#Asia Curtain Wall

[witherby]

punchline, she can’t feel pain or something happens like she breaks an arm or something yet has no reaction or they do a health scan of her and she has some wounds.

-📝

Ok listen. It didn't feel like it was 3600 words when I was writing it. It just happened. Enjoy the feast though.

⚠️ Content Warnings: Broken bones, starvation/malnourishment, flashbacks, description of injuries, the Batfamily accidentally hurts you ⚠️

Punchline: Analgesia

Masterlist is Here!

You got out of the cell.

With no real place to put you, Bruce initiated a round-the-clock watch, both to monitor your health and make sure you didn't try anything dangerous. "Brucie Wayne" decided to go on a last-minute tour of Asia for a month so that he could take more shifts, allowing his sons time to rest and maintain their own lives without needing to stress as much over...

Well. You.

You, who spent the entire first day staring up at the ceiling and clicking your feet together, refusing to respond anymore to Dick or anybody else after telling them your name. You, who ignored your bed long after the time came where most people should be sleeping, then ignored any food and water delivered to you long after most people should be eating and drinking.

You just smile and click your feet. Click. Click. Click. Waiting. Lying still. Staring.

Except now you aren't. Bruce comes back from upstairs with another tray of food for you to find an empty monitor feed on the batcomputer. The bed is too low to the ground for you to hide under, and the privacy curtain isn't drawn to take cover behind. The pressure sensors on the floor don't indicate any signs of life, either — you aren't in there anymore.

He sets the tray down and starts rewinding the footage, panicking, when you click your heels behind him.

"Boo."

Bruce jumps. Honest-to-god flinches. His body moves automatically, leg kicking out and connecting center-mass with a heavy thunk. You go flying across the main area of the cave with a yelp, hitting the ground and rolling a few feet. The sound of your body colliding against smooth stone echoes in a way that it shouldn't, and you don't try to pick yourself up afterwards.

"Shhhit shit shit," he gasps, running over to your limp body and carefully cradling you. He triggers the scanner in his cowl, checking you over for injuries, and gingerly props you up against his chest. "Kid! Are you —"

You snort, shoulders shaking, then build up into a breathtaking cackle. Literally breathtaking — Bruce presses his fingers into your ribs and feels breakage on at least two of them. His lenses find fractures on three more. He needs to get you to the medbay.

"Kid," he says again, urgently, nauseous with guilt. God, you're just a little girl, heartbreakingly small in his arms. "Punchline —"

"I spooked the Bat!" You gasp, eyes welling with tears. Twin lines cut through your face paint, smearing some of the blue under your eyes with the white. It's haunting. You just continue wheeze and gently clap him on the shoulder, genuinely mirthful. "Fear was made fearful! Ohohoho, that's... that's priceless!!"

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Bruce says. You just laugh even harder at that, sharp, short gasps that only exacerbate your wounds and bounce off the cave walls around you in sickening stereo. He wraps one arm around your back and the other behind your knees, lifting you.

"Let's get you cleaned up, kid...you shouldn't be out here."

"I got you gooood, Batsy!" You grin. "Got you! Got you!"

Click. Click. Click. You knock your feet together again, wrapping your arms around his neck with glee.

"Spooked you baaad!"

His grip on you tightens slightly, then relaxes again. Anything he would've wanted to say to you gets trapped behind grit teeth.

--

Dick knocks gently on the door before he types in the code to your cell and watches it slide open. You chuckle, but don't otherwise acknowledge him as he steps inside with another tray of food.

"Yeah. I guess it would seem silly to knock on a see-through door," he says, sitting on the floor next to you. He sits the tray down and presses his back against the wall, lacing his fingers together. "Just trying to be polite, in light of..."

He glances around your bland accommodations and clears his throat.

"Anyway! You were so kind to tell us your name and we didn't even return the favor. I'm Nightwing."

"Wing-a-ding," you murmur, smiling at the ceiling. Click. Click. Click.

"Sure, you can call me that if you want." He uses his foot to gently nudge the tray closer to your supine form, then lowers his voice conspiratorially. "I'll even let you call me a bad word if you eat."

Your smile grows. "Silly Wing-a-ding. It's not mealtime."

"When's Mealtime?" Dick asks you. "Because, you've been with us for two days, kiddo, and you haven't eaten a bite. If you've got a specific diet, it's no trouble. You just have to tell us what you like. We don't want to hurt you."

You snort at that, lifting a hand to pat your stomach. Underneath your lime green shirt are thick bandages compressing your broken ribs. Your gasping giggles ring like broken chimes in the small space you're sharing with him.

Dick frowns. "I'm being honest. B didn't mean to do that to you, I promise. I'm really sorry it happened."

"Sorry? It was hilarious!" You chirp. "Shoulda seen his face. Popsy would have cracked up. Heehee!"

"Yeah..." Dick sighs quietly. "Can we circle back, kiddo? When's your meal time? If you don't try to eat or drink anything soon, we might have to give you some fluids. And I dunno about you, but I'm not a huge fan of needles."

The hand on your stomach drums the same pattern you knock your feet together with. Pat. Pat. Pat. Click. Click. Click.

"It's soon," you tell him simply. "Popsy says to eat when the world turns into a merry-go-round."

The knot of dread sitting in Dick's stomach tightens. He clenches his hands into fists in his lap and keeps his tone light and curious.

"What's the world look like now?"

You laugh. "Fun house mirrors."

"And...when do you get to drink?"

"When the lights start dancing."

Dick doesn't stay in your cell with you much longer, parting with a half-mumbled excuse of needing to go work on something. He hurries down the hallway and tries not to feel like a failure in his suit.

--

Damian wasn't factored in to the rotation, on account of being the youngest and needing to get up for school, but that doesn't stop him from sneaking through the cave to observe you anyway. Years of training in the League keep his steps light and his presence undetectable, until he's standing just out of sight to the door to your cell and able to watch you at an angle.

Your eyes are closed, your body having finally succumbed to exhaustion, and your breathing is slightly wheezy from your injuries. The bits of your arms poking out of your shirt sleeves are mottled black and blue from hitting the floor so hard.

Damian creeps in a tad closer to get a better look at you. Even unconscious, your resting face is a small smile. No doubt a conditioned behavior from your time under the Joker, he thinks.

There's no tension in your body, which is the most interesting thing. Even the severity of the bruises should be enough to cause a twitch or two as you shift on the floor, much less the broken bones, but it's like —

Oh. He needs to make a note in your file and alert the others promptly. As he draws a pad and pen from his pocket, his eyes glance over the simple observations he's already made of you, and stalls.

You're so small. It doesn't hit him until now just how tiny you are, even for your age. You've got the stature of a five or six year old, and there's clear signs of malnourishment in your body. It's hard to look at you and not feel pity.

It's hard to look at you in general. The face paint is slowly wearing away, revealing your natural skin color underneath, but enough of it remains that you look absolutely haunting. Like something designed for a horror movie.

You've refused to clean your face or change into the clothes others have brought you, clinging to the garish getup he and Bruce found you in. The vivid green of your shirt screams of where you came from, an unavoidable beacon that refuses to allow anyone to forget your legacy.

Damian realizes belatedly that that's the point. You aren't looking to separate your identity from your father. You likely can't.

He clenches his hands into fists and takes his leave. He returns to your cell once more that night, dropping his gifts off with reluctance, and sees his effort pay off almost immediately. The next time he catches a glimpse of you, you've freshened up the face paint with a slightly altered design and are wearing a bright green dress, with your typical bowtie and black shoes.

You, awake this time, catch his gaze and beam knowingly.

Damian looks away. Your genuine happiness twists his chest something fierce.

--

You're out of your cell again when it's Jason's turn to monitor you.

"I don't have the patience to deal with your escape artist bullshit," he calls, twirling a baseball bat in his hand as he walks along the caves corridors. "You can either go back to your cage and behave, or get dragged back kicking and screaming."

You giggle. Jason clocks it coming from his right. The bat switches hands and he walks towards the noise.

"This ain't a goddamn game," he says, "so don't get cute with me, kid, or I'll put the Punch in Punchline."

"That's a good one!"

Jason whips around, finding you sitting on the floor with your legs crossed. Today you're wearing a bright green blouse with suspenders and black shorts, always with the bowtie around your neck. You're holding a batarang in your hands, tracing idly over the shape of it with your fingers.

"Wordplay is my favorite! I'll put the Punch in Punchline. Heheha, classic! Now I know why Popsy liked you so much!"

You tilt your head back and cackle. It comes out in sharp, short bursts. It's so bone-chillingly similar to your dad's that it affects him immediately.

Jason blinks. Suddenly he's fifteen and cuffed, cowering before the Joker as he winds his leg back to start kicking him.

Jason blinks again. His arms and legs ache so badly from the repeated bashing of the crowbar. He's been screaming for Bruce for ages and he hasn't come for him yet, why hasn't he come for him, he promised he would always come and get him —

Jason blinks again. He's clawing at the door handle and trying not to cry as the timer counts down behind him, ticking closer and closer and closer to his death, inescapable. He wishes he'd never adopted the mantle. He wants his mom. He wants his dad. He doesn't want to die. He's too young to die. He's so fucking tired.

Jason blinks again. The bat is missing from his hands and his throat feels like it's on fire. Tim is crouched next to you and assessing the new break in your arm courtesy of the Red Hood. The bat is lying broken in half on the floor.

"Go," Tim says, voice flat with barely suppressed rage. He won't turn his head away from you. "Go home, Hood."

"Bye-bye, Birdy," you mutter, smiling at the ceiling, and knock your feet together. Click. Click. Click.

Bye-bye, Birdy!

Jason feels like he can't breathe. The swelling in your skin is already so bad. What has he done? He wasn't actually gonna hurt you, he just wanted to get you back in your cell where you were supposed to be. He has a code against hurting children, he would never do that on purpose no matter whose kid it was. He didn't mean it.

Jesus, fuck, he didn't mean it.

"I-I'm —" he chokes, warped and crackly through the helmet's modulator.

"GO!" Tim shouts.

Jason turns and walks away. After a tense conversation with Bruce, it ends up being his last time monitoring you alone. He doesn't get the chance to do it again for a month, but your serene smile is never far from his mind.

--

Tim takes over Jason's observation duty immediately. He moves you into the med bay again to set and cast your broken arm. You're quiet the entire time, save the clicking of your feet, and refuse to look at him.

He works quickly and efficiently, wrapping you up without issue, and you don't fight him. He comes to the same conclusion Damian did, when he accidentally brushes against another bruise but you don't so much as flex a muscle.

How entertaining it must be for the Joker, to have a child with congenital insensitivity to pain. How simultaneously infuriating, that one of his favorite methods of submission is unavailable.

Tim wants to throw up.

"There," he says. "I'm sorry, Punchline. Hood shouldn't have been left alone to watch you. It won't happen again."

You don't respond. Click. Click. Click.

"Why don't we get you back to your room? I'll find something for you to do so you're not as bored in there. I'm sure Agent A can get you coloring books, or some crafts..."

Again, you're quiet. Tim breathes in slowly, deeply, then lets it back out. He gently takes your hands and coaxes you to stand up, and you go without complaint as he starts walking you back to the containment cells.

Two sets of footsteps fill the silence of the cave's passageways. One set of lungs struggles to match pace. Tim slows down for you, and the wheezing quiets immediately.

"Do you need or want anything?" He asks. The same, easy smile on your face doesn't change. You walk beside him like he isn't even there. He has to try exceptionally hard not to take it personally, even though it is and he knows it. He knows what you've endured. He knows what you've gone through. He can make a damn good guess as to what you're thinking right now.

And he doesn't have the faintest clue where to start fixing it.

Tim was only under the Joker's clutches for a couple days, at most, and the brainwashing he underwent to become Joker Junior still haunts his nightmares to this day. The conditioning, the bargaining, learning the boundaries, the underlying fear of having to say the right thing, do the right thing, the obsessive need to earn his favor, he remembers it all. Even years later, seeing the Joker makes that sickly itch start up under his skin.

Maybe he's wrong. Maybe he doesn't know how you feel, because he only got the tip of the iceberg. Maybe your experiences are better. Or worse. Most certainly different. He doesn't know, and he hates not knowing things.

When you make it back to the cell, you walk in without complaint. Tim closes the door and keys in a new code to lock it, though he suspects you'll be able to crack it again soon enough. You've got nothing but time on your hands to play with the access pad.

He drops his hand when he's done, staring at you. You're back to lying on the floor in your original position, arms splayed and feet clicking together as you admire the ceiling. He opens his mouth, then closes it. Hesitates. Does it again. You just click your feet.

"Punchline. I'm sorry."

You blink slowly, mouth twitching like you've heard something funny but don't quite wanna laugh.

"If I knew, back then," he says, words stilted and strained. Tim nearly stops there, but he feels compelled to let you know. "If I knew that leaving him would've ended in him doing this to another child...I wouldn't have gone anywhere."

You stop clicking your feet. Your mouth curls into a grin, then thins out, then gets stuck in this uncomfortable half-smirk.

"Popsy misses JJ," you mutter, so quiet Tim only catches it because he's right next to the cell door. There's something sharp in your tone. "He was almost perfect. His first favorite toy."

Tim feels like he's been dunked in a tub of ice. The tips of his fingers go numb and he has to press a hand to his mouth while suppressing a gag. His eyes are stinging behind the domino mask.

"JJ ran away. JJ is a traitor. Popsy has a new favorite, now," you whisper. Click. Click. Click. "Wonder how long that will last." Click. Click. Click. "Wonder how long I'll be his favorite Punchline." Click. Click. Click.

"I'm gonna go talk to A, now," Tim says, stumbling away from you. The both of you feel more relieved the farther away he gets.

Click. Click. Click.

--

Alfred takes shifts for you when no one else is available. He doesn't do it at the computer, though; the screens are too bright for his aging eyes, and the chair isn't ergonomic enough for him.

So he watches you from within the cell.

"Good afternoon, Lady Punchline, my name is Alfred Pennyworth," he greets politely, setting a tray of soup and saltines next to your head. He steps carefully over your body on the floor and perches on the edge of your unused bed, crossing one leg over the other. "The time is just after one o'clock. Today I've prepared a simple miso soup, something light for your decidedly neglected stomach, and brought with me several activities we could partake in, either together or separate. The choice is yours."

He eases the tote bag he brought in off his shoulder and pulls out a series of items: A stuffed bear, which he perches on top of the pillow. A coloring book and a pack of crayons. A jigsaw puzzle. And several books.

"Might any of these appeal to the lady?" He asks.

Click. Click. Click.

"That's alright," he says, as though you gave him any kind of acknowledgement. "I will leave them here for you to explore at your leisure, and come back with more options the next we meet."

He pulls a novel for himself out of the bottom of the bag, gently flipping its weathered pages open, and settles it in his lap.

"Would it bother you too terribly if I read this aloud? You may stop me anytime, of course." You make no expression and take no action against him, so he looks down at the book. "Very well. This story is one of my favorites, so I'm interested to see if you find any enjoyment in it, too.

"When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression..."

Alfred keeps his voice calm, clear, and steady. There are mild changes in intonation when he speaks for the characters in the book, but other than that, he lets the words wash over the room peacefully. He stays with you and reads for several hours, until he reluctantly excuses himself to tend to his other duties for the manor.

"I shall mark our place in the book and bring it back if you'd like to hear more," he says, stepping past you again. "If you've any other requests, please let myself or the others know. We shall be happy to accommodate you, Lady Punchline."

When he closes and locks the cell door, he almost startles at your soft voice.

"Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" You mumble. The smile on your face seems a touch more genuine than before he entered.

Alfred dismisses himself with a final, quick bow, then walks down the halls as Bruce comes back to relieve him. Before the man even gets the chance to speak, Alfred holds a palm up to quiet him.

"I should like to have you place me in regular rotations with our guest," he says. "We have a lot of work to do if we're to rehabilitate the poor girl, and we'll get nowhere if everyone chooses to observe her like an animal in the zoo."

"That's fine, but —" Bruce says, watching almost helplessly as Alfred walks right past him. "Agent A —"

"I shall also request a home visit with Doctor Thompkins to sort out a proper treatment plan for her Analgesia, malnutrition, and very likely no vaccinations. Afterwards, we'll need to start considering educational deficits and behavioral therapy. There's much to do, master Bruce, so pick your jaw up off the floor and go spend time with your newest ward."

Bruce watches him disappear with fond irritation. He pulls the cowl off, understanding there's likely no need to maintain secrecy anyway, if you're going to be here for the long haul.

[starlightsreigns]

kiss it better | r. reigns

summary ⇢ pride, arguments, and refusing to listen to each other ruined asia and roman. now, they have the chance to reconnect, but that's only if they can finally open up. word count ⇢ 1.5k

"been waitin’ on that sunshine, boy, i think i need that back…"

 asia’s legs bounces in anxiety as she sits backstage, up on one of the equipment crates that she knew she’d be yelled at about soon enough. she crosses her legs to lessen the awkward bouncing, but her mind is far away. to help with the stress, she’s playing music in her airpods, hoping to settle. first night back on the road from injury is scarier than most people would think, she’s anticipated her return for months, and now that it was here… what now? 

rihanna’s voice fills her ear as kiss it better plays, almost as soon as roman walks past those curtains. she feels like she can shrink into herself. yet, she’s a bad bitch, unafraid of getting in someone’s face and getting what she wants, but that was different with him. he knew her weakness, and how to dismantle every fucking wall she builds up with one swing. he’s rude as shit like that. 

roman was the one who suggested the break. he and asia were arguing too much before her injury, they were in each others faces too much, he doesn’t yell often, but with her, he couldn’t get a word in when she started. it wasn’t her fault. asia was passionate, a lover girl, and sometimes he didn’t understand her. she didn’t think he fought enough for her and he thought she was asking for too much. she wanted to be his person, but that nigga was hard headed, he wants to deal with everything on his own. 

so, the night before she was injured, he called it a pause. asia took it, not willing to fight for something he obviously didn’t want to fight for. yet, she cried herself to sleep that night in her hotel room. asia couldn’t bring herself to answering his calls or texts at the hospital, or the months following. that was a breakup. it made it all too official. 

yet, now when she looks up, his eyes are on her. asia can feel herself crumbling under his gaze. it hurts inside, just as rihanna is singing the song that so perfectly describes this moment. roman is prideful, she knew he wouldn’t come up to her. asia is even more prideful, so she looks away, staring at the bare wall. 

the night was long, unbearingly long. the conversations didn’t help either. asia’s heels became bothersome, making her shift from

leg to leg as she stood near catering, in the middle of a conversation that bayley and bianca were having. she found herself quiet, tired, and wanting to disappear for a moment. 

“you’re different,” bianca pokes when bayley leaves them. “what’s going on with you, girl?”

asia shakes her head, “why do i feel like this is my first time on smackdown? i feel lost.” 

bianca sighs, “is it because you’re missing roman?” 

asia smiles sadly. she waves off the question, running her fingers through her her as she scans the area around them. at the end of the hallway, roman’s in the middle of a conversation. as if he knew she was looking, their eyes meet. in his typical, aloof nature, he doesn’t react and continues on. 

“i’m gonna go change, B, can we talk more tomorrow night?” 

it was late when asia finally started to exit the stadium. she had to meet with paul, so most of the superstars were gone. so, now, as she carts her suitcase to her rental, her music is blasting through her headphones. 

outside, she spots roman, as if he was waiting for her by his car. he’s paying attention to something on his phone. asia takes a deep breath, popping the trunk and throwing the suitcases in. she glances back to see him looking at her. both adults, acting as school grade kids, just staring at each other as if they weren’t in love. this felt like they have never dated, like they didn’t know each other. asia felt sick to her stomach at the fact that they haven’t said a word to each other, he hasn’t hugged her, kissed her, or sent her a smile. not that she was better because she’s avoided him all night. 

he waited for her. roman waited to make sure she was okay, so that had to mean something. asia breaks the eye contact first, getting into the car. she watches him in the rear view mirror, getting into his car immediately, leaving first. asia leans into the headrest with a sigh. 

why couldn’t they make it work? 

--------------------------

seven months ago… 

“hurtin’ vibe, man, it hurts inside”

asia stands in front of roman on the couch, staring down at him in a mix of confusion and anger at his nonchalant demeanor. he looks up at her as if her argument wasn’t valid, as if she was picking it out of thin air. 

“roman, i’m asking you for a simple fucking thing, bro, why the fuck can’t you understand that.” 

roman stands, “asia, damn!” he yells. 

they fall silent. asia steps back before a dry laugh falls from her lips. she paces back and forth in front of him, trying to calm herself down, knowing that she can get very emotional at any given moment. roman rubs his hand over his beard. 

asia grunts, “you claim to love me, but i just need reassurance from you and you’re making me beg for that from you like a bitch. why do i have to get on my knees and ask my boyfriend to act like he fucking loves me and he can’t do that.” 

“i don’t act like i love you, asia, really?” roman moves to stand in front of her. “i show you that everyday in my own way, why can’t you see that?” 

“you don’t trust me with anything, roman, i ask you to open up to me and be deeper. you don’t want to let me in and i can’t understand. do you not trust me or do you not see a future for us, cause if that’s the cause, nigga cut me loose.” asia screams, unable to contain herself. 

“asia.” roman warns as he raises his voice. “stop.” 

asia plops down on the couch, “make your fuckin’ mind up.” 

roman clenches his jaw, “we need to take a break, asia.” 

she didn’t know what to say. asia looks up at him, her eyes water as she waits for him to say anything else. something better than what he just said, but it never comes. so, asia stands, slamming the door of their bedroom door shut, feeling the rattle as she marches into the bathroom. asia turns the shower on, letting the water run as she cries. 

and she cried for god knows how long. 

--------------------------

“man fuck your pride, just take it on back, babe”

the rain poured heavily. asia wasn’t this person and she wasn’t one to cry and be, so why was she standing outside, in the pouring rain, standing a few feet away from his front door. he wasn’t home, she figured that out five minutes ago after knocking. was this her sign, to let it go? to move on and find something new? 

as she went to leave, headlights pulled into the driveway. asia felt her stomach drop into her stomach when he opened the car door, stepping into the rain. roman quickly made his way to her, worry filling his eyes. the first emotion she’s gotten out of him in months. looking into his eyes made her tears immediately fall from her eyes that mixes with the rain. 

“asia,” roman searches her eyes. “i saw you on the camera and came. are you okay?” 

“im sorry, roman, i never should’ve said those horrible things to you and pushed you into something that you weren’t ready for and i should’ve been the adult and walked away before it exploded in that fucked up way it did.” 

roman shakes his head, “that ain’t you, baby, i fucked up by not listening to you and talking to you. i was scared of shit i had no business of being scared of.” he steps closer. “with you gone, i realized how ain’t shit going good for me.” 

the rain got heavier, but neither one of them made a move for shelter. 

“you’re everything i’ve ever needed, asia, you the one i want.” roman moves the wet hair from her face. “my pride fucked up everything between us.” 

asia smiles softly, “what are you willing to do, roman?” 

“any and everything for you, forever.” roman returns the smile. “i take everything back. i don’t want a break between us, ever.” 

like two, love sick fools, they’re find themselves smiling at each other. asia reaches out for him, but roman pulls her into the hug that she so desperately has needed for months. the start of repairing something that’s so important to them. 

“can i kiss the love of my life?” roman whispers. 

after a quick nod, roman crashes his lips onto hers. if there wasn’t thunder in the sky before, they caused it to erupt in the sky. asia wraps her arms around his neck as he lifts her, deepening the kiss. 

“i don’t want us to ever do that again.” her murmurs against her lip. 

asia couldn’t help the laugh that came out of her as roman squeezed her tightly, smushing their wet clothes together, too excited to be reunited again. 

thank you for reading my first post, kinda nervy but I love write so here we are lmao. <3 also gif credit above.

[parchmentpaperandco]

The Grey Matter

"Grey is not the new black," a young interior consultant at Basico Homewares informed me at the company's (press only) Design Trend Workshop, "It's a colour, like in it's own right, like kinda mid-way between white and black."

Recolors of:

Coronet Sideboard - Inzey

Fornbro Table - Plumbobarchitect

Harbour Chair - Dox7

Wall Art - Yuliya

Pictures on a ledge - Simstudio51

Aura Painting - Ulmille

Klabb Table Lamp - Petunia Mae Witherbottom

Asia Living Sideboard - Jope

Curtain Blend - KansasCityRose

Skarto Curtains

Available in-store from January or immediately on-line at Basico Homewares*

SimsFileShare Link

Terms and conditions apply

[thebrickinbrick]

The Extreme Edge

MARIUS had reached the Halles.

There everything was still calmer, more obscure and more motionless than in the neighboring streets. One would have said that the glacial peace of the sepulchre had sprung forth from the earth and had spread over the heavens.Nevertheless, a red glow brought out against this black background the lofty roofs of the houses which barred the Rue de la Chanvrerie on the Saint-Eustache side. It was the reflection of the torch which was burning in the Corinthe barricade. Marius directed his steps towards that red light. It had drawn him to the Marché-aux-Poirées, and he caught a glimpse of the dark mouth of the Rue des Prêcheurs. He entered it. The insurgents' sentinel, who was guarding the other end, did not see him. He felt that he was very close to that which he had come in search of, and he walked on tiptoe. In this manner he reached the elbow of that short section of the Rue Mondétour which was, as the reader will remember, the only communication which Enjolras had preserved with the outside world. At the corner of the last house, on his left, he thrust his head forward, and looked into the fragment of the Rue Mondétour.

A little beyond the angle of the lane and the Rue de la Chanvrerie which cast a broad curtain of shadow, in which he was himself engulfed, he perceived some light on the pavement, a bit of the wine-shop, and beyond, a flickering lamp within a sort of shapeless wall, and men crouching down with guns on their knees. All this was ten fathoms distant from him. It was the interior of the barricade.The houses which bordered the lane on the right concealed the rest of the wine-shop, the large barricade, and the flag from him.

Marius had but a step more to take.

Then the unhappy young man seated himself on a post, folded his arms, and fell to thinking about his father.

He thought of that heroic Colonel Pontmercy, who had been so proud a soldier, who had guarded the frontier of France under the Republic, and had touched the frontier of Asia under Napoleon, who had beheld Genoa, Alexandria, Milan, Turin, Madrid, Vienna, Dresden, Berlin, Moscow, who had left on all the victorious battle-fields of Europe drops of that same blood, which he, Marius, had in his veins, who had grown gray before his time in discipline and command, who had lived with his sword. belt buckled, his epaulets falling on his breast, his cockade blackened with powder, his brow furrowed with his helmet, in barracks, in camp, in the bivouac, in ambulances, and who, at the expiration of twenty years, had returned from the great wars with a scarred cheek, a smiling countenance, tranquil, admirable, pure as a child, having done everything for France and nothing against her.

He said to himself that his day had also come now, that his hour had struck, that following his father, he too was about to show himself brave, intrepid, bold, to run to meet the bullets, to offer his breast to bayonets, to shed his blood, to seek the enemy, to seek death, that he was about to wage war in his turn and descend to the field of battle, and that the field of battle upon which he was to descend was the street, and that the war in which he was about to engage was civil war!

He beheld civil war laid open like a gulf before him, and into this he was about to fall. Then he shuddered.

He thought of his father's sword, which his grandfather had sold to a second-hand dealer, and which he had so mournfully regretted. He said to himself that that chaste and valiant sword had done well to escape from him, and to depart in wrath into the gloom; that if it had thus fled, it was because it was intelligent and because it had foreseen the future; that it had had a presentiment of this rebellion, the war of the gutters, the war of the pavements, fusillades through cellar-windows, blows given and received in the rear; it was because, coming from Marengo and Friedland, it did not wish to go to the Rue de la Chanvrerie; it was because, after what it had done with the father, it did not wish to do this for the son! He told himself that if that sword were there, if after taking possession of it at his father's pillow, he had dared to take it and carry it off for this combat of darkness between Frenchmen in the streets, it would assuredly have scorched his hands and burst out aflame before his eyes, like the sword of the angel! He told himself that it was fortunate thatit was not there and that it had disappeared, that that was well, that that was just, that his grandfather had been the true guar dian of his father's glory, and that it was far better that the colonel's sword should be sold at auction, sold to the old-clothes man, thrown among the old junk, than that it should, to-day, wound the side of his country.

And then he fell to weeping bitterly.

This was horrible. But what was he to do! Live without Cosette he could not. Since she was gone, he must needs lie. Had he not given her his word of honor that he would die? She had gone knowing that; this meant that it pleased her that Marius should die. And then, it was clear that she no 'onger loved him, since she had departed thus without warning, without a word, without a letter, although she knew his address! What was the good of living, and why should he live now? And then, what! should he retreat after going so far! should he flee from danger after having approached it! should he slip away after having come and peeped into the barricade! slip away, all in a tremble, saying: "After all, I have had enough of it as it is. I have seen it, that suffices, this is civil war, and I shall take my leave!" Should he abandon his friends who were expecting him! Who were in need of him possibly! who were a mere handful against an army! Should he be untrue at once to his love, to country, to his word! Should he give to his cowardice the pretext of patriotism! But this was impossible, and if the phantom of his father was there in the gloom, and beheld him retreating, he would beat him on the loins with the flat of his sword, and shout to him: "March on, you poltroon!"

Thus a prey to the conflicting movements of his thoughts, he dropped his head.

All at once he raised it. A sort of splendid rectification had just been effected in his mind. There is a widening of the sphere of thought which is peculiar to the vicinity of the grave; it makes one see clearly to be near death. The vision of the action into which he felt that he was, perhaps, on the point of entering, appeared to him no more as lamentable, but as superb. The war of the street was suddenly transfigured by some unfathomable inward working of his soul, before the eye of his thought. All the tumultuous interrogation points of revery recurred to him in throngs, but without troubling him. He left none of them unanswered.

Let us see, why should his father be indignant? Are there not cases where insurrection rises to the dignity of duty? What was there that was degrading for the son of Colonel Pontmercy in the combat which was about to begin? It is no longer Montmirail nor Champaubert; it is something quite different. The question is no longer one of sacred territory, but of a holy idea. The country wails, that may be, but humanity applauds. But is it true that the country does wail? France bleeds, but liberty smiles; and in the presence of liberty's smile, France forgets her wound. And then if we look at things from a still more lofty point of view, why do we speak of civil war?

Civil war - what does that mean? Is there a foreign war? Is not all war between men war between brothers? War is qualified only by its object. There is no such thing as foreign or civil war; there is only just and unjust war. Until that day when the grand human agreement is concluded, war, that at least which is the effort of the future, which is hastening on against the past, which is lagging in the rear, may be necessary. What have we to reproach that war with? War does not become a disgrace, the sword does not become a disgrace, except when it is used for assassinating the right, progress, reason, civilization, truth. Then war, whether foreign or civil, is iniquitous; it is called crime. Outside the pale of that holy thing, justice, by what right does one form of man despise another? By what right should the sword of Washington disown the pike of Camille Desmoulins? Leonidas against the stranger, Timoleon against the tyrant, which is the greater? the one is the defender, the other the liberator. Shall we brand every appeal to arms within a city's limits without taking the object into a consideration? Then note the infamy of Brutus, Marcel, Arnould von Blankenheim, Coligny. Hedgerow war? War of the streets? Why not? That was the war of Ambiorix, of Artevelde, of Marnix, of Pelagius. But Ambiorix fought against Rome, Artevelde against France, Marnix against Spain, Pelagius against the Moors; all against the foreigner. Well, the monarchy is a foreigner; oppression is a stranger; the right divine is a stranger. Despotism violates the moral frontier, an invasion violates the geographical frontier. Driving out the tyrant or driving out the English, in both cases, regaining possession of one's own territory. There comes an hour when protestation no longer suffices; after philosophy, action is required; live force finishes what the idea has sketched out; Prometheus chained begins, Aristogeiton ends; the encyclopedia enlightens souls, the 10th of August electrifies them. After Eschylus, Thrasybulus; after Diderot, Danton. Multitudes have a tendency to accept the master. Their mass bears witness to apathy. A crowd is easily led as a whole to obedience. Men must be stirred up, pushed on, treated roughly by the very benefit of their deliverance, their eyes must be wounded by the true, light must be hurled at them in terrible handfuls.

They must be a little thunderstruck themselves at their own well-being; this dazzling awakens them. Hence the necessity of tocsins and wars. Great combatants must rise, must enlighten nations with audacity, and shake up that sad humanity which is covered with gloom by the right divine, Cæsarian glory, force, fanaticism, irresponsible power, and absolute majesty; a rabble stupidly occupied in the contemplation, in their twilight splendor, of these sombre triumphs of the night. Down with the tyrant! Of whom are you speaking? Do you call Louis Philippe the tyrant? No; no more than Louis XVI. Both of them are what history is in the habit of calling good kings; but principles are not to be parcelled out, the logic of the true is rectilinear, the peculiarity of truth is that it lacks complaisance; no concessions, then; all encroachments on man should be repressed. There is a divine right in Louis XVI, there is because a Bourbon in Louis Philippe; both represent in a certain measure the confiscation of right, and, in order to clear away universal insurrection, they must be combated; it must be done, France being always the one to begin. When the master falls in France, he falls everywhere. In short, what cause is more just, and consequently, what war is greater, than that which re-establishes social truth, restores her throne to liberty, restores the people to the people, restores sovereignty to man, replaces the purple on the head of France, restores equity and reason in their plenitude, suppresses every germ of antagonism by restoring each one to himself, annihilates the obstacle which royalty presents to the whole immense universal concord, and places the human race once more on a level with the right? These wars build up peace. An enormous fortress of prejudices, privileges, superstitions, lies, exactions, abuses, violences, iniquities, and darkness still stands erect in this world, with its towers of hatred. It must be cast down. This monstrous mass must be made to crumble. To conquer at Austerlitz is grand; to take the Bastille is immense.

There is no one who has not noticed it in his own case-the soul, and therein lies the marvel of its unity complicated with ubiquity, has a strange aptitude for reasoning almost coldly in the most violent extremities, and it often happens that heartbroken passion and profound despair in the very agony of their blackest monologues, treat subjects and discuss theses. Logic is mingled with convulsion, and the thread of the syllogism floats, without breaking, in the mournful storm of thought. This was the situation of Marius' mind.

As he meditated thus, dejected but resolute, hesitating in every direction, and, in short, shuddering at what he was about to do, his glance strayed to the interior of the barricade. The insurgents were here conversing in a low voice, without moving, and there was perceptible that quasi-silence which marks the last stage of expectation. Overhead, at the small window in the third story, Marius descried a sort of spectator who appeared to him to be singularly attentive. This was the porter who had been killed by Le Cabuc. Below, by the lights of the torch, which was thrust between the paving-stones, this head could be vaguely distinguished. Nothing could be stranger, in that sombre and uncertain gleam, than that livid, motionless, astonished face, with its bristling hair, its eyes fixed and staring, and its yawning mouth, bent over the street in an attitude of curiosity. One would have said that the man who was dead was surveying those who were about to die. A long trail of blood which had flowed from that head, descended in reddish threads from the window to the height of the first floor, where it stopped.

[mariacallous]

In the Cold War, “development” was a catchphrase that came to signify progress, modernity, and economic growth. Development aid was closely aligned with the security concerns of the great powers, for whom infrastructure and development projects were ideological tools for conquering hearts and minds around the globe, from Europe and Africa to Asia and Latin America. In this sweeping and incisive book, Sara Lorenzini provides a global history of development, drawing on a wealth of archival evidence to offer a panoramic and multifaceted portrait of a Cold War phenomenon that transformed the modern world.

Taking readers from the aftermath of the Second World War to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, Lorenzini shows how development projects altered local realities, transnational interactions, and even ideas about development itself. She shines new light on the international organizations behind these projects—examining their strategies and priorities and assessing the actual results on the ground—and she also gives voice to the recipients of development aid. Lorenzini shows how the Cold War shaped the global ambitions of development on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and how international organizations promoted an unrealistically harmonious vision of development that did not reflect local and international differences.

An unparalleled journey into the political, intellectual, and economic history of the twentieth century, this book presents a global perspective on Cold War development, demonstrating how its impacts are still being felt today.

[monikatouhou]

...Though, do note that a trebuchet was rarely able to, say, smash through a curtain wall. That was why in europe, the cannon was such a big deal - it could actually do that in a reasonable timeframe.

(It was not however a big deal in india or china. Why? Different wall designs. Fortifications in much of asia used very thick walls supported by earthworks - indeed, exactly the type of design europe would also settle on when faced with the cannon)

[sonderrow]

Archer’s Workplace.

Archer’s official office is at the top of large, skyscraper building in a busy business district, where most East Asia businesses are centered. The whole of the last floor are his work quarters, with an access per a private elevator which leads to it, the ground floor or the underground levels.

Its furniture are mostly wooden and black, with a monochrome aesthetic. Window walls surround the front and back of the office, with thick, study dark screens and curtains for when the sun is out.

The biggest view is at the back of the large desk and tall chair. On said desk, there seems to, oddly, only have the computer resting on it, and nothing else, at all time.

When sitting at the desk, to your left, you find a massive bookshelf taking half the wall, with the door entrance being at its very end, filled with files, some decorations and drawers. All very neatly put together, some spaces having a glass case to see through, most of those showing smaller works of art behind. To your right, the same type of bookshelf, except this one is filled to the brim with books and has a door giving to a small walk-in closet. Reference works, encyclopedias, but also personal works Archer prefers to keep stored here, such as novels, photography compilations and classic movies.

At the other end of the office, a step will bring you down on a soft, dark carpet with abstract, modern shapes where a rectangular, minimalist coffee table lay with nothing usable on top of it. The table is surrounded side by side by two firm fabric type, dark grey couches. Behind the right one, Archer’s bookshelf take the whole wall, while the left one has a mini refrigerator and freezer some paces behind it alongside an opaque, black cabinet where drinks are poured, storing various recipients to take alcohol.

The building is part of the international line of the Romero high class hotels owned by Alucard Romero, Archer’s sire. While Alucard runs the high-end and accessorily criminal organization, he assigned Archer to its busiest district in America, amongst other things. Given the sire takes his parental role as his most important in life, duties are often thrown at Archer, who does the ones he wants and let his sire handle the most bothersome ones. Because they’re asses to one another like that.

Given its location, the hotel where Archer’s office is located gives a highlights of East Asia aesthetic. With the fewer international locations Alucard built his hotel, the Japanese influences are most of it. The minimal aesthetic is built around symmetry, large empty space, monochromatic marble and rectangular shapes, with deep red accents. Every member of the staff is impeccably dressed up, trained and paid to look so at all time.

Official, legal services include restauration, conferences, receptions, access to the house’s unique brews made to its owner’s taste, a bar, a spa and a Japanese style indoor garden amongst other things.

The network is rooted in corrupted officials, criminal organizations and supernatural ones, with an extremely strict policy that business is done pacifically inside the hotel and its vicinities, at the risk of being banned or worst. It is thus considered safe for civilians who can afford it to use.

It is only underground, in a decor similar to the rest minus the decoration (which gives it a very cold, practical aspect) that illegal trades are made in terms of physical goods.

Unofficial services given by the hotel areprostitution and human (or other humanoids) trafficking, which doesn’t differentiate minors from adults. Outside the sire’s penchant for lust, the latter is mostly used as food for the supernatural in need of specific type of meals.

The hotel also pride itself in being able to offer third parties arrangements both for mortals and inhumans such as bounties, mercenaries, bribe transactions, drug trafficking and the likes. As long as they are useful to the sire’s empire and his priorities.

The truth, however, is that Alucard is an old, old drunken, lost and lazy asshole. And Archer can use his facilities however he pleases, without having to take the blunt.

Updated 23/02/2021

[sleekervae]

Yoü & I [1.5]

Masterlist

A/N: Okie, so it's been a couple years but I'm updating this story again. If you want to catch up I recommend going back through my list to get up to speed with where we are here, but I'm bringing this story back and I hope you guys like it. Xo

Warnings: angst, drug paraphernalia, fighting with your family

--

Weeks had gone by, all filled with travel, culture, and of course a nearly-sold-out show every night. The girls had completely fallen in love with South Asia and were sad when they had to head home mid-March. Not that Charlotte complained much when she'd arrived back to her apartment. The first thing she did was fall face-first into her bed and have one of the best sleeps of her life. 

A few days later, the girls of Catch the Caper had decided to take some time off and fly home to Brooklyn. Charlotte couldn't deny her mom drove her nuts, and the other girls could vouch for how intense Penelope Antonakis could be at times; let's just say she had some rather particular values. But at the end of the day, Charlotte loved her unconditionally. 

It was a crisp, but temperate Wednesday morning and spring had sprung in New York. Small beams of light broke through the wispy white curtains of Charlotte's childhood bedroom, the walls dusted in a washed-out rose and old photographs hung from rusted nails. Tucked into the frame of an old vanity mirror, hanging just over Charlotte's desk was a picture of her and Luke, a polaroid taken just after the night they'd first met. Charlotte favoured that photo like it was gold. 

The twenty-year-old singer slept soundly in her bed, not even the alleyway dog barking outside could wake her. Although, a high-strung Greek woman and her hard-headed son would seem to do the trick. 

"Troy! You bring that trash around and you're grounded!"

"I'm nineteen mom! That shit doesn't apply to me anymore!"

"And stop swearing in my house!"

Charlotte's eyes popped open and she sat up as though the atomic bomb had just gone off. But the only bomb that had gone off was her mom and her younger brother, Troy, fighting. 

"You haven't even met her yet!" Troy snapped.

"I know enough about her parents to know she's not the kind of girl I want my son courting!" their mother snapped back. 

"Courting? What is this? Camelot?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes and pulled herself out of bed. It was evident if she wanted to get any work done, it wasn't going to happen in her house. Rubbing the sleep from her face she trudged into the living room to see what all the commotion was about.

"Guys, what the fuck?" she groaned, "It's too early in the morning!"

Penelope glared back at her daughter, "Sweetie, it's quarter after ten. And no swearing in the house!" 

Oh brother.

Charlotte shuffled into the kitchen where she was immediately drawn to the coffee pot on the stove. She poured herself a cup as her mom and brother followed, still bickering between each other. 

"Charlotte, you'll never believe who your brother was shacking up with while you were gone," Penelope muddled on.

Troy protested eagerly, "We weren't shacking up!"

Penelope scoffed, "Violet Martinelli!" she exclaimed dramatically. Charlotte glared at the both of them cluelessly.

"Why is that name familiar to me?" she asked as she reached for a coffee mug.

Troy sighed, "You remember my senior homecoming parade? The girl hanging off the cheerleader float with all the rainbow elastics in her hair?"

"And wearing her cheer skirt as a top!" Penelope gasped, "I don't understand how the principal didn't suspend her on the spot," 

Charlotte's memory jogged back in, fondly remembering the spectacle of a seventeen-year-old celery stick dancing on the cheerleader's parade float with her skirt being her only article of clothing worn. The skirt wasn't even the strangest part; this girl had three or four different braids sticking out of her head, all tied with a menagerie of rainbow elastic bands. She looked like a performing art exhibit at the MoMA.

"Oh, now I remember," Charlotte poured the coffee into her mug and took a refreshing sip, "How'd you hook up with her?" she was partly surprised, partly impressed. Troy, with his lanky build and shaggy hair, embodied more of a Malibu-weed-smoking-surfing poser rather than the typical high school heartthrob. 

Troy glanced nervously at his mother as he replied, "Through Molly,"

Penelope grunted, "And I know that's a lie. You've never once mentioned a Molly to me, ever!" 

In this case, Molly wasn't a person, Charlotte thought to herself, "Pretty sure he's telling the truth, Mom," 

"We didn't hook up!" Troy went on, "We just went to a couple parties together!" he pointed at Penelope, "She's flipping out because she was being a psycho and stalking my Facebook page!" 

"If you're not going to tell me where you're going and who you're with, then I'm going to find out myself, mister," Penelope crossed her arms, "There are so many awful, trashy people out there looking to take advantage of youth like you!"

Charlotte took another deep swig of her coffee, "Charlotte travels the world for a living. You don't get up on her case!"

"Because their manager promised me they'd keep a constant eye on the girls in non-English speaking countries," 

Charlotte figured it was best to leave out the whole 'lost in Japan' bit, "A good percentage of the population speak English in Asia," 

"Good enough for you to get by on your own? I don't think so, Little Rockstar," Penelope bit back. 

"What the f -- heck are we even supposed to be fighting over?" she asked.

Penelope glared at Troy, "Your brother is sleeping around with white trash," 

"I wouldn't necessarily call her 'trash' because she does drugs, but okay," Troy shrugged. 

"Oh, so you do admit it!"

"Admit what?"

"That you did drugs with her!"

"I didn't do drugs with her and I didn't sleep with her!" now, that was a lie.

Charlotte slammed her mug down, "Alright, that's enough! Mom, bring the intensity down to a negative two! Troy, stop going out with Violet! Fine?"

"Fine," Troy huffed. 

"Great! And now, I don't want to hear about this again! Case closed!" she suddenly missed the raucous racket of Hollywood and her sweet little apartment. 

♛♛♛

Charlotte and Troy walked side-by-side down the cherry-blossom-covered streets of their neighbourhood, having finally managed to sneak away from their mother for some quality sibling time. Troy had a cigarette tucked behind his ear, much to Charlotte's intrigue.

"When did you start smoking?" she asked.

"I don't," Troy shook his head, "I mean -- I-I tried. Violet smokes so I thought I'd... ya' know,"

"Look, I can understand if you like this girl, but destroying your lungs is not worth the trade-off," she said. 

Troy shrugged sheepishly, "Guess your right. Besides, what's Mom going to do to me if she finds these hanging around the house?"

"You won't have a house to live in," Charlotte replied simply.

"Does Calum still smoke?" Troy asked.

"Yes he does. And we're still trying to entice him to quit, too," she said. 

"You're going back on tour with them next week?"

"Two weeks. You gonna' miss me?"

"I didn't miss you all the times you left before. This time around won't be different,"

Charlotte nudged him in the ribs, "Don't be a dick," she knew he was only making a joke, but sometimes Charlotte had to wonder if Troy's humour was rooted in his pain. After all, he still wasn't over their dad up and taking off several years ago, and Charlotte didn't expect him to take it well whenever she had to go away. 

They stopped at a local brunch restaurant, relatively quiet because it was a Wednesday after all. They always ordered their usual; him the classic breakfast with fried eggs, sausages and hash browns and she'd always get the french toast with house-made raspberry compote. 

"So," Troy mumbled between sips of his orange juice, "When's the new record coming out?"

Charlotte smirked at him, "Well, we have to write it first. I came up with some shit here and there but it'll probably take another year," 

"You should write a song about me," he grinned.

"What the hell would I write for you?" she replied, "My bum brother is coasting through community college. Exciting plot line," 

Troy snorted, "Your boyfriend wrote a whole damn single about college dropouts. Don't hate," 

"A: you're not a dropout. B: Luke's not my boyfriend," she contested, counting off with her fingers.

"Could've fooled me with point B," he shrugged, "What's this next album going to be about?"

"I just told you we have to write it,"

"Yeah, but you also said you had some shit written down already," Troy whined, "You can tell me. I won't blab," 

"Not with your head clear of Molly, you won't," she replied, "And be careful with that shit. You know what could happen if you get caught with it,"

"My famous sister gets to tote the junkie brother tag around the rest of her life," he said.

"Don't joke about that," Charlotte glared at him, "I'm serious. You never know what that shit is cut with. A lot of kids have died from it,"

Troy refrained from rolling his eyes, "You're starting to sound like mom," 

"Way to insult me. Thanks," 

Troy shifted his chair closer, "Lemme' ask you though: you, a woman of the world, has never tried any drugs? You're seriously not that squeaky clean,"

Charlotte glared back at him, "Troy..."

"You can tell me. I'm not mom, either," he said.

"Troy, I don't do drugs. I've been offered and I've seen it, but I don't take drugs," she replied.

"You smoke weed, though," he pointed out.

"Weed and ecstasy are two very different things," she replied.

"Weed is a drug,"

"It is clinically impossible to overdose on weed," 

Troy nodded halfheartedly, "Fair point,"

The waiter then came by and dropped off their meals, and Troy started eating immediately, "Listen to me," Charlotte started, "I don't care what you do or who you do it with, just be careful for the love of God,"

He raised his right hand, "Swear on nana's grave. Eat your breakfast, it'll get cold," he then reached over and took off the tip of the whipping cream.

"Hey! Back off!" she batted his fork away. 

"You still haven't told me what your album's about," he said.  Charlotte started cutting into her french toast.

"I don't know yet," she shrugged.

"So, what's your song about, then?" he asked. 

Charlotte chewed nervously, "... I haven't decided on that, either," 

♛♛♛

The day had quickly passed into dusk, and there was a rich, colorful sunset painting the sky. Charlotte sat on the ledge roof of the townhouse, watching the dark silhouette of the Brooklyn Bridge tower prominently over the East River. Manhattan was still bustling and the noise carried over with the gentle spring breeze. Charlotte would pick Brooklyn over Manhattan any day; sure it was more modern and considered the place to live, but Brooklyn was her home. It was rustic, strong, and full of culture and vintage beauty. Brooklyn wasn't as stressful as Manhattan, it was more Charlotte's speed.

Charlotte brought the doobie to her lips and inhaled softly. Penelope knew her children smoked weed, and hell, she wasn't all that innocent either. She just couldn't stand the bitter smell festering in her house, so she forced the kids to do it outside. 

She had spoken to the girls a while ago, all agreeing to meet and spend some time in the studio to plan their next album. Even on a break, the music business never stopped. Charlotte still was on the fence when it came to that song. The girls loved it, and despite knowing who it was for they all agreed it would be the cutting edge single to lead them to their next success. To be honest, Charlotte would've rather written a hundred shitty break-up songs then release 'You & I' to the world; it felt like a sin to put it out for all to listen. 

Suddenly, Charlotte's Snapchat pinged beside her. Her heart dropped to her gut when she saw Luke's name flash across the screen. Tentatively, she opened the picture, it was a plate of bao dumplings from her favorite restaurant in LA. Her stomach rumbled on cue, surely the munchies would be kicking in at any moment. She smiled and sent back a picture of her sizzling joint. 

He sent her a text afterwards.

Partaking in the devil's lettuce, r we?

You shouldn't have sent me that pic. Now my munchies are on high alert.

You should come join us XP

Very funny, Mr. Comedian.

Who u hanging with? Bet they ain't as cool as me!

He didn't respond at first. Only a few seconds later did she get another snap photo, in the frame was Ashton, Bryana, their friends Roy and Paul, another young singer, Madison, and Melody. Ashton and Bryana were pulling faces for the camera, Roy had his middle finger up and Paul's cheeks were stuffed with food. Madison was making a kissing face, Melody however just had a half-assed smile; not that anybody else seemed to notice. 

Charlotte felt a jab in her heart, and the creepy shadow of loneliness climbed back into her body. She didn't even think when she typed back quickly.

No, definitely not as cool as me. 

♛♛♛

"Charlie's turning Japanese..."

"Oh, no," Charlotte groaned, "Are you filming this? I look awful!" she pulled the blanket over her face.

Luke chuckled quietly at the grainy Instagram video. In the ambient golden lights that shone against the perfectly crisp, white sheets, Charlotte's blushing pout had captured the hearts of the twenty-five-hundred-plus viewers who had liked the post, the comment section flooding with awes. 

It was fair to say that after experiencing Asia with Charlotte, Luke would never love it in the same way again. He just loved seeing how excited she became at every unique landmark, food, and city they paved through. Her elation was contagious and Luke couldn't remember a moment when he didn't smile with Charlotte by his side. 

He missed that trip already, but he was about to go away with her again. And he'd see her Bambi eyes light up as though on a steady high kick. 

The moment he heard the bathroom door open, Luke quit the app and set his phone aside. Melody came sauntering back into the room, her face clear of the makeup she wore at dinner and had changed into her Victoria Secret pajama set. She curled up beside her boyfriend on the bed, sighing in content. 

"What were you laughing at?" she asked softly, her voice sweet as honey now. 

"Just some of the tour videos Paul sent over. He's puttin' em' all together right now for the diary," he replied simply. 

Melody smiled, "I wish I could come with you guys,"

A flare of excitement surged through Luke and a part of him wanted to beg her to come. At the same time, he knew she had prior commitments and shoots planned for whichever brands she was representing now. Her work was just as important to her as his was to him and he wouldn't be the type to tear her away from it. 

"Not this time round but the next leg: it's you and me. Crossing the country like one big-ass roadtrip," he said. 

"Sounds amazing," she reached up to press a kiss to his pale lips. She tasted of spearmint toothpaste and a hint of the ginger from their dinner. 

Luke shuffled down to get comfy beside her, turning on his side and tucking his arm over the pillow. Melody had turned off the lamp and cuddled in beside him, and he was more than ready for their routine of silent whispers and pillow talk about everything and nothing at all. They did it lots when they started getting serious; they would just confide in each other about how their day went and would discuss anything that came to mind. 

However, Luke was surprised at what Melody wanted to talk about.

"I think Bryana's gonna' dump Ashton," 

Her honey-like voice dripped and burned in his ears, flaming-hot words branding into his brain. He was taken aback but how brash and upfront she was.

"What?" his nose crinkled, "What're you talking about?"

"I can just tell," Melody shrugged, "You know, you see them together but they're not really -- together. Does he talk to you about it?"

Luke was still in a state of shock, "Uh -- n-no. What -- you think she's unhappy?"

"She just doesn't seem excited like she used to be. Lost the spark in her eyes. It's a shame because they're really cute together," Melody spoke as though she was talking about the weather, so effortlessly and without mind. Luke had spent time with his best mate and his girl only mere hours ago, and there was nothing to indicate to him that there was trouble in paradise. They seemed like the perfect couple.

Perhaps that was why Melody could pick it off?

"I think you should talk to him about it," she went on, "Maybe just check in with him? I mean, I don't exactly blame her if she's on the edge; he can be a lot sometimes," 

Luke was annoyed now. He didn't fight back, but he wasn't happy. He appreciated where Melody was coming from but her angle was all wrong. And what did she mean by that: Ashton was a lot? He was just energetic, a great lad just living life. Of course he was boisterous, but Luke didn't think that was a bad thing. 

"Right," he nodded quietly, "Let's talk about something else," 

Melody frowned, sensing his change in mood, "I'm not saying it to make you upset, I just worry for him. He's still our friend; girlfriends come and go but your friends are your friends," 

Her words were wise yet incredibly poignant. It made Luke uncomfortable.

"I know... so... so I'm getting really into this girl's music. Her name's -- erm -- Halsey, I think..."

[waitingforwinterwinds]

ASOS; Steel and Snow: 17 ARYA III (pages 227-235)

Arya experiences a betrayal on the road to (not) Riverrun.

-

On the morning of the third day, Arya noticed that the moss was growing mostly on the wrong side of the trees. "We're going the wrong way," she said to Gendry, as they rode past an especially mossy elm. "We're going south. See how the moss is growing on the trunk?"

Y'all need a compass. I mean, I assume a compass would work in Westeros. From what I understand, there is a 'curtain of light' or something further north of the Wall, deep in the Lands Of Always Winter, which I'm pretty sure is an aurora.

Auroras Borealis and Australis are formed when sun particles get dragged by the Earth's magnet poles into clusters and interact with stuff in the atmosphere, which suggests that there is a magnetic pole to the north of the Wall, so a compass should work. If they have the tech, which they shouuuu... how old are magnetic compasses? Google says the Chinese circa 206 BCE, so magnetic compasses are roughly 2200 years old. Cool Beans. But also if Yi Ti is Generic Fantasy Ancient Asia, then even if the Maesters didn't steal the tech, it should be around. ... who wants to tell me there's been at least one mention of a compass in the books thus far and I've just forgotten?

Telling Harwin would be almost like telling her father and there were some things that she could not bear having her father know.

Oh that came for my feels. ... now the question is: will Harwin live long enough to pass the information of Arya's survival on at a critical time?

...Harwin catching Arya up like. That's for giving us backstory, I appreciate it, but also don't add to Arya's trauma? Did you need the details about the arm chopping? I suppose it's kind of bonding, for them to swap stories, reconnect, what connection there is.

Arya was sucking the last bit of meat off a wing when one of the villagers turned to Lem Lemoncloak and said, "There were men through here not two days past, looking for the Kingslayer."

Lemon(cloak) = 🥛

She dreamt of home; not Riverrun, but Winterfell. It was not a good dream, though. She was alone outside the castle, up to her knees in mud. She could see the grey walls ahead of her, but when she tried to reach the gates every step seemed harder than the one before, and the castle faded before her, until it looked more like smoke tan granite. And there were wolves as well, gaunt grey shapes stalking through the trees all around her, their eyes shining. Whenever she looked at them, she remembered the taste of blood.

working through stuff, or visions = 🥛

I am going to count this one, just because, even knowing that it works as a vision because I know Arya's path doesn't lie towards Winterfell (yet), it also works as an expression of her anxiety and frustration over the fact that no matter how far she travels, she never seems to get closer to home or safety, like something is dragging her back every struggling step of the way. There's always something that stops her from making measurable, sustained progress. You really could interpret this one either way. It's been a bit since we've had a dream that's so on the fence about whether it's one or the other.

... The Betrayal!!!

... Run Arya, Run!!!

She knew the fight was done. "You ride like a northman, milady," Harwin said when he'd drawn them to a halt. "Your aunt was the same. Lady Lyanna. But my father was master of horse, remember." The look she gave him was full of hurt. "I thought you were my father's man." "Lord Eddard's dead, milady. I belong to the lightning lord now, and to my brothers."

Poor Arya. Jon and Sansa both had a thing going on with allies (temporary and false) which I think I commented was a theme running through those few chapters with Arya and Dany as well, but those were newly met. I did remember from the show where Arya's path was going (in the more immediate) but I didn't think it would come directly from Harwin. The betrayal.

"- He has an army all his own, and many lords bend the knee. The smallfolk only have us."

Urgh, this series! Let me be angry at some one for a change! let it be simple and uncomplicated "this person did a shitty thing and is Bad." But noooo, GRRM is all about the complexity. More layers than an onion. Nuance and motivations.

No, no, I get it. Sadly, even though he's betraying Arya's trust here, he's one of the few still fighting for the smallfolk. Goodness knows the kings and their armies have stopped giving a shit... if they gave one to begin with.

She had been better off as Squab. No one would take Squab captive, or Nan, or Weasel, or Arry the orphan boy. I was a wolf, she thought, but now I'm just a stupid little lady again.

I mean, they were all captives, that was a pretty significant thing that happened. Mmm, more identity stuffs for Arya. comparing her freedom in false identities to the fact that it's her core identity which has her in trouble in the first place, add that shake up with her core identity from a few chapters back, I'm not going to be surprised if she attempts to - ah right, House of Black and White and "becoming No-one." No surprise about it, she literally does attempt to reject her core identity at a future point.

[tritonmarketresearch]

High Energy Demand to Boost the Global BIPV Market

Triton Market Research presents the Global Building Integrated Photovoltaics Market report segmented by Application (Glazing, Roofing, Architectural Shading, Facades), Technology (Thin Film, Crystalline Silicon [Polycrystalline, Monocrystalline], Other Technologies), Industry Vertical (Commercial, Industrial, Residential), and Regional Outlook (, North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Europe, Latin America).

The report further includes the Market Summary, Industry Outlook, Parent Market Analysis, Impact Analysis, Key Insights, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Market Maturity Analysis, Industry Components, Regulatory Framework, Key Buying Analysis, Key Market Strategies, Drivers, Challenge, Opportunities, Analyst Perspective, Competitive Landscape, Research Methodology & Scope, Global Market Size, Forecasts & Analysis (2023-2030).

According to Triton’s research report, the global building integrated photovoltaics market is estimated to progress at a CAGR of 17.31% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

Request Free Sample Report:

https://www.tritonmarketresearch.com/reports/building-integrated-photovoltaics-market#request-free-sample

 Building integrated photovoltaic products are used to replace conventional building materials in the components of a building envelope like roof tiles, curtain walls, windows, etc.

As per the International Energy Outlook, the global power demand is expected to soar by around 80% by 2040, requiring trillions of dollars in investment to meet the high demand. Moreover, the world’s net electricity generation will increase significantly in the same year. Access to electricity is vital for operations across industries, especially in developing countries. Hence, the growing energy demand is estimated to create high demand for PVs in buildings for efficient power supply, thereby propelling the BIPV market on a growth path.

However, BIPV technology is at a nascent stage, being highly adopted in developed nations but witnessing a slow glow in emerging economies like India. The lack of awareness about solar power is estimated to hamper the studied market’s growth over the forecast period.

Over the forecast period, the Asia-Pacific is estimated to become the fastest-growing region. China, Japan, and South Korea have recently adopted net-zero emission targets to be attained by 2050. As per industry sources, energy efficiency and decarbonization under sustainable development could help reduce significant emissions from buildings. Moreover, the region is witnessing high population growth, which has elevated the energy demand. Therefore, the growing need to reduce emissions and high energy demand is expected to broaden building integrated photovoltaics market prospects over the forecast period.

The prominent companies thriving in the building integrated photovoltaics market are Tesla Inc, ClearVue Technologies Limited, AGC Inc, SunPower Corporation, Kaneka Corporation, MetSolar, Heliatek, Saule Technologies, Waaree Energies Ltd, and Ertex Solartechnik GmbH.  

Given the technological complexity and high capital requirements, the entry of new entrants is difficult. The materials processing step is technologically exhaustive and thus creates a high barrier for new players. Despite this, several players are entering the market owing to increasing demand and government incentives. However, the growing competition among existing players is expected to lower the threat of new entrants over the forecast period.

 Contact Us:

sales@tritonmarketresearch.com

Phone: +44 7441 911839

[spermarket]

Glass Curtain Wall Market Share, Revenue, trends, Growth, Key Manufacturers and Future Challenges: SPER Market Research

Glass curtain walls are non-structural cladding systems that wrap a building's outside, creating a sleek, modern appearance while enabling natural light to enter interior spaces. These systems, which date back to the early twentieth century, have evolved alongside advances in materials and engineering to become an intrinsic part of modern architecture. This expansion is being driven by rising demand for energy-efficient building solutions and increased acceptance of green building standards. Technological developments, such as improved glass glazing and the use of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV), have improved the functionality and beauty of glass curtain walls.  

According to SPER market research, ‘Global Glass Curtain Wall Market Size- By Type, By Product Type, By End User- Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2033’ state that the Global Glass Curtain Wall Market is predicted to reach 115.31 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 7.42 %. 

Drivers: 

The growth of real estate has permitted the construction of enormous and majestic constructions equipped with modern conveniences. Globalization has resulted in the growth of huge commercial structures, including office complexes, in the majority of the world's countries, particularly emerging countries. Western industrialized economies have made significant investments in emerging economies through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to encourage industry expansion and the establishment of multinational brands. This has resulted in the construction of commercial offices and infrastructures that require a high level of premium architectural upgrades, such as glass curtain walls, which are emerging as a significant growth driver for the glass curtain wall market. 

Request a Free Sample Report: https://www.sperresearch.com/report-store/curtain-wall-market.aspx?sample=1 Restraints: 

The appealing appearance of glass-enclosed structures comes at a great cost. The glass curtain wall system has a high installation and maintenance cost. Manufacturers offer both standard and custom systems based on the client's needs. In the event of complex large projects, however, specialized wall systems outperform ordinary systems. As a result, the buyer must retain skilled design consultants for such projects, which raises the overall cost. Furthermore, repairs for leaks (air and water) in the curtain wall system are expensive. To avoid such catastrophic system damages, the building management must invest a large amount of money in the maintenance of glass panels. 

Asia Pacific dominates the worldwide glass curtain wall market, owing to increasing product consumption in the development of retail and office spaces in growing markets like India, China, and Vietnam. Some significant market players are Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd., Qingdao Tsing Glass Co. Limited, Saint-Gobain, SCHOTT AG ,Sisecam , Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp.,  and others.   

For More Information, refer to below link: –  

Glass Curtain Wall Market Growth

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Apricot Oil Market Growth, Size, Trends Analysis - By Application, By Distribution Channel- Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2034

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[chemicalmarketwatch-sp]

Exploring the Construction Glass Market in Asia Pacific: Trends, Sizes, and Leading Companies

The construction landscape in the Asia Pacific region is evolving rapidly, driven by urbanization, technological progress, and the demand for sustainable building solutions. Among the key materials transforming modern architecture is construction glass. Valued for its strength, energy efficiency, and design flexibility, construction glass has become a cornerstone for innovative building designs. This blog offers insights into market trends, glass sizes, and major manufacturers contributing to this dynamic sector.

The Growing Construction Glass Market

The Construction Glass Market was valued at USD 112.0 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 144.3 billion by 2029, growing at a 5.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. This impressive growth underscores the increasing adoption of glass in modern construction projects across the Asia Pacific region.

Why Construction Glass is in High Demand in Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is witnessing a surge in construction activities fueled by economic growth, government-led infrastructure projects, and rising urbanization. As construction glass plays a dual role—enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of buildings—it has become a preferred material for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

Architects and builders appreciate construction glass not just for its beauty but for its ability to improve energy efficiency and provide sustainable solutions.

Key Sizes and Applications of Construction Glass

Construction glass comes in a variety of sizes to meet diverse architectural needs. Typical sizes include:

Standard Sizes: Dimensions such as 6 ft x 8 ft (1830 mm x 2440 mm) and 8 ft x 10 ft (2440 mm x 3050 mm) are commonly used.

Custom Sizes: Tailored dimensions are often required for unique design elements like large façades and curtain walls.

Thickness Options: Glass thickness ranges from 3 mm to 19 mm, with thicker glass used for safety, structural integrity, and noise reduction.

Different types of glass—including tempered, laminated, and insulated glass—address specific requirements such as thermal efficiency, safety, and soundproofing.

Emerging Trends in Construction Glass

1. Energy-Efficient and Smart Glass

Energy conservation is a top priority in modern construction. Smart glass technologies, such as electrochromic and thermochromic glass, are becoming popular for their ability to regulate transparency and reduce energy consumption.

2. Sustainability Initiatives

As governments promote eco-friendly construction, demand for green building materials is rising. Energy-efficient construction glass that reduces environmental impact is gaining traction.

3. Innovative Coatings and Surface Treatments

Advanced coatings, such as anti-reflective and self-cleaning treatments, enhance the functionality and lifespan of construction glass. These solutions are particularly valuable for high-rise buildings.

4. Safety and Security Focus

Strict safety regulations are driving the use of laminated and toughened glass, which provide better protection against impact and environmental hazards.

Top Construction Glass Manufacturers in Asia Pacific

Several leading companies are driving innovation in the construction glass sector:

AGC Inc. (Japan): Offers a wide range of architectural glass products with cutting-edge coatings and treatments.

NSG Group (Japan): A leader in solar control and thermal insulation glass technologies.

Saint-Gobain (France): Known for innovative and sustainable glass solutions that support modern construction needs.

Guardian Industries (US): Renowned for advanced glass products used in commercial and residential projects.

Sisecam (Turkey): Specializes in flat glass and energy-efficient solutions.

SCHOTT AG (Germany): Offers high-quality specialty glass for architectural applications.

Central Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan): Provides innovative glass solutions for construction and automotive sectors.

China Glass Holdings Limited (China): Provides a diverse range of glass solutions for construction applications.

Vitro (Mexico): Known for its extensive portfolio of architectural and industrial glass products.

Notable Regional Manufacturers

Local manufacturers are playing a vital role in advancing the construction glass market in Asia Pacific:

Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp.: Specializes in high-performance architectural glass.

China Glass Holdings Limited: Provides a diverse range of glass solutions for construction applications.

Viridian Glass (Australia): Known for its energy-efficient and decorative glass products.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Construction Glass in Asia Pacific

The construction glass market in Asia Pacific is poised for growth, driven by advancements in technology and a strong push for sustainable development. The adoption of smart glass, innovative coatings, and eco-friendly solutions will redefine modern architecture.

As governments and industries alike prioritize green buildings, the demand for advanced construction glass is expected to soar. The increasing vertical growth of cities and intricate architectural designs will only amplify the importance of this versatile material.

Get deeper insights, download PDF brochure : 

Construction glass is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of architecture in Asia Pacific. From standard sizes to custom solutions, it offers unmatched versatility for various building types.

As leading global and regional manufacturers continue to innovate, construction experts can look forward to more options that combine functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics. The region’s architectural landscape is set to become even more dynamic, thanks to advancements in construction glass.

[wallnova1]

WallNova Aluminum Curtain Wall Materials manufacturer

WallNova is an original manufacturer specializes in aluminum cladding.

In the dynamic world of metal manufacturing, WALLNOVA has emerged as a shining star. With a rich 15 year legacy, our factory in Foshan has been continuously evolving and expanding its footprint in the global market. For over a decade, we have been successfully supplying our top notch metal products to Europe, Southern Asia, and Australia, amassing a wealth of experience and a sterling reputation along the way.

State-of-the-Art Facility

Situated in the vibrant manufacturing hub of Guangdong Foshan, wallnova factory sprawls across an expansive area of more than twenty thousand square meters. This vast space is home to a team of over 100 highly skilled and dedicated workers, who pour their expertise and passion into every product we create. Our commitment to quality is further exemplified by our in house Dulux & Akzonobel certified PVDF and Powder coating production line. This cutting edge facility not only ensures the durability and aesthetic appeal of our metal products but also gives us complete control over the production process, allowing us to meet the most stringent international standards and customized requirements with ease.

Global Reach and Local Expertise

Wallnova factory extensive experience in exporting has equipped us with a deep understanding of the diverse needs and preferences of our international clients. We pride ourselves on our ability to seamlessly adapt to different market demands, whether it's the sleek and modern designs favored in Europe, the functionality driven requirements of Southern Asia, or the robust and reliable standards expected in Australia. This global perspective, combined with our local manufacturing prowess, positions us as the ideal partner for any project, regardless of its scale or complexity.

If your company currently has a project or quotation and needs FREE SAMPLES for your evaluation

Pls do not hesitate to get in touch, aluminum products and color samples are both available.

     Echo Luo         WallNova Architectural Products Co., Ltd        Tel: +86-0755-23733286        Mobile/Whatsapp: +86 13714661321        Email: echo@wallnova.com        Web: www.wallnova.com

[maahichoudhary2208]

Block Print Fabric: A Timeless Tradition with Contemporary Appeal

Block print fabric is a stunning example of art and tradition coming together to create timeless, exquisite textiles. With its rich history, vibrant patterns, and handcrafted charm, block print fabric has carved a special place in the hearts of home decorators, fashion enthusiasts, and artisans alike. But what makes this fabric so unique? Let’s dive into its beauty and why it remains a favorite in modern design.

The Craftsmanship Behind Block Print Fabric

Block printing is a technique where intricate designs are hand-carved onto wooden blocks, which are then dipped into dye and stamped onto fabric. This method has been practiced for centuries, with its roots tracing back to ancient civilizations in Asia, especially India. The meticulous process involves skilled artisans who create unique patterns, often inspired by nature, mythology, and traditional motifs. The beauty of this technique lies in the fact that no two pieces of block print fabric are exactly alike, making each one a work of art.

The blocks used in block printing are often carved from wood, though sometimes metal or other materials are used. The fabric, typically cotton, linen, or silk, absorbs the dye, creating vibrant, long-lasting designs that are rich in texture and character. Whether it’s a floral motif, geometric pattern, or an abstract design, block print fabric showcases the creativity and dedication of the artisans involved in its production.

Why Block Print Fabric is a Must-Have for Your Home Décor

Block print fabric is not only a symbol of traditional craftsmanship but also an excellent choice for home décor. Here are some reasons why it deserves a place in your home:

Natural and Sustainable: Block printing is an eco-friendly technique. Since it uses natural dyes and materials, it aligns with sustainable living practices. Choosing block print fabric is a step towards promoting environmentally conscious fashion and home décor.

Versatility in Design: Block print fabrics come in an array of patterns and colors, making them incredibly versatile. From subtle pastels to bold and vibrant hues, there’s a block print design for every style preference. Whether you're looking for traditional Indian motifs like paisleys and florals or contemporary, minimalistic designs, the possibilities are endless.

Textural Appeal: The texture of block print fabric adds depth and interest to any space. Unlike mass-produced printed fabrics, block print has a tactile quality that feels unique to the touch. This quality brings warmth and character to both clothing and home accessories.

Timeless Elegance: Block print fabric never goes out of style. Its traditional roots combined with modern applications make it timeless. Whether you're decorating a contemporary living room or styling a boho-chic bedroom, block print fabric blends seamlessly with various themes and aesthetics.

Perfect for Any Home Accessory: From cushion covers to bed linens, tablecloths to curtains, block print fabric is incredibly versatile in its use. Its ability to be transformed into different home essentials makes it a practical and aesthetically pleasing choice for any home.

How to Style Block Print Fabric in Your Home

The beauty of block print fabric lies in its adaptability. Here are a few ideas for incorporating this traditional fabric into your home décor:

Throw Pillows and Cushion Covers: Add a pop of color and pattern to your sofa with handcrafted block print cushions. Choose from vibrant florals or geometric designs for a chic look.

Table Linens: A block print tablecloth or placemats can instantly elevate your dining experience. Pair them with neutral tableware to let the fabric stand out.

Curtains and Drapes: Bring nature into your home by using block print fabric to create beautiful, flowy curtains. The organic patterns will create a calming atmosphere while still making a statement.

Wall Hangings: If you’re looking for unique and artistic wall décor, consider framing a piece of block print fabric. Its patterns and colors can transform your walls into a gallery of handmade beauty.

Bedding: Block print quilts and bedspreads offer a cozy, stylish way to update your bedroom. Choose designs that match your existing color scheme for a cohesive look.

Block Print Fabric in Fashion

While block print fabric is often associated with home décor, it’s also a staple in fashion. Block print fabrics are used in a variety of garments, from flowing dresses and skirts to scarves and jackets. The beauty of block print in fashion is its ability to add personality and sophistication to any outfit.

One of the most popular ways to wear block print fabric is in sarongs or beach wraps. The lightweight cotton fabric and bold patterns make them perfect for a laid-back yet stylish look. Pair a block print sarong with a simple tank top or use it as a shawl during cooler months for a chic, bohemian vibe.

Caring for Block Print Fabric

Taking care of block print fabric is essential to preserve its beauty. Always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer or artisan. To maintain the vibrancy of the colors and prevent fading, it's recommended to hand wash block print items in cold water. Avoid harsh detergents, and instead, use gentle, natural options.

Block print fabric is durable but requires gentle handling. Avoid wringing the fabric or exposing it to direct sunlight for extended periods. Storing your block print items in a cool, dry place will help them maintain their shape and colors for years to come.

Conclusion

Block print fabric is a perfect blend of tradition, craftsmanship, and modern design. Its rich history and vibrant designs make it a timeless choice for both home décor and fashion. Whether you're looking to infuse your living space with color or add a unique touch to your wardrobe, block print fabric is sure to stand out. Embrace the beauty of handmade artistry and make block print fabric a part of your home and personal style.

For more information about the exquisite world of block print fabrics, visit Dmaasa.in. Their carefully curated collection of handcrafted textiles includes everything from luxurious bedding to stylish accessories, each piece reflecting the timeless charm of block printing.

Contact Details:

Phone: +91 9667766779

Email: care@dmaasa.in

Embrace the art of block printing and add a personal, sustainable touch to your home and wardrobe!

[amrutatbrc1]

Powder Coatings Market 2024 : Size, Growth Rate, Business Module, Product Scope, Regional Analysis And Expansions 2033

The powder coatings global market report 2024 from The Business Research Company provides comprehensive market statistics, including global market size, regional shares, competitor market share, detailed segments, trends, and opportunities. This report offers an in-depth analysis of current and future industry scenarios, delivering a complete perspective for thriving in the industrial automation software market.

Powder Coatings Market, 2024 report by The Business Research Company offers comprehensive insights into the current state of the market and highlights future growth opportunities.

Market Size - The powder coatings market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $19.06 billion in 2023 to $20.5 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to durability and corrosion resistance, industrial and manufacturing applications, automotive industry, architectural and building materials.

The powder coatings market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $26.89 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to sustainability and low environmental impact, renewable energy infrastructure, automotive sector expansion, customized and functional coatings. Major trends in the forecast period include technological advancements, smart coatings, nanotechnology integration, bio-based powder coatings.

Order your report now for swift delivery @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/powder-coatings-global-market-report

The Business Research Company's reports encompass a wide range of information, including:

1. Market Size (Historic and Forecast): Analysis of the market's historical performance and projections for future growth.

2. Drivers: Examination of the key factors propelling market growth.

3. Trends: Identification of emerging trends and patterns shaping the market landscape.

4. Key Segments: Breakdown of the market into its primary segments and their respective performance.

5. Focus Regions and Geographies: Insight into the most critical regions and geographical areas influencing the market.

6. Macro Economic Factors: Assessment of broader economic elements impacting the market.

Market Drivers - The increasing demand for the construction sector is expected to propel the growth of the powder coatings market going forward. The construction sector, also known as the construction industry, encompasses a broad range of activities related to the planning, design, construction, renovation, and maintenance of physical structures and infrastructure. Powder coatings are commonly used on architectural elements such as aluminium and steel window frames, doors, railings, and curtain wall systems. They provide a durable, weather-resistant, and attractive finish that enhances the aesthetics of buildings. For instance, in September 2021, according to a report published by Oxford Economics, a UK-based economic information services company, the global construction output was $10.7 trillion in 2020, and between 2020 and 2030, it is anticipated to increase by 42%, or $4.5 trillion, to reach USD 15.2 trillion. Therefore, the increasing demand for the construction sector is driving the growth of the powder coatings market.

The powder coatings market covered in this report is segmented –

1) By Type: Thermoset, Thermoplastic 2) By Coating Method: Electrostatic Spray, Fluidized Bed 3) By End Userr Application: Appliances, Automotive, Architectural, Furniture, Agriculture, Construction, & Earthmoving Equipment (ACE), General Industrial, Other End-User Applications

Get an inside scoop of the powder coatings market, Request now for Sample Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=2681&type=smp

Regional Insights - Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the powder coatings market in 2023. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the global powder coatings market. The regions covered in the powder coatings market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

Key Companies - Major companies operating in the powder coatings market include AkzoNobel NV, PPG Industries Inc., Sherwin-Williams Company, BASF SE, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited , Jotun Group, IFS Coatings, Valspar Corporation, Asian Paints Ltd., RPM International Inc., Dulux Powder & Industrial Coating, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Somar Corporation, Protech Group, Nippon Paint Co. Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Berger Paints Limited, IGP Pulvertechnik AG, TIGER Coatings GmbH & Co. KG, Cloverdale Paint Inc., Vogel Paint Inc., Hentzen Coating Inc., Alpha Coating Technologies Inc., Ferro arte de mexico sa de cv, TCI Powder Coatings, Prismatic Powders, Precision Coatings Inc., S&B Finishing Co. Inc., Rohner Powder Coating, Pro Powder & Paint Inc., Premier Powder Coating Ltd., Rite-Way Powder Coating Inc., Reliant Finishing Systems

Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Powder Coatings Market Report Structure 3. Powder Coatings Market Trends And Strategies 4. Powder Coatings Market – Macro Economic Scenario 5. Powder Coatings Market Size And Growth ….. 27. Powder Coatings Market Competitor Landscape And Company Profiles 28. Key Mergers And Acquisitions 29. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 30. Appendix

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[chemical28]

Aluminum Extrusion Market , Growth and Challenges Analysis Forecast by 2031

The Aluminum Extrusion Market was valued at USD 85.47 billion in 2024 and is supposed to reach USD 156.28 billion by 2031.  It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% over the forecast period 2024-2031. The research report includes information on market share, revenue, gross margin, value, volume, industry size, key trends, deployment models, strategies, and future roadmaps, as well as market share, revenue, gross margin, industry size, primary trends, deployment models, strategies, and future roadmaps. The Aluminum Extrusion Market research includes a detailed executive summary as well as an analysis of the study's key industry growth trends. Market drivers, restraints, attractive prospects, technological advances, industry-specific issues, current trends, and competition analyses are all covered in the market study. The paper also examines how the competitive dynamics of the global market are evolving. These indicators can help both existing market participants and newcomers to the firm. The aluminum extrusion market is experiencing robust growth, propelled by the increasing demand for lightweight, durable, and sustainable materials across various industries. Aluminum extrusion involves shaping aluminum alloys into complex profiles through a process that offers design flexibility, precision, and cost-effectiveness. One of the key drivers of market growth is the expanding construction and infrastructure sector, where aluminum extrusions are extensively used in architectural frameworks, window and door systems, curtain walls, and structural components. The lightweight nature of aluminum, coupled with its corrosion resistance and recyclability, makes it an ideal choice for sustainable building solutions, driving the adoption of aluminum extrusions in green building projects and urban development initiatives worldwide.

Key Players included are:

BRT Extrusions, Inc.,

Constellium,

Kaiser Aluminum,

Hulamin LtdChina Zhongwang Holding Limited,

National Material L.P.,

Extrudex Aluminum, AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group,

Hindalco Industries Ltd.,

SMS Schimmer,

Allegheny Technologies Inc,

Gulf Extrusions Co. LLC,

UAJC Corporation,

Norsk Hydro ASA,

International Extrusion Corporation,

American Aluminum Extrusion LLC & Others. 

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Market Segmentation

Based on data collected from numerous research approaches as well as reliable data sources, the report will aid both existing and new aspirants in the market in establishing and studying the industry's needs, market size, and competitiveness. Based on recent events and historical data, reports present graphical forecasts for the following years. To collect data and estimate income for all regions of the Allulose Market, researchers used top-down and bottom-up methodologies.

Market Segmentation and Sub-Segmentation included are:

Market Segmentation:

By Product Type

Mill-finished

Anodized

Powder-coated

By Alloy Type

Alloy 2000 Series Aluminum

Alloy 3000 Series Aluminum

Alloy 5000 Series Aluminum

Alloy 6000 Series Aluminum

Alloy 7000 Series Aluminum

Others

By Application

Building & Construction

Automotive

Transportation

Electrical and Electronics

Consumer Goods

Machinery

Others

The global Aluminum Extrusion Market research study examines the industry in several regions around the globe. North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are the key regions that make up the market. Revenue, sales, shares, current developments, innovations, and growth rates are all taken into account when defining the global top market share by region. This type of regional analysis examines the sector from many perspectives across countries and regions.

Competitive Scenario

The Aluminum Extrusion Market report also includes data on the industry's top companies, including their product/business portfolios, market share, financial status, regional share, segment revenue, SWOT analysis, key strategies like mergers and acquisitions, product developments, joint ventures & partnerships, and expansions, as well as their most recent news. It also contains information on the production plants of the major corporations located inside the operational zones. Pricing models, sales numbers, overall revenues, and market share are all key factors to consider for every business. All of the important applications and characteristics of the leading firms are thoroughly examined in the market study. The big players have recently announced new partnerships, acquisitions, and expansion ambitions.

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