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venuemonk0 · 2 years

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A List Of The Best Wedding Venues In Gurgaon & Manesar To Shortlist From For Your Wedding

The numerous wedding venues in Gurgaon and Manesar bring together the best of both worlds, making your wedding day the absolute cinematic affair just as imagined. And the best part is you don’t have to go too far!

So scroll down and pick from one of these extraordinary wedding locations that offer all-inclusive packages covering venue rental, decoration charges, and catering, for that enchanting experience on your special day!

The Westin Resort and The Gateway Resort

They are situated away from the hustle-bustle of the city so that you can have a perfect and soothing wedding ceremony with all your loved ones. The property is vast with a contemporary design, energetic staff, and a carefully crafted menu. The calm surroundings and serene ambiance makes it the perfect spot to host all kinds of wedding functions. Using only the very finest and in-season ingredients when possible, the legendary chefs here will customise your wedding menu according to your preferences. They have an in-house catering team that will make sure of all your food and beverages requirements. They also offer luxurious rooms which will give you a royal feel and experience while having a relaxing time.

Their staff has marvellous management and execution skills and they will ensure to deliver maximum customer satisfaction with their one-of-a-kind services.

Best Western - Resort Country Club and Heritage Village Resort & Spa

If you are looking for an exemplary venue to host any of your wedding functions then these two should be your choice. Surrounded by picturesque views and a serene environment, this luxurious resort will make your occasion memorable and hard to forget. This expansive property features acres of lush green surroundings, buildings inspired by Rajasthani haveli style architecture, beautified by stunning backdrops. They can accommodate around 50 to 200 people which lets you enjoy your nuptial ceremonies with all your friends and relatives. Their staff aims to deliver maximum customer satisfaction with their hospitality services.

They have all kinds of unique and beautiful setup required for each of your pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding functions. They also provide facilities for your convenience, which includes valet parking, basic lighting, electricity, and backup. From themed parties to pre-wedding functions to wedding receptions, these venues can accommodate an event of any size and expectation. They have a well-trained and experienced staff which takes care of all the arrangements so that you can enjoy your nuptial ceremonies without any hassle. They will ensure to make your wedding grand and eventful.

Stellar Resort

Stellar Resorts is a four-star luxury boutique hotel offering a plethora of services and facilities. It is situated very close to both the international and the domestic airports, which makes it accessible from all parts of the city. Having both lush green lawns and spacious banquet halls, Stellar Resorts has the option to hold any indoor/outdoor event. The banquet halls have the capacity to accommodate about 500 guests and the lawns have the capacity to accommodate about 3000 guests.

It also provides a lot of other facilities such as parking space for up to 500 cars, 54 luxurious deluxe rooms & suites, open terrace party spaces along with exotic fine dining services with concierge & transport facilities They also offer amenities like valet parking, furniture, basic lighting, electricity, and backup. The services offered by them include service staff, external decor vendors are allowed, external catering vendors are allowed and exclusive space for special events.

Country Touch Resort and Kingdom of Dreams

The lush green property can be your choice to exchange your vows and have a gala time with your family. The huge outdoor space makes for a pretty setting for any of your wedding functions while adding the right touch of the environment. For all your event-specific needs, the resort offers a fleet of vendors who will customise for you and make your event successful and memorable. They provide all the basic facilities like lighting, electricity, and power backup for a hassle-free event, along with furniture, a bridal room, and an alcohol licence. Their indoor halls can accommodate an average of 500 guests. Their outdoor venues can accommodate around 1500 guests.

They have an in-house catering team and ample parking spaces to accommodate all their guests. Their professionals aim to understand and fulfil all your expectations and desires to deliver maximum client satisfaction with their services. Their food palate is a refined mix of Indian cuisines and Continental.

Arise Ethnic Village Resort

They can offer numerous wedding spaces like a banquet hall and lawns which you can choose as per your necessities and requirements. Their team looks out for all your wedding occasions. The wedding venue has an inviting environment that makes every guest feel honoured. The wedding venue can accommodate up to 2000 wedding guests during the wedding. Arise Ethnic Village Resort serves as a dreamland for family staycation, leisure escapes, private celebrations, pre-wedding events, corporate retreats, photoshoots & much more.

The resort's big swimming pool has beautiful night lighting that can easily accommodate a guest list of 80 to 100 wedding guests at once. They offer multiple amenities to bridal couples and their families to make their weddings memorable and entertaining. They offer you essential lighting with power backup to ensure no halt in your celebrations. They also provide you with DJ and music vendors and in-house decorators at your disposal who can assist you in planning and implementing your event perfectly. They provide in-house catering for your guests. The service personnel give you customised help based on your wedding occasion to have your wedding celebration most dynamically.

Golden Turtle Farm and Surjivan Resort

These venues can host your guests in the outdoor sprawling lawns for your wedding and other special occasions which can accommodate 300 people in seating and 600 on a floating basis. Ethnic décor with all the modern comforts, this quiet getaway is just what everyone wishes for. The farm offers a swimming pool, a putting green, and a small soccer field, and the cuisine is from the owner’s own kitchen. The decorations and catering service can be availed from inside the hotel only.

They also provide an enlisted panel of creative decorators. They provide in-house catering with a professional team of chefs setting up lip-smacking food menus for the varied palate of your guests. The caterers take pleasure in presenting you with a diverse menu that includes a variety of items that are an eclectic mix of Indian, Chinese, and Continental cuisines. All dishes are prepared to order using fresh ingredients and under strict hygiene. These venues are best when it comes to their service and hospitality. Still searching for that one ideal wedding venue? The wait is over! All you have to do is send in a query to VenueMonk at www.venuemonk.com and their venue experts will show you the best of the best venues at your preferred location, budget, style, and taste for the wedding. And not just for your wedding, VenueMonk provides glamorous venues for all kinds of occasions. You may check out their Instagram page for some of their works and style of the brand. As they say, VenueMonk provides you the perfect venue for your dream event!

#VenueMonk #WeddingVenues

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some-lists · 4 years

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10 Documentary Series for the Wanderluster

If you’re sick of being stuck indoors and isolated from the rest of the world, you might find yourself binge watching travel documentaries just like me.

I’ve always loved traveling. I’ve been to a handful of places, but there’s so much more out there. These docu-series will make you want to get off your butt and hop on a plane ASAP. Of course, that’s not really an option in this pandemic, but these shows can offer a nice dose of escapism right in your living room.

These are just a few available to stream that I really loved. (Btw, most of these are about food. Because I love food.)

1. Somebody Feed Phil

I love this show. Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal travels to some of the most beautiful locations around the world to try the best foods. He meets with locals, expats, and world renown chefs who show him the best local dishes and their culture. Phil isn’t the best food critic. Most of his commentary consists of, “Mmm, that’s good!” But his cheery, friendly demeanor makes for easy watching as he casually befriends locals in every international city he visits. Oh, and the theme song is killer.

Watch it on: Netflix

2. Street Food: Asia & Latin America

Get ready to be hungry! Made from the same people behind Chef’s Table, this series takes you to a different country in each episode. Street Food: Asia and Street Food: Latin America are actually listed separately on Netflix. But they are essentially two different seasons of the same show. You’ll meet local street chefs who’ve made their living cooking and selling their best comfort foods on the street. They share their stories of hardship, determination, sacrifice, joys, and successes. Each episode has close ups of every dish that will have you salivating.

Watch it on: Netflix

3. Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Season One of this National Geographic series is currently available on Disney Plus. We see chef Gordon Ramsay travel to some remote locations, where he not only learns about their local ingredients, but has to forage and hunt them himself. At the end of each episode, we see him face off with a famous chef from each region. It’s beautifully shot with some really breathtaking views of these amazing landscapes. We see the vast Sacred Valley of Peru, majestic glaciers of New Zealand, and tropical blue waters of Hawaii. Now, if only Disney Plus would release the second season.

Watch it on: Disney Plus

4. Down to Earth with Zac Efron

Down to Earth with Zac Efron is not just a feast for the eyes, but a series that will make you think. Zac Efron travels with his friend, Darin Olien, to learn about various methods of sustainable living. We learn about sustainable energy in Iceland, fresh water in France, and blue zone diets in Italy. They also take the time to explore and enjoy the best leisure activities and cuisine in each country.

Watch it on: Netflix

5. Conan Without Borders

Conan Without Borders is a segment of his talk show that is now available on Netflix (but only the first season). Of course, you can still watch more on YouTube, but those videos are cut into shorter segments. Conan’s buffoonery is put to good use as he travels to learn about other people and their countries. His shtick is the clueless, ignorant American abroad. It’s an honesty that’s rewarding, as he shows these countries in a light few Americans get to see. He’s hilarious in each episode as he accidentally (or not so accidentally) offends, but also learns from the locals in each country.

Watch it on: Netflix, YouTube

6. Travel Man: 48 Hours In...

Travel Man has had 10 seasons, and 7 (ish) of them are on Hulu. It’s a recent discovery for me, so I’m still making my way through the episodes. Richard Ayoade travels to a different city with a different celebrity for 48 hours. They do a lot of the typical things the average tourist would do. It features transportation, checking into a hotel (usually on the higher end), seeing the sites, and exploring different foods. Most of the celebrities who join him are British, so I’m not too familiar with them. It probably works better if you know who they are, but it doesn’t matter. Richard Ayoade’s dry humor makes each trip amusing regardless.

Watch it on: Hulu

7. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

British comedian Jack Whitehall takes a belated gap year trip with his 70-something year old father. The stark contrast between their personalities make for a very interesting vacation. We go on a real ride with the two as we get to know them and as they grow from the experience. Jack is full of energy and definitely more open minded of the two, but we can also see why his father gets annoyed with him. He’s a big kid and, at times, spoiled. At first Jack’s father comes across as snobby and ignorant, but we learn to laugh at his biting humor and his efforts to connect with Jack. We also get a bit of a different view of each location. We visit eccentric temples in Thailand, watch trained rats search for mines in Cambodia, check out motocross skiing in Germany, and more.

Watch it on: Netflix

8. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Seasons 7 and 8 of the late Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations can currently be viewed on Hulu. If you’re a humanitarian at heart, this one is for you. Anthony Bourdain is after truth. He’s not interested in commercialized tourist traps or filtered Instagram photo ops. He’s after the real place, the real people, and the real history. He visits disadvantaged populations around the world. He meets with locals, journalists, and humanitarians in each country. Their conversations are often about poverty, political corruption, and marginalization. But he also has some lighter missions as well. A trip to Naples in search of the real Italian food experience. A discovery of Croatian culinary greatness. A cook off in Tokyo between the world’s greatest chefs. What we see is not always pretty. Sometimes it’s truly upsetting. But sometimes it’s great too. Either way, it’s the truth. What Anthony Bourdain ultimately does is capture the heart of the people, something traveling tourists often overlook.

Watch it on: Hulu

9. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

I’m not a huge David Chang fan. I’ve only made it through one episode of Ugly Delicious. (It was the curry episode, because I love Indian food.) But I found Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner a much easier watch. It’s a lot more chill. There are only four episodes. (That helps.) He and a celebrity friend tour a different city, try the food, and just chat it up. This series focuses more on location and culture, rather than just the food itself. The personalities of his celebrity guests help provide color and humor to each episode. Kate McKinnon, as always, is a delight.

Watch it on: Netflix

10. Tales By Light

Tales By Light follows photographers around the world as they capture stunning works of art. This is a must see if you love art, especially photography. Watch humpback whales dance under water in Tonga, the colorful Festival of Holi in India, abandoned desert ghost towns of Namibia, and indigenous cultures of Australia. Season 3 is especially sobering. Photographer Simon Lister and UNICEF ambassador Orlando Bloom travel to Bangladesh to capture portraits of children in need. You’ll marvel at the beauty, but also cry for the less fortunate.

Watch it on: Netflix

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hecohansen31 · 4 years

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Maybe In The Next Lifetime

Reincarnated! Ivar The Boneless+Reincarnated! Reader (Modern AU)

(Previous Chapter)

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

I am sorry it took me so long but this is a small reward to @youbloodymadgenius,who bought me a Ko-Fi, a bit of time ago and I just am so so grateful for this small gesture because it shows that you truly care about us, writers.

It truly means the absolute world to me and I don’t think that I’ll ever be able to properly express my gratitude through words, but I do hope that you’ll like this (you gave me the green light for everything that came up to my mind, so since i saw that you all liked the first part, here comes the second).

If you want more, please do let me know through a comment or a reblog (PLEASE DON’T FUCKING REBLOG WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING... IT’S FUCKING STUPID).

Do leave some feedback if you want to: it makes us, writers, write faster and our hearts beat stronger.

Have a nice reading!

SUMMARY: Visions have accompanied your staying in Iceland, tainting your experience and making you meet the literal 'man of your dreams', but is this a crazed fever dream or is this the truth?

WORDS: 4,7 K

WARNINGS: Reincarnation Cycle, Menton of Violence and Blood, Inaccurate Portrayal of Iceland.

You changed your outfit for the umpteenth time, wondering if there was anything that would ever fit the theme of Midsomar, allowing you to show off your body, in a way that was flattering and proper.

Your friend, Hedda, had already chosen an outfit and was waiting outside of your shared bedroom at the small apartment you had rented for your staying in Iceland, singing out loud some Swedish song and refusing to give you any help with dressing up.

‘You need to find your inner “Midsomar” ‘ she had muttered after you had gotten out of your wardrobe in a bland floral dress ‘… but also you gotta impress that idiotic guy, you met, so… get out your best Maja’.

‘I don’t think that being a crazy witch in a cult will win me many points with any boy’ you had shot back, eventually completely ignoring her suggestions, trying on at first a few other dresses, and eventually settling up on an oversized white shirt in a pair of your best shorts.

The flower crown you had bought in a Chinese shop, already awaiting you in bed, and as you pushed it onto your head, the vision reappeared.

You had been having visions since the start of your staying in Iceland.

At first you had though they were simply strange dreams, created by your first holiday without your parents and far away from home.

They were different visions of different beautiful girls in clothes from different historical ages, but they all had one thing in common.

Your face.

And then when you had at first noticed Ivar, his own face had haunted your dreams.

As a king, as a slave, as a commander, in a haunt that reversed the roles.

Sometimes you’d be the prey and sometimes he’d be the hunter, and sometimes the opposite would happen.

In the mirror various figures shifted: a meek girl with a flower crown like yours, a well-dressed woman, her face hidden by a thick veil and the heavy crown on her head, again appearing in a more frail way on a woman with a spoiled smirk and expecting eyes.

But you knew that deep down they were all you.

And you were desperately trying to understand what this all truly meant.

You had eventually settled on browsing through some rather confusing pages about the interpretation of dreams, settling yourself up in the ‘reincarnation aisle’ discovering that many in forums thought that in dreams, they could see their past lives.

Or so they believed.

But in most cases, it was boring details that could be easily overlooked and most of the time they were interpreted by clairvoyants that wanted nothing more than to make their daily earn.

And you couldn’t blame them.

But your situation wasn’t a hoax.

Because there was so much confusion in your heart and mind.

And you knew it was a downright wrong thing to follow Ivar around, just because he was the literal ‘man of your dreams’.

And you knew that you would have probably ended up sounding as a crazed hysterical woman, had you confessed him that you had been dreaming about him for your entire staying in Iceland, seeing him in various outfits.

But one thing never changed also for him.

He had loved you and he had lost you.

Never the other way around.

Which you found lightly discriminatory and sexist…

… but Fate didn’t welcome any complaints, did He?

You wished you could talk about it with someone, but not only you didn’t know that well the few friends you had done around the hotel and in the city.

But also… who would have believed you?

And who wouldn’t have wanted to intern you in the nearest psych-ward, after hearing about your crazy dreams?

But this secret was burning you on the inside, completely ruining your holiday there, because you weren’t able, not only to sleep properly, but the knowledge of some previous past life was shaking your beliefs to the core.

And not in a good way.

You almost doubted the reality around you.

And more than one time you had found yourself pinching your arms in search of some signs that you hadn’t simply dreamt also this life.

“… are you fucking finished?” muttered loudly Hedda, startling and effectively reminding you that you were indeed in 2019, getting yourself ready for a Midsomar ‘date’ (because Ivar certainly hadn’t meant it that way, when you had basically invited yourself in it).

“Yeah yeah!” you shot back, slightly annoyed at her antics but eventually settling up on adjusting the flower crown on your head, as you grabbed your clutch, stuffing an extra charger for your phone and headphones in it.

And then appeared in the hallway of your room, for Hedda’s inspection, who told you to turn around, meanwhile she examined attentively your outfit, eventually holding up eight fingers, which was enough to make it pass.

‘… cute but have we forgotten the “sexy factor”?’ commented Hedda, as you were already grabbing a jeans jacket in case it ended up being colder.

You had agreed with Ivar on meeting each other for lunch and then move to a little place where a small folklore festival was to be held.

And had you had a bit of energy, you would join your friends for the night to a ‘Midsomar’ themed party, for which you weren’t too eager, but your friends had already seemed offended by the fact that you wouldn’t have passed the day with them, partying and drinking.

But you wanted the true Icelandic experience.

That was why you had moved there.

And honestly partying and drinking could be done everywhere.

Instead what Ivar had told you that he had planned that day was much more typical of the place and not something that you’d have found everywhere.

And having more time to spend with the ‘man of your dreams’ was definitely a bonus.

Hedda, who, although seemed extremely superficial, had assumed an extremely motherly and protective role over you, had wanted to accompany you, although she had used the excuse that:

‘Booze doesn’t affect me that much, anymore’ she had then winked your way ‘… and didn’t you say that Ivar has a cute brother?’.

You had barely seen Ivar’s brother, but you had felt like you had to give something to Hedda for ‘sacrificing’ herself for you.

Meanwhile you were getting out of your small apartment, making sure to lock after yourself, since Hedda always forgot, you received a message from Ivar, letting you know that they had just arrived to his uncle’s barn, sending you his location and reassuring you to take your time, since they had arrived early to help with the preparations.

You had thanked him, meanwhile you were thoroughly panicking because you didn’t want to arrive late, but to dissuade the uncomfortableness of the entire situation, you asked him ‘whether his brother was hot or not’.

Which you realized a minute after locking the door didn’t sound quite alright.

Shit.

You hoped that at least in one of the previous lives you hadn’t been this awkward.

‘.. for a friend’ you added, hoping he didn’t think you wanted to flirt with his brother.

Because you didn’t want to, for sure.

Although Destiny had indeed pushed you closer, you couldn’t deny that you had found yourself comfortable with Ivar in a way that hadn’t happened in so much with the few guys you had tried out a date with.

And it truly made you feel like this was real.

Like that was your reality.

He was clearly much shier than you were used to, but this didn’t mean that he hadn’t a sarcastically cocky side that had brought you to tears with laughter and judgement.

And it made you feel comfortable and at ease.

As if only with him you could be the true you.

And not the long line of previous reincarnations you had been.

‘… my brother does consider himself hot’ he sent you ‘… hot if you like brainless dudes who will do nothing but eat and drink’.

‘That’s Hedda’s perfect type’ you sent back, careful to avoid breaking your neck on the stairs, Hedda thankfully coming to your side to guide you meanwhile you messaged.

“I do hope that he is worth it” commented your friend, trying to sneak a small look at your conversation “… because those shoes certainly aren’t made for texting and walking”.

“His brother is hot” you were simply able to reply in the general confusion.

“Did you ask him?” shot back Hedda, facepalming as she completely stopped you from slamming your face on an unseen step “… you seriously… you better hope that that guy is in for it…”.

“Don’t make me feel worse than I am already feeling!” you protested loudly “… he is hotter than his hot brother, so do pray for me instead”.

“… you’ll need a miracle” she protested, but did make you arrive at the end of the stairs safe and sound, and then took your phone, throwing it in her bigger bag, as you complained loudly “… and no you are driving, so no phone, neither for the hot guy”.

“Always the responsible ones…” you muttered, knowing that it wasn’t the truth in the slightest “… just let me tell him that we’ll reach them in a quarter hour”.

Hedda simply sent you an annoyed look, before relenting as she got in the car you had rented for the occasion.

“… I wouldn’t have pegged you as one of those who is constantly texting her boyfriend” she muttered, lowering the car windows and you quickly typed in your message, waiting a few second for a simple ‘ok’ from Ivar.

Were you panicking?

A bit.

But you’d be fine.

Or he’d realize that you were seriously a stalker had you talked with him anymore.

And then Hedda reminded you of her as she sounded the car horn, effectively startling you away from your anxious brain.

And after all, the faster you got the car started, the faster you’d see him again.

You tried to convince yourself that wasn’t a comp6letely creepy thought.

---

You had been able not to lose yourselves on the trip to Ivar’s uncle’s barn, which had been a great way to certainly hype you up.

Hedda’s awful choice in music had done the rest.

But now you honestly didn’t want to get out of the car.

“Please don’t make me spray you with water” commented Hedda between her teeth, as she adjusted her blush and her own flower crown and you nervously curled a strand of hair between your fingers.

“… just give a minute”.

And she did, moving to lightly check some messages on her own phone, meanwhile you eased up in the place where you had parked, which was supposed to be a few minutes away from Ivar’s uncle’s barn.

In the middle of basically nowhere.

Hedda had joked about the fact that you had seriously ended up in ‘Midsomar’ and would be soon sacrificed, much to your already panicking soul, as you tried to search in yourself some willingness to meet again Ivar.

It wasn’t the simple nervousness of finally seeing the guy you had a crush on.

It was a multilayered feeling of fear and anxiety that had gone on for many years, as your lives were threaded together and separated by Fate.

And you didn’t know how to calm yourself.

In the end Hedda did spray a bit of water on your face, bringing you back from your historical thought, as you finally realized that you couldn’t let past history influence your present.

Although you didn’t know how to do that.

“Is everything alright?” asked Hedda as you moved away from the parking lot towards the small house, walking slow so that you could arrive there comfortably “… are you sure that this guy isn’t a psycho?”.

‘I am actually the psycho, with all these dreams of a past that maybe never existed between us’ you wanted to say, but simply shook your head, yawning lightly, because you had been up till late last night for your last turn at the hotel.

And you tried to keep your mind on the hotel’s turns that you’d have to restart tomorrow, to keep your mind in the present you were living.

Which worked well…

… till you arrived to the house and you found Ivar already out, helping up with setting in place what looked like a small gazebo, to protect you from the sun, meanwhile another boy set up a small plastic table under it.

And you wanted to turn and run away.

What had you been thinking when you had basically invited yourself to what looked like a reserved family ceremony?

Did you seriously think it was a good idea?

But before you could make a complete U-turn with your body, you heard your name being called out by a slight Nordic accent and as you turned around, your reality had changed inevitably.

No matter how much you tried to bring back your annoying turns at the hotel.

“… Ivar” the words left your mouth, although it felt like it had just been forced open, no matter how much you didn’t want to say those words.

His eyes smiled gently at you, as he walked to you, his clothes weren’t modern anymore, but they were an hard armor of leather, constricting him in a way that pushed his whole body to appear bigger than he was.

Relief flooded in you, as you faced him again, the knowledge of him having come back to you completely making you emotional, although you stopped yourself to wait for him to come to you again.

Your vision was disrupted by Hedda’s nails digging themselves in your upper arm, and when you batted your eyelashes, the entire set up you had imagined was gone.

Although Ivar was very much in front of you.

And looked like he had asked you something.

“I am sorry, I didn’t…” Gosh… he must have thought you were a weirdo for sure.

“… I just said that I am glad that you are finally here” his words were truly genuine as a softer smile appeared on his face “… and that you found us so easily”.

“I am a wonderful GPS” commented Hedda, noticing that you were having quite the trouble replying and more generally at talking “… I am Hedda, by the way”.

Ivar looked wary of Hedda but didn’t say anything, and his brother seemed quite taken by her appearance and he pushed himself up from the place where he had sat down, presenting himself to her.

And from the gleaming bits in Hedda’s eyes, you knew that he was hot enough.

And you were soon left with Ivar.

Gosh, could you embarrass yourself more.

Probably… yes.

You almost wanted to plead Hedda with your eyes to stay with you, but at the same time you completely understood she wasn’t your babysitter in any way.

“… so that is why you asked me if my brother was hot” simply commented Ivar, and although you blushed profusely at that knowledge, you felt like he had just shattered the wall of awkwardness between you.

“Hedda needs to have her own fun” you muttered “… mostly because she is a bitch whenever she doesn’t get enough attention”.

Ivar laughed loudly, and when you had both calmed down, you moved to ask if you could do something to help him.

And he redirected you around the gazebo to set it up, as he revealed to you that his uncle would be away for the day.

He was extremely blushy the whole time he said it, and you were a properly matching tomato.

‘… he said that he is too old to for these things” he commented softly ‘… he went fishing and will be back by nigh-time’.

‘Still it was very generous of him to offer us his place to stay’ you tried to make your words appear gentle and kind, although you couldn’t deny that you again felt a bit embarrassed by the whole situation.

Two guys and two girls with a small private barn all to themselves.

Hedda would have called you a stupid not to think that this was an entire trick to get you to stay closer to Ivar.

But Ivar’s words seemed honest in what he had said.

And yet it didn’t lessen your embarrassment.

And neither your knowledge that this had happened before.

A picture perfect in your mind of a ’70-fashioned yourself, sleeping with your head against Ivar’s, meanwhile a lazy fire crackled beside you, light giggle and breathy moans from the other couple with you, who had been much more courageous than you two.

Because although you had been on the road for quite some time, you hadn’t been able to do much more than simply stand closer.

“… he hasn’t been the same since his wife died” commented Ivar, his voice lowering itself slightly and bringing you back to the reality.

Not the peaceful and nightly one you had seen in your mind.

You should have taken some medicine for these hallucinations.

And got a whole check-up once you were home.

Although you weren’t sure you wanted them to disappear.

The knowledge that you had been able to score a guy like Ivar in past lives certainly stroked your ego.

“I am sorry to hear that” you replied softly, another memory in your mind, an angry Ivar, nothing peaceful in the way he threw things all around the room and screamed, but then after all the air in his lungs had disappeared he had searched you, shielding himself in your chest, meanwhile he let out all the emotions he had been denying to feel.

“… thank you” his words were honest now as they had been there “… but on better topics, the place we are going after should be good, my brother has never played there so that is a sign of true quality”.

You laughed softly at his comment, meanwhile he kept a straight face but eventually cracked up a small smirk.

“Please don’t tell me it is this brother” you muttered, pointing to Hvitserk, who had been trying to show Hedda a magic trick, involving his abs, thing that had made Hedda very much interested.

(In the abs)

(Not the magic trick. That was pathetic).

“… she’ll make him ask to play her a song, record him and play it till she gets bored with it, and I already think her taste in music his problematic”.

Ivar laughed at your sassy comment, as you managed to finally settle up the gazebo, sitting in the grass to stare at your marvelous work.

“… no not this one” he commented, shooting you a conspiratorial look that made you laugh loudly “… another of my many brothers… Sigurd, the one that I can’t stand”.

“I thought you couldn’t stand all of them”.

But the name Sigurd brought something back to you.

Something dreadful that your subconscious tried to keep locked away and again you pinched yourself to avoid deepening up.

You had seen yourself dying in horrendous way each night.

Once you had been shot, another time an overdose had taken you and the most horrendous had been when a sword had pierced your back.

You had woken up with the feeling of it, screaming loudly as you groped your chest sure to find iron and blood in it.

But it had been just a nightmare.

And yet each time you died you had this knowledge that this had happened.

That it had been painful.

And that it hadn’t been fair.

And what was linked to the name ‘Sigurd’ seemed much worse than that.

Ivar felt the shift in you and you were grateful when he suggested he went inside and started to bring a few starters and drinks outside, since you had to admit that you were quite famished.

And so was his brother.

Hounding him almost like a dog, as you laughed softly at the image.

Having seen it thousands of times happening.

And yet it still hanged in your mind as if it was new.

Hedda took this moment to come to you, muttering about how dreamily Ivar’s brother, Hvitserk, was.

‘… and Ivar does seem to be quite taken by you…’ she commented, shooting you a knowing look ‘… and you seemed a bit taken by the gazebo, I’ll admit it’.

You pushed her away with your shoulder, although you couldn’t deny that.

And you were glad in the following moments to be able to simply think about food.

You thanked profusely Ivar when you realized that the meals he had gotten ready were some Icelandic ones that you hadn’t tried yet, mixed with some other typical dishes, and you were honestly impressed.

‘Oh, don’t worry, Hvitserk over here is the one who cooked everything’ he commented, shooting a quick look at his brother, meanwhile Hedda let out a breathy ‘oh seriously?’.

And you and Ivar laughed of those two idiots.

Again, that natural complicity sparkling up between you, as you talked with each other.

It just felt so comfortable and natural that you couldn’t help but confess him your ‘darkest’ and ‘deepest’ secrets, as he did the same of you, both laid out in the sun, after lunch, staring up at the it, barely shielding yourself from it with your hands.

You joked and you laughed.

And it almost felt like you hadn’t lost anything in your previous life.

As if nothing existed except you and him, in that moment.

But your soul was growing restless.

Almost as if it expected something bad to happen.

Because history had a tendency to repeat itself.

And your soul knew it all too well.

So, you were secretly happy when you moved into a crowd for the musical festival, glad to be able to move yourself among many people, the music completely blaring your mind in a calm state that brought you to definitely enjoy the moment.

And so, seemed Hedda.

You had also had special places, because of Ivar’s disability, standing in the front, meanwhile various bands of various musical genres moved onto stage, alternating themselves, between applauses and ‘boo’s, making you definitely feel like this was an unlike ‘Midsomar’.

But soon it got a bit too much for you and Ivar, the man almost reading your mind (which scared you, because your mind wasn’t a nice place in that moment) and you both suggested going for a round of cold drinks.

Hedda and Hvitserk carrying their orders on you, taking great advantage as you muttered softly in protest, Ivar matching your harsh glare, but you both laughed it off, moving to the small bar set up there, the crowd making it again a wonderful occasion to make small talk with Ivar.

But you couldn’t deny that every talk with him wasn’t simply ‘small talk’.

Although you knew that Hvitserk and Hedda were waiting for you to come back, you still decided to set yourself up in the deserted tables next to the small bar, since everyone was dancing in the crowd, but you were able to still enjoy the music.

Even better with nobody sweating against you.

The lady that brought you your drinks smirked softly at you and said something in Icelandic that you couldn’t quite catch but simply smirked at her, meanwhile Ivar blushed bright red.

‘What did she say?’ you asked, twirling your orange juice in its glass, meanwhile Ivar looked like he might choke on his own beer.

‘… she muttered something about… us being a cute couple’.

This time you basically spluttered the orange juice in his face.

Blushing even harder because of that.

‘… oh’ you simply were able to retort.

‘Oh, indeed’ he repeated, with some kind of bitter embarrassment to it.

And suddenly you were feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Unsure of whether you had said the right thing or not.

And the painful knowledge of your past hanging on you.

An awkward silence fell onto you heavily and you didn’t know what to say and you didn’t want to go back, because Hedda wouldn’t be much helpful since she had set her sights on Hvitserk and she’d have his number for sure, by the end of the night…

… if not something else.

In the end, Hvitserk and Hedda came looking up for you, joining you to drink, something that certainly made you feel definitely better, a bit less awkward, as you leaned on Hedda, almost shying away to her side.

And Ivar did the same with Hvitserk.

In the end you managed to eventually talk with Hvitserk, but awkwardness had again created a wall between you, two…

… a wall that had to be shredded, because Hedda had come up with a dangerous idea.

‘Why don’t you and Ivar spend the night together?’ she suggested, and again you were a tomato ‘… I mean… you could stay over there, since Hvitserk and I were thinking of partying a bit more and I know that you don’t like it. And I feel bad in making you stay alone…’

Other than the fact that she had basically invited yourself in her house, you didn’t think that it was a good idea, and told her so, insisting that Ivar’s uncle would be soon back.

‘… then you can stay for a bit and then go back’ it was obvious that both she and Hvitserk were playing matchmakers.

And you and Ivar didn’t feel like it, in the slightest.

You had already Fate pushing you up close.

That was enough.

You insisted with Hedda that you didn’t want to be of any bother to Ivar, and she insisted back that it wasn’t good to leave you coming back alone.

And although Ivar didn’t seem the type to be guilt-tripped into doing anything, he eventually agreed, although he told you that he’d have to see with his uncle if you could stay over for the night.

‘… oh no no, don’t worry!’ you tried to protest, already feeling like a useless baggage ‘… I’ll just go back before it is too late, I mean… it is still pretty sunny’.

But your mutter had gone unnoticed and after another round in the crowd, the concert had stopped, setting up a more commercial DJ sets, as you went back with Hvitserk’s car, the one to which you were gone to the concert, an hour away from the barn.

Back at the barn, the situation with Ivar hadn’t become better and another flashback had developed in your mind.

An annoying ride of carriage, because you knew that somehow Ivar was angry with you and you should have been angry with him, but at the same time you were damnably worried for him.

And you had reached out for him.

Finding the same gesture replied in the future.

And you were glad you had chosen to leave Ivar take the front seat, meanwhile you had simply reached out for Hedda’s hands, who sent you a look, as if to check whether you had inhaled some passive ‘smoke’ from the crowd of the festival.

You wished.

And when you arrived to the place you and Ivar basically were barely able to get out of the car, before Hedda and Hvitserk sprinted off, effectively leaving you stranded.

“Shit” muttered Ivar under his breath and you couldn’t have expressed better your thoughts, as you faced him, and all his previous reincarnations appeared in front of you.

A Viking warrior, a merchant, a lord.

And then you, bloodied and lost.

You shifted your head away from him, focusing it on your dirtied converse shoes.

“… if you want, we can go inside” he proposed eventually his tone settling up on a defeated tone “… nothing too much to see, but we might have beer…”.

“… have to drive” you reminded him.

“… and whatever you might want to drink with no alcohol” he commented, something almost comical in his words “… which is a sad choice, I’ll admit”.

“I am used to it” you shot back with a slight smirk “… does Hedda seem the type to be trusted behind a car wheel?”.

“You do make an excellent point”.

And then you dived inside, the small barn, being quite welcoming and quite comforting, definitely something that made you remember of home, as you noticed the small figurines draping and decorating elegantly the main hall.

Ivar saw that they had caught your eyes.

And not solely because they were beautiful.

But you had seen them in your dreams.

And then you felt like you had a heavy stone on your lungs, and you had to free yourself from it.

“Ivar, I have a thing to tell you”.

---

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Everything Taglist:

@maggiescarborough

Ivar Taglist:

@youbloodymadgenius, @alexhandersenx, @lonewolf471, @flowers-in-your-hayr, @a-mess-of-fandoms @xbellaxcarolinax (I also did yours, and it’ll be out soon too!) @peaceisadirtyword

#Ivar #Ivar The Boneless #Ivar Reader #Ivar x Reader #Ivar Imagine #Ivar Fic #Ivar The Boneless Fic #Ivar Lothbrock Imagine #Ivar Lothbrock Reader #Ivar Moodboard #Ivar The Boneless Moodboard #Modern! Ivar #Vikings #History Vikings #Vikings Imagine

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sonicringbond · 4 years

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Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey - Scene 40

It’s been a while since I wrote one of these and I feel like I forget everything I said last time. Oh well. Rosy and friends are actually in Radio Point for this scene, and it’s a bit of a long one. They may be here for a reason, but I still had to throw in some Rosy sightseeing to keep the traveling theme going. I hope everyone has as much fun in Radio Point as Rosy in...

“Oh my, I hadn’t expected you to get into Radio Point, before I arrived.”

It was hard to tell with Blister’s deliberate and sleepy sounding way of speaking that she was actually surprised, but she did seem energetic enough for it to be believable. Rosy however, with her waging tail and nigh inability to stand still was far easier to read. “Well, we just had to!”

“Though they got mad at us for running up the cables,” Draw made sure to dampen Rosy’s enthusiasm with a reminder of the trouble she caused. She puffed her cheeks up at him, but it was Sonic who spoke next in the airship port at the top of one of Radio Point’s many towers.

“I’m not too fond of waiting, and as she says,” Sonic explained as he pointed a thumb back at Rosy, “we had a reason to come up here quickly.”

“I bet you were disappointed when you found out the trains are entirely for the maintenance crews then,” Blister the Mouse allowed herself a chuckle at the group’s expense.

“It’s a good thing you have an airship,” Sonic agreed, though Rosy got mad at him.

“Hey, we may have had to wait, but even you can’t argue there was plenty to do while we did!”

~Radio Point was a really unique town. Asides from the trains, which Blister already pointed out weren’t for tourists or civilians, there was movement all through the air as airships came from far and wide to reach the city. Of course, the locals used them too so they could get around between towers.

~Outside of the internal steam works, which I bet Tails was able to visit, there were spectacular views no matter where you went in Radio Point. From the airship docks to as close to the treads as the villages went down towards, there was either a view of the crystals jutting up out of the lava belching grasslands or a view of the pit itself where an even more enormous number of crystals erupted out of the earth. It looked kind of like the pit was full of rows and rows of scary giant teeth. Hee-hee! It’s a good thing it’s not a big mouth.

~The ground wasn’t the only pretty thing to look at either. Thanks to all the airship traffic, the skies above the pit were an array of shimmering confetti. At least from the lower levels. Up here in the airship dock it was clear to see all the ships that carried advertising banners as well as those that offered in flight services, like dining and cleaning. There were even hotel airships that were designed to stay in the air for weeks. It was the most airship friendly city I had seen since wandering around in the lands under Yolk.

~As advanced as the city was though, there were still plants growing nearly everywhere. Most of the moving equipment that I saw was relatively clean, but the steam pipes and buildings all throughout town were still covered in a wide array of plants. It’s just so weird to me how even on these big moving towers of metal, plants found a way to grow. I wonder if there is a reason for it.

~That’s a mystery I’ll have to wait another day for. Today, the opportunity to find my best friend has appeared before us and I can’t wait to meet the man who Tails helped out. Hopefully, he’ll be friendlier than the last member of the Engineers I talked with.

~Oh, I hadn’t mentioned that, had I? Oops!

~Well, from Blister’s airship, which was like a cut in half avocado in shape with the main balloon comprising the body of most of the vessel, it was easy to see the Engineers’ banner flying. The white and blue flag with the gear and wrench on it was almost everywhere. The pirate flag that Blister flew almost matched it, except hers was a blue flag with her gear, two wrenches, and a human skull set on a white stripe that ran from top to bottom. It really makes me feel uncomfortable flying on a pirate vessel and I’d really like her to give it up. But… well, she’s helping today even though she was supposed to be looking for her friend who is supposedly a Ring expert. And the Engineers are still mad at me, I think, so having her introduce me to Tails’ friend is probably for the best.~

The Dish that hung above the pit, supported by the giant radio towers and spikes that anchored it, had a similar tower of its own in the center of it. But it was the underside of the dish where the next dock awaited Rosy and her friends. Here, the facilities that monitored almost every radio signal under Yoluku were situated. The utilitarian design stripped the facilities of any comforts, but it was natural considering the location of them above the pit.

“I wonder how they account for Ring Shifts,” Rosy mused while poking her cheek as they were led into the facility’s inner workings. As she had a clear view of the pit below the metal grating that made up the catwalk floor they walked along, it was little wonder that she would be curious to how they managed not to fall in.

-|-

“Sure enough,” a rough looking sapient grizzly bear remarked as Rosy and the others were led into his cage like office. Even his desk was little more than a plank of wood laid across pipes and conduit. “You really are from the picture. But what about the other two?”

“Draw and Blister here are friends,” Sonic introduced the koala and mouse, respectively. “One’s a troublemaker and the other’s a pirate. I’ll let you guess which is more trouble.”

“Sonic!” Rosy chastised her blue companion and he smiled at her playfully.

“And that would make you Rosy then,” the grizzly concluded at Sonic’s unplanned introduction. Standing up, he revealed he inherited the tremendous size of his non-sapient cousins and offered his own name. “I’m Over, chief communications technician here at Radio Point. It may not look like it from here, but I’m pretty respected among the Engineers. Pretty high ranking too. I carry enough weight in actuality that even those troublesome Preservers acknowledge me.”

Rosy stared intently at the grizzly bear’s round form and quietly agreed with him that he carried a lot of weight. His massive arms assured her though that it was likely all muscle. As much as her attention was on his girth however, his was on her.

“A pink hedgehog…”

“Eep!” Rosy squeaked and earned a curious look from Sonic. It was Blister though who provided the next words of their budding conversation.

“I’ve heard she was supposed to be doing a seven-day Ring gathering job for the Engineers when she up and disappeared. I wonder if you can really help her…”

“Blister, please!” Rosy pleaded with the pirate and their playful smile.

Draw held no fear or wisdom that he perhaps should and addressed Over bluntly. “It was a boring job anyway, and we ended up saving a bunch of fairies from some autogolems after we left.”

“You what?” Over questioned in surprise looking at Draw. “If the autogolems weren’t powered by Rings… Those would have been Preserver autogolems. And near a lookout and Ring gathering sight no less. Do you have any proof of what you’re saying?”

“Just this little weirdo.”

Opening his fur coat, Draw allowed the yellow fairy he had a Ring Bond with, Mote, to peak out from within. The look of disbelief on Over’s face worried Rosy a fair bit.

~And then he laughed. I hadn’t been expecting that. It didn’t clear up the suspicions that the Engineers have of me, but it was enough to convince Over that we could see the Ring Radio that they used. And it was amazing. Amazingly big that is.

~Unlike the ones in the wrist devices that Sonic and I wear, this one was a massive room full of machinery, and a ceiling of shifting, glowing geometric lined blocks like in a Ring Gate Beacon. It’s obviously much more primitive technology than what I’m used to using, but due to the nature of our world that doesn’t tell me a thing about how old it is. But…~

“Wow! Tails really made this work!”

“That he did,” Over stated, proudly putting his hands on his hips. “He also taught me how to maintain it while he was here. Since then, I’ve been growing more and more familiar with it. It’s kind of become like an old friend.”

“So, it’s been sometime since Tails was here?” Sonic asked as he folded his arms, recognizing the telltale speech that marked a passage of time beyond what could be properly observed under Yoluku.

“It has been,” Over nodded seeing Sonic’s impatience. “Long enough that I probably would have forgotten him if not for the picture and notebook we filled out together while working on this wonder. He’s as much a part of my life as anything now. Unlikely I’ll forget him as long as I live.”

“That’s wonderful!” Rosy chirped up, adding some good cheer to counter Sonic’s souring mood. “It’s great to hear Tails made a friend! He’s normally so bad with people!”

“Yeah, but him having already passed through, and some time back, means we’ve missed him, kid,” Sonic ignored Rosy’s positivity to get his complaint out.

“Well, we can still try to contact him,” Over suggested surprising everyone in the group.

“How’s that?” Draw won the question race and followed up with more than he should have. “These two have really good Ring Radios that are a lot smaller than this one and they can’t reach anyone but each other.”

“Tails had the same problem,” Over managed to dismiss Rosy’s fast growing concern by revealing that he already knew about her and Sonic’s. “It’s part of why he left. He spent a good while here trying to boost the signal using the crystals.”

“The crystals?” Blister poked her nose into the conversation. “I thought they must have been rather valueless considering no one seems interested in gathering them.”

“On their own they are,” Over agreed with the mouse’s presumption. “But gathered together like they are here, and according to Tails likely amplified by the pit, they are able to drastically improve radio signals and their distances. It’s why Radio Point persists here. If not for this pit radio communication would be far less reliable than it is.”

“Not like Tails to give up on tech,” Sonic remarked wondering what was going through the fox’s mind.

“He didn’t actually. He left with the goal of finding another pit, or perhaps meeting up with the Queen of the Sky and brainstorming with her about a solution. I’ve no idea if he’s achieved either goal though. The pit is pretty unique, and the Queen of the Sky is a she-devil who even the clouds part for when she races.”

“It sounds like Zooey’s been having fun,” Rosy laughed nervously. “But if you can get in touch with Tails…”

“Don’t worry,” Over reassured Rosy of his intentions, “we’ll be trying to now.”

Per his word, Over began working countless buttons and knobs around the room. From a console with a handheld mouthpiece and a speaker, a horrible static sound came across and filled the room.

“Static? Sonic verbalized his curiosity. “Ring Radios work across dimensions. What could be causing the interference.”

“Maybe that thing in the sky,” Over hinted at Yoluku, but offered nothing more as he worked some more dials.

A high-pitched sound came across the speaker and cut the static for a moment, but the static soon settled back in. However, a green light lit up on the console and Over smiled. “We’ve got him!”

“Really!” Rosy jumped up with her question and stared at Over with urgent pleading.

“Go ahead and see if he can’t here you.”

With Over’s permission, Rosy dashed to the console. After only a moment of studying it, she picked up the hand piece and depressed the button in its side. From there it was a moment longer as she fought to contain her excitement and actually managed to speak. “TAI~LS~!!!!!”

-…o…sy- -I… …at y…?-

“Ah, ah, ah… TAI~LS~!!!!!”

~It was really him. It was really Tails! I was so happy I could cry finally hearing Tails’ voice again after so long. But… Well, unfortunately the signal wasn’t good. We could hear each other, but it was impossible to hold a conversation. I just couldn’t make out what Tails was saying through all the static. Sonic checked to see if our Ring Radios could connect to Tails’, but they didn’t even pick him up like the one connected to the big dish.

~Ooh! It’s so frustrating. I finally had a lead on Tails, but he was out of reach and I had no idea what to do. Over tried to improve the signal, but in the end, we lost it and any chance to find where Tails was. Still… Still, we actually talked to him. He was alright.

~The last time I saw Tails he was fighting those mean old pirates who want revenge against him. But he wasn’t there when I found Sonic and helped him beat them. And even though pirates like Blister are inspired by them, as far as I can tell, Tails hasn’t gotten involved with any more pirates. And while that’s good, it means we have no leads again.

~But you know, I was able to talk to him and that means Tails is okay. As long as Tails is okay, Sonic and I can find him. And we will! Sonic promised after all. He was going to get all of us home!

~…Though, I’m actually enjoying this little adventure and don’t feel the need to go home yet.~

Scene 40 · CLEARED Radio Link, End

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How’s that for a little treat! Tails has finally appeared for the first time since the Prison Prairie chapters. Well, at least over a really shaky radio connection XD I also introduced an OC I expect to be a one off, but I’ll see if he gets any positive attention and demand to see more of him. For now though, this scene wraps up the last of my survey based scenes. The next one is going to be purely off the top of my head. So that means adventure, mystery, and maybe some plot progression. Please look forward to it!

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Special Thanks to Cutegirlmayra Story by @JoshTarwater/SonicFanJ Inspiring Song – Lumacie Archipelago: Mystic Woodland – Tsutomu Narita – Granblue Fantasy Original Soundtrack

Fair Use Disclaimer

Sonic the Hedgehog and all affiliated characters and logos are the express property and Copyright© of SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS used without permission under Title 17 U.S.C Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 in which allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. “Fair use” is use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be considered copyright infringement. The Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey alternate universe (AU) consumer written work of fiction is a non-profit transformative work primarily for personal use and can and will be taken down without warning or prior notice at the request of the copyright holder(s) should it not be recognized under “fair use”.

*Sonic Ring Bond logo created by DEE Art – twitter.com/daryliscute.

Sonic Ring Bond AU and Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey are the creation of Joshua David Tarwater/ynymbus/sonicfanj/@Joshtarwater and is to be, including all contents herein considered for all legal purposes the property of the Sonic the Hedgehog intellectual property (IP) and copyright owners, SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS. All story contributors via prompt, suggestion, written scene, art, and all and every other contribution acknowledge that all contributed material is forfeit for legal purposes to SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS upon official request from SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic fan fiction #sonic au #sonic au series #sonic ring bond #the journey #classic amy #amy rose #rosy the rascal #au amy #amy redesign #sonic oc #patch #draw the koala #mote the fairy #blister the mouse #over the grizzly

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hotelandresorts123 · 4 months

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Hotels near srirangam temple Tiruchirappalli

Tiruchirappalli, commonly known as Trichy, is a vibrant city in Tamil Nadu, India. Renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage, it is home to numerous temples and architectural marvels. Among its many attractions, the Srirangam Temple stands out as a significant religious and tourist destination. For visitors seeking comfort and convenience near this iconic landmark, Lemon Tree Hotels offers an ideal stay with its blend of modern amenities and warm hospitality.

Location and accessibility Lemon Tree Hotels is strategically located near Srirangam Temple, making it a prime choice for tourists and pilgrims. The hotel's proximity to this revered temple allows guests to immerse themselves in the spiritual ambiance of one of India's largest temple complexes without the hassle of long commutes. Additionally, the hotel is well-connected to the city's other attractions, business hubs, and transportation facilities, providing a seamless travel experience for both leisure and business travellers.

Accommodation Lemon Tree Hotels prides itself on offering comfortable and stylish accommodations that cater to various needs and preferences. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, featuring contemporary decor and modern amenities to ensure a restful stay. Guests can choose from a range of room categories, including Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, and Executive Suites, each equipped with high-speed internet, flat-screen TVs, and plush bedding. The hotel's commitment to cleanliness and hygiene further enhances the overall guest experience.

Dining Experience The dining options at Lemon Tree Hotels are designed to delight the palates of every guest. The hotel houses a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves an array of delicious dishes, ranging from traditional South Indian fare to international delicacies. The chefs use fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create flavorful meals that cater to diverse tastes. For those looking to unwind with a drink, the hotel also features a bar that offers a selection of beverages in a relaxed setting.

Amenities and services Lemon Tree Hotels offers a wide range of amenities and services to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. Some of the standout features include:

Fitness Centre: Guests can maintain their fitness routine at the well-equipped gym. Business Centre: For business travellers, the hotel provides a business centre with high-speed internet and conferencing facilities. Swimming Pool: The outdoor swimming pool is perfect for a refreshing dip after a day of sightseeing. Spa: The in-house spa offers rejuvenating treatments to help guests relax and unwind. 24-hour Front Desk: The hotel's front desk is available around the clock to assist with any queries or requests. Laundry Service: Efficient laundry services ensure that guests have fresh clothes throughout their stay. Travel Desk: The travel desk can arrange local tours and transportation and provide information about nearby attractions.

Exploring Srirangam Temple and Surroundings

Staying at Lemon Tree Hotels gives guests easy access to the magnificent Srirangam Temple, dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Vishnu. This temple is not only a significant pilgrimage site but also an architectural masterpiece with intricately carved gopurams (towers), mandapams (halls), and sanctums. Visitors can explore the temple's sprawling complex, participate in various rituals, and soak in the serene atmosphere.

Beyond the temple, Tiruchirappalli offers several other attractions worth exploring. The Rockfort Temple, perched atop a rocky outcrop, provides panoramic views of the city. The Jambukeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is another notable site known for its unique water-themed architecture. For history enthusiasts, the Government Museum showcases a collection of artefacts and exhibits that narrate the region's rich past.

Conclusion Lemon Tree Hotels near Srirangam Temple in Tiruchirappalli are an excellent choice for travellers seeking a blend of comfort, convenience, and cultural immersion. Its strategic location, modern amenities, and dedicated services ensure that guests have a pleasant and enriching stay. Whether visiting for pilgrimage, leisure, or business, guests can enjoy the best of Tiruchirappalli while experiencing the renowned hospitality of Lemon Tree Hotels. With its commitment to quality and guest satisfaction, Lemon Tree Hotels stands out as a premier accommodation option near Srirangam Temple.

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architectnews · 3 years

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W Hotel Osaka Building Interior

W Hotel, Osaka Interior, Japanese Building Development, Property Images, Architecture

W Hotel in Osaka Accommodation

Updated 24 Mar 2021 + 9 Dec 2020

W Hotel, Osaka

Design: Concrete

Location: 4-1-3 Minami Senba, Chuo-ku, 542-0081 Osaka, Japan

W Hotel Osaka Opens its Doors

Situated on Midosuji Boulevard, a new 27-story landmark high-rise, designed by Nikken Sekkei and with a Tadao Ando supervised facade, is the home of Japan’s first W Hotel. Don’t be deceived by its simple black monolith design – inside hides a world of extravagance! Its interior is inspired by the many facets of the city, welcoming guests to experience Osaka, through the eyes of concrete.

The true spirit of Osaka Every W Hotel is designed for its specific location – with foreign designers invited to offer the fresh perspectives of an outsider. For W’s first hotel in Japan, concrete absorbed the sites, sounds, flavors and thrills of Osaka. From the simple beauty of the cherry blossoms and gingko trees lining the Midosuji Boulevard to the vibrant neon and busy streetscape of Osaka’s nightlife district Dotonburi. Concrete found inspiration in both the simple and traditional, as well as the modern, obsessive and extravagant and created a design concept of extravagant simplicity – celebrating the true spirit of the city.

The arrival The “wow” experience begins as you enter the long arrival tunnel from the main Midōsuji Boulevard entrance. Inspired by delicate blossoms and the fine art of origami, more than 3000 circles were laser cut into sturdy metal and folded randomly. The lights behind the abstract blossom change colors with the 4 seasons and shift in intensity from daytime to night – creating an otherworldly portal into the world of W Osaka. The Osaka experience proceeds in the arrival lobby. Here, the asanoha pattern was the inspiration behind the ceiling, flooring and staircase. A simple yet bold ceiling uses a scaled-up, 3D version of this traditional geometric pattern – which is reflected in the pattern on the granite flooring, in 6 dark grey shades.

The social heart – living room & bar In a standard hotel, the first thing guests see is the check-in counter. Instead, when exiting the lift, W Osaka guests immediately see the bar, the social heart of the hotel. To connect and separate the spaces that serve the W Osaka guests on this floor – like an endless shoji screen – a continuous white, sheer curtain with sharp origami-style pleats flows from here to there and around again.

Guests are welcome to relax (and people-watch) in the hotel’s Living Room – half indoors, and half outdoors. Above the indoors lounge floats a wild cloud of rectangular lamps, hanging vertically and horizontally, at various heights. White zigzag “neon” lights shine through the translucent acrylic forms, in a desaturated homage to Osaka’s electric nightlife scenery. It’s like the colors of the neon have dripped on top of the furniture, and are arranged from purple to pink to orange to yellow to blue to green.

Restaurant oh.lala… The interior design for this French themed bistro-diner draws its inspiration from traditional copper pots and pans, as well as the typical Breton blue and white striped shirt. Along the wall stainless steel shelves are styled with unique porcelain objects decorated in blue dots – combining traditional French shapes & colors with the circle obsession of W Osaka. Adding sparkle from above, are clouds of small ball pendant lights, suspended at different heights within the waves of the curtain.

The WET deck, bar & courtyard Inspired by the Japanese love for nature, the WET area is characterised by smooth walls and round corners. The endless line of the horizon is the simplest abstraction of nature. This line becomes a playful element connecting all the spaces on this floor, as a chrome horizon flows along the walls. Each area has its own character – color-coded in shades of green, grey, blue or pink tiling – defining the space’s function.

Open to the elements, with views of sky, W Osaka’s WET courtyard is an oasis, with live planting trailing down the walls of the atrium. From its elevated position on the horizon line, the pool forms a blue backdrop to this area. Directly adjacent to the courtyard, guests can grab a cocktail at the WET bar.

The guest rooms The color theme of the guest rooms alternates per floor, between sakura pink and blue – allowing guests to choose the color they prefer. The rooms consist of an open plan, with the living room, sleeping zone and bathroom separated by a contemporary glass shoji screen. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light and amazing views of the city. A wall made of grey tinted 2-way mirrors conceals an ‘escape’ lighting feature. When turned on, it transforms the room with dramatic pink or blue diagonal stripes, inspired by Osaka’s neon. Another surprise is locked away behind the walnut doors of the closets. Famous for their gamer’s pixel art, eBoy graphic designers created a “pixorama” of Osaka, filled to the brim with the city’s famous landmarks in full pixilated color.

bathroom: Having a semi-open bathroom offers guests the level of privacy they prefer – with the option of closing off the bathroom from the sleeping area – using the contemporary shoji screen. The entire bathroom is clad in grey marble. Guests can either enjoy a good hot soak in the white, freestanding tub – or use the separate shower, located behind grey tinted glass doors.

sleeping zone: In the center of the room, walnut flooring demarcates the sleeping zone. A walnut ledge runs across wall, extending into the living room. This holds the king bed, bedside tables and black cone lamps – as well as the living room sofa. Behind the ledge, soft uplighting illuminates a white plaster wall. A round, rice paper lamp, inspired by Japanese fans, subtly glows on the wall. At the foot of the bed is a large tatami pouf.

living room :The 3rdarea, the living room, is defined by soft carpet in a gradient pattern running from pink (or blue) to grey. Each room has a sofa, 2 bar stool and a walnut cocktail bar, which can also serve as a desk. The main purpose of the bar is enjoying cocktails of course! The bar extends into a niche lined with reflective, rainbow colored dichroic film, with a mirror backsplash.

EWOW suite High above Osaka, on the 27thfloor, the Extreme Wow suite looks out over – and beyond – the skyline of the city. Inspired by traditional Japanese homes, the suite was designed in a sequence of 5 rooms divided by deep, oak portals with sliding shoji screens that can be used to close off or open up the different rooms.

The overall design is based on the duality of simplicity and extravagance, allowing guests to change the atmosphere of the suite. Whether they desire an intimate and personal ambiance, or want to create a more extraverted setting for entertaining.

So open up the secret karaoke booth, roll out the dj station, pick up that mic and let’s party!

Photography: marriott international

Osaka Accommodation Building:

The busy urban streetscape of Osaka welcomes concrete’s latest interior project: The first W Hotelin Japan. With a total of 337 guest rooms & suites, W Osaka asserts its presence with a 27-story high-rise building by Nikken and a black monolith facade designed by Tadao Ando.

Created for Sekisui House and Marriott International, and in collaboration with Nikken an Nikken Space Design, the building is due to open in March 2021.

Concrete’s team of Dutch designers explored Osaka’s past, present, and future, its urban and natural landscapes, and its fascinating culture. Visually, they discovered that Osaka is water and nature – but also neon and bright colors. Struck by the contrast between the aesthetic of Japanese minimalism and the extravagance of an urban world saturated with colors. Especially in downtown Osaka an Dotonbori – Osaka’s nightlife district – the display of flashing neon is breathtakingly vivid and joyful.

The goal is to share the spirit of the city with the guests of W Osaka. And let the interior of the hotel tell a story that is truly Osaka. Celebrating the opposing – yet complementary – forces of extravagance and simplicity.

The sprawling metropolis of Osaka was once the imperial capital of Japan and the country’s economic hub. At its heart, the wide Yodo River flows into a harbor bustling with trade. Throughout its history, visitors contributed their cultures and technologies to the city – creating a prosperous port with an extroverted, lively, and somewhat rebellious culture.

All of this energy attracts international businesses and visitors. Concrete’s team of Dutch designers explored Osaka’s past, present, and future, its urban and natural landscapes, and its fascinating culture.

W Hotel, Osaka – Building Information

Interior designer: Concrete

Project team: Rob Wagemans, Bart de Beer, Julia Hundermark, Sofie Ruytenberg, Cathelijne Vreugdenhil, Femke Zumbrink, Marlou Spierts, Minouk Balster, Valentina Venturi, Petra Moerbeek, Erik van Dillen

Developer: Sekisui House Architect of record: Nikken Sekkei with Tadao Ando (façade) Graphic & signage designer: Concrete Styling: Concrete Executive interior designer: Nikken Space Design Purchasing agent: Crosslink Corporation Specialist joinery: PLUS furniture company, idc-Otsuka Lighting consultant: LPA lighting

Specialist lighting: Koizumi, Daiko lighting

Bespoke artwork: eBoy (guestrooms), Sigrid Calon (suites), Lok Jansen (sushi restaurant)

Total area: 37.000 sqm Total floors: 27 Total rooms: 337

Address: Hotel W Osaka 4-1-3 Minami Senba, Chuo-ku, 542-0081 Osaka- Japan

About W Hotels Worldwide Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with more than 55 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands.

With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up, and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring, and infectious, the brand’s supercharged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle

About Sekisui House Founded in 1960, Sekisui House, Ltd. Is one of the world’s largest homebuilders and an internationally diversified developer, with cumulative sales of over 2 million homes. Based in Osaka, Sekisui House has over two-hundred consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates, over twenty-thousand employees, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange.

Sekisui House aims to create homes and communities that improve with time and last for generations. With “Love of Humanity” as its Corporate Philosophy, Sekisui House believes that homes should offer comfort, security, and peace of mind for residents while maintaining harmony with the environment and its surroundings. Sekisui House has sustainability as a core corporate target and is now the global leader in the construction of net-zero-energy homes with more than fifty-thousands of them built since the product was launched in 2013. In 2009, Sekisui House expanded into several new international markets and now operates in the United States, China, Singapore, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

About concrete Since 1997 concrete develops concepts in architecture, interior design, urban development, and brand development. We work with a team of 50 multidisciplinary creatives for corporations and institutions. Next to W Osaka, Projects include W Hotels in London and Verbier, citizenM hotels worldwide, Zoku Lofts, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, Mongkok Skypark, Andaz Munchen, and more.

Images: concrete

W Hotel, Osaka images / information received 091220

Location: Osaka, Kansai Region, island of Honshu, Japan, East Asia

Osaka Buildings

Buildings in Osaka, Kansai Region, island of Honshu

House in Matsuyacho, Osaka Design: Shogo Aratani Architect & Associates photo : Shigeo Ogawa House in Matsuyacho

Kakko House, Osaka Architect: YYAA photo : Keishiro Yamada Kakko House in Osaka

House in Senri, Suita, Osaka Shogo Iwata photograph : Nagaishi Hidehiko House in Senri

House F Architect: Kenji Architectural Studio photograph : Takumi Ota House F – Osaka Residence

N strips Residence Architect: Jun Murata / JAM photograph : Jun Murata / JAM N strips Residence Osaka

Japanese Architecture

Japanese Architecture Design – chronological list

Japanese Architecture – Selection

Japanese Architect

Japanese Office Buildings

Contemporary Houses : Designs + Images from around the world

Comments / photos for the W Hotel, Osaka Building – New Japanese Hotel Architecture page welcome

Website: Osaka

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maidenof-thesea · 5 years

Text

Snakes and Butterflies | Preface

Pairing: Jimin x reader

Genre: Soulmate Au!, Fluff, Angst, Smut (Maybe, still debating)

Words: 2.1k

Warnings: MC briefly mentions self harm but she recovers.

Note: So this is my first series, I sort of dabbled in writing when I was younger. so I’m no expert but feedback is appreciated. I always enjoyed reading fan-fictions and always wanted to try it myself. Hope you like it!

"So your room will be on the 3rd floor, facing the parking lot behind this building" I say to the couple in front of me as I hand them the keys to their hotel room. When they both reach for the keys I see their soulmate marks both matching arrows. I look up and feel my fake customer smile come on my face as I met their gaze. "Elevator is on the first hallway to your right as soon as you leave out the door. Dial zero if you have any questions." As soon as the couple is out of hearing range, I let out a sigh that Fernando, the security guard, hears.

"It's almost time till you get off," He says. "I have 7 more hours to go.."

"Oh you’re right" I say, as I look at the time on my phone. "Time to go home to the love of my life: my Yuki."

"Y/n, you need to go out and have fun like other girls your age," He says laughing and rubbing his beer pot belly. "You never know, you might just meet the love of your life...which would be nice in times like these.."

"Times like what?" I say counting out my last cash drop of my shift. "Did you see something on Facebook again? I told you so many times--"

"I saw this on the local news!" He says with red blotching his cheeks. "Young girls! Young girls around your age getting abducted! They turn up later on having no memory only that their Soulmate marks are gone!"

"Let me guess," I say printing out my paperwork and logging out of the system so that I could wait for my relief to come running through the door late again. "All these girls had a bunch to drink while having this so called 'fun' you say and this happened to them."

He stammers for words and in comes running my coworker who happens to work the graveyard shift. I saluted her and I gestured for her to hurry up and clock in since guests are pulling in the parking lot. She smiles and hurries to start the beginning of her shift, while Fernando walks me to my car.

"Okay," He starts when we reach my car. "Perhaps not now but later when this whole ordeal dies down." I hum in response ready to get in my car as I unlock it, but he stops my door from opening.

"I just worry about you, that's all y/n. Most girls either rebel or try very hard to find the one that matches their Mark but you.. you hide behind those sweaters and let no one near you, I've never even seen your Mark-"

“Fernando," I say grasping his shoulder. "There's no need to worry, I'm just letting fate decide for me. We've been blessed with this, surely fate means for me to come across them at some point in my life." I feel my other hand clench at the word 'blessed'. Surely to me it was a curse. I force myself to smile and I see that it works, he's convinced. "I just want time for myself. I want to grow into a person that feels like she's lived her life and is willing to open up and welcome someone." That wasn't a lie, that was genuine and I felt my voice wavering with emotion. Emotion I didn't know I still had. Fernando pats my hand and opens my door. I roll down the window after starting the ignition. I smile as I hear his radio go off, my coworker stating she needs him upfront.

"Alright then miss," he says smiling. "I will let you go now and get some sleep!" I wave at him, as I reverse out and start the short drive home. My smile fading off my face as I clenched the steering wheel, willing myself to force unwanted emotions and memories away and drove the short distance to my home.

The reason I decided to move out here to one of the beach cities was to escape. I found solitude in the sounds of the waves. My friend Jennie had recommended me to stay in this house alongside her family’s private beach, once I had told her my plans of moving out. She told me the rent would be really cheap which was impossible to believe but she told me that her family was planning on making it an airbnb during the summer and that they needed someone to manage it. She offered a wage but of course I declined, I just told her to hire someone to clean and I’ll manage the rest.

It had been a year since then and now summer was just peaking over the horizon again and I knew I was gonna have to take time off to get everything situated. As I got through my door, my beloved Yuki, my tonkinese cat greets me with her purring and rubbing around my ankles.

“Hello my precious, how was your night?”

She purrs and licks my petting hand. I go to take off my coat and shower before bed. As I strip my work clothes, my arms catch my glance and from the conversation from earlier, I am reminded just how much of a freak I am. Where there should have been a Mark, lied just my skin. Scarred skin, to be exact, scars that matched my finger nails.

Rather than face the questions and pity in people’s faces, I rather hide. Hide just how pitiful my life has been. As the warmth of the water envelops me, I don’t feel the need to hide, at least not here in my own home, well that is till the summer. I force the pity I have for myself away and hum a tune. After that I fed Yuki a late night snack and turned on the TV to watch some Netflix. Just then my phone dinged and I saw a message from my mother.

Mom[10:47 pm]: Have you seen this? Link: ww.foxnews.com/missingMarks

I clicked on the link and apparently the news I thought was just local made national news.

“Today in a small town in southern California, tragedy has struck for several young adolescents who were out enjoying their youth when their very futures may very well change forever.” I rolled my eyes at that. They’ll live. “These women were abducted and their Soulmate marks stripped from their arms. All of them have no recollection of their whereabouts in the last 14 hours. Here’s Nancy with one of the victims.”

The clip changes to a girl with her eyes blurred out but it was evident that she was crying as she kept wiping her face.

“I swear I just needed some air, I stepped out for a bit and I woke up at some park and this excruciating pain in my arm… my Mark was gone, almost as if it was burned off! How am I ever-gonna find them?!”

Once again I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes, although a part of me was reminded of my teenage years but now older me, thrives in independence. My phone dings again, indicating another message from my mother.

Mom[10:52 pm]: They think there’s some Neanderthals out there taking Marks away… is that even possible? I thought they were extinct…

Me[10:52 pm]: I thought that was just a bedtime story??

Mom[10:55 pm]: Seriously? It’s in the history books! Why would you think that?

Me[10: 57 pm]: You know why… I don’t really care for things involving those stupid Marks. Besides I learned that along with basic math, how am I supposed to remember that?

Mom[10:57 pm]: I know sorry. But you should at least know our history!

Me[10:58 pm]: Ok I’ll watch a documentary on it on Netflix right now

Mom[10:59 pm]: You just got off work! Go to sleep!

Me[10:59 pm]: yea yea goodnight <3

“Maybe we should just sleep Yuki?” I say as she jumps on my lap and continues to purr and make herself comfortable before I could even get up. “Oh well guess I’m not moving.”

I grab the remote and start Netflix and about to click on Stranger, a Korean drama that I binged in the night prior but a new planet earth documentary catches my eye. This time instead of endangered species it’s about Neanderthals, an extinct race of human beings.

“Would you look at that?” I say tilting my head in curiosity. “Guess I am gonna learn our history.”

As the documentary starts to play, I get a text from my boss that she needs me off for tomorrow so I could work a full shift the day after and I internally groan but realize I can sleep in tomorrow. The theme song of Planet Earth starts playing and I am reminded of my childhood when I see the photograph of the Neanderthals, they look more ape like than human. I begin to wonder if they really actually looked like that or if they were exaggerated or not. Would they still look like that or would evolution help them adapt among humans now? Assuming that they were still alive…

“Humans and Neanderthals have always had their differences and constantly were at war with each other. Evolution had blessed humans with the abilities to procreate faster by aiding humans to find suitable partners. Each generation of humans was more beautiful than the previous. The Neanderthals, unfortunately were unable to evolve like us human beings and they would rape and pillage humans in order to procreate. Thanks to our advancement in evolution, humans were able to develop better weapons and eradicate the Neanderthals…”

“Okay,” I said rolling my eyes, raising the remote control. “Enough of that genocide bullshit.”

“But what if that’s all a lie?” a man obscured in the video said. On the bottom where typically the name of professors or researchers would be credited, the name ‘John Doe’ was instead. This caused me to raise my eyebrows. This man did not want to be known. Of course what he just said is considered blasphemous. “What if I were to tell you that humans are not the apex predators-that we never were the apex predator? That our ancestors may have won the war but fabricated history for their benefit?”

“That’s quite possible,” I mumbled. “But how could you possibly obtain the evidence to prove that?”

“Of course there is no evidence left to prove that but I have dedicated my entire research into finding the remaining Neanderthals. Our ancestors could never locate the actual origin of the Neanderthals-”

“Seriously? I thought that place was just a myth!” I exclaimed, rousing Yuki from her sleep. With the flick of her tail she hopped off the couch and headed to my bedroom to sleep on my bed. “Sorry baby.”

The documentary went on and on about the possibility that Neanderthals may live among us. That everything we know is a lie, that Neanderthals were the ones who evolved, they were the ones that had Soulmate marks… but there was no evidence to support it.

I turned off the TV when the credits started to roll. “Well another documentary to piss off the republicans.” My eyes started to feel heavy and instead of going to my bed I just pulled the throw blanket over myself and fell asleep.

“Y/n look! Fireflies!” a boy with crescent moon eyes and Cheshire smile came running up to me with cupped hands. On his arm, was a Soulmate mark that wrapped around his entire arm, like a snake. It was the most beautiful I had ever seen. Most marks were abstract symbols but this was the first animal one I had ever seen.

“Can I see, Jimin?” another boy said excitedly running with buck teeth, almost like a bunny’s.

“No I want to show Y/n first!” and the boy called Jimin reached me and opened his hands.

The fireflies floated up the sky and both me and the other boy stared in awe. The other boy proceeded to try and catch the fireflies once more and when I looked back at Jimin, he was already staring at me with a gleam in his eyes. He reached for my hand and when our skin made contact, a shiver went through the both of us. When I looked at our joined hands, I noticed that instead of a snake tail on his wrist, the snake’s body seemed to morph into particles and the particles continued onto my arm and morphed into butterflies..like a puzzle piece.

“Y/N-”

Masterlist

#jimin #bts #jimin x reader #reader insert #soulmate au #soulmate!au #bts soulmate au #my work #kpop scenarios #kpop oneshots #bts smut #jimin smut

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pan1418 · 5 years

Text

Happy Holi

When I told people that I was traveling to India they would always ask me the same question; "What are you going to do there?" My answer was always the same. "I don't know" I would say. I knew that I was being guided to practice living life in a different way. A way in which my mind did not think it knew what was going to happen because it was not actively involved in planning any preconceived ideas of what I imagine would unfold. This has left me very much open to follow synchronicity and allow my journey to be experienced from a place of curiosity and pure awareness.

The interaction of explaining to others that I didn't know what I was going to do or where I was going to stay, lies at the heart of my experience here. I can see that we as humans are very much conditioned to believe that we should know, ahead of time, everything that we are going to be doing and why. I've been challenged by this dynamic inside my own consciousness. A good example of this is that I felt as though I should at least have a hotel reserved and idea of what to do when I landed in the middle of the night in Delhi. Then my training began. What I had planned to happen completely changed and I was immediately thrust into a present time situation where I had to redirect my energy and follow the path that felt most harmonious in that moment.

There are many other smaller circumstances that have been occuring in the same way. I get an idea that I should go somewhere or do something, and when that is not what ends up happening, I have watch myself get down on myself and come up with some reason why I wasn't strong or brave enough to do the original thing I had planned. I can also feel the amount of energetic resistance that appears in my body and how uncomfortable I become.

This has led me to an internal investigation on the nature of this inherent relationship with mental control and the fear and resistance that is connected to the preceived lack of achievement by enforcing this control. That is why when people ask each other what they are doing and why, they expect there to be a sound, logical, and explainable reason for every action or behavior. The longer I have been here in India I can feel these inner forces losing their controlling influence over my behavior.

There is a story that over two thousand years ago, India had a ruler they called a demon king. He was obsessed with power and control. He commanded his people to worship him as if he were God. Failure to give him the respect and admiration he was commanding resulted in death. People were by and large too afraid of him to stand against him and therefore the ruler was worshiped as God. The demon king even commanded his own son to worship him. However his son would not. His son maintained his own connection to God. This enraged the demon king. He tried to kill his own son many times. He made him jump off a cliff but he was unhurt. He poisoned his son but the poison turned to nectar in the son's mouth. The king commanded that he be trampled by elephants but again the son remained unharmed. Finally the demon king made his son sit on a bonfire pyre with him. The demon king had a magic cloth that would protect him from the flames. As they sat together and the pyre was lit, the magic cloth flew from the demon king and surrounded his son instead. The demon king was destroyed and the people celebrated. This celebration continues to this day. It is called the Holi celebration and it celebrates the victory of good over evil. On the full moon towards the end of February or beginning of March, the celebration begins and carries through the entire next day.

I have made some unexpected changes in my daily life since I have been here, such as only eating one meal per day. Given how the food is so delishious and the culture is organized around cafes, this was very surprising. Another change has been to limit my travelling by rickshaw or taxi. My intention has been to walk everywhere I can. This feels like it keeps my awareness open to more things in between destinations. I find myself feeling what my attention is attracted to. For instance if I am hungry then I will head in a certain direction and see what sign I may be drawn to. Sometimes I think I am heading to a certain place and I find myself drawn to another.

This practice has led to being more aware of where I am in the moment and who happens to be around me. It seems that this practice would just parcipetate random circumstances but my experience is just the opposite. It feels that there is stangly more orginization and orchestration to the flow of events then if I was to construct and follow a plan. For instance I was walking down the street with my friend Lukas as we were heading to his hotel for a warmer jacket. On the way he spotted his friend Rick that was sitting a local cafe and we decided to stop in. After a couple hours of great conversation another man walked in. And based on the content of our conversation the newcomer, who also was named Rick although much younger, joined in what we were talking about and we became aquatinted.

The following day I was headed out of my room at the guesthouse I was staying, and I ran into my friend Leizel who recommended me the room. She was headed out for lunch, as was I, so we decided to go together. The last time Liezel and I went out for lunch we could not get into her favorite cafe because it was too busy so we went somewhere else. On this day we decided to go to her favorite as there were less people today. As we were chatting and having lunch, in walks young Rick! He was promoting a Holi party that his friend was throwing on the following day. I took a flier from him and felt how the synchronistic connection brought me a opportunity that I otherwise was not considering. (On a side note, as I am writing this, I feel that I have to go to the bathroom. As I peer around the corner to look for a restroom there is the older Rick! The chances of seeing the same people in different places so regularly is astronomically low. There is obviously another force at work here.)

On the day of the Holi celebration I hear children outside squealing and hollering as if it were Christmas morning. The main tradition connected with this holiday is that everyone procures bags of different brightly colored paint powder. As they pass by each other on the street they throw clouds of the different color powder at one another. There is also the tradition of squirting each other with water guns. My fist image of this event as I emerged from my room was smiling people in every direction, young and old, completely covered head to toe in an exploding rainbow of color and chaos. I will never forget the first stranger who walked up to me and smeared a handful of the paint powder right across my face! It was amazing! Any care or concern of my own cleanliness and appearance instantly dissolved into pure joy as I entered the citywide festival. All of the normally consistently operating shops are closed on this day and every one takes to the streets with their friends and family. They shout Happy Holi in greetings to one another. With no regard for color or ethnicity they greet one another with the most vibrant enthusiasm. Ironically there does not appear to be any acquisition or goal of the holiday apart from ceasibg the normal daily routine in favor of singing, dancing, squirting water from unknown locations, and smearing each other silly with color. I think this is my favorite holiday of all time! I had the thought that once everyone's head and features are completely covered in paint, you could not tell if people are of a different ethnicity at all.

As I made my way to the pickup point there was a caravan of shuttle taxis to take people to the Holi party. It was said to be situated along the rivers edge about 6 miles outside of town. They ferverntley packed as many people in each SUV sized taxi and we all hung on for our lives as the taxi sped off towards it's destination. After a few weeks of aclimating to the Indian style of driving I have developed an implicit trust in the fact that if they had been driving their whole life and not killed themselves yet, then they would, most likely, not kill me now. Then it really chocks it up to the adventure to surrender and let go into the flow of what is happening. Life can be so fun!

The party was amazing. It was set inside the grounds of Riverside resort. They piled up the biggest speakers they could find and put out plates full of powdered paint in every color. What ensued was raging trance driven dance party where everyone was dawning their biggest smiles and a face filled of different colors. Many people I met had either travelled from other parts of India or neighboring countries to take part in this celebration because they claim that the culture of which they come fron is not as able to let go and have this much fun! The reccuring theme that continues to impress me is how the common intention to be open minded, open hearted, and open to new connections and experiences is what generates the amazing synchronistic energy that unites us all in this place.

Every day, more and more, I awake with the fresh feeling of optimism in the face of the unknown. Simply allowing my intuitive feelings guide my movement and my curiosity to turn each corner and explore the next step. More and more I am feeling victorious as my Heart and my Soul are receiving my attention and directing the movement of my life. More and more I am able to observe the inner workings of my mind and allow it to surrender it's ideas about the way things should be. My mind is a beautiful tool and loyal companion. But I see now that my mind was never built to know what is going to happen next. Nor can it truly protect me from unforseen circumstances and events. It cannot possibly aquire enough understanding to finally fill any void of value or self worth. It is just meant to be a recording device or rather and administrative assistant to the Heart. It takes notes. It follows along. It creates stories. It plays with meaning. It contemplates purpose. But by itself it cannot control life. It can only watch.

This is what I feel is hidden in the story of the origin of the Holi celebration. In the story the demon king was obsessed with being worshiped. He wanted to believe that he was God. He believed that if he forced everyone to treat him as such then he would finally achieve the reality he was wanting to create for himself. But no matter how much control he had and how many people did treat him in the way he wanted, his son was not convinced. His son knew of his own connection and followed his own path. Even when the demon king tried to destroy his son and prove his authority, ultimatly he could not. And his attempt to eradicate his son on the pyre only resulted in his own demise. I see this as a metaphor for these unconscious workings within the mind. The mind is unknowingly attempting to conquer the world and dominate it's circumstances. It attempts to aquire what is wanted for itself and seeks to eradicate what it feels threatened by. It secretly wishes to wield the power of God. To be seen as God. The son in the story represents the Heart or the Soul. It knows it's true connection with God. Nothing can separate the Heart from God no matter how hard the forces of control may try. And in the process of the demon king trying to solidify his own power, he finds he is only bringing about his own destruction and the release of control.

This struggle that occurs within each human being is also being played out on the larger scale of political, economic, or social events. Anytime we are seeing situations of injustice, victimization, protesting, or mass epidemics, what we are actually seeing is the battle between the Heart and the mind of each of the people involved. The mind of these people are scared. They are terrified of losing their illusionary sense that they are in control and can keep themselves safe. The mind will try to eradicate what it preceivs as the cause of the threat. The Heart already knows that there is no conflict. The Heart knows it is truly indestructible and that everything that is occuring in every experience, without exception, is proceeding according to a very divinity orchestrated set of circumstances designed for it's own evolution and expansion. There is a perspective shift underway. Each conflict is guiding every person more and more out of the fearful perspective that their mind is holding, and into the peace filled perspective that resides in their own Heart. What is being asked for is a willing sacrifice. That each individual sacrifice and let go of what they believe should happen and why. To truly surrender to the Divine Grace of God's truth and walk into the eternal corridors of the Soul where life unfolds unexpectedly and is full of unknowns. Each person is learning how to make themselves feel at home in this realm of uncertainties. Only then will we be as children again and ready to enter the kingdom of heaven. When children come to live on Earth, they open their eyes wide in wonder and marvel at every small miracle that occurs for them. They may be upset one minute and completely joyful the next. They have not yet developed a fully mature mind and they have no need of reasons or justifications for how their behavior. They are innocent and authentic. No expectations or agendas. This is our training and return to the innocence of the Heart. It may not look the way that we thought that it would, but every Soul is incredibly excited for the new opportunities of our long awaited reunion with God.

There is one more teaching I recieved this week that I would like to share. As I was laying in bed one morning before rising I was shown the clear vision of how energy is playing out in our lives at this time. This vision showed me that the pure energy that moves from the source of all Creation, through our Soul, and expresses into our human consciousness can be felt as inspiration, passion, or excitement. It is our driving force and let's say it is the language of the Soul. The word inspiration is based on the word Spirit. When we are connected with our Source and our Soul we can feel the excitement and inspiration move through every experience we have. Even if that looks like relaxing into a bathtub, going to a dance party, or buying flowers for your partner, it is all the same inspiration coming and it is all coming from the same Source. Now as this vision continued it showed me that when passion and inspiration is not flowing into the expression of human consciousness, it is turned inward and becomes compassion, or compressed passion. It is the same energy flowing from Source but expressed in it's passive state. What this vision showed me is that when we see someone else suffering, or we ourselves are suffering, what we are actually seeing is how the energy and the language of the Soul, the passion, is not able to flow through the consciousness of the individual and is experienced as suffering.

Now as I have said many times there is no mistake in this. Every experience in both expressions of polarity can and will be experienced by consciousness. We will all live each story through for better and for worse. We are amazing in our ability to gather information and expand our conscious awareness through the experience of contrast. That means that the more of one side of a situation is experienced it is actually making way for more opening of the other side. Experiences of sadness make openings for more joy. Experiences of hatred make more openings for Love.

Experiences of compassion make more openings for Passion. By seeing this clearly we can more fully understand that the challenges we are to face in our own lives and the challenges that we watch others endure, are opportunities to stimulate and activate our relationship with compassion. Instead of flying off into the story that the mind will create about why we don't understand that challenging things are happening, we have the ability to see the higher perspective. We can see that the suffering of another, or ourselves, is an opportunity to connect with the light and language of the Soul. We can feel how the passion and excitement has been surpresed and denied within the individual, and the experience of feeling compassion is making room for the inspiration to return. The experience of going inward and connecting to the compassion, without telling a victimized story that there is a good guy and a bad guy, nurtures and activates the passion within them and within you. There are not two or more different kinds of passion/conpassion in different people. It is all the same passion/compassion in everyone. We have many different Souls and bodies but there is only one Light and one Love that flows through us all.

As we face the uncertainty of the coming experiences here on planet Earth we need not fear. We can utilize all challenges and challenging emotions to our advantage of nurturing the seed of new life that is breaking ground towards the sun. Just as the compost of dying material is fertilizer for the growth of plants or the catapillar is in the process of transforming into a butterfly, there are many analogies to describe what we are seeing happen on our world at this time. But the one that I've been shown is that the pure Light, Love, Power, and Inspiration of Creation is returning. And it is moving through our Heart and our Soul. Any place that this energy cannot move into our lives will be experienced as suffering and act as an inclination in an attempt to control our lives. This suffering stimulates great compassion within us as a means of nurturing the dorment Inspiration untill we have completed our experiences of being separated from the Universal language of the Soul, passion. Through the power of contrast we will have purified our desire to follow the path of dillusion, and surrender the controlling tendencies of our mind and activate the dorment Passion waiting to move more fully into our lives. This will feel as if a a cosmic springtime has come. We will watch ourselves as we explode into new growth and burst into brilliant colors like wildflowers erupting in the medeow. Joy will ring from the highest mountains and we will meet one another in Love and joy. A great celebration will ensue in response to our victory. Children will laugh and play in the streets. All we will need is the magical Now moment in all its simplicity and synchronicity. Everyone will be excited to be there, expressing their passion, together. Happy Holi ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

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Sound art guide to Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) 2018

Guest feature by sound artist Lisa Hall.

Bangkok’s first Art Biennale is a huge exhibition with over 200 works across 20 locations. Works are by international and Thai artists, curated by artistic director Prof.Dr. Apinan Poshyananda. Closing on 3 Feb, it's the final chance to visit!

The theme, “beyond bliss”, is a refreshing call to think beyond our notions of happiness, to instead a state of something in-between bliss and sorrow that Prof. Poshyananda believes will be more fulfilling and sustainable. He hopes that in this endeavour “we may find ways and paths that guide us to our own pursuits in life” and although it may be difficult to attain this form of ultimate happiness, his request to “at least let us try” is a very moving premise for this show.

Art works:

Although none of the artworks are particularly termed as “sound art” works, there are two sound installations and a number of video and performance based works that have an interesting focus on, or use of, sound. Here’s a quick guide to some sound based works in this years BAB:

Yuki Kihara

Taualuga: The last dance

Performance (video installation)

This video work captures a performance of an invocation of ancestral presence - a Samoan ceremony to clean and care for the bones of the ancestors. While the title sets the context for this piece, referencing the Taualuga, a Samoan dance performed to both affirm Samoan resilience and lament the losses encountered in its colonial history.

The artist performs this ceremony dancing slowly against a white wall wearing a long dark dress. Although alone she is accompanied by many trace presences, which perhaps represent her ancestors - her shadow dancing in sharp spotlight contrast on the wall behind her, and 30 or so voices singing. These voices presumably come from the past, as the recording sounds as if it could be a field recording of a Taualuga. This may be a recording that the artist has access to from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, who hold a photographic archive, that she had responded to. The recording sounds as if it’s captured outside, comprised of 30 or so bodies, clapping, stamping and singing a two part melody, while calling out and playing percussive instruments. And while the song builds optimistically, almost generating a positive uplift with every carefully delivered verse, the artist has choreographed a mournful and almost resigned dance to perform: The last dance.

And after leaving the installation the sound continues to follows you around the galley - snippets of its uplifting song continuing to catch you.

Joscha Steffens

Dream hack

Videos

This video is silent, and its in the not-hearing that it opens a new perspective on what your seeing. Close up footage shows hands quickly clicking at a computer mouse. These hands belong to 'addicted’ teenagers playing computer games - all of whom are being treated at an addiction clinic. By removing the 'clicks’ the artist gently reframes these movements in silence, as a frenzied twitching or compulsive tick, rather than the gestures of a game player. Whether or not these teens really are addicted and need therapy, it's a perspective that's nicely conveyed by simply omitting the sound.

His second video work depicts a fake world of Nazi soldiers, still living and fighting on an island. It looks as if it could be a live role play game documented by rough, blurry camera work. This piece does have sound and it's a very effective component in the piece. The soundtrack helps to validate this on-screen world as ‘real’, presumably to play with the boundaries between a game world and reality. While the work also references real life situations where isolated pockets of fighters have continued long past the end of a war. The soundtrack is of scuffles, of feet shuffling, the banging of guns and water bottles, the wind across the microphone, clothes rustling, stones and gravel underfoot - all of the little sounds of being present, that often go ignored. It makes for an understated soundtrack, but one that keeps the audience very present in this on-screen world, adding perfectly to the artifice and confusion.

Eisa Jocson

Becoming white

Performance, video, sound installation, prints

This is a large body of work, exploring Snow White; her appearance as a ‘physical performance of happiness’, and the experience beneath the surface, of the workers from the Philippines who wear the costumes at Disneyland Hong Kong.

The sound installation is on a mezzanine level, and it has quite an impact as you ascend. Two Snow White dummies are dismembered and lying in heaps at either end of the floor, both roughly painted to have darker skin, each emitting sounds. One has speaker grill holes drilled into it’s chest, the other listens to a speaker within a pillow under its head. The sounds are vocal and guttural - hyperventilating, crying, laughing, singing, reciting lines about shame, trauma and fear, hinting at a darker experience below the costumes for these workers.

The other works in the installation explore the movements of Snow White, or the ‘physical performance of happiness and joy’ as the artist terms it. Although these works focus on movement, some also include the non-verbal sounds of this happiness and joy too. The works include; video documentation that follows a fleet of Snow Whites performing through a city; a video showing two dancers rehearsing the movements in a living room; and a performance of two Snow Whites dancing their ‘happiness’ to a gallery audience. All of these video works excellently capture this outrageous representation of femininity - of floating, gliding movements, sighs and swoons. These video works very simply reframe Snow White within in a day-to-day environment, neatly exposing this excessive representation of a ‘feminine’ happiness.

Image: Bangkok Art Biennale

Lastly, the following artwork which I unfortunately didn’t manage to visit, should definitely be on a your sound art list. Arnont is the only artist in the Biennale who states that they make specific “sound art” work!

Arnont Nongyao

Chat…Naa

LED lights, vibrating camera, and projector

This installation “combines sound, light and moving images to reflect 'Chat', the meaning life, incarnation ornation and 'Naa' the meaning of next, future or to come. The playful title insinuates the condition or state of Thailand in a process of transition full of potential and yet fragile and unpredictable. The hum of sound and dizzying light at the dark corridor of Sermon Hall, Wat Prayoon offer eerie feeling of what is to come in next life.”

And this is a just a small snippet of the works on show at the Biennale - there’s much much more to explore across their 20 different locations. They’ve selected an interesting range of venues too - from dated shopping malls to hotel gardens, abandoned buildings and temples …. So it’s a great way to visit new parts of the city too.

For full details about BAB visit http://www.bkkartbiennale.com

The website makes it a little tricky to read about specific artworks and then find which venue they are in - I found it easiest to download the PDF guide: http://www.bkkartbiennale.com/bab-guidebook/

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Lisa Hall is a London based sound artist exploring urban environments using audio interventions and performative actions. Interrupting behaviour and questioning design, these works aim to make space for something new.

www.lisa--hall.co.uk

#read #soundart #biennale #bab #bangkokbiennale #review #exhibition #whatson #thailand #bangkok

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