#city magique

[emaadsidiki]

Bryant Park ︶꒷꒦⋆✿⋆꒦꒷︶ NYC

[saintsstranger]

the art of lies | t.s. (fantastic beasts) - chapter one

Summary: all your life you had been handling the dirty truth, and here he comes presenting you with his sweet lies. 

Pairings: Theseus Scamander x Fem!Reader

genre: romance, mature audience intended

warnings: mature themes, implied sexual content, sexworker protagonist, pleasure house (brothel), smoking

the art of lies masterlist

IN THE ABSENCE OF DAYLIGHT, Paris comes alive, after all, it is known as the City of Love.

Love in the form of freshly picked flowers from the florist.

The sweetest chocolate that tickled your taste buds.

Hand-written poems that rivaled world-renowned poets.

A love so sweet and tender that it caresses you gently in the night

But that certainly wasn’t the truth, it never was. Love wasn’t like that. 

Love was the thorns that hid beneath the roses.

Love was the bitter taste that lingered in your mouth after your first dark chocolate.

Love was the letter from lovers that had written goodbyes instead of ‘I’ll stay’.

Love was the harsh tug of your hair, the rough hands that hold your wrists, saying the words ‘You are so beautiful’ only when you are in the middle of the bed, spread willingly to the desires of man. 

Here, in Paris, is nothing but filled with nights of debauchery where all senses are thrown out the window. The sickening smell of expensive perfume and wine drowning you in the world of sins. And Paris was notable for it, here you are free! Or so they say.

Truth be told, you could never be free, always staying in hiding from the Non-Magiques. And here you were indebted to your handler, Madame Blanche, the owner of the renowned luxurious Maison close ‘Amour Délicat’. 

Like her name, the whites in her hair and the sharp look in her eyes tell her story. She was a former courtesan before and when the first war of the non-magiques happened there she learned something that would give birth to her only child, the Amour Délicat. When she shared the truth of what was happening in the world of the non-magiques to the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France (Ministry of Magical Affairs of France), Madame Blanche was greatly compensated, and there from the ground up, she built her history. 

Madame Blanche is far from the harsh and ruthless handlers in the non-magiques world of prostitution; she is commanding and ruthless. When she saw the reality of the world, it opened her mind to do whatever it takes to protect herself, and that is by being well-known that you create a sense of security in being seen. Here she opened her doors to those willing to work for her, at first, many were wary as to join and take employment, the look of disdain and gossip were indeed not for the faint of heart. 

And you who had nothing to lose, took the first bite and jumped straight into death potion. 

You, who only had your name and the clothes you wore on your back crawled straight inside Pandora’s box. 

Madame Blanche had saved you, she had given you a roof, food, clothes, and the protection that you needed. The life you formerly had was long gone; it was all in the past, thrown into the sea to be forgotten.

And here you learn to be a great witch. She first-hand, had taught you how to be a legilimens, as her first courtesan, she has taught you how to traverse the mind easily, to learn secrets, and how to use them to your advantage.

“The most powerful of witches and wizards can all be defeated by the secrets they hide.”

While the other courtesans were only taught surface-level legilimency, you were a natural. Not only can you do it nonverbally and wandlessly, but you can also communicate with others telepathically. Madame Blanche had opened you to all possibilities, and with that, she entrusted you with the highest position of being her right hand.

And your skill at legilimens always comes at night when you bed another clientele. And in the middle of pure ecstasy, they reveal the truth unwillingly. Here in the dimmed candlelight, you walked through the halls of their mind unlocking every door with a skeleton key of your abilities. No matter how many layers, or how many locks they keep, trust you could open it with ease. Secrets like marital affairs, financial debt, graft and corruption, illegitimate children, crimes, enemies, first love, their favorite color, the last thing they ate, their thoughts at that very moment… you can see and feel. An out-of-body experience, stripping you naked from yourself, from what you are and who you were. Here you forgot you were even breathing.

You didn’t realize you had been lying on the bed still for the last few minutes, the house elf, Bernadette, had been looking at you worriedly, and in her hand was your dressing robe, colors almost like the blinding light.

“Was the man harsh on you today, Miss?” She asked, placing the mulberry silk robe on your hand. You gave her a small smile and shook your head. The faint marks of rope were the clear sign of your lies, yet you were accustomed to it.

“It is alright. Run my bath for me?” With a wave of her hand, the bed took itself towards the laundry room and came in a small golden tub that fit your frame. Muttering a spell it filled the tub with bubbles and water, you stood before it before hitting it with a wave of your wand. The gramophone in the room suddenly erupted into soulful jazz music. With a scrub and a bar of soap ready at hand, Bernadette tried to assist you but you declined. Stepping foot into the warm bubbly bath.

“I would like a moment alone.” You waved your hand as soon as the words left your mouth, the house elf knew to leave you to your own devices. You were a grown woman, a woman who has been doing these for the last decade. And whenever you tried to look into your future, all you could see were the grand walls that painted your very eyes, the moving wallpaper depicting fields of various white flowers, you were stuck in Amour Délicat for the last moments of your life. This was the only thing you will ever know. You were indebted and grateful to Madame Blanche, and that led to your loyalty. She protects you and everyone in the Maison close. Outside these walls was uncertainty.

In the hot water, you submerged yourself trying to wake yourself up to the fact that this is your life. Yet when the warm glow of the city, fireworks erupted the skyline, muffled by the water you sat straight to peer at the noise. Without even looking, you knew families were in their own homes, enclosed with the scent of pastries and the warmth of their own fireplace. It was just a few minutes before New Year's Eve, and here you were working. Alone, staring into the distance, craving the sense of a warm home. 

Holding your knees close to your chest, you stared at the skyline as Muggles and Magical people alike celebrated the night with a bright display of fireworks. 

Unbeknown to you, Clarice, the receptionist had been preventing the members of the British Ministry of Magic from stepping foot towards the quarters an hour before the new year would start.

“You cannot go inside; this is a private and respectable property,” Clarice spoke, her accent rushing the words as panic littered her veins. Her arm at ready with her own wand. The lounge was filled with thick air as the British aurors pointed their wand at the girl, not understanding a word she shouted. 

Click-clack! Click-clack!

With every slow step, Madame Blanche descended the stairs. 

“And what do you English want? Here to close Amour Délicat? You don’t have the right.” Madame Blanche boasts, looking at the men below with her chin pointed upwards. Looking at them one by one, the Madame could not read their minds, the British aurors have been trained in occlumency. Remaining calm, she stood on the balcony, overlooking the whole crowd below.

“We were looking for one of your workers. I believe they have the answers to the disappearance of one of the assistant delegates of the British Department of the International Confederation of Wizards.” Torquil Travers claimed, holding a photograph of a man in his middle 30s-40s. 

Summoning the paper in the grasp of the Madame, she looked at the photograph intently, racking up all the lists of their clients. Without even showing hints of recognition, Madame had thrown the paper back into the hands of the aurors.

“I believe you must have a permit before we further your inquiries. If not, then leave.” Turning around, she waved a hand to open the large doors.

“We have it, signed and approved by your own Minister.” Stopping in her tracks, the auror walked up to the steps and held it right in front of the Madame’s face. Now a hint of annoyance was painted on her pointed brows.

“Come to my office, only I can accommodate two of you. Choose wisely.” Madame Blanche said in a cold tone, not even bothering to wait for aurors as she walked straight to the lift.

“Scamander! Come with me.” Travers could upon the young man, the older auror respected the young man’s abilities and thinking, after all, he was a respectable war hero.  

Stepping into the lift, the walls were decorated with moving painted white flowers, the madame touched the button to the highest floor, and the black lining of the lift showed its elegance. As the Aurors stood behind her, eyes darted across each other in nervousness. The Brits showed no sign of anxiety, even if that was far from the truth, the Madame held an air of regalness suffocating them with the scent of floral perfume. As soon as the doors of the lift parted for her, the room was quite the luxury and beauty with its eclectic interior, engulfed with knick-knacks from travels, moving statues, paintings from famous muggles, and the large glass pane showing the night sky. 

In the middle of the room was a velvet green chair, a large glass table, and a lone flower sitting in the golden vase.

“Sit.” She pointed toward the chair in front of her, while she remained standing encircling the room looking at the Englishman that disturbed her home. 

“Our clients value discreteness, we simply could not disclose it easily… yet since you presented me with a hand-written note by our minister I must oblige to your request. Then talk, what is it that you want?”

“We are looking for Charles Moore. He has been in charge of communications with the French Ministry as a part of assistant delegate for our Ministry, he asked to be assigned here after the Muggle World War. The day he was posted to return, he didn’t. And we believe that in his letters to his sister, he claimed to be…”

Madame Blanche raised her eyebrow at Torquil Travers waiting for him to spit it out.

“In love.” Theseus replied. “He claims that he has found the love of life here in Paris and was planning to buy off her indenture. Or so we believe.” 

Madame Blanche scoffed.

“There are many dames in Paris, and he chose to settle with a courtesan?” Madame Blanche laughed, making Travers find it humorous as well. In the keen eyes of Madame Blanche, he saw Theseus's brows turn into a frown before shifting back to biting his cheeks.

“Are you certain that it was in Amour Délicat?”

Theseus answered with a nod. 

There were three letters in total from Charles Moore to his sister. And for the past few days, Theseus had been assigned to look for the exact description of the building. He alone took the time of the day, looking at details of every establishment and brothel in Paris, from the world of the muggles to hidden alcoves of the French Wizarding World. After 2 days, he had seen the exact description of the magnificent-looking walls lined with silver and the sweet nauseating scent of flowers, that’s when he knew this was it.

First Letter:

Dearest Ange,

I believe I have found the love of my life! No one is ever as beautiful as her. No amount of theatrics on the show could ever take my eyes off of her. She sat there like a flower, waiting for me.

As soon as the play was over, I tried to approach her. Tell her to take my hand and run away with me. Oh, Ange! I never felt something like this. This must be what love is. Yet, my heart turned to pieces when I saw her taking the arm of another man, walking together side-by-side as they left the theater. I trailed behind them, and saw the most luxurious of buildings, sparkled with silver linings and flowers decorating its walls. Then I stopped and stared, and the man left her there. That’s when I realized what it was… I know this might sound ridiculous, but she is working in the red-light district and with that, no amount of apprehension could hinder me. I know you would flip the whole house upside down, but Ange this is love. I am certain of it. No amount of your denial could keep me away from this.

                                                                                                             From your darling brother, Charlie.

Second Letter: 

Dear Angelique, 

With the amount of your reply, I take that your silence was your approval. 

Today, I took liquid courage to go ahead and talk to her. But the only way was that I had to pay a fortune. I walked to the receptionist with high hopes, and with her assistance, she immediately gave me a room. With flowers in hand, I waited for her only to get my hopes up when another girl walked into the room. I was filled with disappointment. I asked the lady of the night for the description of my love, and she claimed that she was part of the ‘bouquet de blanc’. First-time patrons' pocket money is not enough to gain an audience. And me being an assistant could only lead me to certain places, yet I will persevere. 

 Give me a few more days and I’ll be able to, no matter the cost.

                                                                                                             From your brother, Charles.

Last Letter:

To my Darling Sister,

I hope this letter finds you well, I could not disclose to the ministry the cost of my expenses… but I found another way. Worry no more. Today, I will finally be able to talk to her.

The day that I return home is when she is with me.

                                                                                                             From your loving brother.

Placing the letters right in front of the Madame of the house, with a lifted finger her smile faded into a scowl. Someone from the inside was spreading information about her courtesans; Bouquet de Blanc was valued in secrecy. This was a catalog of their courtesans that had regular high-paying patrons, and this was not open for viewing so easily. Patrons that were deemed valuable to her and her Maison close were accommodated, the pure-blooded noble families, higher ranking officials, royalty even. And someone from the lower ranks of her courtesans had their tongue quite willingly.

Waving her wand, she summoned a large logbook. There inside was information such as names, professions, ages, nationalities, and ranks of their patrons, of course, the courtesan they were assigned to. Whispering the name Charles Moore, it skimmed through the pages with ease, and there in bold letters was the name of the auror the Brits were looking for. Travers tried to peer at the other listed names, his curiosity taking the best of him.

“Curiosity is the lust of the mind, Mr. Travers. Why don’t you sit still, and I’ll call upon her.”

Closing the book harshly, Madame called upon Bernadette. Apparating next to her mistress, Madame Blanche whispered to call the girl. Nodding the house elf disappeared within a blink of an eye. Behind them, the elevator dinged, while the Madame tapped on the book with carefully manicured nails. 

“It is New Year’s Eve; would you like to avail of our services? It can easily be arranged. I know it’s a long journey and your work for your ministry is greatly appreciated, it wouldn’t hurt to take the night off— to indulge yourself in your sensual desires.” 

The older man shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Suddenly they were interrupted when the elevator doors dinged, signaling the arrival of the courtesan. Turning around a slender figure stepped foot in the room, She wore a long flowing green nightgown.

“Come in here and greet the Brits, Maeve. They would like to talk to you about Charles Moore.” Madame Blanche pointed to the aurors in front of her, the back of the courtesan’s neck grew in a cold sweat.

“I–I do not understand Madame Blanche. I didn’t do anything wrong! The man asked– and I swore that was the last of it, I told him what he wanted to hear.” The girl's pleading cries fell on deaf ears as the aurors could not understand what she was crying about. Theseus' eyes darted between Madame Blanche and the girl’s tear-stricken face. While Torquil Travers stood to show his authority, ready to apprehend the girl.

Within just a few seconds, Madame Blanche had already seen the inner linings of the girl’s mind. The fear registered in her thoughts while she traversed doors upon doors to look for the memories of the missing delegate, and right there she found what she was seeking.

In just a few quick strides, Madame Blanche towered over the girl with a look of disdain painted on her red lips. The old mistress, jaw held tightly as she wiped the tears of the girl. Only to hold the young girl’s face tightly, her long nails pierced through the delicate skin while she stared straight down into the young woman’s eyes with an intense look, unblinking. 

“You may leave, pack your bags, and look for work elsewhere. I do not take it kindly to those willing to open their mouths willingly to my secrets. Bernadette, escort her out of here. I have found what I’m looking for.” 

The girl refused as the house elf dragged the wailing girl back to the elevator, screams of ‘no’ echoed through the walls. 

Travers, who was far too confused, shouted for the house elf to stop as the girl was a key witness. Even pointed his wand threateningly at the old mistress, ready to cast a stunning spell within the tips of his lips. The madame disarms him with a flick of her wand, his wand went flying right off his grasp and cluttered on the hardwood floor. Madame shook her head no when the auror Travers tried to pick it up. 

“You’re a legilimens.” Theseus muttered; Madame Blanche turned around to face the man giving them a tight-lipped smile and nodded. 

“Would you like to view the girl’s memory and be done with it? I need to run my business after all.” Offering to perform legilimency to project the memories to the aurors, they declined. They knew not to, after all, they too have secrets that protect their ministry. 

“We decline. We, Aurors value our minds and do not open them so willingly.” Travers stated, still apprehensive of Madame Blanche. “But the girl needs to be questioned, we have to have her testimonials as to Moore’s disappearance.”

“Then you must trust my word because I too have my secrets to keep. That girl didn’t kill or cause his disappearance. He came in here one night, to question about the catalog of my courtesans and that was it–”

Cutting off the handler of the brothel, Theseus insisted; “Charles Moore stated in his letters about a ‘bouquet de blanc’. I hope that might ring a bell, after browsing through your catalog in the lobby earlier. I couldn’t find traces of this list, is this a secret that you are hiding from the ministry?” 

Madame Blanche’s eyes narrowed at the young auror; her piercing ice-blue eyes almost looked like they could kill.

“No, of course not. My bouquet de blanc is the Amour Délicat trade secrets. I could not easily say it out loud for fear of our competitors copying what I built from the ground up. If you would like to browse that catalog, then let me— although I must say, we do not easily offer our services freely.” Walking towards a dark oak cabinet grabbing a large book with golden linings. Placing right back at the table, Madame Blanche flipped through the pages with images of different courtesans, and right on its last page was a picture of you. 

“I believe she is the one he is asking for.” She pointed with a manicured finger, right before your name was a title given to you. 

Queen of the Night; Night-blooming Cereus

You were smiling, looking right at the onlooker like it was destined. While others bashfully hid their eyes, sultry looking to get admirers, you didn’t need to do that. You had your charm, something that allures the onlookers to choose you. Madame Blanche tried to flip the page to show them another photograph of you leaving nothing to the imagination to the spectator, but Theseus stopped her.

“I think that is enough, could you summon her to talk to us.” Theseus declared with a cough, standing up to close the book and stepping right in front of Travers' line of sight. “Please.”

Madame Blanche smiled, this time it was far different. “I believe your permit only limited you to talk to one of the key witnesses… And since Mr. Moore was not a benefactor of bouquet de blanc, I know because I am the only bookkeeper of that catalog… you must pay a hefty price.”

Now, the Aurors were stuck in the beginning, only pieces of blocked paths. If Charles Moore was not on the list of high-ranking patrons, then they could only comply with the demands of the authority and right now it wasn’t them who was holding the winning cards. When Travers' authority gets threatened, he scoffs, ready to drag Theseus out of the old woman. Madame Blanche truly was a businesswoman, she played them a fool. Whether they get out of the establishment empty-handed, or with empty wallets was their choice. They could simply not arrest the old woman, this was out of their jurisdiction, they were out of their element and far from their own country, and they simply couldn’t do whatever they wanted. 

“Either you pay full price, or you will tell me why such a simple assistant is being hunted down by the best Aurors of the British Ministry. Pick your price.” She sat arms folded right in front of her face, holding her chin while she grinned at the standing men.

Within a minute of no one budging, Travers' patience wavered. With a deep sigh, he faltered. With one last glance at Theseus, he held his head low. 

“Charles Moore stole 4,000 galleons. We believe that he tried to buy her indenture and convince her to come to London with him.” Travers confessed. That was the half-truth, Theseus’ senior took out the part that it was from the subsidy for international affairs. And the way he stole it was undetected like he had some insiders to help him, they were now battling an unseen threat. They only noticed it was missing after 3 months, when Theseus looked at the accounts and noticed that something was awry.

Madame Blanche started laughing, “He believes he can buy off her indenture for 4,000 galleons. Oh, what a joke! That’ll only cost him half an hour at most”

When Madame Blanche stopped laughing, she pointed back to the lift doors. “Head to the floor below. I’ll tell her I sent you.” The aurors nodded and headed to leave only to be held when the Madame halted them to stop.

“You endanger my investment; I’d rather you stay here than be near one of my priceless courtesans.” She stated, pointing at the older auror. Theseus can see his senior jaw tightened, and the veins on his neck grew red in anger. Not only was the older auror disarmed, but he was also being held under surveillance in fear that he might endanger you, now his patience and authority wavered on thin ice, and his eyes clouded with anger.

“I’ll talk to her and I’ll find what we need.” Theseus whispered as soon as he stepped foot in the lift. The doors closed slowly; he saw Madame Blanche’s eyes watching the other auror like a hawk. 

When the doors for the lift opened, what greeted him was a vast hall painted like the night sky. With a slight shift of his eyes, he can see the tiny freckles of stars that decorated a lone white door. Unlike the outside of the establishment, this seemed out of place with the flower motifs of Amour Délicat. Here he can feel the cold breeze of the winter night. Knocking on the white door, he called out to the name he had seen written on the catalog. 

You who had been preoccupied with your thoughts; wishing to know the feeling of stepping out of your body, floating, freely, like the ghosts that linger down the dark alleys. Right outside the window, the streets erupted in cheers as they all greeted each other another happy new year. Drinking down the champagne that was given to you by a patron, noting a taste of toast and coffee and a subtle spice drowning out all your other senses. When the fireworks ended, you lay there looking at the skylight as the only glow of the light left was the moonlight.

A subtle knock started you as you let Bernadette waltz her way in. Her company and the cup of tea are greatly appreciated when your water has now gone cold. But instead of the house elf, what replaced her was someone far taller than her; there he stood only the silhouette of his slender frame seen. 

Theseus didn’t expect what he saw, a lone woman basking in the golden tub, a melancholy look written in her eyes.

Sad. You looked sad. 

The only sound that could be heard was the faint hum of the gramophone across the room and the muffled cheers that erupted right behind the glass windows. With the faint sparkle of light, you saw a slight frown on his face. Realizing your predicament, you went back to wearing the mask when you were at work.

“Would you like me to keep you company?” You asked, turning around delicately, careful not to show another ounce of skin. Tilting your head to one side and smiling at him, the same one he has seen in the photograph earlier.

When Theseus realized what you were implying, he held his hand and shook his head, showing you a metal badge indicating the words ‘auror’. You had a fair share of French aurors that came to you for a night, often playing the role of the captive and captor. What a lack of imagination, if this is the role he wants to play then so be it.

“You would like to play that role? I, the convict, and you the detainer. Would you like that darling?” You asked, ready to approach him when he realized what was happening, he turned around not to face your naked form. The tips of his ears went red in embarrassment. 

“I didn’t come here for your service; I was sent here by Madame Blanche to question you. My name is Theseus Scamander, I was sent by the British Ministry of Magic.” He announced. 

Ahh… A British Auror. You hummed and stood to grab the white robe and placed it on your body. Hearing the sound of faint footsteps, Theseus waited until you gave him a signal. 

“I see… talk I don’t have all night to entertain you.” This time you put your weight and one foot, crossing your arms across your chest. Your hand laid steady on your wand.

Turning around, you pointed toward the chair that sat across from you, and he agreed to your request. As soon as he did, you went and grabbed the champagne you had been drinking earlier and procured another glass to pour him one. Placing it next to him, you stood in front of him and drank yours, waiting as he did too. Theseus eyed it suspiciously, but you continued to drink it on your own accord.

“A gift… something lighter than the fire whiskey.” You replied as you down the glass in one gulp. He nodded and carefully took a sip of his. You sat in front of him and grabbed the bottle to pour more down into your glass.

When he exhaled in satisfaction, you knew it tasted amazing. Theseus knew what you were doing, trying to lower his guard, not sitting to show you were in control, and intoxicating him to vulnerability. Yet, he remained calm, showing no signs of threat to you. If Madame Blanche was a legilimens, there was a high chance you were too, all he needed to do was throw you off his scent.

And just like he had predicted, right at the moment you tried to pry his mind. A knot on your brow formed when you stared intently at him.

‘You looked sad.’ Those were the thoughts that circled his mind, like a mantra. You can feel it. Feel him. It made you nauseous, the bile in your throat rose as his thoughts engraved into yours. No one had looked at you and thought you were sad; it was always beautiful. Sadness and you were never to be put in a sentence, and when his thoughts did it terrified you. 

To be seen broken makes you fear. To be seen feeling sadness made the feeling of being stripped naked for the whole world to see. All your life, you had built these walls that made you stand on your own two feet. The ache in your mind becomes unbearable, you weren’t beautiful… underneath all the expensive clothes, and pearls that glittered your skin— you are crooked, battered with bruises, wrecked by time, your skin filthy with sin, you were a tragedy… a rotten work.

“Stop.” With gritted teeth, you fail to look at his eyes and his mind. A slip of the tongue made you realize what you had said out loud, that was all Theseus needed to know that you too are a legilimens. “State your purposes.”

Right in the pockets of his coat was the photograph of Charles Moore, he carefully placed it on the table in front of him waiting for you to pick it up.

“Do you recognize him?” He placed the picture within your line of sight. Pausing he tried to scope for your reaction. “It’s Charles Moore, an assistant delegate of the British Department of the International Confederation of Wizards.”

“He has been missing for months and the last contact we had from him was a letter to his sister, trying to have an audience with you.” 

Your eyes examined Moore’s photograph. And minutes passed your silence almost became too heavy to Theseus's dislike, but he needed to thread your waters carefully, you were already agitated for unknown reasons.

“I believe I do not know who this person is.” You smiled and stared at Theseus, the first time you met his eyes after your outburst earlier.

He pointed out another slip of your strong facade right at its mark. “Yet you do not deny that you do recognize him.” 

“Maybe I do… Maybe I don’t. It is possible he is one of my long lists of admirers, doesn’t erase the fact that I do not know him at all.” 

“I highly doubt that. You’re a legilimens, and I am not; that is true. I need to know if you have met with him once, and if you are proven to be telling the truth then I would leave this room. But I can tell you’re lying. Skilled legilimens can procure memories into another person, and all I needed was the time and date, any people that were trailing him. Your truth is all I need.” He proposes.

“Or would you rather we do this the hard way? The choice is yours.” He leaned forward as his head rested on his knuckles.

“You give me the illusion of free choice when all you want is to pry my mind. Is there something you are not saying, Mister Scamander? Tell me the truth, what is in it for you? What would you get to look into the inner workings of my mind? You expect me to believe that you honestly want nothing else? Just my memory? I hardly doubt that.” Challenging his proposition, you leaned forward as your palms hit the glass table harshly with a loud slap, not before rebutting his claims. “Surely it could not be just you are looking for a testament, you wouldn’t work hard on that, all you needed is a vial of the strongest veritaserum and it would be done. Then why are you pushing hard to look into my mind?”

“You play a cruel game of trust.” He sighed, making you scoff. “Mr. Moore had said in his letters about how he will get the currency to meet you, his means to getting it is unsaid. And that was a clear sign that he needed someone to work with him to get that from a subsidiary of international affairs, you are simply a madman to be able to work alone. And all I need is— you. All I need is you.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion. 

“I need you to work with me. You knew better than just mere rumors, you knew everyone and could see their thoughts.”

Working with the British Ministry, consider it treason. Yet, you never were loyal to this land. Your loyalty lies elsewhere, it stays to those who have given you a sense of protection. Your loyalty is within Madame Blanche’s hands. Hands that remained choking you to stay. 

Still, you let Mr. Scamander entertain you with his words.

“It would have to take you a valuable price, Mr. Scamander. I am an expensive woman, yet, I am considerate. Give me leverage and I will give you what you want.” That’s when he stopped and stared at the photo, avoiding any eye contact. “What could you possibly offer Mr. Scamander, tell me.”

You grinned as you took a sip at the champagne, just like a war, both of you had been disarming and hurting each other for the kill. Breaking down every barrier with a small slip-up of each other, both of you were professionals at your trades. He is an Auror, he knows how to spot lies and negotiate, give you the feeling of support to make you break down your armor. Meanwhile, you pride yourself on being a great liar, you know what to say to appear compliant, and you know how to adapt and play the games to your tide. Every word and sentence uttered until one of you would lose the battle of wits, one slip and the fallen would crash and burn.

Leaning back you gave him a smile, your wand procuring a cigarette that lay on the table. Placing it gently on your lips, the tip of your wand lit up a flame. With a deep inhale, you knew you were already winning the battle. You didn’t need to look into his mind, to know that he was fighting a losing war. His occlumency was far useless when the knot on his forehead and the jaunt of his chin told you he was conflicted.

“I have been offered riches that could fill De Nile, clothes that were woven from the rarest of silks, jewels that shone brighter than the sun, houses that housed thousands of rooms, paintings of the most beautiful landscapes, songs and sonnets about my beauty, the most exotics of creatures that lay hidden within the government’s grasp… Pray tell, what could a simple auror like you have that can overthrow all those proposals?”

He was silent, expression never changing. And no matter how hard you try to pry to look into his mind, it remains still like he is right in front of you. 

“Safety.” Your smile faltered. “I offer you safety.” 

You blinked and blinked. Trying hard not to show that your jaw was slack in silence; the timeliness of the gramophone hitting its ending notes was fitting. His words lay heavy on your mind.

Amour Délicat had always offered you protection, but never safety. Safety was a word often associated with emotional aspects that were never visible in your job, safety offered you the sense of never needing to keep your secrets in this line of work or needing not to utter a word that would be your downfall in these walls. Protection kept you free and sheltered from physical aspects and threats, like the two guards that trailed you whenever you needed to do outside work, or the walls that shielded you from the rain. Safety is a foreign word, way too foreign that it burns you with curiosity. A thrill you never experience on a silver platter. It gives you hope— and hope gives you greed. A greed that surpasses all material things known to man. You want to take it all, consume your being until all is left is the safety that you wanted, the safety of being able to walk free, to run away, the security of not needing to know that this is the place where you would meet your demise. 

You knew how Madame Blanche worked, she took pride in knowing secrets and that is her leverage. And right now Madame Blanche would be none the wiser when you will take his deal. And there is one thing in the world that the Madame hated, and it is to not know anything at all. 

“Give me your hand.”

“What?” 

You held your hand to him and stood up, apprehensive he stood up as well taking your hand in his. Looking up into his eyes, you called upon the house elf. Bernadette immediately appeared right beside you.

“Don’t promise me empty words.”

“I won’t.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if we made an unbreakable vow.”

Your hold on his palm tightens, only to travel into his wrist. Without breaking eye contact you give him a minute to decide what his choice would be. Does he trust you enough to do it at the expense of his life, or would he rather fear being the one to dictate his actions?

His palm pressed tightly into your wrists, not like the rough hands that occupied your wrists hours ago, his hold was gentle, not imposing. Nodding at Bernadette, a thin tongue of flame issued at the tips of the house elf's fingertips and wound its way around both your and Theseus’ hands. It felt like a burning wire, keeping your skin aflame.

“Will you, Theseus Scamander, promise to provide my safety, as he and I work together?”

“I will.”

“Will you, abide by our oath, to only tell the truth to me?”

“I will.”

a/n: dialogue that is formatted like this “dialogue” is in French. i tried hard to make it one-shot i really did, buT I SIMPLY CANT SO HERE I GIVE YOU WORLD BUILDING AND MORE LORE UPON LORE ON THIS FIC.

[adropintheocean-rpg]

༄ A DROP IN THE OCEAN ⁠

forum city, époque actuelle ༄ Il y a dans l'air une odeur spéciale, un parfum fleuri de vacances paradisiaques en plein cœur de la côte est. L'exotisme des palmiers s'entremêle à la grandeur des buildings, le bruit de la ville se mélange aux vagues qui s'entrechoquent contre les rochers. Les teintes colorées des planches de surf se perdent dans l'eau bleutée. Les rayons omniprésents du soleil se reflètent sur les façades des gratte-ciels. Le temps ne s'arrête jamais, pas même dès que la lune apparaît. Dans la nuit, les lumières et la pénombre se mélangent pour former la beauté de cette ville où les espérances peuvent devenir réalité ou être emportées par la marée. Parfois, le bleu de l'océan se transforme, comme une menace lointaine que l'orage peut approcher, que tout peut changer. Dans la ville magique, les âmes aussi ont des couleurs différentes. Les esquisses de sourires sur les visages n'ont jamais la même saveur, les accélérations du cœur dans la cage thoracique, les lueurs dans le regard ont toutes une raison spéciale. Une raison unique. Car tout est unique ici. Tout est unique à Miami.

---------------------------------------------

Nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter le contexte d'un projet qui nous tient à cœur et qui, nous espérons, vous plaira. ♡

༄ Ce qu'il faut retenir : forum ancré dans la ville de Miami, en Floride; un rp par mois vous sera demandé; aucun minimum de lignes; city simple avec la possibilité de jouer tous types de personnages.

---------------------------------------------

Le forum est déjà bien avancé, il nous reste seulement quelques petits détails à fignoler, mais l'ouverture est prévue très prochainement.

༄ Vous pouvez dès à présent réserver un fc, la liste de ceux déjà réservés se trouve par ici. Vous pouvez également demandé à être prévenu.es.

A bientôt ! ☼

[megaelod]

le POBOMAG! arrive dans votre boutique de magie préférée!! il sera dispo en avant-première à paris city pop le w-e prochain!

un magazine de 24 pages où vous y trouverez de la BD, des rubriques magiques, et un guest de QUALITÉ: @tuuurbololo-blog qui vous présentera l'horoscope!!

*this product will be only available in french

[wickedwitches]

tag game du rp

j'ai pris le tag libre de @jepeuxpasjairoleplay (bc i like to talk oui oui)

règles du jeu: créer un nouveau billet en copiant-collant les questions ci-dessous, y répondre, puis tagger d'autres rpgistes !

depuis combien de temps fais-tu du rp? — sur forum j'ai commencé en 2010 donc 14 ans. techniquement, j'ai débuté avant via skyrock (ouéoué). je vais partir sur forum, tho.

quel était le premier personnage que tu as créé? — Natasha Williams sur un forum esprits criminels (si y en a qui ont connu, forever nostalgique de cette époque mdr)

quels sont les faceclaims que tu utilisais souvent à tes débuts? — alors au tout début je reprenais jamais le même 2 fois (mais j'étais sur un seul forum donc mdr). puis après j'ai découvert Benedict Cumberbatch et il a empiré ma créativité mdrrr

y a-t-il un genre/univers dans lequel tu n'aimes pas du tout rp? — jamais été attirée par les univers illustrés ou ceux où on incarne des animaux (ça me perturbe bcp) et j'ai souvent du mal avec les univers totalement inventés et/ou magiques (trop peur de faire une connerie qui soit différent du lore, bref, mon anxiété le vit mal)

quelles sont les dynamiques entre personnages/types de liens que tu aimes le plus? — platonique le famous found family et en romantique CLAIREMENT le friends to lovers (bonus point si ça goes enemies to friends to lovers mdrrr) (colleagues to lovers marche aussi). j'aime aussi bcp quand la nana est petite et fierce et smart et que le mec est un grand dumbass deeply in love

dans quels fandoms ou univers aimes-tu le plus rp? — si on me lance dans un city classique je me débrouille pour ne pas tourner en rond, je suis une fille simple

un personnage que tu ne joues plus actuellement mais que tu aimerais reprendre? — tous lol Juliet me manquera tout le temps, toujours et prob que je ferai jamais complètement mon deuil d'Avalon non plus

y a-t-il des archétypes de personnages que tu joues souvent? — je sais pas si c'est un archétype mais j'ai remarqué que mes nanas sont toutes ultra féministes. chez les mecs c'est souvent celui qui est considéré (ou se considère, en tout cas) comme le raté de la famille/de sa bande de potes, dépressif, en recherche de réponses. si je jour un perso de 50+ ans, il est dépressif, a eu une vie pourrie dès la naissance, souvent un bouffon (ou aime se prétendre bouffon) (et souvent il a la tronche de Mark Ruffalo car je l'aime d'amour).

y a-t-il un livre ou un écrit autre qui t'as beaucoup influencé·e pour écrire? — j'écrivais déjà avant car j'ai toujours écris et inventé des histoires mais Pierre Bottero restera l'une des plus grosses influences littéraires de ma vie.

une recommandation pour finir (livre, film, ou pourquoi pas un forum)? — y en a bcp niveau livres mais je pense que Sorj Chalandon est encore trop peu connu et je trouve ça scandaleux mdr c'est une littérature blanche (française) absolument divine, des sujets toujours réels, inspirants et déchirants et sa plume est à jalouser for real donc lisez-le. si vous voulez le découvrir, Le Quatrième Mur ou Enfant de salaud sont mes deux préférés (et les deux pour lesquels il aurait du avoir le prix Goncourt idc). et sinon en sf et pour les amateurs de space opera : Becky Chambers. that's it.

☞ je tag: personne ou les personnes qui veulent faire le jeu et qui aiment papoter

[ernestinee]

Ce matin l'ado voulait une barre de traction depuis un moment du coup on est allés en acheter une sauf qu'en ouvrant la boîte on a vu qu'elle n'était pas prévue pour l'extérieur du coup on est retournés pour la rendre et celle qui va dehors n'était plus en stock on l'aura lundi et puis en revenant par un autre chemin pcq flemme de faire encore la même route on a découvert un supermarché italien et on s'est dit chouette on a acheté de la pancetta du parmesan incroyable des pâtes et des oeufs pour la carbonara de ce soir

et des arancinis et des petits trucs du service traiteur pour le midi, et c'était vraiment bien on s'est rappelé des souvenirs de notre city trip en Italie et j'ai encore eu envie d'etre là bas surtout dans les montagnes à manger de la pastèque ou des tomates mozzarella et puis on est rentrés et on a mangé en vitesse les trucs à réchauffer et puis j'ai installé des mangeoires dans les buissons et puis on est sortis fendre du bois, l'homme à la brouette qui amène dans le fond du jardin tout ce qui nous a été livré et moi fendre le bois parce qu'on a des stères et des stères et des stères de morceaux de troncs et de grosses branches et je fends avec un Merlin c'est une sorte de hache un peu évasée qui fait aussi massue ce truc pèse quasi 4 kg et j'apprends petit à petit à fendre des bûches convenablement il faut savoir où viser et contourner les noeuds et c'est assez magique pcq le bruit change quand on a tapé au bon endroit et apparemment c'est moi la plus énervée de nous deux parce que je tape vachement mieux mais c'est facile j'ai qu'à penser à mon ex bref ça défoule de fou et puis bon j'ai fait ça pendant 3h30 et le jardin ne ressemble pas du tout au jardin que je voudrais par exemple exactement là où je coupe le bois c'est là que je voudrais de l'herbe et des fruitiers et des transats et un petit cocktail voilà voilà y a encore du boulot pour arriver à ça

et après j'avais le dos en miettes et donc je suis rentrée j'ai essayé de regarder un truc sur netflix mais y a rien qui me disait du coup j'ai regardé Pinterest pendant un bon moment puis Netflix d'un œil puis Pinterest Instagram threads Instagram Pinterest et j'ai jonglé je commence à m'entraîner pour le 4 balles puis j'ai fait la carbonara et quand je pense qu'avant je faisais ça avec de la crème fraîche et de l'Emmental râpé ça me donne la nausée parce que qu'est ce que c'est bon le parmesan ohlala et là il y a une deuxième fournée de meringues en train de cuire parce qu'on ne prend que les jaunes dans la carbo alors tu fais quoi des blancs?

Bah des meringues, et je vais faire un peu de japonais italien anglais néerlandais sur Duolingo et finir mon bouquin parce que j'en ai acheté deux que j'ai hâte de lire il y en a un qui a un titre qui m'a fait frissonner écoute ça il s'appelle "Le fardeau tranquille des choses" c'est beau non? et demain dès potron minet je pars faire une rando de 10 ou 20 km on verra bien l'état de mon vieux corps.

[anticbrvtalist]

La mort de John Balance

« Le pouvoir occulte et magnétique de l’Angleterre » ! Où donc ai-je lu ces mots ? » (Léon Bloy)[1]

Nous ne croyons pas à la mort accidentelle de John Balance ; nous pensons seulement qu’il sut prendre congé à temps. Sans doute était-il fatigué de tituber dans un monde qui meurt. Dès la fin du siècle dernier, Londres n’était plus la capitale du Royaume-Uni, mais un cratère foré par l’économie monde, plongeant à pic dans le tiède enfer du non-lieu global. Même Ian Sinclair se lassera – certes, quinze ans plus tard – de longer la M25, le London Overground, d’invoquer les esprits de son occulte psycho géographie, d’exposer aux non-initiés ses cartes imaginaires dont la topographie n’évoquera bientôt plus rien à personne. Nous fûmes victimes d’une illusion d’optique : le capitalisme ne sévit pas à l’état liquide mais gazeux : tout ce dont il a épuisé la valeur d’échange s’évapore, disparaît. Même les ruines.

            John Balance le savait : ce Londres occulte, dont il partageait la fascination avec quelques grand initiés, Allan Moore par exemple, le Londres de Jacques l’éventreur, d’Austin Osman Spare, de William Blake, d’Arthur Machen, de la Golden Dawn, de Thomas de Quincey et sa chère Ann, ce Londres s’était tout entier évanoui ; et bientôt, ferait défaut jusqu’à l’humanité encore accessible �� de tels souvenirs. Il aura vu le dôme du « Millenium » émerger, les quais de la Tamise se border de buildings en verre, leur enfilade de docks, de hangars désaffectés, se muer en malls, en galeries polaires, en lofts pour yuppies. Sans doute s’effrayait-il d’y voir son avenir, d’imaginer Coil diffusé dans une quelconque annexe de la Tate Gallery, distraitement écouté par des hordes de touristes asiatiques ou de jeunes cadres apatrides de la City, sujets au burn-out, rompus au binge drinking, tous d’une désespérante tolérance. Il le devinait : jamais plus Londres ne serait « la cité des résurrections »[2]. Cette ville lui était à ce point devenue étrangère qu’il ne pouvait plus suivre à l’instinct les affluents de la Tamise, ces méandres aux propriétés magiques jadis cartographiées par John Dee : la Fleet, la Tyburn, les rivières de Stamford brook et de Walbrook. Désormais incapable de soulever les strates de l’histoire immédiate, mais toujours possédé par son Londres mythique et souterrain, John Balance se sera, à quarante ans, enterré vivant. 

L’un des derniers albums de Coil, Times machines, fut la première tentative musicale de dissoudre le cours du temps. Peut-être Balance avait-il le pressentiment d’une prochaine catastrophe dont il désirait, de toutes ses forces, différer l’avènement. Peut-être devinait-il que Londres, puis l’Angleterre tout entière, allait devenir telle qu’elle figure dans la série Black mirror : le cadre d’un nouveau cauchemar dystopique sur le point d’envahir le globe. D’instinct, en bon britannique, et donc un peu chauvin, il savait que l’Angleterre, depuis le XVIIè, énonce l’ordre du monde, Rule the world. La mission historique d’Albion s’achève, mais reste son imagination, suffisamment fertile pour nourrir les cauchemars du monde entier : « England has a black earth ».[3]

             « Les poètes sont toujours les premiers à s’en aller » remarquait Ian Sinclair. John Balance fut un précurseur : aujourd’hui, c’est le peuple britannique tout entier qui tâtonne vers la sortie, cherche machinalement son âme comme on s’assure de la présence d’un membre fantôme. Le Brexit, bien sûr, ne résoudra rien. Le Royaume-Uni, hier galion corsaire cinglant à l’avant-garde, aujourd’hui vieux rafiot à la remorque des États-Unis, tourné vers l’ailleurs, le grand large, l’Océan Pacifique peut-être, pour une dernière aventure.   

NO SOCIETY 

             John Balance, c’est avant tout l’homme en marge. Il n’eut pas assez de sa courte vie pour apprendre à se défaire du monde. Très jeune, il comprit qu’il est vain de pester contre le « système », de fantasmer un grand soir, aussi n’ayons pas le ridicule d’en faire un nouveau « suicidé de la société » : cette dernière, il sut la tenir à distance, cultivant l’art de la clandestinité, luttant constamment contre toute forme imposée ; et cette lutte lui fut source de bonheur – « Disobediance is the key of joy ». Dans la lignée d’un Pasolini ou d’un Genet, Balance vécut son homosexualité comme une malédiction, un défi, trop orgueilleux qu’il était pour quémander la reconnaissance des foules, de l’État. Pourquoi briguer une impossible normalisation, source certaine d’un supplément de souffrances ? Inutile de se rassembler, d’exiger de nouveaux droits : aujourd’hui comme hier, toute singularité draine la vindicte. Le seul acte militant de Coil, la reprise de Tainted Love assortie d’un clip horrifique, suffit, dès 1984, à écarter tout malentendu : les niais partisans de la cause arc-en-ciel, glacés, passèrent leur chemin.

                  Bien plus qu’un simple pas de côté, la vie de John Balance fut esquive, dérobade radicale. De la société, il se retrancha, mais de biais, faisant sien l’enseignement d’Austin Osman Spare : le monde ne se comprend qu’appréhendé latéralement, surtout les êtres humains, dont on ne peut saisir quelques parcelles d’âme que lorsqu’ils ne vous voient plus, vous ont oublié. Cette approche oblique strictement observée, la politique et le social ne survivent qu’à l’état de souvenir, de vague rumeur ; une rumeur, c’est-à-dire un bruit, un son, que l’on peut prélever, domestiquer, puis torturer à loisir avant de le restituer, méconnaissable, à la société épouvantée.

À force de pratiquer « l’usage agressif de la fantaisie »[4], Coil avait acquis dans certains milieux londoniens une étrange réputation qu’ils cultivaient avec malice. Christopherson, alias « Sleazy », faisait parade d’un sadisme bonhomme et discret, évoquant à mots couverts auprès d’un auditoire choisi certaines chambres de sa maison de Chipswick, une notamment, entièrement peinte en noir, les murs tapissés d’images des 120 jours de Sodome, une autre encore, où il enfermait de jeunes hommes pour les piquer d’aiguilles. Ces étranges inclinations vinrent aux oreilles du cinéaste Clive Barker qui leur offrit de composer la bande-son de son film Hellraiser avant de se rétracter, effrayé. Pourtant, à les voir, rien ne laissait deviner de telles dispositions : quelques photos nous les présentent de noir vêtus, cheveux ras, encapuchonnés dans d’informes sweat shirts, soit la défroque ordinaire de la tourbe des « teufeurs » de l’époque. C’est qu’ils étaient passés maîtres dans l’art de l’infiltration, pour preuve, dès 1991, ils avaient déjà, par les albums Love is a secret domain et The snow, corrompu la techno. Le dancefloor, par eux investi, devint expérience claustrophobique, se changea en caisse à stridences psychiatriques, infernale chambre d’échos balayée de part en part d’un souffle d’outre-tombe.

Un député tory, bien sous tous rapports, les traita de « naufrageurs de la civilisation ». « Les gens comme il faut » sont tels car inaptes à l’introspection ; n’examinant jamais leurs pensées, ils sont bien incapables d’identifier la racine d’une dé-civilisation dont ils déplorent incessamment les effets : cette passion maniaque de l’homogénéité qu’ils possèdent tous en propre. Les membres du Temple of the psychic youth, en dépit d’un mode de vie suicidaire, jalonné d’expérimentations sordides et dangereuses, eurent d’emblée le pressentiment de l’avènement d’un monde unidimensionnel, hostile à toute intériorité. « Nos ennemis sont plats » scandait P-Orridge, faisant inconsciemment écho aux paroles d’un Barrès, qui, à l’apogée de son « culte du moi », au début du XXè  siècle, déclarait : « Les barbares veulent nous fondre en série ».

MAGICK

          Coil, en anglais, signifie rouleau, spirale, nom à la fois banal et le plus occulte qui soit : la spirale est lieu de réversion, premier point d’attache des cycles qui se fondent un instant pour nier le temps ; son centre est aussi point d’infini qui abolit l’espace. Coil fut la quête de ce vide qui est puissance absolue mais aussi sens premier, originel. Effet du hasard ? le symbole de la spirale ornait déjà les couvertures de la revue Le Grand jeu, soixante-dix ans plus tôt. L’histoire révèle à périodes régulières quelques jeunes gens suffisamment mécontents pour oser, par leurs propres moyens, forcer le monde invisible à rendre son secret. John Balance s’identifiait à René Crevel mais ce serait plutôt à Roger Gilbert Lecomte qu’il faudrait le comparer, Gilbert Lecomte, comme lui poète égaré dans son inlassable quête d’« états de stupeur fixe ». (...)

[bounderstyle]

In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third captivating installment of its wildly popular Harry Potter-themed lands with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – one of five worlds coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. Set in wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures Fantastic Beasts films and the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter film series, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic features an awe-inspiring collection of experiences that includes fantastical dining, whimsical retail, spellbinding entertainment and the most ambitious, groundbreaking ride Universal has ever created.

Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée – a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Here, wizards and non-magiques alike will be enamored with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambiance of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a traveling circus, and – for the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – travel across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic.

[lilie-stuffs]

Le Coven des Enfants de Dahomey regroupe des nécromanciens autour de leur Prêtresse, Zendaya E. Graves. Cette dernière, porteuse d'une émeraude magique, est liée à un puissant clan vampire de la ville, celui de Chayton Tasdal. Ils sont attendus, dans l'ordre : - Ezrah Graves ; frère jumeau de la Prêtresse, protecteur et Chef de sa Garde rapproché. - Ace ; précieux médium du Coven. - Jude ; le cousin un peu babacool. - Echo ; la demi-soeur de la Prêtresse et d'Ezrah ; Gardienne. - Zora aka Mama Zora ; nécromancienne qui éduque les plus jeunes. - Micha, nouvelle membre du Coven. • Les avatars sont presque tous négociables mais ceux proposés sont vraiment trèèèès appréciez. • Si vous voulez rejoindre un forum qui a fêté ses 4 ans, avec une communauté adorable, alors vous êtes au bon endroit avec @crescent-city-rpg ! • Nécromancie = violence. Plusieurs TW sont à noter. Pour en découvrir plus sur le Coven, cliquez ici ♥ PS ; viendez, viendez, je les attends avec tellement d'impatience ♥

[unioncityblues]

Debbie Harry attending a fundraiser for Ted Kennedy's presidential campaign at the Magique club in New York City, New York. March 10, 1980.

Photographed by Fred McDarrah.

[callitmagicrpg]

✧✲✧ CALL IT MAGIC ✧✲✧ (city nyc, 2.0, version 12)

Il y a un quelque chose à New-York. C'est là, flottant dans les vents changeants, dans les premiers flocons de neige, dans les derniers rayons du soleil. C'est là, au creux des mélodies de Broadway et des conversations de Wall Street. C'est là, aussi, dans le bruissement des feuilles de Central Park, dans les décors de cinéma, les promenades le long de l'Hudson River. C'est partout, partout. Un grain de folie, un nouveau souffle, un soupçon de rêves que l'ont suit en dépit des travers. C'est là, dans la paume de la Statue de la Liberté, en haut de l'Empire State Building. Dans les couchers de soleil et les levers de lune. C'est là, ici, partout au coin de ces rues qui quadrillent la ville. Il y a un quelque chose, à New-York. Quelque chose de magique.

un rp tous les deux mois - pas de minimum de lignes - toutes formes de rp encouragées (à deux, trois, quatre, en solo, en os, en flashback/flashforward, rps libres, etc…) - des bonnes vibes et c'est tout ♡♡♡

http://callitmagic.forumactif.com

[cassiopeapoetry]

Tokyo Sunset Glow: A Skyscraper View

Sous le ciel flamboyant de Tokyo, les gratte-ciel se dessinent en ombres dorées tandis que les avenues scintillent de mille feux. Un contraste magique entre la chaleur du crépuscule et l'énergie urbaine, offrant une vue spectaculaire sur la ville illuminée.

English Translation :

Under Tokyo's fiery sky, skyscrapers cast golden shadows while avenues sparkle with a thousand lights. A magical contrast between the warmth of twilight and urban energy, offering a spectacular view of the illuminated city.

#Cassiopeapoetry

[ftf-rpg]

✨ HOT FAE SUMMER HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED! ✨

— forum city low fantasy, 1 rp par mois, challenges d'écriture et paillettes rpgiques.

✨ ftf, en bref - ouvert depuis le 5 mars 2022. qu’il vente, qu’il pleuve, qu’il neige - on est là. on a eu des périodes fastes, des creux énormes, et on continue de mener la barque quoi qu’il arrive, que notre qeel affiche complet ou pas. - no discord(e) (lol) (vive l’humour) (bref) - forum city low fantasy, avec ce qu’il faut de touche fantastique pour pimenter le rp, résolument tourné vers le slice of life, enrichi et sublimé par l’imagination et la créativité de nos membres. don’t let the sparkles fool you!  - un rythme tranquille, activité surtout en fin de semaine - au début, ça peut paraître déroutant mais juré, on s’y fait et c’est hyper reposant. 🫶 - 1 rp par mois, des joueur.eu.ses matures et bienveillant.e.s, ambiance chill et conviviale. viens parler jeux vidéo, livres ou séries entre deux rps! 

✨ tu peux m’expliquer un peu les fées ?  - sur ftf, tu peux incarner une fée (utilisé au féminin indépendamment du genre du perso, mais tu peux aussi utiliser fae), un.e bright (la progéniture d’une fée et d’un.e humain.e) ou un.e humain.e - les fées sont divisées en quatre maisons : l’Aurore (pouvoirs élémentaires, en rapport avec la nature, méfiantes envers les humains), le Crépuscule (pouvoirs psychiques, redoutées par leurs congénères fées, soi-disant victimes de malédictions en tous genres), la Comète (pouvoirs en rapport avec le temps et l’espace, à la réputation sulfureuse) et enfin, la Lune (pouvoirs liés au corps, épris.e.s de liberté). - chaque Maison possède ses us et coutumes, son tatouage féerique, sa pierre et son astre protecteur.  les fées doivent aussi vivre près d’une source magique pour conserver leurs pouvoirs : à Dupree, il s’agit de Cabeswater, la rivière surplombée d’un chêne blanc dissimulé au creux de la forêt de Sherdale.  - au creux de chaque source est dissimulé un Trésor, sur lequel les fées locales sont sensées veiller. à Dupree, pas de chance, ce Trésor a été découvert par des humains curieux et la ville est désormais prise d’assaut par tout un tas de chercheurs d’or et autres chasseurs de surnaturel...

✨ ça m’intéresse... mais je ne sais pas trop quoi jouer. des idées ?  - une fée de la Lune virtuellement immortelle grâce à son pouvoir - un.e humain.e qui a tout plaqué pour enquêter sur Dupree et ses mystères, au grand dam de sa famille/ses amis/son love interest - un.e Bright qui découvre tout juste ses pouvoirs et aurait bien besoin d’un.e mentor fae - une fée de la Comète en cavale - un.e humain.e qui habite à Dupree depuis toujours et est au courant de l’existence des fées pour de mystérieuses (et sombres ?) raisons - VILLAINS CROOKS THIEVES AND BASTARDS (we need more faes using their powers for evil and looking hot doing it!!!!) - on a aussi des pré-liens et une zone d’aide à la création ! - wanted: personnages de tous genres, orientations, origines, etc <3 venez seul.e en groupe, ressuscitez ce perso qui vous manque à la sauce féerique, bref, venez comme vous êtesTM

✨ et cette version 7 alors ? au programme : nos célébrissimes events, des prompts d’écriture, un rythme de croisière tranquillou pour l’été, des NOUVEAUX BADGES et puis juste du love quoi <3 ah oui et si vous venez et que vous avez un otp/ship/etc etc, je fais des crackships aux kilomètres (ftf members only sorry not sorry c’est le jeu ma pauv’ lucette) http://follow-the-fairies.forumactif.com http://follow-the-fairies.forumactif.com http://follow-the-fairies.forumactif.com much love, cabeswater

[crescent-city-rpg]

3 ans déjà !

Bonjour tout le monde !

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE CC !

Le jeudi 30 avril 2020, le forum rouvrait officiellement ses portes sur cette v3 magique et fantastique. Aux côtés de deux personnes qui ont su me faire confiance et partager leurs univers avec moi. Peu de membres ont cru en nous pour ce reboot, mais deux fidèles sont encore à nos côtés au bout de ces trois années. Beaucoup d'autres sont venus, là depuis 3 ans maintenant.

CRESCENT CITY c'est une grande et belle aventure. Une histoire mouvementé pour un forum. Mais il est là, trois années plus tard, avec des membres géniaux et un staff soudé.

☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ Merci à ceux qui ne nous ont pas aimé de nous avoir donné la force de prouver qui nous sommes. Merci à ceux qui sont venus, un temps, ou plus longtemps. Merci à ceux qui nous rejoindrons encore.

☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ N'hésitez pas à nous rejoindre ^^ A bientôt sur le forum ! Lilie et l'équipe du forum.

[magicalhideoutengineer]

MAGICAL CREATURES AND THE MINISTRY AWAITS…

Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée – a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Here, wizards and non-magiques alike will be enamored with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambiance of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a traveling circus, and – for the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – travel across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic.

 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will feature the unmatched levels of immersion and attention to detail fans have come to expect from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Below is a look at the exciting new wonders waiting to be discovered in this spectacular new world:

Le Cirque Arcanus

This spectacular show features live performers and aerialists, amazing puppetry, brilliant special effects and more to take guests on a whirlwind journey where they’ll encounter fantastic beasts like never before. The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory. It’s then up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue these creatures before they end up in Skender’s greedy hands forever.

Inspiring Wand Magic

As guests explore the streets of wizarding Paris, they can use their interactive wands to create magical experiences as they cast spells at various locations, interact with fantastic beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles and a Demiguise, and engage with enchanted objects in many of the storefront windows plus other areas throughout the marvelous Place Cachée.

Captivating Entertainment

While exploring the streets of Place Cachée, guests will also encounter other visitors, officials and residents from the wizarding world, including exchange Students from the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardy, an Auror from the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France who roams inquiring of suspicious characters, talking portraits of delightful wizards who engage with locals about the happenings in Place Cachée, and more.

Dining at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Guests can also enjoy delicious international fare and shop for souvenirs and merchandise during their visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at highly-themed dining and retail locations, including: 

Café L'Air De La Sirène

A wonder of French architecture adorned with fabulous carved marble and details of fantastic beasts hidden in the tile and mosaic designs, Café L’air De La Sirène is a charming café where guests can delight in French sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts.

Le Gobelet Noir

In the shadowy corners of Place Cachée is a mysterious timeworn auberge, where international Dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation. Menu offerings include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts.

Bar Moonshine 

American witches and wizards can enjoy a taste of home at Bar Moonshine, where they’ll find exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amid U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana. 

Bièraubeurre Cart  

No visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is complete without Butterbeer! Guests can stop by the Bièraubeurre cart during their visit to Place Cachée for a frosty, delicious mug of the fan-favorite beverage.

Souvenirs and Merchandise at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Guests can also shop for wizarding gear and memorabilia in Les Galeries Mirifiques, satisfy their sweet tooth at the French confectionary shop, K. Rammelle, or make a stop for Ministry of Magic-inspired items at the Métro-Floo gift shop, Tour En Floo.

[koala-ronchon]

Projet de forum : Goodbye Neverland

Bonjour/Bonsoir,

Je viens ici vous présenter mon projet de forum ! Il s'agit d'un forum city science-fantasy à avatars réels avec un contexte évolutif, inspiré des jeux-vidéos Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact et Honkai Star Rail. Il reprend les bases communes de l'Honkaiverse, et aucun personnage existant des trois licences n'y sera jouable.

L'intrigue se déroulera surtout dans la ville de Sainte-Fontaine et ses alentours dans un monde ayant échappé il y a un siècle de cela à sa fin de justesse grâce à ses héros et héroïnes, et l'influence d'une divinité. En ville, magie et technologie cohabitent autant que diverses créatures magiques, mais des années après la restructuration d'une nouvelle société, des problèmes se font vite évidents... Les inégalités sociales sont très marquées, et ce en partie à cause de la surpuissance et des avantages sociaux bien trop présents de certaines familles, mais aussi une influence divine qui pour certaines personnes se fait de plus en plus étouffante.

En effet, ce monde fictif est géré par une monarchie littéralement de droits divins, et chaque être est soumis à l'influence et au pouvoir d'une divinité dont il suit la Voie. Si certaines divinités ne posent guère leurs yeux sur ce monde, d'autres, comme Phanes, semblent s'être immiscées tellement profondément dans le contrôle de l'organisation du monde, que beaucoup y voient désormais un problème. Les mortels ne devraient ils pas avoir le choix de choisir de leur propre avenir ?

Problème plus pressant : des cristaux sombres, stigmates de l'ancienne Apocalypse, s'approchent du sud de la ville, et des disparitions d'habitants vivant à proximité se font de plus en plus signaler...

Gameplay et possibilités de création :

- Le forum sera à contexte évolutif : c'est à dire que ses joueureuses seront impliqué-e-s dans l'évolution d'une intrigue. A travers des évènements et des missions où tout pourra arriver, les choix de vos personnages auront de plus ou moins gros impacts.

- Le rythme des évènements et missions sera variable, pour offrir des possibilités de participation à des personnes ayant des rythmes différents.

- Il y aura un système de combat, dépendant de plusieurs facteurs : l'élément magique maîtrisé (ou non), la Voie (qui déterminera le rôle tactique du personnage), des statistiques de base évolutives, et une part de hasard à travers des lancers de dés.

- La magie sur le forum est élémentaire, mais inutilisable contre des êtres dépourvus de magie. Il est possible de maîtriser un de ces 8 éléments : glace, vent, feu, eau, plante, électrique, imaginaire et quantum. L'élément maîtrisé est pleinement aléatoire, et ne dépend d'aucun pré-requis particulier.

- Les Voies, influencées par le caractère et les ambitions de chaque personnage, déterminent leur rôle tactique, mais auront aussi un intérêt dans l'intrigue, puisque les Voies lient chaque être à une divinité primordiale (ou Aeon). Marcher sur la Voie de la Destruction fera de votre personnage un main DPS, comme la Voie de la Préservation lea poussera à avoir un rôle protecteur, ou la Voie de l'Erudition à bouleverser les possibilités d'affrontements avec des buffs et des debuffs.

- Il y aura des points de statistiques à répartir dès l'inscription adaptés à l'âge et l'expérience de vos personnages. A travers les missions, les évènements (inRP et HRP pour certaines occasions), mais aussi des achats en boutique grâce aux points acquis en allant RP, il sera possible de booster ces statistiques de base.

- Le hasard et les lancers de dés pourront changer le déroulé des choses à tous moments. Dés d'actions, dés d'attaques, et un dé pouvant vous laisser ou non obtenir une bénédiction divine liée à votre Voie pourront intervenir dans vos aventures.

- Le forum proposera plusieurs espèces magiques jouables... A commencer par les humains, ayant une affinité naturelle avec la technomagie, les Valkyries, des humains magiquement évolués capables de mieux résister à la corruption de magies destructrices, les Foxxiens, des créatures humanoïdes capables de prendre forme animale, les Vidyadharas, cousins humanoïdes des dragons qui outre leur capacité à attraper des rhumes plus vite que leur ombre ont une affinité avec l'art alchimique, les Seelies, apparus au siècle dernier dans une mystérieuse brume bleue et liés par un fil bleu à un être qu'iels doivent guider toute leur vie, et les Sluaghs, êtres capables de discerner instinctivement les émotions profondes des êtres vivants à l'inexpliqué lien mystique et incompris avec leurs ancêtres.

Le forum est encore en travaux, et si beaucoup de choses sont déjà établies, il est en revanche nécessaire de préciser qu'il manque encore beaucoup de sujets purement administratifs, quelques annexes secondaire, et la rédaction des familles importantes.

J'ai également toujours plusieurs questions plus pratiques autour de la conception du forum, et j'aimerais donc pourquoi pas quêter quelques avis... Si jamais vous avez du temps, ou que le projet vous intéresse, je laisse donc ici ce Google Form : https://forms.gle/HeGsZijDXHSe9XSaA

Merci beaucoup d'avoir lu