#japanese stucco

[toonass]

New York Landscape

Inspiration for a small stone garden on a hillside in Asia.

[laceysturmquotes]

New York Landscape Inspiration for a small stone garden on a hillside in Asia.

[francysbelle]

Modern Bedroom in Los Angeles A large minimalist master bedroom with a beige floor, a corner fireplace, gray walls, and other features is shown.

[mangostarjam]

summertime madness — kaiju no. 8, narumi gen x f!reader, "babe" as a petname, sorta rivals to lovers, smut, oral (f!receiving), unprotected sex, written for @tetzoro's summer olympics collab, 3.7k words

"Fucking bite me, Narumi."

"I'm trying, dummy!"

You stop your hasty escape abruptly, but luckily Narumi Gen's reflexes are good enough that he catches you around the waist as he stumbles into you, one palm slamming flat on the stucco wall of the alleyway to keep both of you from bouncing into it. His chest heaves against your back as he huffs. He doesn't let go of your waist.

"What did you—? Narumi, you just called the Japanese men's volleyball team ugly. You're the one walking around with shitty dyed hair!"

"My hair's natural, babe, unlike that bleached blonde sitting way too close to you," Gen grumbles. You can feel the summer Parisian air getting stickier with humidity by the second, not at all helped by Gen's body heat so close to your own. "Besides, I can prove it."

You don't even want to think about how he could try proving something like that. You dig your elbow into his side instead. "Get off me, dummy."

His grip loosens, but he doesn't move. You manage to spin around and his hand settles on the dip of your waist, his nose brushing yours as he grins cheekily at your averted gaze. "This is the longest conversation we've had since we got here, y'know."

"It's your own damn fault you're so obnoxious," you mumble, turning your head slightly so his breaths just puff against your cheek. The sticky heat feels hushed. Charged. Your gaze snags on the flex of his arm bracing against the wall behind you.

A distraction. You need a distraction.

"Your mouth is what got you into trouble with the Japanese men's football team yesterday, too. They were going to offer us free tickets to their next home games."

"That sleepy white haired guy was looking at you too much," Gen says flatly. You finally meet his red eyes squarely as the corner of his lips tugs up. "I can get you one of those chocolate muffins you were asking him for. Besides, I was just looking out for you — as your captain." Your cheeks feel hot. "Now why don't you tell me more about what you think of my mouth?"

"I think you need to shut up."

"You can make me?"

Your nose wrinkles before you can stop yourself and Gen laughs. He finally backs off but grabs your hand, lacing your fingers together and tugging you down the alleyway. "Save your shitty pickup lines for all your new social media followers," you bite out, but you let him pull you along anyway.

"Hey," Gen says, glancing at you from beneath his bangs as you catch up to his pace. "How come you never like my thirst traps? I post those for you, y'know?"

You digest this for a moment, torn between wanting to poke fun at him for lying through his teeth (how could they be for you when you're just you? it's gotta be for the thousands of new followers he gets every day now that he's an Olympian) and speaking aloud the admission that could change your relationship forever (but only if he's serious — though it feels rude, to question him, when his hand squeezes yours).

The two of you pause at a crosswalk and he tugs you close as the crowd presses in. Paris is teeming with pedestrians and cars and it's nice, being together in your own little bubble as incomprehensible chatter fills the space around you. Gen's better at navigating the street signs and the many twisting turning side streets, so you let him lead the way and he lets you stick close.

"Where did you even learn about thirst traps, captain?" It's the middle ground, a safe route.

Gen shrugs and you stare as his broad shoulders shift beneath his stupid "Sincere" t-shirt. "I saw some of the other athletes doing it to promote their sports."

"And you think locker room photos where you flash your abs will suddenly make everyone want to join their nearest swim team?"

Red eyes cut to yours and you blink. Gen's smile is lopsided, curled like a kitty cat. You want to smack it off his face. "So you have seen them."

Of course you've seen them. Not that you needed to — a shirtless Narumi Gen is not a rare sight for you, not when you've been training under the same coach for half your lives — but the thirst traps are… different. Whoever taught him to pose so effortlessly needs to get pushed into the Seine.

"What're you talking about?"

"You know I took those pics in the locker rooms," Gen says. He sounds so smug it makes your blood boil.

"It was a lucky guess," you lie through your teeth, "locker rooms are a classic backdrop."

Gen frowns. "How do you know so much about other peoples' thirst traps?"

You're nearing your dorms in the Olympic Village, and your ear catches other languages besides French and English swimming through the air. Athletes of all shapes and sizes and nationalities begin to converge along the path. Gen tucks you closer into his side.

"Uh, I don't live under a rock," you say, only to forget the rest of your thought when someone walking in front of you glances back to meet your eyes.

He's tall, with wavy brown hair and a pretty face. Something about his build reminds you of the volleyball team you just left earlier. "Are you two Japanese?" he asks, in perfect Japanese. He's also wearing a jacket with the Argentina flag on it.

"Yes," you respond automatically.

The guy's polite smile breaks out into a wide grin. "Perfect! What sport are you here for?"

"Swimming," Gen says shortly. "Excuse me, she's having a meeting with her team captain."

"Oho? And who's that?"

"Me," Gen says. The Argentinian Japanese guy gives you a sly grin and an eyebrow wiggle. It kind of makes you want to hit him.

Gen steers you away before either of you can say anything else. Goosebumps erupt along your skin as the blast of air conditioning washes over you upon entry into the dorms and you valiantly try to suppress a shiver. The lobby is practically empty compared to outside, but a few athletes look up and eye the two of you with blatant interest.

"There are too many goddamn hot people here," Gen complains. He leads you down a hallway and flashes you a smirk. "Good thing I'm the hottest one around."

You stifle the urge to roll your eyes, well used to Gen's bursts of ego. He is hot — you won't deny that, not now — but the thing you've always been drawn to the most is how he cares. It isn't obvious, like with any of your previous relationships. Gen just works extra hard out of sight — long practices late at night when he says he stayed up gaming, not knowing that you spotted him hoisting himself out of the pool under the moonlight, droplets glistening along every dip and plane of his muscled back.

Gen also doesn't interact much with the rest of Team Japan, but they all rally around him as their captain. Everyone is aware that they can depend on him to anchor their relays or direct them to the right venues because he's seemingly picked up a lot of useful phrases in those international video game lobbies (and in the quick study language books you've spotted hidden beneath the mess of his rooms).

You don't think he knows that you know any of this about him.

You don't know if it matters.

Gen ushers you into a room as you ruminate, shutting the door behind you and quickly shoving the mess on the floor aside so there's a clear path to his bed. You stare at him.

"Narumi… how is your dorm so messy," you ask helplessly. "We've only been here for three days."

"I have a gift," he shrugs. You can't help the laugh that bubbles up, but Gen watches you, pleased.

You shiver a little as another blast of cold air fills the room. "So what did we need to talk about, captain?"

Gen picks up a hoodie and offers it to you, watching wordlessly as you accept it and pull it on. It's oversized on you, dropping heavily to your thighs and covering your hands completely, so you shove up the sleeves as best as you can. "Thanks."

Gen turns around and crouches on the floor. "I can't do this. Fuck."

Uh, oh. Is the stress of competing at the Olympics getting to him?

"Um…" you crouch next to him and hesitate a second before resting your palm on his back. He's warm through his t-shirt, the shift and bunch of his muscles annoyingly attractive even as worry bubbles up in your chest. "Are you… good?"

"You'resofuckingcuteIwannadie."

You rub his back a little harder. "Narumi-kun?"

"I wanna eat you out."

Your hand freezes. Gen shoves his hands roughly through his hair and peeks over at you, a tiny frown on his lips. Red eyes skip over your face — pausing on your softly parted lips, your eyes wide with shock, the way your cheeks puff with a stuttered breath. You don't know if you should bolt or play it off as a joke. Years of a (mostly) friendly rivalry stack up in the back of your mind like weights.

You've always been rivals and teammates. Never competing directly against each other in the pool, but always there, ready to egg each other on to faster and better times. Supporting each other through muscle cramps and plateaus and practices beginning before sunrise.

But you haven't talked to him in the three days since coming to Paris.

"I want you," he says clearly, twisting his body to catch your hands in his own, "to cum all over my face wearing nothing but my hoodie."

"Narumi…"

"Just one chance," Gen says. He brings your hands to his chest and flattens your palms against his heart, so that you can feel the rabbit fast beat thundering away. "Give me one shot, and if you don't fall for me or my dick, I'll leave you alone and you can flirt with all the other Japanese athletes."

"You're lying," you mutter. You can't quite look him in the eye, so you focus on the pout of his lips instead. "There's no way you'd leave me alone. And I wasn't flirting, I was trying to get as many freebies and tickets as possible."

Gen keeps both of your hands pressed to his chest as he reaches up to tilt your face towards him. You squeeze your eyes shut. "I wouldn't leave you alone because there's no way you'd leave me after I'm done with you."

You can feel his thumb brush lightly along the soft skin beneath your eye. This conversation feels incomprehensible. You can barely hear yourself over the thundering of your own heartbeat. "You'd be done with me?"

He cups your face with his hand and you squeeze your eyes shut tighter. "Never."

The first time Gen kisses you, it's soft and hesitant, like he still expects you to pull away even after all this time. His lips are careful against yours, his tongue gentle as he swipes along the seam of your lips. You part them with a quiet gasp, an unspoken agreement, and his next kiss is a little hungrier, a little harsher. Heat bubbles up in your ribcage as he brings you into his lap, manhandling you in a way that makes your head rush, his hands heavy on your hips.

You clutch at his shoulders and sink your hand into his hair when he nips at your lip, drawing out a startled little sound and jerking in his lap. The movement brings you right up against the thick, hot bulge of him in his gray sweatpants. Gen pants into your mouth as he carefully, slowly rolls his hips up into yours, watching with hooded eyes when your head falls back at the feeling.

"You're so fucking hot," he mumbles, leaning up to suck a bruise into the sensitive skin of your neck. You feel the sharp nip of teeth and flinch, but he soothes the spot with his tongue before you can protest. "You've got a qualifying swim tomorrow, yeah? Hold on, let me loosen you up for it."

Gen reaches up and snags the blanket off his bed, spreading it out behind you before laying you down on it like something precious. He stays close, pressing his body along yours as he kisses his way along your neck, drinking in your stuttered breaths and quiet little gasps like he's been waiting his whole life to hear them. "N-Narumi —"

"Here, babe, let me —" Gen's ears are bright red, but he drags your pants and undies off in one movement, tugging when they snag at your knees and ankles and tossing them aside impatiently. "Fuck, is all this for me?"

Rough hands shove your thighs apart and you squirm, hot beneath the thick plush of his hoodie. Gen kisses along your bare legs, his touch feather soft at the bend of your knee and the curve of your thigh, so you get no warning when his tongue swipes broadly up your center.

You choke.

"Ha — oh, fuck — Narumi —"

"Quit calling me that," Gen huffs, diving back in like a man starved. He moans right into your pussy and you squirm, eyes clenching shut as every nerve ending lights up and dances like sparks to your core. His tongue is relentless, dipping and digging into every fold, circling your clit and tugging it into his lips so he can suck on it lightly, sending all of your thoughts spiraling into a crash of pleasure. Gen yanks your hips closer to his face as you begin to ride his tongue, chasing the overwhelming ache between your legs and throwing your arm over your face as you sob.

"Oh, please, please Narumi fuck," you yelp as he sucks particularly harshly at your clit. You peer shakily down and meet his eyes — darkened with lust — as he raises one eyebrow at you in wordless command.

Gen slides one finger into your clenching walls and crooks it, massaging a spot that makes you gush around him until you feel tears leaking from the corners of your eyes. You're so — so close —

"Gen, please," you moan.

He hums and resumes the lightning fast flick of his tongue against your clit, the pattern and pressure somehow exactly right to send you diving over the edge of your orgasm with a cry. Oh — wow. Pleasure whites out your vision for a moment and dances at the edges as you blink helplessly at the ceiling afterwards.

"You've gotta be naked when we fuck, come on, babe," Gen mutters roughly, his hands haphazard as he pulls the hoodie off and takes the rest of your clothes with it. There's a brief moment of closeness as he reaches around you to fumble at your bra, his chin glistening with your essence as he scrunches his nose in concentration.

Gen notices your look. He wipes off his chin clumsily with the back of his arm and finally tosses your bra aside, his tongue poking out the side of his mouth as he eyes your tits. "You have no idea," he says, gaze flicking to yours and softening. "You've got no fucking idea how much you've haunted me."

"Your clothes," you remind him petulantly, reaching for the edge of his shirt. Gen gets the hint and immediately starts stripping, cursing under his breath when his foot gets caught in his briefs and grinning when you giggle at him. Miles of smooth, strong muscle are revealed inch by inch. You reach up to brush your hands along the divots of his abs. "I think your thirst traps are going to get flagged, by the way."

Gen covers you with his body again, interrupting your blatant ogling. The heat and weight of him is welcome. You whine at the brush of his cock against your thighs. "You totally saw them."

"They're practically nudes, Gen," you complain, nose wrinkling at the taste of yourself on his tongue when he dips down to kiss you. "You can't share your v-line on social media."

He's so warm and solid and strong against you, his hand cupping your tit and squeezing as he watches you twitch in his hold. "I need you to cum on my cock," he says, his tone low and desperate. "I've wanted this for so long —"

You reach between your bodies and slide your hand along his dick, smearing precum along the shaft and shivering at the silky length of him. "Get inside me, then."

Gen groans as the head of his cock prods against your entrance, his face falling into your neck as he pushes just the tip inside. You can't help but clench at the feeling, fingers digging into his shoulders at the sudden stretch. It's a little bit painful, but in a good way, a pleasant, aching sort of way.

He pulls back just enough to push in a little further, short, aborted little thrusts that only serve to wind the coil in your gut tighter with every sharp grunt from his lips. Gen's cock is thick, stretching you just right and prodding against your insides until he's finally sheathed fully in your welcoming heat.

"Quit that," he mumbles, his breaths hot at your ear. "Are you trying to make me spill early?"

"Gen," you say suddenly, the thought piercing through the pleasure filled haze of your mind like an arrow, "what about a condom?"

"I'll pull out," he promises. Gen lifts his head enough to meet your eyes. "I'm clean. I got tested before we flew out."

"I did, too," you remind him. "We all did."

"Well, I've only wanted you, and you were ignoring me for three days…"

You stare up at him. "Are you seriously pouting about that with your dick inside me?"

Gen snorts and takes that moment to roll his hips, the muscles in his jaw jumping as he bites down a groan. You shiver, heat flaring hot up your spine at the messy, wet noises coming from where the two of you are joined. He gives you an expectant look.

"I'm clean, Gen, I've been too busy trying not to get run over by a car to sleep with anybody and besides, why would I want to when I couldn't stop thinking about you — oh you bastard," your voice trails off with a moan as he begins fucking you in earnest, his hips rolling perfectly to hit every soft spot inside you.

Your hands slide from his shoulders to his arms as he fucks you into the thick blanket and the floor, grabbing on for dear life as the shivering coil tightens and aches inside you. Gen huffs when you wrap your legs around his trim waist, grabbing at your ankle after a few thrusts and propping it up on his shoulder. The new angle makes you sob breathlessly, clenching around him desperately, and when he props your other ankle up you snap.

"Gen, Gen, Gen, fuck —"

The strong, relentless slap of his hips against the backs of your thighs fill your ears, the bounce and jiggle of your tits a mere afterthought of discomfort as he throws you over the edge with every perfect nudge of his cock against your inner walls. Gen curses under his breath but watches every expression flash across your face, bullying his cock through your orgasm as your pussy tries to suck him in for good.

"You're so fucking hot, babe, so fucking good for me I'm gonna — gonna cum, fuck."

You feel his cock throb inside you an instant before he pulls out, head hanging low as he spills all over your stomach up to your chest. Warm, wet seed smears along your skin as he leans against your propped up legs to breathe, a stretch you'd normally complain about except you can't quite feel your legs, anyway.

You glance down and squint at the hair between his legs. "Gen…"

"Yeah, babe?"

"Did you dye your pubes?"

Gen laughs and carefully removes your ankles from his shoulders, snagging a towel from the floor to wipe your body clean. "I told you I could prove it."

"I can't believe you," you laugh. You feel boneless. Satiated. Warm. "And you did bite me, you dummy. I'll still have marks during my race tomorrow."

"Good," Gen says smugly, pulling you up to drag his hoodie back over your body. You snuggle into the warmth willingly, yanking him down with you until his head rests against your chest and his legs tangle with yours. "I'm not done with you, anyway. How are your legs? And your back?"

"Will you massage them for me?" you ask sleepily. It's nice, combing your fingers through his hair with his arms wrapped around you. Gen folds into you like he fits, even though he's bigger than you. It makes your chest ache. "I'm not stiff right now, but maybe later."

"I'll give you a chocolate muffin, too," he mumbles. "The filling would taste pretty good on your skin."

"That's a waste of a perfectly good muffin," you frown. "Gen, promise you won't waste the muffin like that."

Gen leans into your hands as you scratch gently at his scalp and the soft, fluffy strands. "I promise the muffins are safe. No promises on ever letting you go, though."

You can't keep the silly smile from spreading across your face. Thank goodness he can't see you grinning like a fool. "That works for me."

Bonus:

"Babe! Babe," the anguished yell makes you flinch, but you'd recognize that voice anywhere. The area around the pool is crowded with swimmers getting ready for the next event, though neither of you are competing in this round.

"What the hell, Gen?" you yank him aside, hiding behind a few obnoxiously tall swimmers in case any cameras are trained your way. "We're supposed to be supporting our kouhai! What's wrong?"

"My account got banned," Gen says. You want to kiss the pout off his lips. Red eyes flick up to meet yours and his pout curls into a smarmy grin. "Lookin' good in the suit, babe."

"Shut up," you shove his face away and he laughs, catching your hand and lacing your fingers together. You turn away to hide your grin but he kisses your temple and you know he sees the curve of your lips.

"What? Can't a guy compliment his girl?"

"I reported your account for indecent exposure."

"HAH?!"

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Renaissance Loan Words in Middle English

Loan Word - vocabulary borrowings

Borrow - to introduce a word (or some other linguistic feature) from one language or dialect into another

From Latin and Greek absurdity, adapt, agile, alienate, allusion, anachronism, anonymous, appropriate, assassinate, atmosphere, autograph, benefit, capsule, catastrophe, chaos, climax, conspicuous, contradictory, crisis, criterion, critic, delirium, denunciation, disability, disrespect, emancipate, emphasis, encyclopedia, enthusiasm, epilepsy, eradicate, exact, exaggerate, excavate, excursion, exist, expectation, expensive, explain, external, extinguish, fact, glottis, habitual, halo, harass, idiosyncrasy, immaturity, impersonal, inclemency, jocular, larynx, lexicon, lunar, malignant, monopoly, monosyllable, necessitate, obstruction, pancreas, parasite, parenthesis, pathetic, pneumonia, relaxation, relevant, scheme, skeleton, soda, species, system, tactics, temperature, tendon, thermometer, tibia, tonic, transcribe, ulna, utopian, vacuum, virus

From or via French alloy, anatomy, battery, bayonet, bigot, bizarre, chocolate, colonel, comrade, detail, docility, duel, entrance, equip, explore, grotesque, invite, moustache, muscle, naturalize, passport, pioneer, probability, progress, shock, surpass, ticket, tomato, vase, vogue, volunteer

From or via Italian argosy, balcony, ballot, cameo, carnival, concerto, cupola, design, fuse, giraffe, grotto, lottery, macaroni, opera, piazza, portico, rocket, solo, sonata, sonnet, soprano, stanza, stucco, trill, violin, volcano

From or via Spanish and Portuguese alligator, anchovy, apricot, armada, banana, barricade, bravado, cannibal, canoe, cockroach, cocoa, corral, desperado, embargo, guitar, hammock, hurricane, maize, mosquito, mulatto, negro, potato, port (wine), rusk, sombrero, tank, tobacco, yam

From other languages bamboo (Malay), bazaar (Persian), caravan (Persian), coffee (Turkish), cruise (Dutch), curry (Tamil), easel (Dutch), flannel (Welsh), guru (Hindi), harem (Arabic), horde (Turkish), keelhaul (Dutch), ketchup (Malay), kiosk (Turkish), knapsack (Dutch), landscape (Dutch), pariah (Tamil), raccoon (Algonquian), rouble (Russian), sago (Malay), sheikh (Arabic), shekel (Hebrew), shogun (Japanese), troll (Norwegian), trousers (Irish Gaelic), turban (Persian), wampum (Algonquian), yacht (Dutch), yoghurt (Turkish)

Source ⚜ More References: Middle English ⚜ Renaissance

[thegreatobsesso]

wip wednesday (on friday)

Tagged by @space-writes, Lord of the Slow Burn. ❤️‍🔥

One of these days I'm actually going to finish the part where Octavius get appendicitis, which (spoiler alert) is a mechanism to get Milo and Aster in the same room for the first time, but it has gotten so, so unwieldy!!!

Anyway, here's Octavius coming out of anesthesia.

He does not want to be here - that’s easily fixed. He will get up and leave. He just needs to get these damnable things out of his veins and he'll be right as rain- “Hey, whoa, stop stop stop.” Milo’s grabbing his wrists, stopping him from disconnecting himself from all the tubes. “Let go.” “I don’t think so.” “Red. Red!” “Nice try, but we��re not in a scene. Sorry, but I’m not gonna let you rip out your IVs, now quit it.” “Horrible man,” he complains. At least he’s here. Octavius is glad to not be alone. Plus, he’s cute. “You’re cute,” he says. “You’re loopy. If I let you go, are you gonna behave?” “You behave. You’re a bad, bad boy.” Milo blushes, perfect little pink clouds on his cheeks like one of those strange Japanese cartoons. “Well, maybe so, but don’t talk to me like that in front of the nurses, okay?” Nurses. Doctors. Flimsy sheets, flimsy gown, florescent lights in a stucco ceiling. Hideous. “Hospital’s where people go to die.” “Actually, the hospital’s very much a place people go to stay alive.” “I don’t feel well,” he groans, taking stock of his physical form. Nothing’s like it should be. His guts feel like they're going to spill out. “I feel very, very bad.” Milo’s grinning like something’s funny and that is making him quite cross. “Well, you’re septic,” he says, patting Octavius’s knee under the nubby blanket. “Stay put, I’ll tell them you’re up and talking.”

Tagging @winterandwords, @zmwrites, @pertinax--loculos and @asher-writes if they'd like to share, bonus points if you're a rebel like me and share not on Wednesday 🤪

[obi-mom-kenobi]

Saw you were wondering about the Pokémon regions, sooooo here's aboutttt what they're like:

Kanto: Big, populous, and highly developed in canon, but as it was the first region it's also rather simplistic and quaint in-game. It has a bit of everything. Based on the Kanto region in Japan.

Johto: Old-fashioned with a lot of traditional Japanese architecture, music, landscaping, very naturalistic and forested. The Pokémon are all very cutesy. Based on the Kansai region in Japan.

Hoenn: A land that sits firmly between the extremes of volcanism and the ocean. Much warmer and lusher than the previous two. This was the first to lean into the solarpunk utopia themes of the world. The music has a lot of bells and trumpets. Based on the Kyushu region in Japan.

Sinnoh: Cold, mountainous, and often rugged. There's a lot of lore here (in the sense of oral history, stories, old religions), and a sense that humanity never triumphed over the vastness of nature. The music has a lot of piano. Based on the Hokkaido region in Japan.

Unova: Very modern and dense. In many ways, the spiritually successor to the Kanto region. Music is chic and pop-like. Based on New York City in the US.

Kalos: Extremely picturesque. This region is seriously one gorgeous locale or landmark after the other, looks like the whole thing could be a painting. The vibes are like, "mystical and magical" and the whole region is pretty harmonious. Based on France.

Alola: A group of cheerful tropical islands, small-scale and diverse in cultural background. There's obviously a fair bit of tourism, but it's generally chill and pleasant. Based on Hawaii in the US.

Galar: A culture focused on ascension and competition, with one side being a humble rural countryside and the other a tremendous city, with a gradual transition between. Classic European architecture, often looks like it came out of a fairy tale. Based on the UK.

Paldea: Hot, sunny and arid for the most part, and vaguely mediterranean. Lots of bright warm colors feature in the architecture, stucco, and claywork like terracotta and ceramic tiling. Based on Spain.

Oooooo thank you! I'm very new to pokemon and don't have a way to play most of the games, but I wanted to learn more about it all!

[worldcuphospitalitytickets]

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Situated right between the beach and the shops of Worth Avenue, it’s the faultless home base for traveling the island for those securing FIFA World Cup Hospitality Tickets if you can ever pull yourself away from its imaginary charms. It might seem like a miss to go to Santa Barbara and not stay close to the coast, but the instant you make the turn internal onto San Ysidro Road, you understand that being here isn’t about staying Santa Barbara it’s about visiting the ranch.

Football World Cup Hospitality Tickets: San Ysidro Ranch Hollywood’s Hideaway in the Hills

Just 38 cottages, each with their own sole layout, decor, and view, are feast out over 550 acres, but rather than being dispersed, they form a ring within the stuff.  At the resort’s center is a group of gardens as well as a rectangular- pool that supervises the canyon. Some of the curated finds you’ll see through are museum-quality art, antiques sourced from billionaire owner Ty Warner’s world travels, and handmade wallpapers even on the ceilings of the showers.

But San Ysidro Ranch isn’t your typical hotel for those securing Football World Cup Hospitality Tickets as its history of having fabled guests like Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, who honeymooned here, or John Huston, who ended writing the screenplay for The African Queen on the property, can show. And the ranch endures its legacy as a superstar refuge, as modern-day A-listers use this tucked-away spot to truly hide out and seepage which is what you should do too.

The stories are all true the ones you’ve heard about the flocculent Italian truffle dogs, the flawless timber-frame barn introduced from Pennsylvania, the well-groomed hiking trails and bridle paths that give you admission to the quiet forests of the Great Smoky Mountains. The place is a bit of heaven in eastern Tennessee, full of little particulars that feel grasped from a storybook.

FIFA 2026 Hospitality Tickets: Cityscape Dreams Elevated Luxury Overlooking Central Park

The dollhouse-like white church, the covered bridge, the substantial cottages with porches perfect for putting your feet up while drinking a whiskey and snacking on pimento cheese. But what actually takes Blackberry to the following level is the Southern hospitality.

There are few resorts as right to different types of travelers as this famous hotel on the Kona coast of the Big Island for fans securing USA FIFA Hospitality Tickets. Composed of low-slung Hawaiian-style buildings set into a sequence of crescents, each area has its own vibe and separate clientele, from lively family-friendly units to serene pockets perfect for honeymooners and for fans looking to secure World Cup Hospitality Tickets.

Irrespective of where you stay, however, you’ll be preserved to postcard-perfect sights of the Pacific Ocean, the property’s verdant golf course, and the sense that this place someway happens in an enduring state of tranquility. New for this year and not to miss is chef Tyler Florence’s Miller and Lux steakhouse.

As a longtime Upper West Sider, I’ve strolled through Central Park lots of times that didn’t make the sweeping sights from the Premier Central Park View Suite any less awe-inspiring. The housings for fans securing FIFA World Cup Hospitality Tickets will just as remarkable, with a massive U-shaped couch, a fluffy king-size bed, and heavy blackout shades that near at the touch of a button.

USA FIFA Hospitality Tickets: Mandarin Magic A Michelin-Starred Gateway to NYC’s Heartbeat

Because of its top-tier facility, sumptuous amenities, and eccentric central site, the Mandarin Oriental is both an excellent special-occasion staycation for New Yorkers and a prime landing spot for out-of-towners seeking easy admission to Broadway, Central and Bryant Parks, and Fifth Avenue.

Taking a tour of the chef’s garden, or ratification up for a falconry lesson. Grand, but not fussy. Of another era, but far from old-fashioned. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is the Goldilocks property that’s achieved to change with the times while upholding its typical New England charm.

Inside, the cozy lobby helps as a communal living room where guests securing Football World Cup Hospitality Tickets read newspapers. Outside, families toast s’mores around fire pits and play lawn games. Regular updates to the 200-plus-year-old hotel, counting a glow-up of all 142 rooms and the addition of a Scandi-chic spa, guarantee that loyal East Coasters keep recurring for generations.

For fans eager to attend FIFA 2026 matches, a wide array of FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets is available at eticketing.co. Our platform partners exclusively with reputable sellers on the secondary market, ensuring access to top-notch ticket listings from across the web. Explore our Football World Cup 2026 selection to find the best deals available today. Grab your World Cup hospitality tickets from trusted platforms and join the excitement!

[conciergebloom]

Finding Inspiration for Your Boca Raton Land Design Project

Creating a stunning landscape design in Boca Raton is both an exciting and challenging endeavor. This coastal paradise, known for its vibrant culture and picturesque environment, offers abundant opportunities to craft a personalized outdoor space. But how do you find the inspiration to transform your vision into reality? Let’s explore some creative ideas to spark your imagination and guide you on this journey.

Embrace Boca Raton’s Natural Beauty

The first step to designing your landscape is to draw inspiration from Boca Raton’s unique environment. The lush greenery, pristine beaches, and tropical climate create the perfect backdrop for a variety of design styles. Here are some ways to incorporate local elements:

Native Plants and Flowers

Florida-friendly plants like hibiscus, bougainvillea, and sea grapes not only thrive in Boca Raton’s climate but also add vibrant colors and textures to your garden. Incorporating native plants ensures that your landscape remains low-maintenance while supporting local wildlife.

Coastal Themes

Capture the land design of boca raton by including coastal elements such as sand-colored stone pathways, seashell accents, and ornamental grasses that mimic the movement of ocean waves. This creates a serene, beach-inspired aesthetic.

Take Cues from Architectural Styles

The architecture of your home plays a crucial role in determining the overall look and feel of your landscape. Boca Raton’s Mediterranean Revival and contemporary designs offer plenty of inspiration:

Mediterranean Elegance

If your home features Mediterranean-style architecture, consider incorporating terracotta pots, stucco walls, and cascading water features. Adding lush greenery like palms and olive trees can enhance the old-world charm.

Modern Minimalism

For contemporary homes, opt for clean lines, minimalist plantings, and sleek materials like concrete or metal. A well-placed sculpture or a reflecting pool can serve as a striking focal point.

Explore Public Spaces and Gardens

Boca Raton is home to several public gardens and parks that can serve as a source of inspiration for your project:

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

This nature preserve showcases native plants and ecosystems, offering ideas for creating a sustainable and eco-friendly landscape.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

The tranquil beauty of the Japanese gardens can inspire features like koi ponds, bamboo accents, and Zen-like rock arrangements for a peaceful retreat in your own backyard.

Find Inspiration in Art and Culture

Artistic elements can bring personality and uniqueness to your landscape. Boca Raton’s rich cultural scene offers plenty of creative opportunities:

Sculpture and Installations

Consider adding a statement piece like a sculpture or artistic water feature that reflects your personal taste. Local galleries and art fairs are great places to find one-of-a-kind pieces.

Mosaic Pathways

Incorporate colorful mosaics or tiles into pathways and patios to add an artistic flair while celebrating Boca Raton’s vibrant culture.

Look to Your Lifestyle

Your landscape should be a reflection of how you intend to use the space. Think about your family’s needs and daily activities:

Entertaining Spaces

If you love hosting gatherings, include features like an outdoor kitchen, dining area, or fire pit. Use durable materials and stylish furniture to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Relaxation Zones

For a tranquil retreat, design a private seating area with comfortable loungers surrounded by lush greenery. Adding elements like a hammock or fountain can enhance the sense of relaxation.

Kid-Friendly Features

Families with children can incorporate fun elements like a play area, sandbox, or even a mini butterfly garden to spark curiosity and creativity.

Use Technology for Inspiration

The digital age offers countless resources to help you visualize and plan your landscape design:

Pinterest and Instagram

Browse platforms like Pinterest and Instagram for stunning landscape ideas and tips. Create a mood board to organize your favorite designs and themes.

Landscape Design Apps

Apps like iScape and SketchUp allow you to experiment with different layouts, plantings, and features, giving you a clearer vision of your project before breaking ground.

Collaborate with Professionals

Sometimes, the best way to find inspiration is to consult with experts. Boca Raton is home to skilled landscape designers and architects who can help you bring your ideas to life:

Personalized Consultations

A professional designer can assess your property and suggest innovative solutions tailored to your preferences and budget.

Stay Updated on Trends

Working with an expert ensures that your landscape incorporates the latest trends, such as vertical gardens, eco-friendly designs, or smart irrigation systems.

Incorporate Seasonal Changes

Designing with Boca Raton’s climate in mind allows your landscape to shine year-round:

Seasonal Color

Use flowering plants that bloom in different seasons to ensure your garden remains vibrant throughout the year.

Adaptive Features

Consider elements like pergolas or retractable awnings that provide shade during hot summer months while allowing you to enjoy the outdoors comfortably.

Take Inspiration from Travel

If you’ve visited a garden or outdoor space that left a lasting impression, use elements from those experiences in your design:

Tropical Getaways

Bring the essence of your favorite tropical destination to your backyard with lush palm trees, tiki torches, and a lagoon-style pool.

European Gardens

Incorporate elegant hedges, stone pathways, and ornate fountains reminiscent of classic European landscapes for a sophisticated touch.

Sustainability as Inspiration

Eco-friendly design is not only good for the planet but can also be visually stunning:

Rain Gardens

Create a rain garden to manage runoff while adding a dynamic and colorful element to your yard.

Native Landscaping

Opt for drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation systems to reduce water usage and maintenance.

Conclusion

Finding inspiration for your Boca Raton landscape design project is all about blending creativity, functionality, and a connection to the local environment. By drawing from natural surroundings, architectural styles, public spaces, and personal preferences, you can craft a unique and beautiful outdoor space that reflects your vision. Whether you’re designing a serene retreat or a lively entertaining area, the possibilities are endless. Take the time to explore, plan, and collaborate with professionals to bring your dream landscape to life in this coastal paradise.

[kicksaddictny]

Must-See Exclusive Drops Coming to ComplexCon Las Vegas

ComplexCon, the ultimate festival and exhibition that brings together the best in style, music, art, and food, is gearing up to feature over 200 of today’s most influential cultural innovators and brands. This year’s event promises an exciting array of collaborations and limited-edition releases you won’t find anywhere else, making it a must-attend for anyone passionate about convergence culture.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the most anticipated exclusive drops:

PUMA x Feature Extos 'Vintage Vegas': This release takes inspiration from midcentury Las Vegas, with neon highlights contrasting a muted stucco base, reminiscent of the city’s iconic architecture. Check out this unique design at Feature’s immersive booth.

Market x Reebok: Get your hands on the Market Studios Camo Club C, available only at ComplexCon.

ASICS x HIDDEN NY: Dive into the Prehistoric Technologies experience, an interactive setup that will unveil new sneakers and merchandise designed for both indoor and outdoor adventures.

Pleasures x Clarks: A collaboration set to surprise attendees with its fresh take on classic Clarks styles.

Sorayama x Complex Gift Shop: Famed Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama will transform the ComplexCon Gift Shop, offering exclusive merchandise like t-shirts, crewnecks, hats, skateboard decks, tote bags, and more, all adorned with his signature designs.

Jae Tips x Saucony: Saucony and Jae Tips are revisiting the Matrix silhouette for the first time since 2000, following their popular Omni 9 release. Attendees will have the first look at this exciting comeback.

Salehe x Crocs: Designer Salehe Bembury will debut the Borealis colorway of his Crocs collaboration, available exclusively at ComplexCon.

Loiter x WWE: This partnership will unveil a limited-edition capsule collection, debuting at ComplexCon and later available in limited quantities through Culture Kings starting November 18.

Beyond these drops, attendees can shop hundreds of other exclusives from top brands and creatives like 032C, Ambush, Awake NY, Cactus Plant Flea Market, Futura Laboratories, Hidden NY, Malbon Golf, Nike, Online Ceramics, Rick Owens, Undefeated, Vetements, and many more.

ComplexCon Las Vegas is set to redefine the boundaries of fashion and culture once again, so mark your calendars for November 16 & 17 and prepare to experience the latest in style, innovation, and creativity.

[hospitalterrorizer]

diary59

11/9-10/2023

thursday - friday

weird dreams lately.

first i'll write about the dream i had today, and then i might right about the dream i had yesterday. before that, re: guest tonight, they cancelled, a relief i think.

~

the dream:

i can't recall where it began, i was on vacation with family, it felt like spain, the house we were in was my cousin's old place, their second house, while my uncle was a still alive, on my mom's side. except the bathroom, the bathroom was an inverted, dirty copy, of the bathroom of my uncle's place on my dad's side. but the dream, i was in it, the middle of it, the architecture was like spain and this house i was in was tall, two stories high maybe, there were pieces i never saw, to join all the pieces i recognized. i was hanging out the window, a room that never existed in that house, there was another window right beside it, and i was leaning on a metal fence, a shallow balcony, out from the black of the other window, japanese tourists, they leaned and spoke with me, they said i was good at japanese, the blue sky was at the edges of my vision, perfect frame on white stucco, the woman wearing 00s shibuya kei clothing was very enthused, eventually asking me about money. i said i had none, she said, that's too bad. she left. i went to the bathroom. it was grey-blue, green was there too, a swamp at night or no, not a swamp, nothing so damp, it was where a pond, white sand, weak trees, moss on stones, and the gentle dying of frigidness in the air, spring's birth, but still being born, you don't know if it will be a stillbirth, and horrific and sad. no one had been there in years, a ruin, not disgusting though, even though these three creatures on the mirror, clouding the mirror, three moths with bat-sized wings, wings of paper or gauze or mache, something stuck and wet on the mirror, vessels beating lightly, organic folding and unfolding, curling of burnt, wet paper, the creatures overlapping one another, new collages of wasted, dirty, material. they had been there as long as the place had been. the sink was full of water, they separated from their wings, not caterpillars really, maggots, with mandibles moving as lips, expressive but inhuman eyes, bugs still, no human features, the creatures were as they were, not related to me, but mandibles as a new approach on lips, eye contact re-invented too. the three spoke inaudible. i felt bad for them. the sink was glass, i watched them tumble. they moved as ice cubes do, when you drop them in water, never settling. i kept looking at the paper mache wings, now rotting, not moving, vessels still and everything. i kept thinking about how they had been moving, i keep thinking about it still, in life, i have never seen anything like it, i knew that then. i left the bathroom. i didn't go in there for any reason. my aunt was in a room, there was a computer, there had to be, not for any reason other than: i sensed it, or i sense it now in the image of her face, we were in the kitchen, kitchen adjacent maybe, but my eyes held her face more than any piece of the room, and so the room conformed to her face, lighting was warm, fleshy but not fleshtone, orange of old lamps, wood was around. she was in my face, she asked how i was enjoying things, i said fine, she said i should go buy some things, enjoy myself, i said i have no money, she began to cry, really weeping for me, makeup she did not have on before began to run, mascara, eyeliner, i can't recall the color of her real eyes, in the dream they were blue, and she was so mortified, inconsolable, it was like i had died in front of her. she said: you can't do anything, i am so worried about you, you can't do anything in the world, how am i supposed to help, i can't help you, i can't save you. it at least felt like all that. strangely, remembering now, in the dream, i was wearing some very raggy dress, like one i have, interesting i was like that in front of my family. she was miserable, i went away, miserable too, terrified for what i might be able to do.

the dream's final phase, i was in the garage, my uncle pulls in, he hands me a bag, the bag contains these black bellpeppers, he is then with them, on a paper plate, a tiny knife beside them, i begin to cut them, i take barely anything out of it, the tiny knife is too thin, aluminum almost and the inside of the thing is very very green. he stares, shocked. i say: is this the knife you normally use for this, after struggling a while. he said, making eyes at me, brows raised, like, you're so stupid, eyes: uh, no. and i looked all over, desperate for the knife i use when i cut anything at home, wooden handle, i kept saying it has to be around, it was nowhere. i use this knife, it's been in the family forever, it's my grandma's, how strange. i woke up there, panicked over the knife.

~

the other dream:

in japan with my gf, her mother, her brother too. in the hotel, my gf says that she needs to get some work done, i say, okay. i go off with the others. it's night, her mom drops her brother and i off somewhere, a giant mall or casino, her mom is in this vast parking lot and i run off to the car again, something fell out of the car supposedly. the parking lot was like the ones in america, nothing like in japan, a tarmac ocean. i return, her brother is talking to a girl, she speaks english very well, she said she had coke, her brother promised me he'd only drink, the building was connected to a subway station too, the overhead awning's bulbs glistened funny in the tunnel that met parking lot and went off somewhere else. i didn't want to deal with his drug binge, he was skinnier in the dream, super skinny, and his facial hair thin and weird, ratlike. i abandon him, and without money i can't get on the rail line. i wandered into the night, it became day, but it's not that time passed, time had decided to change, it became overcast day, it felt almost like early morning, that kind of tranquility. i stared into/at expensive and tall department stores, like i saw in kyoto irl, that big shopping zone. i walked into a big park central to all the shopping zone. i walked to this enclosure in the center, an iron fence, not like chainlink, upright, spikes from earth with brick dividers, a pond, an island, evergreen trees, a tiny godzilla standing on a stone on the shore throwing tiny rocks at passersby. i climbed the fence to try and get into the enclosure to meet him, he was magical under the grey sky, and his back and head were shiny, not in a real way, but it projected an aura. i realized, he is a man in a suit, i climbed back down. it began pouring then, i walked into a tiny store, situated in an abortive strip mall, atrophied american architecture, it was on a hill. i stood outside, getting rained on, reading signs about how you should behave in the store, written in english with sharpie on paper, hung off strings, hundreds of rules, some in red, underlined. a man speaking perfect english welcomed me in, in an unhappy way, there was food hanging off the walls, pastries, bread, that kind of thing, also strung up on the walls and down from the ceiling. dangling and spinning lightly. a pantry full of ingredients, a glass case for refrigerated items too. the sign outside had something to do with clothing. the owner came out, a kind french man who also spoke perfect english, he brought me over to this giant armoire, he said look, i looked, many tulle dresses, they all struck me. one had construction on the shoulders i quite liked, cylindrical and bouncy, spongey too kind of, it reminded me of translucent sea cucumbers. he talked about rockstars. he showed me lingere for when i'm at home, one was a body suit, i thought explicitly about how well it would fit me, if i could make that work. it was pretty and pink, red ribbons and bows across it too, white accents, i stared at his face, saying i would remember to come back with my gf, as i had no money. i woke up then.

these dreams are weird, they correspond to things i really remember happening, especially today's dream. anyway, i think i know what they mean (i have no money, i can't do anything, i am scared of family). but that's not the exciting part, i like writing my dreams so i can keep these images, for other pieces of writing, it's all easy enough to reformulate. anyway on the anywayyy, today i didn't do a lot, i ate leftovers and didn't make cookies, maybe saturday. tomorrow supposedly there is a birthday for someone my gf knows that i don't know well, the theme is taking your breasts out or like hooters something. i don't have breasts really and i don't have fake things or like prosthetics. but there's a contest they're having for best nip-slip, i could wear a loose dress for that, if i want to. it feels weird and i don't know if i'll go, but it would be fun i guess to lean into something disheveled, as a look. would they appreciate that, how do they see me, i don't know. is that weird, i think sometimes i really just want too much attention. not sometimes, all the time i want too much attention. it's ugly but it's something really horrifically deep inside. that thought spurred on some writing. it's funny how i thought this might make me a less productive writer, but the diary has really spurred more on than not. and no one has to be looking for that to happen. i really can do it myself, for myself. i may not have any money but that's a level of independence some people never get i guess, right. or maybe that's a fantasy. either way, putting something in public and not expecting anyone to see it is interesting. the thing that really keeps our lives private are just interest, and the willingness people have to pry. who would pry, who cares about me. that's fun to think about i think. all those people obsessed with opsec are just paranoid that they matter a lot. it's like explaining away why they aren't popular. you can spew every detail of the psychosexual disaster you are into the void, and no one will care. it's interesting how i can't tell if that's a tragedy or not.

i also finished the rewrite on the song roughly, meaning it's slotted in, there's drums, some little parts alongside it, now i'm just thinking of how to mix a little, and the 2nd pv riff part and how to fit it in better, and also this crazy part, i wanna amp that up. writing riffs like that is addictive, i'd like to try and get another thing out like that now but i think before then, i should just fuck around on guitar a lot, get some ideas out while i try and get a bunch of other stuff done. soon i should finish the single and the b side, before this interview comes out. not that i'm gonna get any interest from that.

now i am just listening to pg.99. typical, of me. there's a photo i took of a flower above.

it takes a lot of finesse to write parts like this. i don't think a lot of new bands realize that, these really exploratory and droning pieces, it takes a lot to get there i think. i dunno, it's an incomplete theory but too many bands just want to get there, and they end up deep in cliches, or used by the cliches, to further the aim of some parasite stuck to art, sentiment's evil head. being able to use that for your own ends, like when pg99 jumps into one of their weird gothy waltz songs, there's something really amazing about those to me, freely engaging with something that feels cheap and using that to highlight something wounded and terrible.

anyway:

byebye!!!!!

[lunarmote]

Week 9? I’ve lost track: It’s getting difficult.

This week, I: scouted out a new cafe on a high school friend’s recommendation, with new friends, hung out with dormmates, went to a Thai restaurant with friends, panicked over Japanese class, went to Gion, and experienced a typhoon warning.

This is going to be a scattered entry; I can feel it x___x

I had a very worthwhile conversation with two new friends here, in Cafe Bibliotic Hello. I think a lot about how our stay is halfway over and we don’t really have that much time left; and it’s true we can choose to make the most out of the moment, but the ultimate question is how?? How quickly time passes by and how unflinchingly. In the end, the amount of minutes in an hour is constant.

By thinking evaluatively we are placing ourselves in the future. We baby our present (”past”) selves by coaxing them to do something that future us will remember fondly. What even is that? The second you start thinking this way, everything and anything becomes pointless. 

This cafe had so many plants on the inside. The menu was handwritten, with a few laminated, half-sized drawings of individual tarts. It is often the case here in Japan that you will not be allowed to order dessert unless you order an entrée as well, or a beverage. A bit problematic for me going to cafes as someone who can’t drink caffeine and doesn’t want to ingest a sugar bomb. The lunch sets were relatively expensive; alas, you pay for ambience here, not just sustenance. 

Many items on the menu have katakana names, including the word for “hot” beverage:  ホット.

What was I going on about? While I was sitting in the cafe with friends I started zoning out a little bit just thinking about what I was doing here. It’s quite laughable that before I came here I had these grand plans to be circumspect and scribble down every minute detail of my life here, and when I’m here for real, so many of my moments blur together and I barely have the energy to do anything. My priorities are completely shifted. Not even in the sense that I have 898,735 things to do and keep putting them off. More in the sense of feeling like everything on my to-do list is pointless.

To take a random example: I was inspired by photobashers in the early days of deviantART who would release stock packs. They had an eye for eccentric textures, taking pictures of bad graffiti and stucco and dilapidated buildings, and making beautiful art out of these. I had told myself if I ever moved to a foreign country to start taking pictures of everything.

I think I did that for about a week here and then I forgot. Now I’m so familiar with the way to school and the traffic lights and the narrowness of the streets that I have lost my “curator’s” eye. I feel like you could get used to anything astonishingly fast. I don’t even remember what the San Diegan counterpart of these things look like, but I’m sure 2 weeks back in San Diego will have me forget Kyoto.

Am I satisfied with how I’ve spent my time here? If anything, I am disappointed by could improve at living for me. Even here I am driven by my desire to make things right, for other people to be happy. I need to ask myself if doing things for other people is truly who I am, or if I’m doing things to get a reaction out of them.

On Tues evening I went to a Thai restaurant with two friends from my dorm. It’s interesting to me how “spice” scales never really tell you anything because different parts of the world have different standards for spice. Taking into account that this was a Thai restaurant in Japan, which is not really known for its spicy food. But I love Thai food so much especially papaya salad, which we ordered, along with seasoned squid, basil chicken, and Tom Yum-flavored fries.

In the middle of the week I realized we had a test and I started panicking over it. I typically (at home) have a hard time studying for things anyway, but being in Kyoto doesn’t help when you are surrounded by people always doing things and inviting you to things. I tried to combat this by staying in the lounge area where people coming out of their rooms could see me. It worked, kind of.

There are a few other habits that are slipping, such as doing laundry on time, getting healthy groceries, even paying bills at the 7-Eleven. It’s always because there is one minor step that is an inconvenience and that makes me forget/put it off until it officially becomes “late.” Like, laundry for instance. Our laundry machines only take 100 yen coins, and 100 yen coins are a bit high in demand when you consider their many uses. Thankfully there is a vending machine next to our dorm which takes 1000 bills, but then I’m stuck with a sugared drink I don’t want and an extra plastic bottle I have to recycle, which then I have to buy more trash bags for. I think I collected over 20 plastic bottles before I realized this was a little bit unsustainable and I should probably start saving 100 yen coins.

Groceries I think I unconsciously started dreading when I first moved here because the cashier would say a bunch of Japanese to me that I didn’t understand. Now I understand what they’re asking and an additional problem has popped up: it’s awkward to cook here. We have a single induction stove in our rooms, no vent fan and no closet door so odors stick to your clothes, plus the length of our stays is awkward (4-6 months) and buying cooking utensils may not be a good investment, plus it’s cheaper to buy onigiri at 7-Eleven anyway, but, but-! This is not the type of reasoning you want to stick with for long. You start slipping a little and then more, and eventually, you lose all your healthy habits.

Anyway, I was panicking over Japanese class for two to three days. Why? You see, there are some people in my class with prior knowledge (I confess that I am one of them, but it takes longer for me to retain information than most people anyway) and the teacher takes them as the benchmark for speed. Lessons are too short for the amount of material we’re supposed to memorize. I say I want a study buddy but I don’t really, because I can’t study with people - the only good being in company does me is keeps me from going on instagram/reddit. Not to mention the felt futility of studying grammar in class when you are in the country surrounded by people who speak the language.

Aah, I’ve been talking about random things for so long. Here’s some more: 

This morning we received a typhoon warning for the Kansai region: landslides in northern Sakyo-ku as well as the flooding Kamogawa river. I have to say, as someone who lives in mild California, I have always found extreme weather conditions fascinating. I was a bit in awe when I stepped out of the classroom today and saw the relentless downpour - the drops melted together like a heavy blanket. 

A couple of days ago I went to Gion with a new friend. I’ve always wanted to see it for myself and, despite living 20 mins on foot from it and having known about it for so long, never got the chance to... The sun was setting in the most beautiful way, casting its light over Yasaka shrine.

[zetragildcosplay]

Stucco Exterior in Los Angeles

[offshoreoilrig]

When I defend minimalism I'm not talking about scandinavians or even japanese minimalism. I want my apartment to look like a monk's quarters. White cracked stucco walls with a single crucifix in the middle and a hand embroidered wool blanket on the hay-stuffed mattress

[ironunderoos]

Mob boss tony and killer spider assissin peter are married and control new York

I'm sorry anon that this took so long but I was very busy and Dare eat up my writing drive 😅 I hope you like what I made out of this! Thousand thanks and kisses for @king-of-kaoss for beta-ing and cheering on me to get it done! 💖

Sleeky Joe was dead, even if he didn't know it yet. But everybody else knew.

Tony watched him from behind his shades, one hand by his chin, stroking the tip of his index finger over his perfectly trimmed beard. He sprawled on a faded brocade armchair, fitting for the formerly grand mansion. Even if it was uninhabited now, the old glory was visible in the high ceilings and the wooden floors. Today, cobwebs graced the corners and the windows were boarded up.

Only the circle around the man in the center of the room was lit, surrounded by a couple of Tony's men, preventing Sleeky Joe from running away. He sweat profusely, trying to keep a calm facade and failing.

Tony rubbed his beard again. "You mentioned an ambush. Tell me more about it."

The culprit started on his rehearsed explanation that Tony already knew where all lies. He hadn't been knocked out before the cargo-hold had been raided and he hadn't jumped into the river to escape the police.

Unnoticed by the people below, a shadow crept over the high ceiling, inaudible. It stayed in the darker parts between the stucco ornaments and the off chandeliers, almost invisible and unobtrusive like a spider.

"I heard…" Tony interrupted the man who immediately stopped his rambling. "... that somebody hinted the location of our freighter to the cops. Someone who got paid by the Japanese."

"No, Don Stark, no! You can't imply…"

"I can't…?"

"Nononono I didn't mean it that way…!"

The shadow moved closer, slowly, as if it had all the time in the world. The tight suit was made of a dark grey material, easy to overlook. Only under close inspection the fine black lines were visible that formed a spider web all over the suit. Finally it stopped right above the armchair, the body pressed against the ceiling, and took in the scene beneath.

The interrogation happened in the middle of a loose ring of men. Headlamps blinded the man in the middle who tried to see. Nobody had a weapon in hand but of course everybody was armed.

The masked head looked around, counted the exits and the possible points to kill everybody in the room before they even knew what happened. Then he focused on the man in the armchair.

"I know that you haven't taken the shift to atone for your lapse last week," Tony snarled and got up from his seat. Now his unprotected head was only seven feet away from the hunching figure under the ceiling. "I know that you got payment from an unknown source!"

"No please, Don Stark, please!" Sleeky Joe raised his hands in pleading.

The shadow raised his hand with the poisonous shot.

"Plead to your maker!" Tony gritted out between his teeth.

A barely audible sound followed.

Joe froze. His eyes stared at Tony, but slowly rose to the shadow above.

His eyes bulged. He fell to his knees, then onto his face.

The shadow unfolded in an elegant bow and stretched his legs. On an invisible thread he lowered himself to the floor behind Tony, landing without a sound.

"You're late," Tony scolded softly.

The spider walked around him and came to a halt in front of the boss. "Took me some time to get out of Ross' mansion."

Both listened to the sirens in the distance.

"Someone on your heels?"

"Don't think so."

Tony gestured to his men. The newer ones tried it to stare at the infamous assassin who had just killed the traitor. Two of them took the remains of Sleeky Joe under the arms and carried him away. The rest followed. The door clicked shut.

The spider gripped his mask and pulled it off. An observer would have been surprised by how young he was, barely an adult, the bouncy locks and pink cheeks making him look even younger. But a closer look offered that his gaze was cold as ice and his smile sharp like a dagger. Only when he focussed on his boss his gaze became softer, even worshipful.

"Good job." Tony pulled him close by the waist, uncaring that the boy was armed with poison that killed in seconds. The boy got lax in his grip when their lips touched. Tony Stark was the only one to survive the toxin of this spider.

[mia-japanese-korean]

Santa Fe, Yoshida Tōshi, 1971, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Japanese and Korean Art

diverse groups of people in very colorful clothing the long, covered porch of a grey stucco building; women in colorful shawls and long dresses seated along colorful blankets with their backs to the stucco wall; people in contemporary clothing interacting with the seated women; porch pillars and lintels are dark brown wood; yellow roof with pigeons; grey windows Size: 14 3/4 × 21 1/2 in. (37.47 × 54.61 cm) (sheet) Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/117599/