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laoyangtutor · 2 years

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老Yang教员组今天给大家分享一篇艺术史essay代写范文，主要内容是讲：参观旧金山亚洲艺术博物馆是神奇的，令人愉快的。博物馆是一座三层楼高的建筑，有40000平方英尺的展览空间。地址是拉金街200号。在亚洲艺术博物馆，有拉贾斯坦邦宫殿的微缩画、日本著名漫画家手冢的卡通画以及中国明代的青瓷花瓶等珍贵藏品。亚洲艺术博物馆可以带给我魔法的力量。在我看来，在数千年的历史中，我将能够在一个下午环游半个世界。

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The visit to Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is magical and delightful. The museum is a three-story building with 40,000 square feet of exhibition space. The address is 200 Larkin St. In the Asian Art Museum, there are precious collections such as miniature from Rajasthan palace and cartoon carved by the famous Japanese cartoonist Osamu Tezuka's, as well as China's Ming Dynasty celadon vases. Asian Art Museum can bring me to the power of magic. It seems to me that I will be able to make a travel halfway around the world in one afternoon through thousands of years of history.

In addition to its excellent exhibits, the ticket is not very expensive as $ 12. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is free to the public in the first Sunday of each month, so if people want free tickets, then they are proposed to go early. There is also an official website for it. Before I visit it, it is very convenient to look for information on the Website: www. Asian art. Org. On the website, I learn about that Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is a museum full of collection of Asian artifacts, and its main collection is Chinese cultural relics. Its opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. In addition, the museum's collection is in the form of continuous display. It provides telephone 415-581-3500. And the traffic is very convenient and I can take the J, K, L, M, N, F line subway.

The museum was officially opened in 1966. It is actually a celebration of International Art Symposium. There are more than 250 scholars from around the world, collectors and art merchants to participate. Before 1959, the only collection is known as Chinese art, including ancient bronzes, porcelain, and jade carving. After 1959, it increased collections of Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asian countries and also increased the Chinese painting and calligraphy. The visit of the museum starts from Southeast Asia Island, advancing a little bit to inland areas of Asia. One of the most exciting parts is the China Pavilion, such as Dragon block from Spring and Autumn Period, and the jade of the He family -- a priceless gem from Warring States Period. There are worship and daily jade since the Western Han dynasties and older bronze tripod Jazz. The numbers are so large and make me feel a little more dizzying.

Within Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, there are a very small number of exhibits that are not allowed to take pictures, and these exhibits are marked with a special mark. Exhibits which are not marked specially are all allowed to take pictures. In the museum, I found the interpretation is rather detailed and orderly. For example, there is a lot of wood works on exhibit of the modern Japanese artists Okura Jiro. His main works are wall hanging and vessels made by black walnut and camphor tree. On the top of this interpretation card, there are Chinese names and years of production of exhibits given that the main audience of Asian Art Museum of San Francisco may be visitors from the Asian countries. The interpretation in English is listed below it giving a little detailed information of the source of exhibits. In the case of MU, 1990, the interpretation shows that those exhibits are given as a gift by Okura Jiro and there is detailed description of the creating place, background and process of Okura Jiro.

There are four main pavilions: Chinese Pavilion, Korean Pavilion, Japanese Pavilion and Indian Pavilion. The exhibits of Japan Pavilion have significantly increased in the museum after the opening. Now there are about 1600 items. I visited bronze ware such as circular mirror and bronze mirror of 3th century and pottery, ceramics and porcelain of 11th to 20th century. However, I still felt that the pottery, ceramics and porcelain appeal most to me. Thus, I will mainly give an account of my visit of pottery, ceramics and porcelain exhibits.

Entering the Japan Pavilion, I can see a very elegant tea house named “ Muchu an” as Japanese tea ceremony is a natural pursuit of easy, simple, and elegant atmosphere. It is made mainly of bamboo, wood, plaster and paper. The design of tea room is under the influence of the Zen idea, which tried to create an atmosphere of stillness and insight in general. In the non-decorated tea room, there are two things allowed: simple flower arrangement and Zen tea ware hanging on the wall. I imagined that when I bend down, and I got into the tea room, I looked up at the empty space where I saw the flower, and a little sunshine, sprinkled petals next to a simple Chan Yu calligraphy. This is an excellent scene full of Zen. This is a need to explain the feelings of Zen. The tea houses are usually divided into two parts as inner and outer tea court. There is line between the inner and outer tea court. This line has been given a profound meaning; this is boundary for people from one world into another world. At the same time the door is also charged with the function in particular to cut off from secular world in an instant as the guests walked through these boundaries. It is to clean itself from worldly distractions brought, while purifying the soul. The so-called door is a kind of limit. It is with this limit that it will produce an impression from one world into another world. By passing through this door, it means entering another world. The Japanese tea room is built out of bamboo and wood. Japanese tea room is not big, but it's not cheap. The cost of a first-class tearoom requires even more than one ordinary residence. Materials and processes used in a tea room are extremely delicate; every detail has been carefully considered; each configuration is imaginative. Another thing I noticed about the tea room is that it is extremely small. In such a small tea room, the space is already less than the space and distance that humans can psychologically tolerate and feel comfortable. The hosts and guests can only deal each other with candor, and you can not hide. Because of this, everything must be dealt in proper and perfect manners. Thus, the design and building of tea room is not so much about tea, but about the self-cultivation.

During all those Japanese items, Japanese tea ceremony is one of the most excellent forms of Japanese arts. Japanese tea ceremony began in China but also have its unique feature, and it is a special form of culture. It is the Zen Nippon that later gave birth to a unique aesthetic value. Japanese tea ceremony is developed from everyday life based on the activities of daily living. It is a melting furnace of religion, philosophy, ethics and aesthetics and has become a comprehensive arts and cultural activities. It is not just material things, but also ceremony learning, which can edify, and cultivate people's aesthetic and moral values.

Speaking of the Japanese tea ceremony, what is inseparable from the tea ceremony is tea wares. The appliances as large as furnishings rack, stove, and as small as tea spoons, glasses can all be called tea wares, but tea wares often specifically refers to tea bowls, teapots, and tea spoon. Tea wares are both ornamental and useful appliances. Utensils can be divided into public, which could be used by all the people on the scene and special ones intended for individual use. According to another division, tea ware of Japanese tea ceremony is broadly divided into two categories: one is dedicated to strong tea; one is dedicated to green tea. Both can be divided into many shapes such as the square dsih with bird design and the tea leaf storage jar of Bizen ware. It is one of the most expressive carriers of the tea ceremony. It not only stresses the adaptability to the different season, but also the arrangement of teahouse to help create a harmonious atmosphere. The variety of types of tea is made of porcelain, stone, lacquer, iron, copper, pottery, wood, bamboo. For example, the large dish with plant design, also one of so-called E-shino ware and bizen ware are both exhibits made out of stone. It is originated from Japan Tengen years of four hundred years ago. Shino were asking potters to make tea ware, which producing Japan's first white pottery ── " E-shino ". In General view, Shino has the qualities of the jade stones, and it has concisely glaze, minimalist natural texture rough adobe reckless, and simple and unadorned iron painting style. The potters left behind their fingerprints, fire marks, wormholes on the E-shino ware. The aesthetic charm, and life experiences of potters, is also involved in Shino pottery.

What I liked most is the Bizen ware. Its feature is not glazed, and does not have color painting. It relies entirely on the flame and techniques to make porcelain, and each piece is different. The family of master porcelain from the 15th century began to make Bizen-fired porcelain, and passed it through several generations ever since. The producing place of Bizen is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan. It has more than a thousand years of history, and in six of the kiln, is also the oldest. Another main place of tea utensils producing place is Seto where bottle with incised decoration is produced, a ceramic industrial city central and southern Honshu. It belongs to Aichi regions. In English "China" is porcelain, and in Japanese as "Seto wares" refers to porcelain. Seto kiln is the first kiln of Japan's six major kilns, and is known as the birthplace of Japanese pottery. Sales of porcelain store were the Japanese called "Seto house." Seto kiln began to imitate Chinese Qing porcelain of Yue kiln. At that time a large number of Chinese Song dynasty celadon enter Japan, but Japan failed to meet the aristocratic luxury consumption of Chinese porcelain, while China's tea party, tea bucket spread eastward, and makes black glaze tea produced in China Fujian kilns favored by the Japanese upper class. This greatly promoted the development of ancient Seto pottery industry. "Seto ware" features very rich ceramic glaze color, and its representative varieties are “yellow Seto," "Shino" such as large dish with plant design, "Oribe" such as square dish with bird design and so on. Their manufacturing history is hundreds of years old. "Seto wares" owes a lot to high-quality local clay, and in addition, the potter's art is quite superb.

The highest value of all the tea in most varieties and the most elegant undoubtedly is tea cup. Usually it is ceramic bowl, but there are stone products. In a sense, the bowl can be regarded as synonymous with the entire class of tea. It is designed and produced during Warring States Period by Rikyu. The famous potter Chojiro’s production of Black raku square tea bowl, known as "Kaburo" and can be regarded at the time in Japan as top works of tea cup (Britannica.com, 2016). I also found the famous wabicha. The tea ceremony is developed by Zen master monks in the 14th century and then adopted by wealthy aristocrats. They have built elaborate tea room, and they use Chinese imports as luxury tea wares. However, in the 16th century, tea master Rikyu presents a new way of tea ceremony, so that it can be carried out in a small tea house, and the tea is made of local artisans. Rikyu tea ceremony has conquered the less well-off people and become famous tea ceremony.

In addition, I also discovered from the interpretation that most of the tea utensils on display are made in Mino regions. Mino area (now Gifu Prefecture) is rich in the tea utensils because they have a wealth of ceramic materials - clay, so since ancient times they began to produce porcelain. According to legend, in the 7th century, it had built a local ceramic kiln. Later, the local porcelain continues to grow and develop, and now it is a rare giant ceramic production in the world. Now Japanese Mino made ceramic tableware production accounts for over 60% of the national market.

In addition to the using of clay ware for tea ceremony, Japanese stoneware or ceramics and lacquer, especially of Jomon period is significant as direct evidence of the history. Japan's first pottery started in the Jomon period. They are believed to be oldest, dating as early as the 11th century BCE and are discovered by a large number and remain similar in a large area. This suggests stable economy and trade between each other.

The ceramics also showed the economic status and life of people, and trade of that time. For instance, food serving dish with plant and half wheel design is a food containers of usually simple food like miso produced in Mino region and is placed opposite the food containers during the Momoyama period. It is also decorated with plant-shaped burn. And the large bowl with millet and sparrow design, made in Karatsu, is also full of millet and sparrow decorations. It is necessary to talk in detail about Karatsu. It means the leading port to the Tang dynasty. As the name suggests in Japanese, it has seen since ancient times the trade business of China and North Korea in Hong Kong. This reminds me of the trade between China and Japan in ceramics again. In general，the earliest exhibits of tea wares and cuisine wares of 16th century to 17th century are most stoneware. With the time advancing, Japanese porcelain is gaining more and more popularity. Stoneware is the roughest pottery; ceramic is a little more clear, and porcelain is the finest. And according to the interpretation, porcelain is the symbol of purity compared to stoneware. The development of Japanese porcelain firstly owe to the desire for Chinese and Korean ceramics, trying to imitate them. And the Japanese strive to create Japanese ceramics rivalling with Chinese and Korean ceramics, which has become Japanese potters’ goal through generations. The development of Japanese porcelain is associated with a powerful figure Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Momoyama when he invaded Korea. This history is called "Ceramic war." This unjust war between the Korean people and Japanese people has brought about disaster and failure. But when the Japanese army retreated, they kidnapped Korean potters to Japan, leading to the unprecedented development of ceramics of Japan. Coupled with the prevalence of the Japanese tea ceremony, it has led prosperity of Seto kiln, Mino kiln, Bizen kiln, and Shigaraki kiln and so on. Among all the potters, Ri Sampi has made outstanding contributions to the development of Japanese ceramics. Ri Sampi leading other potters found clay nearby mountains and was the first who produced Japanese porcelain in 1605 or so. And later it evolved into many varieties of white porcelain, celadon, underglazed red porcelain. Japanese porcelain has colorful painting, and is boldly conceived, giving people a new feeling. Good taste of porcelain makes the Japanese ceramic more famous. In the Edo era of peace, instead of the pottery, lacquer, and metal containers, porcelain become a mutual gift between the upper class, and later necessities of people's daily life. The United States gradually began to feel the need of pottery. When the social turmoil of the Chinese Ming and Qing dynasty happened, Imari porcelain has replaced Chinese porcelain to sell in Europe to become a major commodity, and to promote understanding of the West of the Oriental Art. The exhibit during Edo era is jar with lid found in Arita region. Arita region, now Saga Prefecture is the place where clay mine was found; porcelain was successfully fired, and Japan's first production of porcelain began. This kind of porcelain was immediately welcomed by Japanese, and people called this porcelain as Arita ware. Arita region is known as Jingde Town of Japan. Now, there are many traditional porcelain production shops.

This visit makes me know more about the beauty of pottery and porcelain and the culture behind it. During this visit, I found that pottery has a simple and natural inner beauty and need to be tasted in a slowly way, while the beauty of porcelain is quiet obvious. I also found that pottery gives people the mysterious joy; porcelain with its hard metal-like texture and clear blue and white or multicolored patterns make its beauty felt directly, and people can directly feel a visually gorgeous and beautiful world.

I was also amazed at the Japanese’s respect of tradition. Although Japan is an economic power now, and the modern standard of living is high, the use of lacquer and porcelain as daily necessities not only has not changed much, but also the Japanese cherish and protect traditional lacquer ware place in modern life. Since the Nara era, their life and culture has not been changed a lot. In addition, I was also respecting the division method of the Japanese. The uses and division of ceramics is meticulously clear. They not only have a special soup, vegetables, rice, fish containing utensils, for example, large bowl with millet and sparrow design has different function with food serving dish with plant and half wheel. The use of different instruments to cater for different foods in a variety of customs and festivals, such as during the Dragon Boat Festival, eating dumplings is necessary to use a specific set of cutlery. I learned from the interpretation that the number of each family using lacquer is very impressive. Japan's average household’s use of only the lacquer tray are no less than 10, plus a variety of paint bowls, paint cups, etc.

To sum up, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 items of art from China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and other Asian countries and regions, including jade, bronzes, porcelain, paintings, tapestries, gold and silver, ivory, etc. It can be described as the best places in the United States to see Asia art collections.

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mithrilwren · 4 years

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Five for Flowers

For Fjorclay Week, Day 2: Fake Dating

I finished this JUST IN TIME! But I was determined to get this out today :) Enjoy some fake marriage, buoyed up by the flimsiest macguffin-acquiring plot in writing history!

(cw. mentions of trafficking)

[Also on Ao3!]

The manor house is darker than most of the other buildings in Port Damali, its walls adorned in austere shades of black and red, and the wrought-iron gates barring their entry a foreboding grey. Two high spires mark either end of the tall building, lending the illusion of a small-scale castle to its silhouette. Even amongst the rest of the manors in the district - the richest one, where Fjord would never have dared step foot during his sailor days - the building is ostentatious, and Fjord tugs on his cravat, checking for the fifth time this afternoon that it’s still sitting straight.

“Sure looks like the kind of place a creep with a secret torture dungeon would live,” Beau remarks - sarcastic, but Fjord still hears the shiver of revulsion in her voice. The thought of someone as sweet as Twiggy spending months, years, locked up in a place like this… it’s enough to make him sick.

“Well, should we see if the illustrious Sir Cadigan is in?”

Beau nods, then goes to collect Caduceus, who’s wandered off to examine the lichen that’s grown from a nearby tree into the bars of the fence surrounding the house.

Thankfully, Jester’s forged letter gets them tidely through the guards at the gates. They’re led into a small patio, as they await a decision on whether they’ll be allowed into the manor itself. Once they’re inside - if they get inside - he won’t be Fjord anymore, but ‘Captain Leofric Janelle”. (A group naming decision, made without much input from Fjord.) Beau and Caduceus will become his associates, here to present their fine wares and rare artifacts to the most esteemed collector in all of Port Damali.

More guards patrol by, and Fjord watches them, notes their numbers, and goes over the plan again in his head.

Convince Sir Cadigan we’re interested in becoming purveyors for collectors like himself. Find out if he knows anything about the book. Get an invitation to the next event at the Exalted Collection Auction House, or find out how. Caduceus, make sure he’s not bullshitting us. Beau, if something goes wrong, punch Sir Cadigan in the nose, then run like fucking hell.

…That last bit could probably still use a bit of work, he muses.

After fifteen tense minutes, they’re ushered through the wide double doors into a foyer of some kind, and then an enormous drawing room. Every spare inch of each wall is lined with pedestals, bearing items of all shapes and sizes: dusty tomes, cloaks inlaid with fine filigrees, ancient cores of metal that even Fjord, with his limited grasp of history, can guess must date back to the Age of Arcanum. Each plush chair and velvet-lined couch within the room is perfectly arranged to provide the best viewing angle for a subset of the pedestals, with none blocking the sightline of the others. There’s no door at the other side of the chamber, but instead, what looks like a corridor that leads to a wider space beyond.

A servant comes in and hands them each a glass of some amber liquid that smells nauseating bitter (which is to say, expensive) and as he leaves - with the tray still balanced elegantly on his arm, despite its emptiness - an impeccably dressed man enters the room.

He’s younger than what Fjord imagined. Something about Twiggy’s account of Sir Cadigan had fixed in his mind the image of the proprietor of the Driftwood Asylum - maybe it was the descriptions of wanton cruelty, or the tendency to keep children locked up in highly uncomfortable quarters. That man was in his sixties, balding and thin, but Sir Cadigan seems only a decade older than Fjord - maybe mid-forties, at most. His short brown locks are still untouched by grey, coifed and teased to an elegant wave above his brow, and his body is trim, though the tight lines of his gold-threaded jacket speak of muscle lingering beneath.

“Welcome, Captain,” he says, in a lightly accented voice that rumbles at about the same timbre as Fjord’s. “I’ve been told you come bearing gifts? Or rather, merchandise for trade?” Cadigan smiles, all aristocratic charm, and offers a hand. “I’m always happy to make new acquaintances.” He pays Beau and Caduceus no mind, lending Fjord his whole attention in a way that he might find flattering, if he wasn’t already so on edge.

Fjord takes the hand, and the grip that meets his is bracing.

“As you can see, I’ve amassed quite a collection of treasures in my time. I do hope what you’ve come to show me meets the standard of what you see before you.” The grip tightens, and Fjord returns the smile through the crack of bruised bones.

He may not look much like the Asylum proprietor, but Fjord knows a bully when he sees one.

“Of course, Sir Cadigan. I wouldn’t dare waste your time with anything but the best.”

“Good. Then we’ll get along well.” The affable demeanor returns as the hand withdraws. “But before we begin, you must introduce me to your companions.”

“Right.” Fjord clears his throat. “Well, this is my first mate-”

“Beau,” she cuts in, sticking out her own hand, and Fjord sighs internally. He didn’t have high hopes that anyone else would stick by their pseudonyms, but he did have hopes. At least the danger should be minimal - he’s the only one who could theoretically be known by name in Port Damali.

Cadigan reaches out to accept the handshake, with considerably less enthusiasm than he did for Fjord, but the motion halts halfway to meeting. His eyes slide over Beau to light on Caduceus, who stands - for once, unhunched under the high ceiling - by her side.

“Now, who is this fascinating creature?” He turns away from Beau entirely, and she frowns, as her hand drops back to her side.

“Caduceus,” he replies, with an easy smile, “Caduceus Clay,” and Cadigan doesn��t even wait to see if Caduceus will offer a handshake before he reaches out and grasps his hand, pulling him forward. Fjord shifts on the spot, abruptly uncomfortable, as Cadigan pulls the hand up to the light and lowers his head, as if to kiss the back of Caduceus’s knuckles. But at the last second, he pauses, then turns the hand over and teases the fingers apart, running his own over the soft fur that borders Caduceus’s palm.

“What intriguing musculature,” Cadigan murmurs, and there’s something in his eyes that’s almost… hungry, as he continues to maneuver Caduceus’s hand back and forth. While Caduceus makes no effort to remove himself from the touch, looking more perplexed than putoff by Cadigan’s inspection, Fjord is seized by the inexplicable urge to drag Caduceus away from the man. He can’t read Cadigan’s intentions - whether this some sort of bizarre flirtation, or something else entirely - but whatever it is, it makes Fjord’s stomach twist: to see Cadigan touching Caduceus in such an intimate way, without so much as a by your leave.

…Which is funny, because he’s never thought of hands as particularly intimate before. Maybe it was just Caduceus’s hands, that remind him of healing warmth and a boost off the ground after a hard fight. His are big, dwarfing Cadigan’s by inches as those unfamiliar fingers continue to roam over Caduceus’s knuckles and down to the wrist bone.

Over Cadigan’s head, Beau catches Fjord’s eye and mouths what the fuck? He shrugs, trying to convey with his eyes that a) he doesn’t know, and b) Beau should try to keep her cool, for now. Their only mission is to find a way to that book, before someone else does, and discovers what dark secrets lie within its moldy text. Gods know he’s endured his own share of unwanted groping, enough to last him a lifetime, but they always came out ahead for it. Where would the Nein be, if he hadn’t done what he did for Avantika… Maruo...

His stomach flips again. The reassurance isn’t as comforting as he hoped; not when it’s someone else making that bargain. Not when it’s Caduceus, who Fjord isn’t convinced would even know how to interpret an advance, blatant or not.

“I’ve never met a creature like you before,” says Cadigan, finally releasing Caduceus’s hand and stepping back. Fjord feels like he can breathe again. “What do they call you?”

“My name, generally,” Caduceus answers, and Cadigan’s face twists in displeasure.

“Your kind, I mean.”

“Oh! Well, you weren’t very specific. I’m a firbolg.”

“Fascinating,” Cadigan says again, tapping his chin, and still staring at Caduceus intently. Fjord allows himself a moment of relief, hoping that’s the only explanation for Cadigan’s strange behaviour. He’d certainly never met a firbolg in all his time in Port Damali. He’s not even sure if any tribes live on the Menagerie Coast, period; there aren’t exactly an abundance of forests to choose from. Maybe he was just intrigued by the sight of a new race, like Fjord was when they met Pumat Sol for the first time. That could be all it was.

Still, as Cadigan leads them around the room, showing off all his pedestals with the sort of purposeful disinterest that tells Fjord he does, in fact, cares very deeply what they think of his collection, Fjord still notices the man drifting closer to Caduceus than he strictly needs to be, and Fjord finds himself looking for excuses to interject himself between the two of them.

He asks question after question about golden suits of armor and ugly pencil sketches, barely hearing the answers by the fourth long winded monologue of subsequent explanation, but at least if Cadigan’s compulsive need to show off his wealth of riches is fed, it keeps his eyes off Caduceus: off his gait, his hair, the lichen dusting the top of his breastplate, each of which Cadigan leers at greedily in turn. It’s like he’s cataloguing his appearance, writing up the details of his body in his mind for later perusal.

Fjord is about ready to crawl out of his skin by the time they reach the adjoining room, where they find larger installations on display: sculptures and frescos, painted hobby horses and staffs with crystalline glyphs running down the smooth wood. After Cadigan is satisfied they’ve all fully absorbed the grandeur of the possessions on display, he leads the three of them to a table at the center of the room, spreading his hands wide over its empty expanse.

“So, now that you know the quality of the things I trade in… what have you come to show me?”

Beau, having been given temporary custody of the bag of holding for this mission, begins to pull out their offerings. Fjord winces to see the whip laid down, remembering how it saved Beau’s life only a few months before, but they haven’t got many magical possessions they’re willing to trade. Yasha couldn’t be persuaded to give up either of her greatswords, nor Caleb any of the more valuable or interesting books they’d collected along the way, and so they had to make do with what was left: a smattering of odds and ends, some rarer than others, and hopefully something tempting enough in the mismatched lot to catch their target’s attention.

Cadigan takes his time examining each piece, passing over most, but humming in a pleased way when he gets to the whip. “What an interesting collection of treasures you’ve brought me, Captain. How, may I ask, did you acquire this assortment?”

“I’ve spent my life on the high seas. We come across all manner of strange and interesting things in our travels.”

“All obtained honourably, I’m sure.” Cadigan smirks, and Fjord returns the knowing smile.

“Oh, of course. What do you take us for? Pirates?”

“Hmph. I wouldn’t dare to presume.” Cadigan picks up the whip, and gives it an experimental crack. The lash is swift and precise, and Fjord is not at all comfortable with how easily Cadigan holds the pommel in his hand: like he’s accustomed to wielding weapons of that sort. “How you come by your good fortune is no business of mine; my only concern is what fortune it brings to me.” He sets the whip back on the table, and pushes it towards Fjord. “Now this, I like. What’s your price?”

“Twelve thousand,” he answers swiftly. They’ve done their research - planned ahead, for once. He knows it’s overasking by a mile, but bargaining down is part of the game. Asking for less would be an insult, and a dead giveaway that they’re not who they seem.

Sure enough, Cadigan’s grin widens at Fjord’s proposal.

“Why, Captain, you must take me for a fool! This is not worth more than six.”

They go back and forth, haggling through rakish smiles, until they settle on a sum that pleases both of them - and honestly, surprises Fjord in its generousity. Their only aim was an avenue into Cadigan’s world, so turning a tidy profit in the process is an unexpected bonus.

“Nothing else tempts your fancy?” Fjord asks, when the money has been tossed into Beau’s bag and a servant has taken the whip away.

“From these? No.” He sneers at the rest of the items on the table, as though their mere presence in his sight is personally offensive. “But there is something else that’s caught my eye.”

His gaze slides from Fjord’s face, passing over Beau without pause to land on Caduceus once more. Fjord and Beau slowly turn as well, following his gaze.

“Hmm?” Caduceus asks, once he realizes where the attention in the room is now focused. He glances down along his body, searching for whatever Cadigan was referring to. “If you’d inquiring about my armor, I’m afraid I’d rather not part with it.”

Cadigan laughs, the light sound tinged with something darker beneath, something that sets Fjord’s teeth on edge. “Yes, I’m quite decided, Captain. I must have him.”

“Wait just a fuc-”

Fjord holds up a hand to Beau, staying her rage, which is a mite hypocritical considering the fury that roils in his own stomach.

“Sir Cadigan,” he says, slow through gritted teeth, “just so we’re clear, what do you mean, ‘have him’?”

“For my collection,” Cadigan clarifies, grin never slipping, even as his eyes narrow into something sharper. “Your companion is a unique treasure, indeed.” He waves a hand down the length of Caduceus’s body, all the while only looking at Fjord, as though Caduceus is merely another item on display. “The colouration, the facial structure, the hair. Nothing like what I’ve seen before: a truly quality specimen.”

“Ah,” says Caduceus, and Fjord is relieved to see a note of anger in his eyes as well. At least he’s cottoned on to what’s happening… though, he remembers, Caduceus grew up on the border of Shadycreek Run. Fjord shouldn’t be surprised that this would be part of his, albeit limited, world experience. “So you mean to buy me, then?”

“Come now,” Cadigan says to Fjord, still ignoring Caduceus, and the fuming Beau between the two of them. “No need to be coy in this house. We both know that men of the sea don’t acquire riches like these without dabbling in the most valuable cargo of all. Still, I understand your hesitance. It seems you’re quite partial to him - and after all, who wouldn’t be?” Cadigan laughs again, and Fjord tightens his fists, nails biting into his palms. “But let me assure you, my offer will more than assuage any lingering guilt over the trade.”

There’s a clinking of metal at the corridor to their rear. Fjord turns his head, and spies the shadow of armor and halberds, waiting just outside of sight. At his side, Beau stiffens as well.

“I simply won’t take no for an answer,” Cadigan says, crossing his arms, as though the matter has already been decided.

“Sir Cadigan, I, uh- I think you’ve misunderstood the situation.”

In his panic, he takes less time than he should to consider what his next words should be. A minute later, he’ll be kicking himself for not saying something like ‘we aren’t in the business of selling people’, or ‘here’s my alternative offer’, or even, in a more Beau-like tenor, ‘fuck off, you enormous creep’.

Instead, what comes out of Fjord’s mouth is, “We’re married.”

Beau’s mouth falls open.

“Excuse me?” Sir Cadigan’s eyes narrow, as Fjord… freezes in place.

What the fuck did I just say?

“Uh,” Fjord clears his throat. “Yeah… yup. For just over five years now. Right, umm… darling?” He nearly chokes on the endearment - too syrupy for his true accent, but he doesn’t have Vandran to call on now - staring at Caduceus with wild eyes and trying to deliver the subliminal equivalent of a foot-stomp through nothing but rapid blinking.

Please, for the love of everything holy, just go with me on this.

“...Yes,” Caduceus says slowly, not taking his eyes off Fjord, and he feels a flush begin to creep up the back of his neck. “That’s right. Five years.”

“So,” says Fjord, gulping down the rapidly pooling saliva in his mouth. “You can see why your offer, no matter how generous, is out of the question.” He moves to Caduceus’s side, Beau mouthing ever more vehemently what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck as he blocks her from Cadigan’s view with his body. Fjord slings his arm around Caduceus’s waist, in what he hopes comes off as a protective manner. But he’d forgotten about the height difference, and so his arm lands somewhere more in the vicinity of Caduceus’s bony hip. Fjord has to angle his hand down so that it ends up resting on Caduceus’s thigh, rather than… anywhere else.

Damn, he’s still skinny.

Fjord waits with bated breath to see what Cadigan’s response will be. He can feel just as much tension radiating from Caduceus. They can fight their way out if they need to, but he saw at least ten guards on their way in, and he’s betting there’s a whole host of magical enchantments littered throughout the manor as well. If he thundersteps his way out, he can only take one of them with him. Their escape would be far from a sure thing, if this turns bad.

“...I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.” Cadigan sighs deeply, then unfolds his arms from his chest and waves off the guards in the corridor. “But I wouldn’t take a prize that another man has already claimed.”

Fjord’s grip tightens on Caduceus’s hip, pulling him even closer to his side, until they’re pressed together from calf to waist. Far from abating, the disgust in his throat only deepens. He hates that his gut instinct was right: that this is the kind of man that would only respect Caduceus’s autonomy, if he thought he already belonged to someone else. That Sir Cadigan views marriage as possession, at its core, and he quietly wonders if the man has a spouse, and how unhappy they must be in their union, if he does.

At least it’ll be over soon, he thinks, keenly aware that the sweat on his palms is probably soaking into Caduceus’s thin shirt. They’ll finish up their transaction, and then he can apologize to Caduceus for dragging him into such a mortifying lie once they’re safely back at the inn-

“That being the case, I insist you stay for dinner! I’d be fascinated to hear the story of how you two met.”

“Same here,” says Beau, not overtly amused, but definitely goading, and if they were alone he’d aim a kick at her shin. There’s a time for teasing, and Fjord isn’t feeling it right now.

“We really should be headed out soon,” Fjord hedges, but to his surprise, a heavy hand lands on the small of his back. He does his best not to jolt forward as the hand slides to rest at his own waist, feeling the heat of blood rise from his neck to his cheeks. Gods, Beau is seeing all of this. He’s never going to live it down.

“I think that sounds lovely,” Caduceus says, far more pleasant than anyone talking to the person who’d just tried to buy them ought to be. “We had wanted to ask you about some of the other collections in town… maybe even the auction house. Isn’t that right... dear?” His hand gently squeezes Fjord’s side, and Fjord absolutely cannot look his direction, for fear of combusting from sheer embarrassment. His entire face is burning, and he prays to Melora, or anyone else who’s listening, that his dusky skin will hide the blush.

“Excellent!” Sir Cadigan claps his hands together, draped in friendliness once more. “If you give me a few moments, I’ll make the arrangements.”

Cadigan leads them back to the first room and bids them adieu at the door. The moment the heavy wood closes, Beau rounds, and unleashes the words she’s been bottling up for almost an hour.

“Dude. What the fuck?”

“I don’t know!” hisses Fjord. “I panicked, alright!”

“...But it did seem to have the desired effect,” Caduceus muses softly. “I suppose we’ll just have to maintain the pretence, until we’ve gotten the information we need?”

“...Fuck.” Fjord scrubs a hand over his face, and Beau pushes her hands into her hair.

“Fuck is right. No offense, but you two have got the worst game I’ve ever seen. You both have ‘never been laid’ written all over you... Avantika notwithstanding,” Beau amends.

“Right,” grumbles Fjord, “No offense,” while Caduceus nods, apparently agreeing with Beau’s assessment.

“And now you’re supposed to convince this guy that you’ve been shacked up and oh so deeply in love for what, five years now?” Beau laughs incredulously. “We’re so screwed. Forget getting the information, we’re going to have axes in our heads before dessert.”

“I don’t have much experience in the realm of romance,” Caduceus concedes. “But I trust you, Fjord. Your plans are usually solid. If you think we can pull this off, I’ll follow your lead.”

Fjord laughs nervously. Calling it a plan, rather than a hasty decision made in the heat of the moment and immediately regretted, is incredibly generous. But they’re in too deep to back out now. “Right,” he says. “At least we have time to-”

-get our story straight, is what he would have said, if Sir Cadigan hadn’t reentered at that very moment.

“The dining room is being prepared. If you’d all follow me.” He ushers them out into the hall, and at the last second Fjord grabs Caduceus’s hand, clinging for dear life, both to the illusion of romance they’re trying to maintain, and… honestly, to the feeling he’s not alone in the deception, for once.

(He’s so used to being the one out front, wearing a stranger’s face as well as he can while the others hang back, that it’s almost comforting, that there’s someone else at his side, equally complicit in his success or failure.)

They follow Cadigan through long, twisting hallways, with not a blank segment of wall left unadorned, until at least they come to an elaborate dining room. The long table is made of a finely carved wood - mahogany, maybe - and set for twelve, though there are only the four of them in total. Between the arched ceiling and gaudy tapestries, the whole room feels incredibly overdone for their little dinner party - which seems in keeping with the rest of the manor’s design.

Cadigan takes his place at the head of the table, and the servants guide them to their respective seats. Beau is given a place at Cadigan’s right hand, while the servants gesture for Caduceus to take the seat to his left. Fjord quickly jumps in the way, grabbing the back of the chair in front of him, the one that he’s pretending he doesn’t notice a different servant is indicating as his own. “Allow me,” he says, and pulls back the chair, nodding meaningfully at Caduceus.

“Thank you.” Caduceus takes the seat, and Fjord pushes his chair in for him, then takes the one at Cadigan’s side, which puts him right between the man and Caduceus.

Their host goes quite purplish when he’s annoyed, Fjord notes, and he smiles innocently at Cadigan before reaching forward and taking a sip from his newly refreshed goblet.

They stagger their way through small talk as the first course is served - roast pheasant confit, which means exactly nothing to Fjord, but is delicious. Fjord makes certain not to reveal too much about what he already knows about Cadigan, while he asks the kind of open questions that leave the man plenty of room to self-aggrandize. He also makes sure to slip a few of the blistered peas from his plate onto the side of Caduceus’s salad - offered in place of the pheasant, on his request - while Cadigan is watching. That’s what couples do, right? Share food?

When Fjord looks down again, he notices that a few slices of radish have migrated to his plate as well.

While he knows it’s all part of the ruse, and done on Fjord’s own initiative, it’s hard not to be a little touched that Caduceus remembers how much he likes radishes. They’re the kind of thing that you don’t usually get on a ship - fresh, and crisp, and crunchy when you bite into them, unlike the salt-encrusted hardtack and petrified raisins he swears he chipped more than one tooth on in his youth. He spears a piece, and smiles gratefully at Caduceus, the fondness in his expression far from an act.

From across the table, Beau coughs into her napkin, which Fjord imagines might have been hiding a gag, but mercifully keeps her mouth shut.

Next comes the soup, and the end to Fjord’s brief reprieve, in which he’d almost convinced himself their little physical gestures would be enough to get them through.

“Now that we’re all comfortable,” Cadigan takes another deep sip from his wine, “I’d love to hear how such an unlikely pairing came to be together!” Fjord opens his mouth, ready to jump in with the half-remembered tale of how his former boatswain met his Marqueesian wife, but for once, Cadigan seems more interested in what Caduceus has to say than Fjord. “Do tell!” he implores, raising his glass to Caduceus. “How did a ship’s captain end up with such a fascinating creature as you?” Fjord doesn’t miss the ordering of the sentence, the way the possessive clause still belongs to him, and he takes a sip of his own wine to drown out the frustration that’s threatening to escape from his throat.

He should be used to this by now - people talking down to Caduceus. Hell, even King Dwendal had no time for him, even after the Nein single handedly delivered his capital city from ruin. But it still rankles him to his core. Caduceus is incredible, one of the most incredible people Fjord’s ever met. If people would spend even a little time getting to know him, instead of just making assumptions, they’d see what Fjord sees.

Even though the question wasn’t addressed to him, he doesn’t see the harm in laying a reassuring hand on Caduceus’s for moral support. This could be the moment they crash and burn - improvisational skills aren’t Caduceus’s strength (nor, apparently, Fjord’s, if their current situation is any indication) - but whatever he says, Fjord will have to play along.

“Oh, well. It’s a bit of a long story.”

“And we have plenty of time!” And drink, Fjord thinks, as Cadigan downs the last of his glass of wine and calls for another. That their host is a lush doesn’t come as a surprise - the man is one grand personification of overindulgence - but Fjord hopes they can still turn that detail to their advantage. Loose lips, and all that.

“Well,” Caduceus starts, “we met in a graveyard. I was very lost, you see, and Fjord helped me find my way out.”

“Fjord?” Cadigan asks curiously, and Fjord winces as he realizes Caduceus’s blunder. Of course, he would have been the only one to remember to use a fake name, and of course it came back to bite them in the ass. “I thought your name was Leofric.”

“A term of endearment,” Caduceus responds, with barely a moment of hesitation. “In my tribe, it’s common to give a new name to a loved one, one that reminds you of the person. My… husband was my passage to the sea, where I found my family again, and so, ‘Fjord’ he became.”

Fjord’s heart swells with something almost like pride. He’s (almost) certain Caduceus is lying through his teeth about that ‘tribal practice’, but Cadigan eats up the lie, nodding vigourously.

“Of course,” he muses, words beginning to slur together like the bed of seaweed beneath the dish of salmon that Fjord only just notices has been placed in front of him. “What an odd tradition - but darling, in its own way.”

“I think so.”

“So, what next? Did he sweep you off to the sea, and then off your feet?”

Caduceus chuckles through his nose. “Not exactly. We’re both stubborn, and thickheaded, and it took me far too long, to recognize what… I was missing.” The barest of hesitations, just enough that Fjord notices, but not so long he can parse what it means.

Caduceus’s hand has started to shake, he realizes - probably with nerves - and Fjord gives it a tiny squeeze, hoping his message is clear. You’re doing great, keep going.

“I think it was seeing my family again, that did it. I was alone for so long, I forgot what love looked like, until I saw it in front of me once more.”

Fjord swallows again, a whole new emotion flooding his chest. Seeing Caduceus’s parents had been a revelation for him as well. Two happy parents, embracing their children: it had never been part of the fabric of his reality. A big family, with so much love to spare, and he had wanted-

He had wanted.

“I asked him to marry me, that night, beneath the altar,” Caduceus concludes. “I shouldn’t- I couldn’t wait. I knew what I wanted, and it wasn’t to be alone anymore. It was… well. You see now.”

There’s a hint of self-recrimination in Caduceus’s words, something Fjord can’t decide is embarrassment, shame, or worry that his lies weren’t good enough. Though… did Caduceus really lie? The part about falling in love with Fjord, sure, but the rest? It’s pretty much what happened. Which, honestly, is miles ahead of whatever lie Fjord would have offered. And judging by the unexpected softness in Sir Cadigan’s bleary eyes, that spark of honesty did the trick.

“What a story,” he says, almost dreamy in his wine-drunk stupor. “Captain, you are a fortunate man indeed.”

“Don’t I know it,” Fjord agrees, finding it far too easy to fall into grinning at Caduceus, silently congratulating him for a job well done as he squeezes his hand again. It’s only Beau’s swift kick to his ankle that reminds him they still have a job to do. “But enough on that. We think that the world of procurement is our calling, and we came to you because we know you’re the best in the business...”

Two more courses, another bottle of wine, and several tedious conversations filled with blatant flattery later, and they have their invitation to the next event at the Exalted Collection Auction House. With their mission accomplished, they bid a tipsy Sir Cadigan goodnight, and make their escape back into the night air.

Beau is uncharacteristically silent for most of the walk back, which is very frustrating, because Fjord was planning on using her as a buffer for the more awkward silence between him and Caduceus. That silence between them only grows more heavy with each step back towards the inn. What had seemed almost easy in the cool glow of Cadigan’s chandeliers returns to being mortifying, now that they’re back in the real world. Fjord whistles with his hands in his pockets, trying to forget how strangely well they fit into one a little larger than his own.

The rest of the Nein clamour around them when they return, and Beau takes on the task of delivering the good news. She even skips over the bit about his and Caduceus’s ruse, which is… oddly considerate of her.

At least, that’s what he thinks, until she unveils the reason for her previous silence: she was saving up her ammunition, for one last deadly salvo.

“Oh, and I almost forgot to mention - Fjord and Caduceus got married.”

Beau sits back, smirking, as the room devolves into chaos around them.

“It was just one night!” he cries above the ruckus, to no avail.

“Yup,” smirks Beau. “Until that auction - you know, the one that was the whole point of tonight - where Sir Cadigan is definitely going to be, and is definitely going to expect your husband to be on your arm. Face it, Fjord, as long as we’re in town, you guys are hitched for good.”

Fjord buries his face in his hands.

She’s right, and he hates that she’s right.

This isn’t over yet.

#critical role #fjorclay #fjorclayweek2020 #fjord #caduceus clay #my writing #there's an obvious hook for a sequel here #that i have no idea when/if i'll have time to write #but it's fun to think about :)

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top-dawg27 · 5 years

Text

Victorian Pepperony AU

Inspired by the reaction to my last AU post (thank you @dailypepperony for reblogging), I decided to write another one 😛 My Fair Lady meets Victorian Age Pepperony AU Author's Note: This is long. But I got carried away, so sue me. The year is 1899.

Lady Virginia "Pepper" Potts is an English scholar of archaeology, born and raised in Egypt. She's spent her entire life in the sands, unearthing dusty tombs and studying mummies.

But while she is an expert in hieroglyphics and is unmatched in her knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians, she is woefully ignorant of the ways of flirting and mingling with the other sex.

Which proves unfortunate when she is forced to return to stuffy, pretentious Victorian England, due to her vagabond father's sudden demise. She is an oddity in polite English society because of her education, her unladylike habits and her forthright brisk manner.

Pepper wants nothing more than to quickly settle her father's financial affairs and return to Egypt. But her father wants to manipulate her, even from the grave.

His will has an odd stipulation: Pepper must marry within a year of his demise to inherit his fortune. Else his entire estate will pass to his favorite brothel.

Pepper is livid at her father's meddling, especially since the money would have helped her accomplish her dream: build a small museum in Cairo to showcase her collection of artifacts from her archaeological digs.

She is determined not to let him have the last word, so she decides to have a marriage of convenience. Being 28 years of age, she is too old to be a debutante and so, is forced to deal with the harpy English matchmakers around London. But each matchmaker just criticizes her endlessly and tell her that she is a lost cause.

Dejected, she returns to her father's town house. At night, she decides to roam around the streets on her own and sees a flirtatious, devilishly handsome bootlegger charm some snooty ladies into buying his illegal wares, only with his words and manners.

Pepper is desperate and so she offers the bootlegger a job: teach her how to flirt with the opposite sex, so she can snare a husband.

The bootlegger, street-smart Anthony 'Tony' Stark, agrees. He wants to expand his customer circle, by reaching rich bored noblemen through Pepper.

Each is wary of the other. Pepper is a disciplined and focused person and hence, is horrified by Tony's carefree, nonchalant, devil-may-care attitude towards a lot of things, especially his health.

Tony is alarmed by how independent and emotionally mature Pepper is. Unlike his usual doxies. But they enter into a cautious alliance because they both need each other.

Tony teaches Pepper how to sweet talk, how to bat her eyelids and appear shy and demure, how to lie through her teeth to compliment a man, even when she doesn’t mean it.

Pepper realizes Tony is an acute businessman. He has a lucrative bootlegging operation with the help of his mustachioed blonde companion, Watson (Yes, I know Watson is from Sherlock Holmes but I couldn't resist xD).

Tony is also a brilliant chemist and a genius. They bond over their mutual love for science, the sad fact that their respective peer groups do not recognize their intelligence and their love for adventure.

As Pepper progresses in the art of flirtation, Tony conducts a small test. He takes her to a nearby tavern, dressed as a simple miss, where she manages to successfully flirt with ten men. The only problem is, they all end up fighting over her and start a bar fight.

Tony joins the fight to help Pepper escape. The fight escalates dangerously and the police are called but before Tony is caught, Pepper returns with Watson and a carriage. They dash away into the night.

Tony has some bruises and scraps and a nasty black eye, so Pepper insists on him returning with her to her house. She nurses his wounds tenderly and he's touched because no one's ever taken care of him before.

She asks him about his childhood and he opens up about his rough upbringing in a poverty-stricken household with 7 siblings. They talk and realize they both had similar upbringings, even though their circumstances were different.

They decide they need a break from the city and so they ride off to Pepper's country estate, her childhood home on the outskirts of a large town.

One night, there is a bad storm and Pepper is extremely scared. She hates thunder and lighting, so to comfort her, Tony puts her to bed and tells her a story.

She sleeps and he falls asleep in the chair next to her but in the middle of the night, the storm worsens and Pepper has a nightmare. To comfort her, Tony gets in bed with her and just holds her, singing a lullaby to her. She falls asleep in his arms and he holds her the whole night.

The next day, they are both shy around each other.

While walking to the town on his own, Tony realizes he's fallen in love with the delightful Lady Potts, for once in his life, he has met a woman with whom he can actually have a mental connection.

Left alone, Pepper also examines her feelings. At first, she just felt that she was attracted to Tony for his roguish handsomeness but now, she is forced to admit that she has deeper feelings for him. He's more than just a teacher or a charming companion, he makes her feel things, she never thought she'd ever feel. But she is scared of trusting her feelings, she is scared of admitting she loves him because she's seen what love can do to people, she's seen her parents unhappy marriage.

Unfortunately, Life intervenes. Pepper is invited to the town's annual harvest ball. At the gathering, she meets three eligible bachelors, very interested in courting her.

Tony observes her from afar, his heart breaking. He's helped her reach here and now, thanks to his tutelage, he will lose the lady he loves. He knows Pepper needs the money, so he leaves her to her suitors and returns to the city without telling her.

Pepper spends a month in the country, being courted by her three swains. She is saddened by Tony's absence but knows it is for the best, because she needs the money and because a man like Tony, will never commit to a relationship with her. She spends time with each of her suitors but always finds something missing in the interaction.

At the end of the month, she picks Lord Aldrich Killian to marry. Their banns are announced and Tony, seething with jealously, does some digging. He finds out that Aldrich is heavily in debt because of his gambling habit. So he travels back to the country and sneaks into the estate, to warn Pepper.

To his horror, she knows about Aldrich's habit but has resigned herself to marrying him because time is running out and in any case, theirs will be a marriage of convenience only.

Tony rages at her, telling her she shouldn't sell her happiness for the inheritance. Pepper argues back that the money will help her fulfill her dream.

Tony sees he cannot change her mind and says he never wants to see her again. She says he will not because right after the wedding, she will split the money with Aldrich and return to Egypt alone. And that's what she wants. They part angrily.

The days before the wedding, crawl by for Pepper. She keeps thinking of Tony and how she misses him, misses his company, his jokes, the way he made her feel. She remembers the look in his eyes when he pleaded with her to change her mind. Then she thinks hard about her cold, lonely future and whether a museum is worth a lifetime of regret.

Tony is angry and determined to forget about Pepper. But he can't stop thinking about her.

Two days before the wedding, Tony spots Lord Aldrich's secretary in the city. Suspicious, he follows the man around the seedy underbelly of the city and catches him paying two thugs, to assassinate his lordship's soon-to-be wife one day after their wedding. Tony is outraged but realizes he needs to get Pepper away from Lord Aldrich at any cost.

He rides through the pouring rain and sleet, back to the country estate and sneaks in but cannot find Pepper in her room. Worried sick, he wildly searches the grounds, only to find Pepper hiding in the small stone rotunda at the edge of the lawn. She is terrified because of the storm and wanted to get away.

She hugs him tightly, uncaring of his drenched body. He tells her what he saw and heard. To his shock, Pepper doesn't believe him. She just smiles beautifully at him and tells him she appreciates the inventive lie to get her away from Aldrich but she was going to break off the marriage anyway.

Tony asks her what changed her mind and she responds by pulling his head down and kissing him passionately. Uncaring of the lighting blazing in the sky around them, they keep kissing, both finally able to express what was in their hearts all along.

Pepper lets go of Tony's lips, only to touch her head to his and whisper, "I love you, Stark. I can't... I can't marry another man... I just can't... it's you, it's always been you..."

He whispers back, "Pepper, sweetheart, I have loved you for so long... come away with me please, please, before it is too late."

She stares at him wide-eyed and then they both start in fright, as a madman's laughter fills the building. Aldrich has found them and heard their passionate declarations of love. He has a gun and he raises it, aiming at Tony.

"So you were secretly lusting after this... this... grimy hawker! You won't ditch me at the alter, Potts! I won't let you!"

He fires but in a split second, Pepper steps in front of Tony, taking the bullet meant for him. He screams as she collapses in his arms, bleeding profusely.

Aldrich cackles manically, frantically reloading his gun. Tony holds her tight and tries to move her away but Pepper pulls out a small pistol from her dressing robe and pushes it into his hand.

Aldrich has reloaded his gun but before he can fire, Tony shoots him down. Then he rips his shirt and presses it to her wound, trying to stop the gushing blood. Pepper smiles slowly at him and closes her eyes.

Tony thinks he's lost her and panics but she softly tells him the bullet wound is not mortal, the bullet went clean through her shoulder and he should get a doctor quickly. Then Pepper faints and Tony carries her to the house, where the servants call a doctor.

He stays up all night by her bedside, holding her hand, waiting, praying, wishing she would wake up. And she finally does at dawn, he asks for her hand in marriage.

She says yes and then scolds him for keeping his wet clothes on. He just grins at her like an idiot until she kisses him.

Once Pepper recovers, they both elope to Egypt and get married under the starry desert sky.

Pepper opens her museum and Tony starts his own import/export business, bringing Watson over from England.

The End 😛

Shout out to @itismarvelicious for patiently listening to all my AU ramblings.

AND

to @pepperonys coz I never complete my fics like I promise her but she admirably and patiently waits.

#pepperony #tinyfic #fanfic #au #pepper potts #tony stark #pepperony fic #pepperony au

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theeldestsun · 6 years

Text

decided that i shouldn’t keep my verse details all locked in my head, but i’m too lazy to properly write all my verses up again. so i’m gonna be writing up tidbits and details of verses in posts like this as i feel them

wizarding world verse

- doran remembers his time at ho.gwarts fondly, despite not caring much for the british / european magical community. he’s made some good close friends and made some good memories, there despite resenting the narrow-focus of its teaching.

- he thinks of his mischief with bi.ll wea.sley was definitely worth the detentions and lectures @firstbornweasley.

- he cannot cast a corporeal patronus (to this day), while his boggart is a dried river bed, that is choked and stinky. the boggart may also show the bodies of his family. a boggart frightened him so much that he was in the school ward for a week.

- he has an affinity towards cute animals, and was once reprimanded in third year for smuggling a hippogriff chick into his dorm. it only took the staff a month to discover this -- when the chick started swung on the tower chandelier so violently that it broke from its chain and fell through the floor. the hippogriff thankfully flapped away-- and was given to ha.grid.

- he was a prefect and head boy for ra.venclaw. a miracle really after the hippogriff fiasco.

- after graduating from ho.gwarts, he spent his first year in the diplomatic department of the ministry, but found the tea too disgusting to bear -- and the conversation even worse.

- he has a small shop, where he stores and collects items and artifacts that he puts up for auctions -- and only sells them up front if someone is willing to pay thrice its starting price. he keeps the best ones however for himself.

- this is also where he studies the artifacts and learns their ancient magic.

- the shop is closed for most of the year as he goes on his magi-archeological adventures.

- he has always been confident with his magical abilities. he also learns spells, even in other magical systems, relatively quickly.

- his grandmother and mother worry their hearts out (mama especially) whenever he goes off to some god-forsaken hidden city or tomb. they send him messages through a little enchanted diary. the messages get more panicked when he doesn’t reply for more than a day.

- his grandmother however understands his mission and encourages him. secretly very proud of him, even if she berates him whenever he’s at home.

- he got enchanted by a huldra -- and while he insists the hex is broken -- Mellario still lives with him and they’re in a relationship @musenssang. /shrug

- by the time of the golden trio, he’s well into adulthood and is well established as a dealer of ancient and even dark artifacts.

- he refuses to be involved in the whole war thing against a certain dark lord. he doesn’t have any strong feelings towards magical supremacy despite being pure-blooded himself. but inevitably due to the nature of his work and wares he does get roped into it. @longmayshereign-cersei /coughs

#v: Magic Abound #f: verse detail ; wizarding world #(( i'm hype for fantastic beasts can u tell

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kenyaowens-blog · 4 years

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Machu Picchu, Peru

Snuggled in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru and on a 2,430 meter (7,970 ft) mountain ridge (the Andes mountains), rests Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is ranked #1 on Planet Ware’s “15 Top Places to Visit in the World.” Although their description mentions a fair amount of information regarding the Inca site, there is not anything statistical in terms of actually traveling there.

First thing’s first, what is it?

Machu Picchu is what is believed by archaeologists to be a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca emperors or nobles. Unlike many remains of ancient cities or sacred sites, Machu Picchu was not built all that long ago; In the 16th century, Spanish invaders essentially wiped out what was left of the Inca people, leaving these amazing structures of their daily lives left behind and abandoned. It was not until an American archaeologist named Hiram Bingham came across this secret in 1911 was it brought into light by the world outside of Peru.

Many features are impressive about Machu Picchu, whether it is the given fact that the site expands over a 5 mile distance with more than 3,000 stone steps linking it all together, or the reality of how difficult these hand and manmade structures were to build. Upon being studied, the buildings were constructed with a masonry technique mastered by the Incas, where stones were cut to fit to one another without a mortar - this technique also strengthens the structural integrity of the site, having been unshaken by earthquakes, the harsh rain, and the ridiculous amount of tourism. The buildings there also serve different purposes, with there being 150 ranging anywhere from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries. In addition, the Inca were highly sophisticated in agriculture, where most civilians spent their work, feeding the economy. The site was built in the tropical mountain forest of the Peruvian Andes and just about every feature–stairways, ramps, walls and terraces–blend effortlessly into the landscape.

Most importantly, why go?

Not everyday does one visit the ruins of an ancient Inca city, but there is more to it than that. If not in utter awe at the intricate and detailed stone buildings or the scenery of the apus (sacred peaks), visit for the culture, visit for the mystery.

The functions of many buildings and even the city as a whole are still up for debate among archaeologists; though, the collective hypothesis seems to be that the estate was built for the great Inca Pachacuti. There is also a combination of Andean traditions and Peruvian culture, seeing that people speak both Quechua and Spanish and the immersion of such a beautiful society is truly something to see–respectively, though, they are people too.

There is also the controversy involving the “discovery” of Machu Picchu. Initially, Bingham and his small team of explorers journeyed to find Vilcabamba, the last Inca stronghold that fell to the Spanish. Upon arriving in Cusco, where the site lies, a local farmer told them there were ruins at the top of a mountain nearby; the farmer called this mountain Machu Picchu, which translates to “old peak” in Quechua. After writing about his “discovery” in his best-selling book, “The Lost City of the Incas,” Bingham quickly made a profit whilst sending thousands of tourists to the sacred and secluded site. He excavated many artifacts, these of which were in a dispute for custody over the next 100 years until the Peruvian government filed a lawsuit and President Barack Obama returned them from Yale University, where they were being held. This case, similar to many others, is similar to that of Columbus, where a white, nonnative man not only takes credit for the site, but has also claimed to “discover” it. How can it be discovered if it was already there?

What about price?

In 2018, the average budget for a foreign adult was $339; however, this can vary. Depending on what region of the world one is visiting from, the amount needed to pay for flights will change greatly. First off, it is essential to travel first to Lima, then to Cusco (simply for practicality) where tickets will be bought for Machu Picchu. A flight from Lima to Cuzco can range anywhere from 299 sol ($93 USD) to 487 sol ($152 USD). Entrance prices will also need to be paid for each attraction, such as only viewing Machu Picchu, or visiting the mountain or a museum. Trains and buses will also be the primary source of transportation, which can be very expensive depending on the class chosen to travel by.

Is there any reason not to go?

Well…yes.

Being a very touristic place, both Machu Picchu and Peru itself can be very expensive and overpriced, as discussed earlier. There is also the fact that it is very hard to access on its own. Unlike many tourist sites, one cannot simply take a plane to Cusco and expect to be on the mountain where Machu Picchu resides. First one must take a plane from their homeland to Lima (Peruvian capital), another plane to Cusco, a bus trip, and then a train trip to the small village located next to the ruins. So, maybe not go on a short holiday.

Another reason not to go is simply for the respect of both the ruins and locals there. Despite being made to withstand earthquakes and violent rain, the stone site was not meant to be bloated with an overwhelming amount of tourism. There is already a concern of whether it will be there for much longer, given that the amount of people walking all over it is wearing it down.

So, in all, is Machu Picchu worth the hype?

Yes, definitely.

Though, whether you wish to go is up to you. Yes, Machu Picchu is a gorgeous and once in a lifetime experience, but, for the sake of its safety and preservation, many think it best to enjoy from a distance.

Sources listed below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

https://www.history.com/topics/south-america/machu-picchu

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/peru/articles/11-reasons-why-you-must-visit-machu-picchu-at-least-once-in-a-lifetime/

https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com/how-much-costs-trip-machu-picchu-2018/

https://www.machupicchu-tours-peru.org/blog/7-reasons-you-dont-want-go-peru-machupicchu

#machu picchu #peru #perutravel #travel #travel blog #destination #roadtrip #south america #mountains

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vacationsoup · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/star-wars-galaxys-edge-disney-world-orlando/

Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Opening August 29th 2019

At long last we have an opening date for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. And it's sooner than we expected. The new super immersive land will open at Hollywood Studios, Disney World Orlando on August 29th 2019. Disneyland in California has an earlier opening date of May 31st 2019.

This is going to be a totally unique and immersive experience like no other. Think Wizarding World of Harry Potter on out of this world, galactic style steroids. It's the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World in Orlando will be opening in two phases:

Phase One: On August 29th, you'll be able to visit the remote planet of Batuu. You'll get a senses overload of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes. And you'll become part of the story as you sample galactic food, sip exotic beverages and explore unique merchant shops.

You'll also be able to take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Phase Two: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, is set to open later this year. No set date as yet. This fully immersive ride will put you right in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Access:

Visitors to Disneyland between May 31 and June 23, 2019, will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the new Star Wars land. At this time, no reservation is offered or required for Disney World in Orlando. Although a similar system could be launched to control crowds.

Disney Parks Blog has a paragraph that tells us: Capacity for the parks, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its experiences is limited. Access to the park, land and experiences may be restricted or unavailable depending on guest demand and other factors.

Welcome to the Edge of Wild Space: Black Spire Outpost on Batuu

Batuu is a far-flung destination along the galaxy’s Outer Rim, located between Unknown Regions and the Frontier of Wild Space.

This remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. Its prominence was bypassed by the rise of hyperspace travel.

Today, Batuu is home to Black Spire Outpost, an infamous port for smugglers, traders and adventurers traveling between the frontier and uncharted space. It’s a convenient safe haven for those intent on avoiding the ever expanding reach of the First Order.

The modern village was built on the remains of crumbling structures by a long-extinct civilization. The landscape is dominated by the petrified remains of towering ancient black spire trees.

As you stroll through this thriving port, you might encounter some familiar faces, from Rey, Finn and Poe to BB-8 and Chewie.

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Two Attractions Bring Star Wars Adventures to Life

For the last four decades, Star Wars fans could only imagine what it would be like to blast across the stars inside the Millennium Falcon. Or race through the halls of a Star Destroyer.

Once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is fully open, two signature attractions will surely delight fans.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, will open on August 29th. You'll be right in the cockpit of “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” Take the controls of the Falcon in one of three unique and critical roles as the ship hurtles through space.

You could be a pilot, a gunner or flight engineer. There will be multiple ways to experience this attraction.

Height restriction for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is 38 inches.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open later in 2019 and will place you right in the middle of the Rebellion. You'll play an active role in the fight against the First Order.

Fancy a faceoff with Kylo Ren? Your journey will take you right inside a full-size starship and aboard a nearby Star Destroyer.

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge FastPasses:

At this time, no attractions in the new Star Wars land are included in the Disney FastPass+ system. However, Disney have announced they will "continually evaluate our operations and services in order to help provide a great Guest experience”.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Will Feature Out of This World Food & Beverages

Any idea what a Blue Milk actually tastes like? You'll find the answer when you visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Food is one of many discoveries just waiting to be made while wandering the lively market of Black Spire Outpost.

Experience the new land’s expansive array of galactic food and beverages.

Oga’s Cantina At last, you'll be able to drink at one of the galaxy’s most infamous watering holes. The blaster-bolt scorches on the walls tell a story. Bounty hunters, smugglers, rogue traders and weary travelers all gather to share tales from around the galaxy.

Top Row: Moogan Tea, Blue Bantha, Bloody Rancor and Black Spire Brew | Middle Row: Carbon Freeze, Oga’s Obsession and Cliff Dweller (all non-alcoholic) | Bottom Row: The Outer Rim, Bespin Fizz, Yub Nub and Fuzzy Tauntau

Young crew members will enjoy unique beverages served in unique vessels at this local cantina. Adults can sip exotic concoctions like Jedi Mind Trick, Bad Motivator IPA or Toniray wine.

As you sip and savor, you'll be able to listen to spirited musical entertainment provided by DJ R-3X, otherwise known as Rex, the former Starspeeder 3000 pilot droid from the original Star Tours. Rex re-invents himself as the cantina’s DJ, and he’s as quirky and talkative as ever.

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo Amongst the crumbling walls of the old marketplace, Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs has docked a food freighter loaded with fresh supplies.

Top image is Phattro and Moof Juice non alcoholic cocktails. Bottom image is raspberry creme puff with passion fruit mousse | chocolate cake with white chocolate mouse and coffee custard.

He’s ready to satisfy the appetites of visitors and locals alike with an array of exotic offerings. His travels across the galaxy enable him to stock up on exotic ingredients to create new and exciting galactic grub for this local eatery.

He is proud of his Tuggs’ Grub, labelled "a traveling diner for diners traveling". His dishes are inspired from his time working for Maz Kanata on Takodana.

Ronto Roasters Located in the Black Spire Outpost market. You'll notice the large podracing engine firing up a barbecue pit for mouth-watering Ronto Wraps.

Pictured is the Meiloorun Juice, Turkey Jerky and the Ronto Wrap filled with spiced grilled sausage and roasted pork.

As you queue up to order, you'll encounter a former smelter droid, carefully turning the spit of meats. You will also be able to choose from a variety of exotic non-alcoholic drinks like the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset.

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Milk Stand Vendors at the Milk Stand will serve two of Batuu’s most legendary treats: Blue Milk and Green Milk. This exotic galactic delicacy is served frozen and is a favorite among locals.

Blue Milk was first seen in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” when Luke Skywalker sat down for a family meal. Green Milk was introduced in “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.”

Kat Saka’s Kettle You'll discover an Outpost Mix of uniquely flavored popped grains. This unique popcorn snack has a combination of sweet, savory and spicy flavors.

Black Spire Outpost Market

The village’s sprawling market offers a treasure trove of exotic wares from familiar and obscure star systems. Stroll through this bustling street market and you'll find local delicacies, treats and surprises from all corners of the galaxy.

Droid Depot At this unique store you'll be able to construct your own astromech droid. Pick pieces and parts off a conveyor belt to build one of two core models (R-series or BB-series). Then customize your very own indispensable sidekick with various parts and colors.

These droids will be capable of interacting with elements in the land. Additional programming chips and accessories can be added to further customize these new friends. In addition, the Droid Depot will offer pre-built droids, droid-inspired products and more.

Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers Ever wanted to customize and craft your very own lightsaber? At this unique workshop you can do just that. This covert workshop is packed with unusual parts, whimsical pieces and miscellaneous memorabilia collected from the far reaches of the galaxy.

You'll be able to choose from four unique themes:

Peace and Justice

Power and Control

Elemental Nature

Protection and Defense

You'll really feel the Force as you build these elegant weapons from a more civilized age.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities You'll find a unique selection of the most rare and mysterious items, representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy.

There's a rotating collection of jewelry, ancient tools, rare kyber crystals, holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts. There's even a unique collection of famous lightsabers.

Top: Holocrons | Left: Jedi artifacts | Right: Relics left behind by the Sith

As you explore the shop, you'll see Dok at his desk. The large Ithorian will be checking his inventory, taking incoming calls and barking occasional orders to his assistants.

Creature Stall If you're a collector of unique and hard-to-find species from across the galaxy, then this store will delight you. Gaze into cages and crates at unique creatures.

The store owner, Bina, is dedicated to supplying her customers with a plethora of rare and fascinating creatures. If you've been searching for a cackling Kowakian monkey-lizard, porgs or tauntauns, then pop in and see Bina.

Black Spire Outfitters This unique store showcases the latest in accessories. If you're looking to blend in with the locals, or mix and match clothing to create your own galactic style, Black Spire Outfitters has the perfect outfit for you.

Or perhaps you need a brand new robe for when you get back to your own planet? Whatever is on your wishlist, you'll find an eclectic selection of stylish galactic gear.

Toydarian Toymaker This stall is full of toys crafted by busy toymaker Zabaka the Toydarian. (This flying alien species was first seen in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”).

In this whimsical workshop, you'll find an array of artisanal playthings and handmade collectibles. If you look carefully through the frosted back window of her workshop, you'll spot Zabaka's silhouette as she crafts Wookiee dolls, artisan-style plush characters, wood and tin toys and musical instruments.

Resistance Supply If you want to pledge your allegiance to the Resistance, you'll find this makeshift supply store at the Resistance’s hidden command area. The stall sells Resistance pins, badges, hats, and other accessories to help guests feel like part of the cause.

First Order Cargo If you want to showcase your allegiance to the First Order, choose among the gear and supplies that the 709th Legion brought with them to First Order Cargo. This First Order storage dock is located near the market. Easily identified by a never-before-seen First Order TIE echelon, the cargo location will offer you the chance to pledge loyalty by purchasing pins, caps, gear, model ships and more.

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Personal Interactions

Interactions with the Play Disney Parks mobile app will enhance your engagement on Batuu. You'll be a part of the action as it unfolds all around you. Will you aid a smuggler? Join the Resistance? Or pledge loyalty to the First Order?

In this all-new environment, you'll be able to make choices about your own experience. Your choices could impact your adventure as you travel throughout the Star Wars land. This in-depth level of storytelling is part of the total immersion that will distinguish the 14-acre land from any other themed land in history.

The app will also provide new opportunities to engage with the land, such as translating a galactic language, learning what’s hidden inside crates and containers, or accomplishing certain tasks by participating in missions.

You'll also be able to use the Play Disney Parks app to interact with a variety of elements in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, such as droids, ships, media screens, door panels and antenna arrays.

Iconic Musical Score for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Music has been an integral part of Star Wars from the moment the iconic themes of Academy Award-winning® composer John Williams first introduced us to this galaxy. The music for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge continues that tradition with a suite of all-new Williams-composed themes written especially for the land and its attractions.

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Along with a collection of original cantina songs created by composers and songwriters from around the globe, this new music will deepen guests’ connection to the land as Williams complements and builds upon the iconic fanfares he created for the Star Wars films.

We're so looking forward to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening. If Pandora: World of Avatar is anything to go by, the new Star Wars land is really going to be out of this world. And so are the crowds. prepare for insane levels, people!

Disney's Website.

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#Batuu #Black Spire Outpost #Black Spire Outpost Market #Blue Milk #Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo #Kat Saka’s Kettle #Milk Stand #Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run #Oga’s Cantina #Outer Rim #Ronto Roasters #Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge #Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

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wearetreasurehunter · 7 years

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Bren Oxton Talmid: Rewritten

Name: Bren Oxton Talmid, Age: 32 Race: Human Alignment: Unaligned, Neutral and Chaotic leanings Gender: Male Sexuality: Pansexual

Physical Description: Standing at 6’4 and weighing in at 193 pounds, he can be quite an imposing figure at first sight. With unkempt brown hair that is accompanied by a full beard, small beads braided in throughout it. A number of small scars cover his calloused hands with more joining that score over his body. Eyes look to be a grey-green color like that of a stormy sea. Overall his figure is very athletic with lean muscle. Personality: Bren is very friendly and loud, often being called eccentric by those that know him. Incredibly social he will strike up a conversation with most anyone that he’s just met. Often seeking new thrills out of boredom. When working on a task he works tirelessly to complete often at expense of himself. Bren is intensely loyal to those he is close with and will not turn from his own moral code. Gear and attire: Bren usually is dressed in loose clothing that would be fitting for tropical climates and the open ocean, either opting to go barefoot or with cuffed boots. When it comes to combat he is typically in light leather armor though he will use artifacts he finds as required. Gear wise Bren is never without his sword, and typically uses a dagger artifact he found in pair with it. A set of magic goggles along with a length of rope and are also common with him.

Backstory: Bren was born in a populated merchant port city in the tropics of Bella Mar isles. As a boy he would often be found running around on the docks, bothering his mother and various other people selling their wares or exploring the nearby forest. His father often told him of old ruins and tombs scattered across the isles to entertain him. On each of his expeditions he would look for these fabled cities thirsting for some new adventure. One day he actually discovered these ancient ruins. The stone buildings once proud and tall now crumbling, only the temple at its core remained intact. Rushing home he told of this to his family who quickly dismissed it as a child’s tale. And so he explored the ruins daily, becoming an expert climber from scrambling all over the city, looking for anything of interest besides this lingering wonder. It wasn’t till his mid teens that he actually entered the temple. Inside he found it illuminated by beams of light bursting through massive holes in its walls and ceiling. He began spending more of his time here, becoming more at peace and praying to his gods, As time passed he began to explore the temple more, discovering intricate bas reliefs and some dice like artifacts, the stone untarnished by time with no dust touching it. When he was seventeen years old he figured out puzzle that was found in two of the rooms of the ground floor. Upon going to leave the temple he discovered another room branching off the grand center. Inside it was barren except for a pedestal in the center of the room, atop it sat a sword. The blade looked untouched by time and dust it looks as if it was forged days ago, not centuries. The grey-teal of it reflecting an unknown light source, a turquoise circular guard held an amethyst that seemingly held lightning inside it. This quickly became his prized item.

Not long after this discovery he met a girl in the docks named Izald, two years his younger. The two became fast friends, going about the marketplace and docks together. If they weren’t there then he’d be showing her about the ruined city ecstatic to be able to share this with someone. After just two years he was given an opportunity to go on the adventure of a lifetime. To be a treasure hunter. Eagerly he set out without notice, only taking what he needed and wishing his parents and friends well off before setting sail. Over 7 years he went about the world acquiring a large collection of artifacts and earning himself a strong reputation. After sailing with a group called the “Company”, he headed back to recruit Izald to join the group, which she readily accepted. Till the age of thirty he sailed with them before a dispute caused him and Izald to set off on their own, using the ruined city as a base of operations and a storehouse for all the items they had come across. Ever curious, upon hearing tales of a band of heros to the east he set off to join them, leaving izald behind to maintain their business and property.

Aritfacts: Selan: The sword from the ruined city on Bella Mar, The blade looked to be brand new with a grey-teal stone blade that remains eversharp, a turquoise circular guard held an amethyst that seemingly held lightning inside it. The blade glows a bright turquoise and will hum like a jet engine in accordance to how combat ready the wielder is. It cuts through metal as with ease. Firat: A shattered black dagger with a red crystal filling the cracks and gaps. Wounds from this dagger do not heal naturally. Seeing goggles: These goggles allow Bren to see normally in all light and reveal illusions. Migraines become common after extended and/or frequent use. Patron’s Ring: A small gold ring with 5 red pearls embedded evenly along the top of it. Stolen from an ex, it was said to give the wearer some use of magic.

#Bren Oxton Talmid #iconic hero #rewrite #character information

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thegooiest-blog1 · 7 years

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Beyond The Lens

Beyond the lens

I have never been a photographer. I've never had plans to become one. I've taken no formal classes or training, and I am seldom known to take pictures for even personal purposes. I dedicate myself to literature and stories, and the study of ancient civilizations that existed long before our time. I've never had much interest in present events or conflicts that may be occurring. No time has been made in my schedule for political discussion, nor the study of modern medicine or science. There is, genuinely, no interest in the present that I have had at any point beyond what might pertain to me on a personal level. It is for these reasons that people do find it so queer that I keep an old camera in my study. It isn't a prominent art piece, but rather off to one side, amongst a few old tomes and other dictations of bygone authors and researchers with similar interests as myself.

Rarely does anyone spot my camera, for I have far more interesting things about my study. Statues and idols, dedicated to various gods, as well as ancient texts in frames, pressed finely between glass and displaying the ancient works of the long-forgotten Tcho-Tcho of Burma, or the dreaded Liber Damnatus Damnationum of Janus Aquaticus. But, the curious and the perceptive will still notice the camera all the same, out of place and lying amongst a few forgotten texts. Of course, upon being questioned over such a small thing, I brush it off as simply an heirloom of the family, or some long forgotten trinket I had picked up while in Egypt or India. Whatever the case, that seems to satisfy them long enough so that I may steer them away. But, truth be told, that camera that I keep is the most valuable and prized piece of my collection, and truly the one that I hold the most dear to my more private works.

The camera itself has a strange origin, one that I must explain before I go into detail of it's singular purpose in my collection. This outlandish, unassuming artifact was something I had found while I was off in Cairo, among the street vendors and tourists alike. I had been in Cairo many times before, and found myself accustomed to the place. It was on this particular day that I had decided to peruse what strange antiquities the stall owners tended to sell. Normally they were frauds or shams, and sold scraps of broken wood or rodent bones as idols and good luck charms. I was drawn by a peculiar man in a covered stall. He sported many glass figurines and other crafted baubles. False gems, bone necklaces, and papyrus fetishes, the typical affair of a purveyor of faux-occult artifacts to dupe unseasoned tourists. However, as I approached the stall, he pushed all this aside.

The owner of this stall told me that I was obviously a man of quality. That I had fine taste, and an eye for the strange, that I could see through much of his false wares. I was amused by the off-beat approach, so I let him continue. He pulled an old black box out from beneath his stall, and opened it up for me, revealing a folding camera. It was onyx in coloration, and had a rather austere air about it. Upon closer inspection, however, I found strange markings upon the back of the camera, each of the symbols respectively lined in silver. They seemed to be the work of an artisan of some sort, for they weren't the panicked scrawls of an amateur that had been carved out with an old knife and some cheap paint. No, these symbols were done masterfully, showing no signs of panic or unsteady hands. The owner of the trinket bade me to try it, telling me to take a picture of what was behind me. Of course, I turned and faced the crowd of people, taking a picture. I was dubious about the ordeal, but as I pressed down upon the shutter button, i was astounded at what I suddenly saw through the lens.

I felt a chill run over my face, and the shouting and sounds of the bazaar all at once extinguished themselves. The people were no longer there through the lens, but instead, large structures, not of Egyptian nature, but of some wholly alien architecture. The towering spires and obelisks of this forgotten civilization surrounded me, and all at once I heard the strange tongues of creatures that seemed wholly inhuman. I was terrified as I saw them slowly shifting into shape. They formed and moved, phantomlike, amongst the hard-packed earth. They took no notice of me, as if I were some outside observer altogether, looking past the glass of a zoo somewhere into a cage. They were towering figures, at least 8 or 9 feet on the average. I saw them so clearly; I could detail every hair upon their deep brown skin. They were almost conical in shape, with various holes puncture in along their bodies, from which it appeared by the movements of their hairs they breathed through them. They hovered above the ground, moving around freely and communicating through various different tones of whistles and chirps of strange words coming from the holes. Atop their conical bodies were strange metal contraptions, masses of gears and wires affixed with what looked like two large eyes. Various appendages hung off of them, each one singularly different. Some sported tentacles, others arms and hands, and still others had limbs that I could scarcely recognize. Then the world began to shift and shiver, and the chill on my face left. I pulled the camera away from myself, looking at the silver symbols had a dull, quickly waning glow to them.

Was it some trick? Was it a dream? I had to know. I had to find out, if not for my own sanity's sake, then for the sake of the work that I hold so dear to my heart. I bought the camera on the spot. The man was more than happy to sell it to me, and I scarcely had any qualms about the price. I gave him every cent that he asked for and took the camera with me. It was my treasure now, and my work of studying the ancient and the supposedly mythical would now be made more real than I could have ever dreamed.

It was not until I had arrived from my trip, laden with notes and sketches of these bizarre alien things that I've seen through my wonderful camera, that I realized my folly. No one would believe me until i showed them what I've seen through the camera. There wouldn't be any antiquarian community in the world that would accept my findings, based solely without seeing the camera themselves, in the very same spot that I had been in. Would they believe if I had shown them at all? Would they cry hoax and charlatan, and cast me out from my already shaky position as a collector and researcher of the ancient world? I could not bring myself to bear the thought of facing them. But I could not bear the thought of losing the camera. Something else seemed to draw me to it. I would lay awake at night, tossing and turning and dreaming of alien vistas and even more twisted things than I had envisioned through the lens. Whispers came to me in my waking hours and my footsteps would constantly draw me to the camera. I could not hold myself back, and I would find myself in twilight hours using the camera as if it were a drug, constantly looking back into these strange pasts. Every time I did so, the images were more vivid. They would grow even crisper than when I had first used them. The sounds richer, the smells now began to fill me, and then sensation of touch drew me into this odd world. It was only until I took away the camera once, expecting it to fade away, that I realized my mistakes. The images were there, still, beyond the lens. The creatures that I had monitored, all different dozens of alien inhabitants and unfathomable abominations in every color known to man, as well as several not, were looking at me. They noticed me. I could feel it. They approached me, and I could only flee.

This phantasmagorical state only lasted for a few seconds, but it was in those few seconds that I knew the fear of the fly within the spider's web. I never wanted to touch the damnable thing again. It was a portal to the obscene, and I was no longer an observer, but a waking participant in it's eldritch design. I cursed it with every tongue that I knew, and hid the camera away in a safe in my home. This would not last for long.

The voices were easy to block out at first. The nagging feeling in the back of my head of being watched was a burden that I was able to bear. But a week without traversing through the lens brought the voices at me with a violent lack of restraint. They howled and gibbered at me from an unknown source, uttering unnamable and blasphemous rights to things I could never fathom in my wildest and most horrific of nightmares. I could not handle it more than a few days more before I felt I would go mad without using the camera again. That horrid malevolence that had seeped into my home had now forced me into using it. I was forced to reopen the safe and touch the vile thing, and experience that chill that came with it along with the potential grasp of whatever abominable horror I should find beyond. But that was many, many years ago.

Now I have learned to cope with these terrible things, and I can only hope that upon my death, my notes are found and my work is given to some other enthusiast of the ancient and forgotten. I continue my work, but with every use of the camera, I grow closer and closer to my own inevitable demise. They are now well aware of what I am, and where I am from. I do fear that they plot something, for they do not appreciate my intrusions into their time, or perhaps other reality altogether. I now see them even without the lens, albeit faint wisps and visages of specters. But I know full well that they can see me as I used to peer at them.

#Horror #Writing #Short Story #Lovecraft #References #Camera #Spooky #Spoopy #Beyond The Lens

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cinemagraphstories · 7 years

Text

The bible

Premise:

You are on a decrepit city street, late in the evening. It is deserted, except for a homeless man warming his hands at a brazier in the alley, and a young busker, playing her fiddle on the curb. You can navigate the length of the street by scrolling, and click on certain objects. You can also enter the alley to talk to the homeless man, or, later in the story, enter a strange old bookstore.

Genre:

Magic Realism/Urban Fantasy

Setting:

Vaguely London, vaguely modern but set in a vaguely Victorian part of the city. There is some modern technology, but it’s a little warped since most of it runs on magic.

Redhill street

It’s 12:15 AM on the decrepit corner of Redhill and Oval. Most of the light comes from every third streetlamp, since the city is too frugal to keep all the lights on past midnight. Aside from the odd car passing by in the distance and the patter of rain water down the drainpipes, only the faint and ominous sound of a fiddle in the distance can be heard.

Redhill is old and forgotten. Any livable housing to be found is left over from the time before the last great war, which was just over two hundred years ago. Housing is tight; the landlords find crafty ways to squeeze every square foot out of townhomes by adding on ramshackle living quarters and storage spaces. A tourist might think that the locals are hoarders, but in reality, there is not enough space inside houses, even for basic living supplies.

In one such apartment lives a wizard by the name of Lugh, although locals know him as Leto. Surprisingly, he owns half of the building known as Hanson Place, while the other half is shared by fourteen families. Closer inspection would reveal why: Lugh’s half lies directly beneath the Regan clocktower, causing the place to shake at noon and midnight. The neighbors can not figure out how he keeps sane, and quite possibly never will, since Lugh never stops to talk to them. Many curious people have tried peeking inside the windows, but the curtains are always pulled tightly shut, and for some strange reason seem to be unaffected by drafts or the shaking clocktower.

Alley

Most people miss the small alley as Redhill street passes South Landan. The only exception would be the bi-annual garbage disposal unit, and a homeless man named Irvin. Irvin keeps the place in good hands - in the sense that the garbage is organized well enough to know that someone lives there. Even his cigarette butts are neatly sorted in an ash tray labelled, “GARBAGE DISPOSAL: DO NOT REMOVE”. Some planks and a few rusty nails give Irvin a perch where he can observe Redhill without being seen. This structure, along with a flickering light from a metal brazier, give him the self-proclaimed title of, “The Redhill sentinel”.

Bookshop

The oldest building on Redhill is the Brim’s Bookshop. In fact, it’s so old that it was labelled as a “historic site” during the war, which happened 216 years ago, so that both sides would not destroy its contents. The long line of bookkeepers leads down to Delwin Brim, who locks up every day at 5:00PM. Some may wonder why Delwin bothers to keep the shop running, since nobody has the money to buy books anymore.

Like all the other buildings on Redhill, Brim’s is tall and thin. The bookshelves line the walls from floor to ceiling. Some shelves are even wedged between to make the most of the space, creating arches. A ladder system allows Delwin to scale the shelves.

On the off-chance that a visitor does come in, they would be surprised that Delwin still uses scrolls instead of a computer to document the location of each book. Not only do the scrolls document books, but Delwin keeps an expanding collection of trinkets, ancient artifacts and antiques in a section labelled, “not for borrowing”.

Characters:

Wendy Peel

Wendy grew up in a rich household with a stern mother and an absent father. Her mother started her on music lessons when she was very young, to teach her self-discipline and to imbue her with knowledge of the arts. But when Wendy took a shining to the violin, her mother thrust her into a prestigious program for concert violinists, knowing that a famously gifted daughter would do well for her husband’s business.

However, passing a busking fiddle player on the street one day, Wendy discovered the wild abandon of fiddle music, and sought to learn it for herself. She began to visit the busker for fiddle lessons in between her classes at the music school, and in return for his time and his music, she listened to his stories of life on the streets. She gained not only a vast repertoire of traditional fiddle tunes, but a new perspective on what life is like for the homeless.

When the old busker died, she found that the streets were too quiet, and took up her fiddle in his stead. To her surprise, passers-by left coins for her just as they had for him. Wendy had no great need for spare change, and so she took to dispersing her earnings to the homeless she passed on her way home every day. It became routine for her: to play fiddle every evening on the old busker’s empty street corner, and to give out her earnings at the end of every night. She did so for months, until one day, a ribbon landed in her case.

And now she just plays, with no end in sight.

Missing posters dot the streets, but nobody recognizes the wealthy girl that stares out from the photograph.

AGE: 18

APPEARANCE: Dark brown hair, pale english skin, blue eyes. Average weight & build, wearing nondescript street clothes.

Lugh Ribbon-Bound (Leto)

Lugh was once a king, a god. But that was hundreds of years ago, back when people knew him as just and skilled, back when they called him “The Bright One.” Now, he is a reject, a mere street-wizard. All because of one mistake– a mortal, killed in what to him had been a game. He had been stripped of his title and bound head-to-toe with ribbons. And the only way he is allowed to return to his home and high status is if he rids himself of each and every ribbon through acts of good magic.

And so he spends his days stalking the streets, looking for petty crimes to punish, injustices to rectify. One day, he spies a wealthy young woman dressing as an urchin in order to win money for her busking, and he is incensed. He pulls a ribbon from his wrist, weaves it through his fingers as though searching for words in its fabric, and drops it into her case.

AGE: Hundreds of years old

APPEARANCE: Aged, but with a face that had clearly once been handsome. Has a wild, faded red beard and long hair with braids woven randomly into it. Wears a robe-like overcoat, made of a thick, rich fabric but much the worse for wear. Ribbons peak out from beneath his clothing, wind through his hair, round his fingers, in his beard.

Irvin

Irvin had never been anything but kind. Too kind for the rough ways of his family, who worked in crime. And so he had chosen the life of a wanderer, depending upon the generosity of others, and paying them back in simple favours. But his decades on the street had given him a tough outer shell, a worn visage, and a grumpy countenance. Underneath it all, though, he is still kind old Irvin.

Which is why, when he spies the old wizard Leto putting a spell upon the kind young woman who is always so generous to him, he can’t help but feel he owes it to her to try and help. But when he tries to stop the wizard, tries to convince him that what he is doing is wrong, he is silenced with the wizard’s magic. “Speak only when you are spoken to!” Said the wizard. “And speak never of this!” And so Irvin can only reply to direct questions, and only within the scope of the question. And he can never speak overtly about what he had seen the wizard doing that night.

AGE: 60

APPEARANCE: Vaguely Asian in appearance, with unkempt whiskers and black hair streaked with white. Wears the worn, patched layers of years on the street.

Magic:

Magic is somewhat commonplace in this world. It isn’t terribly rare to meet a wizard or a sorceress on the streets, selling enchanted wares. And the light that pours through streetlamps and out of the windows of buildings is not electric or gas.

That said, the sort of magic that Lugh Ribbon-Bound uses is older, something deeper and more powerful, something that the common magicians have never seen before. And because of the curse set upon him, he can use it only by weaving it into ribbons, and letting the ribbons do their work. His enchantments can be as simple as good luck charms or protective wards, such as those he cast upon his favourite bookshop as one of his acts of good magic. Or they can be punitive, just so long as they are aimed at somebody who Lugh perceives as truly guilty. His ribbons can be found scattered throughout the city, some doing good, and others punishing those who Lugh has witnessed committing an amoral act.

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domquon-blog · 7 years

Text

The Bible

Premise:

Genre:

Magic Realism/Urban Fantasy

Setting:

Vaguely London, vaguely modern but set in a vaguely Victorian part of the city. There is some modern technology, but it’s a little warped since most of it runs on magic.

Redhill street

Alley

Bookshop

Characters:

Wendy Peel

And now she just plays, with no end in sight.

Missing posters dot the streets, but nobody recognizes the wealthy girl that stares out from the photograph.

AGE: 18

APPEARANCE: Dark brown hair, pale english skin, blue eyes. Average weight & build, wearing nondescript street clothes.

Lugh Ribbon-Bound (Leto)

Lugh was once a king, a god. But that was hundreds of years ago, back when people knew him as just and skilled, back when they called him “The Bright One.” Now, he is a reject, a mere street-wizard. All because of one mistake-- a mortal, killed in what to him had been a game. He had been stripped of his title and bound head-to-toe with ribbons. And the only way he is allowed to return to his home and high status is if he rids himself of each and every ribbon through acts of good magic.

AGE: Hundreds of years old

Irvin

AGE: 60

APPEARANCE: Vaguely Asian in appearance, with unkempt whiskers and black hair streaked with white. Wears the worn, patched layers of years on the street.

Magic:

0 notes