#antique music scores

[gardenandcountry]

First red rose, watercolor sketch on antique music scores by Claudine Lecoustre ©️2024

Linktree

[sassmill]

Might need to suddenly become an accompanist for this one specific thing… I’ve got until June

[turbulentscrawl]

can we get norton with modern reader? :3

You sure can! I find these pretty easy to do

-He’s another one who doesn’t give much of a damn, initially. Aside from possibly being a bit bitter over how nice your clothes are in comparison to his (and potentially assuming you’re someone well-off, regardless of whether you are or not), Norton’s opinion of you isn’t informed much by your origins. He’s much more concerned about whether you can make yourself useful in matches.

-There’s a decent chance he doesn’t like that phone of yours, though. The light gives away your position, and unless you brought earbuds along he thinks it’s loud as fuck for such a small thing. And why is so much of future music you play so obnoxious? Guess people of your time left their good taste in the past.

-Being from our modern world, you’re likely better informed about various mental disorders than some of the others in the manor. Even some peripheral knowledge would make you better equipped to handle Norton’s personality flips, and maybe even become something of an advocate for him. One of the biggest hurdles Norton faces in the manor is simply other people not stepping off when he tells them to. They don’t grasp that he’s afraid of hurting them, that he’s looking out for them when he isolates. So, if you’ve got some knowledge or experience and can help convince people to give him his space when he needs it, his opinion of you improves rapidly.

-Norton also doesn’t like to owe people. If the above happens in any capacity? Well, you looked out for him, so now he has to look out for you. Mostly in matches, but if someone gets out of hand mouthing off to you in the manor, he’ll step in then too. You should be prepared for him to keep score, though, and for him to make it known if it turns into you owing him.

-Don’t worry, he’s not some creep. Mostly he’ll start asking to swipe bits of food off your plate at mealtimes. Your future-food is very rich…but good. This much seasoning was hard to come by for him. (I feel like this poor guy would get sick off a baconator, but it wouldn’t stop him from wanting another.) After long enough, he’ll also start asking you to teach him about any labor-based skills you have. Or just general academics, even. Norton’s always looking for ways to self-improve.

-Eventually, your technology will grow on him a bit. Don’t get him wrong, he’s a little angry, a little jealous when you tell him about technological advancements in your time. If he’d been born then, maybe life wouldn’t have been so hard. Maybe he wouldn’t be hacking up his lungs at all hours of the day…. But he swallows that negativity down and starts devising little plans for that phone of yours to help during matches.

-Another way Norton tries to look out for you is by introducing you to his level of technology. Which is…not much at all. You know, maybe you have a thing for vintage and antique, maybe the manor seemed charming to you at first…but Norton knows it will wear off eventually, and then you’ll just feel homesick and vulnerable. The best way he can help you combat that is to make sure you have independence. Home is where you feel safe, and the first step of that is being able to take care of yourself.

-Have you got an inhaler? Please give this man a puff or two, the only reason Black Lung hasn’t killed him is because the manor won’t let it.

[harmonyludwig]

Man why most Dark Academia decor ideas are like "get a Roman marble statue" or "put an antique gramophone".

Most of the Dark Academia "fanbase" are students, myself included. So here's a list of actual room decor that won't make you go bankrupt or rob a museum (tho that would be nice), which works for not only Dark, but any Academia:

Books . Pile up your to-read list or your favorite or just good looking ones.

A lamp. Preferably a little antique-ish, something affordable and nice and one that actually works and doesn't take half your desk.

Candles . The easiest. Just normal or scented one. Put them in one place or scatter through the room.

Flowers . Maybe a little Cottagecore-y, but flowers are nice to gaze upon while daydreaming, calms you down and a nice addition to any room.

Something floral but withered . A pressed flower or a branch with dried leaves. Maybe weird, but it's nice and stays longer than flowers.

A thing or two from a second hand or a flea market just for the ✨ aesthetic ✨ (I have a wooden pipe. I don't smoke and don't intend to). Like a candle holder.

Bo - I can't emphasize this enough - xes. Any size and colour, to put anything from notes to books to flowers. I got a nice looking chest and a jewelry box.

An inspiration board. I got a cork board with letters from my friends and some pictures. I also put there things to remember and tips.

Wall decor. May be a glued to the wall music score, a picture in a frame, flowers (again), photos, quotes and pages of books.

Additional shelves (if possible).

Stationery holder. I've got like 8 (I'm not kidding) on my desks for different purposes bc I'm a horder ;)

Posters. Anime, movies, inspiration, nature... Anything. It's your room.

Anything you feel fits there. A skull you found in the woods? Stick it in. Your laptop to work and watch movies on? Make sure it can charge. Your collection of anything? Make that shit visible fam. A photo of your idol or a loved one? Put it on! A poster with a boys band covered in writing? Above the bed it goes!

You may add more.

[iwtvfanevents]

Rewind the Tape —Episode 7

Art of the episode

Only four days to go until the premiere, and we're finally wrapping up with the last post of our rewatch. Just like we did for the pilot and for episodes two, three, four, five, and six, we took note of the art shown and mentioned in the 7th episode while we rewatched it, and put together our notes for reference. And, now, we're sharing our notes on AO3 too.

Six épigraphes antiques

Claude Debussy, 1914

This suite was originally composed to be played as a duet, but Debussy re-transcribed it as a solo piece the next year.

The Garden of Earthly Delights

Hieronymus Bosch, 1503–1515

Original sin is the theme of Lestat's Mardi Gras ball. The triptych shows that sin "starts in Paradise or Eden on the left panel, with Adam and Eve, and is punished in Hell in the right panel. The centre panel depicts a Paradise that deceives the senses, a false Paradise given over to the sin of lust. This deception is encouraged by the fact that the centre panel is shown as a continuation of Eden through the use of a single, continuous landscape." [From Museo del Prado.]

Let them eat [King] cake!

A historical reference this time: this is the traditional translation of the French phrase "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche," conventionally attributed to Marie Antoinette. The quote can be traced back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions, published in 1765, 24 years prior to the French Revolution, when Antoinette was nine years old; and was only attributed to her decades after her death.

Autumn at Arkville (again!)

We first saw this painting by Alexander H. Wyant in episode 2, in the du Lac family home! It was there during the funeral too but now, almost a decade after Grace left New Orleans, we see it in Rue Royale. We wonder: was this simple prop recycling, or should we ask ourselves how and why Louis came to have that keepsake from his family?

After the Bath: Woman Drying her Neck

Edgar Degas, 1898 [Identified by @nicodelenfent, here.]

This is the third Degas in Rue Royale! It's part of a series of studies of women drying after bathing, which includes charcoal sketches, and we suspect that the unidentified drawing from the hallway might be one of them.

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor

Ludwig van Beethoven, 1801

The closing song of the season is a classic, better known as the Moonlight Sonata, but the first edition of the score was headed by the title Quasi una fantasia or "almost a fantasy" (a fantasia is a musical composition with roots in improvisation).

The Graduate

Dir. Mike Nichols, 1967

Not exactly a reference, but Jacob Anderson shared in interview with Collider that Rolin directed them to play that scene thinking of the final moments of this movie. Have you taken the chance to watch it during the hiatus?

If you spot or put a name to any other references, let us know if you'd like us to add them with credit to the post! And we rounded up all the unidentified pieces in this post, in case you want to take a look and see if anything feels familiar!

We're super close to the second season, and we can't wait! Of course, we'll keep watching with an eye out for interesting references, and it's always easier to find them if we're working together. So, if you spot any interesting art pieces and other references in the second season, make sure to share with the class in the tag #vampterview, and @ us or use the tag #art of the episode if you'd like us to reblog your post into our dedicated tag for these references.

And don't forget to get your very own bingo card for the upcoming predictions bingo, here!

[ahundredtimesover]

Belong (1.5: Rewind) | MYG

Pairing: Yoongi x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: exes-to-lovers-to-exes-to-lovers; actress!OC x basketball coach!Yoongi; summer romance; “long” distance relationship; parallel timelines; angst, fluff, smut

Chapter (Series) Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption & passing out, family drama, sport injury; dreams & moving away; implied depression; basketball and acting talk; 2014 and 2022 Yoongi; shy and nonchalant cocky whipped Yoongi; kissing; explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter (18+)

Chapter Word count: 5k

Series Masterlist

Status: Complete

Series summary: Being an actor has always been your dream. Pursuing it meant many things - leaving the town where you grew up, distancing yourself from your family that had fallen apart, and saying goodbye to the man who made you feel what home was like. When you decide to finally return after being away for so long, you meet Min Yoongi again, and you’re reminded of the summer romance from 8 years ago with the college basketball superstar whose broken dream pushed you away. As you find yourself spending time with him, you’re left to wonder if love changes, if it gives second chances, or if it’s just another illusion that will hurt the both of you the second time around.

Listen to: You Found Me First by Jake Etheridge; Alone with you by Canyon City || Playlist 🎶

8 years ago 

Yoongi is not a stranger to loud sounds.

His brother, Geumjae, is a fan of rock music and used to play it all day, everyday when they were growing up. Yoongi would fall asleep to the sound of drums and electric guitar and gritty vocals of whatever band that the older man was into. 

Yoongi’s dad runs an antique shop, a business that was passed down from his elders and which was expanded into furniture restoration. He’d spend his free time there, watching his father use all types of hand and electric tools to scrape, saw, and sand different pieces until the finished product was up to his standards. 

It may seem a bit odd but he thinks it’s one reason why he got into sports. He’d watched them as a kid and was amused by the cheers and the grunts that could be heard in the arena and through the TV. There was so much energy and so much excitement, as if those motivated the players even more, injecting in them adrenaline that pushed them, that made them hungrier, that made them succeed. 

He understood it during his first pickup basketball game in the neighborhood park when he was 10 years old. A couple of the older boys invited him over to play and the audience, which consisted mostly of the kids from school and some adults hanging around, were hooting, yelling, and praising them once the score got close. 

It was electric. Yoongi didn’t always smile but he couldn’t stop himself from doing so after he made the winning basket - a lucky shot, really, but he liked to call it the shot of destiny. There was nothing like it, and he always carries that experience with him. He refers to it as the pivotal moment in his life where he fell in love with basketball, as he told the university newspaper when they interviewed him the other week. It made him think of the possibilities, of the extent of his talent, and the overwhelming joy he could get from going to that court and giving his all to win a game. 

He smiles just thinking about it now, as he warms up for the first match of the summer league. It’s off-season for the university teams but this conference is where some other schools and amateur teams compete. He’s unfamiliar with the players but that’s what makes it exciting. 

He knows they know him, though. He made national news when he became the youngest MVP at 19. That was 2 years ago when he was a sophomore, but his local fans continued to grow. He was never one for attention but he won’t shy away from it if it’s about his talent. To make it to the professional league, people need to know his name. And he knows that’s not a problem. 

“There goes the ‘sweet assassin’ Min Yoongi with a fadeaway jumper and it’s nothing but net!” Jungkook hoots, imitating a commentator as he watches his captain from the sidelines. 

“He gets the steal and takes the step back-3!” Yells Namjoon this time. “You don’t leave the ‘sweet assassin’ open like that!”

Yoongi chuckles as he walks towards his teammates. “Stop it. The moniker sucks,” he says, wiping away his sweat. 

“You’ve had that since freshman year and you’re complaining now?” Namjoon chuckles. 

“It’s cringey.” Yoongi frowns.

“It’s brilliant!” Jungkook disagrees. “I mean, the school paper article revealed your online pseud is ‘suga’ because that’s how much you revere yourself and your shooting guard position and the sports dudes ran with it, gave you a nickname, and it stuck. That’s impact. And it’s pretty cool. The ‘golden boy’ makes me sound like an idol or something.”

Yoongi and Namjoon laugh but insist that the name fits the younger man. He is pretty good at everything.

“I still think the ‘god of destruction’ is the best,” Yoongi remarks, referring to Namjoon, who got the name after the few times that he’d detached the ring from the board after a dunk. “It’s so intimidating.” 

The 3 men proceed to tease each other, and Yoongi likes the carefree vibe of off-season games. Though his team still takes it seriously - they’d recently won the university conference so they don’t want to slack - they also want to play with less of the pressure than they normally do. It’s good for camaraderie and better for the start of summer. They want to enjoy and have fun while making a statement through their wins. 

Yoongi instructs both men to continue warming up as he passes Namjoon the ball. All of them head to the court to shoot and as the captain, Yoongi looks around to make sure all his teammates are present and are preparing for the game. It’s not a big one but somehow, the locals have come to enjoy the summer league. It’s free and it’s good entertainment, and so the buzz in the gym is enough to get him excited. 

The spectators are settling down. He stands by the sidelines and sees familiar faces. There’s a bunch of kids from school and some that he’s met during pickup games. There are neighbors, too, and even that one kid he remembers from high school who’s friends with Jungkook, the one who spilled juice all over his notebook and then cried so Yoongi never spoke to him again for fear that he’d make the younger man upset. The guy’s studying in Seoul now, if he’s not mistaken. 

Yoongi’s eyes travel to the person sitting next to him and he swears something goes wrong with his ears because the sounds in the gym suddenly disappear. For a moment, he can’t hear anything. That same instance, everything blurs. Except for the girl with the yellow scarf on her hair, sitting next to Taehyung - he remembers his name now - her crinkled eyes and stunningly sweet smile rendering him speechless. 

Being some local basketball superstar means that Yoongi gets attention, and that includes from women who are somehow attracted to his calm, quite nonchalant personality that’s tinged with the right amount of arrogance when he’s on the court. He’s not a stranger to their efforts to get noticed. He’s noticed them, in fact, but not enough to get him interested. It’s rare though for someone else to catch his eyes. But that woman though… that’s someone he’s definitely interested in. 

He’s never seen her before. She’s probably from another town, or someone that Taehyung met in Seoul or something. Somehow the idea of her being foreign excites him. If she’s never heard of him, she will now. And she—

The ball hitting Yoongi’s jaw surprises him, causing him to jerk back and find the person who probably embarrassed him in front of the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. He’s not surprised to find Seungkwan rushing to him, apologizing and falling to his knees, saying that he called the captain’s name and threw the ball, thinking it would be caught.

But when Yoongi looks at the woman, she has her eyes elsewhere. He sighs in relief, telling Seungkwan that it’s okay, but when he looks towards the benches again, she’s now looking at him. 

He swears his heart stops. But it’s not like him to show it. 

He holds her gaze for a while, liking the effect it seems to have on her as she shyly smiles and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. But for his sake he really hopes she’d look away. 

The coach calls for the team to huddle and Yoongi’s the one who has to break the moment, turning his back to run to the sidelines. He looks in her direction again and smirks to give her something to think about and maybe cheer about, and the bite of her lip says he definitely did. 

“Is it possible to get an orgasm from just looking at someone?” You ask your best friend Taehyung. “Or like, when you both look at each other and there’s that tension you feel and you just… get turned on?”

“I literally just spoke to someone for a minute and you just eye-fucked somebody?” He gasps. “You’re quite something.”

“Hey, you’re the one who told me to scout the players and tell you who I find cute so you can introduce me to them,” you shrug. “I just did what you asked. He just happened to be looking at me when I found him. And shit did he look at me.”

“Who is it?”

“Number 3.”

Taehyung chokes on his drink. “Seriously? That’s who you eye-fucked? Out of all the guys on the basketball team, you choose the Captain Min?!”

“The who?” You say. “Ah, right. His jersey said Min. I was kinda focused on… uh, other things.”

“Okay, woman. Behave. We’re in a public place,” Taehyung reprimands you. “Also, I’m serious. He’s the one who caught your attention? Jersey number 3? Dark hair, white headband?”

“Yeah, the one listening to the coach with his tongue dragging through his teeth,” you say, eyes on the group of guys in a huddle. “Yeah, definitely him.”

The man in question seems to be listening intently but his eyes shift to you briefly and you feel that tightness somewhere - your heart, you think, and you swallow. Hard. You don’t know if he saw it but he smirks at you again so there’s a high chance he did. 

Taehyung sighs and you turn to him. 

“Why do you sound so scandalized?” You ask.

“I’m not!” He defends. “I guess I was just expecting you to like someone like number 7.”

You search for the man in question. Nice build, boyish looks. 

“Yeah, he’s cute,” you say. “But not my type.”

“Or number 1.”

Much more built. He’s like a baby giant.

“I like his dimples,” you answer. “And he looks so soft, I want to protect him.”

“There you go,” Taehyung smiles.

“But I want to be protected,” you counter. “And small build guy number 3 there looks like he will. He’s gonna scare the losers away and tell them to fuck off and then I’ll let him fu—”

“Okay, ___, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he glares at you. 

“What’s wrong though? Is he an asshole? Do people not like him?” You badger your best friend. 

“No, it’s not that. People revere him around here, actually,” Taehyung explains. “And well, girls try to get with him but he doesn’t really pay them any mind.”

“Does he eye-fuck them? If not, then I think I’m his exception,” you argue. 

“You make a good point. So maybe I don’t need to introduce you to him. Maybe he’s just gonna introduce himself!”

“That’s not what you told me, Tae,” you frown. “You said, I point a guy and then you introduce me.”

“I didn’t think you’d choose him!”

“Hey, did he bully you in high school? Is that why? Because if it is, then screw him! No one messes with my best friend.”

“It’s not that! Everyone likes Yoongi. They just don’t wanna mess with him, including me. And I… well,” he trails. “I accidentally spilled my juice all over his notebook once and he looked at me like he wasn’t affected but that made it even scarier. And then he just never talked to me after.”

You groan in frustration. You would think that based on Taehyung’s reaction, the man is some jerk or untouchable being. He just happens to have a perpetually disinterested face and that’s honestly something you like. He seems like the type with a no-nonsense attitude and you’re quite the same. Most times, at least. There’s definitely something to explore there. 

You watch intently as he carries the ball, skillfully dribbling it and evading his opponents. He makes a smooth shot to the elation of the crowd, and unlike his teammates who grunt and make some form of over-exaggerated gesture, this man merely smirks, perhaps to himself, as he runs backwards to get to the other end of the court. It’s incredibly sexy, you think, how his seemingly quiet nature hides something a little cocky underneath, especially since he’s got something to show. You’re not the most knowledgeable at the sport but you can easily tell he’s good at it. 

“So, you’re gonna introduce me, right?” You turn to Taehyung during a timeout. 

“Uh, I think you can perfectly do that yourself,” he chuckles awkwardly. “I mean, you’re good with people.”

“Tae, you’re such a wimp. You said you’d introduce me to whoever I choose!” 

“We’re not doing this again,” he groans. “Look, we’re going to Jungkook’s place after, okay? Yoongi likes to drink after a game so he’ll definitely be there. I’ll make the guys introduce you to him. And I can’t promise anything because from what I heard, he’s never made a move on anyone and the ones who make a move on him get turned down so… good luck, I guess.”

You scowl at your best friend. This is the first time he’s ever bailed on you, considering he’s your hype man all the time. When you first entered university, you were both a bit intimidated by all the big city and international kids but he got out of his shell first and then pushed you to do the same. They bore good fruits, insofar as you enjoying yourself and then getting a boyfriend, even if it didn’t last long. 

But this isn’t your territory, even if you were raised here. There’s not much of the city that feels like home. You barely kept in touch with your high school friends, too, mostly because you spent more time at drama class, and so you don’t have control or leverage here. It also just so happens that the guy you’re interested in isn’t the friendliest even if you think he’s being a tease. You’re up for the challenge, though. 

“Well, thanks for the encouragement,” you roll your eyes. “But a guy with soft features like that doesn't look all that hard and intimidating to me. I bet he’s a softie deep down.”

“Soft features? Are we talking about the same guy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile.”

“Tae, we made eye contact. It’s like a blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of softness. Or maybe you just don’t look at him long enough,” you explain. 

“I definitely don’t.”

“Well then in that case, Mr. “I don’t care about shit” might be all caring and sweet on the inside,” you hum, as you eye him again and catch him asking his teammate if he’s okay. “I’m here long enough to find out.”

Jungkook’s apartment is close to the university, in an alley near the bars and other student accommodations. It’s spacious even with his gaming computer and weights, and he’d set up the living and dining room area to accommodate the guests. You look around the place and think it’s much bigger than the one you and Taehyung share, and you know why post-game hangouts take place here. 

Your best friend said a couple of the guys from the team and a few of their friends usually come over to drink. You can tell, by the way Jungkook is the perfect host, keeping the table with snacks and drinks stacked and by the way he converses with you - charm and cheekiness combined. 

He really is cute. He’s got a sparkle in his eyes and an innocent smile, and you can tell that’s part of his appeal. But you’ve got your eyes set on someone, someone who just happens to not be here.

You look around once more and wonder where he is, and just as you’re about to ask Taehyung, the man you’ve been looking for enters. He’s in knee-ripped black jeans and an oversized cream t-shirt with a baseball cap on. You feel your throat dry immediately and your eyes follow him as he walks towards the table and opens himself a bottle of beer. 

You hear your name being called and you turn to one of the guys next to you who’s asking what you’re taking up in university. You’d forgotten about the conversation you’re in, as you immediately get sucked into the presence of jersey number 3, who’s now relaxedly leaning against the wall, looking around himself. He catches your eyes once more and you so badly want to just go up to him but you admit that you like this - him watching you from afar as you talk to someone who isn’t him. 

“I’m taking up acting and film,” you say. “I really want to become an actor.”

“Well, you have the looks for it,” Jungkook comments. 

“You think so?” You flash a smile, playing along.

“Yeah. A lot of us do,” he smirks.

A couple of the guys laugh but nod in agreement. 

Not that you intended to be flirty with these men and get their attention, but the cute top and hair scarf outfit you put on was a good idea. Even the other girls seem amused by you. You just wonder if someone else is. 

“You guys are quite charming, aren’t you?” You giggle. 

“Of course we are. This is how we welcome people in our group,” Jungkook smiles. “How long are you here for again?”

“The entire summer,” you say. “Enough time to be charmed by you?”

You aim to tease, really, especially when Jungkook blushes. You don’t actually have any intention with him but a part of you was maybe hoping that it would ignite something in the man you’re really interested in. You’d like to think so, as you turn to him again and see his hardened gaze. It’s like he’s assessing you, trying to read you. It makes you a bit exposed but you like it. Whatever this thing you’re both doing, it’s exciting, something you didn’t expect about coming home since you left for college 2 years ago.

“Oh my god, this is like watching my friends flirt with my sister,” Taehyung whines. “Please stop.”

You all laugh and he claims it’s a little awkward, but he does say he’s quite protective, warning anyone who wants to win you over. 

You all go back to chatting around until Jungkook, like the good host that he is, announces that it’s time to play and get batshit drunk. 

You all gather around in the middle and play number games, something you’re good at. You mostly survive, needing only to take 3 shots that don’t really make a dent in your system. Then you play a card game, which you also do well in, and it gets the group cheering for you to your delight. 

You constantly look towards the couch where Yoongi stays, as he’s the only person who doesn’t join the games. Taehyung says the man isn’t into them and no one really forces him. You see the times he smirks though, especially whenever you survive. You'd like to think he’s secretly cheering you on and it oddly makes your heart race. For all the eye-fucking, the milliseconds where his look softens gets you feeling all giddy. 

By the 6th game, some of the guys have loosened up more than the others. They’re laughing more, teasing more, flirting with you a little more directly, and they’re at least funny and not that disrespectful. You laugh and tease along and you really could go on doing more of these games, until Jungkook suggests to play spin-the-bottle. 

The rules are simple - one person spins the bottle and whoever it lands on will be the one they’ll kiss. 

“We’re too old for this,” Namjoon claims, even as he sits himself in the circle you all form.

“We never are,” Jungkook chuckles. “Plus, we’ve got a good number of guys and girls in here,” he says. “It’ll be fun.”

You take your seat on the circle right next to Taehyung and you look over at the couch again, biting your lip and cocking your eyebrow this time, as if daring Yoongi to join, given that the guys say that he absolutely hates participating in this.

Not tonight apparently, as he walks over and nudges Namjoon with his foot. 

“Oh, so now you’re playing?” The big man laughs. “I wonder what made you decide to finally join us.”

Yoongi sits down across from you, unbothered once more. 

He just shrugs. “I was getting bored watching you guys be terrible at the games.”

The group laughs before they begin. Of all the nights when you wish the spin-the-bottle gods were on your side, you wish it was tonight. 

The bottle thankfully misses you for the first 4 times. When it’s your turn, you position it in the direction that you mentally calculated would land on Yoongi with the force you put in. 

It’s quite nerve wracking, not knowing if this would work, but as the bottle slows down and the desire for it to point towards him heightens, you start to think that if this fails, you’re gonna have to just survive it and then find another way to get your chance at kissing him. 

And then it stops. Right in between him and Namjoon. Your heart breaks a little as you compare the distance, especially as the other people whisper the name of the man it’s pointed towards. 

“Hmm,” Taehyung says, “the bottle’s closer to—”

“Me,” Yoongi says, surprising everyone. “The bottle’s closer to me.”

His eyes are locked on you and no one dares to challenge the man, especially with how firm he sounds as he claims himself as the chosen one.

“By all means, go ahead and kiss, then,” Jungkook states, surprise and amusement laced on his face.

Yoongi, instead of scooting to the middle like everyone had done, stands up and reaches out for your hand. You take it and come face to face with him - finally, and you’re speechless as you stare back at him. There’s this certainty and desire in his eyes, you’d like to think. It’s captivating and it’s making you feel hot and definitely turned on. 

“Do you mind doing it in the kitchen?” He asks you. “I don’t really want them to have a front row view.”

“I don’t mind,” you say, trying to sound calm. 

He takes your hand again and walks ahead to the kitchen nearby. You’re still visible but like he wanted, there’s enough distance for the others not to have a close up look of your kiss. 

Yoongi leads you to stand by the counter, finally able to get a clear look at you. He’s been wanting this since hours ago and he couldn’t wait to get the chance to get you alone. You’ve been surrounded by all the guys since he arrived and well, he doesn’t blame them. You’re stunning and charming and you have this sparkle in your eyes when you talk about acting. He’d had enough of just watching from the couch and catching your eyes because yes, he’d noticed you glance at him and he liked that, liked that even if you had everyone else’s attention, you seemed to only want to get his. 

He honestly hates this game. It got him in precarious situations the few times that he indulged the guys by playing and at one point, he just stopped joining. He couldn’t pass up on this, though, not when there’d be a chance to kiss you. If you didn’t get paired up together, he’d still find a way. But he didn’t want anyone else to have the chance, so he took his. And well, maybe sort of cheated.

“So…” you start. “The bottle was definitely closer to Namjoon, you know? Anyone could tell.”

“I know,” he hums. “I could tell you wanted it to be me, though. And I really wanted it to be me.”

“Well in that case, what are you waiting for? Seems like the audience is getting impatient,” you giggle, prompting him to turn towards the living room where the entire group is anxiously anticipating when you’d both just make out. 

“I don’t really care about them,” he says, walking closer to you then caging you by the counter. “I mean, I was hoping this wouldn’t be a quick one.”

Your thighs clench in reflex. He still has a bit of that teasing smirk on but he also looks quite serious, as if there’s a chance you’d turn him down, as if you haven’t been gazing at each other since the game. 

Licking then biting your lips, you smile. “I don’t do quick kisses.”

“That’s good,” he smiles now, eyeing your lips. “Neither do I.”

He dives in right away and your eyes close the moment you feel his lips against yours, soft and electrifying as you expected. He starts slowly, loosely, giving you a chance to pull away if you want. But you don’t, craving for him instead as you try to keep him against you longer. 

It becomes his cue to deepen the kiss and that’s when you feel the warmth of his breath and then, the warmth of his tongue, seeking entrance that you too quickly give. You feel him smile against you and you fall into it even more. Lips melding onto his, you savor every bit of him that you can taste. There’s bitterness from the beer but it’s a taste you could easily be addicted to. It’s him, after all, and he’s just as good as you imagined. 

It’s a little daring for you, you could admit that. You’ve gone to parties and flirted around, kissed guys for fun and then walked away. You’ve never made out with someone right as you met them, though, and especially without even getting a proper conversation in. But Yoongi is captivating in a lot of ways and the way he tastes definitely doesn’t disappoint.

Just as you’re about to think of other things that would definitely make you even wetter, you feel his hand cup your cheek and he keeps it there, not so much to direct you where he wants but… to caress you, to savor you, especially as he keeps his steady pace.

He’s not rushing. He’s not asking for more, as his other hand remains clenched on the counter and his hip remains distanced from yours. He’s just going, feeling all that he can feel with this kiss and humming his satisfaction. 

It’s your hands that can’t control themselves, as you grip his shirt and try to get him closer. 

He does, but only for a while. 

He pulls away and watches you open your eyes. There’s only a hint of disappointment in them. Perhaps like him, you just let yourself enjoy that moment. And it was a damn good one. You tasted sweet from the cocktail you had and there’s this comfort in the way your lips feltl against his. It’s quite addictive, and he applauds himself for not pushing to do more. 

He thumbs your cheek one last time before his hand descends to cover yours that’s now gripping the counter. 

“I’m Yoongi, by the way,” he smiles. 

You burst in laughter and your head leans on his chest. 

Cute, he thinks. 

“And I’m ___,” you reply. “It’s nice to meet you. Finally.”

“You’ve been waiting for this, huh?” He cocks an eyebrow.

If this were any other cocky, self-absorbed guy, you wouldn’t indulge him. But that kiss alone told you that this man is so gentle, and you’d quite like to be a little vulnerable with him. 

“Embarrassingly, I have. I saw you at the game and thought you were pretty hot,” you chuckle. “I asked Tae to introduce me to you.”

“Hmm,” Yoongi hums. “You wanna know what’s embarrassing? I saw you in the crowd and I couldn’t look away. I got hit by the ball because I didn’t hear my teammate calling me.��

The way your cheeks warm is immediate. How can he turn you on and then make you feel all giddy? 

“That’s… pretty cute,” you giggle. “And not embarrassing at all.”

“I’d still prefer it if you don’t tell anyone.”

“Not a single soul,” you promise, smiling cheekily.

God, he’s so weak for your smile. How did he go about all 21 years of his life without this? 

“Are you done?!” Jungkook yells from the other room. “We’ve been waiting on what’s gonna happen after you two made out like you’re the only ones in this place.”

The laughter tells you they’re just teasing. 

“Well, we didn’t ask you to wait,” Yoongi turns back to tell them. “We could’ve gone on much longer.”

He turns to you questioningly. “If you want.”

“That’s an option,” you chuckle. “Or we can get out of here and figure it out?”

“Anything in mind?” He asks, standing up straight now. 

You want to kiss him and straddle him and tear his shirt off and so much more. But you decide you want to start with the gentleness first. You think that if you look long enough, you’ll see it behind the nonchalance and unreadable expressions. Somehow you just know that whether it’s daring things like kissing an almost-stranger or talking about anything or gazing at each other’s eyes, Yoongi would be up for it. You’re here for the summer and you have time. And you definitely want to take your time with this one. 

“Would you like to grab some coffee?” You look up at him, hoping he’s thinking the same.

“Just coffee?” He teasingly smiles.

“Yes, Yoongi. Just coffee.”

He nods and takes your hand. He walks with you to the living room where everyone is staring at both of you with a mix of shock and amusement. No one looks disappointed, though, and even Taehyung is wiggling his eyebrows at you. 

“We’re going to a cafe,” Yoongi announces. “And for the record, this is the last time I’m ever playing this game.”

Series Masterlist

Permanent Taglist: @sherlynxx @di0rgguk @thequeen-kat @fan-ati--c  @cravingforhotchocolate @adoraminie @helenazbmrskai @weasleyswizarding-wheezes @gukssunshine @nch327 @kookxin @petuliii @yoursthv @libra04 @fancycollectormoon @twixxxpie @ignoretheskies @ohmydarlin-g @bids97 @minyoongiboongi @bangtansmauyeondan @bora-bae7 @investedreader @petalsofink @moonchild1 @jvngkooker @starbtslove​

Series Taglist: @wobblewobble822​ @shydestinyyouth​

[deargodsno]

Two thousand years ago, a volcanic eruption buried an ancient library of papyrus scrolls now known as the Herculaneum Papyri. In the 18th century the scrolls were discovered. More than 800 of them are now stored in a library in Naples, Italy; these lumps of carbonized ash cannot be opened without severely damaging them. But how can we read them if they remain rolled up? On March 15th, 2023, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Brent Seales launched the Vesuvius Challenge to answer this question. Scrolls from the Institut de France were imaged at the Diamond Light Source particle accelerator near Oxford. We released these high-resolution CT scans of the scrolls, and we offered more than $1M in prizes, put forward by many generous donors. A global community of competitors and collaborators assembled to crack the problem with computer vision, machine learning, and hard work. Less than a year later, in December 2023, they succeeded. Finally, after 275 years, we can begin to read the scrolls. Grand Prize​ There was one submission that stood out clearly from the rest. Working independently, each member of our team of papyrologists recovered more text from this submission than any other. Remarkably, the entry achieved the criteria we set when announcing the Vesuvius Challenge in March: 4 passages of 140 characters each, with at least 85% of characters recoverable. This was not a given: most of us on the organizing team assigned a less than 30% probability of success when we announced these criteria! And in addition, the submission includes another 11 (!) columns of text — more than 2000 characters total. The results of this review were clear and unanimous: the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000 is awarded to a team of three for their excellent submission. Congratulations to Youssef Nader, Luke Farritor, and Julian Schilliger! Runners up​ Of the remaining submissions, the scores from our team of papyrologists identify a three-way tie for runner up. These entries show remarkably similar readability to each other, but still stand out from the rest by being significantly more readable. Congratulations to the following teams, each taking home $50,000! Shao-Qian Mah. GitHub Elian Rafael Dal Prá, Sean Johnson, Leonardo Scabini, Raí Fernando Dal Prá, João Vitor Brentigani Torezan, Daniel Baldin Franceschini, Bruno Pereira Kellm, Marcelo Soccol Gris, and Odemir Martinez Bruno. GitHub Louis Schlessinger and Arefeh Sherafati. GitHub

What does the scroll say?​ To date, our efforts have managed to unroll and read about 5% of the first scroll. Our eminent team of papyrologists has been hard at work and has achieved a preliminary transcription of all the revealed columns. We now know that this scroll is not a duplicate of an existing work; it contains never-before-seen text from antiquity. The papyrology team are preparing to deliver a comprehensive study as soon as they can. You all gave them a lot of work to do! Initial readings already provide glimpses into this philosophical text. From our scholars: The general subject of the text is pleasure, which, properly understood, is the highest good in Epicurean philosophy. In these two snippets from two consecutive columns of the scroll, the author is concerned with whether and how the availability of goods, such as food, can affect the pleasure which they provide. Do things that are available in lesser quantities afford more pleasure than those available in abundance? Our author thinks not: “as too in the case of food, we do not right away believe things that are scarce to be absolutely more pleasant than those which are abundant.” However, is it easier for us naturally to do without things that are plentiful? “Such questions will be considered frequently.” Since this is the end of a scroll, this phrasing may suggest that more is coming in subsequent books of the same work. At the beginning of the first text, a certain Xenophantos is mentioned, perhaps the same man — presumably a musician — also mentioned by Philodemus in his work On Music. Richard Janko writes: “Is the author Epicurus' follower, the philosopher and poet Philodemus, the teacher of Vergil? It seems very likely. Is he writing about the effect of music on the hearer, and comparing it to other pleasures like those of food and drink? Quite probably. Does this text come from his four-part treatise on music, of which we know Book 4? Quite possibly: the title should soon become available to read. Is the Xenophantus who is mentioned the celebrated flute-player, or the man famous in antiquity for being unable to control his laughter, or someone else entirely? So many questions! But improvements to the identification of the ink, which can be expected, will soon answer most of them. I can hardly wait.” Scholars might call it a philosophical treatise. But it seems familiar to us, and we can’t escape the feeling that the first text we’ve uncovered is a 2000-year-old blog post about how to enjoy life. Is Philodemus throwing shade at the stoics in his closing paragraph, asserting that stoicism is an incomplete philosophy because it has “nothing to say about pleasure?” The questions he seems to discuss — life’s pleasures and what makes life worth living — are still on our minds today. We can expect many more works from Philodemus in the current collection, once we’re able to scale up this technique. But there could be other text as well — an Aristotle dialog, a lost history of Livy, a lost Homeric epic work, a poem from Sappho — who knows what treasures are hidden in these lumps of ash.

[thenightling]

My favorite Goth sub-sub-cultures and genres

Goth has evolved a lot from the fans of genre specific music of the 70s to 1990s. It still has its roots in the music and heavily with a particular aesthetic.

I'm an old school but not quite "elder Goth" yet (I'm forty-two). And I'm a cross between Neo-Victorian Goth and Halloweeen Aesthetic Goth. I'll explain both of those as best I can.

A Neo-Victorian is a Goth who likes Nostalgia, particularly things that resemble the look and feel of late nineteenth century England and New England (North East US). Many Neo Victorian Goths wear nineteenth century fashion. I, myself, love nineteenth century style Goth attire but I prefer male Neo Victorian Fashion to womanly. Neo Victorians also tend to love antiques and antique reproductions. One of the earliest examples of a Neo Victorian Goth look can be found in Goths of 1992 trying to emulate Gary Oldman's Dracula in London look. For music most Neo Victorians tend to favor people like Aurelio Voltaire, certain scores by Danny Elfman, Gothic music that incorporates old fashioned instruments and especially the use of Violins, piano, and sometimes even a theremin. The music is more Gothic than Goth though there is Goth that fits the aesthetic. There's a romanticism to it. And a lack of cynicism that can be found in some other branches of Goth. ___________________________ Halloween Aesthetic Goth Halloween Aesthetic Goth is a more playful side of Goth culture that embraces a self-aware cheesiness while also unashamedly loving all the tropes and cliches we associate with the holiday. It a respectful love of things other people tend to only enjoy seasonally. These are the sort of Goths who leave Halloween related items out all year or collect Halloween related things and do home decoration shopping during the Halloween season and in Halloween stores or Halloween sections of stores.

The music connected with this branch of Goth also entails artists like Aurelio Voltaire but also delves into the Goth adjacent. Pretty much anything that plays on Halloween radio dot net. Novelty songs and any music about Gothic topics or set a Gothic mood. This can entail Halloween party music that you wouldn't associate with Goth culture though Bauhaus could fit in here too but also things as old (or older) than Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Monster Mash, and as recent as Creepy Crawlies by Scary Bitches.

[sylvia-forest]

[CN] Shaw’s Know His Unrestrained Nature Date

⚡Warning: This post contains detailed spoiler’s for a Date which hasn’t released in EN yet!⚡

[Released Date: 16 June 2023]

[This date was translated with the help of Google translate and by my lovely friend!]

[T/N]: Before proceeding further, it's very very important that you understand the hidden meaning behind his karma name!! 

知我疏狂 is an idiom, derived from a Chinese literature work 诗经

the term is used to describe a person’s uninhibited/unrestrained nature/ temperament, while it can also come from a pov of stand-offish and careless nature

The karma name is Shaw’s invitation to the MC to “know his unrestrained nature” as well as experience the color and youth of life!

—

[Section 1]

Knock knock.

I retracted my hand after knocking on the door expectantly, heard the faint sound of footsteps, and quickly cleared my throat.

The moment the door was opened, I raised the small party popper in my hand, and the light-colored strips exploded and “snapped” between me and Shaw.

MC: Ding ding! Mr. Shaw, congratulations on being the only customer of "MC Birthday Customization", Happy birthday!

Amid all the colors, Shaw silently blew away the sticky ribbon from his lips.

Shaw [snorts]: Birthday customization? What new tricks are you playing?

MC: Didn't I say last week that I want to give you an interesting and creative birthday?

MC: So after careful consideration, I’ve decided to do an openly private customization for your birthday.

As I spoke, I patted my backpack mysteriously.

MC: I guarantee that every part of the process will leave you with something you never expected!

Shaw: Unexpected?

Shaw looked at my "professional smile" for a while, and then at the bulging backpack behind me.

Shaw: It sounds very attractive.

Shaw: But unfortunately, I have to go out for a while. For now, I can't see what kind of treasure you have stored in your backpack.

MC [horrified]: Right now?

I opened my mouth wide in surprise, and the curvature of my lips immediately collapsed.

MC: What's the matter this time? Did Professor Shen call you to do labor work? Is your thesis on deadline again?

Shaw: Don't make a fuss, your shouting will make me deaf.

Shaw: It's my private business.

I couldn't help but kick the ribbons under my feet as he tugged his ears indifferently.

MC: What's so urgent? Today is your birthday......

A soft laugh came from overhead, followed by a pop to my head.

Shaw: I didn't say that today isn't my birthday.

Shaw: After all, there's someone who racked her brains for a week, and I have to show some sincerity to appreciate it, otherwise I don't know how many times this matter will be turned over by her.

MC: Who's going to bring up the old score ......?

Although I wasn't convinced, this explanation reassured me, and he opened the door completely as if he had seen through my mind.

Shaw: Alright, if you want to celebrate my birthday earlier, we should finish the work quickly.

MC [excitedly]: Huh? You're gonna take me there?

Seeing his "otherwise" expression, I grasped the straps of my backpack tightly.

This bag is full of preparations for his birthday, so it is safest to carry it with me. Thinking of this, I nodded firmly.

MC: I'll carry it on my back!

[Section 2]

String music surrounded the antique tea house, fresh smell filled up my nose.

I followed Shaw through the open-air Chinese-style corridor and tugged at the hem of his clothes in surprise.

MC: Are you here on business?

Shaw: What is the problem?

MC: No, just a bass player who loves graffiti and skateboards doing private affairs in such a quiet place feels out of place.

Shaw raised his  "oh" tune a bit, and shook our clasped hands meaningfully.

Shaw: And that's out of character? Isn't it more incongruous for me to hold a silly you?

MC [angrily]: Shaw!

Seeing me gritted my teeth, he smiled cheerfully and turned his gaze to the corridor.

Shaw: This place is opened by a highly respected old expert in the antique world. He is an old friend of the old man.

I froze for a moment, then followed his pace closely.

MC: Then what did you come to see him for?

Shaw: He contacted me this morning and asked me to come pick up an item.

I wanted to ask more but Shaw stood in front of a private room, knocked twice on the door, and walked in.

I looked behind him, and the elegant private room was brightly lit, surrounded by exquisite mahogany shelves on three sides.

But there was no one in the private room. Shaw seemed to notice something and picked up a note from a tea table.

Shaw: "Please help yourself"?

MC: What does it mean…

He shrugged, took out his phone, and dialed a number, and after a while, he put the phone back and raised his eyebrows with great interest.

MC: What's wrong?

Shaw: Ah? He told me to fetch the things myself.

MC: I guess the old expert doesn't plan to come.

Shaw: The old man's character is perverse, and has an unpredictable style of behavior. I heard that he also likes to do some small inventions, in short, very strange.

MC: ... You mean, he's weird enough to call you and then stand you up?

Shaw: That's not the case.

Shaw raised the note again and looked at it.

Shaw: He has probably already put the things in this private room.

MC: What is it?

Shaw's nonchalant eyes froze for a moment, and the sunlight shone in his eyes as if swaying a certain long-term memory.

Shaw: A jade bead.

I nodded, took a step forward and searched for the tea table and chairs, and inquired about this Jade bead's information while searching.

MC: Jade beads...is it one of your antique shop deals?

Shaw [angrily]: Do I look like someone who would temporarily stand you up for a deal?

Through the reflection of the window, I saw his sharp eyebrows raised high as if expressing his dissatisfaction.

MC [tries to smooth things out]: Hey, hey, of course not. I just can't figure out what the origin of this jade pearl is since you're in such a hurry to get it.

Shaw lightly grunted, and walked to the mahogany antique shelf, focusing his gaze on exploring the layers. After a while, he opened his mouth.

Shaw: In a sense, this jade bead is my master's thing.

I was dumbfounded for a moment, I didn't realize that what he came to pick up had such a deep meaning.

I walked up to him unconsciously and wanted to continue asking, but saw a bright light on the first floor of the shelf where several copper coins were placed.

My heart moved slightly, and I quickly poked my head in through the shelf, and I saw a delicate small jade bead in the corner.

MC: Found it!

[Section 3]

The moment he held the jade bead, there was a faint mechanical sound in the air. The next moment, as if the mechanism was triggered, there was a huge "clang" sound from the mahogany shelf.

Before I realized what happened, a figure strode towards me and took me into his arms.

Shaw [shouts]: Watch out!

Crash—— something seemed to fall to the ground, I instinctively huddled in front of his chest and glanced out, and found that there were several cabinet doors hidden behind the antique shelf!

And densely packed jade beads fell from the cabinet to the ground, immediately flooding the small open space.

I couldn't help but lift the jade bead I just had picked up, and was surprised to find that these jade beads on the ground were exactly the same as the ones in my hand!

Shaw's expression also flashed a bit of disbelief, he took the jade bead from my hand and threw it in the palm of his hand, frowning.

Shaw: Counterfeit, the weight isn't correct.

MC: Huh? What's the situation?

Shaw lowered his gaze, and after a while, he seemed to have figured something out, and let out a light snort.

Shaw: It is estimated that this weird old man is giving me a problem. He wanted to check whether I could bring back my master things.

I followed his gaze and fell to the jade beads on the ground, feeling like crying.

MC: So many beads ....... It'll take half of the day if we start weighing them one by one!

If it takes too long, then Shaw's birthday... I tried my best to swallow the second half of the sentence and looked at him steadfastly.

MC: Then you tell me the weight of the correct jade bead, me and you finding it together should save a lot of time!

As I said that, I was about to bend down, but he grabbed my arm.

Shaw: That jade bead is priceless, how could he throw it into this pile of rubbish?

I blinked and understood what he meant.

MC: Are jade beads so expensive?

Shaw [amusingly]: Of course, it was brought out from the ancient tomb.

His calm tone made a sound in my heart, and I stuttered for a while.

MC [nervously]: This, isn't this a tomb robbery?

Shaw gave me a funny look and sat lazily by the tea table with his legs crossed.

Shaw: Yes, but it wasn't my master who stole it. It's a long story. I only found out about it by accident after the old man left.

[T/N]: If you've read his bday R&S then you'll know about this “long story”!

As if reminiscing an old memory, his gaze fell unhurriedly to the tree shadow outside the window.

Shaw: When a few foreigners who were selling antiques wanted to enter the ancient tomb to steal this jade pearl, my master and his friends took the initiative to stop it.

Shaw: After finally getting the jade beads, because the old man injured his leg, he was robbed in the end.

MC: …and after that?

Shaw: Later, the jade beads were resold abroad, presumably to avoid the limelight, and it didn't take long for them to disappear.

Shaw: Until today, this strange old man contacted me and said that he found it since he still has to fulfill the agreement he made with my master decades ago.

MC: Agreement?

Shaw: Yes. Whoever finds the jade pearl first will donate it to the museum under my master's name, so we can't let him suffer for nothing.

Hearing such a tumultuous story, I felt a little emotional.

MC: I can't believe your master was a sentimental person...... In addition to collecting antiques, he was also a pioneer in protecting cultural relics.

Shaw [snorts]: He was stubborn.

He smiled, and his voice lowered unconsciously.

Shaw: He stubbornly believes that these cultural relics contain not only material value but also historical weight.

Shaw: And history must stay in a specific environment to be the most original, so cultural relics must stay in the local area.

He was talking about his Master's stubbornness, but there was no trace of negation in his tone, and there was even a bit of yearning in his eyes.

I couldn't help but raise the corners of my lips and go along with his words.

MC: I can tell that your master is very powerful, and his knowledge is very broad

Shaw: What broad knowledge, just a stiff old man.

Seeing him muttering, I wanted to laugh a little, when I accidentally glanced at the copper coins on the mahogany shelf out of the corner of my eye.

Something seemed to pop up in my mind, I blinked and remembered the situation when Shaw was doing divination for me during New Year's Eve.

MC: ….. Shaw.

MC: Do you think the "divination" can tell where the jade pearl is?

Shaw was stunned for a second, and the corners of his lips slowly curled up.

Shaw [teasingly]: You're something, wait.

He got up and took the three copper coins from the shelf, enclosed them in his palm, and threw them on the table.

After repeating this act six times, he looked at me sideways, and the conviction in his eyes was obvious.

MC: Found it?

Shaw: If what the old man taught me wasn’t a jack of all trades and master of none, then it should be there.

Shaw walked to the southwest corner of the room, bent down, and knocked on the wooden floor which made a clear and hollow sound.

In the next second, he quickly pried open the floor and took out an exquisite wooden carving box, in which there was indeed a round porcelain white jade bead.

The sunlight outside the window reflects it brightly, and it wasn't difficult to see the subtle wear marks on it as traces of ancient years.

So with just one glance, you can see that it was completely different from those jade beads on the ground.

MC: So is this an antiquity? It's not the same as the jade I saw on the market.

Shaw: If you are curious, pick it up and have a look.

MC: Can I? This is a cultural relic......

I turned my head in surprise and met those willful eyes.

Shaw: Although it is a cultural relic, it isn't delicate.

Shaw: It has resisted the erosion of a hundred years, and it is more tenacious than we imagined.

As he said, he picked up the jade bead and put it in my hand, and held my palm with his hand.

Shaw: And my master once said this— —

Shaw: “History is not as old as we imagined, as long as you see it, touch it, you will also become a part of history.”

Shaw: However, I don't think he's quite right.

MC: ….hm?

He chuckled and poked my palm with his finger.

Shaw: Man does not become history, because man himself is history.

Shaw: And history is not the distant and obscure existence that people think it is.

Shaw: To an individual, where’s the need for so many heavy meanings -

Shaw: Everything that happened in the past, present, and future has its own history.

Shaw: Unique and cannot be reproduced.

MC: ……

Looking at the heavy jade bead in my hand, I was inexplicably touched.

At this moment, this jade pearl, which has spanned countless years, has become one of my own histories.

Seemingly seeing me in a daze, Shaw gently pinched my cheek.

Shaw: Well, with that out of the way, it's time to get started on your birthday plans.

His eyes flicked around my face in a joking manner, before landing leisurely on my backpack.

Shaw: For the sake of helping me find this Jade bead, I will fully cooperate with all your plans today.

[Section 4]

Shaw: Birthday elements?

After putting away the jade beads, Shaw looked at the notebook in my hand and raised his eyebrows.

MC [cheerfully explains her plan]: That's right.

MC: Now there are a lot of "birthday element" keywords in this book, you can pick any five.

MC: As for me, I will give you a customized birthday party based on the keywords you choose!

Shaw: Oh? Seems interesting.

He opened the "Birthday Elements" book and read page by page— —

With his subtle movements, different words such as "lively", "quiet", "campfire" and "music" flashed one after another.

It wasn't until the end of the last page that he raised his eyebrows and looked at me.

MC: Have you decided which five to choose?

Shaw: Nope.

Shaw: But I intend to make this random surprise even more unexpected.

He closed his eyes as he said, and tore off five pieces of paper blindly. I hurriedly looked over and found that they were— —

"Lively, indoor, party, music, formal dress."

MC: Ok!

Just when I was about to implement the plan according to these words, Shaw raised a familiar smirk again.

Shaw: Wait, I want to add another one.

He tore off another piece of paper with "private" written on it and shook it in his hand.

Shaw [not missing a chance to make things difficult for her]: Make it a little harder for you. That's what makes it more interesting, isn't it?

Seeing his somewhat sly smile, I hummed softly in my heart twice, this man really underestimated me too much.

I have already imagined the preparation plan for all the permutations and combinations of this element book.

Yes ....... I need to contact someone to help me up!

—

MC: Mr. Shaw, please~

Under my pretentious invitation, we both got out of the car and came to a hotel— —

The lines of the singular architecture were sharp and simple, the matte black definitely added a mysterious temperament.

Seeing Shaw's scrutinizing expression, I happily set my sights on his white shirt and black tie.

This is the costume I specially prepared for Shaw after he finished choosing the keywords.

MC: How's that? Did I mention that my preparation is foolproof? Even if you make it extra difficult, it's not a problem.

Shaw: Well, it's a good start.

Shaw: Then, how can I cooperate with you next?

I smiled and held out my hand.

MC: Of course, hold my hand tight and don't let go.

Soon we walked into the lobby, through a long corridor, and came to the door of the banquet hall.

Listening to the rhythmic music coming from inside, my heart that was hanging in the air was completely relieved.

It seems that all the "preparation plans" have caught up.

I raised my eyebrows at Shaw, signaled him to take a look at it, and pushed open the door.

[Shaw's bgm started playing]

The moment we pushed the door, music and many eyes with blessings came to us in unison.

?.?: Yo, the big birthday star is finally here.

Adam standing in the center raised his chin at us, and Jensen and Randal next to him also raised their glasses at us.

Jensen & Randal: Happy birthday Shaw.

Fitch: Happy Birthday.

Fitch put away his phone and nodded toward Shaw. Immediately afterward, other Live House employees also waved to us.

?.?: Shaw, Happy birthday!

?.?: Wish you to get more handsome! Extra handsome to the next level!

(LMAO whoever gave this blessing to Shaw sure has a good eye! This is one of my favorite blessings!)

For a moment, the blessings overshadowed the music, and they came towards us enthusiastically. Shaw glanced at me, with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Shaw: Well, it is really lively.

MC: That’s right—"lively, indoor, party, music, formal attire, private" nothing missing~

MC: However, the keyword "music" is more than just that.

I raised my chin toward the stage ahead, and three mavericks walked up with musical instruments on their backs.

One red-haired foreign man was extremely conspicuous, in addition to his thick smoky makeup, his lips were also painted with oppressive black.

Shaw [the excitement in his voice]: You also invited them here?

The surprise in Shaw's eyes shone brightly, causing me to half-smile with pleasure.

It's a small indie band that he likes, and I had to do everything I could to get them.

MC: In order for the birthday boy to have a happy day, of course, we have to use our brains.

MC: Of course, the most important thing is that I have a heart for you~

Shaw: Oh? What if I don't pick up these elements, what will happen to them?

MC: Of course, the performance was performed as usual, but it was enjoyed by other predestined people~

Boom— the heavy melody of the drums beating swallowed my last note.

Shaw didn't say anything, just smiled and clasped my palm tightly, moving slightly to the music in a good mood.

The light swayed, and the lawfulness pleasure at the bottom of his eyes poured out unrestrainedly. I also raised the corners of my lips and secretly took out my phone to see the time.

There are three minutes left.

Hope to see a happier look on your face.

Thinking of this, I counted down the time in my heart and took a deep breath at the last second.

Click—

All the lights in front of the eyes were extinguished with the climax of the music, and the cheers of the crowd in the dark became more enthusiastic.

I held Shaw's hand tightly and pulled him to run quickly in the direction away from the crowd.

MC: Shaw, follow me!

The clenched hand seemed to pause for a moment, but soon there was a familiar chuckle.

In the increasingly intense music, we are like two lovers running non-stop in a movie, only feeling each other's heartbeat in the noisy world.

Finally, we were far away from the crowd, and I pulled him to squat down in front of an empty dining table.

MC: Big birthday boy, now it's my turn to give you my blessings.

I smiled and took out a small cake box hidden in advance from under the tablecloth.

After carefully taking it apart, I held the palm-sized cake in my palm and lit the top candle.

The small shimmering light illuminated us, and his golden eyes were especially bright.

Looking at each other, Shaw suddenly smiled.

Shaw [there’s clearly a hint of amusement in his voice]: Oh, now it's time for the "private" element.

MC: Well, this shouldn't count as cheating, right?

Shaw: It does count, but it doesn't matter.

Shaw: You've managed to surprise me.

MC: Of course, you must know that I have made a lot of preparations that you can't imagine.

Shaw: What have you prepared?

Shaw: I'm curious as to what other interesting things I've missed.

I looked at the burning candlelight in front of me, and my voice softened.

MC: As for me... I have prepared countless possibilities.

MC: In these possibilities, we will sit by the sea, and watch the sunset around the campfire;

MC: Will have a candlelight dinner at a high mountain top restaurant;

MC: Or go to have a hot pot meal, after eating and drinking. Then, play games all night together.

MC: All in all, no matter which one you choose, I will try to make the day interesting. Be full of surprises.

MC: — Because you are Shaw, you deserve all the interesting and unique moments.

I looked at the person in front of me sincerely, and my heart was surging repeatedly, wanting to give him all my sincerity at this moment.

MC: In fact, when I heard you say today that people themselves are "history". I am even more sure that I want to make every minute and every second of the present moment unique.

MC: No matter how time passes in the future, no one can change this moment.

MC: Because this is the "history" that belongs to you and me.

After I finished speaking in one breath, I fixed my eyes on the person in front of me.

MC: Shaw, happy birthday.

He smiled recklessly, but the warm yellow candle seemed to blend the casualness and dash into the gentle light.

A rare strand of drowning poured from the bottom of those bright eyes, filling my heart with dots.

Shaw [the softness in his voice]: Fool, that's why you try so hard to celebrate my birthday?

Shaw: If you want me to say, our present is already unique, and no one can match us.

He looked at the candlelight with a bit of softness hidden in his eyes.

Shaw: But I have to admit, this heart, these countless interesting "possibilities"...

Shaw [lowers his voice]: It really does make me more like myself.

I didn't hear what he said, and when I tried to ask, he smiled, showing his familiar joking expression.

Shaw: You know what? It's been said that people can often see through things as to what has happened in the past.

Shaw: It is also possible to see in people what will happen to them in the future.

He came closer to me, his eyes tracing me a little bit. Fragments of light faintly glow in the bottom of his eyes, only reflecting my face.

Shaw: So I see a lot of that in you too.

MC: So what do you see?

Shaw [tries his best to hide his excitement]: Stupid and stubborn.

Shaw: But it often surprises me, and even makes me admire it a bit.

Shaw: This is the future I see.

I couldn't help but laugh and follow his lead.

MC: You seem to see quite accurately, then let me also take a look ~

But before my eyes could settle down for a second, he suddenly blew out the candle and we plunged into embers of darkness.

Shaw [whispers]: I won't let you see it.

Shaw: Wouldn't it be boring to let you know all about it?

MC: What's that?

The soft-touch passed over my lips, and all the feelings in the darkness were magnified and engraved in my heart together.

And his voice slipped out from between his lips.

Shaw: However, one thing is certain about my future.

Shaw [lightly whispers]: And that you’ll continue to be interesting with me.

—

🎉 Call

🎉 Moment

🎉 Epilogue

[sitp-recs]

liv I love your blog so much. thanks for being here <3 I've been looking for a very specific theme recently and can't really find any fics with it. I've read so many fics with one character being ace and that resulting in miscommunication and intimacy issues, and I love love all of them!! But I was wondering, do you know any where they have intimacy issues due to one character just being afraid of intimacy ect sex in general, not due to them being asexual? Doesn't have to be them being a virgin necessarily..thank you in advance babe!! Appreciate everything you do :)

Hi anon! This is quite specific but I think you will enjoy these fics. It’s important to mention that not all of them revolve around sex after all that’s just one form of intimacy :) enjoy!

Once Bitten by Frayach (E, 5.6k)

Harry likes to bite and fortunately Draco likes to be bitten.

Touched by @writcraft (T, 7k)

On the insistence of his parents, Draco begins to see a therapist to discuss his difficulties with physical intimacy. When he changes his appointment time, Draco discovers he’s not the only one seeking assistance as a result of events which occurred during the war and he finds comfort in the most unexpected of places.

Catch and Release by @shealwaysreads (E, 11k)

Wizarding Britain is changing; a slow integration with the Muggle world has begun, and Draco Malfoy has been summoned from his quiet life crafting wards in France to help. But that’s not what this story is about. This story is about Potter, and magic, and the courage it takes to reach out.

The Body Keeps Score by amorsindolor (E, 13k)

Draco cries during sex. A story about touch, intimacy, and the healing we find through mutual trust and love.

Vale Sanare by RurouniHime (M, 23k)

Draco’s world gains a new component just when he thought he’d sorted everything out.

As Souls From Bodies Steal by Femme (E, 41k)

Hope may be found in the oddest of places, even in the bleakness of winter.

Embers by @shiftylinguini (E, 41k)

Werewolf Alphas aren't meant to be alone, or to suppress their ruts indefinitely like Draco has been since he was bitten eight years ago. He needs company, companionship, to knot ― he needs an Omega Heat Companion. At least, that’s what the Healers say, and even Draco can admit contacting the person they’ve referred him to might be nice. Of course it turns out to be bloody Potter.

Touch by @bixgirl1 (E, 45k)

When Harry is referred to a professional cuddler for the soothing power of touch, he’s dubious — even more so when the Cuddler who shows up turns out to be Malfoy. But in the years since the war, Malfoy’s changed, and over the next several days Harry is confronted by how much he still doesn’t know about this new version of his old enemy — and by how much he wants to learn.

Another Heart Whispers Back by @slytherco (E, 53k)

At twenty-five, Harry Potter is still a virgin and sorely lacking in options to change that state anytime soon. To help him find a plus one for Ron and Hermione’s wedding, and maybe kill two birds with one stone, Harry’s friends set him up on a series of blind dates. The only problem is, there’s something not quite right with each of their candidates.

A Room Up There (And You In It) by @the-starryknight (T, 59k)

When Preservationist Draco Malfoy was assigned to work on Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, he was excited to delve into the gorgeous Black family antiques. His excitement quickly ended when something in the House decided it did not like his presence one bit. Featuring a grumpy antiques lover who most certainly did not sign up for this, encounters with a vengeful apparition, and a healthy application of Christmas spirit.

Monster by @orange-peony (E, 71k)

“Hmm,” Hermione hums, tapping her index finger against her bottom lip and then smiling at Harry. “A broken music box, you say…” “A cursed one,” Harry corrects her. “Well, it’s still a music box that is not working properly,” Hermione points out with a very intent grin. “That will give you a chance to see him.”

Nothing Like the Sun by Lomonaaeren (E, 144k)

Harry finally realizes that he has trouble keeping lovers both because of his looks and because he isn’t very good at sex. He does what he can to alter that, but it seems he’s never going to be good enough to satisfy a wizard lover. When Draco Malfoy offers, Harry thinks a casual relationship with him might be the solution to his problems. But he should have remembered one thing: when it comes to Harry, Malfoy has a problem staying casual.

[pinespittinink]

🎭Welcome to the Great Glavenisean Theater🌹

I trail off into nothing, gazing into the dark. I can’t imagine what it would be like to work here amid the costumes both florid and divine, the great sets and musical scores, the cast and crew themselves. I can’t imagine it, and yet now, I want to. There is nothing on the ceiling above me, no prickling sensation at the back of my neck, no sensation of anyone watching me but Zachary’s mild eyes, studying me with benign intrigue.

“Will you?” he asks. “Come back?”

“Maybe,” I answer. It feels like a lie. I can taste the green memory of absinthe on my tongue.

“You should,” Zachary tells me. I look down at him spread out on the stage, his legs hanging over the edge. “You must know by now that we’re an odd family, but you wouldn’t regret it. There’s something enchanting about this place, so they say. Something magical even.”

an excerpt from The Great Glavenisean Theater, Chapter Four: Zachary

ꕥ  ꕥ  ꕥ  ꕥ

Would you look at that! At 95k, seventeen chapters and four interludes, TGGT has a complete first draft! 

I’m so pumped to have this accomplishment under my belt. Keep an eye out in the coming couple months for a beta call~ I’ve got to reread everything, tweak some continuity bits and do a little trimming, but first I’m giving myself an immediate break to read a book or two and work on some other projects. Thank you to everyone who’s stuck around while I’ve worked on this weird, weird story!

ꕥ  ꕥ  ꕥ  ꕥ

TGGT taglist 🎭 Ask to be added or removed!: @sentfromwolves @cabaretofwords @antique-symbolism @muddshadow @florraisons s @bebewrites @flowerprose @the-void-writes @hysteriwah @carrotblr @phantomnations @inkingfireplace @saphoblin @monstrousfreedom @midnight-and-his-melodiverse @theskeletonprior @mr-writes @tananaphone

[nematanthus]

Album Review: The Here and Now- Architects

In collaboration with @arfarfblegh

Release Date:

January 19 2011

Tracklist:

Day In Day Out

Learn to Live

Delete, Rewind

BTN

An Open Letter to Myself

The Blues

Red Eyes

Stay Young Forever (feat. Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid)

Heartburn

Year In Year Out/ Up and Away (featuring Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan)

Favorite Track:

Delete, Rewind

Least favorite track:

Heartburn

Album art opinions:

The cover features a map of the earth drawn in an antique style polar projection with the north pole being centered. The band's name is featured at the top with the album name in a stylized banner along the bottom. The cover is a great representation of the albums title, the Here and Now, as it is the whole planet. Everyone, everywhere, everything in the whole world is meant to be represented here.

Color: 5/10

Recognizability: 4/10

Vibes: 8/10

Total: 6/10

Music opinions/notes:

This album is a steep downgrade from the bands previous work. The record is repetitive and vague, with very little standout moments. The lyrical delivery is rough, the screams sound shot, and the clean singing clips out thanks to some terrible mixing/mic issues. Overall, the album is tired, dragging, and painfully underwhelming at every point.

Mix: 3/10

Lyrics: 4/10

Instruments: 6/10

Vibes: 2/10

Total: 3/10

Total Score: 4/10

[lutiaslayton]

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

ＰＡＲＴ　０８

〚ＦＩＲＳＴ〛〚ＰＲＥＶ〛〚���ＥＸＴ〛

Disclaimer: This is a fan-translation for the Japan-exclusive novellisation of the movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. The original novel was written by Aya Matsui under the supervision of Akihiro Hino, and belongs to Level-5.

This translation only aims to be a pleasant read for non-Japanese fans, nothing more: I made a few deliberate changes while translating in order to get the writing style closer to what is usually found in English fanfictions, as the Japanese storytelling can sometimes be different than what we are used to.

＊ Puzzle n°001

“Let’s get going. Puzzle n°001: ladies and gentlemen, please take a good look around you, and assemble under the oldest thing you can find.”

The man’s voice had just told us the first puzzle.

“Now, do note that there is a time limit.”

Spotlights were switched on and a long, narrow box-like object was raised up. A music box.

The paper containing the score, rolled around a cylinder, slowly unwrapped and ended up swallowed into a slit. Soon, the machine began to play a tune.

“You have until the music ends… so there is no time to lose.”

The audience had been stunned by the unexpected turn of events; but everyone soon rushed out of the hall. Their one and only goal was simple: to find this ‘oldest thing.’

We could not afford to stay idle. I stood up in a hurry.

“Professor, let’s go find it!”

The professor replied with a calm nod, and slowly walked towards the door.

“I’m coming too,” Janice said as she rushed to catch up with us.

I glanced… sideways at her. Even in normal clothes, without her costume as the Queen of Ambrosia, she was still a very beautiful person. And even though she was now back to being Janice Quatlane… Her lively sparkling eyes and the impression of dignified strength that she radiated had remained exactly the same.

I wanted to protect her. But I was a child, wanting to protect a famous adult opera singer… if anyone could hear this, they would surely laugh at me.

Still, I was very serious. I couldn’t let Janice suffer the same fate as those who had disappeared under the floor earlier. And the only way to do that was to keep winning this game.

I was going to become a gentleman too. It was only natural to help a lady in need.

I decided to focus my thoughts on the puzzle. The Crown Petone was decorated here and there with fossils, rough crystals, and antiques, all looking very old. We had to find the oldest item out of all of these… My eyes would scurry here and there, all around, but I only felt like our limited time was being wasted.

Janice looked very worried. I had to do something… The sound of the music box playing made me feel even more impatient.

“Professor, there are way too many things on board that could be the right answer! Which one could be the oldest?”

The professor did not respond. I stopped asking.

I had soon learned that when he was silent and had this kind of expression on his face, it meant that his mind was moving at full speed. I did not want to disturb his thoughts by talking about unnecessary things.

Suddenly, he looked up with a start. He must have solved it!

“It’s alright, Luke. Now, let’s hurry back to the theatre.”

And there it was. I was glad I hadn’t bothered him.

When we returned back to our starting point, I noticed that quite a few other people were already here.

Suddenly, the professor said:

“The clue was in the puzzle itself.”

“Huh?”

I quickly pulled out my notebook, reading again the mysterious man’s exact words. I had written them down as soon as he had announced the puzzle.

“Try to remember,” the professor continued. “The host said ‘take a look around,’ but at no point did he say ‘look on this ship’…”

I ran my eyes hastily over my notes.

“He certainly didn’t use the words ‘on board.’”

“This is because the ‘oldest thing’ we are supposed to find is not on this ship.”

Janice asked with a surprised look on her face:

“But if it’s not on the ship, then where is it?”

“The oldest thing we are supposed to look for…”

The professor suddenly looked up. Janice and I did the same. Above us was a clear, starry sky.

“…are the stars that have existed for tens of thousands of years,” he soon concluded.

The oldest things were the stars! This was not an answer I had considered. But now that I had heard it, it sounded obvious. All the fossils and other objects that had been placed all over the Crown Petone were simply decoys meant to mislead us.

“You did it again, Professor!”

As I just finished saying this, the music box fell into silence.

“Your time is up. The oldest things were the stars in the sky that still shine in the night to this day… Congratulations to all that stand in this hall. You have earned the right to try your hand at the next puzzle.”

Many contestants around us breathed a sigh of relief. But at that moment, dozens of screams reached my ears from outside.

I was reminded of all the people who had disappeared when the floor collapsed earlier.

If we could not solve the puzzle, then we had to offer our life… This was a terrifying game of life and death. Once again, fear was palpable.

“Let us now move on to Puzzle n°002. Ladies and gentlemen, please gather this time around the place ‘from which you can see the largest crown.’”

The man’s voice sounded to me like a death sentence…

　⇚　　　　　　　⇛

[tigirl-and-co]

hey while we're talking about music... the antique fair was yesterday and i uh. i scored some UNREAL albums

like holy shit. audibly gasped when I saw Humble Pie

almost bought a beach record player (record player you take to the beach) but I was out of cash.

[littlegirlwiththeblueribbon]

MY SPECIAL INTERESTS:

✸ Cryptids, Cryptozoology

✸ Aliens, Abduction Phenomena, UFOlogy

✸ Ghosts, Paranormal Phenomena

✸ Fortune Telling, Psychic Readings, Tarot

✸ Astrology, Zodiac, Horoscopes

✸ Alchemy, Past & Present Chemistry

✸ Astronomy, Space, NASA

✸ Oceanography, Marine Biology

✸ Dinosaurs, Fossils, Paleontology

✸ Speculative Evolution & Biology

✸ Lost Civilizations, Cultural Extinction

✸ Animal Classification (Taxonomy)

✸ Taxidermy, Animal Death Studies

✸ Birds, Especially Corvids & Birds of Prey

✸ Passenger Trains, American Railroads

✸ Passenger Ships, RMS Titanic, Queen Mary

✸ Nuclear Power, Radiation, Radioactivity

✸ Radios, Radio Waves, Radio Towers

✸ Conspiracy Theories, Denialism

✸ Government Scandals, FBI Cover-Ups

✸ Urban Legends, Folklore, Internet Hoaxes

✸ Religion, Catholicism, Cults, Scientology

✸ Doomsday, Apocalpyse, Pandemics

✸ Meteorology, Weather Patterns, Predictions

✸ Petrology, Mineralogy, Faceting Gemstones

✸ Botany, Herbalism, Horticulture

✸ Mycology, Mold, Penicillin

✸ Toxicology, Poisons, Neurotoxins

✸ Historical Crimes & Unusual Punishment

✸ Elizabethan Era History, Fashion, Culture

✸ Shakespeare, Plays, Musical Theatre

✸ Theatre Design, Stage Management

✸ Filmmaking, Cinematography, Sound Design

✸ Composing, Soundtracks & Scores, Lyrics

✸ Theremins, Synthesizers, Electronic Sound

✸ Figure Skating, Artistic Roller Skating

✸ Fonts, Typefaces, Typography

✸ Graphic Design, Advertisements

✸ Defunct Amusement Parks

✸ Antiques, Appraising, Restoration

✸ Clocks, Watches, Pocket Watches

✸ Puppetry, Muppets, Vintage Puppets

✸ Stage Magic, Escapology, Mentalism

✸ Dime Novels, Pulps, Westerns & Sci-Fi

✸ Postmodernist Literature, Dystopias, Utopias

✸ Hellenism, Greek Mythology, Greek Classics

✸ Portuguese, Basque, French, Latin, Greek

✸ Secret Codes, Ciphers, Shorthand

✸ World War I, World War II

✸ Horses, War Horses, Lusitano, Friesian

✸ Cowboys, American Wild West

✸ Pirates, Golden Age of Piracy

✸ Vexillology, World Flags, LGBTQ+ Flags

✸ Sapphic, Lesbian, Queer Women History

✸ Fado Music, Women’s History in Portugal

✸ Book Translations, Translators

✸ The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

And, apparently, organizing things nicely in list.

Ask me about any of these, I love to share!

Of course, I have many other interests that I don’t consider my special interests; just these are the ones I study religiously and devote the most of my time to.

UPDATED 12/9/23.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: Memory and Hope

Narrated by Leo.

Narrator: One evening, it was raining outside.

Narrator: I saw Lord Ian gather a stack of music sheets from a drawer, pick up his bow, and proceed to play a sentimental tune.

Narrator: Attracted by the sound of the cello, Hoare stood silently behind Lord Ian, enthralled by the music.

Narrator: The old man was so absorbed in playing that he did not realize the boy was standing there until the song had finished.

Narrator: Hoare's eyes were resting on the musical score, as if he could understand it.

Lord Ian: Do you like the song? Would you like to try playing?

Narrator: Master stood up and passed the cello to Hoare.

Narrator: Hoare sat down on the chair, picked up the bow with his right hand.

Narrator: And held the neck in his left, and proceeded to play it note for note.

Narrator: I remember that night clearly, the sound of the cello filling the villa, like a dream riding on the wings of a memory.

Narrator: The empty birdcage beside the sofa had been decorated with roses made from silk.

Narrator: Much to my surprise, that summer, the birdcage also welcomed its first guest in many years.

Narrator: Finally, the rain stopped and the sunshine warmed the earth for the first time in days.

Narrator: Hoare had put aside his crutches and was able to walk unsupported again, albeit slowly.

Narrator: Under a tree, beside the house, he found an injured baby bird.

Narrator: After so many days of rain, the bird was completely soaked through, as the boy had been when he had first arrived.

Narrator: I found some herbs and bandages which Hoare used to bind the bird's injuries.

Narrator: The antique birdcage became its temporary home.

Narrator: Hoare didn't act like a regular child around the bird, petting it or trying to get it to sing.

Narrator: He fed the bird every day, changed its water, and watched over it very carefully.

Narrator: Like he was wishing it got better so that it could leave the cage.

Narrator: Perhaps the care he showed it was somehow a reflection of the care he needed himself.

Narrator: Day by day, the bird regained its strength. Fluffy down sprouted all over it. Hoare's ankle also regained its strength.

Narrator: The look in the boy's eyes seemed to say that it was time to go.

Narrator: It was a solitary flash of hope, in those serious eyes.

Narrator: I had seen that deep, troubled look somewhere else.

Narrator: That's right... when Lord Ian looked at the boy.

Narrator: A look of hidden expectation.

Narrator: I cut two roses by the terrace and put them into a vase in the drawing room.

Narrator: Summer was coming to an end, and these were the last two roses of the season.

Narrator: The baby bird in the cage had fully recovered and was hopping around, full of energy, flapping its wings, eager to fly.

Narrator: Just like the boy who tended to it.

Narrator: Hoare had remained at the villa all summer, and his foot was as good as new.

Narrator: He came down the stairs, wearing the clothes he arrived in and carrying his bag.

Narrator: Lord Ian got up from his seat on the sofa.

Lord Ian: It looks like you are ready to leave... Child, do you want me to tell you about this photo?

Narrator: I didn't know what made Lord Ian bring up the subject of that photo.

Narrator: Hoare stopped. There was a shift in the mists behind his eyes. Something about the photo pulled at him.

Lord Ian: Well, the young man in the photo is me. Like you, I come from the capital of Pigeon Kingdom.

Narrator: Lord Ian let out a quiet sigh.

Narrator: Hoare looked unmoved, as if he had guessed that much of the story long ago.

Narrator: I was astonished. So, the boy was from Pigeon Kingdom? But how did Master know he was from the capital?

Narrator: The old man gazed at the young couple in the picture for a long time.

Lord Ian: You are no stranger to such tragedy, are you, boy?

Narrator: The shadows covering Hoare's face were impenetrable.

Narrator: In that moment, he seemed lost in a memory... silent and still, as if struggling to control something deep within.

Narrator: Master looked into Hoare's eyes.

Lord Ian: Perhaps you are someone who thinks the world needs to change, child?

Choose either "Why did he ask that?" or "What a serious question."

If "why," ...

You: Why do you suppose he asked him that?

Narrator: These days I thought Master saw something special in him. That's why he spared no effort in caring for the boy.

If "serious," ...

You: Isn't that a very serious question to ask a ten-year-old boy?

Narrator: I thought the boy was no ordinary one. Perhaps that was why Master spared no effort in caring for him.

--

Narrator: I looked over at Hoare. There was a great disturbance behind his eyes, like a flash of ice-blue fire.

Narrator: He did not respond to Lord Ian's question, but picked up the birdcage, threw his bag over his shoulder, and walked out.

Narrator: I recalled the expectation in his eyes as he looked after the bird. Perhaps he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Narrator: But the sanctuary Lord Ian had provided followed the boy out into the world.

Lord Ian: It is time for the bird to return to the woods.

Narrator: Lord Ian watched the boy as he walked away.

Lord Ian: Who knows? Maybe one day he will return.

Narrator: Master said, turning to me.

Narrator: The roses on the table gave off the last fragrance of summer.

Narrator: The empty birdcage had been left at the threshold... where the boy had first stood all those months ago.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 4