner under his eyes. His arms are crossed over his chest, and even though he isn’t very tall, he manages to peer down his nose at them.

“H—” they start, but their voice cracks and scrapes, like they’d been yelling. The guy raises an eyebrow.  They clear their throat and try again. “Hel—wait…” They tilt their head in response, and rasp out, “I know you.” 

“‘Know’”—and he makes lazy air-quotes with one hand without uncrossing his arms—“is an overstatement. But, whatever. Glad you didn’t die on my couch. Coffee?” He wanders off towards the kitchen, bare feet padding softly on the hardwood floors.

A little stunned, they look down at the couch, and at the squished pillows and balled up blanket, and then their heart drops into their stomach. 

“Where’s my stuff?” They vault unthinkingly over the back of the couch, catch their foot on a blanket, and nearly fall on their face. “My guitar—my pipes—what did you do with them?”

“Calm, you! Jesus.” The guy slides a steaming mug across his small kitchen island. He’s got an accent—British, but unplaceably so. “And no putin’ your feet on my fucking couch.” 

“I’m serious…” they say, voice wavering, eyes darting back and forth between the guy and the coffee. 

“So am I. Your shit’s in my trunk. Figured you didn’t want the ER staff nicking your gear.” Behind him, a toaster goes ping, startling them so much they jump. “And god knows I don’t want it in my house.” They watch as he turns, pulls a pumpernickel bagel out of the toaster, and begins smothering it in cream cheese. “My name is Rhys,”—he jabs a finger into his own chest and says it slow, overannunciated, like he’s talking to a kid or a foreigner. Which to him, they suppose, they are. He smirks at his own joke, then, normal again: “What’s yours? Unless you prefer Byrd-comma-Da—”

“Mai,” they say. “I’m, uh…Mai.” And they sit, perching on the edge of one of his kitchen stools, knees drawn up to their chest. “You’re the crystal shop guy. In Lawndale.” 

Rhys takes a bite out of his bagel, and points at the floor. “S’ downstairs.” 

Mai takes a sip of the coffee. It’s good. It’s hot. It makes their stomach ache with hunger. “Um.” They swallow hard, watching the muscle in Rhy’s jaw as he chews. “If…um…okay…” Wordlessly, Rhys slides the other half of the bagel across the counter, and wordlessly, they eat it. A minute later, they take a deep breath and look back at hum. The expression on his face isn’t quite derision, and isn’t quite pity. 

“Out with it, Byrd.” And Rhys rubs the crumbs off his long, elegant fingers. 

“What…happened?” 

#mai #rhys #this is nothing!!! #but also.....i miss them #and i couldn't help but notice a certain rp blog back and active again...... #NO PRESSURE #i've just been...rotating

[chaoticgeminate]

Love and Red

Summary: Teagan had always seen the little red strings, never her own for some reason, but always everyone else's.

Rating: General Audiences (Dedication Fanfic is Explicit)

Notes: This is a fanfiction of a fanfiction, which I feel is becoming my thing to be honest. This is dedicated to the lovely @leslie-lyman and Stranger at my Gate. Glimpses of Pero and Tessa's story through the eyes of an outsider. This is posted with her permission!

Please check out her stories (if you're over 18, minors are not allowed) and send her some love!

Teagan had always seen the little red strings, never her own for some reason, but always everyone else’s. Connecting pinkies with little red bows, sometimes they went on for miles and miles with no end in sight and sometimes they were right beside each other. A husband and wife, a pair of brothers, grandparent and grandchild. In the past it was said to be the red string of fate that bound lovers’ souls, but now she knew that it wasn’t just romantic love that the strings would show.

Platonic love between two best friends, familial love between old and new generations, all of it was love and all of it was beautiful. But romantic love when reciprocated glowed like Christmas lights, glittering like something precious, and sometimes Teagan would just watch the people in town who found their string mate. 

Wonder why she didn’t have one, or if she did why she couldn’t see it.

This made growing up difficult in a different way than just small-town popularity contests, seeing her classmates with their strings and people around town with theirs; she’d always been called absent-minded or stupid because of the distractions with the colorful shades of red that invaded her life. But there was one girl who had a string that was dull, present but so very faint, and Teagan had thought it unfair that someone as kind as Tessa Walsh had a string that she couldn’t see the end of.

Most people had strings that traveled miles across rooms, across streets and lakes and oceans, whenever theirs wasn’t close by; but Tessa’s string looked like it led to the woods but it never moved to indicate there was someone on the other end. Teagan had tried following it once when her parents had been busy at work and left her on her own, back in middle school, but the string vanished in the middle of the woods near the strangest trees she’d ever seen.

Teagan had no explanation, not that she even knew how she saw the strings to begin with, and after that she could only hope that one day Tessa’s string mate would appear. Taking advantage of the fact that she was as good as invisible to everyone, hiding her eyes -such a pale blue, are we sure she isn’t blind, her mother had once remarked- behind the long strands of mousy brown hair that she allowed to fall over her face when she turned her head down to do her work in school was how she managed to get through her youth.

Learning and observing more and more about the strings while her father taught her all manner of hobbies, it had been his attempt to encourage something to keep her wandering attention and to a degree it had worked, she was sort of an all-around artist. Pottery, ceramics, blown glass, painting… it was things she had done with her dad and things that she did when the loneliness was a little too loud.

University had been the largest factor that stopped her from focusing on the strings as hard as she usually did, there were too many and her schoolwork was so much more challenging, but that behavior carried over even after she graduated. Even as she watched people pair off, meet their string mates, as she watched some strings thin out as friendships faded or break when loved ones were lost.

Teagan’s career practically stumbled into her, if she were being honest, she’d always sold things she made as a small side hustle. Blown glass charm bracelets, beads, and figurines; wooden figurines or beads carved and painted as well as pottery and small paintings. All custom made, all handcrafted, and all of them well loved by the recipients.

One such recipient had been writing a romance novel, had plans to try and sell it, but wanted the cover art style that was practically gone now. Instead of Canva style images she’d wanted an oil painting picture, the classic look, and paid two other students to be the models for it while Teagan had painted it.

Never had she imagined becoming the next Elaine Duillo but it had happened after Time Lost hit the shelves and novelists began blowing up her professional email for requests to paint covers for their books too.

Moving back to her childhood home was done quietly, her parents retired and moved South so she’d bought their place from them since she had no siblings, and the entire ground floor was turned into a storefront and studio. Being as busy as she was with getting her new store situated, her painting studio ready, had meant that she hadn’t been paying attention until one day she went to go shopping and saw something she thought impossible.

Tessa Walsh was walking beside a man at the grocery store, he was tall and imposing but when she wasn’t looking he watched her with the softest expressions, and between their hands the red string was vibrant with the faintest of a glow. Romantic love, not yet requited, but there; Teagan felt like an idiot standing in the produce section with a head of cabbage in her hand gaping but it was beautiful.

The glow of it was red with the faintest glimmers of gold, something she’d never seen before really, and Teagan abruptly snapped her mouth closed to turn around. Unaware that Tessa’s new companion had actually noticed her, more because of her sudden movement than anything, she returned to grabbing her groceries and thanking whatever powers that be for Tessa’s good fortune.

Teagan was hard at work, with Thanksgiving around the corner the ornaments and handcrafted figurines were all selling out so fast, her pottery wheel felt like a slave driver and sleep was hard to manage with the stress of keeping everything on the shelves. Just like last year she’d known this time of the year was going to be a warzone on her sanity, a lonely Thanksgiving coupled with a lonely Christmas had led to her spending more and more time in her studio or in the store for the span of the last three months of the year.

The backlog of book covers to paint was growing, even though they weren’t actually due for at least a few months -as she specifically told people that October through December were dates she would not be painting covers- but they were still there. Thom stopped by to pick up the bulk order of ornaments that they sold at the tree farm for her, after he’d stumbled in looking for a gift for Amie the first year Teagan had her studio open she’d offered to sell them to the Walshes at production cost in exchange for word of mouth advertisement, and he ended up staying long enough to help clear the room out when he saw how frazzled she was. 

“You could come to ours for Thanksgiving, you know, not a single Walsh would turn you away. We’ll also cut your tree before the official opening, since your ornaments always do well.”

“I could never impose, Thom, but thank you. Tell the others I said Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll be around for my tree after the farm opens. It’s crazy busy this time of the year, you know?”

He left while reminding her that if she came by she wouldn’t be turned away if she changed her mind, making her grin slightly, and Teagan took the brief respite of an empty shop to restock what she could on the actual shelves before working to paint some of the dried pottery pieces waiting to be finished.

What she hadn’t counted on was Henry making an appearance a few days later, also extending an invitation to Thanksgiving at the Walsh residence, and Teagan laughed at the man before sending him on his way with a painting he’d commissioned of a whimsical forest scene at night with fairies hidden in the shadows of fireflies and a sleeping family of foxes just barely visible in their den.

Teagan spent Thanksgiving with a microwave meal and her pottery wheel, her paintings didn’t sell as fast as the other things she sold so those were fine, and she had a surplus of pre-made pieces that would last at least four days. Which meant that the Saturday after Thanksgiving she could join the others in town and watch the lighting of the tree, spotting Amie and Thom and the other Walshes watching proudly.

But Teagan was drawn to the golden glow that had nearly engulfed all the red in Tessa’s string connecting her to Pero, it was new and strange for her. It made her think of hope and fear and change, like Pero and Tessa were on the precipice of something and unsure of what they were going to do.

“Hey Teagan, didn’t see you for Thanksgiving?”

Henry and Martin’s greeting made her jump nearly out of her boots.

“Oh, uh, I was trying to catch up on stock. It’s uh, I wasn’t expecting so many people to come actually find my studio. Figured they’d just buy what they needed from the tree farm since its all in one place, you know?”

Martin pulled her into a tight hug.

“Hey, don’t you dare downplay your work. People love what you make, Amie and Thom said they give out your business cards to nearly everyone that comes to pay for their tree because they ask about what else you make. You thinking about hiring anyone to help?”

“I mean, I should but right now I just need to find my footing first. So, uh, Tessa’s… boyfriend? He from Chicago too?”

Henry and Martin both chuckled and you peered around them to see Tessa leading Pero away down toward the rest of town.

“Pero and Tessa aren’t dating, not yet at least.”

“Oh, I just- I thought that they were. They love each other so-”

“I knew we weren’t the only ones to see it! Tessa is being stubborn about it, even the kids know..”

“Their string is so bright, it’s obvious.”

“String?”

Panic seized Teagan momentarily, a reminder why she didn’t really go out of her way to converse with too many people on the topic of love, she’d never really been good at stopping herself.

“Red string of fate, you know? They love each other so much that anyone can see it.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed only a little but Martin laughed softly, accepting it as a playful sort of answer, and Teagan could have kissed Miss Moira when she called for Henry and Martin. Sneaking away so they wouldn’t find her, cowardly as it was, led to Teagan nearly stumbling on a lightshow that only she could see.

Pero and Tessa were kissing and the glow of red and gold around them was radiant, in a way that made Teagan’s eyes water, it was a love that was so beautiful but there was something sad about it too. She hadn’t really ever felt the emotions that came from a string, not until she touched it, but their love was so strong that even from so far away she could feel it like a summer bonfire.

They didn’t see her when they left, thankfully, but as Teagan watched them leave she was struck with the realization that the string had lost the golden tint now that they’d evidently figured it out. But that didn’t explain why they had gold in theirs to begin with and she was suddenly wondering who, or what, Pero Tovar was.

Henry cornered her in her own store not long before the Solstice, Teagan suspected he’d put aside time after work before going home for the day, and she gave up the fight and instead let him stay as she flipped the closed sign over and let him sit down in one of the wooden rocking chairs that she’d inherited with the house. He cast a major judging expression over her microwavable dinner that was half-eaten and cold, hidden behind the counter, but she could care less about that.

“What is it, Henry?”

“You weren’t lying or joking, were you, about seeing the red strings of fate.”

“No, and I promise you I’m not crazy-”

He stopped her before she could work herself up, the shaking in her hands as she sat on her counter turned register table stopped as he held them still, and tapped her nose gently.

“Teagan, I come from a family of magic too. Can you tell me about Pero and Tessa’s string?”

“Well… it’s different. I mean, it’s a romantic love so it glitters like red Christmas lights now that it’s reciprocated but there’s gold in it and I’ve never seen it before. It’s also kind of… sad? Like it feels like the two of them have a powerful choice to make and they’re both hesitating.”

“You’re not wrong about that, is the string thing why you don’t really branch out and come to anything smaller than a town size event?”

Teagan felt her throat tighten.

“I just get overwhelmed-”

“Can you see your own string?”

The fact that he figured her out so quickly should have felt painful, it should have made her angry, but instead she felt defeated.

“No, I can’t. I can see all of it, the romantic strings and familial strings and platonic ones but I can’t see my own.”

Henry was quiet for a long moment before he wrapped her into a tight hug.

“If you feel alone you should stop running from us, I won’t tell anyone else about this except Martin -he is my husband- but I promise you that everyone in my family would understand.”

“Thank you, Henry.”

“You should really eat some actual food and not… those.”

“The last time I tried to cook I nearly blew up the oven, so if I do have a soulmate out there they better be able to cook.”

Henry stared at her for a long time before he shook his head and left, the insanity of the solstice had almost made her forget about her Christmas tree but Teagan remembered when she walked into the upstairs living room and stared at the empty corner of the room. Tomorrow she’d have to venture over to the farm, before the shop got busy, and Teagan nearly jumped down the stairs when she remembered she’d left the half eaten microwave meal down there.

Maybe Henry was right to be worried but she was fine.

What Teagan hadn’t realized was that she’d meet Pero the next day, pulling up to see the tree farm busy as ever, and after choosing a small tree -one that was easier to heft up the stairs- she nearly stumbled into the taller man before he caught her so she didn’t fall backward into someone else. 

“I’m so sorry-!”

“Apologies, did you need something?”

“Oh uh, I was going to find Thom so I could get my tree-”

“I can assist you, I am Pero Tovar, which tree?”

He looked at the tree that was only a little taller than she was with a faint smile and Teagan couldn’t help but let her hand brush through the golden and red string, it was back to being gold with only flashes of red for some reason, but the overwhelming sense of hope and pleading cut through her like lightning.

They had a big choice to make indeed but she didn’t know what it could be or why it was gold other than magic being the answer. When in doubt just blame magic, after all, since she had nothing else to go on.

“If you are anything like Tessa with her decorations this will be buried in lights and baubles.”

“Oh, uh, I only really put lights on my tree. I sell ornaments, I made all the wood and glass ones that Thom brought back before Thanksgiving-”

“You are Teagan? That is very fine, delicate, work. Very impressive.”

“Thank you.”

“What else is it that you make?”

“Paintings, pottery, ceramics, bracelet charms, jewelry, wooden figures… just about anything really.”

Pero hummed as he carried her tree to be wrapped up, the size of it and his strength making it easy to carry, and Teagan noticed the abrupt way the string seemed to begin moving and imagined Tessa had her own things to handle this season.

“I will have to come by your store then, to find a present for Tessa.”

“Of course, and I make things custom as well so if you don’t see something you like then just let me know. It’ll take a little longer to make if its brand new to me but it shouldn’t be that long of a wait.”

Pero tucked her tree into the bed of her pick up and after she paid for her purchase, along with a light scolding from Amie about missing Thanksgiving, Teagan was on her way home and asking the fates again to be kind to Tessa. They weren’t exactly friends but Tessa had always been kind and Teagan still believed that if anyone deserved a powerful love like what she had with Pero that it was Tessa.

It was sometime after Christmas that she found herself at peace, finally, the shop was less hectic and things were quiet. Teagan had her easel out in the storefront today and was working on the first of many backlog book covers, the likelihood of anyone actually coming in was basically slim except she heard the cheerful bell and looked up to see Pero looking around curiously.

“Pero!”

His string was red, pure glittering red and pulsing like a heartbeat, radiating joy and happiness and serenity at long last.

“This is far more than I expected. Where is it you live if this is your store?”

“Oh, uh, upstairs. I remodeled the downstairs into a large open concept store and studio, so upstairs I took down non-support walls to make a living room area since I live alone and don’t really need all the extra bedrooms.”

The house was an old Victorian anyway, three floors with a basement, though the interior had long-since been remodeled to something much more modern; she still had a lot of space she wasn’t exactly using here.

“Practical.”

He was perusing the pottery and ceramics, the plates and serving trays and bowls, the sets of brightly colored and patterned pieces were always eye-catching. He looked at each plate, each small serving bowl, and each little part of one of the more vibrant tapas sets she’d put together after seeing a few online that she really liked.

“Is this sold as a set?”

“Yep!”

“Tessa does love to cook, this would look good when she hosts dinners.” His face fell when he saw the price tag and Teagan knew that he wouldn’t just take a handout, he didn’t seem like the type.

“I don’t make a lot of pottery because I can’t really afford to keep buying the firewood for the kiln unless I have large batch orders, and I’m not anywhere near strong enough to chop my own.” He perked up, instantly, and Teagan was relieved.

She wanted him to be able to give Tessa the lovely tapas set, the vibrant colors and patterns deserved to be used for lively parties, but she hadn’t really had any other way to justify giving him a discount of any kind.

“I could chop your firewood, if you would allow me to purchase this set.”

“How about I draw up an agreement, I’ll put a sold tag on the set, and once you’ve signed it then we can get it wrapped up?”

“This is acceptable, Teagan.”

The whole set was over $600 but included a lot of pieces. Two jugs in 1 liter volume, one butter dish, two spoon rests, three oil dispensers, 40 shallow plates ranging from a two inch diameter up to a 10 inch diameter, 24 bowls ranging from a 4 inch diameter up to a 16 inch diameter, and three utensil holders to match.

It had taken weeks to get everything made, painted, and glazed but the colorful end result had been well worth it. Nobody wanted to buy individual pieces but the price tag deterred even the most longing of potential customers.

One short call to Amie, so that she knew Pero was going to be doing contracted labor and work out a price for his time, and Pero signed the agreement before helping Teagan box the set up to take home to Tessa.

“You will allow me to take these before I work?”

“I trust you Pero. I hope Tessa likes it.”

When he stared at her for a long, quiet, moment she wondered just what he was thinking until he hummed thoughtfully.

“You remind me of someone I knew, a bastard of an Irishman.”

“Oh, well, my grandmother immigrated over here from Ireland. It’s why my parents named me Teagan, to honor her.”

Pero made a soft sound, not affectionate so much as it was understanding, and she realized belatedly he’d come here with Thom and the kids. The other Walsh let her give him hell for staying in the car, it now made sense why Amie was so confused about her call, but she didn’t keep them long after that.

It was a few days later that Tessa showed up with Pero for his first shift chopping wood, thanking her profusely for the tapas set, and Teagan couldn’t help but grin as Tessa looked at all of the other items she had on display.

“I wasn’t going to let him walk here without it, it’s beautiful… how much you love one another.”

Tessa’s face gained some color but she smiled so softly, so affectionately, that Teagan felt peace knowing that whatever choice had kept them tumbling was finally made and it was very clear they’d made the right one.

The way Tessa’s string gleamed and glittered was proof enough that their love truly was magic.

All Fics Taglist: @haylzcyon @wordsnwhiskey @pagannightwitch @radiowallet @tauralmie @amneris21 @trickstersp8 @practicalghost @rominaszh @alwaysdjarin @alexxavicry @all-the-way-down-here

#gift fic #chaoticwrites #stranger at my gate #lovelyleslie #pero tovar x ofc #told from the eyes of an outsider #the great wall fanfic