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mapping-elysium · 8 months ago

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Coast Orb: Snow Shivers

WEST

More coast with abandoned buildings and piers

Pre-revolution effort to gentrify the coast

Coal city

Boom town from when revachol was powered mostly by coal

“in the shadow of Saint-Martin”

Supplanted by offshore petroleum and hydropower from Esperance

Infrastructure crumbled. Now a poor area “only the weakest remain”

Below the mines: L'Ossuaire Municipal, Revachol's underground cemetery

Les Petits rats attempt to to find Le Royaume (royal burial chambers)

EAST

Canal and Martinaise

[see PLAZA ORB] whitest part of town

Run-off point of a long forgotten canal

NORTH

Church

1 of 2 remaining stave churches

Originally of a set of 8 called Les Sept Souers “other six sisters were destroyed during the revolutions”

World’s end

Islets

Sea Fortress: The 114th Anti-Aircraft Division of the 4th Army of the Commune of Revachol

Résurrection: Popular spa for Ozonne residents

A couple of other islets scattered and uninhabited

Martinaise Inlet

Bay of Revachol

1200 m depth

Ozonne

SOUTH

8/81 - raised motorway

Separates Martinaise from Jamrock

Buildings under the motorway (Labyrinthine alleyways)

The Pox

Once a park for the Old Military Hospital

In the 20s was a quarantine center during measles outbreak

Abandoned after the outbreak

Completely wild now, overrun by feral dogs and wolves

Police keep deepest corners cordoned off

Precinct 41

Line of motor garages

Repurposed silk mill

Central Jamrock

Utility district - Library, florist, saramisizian restaurant

Brothels, drug dens and Zemlyaki(gang) chopshops

Built around lake formed by meteorite strike [Ship in the middle]

Below

sand poisoned with industrial run-off. The storm drainage. Hidden bunkers

NOTES: This is unfortunately the last of the notes I had written ahead of time so things may move slower. Hopefully I've made enough posts that you all can understand the format I'm going for. Joyce's Reality Lowdown is going to take a long time to work through

Shivers - Winter, slow to let go of Revachol, flecks some more wet snow from above...

You - Look around you.

Shivers - The snow falls lazily, making the beach sand paler still, mixing with the rust-coloured sewage run-off.

Shivers - And to think -- it seemed as though it were already spring.

You - How does it feel?

Shivers - Your teeth chatter as the snow melts on your exposed skin, running down your chest and your back in icy rivulets. To distract yourself, you look around...

Replaced with "Your teeth chatter as the snow melts on your exposed skin, running down your chest and your back in icy rivulets. The toes of your one bare foot are growing numb. To distract yourself, you look around..." if HasShoes() == false and (CheckEquipped("shoes_snakeskin_left") or CheckEquipped("shoes_snakeskin_right"))

Replaced with "Your teeth chatter as the snow melts on your exposed skin, running down your chest and your back in icy rivulets. Your bare feet are growing numb. To distract yourself, you look around..." if HasShoes() == false

You - What's in the west?

Shivers - More winding coastline lined with abandoned buildings. Crumbling piers, salt water lapping at their dark piles. Grey and red, forgotten city blocks. What remains of the pre-revolutionary effort to gentrify the coast.

You - And beyond that?

Shivers - The waters turn black. Coal City in the shadow of Saint-Martin, a boom town, back when coal extracted from countless shafts near the city was needed to power Revachol.

Shivers - No more. The coal was supplanted by petroleum from the ocean floor and hydropower from the Esperance. Everything crumbled. These days, only the weakest remain in Coal City. Their hopes of getting rich linger in the defunct shafts under their feet.

You - What is there?

Shivers - Below the old mines -- L'Ossuaire Municipal, Revachol's underground cemetery. *Les petits rats* brave the underground passageways, trying to get to Le Royaume...

You - Le Royaume...

Shivers - ...where the Filippian kings were interred, with their doctors and their admirals. Mausoleums, burial chambers, leaf gold still remains on the Double Door of the Morning.

You - That's where Cuno said he's gonna go...

Shivers - Yes. To peel the gold off with his fingernails.

You - Les *petits rats*...

Shivers - Children under 14. They go underground, looking for artefacts to sell to foreign museums -- and for fabled relics. Their parents let them. They go deeper...

You - Deeper...

Shivers - ...after rubies, melchiorite, lapis lazuli plundered from Safre and Seol during the time of the Suzerain. In the burial chambers of the kings: Grand Old Filippe, Guillaume II, and even in the mausoleum of Filippe the Opulent.

Shivers - Two kilometres underground, in a winding shaft along whose walls mirrors have been placed so that daylight may eternally fall upon the richest of all the kings.

Shivers - The mausoleum contains untold quantities of gold -- and that special, purest-of-the-pure magenta cocaine favoured by Revacholian royalty.

Electrochemistry - Did someone say *untold quantities of cocaine*? Drop everything immediately and go looking for this hoard!

Logic - How can it be pure if it's magenta?

You - Wipe the snow from your shoulder.

Shivers - Few *petits rats* return from the shafts -- and even fewer find what they're looking for. A small child steps out of a black tunnel, with silver trinkets in her pockets.

Shivers - All around her, white snow on the extinguished coke furnaces, and on the weather-worn shacks, where fathers beat their sons after drinking. The snow melts on your fingers, turning to water.

You - What's in the east?

Shivers - The canal you crossed to get here, and beyond it -- Martinaise proper, the district the police forgot to police. There is laughter, lights, attempts at entrepreneurial activity, cynicism.

Shivers - Someone is scraping snow off their windshield. At the roundabout, in the midst of which a statue of Filippe the III serves as a destination for grade-school field trips and a fine perch for winter birds.

You - And further...

Shivers - A fenced-off yard. There's a truck belonging to a logistics company parked next to the gate. Bright light from a building behind the fence reflects off its hood.

Replaced with "A fenced-off yard. There's a truck belonging to a logistics company parked next to the gate. You've seen it. Bright light from a building behind the fence reflects off its hood." if Variable["jam.dlc_truck_shivers_orb_done"]

Replaced with "A fenced-off yard. There's a truck belonging to a logistics company parked next to the gate. You've heard about it. Bright light from a building behind the fence reflects off its hood." if Variable["village.idiot_cocaine_dlc"]

Conceptualization - Clean white light, coming from the windows of a clean cube-shaped office building hidden amidst ruins. A secret...

You - What's in the north?

Shivers - The abandoned church. One of two remaining stave churches which were collectively called les Sept Soeurs. The other six sisters were destroyed during the Revolution.

You - And further north?

Shivers - A serpentine strip of land weaving its way into the Martinaise inlet. Unfortunates on the run -- from the law, from themselves -- sometimes hide out on nearby islets. Little dots in the ocean that are occasionally submerged when the tide is high and the weather foul.

You - And on the islets?

Shivers - The remains of a camp on a jagged piece of rock -- a tent, old dishes and cutlery. Long since abandoned. A hermit crab scuttles among the debris, looking for a new shell.

Shivers - Further out, the lights burn bright on Résurrection; way beyond Martinaise -- a popular spa destination for ample-bodied Ozonne kids with equally ample pockets.

You - And on the other side of the inlet?

Shivers - Then there's Ozonne... but the snow falls too thick. You cannot see that far.

You - Before that? Before the curtains are drawn...

Shivers - The Bay of Revachol, vastness, great depth -- over 1200 m at its deepest. Water, air brinier than here. It is crisscrossed by huge cargo ships bearing company logos: Wild Pines, ZAMM, Moriyn.

Shivers - And, at the farthest reaches of the Bay of Revachol -- the shadow of Coalition Warship Archer, on perpetual patrol duty, ready to unleash artillery fire if you were to rise up against the market. You shudder.

You - What's in the south?

Shivers - The raised motorway, 8/81, separating Martinaise from Jamrock. Vehicles whoosh past one another day and night, while those who reside in the labyrinthine alleyways beneath the motorway attempt to carry on with their lives in the snow and the slush. And south of the 8/81 is the Pox.

You - The Pox...

Shivers - ...was once a park, a place for reflection and recuperation for the patients of the Old Military Hospital. In the Twenties, it was used as a quarantine centre during a measles outbreak that killed many children. Most everyone has avoided the hospital and surrounding park ever since.

Shivers - The Pox is completely wild now. Evergreen thickets covered in snow and industrial dust. Feral dogs and even wolves roaming in packs. The police try to keep the deepest corners cordoned off.

You - But still...

Shivers - ...heavy drug users do slip through and hole up in the Old Military Hospital, hoping to find something to get high on among the hastily abandoned supplies. Or just to overdose in peace.

You - Further south...

Shivers - A line of motor garages with armoured carapaces, hunched in the cold. A mechanic is hard at work, patching up bullet holes in the side of a Coupris 40. These are the garages of Precinct 41. Snow settles on the roof of the re-purposed silk mill that serves as your station. Shivering RCM personnel hurry in and out of the main entrance.

Mack Torson - "Wonder if Vic's found his hetero-sexual life partner yet." The man in the fishnet wifebeater looks over at Chester McLaine.

Chester McLaine - "Damn, I don't know. Even a real *bröderbund* like that can't survive everything..."

Shivers - Around you, the snow continues to fall. To the west, the ocean swells.

You - No, it was home. I want more.

Shivers - The stairs descend -- to Central Jamrock. A man named Kuklov has a snow-covered stall there, in the market across the bridge. He sells kebab infested with fly larvae to your colleagues who believe eating it will make them immune to food poisoning.

Shivers - Snow falls on the utility district: the library, the florist, the Saramirizian restaurant that offers homemade wine. And also on the brothels and drug dens, and the chop shops of the zemlyaki.

Shivers - All of this built around a lake that formed in a meteorite strike. At the centre of this lake, there is a little ship. There are lights at the bottom of its hull. They are lights directed toward the sea floor, looking for something, like whiskers...

You - For what?

Shivers - A chill comes over you, crawling down your back. The sand under your feet is wet. Somewhere in the south, tarpaulin flap in the wind.

You - What's below me?

Shivers - Layer upon layer of sand poisoned with industrial run-off. The storm drainage. Hidden bunkers. Rats scuttle...

You - Tell me a secret of the sands, wind.

Shivers - Someone's stuffed a big old polar anorak into a concrete pipe under the boardwalk. It would keep you warm. You will probably never happen across it, but who knows.

You - Stomp your feet for warmth, brushing off the snow. [Finish thought.]

Kim Kitsuragi - "We should keep moving. Who knows when this snow will let up?"

#disco elysium #map project #revachol #jamrock #coal city #martinaise #saint-martin

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theroseceleste · 5 months ago

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Pilot Miguel - Part 12 - Romantic Getaway

Miguel steals you away to the Canary Islands, specifically to Tenerife. What sort of adventures will you share together?

Word count - 3697

Minors DNI

Contains : Mentions of sex, nothing too graphic. Mostly fluff and perhaps a moment of confrontation.

AND - Yes, the photos included are from my trip there. My husband and I took these pictures.

AND- Yes, the spectacle that happened at the end did in fact happen. Probably one of the most amazing things I've seen in my life.

Enjoy! xx

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

If you enjoy this fic, please consider liking, commenting or re-blogging. Many thanks xx

The summer sun beats down on Playa Paraiso, a south-western part of Tenerife. A large island owned by Spain off of the west coast of Africa. It is just one of seven of the Canary Islands.

You feel like you’re back in paradise with Miguel; you have a sea view from your balcony and palm trees littering the beautiful hotel gardens.

The food is amazing, there’s always a wide variety and the main restaurant has a different theme each night. Peter would be in absolute heaven if he was here, you consider letting him know this place exists.

There’s three swimming pools, tennis courts, an archery range, a large play area for children, a couple of bars, three restaurants, a spa, a pool table and ping pong table too. All spread out over the vast hotel grounds.

Of course Miguel booked an executive room, which is spacious and nicely decorated. You would have been happy having a cheaper room but your boyfriend enjoys the finer things especially when you’re concerned.

When you’re not out and about in the hotel’s public areas, you’re in your room, being fucked by Miguel. You kind of lose your first couple of days of your holiday to mainly sex as you try to get over jet lag - not the worst way to spend time, let’s be honest…

He has taken you in every part of your room. You have a bedroom, living room area and bathroom. If there is a surface he can fuck you on, he’ll use it.

There’s not a time in your life before meeting Miguel that you can recall having so much sex. Never in your life have you met anyone like Miguel too. His strength and stamina blows your mind and so do the orgasms he gives you.

It’s safe to say, you’ll never be satisfied with another man. The way he fills you, the attention he gives you. No sexual request is too much to ask or too taxing on him. He’ll eat you out, suckle on your breasts, fill you with his fingers or rock-hard shaft; he’d even play with your ass if you asked him - but you’re not quite brave enough to go there yet.

You adore his passionate face as he makes love to you, his eyebrows knitting together and slanting downwards as if he’s lost in the moment, pleading with you to let him keep going, desperately promising you more pleasure that he’s sure to deliver on. All the while, you lay underneath him, legs wide apart and taking him exquisitely deep inside.

During the times between passionate lovemaking, there’s the wholesome moments too where you cradle his handsome head against your chest as he rests on you in bed.

Long, tanned fingers dance over your breasts and stomach as he watches your sensitive buds and goosebumps rise to his delicate touch. He fails to resist latching onto one of your erect nipples and sucking on it tenderly as his hand slides down to between your legs as if it has a mind of its own. Starting the heated intimacy all over again.

“I’ve booked us an excursion,” Miguel announces over breakfast before taking a gulp of slightly cooled coffee.

You both eat outside as the warmth of the morning sun embraces your skin.

“Oh? Where are we going?” you ask just before you bite into your sweet pastry.

Tiny finches flit about the dining area. Occasionally, you feel the brush of their wings against your legs as they fly under your table, picking up crumbs of food from the white tiled floor.

“You’ll need something warm to wear because we’re going up Mount Teide this evening.” (Teide rhymes with Lady - if you want to know how to pronounce it)

Miguel gets his phone out to read an email containing the information of the excursion he booked.

“It’ll be a coach tour, but we'll be taken to the observatories up there to watch the sunset, with a glass of champagne in hand.”

You listen intently, watching him smile as he looks exceedingly pleased with himself for booking this for the both of you.

“Aww, that sounds very romantic,” you comment, thinking that is all the excursion consists of.

“That’s not all, chiquita,” he pauses before reading the next bit.

“We’ll be taken to a restaurant up there and be served dinner. Then, once it’s totally dark, we’ll be stargazing.”

Now you know why he said you needed warm clothing. Mountains can get considerably colder than the rest of the land below, especially at night. You won’t freeze at this time of year, but it might not be comfortable.

The trip sounds incredible and romantic. It’ll be nice to get out of the hotel, and going on this excursion sounds perfect.

“I can’t wait to go. Thank you for booking it.”

You flash him an excited smile. This is sure a precious day you’ll commit to your memory and reminisce over in years to come.

“I expect you’ve seen the night sky a lot haven’t you?” you ask Miguel before taking a sip of your orange juice.

He puts his phone down on the table and picks up his cup of coffee again.

“Quite a bit of it, yes,” he replies before taking another gulp.

“What things have you seen up there?”

Your eyes look up at the sky as you ask him, while leaning against the table with your elbows, supporting your head with your hands.

Miguel thinks for a moment to remember what he’s witnessed.

“Plenty of Aurora Borealis or northern lights - whatever you want to call them. And I’ve flown over countless thunderstorms - I’ve even seen sprites.”

He flashes a charming smile as if he knows this will spur an interesting conversation.

“Sprites?” you ask, raising an eyebrow, these are things you’ve never heard of.

An image of a creature from some fantastical world where fairies exist pops into your mind, but surely he doesn’t mean that…

“I don’t know the science behind them,” he begins as he places his empty coffee cup back down on the table.

“They’re largely not very well understood, but they appear high over the top of thunder clouds. Some sort of red electrical discharge up in the earth’s atmosphere. They’re quite beautiful, but surprising to see for the first time. I had no idea they existed before I started flying at higher altitudes.”

You find his flying stories fascinating, but you feel like he’s pulling your leg with this story.

“Oh - whatever,” you reply with a smirk, “are you kidding?”

“I’m not! I swear. Here, I’ll find a video of one, give me a sec...”

Miguel picks up his phone again, but before he can open up Google, his phone buzzes in his hand. A text message from Xina…

“Where are you? You’ve not been home for a few days.”

You notice Miguel’s expression fall when he sees what’s on his screen.

“You okay, Miguel?” you ask as you wonder what he’s seen that’s upset him.

“Uhh, it’s nothing. Just some irritating mail I have to respond to, I’ll find a video in a moment.”

Your lips press into a thin line. He’s lying. You’ve noticed over the last couple of weeks that something has been bothering him.

His thumbs tap against his phone-screen as he types a message back to Xina while he endeavours to keep his cool.

“Over three-thousand miles away from you and having a great time.”

He puts his phone in Do Not Disturb mode and looks for the video to prove the existence of sprites.

Sure enough, they do in fact exist, and they’re stunning - just rare to witness and hard to see with the naked eye. From what you can see in the video, they look like red columns of light with thin tree roots sprouting below them. You consider Miguel lucky to have seen this phenomenon.

The Captain leaves his phone on Do Not Disturb. The silence that follows is bliss - no more irritating buzzes dampening his fun with you.

Sitting at the back of the coach, Miguel stretches his long legs out down the middle. The poor guy has to bend to walk all the way to the back. You’re happy to get the window seat as he sits beside you.

Thankfully the coach isn’t full during the trip and other passengers are situated more towards the front, allowing you to have private conversations without being overheard as the bus weaves its way up the volcano.

A low layer of cloud is now below you, lapping against the slopes of the mountain like a foamy sea. You slide your phone out of your pocket to take a picture of the breath-taking view.

“That’s a great picture,” Miguel compliments you as he leans over, instantly warming you up.

His closeness gives you the opportunity to sneak a kiss, pressing your lips against his cheek. You feel his arms wrap around you, making sure you can’t escape. He needs more of your affection. Soft giggles fill the back of the bus as he nuzzles into you and plants a few tender kisses of his own against your lips and around your beautiful face.

The coach takes what feels like the hundredth turn on the road that snakes its way up the volcano. All you can see for the next few minutes is rock and yellowing grass. It’s clear this part of Tenerife doesn’t get much in the way of wetter weather.

You lean against his chest, as he rests his head against yours, you both sit in silence for a little while, until you decide to confront him about the business with his phone.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s really been going on?”

Miguel’s body stiffens slightly at your question and his arms tighten momentarily. A gentle nuzzle against your head indicates he’s uncomfortable, or feeling unsure about what to say.

“What do you mean?” he asks, but it’s a feeble attempt to pretend to not know what you’re talking about.

“Something’s bothering you on your phone, what is it?”

You re-adjust your head position so you can look up at him while your fingers run over the soft material of his shirt.

He pulls you closer and nuzzles against you more firmly.

“I don’t want to ruin the great time we’re having, baby.”

His hand caresses your cheek before he gives you a soft kiss on your forehead.

“Please tell me.”

Your pleading breaks his resolve. It’s not fair that he’s keeping this from you, but he worries about the impact it will have on you. Eventually he pulls away after steeling himself to admit what’s been happening.

“Remember Xina? The woman who tried to visit the other week?”

You cast your mind back to the mid-length, black haired woman who was standing at his penthouse door when you opened it.

“Yeah?” you reply, raising a curious eyebrow.

The coach’s engine revs louder for a moment as it powers on up a slightly steeper incline.

“She’s my ex-wife.”

Miguel’s voice is quiet, full of concern as to what you’re going to make of this bit of news.

A booming-like feeling thuds in your chest as your heart skips a beat. Your hand takes his, squeezing his fingers slightly.

“What’s she doing visiting you?”

He shrugs and runs his fingers through his hair.

“Trust me, I’m just as surprised as you are. She’s been texting me since that evening, but I’ve been pushing her back every time.”

“Pushing her back? Why? What’s she been saying?” you ask as your eyebrows knit together with growing concern.

Your worried expression breaks Miguel’s heart. If only you know just how upset Xina’s unexpected interference is making him.

“She claims she wants me back, but sweetheart, you have to understand I do not want that.”

He raises your hand to his lips and delivers a tender kiss to your knuckles.

“She had her chance with me - she had it all, but she rejected it. I have the tendency to never revisit old relationships, no matter how important they were to me at the time.”

Miguel then reaches for his phone.

“For complete transparency, look at the messages so you can see that I have no interest.”

You nearly back out of looking at his phone. For some reason, hearing that Xina is pursuing Miguel again hurts you more than you thought it might. The blood in your veins runs cold as he opens up the conversation, but he hesitates as another text comes in. One that he received earlier but the Do Not Disturb feature silenced it.

“Are you with her?”

The text simply reads, however you can’t help but detect the venom behind the last word.

He shows you the whole conversation starting from the night she knocked on his door. You notice Miguel’s attitude towards her in his texts are blunt and to the point. There’s no way his responses could be misconstrued. He’s not interested and that’s that. End of story.

“She hurt me a great deal when she no longer wanted to cooperate with me in keeping our marriage alive. It’s dead in the water now, and there’s no way I’m going to waste my time reviving it on a whim.”

You believe him; the sincerity in his eyes is compelling. You may have only been seeing him for a couple of months but that time has been well spent being up close and personal, getting to know his character.

“I understand,” you tell him, putting on a smile; a brave face in which he notices immediately.

Miguel wraps his arms around you, desperate to reassure you.

“Tu eres todo lo que quiero. Nadie se compara contigo. Nadie importa más que tu.” (You are all that I want. No one else compares to you. No one else matters but you.)

Your recent Spanish lessons on an app on your phone hasn’t quite extended to the level in which he speaks. But you can tell his romantic mutterings are heartfelt as he squeezes you and strokes you with his strong, manly hands.

Surrounded by several buildings belonging to the local observatory, standing tall at the crest of a hill on Mount Teide; you and Miguel clamber down from the coach. It’s quite comical seeing a six-foot-nine-inch man with broad shoulders descend the narrow aisle and steps.

The air is already slightly colder than it is closer to the sea. You suck in air through your teeth as a chilly breeze whips around you. The excursion leader hands a blanket to you and Miguel to wrap around you, before passing you a glass of champagne.

The sky is set alight in a blazing orange as the sun nears its time to vanish below the horizon, drawing another day to a close.

Standing atop the hill, Miguel places his arm around you as you cast your gazes to the west. The bright, orange orb burning brightly in the sky, gradually sinking lower, and lower.

Taking out your phone, you decide to capture the stunning moment that follows.

The bubbly liquid brings a warmth to your insides while Miguel remains by you, holding you close.

“I meant what I said earlier, chiquita. No one else matters but you,” Miguel purrs in your ear.

A sweet smile grows across your face.

“So that’s what you said, huh?”

He chuckles at your response as he realises he said it in a language you didn’t understand.

“Sorry, chiquita. I guess I got carried away with the emotion of the conversation,” Miguel replies and whispers to you exactly what he said to you earlier, giving you further reassurance; making your heart flutter like a butterfly in the breeze.

As the golden disc kisses the horizon, Miguel draws you in closer to press his lips against yours. His blanket wraps around you snugly as well as himself while he has you pressed against his large, muscular frame.

You and Miguel had a delicious meal in the restaurant. There was slight hesitation when he discovered that everyone on the excursion were to share tables, but once the ice was broken between your neighbours, the conversation flowed nicely, while Miguel sat and listened. Once again, he returned to his usual straight-faced demeanour however he toned down the intimidating expression so as to not weird out your fellow excursion companions…

Now, you both are the last to get off the coach as it’s parked up next to a vast plane of an old lava flow from the volcano.

Stars twinkle and planets gleam against the black canvas that is the sky. You don’t think you have ever seen so many stars. Your current location has much less light pollution than you do at home.

The atmosphere and scenery is enchanting. Feeling on top of the world with nothing but dazzling lights blinking millions of lightyears away. The landscape before you makes you feel you could be on a totally different planet.

The tour guide begins his talk about the twinkling display above you. You learn about the differences between planets and stars. How the orbiting worlds in space shine constantly while the incomprehensibly large burning balls of gas sparkle in the night sky.

“There are eighty-eight constellations that can be seen all over the world, but only thirty-six can be seen in the northern hemisphere…” the tour guide starts to explain.

A sharp shiver shoots down your spine as the much cooler air chills you to the bone. You came prepared, but the cold still manages to seep through your multiple layers. In the dark, you hear a zip before feeling a large jacket wrapping around your shoulders.

The tall, dark figure beside you pulls you close, keeping you warm in his embrace as you both listen to the tour guide as he points out the Orion constellation.

Despite being surrounded by a handful of people, looking up into the black, glittering sky, you feel like the only two existing in that moment. You’re transfixed - hypnotised even, as you learn about things far bigger than you, or Miguel. Things even bigger than your planet and it boggles your mind finding out just how small you are in comparison, but that’s not a bad thing. It fascinates you and humbles you.

As the talk continues, you feel gentle kisses against your head and hair. Miguel gives the impression that he’s not exactly listening and is more interested in the attention he’s giving you. Maybe he already knows this stuff? You don’t put it past him.

Back in the coach for the final time as it snakes its way back down Mount Teide, the passengers are quietly conversing with one another.

Looking out of the window, it is almost nothing but the purest of black, apart from the twinkling of golden lights in Playa de las Americas.

The fresh air and the large meal has made you sleepy and your eyelids feel heavier by the minute. That is until something suddenly catches your attention, making you startle and grab Miguel’s hand while your eyes remain fixed on the stunning object that comes into view.

A large entity burning in the earth’s atmosphere, rips across the dark sky. A flaming, orange tail streaks behind it as the front burns a brilliant, electric blue.

“What the hell?” you gasp in pure surprise, turning to face Miguel.

The thing in question disappears as quickly as it came, fizzling out into nothingness over what you assume is the Atlantic Ocean.

“That, (Y/N), was a meteorite.” (Yes this really did happen to me IRL)

Your jaw drops as you look back out of the window, picturing the spectacle in your mind's eye. What a beautiful sight, and simply the perfect ending to an amazing day. You try not to let what Miguel told you earlier affect you. The romantic day you have shared with him has certainly outshone the unpleasant discussion of Xina. And that meteorite will last in your memory until the end of your days.

The last two weeks have flown by and you return home to your apartment. You’re exhausted, but you have a dreamy smile plastered on your face. Your holiday in Tenerife has been an unforgettable experience.

You both did some amazing things, creating many memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. Dolphin spotting as the pair of you sat on a catamaran will be forever one of your favourites; watching the joyful creatures rushing alongside the boat, leaping out of the water as the warm sunlight glistens along their backs.

Another memory you’re fond of is when Miguel took you to Siam Park; the biggest water park in Tenerife. Your favourite moment is when the two of you canoodled in the deepest part of the wave pool that released a powerful wall of water every five minutes. The rise and fall of the water almost got the two of you carried away. The temptation to let him slip your bikini bottoms to the side and enter you was overwhelming at one point.

As you enter your home, you’re greeted by Ashley, fretting over a letter that she’s reading in the open plan kitchen. Her fingers run through her hair as her mind races.

Closing the door behind you after dragging the suitcase in, you look concerned at your friend as she reads a letter again.

“What’s up?” you ask as you approach your roommate, trying to peer at what she’s reading.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Ashley’s voice cracks as he shakes her head, the paper in her hands shakes as her hands tremble.

“Ashley, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

Eventually, her gaze rises up to meet yours, tears threaten to well up in her eyes.

“The landlord is pushing our rent up - we can only just afford it as it is (Y/N), I don’t know how we’re going to manage this…”

All of a sudden, the beautiful holiday is sucked out of your mind, lost in the dark vacuum of space as it’s replaced with thoughts about what’s going to happen about your little home that you’ve built with your best friend…

I hope you enjoyed Part 12. Part 13 is currently out on early access on Patreon.

Next Chapter >

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#fanfic #miguel o'hara #atsv miguel #miguel spiderverse #commisions open #fem reader #smut #female reader #reader x character #readerxmiguelohara #pilotmiguel #Youtube

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stephensmithuk · 1 year ago

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The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Part of His Last Bow, this was published in 1911, this another one that is not titled "The Adventure of".

Turkish baths had become very popular in London by this time. Most of them have closed over the decades, but there are still a few around, including the Casa Spa on Edgware Road.

Scholar consensus is that Watson was born in 1852. They agree less on the setting of this story - 1901 not 1902 is the consensus - but Watson is pushing 50 here.

Crédit Lyonnais was the world's largest bank by total assets in the early 1900s. It merged with Crédit Agricole in 2003, with the retail branches bearing the name LCL to this day.

It was actually three pence a word for a telegram to Switzerland in 1902 with a minimum 10d charge. Germany and France were 2d each. It would be a shilling or more to the USA, depending on which state the message was going to. (Source: January 1902 Post Office Guide: https://www.gbps.org.uk/information/sources/po-guides/Post%20Office%20Guide%201902%20(1st%20January).pdf)

Lausanne in Switzerland is home to the International Olympic Committee and a 28-station metro system, the smallest city in the world (population c.140,000) with one.

The general consensus of scholars is that Baden refers to what is now Baden-Baden in Germany, not Baden in Switzerland.

A mob cap is a round pleated bonnet with a caul to cover the hair, typically worn indoors.

Barberton in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa was home to a short-lived gold rush from 1884 onwards.

"Pensions" are small guest houses that will offer full-board (all meals) or half-board (all meals except lunch) to guests.

The requirement of foreign visitors to register with the police is still a thing in some European countries, although if you are staying at a hotel, campsite etc. they will take care of that for you - that's why they take a copy of your passport. Britain actually had it for some foreign arrivals until 2022, when it was finally abolished.

The Sea of Azof - or rather the Sea of Azov today - is the small inland sea to the north of the Black Sea, surrounded by Ukraine and Russia.

The average life expectancy for a woman born in 1901 was 52.4 years and a man 48.5; this was still a period of high infant mortality. However, it was entirely possible for someone to live into their 90s with luck - Queen Victoria's son Arthur lived to 91, dying in 1942.

Senility is now known as dementia.

Workhouses often served as de facto care homes for those without the money or family to stay in their own homes. Even after the abolition of workhouses in 1948 and the creation of the NHS, many of the buildings remained in use for that purpose, with over 50% of local authority accommodation for the elderly being former workhouses in 1960 (https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/the-elderly-and-the-workhouse). One can only imagine how many elderly people were taken to those buildings with terror in their minds.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #history #factoids #acd canon #lady frances carfax #LADY

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blueiscoool · 10 months ago

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2,000-Year-Old Roman Villa Discovered in Naples

A three-year project to build a children’s playground and recreation area south of the Italian city of Naples has unearthed the ruins of a 2,000-year-old clifftop beach house.

Built in the first century, the panoramic mansion — which overlooks the islands of Ischia and Procida — is now partly flooded by the sea. Experts believe it could have once been the opulent residence of Pliny the Elder, the legendary author, naturalist, and commander of the Roman navy fleet stationed there.

The discovery, made last week in the coastal town of Bacoli, unearthed the thick perimeter stone walls of 10 large rooms with floors, tiled walls and a maze of intact panoramic outdoor terraces.

Back in the first century, the mansion would have been located within the Roman port at Misenum, where for four centuries a fleet of 70 ships controlled the Tyrrhenian Sea, the security of which was key to holding the western flank of the Roman empire.

“It is likely that the majestic villa had a 360-degree view of the gulf of Naples for strategic military purposes,” Simona Formola, lead archaeologist at Naples’ art heritage, said in an interview. “We think (the excavation of) deeper layers could reveal more rooms and even frescoes — potentially also precious findings.”

Authorities were surprised by the elaborate style of the walls, which were constructed with diamond-shaped tufa (limestone) blocks placed in a net-like ornamental pattern about 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) below ground.

The villa runs down to a little crumbling stone dock now located about four meters below sea level. That this — and other parts of the unearthed villa — are now underwater is due to the phenomenon of “negative bradyseism,” a term used to describe the gradual descent of the earth’s surface into the sea in areas exposed to frequent volcanic activity. (The area borders a moon-shaped “caldera” or extinct volcanic crater).

Digs will continue in coming months, with authorities hoping to shed further light on not only the form of the beach villa itself, but the broader life and structure of Misenum, one of the most important colonies in the Roman Empire.

“The discovery is even more exceptional given that we know very little (about) the port of Misenum,” said Formola.

As well as acting as a lookout point, Pliny’s beach villa would have also likely been used for leisure. The private dock was where he would greet high-ranking guests arriving by sea for lavish parties. Many Ancient Romans used to flock to Bacoli and the surrounding area, to enjoy their vacation homes and the region’s thermal baths and spa retreats.

Bacoli is located within the so-called “Phlegraean Fields” (or “Fire Plains”), which are dotted with natural geysers and tiny active craters where there are still frequent earthquakes. Due to its blazes and sulphureous vapors, the ancients believed it to be the entrance to the underworld and had dubbed it “the Mouth of Hell.” Indeed it’s possible that Pliny the Elder would have witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 from the villa. It is known he died trying to rescue those fleeing the calamity.

While archaeologists were reportedly surprised by the finding, local lore had long speculated on the existence of an underground treasure in this location. On the beach neighboring the newly-discovered villa walls, a large brick ruin had been dubbed the “talking wall” by local residents as, in their view, it proved the one-time existence of a large residence.

The site will now become an open-air museum, set to open in the coming weeks. “The ruins of the Roman villa will be cleaned and cordoned-off with wooden fences,” said Bacoli’s mayor Josi Gerardo Della Ragione. “They will be the core of this beautiful space which… our citizens and visitors will get to admire.”

By Silvia Marchetti.

#2000-Year-Old Roman Villa Discovered in Naples #Roman port at Misenum #Pliny the Elder #Emperor Vespasian #Mount Vesuvius #ancient ruins #ancient city #ancient artifacts #archeology #archeolgst #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #roman history #roman empire

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vaultingfist · 11 months ago

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@shinuchi-ulti

The morning was much like any other on New Spa Island; guests rose up from bed to enjoy the luxurious meals prepared by the staff in the dining room, the facilities began to open up during the calm, and finally, new ships from all over the grand line began to pour in. Meanwhile, the Duke of the Island watched the glistening beams dance of the crystal blue sea, enjoying a cup of tea and a blueberry scone. He enjoyed the little home he established in red hair territory, no worries of marines when you had proper protection.

Just as he was going to take another sip, a ringing came from the transponder snail on his desk. Brows furrowed as he took the call. "I'll be right there." A scowl formed upon his lips; why couldn't some people just act normal when on vacation? Making his way down to the artificial island's port, he saw the source of trouble: a group of pirates getting too touchy-feely with his employees. His fists blackened with haki, just in case negotiations went south.

"Gentlemen, it seems you have forgotten the rules here. My clientele all happen to be pirates from around the world, and I don't mind a few rules being broken, but you crossed the line when you touched my crew. Apologize and leave. Now." Arms folded, icy glares exchanged. A fight was about to begin, but just as blows were about to be traded, a wrathful demand for the rowdy band to shut it echoed throughout the port. Before Wriothesley could even react, a young woman jumped from her ship, smashed her head into the other captain, and sent them flying onto their ship, and the boat itself soared out of the island's line of sight.

"I...." His gaze rested upon the unknown hero, a short woman with radiant blue hair and pink hues that looked like they could kill. He knew that face. A beast pirate with a four-hundred million beri bounty, a rare sight in red-haired waters. She was steaming; for whatever reason, though, she saved him from what could've been a brutal brawl. His chest filled with gratitude, and his mouth forming a smile, he gave the woman a bow of gratitude. "You have my thanks. For both your assistance and understanding. Why don't we get your ship and luggage all settled, and we can check you in, Miss....?"

#🥊 ic #v: the one piece is real #hope this is okay!

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karaloza · 6 months ago

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Legend of Zelda Theme Park - Gerudo Desert

At long last, I've found a way to add the desert to my theme park!

At the western end of the Dark World is the entrance to a sandstone canyon which meanders a bit and then debouches onto a lively bazaar. Buildings are constructed from off-white masonry contrasting with brilliantly colored fabrics and mosaics. There are numerous planters containing palm trees and cacti to help direct foot traffic as well as providing bench space and extra shade. Near the center of the plaza is a circular fountain featuring a statue of a woman wielding a sword, surrounded by more vegetation. The outside edge of the area is bounded with facades representing sand dunes, among which can be seen landmarks such as the OoT Desert Colossus and BoTW Gerudo Town. From time to time, an animated figure of a Molduga arches from one sand dune to another like a breaching whale.

Attractions

Nabooru’s Training Course: A combination maze and obstacle course—periodically, the winding corridors offer an opportunity to hone your skills as an elite bandit…but if you don’t feel up to tackling the balance beam, overhead bars, crawl net, or other physical challenge, a normal path continues alongside the obstacle. This is just the beginners’ course—from time to time, you can peek through to a more advanced course where Gerudo make trapeze-caliber leaps over jets of fire, dodge flying darts, and disable booby traps (or fail to do so!). At the end of the maze is a playground featuring more things to climb and jump in, just in case you had any excess energy left.

Gerudo Warriors’ Procession: Taking place at scheduled intervals in the bazaar, a squad of the Gerudo tribe’s most impressive warriors parade through the street to a stage where they demonstrate some of their combat skills.

Skipper’s Time-Shifted Boat Tour: Inspired by the Lanayru Sand Sea from Skyward Sword, this dark ride uses projection mapping, augmented reality goggles, and a bit of motion simulation to create the illusion of riding in a boat through a desert that has been transformed into an ancient ocean, but only in a set radius around the craft thanks to the aura of the Timeshift Stone. Fantastic corals appear and disappear, long-decayed ships spring back into operation only to wither again as the boat leaves them behind, the bleached bones of sea monsters turn into living threats until the robot guide manages to outrun them. The queue includes a few interactive “windows” where the push of a button activates a Timeshift Stone to alter a scene—a massive tree reverts to a tiny sapling in a meadow, a crumbled ruin becomes a bustling fortress in its heyday, etc.

Sand-Seal Rally Race: A high-speed ride along a figure-eight racing track, in a seal-drawn “sand sled.” Watch out when you get to the crossing point—don’t crash with another sled!

Shops

5. Silken Palace: Scarves, shawls, capelets, veils, and other free-flowing clothing and accessories made from scrumptiously colored and patterned fabrics…even sarees! Knowledgeable staff can show how to properly put on your purchases if you need help.

6. Hotel Oasis Spa Shop: A health and beauty shop featuring LoZ-inspired makeup palettes, custom-blended perfumes and colognes, bath salts, soaps, scrubs, massage oils, and other products to pamper your skin after a long day in the desert.

7. Starlight Memories: A jewelry boutique specializing in big, showy styles of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, and even diadems. Many pieces are inspired by the traditional jewelry styles of the Middle East and South Asia.

8. Sand-Seal Adoption Center: The Sand-Seal Rally Race exits through this shop specializing in plush toys of sand seals and other desert creatures both real and fanciful, with an optional “adoption ceremony” for your special new friend.

9. Miscellaneous Merchandise Booths: Small spaces leased out to small business retailers whose wares are in line with the overall “vibe” of the Bazaar.

Eateries

10. Gerudo Bistro: A café with well-shaded patio seating, featuring a menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern entrees and appetizers.

11. Arbiter’s Grounds: An Arabian/Persian/Turkish style coffee and tea bar, harking back to the ancient relationship with coffee enjoyed by the cultures that inspired the Gerudo. Brews are available hot, iced, flavored, even blended with ice cream for a perky smoothie. Or head next door…

12. Kara Kara Creamery: Beat the heat with frozen treats! Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, milkshakes, and smoothies are all available here, made to order. If you’re with a group, try the Seven Heroines Sundae, with seven “orbs” of different flavors reflecting the virtues prized by the Gerudo: skill, spirit, endurance, knowledge, flight, motion, and gentleness.

#legend of zelda #loz #loz theme park #gerudo desert

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gradualjinx · 9 months ago

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Natla Season 2 Predictions

We know that in natla Sozin's comet is coming "soon" which could mean anything. And we know that the actors, especially Gordon and Kiawentiio, look older (and much taller!). Because of this they will probably have to do a time jump between seasons one and two to account for the actors aging and the new timeline-- here's how I think they'll handle that:

In the original, season two starts with the gaang on a Northern Water trib ship with Pakku and other Northern Water Tribe members who are headed south. The gaang leaves from here to fly to Omashu and plans to have Aang learn Earth bending from Bumi. Along the way, Katara is expected to teach Aang more water bending. Meanwhile, Iroh and Zuko are hanging out at a spa after "floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks" after escaping the north. Zuko's face has healed, so this means that the original time jump is about one month after the season 1 finale.

Natla sets up approximately this same plot. Zuko and Iroh are adrift at sea. Azula has already taken over Omashu. And the gaang are still at the Northern Water Tribe. I imagine that the showrunners will do a time jump here with everyone essentially staying in the same place so the plot doesn't skip ahead:

Aang and Katara will have spent the interim year learning water bending at the Northern Water Tribe, and I imagine Sokka will have been helping the city rebuild and improve its defenses. We will probably open with Aang having nearly mastered water bending, and Sokka having made a name for himself as an engineer. They then either decide that it's time to move on and master a new element (like in the original), or maybe they hear word of what's happened in Omashu.

I would predict that Iroh and Zuko have spent that whole year wandering around as refugees, but there would have to be some scene or explanation for why they can't return to the Fire Nation. In the original, Azula tricks Zuko into thinking he is welcome home, only to ambush him and Iroh who find out that they are now considered traitors to the Fire Nation. I could imagine a flashback scene to something similar happening in natla, or maybe they decide on their own that the Earth Kingdom is safer for them after Zuko's blue spirit stunt and their actions against General Zhao. Either way, Zuko would not be satisfied waiting patiently for an entire year so something needs to happen to keep them in hiding for the time jump to work.

Just like in the original, I think Azula can easily hold Omashu for the entire year without word reaching the Northern Watertribe-- the different tribes are pretty isolated from each other, and it would be a long way for a spy to go to carry on that message. Maybe this is what triggers the gaang to leave the north, but probably not.

I bet we'll have episode 2x01 showing where they are/what they've been doing, why they need to leave, and then cover the original 2x01 episode "The Avatar State". Then episode 2 will include 2x03 'Return to Omashu" and maybe 2x04 "The Swamp", with some Zuko Alone stuff mixed throughout. Probably Toph will come in episode 3 and that's when the earth-bending training will start.

I don't know if they'll keep the Netflix show to three seasons, and how much warping of the plot that will include, but this is what I think right now. I could see a time jump of only a few months too...maybe a year is too long for the characters to be so still...but I don't think it'll be 3-4 weeks like in the original.

#natla #natla spoilers #avatar the last airbender #gaang #atla #netflix #netflix avatar

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jenthebug · 1 year ago

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Honeymoon shopping!

My goal: Relax and get pampered.

I want amenities, little treats, and effortless lounging. I want a concierge. I want to get drunk (in love and otherwise). I want a massage. I want delicious food. I’d love to have access to weed, but that’s not a must. (says the person who is stoned right now due to nausea)

I have a husband to plan around. He loves the night, he’s not a morning person. He loves good food and alcohol. He loves to gamble. He wants to take a road trip with me.

We have money. Not a large amount, but enough to work with. We could dump most of it into lodging and stay at a fucking awesome resort, and spend most of the time there. Or, we could stay somewhere less expensive and plan activities away from the hotel.

I have four ideas so far:

A hot springs resort in New Mexico - We could road trip. I’ve been there before and freaking LOVE IT. It’s an all natural hot spring with mineral soaking pools, a spa, and a restaurant, along with access to hiking trails.

Vegas - We’d do it up right, stay at a nice hotel instead of buying up an unsold room wherever a few days before. I’m thinking the Palms. We’d focus on each other rather than on gambling and debauchery, although those things would be a fun sidequest.

Dump it all into lodging in San Diego - SUPER NICE RESORT. Private beach, on-site restaurants and bars, on-site spa, concierge. You get what you pay for, and this one’s expensive.

Tropical getaway on South Padre Island TX - another SUPER NICE RESORT. This one is surprisingly not expensive. We could rent jet skis or visit a sea turtle rescue.

#insertcaffeine honeymoon #lol hey tumblr i would love to add a poll to this #tumblr's all like yeah no we're not doing polls today

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artesianspaparts · 1 year ago

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Garden Leisure Spa Parts: Quality Repairs for Uninterrupted Relaxation

When it comes to creating the perfect oasis in your backyard, a Garden Leisure Spa is a fantastic choice. These luxurious hot tubs offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, providing relaxation and rejuvenation in the comfort of your own home. However, like any other mechanical device, Garden Leisure Spas may require maintenance and repairs over time. That's where Garden Leisure Spa Parts come into play, ensuring uninterrupted relaxation for you and your family.

Quality Garden Leisure Hot Tub Parts

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At Artesian Spa Parts, we understand the importance of maintaining your Garden Leisure Spa to ensure its longevity and optimal performance. That's why we offer a wide range of Garden Leisure Hot Tub Parts that are built to the same exacting standards as the original components. Whether you need replacement pumps, heaters, filters, jets, or any other spa part, you can trust that our selection is of the highest quality.

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Regular maintenance is key to prolonging the life of your Garden Leisure Spa and keeping it in pristine condition. Our team of skilled technicians is here to help you with everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs. We understand the intricacies of Garden Leisure hot tubs, and we have the expertise to diagnose and fix any issue that may arise.

By using genuine Garden Leisure Spa Parts, you can rest assured that your spa will continue to deliver the same luxurious experience you've come to love. We prioritize quality and reliability in everything we do, ensuring that your Garden Leisure Spa remains a source of uninterrupted relaxation for years to come.

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When you choose Artesian Spa Parts for your Garden Leisure Spa needs, you're not only getting access to top-quality parts and expert technicians but also the convenience of a hassle-free experience. We offer a user-friendly online platform where you can easily find the Garden Leisure Spa Parts you need, and our team is always available to assist you with any questions or concerns.

In conclusion, your Garden Leisure Spa is a valuable investment in relaxation and well-being. To ensure uninterrupted enjoyment, trust the experts at Artesian Spa Parts for all your Garden Leisure Spa Parts and maintenance needs. With our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, you can relax in your Garden Leisure Spa with peace of mind, knowing that you have the best support at your fingertips.

For more information about Artesian Spa Covers and Artesian spa parts

#Premium Leisure Hot Tub Parts #South Sea Spas Parts #Gulf Coast Hot Tub Parts

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hottubpartsfd · 1 year ago

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Spa Jets

Online shopping for hot tub accessories from a great selection at hot tub parts store. Browse our great selection of accessories, spa covers, tub parts and more.

#South Seas Spas Parts #Island Spa Hot Tub Parts

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newsarticle4u · 5 months ago

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Lionel Messi House in Miami and Barcelona: Cost, Inside Photos and Net Worth

Lionel Messi and his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, acquired a lavish mansion in Miami after Lionel joined Inter Miami’s professional team in July 2023. The couple invested approximately 50 million USD (around Rs 413 crore) in this stunning property. Situated on a uniquely shaped island, the estate ensures complete privacy for the family. Known for its exclusive location, Lionel Messi’s Miami residence is celebrated as a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Designed by renowned designer Lori Morris, the modern mansion has garnered attention, even being featured in Florida Design magazine.

source: Miami Herald

Lionel Messi, who shares three sons with Antonela Roccuzzo, an Argentinian social media influencer and model, recently became the proud owner of a sprawling 10,500-square-foot estate. This impressive residence features 8 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, a three-car garage, and a luxurious pool.

source: Miami herald

Represented by Samuel and Donna Simpkin of Compass Florida, Messi purchased the home nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac within the exclusive Bay Colony community. Notably, this area saw a record-setting purchase in 2021 by Patrick Bet-David, an author and social media influencer.

The ultra-modern mansion, occupying less than half an acre, boasts two boat docks, a spa, a fitness room, and an expansive 1,600-square-foot primary bedroom suite. Annual property taxes for the estate are estimated to be around $83,400, reflecting its substantial value and amenities.

source: Miami herald