#eleanor dimmer

[ctrl-alt-em]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Oxventure (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lilith Cappellanaga/Barnaby Fortescue III Characters: Barnaby Fortescue III, Lilith Cappellanaga, Edvard Lumière, Kasimir Jones, Eleanor Dimmer, Zillah Bruseau Additional Tags: Episode: s02e08 Foundry No. 12 (Oxventure), Episode: s02e09 Magic Ghosts Danger & Death (Oxventure), Post-Episode: s0209 Magic Ghosts Danger & Death (Oxventure), For Want of a Nail, Yuletide 2023 Summary:

The self-proclaimed innoventor stepped forward. “We have ourselves a deal then, I take it?”

The remnants of the Hobby Horses nodded.

Across the city, a train carrying three extra passengers departed for Skovlan.

Or: Zillah, Edvard, and Kasimir take the deal at Foundry 12, leading to Barnaby, Lilith, and Eleanor taking a deal of their own.

#oxventure #oxventure blades in the dark #yuletide 2023 #barnaby Fortescue III #lilith capellanaga #edvard lumiere #Kasimir jones #eleanor dimmer #ghosty japes

[stickthisbig]

So I'm not usually the type to do a fic preview? But my writer's block has been fucking atrocious and I could use the support, so here is the prologue to the thing I'm working on, which is a post-canon OX Blades story about getting the band back together to face a great evil. Is the evil maintaining adult friendships? Who can say.

--

Not all good endings are happy, and not all happy endings are good. 

The camera pans out on the Hobbyhorses and their entourage leaving the desert, the Barricade gone, magic leaching back into the world. Within the hour, Eleanor will try her teleport spell for the second time, and they will be gone.

The camera tracks away from the mountains, drifts like these things always do, ceases to be, because the story is over. The attention of the storyteller is no longer relevant to the world he created.

But let us stay instead, hovering over the mountain, the compound, the Barricade. Among the dead are Roth, various Red Sashes, and the silent, inanimate mechanical men. Among the living are the scientists, the other Red Sashes, and maybe Kellie Dimmer, whose fate is unrecorded.

The living muster their forces, figure out how to retrofit one of the train carriages, leave for Volisport never to return. The dead just kind of sit there.

And Amadeus Astor-

Eight people received the heaviest dose of magical energy that any being has ever received in the history of Geth. Six of them teleported away, one of them took her shot, and Amadeus Astor-

Amadeus Astor.

Amadeus Astor certainly doesn't not die, it's not that kind of thing. But despite the fact that Astor is not alive does not in this case quite mean that he is one hundred percent dead. Instead he is in a state of horrid life-unlife in the middle of the desert with little around him but the mortal remains of a few Red Sashes and his man Roth.

In the time in which he is not dead, he sees the strangest visions of a world that could never be, never was, and will be again. He feels come over him a force that literally no one has felt in 500 years. He ruminates on his loss and the nature of what he would have needed in order to be whole.

And then he really does die.

Seven years pass.

And then Amadeus Astor becomes a problem. 

#oxventure in the dark #oxventure fanfic

[unofficialoxtimeline]

Deadlands and Blades

Deadlands is not different from Blades; it is a mirror version of the same story. Here, in the broad strokes, is the argument: 

The beginning

Five people gather to meet a mysterious woman for monetary gain. Although they don't know it yet, they are following behind a previous assembly who failed in their task.

The Hobbyhorses are explicitly criminals or aspiring criminals, and they are blackmailed into the job by being saddled with a massive debt.

The Wildcards are whitehats who are given a job to do in exchange for a monetary goal. They are funded adequately by their patron and set off to do as she asks.

The benefactor

The benefactor is a woman living in an old, fancy house, who has unusual amounts of reserves for what she presents herself as.

Eleanor works tirelessly to defend humanity from a group that she has always been working against, even though she knows almost nothing about them. She never joined the Brighteners, because she was purposefully kept away from them. She's suffered setbacks, but she's still in the fight. She has no intention of killing the Brighteners, because she doesn't need them, dead or alive.

Victoria is working towards humanity's end, against a group that she knows intimately. She has given up her part and has no role in the world she is creating. Her entire plan is predicated on killing the Horsemen, because they have what she needs.

The villains

The Horsemen are the Brighteners, there, I've said it. I don't think that trying to match them up is productive, especially when we know there are many Brighteners we've never met. They are shadowy organizations that are unknown to the players for most of the story, even though they've been interacting with the members. The Brighteners are Volisport's homegrown problem, arising organically before the cataclysm, while the Horsemen are an imposition on this world. The Brighteners reject magic, while I think it's not a jump to interpret the Horsemen as magical. The Brighteners are fighting for the status quo; the Horsemen are maintaining it, because they've failed to keep fighting. If the Brighteners win, magic will never return; if the Horsemen had won, the world would have turned into an arcane hellscape.

Sidebar: Victoria and Kellie Dimmer

If we were going to link any Brightener to any Horseman, it would have to be Victoria and Kellie. The reason Kellie has to leave the Brighteners is that Kellie is the only one with the courage to push ahead. She only cares about magic, and she knows better than anyone that it could end the world.

The boss battle

The Hobbyhorses travel to a portal in an alien landscape, and there they meet the villain Amadeus Astor. Astor has stolen Edvard's designs for the WMM and made the Worrisome Maniacal Mech. Edvard has built in a failsafe switch, and the five of them must execute a lot of teamwork in order to bring Astor down.

The Wildcards travel through a portal to an alien landscape, and there they meet their patron Victoria. Victoria has outfitted herself with the weapons that they freely gave her. She isolates all of them and makes them try to kill each other. Delacy realizes that there's a weakness that she's left exposed and all of them target it.

The end

At the end of all things, the Hobbyhorses and the Wildcards are given a choice: go home fat and happy, or end the world. 

The Hobbyhorses choose the end of the world. They know perfectly well that what they're doing might lead to destruction. They could be destroying Volisport, or they could trigger another cataclysm. They take their benefactor Eleanor's offer over the villain Astor's and throw the switch. No one knows what happens after that.

The Wildcards choose life. They cannot possibly destroy the world. That's where all their stuff is. They take their benefactor Victoria's offer over the villain Conquest and leave with the money. They go away together, looking to start the next chapter in their lives as a team.

I guess what I'm saying is capitalism is the real villain of Oxventure in the Dark, but in Deadlands security is a good thing to want.

I haven't gone any deeper than that, because I feel like this is a thing that Andy did deliberately to shape the broader story, but the Wildcards don't map onto the Hobbyhorses and the story beats are different. But please enjoy.

#oxventure #oxventure in the dark #oxventure deadlands #oxventure deadlands spoilers #oxventure spoilers

[a-casual-egg]

Idk I had a thought abt Eleanor and Barnaby both being vampires

——

Barnaby doesn't know much about Eleanor, other than the fact she teleported once but couldn't teleport again and she wants to bring magic back. She's also old, and has a past with the head Dimmer Sister.

Ok maybe he knows a fair amount about Eleanor but this is new. The red splotches on the carpet definitely weren't there before. The red splotches lead Barnaby toward Eleanor's room. Anxiety swells up in Barnaby's chest, a feeling he knows all too well.

Barnaby freezes in the hallway, he doesn't want this to be happening. He doesn't want to be right. He really doesn't want Eleanor to be dead. Him standing still in the hallway isn't helping especially if she's dying but not dead yet. He could help her . . . somehow, get her to a doctor or bandage some bloody wound. Not stand in the hallway where behind a door an elderly woman is bleeding out.

Barnaby shakes his head and pushes the door open and what he sees is something he would have never expected. Eleanor is using a napkin to clean the blood off from around her mouth. She makes eye contact with Barnaby and she barely looks suprised, her eyebrows rise a bit and she stands up in suprise but that's about it.

"Wh-" Barnaby starts but he can't get the rest of the sentence out.

The two stand in silence for a little while. Barnaby's eyes dart around as he tries to find the source of all this blood. He can't find it and he looks to Eleanor for help. It's weird in a way looking at an elderly vampire and asking with his eyes where she hid the body. Barnaby hopes she didn't eat it along with the blood inside.

Eleanor seems to understand the question in Barnaby's eyes and she scoffs, "I didn't eat the body. It's already been disposed off."

Barnaby stays silent as his train of thought is off the tracks and his mouth is desperately trying to catch up. Barnaby must look pitiful based on Eleanor's expression. She cleans up a little as she waits for Barnaby's mouth to say something as it chased after his brain.

Eleanor ends up setting stuff up for cleaning the carpet and floor as Barnaby finally utters words.

"Wait?! You're a vampire?!" is what his body decides to say.

"Yes, and so are you I take?" Eleanor responds without missing a beat.

Barnaby stands there silent again, this time suprised she knows he's a vampire. Who is he kidding? Of course Eleanor would know! He lets go of breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Y-yes?"

Eleanor sighs and gently adjusts Barnaby's coat. She then adjusts Barnaby's hair as he reels from the news.

——

It's been a couple weeks since Barnaby found out about Eleanor. They've spent a lot of time together after that, talking abt vampires, how vampires could be connected to magic, and things like that. It's nice to have someone to talk to about stuff that isn't typical rich person stuff.

It's a lot calmer now but Barnaby can tell Eleanor has been paying more attention to him. It started as small things but lately it's been having him stay behind from heists and help her with things, mainly household chores.

So now he's washing dishes and Eleanor is tiding up in the living room. It's mostly quiet but there is the occasional humming from Eleanor, she keeps starting and stopping as if she can't remember how it goes but can't get it out of her head either. It keeps Barnaby's mind off such a boring thing like washing dishes. Servantsare the ones that do these things not him. Do servants really have to do these boring chores?

"Now, Barnaby"

"Yes?"

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Do you mean eat or drink blood?"

"Blood."

"Hm, a decent amount of time ago."

"Decent amount of time ago?"

"Yeah, decent amount of time ago. Not too recent but not too far away."

"Right, is that why you look so tired?"

"Me? Look tired? I think you're the one that looks tired Eleanor."

"Hm, maybe so but still, look after yourself? Please, for me?"

Barnaby pauses, he looks down at the elderly woman. Barnaby wanted to question the wording and why for her, but he just looks at her. Meanwhile, Eleanor tries to decipher Barnaby's expression.

"Yeah, I'll get to that eventually."

Eleanor pats his back then heads back to her work. Humming the tune she can't quite remember again.

——

Barnaby hadn't had blood in a while. He's fine, he swears he's fine but he can tell Eleanor isn't buying it. He can deal with her nagging him about it but if the other's started nagging him about it . . . he doesn't need that. He can take care of himself, he's a grown man, a very rich grown man but still.

Barnaby's already told them he's a vampire to, well, differing reactions, Edvard and Lilith thought it was cool but Zillah and Kasimir seemed a little, on edge about it. Well they don't know much about the supernatural so he can't blame them.

Edvard seemed oddly friendlier after the confession, well maybe friendlier isn't the term but rather . . . more talkative. He'd start talking to Barnaby more, mostly about vampires, sometimes other stuff but mostly vampires. Definitely a goth that one. Bit odd but's good to have his company.

Another thing that came with talking to Edvard more is the looks. Now Edvard Lumiere has many different kinds of looks, the one where he's estatic and passionate (usually about an invention), the one where he's listening, like really listening, then there's his angry rant face, and one where whenever Barnaby sees it Edvard is quickly looking away. Barnaby assumes it's some weird studying like trying to see his skull inside his head.

The one Barnaby absolutely hates though, is Edvard's pity look. Edvard's eyebrows furrow and his eyes look stormy and it's a storm of pain. Barnaby knows Eleanor has let the others know about Barnaby's blood drinking habits because of that look. She's at least told Edvard and he can tell that Barnaby's hungry yet won't ask for help. Barnaby can take care of this hunger, it'll go away, at least that's what he told Eleanor.

But now he's laying on the floor of his room in the townhouse, staring up at the ceiling. His stomach growls for way too long and too loud. He holds his flask to his chest. He has Eleanor and Edvard's concerned expressions burned into his mind. He downs a bit more of whatever's in the flask, he doesn't know what it is at this point, all he knows is it's alchoholic and that's good enough for him.

——

Barnaby feels a tap on his cheek and he groggily opens his eyes. The light coming through the window hurts his eyes and body. He curls in on himself then there's a light swoosh sound and the light is gone.

"Hey, Dracuscue"

Barnaby turns his head to face Edvard who continues to lightly tap Barnaby's cheek.

"Dracuscue?"

"Y-yeah, like Dracula mixed with Fortescue because you're a vampire and Fortescue is your last name and yeah-"

"That's awful" Barnaby responds, almost laughing.

Edvard goes to gesture with his hands about how it is not awful and Barnaby should shut up but as he pulls his hand from Barnaby's cheek Barnaby's eyes immediately dart to Edvard's wrist. For once it's not covered from sleeves or gloves and Barnaby's hunger takes over, Barnaby latches onto Edvard wrist with his teeth.

Edvard freezes in shock, I mean he doesn't entirely know why he's shocked, Barnaby is a vampire after all. Something like this was bound to happen, he's a little suprised this hasn't happened sooner. He watches Barnaby for a little while before turning to face Eleanor.

Eleanor looks between Edvard and Barnaby, before saying "Just let him eat. We'll have a talk with him later."

Edvard and Eleanor look back to Barnaby drinking from Edvard's wrist and Eleanor slowly makes her way to the other side of Barnaby and gently pets his head, Barnaby doesn't seem to notice. He's just hungry.

"God, how long did he not eat?" Eleanor wonders, "At the worst he had plenty of people to drink back at his house with servants."

Eleanor and Edvard lock eyes and it seems like Edvard had the same thought. They can't ask Barnaby because, well, he's a bit preoccupied at the moment. So they wait, it can't take too long right? How much blood does Barnaby need?

It's only a small while before Eleanor pulls Barnaby from Edvard's wrist like a mother cat carrying their kitten away from something dangerous. Barnaby blinks a few times and looks around like he doesn't know where he is. He sees Eleanor and sighs in relief and she rubs his back, he then sees Edvard and the two puncture holes in his wrist and looks in between the two.

Edvard sighs, "yes, you did that. It's fine."

Before Barnaby can utter any words Eleanor cuts in "How do you feel?"

"Not hungry that's for certain"

"That's good."

Eleanor passes Edvard some bandages from her pocket before asking, "now why did you let it get this bad?"

"Uhm, well," Barnaby says trying to find the right words in order to not get yelled at, "I-uh didn't think it would get this bad?"

Eleanor sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Barnaby, Barnaby, you know you can ask us for help right?"

"Yeah, I'm sure she means like help in general but, uhm, being a blood bank for a vampire would okay . . . like for science." Edvard responds as he finishes bandaging his wrist.

Barnaby's going to need time to process what Edvard just said because Edvard did not just say what Barnaby thinks he said.

Eleanor seems to notice this and interjects, "yes, well we'll figure that out."

Eleanor gets up and reaches out her hand for Barnaby. He takes it and gets up. They start walking and Edvard follows.

"We need to have a talk first though." Eleanor says in the same tone as a mother who's very upset about what their child did.

Barnaby has a feeling he's going to have a scolding rather than a talk.

#oxventure #oxventure in the dark #Eleanor #Barnaby #Barnaby Fortescue III #barnaby “the butcher” fortescue iii #edvard #edvard lumiere #vampire eleanor #vampire barnaby #egg writes

[intheseautumnhands]

It’s Friday, you know what that means, Blades react post. (Quick one before movies for mother’s birthday, though.)

TRAIN HEIST TRAIN HEIST TRAIN HEIST. OF A TRAIN. COOOOOL.

And the Gut-Cutters! Man I love the Gut-Cutters. :D Mumbles looking to Lilith for when to stab! Kasimir and Bug’s mutual respect! Excited child playing with the smoke bomb at the worst time possible! Singing and coloring books with Edvard! and Bug’s tiny crush on Zillah is so fucking cute oh my god I love it.

Kasimir and Barnaby have the greatest odd-friendship two-man comedy troupe thing going on this season? I crack up every time they interact, I really hope we get a duo for them at some point. Edvard’s train joy was so fitting and beautiful. Zillah refusing to let the skinny boys go in alone. Lilith successfully pulling a hitman, bringing things around full circle from episode one! This is just a string of things I loved this episode at this point. It was so much fun. I need to rewatch again, I think, to really take everything in, but it was a DELIGHT.

I definitely thought we were going to the barricade this episode, so I’m curious when that’s going to happen. Season finale maybe? I also think I need to rewatch Depths and Horrors for the lore info, because I feel like I missed something in one of those lore dumps -- I kind of thought the barrier was the ghost field, whoops. But a full-episode train heist was a glorious idea. Really curious what happens next time too, cause this could be horrifying, depending on where it goes.

Curious about Eleanor pushing them; I still think Eleanor’s going to turn out to be on the level, but I wonder if there’s going to end up being friction between her and the gang nonetheless. Also wondering if we’re gonna get a breather episode that’s just for profit, maybe after the Dimmers. (Or maybe they’ll be working on that and then Dimmers will happen.)

Fic idea watch:

- I think this is player memory and not a sign of missing something, but I’m pretty sure they were even with the Gutcutters last time they showed up, so I kind of want to write a missing job where they helped them out in the early part of the six-month timeskip.

- Also just. rekindling my desire to write Mumbles and/or Bug hanging around with the gang. Possibly with the others as well.

- Still want things to come of Kasimir being haunted and Barnaby’s foxspirit and them bringing it up and elaborating on the ghost made that desire stronger. Also still want them to go full 5/5 hauntings.

- For like. half a second I thought Lilith was gonna scare off the desert scavengers by pulling down her hood? and now I want that. And somebody sees. Awkward revelations on a speeding stolen train!

#m: magic and ghosts and danger and death

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

Among those attending the Away From Home Festival:

BMG:

- Felix Howard: Director of A&R

- Simon Rugg: Music, digital, and playlist

- Lisa Wilkinson: Director, UK marketing

VEEPS:

- Sherry Saeedi: founder

LTHQ team:

- Matt Vines: manager

- Jessy Martin: Seven7management

- Ben Pitts: Seven7management

- Joe Gaynor: Seven7management

- Benjamin Frith: Three Six Zero

- Chris Frewin: Seven7management?, 84 World

- Simon Jones: public relations

Band:

- Isaac Anderson: guitar

- Michael Blackwell: guitar (lots of musician friends in the audience: Mikey Burton, Michael Turnbull, Ollie Harding, Duncan Grant, Yazmin How, Dan Laird)

- Zak Craner: keys

- Matt Dinnadge: bass

- Steve Durham: drums

- String section: Alex Marshall, Naomi Giarra, Eleanora Consta, Ciarra Ismail)

Vocal Coach:

- Helene Horlyck

Crew:

- Charlie Lightening: Main Lad

- Dan Lightening: Director of Photography

- Amy James: producer

- Dave Emery: camera supervisor

- Joshua Halling: photographer

- Mark Brightman: set crew

- Krupa Music: production crew

- Dan Ely: guitar tech

- Edge Recording: sound engineer (studio tour)

- John Delf: sound engineer

- Tom Frisco: stage design

- Kenny/ Sam Kenyon: lighting engineer

- Steve Weall: monitor engineer

- David Kitson/ Kaleidagon: graphic design

- Paul Bugler: camera operator

- Louis Foster: camera operator

- Pablo D’Ambrossi, Charlie France: video editors

- TANCK: lighting design

- Dimmers: Greg Miller

Make-up Artist:

- Krystle Holland

Stylist:

- Helen Seamons

- Roz Dnoghue

Security:

- JD Woolsey

- Joni Prroni: (crossed at the beginning of video)

Friends and Family:

- Eleanor Calder

- Luke Malak

- Calvin Rodgers

- Oli Wright

- The Tomlinsons: Lottie, Daisy and Phoebe, Louis’ grandparents

Supporting Acts:

- The Snuts

- Bilk

- Jess Iszatt (BBC Radio)

Others:

- Mark Brightman: tour manager

- Victory Amps

- Hangman Studios/ James Tonkin: post-production

Not attending but part of Louis’ team:

- At Coda/ Paradigm: Alex Hardee (agent), Ryan Penty (booking agent), Nicole Selke (assistant)

BMG TEAM (updated)

- Hatwig Masuch: CEO BMG

- Alastair Norbury: President BMG UK

- Felix Howard: Director A&R UK

- Christina Santamaria: PR

- Lisa Wilkinson: UK marketing

- Angela Barkan, Cyndi Lynott, Karen Ruttner, Andy Lloyd, Georgia Fenn: International Marketing

- Jamie Nelson: Adult contemporary A&R

#Louis’ team #afhf #31 august 2021 #louis tomlinson

[rushingheadlong]

Huge thanks to a very dear friend who bought this article out from underneath me from an ebay auction, and then sent to me as a surprise!

Originally published in Melody Maker in late 1974 (exact date unknown). Full article text below the read more.

The MERLIN File

EVOLUTION: Merlin's manager, Derek Chick, and Allan Love decided in May 1973 to form a new London-based group that would incorporate three basic essentials: musicianship, image and stage presentation. After extensive auditions and rehearsals the band was gigging by July under the name Madrigal, which was changed in February 1974 to Merlin.

PERSONNEL CHANGES: Jacob Magmusson (keyboards) left in October 1973 and Paul Taylor (bass) in September 1974.

ORIGIN OF NAME: Scully Wagon-Lit's idea in the van going to a gig.

FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE: Zero 6, Southend, 17/July/1973.

FIRST BROADCAST: BBC Radio One David Hamilton Show and Radio Luxembourg Power Play consecutively in March 1974.

FIRST TELEVISION: Scottish TV's Showcase in November 1973.

MANAGEMENT: Derek Chick, Chic's Own Music and Management Ltd, 246/248 Great Portland Street, London W1 (01-381 6192/3).

AGENT: Barry Collings Agency Ltd, 15 Claremont Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (0702-47343/43464).

RECORDING COMPANY: CBS Records Ltd, 28-30 Theobalds Road, London WC1 (01-242 9000).

RECORD PRODUCER: Roger Greenaway.

MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY: Shapiro, Bernstein and Co Ltd, 246/248 Great Portland Street, London W1 (01-387 6192) and Grenyoco Music Ltd, 108 Park Street, London W1 (01-493 6439).

FAN CLUB: Ling, 17 Gladstone Park Gardens, Cricklewood, London NW2.

BRITISH TOURS: 47 dates 1/March-28/April/1974 Top Rank ballrooms, clubs and colleges. Solo tour.

AMERICAN TOURS: None.

TRANSPORT: Ford DO607 3-ton truck for the equipment and Audi 100 for the group.

STAGE MANAGERS: Iain Ward (Sound Engineer), Chris Taylor (Lighting Engineer), "Speedy" (Stage Roadie), "Crystal" (Assistant Lighting Engineer).

SINGLES: "(Let Me) Put My Spell On You" c/w "Just ANother Fish On My Hook (CBS, 1/March/1974), "Alright" c/w "Pictures In My Mind" (CBS, 28/June/1974), "Wild Cat" c/w "Half A Man" (CBS, 1/Nov/1974).

ALBUMS: "Merlin" (CBS, 25/Oct/1974).

P.A.: 1400-watt JBL system comprising Kelsey 16-channel stereo custom mixer, 4 x DC3000 Crown amps, 4 x bass bins with 2 x 15 inch JBL speakers in each, 2 x mid range JBL horns, 2 x high-frequency JBL boxes with lens horns, two bullets. Microphones are 8 Sure Unidyne III 545, 2 AKG 190C, one AKG D12, 4 Calrec condensers, 4 Sims Watts condensers, 3 Sure Unisphere B. Binson Echorec and Mavis 3-way active stereo crossover with stage boxes, cables, etc. Lighting comprises 6 x 100 watt Strand Floods on stage, 30 x 200 watt Strand Floods on stage scaffolding, 3 x Strand 1,000-watt follow spots and stands, 2 x Strobes and a Strand dimmer board.

ALAN LOVE: Vocalist

BORN: Hampsted, North West London. 13/Dec./1952.

EDUCATED: Challoner School, Finchley, North London.

MUSICAL TRAINING: None.

MUSICAL CAREER: Has been professional for seven years, playing in Opal Butterfly from 1967 to 1969 with Simon King (Hawkwing) and Tom Doherty (Sting). Referendum from 1969 to 1973 and Madrigal/Merlin from 1973.

OTHER OCCUPATIONS: None.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Little Richard.

COMPOSITIONS: "Half A Man," "Space Raider" and co-wrote with Gary Hardwick "Getting Involved" all recorded by Merlin.

FAVOURITE SINGLES: "Something In The Air" (Thunderclap Newman), "McArthur Park" (Richard Harris).

FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Tapestry" (Carol King), "Court Of The Crimson King" (King Crimson), "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" (Simon and Garfunkel).

FAVOURITE MUSICIANS: Paul McCartney, Steve Howe, Tom Doherty.

FAVOURITE SONGWRITERS: Lennon and McCartney, Cat Stevens, Carol King.

FAVOURITE SINGERS: Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond.

RESIDENCE: Bachelor flat in Wandsworth, South West London.

INSTRUMENTS: None.

GARY ALICE STRANGE: Bass, vocals and guitar.

BORN: Hampsted, London. 26/Oct./1952.

EDUCATED: Whitefield School, Barnet.

MUSICAL TRAINING: Three classical guitar lessons and then self taught.

MUSICAL CAREER: Various semi-pro bands and wrote first song aged 16 featured on ATV programme "Come Here Often." Former band with Dave Martin called March Hare and recorded LP for MAM. Group then changed to newly-formed Kinks Production Company, but after few months of touring with Kinks and recording, split up. Joined Merlin.

OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Director of La Starza Palace Studio.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Beatles, Stones, Free, Average White Band.

COMPOSITIONS: "Gipsy Rose Lee" and "Lay Me Down" for March Hare both issued as singles by MAM.

FAVOURITE SINGLES: "I Am A Walrus" (Beatles), "Need Your Love So Bad" (Fleetwood Mac), "Little Bit Of Love" (Free), "Amoureuse" (Kiki Dee).

FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Elf" (Elf), "Sgt Pepper" (Beatles), "Talking Book" (Stevie Wonder).

FAVOURITE MUSICIANS: Andy Fraser, David Martin, Peter Green, Liberace.

FAVOURITE SONGWRITERS: Lennon and McCartney, Holland, Dozier and Holland, Lional Bart and Paul Simon.

FAVOURITE SINGERS: Paul Rodgers, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart.

RESIDENCE: Single and lives in Hampstead, North West London.

INSTRUMENTS: Fender Precision Bass with thin maple neck. Hagstrom six-string guitar with pick-up. Kemble baby grand piano. Rotosound Roundwound strings. Orange 120-watt amp with 2 x 15 inch reflex cabinets.

JAMIE MOSES: Lead guitar and vocals.

BORN: Ipswich, Suffolk, 30/Aug/1955.

EDUCATED: Schools in America and Japan. Shirley High School and Redhill Technical College in Surrey.

MUSICAL TRAINING: Self-taught.

MUSICAL CAREER: Given first guitar when ten, formed first band at 11. Formed the Inferno, 1969-71, in Japan, doing gigs, radio, TV. Came to England in 1971, worked with semi-pro bands and at a music shop in Croydon. Formed Angel with Scully 1972 and recorded LP of original material. Joined Madrigal July 1973.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Jimmy Page, Paul Kossoff, Beatles.

COMPOSITIONS: "Just Another Fish On My Hook", "Gypsy", and "He Thinks About You All The Time" all recorded by Merlin. Co-wrote "Angel" LP with Scully.

FAVOURITE SINGLES: "Livin' For The City" (Stevie Wonder), "Can't Get Enough" (Bad Company), "Joybringer" (Manfred Mann's Earthband).

FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Foxtrot" by Genesis.

FAVOURITE MUSICIANS: Genesis, Steve Howe, Free, Scully Wagon-Lits.

FAVOURITE SONGWRITERS: Paul McCartney, Genesis, Stevie Wonder.

FAVOURITE SINGERS: Paul Rodgers, Peter Gabriel, Mario Lanza and David Coverdale.

RESIDENCE: Is single and lives with his parents at Sanderstead, Surrey.

INSTRUMENTS: White Les Paul Deluxe (1973) and black Les Paul Custom (1974), both with Rotosound ultra-light strings and Gibson plectrums. EKO 6-string acoustic guitar with La Bella strings. Hiwatt 100-watt amp fitted with half power switch for distortion and sustain at almost any volume. Two 2 x 15 Fender Dual Showman JBL Cabinets. A cheap Japanese fuzz box with a three-tone fuzz switch.

SCULLY WAGON-LITS: Keyboards, guitar and vocals.

BORN: Balham, South West London, 20/Dec./1953.

EDUCATED: Henry Cavendish (Balham), Bec School (Tooting) and Archbishop Tennison (South Croydon).

MUSICAL TRAINING: Guitar lessons at night school for one year aged eight, cello at school for three years and double bass for two months, but is self-taught on keyboards.

MUSICAL CAREER: Played guitar in band in Balham (1964-65), joined Angel with Jamie (1972-1973) as semi-pros and recorded an album. Turned pro June 1973 with Big Wheel in South France. Joined Madrigal October 1973.

OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Organ salesman at Western Music and Selmer.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Harry Stoneham, Miller Anderson, Keith Emerson, Christian Vander.

COMPOSITIONS: "Marina," "Takin' Part," "Pictures In My Mind," etc.

FAVOURITE SINGLES: "Rock Man" (Elton John), "Space Oddity" (David Bowie).

FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Tarkis" (ELP), "Fire And Water" (Free), "Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd).

FAVOURITE MUSICIANS: Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Steve Howe.

FAVOURITE SONGWRITERS: Paul McCartney.

FAVOURITE SINGERS: Paul Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Greg Lake

RESIDENCE: Single and lives in Surrey.

INSTRUMENTS: Hamond RT3 with additional height plynth and customised guts driven through Hiwatt amps and put out through one Leslie 145 and two RSE 1 x 15 inch JBL bins and three custom-made Werlin Bat rotating horn units. Muri-Moog (modified) through Hiwatt 100-watt amp with JBL Showman Cabinet. Hagspiel grand piano, with scaffolding, miked through PA. Black Gibson SB Les Paul Junior (1960) plugged into Moog.

DAVID WIGHTWICK: Drums and vocals.

BORN: Dunstable, Bedfordshire, 25/August/1950.

EDUCATED: Priory Secondary School, Dunstable.

MUSICAL TRAINING: Self-taught.

MUSICAL CAREER: Former member of Madrigal from 1967 to 1973. The band split and was reformed with new members and retitled Merlin.

OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Varied from soldier to postman.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Beatles, The Move, Genesis.

COMPOSITIONS: None.

FAVOURITE SINGLES: "Say You Don't Mind" (Colin Blunstone), "Motet Overture" (Abors), "Eleanor Rigby" (Beatles)

FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd), "Erismore" (Colin Blunstone), "Tubular Bells" (Mike Oldfield), "Moving Waves" (Focus).

FAVOURITE MUSICIANS: Carl Palmer, Jon Bonham, Simon Kirke.

FAVOURITE SONGWRITERS: Lennon and McCartney, Colin Blunstone, Genesis.

FAVOURITE SINGERS: Ian Billan, Colin Blunstone, Karen Carpenter.

RESIDENCE: Flat in London.

INSTRUMENTS: Hayman see-through drumkit comprising 1 x 22 inch bass drum, 1 x 12 inch and 1 x 13 inch mounted tom-toms, 1 x 16 inch and 1 x 18 inch floor tom toms, 1 x 14 inch snare drum, Ludwig/Paiste 22 inch cymbal, 1 x 22 inch and 1 x 20 inch Zildjian ride cymbals, 1 x 18 inch Zildjian crash cymbal, 1 x 14 inch Zildjian hi-hat, Ludwig and Hayman accessories and Premier C and Selmer sticks.

#merlin band #jamie moses #(I continue to not tag the rest because everyone continues to not care) #long post // #text #jamie

[dobsmoneylake]

Oxventurers touch an orb and **poof** they're in Elinore's Largely Legal Antiques staring at a surprised crew. What do?

AN: Thank you so much for the prompt! I am so sorry that this took so long, and I hope that it is worth the wait! Thanks to the Historian for beta-ing this. I own nothing.

The atmosphere at Eleanor’s Largely Legal Antiques was the same as it always was these days. It had lost some of its homey nature (as well as the smell of fish) since they had moved into the townhouse, but it retained the level of comfort that the crew had come to associate with their favorite HQ. It had also gained some level of repute, considering that it now functioned as a store-- helped, no doubt, by the removal of the fish smell.

In fact, Edvard, Lilith, and Zillah were currently in said shop, attempting to sell antiques. (Well, Zillah and Lilith were, Edvard was attempting to subtly determine if there was anything that could be of use in his innoventing before it was sold.) It was while they were there, standing behind the counter, that a sudden flash of light went off, starting our adventure.

When the light dimmed, they found that they were joined by a group of rather unusual people. For one thing, they were all dressed in clothes not seen in centuries. For another, they were arguing amongst themselves. Finally, one of them was red and the other was green. And one was Egbert.

The three crew members exchanged glances, debating with their eyes who would take the lead in the conversation. Finally, rolling her eyes, Zillah stepped forward. “Excuse me,” she said politely, “But who are you and how did you get here?”

The figure with the eyepatch scoffed. “What do you mean how did we get here? It’s not like ‘here’ is a particularly daring place to be. And how dare you not recognize the greatest pirate ever!” He struck a pose. “It is I, Corazón De Balleña, at your service,” he ended on a bow.

“Never heard of you, mate.” Lilith told him, “And I hate to break it to you, but we don’t have pirates anymore.”

Corazón scoffed. “That’s obviously because I’ve scared them all off. Honestly, use your head.” He looked around the shop. “So, where is ‘here’?”

“You’re in Volisport,” Zillah told him.

“Never heard of it,” he said dismissively. “Right, well we’ll just teleport ourselves out of your hair.”

The three crew members exchanged concerned looks. “What do you mean, you’ll teleport?” Edvard demanded. “Magic doesn’t exist.”

Corazón snorted, flicking his hand. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, mumbling the incantation for dancing lights.

Nothing happened.

Corazón narrowed his eyes and tried it again with the same result.

“I’m sorry,” Zillah said, “But is something supposed to be happening?”

At the same time, Prudence started laughing. “You’re right,” she said, “It is funny when it isn’t happening to you.”

“I told you,” Edvard said, “There’s no such thing as magic.”

Corazón took a deep breath before turning to the half-orc who was trying to hide behind an elf. “Dob,” he said calmly, “I’m going to kill you.”

*********

When Kas walked in a few minutes later, utter pandemonium had enveloped the shop. Corazón was chasing Dob around Merilwen, yelling about ‘not touching strange orbs, we’ve had this conversation before!’ Meanwhile, Lilith had struck up a conversation with Prudence about demon heritage, and Egbert was not-so-subtly leaving pamphlets for the crew to read.

Kas sighed and rubbed his eyes. At least his majesty wasn’t here. “What seems to be going on?” He asked, causing everyone in the room to freeze (this was especially impressive because he hadn’t even needed to raise his voice).

“Um, sorry,” Merilwen said from where she was sandwiched between Corazón (who was in the process of attempting to strangle Dob) and Dob (who had decided to cling to her back to avoid being strangled). “Oxventurers, can we have a huddle?”

The two groups exchanged glances before in one movement, the Oxventurers moved into a group circle. Speaking at normal volumes but still somehow going unheard, they conversed.

“What is going on? Who are these people?” Merilwen asked.

“Whoever they are, they are clearly not as cool and awesome as us,” Corazón replied, “I think we can take them.”

“We don’t even know if we need to take them,” Merilwen replied.

“Yeah! That one with the snake hair seemed nice,” Prudence said. At their blank stares, she rolled her eyes. “Besides, Corazón, can you even take them without your magic?”

“I don’t need magic to overthrow every enemy I face,” He declared, “Plus, you don’t have yours either!”

Prudence smiled, a sight that sent chills down the backs of more than one member of each group. “Yes, but I do have my rage.”

“Why do we have to fight them?” Egbert asked. “Can’t we just see if they can help us?”

“Do they look like they know how to help us? This is a job only we can solve!” Corazón declared.

“It can’t hurt to ask them,” Dob said.

“Shut up, Dob, this is all your fault!”

“Hey! That seems uncalled for.”

“No, Corazón is right,” Merilwen said, “You’re the one who touched the orb.���

“I told you, the orb wanted me to touch it,” Dob replied.

“Yeah, but now we’re here, Dob,” Egbert said, “And here isn’t the place I want to be.”

“I think we should ask them for help,” Prudence broke up the rekindling argument. “And since I have my rage and you don’t have your magic, I think you should listen to me.”

The rest of the group made eye contact and had a quick nonverbal conversation that resulted in Merilwen stepping forward. “Look, we’re sorry about this,” She said, “But my friend here touched a glowing orb that just screamed ‘do not touch’ and then we were teleported here. And now we just want to go home.”

The crew was silent as they looked at each other.

The awkward silent standoff ended as the door opened and Barnaby walked in. Upon seeing their guests, he did a double take before looking down at the open bottle of bourbon in his hand. “I say chaps,” he said, “I can usually hold my drink, but this stuff might be stronger than I thought.”

Brightening up, Egbert stepped forward. “I know someone who can help with that-- here, take a pamphlet.”

Luckily, they were interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on the door.

A few moments later, everyone turned to look at Barnaby, who was standing right next to the door. “Aren’t you going to get that?” Edvard asked.

Barnaby scoffed. “I may have drank enough to hallucinate people in the shop, but I know enough to remember that I don’t open doors.”

“Absolutely ridiculous,” Edvard muttered not-quite-under his breath, opening the door.

Unlike the hammer and vase set up that usually introduced a job for them, there was only a plain box. Upon opening the box, they found that it contained only a black orb-- a black orb that seemed very familiar to the Oxventurers. Along with the box came a note. “Instead of making you work for this one, I figured it would be best if we just got your friends out of here before any unsavory people noticed.”

“Does this seem too easy to anyone else?” Lilith piped up, “A complication has to come from this.”

“Nah, this seems about normal,” Dob said, “Something happens, we argue, a solution comes, everyone goes home nice and safe.” He paused for a second. “Why, does it not happen that way for you?”

“No, usually we try something, then something else goes wrong, then we solve that, then something else happens, then Zillah chokes someone out,” Lilith responded.

“Sometimes with her thighs,” Edvard added admiringly.

“Hey! I told you I’m working on finding a different panic response!” Zillah argued.

“Choking people out with your thighs? Can you teach me how to do that?” Prudence asked.

The other Oxventurers exchanged a concerned glance. “Ok, well it was lovely to meet you guys, goodbye,” Corazón said, quickly touching the orb.

The group disappeared with a flash of light and appeared in their own world where they had left it, with Dob just about to touch the orb.

“Dob, do not touch that,” Merilwen said.

“Oh I see how it is. I touch an orb and it’s all ‘Dob you idiot’, Corazón touches an orb and it’s all ‘well that’s fine!’” Dob threw his hands up in the air and walked off before he could realize that the orb was still glowing.

The rest of them looked at each other. “Motion that we never speak of this again?” Egbert asked.

The others agreed and walked off to join their chaotic bard.

*********

Back in the shop, the others looked at each other suspiciously. “That seemed too easy, didn’t it?” Kas asked, looking at the orb.

Miles away in the Dimmer Mansion, Kelly watched as the long dormant magical artifacts started emitting light hums. “It appears our plan has worked,” she said to Allie and Hallie. “Tell the members around the world to come home-- the Orbpacalypse has begun.”

#oxventure #oxventure in the dark #edvard #zillah #lilith #corazon #dob #merilwen #kas #barnaby #prudence #egbert #this was both difficult and fun to write! #there were a lot of characters #so it was hard to get them to all talk the right way #thank you for the prompt! #ask #prompt #i wrote this

[gaggle-of-skeletons-and-a-human]

Lulu: *She pokes Eleanor's nose and a flash of green light appears.* There.

*Now Eleanor is a small baby bones. She looked shocked and confused. She had a small crack on her right eye.*

*BTW. Eleanor's eyes are usually a bright shade of green. But now, they're dimmer and murky*

Nightmare: Ah.

Kimiko: Hey, Eleanor, does Toxin know you have this form?

#the adventures of a simp #the outcodes

[musicalmukebox]

Let’s Get (Back) Together | l.h. (11)

Ctto of the gif!

AU: Parent Trap Dad!Luke

Summary: A strong love which led to a strong marriage and twin daughters. Yet in the end, it didn’t turn out so well. You strongly refuse to encounter him ever again. But what happens when both of you coincidentally send your twin daughters to the same summer camp in Florida after 10 years?

Word Count: 6.1k

Warnings: swearing, fighting, mentions of anxiety, anxiety attacks, bad overthinking, angst

(LONG) A/N: YES LOVES, I AM BACK FROM THE DEAD AKA COLLEGE LIFE!! First, Youngblood has dropped, alongside my panties and well-being. Second, I missed writing, yet I don’t know how consistent nor the scheduling of posting will go, so stay alert and maybe turn on those notifs!! I kinda had mental block for this one, so I do hope you still enjoy this! By the way, I’ll be using the gif above for the past and remaining chapters for easier distinguishing when I come up in any of the tags you search in. I love you all, especially those who’ve stayed!!

I don’t own Parent Trap and its ideas. It’s only used as inspiration.

1 / 2A / 2B / 2C / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

Feedback/Questions/Others? Here.

-

2021, Los Angeles

“Shit, I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be, she’s kind!”

Here you are again, nervous of meeting another set of Luke’s loved ones, or maybe just one person in particular. “But Sierra Deaton is up there, being in the music industry for so long and I’m still starting out ya know.” You say, intimidated by her career so far.

Where were you both exactly? At the balcony of this club in LA, where a Miss Sierra Deaton would be performing her last show of her mini USA tour. Surprisingly, you haven’t met her considering that she is a very close friend of the band, but she is a busy artist after all and you didn’t really mind because you begin to relate. Luke did say she was a kind woman, yet you mind lets your drift into a different direction, letting you get access the worst thoughts possible.

“Babe,” Luke, seated right beside you, puts his hand on top of yours, feeling the nerves shaking in your body. “She’s been there and gets it. Trust me on that, alright?” Giving him a reassuring nod, the lights begin to dimmer and fans from the mosh pit below begin to scream in excitement.

“Woo, let’s go!” Ashton from behind your seat cheers, followed a giddy Michael. “Fucking start already!” He joked, in which Crystal reacted by hiding her face with her hand and looking down as everyone around you were laughing, even you too. Some fans from the pit noticed that voice, and were going nuts to find you guys up there. But it was short-lived when the first notes of Don’t Hurt played, shifting their attention to the stage, wherein low and behold, there she was. A mic on one hand and smiling wide.

“LA, make some noise!”

Swaying her hips along to music before opening up, she harmonized well with the backup singers. You were singing along, enjoying the lively vibe in the room. When she lit the room more with a smile.

“Luke’s right, self. No need to worry.”

-

“Ah, boys!!” You entered Sierra’s dressing room along with the others to see her unwinding in the couch with some wine. Getting up, she patiently gives her hellos and hugs to everyone, leaving you last. Upon your turn, she gasps lightly in awe.

“Finally, we’ve met, Miss (Y/N)!” She wraps her arms around you for a hug, which was a reassuring surprise. She was a lot shorter than you, you noticed. “Luke has told me so many great things about you.” 

“Oh, he has?” You glanced at the blondie by your side, blushing. “I might’ve gotten carried away too.” 

“You got him so whipped, hun.” She teased, making Luke fake a pout before he laughs along.

“I guess so? Also, it’s nice to finally meet you as well, Sierra.” You say, sounding as if you were questionable as you replied. “You performed so well awhile ago!” You praised, making her chuckle. 

“Thank you very much! And to celebrate,” She takes hold of the wine bottle alongside some spare glasses by the table beside her. “Want some sangria?” 

It took a simple nod then a loud “Cheers!” with everyone else there to release your nerves out. At some point, you lost count of how much glasses of Sangria you’ve drank and got a bit buzzed. Eleanor was telling a story about how she and Calum had a mini vibrator war during the recent MTV awards.

“Wait, what the fuck?!” Crystal belt out, laughing. “Was that why you squirmed a lot when you were seated with me?” Eleanor only blushing, nodding.

“I’m not surprised honestly.” Ashton added on.

“So that’s why Calum had a hard-on during our acceptance speech!” Luke says in realization, shaking his head at a red Calum, suffering from embarrassment. “I’m sorry I can’t really help what happens down there!”

“Kinky shits!” You ratted out, chugging those remaining contents of your glass. This led to a flushing feeling down there, urging you to let it out. 

“Excuse me, guys,” You stood from the couch, grabbing your phone with a little wobble. “I must urinate.”

“Wow, so formal.” Brianna joked.

“She acts that way when she’s drunk.” Luke exposed, making you slap his shoulder slightly. “Hey!” He fake winced, giving a little pout.

“Don’t shade me like that!” Brushing your hair to the back flamboyantly, you quickly leave the room, pacing in search of a restroom. “Ah here!” You breathe with relief as you turned to the right and pulled the door open. 

Let’s not go into detail on your session in the stall. But it was relieving and you were ready to drink a few more. After all, Luke is the designated driver tonight. Sliding your stall door open, your eyes gleamed at surprise at the sight of Sierra, arms crossed as she leaned behind the marbled cement where the faucets were located. Her facial expression was hard to decipher, yet you maintained respectful.

“Oh hey, Sierra.” You greeted instantly, trying to hide your sudden redness of cheeks. 

“Oh cut off the crap, yeah?” She hissed, walking towards yourself as you begin to walk back. When you stopped at your tracks by the wall, she pointed her finger at you. “How much is he paying you?”

You were dumbfounded at this girl’s harshness. “Excuse me, but nothing!” You pushed her back, controlling your anger and non-sobriety. “What’s your problem? Luke told me you’re a kind girl.”

She laughed at the comment, stepping closer to you once more, like what the fuck? “Oh love, I am. It’s just that,” She was eyeing you up and down in utter disgust. “The past girls Luke’s been with were always PR stunts. Luke never fell in love with any of them, except his ex Arzaylea and she hurt him. Badly.“ 

“How the hell would you compare me to her? You just met me!”

“If there’s something I’m good at, it’s reading people, and you, Miss (Y/N), are an attention-seeking slut who wants to rank up high in the acting industry!” She shouted in anger. 

“Keep that fucking anger in you quiet unless you want someone to catch us!” You motioned your hands downward, signaling her to keep her voice down. Rolling her eyes, she spoke up again, but quietly.

“You don’t deserve him.” At her tone and shaking of her head, her mood is easily interpreted.

“And you do? Hun, jealousy is not a good look on you.” Your confidence rose up, being down to get closer to her. “If he wanted you, you both would have been together and I’m still hustling at a successful career, which is something I’m aiming for.” Inhaling deeply, “He chose me, not you. Why bother, yeah?” Fluttering your lashes in innocence, you swerved against her, pulling the door open. “This isn’t over, (Y/N). The tables will turn, and I didn’t want you to watch my show! I was trying to avoid you!” She threatened.

“Well sorry Sierra, but Luke brought me along. That’s already a sign of failure, but thanks for trying!” You sassed, banging the door closed. This buzzed state of yours always brings the confidence you lack, and you were hella aware of your worth, not taking shit from anyone.

Yes, you were right earlier with your initial thoughts on this girl. Your mind tells you to tell Luke, but your heart says to keep that feud between you and Sierra since they’ve been friends for so long and you don’t want to be a friend-wrecker.

“The latter it is.”

-

2034, Los Angeles

“Ahh, it’s today!” Stella beamed as she tied the shoelaces of her converse. “I get to watch perform live with uncle Mikey, Cal and Ash!”

It was finally Saturday, the day of the band’s show in the Forum. As much as you didn’t want to confess, you were pretty excited to watch them because it’s a reunion too. But one thing is standing your way into enjoyment: Sierra. But whatever, what matters here are your daughters and enjoying the night with them with good music, having more family time.

“Becks texted, they’re outside!” She says, running to the front door and opening it excitedly to reveal a black van. The vehicle slid open, seeing her fellow identical seated in beside Luke. Following right behind her as you grew nearer to the entrance, you gave a wave at the Aussies.

“Hi poppet and Luke.” You say upon entering the car, taking the row of seats behind the Rebecca and Luke alongside Stella. Upon settling down, the driver continued its job to head to the Forum.

“Hi (Y/N), hey bub!” He reaches behind his seat to give a short, side hug to Stella, who did the same. He also ruffled her hair much to her annoyance. “Ah dad, stop! Oh and hey loser!” As she wiggled away from Luke’s grasp, she gave a high five to Rebecca, who initiated their handshake. The same handshake of Becks and Luke with air guitar playing in the end. “Hiya brat, hey mom!” Rebecca says, giving a kiss on your check.

At the moment, you didn’t really like the way they addressed each although you did that with your friends, even with the band. But they are sisters after all, they got to be nice. “Girls, be nice.” Luke addressed, having thought of the same things as you.

“Oh come on, dad! Those were our nicknames back in camp.” Stella addresses. “Well, when we hated each other.” Becks added.

“Wait, you hated each other?” Luke gasped, making the girls look at each other dumfounded, initiating them to tell the full story of their camp shenanigans. “Shit Becks, was Stella the girl whom you dared to jump the lake commando?”

Knowing now the full story made you proud of their character developments, putting aside their personality differences and joined together in order to make this reunion possible. As for Luke, he’s very glad to see the other half of his family despite everything. If only it wasn’t this way. Much to your surprise, the story telling lasted until you arrived the venue, seeing all these different fans of different ages lined up at the entrance. Proud was an understatement. Even after more than 20 years, they’re still very popular to the younger generations.

When the car halted near the backstage doors and got out, you began to feel nervous, shaking out goosebumps. Luke caught that moment from you just as he told the twins to behave properly as they entered backstage. “Are you okay, (Y/N)? I just saw you shake out some nerves or something.”

“Y-Yeah, it’s just pretty cold.” Luke knew you were lying straight away by the way you were breathing heavily and your eyes kept looking around.

“You can be honest with me, you know?”

Darn, he’s good. “I just don’t know how the others will react, like suddenly I cut off ties with them for so long. I think they’re still mad at me.” You overthink, getting goosebumps again.

“Hey, don’t say that.” Luke comforts, putting his hand on your shoulder, squeezing it a bit. “They miss you, and would never do that. But if something happens, I’ll handle it.” Nodding him instead of speaking another word, he leads you to the backstage. Surprisingly, a lot of backstage crew remembered you from way before, giving their hellos and small talk. You were afraid that they could say something already before even seeing your old group of friends, but Luke has your back by discreetly telling the crew to keep it a secret for now.

A good 20 minutes later, you somehow encountered and hear Rebecca giving a similar kind of Luke’s pep talk to Stella in a private part of the backstage. “But what if they don’t like me, Becks? I practically lied to them by acting like you, which isn’t a good impression.”

“Stella, they will like you! I have a feeling they missed you after so long, and besides, I’ll be here when you get nervous.” Rebecca reassures, giving her twin a tight hug before they see you and Luke during their special moment.

“You guys ready?” Luke asks, specifically to you and Stella whether you’re prepared to head further to the backstage area of the boys. You still were speechless, so you just nodded and trying to regain your calmness. “Yup, dad!” Stella expressed quietly with excitement.

Walking a few more steps and getting closer got your heart racing and thoughts running all over your head, you just kept thinking of all these different bad scenarios of what could happen and just wanted to get it over with. Stella, who was beside you, noticed the way you crinkled your eyes repeatedly and gives a squeeze on your hand. “You’ll be okay, mom. No need to panic.”

You just returned a squeeze, mouthing “thank you”. Luke was also getting pretty tense upon heading to the band backstage room, unsure of everyone’s reaction, especially Sierra. Oh shit, her. Not bad or anything he thinks, though he’s always sensed some tension between you two but he couldn’t be too sure. As he sees the sign “Band” on a door, everything felt more intense. Thank the heavens that the door was closed because it gives more time for everyone to relax.

“Well, we’re here.” He begins. “Rebecca and I can go inside first, then I’ll spill everything on your behalf so you can calm down. Is that okay?”

“Sure, dad. Go on ahead so we can get this show started!” Stella answered for you, still holding your hand. Luke gives a nod before he shifts the knob of the door to the right, letting the door open frontwards. Everyone, from the boys and their wives with the kids, was just talking and goofing around, but at the sight of Luke and Rebecca, they cheered in relief.

“Finally, you two are here!”

“God Luke, where have you been? We need our frontman!”

“It’s about time you both arrived!”

Rebecca paid respect by giving hugs and cheek kisses to her aunts and uncles, then waves at the different kids while Luke shares a laugh at their banter before he gets serious. “Sorry, guys. But, I have an excuse.”

“You got occupied with a Miss Sierra Deaton?” Michael joked, which was a struggle for Rebecca to not act disgusted.

“Nice try, Mikey, but we didn’t arrive together. I was late because instead of riding with you guys, I took a detour and brought a few other guests for tonight’s show.” Everyone’s interest peaked, dense as to what this blondie was up to.

“Who did you bring then?” Calum asked, crossing his arms. Rebecca looked back at Stella who was relatively a bit near to the door but not near enough to be seen by them, gesturing to come here. “Come here, brat!” Her relatives were confused, wondering how special this person was to her. Stella was hesitant, but she didn’t want to keep them waiting. “Wait here, mom. I’ll start.”

Stella gives a nod, but before making a move, Rebecca speaks up first before she enters. “This person is someone who I grew to love in a short span of time, almost like we’re the same.” With this pun, Stella comes inside the room with a hoodie to cover her face at first from everyone and also facing down.

“There’s no need to be shy, bub.” Luke remarks, which has the adults begin to create assumptions of who this could be, especially since they are aware that Luke only gives that nickname to one person. The kids were pretty excited to know who this was because this felt so new. Stella eventually gave in, unveiling the hood and tilts her head up to show herself. Just to add, she was right beside Rebecca. Everyone was just astonished, hands in their mouths and gasps.

“Am I tripping or is that-“ 

“Stella?” Bryana cuts off Ashton, still frozen at the sight of her goddaughter. Stella nodded, urging Bryana to approach her vicinity. She kneeled to her height. “I’ve missed you so much.” 

Stella didn’t speak but instead gave her a heartfelt hug. “I’m Bryana, by the way. I’m your godmother.” Bryana introduces herself mid-hug. Letting go, “Oh, I know who you are, actually everyone. Well, except the godmother part, aunt Bryana.”

“What do you mean?” She asks, then by instinct, the twins looked at each other with mischievous smirks.

“Well,” Rebecca starts. “It all began when we met at camp.”

“Then we figured ‘hey why not swap so we get meet the loved ones of our mom and dad?’, which brings us to today.” Stella finishes.

As everyone tried to comprehend the situation, “So wait, if Stella was whom we had these past weeks,” Ashton pondered.

“That meant Becks was wi-“

“Me.” Eleanor was cut off by your entrance to the room, which made everyone hitch their breaths. Upon hearing your daughters talk, you knew they couldn’t do this alone, so you straightened out your nerves and just went for it. This also went Luke, whom you could easily spot the hesitation he felt with the whole explanation thing going on because it was too much to handle.

“Oh my god, (Y/N).” Crystal says, covering her mouth in surprise. Eleanor is speechless then ran to your vicinty and gave a tight hug, which you returned with a flinch. She was your best friend, and it gutted you both to have cut those ties. Well actually, you had the scissors. “I fucking missed you, (Y/N).” She blurted out, sniffling a bit as she felt all these various emotions running her veins at a fast pace.

“I missed you so much too, Eleanor.” You couldn’t contain yourself either as you respond, your voice cracking as you say those words. Eleanor’s strong movement undoubtedly created a domino effect, which led the other boys and girls to give their hellos. Surely yes, Luke was pretty nervous on bringing you along, seeing this happen first-handedly marveled him, in fact much better than he thought. The vibe felt casual, no grudges withheld and fulfillment to be reunited with a loved one.

“You haven’t changed a bit!” Crystal compliments. 

“You ey, found out that you have a new film out soon!” Ashton addressed, handing you a red cup with some sort of alcohol in it. 

“Yeah! Take Me or Leave Me, it’s out next week.” You plugged. Catching up slowly with life updates, laughing along to Michael and Calum’s random jokes, you unexpectedly recalled a weird sensation from when Eleanor hugged you earlier.

“You got a hard core over there, Eleanor. Been working out?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I wish! I’m actually pregnant, babe!” You dropped your jaw, gasping “Oh my God!” and giving your congratulations. As different conversations between you and your old set of friends flowed coherently, not running out of ideas, and even getting to reintroduce yourself to some of the young children, 

“Hey guys!” A tanned woman calls out as she enters inside the room, making everyone freeze. Especially you, because the voice was all too familiar. Luckily, you were facing backwards.

“Oh hi babe.” Luke greets, giving her a peck on the cheek. Everyone could just feel the awkward tension in the room, emitting twisted grins and widened eyes. 

“Are you guys okay? It’s like you saw a ghost or something?” No one could respond, but you did by turning your back. A bold move indeed, but it could save everyone’s misery.

Sierra gasped before she crossed her arms before giving an all too fake smile on you, in which everyone else interprets it as just a surprised smile.

“Oh my, (Y/N)!” She exclaimed, still stood on the same position.

“Hello, Sierra.” You waved and smiled back, trying your best to be as genuine as you could be. You were more genuinely fake though. Things could get worse from here, but thankfully, one of the show managers came through.

“Show starts in 5, boys!” Sighing in relief, Luke scrambles to get his guitar, while was then followed by the other boys. As for the girls, they begin to head out and bring their kids to the designated family area of the Forum where they will watch the show. Eleanor tapped your shoulder, “Ready to go?”, hand in hand with Nick.

“Yeah, sure! Rebecca and Stella!” You called the two girls, who were in deep conversation with Alex. “Later, mom! We’re still talking!” Stella replied.

“Alex is pretty surprised that Stella and I switched. So we’re pretty much explaining everything in full.” Rebecca giggles. Letting it slide, you vacated the room with Eleanor and continued to talk about anything that you could think of, yet the topic of Sierra is the dominant one. “Well, that was awkward, huh?”

“Kinda? I mean, I really don’t care about whatever they have going on.” You casually shrugged off.

“Oh really? Might’ve felt some jealousy in the air.”

“Whatever, Eleanor. As long as they’re happy, I’m fine. Besides, what matters now to me now is our daughters.” You flatly say.

“If there is something I know about you, (Y/N), your drive for success is strong. You would never let anything you love just pass. And you are mischievous as well.” She trailed off with those words before getting to the area and hearing the excited squeals of different fans.

Meanwhile for Luke, he was unlucky to get in an argument begun by Sierra, who was furious and confused with what she saw, but one thing is for sure: Luke was heavily and soberly involved.

“How did you and her meet again? Why did you even bring her tonight? Just why is she back in our lives?” She believes that she deserves to feel the way she’s feeling because she was there to comfort Luke after the divorce, serving as his rock. 

“It’s a long story babe, which I will explain later. Now please,” He put his hand on her shoulder, moving her to the side. “I have a show to play.” He says, sounding rushed as ever before running to the entrance of the stage. Sierra was beyond pissed, throwing a mini tantrum at his sudden change of mood. A change which occurred when you entered back at his life.

“That fucking bitch.” Bringing out her phone and dialing a familiar mobile number, she puts the device her ear, smirking like the devil as she thinks through what she intends on doing next after this sudden confrontation.

“Hello, Miss Deaton. It’s been a long time.”

“Lovely to talk to you again, Perez. Now, I have a story for you.”

-

“All my life I've been waiting for moments to come, when I catch fire and watch over you like the sun..”

You and the other girls were singing along and bopping your heads to the current song being played, enjoying the good vibes being spread. As much as you can, you stayed away from the public eye which was pretty successful so far, but mostly from Sierra. Dancing along with the twins and even cheering some lyrics out like before, it honestly felt like it was the early 2020’s again. You just haven’t felt this euphoria from a concert in so long.

Ending Catch Fire, the boys took sips of water and beer before they interacted with their audience, loud and proud. “Alright, Los Angeles!” Ashton rekindled an old meme, jumping out also from his chair and holding out his drum sticks momentarily before resting his bosom down again.

“How we feeling tonight, LA?” Luke hyped, combing his locks with his hands to get a better view of the crowd. They roared in excitement, the kind of reaction the band was used to. For sure with a catchy song like Catch Fire, another catchy song will follow up. But this setlist was different compared to the past.

“Thank you for the love, everyone! Now how about we tone the mood down a bit? Release some hidden angst in us.” Calum smoothly caressed his words, making sure his usage of different words was correct. The venue lights dimmed down, a single spotlight focused on Luke as he plucked on some guitar strings.

“We have never played the song live ever, and it’s an oldie too.”

“It makes everything more exciting, Luke. People wanted us to hear those underrated songs, so it’s a start! Besides, we need to give the people what they want!” Michael exclaimed, frenzying the fans to just reveal this song. Luke chuckled, mustering up his emotions before talking. Most especially as he saw you watching, distracting his focal point which was the audience.

As for you, you were unaware of it all. It was just like a regular concert with the band cracking jokes and playing their greatest hits. Another thing you were unaware of was that Sierra saw everything happen between Luke and you, well mostly him. She really tried to shrug it off, but every time they lock eyes, it was for a split second before he looks away and continues strumming his guitar. Jealousy was spicing up her veins.

“It’s an oldie from the Sound Good, Feels Good era, and surprisingly, it took a few runs before we fully remembered how to play it. One of my favorite songs of angst.” He paused for a moment, looking down and avoiding a gaze at anyone. He knew he was used to gigs like this, but now, it felt different because you were in the audience after all this time.

Recalling every lyric of it, he knew the meaning wholeheartedly. It was a risk he was willing to take to entertain the fans.

“This is Story of Another Us.” 

The audience were astounded, finally getting a piece of a big request that has been running for so long: to play the so-called songs that “they left to die”. Screaming was an understatement, more especially when Calum sang the first few lines. 

“Replay the scene over again, before the credits rolling inside my head...” 

Even the other wives around you didn’t expect this, the strong yet out-of-tune vocals of Eleanor singing along because you were aware that this was one of her favorite songs of theirs.

“I don't recall a single word, you hit me faster than I heard inside my head..” She was in sync with Calum, who was crinkling his eyes as he saw her sway her hips, controlling his chuckling since the song was heartbreaking. Some fans noticed, videoing that little moment of theirs which was bound to be posted everywhere. Crystal raised her arms in the air, moving along with the rhythm of the song. Bryana films the moment, quietly humming along. The other kids were watching in awe, most especially Stella because this is the first show she seen of this band. Well, one that she will remember for a long time.

So far, this concert and this song performance embodied how mature they’ve become as they are now in their late 30’s going 40’s, emotionally mostly. Bopping along to the last few lyrics, Michael having just sung his part of the bridge, Luke had his full gaze on you, lips quivering as he opened it to sing his part before one last hurrah of the chorus.

“One last ditch, a new beginning, so take this heart, put yourself in it, this surprise ending I'm depending on…..”

Confusion raced through your mind at his action, whether if he also has a hidden agenda. He thinks he could hide his emotions with those eyes of his, but after all those years of love you had for him, you knew so well of how bad of a liar he was.

“I got a long-term plan with short-term fixes, and a wasted heart that just eclipses, and I push my luck from trust to dust enough, that's the story of another us…”

He is the first to look away, avoiding any unnecessary attention and returning his focus to the main audience. You could see the heartbreak in his eyes and vibe it too from his raspy voice. For Luke, he knows that you are just as pained, even if you tried to conceal it. That was already tough, but what more when your twins have noticed that session of yours?

With every second withering and the song fading too, you could feel your chest getting pressed too tightly from all these different emotions overwhelming you, your mind playing a role too by reminding you those painful moments of the deterioration of your past romance. Your breath span shortened as your head felt woozy, making you choke. Without warning, you made a run for it, leaving the area in a flash. This led to your daughters’ enjoyment to be interrupted by the vulnerable sight of you, their instincts kicking and telling them to help you out because it seemed serious.

Longingly searching for a private area without any staff interference and running further the corridors, you eventually found a dimly-lit spot and settled there. Leaning against the white wall and bent your knees in fetal position, many bad thoughts got you overthinking the decision of the divorce.

“You’re selfish! You made your daughters stay away from each other!”

“You should’ve gain full custody of the twins, not just one of them!”

“You failure! No wonder Luke figured that you held him back!”

“You didn’t put up a fight and gave up like a wimp!”

Your urge to shed tears grew uncontrollable, along with moderate whimpering and melting some of your makeup too. But you could care less at this point because you’ve just lost it. All those held back emotions have met you once more.

Meanwhile, the show continued on and the girls have excused themselves to their aunts, saying that they have a “monthly dilemma”.

“Oh no, do you need any help or anything?” Eleanor suggested, getting shakes from the twins’ head as a response. “Alright then, hurry back! Your dad is halfway done.” Nodding, they ran as fast they could, turning right and left on the hallway and ponders deep. “Where could’ve mom went?” Rebecca worried, her breath hiked and the feeling of worry bound to reach its peak.

“I may have seen her turn left from the corner of my eye.” Stella points out as she scratched the nape of her neck, nervous of your state. “Let’s head on then.” Rebecca rushed, going steps further than Stella, making her chase after her Australian counterpart. This went on for a few more minutes, turning another left and right.

“Stella, chill! I’m dying.” Rebecca complains. “Oh come on! Quit your comp-” Stella’s nagging was interrupted when she overheard a familiar voice in one corner, stopping dead at her tracks. Rebecca took notice, following the domino effect and shifted her direction behind to where Stella stood, her head leaning to one open corridor.

 “What are you do-” Now it was Stella that was interrupted as she heard your echoing whimpers at the very end of the hallway which was wasn’t too far from where the twins were. “Rebecca, go ahead! I’ll follow!” Weirded out, Stella was about to interject, but it took a loud “Go!” from her twin to do otherwise, chasing after the now fainting noise. Rebecca discreetly followed the voice, trying to decipher who it was, why that person was inside and the main topic of discussion.

Who else could it be? Stella sneaked a glance to find Sierra drinking some sort of concoction on a wine glass and talking to a mystery person. Petty, Stella brought her phone, recording whatever she was saying. For future reference, she thought.

“Ugh Perez, I thought we got rid of her forever! ….. Oh yes, what a witty caption! Got Lily to take photos from the private area? …… Nice! But wait she left? Doubt it, her bratty twins are there. But whatever, I’ll talk to you later, can’t miss out on my fiancé’s show too much.”

whom she picked up to be a writer of some sort with the words “caption” and “photos”. Got rid? Kids? She knew straight away it was you.

With those actions occurring, Rebecca has finally found you, releasing the stress. But she pitied at the sight of you with messed up hair, makeup and flowing tears. You were too vulnerable, in every aspect and it broke her heart. Kneeling down right in front of you,

“Mom, what happened? Did something or someone hurt you?” She held her hands on top of yours. With those blue saddened eyes of hers, you couldn’t stop your tears even more because she is half of him and also the half you gave up.

“I-” You choked, your breath stiffened and halted for a moment. Taking a deeper inhale, you properly articulate words, well tried too. “I’m a selfish disappointment! I gave you up so fast when I could’ve just settled for half custody instead of a closed custody that our divorce lawyer suggested. Your dad said yes to it because he was hurt and angry just like me, but I’m your mother! I should’ve never done it!” One hand of yours was released from her grasp, tracing her soft face then brushing some hair behind.

“You’re so beautiful, and I want to know more about you.” Those words made Rebecca just as emotional, reaching over you for a hug and begins to sniffle. “

“Did you even want me just a little bit before you and dad divorced?” This was a question that has haunted Rebecca ever since she got older and knew the real story between you both, instead of the excuse of “mommy’s too busy on her business trip, baby”. Honestly, Luke sucks on hiding secrets.

“I wanted you 100 percent. I love you so much, baby. You and your sister are everything to me.”

“And dad?” That took you in for a surprise and you had no words to respond. She was anticipating for an answer, and before you say what you made up, you were abruptly saved when you heard fast shuffling in the hallway, getting you startled.

“Oh there you guys are!” It was Stella, thank God. “Mom, are you okay?” She was ready to kneel down like Rebecca, but with this mini heartfelt session reaching an end, you felt much better and you could breathe easily now.

“Oh yes, bub.” You gathered your strength to stretch your legs up and stand up, shaking off any dust in your outfit. “Thank you for coming after me. I didn’t realize how much an impact I made.”

“Well, only to the both of us. We were concerned, and our familial instincts kicked in.”

“Nonetheless, thank you, loves. Now, let’s go continue that great show of your dad’s, huh?” They nodded, but first, Stella got a mini-pack of facial tissue from her slingbag and grabbed a few. She rubbed it on your face gently. “You’ve got some smudges of mascara and eyeliner by the bottom of your eyes.” As she stopped, “All better. Let’s head back now.”

Giving her a grateful smile, you followed her lead whilst you wrapped one arm around Rebecca’s shoulder.

“I forgive you, mom. I love you so much, please never leave my life again.” Rebecca whispered, just appreciating every intimate and personal moment she can get with you. Your heart fluttered at the closure, and quickly you were back to the curtained pathway of the private family area.

“Shit, there you girls are!” Your trance was ended at the sight of a sweaty Luke, who looked nervous like you were previously. “Where have you gone? You missed 2 songs!”

“Aren’t you supposed to be performing right now, dad?” Stella questioned.

“Uncle Calum is singing Invisible with uncle Michael while I’m here to get some cool air with uncle Ash. Now, please answer my question, girls.” Rebecca and Stella had nothing to reply, dumbfounded at his nervous and stressful persona.

“Hmm, I don’t know how to say this, but Rebecca thought that she was getting her “monthly” gift for the first time, so we went searching for resources to help her out.” You covered for them.

“Oh.” He chuckled, scratching the nape of his neck like Stella earlier. “Never thought it was that. I was just worried.”

“It’s okay, dad. I feel better now.” Rebecca reassured, giving a discreet wink at you.

“Well, I’m happy, poppet. I need you to be healthy always!” He hugged her up in the air.

“Ahhh, dad let go! I might make an incident if you get what I mean.”

“Oh, shit sorry!”

“Dad, swearing!” Rebecca and Stella squealed, covering their innocent ears.

“Ashton, Luke, Cal and Mikey are almost done!” A manager called out for them.

“Well, that’s my cue, girls. See you in a bit!” He waves his hand goodbye before running off alongside Ashton.

“Aren’t you girls cunning and successful at it?” You smirked at your twins, impressed.

“Well, we got that from you, mom.”

#5sos #5 seconds of summer #5sos smut #5sos au #5sos fluff #5sos preferences #5sos imagines #luke hemmings #luke hemmings imagines #luke hemmings smut #luke hemmings fluff #calum hood #calum hood imagines #calum hood smut #calum hood fluff #michael clifford #michael clifford imagines #michael clifford smut #michael clifford fluff #ashton irwin #ashton irwin imagines #ashton irwin smut #ashton irwin fluff #lgbt #lets get back together #parent trap #lh #ch #mc #ai

[unofficialoxtimeline]

What happened to Barnaby's coats?

Dead Man's Debt: thrown out a window by Edvard

Ironhook's Bounty: destroyed by water when Barnaby and Lilith parachute into Volisport Harbor

The Dreadful Dimmer Sisters: used by Rosie and Josie to wrap the ransom demand

First Flight of the Sparrowhawk: splashed with leviathan distillate whereupon it caught on fire

The Big Score: torn on a protruding nail in the Dimmer Mansion

The Marriage of Lady Fyengeh: left with Emeline Morelon when escaping the opera house

The Death of Cornelius Bagshot: ripped at the sleeves in order to be used as a disguise by Kasimir

To the Depths!: soaked with river water when the diving bell tilted

Magic, Ghosts, Danger, and Death: splattered with gore when Eleanor shoots Roth

Shockingly, Barnaby made it through Into the Deathlands and Fate of the Dimmer Sisters without losing a coat, but he did have to wear little Dracula sunglasses throughout the latter. Swings and roundabouts.

#ox timeline #oxventure in the dark #barnaby fortescue iii

[thestayathomedragon]

Clean Hands

Just what did Rosie and Josie do to Barnaby during his stint as their plaything? Barnaby would certainly like to know.

-----

Just a bit of fun…

-----

Lately, the less scenic route home was becoming more and more appealing.

The Night Market was always teeming with patrons and merchants alike. Though, this was probably more due to the perpetual night state of Volisport than anything that was actually being sold here honestly. It was just that the sounds, the smells, the swarming masses… They were becoming a bit much really.

Before, Barnaby could just push it to the back of his mind with a healthy mixture of willpower, practice and the ever-present fog of a lightly soused euphoria. But now his normal levels of anxiety had become intolerable even with the increased rate at which he drained his ever present flask. The time it took to walk from Eleanor’s Likely Legal Antiques to the first opportunity to duck away into the nearest back alley was a now an awfully close thing.

He hadn’t really developed a total disregard for his own safety. Although, it was certainly something that could be argued. His new hobby of committing “lovely crimes” in his free time notwithstanding.

It was just that with every brush of an elbow and nudge of a shoulder it took to cut his way through the masses his heart rate spiked in the most unpleasant of ways. He had even begun to break out into a very undignified sweat at even the thought.

Barnaby began to wonder if there really was something to what the others had been going on about him having been kidnapped and then something about dimmers. But honestly how could that be? He would certainly remember something as traumatic as that wouldn’t he? Especially since nothing as terrible as that had ever happened to him in his entire life.

But then again, there were the dreams nightmares …

It wasn’t so much what he could see, which wasn’t much of anything honestly, it was what he could hear. Strange chanting raising it pitch and speed. A girl… girls? Giggling? Definitely. But there was another voice underneath. Something that somehow he knew only he could hear. It was dark and deep. Masculine and guttural.

It was almost like the first time he had heard the fight promoter speak but times ten. It made his insides tremble and his heart stutter. It was disconcerting but somehow it was soothing at the same time. Like a warm velvet blanket enfolding him securely.

Though this was only long enough for him to feel the floor beneath him slowly disappear as water rose around him. He could hear as well as feel it sloshing against his ears.

There floating on his back he could see a blood red sky. Storm clouds lit with lightening. The distant sound of thunder. The fowl taste of iron flooded his mouth and suddenly he was completely under, drowning. But not in water…

The voice would try to comfort him even as he struggled, the now much thicker substance much more difficult to move in. Still, Barnaby couldn’t understand what it was saying. It knew his name, however. That much he could make out, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from screaming himself awake every time.

Barnaby would have to rush to wipe away the wetness from his eyes and try and calm his rapidly beating heart but only just before one of his servants rushed in to see to him.

When asked there weren’t was anything he would dare say. Not that even he could put together just what had happened. All he knew was terror in those moments.

It was becoming a real issue honestly. One that there didn’t seem to be enough booze in all of Volisport to quell.

It had been Lilith that first to make note of his appearance. Barnaby caught her staring at him more than once the past few weeks. Studying him like he was one of those dusty books she was so partial to. He didn’t like it. It made his skin feel tight. He felt vulnerable… exposed.

Finally, she approached him and merely said that he looked tired.

Sure, he had started to develop a small wrinkle here or there. Tiny ones really and age was supposed to be attractive on a man of standing wasn’t it? And maybe the shadows around his eyes had grown a little bit darker in the past few weeks, years of boy’s nights out with Squiffy finally taking their toll. Though, he hadn’t expected anyone would be able to tell. Let alone have the indecency to mention it.

Although, to be fair, the company he was keeping lately was questionable at best.

At the time, Barnaby had hidden his grimace behind yet another glass of the finest whiskey he could find. He certainly hadn’t meant to snap at her but he didn’t have the energy to recover quick enough from the slip to smooth it over either. He was just so… so tired.

So much so that he had been walking on autopilot with no idea just how close to the much safer streets of his part of town he had come. He almost missed the two shadows there at the end of the alley, standing between him and home.

His stomach twisted into a knot as they started moving toward him. It was just his luck lately. He had been so close to home after all. Barnaby tried to steel himself, mind racing as he tried to find some way to talk himself out to of this mess.

But suddenly, there was a deep rumble of distant thunder. It reverberated in his bones. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as the warmth and velvet spread over him again. But… He was awake now wasn’t he? He’d been walking home. Had he made it there? To his bed? But when?

“Barnaby…” It was like a train starting up and thing he would have uttered died there in his throat.

“You should be more careful walking around alone… Your Lordship.” One of the shadows said, it’s grin visible even in the darkness.

Static crackled and popped in his ears, like the electricity in the air just before the lightning struck much too close for comfort. There were words he felt like he could just touch… just decipher. A language not like one he’d ever heard before.

“Yes… yes, he is right. You should be more careful, little bird.”

It was like a radio finally tuning in. He could understand it… Him.

And with those words, Barnaby’s vision blurred and the taste of iron flooded his mouth. He was only barely able to get his mouth to move but not his eyes to blink.

“You should go,” Barnaby heard himself say, voice nothing like himself at all. Abrupt and frightened, it cracked, “It… it’s n-not safe.”

It was immediately clear that his uncharacteristic warning had fallen on deaf ears.

Barnaby felt the voice melt away from inside his head. Then from the base of his neck and slither down his spine until it reached the soles of his feet and kept going. It leached the warmth right out of him and left his stomach cold and heavy, weighing him in place.

It behind him. Real as anything he’d ever felt, breathing down hot at his neck. The shadow, his shadow grew and grew, larger and taller. Until, without even looking, Barnaby could feel it towering behind him blotting out what little light that could reach this place.

The oppressive presence leaned over top of Barnaby and he didn’t dare move a muscle. Pitch black tree trunk arms bared down on either side of him, the roots of which curled into sharp claws that dug into the cobblestone.

That was enough. He didn’t want to see any more.

It was then that Barnaby knew he wasn’t the only one that could see it. He could tell by the looks on their faces.

“What the hell is…” The fear was in their voices now.

It happened so fast. It snatched them both up before they even had to the chance to scream. Blood pooled at his feet and Barnaby stumbled back to keep from steeping in it. The sound of twigs snapping in fresh mud echoed off the walls. Then… nothing.

The smell of copper hung heavy in the air. His heartbeat began to slow. Barnaby was suddenly warm and whole again.

The inky black presence was gone. Still, he felt a phantom nudge at his back, carefully navigating him around what surprisingly little mess there was left behind.

Tidy…

He thought as he continued to be pushed toward the alley’s end.

It was then that Barnaby finally allowed himself to blink causing tears to slip free of tired eyes and even then he smiled. It was the safest he had felt in weeks.

-----

“At his leisure, he could summon to his hand the three-headed magical flail known as the Butcher.”

#oxventure in the dark #oxventure #barnaby “the butcher” fortescue iii #barnaby fortescue iii #fanfic #i don't own this little bastard i'm just borrowing him #fic: clean hands #barnaby fic

[lethclroses-blog]

SAGE !

a soft sigh escaped parted lips as eleanor stared out the window cascading with droplets. the city of seattle sparkled far prettier than paris yet it appeared dimmer to her now that sage was no longer by her side as she explored it. the buzz and ding of her phone snapped her out of her momentary reverie, tired brown hues flickering to the screen as she picked it up in her hand.

the crease between her brows deepened once she read the link that was sent to her, a scowl forming on her features as she swipes out of her messages and before she even knows it, her thumb is hovering over the name sage. gaining the courage to hit the green button, eleanor tentatively held the phone to her ear as the dial tone continued.

                                              ❛  sage ? ❜

#glamorcus #* eleanor devereux // replies. #hey :)

[rachel-zx]

Farewell, Mr.Heimer(1-I Saw)

My name is Wanbai Fei. This is my story. You may say I am dreaming, or guilty, or sinful. But I don't do much, and it's not against the law to like a person, is it? Please read slowly and I'll write it down. Maybe I'll end up disillusioned, maybe I won't.

Perhaps because of its location in the east of England, Elvi was less exposed to the warm moisture of the westerly winds and enjoyed sunny weather again. It was autumn, and from time to time the devastating east wind made her suddenly cold. The leaves had been blown down and left upswept, and after a few rains they were mixed up, seemed to be ready to be planted on. Fortunately and unfortunately, I hardly ever have to go to school for a week. The outbreak, which swept across Britain, didn’t leave Elvi behind. The last time Elvi Cathedral was closed was during Cromwell's Puritan days. The old church has stood here for thousands of years and tolled the same constant bell every day to the town of Elvi. I love the sound of its bell, and I enjoy hearing it in my dorm room every time.

Rarely go out today -- shopping. Ning Fan dressed as if she were going on a date. But, in fact, she seemed to do it every day. She is my roommate.  According to her, in China, all the boys surround her. After coming here, the few people in the dormitory are not interested in her. At least, I said, you have people all back to our country. Like me, there's never anyone around. None.

Not far from our dormitory is the King's Bridge over the River Hill, and across the bridge is Elvi Cathedral. The bridge is narrow and pedestrian only, but it is usually busy because it is the closest bridge to the town centre and the school. But now the only people on the bridge were what looked like a mother and daughter looking out over the Hill. “Look eve. . .  ”The woman had large eyes, a round figure, reddish-brown hair, and was carrying a child about three or four years old. “So beautiful!” The two of us walked past the mother and daughter, and Ning looked back at them. “Are the two of them biological?”

“Why ask such a tricky question. . . ”

“Look at that little girl's blonde hair. It doesn't follow her mother at all.”

“It's also possible to follow her father, and children have lighter pigmentation, hair colour will become darker. Besides, you see, the little girl looks just like that woman.

“I forgot about her father.”

Ning giggled, her red lips glaring in the sun.

Downtown -- I prefer to call it the town centre. In fact, one day to shop in it, two days you get clear of it, three days can be a guide for people. Ning, passport in hand, boldly showed off her birthday and bought a variety of wines. I bought some groceries at the frozen foods supermarket. Soon into the winter, a few girls still wearing miniskirts, standing in front of the bank and a few other boys laughed out loud. Ning awkwardly picked up two large bags of wine, and I hugged my big bag of frozen chicken breasts and cheese.

“Do you count alcohol as part of the Gini coefficient?”

“Ah? Maybe. . . . . . Isn't it? I don't understand.  Why are we two liberal arts students talking about this?”

“It's nothing. Suddenly it came to me. ”

I contrasted her wine again with my frozen food, but didn't continue. There was a vintage shop down the street with a hat I liked very much. But it's too expensive. The mother and daughter on King's Bridge had left. It was getting late. I pulled the band of my mask with my free hand. Ning was very tired. On the Hill, two rowing boats passed, seemed that they were the ships of the Bishop College.

“It's annoying. I'm getting sleepy. I might as well turn off the camera for tomorrow's webinar. ”

“I'm all mixed up. What class is tomorrow?”

“As like the first week, the people from the school museum, they come to lecture.  Well, it's probably just the same as last time, one or two people talking and the rest shutting up. . . ”

“I didn't listen much last time. . . I was in a group discussing with one of my classmates which was prettier. ”

“Ha ha ha! Have you come to a conclusion?”

“Each holds different opinion. She thinks that John is the prettiest. I prefer the Percy one. ”

“Let me see. . . John is the middle-aged and Percy is the ginger one?”

“Good memory. ”

“I'll take a closer look at these two men tomorrow. ‘Blanche, what do you really want?’”

“What and what?”

“Isn't your English name Blanche? I only thought of Toby Stephens' version of Mr. Rochester looking so handsome when he asked Blanche Ingram this question. . .”

“Don't mention it. . . I would not have taken Miss Ingram's name, except that it implied "pure white," and resembled my own, and was accustomed to use it.”

“There are so many similar names in English. . . What does it matter!”

“It would be convenient for you. . . Both the Chinese and English names are Fanning!”

“Even spelling is the same!”

Fanning giggled as we walked across King's Bridge.

 Tuesday's class was long, and Ning did turn off the camera. The girl in the group who liked John laughed and said he looked like Jaime Lannister. I looked at John -- he couldn't seem to find a comfortable sitting position and was always moving around with his laptop. The professor and curator lectured enthusiastically, and once again I noticed Percy in the corner. Curiously, I opened the staff page at the Elvi University Museum and flipped through their names. Percy was actually a nickname.  His name is Percival. “What a noble names. . .”I've always felt that some names, like Eleanor and Isabel and Percival, seem to carry an old story in themselves.

I looked it up again and found that Percival turned out to be a knight of the Round Table, of French, Irish or Welsh origin. Percy, silent on one side of the screen, took a sip of coffee -- presumably -- and stared at the screen. Even through the poor quality of the camera, the golden-red hair glowed with a mixture of brown-red and white-gold. I can't tell if he has green eyes, but anyway, he probably has some Irish roots.

Something was wrong in my mind, so I quickly closed all the search pages and listened to the lecture. The curator's head was next to Percy's, and I couldn't help looking back at Percy. He lifted his chin, glanced up, and then smiled, as if to say hello.

Well. . .

It's stupid to like someone across the screen. Besides, is it only a matter of appearance-fancy? A silver ring gleamed on Percy's hand, resting on his cheek. I tilted my head and watched Percy drink his coffee when Ning texted me.

“I looked at it and I thought the men you like all look the same. Think of your favourite stars before, and look at Percy. Besides, I think this John looks so familiar. . .”

“Like Jaime Lannister?”

“Alas! That's right!”

I thought about it carefully -- Fanning was right, I did like a lot of European and American male stars, and, the heat was also very quickly over. So maybe I won't like him for long this time. After all, love at first sight across the screen is star-chasing, isn't it?

. . .

Percy still had his chin in his hand, and the ring glowed.

 When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in bed. Isn't this Elvi Cathedral? After a couple of steps, I noticed that I was wearing a square-necked dress, a ring and a hat, and that my long straight hair hung down at the back of my head -- a very Tudor look! Am I dreaming?

A great crowd of aristocrats filed out of the cathedral, and I was the only one standing on the stony road at the door. A knight in a yellow suit saw me, and I was so frightened that I picked up my dress and ran off down the path in the woods.

I stopped panting on the path through the woods -- Elvi's path was always difficult to walk on, especially during the Tudors. As I rested against the wall, the knight ran after me. I looked over -- wasn't that Percival?

“Blanche? Okay, looks like she made you angry. You come here, and I find you.”

It was clearly Percy, but he didn't notice anything different. Unlike the casually dressed Percy from the webcam, this one is wearing a more elaborate yellow jacket, but, after all, it was the Tudors, and it is not much better.

“She? Who is she?”

“Please, Blanche, it's Tracy! I didn't want to get engaged to her, but fortunately it hasn't happened yet. Let's think it over!”

. . . It was a dream I didn't know whether to call beautiful or not, but one in which Percy seemed to have consulted this Blanche before he could put the ring on his finger.

“You're Miss Fay, and there's really nothing about you that's not worthy of the Heimer family. . . Percy said to himself. Just the word "Fay" gives me a shiver - another not-so-coincidence but a coincidence.

“Where is Tracy?”

Percival looked over his shoulder toward the cathedral.

“Probably already in the carriage.”

Curious about Tracy and the rest of the Fay family, I dragged Percival back. Indeed, a line of carriages was parked at the cathedral door.

“Where is she?”

When Percival saw that I was hiding behind a nearby tree, he didn't move forward either, but showed me "there ". I looked in that direction -- there was a lady sitting in the carriage, with slightly dimmer hair than Percival’s, and large eyes, as if. . . Wait, isn't this the woman from King's Bridge? A sudden thought struck me, and I turned to Percy.

“Did she mention a little girl named Eve?”

“Well, she said that if she ever had to name her daughter in the future, it would be Eve. You know that? Did you know it in your dream?” Percival laughed, a pleasant laugh that grew fainter and fainter. I heard some familiar melodious music –

 -- Then I woke up in the dormitory.

What a dream. . .

I turned off the alarm clock and turned on the light. Dim yellow light always makes people drowsy, but it works wonders when people want to get out of bed. Another day there was a class for museum staff. It's a weekly class, and the people who come are not sure. But I looked in the manual, and Percy was there this week.

Well, what was I thinking?

After a brief tidying, I turned on the computer. My brain was still a little muddled so I didn't fully understand what the professor had said, but the whole screen was full of people laughing. Percy's smile had a nice curve, like a slightly parted bow, showing his teeth. Two lines of laughter were carved under his eyes, with a split cross at the end. The window was on his right, but on the dimmer left, his ring was still shining.

Maybe I'll just go back to my dreams.

He smiled happily and stuck out his tongue’s tip. I don't know why it was so funny.

A couple of people had turned off their cameras, presumably to pour water, and the software automatically lined up our cameras, mine next to Percy's. I don't know why this makes me nervous.

Another smile, disdainful this time, perhaps thinking of something else.

His teeth are so cute. . . So does the smile. But, for all that, he did not look awake. I'd like to take a razor and shave him off. But his beard was short, just a reddish brown stubble, but after all makes him look haggard.

Percy took another sip of something, probably coffee, and slurped. He doesn't say much, probably because his job is not to curate. But that made me want to hear his voice all the more.

I looked at the mute symbol in his lower left corner, and at some point, it disappeared.

I heard Percy!

I don't know why, but my first reaction was to think of Schonbrunn Palace. I have never been to this Palace, but I know that the name of it is derived from its surrounding clear and heart-moving spring.

Watching Percy didn't keep me from listening, I paid attention on him when I couldn't get a word in, I listened to him or joined him in silence.

At the end of the class he looked up, seemed to be called by someone, and looked to the other side, where a distinct sternocleidomastoid muscle stood out against the side light. His ginger hair behind his ears was golden. As if the person who had called him had moved ahead, Percy turned slowly to the front, his eyes still looking up, the light flickering in his sockets.

Probably on a clear summer night in Elvi, there will be stars to see the stars.

 Ning asks me out for coffee -- Elvi's gravel roads is probably hundreds of years old, and the store next to them looks ancient too. There was a coffee shop that seemed to be web-popular, and Ning insisted on asking me out. Walking out of the dorm, she asked me casually.

“Hey, you looked so serious today, in class.”

“Then you are short-sighted. . . I didn't. I'm looking at Percy.

Ning raised her eyebrows.

“Ha, ha, ha? Why are you still so interested in him?”

“I don't know. . . I feel very strange. . . He seems to have my heart set on him. Just like. . . Well. . . The Queen saw the Prince? Neither of them. . . Oh no, I can't compare. She's so beautiful.”

“Percy wasn't as handsome as Philip. . . I think he's got a crease in his smile today. . . White people sometimes get aged on looks easily. . .”

“But I like his wrinkles! ”

I replied abruptly. Ning tutted and gave a slow thumbs-up sign.

“You're real then. . .”

There was still a line in front of the cafe, and they didn't seem to care much about anything other than putting on masks. Of course, some people don't even care about masks. Ning stretched, dropped her hand and patted me.

“Wanbai, actually falling in love is quite troublesome. . . Like when I was at home, sometimes I had a nervous mind. . .”

“Sweet troubles?”

“Some are not. . . However, if you really like him, don't care about anything, go for it!”

“I think you're really out of attention today. . .”

“What's the matter?”

“Didn't you see that bright wedding ring on the fourth finger of his left hand? I. . . . . . I guess the woman on King's Bridge that day was his wife. . .”

Of course I didn't say anything about dream. It was too strange. Sure enough Ning sniffed.

“You're not a fortune-teller. . .”

It's our turn. Ning bought mocha, I bought hot chocolate. The paper cups were hot, but fortunately, they were perfect for late autumn in England. Ning's lipstick left a trace on the rim of the cup. She shook her head, much more seriously than before.

“Well, there's nothing you can do about it. . . Originally, I was thinking, how to give you unconditional spiritual support, let you enjoy a castle love. . . . . . Now, you can only keep things to yourself or talk to your friends.”

“I'm the kind of person who will let the world know about I like somebody. . . But, rest assured, it probably won't reach him.”

“I see. . .”

“And I wouldn't do anything out of line. . .”

Looking at Ning's motherly, concerned expression, I added the last line, and she nodded.

“Find someone early! Forget him. I wonder how you fancy him after only taking his classes twice? Being a fan of star? Very like. Across the screen and like somebody, but this is in your life, so you will define him as fancy.

“I don't know. I may or may not be disillusioned. Just as a row of trees near my window is ginkgo, so is a row of trees far away.”

“You're talking nonsense again. . .”

Ning jokingly bumped into me and went for the mocha.

She has a point. It was not love at first sight; it was clearly the beginning of sin. No matter how lovely his face may look like a rose in May, my eyes and heart are as withered and fragile as leaves in October, anxious and sensitive, yet unable to feel the boundaries of morality. One day I will use my own mouth to deny my own heart, perhaps not - because I do not know whether this heart is firm, whether it can withstand the boring plain life, or the mediocre small and weak me.

It's getting dark. I finished the drink, threw the cup into the trash can and headed for the dormitory.

[fumpkins]

NASA's TESS mission uncovers its first world with two stars

In 2019, when Wolf Cukier finished his junior year at Scarsdale High School in New York, he joined NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a summer intern. His job was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and uploaded to the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project.

“I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other and from our view eclipse each other every orbit,” Cukier said. “About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet.”

TOI 1338 b, as it is now called, is TESS’s first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars. The discovery was featured in a panel discussion on Monday, Jan. 6, at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu. A paper, which Cukier co-authored along with scientists from Goddard, San Diego State University, the University of Chicago and other institutions, has been submitted to a scientific journal.

The TOI 1338 system lies 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Pictor. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days. One is about 10% more massive than our Sun, while the other is cooler, dimmer and only one-third the Sun’s mass.

TOI 1338 b is the only known planet in the system. It’s around 6.9 times larger than Earth, or between the sizes of Neptune and Saturn. The planet orbits in almost exactly the same plane as the stars, so it experiences regular stellar eclipses.

TESS has four cameras, which each take a full-frame image of a patch of the sky every 30 minutes for 27 days. Scientists use the observations to generate graphs of how the brightness of stars change over time. When a planet crosses in front of its star from our perspective, an event called a transit, its passage causes a distinct dip in the star’s brightness.

But planets orbiting two stars are more difficult to detect than those orbiting one. TOI 1338 b’s transits are irregular, between every 93 and 95 days, and vary in depth and duration thanks to the orbital motion of its stars. TESS only sees the transits crossing the larger star; the transits of the smaller star are too faint to detect.

“These are the types of signals that algorithms really struggle with,” said lead author Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at the SETI Institute and Goddard. “The human eye is extremely good at finding patterns in data, especially non-periodic patterns like those we see in transits from these systems.”

This explains why Cukier had to visually examine each potential transit. For example, he initially thought TOI 1338 b’s transit was a result of the smaller star in the system passing in front of the larger one — both cause similar dips in brightness. But the timing was wrong for an eclipse.

After identifying TOI 1338 b, the research team used a software package called eleanor, named after Eleanor Arroway, the central character in Carl Sagan’s novel “Contact,” to confirm the transits were real and not a result of instrumental artifacts.

“Throughout all of its images, TESS is monitoring millions of stars,” said co-author Adina Feinstein, a graduate student at the University of Chicago. “That’s why our team created eleanor. It’s an accessible way to download, analyze and visualize transit data. We designed it with planets in mind, but other members of the community use it to study stars, asteroids and even galaxies.”

TOI 1338 had already been studied from the ground by radial velocity surveys, which measure motion along our line of sight. Kostov’s team used this archival data to analyze the system and confirm the planet. Its orbit is stable for at least the next 10 million years. The orbit’s angle to us, however, changes enough that the planet transit will cease after November 2023 and resume eight years later.

NASA’s Kepler and K2 missions previously discovered 12 circumbinary planets in 10 systems, all similar to TOI 1338 b. Observations of binary systems are biased toward finding larger planets, Kostov said. Transits of smaller bodies don’t have as big an effect on the stars’ brightness. TESS is expected to observe hundreds of thousands of eclipsing binaries during its initial two-year mission, so many more of these circumbinary planets should be waiting for discovery.

###

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Additional partners include Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia; NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission.?

Banner: TOI 1338 b is silhouetted by its host stars. TESS only detects transits from the larger star. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith

By Jeanette Kazmierczak NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Media contact:

Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. [phone]

Disclaimer: We can make mistakes too. Have a nice day.

New post published on: https://www.livescience.tech/2020/01/08/nasas-tess-mission-uncovers-its-first-world-with-two-stars/

#astronomy #astrophysics #EXPERIMENTS IN SPACE #PLANETS/MOONS #SPACE/PLANETARY SCIENCE #STARS/THE SUN

[thekingsinterior-blog]

Common Design mistakes in interior designing – How to avoid few tips

Once, Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Learn from other people's mistakes. You can't live long to make them all yourself. "Everybody should obey wise words, particularly as regards interior design. Learning from others sounds a lot better and is certainly a lot cheaper than making a mistake and drying out your pockets! Most people run there to get the perfect home with a sleek model, esthetically pleasing. 

While it sounds really fun and enticing to stand out and look glamorous, it is hasty and does not always lead to the happy ending that we deserve. With such an excellent design or device we are so welcomed by the promise of a beautiful Modular kitchen in madurai, that it often becomes a disaster of mistakes (sometimes also a comedy).

So before you rush to lay the foundations for your interior design, just hit the brakes, stop and think about it before your actions end up being regretted. Here's a rundown of common design errors and what can be done to prevent them.

1.     A common repeated error involves first painting of your home with your interior design. The unit, furniture or decor you purchase most of the time ends up in conflict with the paint colour. To stop this, first choose the fabrics and furniture so that you can choose a painting color that matches your room's appearance.

 2.     When it comes to designing your house, lighting is a very crucial aspect. In many cases, incorrect light turns into a dull and dingy room / area. To prevent this, ensure that every space has adequate lighting that fits the room's ambience and purpose. Another idea is to add dimmers so that, depending on daytime or occasion, you can monitor the light levels in the region.

  3.     One of the most common misunderstandings some have is to always place furniture against walls. What is crucial is that the furniture should be arranged in accordance with the space layout, to create a more comfortable place and easier movement around the room. Remember always that chairs and sofas have to converse with one another.

 4.     The concern that you can always hear is how they finally bought something in a certain area they thought would look so good, but ultimately became too big / small for that location. Be careful always of measurements and dimensions in each zone and do not depend only on the eye for measuring space.

  5.     Note also that too much is always too much. Some err to confound their homes with a lot of decor and furniture which makes them more noisy, crowded and trendy than comfortable. Don't turn your house into a museum, make sure. In the name of interior designers in madurai, you don't have to cover the whole field. Leave some room and make your home look beautiful and organized.

 6.     Scaling is another mistake you are feeling. Others end up putting too many small stuff in one room to make it messy, while others bring together too many big and bulky stuff to make it look stuffy. Make sure the space has an acceptable mix of shapes, heights and sizes and proportion.

  7.     A low ceiling must be avoided. The space definition is an essential element of interior design and no matter how big the room is, the small or low ceiling makes the room feel disorientated.

 8.     Another thing you can't know is that you don't ask for assistance. Sometimes, when we have been on and on the same room design for months, it can be hard to detect one's errors. A new, different-looking pair of eyes will always help. The solution to this problem is to hire a professional.

  In reality, hiring a specialist is the best solution to all these problems. Make sure you have a well-equipped specialist who meets all your needs in terms of interior design. At the kings interior decorators in madurai, we know exactly what to do to protect your home and stop those mistakes. we know exactly what to do.

#Modular Kitchen in Madurai #Interior Decorators in Madurai