#best architecture in california

[tommeaney]

Best architects in california

Best architects in california are celebrated for their cutting-edge designs and ability to harmonize modern aesthetics with the state's unique environmental context.

[allstarproductions]

A Guide to Select a Professional Architectural Videographer in California

A picture may be worth a thousand words when showcasing architectural marvels. But a well-crafted video can take the experience to a whole new level. In California, a state known for its iconic buildings and stunning landscapes, finding the right professional architectural videographer is essential to ensure your projects get captured in the best possible light. Want to know more? Read this article!

[mywitchyblog]

The Coolest Thing About Reality Shifting: DR Memories

What Are DR Memories ? :

One of the coolest things about reality shifting is that you can get DR memories—these are memories from your desired reality (DR). What’s really cool about these memories is that they fill in the blanks, like adding extra content to the story. But what makes it even better is that these memories often answer questions that the original show or movie never explained. It’s almost like having secret insider knowledge that makes the story and characters make more sense and feel more real. These memories can add extra background information, character motivations, or small details that clear up plot holes. It makes the universe of that show or movie feel more complete and satisfying. That’s why I think DR memories are one of the most interesting parts of reality shifting—they add a lot of depth and detail that you wouldn't get otherwise.

Claircognizance and DR Memories :

In case you didn't know, a DR memory is a type of claircognizance. Claircognizance is a psychic ability where you get knowledge or insights without any logical explanation—it's like the information just pops into your head. It’s not like remembering something you already know or imagining something new; instead, it feels like this information just appears in your mind without any effort.

I can tell the difference between a DR memory and a daydream because with daydreams, I actually create them myself, almost like I’m walking through the daydream and deciding what happens next. Daydreams are like a creative process, where I have control over what happens. With DR memories, it's the opposite—the memory just comes to me, almost like downloading information from somewhere unknown. It’s passive, and I feel like I’m just receiving it instead of making it happen. DR memories usually come with a strong sense of certainty that they’re real, which is very different from daydreams, which feel more like imagination.

How I Recognize DR Memories :

That's how I can tell the difference between the two. I'm currently working on developing my psychic abilities, and from what I've learned, claircognizance is the best way to describe what happens when shifters get DR memories. Claircognizance is like getting information from a place you can't see, almost like an invisible source of knowledge.

One reason I value these memories so much is that they make things suddenly make sense, like putting together puzzle pieces that finally fit. They don’t feel random—they come with a clarity and sense of completeness that I can't ignore. I knew it was a DR memory because it came with a strong sense of certainty, a conviction that I wouldn't normally have if I was just imagining things. It’s that feeling of knowing that tells me it’s not something I made up, but something real and meaningful, which makes the experience even more special.

Example: Teen Wolf Filming Locations :

Here's an example that really stood out to me. It's related to Teen Wolf, specifically where they filmed the show. In the first two seasons, they filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, which gave it that small-town vibe and charm. The setting made it feel like a real close-knit community, with overcast skies, thick woods, and an older, worn-out small-town look. But from season three onward, they moved filming to California, which totally changed things.

The new location made the show look different since the Californian landscapes had more sun, wider streets, new architecture, and brighter natural scenery. This change impacted the show's overall tone and feel. The new brightness made everything look cleaner and less gritty, which affected the mood and atmosphere. What always bugged me was that the show never explained in the story why the high school changed so much between seasons two and three. It felt like a sudden, unexplained shift, and it always stood out to me as something inconsistent when I watched the series again.

The DR Memory That Explained It All :

Then I had this DR memory, and it all made sense. Basically, in my DR memory, there was a big renovation. The old high school from seasons one and two was in an older, run-down part of town with outdated facilities and a dull look. The town council realized that the school was no longer meeting the needs of the community, and it couldn't keep up with modern education standards. So, they decided to build a brand new high school—one that was bigger, more modern, and way more functional, with updated technology and better facilities, like advanced science labs, new computer rooms, and bigger athletic fields.

The construction project took about two to three years, and it involved a lot of community effort, planning, and even some fundraising by the local residents. The town was really proud to build something that would be a central part of the community and give students a much better learning environment. By the time summer break was over (like the one at the very beginning of season 3A), the new high school was ready, with modern classrooms, great sports facilities, an upgraded library with digital resources, and a cool, sleek design. It was a huge improvement compared to the old school. So, by the time season three starts, the high school is completely new and very different from the old one.

Better Than Devenford Prep :

What I found pretty funny in the DR memory was that some of the new facilities at our high school ended up being even better than the ones at Devenford Prep, which is supposed to be this elite school with the best resources. The upgrades were so impressive that even some of the prep school students came over to use our facilities, especially things like the athletic spaces and the new multimedia studio (which is, in a way, canon since I think there are scenes of Brett Talbot training at the BHHS lacrosse field). The swimming pool and gym were way nicer than anything Devenford had, which was surprising because private schools are usually thought to have better stuff than public ones.

Finally, I had an explanation for why the high school changed so much between seasons two and three, which the show never actually explained. It was really satisfying to fill in that missing piece because it made the story feel more realistic, like everything fit together and made sense, almost as if it had always been part of the original story.

@shiftingwithmars i think you have a teen wolf DR ? So maybe this lil storty time of mine will make some sense to you.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Kanye West, legally known as Ye, is selling the Malibu, California home he ruined, for $53M (He bought it for $57M). The house was designed by one of the world’s most eminent architects, Tadao Ando, and Ye stripped it clean of windows, doors, electrical, and many of the architect’s signature interior finishes.

Sitting since 2021, the mansion is now rotting. Wait. This is $53M for a cement shell, basically. The brutalist style home has 1,200 tons of poured concrete and 200 tons of steel reinforcement to hold it all together with 12- 60 ft. pylons sunk into the sand.

The beachside house was once the epitome of artistic ingenuity.

The floor-to-ceiling windows facing the water have long been removed, leaving the rear of the building entirely open to the elements.

All of the interior photos are before it was gutted. The alleged plan was to try to turn the mansion into a “Bat Cave” so he could “hide from the Clintons and Kardashians.”  

Ye’s new celebrity realtor believes the renovations are a selling point b/c he left a blank canvas, making it easier for the new owners to design the home exactly to their liking.  

The house needs windows and doors, along with plumbing, electrical, HVAC and interior finishes, b/c they've all been removed.

Although Ye removed the interior finishes, “this creates an unbelievably rare opportunity to buy a Picasso on the water," said the agent.

“This architect is known for his concrete work, which is what remains,” he says, "It was a very minimalist interior previously and will likely continue to be that in order to allow the architecture to speak louder than the finishes.”

The plan was to go off grid. The contractor said, “Ye wanted no electricity. He only wanted plants, candles, battery lights; and to have everything open and dark. You can’t keep food in that house, because you had no refrigerator left. You had no windows. I had seagulls flying in.” 

The former architectural tour de force was only one of the few private homes in the United States designed by the renowned Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect. Best known for his minimalist structures and “smooth-as-silk��� concrete.

The upper-level terrace pictured here comes out from a main bedroom suite that takes up the entire top floor.

I don't know what to think. Everything is gone- no utilities, none of the original elements the architect is known for, not even any windows. And, he's only knocked off $4M from what he paid for it, complete.

It's rotting from the inside out. Here's a collapsed concrete wall and rusted railings. On top of all of this, it's unsafe b/c concrete is falling. It's like a total knockdown.

[imisscherryboy-blog]

running back 2 u

enemies to lovers - football player! ajax x sports med! gn reader

part 1 part 3

spotify playlist (it’s good i swear)

3k words…………….💀

story: you and ajax have known each other since elementary school. those years haven't been always the best, as you both parted ways due to your differences in personality. that is, until one hot august night, where the stadium lights illuminate the turf, you find yourself running back to him again.

notes: !mature themes! (no smut) enemies to lovers, modern au, gender neutral reader, childe is referred to as ajax, last name tartaglia, american football, all characters are 18+ as seniors, highschool setting, part 2/3, gn reader, ajax is bi (since it’s gn), alhaitham and kaveh are gay, tbh kaveh kinda ooc imo, ajax is a bad boy ⛓️🥀 california coded

side characters featured: kaveh, alhaitham (alhaitham x kaveh), mona, albedo

warnings: mature themes, themes of sexual harassment (not described), reader almost gets kidnapped, drugs, alcohol, smoking, swearing, reader tells childe to kys (satire we in love w him)

★ part 2 of an ongoing series ★

ajax and his mom’s car drove further and further from the empty school. it was 11pm now, and you made your way back to the field to help clean up. the walk to the football field among the poorly lit school lights filled you with a sense of nostalgia—akin to how you first felt when you met ajax. you were snapped out of your thoughts as you saw kaveh jogging toward you.

“hey—you okay? what took so long?”

“oh boy.” this was gonna be a long night.

you drove kaveh and yourself to a nearby denny’s to debrief. you ordered pancakes and kaveh ordered probably the most, intricate, dish on the menu. over sharing food, you two both explained what happened while separated. you went first in retelling the events of taping him up to meeting his mom.

“he’s definitely not over you.” kaveh said taking a sip of his hot chocolate.

“dude, i feel like that’s such a mom thing to say though.” you argued.

“oh yeah my son talks about you 24/7 even though you haven’t talked in years!! let’s be serious y/n.” kaveh always knew had to make you laugh.

“i’ll think about it… but i wanna know what happened with you and alhaitham.” you tried to move the conversation away from yourself.

“you will never in a million years guess what happened.” kaveh said, loudly whispering.

“okay, so i won’t guess. what happened?”

“he gave me his number.” he said as his hands flew up to his face. “i’m still in shock.”

“oh my god.” you said, almost in disbelief.

“and that’s not all.. he invited me.. to a party. his party.” at this point, kaveh was practically standing up.

“don’t even lie..” you said.

“oh i’m not lying.” he took out his phone and showed an imessage thread of alhaitham sending kaveh a date and time, along with an address. your hands covered your mouth. he was serious. “and you’re coming with me.”

“yeah right.”

“oh, you’ll be there alright.”

you were there alright. the two of you stood outside the large house, viewing the students and strangers scattered across the lawn. it had been two weeks since the incident with ajax. not a word had been exchanged since then. but you cared more about kaveh, who has always been there for you, than some now stranger that presumably hates you. so you decided to accompany him. ajax and alhaitham were close, so you knew damn well you’d be in for a long night.

“well.. my future boyfriend is waiting inside. let’s go.” kaveh said as you both walked inside. it was a big house to say the least. alhaitham’s parents were some high ranking officials for the state school board, so they had money—and the ability to pull strings at any school they pleased.

“these high ceilings… and oh my god these exposed beams..” kaveh started to ramble on about the architecture of the house. he was into that stuff. you just nodded your head and pretended like you understood. you two walked to the drink table, and you both took a shot of pink whitney (it was disgusting) and a hard seltzer as a chaser.

“’m glad you guys made it.” an unfamiliar voice could be heard behind the two of you before you turned around. it was alhaitham.

“hi alhaitham!” kaveh sounded a little too happy. you also said hi and let the two of them go. you didn’t want to third wheel so you talked to some friends that were also at the party.

you couldn’t find ajax, though.

you hated that he was the first person you wanted to look for in this crowded room.

you figured he was off with someone, but nonetheless continued to keep and eye out for him, to steer clear of him, of course.

“and i just knew off the bat he was a scorpio.” your friend in your government class, mona, said as she took a sip of her drink.

“you’re so talented.” another friend of your’s, albedo added.

“if he was a cancer, it’d be a whole other story. everyone likes cancers..” she trailed off.

ajax was a cancer.

“hey y/n, let’s go take another shot.” mona suggested. “you down?”

“sure.” you figured saying no would leave you alone. albedo followed the two of you. after a couple of shots, mona kept talking.

“weren’t you the one that went with ajax after his last game?” mona’s question snapped you out of your daze.

“oh, yeah. that was me.” you explained.

“you didn’t hear it from me, but ajax’s fan club kinda hates you now..” well that was great. you didn’t even do anything.

“oh for real?”

“mhm, i even heard you two go way back.” albedo added. how would anyone know that..? let alone care that much? you thought to yourself.

“who’d you hear it from?” you asked.

“i heard two girls talking about it in econ.” albedo nonchalantly said.

“oh.”

in that moment, you felt a pair of eyes staring at you. you looked to the right of albedo’s head and saw ajax leaning against the wall, beside another guy. the guy was looking at him and talking, but it seemed like the only thing he was focused on was you. he took a sip from his red solo cup as you both held contact for maybe a second, before he looked away. it seemed he was already staring at you.

“y/n?” mona said.

“oh, sorry. why don’t we take another shot?” you suggested. something in you wanted to forget about him for a little bit to relieve yourself of the jealousy you felt. you knew that guy was his next victim, and it made you upset that that’s the person he’s become.

you, albedo, and mona took more shots after that. mona was gone by that point, and you were pretty sure you were drunk. luckily for you, you weren’t too much of a talker when you got drunk, you just felt dizzy and tired.

“i think we should go, mona. you need to sleep.” albedo said as he ushered a tipsy mona out of the door. you said your byes and stood at the steps of the house, watching them leave. you shouted a small “text me when you’re home” to which albedo nodded. you checked your phone for the time. it was 11pm now. you figured you should go find kaveh.

you walked along the twisty halls of alhaitham’s house. it felt like everything was spinning. you just wanted to sleep. you couldn’t go home unless you found kaveh. you didn’t want to leave him, and he’d understand if you wanted to go home. you recalled you didn’t see ajax after only seeing him for a second. maybe it was just the alcohol talking, but you felt as if you were being watched. you didn’t know by who, though.

you ended up in the living room again. you sat down on the large couch next to a couple making out, keeping your distance. you put your hands on your face, rubbing your eyes and trying to stay awake. you kept telling yourself that you needed to find kaveh, but every passing second made you feel more and more tired. a short nap wouldn’t hurt, right?

and just like that, you fell asleep on the end of the couch. you would admit it’d be kinda embarrassing to fall asleep at a party like a little kid, but you couldn’t help it. you were in a daze, half asleep and half awake. you could still hear the loud music, but your body was asleep. you saw two blurry figures in front of you.

“let’s take them …”

“my house? …”

“let’s go …”

what we’re they talking about? maybe they were talking to each other. why were they looking at you though? all of a sudden, you felt yourself being lifted up by the two guys. you honestly thought it was kaveh trying to get you back home, but he wasn’t that big. you felt yourself leaning against one of the guy’s arms, as the other one held you up. you felt yourself heading for the door before another guy stopped you.

“fuck are you guys doing?” a familiar voice said.

“oh—they’re our friend. they had a little too much to drink.” the two guys laughed. that was when you realized those two men were indeed not your friends but probably two low lifes trying to take advantage of you.

“y/n you know these guys?” the voice asked you. you nodded your head ‘no’ in response. you felt yourself being pried off by the person in front of you.

“who do you think you are? huh?” the guy that was trying to kidnap you said loudly. you had a headache now. all you could feel was a warm arm around you, and your head resting on.. ajax?

“who even are you two?” you heard alhaitham’s voice now. when those two guys carried you, they felt way too big to be high schoolers, college students?

“that’s none of your fucking business. get the fuck out of our way.” one of the two guys said. you felt a hand grab for you before ajax pulled you away from them.

“it is my business dipshit, i’m the owner of this house.” alhaitham retorted. by now, there was a small crowd around the five of you.

“alhaitham take y/n upstairs, i’ll deal with them.” ajax said as you felt alhaitham after a couple seconds pick you up with ease. usually, you’d be up and well awake by now, but that pink whitney had you paralyzed. you wanted to just say you could walk, but if you did, you’d probably collapse on the spot. contrary to some beliefs, alhaitham wasn’t a bad guy. kaveh liked him for a reason. he wouldn’t jump from girl to boy like ajax did. he carried you up the stairs and stopped in front of a room, before muttering something to himself.. about kaveh? then walking to another room and placing you on a bed, before immediately leaving, shutting the door behind him. you looked around the room before falling asleep. needless to say, it was a really nice room. it had a balcony and a big tv. it was a good size and the bed was pretty comfortable. there was a sports duffel bag on a chair that had your school’s logo on it. there wasn’t any equipment in it, just clothes. were you in alhaitham’s room? you looked a little closer and saw a hoodie laid out on the edge of the bed. it had your school’s name and the number 11 on it.

number 11?

why would ajax’s hoodie be here?

your headache only got worse, especially after almost getting kidnapped. you could heard the commotion downstairs, most likely ajax trying to get those two college guys out of the party. you slowly drifted to sleep.

after what felt like a couple hours, you woke up. you felt severely hungover but you tried to ignore it. it was still dark outside, and the room was cold. too cold. you picked up your phone that was on the charger and saw the time, 4:00 am. you had a couple of notifications but none of them were from kaveh. wait, you didn’t plug your phone in before going to sleep? who plugged it in?

“sleep well?” a voice could be heard from the balcony. the door was wide open, and you looked over. ajax stood at the door to the balcony with a cigarette in his hand, wearing that same hoodie you saw before going to sleep.

“no—what’re you doing here?” you said as you rubbed your eyes, slowly getting up.

“alhaitham had the bright idea to put you in my room.”

oh.

you were in ajax’s room.

“sorry.” you said. it went quiet for a minute. “you shouldn’t be smoking.” you pointed out.

“it’s either this or the oxycontin they prescribed me.” you’d much rather have him smoking a cigarette then.

you were sitting on up on the bed now. you needed to get kaveh and go home. you still were processing the events from last—a couple hours ago.

“you kept saying my name in your sleep..” ajax said blowing a puff of smoke outside.

there was absolutely no way. you felt your face heating up, were you actually??

“just kidding.” he ghosted the smoke.

“genuinely kill yourself.” why’d you believe him so easily? that would’ve been the worst thing to happen to you that night. after almost getting kidnapped. “where’s kaveh?” you asked.

“he’s out, alhaitham’s room.”

oh my god.

you’d need to debrief again with kaveh later.

“where’s alhaitham’s room? i’m taking him and going home.” you stated as you began to look for your belongings.

“how’re you getting home?” ajax asked.

“uber.” you said.

“like an uber’s gonna accept your ride at four in the morning.”

“you gonna drive me then?”

“if it comes down to it, yeah.” why was he being.. nice?

“you shouldn’t be coming to these kind of things if you leave yourself this vulnerable.” ajax said, taking a drag of his cigarette. “you haven’t changed, y/n.”

“well you sure have.” you said under your breath.

“grow up, y/n. just because you’re stuck in the past doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing that i’ve changed.” he had a point, but you’d never say that. “we’ll never be those kids again.”

you chuckled, “at least i can stick to one person. it doesn’t seem like you’re very good at that.”

“who? you can stick to who?”

you. that’s what you wanted to say. that’s what he wanted to say, too.

“nobody—just tell me where alhaitham’s room is.” you wanted to leave. remember how you thought he was being nice?

“down the hall on your right.” ajax said, walking back to the balcony. it felt like talking to a stranger.

you followed his instructions and arrived at the door. should you knock? or just go in really slowly? you put your ear against the door, trying to listen for any, sounds you wouldn’t exactly want to hear. it sounded quiet. you reached for the door handle and slowly pushed down, but it stopped there. it was locked. you cursed kaveh in your head, once again that night. you heard ajax’s agitating, grating voice down the hall, laughing. you just rolled your eyes and tried texting kaveh.

“y/n, it’s not gonna work. just wait until morning and you guys can uber back together.” he had a point. what was a couple more hours? at least you wouldn’t be leaving kaveh either, but you’d be stuck with ajax. that’s not something you really wanted, but it was for kaveh.

“do you have any food?”

you and ajax ended up in the kitchen, eating cereal. you pushed the cinnamon toast crunch around in your bowl as you sat at the island. ajax was in front of you, pouring himself out more cereal. it was quiet for the most part. one thing about the two of you was that you’d both be too scared to be the first to do anything. but that was a long time ago.

“how’s your knee?” you made some attempt at making conversation.

“recovering. what’s it to you?” of course he just had to say something that would piss you off.

“absolutely nothing.” you responded, taking a bite of the cereal. “did you fight those college guys?”

“oh yeah the ones that tried to abduct you and you just let them?”

that pissed you off. it wasn’t your fault, if anything, it was whoever let them in.

“if you did fight them i hope they beat the shit out of you.”

“maybe you should learn how to be more careful at parties. also another reason why you shouldn’t even be here.” he retorted.

“you’re such a bitch, you know that? i came with kaveh because i’m actually a good friend. it’s not like you ever were.”

“don’t start with that shit y/n.” he looked angry now. “i saved your ass and i don’t even get a thank you?”

“thank you. happy?” ajax’s phone started buzzing, it was closer to you than to him, so you saw the text messages.

myqb😘: kaveh’s w me

myqb😘: you should talk to y/n while you have the chance 🤑

myqb��: and help me clean my goddamn house

that’s all you saw before he took his phone back. what the fuck was with the emoji? and the name?? ajax texted him and laid his phone screen down now. he didn’t see you reading the messages. you and ajax have argued twice in one night, you started to remember why you two aren’t friends anymore. you put your hands on your head, rubbing your forehead. you felt your headache coming back.

“what’s wrong with you?” his look softened a little when he saw your face.

“nothing. just hungover.” you responded.

“you need painkillers?” it was like he read your mind.

“i’ll take some if you have any.” you admitted.

“i got opioids, cigarettes, and tylenol. your pick.” you couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“tylenol.” you said.

“you sure?” he asked. you nodded your head in response. he went upstairs to go get your pain killers. why was he doing this? his face when he saw you in pain made your heart melt. why did it seem like he still gave a fuck about you? more like you two both gave a fuck about each other. you started thinking. you helped him out, and he’s helping you. your headache only got worse.

-> part 3

tag list - lmk if you would like to be added :)

@zamorazz

[archimodels]

My bestseller book !

Megan Werner has her own models practice in California and she also teaches in college. She makes probably the best book on architectural models that I know, showing how to make professional and good looking architectural models, all tricks and materials.

MODEL MAKING (ARCHITECTURE BRIEFS)

[amazingarchitecturewebsite]

Pink Pavilion, Los Angeles, #California by Davit & Mary Jilavyan @davitjilavyan @maryjilavyan / LEMEAL Studio @lemealstudio. Read more: Link in bio! LEMEAL Studio: This project is an example of how 3D architecture and space can be used in photography. 3D and photography can work together very harmoniously, complementing each other and helping to bring ideas to life. We used it a little differently - we were interested in creating models in midjourney ai and the results are amazing. We liked the way midjourney can complement a project… #usa #losangeles #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #amazingarchitecture #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #construction #furniture #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #home #house ‎#amazing #picoftheday #architecturephotography ‎#معماری (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpy6q0XMUpz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[districtxii]

Meta: Help Rationalizing THG Worldbuilding

I originally posted this on reddit, even though I'm not really a redditor, because I've had trouble getting much traction on tumblr lately. I just made this sideblog, though, so I decided to share it just in case anyone wanted to discuss this with me.

According to the first book, all we really get about the history of the world of Panem is:

everyone kind of knows their education of history is propaganda, even if they don't have the word for it

Panem is in what used to be called North America, but an unspecified series of natural disasters and wars led to the rise of Panem's current regime

it's the 74th Annual Hunger Games, meaning that it's been somewhere about 75-80 years since the ultimate conclusion of the Rebellion of the Districts against the Capitol, implying that there was some period of time before the rebellion of the Districts and the "Dark Days" during which Panem was the seat of power that was risen up against

Before the existence of the prequel novel, I think that some of us sort of thought that this pre-Panem era might have been the dying days of the United States. However, it seems that it's pretty impossible for that to be true, given how different socially and culturally the Panem of young Coriolanus Snow.

I think it is implied that the excessive reliance upon Greco-Roman pseudo-language, nomenclature, and symbols, was part of a concerted effort on the part of those pulling the strings - people like Dr. Gaul and her ilk - to evoke certain theoretical states of being, directly and intentionally evoking panem et circenses as a mission statement and a weird if-you-know-you-know kind of dig at masses who were kept ignorant, both in and outside the Capitol. (Of course, this is really convenient when you're a YA author trying to drive home and teach a point at the same time.)

However, this had already started before the Rebellion, making it clear that the Capitol was rebuilt much in its own image, even if certain things intensified. And the Capitol of the TBOSAS movie is one that evokes both familiar imagery from the original film triology and a much harsher imagery that draws on very harsh federal and classical architecture, mixed with a kind of Soviet propaganda flavored art style and brutalism. (I'm using these words with a vague understanding of what they mean but an acknowledgment that there may be better descriptions of what I'm talking about.)

This, in turn, perplexes me, because I had sort of understood the Capitol's decadence to have been very... LA-flavored from the start. I had presumed that the Capitol had a hard time that might have more resembled starving in a resort, the way Katniss describes the situation when they're infiltrating the Capitol in Mockingjay. I had also come to the Aha moment, a couple years ago when teaching The Hunger Games (the first book) to seventh graders, that the "Capitol Accent" was a future-evolved version of verbal fry a la the Kardashians or something. I thought that the Capitol population might have been a "Hollywood Elite" run inland to the Rockies due to, I dunno, part of California falling into the sea. I thought that this might have also gone along with the idea that power is in spectacle, and there are conservative people all over who yell and scream about the Hollywood effectively being some kind of lefty shadow government, or whatever.

TBOSAS threw this perception for a loop, when one sees that the color and glitz and glamor of the Capitol, having healed and vampire-sucked the Districts for seven decades, seems to have had a weird original story with Lucy Gray and Dr. Gaul's warring colors, spectacle, and appeal.

While the Tenth Hunger Games are wiped from record as best as they can, the collective memory of Lucy Gray and how much the people started to become invested in her, along with the spectacle of the snakes, pushed and impression of a wild, freer aesthetic -- at least in terms of a first domino falling. At least, that's my current perception.

But, as described, it really challenges my prior conception of what the Capitol is, culturally speaking, and where it and the rest of Panem came from.

The Covey, also, may be an even bigger thorn in my side in this regard. I absolutely love the representation of something of my Appalachian heritage in the music that is depicted in TBOSAS. I also love the way it filters down into Katniss's story. However, the existence of the Covey also seems like something very anachronistic even for this imaginary-future timeline.

During what kind of era and circumstances where the Covey's parent generation - Lucy Gray's mother and others - existing?

Was in the the Capitol era before the Dark Days war? It must have been, right? But what came immediately before that?

The Covey seem to draw some vague flavor from pop culture perceptions of the Roma (which is kind of weird for the Appalachians but who knows and Roma can be anywhere they want), but it seems even more rooted in some kind of spiritual connection to - for example - the Carter Family becoming involved in syndication and touring with music that was previously unknown to the rest of America and the world. With Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, being the "Birthplace of Country Music."

But that happened during the early 20th century.

One presumes that the timeline of Panem and The Hunger Games diverges from our own sometime in our own future, but has this perception on my part been wrong all along?

Is The Hunger Games universe better-perceived as something like the Fallout universe where it's sort of a nuclear-power-arms-race-punk divergent timeline well BEFORE the apocalypse that resulted in the present dystopia?

I would love to hear anyone's opinion on this, whether it's a reassurance that "just don't worry about it" is the best approach or someone who's better at worldbuilding-brain than I offering some kind of explanation - whether based on canon or fanon.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[chiptaylorsfirst]

Kinkmas: Day 12

Day 12 - Threesome

Word Count: 2,320

Pairing: sub!Tate Langdon x dom!Kai Anderson x fem!switch!Reader

Warning: Smut, handjob, threesome, masturbation, hickies, anal sex

Summary: Kai’s planning a date for you and comes across the famous Murder House expecting it all to be a total sham. However, one of the many ghosts of the house catches the attention of both of you and you decide that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a little fun.

It had been a pretty normal day at the Anderson home. Kai was spending his time looking at scary videos and Winter was out of the house with friends. You knew Kai was trying to figure out what the perfect date would be to take you out on, although he acted like he wasn’t. You went to his room, gently knocking on his bedroom door. “Kai.” “Yeah, come in Y/N.” You walked in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed. “You know where we’re going for that date you’ve been planning, hmm Kai?” He sighed, slightly upset that you knew about what he was up to. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not planning a date.” The way that he said it so defensively was anything but convincing.

You rolled your eyes at how childish he could be before you spoke again. “Go ahead and tell me. I already know about it anyway.” He closed his computer, putting his full attention on you. “You ever heard of Murder House?” Your eyes widened as you thought about it. You thought the place had been make-believe, just a good camp story that everyone liked to tell at night and scare little children with. Murder House was a house in California where every person who ever moved into the house ended up dying.

It was said that if you go there, their ghosts can kill you and torment you. “You mean ghostly Murder House where everyone has basically died if they step foot in it?” He nodded enthusiastically. “Mmm hmm. That’s the one. I wanna go there for our date. You know I’ll protect you if you’re scared. It’s just a little children’s story anyway. You know ghosts aren’t real.” You didn’t know why you agreed to this but you did. The next day, you were standing in front of the infamous mansion, hoping and praying that what Kai said was true. You were touring the house with him, walking around hand in hand. “This architecture is cool. The house does look kind of ghostly I guess. What do you think?” 

Your heart was beating irregularly as if it was about to jump out of your chest. You took a breath before responding. “I think we shouldn’t have come here. You’re so fucking weird, Kai. You couldn’t just take me to a restaurant or a park or something,” you said, feeling more and more anxious each second. “Awe, are you scared? You know you love me and my weirdness or you wouldn’t be with me.” You both were going up the stairs and went into a room. “I swear, Kai if we get killed--” “What the hell are you doing in my room,” a guy asked, wearing a green and black sweater along with some jeans. His hair was dirty blond and slightly messy and he didn’t look too happy.

“We didn’t know that anyone was here and the whole house seemed empty. I’m sorry about that. We were just looking,” you said timidly. “You know I’m a ghost, right?” You tried your best to understand and comprehend what he said. You were told that ghosts were this clear and transparent image of a human and the guy before you was a solid one. He looked human and sounded human. His voice was clear, not distorted and he looked like he could interact with objects and pick things up if he wanted. You stayed silent, looking at Kai for some type of help. “He’s fucking with us, Y/N. I told you that ghosts aren’t real.” 

“My name’s Tate Langdon. Like I said before, I’m a ghost. Some cops shot and killed me right here in this room and I’ve never really been able to leave this house ever since.” You had heard of his name before and you tried to remember who he was. “You shot up a school, right and you were killed in 1994?” He nodded, exaggerating his enthusiasm. “At least your girlfriend is smart. She understands, Kai.” Kai gave Tate a look of warning as if he were going to kill him. “Don’t make him too upset, okay. He runs a cult.” 

“Oh, cool,” Tate said carelessly. “I’ve never been killed by a hot cult leader. You know, cult leaders are normally middle-aged, white, ugly men. I’m surprised. You gonna fuck me, mister and miss?” You laughed in disbelief before turning to look at Kai. “What do you think, babe? I know you’re not one for people this desperate but he is cute, hmm?” He looked over Tate, his eyes practically fucking him as he checked the ghost out. “He is cute,” he said, his voice hushed and calm. “He is a ghost though, probably hasn’t been laid in a while. Am I right,” Kai questioned Tate. “Your boyfriend finally got something right for once,” he said, confirming that Kai was right.

You walked to Tate, pinning him against his own bedroom wall, a smirk on your face. “You don’t talk to him that way, okay? If you know what’s good for you and you want some relief, you’ll fix your behavior, fucking brat,” you whispered, saying the last part louder to put emphasis on it. “Yes, ma’am,” Tate responded, his breath slightly hitching from how close you were to him. You grabbed him by his chin, pressing your lips against his, easily dominating the kiss. Your tongues danced with one another as you moaned in his mouth. You suddenly pushed his chest then moved away from him, breaking the kiss. “Fuck,” he said, breathless from the kiss. 

“Strip down for us and lay on the bed. Don’t touch yourself or anything like that because Kai will get you for it. Anything we tell you, you do. You don’t wanna break my rules and definitely not my boyfriend’s, understand?” He nodded, his face pink and obviously flustered as he started to throw his clothes off before laying on the bed as you requested. Kai walked to you, placing a brief kiss to your lips before he started to take your clothes off, smiling as he watched how more and more of your skin was revealed.

“You know, Y/N, you really turn me on when you’re assertive.” Chills went down your spine as he whispered the sentence into your ear. When you were fully stripped down, Kai spoke to you. “Get over there and show our friend a good little time like the pretty slut you are.” You started to walk away but he grabbed your arm, his grip tight on it, almost bruising you. “What do you say, sweet girl?” “Yes, Kai.” Kai settled for it, although he of course wanted you to call him divine ruler. As far as you could see, that was for the others. You weren’t the others. You helped lead the cult as much as he did. You two were a team, partners in crime, Bonnie and Clyde. Anyone could tell it, even the ghost who’d been stuck in a mansion for more than 30 years.

You walked over to Tate sensually, your eyes looking at his form. You crawled into the bed, getting on top of him, a glimmer in your eyes. “I’ve never fucked a ghost before, Tate. You any good?” He tensed underneath you, trying to control his breathing so it wouldn’t sound so heavy. “Mmm hmm, every girl I’ve been with came.” You wrapped your hand around his length, feeling how large he felt in your hand. You started to stroke him slowly, watching as your boyfriend started to jack off as he watched. Your hand stayed on task but your mind was elsewhere, wondering how good Kai and Tate would feel inside of you, about how full you’d feel.

You felt yourself becoming wetter from the thought as you continued to stroke Tate’s length. He tried his best not to cum too soon. He hadn’t been sexually active in a few years and the way his body reacted did more than prove that. His cock started to twitch in your hand as soft and deep groans and moans escaped from his mouth. As you started to use your other hand to play with his balls, you heard his voice stutter, all words on his tongue were lost and he shuddered before coming on his stomach and your hand. “You made a mess, Tate,” you remarked menacingly. 

“I guess I’d better clean it for you then, hmm.” Without thinking about it, you brought your hand to your mouth, licking it clean. You then scooped up the cum that covered his stomach and licked it off too, loving his taste, your eyes looking into his as he did it. “Kai,” you said, turning your attention over to your boyfriend, his hand still wrapped around himself. “Come join us, please? I’d hate to start the real fun without you.” He smiled, looking up happily before getting in bed with the two of you. You watched as he got beside you, kissing Tate passionately. His hand pulled on Tate’s hair gently and you kissed Tate’s neck, finding his sweet spot as Kai continued kissing him.

You marked him up, leaving pretty purple and red marks in your wake. Kai pulled away, breaking the kiss and you smiled down at Tate. “Ready, Tate?” He nodded, eager for anything you had to give him. “Yes, please,” he replied. You started to line him up with your entrance, lowering yourself onto him. He let out a gasp at your tightness and you saw Kai get up. “You got any lube?” Tate nodded. “Top drawer on the left,” Tate said to Kai. Kai got it out of the drawer, getting behind you before putting the lube on his fingers. He pressed one inside of you, then another, watching as your pretty hole stretched enough for him. 

He then put the lube on his cock and spread some more on your hole. He kissed your shoulder before pushing you lower and pushing inside of you. You let out a moan at the feeling of both of your holes being filled. You started to bounce, feeling Kai start at a suitable pace. “You’re such a fucking slut, taking us both,” Kai said. “Mmm, so are you. We all are,” you breathed out, trying your best to focus on pleasing the man underneath you. You listened to the noises he made and looked down at him. “Fuck, you’re so hot,” he said. You smiled at him. “I know, mm, fuck.” Kai started to kiss your sweet spot, making you crumble for him. 

Everything felt so good. Kai and Tate were both filling you up so well in all the best places and you could barely even take it. Tate swore to himself that this was the best thing he ever felt, your warm tightness around him, sucking him in more and more and the sounds you and Kai made convinced him he was now complete. Kai was loving the way that you continued to clench around him more and more and the pathetic noises that escaped from you. Your eyes rolled and your toes continued to curl as you felt the two of them hit the deepest places inside of you. The pace picked up to a quicker one and your legs started to tremble.

You were very close, the feeling of your g spot and a spot repeatedly being hit consuming you. You couldn’t take anymore as you felt yourself being marked up by Kai and as you heard Tate whisper the filthiest things into your ear. Your body slightly spasmed as a loud moan was torn from you and you came hard around the two men. Tate followed after you, moaning your name as he filled you up. You both felt overstimulated, holding one another and kissing. Kai spoke a string of curses and finally met his release, his seed filling you up just as Tate’s did. 

He then pulled out from you, a smirk on his face as he looked at you and Tate. You weakly got off of Tate, breaking the sweet kiss the two of you shared and felt your legs give out. “Shit,” Tate said, panting as he looked at the amount of cum that spilled out of you. “She’s covered in cum,” Tate commented. “And she’s gaping,” Kai added. “I’ll get a cloth,” Tate said, getting up. “We have to come here again for him, Kai. He’s so lonely here and the sex is amazing,” you said to Kai. Kai laughed at you. “Are you trying to replace me?” You shook your head frantically. “No, Kai. I’m just saying that a threesome with him would be pretty awesome to have regularly, especially on stressful days of dealing with the cult.” 

“Okay, we’ll start visiting here once every month but I still fuck you better and I can make you cum harder, right?” You wanted to roll your eyes and you actually did it, making a fire appear in Kai’s eyes. Tate walked in, pulling you to the edge of the bed by your ankles before cleaning the cum from your pussy, legs, thighs, then finally your rear end. “Babe, you don’t roll your eyes at me, do you,” Kai whispered in your ear, an obvious warning for you to stop your bratty behavior. You ignored him, getting up and putting on your clothes. 

You gave Tate a kiss on his cheek. “We’ll see you again next month, Tate. This is gonna be a regular thing, okay?” He smiled at that, happy to hear the news. “I look forward to it.” When you got home, Kai stayed true to his word, giving you the best sex, orgasm, and lesson you were ever given. But the best thing about it all was that you got to see Tate the very next month, just as he said you two would.

[m1male2]

The Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark located at 304 South Broadway at West 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. Built in 1893, the five-story office building is story office building is best known for its extraordinary skylit atrium of access stairs and elevators, and their ornate ironwork.

[theaestheticmerchant]

tbh the mechanics of sunnydale (and central california) are unfortunately something i'm happy/proud to replicate with the mechnics of grimstead in solemn graces, where at any given time, you could be:

in the middle of a cluttered victorian village

on the streets of modern suburban neighborhood where all the houses are the same Except One

in farmland where everything is dry and horrible

in the best theme park ever that's simultaneously also the worst

in a brutalist factory landscape where cement and metal are your only friends

by the shore of a cozy fishing village with a lighthouse and a sea monster

in the middle of nowhere with nothing but crossroads and passing semi-trucks

at the foot of a hill supporting an ancient castle that houses ghosts and vampires

in the middle of a swamp that houses witches, bog-monstersz and crumbling plantations

in a small town of only 1300 people that spans several miles and constantly has more housing and businesses

at the heart of a populous downtown area where there's always a street fair and vampires come to roost

at an arcade, a motel, or the only bar in town where no one else is because they're all at the only other only arcade, motel, or bar in town and you just happened to choose the wrong one that night

the loneliest cemetery that has no one buried there and yet no one ever goes there despite everyone who dies being buried there

in a town that's called grimstead and has 30000 people in it one day, in a town called grimshaw and has 1300 people the next, or a neighborhood called twisted oaks that's never seen the touch of victorian architecture and knows only what the misguided house-builders in the 50s thought might make for decent house features while replicating the same designs infinitely for ease of construction

[consider-your-potatoes-mashed]

Long post incoming…

Long story short I went to Disney and was denied accommodations which made my experience and my friends experience (who are also like me autistic or have a lot of sensory issues) a lot more difficult and quite frankly a bit miserable. I was given no explanation or anything as for why we were denied.

Anyway I’m annoyed so yeah. Feel free to share any opinions or ideas or experiences yall might have I want to read them.

Below the cut is a long explanation

Ok so I went to Disney world last week and I was denied the DAS pass and I really do not understand why. I am autistic and have a lot of sensory issues which make waiting in long lines physically extremely difficult. This honestly is a bit ironic because my friends and I had to wait 2 hours in a line to even talk to someone about the DAS pass. Thankfully I had gotten a wheel chair to help with my other disabilities and could exit the line when I needed to. When I finally got up to the cast member I was asked so many invasive and honestly condescending questions about how I’m impacted by my “issues” and what problems could arise for me in line only to be denied with no explanation other than “the wheelchair is enough” which it was not. It really felt like being told “you’re not disabled enough”. I just want to know why. Was it my presentation? Was it my eye contact (that I make compulsively but the way)? Was it that I could advocate for myself? Was it really the fucking wheelchair? I just don’t understand. When I was done I was so overwhelmed and on the verge of tears only to be told no.

At California adventure all of the rides are “wheelchair accessible” and some rides in regular Disney are too (even though some of those ramps are steep as fuck), so I could wait in line for those in the chair but because of my sensory issues I couldn’t so honestly I feel like I missed out on a lot.

Thankfully we were able to get return times at some rides in Disney (but not California adventure) because I was using a wheelchair. But that was a whole other issue. You’d have to go through the exit and some of the hallways were so fucking narrow that two chairs couldn’t fucking pass each other. And ramps were so god damn steep. Like yeah the ground was pretty flat and not steep outside the rides big fuck guys trying to get to so many of the rides was impossible without a friend to like run push me up a hill. Space mountain, a ride I got a return time for, was like this. My friends tried to get the return time while I waited at the bottom but the cast member said I had to come up to get it even though I was somewhere they could definitely see me and from where I could wave/whatever to prove I was with them. But no I had to get up the inaccessible hill instead.

I still had a good time and am so grateful to my friends, one of whom basically gave me a tour of all the architecture and history of the park and Disney which was super cool. I also really enjoyed the rides themselves. And every cast member I interacted with was nice about everything (accessibility services person was nice but it felt condescending).

The one big thing I did like about the park though was the shape and size of the seats on the rides. I could actually fit on them mostly comfortably. Which for me is rare. I’m a plus size person (especially in the thighs and stomach) so I typically have a hard time fitting on rides other places so that was a nice change.

I think imma stick to six flags and universal studios in the future since I can actually be accommodated there. Sure six flags is not the best in terms for mobility issue accessibility since it is rather steep in many parts but I personally can cope with that better and they have elevators.

[horrorliives]

a.l.k

❀ *◦ angela sarafyan. woman. she/her. bisexual & biromantic . ⇝ hey, isn’t that ani lusine kachadourian? i think that the fourty one year old from glendale, california works as house mom at sugar’s lounge & burlesque dancer at sweet cheeks cabater & burlesque lounge, but outside of that people describe them as glitter stained eyelids & hair, gold accessories. i hear they are guarded & stubborn, but they are also known to be resilient & empathetic. consider giving them a visit at their home in delilah’s den gated community and get to know why they’re called the mother. 

✕ ⸻ BASICS

⸻ FULL NAME: Ani Lusine Kachadourian ⸻ NICKNAMES: Anush, Ani Bear, Miss Ani, Ani Angel, Nini, Mama Ani, Lusi ⸻ BIRTHDAY: November 4 1989 ⸻ ZODIAC: Scorpio Sun/Mercury, Gemini Moon, Virgo Rising, Sagittarius Venus, Libra Mars ⸻ AGE: 41 years old ⸻ GENDER: cis woman ⸻ PRONOUNS: she/her ⸻ SEXUAL & ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: bisexual & biromantic ⸻ SCARS / TATTOOS: tbd. ⸻ OCCUPATION: House mom at Sugar's Lounge & Burlesque dancer at Sweet Cheeks Cabaret & Burlesque Lounge ⸻INSPO/SIMILARITIES: to be added later

✕ ⸻ BIO

to be updated more in the future

Ani Kachadourian was born on November 5th in Glendale, California, to Armenian-American parents, Mariam and Vahan Kachadourian. Her family had a rich cultural heritage, and her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for Armenian traditions and values. Mariam was a homemaker who dedicated her life to raising Ani and her younger brother, while Vahan worked as an architect, providing a comfortable but modest life for the family.

Growing up, Ani was a curious and imaginative child. She was particularly close to her grandfather, Artin, who often told her stories about Armenia and the family’s past. These stories inspired a lifelong interest in her heritage. Her grandmother, Sona, was a gentle and nurturing presence, teaching Ani traditional Armenian recipes and crafts. Despite the love and stability in her early years, Ani witnessed her parents’ growing financial struggles as Vahan’s architectural firm faced economic downturns.

As a teenager, Ani was known for her academic excellence and artistic talents. She was involved in various school activities, including the drama club, where she discovered a passion for performance. During this time, she met Ruben, a classmate who would become her first love. Their relationship was intense and filled with dreams of a future together.

At the age of 20, Ani became pregnant with Aram. While her relationship with Ruben was deep, they were both young and unprepared for the responsibilities of parenthood. Despite their best efforts, they grew apart, and their relationship ended when Aram was three years old. Ruben moved away, leaving Ani to raise Aram as a single mother. Ani managed to finish her college education while working part-time to support herself and Aram. Her early years as a mother were challenging, but they shaped her into a resilient and determined individual. She worked hard to provide a stable environment for her son while also pursuing her artistic interests on the side.

At 26, Ani moved to Los Angeles & married Ohan, a kind-hearted man who was supportive of her and Aram. Together, they welcomed Lina and Karo, the twins, into their lives. Ani’s marriage with Ohan brought stability and joy, and they built a warm family life in Los Angeles. However, their happiness was cut short when Ohan died in a car accident when the twins were eight years old. This tragic loss was a turning point for Ani, who was left to navigate life as a single mother once again. Following Ohan’s death, Ani focused on raising her children and working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

When Ani was 35, she decided to become a foster parent, driven by her desire to provide a safe and loving home for children in need. She took in Lyanna, a 12-year-old girl who had suffered neglect and abuse. Ani’s nurturing nature and dedication to her children led her to adopt Lyanna, creating a new sense of family. A year later, Ani adopted Narek, an eight-year-old boy who had been in foster care for most of his early years. These new additions to her family brought both joy and challenges, and Ani worked tirelessly to integrate them into their new life.

Ani received heartbreaking news: her grandfather, Artin, had passed away, and her grandmother, Sona, was missing under mysterious circumstances. Devastated by the loss of her grandfather and troubled by her grandmother’s disappearance, Ani felt a profound sense of duty to investigate what had happened.

With her children and the weight of her family’s history on her shoulders, Ani made the difficult decision to move to Anchorage, Alaska. She hoped that returning to the place where her grandparents had lived might offer clues about Sona’s whereabouts and help her uncover any unresolved family mysteries.

In Anchorage, Ani has set up a new life for her family. She took up a role as a house mom at Sugar’s Lounge, where she balanced her work responsibilities with caring for her children. Despite the hardships, she found solace in her performances as a burlesque dancer at Sweet Cheeks Cabaret & Burlesque Lounge, where she could express herself creatively and escape her daily struggles. Her goal in this new city is twofold: to find answers about her grandmother’s disappearance and to build a stable and nurturing environment for her children, drawing upon her experiences as a mother, performer, and survivor of loss.

✕ ⸻ ANI'S CHILDREN

Aram (21) -- The Older Sibling & Mentor

Aram has grown into a responsible young adult. He often takes on a leadership role in the family. He is very supportive of his younger siblings & helps Ani with household responsibilities when he can. He is pursing a degreen in business administration & dreams of opening his own tech startup. Aram is Ani’s firstborn, born when she was 20. He grew up witnessing his mother’s struggles and was a source of support for her and his younger siblings. After high school, he focused on his studies and works part-time to support himself through college.

Lina (15) -- The Creative Dreamer

Lina is a budding artist with a love for painting 7 drawing. She is emotionally perceptive, often sensing & responding to the moods of her family members. Despite her young age, Lina is dedicated her craft & dreams of becoming a professional artist. She can often be found lost in her thoughts, sketching, or daydreaming about future possibilities. Lina is one of the twins born when Ani was 26. She shares a close bond with Karo, who often explores creative outlets together. She is currently attending high school & balancing her academic responsibilities with her artistic pursuits.

Karo (15) -- The Intellectual Helper

Karo is very smart. enjoys solving puzzles, playing strategy games, & studying. He's a dependable & caring sibling, often helping Lina with her art projects or tutoring her in subjects they both find challenging. He prefers quieter activities & values his personal time. He is good at reading situations & understanding people's emotions. Karo is Lina's twin brother. Growing up, he has been a supportive & protective sibling, & they share a close bond. He's excelling in school & is interested in pursuing a career in engineering or technology.

Lyanna (12) -- The Compassionate Child

Lyanna is known for her kind & caring nature. She has a strong sense of empathy & is quick to offer comfort to her siblings when they're upset. She loves to create stories & play imaginative games. She often goes out of her way to help others & make them feel appreciated. Lyanna was adopted by Ani when she was two years old. Despite her early hardships, she has grown into a loving & caring child, integrating well into the Kachoadourian family & becoming a beloved member of the household.

Dalia (9) -- The Spirited Adventurer

Dalia is always on the go & loves to explore her surroundings. She's very inquisitive & enjoys learning new things, friendly, & enjoys making new friends & school & in the neighborhood. She often engages in craft activities & imaginative play. Dalia is Ani's child from when she was 32. A vibrant & active child, she's always full of ideas & ready for the next adventure. She keeps her older siblings on their toes with her boundless energy & curiosity.

Narek (6) -- The Young Adventurer

Narek is ful of energy & enjoys playing outside or engaging in physical activities. He is fearless & cururious, often exploring new places & getting into minor trouble. He's very loving & enjoys spending time with his family, especially his older siblings. Narjek was also adopted by Ani when he was one year old. ie Lyanna, he came from a challenging background, & Ani povided him with a nurturing enivonrment where he could group up surrounded by love.

✕ ⸻ HEADCANONS

Passion for Cooking: Ani has a secret talent for making traditional Armenian dishes. She learned these recipes from her grandparents & enjoys passing them down to her children. Cooking is her way of staying connected to her roots & keeping her family's heritage alive.

Vintage Jewelry Collector: Ani loves collection vintage jewelry from different eras. Her collection includes pieces from the 1920s Art Deco period & the 1970s Bohemian styles. She wears these pieces to the cabaret to add a touch of elegance to her performances. Each pieces has a story, & she enjoys sharing these stories with her friends & family.

A Fondness for Classic Movies: Ani is a fan of classic Hollywood films and often has movie nights with her kids. Her favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn, and she adores films like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Roman Holiday.” She uses these movie nights to teach her children about classic cinema and to bond with them over shared interests.

A Hidden Talent for Tarot Reading: Ani has a talent for reading tarot cards. She learned it as a form of spiritual exploration and enjoys offering readings for her friends and family. She uses the cards to provide guidance and comfort, believing that the insights can help navigate the challenges of life.

A Ritual of Tea Time: Ani has a daily ritual of tea time in the late afternoon. She enjoys brewing loose-leaf teas and tries out different blends, often sharing her favorite teas with friends. Tea time is a quiet moment for her to unwind and reflect on her day. It’s also a time for her to catch up with her kids and talk about their day.

A Passion for Vintage Fashion: Ani has a keen eye for vintage fashion and often incorporates vintage styles into her wardrobe. She enjoys thrift shopping and finding unique pieces. Her wardrobe includes a mix of vintage dresses, retro accessories, and classic heels that she wears both for her cabaret performances and in her daily life.

A Love for Stargazing: Ani enjoys stargazing and finds it to be a peaceful and reflective activity. She often takes her children out on clear nights to look at the stars and talk about the constellations. She keeps a star map and uses a telescope to explore the night sky, teaching her kids about the wonders of the universe.

A Collector of Local Art: Ani supports local artists by collecting Alaskan artwork. Her home is adorned with pieces from local galleries and craft fairs. She values art that tells a story and enjoys meeting the artists to learn about their inspirations.

An Enthusiastic Gardener: Ani enjoys gardening and takes great pride in her flower garden. She grows a variety of plants and flowers and loves creating a beautiful outdoor space. She finds gardening to be therapeutic and uses it as a way to relax and connect with nature.

Mother of DIY Projects: Ani is skilled at DIY projects and often takes on home improvement tasks. She enjoys creating homemade decorations and renovating furniture. She uses this skill to make her home cozy and inviting, often involving her children in the projects.

✕ ⸻ WANTED CONNECTIONS

co-workers

babysitters for the children

parents of children that are her children's friends

neighbors

[studioahead]

Artist Spotlight : Nobuto Suga

It will surprise no one that Studio AHEAD loves walking through the deep forests of Marin. So it was a delight to speak this month with Nobuto Suga, a Japanese-born woodworker who shares with us not only an appreciation for Northern California's forests, but a willingness to allow the natural world to influence and guide his creative work. To look at a Suga piece is to read, behind each block of wood, the tree that gave the piece its form and the landscape that gave home to the tree: "We are not separate from our natural world. Nor are we separate from each other." We were happy to speak of creative partnerships with those we cherish: in our case, Elena and Homan; with Suga and his partner Amy.

Studio AHEAD: Share with us some of your journey in arriving to California. Did you grow up here? What was your introduction to woodworking?

Nobuto Suga: I grew up in the countryside of Hiroshima, surrounded by forest and farmland. I started playing around with wood when I was sixteen. I remember one day my father brought some pieces of milled lumber home. The pieces came from trees that had been cut down on one of his landscaping sites. I was fascinated by the grain patterns in the wood and I wondered what form I could shape from the wood. I made a towel rack and some shelves, those were my first woodworking projects. They are still in my family home, and whenever I visit there, I see the living element of memory in those early pieces. 

In 2000, I went to upstate New York to study ecology and gain a wider understanding of ecosystems. On a visit to the West Coast my eyes were opened by the majestic landscape of an old-growth forest. When I settled in San Francisco in 2014, I reconnected with the forests and woodworking. I have been deepening my appreciation ever since.

SA: Does the region where the tree grows affect how you work with it? Does a tree in Japan necessitate a different way of keeping its integrity than does a tree in California?

NS: Yes, absolutely. It does affect how I work. I had an opportunity to work on the edge of the coast recently under an old cypress canopy. I felt a direct connection with the surrounding elements—the wind and the rocky landscape. Connectivity to place is a very important part of my process when forming and laying out a vision and a direction. Without that connection, I can not make work. Relationship to place is extremely meaningful for me.

The most majestic tree I have ever encountered is at a Shinto shrine in Hiroshima. It’s wildly branching. The tree is covered with moss and lichen. It hosts so much life. It is a living historical artifact. Typically the trees around shrines are given the most respect in Japan. But a tree is a tree and deserves deep respect no matter where it grows.

SA: Tell us more about this respect. How does a designer go about respecting the material? Does this play into or get in the way of innovation, of using materials new ways?

NS: I’m keen on using urban salvaged and reclaimed wood to extend the life of the source elements. Understanding resources and bringing out the best characteristics of the material are very important to me. Working with resources from this perspective can help lessen our consumption flow which is excessive and problematic. It is important to build awareness and have respect for our natural environment that we depend on for life. We are not separate from our natural world. I’m fortunate to have access to urban salvaged wood and reclaimed materials in the Bay Area. I’m just one of many here who works respectfully and consciously with wood. I’m glad to be part of this community of woodworkers.

SA: You helped repair Sol LeWitt sculptures in New York. What ways do repair and creation intersect or diverge?

NS: My plan at that time was to attend a landscape architecture program, to explore physical interaction with space as a way of connecting with nature. But instead, I was fortunate to meet with a few Japanese artists who worked with Sol LeWitt for many decades. I participated in two executions of his Open Cube Structure, learning directly from a lead fabricator/artist, Kazuko Miyamoto. It was a very repetitive process, and it was pleasing to see the progress of structure and various visual effects that appeared in each step. 

LeWitt’s sculptures are based on numbers, laying out a grid and a score, and the structural form emerges like a sound. The visual effects appear within the open cube from many different angles. I appreciate his vision, playfulness, endless curiosity, and openness to discoveries. LeWitt’s system of composition and application has a heavy impact on my practice. 

Over time, I have developed an interest in kiwari, a traditional Japanese method of proportion or a co-relationship with each structural component. There is an underlying interconnectedness that I experience in nature, and when I make something, as I put pieces together I am always trying to respond to this feeling.

SA: Can you elaborate on this? Is this harmony of proportion what you are trying to achieve, or are you purposefully distorting these ideas of proportion to evoke certain emotions?

NS: Woodworking gives me new challenges all the time. The harmony of proportion is a starting point and a structuring principle of a concept and a process. I’m not distorting these ideas, I’m searching for the best way to accommodate the material and honor what it is offering.

SA: Your partner, Amy, is your collaborator and you've built a home, studio and practice together. Tell us about how you work together.  We [Elena and Homan] are creative partners and are grateful we have each other to move through creative life together. If one of us feels unbalanced, the other brings us back or carries the baton for a while.

NS: Amy and I have been interacting and influencing each other with our creativity and sharing our appreciation for the last 15 years. She and I first met each other when we were both involved in the retrospective installation for Sol LeWitt at MASS MoCA in 2008. We had a spark and a similar appreciation of nature and have been together ever since. Our cultural backgrounds are different, but our attention to detail is the same. We’re both interested in the qualities of line and the negative space between things. And we both have a lot of respect for the untouched elements of a place or a material. We have been cultivating a shared language for the last fifteen years. 

We tend to take turns supporting each other’s passions and projects. When I was pursuing ecological restoration, I assisted Amy’s art practice by helping with installation and gathering materials. Five years ago, Amy set up our family woodworking business, Suga Studio.

I enjoy and appreciate her vision, playfulness with elements, and I admire her ability to transform an indescribable emotion to visualized formations. Our practices blend with regular and creative existence in a way that gives us energy and flexibility. Pursuing the passion and our listening hearts is filling me with gratitude and compassion. Our next direction is making an even deeper connection with nature. It inspires us both to the core of our being.

Photos by Ekaterina Izmestieva

[raisindave]

[Chapter 33] Seeing the World Through Ballistic-Tinted Glasses

It's so reassuring to know that when life hangs in the balance during a mission's most dire moments, somewhere else in the world, absolutely nothing is happening. This was the case for Chunky when you dialled him moments after you recognized your cell phone at the bottom of your pack. When he answered, it was more than clear that he had just woken up, hearing squabbling gulls and wafting breezes flooding the device's microphone. You had made the mistake of interrupting his 14:00 hours nap on the beach, but you'd caught him precious seconds before the first drink was to enter his system. Retirement was always fashionable for him, and he wore the California beachside sunshine like he was born to it. 

He took issue with you being stationed in London after a terrorist attack that occupied every talking head newscaster back home's script for the past few days. A SAS barracks would be an ideal target for a follow-up strike, and he might be right. However, considering what you've seen in the past month, you've seen a decent success rate at surviving remote detonation charges- even when they're right next to you. 

It makes you extremely grateful that he couldn't see your face and throat right now, even when you've already seen significant healing over the past few days. Knowing him, he'd probably have a cow. He's always been so overprotective of you, but sometimes it gets to a point where you're bound to get injured, and his outrage would just be an inconvenience. If it weren't top secret, you would've loved to spill every detail about the punches you caught with your eyesocket, but it might just make his heart give out. You'd think a veteran of over five decades would be more sympathetic to workplace injuries in this field of work. He'll just never shake that mental image of you in his head of the scared 14-year-old girl you were when you first came into his care.

This recuperation was precisely what you were craving, still forcing you to be on guard in this working environment but just relaxing enough to let you catch up to your surroundings. Contemporary, sleek architecture with rich black metal and industrial wood floorings significantly improved from your last sleeping situation, though it was still far from your personal preference. These tall, angular walls and hovering square balconies crested into vast open common spaces filled with bustling cliques of crisp uniforms and neatly tied shoelaces. It had a way of making your footsteps echo down these halls louder than any place you've ever been, especially once those bright-eyed soldiers slinked into their studies.

The shooting range was surprisingly quiet at this time of day. Around 9:00, it was far too late in the morning for an early scrimmage, and most of the pupils were well into their classroom lectures by now. The echoing concrete chamber hosted a buffet of pistols, rifles, and even crossbows to take aim upon your choice of a selection of targets with varying sizes and distances. The smell of musty concrete and lingering gunpowder settled in your sinuses as you palmed a standard Glock. You're scarcely armed with much more than a pistol in your role, so this 9mm will have to be your new best friend for the next few hours until you're sufficiently sore. 

Shooting practice works muscles you didn't even know you had, like the space between your fingers being sore or the muscles just below your collarbones. With every shot reverberating through your shoulders, you felt a euphoric exhale alleviate deeply rooted anxiety with the conclusion of the anticipated blast, even with the muffled protection of these yellow headphones. A flashing siren signalled the rotation of the targets, rolling your neck to either shoulder in an effort to diffuse tensed muscles. In your turn, you caught that familiar hulking figure occupying the space beside the armoury wall. He has a talent for appearing exactly when you're seeking focus.

Slender hips leaned against a broad metal table, a dissected rifle laid with surgical accuracy, more evidence of him being an obsessive neat freak. Those stupid skeletal gloves slid along the smooth metal, inspecting for dust with his two fingers across every curve and switch on the M4. Your tongue fell heavy, oddly hypnotized. Then they were plunging into the magazine cavity, inspecting for debris in a fashion you've seen hundreds of times before. Swiping to examine every inch of the gun's inner sanctum, the stern expression on those dark eyes under that skull plate suggested he was taking this deathly seriously. Gloved knuckles buried digits past the narrow opening as they worked to swipe over the deepest extent of the chamber before he withdrew. Cool air breathed across your neck, watching him smoothly slide the dark ammo cartridge into the thoroughly inspected slot with a satisfying click. The feeling of your teeth digging into the soft tissue on the inside of your lower lip made you snap back into reality, just in time for you to dodge him looking up and noticing your rapt surveillance. 

Mechanical clinking of the paper shooting targets rotating into position snapped you back into focus while a shaky breath slipped past your tight lips. Muscle memory compelled you to do the preliminary sweep over the range before you raised your pistol, aiming the gunmetal barrel toward those coloured concentric circles. A deep inhale, hold, and squeeze the trigger on the exhale. Activating this trigger in one place makes a splintered hole manifest in the paper prey across the room, it's something that's always been such an abstract thought to you. Slightly off-mark but well within the final black circle. Textbook, though it took you a solid eight seconds, a task those burning eyes you felt on the back of your neck could do in a split second with supernatural accuracy. 

Another round of targets. A stinging pressure in your chest made your arms feel weak. Every time you squeezed the trigger, you panted air through barred teeth with dissatisfaction. Round after round after round, your shots fell progressively farther off the mark. You must've hit the point of diminishing returns, as on another dissatisfied sigh, you caught a foggy silhouette of those classic blonde bangs through the range glass. 

Sliding your Glock back onto the rack after a clean would surely satisfy Ghost, who had long since established himself at the far end of the range. Laswell stood in the viewing area, catching your eye contact with a polite wave, holding a bundle of manilla folders across the front of her pale button-up. It was a 50/50 chance that you were the one she was looking to speak to, and the other 50% would mean you could get a head start on handling your grumbling stomach. 

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Laswell called as you slipped past the swinging glass door. She invited you to sit at a small metal table with your shoulders to the broad glass wall. 

"No worries, I was just wrapping up," you cracked your knuckles to relieve aching joints. 

"Your face looks good," she noted, gesturing to the marred flesh under your eyes and cheekbones. 

It took half a mind not to say 'you too' for reasons entirely unknown to you. Laswell's been the first person to actually acknowledge your injuries in the sense that it might have an effect on your appearance. Even with her role as the impartial task deliverer from whatever faceless higher-ups compel her, there's always been this sensitivity to her. Laswell's seen all four of those boys beaten within an inch of their lives, and she still had the patience to show interest in your healing process. She must share a sympathy for you in this field where your likenesses were beyond uncommon. It's probably why she spurred Gaz and Soap to make you that apology birthday cake back in Chita after they scorned you. Or, perhaps she's just the first person who doesn't immediately ridicule and/or tease you as soon as they lay eyes on you. An intense stare and deep frown lines suggested a long commitment to this high-stakes career. It's funny how people's faces tell such a vivid story of what they've come from.

"I've been craving oranges like you wouldn't believe," you smiled.

"That's your body telling you that it's in a rush to get better," she laughed harder than you would've expected. "The boys are headed out to a new position in an hour, but for now, we'll have you hang back here." 

"Yes, ma'am."

"You won't be here long, though. We'll have you on standby with us after we set up a perimeter," she said plainly, knitting her fingers together on the table.

"Seems pretty useful to have a linguist in your back pocket," you added.

"Exactly." 

Her pushing back her squealing chair suggested this discussion had concluded, her arm hooking under the neatly stacked pile of papers and folders, hugging them to her chest again. Without question, the next stop was an ice-cold shower back in your room, and maybe you'll find a quiet space in the library for some study for the rest of the day. Muffled pops from behind ballistic glass fought for attention over your concentration as you reminded yourself which direction led to your dormitory. 

"-and Lua," she paused, waiting for you to turn over your shoulder to catch her gaze one last time. "Excellent work on that last mission." 

A warm smile pulled at your cheeks, nodding dutifully as you folded your hands behind your back. If she only knew how reassuring those words were for you, as only a few weeks ago, you were certain your employment was terminated. It seems that being in Laswell's good graces requires back-breaking flexibility and a penchant for self-destruction. 

Being served warm meals is nice, but access to hot showers is what really makes this place seem more like a hotel with every passing day. Paired with a library with no business being so well equipped with cutting-edge linguistic case studies and theory, you were more than set to be stimulated for the next few weeks. It takes a bit of getting used to having so much top-secret information rattling around in your brain, making you shudder at the thought of whether sleep-talking might make you unveil nuclear codes or vital coordinates. The downside to these black-and-white modern art exhibit of a complex meant that every day felt like a waking daydream, blending each day into the other. Even with gigantic windows on nearly every surface, the day-night cycle did little to soothe your creeping restlessness.

Another shower. Now, there's no time limit or shouting Captain to remind you to wrap up your allotted water usage. In the quiet of your private cubicle bathroom, despite the fact that you could only barely spread your arms fully, this was your sanctuary. Cool droplets slid down radioactive skin, though this time, this shower was just a formality. It had no inherent purpose to strip the day's grime from your skin. Your earlier shower handled that. This shower was a different kind of cleanse. A reality cleanse. A factory reset of your sense of self. What the fuck were those thoughts that surged into your mind in the range earlier? Unexpected thoughts. Twisted thoughts. Thoughts that make your eyelids fall heavy and your breath hitch. You plunge your face into the frigid stream, sputtering and coughing as icy water surges into your sinuses. 

You didn't get a chance to send off the boys, or give Soap one last closing chirp before he left. Disappointing, though as Laswell said, they'd call you in sometime soon. It could be days before you're thrust into another bustling airport, so you might as well take advantage of any precious quiet time you could find. You found this one nook at the back of the library that was an immediate favourite. It had cheeky graffiti from edgy recruits and crude drawings of genitalia, entirely lacking finesse, but still somehow uniquely charming in its absurdity. Booth cushions felt more like bus seats, meaning you'd have to adjust your posture after an hour of reading, but it was an excellent way to pass the time. 

Days slipped by, and you buried yourself in self-prescribed studies. With a trade so focused on problem-solving, it's handy to review how other linguists handle impossible situations under brutal pressure. Case studies of catastrophic World War miscommunications that left a fleet at the bottom of the Atlantic, and a time a lone linguist doomed a small Hawaiian hamlet to Japanese bombings because of a minor mistranscription. All are tools to be slotted into your mental toolbox, just another key in your loop. Occasionally redundant, at times humorous, but more often than not, these cases provided key situational skills that could change the game on a future mission.

Deep red and blue bruises under your eyes slowly stabilized into rich yellow brushstrokes that swept across your cheeks. The pain had long dissipated, even permitting you to rest your weight on your previously wounded thigh when you curled into your booth. So long as you have Laswell's flip phone in your back pocket, you have no reason not to be allowed to explore the cobbled streets under a rare blue sky. Dancing ivy caressed the sides of tall brick townhouses and pruned hedges daring to creep into the expanse of the cracked sidewalks. 

Bouncing kids in ties and blazers sprung past you on their way to school, swinging clanging metal lunchboxes with every step. Kicking stones past pointed ironwork fences, you inhaled deep. The food here was terrible, and the weather was worse, but at least there wasn't a six-lane highway tearing through those lazy plazas of boutiques and pubs. Scripted trees plotted in designated holes lined the paths you walked with a tidy yet rustic charm.

By the time your injuries were a recent memory, a buzz at your phone summoned you to your duty. Laswell's crackling voice implored you to take advantage of your last night at the barracks before you set off to the military airbase just a few blocks away in the early morning. The flight would bring you to Syria. That confession left you spending those last precious hours in a plush bed staring at the ceiling, familiarizing yourself with Arabic. This time, there was no 10-day scramble to learn the language. This was a tongue you were more than comfortable with, one you'd picked up early on in your career. With that knowledge, you are at least partially at ease before you're again off to the races. 

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Lua practicing her Russian after watching Ghost finger-blast an assault rifle in the shooting range: link

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