#Myriam Travels

[myriamas]

who: @morsmartelll​ where: the prince’s private chambers in sunspear, the night before the court are set to depart for highgarden. 

the large doors leading into the watergardens were wide open, open enough for myriam allyrion to hear the sound of the peacocks in the gardens as well as the sound of the fountains floating through the night. someone was singing somewhere in one of the courtyards, with a voice that sounded like heartbreak and symphony all wrapped into one, over the sounds of the singing peacocks. she remained sat upon a velvet recliner within the chambers of her husband, watching him with his parchment and the charcoal he used to sketch such ideas for what he wanted to leave behind in dorne. 

pieces of architecture so complex in their patterns of symmetry and mosaic it would no doubt take years to complete such works, and yet she knew it were something he wished to pursue. 

would they ever see them? there were certain things that the reigning prince of dorne did not wish to waste funds or attention on, and as much as her husband tried his hardest to find a balance between his own vision for dorne and that which his father wanted, she knew it were an impossible task when the two were so different. for how many years had he put aside his wants and his thoughts, for the sake of duty? for how many years had she put aside her own wants and thoughts, for the sake of duty? perhaps the levels of freedom and happiness he had always ensured to grant her were only a reflection of the little he felt like he had. 

she remained sat upon the recliner, watching the light of the moon bounce against the dark tresses of his hair that fell slightly over his eyes. and it felt as though she were watching the sunrise and the sunset all at once. wordlessly, she rose to her feet, making her way onto the balcony to join him in the night air; there was no need to speak, for he would have heard the jingle of her anklets. her bangles. slipping into the space seamlessly beside him, as there had always been a space for her beside him all these years...all fifteen of them. 

“and what is this one supposed to be?” she asked, referring to the sketch upon the parchment.

her hand rested upon the mosaic tile that protected them from the drop below, leaning upon it as she peered over at his sketch. only, her wide almond kohl lined orbs only looked up at him. something on the very tip of her tongue, something that she wished to ask. something else that she wished to say. why it felt as though something had come to an end. that when she looked upon him, she loved him. she loved him so. she loved him fiercely. she was not in love with him. 

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in May 2024 🌈

🌈 Good morning, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Farzana's Spite - Felix Graves 🧡 Archangels of Funk - Andrea Hairston 💛 How It Works Out - Myriam Lacroix 💚 Queer History A to Z - Robin Stevenson, Vivian Rosas 💙 Queerceañera - Alex Crespo 💜 Second Night Stand - Karelia Stetz-Waters, Fay Stetz-Waters ❤️ You Can Call Me Cooper - Cali Kitsu 🧡 Gooseberry - Robin Gow 💛 Grand Slam Romance - Ollie Hicks, Emma Oosterhous 💙The Witches of Silverlake - Simon Curtis, Stephanie Son 💜 Drawn to the Enemy - Barbara Winkes 🌈 The Truth of Our Past - Heather Leighson

❤️ Infaust - T.D. Cloud, Ambi Sun 🧡 Garner for Gold - Catherine Labadie 💛 The Z Word - Lindsay King-Miller 💚 Snake Charming - Genevieve McCluer 💙 The 7-10 Split - Karmen Lee 💜 Loving Jemima - Sienna Waters ❤️ The Potion Gardener - Arden Powell 🧡 A Swift and Sudden Exit - Nico Vincenty 💛 The Worst Ronin - Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Faith Schaffer 💙 Murray Out of Water -Taylor Tracy 💜 The Guncle Abroad - Steven Rowley 🌈 The Weight of What Was - Pip Landers-Letts

❤️ The Amazing Alpha Tau Pledge Project - Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey 🧡 I Met Death & Sex Through My Friend, Tom Meuley - Thom Vernon 💛 Malicia - Steven dos Santos 💚 The Sins on Their Bones - Laura R. Samotin 💙 SLUTS: Anthology - Michelle Tea 💜 You Should Be So Lucky - Cat Sebastian ❤️ Death's Country - R.M. Romero 🧡 Cinema Love - Jiaming Tang 💛 The Brides of High Hill - Nghi Vo 💙 Emma - Jenna Kent 💜 Wish We Were There - Lionel Hart 🌈 A Troublemaker in Her Eyes - Genta Sebastian

❤️ I Make Envy on Your Disco - Eric Schnall 🧡 Lavash at First Sight - Taleen Voskuni 💛 Queer Power Couples - Hannah Murphy Winter, Billie Winter 💚 In Repair - A.L. Graziadei 💙 A Heart Divided - Angie Williams 💜 Long After We Are Gone - Terah Shelton Harris ❤️ The Queen of Steeplechase Park - David Ciminello 🧡 Lunar Boy - Jes Wibowo, Cin Wibowo 💛 Hot Boy Summer - Joe Jiménez 💙 Sunhead - Alex Assan 💜 The Summer Love Strategy - Ray Stoeve 🌈 Into the Mouth of the Wolf - Erin Gough

❤️ The Girl in Question - Tess Sharpe 🧡 The Lost Erwain - Mariah Stillbrook 💛 Starfire - Naomi Hughes 💚 Adrift - Sam Ledel 💙 Shanghai Murder - Jessie Chandler 💜 April May June July - Alison B. Hart ❤️ A Bone in His Teeth - Kellen Graves 🧡 Cabin Fever - Tagan Shepard 💛 Don't Be a Drag - Skye Quinlan 💙 The Ride of Her Life - Jennifer Dugan 💜 The Redemption of Daya Keane - Gia Gordon 🌈 Nearlywed - Nicolas DiDomizio

❤️ The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 🧡 The End of Time - Trudie Skies 💛 Silent Ones - Melissa Polk 💚 Prime Time Travelers - Neil Laird 💙 My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna van Veen 💜 The Honey Witch - Sydney J. Shields ❤️ Spitting Gold - Carmella Lowkis 🧡 Last Chance - Claire Highton-Stevenson 💛 Road Home - Rex Ogle 💙 Only for Convenience - Shannon O'Connor 💜 Linus and Etta Could Use a Win - Caroline Huntoon 🌈 Finding Molly Parsons - Alyson Root

❤️ Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding - Maia Kobabe, Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier 🧡 See You Next Month - Jamey Moody 💛 Until You Say My Name - Tatum Schroeder 💚 Disembark - Jen Currin 💙 True Love and Other Impossible Odds - Christina Li 💜 Flyboy - Kasey LeBlanc ❤️ Thirsty - Jas Hammonds 🧡 Hands Off - N. Slater 💛 Flooded Secrets - Claudie Arseneault 💙 The Deer and the Dragon - Piper C.J. 💜 To Be Loved - Frank G. Anderson 🌈 Snowblooded - Emma Sterner-Radley

❤️ Blood Remains - Cathy Pegau 🧡 Blood on the Tide - Katee Robert 💛 We Were the Universe - Kimberly King Parsons 💚 Loyalty - E.J. Noyes 💙 Spirits and Sirens - Kelly Fireside 💜 Clean Kill - Anne Laughlin ❤️ The Worst Perfect Moment - Shivaun Plozza 🧡 Oye - Melissa Mogollon 💛 Here for the Wrong Reasons - Annabel Paulsen, Lydia Wang 💙 Exhibit - R.O. Kwon 💜 Experienced - Kate Young 🌈 Parenting with Pride - Heather Hester

❤️ Road to Ruin - Hana Lee 🧡 Meet Me in Berlin - Samantha L. Valentine 💛 The Advice Columnist - Cade Haddock Strong 💚 where lost & hopeless things go - Bryony Rosehurst 💙 Pit Stop - Ellis Mae 💜 The Switchboard - Christina K. Glover ❤️ In the Shallows - Tanya Byrne 🧡 Have You Seen This Girl - Nita Tyndall 💛 Another First Chance - Robbie Couch 💙 The Only Light Left Burning - Erik J. Brown 💜 Keepers of the Stones and Stars - Michael Barakiva 🌈 A Little Kissing Between Friends - Chencia C. Higgins

[acircusfullofdemons]

DAYDREAMTOBER 2024 [01 / HOME]

╭──→ 💭 ──  DAYDREAMTOBER 2024

│ 🌫️ PROMPT ❞ 01 / home

│ 🌫️ PARAS ❞ n/a

│ 🌫️ PARACOSM ❞ eternal labyrinth

│ 🌫️ WORD COUNT ❞ 733

╰──────────── 🤍

There is one consistent location in my paracosms that shows up time and time again. That being, RoseWood Manor. I have made a post talking about it, though it’s a bit old and slightly outdated, so consider this a re-introduction of sorts. 

OVERVIEW

RoseWood Manor was built in the late 1600s for a wealthy vampire by the name of Richard Irvine. To assist in managing the house, Richard employed Emory Warwick and Myriam Travers. This proved to be a horrible mix, as the two quickly caught on that something wasn’t right with the house or their boss. Unfortunately, they ended up turning their suspicion on each other, leading Emory to become a cat and Myriam to become a poltergeist. 

With those two out of commission, Richard continued to employ anyone who was willing to work for him over the years. Most were merely servants, tending to the various guests the manor had and making sure it didn’t fall into disrepair. 

Due to the nature of his job — nobody truly knows what he does — Richard has to travel frequently, causing him to leave the manor in the care of a handful of trusted employees. The current caretaker of the manor is Daniel Hayward, with assistance from Emory Warwick. 

The manor’s location is…questionable. To sum up, it varies. Not like it actually teleports — I don’t think so, anyway — it just…exists in a lot of places at once. Notable locations include: 

Earth IV [Florida, USA]

Arcadia [Dustlosa, Nidre, Verona]

Earth I [Tulgey Wood, Heart Kingdom]

LAYOUT

On the surface, RoseWood’s layout is nothing special. It is your typical old mansion, complete with a basement, three floors, and an attic. Also on the property is a greenhouse, pool (with an accompanying pool house), stables, and an infirmary. Of course, renovations have been made, and this was built for a vampire, after all.

Note that some rooms have been assigned different purposes over time.

Basement: Divided into two layers. Layer 1, the lower part, is hidden from most residents. It is full of old torture equipment. Layer 2, the upper part, is the layer that is accessible to all residents. It’s a normal basement, and where the laundry room is located. 

Floor 1 [Necessities]: Includes the lobby, dining room, kitchen, living room, training room, and a half-indoor pool that leads outside. 

Floor 2 [Rooms]: Where most bedrooms are located. All rooms have a built-in bathroom. Other than that, there isn’t really anything special here.

Floor 3 [Entertainment]: Full of paranormal activity, which is unfortunate as this is where most of the entertainment is. Includes a music room, office, med bay, library, art gallery, and an investigation room. 

Attic: An oddly normal attic. I mean, there’s probably weird ass shit up there, but the space itself isn’t anything special. 

TERRORS

As if RoseWood wasn’t a nightmare enough, there are also “Terrors”: supernatural occurrences that cannot otherwise be explained. They also can’t be avoided or prevented. 

Shifts: Every night the layout of the house changes. It’s usually small differences, often feeling like you just went down the wrong hallway. Sometimes, though, rooms will change floors completely, leaving guests lost and confused. It is recommended you do not leave your room past 11:00 PM. 

Mirrors: If you look into a mirror for a long period of time (the exact time seems to vary/is unknown), then there’s a large chance of getting possessed or accidentally creating a Doppelganger. Said Doppelganger will then try to kill you and take your place. 

Rain: Sometimes it will rain blood. Thankfully, this only happens during a blood moon, so it’s not as bad as the others. 

Woods: The surrounding woods are full of various dangerous fauna and flora. They can mostly be avoided by staying on set paths and knowing where you’re going. Still, it's best not to wander too far.

RESIDENTS

Due to its nature, RoseWood has many rotating residents that largely depend on the time and location. However, there are a few that are tied to the place, whether they like it or not. 

Emory Warwick: Mysterious stray cat that somehow knows everything. 

Delilah Warwick: Emory’s sister. Haunts RoseWood as a ghost. 

Myriam Travers: Poltergeist that haunts RoseWood’s mirrors. 

Claude, Cyril, Céleste Aydelotte: Siblings that worked for Richard in the 1790s. The twins (Cyril & Céleste) died, then later drove their brother to insanity. All three haunt RoseWood as spirits, Claude as a ghost & the twins as poltergeists. 

Willow Murphy & Connor Wolfe: Ghost girl & cannibalistic werewolf that live in the surrounding woods. 

At least two ghosts in the music room.

At least one ghost in the interrogation room.

Just a lot of spirits in general.

[butterfly-poetry]

Spied on, observed, analyzed by the universe that has put us here, without instructions.

Lost in this labyrinth of gray, icy, disquieting walls, but paved with bright hopes where the muffled footsteps of intoxicating euphoria echo.

A riddle to be solved with the few clues he carelessly leaves at the bend of a choice, at the foot of this statue petrified of having dared to escape.

He has a plan, but won't reveal it until this quest for self is complete, until the blindfold of ignorance obscures the glimmer in our eyes, until the road chosen at the crossroads of decisions ends in a dead end.

This universe, allied to the impetuosity of the elements, is certainly not maternal, jostling us with intent to gauge our determination, instilling fire and ice on this windswept earth.

A wind of madness, gentle or furious, a traveling wind, sirocco or blizzard, an uncompromising wind, which annihilates or fecundates, a wind blowing on our souls as they question themselves in this maze, searching for a meaning to give to their wanderings.

I've seen some sitting on a bench, having given up and wept, others confident, rushing headlong, crashing at the first bend, some reflecting before cautiously taking off, and those, the carefree, who let themselves be carried nonchalantly by these winds, riding their destiny without doubting their destination.

This is undoubtedly the famous plan, to help us discover who we are,

To take the time to stop and cry for a moment, and then to set off again, taming the winds in this intoxicating rodeo.

And the universe winks.

© Myriam Ghezaïl Ben Brahim ❤️🥀

5th February 2024

Work by: Skaviński

[asgoodeasgold]

A Discovery of Witches Real Time Read Ch40

"‘No,’ Em said, her voice steely. ‘Don’t think about Jefferson. Think about Matthew.’ ‘Matthew.’ I brought my mind back to the touch of his cool fingers against my skin, the rich sound of his voice, the sense of intense vitality when we were together. I picked up my foot.

It landed in the corner of the stillroom, where I was squashed behind an old barrel. ‘What if she gets lost?’ Matthew sounded tense. ‘How will we get her back?’ ‘We don’t have to worry about that,’ Sophie said, pointing in my direction. ‘She’s already here.’ Matthew whipped around and let out a ragged breath."

Trialling time walking is playing havoc with the vampires' nerves. He is pacing like a caged wolf (💥swagger💥). But all is well, Diana has got it sussed out. The trick is not to think about Jefferson apparently.

And for @dbrast, Myriam's "I can't believe this" look when Matthew tells Diana he knew she could do time travel, having fretted like mad a mere seconds before 🤣

Reel with music

🎶 I will wait for you by Mumford and Sons (IG music library)

📷 Sky/Bad Wolf A Discovery of Witches (2018) s1:08 my edit

Link to song

[burlveneer-music]

My WVUD playlist, 3/17/2025

Micro Moon - Border Eva Simó & Myriam Hidber Dickinson - Winds' Wander & Vigil, Folklore Suite No. 2: III. Valley of Thorn Michelle Nicole - March in D'Ornette Mice On Stilts - Edge of the Garden The Fauns - Doot Doot Numün - Awaken Mirrored Daughters - Unreturning Sun Mandrake Handshake - King Cnut Archive - Fool (2024 Remaster) Steven Wilson - Objects Outlive Us: Objects: Meanwhile Alabaster DePlume - A Paper Man Pretty Lightning - Peek A Boo Infierno de Dante - Inseguridad Mighty Jupiter & The Mooncake Band - Interstellar Yacht Futuropaco - Terra Che Non Respire Amy Gadiaga - All Black Everything Collignon - Terra Nigra Bjonko - Enigma (feat. Eliel Lazo) Curtis Hasselbring - Bee Alley On-Ly - Bosco II The Lewis Express - Cold Catch (feat. Chip Wickham) Angelo Outlaw - Time Traveler

[stocky2016]

"Guessing Games"

(Dedicated to all those Valentine senders and their innocent expressions of love and affection given or exchanged.) A collab from Geoff and his "somewhat under the weather" writing partner Myriam. Get well soon "M"

Why do we play these guessing games…

when over the years, and from time to time

you’ve unwittingly become my focus for attention

my special and favoured Valentine?

Think back to that first Valentine’s card received,

and the person you suspected had sent it...

Those subsequent enquiries and questions asked

and your supposedly subjective "identikit"

Valentine’s Day, a rare opportunity to be outrageous…

and although maybe not realised at the time ,

The expression of those freed up and risqué feelings

that might indeed become contagious.

Valentine's Day, the day we express our heavenly love,

but why limit love to a specific date?

Love is an eternal fire that never stops,

It should burn in our hearts, every single day.

A day to celebrate love, why not always?

love is not confined to a single day..

Every dawn, every dusk, a sincere outpouring,

to say "I love you" to the one who brings one back to life.

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to remember...

that love must be cultivated, cherished without interruption.

A day to love each other more than usual,

then why not make a habit of it?

A day to celebrate the intoxication of shared feelings,

also a day, to immerse ourselves in this ocean of friendship.

Valentine's Day, an ephemeral poem in time,

love"s an infinite poem that we write to ourselves in every moment.

So let’s have some fun on this auspicious occasion…

be open-minded, over someone who cares...

enough to buy and write you a poem, or

even purchase of a bouquet of flowers?

When the soul searches for its other half,

it travels through the universe's eternity,

It discovers, at last, the deeper meaning,

of a love that transcends even the most distant horizon.

In the shadow of fleeting loves,

she feels the bitter rippling waves,

But when the other half appears,

light illuminates all, and true love, at last, appears.

Yesterday's lovers, bland and fleeting,

are eclipsed by this exquisite love

that binds two hearts, already compatible,

a fusion of souls, tender and lasting.

The farewells of others, were just a preamble,

to this unique encounter, a sublime appendix,

The soul blossoms, undoing scruples,

In pure love, without any shadow or perplexity.

Then the truth bursts forth,

the mystery of predestined bonds,

True love, well deserved,

writes its story, in golden letters.

Separated, but only to find each other again,

the union of souls, an enchanted destiny,

In the dance of time, eternity,

two halves merge, a sacred perpetuity.

(Pictures courtesy of Google Images)

© Geoff Stockton  in close collaboration with his co-writing Muse and unique poetess © Myriam Ghezaïl Ben

[loksthegreat]

alyssa's aegon lives au?! oh my god i need to know everything about him and his little fambly please <33333333333

Of course!!! So in my fic Aegon survives but Alyssa still dies, which leaves Daemon and Aegon in the care of good queen Alysanne (same as Visenya when she is born a few years later) and they all grow up together, until Daemon marries Rhea in 97 AC and Visenya joins her father at court in 101 AC. Aegon was always sort of the most reasonable of the trio and while he absolutely loves and adores his brother and honorary little sister he really is a big introvert who had rather not get caught up in the intrigues of court and politics, so he stayed away even when he had wanted to marry Visenya and missed Daemon in the years they where apart. Aegon just sorta stayed on Dragonstone after his grandmothers passing in 100 AC and spend his free time traveling across the narrow sea on dragonback. He was only 3 and 10 when he and Daemon parted ways after the older wedding and by the time the brothers reunited Aegon had grown nearly a head and a half taller than the rogue prince and had come to be a man of hulking build in the way Targaryen men rarely were. Aegon had cut his hair short and worn unadorned clothes for the longest time as a young man, as he hoped it had made him look less Targaryen as he always felt he lacked the connection Daemon, Visenya and even Viserys had with their heritage, but by the time he returned from a longer stay in Braavos in 114 AC it had grown long enough to be worn in a pony tail again and Aegon refrained from cutting it again as his new found lover the son of the Sealord of Braavos, Galeo Materys, was quite found of it. In 114 AC Aegon came back to Westeros for the wedding of his younger niece, Rhaenyra, and ended up agreeing to his brother the kings offer to become a member of the small council, a position he would soon resign from after the death of his lover in Braavos at the hands of his own brother Daemon in the following year, an incident that would leave a deep slight on the brothers relationship for the years to come. Aegon left kings landing as well as Dragonstone and would never return. Visenyas sworn shield Ser Lyle Bracken had offered Aegon to make himself at home in his ancestral home, with the tall knights sister lady Barissa Bracken for company and though Aegon did not stay within the hospitality of the odd woman that was the lady of stone hedge for long his time in the Riverlands served to heal his broken heart as he found a friend and companion to many a feast or tourney in lady Myriame Blackwood, who was a maiden of 26 years, with raven black hair, a never wavering smile and eyes that seemed to dance with laughter at all times of the day. It was no surprise when the two announced their betrothal and married under the heart tree of raven tree hall where they would raise their daughters Alyssa and Rhae. If rumor is to be believed Alyssa would be taught in the dark arts of the north by her mothers grandmother old lady Ronna, while Rhae, drawn in by the secrets of her valyrian heritage would seek to master magic of fire and blood.

I love Aegon and have so many thought on him just no way to really put them all into words adequately yet, so if you have anymore questions let me know!! Hope you enjoyed <3

Art of Aegon here:

[iamthespineofmybook]

I was reading a fanfic and it prompted me to come up with stuff for my FFXIV character.

Specifically, it was a chapter based on a Worst Nightmare situation in the source material, so I asked myself "what is Myriam Sangvitrail's greatest fear? After all, the Warrior of Light has fought so many insane things."

And then I settled on it: isolation. Not just being alone, she does solo stuff a lot. It's specifically being cut off from everyone. Unable to reach out and get a response.

The Walk to the End was the worst time of her life, only barely able to keep moving thanks to the prayers and memories of those depending on her back on Etheirys.

And then I extrapolated on this, and came up with this, from their POV:

"My first memory was of being alone, walking. Well, more like shambling. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know where I came from. I didn't even know who I was. All I knew was loneliness and pain from uncounted wounds.

"I eventually blacked out, and when I came to, I saw a beautiful, kind face keeping watch over me, the pain gone."

So, yeah. I have myself a character who craves travel and adventure, wants to see everything the worlds have to offer, and is absolutely terrified of having no one she can rely on.

[dastan-allyrion]

Closed starter for @myriamas & @baashirdayne Setting: Starfall, Dorne. Before Myriam and Bash' wedding. Upon returning to their homeland, the members of House Allyrion are still reeling over the disappearance of Mayya, the youngest of the siblings. Mere days after their return home, they get an unexpected invitation to travel to Starfall.

Dastan had not been to Starfall in years. He wouldn't say there was direct animosity between himself and Baashir's family, but there certainly was no closeness. After his sister made him privy to the treatment she received from the lord's mother, the Lord of Godsgrace opted to keep a certain distance from those who thought so lowly of Myriam. He wouldn't have someone look down on her or speak as if she was less than them. Yet here he was, accompanied by his lady mother, simply because Myriam asked that he accept the invitation.

His sister had travelled from Sunspear and was to meet them here. Notice of their arrival had been sent to Lord Dayne, and meanwhile, Lady Ashara Allyrion rested on one of the sofas, nursing her spiced chai as they waited while Dastan slowly walked across the room. Neither his mother nor he said it, but they both had a mild suspicion of what this visit might be about.

The gates opened then, and Lord Baashir Dayne walked in, accompanied by the Dowager Lady of Starfall and by Myriam.

[myriamas]

who: @dastan-allyrion when and where: the allyrion apartments within sunspear's old palace, myriam takes the evening to enjoy the company of her family, including her mother who had surprised her by travelling from godsgrace to meet her newest granddaughter.

the soft glow of the lanterns in the allyrion apartments bathed the room in warm light, casting long shadows that danced with the flickering flames. myriam leaned back against the plush cushions of the divan, her rust-colored sari flowing around her like a pool of liquid warmth. gold embroidered threads glinted beneath the lantern light, a reflection of the joy she felt inside as she watched her family gather around.

"ma!" myriam called, leaning her head back on her chair as the woman stilled in the doorway; she had nearly forgotten her hair clip. "you forgot your hair clip." she jumped to her feet and took it to her mother, the sounds of her anklets jingling and voluminous dark unruly curls bouncing before returning back to her chair, hearing the distant sounds of leila chiding her grandmother.

myriam’s heart swelled with contentment at the sight of her mother's rare smile, knowing that even in these dark times, her family remained her anchor. myriam leaned back in the cushioned seat, her golden sari pooling like a river of sunlit autumn leaves around her. she felt a fleeting sense of peace. she had to admit, it felt like everything was just as it had been, in those days before the womanhood had called her to sunspear.

the evening had been quiet, with only the soft crackle of the fireplace to break the silence now that the house had settled into the kind of peaceful lull that was rare in the whirlwind of court life. dastan sat across from her, still holding hasaryn in his lap, the toddler’s small fingers curled tightly around his father’s finger. myriam smiled softly as she adjusted inaaya into the arms of an attendent, the newborn’s gentle, steady breathing a balm to her frayed nerves.

"i love their smell." she spoke to dastan, her eyes sparkling slightly the way they always did when she had drunk some of her favorite red wine. or rum. "newborns, they have this smell. when i cuddle her, i could sniff her all day." she laughed at the way she sounded incredibly unstable, walking over to kiss the top of hasaryn's head. "i swear, dastan," myriam said, her voice light and teasing as she looked over to her brother, "this boy's going to be a warrior before he's even out of nursing. look at him, already planning his battles." she watched as hasaryn made a clumsy attempt to swipe with his toy sword, and couldn’t help but laugh.

"at this rate, he'll be teaching us all how to fight before we even realize it." gone were the days where she had screamed and shattered glass about hasaryn having half valyrian parentage; just as many things did for myriam, it had passed. she bopped hasa on the top of the head with his own toy sword, before leaning backward. "thanks for keeping contact when you were on the front lines. i didn't count how many hours the ravens usually took or anything."

[baashirdayne]

| @myriamas | | setting :: some time after returning from the vale bash and myriam discuss their plans going forward as bash adjusts to his position as her first minister. | banter length

"I scheduled meetings with members of the council, chances to discuss with them the plans moving forward. There are still conflicts out there. I believe the Manwoody's are currently experiencing a conflict as well as the conflict for the Jordaynes with the Toland's. I have men prepared to join my cousin and help him deal with these concerns should he need further assistance. Shouldn't take much to handle. The Jordaynes are a force of their own. And, of course, my family." And of course, the blood of the Dawn Age would fortify the greatness of any house.

"The little Princess should have guards around her at all times. My brother will join her household upon his return from Alayim. I've informed him it's time to come home." The brother who travelled out while Baashir took his role as the the ruling lord seriously and now it looked as if that would mean something different as well. Dorne needed the unify. The great house needed to protect their princess.

Bash closed the door to her office. Her office. What a strange thought. With her stewardship over the Princess it makes her the most powerful woman in Dorne and he was glad to serve her. Some would whisper though none would be fool enough to whisper in his hearing. The Princess wouldn't kill the late Prince nor would he have done so using poison. In his mind it ruled them out. And made everyone else the main suspects. Did he care enough to investigate? No. Let someone else take on the task.

"Princess." He pulled out the chair for her. "I'm going to eat now." Bash moved to his own seat, removing his gloves as he started to pile on his plate. "What are you doing today?"

[teakwoodtimes]

The cost per person to be able to register with a travel company to leave Gaza via Rafah costs 5,000 USD per adult and 2,500 USD per child under 14 years old.

There are 5 adults, my mum Sawsan, my dad AbdAlhakeem, my sister Reem and my brothers Ibrahim and Amjad. Reem has 4 kids, Myriam, Aboud and Eid who are all under 14.

The cost for 5 adults is of 25000 USD and the cost for the children of 10,000 USD, for a total of 35000 USD.

[armaans]

who: @ryonwyl when and where: semi-flashback thread, set during the dornish court's travels to kings landing, however set prior to the disappearance of lady mayya allyrion. the news has reached the dornish court that the dragon king had extended a hand of betrothal to their princess regent, and the news of an upcoming summit between the marcher lords of dorne and the stormlands is making the rounds.

house wyl remained the closest of all the dornish marcher lords to the borders they now shared with the dragon: and it appeared as though the wyl of wyl was able to start, or avoid a war, at the mere call of his men and the actions he would take along the boundaries of his lands. boundaries that were not clear, and that in itself was enough of a red flag.

"what do you think?" armaan asked, sat across from the man who had been in his life for as long as he could remember: wyl was to the north of the mighty fortress that was yronwood, and the two houses were closely associated. no doubt, house wyl had remained loyal to the ancient kings of yronwood during the days of old - something that could be seen here and now.

he spoke of the upcoming summit arranged between the dragon king's marcher lords and their own; and as much as he made a futile attempt to try and see there could be some benefit, he already understood it would go nowhere. the least they could do was ensure it did not result in bloodshed or blades being drawn whilst they remained within the lands of the dragon.

the man's legs remained up upon the table in the yronwood apartments within the hayford keep, which in itself was enough of a snub. "it is better than a marriage between himself and the princess regent." he commented, wondering why it was he picked myriam specifically - there were martell princesses that were available. no doubt baashir was somewhere asking himself the same question - the thought crossed his mind, and only brought his mood slightly more sullen. another thing to discuss.

[tikhanovlibrary]

Gilles, by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle

Pierre Drieu La Rochelle was a french author of more than a dozen novels and numerous essays and poetry collections. A relentless critic of the French Third Republic, he drifted in every political and artistic current of his time, going from surrealism to socialism to fascism, he refused to ever be tied down to any single movement or ideology. As a surrealist, he traveled in the same circles as Louis Aragon, Gaston Bergery, and André Breton, but eventually fell out with the group over a love dispute. As a Socialist, he briefly flirted with pacifism and was involved with early-pan Europeanist movements, that would later go on to influence the founding of the European Union, however he found the Socialism of Paris entirely too Bourgeoisie, and drifted towards more reactionary ideas, eventually publishing a synthesis of his political thought titled Socialisme fasciste. As a collaborator during the German occupation of France, he petitioned for the release of Jean-Paul Sartre (among other intellectuals) from prison, and helped Jean Paulhan escape capture by the Nazis. For La Rochelle, the turbulent politics of his time were subsumed by an aesthetic disgust with bourgeoisie life, and this theme is present in all of his works. At the end of the war, hiding at the house of his friend André Malraux, he committed suicide by swallowing poison.

Best known in the English speaking world for his book Le Feu Follet, which was adopted into an acclaimed French nouvelle-vague film, Pierre Drieu La Rochelle considered the semi-autobiographical Gilles to be his greatest work. The acclaimed literary critic Gaëtan Picon wrote that Gilles “is, without any doubt, one of the greatest novels of the century—and one of those books in which the disarming sincerity of a man rises to the grandeur usually reserved to literary transpositions.”

The novel begins during the First World War, where the hero Gilles returns from the front after being badly wounded, his regiment having been decimated. Penniless, he asks his friends, the wealthy Falkenberg brothers, for help, only to discover that both of them had died. Their sister, Myriam, falls in love with him and helps him financially; although he does not respond to her love, Gilles accepts her support. He even decides to marry her when her father's death makes her a wealthy heiress. The day after the wedding, he leaves her, joins the army again and has a love affair with a nurse, whom he in turn leaves.After the war, Gilles frequented social circles and profited from his ex-wife's money. More or less unwillingly, he is drawn into a plot against the President of the Republic, Morel, after making friends with Morel's son-in-law, Gilbert de Clérences, and meeting Caël, the leader and almost guru of a dandy political group. The ridicule of intellectuals, the grotesquerie of events, the cowardice and demagoguery of politicians—compounded by the departure of Dora, an American girl he loved—leads him to leave France and seek refuge in Algeria. There he meets a simple, wholesome young girl, Pauline, with whom he experiences a true love affair for the first time. Gilles returns to Paris, however. Still disgusted with society and politics, he starts a newspaper and, after 6 February 1934, decided to join the only ideology capable of radically changing society and regenerating France: Fascism. After the death of Pauline and the child she was expecting, Gilles chooses to be alone, and joins Franco's side in the Spanish Civil War.

Despite his immense standing in the French inter-war literary scene, and his close relations with many of the most prominent writers and intellectuals of his time, Pierre Drieu La Rochelle has, because of his politics, been largely ignored by the Anglo literary establishment. His masterpiece, Gilles, has gone untranslated for the last seventy years… until now. Tikhanov Library has released the first three chapters of Gilles on substack, and is releasing the novel in serialized. We are adding new chapters every week, for free, to the public. You can read the first chapter here:

Tikhanov Library is an independent publishing company founded in Lund, British Columbia. To read Gilles and many other books, both reprints and new releases, visit our website at www.tikhanovlibrary.com | Our catalogue includes books by Alexis de Tocqueville, Dimitri Alioshin, and F.T. Marinetti, among other authors. We are constantly updating our catalog with new books and deals.

[stocky2016]

(Please read this collab between Myriam and I as one of personal sacrifice. Myriam is currently not at all well, in fact hardly at her "creative best" and yet she still made a momentous effort and show# what a gifted writer she is in this piece. I hope you can find the time to enjoy our joint efforts.)

"Feeding your Spirit and Soul"

Discovering your soul

is my sole sojourn, my ultimate ambition

I feel your willing compliance

might be interpreted as an invitation.

You seem to respond to my gentle approach

the seductiveness of my suggestion

in now way a "pushy" encroach.

but your soul's illusive my search as yet inconclusive.

Is it a "cognitive" or an "emotional" state

I guess It doesn't matter really,

my attentions are to relate and discover

to caress and reassure you empathetically.

My motives are solely aspirational

totally pure to motivate and inspire your creativity

to add to your well established resources

that already produce such wonderful poetry.

I imagine your soul to be a haven, a resting place

it matters not where in you it might be located

A place of the most sensitively cushioned-velvet

offering a warmth and welcome, unabated.

When one day perhaps I 'm successfully sleeping beside you

and find the reality of what I'm looking for

you'll realise and share with me that unified privilege

that wants to mature and complete you.

In the soft glow of the starry night,

I want to slip into your soul in secret,

tenderly snuggle, surrender,

like a weary traveller finds shelter.

Let me wrap myself in your inner warmth,

and let my worries float away,

It's where time has no hold, where all is pure,

where my dreams and yours blend fearlessly.

I want to melt into the weave of your thoughts,

and lose myself in the meanders of your quiet mind.

Find refuge in the recesses of your being,

and fall asleep peacefully.

in the gentle embrace of our intertwined souls.

Where silences speak and emotions are revealed,

I want to find refuge, I want to surrender,

in the harmony of your soul, to fall asleep there for eternity.

31st January 2024

https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=lyrics%20to%20court%20and%20spark&tbm=vid&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

© Geoff Stockton  in close collaboration with his remarkable co-writing Muse and poetess © Myriam Ghezaïl Ben Brahim