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tessa-liam · 3 months ago

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The One Who Got Away

Thank you @kyra75 for your ask -- Prompt #4, ‘This is all my fault’ for @choicesprompts – Angstgiving Event

Choices Book: The Royal Romance, Book 2

Pairing: Liam Rys x Riley Brooks (F!MC)

Rating: mature

Category: angst/fluff, one-shot, ask/prompt

Words 3.5k, with sprinkles of Canon

A/N1: not Beta’d, please excuse all errors

Premise: Liam and Riley are in love, but due to circumstances, they are pulled apart. Riley leaves Cordonia to go back home to New York, heartbroken. Liam marries Madeleine, reluctantly, to fulfill his duty as King. A year later, while visiting New York, Liam runs into Riley....

ONE YEAR AGO ...

New York. The place where dreams come true. The Statue of Liberty. The Empire State Building. Central Park.

As the limousine pulled up in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a sea of reporters and cameras flooded the sidewalk, all desperate to catch a glimpse of the young King of Cordonia.

He'd arrived in New York earlier that day to spend the next two weeks on a goodwill tour, courtesy of his PR team. He'd already spent several days in Washington, DC, before stopping by a few other major US cities. New York City was the grand finale.

King Liam stepped out of the limousine, his personal security flanking him, and walked into the throng of reporters. He was met with a barrage of flashing cameras, blinding him. His bodyguards tried their best to hold the crowd back.

"Your Majesty! Over here! Look over here, please!"

Liam put on his most dazzling smile and waved, walking towards the doors, surrounded by the press.

"What are you hoping to accomplish during your stay in New York?"

"Who will be accompanying you?"

"Do you have a message for the people of Cordonia?"

"King Liam! What is the state of the relationship between your country and the US?"

"Will you be making any important announcements soon?"

Liam smiled politely at the reporters, but refused to comment on their questions. He reached the top of the steps leading into the museum, and stopped for a moment, taking in the view. It was a gorgeous, but chilly, November day in New York. The trees had long since lost their leaves and were now a dark brown, contrasting with the gray skies above. The weather had forced most New Yorkers to stay indoors.

Liam glanced at his watch. It was 10:45 am.

"Your Majesty? The exhibit is waiting for you." One of the museum staff motioned him inside.

Liam walked through the massive, imposing entrance doors and made his way through the crowd of museum visitors, down the marble-floored hallway, towards the room where the exhibit was waiting for him.

The museum staff, dressed in black-and-white, were all huddled near the door, whispering excitedly amongst themselves.

"This is going to be a huge draw for our museum."

"I can't believe they let us borrow these artifacts."

"We're lucky the King agreed to open the exhibit."

Liam cleared his throat and the museum staff immediately stood at attention.

"Welcome, Your Majesty. We're honored you're here," the museum director bowed in respect.

"Thank you, but there's no need for all the formality," Liam smiled warmly. "Please, please call me Liam."

The museum staff beamed as the director held out his arm to escort Liam into the gallery.

"If you'll please follow me, Your Ma—, uh, Liam. We've prepared the exhibit for your inspection. Please take as much time as you'd like."

Liam followed into the spacious, exhibition room, his personal security standing outside. The staff were bustling around, checking the artifacts and displays. Liam took a few steps further into the room, and his breath hitched in his throat.

At the end of the room, on a plinth, was a large display case, with a crown encased inside. It was a golden circlet, embellished with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

The Queen's Crown of Cordonia.

He recognized it immediately. It had belonged to his mother, Queen Eleanor, before she had died. She had never had a chance to wear it.

Liam's hands were trembling, and his knees were weak. He slowly approached the crown, his eyes fixed on it. The last time he'd seen this crown was at his mother's funeral. After that, it had been kept locked away in the Royal Treasury. He'd thought it would stay there forever.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" came a familiar voice.

Liam's head snapped up and his heart skipped a beat.

There, standing in front of him, was the love of his life.

Riley.

He couldn't believe his eyes. What was she doing here?

"Riley," Liam gasped, taking a few shaky steps towards her.

They stood inches from each other, but neither could make a move. There were a million thoughts running through each of their minds, but they couldn't utter a single word.

"You look stunning," Liam finally said, breaking the silence.

Riley blushed. "I didn't realize you'd personally be here."

"My PR team set up this visit." Liam softly spoke.

"I'm glad they did." Riley nervously responded.

They both stood in silence, staring at each other.

Liam took a step closer and reached for her hand.

"I've missed you," he whispered.

"Me too," Riley replied, squeezing his hand.

They gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts filled with longing and desire; even after all the time apart.

"Liam, I..." Riley started to say.

"What is it, Riley?"

"Nothing. It's just...I'm happy to see you."

"I'm happy to see you, too," Liam said. "And I'm sorry, about everything."

"It wasn't your fault." Looking down, Riley shook her head.

"Yes, it was. I should've done more. I should've fought harder. This is all my fault"

"No. Liam, don't blame yourself."

"But I do."

Moving their conversation to a secluded alcove, Riley placed her hands on his cheeks. "None of this was your fault. You did the right thing. And you're an amazing King. You're the best King Cordonia has ever had. You made the right decision."

"But I lost you."

"It was my choice, Liam. I chose to walk away. I chose to leave."

"Why?" Liam searched Riley's eyes for an answer.

"Because I knew you would never choose me over your duty. And I would've never forgiven myself if I forced you to make that choice. That would've been too selfish of me. You were always going to make the right decision for your country. And that's what made me fall in love with you."

"Riley, I—"

"Wait, Liam, before you say anything... there's something I need to tell you. It's important."

Liam frowned. "What is it?"

Riley hesitated for a moment, then looked up into his eyes. Closing her eyes, her heart was pounding inside her chest. "I was pregnant."

The color drained from Liam's face. He stared at her in shock. "What did you just say?" Liam didn't trust his hearing.

"I was pregnant, with our baby. I found out right after the coronation."

Liam couldn't believe what he was hearing, shaking his head, no. He was completely stunned. He couldn't speak.

"I didn't know how to tell you," Riley continued. "So I didn't. I was afraid of what you'd say. Of how you'd react. I didn't want to ruin your life. So I kept it a secret."

"Riley, why didn't you tell me?" Liam asked, his voice hoarse.

"I don't know. I guess I was scared. Scared of what you'd think. Scared that you'd hate me. I'm sorry, Liam. I should've told you. But I didn't want to put you in a difficult position. I didn't want to force you to make a choice. That's why I left. I knew that if I told you, you'd try to figure something out, and I couldn't let that happen. Not when the future of your kingdom was at stake."

Liam was speechless. His heart was pounding.

"I didn't want to ruin your life," Riley said again, her voice breaking. "It was all my fault."

"How could you say that? Riley?" Liam was heartbroken.

"What do you mean? It was my fault. I was the one who got pregnant. I was the one who kept it a secret. I was the one who left." Riley covered her face with her shaking hands.

"No. Riley, it's not your fault. It was my mine. I should've protected you. I should've done more. But instead, I failed you. I'm so sorry, Riley."

Riley shook her head. "No. Liam, don't. Please don't. It's not your fault."

Liam wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "It's okay, Riley. It's okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you. Not ever."

[present day]

Liam's eyes slowly opened and he was greeted with the sight of his sleeping wife. He was lying on his side, facing her, his arm draped over her waist. She looked peaceful. Her hair was splayed across the pillow and her lips were slightly parted.

Liam gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. She stirred a little, but didn't wake up.

He smiled to himself.

They were together. They had another baby on the way. He'd done the right thing.

His kingdom would be safe. His people would be safe. His family would be safe.

Everything was going to be all right.

And yet, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been. If he had known Riley was pregnant; when she had left after the coronation... would things have turned out differently? Would they have chosen a different path? Would he have married Riley instead of Madeleine? Scandal be damned.

Or would the same thing have happened? Would he have still made the same decision, to choose his kingdom over his heart?

It was too late to find out.

He couldn't go back.

He didn't have to.

***

🌹Thank you for reading.

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daeniradraconis · 2 months ago

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The Game We Play - C1.

About the story: Odette Beaumont never thought she'd be starting over, but thanks to her best friend Quinn Hughes, escaping a toxic relationship led her to a fresh start in Toronto. New city, new life, and suddenly she's realizing a few things: 1. Her new apartment is amazing. 2. Her sexy Swedish neighbor is even more amazing than the apartment. 3. She really shouldn’t get involved with him—he’s her future coworker after all. But... William Nylander clearly has other ideas.

Themes: daddy Nylander vibes, so much fluff, found family energy, healing from toxic exes, and all the tooth-rotting sweetness you can handle. ➵ Chapter 2

Odette stood at the large bay window of her new apartment in Toronto, the city skyline sprawled out before her. The scene below was alive with energy, the endless lights pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. It was a far cry from the quiet streets of Montreal where she had grown up, but it felt right. Her time in Vancouver had been marked by both love and pain, struggle and strength. The weight of everything that had happened in the past few months settled over her, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of hope.

The decision to leave Vancouver hadn’t been easy, but it was necessary. She had spent years trying to please people who would never be satisfied. Her mother, Madeleine, had been the first to make her feel like she was never enough. No matter what she did—whether it was her career, her relationships, or her very identity—her mother’s cold disapproval had always lingered. It had been impossible to live up to the expectations of a woman who saw the world through a lens of privilege and perfection.

Then there was Danton, her ex. The man she had spent six years with, who had promised a future but never delivered. It had been a slow burn, the way their relationship had unraveled. She had always wanted more—a family, stability, someone who would stand by her through the highs and lows. But Danton never wanted the same. He had been content with their routine, the lack of progress, the endless excuses for why things couldn’t change. When the proposal never came, when she finally realized their life goals were miles apart, the decision to leave became inevitable. It had been painful, but it had been the only way to preserve herself, to save her future.

And so, she had taken the job with the NHL as a photographer. It wasn’t just an escape—it was a step forward, a chance to carve out a new identity, a fresh chapter. She’d be based in Toronto, working for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and though it meant leaving the comfort of her old life behind, it felt like a new beginning. She had found a small, luxurious high-rise apartment in the heart of the city—modern, sleek, and all hers. It was a place where she could reinvent herself.

But as much as she was excited to begin this new journey, the weight of leaving her past behind lingered. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe everything would be easy. Her family—especially her mother—wouldn't understand her choice. They would never accept it. But it was a decision she had made for herself, one that would set the course for her future.

She’d only been in Toronto for a few days, but already, the city felt like a strange but welcome embrace. It was busy, alive with possibilities, and it was all hers to explore. The NHL had been a dream of hers for years, and now it was reality.

Quinn Hughes had been the first person to really encourage her to make this move. Their friendship had grown quickly, much faster than she had anticipated. Their first meeting had been completely unplanned—at an art exhibition in Montreal a few months ago. She had been covering the event for a local photo gallery, her camera snapping away as she immersed herself in the art. Quinn had been there just to enjoy the exhibits, but as fate would have it, they had crossed paths in front of an installation. They had both stood there, silent for a moment, simply taking in the pieces in their own quiet way. It had been a strange, unspoken connection, something that felt deeper than mere coincidence.

Their conversation had started with the paintings—light, casual banter about the colors, the brushstrokes, the moods of the art. But soon, it had shifted. Books, life goals, shared interests. They spoke of their love for the quieter things in life, the small moments that made all the difference. It hadn’t taken long for Odette to open up about her struggles—her fractured relationship with her mother, her failed relationship with Danton, and her growing desire to break free. And when she confessed how suffocating her relationship with Danton had become, it had been Quinn who listened, offering no judgment but instead quiet support.

In the months that followed, their friendship had deepened. They’d started talking almost daily—about books, movies, and the pressures of their careers. Quinn had a way of making her feel seen, understood in a way that few people ever had. He had been there when she had begun considering her escape, encouraging her to go for the job in the NHL. And when she had finally made the decision to leave Vancouver, it was Quinn who helped her navigate the logistics of the move, offering practical advice about Toronto even though he himself was living in Vancouver.

Their friendship felt effortless, and though they were in different cities, Odette couldn’t imagine her life without Quinn’s steady presence. He was a constant, always there when she needed someone to talk to. It was hard, knowing that their paths would now diverge. Quinn played for the Vancouver Canucks, and their cities were far apart. But she had hope. With her new job, she would be traveling often, and there was no doubt in her mind that she and Quinn would find ways to see each other. They’d made it work so far, and she knew they would continue to.

But the distance between them still tugged at her heart. Toronto was her new home, but it was hard to accept that she wouldn’t have him around as often. Their friendship had grown quickly, becoming a crucial part of her life. And though she was excited for her new job, part of her couldn't help but feel a little sad about the separation. She hoped the NHL would give her the chance to travel and meet up with Quinn whenever she could. After all, it wasn’t just about her career; it was about finding balance, keeping the people who mattered close—even if they weren’t nearby.

As she unpacked the last of her things and placed a framed photo of Luc on the windowsill, she felt a little bit of the weight lift from her shoulders. It wasn’t perfect, this new life, but it was hers. And it was the beginning of something new—something that could be better, something that could finally be all her own.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. It was a message from Quinn.

"How’s the new place? Missing you in Vancouver already, but I know you’ll make it work in Toronto. Can’t wait to hear about your first day with the Leafs. You got this!"

Odette smiled, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she typed a quick reply.

"Thanks, Quinn. Couldn’t have done this without you. And I promise, we’ll figure out a way to keep this up, no matter where we are. Missing you too."

She hit send, and for a moment, she just sat back, letting the weight of it all settle. Life was changing, but she was ready. She had a new city, a new job, and the support of a true friend who would always have her back. And maybe—just maybe—this was the fresh start she had needed all along.

The sun was starting to set, casting a warm amber glow over Odette’s apartment as she finished unpacking her last box. She was exhausted, but the apartment was finally starting to feel like home. Luc, her husky mix, had been quieter than usual, curled up at her feet on the couch, making it the perfect moment for a small break.

But just as she placed the box down, a sudden noise broke the stillness. Luc’s ears perked up, and before she could react, he shot up and bolted toward the door with a bark that echoed through the apartment.

“Luc, no!” Odette gasped, her heart leaping into her throat.

Luc had already reached the door. With a quick push, he managed to open it, darting out into the hallway as the door swung wide. Odette’s eyes widened as she realized she hadn’t fully closed the door when she set the box down—Luc had gotten out. Panicking, she scrambled to her feet.

“Luc!” she called, but the dog was already a blur, racing down the hall with his tail wagging furiously, completely oblivious to her frantic calls.

She bolted after him, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she tried to catch up with him. By the time she reached the hallway, Luc had already slipped into the apartment next door.

Odette skidded to a stop as she saw the door open, revealing a man standing in the doorway, trying to control her overzealous dog. Luc, ever the playful one, had jumped up onto the couch in the apartment next door, his tail wagging wildly as he tried to lick the stranger’s face.

“Luc!” Odette called again, breathless as she rushed over to the door. The man, tall with sun-kissed blonde hair and icy blue eyes, looked up at her with a calm expression, holding Luc’s collar as if he were used to this kind of thing. “Looks like your dog’s a little... enthusiastic,” he said, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Odette felt her face flush with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry,” she said, stepping forward to grab Luc’s leash. “He’s still adjusting to the new place. And to me, honestly.”

The man smiled, his demeanor surprisingly calm, and released Luc’s collar after giving the dog a gentle pat on the head. “It’s no problem. I’m William, by the way. I live just a couple doors down.” He gave Luc a quick glance as the dog’s tail continued to wag furiously. “Seems like he’s got quite the personality.”

Odette’s cheeks were burning with embarrassment. “Odette,” she said quickly, shaking his hand. “I’m really sorry again. I was just finishing up moving in and... I left the door open for a second.”

“No harm done,” William said with a relaxed smile, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. “Dogs can be a handful sometimes.”

Odette laughed nervously, trying to steady her breathing. “I’ve been trying to train him, but... well, it’s a work in progress. His previous owner was Swedish, and I keep forgetting the commands in Swedish. It’s so frustrating! Every time I try, I end up mixing up the languages.”

William raised an eyebrow. “Swedish, huh? I’m actually Swedish myself.”

Odette blinked in surprise. “Wait, really?” she said, taken aback. “I had no idea. You... you didn’t have an accent.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Born here, but I was raised in Sweden. I live here now. Guess I’ve gotten used to speaking both languages fluently.” He glanced down at Luc, who was still wagging his tail enthusiastically. Then William said: “Lägg.”

Luc lowered himself without a doubt. “It looks like Luc doesn’t mind Swedish. But, uh, maybe he’s picky about who’s speaking it.”

Odette couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Honestly, this dog’s like a little Swedish nationalist. He was trained by his old owner in Swedish, so now, whenever I try speaking to him in English, he just refuses to listen. It’s like he’s saying, ‘I may understand English, but I’m loyal to Swedish! You can’t just switch the language on me now!’”

William chuckled. “Sounds like he’s got a strong opinion on things. You might be right about the Swedish loyalty.”

Odette winced slightly as she realized how ridiculous she must have sounded, but William’s calm and collected nature was oddly reassuring. She’d been expecting him to be frustrated, maybe even angry, but instead, he seemed to take it all in stride.

“Well, I’ll let you get back to it,” William said after a moment, a knowing smile on his face. “But hey, if you need any help, I can teach you some Swedish commands. It’s not that hard, I promise.”

Odette felt a warmth spread through her chest at his easy offer, but quickly tried to brush it off. “I appreciate it,” she said, trying to sound casual. “I’m still getting used to the idea of learning a new language for dog training, though. But I’ll definitely take you up on it.”

Just as they were about to part ways, the door to William’s apartment opened slightly, and out trotted two dogs. They were medium-sized but not tiny—more like Luc’s size, and both were doodles, with curly coats and playful expressions. The dogs immediately took notice of Luc, and before Odette could stop him, Luc dashed toward them, tail wagging with excitement.

Banksy, the smaller of the two, yipped and quickly ran behind William’s legs, his eyes wide as Luc came barreling toward him. Pablo, the larger one, tried to stand his ground but wasn’t prepared for Luc’s energy. Luc skidded to a halt in front of Pablo, nearly knocking him over in his excitement.

“Whoa, easy!” William said, grabbing Luc’s collar before he could cause more chaos. “Pablo doesn’t like being knocked over by a giant husky.”

Pablo, who had barely stayed upright, gave a small bark before darting under the coffee table, clearly wanting nothing to do with Luc’s rambunctious playstyle. Banksy, still hiding behind William, barked again, trying to be brave but clearly outmatched by Luc’s energy.

Odette laughed despite herself, the sight of William managing the two dogs with such ease amusing her. “Looks like Luc has met his match,” she said, still chuckling as Luc whined at the coffee table, trying to figure out how to coax Pablo out.

William raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Yeah, I think Luc might need a little... doggie diplomacy here.”

Odette’s heart fluttered, feeling a little embarrassed but also strangely attracted to William’s calm demeanor in the middle of all the chaos. There was something about his easy confidence that was disarming.

“Well, I think we both know who’s in charge here,” she said, gesturing to Pablo and Banksy, who were both now safely hidden out of Luc’s reach.

William chuckled, giving Luc a final pat. “Just a matter of finding the balance.” He stepped back and gave Odette a reassuring smile. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to it. But if you ever need help with the dogs—or Swedish lessons—just knock.”

Odette smiled, trying to keep it casual, though she was feeling that flutter in her chest again. “Thanks, I’ll definitely take you up on that.”

William gave her one last smile and turned to go back into his apartment, Luc still happily wagging his tail, looking proud of himself for causing such a scene.

As Odette closed her door behind her, she let out a deep breath. She was grateful for William’s calmness, but something about his easy confidence kept her mind racing.

She glanced down at Luc, who had already curled up on his bed, as though nothing had happened. “At least you’re easy to please,” she muttered with a smile.

But as she walked toward the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water, something about William lingered in her mind. The way he carried himself, his relaxed demeanor, and even the playful way he interacted with his dogs—it all felt oddly familiar.

Odette leaned against the counter, her brow furrowing in thought. She was a hockey fan—always had been. Growing up in Montreal, she had cheered for the Canadiens with the fervor of any good Habs fan. Moving to Vancouver had shifted her allegiance somewhat, especially with Quinn Hughes playing such an integral role in her life. The Canucks had become her second team, though her loyalty to the Habs never truly wavered.

She tried to shake the thought, but something kept nagging at her. His name—William—and those icy blue eyes. She knew them from somewhere.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she grabbed her phone, typing "William Toronto hockey" into the search bar. Within seconds, the answer popped up, and her breath caught in her throat.

William Nylander. A star player for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

She stared at the image on her screen, her eyes darting between the photo and the memory of the man who had just offered to teach her Swedish commands for Luc. It was him. Of course it was.

Odette laughed, a mix of disbelief and amusement bubbling up. “Figures,” she muttered, shaking her head. “He’s a Maple Leaf.”

The Leafs had always been the team she loved to hate—the eternal rivals of her beloved Canadiens. And yet, here she was, living a few doors down from one of their star players.

She glanced back at Luc, who was snoozing contentedly on his bed. “Guess we’ll have to be on our best behavior now,” she teased, though the words were mostly for herself.

As she turned off the lights and headed to bed, her thoughts still raced. Life in Toronto was already proving to be full of surprises. And while she had no idea where this new chapter would take her, one thing was clear: her world just got a whole lot more interesting. ➵ Chapter 2

Author’s Note (a.k.a. My Excuse for Everything):

Hey there, lovely readers! First of all, THANK YOU for diving into this chapter—seriously, you’re the best. Now, a quick heads-up: English is not my first language, so if you spot a weird phrase or some rogue grammar, just smile and wave. I’m also a total newbie to Tumblr (what do all these buttons do??), so bear with me while I figure out how to make things look cool here.

This story idea hit me like a puck to the face after the Leafs’ recent performance left me crying into my snacks. To cheer myself up, I decided to channel my hockey emotions into this little brainchild and finally write down the story I’ve been daydreaming about for ages.

It’s going to be around 10 chapters long (unless I get carried away, which happens more than I’d like to admit), and I hope it makes you smile, swoon, or at least feel slightly entertained. Thanks for reading, and let’s see where this ride takes us! 🏒✨

P.S. If the Leafs are stressing you out too, welcome to the club. 💙

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chopinski-official · 7 months ago

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Chopin’s Wardrobe — What I Wore

Today I would like to share with you all the manner in which I dressed. It is interesting to see how fashions have changed over the course of 200 years. Some might say style has slipped… Anyway! Here are some details on my wardrobe:

My Suit

I liked to wear sober colours: black, mauve, blue… and especially grey. For instance, I once asked Julian Fontana to have made for me a pair of dark grey winter trousers, without a belt, which were smooth and stretchy.

Grey trousers, 1840.

At a concert in Glasgow, a pupil recalled that I had worn a pale grey suit. Which included a frock-coat of identical tint and texture.

(Left) Frock coat, 1840. (Right) Frock coat and trousers, 1852.

Under my suit, I would wear a modest waistcoat in a fabric such as a black velvet with a tiny inconspicuous pattern, something very quiet and elegant.

(Left) Provençal waistcoat with mauve silk seedlings, 1860. (Centre) Waistcoat with floral pattern, 1838. (Right) Striped waistcoat, 1850-70.

My preferred shirts were ones made of cambric or batiste fabric. They had small mother-of-pearl buttons, two breast-pockets, and could be bought for 14 francs.

For my cravat, I would wear muted colours during the day. Usually, I would tie it in a bow. However, when performing in a formal setting, I would wear a broad, white silk cravat.

Winter Clothes

To keep warm in the winter months, I wore a thick redingote or over-frock coat, as can be seen in this daguerreotype of myself from 1849.

(Left) Wool coat, 1840. (Centre) Winter costume. Paul Gavarni, 1846. (Right) Frock coat. Wool, trimmed with silk velvet. 1820-1830.

At one point, my sickness rendered me so sensitive to the cold that I wore three flannels under my trousers.

Underpants, mid-nineteenth century.

Accessories

Because I had small feet, I often found shoes uncomfortable. I mourned the day, Moos, my shoemaker died. No one made my shoes like him.

1840s men’s shoes.

On my head, I would always have my hair curled, and, when outdoors, I would wear a top hat. I bought my hats from Dupont’s because he made them lightweight. They were originally made of beaver felt but, by my later life, they were made of silk plush.

(Left) Top hat made of beaver felt, 1830s. (Right) Top hat made of silk plush, 1850.

My outfit was only complete with white gloves. Without them one would not be in good taste. Kid gloves were common, but I also liked wearing Swedish (suede) gloves. Always in white.

Evening gloves. 1848.

A pocket handkerchief was also a necessity.

Finally, I had a miniature pocket watch. According to one concert-goer, it was “In shape no bigger than an agate stone, on the forefinger of an alderman.”

Where did I shop?

I bought my top hats from Dupont’s at No 8, rue de Montblanc (the previous name for rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin). I lived on this street myself, both at No 5 (1833-36) and No 38 (1836-38).

(Left) 9, rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, the fabric shop across the street from the milliners, 1840s. (Right) Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, 1858-1878.

My shirts came from No 37 in the Palais Royal galleries, on the theatre side.

(Left) View of the Galerie d'Orléans in the Palais-Royal, 1838. (Right) Jardin du Palais Royal, 1840s.

The white suede gloves could be acquired from À la Corbeille de Fleurs, Houbigant’s shop at No 19, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

(Left) The corner of rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, 1820-1840. (Right) Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 1814-1885.

There were also many shops along the Grands Boulevards. This is where I got my trousers made by my tailor, Dautremont.

(Left) Boulevard de la Madeleine, 1799. (Right) Boulevard des Capucines, 1830.

Boulevard des Italiens, 1840s (left), 1835 (right).

So…

As you can see, in spite my reputation for being picky and perhaps… prissy, with regard to fashion and furniture, I was far from what was called a dandy. My dress was never over-the-top and nor did I put on the airs that were so pertinent to dandyism. My desire, if anything, was to be refined and respectable. Although, perhaps my efforts to do so were occasionally cause for frenzy or distraction.

#1830s #1840s #historical men's fashion #romantic era #frycek’s fashion tips #biography #frédéric chopin #fashion history

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cr-another-kingdom · 5 months ago

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Black Cherry Cookie

Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside—Black Cherry Cookie was baked with firm black cherries and a pinch of sugar, perhaps all the cherry pits shelled his outer wall to be colder? No matter, as the King of the Black Cherry Kingdom, he has a status to uphold—to be the Kingdoms protector and ruler. Many visit his Kingdom for the sights, or maybe just to learn about the culture, either way, when he watches someone leave with joy, he can't help but put on a small smile.

#cookie run oc #cookie run #cookie run kingdom #crk #marble cobbles observations #madeleines gallery #black cherry cookie

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bumijo · 2 months ago

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Madeleine Bowen ★

Skin Details

Presets

Ear preset | Nose preset | Lip preset | Body preset

Hair, Eyebrows, etc

Hair | Hair overlay | Hairline | Eyebrows #54 | Eyelashes N4

Makeup

Eyeliner | Highlighter #14 | Lipstick

Outfit

My sims are available on my gallery ID: bumi_jo

Massive Thank you to all the cc creators ♥ ♡

#the sims 4 #ts4 #ts4 simblr #sims 4 cc #ts4 custom content #ts4cas #ts4ccfinds #the sims 4 cc #sims4 #sims community #showusyoursims #mysims #ts4cc #ts4 lookbook #ts4 cc finds #ts4 cas

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thegoldensanctuary · 4 months ago

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Part II : The Room Where The King Dresses(Part 2 A : architecture and overdoor paintings)

2.1 The Architecture of the room

In the end Mansart settled for composite pilasters pilasters for the central salon(fig11),and Corinthian ones for the attic, as a way of remaining consistent with the spirit of the Grand Gallery. The style of the western wall with its three archways giving access to the Gallery was mirrored on the eastern(the one on the cour de marbre side), which unlike its western counterpart is still visible to this very day(fig12).

Fig 11 : Western wall of the central salon, before 1701, AN O1/1768-A fol. 2

Fig 12: Eastern Wall of the King Bedchamber today, Goole Maps.

While planned as a common room linking the Gallery to both the King and Queen apartment, the premature death of the Queen in 1683(before the completion of the construction), meant that from the very beginning its status would change. Indeed, upon reentering Versailles and rediscovering the palace with its brand-new Gallery, and new rooms, the King decided to annex to his apartment the rooms with view on the Cour de marble, which were originally destined to be part of the apartment of his defunct spouse. He chose the room next door as his new bedchamber(fig13), which soon became too narrow for the increasing number of courtesans attending the morning dress up ceremony. The central salon therefore became the room in which the King is dressed.

At that point there was no plan to turn the salon into a bedchamber, despite its central position behind the Cour de Marbre Avant corps, there was no room left to create an alcove, indeed the western wall had three archways linking it to the Gallery, similar to the eastern wall but with 3 windows instead and, the northern and southern walls on the other hand had two doors each as part of the enfilade.

Fig 13: Blueprint of the first Floor of the central wing, 1687-92 , with the King’s Bedchamber (before 1701) in green, BnF VA-448 (B)-FT 6, IFN-53128547

2.2 The paintings

The list of the paintings present in the room is given by various contemporary authors[7], as well as Painting inventories[8]. The layout of said painting partly known thanks to several elevations and blueprints[9], with 9 attic paintings with three frames on each of the attic walls except the eastern one, four paintings in the frames at the center of each of the four overdoors, and two large paintings at the center of the northern and southern wall respectively. Piganiol de la Force in his 1701 edition of the Nouvelle descriptions des Chasteaux de Versailles et de Marly provides lists the following paintings[10]:

Portrait the marquis of Ayton

Fig 14 Van Dyck, François de Moncade marquis d’Ayton, , 76,3 x 65,3 cm, Château de Versailles, MV 7315

The portrait the marquis of Ayton by Van Dyck(fig14), depicting Francisco de Moncada y Moncada, a Spanish general and diplomat, it was purchased from the Jabach collection by King Louis XIV in 1671[11]. The portrait in question is a reduction based on a larger equestrian portrait by same artist dated from 1634[12] (fig 15). Piganiol paces it right in from of the Van Dyke self portrait.

Fig 15 : Van Dyck Francisco de Moncada, III marqués de Aytona, 305,2 x 240,3 cm, Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia, Inv :494

Van Dyke’s Self-portrait

Fig 16 : Van Dyck by himself 76,5 x 65,5 cm Château de Versailles, MV 7316

Portrait of Van Dyck by himself(fig 16), painted around 1630, it was acquired by King Louis XIV from the Jabach collection in 1671[13].Pignatol places the portrait above the door at the entrance of the appartement which at that time would have meant the northern wall on the enfilade side, which puts the marquis of Ayton portrait above the door on the southern wall just in front.

Saint Magdalene

Fig 17: Domenico Zampieri, dit le Dominiquin, Sainte Madeleine 76,5 x 66,5 cm Château de Versailles, MV 8377

Saint Magdalene by Domenichino(fig 17), the origins of this painting aren’t that well known. A similar painting superior in quality exists at the Pitti Palace(fig 18). Pignatol places the painting above one of the fake doors.

Fig 18 : Domenichino Saint Magdalene, Palazzo Pitti

Saint John the Baptist

Fig 19 : Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (dit il Battistello) ,Saint Jean-Baptiste 80,5 x 63,2 cm Château de Versailles, MV 8326

Saint John the Baptist attributed to Battistello(fig 19); it was acquired from the Jabach collections by King Louis XIV in 1662[14]. Pignatol attributes the painting to Caravaggio, that attribution changed to Valentin and later to Battistello[15]. Pignatol locates right in front of the Saint Magdalene painting above one of the fake doors.

[7] Felibien,Description sommaire de Versailles ancienne et nouvelle . Avec des figures, 1703, p.344-345 ;Pignatol de La Force, Nouvelle Description des Chasteaux et Parcs de Versailles et de Marly, 1701, p.120-122

[8] AN O1/1964

[9] Three of the attic paintings on the northern wall can be seen on an elevation attributed to Blondel dated 1735, BnF,Ms FT 6-VA-448 (B);

[10] Pignatol de La Force, Nouvelle Description des Chasteaux et Parcs de Versailles et de Marly 1701, p.120-122

[11] Arnauld Brejon de Lavergnée ,L'inventaire Le Brun de 1683 : la collection des tableaux de Louis XIV, 1987,number 320 of Le Brun’s inventory.

[12] Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia, Inv :494

[13] number 229 of Le Brun’s inventory, see note 11.

[14] number 59 of Le Brun’s inventory, ibid

[15] Betatrice Sarrazin, Chefs-d’oeuvre de la chambre du Roi, 2022, p. 25

#history #historical research #historical #versailles #palace of versailles

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the-sum-of-many-poets · 12 days ago

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care label

he’s holding a boutique drink

made with pine bark extract

for brain clarity

great power bestows to those who hold it

the label shines like a latin motto

all the mothers of vinegar are turning in their graves

he cracks a rodent’s neck

opening the lid comes with its own subtext

a fermented recipe hisses from the bohai sea

oh bewildered sun

the clouds are lanterns waiting to burn

dawn is a wasted redux

we tilt to the satellites

drown them in white noise

then there’s the sigh

all living things have their own version of it

we unfold arms

some to embrace

some to break

a butcher bird speaks

from the root

of the tooth

of the word

monere

for the ghost of the moment

his arm is a mercurial coastline

paper boats have drowned on this impasse

& yet

palm trees

lanky friends that they are

bow down to blonde surfers

flaunting the nepotism of poseidon

this deep fried town

its gallery of faded ice creams

a tidy town to ease its self loathing

her name means hope

amal

the sun is there

such as it is

to ruin or gild

it tells a story of loneliness

a sermon to no one

of feeding humanity through a crack in the wall

salsify

waist high in the reckless wind

tuba down amongst the isms

runs a milk tear

falls on her shoulder

a goatsbeard mantilla

he removes his luxury knit

washes it with his bloody knuckle

hemlock tea & madeleines

a gossamer forest of aryan hairs

he fashions the flag into a cape

& makes it his patriotic screensaver

they’re rebranding snake oil again

please

make great

uncritical rah rah

for the house of mace

kin to kin

crow to murdering leaf

woven into wilds

woven into jawbone crowns

do not lynch

lie flat in the shade

the sun briefly hides behind a cool green elegy

they come with a call of blades

the necromancer

it writes with a left hand

tie it to a drowning stone

the withering sparrow will sing a hijacking song

into the tawny owl’s flooded eye

#writerscreed #spilled ink #rejectscorner #alt lit #free verse #poetry #twc #inkskinned #inkstay #poets on tumblr

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believing-is-seeing · 2 years ago

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Open Gallery Night

at the Cathedral of the Madeleine

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

February 2023

#utah #salt lake city #salt lake city utah #short clip #organ #open Gallery Night #Cathedral of the Madeleine #february 2023

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afanofmanyth1ngs · 5 months ago

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Yellowjackets/IWTV Fanfic

So, about a week ago I put out a poll about doing a weird IWTV fanfic that's basically set in the Yellowjackets verse... And now I'm doing it... YAY!! but I do just want to come on here to basically throw around some things I'm going to do :P So this is going to be where I update people and just basically talk about how I'm going to do this, what my schedule is going to look like, things I need opinions on. This is more so a motivation thing so IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please please please comment and follow along. I lose motivation quickly, but this is something I'm pretty dedicated to. but either way THIS IS HAPPENING.

______________________________________________________________

First things first. YES I have started working on it. Im not even close to finished with the first chapter because each chapter is going to be LONG. This is not going to be everything that happens in Yellowjackets happens in here, and not even close. Even as I started it... I will sometimes use direct quotes, but thats only if im stuck and cant figure out what im doing.

NEXT as I said this is not going to be yellowjackets word for word, but I will be using each episode as a starting point. scenes might mirror each other, and I will cut between scenes as they do in the show.

Some things that are automatically going to be different from Yellowjackets:

They will not be on a Sports team of any sorts. The one thing each character has in common, is that they all are passionate about one or more forms of art (ex: Louis: Photography - Lestat: Acting - Madeleine - Sewing and dress making and altering (not the right words sorry lol)) SO im having them go to an art school :P little bit of a long shot but not only is it just convinent for me because of all the art forms they like, but also I think it would be kind of cool for just normal (LMAO) IWTV kids who have never touched a sport in their lives to now have to like hunt and stuff... kind of Lord of the Flies with half of the kids being CHOIR KIDS core.

Theyre all gonna be in High school. i was like well im not aging them up cause what fun would that be, so lets just age them down and keep a whole bunch of that trauma and see what happens... and im not super far into the writing process but its working rn!!

Theyre crashing in the Alps. I have zero knowlege of the Alps whatso ever BUT i know i went over them when i flew to Italy so Im having them go to the Uffizi Galleries!!! and then BAM Alps. so get ready for some major inaccuratcies about that cause im gonna make them how they are in Yellowjackets... just in like Italy. Maybe I'll reasearch a bit more... dw about it its ok :D

As I said before each chapter is going to be LONG. so rn I have around 4ish scenes (ones not finished yet) and by the time I'm finished with those and edit it's going to be close to around 4,000 words I'm estimating... that's 4,000 words for not even a quarter of THE KIDS STORY LINE. on that topic, because each chapter is going to be so incredibly long, I've decided to split each chapter in about half. I was originally planning to do one chapter = one episode of yellowjackets but again it's going to be WAY too long, so kids' storyline, adult story line. I like that a lot too because a big pet peeve of mine is in stories where it keeps switching through times and then i get so lost and have to reread like 10 times to understand... LIKE PLEASE JUST SPLIT IT INTO A FEW CHAPTERS SO IM NOT CONFUSED

Last thing! Most of each character's backstory IS WORKED IN... so for example (A HUGE example) is for at least the first few chapters Armand will be called and referred to as Amadeo. Marius is his adoptive father who rescued him from some sex trafficking scandal or something and renamed him, before he eventually changes his name to Armand while out in the mountains. So, like obviously he's not going to get the name Armand from Santino, but you know... working in what I can :P

OK ACTUALLY LAST LAST THING: I don't know when this will come out... I have a deadline for myself and I'm certain I will get to it, HOWEVER I do not have access to the other Yellowjackets episodes, which is pretty crucial if I want to get into a schedule of posting each week regularly. As of right now I am hoping to get the first chapter out on October 3rd... Yellowjackets will be accessible to me AND then I'll be able to post a chapter on Halloween... YAY!! if that does not work out because the following chapters are taking too long and I release before I can make sure the Schedule is set, it will most likely be one of the Thursdays in October because I REALLY want to get one out on Halloween!!

OK!! hope you guys liked my little rant!! I'll keep everyone who's interested updated on here so if you want to be in the loop follow me (or don't! if you don't you can just check my page!) and again comments motivate me, so if you have any questions or just think it's a cool idea let me know!

#interview with the vampire #iwtv #armand #daniel molloy #lestat de lioncourt #amc iwtv #iwtv fanfiction #yellowjackets fanfic #yellowjackets #louis de pointe du lac #the vampire claudia #assad zaman #ao3 writer

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