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piscesseer · 1 year ago

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Libra Season ⚖️💖 September 23 - October 22

As the leaves begin to change colors and the days grow shorter, Libra season is ushered in. Falling between September 23rd and October 22nd, Libra season is a time of balance, harmony, and transformation. Ruled by the planet Venus, this astrological season brings with it a unique set of energies that impact both individuals and the collective in profound ways. In this blog post, we'll explore the effects of Libra season on the individual and the collective, shedding light on the transformative magic it brings.

Symbol: The Scales Modality: Cardinal Element: Air Ruling Planet: Venus Colors: Ivory, Pink & Light Blue Body: kidneys, skin, lumbar region, endocrine system, & buttocks Tarot Card: Justice

Fairness • Justice • Harmony • Beauty

Famous Libra Suns: Cardi B, Doja Cat, Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Halsey, Dakota Johnson, Oscar Wilde, Dita Von Teese, Donald Glover, Jeff Goldblum

Libra season begins on the Autumn Equinox, which marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. The equinox is a time of balance, as day and night are of equal length. This is fitting for the Libra archetype, which represents balance and equality. Libras are also known for their fairness and diplomacy. They are often seen as mediators and peacemakers, and they strive to create harmony in all aspects of their lives.

The zodiac symbol for Libra is The Scales, named for the constellation associated with the goddess Themis, who ruled over justice and law. You know her, because she is depicted at courthouses, lawyer firms, and law schools. Themis was renowned for her clear sight, and in some cases she is blindfolded, representing her alignment with ‘The Eye’, an all-seeing supernatural vision that allowed her to see through complexity and lies.

Justice is the Tarot Card associated with Libra. This card depicts a calm and balanced judge-king figure (a Themis-like figure), seated between two pillars echoing the equilibrium of The Scales. The Justice Card tends to appear to help us meditate on our choices. In the left hand the scales weigh out the pros and cons, and in the right hand the sword represents intellect that is in this case, pointing toward the heavens for guidance.

Venus is the ruler of both Libra and Taurus. Venus has affinity for the harmonious archetype of this sign. Venus is peaceful, diplomatic and loving. Venus has an elegant, beautiful, and graceful element that comes forth in Libra. Venus reminds us of all things that bring us pleasure and make us happy. Venus also rules attachment to others, and Libra is sociable.

Libra has ease in social connections and explores the world with poise, akin to the active, flowing air element it’s associated with. Libra is a cardinal sign, taking leadership in diplomacy and social justice. Libra’s sense of purpose comes from making social and creative connections. Libra’s mantra: ‘I relate’ reflects moving forward in society to uphold love, beauty, justice and truth for all.

Libras are known for good taste, elegance and charm. Libras are social creatures, and very approachable. Libras are always looking for the best way, or right way, to live. Artistic pursuits provide an outlet for their love of beauty.

Libras have a tendency to always support both sides. In the process of seeking balance, they try to be everything for everyone. It's easier for them to tell people what they want to hear, vs. what they're actually thinking. They want to be liked and will be genuinely bothered if you view them negatively.

Their natural mode is living in partnerships with others. Intimate relationships are important to them, as are issues of social justice. Libras benefit from strengthening their will to act in favor of their high purpose, which ultimately lies in dedicating themself to humanity at large rather than one individual person (or thing). Libra’s sense of purpose is all about making social and creative connections.

How Can Libra Season Affect You?

Libra represents the pursuit of balance and harmony in all aspects of life. During this time, we can see an increase in social activism, with people and organizations working towards a more just society. Diplomatic efforts and negotiations could become focal points on the global stage. Art exhibitions, music festivals, and cultural events thrive as people seek beauty and inspiration in our lives.

In our personal lives, Libra Season is a time to focus on relationships, creativity, and intellect. We often feel a heightened sense of the need for equilibrium during this time. This may manifest as a desire to reevaluate relationships, work-life balance, and personal values. We can look at our core values and ethical principles, adjust them and see how they have changed over time. We can evaluate where we need balance in our lives.

Libra has the ability to see things from all sides, which makes it more difficult to make decisions. Libra's indecisiveness can be both a blessing and a curse. While it may lead to overthinking, it also encourages careful consideration of options. Use this energy to make well-balanced decisions that align with long-term goals, the higher self and things that benefit our well-being!

Libra is known for its social nature and love for partnerships. We may find ourselves drawn to deepening existing relationships or seeking new connections. We may be more interested in talking to others and learning new things during Libra Season. It's a great time for introspection, where we might ponder what we bring to our relationships and what we seek in return.

Libra's diplomatic nature encourages us to approach conflicts with a more rational and fair-minded attitude. It's an ideal time to address unresolved issues and seek resolutions that benefit everyone.

We may have a heightened appreciation for art, fashion, and design. It's a great time to redecorate our living space or explore creative endeavors. Explore your personal style and aesthetic preferences. Visit a local art exhibit.

Libra season is a transformative and enriching time. As we embrace the energies of balance, harmony, and fairness, we can find opportunities for personal growth, improved relationships, and a collective push towards a more just and equitable world. So, whether you're reevaluating your personal values or joining a social cause, remember that Libra season's magic encourages us all to seek harmony within ourselves and in the world around us.

Journal Prompts for Libra Season:

Reflect on the areas of your life where you feel a lack of balance. What steps can you take during Libra Season to restore equilibrium?

Write about a recent decision you had to make. Did you find it challenging to strike a balance between different options? How did you ultimately decide?

Write about the most significant relationships in your life. How can you enhance the balance and harmony within these connections?

Explore your boundaries in various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and self-care. Are there boundaries in various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and self-care that you need to establish or adjust to maintain balance?

How can you foster better teamwork and cooperation?

List five things of beauty you're grateful for in your life right now. How can you incorporate more beauty into your daily routines?

#libra #libra season #current astrology

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lynchcreekwealth · 25 days ago

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How to Use Jars and Vases in Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Picture this: a beautifully set thanksgiving table adorned with eye-catching Thanksgiving centerpieces that captivate the essence of fall. One of the most versatile and underutilized tools for creating these stunning focal points is the humble jar or vase. From intricate floral arrangements to simple yet elegant table centerpieces, jars and vases can transform your dining room into a haven of autumnal splendor.

The Art of Fall Decor

Nothing says fall like the stunning array of fall colors, from deep oranges and reds to golden yellows. When assembling your Thanksgiving centerpiece, consider incorporating elements like eucalyptus, fall leaves, and acorns. Not only do these add an aesthetic touch, but they also infuse your home decor with the essence of a fall harvest.

Choosing Your Elements

A bountiful selection of seasonal items can elevate your tablescape. Think small: mini pumpkins and sugar pumpkins can be nestled around larger flower arrangements to create depth and interest. Pinecones and gourds interspersed among candle holders bring an air of earthy elegance, while white pumpkins add a crisp contrast that feels both fresh and sophisticated.

Hunters' Hollow

Add a touch of natural charm to your home with this joyful rustic-chic holiday centerpiece. Our Hunters Hollow centerpiece instills beauty burgundy tones with natural elements. Fresh noble fir, incense cedar, and white pine create a lush haven for sweet little chickadee birds, with faux deer antlers added for interest and rustic elegance. Real moss and pinecones are added to the woodsy display with burgundy balls and berries giving pops of sophisticated holiday color. Red and black flannel plaid bows accent a rich burgundy pillar candle for the finishing elegant touch. Measures at approximately 18” x 18” x 10”.

Perfect Pumpkin Centerpieces

Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn and serve as perfect vessels for creative centerpiece ideas especially for halloween. Transform them into eye-catching containers by hollowing them out and filling them with fall flowers like hydrangeas, sunflowers, or other fall floral favorites. These pumpkin centerpieces can command attention at the center of the table during your thanksgiving dinner.

Floral Arrangements & Greenery

There's no shortage of fall foliage to choose from when it comes to crafting that perfect fall centerpiece. Seek out dark green eucalyptus or vibrant fall leaves from your local grocery store florist to add volume and texture to your designs. Floral centerpieces anchored by sturdy jars or vases can seamlessly blend flowers with greenery for a balanced look that embodies Thanksgiving table decorations.

Natural Beauty

This stunning and elegant centerpiece exudes natural charm. Without fancy decoration, the greenery and ivory candle are all this arrangement needs. Fresh and fragrant noble fir is hand collected with cedar and white pine, with accents of salal leaves, bay leaves, and real pinecones into a lush and lovely base. The LED ivory candle casts a soft warm light that adds a perfect peaceful shine. This arrangement works wonderfully for any gathering, in any room, for birthdays, and for any holiday. The LED candle measures 3" wide x 6" tall and requires 2 AA batteries (not included). This arrangement measures approximately 18” across and 12” tall.

Fall Table Settings That Inspire

No thanksgiving table setting is complete without the right accents. Layer a rustic table runner over a classic tablecloth to set the stage for your centerpiece. Complementing your centerpiece with small touches like candlesticks, place cards adorned with delicate twine, and themed napkins can tie the entire look together effortlessly.

Bringing It All Together

Whether you're aiming for a cozy setting or an elaborate dining room showcase, utilizing jars and vases in your decorating ideas allows you to create versatile holiday centerpieces that cater to various themes. Incorporate natural elements like pinecones and gourds alongside sophisticated floral arrangements for a design that's both timeless and fitting for the best thanksgiving celebrations.

Farm Fresh

Farmhouses are cherished for their everlasting feel with the characteristic blend of comfort, history, and elegance. And farmhouse decor is so inviting because it integrates vintage or antique pieces with natural materials to create coziness and personality. This sweet centerpiece features a milk bottle candle with an heirloom quality that calls to mind the simpler times of holidays past. The white farm-style milk bottle has a metal handle and contains a candle with a fragrant evergreen fir scent. It sits in a base of fresh noble fir, cedar, and pine with white berries, natural pinecones, and a country style black and white checkered bow. Whether you grew up on a farm or just love the idea of country living and the charm of farmhouse decor, approximately sized at 14" x 18", this precious centerpiece will be a wonderful addition to your home for the autumn or winter holidays.

From holiday decorating around Christmas to creating delightful Thanksgiving table centerpieces, embracing the natural beauty of autumn through creative use of jars and vases offers endless possibilities, there are many tutorials out there that will help you design the perfect holiday centerpiece. Let this holiday season be one where your Thanksgiving tablescape is as memorable as it is beautiful.

So next time you're pondering thanksgiving centerpiece ideas, remember: sometimes even the simplest vessels can hold the most magnificent displays. Create memories this holiday season with these inspired decorating ideas that highlight the best aspects of fall decor—from eye-catching centerpieces down to every place setting detail—ensuring a festive atmosphere that invites warmth, love, and togetherness.

#thanksgiving centerpiece #centerpiece #fresh centerpiece

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eternity-official · 4 years ago

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🍓 + 🍉 for all :D

Also I loaf chu hehe

❀ — sunhee ;

🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them? At times Sunhee can be seen as stern or even uptight. Mostly because when she gets serious, she is definitely serious and there’s no mistaking it. She also appears really strong, even to the other members she’s a pillar. But the truth is she’s a lot softer than she lets on and she can actually be quite the goofball. She doesn’t mind being seen as the strong, tough love kind of figure, but I think part of her also just wishes people would see her more fun and childish side too. She’s also a really warm and gentle person.

🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why? I think spring definitely suits her best! A season for renewal and growth and nurturing. I think those vibes fit our kind and warm leader here uwu.

❀ — flora ;

🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them? Opposite to Sunhee, people see Flora as more silly and childish even though she’s the second oldest. She’s actually a really mature and intelligent person, but sometimes her silly antics cause people to mostly only see that side of her. I think she likes being seen as someone fun and bright, but sometimes feels misunderstood or like people don’t always take her seriously.

🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why? I think summer for Flora! Summer being associated with hot weather and freedom and good times with your friends and family. I think that fits her and her charms well.

❀ — miyoung ;

🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them? Miyoung sometimes gets misunderstood as mean or standoffish when really she’s just kind of quiet. Not necessarily shy either (though she can be quite closed off), she’s just often in her own head and sometimes gets a little off track. She’s really sweet but due to her quiet nature and the fact that when she does speak up it’s usually pretty funny or what other’s consider ‘savage’, people sometimes miss how soft and caring she is. It sometimes bothers her, because she mainly just has a hard time expressing herself.

🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why? I think winter fits her well! It’s quiet, the weather is cold, but it’s a time where you spend time with your loved ones. Bundling up and feeling warm inside in spite of the gloomy weather. I think that’s her energy.

❀ — ruby ;

🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them? Ruby is definitely seen as the typical savage maknae. Some people even misconstrue her as just straight up mean. But in reality, like Miyoung, she just has a hard time expressing herself (and her affections for the members.) Ruby is actually a really sensitive person, she just often keep her guard up and likes to seem strong and tough. She doesn’t mind the way people see her, but sometimes she does take things to heart.

🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why? For Ruby, autumn seems to be a good fit. Kind of a transition season, lots of playful and fun energies. The chill is harsh, but you can’t help but go out, take a walk in the brisk air. I like that vibe for her.

#aeskocnet #mochikocnet #faekocnet #oc idol #bbkocnet #( eternity / about. )#klsjdf I need to do something other than answer asks but oh well #long post

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owlsshadows · 6 years ago

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Ennotana Week (Day 3)

Aug 3: Autumn ☆ Yellow ☆ Kiss

(in Hungarian culture, yellow is the color associated with jealousy.)

Continuation of this and this.

Mentions of Noya/Tsuki, loosely linked to Strawberry Toffee.

Nishinoya has been acting strange lately, especially in his notorious attempts at picking on Tsukishima. Not that it would be out of character for him to tackle the blocker after a scored point or to steal his glasses to try them on for fun; it was all very much Nishinoya to do so – but there had to be a limit even to Nishinoya’s meddling and need of skinship, and since the moment they’ve started their joint summer camp with Nekoma and the other big city schools, Tanaka noticed no restraint in his best friend.

From stealing a towel from around the neck of Tsukishima to dry his face off with it, to pull on the blocker’s shirt to hide under it from Daichi’s scolding, Nishinoya has been bothering Tsukishima at all possible occasions.

“Don’t you find it weird?” Tanaka asks Ennoshita one morning.

“What?”

“That,” Tanaka points precisely at Nishinoya, who tries to force some more food into Tsukishima, while attempting to steal the tall first year’s glasses at the same time.

“Not really,” Ennoshita replies, stuffing his face with rice. “Look, since I’m not suicidal I wouldn’t try to meddle with Tsukishima too much, but we’re talking about Nishinoya here. There’s no such thing as weird when it comes to him.”

“Hm,” Tanaka huffs, digging into his rice. “Still. Stealing his towel is a bit too much…”

“Says the one who notoriously hogs all the blankets to himself,” Ennoshita remarks. “I’m not gonna sleep next to you next training camp.”

“Oh come on, don’t just attack me out of nowhere…!” Tanaka exclaims, but his voice gets lost in the war cry Nishinoya makes as he races across the room, a pair of glasses in hand, Tsukishima in tow, fast-walking. “That’s going way overboard.”

“Well, ‘til Tsukishima lets him,” Ennoshita shrugs, nudging him to turn back to his food. Tanaka reluctantly takes a bite of something chewy and green, but his thoughts wander, eyes following the absurd duo.

He could swear he heard Tsukishima giggle.

It stays on his mind for the rest of the day, gaze following the tall blocker and the tiny libero unconsciously. And he notices things: badly disguised glances, high fives that linger unnecessarily, pinkies that somehow get interlinked for short moments. And something builds in him, like a nasty stomach ache, planting budding pain under his ribs and sending him heartburns.

When after a nice play Nishinoya trots to Tsukishima and bops into the blocker’s side, barely hiding his intentions to rub his face against the taller boy’s chest, Tanaka tears his eyes away, only to find Ennoshita, sitting on a bench to the left.

His eyes find a moment of rest there, drinking in the familiar angle of his forehead, his nose, his lips. Ennoshita’s pale, slightly shiny skin is now pearlescent with sweat, his soft brown hair flattened and stuck against his scalp. The afternoon light glows against his skin, glides down his chin and follows his neck down to the edge of his T-shirt. His Adam’s apple bobs as he drinks. Tanaka is way too far, yet he reckons to hear the soft pop as Ennoshita’s lips separate from the water bottle.

“Oy, Ryuu,” Nishinoya tackles him suddenly, impact melting his vision into blurry shades of pink, black, brown, yellow. “You ready to team up with me and Suga-san tonight?”

“Setting practice?” Tanaka asks. As he looks at Nishinoya’s happy face, so content with the world, the ugly thing in his stomach churns.

How unfair, he thinks.

Noya has always been the braver, the more daring – it earned him a slap from Shimizu once, and the respect of Tanaka for the rest of his life – but for this simple difference in their traits to make Tanaka so frustrated one day, that deep within his urge him to keep his distance from his best friend grows every minute…

Unfair.

“Sure thing,” he replies, patting Nishinoya on the shoulder. He is not to give in to some monster feeding off of his cowardice and let it destroy his friendships. Not without a fight.

“Cool!” the libero clings to him shortly. “All day you seemed so down, I wouldn’t have known what to do if you said no.”

“I would never say no,” he says, hushing the pain in his stomach.

“That’s my Ryuu!” Nishinoya exclaims, turning towards the nearest teammates.

Yamaguchi nods, slightly startled by his vigor – Tsukishima on the other hand laughs, eyes lingering on Nishinoya’s face just a moment longer than it would be natural.

Tanaka wonders whether his senses sharpened, noticing it all that seemingly no one else can see, the only reason he finds not making him any happy.

People see what they want to see.

That, Ennoshita told him yesterday night – it was a lengthy anecdote about how each movie leaves a different feeling in everyone, and so if you ask a group of 10 to describe the same movie, and show the answers to someone, it’s 10 different stories you get – and while he did find it interesting, it was late at night, and half of the thing he has already forgotten. This lone sentence stuck in his head, along with the fired up eyes of his friend.

He notices Noya teasing Tsukishima, because he wants to do the same. He craves Ennoshita’s attention – and oh, he would steal towels, pick fights, launch himself at him at full speed – if only he had the courage to do so. Stealing his blanket at night sadly doesn’t count; he does it after he fought off his anxiety and managed to fall asleep, deep unconscious.

If only he could grab his hands once, that would be ideal. Even if their palms are sweaty, or covered in dirt after a round of flying falls.

“You wander around like someone lost.”

If only –

– he had the courage.

“Chikara.”

“Ryuunosuke.”

“You abuse my name way too much.”

“Where to?” Ennoshita asks, gallantly ignoring Tanaka’s whining.

“Ah. The… gym. I meet up with Suga-san and Noya.”

“I would’ve thought you were power walking around the dormitory. You passed this spot three times already.”

Of course he did. He was busy gathering courage to invite Ennoshita to their extra practice – not that he would ever admit it.

“If you are done mocking me, you could maybe join me!” he says. Frustrated by his own cowardice, he lets the invitation slip – not quite how he planned, and definitely not in a charming way.

“Ok,” Ennoshita says simply, sinking his hands into his short’s pockets and stepping out the dormitory’s door. “After you.”

Baffled, Tanaka obeys, walking ahead. He feels uncomfortable to begin with, being so unsuccessful at wooing his friend, but the feeling becomes unbearable as Ennoshita trails behind, never quite lining up beside him. Out of his sight, it is up to his hearing to deliver him the rhythmic thuds of Ennoshita’s steps and his imagination to fill in the gaps – the latter not the best friend of teenage boys with impractical crushes.

Hot wind blows in his face, and he wonders if Ennoshita smells him.

He wonders if he smells bad, actually.

On the court, he is fearless; Ukai even called him the pillar of Karasuno for his endless mental fortitude once – yet, when it comes to Ennoshita, he curls in on himself. Insecurities bloom in his heart, nurtured by every attempt he fails to call out to his friend, to grab onto him, to speak.

Once Ennoshita comes in the picture, he becomes a coward. He becomes frail. Vulnerable. Inexperienced.

He turns into someone who is jealous at their best friend’s happiness.

Tanaka forces his train of thought to stop, halting his steps along the way.

“It’s not like I want this…” he grumbles beneath his breath.

There’s a breeze against the nape of his neck, it smells like shampoo and coke –

“You don’t want what?” Ennoshita asks, lips dangerously close to Tanaka’s ears. “Sorry,” he steps away to the side, raising his hand in his defense. “You stopped so suddenly, I nearly walked into you. So… care to share what’s bothering you?”

The idea to stop so abruptly in front of Ennoshita that he walks into him one day barges into Tanaka’s mind like a storm, washing away all the frustration he felt while walking ahead of him.

“I was just thinking…” he starts, collecting his thoughts.

He can’t admit that he was thinking about Ennoshita. Let alone his feelings.

It would be selfish, forcing his feelings on his friend. It would be so tactless, so brash to confess, and he has so much at stake – he could destroy it all.

He values their friendship more than anything else, and if he has to decide between the feelings he has and the possibility to lose it all…

He is a coward like that.

But sometimes… just sometimes, he wishes to take his chances. He wishes to be cool and in control – to be charming beyond belief, to make Ennoshita fall head over heels in love with him.

He wishes he would have the courage to be daring. He imagines teasing Ennoshita – and even though he knows he would never win an oral argument; he could always poke at his friend’s sides. Ennoshita’s ticklish after all; if he could elicit laughter, he won the argument without the need for a witty comeback.

“… about Noya and Tsukishima,” he shrugs.

Ennoshita takes a sharp inhale. Something darkens in his eyes, and somehow Tanaka feels a distance between them, even as Ennoshita places a hand on his shoulder.

“They’re gays, Tanaka.”

“I know.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“And? You good?”

“What?”

“You were bothered by them before,” Ennoshita continues, somewhat guarded. “If… if it disgusts you, or you feel concerned…”

“No, no!” Tanaka shakes his head. Why did he start this conversation again? How is he coming out of this alive?

“You can be honest with me you know.”

“I’m just…”

Jealous.

In love.

Hopeless.

He places a hand over Ennoshita’s on his shoulder, dragging it down between them. Heart throbbing in his throat, drumming in his ears and pulsing through his veins, he trembles.

Hand holding accomplished. Not quite like planned. Not even in a meaningful way. It’s just a coward’s play, something along that fine line he can still dance back from to safe terrain.

“I was surprised,” he says, finding that the words come much easier if he stares blankly at their interlinked hands. “I thought that this was something rare, and to see it in front of my eyes, it made me feel –”

“Uncomfortable?” Ennoshita guesses, ducking his neck to catch Tanaka’s gaze.

Tanaka blinks, breaking his stare away from their hands, and he finds that it’s extremely hard not to look at Ennoshita’s eyes – not when they are so mesmerizing, brown, with flecks of gray and yellow.

“Jealous,” Tanaka replies.

It’s Ennoshita’s turn to be at a loss of words. He glares at him surprised, brows raising, lips slowly parting, but no voice coming out.

“I’m trash, aren’t I? I see my best friend’s happiness, and all I can feel is frustration because I can’t just jump at the boy I like freely.”

“What stops you?” Ennoshita asks, his voice careful, hand trembling in Tanaka’s ever so slightly.

“Have you ever been rejected?” Tanaka squeaks, octave higher than planned. “I know it sounds stupid, coming from me, who is being rejected on a daily basis by Kiyoko-san, but this and that’s different. I thought I was fine just loving Kiyoko-san for the rest of my life, but then this thing happened, and now I like this one boy, and he is the softest thing ever, and I would die if he rejected me.”

“Yeah,” Ennoshita says. “This sounds stupid. Coming from you, coming from anyone else. You can’t die from a rejection. You can be pretty down, of course, mope around for a few weeks, but then you get over it and move on.”

“You speak as if you have been rejected. Is there something I don’t know of?”

“Well… not exactly rejected, but almost the same.”

“Someone broke Chikara’s heart!”

“I notice your desperate attempt to change topics, but we are now talking about you.”

“Damn.”

“At least I know why you’ve been acting like a lost puppy for the past few weeks.”

“Did I?” Tanaka asks.

Ennoshita smiles in reply, shaking his head shortly.

“So, what makes you think that you will be rejected by this softest thing of yours?” he asks, nudging Tanaka in the side with his free hand.

Tanaka looks at Ennoshita, heart filling up. It breaks him, keeping him in the dark. It feels like deceit, to talk about his crush with his crush himself. Tanaka is no good at lies, acting and the such – he has always been the one who wore his heart on his sleeve.

Except that Ennoshita made him meek.

“Wouldn’t you?” he asks, voice barely a whisper.

“Wouldn’t I what?” Ennoshita asks, oblivious. “Reject you? Such a great party?”

“You wouldn’t?”

“Well, if you ask like that, I’m no longer sure whether to brush it off or take it seriously.” There’s something painful in how he says it, how his hand tremble in Tanaka’s while he says it, how his eyes falter, gaze cast to the side.

“I’m sorry,” Tanaka says, squeezing his hand. “I don’t intend to make you feel uncomfortable, Chikara.”

“Well…”

“But I really want to hear your reply.”

“What?”

“Would you reject me?”

Ennoshita lets out a sigh, long and pained.

“I won’t. But I would kill you for calling me the softest thing ever.”

“You can kill me anytime,” Tanaka offers, opening up his chest for any imaginary weapon, closing his eyes in surrender.

When the attack comes, it’s fatal. It’s soft yet firm, thin yet plump, simple yet daring. Ennoshita charges in with his lips, pulling Tanaka close by their interlinked hands.

“There,” he says then, letting Tanaka go.

“Wow. That… that was something. You killed me good.”

“Are you dead yet?”

“I think I must be at least dying. And dreaming in delirium. About you kissing me?”

“Just so we are on the same page,” Ennoshita says clearing his throat. “Did you actually confess just now?”

“I think I did. I wanted to.”

“Good then. It would be so weird if I just kissed you and your lover boy was someone else.”

“No, it’s you!” Tanaka exclaims, only to burn up in an extreme blush afterwards.

“Hnn,” Ennoshita says, leaning closer. “So you really deserve that killing.”

This time, Tanaka is ready for the kiss – that not making him any more experienced, but at least he tries his best, leaning into it.

“Dead yet?”

“Could survive a few more strikes.”

“How am I soft?”

“You are. Just. Just accept it.”

“You know, for a moment you really frightened me back there with this whole softest thing ever story. I thought you had a thing for Hinata, and I really didn’t know what would I do with my stupid crush if I had to support you in courting him.”

“You have a crush?”

“Oh my god, Tanaka, forget about me kissing you, got it? Forget it all, you don’t deserve it, you never did, I should’ve just forgot about you back in first year when you broke my heart –”

“I did?!”

“Well. It doesn’t feel too good when you just started developing a crush on this crazy weirdo to see that he is confessing on every occasion to your team’s beautiful manager.”

“Oh, shit, no. I couldn’t. No.”

“Yes, yes you did. You shattered my young heart.”

“Chikara, I’m sorry, if I knew I wouldn’t have–”

“Hush now. That was my stupid ass being all mopey. But did I go up to you to confess? No. I had rather run away and quit club activities altogether.”

“Oooh.”

“Yeah, I know, crazy story, huh? I was a pretty dramatic kid. You know, too many movies,” Ennoshita laughs, entwining his fingers with Tanaka’s and starting to pull him towards the gyms. “We can discuss this later, and talk about what made you finally realize my potential, but for now I think we are late for practice.”

“You’re right,” Tanaka agrees, half sad that Ennoshita stopped kissing him, half happy at the promise of continuation. “I wouldn’t want to make Suga-san wait.”

***

“Anyways, how did you know? That Noya and Tsukishima…”

“I kinda walked in on them,” Ennoshita says, pulling up his shoulders in defense, “while they were making out in the club room.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“They were making out, huh.”

“What?”

“I want to do that, too.”

#ennotana week #haikyuu!!#ennotana #noyatsuki #ennoshita chikara #tanaka ryuunosuke #nishinoya yuu #tsukishima kei #fanfiction #hilsstuff

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travelplacesindia · 3 years ago

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10 scenic waterfalls in Meghalaya

We at Travel Places India, providing Blog Related Information to Visit India – 10 Scenic Waterfalls in Meghalaya.

The state of Meghalaya in northeastern India has misty hills, valleys, sparkling lakes and rivers, and the most famous waterfalls. Named Sanskrit, it means the residence of clouds. It is a must-visit for any enthusiast on the Ground. It is a pleasure to visit and experience.

Meghalaya is rich in natural beauty. No matter where you go in Meghalaya, you will be amazed and admired by the great charm of this country. From tranquil waterfalls to lush green forests and deep prehistoric caves, to amazing good culture and traditions. Thank you very much for the hospitality and friendly people.

When we think about an area absolutely immersed in herbal beauty, the primary call that involves thoughts is Meghalaya. Literally translating into the ‘Abode of Clouds,’ Meghalaya boasts of the maximum scenic landscape, way to its mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. Exuding allure and serenity, those are the waterfalls you ought to discover whilst in Meghalaya.

When vacationing in Meghalaya, be sure to see the beauty of the state and these charming waterfalls that hide the beauty of nature. All these waterfalls in Meghalaya are extraordinary. Check it out!

Elephant Falls – Most Popular Tourist Place In Shillong

Seven Sisters Falls – A Marvellous Sight To Behold

Kynrem Falls – Of Breath-Taking Beauty

Nohkalikai Falls – Known For The Spectacular Plunge Pool

Dainthlen Falls – Beauty That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Langshiang Falls – Hidden Gem Of Meghalaya

Bishop And Beadon Falls – The Twin Brother Falls

Sweet Falls – Dangerous Yet Beautiful

Bophill Falls – An Unexplored Beauty

Mawphlang Falls – To Reinvigorate Amid Nature

Elephant Falls

As one of the famous waterfalls in Meghalaya, Elephant Falls is a 3-tier marvelous cascade. Located near Shillong Peak, this autumn is referred to as ‘Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew’ with the aid of using the nearby people, which means ‘3 step waterfalls’. Nestled amid thick forests, Elephant falls in Shillong seem to terrify and torrential, after the monsoon season, especially from October to December. The Britishers named it so because of the enormous rock mendacity on the foot of the waterfall that has resemblances with that of an elephant. However, the rock is not there, ever because it became destroyed in an earthquake. Located 12 km from Shillong city, this vicinity is often visited with the aid of using travelers and locals, in particular on weekends.

Also, Watch the Latest Video on Waterfall in Meghalaya 2021

Seven Sisters Falls

This seven-level waterfall is called Nohsngitiang Waterfall or Mausmai Waterfall and is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Meghalaya. The Seven Sisters Falls fall from the limestone cliffs of Mount Kashi, reaching 1,033 feet, and is one of the highest waterfalls in India. Experience the rushing stream and visit this waterfall between July and September. Surrounded by lush green forests, you will be amazed by the beauty of the waterfalls of Seven Streams.

Kynrem Falls

Located close to Cherrapunji which is one of the maximum waterfalls of Meghalaya. With a peak of approximately 1003 feet, Kynrem falls is counted because the seventh maximum waterfall in India. It flaunts its captivating splendor in post-monsoon and iciness season. One of the primary sights right here is Pillar Rock or Shiva Rock. It is famously referred to as Khoh Ramhah or Mothorp and is a massive rock placed simply beside the falls which provides an incredible view of the plains of Meghalaya.

Nohkalikai Falls

Nohkalikai Falls is positioned at a distance of seven km from Cherrapunji. It is famed to be the very best plunge waterfall in India. The water cascades down from a large height, forming a deep plunge pool, which appears spectacular. There is likewise a viewing gallery on the pinnacle of the falls and you’ll be able to climb as much as revel in the bird’s eye view of the waterfall and the plunge pool.

Dainthlen Waterfalls

Dainthlen Falls is one of the maximum photographed waterfalls that are placed at Sohra, close to Cherrapunji, fine acknowledged for its fabulous vista. As in line with mythology, the waterfall was given its call from a big serpent, which used to stay in a close-by cave. The locals killed this big snake because of the damage it becomes inflicting the villagers. The sight of the water gushing down in all its pressure is the maximum serene and majestic sight to behold that possible experience.

Langshiang Falls

The Jinshi River flows down from the West Kashi Mountain, forming Langshang Waterfall. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Meghalaya, located in the middle of the Sangriang forest near Nongstein. A refreshingly beautiful waterfall, commonly known as “Kshaid Urnar”, offers beautiful views of the green hills and surrounding villages.

Bishop and Beadon Waterfalls

Bishop and Beadon are twin brothers of Meghalaya. Bishop Falls is a three-story creek falling from a height of 446 feet. The view of the surrounding countryside and rocky hills from the water droplets in the can is bathed in mist and mist, and the bishop’s foamy water gushes out. Form a deep dive. Both waterfalls fall into the deep canyon of the Umiam River and flow through the impressive Suna Valley.

Sweet Falls

Sweet Falls is a natural beauty waterfall located near Happy Valley. It is considered an ideal place to relax and enjoy peace and tranquility. Sweet Falls is known as one of the most dangerous waterfalls in Meghalaya because it is covered by slippery rocks throughout the area. The Ministry of Tourism has banned visitors from entering the bottom of the waterfall, but you can definitely enjoy the beauty of Happy Valley.

Bophill Falls

Situated close to Dwaki at Indo- Bangladesh border, Bophill Falls is an unpopular but extraordinarily stunning waterfall in Meghalaya. This is a gushing stream that showcases its grace and majesty for the duration of rain and post-monsoon. A favored amongst nature enthusiasts and images buffs, Bophill Falls gives a panoramic view of Khasi hills on one aspect and plains of Bangladesh on the other.

Mawphlang Falls

One of the maximum awesome waterfalls inside the kingdom is Mawphlang. Rolling down via more than one stage from a terrific height, it’s far a peaceful and serene fall, positioned internal Mawhplang Sacred Forests. The waterfalls right into a small plunge pool that is the appropriate region to relax, rejuvenate and spend a while amidst the tranquil nature.

The reasons are compelling for you to kick-start your bookings to the wonderful town of Meghalaya. It’s progressing to be a pleasant experience for you stuffed with journeys and amazing experiences. At Pick your trail, we would like our travelers to fancy and skill all that Meghalaya has got to offer. So, begin designing your trip to Meghalaya to experience the sweetness of nature.

Additional Point

Meghalaya is breathtaking land and has been given a number of the maximum scenic waterfalls in India. However, it’s far crucial to take a few provisions, earlier than traveling them.

Make certain now no longer to throw trash around the encompassing

Carry right hiking footwear which might be non-slippery in nature to keep away from any accidents.

Do now no longer contact any plant, in case you do now no longer have legitimate expertise of its kind.

Most of the waterfalls do now no longer have cafeterias nearby. It is suggested to hold meals and liquids during your journey.

Carry a number of the clinical critical for your backpack.

Do now no longer disturb the wild animals inside the area. Make certain now no longer to feed the animals.

Do right studies at the timings and the whole and remaining hours of the waterfalls, earlier than traveling the location.

If you’re determined to drag yourself out of this metropolis' existence and rejuvenate yourself with many of the splendors of nature, Meghalaya must be your go-to option. This location will run over its magic wand and could remodel you right into an exclusive character altogether. Find a few pieces and hook up with your soul at the same time as on foot thru the opaque woodland and the white waterfalls. So what are you ready for, percent your baggage and seize the following flight, for the outstanding journey of your existence.

Some of The Best Shots of My Last Trip to Cherapunjee, Meghalaya Meghalaya (North-East India) Trailer | Cinematic Travel Video | Shillong, Guwahati, Cherapunjee 5 Top Spectacular Destinations During Monsoon In India

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pocketseizure · 7 years ago

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The Legend of the Princess, Chapter Nineteen

The Two Princesses

In which Zelda greets the Zora princess Ruto, who finally arrives to the Hylian court in a gorgeous swirl of bright smiles and shining fins.

(Chapter Nineteen on AO3) (Story Tag on Tumblr) (Cover Illustration)

* * * * *

“You need to find the truth about my mother,” Ganondorf told her, and Link seemed to be thinking along the same lines. Zelda was more than a little annoyed with both of them for not simply telling her what she needed to know. Either the truth was too terrible to be spoken aloud, or neither of them really knew anything. Zelda regularly dealt with intrigue over the course of her daily administrative duties and didn’t have much patience for conspiracy theories, and she suspected the latter. Nevertheless, she knew exactly what the silver key Link had given her would unlock, and she had every intention of using it. Even with her considerable skill, however, it wouldn’t be easy to sneak into her father’s private study. Thankfully, she now had an ally at court.

Ruto had arrived late in the evening, her standard-bearers preceding her by mere hours. One of the many qualities Zelda admired about Ruto was her decisiveness; she seemed to feel a complete absence of guilt for doing whatever she wanted whenever she felt it was necessary to do it. If Ruto no longer felt the need to trouble herself over Jabun, then there was nothing stopping her from traveling to Hyrule, and she so did without wasting any additional time.

Zelda was struck giddy with the anticipation of seeing her dear friend in person again. She remained at court much later than usual as she awaited Ruto’s arrival, and she enjoyed herself to such an extent that Impa felt the need to appear at her side at occasional intervals to limit her alcohol consumption.

When Ruto finally made her appearance, she was beautiful and magnificent, her scales shining like the moon over the sea and her lithe form accentuated by a shimmering violet gown. She was not disheveled in the slightest from her journey across Hyrule, nor did she show any fatigue. She offered warm smiles and kind words to all the nobles and courtiers who approached her after her arrival was formally announced. When she was finally able to make her way to the king, she allowed Daphnes to sweep her up into a bear hug. All through the night she caught Zelda’s gaze and winked meaningfully, as if to say Look at me, I’m so good at this, I’m so good at being a princess, which had been a private joke between them when they were much younger.

Ruto’s company was in such high demand that Zelda realized she would have to use the privilege of her position to push her way to the front of the crowd. When she made her greeting to the visiting princess she couched it in such flowery language that Ruto could only listen to her for a minute before bursting into laughter. As the two princesses clasped arms and grinned at one another, a tuning note from the lead violin of the orchestra cut through the chatter of the gathering, and before Zelda knew what was happening Ruto had pulled her into the center of the floor. Zelda giggled as she allowed herself to be led in a dance, her skirts swirling alongside Ruto’s.

After the final notes of the orchestral prelude faded, other couples joined them on the floor, which Zelda interpreted as an opportunity to take Ruto by the crook of her arm and shepherd her to a secluded area. As they were walking with their arms linked toward one of the shaded corners behind the hall’s pillars, they were accosted by Darunia, who clasped his huge hands on their shoulders from behind.

“You two are a sight for sore eyes,” he proclaimed in his booming voice. “The court is getting more gorgeous by the day! My girl, your coronation is going to sparkle like nothing I’ve ever seen, and believe me, I know shiny,” he continued, slapping Zelda on the back. Zelda stumbled from the force of the blow, and Ruto caught her, grinning merrily all the while.

“Excuse me,” a small voice spoke up from just beside them. Zelda looked down and saw the most handsome child she’d ever encountered. He had silky autumn-gold hair and piercing green eyes to match, and he was clad in a long feathery tunic resembling interlocking leaves of various shades of umber and olive.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever met, Your Highness, but I am Makar,” the boy introduced himself.

Zelda blinked and experienced a moment of double sight. There was a boy standing beside her and offering his hand to be taken in greeting, but also something entirely different – a slim and willowy creature with mottled bark wearing a leaf as a mask cut with a pattern of triangles in an off-center approximation of a face. So this is a Korok, Zelda realized.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Zelda said, extending her fingers, and then the Korok’s twiggy branch was once again a plump and rosy-skinned Hylian hand. “You must forgive me for not seeking your acquaintance earlier, sir.”

The boy gave a good-natured laugh and shook Zelda’s hand in both of his. “I’m actually sexed as female,” he said. “We all are, but I prefer to take a male form. And you can call me Makar; it’s just as much of a name as it is a title.” He nodded at her and then turned to Ruto. “It’s an honor to meet you as well, Your Highness. I arrived this evening right behind you, just a moment ago.”

“Why didn’t you announce yourself properly?” Ruto asked, never one to hold back on bluntly inquiring after what she wanted to know.

Makar cocked his chin at Darunia, who was beaming down at him with a full set of teeth. “I didn’t want this big lug to know I was here yet,” he replied, answering Darunia’s wide smile with one of his own. Zelda was amused to note that there was a slight gap between his front teeth. It was charming, and Zelda appreciated how much effort must have put into the illusion he was maintaining for her benefit.

“I hope you brought your fiddle, little buddy, because I’m in the mood to dance tonight. Let’s take you over to Daphnes and show that old lion how to get this party started!”

“I think this is a good opportunity for us to leave,” Ruto whispered to Zelda. Without giving her time to excuse herself politely, Ruto grabbed Zelda’s hand and practically dragged her through the great hall.

By the time they were in the corridor outside they were practically running.

“I’ll race you, ninja girl,” Ruto challenged her, and then they were running, their feet moving so quickly that their heels barely made a sound.

Ruto led Zelda on a mad chase through the castle to the quarters assigned to the Zora dignitaries. There were two tall and muscular Zora guards stationed outside the suite with silver spears at the ready, and Ruto flirtatiously kissed both of them on their cheeks as Zelda paused to catch her breath. The guards shook their heads at Ruto’s brazenness and gave slight bows to Zelda as they opened the doors for the two women.

As soon as they were inside, Ruto kicked off her shoes and pulled her dress over her head without bothering to unlace it. The Zora didn’t usually bother with Hylian fashion, which they found cumbersome, and Ruto sighed with contentment as she unlatched the jewelry at her neck and wrists.

Zelda knew Ruto was headed straight for the large pool of water in the suite, so she began undressing as well. A Zora attendant appeared to help her out of her formal gown, while another collected Ruto’s cast-off finery from the floor where she’d left it laying.

“Don’t touch her hair,” Ruto ordered her attendants. “That’s my job.” She winked at Zelda. “Now let’s get wet. I feel so dehydrated… I could soak for days.”

Zelda allowed one of the Zora attendants to wrap her in a towel to preserve her modesty before she followed Ruto into the bathing chamber, and she only discarded it after she stepped into the warm water. She knew that the Zora generally cared nothing for Hylian nakedness, but she was still a bit embarrassed to be seen completely in the nude.

The pool, whose bottom extended into the castle’s basement, was fairly deep, and Zelda had to swim to join Ruto on one of the tiled lounging shelves extending from its sides.

“You swim like a frog,” Ruto teased.

“Yeah, well, you run like a fish,” Zelda shot back.

“You know what goes well with a good bath?” Ruto asked her. “Sparkling wine. And wouldn’t you know it, I see some heading this way right now.”

Zelda blushed fiercely and suppressed an urge to cover herself as a Zora groom approached them with a serving tray bearing two finely shaped glass vessels filled with fizzing pale liquid.

Ruto rose gracefully to the surface of the water and took both of them. “These glasses are Gerudo-made, you know,” she remarked as she passed one to Zelda. “Aren’t they beautiful?” she asked rhetorically before taking a sip.

At mention of the word “Gerudo,” Zelda blushed an even deeper shade of pink, and it gave her a secret thrill of pleasure to touch her lips to the rim of the glass. She knew she shouldn’t have more than just a taste, especially not this late at night, and especially not while soaking in such warm water, but the wine was heavenly, delicately flavored but not too sweet.

Meanwhile, Ruto had already finished her glass. She scooted over to sit next to Zelda.

“Let me play with your hair,” she commanded.

“Only if you tell me about Jabun,” Zelda countered, emboldened by the alcohol.

“Oh, I will. Girl, you are never going to hear the end of it if you get me started,” she said as she began unhooking the pins holding Zelda’s hair in a braided bun. “But if you know about Jabun, then you probably know a few other things too. I wonder… Just how much do you know? Before I tell you about Jabun, why don’t you tell me about Ganondorf?”

Zelda tensed at the mention of his name, and Ruto laughed. “Come on, friend, dish it. I know he’s had his eyes on you.”

Zelda drained her glass, and perhaps the alcohol had gone to her head, for her next words surprised her. “I don’t know what to make of him,” she said. “He’s like spiced wine, something that’s so delicious but so potent that it makes me leave this world just for an instant. He’s like an oasis in all the mundane nonsense of my life, a fountain with the moon inside, and I want to reach inside and touch it…”

Ruto raised her facial fins dramatically.

“Oh blessed Nayru, I don’t know what I’m saying,” Zelda apologized, laughing.

“I know exactly what you’re saying. You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” Ruto shook her head, still grinning as she continued to unpin Zelda’s hair. “Not that I can say I blame you. He’s a handsome one, all right, and he certainly has his charms. Unfortunately…” Ruto trailed off, and one of the corners of her mouth twitched before she continued. “I don’t think ‘charms’ are all he has. You know that boy is dangerous, right?”

“Trust me, I know. Better than anyone, probably,” Zelda leaned back into Ruto’s cool embrace. She could feel herself growing drowsy, but she still had things she needed to say while she had an opportunity to speak to Ruto in relative privacy. “That’s why I want to talk with you about Jabun, and also… There’s something I need you to do for me tomorrow night.”

( Link to Chapter Twenty: The Two Queens )

#Zelda fic #Princess Zelda #Zelgan #The Legend of the Princess #my fic

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sussex-nature-lover · 4 years ago

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Tuesday 16th February 2021

Normal Service and some Out of the Ordinary News

I’ve got to say that I don’t quite know where my head is at lately, let’s blame disturbed sleep shall we - might as well. I’ve been doing my customary waking around 2-3am and then napping, waking again around 5-6ish for the day and watching the cricket, which has taken up the best part of the morning. Although that makes the days seem long, they’ve been full and my blog has ended up being written piecemeal here and there and then being rather last minute. Inevitably errors occur when you write that way and I haven’t made the time to read through properly before pressing post. Usually I’m fairly meticulous, but I’ve ended up rushing, so I’ve resolved to do better. Side-note to both my football and the England crickets teams, you should do the same. Liverpool FC play tonight in Hungary, 8pm our time should you need to know (Champions’ League)

Yesterday was a very dull and grey day, cold, but not nearly as cold as of late. We had to go out to the Pharmacy and so took the car on a run just for the sake of keeping it in action.

We came back via the village where the younger Ms NW went to school and it was a very neat little journey. The hedges have had a really good cut.

It was just around this point in the lane where Crow and I did our second synchronised Woaaaaaa Woaaaaaaa of the week so far - that always makes us laugh. The first had been at a low level swoop behind our top shrubbery bed - couldn’t see what it was, but we thought it was the Buzzard. Yesterday it was an absolutely gorgeous Kestrel that flew from one side of the lane across the front of the car and off into the distance. We saw enough to register the lovely markings and beautiful chestnut colouring. I took a few other pictures of some nice looking cows and a field absolutely covered by Seagulls but to be honest they’re not all that exciting, so I’ll just leave the thoughts there.

What was exciting yesterday and I’ll go so far as to say, terribly exciting, was a brand new bird in the garden. Seriously, I can hardly believe it, so settle down and enjoy with me one of the most delightful and tiniest birds we’ve had here.

Let me set the scene, I was standing at the sink under the window, just pootling about and tidying things and a bright flash of red took my eye. I presumed Goldfinch, which would’ve been unusual as it’s been a while. But no, it wasn’t that pillar box type of red, it was more a deep and bright ruby pink. Chores abandoned and camera at the ready I took as many photos as I could considering that A) it was quite poor light and it was drizzling and B) this little bird hardly stayed still. Suffice to say I have A LOT of very blurry pics.

Enough introductory waffle, this is what I saw

Ladies and Gentlemen, a Redpoll. I have to say that its Latin name is absolutely charming. Carduelis cabaret. Isn’t that wonderful? It certainly lives up to that descriptor in my opinion, as every angle is a feast for the eyes.

Wikipedia says

The genus name Acanthis is from the Ancient Greek akanthis, a name for a small now-unidentifiable bird, and cabaret is the French name for a type of finch

That turns out to be somewhat disappointing really. I prefer to stick to my imaginary idea of them being an actual theatre show-stopper.

Anyway after establishing the Redpoll bit, as so often in the birding world (and the rest of the natural world to be fair) it all gets rather complicated.

For size perspective: House Sparrow and Redpoll. I said they’re tiny didn’t I

The full name for this species is actually the Lesser Redpoll, as relatively recently (year 2000) it was classified as a separate species from the very similar Common Redpoll (also called the Mealy Redpoll) which, despite the name, is not common in the UK at all.

Lesser Redpolls breed in the UK, whereas Common Redpolls are winter visitors only and generally just to the eastern side of the UK. There are subtle differences only between the two species, but it is the Lesser Redpoll that’s much more likely to be seen in gardens across the UK.

I’ve put a really excellent video towards the end of this blog which should make things clearer.

As you can tell from the shape of the bill, Redpoll is a Finch, a small Finch. This is particularly interesting as I keep bemoaning how we lack Finches here and yet last year we saw more Goldfinch in the garden than we ever have before; not big numbers, but more frequent visits. We had the return of a Greenfinch and evidence they’d had young and of course, lately a male Chaffinch has been here a lot. Apparently Redpoll will often flock with Siskin - another relatively common bird, but again, one we’ve not spotted in our garden. There’re probably loads in the woods who only come to the garden when we turn our backs!

SIZE GUIDE:

1.5–12.5 centimetres (4.5–4.9 in) long with a wingspan of 20–22.5 centimetres (7.9–8.9 in) and a weight of 9–12 grams (0.32–0.42 oz). The bill is short, conical and sharply pointed and is pale yellow with a dark tip.

Little Lesser Red Poll making the distant Robin look huge

Obviously all the information I have is collated from various searches I made on the internet: I read that the UK population of this lovely bird went into rapid decline since the 1970s and now stands at about 10% of the known figures at that time. There is no sound evidence currently available as to why, but studies have focused on the reduction in young forestry plantations, especially non-native Conifers (a favoured nesting location) and possibly a lessening of Birch trees. To counter that though, I have also read that since around 2010 there has been a marked increase in sightings in gardens. In the Spring the Redpoll will feed on insects and source caterpillars for its young, but in the Autumn and Winter it’s a seed eater, particularly enjoying the fine Niger seed which is suited to its small beak. It seems more people are feeding the birds in their gardens and Niger seed in particular is being employed more frequently as it attracts the colourful little birds.

Lesser Redpoll GB breeding population was estimated at around 220,000 breeding pairs (2016) but they are doing particularly well these days in N Ireland which boasted an additional 40,000 pairs.

The species is now listed as red status in the UK (see below)

Absolutely beautiful from every angle

You can just make out a small black bib in the photo above and from what I’ve read this is a male bird already displaying breeding colours, as seen by the extremely red-pink breast. It could be said it’s fairly ahead of the game with its timing.

More information from an outside source Here (pdf) which is a British Birding Association article from 2010 with some excellent photographs.

youtube

LISTING STATUS EXPLAINED:

The Red Listed birds are not necessarily terribly low in number - for example the Common House Sparrow. Starling and Song Thrush are in this category because of population decline.

Red List Criteria

Globally Threatened

A Serious Population Decline In The UK Between 1800 And 1995

A Decline Of At Least 50% In The UK Breeding Population Over The Last 25 Years Or Over A Longer-Term Period

A Contraction Of At Least 50% In The UK Breeding Range Over The Last 25 Years Or Since 1969

The RSPB say

"We use the red list to prioritise our action. We use it to identify which species need help immediately and take action. So, if there is research to do to find out what the problem is, and how to tackle it, then we’ll do that, then once we know what needs to be done to help them we’ll get on with it, whether it’s land management, species recovery projects or lobbying government.

"Prioritising is vital as we don’t have money and resources to work on everything, even within the red list we can’t prioritise action for all 67 species. In some cases we have to just keep a watching brief on a species until we have more resource to take action."

"The first step is considering what to do in your own outdoor spaces to create better habitats for wildlife. Those who have a garden could consider wildlife friendly gardening - create a pond, plant pollen rich flowers, or plant shrubs with berries for birds.

"Most of the data we use is collected by volunteers –if you know a little bit about birds you could get involved in data gathering with monitoring schemes, such as those run by the BTO in partnership with the RSPB."

I’m going to have a think about what projects we can embark on this Spring to help our garden birds even more and then, well, who knows what species might turn up. Even after 20 years here, there’s something to marvel at every single day.

WHAT ELSE DID I LEARN TODAY?

Mount Etna has erupted. If you look at this Twitter thread you can see photos and video

LINK

#Redpoll gardenbirds nature naturephotography #volcano Mount Etna

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elane-in-the-shadows · 7 years ago

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Red Queen Fan Fiction - Blood Curse part 11

Find this on wattpad

chapter 1

chapter 2

chapter 3

chapter 4

chapter 5

chapter 6

chapter 7

chapter 8

chapter 9

chapter 10

chapter 11

chapter 12

chapter 13

chapter 14

chapter 15

chapter 16

chapter 17

chapter 18

chapter 19

chapter 20

chapter 21

chapter 22

chapter 23

chapter 24

chapter 25

chapter 26

chapter 27

chapter 28

chapter 29

Final chapter

A/N: Finally, the long-awaited (by me) wedding chapter. If you don’t like my OCs, skip the first half. Then Maven appears, what rare occasion ;-) Fashion pics are at the end.

Cassandra POV

The crown weighs heavy on my head although it’s made only of sakura twigs and blossoms, the pale pink petals matching the light shade of my silk dress.

All guests of my brother Hagen Eagrie’s wedding with Larissa Welle wear flower crowns today. The bride’s grown and shaped them herself, and put them on every brow, having chosen them carefully to match the guests’ clothing and preferences. More flowers wind along the walls and corners of the Eagries’ large mansion in Archeon, other bouquets are carefully arranged in numerous vases placed on pillars.

The smell should be overwhelming but it isn’t. Lari’s too great a mistress of her greenwarden ability, so I suppose she created the flowers especially not to have a strong odour. Yet their perfume is ever-present – and pleasant, at least to me. The smell changes slightly the closer I move to the garden, probably intentionally as well. Maybe a metaphor for the seasons; I haven’t asked Lari yet. It’s another artwork among the many she designed for her wedding to be impressive and unique. As the flowers’ smell is contributed to her groom: Since Hagen is unable to see the decorations, Lari made it possible to sense them in other ways.

Just makes me wonder what the food will be like.

I gather my skirt in my hand as I descend the stairs to the reception hall. The dress is unusual to me, hence I’m most likely lifting it too high. The gown widens along my thighs but it’s tight otherwise, urging me to ponder how to fight in it. I chide myself for the thought but it’s less for paranoia than for the wish to protect this dress from damage that I make such considerations. It becomes me marvellously. Short, frilly sleeves, a low cleavage, the tightness accentuating both my curves and my muscles while enabling me to dance. The seams have a more intense colour, a vibrant fuchsia; it’s the same shade I chose for my lipstick and eyeliner. Sakura are embroidered on the skirt, following the colour pattern of pale pink, fuchsia, and every shade in between as the yarns fade from intense into pastel.

All in all, it’s simple but the most beautiful gown I’ve ever worn.

I catch a glimpse of someone standing at the foot the stairs and I almost stumble when I notice it’s Sorata. He smirks at my efforts to remain ladylike. He’s as much a gentleman in his swallow-tailed coat, despite being a Red. What the right clothing can do for you – how many “noble” guests will be confused by his presence, and rightly so. He’s better than them and deserves to be my partner at the wedding party. And more. He’s dressed to match my outfit. Where I carry a crown of pink cherry blossoms, he wears white ones while his cravat and pocket square show pink embroidery. It’s obvious for anyone looking close enough that we are … together.

He bows and kisses my hand, slightly more serious. I curtsey in response and fail, my knees pointing in the wrong directions. He laughs until he coughs. “Unused to formalities, Cassie?”

“Tsk.” But I giggle as well. “I’ll have to train before the queen arrives.”

“I suppose she values your other skills more,” he says. “But I am content as long as I receive your first dance.”

“I promise.” He pulls me close for a faint kiss, then guides me down the corridor to the garden where the ceremony will take place. There’s no one else, so I’m wondering if we’re late and the guests have already arrived, with only the bride and groom to show up.

“Are you ready for a grand entrance?” I ask.

He sighs. “Whenever else will we have the chance – “ he trails off and stops walking, turning us sideways to another pillar in an oriel.

It displays a wreath for a guest, braided from poppies and cornflowers. Simple plants, but their orange and blue colours are as brilliant as fire.

“That’s hers,” I breathe. “Firebird’s. Lacey’s.”

He nods. We stare at the crown dedicated to my absent cousin, either a hostage or a collaborator of the Scarlet Guard, depending on the perspective. Sorata leans against me, his hand skimming my neck as he whispers in my ear. “You’ve heard from her?”

“Only that she’s alive. And occupied, whatever that means.”

He inclines his head and kisses my cheek. “They trust me more,” he says quietly. “The king is rumoured to return here soon, and Archeon might become a target again.”

He draws away, smiling like he didn’t talk treason a second ago. “Excited for the ceremony, madam?”

“Of course I am, Mr. Ives.” And I mean it. At least Lari and Hagen will have this before all hell will break loose.

Indeed, the garden is already filled with guests seated on filigree chairs. Ribbons fixed on poles create the illusion of a room and a roof on the meadow-like green although breezes and sunbeams filter through. We have a magnificent weather for September and the approaching autumn is only announced by the golden and reddening foliage on the trees farther off. My family stands at the front and we part to join them, each of us going along one outer side of the congregation; the middle aisle is reserved for the bridal couple.

I hug my oldest brother Roman with a grin before I take my position. I haven’t seen him for a month. Now he and I stand on the left side while Mother’s on the right, with Sorata behind her. Her assigned companion has still to arrive. She doesn’t wear a suit or other casual clothes today, it’s like she wants to dress as rich and festive as the other nobles for once: She’s swathed in black tulle as voluminous as a black cloud. I’ve helped her to pin up her yellow hair in an elaborate fashion but our efforts are barely visible beneath her wreath of white lilies with small black markings.

Roman wears white asters and I notice that every small movement of his is as graceful as ever, a generous inheritance from his Iral grandmother. But even formally dressed in a suit with a necktie, he manages to look like a punk, a rocker with electrum jewellery gleaming on his ears, hands and chest, and the tattoos engraved on the brown skin of his neck and left hand. His black hair stands up in every direction like he just walked through a storm and his white shirt hangs over his slacks.

But that’s exactly his charm. Despite his height, he resembles his long-dead father a lot. He and Hagen share his colouring with brown skin and black hair but Roman has Mother’s dark eyes and inherited his father’s handsome, hawkish features as well. And his ability of course, the Eagrie foresight.

Yet all three of us siblings are Mother’s children and that shows. She’s a person who always gets what she wants and we adapted the confidence from her. Roman with his seer ability never makes a wrong move; be it in battle, life or art. I always fight for the win, dismissing the chance of losing to begin with. While Mother has never wanted Hagen to doubt himself for his disability and made him believe in what he can do. Although wandering through people’s dreams in his sleep is generally considered as a freak ability, he’s come to live both in aethereal dreams and in the flesh to his capacity. All the more a reason for Mother to be happy and proud of him today.

When the queen arrives at last, the whole congregation rises and bows or curtseys and I manage to lift my skirt almost exactly to the right level. I raise my eyes just in time to catch Sorata winking at me. Queen Iris walks around the seats like we did, with her ambassador Isabella and the bodyguard Richard Rhambos behind her. Richard serves in my place yet as he’s related to Hagen as well, I wonder if he might’ve wished to attend too.

Iris takes the place next to Mother. She curtseys again, kisses the queen’s hand and reaches for the wreath Lari prepared for the queen – blue-violet iris flowers, an obvious choice for the queen’s name. Yet Iris smirks courtly upon receiving another crown while Mother says something in the Lakelands tongue, eager to show off her knowledge and skills. The queen’s smile widens a bit and I wander if Mother said something funny or if Iris’s just delighted to hear her mother tongue. Naturally, her gown stands out even among the nobility. Dark blue flowery lace is interwoven with silver threads and beads. It’s another dress with a long skirt on the backside but an open front, turned into a kind of catsuit as her legs are dressed in the same rich fabric ending over her sparkling pumps.

The congregation rises. Bride and groom enter together, arm in arm. They walk down the carefully prepared aisle of rich, dark soil. Lari’s gown has no train, nor does she wear a veil or a flower crown herself. Instead she displays fanciful, butterfly-like eye-makeup and flowers woven into her dark brown hair which falls down her back. Following an old tradition, her bridal gown is white, with embroideries in the green and gold of her house along with numerous blossoms placed on it in a detailed pattern. She’s barefoot and in place of a train, buds of daisies, poppies, asters, cornflowers, chamomiles, wild roses and many more arise as she goes down the aisle.

My brother looks dashing besides her - even though she grabs all attention. Larissa’s chosen him a laurel crown with an elaborate black coat, vest and white shirt as usual, velvet and frilly in the same style that his grandfather, Julius Eagrie, prefers. Instead of a big tie or a black cravat with lace in the Eagrie colours, Hagen’s necktie is violet, with an interwoven iridescent pattern in purple and fuchsia. “Hagen needs a more special colour,” Lari told me in the dressing room when my hand glided over the silk tie. “Like you do.” Then she winked at me, who’s not bound no a house colour for my lack of a high house.

With cheers, the guests take their places again as the ceremony begins and the queen herself gives her blessing to the union.

Larissa’s planned and arranged every little part of her wedding, and she’s made it to perfection; without ever losing her nerves or her smile. The glass-ceilinged hall the dinner and dances are to take place in is just another demonstration of rare and impressing botany combined for the utmost effect. Lari tries to personify life and beauty and lets everyone forget in what times we live in, as if not so many of us have lost someone. But still. She was never meant to be a warrior or a queen as that is her cousin Heron’s due, the house lord’s daughter. The girl is here as well and forcing a smile, maybe perturbed that two Silvers marry for love and not for prestige. Yet in ability, Larissa excels nonetheless, and she might be able to grow food for the whole capital on a field the size of the gym with the right fertilizers. She knows all about her vast collection of seeds for crops, flowers and other plants. She showed one of those produces to me mere two days ago, when we partied in anticipation of the wedding in one of the few remaining bars in Archeon.

“Usually, I don’t smoke,” I reminded her.

“But I strongly recommend this one,” Lari answered smirking. I had one draw and it was a sensational experience though I’m uncertain whether I want to repeat it. Drugs unsettle me.

When the dancefloor is opened, I give the first waltz to Sorata, as I promised. We’re swaying among the Silver nobles, most of them relatives or Maven and Iris’s favourite allies. Most of them don’t know what to make of us, or of this festivity as a whole. A Red dances amid them with me, the bastard commoner girl, while my mother, half outsider by association, half trusted advisor to their majesties, doesn’t bat an eye. The groom is a blind man with a freak ability yet the queen herself attends and married him to his bride. Thus, the nobles put on their frozen smiles and clap when appropriate, lest they are deemed second-guessing their rulers.

They might as well boil and drown in their pretends and prejudices. In the end, no one has forgotten they – Maven – have already lost against the Scarlet Guard and the Rift. Even though a part of me is afraid. For my family and the friends I’ve found. What will war and change do to these people, this place? But the change can’t be stopped either way, and possibly, it’ll mean I can dance with Sorata as often and openly as we want, without him fearing the discovery of his ability or any brutal whim of Silvers.

The music stops and we part like all dancing couples. He smiles and asks, “one more?”

“I’d be delighted.”

Roman almost runs into me after four rounds. “Untypical for you,” I chastise him.

“But I wanted to surprise you,” he retorts. “May I dance with you for once, dear sister?”

“Is it that special piece of music?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

“It is.”

Grinning, I take his hands as Danse Macabre begins to play. We haven’t practised recently, but we danced to this music often enough, as a mean of training and to show off our abilities combined. We forgo the lifting steps yet draw attention anyway. “The ladies are staring at the rare sight of you, Roman,” I say panting, “Still not interested in marriage and children?”

He only laughs in response.

“Nor any new love in sight?” I inquire further.

“Ah no, Cassie. I’m a happy bachelor.” But he sighs. “The time with Reuben still carries fond memories.” He seems slightly melancholic. Maybe because I can see Reuben Osanos, his boyfriend for two years, standing at the edge of the dancefloor. They broke up eight months ago.

Later on, we lounge on a chaise longue when Lari jumps up out of a sudden, pulling me up with her, only to lower into a curtsey. Tired from feasting, my attention isn’t as perfect as usual, but I notice our high guest quickly enough. The king – awfully underdressed in his ragged uniform – is walking along the central aisle of the hall and the queen goes to him in greeting while the rest of wedding congregation displays their reverence.

Half of us must be laughing under their breaths. King Maven, returning to Archeon’s court after months of absence, crashes a wedding as if to make up for the ruination of his own. Iris plays along, her smile showing more amusement than it should from mere politeness.

Lari is having none of it. When she rises from her curtsey, she takes my brother’s arm and together, they go to meet the monarchs, me following behind.

“We are most honoured by your presence at our wedding, Your Majesties,” Hagen says and Lari beams in her characteristic way, so enticing that Maven bows to her and kisses her hand.

My new sister-in-law is too much of a perfectionist to let her wedding get crashed. She’s the queen of this party, ruling over small-talk, aesthetics and good taste. Yet I muse why she doesn’t offer him a left-over laurel crown so he doesn’t stand out so much. In the end, even Mother abstains from joining the little group around the royals, probably avoiding to broach the sinister topics of her double play with both Maven and her Rift-allied Haven relations. She’s even invited cousin Elane, but the Rift’s princess hasn’t appeared.

Larissa guides us back to the corner from before, now including the royal party and thus clearly intending us to sit down in a more formal way. In a circle, Iris and Maven sit next to each other, I’m at Iris’s, Larissa’s at Maven’s other side, with Hagen between us. Iris frowns at the sight of Larissa’s special “cigarettes”, but she remains silent about them, picking one of her fancy little juices while Larissa and Maven talk, soon switching to politics.

“… so, if you don’t mind to postpone your honeymoon, my lady, would you serve Norta with your ability?” Maven asks suggestively. As always. He’d make a good merchant, talented at selling you everything. But he is a king and this takes it to a whole new level. Lari keeps on smiling and chatting but she holds Hagen’s hand tightly.

“I do not want to urge and hurry you, my lady, but we should start quickly with growing more crops, which would be greatly helped by your skills,” he continues.

“I am proud to be recognized by Your Majesty,” Lari replies. “I will help you gladly.”

Iris rolls her eyes at her exaggerated politeness but she’s distracted by a new glass of juice put before her. I’m startled to see Sorata serving her and Maven while he’s already dashing off. It’s one of his games to play pretend with the highest Silvers, now that he’s again forced to hide his importance and our closeness. And consequently, Maven doesn’t even notice the Newblood spy who’s able to steal his ability with a touch. Instead he asks Iris about her juice.

She shrugs. “It’s good, try it.”

“It’s … exotic.”

It delivers the perfect prompt for Lari to describe her efforts again, having grown the juices’ rare fruits especially for the queen – upon my suggestion as the queen never drinks alcohol. “I’m sure you’re the best to produce food for Norta, my lady,” Maven compliments her. “Yet, the season demands …”

“The season does not matter to me, Your Majesty. Earth, water, seeds and some fertilizers are enough.”

“But,” Iris wonders, “how can you reap the whole of your fast-growing crops? My lady?”

“My queen, we have enough field workers with the choke front disbanded,” Maven says.

“We do not even need many field workers, Your Majesties,” Lari informs them. “The plants I think of are easily reaped with machines.”

“Provided by our loyal techies?” inquires Hagen, unsettling Maven, but the king nods after a second. Iris gives him a shove.

“Indeed, my lord,” Maven adds, though still befuddled.

Larissa laughs. “How unfortunate the traitor prince only saw engineering as a hobby,” she says, the mention of Tiberias changing the mood immediately. Lari enjoys to play with the fire of the banished royal’s reputation and laughs again. “But, of course he did, since when has he ever been useful?”

Her mocking afterthought might “prove” her loyalty but the playfulness has left our group. Intentionally, I suspect. While the conversation becomes awkward, Larissa and Hagen kiss and cuddle like the newly-wed bride and groom they are, as if to remind everyone of the reason for this event.

The two monarchs decide to leave soon after. Iris beckons me to follow them as if I’m only here as their bodyguard. I don’t protest, sparing myself for more important battles. So I merely watch Iris and Maven walking out of the hall with grand ceremony, hand in hand like this procedure lies in the blood of both of them, the one thing bonding them together more than everything else.

“Seasons?“ Iris blurts out, back in their office. She stands with her arms crossed and faces the windows.

The king leans back in his chair, as comfortable as possible in a room inlaid with silent stone. He shrugs. “Autumn is approaching. It’s better to have matters done before winter.”

“Neither my soldiers, nor you and I, can be bothered by cold weather,” Iris insists. But whatever her point is supposed to be, it makes Maven tense. He turns his chair and stares at his wife. She stares back but no words fall for a minute.

The king clears his throat. “You don’t need to be worried about warfare and terrible living conditions?” asks he.

Iris bites her lip. Then sighs. Finally, the corners of her mouth twitch. “If you put it like that – no. I … would be worried.”

His jaw drops. He mutters something and gestures, but stops himself before his fist hits his desk. Although I can smell smoke.

The queen glares.

“I am sorry, Iris,” Maven replies. “I apologize, I haven’t thought it would come so far.”

“But it has,” she insists and while I piece together the meaning behind their polite niceties, I don’t want to believe it, even as I bring back to mind what she told me two months ago. “We have to think of the future, of House Calore, of Norta, and - our alliance.”

I don’t want to be here at all. I want to fall into a hole and die.

But Iris remembers my presence. She comes to me, smiling, but it is her queenly face. “You have sworn to protect me, Captain Griffey,” she proclaims. “Now swear to protect the heir as well.” She says it so formally, neutral and regally, as if this is just a usual matter of state, not her own child.

Yet I curtsey once more in my beautiful gown and do as she commands, pushing away my own thoughts.

Maven rises at the same moment as I. “As this was your plan, my queen,” he utters, “I leave it to you to make announcements when you see fit.”

“I am grateful for your trust,” she replies sarcastically when he’s already on his way to the door. Then he stops and looks at me.

“You’re dismissed for the night, Captain. There’re enough sentinels in the palace.”

Obviously, he thinks if one has to leave, it should be me, not him. I curtsey again but walk away slowly, curiousity taking the better of me.

I glimpse Iris approaching her husband and patting his shoulder and chest.” We both know how it is to walk on determined paths,” she reminds him. “We choose them still.”

I hear his answer just before I close the door. “I thought I could change them. The monarchy. Everything. I really did … believe …”

A/N: If you read my other fics, or chapter 4 of this one, you would’ve been warned ^^°

� 2Wc

So you can imagine the whole thing better, here're some fashion porn photos <3

Cassandra: something between those two plus frilly sleeves (and not cut)

Larissa: I have more than 50 dresses for her this is the best though I miss the golden embroidery >_<

Hagen (totally wrong colour ugh):

Charlotte (Cassie's mum): okay but this is 100 % as I imagine it

Iris: too much cleavage I know though I admit I imagined Iris's dress after I saw this one

d @clarafarleybarrow @mareshmallow @lilyharvord @redqueenfandom @inopinion @spookysamos @hannaharies @red-queen-united @ssingerqueen @runexandra @iris-cygnets

#red queen fan fiction #red queen #war storm #red queen fanfiction #maven calore #blood curse #blood curse ch 11 #war storm fan fiction #original character #iris cygnet #cassandra griffey #larissa welle #sorata ives #hagen eagrie #roman eagrie

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yahooin-travel-inspirations · 7 years ago

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Life-changing trips for couples

One of the best parts of being in a relationship is having a built-in travel buddy, and one of the best parts of traveling with that built-in buddy is getting unobstructed one-on-one time while exploring unfamiliar parts of the world. Whether domestic or international, a trip with your significant other almost always guarantees sharing unusual experiences and learning something new about each other, like that your girlfriend gets a rush from cliff diving, or your boyfriend can make friends with anyone despite only being able to say “Where’s the bathroom?” in the local language.

It’s easy to uncover sides of your partner, and maybe even yourself, you haven’t seen before when you’re having many first-time experiences together, and travel allows couples to access a different kind of closeness than that of regular daily life.

Related: Half of Married Couples Have the Same Argument While on Vacation

When deciding where to venture with your significant other, you’ll want to consider which components of a romantic getaway matter most to you, from beautiful sites and adventurous activities to intimate settings and stunning views.

These 15 places should be on your radar for a mix of those elements.

Whitsunday Islands, Australia

At the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, these 74 islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia, will have you sailing into uncharted relationship territory with unbelievable sites to discover together. Whitehaven Beach is one of the most famous white-sanded beaches on the islands and despite being a tourist hotspot, it stretches for over 4 miles, making it easy to find your own space. In addition to having blissful beach days, you can have some truly unforgettable and romantic excursions while visiting these islands, like flying over Heart Reef in a helicopter, staying aboard a boat for a few days, and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Bali, Indonesia

Bali, aka the Island of the Gods, is a versatile haven with something to offer every type of couple. If your version of romance is hiking through lush greenery, monkey forests, and rolling rice paddies, you’re in luck. If you think romance is dancing to DJ sets and light shows until the wee hours of morning, Bali is also known for its nightclub scene. Want to feel spiritually enlightened? Bali has countless temples and shrines to visit. And if you’re all about beaches, the island’s bevy of beaches range from from white-sanded shores on the south coast to the more unexpected black sand you’ll see on the northern and western coasts.

While some parts of the island have maintained a pre-modern look, the island is a popular tourist destination, so it’s well-equipped to accommodate international travelers looking for a romantic stay with comforts like high-end resorts, yoga classes, spas, and Australian-influenced cafes.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is definitely having a moment on Instagram these days: our feeds are packed with newlyweds enjoying picture-perfect honeymoons. It makes sense, though: Santorini is a cloud-like oasis that envelops travelers in an ethereal fantasy. The romance of the island pretty much sells itself; wandering the hilly, weathered streets, you’re surrounded by bright white walls and blues roofs, and in the evenings you have front-row seats to incredible sunsets. Once the sun is down, the city lights up and the houses, churches, and restaurants glow like stars.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Safari in Tanzania

Aside from traveling to Tanzania to hike the intimidating Mount Kilimanjaro, many visit the country because of the incredible wildlife conservation sites and national parks. Going on safari opens your eyes to a completely unfamiliar part of the world, allowing you and your significant other to share some firsts: the first time you see a lion, the first time you drive across the African plains dotted with baobab trees, the first time you meet someone from a local tribe.

You’ll definitely want to visit Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera. The bowl-like shape makes a natural border for the animals, boosting the chances safari goers will be able to spot all of the Big Five — lion, cheetah, rhino, elephant, and buffalo — during a tour. Serengeti National Park is another popular safari destination because of the area’s mass seasonal migrations of wildebeest and zebra, large lion population, and diversity of habitats and animals.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Tulum, Mexico

Two core pillars of many romantic vacations are intimate settings and exotic experiences, and Tulum has a lot of both. You can rotate between lounging out on tropical beaches, snorkeling at the nearby “aquatic theme park,” Xel-Ha Park, swimming in a natural sinkhole (or cenote), and touring the Mayan ruins, which make up one of the most intact sites of their kind. After a day packed with leisure, adventure, or both, the cherry on top will be a drink at a bar that feels more like a jungle.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Whistler, Canada

A great way to bond as a couple is by getting active, and skiing on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains is great for both veteran and beginner skiers alike. You can take on the mountains, with numerous trails of varying intensity, enjoy an overhead view of the snow-capped trees from sprawling gondolas, break for lunch at the mid-mountain lodge, and top off the day with an après ski at one of the slope-side bars. If one day of skiing leaves you with wobbly legs and your fill of downhill action, there’s a lot more action at the base of the peaks. Whistler Village is a lively, pedestrian-only hub of bars, shops, and restaurants. The little winter wonderland is as charming as the inside of a snow globe, and what’s better for a romantic getaway than that?

Source: Travel+Leisure

Oxford, England

Only two hours from London, Oxford offers a quaint escape into Medieval British architecture and cozy neighborhood pubs. Everywhere you look makes an ideal backdrop for a postcard or inspiration for a dollhouse blueprint, with cloak-clad students and professors whizzing by to get to an event at the University of Oxford. And with the pervading presence of the university, the oldest in the English-speaking world, you can’t help but feel like you’re playing a part in a romantic period piece, in which grand gestures and romance are the main themes.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Cappadocia, Turkey

For a fairy-tale vacation, there’s nothing more fitting than a landscape dotted with literal “fairy chimneys.” In addition to fairy chimneys, which are tall, thin rock cones dotting the rock sites of Cappadocia, cave churches, underground cities, and homes carved into rocks create a whimsical aura usually reserved for the fictional realm. Floating high above the rocky terrain in a brightly-designed hot air balloon, you’ll feel like characters wandering the pages of a Dr. Seuss book or like astronauts discovering a civilization on the moon — either way, the other-worldly experience will have you recapturing childlike wonder and awe together.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Paris, France

Most clichés became clichés for a reason, and so is the case with Paris’ romantic reputation. Looking at pictures of couples in the City of Light, you can practically see the cartoon hearts in their eyes as they embrace in front of the Eiffel Tower. Paris and romance go together like Valentine’s Day and pastries, anniversary dinners and candlelit bistros, marriage proposals and world-famous landmarks… all of which Paris is not-so-coincidentally known for having.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada

An effective way to let the strength of a relationship shine is by stripping away the comforts and conveniences of modern life. At Burning Man, technology is eschewed for a more rough-and-tumble, go-with-the-flow lifestyle, but it’s also much more than a regular camping experience that offers bonding solely through waking up with twigs in your hair and unbrushed teeth. No two couples will have the exact same experience at Burning Man, allowing you to share memories and connect in ways completely your own. Burning Man fosters an open environment to explore yourself and your relationship with spiritual and holistic workshops, events, and parties. Suspended from reality at Burning Man, you’ll experience art in new ways, encounter people and situations you never would in normal day-to-day life, and probably discover some of your partner’s less obvious traits, thoughts, and beliefs.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Hakone, Japan

While not as romanticized for cherry-blossomed strolls as its nearby neighbor, Kyoto, Hakone is a day trip away from Tokyo that offers an intimate escape from city travel in the most relaxing way possible: hot spring resorts. Aside from relaxing in onsen (hot springs) at a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn), you can take advantage of the natural sites, like Lake Ashi and the volcano Mount Fuji, or tour the fire-engine red Hakone Shrine and the open-air sculpture museum. The many transportation options also seem more like mini adventures than a straightforward means of travel, from boats and cable cars to rolling train routes through the mountains.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Northern Lights in Northern Norway

If you’ve ever considered stargazing a romantic experience, northern Norway really ups the ante with its unbelievable events in the sky. The region, which covers about one-third of Norway, is considered a top destination to see the Northern Lights from autumn to mid-April, while from May to July, the sun is still visible at midnight in a phenomenon called the “midnight sun.” Venture even farther north if you dare to Svalbard, the northernmost inhabited region of Europe, to experience 24-hour daylight between April and August. On the opposite end of the light spectrum, Svalbard’s January and February months have “polar nights,” when night lasts for over 24 hours, making the aurora borealis particularly visible.

If you do decide to take this trip together, beware: Looking up at the stars in your backyard won’t be quite so romantic anymore.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Porto, Portugal

Porto is a waterfront merchant city that transports you to an earlier time with its cobble-stoned streets, ancient houses, baroque churches, and prevalence of family-owned businesses and port factories, the region’s most famous export. In the nearby Duoro Valley, you can visit the vineyards where the wine has been produced for 2,000 years, sample the wine, and participate in some harvesting practices like stomping on the grapes. In a city infused with the culture of wine making and drinking, you and your significant other can get tipsy on the energy alone.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Known for its natural and architectural beauty, the Amalfi Coast is a prime choice for a romantic Mediterranean getaway. Travelers bask in the natural scenery, hiking through small villages with picturesque sea views, and visit famous sites like the “Emerald Grotto” (Grotta dello Smeraldo), medieval churches, gardens, and museums. When you need some quiet time for just the two of you, there are a number of secluded hotels that offer ocean-front views and luxurious amenities.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Buenos Aires, Argentina

In Argentina’s bustling capital, you and your significant other will never run out of activities to try. Every weekend, hundreds of plays and productions are put on throughout the city, or you can go out for a sophisticated night at the internationally-acclaimed opera house, Teatro Colón. The multitude of restaurants and bars provide a lot of options for a pre-performance dinner, making the perfect dinner-and-a-show date night easily attainable. For a day-to-night date, La Boca is a vibrant neighborhood known for Tango dancing and a pedestrian walkway lined with crafts and houses and shops painted in bright primary colors.

Source: Travel+Leisure

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cocopandatrips-blog · 5 years ago

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Hanoi 5D4N Couple Trip (Oct 18-Oct 22, 2017)

Weather: Autumn Season Timezone: 1 hour behind Singapore Travel Time: 3.5 hours from Singapore Airline: Vietjet

Exchange Rate: 1 SGD = 16,000 VND (approx.)

Conservative Budget for 2 persons (incl. airfare, accommodation, Halong Bay Tour food and a “little” shopping) = SGD 2K

Our Itinerary:

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Day 1 (Oct 18) - “Just Landed”

We arrived in Hanoi City around 6 PM. Our Airbnb host booked a huge van to fetch us from Noibai Airport. It has wifi connection inside and it only costed us about 300K VND (SGD 18) not bad at all! It took about 45 mins drive to reach our Airbnb (Sazi Homestay) located in Hang Bong street which is about 12 mins walk from Old Quarter. It’s quite late already when we checked in and both of us (especially me) were already HANGRY at that time. Good thing our host had the initiative to provide her guests with a brochure/ list of some nearby recommended places. We finally ate our dinner at PHO (32 Bat Dan Street), a small sidewalk eatery which on my opinion served the best pho among all that we’ve tried on this entire trip. Afterwards, we just continued to roam around the area and from there we found the beautiful St. Joseph Cathedral. After digesting all that food, we had an hour massage at Van Xuan Foot Massage (cheap and good service BUT don't expect a nice ambiance) then we finally went home knocked out.

Day 2 (Oct 19) - “The Magnificent Halong Bay”

The most anticipated day of this trip, our Halong Bay tour. We purchased two Fave vouchers under Halong Tours Booking. It costed us around SGD 450 including meals & surcharges for an overnight stay at their cruise.

Anyway, we woke up early to eat breakfast at Joma Bakery, a homey cafe nearby our Airbnb place. Their menu is a bit pricey but the food was good! So good that we almost missed our van cos we were 5 mins late from the pick up time! We’re just fortunate that our travel agent made an extra effort to send us to the last pick up place. You might know this already but Hanoi’s main mode of transport are motorcycles and scooters. Imagine three of us carrying all the luggage while riding the mini scooter! LOL! Such a fun but dangerous experience indeed.

It took about 3.5 hours travel time by land to reach Halong Bay from Hanoi. We arrived the cruise at around 1 PM. After settling in our room and a short debriefing by our witty tour guide, we finally got to eat our sumptuous lunch.

Here’s the complete list of itinerary and activities given by Halong Tours Booking in case you’re interested.

Day 3 (Oct 20) - “Bye Halong Bay! It’s time to explore Hanoi! ”

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Waking up inside a cruise with the most scenic view of sunny skies, sparkling limestone and crystal green waters was probably one of the best mornings we’ve ever experienced. Halong Bay is such a magnificent place that you shouldn’t miss when you visit Vietnam. Not only did we witness the beauty of this natural wonder but we also met some fellow tourists from different parts of the world.

But as much as we want to stay, we need to go back to Hanoi after our lunch which by the way were the fresh spring rolls we made ourselves.

It was almost evening when we arrived at Charm Boutique Hotel & Spa. We booked the Suite Balcony Lake View for 2 nights and I kid you not it’s worth every penny. You’ll have the entire floor for yourselves and the most amazing view of the city at your own balcony. Not to mention, they also provide a free bottle of red wine. This place is also walking distance from the old quarter which made it so much easier for us to explore Hanoi.

It’s quite amusing how locals enjoy doing everything on the sidewalk. We spent the whole night eating a variety of street foods and drinking the night away with our new friends from the cruise. Definitely one for the books!

Day 4 (Oct 21) - “ Last Full Day in Hanoi”

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Our itinerary was jam packed since it was our last full day in this beautiful city. We woke up early to eat our free hotel breakfast and prepared all the stuff that we need for the long day ahead.

First on our list, Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This complex is listed as one of UNESCO’s world heritage site. If you have enough time, pay this place a visit especially if you’re into historical stuff. Opens at 8 AM and closes at 5 PM with entrance fee of 30K VND (SGD 1.80). Up next is Ho Chi Minh Maosoleum. We didn’t go inside the museum rather we just went there to see the “changing of guards ceremony”. After which, we went straight to two of my least favorite tourist spots, Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda. It’s only walking distance to one another which is a good thing but for me you can skip these places if you don’t have enough time.

At this point, we’re already exhausted after all the long walks. We went to Cafe Giang to rest for a bit and of course to try the “best egg coffee” in Hanoi. Well, I can’t agree more! It was almost dawn as we head to Lotte Observation Deck. Entrance fee is around 230K VND (14 SGD). The glass walkway was the main highlight located on the 65th floor. Though petrifying at first, you’ll surely get the hang of it quickly given you’re not Acrophobic. Plus, the view was spectacular making this skyscraper a must visit when you go to Hanoi.

And finally last on our list was Hoan Kiem Lake located near Old Quarter. We loved it more during night time when everything is lighted up especially the beautiful red bridge. We ended the night eating all the street foods our tummies could handle.

#cocopandatrips hanoi vietnam travelblog

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mminimoon · 7 years ago

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The Day the Sun Met The Moon

Summary- A Fairy Tail fanfic...The Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon meet once a few hundred years to bring forth an Eclipse and the rulers of both kingdoms haven’t seen each other in a long while. With threats still in the air and wars hurling about, what’ll the young King and Queen do to protect their beloved kingdoms?

Rating- T

A/N- I’m so nervous and excited, so many plans for this au and AUGH. Sorry that there is only some slight nalu but I wanted this chapter to start the arc. Next chapter would probably be taking place in the Sun Palace and taking a look at Natsu’s Court. I just hope you guys like it.

C.1|||C.3

||Chapter II||

Lucy loved her home more than a lot believed. She grew up in the silver and white halls of the Moon Palace, had looked through every nook and cranny and became one with it as she aged. She loved it when there were a lot of people there, the place was meant to hold a lot of chaos but still maintain elegance and grace through it all, much like herself. Today was one of those days when it was chaos and servants and officials alike were running about.

The Lords of the Seasons were coming to her palace to have a meeting.

The Moon and Sun kingdoms both had equal power and thus instead of fighting for it all managed to come to the agreement to split the work and do what they did best.

The Sun’s was to control the lives of mortals. Weave stories of their little lives, intertwine them and shift them. They decided on battles and wars, they controlled the mortals and events that they created. Made sure they prospered and lived. Create heroes and saviors. Give messages to priests and lead the mortals to better lives. They started rebellions and told truths. A kingdom of warriors fighting for what they believed in.

The Moon’s was to deal with what happened out of mortal control. With immortal and magical beasts, that woke in the night. They were in charge of the seasons and nature. They dealt with secrecy and lies. The things that walked about in the night and in forests. They chose where you shall go after death. They were quiet and knowledgeable.

Lucy walked through the halls, her silver crown shining through the shadows of the pillars she passed by. As she walked her dark dress trailed behind her, stars and galaxies moving slowly through out. The sisters that guarded her, walked by her side as she opened the doors to the meeting room.

She smiled upon seeing her old friend.

“Gray,” she laughed, running up to him and hugging him.

“Hey Lucy,” he greeted.

After they parted she sat at the head of the table, he sitting on her left. Lady Gonzales, and Gray’s brother and advisor, Lyon, walked in nodding respectfully to Lucy before standing at their master’s side.

Gray Fullbuster was the King of the Seven Hells and Lord of Winter, a dear friend to Lucy from childhood she had happily and pridefully appointed as one of the Lords of the Seasons. And now she had to appoint someone new. Things were changing so were the Lords. She sighed.

“You have people for the Lords Spring and Summer? I’m about to end, you need someone to take one spring quickly,” he told her.

“I know. I do, have an idea for both of them, but I want to hear what we all have to say about it,” she told him.

He nodded and on cue the Lady of Autumn walked in. Lucy greeted her with a warm smile.

“Erza, glad you could join us,” Lucy said.

Out of the current Seasonal court, Erza was the one to be there the longest. Starting long before Lucy came into power.

“I wouldn’t miss such an important meeting,” Erza replied sitting at Lucy’s right, her advisor, Kagura, standing by her side.

Erza Scarlet was the Queen of the Fairies and Lady of Autumn, she worked under the Empress of the Fae in her court. A powerful and beautiful goddess, with the signature red hair everyone, fears to come across.

Lucy took Erza’s hand and squeezed it softly before they began to chat.

“I only saw you when you left, Lucy, where were you?” Erza asked, referring to the day of the eclipse.

Lucy’s cheeks tinted pink and Erza and Gray looked at one another and then at Lucy with a brow raised.

“I was- uh- talking with Natsu,” she squeaked.

Erza’s brown eyes widened, “Lucy! This is something you tell me about! What happened?”

“Did he knock you out by accident again?” Gray asked plainly.

The two goddesses glared at him and suddenly found the floor rather interesting.

Lucy looked back to Erza who was waiting patiently, “well we were just a bit tired of so many people and we’d bumped into each other at the gardens, from there we just talked.”

Erza smiled, “glad to see you two are finally getting together.”

Lucy blushed enough for her face to be compared to Erza’s mane, “it isn’t like that!”

Gonzales scoffed and Lucy glared at her cousin, “you’re not helping.”

Gonzales shook her head and smiled with Erza. Then they all turned their attention to the door as it opened revealing a small blue haired girl, wearing a flowing yellow dress and a small smile, next to her was a tall ginger man with golden armor. They bowed to the court.

“Levy, Loke, please come in,” Lucy said.

Loke was the leader of Lucy’s Zodiac Knights, an advisor she looks to with the most important of decisions. And Levy was the librarian of the Sacred Library, also a part of Lucy’s court and a great friend.

Levy sat next to Gray and Loke next to Erza.

“Sorry we are late my Queen, the night hounds are a going a bit hectic,” Loke apologized.

Lucy furrowed her brows. The night hounds were wolves that were used to guard the kingdom and for war. They never really got out of place unless there was danger or a foreign energy being picked up. It could be Gray and Lyon but they've been here so many time you’d think the hounds would have gotten used to it by now. She shook her head, this was a matter for another time.

She took a breath.

“Welcome to the emergency meeting of the Seasonal court. The matter of discussion; appointing the two new lords of Summer and Spring,” Lucy announced.

Erza raised her hand and Lucy nodded at her to begin the discussion.

“For Spring I nominate Lady Evergreen. She used to be a part of my court before she became a part of Lord Laxus’ guard, the Raijinshuu,” Erza said.

“She is very dedicated to her practice,” Loke agreed.

Levy nodded, “yes she works well under pressure and thinks quickly. But I do believe sometimes her emotions get the better of her, regarding the time she tried to take you on in a duel, Lady Erza.”

“She serves more as a follower than a leader, maybe in time will she grow out of it, but at the moment, I don’t think she’s qualified either,” Gray stated.

The matter was a tie and they all looked at Lucy for a decision, she took a moment before she gathered her words.

“I believe Evergreen would make an amazing Lady of Spring, but I would like for you to ponder her loyalty to Lord Laxus and her fellow Raijinshuu, being Lady of Spring would take time off of her duties, I don’t think Evergreen has the schedule to join us,” Lucy said.

They all nodded. After a few minutes, Loke moved them along.

“Let’s take a pause for Spring and look to Summer. Who’ll take Lord Gildarts’ place?” Loke asked.

“I think his daughter should,” Lucy immediately replied.

They all looked at her in confusion.

“With all due respect my Queen, she’s a drunk Oracle who spends her days lounging in her palace and making people fall in love with her,” Levy stated skeptically.

“Yes but Cana is incredibly smart and a genius when it comes to strategy. Her natural charm and her resourcefulness are sharper than that of her father’s. She also has a strong group of followers behind her, she’s also a demon in battle. Plus, her father wasn’t exactly ‘Lord material’ either,” Lucy said.

Levy then smiled, thinking.

“If I remember correctly, she did help defend Moon Palace a while back,” Levy recalled.

“Not to mention she has connections,” Erza added in, smiling.

Lucy looked around but they all seemed to be agreeing.

“Are there any other comments to add in before the vote is set,” Lucy asked.

They all shook their heads.

“Call Aye, if you wish for Lady Cana to join the Seasonal Court as Lady of Summer. Call Nay, if you do not,” Lucy proclaimed.

“Aye!” The table declared in unison.

Lucy looked to Gonzales, “please write a letter of invitation to Lady Cana, Gonzales.”

Lady Gonzales nodded and headed out the doors.

“Now back to Spring, this God needs to be willing to be on the job right away. The Spring Equinox is coming soon,” Levy said.

“I think you should be the Lady of Spring, Levy. You’re quite the lively one,” Loke said. The rest of the table looked at her agreement.

“You’re already a part of the Seasonal Council,” Erza stated.

“And we already work well together as it is,” Gray put in.

“And you are kind compassionate, you’re the perfect candidate,” Lucy said.

Levy shook her head, her cheeks pink, “no, no. I’m far too shy to lead the Spring Guards. And plus I can barely come to all the meetings, tending to the Sacred Library is my top priority. I was literally born there!”

Gray chuckled, rubbing her back, “don’t worry about it then.”

Levy sighed and the rest of the table laughed as she did so. Her cheeks were still tinted but she looked up, “plus. There someone else that is far more perfect for it than I.”

Erza raised a curious brow, “who?”

“Juvia, the Rain Woman.”

Everyone looked at Levy and as soon as Gray realized it he sunk back in his chair.

“How come we’ve never even thought of it? Spring is the season of rain, this is perfect for her, not to mention how incredible she is in battle and how quick people are to respect her,” Erza began, an amused grin thrown at Gray.

“No,” he put in.

They ignored him, “the daughter of the Seas is also a very important person to be close with. I heard she flooded an entire human kingdom because of how they treated its queen. She’s kind and gentle, compassionate as well as motherly. She has moods that combat with that of Springs. It is literally a perfect match,” Lucy stated.

“Lucy, no,” Gray continued.

“Her beauty is glorious and she’s a rather amusing goddess, I think she’s right one,” Loke agreed.

“Loke I trusted you!” Gray called.

“Call Aye, if you wish for Lady Juvia to join the Seasonal Court as Lady of Spring. Call Nay, if you do not,” Lucy announced once more.

The majority of the table cried, “Aye!”

While Lord Gray desperately stated, “Nay!”

Lucy smiled smugly before asking Lyon to go and send an invitation to Juvia.

“I can’t believe you!” Gray cried, jumping from his chair.

“So you used to be a thing way back, you’re more professional than that Gray,” Erza stated as stood up, stretching her wings.

“You all hate me!” Gray said before he left the room.

“I’ll talk with him, I hope to see you all in the Spring Equinox ball,” Erza stated before going out of the room.

Lucy waited until she felt Erza’s presence far from the meeting room, ordering Yukino and Solano to stand guard outside and not let anyone in, not even Gonzales.

“Thank you for staying,” Lucy said, nodding over to Levy and Loke who moved up to sit by her sides.

She turned to Loke, “now my Knight. Tell us about the night hounds.”

#lucy heartfilia #nalu #nalu fanfiction #gray fullbuster #erza scarlet #levy mcgarden #loke the lion #fairy tail #ft #sun & moon au #tdtsmtm

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davina-wolfthorne · 7 years ago

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Run, fight, or surrender

[OOC bit - This is a piece of Davina’s past when she was only 10 summers old]

Bare feet pad furiously across the partially frozen earth. Cold prickles at the soft caramel flesh. Creating flickers of pain to travel through the warm skin. Under her the frozen blades of grass crackle, and crunch, as her light weight bears down on the chilled vegetation. In the sea of chaos only one thing makes sense, and that is the anguish that consumes her. The autumn air makes her young lungs quiver in pain, and every breath is like she is inhaling needles. Silver mist curls and dances around her slacked mouth while heavy breaths pant out, and gasp sharply in. She doesn’t know how long she has been running, but the aching in her feet tells her it has least been hours. Time truly has no meaning in this moment. All her frantic mind can think about is running. Pressing onward until she is away from these retched lands. However, without a pause, or rest she knows she cannot escape.

Staggering over to a tree, one of many in this dense forest, the young girl collapses against the sturdy trunk. Using it as a pillar to recover her strength. Hands that tremor from a mixture of adrenaline, and fear, grip at the bark. Fingernails digging into it hoping she can anchor herself to something steady. Those rapid gasped breaths turn into a fierce cough. A fiery pain resonates from her lungs, and spreads through the cavity of her chest. Hours spent out in the chilled autumn morning has taken its toll. Now as she stands nearly motionless she can feel the cold seeping through the burlap dress, and weighing heavily on her. What she thought was warmth was just the bitter air deceiving her.

Cupping her shaking hands near her mouth the young girl breathes into them. Muttering a series of jumbled words under each quick breath. Heat blossoms in slender fingertips, and carries in a wild fire throughout her entire being. Warmth stirs in her veins, and stokes the coals of her aether back into a raging inferno. She is no ordinary girl. She is a Wolfthorne, and her genes hail from a long line of mages. Keeping herself warm on a cold day is basic magic taught to her early in life by her mother. Using magic to heat up her body brings back painful memories that she had longed to forget. Images of her mother, her father, her sisters dance behind closed eyelids. Fingers clutch at the burlap over her heart out of grief. Salty drops pour down onto the youthful cheeks. Warm briny drops cascade over the soft caramel skin. Leaving damp trails in their wake.

It is the distant sound of heavy feet crashing against the frozen earth that brings her back to the here and now. Thin lids flutter open, and those piercing blue irises are greeted with the sight of white mist creeping over the chilled grass. It doesn’t move like fog. Instead it is unison. Moving like a well oiled machine.

“No.” One word squeaks out from her scratchy throat. Strangled entirely almost by a sob.

Shoving herself away from the tree the girl goes from a standstill and into a mad sprint. Dashing away from the ivory mist. Desperate to place as much distance as she can between it and herself. Over rocks, and fallen branches, she runs. Wincing momentarily in pain as each stone cuts her feet, and every time she stubs a toe. Beneath the sternum her heart hammers out of control. Her lungs crying out for safety from the autumn’s chilled air. Pain has blossomed into anguish, but she knows that this is a better pain than facing the heathen that pursues her.

Bright blue eyes cast a gaze over her shoulder. Hoping to see the veil of fog no longer, but inside her aching chest her heart drops into her stomach. The curtain of mist is nearly nipping at her heels. There is no where she can run now. She knows she has been bested. Countless attempts of escape before this had ended the same way. He always lures her into a false sense of hope that maybe she has finally broke free of his clutches. Only for him to ensnare her once more.

Ushering past chapped lips a horrified sob is released into the morning’s cool atmosphere. Almost animalistic in sound, and nature. Like prey being caught by the jowls of a ruthless predator. In a last ditch effort to escape she scrambles to a large thicket of bushes. Not all of the forest has lost its leaves just yet. Into a ocean of golds, clarets, and oranges she dives. Pushing her way into the center. The various colors of foliage actually acts as camouflage. Her burlap nightgown, and auburn hair, blending in with the autumn shades.

Outside she can hear the heavy footfall of the large yellow birds called Chocobos. The crashing weight of the feet giving away the men that feverishly chase her. They are nothing to worry about. It is the man they work for that makes even nightmares quiver in fear. She can hear their shouts, but that isn’t what troubles her mind. For their loud voices soon turn to nothingness. An unsettling silence blankets the world outside of the thicket. Not even the birds sing.

“Davina….” A hauntingly smooth, almost charming, croons. Her name is spoken in a low, but collected, tone. Quickly her small hands clasp tightly over her mouth. Trying to muffle any breath, any sob, that threatens to escape.

Frozen grass crunches around the bush as the beast circles the thicket. If it wasn’t for the frost on the ground she’s sure that she wouldn’t hear him stalking. Fingernails grip, and dig, at the skin on her cheeks as she tightens her hands.

“How many times must we do this dance, sweet child?” Davina would be happier if he was screaming like any other sane person, but this demon is not sane. Every word that drips past his lips is spoken with pointed elegance. Branches of the thicket sway, and groan, as gloved fingers comb lazily over its bushy body. “How many times have you ran to the end of your leash only to be dragged back by your collar?”

A chill tickles down her spine. Not from the cold air, but from fear. It spreads from the girl’s rocky spine, and trickles outward. Making muscles jerk involuntarily in a quiver. Her breathing ceases entirely. She doesn’t dare make any sound. He knows where she is, and she is no fool to underestimate him. The only reason why he has not burned the bush, or dragged her out, is because he’s waiting to see what she will do. Run, fight, or surrender. Running is not an option. His men have surrounded her, and the beast himself is poised to pounce. Davina is not one to ever surrender.

An arm rockets through the thicket, and catches her off guard. A hand, covered by a black leather glove, grips onto her vulnerable throat. Gloved fingers lock around the pre-teen’s neck, and with a firm tug Davina is pulled in one swift movement from the thicket. Into the air she is hoisted up. Lifted to meet the unsettling gold eyes of the man who owns her soul. Around the eyes of the demon the skin is darker. Making the predator’s gaze more piercing. Heavy brows knit together, and angle downward. The only show of disappointment on his face. He holds her face close to his own. He seems untouched by age save for the wrinkles between thick brows, and the creases around the corners of his mouth. An indication that the beast does a lot of frowning.

Heat gathers in her right hand. The temperature increasing. Climbing higher and higher until finally fire combusts around Davina’s fist. Her arm swings upward, and at a left angle. The demon is caught off guard, and in order to avoid taking the fire directly to his face his grip around her throat releases, and he jumps backward.

Davina falls back to the ground. Landing on dainty feet she centers her balance by spreading her stance. Her arms brought up to her face. Hands balling into fists. Tongues of flame curl around her right fist, and sparks ignite the left. If she is going to be dragged back to Blacke manor she would fight them, and him.

“Lord Eadmer?” A guard speaks his employer’s name with concern.

The beast had staggered back a few paces, but caught himself. Gloved hands smooth over the jacket he wears. Releasing the rows of buttons lining down the front. “I’m fine.” A crooked smile spills onto the lord’s dark lips. Sliding out of the thick coat he tosses it at one of the guards. “If she wants a fight, let her fight.”

Davina launches herself toward Lord Eadmer. Hands drawn in close to protect her face. She is new to fighting. Inexperienced. While the regal Highlander has fought many battles, and won a majority of those. Her left hand, still surrounded by tongues of fire, cuts through the bitter air. Aiming at his gut. With ease he deflects by stepping back, but it is her right hand that catches him by surprise. It nearly collides with his crotch. Furious that she’d go for such a low, and rather dirty, blow he lifts his right leg and the limb juts outward.

She had left herself wide open during her offense, and the regal beast’s leather boot rams harshly against her chest. It knocks the wind clean from her lungs, and sends the girl reeling backward. Unable to catch herself her body topples over, and her back hits the frost coated ground. Laying on her back she struggles to breathe. Lungs burn for air, but when she gasps she comes up short. Hands, the fire now extinguished, grip at her chest. Violently coughing she struggles to recover.

“When you fight dirty don’t be surprised when you get shit on.” Eadmer’s voice rumbles with a dangerous warning. He steps closer to the winded Davina. Leaning over his broad hand clasps around her throat. Lifting her from the hardened dirt he hoists her back up to his face. Brows knitted together he wears a heavy scowl.

The desire to fight hasn’t left the young Davina just yet. Clasping onto the lord’s toned forearm a small smirk touches the corners of her lips. Around them the air changes. Coming to life with a hum akin to a thousand furious bees buzzing. Tendrils of electricity crawl along the young girl’s frame. Doing her no harm, but it spreads from her to Eadmer by the way of his choke hold on her. His dark charming features twist, and contort, from agony as the electricity flows freely into him.

To preserve his health he knows he needs to release her. This time he doesn’t drop her, however. Lifting his arm above his head the agony increases. His skin burns, and the muscles in his right arm twitch uncontrollably. Swiftly he jerks his arm down, his fingers releasing her, and roughly she is thrown into the frozen ground. A cry of surprise escapes Davina right before the impact. She turns her head, but it does little to spare her from the pain.

Davina’s world is consumed wholly by agony now. Pain is nothing new to her, and she knows that with time this anguish will fade too. As she is dragging herself up onto her knees she catches only a brief glimpse of a gloved fist flying toward her. Eadmer’s left fist meets with her right temple making the bright blue vision of the young mage blur. Dazed the girl collapses back onto the autumn grass.

A taste of victory washes over his tongue when he sees that his slave cannot fight back any longer. Crouching at her side the fingers on his right hand comb through her auburn hair. Twisting into the mass of dirty fibers he takes a fist full, and brings Davina’s head off of the ground. Warm lips press against her ear, and into it he whispers,” one day the gods may smile upon you, and grant you freedom, but heed this warning. No matter how fast you run, no matter the space you place between us, I will always find you...Davina. You will never be truly free of me.”

Ruthless in his pursuit to show her who the master is he pushes her head downward. Roughly smashing her face off of the frost hardened earth. Darkness edges around the girl’s vision as raw pain blossoms in her face, and creeps outward to every inch of her existence. As the darkness encloses its mouth around her mind she can hear Lord Eadmer Blacke directing his men to take her back to the manor, and hitch her to the whipping post.

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aquariusinterpreter-blog · 8 years ago

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Libra female: The Charm

Principle: With the 7th zodiacal principle, the dissonance of Virgo gies way to the consonance of Libra and its Apollonian precepts of order, reason, and beauty. Design replaces mere function and societal rules are imposed on freeform nature.Libra woman stands for equality within the male-Apollonian vision of civilization, standing firm in her ideals, representing feminine authority in the world. Her mottoes "I balance" and "We are" expresses her need to stand up and be counted. Planetary symbol: The glyph of Venus-circle of spirit above cross of matter-represents the divine mind. Called the mirror of Aphrodite, it reflects Libra's image of righteousness, lending new meaning to the phrase "fairest of them all." Viewed also as a wand, it portrays Libra's ability to cast her designs onto the world, urging others to examine their own principles. Sign Quadrant: The zodiacal quadrants correspond to metaphysical planes of being - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The Third Quadrant is that of mental perception, particularly as it relates to existence. For Libra woman, importance lies on the abstract level of conscious thought and the projection of principled thought-forms onto society. Venus' subjective beautifying power is mentally objectified into such lovely concepts as justice, art, and social order. Sign glyph: The Libran emblem suggests balance between day and night, summer and winter-the autumnal equinox ushers in the sign of Libra. Libra is the only sign with an inanimate symbol. The Scales represent equality in the sexes. Astraea, The Lady of the Scales, was goddess of justice and karmic law. Libra women inspire similar respect as "symbols" of good. She is emblematic, especially to men, who view her as a pendant alternatively meaning counterpart and ornamental trinkey. Element+Quality: The air element connotes mental and social experience. The cardinal equality signifies a call to action and initiative. Together the cardinal-air combination particular to Libra is best illustrated as light in all its symbolic forms; the visible world, reality, "goodness," order, truth, and illumination. Polarity: Females in masculine (fire, air) are not aligned with the gender polarity of their sign and thus enact instead of embody the quality-element combination of the sign. Libra woman seeks to cast light (cardinal-air) in her establishment of myriad thought-forms and high ideals. As the zodiac's illuminating counselor, Libra champions the causes of her intimates, with whom she seeks to share a higher "courtly" love. Sign Number: 7 The number of divine order in the universe: Light is made of seven hues; diatonic scales in music are made of seven notes; as model for the week, the world was created in seven days. There are seven virtues, seven deadly sins, seven pillars of wisdom, seven sacraments, seven heavens. The Seven Sisters, also known as the Pleiades in Greek mythology, were daughters of Aphrodite-Venus, goddesses of justice and fate. Single Age Association: 42-49 The age group associated with Libra: the prime of life for women; focus is often on mothering and educating children. A pinnacle time-the peak of sexual power, as well as personal ideology. One has spellbinding sway over others; and mental power culminates. Psychology: The Libra woman often suffers from a superiority complex; she can be self-righteous, contrary, and argumentative. Fear of intimacy keeps her from committing and sees her bolting from relationships, seemingly without remorse. She is apt to be selfish and erratic, and she tends toward promiscuity as a way to prove herself passionate. Due to a highly competitive nature, she has difficulty befriending other women. Archetype+Myth: Libra personifies the high priestess, seer-sorceress, counselor-goddess archetype-psychological emanations of her patroness Aphrodite-Venus-as Fates, Muses, Graces, Gorgons, Furies, symbols of feminine power. The Furies were karmic redeemers for crimes against women- those breaking the ius naturale, or maternal law. They tormented Orestes for slaying his mother Clytemnestra, though Apollo (Libra man's archetype) acquitted him based on the imposition of patriarchal rule. The sorceress Medea/Medussa (who kills her son in a vengeful reversal of Apollo's creed), like her "aunt" Circe (circular wheel of karmic fate), are manifestations of Astarte, the morning star or Astral Venus, also called Astraea, Libra's Lady of the Scales - sovereign goddess of law.

Bible+Literature: Libra draws on the archetype of the Great Whore of Babylon, a demonization of the goddess Astarte or Ishtar, meaning "light of the world." She was lawgiver and judge. Euripide's Medea immortalized the sorceress as a righteous feminist who seeks revenge for being wronged. Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brokie portrays a masked goddess of fate-referring to broderie or embroidery - a weaver of others' destinies. Dickens's Estella is the stellar figure of Pip's Great Expectations. Tennessee William's Heavenly in Sweet Bird of Youth is the object of Chance's affection, hoping she'll be his lucky star, or charm.

Source: Sextrology

#libra traits #libra female #libra woman #zodiac traits

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jflashandclash · 8 years ago

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Attrition of Peace

Seven: Euna

Like Seeking Comfort from a Boa Constrictor

All Euna had wanted for the last day was silence.

And some of her father’s homemade kimbap. That sounded really good.

On autumn weekends when Joey didn’t have a dance recital and they didn’t have a tournament, she remembered racing Joey to the garden to pull carrots and pick apples while their father cut spinach from their indoor greenhouse. As they put on boots and jeans, he’d cook everything. He’d wrap the vegetables, eggs, and whatever other ingredients he wanted in rice and seaweed paper, then he’d shove his daughters out the door for an all day hiking trip.

When Euna was little, she remembered being excited to race Joey up and down the trails, inevitably getting yelled at by their father for being rude to other hikers. When she got older, she hated being dragged out of bed as early as 4:30 in the morning to stumble up a mountain.

Now, Euna sat on the porch of their barrack in New Rome, in the same comfortable silence and the same sky view as she would have had in her old home in Duluth, Georgia, or her new home in Alexandria, Virginia.

Everyone was worried about her. She knew it. She knew why Calex kept following her around, why Kally kept giving her worried looks, and why Merry kept touching Euna’s shoulder and humming, “How you doing hun?”

But, after fighting Santiago… after taking Hemera’s god-enhancing droplets and hearing all the plants scream out at once, the prayers of gardeners and farmers alike, the laughter from Santiago’s men, and trying to focus on her sister’s scream...

She liked this silence, even if it did come at the annoying price of a 4:30 AM wake up call.

Euna still had two drops from Hemera to temporarily put her in god mode again. She fingered the eyedropper in her pocket. With her other hand, she absently drew Backbiter. The two-toned blade gleamed fiercely in the moonlight.

“Are you still there?” she asked. Euna hadn’t heard the sword’s chilling voice since they entered New Rome. The Little Tiber had tried to rip it from her, but she knew she had to keep it. After all, Backbiter was part of her nightmare-prophecy.

“I don’t understand why you want me to have you instead of Eris,” Euna grumbled, flicking the blade’s pommel like she could wake it up.

The sword did the typical sword thing and didn’t respond.

“Huh, a sword. That’s a pretty atypical choice to open up to, but I’ll bet he gets your point,” a girl said behind Euna.

Euna whirled to face the intruder, taking a defensive position with Backbiter.

The girl didn’t flinch, despite being much shorter than Euna. She had shoulder length, curly hair and light eyes that contrasted nicely with her cocoa skin and locks. She wore an SPQR shirt and a cavalry sword hung at her side. She was beautiful in an energized, mystical way that made Euna feel like the girl could vanish at will. In one hand, she had a half-eaten, golden apple.

This girl looked like Hazel Levesque, the Centurion of the Fifth Cohort, but something felt off. They met Hazel after Reyna’s interrogation, when Hazel had kindly offered for their group to sleep in their barrack. She even escorted Euna, Kally, and Merry to the Roman bath house the night before, allowing Merry to ask all kinds of uncomfortable questions about the gossip in New Rome as a distraction. Euna wondered what they’d done with all of their original clothing with all the bloodstains before they gave them fresh clothing. Did the Romans do a massive well, that’s a bad memory clothing burning?

Euna lowered Backbiter and sat down on the barrack’s porch again. “You’re Pax,” she said, losing all interest.

The girl opened her mouth, like she was going to make an excuse, then shrugged and plopped down beside Euna. Her posture relaxed and she winked one golden eye at Euna. “Usually only Axel can figure me out that fast. What gave me away? My natural charm? Have you ever even seen me turn into someone else?”

“Calex and Kally told me you could,” she said. “I just knew it was you.”

“Can I offer you a kidney in exchange for not telling Axel?” Pax-Hazel asked. Hazel’s sweet voice sounded uncanny with those words.

Euna didn’t really see the point in telling Axel. “I don’t care,” she muttered. “Is Axel still getting ready?”

“Like a pretty princess,” Pax affirmed. “He likes to make sure he’s all neat and trim for Reyna, since he assumes the praetor likes the military-looking type. You know, short cropped hair, with just a hint of rebellion in the form of a goatee.”

Euna didn’t really hear him. She thought about how two of Santiago’s henchmen had restrained Pax so Santiago could bleed his son. “How’s your tongue?” she asked.

“Eh, it wasn’t the first time I’ve had a string of thorns put through my tongue,” Pax-Hazel tried to say lightly. He trembled. “But this time, Mom must have given me this cool tongue ring while we were sleeping—” Pax went to stick out his tongue, only to remember it looked like Hazel’s and not his own. “Ah, well, I’ll show you when I morph back. But it is awesome enough to befit a Pax boy.”

Euna examined the girl’s face, how Pax puffed up and popped her cheeks. Normally, Pax looked like a younger version of his father. Whenever Pax shoved his hair back, Euna had to restrain a wave of rage at seeing that face. “Do you ever hate yourself for being part of your family?” Euna asked.

Pax ceased all his fidgeting and looked at Euna. For a moment, all of Pax’s playfulness left Hazel’s golden eyes. “Yea… I do. It’s one of the reasons I like turning into other people.” He held up the remains of the apple core. From what the others said, they were gifts from Eris that let Pax turn into whomever he wanted for an unpredictable amount of time.

Pax continued, Hazel’s mouth creasing into a frown. “And why I liked Camp Othrys so much. No one cared who my parents were. I could just be a kid and have fun. Though my Uncle Frasco was a cool part of the family, before Santiago beat him to death… I miss Joey already. She brought a lot of spirit—ha ha—to the group.”

The laugh was half-hearted.

Euna stared off at the rest of Rome’s encampment. There were a few sparse guards posted out in the distance, but no one close enough to hear them. “I’m so used to telling Joey to shut up, waiting for her to act disrespectful to the wrong person, throw a temper tantrum, or tell me I’m being a lazy waste. Now it’s just quiet. I think… I think Hemera’s god droplets messed with my head.”

She touched her temple. “I get it now. It’s hard for gods to care about us, because we’re just one thing screaming out of their whole domain. How can you decide which scream to listen to when there are so many? When they blur into one thing? I never thought I was important. But I thought Joey would be.” Euna’s voice cracked.

Joey had been ambitious. No matter how many times Joey snapped that Euna was the better fighter or better at controlling plants, Euna knew Joey would surpass her because Joey cared. And then her hubris got her killed.

Euna hadn’t cried, but she didn’t think she needed to. Persephone had warned her years ago that she wouldn’t be able to save their sister, that it wouldn’t be Euna’s fault. What had Persephone meant when she said she’d help Joey when the time came? Had Persephone just forgotten?

The emotions she was feeling were annoying and exhausting.

“Joey had a crush on you,” Euna said absently.

Pax balked. “Why would you tell me that? And why would she get a crush on me? I’m sorta-kinda Kally’s not-boyfriend. And I’m definitely a cowardly jerk.”

Euna shrugged. “I don’t know. Calex told me.” Joey used to tease Euna for complete obliviousness about relationships, but she could sorta see it with Pax. Pax had never been afraid to tease Joey, made Joey struggle hard not to laugh at his lame jokes, and had never backed out of a fight in front of them.

Pax-Hazel cleared his throat. The small girl pulled her legs against herself. “There was a girl… named Flynn that I promised someone I would take care of before the Slaughter of Mount Othrys. Jason Grace blasted a pillar beside Flynn and she was crushed in the rubble. He didn’t even know he killed her. He was aiming to crush Krios…” Pax puffed up and popped Hazel’s cheeks again. “Fate works in stupid, random ways, doesn’t it?”

Euna thought about the prophecy that the Oracle of the Dead spoke through Rachel Elizabeth Dare and the last two lines that hadn’t been fulfilled yet:

“Orpheus’ head, won by heart’s loss.

Darkness’ end: peace or chaos.”

She thought about all their nightmare-prophecies from Phobetor. Hers and Merry’s hadn’t come to pass. And they didn’t even know what Axel or Pax saw at night, but—from what she heard from Pax—it was enough to make Axel scream awake. A pity since everyone deserved a good night’s sleep.

Was Fate stupid or random when there were prophecies like that? Well, yea, stupid. But random?

“Are you going to join the Huntresses of Artemis?” Pax asked suddenly.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“You seemed to get along really well with Thalia.”

“She was cute,” Euna admitted.

“Talk to her,” Pax said and flipped Euna a denarius. “Even if it isn’t about all of this, talk to her.” Pax-Hazel stood up and stretched. “Welp! This conversation got uncomfortably emotional for both of us, and I still need to steal something from Frank Zhang while I look like his girlfriend so I have a bargaining tool for a date with a goddess. Have fun third-wheeling on Axel’s date with Reyna. I will see you later after I’m done wreaking some havoc and stealing candy.”

Pax went to take a step down the porch. As he moved, he adjusted his posture to a scarily perfect replica of Hazel’s.

Euna tilted her head to one side. “Hey Pax… why do you think your mom is still giving you those golden apples if you’re fighting against her? I feel like that would put her at a disadvantage or something.”

Pax-Hazel’s eyes widened. He slowly glanced down at the apple.

“Hazel!”

They both jumped to hear someone else in the darkness. A huge figure, with a hastily wrapped toga, came towards their barracks.

“Hey Frank!” Pax-Hazel gave Frank a friendly wave and a shy smile. “I was just chatting with Euna. Where’s Reyna?”

Frank gave her a confused blink. “She went ahead to the training field. Why? Was she supposed to be somewhere else?” He looked like he was scared he’d missed a memo.

“I didn’t think so. That Pax boy was asking about her and I just wanted to make sure,” Pax-Hazel said.

Frank noticed Euna and gave her a brief head nod. “Oh—good morning. Euna, right? I heard you’re training with us this morning. I—um…”

Euna nodded back, not really in the mood to say a morning could be good. As if that could ever be the case when she wasn’t sleeping in. And she didn’t need any more awkward sympathy from strangers.

“Thank you for talking with me, Euna,” Pax-Hazel said. He/she took a step closer to Frank, to put a hand on his arm. “Do you mind if I steal Frank for a minute to talk alone? We’ll catch up with you and Axel at the training field.”

Frank frowned. “Hazel, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Euna knew the Romans didn’t like them unattended. Especially after finding out Dakota had apparently slept on the job the other day.

Pax-Hazel gave Frank’s arm a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry, I already set it up for them to be escorted. Now, I really wanted to talk to you…”

Pax-Hazel began to tug the praetor away, into the darkness. Euna hadn’t been paying enough attention to the camp’s layout to know exactly where they were going. She just nodded again when Frank shouted over his shoulder, “Uh—see you at the training fields!”

Euna was about to settle back into enjoying the silence when footsteps sounded behind her. She glanced back to see a freshly trimmed Axel and a Hazel Levesque. Euna was about to ask Pax why he’d doubled back again, before realizing that was likely the real Hazel.

“Morning Euna,” Hazel greeted, tossing Euna a normal looking apple for breakfast. “Has Frank come by yet?”

Euna caught the apple and glanced off in the distance, thinking that Frank was probably a little too oblivious and innocent for whatever Pax had concocted. What had he said about a goddess? It didn’t matter. They were already long gone. “He said he would see us at the training fields,” Euna muttered and bit into the apple, wondering what Pax had planned.

Sorry I’m running late guys! Being out of the country really messed up my schedule. Pax is finally up to some shenanigans. You didn’t think he could sit quietly in Rome, did you? XD I hope you enjoyed :D

#Traitors of Olympus #The Attrition of Peace #Fanfiction #PJO #HOO #Euna #Pax #Hazelish #Frank #Thanks for reading!

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travelplacesindia · 3 years ago

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10 scenic waterfalls in Meghalaya

We at Travel Places India, providing Blog Related Information to Visit India – 10 Scenic Waterfalls in Meghalaya.

The state of Meghalaya in northeastern India has misty hills, valleys, sparkling lakes and rivers, and the most famous waterfalls. Named in Sanskrit, it means the residence of clouds. It is a must-visit for any enthusiast Ground. It is a pleasure to visit and experience.

When we think about an area absolutely immersed in herbal beauty, the primary call that involves thoughts is Meghalaya. Literally translating into the ‘Abode of Clouds,’ Meghalaya boasts of the maximum scenic landscape, way to its mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Exuding allure and serenity, those are the waterfalls you ought to discover whilst in Meghalaya.

When vacationing in Meghalaya, be sure to see the beauty of the state and these charming waterfalls that hide the beauty of nature. All these waterfalls in Meghalaya are extraordinary. Check it out!

Elephant Falls – Most Popular Tourist Place In Shillong

Seven Sisters Falls – A Marvellous Sight To Behold

Kynrem Falls – Of Breath-Taking Beauty

Nohkalikai Falls – Known For The Spectacular Plunge Pool

Dainthlen Falls – Beauty That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Langshiang Falls – Hidden Gem Of Meghalaya

Bishop And Beadon Falls – The Twin Brother Falls

Sweet Falls – Dangerous Yet Beautiful

Bophill Falls – An Unexplored Beauty

Mawphlang Falls – To Reinvigorate Amid Nature

Elephant Falls

As one of the famous waterfalls in Meghalaya, Elephant Falls is a 3-tier marvelous cascade. Located near Shillong Peak, this autumn is referred as ‘Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew’ with the aid of using the nearby people, which means ‘3 step waterfalls’. Nestled amid thick forests, Elephant falls in Shillong seems terrify and torrential, after the monsoon season, especially from October to December. The Britishers named it so because of the enormous rock mendacity on the foot of the waterfall that has resemblances with that of an elephant. However, the rock is not there, ever because it became destroyed in an earthquake. Located 12 kms from Shillong city, this vicinity is often visited with the aid of using travelers and locals, in particular in weekends.

Also Watch the Latest Video on Watterfall in Meghalaya 2021

Seven Sisters Falls

Kynrem Falls

Located close to Cherrapunji that is one of the maximum waterfalls of Meghalaya. With a peak of approximately 1003 feet, Kynrem falls is counted because the seventh maximum waterfall in India. It flaunts its captivating splendor in post-monsoon and iciness season. One of the primary sights right here is Pillar Rock or Shiva Rock. It is famously referred to as Khoh Ramhah or Mothorp and is a massive rock placed simply beside the falls which provide an incredible view of the plains of Meghalaya.

Nohkalikai Falls

Nohkalikai Falls is positioned at a distance of seven km from Cherrapunji. It is famend to be the very best plunge waterfall in India. The water cascades down from a large height, forming a deep plunge pool, which appears spectacular. There is likewise a viewing gallery on the pinnacle of the falls and you’ll be able to climb as much as revel in the bird’s eye view of the waterfall and the plunge pool.

Dainthlen Waterfalls

Langshiang Falls

Bishop and Beadon Waterfalls

Sweet Falls

Bophill Fall

Situated close to Dwaki at Indo- Bangladesh boarder, Bophill Falls is an unpopular but extraordinarily stunning waterfall in Meghalaya. This is a gushing stream that showcases its grace and majesty for the duration of rain and post-monsoon. A favored amongst nature enthusiasts and images buffs, Bophill Falls gives panoramic view of Khasi hills on one aspect and plains of Bangladesh at the other.

Mawphlang Falls

One of the maximum awesome waterfalls with inside the kingdom is Mawphlang. Rolling down via more than one stage from a terrific height, it’s far a peaceful and serene fall, positioned internal Mawhplang Sacred Forests. The water falls right into a small plunge pool that is the appropriate region to relax, rejuvenate and spend a while amidst the tranquil nature.

The reasons are compelling for you to kick-start your bookings to the wonderful town of Meghalaya. It’s progressing to be a pleasant experience for you stuffed with journey and amazing experiences. At Pick your trail, we would like our travellers to fancy and skill all that Meghalaya has got to offer. So, begin designing your trip to Meghalaya to experience the sweetness of nature.

Additional Point

Meghalaya is breathtaking land and has been given a number of the maximum scenic waterfalls in India. However, it’s far crucial to take a few provisions, earlier than travelling them.

Make certain now no longer to throw trash round the encompassing

Carry right hiking footwear which might be non-slippery in nature to keep away from any accidents.

Do now no longer contact any plant, in case you do now no longer have a legitimate expertise of its kind.

Most of the waterfalls do now no longer have cafeterias nearby. It is suggested to hold meals and liquids during your journey.

Carry a number of the clinical critical for your backpack.

Do now no longer disturb the wild animals with inside the area. Make certain now no longer to feed the animals.

Do right studies at the timings and the whole and remaining hours of the waterfalls, earlier than travelling the location.

If you’re determined to drag yourself out of this metropolis existence and rejuvenate yourself many of the splendors of nature, Meghalaya must be your go-to option. This location will run over its magic wand and could remodel you right into an exclusive character altogether. Find a few pieces and hook up with your soul at the same time as on foot thru the opaque woodland and the white waterfalls. So what are you ready for, percent your baggage and seize the following flight, for the outstanding journey of your existence.

Some of My Best Shots of My Last Trip to Cherapunjee, Meghalya

Meghalaya (North East India) Trailer | Cinematic Travel Video | Shillong, Guwahati, Cherapunjee

5 Top Spectacular Destinations During Monsoon In India

#meghalaya #north east india #travel places india #travel #travel story #travel blog #travel tips

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