#camilla shutter

[shards-of-chaos]

I understand that your ocs take place in the future of the original sonic continuity. but if your characters where to interact with canon sonic characters what dynamics do you think they would have with each other?

Well obviously so can't do EVERY possible character dynamic(at least not in one post. Feel free to ask about specifics though.) and I still have a lot of characters I've yet to even introduce, but I'll do a few that I can imagine off the top of my head.

Camilla and Amy: They'd absolutely adore each other. Quick friends, I'd think. Someone of that much importance who's also so well traveled would definitely have Camilla's admiration as a mentor figure who she can hear stories and advice from. I feel that Amy would find Camilla's outgoing personality and adventure lust to be charming, since it reminds her of a certain blue blur, while also not being opposed to slowing down to enjoy the little things going on in the places she's already seen. She'd adore having her around, like an adopted daughter.

Rouge and Vaudmon: Oh she's bullying this poor kangaroo. They're both thieves, but she so clearly outclasses him. He holds a little bit of a competitive grudge, trying to prove himself the better thief, but getting embarrassed frequently. She finds this funny and teases him about it.

Silver and Alex: They have a pretty mutual respect for one another. Alex is a bit intimidating for the guy due to her natural intensity. They'd get along despite that, after he's gotten to know her a little more. They bond over discussing their psychokinetics and she actually learns from him the most due to his experience.

Dante and Blaze: That's a fight right there. Dante's been known to mouth off and be a little rude from time to time. Alex and Dusk are usually the ones to keep him in check, but they won't complain if the princess of the Sol dimension does so herself. She definitely sees potential in him, and is intrigued by meeting another pyrokinetic for the first time. She does her best to help straighten out his authority issues

Aaand one more, pulling from the comics.

Lanolin and Vellory: Assuming this is a Lanolin who's been in charge of her team long enough to properly settle into the role. Lanolin would probably be an advisor or mentor of sorts for the eager newbie to the adventuring game. Biggest bit of advice she'd give that she learned the hard way? Communication. Goes a long way, especially in a team.

[thecclover-fanfictions]

Halloween

A deep long howl rushed down the chimney, echoed loud in the kitchen and with a heavy blow the fire lit up before it died ultimately.

Wide eyed Camilla turned around. Holding her breath and cramped into her worktop she stared at the last sparks cooling down on the stone floor.

She shuttered.

Being chicken-hearted wasn´t something of her attributes, but this night felt different.

It was really dark outside, though not even six o´clock. The swoosh and murmur of the old trees in front of her window sounded like whisper, creaking, almost spooky laughs.

The pane mirrored a ghost face as she carefully looked out.

Camilla closed her eyes and deeply exhaled. Probably she was really silly.

Here was nothing. Just bad weather outside, in the Halloween night. She was secured, at least two trustworthy policemen were at the gates and the house alarmed.

And…her two dogs…

Camilla looked down to the dog basket and inwardly moaned, but also chuckled. In deep dreams adorable Beth and Bluebell snored away, snuggled into each other and, first of all, snuggled into the rests of Charles´s old Barbour jacket. Under Charles´s painful eyes they had to part the jacket into several slices to take to all their houses, as the dogs simply refused to rest without his precious piece.

Well, however…Beth and Bluebell weren´t reliable this night.

The next heavy howl blew down the chimney and the candles on the table over there flickered…until one burned out…

Hastily, and shivering, Camilla closed the vent.

This day was witched somehow. Strange things happened. Well, not really important things, just some small coincidences.

They children would come later, for a sweet (and probably not so quietly) Halloween party. Actually the Highgrove kitchen would deliver the meal. As it was arranged since weeks. But they didn´t. They had forgotten, and also had to prepare for an important dinner. Which was strange again, as she didn´t know of any. And since midday she couldn´t call Charles…

And nobody was able to get her some ingredients to cook by herself. Not from the Highgrove kitchen and not from the supermarket only 15 minutes from here.

Well, this was not the right time to muse about it any longer. She had to hurry up with her cake, luckily she had stored one or two things to make one. And actually the children were behind time now. Maybe the weather…

She hesitated for a second, but then tiptoed over to her living hall. She would have a look if they had arrived just now.

Not across the room, carefully along the wall she moved. In the door she shook her head, inwardly laughing about herself. It was ridiculous.

Until in the next second the big chimney here crackled loud and heavy, blowing the fire high up and sending her a wave of heat. She jumped with fright and clinched her shirt.

Good Lord…she probably was just tired, and restless because she hadn´t heard of someone since hours. Not from Charles, but sometimes unexpected things happened. He would call her back, he always did. No matter the time.

But she also didn´t get Tom on the phone. Or Laura…

“No, enough already”, she scolded herself. She would go back into the kitchen, check the cake and doing the last decorations for the table. Well, to call it decoration was maybe a bit overblown with the dried jack-o`-lanterns from last year…

She turned around to go back as her heart stopped for a second. She gulped and started to shiver. She didn´t dare to turn aside, but…she was sure…

Outside the window she could see a small light, coming nearer. Now her heart beat like mad.

If only this sleepy dogs would wake up!

She closed her eyes, exhaled deeply and her head jerked around. Yes, it was still there! And it came nearer, just there from the gates!

She run to her phone, kneeled down and called the security. At the gates.

A relaxed voice answered. No, there wasn’t anything. Nobody was here. For sure not.

Camilla felt desperate and frantic. She wasn´t going mad, was she?! In no way she could open the door and persuade herself.

Without saying goodbye she pressed the button. Her hand rushed through her hair. Well, she had worked hard the last weeks, she just needed some rest.

Carefully she peered around the corner.

The light was still there. Behind the pane of her main entrance.

She dialled Charles´s number in Highgrove. No answer. Clarence House. No answer. With tears in her eyes she vowed herself to buy him a mobile next.

Now it knocked at her door. The lantern there faltered.

Her heart run. She dialled Tom. No answer. Laura…no answer.

This was really a nightmare! Was she really up? Or was this only a dream?!

The dogs. Her last chance. She run into the kitchen, calling with a shaky voice: “Beth…Darling, Bluebell…wake up…wake up!” Finally the dogs opened their eyes, yawning.

Wagging their tails they jumped out, up and down on her. They felt she was agitated and licked her feet to comfort her, but Camilla just pointed to the door. “Who´s there, sweethearts, who´s there,” she stuttered.

Beth and Bluebell curious tripped out, but quickly turned back, waggling their tails and agitated barking. Like they did when they were happy. Excited they jumped up and down, run into the living hall again and turned back to her.

Now it almost hammered against the door.

Camilla didn´t rely on the dogs any longer. She just run up the stairs, as fast as possible. Her nose pressed against the pane, and now she also could spot some light in the bushes around.

Downstairs it impatient knocked again and the flickering shadow of the lamp laid on the steps.

With all her courage she opened the window, just a little bit.

“Hello…”, she timid called. No one answered, but probably no one had heard her, as the wind outside blew heavy.

“Hello?!”, she tried to call with all her power now. A squeaky voice answered: “Hello?” It sounded really scary, but somehow…

The voice asked again, louder now, and with a hint of a chuckle.

Camilla frowned. Stock-still she waited, until the next “Hello…?!” The voice hardly could contain itself.

Like a flash her head stuck out of the window. A dark shape waited there, the black howl cast a shadow on the face.

The squeaky voice sounded again, and now the dark monk raised the lantern to light his face.

Camilla slammed the window and run downstairs. A few seconds later she had opened her super saved entrance door and breathless fell into the arms of the monk.

She didn´t know if to feel angry or relieved or just happy. Her fingers just clawed into his black frock and she mumbled: “Darling, what are you doing? What are you doing?”

Charles laughed but felt her still trembling. Breathless he kissed her hair and assuring mumbled: “Don´t worry, Darling, don´t worry! Are you alright?” Camilla sighed, she still didn´t know what to think.

Beth and Bluebell, happy barking and jumping, circled around them, trying to snatch Charles´s frock as it felt really strange to them.

“Darling, are you angry?” Charles asked her worried, still the lantern in his hand. He kissed her lips carefully as she watched him with wide eyes.

In this moment the enlightened bushes woke up in screams: “Surprise, Gaga!” Five rascals run over to them, each one a small lantern in their hands. Followed by their laughing parents, hidden behind some trees.

Camilla´s heart stopped again for a second, until she covered her face with her hands. Laughing she shook her head as it echoed around her, while tiny arms and hands tried to grab and embrace her: “We wanted to surprise you…do you like it?...Grandpa didn´t want…but we had won…do you like it?...”

Tears of relieve, and maybe joy now run down her face, and with a still heavy bumping heart she knelt down and embraced all of them at once…

Ten minutes later she sat on the sofa in her cozy living room, lightened from lots of candles. Her head rested on the shoulder of her husband and her arm had linked his´ tightly.

Smiling she looked into the enthralled faces of her grandchildren who spellbound listened to Charles reading Harry Potter for them. Beth and Bluebell snuggled into their middle they sat down on the carpet, watching their grandfather who was some kind of hero for them, beside being the best story reader in the whole wide world.

Inwardly chuckling she mused about the day and how all the mysterious riddles cleared up within minutes.

And behind the closed door, in the living hall, the best Highgrove-delivered Halloween party got prepared, with a small and almost burnt dry cake placed on the very edge of the wonderful decorated table.

[lilibookverse]

Chapter 4

This place is a shit show, she thought. 

Camilla approached the door of the house slowly, uncertainty gnawing at her. A flicker of fear crossed her mind — what if she ran into a psychopath or worse? No shutters were open, and unlike the rest of The Cut, there was no one actively cleaning up the mess.

“Hello?” She called through the door, waiting for an answer. 

She heard unsteady footsteps inside, and a cold sweat broke out across her body. Saying she was terrified would have been the biggest understatement she’d ever encountered.

As if her heart was not already racing, about to explode, and her breath desperately fighting for oxygen, a firm hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. The grip pulled her against the wall, hiding her and her assailant just as the door swung open. 

She did not even attempt to break free; instead, she stood completely still, doing her best to remain silent and blend into the shadows.

“Yes?” A weak yet strong voice resonated from the door, sending thousands of chills down Camilla’s spine, making her body shake, bringing her closer to the person behind her. 

The trembling sensation seemed to unsettle the person behind her, who she could now identify as a boy, given the embarrassment he was clearly grappling with.

When the man understood he would not get any answers, he got back into his house, shutting the door behind him. And at the exact moment, Camilla looked down to take a glimpse at her assailant’s hand that was still covering her small lips while his arm encircled her waits to keep her hidden, in security. 

This hand… She could recognize it among thousands. 

...

A storm may have passed, but for Camilla and JJ, the real chaos is just beginning — one that neither can escape.

Full chapter available on my Wattpad account (link on my pinned post) ! 🤭

[what-if-queen-camilla]

Chapter 19

20th January 1993

Two days had passed and Camilla slowly but surely started to realise that it was not just a nightmare, that she did not have an accident and had fallen into some sort of a coma that kept her trapped in this absolute horror scenario. After she hadn't been able to eat one bite for the first two-and-a-half days following that… unpleasant incident, her basic human needs had finally taken over again and after the first few hours of sleep in days, she had even felt hungry again this morning and managed to eat a bit of porridge. She hadn't left the house and unplugged the telephone on Sunday after it hadn't stopped ringing for a second, even during night time, with all different sorts of horrible people calling, from journalists, who had seriously had the guts to ask her directly for an interview (which she had of course declined), to terrifyingly aggressive "fans" of Charles' wife, screaming the worst of names at her, some even threatening to kill her, to creepy perverts who only made disgusting noises. But the situation had reached another highpoint of cruelty when Monday morning several reporters and photographers had lined up along the driveway and between the trees and bushes in the garden - with obviously no intention to leave again so soon. In complete panic, Camilla had immediately pulled down all the shutters in the entire house and locked all doors twice. They had taken Thea out of school for the week and Andrew had promised to talk to her teacher to make sure they'd be sensitive and look after her when she returned but right now she didn't even know how she'd ever be able to step outside again. She was a prisoner in her own house. At least she had been able to keep it away from Thea as best as possible and her little angel was happy playing with her barbies and horses all day, but she'd surely start to ask further questions soon and she had no idea what she was supposed to tell her. On Monday, she had just told her that Sir and Mummy - of whom she knew that they were best friends - had been sharing a secret which unfortunately had been uncovered by some evil people and that many of them were now very angry with Mummy and they'd better stay at home for a little while until they'd have calmed down again. When Thea had asked what secret Sir and Mummy had been sharing, Camilla had lovingly reminded her that the point of a secret is not to tell anyone and that she therefore couldn't reveal it, but it had broken her heart because both she and Andrew had always been telling the children how important it was to be honest within their family, that they could always trust them and should never be afraid to tell anything because they'd always be behind them and now she was contradicting herself, acting like the complete opposite.

"Mummy, I'm hungry!", Thea said at around lunchtime and Camilla promised to go and make something for her, but opening the fridge she had a hard time finding anything she could offer her daughter. Of course, she hadn't been able to do the shopping in days and there wasn't much left apart from some rice and fish fingers. She had to try and call somebody tonight… Andrew had promised to come over on Saturday but she couldn't wait that long. Nevermind herself, she wasn't very hungry at the moment anyway, but she had a child in the house who needed food. God, what an impossible situation had she managed to get herself into. What had she done to her children, particularly to her youngest daughter who was still too little to grasp the whole thing? What an awful, horrible, terrible mother was she? This realisation hit her like a slap in the face and she felt tears filling her eyes again, but a heavy knocking on the backdoor distracted her from that and almost caused her heart attack. Fuck, who could that be? The press? Some angry supporters of Diana? The knocking became faster and louder and she really felt paralysed with fear. What if someone was going to go after her, or even worse, her poor little daughter who was playing next door? Instinctively, she grabbed a huge pan, hid next to the back door, and finally opened it…

"Milla?!" Fiona looked at her in a mixture of disbelief, shock and worry. Camilla was still paralysed, unable to speak or move or even breath, when suddenly all of her precious, remaining strength faded away, the pan falling out of her hands and onto the floor with an enormous slam, which she ignored, before powerlessly falling into her best friend's arms, desperately sobbing like a wounded animal. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry.", Fiona whispered as she assisted Camilla to sit down on the sofa in the living room. The atmosphere in the house was spooky, there was no daylight with all of the shutters being closed. "Where's Thea, darling?", Fiona asked, knowing that her best friend's greatest concern was always her children. Camilla was still unable to give a proper answer but pointed to the dining room, where her little darling had been playing so well all morning. "Okay, I will just quickly say hello to her and tell her that everything's fine and will be back in a minute.", she promised and was gone. Fiona, Countess of Shelburne, was the second wife of the Earl of Shelburne, known as Charlie to his friends, to whom both Charles and Camilla belonged as well. They had only got married in 1987 but Camilla had known Fiona much longer, she even was Laura's godmother and they saw each other frequently. Their family seat, Bowood House, was just about a 25 minutes drive away from her and Andrew's and, just like the Devonshires, the Shelburnes, too, had always been extremely supportive of them and had hosted them at their home over several weekends... Which had now been exposed to the whole world, as they had actually discussed the possibility of meeting at Bowood in that goddamn phone call from 1989. She didn't even dare ask Fiona whether she and Charlie were facing harassment, too, they most certainly were. "It doesn't matter, sweetie.", Fiona assured her once she had returned. "That's what friends are for. And now… you'll better get some things packed for the two of you. I'm not gonna leave you here, you can't stay. It's not safe. You'll come with me and stay with us for as long as needed." Though she was a few years younger than herself, Fiona had sounded so determined that Camilla didn't dare argue with her. She knew it was pointless. And she knew that her best friend was right. They couldn't stay here. It wasn't safe and safety was and had always been her first priority when it came to her children.

*Side note:

Bowood, family home to the Marquess and Marchioness of Lansdowne, what Charlie and Fiona are known as today, was indeed mentioned in the tapes, however it's not publicly known whether the former Earl and Countess of Shelburne did face harassment for their "involvement" with/support for Charles and Camilla's relationship. I think it's not unlikely though. Fiona has been one of Camilla’s best friends for decades: it's true that she's Laura's godmother and you might remember seeing her as one of two Ladies-in-attendance at Charles and Camilla's coronation in May (pictured below):

[undernightartist]

Art Fight Drawings

Here's my art fight drawings!

Some may have sensitive content, so you have been warned!

With the warning out of the way, let's get started with some art, shall we?

In order from left to right:

Gyan Cat by @colesmurf23, Rice Yama-Neko by @catastropikaz, and Banshee by Demouma.

Matt by Lymo, Orchid by @catastropikaz, and Camilla Shutter by DuskHunter713.

Luna by @leslietheluna, Miyoshi by hurricanehedgie, and Marius is by MurdererMarioCookie.

Skip by @angryarisen, Springift by @snowby3d, and BestFriend by @minnowlight.

[aurastacia]

Art Fight 2023: 7 of 11

Camilla Shutter for DuskHunter713

[allaboutmarketing4you]

How Ghost Kitchens Went From $1 Trillion Hype To A Struggling Business Model

"Food delivery is a booming business in 2024. There's one food delivery trend, however, that hasn't gone along for the ride: ghost kitchens.

Once a pandemic darling that raised more than $3 billion in venture funding, the ghost kitchen industry is falling short of lofty expectations. Euromonitor International estimated that the ghost kitchen industry could reach a market size of $1 trillion by 2030.

Big brands wanted a piece of the pie. Companies such as Wendy's, Ruby Tuesday, TGI Fridays and Wingstop all joined the wave of ghost kitchens."It is clear that the impact of ghost kitchens was overestimated," said Evert Gruyaert, restaurant food and service leader at Deloitte. "And we see that today with the decline in ghost kitchens."

Consumers complained about the clandestine nature of ghost kitchens, and food delivery apps shuttered thousands of the virtual kitchens. Then consumers shifted back to brick-and-mortar restaurants in droves, forcing investor pullback and mass closures of ghost kitchens.

Now the smaller businesses left in the industry are pivoting to a new business model to survive. Some hope to diversify the food business to expand to events and catering, not just delivery. One such business is New York City-based Nimbus Kitchen, a co-cooking space hoping to shed the negative connotation of ghost kitchens.

"Shared kitchens and co-cooking infrastructure like Nimbus is here to stay," said Camilla Opperman, Nimbus Kitchen co-founder. "We believe that the future of the industry is catering towards not only the delivery concepts, but to all of these different kinds of food businesses that ultimately need the kitchen space to legally sell to the end consumer."

Watch the video above to find out more about the rise, fall and future of ghost kitchens and if the business can pivot to return to its pandemic highs.

Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:57 Ch 1. The rise of ghost kitchen 4:31 Ch. 2. Consumer backlash 7:35 Ch. 3. Changing the delivery model 10:31 Ch. 4. What’s next?

Produced and Edited by: DeLon Thornton Camera: Kaan Oguz Graphics by: Christina Locopo and Jason Reginato Supervising Producer: Jeff Morganteen Additional Footage: Getty Images "

Video Source: CNBC

As an adjunct to video information, we let a part of an article about the same Theme here:

"How Does Ghost Kitchens Work? A Step By Step Guide 2024 By Sajid Al Hossain Last Updated -- Thursday, 2024-01-25

how does ghost kitchens work When the pandemic happened worldwide, all kinds of businesses were in terrible condition. The restaurant business was not out of this dire situation. Since then, most people started engaging more with online activities. So, the restaurant business owners started to do their business online. After the pandemic, This online restaurant business concept became more popular. And this online restaurant business concept is called Ghost Kitchen.

This business is similar to the cloud kitchen business. Many people asked, “How does ghost kitchens work?”. Or you may ask someone the same question. This article will teach you about the whole concept of the ghost kitchen, the business plan, and many more. So let’s get started!

What is a Ghost Kitchen Restaurant?

Ghost Kitchen, the word sounds like a kitchen controlled by ghosts. No! That is not the ghost kitchen meaning. The actual Ghost Kitchen Definition is a concept of a kitchen business that operates through take-out and delivery only. Bricks and mortar are absent. It is another level of the restaurant business concept. The ghost kitchen operates online. The customers order the food online, which is directly delivered to the customers.

Those who heard about ghost kitchens for the first time usually ask, “How did ghost kitchens start?”. When the pandemic happened in 2020, you saw that all physical activities were prohibited. Then, the restaurant owners decided to prepare the food, but it would be delivered directly to the customers. No dine-in options are available so that it will be a great idea. Customers order food online because they cannot go outside for the deadliest pandemic.

Also, many people started this ghost kitchen business. As we know, many people are jobless and having a financial crisis, and this ghost kitchen business was one of their best options. Since then, it has become a great business.

Types of Ghost Kitchen Business Model

Every business has to go through with plans and types. So the ghost kitchen is not out of it. It also has to go through a restaurant business plan. There are three different types of ghost kitchens. If you want to start a ghost kitchen business, you must first know the types of business models and choose which type of ghost kitchen business you want to start with.

Business Models of Ghost Kitchen: Ownership: This ownership is mainly of two types. You have to go through any one type of ownership. The Ghost Kitchen business is owned independently or by a third-party service, which will rent out the whole ghost kitchen to chiefs and business owners.

Origin: The origin of a ghost kitchen means where the business should start. Some expand the range by creating partnerships with other kitchens so that they can produce their custom menus. Other ghost kitchens start as one-off delivery-only concepts that fulfill orders from a shared kitchen space.

Structure: Structure is the part of a business that defines how the business should operate. There is a ghost kitchen that only operates from a single location. From this one location, they produce everything in a large commissary kitchen, while others are expanding hub-and-spoke systems with prep kitchens.

How Does Ghost Kitchen Work (6 Steps)

To start a ghost kitchen business, you must know how does the ghost kitchen concept works, ghost kitchen requirements, proper marketing budget plan, and many more. The ghost kitchen working process is the same as other virtual kitchen businesses. Neither of the businesses has a storefront. In addition, both do not have a dine-in facility because both work on a digital platform.

However, the ghost kitchen has no specific place like traditional restaurants. Which means there are no chairs and tables to eat meals on. It only has a kitchen used to cook the food and deliver it to the customers.

The ghost kitchen requires bigger spaces for a kitchen, storing the food and other necessary equipment. But it requires less than the traditional spaces. The ghost kitchen takes the order online, prepares the food, and delivers it to the customers by a delivery man. Those who do not have their own delivery man deliver the food through third-party delivery apps like Ubereats, Doordash, and many more.

Let's talk about the crucial points of How does ghost kitchens work.

Placing the orders A consumer places the order online or from any delivery app to the ghost kitchen. When the order is done, the ghost kitchen staff prepares the food. The ghost kitchen does not have any dine-in space to eat the meals, so the order-placing process is done online.

Make Receipt of Order Details After placing an order, the consumer has time to make a receipt of the order details. You can easily place the order and make the receipt instantly using the POS system. This receipt will help you get the order details, which will be delivered to the consumer. In addition, you will know early on which ingredients you need to use and what kind of cuisine they want to eat.

Order Preparation It is time to start cooking the food with fresh ingredients using the equipment. Remember that you have to cook the food and finish it in time. While the food quality is most important to the consumers, you must finish the cooking process and deliver it just in time. Otherwise, you will start losing customers, and it will be a reason for getting a wrong impression of your ghost kitchen business.

Packaging of order Once the food preparation is done, it is time to package the food order. Remember that packaging is one of the most essential parts of the consumer. You may ask why it is so important. If the packaging is good, you will get a good impression from the consumer.

Deliver the order When packaging is complete, it is time to deliver the food to the consumer. When you make the receipt of order details, there is an address written on the receipt. Note the address again and give it to the delivery man so that a delivery man can deliver the food to the address.

Get reviews from Customers After completing the process, you can take a review from the customer. If the customer gives a review of your site or your software, that will make a positive impression on your company. Based on the review, the new customer can judge whether your ghost kitchen business is good or bad. You need to ensure that you deliver the best quality of cuisine to the consumers so that they can give you a good review about the food and your ghost kitchen business.

Benefits of a Ghost Kitchen Business

Every business has many individual benefits. Ghost kitchen business is not out of it. People are still doing this business because of the many benefits of doing a ghost kitchen business. For this reason, this business is becoming trendier day by day. There are many benefits to doing business in the ghost kitchen. If you plan to open a ghost kitchen business, you should know the benefits of it. So let’s see the benefits of this business below:

Less space needed This ghost kitchen business does not require a vast space. You can do this business from a space. All you need is a kitchen, cooking equipment, restaurant POS Software, 1 or 2 chefs, and 2-3 staff, and that is it.

Low Overhead Costs You can do the ghost kitchen business at a very low cost. You don't need to rent a big space. All you can manage the business is from home or any short space. For this reason, you don't need to hire as many staff members as restaurants do. So, having a shorter space and hiring fewer staff members can make your business more cost-effective. To make it more efficient for lower cost, you will benefit from using the POS system for better results.

Location options For this business, it is an excellent opportunity to have location options. As the ghost kitchen does not require any specific location for doing business, like a restaurant, you can have location options. Which means you can do business in whatever location you want.

Raw materials Quality and cleanliness are Guaranteed Raw materials and food quality are very concerning for ghost kitchen business owners. In a ghost kitchen, only high-quality materials are used. So, there is no need to worry about the quality of raw materials. In addition, a ghost kitchen must have to maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen. So, cleanliness is guaranteed.

Adaptability Since the ghost kitchen requires less overhead and set-up equipment, they can be more flexible than traditional restaurants. You can test a variety of menu themes and items or change your ghost kitchen's offerings based on market success. This is the way you can adapt to the ghost kitchen business.

Ghost Kitchen Vs. Cloud Kitchen

Though ghost kitchen and cloud kitchen concepts are similar, there are still a few differences between them. Let’s see the differences below:

Ghost Kitchen: - No Physical Presence. - An economical type with lower overheads. - The Rolling Plate: To reach more people and serve a more extensive clientele, it uses “ghost kitchens.” - No dine-in service; only accepts online orders. - Operations involving several restaurant brands. - Focus on Delivery and Takeout (e.g., Ubereats, Doordash) - Ghost kitchens are efficient and cost-effective. Cloud Kitchen: - Consolidated virtual restaurant brands. - Simplified operations and pooled resources. - The Rolling Plate: Works with cloud kitchens to offer guests various menu alternatives. - Cloud kitchens frequently have a purpose. - Operations Driven by Technology. - Exclusive Restaurant Brands. - Cloud kitchens maintain scalability.

FAQ a) How does a ghost kitchen help your restaurant grow? There are five ways that a ghost kitchen helps your restaurant business grow. Those are:

It turns into a complete solution for your business. It lets you concentrate on food. Provides the ease of experimentation. Makes it possible to make multiple. It will optimize revenues with the cost minimization. b) Are ghost kitchens profitable? Yes, the ghost kitchen business is now one of the most profitable. It was not that trendy of a business before the pandemic. The ghost kitchen business has become trendier when everything is normal after the pandemic.

c) How do ghost kitchens make money? Making money from the ghost kitchen business, the owners often focus on expanding their customer base, optimizing their menu, and implementing effective marketing strategies. This is the way the ghost kitchen restaurant owners make money.

d) Can I start a ghost kitchen from home? Of Course, you can. When the pandemic was held in 2020, many people started ghost kitchen businesses from home. And they succeed in doing business. Not only that, ghost kitchens are a trendy business now. You must make proper plans, have a kitchen, and hire a delivery man. This is how to start a ghost kitchen from home.

e) Are ghost kitchens legal?

Yes, the Ghost Kitchen business is legal. But you have to go through some steps. You have to get some licenses, which are required in the USA. After that, you can do a ghost kitchen business legally.

In Summary So, that is all about the ghost kitchens explained in this article. Also, now you understand how ghost kitchens work. This is the only business where you can execute the whole business from home or any space. This business does not require a high amount of investment like traditional restaurants. A short space for a kitchen, equipment, the best POS system, and 1-3 staff, and that’s it. Anyone can do the ghost kitchen business. But first, they have to gather knowledge about “How do ghost kitchens work”. Also, They have to make necessary licenses, which are required in the USA. After knowing all the steps, you can be a successful ghost kitchen owner. "

Article Source: BDTASK

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[camillafanfiction]

Love changes everything - Chapter 1

9th October 1975, Bloehyde Manor

The wind blew cold and heavy, rattling on the shutters. Thank goodness the horses were safe and sound in their stables, the dogs had curled up in the hall and 10-months-old Tom was fast asleep in his cot in his own room. Thank goodness she sat here on her comfy sofa and had her nose stuck in an exciting thriller, the radio quietly playing some classical music. Thank goodness she had decided against that birthday bash of one of her husband's comrades at the Ritz. Usually, Andrew expected her to join him, but Camilla had felt a bit sick and she knew, too, Andrew wouldn’t be lonesome tonight anyway. She was nowhere near to accepting her husband’s ongoing affairs with all sorts of girls, but she herself found great comfort in her friendship with the Prince of Wales. If it were up to Charles, she would be sleeping with him and she wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to resist his constant courting. It was just way too wonderful to be adored and loved like that. And she still loved him, too. Camilla, however, was rather unwilling to break her marriage vow. Charles had rung her earlier today - they spoke most days and these were the highlights of both their days. Maybe, if Charles was going to try and kiss her again, she would just follow her heart and kiss him back. Or maybe she would hiss at him and push him away if Andrew would be very sweet again the upcoming weekend. Today was a Thursday and tomorrow afternoon Andrew would come home to spend the weekend with his wife and son. He’d be the perfect husband and bring some small presents for either Tom or Camilla. Or maybe he wouldn’t… Usually, he just brought flowers when he had slept with one of her best friends, so she’d be happy if she wasn’t going to receive any. 

Right after they had spoken their vows two years ago, Camilla had had hopes that Andrew would finally stop his philandering, but she knew now that it was never going to stop. But he still was her husband and she loved him. That was why she’d married him. They were perfect for each other or so she had once thought. Now she sometimes found herself wondering what her life would look like had she not accepted his sudden proposal. Andrew was a wonderful father, at least, and they worked well as a team in front of everyone. Everything else would fall into place one day, Camilla was sure. 

The radio beeped in an unsettling way, startling Camilla from her book. These had to be the 10 p.m. news already, she sighed to herself and yawned heartily. She really got lost in books way too quickly when she was all on her own. The old grandfather-clock struck 10 p.m., it was always a little late, and drowned out the news. Apparently, there had been another IRA bombing again, but Camilla hadn’t understood where. As she was scuffling to the radio, the reporter was already talking about something else, so Camilla just turned it off with a shake of her head and went upstairs. There was some rustling in Tom’s room, so she peeked in, but found her little boy fast asleep in his cot. Tom was her and Andrew’s pride and joy. They’d had to wait a bit longer than expected for his arrival, but that made the joy of his being even bigger. Tom was a happy baby and everyone seemed to be besotted with him. Especially Charles, his god-father, took a great fancy to him. He often came to visit Tom - and even more often to visit Camilla, too. It calmed Camilla’s heart a little to know that Charles loved her son so dearly even though he disliked Andrew so much. Till that day Charles couldn’t understand why out of all the men she had chosen Andrew, not him, Camilla knew. Of course Charles, like humiliatingly everyone in their circle, knew about Andrew’s affairs, and he despised Andrew for it, for not treating Camilla the way she deserved it. But it didn’t matter. She had chosen Andrew, she was stuck with him forever, they would have more children and maybe one day Andrew would realise what an amazing wife he had. 

Having brushed her teeth, Camilla shuffled to her bed, flopped down and fell into a deep sleep immediately. Today had been exhausting: a baby, two dogs, a house with a big garden and several horses didn’t just exist on their own. They all needed care and love and during the week Camilla was the only one to give it to each of them. And only sometimes she was aware that she might also need someone to look after her and to love her, too.

In fact, Camilla had fallen so tightly asleep that she only subconsciously noticed the doorbell, the knocks on the door and the voices that called “Mrs. Parker Bowles!” She murmured something in her sleep, but eventually turned on the lamp on her bed-side table to take a look at her watch. It was half past one in the morning. What on earth would someone want from her at that time of the night? They had certainly woken Tom, he was crying, she sighed.

Camilla wasn’t one to be afraid, Allington was a peaceful village and a burglar wouldn’t shout her name like that. Had one of the horses been afraid of the storm and escaped the stable, she mused as she threw on her dressing gown. Well, she would find out soon, she thought to herself as she grabbed her baby, walked down the stairs and called “I’m coming!”. A second later she flung the door open and looked into the frowning faces of a middle-aged police officer, a brigadier of the Blues and Royals and a tearful major, Ernest, one of Andrew’s comrades. She instantly knew something was wrong. “What’s with Andrew?”, she uttered before her face turned pale and her knees wobbly.  

X

Trevor Davidson, the Prince of Wales’s private secretary, knocked two times at the office door and then peeked in. “Sir?”, he asked quietly and bowed his head. He knew Charles was working on a speech for an upcoming engagement, though it was almost around one in the morning, and he hated being disturbed. But Trevor knew, too, that the Prince needed to hear the news he had.

“Hm?”, Charles replied without looking up or paying any further attention to Trevor. He was in a flow and wanted to finish that speech. He had no time for chit chat now. 

“Sir, I have some news regarding the bombing.”, Trevor tried again. 

Charles had heard a little bit of the detonation and had immediately known that the IRA had struck again. Half an hour later he had been told that, indeed, there had been an IRA attack on Green Park Underground station, just opposite of the Ritz. If only there was a way to teach humankind peace and harmony…! “Yes?”, he asked, raising his head and eyebrows expecitionally. 

Trevor took a deep breath, he wasn’t quite sure how to put what he had to say, but decided to say it as it was. “You might be aware that a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Parker Bow-”

For a moment Charles heard his blood rushing through his veins and felt his pulse quickening but then firmly interrupted his secretary, “Mrs. Parker Bowles is not staying in London tonight.” 

Trevor nodded. “No, Sir.” 

Charles sighed relieved. “Go on then.” His fingertips thumbed on the table. 

Trevor nodded again, gathering his thoughts. “Major Ernest Aldersham was hosting a party at the Ritz tonight and Major Parker Bowles was in attendance. While he was at the restrooms he noticed something ominous.” Charles didn’t want to know why, when and how Andrew frequented a lavatory at the Ritz, but tried to look patient at his secretary while he continued. “Major Parker Bowles knocked on the door and was immediately run over by the terroroist who was constructing a bomb in that very restroom. The Major, however, bounced back and run after the man, fully aware that the latter had a bomb in his arms. He chased him out of the hotel, but couldn’t hinder that the Irishman threw the bomb at the undergroundstation. The terrorist was able to chase away in his getaway car, but Major Parker Bowles was instantly killed by the bomb.”

There was a moment of silence in which the prince’s face turned grey and pale. “The Major is…”

“Dead, Sir. Yes.”, Trevor confirmed, feeling uncomfortable.

“Are you a hundred percent sure it is Major Parker Bowles?” Charles asked, praying that this was a factual error.

“Yes, Sir.”

Charles' blood froze. He had to function now. “Does Mrs. Parker Bowles know already?”

“As far as I know there’s a squad on its way to her.” Trevor was well aware of the rumours surrounding the prince’s very special friendship with Mrs. Parker Bowles, they were well circulating in the royal household, but Trevor had never paid any attention to them. He had seen them together twice and to him it was as plain as the nose on their faces that the two of them were in love. But it was neither his place to judge nor to be interested in. 

“I will go and see her!” Charles declared not quite to Trevor’s surprise.

[thecrownnet]

[...] The featured music in The Crown season 4 varies in tone massively. For example, episode three includes various pop tracks that parallel Diana's ascent within the Royal Family, however, the subsequent episode includes no pop music whatsoever. After several music-lite episodes during the second half of the series, the musical tone picks up in the penultimate production. Here's every featured song in The Crown season 4.

Episode 1: "Gold Stick" "Jerusalem" by Sir Hubert Parry: The funeral service for Lord Mountbatten begins. Meanwhile, an Irish man reads a report about the Irish Republican Army taking responsibility for the execution, along with the deaths of 18 British soldiers at Warren Point. The man addresses Irish Republicans and states that Lord Mountbatten was the "ultimate symbol" of imperialist oppression. "Jerusalem" ends as Prince Charles begins his speech.

"Call Me" by Blondie: Diana receives a call from Charles, the Prince of Wales. Shortly before, Charles has a brief second meeting with Diana after the death of Lord Mountbatten.

Episode 2: "The Balmoral Test" "Verdi’s La Traviata – Prelude Act 1" by Giuseppe Verdi: Charles and Diana attend the opera together. Diana explains that she adores Verdi because his music is so romantic, and Charles explains that focusing only on the romantic aspects of the work diminishes the composer's legacy and political influence.

"Scotland the Brave": Margaret Thatcher attends a sporting event in Scotland with her husband Denis and The Royal Family. She doesn't find any value in the experience and states that the country needs to change fundamentally, top to bottom.

"Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Affetuoso" by Johann Sebastian Bach: After Diana proves herself to the Royal Family at Balmoral, she's followed by the press in London (and seems to enjoy the attention). Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher attends a government photo session. A new stag head is also placed in a Balmoral dining room.

Episode 3: "Fairytale"

"Upside Down" by Diana Ross: Diana is briefly shown driving in her vehicle.

"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks: Diana returns home after getting engaged to Charles and celebrates with her flatmates. The young women drive around the city and party before the main title sequence. An acapella version of the song also plays during the final credits.

"Vienna" by Ultravox: After an awkward Royal Family event, Diana learns about Royal Family rules and etiquette. A brief insert shot shows Diana waking up at 8:30 a.m. and listening to "Vienna."

"Girls on Film" by Duran Duran: Diana receives mail, watches TV, and then roller skates around Buckingham Palace while listening to "Girls on Film." The song drowns out while she looks at paintings and reflects on her new reality.

"Song for Guy" by Elton John: After discovering that Charles had a bracelet made for Camilla, Diana calms herself by dancing and practicing ballet.

"I Vow to Thee, My Country": Charles greets admirers outside a cathedral. Inside, Diana watches while preparing to confront him about a bracelet for "Gladys" (Camilla).

Episode 4: "Favourites"

The Crown "Favourites" doesn't include any featured songs.

Episode 5: "Fagan" "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure: Michael Fagan lights a cigarette and takes a walk. The scene kicks off a flashback narrative that details his 1982 break-in at Buckingham Palace.

"Monkey Man" by The Specials: Michael Fagan drinks beer at a pub, spot his ex-wife, and threatens her partner. In a transition sequence, Margaret Thatcher arrives at Buckingham Palace to discuss the Falkland Islands conflict with Argentina.

"God Save the Queen": The Royal Family prepares to meet with the public.

"Queen’s Company" by The Band of the Grenadier Guards: The Queen takes the royal salute during her annual birthday celebration.

"Twenty Four Hours" by Joy Division: Michael Fagan smokes a cigarette after a physical altercation with his ex-wife's parter. The moment comes shortly after he breaks into Buckingham Palace for the first time.

"Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret" by The English Beat: The song plays over the end credits and an epilogue about Michael Fagan.

Episode 6: "Terra Nullius"

"Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You" by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Charles introduces Diana in Sydney after a rekindling of their romance. The couple later dances at a public event while the paparazzi take photographs. The song plays again during the end credits.

Episode 7: "The Hereditary Principle" "C'est si bon" by Dean Martin: Princess Margaret applies makeup and watches Queen Elizabeth on television.

"Let’s Dance" by David Bowie: Princess Margaret and Dazzle drink and dance together.

"Fallin" by Connie Francis: Princess Margaret goes on vacation after ending her relationship with Dazzle.

Episode 8: "48:1"

"Fite Dem Back" by Linton Kwesi Johnson: South African people dance in the streets while protesting.

"Inglan Is a Bitch" by Linton Kwesi Johnson: The song plays over the end credits.

Episode 9: "Avalanche" "Othello, Act I: Una vela!" by Giuseppe Verdi: Charles celebrates his 37th birthday at the opera with Diana.

"Swan Lake, Pas De Deux (1), Act II" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Diana looks at Charlies inside the opera house.

"Fidelio, Op.72, Act II: Intro and Aria" by Ludwig van Beethoven: A man performs on stage while Diana tells Charles that she needs to powder her nose.

"Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel: Diana joins one of the performers on stage. The song drowns out as Charles gazes at Diana and realizes that she'll once again receive more press than him the following day.

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen: Diana, William, and Harry sing together during an anniversary road trip to Highgrove Royal Gardens.

"All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera: As an anniversary gift, Diana plays Charles a VHS tape of her performing in costume on the West End. Charles laters mocks his wife while speaking with Anne.

Episode 10: "War"

"Theme from New York, New York": Diana arrives in New York City and attends a public event.

"Baby, It’s Cold Outside" by Ella Fitzgerald: Charles and Diana attend a holiday event after arguing about their marriage.

"Silent Night": The Royal Family poses for a photograph. The season comes to an end by foreshadowing Diana's tragic fate through a shutter flash.

Martin Phipps composed The Crown season 4 score.

[amayawolfe]

Prologue Pt.1 - A Circus On The Move

My Stories Masterlist  

Word Count: 1943

Summary: Morintonio’s Traveling Circus has reached their docking destination and they are more than ready to be back on land. Among them, a familiar red haired teenager as well as one of his friends.

Warnings: mild angst

   It was a beautiful day in the large port town of Dolle. Hardly a cloud in the sky as the sun shone down bright and strong atop the crowds of people that congested the streets below. The sounds of so many going about their daily business were accompanied by that of natural sounds of the surrounding area. Gulls would cry out while fish salesmen discussed prices of the day's catch and draft animals would low as the wheels of the carts they pulled crunched along the ground.

   Several ships would come and go throughout the day bringing in and shipping out an unimaginable variety of both goods and people. Ships would even bring in entertainment. Entertainment such as "Moritonio's Traveling Circus''.

   The troupe consisted of amazing acrobats, wise fortune tellers, brave beast tamers, and mystifying magicians; just to name a few. They were all led by a mysterious man, Moritonio, whose skills in the performing arts left countless avid yet baffled fans. They had traveled throughout most of the lands of the Esanian Continent, gaining the reputation and funds they needed to travel to the Yorubian Continent. There, dreams of making it big in the pleasure capital known as Glam Gas Land appeared to be just within reach.

   The crew of the Ebon Pearl scurried about their routine to make sure their ship was ready for docking. The captain's first mate barked orders and issued threats at some of the more lazy crew members. High up in the crow's nest a young man in his mid-teens was watching the activities below with alert and curious eyes of amber.

   Having only been taken in a little over two months ago, the teen is one of a few young trainees in the traveling circus. Morintonio and a few of the members found the poor boy half-dead on the side of the road. Feeling sorry for the unfortunate lad, the ring leader ordered for the boy to be brought back to their temporary site. There he was cleaned up, bandaged, and fed.

   Thanks to the aid of another trainee, the boy had recovered quickly enough to be back on his feet in nearly a week's time. It was a good thing, too, since by that point the troupe was ready to be on the road again. A few days travel and the young man found himself sailing south on a ship with the others.

   Movement from the shrouds just below the crow's nest drew the young man's attention. Looking down he saw a girl just a couple years younger than himself climbing up the shroud ropes with impressive ease and grace. Not all too surprising seeing she was an acrobat trainee.

   As if she felt his eyes gazing down at her, the girl suddenly looked up. Her violet eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight and she flashed him a warm smile.

   "Hey, Hisoka!" she greeted him kindly.

   Within moments the girl was up the last bit of ropes and jumped over the edge of the crow's nest. Placing her hands on her hips she turned head this way and that to have a look about.

   "Quiet the view, I can see why you're up here so much. Guess I should have come up here sooner as well."

   "Well, you can't say I didn't invite you up, Abaki. ♣" Hisoka replied nonchalantly. The girl smirked and tilted her head to the side.

   "Yeah, I know, but being alone up here with you might get people talking. And last thing I need is Jasper to get jealous and have more reasons to try and hit on me." Abaki shuttered at the thought of the fire-breather trainee that was always trying to get her to go out with him.

   "You know,~" Hisoka replied coolly; a sly and knowing grin forming on his face, "you could have brought that friend of yours. What was her name again? Camilla? ♢"

   Even though Abaki's warm caramel skin had darkened under the sun's rays while out at sea, Hisoka could still make out the blush forming on his friend's cheeks as she looked away from his taunting amber eyes. Causing Abaki to blush over her crush had become an amusing little game to Hisoka.

   "I.. hadn't thought of that," the girl mumbled admittedly.

   Hisoka chuckled and looked back down to the deck below. His soft raspberry hair fluttered in the sea breeze as he leaned against the edge of the crow's nest.

   "I take it the reason you came up here is to tell me that Morintonio wants us to be ready to leave the ship soon? ♢"

   "Oh!" Abaki jumps and whips her head back around towards her friend, "Yeah, I nearly forgot the reason I came up here in the first place! I was told to get you to come down and help make sure everything is ready to go. The boss wants us all of the ship within an hour of docking."

   The plan had been to have plenty of time to get stocked up and ready to head out the next morning. All the while allowing enough time for most everyone to work the streets in the evening with little side performances to make some extra travel money. Performances such as small fire shows, juggling, and tumbling acts, as well as a little magic talent. Minute street sideshows that wouldn't need a license to put on nor a full set up to get things ready and going.

   "Oh, is that all? And here I was thinking you were wanting to hang out with me for a bit, ♣" the red hair boy playfully pouted. Abaki wrinkled her nose and gave him a playful shove before she started to climb over the edge of the crow's nest again.

   "We could hang out more if you weren't always secluding yourself away from the others you know."

   "I still get the feeling the others aren't comfortable around me,~♠" Hisoka said softly, a seriousness settling in his voice and expression. "Besides, you know I'm shy.~♠"

   "I know, Hiso. But, you're just going to have to try a little harder, that's all. I like being your friend and all, but you really should try and make more." Abaki offered him a warm, lopsided grin before she started her descent back down the shrouds. "I wouldn't take to much longer up here if I was you, you don't want Borizoi to get mad at you again."

   Borizoi was an absolute beast of a man who seemingly had it out for Hisoka from the start. He did not like the circumstances in which the young man had been found and actually vouched for the poor boy to be left for dead. Ever since then, Borizoi always had a cold, unforgiving eye on Hisoka.

   "Don't worry," Hisoka gave his fellow trainee a smile in return, "I will be down shortly,~♣"

   "Alright, see you then!"

   Abaki quickly worked her way down the ropes without a single slip up. Even some of the crewmen paused in their tasks to watch her. Some with envy, others with impressed awe. There were definitely benefits in learning how to become a tight rope walking acrobat.

   Hisoka's smile faded as Abaki climbed back down to the top deck. His friend's words echoed through his head. An all too familiar feeling began to gnaw at the back of his mind. Loneliness, and the sense that he was oddly different than most of the other troupe members.

   Often the young lad would chock the latter feeling to the fact that he was what Morintonio called a "nen user." The ring leader, Abaki, and Hisoka were the only ones in the whole circus troupe that could use their auras to do extraordinary things. And yet, while Abaki made multiple friends and got along with just about everyone in the troupe, Hisoka only really ever associated with Abaki, Morintonio, and his magician trainer, Magikana.

   For reasons unbeknown to him, people often found themselves uncomfortable around Hisoka. Both Morintonio and Abaki just tried to lightly pass it off as the others just feeling uneasy due to his raw potential and ability to learn things quickly. They both insisted the others would get used to him eventually as long as he kept trying to socialize.

   Magikana, or simply Kana, to Hisoka, once told him something on an utterly different level.

                                             ~    *    ~    *    ~    *

   One night, a few weeks back, he had come over and sat next to his teacher only to have the three other members that had been conversing with her stop in mid-sentence. After a few minutes, those same three members rose to their feet and left with hardly a single word more. Despite Hisoka not showing any emotion towards the happening, he had felt dejected. Kana looked down at her pupil and placed a long, boney, yet warm hand on his shoulder. She then spoke to him in her thick, accent rich voice.

   "Sheep vill always be nervous round volves, no matter how convincing vool may be."

   "So, what does that make you then?♣" Hisoka had asked somewhat bitterly. Kana simply flashed him a sly and toothy grin and winked.

   "Is simple, I is fox!" Kana chuckled wholeheartedly. "Small enough to be little vorry for sheep. But! Still dangerous enough to cause problem if see fit."

   Hisoka had smiled at Kana, she seemed to always know what to say when Morintonio didn't.

   "Alright then, sensei, what am ?~♢"

   "Hmmm," Kana hummed in thought. She carefully looked Hisoka over before finally giving him an answer. "I vould say, you are much like volf. But, you is still pup. Could be fox, like me. So," Kana shrugged her slim shoulders, "sheep is scared of vaht you could be."

   "Oh, I see... ♠" Hisoka had sounded intrigued; and yet, sad. "And, what about Abaki and Morintonio? ♣"

   Kana let out a boisterous laugh at Hisoka's inquiries then ruffled his hair.

   "I tink you vorry too much, little one. To answer question, Abaki is like dog. Many people like dog, and dog like many people. Sheep often look to dog for guidance, protection, and friendship. Dog can also get along vith volf. Volf and dog have much in common. Now, Ving Leader..."

   The magician paused in thought for a moment. A far off look appeared in her eyes as she carefully mulled over her analysis of the curious man everyone knew as Morintonio.

   "He is own beast," Kana had finally replied in a distant voice. "Ving Leader is loved by many, yet, he can be very dangerous man. Should alvays keep some guards up vith that man." A puzzled looked flittered across Hisoka's face.

   "What makes you say that? ♣"

   "Call it 'animal instinct,'" Kana chuckled lightly. "Should always listen to gut, gut vant to live as much as you do. Sometimes more so. Vaht you need, little one, is to find more volves. Or even dog, cat, or fox. Find more like you. Vill not be easy, but, vill be vorth it."

                                                   ~    *    ~    *    ~    *

   Hisoka found himself smiling a little whenever the memory of that conversation found its way through his train of thought. Somehow, it helped ease some of the lonely feelings.

   He gave a little shake of his head to bring himself back to the present. In one smooth movement, he leaped over the edge of the crow's nest and landed onto the shroud. With agile grace and speed that would even make Abaki jealous, Hisoka made his way down to the top deck where he found some of the other troupe members who were quick to put him to work.

~   ~   ~

Next Chapter:  Bubblegum Blood Prologue Pt. 2 - A Glimpse of Darkness

~   ~   ~

Thanks for reading! If you liked what you read, please be sure to click that heart icon! 

[jadekitty777]

Snapshot Aesthetics

OKAY BUT FG WEEKEND? WHO’S CRAZY IDEA WAS THAT.

You better know I want to participate though xD I didn’t plan to have an entry for today but, well, things change lol

Day 1: Outfits

Rating: K

Words: 2.2k

Summary: Clover's job was simple: Get the model to pose properly, smile, and take the shot. But the new hire, Qrow, was about to throw a wrench into that simplicity... in more ways than one. [Fashion Model AU]

Ao3 Link: Snapshot Aesthetics

~

Snap!

The sound of his camera shutter going off was almost inaudible under the early morning hustle that had overtaken the studio. Clover inspected the shot of Elm displaying back on his LCD screen. He shook his head, calling to the stagehand, “Lower the forelights! There’s too much washout!”

“You got it boss.” She saluted, stepping off the scene to go tinker with the fluorescents.

Th telltale sound of stilettos had his head turning, seeing Willow striding over, lips pursed with annoyance. “Are we ready yet?”

“Almost.” He assured, showing her the picture. “Just a bit more tweaking on the lights and we’ll be good to go.”

She placed a hand on her hip, scanning the team critically. “Good.”

“Everything alright? You look…” He mulled over all his safe adjective options, “Unhappy.”

She sighed exasperatedly. “Qrow is causing a bit of a ruckus back in dress. Won’t let Kali even do his makeup.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know what I was thinking, listening to Taiyang.”

“It’s probably because the new guy’s pretty.” And related to Raven, he thought but didn’t dare utter the runway model’s name aloud. If he did, then it would make his manager think of her ex-husband and Raven’s agent, Jacques Schnee. That was a nasty pandora’s box he’d rather keep closed.

Nevertheless, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time she hired someone simply based on an affiliation they had to someone in Jacques’ team, thinking it as some retroactive way of getting back at him. Taiyang himself was one such decision, also ironically due his connection with Raven. Though, he’d heard the two’s relationship had been more… carnal in nature.

The plus was, Taiyang had worked out great. He was handsome and jovial and easy to direct on set. Clover’s only hope when he learned of the new hire was that the same could be said for Qrow; but, it was sounding like he had his twin sister’s notorious diva-like personality, if Willow’s frustration was anything to go by. Which meant he was in for a long day.

“Light check!” Elm called, flexing both arms proudly like a muscle builder.

He snapped the shot, then nodded at the quality. “Perfect!”

Willow swiveled, heading for the door. “Let’s get started then.”

~

Over the course of the seven years Clover had worked for Trendy magazine, he’d discovered that each fashion designer had a specific ‘taste’ they were going for when it came to showing off their line-up and he’d learned to pose the models accordingly to keep their clients happy and coming back for each issue. So, he kept certain things in mind with each designer’s desires, like how Sienna preferred her poses to be as dynamic and wild as possible and Camilla wanted proper posture and a bit of elegance.

Unfortunately, today’s clothing line was from Roman and Neo. Which meant balancing the two designers’ conflicting requirements of flamboyance and subtlety into one picture. It tended to lead to a lot of small changes for limb placement and expression before he ever even rose his camera.

So, it tended to be a relief when the snap sounded off and he said, “Alright, you’re done!”

“Oh, thank god!” Tai slumped over immediately, rolling out his shoulders. “I think my neck has a crick in it.”

Clover snorted. “Alright drama king. Go take a break.” He turned towards the doorway, calling, “Who’s next up?”

He heard Kali’s faint, “Get in there. And stop messing with your hair!”

A gruff voice he didn’t recognize replied, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Before Qrow Branwen walked into the room and stole his breath away.

Though he’d joked before, Clover hadn’t actually known what the man had looked like. He rarely did see new models before their first shoot. But now that he was, it had to be said that maybe Willow had indeed hired Qrow simply for his beauty. In almost every way, he was like a softer version of his sister. Where her skin was striking alabaster white, his had more of a welcoming ivory tone. Where her eyes were bright scarlet, his were a gentle vermillion. And where her hair was an ink black, his held streaks of dusty grey that somehow was just enough to make him appear refined, but not old.

Combine that with Roman and Neo’s classy “modern early-1900’s” style, and he looked absolutely dazzling. It was one of their simpler pieces, but dress had made sure he wore it well, especially with the plain, long-sleeved, white dress shirt that someone had decided to undo the top few buttons off to frame a cross necklace hanging sideways. Pulled over that and adding some muted color was a double-layered vest that buttoned from the bottom of the ribs down. The inner layer was a slate grey while the outer layer was a deep charcoal and had a tasteful embroidery design flowing down the sides. The matching dark grey slacks were fairly standard but nicely fitting to the man’s ridiculously long legs. Completing the picture were some shiny cap-toed black dress shoes.

“So uh, how do you want me?” Qrow asked, fidgeting with the cross-shaped cufflinks of his shirt.

Splayed across my bed. Clover shook himself of any indecent thoughts, nodding towards the set that mimicked an old parlor room. “Center stage, leaning back on the table.”

He nodded, crossing the room.

As they passed each other, Tai offered a thumb’s up and a cheery, “Good luck!”

The little half-grin Qrow offered his friend left Clover floating.

Not that the other man was going to need any well wishes, as he’d decided on something fairly simplistic. As Qrow took position, he directed, “Alright, I want you to rest your hands on the table, in view. Keep your fingers spread out.”

“Like this?” He settled them by his hips.

“Mm no. Spread your arms further apart. Position your hands the other way, pointing opposite directions. Yeah – like that! A little more for the right hand. Relax your shoulders more. No, no not that much.” And on and on it went, as Clover altered each little angle and body part until he had the exact position in mind. Yet, despite the ease of what he was asking for, Qrow’s inexperience meant he had to spend twice as long getting things just right.

It quickly became clear by his 60th order that the older man was growing a bit exasperated.

Clover eyed him up and down. Hummed thoughtfully at the position of where his ankles crossed, the toe of one dress shoe pointed down. “Okay, tilt your left heel just a bit more.”

“Is all this really necessary?” Qrow grumbled, trying not to move anything else but his foot.

“When the client is picky, yeah. And stop clawing your fingers. Keep them flat.”

The other man breathed in and out slowly, carefully resting down his hands.

He gave him another once over. Frowned.

The tension he could easily see doubled as Qrow demanded, “What now?”

“Maybe we should try something different.” He considered.

The words were met with Qrow groaning out, “You got to be kidding me.”

And Willow cutting in, “Go with it. We got to get this shoot done before noon!”

He glanced at his wristwatch. Shit, was it really almost eleven? He still had four other designs to go. “Yeah, alright. Qrow, just try to relax your muscles a bit.” He rose his camera. “Alright, now smile.”

He did, stretching it as big as he could.

Clover looked at him over the lens, raising a brow. “I said smile, not look like you’re trying to imitate clown make-up.” Ignoring the other’s sarcastic laughter, he mulled it over, then snapped his fingers. “Ah, I know! Give me the same one you gave to Tai when you first walked in.”

He could tell it wasn’t quite right when it didn’t have the same cloud nine effect on him as before, but with the clock ticking in his head, he took the shot.

“Alright, that’ll do.” Clover said.

“We’re done?” Qrow asked, not moving an inch, as if worried he’d change his mind.

“Yep. You’re free as a bird.”

That earned him a real laugh. “That was awful!”

For the hell of it, he took another shot.

~

There was always such a sense of relief when Clover submitted the photos to processing. From there the team would do whatever touch ups were necessary before it went in for print. Normally, the rest of his day was done, but he had another engagement at a rally across town that would keep him busy well into the evening. So, he found himself stepping into the break room, intent on grabbing a cup of coffee and heading on his way.

He was surprised to find Qrow there, huddled in one of the corner tables. He was dressed down, back in his casuals, but still managed to make a t-shirt and some slacks look like runway material. They met gazes briefly, before the elder man’s eyes dropped back to his phone, not saying a word.

Already short on time, Clover was content to leave it like that, but as he finished mixing his coffee together, guilt seeped in. If they were going to be working together, then one of them had to take the first step and it was much harder for the new guy to take it.

“You did good today.” He spoke.

Qrow scoffed. “You kidding? I was a disaster.” He groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll be lucky if they ask me to come back.”

Ah. So, he wasn’t a snob - he was insecure. Clover could work with that.

“Ah come on. It wasn’t that bad.” He crossed the room, turning the opposite chair sideways and falling into it. “You’re just a little stiff. A few more of these and you’ll relax.” He paused, then added, “Oh, and take it a little easy on the people in dress.”

“They were trying to poke my eye out! Whoever invented eyeliner is a demon.”

He guffawed heartily. “It’s not that bad.”

Qrow sighed, ruffling a hand through his hair. “Still, I don’t know what I was thinking, letting Tai convince me to take this job.”

Seemed Tai was doing a lot of that lately.

“I’m not a model. That’s my sister’s gig. And…” Qrow gestured to himself. “I mean, look at me.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure it must get tiring getting all those calls from Mr. Universe asking you to come reclaim your crown.” He countered.

“Tch, if anyone’s got a crown to go reclaim, it’s probably you.” A second later, he seemed to realize what he said and hid his face in his hand. “Oh my god, I didn’t just- I’m sorry, that was inappropriate.”

Clover couldn’t stop grinning. “Relax gorgeous. You’re in the right business to be making comments like that.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Don’t feel so bad, either. You’re not the only one self-conscious around here. Winter? Breaks out before every shoot. James? Has a scar right here.” He ran a finger above the line of his right eyebrow. “And by now, we’ve got to be giving Tai a complex with how much gets altered in processing.”

“He certainly had a lot to say about last month’s issue.”

“Well, you know, we gotta follow those trends and freckles are in.” He was sure there was a lot of talk on the questionable ethics of digitally changing people’s appearances to portray an unobtainable beauty, but it was a topic he wasn’t too interested in engaging with. In the end, it all just came down to the paycheck and keeping people’s jobs. Because if a model couldn’t sell the clothes they were wearing, then they weren’t going to get to keep modeling them.

Qrow leant back, crossing his arms. “Wonder how much they’ll change about me.”

“Well, they’ll definitely take out those cute wrinkles you get around your eyes when you laugh.”

“I wasn’t laughing?”

“Not in the first shot. But I may have…” He shrugged sheepishly. “Taken another one, right at the end? You looked more natural.”

Qrow blinked. “Well. Alright then. Guess that’s why you’re the expert.” His gaze drifted past Clover’s shoulder at about the same time he heard the footsteps. “Hey Tai. All done?”

“Yeah.” The blond replied as he stopped at their table, eyeing him suspiciously. “Hopefully the company flirt wasn’t giving you trouble.”

“Oh sunshine,” Clover drawled, playing it up as he bat his eyelashes at the other man. “I hope you know you’re my one and only.”

He snorted, rolling his eyes. “Save it for the guys actually swinging your way.” He nodded to his friend. “Come on, we better get moving if we want to get the girls on time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Qrow stood. “It was nice meeting you Clover.”

“Same here. Looking forward to working with you.” He replied sincerely. A pleasant little warmth tingled through him when the sentiment earned him an adorable smile.

As he watched him go, Clover cast his earlier worries aside and decided that this truly was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

[shards-of-chaos]

Credit to Sunmellows on DA and Artfight for this piece of Camilla. I absolutely adore it.

[birchshutter]

Tagged by @hilema , go follow her.

name/nickname: I do not have a nickname

gender: cisman ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

star sign: a scale?

height: Probably around 180

time: 21:24

birthday: in the time of the scale

favorite bands: Vasas flora & fauna, Arcade Fire & Kent

favorite solo artists: Säkert!/Hello Saferide, Orville Peck & Cornelis Vreeswijk

song stuck in my head: Vasas Flora & Fauna - Laura Jenna Ellinoora Alexandra Camilla Jurvanen

last movie: Pacific Rim

last show: Hilda (Netflix)

when did i create this blog: 11th of December 2011

what do i post: Everything I like, want to share or such.

last thing i googled: katneholm julita (How my grandmother, who grew up in Katrineholm, pronounces it)

other blogs: None

do i get asks: Yes, and it makes me happy everytime (although I am trying to be better at responding).

why i chose my url: My plan was to share my photographies on this site, hence the shutter, and I like trees and I think birches are oh so very beautiful.

following: 175 (some have not posted in 5+ years, but you never know)

followers: 151. If a blog that never posts or is a bot follows, they’ll be blocked.

average hours of sleep: 6-7 hours.

lucky number: I do not believe in luck.

instruments: Unfortunately none. But I dream of learning of to play the harmonica.

what am i wearing: A nightshirt and knitted wool socks

dream job: Hermit

nationality: Swedish

favorite song: Red hot Chili Peppers - Can’t stop

last book read: Currently reading, C.S Lewis - Mere Christianity

I tag: @nattkaktus, @animosa, @firefairie & anyone who wants to.

[knightthunderis]

Christmas Cordonian style Knight Thunder Twist.

Christmas cordonian style with a Knight Thunder twist

  author's note   this story takes place a week after the arrest of Barthelemy Beaumont and those who were with him in the coup against the crown of cordonia.

 The Palace of Cordonia is a buzz with excitement as servants and people alike work together to decorate the capital city for the upcoming Christmas celebration.

Karyson and his Queen Reimeiko were observing as the decorations and preparations were happening.

“It is a Happy Time For Us my dear Reimeiko.   What a celebration the preparations have been going on for days.” Karyson gushed.  “ old man Beaumont and the rest of his conspirators are behind bars my aunt and uncle can finally rest in peace knowing that they're killers are incarcerated for the rest of their lives.   I am relieved as well.   Rhiannon and the twins are growing up free from Barthelemy's tyranny.   and peace is once again returned to our kingdom.”

 “oh yes.”  Queen Reimeiko agreed. “ we are finally able to live our lives and our children are free the grow up away from all the evils that were thrown at them.   all of our friends from all around the kingdom and Beyond have come to help decorate.   BJ and the trio were getting along beautifully and this is our first real Christmas together as a family.”

 before they knew what was happening,  a loud crash could be heard from the kitchen close to the ballroom.  Karyson and Reimeiko  exchanged fearful looks and took off in the direction of the crash.   they both get through this serving doors only Drake fell out on the floor with a bowl of cake mix on his head.

“ what happened?”  the king demanded attempting to hide the laughter behind his feigned anger.

 “It was an accident, honestly.” Maxwell Beaumont  quickly said.  “I was coming one way with a bowl of cake mix. He was coming the other with the apples and we collided. Nothing major we’ll fix it we’ll fix it.”

“Well you had better fix it.” the  King growled  in feigned anger.  “Racine will get both of your butts if you mess up her kitchen and you know how fiercely protective Racine is of her kitchen.” as the king and his queen turned away and walked out of the kitchen once out of earshot they finally busted up laughing. “ did you see the look on Maxwell's face  when he and Drake  thought they were in trouble?  The look of fear was priceless. “

As they exited the kitchen and returned to the Ballroom  and the decorating, Marco and Valerie from Lythikos  and Jiro and Camila from Applewood arrived with their families with more sweet treats and snacks for the celebration.   The Cordonian children  we're given permission to take the time to play with BJ and the trio.

“Thank you for inviting us to your Christmas celebrations your Majesty's.” Camilla announced.  “And we are glad that you were able to save your daughter from being taken over by that bad man.”

“ well the bad man will be no trouble for no body anymore.”  the queen replied. “ he is locked up for the rest of his life and will never harm another Soul ever again.   you know what I have got an idea.   what do you guys say you guys heard BJ & the trio up to the playroom and then I will come and tell y'all A Christmas Story tell you all about how it all began with me and my family.”

“ that would be awesome your highness.” Marco gushed. “ it would be great to hear all about your first Christmas and how things meant for you and yours.”

“ well okay if you will take BJ Rhiannon Ethan and  Gabriel do the playroom The King and I will be up in a few minutes with the Christmas book.”

 without another second to spare the cordonian children took the younger ones up to the playroom and waited for the queen to arrive with her story.   within about 10 minutes the king and queen arrived at the playroom all the children were sitting in a semicircle in front of the rocking chair waiting to hear the Queen's famous story.

“ truth of the matter be told.” Karyson replied. “I cannot wait to hear the story you have come up with my love.”

“ well this is a story that everybody will enjoy.” Reimeko said.  instead of sitting in the rocking chair she pushed it back and set down in the floor with the children and her husband and began her story.  “ this is the story of a Time long ago back before my parents back when my grandparents were still just children my grandfather told us the story years later and it's become a family favorite:  Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that st. Nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads.”

 This part of the story is where the king picked it up. “ oh I remember this with mom and her kerchief and I in my cap we had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter away to the window I flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.  The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below when what do my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so Lively and quick I knew in that moment it must be Saint Nick More rapid than the Eagles his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now Dasher  now Dancer now Prancer and Vixen on Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now dash away, dash away dash away all as dry leaves up before the wild hurricane fly when they met with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the Housetop the coursers they flew with the sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas II and then in a twinkling I heard on the roof the Prancing and pawing of each little hoof as I drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney st. Nicholas came with a bound.”

 The queen took up the story from then on.   but the story had brought in everyone else to hear the long and blustering Tale. “ he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot, a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and look like a peddler just opening his pack his eyes have a twinkled his dimples how merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath he had a broad little face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly he was chubby and plump a right Jolly Old elf and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself a winking his eye and it twisted his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread he spoke not a word but it went straight to his work and feel it all the stockings then turn with a jerk and laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh his team gave a whistle and a way they are flew like that down of a thistle but I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight Merry Christmas to all and to all a good-night.”

 The children and everyone assembled sat there in awe as the queen finished the long historical story Amazed by the beauty and the imagery she weaved as she told the story.

“Tell us more your majesty.” Camilla gushed.  “is there more Christmas poems and stories you know that one was amazing especially the tale of the snow.”

“ there is much more there is one by Charles Dickens that was entitled The Christmas Carol but that is a much longer story to be told and right now we have not the time.” the queen replied. “ but the moral of the Christmas story is at least A Christmas Carol is a story if you like I will read to you all at bedtime but for now we have a celebration to get to and hopefully everything is in order.”

 Ethan, Rhiannon, and Gabriel, along with BJ approached Queen Thunderis  with curious eyes. “ was there more to the poem Aunt Rena?” BJ asked. “ it was a very short story but I'd like to know more.”

“ me too  mommy.” Rhiannon echoed. “more Christmas Story pease?”

“ alright here's one I can tell you since we do seem to have time before the big celebration.”  the queen replied.  “ when Jamie Randall and Shannon we're just nine maybe ten years old that was one Christmas that turned into a Christmas miracle.   The  Llewellyn's  had just moved in next door Mr. Llewellyn had joined Thunderstar Universal  and his children Tristan, Erin,  and Jordan had  just enrolled in the nearby Elementary School.   Mrs. Llewellyn was traveling the country with her family to meet up with her married family in time for the holidays.   Miss Rihanna drove a special delivery truck all over the country and was to an extent a female version of Santa Claus. but it wasn't just gifts for the children that she was hauling every year she was also doing everything to help families that didn't have everything they needed. “

“Was there a lot of families like that?”  Camilla asked.  “ I do not understand what did it mean that these families did not have everything they needed?” 

“The families I am referring to are the ones like well your Nobles and Royals call them,  commoners.”  the queen replied. “ because unlike the Nobles and Royals The parents of these families had to work for a living. not everybody born is born into it a family where all they have to do is bark orders at others and get what they want the commoners had to work for everything they had but because of a lot of the Nobles and Royals of the history there were a lot of things that they were unable to afford.  Anyway, Mrs. Rhiannon owned her own Trucking line and was an independent truck driver. Well  this particular holiday season she was called on by a very special family she had grown up around over the years. they asked her to drive what they call the Christmas truck because what  was in the trailer of that special truck what's going to save this one town utter destruction.   well the week before Christmas Mrs. Rhiannon packed it up And headed out for the town of Lincoln Falls which was apparently somewhere in Alaska. they drove for the longest time she and her brother but always called back to her family in order to keep them up-to-date as to where she was she dropped off her load and was on her way back first few days before Christmas Eve when she was supposed to call she did not.   the truck had been found jackknifed into a snowbank on her way back to her family but there was no sign of her or her brother come to find out she and her brother had been rescued by a stranger but this was no ordinary stranger at least I did not think so according to Rhiannon  The Stranger had seen what it happened the snow so hard to see through Rihanna's lost control of the truck and hit the snowbank almost burying the big truck in the snow. The Stranger welcome them back to his home where they could get warm and wait out the blizzard that it hit for what seemed like several days the blizzard blew and blew and blew and by the time it finally stopped Rescuers had found the truck and we're working diligently to dig it out  Rhiannon and her brother had wakened from the sound of someone digging around the in the snow around the truck they were thankful that they had been spared. when they told the dispatcher about what happened and who had helped them they did not at first believe what she said come to find out the stranger name was Liam Alexander that is the name he gave us Rhiannon declared but that is impossible the dispatcher replied Liam Alexander died back in 1956 due to snow storm this just as this one was it couldn't have been him come to find out Rihanna looked in the direction they had gone towards  Liam's house but all she saw for miles and miles with nothing but snow but he was here she protested he saved us we were we were in his house. Liam Alexander was quite the angel back in the day he was always doing everything humanly possible to help all the families who were unable to have anything extra for like Christmas and whatever else even those who were struggling financially and otherwise he would always do what he could to help the night he died he was on the same kind of run you heard the song Angels Among Us by Alabama the dispatch arrest well yeah of course who hasn't Rihanna declared that song tells a story quite literally the dispatcher said I believe there are Angels Among Us sent down to us from somewhere up above They come to you and me In our darkest hours to show us how to live pto teach us how to give and to guide us with the light of love. the dispatcher took Rhiannon to the cemetery and showed her Liam's tombstone with that Epitaph written in the Stone.   Liam James Alexander born March 25th 1936 died December 16th 1956 he was an angel Among Us and he will always be remembered and loved He was only 20 years old the dispatcher said but in his short  years of life he gave more of himself did many others ever thought about. Rhiannon continued home that night and when she finally walked in her door Christmas morning her husband sons and daughter as well as their new neighbors were there to greet her relieved that she made it home safely the last thing she said before she went to bed herself if it was not for Liam Alexander I would not be here today no matter what happens my children never take strangers for granted because when you least expect it they could very well be angels in disguise.

“ it was amazing.” Camila gushed. “ is Miss Rhiannon still alive? I would have loved to have been able to have met her.”

“ well actually you already have.”  Queen Seidre  replied. “ she was me in my younger years. and it was the last run I made before I returned to my husband and my children and my reign as Queen of Thaddea.”

“ all right you guys that's enough stories for now.”  Maxwell called. “ the ballroom the snacks and everything is ready time to get this party on and Christmas Jamboree kicking into high gear let's go you guys come on what do you want stories later.   it is time for presents let's go let's go.”

 as everyone began to move out of the playroom and head back to the ballroom the king embraced his Queen before she left.” I will have to admit that this is the first of the best Christmases ever put together my love.”  he replied. “ I look forward to a whole lifetime of more to come to watching our children grow up happy and healthy to being together and finally living in peace here so much I want to do.   you have a very thoughtful look on your face my queen is there something on your mind?”

“ I got some test results back from dr. Ramirez the other day.”  the queen announced. “ I did not want to say anything and get your hopes up until I knew for sure but now that I do…”

“ oh my goodness Queen Reimeiko what is it?” King Karyson asked. “ please do not leave me on tenterhooks what is going on?”

“ it seems that Rhiannon and the twins are going to be having a sibling or two soon.” Reimeiko replied.

“ wait, what? seriously baby?” Karyson asked. “ this is beyond any shadow of a doubt the best news all day and one of the best Christmas gifts ever.   oh now we had to make this big announcement and now.”

“ we will in due time but for now let us just enjoy the peace and quiet of the celebration and not worry about telling everybody else any more than what we already have.”  the queen replied. “ I definitely do not want a repeat every Rhiannon and the twins first year”

“ oh good point my love.”  King replied. “ now come on we have a celebration to enjoy.”

 the Cordonian King and his Queen return to join the others in the big Christmas celebration relieved to have made it through their first two years despite all the shortcomings trials and tribulations they have had to face from the beginning.  as she watched her husband her family and her friends celebrate the Christmas holidays, Reimeiko  knew  that no matter what the future held, they would always face everything together as a family as a unit as a very strong compassionate loving and caring Kingdom.

The End

[books-and-cookies]

Hey Mary! I have a Question. I'm looking for a book to buy my mum for Christmas, and i wondered if you have any tips? She likes historical non fiction (like she's read a lot about Stalin and communist China and Leonardo davinci) and thrillers/detectives (she watches a lot of brittish detectives). I wondered if you have any slightly obscure/less well known book tips for me, bc my mum reads A LOT so im scared I'll buy her something she's read before. Thanks already! Love your blog💜💜

Hey!

I don’t read non fiction, so I can’t help with that, but I  can recommend Ruta Sepetys’ books, Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray, both historical fiction set during the second world war.

As for thrillers, some that I’ve really loved are:

* The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson* The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware* Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane* Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter* Verity by Colleen Hoover* The Bones of You by Debbie Howells* Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan* The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

Make sure you check them out on goodreads, see if they sound like something she’d read :)

If anyone else has any ideas, please feel free to share!

Sending huuugs!

[spitefulpumpkin]

Moonshine Lake; Ch.1: Strangers

Mirror on AO3

Self-indulgent as hell AU fic about a boy meeting a fish creature and their unusual love story. Co-plotted with @jyagantz

Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, Bullying, Animal Cruelty, Drug Abuse, non-explicit Interspecies Sex Unbeta’d, mostly written on mobile!

The Junkenstein family was a small institution. In fact there used to be a whole clan attached to the name, but only three of them were left behind in the small town of Adlersbrunn. Those would be the traveling merchant Lord James Richard Junkenstein, his wife of over twenty years Camilla and finally, their God given gift, their little son James, lovingly called Jamison. The Junkensteins loved their son, as for over a decade they had tried to conceive an heir to their name and land. The more they treasured the boy, fed him well and kept him proper. And like a true mother Camilla saw only the best in Little James. "He is such a smart child. He leaned to walk so early on and he could already write his name at tender three years old." she had cooed with former servants of the household. Much to her husband's dismay, who loved their son just as much as she did but was more grounded in his world view as a former soldier to the Adlersbrunn guard. "He might be smart but he will need a proper education to put his talents to use."

After he was able to talk Jamison got home schooled. The teachers were pleased with him but everyone working in the Junkenstein household knew the boy was a force of nature. Outside of his mother's guarding eye he would climb on furniture, draw on walls with ink or steal kitchen tools to make himself armor to fight against the neighbor's German shepard as if it was a dragon. Jamison was full of energy and it drove his parents who were both already in their fourties to their knees. They confused avoiding stress with taking care of their son, secluding him from the outside world more and more. The boy grew awfully lonely, surrounded by servants and teachers, his parents growing busier with every year and his frustration over it turning the once energetic child to a timid little soul who prefered books over human company. But then, one night - Jamison was nine years old - he found his first ever friend. In the most unlikely of places.

That night Jamison snuck out of the house. It was way too easy for the boy to avoid the guarding eyes of the servants and the door in the kitchen that led to the garden was old enough for a child to unlock with a simple old spoon. He liked the garden at night time. Mother's flowers would shimmer in muted colors through the night and the herbs were let to grow wildly, filling the late spring air with the gentle scent of lavender and basil. In the far back, past the old willow tree with his swing set and the white rose bushes, was the boy's favorite spot in the garden. Framed by large bushes with evergreen needles was a white fountain, carved out of stone. It looked older than the house, even though this couldn't possibly be, as Father kept saying he bought the house with the fountain back in the day. The water stains left it looking withered and used, and Jamison really liked that. People barely went into the far back of the garden, as its fence of green shuttered it from initial sight. Sometimes the gardener came through to remove weeds, and to see if the water still ran, but that's it. Jamison liked this spot. He spent many days watching the water of the surprisingly deep fountain run and reflect in the light. He liked the noise of the water hitting the stone and the smell of wetness. This was chosen isolation, not the one forced onto him by his parents. The kind of isolation he wished he was able to share... The boy barely touched the cold stone to sit at the edge of the fountain, when a noise startled him. Something was beyond the bushes. Jamison had climbed through a hole between the needles before, he knew of the little bit of forest behind it, as its trees grew higher than the roof of his home. He inched closed and peaked through, seeing only vague shapes. The little boy took a deep, brave breath in before he dug through the bushes, scratching his hand on a twig. He couldn't ignore the noises, because he knew these noises way too well: Crying...

The crying became louder the more the forest went down a little steep. Jamison held on to the trees as to not stumble over the roots poking from the ground as he made his way down. He saw water running. That's right, there was a river running through this forest. Maybe this was where the fountain got its water from. Once by the water Jamison looked around, trying to locate the crying. He followed the stream downward, until he was close enough to make out a bundle laying on the ground near the water. The boy gasped. At first he thought it might be an otter or another animal, but it was way too big for that. With green-blue scales shimmering in the moonlight, Jamison saw what looked like a little boy with large blue fins on his neck sit near the water, crying his eyes out. Jamison tried to close his mouth from the awe. He had never seen a creature like this before. Curiously he came closer. The fish boy had no hair and his scales looked weirdly dull. Maybe he was covered in mud, Jamison could barely tell through the darkness. He also noticed that little tail that reminded him of a frog's tadpole tail. And then he saw the blood. The side of the boy's leg was scratched open, as if he cut himself on a stone. "Oh no." Jamison spoke up and regretted it, because the fish boy spun around, his enormous dark eyes staring at Jamison before snarling and hissing, showing an impressive set of teeth. The boy raised his hands. "No, no, no, please don't be scared!" The fish child twitched, his face turning to a confused one. Jamison swallowed his own spit. This wasn't what he had expected would ever happen to him. This was...exciting. Slowly he lowered his hands and inched towards the scaled boy. The cut didn't look deep but it was dirty and probably still hurt a lot, given that the fish was still weeping, his almost black dark green eyes shimmering from tears. Jamison went on his knees. "Come. I carry you." The fish boy shook his head as Jamison tried to touch him to pick the smaller child up. So he did understand him. "You sure you can stand? It looks bad." Jamison returned but the fish child, somehow managed to get onto his one, very shaky leg. "I'm....warrior..." came out in heavy voice, even for a kid. His tongue wasn't used to so much strain. Jamison got up again and hopped over to give his unusual find support. "There's a fountain in our garden. We can wash your leg in it." The fish wanted to protest. He obviously didn't like getting help forced onto him, but he barely had a choice. Jamison was sure, if an adult had found him the poor fella would be tossed into a circus, or worse, end as someone's dinner.

The way up was a struggle, mostly due to the fish's limited mobility and Jamison's lack of fitness. Still, they got up, even when it meant Jamison's pants would be stained with mud and grass. No one will never know though if he hid them lower in the laundry pile. Once through the bushes Jamison helped the fish sit down at the rim off the fountain. "Here you go. You can clean your legs in the water." He pulled out a handkerchief from his back pocket, that was big enough to wrap twice around his head. "Then I cover it up with this." The fish boy hummed and while he did turn to bath his feet in the fountain he didn't clean out the wound. He just moved his feet around in the water. Jamison removed his large glasses for a moment, wiping them clean on his shirt. "You, uh...who are you?" The question came out sheepishly. The naivety of a child can be strong, every when faced with what others would call a monster. The fish boy glanced up, the sad features slowly soften as his hand reached to his wrist, a little bracelet made of seashells hanging on it. "Ahm...I am..." Curiously Jamison climbed next to the boy, undoing his muddy shoes. "You look like a fish." he commented. The big, translucent fins of the boy flailed up. "I am no simple fish! I am a warrior! My flock is the best along the Cold Shores!" "Sssshhh!" Jamison leaned in with his finger against his lips. "My parents are asleep..." The no-simple-fish boy held his mouth shut with both hands. A glance over the hedge, praying no lights were on. The darkness was a relief. Slowly the blond boy rolled up the legs of his pyjamas to slowly sink his feet into the cold water. "Okay. Warrior. Got it. But...do you have, like, a name?" "Everyone has a name." came as a reply, as if Jamison's question was the most well known thing in the world. The blond boy giggled a little. "Sure, but what is your name? Here, I'll tell you mine, too, if you tell me yours." He reached out his hand. "I'm James Junkenstein." With big eyes the scaled boy looked at the hand in confusion. He poked Jamison's palm with one of his cool fingers, causing the boy to twitch back and giggle. "Hey! That tickles." Fins flailed up again and something akin to a laugh bubbled up from the fish boy. He then raised his hand to pat his own shoulder twice. "Akande." Jamison rubbed his palm before he started to smile. Was that a greeting? He mirrored the motion, knocking with a flat hand again his left shoulder and the boy's eyes started to gleam.