#Catte House Kits

[thefreelanceangel]

C'allie thought having children a delight, especially with four other parents to share the load, but the best aspect of it had to be sharing their wonder.

A pre-birthday sparrow for @iron-sparrow's upcoming uterine eviction day which just worked marvelously for MiqoMarch #13: Wonder.

[lonewolfel]

Phylogeny: Chapter 1

Read on AO3

The Day of Unity had been stoped but at what cost.

Luz and her friends are stranded in the Human Realm. They have to deal with a new world along with finding a way back to see if their friends and family survived. All the while Hunter is haunted by what happened.

The Collector has complete control of the Boiling Isles. King along with the CATTs have to find a way to defeat the Collector and resume Luz's research in portals.

AKA my take on what season 3 will look like.

Note: This was written before the release of the season 3 poster.

Camila was cooking dinner when she heard a knock at the door. It was shocking considering the stormy weather and that Camila was not expecting anyone.

"I'll get it," Camila said to Vee. She walked over to the door and was shocked.

Before her were five teenagers. They were all battered as if they had been in a fight with some sort of beast. One of them she would always recognize. Her biological daughter, Luz.

"Hey, Mom, I'm back," Luz said in a broken voice. Tears appeared in her daughter's eyes.

"MIJA!" Camila cried. She rushed forward and hugged Luz. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice two of the teens tense up.

"Mom." Luz sobbed. The two of them stood in the rain with Camila holding her daughter for the first time in months as Luz sobbed. Clearly, she had been through a lot in the demon realm. The other teens didn't interrupt the moment. It was Vee who interrupted it.

"Who's at the door?" Vee called out. They broke the hug. Then Luz seemed to come back to herself. She rubbed her hand on her neck.

"Uh, right, these are my friends, Willow, Amity, Gus, and Hunter," Luz said. She gestured to each of them as she said their name. When their name was said they either nodded their head or gave a small wave to at least everyone except the boy at the end, Hunter. He was looking at Camila in an analytical way as if he was waiting for something. "They kind of need a place to stay."

"Of course, come in, come in. I was just making dinner. I'll grab you kids some towels to dry off with." Camila said. Luz gave a weak smile.

"Thanks, Mami," Luz said

"!Por supuesto!" Camila said. Luz and Amity were the first to enter the house. Then Willow and lastly the two boys. Hunter watched her carefully making sure that he was between the younger boy and the human woman with his arms around him.

"Camila..." Vee started. She appeared in the hallway and all the kids but Luz tensed.

Hunter pushed Gus behind him and got into a fighting stance. Amity drew a pinkish purple circle creating flames of a similar color. Willow drew two green circles that made vines appear. Luz went to rush forward. Amity grabbed her arm.

"Luz don't it's a basilisk," Amity said. A look of fear appeared on Vee's face.

"It's alright she's nice," Luz said.

"They drain magic. They're dangerous." Hunter said

"She isn't like that. She escaped Belos and she doesn't want to hurt anyone." Luz explained. Hunter lowered his fists.

"Wait I recognize that voice. He's the Golden Guard. I'm not going back." Vee panicked. Hunter flinched back so hard that he bumped into Gus. Camila rushed forward to comfort Vee. If he...

"He's like you, he left Belos," Luz explained. Gus, Willow, and Amity all nodded their heads. Hunter seemed to have zoned out. Willow walked over and placed a hand on his arm. He flinched again seeming to snap out of it but then leaned into the touch.

"It's not like we can return. The portal was destroyed." Hunter said. Tears began to form in the girl's eyes. Gus broke down and started to sob. Hunter quickly wrapped him in a hug.

"I'll get the towels and the first aid kit. Vee, can you serve dinner, please? Mija, can you show them to the living room?" Camila said. Vee nodded and left the hall. Luz nodded.

"Follow me guys," Luz said. She led them to the living room. They all stood there unsure of what to do. Not long after Camila returned with her arms full of towels and a first aid kit.

"Here are the towels," Camila said. She set down the towels on the couch. "Do you..."

"I can do it," Hunter said. Camila wanted to argue but decided against it. They don't know her beyond being Luz's mom. They probably felt better with someone they knew treating their injuries.

"Alright," Camila said. She handed the first aid kit to the older teen. He took it and turned to Gus.

Camila left the room to go check on Vee. She already knew that this was going to be difficult.

~~~

The Day of Unity had been stopped. Eda doesn't know how or why but it had been. She had a feeling that a certain group of kids was responsible for it. Though there seemed to be something else going on.

The Owl Beast wanted to flee. To take control and fly as far away as possible. Yet Eda didn't know why. It was scared of something that only it knows about. This set Eda on edge.

Then the ground began to shake and shutter. Raine sat up and they both shot each other confused looks. Then it happened.

The Titan's skull began to break apart. A feeling of dread filled Eda as she watched. A black figure was in the sky. She could only hope that figure wasn't one of her kids.

"What is happening?" Raine asked. Eda couldn't take her eyes off what was happening.

"I don't know," Eda responded.

The pieces began to rearrange themselves into a ...larger version of her house. What in Titan was happening? Then the figure that had been in the sky appeared before them.

The figure had a half-orange and half-blue face. They wore a one-piece PJ set that had moon and sun designs on it. They had a wide grin on their face that filled Eda with dread.

"Alright everyone we're gonna play a fun game King told me about called the Owl House." The figure's boyish voice explained. Though that was not what Eda's mind got caught on.

"KING!"

[pldonthestreetsrdminthesheets]

(SFW...here’s the promised collab that I had promised not hours ago :3  Really enjoying doing collab drabbles of sorts with @shirtlesslizard, seems to go a bit better than long Tumblr threads.  Plus, considering how things will go with Tumblr, well, this seems to be the better option for fun parts of their story.  Of course...seeing as this is actually 6 pages long in Word...I guess it’s a short story at this point...but I’m still gonna label it as a drabble...not that I can search my own tags on my blog thanks to Tumblr’s bullshit. Anyway...enjoy the first part of what we have planned for these two :3  The second part [the second ‘twelve hours’] will come on Christmas...one way or another.)

                          Starlight Comes Early (Part 1)

Utai groaned softly as his want to wake up was very much nil.  The man had been up late with the twins, and having finally gotten them to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. He could have sworn he had only been asleep a few hours, cuddled up on his mate to enjoy the warmth and protection the larger half-breed always gave off.  Though feeling the pillow instead of familiar scales… It was obvious he’d been placed on the bed – Korekaze was already up.  With another sigh, he sat up, letting the sheets shift and rest at his waist as he rubbed his eyes.  Opening them and brushing his hand along his face, he blinked blearily as things were quite blurry. Blurry…?!

His gaze quickly went to his right arm, still very much aware that the gold runes of his contract were still there.  Was he dead? Was he dreaming?  Had something happened to Xavier?

Xavier?  Where are you? What’s going on?  What’s happened?!

The panic could be heard loud and clear, the Xaela having been sound asleep in the back of the Keeper’s mind considering his mate had deemed it necessary to hunt before this… Starlight Celebration as well as her Nameday.  Though the Dark Knight didn’t seem too worried, he was rather entertained that the catte was panicking considering his usually calm demeanor.  Though there was a considerable reason as to why the Au Ra did this now instead of his true intended date.  Consider it an… Early Starlight gift, koneko. Though don’t consider it all at once. You’ll have roughly twenty-four bells… Twelve now, twelve later.  Do you understand?

Utai continued to sit on the bed, listening to the Xaela and staring at his hands.  You could have at least fixed my vision…

I can only return what was lost to its original state… I am no miracle worker.  It is already taxing enough to restore your sight, stop complaining…

There was a soft chuckle from the catte as he smiled softly… He could… see.  Flicking his wrist, he summoned his shadows, the familiar small calling to pull out his small gold box of past possessions.  Opening the box, he pulled the pair of blue rimmed glasses that he’d long discarded when Xavier had taken his sight upon the completion of their contract.  It was a very foreign feeling to have his glasses on his face, to be able to see clearly, hell, to even see.

Placing the gold box back within his shadows and dismissing them, he pulled the sheets back to climb out of bed… Though he paused seeing the magitek prosthetic.  It was unnerving to see the limb… having been used to having both legs… having been blind when he had lost it.  His excitement was short lived as he rolled up his pantleg… Seeing where it connected, the scars… the memories.  This is…so different despite having not seen it properly…

Frowning and shoving his pant leg back down, he stood, glancing over the scars on his torso… The stories he could tell… and it truly made him wonder if this was truly a gift… or merely a curse considering how long he had been blind and only seeing aether. Though hearing the sound of an upset child, he instantly burbled, his gaze going to the crib.  My kits… The man was quick to move where he was standing to the crib, his tail swaying erratically as he burbled again and purred.  He hadn’t seen his children since his first batch… and to actually see the pair… the fluffy ears, the soft hints of scales… They were beautiful.

Hearing the pair burble back and coo, gazing up at him, the Keeper was quick to pick them up, holding them contently in his arms and feeling them relax.  “Now, now, little ones… Papa’s probably got your bottles… Uncle is resting so he can’t feed you with him today so you get mama.” Chuckling softly, he’d carefully head downstairs, slowly glancing around to take in the home… His mate’s house.  So, this is what it looks like…

Reading aether was so much different, difficult… but it seemed to be so much more difficult to actually see, considering how long he’d been without his sight.  Smiling and seeing the Namazu, watching them clean and listen to their squeaking feet, his gaze found the long tail… and he just paused as his gaze trailed upwards. “Oh…”

“Hm?” Out came the soft hum of the Half-blood, his eyes focused on the bottles in his hands as he could hear the soft burbles of his sons. “[You’re up early, Saran.]” The natural Xaelic slipped from his lips as he turned with both bottles in hand. Korekaze’s eyes noticed the Keeper wearing glasses, an odd change knowing his mate was blind. Though the blue rim did make Utai appear cute, a soft purr as he smiles at his mate and twins.

“[Never seen you in spectacles before… Just trying something on for a change?]” He approached the small family, his red haori gently brushed by his movements to show the form. His height was definitely noticeable by the Keeper, those lips slight gaping at the closeness. This warranted a confused expression from the Au Ra, his hands still focused on taking hold of one of their boys. “[Is… Something amiss of my person, love?]”

The catte was unable to pull his eyes from his mate, listening to the other’s words and almost seemingly zoning out as it was clear by Korekaze’s last words.  Amiss?  Oh no…not at all…  “I…” He knew his mate was tall, the aether signature he was familiar seeing and telling him that, but to physically see it…was certainly something.  Shaking his head, he felt both boys shift in his hold, knowing full well that papa had the goods despite him placing them down to grab at one of the twins.  “I need them or… or everything is blurry, Naran.” His own thoughts were a jumbled, rushed mess as he purred loudly, his natural response with how close his mate was. I’m…engaged to this…this is mine…father of these two…

As he handed off Taize, he knew his mate was no doubt confused, but his now free hand would brush over Korekaze’s bare middle, along the scars he knew without his sight…reaching to brush the scales he knew by the explanation his mate had given him.  There were tears welling up in his eyes as he purred – a mix between being immensely overwhelmed and happiness to see his family. “You’re so handsome…”  The two-toned eyes…his long hair…his two-toned scales…

“[Ah… Wh-]”

Korekaze took hold of Taize firmly, the hungry little ball of fluff and scales taking hold of his bottle to drink. Giving the other bottle to Oktai, the larger twin immediately began to feed himself as his short tail sways. The tall Auri was indeed confused at the answer he was given, but before he could respond, the touch to his abdomen made him purr softly. A slight shiver down his spine as he gave a low exhale, his cheeks showing a rosy hue. Gazing down he noticed Utai beginning to tear up, a slight panic as he knelt down with Taize in a firm hold. Oktai was burbling and purring, sensing the tears from his mother as he nudged. “[Saran… Don’t cry, I’m here…]” He gave a smile as he pulled the Keeper into a hug while the twins coo and burble. “[We’re here.]” Korekaze had yet been able to process that his mate could see him, very much used to him being blind. He pressed his nose against Utai’s, smiling and staring into the mismatched eyes behind those glasses. Those eyes he would say had stars in them flickering each time. A low chuckle parts from him as their children purred while feeding in their respective arms. “[And you’re beautiful as ever…]”

Utai listened and felt Oktai shift and burble as he sensed his tears, the change in his mother’s mood and instantly tried to comfort as he suckled on his bottle.  Even with Korekaze kneeling down with Taize, feeling and seeing the nuzzle from the other.  Though the Keeper was clearly noting that his mate was…well…missing the point of things, he wasn’t even upset as he listened to his children purr and Korekaze chuckle and speak.  “Naran…please…”  Naturally, his cheeks turned pink even with his own anxiety getting him, but even he kissed his son’s cheek before a heavy sigh escaped as he shifted and pressed his forehead to Korekaze’s. “[I can see you, Naran.  The change in your scales…the length of your hair…my mark.]” When Utai slipped in Xaelic to match his mate, it usually meant that he meant business.  He was determined to have Korekaze understand that he could legitimately see, especially since it was easy to know the length, where his scales were when he was blind – that was too hard to prove that he wasn’t blind…but to see the mark. Sure, Utai knew of the aetheric signature, it was his, but to actually see the design.  His fingers brushed over his mate’s neck where he had originally marked the taller male, brushing his fingers along the runes that he had learned properly marked the other as his – the tradition he was allowed to partake in even though he was an outsider.  He was the rare exception…and he had worked so hard.  There was a smile as he brushed over the small flower design…the additional symbol that seemed to follow the catte due to how many flowers he truly wore. “[Please…do you understand now?]”

Korekaze’s eyes changed from normal to wide, his smile becoming one of awe. “[You…can see…me?]” His voice was a near whisper as he stared at his mate in wonder – his scales, the hair, but as soon he mentioned the mark, he was in disbelief. The painted markings that were embedded by his mother to his right side at the start of the shoulder, the true brand by his tribe. As the Keeper’s finger traced along the design, his gaze narrows to see that digit mark every single line perfectly. “[Oh…Azim…]” He spoke, smiling and gazing back to his lover, quickly leaning into a kiss as the twins burble once more. He could scarcely believe the gift he was given, but to see that connection did he truly find himself joyful of the occasion. But to how the Keeper was able to see…he had a guess. Pulling back, he chuckles with a grin as he finally realized it all. “[My moon can see me…you can see us…our little ones…]” Korekaze almost sounded as if he could cry as well, knowing when he proposed to Utai he wished he could see the things that those eyes could not. His wish to have him see their family and much more even though it would be temporary.

“[I better thank him later for this…]”

Utai was purring loudly as his mate finally realized that he indeed could see him, nodding in reassurance that he could indeed see him, his two sons…even himself – how much of a wreck he had become with scars and his additional handicap outside of his normal loss of sight…but that didn’t matter, especially as he heard Korekaze’s words to thank Xavier later once pulling from the kiss.  “It won’t…last for too long…twenty-four bells at most, Naran…some today and some at a later date according to Xavier…”  The Dark Knight had been somewhat loose with his description…though Utai assumed he was being kind considering staying up for twenty-four bells straight was a bit…well, tiring. “But that is…more than enough time…even two bells would be enough…”  His voice was soft as he again leaned to nudge against his mate, chuckling softly as his glasses tilted with his nudge – something he very much wasn’t used to as his vision blurred briefly before he leaned back to adjust them correctly. Hearing Oktai squeal happily, squirming as he had finished his bottle, the catte removed the bottle and nuzzled against his son in his arms.  “Look at how cute you and your brother are…if I didn’t know you by weight and size, I’d get you two mixed up being able to see.”  His ability to sense aether was skewed, though not entirely impossible to manage, but he knew it’d be difficult to manage both with what little experience he had with his sight.  Of course, with him leaning down, Oktai was quick to latch onto the blue frames and remove them from the Keeper, causing him to blink and squint before gently grabbing the glasses.  “Ah ah…mama needs those…or mama can’t see.” Placing his glasses back on his face, he hummed softly as he caught glimpse of the ring adorning his finger…the gift and proposal coming to mind as he looked at it…able to see it instead of the amount of aether his mate had poured into it with crafting the band.  “This is beautiful, Naran…”

“They both look very much like their father… But have the habits of their mother.” He muses as their twins were squealing and cooing. He takes the bottles from their sons and place them down on the ground to focus on later. Korekaze grins watching his mate happily reacting with their sons, Oktai quick to grab those spectacles. His eyes continued to watch in his own joy, seeing every glance and interaction with their children. Chuckling, Korekaze gently wiggles his tail in front of Oktai to have him play. Though once those eyes fell onto the ring, the Au Ra smiles genuinely. His left hand which showed the ring he bears from his lover reach to touch at the silver band. This action allowing Utai to see their bonds as his thumb brushed along the silver filigree and engravings. “Our rings… Our bond. Now you can see them too.” A soft sigh parts as he looks to the Keeper, “A bonding that you have gladly accepted.” His hand then interlaced with his mate’s to give a firm squeeze, pressing his forehead to the other as he kept his grin. “Quite an early starlight gift… I’m surprised he’s being very generous.” A small jest but one he can’t help but appreciate that Xavier gave this temporary present to Utai.

Nodding in agreement that the boys very much took after their father in looks outside their fluffy ears and tail, he knew that they were both like him within their habits. Watching as Oktai happily played with his father’s tail, he watched his mate’s hand move to his, brushing over the ring to see the gold one he had made for him…one of which he never thought he’d end up giving to the larger Au Ra…not bad for a blind man.  “A bonding I’d gladly accept be I able to see or blind how I truly am.”  He knew this wasn’t permanent, it was lingering in the front of his mind even with the gentle press distracting him as he returned the gentle squeeze. “He’s…changing, Naran.  It’s slow…but it’s apparent even if he tries to hide it.” Smiling, he knew Xavier was early…the reasoning he thought of rather sound.  “He…heard me panicking when I woke up…thinking something had happened. I guess it’s because he didn’t want me panicking…or perhaps testing how much energy it expends…”  He did notice the tiredness in Xavier’s voice…perhaps an aftereffect for giving the Keeper his sight.  “I’m not sure if he’ll be present the next twelve bells…or even within the time I have left…” His tail curled behind him as he nuzzled against his mate, watching his boys wriggle and play with their father’s tail. Of course, out of pure curiosity, with Korekaze at his level, he nipped at his horn, burbling softly…and ending up getting the twins to burble back as they still played.  However, he was merely testing and wanting to see the reaction – sure, he knew what it did, knew the aether shift well...but to see it…

“No matter if you can see or not, I am glad to have you as my future.” It was an agreement as Korekaze nodded, he indeed was changing…either from having to deal with him daily, or the obvious truth was that his eldest daughter had Xavier’s interests very high. It did not matter to the half-blood, he was thankful for what the Xaela decided to bestow for a time. “Well I could understand why you would panic, something unbelievable happened after all.” Though at the mention of not being present for the time, he did have some concern. Hopefully he would be present for his daughter’s nameday, would be the best thing he should do since he was that engrossed with her time. However, the thought would not linger nor would it show in his expression, he still was smiling for his mate as his tail curled. Though once Utai leans close to suddenly nip at his horn did his gaze narrow. A low purr vibrates in his throat as he kept his gaze focused on the Keeper, those mismatched eyes watching him closely.

“[Attempting to rile me, Saran?]”

Utai purred as he heard his mate’s pick up, noticing his gaze narrowing…and Utai’s tail actually thumped on the ground.  Oh, Halone what a reaction…

Giving another nip to Korekaze’s horn, he stepped away, playfully baffing the half-breed with his tail and rocking his son as he headed for the stairs.  “[I want to see your passion, Naran.  Come.]  With his mate catching the hint, Korekaze chuckles lowly as he quickly placed the bottles on the counter for the Namazu to take care of. With a quick nod, he carries Taize close to him as he followed the Keeper back to their bedroom. Of course, they’d have to do a little work with getting the boys down for a small nap since Xavier wasn’t able to watch them… But it’d be well worth it.

“[You will see, my love…]”

[thelibraryarcana]

Prompt #1 – Specter

spektər/ noun - A ghost, or Something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.

 “How does one kill fear, I wonder? How do you shoot a specter through the heart, slash of its spectral head, take it by its spectral throat?”

~ Joseph Conrad

 1.

A small child balanced on the edge of the abyss, little hands clinging to the burnt-out remnants of an old wagon as the little catte stands in the middle of a great forest, wailing wordlessly.  She is alone, utterly and completely, the husks of those who had once been her parents lying in the moss and grass nearby.  Her soft gold ears and hair are full of matted dirt and blood, her clothes caked with mud.  Waking beneath one of the silent figures, she’d scrambled free and sat in the mossy alcove beneath the trees and pushed with tiny hands, called names that would no longer reply …. Husks have no words.  

Around her, the forest answers, the spirits stirring and settling, the leaves above her head shimmering under the moonlight.  Her eyes close and she slumps against one of the wagon’s tall wheels, exhausted - eventually, sleeping.

“What is your name?” The elezen asked, big hands setting her straight on her feet, brushing at her filthy clothes.   The child stared at him with hollow eyes and he picked her up in his arms, holding her close.  His leathers creaked and the yellow and gold crest on his chest gleamed in the early morning light.  “No matter. No matter.”

 2.

The young man has been stalking the edges of the library for an hour, temper sometimes flaring until he curses beneath his breath, imprecations flying against his mother, against his aunts, against the custom that has kept him bound for all his life. Dark hair flies as he turns and paces, turns and paces, his black tail cutting the air behind him in agitated slashes – unaware of the bright green eyes watching him over the top of a large book, red-gold ears perked in his direction.  Eventually, he calms and throws himself into a chair, sprawling against the cushions and growling to himself.  It’s only then that he notices the silent kitten sitting in the corner, half hidden in a pile of books.

“Spying, are you?”

She shakes her head, solemn-eyed.  He snorts and looks away, fingers tapping against the arm of his chair.

“Well.  Which one are you?  I don’t remember hair that color in this house.”

“I don’t belong here,” the voice that replies is calmer than a kit’s should be.  

He frowns, leaning forward. “Well, wherever you belong, that still isn’t a name.”

“Melori – I’m fostered here,” she answers, tucking her feet underneath the hem of her robe, still watching him with wide eyes.  “You haven’t told me yours, either.”  This last is added with an aggrieved edge to it and he laughs.

“Llyr’a,” he answers, his expression easing, the smile becoming true.  “And if you’re one of the fosters, doesn’t that make you my little sister?”

 3.

The floor beneath her bare feet gleams with a high gloss, the tiles polished and rich.  It isn’t cold, not in the desert, but there are so many eyes on her now, and she shivers, clutching her hands together, ducking her head.  Around her the voices hum and someone pushes her, prods her, turns her this way and that. Words like, “healer” and “mage” and “well behaved” filter through the mass of voices.  All she can hear are the whispers beneath, the way the earth burns and the wind sings around the high stone eaves of the grand palace where she now stands.   There is a sound of metal – of gil as it clinks and pours, and her arm is grabbed and she is taken out of the room and into another.

Cool eyes the color of jade flick over her person.  Somehow, when he moves, she finds herself forced to look at him, to turn as he circles, stopping only when someone jerks at the binding around her waist, but her head turns with him and when he draws closer, she shrinks away.  His eyes crinkle at the edges when he smiles, but she is not fooled.  No … she can feel the darkness behind him, the shadows that creep along in his wake.  His hand stretches to touch her hair …

 4.

Melori starts out of bed, one of her hands clasped across her mouth, the other clawed into the coverlet as she tries to remember how to breathe, how to scream.  No sound but a low whimper escapes and she curls into a ball under the coverlet.  “It’s all a dream,” she whispers, “All a dream.  All a dream.”

“Mel?”  The curtains draw back and a warm hand touches her shoulder.  The bed sags and she is gathered into strong arms.  “It’s all right.  I promise. I’ll make it better.”

“Llyr’a,” she murmurs, eyes drifting closed as he begins to hum softly, sweetly - his hand rubbing circles on her back, soothing and warm.  

“No more ghosts,” he promises.

[my-house-of-fashion]

Don’t forget the west: mid-century modern and David Foulkes Taylor

https://images.theconversation.com/files/56965/original/w6tfnyjg-1408581081.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip

Why has David Foulkes Taylor again been left out of the history of mid-century Australian design? Ted Snell

In 1982, I wrote an introduction to a survey exhibition of the work of Western Australian furniture designer David Foulkes Taylor lamenting that so little attention had “… been directed towards the recording of art and culture in Western Australia” – despite an upsurge in publications on Australian art history. The exhibition and catalogue documenting Foulkes Taylor’s contribution was an attempt to redress that oversight.

David Foulkes Taylor in 1965.

Sadly that effort seems to have failed. Kirsty Grant, the curator of the current Mid-Century Modern: Australian furniture design exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), has omitted any reference to Foulkes Taylor’s work. His contribution to creating an appetite for modern design in Western Australia does not rate a mention. The exhibition and its substantial catalogue present a comprehensive survey of modern furniture design in Sydney and Melbourne from the second world war till the 1970s – but it is disappointing that such a misleading tagline was appended.

In a truly national survey you would expect to see some coverage of David Foulkes Taylor. The NGV publication makes no mention of any activity past the 129th meridian east longitude. The curator does note that her survey is “selective in its focus and with an emphasis on activities in Melbourne and Sydney”. Still, it’s hard to reconcile how emphasis can condone an omission on this scale.

It would have been more accurate to borrow from the show’s predecessor at the Queensland Art Gallery last year, California Design 1930–1965: Living in a Modern Way, and abandon the aspiration to present a nation-wide survey.

To set the record straight, Foulkes Taylor not only designed some important examples of modern furniture, but he also encouraged local manufacturers Charles and Roy Catt to build mass-produced jarrah furniture that had a lasting presence in the local market.

Influenced as a student at the Central School of Art in London by the light and delicate lines of Italian designers like Gio Ponti, on his return to Perth he modified his response to suit the available conditions. He had a passion for the native jarrah timber. Hard but brittle, the wood required a more robust treatment. Foulkes Taylor’s work presented a more sculptural form while concurrently highlighting the richness of the colour and grain.

David Foulkes Tayor’s Poona chair. Ted Snell

Commissions for University House at the University of Western Australia and private clients followed. His inventiveness led him to explore other materials such as tubular steel and to respond inventively to external influences.

This experimental approach led to his adaption of a British army demountable chair, which he called the Poona. His canvas, leather and jarrah chair came in kit form and was described in The Age on October 12 1959 as “…resurrected and revamped by the brilliant Perth designer David Foulkes Taylor and is sold (£15) by Andersons in Chapel Street”.

In the 1950s he almost single-handedly created an appetite for modern design in Perth by importing work by international designers such as Marimekko, Arabia, Alvo Alto and Marcel Breuer and showing local artists and designers in his home and later in a purpose-built modernist showroom. This was designed by Julius Elischer and opened in 1965.

Showroom designed by Julius Elischer. Ted Snell

While a student at Geelong Grammar, Foulkes Taylor’s art teacher had been Ludwig Hirschfeld Mack, who taught a curriculum based on his experience as a student at the Bauhaus and later teacher at the University of Craft and Architecture in Weimar. That early introduction to modernist design and the principle of economy of form inspired him throughout his life. In his showroom he combined the best in Scandinavian and Japanese design with his own furniture, creating a magnet for those attracted to the rising tide of internationalism that was sweeping Perth into the 20th century.

The former country town was shedding its husk and taking on the role of international city. Perth was in the spotlight. With the modernist Council House designed by Jeffrey Howlett and [Don Bailey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Bailey_(architect) rising up from St Georges Terrace, Howard Taylor’s murals in the newly completed Passenger Terminal in Fremantle and new modernist buildings completed to house Commonwealth Games athletes, it was necessary for the citizens of this revived city to look modern too; to buy new furniture, lamps and fabrics and art by local artists.

The place to buy was David Foulkes Taylor’s white showroom on Broadway, and many did.

Foulkes Taylor’s tragic death in a car accident in 1966 ended the contribution of this inspired designer and impassioned advocate for modern design. It is unfortunate his contribution is not acknowledged alongside Grant Featherstone, Clement Meadmore, Wolfgang Sievers, Fred Ward and the other great Australian designers listed in Mid-Century Modern.

Ted Snell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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from http://www.houseoffashion.co.za/dont-forget-the-west-mid-century-modern-and-david-foulkes-taylor/

[rachelirwinmusic-blog]

Visual Musicianship Evaluation

Before I began thinking about the assessment I had recently started a band consisting of myself (vocals), Toby Catt (guitarist), Guy Daws (guitarist) and Kyle Perkins (drummer). We hadn’t planned to do any work together this year because we knew we would all be too busy to focus on the band but when I saw the assessment I knew I didn’t want to be in a music video by myself. I told the band that I wanted to use them in my music video and they were all happy to help me. Over Easter I wrote a song for us to use and when I got back to uni we all met up to make it into a full track. At first we all hated the song because we made it into something we didn’t like, so we scrapped it and decided to redo the whole song. Eventually we got the whole song finished and I started thinking about what to do for the video. I think actually creating a song we were all happy with was the hardest part of the whole project.

My original plan was just to film the four of us in my garage like a sort of ‘band rehearsal’ but I thought that would lead to be a bit of a boring video. We then also discovered that the garage was too small to fit the four of us in at the same time so we filmed each other individually instead. I wasn’t too concerned about the change in plan because the garage was still an effective place to film. While recording the track I thought it would be a good idea to film each of us while we were recording the song. Kyle had to record in the rehearsal rooms because there was a drum kit set up and it was the easiest way to record him. We set up microphones around the drum kit and then placed a stand in front of Kyle. We filmed him using my iPhone and then I looked back at the footage where I realised the footage actually looked really good. I decided to do the same with Guy, Toby and myself. We recorded Guy’s part of the next day which was difficult because we had to arrange the drum recording to fit the song. Guy also recorded his part in the rehearsal him because the track was already saved on the rooms computer. It would’ve been a lot easier to finish the song if we had all recorded on the same day but with limited time we had to make do.

With the instrumental parts of the song recorded, I decided to take what was done with me to Manchester to see if I could get any footage while I was there. Since I was going to a concert in Manchester, I had an idea to use a green screen to put what I filmed at the concert behind the different band members while they performed the song. Unfortunately, the lighting in the footage was very difficult to work with and so I scrapped that idea. I was disappointed that the footage didn’t work because I thought the lighting from the show would make some good effects. When I came home me and Toby went straight to uni to record the vocals of the track. We filmed each other doing different takes and there was some useful material for me to use which was mainly the both of us messing with the camera. It was then, after reviewing the footage that I decided to just create a simplistic video that moves between a view of the song being recorded and the song being performed to in the garage. A day or two later I brought one of the university’s cameras and two lights to my house with a dynamic microphone for us to use as a prop. It was very handy that there was a dynamic mic included in the camera we had brought to film. Unfortunately, we were unable to bring a drum kit to my house so we excluded the drum part from the garage filming altogether. This meant that the only footage of Kyle was of him in the rehearsal room. I was a little worried that tis would be inconsistent with the rest of the film considering that the rest of us were seen in two locations in the video.

While I waited for Toby and Guy to arrive I filmed two takes of my own but when I saw how Toby performed in front of the camera I filmed myself again so we our performances on camera were similar. When Toby left I realised that the footage we had filmed was out of focus. That created a time set back which was difficult to work around considering the equipment was only rented out for a short amount of time. Once Toby was filmed and had left the house, Guy arrived late to the shoot which left another delay in filming. At this point I was worried that I wasn’t going to get everything filmed. I feel I should have rented out the cameras for longer and planned around when the boys would arrive for filming. When guy arrived we filmed some standard takes of him playing the guitar but then he started coming up with different things he wanted to do in front of the camera like dancing around to the music. I was sceptical at first but when I watched Guy’s extra takes I actually liked what I saw and decided to do more. Me and guy did some dancing on camera and guy even did a little bit of singing to my part of the song as well. The random things he filmed worked out really well with the upbeat ending of the song. I was worried about the fact that toby hadn’t done any sort of crazy things in front of the camera but I remembered that he had done some silly things in the booth that I used instead.

Overall I think the video came together very well even thought a lot of what went into the film was decided there and then rather than being part of the plan. I really enjoyed making the film but I do wish that I had organised things better such as recording the song and filming the main footage. I was also uncertain with the footage in the vocal booth since the lights in the room made the videos very bright but luckily I managed to use a mix of colour correction and colour grading to make it look a little better.

[thefreelanceangel]

😤 = How would/does your muse handle unruly, difficult or dangerous behavior from their children?

"Same way I was handled. If it's immediately dangerous or potentially lethal, step in and tell the kit what you're doin' and why. Otherwise, well... kits gotta kit, right? Give 'em enough room to run, stuff to climb and explain to 'em why people like things like 'please' and 'thank you,' they'll turn out fine."

{C'allie subscribes to the Kyho method of child-rearing, which is very successful when participated in by 50+ adults all keeping an eye out for the rampaging herd of children that tear through the camp. Fortunately for her, [and her children] the primary caregiver for the Catte House spawn is Targur. And he is a magnificent father, demonstrating all the patience, firmness and kindness that children thrive under.

C'allie and Lulu, well... They're the ones who praise the kits for being devious little pranksters and teach them how to pick locks, climb walls, steal cookies out from under Zale's nose and braid Thrav's tail fur to rug fringe.}

[thefreelanceangel]

How does the polycule present themselves in public? Are they out or do they play things closer to the chest?

Not a single one of them makes any secret about their living situation or their relationships.

C'allie, being married to Lulu, Thrav, Targur and Zale, is exceptionally proud of having finagled Kugane bureaucracy in order to have all of the paperwork official. While she only wears the one ring that Lulu gave her, she flaunts it often. And while she jokingly told Rylen they'd likely marry in a decade or so, C'allie isn't adverse to the idea of adding another husband or wife.

Lulu often talks about her wife--they do rather describe each other's physical appearance in glowing terms--and people are often surprised (and amused) by the fact that Lulu has husbands at all, let alone three.

Zale makes no secret of his marriage, talking about his wives to his bedmates and friends. Nor does he hide the fact that his ex-girlfriend is C'allie's half-sister, or that his baby momma is C'allie's younger sister, C'tyka. He has a couple of very close friends who share his bed on occasion, as well.

Thrav, married to C'allie and Lulu, also has a few mates in the Kyho tribe. As he's settled nicely into the tribal lifestyle, he's learning from C'kyho what it means to be a nunh and how to take care of an extended family properly. He's rather proud of his wedding ring, considering what his life was like before C'allie and Lulu showed up at his table in the Quicksand.

Targur, mostly preoccupied with raising the children, is bashfully happy about his marriage, his wives and the husbands he shares them with. While a large blue Hrothgar with two miqo'te kits gets the occasional strange look, he hardly notices because his present joy is finally healing his past hurt.

All in all, the entire Catte House is definitely out and proud.

[pldonthestreetsrdminthesheets]

Drabble: Stuck in a spell...

(It’s maintenance day and since I promised something cute, have something that takes place like...months to even a year in the future from what’s been going on [if not further in the future, but is very much planned].  SFW, just under the cut to not spam feeds~)

Utai sighed softly as he had escaped his workshop for his own vacation.  It had been some time since his previous adventures and things had considerably settled down.  His kits were healthy and growing, business was steady, but the man was one that never truly left without his work.

You are aware that a ‘vacation’ means no work, yes?  Xavier’s voice rung in the back of his head, dainty hands compared to the larger ones signing another piece of paper.

Another sigh escaped as he set his quill down.  “As much as I agree with that, I have to set things up for my longer time away.  You’re aware of my ‘condition’ as much as you don’t wish to admit to it.”  He heard the huff from the Xaela as he leaned back against the pillows he had moved, contently housing himself in his mate’s yurt for his ‘vacation’.  Smiling and closing his eyes, his tail coiled at his side, a bit slimmer than his usual fluffy blue appendage.

As much as I don’t wish to admit the ‘condition’, it is your body and your choice…and seeing as you expend too much aether holding that form, I’m stuck in the back of your mind until you either use your strange concoction or have enough time to undo your spell. Xavier’s hand went to the bridge of his nose, knowing he was trapped in this ‘darkness’ for at least half a year.

Humming and nodding, his hand settled at his middle, a smile still plastered on his face as his delicate fingers brushed under the light fabric of the chemise he was wearing. “Heh…that’s what I get for getting caught in this form with a breeder as a mate.” A soft giggle escaped, hearing the other half of his soul groan.  “Oh don’t complain, you’ll have more kits to watch over, and we both know you’ve a soft spot for them.”

Xavier huffed as he was intent on refusing to agree to that, but he did at least give a nod.  In time, yes…but until then, they are yours and Korekaze’s responsibility.

“Mm…”  Utai smiled, yawning slightly before the look of panic took over and he moved quickly to grab his bucket, hearing the familiar laugh. “Ugh…”

Congratulations you dumb catte…morning sickness again. Xavier laughed, crossing his arms.  At least your mate can handle you this time.

(Yep, we intend for Utai to get pregnant and have another set of kits!  Though since Utai does use his transformation spell to take on the form of a petite Raen under the name of Lucifer Morningstar [to run his Love Hotel from the top floor of his business], he was found out quite easily!  Though I didn’t swap pronouns and only hinted that he wasn’t a catte, I wanted to kinda leave it up to the imagination.  Usually I swap pronouns, but eh...

Again, this takes place in the future, be it far or closer than one might think - the plot-line is always changing, but consider this an excerpt :D)

[pldonthestreetsrdminthesheets]

Drabble

Savin’ space, it’s SFW.  Slight Stormblood spoilers :D;  Though it’s not like we don’t know it all ready, but just coverin’ my ass XD;

Utai sighed softly, smiling as he glanced into the crib with his two kits sound asleep.  He had been busy the past few days with adventuring, learning all sorts of new things, and to finally have some free time, he managed to make his way back to his apartment where the other half of his soul, Xavier, had been staying behind to watch over the two infants.  Though Xavier was watching the Miqo’te from the chair near the bed, Utai had been far focused on his two sleeping children.

“Is there something wrong, koneko?” Xavier finally spoke, the Ishguardian accent heavy compared to the other Xaela he had met in his travels.  Watching the smaller catte shake his head, he leaned back in the chair, waiting for the other to speak up.  “Then what, pray tell, is on your mind?”

“Perhaps it’s time I find a home again…with another kit on the way…or even kits…a small library is no place to raise them.” Utai purred softly, moving from the crib to maneuver carefully to his bed, slightly out of sight of Xavier.  “And with my traveling…I cannot keep coming back to the library to tend to them, and leaving you here sometimes makes my battles quite difficult even with what I’ve been studying.”

Xavier gave a small nod, knowing the stress the catte was under with keeping him considerably manifested to tend to the kits and adventuring within Othard.  “And why not allow this new mate of yours to tend to these two?  She has a home; your name is also on the papers from what I recall hearing.”

“I will not put my responsibility of my children on her.  You, you are a part of me and have little choice.” Utai growled softly, his ears flattening against his head.  Sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose, he glanced towards the crib.  “You’re the closest thing they have to a father since Hisoka disappeared…they will know when they’re older about him and their brother, about how I was originally female, how my current mate is not their mother…”  Utai frowned before laying back on his bed, his feet hanging off the side of the bed.  “When my next kit is born, then…then will I not worry about them being raised with just us…Asato will make a wonderful mother…and I hope to be a wonderful father.”

“You hope?” Xavier questioned before laughing, though very mindful of his volume to not wake the kits.  “You’re a mother all ready and you’re already acting how Hisoka did when you were pregnant. I’m sure you’re overthinking this, koneko.”

“Perhaps, but that still doesn’t solve my current issue - a home.”  Utai smiled softly, his hand going to his face in considerable embarrassment.

Xavier gave a small nod, though he shrugged remembering their last visit to Kugane.  “Your travels tend to take you constantly to Kugane. Why not find a house in Shirogane? Fit for you, your kits…what could go wrong?”

Humming softly at the thought, he let his eyes slipped close.  “Perhaps…”  He repeated, his tail twitching idly before it stilled. 

The silence was unnerving…mere moments before Xavier shifted in his seat to notice the Miqo’te no longer sitting up.  “Utai?” Moving from the chair silently, he saw the catte sound asleep, clearly exhausted from his travels.  “To Shirogane…”