#light fixture above mirror

[gleekschoiceawards]

Powder Room Bathroom A small, modern powder room with beige flooring, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, and white countertops is shown.

[harl3yquinn]

Bathroom Powder Room Modern black floor powder room with white countertops, louvered cabinets, a two-piece toilet, black walls, and a vessel sink.

[chloeeruby]

Bathroom - Modern Bathroom Small minimalist 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile concrete floor and gray floor alcove shower photo with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink, solid surface countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

[il-faut-etre-shooter]

3/4 Bath - Transitional Bathroom With recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, onyx countertops, and a hinged shower door, this medium-sized transitional 3/4 multicolored tile and mosaic tile laminate floor and shower features a beige floor.

[girlrotterr]

Oath.

knight!abby x fem!reader x assasin!ellie summary: In a kingdom on the brink of new leadership, tensions run high as a coronation draws near. a/n: my apologies if this is all over the place! (wrote this while sleep-deprived..)

The grand hall of the palace was draped in regal tapestries, each one heavy with stories of past rulers, their deep, rich colors glowing under the soft light of chandeliers that hung like constellations above. The crystal fixtures sparkled like stars, casting delicate rays that danced along the polished marble floors. The fragrance of fresh roses filled the room, mingling with the sharp scent of recently cleaned stone, yet you barely noticed the elegance, your thoughts too distant to care.

You stood before the large, arched window, the panes of glass cool against your fingertips. Outside, the sun sank slowly, painting the kingdom in golden light that blended into the soft hues of amber and rose. The sky, streaked with the dying colors of the day, was beautiful—achingly so—but it felt distant. Just like everything else.

Your face remained impassive, cold, as you gazed across the horizon. Today was the day of your coronation, the day you would become queen. Yet the weight of the moment, its significance, felt strangely hollow. The echoes of excitement from the kingdom beyond the palace walls barely reached you. The crowd outside, buzzing with anticipation, their voices and footfalls merging into a dull roar, seemed as distant as the horizon itself. You were aware of the world outside, but none of it felt real.

Two maids worked around you in practiced silence, their hands quick, delicate, and efficient. One was at your side, fastening gold earrings into place, each one set with gemstones that glinted under the light. Her movements were precise, careful, though you barely registered the cool metal brushing your skin. The other maid stood behind, her fingers weaving through your hair, creating an intricate design worthy of the crown that would soon rest upon your head. They were skillful, and yet, their presence barely existed in your mind, your thoughts far beyond this room, slipping through the palace corridors like a shadow.

The maid by your side fumbled slightly as she fastened the last earring, her fingers trembling as they touched your neck. You didn’t flinch. You barely blinked. But you could sense her nervousness, feel the tension rolling off her in waves. Perhaps it was the gravity of the day, the immense pressure of serving the soon-to-be queen. 

Behind you, standing just inside the doorway, was Abby Anderson—your most trusted knight, your oldest friend. Her armor gleamed in the chandelier’s soft light, the metal polished to a mirror-like shine, each plate a testament to her dedication and discipline. But Abby wasn’t watching the door or the crowd beyond the palace gates. Her focus was solely on you. It always was.

She had been by your side since childhood, her loyalty as unwavering as the steel she carried. You both had shared so much—moments of joy, of sorrow, of quiet understanding. But today, her presence felt heavier, her gaze more intense. There was something in the air between you both, something unsaid, as if she could sense the quiet storm brewing within you, the unease you hadn’t spoken aloud.

Abby’s eyes traced your face, searching for something, though you gave nothing away. The years had made her keen; she could read you like no one else could, and yet, today, there was a barrier even she could not penetrate. You were a queen in waiting, but in that moment, you felt more like a pawn—moved by forces unseen, drawn into a game far beyond your control.

At last, the maids completed their work, their fingers delicately smoothing the final strands of your hair into perfect alignment. They moved with practiced grace, their hands lingering for just a moment before they stepped back, retreating as if fearful that any further motion might shatter the silence that had settled over the room. The soft rustle of their skirts was barely audible, and their presence faded into the background entirely.

Abby’s presence lingered behind you, ever watchful. You could feel her gaze, piercing through the room’s stillness. Her armored boots softly scuffed the marble floor as she shifted, the slight sound making your spine stiffen, though you couldn’t bring yourself to move.

“You’re prepared for this.” Abby said at last, her voice cutting through the quiet with a firm conviction. It was not a question; there was no room for doubt in her words. It was a truth—her truth—a decision she had already made for you. It wasn’t just encouragement; it was certainty.

For a moment, you remained silent, letting her words hang in the air like a blade unsheathed. Your fingers idly traced the cool glass of the window, the faint lines fogging slightly under your touch. The smooth, cold texture grounded you in the present, a fleeting comfort against the storm inside your mind.

“Do you remember how angry the servants would get at us?” you asked suddenly, your voice breaking through your own silence, but softer than you expected. The memory flashed in your mind, stark against the dread of the present.

Abby looked at you, her eyes flickering with a hint of warmth as she recognized the moment you were recalling. 

“We’d sneak into the kitchens,” you continued, “stealing bread, fruits—whatever we could grab. And we’d feed it to the stray animals outside the castle walls.”

Abby smiled faintly, just for a moment, her features softening in the memory. “They’d scold us for it,” she replied, her voice softer now, a distant echo of your childhood, “trying to hide the food on higher shelves or locking it away in pantries. But somehow, we always managed to find something.”

The hint of a smile tugged at the corner of your lips as you turned slightly, your gaze still distant, but now filled with the shadow of nostalgia. “And now those same servants quiver in my presence.” The words left your mouth like a quiet, bitter confession, their truth sinking deeper than you’d intended. “They bow when they see me. They fear me, Abby.”

The weight of your own words settled between you both, the warmth of the past quickly vanishing, replaced by the icy reality of the present.

Abby’s hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, her thumb brushing its pommel in a gesture that was as much instinct as it was protection. “They respect you,” she said quietly, her voice steady, though there was something deeper there, something unsaid. “They may tremble, but they will follow you, just as I do.”

Your eyes flicked back to her, meeting her gaze. For a heartbeat, neither of you spoke.

Abby, your oldest friend, had always been there, her unwavering loyalty a constant in your life. Yet today, that loyalty felt like a shield you might need more than ever.

The chill in your chest only deepened. This wasn’t about respect or loyalty—it was about survival, about strength in a world where softness was weakness. You knew the truth Abby didn’t speak. Your reign would demand coldness. It would demand sacrifice.

The crown, though it had yet to rest upon your head, already cast a heavy shadow over your soul. Its weight had not yet made contact with your brow, but you could already feel its burden pressing deeply into your very essence, seeping into your bones and shaping your thoughts.

───────

Ellie sat in the cool shadows beneath the canopy of trees, her back pressed against the rough bark, the familiar weight of her knife resting comfortably in her hand. With slow, deliberate movements, she ran the blade along the surface of an apple, peeling it in thin, spiraling ribbons. The soft scrape of metal against fruit was steady, almost meditative, and each curl of skin fell to the forest floor in a neat pile. Jesse and Dina stood a few feet away, their voices a low murmur as they discussed the crowd. Ellie didn’t bother listening. Their words were just a distant hum, like the wind rustling through the leaves above.

In the clearing beyond, the crowd surged and swayed, a restless sea of bodies gathered at the palace gates. From their hidden vantage point, Ellie could see the mass of people stretching far beyond what any of them had anticipated. The coronation had drawn the entire kingdom, it seemed, and the air was thick with the buzz of excitement, the occasional roar of cheers rising up like waves crashing against rocks. The sunlight flickered through the trees, casting dappled patterns across the forest floor, but Ellie’s focus remained on the apple in her hands, her knife carving each slice with practiced precision.

“They’re packed in there tight,” Jesse muttered, his brow furrowed as he leaned against a low-hanging branch. His eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the sheer number of people. “Getting close to the princess won’t be easy. Not with this many eyes on her.”

Dina sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at the bustling mass. “This is insane. Look at them. How are we supposed to get anywhere near her with this many people watching? We’d be lucky if we even make it to the gates without being noticed.”

Ellie didn’t respond. The blade continued its slow dance along the apple’s flesh, peeling away another thin ribbon. She could feel Dina’s frustration simmering, could sense her impatience like a crackling fire, but she wasn’t interested in engaging.

Dina’s patience snapped, her gaze shifting to Ellie with evident irritation. “And you,” she snapped, “you don’t even seem to care. You’ve been quiet the whole time. Don’t you have anything to contribute?”

Ellie’s hand paused mid-motion, her fingers tightening slightly around the knife handle. She looked up slowly, her gaze sharp and unyielding. “If you’ve got something to say, Dina, just say it. Or maybe you should focus on the task at hand instead of whining.”

Dina’s eyes flashed with anger. “Whining? You’ve been sitting here like this doesn’t matter. Do you even know what’s at stake? Or are you too busy with your little apple to care?”

Ellie rose to her feet, her movements deliberate and controlled. The knife still glinted in her hand, the apple now stripped of its skin. She fixed Dina with a steady gaze. “I know exactly what’s at stake. You think I got this job because by some mistake?”

Before Dina could say anything, Jesse stepped between them, raising his hands in a calming gesture. “Alright, enough,” he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. “Both of you, just stop. This isn’t the time for bickering.”

Dina huffed, her gaze still directed at Ellie but with less venom. Jesse turned to Ellie, his expression softening slightly. “Ellie’s here because Maria trusts her. She’s new to the group, sure, but she’s not new to the work.”

Ellie observed Dina’s expression shift from anger to reluctant acceptance, the tension still hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Jesse’s voice took on a firmer tone. “ If we’re going to make this plan work, we need to support eachother, stick to the plan, and cut out these pointless arguments. Got it?”

Dina didn’t immediately respond, but the rigid set of her shoulders softened slightly. She gave a grudging nod, still clearly annoyed but willing to cooperate. Jesse turned back to Ellie, offering her a brief, understanding glance

Ellie nodded in return, her eyes scanning the crowd, “There’s no way we pull this off in front of all these people. There’s no clean escape, no cover. We’d be exposed, and the guards would have us before we even got within striking distance.”

“So what? We just give up?” Dina said, “Go back to Maria and tell her we couldn’t handle it?”

Ellie shook her head, the faint smirk returning to her lips. “No, Dina. We don’t give up. We adapt. We do this the right way. We go in slow.”

“Slow?” Dina scoffed. “We don’t have time for slow.”

“We make time,” Ellie countered, stepping closer. Her voice dropped, cold and deliberate. “If we want this to work, we have to get inside. We need to learn everything—the layout of the town, the routines of the guards, how the people move, how they think. We slip into their lives like shadows. We blend in, become part of the scenery, and when the time’s right, we make our move.”

Dina shook her head, her arms still crossed defensively. “And how long is this supposed to take? A week? A month? We don’t have that kind of time.”

Ellie’s gaze flickered back to the palace, the sun casting long shadows across the stone walls. “As long as it takes,” she said quietly. “You’ve done this longer than I have, Dina, but you know this isn’t a regular kill. This is the queen-to-be. We don’t get a second shot at this. We do it right, or we don’t do it at all.”

Jesse finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. “She’s got a point, Dina. If we rush this, we’re asking for trouble. We need to know what we’re dealing with before we act.”

Dina’s frustration was clear, but after a long moment of silence, she exhaled sharply, her shoulders dropping in reluctant acceptance. “Fine. We do it your way. But if this goes sideways, Ellie, it’s on you.”

Ellie nodded, her expression unreadable. “It won’t.”

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting an amber glow over the town as the crowd continued to swell. The distant cheers grew louder, the anticipation in the air thickening as the coronation ceremony drew closer. Ellie watched the scene unfold, her mind already working, planning, calculating each move.

They would become part of this place—unseen, unnoticed—until the moment was right. And when it was, they would strike from the shadows, swift and lethal.

There was no room for mistakes.

───────

You jolted awake, your lungs burning as if they were being scorched from the inside. Coughs wracked your body, each spasm sending searing pain through your chest. Blinking rapidly to clear the haze from your vision, you realized the room was shrouded in thick, acrid smoke. The dim light that filtered through the dense fog was ghostly and indistinct, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

With your heart racing, you struggled to sit up, your movements slow and unsteady. The smoke clung to your skin, making it difficult to breathe, and you could feel your head growing light as if it were floating away from your body. Your eyes watered uncontrollably, and the oppressive weight of the smoke made every breath a laborious effort.

Summoning every ounce of strength, you staggered out of bed, your legs weak and uncooperative. The smoke seemed to thicken the longer you stayed in the room, and the oppressive heat made the air feel almost molten. You stumbled towards the door, each step a monumental task as you tried to shield your face with the crook of your arm, hoping to avoid inhaling more of the choking smoke.

You emerged from your bedroom, the palace engulfed in chaos. The once-grand hallways were now a nightmarish landscape of flickering flames and billowing smoke. The once-polished marble floors were now slick with soot, and the ornate tapestries that once adorned the walls were reduced to smoldering husks. The flames crackled hungrily, consuming everything in their path with an insatiable fury.

You pushed through the haze, your eyes watering, your throat raw from coughing. Your mind raced as you made your way towards your parents' quarters, the thought of them being trapped in the inferno spurring you on. The corridor twisted and turned, and the smoke grew denser, each breath feeling like it might be your last.

You reached their door, but your heart sank as you saw the chains wrapped around it. The metal glinted ominously in the firelight, each lock fastened tightly as if mocking your desperation. Your hands trembled uncontrollably as you grasped at the chains, yanking and pulling with all the force you could muster. The locks resisted stubbornly, their mechanisms cold and unyielding against your frantic efforts.

The smoke was getting thicker, searing your lungs with every inhale, and your vision was beginning to narrow as you struggled to stay conscious. You coughed violently, the sound echoing harshly in the confined space, but you didn’t stop. Your fingers clawed at the chains, your voice a ragged plea as you strained against the cold metal.

“Help! Somebody—please!” Your voice was a mere whisper against the roar of the flames, barely carrying over the din of the burning palace. The locks seemed to mock you, their resistance only heightening your sense of helplessness.

Just as the smoke began to envelop you completely, your vision dimming to a suffocating blur, a figure appeared through the haze. Abby, her armor glinting in the flickering light, burst into view. Her expression was a mix of determination and fear as she dashed towards you, her eyes wide with alarm.

“Come on, we have to get out!” Abby shouted over the roar of the flames, her voice cutting through the smoke like a lifeline.

Before you could react, Abby grabbed you by the arm with a grip that was both firm and unyielding. The intensity in her eyes brooked no argument. She began dragging you towards the corridor, her strength propelling you forward even as you struggled against her.

“No!” you yelled, your voice cracking from the strain. “My parents—please, Abby! They’re still in there! You have to save them!”

Your protests were met with a resolute silence as Abby continued to pull you away from the door. Her pace was relentless, driven by a single-minded focus on getting you to safety. You flailed against her, trying to wrench free, your fists landing weakly against her armor.

“Let me go!” you cried out, hitting her with all the strength you could muster, but Abby remained unmoved. Her face was set in a grim line, her eyes fixed ahead as she navigated the treacherous path through the burning palace.

“I can’t!” Abby shouted back, her voice carrying an edge of desperation. “We’re not safe here!”

The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly as Abby dragged you away, each step pulling you farther from the locked door and your parents. The smoke thickened, wrapping around you like a choking shroud, and the heat became unbearable. You could see the door now, its chains glinting through the smoke, but it was growing smaller and smaller with each passing second.

“Abby, stop!” you pleaded, your voice a strained whisper. “We need to go back!”

Abby’s grip tightened, her determination unwavering. “It’s too late,” she said firmly. “The fire’s spreading too fast!”

You could feel the heat intensify as the flames roared closer, the walls of the palace crumbling around you. The inferno’s glow painted the walls in flickering hues of orange and red, and the once-familiar corridors were now a labyrinth of destruction.

Your parents’ door was now a distant memory, the vision of it being consumed by the flames etched in your mind. Tears streamed down your face, mixing with the sweat and smoke as Abby continued to pull you away, her determination a beacon in the chaos.

“Don’t—don’t leave them!” you sobbed, your strength waning as the fire grew fiercer. Your struggles became weaker, your body exhausted by the smoke and the frantic escape.

───────

“We must go now, Your Majesty.” A maid’s voice echoed through the room. She stood at the doorway, her head peeking in cautiously as if unsure whether to intrude on the final moments of your preparation. Her uniform was impeccably crisp, and her eyes darted nervously between you and the room, her posture stiff and formal.

You blinked, the trance you had been in dissolving as you scanned the room with renewed focus. The reflection in the mirror caught your eye. For a moment, the reflection seemed almost foreign, a ghostly echo of the queen you were about to become.

You turned to face Abby, who stood steadfast near the door. Her presence was as constant and reassuring as ever, her armor gleaming softly in the dim light. She hadn’t moved an inch from her post, her gaze locked on you with an intensity that was both protective and unwavering. It was as if she was willing to stand there for an eternity if it meant ensuring your safety and success.

You met her eyes, holding the gaze with a mixture of determination and an unspoken bond that had been forged over years of friendship and loyalty. The moment stretched, silent and weighty, a silent conversation passing between the two of you.

With a final, lingering look at the mirror, you straightened your posture and adjusted the layers of your gown, the fabric rustling softly with the movement. The intricate embroidery glinted in the light, the gold threads catching the soft glow and accentuating the grandeur of the ensemble. You took a deep breath, gathering the last of your composure.

“Shall we go?” you asked Abby, your voice steady but carrying a hint of the gravity of the occasion.

Abby’s expression softened, though her stance remained resolute. She nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting both pride and a hint of anxiety. “Yes, Your Majesty,” she said softly, her voice carrying the unspoken promise of her protection.

The maid stepped aside, allowing you and Abby to pass. As you walked towards the door, the echo of your footsteps seemed louder than usual, the soft click of your heels against the marble floor punctuating the stillness of the room. The grand hall awaited, filled with the thrumming anticipation of the crowd, the culmination of everything you had worked towards.

You took one last deep breath, feeling the weight of the crown and the enormity of your impending role settle over you. With a final, resolute glance back at the room—the sanctuary you were leaving behind—you stepped through the door and into the corridor beyond. The sounds of the cheering crowd and the distant murmur of the kingdom’s voices grew louder as you approached the grand hall, each step bringing you closer to your fate.

[nanamis-baker]

"Let me have my fill, Sweetheart"

Summary: Gojo wants to have his fill of you before leaving.

Content: Smut (Rough+ choking), some fluff, different positions, different locations.

WC: 6.3k (and only around 6k is pure smut lol)

The gentle clinks of dishes echoed in the quiet space. Satoru stood at the sink, his silhouette bathed in the soft, golden light of the overhead fixtures. The air carries the faint scent of lemon-scented dish soap as he carefully washed and dried the last of the plates, the soft glow casting a halo around his figure.

A smile graced your lips as you watched him, clad in his off-white t-shirt that hugged his broad frame perfectly, the way his sweatpants sat low on his waist. His hair, usually tamed by the blindfold, cascaded freely across his forehead, inviting you to run your fingers through it, gripping the soft strands.

Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, you crossed the kitchen to envelop him in your embrace, relishing the warmth of his body against yours. Your lips pressed against his t-shirt-covered shoulder blade, planting a soft kiss.

“When is your flight again?” you inquired softly. Satoru paused for a moment before responding.

“Around 4:30 in the morning,” he replied.

You nodded against his back as your hands roamed up and down his toned chest, teasing him slightly, relishing the feel of his muscles under your touch “So only a few hours, huh?” you sighed.

Finally done with the dishes, he turned to face you. Your chin rested on his chest as his arms wrapped around you, his touch firm yet gentle as he flattened his hands on your lower back, pulling you closer, his body pressing against yours. His cool knuckles brushed a stray hair from your cheek, tucking it behind your ear, sending a shiver down your spine.

“Gotta make the best use of these hours, right?” Satoru asked, his voice low as his lips lingered near the shell of your ears.

Without wasting a moment, his lips moved to your shoulder, pushing aside the fabric of your shirt to reveal a sliver of soft skin. He placed a gentle kiss there, a slow, deliberate press of his lips that sent a spark through your body. He made his way towards your neck, his warm breath tickling your skin as he trailed kisses up to the sensitive area behind your ear.

"Tell me, love," he began, his voice low and husky, "why do you look so guilty?" He asked, as his lips grazed the soft skin under your ear.

You hummed, “I had the last piece of the brownie- although I didn't realise it was the last one” you admitted.

Satoru tsked playfully, pulling away a little to look into your eyes, the heat in them mirroring yours. He found that spot again under your ear, sucking it, as his teeth grazed your skin, causing you to moan softly. His strong hand moved up and down your back, keeping you anchored to him.

"I was really looking forward to something sweet before flying away," he murmured, his voice brushing against your ear like a secret. "Now, what should we do about that, huh?" The rumble in his voice ignited a fire of desire that burned hotter with each passing moment.

His hands moved away from your back, slowly trailing down your sides before dipping beneath the hem of your shirt. His thumbs traced circles just above the waistband of your shorts, the touch a delicious reminder of his power over your senses.

Your eyes fluttered shut for a moment, giving him the satisfaction he craved. A lazy smirk stretched across his lips as his hands trailed up higher, brushing against your ribs just under the swell of your chest.

He leaned in as his lips brushed against yours with a teasing lightness, leaving you breathless and yearning for more. His hands were under your shirt, strong and sure as they skimmed over your stomach and back.

“You are such a tease” you murmured as you reached up, your fingers tangling in his hair at the nape of his neck, brushing against his undercut as you trailed kisses up his jaw and behind his ear, reaching for that spot that always drove him crazy. A sharp breath hitched in his throat, and you smiled against his neck, knowing you'd found your target.

Satoru's thumb hooked into the fabric of your shorts, giving a gentle tug, silently seeking your consent.

You smiled up at him as one of your hands left its place on Satoru’s nape, finding his hand under your t-shirt and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

He didn’t need to know anything else. Satoru knelt before you, his movements deliberate as he slid your shorts off your legs.

The tips of his fingers traced a feather-light path from your ankles, calves, the underside of your knee, and over your thighs. His touch was an urgent whisper, sending shivers down your spine with every caress. “God, you are so perfect,” he said, his voice a rough whisper.

His soft lips followed the same path, trailing kisses up your legs, each one a slow, deliberate tease. His lips reached your thigh, nibbling, planting hot kissing, as he made it to your inner thigh. He lingered there, the heat of breath a tantalizing promise against your core. You arched your back unconsciously, pushing into him, yearning for more.

So close. He was so close to where you wanted him.

His eyes, dark with desire, locked on yours. A slow smirk spread across his lips, and he leaned back, leaving you breathless and yearning.

A strangled cry caught in your throat. So close. Why was he stopping now? Your hand fisted in his hair, a silent plea for him to continue, but in one, swift movement, he was back on his feet, standing in front of your breathless form, smirking.

“Satoru don’t-” you started, but before you could finish Satoru leaned forward, lips crashing for a searing kiss that stole your breath away.

He cupped your face, his thumb brushing against your cheek. His touch was demanding, causing you to moan. Satoru placed his other hand on the nape of your neck, tilting your head up.

Your fingers tangled in his hair, the texture soft, like water flowing between your fingertips. Your other hand slipped under his thin t-shirt, fingertips grazing the warm skin of his back, pulling him in, and causing him to groan.

His grip on your neck tightened slightly, sending a thrill through you.

Your back brushed against the kitchen counter, the cold marble so different from the heat of Satoru’s body. The world seemed to fade away, everything reduced to the desperate press of his lips and the frantic beat of your heart.

Satoru’s body pressed against yours, urging you to sit on the counter, but you had different plans.

He blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his features as you broke this kiss. “What are you doing, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice breathless.

Ignoring his question for a moment, you dropped to your knees in front of him. You met his lustful gaze, a challenge glinting in your eyes, as you made your intention clear.

You held his gaze as your hands skimmed up his thighs, your fingertips exploring the firm muscles beneath his sweatpants. You didn't waste time with teasing - After all, you didn’t have Satoru’s patience.

Instead, your hands dipped beneath the waistband of his sweatpants, and with a single, swift motion, you tugged the garment down, leaving it pooling around his lower thighs. “I just want a taste,” you said, your voice needy.

The muscles in his legs tensed beneath your touch. He met your gaze, desire burning in his eyes. “A taste, huh?” he said, his voice a rough rasp. “Go ahead then, love.”

Your eyes returned to his still-clothed cock, straining against his boxers.

You did not have the same patience as him, but that didn't mean you could resist teasing him. You gently grabbed him through his boxers, teasing him as you placed a kiss on his clothed head. Satoru gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, his cheeks flushing pink as he looked down at you.

"Don't tease, baby," he said, his voice carrying a rumble that made you smirk.

Your fingers trailed down his length, the cotton of his boxers clinging tightly to it. Each stroke sent a jolt through him, a hiss escaping his lips as you lingered near the sensitive spot near his head, the fabric providing delicious friction. “Keep doing that and I’ll edge you till you are crying, love,” the warning was clear in his voice.

At last, you decided to put him out of his misery. With a slow, deliberate movement, you pulled down his boxers, revealing his cock, which now rested against his lower stomach. A gasp escaped his lips as the cool air hit his sensitive skin.

Your hands roamed up his thighs, fingers brushing against his balls, causing him to shudder. Finally, you wrapped your hand around his cock, guiding him into your waiting mouth, while the other hand rested on his thigh for some semblance of control.

With every movement, you try and take more of him into your mouth, coating him with your saliva, your hands stroking what you can’t fit… yet.

“Fuck, your mouth feels so good” Satoru breathed out.

Unable you respond, you hummed around him, causing a shiver to rack down his body. His slender fingers grazed through your hair, the touch lingering for a moment before dipping down to the nape of your neck. His grip tightened, sending a wave of anticipation through you.

Satoru moaned as you continued taking him in. Finally, after some time, you managed to bottom out, your nose pressing against his pelvis.

“Fuck. You’re doing so good, love, taking me all in,” he encouraged. A mixture of spit and his pre-cum coated your lips, trickling down your chin.

You started to move your head back and forth, your tongue teasing the slit of his head, tracing the veins of his cock. Satoru shuddered whenever your tongue brushed his sensitive head, a hiss leaving his lips.

You looked up at him, meeting his gaze that was already fixed on you. Strands of his hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat. A flush bloomed across his cheeks and spread down his neck, mirroring the warmth that bloomed in your own chest. His pupils were dilated, his eyes bright, glittering with pleasure that mirrored the delicious ache building in your body.

You could barely breathe, but seeing him like this was totally worth it.

Satoru's hand cupped your cheek, his thumb tracing a gentle circle over your cheekbone, “Breathe through your nose, love,” he said, though he sounded breathless himself, “Although you look so pretty, choking on my cock like that.”

His words caused you to moan as you moved your head faster, savouring him - the taste, the texture, everything that he had to offer. Satoru threw his head back in a gasp of pleasure, a guttural sound escaping his lips as he felt your teeth lightly scrape his length.

His chest heaved with each breath, the muscles straining with visible effort. Groans ripped from his throat, growing louder and more desperate with every passing second. You could tell he was getting closer.

You gasped around his cock as his grip on your hair tightened, a sharp tug pulling your head back, locking it in place.

Satoru started moving his hips, fucking your mouth, each thrust deeper and more hurried than the last one. Your hand gripped his thighs for support as he thrust into you, testing your limit.

He was so close. You could tell by his ragged breaths, his hurried pace, and the way he pulsed over your tongue. But, just as he was about to cum, his fingers twisted in your hair, pulling you away, leaving his cock coated in your saliva.

Confused, you looked up at him, but he just offered you a lazy smirk, “Not now, love. Got a big night planned ahead of us.”

He grabbed your hand, pulling you up, pinning you between his body and the counter before his lips found yours. His hands slipped under the hem of your t-shirt. His thumb circled your nipples, driving you crazy but never giving you what you wanted.

He grabbed your ass and lifted you onto the counter effortlessly, causing you to lean back on your arms for support. His lips sucked the skin on your jaw and neck gently, drawing soft gasps from you.

He was taking his sweet time, determined to make this last.

You clenched your thighs together, needing some friction, but Satoru’s knees parted your legs as he settled between them. A frustrated groan left your throat, causing him to smirk.

That fucker was enjoying this.

Finally, he removed your t-shirt, lifting it over your head before tossing it somewhere. The cold air of the kitchen enveloped your skin, giving rise to goosebumps all over your body.

Satoru took a step back. His eyes were dark with desire as his gaze boldly swept over you. Admiration clouded his eyes as he took you in - The goosebumps on your skin and the flush of your face - all enough to drive him wild.

Satoru reached for your exposed collarbone, measuring its length with his lips. He moved down, his lips tracing a searing path down your body, while his featherlight fingers roamed all over you, causing you to shudder.

His hot breath danced against your skin, so different from the cool air that surrounded you.

After what felt like a lifetime, he made his way towards your lower stomach, sucking and biting, leaving his mark. You arched your back, desperate for more, but Satoru paid it no mind.

His lips brushed against the waistband of your underwear, “You look so good in them…” he began hoarsely, “but unfortunately, they are in my way,” he finished, tearing off your underwear.

He sucked hard on your inner thighs, biting them, making you squirm before his finger finally reached where you had been aching for them.

Without a warning, he pushed two fingers inside you, your wetness coating them immediately. “God, you’re soaked,” he rumbled against your skin as his thumb teased your clit, drawing a gasp from you. Oh, the effect this man had on you.

For a moment, Satoru just watched you, his eyes savouring your reactions before his lips latched onto your clit, causing you to moan loudly.

One of his hands pumped into you, while his other hand flattened against your lower back, pushing you into his eager mouth and locking you in.

Your hand reached for his hair, tugging and pulling, as his fingers and tongue worked into you. Your other hand desperately gripped the counter, as loud moans left your lips.

Satoru withdrew his finger, only to replace it with his tongue before you could even process the loss of touch. His thumb drew tight circles over your clit, his tongue curling inside you, reaching all the right spots as you groaned, your back arching almost painfully.

You could feel your orgasm building as Satoru continued like a man starved, his fingers replacing his tongue, “Just like that, love, cum in my mouth.”

His words pushed you over the edge, and Satoru’s fingers continued to pump into you, drawing out your orgasm.

You slumped against the counter, breathing hard, but Satoru’s fingers did not stop even after your orgasm. In fact, they were pumping into you faster than before.

“Toru, it’s too m-much,” you moan out as you reach down to push him away, but his hand just grabs your hand. His fingers intervened with yours, almost tenderly, as he pinned your hand to your side, his hold strong.

Despite your words, you found yourself wanting more- more of his touch, his mouth, whatever he offered. Breathless whimpers escaped your lips as he added a third finger, stretching you out, pushing you towards the edge, your orgasm building rapidly.

Your eyes closed as you were ready to fall over the edge, but Satoru’s fingers spotted abruptly, causing you to cry out. His fingers left your core as he stood up, his lips and chin glistering under the soft glow of kitchen lights, “Patience, love,” he said, offering you a lazy smile as he reached for the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it over his head, revealing his toned, muscular chest.

In the same breath, he removed his sweats and boxers, stepping out of them to stand in front of you. Satoru’s skin was almost translucent, with a map of veins running all over his body.

You wanted to trace them with your eyes, your fingers, and your lips like you had done so many times in the past, but before you could do any of those things, Satoru grabbed your waist, pulling you off the counter and spinning you, so your back was pressed against his chest.

One of his hands wrapped around your waist, pulling you against his hard chest, while his other hand reached up, teasing and rolling your nipple in between his thumb and fingers. You gasped as you felt his breath against your ear, and you could almost feel him smile at your reaction.

He slowly pushed you down, bending you over the counter till you were pressed against the marble, sandwiched between Satoru’s heat and the cold of the counter - a heady combination.

His fingers, rough against your skin, slowly traced lazy patterns along your neck and shoulder, moving your hair aside, deliberately exposing that sensitive area to his touch.

His kisses started tender, feather-light explorations that left your skin tingling. Then, they turned harder, nips and sucks that sent desire coursing through you. He trailed a hot path down your spine, his lips lingering on the small of your back before continuing their descent. Soft moans escaped your lips as goosebumps erupted across your skin due to his touch.

You felt his erection brush against your skin, causing you to groan in frustration, “Satoru, just fuck me already.”

He chuckled. That bastard chuckled.

Frustrated, you pushed yourself up from the counter, your palms flat against the hard material, but before you could fully rise, Satoru’s hands reached for your wrists, grabbing them and pinning them against the small of your back, his large hand holding them in place.

His other hand grabbed a fistful of your hair, softly pushing your face down towards the cool counter, trapping you beneath him as he finally, finally pushed himself into you in one go. A strangled cry escaped your lips when he did not stop, pushing until he was completely inside you.

“Fuck, you feel so good” Satoru breathed out as he began thrusting into you. He started slow, going in and out of you lazily, drawing out moans from your lips.

It wasn’t long before he picked up the pace, pounding into you, as choked gasps left your throat. You could not move, trapped between Satoru and the counter, his hands pinning you into place. You couldn’t do anything but take his cock.

And you wouldn’t trade this for anything else.

His pace changed. He pulled out of you almost all the way out, before trusting into you again, making you gasp from the force.

His grip around your wrist tightened, and the hand that was holding your head down moved in front of you, cupping your jaw as he lifted your head, his lips hot against your ear, “enjoying this, huh?” he gritted out, “tell me how much you like it when I pound into you, love”

His hand moved to your throat, gripping slightly. “A lot, Satoru” you gasped out, “Don’t stop, please”

“Oh, I am not planning to” a hard thrust, deep inside you, “Not anytime soon”

You could feel your orgasm building, and you were sure Satoru could feel it too, as his pace quickened. His thrusts were getting sloppy - he was close too.

You came, your knees bucking as loud moans left your mouth, but Satoru’s hold kept you from falling. Soon, he followed, hissing and groaning as he came, his thrusts turning deep and slow, burying his cum deep inside you.

Satoru released his hold on you, and the two of you collapsed against the marble, the coolness a welcome relief from your heated skin. His finger reached up, tenderly brushing away the hair that was sticking to your face.

You met his gaze, the intensity still lingered, but it was the hint of tenderness that sent a warmth blooming in your chest. His eyes looked so bright, despite the desire swimming in them. Damp strands of hair clung to his forehead, framing a face flushed. You reached out, a soft touch brushing against his cheek, mirroring his caress, causing him to smile.

God, he wasn't just beautiful - he was captivating - a pleasant sight for sore eyes.

You smiled back at him, but just then you felt him move as he picked you up. Wetness, a mix of his cum and yours trickled down your inner thigh.

“What are you…” You began, as Satoru carried you towards the bedroom.

"You thought we were done?" he chuckled, a playful smirk on his lips. He dipped his head, his breath warm against your ear. "I will be gone for a week- maybe more, let me have my fill, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice sending a fresh wave of desire through you.

Satoru dropped you on the bed, and without missing a beat, he was on top of you. His body rested on his elbow as he covered your body partially with his. The muscle of his arm flexed under his weight, his other hand brushing against your cheeks.

You brushed his hair away from his eyes, And Satoru held your hand, kissing your knuckles, his eyes closing briefly. “But Satoru, I’m spent,” you say, despite the heat building in your stomach.

Satoru’s eyes darkened, a flicker of knowing recognition crossing his features as he heard the need in your voice. "Are you though, hmm?" he murmured. Before you could answer, he captured your lips in a searing kiss. His hands cupped your jaw, his long fingers sending shivers down your spine as they brushed the delicate skin behind your ear.

You responded instantly, wrapping your hand around his neck, your fingers digging into the tight muscles there. A soft moan escaped your lips as you hooked a leg around his waist, pulling him closer, the need for his touch overwhelming. Satoru’s familiar scent surrounded you, filling your senses, so familiar and intoxicating. The air crackled with desire as the kiss deepened.

He pulled away, breaking the kiss. You saw a hunger in his eyes, a raw desire that mirrored the blaze raging within you. His pupils were dilated, his gaze flickering from your lips to your flushed cheeks before locking with yours. His tongue darted out, a slow, deliberate lick across his lips, probably tasting you on them.

God, it was going to be a long night.

He moved to your neck, tracing a familiar path with his lips, a path that always left you breathless. You didn't need a mirror to know you were flushed and the marks he had left were etched on your skin.

A soft moan escaped your lips as Satoru shifted, his lips hovering tantalisingly close to your lower stomach. His hand moved to wrap around your midsection, the warmth a delicious contrast to the coolness of the sheets. He lifted your body slightly, pulling you closer to his touch. As his lips met your skin, a spark ignited within you.

Your knuckles turned white as you clutched the sheets, the fabric bunching in your hand. Your gaze followed Satoru as he made his way up your body, slow and deliberate, placing kisses all over your skin. Your other hand brushed against the nape of his neck, over his undercut before massaging through his scalp, causing him to groan softly.

He made it to your chest, taking one of your nipples in his warm mouth, sucking and biting, as his teeth scraped against them, while his hand played with the other nipple, pinching and rolling it. You felt his soft strand brushing against your jaw and neck, tickling you slightly.

Finally, He devoured your lips in a kiss, swallowing your moans and stealing your breath as he pushed himself into you. This time, his thrusts weren’t slow or kind, they were relentless, almost brutal, determined to take whatever he needed.

You were a moaning mess, and you reached for him, clawing his back, to pull him closer- to push him away- you didn’t know. All you knew was that you needed him.

Your nails roamed down his back, leaving a trail of scratches as he rammed into you, and just when you thought he couldn’t get any deeper, he grabbed one of your legs, lifting and hooking it over his shoulder, your thigh pressing against your stomach. Somehow, he felt even deeper in this position.

His hand took hold of the ankle that now rested on his shoulder. With a slight turn of his head, he brushed his lips against the sensitive skin of your calf. A searing trail of kisses followed, each one hitting you like waves of pleasure. You couldn't help as your breath hitched, a soft moan escaping your throat as his hot breath tickled your ankle. His gaze never left yours, a flicker of something dark gleaming within them. It wasn't just his dominance that drove you wild; it was the way his touch ignited a fire within you, a fire he seemed determined to stoke.

Your nails continued digging into Satoru's back, sending shivers down his spine. He groaned - a low rumble that vibrated against you. Satoru reached for your hand, removing it from his back, before pinning it roughly beside your head. His fingers softly intervened with yours.

It was almost romantic - if he wasn’t fucking you like there’s no tomorrow.

Satoru continued pounding into you, his thrusts unrestrained, consuming you rapidly.

It was all too much. You felt too much. The intensity of his gaze held you captive, his eyes blazing with a desire that mirrored the fire raging within you, the feel of his lips against your heated skin, his rough hand that pinned yours, the weight of his body and his brutal thrusts. It was all too much for you.

Yet you craved more.

Because it all felt so good. “You’re doing so good baby, so good for me,” he said through gritted teeth, as his hand reached between your bodies to play with your clit, rolling and pressing it with his finger. It was enough to push you over the edge, but Satoru had a different plan, as his fingers slowed.

“Hmm, tell me love, why should I let you cum?” He asked, his expression morphing into mock curiosity. His thrusts had slowed too- he was barely moving now. You wanted to scream.

“Gojo I swear to God-” You began, but his voice cut you off.

“What did you just call me?” he asked, and you remembered how much he hated being called by his family name- especially in bed. “You know what?” he began, his thrusts finding their pace again, “Forget about not cumming. I am going to fuck you till all you can scream is my name” His voice was a dangerous murmur, filled with promise.

His fingers resumed, circling your clit, finishing what they started.

Orgasm, a searing wave, crashed over you, buckling your knees. Your body arched reflexively, every nerve ending flared with exquisite intensity. A strangled sound escaped your throat - or maybe you were silent- you didn’t know You were lost in a tide of sensations, your body singing in response to his touch.

You were a trembling mess, your heart pounding a frantic rhythm against your ribs. The intensity of your orgasm had left you breathless, unable to catch your breath for what felt like an eternity.

Without giving you a chance to recover, Satoru grabbed your waist and flipped you over, so you were on your stomach. His body pinned you down as he reached up, grabbing a handful of your hair in a ponytail and tugging it. His other hand rested on your back, between your shoulder blade, pushing you into the mattress, leaving your ass in the air as he entered you again from behind, this time almost effortlessly.

“Satoru...” you almost sobbed- it was all too much, but the man behind you wasn’t deterred. He stroked your hair, gently caressing it, “You are doing so good sweetheart- taking it all so well.” He breathed out, encouraging you. He was panting too, and you could tell he was close.

Your thoughts were cut off as his grip tightened on your hair again, further pushing you into the mattress, cutting you off, but not suffocating you.

He continued pounding into you at an inhuman pace, his groans and grunts sending a shudder through you. His pace was unpredictable-mixed. Some were hard and shallow, and some we deep and slow. You didn’t know what was next, and the unpredictability of his actions made everything even better - hotter.

Surprise shot through you as his hand left your back, only to be replaced by a surge of anticipation as he reached for your throat. His fingers curled around your skin, firm and urgent, as he pulled you up. Your back arched instinctively, your body meeting his halfway. He angled your face towards his with a possessive hold, his gaze burning into yours. The space between you vanished as his lips met yours in a rough, demanding kiss that ignited a fire within you.

Your head was spinning- you were so close to another orgasm- your third? Forth? You didn’t know, but the way Satoru twitched around you told you he was close too, “Don’t stop Satoru, p-please don’t stop,” you cried out, your voice so desperate.

“Oh sweetheart, not planning to,” he repeated his words from earlier, his voice laced with satisfaction, probably because of the state you were in.

“That’s it, love, you’re handling it so well” he praised against your lips, his thrust getting impatient and sloppy.

His lips left yours as he reached for your neck, hovering over that one spot. He sucked, hard and you came all over his dick “That’s right baby, cum all over my cock.”

Your mind exploded, as white-hot pleasure shot through you, making your eyes roll back as you screamed, barely paying any attention to what left your lips.

Satoru kept driving into your overly sensitive pussy, chasing the orgasm that finally came to him. He groaned, loud and shamelessly. You felt him shudder as he came inside you, filling you up again.

Wetness trickled down your thigh. It was such a mess as Satoru kept driving into you, fucking you through the last of his orgasm, before pulling away with a pained hiss.

A wave of blissful exhaustion washed over you. Every muscle in your body felt pleasantly heavy, yet completely relaxed. Satoru settled beside you, his touch grounding you in the afterglow of your shared pleasure. His fingers traced lazy patterns on your back, sending shivers down your still-heated skin. Despite the languor in your limbs, a contented smile played on your lips.

Your eyelids felt heavy as you turned to face him, but Satoru's gaze held a spark that contradicted any fatigue. His eyes narrowed slightly, a mischievous glint dancing in their depths.

That could only mean one thing - “How does a shower sound, sweetheart?” - he wasn’t done yet.

And you knew it wasn’t a question, just a statement disguised as a question. Still, you tried to protest, “Satoru, I am so tired,” you said. You felt drained, the exhaustion clutched to your limbs, but Satoru just picked you up, throwing you over his shoulder, “I know baby, but you have got one more in you,” he put you down in the shower, his hands around your waist, supporting you, “Two, if we really tried,” he smirked.

He turned the tap as the warm water enveloped you both, washing away the afterglow of your orgasm. The bathroom filled with steam, swirling around you like a fragrant mist. Satoru's hands remained on your waist, his touch a steady anchor as the hot water relaxed your tired muscles. You leaned into him instinctively, a soft sigh escaping your lips.

The water flowed down his body, highlighting the sculpted planes of his chest and the definition of his arms. His head tilted back slightly, eyes closed in a moment of pure peace as water flowed through his hair, down his face and over his body. In that moment, he looked breathtakingly vulnerable, and a wave of tenderness washed over you.

You turned around and reached for the washcloth and body wash, your back facing Satoru, when a hand suddenly grabbed your neck from behind, pulling you back and forcing you to turn around as Satoru’s lips slammed onto yours.

Your hand held onto his body as your legs gave out, knees buckling under his touch. His hands trailed down your back, finally gripping your ass and hooking your legs up, wrapping them around his body and he pressed you against the cold bathroom tile, his cock resting against your core.

His thumb traced your bottom lips, “Trying to get away from me, love?” he asked, and without giving you a chance to respond, his lips found yours again.

He moved, kissing and licking the drops of water away from your jaw, shoulder and chest, before he lined himself with you, burying himself deep in you.

Your orgasm started building all too soon. “Not now, love,” he said - of he could tell, he knew your body like the back of his hand. He reached between your bodies to play with your clit, “Only when I tell you to,” he smirked.

That fucker was challenging you, making it difficult for you. His cock kept brushing against all the right spots, while his fingers stimulated your clit. And if that wasn’t enough, his hand created a path all over your body, while his lips traced over that path. “Can’t you handle it, baby?” he asked, the amusement clear in his voice as his smirk deepened.

He wanted you to fail.

“I can-fuck- I can handle this,” your voice was breathless, but you were determined to finish this game with him.

You could feel his cock twitching and saw the way his brows furrowed. He was close.

Finally, he said the words you’ve been waiting to hear, “Come for me, love,” and your body took his command like an oath, as another orgasm hit you like a truck. You could feel every single nerve of your body come alive, singing praises for him. You didn’t know anything - didn’t feel anything - except that you were screaming his name.

He soon followed you, his cum filling you, leaking down your thighs, mixing with water. His hands rested beside your head, supporting his weight, as the orgasm took over him, a hiss escaping his lips, his breathing laboured.

He held you, your legs still wrapped around him, and you were thankful for it because you had lost control over your body.

Finally, after catching his breath, he said, “Let’s get you cleaned up, Huh?”

A coarse cotton towel, barely concealing the sculpted planes of his chest, hung low on Satoru's waist. He took a fluffy white towel, the soft fabric gently drying you. His touch lingered on your back, sending shivers down your spine as he brushed the towel over your sensitive skin. The steam from the shower still hung in the air, a gentle mist that swirled around you. You let out a long, languid yawn, your eyelids drooping as a wave of exhaustion washed over you.

Satoru looked up, his smile melting your heart. "You did so good today, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice husky. "Took me so well." You didn't have the energy to respond, but a sleepy smile played on your lips.

He scooped you up in his arms, the warmth of his body a delicious contrast to the coolness of the air. You wrapped your arms around his neck instinctively, burying your face in the crook of his shoulder. Despite your exhaustion, a sense of contentment bloomed within you.

Satoru carried you effortlessly from the bathroom, the rhythmic thud of his footsteps a comforting lullaby. He navigated the bedroom with ease, his gaze never leaving yours. The room was bathed in the soft glow of a bedside lamp, casting long shadows that danced on the walls.

He gently settled you onto the soft comfort of the bed, the crisp sheets sending a cool caress against your skin. Reaching down, he pulled the duvet up, its fluffy warmth enveloping you like a cocoon as he cuddled with you. You sighed contentedly, burrowing deeper into the covers, the delicious scent of his cologne and laundry detergent lingering on the fabric.

"Aren't you gonna sleep?" you mumbled, your voice barely above a whisper.

Satoru's hand tightened around your body as he pressed a kiss to your forehead. "No, I have to leave soon," he said, a touch of regret in his voice. His hands brushed through your damp hair, fingers brushing over your back. "Maybe I'll sleep on the flight." Truthfully, though, he just wanted to hold you close while you slept, to memorize the way you fit perfectly in his arms.

You barely registered his words, your mind already drifting off. "Wake me up before you leave, 'kay?" you mumbled, your eyes fluttering shut.

You felt Satoru smile against your forehead as he whispered, "Of course I will," his voice laced with a promise.

a/n: God I am really nervous about this, but I hope you enjoyed it! If there was any mistake, I apologise. I proofread this 2-3 times but honestly, my brain reads what it wants to read but not what is actually written. 😭

I wrote this after my conversation with @lostfracturess about how Gojo would be in bed lmaoo. This is mainly inspired by what she writes!

Also, @whereflowerswenttodie had a sneak peek of this and helped me figure out some stuff!

But yes, please please please let me know what you thought of this, it would be greatly appreciated!

Dividers by @/cafekitsune

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Amazing 1884 townhouse condo in San Francisco, CA has 3bds, 2ba, 2,125 sq ft, $1,998,500 + $250mo. HOA.

The entrance hall is like stepping back in time.

Gorgeous, elegant sitting room/living room has a glorious fireplace with a gold mirror soaring up to the wallpapered ceiling.

I don't care for the owner's mid-century modern furniture in a Victorian home, but okay.

The room next to the sitting room is the dining room. But, look at the fantastic wallpaper "wainscoting" in the sitting room.

I can't even look at their furniture, I'm looking past it. Why would you do this? Gorgeous ceiling and original light fixture.

The kitchen is lovely. Original light fixture is refreshing to see. Love the cabinetry and the stove hood.

Love that it's an eat-in kitchen.

Double glass paned doors open to the garden.

The authentic upstairs hallway.

The primary bedroom. Gorgeous wallpaper, restored marble fireplace and lots of natural light.

Details of one of the meticulously painted ceiling medallions.

So beautiful. Such attention to detail.

This is the way to restore a vintage bath. Simply gorgeous.

Bedroom #2. Look at the sweet little stove. Beautiful original fixture and painted medallion.

Adorable little room.

Lovely bright office or nursery.

Step out of the kitchen doors onto this lovely deck. Look at the size of that tree. Beautiful, lacy fence/railing.

The garden is like a wonderland.

Stunning.

Private patio.

The yard from above.

Beautiful block- is that a shop on the left?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1180-Guerrero-St-San-Francisco-CA-94110/15147011_zpid//?

[thenyoumightaswellwrestleangels]

This devotion of yours is misplaced (but this love, perhaps, is not)

Blood nose and a crooked tongue (I always wanted to be someone) - series masterlist here

pairing: tim drake x reader (gender neutral)

length: 1.4k

genre: fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: reader is like vaguely injured, timmy is so in love and sooo crazy abt it, they sorta both are, idk this one's kinda intense guys there's a lot of love in it kinda felt like I was intruding when I wrote it

a/n: I'm so sorry but we're fast-forwarding to established relationship but I promise I'll get back to the pining of the past I just have the intense need to jump around timelines like a rabbit

There's a bulb in the light fixture above your bathroom sink that flickers, the yellow light hazing in and out while the others shine bright. You sit on the counter, leaning your back against your mirror as you cup a hand to your ribs protectively, watching Tim with hooded, lazy eyes. There's a set to his jaw, the muscles clenching as he moves around, pulling your first-aid kit out from under your sink.

You think back to the day he realized you didn't have one, his eyes wide as he spluttered out something about you needing one because what if you get hurt? You'd shot back that you'd always managed without one. He'd accused you of suffering for the sake of it - forsaking softness for the show of it. 

That had cut a bit too deep. He didn't apologize, but you didn't ask him to. The next morning, there was a first-aid kit sitting on your bathroom counter.

Tim's hands ghosting over your sides pulls you from the memory as you suck in a sharp breath. He winces apologetically and hooks a forefinger under your chin, tilting your head to wipe a disinfectant wipe over the cut on your cheek.

"You need to relax," you huff quietly. He shoots you a look.

"I don't like seeing you hurt."

"Then go somewhere else," you shoot back. You feel something that reminds you of a concussion you once had hazing through your mind - maybe if you hadn't, you'd have noticed the way he pulls back from you. You would've kept your mouth shut.

"You know that's not what I mean." There's a strain in Tim's voice that he only gets when he's trying to be good to you - when you're not letting him.

"I never know what you mean," you respond, and there's a tiredness in your voice that shouldn't be there. Tim's shoulders drop, his stance shifting as he looks at you. He's trying, you realize, to let himself be read. But acts of love like that are so often impossible for things like you and him.

"I would rather…" he begins slowly, eyes flitting around while he searches for the words. "I would rather, if you're hurting, that you do it right here where I can help you. I don't want you to do it alone."

"This is part of the job - and I did it alone for a long time," you point out. He fixes you with a frustrated stare.

"But you don't have to now. I'm here now," he insists.

"Are you?" Tim huffs through his nose, fixing a butterfly strip over the cut on your cheek.

"If you'll let me," he says. There's a gentleness there that you're not sure you deserve.

"I don't know if I can." A warble cuts through your voice in a way that makes you bite the inside of your cheek. Tim smoothes his hands up your thighs, parting your legs so that he can stand closer to you between them. His thumbs dig into your muscles gently, rubbing circles into your skin.

"Explain that to me," he prompts. You sigh and tilt your head back to lean it against the mirror, eyeing him through your lashes.

"I don't think I'm any good at being helped," you say simply before leaning forward enough to cup his cheek in your hand, smoothing the furrow between his brows out with your thumb. "And I'm not sure you're any good at helping. You're going to give yourself a headache."

"It's worth it," Tim says, but his response is too quick, a jumbled rush of breath leaving his lungs. You fix him with a knowing, warning sort of look as his devotion to you rings through you and thumps against your heart. 

"Careful," you warn, but the hand you use to grip the back of his neck and bring him closer to you betrays you. "You can't lose yourself in this, Red. You can't love me enough that it makes you whole." His fingers tense on your thighs, pressing in, but he lets you pull him closer.

"No calling me that when I'm not wearing the mask," he murmurs, a shoddy sort of diversion. A smile twitches on your lips.

"But you are red," you say, smoothing your thumbs over the blushing apples of his cheeks. "Right here. And there's no one here to hear me… no one but you." Tim gives you a pained sort of look, his shoulders bunching in embarrassment, but you throw him a lazy smile and lean forward to place a quick kiss to his lips. He doesn't miss your wince when you do.

"Let me see your side," he asks gently.

"Nothing's broken," you respond quickly. He shoots you a look and reaches anyway, pulling your shirt up to reveal mottled purple and blue bruising over your ribs. A gentle hand is placed over it as he murmurs for you to breathe deeply. You try to, but the softness of it all is making you dizzy, making your chest ache for an entirely different reason.

"I don't think anything's broken," Tim assures as he pulls your shirt back down, his hands then finding their home on your waist.

"I told you that," you remind him dryly. There's a stubborn set to his jaw.

"I wanted to check."

"You need to have faith in me."

"Do you have faith in me?" He doesn't say it like an accusation, but you pull back like it is. He looks at you hard, the light flickering over his face and the furrow of his brows. It's a determination that you should be used to by now - one that's born of a desperate devotion to you, a need to get on his knees and pray.

You think he might do it now, just for a second, as he tenses to pull away from you. But you make a panicked, needy sort of sound as you reach for him and it's enough to bring him back to you, some kind of innate pull he has that draws him to your aid. His hands cup your face delicately and he smoothes his thumbs over your cheeks as you close your eyes, willing yourself to breathe.

"I'm not a… I'm not a faithful kind of person, Red. There's a devotion in you that's misplaced." You try to say it gently, the words pulling at your vocal cords as you speak, everything coming out painfully. Tim leans forward to rest his forehead against yours.

"You don't get to choose who I worship," he offers. Your shoulders tense slightly.

"Do you worship me? Or do you love me?" You ask. He doesn't pull away, keeping his eyes closed as his forehead rests against yours.

"What's the difference?"

"There's a gap there, Tim. The difference between devotion and worship. It's - it's love that separates the two," you explain, squeezing your eyes shut.

"I love you." He says it like it's easy.

"Are you sure?" He pulls away at the question, thumbing over your cheeks until you open your eyes to look at him. He's still close enough that you can feel his breath on yours.

"There is a part of you that knows how to be loved," he says - like it's simple. "I'm going to stay here until you find it."

"And then?"

"And then I'll stay to love you." Your hands reach for him at his words, bunching the front of his shirt in your fingers.

"What if that never happens?" You ask, looking anywhere but him, anywhere but straight into the love shining in his eyes.

"Then I'll pray to you," a kiss is pressed to the corner of your mouth. "Like I always have."

"I'm not an idol to obsess over," you protest weakly. More kisses are pressed up your cheek, over your eyelids once they flutter closed, and down the bridge of your nose.

"No," Tim acknowledges easily. "You're someone to be loved. But you haven't figured out how to do that yet, and I… I haven't figured out how to do this yet, either." Your hands move from his shirt to tangle in his hair as you pull him impossibly closer.

"Maybe we'll never learn," your voice is hushed as his lips hover over yours. "Maybe we'll be these things forever."

"Then we'll be them together," is Tim's immediate answer, his lips brushing against your own. "And maybe that's all we need."

[fatecolossal]

TWIN PEAKS (2017) Part 18 x Part 1 --- The sinister Experiment figure first materializes when Tracey is positioned at Sam's left ear in a manner that mirrors the pose of Laura's iconic whisper to Cooper. This seems intentional; in fact, Tracey even whispers in Sam's ear...

While Laura's whisper is inaudible, we can hear Tracey's whisper: she says, "What is it?" (Note: the OG subtitles, which Lynch/Frost have nothing to do with, incorrectly only say "What?"—so I correct them here.)

Now, of what significance is this seemingly innocuous question? First, note that the question, "What is it?", is identical to the very next full line of dialogue in the show...

...and is also repeated later in Part 1 as well. While it's a common enough phrase, the fact that it is repeated literally back-to-back here is seemingly no accident.

The phrase also is almost identical to the line that immediately precedes Laura's whisper near the beginning of Part 18: the Evolution of the Arm's question, "Is it?"

Each of these questions centers the definite pronoun "it," echoing the indefinite usage of "it" in the second (new) line of TWIN PEAKS (2017)...

...the Fireman's mysterious statement to Cooper at the beginning of Part 1, "It is in our house now."

Interestingly, much of Sam's dialogue with Tracey, who we are told has brought "it" with her, centers around whether she can come "in"...

...and it thus parallels the subject of the Fireman's line.

After Tracey whispers her question, "What is it?", Sam does provide a response, twice shushing her:

"Shh!"

Again, while this response may seem trivial, it is worthwhile to consider how it parallels the Fireman's other indefinite usage of "it"—"It all cannot be said aloud now"—as well as the theme of quietude surrounding "Judy" (and the very concept of a whisper).

This theme is further drawn out earlier in the scene, when Sam, echoing Jeffries' instructions about Judy, tells Tracey that they're "not supposed to say anything about this place."

Getting back to Tracey's whisper pose (and whisper itself): note that like Laura's TP:TR Red Room whisper, it's sandwiched between a kiss and a scream.

And very curiously, the way the Experiment's attack on Tracey and Sam is depicted—a close-up of frenetic shaking—closely mirrors the depiction of Laura's panicked scream and forceful exit from the Red Room. (Sadly, I can't post the video comparison here... See x.com/fatecolossal... )

In each, a gaping mouth—in one, Laura's, in the other, the Experiment's (just a gaping black hole)—is centered.

While that concludes the main portion of this post, there is one more minor (more tenuous?) parallel between the Glass Box Room and the Red Room that might be mentioned (see my earlier post from last week for many more! https://www.tumblr.com/fatecolossal/732266163941343232/twin-peaks-the-red-room-x-the-glass-box-room).

The Glass Box's lighting fixtures have red, striated backs that look familiar.

Okay, that's it! Thanks! (It's difficult to wade into pretty complicated discussions here given space & other limitations—some things def have to be omitted—so I realize the above may be inadequate by itself to be fully convincing of the intentionality behind some of the points...)

[topgun-imagines]

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Requested: yes

Summary: A vacation in the mountains leads to you and your fiancé enjoying some alone time.

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: Slight smut. Sexual innuendos.

Pairings: Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky x fem!reader

Snow cascaded down around the car. The long driveway up to the cabin was slightly slippery due to the ice that covered it. Your hand was clasped in your fiancé’s as he drove up to the cozy-looking cabin. You and Ice had planned to take a trip up to Montana for Christmas, choosing to spend the holidays in a cozy cabin with snow rather than a tiny bungalow with lots of sand. The cabin was beautiful. It overlooked a vast mountain range covered in green trees. Fog rolled softly over the bottom of the valley.

When the car stopped, Ice got out first, moving toward the trunk of the car. You followed suit, your hip bumping into his when you stood new to him. That brought a grin to his face. You both grabbed your bags before heading toward the cabin. Ice unlocked the door, looking down at you with a smile that mirrored your own. The inside of the cabin was even more gorgeous than the outside. A beautiful light fixture hung above the beautifully decorated living room. Next to it sat the kitchen and dining room, all furnished with what you would expect to find in the mountains of Montana. It gave the cabin a very homie feel.

You and your fiancé dropped your bags off in the bedroom. Ice lead you back to the living room, sitting down on the couch and pulling you to his chest. “What do you wanna do, baby?” He murmured lowly in your ear, sending shivers up your spine. You tilted your head to the side, allowing him to pepper kisses over your neck and jaw. The soft scratch of the stubble he had been growing out recently caused you to giggle quietly. You could feel Ice smile into the crook of your neck.

“Hmm,” You hummed quietly, turning your head to capture his lips with your own. His tongue nudged against your bottom lip softly. Pulling back from the kiss, you half-smirked at the groan that came from Ice. He rested his forehead against yours. “How about we eat then check out the hot tub?” You suggested. The trip up to the cabin had consisted of two days full of driving. You had gotten up early in the morning that day, meaning that you had arrived just before you would usually have dinner. He nodded softly, pressing one more kiss to your lips before standing from the couch.

The pair of you began to make dinner, Ice searing the pork while you tossed the salad. It appeared to be a smart idea to stop for groceries before coming up to the cabin. Dinner was done shortly after. You and your fiancé sat at the large dining room table next to the windows that overlooked the valley. You smiled softly when Ice lit the candles at the center of the table.

A calm and peaceful ambiance filled the cabin. The only sounds that could be heard throughout it were the soft scraping of forks and knives and your soft chatter with Ice. When you were finished you stood from the table and headed to the sink. The dishes were washed in silence. Suddenly, a genius plan entered Ice’s mind. When you were distracted with drying your cutlery, he tipped his plate at just the right angle, sending streams of water toward you. He chuckled heartily at your surprised shriek. When you pouted at him playfully he only grinned and pressed a sloppy kiss to the side of your face.

The rest of the dishes were washed without incident, leading to where you and Ice were now. Standing across from each other on opposite sides of the bed, you were each digging through your suitcases in search of your swimsuits. Of course, seeing as you live in sunny Mirimar, you had many swimsuits that were perfect for the warm weather. However, seeing as you were going to be in a much colder climate for the next week, you had only brought one of your more insulated swimsuits. Your fiancé, strangely enough, seemed to have a strange affinity with ice baths, which is why the only thing he brought was a pair of loose-fitting trunks. If you had to guess, you’d estimate that he didn’t just plan on simply relaxing in the hot tub. Knowing him, he had a much dirtier idea in mind.

You pulled the swimsuit from your bag before glancing up to see Ice. You were instantly lost in your thoughts, mind reeling as you tonight about how much you loved him. It wasn’t a secret to anyone that Ice usually wasn’t a very affectionate person but you were the one to change that. Ever since Ice had met you, it was as if he decided to abandon the reputation he had made for himself years ago. You knew that before you came into the picture, Ice was very well known for not being close with anyone except Slider. But the second he met you, any presence of his cold exterior melted away.

An arm winding around your waist and a gentle kiss against the side of your head pulled you from your daydream. “Whatcha thinkin about, baby?” He murmured softly against your skin. A soft, domestic smile grew on your face. When you glanced up to meet his eyes, you saw a similar one beaming down at you. You only hummed, reassuring him that it was nothing, before kissing him lightly. He chased your lips when you pulled away, eyes half-lidded. Ice groaned when you pulled away fully. You only grinned, stripping out of your clothes. That seemed to change his attitude rather quickly.

The two of you got changed wordlessly, Ice unable to help himself from stealing glances at you every now and then. When your fiancé was finished getting changed, he headed to the bathroom to retrieve two of the large, fluffy bath towels. He entered the room, stopping short when he saw you bent over, ass very prominently showing through the fabric of your bikini bottoms. You strained yourself out, turning to find Ice staring at you starstruck. With a cheeky grin, you turned back around. Slipping your bra from your shoulders, you can feel Ice’s eyes burning into your back. “Can you help me?’ You question in a sickly sweet voice once you had pulled your bikini top on. The next thing you felt was his warm fingers softly brushing against your skin as he carefully knotted the strings.

Moments later you found yourself in the hot tub, nestled up beside Ice as you drank from the spiked hot chocolates you had made. The two of you were sitting in comfortable silence, watching the snow fall over the valley in front of you. You shuddered slightly when you felt his fingertips brush over your shoulder. You thought it was innocent, how his hand drew small shapes into your skin, almost causing you to nod off. However, when his fingers began tugging lightly at the knot he had tied, you instantly knew that you had been wrong. With an amused smile, you turned to face your fiancé.

You found him staring off into the valley with a not-so-subtle smirk on his face. “What are you doing?” You chuckled quietly. His only response was to turn his head and nuzzle into your neck, finger still attempting to undo your top. The stubble on his cheeks rubbing against your neck and face caused you to giggle. You tried to tuck your head, immediately becoming ticklish. ‘Ice stop,” You tried, giggling relentlessly. You could practically feel his smile against your neck as he started peppering kisses on it. Laughing even louder, you tried to move away from him only to find his arm wound around your waist. “Please, that tickles,” You tried one last time. He only shook his head, mumbling something into your skin that you couldn’t quite hear. “What was that?”

When he pulled back so you could hear him clearly, you nearly fell into the hut tub in a fit of laughter. “Suck my candy cane,” He murmured. You were laughing even louder now than you were when he was tickling you. His fingers which had been tugging on your top for the past three minutes had finally undone the strings. You were kind of amazed that it had taken him this long. When your top fell into the water your fiancé’s head shot upwards. There was a teasing smirk on his face as he spoke. “So, what are you waiting for?” Shivers ran down your spine.

“Yes sir.” You replied quickly, already pushing him up to the next ledge of the hot tub. His hand found its way to your hair. You had high expectations that you would be in for a long night.

a/n: Thank you for reading! Requests are open.

[jiminrings]

478: drabble

the first april 23 after their reconciliation :(

[ 478 masterlist ]

The noise of your week all dulls down to this day.

It didn’t even hit you when April rolled around the corner because it’s every other month to you. It didn’t hit you in the first week when Jungkook had become extremely chatty and clingy, even more than his switch-up since your break ended.

It didn’t hit you in the second week either when Jungkook was so focused on the ongoing construction for your new house that every little thing had set him off, something like the contractor’s tiny mistake of texting him the link for the wrong set of lighting fixtures making your husband almost flip his lid.

It didn’t hit you in the third when he was barely home because for the whole week, he would drop by unannounced to your parents’ shop and develop film for them from opening until closing.

No, it only hits you now — now when you wake up too early into the morning out of muscle memory to see that your alarm wasn’t turned on in the first place. You briefly think that your mind’s playing tricks on you but when you look at your calendar and see your schedule for April 23 vacant, accompanied with a note from Jimin that told you to take it easy — you finally realize what today was.

Jungkook and Sora’s anniversary.

It only dawns on you now that you noticed your alarm (or lack thereof) even before your husband because when you look to his side of the bed, it’s unoccupied. Jungkook had gotten into bed with you last night and you remember it because he picked you up instead of waiting for you at home. He tucked you in, kissed you good night, and embraced you tighter than he usually did — and he’s nowhere to be found now.

Miso’s sleeping by your feet and although she usually jumps at the opportunity of sleeping in Jungkook’s spot, she didn’t even bother loafing at his warmth on the bed when she heard him wake up and leave hours ago.

You think it’s nothing, but nothing’s ever nothing with Jungkook.

You trudge out of bed carrying nothing but yourself and the lingering weight on your chest that the day brings, your eyes darting around every corner of your apartment until they land on a lump by the baby blue floor couch.

He lays in it curled up on himself, shivering despite the thermostat hovering just above him. He holds himself with trembling arms despite the crocheted blanket you keep to the couch folded near him. He’s not sleeping, not at all — his eyes are only closed just so that he doesn’t get to face his shame in the mirror near the couch.

On the day that Jungkook had almost lost you for good, he punishes himself.

“Go back to bed, Jungkook.”

Your husband heard you the moment you stirred awake but he remains rooted still, eyes screwed shut as if you were the personification of his nightmare — except that you actually are. A living, breathing, fleshed-out version of his wife that’s too good for him and everyone else; one who threatened to walk out him a year ago.

This day one year ago, Jungkook didn’t even need to sleep to relive his nightmare over and over again. Didn’t even need to shut his eyes because in his nightmare, you look the most broken and distant that you’ve ever been and it’s all because of him.

In Jungkook’s one and only nightmare (with only one sole difference in it compared to the dream that he’s living now), you give up on him.

“No,” he answers, unwilling to even open his eyes and make the trip back to the bedroom with you.

“Just go to sleep. Go back to bed,” you grumble, the anger and annoyance that you’ve reserved for this day alone slowly starting to bubble up with Jungkook’s stubbornness. “I don’t have work today, Jungkook. Just go back.”

He clenches his jaw because here you are again, being better than what he deserves and it gnaws him from the inside. He feels like rotting at the remembrance that you will forever be more that what he deserves in this lifetime and the next.

“I swear to god I’ll sleep on the floor if you don’t go back to bed, Y/N.”

“Go ahead. See if I care,” you snap out of spite, crossing your arms.

Jungkook finally opens his eyes, wide and glassy. He only spares one glance at you before he actually moves. He has no problem with sleeping on the floor at all. In fact, he’s kicking himself for not thinking of this sooner.

Your husband’s eager insistence to actually make-do on his threat annoys you to no end, making you close the gap to try and lift him up back to couch but he won’t budge. “For fuck’s sake, Jungkook. Just go back to our room where you belong.”

“Do I?” he asks. “Do I really belong there?”

It’s not about Jungkook sneaking out of his own hold on you to go and be alone in the living room. It’s not about the bed anymore. It’s not even about the room.

It’s about him being ridden with guilt to the point that even being around you makes him want to commit penance.

“Do I deserve to belong to you?”

Jungkook’s voice lilts and you know he’s painfully close to crying, making the lump on your throat appear almost instantly.

“You do.”

“Why?” your husband asks breathily, almost offended. “You deserve someone better than me,” Jungkook says with conviction, his eyebrows furrowed. “And god, the bar is really, really low so everyone else lining up for you is better than me.”

“What is it do you want, Jungkook? What do you want me to do today?” you finally burst, your own tears springing out of frustration and overwhelm. “Do you want me to tell how I’ve already forgiven you? That even if we’re already okay, I shut off whenever your anniversary comes around? What do you want me to say?”

Jungkook hears you raise your voice on him and yet he doesn’t even flinch.

“Tell me that you hate me,” he croaks, bottom lip trembling as his cheeks warm up. “Tell me that I’m a piece of shit and I shouldn’t be your husband.”

Jungkook wholeheartedly believes what he’s saying (even if you don’t indulge him by repeating his words) but you can’t even stomach the desire of him wanting you to do so.

“No.”

“Y/N, please,” he pleads, the first sob wracking throughout his entire body. He almost bends over the floor just from how powerful it is, his chest caving in on him that it makes him kneel.

“I’m not saying any of that, Jungkook! Get a grip,” you grit through your teeth, hauling him up to the couch where he tries to escape so he can go on his knees again. “Stop punishing yourself.”

“But I deserve it.”

Jungkook cries hysterically and because he still thinks he doesn’t deserve you, he only cries to his hands. He cries so loud that it makes his head hurt and your own hear drop, making you shove his face to your shirt where he embraces around your middle tightly.

“Today’s rough for both of us, I get it — but we’re alright. I’m here. I came back, remember?” you whisper, running your hair through his hands. He’s unresponsive, too preoccupied from crying and stewing in his own thoughts that he’s hiccuping. “Remember, Jungkook? Tell me you remember that I came back.”

“Y-you came b-back.”

The noise in Jungkook’s brain only goes louder but you’re there at the middle of it, the tiny blank spot who’s trying earnestly to radiate some kind of light that he’s losing at the moment.

“And I’m here with you now, right? Tell me I’m right, Kook,” you say more urgently this time, rocking him in your hold to try and ground him.

It takes minutes for you to even decrease your husband’s crying but Jungkook, even with his heart heavy and his hands trembling, tries to do what you want him to; tries to be whatever you want him to be.

“Y-you’re here,” he whispers, wiping his tears with his palms. “You’re here with me.”

[annakie]

Fixing The House, Part Eight: Master of Bathrooms

Part One: I Do Not, In Fact, Have the Power

Part Two: Let’s Spend Lots of Money!

Part Three: All These Things That I’ve Done

Part Four: I Really Want to Stay At My House

A little interlude.

Part Five: Power Down

Part Six: You Will Leave Some Paint

Part Seven: Backwards to go Forwards

Thought a lot the last couple of days about what to start posting about next and I think I'm ready to show y'all the Master Bathroom. Then who knows what else next update.

I was surprised that a house this small (1100 square feet!) had two full baths. That's kind of a lie... the master bathroom shower/tub was uhhhhh... not a full tub? It was truly a size that I had not seen before. I honestly don't know where they would have even gotten the tub. Maybe it was custom built? I'm sure it was from the 60's.

Posted a couple of "Just bought the house" pics above. Let's take a look through the last 21 years of this bathroom and how we got where it is today.

TBH this post is ridiculously long for the smallest room in the house, oh well.

It's not a big bathroom at all. It fit the three things you need for the requirement of full bath, sure, but that's about it. And, of course, everything in it was original to the house built in 1963 or AT BEST it's possible from the 1980's.

It was also, ya know, gross.

I posted this in the previous update but that's the wallpaper I was met with. It had a barebones mirror, and NGL, I did kinda like this lighting? Honestly, it kinda ruled. I miss it a little. That was the only good thing in this room.

It's a bathroom with a window that looks out on the patio, and that window has always been gross and cloudy.

Even today, that window is there, Arturo promises me the new one should be in next week, so I will probably post another pic or two once that comes in.

I think the pics now posted in here are the only ones I have of the original.

With my near-zero budget after buying the house, all I could really afford to do in here was clean it as good as possible, new shower curtain and rug, and slap some fresh paint on it after taking down the wallpaper, which I believe was very easy in here, at least. I don't remember a struggle.

The original color scheme I went with was purple and green, basically to honor my paternal grandmother, who had recently passed and those were her colors.

Oh also put up this very cheap little shelf in lieu of a medicine cabinet.

lol look at that joke of a shower. The showerhead and shower caddy were also new.

A like $5 thrifted little Van Gogh print, the height of sophistication I could afford. (It's actually STILL THERE, RIGHT NOW. I really DO love it.)

Ugh, those green blinds. Hey at least the window was covered with SOMETHING!

I was very, very proud of myself, I put that together and put it up all by myself.

It's still up!

So that's what it looked like late 2003 until 2012.

Around 2005 I started realizing that if took a shower for too long, water started leaking out from the wall under the window under the trim. Yep I'd shower and then the floor would be flooded.

I just stopped taking showers in there.

Honestly the tub ended up being storage. I kept the cats carriers in there so I could get them in there and then get them in their carriers without much problem. Anytime I fostered cats, it became the stray/foster cat room until they trusted me enough to let me pet them.

It was essentially a half-bath for the last like 18 years.

In 2012 when my parents and I did bathroom renovations, things got better!

Ooh, much prettier!

I had been thinking about selling the house so the purple and green were changed to beige, to match the sink. Fixtures all went to brushed nickel, and a much bigger, taller and nicer toilet. Also new towels, rug, etc. Kept the same shower curtain for then, but in the next year or so I changed it.

Accent over the shower, on the small wall by the toilet and on the windowsill was a brownish orange. And kept light green for all the linens.

Yeah the window like I said is still that terrible window, FOR NOW.

Also... did y'all notice anything missing?

LIKE SOMEWHERE TO PLUG IN A HAIRDRYER OR LITERALLY ANYTHING!?! A bathroom... without an outlet. When I had roommates, I'd have to blow dry my hair in front of my vanity in my bedroom. So annoying.

So one of the original like 5 things Arturo was brought in to do, that kicked off everything else was to put an outlet in that bathroom. It's on a wall that isn't as convenient as I'd like it to be, but Arturo has A Technological Reason it has to be there, so I'll take it. With the rewiring, it's also surge protected, so even though it's not as great as I want it, it's a small compromise I can live with.

---

I didn't take a single picture of consequence in the master bath in the next 12 years or so. Honestly sometimes I'd go a month or two without even going in there.

For the years when Patchy lived in the master bedroom this was a little extra space for her, but she rarely went in there.

The other purpose it served was the place where I kept the bag of food for the outside cats. Sometimes also extra kitty litter space, overflow medicine, TP etc. space... but all in all it was pretty neglected space for a long time. I'd clean in there once every six months maybe to mostly get rid of dust. I only used it either in the middle of the night, or when Patchy was alive to spend a few extra moments with her while taking a bathroom break.

At one point a few years ago I tried turning on the shower just to see what would happen and I couldn't even get the knobs to move.

---

Getting this bathroom fixed up was secondary to the hall bath, since that was the main bath. So when I showed Arturo the bathrooms to see what he thought, I stressed that this one was not important, maybe just if he could get the knobs working and knew why the water would flow out from the wall.

But his price was so good, of course I wanted to get both done.

Since we needed one bathroom to work, and this was the one most fucked up, he started there, as the first project they'd do after the electricity was mostly put back together and working.

---

I hadn't even noticed the demo had started (remember most of the work was happening while I was also working, like, my job, even though it's WFH!) and so the first time I walked by the bathroom and saw this I honestly wanted to weep with joy.

The fiberglass... the weird-ass tub... gone. Just a hole where it all was, and a hole in the ground as well. They dug through the cement and dirt underneath to figure out what the hell was wrong with the plumbing.

Welllllllllllllllllllllll... it turns out what the hell was wrong with it was that it wasn't connected to the sewer.

Like... the pipe was just draining right into the ground. And when the ground was saturated, the water crept up into the wall and came out that way!

Arturo told me it was a really good thing I'd stopped using that shower. I'd managed to avoid a dangerous and costly black mold problem.

So, Arturo fixed it and hooked the plumbing back up to the sewer.

He replaced all the piping you see exposed there.

There was no shower pan in the really fucking weird size of that space, so Arturo had to build the new walk-in shower with cement. He made a mold, poured cement both for the little wall and the new floor, and for a few days, we left a fan pointed at it and let it cure.

---

Also the reason for that one square out of the accent wall was Arturo wanted to see if there was any wasted space in that intersection where the back of the fridge, the back of the hall bath and the shower/toilet area of the master were all kind of meeting up. Turns out... nope. All the space was used. It got patched, you can't even tell there was a hole there now, you'll see.

You'll also notice there's a curtain on the window. Like I said, I'd found a new shower curtain set I really liked not long after the 2012 renovation. I also picked up the matching rug. And I liked it so much that I bought a second one that my mom made into a curtain for the window! With the extra material, she made a curtain for her own bathroom window.

So it came time to pick out new colors for the bath, I spent a lot of time with my BFF Sherwin Williams Swatch Book. After awhile, I went all in on using the colors from the shower curtain as the colors for the room.

(I also spent a few hours scouring the internet for a backup shower curtain and FINALLY found one on Ebay in great condition. Considering I bought it around 2013 I was thrilled. It's now in the linen closet waiting for the day when this one gets a little rough. It's fine now, remember I'd never even taken a shower while this shower curtain was in the room. I'm still looking for a backup rug. Anyway, back to paint.)

Contented was a shade darker than the curtain, maybe a little greener, but I fell in love with that color and wanted to use a soft green as the standout color, because the tile and wood in the room weren't changing. The Bathroom would be very beige and brown, green would keep it from being too beige and brown.

And I fell in love with Llama Wool the moment I saw it. I know you should never let a color's name influence your decision, it's just what some person at Sherwin-Williams (in this case) decided to call it, but Llamas are sort of a thing with my friend group, and I wanted to use that color as a bit of a tribute to them. It was, again, a shade or two darker than the brown in the shower curtain, but I thought it'd look great.

----

I'm not posting pictures until THE REVEAL because of THE DRAMA, okay? I think it'll be worth it.

Arturo brought a sample of the ceramic main shower tile, 89c per really big piece. It was beige, would match the floor OK, and was perfectly neutral. It was great, a place we could get some savings so there'd be more money for important things.

Accent Tile was another big thing for me. I had always, always, always wanted mosaic accent tile in the shower and above the sink. I tried to get my dad to do some during the 2012 renovation but he said no, that was too much work for that weekend. So I was determined to use accent tile I loved.

Arturo had brought me a couple of samples and I'd okayed two of them, but they'd yet to be bought past that. One of them I loved and had marked it for the hall bath, the other I'd thought was fine, and thought I'd put it in the master.

And slowly my mind changed.

First I thought the one I loved would work better with the shower curtain and Llama wool. It was $15 sq/ft, which was definitely on the higher end of the budget, but it was worth it, and putting it in the master would mean we'd just need less of it.

(Arturo said we spent about as much on the main tile as we did 2 pieces of the accent tile lol)

And then Arturo told me I needed to find a tile for the shower floor, and I should go to Home Depot and/or Lowes and find something.

TBH, I spent time on both of their websites, then went to Amazon. I'd been browsing a lot of like, Pinterest and just google results of bathroom renovations and knew I wanted a pebble-style tile for the floor. I couldn't find exactly the right thing to match with the accent tile I adored for the master.

And then I looked on Amazon.

And I fell in love instantly. Without consulting Arturo, I bought five boxes of it at almost $90 a box. I didn't care. I had to have this.

I showed it to Arturo on Monday and he was like "YES. PERFECT. I'm glad you didn't wait, let's get started." Unfortunately only 3 boxes had shown up that day so it was a couple of days delay.

Next was picking out a grout that would work with the wall tile and accent tile and floor tile.

I picked a light beige one, the color of sand, on purpose, hoping it would fit my vision for the shower floor.

I also had to pick out shower fixtures... a showerhead/controls. Arturo suggested something to me, and it aligned with what I also really wanted. It was another place where I decided it was OK to splurge.

The shower was a non-entity to me for so long... I wanted it to be perfect.

---

One day, I think it was a Saturday, I walked by the shower as the tile was going up and uh, I noticed that the main tile was going awfully high and realized that the guy installing it had forgotten about the accent tile. The accent was just one stripe around face-high. I stopped him as politely as I could in my slight panic and called Arturo. Also, I just realized, Arturo had yet to create the shelf, which would also include the accent tile.

Luckily, the mud was still fresh on the wall, and only two rows had to come out. The tile could also be salvaged after cleaning off the back. Arturo got there later that day and got the shelf made. A day or two later, the accent tile went on and a few days later, the shower was finished.

Okay enough words... here's the first pic of the finished shower.

Y'all.. I love it so much. SO. MUCH. Rainfall showerhead, a sprayer hose... the floor looks like you're walking on a sandy beach. I literally wanted to weep with joy... idk I might have, when I saw it all together like this the first time.

Still lots to do, but that night was the night I posted the little interlude where I talked about how so much is happening and how I had no time.

When work was done that day, I was so excited to take a shower.

And then my shower curtain rod was now too long, even at the minimum size, since the tile had added like an extra inch.

I wasn't deterred. I went to Home Depot, then Lowe's, then Target trying to find a shower curtain rod I loved to replace the old one. Each place only had shitty cheap rods and none were brushed nickle. So I bought a $7 rod (and a new curtain liner) and a few other things like shelf liner at Target... then went home and ordered a rod I loved on Amazon. When that was done, I took my first shower in the master bath in like 18 years.

And it was fucking MAGICAL. It was like being in a spa. I showered maybe longer than I'd ever showered in my life, definitely the longest I've ever showered in this house.

To me, for the last 20 years, showers were a fucking CHORE that I had to get through. You'll see when I talk about the hall bath more about why. I just absolutely hated showering -- not the getting clean part, obviously, but just being in the shower, either shower, in my house. I wanted to get out ASAP.

I just stood there and was like... I love being in here. This is the most beautiful part of my house right now. I want to stay in here.

I washed my hair twice. I moved my facewash in there to have more to just do in the shower.

It's like going to the spa, every night.

I'd bought new towels, Turkish bathsheets. Huge, soft, absorbent.

Luxury.

Something I never thought I'd associate with my house.

My shower was beautiful. Maybe the first thing I'd ever really associated with that word in this house.

I look forward to my nightly shower now.

I'm using getting to go take it as a reward for finishing this post. :D

---

(Oh, oops, I forgot to show you the shelf! Btw, did you notice the COPPER in the backsplash? Have I mentioned I love copper? You have no idea how much I love copper. Just you wait.)

The one thing that I didn't love was that little shower head on the hose. It had nearly no pressure. So I ordered two new sprayer heads, one for each shower. Much better. And this one has a switch you can flip for a high-pressure sprayer hose to help clean the shower/tub easier. Not as sleek, but very worth it.

A few days later I walked by and smelled paint. Peeked in and uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

....someone had painted the bathroom.

The Wrong color.

It was painted the same peachy color as the master bedroom, not my Contented green (and no sign of Llama Wool!) Arturo facepalmed and pointed out the right color to his worker.

This is wrong and bad and LOOKS TERRIBLE.

Eventually, it was painted right and I loooooved it.

Also hey, there's the new outlet! See, not that convenient, but livable. I can recharge my toothbrush with the stand on the windowsill, and a hair dryer plugs in there just fine. Way better than none!

The dumb little shelf came out. We literally ran out of the accent tile with ONE MORE TO GO at the edge of the sink. Then our local Lowe's was out of it. And then the one near Arturo's house was out of it. I refreshed the Lowe's website for like two weeks until it was back in stock, and one Saturday ran straight over there, picked up the one tile and a couple of other things I needed, and it sat here in the house a couple more weeks. Just this week it got put on and grouted, lol. SO NOW at least I can show you pics of the sink area, too!

---

Beige Turkish hand towel (tbh they are like half the size of a regular towel, I love it.) The same decent cabinet as before but now elevated by its surroundings. Beautiful backsplash keeping the wall safe.

Oh, and that faucet?

My old faucet... the plunger part was broken so it would no longer close and the sink wouldn't hold water. Arutro was all "Oh, I have one in my shed you can just have." So he threw that in for free. It's a Delta! FOR FREE! He even installed it for free.

Y'all, I have so much to say about Arturo, he's amazing.

Now the faucet is chrome and the rest of the bathroom fixtures are brushed nickel, but tbh, I don't care. It works, and it looks nice, and it's a well-respected brand, and it was free. I'm HERE FOR IT.

Also,notice the wall color... I am very content with Contented. It's just the right amount of color against all the beige and brown.

And yes, the medicine cabinet has a place where you can insert your own photo under the glass, and YES I have had that medicine cabinet since 2012 and YES IT STILL HAS THE "Insert your own 8x10 photo here!" paper in it. LIKE I SAID this room was neglected. I am happy to report that I have ordered an art print I like that will be in there in a few days.

----

There were a couple of other improvements here. A new overhead light went in, replacing the old overhead light, this one has a fan. Yeah, there was no fan in this bathroom before, lol. And LED lighting. It's much brighter and nicer.

I also got a very basic bidet for both toilets. That just went in a couple of days ago and I am still getting used to it. It's COLD, didn't get a fancy heated one.

One thing we're going to talk about later is the trim and doors and stuff throughout the house. This is the only room that retained the Cream color that I used to have throughout the house as the trim.

You can really see the difference in this pic. Also, Fry!

There's an amusing story about the cream color on the trim that belongs elsewhere, that and the window were the reasons I'd been holding off talking about this room for awhile but, eh, screw it. You can see the windowsill and trim on the floor are that cream, so is the inside of the door. The shelf above the toilet also got painted that color, and it all blends really well I think. I painted the windowsill, door and the cabinet myself.

And yes, the floors need a real good cleaning. They ALL do. There's paint splatters and various other stains all over all the floors. I'm going to tackle all of it at once, when everything is done. No point in having to do it multiple times.

So here's the finished product, all that stuff all done and the Llama Wool color on the accent wall!

This pic I just took tonight, for this post. The bathroom is more or less complete.

I love it. It went from the room non grata to one of my favorite places in the house. And when I post this, I'm off to take a spa-like shower in it before enjoying a dessert and a couple of hours of TV time before bed.

My only regret is that I really wanted to use the Llama Wool color more. I wanted to do the windowsill and trim in that color but Arturo insisted he'd have to buy a different kind of paint for it, which would be an extra expenditure I couldn't justify, especially since we already had the right kind of paint in the old cream color and it also looked great in there. I honestly almost felt bad for having him buy a whole can of paint just for that one tiny accent wall, but I don't regret it! I tried to think of other places in the house it could have been used but... there aren't any, really.

Thank you, btw, for coming along on these extremely long, self-indulgent posts with me. They're largely written so I can look back at this time and marvel and what Arturo and I did, and how a lot of money and work was all worth it. This bathroom is just one course of several of what's to come! There are three (or four) other rooms that I now love just as much as this one. :)

[clouseplayssims]

Okay, so I still feel like hell but I did clean the bathroom. This is actually Victorian Dinosaur Bathroom 2.0 - the first version in my apartment had a lot more art.

The problem with the bathroom in our rental is there's just not a lot of wall space where I'm comfortable hanging art - it's either above the tub or next to the shower. So, no ma'am, not hanging my cute dinosaur art there to get ruined!

The rest is late 90's massive mirrors and windows. Literally just a whole wall complete with ugly light fixtures that I'm terrified to dust because they're falling to pieces.

But I'm working on adding more dinosaurs in other ways!

The candle is handmade beeswax from an etsy seller who has some gorgeous stuff. The frame is a new auction find and I'm searching for the right dino-lady for it.

I'm almost done with the curtain, you can kind of see the base layer, I still have to make two velvet panels, a velvet swag, and trim everything out. But sick me is not even up to changing the thread in my machine let alone wrestling with goddamn velvet lol.

The bitches curtain is everything. And the original inspo for the theme. (the photo doesn't show just how stupid big that wall is. seriously this house wants to be fancy so bad but only in the worst ways??? 10 foot ceilings but the cheapest orange counters you ever did see)

The mirror also came from an auction, it's one of those rip-off "oh it's ANT-EEK" pieces that looks old but isn't worth much so I am not too afraid of it being above the tub despite it being wood.

(as for the dinosaur art it's currently packed or I'd show it off)

(also: I am looking for a gilded frame for my jeff goldblum so it's not up yet, but this is it and I'm so excited to hang it. you can't do faux victorian bullshit without weird religious iconography.)

[thetravelingtyper]

Midnight Dance

A Teaser Part from my Labyrinth fic! Enjoy!

FULL FIC HERE!

Amongst a dreamy dance, you find a steady partner...

Inspired by Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine!

You awoke once again in a dream. Like the last night, you were fully aware and conscious, and yet, you looked around, there was no breeze nor the sound of an abyssal sea. Instead, echos of vibrant and silvery conversations faded down a grand hallway. You gaze around and are struck by the grandeur of the room. Marble columns run along the sides of a gilded hall. Your eyes trace up one and are caught in the ceiling. Mosaics and frescos depicting fairy tale-like scenes stretch above. They flicker and move in the firelight of chandeliers, yet there is no trace of smoke and the flames burn occasionally blue. You then notice a weight over your eyes as the feeling of velvet materializes on your face. You run your hands up and find a glazed mask. Startled, you reach behind and untie it. It comes loose without a fuss and you find a beauty staring back at you with a glimmer of gold. A half-face mask sat heavy in your hands and you ran a delicate finger over its surface. It was made to cover the nose and up and had eye holes that seemed made specifically for you.

You turned it in your hands. The mask itself felt like it was made of porcelain, and its back was a rich ruby velvet. You flip it back over. The mask was a rich midnight blue layered over a white bottom layer. On it are inlaid golden set swirls that blossomed out from the edge of the mask and the eye holes. You tilted the mask in the light and the surface shines like a gem as there was a clear layer of crazing leaving a subtle crackle. The mask was meant to be secured to your face with two long ribbons made of fine silk. Your mask was beautiful and you notice your reflection in the solid tile underneath you. A darker reflection than a mirror, the image showed you in dark finery. Fine pants flowed down your legs, a waterfall of silver twisted in the lights. Loosely gathered sleeves hung close to your wrists and the dark blue shirt tucked into the black pants. And a firm but comfortable corset guarded your waist and most of your abdomen. It was midnight blue that matched the mask and had deep maroon flowers stitched in. The flowers were connected with deep emerald leaves and silver vines. You admire yourself in the reflection, steady in the dress shoes on your feet. You give it a spin with a fluttering heart, smiling to yourself as the billows of your shirt flow. 

You then look back to the mask, confused but curious. You pull it over your eyes and tie it firmly, completing the outfit. As you look back up you catch the beginnings of music, the melodic sound sweeps down the hall, and the song first mingles then drowns out the gentle tug of conversation. You look down the end of the hall, where the sound is coming from, and find a corner before a solid wall decorated with glazed frescos. You look behind you. The hallway stretches on for a while before hitting a perceivable dead end. 

“Well, I can’t go that way.” You straighten yourself and stride forward. As you walk steadily you begin to notice fine furniture. Ornate tables, with delightful little designs held atop them assorted platters filled with fruit. You paused for a moment to look. Most of the fruit you could recognize but other strange and beautiful shapes were mixed in. While interested, you found yourself quite satiated feeling so you waved off the food and continue. At the end wall, you found a chaise lounge, a sturdy yet delicate fixture of dark mahogany with plush lining. It looked ready for some Victorian maiden to cast herself upon in a love-dazed faint. The temptation turns out to be too much and you take a seat. You are pleased with it then stand up, fluff up the pillow and reset the decor. You turn the corner and continue.

The walk continues for a while longer, one continuous hallway sprawling before you. You pass more and more signs of inhabitation, other couches against the wall, pitchers with honeyed wine, the ruby-colored ambrosia giving off a delightful aroma. As you passed further into this place the music grew louder and louder, then at an approaching corner, the candlelight was out. You stop at the edge of shadow and peer around the corner, a solid sliver of light and sound stumbles out of a cracked set of grand doors. 

Anticipation built with a raise of strings, within the room sat your hidden music. You were enchanted by the sound of it but lingered in the candlelight. You ran a finger down the smooth glazing of the mask, its cool velvet soft and comforting against your face. You nod to yourself and pass into the shadow of the shortened hall. At your entrance the music softens in expectation, you paused before curiosity insisted you continue. Approaching the grand doors you firmly grasp a bronze handle and push. 

Dazzling grandeur hit you, a sweep of music, strings plucked and singing and the swirls of invisibly sourced firelight. Before you, down a dark wood staircase lay a wide ballroom. Silken fabric hung the room in a sparkling sky and lights emanated from above. Other exquisitely dressed and masked couples danced to the music, they paid you little mind. The music came from an equally masked orchestra that played with ebony and golden instruments. Your eyes caught the shape of the harpist in particular because of the size of the harp itself. In the lights, the strings glistened as gossamer threads bowed with ornate gold. He played the music masterfully fully foxed mask tilted towards the ground, he was enthralled with the instrument.

You approached and the musicians kept their eyes on  their instruments. You crept down the stairs and kept to the edges of the room, trying your best to not disturb the dancers. Yet even in the occasional flash of lights across your form, no one looked at you. You reached the edge of the stage but did not step up, and as if sensing your approach the harpist behind his mask looked up and peered at you. You stopped and looked back at him, his eyes weren’t exactly human. A soft yellow peered back at you and the fox mask tilted regarding you. 

Moments passed, and the harpist continued to play as he observed. His head then turned revealing dark skin that passed under his garments. Dark hair concealed pointed ears, you watched eyes widening at the realization. He turned back to you, the orange of his foxen face blending into his eyes, then he nodded, then in a directive action tilted his head towards the other far corner of the room. 

Your eyes traced the path, feeling a sense of building anticipation. The stage here cut off the wall so you would have to pass into the spotlights and the ethereal dancers. You gulped, the anxiety of the crowd latching on to the pit of your stomach. He turns back to you, head tilting in consideration. Then he surprises you, the harpist pauses his song and stands from his stool. Gracefully spinning off, another player takes his place for the sleep song. He then passes behind the group and makes his way down the stairs to stand before you.

The creature before you looks breathed in shadows, his dark skin like obsidian. Under green livery his skin is beautiful. You look up at him and he dips into a bow. You decide to return it and as he rises his yellow eyes nod. He then offers a gloved hand. You consider it and tingling at your fingertips pulls your hand into his. Your stoic partner then guides you gently into the cusp of the dancing crowd. 

As you reach the edge it is he who takes the first step. Your companion is cool, calm, and well-collected as he doesn’t exactly dance you through the crowd. It is more of a collection of twirls, as his hands remain respectively at your elbows, then occasionally at your shoulder blade when he spins behind you. You are more whisked through but you soon find some comfort in the continuous movement. As you travel you catch the occasional glint of golden and silver eyes behind flowered and butterfly masks. Most of these dancers have the sharp ears of your guide as well. You also marvel at their beauty. The beings look like they are carved from granite and obsidian. Some are as pale as the moon and others dark as night. The gowns and suits they wear glitter with captured starlight in the haze of fairy light. Occasionally, now that you are amongst them they acknowledge you with a nod before returning to their partners. 

As you pass to the center of the room you begin to catch another figure. The dancers are a bit tighter here and your partner, feeling you tense, pulls you closer to keep from brushing too much against the others. You capture glimpses of blond hair amongst the masks. Then a spin, your partner begins to transition from swirls into dance and you find yourself naturally falling into step. You give an airy laugh, then a flicker of black in the corner of your eye. The music sweeps up like a bird, light and soulful.

You look up into the fox mask and the yellow eyes meet yours. You whisper a thank you as he pulls you in. You both swirl then he guides you out in a spin. You laugh and throw a careful arm out in pleasure, moving on your toes and he steps around you to catch you at the drop of your momentum. You almost bump into his chest but he grasps your outstretched arm he pulls you in safely. He stops for a moment in the swaying crowd, looking down at you while you catch your breath. His eyes twinkle and you send a small smile up to him.  

When he senses you're ready he pulls your right arm to his shoulder and grasps your left hand. The movement brings you closer to his chest and the smell of the woods. The sent makes you sigh contented with the memories of deep woods hiking and summer camp. It is comforting and you relax against him while keeping a respectful distance. He begins you spin you through the crowd again, now while not straying too far from the center.

The music shifts now, more reminiscent of the night at twilight with the occasional sounds of bells. The pace in the room slows from the high waves of music, and the lighting above darkens more into a flicker. Your partner slows as well, sweeping you in an arc before, with a quick step forward, moving his hand to the small of your back and dipping you. The sashes of your mask lower and your eyes widen in surprise. You can see the synthesized stars behind the fabric sky of the ceiling. A flicker, then the lights brighten and you are steadily pulled up. His eyes twinkle in delight and the mask nods at you.

He spins you and in the blur of the room, blue passes closer amongst the dancers. Back into his chest, a surprising laugh bubbles again up and out of your chest. You felt light on your feet. His arms lift off of you and you twirl on your toes, moving with the building strum of the music. The mask seems to grin at you as he shifts back into a shadow, guiding and following without touch. He mirrors your lead and you take the initiative. You step forward and his mirrored foot falls back and you begin to dance.

Lights dazzle off gems inlaid in your corset and silver and gold dance in the shadows. Your arms pass up and then flow down and your body waves, caught in a spell. Masks become beautiful adornments as these beings become them, swans and butterflies living in eternal music. Dreams fuzz the air, but your mind remains clear and your soul sings in the dance. In one final song you and your fox spin and dance, not touching but echos. A sense of finality grows in the music when your partner grasps your hands as you reach. He turns down to you and nods and you return it. You begin your travels around the center of the floor in a spiral. You both sway together in calmer motions but your steps build, and with one final goodbye he raises your connected arms and sends you out in a twirl. 

Your breath catches in your chest as you spin, the room blurring. You pull your arms in and then reach out to catch yourself. But instead of collision, strong arms catch you. Warmth tingles down your spine as your eyes catch sapphire blue stitched into midnight.

You were caught from your spin by a tall man. Your eyes went up to his and you were met with the obsidian crow mask and behind it sapphire and emerald eyes. Your eyes widened and your heart skips a beat, you know those eyes. They warmed at your recognition and he dipped his head in greeting. You raise a hand and he gently grasps it while his other went to the small of your back, he pulls on you gently with a suggestion and you fell into step with him in a slow dance. You brought your free hand to his shoulder. 

You two danced for a minute, slow and steady while the music slowed to a crawl. Then a soft song began. You looked up at him again and sensing your eyes he met them. 

“Hello.” You whisper the greeting shyly, eyes dropping to his mouth under the mask. You can see the scar of your owl on his face. His lip turns up in a smile and he nods...

FULL CHAPTER CONTINUES HERE

[respectthepetty]

Reading the (Visual) Rainbow 101

Lesson 4 - Barriers & Boundaries

Because I get so many asks about colors, I decided the best way to celebrate Pride is to educate anyone who is interested in how to better Read the (Visual) Rainbow and simultaneously allow myself to appreciate queer media.

Today's (late) lesson will focus on how visuals reinforce emotional barriers and boundaries, so are you ready to cross the line?

Lesson 3 dealt with the way in which visuals (an item that we can see) represent abstract themes (ideas which we cannot see), and Lesson 4 will build on this.

Lesson 1 covered visual rhetoric, so you should be able to recognize this image as a form of visual rhetoric, but what is it trying to say?

The obstruction between the two boys is a visual representation of an emotional barrier between them. It divides the screen and keeps the characters on their distinct sides. The size of the barrier, the color, and the material from which it is made are all important when analyzing the context for its use in the shot. In the above image, the barrier is big, red, and concrete demonstrating that the emotional barrier between these two is noticeable, mixed with love and hate, and not flexible.

The barrier could be big and black because the reason for the disconnect between the two characters could be a secret, but one which greatly hinders the characters' relationship.

Or it could be thin and glass, a transparent material, or a reflection because the reason for the barrier is probably power dynamics due to social class, age, or workplace hierarchy. These are always present even when the barrier isn't being discussed.

But if the barrier is on a background surface or part of a movable fixture, the characters can bypass it.

Perhaps it's an open door that shows both characters must be open and communicate to move forward.

Lighting can mimic barriers because it helps us clearly see which side the characters are on.

Regardless of the barrier, you want to observe what is dividing the screen, so you can reflect on why it is there and mark the character who crosses it because it shows which character might feel more emotions in that moment or does not adhere to acceptable behavior.

If you watched either video mentioned in the previous lesson, you may have noticed in Silvy's "Queen" video that the barrier between the characters (being gender) was easily danced around. We see that through the split screen, the separation of the walls at the angle, and the colors for the binary (blue/boys, pink/girls).

Joel Corry x MNEK's "Head & Heart" showed two sides of a single person using colors (gray-ish blue/sad, yellow/happy) and the split screen. The two emotions within the person finally merged when the person reflected on himself which caused the barrier to disappear.

This is also used with mirrors. Mirrors symbolize truth, so to see a character split between mirrors or his image fragmented means he is having in internal conflict (becoming two different people or dissociating) which hinders him from being honest with himself. He is a split person because of the barrier.

People can serve as barriers to others as well as binders. If a person is in the middle of two others, they are usually the source of conflict or at least they will be, and sometimes that character has to decide between the other characters.

Bridges symbolize unity and communication, so to see one in between characters would mean two characters must communicate to unite. The bridge below is the Tamsui Lover's Bridge in Taiwan, so it added another layer of meaning between the two characters.

Since bridges unite, bars divide. Bars on a character represent oppression and repression of emotion.

Levels, although not a barrier, are an easy way to notice power structures in a relationship. Much like the thin line in the background, levels can show who has the higher social class, who is superior, and who holds the power in the relationship because that person is above the other, physically within the space. If the person can be equal to the other if he can simply raise himself up, this is smybolic of the character doing the same with his emotions - he can become equal if he solves an internal issue,

but if there are stairs or some other way to ascend, that tends to signify differences in social standings which will have obstacles and endeavors the person must encounter along the way to the be equal with the other person.

Anything can serve as an emotional barrier or narrative conflict if it divides the two characters on the screen like pillows on a bed or an umbrella handle.

Sometimes these barriers are easy to spot if they are huge red concrete pillars between the characters, but sometimes, it's harder to notice, but just remember, if something is the middle of the characters or they are not level, question why. It might be nothing, but it also might tell an entirely different story.

Activity

Video #1 - Watch ONE of the following videos and note the room and color of each member (yellow is my favorite color):

The Internet "Come Over" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3gWkhLkxM

Bob the Drag Queen "Gay Barz" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZzy_nCiBNw

Video #2 - Watch ONE of the following videos and note the color of clothing the main artists wear:

Saucy Santana x Latto "Booty" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hylG-CYTzBI

Scissor Sisters "She's My Man" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPwc-DpVFdc

See you for Lesson 5 about group efforts.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Interesting 1988 home in Hudson, OH. Look at the swirling chimneys and the tower. They don't show much of the 5bd, 5ba, 6,805 sq ft home, but they show enough to get the idea. Looks like they're doing work inside, but it's hard to tell. Judging by the exterior, this could be a stunning home, though, and the asking price of $1.595 is probably a bargain.

This is odd- they cemented over the niche above the hearth and removed the mantel, plus they also blocked off the firewood storage. And, they didn't do a neat job, either.

They took the photos at weird angles, like they're trying to hide something. This must be the center hall. It has some narrow balconies, lovely millwork, but what's up with the odd railings in the first photo- looks like sticks w/rope.

The wood stain in the kitchen matches the other wood in the house, but it's a dated style. Very 70s, especially the ceiling and the design on the cabinet doors.

Beautiful family room on the upper floor. It has great Gothic windows and beams in the pitched ceiling. Plus, there's a stone fireplace.

I wonder why they put turned spindles in the beams, though. Decorative purposes?

Beautiful marble fireplace and window seats in the primary bedroom.

Check out this marble bath. It looks like they removed a mirror and light fixture above the sinks, though. Look at the small storage cabinet above the shower- what would you keep up there?

I'm assuming that they left the 3 giant geodes for the new owner?

Then, this is a smaller room, similar to the family room.

This home is stunning.

Look at how beautiful it is surrounded by the green trees in the summer. And, you can even go out on the terrace around the turret.

Plus, it comes with 20.40 acres of land.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/1310-Connecticut-Woods-Dr-Hudson,-OH-44236_rb/333085859_zpid