#le ciel live

[thetwotorches]

「ああ…こぼれ落ちる涙はお別れの言葉

何も聞かず、ただ僕の胸に手を当て微笑みを浮かべ

君の頬に口づけを…僕は君を忘れない もっと強く抱き締めて僕が空に帰るまでー 君の細く透き通る声が僕を離さない もっと強く抱き締めて僕が消えないように…

僕が消えないように…」

[fidjiefidjie]

Bon Soir 💙 🗽🎇🕊

Jairo 🎶 Les Jardins Du Ciel

[piasgermany]

[Album + Video] Delgres kündigen neues Album "Promis le Ciel" an!

Delgres sind zurück! Das neue Album "Promis le Ciel" erscheint am 16. Februar 2024 über [PIAS] Le Label!

Das Album erscheint zwei Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung von 4:00 AM, dem letzten Longplayer des karibischen Blues-Trios, das vor knapp vier Jahren zusammenkam, nachdem Songwriter Pascal Danaë den Schlagzeuger Baptiste Brondy und den Sousaphonisten Rafgee kennengelernt hatte. Die Band stellt im Wesentlichen ein persönliches Abenteuer dar, eine innere Reise, bei der die Musik als imaginäres, wenn auch lebendiges Vehikel für private Erfahrungen und die Familiengeschichte sowie im weiteren Sinne für das Schicksal eines Teils der Welt dient, der von Wurzellosigkeit und Identitätsproblemen geprägt ist.

Es ist bekannt, dass die Ursprünge des Blues in Afrika liegen und die Musik durch die deportierten Sklaven in Richtung Amerika gelangte. Delgres, benannt nach dem Freiheitskämpfer Louis Delgrès, berufen sich auf diese Wurzeln und würzen ihre Songs mit Elementen, die sich irgendwo zwischen hypnotisierendem Rock, verspielten Soul und rohem Garage einpendeln. Besonders auffällig ist dabei die ungewöhnliche Besetzung bestehend aus Gitarre, Schlagzeug und Sousaphon, die auch auf den neuen Songs hauptsächlich mit kreolischen Vocals unterlegt werden. Nach dem Titeltrack gibt es nun mit "Walking Alone" eine weitere neue Single.

Tracklist "Promis le Ciel": 01. Promis Le Ciel 02. Walking Alone 03. Pourquoi Ce Monde 04. A La Fin 05. Autorisation 06. Mettre Les Voiles 07. Pou Vou 08. Pa Lese Mwen 09. Samedi Soir 10. An Pa Ni Sou 11. Where Do They Go

Live: 24.03. Roth - Kulturfabrik Bluestage Booking: Jazzhaus Artists

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[mellosdrawings]

When you need to declare your love to your wife but it is so strong you can't help but revert back to french.

You know the perk of being french ? I can write Rook rambling haha !

(Though I am incapable of writing poetry, so here is the poem I used and its approximate translation:

Je respire où tu palpites,

Tu sais ; à quoi bon, hélas !

Rester là si tu me quittes,

Et vivre si tu t'en vas ?

(I breathe where you throb, you know ;

What for, alas! stay here if you leave me, and live if you go away?)

A quoi bon vivre, étant l'ombre

De cet ange qui s'enfuit ?

A quoi bon, sous le ciel sombre,

N'être plus que de la nuit ?

(What good is living, being the shadow of this fleeing angel?

What for, under the dark sky, being from the night only?)

Je suis la fleur des murailles

Dont avril est le seul bien.

Il suffit que tu t'en ailles

Pour qu'il ne reste plus rien.

(I am the flower of your walls for which April is the only good.

You only need to leave for me to be left with nothing.)

Tu m'entoures d'Auréoles;

Te voir est mon seul souci.

Il suffit que tu t'envoles

Pour que je m'envole aussi.

(You surround me with Halos;

I care only about seeing you.

You need only to take flight for me to fly too.)

Si tu pars, mon front se penche ;

Mon âme au ciel, son berceau,

Fuira, dans ta main blanche

Tu tiens ce sauvage oiseau.

(Should you leave, my front/forehead shall lean ;

My soul in the sky, its cradle, will flee,

In your white hand you hold this wild bird.)

Que veux-tu que je devienne

Si je n'entends plus ton pas ?

Est-ce ta vie ou la mienne

Qui s'en va ? Je ne sais pas.

(What would I become, should I not hear your steps anymore?

Is it your life or mine that is fleeing ?

I cannot tell?)

Quand mon orage succombe,

J'en reprends dans ton coeur pur ;

Je suis comme la colombe

Qui vient boire au lac d'azur.

(When my thunder dies down, I take some from your pure heart ;

I am like the dove that just drank in the azur lake.)

L'amour fait comprendre à l'âme

L'univers, salubre et béni ;

Et cette petite flamme

Seule éclaire l'infini

(Love makes the soul understand the universe, healthful and blessed ;

And this lonely little flame shines upon the endless)

Sans toi, toute la nature

N'est plus qu'un cachot fermé,

Où je vais à l'aventure,

Pâle et n'étant plus aimé.

(Without you, all of nature is only a closed cell where I go on an adventure,

Pale and no longer beloved.)

Sans toi, tout s'effeuille et tombe ;

L'ombre emplit mon noir sourcil ;

Une fête est une tombe,

La patrie est un exil.

(Without you, everything falls apart ;

Shadows fill my dark eyebrow ;

A feast/party is a tomb,

The homeland is an exile.)

Je t'implore et réclame ;

Ne fuis pas loin de mes maux,

O fauvette de mon âme

Qui chantes dans mes rameaux !

(I beg and demand ;

Do not flee any longer from my pain,

O warbler of my soul who sings in my twigs!)

De quoi puis-je avoir envie,

De quoi puis-je avoir effroi,

Que ferai-je de la vie

Si tu n'es plus près de moi ?

(What could I want?

What could I be afraid of?

What would I do of life without you by my side?)

Tu portes dans la lumière,

Tu portes dans les buissons,

Sur une aile ma prière,

Et sur l'autre mes chansons.

(You carry in the light,

You carry in the bushes,

On a wing my prayers,

On the other my songs.)

Que dirai-je aux champs que voile

L'inconsolable douleur ?

Que ferai-je de l'étoile ?

Que ferai-je de la fleur ?

(What will I tell to the fields that hide my inconsolable pain?

What would I do of the star?

What would I do of the flower?)

Que dirai-je au bois morose

Qu'illuminait ta douceur ?

Que répondrai-je à la rose

Disant : " Où donc est ma soeur ?"

(What will I tell to the morose forest that illuminated your softness?

What will I answer at the rose asking "Where is my sister?")

J'en mourrai ; fuis, si tu l'oses.

A quoi bon, jours révolus !

Regarder toutes ces choses

Qu'elle ne regarde plus ?

(I would die ;

Flee if you dare.

What is the point, days gone! of looking at all those she no longer looks at?)

Que ferai-je de la lyre,

De la vertu, du destin ?

Hélas ! et, sans ton sourire,

Que ferai-je du matin ?

(What would I do of the lyre, of virtue, of destiny?

Alas! And, without your smile,

What would I do of the morning?)

Que ferai-je, seul, farouche,

Sans toi, du jour et des cieux,

De mes baisers sans ta bouche,

Et de mes pleurs sans tes yeux !

(What would I do, alone, wild, without you, of days and heavens,

Of my kisses without your lips,

And of my tears without your eyes!)

Il suffit que tu t'envoles pour que je m'envoles aussi - Victor Hugo

(You need only take flight for me to fly too))

[fayes-fics]

When The World Is Free: Chapter 1 - Sous le ciel de Paris

MASTERPOST | NEXT

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader, WW2 AU.

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2.1k

Summary: Welcome to the start of my new multi-chapter fic based on a request by the lovely @amillcitygirl! Please see the masterpost for a synopsis of this story. Please note that while I do have a plotted outline, I will be posting chapters as I write them, and I expect that process to take quite a few months. Please bear with me! This first chapter sets up the story - reader moving to Paris in the summer of 1939 and bonding with her new flatmate, Eloise Bridgerton. Please note that Benedict won't be turning up for a couple of chapters yet. Thanks to @colettebronte for beta reading. Enjoy! <3

August 1939

Emerging from the underground Trocadero metro stop, you round the corner of the recently completed, gleaming Palais de Chaillot and stop dead in your tracks. There before you is the most iconic landmark of Paris. Perhaps all of France.

La Tour Eiffel. 

Breathtaking in its metallic magnificence, glowing in the setting sun. A sight that buoys your travel-weary soul seven days after you left New York: boats and trains finally bringing you to this wondrous spot. A light breeze even dances over your neck in greeting, a balm from the cloying subterranean heat of the metro. 

It's a light elbow check to your arm that pulls you back from a state of reverie. 

“A beautiful sight, but one you’ll get used to,” your uncle Robert chuckles, shaking your heavy leather case to indicate it's time to move along. “In fact, I've been told you will be able to see it from your appartement…” 

He has accompanied you to Paris and will see you settled into your new adventures before continuing on to visit friends in England. He spent the roaring 20s living right here in the 16th arrondissement himself and, indeed, has arranged for you to share living quarters with a young British lady, a relative of his English friends. It's a comfort to know you’ll have at least one English speaker to chat with as you dive headfirst into learning proper French as you go.

Robert leads you away from the amazing sight and into the bustling streets, alive with cars, trams, bicycles and pedestrians buzzing in all directions. It's all at once like New York City, but yet so different as well, cafe terraces filling the wide pavements with all manner of people gathered to sip robust cafe au lait and refreshing limonade. 

Within minutes, you are on a quieter side street and stopping outside a handsome honey-coloured stone facade with wrought iron window balconies and window guards, teaming with colourful, fragrant flowering pots. The number 14 gleaming white on a traditional navy blue tile. Your uncle pushes the enormous wooden door open, beckoning you into a cool whitewash wall corridor with mosaic floor tiles.

“Ahhh, Robert!!” a sophisticated middle-aged lady bustles from a nearby doorway and greets your uncle warmly, kissing both cheeks. It would appear they are friends of old.

“Y/n, this is Madam DuLac, your landlady,” he explains as you offer a handshake, admiring her boucle jacket and chic bun.

“Qu’est-ce?” she signals with a good-natured frown, obviously finding your polite greeting lacking, pulling you into a hug and two-cheeked kiss. She smells like Chanel perfume, cigarettes and baked goods. “You are in Paris now, ma chérie; this is how we greet one another,” she counsels in heavily accented but perfect English.

“You speak English?” you sigh, relieved, your French decidedly lacking.

“Bien sûr,” she smiles. “And please call me Solène,” she adds with a friendly smile.

“Eloise should be home from the library maintenant; the perfect time for you to meet,” she gestures towards an elevator cage surrounded by a sweeping grey marble staircase.

“I think I would prefer to take the stairs,” you admit, nerves flaring at the idea of such a contraption.

Your uncle laughs. “Well, I am taking it; I am not hefting this case of yours up five flights of stairs,” he adds dryly as you gaze up the swirling stairwell.

“Five storeys?” you squeak.

“The view is the best from the top,” Solène advises as she rattles back the cage entry and steps in, looking at you expectantly. 

Reluctantly, you follow, all three of you and your luggage crammed into the metal cage as it jerks to life and begins its ascent.

“You will get used to it,” Solène smiles as she reads the apprehension on your face, your vice-like grip on your small vanity case and handbag.

Luckily, the lift reaches your destination safely. One shudder before it stops, and the door concertinas back in Solène’s hand to reveal a sweeping hallway with doors left and right. 

“Ici,” she signals, the last door on the right-hand side.

But before you can knock, the door peels open, and a pretty, petite brunette jumps in surprise, dropping the book she is holding.

“Pardon,” she offers in perfect accented French, and you wonder for a split second if it is the correct apartment.

“Eloise, this is y/n,” Solène gestures.

“Ohhh, hello,” she grins, and the whiplash back to a plummy British accent is momentarily confusing. “I was about to go read in the courtyard, thought you might not be turning up today. Anyway… come in, come in!”

You shake her proffered hand as she ushers you into the apartment. Instantly, you feel a warmth spreading in your belly, like you have come home. It's light and airy, with large windows looking out across the Parisian rooftops, and yes, to the left is indeed the Eiffel Tower, still gleaming in the fading evening light. But the place also feels homely, that sort of messy that is lived in, comfortable. A large velvet sofa with tumbling stacks of books around it, a little kitchenette awash with colourful enamel cookware, and a jumble of art deco posters and random paintings adorning the walls. 

“Solène, I don't suppose you've baked any more of those rather delicious madeleines, have you? To welcome my new housemate?” Eloise pipes up with a chipper, conspiratorial wink your way. 

You already like her.

“Effronte!” Solène exclaims with fond exasperation before pausing. “There may be some…”

“I remember those!” your uncle adds with a tinge of nostalgia as he drops your suitcase. “You are in for such a treat, y/n.”

“Well, while our landlady decides if she’s willing to share the treats she has obviously baked but is being coy about…”Eloise raises a pointed eyebrow at the woman before returning to you. “...let me show you your room, then maybe a drink? I'm sure it's been a long journey.”

You nod and, with an exchange of grins, follow her down a corridor. She sweeps open the door to a lovely room, a large double bed with matching bedside tables and a dresser. But best of all, french doors onto a Juliet balcony overlooking a quiet courtyard filled with a riot of birch trees, their leaves gently rustling in the evening breeze.

“Mostly, it’s pesky pigeons down there, but you do get the occasional blackbird singing in the morning,” Eloise smiles as if intuiting your thoughts.

You spend some moments wandering the room and checking out the various fixtures, running idle hands over the furniture, already feeling remarkably at home with your new housemate and, indeed, your new home for the next twelve months.

“I'm just next door,” Eloise reveals, pointing a thumb over her shoulder. 

Your uncle appears in the doorway to announce that he and Solène are off to catch up as you unpack and suggests you all reunite for dinner later at a local bistro. It all sounds so very Parisian chic; you cannot wait.

“So tell me about yourself,” Eloise flops onto your bed, already wonderfully casual in your presence, as you open your case and the wardrobe to unpack.

“I’m y/n. I'm from a little town on Long Island called Patchogue, about fifty miles outside New York City. I'm 22…”

“Me too!” she interjects, then signals for you to proceed.

“I wanted to see the world before I settled down. And I’ve dreamed of living in Paris since I was a little girl...” You feel your eyes misting at the fact it's now finally coming true as you continue. “So my parents agreed to pay for me to come to Paris for a year. Under the strict agreement, I get married when I return…” 

“You have a fiancé?”

“Yes. Well, sort of. Stanley. We practically grew up together, and we’ve been going steady since we were eighteen.”

“Going steady? That's so American,” Eloise chuckles.

You nod with a giggle, then continue. “He hasn't proposed formally yet, says he is saving up for a ‘real nice’ ring, but it will happen. He is the son of my dad’s business partner. They run a construction company. So, while I'm here, they are building a home for us to live in when I return. We will get married next summer and move right in.” 

“You don't mind?” Eloise frowns.

“Don’t mind what?” you query as you hang up your favourite dress.

“That your future is so… plotted out. I couldn't bear the idea. It's why I think my mother let me move to Paris. She was so fed up with me refusing to settle down.” Eloise laughs, idly flicking through the magazine you were reading on your journey.

“I suppose I've never really expected anything else,” you shrug, pausing as you put away your hosiery, but her words make you contemplative. “You don't have a boyfriend back home?”

“God, no. Too many pretty Frenchmen to entertain me here,” she winks. “I’ll introduce you to some, just in case you change your mind,” she breezes, climbing off your bed and drifting to the door. “Wine?”

“Oh… well, why not? When in France, etc,” you agree and close the drawer on the pile of cardigans you have just safely stacked.

“That's the spirit!” she effuses over her shoulder as you follow her back into the living room, the Eiffel Tower still glittering in the dusk.

“This place is so lovely,” you sigh, transfixed by the view as she wanders over and hands you a glass.

“It is a pretty magical view,” she agrees, staring at the skyline with you, watching as each window seems to illuminate in soft yellow with the dying light.

“And the decor, too; I see you love books as much as me,” you smile, tilting your head to the piles before taking a sip of red wine. It's the perfect balance of refreshing, mellow fruitiness and tart tannin coating your tongue, so much better than any wine back home.

“Oh god, yes! I work in the library. I can bring home as many as I want,” she enthuses.

“So, are there actually any left on the shelves?” you jest, lightly, savouring your drink and wandering to take a closer look at a smaller painting that catches your eye. It's very different to all of the others.

“My god, this is beautiful,” you breathe, hugging your wineglass to your chest as you stare transfixed at the art. It appears to be a large country house, probably British, bathed in the warm pinkish light of dawn.

“That's home. Aubrey Hall in Kent. I think the family made me bring it in the hopes it would make me homesick,” Eloise deadpans.

“It’s a wonderful piece,” you breathe, fingers reaching out to lightly trace over the heavily oiled brushstrokes. Something about it is so captivating and intimate.

“I'll be sure to let the artist know,” she smirks. “Although I'm reticent to give him any more praise, seeing as, unfortunately, he is my brother.”

“Your brother painted this?” taken aback by the revelation, assuming it an heirloom.

She nods and comes to stand next to you. “Yup. Benedict. Second eldest. I'm fifth of eight, by the way. Hence ‘E’ for Eloise. It's a thing,” she rolls her eyes.

“Wow. Big family. I just have one brother...” 

“Lucky you. Although, as much as he is irritating, if I could only keep one sibling, it probably would be him,” she admits, taking a swig of wine.

“I love art,” you sigh, finally tearing your gaze from the canvas but already knowing it is something you will return to again and again. A pull you can’t quite understand.

“Oh, then I know the perfect job for you! There’s a gallery around the corner from the library, and I saw a sign saying they wanted an English speaker to assist international visitors! You would be perfect!”

“I would love that!” you extol, even as a tiny part of your brain lingers on the idea that it would be too good to be true if it all worked out, that fleeting sense of foreboding in paradise.

“Excellent!” Eloise’s enthusiasm pulls you back to the immediate. “So let’s get your glad rags on! It's time to hit the town for your first night in Paris!”

And thus, you find yourself being bundled back into your room to refresh and change for your first night in the city of your dreams. Indeed, as you find yourself being led by Eloise, arm looped in yours, through the bustling evening streets to a little bistro, your uncle and Solène already waiting at a table with smiling faces and drinks in hand, you can't help but feel this really is the only place in the world you could ever want to be…

Your adventure is just beginning.

Benedict taglist: @foreverlonginguniverse @aintnuthinbutahounddog @severewobblerlightdragon @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @enchantedbytomandhenry @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports @nikaprincessofkattegat @baebee35 @crowleysqueenofhell @fiction-is-life @lilacbeesworld @broooookiecrisp @queen-of-the-misfit-toys @eleanor-bradstreet @divaanya @musicismyoxygen84 @benedictspaintbrush @miindfucked @sorryallonsy @cayt0123 @hottytoddyhistory @truly-dionysus @fictionalmenloversblog @zinzysstuff @malpalgalz @panhoeofmanyfandoms @kinokomoonshine @causeimissu @delehosies @m-rae23 @last-sheep @kmc1989 @desert-fern @starkeylover @corpseoftrees-queen @magical-spit @bunnyweasley23 @how-many-stars-in-the-sky @amygdtjhddzvb @sya-skies @balladynaaa

[swifty-fox]

My current favourite MOTA AUs (in no particular order) which have made me laugh and melt, kept me sane, and allowed me to live vicariously through two WWII war hero pilots:

To the Moon and Back (space is angsty)

That Ol' Devil Called Love (racer boys and oppressed Gale)

Sous Le Ciel de Paris aka the Olympics au (i like sports now!)

meet me at the chapel (bonnie and clyde baby)

Young Vets series (MOTA supporting cast get their own stories and they're wonderful)

Tough and Sweet (Like You and Me) (age gap)

whisky neat, coffe black (I need to see Bucky in a fireman suit)

High School AU (cos childhood sweethearts are forever)

All that skill and joy shared for free - it's magic - I love the MOTA fandom

SIGNED OFF ON ALLL OF THESE I HAVE READ (or wrote hehe) THEM ALL

shoutout to them all @avonne-writes @rambleonwaywardson @middlingmay @johnslittlespoon @anachilles @bcolfanfic and i'm throwing in @joeyalohadream's highschool au too!

[carnevol]

What are some of your favorite fics or authors for Clegan? I seem to recall you doing a few edits for fics you liked so I was wondering ❤️

oh yes, dear anon, I can rec a few awesome Clegan authors! I'll link a couple of their fics that I loved but basically EVERYTHING they write is phenomenal:

@avonne-writes Reverie is a masterpiece and the HS AU is my comfort fic. Oh and kitty Gale is the sweetest thing ever!

@rambleonwaywardson To the Moon and Back I'm obsessed with it, an epic love story ♥️ Sous Le Ciel de Paris Olympics AU is so beautiful, too.

@alienoresimagines I built a home and I'm On The Run With You, My Sweet Love such a gorgeous, poetic writing style!

@stereobone in our bedroom after the war, my man, my doll and after that beautiful BEAUTIFUL writing!

@anachilles i feel so high school and whiskey neat, coffee black obsessed with this one!

@joeyalohadream in this and every life, i'd choose us every time and A feeling I want to get used to lots of hurt/comfort and sweet fluff

@nicijones I Like A Bad Boy boys in college SO GOOD!

@hogans-heroes The Boy Who Lived and All the ways some angst but the boys are so in love

@swifty-fox Little Beasts ❤️‍🔥 and eudaimonia the sweetest outlaws!

Piece by Piece I don't know the author's tumblr but this story is SO good and so much fun to read

@brotherwtf writes lots of prompts and oneshots, SO much good stuff!

I feel like I'm forgetting some authors and there are many amazing ones I still haven't had the chance to read their fics yet so if anyone wants to add to this list please do! ❣️

[xinfinityl0ve17]

MALICE MIZER

After leaving the audience in suspense, Kami took the microphone and in a surprise twist the members reappeared, intensifying the final moments. In response to the huge cheers the encore saw the five members take the stage in military uniforms, waving a naval ensign. It’s rare to see a band that can pull off such a wide variety of costumes... I couldn’t help but think how much fun they must be having as I was completely overwhelmed by their high energy stage presence and performance.

The following day, on the 11th, they performed on a stage titled The Door of the Blank Moment. The show began explosively, with special effects firing off immediately at the start, and the band, dressed in glossy enamel costumes, launched into an aggressive and high-energy performance, reminiscent of the later half of a set. I was once again stunned, realizing that this was yet another way to kick off a show. I had heard that the two days would be completely different... but I didn’t expect them to be this different.

The second song, ILLUMINATI, began with a shout of "Come at me!" and during the song, Gackt shoved Mana onto a sofa? The sight of Mana and Közi's suspiciously close interactions elicited screams, leaving everyone fixated on their movements.

While Yu~ki didn’t display any flashy movements, his intricate rhythms and occasional melodies shone through. In the fourth song, Le Ciel, he descended from the stage set to perform front and center. Every little movement from them was captivating, and during the middle of the set, each member had their own moment to shine, pulling the audience into their individual worlds.

Just like the previous day, Gackt’s highly charged MC led the show into its second half. Sweet, yet somehow melancholic melodies... these enchanting songs brought color to the latter part of the concert.

The encore that day was especially memorable. The members appeared one by one, dressed as the characters from the video Bel Air, each stepping out in their respective roles. It was a surreal sensation, as if the fictional story in the video and the real-life story unfolding on stage were blending together. The five of them gathered on stage in those costumes and, as a parting gift to the audience, performed the final number, of course, Bel Air.

Their stage was a world filled with countless elements: beautiful things, grotesque things, pure things, mysterious things, frightening things, nostalgic things, new things... an endless variety of wonders. It was a world that transcended conventional concepts and couldn’t be confined within the usual boundaries of a live performance. For those two days, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in their unique world.

[yermes]

PAC: how do you do it all? How can you be healthy, workout regularly, have job(s), have enough money and financial literacy to move through life, eat well even in the stress of it all, how do you take care of yourself (one of the most magical things you can do) in the face of all the pain in the world? 🃏

Disclaimer: please take what I say with a grain of salt and not as the gospel. I just want to share some ideas of practicing and giving advice using the medium as often as I can with school, work, and my own personal studies and practice. My ask me event is still going and asks are always open 🥰

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Pick a meme

1 2 3

The cards

dissension 🃏

Le despote africain

The government is fucked up, like literally almost everywhere nothing seems to be going right and its overall a huge looming concept that we either try to ignore when we can, or relish in the small victories we choose to pay attention to. Political awareness is something that should be unmoving in our lives but honestly its such a hell scape I know many people who try to duck and hide. But hiding and ignoring won’t further us. We need to be aware of the hate and the injustices so we can teach the next generation of what not to do even if history has a tendency to repeat itself. More to juggle.

Appui 🦜

Les oiseaux les poissons

Babe try and find your safety net, your protection circle. In the most trying times your squad will always come to your most desperate calls and our tenderness for each other is how we stay above water in the world we live in.

Dépouilement

Le ciel

FUCK! As if juggling everything isn’t enough! The weight of juggling has taken a massive toll on your mental and physical health. Try and take a break every now and then investing in your self, and like I said in the beginning: taking care of yourself is the most magical thing you can do.

Extras:

Story/vent:

Ask me event still going to the 16th! Asks are always open

[crepesuzette2023]

New fic: Eyes of the Storm

John lives AU. 2024. John goes to a private opening of Paul’s EYES OF THE STORM exhibition. Everyone comments on how sweet and soft Paul’s pictures of him are. Using the pictures to guide him, John reflects on the past of his and Paul’s long and complicated love…and in the end, he and Paul have to decide where to take the next chapter of their story. 

Inspired by: Jacques Brel, Ne Me Quitte Pas, especially this part:

On a vu souvent / Rejaillir le feu / De l'ancien volcan / Qu'on croyait trop vieux / Il est, paraît-il / Des terres brûlées / Donnant plus de blé / Qu'un meilleur avril / Et quand vient le soir / Pour qu'un ciel flamboie / Le rouge et le noir / Ne s'épousent-ils pas? / Ne me quitte pas / Ne me quitte pas / Ne me quitte pas / Ne me quitte pas

[We've often seen / Fire flowing again / From an ancient volcano/ Considered too old / It's said that there are / Fire-scorched lands / That yield more wheat / Than the best April / And when evening comes / With a burning sky / The red and the black— / Are they not joined together? / Don't leave me / Don't leave me / Don't leave me / Don't leave me]

(Fill to this prompt from the @beatleskinkmeme.) Read on ao3

[jumexju]

LE CIEL

Pairing !! : Uchiha Madara / Fem Reader

Fic Type !! : Angst, Fluff, Slow Burn

CW !! : Mentions of war, violence, suicide, pining

Summary !! : After 15 years of marriage, the story of how you two met is finally told.

Note !! : This is part of my 'Married Life' Series. I thought it'd be cool to tell the story of how Madara and reader met so I could kinda explain their relationship in 'Shape of my Heart' & further their dynamic :3 There will be a part 2 btw

✦ MASTERLIST

“Do you think this war will continue on forever?” The stars shone upon your heads while the moon bathed the lot of you in its ethereal light. 

“.. I dunno.” The boy beside you answered. “I only wish there was a world where we didn’t have to fight all the time.” His spiky black hair tickled your arm but you didn’t say anything. You wanted to etch these moments with him into your memory. You’d live only in your memories if you could. 

“So do I.” you sighed and hugged your knees to your chest while you glanced at your brother's friend. You’d met him only recently because the boy had noticed you following Hashirama when he went out to the river to meet with him. Who knew you’d share their beliefs? It was rare to find that nowadays when people just seem to kill each other over differences they had long forgotten. 

Whenever your father asked you two if you’d seen anything while you were out, Hashirama and yourself became tight-lipped and said a simple, 'No, father.’ 

Because the both of you knew, 

That a friendship with the member of an enemy clan could never prosper. 

“You are but a weak woman, why has Hashirama let you out of his sight?” Madara looked upon you with disdain, as if your very presence here was an offense to him. Your eyes narrowed at him as you assumed a defensive position, “You’ve always been so prideful with your words! Tell me, is it because you’re afraid, Madara?” The words hurt to say as they came out of your mouth, your hands over one of your comrades as you hoped to heal him. The younger version of yourself wouldn’t have been surprised at the fact that the next time you’d meet Madara was on the battlefield. 

Hashirama knew this would happen. You knew it too. 

The both of you hoped that it wouldn’t come to this, but it did. Your dreams of a war-free world were shattered to oblivion the day your father attempted to ambush Madara while Hashirama had gone to the river that day. Now, Hashirama has become the clan head of the Senju and Madara, the clan head of the Uchiha. 

There was no way that there could be reconciliation now, none that you could see at least. 

Madara’s younger brother, seeing you in the middle of trying to heal one of your comrades, took this opportunity to come at you. Luckily, Tobirama came in to defend you. As your brothers — and the rest of your clan — fought with the Uchiha, you healed as many fallen shinobi as you could. You were one of the best healers, but that could never stop the bloodshed. 

As you looked upon the scores of dead bodies on the battlefield, both Uchiha & Senju alike, you wondered what it was all for. They had been at each other's throats since before the time of your fathers, was there even a reason that the two clans were fighting? Or was it all just blind rage? You kneeled down to the corpse of an Uchiha Shinobi when you saw that her hand had been held into a fist, of course, her grip on it was loosened now that she had been slain. 

You felt nothing but sorrow when you opened her hand to see a bracelet with a single crystal on it. 

A ruby. 

A small tear escaped your eyes as it dawned on you, ‘She was someone’s family..’ You had been part of the war, there was blood on your hands too. You knew that they were just like you. Human beings that had families, just like you. You gripped the bracelet in your hand frustratedly before placing it in the woman’s palm and closing her hand. 

This needed to stop. 

With the swift slash of a sword, Tobirama made quick work of Madara’s younger brother, Izuna Uchiha. 

“Izuna!” Madara sprinted towards his brother, his eyes filled with worry at seeing his brother injured by none other than your elder brother, Tobirama.  

“You cannot win against me, Madara..” Hashirama donned an expression that was both determined and anxious. “So, Why don’t we end this.?” 

Your eyes widened at your elder brother’s proposal. You knew that Hashirama still believed that peace was achievable between the Uchiha and the Senju — but to ask Madara straight to his face? After his brother had just been injured by your own brother?? Just what was he thinking? Your eyes were fixated on Madara and Izuna, not knowing what their next move would be. 

As soon as Hashirama finished talking about his ideas for peace, Izuna spoke up to his elder brother. “No, big brother..” Izuna pleaded, “Do not be deceived by them..” And because a brother’s word is more valuable than the words of an ex friend, Madara headed his brother's word by throwing a smoke bomb and retreating along with the rest of his clan. 

Peace would not be achieved that day. 

The days after the encounter, your hope was diminishing more and more. But you wouldn’t give up. Your brother wouldn’t either, though Tobirama was more cautious of him. Tobirama understood that Hashirama and you still saw the little boy from the river, but he couldn’t wrap his head around why you two tried so hard to make peace with him. However, as long as his siblings held a hope for peace, Tobirama would support the two of you as much as he could. 

Soon enough, the day came when you would meet Madara face to face alongside your brothers. You noticed that Izuna was not among the Uchiha and your heart ached for Madara. He wouldn’t show it, but you knew he was hurting. 

You could also tell that there was something different about Madara.. His eyes.

“My little brother ended up dying from that day’s wounds..” Madara began to speak, his tone laced with venom. “..Leaving me with powers that will protect the Uchiha!” Faster than you could comprehend his words, a giant blue phantom-like creature made from Madara’s chakra alone arose from the ground. But this did not shake Hashirama, nor you. 

“I sent you a ceasefire agreement!” Hashirama reminded his old friend, “If you truly want to protect the Uchiha, let's stop fighting!” Before you could even say anything, Madara’s voice resounded throughout the battlefield. 

“Hashirama! How long will you keep saying such juvenile things?!” His long black hair swished in the air, he was confident that today, he would avenge his people and most importantly, his brother. Unfortunately for him, the battle ended with his back on the ground, Hashirama kneeled beside him. 

“Madara, You’re finished..” Tobirama glared at him, his sword just inches above Madara. 

Your eyes widened and you quickly sprinted over to where your brothers were, “Tobirama, Wait!” You worriedly shouted, hoping he’d hear it despite your distance. You didn’t notice Madara’s eyes flickering over to you. Hashirama backed you up saying, “Wait, Tobirama.” But this would not deter your elder brother. 

“Why, Elder brother?! This is our chance!” Tobirama spoke passionately, clearly ticked off by the words that came out of your mouths. Why were you so opposed to it? If he just ended Madara right here and now, the fighting would end! Couldn’t you understand??

Hashirama glared up at his younger brother, “No one touches him!” Hashirama had never been one to yell, but at this moment you could tell it was critical. Tobirama lowered his sword, withdrawing upon hearing his brother’s words. He wasn’t shocked to find you kneeling next to Madara, opposite to Hashirama, and healing his injuries. 

“Hmph, Just get it over with, Hashirama..” said the Uchiha, “It would be an honor.. ..to die by your hand.” His words tore your heart to shreds. He was so ready to give his life up.. Did he really not see any other way? Before you could shed any tears of frustration, Hashirama began to speak. 

“Quit the posturing. If I kill the clan head like this, the younger Uchiha who follow you shall run amok again.” Hashirama tried to make a point, but Madara quickly refuted it. 

With sorrowful words, Madara spoke, “There isn’t anyone left with such pluck among the Uchiha-” 

“No, there is always someone.” Your elder brother’s tone was confident. “Can’t we just skip stones again, like in olden times? Together..” Your expression softened as you listened to your brother's words. Those days seemed so far and yet, you held them so close to your heart. Just as he did. You looked down at Madara, feeling the strings of your heart pull as you looked upon his tired visage. 

“That’s not possible, you and I are no longer the same.” Madara spoke with such finiteness. As if his words were solid and the conversation was to die there. It made you frustrated because you believed in the hope that you pursued alongside your brother for so long. “I don’t have a single brother left.. and I just can’t trust you.” You slightly winced at the mention of his brothers, remembering how he had told you he was one of five.. You’d be a liar to say you didn’t empathize with him. 

Hashirama looked at his former friend with the last glimmer of hope in his brown eyes, “Is there.. No way I can convince you?” You searched Madara’s face, your expression brightening when he mentioned that there was one way. But your face fell once you heard his next words. 

“Either kill your brother.. Or kill yourself, right now.” Madara looked upon their shocked expressions. He heard your breath hitch and saw how your two brothers froze. “..And then we’ll be even.. I’d be willing to trust your clan.” 

You ripped your gaze away from Madara and looked into your brother's eyes anxiously. Of course, you should’ve known by now that he would not kill Tobirama. So the only option was.. To kill himself. So with a smile, your eldest brother got up and began to take off his armor. “Thank you, Madara. You really are kind hearted.” You were confused, what was so kind-hearted about this.

“Big brother, don’t do this..!” You pleaded. You stood up, worried at what your brother would do. 

“Listen Tobirama, _____… Carve into your heart these final words of mine,” Hashirama began as he took out a kunai. “Words that I shall be exchanging with my life. You too, my fellow clan members.” Your heart was racing and you could feel your nails dig into the skin of your palms. You had to hold yourself back or you’d rip out the kunai from your brother’s hand. 

“After my death, do not kill Madara. I forbid any fighting between Uchiha and Senju.” Your elder brother instructed, “Swear this right now, upon our fathers and yet unborn children!” You met Tobirama’s panicked eyes. It wasn’t often he demonstrated emotions in front of the enemy, but this was different. Hashirama really was going to kill himself. “Farewell!” Your brother said with a smile. 

“Brother, No!” You reached out to Hashirama but Tobirama stopped you. “Wha.. What are you doing, Tobirama? He's really going to do it!” You pleaded with your elder brother. It was then that you had seen that he was just as worried as you were yet, he didn’t move an inch to stop him. You saw a single tear escape the eyes of your dear elder brother and you could feel your heart breaking in two as you held onto Tobirama’s sleeve to ground yourself.

This was your brother. The one who had protected you from enemy clans since your youth. The one who trained you to become stronger so you could fend for yourself. He taught you the ways of a medic ninja and helped you master the art. He was the one who helped you hope for peace when you had none..! Tears flowed from your eyes, you had never imagined a world in which you would live without Hashirama.. And now..?

As your brother moved to plunge the kunai into his heart and end his life, you witnessed Madara spring up and grab onto his hand before Hashirama could do anything. You let out a breath you had been holding in and your grip loosened around Tobirama’s sleeve. What was he doing? “Enough..” Madara spoke. Hashirama looked just as surprised as you did. “I.. have now seen your guts.” 

Madara acknowledged your brother for the first time in years. This was a sign of times changing, and for once you realized that peace really was achievable. That for the first time in ages.. The Senju and the Uchiha would be at peace. 

There would be no more fighting. 

The moments that followed after seemed so surreal to you. 

Seeing Madara shake hands with your eldest brother to signify that there would be peace between the two clans gave you an unimaginable sense of peace and satisfaction. This had been the result of years of your shared hope coming to fruition and you couldn’t be more joyful. 

Now, both Uchiha and Senju were building homes alongside one another. Uchiha children played along with children of the Senju clan and there was no amnesty between the two of the most powerful clans, but instead peace. 

“It’s different, huh?” You walked up to your old friend with a small smile on your face. You hadn’t been able to talk to him much due to all of you being busy with getting Konohagakure established, but this afternoon was one of the rare days you were able to get some rest. 

“Very.” His long black hair swayed in the wind. You stood next to him upon the cliff where the two of you could see all of Konohagakure. You could see the small village that was beginning to form, nothing but joy could fill your heart at the sight of it. 

“How are you? It’s been a while since we last.. Talked.” you spoke calmly. 

“...We achieved all that we wanted.” Madara’s words were true but ..something was off. 

You snuck a glance at the man beside you, his expression holding too much emotion but none that was visible. “Are you happy?” you asked him genuinely. 

“.. I suppose I should be.” Madara let out a sigh, deciding to sit down and watch the sun set before him. 

“So you’re not.” You murmured while you knelt down to sit beside him. The leaves on the trees swayed serenely as the wind blew through them. 

“Izuna would have..” Madara trailed off. He hated the way his old habit of letting his tongue slip around you had resurfaced so easily. You see, Madara was a man of few words whenever it came to his feelings. But whenever he was around you, it was like his tongue had a mind of its own and began disclosing more about himself than he intended to. “.. I suppose this is what all your hope has led to. Are you happy?” 

You let the wind softly caress your face as you contemplated your next words. “I’m happy that Hashirama’s dream has become reality. But..” You smiled to yourself, feeling Madara’s intense gaze on you. “My dream has yet to become reality.” 

“Was this not your dream?” Madara asked curiously. You turned to look at him, admiring how despite the both of you growing older, he still resembled the little boy from the river from years ago. 

“It was one of them,” You admitted, “But my dream is something a little more selfish.” 

Madara gave you a look of confusion. To him, you were anything but selfish. Of course, you weren’t perfect either, you too had killed members of his clan.. But you were more pure than most. He supposed.. “Selfish? How so?” 

“I..” You chuckled and hugged your knees to your chest, “It’s embarrassing.” Madara gazed at your form, clearly this time. He remembered how whenever you seemed to have a lot on your mind, you would hug your knees close to you. Old habits die hard, he guessed. 

He scoffed, “You’ve fought with me on the battlefield fearlessly but you won’t tell me your dream because of a little embarrassment? How laughable,” Madara’s taunts were something you secretly missed. His witty remarks and confidence were something that had not changed throughout the years clearly. 

“That’s..!” You sighed, “Do you really want to know that bad?” You rested your chin above your knees and looked out to the settlement in an attempt to distract yourself. 

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know, now would I?” Madara stole a glance at you, looking at the way the light of the sunset washed upon you. He didn’t know what your next words would be, but he certainly did not expect it to be-

“My dream.. Is for you to be at peace.”

[mochademic]

100 Days of Productivity [Day: 27] || 100 Jours de Productivité [Jour: 27]

rain in the morning makes me nostalgic for when I lived on the coast. I adore that first crisp breath of air when you open the door. being curled up by the fireplace or in front of a window; the grey sky and the deepening shadows.

today I finished course work, added to both the essays I've been working on, & started working on a few new jewelry pieces for an upcoming collection.

currently listening // Joan of Arc. by Barnes Blvd.

La pluie le matin me rend nostalgique de l'époque où je vivais sur la côte. J'adore cette première bouffée d'air frais lorsque vous ouvrez la porte, me blottir près de la cheminée ou devant une fenêtre, le ciel gris et les ombres qui se creusent.

Aujourd'hui, j'ai terminé mon travail de cours, ajouté aux deux essais sur lesquels je travaillais, et commencé à travailler sur quelques nouvelles pièces de bijoux pour une collection à venir.

chanson // Joan of Arc. par Barnes Blvd.

[smoothie03]

Hetalia Gangsta AU

{District 5 - Knights Templar}

Sooo, I may haven't read the AU properly yet but I saw the art and the strips (without translation) and wanted to include Knights Templar to the fun because Hima won't draw him again anyways.

Here we have Gabriel de Payns; Earl of the long gone district 5, richest man of the surrounding districts.

Code name: le Ciel

Currently lives in his dead family's mansion which is now part of district 33 (France), occasionally found at the mansion of the 'Hüter des Bündnisses der Treue'. (if I understood that one introduction illustration of Prussia correctly, lol)

In this universe, Gabriel has to weaponize his kindness to survive after District 5 literally got burnt down to the ground. The legacy and inheritance of his family - an ancient lineage of knights - make him a target for any person who tries to benefit from Gabriel's financial support. The Earl doesn't care a lot about the wealth he posesses since it was the very thing that led to his district's downfall. He will grant immense support to those who manage to persuade him and he will give them the money they need to fulfil their goals...as long as they align with Gabriel's own values and good deeds he also wishes for. He can be the kindest and most giving person as long as his trust isn't broken. Don't dare to betray him; he has scary dog privilege. (Gilbert)

However, this earl is an entity that barely shows himself to the public or the broad daylight. Ever since the Great Fire, one could only meet the earl once darkness falls. There were rumours that this mysterious, living source of endless gold was actually nothing more than a legend, a vampire or a ghost even that haunted people's minds, yet the results of his actions can be seen in every project that was built upon his riches. Merely the leader of the Medic District (Joan/Hospitallers), the leader of District 33 and of course the Anführer des Treuebündnisses have seen him outside of these narrow time-windows, proving that he was indeed alive and the last one of the former district that was still standing. But why did the earl have the habit of only expecting visits in the evening and nights? The rumour says it's because of his burn scars that shattered his once perfectly angelic face.

Lore of District 5 | Past:

District 5 once was a very elite and wealthy district with many families from a knightly background but the district was tattered by greed, pride, selfishness and religious fanatism. A religious sect acted in the district's underground. It once was a powerful instrument to ensure the obedience of masses and it used to be a source of income for many wealthy families of district 5, especially the one Gabriel comes from. As the son of the sect's leader he grew up very sheltered and influenced by the sect's mindset. He was supposed to follow the footsteps of his father (as a district leader and the leader of the sect) which put him under a lot of pressure, however, the older and more concious Gabriel got, the more he started questioning the morality of this cult. Gabriel himself wanted to give; to be kind. Which was also his dream for the future.

But still, the way language was weaponized within the cult to get what they wanted is still a skill and advance Gabriel uses in his current position as it does give him a non-violent power and control which is crucial if he wants to keep his current status and security. However, even though he proceeds to use the techniques he learnt as a kid, Gabriel does not share the mindset of the sect or the people he grew up with; he despises it and wants to distance himself as far as possible from what happened in the past as he saw that it was cruel.

Between the different districts were many conflicts. But the last one with district 33 with the combination of an uprising of the opressed social classes of district 5, caused the event which is known under the name "the Great Fire". District 5 got almost completely annihilated by flames. The bourgeoisie vanished, the rest of the hierarchies and systems of the district broke into pieces. As if the district never existed.

Only then, when the fire burnt down the last 'chains' that held Gabriel back in his so called 'destiny' or 'right place', he gained back the freedom he never had but wished for. And with that, the chance to change his future and a chance to help those who had been exploited by the district's underworld opened up to him.

As he was the last one of the old world that was still standing, yet the one willing to create a new and fairer world.

[dirtfullofwork]

call of duty oc: sal "ruz" le ciel ( reboot ! Sal)

As of 2024 ruz is associated members of the task force and was called in by laswell to assist the task force with a mission in Las almas with the help of Ghost, Alejandro and soap to capture Hassan.

General:

Name: Salamanca (sal) le Ciel

Age: 24 (as of 2022 where mw2 reboot takes place)

Alies: yahoo (by her aunt) , ruz , coperal, sally , sal

Gender: female

Birthday: October 31, 1998

Nationality: British (UK)

Languages: English, Spanish, Russian (for educational purposes) and some asain languages

Occupation/ rank: corporal, British SAS (special air services), Associated member of 141- Ghost team

Sexuality: heterosexual

Appearance:

Hair color: dark brown

Eye color: cocoa brown

Scars: a few some her childhood and during her time in the militarily (minor ones)

Face claim: Aimee Garcia

Height: 5,6 (166 cm)

Build: lean muscular

Blood type: o+

She had glasses but she can see fairly she mostly uses glasses to read

Family:

Mother: freya le ciel status: Deceased , deceased unnamed father, Martinez le Ciel

Siblings: none.

Personality:

●Looks like a cinnamon bun could kill you.

●confident

●kind

●funny

●loyal

Favorites:

color: blue

Season: winter

Food: popcorn shrimp, stir fried noodles with shrimp

Drink: green tea

Desert: matcha ice cream with rice crisp and also macaroons

Hobbies: wrestling, running, yard work, gardening, reading, sleep

Fighting style:

Fighting skills: she relys of stealth, she also use her wresting skills she learned in highschool somrtimes. She also uses toture methods like nail pulling, fire, water log

Weapons: she is proficient with in field crafts and knifes. Especially her black talon knife. Its a blade with a slight curve and needle sharp tip

Weaknesses:

● she can be sensitive person as she doesn’t k ow how to control her emotion at very stressing moments

●she can be dishonest

●she can be reluctant

Trivia:

● Sal short for Salamanca which doesn’t have a special meaning

● le Ciel is french for "the sky"

●she is afraid of dogs, she thinks hairy ,messy and sloppy and they are just scary in general, she loves cats

●she loves reading Greek mythology

●she is a Virgin, she thinks love will get in the way of her life and job, and she's just serious about love as she never dated anyone.

•she HATES summer, for her it’s way to hot and all the bugs coming back and MELTING ICE CREAM!! But she does like hard work and gardening she prefures winter

•she has glasses but only for reading she can see afar

Backstory:

At a very young age her mother died from an accidental overdose and her never meeting her father due to him being locked up for murder. She was raised by her aunt, Martinez le Ceil. She lived a decent life, she was fed well raised well but her aunts boyfriend was neglectful to her so she would be scared to go to the house alone with him for years but later died . And she also heard tales of her late mother being a retired solider and she use to be so inspired by her story and wanted to be her mother one day, but it was hard, she use to get bullied, . Later she decided she should change her life because she didint have no clue what to do with his life and pay off her aunts (Martinez) depts.

so after some years later sal learned tons of stuff, and over time she joined the British sas at the age 19 where she got her code name “ruz”, later she was later called for a mission in Germany to kill a group of terrorist and to get info on a report of a drug stash with a few co workers , and after a fail she had to watch her only friend co worker get killed in front of her in a brutal way while she was held hostage then got tortured for 4 days until she escaped but not without a mark, months after that things were normal until she got called by laswell to help them with a mission to las Almas.

[mouldymp3rotations]

0824-011

Part IV of my 20th anniversary series !

Part I Part II Part III

This post was brought to you by Node of Scherzo before Versailles even was a thing :D I was really, really excited when Versailles happened, and even more when they teamed up with Kaya and Juka to make Node of Scherzo. Here's why lol (ok there are no Juka songs here but eeeeeh)

As usual : Song titles link to individual mp3 file download

All 5 songs can also be downloaded together, in a zip file, from the link at the bottom

藍華柳~aikaryu - すすめ!パイレーツ (susume! pirates)

Aikaryu being Teru's band before Versailles :)

Another iconic piece from Aikaryu, probably their best, imo, that still makes me wish their van never crashed (but then again, if that didn't happen, maybe Teru and Hizaki wouldn't have started working together, and they do riff well together aaah...)

Susume! Pirates was on the mini-album 海賊盤~Aye.藍.sir~ (kaizokuban~aye. ai. sir~ more puns from our buddy aikaryu uhuhuh), released in 2004.

aaah, indie goodness ♥

HIZAKI - Ritual (featuring fu-ki from BLOOD)

... Well Hizaki was also Hizaki before versailles, I suppose. His solo career is pretty solid, though ! I was already vaguely aware of BLOOD at the time, and this song convinced me to look further into it :)

This version of Ritual was on Maiden†Ritual, released in 2004 (it was somewhat self-covered under HIZAKI grace project and sung by Juka a few years later, but Juka's falsetto is so bad you might as well stick to the fuki version ahahhaah)

LAREINE - Scarlet Majesty

Lareine being one of Kamijo's bands before versailles, if I even needed to introduce him...

Now this was one of the first Lareine song I heard, I don't remember what was the very first, but this one was the one that made me love Lareine :3 And it's another one of these songs I didn't realized was so new, at the time... (but also, in my head, somehow, lareine disbanded in 2001 LOL)

Scarlet Majesty was a single released in 2003.

Malice Mizer - au revoir

The thing is, I thought that malice would suit the mood better than m10m (but then again here's Schwarz Stein at the end lmao), especially right after Lareine, AND once you've heard one m10m song, you've pretty much heard it all (there's one in the 1st post of the series ;) ), BUT that statement isn't true about Malice. I've done Klaha era, now here's Gackt lolz. (also Juka wouldn't be Juka without a good Gackt base, so eh...) (also, also : i'm pretty sure that at least Közi showed up to a node of scherzo event, back then, iirc)

Also, ngl, I chose between this, Le Ciel, and Bel Air, and I'm not sure how I elected au revoir... It might just be that Mana's flower costume is my fave of all time ♥

Au revoir was a single released in 1997.

(enjoy this non-crunchy clip omfgoth im always emotional when I actually see it and I dont have to guess what the pixels mean T^T)

Schwarz Stein - Rise to Heaven

Schwarz Stein being Kaya's band bef... WELL. They were active from 2001 to 2004, and have been semi active since 2011. Kaya started his solo career in the meantime, partaking in several side projects, including Node of Scherzo. (And Hora spent his time buying shoes and living (?) in Hawaii, I guess...)

IT'S THE FIRST SCHWARZ STEIN SONG I EVER HEARD !!! At the time, this, queen of decadence and fester love was all I could find on lime wire lol. And it stayed like that until a parental unit gifted me a legit copy of New Vogue Children (there were a lot of "miya records" copies circling on ebay, back then). So anyway, I heard that and I fell in love and it's been 20 years and counting :D

Rise to Heaven was on the album New Vogue Children, released in 2003

Bonus because it was already uploaded in mega :

Node of Scherzo, featuring Teru, Hizaki, Juka, Kamijo, and Kaya here, and among others

Node of Scherzo was a series of concert put up together by versailles, Kaya, and Juka, in 2007. They basically created a musical based on beauty (lol) involving a love triangle and songs from Versailles, Hizaki grace project, and Kaya's solo career. After the released of Carmilla, it became a vampire story as well.

NoS also paved the way for the monstrosity that is JVM Roses Blood Symphony lol

.zip file downloadable HERE~

[edenityy]

( chapter twenty-one ! )

"Mr. Phelps!"

Only the sound of crackling thunder can be heard throughout the room when the body of Patrick Phelps is discovered, a third round of wide eyes and stances of discomfort wash over the guests. This has been the third dead body to be discovered within two days. Paired with the fact that none of them can just up and leave due to the weather, it causes tension to fester.

Arthur, seemingly feeling brave, is the closest one to the body. Nearly everyone else has almost backed themselves against the walls, but the wordsmith crouches beside the body to get a closer look.

"Rigor mortis is already setting in. So he's been dead for a while," says Arthur with a shake of his head.

Standing in the doorway, Grimsby shields Irene from the body. "Are we having some kind of nightmare?" he asks.

'Oh, that would be wonderful.. My dreams have always been strange. Perhaps this is just a long one?' Beside Ciel, Leah stands between him and Anna. The feeling of discomfort overcomes her, and she uses her hands to cling onto them, hoping to feel a semblance of comfort. The girl can only wish to disappear from the situation.

"He doesn't have any external injuries like the other two though.." Arthur points out while searching Phelps' body before his eyes widen in shock when he lifts the collar of his shirt. "There's a wound on his neck like he was stabbed by something! It might be from a needle-like object that was used to inject a poison."

Ciel lets out a noise of question before his eyes begin to drift past a short wall, falling upon the sight of Lau and Ran Mao ransacking his closet full of clothes, hats, and shoes.

"Wow, the Earl sure lives in a nice room~" Lau muses, sifting through the numerous different coats the younger boy owns. Crouched down beside him, Ran Mao carefully places hats on her head as she stares blankly at the floor.

Eye twitching in shock and annoyance, Ciel can already feel his irritation growing. "Don't just search people's rooms as you please!" he yells.

The pair ignore Ciel's words of protest in favor of examining a piece of fabric, earning a smirk from Lau. "You held on to the clothes I gave you~ Did you wear them?" Ran Mao wears the hat Ciel wore when he attended Viscount Druitt's ball, holding up the garment for Lau to see.

"Listen when people are talking!" the earl's voice is nearly a shout when he is ignored, striking even more annoyance within him.

Peering past her fiancé's shoulder, Leah perks up at the sight of Lau and Ran Mao going through Ciel's items. Having lost her will to care in the moment and hoping to feel normal, she shifts and begins walking over to the pair. However, her interest in joining in on the run is short-lived when Ciel grabs ahold of her upper arm, preventing her from moving any further.

"Don't get involved with those two.. No shame," Ciel complains with a mutter, gently guiding Leah back to her original spot while trying to ignore the small pout sitting on her cherry-tinted lips.

Before Leah can find it in her to complain, the sound of Arthur's voice draws her attention. "It also resembles a kind of bite mark, but.."

"A bite mark in the neck.." Irene speaks up, holding a hand towards her heart. "It sounds just like Carmilla."

Ciel hums in acknowledgment. "By Carmilla, you mean Le Fanu's 'The Vampire Carmilla'?" he asks, though his voice lacks much tone or emotion.

With a nod, Irene grips her arm a bit tighter. "Yes. Do you know it?"

Turning her head, Leah looks up at Ciel with a tilt of her head, furrowing her brows to show her confusion. Initially, the Earl can't understand why his fiancé is staring at him, thinking this is her being strange again. But his eyes widen a tad bit moments later, mouthing the words 'a book' and earning a faint nod from the girl. 'I'll have to read that one..'

"You're saying this guy's been killed by a vampire?! Don't be ridiculous!" Woodley shouts, directing his words towards Irene. "You can't say that kind of occult and unscientific nonsense in the nineteenth century!"

Ciel crosses his arms with a shrug, looking unimpressed. "Unscientific, huh.. I guess you could say that."

"Two thirty-eight."

Both Leah and Ciel perk up at the sudden voice cutting through the protests of the others, wandering over to Arthur, who is holding a square-shaped clock in his hands. The glass covering the clock part of the item is shattered and leaves the hands stuck in place, showing the time it broke. Two thirty-eight.

"That's the clock I keep at my bedside, isn't it?" asks Ciel, peering down at the kneeling wordsmith.

With a nod, Arthur places the clock upright on the bedside table. "I guess it probably fell when he was writhing in pain.. It's broken."

Examining the clock as well, Leah tilts her head to get a better view of the details. For half a second, her face lights up at the sight, thinking the item is quite cute.

She turns her head towards Anna, who stands in the doorway, blocking the trio from seeing the dress Ciel wore to Viscount Druitt's ball. "Anna, why don't I have a clock at my bedside?" she questions, beginning to want one.

"You never asked, Mistress," the maid replies. "And you would realize that we wake you up earlier than you request.."

Leah's face contorts weirdly. "What?"

"We wake you up earlier than you would like. You never notice, but if you had a clock, you would," Anna shifts on her feet, preparing for her master to yell at her.

However, the maid feels a sense of surprise when no sound comes from Leah's mouth but a small 'oh.' Leah can't find it in her to care about being woken up early, as she typically only does when she is awoken in a foul mood.

"Well, I would like one," Leah fiddles with her fingers, noting the lack of gloves on her hands.

Anna gives a small nod in response. "That can be arranged."

A comfortable silence falls upon the maid and lady, neither having anything else to say. Both of them have a memory that is quite good, so Leah hardly has any doubts that Anna will fail to remember when they return home. Even if Anna doesn't manage to remember, there is a good chance Leah will and will spend hours bothering her father.

"Leah?"

The sound of her name rings out in her ears, flicking her eyes over to Ciel, who politely passes by Anna in the doorway. His head is turned back towards her, his eyes never leaving her own.

"We are going to the drawing room for tea," he says, realizing she hadn't been paying attention to anything he or Arthur had said in the past minute.

Perking up at the mention of a potential moment to sit down and relax or talk Ciel's ear off, Leah gives a small nod. She motions for Anna to follow her as well but prioritizes latching onto Ciel's arm, determined not to acknowledge that she's walking across the room where someone died. Regardless, a pastry does sound enticing after skipping her meal.

— ౨ৎ —

Gathered around a table, the guests are seated on plush sofas as they reach for cups of tea or pastries on plates. Although she anticipated sitting near Ciel, Leah sits at the opposite end of the table beside Ran Mao, Charles to her right at the other end of the table. Her eyes twitch every so often when she hears his incessant chewing, quietly sipping on her cup.

"Well then, we've eaten dessert, so let's sort things out," Charles chirps, crumbs on his cheeks as he finishes up chewing. "First of all, Lord Siemens. His death was around ten past one this morning. The only one who doesn't have an alibi is Earl Phantomhive. Next is the butler.. His time of death is unknown. Finally, Mr. Phelps. His death was thirty-eight minutes past two this morning.. Am I correct?"

Everyone pays attention closely as the times of deaths are recounted, causing a slight tension in some around the table.

Arthur is the only one to chime in. "No, the butler's corpse was found first, but who was actually killed first is still unknown."

With a nod, Charles agrees as he places a finger to his chin, seemingly in thought as he goes back over the words he said.

"From their condition, we know that a few hours had passed between them being killed and our finding them," says Arthur, using a pen to point at what he's written in a book. "At this stage, me and the Earl, who were chained to the bed til morning, have an alibi."

Charles leans back in his chair with a huff, nearly hitting his foot against the table. He doesn't seem to notice the glares of annoyance Leah sends in his direction, though that is most likely because she softens her face before he can even get the chance to turn his head.

Pulling a cup of tea away from his lips, Ciel responds to Arthur's words with a nod. "Me and the wordsmith got into bed and were chained to it at around two o'clock. Just before then, Sebastian said he had already guided Mr. Phelps to his room. And Mr. Phelps was killed at two thirty-eight."

"So, who saw Mr. Butler last?" asks Lau.

"That would probably be us, but," a bead of sweat drips down Arthur's cheek, "not only was it dark, but the clock was rather far away, so I can't tell you the exact time.."

A short string of silence falls upon the guests, everyone feeling uncertain. The amount of new information being fed to them in so little time is enough to jumble anyone's brain.

"Ah!" Finnian calls out suddenly, raising his arm high. "We saw Mr. Sebastian in the middle of the night!"

Meyrin begins to nod along, standing a little behind the energetic blond with Bardroy at her side."M-Me too!"

"At what time was it?" asks Bardoy, arms crossed over his chest.

"Hmmm.. I'm certain it was around two fifty," replies Finnian, trying to recount the night's events.

Arthur places down a few more notes in his book. On the other end of the conversation, Leah silently gossips in Ran Mao's ears even though she seems focused on the topic at hand. She knows that Ran Mao is listening, even if she doesn't show it, so she continues to talk away, ignoring any strange glances thrown her way.

"So this means Sebastian was killed last," Arthur lifts his pen from the paper. "What did he want?" he asks Bardroy.

"He came to me to confirm the food stock, and he gave me these instructions on cleaning the hearths," Bardroy moves his hands as he speaks. "He asked me to.. take care of a delivery.. owl?"

Everyone perks up at the mention of something so odd, though it is most prevalent on the faces of the chef and Ciel.

"An owl?" asks Ciel, shifting his head to pay closer attention.

Bardroy looks down. "As opposed to pigeons, owls can fly through a storm. It's just like him to think of everything."

Turning her body around, Leah glances at Anna, who stands a bit farther away from the Phantomhive servants. Her gaze is trained on Bardroy as he speaks, but she primarily focuses on her master, which is why she's so quick to notice the look on her face.

"Mistress?" she asks.

"You can just own owls?" Leah tilts her head, her face displaying a look of want.

A sigh leaves the maid, knowing what the girl wants to ask. The only response Anna gives her is a firm shake of the head. Not to say that one cannot own an owl, but more so to deny the inevitable request of asking to have one.

Leah gives a small pout, also understanding the meaning of Anna's silent no. Growing up as the daughter of a wealthy marquess, there's no doubt that she's spoiled. But she knows better than to cause a scene in front of this many people, especially after what she did to Georg Von Siemens.

"He might have sent a letter to the police," says Arthur, drawing Leah's attention.

Ciel shrugs in response, also trying to think of what could have been the contents of Sebastian's letter. "Seeing as the telephone wouldn't connect in a storm like this, I guess so."

"However, if Sebastian was the last to be killed, the story becomes more complex," Arthur glances over his notes and doesn't seem to notice the look Charles casts to the side. "The only ones who could lock the Earl's room would be Mr. Phelps himself, who was in the room, or Sebastian, who had the key. Which means that Sebastian being the killer is the most likely scenario, but Sebastian was killed."

Picking up a cup of tea, Lau decides to chime in from his spot on the couch. "So maybe.. the butler joined up with someone, and together they committed the murders, but then, afterward, they quarreled over the rewards the job would bring, and finally he was silenced?" he suggests, quick with his thoughts.

Ciel leans his head on his hand, casting a glance at Leah, who listens intently to Lau's words while simultaneously running a finger over the fabric of her dress. "It's not unthinkable. In that case, the probability of the killer being someone who would gain from their deaths seems high."

"So it would seem~ Money makes the world go round," Lau muses, causing Woodley's face to darken. "Mr. Phelps was the heir to Blue Star Line, a major company in the marine transportation business. He was a little weak-willed but had enough skill to be entrusted with the foreign trade branch and recently even expanded the business to the Asian region."

Those in the room recall Phelps and the behavior he exhibited throughout the night. It can certainly be a surprise at first glance that he holds such a high title, given that he was quite timid and unsure of himself. But Ciel doesn't seem to care much for Lau's words, laying his eyes upon him.

"Lau," Ciel speaks, catching the man's attention as he points a finger in his direction. "He was your business rival."

A smirk grows on Lau's face at the words, lifting the cup of tea in his hands to his lips. "Well, I guess that's true."

"Furthermore, you walk around carrying a needle in those dragging sleeves of yours, do you not?" Ciel's accusatory finger doesn't budge from its place, though he appears nonchalant despite the weight of his words.

The room goes silent. No one can find the words for what to say when the Earl's words reach their ears. Even Leah is silent, instead sending a side glance in Lau's direction while moving half an inch away in her seat.

"What?"

"Yes, I am carrying one," Lau smirks and retrieves a needle hidden within his sleeve, holding it in between his fingers. "It's used in oriental medicine, though."

"What?!"

The room, previously silent, now erupts in shouts and screams. Leah has now gotten up entirely in favor of standing beside Anna, thinking of a possible escape route in the chance that Lau truly is a killer. 'I suppose I could just throw myself out of a window?'

"Y.. You killed Phelps!" yells Woodley.

Beside him, Grimsby points a finger at Lau. "You bastard! You searched the Earl's room just now, didn't you? Are you sure you weren't just destroying evidence?!" his voice carries throughout the room.

"Oh, my~" Lau shrugs his shoulders and brings his arms up, hands drowning in his sleeves. "Aren't you being a bit too rash about this? How do you think I could make a locked room murder from that far off walk-in-closet? There's no door going outside there, and even though we're Chinese, it's not like we can just pass through ventilation shafts or something."

Envisioning Ciel's bedroom and the way Phelps was found, the guests listen to Lau's explanation.

"And I have an alibi for the time Lord Siemens was murdered anyway," he states, forcing everyone to recall how Lau was drinking with Woodley and Ran Mao. "But the Earl is such a bully~ You don't need to take revenge on me now, you know?"

"Do I really need to hear that from you, who suggested confinement?" Ciel deadpans with Arthur. "Well, in any case, there's no one who could have killed all three, even if they teamed up with Sebastian. I was just teasing you," he takes a long sip of tea.

Arthur is quick to perk up at Ciel's words, peering down into his book. "That's true."

Watching as the wordsmith bends over to begin ferociously scribbling, Irene's brows knit in worry. "What are you talking about?"

The sound of a pen moving back and forth on the paper is all that can be heard for a long few moments, everyone watching Arthur in quiet suspense. He quickly makes a chart full of the names of all the guests, including the dead ones and their times of death.

"If I put it in a simple chart.." Arthur holds up with piece of paper for all to see. "It'd look like this. The only one who could have killed Lord Siemens at ten last one was Earl Phantomhive. The only one who could have killed Mr. Phelps at two thirty-eight was Sebastian. And anyone but me or the Earl could have killed Sebastian at ten to three. So, even if they worked with Sebastian, it's impossible that a single person could have caused this string of murders!"

Woodley's hands clench, and his face becomes agitated. "If it's impossible to do alone, then the people who came as a pair are the criminals!" he proclaims with sweat dripping down his forehead.

Equally as irritated and angered, Grimsby stands abruptly. "Are you kidding me?! On top of being trapped in here, I'm being treated as a criminal?!"

"Grimsby, calm down!" Irene calls out, wrapping her arms around his hips.

Backed up in their little corner, Leah and Anna eye the situation uncomfortably. The high tensions and severe anger dripping off of guests is unsettling, especially for the two of them. The likelihood of one of the men attacking them is low, but neither is necessarily strong enough to fight back if that small chance happens.

However, the Barrett subtly appears somewhat entertained by the idea of Woodley losing his composure. She can't voice that thought in case she draws suspicion to herself, but knowing a man who irritates her is lashing out and making himself seem like a likely culprit makes a smile threaten to break out on her face.

Leah leans down to position her lips beside Anna's ears. "I am inclined to believe some of these people are going mad.." she whispers lowly.

"Who wouldn't?" Anna retaliates. "We are stuck here with a potential murderer, and no one knows who it is for sure."

Eyes focusing on Ciel's face, Leah drowns out the sounds of Woodley beginning to shout and bang his fists on the table. "Do you think.. I killed Sebastian?" her voice trembles, recalling the secret Anna wishes she never revealed.

"No!" the sound of Anna's voice raises a bit too high, almost drawing attention away from Woodley's ongoing outburst. "It's impossible, Mistress. I woke up periodically throughout the night, you hardly moved."

Giving a hasty nod, Leah goes silent. She begins to bite her lips and pick at her manicured fingertips, taking a deep breath as she situates her focus onto Woodley, who is somehow still yelling. 'I want to forget all of this..' her thoughts echo in her head as though they are trying to claw their way out.

But as much as she may wish, it simply isn't possible to escape the chambers she calls her mind. So, to ease the neverending noise that plagues her waking moments, she tunes in on the current topic at hand.

"I'm going home!" the man is quick to swivel around the sofa and point a finger at Arthur. "Like I'd let myself be killed!"

"Please wait! It's impossible in this storm!" Arthur rises from his seat in an attempt to follow Woodley and prevent him from leaving, piquing the interest of Leah. "You should stay here to avoid suspicion as—"

Arthur's words are cut off by the sound of a harsh slap echoing throughout the room, Woodley's left hand connecting harshly to his cheek. It's near deafening and causing a string of gasps amongst the women, though almost everyone settles on wide eyes. Leah, naturally a gossipmonger, leans in a bit closer to hear more.

"I don't take orders from a mere doctor!" Woodley's voice is loud as he sends Arthur flying back until he hits the table, breaking cups and plates as well as colliding with Lau and Ran Mao's ankles.

"Woodley. The one who's telling you to sit down is me," cup and saucer in hand, Ciel's face is dark as he glares at the huffing man, "so sit down already."

Face contouring in utter anger and irritation, Woodley begins to charge for Ciel's seated form. "Don't order me around!" he shouts at the top of his lungs, hand tightly clenched in an attempt to collide with the boy's face.

"Earl!"

"Ciel!"

The room fills with yells of surprise from the guests, but they go up a volume when Tanaka suddenly interferes. Grabbing Woodley by the arm, Tanaka faintly twists it before using the leverage to slam the man into the ground, propping a knee on his back for extra measures. While Ciel appears unfazed, everyone else stares on in shock.

Leah, unwilling to stand idly any longer, runs straight for Ciel's seat with surprising ease for the shoes adoring her feet. She leans down to try and look at his face, worry written all over hers.

"Ciel, are you alright?!" she asks with uncertainty, her voice louder than she typically allows it to be.

Taking another sip of his tea, Ciel gives a firm nod. "I am quite alright," he ignores the words Tanaka directs at Woodley in favor of glancing into his fiancé's eyes, noting a small sparkle and a hint of emotion swirling within them.

The Barrett is incapable of protesting to get a better look or more reassurance due to Ciel reluctantly shifting his attention to the man on the floor. Woodley's expression is of pain and a bruised ego, something Leah can't deny that she enjoys seeing when it comes to men.

"Mister Woodley. You'll obey our orders then?" Ciel's words receive nothing in return from the man, though he can hear a faint giggle in his right ear from a voice he's all too familiar with. "Well then. Currently, the only one who really couldn't have been the culprit is Mr. Wordsmith. I think it'd be safest and fairest to put Mr. Wordsmith in charge of deciding our actions from now on."

"Me?!" exclaims Arthur in surprise as he points a finger at himself, a bruise noticeable on his cheek from Woodley's blow.

Ciel places his cup down on the saucer, brushing past Leah to set it on the table. His expression holds one of annoyance and exhaustion, unlike his betrothed, who now seems wide awake after the violent dilemma.

"Yes," he lets out a puff of air. "I don't really want a criminal prowling around in my manor."

The guests begin to discuss amongst themselves, everyone surprisingly coming to an agreement that Arthur should be placed in charge. Even Leah, who typically likes to stir fights, seems to be fine with it.

But there is one thing she isn't so quick to push aside.

"Would you still love me if I was a criminal?" asks Leah, directing her question towards Ciel.

Furrowing his brows, Ciel glances up in confusion and mild strangeness. "What?"

"Would you still love me if I was a criminal?" Leah repeats her question. "Would you still marry me, or would you have me killed?"

Ciel is quick to begin sharply shaking his head, refusing to answer the question or entertain her antics any further. He knows that the questions are both a trap and something he finds utterly ridiculous. Though, he does find himself pondering in the back of his mind.

"Then it's decided. There's plenty of time until the storm dies down anyway," he swallows a lump in his throat, now casting his eyes upon Arthur to ignore the pouting Leah, who stares holes into the back of his head.

Leaning back in his chair, Ciel brings his hands up and intertwines them. He rests his head on his hands and flashes a final smile at the wordsmith,

"Let's thoroughly corner this criminal."