#MM Design Studio

[entrepreneurstreet]

Top 8 Modern Interior Design Trends for 2024

Home design does change, just as our tastes and lives do. So it is the time to follow the newest trends to create a beautiful, useful, and modern home. The eight major interior design trends for 2024 that are addressed here will propose house upgrades. New trends in materials, furnishings, and equipment could be just what your place needs to give it that beauty and usefulness boost. Eco-friendly materials, smart home tech, and versatile furnishings are among them.

Keep trendy things at home to avoid seeming old. Trends point towards a mix of modern and old elements to come up with a new look that will also be classic. Trends are just things that can get you started but that you can work with according to how much you lean in one direction or another. Unique touches and trends will make a place seem like home.The article is going to update information on the eight modern design ideas for 2024.

For every trend, goods, uses, and gains will be noted. That knowledge may help in renovating your house or area. Research into the trends can enable one to make a stylish, contemporary, and personalized home with the latest features and designs on the market. Update your home using interior design trends.

Highlighting the Top 8 Modern Interior Design Trends for 2024

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Design

Bold and vibrant colors

Natural Elements and Biophilic Design

Multifunctional Spaces

Smart home technology

Textured surfaces and layers

Artisanal and handmade decor

Flexible Furniture

Trend 1: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Design

Sustainability issues affect interior design as owners make green projects by using eco-friendly materials, methods, and energy-saving solutions. For example, wood, metal, and plastic from demolished buildings are majorly reused, reducing a lot of waste and consequently the consumption of raw materials, which preserves the environment. They should instead opt for bamboo, upcycled furniture, or wood. The above methods promote sustainable farming and reduce carbon emissions during transport and production.

Lower your carbon footprint by purchasing energy-star appliances. High-power-consuming appliances cost more and negatively impact the environment. Organic cotton, linen, and wool make fine furniture and curtains. Since natural fibers are recyclable, manufacturers need more chemicals. The best interior designer in Noida always stays observant on this matter.

Trend 2: Bold and Vibrant Colors

This 2024 is colorful with decor. Emerald green, sapphire blue, terracotta, mustard yellow, orange, and pink are all on the rise. People are using bright colors and creating interesting scenes with bright colors by painting one wall colorful and the rest simple. It adds depth and draws the eyes without absorbing space. This will be a colorful sofa or armchair, which can make it a main point in your living room. Bright furniture uplifts the mood and leads to conversation itself. Give color with paintings, throw pillows, and rugs. These tiny details will allow you to change a room's decoration whenever you   by season or fashion.

Balance brights with neutrals to avoid clutter and relax/balance the mood, avoiding real'shockers' of color. Consider the use of a room. Colors can abound with feelings you want to create in that room. Blues for the bedroom will tire your eyes and calm you; yellows in the office will give you a jolt to get going.

Trend 3: Natural Elements and Biophilic Design

Biophilic design acknowledges that humans are linked to nature. Construction with natural materials evokes healthier and quieter places. Interior areas, just like the outdoors, look much more beautiful when constructed with natural materials.

The biophilic design employs natural materials such as:

Connect with nature by having plants indoors. They reduce stress, clean the air, and put a smile on your face. Wood furniture, warm and inviting, like wood floors and accessories, brings nature along with it. A wooden dining table with dents and scratches, hardwood floors, and wood panels over the walls add warmth and naturalness.

The advantages of natural factors include:

Less stressed, better mood Even small natural contacts support mental health. Plants and other natural materials can reduce stress and enhance pleasure. Indoor plants clean the air of pollutants from nature. It enhances the quality of air and health. They have beautiful, attractive natural materials.

Trend 4: Multifunctional Spaces

Modern spaces should adapt to you. Versatile, space-saving, and adaptable spaces could make your homes more livable. Room conversions and remodeling are more possible than lives and living conditions do. Murphy beds and sofa beds could both serve as a guest bedroom and home office. With this two-in-one treatment, when nobody is sleeping there, you could fully maximize your space. Design an open-floor plan for dining or bookshelves. This design by the designer in Noida allows for openness and flexibility, making easy task switching possible.

Maximizing space and function

Buy furniture with incorporated storage or hidden compartments to maximize space. There are bedrooms that have built-in drawers, ottomans that have a storage compartment, and tables that are extendable, so it can be more utilitarian. The availability of moveable tables and chairs, as well as dividers, can make plans more flexible. Such features allow the customers to move them or store them easily; hence, an entire extra space option is available. Cleaning and arranging your storage space frequently may enlighten your room.

Trend 5: Smart Home Technology

With smart home technologies, your house becomes easier to operate and more efficient. Connect and automate your home with smart gadgets. You can control lights remotely or by occupation or time of day. Smart lighting systems are energy-saving and work on the ambiance with their features of dimming, color, and scheduling.

Making things easier and quicker

Smart home features provide several advantages:

You are going to have control over everything around you and automate some things that make life easier. Smart home technology makes it easy to turn off lights and heating. Remote monitoring, alerts, and smart locks might protect your home. Peace of mind will come from the monitoring of your house through smart security systems, cameras, and monitors. Smart features contribute to saving energy and money. Smart heaters and smart lights consume less energy since they adjust in accordance with your needs or demands. Choosing the interior designer in Gurgaon is the best choice here.

Designing for smart features

Adjust smart features according to your needs and preferences. Pick up the technologies that suit your persona, whether you consider any regarding energy savings, family safety, or convenience. Technological devices have made life really easy, but keep comfort within your home; smart gadgets should not mess up your home. Apply family-friendly techniques.

Trend 6: Textured Surfaces and Layers

Texture enriches space. In 2024 interior design, more rough textures and layers will be used. A place with varied textures could look better. Use silk, linen, boucle, or knitted fabrics of diverse patterns for pillows, curtains, and blankets. The space looks better with warmer materials. Grasscloth, linen, or raised designs on walls make them appealing.

Textures add depth.

An appealing and dynamic area needs layers of textures. Mix smooth, rough, soft, and hard materials for a unique look. Pair a satin couch with a rustic coffee table or a silky throw with a bulky knit blanket. Begin with a bare foundation and only a few colors and textures, rather than a lot, to create tidiness in the first place.

Trend 7: Artisanal and Handmade Decor

It's nice to be able to support local talent and really give your home some personality with handmade decor. You can easily, by making handmade things, help an artist and add character to a house. Definitely, a blanket or a coffee table made by some local artist is a real icebreaker. What a chance to impress friends and relatives by having such peculiar features at home, not like the mass production one meets elsewhere.

Examples of handmade goods

Glasses of different colors and shapes can stylize your kitchen space. Hand-stitched quilts bring elegance to the living room. Whether fixed to a wall or stretched above a couch, it looks warm and interesting. Combine it with home-made ceramic dinnerware for a truly different lunch.

Trend 8: Flexible Furniture

Furniture today has to cater to our needs and style of living. Versatile furniture helps you redo your home real fast and uses the space to its full potential. Today's homes require rooms that will accommodate the demands of their occupants.

Deciding on flexible furniture

Pick furniture that works for your room layout and how you function. Envision ways the space might work better for you and how you live or work in it every day. Solid, substantial furniture can be rearranged as needed. Quality and construction will make your flexible furniture last longer and perform better. Multifunctional furniture maximizes space use. Multifunction elements allow you to exploit very small spaces without giving up style or comfort.

Conclusion: Reimagine Your Space with MM Design Studio

As a matter of fact, interior design changes very frequently, and all this can give many opportunities to redecorate your home with exciting themes. This article lets you know how the blend of eco-friendly techniques, natural features, and bright colours can result in a house with the Modern Design Ideas for 2024 that is exactly to your taste and liking, therefore making you happy.It is not easy, however, to follow all the newest trends and come up with some really successful designs. Here comes the M.D. Studio. Thanks to its talented, enthusiastic designers, MM Design Studio stays up-to-date and knows how important it is to look good and last a long time while collaborating on seeing your idea through.

[harryzroze]

Corrupted Macaque based off @/Crooked_Bullet ‘s design on X!!

It’s inspired by Void Fiends in RoR2 >:)

Extra doodles + their character sheet under the cut!

I loved their design,,,a lot

[silly-fly-media]

HAPPY MIKU DAYYYY

My Miku design takes heavy inspo from the design elements of the MegaMan franchise (particularly the Zero series and Battle Network series)

Also trying to do more flat colored pieces to make them more interesting to look at. Gonna experiment some more :>

[magalhaessims]

AGAVE APARTMENT - MAXIS-MATCH CC BUILD

I'm finally sharing an apartment! I chose to build in Oasis Springs and opted for the smallest lot available. There are three units in total, but I've only fully decorated one. I designed it with Johnny Zest in mind. Also, I really wanted to use these two new, coolest sets: Neighborly and Cheap&Chipped by @syboubou. I really loved all the items — especially the empty toilet paper roll; it's my new favorite! LOL.

Additionally, due to some glitches in my game following the For Rent patch, I've labeled this build as "Residential" to avoid any potential issues with saving files. If you encounter any problems, please don't hesitate to let me know! If you want to check out the construction progress, watch the YouTube video linked below.

NOT CC FREE 

Lot Type: Residential | Rental

Size: 20x15 

World: Oasis Springs

Enable bb.moveobjects before placing in your game!

📺 WATCH THE SPEED BUILD HERE ✨

Origin ID: MagalhaesSims (remember to enable custom content on!) DOWNLOAD

CC USED IN THIS BUILD:

NOTE: For convenience, some of the CC is included in the Download Folder. Please put it in your Mods Folder along with the CC linked below.

AwingedLlama: Nostalgia Living || Charly Pancakes: Chalk Kitchen (Clutter) | Munch | Soak | The Lighthouse || TheClutterCat: Busy Bee | Cozy Casita | Dandy Diary | Flower Power (Vinyl) | Hello Horse (Trophy) | Mellow Moods (Essential Oils Tray) || Felixandre: Colonial | Kyoto (Arch) | Soho || Harrie: Klean | Octave Collection | Shop The Look V2 | Spoons (Pizza Tray) | Stockholm || House Of Harlix: Baysic Bathroom | Baysic Set | Livin'Rum | The Kichen (Plant) | Tiny Twavellers (Wall) || KKB-MM: Citrus Room | My Heimish Hall || LittleDica: Delicato Living | Greasy Goods | Lava Lamp | Sleek Slumber || Max20: Classic Kitchen | Garden At Home | Master Bedroom | Poolside Lounge (Plant) || MyshunoSun: Gale Dining | Lottie Bedroom | Simmify | Sona Dining || Peacemaker-ic: Hinterland Kitchen (Honey Pot) | Hudson Bathroom (Towel Holder) | Tasteful Tots (Clutter) || Pierisim: Auntie Vera | Calderone Living | Coldbrew | Combles | David Apartment | Domaine Du Clos | MCM House Set | Oak House Set | Pantry Party | The Office | Tilable Kitchen | Unfold | Woodland Ranch || Simkoos: Clutter Dump || Sixam-CC: Art Studio | Cozy Family Livingroom | Home Improvement || SurelySims: Office Spaces (Clutter)

The CC Sets above are the main ones I used to decorate this specific building and you can find all the links to the creators’ sites on my Resource Page. However, if you can’t find something specific, you can send me a WCIF and I’ll try to help you find it!

My content will always be free and right away available to everyone, but if you want to, you can show your support through my Ko-Fi Page. Your donation will always be much appreciated!

Thank you for reblogging: @maxismatchccworld @mmoutfitters @mmfinds @s4realtor @coffee-houses-finds and everyone else for helping me boost this post!

[flanaganfilm]

On my periodic flanagan binge so the questions keep coming. Hopefully I don’t make you regret having an open ask box.

I’ve been absolutely entranced by your use of Holly Holy in MM. No joke, I’ve been listening to the song on repeat and keep seeing the shots of people standing in the pews in my head. I learned the chord progressions so I could see how the modulations worked to keep raising the tension, and how the structure of the song supports the structure of the montage.

I know you’re always coming at projects from the perspective of the edit, so I gotta know: how much of the Holly Holy montage was baked into the script? Because it’s absolutely perfect and I feel like it was designed incredibly purposefully

"Holly Holy" was baked into Midnight Mass almost from the start. I started listening to the song on repeat and imagining the montage sometime back in 2015, and even before we had major plot points figured out for the show, or ever had a studio or a writers room, I had the "Holly Holy" sequence. As far as the script goes, I'd say it was very, very specific about how the song had to be used. Enjoy!

[grandisknight]

rafayel: an artist's nails

summary: It’s been a while since your last nail endeavor, and you seek out your creative lover to fill in the missing details once again.

tags: established relationship, fluff, silly rafayel, gender neutral!reader, kisses, light banter, nail polish

wc: 1.0k | (ao3)

a/n: hi hi! eek this is my first time posting like this to tumblr, i'm not too familiar with it so please forgive me for any mistakes (⸝⸝⸝- ᴗ -⸝⸝⸝ ;) i hope my short but sweet little headcanon does rafmc some justice! the idea came to me randomly while angst writing (hhhh) so here we are c:

⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹

“Again?” He looks down at you from the impressive height of his ladder, palette and brush paused in mid motion. The canvas stretching his wall had streaks of pale blue, contrasting the rich sapphire that lay underneath them. Another masterpiece in the making, and you’ve caught him at a somewhat opportune time to air out your proposal.

“Please? I promise it’ll be the last time!” You gave him your best pout, hands clasped together in a pseudo prayer.

“That’s what you said two weeks ago, my love.” Rafayel shakes his head.

“Ra—fa—yel!” You called out, purposefully stringing his vowels in a way that he had a hard time saying ‘no’ to.

“Okay, okay. Give me a moment, yeah?”

Leaving his instruments behind, he descends from the perch of his ladder. Dusting off his hands on the edge of his slacks, he straightens his posture towards you with a few strides. Arms crossed over his chest, the warmth of coral and cooled blue examined your presence up close. “You don’t seem injured. Mission went well?”

“It did! But that’s not what I’m here for.” You flash your hands towards him, wiggling the tips of your fingers for dramatic effect. “Look at how much they’ve grown! They’re begging for a new design, and only one curated by Linkon City’s best painter could do the job.”

The bed of coral acrylic was slowly pushing past your natural nail, unflattering to the eye and no longer holding the fresh sheen it once had. It was long overdue for a retouch, and you trusted your boyfriend’s talented eye to decorate your fingers once more.

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” he half-heartedly remarks, but takes your hands into his own regardless. His fine fingers delicately trace over the rounded edges of your acrylics, tilting them alongside his head to capture their finish in the warm lighting of his art studio. “Hm… They are longer than before, I’ll give you that.”

An internal score in your mind was being kept, and you just landed your first point. “Exactly. So, I was thinking for the next design—“

“Woah, excuse you.” His fingers intertwined with yours, passing his warmth into your palms. He tugs you closer, hands closed like the prayer you presented just moments ago. Rafayel quirks a brow as he continues.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

You paused, a blink of confusion crossing your face. “…Am I?”

The plush of his lips puff out like a fish, awaiting your realization. Ah. You had to pay the kiss toll first—how could you forget?

You met his pout halfway, lightly pressing a kiss to pay your dues forward. Rafayel quickly chases your leaning figure, peppering a second, and then a third, to the lips curling into a faint smile at his antics and he mirrored yours all the same.

“Okay—Raf—Mm!”

He swallowed your interruptions with ones of his own, a barrage of straight smooches fluttering over your mouth. Only after the nth kiss did he finally part, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles with a hum in satisfaction.

“Payment accepted.” Rafayel lowered your hands, only to gently tug them in the direction of his desk.

Pieces of sketch paper and paints, pencils and more laid across the surface as you approached. He lets go momentarily, pulling out a chair and swiping away some tabletop space, before patting on the cushion in invitation.

“Alright, why don’t we start sketching out your ideas, yeah? Let’s see if we can make this new set better than the last.”

…

No sooner than a week later did you return to Mo Art Studio, feeling particularly energized as you practically skipped into his living space.

“Ah, you’re back.”

Rafayel called out to you before you had the chance to speak, swiping another shade of cerulean over the canvas. He looks over his shoulder, eyes twinkling at your appearance and brow upturned in curiosity. “You seem like you’re in a good mood. Did you get them done today?”

You nodded, waving him down with an equally bright expression. “Take a break! I want you to admire your masterpiece.” With an outstretched hand, you await his descending figure in a similar sense of deja vu.

“Yeah? You’re already here though,” Rafayel teases, taking hold of your invitation in turn. “But alrighty. Let’s go.”

Natural habits led your bodies to walk past the floor to ceiling entrance and into the sands hugging his estate. Seagulls chirp overhead as the fragrance of salty seas sting your nose, welcoming in the warmth of sunshine and ocean views all around.

“Maybe the crab from last week is still around,” you mention. “I think it was this way—Ah!”

Rafayel snickers at your enthusiasm, but paused you short of your wandering in an effort to pull you closer to him. He raises your combined hands outwards, turning them in every direction as he observes the new design.

Speckles of pale white and faint pink hugged the tip of your nail, pearly effects blending into the azure gradient that filled the rest of the space. Light traces of a circle or two resemble bubbles, a key seashell charm on your pinky finger and an exclusive Lemurian insignia resembling the bond over his heart were all littered across the set.

He nods in approval, and you could practically see the sharp rise of his shoulders in pride as he spoke. “Ah, they turned out really good this time. I wonder whooo designed them.”

You lean into his playful stance, pressing a kiss to his cheek and watching as his skin flushes in an adoring rouge. “Thank you, my love. Next time, we should do your nails too!”

“Yeah? I don’t know if I want to have another pot with steam drawn by you again,” he retorts, laughing as you lightly pushed his shoulder.

You raised your voice in self-defense, offering him a scolding glare. “Hey! I told you it was a steamed fish. Steamed fish! You of all people should know that well!”

Your voices faded away as you left your footsteps in the sand, the low tides pushing to support the harmony of your banter as the sun slowly settled. Safe to say, you wouldn’t be letting go of these nails blessed by the ocean anytime soon.

[ki-yomii]

beg | myg

➥ pairing | min yoongi x f!reader

➥ word count | 1.2k

➥ warning(s) | 🔞 smut; dirty talk, mild degradation, mild praise kink, established relationship, rough oral (m receiving), throatfucking, teasing, pet names, throat bulge, studio sex, wet & messy, reader wears a necklace with yoongi's initial

➥ summary | requested from this - "Oh no, not until you beg." & "Relax your throat." With Min Yoongi :3

➥ notes | for anon~ hope you enjoy 🧡 un-edited, I’ll come back to fix things when it’s not 2 AM lol

masterlist | ask box | AO3

The low hum of the A/C unit overhead and the whir of the computer fan kicking on is almost enough to drown out the wet gags and gargled breathing but only just.

Not that it really matters - the hours had long since crept past midnight, and Yoongi was meticulous when it came to the design of his studio.

Key pad, double doored, soundproofed to hell and back; the whole shebang.

Millions of won poured into the construction of the four walls that made up his altar, his church. Furthermore, not only did others give a wide berth when he's on-site at HYBE, but even fewer have the special privilege of being granted access to his private sanctum.

You're one of the lucky ones.

Mind, it took several (long) months of veiled suggestions and cajoling to get you to where you are now, but it was worth it in the end.

Watching a man so thoroughly married to his work set aside his convictions to give attention to your relationship doesn't sit right with you. Plus, it wasn’t sustainable in the long run - even though you appreciate the effort.

No, this arrangement is much better - the best of both worlds.

Not only do you get to spend time with him, he gets to share what he loves. A win-win for everyone involved, but especially for you when Yoongi is horny and agitated.

“Mm, come on, baby,” Yoongi husks, wicking away the mascara clinging to the swell of your cheek with a rough thumb, “I know you can take me all the way. Now, stop playing, and relax your throat.”

Burning eyes fluttering open, you take in the blurry upside-down view that greets you through clumpy lashes; a sea of dark wood, the pale stretch of his legs, the pool of black basketball shorts puddled around his ankles.

Propped up as you are, head dangling over the thin leather armrest of the couch, you can't get a good angle without giving yourself a crick. Little spasms are already shooting through your neck, and down in between your shoulders because of the lack of proper support.

Something you'll definitely be paying for later.

But you're not about to stop Yoongi.

Not when he has you laid out on your back with his cock in your mouth, both of you working towards stuffing it down your throat. Even if your lips are fucked raw and swollen, your chin slick with spit and pre-cum.

Your tongue stretches out to flick over the fat head of his cock when he slides free with a sticky pop. “Fuck yeah, just like that.”

You hum low in the back of your throat, threads of arousal shivering down your spine as your belly swoops at the low rumble of his voice, the delicate trace of his fingers along the sides of your neck.

He grunts when you dig the tip of your tongue into his weeping slit, lapping and swirling around the spongy crown.

“Heh, you’re such a filthy bitch for me, aren’t you,” Yoongi says, his voice breathless and cracking around the edges. “Now, are you ready to be a good girl and swallow my dick?”

Inhaling deep, you let your breath shudder from you on a shaky moan that teases the insides of his thighs, the base of his cock, “Yes, please. Want it, Yoongs.”

Yoongi hums, satisfied.

“Watch those teeth,” is the only warning you get.

Then he's cradling your jaw with his thumbs and nudging his hips forward to grind against your lips. Eyes sliding shut, you drop your mouth open into a relaxed circle for Yoongi to fuck into.

The initial slide is smooth, aided by the strings of spit and pre-cum clinging to the lower half of your face. Though trouble begins the deeper Yoongi presses towards the back of your throat.

Your muscles tense as your mouth spreads wider and wider to accommodate his girth. An ache settles deep in your temples, little shocks of discomfort shooting down through the hinges of your jaw.

Tears leak past your clenched eyes, the renewed burn of mascara stinging your ducts as your sinuses clog. You whine - a raspy, muffled sound as your tongue wriggles along the underside of his shaft.

He hushes you, and anchors a hand on your shoulder as the other reaches down to twine with your fingers digging into his thigh. “Doing so good for me,” Yoongi said, “fucking perfect, baby.”

Your pussy clenches, your legs tensing against the leather. Sweat gathers behind your knees, your hips shivering with the need to twist, shift, and find a modicum of friction that’ll relieve the ache building behind your navel.

“Yeah, come on, that’s it. Just a little - shit - hah, that - oh fuck!”

His hips jerk forward as you hollow your cheeks to the best of your ability, hissing as teeth scrape along the sides of his shaft as he bullies his way deeper.

And then, with a pop richoetting down your spine, the head of his cock passes the back of your throat.

“Oh, baby,” Yoongi curses, his frame wracked with tremors.

His thighs shudder against your ears, his hips tense with anticipation as he holds himself still. Your throat rebels, rippling like a vice around his shaft, milking him for all he’s worth.

“Feel’s so - feels so good. You take me so well, knew you could. You always do.”

Gagging, your head goes light and floaty at the sudden lack of oxygen, tiny cavities peppering your vision.

Then you focus on breathing through your nose.

In - one, two, three. Out - one, two, three.

Over and over again until the mounting animal panic subsides, and you're left with tingling limbs and a throbbing cunt.

Yoongi groans, “Fuck, that’s so hot.”

Thumbs bracketing the sides of your neck stroke over the visible bulge of his shaft straining against the chain of your necklace, the delicate ‘Y’ charm branding your skin.

It'll leave a welt everyone can see. A little mark to stake his claim. To remember him by when you're separated.

The thought gets you hotter than you care to admit.

“Can see myself in your throat, baby.”

At the praise, liquid fire pulses through your veins, and warmth blooms in your belly. Settling between your hips until your clit twitches.

Slick soaks through the seat of your panties, and you feel all at once so full, and so, so empty.

The scent of his skin - clean and clear. The musk of his cologne - earthy and masculine. The salt of him heavy on your tongue, his cock throbbing in time with his thundering heartbeat as you swallow around him reflexively.

It's enough to send you reeling with the desperation, the desire to feel him cum down your throat, to taste his pleasure.

Half feral, you try bobbing your head, fingers hooking around Yoongi’s hips to drag him into the cradle of your face deeper, faster, harder.

Only to be met with resistance as he refuses to move, to give in to the frantic movements.

Standing stock still, he lets you tug and whine and writhe until your efforts fizzle to nothing.

And only then does he respond, bending over your body to slide a hand between your thighs.

You jerk, hiccup at the feeling of his fingers inching past the soaked hem of your panties. Brushing over the silken folds of your cunt, teasing, testing the slick arousal with his knuckles.

“Oh no, baby,” Yoongi says, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through his chest into yours, “You gotta beg me first.”

[comfys]

fave cc creators.. with notes!

this is a list of my frequently used cc creators and some of my thoughts on them. this list will be updated sporadically.

build/buy

felixandre + harrie (house of harlix) - best maxis match build creators hands down. well made, consistent, always versatile. changed the sims 4 cc game in my opinion. could write a book about why they're great.

pierisim - also extremely consistent, really well thought out sets that are essential to me.

the clutter cat - super cute items that will make your build complete. continuously improving in quality.

syboulette - extremely versatile. has build items that i use across all categories, does both alpha and mm.

peacemaker - og creator. great sets in many different styles. quality of items still improving after years in the game.

myshunosun - really cute mm stuff. always free

awingedllama - nice, down to earth sets

sixam - versatile, very cute, well made mm items across design styles.

charly pancakes - cute and dependable mm

tuds - super classy items that will elevate your build

rustic sims - unique and bold style mm items that will stand out

aira - adorable clutter stuff. really cute for kids

max20 - good stuff that blends very well with maxis

kkb - very underrated. maxis match and really useful

pinkbox-anye (aka plushpixels for mm content) - the best alpha build buy creator in my opinion. really classy and useful items

aggressivekitty - amazingly detailed items. creates large sets will tons of clutter items

novvvas - good alpha stuff

cowbuild - alpha creator

leosims - really cute items in lots of different styles

little dica - i only have few items from them because they're not really my style. but you should check them out for appliances

around the sims 4 - really useful clutter items that will bring your build to life

s-imagination - good quality mm sets

lory sims - alpha car cc

lilli's palace - traditional/historical european build items

ledger atelier/modern sims - nice alpha furniture

platinum luxe sims - luxe decor

wondymoon - alpha-ish build stuff. usually modern style

hel-studio (1, 2) - great alpha content. *warning: they are retired therefore there is a small risk their cc could break and they may not be able to fix it. i have no issues though*

clothing/cas

rimings - well made alpha clothing mostly for female sims

belaoallure - trendy, sexy alpha clothing for female sims

babyetears - cute

serenity - well made maxis match

gorilla x3 - great for male sims. well made alpha style

sentate - well made pieces for female sims

kk's creation - great for men's clothes. alpha style but looks sorta mm

joan campbell beauty - nice clothes for female sims

greenllamas - cute and fun clothes and hairs, mm

caio - good mm

woosteru - really cute mm clothes for male sims

rusty's - really nice well made mm clothes

elliesimple - classy and trendy. alpha

charlonlee - ultra hip and trendy. alpha

jius - great shoes for both genders and all ages

madlen - nice mm clothing and shoes

backtrack - fun female clothes, alpha

christopher067 - great accesories

darte77 - high quality alpha men's clothes

aretha - cute mm items geared toward younger female sims

b0t0xbrat - alpha clothes for young female sims

tommeraas - really cute stuff for infant-child sims

sifix - classy alpha clothes

simpliciaty - maxis mixy clothes, high quality alpha hairs

hair

daylife sims - elevated maxis match. bold styles

simstrouble - maxis match but detailed and high quality

dogsill - cute female hairs

shea buttyr - necessarry for black hair

imvikai - great quality mm female hairs

gegesims - really cute styles for black hair

johnnysims - great hair for guys

aharris00britney - good mm hair for female sims

simcelebrity - great mm hair for female sims

qicc - great for curly and textured hair

sleepingsims - really cute black hairstyles

aladdin the simmer - cute and detailed mm hair

khadijah551 - nice afro textured styles

ceeproductions - good quality mm hair, textured styles

ebonix - gorgeous alpha hairs for black sims

okruee - cute distinct hairs

genetics, etc.

luumia - creator of height slider and other sliders, male body hair, vanilla skin default

kijiko - creator of EA eyelash remover + 3d eyelashes

nesurii - great mm skin overlays/genetics

mclaynesims - Great tattoos for male sims!

northernsiberiawinds - both alpha and mm skin overlays and other details. very well made

twistedcat - gorgeous skin overlays and cute makeup

obscurus - great for all kinds of overlays and genetics

golyhawhaw - great body presets, skins, and other genetic items for male sims

praline sims - great for makeup, beards, accessories and more

[apollabarnes]

Smoke on the Game Changer Set

inspired by @maygrcnt's gorgeous posts here and here

"All right everybody, we've gotten a call about smoke inside. It's a studio, so lots of lights and wires. Eyes up, extinguishers out, and we should find this before it becomes a thing," Bobby said, swinging out of the captain's seat. "Chim, talk to those folks over there, they might have a better idea what's going on. Buck, Ravi, Hen, with me." "On it, Cap," Chim snapped his gum, hopping out and heading for the small group of people. "Afternoon folks, you mind if I ask you a few questions?" "If this is a studio, any chance that the smoke is from a special effect and someone's overreacting?" Hen asked, shouldering an extinguisher. "Definitely my hope," Bobby said, heading through the front door. "Any day we don't have to put a fire out is a good one in my books." He waved down a production member. "Where can I find the person in charge?"

"First doorway on the left, ask for Sam," she said, eyeing them curiously. "Sophie, we've got four firefighters asking for Sam," she continued, keying the headset she was wearing. "I called them. I'll meet them there." "Mm, okay, look for the woman with the headset that looks like she's running everything. Good luck." "Good luck?" Buck asked, falling in behind Hen. "Not going to turn it down, but don't most people want us to have good luck when we're fighting fires?" "It's Hollywood," Bobby sighed. "You should have heard some of the grips on Hotshots." "Great, you're here! I'm Sophie, I called 911." She shook Bobby's hand. "Sam's this way, you can just tell him what's going on and he'll help clear everybody out." "How many people are on set right now?" "Twenty… five? There are a few outside." "I've got a firefighter with them," Bobby assured her. "Everyone, hang here for a minute, we might need to escort them out in groups." "Ooh, is this a game show?" Ravi asked, stepping through the curtains. "This place looks like the seventies threw up on it. I love it." "Excuse me," Bobby said, beelining for the man behind the main podium. "Sam? We need to get everyone cleared out of here while we make sure there's no risk of fire." Sam craned his head around them, looking backstage. "Sophie, did — right, okay, everyone outside. We'll let the firefighters check the stage out and then resume after. Zac's still — uh-huh, outside. Don't come back in, we'll come to you." "Wait a minute. No." One of the contestants leaned across their podium, smoothing their shirt out. "These aren't firefighters. They're way too gorgeous to be firefighters." "Well, thank you, but this is serious and we really do need all of you to evacuate while we make sure that nothing is burning," Hen said, aiming a disbelieving smile at the rest of them. "He didn't say Sam Says," the other contestant interjected. "This is just another one of his plots to make sure that I can never win!" "Brennan! I've never put any of you in actual danger before, there is an actual limit to what I'm willing to do. ��There's no limit to what they're willing to do," Sam told Bobby, "I've had one of them offer to give birth on stage and others volunteer to get actual tattoos." "Uh, maybe I don't want to be on this game show," Ravi agreed, blinking at Sam. "Of course you don't, it's a torture nexus specifically designed to drive me insane," Brennan cried. "Ally, help me out here." "He really didn't say Sam Says," Ally agreed. "Definitely suspicious." "Sam Says if you go outside everyone gets a hundred points," Sam announced. "Zac's already got them because he's outside." Brennan frowned at them, squinting at each of them in turn. "That one's a nurse, he was on the episode of Hotshots where Banner came out of his coma!" He announced, pointing at Buck. "They are actors!" "Okay, well yeah, I-I did do that, but it was only because Brad was shadowing Bobby at work," Buck stammered, looking at Bobby. "Cap?" "If they refuse to leave, carry them out. We've already got most of the crew headed out the front," Bobby said, sticking a thumb over his shoulder. One cameraman had stayed behind, but otherwise the set was empty. "I swear, Sam, if this is part of the game I'm going to be extremely angry," Brennan said. "Can I get carried?" Ally asked, raising their hand. "For uh. Science." "No," Bobby said decisively, herding them towards the door. "Buck, hang back with Hen and try and find that smoke." "On it!" Chim had gathered up the rest of the crew on the other side of the truck, waving towards Bobby. "Took you a minute, did you run into trouble?" "Apparently they didn't believe that it might be an actual emergency." "Yeah… the rest of them mentioned something about that. Buck and Hen looking for the source?" "We'll wait to go back in until we know if we need the hoses or not." "Great! While we wait — Ravi, come here, I want to introduce you to Zac. Have you ever heard of a dance called the Wenis?"

[moodboardmix]

John Hejduk, "Wall House No. 2,"

Hoornse Meer, Groningen, Netherlands,

John Hejduk originally designed Wall House No. 2 in 1973 as a weekend retreat for landscape architect Arthur Edward Bye. The House was to be built in Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States. However, it wasn’t until 2001 that the structure was built as part of the Blue Moon architecture festival in Groningen. 

In this project, Hejduk uses the wall to reinterpret the traditional configuration of a house: instead of presenting the different spaces enclosed within the perimeter walls, in the Wall House 2 the rooms and the circulation systems are physically isolated from each other.

The kitchen, dining room, bedroom and living room are stacked curvilinear volumes, vertically linked by an independent circular staircase and connected to a study by a long corridor.

The wall, which Hejduk establishes between the rooms and the circulation systems so that one has to go through it to move from one room to another, becomes a passing line, a limit. A palette of yellow, green, black, brown and gray reinforces the division of the function of each volume.

Since 2004, Wall House has served cultural purposes under the Stichting Wall House Number 2 foundation, hosting artist residencies, public tours, events, and functioning as a knowledge center.

Built by Thomas Muller / van Raimann Architekten and Otonomo Architecten studios,

Photos by David Altrath

John Hejduk (1929-2000), Bye House plan for the second floor, 1974. Yellow and blue coloured pencil and graphite over diazo type on paper, 459 x 980 mm. John Hejduk fonds, Canadian Centre for Architecture © CCA.

[penguinmerchant]

New Fic binding!

I've got a new fic bind! Today I want to show off @wrenaspun's lovely fic, All This and Heaven Too. It's seriously so good and so sweet, Lamen mixed with fairytales and legends (my favorite) and it's written so beautifully. Go check it out!

Anyway, here's the bind:

It's another binding like my Captive Prince short stories bind, with the cloth on the spine and then cardstock for the printed cover. The lighthouse illustration was a custom image done by my boyfriend and I think it turned out wonderfully!

More details about the binding process under the cut.

So since this is a shorter story than some of the others I went back to a 4x6 book. It still feels very nice in hand though, I think I'm getting better at either setting the textblock in the case or just measuring better (probably that last one, I'm usually too impatient to measure correctly) but these two books are probably some of the nicest set books I've made yet.

The back has a little flourish on it too, just to spice things up a little.

Endpapers are from Wagara Studio, I seriously love this chiyogami paper, it's almost like fabric and it's so easy to use. Setting this book and my previous binding were so easy with this paper. It would make an awesome cover as well, it seems really durable.

Some inside pics, the title page and the little section break image. I really love the title page image and I kind of wish I would have done that for the cover, but the design is so detailed that it would be impossible to do with HTV and it's too big to just do with the cardstock. So it had to be split like it is, but I'm still glad this picture got included.

The bookcloth is really not this stripey/checkery, I don't know why it came out like this in pictures. Ignore the mess in the back. I have to for sure clean up my little table before starting on the next project.

Anyway, not too many notes on the actual binding process this time. I did end up making an entire cover--HTV and everything--that turned out to be too small (remember that thing I said about me being mad at measuring?) because I made the spine 9mm instead of 10mm and like a dummy I forgot to test it with the textblock before doing all the work of finishing the cover. That one mm is such a small difference but it meant that the book couldn't be closed and so I had to scrap it and start over. Gonna be testing my covers for sure before I spend so much time on the design work. Gutters on this were 5mm, foiling on the cloth (I think it's dubletta cloth) was done with HTV, foiling on the cardstock cover was done with toner reactive foil.

Author copy will soon be on its way! Everyone please wish it good luck with the postal gods.

[wittyknitter-504]

For WIP Wednesday here's your first glimpse of my latest project! I'm using my darling Chiaogoo Interchangeables US size 6 (4 mm) and 1 skein of Apple Fiber Studio yarn in the colorway Hydrangea to make the Bonita Beach Raspberry Knit Shawl by legendary knitting and crochet designer Kristin Omdahl!

[em-harlsnow]

part 2 of my tattoo speed write, find part 1 here.

Tattoo date!!

so mickey goes in to get his tattoo with ian. he’s been for a consultation already because believe it or not he doesn’t want someone to do a shoddy job of it.

he’s drawn a cross between a serpent and dragon and shown the person doing it what size he wants and where he wants it.

ian asked him to draw his ‘MM’ tattoo as well so it’s sort of cursive, or at least has some swirly patterns ingrained into it because he doesn’t just want it printed on.

the guy doing it is just covered in tattoos and piercings. mickey thinks they look sort of cool, but the piercings look way too painful for him to ever consider it. the guy sits him down in the chair and starts running through the process, even if they already talked about it in the consultation. Ian’s sitting on a chair next to him, out of the way of the tattoo artist.

“I can see you’ve already got some ink, but i still have to go through everything.” Mickey nods. “So what you want is big, so it’ll take a couple of hours. Just a reminder: it is permanent. It’s not gonna rub out or wash off.” Mickey snorts, looking down at his knuckles and the guy laughs. “Yeah, i know you know that. I’ll draw it out first so you can confirm it’s what you want. But when we actually start just let me know any time you want to take a break. It’s also common for people to faint, so let me know if you feel lightheaded.”

He makes Mickey sign some stuff which he hardly reads because he understands that a tattoo is permanent thank you very much, and he is also familiar with the healing process and the pain.

So the guy starts to draw it out and that only takes like twenty minutes, during which him and ian just have a conversation about the next gallagher family thing. Then the guy asks Mickey to check if it’s okay, and Mickey’s pleased with it.

The tattoo artist (I’ve decided his name is Zyler) leaves the room to get the ink and prepare the needles.

“are u nervous?” Ian asks him, to which mickey rolls his eyes fondly.

“no, copper cock, i’m not nervous.” Except he is a little bit because tattoos still hurt and he’s never gotten one with this much fucking preparation before.

Ian just smiles at him and grabs his hand (on the side not getting tattooed) and mickey sighs but allows him to think he’s helping (which he definitely is)

Zyler returns and starts and yep, that fucking hurts. It’s not too bad after a while, and it’s the shoulder so it’s not close to the bone. he may have been drunk and it may have been a while ago but his knuckles hurt more by miles.

Zyler talks to them, asking about how long they’ve been married. ian answers most of the questions because Mickey’s not one to chit chat with strangers when he’s not being stabbed over and over by said stranger, never mind when he is.

Around half way through, Zyler says they’ll take a 30 minute break, because they’ve been there for like an hour already.

Ian reaches over to see how it is, and Mickey yells out.

“don’t touch it, idiot!”

“I’m not going to touch it, Mick, just let me have a look.”

Mickey twists to show him the progress and Ian smiles, telling him something like ‘looks good’.

Zyler talks to Mickey some more, asking about his current tattoos. Obviously, he’s had to take his shirt off for the procedure because even with sleeveless shirts it’s just easier to take it off entirely. Mickey tells him how he got his knuckles when he was like 14, to which Zyler looks surprised but not entirely shocked. Mickey explains how he designed the one on his forearm and got some unlicensed guy in Mexico to do it for him. He explains how he gave the ‘Ian Galager’ one to himself in prison, but doesn’t elaborate.

Zyler states that the nature of his previous tattoos makes sense considering his clearly high pain tolerance.

“I mean, i’ve been shot twice, so that probably has something to do with it as well.” Mickey laughs.

Zyler looks surprised again, because he may run a tattoo studio so he meets a lot of characters, but this is a lot.

“You’ve been shot twice?”

“Yup - all of ‘em his fault.” Mickey jabs a finger at Ian, which he snorts at.

“They aren’t my fault, they’re your fault. I was just in the vicinity.”

“In the vicinity my ass, Gallagher. Your fault.”

“You were the one who got too cocky and showed off to Kash, then got too cocky again and tried to steal a fuckin’ Grandfather clock, Mick. None of that was my fault.” Ian’s laughing and Zyler laughs too, although he looks somewhat puzzled. “Also - I was the one who got someone to patch up your ass the last time you got shot.”

“Yeah, i’m so fuckin’ grateful for your kitchen table and a grandpa with a pair of pliers”

“Better than your kitchen table with all the guns and knives on it and two dirty fuckin’ forks held by your high brothers.”

Mickey just does a little eye roll, and Zyler looks all the more intrigued as he cleans the equipment to continue.

“You got shot in the ass?” Is the bit he focuses on, too interested to maintain professionalism.

“Yup. All because of him.” Ian just rolls his eyes.

“The first one was in the leg, and both were because of your stealing habits.”

“Stealing habits- I don’t? I don’t have fuckin’ stealing habits, Gallagher. You’re making be sound like a klepto.”

Ian just rolls his eyes and smiles, squeezing his hand has Zyler starts up again.

“So… how long have you been together?” He asks, because all this lore he’s learning doesn’t sound like people who’ve been married for just two years.

“Better part of eleven years.” Ian answers.

“Jesus- how old are you two?”

“I’m 26. So, I was 15 when we first got together and he was 16.”

“Wow, real high school sweethearts.”

Mickey scoffs at the term.

“Yeah, I mean. We went to the same school so technically we’ve known each other since like elementary.”

Zyler raises his eyebrows again.

“But he looked like a dork in elementary so i didn’t go near him.” Mickey adds, voice somewhat strained.

Ian slaps his arm lightly.

When they’re finished, him and ian switch positions. Mickey’s shirt is back on, but he now has a plastic plaster-thing over the new ink. He keeps looking at it, almost touching it, and Ian slaps his hand away in warning not to.

Ian doesn’t even have to ask for Mickey to hold his hand during his tattoo, because he just does it anyway.

“Any meaning behind this one?” Zyler asks as he draws out the patterned ‘MM’ on his wrist.

“His initials.” Ian gestures towards Mickey with his head. “Mikhailo Milkovich.” And Mickey chides him for saying his full name because that wasn’t necessary, Gallagher. “He drew it, too.”

“That’s sweet.” Zyler tells them. “Usually I feel like people who get each others names tattooed aren’t gonna last, but I gotta say I think you guys might be the exception.” Ian beams and Mickey grumbles around a smile.

Ian squeezes Mickey’s hand tight throughout the whole thing, much the same as how Mickey had. He gets a matching plastic wrap and they both get some care-gel thing they need to put on each night as well as a reminder to put more sunscreen on areas with ink.

Ian waves a friendly goodbye to Zyler, and Zyler has a great story to tell his coworker Sasha, who he’s been hoping to ask out soon, when she gets back from her sister’s wedding.

[leibal]

MM Residence is a minimal house located in Hoogstraten, Belgium, designed by Studio Leeman. The renovation has seamlessly extended these spaces, forging a harmonious link with the verdant garden beyond. Central to this project is the kitchen, now a culinary haven equipped with a suite of modern appliances, including a wine cooler, steamer, and integrated refrigerators.

[crystalprompter]

Crystal Prompter Delivers the Perfect Presentation Duo: POP 24 and EP 30K Now Enhancing Gimpo Art Village

On November 12, 2024, Crystal Prompter made an exciting addition to Gimpo Art Village with the delivery of their ultimate prompter setup. Known for their top-notch quality, Crystal Prompter’s products continue to impress, and this combination of the POP 24 monitor and EP 30K electric pedestal is no exception. This powerhouse duo brings efficiency and precision to presentations, raising the bar for what’s possible in professional setups.

POP 24 monitor stands out for its versatility and user-friendly design. Supporting multiple file formats, including PPT and PDF, it easily adapts to various professional settings, simplifying presentations and lectures. With a brightness of 250 cd/m² — higher than most standard monitors — and HDMI compatibility, it provides clear, vivid images that enhance the visual quality of any presentation.

Click here https://crystalprompter.com/

But what truly set the POP 24 apart was its integrated up/down and left/right inversion functions. Paired with an external converter, this feature made it possible to control presentations with just a single remote — no need for extra setups or adjustments. This streamlined approach meant presenters could focus entirely on their content, knowing the tech would work effortlessly behind the scenes.

The EP 30K electric pedestal is the perfect match for the POP 24, providing robust support with a smooth, quiet lift. With a 3-stage electric motor capable of lifting up to 30 kg to a height of 1250 mm, this pedestal handles even the heaviest setups without a hitch. Its rectangular base structure minimizes vibrations, keeping everything stable, no matter how high it’s raised. And thanks to the soft-locking system and noise-free urethane wheels crafted from lightweight aluminum, moving and adjusting the equipment is as easy and quiet as a whisper.

Together, the POP 24 and EP 30K offer a seamless, user-friendly experience that anyone can appreciate, whether for solo broadcasts, lectures, or professional presentations. Crystal Prompter has once again proven why they’re trusted by professionals who want equipment they can rely on, day in and day out. With this setup, Gimpo Art Village has a new tool for success — showing that, in the world of presentations, Crystal Prompter truly knows how to shine.

POP 24 is designed for easy and quick setup, allowing users to assemble it with minimal effort. Its portability makes it highly convenient to move and reassemble, making it adaptable for use in various locations and environments.

Convenient and Cost-Effective Electric Pedestal (EP 30K)

Crystal Prompter is your trusted partner in broadcasting, dedicated to supporting your journey every step of the way. We don’t just set up small studios — we build large-scale broadcasting environments that meet top industry standards. With years of experience, we understand your needs, big or small, and are committed to managing every situation with efficiency and stability. Our approach ensures clear, thoughtful support, always focused on what matters to you.

Let’s elevate your broadcasting together with Crystal Prompter’s dedicated support.

Visit our website to explore a wide range of products.

[quillandink333]

Kagami

Kazuma Asougi + Original Character

SPOILERS FOR THE GREAT ACE ATTORNEY CHRONICLES ~ Read ahead at your own risk!

Rating: T

Word Count: 2.1k

WARNINGS: amnesia, psychosis, child abuse, academic trauma

Summary: The apprentice prosecutor’s lost memories of his life in Japan come flooding back in a great tsunami when he sees the face of his father trapped in wax.

Masterlist

“Haha-ue!” the little boy shouted as he ran out into the garden towards his mother. “Haha-ue, guess what!”

Crouched down as she tended to one of her moss patches—the boy had always wondered why she chose to raise a moss garden, considering her niche in flower arrangement—she turned her head with a subtle smile. “Ah, Kazuma-kun. How was your iaido lesson?”

“Good.” He stood up straight and proud with his left hand around the scabbard of his quarter-size wooden sword, keeping the right concealed within his hakama. Behind him, his father and swordsmanship instructor stood in the back doorway and fondly regarded his family, having brought Kazuma home from the dojo moments ago. “I have something for you!”

“Oh?”

He took his hand out and, with a zealous bow, presented her with a fistful of dainty, pink flowers.

“My, how lovely.” She received the posy, lovingly tied together with a crude bit of decorative knottery using a piece of dried grass. “Wherever did you find these? Hopefully in the wild and not in someone else’s garden,” she sternly questioned.

“Mm! They mean, ‘I will always protect you.’”

To his utter surprise, his heartfelt gesture was met with an outburst of laughter. Even taken out of context, this was a rare sight to behold; he could probably count the number of times he’d seen his mother smile on one hand. He couldn’t make up his mind on how to feel about her reception until, once her chuckling came to a dwindle, she asked, “Kazuma-kun, do you know what kind of flower these are?”

“Oh. Uhm…” He shook his lowered head with a sheepish look on his face.

“They’re cyclamens,” his mother informed him. “Now, let me ask you another question.” Kazuma stood to attention while she pondered the best words to use. “How did you come to think the meaning of cyclamens was, ‘I will always protect you?’”

“Well, I just thought, since you always give flowers different meanings… You know, when you make arrangements for your friends from the ikebana school.”

“First of all, they’re not my friends. They’re my peers,” she stubbornly denied, though thanks to his father’s regular reassurance, Kazuma could see straight through her stoic facade to the true, tender love and care that lay beneath. “And second, there’s something you must understand about hanakotoba. It’s that you can’t simply make up whatever meaning you see fit for any flower you please.”

“You can’t?”

“No. You see, if everyone did that, there would be no order, no rhyme or reason, and hanakotoba would lose all meaning. It would have no point if you had to tell the recipient your own intended meaning for the flower you were giving them every time. Really, the very idea of that is just—”

But as her impassioned rant continued, the word ‘lost’ seemed to be written more and more boldly in the poor boy’s expression by the second.

She cut herself short, sparing him from further confusion. “Come,” she said, stashing the posey of cyclamens delicately in her kimono sleeve and rising to her feet. “I think it best that I simply show you what I mean.”

Kazuma followed his mother from the garden to the humble, six-mat section of the house designated as her flower arranging studio, but not before leaving his prized training sword with his father as she had forbidden him from bringing it into said room. Something about ‘disrupting the sacred tranquility,’ she’d explained. Despite his strong attachment to his sword, this condition of hers was of little concern. Until now, he’d never been allowed entry to his mother’s studio whatsoever. The chance to finally see what was hidden behind the doors to where she spent so much of her spare time made him forget all about having to leave behind the item he’d always carried with him everywhere at all times since the day his father had first entrusted it to him. He knew he’d get it back first thing after this anyway.

The six-year-old looked around in awe at the collection of tools and vessels of all shapes and sizes—everything a master of the delicate art of flower arrangement required—as she took a book off the tall shelf lined up against the far wall. “Come sit, Kazuma-kun.” She seated herself seiza-style on one of the mats and patted the space next to her with her empty hand. As he promptly followed her direction, plopping down beside her and mirroring her position, she opened the tome in her lap and flipped through a few of its pages.

“This is what you wanted to show me?” he questioned. Though his literacy was exceptional for his age, it only took a glance for him to figure out that the text it contained was leagues above his current reading level. There were a handful of colourless floral illustrations scattered throughout, but not nearly enough.

“Yes. This is my copy of the first and only edition of Japan’s Flower Dictionary,” she proudly stated. “Which means no touching.”

“Sorry,” muttered Kazuma as he reluctantly pulled his hand back to his lap.

She proceeded to enlighten him about the purpose of this ‘Flower Dictionary,’ pointing out the entries for each species and how their meanings originated in various legends and historical events dating back centuries, or in other cases due to their unique characteristics. “Some flowers have more than one meaning,” she went on. “For instance, cyclamens like these can express either shyness or jealousy, depending on the colour.” Kazuma nodded along with wide eyes, following her finger across the words he couldn’t read. “Do you remember your birth flower?”

“Yes! It was the Chinese bellflower,” he promptly recited. “You told me last year.”

“That’s right,” she nearly smiled. “In hanakotoba, the Chinese bellflower symbolises ‘patience’ and ‘endless love.’” This had the boy practically gagging at the girly sentiment, which made the woman’s imminent grin all the more difficult to suppress.

“Um, Haha-ue?” The little boy tugged on her sleeve. “Are there any flowers that do mean, ‘I’ll always protect you?’”

Closing the book in her lap, she smiled fondly down at him and placed an arm round his shoulders. “None that I know of, I’m afraid. But that’s alright. Cyclamens happen to be one of my favourites, you know.”

A couple of years passed by in a flash. Kazuma was eight now, and still the academic prodigy his parents and extended family took such pride in. He had to study hard; he had his father’s shoes to fill, now that he was setting off for his own studies to the distant lands of Great Britain. Despite how much he would miss spending time with him, he held his head high in his absence, knowing he was the one and only son of a future hero of Japan.

It was the day of Genshin’s departure. Kazuma and his mother were on the train back to their estate in Yokohama. It wasn’t long after their boarding that a field of striking red flowers came into view through the carriage window. The boy recognised them to be spider lilies. As he watched the world go by, he wondered to himself about what sort of meaning they carried in the language of flowers.

He was just about to voice his curiosity, but when he turned to his mother, he was stopped by the sight of her. She sat gazing out the window upon the field of crimson in deathly silence, a dark, foreboding look frozen upon her face.

In the end, Kazuma decided not to ask. Maybe he was better off not knowing, he thought. Just as he would’ve been better off never having caught sight of that grim expression of hers.

The two of them lived alone together for the following six years. All the while, they would spend each day looking forward to the next letter from London. Young Kazuma was always especially eager to hear of his father’s noble exploits. But when the day finally came that the travelling students were to return home, fate had other ideas for the Asougis. It was then, just as Kazuma was preparing to enter his teenage years, that he learned of his father’s untimely demise.

Ever since the terrible news came, his mother became more and more despondent by the day. She’d always presented a relatively distant exterior, never one to talk much about herself or her past, since as far back as he could remember. But after moving in with the Mikotobas, she rarely spoke to him or anyone else and even more rarely ventured outside. All she seemed interested in anymore was how well he performed in school. And so, he became all the more determined to excel in whatever ways available to him, just in the hopes of giving her something to smile about.

Then one day, a letter was delivered to their doorstep. A letter from London, sent by one Barok van Zieks. Except when it came, it had already been mistakenly delivered to the Asougi main family household. Of course, upon reading the contents of the letter, they disowned what was left of the broken little branch family on the spot.

The arrival of that cursed letter marked the beginning of the widow Asougi’s slow and torturous passing. Worse yet, she wasn’t the only one tortured by it. Kazuma could do little but watch as the bitterness of undue exile changed her into a cruel, heartless husk of her former self. Her transformation turned his education from an aspiration for which he’d strive into a ledge from which he’d forever dangle above the bottomless ravine of humiliation and failure. Even still, none of this made any difference to him. He knew she was not long for the world, and so he would do whatever it took to become the son his mother wanted.

Karuma, a symbol of justice once wielded by his scorned father, the heroic Asougi Genshin. It became clear the moment the illustrious sword was passed into Kazuma’s hands, that his mother’s time among them had at last reached a merciful end.

“Haha-ue,” he addressed, disrupting the impenetrable silence hanging in the air of her room. “I have a question that I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”

“What?”

“You’ve always had a passion for flowers, and for all the various meanings assigned to them over the ages, and yet you decided to raise a moss garden rather than a flower garden. Why?”

“Because moss doesn’t wither and die each year the way flowers do.” She didn’t meet his eyes when she spoke, only staring emptily up at the ceiling. “Moss stays alive and present year-round, even if it loses its bright green lustre every now and again when it isn’t watered properly. It persists, despite the strains of neglect and of the ever changing seasons.”

His eyes wandered to the white chrysanthemums and pink cyclamens placed by her pillow. He himself had diligently arranged them for her, using what small portion he’d inherited of her talent for the art. “Thank you.”

“Now I have a question for you.”

She was looking him in the eye now, her own suddenly alight with a certain conviction that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“What is it?”

“Do you deny the allegations against Genshin? Do you believe in his innocence, enough that’s you’d stake your honour on it?”

“Of course I do,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. The question required no deep thinking or internal debate. His father’s was the very face of justice in his eyes, despite the ignorant slander that the rest of the family cast upon him. “I’ve never doubted it for a second.”

“Then listen closely now.”

The night Kazuma’s mother passed away, he did not grieve, nor did he on the night of her funeral. Her parting words had awoken something within him. Something restless, unyielding, and burning with an anger that could not be quenched.

The instant he saw it, everything flashed before him all at once before he could so much as blink. It was as if he’d been seeing the world in monochrome until now. Everything suddenly had meaning. His voyage to Great Britain, his knowledge of the law, his mentor—the person responsible for utterly destroying his life—but the thing most prominently on his mind was the voice in his head.

Even now, she was barking relentlessly in his ear, berating him for having the gall to forget. It was the voice of Asougi Kagami. All this time, the one haunting his every thought and action had been the ghost of his own eternally grieving mother.

Kazuma let out a wretched, bone-chilling scream.