#Diamond Contessa

[dominimoonbeam]

To The Edge - 19

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

story tags: scifi romance, hijinks in space, rogues learning to trust, violence, blood, guns, death, explicit language, so much kidnapping,

Works organized and easily found over on the patreon. <3

TO THE EDGE - CHAPTER 19.

Stardust removed the small metal hatch low on the wall of their room to expose a diagnostic panel. They’d found it weeks ago after moving a crate of protein sodas and used the direct connection to get back into the ship’s control system. Just because they weren’t piloting anymore, didn’t mean they were going to stay locked out. What if there was an emergency? What if they decided to stab Cosmic in the back?

Their heart hurt and they absently rubbed the spot on their chest. They wouldn’t betray Cosmic…but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to die on this journey. And for what? For the promise of treasure? For them?

Stardust mumbled a curse and pulled the panel loose. They’d had to rewire it when they changed its purpose from a general access point to a primary control hub for the ship. If they really wanted to, they could steal piloting controls from here. It would be stupid though, since he could easily take it back from the deck if he realized. He’d put extra security measures in place to keep anyone from locking him out again.

Stardust linked their optic implant to the ship and holographics of the systems popped up in their sight. They ignored those and pulled up their own call log. A hundred unread messages blinked and at dozen video messages waited.

It took some work to amplify the signal and bounce it across a few stations and planets, but Stardust got a call through to Cornelius Contessa Ignacio Li from their room on Cosmic’s ship.

They needed to talk to someone.

Things were getting out of hand past the edge and it had almost nothing to do with their perilous journey or the map printed on Stardust’s back.

They had run away from Cosmic when he flirted with them. Who did that? Not Stardust Solinoh Fairvell! Not until today…

When Cor answered, the image glitched a few times before focusing. They could tell that it took a little longer for the connection to stabilize and deliver their image back to him, because he wore that perfect mask of annoyance when he answered the unknown caller. For those seconds, he had his head cocked back and to the side, cheek high and daylight stretching the dark shadows of his lashes. The pale opal light of his optic implants glinted.

He looked fearsome���and then his image connected and he saw Stardust. The relief and delight bloomed across his features in a sly grin, his shoulders easing back and his head perking up. “Oh good, you’re still alive!”

Stardust spreading their arms as proof. “So far so good!”

Something on Cor’s side of the call took his attention away for a moment, his implant doing a good job of muffling background sounds, but they saw the shudder of the wall and noticed the broken glass across the floor. Light poured into the room around him in a way that made them think he was on a planet or moon—unfiltered.

“What’s going on?”

Cor’s focus returned to them and he waved a hand as if to dismiss the question. “How are you?”

“Shut up. Where are you? What happened?” Now that they thought about it, Cornelius Contessa was barely even wearing any jewels—just the one choker of diamonds. It was a five-centimeter-wide choker, but still…

“I’m on Lu-Pan, darling. I told you, it’s the place to hold up. Turns out all this ocean is great for warfare.”

“What are you talking about?”

Cor stared at them, through a lens that connected them instantly across so much space.

Was he really deciding whether or not to tell them? Since when did they keep secrets?

“One of your cousins tried to have me snatched from a club a few days ago so I moved the party to Lu-Pan… It’s more defensible.”

Stardust was glad they were already sitting, ass on the floor and legs crossed. “Why…” they trailed but they knew the answer. It was either because they thought Cor would be able to tell them something about the map on Stardust’s back or because if they put a gun to his head, Stardust would surrender…and they would. They would put their hands up and give up the whole game.

Cor laughed, the sound somehow full of sympathy. “Come on. Don’t look like that. It’s not a surprise. It’s flattering really. Do you know what this will do for my reputation? First a Solinoh sends a party of goons and turns one of the hottest clubs in the prime into a shooting gallery. You should have seen it. Who knew so many of us were packing? It turned into an absolute bloodbath and the music never stopped. It was in all the tabloids. A bunch of them are speculating that it was a gimmick. I guess we broke a record for the expense just to put everyone back together afterward. I heard a medpod broke under the strain.”

“That can’t be true,” Stardust countered automatically, still absorbing the information. But legit medpods were basically indestructible, designed for long travel in space by the primers afraid of what could happen to them out there in the unknown. The Solinoh’s had the company with exclusive rights to producing the particular cocktail of energy and protein that charged the miraculous machines. It was a great scorn to the family that they hadn’t gotten their hands on the medpods before production and distribution to install the planned obsolescence that would have made them even wealthier.

“So I escaped to Lu-Pan but the shit actually followed me,” Cor continued, grinning and clearly not upset about the fact in the least. “Did you know I have a rail gun on my island?”

Stardust did not, but they also weren’t surprised. Lu-Pan was a massive ocean planet known for mining stations and luxury islands. The islands were all synthetic and had become the go-to escape for all primers as well as the setting for a dozen soap operas.

“I really wish you’d been here. When they realized they couldn’t sneak onto my island they tried to show up with jets and just shoot the shit out of it. I’m going to have to have the whole thing remodeled!” he said, delighted. “And then—” Cor cut himself off.

Stardust stared. “What?”

He bit his lip, trying not to smile but it was far too late to contain it. “I might have captured your cousin…”

“What do you mean might have? And which cousin?” It mattered. It definitely mattered. Capturing any Solinoh was dangerous but some were more vengeful than others.

His grin escaped his teeth. “I mean that I’ve got Vida Solinoh locked in a room downstairs.” He enjoyed the sentence too much. “It’s not my fault. They attacked me. I even retreated to Lu-Pan. Vida brought the fight to my doorstep.” Cor defended and he was right. By all primer rules, Vida was the aggressor and if Cor really had them captured, was fairly taken. The Solinohs couldn’t call it an act of war…but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t treat it like one. “I might not have downed that jet if I’d realized they were piloting it themself. It’s a good thing they’re so recognizable or I might have had them shot in the water when they swam to the surface.”

Stardust gawked. Why was Vida getting involved? Did they want the prize for themself or had someone else in the family enlisted their aid? Was it Genesis? “What are you going to do?” they asked, still reeling.

Cor shrugged. “Breakfast is being set up. I suppose I’ll bring your cousin up for the meal. No reason not to be civil.”

Stardust nodding absently. Prime families had a long history of kidnapping one another. Some stayed kidnapped for cycles until a family dispute or corporate siege could be settled. After the initial abduction, it was generally a pleasant affair… Assuming all went well with negotiations. It did sometimes result in a bullet to the brain for at least one party involved.

Stardust had discovered that kidnapping was a much different experience outside the prime.

“You should have heard my mother. I don’t think she’s ever been this interested in me. She’s talking about marriage negotiations.”

“To Vida?”

Cor shrugged noncommittally and Stardust realized there was a very real chance he hadn’t bothered to ask. A Solinoh was a Solinoh, after all.

Stardust laughed, finally joining him in the madness of the situation. “Cornelius Contessa Ignacio Li Solinoh?”

“It has a ring, doesn’t it?”

It did. But it wasn’t likely to happen. Primers loved a wedding and most had a handful of spouses carefully linking all the most powerful and dangerous families in the known universe into alliances. Most, but not the Solinohs.

There had been a time, centuries ago, when things had been different and the Solinohs had been climbing that social ladder just like everyone else. Since the old days of earth, the Solinohs had been trying to build their numbers and keep that legacy alive. They’d had wealth and power, but they’d always been dirty in a way that the primers sneered at, making it hard to get into marriages with them—to tie their family into that network.

Stardust thought they understood, because once a person took the Solinoh name, there was no escape. Their own great great grandfather had been proof of that. Massimo had tried to leave Galileo. He had left… but he had never escaped. Galileo let him go, paid him an allowance, and pretended he was free. But he was still a Solinoh even when he dropped the name and his daughter—Galileo’s daughter—made him irrevocably a part of that crime family, for better and worse.

Stardust had seen the old records of relatives and marveled at how the numbers dropped off three hundred years ago. They’d been a hundred strong, and then they’d been a handful.

The reckoning of Galileo.

The reshaping of the family.

The primers had thought they would at last witness the fall of Solinoh when that new Galileo rose to power, climbing the bodies of her bloodline to the top. They had been wrong. Theodosia Solinoh had gone from an ensign of her family, a youth generations below the crown, almost lost in the numbers of her cousins—to the Galileo. And she had culled every member that did not kneel, leaving just that handful by the end.

And that handful had been hungry. In the next hundred cycles she was behind four wars, political and corporate, and the family was there to profit off every turn.

Solinohs had monster in their blood.

Stardust’s gaze strayed to their arms in their lap and the veins under their skin.

Monster.

“Are you okay?”

Stardust wondered if Galileo had thought she was different from her family when she decided to topple them. What if they were all trapped by that blood? Bound to be who they were born to be, one way or the other? A monster in the prime or a monster out here in the dark where only one person would pay for all their sins?

“Hey,” Cor said, loud enough to snap them back to attention.

Stardust blinked at the image of their friend and smiled. “Yeah. I’m here. If you’re going to have Vida at your table, remember to keep some guards around. They’ll try to make a run for it.”

Cornelius curled a lip in disgust.

“I know. But they’ve never been abducted. They’ll want to get away on their own before someone comes to collect them, especially since it’ll probably be Fatima.”

Cor’s mouth twitched into a smile again. “Do you think it will be?”

Stardust exhaled a laugh but it felt strained. They were trying to stay in this conversation and this moment—and not think about how they might be getting Cosmic killed out here. Was it too late to cut and run? Was there any chance Genesis wouldn’t run the bounty hunter down even without Stardust onboard?

“Why did you call?”

“Hm?”

“You didn’t call to hear about my triumphant battle with your cousin. What’s going on? Have you found the end?”

The end. The end of the map. The treasure.

Stardust shook their head. “Just checking in. Still on my way.”

Cor studied them and then nodded once. “Okay. Anything else going on?”

Stardust shrugged. “No.”

With a laugh he said, “Right. I believe that.”

Stardust rubbed the back of their neck and cut a glance around the narrow little room with one cot and a bunch of boxes. “I should have taken a ship when we were at that last station and gone the rest of the way on my own.”

“You can’t read the map without another person.”

“I could figure it out.”

“What is this about?”

They scrubbed their face and shook their head. “Nothing. Just getting nervous I guess.”

“About Genesis? You should be.” He laughed, like all that danger was a fun game they played. And it was. That club in the prime had turned into a blood bath and before they were even done putting everyone back together, it was hailed as a fun time. Stardust knew that if they had been there, before all of this, they would have felt just as casual about it as Cornelius did. “If you have to, you could use that pretty bounty hunter for a decoy. It might buy you enough time to get away if Genesis corners you,” he suggested.

Stardust rubbed their heart again. They couldn’t even pretend they hadn’t thought about it already.

Monster.

“You’d make a good Solinoh,” they said with a smile.

He touched his chest as the flattery struck and then they ended the call.

There had been a time when that would have been an insult, just as there had been a time when primers would have turned up their noses at a marriage with a Solinoh. But Solinohs did not marry to climb that social ladder anymore. In fact, they didn’t marry often at all. A few had secret spouses, hidden away so that not even the family would know who they were, but nothing ever stayed secret forever.

Stardust closed their eyes and there, in the dark, they still saw the holographic reminder to check their messages.

Breath trembling past their lips, they opened their eyes and pulled one up—the last one of four sent by Genesis over the last few weeks.

Artificial light made him glow, his dark hair in long curtains and his red lips parted in disapproval. His head tipped to the side, tattoos peeking up from the collar of his shirt to fan up the back of his neck. For the first time in a long time, Stardust was reminded that this man was the son of Galileo. He looked so much like her that just the sight of him sent a jolt of terror right down to Stardust’s soul.

His voice was quiet, because his anger did not require a raised voice. “If you surrender, I’ll let them live.”

They held their breath.

“If you don’t—If you put your hands on the—” he bit off the words and they wondered if he was going to say treasure too or if was just thinking better of admitting to knowing what they were all after. His cold, dark eyes met the camera and pierced through it to Stardust when he said, “I will kill them all, cousin. I will hunt down and see to the end of your pathetic fucking parents. I will make sure every friend of yours burns. And, so help me, I will break that bounty hunter you have chauffeuring you around the edge. You’ll see it all and beg me to end you too.”

[film-classics]

Movie: The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

Movie star Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner) arrives at her movie's premiere with a Sorelle Fontana strapless green evening gown, white fur, and a matching simulated diamond and emerald drop necklace set in a sterling silver-plated ornate design created by Hobé et Cie.

Since Ava modelled for advertisements for the company, costume jewelry house Hobé et Cie provided jewelry for the film under the guidance of William Hobé, the son of French fine jeweler, Jacques Hobé.

Unfortunately, many of the vintage costume jewelry that Hobé et Cie created for Hollywood films have been lost through the years.

[never-bland-in-wonderland]

List of names(No OCs involved): Mathilda Lugo Minaya Alistair Lugo Minaya Adaire Rabbit(White Rabbit) Osmin Cabrera Orellana(Doorknob) William Dodo(Dodo) Tweedle Dum Chapman Tweedle Dee Chapman Bill Lizard Rose Redd Iris Ghoshal Daisy Asano Espinoza Idris Caterpillar(Caterpillar) Paz Palomino(Bird in the tree) Cheshire Gines Flores(Cheshire Cat) Souta Hatter(Mad Hatter) Kasem Hare(March Hare) Queen Mirana Contessa Basilio of Hearts(Queen of Hearts) King Camilo Jardinez Amaral of Hearts(King of Hearts) Mary Ann Dilag Duchess Ceciliane Escobar Bravo(The Duchess) Sir Edward Gooden Queen Ramira Contessa Basilio of Spades(Queen of Spades) Queen Adoncia Basilio Montalván of Diamonds(Queen of Diamonds) Queen Lola Basilio Montalván of Clubs(Queen of Clubs) Katz Gines Flores Alice Lugo Gines Books Ferguson "Fergie" Rabbit Hattie Hatter Princess Rosa Contessa Acosta of Hearts Queen Valentina Corazon Contessa Cariño of Hearts Cookie Books King Euxenio Contessa Jardinez of Hearts Queen Flora Maria Cariño Amoros of Hearts Orlah Rabbit(Mama Rabbit) Stew Green Maeve Rabbit(Older sister rabbit) Dominick Rabbit(Older brother rabbit) Teddy Rabbit(Green rabbit twin) Maisy Rabbit(Pink rabbit twin) Mother Rose Redd Jay Caterpillar Jojo Dodo Captain Charles Dodo Mako Hatter(Dad Hatter) Harry Hare Kiki Caterpillar Iris Ghoshal Daisy Asano Quipes Dandy Lee Thistle Cardoso Oliver Onion Dill Dafodil Daff Dafodil Tweedle Do Chapman Tweedle Don't Chapman Saeed Parvaneh Ravan Parvaneh Ribitton Frog The Silver Queen Sylvia Osei of Looking-Glass Land Kyra Knight Milly Carpenter Wally Walrus Sakura Shinkawa Jacques Tortelle

[seerkin]

Dearest Gentle Readers, It seems we have a rather special announcement. Whilst your attention was focused on the Bridgerton family last season, a new debutante, the daughter of the late Contessa Louise Martin and Conte Damon Salvatore has arrived at the Ton.

Antoinette Alexandra Louise Salvatore is making her debut to the Queen, I wonder if she will be like her late mother and be this season's diamond? I do admit, she is quite the beauty, and she may find herself with several potential suitors for her hand in marriage.

Be assured, I will have my pen ready to report on this matter soon. Your Truly, Lisa, the Lovely Mun Lady Whistledown

[thatrandomartistjaviarts]

Your opinion, how would the great -grandchildren from "Alice's Wonderland Bakery" react . well, or how will they react to the queen of spades and his husband?

If you’re referring to the original Queen of Spades from Wonderland the comic then probably not anything.

Like her fellow Queen, she’s been long dead so I don’t think they would have many thoughts on her as they never interacted with her or her husband.

I do have a version of the Queen of Spades for AWB, and she’s more like a chill auntie and not really strict and cold like her grandma. Like she is still very orderly but overall she’s still polite and gentle especially with kids.

Rosa obviously likes her and so does Ms Spades with Rosa. The Contessa family are very tight knit in my opinion. She’s a little bit more stern than her other aunts but it’s never in a mean way and is with good intention as she wants Rosa to become the Queen she knows she can be.

Hattie thinks she’s kinda lame but still respects her. Alice doesn’t have much of an opinion other than initial starstruck. I think she would like Diamonds more. And Fergie massively respects Spades as he’s also very orderly and likes to follow rules to the T

But yeah that’s all I got

[aaxolotgilyrlyaybisuvl]

Triggers/ foreword: loud, most ethnic, language, partial nudity, Video lyrics

N-dubz {papa, wouldn’t you, better not waste my time}, Ayumi Hamasaki {real me, surreal, appears, fairyland, bluebird, ourselves, microphone, november, [moon returns], sending meil, like a doll, lelio, rainbow, rule, my name’s women, is this love? Song 4 u, ladies’ night, about you, nextlevel, dearest, game, mirrorcle world, heaven, inspire, do it again, I dreamed a dream, step you, bold & delicious, unite 

Samurai Champloo shiki no uta, Origa rise, inner universe [(fatty bean)], Goldie inner city life, M-flo play it again, After School first love, Koda Kumi run, candy

Seyi Shey irawo, murda, Psquare, Flavour, Nato C, Wizkid, Justine Skye, Leona Lewis summertime, collide, I see you, Beyonce green light, formation, signs, pretty hurts, sweet dreams, single ladies, get me bodied, 7-11, ring the alarm, halo, flaws, countdown, run the world, if I were a boy, haunted, Yonce, upgrade U, diva, Lil Mix wings,The Saturdays all fired up, hero, Brooke Candy FMU, nymph, paper or plastic, happy days, rubber band stacks, study in duality

Dorian Electra egdelord, f the world, Azealia Banks chasing time, 212, Anna Wintour, big big beat, harlem shake, atm jam, miss camaraderie, fierce, atlantis, 

miss amour, count contessa, no problems, heavy metal & reflective, running, 1991, Kerli army of love, diamond hard, walking on air, feral hearts, Allie X prime, bitch, simon says, catch my breath, old habits die hard, it’s not so bad in LA, Miss A breathe,

hush hush, AoA bing bing, good luck, 4Minute crazy, CL the baddest female, Jessi gucci, nunu nana, Hyuna how’s that, bubble pop, nabillera, Gfriend fingertip, Kara step it up,//

mama mia, lion heart, Hitomi Shimatani perseus, garnet moon, papillon, Boards of Canada roygbiv, Bjork it’s in our hands, it’s oh so quiet, 

pagan poetry, where is the line, cocoon, oceania, play dead, army of me, big time sensuality, I miss you, possibly maybe, isobel, human behaviour

Mondo Grosso labyrinth, CL lifted, 2NE1 I hate you, I love you, come back home, I am the best, fire, can’t nobody, gotta be you, AoA like a cat

Hilary Duff coming clean, with love, fly, sparks, Dua Lipa we’re good, Sugarcubes birthday, Destiny’s Child survivor, lose my breath, soldier, Lily Allen smile, the fear, The Ting tings that’s not my name

The Yeah Yeahs heads will roll, The Veronicas hook me up, popular, lolita, take me on the floor, this love, Escape the sound let’s go, Lorn anvil, acid rain

Elliphant love you better, still getting younger, spoon me, (ft. MO )one more, “ lean on, kamikaze, Grimes genesis, idoru, world princess, butterfly, california, 

delete forever, scream, Mia hungrigez hertz, MIA hombre, XR2, world town, jimmy, 10 dollar, 20 dollar, Wynter Gordon (ft. FloRida )sugar, stimela, levitate, believer, Diana “ woman, thank you /

Men Without Hats safety dance, Sade soldier of love, paradise, cherish the day, moon & stars, The Third Realm dance like you wanna die, kiss of the scorpion, invitation to hell, 

forever, IAMX stardust, Sirius neon dominion, Ludovico technique dead inside, absence, deeper into you, potential, heal my scars, beyond therapy, wasting, Shiv-r devil’s night, alpha omega, Psychlon 9 parasitic, as you sleep, 

Vanessa Hudgens sneakernight, baby come back, Lionbabe fire, Jetta electrify, ABRA fruit, Kilo Kish, The Internet girl, Doja Cat streets, Vegas, beautiful, nunchucks,  Lola Munroe overtime, Exodus 23, you a jerk, Allie & AJ potential breakup song, like whoa, rush, 

Ghost little sunshine, cirice, square hammer, he is, Lana Del Rey doin time, kill kill, venice bitch, chemtrails over the country club, hit & run, video game, black beauty, high by the beach, diet mountain dew, yayo, swan song, say yes to heaven, Marina & the Diamonds immortal, teen idle, the outsider, 

fear & loathing, valley of the dolls, I’m not a robot, mowgli’s trail, handmade heaven, blue, solitaire, family jewels, hermit the frog, superstar, Mo Cheddah ko ma roll, Solange tony, losing you, cranes in the sky, 

Tinashe aquarius, bet on it, cold sweat, cold sweat, bated breath, party favours, Beach Boys good vibrations, The Pretty Reckless you, miss nothing, medicine, Kalafina magia, 

Birthday Massacre superstition, goodnight, blue, looking glass, Ayria gun song, Okilly Dokilly white wine spritzer, New Years’ Day gangsta [(Kehlani cover)], Nightclub show it to me, your addiction, Nuages dreams, Gunship dark all day, 

Nicki Minaj your love, chun-li, barbie tings, pills & potions, superbass, right thru me, Madonna jump, (ft. MIA & Nicki Minaj )give me all your luvin’, la isla bonita, Charli XCX boom clap, you (ha ha ha), 

party 4 u, 1999, (ft. Iggy Azalea )fancy, Zheani lulu, lava, Rina Sawayama xs, comme des garcons, Bassnectar future, dota, The Noisettes love power, that girl, cheap thrills, Shingai coming home 

[campingbagandstuff]

.22/9.33 {Part 2 of 12}; 17

Triggers/ foreword: loud, most ethnic, language, partial nudity, Video lyrics jourden coulda been, tierra whack 27 club, doechii pacer, NewJeans (뉴진스) 'New Jeans', ASAP, Lily Allen | LDN, björk ft. rosalía : oral, madison beer, sabrina carpenter, dove cameron, [inuyasha]=> do as infinity, Clio faces, Sandy Marton camel by camel, merry merry christmas and a happy new year, Rammstein engel, du hast, ich will, Lipps Inc funkytown N-dubz {papa, wouldn’t you, better not waste my time, best behaviour}, Ayumi Hamasaki {real me, surreal, appears, fairyland, bluebird, ourselves, microphone, november, [moon returns], sending meil, like a doll, lelio, rainbow, rule, my name’s women, is this love? Song 4 u, ladies’ night, about you, nextlevel, dearest, game, mirrorcle world, heaven, inspire, do it again, I dreamed a dream, step you, everlasting dream, WE WISH, free & easy, heartplace, HANABI, taskinillusion, dolls, voyage, close to you, bold & delicious, unite …{line 16}

Samurai Champloo shiki no uta, {Yoko Kanno}Origa rise, inner universe [(fatty bean)], Goldie inner city life, M-flo come again, After School first love, Koda Kumi run, candy, 2PM hands up, tatu gomenasai, eminem never enough, lose yourself, prince 1999, deadmau5 & Kaskade I remember, Donna Summer hot stuff,

Seyi Shey irawo, murda, Psquare, Flavour, Nato C, Wizkid, Justine Skye, Leona Lewis summertime, collide, I see you, Beyonce green light, formation, signs, pretty hurts, sweet dreams, single ladies, get me bodied, 7-11, ring the alarm, halo, flaws, countdown, run the world, if I were a boy, haunted, Yonce, upgrade U, diva, partition,crazy in love,check on it, dance for you, drunk in love, deja vu, naughty girl, Little Mix wings, woman like me, wasabi, shout out to my ex, sweet melody, salute, touch, (" ft. Stormzy) power, The Saturdays all fired up, hero, Brooke Candy FMU, nymph, paper or plastic, happy days, rubber band stacks, study in duality, michael buble, olly murs

Dorian Electra egdelord, f the world, Azealia Banks chasing time, 212, Anna Wintour, big big beat, harlem shake, atm jam, miss camaraderie, fierce, atlantis, cascada everytime we touch, heaven,

miss amour, count contessa, no problems, heavy metal & reflective, running, 1991, Kerli army of love, diamond hard, walking on air, feral hearts, Allie X prime, bitch, simon says, catch my breath, old habits die hard, it’s not so bad in LA, Miss A breathe, hauser, bastille

hush hush, bad girl, good ", touch,AoA bing bing, good luck,** 4Minute crazy, CL the baddest female,* hot issue, Jessi gucci, nunu nana, Hyuna how’s that, bubble pop, nabillera, Gfriend fingertip, Kara step it up, (anjulie brand new chick, you & I, Kool & the gang celebration)

mama mia, lion heart, Hitomi Shimatani perseus, garnet moon, papillon, Boards of Canada roygbiv, Bjork it’s in our hands, it’s oh so quiet, wanderlust, earth intruders, declare independence, innocence, hunter, hyperballad, mutual core, who is it, pluto, notget, union, I've seen it all, dull flame of desire, joga, unravel, pagan poetry bachelorette, alarm call all is full of love, nature is ancient, venus as a boy, hidden place, it's not up to you, aurora, it's in our hands, black lake, stonemilker, crystalline,lionsong, moon, triumph of a heart, hollow, mouth mantra, thunderbolt, cosmogony, anyone who had a heart, enjoy,(mika, hyuna bubble pop, red)

pagan poetry, where is the line, cocoon, oceania, play dead, army of me, big time sensuality, I miss you, possibly maybe, isobel, human behaviour, the mothers of invention freak out! the B-52's love shack,

Mondo Grosso labyrinth, *CL lifted, 2NE1 I hate you, I love you, come back home, I am the best, fire, can’t nobody, gotta be you, **AoA like a cat, wang chung dance hall days, everybody have fun tongiht, the temptations my girl

Hilary Duff coming clean, with love, fly, sparks, Dua Lipa we’re good, Sugarcubes birthday, Destiny’s Child survivor, lose my breath, soldier, Lily Allen smile, the fear, The Ting tings that’s not my name, eddie murphy party all the time, REM everybody hurts

[aislesparkrings]

Most Beautiful Engagement Rings: Celebrity Edition

Some of the most lovely moments in movie star popular culture are engagements. Luckily, once in a while, a few public figures percentage their moments with the sector and allow us to in on their special moment. A a part of that is, of direction, the low profile engagement ring settings. Here are five of the most lovely engagement rings we’ve seen redecorating the fingers of a few familiar faces in 2024.

Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring: The Contessa Ring

Fenoli’s layout features an emerald-reduce diamond on the middle of the ring. Our Contessa Ring is well suited with a myriad of diamond shapes, but the inclusion of the emerald-cut diamonds, at the side of the diamond-studded band, will acquire a comparable countenance to Fenoli’s advent.

Channel Set Engagement Ring: Petite Windsor Bridal Set

Balanced towards the middle diamond, the alternative foremost enchantment of Fenoli’s design is the channel set diamonds along the metallic band. An ethical dupe for this asset is the Petite Windsor Bridal Set (Petite Windsor Ring above the Petite Windsor Band), featuring rows of lab created diamonds upon cathedral shoulders.

Solitaire Engagement Ring with Oval Cut Diamond: Quiet Beauty Oval Ring

Clean Origin’s Quiet Beauty Oval Ring carefully resembles Bile’s and Becky G’s respective engagement jewelry almost perfectly (sans pavé) but at a fragment of the price. This ring is coupled with a standout oval-reduce middle diamond on a Solitaire engagement ring putting.

Furthermore, in case you’re entranced with the aid of the pavé set diamonds alongside the band, take into account other alternatives. The Chaleur Oval low profile bezel engagement ring is most similar to Bile’s steel band, even as the Scarlett Pavé Ring is greater paying homage to Becky G’s ring band.

Multi-Stone Engagement Ring: The Sierra Classic Ring

To achieve the look of Jennifer’s engagement ring, opt for a multi-stone ring with a rectangular, radiant, princess, or Asscher reduce center diamond. In comparable style, our Sierra Classic Ring consists of two baguette diamonds flanking the middle stone on either facet, that's an important element of  beautiful jewel. Go above and past and take a look at out our colored diamond alternatives to be able to gather an excellent more identical end.

Also Read:

Engagement Ring and Wedding Band Rules

Wedding Rings for Women: Top eight Trends for 2023

[greatevent89]

Indoor Wedding Venues San Antonio | Hotel Contessa

xperience the charm of San Antonio's Riverwalk at Hotel Contessa, a 4-Diamond gem. Enjoy spacious suites with skyline views and local art. With over 10,000 sq. ft. of event space, our venue accommodates gatherings of all sizes. As a AAA Four-Diamond destination, we offer exceptional service and amenities for weddings, with picturesque settings near Marriage Island.

Host your unforgettable events at our distinguished San Antonio wedding venue, a captivating space designed for elegance and celebration. With versatile event spaces and a commitment to creating memorable experiences, we stand out among the top choices for those seeking a premier San Antonio wedding venue, ensuring your special day is marked by sophistication and enduring joy.

[jessicaminhanh]

Jessica Minh Anh at the John Adams Presidential Suite of the Boston Harbor Hotel

Renowned supermodel and catwalk producer Jessica Minh Anh chose none other than the prestigious John Adams Presidential Suite of the Boston Harbor Hotel when it came to finding the perfect accommodation for her work trip.

Boston is not only known for its starring role in the American Revolution in the late 1700s, but also as a sophisticated center of contemporary culture, higher education, and technology. Being the city's only 5-star waterfront hotel, this Forbes Five-Star & AAA Five Diamond recipient brought her an exceptional experience.

She received a warm welcome from the hotel, adding an extra touch of hospitality to her stay.

Accessible through a private elevator that leads directly into the penthouse, the iconic John Adams Presidential Suite suite flawlessly blends timeless chic with modern design. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a long hallway that set the stage for the grandeur that awaited.

Spanning an impressive 4,800 square feet, the John Adams Presidential Suite boasts a grand master suite that exudes serenity. The suite also features a stunning dining room, a private theater room, a fully equipped kitchen, two additional bedrooms, two guest rooms, and a rising-up TV, adding an element of modernity to the space.

One of the suite's standout features is the magnificent 20-foot glass dome ceiling, allowing natural light to cascade in and illuminate the space. However, the true gem lies in the 1,000-square-foot terrace that provides panoramic views of the harbor. It's a perfect spot to admire the city's skyline and revel in the beauty of the surroundings. Also, there is a sophisticated bar within the suite that provided a wonderful space to unwind and entertain guests.

Jessica's experience at Boston Harbor Hotel was elevated by the thoughtful services provided. Private transportation to and from the airport ensured a seamless and stress-free arrival and departure. The hotel also offered personal concierge services and complimentary pressing services, ensuring Jessica's wardrobe remained impeccable throughout her stay.

The master bathroom is completed with a spacious walk-in closet and double vanity tables. The highlight, however, was the bath overlooking the harbor, where Jessica could unwind while indulging in Bulgari bath amenities.

The meals at the hotel’s restaurant were delighted with the freshest ingredients sourced daily from local markets to provide her with an unparalleled dining experience while gorgeous harbor views set the tone.

Jessica also delighted in swimming laps in the expansive three-lane, 60-foot indoor pool, indulging in moments of serenity and rejuvenation. The unique feature of the eucalyptus-infused steam room added an extra touch of relaxation to her poolside oasis.

During her stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Jessica Minh Anh explored the vibrant surroundings of Boston. She indulged in amazing food at Contessa Restaurant on Newbury Street, visited the prestigious Harvard University, and checked out luxury furniture at a Restoration Hardware store. Exploring the harbor, she embraced the city's deep maritime connection and marveled at the breathtaking views.

In case you are a fan of Japanese food, you can visit UNI Boston restaurant which is a lively, contemporary izakaya serving sashimi, sushi & unique Asian street food.

From culinary delights to academia and design, her time in Boston was a harmonious blend of indulgence, exploration, and appreciation for the city's cultural offerings.

[boricuacherry-blog]

Aviation billionaire Howard Hughes and Old Hollywood actress Ava Gardner had a stormy relationship. "He was a skinny guy, not bad looking, well over 6ft. He reminded me of my father. He had a kind of remoteness about him like Daddy had," said Ava. It also helped, she said, that he was 17 years older and 'infinitely more serious and smarter and sophisticated than anyone else I'd dated up until that point.' He was still seeing other women, but that didn't stop him from "proposing to me all the f****ng time." His wealth never impressed her much, though he showered her with diamonds and furs. She also didn't really appreciate his idea of a date, which was to hire an exclusive private club, clear it of people and have an orchestra play while he and Ava dined alone. "The first couple of times were amusing, although dinining a deux in an empty restaurant can lack a bit of atmosphere," she said. "It felt as if we were a couple of actors being served by other actors on a candlelit stage."

She was pleasantly surprised about his skills in the bedroom though, saying, "I'll say this: he knew how to take his time with a lady. At least with this lady he did. He was patient in bed, the complete opposite of Mickey Rooney. He didn't have Mick's vivacity, his cheerfulness between the sheets - but Howard's timing was nearly always perfect. He taught me that making love didn't always have to be rushed. 'Slow down, slow down, kid. We'll get there!' he'd say. He was like a horse whisperer."

One of the complaints she had about him though was that he was racist - and a control freak.

The green-eyed woman who dazzled in Technicolor in The Barefoot Contessa, claimed he would even go so far as to bug her bedroom and monitor her phone calls, similar to what Michael Jackson was alleged to have done to Lisa Marie Presley. Interestingly enough, Howard Hughes was an idol of Jackson's. The eccentric billionaire business mogul and aviatior had gone into complete seclusion by the time the 50s rolled around. He died in seclusion in the 70s.

The germ phobia that Jackson was rumored to have, due to the masks covering his surgeries, was actually attributed to Howard Hughes, who Jackson is said to have taken the idea from.

Hughes regularly used funds to entertain influential people in the military industrial complex to help win contracts, using his money to influence decisions, which Jackson often did. There are many parallels to Jackson and Hughes, except that Jackson wasn't sexually interested in women.

[simstraffikcone]

okay, so here's mine, I followed your format <3

I did add some explanation for mine mainly when it differs

Summerdreams

Titania - Good with a side of caution (views the Montys and Capps like fun little toys, if she gets bored she might shake things up)

Oberon - Neutral (he's just there to watch the soap opera, observe them like a science experiment, but he'll intervene on the side of good for his wife's sake)

Puck - Good (He is actively trying to be good, but suffers a little from selfishness winning out, it's his fae nature)

Bottom - Versatile (I Think I'll Cause Problems on Purpose/Agent of Chaos/What is the funniest option at the Time)

Capps

Contessa - Versatile/Villain (Side antagonist) (I know she's not innocent, she just gets a free pass because she's dead)

Consort - Villain (He's the acting villain, could still have a redemption arc left in him but suffers from lack of openness)

Goneril - Villain

Albany - Good/Neutral (Follows Goneril's example but not actively villain, he's a villain in the way he's permissive)

Regan - Neutral/Good (like her father, suffers from lack of openness but willing to step up for her family. Really needs a kick to be actively good)

Cornwall - Versatile/Villain (for Kent) (Couldn't care less about the feud if he's honest, follows his wife's example, self serving but not actively hostile unless it's Kent)

Kent - Good

Cordelia - Good (excellent mother, still checking up on her kids even when dead)

Caliban - Versatile (he liked his wife? deadbeat dad in death, never visits)

Tybalt - Versatile/Ultimately Good When It Comes Down to It (antagonist run but if faced with an ultimate choice would end up picking the right one. probably a self-sacrificial one)

Miranda - Versatile (Here for the drama)

Juliette - Versatile/Good (Quite sure this girl would be a big player in the feud if she was not involved with Romeo, hell hath fury)

Hermia - Neutral/Good (if she really has to be but would prefer to stay out of it, urgh fine I'll be good)

Hal - Neutral/Good (a little rough around the edges, but a diamond is still a diamond in the end)

Desdemona - Neutral/Versatile (girl has teeth, just have to wait to see how she uses them)

Ariel - Good

Montys

Patrizio - Versatile/Villain (he's good to his family and his llama)

Isabella - Good (Don't Mess with Her Family Though)

Bianca - Good

Antonio - Good

Hero - Good (but a little bit shifty) (Girl What Did You Do?)

Claudio - Good

Olivia - Good

Mercutio - Versatile/Good (Comes off as the Sunshine Child but If You Dig A Little Deeper/Just Waiting To Be Pushed Into His Villain Arc)

Viola - Ǝ̵̦͓͖̻̣̓̔͂́̑l̵̡̥̺̲͙̇̊̌̚͝b̴̹͚͈̭̟̆̾́̔̚ɿ̵̳͕̘͚̿̋̋̚͜͝i̷̠̻̜͇̋̈́͌͆̇͜Ɉ̶̡͉̼̗͖̿̌̾̅̅ɔ̷͎̰͓̙̀̿͆́͘ͅʜ̴̝̱̙̫̻̊̍̒̌̚ ̷̖̱͚̹͔̒̇̈́̽͝H̵̢̭͚̰̪͐̀͐̍̚o̸̮̙̙͖͋̄̋́̈ͅɿ̶͇̝̯̣̯͌̄̀͒̅ɿ̶̢̩̠̙̫̀̓̀̓́õ̵̡̢͍̪̟̽̔̈́̕ɿ̸̧̗̹̠̮̂̆̍̚͘

Romeo - Good (Questionable/Impulsive choices can spell bad things to happen but ultimately good at heart)

Benedick - Good

Beatrice - Versatile/Good ((Could go either way it depends what happens (Excellent right hook))

I can divide Veronaville into good, villains, neutral and versatile according to my headcanons but I think many might think the opposite of me... 🤣

I divide them quickly without giving explanations, I want to see if you can understand my points of view (and I would be curious to know yours)

Summerdreams

Titania - Good

Oberon - Good BUT he could be dangerous with his magic if angry.

Puck - Good BUT as a goblin he may lose control from time to time due to his nature.

Bottom - Villain (She's a lil brat)

Capps

Contessa - Good

Consort - Versatile but most Good

Goneril - Villain

Albany - Good/Neutral

Regan - Villain

Cornwall - Villain

Kent - Good

Cordelia - Good

Caliban - Villain

Tybalt - Versatile

Miranda - Versatile

Juliette - Good

Hermia - Good

Hal - Neutral

Desdemona - Neutral

Ariel - Good

Montys

Patrizio - Versatile but most Villain

Isabella - Good

Bianca - Good

Antonio - Good

Hero - Good

Claudio - Good

Olivia - Good

Mercutio - Good

Viola - Good

Romeo - Good

Benedick - Good

Beatrice - Good

[thehauntedrocket]

Original Art - The Diamond Contessa

Art by Ken Kelly

Daw Books (1983)

[curiousb]

Hi! I just wanted to ask - which skins are you using? :)

Ooh, well, that's quite a big question!

Firstly, I use my own Signal To Noise (my defaults are also from this set). If you're interested, you can get them here: SFS (choose from custom, geneticized/towniefied and/or default).

(Marianne - Signal To Noise ‘Base’)

(Caroline - Signal to Noise ‘Beach’)

(Catherine - Signal To Noise ‘Sunset’ and Jane - Signal To Noise ‘Olive’)

I also have these additional custom skintones in my game:

Jessi’s What Nature Gave Me (really lovely)

(Ambrose - What Nature Gave Me 1)

(Cassandra - What Nature Gave Me 2)

(Anna - What Nature Gave Me 3)

Jessi’s Wearing Diamonds

(Kitty and Lydia - Wearing Diamonds 1)

(Miles - Wearing Diamonds 2)

@lilith-sims Sunshine (I’ve only just added this one to my game, so have no pictures of any Sims sporting it just yet)

The ‘green with spots’ skintone from @lilith-sims Alien Flavor set (no picture)

The teal skintone from @pooklet’s Less Pop Concert, More Butchery (no picture)

@pooklet’s My Poor Lover alien shades 10 and 12 (no pictures)

@pyxiidis’ Venice - naturals and supernaturals (’Fairy’ in blue, green and teal) - and @crispsandkerosene’s recolours

(Bertram - Venice ‘Dust’)

(John - Venice ‘Labyrinth’)

(Hester - @crispsandkerosene​’s Venice ‘Gold’)

(Susie Willis - Venice ‘Fairy’ in teal)

@pyxiidis’ Turn Me On spotted alien skintone (no picture)

simtzu’s Apple Pie & Custard alien skintone

(Green Bean)

@veranka-downloads’ Kiwi (I love this one, I just wish there were more shades)

(Harriet - Kiwi 1)

(Frank - Kiwi 4)

Yun-sims’ (now @someone-elsa) Legal Aliens (no picture)

I have geneticized all of these according to my own scheme (happy to give more information, if that's of interest at all).

My supernatural/other defaults are:

Alien: @lilith-sims’ Alien Flavor blue

(Erasmus)

Bigfoot: my own edit of @mrs-mquve-cc’s edit of Amaryll’s default - I switched the eyes for ‘Catching A Tiger’ from my own Box Set

Genie: from Fantasy Rogue’s Tabula Rasa set

(Your friendly neighbourhood genie)

Bodyshop mannequin: @pyxiidis’ Venice 'Snow’

Plantsim: @pyxiidis’ Venice 'Monk’ (I’m not keen on Plantsims, so I don’t know whether it will ever see the light of day in my game!)

Servo: @atomtanned’s edit of @criquette-was-here’s WHT-FC28 Servo default

Vampire: my own mash-up, of @pyxiidis’ Venice ‘Snow’ (at 50% transparency) with the ‘Violator’ eye from my own Box Set

(Contessa Helen Harris)

Werewolf: @withlovefromsimtown’s Dear Wolf (new to my game - and since I never actually see any wolves in my game, I’m not sure when it’s going to make an appearance!)

Evil Witch: @pooklet’s My Poor Lover (shade 13)

(Johanna Horton)

Good Witch: Hysterical Paroxysm’s normal skin for good witches

Zombie: my own edit of @pyxiidis’ Venice ‘Butcher’ - I switched the eyes to ‘Full Moon Fever’ from my own Box Set

[extraneousdominomask]

Putting all of my Sly fics into one semi-unified timeline because I got bored

1868-1899

William "Tennessee Kid" Cooper is active as an outlaw across various states and territories within the continental United States

197x

"Cunning" Conner Cooper first meets Beatrice "Trixie" Fletcher, during a(n attempted) heist in Milan

1981

Carmelita Montoya Fox born to Zoe Fox Hayek and Antonio Montoya Vulpín

1984

Slytunkhamen "Sly" Cooper born to Conner Cooper and Trixie Cooper, née Fletcher. Murray the hippo born to unknown parents. Bentley the turtle born in a swamp.

1992

Cooper family home/farm/safehouse attacked by Fiendish Five, resulting in two deaths and an orphaning. Sly, Bentley and Murray first meet

2002

Sly and his friends defeat the Fiendish Five. Subsequently, he visits his parents' graves Intertwined Tails: Carmelita confronts a grey-furred, ringtailed security guard

2002 (Omega Timeline)

Sly perishes while fighting Clockwerk.

September 23rd, 2003

Carmelita successfully apprehends Sly, albeit briefly, and learns a surprising personal fact for the first time

2003 (Gamma Timeline)

Inspector S. Cooper unsuccessfully attempts to apprehend Carmelita, and learns nothing

2004

Sly and his friends defeat the Klaww Gang, but temporarily disband in the aftermath Unbeknownst to her 'colleagues', Neyla obtains a sample of Sly's fur from the Contessa's prison, and sets an unusual contingency plan into motion IT: Sly helps Carmelita escape from Prague. Later, they discuss things during a post-adventure helicopter ride

2005

Sly and his friends defeat Doctor M (and a smorgasbord of other dirtbags), and once again disband, this time more permanently. Sly moves in with Carmelita, while Bentley settles down with his new girlfriend, Penelope. All is well IT: Carmelita learns about Sly's unhealthy sleep patterns

2006

Penelope, for reasons which will never become fully clear, betrays the Gang, threatening the Cooper lineage under the guise of a new 'Black Knight' persona. Sly, who had been having trouble adjusting to his new domestic life, decides to deal with this problem without telling Carmelita. She (inevitably) discovers his duplicity and kicks him out, forcibly reverting the Gang to its globetrotting ways

2007

In the heretofore-unmentioned metropolis of Zootopia, rookie cop Judy Hopps and conmammal/ice-cream salesman/tax evader Nick Wilde uncover and foil a political conspiracy, getting two consecutive mayors arrested. Nick begins the process of becoming Judy's partner on the force

May 2008

During the mayoral election season, the world's new largest diamond is uncovered and brought to Zootopia. It becomes the target of both the Cooper Gang (echoing an achievement of Conner Cooper's) and another, hastily-assembled criminal gang. Nick and Judy aid Carmelita in protecting the diamond, while learning more about the Cooper Gang and resolving their own friction

Summer 2008-Autumn 2009

Having forged a strong bond in their week working together, Nick and Carmelita maintain a long-distance friendship

October 2009

Sly and the Gang attempt to finally apprehend Penelope, but the attempt fails badly and they, in desperation, take three separate "vacations". Sly travels to Zootopia, where Judy is happy to see him and Nick is not. However, mere hours after Sly's arrival, a non-living entity targets Nick and implicates him in a gruesome murder

December 3rd, 2009

To the shock of the world, particularly the Cooper Gang and Carmelita, Clockwerk attacks Zootopia in broad daylight. They, Nick and Judy, and young pilot James "Fox" McCloud Jnr. race to resolve the situation before more blood is spilled

2011 (Alpha Timeline)/2018 (Mu Timeline)/2017 (Rho Timeline)/201x (??? Timeline)

Sly, Carmelita, Nick and Judy share an enjoyable evening

2011

Beatrice Zoe "B" Fox-Cooper is born to Sly Cooper and Carmelita Montoya Fox IT: Sly and Carmelita, assisted by Bentley and Murray, handle a job in Madagascar

2012

IT: Sly and Carmelita have their first out-of-the-house date as new parents

20xx (Delta timeline)

Sly journeys into the mythical Kingdom of Monsters and steals the crown of its ruler. He and Carmelita, who naturally followed him, are beset by the Royal Guard

2017 (Mu timeline)

During an undercover operation, Nick and Judy run into Sly, also in disguise. Judy handles the objective while Nick and Sly distract their host, and each other

2022

Sly and Carmelita, raising their daughter in a quiet North American town, are attacked by Elyna, a half-clone of Neyla using Sly's DNA as the 'father'. IT: Sly and Carmelita discuss vacationing to Paris with their two daughters The last point on the main timeline, and the perfect place to conclude this post

2022 (Dreamworks timeline)

Carmelita investigates a recent major crime in Los Angeles, taking her concerns directly to Governor Diane Foxington. The little details, they bother her