#National Peacock Day

[arthistoryanimalia]

For #NationalPeacockDay here are the prettiest peacocks from the Cooper Hewitt collection:

Purse, 1910-30; Designed by M.E.D. Jenkinson, Grace Hazen (American, 1874-1940); silk, glass beads, metal, cotton; H 40.3 x W 23.5 x D 3.8 cm (15 7/8 x 9 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.) (w/handle)

Sidewall, The Cedar Tree, 1910; Manufactured by Arthur Sanderson & Sons, Ltd. (UK); England; block-printed paper; H 170.5 x W 57 cm (67 1/8 x 22 7/16 in.)

Frieze, Peacock, 1982, After Walter Crane (English, 1845–1915); Manufactured by Bradbury & Bradbury Wallpapers; USA; screen printed on paper; H 75 x W 56 cm (29 1/2 x 22 1/16 in.)

Sidewall, The Peacock, 1896; England; machine-printed paper; H 105 x W 56 cm (41 5/16 x 22 1/16 in.)

#animals in art #animal holiday #european art #20th century art #birds in art #19th century art #bird #birds #Cooper Hewitt #peacock #peacocks #National Peacock Day #American art #purse #sidewall #wall coverings #frieze #textiles

[pdv9blogs]

Check out this post… "Peacock: Description and Habitat".

#articles #article #geography #world tour #blogger #blogpost #beautiful #facebookpage #moveon #birdsofinstagram #peacock #national bird day #amazing #wow wow wow #indian #my blogs

[insanityclause]

Deadline’s Contenders Television, the event where stars and showrunners talk up their shows ahead of Emmy voting, has unveiled its lineup.

The event kicks off on Saturday April 13 and runs through Sunday April 14 at the Directors Guild of America in LA. There will also be a virtual livestream of the event. Full details of the event and an RSVP link can be found here.

It will give you a sense of the hits of the last twelve months, as well as some shows that you’re about to be talking about, as the networks, studios and streamers vie for some awards love.

Stars attending include Tom Hiddleston, Nicole Kidman, Brie Larson, Kristen Wiig, Rebecca Ferguson, Lily Gladstone, David Oyelowo, Common, Jimmy Fallon, Giancarlo Esposito, Joey King, Andrea Riseborough, Sebastian Maniscalco, Bill Pullman, Kiefer Sutherland, Logan Lerman, Kelsey Grammer, Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Allison Williams, Maya Erskine, Nathan Fielder, Skeet Ulrich, Jeff Probst, Omar J. Dorsey, Harriet Dyer, Patrick Brammall, Sophia Di Martino, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo and Taylor Zakhar Perez.

Shows that will be featured across the two days include Parish, Masters of the Air, Lessons in Chemistry, The Morning Show, Silo, Palm Royale, The New Look, Survivor, Colin From Accounts, A Murder at the End of the World, True Detective: Night Country, We Were the Lucky Ones, Under the Bridge, Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Loki, Alice & Jack, Genius: MLK/X, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, 3 Body Problem, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Frasier, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Fallout, Expats, Red, White & Royal Blue, Fellow Travelers, The Curse, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Platonic and Bookie.

There will also be numerous top showrunners and exec producers including Chuck Lorre, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Alexander Woo, Benny Safdie, Graham Yost, Gary Goetzman, Lee Eisenberg, Abe Sylvia, Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Francesca Sloane, Lulu Wang, Sarah Schechter and Nicholas Stoller.

The studios, networks and streamers participating include AMC, Apple TV+, CBS, CBS Studios, FX, HBO and Max, Hulu, Lifetime, Marvel Studios and Disney+, Masterpiece on PBS, National Geographic, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Showtime, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Television.

The event is sponsored by Apple TV+, Eyepetizer Eyewear and Final Draft + ScreenCraft in partnership with Four Seasons Resort Maui and 11 Ravens.

---

Both Tom and Sophia will be there.

#tom hiddleston #loki #sophia di martino #deadline: the contenders

[beehunni62]

Married Mongolian Women’s Hairstyle in the Yuan Dynasty

Mongolians have a long history of shaving and cutting their hair in specific styles to signal socioeconomic, marital, and ethnic status that spans thousands of years. The cutting and shaving of the hair was also regarded as an important symbol of change and transition. No Mongolian tradition exemplifies this better than the first haircut a child receives called Daah Urgeeh, khüükhdiin üs avakh (cutting the child’s hair), or örövlög ürgeekh (clipping the child’s crest) (Mongulai, 2018)

The custom is practiced for boys when they are at age 3 or 5, and for girls at age 2 or 4. This is due to the Mongols’ traditional belief in odd numbers as arga (method) [also known as action, ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠤᠯ, арга] and even numbers as bilig (wisdom) [ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ, билиг].

Mongulai, 2018.

The Mongolian concept of arga bilig (see above) represents the belief that opposite forces, in this case action [external] and wisdom [internal], need to co-exist in stability to achieve harmony. Although one may be tempted to call it the Mongolian version of Yin-Yang, arga bilig is a separate concept altogether with roots found not in Chinese philosophy nor Daoism, but Eurasian shamanism.

However, Mongolian men were not the only ones who shaved their hair. Mongolian women did as well.

Flemish Franciscan missionary and explorer, William of Rubruck [Willem van Ruysbroeck] (1220-1293) was among the earliest Westerners to make detailed records about the Mongol Empire, its court, and people. In one of his accounts he states the following:

But on the day following her marriage, (a woman) shaves the front half of her head, and puts on a tunic as wide as a nun's gown, but everyway larger and longer, open before, and tied on the right side. […] Furthermore, they have a head-dress which they call bocca [boqtaq/gugu hat] made of bark, or such other light material as they can find, and it is big and as much as two hands can span around, and is a cubit and more high, and square like the capital of a column. This bocca they cover with costly silk stuff, and it is hollow inside, and on top of the capital, or the square on it, they put a tuft of quills or light canes also a cubit or more in length. And this tuft they ornament at the top with peacock feathers, and round the edge (of the top) with feathers from the mallard's tail, and also with precious stones. The wealthy ladies wear such an ornament on their heads, and fasten it down tightly with an amess [J: a fur hood], for which there is an opening in the top for that purpose, and inside they stuff their hair, gathering it together on the back of the tops of their heads in a kind of knot, and putting it in the bocca, which they afterwards tie down tightly under the chin.

Ruysbroeck, 1900

TLDR: Mongolian women shaved the front half of their head and covered it with a boqta, the tall Mongolian headdress worn by noblewomen throughout the Mongol empire. Rubruck observed this hairstyle in noblewomen (boqta was reserved only for noblewomen). It’s not clear whether all women, regardless of status, shaved the front of their heads after marriage and whether it was limited to certain ethnic groups.

When I learned about that piece of information, I was simply going to leave it at that but, what actually motivated me to write this post is to show what I believe to be evidence of what Rubruck described. By sheer coincidence, I came across these Yuan Dynasty empress paintings:

Portrait of Empress Dowager Taji Khatun [ᠲᠠᠵᠢ ᠬᠠᠲᠤᠨ, Тажи xатан], also known as Empress Zhaoxian Yuansheng [昭獻元聖皇后] (1262 - 1322) from album of Portraits of Empresses. Artist Unknown. Ink and color on silk, Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368). National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan [image source].

Portrait of Unnamed Imperial Consort from album Portraits of Empresses. Artist Unknown. Ink and color on silk. Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368). National Palace Mueum in Taiper, Taiwan [image source].

Portrait of unnamed wife of Gegeen Khan [ᠭᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ, Гэгээн хаан], also known as Shidibala [ᠰᠢᠳᠡᠪᠠᠯᠠ, 碩德八剌] and Emperor Yingzong of Yuan [英宗皇帝] (1302-1323) from album Portraits of Empresses. Artist Unknown. Ink and color on silk. Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368), early 14th century. National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan [image source].

To me, it’s evident that the hair of those women is shaved at the front. The transparent gauze strip allows us to clearly see their hairstyle. The other Yuan empress portraits have the front part of the head covered, making it impossible to discern which hairstyle they had. I wonder if the transparent gauze was a personal style choice or if it was part of the tradition such that, after shaving the hair, the women had to show that they were now married by showcasing the shaved part.

As shaving or cutting the hair was a practice linked by nomads with transitioning or changing from one state to another (going from being single to married, for example), it would not be a surprise if the women regrew it.

References:

Mongulai. (2018, April 19). Tradition of cutting the hair of the child for the first time.

Ruysbroeck, W. V. & Giovanni, D. P. D. C., Rockhill, W. W., ed. (1900) The journey of William of Rubruck to the eastern parts of the world, 1253-55, as narrated by himself, with two accounts of the earlier journey of John of Pian de Carpine. Hakluyt Society London. Retrieved from the University of Washington’s Silk Road texts.

#mongolia #mongolian #yuan dynasty #mongolian history #chinese history #china #boqta #mongolian traditions #history #gegeen khan #empress dowager taji #mongol empire #William of Rubruck #historical fashion #arga bilig #central asia #central asian culture #mongolian culture #asia

[intriq]

✧ dandelion seed

contents: angst. just straight up angst.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ 　　°

You’re relationship with Kaeya had always been a little rocky. Kaeya would get upset at you for something, and an argument would ensue. Sometimes you had temporarily separated, but Kaeya had always came back, bouquet of windwheel asters and cecelia's in hand, and would apologize profusely, stating just how sorry he was.

You had just recently fought again, though you couldn’t even recall why. It was something stupid, really, if you couldn’t recall it. But that argument Kaeya had gotten red in the face, angry and probably tipsy from drinking at the Angel’s Share, still dressed in his Cavalry Captain garb when he’d come home to you. In-fact, you could vividly recall he had even awoken you from your slumber, as you recall him returning when the sky outside the window was dark.

You only remember talking to him in a quiet voice, groggy and barely able to make out what he’d said, when he said something in a fit of rage and left, slamming the door behind him when he had gone.

You still don’t remember why he’d been so upset at you.

That argument had been a few months ago. And Kaeya had still not returned to your shared home.

In fact, no one in Mondstat had seen him since that day, either. You could vividly recall Diluc knocking on your door, and despite his protests that he was not here to see if Kaeya was home and trying to insist he did not care about Kaeya’s whereabouts, you knew he was worried. You knew, after all, that Diluc still cared about his brother.

And it felt even more unlike Kaeya when he had stopped responding to your letters. You weren’t sure how he was getting them, seeing as you simply left them on your windowsill. Every night you would write Kaeya a letter, sealing it in an envelope ever so carefully, a delicate wax seal keeping it shut.

You would leave the letter and a single violetgrass flower with it, resting it gently on your windowsill, leaving your window unlocked in hopes that one night you’d open your eyes to find Kaeya crawling through it, that same bouquet of windwheel asters in hand.

But he never did.

Instead you’d awaken the next morning to the letter and flower gone, instead replaced by a dandelion seed. You would walk up to your window and cradle the single dandelion seed in the palm of your hands, wondering what Kaeya had meant.

Oh did you wonder.

You began scrawling in each letter how sorry you were, that you didn’t really understand what Kaeya had been upset about that night due to having just woken up. You did this for the past three months, until eventually one night a letter was waiting with a glaze lily and dandelion seed by its side.

You took the envelope, so eager to hear back from Kaeya. Blue wax sealed the envelope, the engravement of a peacock in the wax, the sign it was stamped by Kaeya’s seal. You open the envelope, so careful as not to tear the envelope nor the letter as you do, and you gently unfold it.

But there is nothing but a blank paper.

You can feel tears stinging your eyes, confused and wondering what this meant. You don’t know what this represented. Were the flowers a sign?

You could only wonder.

And a week later, after that blank letter from Kaeya, you had managed to run into him again. But he was no longer the Kaeya you knew, the Kaeya you had wanted to settle with for the rest of your life.

He was not the Kaeya that gave you a bouquet of windwheel asters or cecilia’s from Flora’s flower shop, not the Kaeya who would whisper to you how much you meant to him.

He was not the one you had spent many nights nursing, tending to his injuries, as bloodied and broken as they could be. Not the one who you used to sing to sleep when he used to awoke you, sweat making his hair stick to his forehead as nightmares of his past returned to him.

You knew he was from Kheanri’ah, that he was the abyssal prince of the lost nation, destroyed by Archons many years ago. He’d told you the same day he’d dueled Diluc, the day he’d almost died at his brothers hand. You could still remember tending to his cuts and burns, whispering to him that no matter what you’d always love and care for him.

But this Kaeya before you was not the one you’d grown to love. The Kaeya before you had no reaction in his gaze, his eyepatch long since discarded, revealing the eye he’d always pretended to be unable to see out of. A yellow golden-hue came from it, as he stared down at you from atop his horse with cold eyes.

“Kaeya?” You had called, your voice so soft it was almost unheard by anything but the wind. And you noticed Kaeya almost seem to waver, his brows furrowed as he looked down on you. His cold demeanor melting away, but only for an instant. The instant so brief, and if you had not known him for as long as you did, you’d have missed it.

“Where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you.” You whisper again, your hands trembling as you move to his side, reaching up toward him. But your face contorts into pain as Kaeya turns away from you.

Kaeya used to tell you in the past he’d always choose you and Mondstat when the choice came. His voice then had been so sweet, soft as he whispered it to you when you’d felt insecure.

But oh, how he had lied, as he leaves you at Mondstat’s gates, choosing Khaenri’ah. Choosing Khaenri’ah over you.

You couldn’t help but sit there, having since crumpled to your knees, not even moving long since Kaeya left, not even stirring when night finally came and Diluc had to come pry you away from the bridge, ignoring your pleas as you beg for Diluc to leave you be, that Kaeya would come back for you.

You could only look away as you see the look Diluc held in his eyes when he heard your pitiful wailing and begging for Kaeya, who had chosen his homeland over you, the you he’d called his home and his life for years. That pitiful look Diluc gave you was too much for you to bare. But you knew, deep down. But you didn’t want to admit it, feeling that bitter taste in the back of your throat as you try to push the thought away. Deep down, you’d always known, a creeping feeling in your gut.

He never was going to choose you.

#kaeya x reader #kaeya x reader angst #angst #genshin imagines #genshin impact #genshin impact fanfics

[satorugojooo]

hi so i've recently done the sumeru archon quest and the entire time for which i was with alhaitham i couldn't help but keep seeing him as a peacock so i was wondering if you could write something with alhaitham where the reader keeps calling him a peacock because i just think his reactions would be funny

A/n: sorry for the late reply but I've been busy with a lot of things since I'll start my final school year in some days! I honestly agree so much like Alhaitham gives off peacock vibes he's literally just like one.

Pairings: Alhaitham x gn!reader

Warnings: just spoilers from the sumeru archon quest

You were a secretary in the Akademiya, you owned a dendro vision and you were pretty smart in everyone's eyes. You didn't know what was going on in Port Ormos but many scholars said that they got scammed by some Emerites, so for the sake of the scholars you were sent by the sages to get rid of these so called scammers.

As you walked around you noticed some Emerites talking to a boy from a foreign land, and another tall men that you barely knew about. His name was Alhaitham if you recalled correctly and he was working under the Akademiya. As you approached them you saw the Emerites throw some mora at the boy.

"This isn't over Alhaitham, mark my words." one of them said as you walked to them.

"Hm? Y/n, I don't think we had the pleasure to properly make acquaintance." Alhaitham said when he saw you stop in front of him.

"Yes we didn't, but I know of you. Tell me, we're those the Emerites that scam a lot of people and scholars?" you said and he nodded.

"Yes that's indeed true, do you have some business with them perhaps?" he told you and you just nodded.

"Yes, I was sent here on the behalf of the Akademiya because many scholars got scammed." you said and he nodded.

"What about we both track them down Hm?" he asked and you looked surprised. For alhaitham to help someone well, he had a very rational way of thinking and didn't let emotions affect him, so he surely wanted something out of this situation.

"Mmm alright, but how are we going to track them?" you asked and he just gave you a sly smile.

"With the help of this traveler of course." he said and he told you everything he knew abt this traveler. After planning everything the traveler left to see a merchant called dori.

As you and Alhaitham strolled trough the busy streets from Port Ormos you looked at him.

"So how does it come that I never got to talk to you even tho your working under the Akademiya like me?" you asked and he just shrugged.

"The sages always keep you busy, I couldn't even see you in the Akademiya, so approaching you was impossible." he said and you nodded.

"The sages can be... A bit weird I gotta admit but I have no choice but to obey them" you told him and he looked at you annoyed.

"Those sages are the shame of the nation, who would thought such people would represent the land of wisdom." he said and you couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?" he asked all of a sudden and you smiled at him.

"Ah nothing really you just reminded me of a peacock." you said and he looked at you shocked. It was the first time Alhaitham was left speachless by someone.

"À what now ??" he asked and you started laughing while going ahead.

"What you heard Mr Peacock~"you said and he walked up to you to hold your wrist. Exactly when you turned to him to look in his beautiful eyes as he looked at you, the both of you were interrupted.

"So uhm... Are we interrupting something?" Paimon said and you quickly snatched your hand from his grip looking in the ground.

"Ah traveler your back, well then did you manage to get dori on your side?" Alhaitham asked acting as if nothing happened.

"She said she will have some new products in some days, so that's when we will visit her again." Paimon said and Alhaitham nodded.

"Okay then, well see each other in 2 days." he said and with that the traveler left.

"Come" Alhaitham said and you looked at him quizzically.

"Where are we going?" you asked and he just shook his head.

"We will stay in the building owned by the Akademiya for now, we can't leave the Emerites without seeing what are they up too." he said and you nodded.

"Fine by me Peacock." you said and he gave you a sharp look.

"What do I have to do for you to stop calling me like that?" he said and you chuckled.

"I'm not so sure sir but it's a fitting name" you said and exactly when he wanted to approach you someone frowned.

"Seriously? Even here I bump into your annoying head?" the voice said and you looked only to see Kaveh. You knew that he was living with Alhaitham because he had huge debt but you didn't know more about that matter.

"What are you doing here Kaveh..." Alhaitham said with a straight face and Kaveh came to you. You encountered him a few times while he planned the library in the Akademiya and he was a very easy going guy.

"The question is why are you with y/n hm you really want to annoy them as well?" he said putting an arm over you and you just gave him a sharp look.

"Nice to see you too Kaveh." you said and he just smiled down at you.

"long time no see y/n!" he said and you nodded.

"Kaveh didn't you learn about private space? And you can continue your business here I bet you did not come here to meet y/n right." Alhaitham said pushing Kaveh lightly.

"Are you jealous or what now?" Kaveh said and you didn't want them to argue.

"Oh what about we calm down Hm? Kaveh, me and Alhaitham had business with the Akademiya so we should go to the residence owned by the Akademiya." you said and he frowned.

"Fineee, but be careful with this peacock y/n, hes à weird one." he said and Alhaitham gave him an annoyed look trying to go after him. You quickly placed your hand on his chest stopping him.

"No need to go after him, your smarter aren't you?" you said and for a brief second you saw him soften his look.

"Yes your right... I apologize that you had to see that side of me too." he told you and you smiled.

"It's okay, I won't judge you for that because I can't really agree with Kaveh, I think that your quite misunderstood by him." you said and he gave you a puzzled look.

"Oh? Does that mean I value something in your eyes?" he asked getting closer and you just shrugged.

"Maybee~" you said and started walking ahead him.

The next day you both were looking at the sunset together after you got to see how it is to work outside the Akademiya.

"Thank you for these days Alhaitham, I don't think I would had the chance to witness so much without you." you said and he just smiled.

"It's nothing really, I'm glad you enjoyed your time." he said and you nodded.

"I hope to see you even after this mess ends." you said and he looked at the sky.

"Of you want to see me then we will meet again no matter what." he said and you looked at him.

"Thank you Mr Peacock~" you said giggling and he gave you a surprised look.

"Oh come on I thought you quit with that nickname." he said while getting closer to you.

"Nope that's my way of saying that I care for you so I won't quit." you said and he looked at you.

"You... Care for me?" he asked and then you realized what you said.

"Uhh, I mean, I care for every friend... Yes that right!" you tried to mumble but seeing that he gave you a smile you lowered your head defeated.

"Oh come now no need to hide, after all..." he said taking your chin and making you look in his eyes.

"I care for you as well." he said as he closed the distance between you two.

The traveler and paimon approached Port Ormos in hopes to find Alhaitham and Y/n but when they did... They were quite stunned.

"Are those two... Alhaitham and Y/n??" Paimon said and Aether just chuckled as he shook his head.

"Let's go paimon, we don't wanna interrupt anything." he said walking away.

#genshin x reader #genshin impact #al haitham x reader #alhaitham x reader #sumeru #al haitham fluff #alhaitham drabble #alhaitham fluff

[blvckveil]

NOH EUNHA ( Hangul: 노은하), also known as NOLIM ( Hangul: 노림), is a fictional South Korean singer under MIGHTY DEVIL. Nolim was born on March 27, 2000. She is the sixteenth revealed member of LOONA & is the maknae of its subunit BLACK VEIL. She officially debuted on May 30th as a member of LOONA & released her solo single album "Nolim" along with the title track "Glitch'"

BASICS

BIRTH NAME: Noh Eunha (노은하)

STAGE NAME: Nolim (노림)

BIRTHDAY: March 27, 2000

ZODIAC: Aries / Dragon

ETHNICITY: Korean

NATIONALITY: Korean

BIRTHPLACE: Busan, South Korea

PRONOUNS: She/Her

SEXUALITY: Straight

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single

CAREER

GROUP: LOONA (2019-present) [Inactive]

SUBUNIT: Black Veil (2019-Present)

POSITION: Rapper, Dancer, Vocalist, Visual, Maknae

COMPANY: Polaris Entertainment (2014-2016) Blockberry Creative (2016-2023), Mighty Devil (2023-present)

LOONAVERSE

REPRESENTATIVE COLOR: Lavender (#181A6F)

REPRESENTATIVE ANIMAL: Peacock

REPRESENTATIVE CHEMICAL ELEMENT: Astatine

REPRESENTATIVE SHAPE: Diamond

REPRESENTATIVE FLOWER: Rhododendron

REVEAL DATE: May 16, 2019

SOLO SINGLE: Glitch

NOLIM FACTS

Nolim has a twin brother named Eunchan who is currently a member of boy group ARTiFACTS.

Nolim's stage name means "aim" in Korean, meaning that she will aim to the top to become the best idol.

She is close with LOONA's 2000 line. She was a trainee under Polaris Entertainment before transferring to Blockberry Creative, therefore she has known HeeJin & HyunJin during her trainee days.

Nolim is BLACK VEIL's hype girl.

She was originally supposed to debut in 1/3 but Blockberry Creative thought that her image would fit into something darker and "mature".

Eunchan confirmed that Nolim is a scaredy cat, she has a fear of heights and is afraid of ghosts.

Nolim is in charge of girl crush in BLACK VEIL.

#Ⅳ 、 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ‹ the dark side of the moon ⠀ ⠀ ＃ ⠀ ⠀ profile › #Ⅳ 、 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ‹ the dark side of the moon ⠀ ⠀ ＃ ⠀ ⠀ nolim › #fictional idol community #fictional idol group #fictional kpop community #fictional kpop group #kpop addition #loona addition #glasshouseinc #fake kpop gg #fictional kpop idol #fake kpop group

[my2phetaliaheadcanons]

Who are the most dangerous countries?

Danger is pretty subjective when it comes to nations. After all they hunt their targets fairly often. But here is my list, but it could change as I flesh out more nations.  

England ~ To strangers Oliver is as sweet as his cupcakes, but to those that really know him, they see the bright toxins hidden in his colorful eyes.

This strategy works best on those he eliminates for minor offenses, it’s easier for him to get closer and gather information. Once officially snagged, Oliver takes his time. Slowly slipping them laced cupcakes and watching them go mad. Before finishing them off with a satisfying hunt.

While those that get classified as major offenses suffer a much worse fate. Oliver firstly sends his rabbits out, having them report and creating paranoia. Slowly Oliver will invite himself into their life. Destroying the pillars that made it stable and turning into a face that disappears during high times and reappears like a smiling shadow at their downfall. At some point the cycle becomes too much and the victim seeks out the tormentor.

The chase leads the offender to Oliver’s cottage. The baby blue door creaks open, showing a dim hall speckled with a rainbow of pastels, calling to them. Once inside, the door closes with the softest click and the end begins with a hunt and finishes within the flames of his gas oven.

This mix of physical, spiritual, and mental games send them spiraling into Oliver’s bloodstained jaw. Which makes him one of the most dangerous of all.

Italy ~ This savvy mafioso’s charm hides his snake like cunning. Many that have fallen for his tricks don’t see the warning rattle, until the final strike of a blade’s hilt stuck in their breastbone.

Luciano enjoys the attention that comes from the smitten and gets sadistic pleasure when it comes from those that would rather see him burn. It doesn’t matter if your offense is major or minor, he will get rid of them all the same.

He will stroll into their favorite haunts, ensuring that they see him. Sitting or walking in their periphery, just enough to ensure that they look to him. Luciano will smirk as he feels their eyes rake over him like hot claws. The type of heat will affect the speed and final process.

If it is the green flame of jealousy, Luciano will drag on the peacocking while having his men undermining their plans. As the flames burn higher, it becomes a dark dance that leads the two to exchange blows. Yet, the offender can never hit and much watch as Luciano takes it all. Only when their knees have been scraped to the bloody bone by the rough concrete, chains cutting circles into their flesh does Luciano offer a ‘deal’. Swear loyalty to him and country through suicide or face a torturous death.

Should they pick the first, Luciano’s eyes will blow wide like a hunting shark as he watches them not only swear but also beg. Plead for a life that may only last a few more years. Just finish it, he will coo. But if they wait too long, then he’ll resort to the former. A long torturous death that involves not only many knives but devices that haven’t been spoken of since the days of the first pope.

Luciano will enjoy how the blue wildfire of lust destroys them from the inside. The game of hot and cold will last for weeks as Luciano tangles them into his piano wire web. Once he is sure their stuck within their obsession, they become a tool in Luciano’s arsenal. Used to blow off steam, information, altering plans to take down other traitors, and so much more.

Until one day something changes; out of use, a failure, betrayal, or he grew bored. On that day, Luciano will have end it all. A simple snap of his fingers, their dragged down to the basement. Tortured often until finally they give out. Death freeing them from their sinful pleasure.

The last fire is Luciano’s favorite, love. Its gentle warmth is easy to manipulate and cooks the most delicious emotions. This chase causes Luciano to become more direct. Sweeping them off their feet and treating them like the sweetest lover. The deeper the offender falls the easier it is for Luciano to reveal red flags. He will see how far he can take it before they fight back. Once they do it’s the end. Though, unlike the others Luciano gives them a quick death. The only reason for that is the raw emotions in that moment. The mix of betrayal and devastation are the purest in that moment he can’t stand to waste it over weeks.

So, should you meet a strange Italian man with magenta eyes. Beware and don’t give into your passions.

The North American Brothers ~ Unlike the others on this list, Allen and Matt are most dangerous as a duo. Like a pair of bachelor lions they not only cooperate well, but are quick to sabotage the other to fulfill their dreams.

When these two work together its usually the result of boredom. One is without much action and has exhausted all their other means of entertainment that lie within their borders. Thus, they help the other. Working as wolves the twins stalk their target, watching for weaknesses, learning behaviors, and leaving threats.

Those threats range from the typical cryptic letters, painted rocks thrown through windows to strangely rearranged homes and sudden solo encounters that leave the target terrified. Allen and Matt happily feast on the terror and tears as their offender struggles to hasten their plans.

The torture ends in one of two ways. First is their target’s plan is almost to the point of fruition or they become bored. No matter how it happens, the ending is the same.

The men disrupt their prey via an ambush. Any attempts of retaliation are quickly squished via the twins rampage. Their prey scuttles and squeals as it dashes off. Yet, there is no hope, even if armed. For like the bison in Yellowstone, the twins chase like wolves ready to let exhaustion weaken their prey before they go in for the kill.

When Allen and Matt work against each other it becomes a competition rather than a simple game. Points are based on a couple different categories; the damage done, amount of people taken out, and the fear struck. Each point is marked with schadenfreude as a red tally on the old, cracked, chalkboard that they have hanging in each of their homes.

This is the only situation where the target can flip the script. If they can convince the twins to focus more on sabotaging the other, then there is a chance of a temporary escape. That shared hatred of the trash human turns them into cooperation. Which spells out someone’s doom.

#2p hetalia #2p headcanons #2p england #2p italy #2p america #2p canada

[glass-needles-and-futurisms]

I keep thinking back to Muse playing Survival at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, and I keep saying that one of these days I'm just gonna spew all my feelings about how it's not just one of my all-time favorite Muse moments, but also a hilarious, if perhaps unintentional, moment of social commentary.

I still remember our postgrad professor showing those same closing ceremonies in class, explaining the not-so-subtle propagandistic purpose the entire spectacle served on the global stage. (For those who don't know, the 2012 Olympics closing ceremonies were essentially a three-hour star-studded tribute to UK music and pop culture.)

Picture this: you just sat through about two hours of the UK's various national exports - One Direction, the Spice Girls, the Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Ed Sheeran, Annie Lennox, erm, Russell Brand. You've just seen live performances of Bohemian Rhapsody, Imagine, Wonderwall, and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, alongside tributes to David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. And you still have Queen, Take That and The Who to go after this.

Interestingly, that class glossed over what an afterthought the Muse performance felt like by comparison. You could argue a lot of extenuating circumstances: the controversial reception of Survival as the official London Olympics theme song, the infamous NBC debacle where it inadvertently got cut from the US broadcast of the ceremonies, or the simple fact that this far into the festivities, a fairly straightforward stage performance* by a band with slightly less name recognition than Coldplay was pretty underwhelming.

* Not sure if this is common knowledge, but apparently this performance was mostly playback with the exception of Matt's vocals. Which also makes this an underappreciated entry in the annals of Muse miming shenanigans.

But something becomes very apparent once you actually reach this part of the show: Survival is fucking bananas. I'll never forget that one internet commenter calling it the world's most epic villain song that doesn't know it's a villain song. I mean, just look at the lyrics:

Life's a race / and I am gonna win

And I'll light the fuse / and I'll never lose

And I choose to survive / whatever it takes

You won't pull ahead / I'll keep up the pace

And I'll reveal my strength / to the whole human race

This is how the song starts! You can sort of see the logic behind making it the Olympics theme song. And then it gets weirder from there:

Yes, I am prepared / to stay alive

I won't forgive / the vengeance is mine

And I won't give in / because I choose to thrive

Yeah, I'm gonna wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin

Good grief. No wonder it's called "Survival". The song makes slightly more sense in the thematic context of The 2nd Law, the album it was released on. But on its own it's just.... yeah.

And this performance ramps up the insanity even more by just taking the piss. Between Matt Bellamy peacocking in a sparkly suit and Union Jack t-shirt, the batshit guitar solo, the pyro, the backing choir, and the fact that everything onstage (including the grand piano) is pretty much just for show (and wobbling like mad), Survival feels cheesy and irreverent in a way that makes you suddenly hyper-conscious of how tightly orchestrated everything else you just saw (including the Monty Python and Mr. Bean stuff) was. Remember that this was all broadcast to an international audience of millions.

Pairing the sheer pageantry of the ceremonies thus far with the actual lyrics of Survival kinda puts everything in an uncomfortable new light. Then it dawns on you that you pretty much just watched an accidental three-hour love letter to British imperialism. (Okay maybe that's overselling it a bit but it's still pretty funny.)

#muse #muse band #survival #the 2nd law #matt bellamy #olympics #P.S. I can't help but wonder how Dom and Chris feel being accomplices to all this

[arthistoryanimalia]

For ##NationalPeacockDay + #MosaicMonday:

Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933)

Peacock Mosaic from the entrance hall of the Henry O. Havemeyer house, NY, 1890-1

favrile glass, pottery, plaster

52 x 64 x 4 in (132.08 x 162.56 x 10.16 cm)

Now in the UMMA collection.

#animals in art #animal holiday #birds in art #19th century art #bird #birds #peacock #Tiffany #Louis Comfort Tiffany #art glass #mosaic #National Peacock Day #Mosaic Monday #architectural art #American art #UMMA

[d-criss-news]

Photos: Inside Carol Burnett's NBC Special With Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters & More

Paying tribute to a beloved national icon for her birthday, NBC will celebrate Carol Burnett's illustrious career with "Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love." The two-hour special will air Wednesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will also stream next day on Peacock. The star-studded event will feature an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests who will come together to share their love for one of the most cherished comediennes in television history. New photos from inside the event taping in Los Angeles feature Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Jane Lynch, Katy Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster and Darren Criss filming musical numbers that pay homage to Carol's renowned career performances, including: "Old Friends," dedicated to Carol's 60-year friendship with Julie Andrews; "Only an Octave Apart," which Carol sang alongside Beverly Sills in the 1976 television special "Sills and Burnett at the Met"; Carol's memorable songs from the hit film "Annie"; and a tribute to her classic theme song, "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together" from "The Carol Burnett Show."

[HQ] CAROL BURNETT: 90 YEARS OF LAUGHTER + LOVE -- Pictured: Darren Criss, Sutton Foster -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

#darren criss #sutton foster #carol burnett: 90 years of laughter + love #broadway world #press #photos #april 2023 #upcoming events

[samkat10423]

Back in Sunset Valley

So, I'm back in Sunset Valley. I was playing in Twinbrook - even downloaded the hated CAW tool to edit it, but every time I tried to EIG with it, it crashed. So, after several days of cursing and drinking copious bottles of wine, I gave up. CAW hates me! Yes, it does! But not as much as I hate it. So, I guess it evens out.

So, I came back to the old tried and true SV and have been editing lots - as I do. Today - among others - I moved Gobias Koffi from his house down by the bay, up into Shearwater. I found this house over on Youtube and decided it would be perfect for him. His original house was okay, but I wanted that lot for a lounge. (I put an edited version of that EA Business as Usual lot there and made it into a proper exclusive lounge complete with an upstairs bar. Then used Ani's mod to make everything work as it should). Anyway, this lot is pretty much as the creator made it on the outside, but inside I redecorated it for my family.

I felt sorry for poor, old Gobias so I gave him a dog - a barkaholic schnoodle. Then - because I was in a really generous mood - I gave him a friend, Pierre Peacock. Pierre moved to SV from Banyan Bend with his cat, Cynus. He tells everyone that he's French (so I gave him that hidden French trait) and is bringing haute couture and fine dining to SV whether the locals like it or not. (They don't!) He's actually a swamp rat who grew up in the bayou, but Gobias doesn't care. Love is blind which is probably how he overlooks Pierre's fashion choices. Anyway, Gobias is all into saving Sim Nation, so he has a Twizzy - or whatever it's called - while Pierre gets around in a golf cart. They also have some 'guard' peacocks over by the garden area.

And then my game crashed.

#sims 3 #Sunset Valley #Gobias Koffi got engaged!

[i-bring-crack]

So according to the fact that Satan can transform into a red dragon, and all beings, angels and demons are spiritual beings, I shall absolutely headcanon:

*nightmares below for abbadons animal*

What animals would the Angels/Demons mostly shapeshift into?

Metatron: As the goodest boy in all of the world, he is of course a dog! The fluffiest possibly, all his other friends also go aroung shiting into other kinds of dogs.

Satan: Dragon, he will always want to be the biggest and strongest even if its in animal form... and that form is mythical. That or he is a danger noodle.

Michael: I think he would definetly fit as a wolf, especially since wolves are always overprotective of their families, just how he is to the humans below.

Sammael: I see him a lot as a raven kind of angel, you know, not always being the cause for death, but he does have this warning, threathning aura around him.

Gabriel: A dove who are we kidding, they are always the ones to deliver messages to God.

Beelzebub: A fly. :)

Raphael: A fish just to spite Asmodeus. On good days he could be one of those toads that has healing properties.

Beliel: I was going to say, as Turkey's embassador he must be the national animal because its literally the only descrpition he has... But how could I pass not making him a turkey.

Jophiel: The most beautiful, gorgeus, graceful, petite, marvelous, sophisticated, unbelieveably, auspicious looking Axolotl.

Asmodeus: Hell yeah he a fucking dolphin, those are the only ones who can be just as horny as he is.

Uriel: A... rooster... cuz... cuz you know he is assosiated with the fire and sun... and a rooster always rises with... the sun...

Adramelechk: Absolute peacock period.

Sandalaphon: Absolute Parrot period.

Lilith: an owl or a Boa snake. Like a biiig boa snake. Anaconda yes.

Zadkiel: A Jaguar or puma... idk why but i think it just fits.

Abbadon: THIS ABSOLUTE MOTHERFUCKER:

Azrael: He will be most likely a vulture. Or a jackal too that could work.

Astaroth: Astarte was always assimilated with lions so after her fall it would be cool if she shifted into a tiger or better yet, white tiger.

Camael: MONKEYS

Azazel: Well, a goat. Cuz he was a... scapegoat for the sins of the people *badumz*

Lailah: An elephant cuz she can kick ass !

Semyaza: A lion, he tried to be king and the fool fell.

Raziel: A cat, cuz he is always stuck on those upershelfs either sleeping or reading something.

#angels #demons #female angels #metatron #angelology #demonology #headcanons #satan #beelzebub #archangel gabriel #archangel raphael #archangel michael #sammael #beliel #jophiel #uriel #adramelech #asmodeus #astaroth #sandalaphon #lilith #zadkiel #azrael #lailah #abbadon #camael #semyaza #azazel #angel raziel

[comatosebunny09]

Masquerade [ Prelude ]

Music Inspo

The sequins of your mask itch, biting into your swollen cheeks. 

You curb another sigh. Battle with the impulse to tear it off—you’d worn it for the better part of an hour. Your face is saturated with sweat beneath. It’s become increasingly difficult to breathe with the damned thing consuming half your face. It’s heavy and gaudy, resembling a raven’s maw. Matte onyx in color, a column of obsidian jewels encrusted on each cheek. Glitter is haphazardly strewn on the prickly feathers, which flare out at the sides of your head. 

Your darling commander, Uzui Tengen, had picked it out for you. Insisted that you wear it during your nightly brief, for it complimented your ensemble wonderfully and was the flashiest thing he had ever seen. You felt like a fool. Sure, it suited the evening’s theme. But you would have settled for something a little less...garish. 

You don’t understand why you need to don a disguise, anyway. You are merely a bodyguard, discernible by the saber strapped to your side and your Crown’s Guard uniform. Your only task for the evening is to keep your liege out of harm’s way, should anyone choose to challenge him on such a grand day. You are not here to cavort about like a damned peacock!

That sigh you’d been fighting so valiantly to hold back earlier; it rushes passed your lips. Leave it to the king to pick such an ostentatious concept for his 30th birthday bash. A masquerade ball, of all things. No matter how many of these events you’ve attended, you will never get used to them. They are always too loud, bright, and formal for your liking. Filled to the brim with political figures, aristocrats, and celebrities from all around. Nobility throwing themselves—and their daughters—at your king’s feet, vying for his wealth and status. Could it really be considered a party if people weren’t playing matchmaker with your charge?  

You snort aloud, garnering a few judgmental glances from passersby. Heat enlivens your cheeks. You glance southward, the tips of your leather boots adorning your sight. No need to make a clown of yourself before the night’s festivities even begin. You already stand out, an imposing figure garbed in black amid the golden, grandiose hallway; silk dresses, and luxe tuxedos fluttering around you. 

Ever the king’s faithful guard dog, you stand with a straight spine and your hands clasped together at the small of your back at the crest of the flaring, red-carpeted stairs. You fix your gaze ahead, the chandelier glimmering like bokeh around the protruding beak of your mask. You subtly shift your weight from each foot, impatience coloring your veins as partygoers filter through your peripheral, seemingly maneuvering in slow motion.   

The man of the hour has yet to make his entrance. Is known for being fashionably late to these things. And you’re reluctantly sent to fetch him each time by an incredibly irate Sanemi. You often find the king napping in his study or private garden. Sleep still illudes him these days, the pressure to take a bride and unite the continents bearing down on his shoulders. Your liege, unfortunately, doesn’t have the same liberties as his father, who spent the remainder of his reign alone following his queen’s untimely demise.

Your lips twist into a ghostly scowl at the notion.

You wish everyone would leave your king be. It is perfectly feasible to run a country alone, unwed, untethered. Tradition be damned. Besides, you have the utmost confidence that Prince Senjuro can lead the nation just fine should anything happen to his brother. The pressure to bear an heir is ludicrous at best—

“I abhor these things,” states a spirited voice from behind, snatching you from the inner structures of your mind.

You snap to attention, the fine hairs littering your body straightening as if shocked by electricity. So distracted were you, that you hadn't noticed your charge standing behind you during your internal monologuing...

#king!kyojuro #kyojuro x reader #devotion series #rengoku x reader #self indulgent

[sambhavami]

Ehi Murare - Nagnajiti (Part 6)

Nagnajiti stood coyly, gently fanning her father and his esteemed guest with a chaamara. Today, her father was not sitting on the simhasana. He had taken up an ordinary seat while the dark-skinned guest sat on the King’s throne, the brilliantly carved sun glittering behind him. Nagnajiti smiled to herself. How apt it was that after an entire yuga, the Lord of Ayodhya had graced the throne of Kosala! Her father, Nagnajita, had himself taken a lower seat, as he also gazed at the man with reverent eyes.As she swayed the chaamara the peacock feathers on his crown waved at her. Occasionally he’d look up and smile at her. She politely smiled back, hoping her racing heart wasn’t beating as loudly as she thought. After such a long penance Krishna- her Krishna had finally come to Ayodhya!

---

She had heard of him ever since she was a child. As she had grown up, she had found herself falling in love with the stories of the multifaceted hero from the island nation. Then one day, her father summoned her to a secret meeting with the sages Narada and Vashishtha. They had informed her that the prince Krishna was deemed to be the reincarnation of Rama, the illustrious ancient King of their kingdom. Her father had informed her, overjoyed, that he would immediately invite the prince, to take over the reigns of his old kingdom, and in doing so, also accept the hand of Satya in marriage. It had taken an entire year for Krishna to find some time to visit Ayodhya. During that time, her devotion to the divine man had only increased. Satya had even developed a fever on the eve of his arrival, in anticipation.

When he had walked into her father's court, Satya had been enchanted with the casual confidence he exuded. Ignoring all social norms, she had rushed down from the queen's balcony and into the open court, defying the chagrined glares of the courtiers. Drawing his sword partially out of its sheath, she sliced her finger. With the blood drawing the sacred mark on his forehead. He had politely bent down to let her do it, but in the next moment, he had taken her palm in his and sucked at the blood, then holding the pressure himself until someone produced a cloth to tie it up. Blocking the soldiers who had rushed in with the first-aid kit, he had bandaged it up himself. Who else but a God would pardon such blatant forwardness in a woman and also treat her so kindly afterwards?!

---

Struggling to tear away her mind from the trickery of Kama, the god of attraction, Satya Kausalya, the daughter of King Nagnajit focused herself on the conversation between her father and the man. Even so, she felt as if her entire life had led up to this point.

Krishna spoke, “Dear Kosala-naresha, I have been informed that you wish for me to accept your daughter’s hand in marriage. Does your daughter share the intent?” He smiled at her again, while Nagnajiti blushed and lowered her eyes while she bit her finger, at the same time scratching the stone floor beneath her. “You can tell him dear.” Nudged her father. Satya coyly nodded her head in approval. Her father continued, “Although my Lord, there is but one obstacle in the path of this blessed union! I have sworn on my devotion to our Lord Sri Rama that my daughter shall only marry the man who is able to tame my seven ferocious bulls at the same time. I am aware it is a child’s play for you my Lord, yet I must request you to indulge my request!”

“Ah! So, this is the reason for such a great mercy on this mere cowherd, Maharaj!” Krishna said with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips. “I will surely fulfil your oath, Sir.” Satya couldn't help but laugh at the subtle pun. She was pretty sure Krishna had winked at her encouragingly, but she couldn't decide if her brain was playing tricks on her. Why would a God go around flirting with a mortal, in front of her father no less?

The next morning Nagnajiti arrived at the bullfighting arena, garland in hand. Krishna was already there warming up. He had discarded his royal garments, choosing instead to wear a tight yellow dhoti like that of cowherds, the peacock feather still tied into his hair. Satya couldn't help but admire his commitment to the feathers. They said the only time he had gone out in public without those feathers was when killed the evil king Kamsa! She quietly bowed her head as he shot her a smile in acknowledgement. At this moment, Satya wondered if this was how Queen Seeta must have felt when her Rama had walked up to lift the divine bow in Mithila. She was so sure of Krishna's victory, but a chilling fear lingered behind the encouraging smile she put on for him.

Still smiling, Krishna tightened the cloth tied at his waist and rolling up a bundle of rope he threw it over his shoulder. As he entered the arena, King Nagnajit signalled for the seven bulls to be let out. Satya gasped as the aggressive animals all charged toward Krishna. Astonished, she stared as with a blinding flash, Krishna expanded into seven identical forms and advanced towards the bulls. Amidst the deafening cheers emanating from every corner of the arena, Kausalya watched as the seven forms of Krishna subdued the seven bulls. One he stopped by its horns, one he petted and another he shushed just like a human child. Gradually, his extra forms disappeared as the real Krishna tied up the bulls one by one and led them slowly towards King Nagnajit.

Satya felt tears rolling down her cheek as she rushed down the stairs of the altar to garland her now victorious Lord. Her father was clapping vigorously, practically jumping in excitement. The ladies adorning the balconies all started showering flower petals to bless the divine feat. Satya smiled at Krishna, who was grinning ear-to-ear. At that moment, to Satya's lovestruck eyes, he seemed so beautifully human. Satya couldn't help but whisper, "So would you stay here now, my King?"

Krishna laughed as he leaned into her, "Why? Wouldn't you like to come home with me? Anyway, I've had enough of being a king, the last time around." This time he clearly winked at her, drawing jealous gasps from the surrounding ladies, "It's not as fun as it looks. Come home with me as a princess, you'll find it a freer life."

"Really?" She whispered, "Can we go wherever we want, whenever?"

"Not exactly, but we get vacations." He laughed as he scratched his nose, "I'll take you to all the places I've been: the snowy mountains, the fields doused in petrichor and our own salty ocean. But only if you want!"

Satya nodded her head eagerly. As much as she loved Ayodhya, she couldn't wait for this next adventurous phase of her life.

#krishna #original writing #fanfic #mahabharata #hindu mythology #ashtabharya #Ehi Murare #nagnajiti

[occidentaltourist]

Im hoping through the continental, katie would b more noticed by casting directors... shes so talented i really would like her to b in a big production as a main cast

Yeah! I saw a trailer for The Continental during the national broadcast of the Sunday night NFL game, which is the closest thing the US has to a shared cultural experience (besides Taylor/Barbie/Beyoncé) these days … one reason I was glad Peacock picked up the series instead of it staying on Starz. Mainstream is the word. :)

It was awesome to read the story of how she filmed her audition in her mom’s kitchen in Dublin with like an iPhone or something …sometimes things just work out like that. I wouldn’t mind seeing her in smaller productions either, but totally agree that it hopefully opens other doors for Katie!

#asks #katie mcgrath #the continental