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relaxbedding · 4 days
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Relax Bedding: Your One-Stop Shop for the Perfect Bedside Table in Perth
Relax Bedding has been a trusted name in Perth, Australia, when it comes to creating the perfect bedroom haven. We understand the importance of a good night's sleep, and a key element in achieving that is having a well-furnished and comfortable bedroom environment. That's why we offer a curated selection of stylish and functional bedside tables in Perth, catering to various styles and needs.
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Beyond Just a Place for Your Lamp: The Importance of Bedside Tables
Bedside tables are often seen as an afterthought, but they play a crucial role in creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing bedroom. They provide a convenient surface for essentials like your phone, lamp, and a glass of water. Additionally, they can add a touch of personality and style to your bedroom, tying the entire space together.
Relax Bedding: Perth's Bedside Table Experts
At Relax Bedding, we are passionate about helping you find the perfect bedside table in Perth to complement your bedroom and enhance your sleep experience. Here's what sets us apart:
Wide Variety of Styles: We offer a diverse selection of bedside tables in Perth to suit various tastes and bedroom designs. From modern and minimalist to classic and traditional, we have something for everyone. Whether you prefer sleek metal accents, warm wood tones, or a touch of vintage charm, you'll find a bedside table that harmonizes with your existing decor.
Functionality Meets Style: Our bedside tables in Perth are not just aesthetically pleasing; they also offer practical features. Look for options with built-in drawers for extra storage, open shelves for displaying favorite books or photographs, and even integrated charging stations for your devices.
Quality Materials and Construction: We believe in providing our Perth customers with high-quality furniture that will last for years to come. Our bedside tables are crafted from durable materials like solid wood, engineered wood, or metal, ensuring long-lasting functionality and a beautiful finish that complements your bedroom.
Competitive Prices: We understand the importance of value for money. At Relax Bedding, you'll find a wide range of bedside tables in Perth to suit various budgets, ensuring you can create the perfect bedroom sanctuary without breaking the bank.
Choosing the Right Bedside Table for Your Needs
With so many options to choose from, finding the perfect bedside table in Perth can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips to guide you:
Consider the Size of Your Bedroom: Choose a bedside table that is appropriate for the size of your room. A large and bulky table might overwhelm a smaller space, while a tiny table might not offer enough functionality in a larger room.
Match Your Bed Height: Ideally, the top of your bedside table should be roughly level with the top of your mattress for easy access to essentials.
Think About Storage Needs: Do you need additional storage space? Look for bedside tables with drawers or shelves to keep your belongings organized.
Style Matters: Choose a bedside table that complements the overall style of your bedroom. Consider the existing furniture, colours, and textures when making your decision.
Relax Bedding: Perth's Sleep and Comfort Partner
At Relax Bedding, we are more than just a store selling bedside tables in Perth. We are passionate about creating a comfortable and relaxing sleep environment for our customers. We offer a wide selection of mattresses, pillows, bedding, and bedroom furniture, all designed to promote a good night's sleep and a sense of well-being.
Visit Our Showroom or Shop Online
We invite you to visit our Perth showroom to browse our extensive collection of bedside tables and other bedroom furniture. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always happy to assist you in finding the perfect pieces to complete your dream bedroom sanctuary. Alternatively, you can explore our online store and conveniently shop for bedside tables in Perth from the comfort of your home.
Here are some additional benefits of choosing Relax Bedding for your bedside table needs:
Free Delivery and Assembly (on selected items): Enjoy the convenience of having your bedside table delivered directly to your home and assembled by our team (restrictions may apply).
Expert Advice: Our knowledgeable staff can answer your questions and offer personalized recommendations based on your needs and preferences.
Exceptional Customer Service: We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring you have a positive shopping experience.
Relax and unwind in your perfect bedroom haven with the perfect bedside table from Relax Bedding. Visit us today!
Contact- Web - https://relaxbedding.com.au/search?type=product&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=bedside&filter.p.product_type= Mail - [email protected] Ph - 08 9300 0433 Address - Corner of Beach Road and Exhibition Drive, Shop 1/35 Malaga Western Australia, 6090
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Looking to Elevate Home Decor? Explore the Best Home Decoration Items Online!
The elegant interiors of the home decorated with home decoration items, furnished with everything needed for comfort, not only enhance its beauty but also make the occupants feel more at ease. Online homewares business in Australia provides a range of products, including furniture, homeware, cutlery, and many other items, to make sure the house can fulfil all of its needs. The ability to purchase for several things from one location and have them delivered right to one's house is the finest thing about ordering from top companies online.
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People's concerns about how they enjoy events and spend time with friends and family at home have increased recently. Water fountains indoor are a beautiful addition to the interiors of the house making it look tranquil and infusing it with the soothing sounds of cascading water. Because outdoor furniture makes far better use of outside spaces like gardens, courtyards, backyards, etc., it has become the usual to purchase outdoor furniture online. Additionally, indoor furniture needs to be picked so that it perfectly blends in with the home's decor.
A Synopsis of the Product Categories Provided by the Best Homeware Stores
Packaging: It is necessary for both keeping and serving food in homes and also in case of goods delivery which requires food packaging supplies wholesale. Serving meals to residents and guests requires food packaging materials including cutlery, foam cups, lidded cups, plates, etc. Using the finest silverware makes you feel like a king or queen.
Furniture: The leading house and office supplies store offer pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, and lamps, such products collectively improve the house's visual appeal. Offices require pens, papers, staplers and many other such essential things which are used in office every day and businesses should buy them in bulk for getting the best price. Higher aesthetic standards benefit inhabitants' emotional and physical well-being. These days, outdoor string lights are a rather common choice. To top it all off, the greatest mattresses must be purchased for restful sleep.
To revamp the appearance of their houses, consumers may choose from one of the largest selections of items provided by homeware supply firms. To choose the finest, simply peruse the catalogue and immerse yourself in the most exquisite items that enhance the beauty of your house.
    SUMMARY:
Home decoration items adds to a house's appeal and cosiness, transforming it into a place where people want to live. Online homewares companies provide a wide range of goods to meet any demand, such as cutlery, furniture, and food packaging supplies wholesale. Customers have a large assortment of products to pick from to improve the attractiveness and look of their homes.
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ausfurniture · 7 months
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TASS BLACKWOOD RETRO DINING TABLE
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Quality Tassie Blackwood Table chair made in Australia! TIMBER:TASMANIAN BLACKWOOD FINISH: SOLVENT BASED CLEAR LACQUER COCO DINING CHAIR BLACKWOOD - CLEAR LACQUERED LARGE RANGE OF FABRIC,VINYL & LEATHER Custom made service available, It can be made to your measurements. Choice of fabric, vinyl and genuine leather. $100 per chair for leather seat. Choice of stain. Free color match for order over 8 chairs. Choices of stains and free color match,Custom sizes and other timber.Combination of solid timber and timber veneer. Soft close doors,Heavy duty Double extension metal runners for drawer,Life time exchangeable warrantee for runners and hinges.,$100 extra per drawer for Blum soft close runners. Custom Made by order only. 4-8 weeks to make. Please contact for interstate delivery. Australian Made hardwood furniture handcrafted in Sydney. My product is individually handcrafted from a blend of high quality sustainable local. Imported timbers, ultimately resulting in a fresh, modern approach to Hardwood timber furniture. We are making Tassie Blackwood Table chair, dining sets, bed frames, bedside tables, tallboys, dressing tables, bedroom suites, tv units, entertainment units, buffets, sideboards, kitchen dressers, coffee tables, lamp tables, hall tables, consoles, study desks, home offices, wardrobes, and kitchens, etc. The timber has been carefully sourced from sustainable and managed forests making each piece unique in its own character. We are proudly using sustainable Australian forest products such as Tasmanian oak, Tasmanian Blackwood, spotted gum, Blackbutt and imported timbers like American white oak, European oak, European beech, American walnut and recycled hardwood. All our timbers are kiln dried to ensure a minimal movement. We do custom made to satisfy any special usage,All our products have 10 years structural warranty.  Our products are made by our expert tradesmen who have more than 50 years combined experience supervised by me, the third generation of cabinet maker in the family. All the furniture is prepared by 320 grit sanding which meaning 6 or 7 times of sanding by different grits of sand paper. We have choices of finishes. Such as lacquer, Osmo oil, non toxic water based lacquer and polyurethane. These products give you a smooth, superb and carefree finish. All my ranges use traditional and modern construction techniques to create this aesthetically innovative design. All doors are using soft close hinges to ensure a very top quality. All drawers are using double extension ball bearing metal runners. About us   Our friends    Facebook   Kitchen cabinet  Quality timber   Coatings   Abbey timber Read the full article
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cushandco · 8 months
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Innovative Ways to Style Your Pouffe in Your Living Room
Have you ever walked into a living room and felt instantly drawn to a particular piece of furniture? Often, it's not the most extravagant item in the room, but something as simple yet versatile as a Pouffe that catches your eye. You might be thinking, "How can a pouffe be the star of my living space?" The answer lies in how you style it.
Pouffes, or Pouf Ottomans as some call them, are like the Swiss Army knives of interior design. They can serve as extra seating, a footrest, or even replace a coffee table. Plus, with options ranging from Leather Pouf to Moroccan Pouf, there's a style for every taste and theme. In this post, we'll go through three innovative ways to make your pouffe the heart of your living room. Whether you’re in Pouffe Australia or Pouffe NZ, these tips are universal. Let’s dive in!
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1] Create a Multi-Layered Seating Area
One of the best aspects of a pouffe is its versatility in seating arrangements. You can pair it with large floor cushions for a layered Bohemian look. This setup invites relaxation and casual conversations. 
Lay a Moroccan rug beneath the arrangement to give it an exotic flair and tie the room together. The textured fabric of the rug will add a unique contrast to the smooth surface of a leather or fabric pouffe.
2] Make It the Centerpiece of a Cozy Corner
A pouffe can be much more than just extra seating. Transform it into the centerpiece of a cozy reading or relaxation corner. Surround your pouffe with a floor lamp, a small side table, and perhaps a cactus silk cushion for added comfort and style. 
Place this arrangement near a window or a bookshelf to complete the cozy nook. This setting provides you with a quiet space for reading or contemplation and acts as a decorative feature in your living room.
3] Mix and Match with Vintage Elements
If you are a fan of vintage rugs and antiques, a pouffe can also seamlessly fit into this setting. Pair it with a vintage rug or an antique coffee table to create an eclectic mix. Throw in some retro cushions or artifacts, and you have a vintage-inspired living room that tells a story. A leather pouffe can add a touch of modernity and contrast beautifully with older elements in the room.
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Conclusion
The humble pouffe has so much to offer when styling your living room. The possibilities are endless, from creating a multi-layered seating area to acting as a chic coffee table. The key lies in choosing the right pouffe type and knowing how to style it to match the decor. 
So, are you inspired to give your living room a mini-makeover with a stylish pouffe? Head over to Cush & Co to explore a range of pouffes, from leather to Moroccan styles, perfect for any living space. Whether you want to add a functional yet stylish piece or shake things up a bit, we’ve got you covered. 
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onlinelightings · 1 year
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Use Online Lamp and Light for your Internal and External Lighting Needs
Numerous premium quality lamp and light are available for your interior and exterior applications from reputable online lighting retailers. They have a large variety of products in store, including pendant lights, chandeliers, downlights, lamps, external lights, and globes, all of which are available for delivery across Australia. These stores ensure that the greatest pricing for these high-quality lights and lamps are obtained from the top Australian and international lighting suppliers. They offer a wide variety of stylish ceiling lights, wall lights, downlights, spotlights, and pendants and chandeliers for interior. Wall lights, ceiling lights, garden lighting, downlights, and solar-powered LEDs are among their outdoor lighting options.
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These online shops offer a large selection of bedroom, table, and desk touch lamps at reasonable costs. Additionally, they carry Pasteri touch dimmable table lamps and Bankers touch antique brass table lamps. Using your touch lamps will increase the amount of light and lessen eye strain, allowing you to work comfortably at any time. To prevent accidents like cuts, you need good lighting that will concentrate the light rays straight to where you are working while you chop or cut hard food like raw meat and chicken.
Importance of Lamps and Lights:
According to research that have been independently verified, electric lighting in homes often satisfies two needs: lighting a room or space for use at night and lighting a particular task or feature. Your illumination will be maximised and your energy use will be decreased if the light fixture and bulb are matched to each use. When thinking about task and room lighting, electric lighting design requirements are crucial. Instead of trying to make the entire space well lighted, direct lighting for certain tasks or features (using lamps or downlights) is more effective. LED lights are capable of produce a lot of light at a low wattage and are energy-efficient.
In conclusion, internet lighting stores provide a range of electrical goods, including fans, fans, and exterior and interior lights. Anyone looking for these products can order your lighting needs by visiting their website.
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Greenhouse - What Factors To Consider Before Purchasing It?
If you're thinking of buying a Greenhouse Australia , there's no better time to do it than now. It's cold outside and the sun is shining bright. With the right equipment, growing your own food can be easy and rewarding for both novice and experienced gardeners alike. 
Greenhouses come in many sizes, shapes and styles so choosing one can be difficult at first glance. There are several factors to consider before purchasing one such as:
Size
The size of your greenhouse is also an important factor to consider. You should get a greenhouse that has enough space for the plants you want to grow. If there is not enough space, it will be hard for you to grow all those plants in one greenhouse. 
Also, ensure that the materials used are durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions such as winds or rainstorms. The roof should be able to withstand strong winds so that it does not break down due to pressure from windy weather conditions.
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Investment
The cost of the greenhouse is a very important factor when it comes to purchasing your greenhouse. Before you decide on what type of greenhouses you want to purchase, it is very important that you look at the overall cost and price tag of each one. 
This will help guide you in making an informed decision on which type of greenhouses fit best into your budget and needs.
The next thing to consider when deciding on buying a greenhouse is the amount of land that needs to be purchased for installation as well as maintenance purposes. Most people don’t even think about this aspect until later down in their decision-making process which can lead them into trouble later on down south (pun intended).
Equipment
It is a good idea to have the right equipment for your greenhouse. You should consider what tools, tools and other accessories you will need to purchase. For example, there are several types of surgical instruments that are used in surgeries.
 The kind of equipment that you need depends on how much space you want to use in your greenhouse. If you plan to keep many plants at once, then it would be best if you buy more expensive items such as hydroponic systems which cost around $1,000 and can be adapted for large-scale cultivation purposes.
 However, if all you want is some fresh herbs and vegetables then something like an indoor table lamp with ultraviolet bulbs might be sufficient enough because these lamps provide optimal light levels without any heat production whatsoever!
Style
The style of greenhouse you choose should be based on the purpose you want to use it for. If you want to grow plants in your greenhouse, then you will need a polytunnel or a glasshouse.
 On the other hand, if you are looking for somewhere to sit and relax without being disturbed by wind and rain, then buy an apex greenhouse.
An important thing about greenhouses is that they can be built according to your own needs and requirements. 
You can choose how big or small your greenhouse should be depending on how much space you have available in your garden as well as what kind of plants or vegetables do not require much sunlight throughout the day.
Conclusion
Greenhouse is an investment, so you should be well aware of the factors that can affect your decision. It’s important to consider how much space you need as well as what kind of equipment will be required for maintenance. 
You also want to make sure that the style of greenhouse Australia matches with your home and yard so it blends in perfectly with everything else around it!
Source From - Greenhouse - What Factors To Consider Before Purchasing It?
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byliving · 2 years
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Fancy table lamps in Australia
Designer table lamps online are beautiful decorations in and of themselves. By illuminating your room, they seem to have the ability to offer the perfect amount of charm and thus create the ideal mood. Designer table lamps in Australia from By Living are available online. They are eye-catching, artistically-inspired objects that demand attention and give your space a luxurious appearance. In Australia, we have a large selection of designer table lamps online that are created to complement your individual style.
Minimalist terrazzo pendant lights
Are you looking for some stunning terrazzo pendant lights? By Living has got a wide range of highly functional lights that are minimalist and artistic. With our terrazzo pendant lights, you can bring a whole new look to your space. Brighten up your home with our minimalist terrazzo lights online in Australia.
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fanseeonline · 2 years
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Different Styles Of Bedside Table Lamps
When it comes to Lamps For Bedside Table, you want to make sure you pick the proper type to complete the aesthetic of your room. There are many various styles of lamps on the side of your bed, such as modern, oriental, urban, country, and western, but we will look at each type to see whether our surroundings would complement our light.
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For those of you who have artistically designed spaces, modern styled side lights are the way to go. These lamps feature unusual designs that give the impression that you are in the future. They are really exquisite and go well with any abstract picture nearby or any scenario that has a creative feel to it.
Oriental lamps are often made in Asian nations and have a distinct Asian culture. Some are fairly similar to the common types of bedside table lamps on the market, while others have an Asian flavour to them that makes them stand out. If you have a home full of Asian goods, Asian decorations, or Asian ancestry, these lights will go wonderfully with your décor.
The suburban settlements that have been established in America and other nations have largely influenced the urban lighting style. There are several lamps with genuine graffiti on them, giving the impression that you are wandering through suburbia. Some of the lights feature nature, such as bears or other creatures, while others have gleaming bottoms that resemble flower bases.
Country music has popularised the term "country," but there is also a market for Country-styled lighting. They have a country appearance to them with farm animals such as roosters, cows, and other common farm animals. They are the most vivid form of light available, with a colour scheme inspired by nature.
Now that you're aware of the various kinds of bedside table lamps available, such as modern, oriental, urban and country, you may select the most appropriate style for your bedroom. Shop for the Best Lights Australia at Fansee.com.au.
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simthia · 2 years
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Simplistic Minimalist Interior
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@sims-kkb front entrance set, pushful door, poster frames, minimalism kitchen, kitchen dish drying rack, kitchen set sink & washer/dryer, retro style room set blanket folded, bathroom series 8,dining room book storage, minimal kitchen sink, bathroom series 7, utility box
@leosims4cc @leo-sims-cc bacio chair, asian set, Chinese table ware, dried berry branches, Leo asian vase, stone table, Spina console, venice bed decorations, innova dry plant, nova vase
@miljamaison hel studio & milja's courtyard set, skandinavien bathroom set, kape retail mirror, sand coffee, snefrid sculpture, nordisk kitchen counter, amachi stove, built in cabinets,
@hel-studio-deactivated20220116 genesis bathroom, slated ceiling, lagorn Chinese lantern, Soho spa muuto bar stool, Yokohama dim sum set, backdrop
@sundays-sims Sundays x Raventons Kayla bookcase, Asana glass, Florian blanket,
@blueteas Walt sofa
@hephaestionsims welcome to Australia photo, Odysseus shower
@mincts4 classic cabinet v 1, pyschen slide door,
@meinkatz strand pendant lamp by muuto, cover chair by muuto,
@eniosta oppen wall mounted photo, second valley wall rack, moski tea box, stiel kitchen set, ceramic collection jug, Zen garden,
@pixelvibes smeg appliances, lowp air purifier, wooden couch, Zara home soap dispensary/cotton buds/cotton balls, autumn candle
@aggressivekitty Shanghai set, bedroom set headboard
@syboubou spiral stairs
@m-o-d--e-r-n boffi fridge, minotti Aston dining table, Lee rustic wall plant, halford living glass vase pampas, Lexi modern laundry towel
@cowbuild Cameron wooden panel, clothes decor, minotti rug collection
@kerriganhouse japanese tea table
@simvaultthings Kenneth collection fire place, pantry large tub,
@nickname-sims4 air conditioner wall, modern kitchen stove
@ddaeng-sims Hiro dining set
@pinkbox-anye curve bowl, prio pillows, Prado chair,
TSR :
@jomsimscreations siana bath, dizma bathroom sink
PS tuz wood floors
@nynaevedesign sonic reflective walls
@simcredibledesigns empire bonsai plant
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weirdestbooks · 3 years
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Secret States Chapter 1
A Normal Beginning
America's POV I rubbed my eyes as I began waking up. I had finally gotten enough free time, without my insomnia keeping me up, so I was able to get an hour of sleep. That's not a lot, but way more than I normally gets.
"I can't believe I actually slept." I muttered to myself as I pulled myself out of bed, holding my chest where pains remained due to COVID and the capital riot. I looked around my room, which was pretty empty. I had a desk that was covered in paperwork, along with my laptop. Next to it was a printer. The desk and printer sat between two bookshelves, which were filled with books, non-fiction and fiction alike.
There was a couch next to the bookshelves, underneath a window that looked outside.My bed was opposite of my desk. It was plain, with blue covers and red sheets. I had a bedside table with a lamp, and a picture of me with my kids.
Unlike what most other countries thought of him, I could be and was mature. I love my kids, all sixty-two of them. My states and territories, along with DC, NASA, NATO, Liberia, Palau, Marshall Islands and Micronesia. I even considered Philippines and Cuba to be family, even though I wasn't sure they, especially Cuba, returned those feelings. I would tell them, but I didn't want to make things awkward between us.
I got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror, seeing my Stars and Stripes, along with my black eyes. My black eyes were very odd. No other country had them, only the organizations, although I wasn't technically a country myself. The United States of America was called the Union for a reason.
I didn't always have my black eyes though. They looked like any other country's eyes until the large waves of immigrants that changed America from having one culture, to having so many, I can't claim a nationwide culture.
Even though both my father, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union are also technically unions as well, they didn't have the black eyes I do, which lead me to believe black eyes were a sign of having no or many cultures, as opposed to a main one.
This theory was only further cemented when New York developed black eyes as well. Although, he was pretty sure Soviet had one black eye, which was the reason for his eyepatch.
I got myself ready for another day of mind numbingly boring meetings with the rest of the world. I hated how other countries always liked blaming me for things or just making fun of me. I know my country had done horrible things and I hate myself for being unable to stop the government from doing them, but the other countries didn't need to bring it up.
At least my family stood up for me, along with my friends, like Germany and Japan, although how Japan could be friends with me after what I did to her mother was a question I could never find the answer to.
I shook the pessimistic thoughts out of my head, muttering "No pienses así América. Estas tratando de compesarlo. Deja de culparte cuando las cosas van mal." (Don't think that way America. You're trying to make up for it. Stop blaming yourself when things go wrong.)
I opened the door to my room, before almost being barreled down by American Samoa and Hawaii. American Samoa and Hawaii were dressed very similarly, with t-shirts and shorts, although Hawaii wore a lei. Hawaii's flag had a Union Jack in the upper left hand corner, with blue, red and white stripes. American Samoa's flag was dark blue, with a white triangle that had a red outline coming from the right corners. In the triangle was a bald eagle holding a war club and a fly whisk.
"Faʻamalie Tama.  O aʻu ma Hawaii sa na o le taumafai lava e faʻatumu le isi vaega o atumotu o le Pasefika e faʻamalosi ai atumotu Caribbean." (Sorry Dad. Me and Hawaii were just trying to get the rest of the Pacific islands to prank the Caribbean islands.) American Samoa said. Due to not having an official language, I was able to understand and speak all languages spoken within my borders. This wasn't a small amount, with approximately 350 languages spoken in the US. I loved this however, as it allowed my children, especially my adopted ones to speak their first language, or just whatever one they preferred.
"Mai hopohopo makuakāne, e hōʻoia wau ʻaʻole e ʻeha kekahi!" (Don't worry father, i'll make sure no one gets hurt!) Hawaii stated as she grabbed American Samoa by the arm pulling her brother towards Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands room. I smiled at my kid's antics as he walked towards the stairs. As I walked downstairs I bumped into another person, causing them to drop their papers.
"Sorry D." I said as I helped the district gather up her papers. The District of Columbia, or Washington DC, was wearing a pencil skirt with a button up dress shirt. Her flag was white, with two red lines though the center and three red stars at the top.
"It's okay Dad." She responded, smiling, "I'm glad you finally got some sleep though. You know I can help you if you get overwhelmed. I am the capital after all."
"You do enough as it is. You're also up early. Are you heading to the capitol building to try and convince Congress to grant you statehood?" I questioned, handing DC back her papers which consisted of plans on how they could redraw the capital to allow for Washington DC to become a state.
"Yeah. I'm upset that Trump prevented it from happening, but hopefully with a new president I can get closer to achieving statehood. I'm going to head out now. Vermont's making breakfast. Love you Dad, goodbye!" DC said as she walked out the front door.
"Love you too" I responded before sticking my head in the kitchen.
"Bonjour Vermont" I said as I looked at the nation-turned state. Vermont was wearing a green and blue plaid shirt along with jeans and worn out boots. His flag was blue with a coat of arms in it, the central image being a pine tree.
"Bonjour Papa" Vermont said as he took another couple of pancakes off the griddle. "Je prépare des crêpes pour tout le monde, alors ne vous inquiétez pas pour la cuisine.  C'est une journée de repos pour vous." (I'm making pancakes for everyone, so don't worry about cooking. It is a rest day for you.).
"Merci Vermont." I said as I walked into the dining room, being met with the faces of NATO, New York and Delaware.
"Hey guys. Did you get any sleep York?" I asked them as I sat down.
"Like your one to talk Dad. And I did." New York said as he sipped a pot of coffee. New York was wearing a suit and had a blue flag with his coat of arms on it.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure York gets some sleep before he collapses." Delaware said. Delaware was dressed in a shirt and jeans. His flag was a colonial blue, with a yellow sideways triangle with his coat of arms on it. The flag also showed the date he ratified the Constitution, December 7, 1787.
"I was founded by twelve countries, why's this the family that I have to be a part of?" NATO asked. NATO was wearing a suit, as he also had to participate in meetings with other countries. His flag was blue with a compass rose, with four lines coming out of the four cardinal directions.
"Really?"
"Come on NATO, you know you love us."
I laughed at my kids' protests to NATO's comment as Vermont came out with the pancakes.
"Foods ready. Where's everyone else?" Vermont asked and he put a plates of pancakes on the table.
"Sleeping." Delaware said.
"Del, we're Americans, we don't sleep for this long." Vermont said, crossing his arms.
"The South are messing around in the backyard, but surprisingly, the West is still asleep. I think the Midwest is doing something with the crops. The four corners are doing something. NASA on the phone with Navajo talking about names for that Mars mission he has." NATO said as he began to eat his pancakes.
"How do you know what everyone's doing?" New York asked.
"I don't. I have no idea what the territories, Mid-Atlantic's, Hawaii or Alaska are doing." NATO responded.
"Sam and Hawaii are trying to convince the Pacific islands to help them prank the Caribbean islands." I said, thinking back to the conversation I  had with the two islands earlier that morning.
"Are the former territories going to be involved?" Delaware asked.
"That I don't know. I'll let you know if any of them tell me something about it" I said. As I said that, an alarm on my phone went off.
"Time to go?" NATO asked.
"Yep. Del, you and the Thirteen are in charge, along with Vermont. Alaska has been having nightmares again, so help him with that if you need to." I said as I got up from the table.
"Got it." New York said as he took another large sip of his coffee.
"Á bientôt!" (See you soon) Vermont said.
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Canada's POV (BTW, I am not describing the flags of any countries that are well known, only the states because they aren't as well known) I sat down next to my brother Australia as I walked into the meeting room.
"Hey, have you seen Ame recently?" I asked Australia.
"No, but 2020 was crazy for everyone, he's probably just dealing with COVID stuff. UN did cancel all in-person meetings in 2020 because of COVID. Thank god for the vaccine." Australia said, rubbing a hand on a burn scar.
"Mes fils!" (My sons!) I heard my mother announce from behind me. I looked over to see my father, UK; my younger brother, New Zealand; my uncle, Ireland; and my mother, France.
"Bonjour Maman. Comment ça va?" (Hello Mom. How are you?) I said. Maman smiled.
"Très bien. Avez-vous vu Ame?" (Very good. Have you seen Ame?) She asked.
"Non." Canada replied.
"What are you talking about? I heard Ame's name, but I don't know French." New Zealand cut in.
"Sorry Kiwi." Maman said.
"I heard my name. Are we talking about me?" I heard America's voice from behind me.
"Ame!" Australia said. I turned around to see my brother, who had his hands in his pockets. He had his sunglasses on and had a slight smile on his face.
"Hello America." Père said.
"What up Pops? How's everyone been?" America asked, sitting down next to Australia.
"COVID's been tough. I'm glad for the vaccine though." Père answered as he and Maman sat down.
"Thank god for the vaccine is definitely on everyone's mind." Maman said. UN then walked into the room followed by NATO, ASEAN, EU and AU.
"Hello everyone. I am hoping to continue our meetings for now, but if there are any complications involving COVID we will head back to online meetings." UN stated. "We will begin with the countries most affected by COVID. First up will be the United States of America, followed by the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of India."
————————————————————————
The meeting was incredibly boring, just everyone talking about their cases and vaccinations, the same thing we've been doing since COVID started. After the meeting, I walked out with my family as they discussed random topics.
"Man I wish Uncle Scotland, Uncle England, Uncle Wales and Uncle North could attend these meetings. Then we could really have a family reunion." New Zealand said.
"Your Uncles would make a mess out of the meeting. Nothing would get done." Père stated.
"So we should definitely let them come. It would make it more fun!" America said.
"Yeah Britain, let our brothers come. They would definitely add spice to the boring meetings." Uncle Ireland said, draping an arm around Père's shoulders. America and Uncle Ireland always loved joking around trying to get a rise out of Père. I think it stems from their independence, but they are still close regardless.
"We should try and get together, we are vaccinated and we can wear masks if anyone gets truly worried about it." Australia suggested.
"Let's. I need to see someone other than myself. Maybe tomorrow?" I asked. Everyone gave nods of agreement, aside from America.
"America?" Maman asked, questioning his lack of a decision. America bit his lip.
"I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to." He said, but still seemed conflicted. I was worried about my brother. He had a lot of COVID cases and seemed to be a lot more tired than usual. But if something bad was happening, surely America would tell someone.
"America, can I speak to you alone?" A voice behind us asked. I turned around to see a country with a flag very similar to America's, but instead of the fifty stars there was one big one.
"Sure thing Liberia. I'll be right back, guys" America said, walking over to Liberia.
"I didn't know Liberia and America were friends." Père commented.
"Ame's friends with everyone." Australia said. He then paused and continued, "Well not with North Korea or Iran or Russia-Okay maybe he's not friends with everyone, but he has a lot of friends."
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gagosiangallery · 3 years
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Frank Gehry at Gagosian Beverly Hills
May 27, 2021
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FRANK GEHRY Spinning Tales
June 24–August 6, 2021 456 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills __________ When I built the first model of the fish, I saw in it the movement that I was looking for. It was startling that a static object could express motion in such a dynamic way. —Frank Gehry Gagosian is pleased to present Spinning Tales, an exhibition of new work by renowned architect Frank Gehry. It pairs large-scale elaborations on the Fish Lamps series with a new installation, Wishful Thinking (2021), and is Gehry’s eighth exhibition with the gallery since 1999. Celebrated for his groundbreaking architectural designs, Gehry has also produced significant bodies of sculpture and furniture, from Easy Edges (1969–73) and Experimental Edges (1979–82)—chairs and tables made from layers of corrugated cardboard—to bentwood furniture items designed for Knoll (1989–92). The Fish Lamps evolved from a 1983 commission by the Formica Corporation to utilize ColorCore, a type of plastic laminate. After accidentally breaking off a shard of the material, Gehry was inspired by its scale-like appearance; molding wire armatures into piscine forms, he affixed ColorCore fragments to them. In the main gallery, three outsize, internally illuminated Fish Lamps sculptures are suspended from the ceiling in dynamic, twisting poses, as if swimming through water. In these works, Gehry has used polyvinyl and copper for the first time. These central forms are surrounded by lively, colorful sculptures that are more baroque in their ornamentation. While these sculptures are autonomous works, the “perfect form” of the creature that they emulate reappears throughout Gehry’s architectural oeuvre, lending itself to the undulating profiles of buildings including the Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain (1997), and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles (2003).
Filling the upstairs gallery is the immersive installation Wishful Thinking, based on a scene from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Gehry renders the Mad Hatter’s tea party as a group of ten surreal figures, twice life-size. Fashioned from brilliantly painted metal, Gehry’s abstracted interpretations of Carroll’s original characters surround an internally lit table, the glowing heart of the scene. Three overlapping woven steel “tapestries” of trees evoke the episode’s forest setting, while a mirror on the opposite wall implicates the viewer. The crumpled surfaces of Wishful Thinking’s figures establish a new visual connection with some of Gehry’s best-known designs. Frank Gehry was born in 1929 in Toronto, and lives and works in Los Angeles. Collections include the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain; and Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Ultimo, Australia. Solo exhibitions include Frank Gehry, Architect, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2001); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2014); and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2015). Awards include the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1989), National Medal of Arts (1998), and Lifetime Achievement Award from Americans for the Arts (2000). Gehry’s buildings include the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany (1989); Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain (1997); Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles (2003); Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, University of Technology Sydney (2014); Facebook headquarters, Menlo Park, CA (2015); Luma / Parc des Ateliers, Arles, France (2021); Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA (2021); Children’s Institute Inc. Center, Watts Campus, Los Angeles; and Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) Center, Inglewood, CA (forthcoming, 2021). _____ Frank Gehry, Fish on Fire, 2021, copper and steel wire, 43 × 24 × 24 inches (109.2 × 61 × 61 cm) © Frank O. Gehry. Photo: Joshua White
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warw3tw4y4e · 3 years
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after that letter, as soon as my father came my troubles began
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lu-undy · 4 years
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Today hasn’t been my day, but I’m coping by imagining some characters being comforted by their lover. Can you write something about Spy or Sniper being anxious and/or upset and the other comforting him?
I hope you’re better now, Anonymous requester ^^! Here is a little something to help you hopefully :D
Lucien sighed. Television had nothing good to offer at two in the morning apart from documentaries on animals. If Mundy had been with him, he would have enjoyed himself so much…! 
But non. Nightmares were apparently only for the ex-spy. He had them very frequently; so frequently in fact, that he had grown to hate the act of sleeping itself and thus, his life awake had become yet another nightmare. He had become irascible, he had lost his appetite and refused to go to his bed. Argh, the mere thought of the large double-bed with his million cushions and pillows of all sizes and shapes made him gag! 
It had all started a bit after Mundy had flown back to Australia. He wanted to see his parents again and tell them for him and Lucien. Of course, the ex-spy never opposed that decision and had been spending the past few weeks in a state of silent anxiety. Mundy had told him that he would try to call him from time to time but he would spend most of his time with his parents and the difference in time between France and Australia being horrendously big, he hadn't called a single time in all these days. 
As a result, Lucien was absolutely terrified. As with each day that passed, more questions sprang up in his mind, like dangerous plants with thorns growing in the rich soil of his imagination. 
How would Mundy's parents react to their relationship? Would they accept it? Would they not? Had Mundy already broken up with him and he didn't get the hints? Had his parents forced him to put an end to it and he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye? 
Lucien wasn't biting his nails anymore, it was his very fingers he was gnawing on. 
But patience, patience. Mundy was supposed to land back in Paris that very night. He had taken a cheap flight back which meant that the times were far from practical, but eh, at least he would be home soon now. 
Lucien couldn't help but look at his watch during every commercial break, at every pause, every other minute. The more it lasted, the more unbearable it was becoming. He felt hot, way too hot, even in January and on the few occasions that the screen would go black, he would see his reflection on it, the dark bags under his eyes and the worry and tension written all over his face.
Lucien was nonetheless lying in their bed, waiting for his dearest to come back. He didn't realise it but he fell asleep. 
Meanwhile, keys jingled at the door and soon Mundy entered, trying to be as silent as possible. He took a moment to appreciate the familiar smell of home and smiled. He left his luggage in the living-room and went to their bedroom where he found Lucien lying down and the television still on. He took a moment to appreciate Lucien's beauty. The man was as handsome as he was charming. 
Mundy switched the television off, took off his clothes and put his glasses on the night table before slipping in bed. He lied down and kept staring at the object of all his desires. What a handsome man… His salt and pepper hair fell on his brow beautifully, his long eyelashes were poetry and his thin lips, the best delicacy on the face of Earth. 
And he kept staring for a long time until Lucien started frowning. His breath got erratic and accelerated at times. He even started to make worried noises, not words yet, but those sounds with the expression of his worried face told Mundy that the poor Lucien was having a nightmare. He didn't dare disturb him, thinking it would pass but he soon saw droplets glisten on his brow under the faint lamp post light from outside. 
"Hah!" Lucien woke up in a cold sweat and shouted further when he saw Mundy in front of him. When he realised that he had come back home, he dived on his chest and held him, pulled him to himself and breathed in his scent. He clawed in the Aussie with his fingers and stuck himself on him. 
"Hey, luv', I'm back home. Did you have a nightmare?" 
Lucien nodded against his lover's bare chest. 
"Oh, it's alright, I'm here now… Shh…" Mundy hugged him dearly but heard that Lucien's breath wasn't calming down. "You alright?"
Lucien shook his head against Mundy's chest and he frowned. 
"What's wrong?" 
"I haven't slept for the past few weeks. I-I keep on having those terrible nightmares…" Lucien answered, his voice muffled.
"What d'you dream of?" 
"That you leave me, or I'm forced to leave you, or I lose you…"
"Awww, darl', it's all rubbish. I'm here and I'm never leaving you." Mundy let his fingers slide through Lucien's hair and the poor Frenchman nearly cried.
"I missed you so much…" 
"So did I, love, I really did." 
"Non, you don't get it." Lucien rolled to switch on his night lamp and rolled again to face Mundy. 
"Oh, bugger…" Mundy's jaw dropped slightly when he realised how tired his lover looked. "How…?" 
"I told you, I couldn't sleep." 
"What kept you up?" Mundy asked. 
"My longing for you, the fear of losing you and that the last I saw of you is when I dropped you at the airport." 
"My God, Lu'..." Mundy tightened his hug. "Look, I missed you a lot too but c'mon…"
"I'm so glad that you are back." Lucien kissed Mundy's chest and neck repeatedly. "And that you came back to me. Mon Dieu I missed you so much…" 
"Hey, hey, it's fine, I'm here now. You poor thing, I should have called, I'm so sorry…" 
"N-non, it is fine."
"No it's not!" Mundy stuck his big hands left and right on Lucien's head and looked him dead in the eye. "I promised to make you happy and I realise I made you horrendously worried. Look at you! The bags under your eyes are so big you could fit the whole of Australia in there!" 
Lucien smiled, albeit a bit distraught still. 
"How was it with your parents?" He asked. "How did they, uh, react?" 
"Lu', it's past three in the morning, you sure you want to talk about this?" 
"Oui, please, I have wondered long enough." 
"Right, so, uh, I don't really know how to say this but uh…" Mundy's eyes darted left and right as if the words he looked for were lying somewhere on the bed, near them. Lucien's eyes widened as his pupils shrank more and more as he waited for Mundy's next words as if they were gospel. "My parents, they uh…"
"What about them? Are they fine?" 
"Y-yeah, yeah… Well, they're uh, they're here in Paris. They've flown back with me and they want to meet you." 
"What?!" Lucien's entire body melted and he lost control over his limbs. 
"Turns out they had guessed I liked blokes better and… I talked to them so much about you that they wanted to meet you too, if you're ok with that?" 
Lucien's eyes had opened to the size of planets. 
"Oui… Oui of course! Mon Dieu! I am delighted!" He hugged his lover and rolled such that Mundy was now on his back and Lucien on top of him, drowning him in the dearest embrace. He was laughing and crying happy tears at the same time. Lucien stuck his lips on Mundy's and moaned all the anxiety, the apprehension and the doubts away.
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ausfurniture · 11 months
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AMERICAN OAK VERMONT DINING TABLE
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Quality American OAK Dining Table Chair made in Australia! VERMONT DINING TABLE TIMBER:AMERICAN OAK FINISH:SOLVENT BASED LACQUER VERMONT DINING CHAIR VICTORIAN ASH CHOICE OF STAINS AND FREE COLOUR MATCH LARGE RANGE OF FABRIC,VINYL & LEATHER Custom made service available, It can be made to your measurements. Choice of fabric, vinyl and genuine leather. $100 per chair for leather seat. Choice of stain. Free color match for order over 8 chairs. Choices of stains and free color match,Custom sizes and other timber.Combination of solid timber and timber veneer. Soft close doors,Heavy duty Double extension metal runners for drawer,Life time exchangeable warrantee for runners and hinges.,$100 extra per drawer for Blum soft close runners. Custom Made by order only. 4-8 weeks to make. Please contact for interstate delivery. Australian Made hardwood furniture handcrafted in Sydney. My product is individually handcrafted from a blend of high quality sustainable local. We are making American OAK Dining Table and Chair, dining sets, bed frames, bedside tables, tallboys, dressing tables, bedroom suites, tv units, entertainment units, buffets, sideboards, kitchen dressers, coffee tables, lamp tables, hall tables, consoles, study desks, home offices, wardrobes, Chair,and kitchens, etc. The timber has been carefully sourced from sustainable and managed forests making each piece unique in its own character. We are proudly using sustainable Australian forest products such as Tasmanian oak, Tasmanian Blackwood, spotted gum, Blackbutt and imported timbers like American white oak, European oak, European beech, American walnut and recycled hardwood. All our timbers are kiln dried to ensure a minimal movement,ultimately resulting in a fresh, modern approach to Hardwood timber furniture. We do custom made to satisfy any special usage,All our products have 10 years structural warranty.  Our products are made by our expert tradesmen who have more than 50 years combined experience supervised by me, the third generation of cabinet maker in the family. All the furniture is prepared by 320 grit sanding which meaning 6 or 7 times of sanding by different grits of sand paper. We have choices of finishes. Such as lacquer, Osmo oil, non toxic water based lacquer and polyurethane. These products give you a smooth, superb and carefree finish. All my ranges use traditional and modern construction techniques to create this aesthetically innovative design. All doors are using soft close hinges to ensure a very top quality. All drawers are using double extension ball bearing metal runners. Aboutus   Ourfriends   Facebook   Twitter   Instagram   Pinterest   Bedroom Suites   Neo Home Office   Tv Unit   Kitchen cabinet  Quality timber   Coatings   Abbey timber Read the full article
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Lostcauses Fic: Intruder
So yesterday on twitter lulapinn shared a link to this bizarre news story and well, I couldn’t not write a fic based on it.  I’d like to formally apologise to Moblit Berner and anyone who has ever followed me for fandom commentary or serious fic writing.  I’ll see myself out of the fandom....
Men hired for sexual fantasy break into wrong house
In a sex fantasy gone wrong, two men with machetes entered the wrong house in New South Wales, Australia, before quickly realising their error. One of them has now been acquitted of entering a home armed with a weapon in July 2019, Australian media report. They had been hired to carry out a client's fantasy of being tied up in his underwear and stroked with a broom. The judge concluded that "the facts of the case are unusual". The role play was arranged over Facebook by a man near Griffith, New South Wales, who provided his address to the hired pair. "He was willing to pay A$5,000 if it was 'really good'," the judge said.
A lawyer for one of the accused, said: "It was a commercial agreement to tie up and stroke a semi-naked man in his underpants with a broom. Entry was not with intent to intimidate."
~~~
Erwin woke with a jolt.
“Don’t fucking move,” an unfamiliar voice growled.  “Any funny business and I’ll slit your throat.”
Erwin froze, heart hammering in his chest, as the unmistakable edge of a blade pressed against his throat.
In the darkness, he heard a soft fumbling, then the familiar click of the bedside lamp. The room was bathed in a soft glow and Erwin found himself face to face with a man he had never seen before.  He was short and muscular, dressed all in black, but for a white bandana covering the lower half of his face, and he holding a very, very large knife.  Momentarily, the man pulled the blade away from Erwin’s throat, tossed it in the air, caught it with ease and pressed it back against Erwin’s neck before he could even catch his breath.
“If it’s money you want,” Erwin said carefully, “my wallet is on the table in the hall. I haven’t got any other valuables in the house.”
“Think you can buy your way out of this?” The man hissed, fisting his hand in Erwin’s hair and yanking his head back to expose his throat.
“No!” Erwin gasped.  “Please, take what ever you want, take anything.”
“You’re not going to get rid of me that easily blondie,” Erwin could hear the smirk in the intruder’s voice even though he couldn’t see his mouth.  The man hesitated for a moment, thin brows twitched upwards, before adding, “You dirty motherfucker.”
Erwin blinked.  In that moment of hesitation before the man spoke, Erwin noticed three incongruous things; firstly the man appeared to be oddly nervous, secondly he was carrying a broom, of all things, and thirdly he had the most beautiful blue-grey eyes Erwin had ever seen.
[Continue reading on AO3] 
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marie-dufresne · 4 years
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@exsiliumductoris
Stepping out of the train station and into the city, Marie felt oddly out of place. It could have been because she was in the same outfit she’d been wearing for the past five or so months (when she was even wearing clothes. At some point it had become more practical to wrap up in a fur and leave it at that), worn down to practically threads by her standards, yet ballet flats that were practically brand new.
She had no makeup on to speak of (in public of all places) and was, despite her now tighter fitting clothing since being fed properly on a regular basis, also without a bra, the damned thing having split right into two halves and rendering itself useless.
At least she wouldn’t be recognized.
In the pocket of her jacket she had some money that Veld had given her and a piece of paper with a name and the number of someone who would get her a new identity and the proper paperwork to travel freely out of the country and into almost any of her choosing.
He owed Veld.
Make a good life for yourself, he’d told her before they parted.
Amidst the bustling of Prague she sighed, stepping out of the way and making herself small by a lamp post. She didn’t know what that meant.
What she did know was that she needed clothes and a hotel. Locating the shopping mall was simple. She practically had radar for the finer things in life and though she was eyed by the sales woman for her incredibly average appearance, Marie paid no mind, flipping over the tag of the dress she’d set out to purchase.
Her heart sank.
The dress alone cost almost half of what Veld had given her. There was no way she could provide herself with a new wardrobe here. With tears in her eyes, Marie dropped the tag and turned away, realizing how little she really knew about surviving on her own.
“You might try MY,” drawled the sales clerk, examining the diamonds on her fingers, “perhaps better suited for your….budget.”
Thanking her, Marie left the boutique, and, locating a directory, was pleased to find this ‘My’ was an anchor store and she wasn’t likely to get lost finding it.
The clothing selection, she found, was severely lacking in…well anything she cared for, really. But then again, she’d been living practically primitive for nearly half a year and had found herself quite happy in doing so, so purchasing a few bits of clothing she might have to share the style of the masses was not the most horrible thing she’d ever endured.
And to her surprise, they had everything. Undergarments, pajamas, hair accessories, makeup (bargain brand, but still), purses, shoes, and even a not-quite-awful and sort-of-formal-depending-on-her-hairstyle dress she might be able to wear should she choose to treat herself to a drink at a place more her scale.
She even found a new suitcase.
Leaving the mall she encountered a small tourist cart where she was able to pick up a few brochures and pamphlets in English and sought out a budget-friendly hotel. Family-friendly, it said. That was likely to be affordable enough without being questionable. She was right.
Feeling successful, she checked into the hotel and rolled her new suitcase containing her entire new life, into the little room and when she laid eyes on the shower, she let out a squeal and practically jumped from her clothes and underneath the running, hot water. Oh how such a simple pleasure was a luxury.
The towels and robe provided by the hotel may have been of moderate quality but to Marie, it was like entering the world again and when she flopped down on the bed, she smiled. Life could be good, if lived on her own terms.
She sat up, digging in her jacket pocket for the piece of paper Veld had given her, and scooted closer to the telephone, reading the name and numbers over and over again until she wasn’t reading them anymore, but simply…staring through the paper.
Mmm….maybe not tonight. She put the paper back in her pocket. Maybe she’d wait just…another day.
She didn’t sleep that night, the sounds of the city ringing through her ears and thundering in her head. They were loud, obnoxious, unnatural noises she’d forgotten about. Here there was no crackling of a dying evening fire, and no steady heartbeat of another person. It was screeching and yelling and music and she was overly aware of all of it.
The next morning, though she’d had little sleep, she was determined to have a good day. It was the last day she’d spend in Prague, she decided, and while she was there, she might as well do some touristing.
She had breakfast at a cafe, walked some fashionable streets, and when she found the library, she decided to see what they might offer by means of nearby attractions. There was a sign in the lobby she couldn’t quite read, but she recognized the wifi logo and the currency, and the image of a clock.
Maybe…just for a few moments she could rent some time on a computer. There was something she was curious about. Into the search engine went her name.
Gossip blogs had plenty to say about her death. None of it good, of course, but she brushed those aside, looking for an actual news article and found exactly one.
One.
“…where Californian heiress fell victim to the brutality of Czech mountain terrain. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dufresne have refused to speak about the loss and wish to mourn in peace. No services will be held.”
She hadn’t even been named.
Angrily she clicked away, returning to the search and typing out Harold Davenport. Pages of articles of the great tragedy that befell the ‘philanthropist’ and ‘business guru’ assaulted her eyes and had she been one to make more a scene, she might have thrown the monitor from the table. Instead, she clicked out of everything and with angry tears in her eyes, stormed silently from the library.
Even in death she meant nothing to anyone.
On the steps of the library she sat off to the side, tucking her face into her knees and sobbed. The benefit of city folk was that they were city folk and had better things to do than bother with someone who may or may not be crying and she was left alone.
When she was calm enough to stand, she walked aimlessly, not knowing what exactly to do anymore. She’d lost interest in being a tourist. She needed to decide where to go from here. London and Paris were too obvious. She had too many connections in both places. Anywhere in the United States put her too close to Arthur.
Australia? New Zealand?
No, too many creepy crawlies that were beyond the appropriate size. Tahiti was a nice idea. It was her favourite place in the world, after all, but it was expensive and she wasn’t exactly equipped with the capital to set up residence there. It would be a great place to establish herself as a photographer though.
She sighed. But she didn’t have her camera. It was at the bottom of Veld’s boar pit. She wondered if it had survived. It was in its protective bag, inside of the suitcase. Well, it didn’t matter now. Still, she wondered if he’d look through her things. If he’d look at her photos. There were some of herself on that card, she remembered.
She wondered if he’d miss her. She grunted. “Probably not,” she whispered to herself as she walked, “useless burden.”
There was a pang in her heart as she thought about not being cared for by yet another person, but this pang was small and dull, as if she’d made it up to torment herself.  The greater pain came with remembering he wasn’t next to her in the bed when she’d tried to sleep.
Get over it, get over it.
Of course they’d grown close. Of course they’d grown intimate. Two people cooped up in a cabin for five months were bound to have sex eventually. That’s just how the world worked. It didn’t mean it meant anything.
Well, it had meant something to her. She wouldn’t deny it. She’d hold those memories close to her heart. She’d allowed him in. She’d chosen him, even if, admittedly, the options were limited, she had genuinely wanted him and he hadn’t paid a single penny for her.
She stopped at a deli for something in between lunch and dinner, a hot sandwich loaded with more meat than she’d ever been allowed outside the cabin before, having acquired the taste for it and finding herself craving it now.
Back in her hotel, she took to the complimentary pad of paper and pen, trying to decide where she might decide to live. Singapore was an enticing option, but like Paris and London, she knew far too many people who frequented the area and the circles of the rich and powerful were small. Crossing someone’s path was inevitable.
Both Ireland and Scotland were possibilities. There wasn’t anyone in either of those countries large enough for Arthur to deal with and they were English speaking lands. That was a plus. She thought some more, tapping the pen against the little desk in the room. Both of those options were a little…chilly for her tastes.
“Scotland, Ireland…Germa…no….Greeeeece?”
She put a question mark next to that one, then promptly scribbled it out. Lamb was too high on their list of favourite meats.
“Oh! Spain!”
She’d been to Spain several times and enjoyed the climate, the food, the people, and they were lovers of the arts. Almost too cultured for her family, truthfully, and it had only ever been a place clients had taken her to on their holidays. She favored Barcelona.
The Spanish were a passionate bunch too. Not that she wanted to take advantage of men exactly, but she didn’t see the harm in securing a temporary boyfriend for temporary lodgings while she got on her feet. She would even be honest about her reason for being in the city. A photographer making a name for herself—
She frowned. It would be hard to claim to be a photographer without equipment. She didn’t have money for all the equipment she needed. She didn’t even have money for the sort of camera she preferred and that was…one thing she simply wouldn’t budge on.
Sighing, her hand found her hair and she rested her elbow on the desk. Stupid money. If only there were some way to…
Her eyes fell on the little black dress hanging up on the back of the hotel door. She knew where the swankiest hotels were, and the lofty bars that sat below the rooms the visitors kept.
That evening found her at the bar, dressed and made up to entice, nursing a glass of white wine, her cheap lipstick leaving a kiss on the rim of her glass.  A man sat down beside her but she paid him no mind. They would come to her. They always had. Whether they left putting koruny in her purse or not was entirely up to them.
“You’re new.”
With no one else at the bar top, Marie turned, knowing she’d been addressed.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re new,” the man repeated, all knowing eyes and thick accent, “to this bar.”
“It’s a hotel,” she pointed out, “everyone is new.”
“Maybe this is true, yes, but you are working.”
Irritation rose up in her chest then. Was she so obvious? “I am waiting for someone,” she clarified instead.
The man chuckled. “Ah. Yes. I’m sure you are waiting for many someones. But here now, is only me.”
With slightly narrowed eyes, she studied him. Early ffities by the looks of it, well groomed, sporting a rolex and tailored suit; he had money. Then again, so did almost everyone else coming through the doors of this hotel. Everyone except her.
“You seem to think you know a lot about me,” she replied, taking a sip of her wine and fully intending to ignore him.
“Mmm,” he hummed, “maybe I assume but only a working girl who is new here would sit at this bar in costume jewelry and a hmmmm….” he waved his hand in the air a bit, calculating the currency in his head, “…sixty dollar dress.”
Well.
He had here there.
Now the question was: did he believe her cheap attire was a reflection of her skills? Did he think her out of her element and would be be unwilling to pay?
“Well,” she cooed, leaning over to him, “I don’t see the point in spending all my money on a dress that is going to spend the night on the floor.”
Her glass was at her lips again. “Besides, men usually don’t notice these sorts of things.”
“Ah.” He motioned for the bartender to bring her another glass. “Maybe not the boys you played with in…America, is it? Boston maybe. They will not know any better. But here in Prague…men, we know.”
She didn’t know what in her face changed, but he picked up on it, quirking a brow and giving her a smirk.
“You do know men,” he noted softly, “and yet here you are.”
Accepting the new glass, she straightened her back, looking over the rim through her lashes. She wasn’t accustomed to being read so easily by strangers and she was willing to admit her pride was hurt. She had been good at what she did, as involuntary as it had been.
“I took some time off,” she replied, lips turning up softly, “not by choice.”
The man beside her tended to his own drink for a moment, before his hand found her thigh and he leaned over.
“You will come with me and if I am satisfied, I will give you ten thousand dollars.”
Marie’s eyes flicked to the side, then down to his hand. His drink hit the bar top, thumb and forefinger snapping up to take hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“And you will return tomorrow looking like a woman who can afford to sit at my brother’s bar.”
These words were colder now, almost threatening and he squeezed, though not hard enough to bruise. “The fee to do business here is thirty percent.”
Marie nodded and for a month, she returned to what she knew. There was money to be made in the escort business, particularly when the fee was paid directly to her and not her father.
After a month, she met a trust fund baby on vacation with a bunch of his buddies. She didn’t care for orgies, but they were her age and not nearly smart enough to keep their money in their pockets. Easy targets. The whole weekend ended in one of them setting her up in a penthouse flat as he cancelled his return trip home, opting instead to stay in Prague with her, living the high life.
While she’d taken the name ‘Poppy’ for work, this boy toy of hers had opted instead to call her ‘Puppy’, a pouty little pet name he held for her when he wanted to get his way.
Marie had not touched the money Veld had given her. It didn’t seem right to spend it. This was not the ‘good life’ he’d meant for her to make for herself, and guilt ate at her whenever she thought about him. She had more money than she’d ever need. Both in cash and jewelry. Her boyfriend had bought her a luxury car she couldn’t drive. That alone could buy her a pleasant country cottage if she sold it.
She wasn’t pleased with herself. She wasn’t even particularly enjoying her life. As she nursed her sore cheek outside on the balcony, even that was a generous assessment.
She hated herself.
She’d found what she knew, what she was comfortable with, and like a coward had crawled back into its toxic embrace—a life of distraction, of pretending.
Her boyfriend didn’t love her. She didn’t even think he liked her all that much. He liked her body and he liked what she could do with it. He liked how powerful he felt when jealous stares of his peers followed him when she was on his arm, and he liked the power he had over her when he was putting her in her place. But her? No, she didn’t think he liked her. She’d asked him once if he would hold her hair back if she was sick. She didn’t know why she asked. The mood had soured immediately and he reminded her the rug was new and if she vomited on it, he’d rub her face in it so she’d know what she’d done.
Just like a puppy.
Rubbing at her cheek gingerly, she stood, palms flat on the marble railing as she overlooked the city. She’d asked to meet his family and he hit her.
She wasn’t his girlfriend, he’d sneered, she was his whore. Up until tonight, she hadn’t known he had a fiancee in London. Up until tonight, she had thought he was a reckless party boy with a bit of a temper.
He’d never called her a whore before. Not just ‘a’ whore, but his whore. He wasn’t name calling; he was stating the facts of their arrangement.
He was passed out in the bedroom now. The sun was flirting with the horizon and Marie looked directly to the street below, lifting one foot onto one of the little bistro chairs set up there. No one would have to see her. Someone would find her, but…there was no one about right now. If she jumped, no one would witness her death. No one would be traumatized. It was the least selfish thing she could do.
With her second leg up on the chair, she brought her knees up onto the stone and took a deep breath. With a sharp inhale, she looked up, taking in the view, pausing for a moment and savoring one last look. The bridges and beyond them, the shadow of the mountains. Was one of those mountains Veld’s mountain? Probably not. They were too close.
Her chin wobbled and she ducked her chin into her chest.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, teetering where she knelt. He would have been disappointed in her. She didn’t imagine he’d look too favorably on rich girl suicide. He hadn’t been impressed with her drug addiction.
He’d held her hair back for her when she vomited. He’d cared for her as she detoxed. He nursed her back to health, a perfect stranger who had barrelled into his peaceful life.
She wobbled a bit at the memory, yelping and throwing herself back, back onto the balcony, back to safety. The chair clanged against the table as she fell and when she realized just what she’d almost done, she choked on her own guilt, sobbing onto the slate beneath her.
By the time the sun rose above the horizon, she was just picking herself up, throat raw and eyes swollen. Her arms and legs shook and she found that she couldn’t look down onto the street without the feeling of falling assaulting her.
As she stepped back into the penthouse, a new sense of clarity overcame her.
She wasn’t stuck. She wasn’t as trapped in this lifestyle as she pretended to be.
After a shower, she cleaned the apartment of all liquid assets she could fit in her purse and, cutting her credit card and fake identification card in half, she tossed them onto the bedside table beside the unconscious leech on society, and left.
She spent the earlier hours of the morning in a cafe, fueling herself and making a list of necessities. She bought a train ticket, and when the shops opened, she bought what she would need. She was on a mission. Whether it was clarity or mania was still yet to be seen and on the train, ‘out of sight, out of mind’, came into play. Her guilt and self loathing began to melt into excitement.
At the train station, a taxi took her to the small mountain village and for a little (lot) more than his fee, continued up the narrow mountain road until it became almost impossible to drive any further. This was fine.
She was sure the taxi driver thought she was insane as she hauled her much heavier duty suitcase, military grade duffle, and all season backpack out from his trunk but returned down the mountain without her after her insistence.
Traveling wasn’t much easier than it had been the first time almost a year ago, but knowing where she was going this time kept her motivated.
Her far more practical footwear helped immensely.
When finally Veld’s cabin came into view, she found muscles and speed she hadn’t previously been able to access, and several yards from the dwelling, abandoned her luggage, hastily throwing the backpack from her back as she sprinted forward, calling out his name.
Would he be happy to see her? God she hoped so. She felt that he might. Her months with him up here in this cabin had felt so real, so genuine.
Her new leather boots thudded up the few steps to the door and she froze before she could even knock, his name dying on her lips.
It was entirely boarded up. The door, the windows. In fact, it was so oddly still, there was no mistaking the lack of life in the tiny house that had held so much of it this past winter.
“…no….” She shook her head, backing away, eyes darting all over, “No!”
With her tiny fists, she pounded on the door, screaming for him. It couldn’t go like this. He couldn’t just be gone. It…it wasn’t fair.
Dropping to the porch, she cried into the wood of the door. She shouldn’t have left. She’d made the wrong choice, continued to make poor choices, and now she was paying the price for it.  
If she had just…stayed.
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