#hexagon marble table

[turnerlandin]

Transitional Family Room - Enclosed Family room library - mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor family room library idea with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

[parami1]

[celtigxr]

THE PINK DREAD - CH. 33 (Masterlist)

Chapter Summary: As the Valyrian houses gather for the anticipated dinner party, King Viserys has an unexpected announcement to share. Word Count: 6070 CHAPTER WARNINGS: We're still talking about menstrual blood. I also only proof read this once, cause ya girl is getting lazy. So apologies for types/grammatical errors, and odd sentencing/wording.

Series tags: Aemond x Plus size!OfC, Aegon x Plus size!OfC, Celtigar!ofc, Plot with Smut, mdni 18+, Aemond End Game, Angst, Comedy, The Dragons Don't Dance, slow burn, friends to enemies to lovers, enemies to friends to lovers.

Credits: Lace Banner by Aquazero, pearl divider by Pommecita

Notes: This is another one of those chapters I'm not particularly happy about. I think my problem is that I absolutely LOATH writing scenes where there are more than four people. Because there are just too many moving parts and I feel like I need to acknowledge everyone's existence. It's tiring. Anyway, I hope this reads better than I feel like it does.

The Small Council Chamber was at its fullest for the first time in years. Though there was a single marble left unclaimed in the centre of the table, a white and grey granite sphere that would belong to the Master of Ships. Alas, with Lord Corlys occupied near a decade in the Step Stones, and now incapacitated to near death, the subject of anointing a new master of ships was broached several times in the past, and that day was no different. 

“Word has it that the Cannibal has moved all the way north west, settling in the mountains around Iroman’s Bay. Dalton Greyjoy told me himself that the Ironmen have begun preparing ships with scorpions, and arming themselves with harpoons, ready to take down the beast,” Larys leaned back in his chair, eyes casting over the nearly full table before landing on the King. “He said that he is willing to take down the nuisance at your pleasure, your Grace, and all he asks is for a seat on this Council and a bride with a generous dowry.”

“Of course he did,” Lord Bartimos rolled his eyes.

“Your Grace, we do need a Master of Ships,” the Lord Hand reminded, and everyone’s eyes strayed to the lone marble in the hexagon. “Lord Dalton is an exceptional sailor and captain, and has one of the largest fleets in the Seven Kingdoms, next to the Redwyne’s.”

“Yes, but might I remind you of his reputation,” Daemon shot Otto a look. “He’s done far worse than I, and yet you kept me farther away from this Council.” 

“Daemon, please,” Viserys lifted his hand, already tired. “We are not going to bring up the past today…” He turned to look at Barty, who appeared to agree with Daemon, predictably. With a sigh, Viserys lifted his arms, “Tell Lord Dalton I will think on it. Until then, there are many others that we must consider.” 

“Like who, your Grace?” Lord Wylde raised an eyebrow. 

“Lord Manderly, for example, or Ser Cedric Redwyne, Lord Corwyn’s most accomplished son,” The King answered swiftly. “Not to mention, Lord Clement and Arthor Celtigar, Bartimos’ sons. Clement has possessed the seas since his youth, and knows Lord Corlys personally.”

At the mention of his sons, Barty’s chest swelled, “It would be a great honour, my King. My boys would make you proud, should you have them.”

Rhaenyra glanced at the Hand of the King; he appeared as if he was holding on by a thread. His mouth opened to say something, but instead he clamped it shut after sharing a look with his daughter beside him.

Having a Celtigar on the Small Council again would impede Otto’s ambitions. With Bartimos back, Rhaenyra could tell that the Hand was becoming more irate and impatient, making his motives clearer with every desperate attempt at salvaging Hightower power. His plan was thwarted when Viserys’ health improved; he was no longer addled with Milk of the Poppy and strained with pain, making it easier for Otto to manipulate by the power of suggestion and urgency. Ever since Lyonel Strong had stepped down as Hand and was tragically killed in the Harrenhall fire, Otto’s re-admittance into the position was merely due to the lack of better prospects. At that point, Viserys’ relationship with Bartimos was strained, otherwise the Claw Isle lord would have taken Lyonel’s place. 

However, now they are friends again, it was only a matter of time before Viserys realized he could replace Otto with him. The man’s presence in the Small Council while not having a title to belong there was enough of an implication. It would only take a few pushes until Otto finally snaps, forcing the King to do so. Ultimately, that would be a win for Rhaenyra, ensuring that there is no more Green influence whispering in her father’s ear.

Rhaenyra swiveled her eyes to Alicent for a moment, before moving her gaze onto her hands folded on her lap. She and the Queen have been cordial since Visenya’s funeral, though they have yet to share any true moment of reconciliation. At most there were glances of pity, sadness, longing, mutually understanding that they both wished to bury the axe. It was just a matter of who was going to lower their weapon and make the first wave of the white flag. After her conversation with Jacaerys the night prior, it would appear that she would be one to do that. 

Otto was wrapping up the final details of the Tourney, after making suggestions for possible low-born men to be knighted and even chosen to be a Kingsguard. Then he asked if there was anything else that needed to be brought up before they departed, and Rhaenyra felt a sense of deja vu. 

“Yes, there is, as a matter of fact,” she stood up slowly as everyone remained seated. “Several years ago, I stood in this Council Chamber with what I believed was a wise and honourable offer… I said it then, that we are one house, but we have since been divided all these years.” Her eyes roamed the table, noting everyone's expressions one by one. Daemon looked expectant, Otto looked too controlled, Alicent appeared conflicted, and her father’s pleasant smile of encouragement filled her with hope. The first and last time this was mentioned in this room, Alicent barred more mental strength than he. 

“His Grace wishes this to be a season of peacemaking, which I heartily agree… As does my son, Jacaerys, who was the one to bring this up to me.” Bartimos tilted his head towards Daemon, his brow furrowed.

 Rhaenyra turned to address him first, “Lord Bartimos, your daughter is simply lovely. You know well that I adored her when we both resided in the Red Keep, as I did her mother… A union between our families would have been ideal, yes, but I made a promise to my son that I would give him the liberty to choose, as my father gave me when I was his age.” 

The Lord of Claw Isle seemed to deflate in his seat, his eyes seemed to age as he blinked defeatedly, “My Princess, I would like to apologize for any insult my daughter has—”

Rhaenyra smiled and lifted her hand up to stop him, “Apologies are not necessary. There was no insult to be had… On the contrary, Jacaerys and Valeana got along well enough, but nothing beyond cordial companionship. Instead, your daughter has inspired my son…” Rhaenyra trailed off and looked back to Alicent. “He has approached me to inquire about the possibility of taking Princess Helaena’s hand in marriage. As it happens… He has already discussed it with her privately.” 

Alicent straightened in her seat, her mouth hung open with the incapability of articulating a response. Her eyes casting over to her father did not go amiss, and neither did Daemon’s look towards Bartimos. 

“Helaena has not mentioned this,” Alicent stated, her tone betraying her need to disbelieve her ears. 

“It appears to be a new development,” Rhaenyra folded her arms in front of herself diplomatically. “Though Jace has said he wished to court her quietly and without stress to ease Helaena’s mind.” 

“Well now,” The King finally spoke, his smile widening. “I did not wish to say it… But this was something I always wished had happened all those years ago.”

“But your Grace, we have already discussed betrothing Aegon with–” Otto was promptly cut off by Viserys.

“It was discussed and I made the decision of it not being discussed further,” Viserys looked at Otto, his purple eyes wide with the unquestionable authority of a King. “Helaena is too soft for Aegon. You of all people understand his appetites, as you spend most of your day containing the deplorable truths he hides in Flea Bottom. I know he loves his sister, but it does not go beyond that… And I believe everyone in this very room could all agree… He does not wish to marry Helaena, as much as she does not wish to be married to him.” 

The Lord Hand visibly sunk into his chair, his hands lifting in a feeble attempt to convey surrender. “Aegon is your first born son, your Grace. If there were anyone to marry first, it would be him. He is well past the age.” 

“I’m aware, Lord Otto,” The King smiled ironically. “Though as you are all aware by now, Aegon is in a very unique situation. And if the whispers have any merit,” His eyes flickered over to Larys, “It’s the same situation as my other son.” 

The King fell quiet, looking down at his four fingers as they drummed the marble sitting in its nest in front of him. Then he moved his eyes onto his friend, Barty, who sat at his right. Bartimos stared back, his jaw taught as they silently communicated the obvious. 

“I am inclined to allow the chips to fall where they may,” Viserys finally says, lacing his eight fingers in front of himself. “For my daughter, Helaena, however, I wish the world for her… And what better world can I give her than one where she is to be a future queen of the Realm, to be married to a honourable, compassionate, and strapping man like my grandson? Alicent, my dear, do you not agree?”

The question was a challenge, to gouge a reaction out of his wife. If Alicent did not agree, she would voice it. But something kept her lips buttoned, and she looked wide eyed between her husband, her father, and her former friend. If only Rhaenyra could read her mind, to know what she knew, to feel what she felt. Instead, the Princess waited with baited breath. 

Alicent slowly stood up from the table, her fingers anchoring her body on the table as she did. Her eyes found Rhaenyra above everyone else’s, effectively avoiding the imploring eye of her father. With a swift movement, she grabbed her goblet, and raised it to the Princess. 

“I agree,” her answer fills the room, stirring emotions. “It is time we repair the rift between our families, and make our house whole again.” 

When Valeana woke up that morning, it was earlier than she typically would find herself in. Shyla was missing from her bed, which only reminded her of her dream. A wave of nausea hit her; it felt like guilt, it felt like loss. It was so much simpler then, to choose both and have them willing. But it was not reality, as much as she curled back into her pillows, hoping to fall back into that dream that ended so unsatisfyingly. 

There was a distinctive squish between her thighs when she moved, and she internally groaned and threw her head back. She must have bled through her rag during the night. Carefully she moved her body over to inspect the sheets underneath her, finding it clear, thank the gods. Then, Valeana quickly strapped on Lady Footlyn so she could clean herself at the washing basin in the corner. A meticulously humiliating process she had to do every single morning the last few days; every moon for the last 8 years. Only 40 more to go. 

Though when she pulled up the damp cloth, she didn’t find what she expected. Her moon’s blood was over, what remained was slick, translucent, with a pinkish hue (likely remnants of her blood). Cringing at herself, she resumed her cleaning, ensuring that her thighs were thoroughly dry. At least she didn’t need to plug herself with cotton anymore. 

Over breakfast, it was collectively decided that Shyla should no longer suffer another night trying to sleep next to Valeana. Apparently, she had snored so loud and stuttery, Shyla had to check to make sure she was breathing several times.

“You sounded like you were a street cat being mounted by a direwolf, Val,” Shyla rubbed the corners of her eyes. An apt description, considering what she was dreaming that night. Unfortunately, there was a lack of Cregan. Perhaps another night. 

Floris was violently reluctant in giving up her single bedroom, but it was put to rest when Shyla expertly handled it. 

“It’s alright, Floris. The settee is kind of comfortable… I guess I can stay there for, what…two more moons? My neck won’t hurt forever.”

So, it was decided. Floris’ single room would be Valeana’s. The transition between rooms was a series of glares and muttered remarks as trunks of clothing were moved from one room to the other. When it was all settled, Val collapsed on the larger bed with a sigh. Floris’ former bedchamber was smaller, situated just above the one Valeana shared with Shyla. Stairs lead to it, a circular room in the spired tower above their family’s wing of the Holdfast. There was a larger tower on the opposite end, where her parents’ were. Unlike her former accommodations, this one’s balcony was considerably smaller, just enough for a lounging chair and a tea table.

Aemond would have a harder time climbing up there. 

Val lolled her head towards the inconspicuous bookcase, now empty of Floris’ belongings. Almost forgot about that. She lifted herself up on her elbows and looked around the room, now truly taking in how blissfully removed it was from the rest of the apartment.

A smile crept on her face, slow and devious, just as her hand moved up the hem of her skirt. 

The highly anticipated, but even more dreaded gathering of the Valyrian houses would take place that evening for supper. Valeana had spent the entire day making Queen Alicent’s dragon dress with Rosy in the private confines of her new bedquarters to kill the day. While her maid could not talk, she was actively listening as Valeana imparted ideas for her own gown for the Creature Ball. In the end, she decided to be a white lioness, a homage to her mother.

By the time it was time for her to get dressed for supper, the Queen’s dress was practically finished. All that was left was a final fitting to ensure everything was in place, which they had plenty of time for. The Creature Ball would not happen for another moon, at least, some weeks after the Tourney and the Victor’s celebration in the pavilions was over.

There was, however, a formal dress code for the evening. Everyone must wear the colours of their house, which meant that the Celtigars will be garbed in whites and reds, including Floris. 

“Why was she even invited,” Valeana ranted to Rosy as the girl helped her pull the solid vermillion dress over her head. “She’s not a Celtigar, she’s not Valyrian.”

And yet Floris wore Celtigar colours, a red bodice with matching tiered layer, an ivory skirt underneath and trumpet sleeves. A ridiculously extravagant dress that expressed something that she clearly is not. All that was missing were crabs embellishments, like Shyla’s. 

Her younger sister’s dress was mostly white, save for the inside of the corset in the front, and the stripe of red on the hemline of her skirt, sleeves, and square neckline. Her mother wore a solid red dress, much like Valeana’s, but hers had far more bedazzlement with pearls and polished quartz, which matched her statement necklace. 

Valeana had a fair amount of vermillion and ivory coloured dresses, enough to fill two trunks over had she brought her entire wardrobe with her to King’s Landing. Though there was one in particular that was her favourite, one that she had only worn once at her coming out ball on her 18th name day two years ago. It was a bit romantic, perhaps a little much the evening, but the King did request his guests to wear formal attire. And Valeana was feeling particularly romantic that evening. 

The skirt was slimmer than her usual gowns, but still held a petticoat underneath to keep shape. Though unadorned with embroidery, it was flowy and delicate. What made the dress her favourite work was the sleeves and the neckline. The sleeves were trumpet shaped, though entirely made out of vermillion dyed veil-type lace that exposed her arms from shoulder to wrist. The dress itself was designed around this fabric, so the lace was the focal point. The bodice had a lace corset in the front, and the neckline was sweetheart shaped, bordered by more lace that framed the tops of her bosom, clavicle, and over her shoulders with a patterned fringe. 

Rosy plaited her hair intricately, though its loose appearance made it appear effortless to anyone who didn’t look too close. Four smaller braids beginning from her scalp met in a knot at the back of her head, and the rest of her hair was pulled into two thick messy braids. 

Valeana stood after strapping on Ser An-toe-knee Woodsby, then shook her hips around, making the dress swish around her legs. Looking up at Rosy, she asked, “How do I look?”

The mute girl communicated with her hands, a language that Val slowly learned over time. Her fingers made a crown on her hand, and then she covered her left eye before pointing at her heart. 

Prince Aemond will love it. 

Valeana smirked bashfully, “And what about Prince Aegon?”

Rosy stared at her with a tilt of her head as she considered the question. Then she motioned with her fingers around her chest, and made a squeezing motion. 

He will enjoy that part.

Valeana threw her head back in a laugh, then turned around to go find her shoe for her right foot. Her eyes glanced at the bookcase, the one that hid the hidden passageway, and she couldn’t help but involuntarily swallow at the mere possibilities this room offered. 

The dinner was being hosted in the Holdfast’s private ballroom, designed for family-only events and intimate parties. The Celtigars are the first to arrive, Bartimos leading the charge in his ivory doublet, trimmed in red, marching red grabs on his shoulders. Ursula behind, then Clement in a dark red doublet, and Arthor wearing similar. The girls filtered in right after, Floris, Valeana, Shyla. 

There were two tables positioned in a T shape, but separated by a platform. The smallest table sat horizontally on the platform with larger chairs. Two in the middle that faced the hall itself were the tallest, and the most ornate, a visual indication that it belonged to the King and Queen. The longest table was placed vertically below the platform some distance away; it had a total of fourteen chairs.

“I suppose that is where us kids sit,” Arthor comments as he moves around his family to take a gander around the ball. 

There was a band in the corner, playing lightly to create a background ambiance. Drapes were pinned to the ceiling, red, black, white, aquamarine; the colours of the Valyrian houses. Valeana noted green was distinctively vacant in the decor, as were the Hightower banners. On poles that flanked the fringes of the ball room, the sigils of House Targaryen, House Velaryon and House Celtigar stood proudly one after the other. At the very end of the ballroom, beyond the modest dance floor, was a statue of a dragon with three hands, candles were placed on its pedestal, illuminating it from below. 

Valeana stared at it for a moment, examining each head closely, particularly the one in the center that faced the room, eyes trained forward. 

The dragon must have three heads, a voice echoed in the back of her mind.

Not long after their arrival, Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon strode in with their litany of children, save for the younger ones, Viserys and Aegon, who likely were put to bed by then. After the obligatory formal greeting, the growing crowd began to mingle. Clement went to crowd Daemon, and Jacaerys slowly made his way towards Valeana, who lingered around the statue. 

“The milkweed plant worked,” Jace said cheekily, his hands behind his back. 

Val grinned at him, “I told you. Did you talk to your mother about it?”

He nodded, “I did. She told me she had wished for it years ago, but was thwarted by Alicent. I’m guessing the Queen wished Aegon and Helaena to be wedded, but that was not going to come to pass…”

She hummed in understanding, “And what does Helaena think of it?”

“She has told me she cares for me, but she does have reservations about being Queen. I assured her that if she wishes it, she will be Queen in title only, and that she does not need to be obligated in affairs of the court. I only wish for her to be contented, and not forced into a loveless marriage where she is not appreciated.” 

Valeana smiled softly and placed a hand on his bicep, “You’re a sweet man, Jace. She is very lucky to have you.”

He looked down, suddenly overcome with bashfulness. Jace nodded his thanks, and then lifted his gaze up at her, “You look very pretty, by the way. That colour suits you.” 

She pursed her lips sheepishly, “Thank you, my Prince.” 

“Are you sure I can’t change your mind about us? Aegon the Conqueror had two wives—”

“Don’t push it.” 

Upon entering the ballroom, Aemond’s eye immediately found her, like a moth to the moon. The vibrant red of her dress contrasted greatly against the canvas of grey stone and wooden floors, like an orange-red rose growing on a vine along the face of the castle. He barely registered the formal greetings towards the King, he was too busy examining the narrow space between his Valeana and Jacaerys. He locked eyes with his nephew, and the insufferable bastard smirked at him before turning to her and saying something. 

Aegon appeared at his side, just in time for Jace to walk away from her, “Does he believe he still has a chance with her?”

Aemond could only grumble in response as Jace strode by them. “Uncles,” he greeted with a short nod of his head, and a faint smirk at the end of his lips. Aemond’s body prickled; he was so worried about Aegon, he had forgotten about Jace. He did not seem to appear a threat anymore, with Valeana very obviously showing disinterest in the forced courtship, but that was contradicted by their show of friendliness. 

Did she grow close to him during that day in the Godswood? He didn’t ask how the ride had gone when he was on her balcony, he was too consumed with the need to be with her, he had pushed it out of his mind completely. 

His father and mother moved to their centered seats at the table on the platform, which signaled everyone to do the same. Without being instructed, it appeared that everyone knew where they were to be seated. The elder generation took their place at the King’s table; Bartimos on Viserys’ right, and Otto on Alicent’s left. Rhaenys sat across from him, Daemon across Alicent, Rhaenyra across her father, and finally, Ursula sat across from her husband. 

At the longer table, it was a bit more chaotic as people scrambled to claim seats next to people they wished to be rooted next to, and actively avoided those they didn’t. Aegon and Aemond shared a look before they practically scrambled towards the approaching Valeana, who was about to take a seat next to her brother. Aegon, though, rested his hand on the small of her back, and guided her to the other end of the table. 

“Where do you think you’re going, Lady Valeana?” He smiled against her ear as he pulled out a chair near the end of the table. After he tucked her in, Aegon settled into the seat on her right, next to Helaena. Aemond took the seat on Valeana’s left, the very end of the table. 

Even though everyone in the room presently was aware on some capacity of his affection for Valeana, Aemond still had to keep the appearance that he wasn’t. He hadn’t the opportunity to end things with Maris, and the servants and guards that milled the room were just as responsible for the whispers as the ladies of court were. The last thing he needed was for Borros Baratheon to learn about his dishonourable snubbing of his daughter through a maidservant. 

Aemond was about to place his hand discreetly on Valeana’s knee underneath the table, but he looked up to realize he was sitting directly across from Lucerys, who watched him with oppressive entertained scrutiny. Valeana must have sensed the tension, because she turned to him with concern etched in her features. No words were said, but her hand reached under the table and squeezed his thigh comfortingly. The corner of his lip twitched at the contact. 

The long table was quiet as everyone settled, only the sound of music and the shuffling of servants were heard. Even the King’s table was subdued with its chatter, reduced to murmured compliments. The tension hung in the air like the wrought iron candelabras that were suspended from the ceiling with thick chains. The weight of Vaemond’s sudden and brutal execution was still a fresh memory, but there was also something else amongst the adults that appeared to keep their shoulders squared. Particularly the Lord Hand, who’s eyes were darker than usual. Aegon caught his eye before their grandsire moved it onto Aemond. A silent reprimand, though neither prince knew what they were being scolded for. 

The first course was gradually spread along the tables; smaller fare such as mutton stew, fresh bread and soft butter, cured sausages and spiced olives. Grilled vegetables and various sliced cheeses, accompanied by jams from different fruits; fig, grape, strawberries. Salt water oysters were piled high on a bed of salt, next to it were steamed mussels in a red sauce. 

“Let us pray before we begin,” Queen Alicent said loudly enough for all in the room to hear. Her piousness is not shared with most in the room, but none seemed to protest, save for the slight exasperation found on Daemon’s features. Everyone collectively bowed their heads and wove their fingers on their laps, everyone except for the Blacks, who only folded their hands. 

Aemond respected tradition, even if it was from his mother’s side. He and his siblings may have been raised to worship the faith of the Seven, but They held very little value in their life. Aemond, too philosophical, too agnostic, would say that Their existence is both plausible and impossible. If the Father was just, the man sitting in front of him would have paid for the sin of slicing Aemond’s eye clear from his head. If the Mother was merciful, the woman sitting next to him would have both of her legs. Life was not fair, the gods less so, but out of respect for deities that he may one day face, he bowed his head and prayed when he was supposed to.

Aegon, on the other hand, was different. He believed in the Seven, sure, but also believed they didn’t love him; that they turned their backs on him the day he was born, and decided that he was their mistake that they were trying to forget. It should have been Baelon that survived, not him. Baelon would’ve been the heir his father always wanted. 

“May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love,” Alicent led the prayer. “May the Smith mend bonds that have been broken for far too long. May the Maiden shower us with love and light during this Royal Conclave. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest.”

There was a notable shift to the atmosphere that could be tasted on the tip of everyone’s tongue at the mention of Vaemond. Lucerys’s mouth pinched and his eyes roamed the table before resting them on his lap; his step-sister beside him blinked rapidly, as if she was trying to keep a stoic face; Rhaenyra stared vacantly at a spot on the table, her nostrils flaring; Daemon rolled his eyes to the back of his head; Valeana gave a barely audible sigh through her nose, the creases between her brows deepening. 

Before people could tuck into their meals, the King pushed himself up, his weight held up by his cane; ivory and ironwood, a dragon nesting on the top. Everyone looked up at him expectedly and he looked at all their faces with a smile so contented, so peaceful, it was enough to forget that all other individuals in that room hated the other for one reason or another. 

“This is an occasion of multiple celebrations, it seems,” his mouth widened as his teeth peaked from behind his lips. “Tonight is the first night in generations that the three great Valyrian houses are united under one room. The Targaryens, the Velaryons, and the Celtigars all survived the Doom of Old Valyria.”

Aemond’s eye drifted over all the faces here present. There wasn’t a single true Velaryon by name present; the only two that held blood of a Velaryon were Targaryens by name. No, the Velaryons were nearly a dead line. Vaemond’s sons were the last true Velaryons, but they were not here. They were no older than Aemond’s nephews, Viserys and Aegon the younger, and by now they would be learning that their father was dead. That half his head rolled around like a flipped coin on the flagstone floors of the Throne Room, less than a minute after he shouted ‘bastards’ at the top of his lungs.

“And we sit here today, as one house: The House of Valyria. Proud, ancient, and forged in fire and blood, in salt and sea,” Everyone raises their goblets in murmured agreement. “It truly gladdens me to be part of this historical moment. Our families will now no longer be divided, but blended. My grandsons, Jace and Luke are set to be married.” 

Aemond felt his blood drain from his body instantly. His brow furrowed, his heart ached in a pang of betrayal. His brother felt no different; they both turned to the woman seated between them. Valeana hadn’t seemed to notice this, as she was looking at Jace with a slight smirk upon her lips, and that made it all the worse.

The implication of their father’s speech was thick in the air, and hard to ignore. Both Princes exchanged glances of disbelief, and yet the way Valeana and Jaceaerys were speaking with each other when they first entered… What the hell was going on? Was… did Valeana…? No, no, surely not…

Aemond’s fingers were visibly trembling under the table, his eye prickling, and his ribs felt like they were going to crack under the pressure of his rapidly beating heart. Aegon was less conserved than he; his mouth twisted as if he was trying to swallow down bile. He lifted his hands and placed them on the edge of the table, ready to push his chair away and leave the room. 

But then the King continued. 

“Luke will marry his cousin, Rhaena, and together they will one day become Lord and Lady of the Tides. And as for my eldest grandson, Jacaerys, my daughter’s heir… Well, he has asked for the hand of the purest soul in this room. It fills my old heart with immense joy to announce the betrothal between Prince Jacaerys and my little butterfly, my daughter, Princess Helaena, the future King and Queen of Westeros. I wish them a lifetime of happiness, peace, and prosperity.” 

“Here, here,” someone had said through the sounds of clapping. 

Aegon had made a brief screeching noise with his chair in his failed attempt to leave. He instead spun to Helaena sitting next to him, who held a sheepish, shy smile, lavender eyes avoiding everyone in the room, other than Jacaerys who was watching her with fondness. 

“Helaena and–” He began, but cut himself off, turning back to Valeana. “Were you aware of this?”

Val leaned back into her chair, her fingers laced innocently in front of her, “I kind of had a hand in it.” 

Aegon practically sunk in his chair, his hands raking into his scalp. The adrenaline seeped out of his pores and landed on the floor. He lulled his head to look at his sister, and then back at Valeana, “I do not know if I feel better.”

Valeana raised her eyebrows, “Did you think he was referring to me?” 

He leaned into her, his voice a whisper, only loud enough for her ears, “Darling, I was very nearly going to kidnap you right here and now.” 

Aemond physically felt like he nearly avoided a landslide; visually, he remained impassive, if not a bit bothered around his one expressive eye and flared nostrils. Still his shoulders relaxed once the relief washed over him like a cool breeze on a humid day, which softened the blow of the knowledge that Jacaerys was marrying his fucking sister. A development that he realized was his second least favourable probability, right next to Jace marrying Valeana. 

No, he thought as he glanced at Aegon, leaning into her space like she was the only source of heat in the middle of winter. The third least.

Facade be damned, he could not sit silently by while his brother was allowed to publicly stake his claim on his woman, like she was some newly discovered, unoccupied patch of land. Aemond leaned back in his seat haughtily, and without a word spoken, he reached under the table and scooped up Valeana’s left hand that sat idly on her thigh. Ignorant to his intentions, she instinctively wove her small fingers in between his large ones, likely believing for a split second that he simply wanted to convey relief in the shadows. However, he had no intention of keeping it in the dark any longer, not now when the stakes were growing too high. 

It was a simple gesture, but one that conveyed a very large statement. Aemond pulled their conjoint hands above the table and laid it between them, his thumb moving rhythmically over the back of her palm. Those closest to them had their attention ripped away from their plates and conversations to stare. He could feel her hand tense in his, and he watched her in his peripheral as she turned to him, mouth ajar, eyes wide. 

Aemond tilted his head in her direction, eye lifting to meet her marbleized peridots, blinking up at him in shock. His smile coiled at her reaction.

“Ao jurnegon gevie isse bona grēza, ñuha jorrāelagon (You look beautiful in that dress, my love),” his voice was velvet on bare skin, soft, sensual, erotic. “Absolutely stunning.”  

On her otherside, Aegon leans forward into the table to openly glare at his brother. His jaw rotates as he grinds the back of his teeth; the only visual proof of him trying to contain himself. In the end, he huffed an ironic laugh, and then smirked at his brother’s brazenous. 

Aegon moved his chair closer to Valeana, the legs roughly screeching against the floor hollowly. With his side now flushed against hers, he draped his arm around her shoulders and leaned in to give her a peck on the corner of her mouth. 

“How lucky am I to have the most gorgeous creature on earth at my side,” his tone was saccharine and sanguine, his eyes were predatory and possessive. 

Valeana could do nothing but remain trapped between them, not knowing where to rest her eyes. When she found the most neutral point, it was Lucerys and Rhaena who sat across from them. The latter looked partially mortified, partially intrigued, and the former seemed like he was about to combust from amusement. 

On the other end of the ballroom, on the platform, seated at the end of the shorter table, Otto Hightower watched the whole thing from his perch. His chest swelled with a sigh of exhaustion and growing impatience. He was getting too old for this shit. 

“Seven bleeding Hells,” he muttered, loud enough to garner the attention of his daughter beside him. 

“What is it?” Alicent asked in a low tone, her brow creased in concern. 

Otto turned to her slowly, “Your fucking sons.” 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR SNEAK PEEK Slowly he turned around, his one eye peeking over at Luke over the bridge of his nose. His nephew was laughing; eyes squinting in a mischievous glint as he stared at Aemond, and then back at the roasted pig…  And then onto Valeana, who was unaware of it all.  Suddenly the table jostled, the bang of Aemond’s fist on the table immediately halted everyone’s chatter and movement, bringing their collective attention to his side of  the table.  Fisting his cup, Aemond ascended from his seat and extended his arm, his eye trained on his nephew in front of him. “Final tribute...”

Notes: F I N A L T R I B U TE Get ready for a whole chapter dedicated to fucking speeches XD Because by god... I'm never...I'm never gonna watch that episode again, I've seen it too many times to write this chapter and the FemAegon oneshot.

Tag: @queen-of-elves, @keylin1730, @anakilusmos, @weepingfashionwritingplaid, @sugutoad, @desireangel, @t0biasparabatai

( if you wish to be tagged for this story, just give me a reply! )

Please do not re post, redistribute or plagiarize my work. The only other place this story is posted on is ao3 under the same username.

[witchofthesouls]

I love your bayverse Isekai AU, will there be any more snippets on the shenanigans with our feral wildling prime with equally feral newsparks and politically rogue sentinel actively failing and somehow successfully courting the said feral prime while simutaneously giving the metaphorical middle finger to the council regime.

You're standing in the middle of a pale desert. The white sand ripples without wind, and it's endless without anything in sight. A stark divide between the ground and dark sky. The stars are strange. Dripping like a child's clumsy first ventures into watercolors; saturated, vibrant hues fading into weak trailing brushstrokes. With enough concentration, you parse out the shapes of the stars, outlines squirming, moving back and forth, bleeding across the night like odd-shaped marbles.

Someone calls out, and you turn to see a fluttering-

______

You wake up, and the dream fades. The remaining echoes of crying easily meld into the newsparks' wails for your attention, even under Thundercracker's crooning engines, calm field, and fuel production. They look for you, blindly reaching out, fields refusing to settle until well entangled under your own and dozing on your chest.

______

Because you and information slugs don't mix, you're learning the old-fashioned way: direct practice.

And there's nothing in this current life nor your past human one that could prepare you for Iaconi dining etiquette and their culinary practices.

Sentinel is surprisingly patient and encouraging. Star Saber, on the other hand, is demanding and pompous as usual.

A few pieces of the cutlery are familiar in a vague shape-sense, like a spoon should be a spoon, but the spoons' handles have delicate metal leaves with tiny bundles of shiny berries. One grouping is so fragile that the shells jiggled as it rose from a well-hidden compartment from the table. Another clutch isn't round but more hexagonal. A blue hexagon-like raspberry with reddish fuzz.

There's also a tool that looks like a love-child between a well-used slinky and nunchucks and a doohicky that combined a two-pronged fork with a honey dipper.

There's nothing on the table that looks remotely close to honey or a sauce to use said dipper.

You deeply yearn for the simplicity of Thundercracker's cubes and her endless supply of snacks.

Biting the bullet, you commit to a spoon, and Star Saber exudes disdain as you try to scoop out the plain tofu lookalike on your plate. It jiggles and warps the moment the utensil touches it, and the berries, every single one, fall off. The hard ones bounce off, tinking across the table and floor, and the fragile ones splatter the tofu. A contained mess of color and sound clash as discordant strings and chimes overlay and warp.

Sentinel is then right by you. "Like this," he says, and he takes your hand to pick up the fork end, guiding you to twirl the dipper right over the plain tofu block. It quivers, and there's a lovely wind-chime noise before the entire thing flows upward, carving into long, unbroken chains by following the grooves, and artfully twirling backdown into a nest.

A plate of color-splattered noodles now sits before you.

Sentinel uses the slinky, applying the nunckuck ends to his thumb and middle finger and gently bounces the slinky over the noodles. The noodles slither their way into the middle, and after a mouthful is gathered, he brings the contraption near his face, flicking off the thumb attachment and the flexible tubing and 'drinks' his food as if it's a straw itself.

A sharp, ringing hum grabs your attention, prickling over your senses at vibrates in your field. When Star Saber stops circling the rim of the wine glass, the hum dies down as well.

"You failed when we entered." You stare blankly at the Seeker, and he clicks his glossa before explaining, "The most prominent member signals the rest to sit."

"But I waited for you because you're the most experienced!" Star Saber had literally spent weeks beating it into your processor about the teacher-student dynamic: who sits, who stands, who dismisses, and many other important, little steps of social nuance.

"Yes. If this was an educational setup, but this is a formal meal, it's the established Prime that signals to everyone else to sit."

You throw all caution to wind and reach over to the turn table in the middle. Sentinel laughs as you manually spin it until you reach your target: the deconstructed savory pies basket.

Star Saber remains unamused as you take a bite of the sphere, and spices flood your senses, coating your glossa with a hearty, thick gravy. The 'wrapping is supposed to be peeled, but it's completely edible and flaky layers.

It's a performance piece with the right sounds and gestures. The wrapping would gracefully unravel, and the contents reorganize itself into a sophisticated piece of art before settling into cups to be eaten one by one.

You find it more comfortable to eat the pie in one whole go. Star Saber deeply sighs at your atrocious manners and actually snaps at Sentinel when the mech decides to follow your lead.

[rosssamanchuk]

Ross Samanchuk - Luxury Lighting Solutions for the Modern Home

Luxury lighting solutions for modern homes blend cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and elegant aesthetics to create environments that are both functional and visually stunning. Here are some top luxury lighting options shared by Ross Samanchuk that can elevate any contemporary living space:

1. Chandeliers as Art

Modern Chandeliers: Traditional chandeliers have evolved into modern, sculptural pieces that are as much art as they are lighting. Designs featuring crystal, glass, or metal with intricate geometric or organic shapes make a bold statement in entryways, living rooms, or dining areas.

LED Chandeliers: These offer energy-efficient elegance with minimal designs, often featuring sleek lines and customizable brightness settings.

2. Pendant Lighting for Drama and Sophistication

Clustered Pendants: Instead of a single fixture, modern luxury homes often incorporate groups of pendant lights in clusters, varying in height and design. These are perfect for over dining tables, kitchen islands, or even as a focal point in the living room.

Minimalist Pendants: Clean, streamlined pendants made from materials like brushed metal, frosted glass, or matte finishes offer sophistication while fitting seamlessly into contemporary spaces.

3. Recessed Lighting for a Clean, Modern Look

Flush-Mounted LED Recessed Lights: Perfect for spaces where sleekness is key, recessed lighting provides soft, even illumination without visual clutter. Smart LED versions allow for dimming and color temperature control, enhancing both ambiance and energy efficiency.

Directional Recessed Lighting: This type allows for adjustable light to highlight specific areas or features, such as artwork, architectural details, or furniture, adding a subtle but luxurious touch.

4. Smart Lighting Systems

Home Automation Integration: High-end lighting solutions now often come with integrated smart systems that can be controlled via smartphone apps, voice commands (through systems like Google Home or Amazon Alexa), or automation systems like Lutron or Control4. These allow homeowners to adjust lighting for different moods or activities with ease.

Dynamic Lighting: Smart lighting solutions can change color temperature and brightness according to the time of day, activity, or personal preference. Systems like Philips Hue offer infinite customization, turning lighting into a key element of modern luxury.

5. Wall Sconces and Accent Lighting

Designer Wall Sconces: Often crafted from high-end materials like marble, bronze, or crystal, wall sconces are perfect for adding a luxurious feel to hallways, bathrooms, or bedrooms. Modern designs can range from minimalist to highly ornate, providing both functional lighting and a decorative element.

LED Strip and Cove Lighting: Discreet yet effective, LED strips are used to highlight architectural features like recessed ceilings, stairs, or shelving, creating a soft, ambient glow that enhances the space.

6. Floor and Table Lamps with Style

Artisanal Floor Lamps: Sculptural floor lamps made from luxury materials such as brass, marble, or polished chrome not only provide light but also serve as design focal points. Many modern designs feature sleek, angular shapes or bold, minimalist forms.

High-End Table Lamps: Luxury table lamps can be found with opulent bases made from materials like glass, crystal, or gold leaf, paired with custom lampshades. These are perfect for adding elegance to living rooms, bedrooms, or offices.

7. Linear and Geometric Fixtures

Linear Lighting for Kitchens and Dining Areas: Long, linear pendant lights or LED strips above kitchen islands or dining tables offer a sleek and modern look. These fixtures provide even lighting while maintaining a minimal and elegant aesthetic.

Geometric Fixtures: Luxurious lighting designs often feature geometric shapes like cubes, spheres, or hexagons in metal finishes. These fixtures create visual interest and are ideal for modern, design-forward homes.

8. Crystal and Glass Masterpieces

Murano Glass Chandeliers: Handcrafted Murano glass lighting pieces are synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship. They add a timeless yet modern touch to any home.

Crystal Pendant Lights: Crystal lighting, especially in contemporary forms, is making a comeback in luxury design. Whether clear, colored, or smoked, crystal lights reflect and refract light beautifully, adding a glamorous touch.

9. Sustainable Luxury Lighting

Eco-Friendly Fixtures: As sustainability becomes a priority for many homeowners, luxury lighting is following suit. LED lights that use less energy, fixtures made from sustainable materials, and designs that reduce environmental impact are increasingly popular in high-end homes.

Solar Lighting: For outdoor spaces, solar-powered luxury lighting solutions provide beautiful illumination with zero energy costs. From garden lights to patio fixtures, solar-powered options offer both elegance and eco-consciousness.

10. Custom Lighting Solutions

Bespoke Designs: High-end homeowners are opting for custom-designed lighting fixtures to suit their unique tastes and interiors. These one-of-a-kind pieces are often crafted from luxurious materials like hand-blown glass, polished metal, or exotic woods, offering a personal touch that off-the-shelf lighting cannot match.

Modular Systems: Luxury lighting systems that can be reconfigured or customized to suit different spaces are in demand. These modular designs allow homeowners to adapt their lighting as needed, making them both functional and stylish.

11. Outdoor Luxury Lighting

Architectural Landscape Lighting: Outdoor lighting now mirrors the elegance of indoor lighting, with options like uplighting to accentuate trees, water features, or architectural details. High-end outdoor fixtures are designed to withstand the elements while maintaining a refined appearance.

Integrated LED Path Lights: Lighting that is built into walkways, stairs, or decks offers subtle illumination for safety and ambiance, adding a touch of luxury to any outdoor living space.

12. Innovative Lighting Control

Touch-Sensitive and Gesture-Controlled Fixtures: Some luxury lighting systems feature touch-sensitive or gesture-controlled designs that allow for hands-free operation, providing a futuristic element to home lighting.

Voice-Activated Lighting: Voice-controlled lighting systems are becoming more refined and integrated into luxury homes, allowing for hands-free adjustments to mood, brightness, and color settings.

Luxury lighting solutions for the modern home are all about personalization, sustainability, and creating environments that blend cutting-edge technology with timeless design. Whether you’re looking to make a bold statement or create a serene, sophisticated space, these options provide a range of possibilities to elevate any living area.

Follow Ross Samanchuk for more such posts!

Visit https://profilemiamire.com/miamirealestate/2024/8/16/luc-electric-elevating-luxury-living-with-smart-home-systems for more details.

[futurestile]

Explore the Rich Textures of Hexagon Tiles for Unique Interior Design

Hexagon tiles offer an array of textures that can elevate any interior space, making them a versatile choice for adding depth and visual interest to your design. These tiles, with their distinctive six-sided shape, are not only admired for their geometric appeal but also for the variety of textures they bring to the table. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek, modern look or a cozy, rustic vibe, hexagon tiles can help you achieve the perfect aesthetic with their rich textural options.

One of the most popular textures in hexagon tiles is the smooth, polished finish. This sleek surface is ideal for creating a contemporary and sophisticated look. Polished hexagon tiles reflect light beautifully, making them a great choice for brightening up spaces and adding a touch of luxury. They are commonly used for high-contrast installations, where the shine and smoothness can highlight the tile pattern and create a striking focal point.

For a more subdued and tactile experience, consider matte hexagon tiles. Their non-reflective surface offers a softer, more natural look that is perfect for spaces aiming for understated elegance. Matte tiles can help to create a more relaxed atmosphere and are also practical, as they tend to hide fingerprints and smudges better than their glossy counterparts. This makes them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas or for creating a grounded, serene environment.

Textured hexagon tiles come in a variety of styles, including those with raised patterns or embossed designs. These tiles add a three-dimensional effect to walls and floors, giving surfaces a more dynamic and engaging appearance. Textured hexagon tiles can range from subtle geometric patterns to more intricate designs that add character and depth to a room. They work particularly well as feature walls or accents, where their tactile nature can be fully appreciated.

For a touch of natural beauty, hexagon tiles with a stone texture can infuse your space with organic charm. Natural stone tiles, such as marble or granite, feature unique veining and color variations that can bring a sophisticated, timeless quality to your design. The natural texture of these tiles adds a sense of authenticity and elegance, perfect for creating a classic yet contemporary look.

In addition to natural stone, hexagon tiles are available in materials that replicate traditional textures with modern innovations. For example, porcelain tiles can be designed to mimic the appearance of wood or stone, offering the visual appeal of these materials with added durability and ease of maintenance. This versatility allows you to achieve the desired texture and aesthetic without compromising on practicality.

When selecting hexagon tiles, consider how the texture will interact with the overall design of your space. Textured tiles can be used to create contrast or emphasize certain areas, while smooth finishes can provide a clean, uniform look. The choice of texture can significantly impact the mood and functionality of a room, so think about how you want to use texture to enhance your interior design.

Overall, hexagon tiles offer an exciting range of textures that can transform your space with unique and stylish options. From polished and matte finishes to intricate textures and natural stone looks, these tiles allow you to explore different dimensions and create a design that is both visually compelling and uniquely yours

[blight-of-the-soul]

You find yourself in a black void looking up at a shimmering golden orb of energy. Standing upon a ground made of nothing, you realize that this orb is just out of reach of a gold veined marble structure, hands and arms reaching down from darkness towards the light, depicted as clambering over one another until there is only one hand further than the others, however, the orb is still just out of reach of it. Though it may be within reach of you if you were to reach up.

Around you are a number of statues with similar orbs of energy, all made of marble despite appearances, yet tinted with the color of the energy they 'hold'. All seven of the orbs of energy are no larger than both of your fists together, although the size of the sculpture above you is larger than the other sculptures. There are six others in total; blue, pink, orange, red, green, and purple. They form a sort of hexagon around the central one. You are able to see their details strangely well despite not moving. The highest points of these six do not go above the leading hand of the gold veined structure.

The blue one looks as if someone tore away chunks of stone from the main block until they were left with an approximately human form. The stone is a light blue with striations of various other seemingly random shades of blue, some of which may just be cracks. A headish shape that widens out to roughly even heighted shoulders that further tapers down to where there could be feet. A blocky jagged arm reaches out, becoming more refined, smooth, and detailed as the arm goes out until it is a reasonably life-like fingertips barely holding up the shifting blue orb of energy. It appears as if no further effort was spent on this one after the hand was finished, or perhaps whomever made it ran out of time.

The statue of pale pink marble depicts three figures, a handsome man and beautiful woman, both barely dressed and stand facing one another as if they are about to embrace. Beneath them is another figure, relatively undetailed yet its neck, wrists, and ankles are bound in dark pink chains, groveling at their feet. The chains are carved into piles around the figure before going into the apparent darkness below the statue. The man and the woman hold an softly pulsing orb of pink energy together, just as they hold one another's hand.

The statue of deep orange is of a smaller scale to the other two, that is to say that the block used was wider rather than tall. Depicting a man merrily enjoying a feast, his eyes made of iridescent diamonds, his large beard speckled with fragments of gemstones and shards of precious metals. He has goblets and plates gilded in gold, silver, and copper and encrusted with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, and other fine gems on his grand table. Various breads, meats, and vegetables lie on the plates and platters, with sculpted gemstone acting as various wines in various goblets. The man sits on a pile of gold coins holding a pork chop in one hand, and a goblet towards you for a toast in the other, where the orb of orange energy churns halfway out of it.

The statue of red is a bright vibrant crimson with veins of dark, almost black, red. It depicts a muscular man with 'scars' from the veins of the marble, holding a sword up to the sky. Though you aren't sure why it is holding it up, what it is conveying. The veins add a strange illusion of tears going down it's shadowed face and blood covering its hands. In its other hand it grips the orb of crackling red energy by it's side, in as closed a fist it can manage, the stone sculpted around the orb as if blood from the arm had flowed onto it.

The statue made of green stone appears to be made of jade with veins of emerald. The veins resemble some sort of tattoo on the skin and livery of her fine uniform. She wears a crown of copper and a number of copper rings, all of which are beginning to oxidize. The crown and rings are bejeweled with the same material of the statue, though carved into more windswept and curving forms. She has an aiguillette, made of woven copper, on her left side each cord is a varying stage of oxidation. In both hands she holds the chain to what appears to be a censer by her side, entrapping the smoking green orb of energy, the chain of the censer meticulously carved from the stone, allowing it to subtly swing back and forth.

The purple statue depicts someone of indeterminate gender. The statue itself isn't simply one material; it has an ornate mask made of the green statue, an extra pair of arms made of the gold veined marble, one such hand on a shield made of the red statue, the other holding a goblet of the orange statue with an intricately carved liquid of the blue statue within, wearing robes of the pink statue, it clasps the squirming purple orb of energy within both of its 'true' hands, pale purple veined with an even lighter shade of purple.

Trying to remember how you got here, you realize that you had fallen asleep. This is a dream, one which you are apparently lucid. You feel as if you should touch one of the glowing orbs, possibly taking it?

[arvfurniture-blog-blog]

ARV Furniture is known for offering trendy and stylish furniture pieces, including coffee tables.

Minimalist Designs: Clean lines, simple shapes, and neutral colors are often favored in minimalist coffee tables. These designs prioritize functionality and sleek aesthetics.

Natural Materials: Coffee tables made from materials like wood, stone, or marble are popular for their timeless appeal and organic textures. They add warmth and character to living spaces.

Versatile Storage: Coffee tables with built-in storage compartments or shelves are practical solutions for small spaces, allowing homeowners to declutter and organize living areas efficiently.

Industrial Chic: Industrial-style coffee tables featuring materials like distressed wood and metal accents continue to be in vogue. They lend a rugged, urban vibe to contemporary interiors.

Unique Shapes: Non-traditional shapes such as oval, hexagonal, or irregular geometries can make a statement in modern living rooms, adding visual interest and breaking the monotony of rectangular designs.

Multifunctional Features: Coffee tables with multifunctional features, such as lift-up tops that can double as dining surfaces or desks, are gaining popularity, especially in smaller homes where space optimization is crucial.

Glass and Metal Combinations: Coffee tables with glass tops and metal frames offer a sleek and modern aesthetic. They create an open and airy feel in living spaces while adding a touch of sophistication.

When exploring ARV Furniture's collection, keep an eye out for designs that align with these trends while also reflecting your personal style and the overall aesthetic of your living space.

[marblepro]

Unique Contemporary Marble Table Top design Ideas

Marble has become synonymous with classic beauty and elegance for many centuries, and is still requested for prestigious interiors. But on the other hand modern designers continue the tradition by combining antique and marble into not only unique furniture but also contemporary designs. We'll be delving into some recent trends where you could add some modern elements and make a marble table top a part of your design.

1. Geometric Patterns: Instead of using traditional shapes, opt for symmetrical geometric patterns that adorn your marble tabletop. Let us say that you want to have a modern take on the traditional square or round tops. One of your options is to try out a hexagonal or octagonal shape. In addition, you might use a multicoloured mosaic design with interlocking geometric patterns of the marble in contrasting shades as a centre point.

2. Mixed Materials: Merge marble with other substances in order to obtain a peculiar and multifaceted look. Use marble in combination with wood, metal or glass to achieve a coordinated texture and surface treatment. Try out the various possibilities and achieve a harmonised appearance that blends into what you already have while bringing a present-day mood into the room.

3. Waterfall Edges: Achieve a professional and streamlined look with your waterfall edge marble table top for a lie. Such a structure has marble water flow tumbling down along the side of the table, forming one unified line from the top to the bottom. The delicate smooth curves of the waterfall edge table tops blend perfectly with the rigorous and calm of the contemporary interior.

4. Organic Shapes: Conjure a modern touch by using organic shapes and irregular edges instead of the supposed marble tops. For your tabletop, go with a dynamical silhouette expressing organic curves and asymmetric lines to show movement and evoke flow. This cutting-edge style of the marble tabletop creates a jazzy and charming element for your area.

5. Monochrome Minimalism: Simplicity of minimalist design channel in a way of marble tabletop that could have one colour. One of the main interior design trends for 2023 will be marble-top tables, and luckily we’ve got a few of them. Choose a sleek white marble table top for a chic and airy appearance, or choose a bolder graphite marble tabletop for a striking statement.

6. Artistic Inlays: Enrich your marble top with decorative inlays that bespeak the interior space's appeal and the surface features. Incorporating complex patterns, motifs or illustrations of the smooth surface of the marble with the touch of engraving techniques like laser engraving and marquetry.

7. Floating Design: To show the feeling of suspension, apply the marble table legless top as it looks like a floating table top. Select a thin marble slab, whose support is inconspicuous, or go for a cantilevered design and use such a stylish design. A floating design, will result not only in lightness and sophistication in the recess, but also will be suitable for both modern and contemporary interiors.

8. Colourful Accents: Take a run at magnetic resonance imaging technique to accentuate the black-white pattern of the marble generated table top with colourful elements and decoration. Include vivid marble inlays, resin incorporations, or paint finishes to add a decorative element and individualise the appearance of your tabletop set.

Final Words

At the end it is worth saying that nowadays marble table top designs allow individuals to improve their interior decor with class and high-end style in any possible way. You can always choose among many designs that are available like geometric, mixed materials, organic shapes, artistic inlays or any other.

[woodenstreet25]

Latest trend in Dining Table

The contemporary traits in wooden dining table fixtures for current kitchens consist of a ramification of styles and features that cater to different design possibilities and functionalities. Here are a few key traits based totally at the furnished assets:

Material blend: Embracing numerous materials like wood, steel, and marble in dining desk designs is a popular fashion. Combining textures and tones creates visual hobby and versatility for exceptional indoors styles. Geometric Shapes: beyond conventional square tables, opportunity shapes like hexagonal, octagonal, and spherical tables are gaining recognition. These shapes permit for greater flexible seating preparations and a more open sense in the dining location. Functionality and flexibility: Multifunctional furniture with built-in features inclusive of garage, charging stations, leaf inserts, and extenders is becoming more well-liked. Those capabilities provide versatility and functionality beyond just dining. Sustainability: there may be a growing demand for dining tables made from recycled, reclaimed, FSC-certified, and responsibly sourced wooden. Purchasers are trying to reduce their environmental effect and help sustainable forestry practices. Light Neutrals: light neutrals like sunglasses of white, cream, and light grey are popular alternatives for kitchen desk colorings in 2023. These colors create an ethereal and spacious sense inside the kitchen3. Dark wood patterns: dark wood tones like army, charcoal, and black are seeing increased reputation, imparting a feel of sophistication and contrast inside kitchen areas. Dark tables paired with colourful chairs can upload visual interest. Live side wood: the use of live-facet wooden, where a continuous slab of wood is used as a tabletop, creates an organic and herbal appearance. This fashion gives a cutting-edge aptitude and may suit into numerous design styles with the proper mix and fit. These developments mirror a shift in the direction of greater flexible, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing dining desk designs that cater to the evolving needs and possibilities of current kitchens.

[amarantine-amirite]

Part of the Precipitate

Nobody expected someone committing suicide because people bullied her online to create the Internet era’s first genuine market for lemons.

We recently redid our kitchen a few months after Kaia died. Our kitchen originally had an S-shape with two pony walls. The fridge sat right next to the dining room, and we had a wall-mounted oven on the opposite side of the fridge. We had a cooktop on the first pony wall, the sink and dishwasher on the second pony wall, and upper bank cabinets. 

It was probably designed for multiple people working simultaneously. I think the idea was that one person takes ingredients out of the fridge and passes them to a second person to cut and measure them by the sink. They then pass it back to the person manning the oven or cooktop. At least, that’s what it seems like because there was no way a single person could navigate it the way it is

Now, we didn’t get starry eyed because we Googled “fancy kitchens” on Pinterest. We began the renovation with a list of what we hated. The fridge door closed off the dining room when the door was open. The cooktop ate up too much space on the pony wall near the oven and stuff kept getting spilled on it. We didn’t have anything that could pass as an eat-in area. We couldn’t reach the cabinets without a stepladder, which we had nowhere to store.

Our plan for the new kitchen was simple. We would move the fridge, sink, bigger dishwasher, and microwave to one side of the room. On the other side of the room, we would put a coffee bar with a smaller one on the other side. You could throw the dishes back and forth, rather than put them in the cabinets. Instead of the two pony walls, we repurposed A 16th-century draper’s table with a top made from a piece of marble that came from the JP Morgan building. 

Renovations rarely stay self-contained. Once you fix one room in your house, everything else looks like crap. Next thing you know, you’ve done your entire house over. We have no less than four different types of flooring on the main floor. We needed to unify it, badly. Since we wanted hexagonal tiling in the kitchen, we planned to have it in the main hall as well as in the powder room. And just like that, the powder room got dragged into this.

Just because Mrs. O’Reilly showed up to give us the quote on the work doesn’t mean she showed up the day the work started. A guy called Zahid showed up.

"So, you know what you’re doing?" I asked Zahid as he scanned the printout showing the plans for the kitchen.

Zahid flashed a grin that suggested he had everything under control. Whether or not he did was a different story. "Yeah, yeah," he said, tracing the lines of the fridge-shaped blob with his finger. 

"Just checking," I mumbled. "Can't exactly help out, you know, with that whole chemistry exam thing tomorrow."

"Nah, you good," Zahid chuckled, his relaxed attitude doing little to calm my rising anxiety. "Got it covered." He gestured to our wall-mounted oven. "Fridge goes here, right?"

"Actually," I managed, forcing a smile, "fridge goes over there, in that corner." I pointed across the room, my voice strained.

Zahid followed my finger, his brow furrowing. "Oh, right. So, old fridge out, then?"

"Nope," I clarified, feeling the first flicker of annoyance. "Old fridge gets demoted to the basement, new one gets promoted to the corner. The old dishwasher and oven are outta here."

Zahid's smile faltered for a moment. "Uh, what if the old fridge doesn't fit down the stairs?" He struggled to picture getting that beast of a fridge through the door.

"Pretty sure it'll fit," I said. I turned the printout over to reveal a diagram of how to get the fridge down the stairs on the back.

Zahid scratched his head, his nervous grin returning. "Alright, alright. We'll deal with that later. But first, the floor”

“Yeah,” I responded.

Zahid nodded. I went off to study for my chemistry exam. He seemed like he knew what he was doing. At first. 

At 4:30, I heard Zahid say, “I'll have to come back tomorrow”

“OK,” I replied.

I naively thought that he said this because he had put in the outlets and moved the plumbing as we asked. I didn't think that doing the floor would be an all-day job. 

When I went downstairs, it soon occurred to me why it took him all day to lay the tile. We told him to lay the hex tile just on top of the hardwood. Instead, he ripped up the hardwood and padding and laid the tile afterwards. 

I looked around. He only got the front hall and the kitchen retiled. He just left the powder room without a floor. I stuck my head in the powder room, looked at the blue walls, and turned around. “Zahid,” I asked, “why is this blue?”

Zahid stood there and blinked. “I wanted nothing blue,” I repeated.

“I didn't want to flush out my sprayer,” he replied as he left.

I rolled my eyes and went upstairs because I knew there was still a floor there. Mom didn't come home from work that evening.

Right before I left to go to my chemistry exam, I bumped into Zahid. “OK, Zahid,” I began, “I need you to pay attention, because I’m only gonna explain this once.”

“OK,” Zahid nodded.

“So,” I clapped, “we need the plumbing moved from there to there, additional plumbing set up for the small dishwasher here, and we need a couple of outlets, a 220-volt one for the range and a 110-volt one for the microwave.”

Zahid looked at me with a confused look on his face, looking confused. “What is outlet?”

“You know,” I explained, “electricity comes out of the wall and into the house?” I felt like I got stupider as I explained it to him. 

Zahid finally got what I was talking about. “Oh, you mean the holes,” he said.

“Yes, two sets of holes,” I nodded, “big ones for the stove and little ones for the microwave.” I walked over to where we planned to put the fridge. “Moving on,” I said, “the fridge is going to go here, larger dishwasher here, next to the sink, smaller dishwasher here in the coffee bar…”

Zahid pointed to toilet. “What’s this?” he interrupted.

“That’s the toilet,” I said matter-of-factly.

“You want toilet with the fridge?” Zahid grimaced, “Yech!”

I shook my head. “No, it goes in the powder room, as does the vanity.” I went to get my school supplies. My backpack threatened to topple over. "Powder room faucet," I said, pointing to the vanity sink bowl. "Kitchen one's over there," I pointed to the taped-off box on the floor marking where the sink would go. "Don't mix them up, OK?"

Zahid nodded. “If you’re stuck, just refer to the diagrams,” I said as I headed out the door. “Anyway, I’m off.”

“Best of luck for your exams,” Zahid replied.

Zahid was gone by the time I came home. The new “kitchen” was a sight to behold. The upper bank cabinets hung from the ceiling. Zahid had blocked off our dining room door and backed the fridge up against the newly formed wall. The toilet was supposed to go in the powder room, but he put it in the kitchen, in the window. 

Immediately, I called Mrs. O'Reilly to tell her what happened and ask her to come and fix it. She answered the phone surprisingly quickly. “Hey there,” she replied.

“Is this Mrs. O'Reilly?” I asked.

“Yes, it is”

“It's Rebekah calling,” I replied, “Rebekah, Rosamund's daughter.” 

“How can I help you?” Mrs. O’Reilly said in a friendly tone

“Well,” I began, “Zahid was here and he didn't do a very good job.” 

I could sense Mrs. O'Reilly wincing on the other end of the phone. “How bad is it?” she asked

“I don’t even have any words,” I said as I looked around at the total disaster area localized entirely within the main floor of our house.

“Yeah, I didn't have a choice.” Mrs. O'Reilly chuckled, “He's the neighbour’s kid, and he just got sacked from SkyBurger.”

“Hmm,” I giggled, “I wonder why.” Every picture tells a story, after all.

“I'll be over there tomorrow,” Mrs. O'Reilly replied, “Anyway, I have to go, I need to call his mother.”

She hung up. I chuckled because I had visions of Zahid’s mother nattering at him in Tajik and dragging him into the house by his ear. 

I heard Mom‘s car pull into the garage. She came into the house and wandered right into the giant fuckup where our kitchen should be.

Mom stared at the newly minted blank wall, dumbfounded. "Where's the dining room door?" she demanded, her arms crossed and a frown etched on her face. “Don't worry, It'll turn up eventually," I joked. My attempt at humour backfired. Her frown deepened. "This isn't funny, Rebekah," she retorted apprehensively. "OK, point taken," I conceded, raising my hands in surrender. "So, are you going to ask me how my exam went?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.

Mom didn’t seem to care about that. “Did they put the fridge downstairs?”

I ran downstairs to check. A sense of dread settled in my stomach when I got there and didn’t see it. I returned upstairs. “I don’t think so,” I said, the statement hanging heavy in the air.

I watched the colour drain from her face. “Shit,” she exclaimed. Panic crept into her voice. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit…”

She ran into the living room in a torrent of angry hamster noises. All the appliances that were supposed to go in the kitchen were stacked in the living room just in a pile.

The problems went beyond the kitchen. Both the vanity and the stove got broken. The large dishwasher wound up in the powder room. The small dishwasher and the range hood were still unaccounted for.  

“Why is the powder room blue?” Mom grunted in exasperation, “We wanted nothing blue!”

“That’s what I said, but Zahid didn’t want to flush out the sprayer,” I replied.

Mom put her hands on the sides of her head. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!” she shouted. 

“But we did our research, we took steps,” I said. I had no idea what good mentioning that would do.

Mom shook her head, “You don’t understand,” she barked, “she was supposed to come next week, when you were done with your exams.”

“Really?” I said. Everything Mom had said about what day the builders were coming thus far seemed like it was going according to plan. 

“Uh, yeah!” she said. I had no idea why she didn’t mention that she intended for them to come after I wrapped up my exams.

I looked down and traced a figure-8 on the floor with my feet. “Anyway,” I said, “I called, and Mrs. O’Reilly is coming tomorrow to fix it after she rats out Zahid to his mom.”

Mom didn’t seem interested that I took the first step in getting it fixed. “Mrs. O’Reilly was here for the site visit, she should have been here to do the work today and yesterday.”

“Maybe she was busy,” I shrugged, “I mean, you know what that's like. You were so busy you didn’t come home last night.”

“I’m only busy I have a crappy boss who not only assigns me more work than I can do, but right before I try to take a day off, he deletes everything and I have to start all over again!” Mom exploded. 

“What the hell purpose does that serve?” I asked, “And why are you yelling at me? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know, but you’re still responsible for this fiasco,” Mom said. “You need to pay better attention. Maybe instead of sending your study breaks doom scrolling, you should look around and see if things are where they should be.”

“Makes sense,” I said. 

She then proceeded to run down the laundry list of stuff that I was supposed to do but didn’t because I didn’t think they were my jurisdiction. “If they can’t get the Old refrigerator downstairs, help them move the fridge. If they can’t remember what goes and what stays, take what goes in the garbage out yourself. Take some fucking responsibility for once!”

It sounded an awful lot like Mom was mad at her boss for making her work overnight on her day off and the builder for screwing up so badly and taking it out on me. “So is it my fault or not?” I asked.

“Why can’t you be part of the solution instead of the problem!?” She stormed off. 

It’s been three weeks. We’re still in the process of getting the kitchen straightened out. The toilet has been relocated to the powder room and the dishwasher has been relocated to the kitchen.

We had no idea how bad this would get because O’Reilly’s never received any negative reviews. The closest thing we had two negative reviews for O'Reilly's was people saying that his husband was an idiot, but the wife more than made up for it. 

And that wasn’t an accident. Kaia’s death sparked aggressive new anti-cyberbullying legislation that effectively made it illegal to leave negative reviews on anything.

You know what happens next, right? If you can’t read both the good and the bad about a product or service, it gets a lot harder to vet anything for quality. Total crap will push out anything useful and then everything goes to hell. 

Thanks for nothing, Kaia. You’ve made it impossible for us to find decent products or services.

@umprompted

[hm-constructions-blog]

Vitrified tiles: The perfect urban flooring solution for India

Choosing the right flooring material is a crucial decision for homeowners, as it significantly influences the overall aesthetic and functionality of a space. In recent years, vitrified tiles have gained immense popularity as a preferred flooring option, thanks to the numerous benefits and infinite design possibilities.

What are Vitrified Tiles?

Vitrified tiles are ceramic tiles that undergo a unique manufacturing process called vitrification. This process involves fusing clay with other raw materials at extremely high temperatures, creating a glass-like, non-porous surface. The end product is a durable and versatile tile suitable for various applications, including flooring.

The first use of tiles for flooring can be traced back to ancient Egyptian and Persian civilizations, which used fired ceramic tiles for flooring. Over a period of time, to combat the porosity, a thin layer of liquid glass was coated on the tiles, and glazed tiles took shape. The ability to heat materials to much higher temperatures in controlled environments gave rise to vitrification, and the tiles we know today were born. Double-charge vitrified tiles involved using two pigment layers, prolonging the life of the design of these tiles. Modern digital printing, nano-polishing technologies, as well as advancements in placing techniques and logistics have made the large-format tiles we know today possible.

Advantages of Vitrified Tiles:

Durability: Vitrified tiles are known for their exceptional strength and resistance to wear and tear. This makes them ideal for high-traffic areas such as living rooms, kitchens, and hallways.

Low Maintenance: The non-porous nature of vitrified tiles makes them resistant to stains and easy to clean. A simple sweep or mop is usually sufficient to maintain its original shine, reducing the need for extensive maintenance.

Water Resistance: The vitrification process gives these tiles a high level of water resistance, making them suitable for the walls of bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas prone to moisture.

Wide Range of Designs: Vitrified tiles are available in a vast array of designs, patterns, and colours. Whether you prefer a sleek, modern look or a more traditional aesthetic, there’s a vitrified tile design to suit every taste.

Versatility: These tiles can be used indoors and outdoors, allowing for a seamless and coordinated design throughout your home. They are also available in various sizes, including large-format tiles that can create an illusion of spaciousness in smaller rooms.

Temperature Resistance: Vitrified tiles can withstand temperature variations, making them suitable for regions with extreme climates.

Design Ideas with Vitrified Tiles:

Wood-look Vitrified Tiles: Achieve the warmth and charm of wood without the maintenance hassles. Wood-look vitrified tiles come in various finishes, providing a natural and inviting feel to your living spaces.

Marble and Stone Finishes: Vitrified tiles can mimic the look of luxurious marble or natural stone at a fraction of the cost. These tiles are an excellent choice for adding sophistication to your home.

Geometric Patterns: Create visual interest by using vitrified tiles with geometric patterns. Whether it’s hexagons, chevrons, or herringbone, these tiles can add a contemporary touch to your floors.

Contrast Borders: Use contrasting colours or patterns to create borders or unique designs within a room. This can add a touch of creativity and highlight specific areas.

Vitrified tiles have become a go-to choose for homeowners seeking a perfect blend of style and practicality. Their durability, low maintenance, and versatility make them a sound investment for anyone looking to enhance the beauty and functionality of their home. Whether you’re renovating or building from scratch, consider the many advantages that vitrified tiles bring to the table for a flooring solution that stands the test of time.

Ready to transform your home with Vitrified tiles?

To explore more about the benefits of vitrified tiles and other home improvement tips, visit our website at www.hmconstructions.com

[creative1tech]

Top 10 Best Marble Games Online: Blast Your Way to Boredom-Free Fun

Marble games have captivated players for centuries, from the simple elegance of solitaire to the frantic action of modern match-3 puzzlers. But with the vast ocean of online games, finding the best marble games can feel overwhelming. Worry not, marble enthusiast! I've dived deep into the digital depths and surfaced with the top 10 online marble game that will have you rolling with excitement.

1. Zuma Deluxe: A legendary classic, Zuma Deluxe is the quintessential marble match-3 game. Shoot colorful orbs from a charming frog, matching them to clear the chain before it reaches the skull. Masterful power-ups, bonus levels, and an infectious soundtrack make Zuma Deluxe timeless fun.

2. Luxor: Journey through ancient Egypt in Luxor, a visually stunning marble shooter with a unique twist. Instead of linear tracks, orbs cascade down intricate mazes, demanding strategic thinking and lightning-fast reflexes. Luxor's blend of challenge and atmosphere is truly captivating.

3. Marble Blast: Blast your way through vibrant 3D worlds in Marble Blast. This fast-paced puzzler combines match-3 mechanics with platforming elements, challenging you to collect gems, activate switches, and navigate precarious landscapes. Buckle up for an exhilarating marble adventure!

4. Marble Quest: Embark on a fantastical quest in Marble Quest, a delightful RPG-infused marble shooter. Defeat quirky enemies, collect loot, and upgrade your arsenal as you progress through hand-drawn realms. Marble Quest offers a unique blend of genres that's sure to enchant.

Read more: Read more: Top 5 Best Marble Games Online

5. Pachinko: Experience the thrill of Japanese pachinko parlors in this virtual adaptation. Launch balls onto a pin-filled table, aiming for lucrative multipliers and bonus holes. Pachinko is a relaxing yet surprisingly addictive game that offers a taste of authentic Japanese arcade culture.

6. Mahjong Marble Blast: A delightful fusion of two classic games, Mahjong Marble Blast blends tile-matching with marble shooting. Clear the board by matching mahjong tiles, using power-ups earned from geschickt marble matches. This innovative puzzler offers a fresh take on both genres.

7. Marble Temple: Delve into a mysterious temple filled with challenging marble puzzles in Marble Temple. Manipulate beams of light to guide orbs through intricate pathways, collecting treasures and activating ancient mechanisms. Marble Temple is a brain-teasing treat for puzzle enthusiasts.

8. Catapult Quest: Unleash your inner medieval engineer in Catapult Quest, a physics-based marble flinging extravaganza! Build contraptions, hurl marbles at targets, and solve physics puzzles in this delightfully quirky game. Catapult Quest is sure to ignite your creative spark.

9. Marble Link: Take a break from the fast-paced action with Marble Link, a relaxing puzzle game with a meditative quality. Connect colorful marbles by drawing lines, clearing the board while enjoying calming music and visuals. Marble Link is the perfect antidote to a stressful day.

10. Marble Solitaire: A classic with a twist, Marble Solitaire challenges you to remove all the marbles from a hexagonal board, jumping over others to clear them. This deceptively simple game offers endless strategic possibilities and is a great way to sharpen your mind.

Bonus Round: For a truly unique experience, check out these hidden gems:

Roll It!: A frantic, physics-based marble race through wacky obstacle courses.

Triple Town: Match adorable creatures to evolve them into fantastical beings, all while guiding rolling clouds across the map.

Plinko: Drop balls down a pin-filled board, just like a real pachinko machine, and watch as they bounce and clink their way to victory.

So, there you have it! These top 10 online marble game offer something for everyone, from adrenaline-pumping action to zen-like relaxation. Grab your mouse, aim your cannon, and get ready to roll into a world of marble-ous fun!

Remember, this is just a starting point. The world of online marble games is vast and ever-evolving, so don't be afraid to explore and discover your own hidden gems. Happy rolling!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post! If you have any recommendations for other great online marble games, please share them in the comments below.

[milky-aeons]

— YOU CALLED ME SUGAR

౨ৎ . . . RANPO EDOGAWA was notoriously brilliant at solving riddles like they were mere child's play. there had never been a puzzle he could not solve — until, of course, he met you.

warnings: sexual content, swearing, criminal themes, female reader, mdni, w.c 1.6k

♪ . . . ˗ˏˋ ꒰ glitter in the air — p!nk ꒱ ˎˊ-

: ̗̀➛ The very first time you had met the enigmatic heart of Yokohama's Armed Detective Agency — Ranpo Edogawa, you had not expected him to be short and youthful, dressed in a funny looking detective's uniform and brimming with pride. You also did not expect him to insult your intelligence and tell you that your interview dress was ugly.

: ̗̀➛ Yet there was something about him that always caught your eye every time he stepped into the office. A type of magnetism. You would wonder to yourself what it was that wouldn't permit him to leave your mind — his brashness, that cap, the clink of marble in a glass whenever he was near? You were new at the ADA then, merely an accountant of ledgers, and were not around the main floor that often.

: ̗̀➛ So of course, you were beside yourself with shock when the short man came barging into your quaint office one day completely uninvited. Introducing himself not with an apology, an explaination, but a question that had made your head swim;

"You there!" He pointed at you. "I bet you have never solved Aristotle's Puzzle, have you!" Blinking, you gawped at him. "I—?" "I thought so!" He cut right across you, then lifted his hand to produce a small wooden board that held a grouping of hexagonal blocks, all with different numbers on them. You remembered his delighted little grin — almost like a child, desperate to show off — because it winded you so hard it made it difficult to breathe. "Want this great detective to show you how?"

: ̗̀➛ You had thought it would be the end, after that little encounter. That perhaps it had just been an extremely strange incident, an outlier, never to occur again. And yet the next day you arrived into work, you dropped all of the files tucked underneath your arm when you saw him there — perched on your table, kicking his legs.

"You're late!" He moaned, fixing you with an accusing stare. "I've solved and resolved this silly metal wire puzzle in the time it took you to climb the stairs."

: ̗̀➛ It became a routine for you to open your small office door to see the curious detective already there, fiddling with something or other to entertain himself and his quick mind. Days passed, weeks, and you grew accustomed to his presence. To the way he clicked his tongue, how he scratched the crown of his head that tousled all those ebony strands, how he poked your cheek when he wanted your attention. Sometimes, you would go to the coffee shop upstairs together. Sometimes, you would listen to him. You found that for hours, you could listen to him, you would listen to him until you couldn't, anymore.

: ̗̀➛ The day you realised you were in love with Ranpo Edogawa was also the day he looked at you, really looked at you. You must have been especially ticking him off — averting your eyes, avoiding his presence, offering to send kind-hearted Atsushi in your place when he asked you to come get confectionaries with him. He had cornered you before closing time, he had come right into your personal space with little warning and opened his eyes to look at you.

"You're acting super weird today — what's—?" And he trailed off, going very, very quiet. As if he had just realised something.

: ̗̀➛ You never got his eyes out of your head. They were special rarities — all the shades of green smashed together. You would catch them staring at you from across the office and feel your heart play a quick-step. You would lay in bed at night, tossing and turning, feeling your skin stretching tight and hot as they continued to watch you inside your dreams.

: ̗̀➛ The first time Ranpo kissed you, you could have sworn it was a fabrication, a construct of your deluded imagination. A formal ball held for the Armed Detective Agency and other affiliate associations committed to the peace of the city. He looked divine in his smartly tailored suit and mused hair he let fall boyishly. He was also right where you thought he'd be — helping himself to the refreshment's table like it was nobody's business.

"You look happy." You had mused after joining his side. He slid his emerald eyes to you — open, always open to see you. It made your pulse hammer at the base of your neck. "Your dress reminds me of the one you showed up to your interview in." He teased you. You gawked. "That's cruel! I got the job, didn't I?" You had sampled some of the cream cake he was making quick work of by himself, popping a little morsel into your mouth. It melted on your tongue, soft and sweet. When you turned to face him, Ranpo was already watching you. Too intently, like the air held an unspoken sentence hanging between you both. "What?" You wondered, wide-eyed. His face and his attractive features and his scent and him, all him, had swayed close to you faster than you had the ability to register. Soft and sweet, just like the cream cake, that was how Ranpo Edogawa tasted when he placed his lips on yours. Quick. Chaste. A whisper of a kiss that ended when he licked the cream from the corner of your mouth. You were burning when he pulled away with a grin, murmuring, "'Spose you did."

: ̗̀➛ Being in a relationship with Ranpo was a strange affair, at first. It did nothing to interrupt the balance of the agents in the ADA, of course, but it did teach you a lot about the short detective at the heart of it all. He was not silly, but childish. He had a short temper, he liked his coffee with six spoonful's of sugar. But you also learned that he was kind, he remembered silly little things about yourself you did not even recall telling him. He left notes echoing to his greatness under your files to cheer you up on bad days. He balled up bits of paper and used your trashcan as a net. He would tell you that even though you were no match for his mind, that you were amazing, in your own way.

: ̗̀➛ You and Ranpo took some time to approach the topic of sex. Your relationship was a unique one that blossomed from a bond between two humans, yet there was no denying the need that burned brighter the more your relationship progressed. He'd catch you biting your lip while looking at him. You'd feel the heat between your legs in the lonely hours of night. There would be instances when you were both alone and the air became heavier, thicker, alighting with sparks that did not quite catch flame. Not yet.

: ̗̀➛ Until that night, when you both returned from a date at a drive-by amusement fare that had set up near the river. It was not planned, it was not spoken of until you had arrived to your door and realised you did not want him to leave. It was harmonious — the right moment, as you pulled him inside by his striped tie and he was more than willing to follow.

: ̗̀➛ Ranpo had paid little interest to intimacy with women until he had met you. He had little experience, but was a fantastically quick learner. His observant eyes flashed every time he touched you and your eyebrows scrunched. When he'd reach down and squeeze your breasts and watch you shake.

: ̗̀➛ Ranpo needed you to praise him. He needed you to tell him where you liked to be touched, if you wanted two of his fingers or three, if he was touching you just right and how he could be better. Only for you, he would ask. He'd kiss and taste your skin and liken it to the sweetest of treats. He'd come up to brush your hair from your eyes and gaze at you. Would never break it as he slid inside, slowly, hesitantly. His lips parting to gasp. Your head knocking back at the feel of him, of finally having him and you as one.

: ̗̀➛ It was messy and uncoordinated; the first night you spent together — but you would never forget it, so long as you continued to draw breath. Especially how he pitched forward when he found rhythm, snapping his hips eagerly, frantically. How he whispered strings of incoherencies into the crook of your neck, how you wrapped your legs around his lean back until they shook with the mounting pleasure of it all. And when you climaxed, you did so together, choking on air and groans and a sentence you were not sure you had heard correctly.

: ̗̀➛ You had asked him again moments later. When you were still catching your breath, connected by bare skin, listening to each other's racing heartbeat.

"What did you say? Into my neck, a few minutes ago?"

: ̗̀➛ Ranpo went quiet at your question, before raising to fix you with an incredibly vulnerable look. It made your heart lurch painfully in your chest, especially when he looked so disarmed, his hair sticking up at every angle and his cheeks still flushed red.

: ̗̀➛ Then, he had smiled. The same smile that stole your heart on that very first day in your office, and said;

"A great detective never reveals his secrets."

[omarcfs]

THE ARTISTRY OF UNCONVENTIONAL SHAPES IN MARBLE COFFEE TABLE DESIGN

Marble coffee tables have long been cherished for their elegance, durability, and timeless appeal. However, in recent years, designers and artisans have taken the art of coffee table design to new heights by exploring unconventional shapes that transform these functional pieces into sculptural statements. The result is a captivating fusion of form and function that elevates the aesthetics of any living space.

Gone are the days of traditional rectangular or square marble coffee table silhouettes. Designers are now pushing boundaries and embracing asymmetry, geometric abstraction, and organic contours. Triangular, hexagonal, and irregular shapes are gaining popularity, infusing spaces with a sense of dynamism and artistic flair.

These unconventional shapes in the marble coffee table design create a visual feast for the eyes. Their unique forms capture attention and become the focal point of a room. Imagine a triangular marble coffee table with sleek lines and sharp angles, adding a touch of modernity and geometric elegance to a minimalist living room. Or picture a flowing, amoeba-like shape in lustrous white marble, creating a stunning contrast against a backdrop of neutral tones.

The beauty of unconventional shapes lies in their ability to transform a functional piece of furniture into an artful expression. Marble, with its natural veining and varied colors, lends itself perfectly to these avant-garde designs. The interplay of light and shadow on the sculptural curves and edges of these coffee tables creates a mesmerizing visual experience, enhancing the overall ambiance of a space.

Moreover, these distinctive shapes offer practical benefits as well. Irregular forms can optimize space utilization, fitting seamlessly into corners or tight spots. They also encourage creative styling, allowing for unique arrangements and interplay with other furniture pieces.

In conclusion, the exploration of unconventional shapes in marble effect coffee table design has revolutionized the way we perceive these essential living room elements. By embracing asymmetry, abstraction, and organic contours, designers have transformed functional furniture into breathtaking sculptural statements. Whether you prefer a bold triangular design or a flowing, amoeba-like shape, these unconventional coffee tables add an artistic touch to interiors, elevating the overall aesthetic appeal of any space. So, go ahead and embark on a journey of artistic exploration by choosing a marble coffee table that makes a captivating sculptural statement in your home.