#judgement boy rose gold

[pawsometoons]

A bunch of my friends wanted to hug RoseGold hehe

He deserves the hugs

[beautyofaphrodite]

Venus Verticordia

As you may know, I’ve been making posts with deep dives into artistic depictions of Lady Aphrodite (or technically Lady Venus). I’ve already covered The Birth of Venus by Botticelli and Cabanel, Venus Victrix by Canova and Venus Anadyomene by Titian. Today’s artwork is Venus Verticordia by Rossetti.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter, and translator born on May 12, 1828 in London and died April 9, 1882 in Kent. His work was characterised by its sensuality and its medieval revivalism and was a major precursor of the Aesthetic movement. He tended to create his artwork based off of his poetry.

Description of the Painting + Symbolism

Venus, depicted pale, with dark red hair is shown nude surrounded by roses and honeysuckles. She holds a golden apple (alluding to the judgement of Paris) and a gold-tipped arrow. She has a halo and is surrounded by yellow butterflies.

The roses and honeysuckle represent sexual passion, and the arrow is Venus’ son Cupid’s arrow, and the fact that it’s pointed towards her heart represents “uncontrollable desire”. While partially a reference to Eris’ Apple of Discord in the Judgement of Paris, the golden apple also symbolizes forbidden fruit in the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden, showing temptation. Venus is shown with a halo, which represents holiness and purity. The butterflies may represent Venus’ soul, her attendants, or the involvement of the soul as well as the body in love and desire.

Poem

This poem was written by Rossetti to accompany the painting.

“She hath the apple in her hand for thee,

Yet almost in her heart would hold it back;

She muses, with her eyes upon the track

Of that which in thy spirit they can see.

Haply, ‘Behold, he is at peace,’ saith she;

‘Alas! the apple for his lips,—the dart

That follows its brief sweetness to his heart,—

The wandering of his feet perpetually!’

A little space her glance is still and coy;

But if she give the fruit that works her spell,

Those eyes shall flame as for her Phrygian boy.

Then shall her bird's strained throat the woe foretell,

And her far seas moan as a single shell,

And through her dark grove strike the light of Troy.”

About the Painting

Venus Verticordia was commissioned by Patron John Mitchell of Bradford in 1863, and Rossetti worked on it from 1864 to 1868. The painting moved to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum collection in 1945 where it is still displayed. The dimensions of this painting are 98.1 cm × 69.9 cm (38.6 in × 27.5 in).

Fun Facts

- The model for this painting was originally “a remarkably handsome cook whom he met in the street” but was later changed to resemble Alexa Wilding, one of his favorite muses.

- Verticordia means Changer of the Heart, referring to “Venus's ability to turn women's hearts towards virtue”

- During the time in which this was created, Flower Language was a big thing, and this is shown in the symbolism of the flowers surrounding Venus

- This is Rossetti’s only nude oil painting

I hope you learned something, I certainly did! As always, if there’s any artistic depictions of Lady Aphrodite or Lady Venus (whether painting, statue, etc) you particularly like or want me to cover, please let me know! Love y’all 🫶

[awriternamedart]

"Silver, or gold?"

"Silver."/"Gold."

Yosuke and Yu paused to stare at each other as they answered in sync. Even Yukiko, who had asked the innocent question while holding some fabric accents for her family's inn, took a pause, snickering as the two boys stared at each other in surprise.

"Silver, Yosuke?" Yu tilted his head, genuine surprise peaking its head. Yosuke just shrugged, fully pulling his headphones off his head. "I would have thought you liked gold more."

"Oh, come off it, partner- Silver's where its at!! Most mens stuff is in silver!" Yosuke shrugged, holding up the silver ring on his middle finger as if it were proof. "Take it from me, silver is just shinier, better lookin!"

"Thats a shame, since yer totally a gold n' bronze person, Yosuke." Kanji wandered in from where he had been browsing the selection for Yukiko, gently placing the fabrics down— almost like they'd shatter into a million pieces if he went to fast. Yosuke just blinked at him, scoffing almost.

"Whaddya mean by that?"

"Gold would suit ya better, tha's all." Kanji shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Ya got a thinner chin, light brown hair, brown eyes, freckles n' shit— like a warmer tone skin a' well. Red undertone, or somethin'. So thin gold jewelry probably best for ya if we're ignorin your outfit."

They all just kinda stared at Kanji, who stared back at them before shrugging.

"What? I live in a textile shop. Whaddya expect?" He grumbled, rubbing at the back of his neck. "'S not rocket science."

"Wait, wait, so then what am I, Kanji?" Yukiko popped forward in interest, Chie's arm being snagged as she rounded around her underclassman. "What jewelry suits me best? And Chie!!"

Kanji took a simple look over, something calculative in his eye before he spoke.

"Probably thin silver shit. Black hair, cooler toned skin, also a narrow face shape, bigger eyes— stuff like silver decorative studs or a small chained necklace or somethin would work. Otherwise ya kinda just have to base it off your outfit."

He turned to Chie at Yukiko's behest, quickly turning the same judgement onto her.

"Rose gold or bronze, maybe. Chunkier stuff, to. Frames yer neck cause of yer short hair, warm vibe, yknow? Somethin a little on the darker side to contrast yer hair to." Chie looked pleasantly surprised and pleased by that at least.

"Wait, so what about Yu? Don't leave him out!" She was pretty quick to turn on their leader though, directing Kanji's gaze towards him. Yu blinked in surprise before their eyes met, and Kanji barely even took a few seconds before answering.

"Black or silver, easy. Got that cooler tone, but silver matches yer hair really well so black would probably be best to stand out, but silver would work to frame yer face. Ya'd have to break it up though, wardrobe stuff, yknow?" He shrugged, pink on his face and shoving his hands in his pockets. "It ain't that big of a deal, it just basic color."

Yosuke just had to glance at Yu.

Yu happened to glance back.

He cracked a faint smile, leaning over a little closer to his partner.

"You like silver?"

And Yosuke's face turned scarlet, head quickly darting away as Yu just began to chuckle.

-

Silver and Gold - awriternamedart

precious metal silver and gold boyfriends,,,,

[tbhimnoteasyonmyself]

Rak's Cartier Bracelets - EPISODES 1 TO 5

Hello, Tumblr. Today I hope not to be simply another Tumblrina with opinions but also a neurodivergent Tumblrina with hyperspecific interests and life history that come in handy for this particular purpose.

What interests and what history, you ask? Ah, but, of course! My deep knowledge of the Cartier Love Collection from, obviously, being a HunHan conspirationist in 2014 at the ripe age of 12.

Now, if I've satisfied your curiosity, let us begin.

So I was watching episode 5 today (don't blame me, I wanted to watch it sooner but I was on vacation bc my sister gave me a trip to Sevilla as a birthday gift) and one thing caught my attention during the argument scene.

That bad boy I very carefully (not really) identified for you is one of the most iconic Cartier products ever: A Love Bracelet™.

"Ok. Cool. But why does that matter?"

Well, for once it proves Rak is rich as fuck. Those bracelets go for THOUSANDS of euro. Like... The cheapest bracelet in the Love Collection is the intertwined rings bracelet in gold and rose gold (the white gold one is more expensive)

And it sells rn for 2120€ (2300$).

And that's for sure NOT the version Rak has!

From what I can tell, he's wearing this version:

Which is the classic Love Bracelet design in white gold.

This one is selling rn for 8750€ (9490$).

I think there can be an argument that he's actually wearing either the brushed version (left photo) or the small version (right photo)

which, respectively, are being sold for 8750€ (9490$) and 5650€ (6121$) but I think the version Rak has is

too shiny to be the brushed version;

too thick to be the small version.

Either way, it's a fucking expensive bracelet.

But this is not even why I wanted to point this out, I mean, yeah, of course Rak is rich, we are all well-aware of that.

The point here is that this bracelet is not just famous for being pretty (which, as far as my judgement goes, it really isn't, sorry not sorry). It is famous, more than anything else, bc of its meaning, which I'll let the brand tell you all about:

Which is why it caught my attention that Rak, of all people, is wearing one of these. Like... What the hell does this mean???

So I decided to investigate when did this bracelet first appear in order to have a feel whether or not this could potentially be plot-relevant, a character descriptor or simply a fashion choice. And what I found, my dear friends, is that this bracelet first appeared right at the beginning of ep.4.

Which is very suspicious because ep.3, we all recall, ended with Rak promising Mut that he'd stay on the island for a bit more.

BUT, before we start jumping to conclusions, I decided to check whether this bracelet stands the trial of ep.5 and remains until the very end which, big and revelant surprise, it does NOT.

It gets replaced, in the scene of the day after the fight by this one:

Which, I get it, it might be hard to see and identify but it's actually an old friend. In fact, it's the only other bracelet Rak has ever worn:

This has been on his wrist from the beginning of ep.1 to the end of ep.3 (excluding times when Rak was showering, sleeping or doing other activities where having a metal bracelet in the shape of a sharp nail would be impractical). And, would you look at that, if it isn't indeed: another Cartier bracelet. This time, a Juste Un Clou Collection bracelet.

Now, Juste Un Clou (literally Just a Nail), which is also fucking expensive (9500€ - 10292$ for the model he is wearing) has a bit of a different concept than Love, which is:

So what does it mean?

Well, there are some options but I'll tell you what I think makes the most sense:

Throughout the first episodes we see Rak being this person who's different from everyone else on the island. He's from the city, he's rich, he has a desk job, he even looks different from the people in the island, from what Muk says! (which, I get it, it's colourist and has it own set of issues and I don't love it at all but hey, I don't make canon, I just comment on it, so that's what we got and that's what I'll be doing)

He's also independent, he has his own money, pays for his own stuff, doesn't rely on other people. He wants to do everything alone, without Mut, even when it makes his life harder, when it's impractical, when it would be better to have help.

He also tries to be fearless, put on a front. He argues with Mut, wants to cast a shadow way bigger than himself to assert his place, wants to seem untouchable, like nothing could bring him down. We know, of course, it's not true, both us as the audience and Mut learn that through prolongued contact with Rak and exposure to his weaknesses and traumas but he still tries to uphold that image.

And, of course, he tries to be free in the sense that he tries not to create emotional attachments. ESPECIALLY not to Mut. Because he doesn't believe in love and doesn't think he can fall in love and he tries so, so hard not to let himself want and need people, he likes to act like he has no strings attached, like he can go about the world without thinking of anyone that gives sense to the word "home".

So, by making Rak wear this bracelet, what the show is telling us is essentially who Rak is or who he tries to be. These are the values that Rak upholds. In this sense, the Juste Un Clou bracelet is a character descriptor.

HOWEVER, after the most vulnerable, most beautiful post sex conversation in the history of Thai BL, Rak begins wearing the Love Bracelet. And this indicates a shift.

Now, the shift is not so much a change in Rak's personality (although there is some, he's been slowly changing since ep.1) but rather in what the narrative wants us to know now. Because, by now, we know Rak. We can discern all these characteristics, we don't need the bracelet as an identifier. What we need, rather, is to know that Rak means what he told Mut. Because he feels it.

See, contrary to the Juste Un Clou bracelet which is a bit more remarkable because of its unusual shape, the Love Bracelet seems fairly common, especially if you're not staring at Peat's people's dainty wrists. So you, much like the people around Mut and Rak, could miss the way in which Rak cares for Mut, because that love is unconventional, not bound by those traditional ways in which people demonstrate that sort of feeling (like Mut does, for example). Some could say... Free-spirited. Or, as well, because Rak himself is trying his hardest not to take note of it, burying it away and dismissing it. To no avail, however, because it is still there, as all of us can see (just like the bracelet). And, by the looks of it, will be locked there forever.

"Okay, Dante, but then why does Rak go back to the other bracelet? Is he no longer in love?"

Please have object permanence, darling, not all that exists can be seen at all times. Kkdkddjsjsks /j

Or, in other words: no, that's not it.

What it is, though, is that the narrative, once again, wants us to focus on other stuff.

As Mut tells Rak this episode (ep.5, for those in the future), he's been away, doing other stuff, buried in work... He's been complying to his duties and going back to the bad habits that cast a shadow over Rak's personality and who he really is, what he really wants.

So, that's why, when he chooses to indulge Mut and pay attention to him on his own (unlike what happens earlier in the episode, where Mut has to ask for this attention), he is back to wearing the Juste Un Clou bracelet. He's showing his colours again, of that independent person who's not just another city guy in the city but special in his own way.

It also serves to show us the subtle ways in which Rak is chaging. That free quality, for example, is slowly starting to mean not free from attachments but rather free from the chains of the trauma that is holding Rak back from forming and indulging in those attachments.

And, to top it all off, I have one smaller notice to add which is refering to the colour of the bracelets.

Now, for those who aren't familiar with jewelry metal, white gold is not white, it's silverish. And I say silverish because I mean exactly that: it is NOT silver, it's silverish. It still retains a warmish yellow undertone to it.

But I know, if you have a good eye, you can tell neither of the bracelets I showed you have a warmish yellow undertone to it. Good spot! That is because Cartier's bracelets have something that is actually pretty common: a rhodium-finish. This is what makes them so silver. And precisely why I think the colour matters.

You see... To the average person, who has no idea about Cartier bracelts and whatnot, both the bracelets might seem like a common metal bracelet. Not very valuable. And yet, they are white gold and worth a considerable amount of money.

If we translate that into the meanings I just explained, that would mean that people see Rak, this brat, spoiled, cold man and think him annoying, heartless, not worth their time. Same as I explained with Rak's kind of love: weak, barely even there, not real. Or even, if you want to interpret the Love Bracelet as a representation of Mut himself, then him as well. Judged as a simple person, boring, with nothing to offer but that is actually worth a lot. At least to Rak, who bought both the bracelet and Mut.

SO, what are the conclusions? Well...

Rak is FUCKING LOADED (and if he wants to provide for me as well, I'd gladly accept the offer, thank you);

Rak is an extremely complex character who's secrets are very much fun to uncover;

This series pays a lot of attention to small details and I love it for it!

And that's it.

It was a long post, I know so I'm sorry but I had to share my thoughts sdjkdjdkdjskdj

I'll keep an eye on this for the next episodes and if I have anything to add I'll let you guys know.

Also if you wanna add to this discussion feel free to, I'd love to hear it!!

All the love!! 💜💜💜

[kissorkill16]

Should I Trust Her?: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: How can you like someone who used to be a bully? Take notes from Maritza.

(P.S., for @maritzaxfinchshiper !)

I don't know what the hell Nicky was thinking inviting Finch to the group.

The girl was a freaking bitch the whole time we knew her.

Of course, I was glad that she was a little afraid of me after me and the gang broke her camera. That thought helped every time I saw her face.

As time went by, Nicky told me that I should at least try to tolerate her, just like he'd told Trinity. But I didn't want to tolerate her, I wanted her to get out of our group and away from him.

She used to fucking bully him for God's sake!

I know Nicky wanted to give her another chance, but not everyone deserves that. Some people are still jerks no matter how much you want to trust them, and Finch was one of those jerks, I could tell just by looking at her.

But as I kept a close eye on Finch, I started to tolerate her only a little bit. We talked about stuff, and we're both athletic. She does hiking thanks to the scouts, and I do soccer.

I still didn't really trust her though, I was just getting used to her.

One afternoon, I was walking home from school, and I saw a familiar person through someone's window.

A window of a nice house, a nice big house. All white, windows were rose gold, hedges were trimmed, and the lawn was mowed.

Damn, whoever lived here must be rich rich.

When I looked closer through the window, I saw that the familiar person was...Finch?!

Was this her house?

And in front of her was a tall man in a dark green sweater vest. I guess it might be her dad.

I knew I shouldn't, I wasn't a stalker, I wasn't like Nicky or something. (Okay, low blow. I know, but I didn't know what else to say.) But against my better judgement, I tip toed to the window and listened to their conversation.

"Dad, it wasn't my fault. I -"

"I don't want to hear it, young lady. Here I am, trying to work to support this family after your skank of a mother left, and here you are being a fucking stalker!", said her dad.

The man held up a familiar newspaper article, and I immediately knew what they were arguing about. The newspaper article about Nicky's mental breakdown.

Then he held up two more pictures I didn't recognize, or even realized she took. They were also pictures of Nicky.

When did she take those? Was she planning to use those?

Oh my fucking God, I knew she couldn't be trusted.

"So not only did you make this article and make this poor boy look like a fool, you're also using your new one to stalk him! Probably to make another embarrassing article, I'm guessing.", said Finch's dad.

"Dad, I promise. It's not like that.", Finch tried to explain, but the man held up her hand, signaling her to stop talking.

"Not another word.", he said. "I'm going to take these pictures, and I'll be destroying them."

The look on Finch's face was something I've never seen before. She looked almost devastated.

"And you owe this boy an apology."

That's when I walked away from the window and away from the house completely.

Damn, was Finch's dad a jerk or what?

The worst thing was that he didn't know that Finch already apologized to Nicky for the picture incident.

I couldn't help but feel bad for her. I hated her so much, and it looked like she already got enough hate from her own dad. Sure, I couldn't blame him for getting mad at her for that article, but he didn't even give her a chance to explain herself for the other pictures.

She didn't take those to make another article, she took those because she liked Nicky and wanted to keep him with her at all times.

Like I said, I felt kind of bad, so I decided that I should make it up to her.

When I saw her in the hallway, I pulled her aside to the bathroom.

"Maritza?", she said. "What're you doing?"

I didn't answer her question. Instead, I took out an orange envelope and handed it to her. "Open this.", I said.

Finch was hesitant for a moment, but then she took the envelope and opened it. She softly gasped and held a hand to her mouth, and her eyes widened in surprise.

I could see her eyes sparkling.

"Where did you get these?", she asked, showing me the tiny pieces of paper that were in the envelope.

They were all pictures of Nicky.

"Well, I borrowed a camera from one of the employees at the Raven Brooks Banner and followed Nicky around.", I replied. Now Finch looked a little worried. "Were you seen?", she asked.

I shook my head, "Nope. I wore extra layers of clothing and a mask. If anything, they'll probably think I'm some creepy stalker.", I said. "I even got a couple of him sleeping, and poor dude was too beat to even wake up when the cam flashed."

Finch looked down at the pictures, then back up at me. "Maritza, why did you do this for me?", she asked.

I shrugged and rubbed the back of my head, "I felt kind of bad after I kind of overheard you and your dad arguing about that newspaper article -"

"How do you -"

"Not important.", I said. "Look, I felt bad for you, so I thought I'd do something nice for you. Your dad probably already destroyed those old pictures of Nicky, so..."

Her eyes widened, and she looked at the pictures again, then back up at me. She smiled and gave me a hug, I stilled for a moment, but I eventually hugged her back.

"Thank you so much, Mari!", she squealed.

"Yeah, no problem.", I said. Then I gently pushed her away, "But here's the catch. You can only keep those if you promise not to bully Nicky anymore."

Finch nodded so fast, her head could've come off. "I promise."

I put a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her, "Great.", I said. "Now don't go breaking that promise."

We both walked out of the bathroom. As I walked to my next class, I couldn't help but think to myself that maybe I could learn to like Finch.

After all, she was starting to be nicer and less of a bitch. Maybe as we progress more from there, we could actually be friends.

[rainbowxocs]

Name: James DuPont.

Alt Names: C.A.T, Pluto, Charon, Jane Doe.

Special Titles: Dr. James DuPont, Grandmaster, God Killer, Cat Burglar, EOD, Lieutenant Colonel, Sharpshooter, False God, The Star.

Old Titles: Knight, God of Duality, God of Judgement, God of Eternity, Servant, Empiric.

Username: @kitty9lives

Nicknames: Bad Omen, Kit Cat, Cat Boy, My Rose, My Star, Stray, Blue Bird, Kitty, Chaton, Bunny, Phoenix, Holmes, My Beloathed, Final Girl, The Prophet, Schrodingers Cat.

Chronological Age: 4.5 Billion.

Vessel Age: 605.

Age: 45.

Pronouns: Switches between He, She, and They. Depending on what gender he is that day. (Switches between il or elle in French)

Sexuality: Gay.

Gender: Genderfluid, Catgender.

Base Species: Starling.

Current Species: Litch, Witch.

Disorders: CPTSD, Autism, Insomnia, Selective Mutism, Night Terrors, BPD, Anorexia.

Physical Disabilities: Blind, Deaf (Has a Cochlear Implant), Ambulatory Wheelchair User (Occasionally uses crutches or a cane as well), Has two arm prosthetics and two leg prosthetics, Chronic Pain.

Recovering Addictions: Alcohol, Weed, Nicotine (Cigarettes), LSD, Self Harm.

Religion: Pagan.

Job: Professional Villain, Chemist.

Degree: M.D, Chemistry, Robotics, Computer Science.

Lives in: NYC, New York, 2306.

Languages: French, English, Hindi, ASL, LSF, Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, Dutch.

Height: 5’7”.

Ethnicity: French, Portuguese.

Accent: Brooklyn Accent with a hint of French.

Other Form: Purple Goop.

Animal Form: Giant Purple Isopod.

Spirit Form: Headless, Covered in Roses.

Spirit Level: Acceptance.

Powers: Reanimating, Creation Magic, Death Magic, Prophetic Visions, Judgement, Potions, Alchemy, Shapeshifting, Strings, Pandora’s Box, Lightning Magic, Technology Manipulation, Lie Detection, Time Magic, Forbidden Fruit.

Tech: Holograms, Robotic Minions, Smoke Bombs, Paint Bombs, Teleporters, Lock Picks, Lazers.

Weapons: Sword, Pistols, Sniper Rifle, Bombs, Rocks, Scissors, Various Witchcraft Supplies such as salt, wards, etc.

Also Can Use: Muskets, Rifled Muskets, Rifles,

Wand: Uses his hands.

Alignment: Chaotic Good.

Text Color: Purple, Sometimes Black.

Main Animal: Cat.

Main Hobbies: Reading, Video Games, Sculpting, Yugioh, Violin, Otamatone, Puzzles, Robotics, Scientific Experimentation, Coding, Chess, Letter Making, Tambourine, Photography.

Favorite Drinks: Peppermint Tea, Coffee, Classic Boba.

Favorite Snacks: Queso, Saltines, Apples.

Favorite Meals: Garlic Bread, Dino Nuggets and Fries, Mushroom and Olives Pizza, Pancakes, Veal Stew, Pigs in a Blanket, Hot Dogs, Tuna, Chicken Wings, Mac and Cheese, Ham Sandwiches, Maki Rolls, Sashimi, Bagels.

Favorite Candy: Pez, Oreos.

Favorite Dessert: Gingerbread Cookies, Frosted Sugar Cookies, Birthday Icecream.

Favorite Flower: Roses, Purple Forget Me Not.

Scent: Roses.

Handedness: Left Handed.

Blood Color: Bronze, Sometimes Red.

Awareness: Very Aware. (Effect: Negative.)

Birthday: December 1st 1701.

Theme:

Playlist:

Fun Facts: He is always wearing cat patterns and tends to have toe beans on his shoes and gloves.

Special Interests: Technology, Robotics, Chemistry, The Sims, The Path, Sailor Moon, Disney Fairies, The Owl House, Steven Universe, FNAF, Kitty Love: Way to Look for Love.

Stims: Tangles, Cat Noises, Lazer Pointer, Yarn, Pressure Stims.

Stimboard: COMING SOON.

Moodboard: COMING SOON.

Fashion Board: COMING SOON.

Comfort Objects: Wedding Ring with Gold Band and Amethyst, Journal, Furby, Freddy Plush, Old Cat Plush, Gloomy Bear, Fuggler.

Family: Unknown Birth Parents.

Eurydice DuPont (Daughter.)

Eeshani Dupont (Daughter.)

Aurora DuPont (Step Daughter.)

Friends: Joan (Henchman.).

Romance: Jonah Francois, Aditya Ravi. (Spouses.)

Enemies: Jonah Francois (Mortal Enemy), Michael Ansley.

Patrons: Bastet, Santa Muerte, Hecate.

Pets: Eyeball (Robot), Chain Chomp (Roomba), Mr Terminator (Black and White Cat),

Reincarnations: 𒆠𒋫 (Kita), חַוָּה (Eve), Πανδώρα (Pandora), दिया (Diya), Juliet, Other Unknown Reincarnations.

Brief Personality: James is a bit of an enigma. He doesn’t get close to many people, often his ramblings about taking over the world push people away. However if you are persistent, he will warm up to you like a stray. He is incredibly intelligent, and also very very VERY stubborn. But he is incredibly loyal to the people he loves. If you are able to gain his trust he would let the world burn for you, without any hesitation.

Brief Backstory: [COMING SOON]

[iambic-stan]

last book read + last stethoscope used, part 10

The stethoscope: MDF's Procardial Titanium Cardiology scope in Botswana agate and rose gold. I love this stethoscope so much. True--she has appeared in this series before (in the first shy installment), but she matched this book best...and she was the last used. I don't make the rules. (I do?)

The book: Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones, part 1 of her Bois Sauvage trilogy. I could go on about how I loved the protagonist, Esch, and felt the unrequited love she felt for her classmate that only a 14-year-old can feel quite so desperately. And of course I could talk about the harrowing account of Hurricane Katrina depicted here, but I'd rather talk about this series as a whole. Of everyone I've read so far in my life, few capture the unique circumstances brought on by systemic poverty in the rural South like Ward does. But few can make you long for a place that means suffering like she does. It's a mind-boggling paradox to me. I'll admit that I'm biased because where I grew up isn't far from this region, sure. Ward grew up in DeLisle, Mississippi, just north of the Gulf Coast, and places the titles in this series in the fictional Bois Sauvage, situated somewhere nearby. Bois Sauvage is breathtakingly beautiful to read about, and Ward's descriptions have a way of working on all of your senses. The way she writes her characters is unflinchingly honest while reserving judgement. Circling back around to the book--I probably enjoyed this one the least because it was the most graphic.

Here are the other two, which I recommend wholeheartedly. You don't need to read them in any particular order, and each book introduces a completely different cast of characters.

[rumbelleshowdown]

Sonnenblume here! A bit late I know but I just voted and have some compliments for my fellow writers.

TheMostDisturbed - I loved “The Sacred Stone of Beatha!” It created so much intrigue! Omg it would make such a good full-length fic!!! You managed to tell so much story with what was really just one scene! Imagining Rumple fighting off those creatures reminded me of Howl fighting off those monsters in Howl’s Moving Castle. (Amazing film of you haven’t seen it)

Beast of Gold - To Love Most Late was such a good alternative take on what happened after Belle left. Take that, Regina!

Rose Daughter - Hooow did you craft suck a compelling world/story in so few words? While not sacrificing rich description and detail? That’s something I’ve always struggled with and I definitely think it was a weak point in my own submission. I loved finfolk Rumple and I’m honestly scared of being eliminated in the first round, being up against a story as good as yours.

Smokey Willow - I LOVED the descriptions of the lightning and it honestly upsets me that there isn’t more to read of “Evening of Judgement”! I want to know what the arrangement is and what’s going to happen in the morning!!! Omgggg! 😱

Home Alone - The idea behind “The Heart and the Dagger” is sooo good and I would love to read more of it! The situation Rumple and Belle are in seems so impossible. I want to know how they get together again!!! Because obviously they have to. (I need a happy ending!!!) I also think it’s super creative how you had them “sharing a bed” even when miles apart.

Onelastedit - “Love is a Battlefield” was soooo cuuute! I love the domesticity. Made me feel all warm and snuggly inside. 🥰

Fabletales - Ooohhh that cliffhanger at the end of “Before the Storm” was meeean! But the twist was so good!!! Rumple and Nymph Belle fought, then talked it out and are now a couple. That’s like- totally what happened next!

Spindle - I loved “Premonition!” Rumple would totally go overboard if it was for the sake of saving a kid. And I loved your take on the Enchanted Castle. I don’t see sentience in the castle in a lot of fics. Yours was really good! I also loved the domesticity of Rumple and Belle being together in the castle at the beginning, indulging in their respective hobbies and being content in each other’s presence. But then seeing Belle all worried about Rumple was sweet too. 🥰

Gideon’s Quest - It was really bold of you to tell a Rumbelle story entirely from Gideon’s point of view. And of course Belle would tell her son all sorts of stories, and Rumple would want his son to figure things out on his own. Leave it to him to teach his boy how to be clever. Best parents! And the twist as to why they were on the trip was great!

Lucretia Victrix - Yours was a take I did NOT see coming. But I totally loved the whole ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ partners in crime thing! Sort of reminds me of what Neal and Emma were getting up to when they were young, but something tells me Rumple makes things a little violent than the scams and petty theft they were doing. Yowzas. Also I adored your descriptions of the desert in the first paragraph. Those words were so ✨pretty!✨

Ace of Hearts - Robert and Belle were so cuuute! Mr. Gold as the chivalrous knight in shining cashmere. Such a gentleman. And he was so sweet when he asked for permission to kiss her. Then things sure were headed in a steamy direction at the end tho… 👀

Squizzel - Mr. Gold toootally doesn’t get hard-ons in seedy bars… 👀 Seriously I loved the sultry tension between Lacey and Mr. Gold in this. You definitely captured the essence of GoldenLace perfectly in this one! And Lacey was so BOLD with that kiss tho! She totally loved taking the most feared man in town off-guard. And the most feared man in town wasn’t exactly complaining either. 😏 And then Gold as the knight in shining armor is always great. I could almost hear his cane hitting Gaston’s hand. It made me cringe but I still cheered.

All of you did such great jobs and it was sooo hard deciding which ones to vote for!!! 😫 Good luck everybody!

❤️

[qnewsau]

The 50-year reunion to celebrate this iconic 70s gay venue

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/the-50-year-reunion-to-celebrate-this-iconic-70s-gay-venue/

The 50-year reunion to celebrate this iconic 70s gay venue

In late October former patrons and staff of the 70s gay venue Old Rowes reunited to mark the 50th anniversary of its opening. Organiser Ross Cali shares more on the venue and the event. 

Fifty years ago, in the heart of Brisbane, a resilient phoenix rose from the devastation of the 1974 floods.

This phoenix was none other than Old Rowes Restaurant, a remarkable establishment brought to life by three visionary friends: Don, Patti and Neil. 

What they created was more than just a restaurant; it was a sanctuary, a place of joy, laughter, and community. 

About Old Rowes

During the day, Old Rowes served as a bustling restaurant, delighting patrons with its inviting ambience and delicious offerings.

But it was at night, on three magical evenings each week, that the true spirit of Old Rowes came alive.

It became a vibrant gay venue, a first-class establishment that welcome all with open arms. 

In an era when it wasn’t always safe to be yourself, Neil, Patti and Don gave the gay community a safe haven, a place where everyone could be free, dance without fear and celebrate life without judgement. 

Old Rowes was more than just a venue; it was a home where friendships were forged and memories made. 

The laughter, the joy and the love that filled its walls have stood the test of time, providing that the bonds created there were as strong as the foundations upon which the restaurant was built. 

The reunion

For those who remember the thrill of doing the Bus Stop on the dance floor, the delight of ordering from the menu, the elegance of walking down (or stumbling up) the marble staircase, or the taste of a bottle of Bedoga or a refreshing Pimms – the reunion was to relive those golden days.  

Around 60 people came from all over Australia to celebrate at Hairy Mary’s on the Gold Coast.

It was a wonderful afternoon and it was magical to see all those people come together after many many years. It only seemed like last night we got off the dance floor and now here we were 50 years on.

Remembering Neil

It was also a time for us to remember Neil who passed in October before the reunion. 

We all have so many wonderful memories of this amazing man, the quiet achiever. What he has done for the community will never be surpassed. From Broom Hildas to Dirty Dick to Old Rowes to Silver Dollar to Terminus to Sporites and all in between. 

We raised our glasses to Neil and had plenty of rum and cokes to go around as it was his favourite.

So here’s to Old Rowes, the memories we cherish, and the friendships that have endured. May its legacy continue to inspire us.

Read next:

Vale: The Sportsman Hotel legend Neil McLucas dies

Neil McLucas: the icon behind early Brisbane gay bars

1970s Brisbane and the Queens of the Valley

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[jonquildove]

tyrellsgoldenson:

A slight, sad smile graced the Knight of Flower’s face at Sansa’s words. He is wearing a gold bronze rose on his green blue vest, a branch and white turrets complementing and pinioning. Despite everything that she had been thought, that she had seen, she was still so innocent. She trusted him because he was the knight of flowers; he wondered if she would trust him just as much if she heard the changing rumours that surrounded him, like him sleeping and having sex with his king, stark rumours which for the most were true. “Some things can only be believed if seen." Of course Loras hadn’t seen the shadow which had killed his king but he believed the what Brienne had told him, a black shadowing ghost with the face of Stannis Baratheon. He touched the mesh fabric of Renly's armour, imagining how that could feel, feeling guilt he had caused his king's death, as his assassination may not have happened if he was only in the small council still, not a threat to Stannis. He had said he would be a wonderful king, I would be your lord. One had said it was stardust that emanated from the sky, as there were strange occurrences like the red comet which indicated there were dragons in the sky again. Why would it stab Renly though, he had been loved by everyone. He had been a man in the council for a while in the Red Keep, he remembered. He had never liked Stannis, even when he was a boy, and it seemed to him that the man was capable of killing his brother with the use of dark magic, even if no one else thought so.

What could be so unbelievable, that Loras couldn’t tell her? Sansa trusted his judgement though, so she didn’t push the matter further. She knew Renly had been his king, he the knight, and they had been in tourneys together. "It must be too frightening to speak of…it's alright, Loras. Perhaps something out of this world killed Renly.” She remembered meeting Renly once, he had been kind and friendly. She felt like her heart was twisting, seeing her gallant knight having to go through so much, she wished she could do something to help.

[pawsometoons]

Decided to make a voiceclaim reel for RoseGold! (After some very totally calculated decision making)

His voiceclaim is Raggedy Andy from Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure!

[medinainternational]

(Motif-Radio) reggae Pon Top # 16 track listing below:

SINGLES: CHAINEY ROOTS VERSION SYLVIA TELLA- KEEP LOVE NEW GRANTIE ASHER- SET ME FREE BITTY MCCLEAN SLY & ROBBIE- WALK AWAY FROM LOVE LIVE SEVANA- KEEP GOING EESAH- BEHOLD THE CONQUERING LION MOSIAH- MORE THAN GOLD EMPRESS NEPHTALI- FIRE CAN'T COOL JAHBRADEZ- ROCK WITH ME QUEEN MAKEDAH- HEAL THE EARTH JAZ ELISE- GUNMAN CALI P- FAMILY STEELE- PICK UP THE PIECES

RIDDIMS: SMOOTH SAILING RIDDIM LOTS OF SIGN RIDDIM ABOVE THE LINE RIDDIM SOUL RANGER RIDDIM

DANCEHALL: HONOREBEL- JAMAICA HOLD DEM IILEMENTS- FREEDOM FIGHTERS STRANJAH MILLER- LIFE OF A GANGSTER JAH MASON- NEVER LET ME DOWN DEVIL WORKS RIDDIM GYPTIAN CHAMPION SQUAD- CALLIN ZAGGA & MOYAN- GIRL NEXT DOOR ARMANII- FIESTA BOUNTY KILLER- WINE NIGY BOY- JUDGEMENT NAJERIII- BUBBIE KAKA HIGHFLAMES- TRACKSUIT FROM BRIDGE JAH LIGHTNING- MAMA DON'T WORRY

ROOTS/ ONE DROP/ LOVERS ROCK: SADIKI- CORNERSTONE GINJAH- BETTER WAY MR. EASY & VAZASHA PETERS- SUFFERING MYKAL ROSE, SUBATOMIC SOUND SYSTEM, HOLLIE COOK- GET HIGH ALBOROSIE & JAZ ELISE- FAITH LA GRAY- TREES YELLOWMAN FT. FATHEAD- TAKE ME TO JAMAICA DON CARLOS- SPREAD OUT DENNIS BROWN- THE LOOK OF LOVE TAPPA ZUKIE- NATTY DREAD ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP BARRY BROWN- UNITY IS STRENGTH LOVE JOYS- LET ME ROCK WITH YOU JUNIOR DELGADO- SON OF SLAVES

[thecagedsong]

hi! 4, 31, 46, 55, and 65 for the fic writer ask game! 🌷

Really, this ask game is a gold mine. Thank you for asking!

4. Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Lol, I feel this question implies that at some point I'm "looking" for new ideas in order to write them. Ideas just hit me and won't leave me alone. My brain was turning over the Goncharov quote "what is marriage if not the means to cast off the names of our fathers" on my drive to work this morning, marveling at the presentation of a sentence so trapped within the strictures of society while critqueing it at the same time.

My brain then went, okay, but how would this quote wreck these female characters whose parents are trying to arrange their marriages against their wishes. Boom. Fic idea.

Otherwise canon, "In which found things remain found" was my fix-it for Rose Tyler being abandoned on a parallel world. I'll go, "hmm, but this character clearly has abandonment issues, they aren't going to start a no-strings relationship" or "what if that stupid thing were removed" and new fic idea. Sometimes fanfictions, where a fandom common trope is so abhorrent that I need to write how the situation would actually play out.

Also my sister. I'll be gushing about something, or she'll be gushing about something, and we'll play with ideas until "Jack and River are essentially the same character with the same energy and moral code, except as a man Jack was allowed to have other things in his life besides the doctor" becomes a fanfic that needs to be written.

31. Do you start with the characters or the plot when writing?

Plot, if I had to pick. They need to have something to achieve first and foremost. Then the characters that will benefit the most from that plot step in and start arranging the story accordingly. The plot dictates what worldbuilding and background are needed, which is what I write first. Then the characters can enter the set stage.

46. How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

My style is environment-driven, I think (a nice way of saying I spend a lot of time on the setting). I want to say character driven, but my writing really focuses on the impact the environment is having on that character and the changes to the environment move the story beats along more than anything else.

55. Of the characters you write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain ones?

Out of the characters I write for, which is my favorite character? I have deep complex feelings about the characters I write for, of which my friends on tumblr certainly contribute to.

Forced to pick . . . Alan Stuart from My Next Life as a Villainess. I love his brand of smart/stupid. I love him and out of everyone I have written published works about (I had to narrow it down somehow) I most would like to share a meal with Alan Stuart. So he's my favorite.

65. Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project

Once I can claw my way past this Fire Emblem Three Houses hyperfixation, I really look forward to continuing The New Keith Route, particularly my take on the Judgement Scene.

Though that's going through editing, so maybe it doesn't count.

Okay, my brain is dying to write the idea I mentioned in #4, the book club for the ladies of FE3H and confronting their own societal limitations in a supposedly more gender equal society than our own while two boys born into the height of privilege eavesdrop.

[little-jesters-artblog]

@terraterracotta gave me an idea soo...

Rose Gold belongs to @thermodynamiclawyer and Mad Maid belongs to Terra :)

[thermodynamiclawyer]

i am so tired i have so many assignments due

[luveline]

a special friend [Fred Weasley, George Weasley x reader]

wordcount: 2.2k

summary: you make friends with the twins.

tags: reader-insert, platonic relationships, friendship, can be read as romantic for either or both, hurt/comfort, mental health issues, implied/referenced self-harm, dissociation, quiet reader, shy reader, sad reader

chapter list

You wished you were special.

Everyone seemed to be these days. The girls in your dorm were amazing at quidditch and essays and being beautiful. You were in the same house as the boy who lived and the brightest witch of your generation. Gryffindor even housed the infamous pranksters twins, Fred and George Weasley.

All around you, classmates excelled and discovered their talents. People were deciding who they were going to be for the rest of their lives, picking out their NEWTs and partying harder than you thought possible.

You truly weren't into the party scene. Not because you didn't think it looked fun - in fact, you dreamed of having the confidence to set aside your inhibitions and get sloppy drunk with your housemates, but the thought of showing others your authentic self was too much. You feared the judgement of others so deeply it made it difficult to express yourself, or even show others you had any personality at all. You'd spent so many years trying to be invisible, and slowly it had worked. Nobody saw you. Nobody knew you at all.

Although it had been self-inflicted, it hurt.

Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner alone. Studying alone. Walking to classes alone. You felt silly for feeling so emotionally drained day in and day out. You felt dehumanized. Every day you woke up, tired and a bit out of your mind. Days sometimes passed by in flashes, weeks wilting away in time like flowers growing old. Days sometimes slowed to a crawl.

Today was one of those days. You were counting the seconds until charms was over, listless. The exercise for today was too difficult, and with nobody to talk to, you'd become disinterested and slack in your chair. Flitwick was much too used to this behaviour, and what once might've been a detention for contempt was now a rueful grimace in your vague direction.

You scratched uselessly at your wrist. Your arms were covered in patches and welts from incessant picking and scramming over the years and stung in a familiar, almost comforting fashion.

When the lesson was over, you planned to go straight to bed and skip dinner. And maybe breakfast the next day. Maybe you would skip the next day altogether. Maybe you would skip the week. McGonagall would be furious as she often was, but some things couldn't be helped.

Flitwick finally dismissed the class. You rose to your feet like a ghost. It had been like a game when you were younger, trying to see how quietly you could drift through the castle. Now it was a joke.

Fred and George had squeezed through the door before you, mere inches away from you. They always seemed to be joint together. Hands on arms, arms around shoulders, ankles hooking and stepping on each other's toes for fun. They were stressed today, whispering back and forth about Ludo Bagman, leprechaun gold and threatening letters.

"We can't extort a ministry official," George said unhappily.

"We can't lose that money," Fred said, equally unhappy.

You couldn't understand why they bothered speaking aloud. They always sounded as though they already knew what they were agreed on. As though talking was just a formality for the people around them.

They turned from the Great Hall towards Gryffindor tower. You continued to follow them, slowing down your pace to increase the gap between you.

George turned his head towards you quickly. When he met your gaze, he took a double take in shock. He jostled his brothers arm and indicated your presence with a tilt of his head.

Fred looked at your face inquisitively. "Are you following us?"

You didn't feel like expending the energy it would take to answer, only bringing your eyebrows together. A crease formed between them.

"She's a ministry spy, Freddie."

"Just as I thought, Georgie."

"Probably sent by Bagman himself-"

"To prey on our destruction," finished Fred.

You smiled weakly at their performance.

"She smiles! The living ghost of Hogwarts is capable after all."

"I'm not a spy," you said softly, scratching at your Cupid's bow, "or a ghost."

"Course not," said Fred.

"You're as flesh and blood as good old Peeves," said George.

You didn't know what to say to that. You're social battery was usually at a solid and dependable 10 percent. This conversation had drained it completely.

You smiled in what you hoped was a kind but firm I want to not be here right now.

They seemed to realise this simultaneously.

"Well," said Fred.

"Big day," said George.

"Lots to do tomorrow."

"So much."

"Best be off to bed, Y/L/N."

You nodded gratefully. The boys separated to allow a path and you whispered past them.

You couldn't wait for bed.

-

The next morning you lay in bed watching dust motes float in rays of sunlight. This continued on into the late evening.

Finally, you dragged yourself to the common room in yesterday's skirt and shirt, having lost your tie and robes and tights at some point the night before, hoping to find an empty armchair by the fireplace.

The common room was relatively quiet. A gaggle of what might have been first years or second had congregated by the windows, bemoaning Professor Snape's overbearing workload.

You almost smiled at the empty chairs, looking cosy and warm by the welcoming fire. The walls glowed orange.

You slumped into it, boneless. It took only ten minutes before you grew tired again, face plastered to the cool malleable leather arm. The ponytail you'd tied was becoming undone as time went on, but you just couldn't bring yourself to fix it. The fire popped.

This was almost nice.

"Charlatan!"

"Scoundrel."

"Our friend ghost girl seems to have misplaced her stockings."

"What an egregious and embarrassing error."

"Agreed,"

"You know, George, I've thought about it-"

"Of course," admonished George.

"And I doubt Y/N will ever truly recover from this."

"Quite so."

"Hello," you said bravely, turning your face to watch them.

"Evening, ghostie," the brothers said together.

"Do I look so terrible?" you attempted their good humor.

"Afraid so," George said seriously.

You blinked at them slowly.

"Are you..." Fred hesitated. "Are you alright, love?"

You closed your eyes contentedly.

As much as you liked Hogwarts, you often wished you were home so you could listen to the radio in the kitchen. The static of the common room was suffocating, at times.

"I'm okay," you said, after a moment. Cutting through the static. "How are you?"

"We're great!" George said quickly.

"Spectacular, even."

You meant to reply. Truly, you'd intended to take advantage of their company. However, the lull of the fire and the comfortable warmth soon overcame you.

Much later you awoke to the flickering embers of the fireplace. You could feel every crease of your white school shirt, and you imagined the rough leather armchair had embossed your skin where you'd rested.

You stretched, rolling your neck and letting out an involuntary moan at the crick in your neck. Somebody had draped a blanket over you as you slept and it had fallen away to pool at your ankles. You cleared the sleep from your puffy eyes.

In the low light, you could make out the rise and fall of two identical chests on the sofa adjacent from you. One of the twins was almost two thirds on the ground, and the other had draped an arm over his face, both smiling in their sleep.

Conflicted, you wondered whether to leave them to their sleep or wake them so they could get a better nights rest in their own beds.

You sighed.

"Fred," you whispered, reaching out to lightly hold his shoulder. He didn't stir.

"Fred," you tried again. You pointed a fingernail into his arm gently.

He frowned, suddenly, bringing his arm away from his face.

You moved to George. He woke similarly, scrunching his face into a ball.

You didn't know what to say even then. You had a creeping suspicion that they'd stayed to wait up for you. Why else would they have stayed, unless they'd forgotten themselves and slipped away like yourself?

"Time is it?" asked Fred.

You had no way of knowing.

You shrugged.

"You hungry?" asked George.

-

Things were a little better, after that. You weren't invisible all the time.

You found that Fred and George could be much nicer than they let on.

The more you got to know them the more you realised that they were very very funny, honestly, but they used humor as a way to deflect. From how smart they both were, from how devious they both were, and from how they truly felt.

Everything they did was with reasoning. Well, most everything.

Annoying you into talking seemed pointless, and they knew it.

"It's not that we don't like you as you are," Fred said through a mouth full of cracker.

"Yes," you said.

"It's that we worry about you."

You avoided his eyes, piling a little mound of cheese shavings onto your own cracker.

"At least she's eating properly," George murmured. He was sketching so passionately the parchment had begun to curl inwards.

You put down your cracker. It had been a little out of character for Fred to bombard you with tapas.

"Hypocrisy," you said, half to yourself.

"We're busy men," said Fred indignantly.

"Yes," you said agreeably, mouth full of cheese, "super busy."

"It's our determination that keeps us going, love."

Determination. They wanted their own shop - no. They would have their own shop, and soon. They would sell their snackboxes and build a business. They'd live amazing lives full of new horizons.

They were special.

You moved to lay down from your sitting position at the coffee table. The carpet felt rough against your cheek.

They were so special. They'd go on to do great things. You would fade into obscurity.

You were already fading.

It was getting hard to breathe.

You couldn't decide whether you wanted to scratch your arm until it bled or if

you wanted to go back to bed.

"Come on, Y/N, have another cracker. You need to eat more."

You shook your head into the carpet. You didn't want to do anything anymore.

"I don't want to do anything anymore," you mumbled.

The scratching of George's quill scratching ceased. A warm hand encompassed her upper back.

"What's wrong, ghost girl?"

"Y/N?"

You almost wished you could cry, if only to break up the numbness.

"I think I'd like to go to bed."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Yeah, alright. Why don't you kip in my bed and we'll wake you up for dinner?"

You didn't move. Eventually, one of the twins managed to manhandle you into a bed.

-

Birthdays were weird. Maybe because your birthday was supposed to be the perfect day, and each year you were let down; your expectations for the day were simply too high.

You sighed, scrubbing at your face with an ink stained hand.

Your mam had sent a nice bag of sweets and a card this morning. Professor McGonagall had given you a heartfelt birthday wish before transfiguration. Even the girls from your dorm had remembered and had gifted you a new bathrobe and pyjama set, which was almost enough to make you cry.

So why were you still so... mopey?

You wanted to be happy, you did. Everyone had been very kind and you'd managed to have your favourite dessert at dinner. By all means, you should've been having a good day.

Your fingernails came away bloody. You'd broken the skin on your cheek.

"Here you are!"

You flinched, shoving your bloody hand between your knees.

Fred and George were coming through the portrait hole, beaming. George was holding a wrapped box in his hands. Fred walked ahead of him, carrying a cupcake with a candle sticking out. You shook your hair down from its bobble to cover your face.

"Ghostie my love, aren't you looking radiant this fine afternoon! Doesn't she look radiant?" Fred asked George.

George replied, "Why yes, Fred, I'd say our Y/N is looking good enough to eat today!"

They stopped in front of you. You felt a twinge of shame. The twins took one look at you and promptly descended into one of their silent conversations. They seemingly reached a conclusion as Fred smiled beguilingly, reaching forward to push your hair behind your ears with both hands and tilting your face up in the light. Gently, he wiped away the bead of blood on your cheek.

"Sweetheart, I am going to forcibly file all your nails down."

"Sorry," you mumbled.

"Hey, don't be sorry. It's not your fault," George said, offering you the gift box.

"You should open the card first," said Fred, sliding it into your hand.

You opened it obligingly.

The card read: "to a special friend".