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jesussavedevenme · 3 years ago

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To Be A Knight

This is the beginning of a collection of one shots following Seth's adventures as a Knight of the Dawn

Description: Like most young boys Seth had always dreamed of being a spy. He had spent most of his childhood sneaking around the house with a walky-talky while humming the Mission Impossible theme song. And while he technically still wasn't a spy,he was pretty darn close.

May 20

St.Matthew's Island, Alaska

6:25 pm

"Sorenson, I've got a job for you." came a gruff voice from down the hall. Seth turned and saw his handler, a man by the name of Flynn Hotching, leaning out of the door to his office. Flynn was a tall and strong man with a broad frame. At fifty five he was in excellent shape and the only indications to his age were the flecks of white that were sprinkled throughout his dark hair and neatly trimmed beard. Flynn was a serious man and often gave off an intimidating vibe, but Seth knew that he wasn't that bad once you got to know him.

Seth stood, ignoring the way his back popped and cracked in protest because of how long he had spent sitting in the rather uncomfortable wooden chair. He had once started a petition to replace them with those really comfortable bean bag chairs. He actually had quite a few supporters. But Flynn, being the man he was, just rolled his eyes and walked away. Seth could feel the stares of his fellow knights burning into the back of his head as he made his way over but opted to ignore it. Seth got missions quite frequently, a fact that many knights were slightly jealous of since it would occasionally get him out of some the more mundane tasks a Knight had to complete. For example, paper work. Which is what he had been doing when he had been called. He quickly made his way over, eager to get away from the evil sea of inevitable paper cuts. He couldn't help but chuckle as he mentally heard Eve calling him a drama queen. Though she wasn't much better.

Flynn barely waited for the door of his to close behind him before he began pouring out the details of whatever job he had lined up.

" There's a dealer that's been causing us some problems. They are preying on creatures such as unicorns and there has been some rumors that they are working with some less than savory characters. I need you to track them down. " Flynn stated firmly. Seth narrowed his eyes, there was no way it was that easy. If it was that simple then they would have brought in a rookie.

"Ok, what's the catch." He replied crossing his arms over his chest.The man heaved a sigh before sliding a file towards him.

" The catch is we don't have any idea who the dealer is. We don't even have a description. However, all of our dealers crimes have a certain flare to them and we have reason to believe that he is human. We have intercepted news of a deal taking place in three days in Belize. "

Seth read the file and whistled at the lack of information. The file was extremely limited which meant that whoever was doing this knew what they were doing. The Knights of the Dawn had excellent connections and kept tabs on every possible threat so for them to be this uninformed- well lets just say it wasn't good. It also meant he was walking into this mission completely blind. He couldn't plan for anything meaning he had to plan for everything. He had no idea what was going to happen once he got there but, if you ask Seth, that was part of the fun.

"Alright I'll do it." Seth replied after a moment of thought. He had to admit he only pretended to think about it, mostly just for the suspense. He had always loved a good mystery and this mission honestly excited him.

"Good, your plane leaves tomorrow at eight am sharp. You will be issued a bag that will be stocked with supplies but I advise you to bring anything you think would be useful" He said gesturing to the satchel over his shoulder, that served as his emergency kit. " I have wired five thousand dollars into your account but if you need more than that you know who to call." Seth nodded, placing the folder in his satchel and walked out of the office, heading to his apartment to prepare for the mission ahead. He pulled his coat tighter around his body as he walked outside and realized that it was later than he had originally thought. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon and though Seth loved the pinks and oranges that painted the sky, he could practically feel the temperature dropping. Last time he had checked it was 25 degrees, which is no where near as cold as it could get but it was still very cold. Despite how long he had been in Alaska, he had yet to get used to the bitter cold. And he honestly didn't think he ever would. Seth guessed he should count himself lucky, this was the Knights biggest base and it had been cleverly hidden by distractor spells as well as the natural terrain of the island. Seth shivered as a strong gust of wind blew through the base reminding him of the other reason it stayed hidden from most people. Luckily he lived on the grounds of the base so it was only about a minutes walk.

The Knights of the Dawn had no shortage of money. Seth wasn't sure how they got there hands on so much money and honestly he didn't want to know. It was all warranted though considering how many supplies they had to buy along with the amount of damage control. It was amazing sometimes how much chaos a secret organization could cause. Seth knew he definitely wasn't the favourite over in the legal department because of some of the 'incidents' that had been a result of his missions. Seth was proud to be able to state that these incidents were few and far between but when they did happen he knew they had to be a nightmare to clean up.

Needless to say, with all that money, his apartment was very nice. It had a decent size living room and kitchen which connected go a small dining area. Upstairs there was two bedrooms and a bathroom. Seth's furniture was pretty sparse if he was being honest. He had a couch that had been there when he moved in, his bed, a desk, a small dining table that has also come with the apartment, as well as few chairs scattered here and there. It didn't bother him in the slightest. He honestly wasn't here that often. He slept there when he wasn't out on missions which, once again, was pretty rare. Besides the real fun began downstairs. He walked down the stairs into what appeared to be a musty, unfinished basement. A punching bag hung from one of the exposed beams and a small pile of weights sat not far from it. Seth rarely used those, they were reserved for restless nights when the big communal gym and training area was closed for the night.

Seth strode confidently towards the back wall and slid away a lose board revealing a keypad. It was truly a horrible hiding spot for something that important but there wasn't really anything he could do about it. The neat thing about the keypad though was that it had been enchanted so that he was the only one who could touch it. Meaning that not only did you need the correct code, but he had to be the one to punch it in. He wasn't exactly sure what would happen if someone else touched it but he knew it would do more than just set off an alarm. Stuff like always made Seth feel like a true spy and totally made up for the unsecured hiding space.

Seth punched in the code and heard the distinct sound of stone scraping on stone, briefly reminding him of his few days spent in the Sphinx's prison. When the sound stopped, a small opening was revealed that lead to a room containing his weapons and supplies. From the outside the room appeared to be tiny and cramped but it had also been enchanted to be much bigger on the inside. It wasn't quite as big as the knapsack they had all those years ago but it was nothing to sneeze at. Still, no matter how big it was on the outside, Seth had to crouch down to fit through the opening. The door frame was ridiculously short and the amount of time he had smacked his head against the top was honestly embarrassing. The supplies inside the room was a knights dream. There was everything you could dream of, swords, daggers, armor, bows, you name it. The special thing about this room though, was that most of the items were his. They were things he had gathered prior to becoming a knight. Seth also had several magical talismans and tools that had gotten him out of more than a few sketchy situations. His favorite talisman was a ring that sat on his right forefinger. The ring had been a gift from The Fairy King when Seth had been accepted into the Knights Academy. It was pitch black and didn't look like much at first glance however, when you looked closer you could see three unicorns that were engraved on its surface, each of which served more functional purposes. The first unicorn, when pressed, sent out a distress signal strong enough to reach Bracken even if he was in the fairy realm. The distress signal also went out to anyone who had a connected talisman. At this point the only ones being himself and Kendra who had gotten hers when she officially began dating Bracken in the form of a bracelet. The second unicorn held a few precious drops of unicorn blood. The substance could heal almost anything but it could only be used once. The final unicorn was arguably Seth's favorite. When it was pressed it would release a pearly white dagger which had been extremely helpful in the past. The downside to this tool was that, since it was made of light, he tended to have a harder time controlling it.

Seth looked through his stash, trying to decide which weapons were right for this particular mission. He knew at this point stealth was key but if you leave for a job without a weapon, you're just going to get yourself killed.

When going on stealth missions the best route to take is small weapons that can be easily concealed, such as daggers or blow darts. However, the problem with that was those were easily detected when going through airport security. Ever since becoming a knight Seth had decided that he hated flying. It was loud, chaotic, and absolutely impossible to tell who was a danger to you.

Plus carrying weapons onto the plane was pretty much impossible but, a knight needed to be prepared in every situation. The weapon had to be easily accessible, ready at a moments notice, and the best way to do that is to build a weapon that doesn't look like a weapon. Seth walked over to a small red tool box tucked away in the corner, and pulled out a large nut and and tied a piece of cord to it. He secured the cord and then started to spin it, making sure nothing was going to fall off. And just like that he had a weapon that made a killer whip and could easily crack a mans skull if it came down to that. The best part was that it wouldn't trip any alarms. Sure it might seem a little odd that someone carries a piece of cord tied to a nut but, he wouldn't get arrested for it. Seth tied the lose cord around his neck, creating a necklace that he could hide underneath his shirt until it was needed. When that was finished he turned his attention to his emergency kit and sifted through the various items, taking out anything that would tip off a scanner. Seth gathered the items that he had taken out and moved towards the suitcase that he would be taking with him. He felt around one of the sides and unzipped a pocket so small that you most likely wouldn't see unless you knew it was there. In the pocket he placed the remaining items of his emergency kit. This time he wasn't worried about the items being seen as the pocket had been enchanted to hide the items from sight. Seth then repeated the process with the bottom of the suitcase, peeling back the inside to reveal a similar compartment that had also been enchanted to be bigger. In this pocket he placed two daggers, A blow gun and darts, and his favorite sword. He pulled the sword out of it's sheath and inspected it for any chips or dull edges. The sword was jet black and held the name Shadow Slayer, which was kind of ironic given its nature. The sword held just enough darkness to work well with him but not so much that there was a risk it would corrupt him. He had found the sword while on a mission for the fairy realm not long before joining the Knights. He was pretty sure he wasn't going to use it because lets face it, milk or no milk a sword was still a sword. However, Seth had learned that it payed to be prepared. So with that thought in mind, he placed the sheathed sword in the compartment, closed it up, and began to carry it upstairs to his bedroom. He filled the rest of the suit case with clothes and other essentials and once he was satisfied that he had everything, he closed it up.

He slumped down in his desk chair and pulled out the file he had stashed in his emergency kit, pouring over what little detail it had and attempting to prepare for what was to come.

†††††

May 21

St.Matthews Island, Alaska

5:00am

The next morning Seth was up well before five am preparing for the mission ahead. Thankfully he had always been a morning person so the early hour didn't bother him in the slightest. He grabbed his bags and exited the apartment, heading to the missions office to pick up the final things he would need for this job.

The lady at the desk, He pretty sure her name is Jennifer, smiled at him as he approached the counter. She was a women in her mid thirties and she was one of the nicer people that worked the desk. There were quite a few of the people working here that obviously didn't want to and others who even seemed to resent it. Seth really couldn't blame them though, he had worked here for a few months while he was going through training and it definitely hadn't been the most fun or exciting job out there.

" ID and case number?" She asked as more of a formality than anything else. Seth was such a regular visitor that he was pretty sure they knew who he was. However, since it was required, he slid showed them his badge and rattled the number off anyway. Seth supposed that he coukd see the logic behind the badge. It was a way of identifing someone beyond ther looks. All of them had been enchanted fo return to their owners, generally via their pocket, should they be lost. Seems simple and secure enough. However, in their line of work things were rarely that black and white. Seth is not entirely sure what would happen to the badge if their was a stingbuld or if the enchantment could be removed. Luckily they didn't do much. They were just means of identification and they didn't let you into anything at all. Any area qhich required a certain level of access had several different enchantments placed on it. Ones that were designed to recognize the person requesting access and weed out potential imposters. After the battle of Zzyzx and the whole mess with the Evening Star, the knights had undergone huge security upgrades. Bracken as well as one of his sisters, Iredessa, had set mist of the enchantments. Kendra had also played a major part on strengthening these enchantments a few years ago.

The case numbers were pretty harmless. Not the most secure but all they did was let the people at the desk know what bag of supplies to get. It didn't give access to any crucial or confidential information. The most a fake could get was an issued duffle bag and possibly some.plane tickets.

Jennifer smiled as she stood and disappeared through a secured metal door. When she returned a few minutes later she was carrying a black duffle bag which she passed to him over the counter along with a two way plane ticket.

"Thanks a lot," Seth told her, flashing a bright smile her way. She hummed in response before responding,

"Stay safe out there,"

"I'll try my best," Seth replied with a grin as he headed towards the door and began the short treck to the parking lot where a car would take him to the airport. He knew he must have looked a little funny carrying around a huge duffle bag, suit case and a leather satchel that sat across his shoulder but he wasn't worried. Every Knight here had been in similar situations before. Seth looked around the parking lot, squinting in the bright morning sun, before making his way to the small grey jeep that sat close to the front. Leaning against the side was a tall guy with wind blown red hair and a lean build. Seth smiled when he spotted him. The man's name was Parker and he was one of Seth's closest friends here on the base. They had gone through training together though, Parker was about three years older than him. He was twenty-four while Seth was only twenty-one. Seth, unfortunately, hadn't had a lot of friends at that time. Because of his shadow charmer status, people tended to be wary of him but Parker had never been deterred by his abnormal abilities.

In between his own missions Parker volunteered to drive Knights back and forth to the airport. Due to Seth's frequent missions, the two usually ended up paired together.

"Another one Sorenson? Didn't you just finish that one in Sweeping Pine preserve like a week ago?"

" Yeah, Jealous?" Seth teased, raising his eyebrows. Parker laughed and shot a playful glare at the taller boy. Despite Parker's tall height, he was still at least and inch shorter than Seth. Though to be fair, not many people were taller than Seth. A fact that many people found unsettling.

" Just a little bit dude. What, you trying to show the rest of us up or something?" Parker laughed back, poking Seth in the side as he got into the car. Seth rolled his eyes as he loaded his bags into the car before following Parker's lead. They road in silence for several minutes as Parker navigated his way out of the crowded base and set up the directions to the international airport. It wasn't everyday that a Knight flew internationally for a mission. Generally if they were going to somewhere outside the country they were going to a preserve and would have to be flown there by helicopter or other means. So while it did happen, it didn't happen often.

Seth used the temporary quiet to unzip the bulky duffle bag and look at its contents.

Looking into his bag for a mission and seeing the certain supplies or gadgets still made him a bit giddy. Like most young boys, Seth had always wanted to be a spy. He had spent most of his childhood sneaking around the house with a cheap walky-talky while humming the mission impossible theme song. And while he technically wasn't a spy, he was pretty darn close. One of the common misconceptions about the Knights of the Dawn was that they didn't use any human or modern technology such as computers and other gadgets to do their job. However that was far from true. Sure they tended to avoid it when dealing directly with magical creatures, but they often used these gadgets for things such reconnaissance.

Inside the bag was some of the things you would expect such a binoculars and many more that you wouldn't expect. Seth's favorite part of these bags were the small box near the bottom that generally came with each one. The box contained different potions that you might need for the mission. Seth had always found potions to be fascinating. There had even been a time that he had considered going into the field himself. For this particular mission he had been given a night vision potion which was pretty self explanatory, An eavesdropping potion that enhanced his hearing and allowed him to listen in on a conversation without getting too close, and a form of truth serum that would loosen the lips of of someone you wish to get information from. There was at least three bottles of each along with the normal defense and first aid potions that were added. Such as, the gaseous potion, a potion for pain, a salve for injuries and many more. On top of that Tanu insisted on making sure that Seth was always stocked with his own personal set of potions. Tanu usually supplied him with more gaseous potions, a gummy potion, a giant potion, a new potion that enhanced his focus and his reflexes, as well as plenty of first aid related ones. He seemed to be convinced that Seth would end up seriously injured on every mission. Though sadly, Seth could admit, that the worry wasn't completely unfounded. Other than the potions, the bag contained an enchanted communicator, a few listening devices, a laptop, and a few other useful knick knacks.

" Got anything good in there?" Parker questioned.

" You bet," Seth replied holding up the box of potions that was in his bag even knowing that with his friends eyes on the road and so Parker probably couldn't see them. Parker laughed anyway not needing his eyes to know what Seth was referring to.

" Seth, I swear I have never seen anyone get so excited over potions before."

" What can I say, I'm a simple guy," He replied earning a scoff from Parker.

" Uh huh, says the literal Shadow Charmer who has a mission every other week," The pair laughed once again and fell into an easy back and forth banter. Continuing there shenanigans until they pulled into the airport. It was then, as much as he, loathed to do it he bid Parker farewell , thanked him for the ride, and walked into the crowded airport.

Arriving at the airport was just as hectic as he expected it to be. Of course it was crazy for everyone but, it was even more so when you are constantly looking over your shoulder or waiting to get stopped by airport security. Thankfully he was able to board the plane okay even if his makeshift weapon did raise a few eyebrows.

Something Seth had learned was that a knight should always fly economy. It may not be the most comfortable but few people would start a fight with that many witnesses around. Plus it was easier to blend in. A tee shirt and some jeans and you were all set. Ready to settle in for a long flight.

Seth popped one ear bud in his ear but left the other out in order to let him hear incoming threats. Seth found it impossible to sleep on a plane, no matter how long the journey was, because of the unknown circumstances. It would be difficult to keep an eye on people and to know who was a threat. Unlike Kendra, Seth hated reading. Only a few books had every managed to hold his attention for any.period of time. He was too restless. He would much rather be doing something outside. Moving and exploring. He didn't mind doing art, sketching being his favorite. However, that was difficult to do in a crowded, bunny plane. So Seth resigned himself to a long ride half listening to music and ignoring the guy beside him who vaguely smelled like onions.

††††

May 22

Corazol, Belize

4:45 pm

Seth stretched his stiff legs as he walked from baggage claim to the exit of the airport. He breathed deeply and relished the feeling of the sun on his skin, even though he knew he would quickly become hot. But, after a long eight and a half hour flight, they were welcome changes. He glanced at the clock hung on the wall and noted the time. He knew that Corazol Belize was about two hours ahead of Alaska. Not that it mattered. Seth was pretty much immune to jet lag at this point. Not necessarily because of the constant travel, though that certainly helped, but because of the erratic and uncertain sleep schedule he had become used to while on any mission. His body had become well trained in sleeping whenever it was told. The only thing that interrupted this was nightmares but he rarely got those while on missions because his mind was too focused on other things. Seth would never admit it but that's one of the reasons he takes on as many missions as they will give him.

Seth's hotel was not far from the airport so he opted to walk there. He had done some research the night before and found a hotel that he rented under the name of Roger Alpine. The Knights would usually rent one for you but Seth preferred to do it himself. To say the hotel he chose was run down would be putting it nicely. The paint was peeling horribly from the siding and it was definitely not on the nicest side of town. The rooms were separated from the outside by a door with A flimsy looking lock, something Seth would secure once he had settled in. The room held a musty scent mixed with the smell of cigarette smoke. There was a bed in the center of the room, covered in some unsettling stains, a side table and lamp beside it, and a desk under the window. The window itself had a pair of thin ratty curtains and crooked blinds. There wasn't much Seth could do about the window, except string up a blanket, which he did. Opening his suitcase and removing his clothes, he opened the hidden compartment. From inside he took out the pieces of his emergency kit that he had stashed. He also opened up the duffle bag he had and pulled out a few other various knick knacks that he thought he might find useful. He then empty the remaining items into the compartment at the bottom of his suitcase. Leaving the duffle bag empty. This was.common practice for Seth in a place like this. He didn't want to leave his unused supplies in a relatively unprotected duffle bag while he was away. Unfortunately this was something Seth had learned the hard way.

In the end Seth was left with: the box of potions, a rope, a small bottle which held a thin dust that immediately soaked into the skin upon contact allowing the victim to be tracked, dark sunglasses (which did indeed have a camera and microphone installed) , a slingshot, some marbles( which as Seth had found were great for distractions), binoculars, and a pair of ear buds. All of these things were packed neatly into his emergency kit, ready for use. He still had his makeshift weapon secured around his neck and two knife secured in a holster and strapped to each of his legs. He had glanced mournfully at his sword but knew that it would only draw in wanted attention. Besides today wasn't about getting into a fight. Today was about exploring Corazol and getting a lay of the land. Still it played to be prepared, hence the knives. Finally, satisfied that he was ready, Seth left the dingy hotel room and began to wander along the streets. Searching for anything that might lead him in the right direction.

Corazol was a quaint little sea side town. You could smell the salt in the air, carried by the cool breeze. Corazol was small in population but it also had its fair amount of tourists. Especially right now with summer just around the corner. The busy streets were lined with street vendors all vying for his attention but Seth was more interest in searching his surroundings. The smells coming from said street vendors were heavenly and caused his stomach to crumble loudly reminding him that not only had he not eaten breakfast this morning, but that he had been walking for over an hour. Technically he could have rented a car, he definitely had the funds for it, and most Knights probably would. However Seth, was not most Knights. He didn't like rental cars for many reasons, one because it was easier to see a car and a license plate then just someone walking in a crowd. Two, every rental car was required to have trackers and such in them to prevent theft which was fine in most cases but problematic for him. That wasn't necessarily a huge risk but it was still one Seth wasn't willing to take. Maybe he had grown paranoid, but he was still alive so there's that. Finally he didn't like rental cars because, in his line of work, it was likely to get beaten up or destroyed. Plus having a car would cause him to miss out on the unique sights, sounds, and smells. That is yet another thing Seth loved about his job. It allowed him to travel the world and to see as well as, experience things he would never get to otherwise.

He had to admit this was a good place to go if you were going to hunt for artifacts and magical creatures and then illegally sell them . The Cerror Ruins were only a few miles away and Seth knew that it was a prime spot for missing person's cases, especially when people wandered off alone. He hoped beyond hope that he wouldn't have to venture there during this trip but, that's definitely where he would go if he was an illegal dealer trying to avoid the Knights as well as any other prying eyes and ears. Plus it wasn't exactly a place you would expect anything big to happen. And besides the Cerror Ruins, their wasn't really anything magical about the place. It honestly seemed kind of ordinary. It was perfect because it tended to be overlooked.

After another thirty minutes had past, the rumbling in Seth's stomach became too overwhelming to ignore and he resolved find a place to eat. He stumbled upon a small hole in the wall restaurant that seemed to be pretty popular amongst the locals. Meaning it was the perfect place for Seth to gather some information.

Even though he worked directly with magical creatures, you'd be surprised how many times he had to interact with regular people. The knowledge gathered from these people was often shaky at best and should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. However, this information often helped him form some semblance of an idea. In his experience Seth had learned that regular people noticed a lot more than even they realize. In addition most people never pass up a chance for a good gossip. And since they didn't know how valuable their information was, they were a lot less stingy with it. The only problem you run into is when they begin to ask questions and wonder why you're asking and who you are. When that happens you become the subject of gossip and word will eventually get back to you enemy. That's why Seth hated small towns. The information might be easier to come by, but it was also easier to get caught. And getting caught meant revealing your mission too soon.

In his line of work , timing was everything. Move in too soon and you risk blowing you cover as well as the entire mission. However, if you don't move in quick enough you'll miss your chance to get your guy. That perfect timing came only when you knew you enemy better than they knew themselves. It came from careful observation and lots of Intel.

Gathering Intel was arguably one of the most boring and tedious parts of Seth's job. It involved a lot of waiting, listening, learning, more waiting, and every once and awhile, a well calculated risk. Luckily, for Seth, his shade walking gave him an edge in this particular area. The ability allowed him to get closer to his enemies so he could overhear plans and put together one of his own. However no ability came without its share of risks. He had gotten a lot better at learning to shroud himself in the shadow to help cover his movements when shade walking but it wasn't an exact science. Not adding enough shadow would reveal his position should he happen to move too quickly however, adding too much shadow could be just as revealing.

Seth's favorite way of gathering Intel was doing exactly what he was doing now. Finding a place to eat while he sat back and listened. Small places like the diner he had just entered were prime spots for gossip. Additionally, they gave him an opening to talk with the locals in a relatively unsuspicious way. People tended to loosen up and talk more freely when both parties were eating. Plus it gave Seth a reason to try all the local dishes. Most of which were pretty good. The smell of home cooked food hit his nose the minute he walked through the door making his mouth water so much it was a wonder he didn't start drooling. He was met at the entrance by a plump, kind looking lady, who appeared to be somewhere in her mid fifties judging by the gray streaking through her black hair. The hair was pulled tightly into a bun at the back of her head, accentuating her full rosy cheeks. He apron stated that he name was Rosa which somehow seemed to fit her perfectly, even thought Seth didn't know her. She gave off a very motherly vibe that instantly made Seth feel at home. With a smile she led Seth to a table and asked him for his drink order. To which he replied with a simple black coffee. Coffee was something Seth had quickly become addicted when he became a Knight. It often helped him through the multiple all nighters he pulled while on a mission. Some minutes later she returned with his coffee, this time ready for his order of food.

" What would you recommend. I'm from out of town so I'm counting on you to hook me up with the good stuff," He said with a wink. Rosa laughed heartily and replied with a thick accent,

" Well only for you I will tell you my personal favorite," She rattled off the name of a dish which sounded completely foreign to Seth but he wasn't going to admit that.

" Ok then, you've talked me into it,.I'll get that," He replied and as Rosa turned to leave he continued, " And could you do me a favor and just wave your little magic wand and take all the fat and calories out for me," Once again Rosa replied with a full bellied laugh.

"You are a funny man. But for you I will have to add extra. Maybe then some of it will stick. You look like you need it," She teased in return before turning a leaving Seth alone once more. He leaned back in his chair, and pulled out his phone. Absent mindedly scrolling through something or another and trying to hide the fact that he was listening to the conversations around him. The diner was loud, making it difficult to discern the voice of only one person. Seth was tempted to use the potion he had that would hone his eyesight and hearing but didn't want to waste it seeing as he only had one. It would be unfortunate to use all of it now at the beginning of the mission when he could need it more later on.

His thoughts were interrupted by Rose who had come with his food. Seth was shocked at how quick the service was seeing as it was rush hour and the small diner was packed to the gills. With the meal she also brought his check. Seth glanced at the check, surprised at the low prices considering the quality of the food.

" Well would you look at that! you must have given me the senior citizen discount!" He paused for the laugh that he had come to expect and then followed up with, "So what are some cool things to do and see while I'm here, anything particularly interesting?"

" Oh well the Cerror Ruins are always a prime spot for tourism but you must be careful to stay on the trails. Too many people wander off and go missing. One of my favorite things is to see the sights at night. The water takes on this stunning color and you can see the star as clear as day. But if you choose that route you best stay away from Devils Tavern. Its on the North end of Corazol, close to the beaches. That place is nothing but trouble, and full of shady characters, especially recently," Rosa said. Rosa was obviously the type of person who talked openly once you got them going. The last part of her sentence caught Seth's attention.

" Really, shady people in this town? Surely not everyone seems so nice,"

" You are young. You haven't seen the darkness of man. People are not always as they seem child," She replied with a sad smile. Seth internally rolled his eyes. If only she knew. " But yes, a week or so ago , this man arrived and came into the diner to eat. He seemed normal enough even if he was a bit rude. However, later that night I saw him outside the Devils Tavern, its on my route home you see, and he was talking in hushed tones with another man. They were standing in the shadows real creepy like. I wasn't really able to hear what they were saying but they didn't sound to happy and they looked like they were planning something, " Rosa finished with a grim look on her face. A look that didn't last long as it was replaced with her usual bright smile.

Seth stored the information away for later, and smiled brightly in return. Acting as if the information had no effect on him at all. Something that had always made Seth a good agent was his poker face. He had a good control over which emotions showed on his face. This was a vast contrast to Kendra who tended to be easily read, like an open book. One with pictures and big letters. A fact that Seth ,and surprisingly Bracken, had teased her relentlessly for.

" Well I won't keep you, thanks for chatting with me . And I will be sure to check out those suggestions," He said, putting an end to the conversation. Seth then dug into his food, nearly moaning at the taste. It was incredibly good. Probably one of the best meals he's had while on a mission. While he ate, he began to sift through the information that he had been given. As always he had to wonder how much of it was true, seeing as people had a tendency to exaggerate. He also couldn't bring himself to believe that Rosa stumbled upon the Devil's Tavern, a place she claimed to despise, on her way home. From what he had seen of Corazol most of the housing was away from that part of the beaches. He wasn't going to completely discredit it but as Rosa had said, people aren't always who they seemed. However, no how much truth there was in the statement, one thing remained true. Tonight he was heading to the Devil's Tavern.

†††††

May 22

Corazol, Belize

10:00pm

Seth walked through the darkened streets. Careful to remain close enough to the street lights so as not to unintentionally shade walk. He had gotten a lot better at controlling it but it still happened from time to time. And he couldn't afford giving himself away like that. Just in case there were eyes watching him that he could not see. He had done a pretty good job of keeping on the down low. After lunch he had wandered around the streets a bit more and then headed to the beaches. Particularly the part of the beach close to the Devil's Tavern. The Devil's Tavern had been relatively quiet during the day. The sign had stated that they were opened but it had seemed oddly empty. That was a stark contrast to what he was seeing now.

The tavern now seemed to be packed to the gills with people. And even more of them were standing outside. Even from where he was standing a few feet away he could hear the loud music that played he could see the bright, colorful lights shiny through the windows. As Seth drew closer he saw a problem. Standing at the door was a big burly man wearing dark sunglasses and a tight short sleeved T-shirt that accented his bulging muscles. He was shorter than Seth, most people were, but he made up for it in width. Seth was considered to have pretty wide shoulders and his years of training had hardened his muscles into steel cords. However, none of this reassured him as he stared at a man that looked like he could snap him in half like a twig. He wasn't scared of the man per say. But, he was definitely cautious.

As Seth approached the man he seemed to be doing his own analysis and his stance showed that he didn't feel even the slightest bit intimidated. Which was fair and actually worked to Seth's advantage He had done his best to tone down the darkness of his aura that seemed to put people on edge. Plus the leather jacket he had opted to wear hit the bulk of his muscles, which weren't overly pronounced to begin with, as well as a few... other tools. Aside from the daggers strapped to his legs and the makeshift weapon around his neck, he had three throwing knives cleverly hidden in the folds of his jacket. Unfortunately, much to Seth's displeasure, he had once again leave his sword behind. As weird as it may sound he felt like the sword gave him a better sense of security than the multiple knives strapped to his body. He was dangerous with both weapons and that was disregarding the fact that he was a shadow charmer. So even without the sword, he was hardly helpless. Still, he always felt oddly bare without it. A look settled on the bouncers face. A look that Seth had often seen on bullies when he was a kid. In the end that was all this guy was. A bully. And obviously he saw Seth as his next victim. However, despite all the scenarios Seth was mentally planning for, all the man did was sneer. Seth did his best to pretend he was scared as he entered the building

The air smelled heavily of alcohol and the music, which had been loud before, now seemed to shake the floor. He immediately began to weave his way through the sweaty bodies packing the room searching for signs of anything that was amiss. You would think that a place with this much chaos would make it harder to find anything let alone one person but for Seth it made it easier. If there was one thing that the file full of its limited information had taught Seth was that this guy was far from careless. He wouldn't risk anything that might loosen his tongue. The rest of the people in this place shared no such caution. So find the guy who can walk a straight line and that was probably who Seth was looking for.

He hadn't been searching for more than five minutes when something caught his eyes. His eyes darted to what had caught his attention and and, confirming his previous suspicions to be true, he found Rosa.

†††††

So there is part one!!!! Most of this collection will be one shots but seeing as this z alone is over seven thousand words I figured I needed to split them up. I will hopefully be able to post the next part very soon. It needs a few touch ups and changes but.other than that its.practically done. This took SOOO much research its not even funny. I'm pretty sure trip advisor things I'm moving to Belize. Anyway I really hope you all like it, it is probably one of my favorite fics to date so let me know what you think. I apologize for any mistakes you may find. Let me know what adventures you want Seth to have in this book or any other requests you have!!!!!

#fablehaven #dragonwatch #fhdw #seth sorenson #Knights of the dawn #i loved writing this one

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dreamsmp-au-ideas · 4 years ago

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Okay. Okay ok make an Ace Attorney AU right. It’s like base DSMP except a select few get some Special Abilities pulled straight from the AA franchise. I’m doing this on a Wide Range of characters.

Wilbur gets the Magatama- a spiritually powered stone, which when held, puts up the illusion of “locks” around someone when they’re keeping a secret. The amount of locks range from 1 to 5. Red locks are normal, while incredibly rare black locks mean they’ve forgotten about the existence of the secret (through trauma, usually.) Locks can be broken by presenting evidence.

Eret gets the ability to channel spirits- an ability that, in canon, allows a woman of the Fey clan to let a spirit speak and act through their body. They also take on most of their physical characteristics, but retain a few (hair color, eye color, clothing.) If a spirit refuses to leave, the channeler becomes possessed.

Two characters get the ability to Percieve: Schlatt and Tubbo. Percieving is the ability to become hypersensitive of nervous tics by being able to tell if someone is lying. In canon, it’s passed down to Thalassa Graymarye’s children, and can be enhanced by a bracelet made by a special alloy, which tightens when the ability is active. However, neither characters recieve this.

Sam creates Widget- a small yet revolutionary piece of analytical technology tailored towards one specific person’s abilities. It can extrapolate rough emotions from a person’s voice, as well as provide images of what they’re speaking of (whether it be true or false). He gives this Widget to the person who has the ability to use it to its fullest potential:

Karl. He possesses the ability to hear Discord in people’s voice- a sort of static noise that plays louder or softer depending on how truthful someone’s statement is, and is completely absent when someone tells a full truth. This hypersensitivity also brings the ability to discern emotion in someone’s voice at an abnormal level.

Dream developed the Little Thief and gifted it to Sapnap- something that allows you to project the past state of a scene onto it based on description. For example, if someone said “Two people were walking over there,” two ambiguous green people would be projected, but if someone said “Techno and Phil were walking over there,” they’d be depicted in detail.

Also, as a bonus, I know this isn’t quite an ability (but it sure as hell isn’t normal): Callahan gets Godot’s “ability” to summon 17 cups of coffee per day.

The Ace Attorney lore is a lot bigger than I thought.

Anyways all of these things go and fit the characters really well. Everything about their abilities is really cool and the characters would seem to actually be the ones to use them.

#smp attorney au #wilbur soot #eret #the eret #jschlatt #tubbo #awesamdude #karl jacobs #dream #dreamwastaken #sapnap #callhan #ask #jadetuin

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nikkireedsource · 4 years ago

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Nikki Reed Jewelry Collection. Nikki Reed has a Los-Angeles based sustainable jewelry collection with her lifestyle company BaYou with Love. This features rings, earrings, necklaces, bridal, accessories, bracelets, charms, and Men’s Jewelry. BaYou with Love has chosen to work with manufacturers that prioritize ethical and sustainable production. The rings are made in DTLA at a manufacturing facility committed to minimizing its environmental impact and footprint. Nikki Reed has been named one of Cause Artist’s Top 35 Social Entrepreneurs to Watch and BaYou’s Circular Collection was named as a Finalist in Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards. Nikki Reed is also an actress, singer, producer, singer-songwriter, well-known for playing Rosalie Hale in The Twilight Saga.I find a tremendous amount of inspiration in nature, with a lot of my jewelry inspired by the photographs I take while sitting in nature. A lot of the new ones that can be overlooked by the naked eye is captured through photography and I often find myself marinating on the photos I took for days months and years after. My jewelry is also inspired by the notion that we can create with both beauty and meaning simultaneously. Anytime I create, I am thinking about how to create pieces that are multi functional, and wearable for a lifetime. To me the most sustainable way to produce is to think about the longevity of a peace and the many ways in which it can be worn.

Who/What inspired your current jewelry collection? Why? My favorite piece in the current collection is The Lyra, because the sapphires used to have such a special story. Those specific stones came from a mine in Australia that prioritizes topsoil restoration through a small family owned operation. I will never be able to design with those stones again, because in the world of sustainability, it is common to only have limited quantities of things we love. But these Rings will always have a special place in my heart!

What’s your creative process? My creative process always starts with a vision board. I take my photography from the last six months and go through some of my favorite memories and moments, and begin designing from there. Then I sketch, I work with my team, and I am always pushing for versatility while we talk through the creative. I want create pieces that can serve more than one function. For example our latest collection has pieces that can be worn as an earring, a necklace or bracelet pendant. Meaning you can buy one piece and wear it three different ways… that to me is sustainable!

What qualities do you look for in the perfect piece of jewelry? To me the perfect piece of jewelry can be worn anytime, anywhere, for your entire life. It tells a story, one that goes beyond the immediate circumstances. It is something you want to share with your children, and their children.

What is your favorite collection so far? (Past, Current, New, etc.) My favorite collection is our Inner Artist Charms, because of their versatility. I love that one piece can be worn many different ways. I think that gives the wearer some ownership of how they tell their story, by what pieces they choose to layer together.

What challenges do you encounter when creating sustainable collections? There’s so many challenges we encounter as a sustainable business! First and foremost to state the obvious, it is much more expensive to produce sustainably. I choose to work with factories that prioritize ethical labor, meaning we pay more than most companies do to produce our jewelry. I also have to be very selective in where and how I source my stones, and because not all stone can be sourced sustainably, often times we have to choose to not work with that particular stone because of it. I also choose to work with recycled gold from technology, which has a completely different process built-in. We actually purchased our gold outside of our factory, and deliver that tech gold to them so every gram has to be accounted for. It’s a tremendous amount of work but work I do with pride because I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are your goals/dreams for the future? I love being a small company, in fact I do think that there are times where exponential growth can lead to the loss of integrity within a company. So my goal is to remain small, but grow at a steady pace. We have an amazing hard-working team of women in the company, who also care deeply about the planet and the way we produce and I’m so honored to work with such passionate people. I want to grow at a slow and steady pace as we have, and continue to inspire people while doing great work. I suppose those are my goals :)

Can you link us with your social media’s? @NikkiReed @bayouwithlove

Interview by Cailyn Rieser, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine Tearsheets by Victoria Durant, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

Link to article

#nikki reed #reads #photobook magazine #photobook #bayou with love #interview

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palaeophilist · 5 years ago

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from where I sit, the freeway hums, a car revs and rolls away, and birds lift their songs above it all.

usually, around the day of my birth, I do a sort of reflection about my life. It’s not a conscious thing, but it has happened so often that I can’t help but notice the pattern, and with that noticing, the pattern is made stronger.

yesterday I turned 35. PY asked me, “is your life how you thought it would be?” and I said I never dared think about being 35. this is the first year that I had a birthday and felt old. like, legitimately. like, by all standards. maybe I flatter myself, but I do remember, when I was younger, that 35 was an age that was not flattered in movies or TV. It was the age of the parents in the shows about the kids, or presumably. It feels different that 34 and all the other numbers that preceded it: old.

PY purchased little gifts for me from local artists off of Esty. A leather bracelet with silver beads, asymmetrical earrings with rainbow stones, a choker, a comfy shirt and pants, a necklace with our initials spelled out with beads in Morse code. My sister brought presents and stayed a little while to talk. My brother bought me tacos, complete with sombreros. My mom sent over flowers and gifts and margaritas. LICM mailed me a box filled with little sweets to celebrate me. Gem sent over a green scarf and rosé. My Facebook had greetings from old friends and some family. Mr. Heggem uploaded the two minutes of video from Nationals 2003 when CW & I won policy debate.

I cried, a little, watching the 18-year-old version of myself -- holding a stuffed monkey to be a rebel (the symbol of which was totally lost in translation, 17 years later) -- succeed at a challenge that had defined my adolescence. It was a sweet, sweet and beautiful moment. The awkward hugs to the losing team. How CW picked me up and spun me around. We were so elated. He had just texted me the day before, a tradition of ours since 1999, wherein he brags about being older. This small tether of our lives entangled.

Earlier this week, I dreamed about a former student who became a friend sometime after he attended a debate workshop where I taught. We’ve maintained a correspondence for the past 13 years, usually emailing a long and philosophical life update once a year. I wrote to him and said, how is it that two lives can entangle like this? that no matter the distance, or the fact that we only spent a few days together 15 years ago, we are bound in our hearts and minds?

This kind of love feels like magic, and to know that people carry me in their hearts -- as I carry them -- makes me feel so profoundly held. In the midst of this challenging time, where everything is closed and distant and frightening, the thought of these irrational, magical connections is deeply touching to me.

I tried to write a poem about this several years ago. I titled it, “I used to know you,” about the things that lasted for me. When I meet people, it’s like, they have this special pocket. Their dimples, their interests, the things they did and said. All these little ways people change me. It was maybe easier to honor this when I was younger. I reflected with Gem earlier this month how music used to really impact me. These days, I wonder if it does. There’s just more life, so the relative importance of bits of it feel different. I have nostalgia to remember, for example, the way it felt to kick your feet up on the dashboard, to watch the tide roll in at Sunset Cliffs, and listen with melancholy to Iron & Wine sing, “I am thinking it’s a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they perfectly align.”

Maybe when time passes, and I am fifty, I will look back on lyrics from now, on songs from these days, and feel the same. It is hard to know.

#notes

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bruntriceballs · 6 years ago

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Meettings, Shoping, and Disney

Hello, this is for @sugarglider9603 and @ask-spiderverse-virgil Sandersides Spider-Verse AU. so @ those two, I hope you like this. I didn't really know what to do for Dolion when he was mentioned so I sort of left it ambiguous but still sort of not.

Summary: Virgil goes to the mall and finds Emile in Hot topic. Emile convinces Virgil to let him pick out an outfit for him.

Warnings?: UH Disney, Mentions of A parent being an asshole and misgendering someone,

The minute that Virgil stepped near the store he knew that Emile was there. The part of him that recognized the other spider-powered teen light up in blacks, light pink and white for just a moment before he was able to push its way. He looked to where the colors were directed. Emile also looked his way, Virgil always thought it was cool that after the first meeting their spider senses started to identify the others. For example, Roman was red, orange/goldish color and white while Logan was dark blues, grays, and white.

Walking over to his friend, after a few months he knew he could call Emile a friend even if he didn’t always get along with one of his boyfriends, and waved. Emile refrained from hugging him, which he was glad for, and smiled at him. Virgil looked around, he knew that Remy and Dolion weren’t around based on his spider-sense but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t look for them anyway. Part of it was because he was around other people, another was sometimes Venom covered Team RED’s present.

“Dee, Vee and Remy not here?”

Virgil asked as he sorted through a rack of tee-shirts, he pulled out a black Moana one, it had the sting rayon it and it looked cute, to be honest. Looking at he realized that the store had a lot of clothes that went with Emile’s aesthetics, it explained why he was here but also brought up the question on how he didn’t see him before in here.

“No, Remy is still sleepy from last night and Lie is busy with a last minute project.”

Translation; Remy was still sleeping off last night's patrol and Dolion was working on late homework.

“What about Roman? He’s not here is he?”

Virgil knew that Emile already knew the answer already, but they were in public, and in public, they had to act a certain way in case anyone not in the know was watching. He answered as he saw another teen look their way.

“No, Roman is practicing his lines for the school play. Plus, I wanted to maybe get him his Christmas present while he was busy. That way there is less of a chance for him to see it.”

Emile hummed and picked up an “Alice in Wonderland” tee-shirt, the Cheshire cat printed big on it. Emile showed it to him, Virgil nodded giving him a soft ‘cute’ as he glanced at it. Emile’s eyes light up and Virgil glanced at him nervously. Emile’s kitten eyes were as dangerous as Patton’s puppy eyes, leith and able to make you doing anything.

Virgil glanced around as he waited for Emile to come out of the dressing room, Emile’s idea had been good, he had fun though since it was his turn to try out clothes next he was a little bit nervous. Emile hadn’t let him see what the clothes he picked out looked like, just like Virgil had with the clothes he picked out. He looked up when he heard the dressing rooms curtain open. Emile came out wearing the clothes he picked out, a white tee-shirt with Arial on the front and a pair of sweatpants that had Toothless's head on the pant leg. In addition to that Virgil had picked out a pair of Minnie mouse hi-tops, various bracelets adored his wrist and the pinked cat rimmed glasses were covering Emile’s eyes.

A part of him couldn’t help but think of Remy, maybe it was the glasses, but he put the thought into the back of his head and waved at Emile. Walking over he watched as Emile’s twirled in front of the mirror trying to see what it looked like from all sides. It was different than Emile’s usual style, but that was the point, to try on a different style than they were comfortable with. Emile sense of style usually reminded Virgil of a mixture of Logan and Patton. Wearing a tie, sweaters and slacks, when he wasn’t wearing his boyfriends' clothes at least, Emile was like some sort of love child of the two.

(Meanwhile someone once said that Remy was like the love child of him and Roman. That was awkward, especially because it was when they were not together yet and also because they weren’t good friends with Team Red yet.)

“Do you like it?”

Emile looked at him for a moment before smiling, “I love it Virgil, you picked out something I wouldn’t usually wear but still kept to my likes.”

Virgil nodded and watched as Emile stopped moving. Emile went back inside to change and Virgil wondered what Emile picked out. To be honest he knew that Emile wouldn’t pick out something that he was uncomfortable to wear. Sure he might be a little insecure about people seeing him in it, but he wouldn’t be uncomfortable about wearing it. It was probably what helped him agree to go along with Emile’s idea.

Emile walked out carrying the clothes that Virgil picked out in his arms, a smile on his face. Virgil nodded when he said that the clothes that he picked out for Virgil were already in the dressing room. Nodding Virgil walked in and closed the curtain, taking a deep breath and looked at the clothes that Emile picked out. He let out a small laugh as he saw what, exactly they were.

A hoodie dress, black and Lilo and Stitch themed it was exactly his aesthetic with the skeletons of Stitch at the bottom of it. A pair of ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ tights sat next to the dress that Virgil swore he was buying before he left, and on the ground was a pair of platform boots that had skulls on them. There were a few necklaces, one being a “Supernatural” one and the other one had a cat on a stone, and a few bracelets that were P!atd themed.

He changed into the clothes, laughing as he saw that underneath the clothes there was a bag. It was shaped like a coffin and had occupied stitched onto it. Another thing he was buying, if only to show the others because it was cute in his opinion. Shaking his head, he looked into the mirror before opening the curtain. Emile saw him and squealed, Virgil winced at the loud noise but otherwise didn’t do anything.

“You look so cute Virgil.”

Raising an eyebrow he looked back at the mirror before turning fully to Emile.

“Really?”

“Yep! You should totally let me buy that for you!”

Virgil paused and gave Emile a look, it wasn’t like he didn’t like the outfit, but for Emile to want to buy the outfit for him? That was different. In response, Emile pulled out a credit card and handed it to him. Reading the name on it he realized what was going on. Emile’s dad, who he may or may not have a dream to punch, was being an asshole and Emile was getting back at him. By taking care of his friends and buying clothes that they liked.

Virgil looked at Emile, however before he could say anything Emile spoke.

“He misgendered me again yesterday. And well, never did cancel the credit card he gave me so I thought why.”

Virgil fought the urge to text the others at the moment, Emile would know immediately what he was doing and try to stop him, and ask them to egg the man’s house. Instead, he smiled and let Emile buy him the clothes as long as he bought the clothes that Virgil picked out for himself too.

“Deal!” Emile smiled.

Virgil handed the card back to him and went to go change. With the curtain close he texted the group chat he had with the others before actually changing back into his clothes. Walking back out Emile didn’t give him a chance to say anything before taking the clothes from him and bringing them to the counter. Walking up behind Emile he added a “Steven Universe” pumpkin plushies that he saw Emile looking at earlier.

Emile huffed but smiled at him and let the cashier ring it up. Together they walked out of HotTopic and out into the rest of the mall. They ended up spending the rest of the day together, Emile somehow convincing Virgil to let him buy him some makeup, and Virgil convincing Emile to buy some of his favorite clothes. By the end of the day, the two of them were holding multiple bags and laughing together as they told stories about their boyfriends.

And later that night, if Spidergale accidentally elbowed someone in saving someone else from a car? Well, no one was going to call him out especially after he yelled at the victim pushed them.

#sander sides #sandersides fanfiction #sander side fanfic #virgil sanders #virgil storm #sander sides virgil #dr. emile picani #spiderverse #spiderverse au #mentions of Decite #Mentions of Remmy #Mentions of Roman

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yulcsa-blog · 6 years ago

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5 Great Tips for Buying Hand Made Jewellery Online

If you would like to give a unique and loving gift to that special woman in your life, a gift of a quality bespoke jewellery item is always the perfect choice! Whether the woman is your mother, wife, sister or close friend, you will never go wrong, as a bespoke gift will be made to order. And, what woman doesn't love jewellery? A bespoke jewellery item that is lovingly created by hand, especially for her, will be proof of your thoughtfulness and devotion. At the same time, she will be able to choose the colours and style that she likes the best.

When thinking of giving a gift of jewellery, most people think of a ring, and therefore overlook other beautiful jewellery options. You do not always have to give a ring - as a matter of fact, a handmade bracelet can be very meaningful. Most handmade bracelets have charms or jewels and each piece may contain a special meaning for the wearer. They may come in the form of a bangle, or one that encircles the whole wrist. Handmade earrings are also beautiful and something she will cherish. They will be the perfect gift to accent her already beautiful face. Her handmade earrings will be the first thing all of her friends will notice. She will have the option of choosing long, dangling earrings, or smaller hoops. Either way, she will receive lots of compliments and love you all the more for it! Buy Unique Handmade Jewellery Online

Genuine gemstone jewelry is as beautiful as it is unique. For a wonderful buying experience, follow these five tips.

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This may go without saying, but don't confuse commercially manufactured jewelry with handmade jewellery. The latter is made by artisans that take great pride in their work, the former is mass produced, usually abroad. Look for a company which has customer reviews not only on their own website but on an independent site such as Free Index.

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When jewellery is handmade, it can usually be customized in any number of ways, from the lengths of necklaces and bracelets to the types of gemstones used in pendants and rings. You don't need to be happy with "almost good enough." Instead, you can get the piece you've always dreamed of, in exactly the right size. Buy Handmade jewelry Online at cheap prices

Measure carefully

As customized pieces of jewellery usually are not returnable, it's important you ensure that the handcrafted jewelry you order will fit. It only takes a few minutes to get a good measurement, and doing so will ensure that the piece of jewelry you order will be exactly what you want. For rings, ask a friend to take a piece of string, put it around the knuckle or largest part of your finger, and mark the string. To determine the size, hold the string against a tape measure. You can also use string to measure for bracelet, or necklace length.

If you are buying for someone else and don't want to ruin the surprise try to get your hands on a piece of jewellery they wear often and measure that. A good jewelry maker will be able to work with whatever info you can give them. Order Handmade Designer Jewellery Online

Do your gem stone research?

The best online jewelry sites have information on gemstones and how to care for them. Before you buy, read up on the gemstones you are considering. It's important to know, for example, that aquamarine can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent, but that ultrasonic and steam cleaning may damage the stone. Similarly, you may know that pearls are delicate and can easily absorb liquids, therefore should not be worn in the shower but you might not know that turquoise is also porous and can easily become stained.

Ensure that you know what you are buying

Just because something is described as silver does not mean that it is in fact silver - it could just mean silver colored! For example Tibetan Silver is an alloy of copper, and sometimes tin or even nickel, with a very small percentage of actual silver. Reputable sellers will be very clear about what you are buying. When you invest in hand crafted jewellery, you're not only buying a piece you will treasure, but one that may become an heirloom for future generations. Do not buy jewelry which you suspect may contain nickel or lead as this will cause allergic reactions in most people.

View More:- Cabochon handmade earrings

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luxuryjewelryblog · 2 years ago

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Designing Your Own Engagement Ring on your Budget

Introduction

Picking the correct engagement ring setting at an affordable price might seem impossible. How do you choose the best engagement ring among thousands of options? It may be necessary to look outside the box if you're looking for an affordable engagement ring. Your dream diamond is a substantial investment if you choose a large carat size, flawless clarity, and distinct setting. While some people consider solitaire engagement rings to be timeless, others believe they are excessively basic. A historic engagement ring, for example, may inspire awe in one person but look outmoded in the eyes of another.

This article will give you an idea of how gorgeous diamond rings are fashioned according to their budget and how we may lower the diamond price after careful purchase.

Different features of the diamond ring

A diamond ring is extremely valuable, and its features include being rare and pricey. It will be difficult for everyone to afford it. Diamonds are expensive, and their value fluctuates depending on a variety of factors. When purchasing a diamond ring, we divide it into two parts: the setting and the center stone. To begin, each individual must pick where the stone will be placed in the ring. It is entirely dependent on the lifestyle of the individual for whom the diamond ring is being purchased.

People's lifestyles, occupations, and finger size are all factors. For instance, if your fiancé is an active man, you might choose a Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring that would fit comfortably in his fingers. If your fiancé is not permitted to wear heavy jewellery on his hands, such as side stones or other embellishments, you may choose a more ornate engagement ring. There are quite a few types of engagement rings, such as Diamond Engagement Ring, Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring, Halo Engagement Ring, Classic Engagement Rings, Modern Engagement Rings and many such engagement rings for women.

Buy according to your budget

A person can choose any of the aforementioned engagement rings and modify them according to their budget. To complete the ring, you must also select a diamond. After deciding to set a stone, you may quickly choose from diamonds, gemstones, lab-grown diamonds, and other options. It's also important to consider the ring's shape. The ring might be round, princess, oval, cushion, emerald, or other shapes. You may easily pick the ring form if you already know your fiancé's preferences.

The carat weight of your diamond is very significant. It will alter the look of your ring and have a significant impact on the engagement ring's price. The cost of an engagement ring rises with the carat weight. A small variation in carat weight might result in significant savings. As a result, before you begin comparing diamonds, you must first search for carat weight. The setting of an engagement ring has a significant influence on its overall look. There are a variety of engagement ring settings, such as a single ring in the center, side stones, and bracelet-style diamond rings. A diamond ring with only one stone in between can be inexpensive, but one with more than one stone is highly costly.

Hence, the diamond ring should be chosen in accordance with one's budget and interests. They must also verify the finger size of the person for whom the diamond ring is being fashioned. If the finger is large, the cost of a diamond ring is high due to the high carat value, but if the finger is little, the cost of a diamond is cheap. Therefore, one must carefully select a diamond ring that fits their budget.

The Source URL: https://www.wattpad.com/1230745538-designing-your-own-engagement-ring-on-your-budget

#Diamond Engagement Ring #Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring #Halo Engagement Ring #Classic Engagement Rings #Modern Engagement Rings #Engagement Rings for Women

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black-halla · 7 years ago

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EVGENIA MEDVEDEVA: I cried because something I worked for all my life has happen

some highlights from an interview for Russian magazine (march’18)

Why you did not compete in Milano?

I had no choice. Doctors urged to take at least month’s rest and restore the health. Because of injury I missed a lot of important events, but I knew that I will compete in Korea, even I’ve been absolutely broken.

And you came back from Korea with two silver medals!

Actually, there are three medals already. Last week fans gave me golden ‘olympic’ medal. It is less small than original ones but looks pretty similar. Instead of Olympic rings there are five hearts on it. It is a real piece of jewelry made of silver and covered by gold. It was a very pleasant surprise. I was at home when I had a call; someone asked me to go downstairs, out back. When I did, I saw nearly 50 fans of various ages, from 14 to 40.

There was a granny that came out of the front door with me. She worried seeing so many people near our house. She tried to fight them off, but I said that they came to me, and she immediately calmed down. When fans gave me that medal I couldn’t resist crying. It’s very hard to make me cry, to be honest, I have no habit to show my tears in public. Once I watched Hatiko with my best friend, Katya Bobrova [Russian ice dancer]. She really cried her eyes out, but I stayed calm. Yes, it’s a movie, the dog waited for his owner and she never did – so what?

But on Olympics you cried after free skate. Were you so upset?

No, not at all! I cried because something I worked for all my live has happen. My dream came true - I skated on Olympic Games. When I was nearly 8, I started think about it and count years like “well, I can’t go in Sochi because of age. So, I should be on the next ones.” For many years since I’ve been a little girl I imagined how it feels to perform on Olympics. I quaked from excitement just imagining it. But in Korea, I wasn’t worried during competition, I skated for pleasure. Emotions came at the very end. It wasn’t because of the 2nd place. Let’s imagine I won the gold, so what’s next? In 18 years old I’d have everything skater could wish to win. Now I have a clear purpose and incentive to continue competing until the next Games, pleasing my fans.

It's good to have a mom near to you. She’d been supporting you, is it? Did you live with you mother in Korea?

No, I saw mom just once, it seems. I was practicing for gala. I lived with Katya Bobrova, we always try to accomodate together on competitions. I don’t have many close friends, but I consider her my sister.

Wait, why 2-time world champion can’t request a separate room? And why don’t have Evgenia Medvedeva a private hour on rink?

It is okay everywhere when athletes live in one room. What's the problem? At least, we are the team. No one drives us on the luxury cars, we don’t fly business class. To Korea we flied economy class, as always. We had there the Space+ where we could stretch our legs. It wasn’t comfortable for me, I prefer to find a free place in the very end of a salon and lie down on the 3 seats at once. Turning to rink: I train with my group in our normal training regime. Sometimes we have dangerous situations, when you’re flying on ice on the big speed, doing elements and someone is staying on your way without noticing you. For that case we have a special word “UP!” When you’re realizing that he or she just can’t see you and you can have a terrible crash, you’re starting to scream “Up! Go away or it’ll be very bad!”. This is not uncommon to get bad injuries on practice rink.

So, Evgenia, you’re a girl that had no normal childhood?

And here it is, the most common misconception about athletes! I had a wonderful childhood. I played ball, catch-up, hide-and-seek with my friends as all kids do – but we did it in gym, not in the court of school. I had much more competitive and traveling experience, that’s true. In 8, I already had visited many different towns and cities of Russia and in 14 I had my first competition abroad. It was in Riga [Latvia], my first Junior GP event.This was very cool! I and Maria Sotskova were in the foreign country for first time. We lived with Masha in one room and consistently messed around on the playground in front of hotel.

Is it hard to resist café and pastry shops when you’re abroad, is t? Do you need to limit candy yourself? Maybe you can allow yourself a little cake at your birthday?

You know, I don’t like to celebrate my birthday. Heart just isn’t in it. Because it’ll come next day, and I’ll be already 19, not 18. What should I celebrate in this case? My favorite holiday is a New Year [In Russia, New Year is much more popular than Christmas]. And I never liked cakes and cupcakes. This is not delicious for me. But I’m always a sucker for a chocolate and marmalade. Now I’m trying to eat more dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, because it’s healthier though more nutritious.

In other hand, every performance of yours seems to be a birthday for you: you receive many gifts and flowers. Do you take everything home?

I often bring flowers home. I love when all my room is in flowers. Mom and grand-mother, to be honest, shut the door to their rooms to avoid a strong flavor, but I adore it. And the most part of plush toys I donate to orphanages and hospitals. I love that I, mom, and grand-mother are very practical in that regard. We’re always trying not to spend the money without a reason, and we don’t do surprises to each other, like, never. What for, if you always can ask directly “What do you want?” instead of bringing home useless stuff? For example, before the New Year I asked mom and she said that she needs a wallet. We came to the mall and choose a wallet together, packed it in wrapping paper, and then I just offered her this wallet for New Year. Mom acted like she was very surprised: “Wow, this is exactly that I wanted!” And before Olympics I ordered for myself a little ring with a brilliant, as a gift. I choose the frame and the stone by myself, and mom then offered it to me. I wear only real jewelry, not costume jewelry – it’s better to wear the same jewelry for a long time, main thing is that they are quality and well-made. For a 4 years I wear these rings and a little bracelet with a gold four-leaf clover. I sleep, I practice, I skate wearing them.

I know that your favorite actors are Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant. Did you thought to have a benefit from your popularity and ask someone to introduce you to them?

If I’ll perform in Great Britain, why not?

Recently you went to university for the specialization of trainer. You think to bind your life with sport forever?

I believe that someday I’ll pursue the second higher education in other field of activity. It’s too early to discuss. I have no Olympic gold yet, so I have a goal. A month for a rest and back on the rink, for practice. I hope I’ll jump a quad in 4 years. I fall on practice doing this so far, but people say that I fall beautifully. *laughs* via

Translator’s note: I heard rumors that Zhenya falls from well-rotated quad salchow :”) so good to know that she already tries it having a good feeling about this.

#evgenia medvedeva #interview #olympics #2018 #figure skating

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claireofluxembourg · 7 years ago

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Tiaras Possiblly Worn by Meghan on her Wedding Day MASTERPOST

Just out of curiosity for some but mostly because since the news broke they were dating people have asked me which tiara would she wear in her wedding (possibly obvi) I’ve decided to start this year with this masterpost.

Bear in mind this will only include tiaras from the BRF that we know are not dismantled and also pieces that haven’t been seen in years (praying they still exist rip the Nyzam). Also ths one will not include ANY of the tiaras exclusively worn by HM but will include some of the lifetime loans (y’all think I will put the CLK, nope, I won’t, that one has already a head to be worn).

FIVE AQUAMARINE TIARA

I know this is a tiara on loan to Sophie, but first, I love me some aquamarines, and secondly, I think it’s a very interesting tiara, very intricate but also not flashy, so it would be appropriate for a first tiara. Although I don’t think blue stones suit that much to Meghan (to me she’s more like diamonds or rubies), I think this one is a good possibility. And it still belongs to HM and Sophie already has an aquamarine tiara so i think she can live with only one lmao

CARTIER HALO TIARA

I already know Catherine wore this one in her wedding but if y’all think closely, this was the perfect choice for a first time tiara. Small, elegant and not flashy at all, I think it will match her engagement ring perfectly. And also it would be a nice thing if both Wales brother’s wives wear the same tiara on their wedding day.

CARTIER BRACELET BANDEAU

Y’all know I love to dream, so please let me. These bracelets we know are still in use by HM (as she inherited them from the Queen Mum) and the Queen Mum was the one that wore these bracelets as a bandeau way early in the 1930′s, The bandeau style perhaps is not very suitable for a wedding but this one can also be a later tiara and a lifetime loan for Meghan when she becomes a full time royal.

TECK CRESCENT TIARA

One of my two favourites for Meghan to wear and I don’t even know why because let’s be real here, the setting is massive, and that is one of the reasons why HM was reluctant to wear this piece, although the Queen Mum rocked it several times. I think it would be a good loan for Meghan as Camilla doesn’t seem will wear it like, ever (she is the one that has this piece as a loan) because she seems content with the Greville tiara much to my dismay because she NEEDS to rock the Delhi Durbar again, come on Camilla!!! Anyways, fingers crossed this happens.

STRATHMORE ROSE TIARA

The fan favourite, I also think this one is a good choice but I would rather see it in a different setting. Even though the Queen Mum wore it in both styles it can be worn (top of the head and across the forehead) I think it would look better with a setting that allows it to sit on top of the head; we know how much a setting can change the way we see tiaras, don’t we, Princess Sofìa of Sweden??? A floral tiara will be nice for Meghan and the delicate design wouldn’t overshadow her wedding dress.

QUEEN MARY’S SAPPHIRE BANDEAU

Okay, I admit this one is wishful thinking because we don’t even know if it still exists, HOWEVER, like I said before, if I can dream about the Cartier Bracelet Bandeau to come back, I can dream about this one being alive still. I think this one would be not only a good hoice for Meghan but also a good choice for Catherine as well, as both of them were left with Diana’s personal collection of jewels available to use and there are loads of sapphires there. Although as well, some people think sapphire’s are Catherine’s thing I think it would be a good homage to Diana if Meghan wears for example, a pair of Diana’s sapphire earrings in her wedding day. I just want this one to be alive and well, as we know HM’s taste in jewelry is quite... interesting, to say the least lmao.

LOZEGNE DIAMOND BANDEAU

I think this one is dead tbh but some of y’all voted for it in my poll, so that’s why I’m adding it to the list lmao. I’m praying as well.

That’s all, folks! If y’all have comments or more options, please do visit my inbox so we can chat about it.

#Meghan Markle #David rolls in his grave #i love my tag for this wedding lmao #tiara #jewelry #british royals #british royal family

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hydecurator · 4 years ago

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Must-See TV: Sotheby’s Sale (Episode 1)

https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/masters-week-1?locale=en

I’ve discovered a new form of engrossing pandemic-era online viewing. This week is my favorite week for January sales. Late in the month, various auction houses and dealers in New York host Masters Week. This year, despite a global pandemic, Sotheby’s outdid itself and watching the first of the sales today was, at times, edge-of-the-seat thrilling.

In a normal year, like the start of last year, I like to go down to New York on the weekend before the sales and preview the lots. The galleries at Sotheby’s and Christie’s are hung just like a museum. The walls are sometimes painted to enhance the paintings and the lighting presents them at their best. The only difference is that the labels include auction price estimates. It’s a form of glorious window shopping for me. I dream of what I could buy for the collection, if.... It is also an educational experience for me. For this is the week when scholars and curators of European paintings, sculptures, and drawings come to town from across the country, if not the world. You never know whom you might bump into in the salerooms. Often you can overhear or join, if you dare, an interesting discussion about the attribution, quality, or associations of a work up for sale. One thing to bear in mind is that not everyone agrees with the attributions of the auction house experts. Last year, I tagged along with my former professor, David Stone, as he dissected the Old Master drawings on offer at Christie’s. He introduced me to a curator from The Morgan with whom I discussed some Hyde drawings. All useful networking.

Christopher Easton (English, Exeter), Anglican Communion Cup, 1582, silver (6 3/8 in.). Chicago, Loyola University Museum of Art, Martin D’Arcy, S.J. Collection. 2013-05. Photography by Michael Troppea.

I tend not to attend the actual sales, which happen during the week. I have never myself bid at auction. When at the Loyola University Museum of Art, I really wanted to acquire a Protestant communion cup to contrast with the museum’s Catholic chalices, I had to commission an agent to bid for me. The auctions were in England and it took us two attempts to secure one. My agent, Wynyard Wilkinson, had to drive to opposite ends of the country to see the pieces and then bid for them. We were ultimately successful at a sale held by a small regional auctioneer, whom many collectors simply overlooked.

Today, there were a number of works I was interested to follow. The first six pieces were sold by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo. The museum has decided to refocus itself towards Modern and Contemporary art. Over the last few years, they have steadily sold off works that fall outside those parameters. Deaccessioning collection pieces is permitted under rather strict guidelines. The rules have been eased a little during the pandemic because of how badly lockdowns have effected museums’ incomes but, in general, a museum should only deaccession works that fall outside their mission or, are duplicates not of exhibition quality, or irreparably damaged. The funds generated should only be used to acquire more art.

The Master of 1518 (Flanders, active 1518), Adoration of the Magi, early 16th century, oil on panel (17 7/8 by 13 1/2 in.). Sotheby’s sale, New York, January 28, 2021, lot. 1. Photo credit: Sotheby’s.com

The Albright-Knox should be quite pleased. Four of the six pieces, among them the one illustrated here, sold for a total of $3,163,100. Some of that is commission for Sotheby’s, but still, the museum got roughly $2.5M to put towards new pieces of Modern and Contemporary art.

Had I been able to go down to the city and stroll the galleries, I may have seen or heard from others why two of Buffalo’s pieces didn’t reach their reserve prices. Were the reserves too high? Did collectors and curators not think either their quality or their attributions were quite right? Perhaps, they just weren’t to anyone’s taste. Selling at auction can be a gamble. You need at least two people, who really want a piece, to bid it up. The museum could wait to see if tastes and the market change, or it might negotiate a private sale after the auction.

At a normal sale, the auctioneer stands at a podium at the front of the saleroom. Major pieces hang on the walls and each piece is brought to the front, in turn, as the bidding takes place. For today’s sale, however, the auctioneer was in a room in New York on his own, watching screens linked to salerooms in New York, London, and Asia. In those rooms, in place of rows of bidders, there were tiers of Sotheby’s staff, standing physically distanced, holding telephone receivers to their ears. They spoke to invisible bidders, and, when instructed, called out a price, raised an arm, or simply shouted “Bidding.”

“What’s so gripping about that?” you ask.

I have learnt to sit towards the back in saleroom to take in the scene. Admittedly, I see only the back of bidders, but, unlike in the movies, you really do have to make a pretty obvious gesture to catch the attention of the auctioneer. You’re not going to accidentally buy a Picasso by absent-mindedly tugging at your ear or scratching an itch. Salerooms are busy, and surprisingly noisy, places. People come and go freely; quite a few chat away about all sorts of things unrelated to the sale. The auctioneer is a combination of master of ceremonies and instigator and coaxer. Unlike a conductor, he has no score. He doesn’t know, for sure, how the sale will go, or from which direction the bids will come. He has to monitor the bidders in front of him, the bank of staff manning telephones to the side, and a screen, suspended from the ceiling, indicating online bids. And what has always captivated me about an auctioneer at work is that whereas a conductor keeps time, the auctioneer makes time. Time in a saleroom is surprisingly fluid and flexible and that was masterfully on display today with this online sale.

Today’s auction was sponsored by Bulgari. Sotheby’s staff in New York wore Bulgari jewelry. In the midst of bidding, the auctioneer drew attention to the glint of a jeweled bracelet on one staffer’s wrist, to glistening earrings, a stunning brooch, or an eye-catching neckless on another’s. He introduced the models to us by name and title. The staff making bids were called out too. Alex in London, by the by, was a year ahead of me at undergraduate. A fun fact I learnt, of no earthly relevance to the lots, is that there are two English Georges in the New York office. Thus the auctioneer made time, created moments in the seeming onward rush of bids for Sotheby’s staff to coax the bidder at the end of the telephone line to keep in the race. In this extra moment there’s still a chance, for that lucky final bid that will clinch it.

Adding to the drama, at least on my computer screen, was a clever engineer’s manipulation of windows. Salerooms came to the fore and were relegated in time with the bidding. New York outbids London. Here’s Asia jumps in. Two sale rooms are stacked, one over the other, as bids are batted back and forth. At times, it got as thrilling as Wimbledon or the New York Open. Tennis for a Tiepolo.

Sandro Botticelli (Italian,1445/5-1510), Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel, n.d., tempera on poplar panel (23 by 15 ½ in.). Sotheby’s sale, New York, January 28, 2021, lot 15. Photo credit: Sotheby’s.com.

The sale of Sandro Botticelli’s Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel, was breathtaking in the sums bandied about, but actually quite sedate in execution. Bidding started at $70M and increased at increments of $2M, topping out at $80M ($92.184,000 with commission). Even though it is extremely rare for such an archetypal example of early Renaissance portraiture to come on the market these days, there obviously aren’t too many collectors or institutions with the wherewithall to bid for one.

Much more exciting was to watch the bidding for one piece that started at $450,000 and reached $1.65M. With commissions, etc., it cost its new owner over $2M. Before the auction, Sotheby’s had posted an sale estimate of $700,000-$1M. The bidding for a small Dutch work, measuring 10 x 7 1/2 inches, began at $30,000 or so, breezed past the upper estimate of $90,000, and finally came to a breathless stop at $390,600, including commission. I’ll tell you what these two works were and why I was interested in them in Episode 2 of your must-read Hyde blog.

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Dutch,1606 – 1669), Abraham and the Angels, 1646, oil on panel (6 ¼ by 8 ¼ in.). Sotheby’s sale, New York, January 28, 2021, lot 9. Photo credit, Sotheby’s.com.

One mystery I can’t explain is the unexpected withdrawal from the sale of its star lot, no 9, Abraham and the Angels by Rembrandt van Rijn, Sotheby’s had hyped it with a promotional tour around its international salerooms and online (https://www.sothebys.com/rembrandt). But oh-so discreetly, referring only to its lot number, the auctioneer announced at the start of the sale that number 9 had been withdrawn. More to come on that, I hope and expect. So, keep reading your Hyde blog!

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teeny-tk · 7 years ago

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SSO Circus Comic creation sheet

@ssocircus

Couldn’t help myself, so I’m submitting Capri :’D Hope that’s alright!

Basics

Name: Capri Colder

Nickname, if any: Cap

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Birthday: 4th of April

Place of birth: Stockholm, Sweden

Religion: None, though, is a fairly spiritual person in general.

Pets: Her trusty Jorvik Warmblood companion, Daydream.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Partner: None

Family: Mother and father, both alive and happy in Stockholm. She keeps in touch with them both regularly but tends not to speak of them to others as she’s a fairly private gal.

Appearance

The photo this application is attached to is my own drawing of Capri and I feel like it represents her fairly well!

Height: 178cm

Weight: 77kg

Bodytype: Ectomorph through and through lol

Eye color: Green

Hair color: Black

Hairstyle: Short and simple, tries to keep it somewhat tamed or it’s up in a quick and messy bun.

Skin colour: Rather fair with warmer undertones.

Prominent features (Scars, freckles, moles): Does have a rather big tattoo on her back and up her right shoulder (trash polka style with the theme being horses), has a few scattered scars on left arm after a bad fall from a horse.

Any health problems: Allergic to peanuts and shellfish. Does deal with a case of milder social anxiety, though, manages reasonably most of the time.

How do they dress: Capri tends to favor function most of all and enjoys looser clothing when possible. Doesn’t enjoy too many details and avoid jewelry nearly all the time unless there’s a special occasion. She favors blues and greens and enjoys simple designs, preferably geometrics. Clean cut gal.

Accessories: Usually avoids most accessories, but is occasionally seen with simple bracelets or necklaces of leather and possibly with stones/crystals.

Behavior

Wealth: Decently well off. She was raised to care for her money well and has her finances in an iron grip, often sticking to only spending money on what is absolutely needed and will rarely throw things away unless it’s absolutely necessary. If she wants something, she can usually afford.

Any addictions: None.

Morning mood: Neutral. Capri doesn’t enjoy mornings, but she has little problem getting out of bed. May get cranky if people try to stress her right away or interrupt her fifteen minutes of relaxation when getting up, however.

Usual workday on the circus (Do they help in the stables, clean up after performances, practice etc): Capri is the kind that would happily help with whatever is needed, but prefers more secluded work and would probably mostly spend her time cleaning up/keeping things organized or practice what she does.

Skills/Talents: Has great balance, speaks three languages, quite good at organizing and managing things and knows how to juggle quite well.

Thing they’re bad at: Cooking, controlling her temper, keeping track of time (which is funny given the way she always organizes and manages the rest of her life so well), dealing with children, being patient.

Hobbies: Capri quite enjoys going for walks and working out, often seeking desolate places and exploring the nearby areas. She’s also quite fond of reading and leaning along with training her best pal and horse, Daydream, to do tricks.

Past: Capri first set foot on Jorvik as a child during their family holidays as her mother was quite fond of horses. They spent their summers riding on the island and Capri grew quite fond of Jorvik. When she became older, she decided she wanted to head out to find her place and where she belonged. She wanted to see what was out here and what the world had to offer.

Her first stop, mostly because it was at least somewhat familiar and Capri was a little frightened about heading out all on her own, was Jorvik. She found herself a cheap apartment and took on various jobs, learning much as she went along. Her education had centered around plants and farming and she put her knowledge to use, aiding with the wildlife and farms around.

Then she met Daydream. She’d always enjoyed horses, sure, but Daydream truly felt like home and the restless part of Capri’s soul that wanted to see everything stilled somewhat. She bought him fast and decided to truly give Jorvik a chance as a forever home, though, always keeps a door open for herself should she want to leave the island and continue her search for a place to belong.

Given that she jumps between jobs and tries new things frequently, it is likely that Capri would be fairly new to the circus world.

What do they want in the future:

Any special goals:

Close friends: Capri doesn’t really have any close friends, though would probably consider Tilda Underwell and Jamie Silentborn to be good friends as the three of them has spent a considerable time together on the island during Capri’s years on Jorvik. Being so reserved, it’s not always easy for her to make new friends, either.

Enemies/Rivals: None. She’s hard to befriend and hard to really get against one. Her temper may be brutal, but she rarely actually lumps someone into the category of ‘true dislike’ and isn’t the type to get into rivalries.

Greatest strength: Her determination and drive to go, go, go.

Greatest flaw: Her temper - it truly messes things up quite a lot.

Favorite

Food: Fries & Mayo

Drink: Chai tea

Color: Navy blue

Book: There’s loads, Capri would never be able to pick a favorite.

Film: The Goonies

Music/Song: Happy - Never Shout Never

TV: Criminal Minds

Sport: Downhill Skiing

Motto/Quote: ‘If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.’

Act

What is their act (Examples): Capri specialized at the tightrope. She would usually do object manipulation.

Do they use any animals? If so, what kinds: No.

Do they usually succeed: Yes.

Are they good at it: Very much so. Capri is by no means skilled enough to become world famous or go into the books, but she stands out from the crowds for sure.

Why do they do it: Because it suits her personality. The tightrope demands focus at all times and up there, she feels at ease. She’s part of the fun, but she gets to keep her distance from the crowds and the other performers. Being a somewhat solitary person that doesn’t thrive when socializing, it’s her little in-between of being a part of something bigger without being in the total center of it. And when she was younger, Capri was incredibly fascinated by Philippe Petit due to her parents having witnessed his New York walk themselves and dreamed of doing something as incredible as it. Her dream never really took off, as her parents didn’t approve, but she still spent a significant amount of time learning about the craft, practicing it and doing little stunts by herself all through her youth and even into her older years. If it’s small and difficult to walk on, Capri would do it. Always.

Do they do it with someone else: No, Capri does her act solo.

How do they dress during their performance: Capri has a few different outfits she would wear, often going for the fairly standard ‘short dress’ that many tightrope walkers wears. She tends to stick to blue colors, but has a few differently themed dresses such as a pirate one, a neon one and a pink one.

What kind of music plays during their performance: I would imagine something ‘classic’ like High Wire: Kentucky Sunrise (Two-Step) by The Big Top Orchestra really or something close to it.

Personality

Capri is a fairly reserved individual and doesn’t enjoy sharing much about herself, preferring to listen and learn. She has a good heart yet fails to show it often, not always sure how to interact with people or how to deal with things. She enjoys helping others and being busy, often taking on big projects and is reliable with her work - even if she tends to show up ten minutes late. With one heck of a temper, she does tend to butt heads with many and sometimes does lash out unfairly at people or get into fights about stupid things. She doesn’t hold grudges, however, and tries her best to own up when she’s done wrong by someone. The friends she does have she treasures deeply and being a fiercely loyal girl, she would go to great lengths to protect them with all her being.

There are definitively times when Capri is too rash and forward, not the type to sugarcoat things once she’d in it. She doesn’t do it to be mean and often reads situations well enough to know when not to run her mouth, genuinely caring but also knowing that sometimes people need hard truths. She’s great at organizing, planning and managing projects but can often struggle a little with communicating clearly with everyone involved in things she does. Crowds isn’t her favorite things either, as she’s not very interested in attention or being the center of anything, but she usually manages alright.

Her mild social anxiety does show at times and usually with new people or when she thinks she’s messed up by saying something wrong or after arguments when her temper backs off. She overthinks things like that a lot and it makes it difficult for her to let people in as she’s so uncertain about many things regarding friendships, socializing and the people around her. But once she’s more comfortable with people, it usually lessens and she does alright. However, she’s still a quite silent and reserved person with friends as well and rarely shares anything about herself unless asked first.

#character sheet #sso au #sso circus #ssocircus #ydris' circus #original character #oc #capri colder #tilda draws #my art #my characters

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rebeccarockngems · 5 years ago

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How to use Crystals?

There are many ways in which Crystals can be used. This really comes down to a personal preference. Some of the more common ways that Crystals are used are:

• Worn on the body (Pendants, Bracelets and Rings, can purchase these from www.rebeccasrockngems.com) or Close to the body (Key rings or placed in pocket)

• Kept under a pillow

• Used in the Bath

• In Meditation Practice

• Placed around the Home or Workplace for space clearing and room cleansing

Worn on the Body or Close to the Body One way to benefit from the properties of the crystals and stones is to wear them. Choose stones appropriate for the purpose you want but always use your intuition. Crystals worn on or close to the body are often used for healing or protective purposes. These usually do affect the entire body and energy field. The location of the stone is also not critical in most cases. Placing the stone on or near the specific area related to the purpose of treatment is often faster and has a more focused effect; however as in any form of healing, the healing energies will go to where it is intended and to where the healing is needed.

When wearing necklaces with pendants for stones for intention, the length of the chain a pendant is on will help control the strongest effect of the stone. A pendant or necklace resting at the throat chakra might have the greatest effect on areas governed by the throat chakra (for example: communication and creativity and other throat chakra issues) but will still provide energy to the entire aura and physical body. A stone worn lower down and near to or on the heart will again have a greater effect on issues and areas governed by the heart chakra (for example matters of love and compassion).

Kept under a Pillow Keeping Crystals under the pillow while asleep has many advantages. Certain crystals can help with sleep problems like insomnia (e.g., Amethyst, Celestite, Rose Quartz, Selenite, and Lepidolite). These can ward off nightmares and psychic attacks (e.g., Fire Agate, Black Tourmaline, Tourmalinated Quartz, Black Obsidian, Smoky Quartz, Amethyst, Fluorite, or Jasper). Other crystals have properties to aid in dream recall (e.g., Amethyst, Herkimer Diamond, Moonstone, Hemimorphite, Lepidolite, Azurite) and some can assist in out of body experiences and astral travel (e.g., Blue Calcite, Iolite, Ametrine, Black Tourmaline, Labradorite).

Used in the Bath Crystals can be used in the bathwater or placed around the edge of the bathtub. This method is very effective and enjoyable. Bathing can wash away the stresses and strains of the day, any negative emotions we might be holding onto and can refresh us, soothe us, revitalize us and energize us. Placing crystals in the bath will absorb any negative energy or emotions. In addition, the healing energies of the crystals will be directed to where it is intended. Aventurine is an effective crystal for use in the bath. Good "all round" crystals like Clear Quartz, Rose Quartz and Amethyst are also great for use at bath times.

In Meditation Practice The energy structure of crystals naturally imparts a stillness and order to the body, which in turn helps to quiet the mind. Crystals can be placed in front of you in meditation practice or they can be held in the hands. Any crystal is good for meditation practice, but these are the best choices (Amethyst, Black Tourmaline, Rose Quartz, Selenite, Clear Quartz, and Smoky Quartz). Placed around the Home or Workplace for Space Clearing and Room Cleansing Crystals are able to alter the energy of a space, enlivening the atmosphere and neutralizing negativity. Crystals can add harmony to any space. There is no hard and fast rule as to where you should place your crystals. You should use your intuition. Raw Crystals and Crystal Clusters have a better ability over small single crystals to retain their own energy integrity. Because of this they can retain more negative energy before they need to be cleansed again.

Sometimes, jewelry containing multiple varieties of stones (usually only two or three) might work for healing if the stones' energies harmonize well with each other (i.e., they have very similar healing properties). Usually, however, different stones are put in the same piece of jewelry because they look good together, not because their energies harmonize, but with the jewelry I make and sell I pay close attention to how well the stones energies are harmonized.

Original Sourced:https://www.rebeccasrockngems.com/blog/details/how-to-use-crystals

#Crystals

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hotelconcierge · 8 years ago

Text

Modern Romance

everyone needs a little negative space

(spoilers for all movies discussed)

The advertising campaign in the weeks leading up to the 2017 Oscars—that is, the #Oscarsowhite boycott, low budget underdog Moonlight vs. slick self-congratulatory La La Land, lines drawn based on tribal identity; “I even talked to a voter who gave Moonlight his top vote, sight unseen;” tension building up to a stunning (!!) last minute twist; an insipid academy in which Sean Penn is a voting member “held to task” instead of the people with actual power, i.e. the studios, i.e. us, the viewers—was annoying, to say the least.

Even so, I am grateful that I will only have to hear “Best Picture winner” and “La La Land” in the same sentence once.

What does white people courtship look like in the age of the internet? Well, OKCupid and asphyxiation, but it’s hard to make a musical out of that one. So what is romance supposed to look like? According to Hollywood: love is someone who makes it so you never have to talk to anyone else.

1. Other People Don’t Exist

There are only two human beings in La La Land: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Ryan and Emma have motivations (opening a jazz club, acting) and foibles (Warhammer 40K, keyboard duster). The other characters that appear in the film have neither. Ryan’s sister exists only in contrast to him: she is competent so that we can see that he is neurotic. Then she disappears. John Legend plays a pop jazz player so that Ryan can look downcast and mumble something about plebs. Emma Stone’s roommates wear red, green, and yellow, so that Emma can wear blue.

The film’s closest pass at non-solipsism is the opening number, in which a group of diverse and unrealistically polite Los Angelenos sing about coming to the city to chase their dreams.

[Young Man] I hear 'em ev'ry day The rhythms in the canyons That'll never fade away The ballads in the barrooms Left by those who came before They say "you gotta want it more" So I bang on ev'ry door

[Young Woman] And even when the answer's "no" Or when my money's running low The dusty mic and neon glow Are all I need

The film preempts the critique “how can you make a film about two white people navel gazing in the year 2016?” with this song’s answer, “because everyone else is exactly the same.” Doubtful, but whatever—note that these traffic-bound palette swaps once again redound on Ryan & Emma. Transitive property: if our heroes succeed, so does the whole world.

Of course, it’s not La La Land’s job to be Synecdoche, Los Angeles. There’s nothing wrong with making a romance that focuses very closely on the two leads—the Before Sunrise trilogy comes to mind. But even in those movies, the bit parts seemed to have existences independent from the main characters: an old couple fighting on the train, a disheveled poet smoking on the waterfront. No one in La La Land seems to understand object permanence. Perhaps that’s why they don’t have any friends.

2. Authenticity Is All You Need

Here’s a plot that doesn’t get used anymore: boy lies to girl, girl grows to like boy, lie is revealed, girl is heartbroken, boy renounces lie, boy proves his love by defeating Jack Black in a breakdancing competition, reconciliation, happy ending.

I’ll grant that the above plot is awful, and I don’t recommend that you base your relationships on deceit or anything else from the 90s. But you have to give that guy credit for trying. In La La Land, Emma has to make the first move, twice, for the plot to advance. Ryan then takes Emma to a jazz club (his interest) and invites her to see Rebel Without a Cause (also his interest). I’m not hating, Ryan Gosling is a charming man, they have chemistry, do what thou wilt, I’m just noting a cultural trend. In the olden days, the guy developed a crush and had to "win” the girl; in La La Land, the girl is attracted to the guy’s character sheet, and the plot/romance advances as the guy lets her into his world. (You’re The Worst is a good example of the same, as is Fifty Shades of Grey. Consider whether this represents an increase or decrease in female sexual power.)

This makes Emma Stone, despite her pellegrino bubbliness, the opposite of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

"...that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." (Wiki)

Rather than convince [brooding, soulful] Ryan Gosling to join Zoroastrianism and wear PLUR bracelets, Emma Stone encourages him to go deeper into his narrowly defined dream. “If the masses don’t get it, so be it!” Thank God this isn’t a Darren Aronofsky film. And Ryan does the same for her—in light of Emma’s failed auditions, he advises her to write a one-woman play, a suggestion that in most states is legal grounds for divorce.

But since this is Hollywood, literally and figuratively, both of them become wildly successful.

3. A Sense Of An Ending

Spoiler alert, Ryan and Emma don’t end up together. They get something much better.

In the final scene, Emma (now a famous actress) and her husband (generic dude) stumble into Ryan’s jazz club. He shoots her a glance (“this could be us, but you playin’”), taps out the recurring musical motif, and triggers a five minute Mulholland Drive dream sequence in which Emma imagines their hypothetical life together in space and etc. Look of mutual acknowledgement. Close.

The sad end was inevitable, just ask Titanic, happy endings aren’t nearly as Oscar-worthy. A happy ending raises questions, namely, what next? Kids? Montessori schools? Home Depot? Chablis? Book club? Will you be able to sustain the passion that brought you this far? That’s not romantic, that’s terrifying.

The sad ending lets you idealize the relationship, imagining the emotional peaks without having to reckon with the flatline. And for the same reason, the sad ending serves as a lasting reminder of your own power. “I had her when she was beautiful. And I was the best she ever had.” Lost in her own memories, she’s never going to tell you different.

II.

As usual, there’s a person to blame for all this, and that person is Sofia Coppola.

Every one of the above tropes was codified by Lost In Translation. Most of the side characters didn’t speak English, so no way were they going to get a second dimension. The movie is obsessed with authenticity: Scar Jo picks Bill Murray because he sees through the facade of whiskey commercials (unlike the Japanese, or her husband); Bill Murray escapes his fabric-cataloguing wife; the two of them retreat into each other’s company in lieu of the outside world. And the ending—Bill Murray whispers something unheard, kisses his co-star, and the two of them part ways, leaving behind a bittersweet yet somehow self-aggrandizing memory.

Lost In Translation wasn’t a musical, but its aesthetic was music video, shoegaze guitars and long dialogue-free shots of cityscape, #dream, #urban, #intimate. The movie’s descendants (Her being the closest mimic) are no less dependent on the fuzz pedal. Like a Valentine’s day mixtape, like an album put on pre-coitus, the music is chosen not to set the mood, but to soundtrack the scene for your future self. “When I look back on this, I want to feel...”

This is nice in small doses, sure. Lost In Translation had some good parts. La La Land wasn’t my brand, but I can’t knock the craft—the camera did some sick ollies, the song and dance routine was probably great if you’re into platonic cuddling and Apples to Apples. I don’t think these are bad movies, I just think you should be aware of what your unconscious is signing up for.

The underlying assumption of these films is that romance is best experienced in retrospect. You can spot the victims of this worldview by their Uniqlo flannel and sensitive eyes, constantly mourning some shower sex long past, lonely and even more so around others, unable to enjoy relationships until they implode, because then and only then are they understandable as stories. The underlying assumption is that if you wait long enough, love will find you, validate your disconnection from the human species, and depart without asking anything in return. These aren’t romance movies, they’re movies about the romance of movies. The comfort only lasts as long as the lights are dimmed.

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