#i don't fancy myself an interior decorator

[thebramblewood]

Some shots of Helena's bedroom!

[thelemonsnek]

graphic interior design is my passion

[image id: an aerial floorplan of Ingo and Emmet's apartment. It is relatively small and not overly fancy. There are only two bedrooms, Ingo's and Emmet's, with a pullout couch to make up for the lack of a spare room. Most of the house is carpeted with a navy blue carpet. Off to the side, a tiny Ingo and Emmet look over at the apartment. End id]

additional ramblings under the cut for reasoning about some of this!!

ingo typically takes night shifts, so he took the room without the window so he could sleep better during the day. emmet preferred the room with the window bc the sunrise helps him wake up easier

their bed colors are based off their ex outfits in masters. emmet's is lighter and ingo's is darker to match the white/black theme

if you happened to notice, ingo's trashcan is beside his desk. emmet's isn't shown because it's under his desk. ingo also has one of those desks with built in shelves, both because it makes up for him not having a bookshelf, and also because i just think he'd enjoy the efficiency of it

for all of the chairs, they're out from the tables to demonstrate the space they would take up if in use. the twins do in fact push in their chairs. the exception is ingo's desk chair, which he leaves pushed out on purpose. freak

the dark carpet helps to hide dirt - important for trainers with so many pokemon in the house!!

speaking of pokemon, the hallway is intentionally larger than i'd expect of real life houses, in order to accommodate large final evolutions

the couch is a pullout, since they don't have a spare room

the rug isn't plain white i'd just rather die than actually design the pattern

there's also a lot of clutter/decorative stuff that i didn't include

the laundry room is sparse for easy access to the fire exit! safety first :)!

there are "floating" cabinets over the counters, i just couldn't figure out an effective way to draw that. the microwave is above the stove

i think that they're a higher up floor in the apartment, but not the highest. maybe like,,,,3 out of 5 or 6 floors?

space for ghosts was originally a little joke comment i wrote for myself when drafting the layout, then kept in. i could've extended the kitchen down and given them more room but the space for ghosts is important to me now. chandelure needs her alone time

[munchin-cheese]

My Current 1.6 Mod list: Visuals (2/3)

🌼Basic Mods

Those are my general visual mods, they change mostly the environment ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ

Vibrant Pastoral Recolor (with the temporary fix) | Better Water 2 | Simple Foliage (temporary fix version)| Simple Resources | DynamicReflections

🪶UI Mods

Make slight changes to the UI |･ω･)

Miyazaki Inventory Background | Vanilla Tweaks - Interface | Vanilla Accent Interface

🪵Craftables Mods

I have a lot of these if I don't list one you're always free to ask on my posts (But I might not find them myself though) ( ˘▽˘)っ♨

Content Patcher : Creamy Beige Telephone | Gwen's Paths | Modern Farm Computer | Primitive Artisan Equipment | Terracotta Garden Pots | Catcrows

Alternative Texture : Chest Deco | Dustbeauty's Seasonal Path and Flooring | Desvudiary's Chocolate Brown Craftables | Elegant Craftables | Gwen's Craftables for Vibrant Pastoral | Gwen's Paths | H&W Fairy Garden Craftables Retextures | H&W Storage Pack | H&W Farmers Market Craftables Pack | Min's Retro Sewing Machine | Nano's Garden Style Craftables | Out and about Storage | Telephone Recolor | Garden Pots to Modular Garden Planters | Catcrows

🌱Item Sprites Mods

This changes the item sprites I have mostly the ones from DSHi but if I don't like the colors I toggle the Vanilla Tweaks option on. Don't use them both if you have them both on only the DSHi one will show up. I suggest to pick and choose the ones you like with the config toggles

(∩` ﾛ ´)⊃━☆*:・ﾟ

DSHi : Artifacts | Fish | Food | Minerals | Shipping Items

Vanilla Tweaks : Aquarium | Caves | Farming | Producer | Warrior

Others : Kedi's Movie Concessions | Letteas Desert Festival Dishes Retexture | Nostalgic Animal Crackers

🏠Farm elements Mods

Those change the interior and exterior of your farm buildings. I use Content patcher for most of them but a few use alternative texture

ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

Interior : Aimon's Fancy Shed | Aimon's Tidy Cozy Ginger Island Farmhouse | Coop and Barn Facelift | Plain Slime Hutch | Prophet's Kitchen | Spouse Room Free Decoration | Aimon's Tidy Cozy Farmhouse | Aimon's Fancy Greenhouse

Exterior : Eorrl's Seasonal Haybale Silo replacements | Haneul's Farm Buildings | Custom Water bowl from Seasonal Pet houses | Elle's Seasonal Buildings | V1.4 Misc Recolour Pack | Molamole's Mailbox

🏫Town elements Mods

Just some town retexture to make it more to my likings ψ( ` ∇ ´ )ψ

Bathhouse Hot Spring | Elle's Town Buildings | Less Ugly Town Interiors | Seasonal Cozy Bus | Seasonal Outfits Silghty Cuter Aesthetic | Elliott Portraits for Seasonal Outfits | Seasonal Special Order Board

🐮Animal Mods

To have more variety with my lil babies (ง ื▿ ื)ว

Content Patcher : Elle's Cuter Horses | Farm Animal Facelift | Farm Animal Facelift Shop Icons | Pet Facelift

Alternative Texture : Farm Animal Facelift | Ragdollnoelle's K's Barn Animals

Phew this one was a big one. If you have any question about my settings I'm ready to answer _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):_ (Part 1 here) (Part 3 here)

[synintheraven]

Get to know me!

Thanks for the tag love @lord-aldhelm (;

Nickname: Ky, Viking (imagine how annoying I am about fictional Vikings that my friends started to call me that)

Sign: Pisces ♓️

Height: 154 cm 👉👈

The last thing I googled: Where does Rhaenyra live (lol)

Amount of sleep: 5 hours, more or less? I slept like a baby last night tho 😌

Dream job: Get paid for doing nothing Idk I'd love to be able to live off my art/my (still in progress) graphic design degree but it's though out there 💔

Favorite song: I have a few that own my heart, but What A Feeling by One Direction (don't judge it's really good!!) is probably my forever favorite but also not the kind of song that I usually am into so yeah, that makes it my fav hehe

Movie/Book that Summarises Me: Misery? Not really a movie/book girlie but I'll use my most serious expression and say Shrek - you know because everyone judges him by his looks/apparent personality but he's actually great 😌 (besides, I love the Shrek movies)

Favorite instrument: Probably piano, though I can't play a single instrument 😅

Aesthetic: I'm following way too many fashion influencers so yeah, I love some 80/90s fashion trends so that's usually my vibe hehe - interior design wise idk I'm a mess but usually modern stuff (with a few classic touches, you know like fancy wall molding or chandeliers or really just romantic architecture/decor :p)

Favorite authors: Agatha Christie? - I have yet to read more books but I love myself some detective stuff - Also don't have any other I consider my fav so I'll leave it here 😅

Random fun fact: Used to study Architecture back when I was still living in Sweden but wasn't what I pictured it would be so (after several people asked me why I didn't chose Graphic Design instead) I switched to Graphic Design once in the UK 🤭

No pressure tags to my fellow gremlins aka @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @whitedarkmoonflower @alexagirlie and tbh whoever else feels like doing it!

[laminates-101]

Let's Talk Decorative Laminates

Your Guide to Adding Flair to Furniture

Hey there, fellow interior enthusiasts! Today, we're diving into the exciting world of decorative laminates. Don't worry if the term sounds a bit fancy – I'm here to break it down for you in the most friendly and fun way possible. So, grab your favorite drink, settle into your comfiest chair, and let's explore what decorative laminates are all about!

What Are Decorative Laminates?

Okay, so imagine you have a piece of furniture – a table, a cabinet, or maybe even a swanky shelf. Now, you want to give it a fresh new look that's stylish, trendy, and totally you. That's where decorative laminates come to the rescue! Think of them as your furniture's fashion statement – a cool, thin layer that you can stick onto surfaces to jazz them up.

Why Should You Care About Decorative Laminates?

Well, have you ever looked at a magazine or scrolled through Pinterest and thought, "Wow, I wish my furniture looked that cool"? Decorative laminates are here to make those dreams a reality, without making you spend a fortune. They're like your interior design sidekick, offering a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures that can transform your everyday furniture into statement pieces.

What Makes Decorative Laminates So Awesome?

Oh boy, where do I start? First off, they're super easy to use. You don't need to be a DIY guru to work with them – most laminates come with a peel-and-stick backing, making the application a breeze. Plus, they're a bit like superheroes when it comes to durability. They can handle the hustle and bustle of daily life, from spills to scratches, and still keep looking fab.

Unleash Your Creativity

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and it just screams "you"? Decorative laminates are your secret weapon to achieving that vibe. Whether you're into sleek minimalist designs, funky patterns, or the classic elegance of wood grains, there's a laminate out there with your name on it. You can mix and match, experiment, and let your creative juices flow to design a space that's uniquely yours.

No More Boring Surfaces

Say goodbye to ho-hum furniture and dull walls! With decorative laminates, you're the boss of your design journey. You can use them to revamp your coffee table, breathe new life into your cabinets, or even add a dash of personality to your bedroom door. From retro vibes to futuristic flair, the possibilities are endless.

Budget-Friendly Glamour

Now, here's the best part – you don't need a fat wallet to get that high-end look. Decorative laminates are like the budget-friendly stars of interior design. They offer a luxe appearance without the hefty price tag. So, you can splurge on style without breaking the bank.

Check This: Best Laminates in India

In a Nutshell

Decorative laminates are your ticket to a world of design possibilities. They're like a fashion makeover for your furniture, allowing you to express your personality and make your space truly your own. Easy to apply, durable, and oh-so-stylish, laminates are the interior designer's secret that you're now in on!

So, the next time you're thinking about spicing up your space, remember that decorative laminates are your go-to pals.

Get ready to peel, stick, and transform your furniture into stunning works of art. Happy decorating! 🎨🛋️

Frequently Asked Questions About Decorative Laminates

Curious about those fantastic decorative laminates that can give your furniture a whole new lease on life? No worries – I've got you covered with answers to some common questions. Let's dive right in!

Q1: What exactly are decorative laminates?

A1: Great question! Decorative laminates are like the fashion accessories for your furniture. They're thin layers that you can stick onto surfaces like tables, cabinets, and more, to instantly upgrade their look. With a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, they're your shortcut to stylish interiors.

Q2: Can I apply decorative laminates myself?

A2: Absolutely! Applying decorative laminates is as easy as peeling off a sticker and sticking it on. Most laminates come with a user-friendly peel-and-stick backing. No need to be a DIY expert – just follow the instructions, and you'll have a chic furniture makeover in no time.

Read: Interior Design Trends 2023-24

Q3: Are decorative laminates durable?

A3: You bet! Decorative laminates are like the superheroes of durability. They're designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of daily life – from spills to scratches and everything in between. So, you can enjoy your stylish furniture without worrying about wear and tear.

Q4: Can I remove decorative laminates if I change my mind?

A4: Absolutely! If you decide to switch up your style, decorative laminates can be removed without leaving a trace. They're like the chameleons of the design world – they can transform your furniture and then step aside when you're ready for something new.

Q5: What styles and designs do decorative laminates come in?

A5: Get ready for a design bonanza! Decorative laminates come in a vast array of options. From sleek modern designs to classic wood grains, funky patterns to elegant textures – there's something for everyone. You can mix and match, experiment, and let your creativity run wild.

Q6: Are decorative laminates only for furniture?

A6: Nope, not at all! While they're perfect for sprucing up furniture, decorative laminates are also great for walls, doors, and even panels. You can use them to add character to your space, whether it's your living room, bedroom, or any other corner that needs a touch of flair.

Q7: Do decorative laminates require special maintenance?

A7: Nope, they're pretty low-maintenance! A simple wipe with a damp cloth is usually enough to keep them looking their best. They're designed to be resistant to stains, so you can enjoy your stylish space without worrying too much about spills.

Q8: Can decorative laminates be used in high-traffic areas?

A8: Absolutely! Decorative laminates' durability makes them suitable for high-traffic areas. They're up for the challenge of busy spaces, making them a fantastic choice for both homes and commercial settings.

Q9: Are decorative laminates eco-friendly?

A9: Many decorative laminates are made using sustainable materials and practices, so they can be an eco-friendly choice. When shopping, look for certifications and information about the laminate's environmental impact to make an informed decision.

Q10: Are decorative laminates budget-friendly?

A10: You'll be pleased to know that decorative laminates offer a cost-effective way to transform your space. They provide a high-end look without the high-end price tag, making them a smart choice for anyone looking to upgrade their interiors without breaking the bank.

There you have it – your essential guide to decorative laminates! Whether you're giving your furniture a chic makeover or adding personality to your walls, laminates are your design allies. Peel, stick, and let your creativity shine. Happy decorating! 🛋️🎨

[undeadgoathead]

Don't get me wrong, I am still super proud of myself for finding such a cute, affordable flat in such a short amount of time, especially considering the mental/emotional hell I was struggling with from a messy breakup(and the aftermath of which continues to haunt me). And I also take great pride in all the organization, renovations, installations, and interior design that I put into it.

But...I mean... it's still just an apartment. In Albuquerque, no less. I can fluff it up with all the fancy French furniture, expensive appliances, and girly decorations I want. But it will always be kind of hood, just a little bit ghetto, no matter how much I fuss and fawn over the interior. It's what's outside that I'm worried about. Location, location, location!

I mean, in my first week here, I already lost a Louis Vuitton purse (!), as well as brand new rose gold hair straightener and matching curling iron, still in their boxes. Someone probably stole them, so I already mistrust my neighbors. And management acted all buddy-buddy right until the moment I signed the contract and they handed over the key, and then their true colors immediately started to show. When I reported the missing purse and salon products, and asked whether they were covered by my renter's insurance, they never answered the phone, nor returned my many messages, so I guess I just have to take yet another L.

On my first week, a crackhead also followed me up three flights of stairs while my hands were full carrying heavy boxes of stuff, and I barely made it inside in time to lock the door behind me, before he started banging on my nextdoor neighbors' window and begging for a lighter. As annoying and creepy as he was, I can't judge him too harshly for his pathetic addiction, as I also have several of my own. In fact, right before I chucked a used BIC in the crackhead's general direction, just to bribe him to shut the hell up, leave me alone, and go away, I had just googled "how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew", and tried the so-called "Switchblade Method", with dubious amounts of success. In many ways, he and I are in the same boat. Desperation sucks. Depending on the kindness of strangers sucks. Needing a smoke or a drink as a crutch sucks. Like I get it bro. It could have been me knocking on doors at 10:00 pm asking for a corkscrew. It's whatever, man.

Even though I'm trying to see the best of this place, the property management sure as hell doesn't make it easy! This morning I saw a lease violation notice on my door, for supposedly violating the drape policy... Yeah yeah, I already know, no posters in the windows, no colorful drapes, just plain white curtains or nothing at all, to make the exterior as bland and boring and uninteresting as possible... It's an asinine rule, but one I follow regardless. Homie, I just left the plain white blinds that were already pre installed. Do I really seem like the kind of chick who would install a fluffy set of gawdy floral granny curtains?! Unless... They can't possibly be telling me to take down my drapes I installed on the bedroom doorway, for some kind of privacy, because there was no actual door?! Or maybe even the shower curtain that I had to install by myself and paid out of pocket for, because the landlord never even delivered on his promise to at least give me a freaking tension rod?! Either way, fucking yikes...

Landlords be wilding. Why am I paying nearly $1000 a month just to feel like an unwanted guest in my own home? And homeowners associations are even worse! Like imagine finally breaking out of the paycheck-to-paycheck monthly rent payment poverty cycle, finally being able to afford to buy your own house, the pride of truly being a home owner, of possessing your own personal property at long last, just for your grouchy old neighbors to still be able to tell you what you can and cannot do in your own house...

[direwolfrules]

#but I will say it here because they won't see it #SATINE DID NOT DESTROY MANDALORIAN CULTURE

Don't just leave this in the tags, you're absolutely correct.

One thing I always see thrown at her that isn't true is she's "killing the Mandalorian language". Satine canonically spoke not just standard Mando'a, but also the Concordian dialect. On the Sundari Protectors' speeders, the word police is written in the Mando'a alphabet. I literally don't understand why people throw that "criticism" out there, other than the fact we see her speak Basic most of the time. And we see her speak Basic most of the time because she's almost always talking to characters who primarily speak Basic.

The architecture in Sundari is geometric and full of transparisteel windows. It's so classically Mandalorian in its simplicity and its strength. Literally, the main difference between a Sundari skyscraper and the Wren Stronghold is the height. The art in her palace is geometric in the ways most Mandalorians love, including that cubist portrait that Maul stole for his creepy shrine.

She's not unwilling to fight back and defend herself, she just doesn't like the usage of lethal force. Which is totally understandable! Especially when we take into account her traumatic youth! We see her defend herself with her deactivator in "Voyage of Temptation", and later in that same episode only hesitates when her only available option was lethal force (I have no idea if Merrik's blaster had a stun setting and either way switching to it would have taken her attention off the man with the bomb, so...). She surrenders in "Shades of Reason" because being provoked into violence would only give Vizlsa the excuse he needed to kill her and everyone on her side in the throneroom, or worse, give him holo-evidence of her betraying her ideals just when her people needed them most.

Her star yacht, the Coronet, is a custom-ordered advertisement of Mandalorian goods. From the Wookiepedia page, "[t]he richly decorated interiors and halls were fitted with Jakelian tuft-oak, lapis from Draboon, and carpets woven from the looms of Harswee". It's meant to show off to the various diplomats and rich folks that book passage aboard the vessel. It's meant to make them think, "Damn, that's a nice bit of craftmanship there. Sure would like some of that for myself", thus encouraging people to trade with Mandalore. It's not a personal vanity project, Satine isn't into that. When we see Satine by herself or with people she personally knows and trusts she's dressed rather simply. The fancy dresses and elaborate headpieces are all part of the costume of the Duchess, and are not indicative of the values of Satine the person.

And I wish people would stop insulting the New Mandalorians, claiming that they're racist (the whole reason all the background New Mandos were all blonde white folk was because there was like zero animation budget).

i just saw someone have A Wrong Opinion but i kept scrolling and didn't bother to argue with them, brb giving myself a gold star and second dessert for my self control

[jonnyparable]

Brick by Brick

Sigh well not really, but it feels like it sometimes. Anyway, I decided to take some shots of my building process, mainly for myself, in case I needed to replicate this whole thing again, but thought it might be interesting to share the process, as I like seeing how Simmers put their lots together from scratch, although I hope this isn't too gratuitous.

So, this lot is called the Bay of Thieves, it was once a haven for pirates, but has gone through massive gentrification, and is now a cluster of fancy restaurants.

I don't really do anything too advanced cos I'm lazy and a little impatient, so no real planning or counting tiles most times. For these river bank lots, I like to terraform slopes/ramps going down to the water, rather than only stairs, as I suppose goods from the harbour would be easier to push up slopes than stairs. Although some stairs do connect at some points. I then flank the steep sides of the terraformed slopes with foundations, which will become battlements, followed by building up the actual structures. Most of which will each be a different business.

Next, I add wallpapers and fenestration, which usually takes me the longest for some reason cos thats when colour gets involved. I usually pull out to the hood at this point to tweak the hood decor around the lot, to blend it in with the "set dressing". In this case, I altered the rocks, moving them into the unusable fringes of the lot, and then added in Criquette's embankment and street lamps over the "beach", which will become the alfresco dining area. After which, its just going back in to add trees (my favourite bit), and the rest of the details. And below is the finished lot! But not really, cos I still have to do the interiors.

While I do try to replicate real life locales so its relatable, I tend to mix the cultures into a regional style, in this case, North-African and Anatolian, instead of just importing a real culture wholesale.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed this post if you made it this far and that you found it interesting!

[girl-in-the-tower]

CHAPTER I

Ramshackle Dorm - Birthday Party Venue

Kore: Woah, to think the ghosts would go all out like this just for today! Even though I told them that they didn't have to bother with it, they wouldn't listen, at all... It's... It's kind of embarrassing to be fussed over like this! If it was Grim I would have understood but this, uh...

Ah! And I'm supposed to have a guest over today as well! Hm, I guess some tea should be in order... maybe some cakes as well... I wonder if there's any sugar left...

Ace: Yo!

Kore: Ah, just a moment- Oh, it's just you, Ace.

Ace: Ha? What's that supposed to mean? 'It's just you'? It's super rude to greet your dear guest like this, you know?

Kore: Is that so? But calling you a guest is...

Ace: What's that?

Kore: Hm...

Ace: Well, doesn't matter because my feelings were hurt either way! So I'll help myself to this krumkake to make myself feel better! Let's dig in~

Kore: Hey, that- Aaah, that was meant to be for Grim. He kept complaining all day yesterday that he should have a cake all to himself too since it's a special day so I woke up extra early just to make it for him. Now he's gonna be mad...

Ace: Haa? A whole cake just for that furball? You've got to be kidding me!

Kore: What are you talking about? You know how much he likes krumkake.

Ace: Nah, I doubt there's really anything that guy won't eat... But that's not the point. You're spoiling him too much. He's gotten really fat, you know?

Kore: It's fine. I still make sure he exercises and he looks cute round like that too, so it's not a problem.

Ace: No, I definitely still think there's something wrong here. Mainly with your head.

Kore: Haaaaaaa, you wanna pick a figh-

Ace: Oh, I almost forgot! Here you go!

Kore: ... What's this?

Ace: Isn't it obvious?

Kore: Well... Huh? Wait a minute- That can't-!

Ace: Ta-da! It's a limited edition Griffons varsity jacket that's been all the rage with Magift meatheads like you~

Kore: No way!! This is- This is-

Ace: Cool, righ- Hey!! Don't jump on me like that! You almost knocked me off the chair!

Kore: Sorry, hahaha! I was so happy I just couldn't contain myself! To think that I would be able to actually get my hands onto something so valuable!

Ace: Yeah, we figured you'd like i-

Kore: This season has really been a blessing from above for them, you know? Everybody is in top shape and playing at their best! I heard their new manager actually made them go through this super difficult training regime that has been working wonders for them. Though it's only speculation so far!

Ace: Uh, Kor-

Kore: If you ask me, it's definitely also thanks to those new brooms that they ordered for the team. The wood is apparently from the Valley of Thorns and super-resistant so they go all out without worrying about breaking them. For the moves that the team is pulling, they really need that propulsion time! Even a second helps when you're in a headlock. I remember back in the vs Mandrakes game that they switched brooms in between-

Ace: Heeeeey! You Magift boar woman! Can you hear me?

Kore: Wh-Why are you yelling like that?! I'm right next to you!

Ace: Haaaa, when you start talking about Magift you might as well be in a completely different world... No wonder they all think of you as the Magift Encyclopedia. I bet you have hundreds of useless pieces of information like that stuck in your head.

Kore: You-! Huh? What's this?

Ace: A-Ah! That!

Kore: It's rice pudding- Ah! It's homemade from the Mountains!

Ace: Hm? Ah, ye-yeah... That came with the jacket...

Kore: Eh? They put pudding in jackets when they sell them?!

Ace: O-Obviously! Don't tell me you didn't know? Bwahaha, man, you sure are clueless...

Kore: ... It's my favourite flavour too...

CHAPTER II

Ace: Alright, next to the first question!

Kore: Eh?! Question?! Is this a quiz of some kind?!

Ace: I guess you could think of it like that, so anyway- Your first question as today's birthday girl issssss: "If you were stuck on a deserted island, who would you take with you?" Hm, here it says that you can't pick members of your own dorm, but given that you guys don't even have a dorm, I'm not sure that the restriction applies. Not that it matters since you wouldn't choose Grim anyway, right?

Kore: Huh? Why not?

Ace: You're serious?! You'd pick that furball?! Hey, we're talking about a deserted island here so think carefully! Don't you want to get off it?!

Kore: Well, obviously I would... But...

Ace: But?

Kore: I can do that on my own.

Ace: Huh?

Kore: Survival is all about securing shelter, food and formulating an escape plan. If it's a deserted island I assume there would be some fauna and animals too, so we could feed ourselves through fruit gathering and hunting. It might be hard if we don't have any tools, however, but I think Grim's claws would be sharp enough to cut through the skin and meat fairly easily. I make sure he takes good care of them after all.

Ace: I-I see...

Kore: If there's no drinkable water then we'll have to boil some from the sea in order to deal with the thirst. Grim's flames, when properly utilized, would be able to do such a thing. Not to mention that he could start fires to keep us warm at night and to cook food to sustain us! Also, it could be a great emergency signal if we end up at sea and need rescuing.

Ace: You want to use him as a flare?!

Kore: That sounds so mean! I would only do that as a last resort, however! Grim's pretty sensitive about having his belly scratched so I wouldn't do anything to make him uncomfortable like that!

Ace: Haaaa, I get it, I get it! So you're saying that the furball has his practical uses too. But I can't help but worry about some flaws...

Kore: Flaws?

Ace: No matter how much you feed that glutton, his stomach will never be full, you know! Whatever provisions you managed to gather, he's sure to inhale them with the first occasion!

Kore: Wah- That's a horrible thing to say! There's no way my Grim is so selfish!

Ace: My Grim?! What is he?! Your child?! And he's totally selfish, you know!!

Kore: HAAAAA?! ARE YOU REALLY PICKING A FIGHT WITH ME?!

Ace: Ca-Calm down!! I take it back, ok?! You can bring the furball with you!

Kore: Hmph.

Ace: Seriously, getting this angry over that cat...

Kore: Isn't that normal? Grim is my special person, after all!

Ace: SPECIAL PERSON?!

Kore: The person you care for a lot, like they're part of you, right? Like Cay-senpai said!

Ace: I-I see, so that's...

Kore: Being on a deserted island isn't ideal, but at the end of the day I know I can be ok on my own. Farmwork, housework - those are things that I'm used to from the Mountains. Life isn't so easy back home, but we all make do with what we can - magic or no magic. Even if I'm stuck in a bad situation, I can manage to get through so I don't need anybody else.

Well, that's what I thought before I came to this place anyway...

Ace: ...

Kore: Besides you're wrong about something!

Ace: Huh?

Kore: In order to survive it's not just physical attributes that are important, but mental ones as well. And in that case, Grim has the real trump card!

Ace: He-He does?!

Kore: Mm! You see, Grim, he... has the cutest paws and the fluffiest fur in the world!

Ace: HUH?!

Kore: Mm! Every time I feel like giving up or am reaching the end of the rope, all I'd have to do is give his paw pads a little squeeze or lay on his tummy and my mood would instantly clear up again! In a situation full of despair like that it would make a world of difference, you know?

Ace: SO HE'S THERE JUST FOR MORAL SUPPORT?!

Kore: Well, that too! It's important after all!

Ah, this pudding is really good actually...

CHAPTER III

Ace: Haaaa, I give up... Your boar mind is way too difficult to understand...

Kore: HUH?!

Ace: Anyway, let's get on with our next question and- Ah.

Kore: Hm? What is it? You suddenly stopped in the middle of the sentence. Did the falcon get your tongue, hehe?

Ace: It's a cat, not a falcon! And I only stopped because- uh...

Kore: What?

Ace: "You're offered the chance to pick another dorm, which one would you choose?"

Kore: ...

Ace: I swear, that Headmaster doesn't even think of these questions at all...

Kore: Yeah, there's no way I can answer that...

Ace: I figured. So instead! "Please share your opinions on the dorms!"

Kore: Ah!

Ace: Nice, right? You can definitely count on me when it comes to quick thinking, you know?

Kore: ... I guess.

Ace: You guess?!

Kore: I'll start with Diasomnia then!

Ace: Hey, don't ignore-

Kore: Hm, I'm not really sure about the atmosphere there but- Don't you think that their interior decor is pretty fancy? I haven't seen stuff like that in magazines for quite a while, so I feel like it's definitely something that must have required a lot of work! It's kinda dreary though, what will the windows not letting enough light and the greenery around it could stand to be looked after better, hm...

Ace: So you're only interested in the decor, huh? Alright, what about Ignihyde?

Kore: It's too technological.

Ace: Huh, I guess that you're right. For somebody like you, it would really be a struggle living there...

Kore: ...

It's even more depressing than Diasomnia, so I feel like I would be stuck in a bad mood without enough sunlight, you know? Though I must admit, it really is super clean inside! That's a very important detail! Clean homes are necessary for good health!

Ace: There you go again, sounding like a mom... Next is Pomefiore!

Kore: IT'S SUPER FLASHY!

Ace: I know~?

Kore: No, no, you don't get it! It's so flashy it actually scares me! All that pomp and glamour! The rugs themselves look like something from the fall collection that sold out about twenty years ago and the chandeliers are bound to be at least four times Theo's salary! Walking through those hallways is like stepping on opulence! A continuous loop of flashiness!

Ace: HEY! Get a hold of yourself! Let's go over to- Ah, Scarabia...

Kore: It's so hot there!!

Ace: Oh, yeah, you're super weak to heat so you'd definitely hate it there. Right?

Kore: Mm, hate is... I think that if it was the old me, I would never have even stepped in there. But now I feel like... Yeah! I definitely think that I can give it another try! Scarabia is pretty rich too, but it feels more homely? There's a lot of people gathered around and there are banquets and feasts pretty often too. It's always lively and warm... In a way, I imagine that's what a home would feel like...

Ace: ...

Kore: I can't say the same for Octavinelle however. Hmph!

Ace: Bwahaha, that's true. It really feels like you'd get scammed in there pretty quick.

Kore: Not even that! But building a dorm underwater? I admit the decor is pretty nice and classy, but the atmosphere is too cold! There's a lot of types that I can't get along with at all so it would definitely be a miserable time for me. No, I definitely don't want to set foot there ever again!

Ace: I totally get it~ All that commotion after the exams was enough for me too. Guess the same goes for Savanaclaw too, then?

Kore: ...

Ace: HA?!

Kore: I-I refuse to believe that anybody who loves Magift is a bad person!

Ace: There's that meathead in you talking again! Are you seriously that obsessed with it?! I feel like there's a sickness that applies in this case!!

Kore: He-Hey!! That's way too- I understand that what they did was bad, and I definitely haven't forgiven Kingscholar-senpai yet, but there are definitely good points to them as well! I think!

Ace: So you're not even sure?!

Kore: A-Anyway, as for Heartslaybyul-

Ace: Don't go changing the subject!

Kore: - if I had to pick that would be my favourite.

Ace: Huh?

Kore: I love Scarabia too, a lot, but at the end of the day all that rich atmosphere is scary. I really don't feel like I would belong there at all. I'd stick out like a sore thumb among everybody else - more than usual at the very least. But in Heartslaybyul, even if Rosehearts-senpai is strict, I feel like everybody is sort of content with the oddness. There's not much that stands out about it, but I think that's what makes it so appealing, you know?

Ace: ... So... what you're saying... Is that we're a shabby dorm full of weirdoes?

Kore: I-I wouldn't go that far...

Ace: But that's the gist of it, isn't it?!

Kore: Ummmmm...

Ace: ... Alright, I get it.

Kore: Huh?

Ace: You know, it just so happens that there's one more thing I have to tell you about.

Kore: One more thing?

Ace: Yup! You see, there's this tradition where the presenter has to give the 'gift of fortune' in order to make sure this ends up being a great birthday! And it just so happens that you're lucky enough to have me here today to deliver the goods~

Kore: Huh? What are you-

[SPLATTER]

Kore: ...

Ace: BWAHAHA, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST STOOD THERE LIKE THAT!

Kore: ...

Ace: Oh man, the look on your face is hilarious! Oh, let me take a quick picture to show the others too!

Kore: ...

Ace: Ok, so then- He-Hey! Don't- AUGH! MY FOREHEAD!

[enbyonmandalore]

Smoke On The Water Chapter 2

Rating: NSFW 18+

Word count: many

Warnings: major spoilers for Resident Evil 8: Village, amnesia, blood, blunt-force trauma, game-typical violence, guns and other weapons, mention of torture, panic attack, vampires

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Smoke On The Water - Chapter 2 - Broken

It takes me roughly twenty minutes to reach the gate to Castle Dimitrescu. It's already open as I arrive, so I take a quick look around to make sure nobody is watching and just walk in. I cross the drawbridge and walk uphill; it's somehow steeper than I imagined.

Arriving at the actual castle's door I find it locked. I jiggle the door handle a few times and pull on it with all the strength I can muster, but it won't budge. Gotta find another way inside, I guess. A stone I find on the ground feels just right. It's about as big as my fist and heavy, so it should do the job just fine. Without wasting another thought, I throw the stone through a window.

Careful not to cut myself on the shattered glass I climb through the window. As I hop down from the windowsill I hear a something rip and find that my coat had gotten caught on a shard of glass and now has a hole in the back. Great, but at least I'm inside now.

It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dim light inside the castle. The majority of the light comes from candles mounted to the walls. I stand there in silence, rub my cold hands together and admire the architecture.

The interior is truly beautiful. White walls with golden trims and dark wood ceilings, adorned with expensive paintings. Right across from the door is an enormous painting depicting three young women in fancy dresses. Matching furniture is placed elegantly around the room and the carpet is probably from a far away country. The only unsightly detail is the glass scattered across the floor.

I leave through a door on my left and walk through winding hallways and down a flight of carpeted stairs. I reach a marble floored hall where the walls are decorated with life-sized marble statues and tiptoe through it. There's an echo in here. I decide to go up the stairs to another big open room, thankful for the carpet muffling the sounds of my steps, when a series of bangs reverberate through the halls of the castle. The sound rings in my ears and I instinctively cover them. Was that gunshots? They sounded rather close, too.

"Oh fuck!", I curse as I trip over something. My arms fail to catch me and I crash into the stairs' wooden railing face first. I hit the side of my head, but luckily don't pass out. A dull throbbing echoes through my skull and I groan as I check my head. Thankfully I'm not bleeding. What the fuck did I trip over?

A lone empty wine bottle rolls across the floor where I tripped. Who leaves their wine bottles on the floor like that?

That's when I hear a voice. A high pitched, female sounding voice.

"Where are you?", it sings, "Come here you stupid manthing!"

The voice is accompanied by a buzzing sound and suddenly I realize that I'm sitting out in the open next to the staircase and whoever is on their way here probably shouldn't see me. After all, breaking and entering is a crime, right?

Now I can hear footsteps along with the buzzing and quickly scamper over to a small table that looks like someone took their tea here and cower behind it. Breathing hurts as I press myself to the wall and just wish it would swallow me. I shut my eyes as the buzzing gets louder and louder.

"There you are!", a woman's voice shrieks directly in front of me and I open my eyes in shock. Within a split second I am grabbed by the collar and yanked to my feet. The blonde woman's manic giggling stops. She is still holding me by the collar, my hands around her wrist, and just staring at me. Her eyes are wild and her face twisted in an expression of madness I've never seen before. Her black, blood-smeared lips are still pulled into a wide grin. Then I notice the sickle she is holding, ready to swing it at me.

"Please...", I choke out. I don't want to die! But before I can say that out loud she drops me.

"Poor child.", she taunts, "Are you lost?"

I look up at the woman in absolute bewilderment. "What the fuck is going on?", I whisper. She rolls her eyes and lets her sickle swoosh through the air.

"Some wretched manthing is running amok in mother's castle. We must find him.", she states and then simply vanishes in a swarm of flies. I sit on the floor for a few more moments and then scoot over to the fireplace. For a minute or two I hold my hands towards the warmth of the fire and try to breathe calmly again. She let me go. She didn't mean to harm me. Who is she and who is her mother? It crosses my mind that her mother could be the Lady of the castle. Dimitrescu.

After warming myself enough, I head up the curved staircase, gently tracing my hand along the guard rail. Once at the top, I find myself in front of a door with a golden sign - it reads Wine Room. I step inside and quietly close the door behind myself and pray that nobody catches me snooping. Curiosity got the best of me... I pick up a book with a newspaper article stuck inside and read about the wine making techniques of the Dimitrescu family. Sanguis Virginis sounds extraordinary, not that I'd know anything about wine. Exiting the Wine Room I continue to the left and open a door with a woman-shaped relief. I venture further and further into the castle. At this point I'm not even sure where I'm going, but I try and take in as much of my surroundings as possible. I enter a large room with a skylight - a library. Maybe I can find a clue to my past in here... The shelves are filled with all kinds of books, every topic on earth seems to be represented at least once. Is there a chronicle of the village in here somewhere? Indeed I find a book about the village; it's filled with drawings and pictures of places in the village and how they've changed over time. In the back there is a list of family names that have lived or still live here. To my frustration none of the names sound familiar except for Dimitrescu.

A very old looking book that lays out in the open catches my attention next and I pick it up. There are handwritten notes about a species of carnivorous flies inside. The hair on the back of my neck stands up as I read more. Apparently they gather to mimic a human to catch their prey. I swat at a single insect buzzing around my head and suddenly feel like I'm being watched. Out of nowhere a swarm of flies enters the room and condenses into a writhing black mass. A head and arms form and a ginger woman with a face covered in blood manifests. Oh shit, this is real.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"N-nowhere", I reply and gulp.

I back away and she sees that as a challenge. "Oh sweetheart, Mother is gonna love you", she chirps, "I can smell your fear!"

She backs me against the wall with a single quick movement. "Boo!", she mocks my fearful expression and her sickle scrapes the wall next to my face.

"Tell me", she grins menacingly, "Does your kind bleed?"

My kind? The hell is she talking about? But I'm not getting an answer any time soon, because she draws back her fist and punches me right in the face.

.

I wake up in a cold sweat. Breathing heavily, I feel around as my eyes adjust to the darkness. It's cold and damp here, but there's a small torch burning somewhere, just out of my field of vision. I steady myself on the brick wall and stand up on wobbly legs. I groan in frustration as I realize where I am. The dungeon. Well, fuck. I grab onto the iron bars keeping me in this tiny cell and try jiggling them. The dull metal rattles, but nothing else happens.

I take a deep breath and clench my fists to keep the fear at bay as I hear a familiar buzzing sound. Out of nowhere a different woman steps into my line of sight. There's three of them?

"Ugh, I can't believe Daniela messed this up.", the brunette woman complains, rolling her eyes dramatically. Her walk looks almost like she's floating and her cloak flutters behind her.

"As you know, we only put maidens down here. Maidens!", she says and reaches into a pocket in her dress and pulls out a key. Just as she comes close enough to reach the lock, a booming voice interrupts both of our thoughts and the woman violently jerks her head up.

"CASSANDRA! Come here now!", the voice, that I assume belongs to Lady Dimitrescu, commands.

The woman named Cassandra flashes a crooked smile and shrugs apologetically, then she dissolves into a swarm of flies like the other women before.

"Hey- Hey Lady! Wait!", I scream after the flies. "I'm not rotting away in this hole!"

My initial fear is now completely gone and replaced by anger. I kick the cell bars with a shout. So here I am, sitting in a dark dungeon. In the cell across from mine some sort of torture device is hanging from the ceiling. I don't know how much time passes, but I feel like I sit here for hours.

Footsteps and heavy breathing from the far end of the dark hall break the trance-like state I find myself in. Slowly I approach the iron bars and listen. A rag-and-bone creature, barely even human, staggers down the hall. It moans and hisses as it passes by my prison cell and I back away from the bars. What is that thing? Is this what happens to the maidens down here? The creature resembles a walking corpse - barely more than skin and bones and pale as a ghost. It disappears into the very same darkness it emerged from. But a low rumbling catches my attention next. I step as close to the cell bars as I can and try to peek around the corner. Nothing. Then a loud thud echoes through the castle walls all the way down into the dungeon and a single piece of rock falls from the ceiling of my cell. I hear nothing again for another minute.

Then another thud shakes the castle to its core, accompanied by a terrible inhuman shriek. I don't notice the cracks forming on the ceiling until more pieces -larger pieces- of rock break off and clatter to the floor.

"Holy shit!", I scream. The whole place is threatening to come down!

Falling pieces of castle wall hitting the ground make an awful grinding sound. I dodge them as good as I can in this tiny space, keeping my hands up to protect my head. Part of the ceiling is caving in and the iron bars holding me here are starting to bend under the weight. This is my chance! I throw myself to the floor and start kicking the weakest looking bars. After a few hard kicks, one of the iron bars snaps and breaks away under the stress. I squeeze myself through the bars as they bend and contort further. Then, with a hair-raising sound, the ceiling of the corridor to my left collapses and takes the cell bars with it. Just in time.

But it isn't over yet. The castle is still shaking and I bet more of it is going to collapse any time soon. I break into a jog and try to orient myself. I have to find a way upstairs and outside. Moaning and shuffling seems to be coming from every direction.

There! At the end of the corridor I see light! It's tiny and has a blueish tint, so it's not a torch. I speed up my jog to a full run as the sounds of crumbling walls behind me become louder and louder.

With full speed I crash into a barrel standing in the corridor and scrape my hands and knees in the process of catching myself. It stings, but luckily the wounds don't seem severe enough to immobilize me. Though I am kneeling in something I can't make out. I scramble back up and keep running towards the bright light I see at the end of the hall.

The source of the light is, in fact, a hole in the dungeon ceiling. There must've been a tower here, judging by the ruins, but I don't have time to further inspect them. The fucking basement is collapsing and I'm still in it! A ladder leads up the wall into, what I presume is, freedom; I can feel a gust of cold wind on my face. So I hastily climb the ladder and reach the top right as the rest of the dungeon ceiling hits the ground. A giant cloud of dust rises from the hole behind me and I sink to my knees and touch my forehead to the ground. My entire body is violently shaking. It takes a moment for me to realize my pants and hands are covered in a dark red liquid and tears are streaming down my face by now.

What the fuck.

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This fanfiction is property of @enbyonmandalore (Tumblr). I do not own any of the characters associated with the Resident Evil franchise. Do not repost/crosspost on other accounts or websites, edit, translate or otherwise change this piece of writing. Rebloging is fine, reposting is not.