#palace of fine arts engagement session | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tossawary · 4 years ago

Text

Chapter 28: “A Growing Family” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” quotes and commentary. Not a full list of favorite quotes or full commentary.

The fact that Shen Qingqiu is waiting for them, just outside of Yue Qingyuan’s office, really doesn’t help the dread that Shang Qinghua is feeling here.

A stocky young woman is standing attentively beside the seated Peak Lord. This is that Fu Qiang character, one of Binghe’s favorite shijies on Qing Jing Peak, here to whisk Peerless Cucumber away for a one-to-one chat on the other transmigrator’s potential relationship to the House of Rejuvenation. Or maybe to give the kid a tutoring session on recovering memories from trauma or something! Shang Qinghua doesn’t know exactly, not having been invited to sit in.

“Shidi,” Shen Qingqiu greets coolly.

“Greetings, Shen-Shixiong,” Shang Qinghua returns, feeling sweaty already, but also weirdly giddy. He’s tempted to wink, but he’s pretty sure that would get him killed. “How are you? You look very well! Aha, how did those ‘other engagements’ go the other day? Meet with anyone? Have a good time?”

Over the top of his elegant fan, Shen Qingqiu immediately gives him a look that could probably kill a lesser man - or maybe a greater one, like someone who has more dignity and shame and whatever than Shang Qinghua does. Shang Qinghua doesn’t flinch. He assumes that the meeting with Yue Qingyuan went well! Which is great! Super great! If it had gone badly, he’s pretty sure that Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t even be setting foot on Qiong Ding Peak now - or at least would have been projecting “I’ll kill to get out of here and I’m mentally picking all my victims” hard enough to send all the Qiong Ding Peak disciples and cultivators off like panicked chickens.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Shen Qingqiu says, downright frosty now. “Shang-Shidi must have been paying too much attention to nonsense gossip again.”

“Ah, of course! Of course! My mistake, Shen-Shixiong! Please forgive me!”

Shang Qinghua looks to his fellow transmigrator next, to reintroduce them, only to find Shen Yuan making a very strange expression. Shen Yuan is looking between Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu kind of like he’s never seen them before. His mouth is even a little open and everything. It takes the kid a few seconds to realize that he has two Peak Lords staring at him and to swallow the strange expression.

AN: Shen Yuan knows that 1) SQQ came to meet SQH personally immediately after their mission was over, 2) SQH stayed in bed the following day for a LONG time, and 3) SQH had a hickey on his neck.

So when Shang Qinghua makes a reference to the meeting that SQQ had with Yue Qingyuan, almost flirtatiously asking if Shen Qingqiu “met with anyone” and “had a good time”, Shen Yuan is going to draw his own conclusions.

Namely, that Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu might be sleeping together.

After all, Shen Yuan doesn’t know about the YQY and SQQ backstory! Shen Yuan only knows that Shang Qinghua is weirdly friendly with PIDW’s most famous scum villain and that Shen Qingqiu apparently likes SQH enough not to be an asshole to Luo Binghe. Shang Qinghua kind of talks like they’re friend, so what if they’re... more than friends?!

Meanwhile, Shang Qinghua cannot fathom anyone EVER considering that he and SHEN QINGQIU might be lovers. It’s not an idea that he is in a position to have because what the fuck?!

I was tickled pink when I realized that things were in position to have the disciples think that Shangjiu is a thing. I was already planning on having them notice Shang Qinghua’s brand-new-relationship good mood. Shen Yuan may not notice when people are in love with HIM, but he did still read a twenty-million-word stallion web-novel, so he’s totally prepared to assume that secret affairs are happening for OTHER PEOPLE.

His fellow transmigrator hastily performs the appropriate greeting. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t reply beyond inclining his head, instead sweeping his eyes over Shen Yuan, who stands hilariously still like he’s facing down a predator, except for how the kid squints back a little at the Lord of Qing Jing Peak. Ha! That’s pretty fearless coming from someone still so unnerved by the man who would have Proud Immortal Demon Way’s most famous scum villain.

“Fu Qiang,” Shen Qingqiu says finally. “I have instructed Assistant Ma to set aside a private room for your discussion. You may take Disciple Shen there now.”

“Yes, Shizun.”

The other disciple gestures for Shen Yuan to follow and the other transmigrator hastily takes her up on that. As the disciples disappear, Shen Qingqiu rises and, without a word, leads Shang Qinghua into Yue Qingyuan’s office.

AN: It’s tempting to try and make Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan actually develop more of a relationship than “passing acquaintance”, but the thing is that I can’t see either of them really going for it without being forced or without a very serious push. They’re both so prickly.

Yue Qingyuan greets him in a friendly manner, like he’s genuinely pleased to see Shang Qinghua and happy to help. Shang Qinghua greets the man in the same way. It’s nice! It also kind of feels like they’re both pretending the past few months of awkwardness, resentment, and avoidance never happened.

AN: It felt a little more true to life and to the characters to have Shang Qinghua and Yue Qingyuan just... move forward instead of getting into their issues with each other and what apologies may be due.

It’s kind of like a mutual: “What if we didn’t talk about it?”

And they’re both like, “Oh, thank fuck.”

I think that if they both brew on it a bit more, they may eventually decide to try to assuage their respective anger or guilt by saying something, but right now they’re feeling raw and/or embarrassed, and don’t want to accidentally get into it again. So they’ll talk about work! They always have work to talk about! Work is more important than personal matters, so they’re just going to pretend everything is fine!

It’s not just the System who won’t let the Immortal Alliance Conference not happen! But, ahhh, Shang Qinghua can still dream of them actually managing to convince Zhao Hua Temple Sect and everyone else to call the whole thing off. He can dream!

Yue Qingyuan has this pained expression that says, “You’re not wrong, but I wish you were.” This guy knows what Shang Qinghua is talking about!

Shen Qingqiu has this expression that says something like, “I can only critique the accuracy of your assessment on the grounds that you may be giving our fellow cultivators too much credit in terms of common sense and cooperation. This annoys me immensely.”

“You have put a great deal of thought into this,” Yue Qingyuan says finally. “You received this news… when exactly… again?”

“Ah, yesterday morning?” Shang Qinghua answers.

“While in bed with a demon lord,” he doesn’t elaborate. Nope! Not elaborating!

“I know it’s not- I’ll try to get more information, but everyone is still in the planning stages, and it’s not easy getting any information!” Shang Qinghua says defensively. “But, even with that, I thought, ‘Ah, my shixiongs will probably want to know right away!’ Someone will need to tell Zhao Hua to take precautions, at least?”

Yue Qingyuan visibly regathers himself and says, “It is better to know these things as soon as possible. Thank you, Qinghua, for this forewarning.”

“He’s very good at knowing these things,” Shen Qingqiu agrees, but the man’s gaze is like a very sharp pin and Shang Qinghua is but a lowly insect under it. “When might you be expected to know more about this?”

“Ah, I’ll have to get in contact with… ah, some people I know.”

AN: Of course YQY and SQQ want to know more about where SQH is getting this information, but for all they know he might just have gotten a tip-off from one of his merchant contacts or someone in the black market. This has been brewing for a while between these demon lords and the cultivation sects. It’s really bad news, but it’s also not really that surprising.

According to the Airplane Extras, when MBJ and SQH meet, Airplane offhandedly mentions that Mobei-Jun’s clan and Huan Hua Palace Sect have a serious grudge from a conflict at a previous Immortal Alliance Conference. In PINTWILF, this conference is why the IACs got cancelled and had to be recently “revived”. The coming IAC is the 3rd since this revival.

Shang Qinghua has proven himself reliable enough by this point that YQY and SQQ will let him keep his informants close to his chest. Between SQH’s years of improved services (helped by actually getting his personal disciples to help him) and SQH’s interference in their personal issues, they do actually trust him.

So, yeah, they think he’s a squirmy little rat man.

But he’s THEIR squirmy little rat man who has come through in times of need. Also, SQQ, for all his glaring, might stab YQY if he started giving SQH a hard time about this. Sometimes a shidi just wants you to back the fuck off, YQY! Let him have his secrets! Even though SQQ absolutely wants to know SQH’s secrets and is on the verge of dying of curiosity.

I am VERY MUCH looking forward to them finding out that Shang Qinghua has a demon prince for a boyfriend. That’s going to be fun.

“I have also been… considering the advantages of lessons and between Peaks to encourage both cooperation and… survival skills,” Shen Qingqiu says next. “Rarely does one become a master of all disciplines - the Twelve Peaks allow for many of our sect to become specialists, masters of one art - but it seems unwise not to be learned in the basics of as many life-saving arts as one is able.”

“A diversity of learning can be very beneficial,” Yue Qingyuan agrees immediately.

“My disciple, Fu Qiang, has become a very adept medic over the years, though this was in the hopes of avoiding visiting Qian Cao Peak. The head disciples of An Ding, as I understand it, have sought to take special lessons from Qian Cao and Xian Shu to improve themselves."

“Ah, that explains how Hongpeng spied on Peerless Cucumber back when the little bro was still in Mu Qingfang’s clutches,” Shang Qinghua thinks. “And, ah, Shen Bro, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Wenjiao goes to Xian Shu Peak mostly to moon over pretty girls, especially my little sister-in-law.”

"There is also the example of Qi-Shimei’s most frustrating disciple, who must be routinely dragged away from Bai Zhan, but who has also apparently helped to improve her fellow Xian Shu disciples’ martial abilities.”

"Ah, that's one of putting Qi Qingqi letting Luo Fanli and Liu Mingyan fight each other in order to hopefully wear them both out," Shang Qinghua thinks.

“Even if demons should not attack, though only a limited number of our disciples will be attending the Immortal Alliance Conference, it would nevertheless be beneficial to ensure that all disciples across the sect are well-equipped to keep themselves alive until the specialists arrive,” Shen Qingqiu finishes. “Shang-Shidi, as one of the most well-connected leading members of our sect, the organization of such an initiative would be best left in your hands.”

AN: Okay, so I know that this is kind of a weird thing to be coming from Shen Qingqiu, but he’s grown a bit over the course of this fic! AND he’s totally coming at it from the perspective of: “I don’t have to cooperate or get along with anyone beyond what I’m doing now.”

So SQQ is like, “My disciples are stupid. We should have more field medics.”

And he’s like, “Some people’s disciples can’t fight for shit and we should make sure they know more self-defense.”

And he’s like, “Liu Qingge’s disciples are animals. Someone at least teach them how to protect other disciples and how to not bleed to death, because he won’t. That man doesn’t teach them anything.”

And he’s like, “Shang Qinghua, you do that. I don’t want to.”

Peerless Cucumber’s conversation with Shen Qingqiu’s disciple is long over, but apparently his fellow transmigrator didn’t just leave afterwards. Yue Qingyuan’s youngest assistant intercepts to politely point Shang Qinghua towards their waiting room. Shen Yuan is asleep in a chair, with one of his cultivation manuals open in his lap. Judging by his pose, Shang Qinghua is going to guess that the kid was trying some kind of meditation and ended up taking a nap by accident.

It happens to the best of them sometimes! Or at least to Shang Qinghua!

“Ah, I told you not to wait on me. Come on, bro, I don’t want to have to carry you back,” Shang Qinghua says, while jostling the kid awake. “You’re too big for that. My nephew is too big for that these days. Just because it would be nostalgic for me and just because I can doesn’t mean that I want to be carrying you around like a sack of vegetables.”

AN: If Shang Qinghua can haul Mobei-Jun around, then he could pick up Shen Yuan no problem. Also, this is the bit where I was like, “Wow, I have very much made SQH into SY’s dad here.”

Even SVSSS SQH gives me Uncle Vibes, to be honest. The man wants to pop into Bingqiu’s life, ask some nosy questions, be treated to a free meal (who doesn’t), tell some bad jokes, offer some terrible advice, complain about his workload, and then flounce off again with his boyfriend. SVSSS SQH seems to like being useful and appreciated and part of the group, but in a way where he’s not directly attached to anyone, you know? Give SVSSS SQH the benefits, but none of the responsibilities!

Shang Qinghua is kind of sick of this roundabout conversation and decides to bring out the big guns: a move taught to him by his extremely powerful sister-in-law, who has effortlessly defeated their resident War God. He knows the effectiveness of this technique personally, because Luo Jiahui has used it to defeat him many times. He puts on the best concerned face he has.

“Yuan,” he says seriously, looking the kid directly in the eye. “I’m not making jokes here about not skipping out on cultivating. It’s not always going to be fun - a lot of the time, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing and a little painful. Bro, I was an adult stuck in a teenage body, regularly getting my ass handed to me by actual teenagers. That was awful. But I really need you to keep doing it, even if you don’t become the next War God ready to challenge the protagonist, because I don’t want you to die. This shitty world isn’t safe. And if you want to be involved in these missions, then I need you to be able to carry yourself, or we’re both going to get trampled by some OP monster wandering out of an advanced chapter early instead of fixing anything here.”

Shen Yuan is having difficulty meeting his eyes. He keeps trying to force himself to look at Shang Qinghua and then looking away again automatically.

Shang Qinghua employs another of his sister-in-law’s immensely powerful techniques: he reaches out and puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “I will tell you stuff when I have stuff to tell you and when I can tell it to you. You’ve been super helpful, I’m going to need your help in the future, but I need you to be a little patient right now too.”

Shen Yuan nods. “...Fine.”

AN: Shang Qinghua: “I can’t believe that I’m tricking this person into thinking I’m a good person by being nice to them and looking after them and doing good things. I have learned this behavior for TRICKING PURPOSES only and have NOT accidentally adopted yet another kid.”

Shang Qinghua can’t answer the question right now! Leave a message!

He’s too busy replaying all the times he’s seen his nephew and his fellow transmigrator interact. Binghe did ask after Shen Yuan every time that he and Shang Qinghua talked, while the other transmigrator was on Qian Cao and after he came to An Ding, but… Shang Qinghua just thought his nephew was being polite and curious? Peerless Cucumber stands out! Binghe didn’t act too weirdly about it!

Luo Binghe is supposed to be a stallion protagonist with 600 wives!

Although… Shang Qinghua’s nephew has never really shown any interest in that kind of thing. Which Shang Qinghua has been pretty glad about! He doesn’t want to have 600 nieces-in-law! He also doesn’t want that for his nephew!

The protagonist of Proud Immortal Demon Way ’s harem was basically a snake pit of drama and desperation and decaying fantasies. For everyone who could read between the lines of empty papapa to see Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky’s tragic story of resentment and revenge, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say the tyrannical, broken protagonist was like a black hole, dragging everyone else into orbit around this man who couldn’t really love anyone! You can take a blackened protagonist out of the Eternal Abyss, but you can’t take that abyss out of the blackened protagonist, right?

The original Luo Binghe didn’t take wives because he was in love. He took wives because he could! Because they were beautiful or powerful or useful! Because he pitied them! Because he liked being their savior! Because he didn't want anyone else to have them! Because he liked being an object of envy and desire and love! Because it was expected of him, as the man all the readers wanted to be, who was supposed to have everything a man could ever want!

“...Ah, there are… some implications there,” Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky realizes, remembering just how half-hearted most of that harem bullshit was. “Maybe a bent man wrote a kind of bent protagonist by accident? Who knows?”

“Da-Ge?” Fanli says. “Da-Ge, didn’t you know?”

AN: I’ve said this before, but there’s a meta argument to be made in regards to Luo Binghe and obligatory heterosexuality.

Also, from what I remember, Airplane didn’t actually seem to care too much about Luo Binghe being interested in Shen Yuan. In the Airplane Extras, Airplane says that in the original version of PIDW that he never got to write, Luo Binghe actually ended up totally alone at the end of the story. He was apparently planning a pretty downer ending for Luo Binghe. But Luo Binghe ended up getting a huge harem instead because that’s what the readers wanted!

So, my impression is, that when SVSSS Airplane first realizes that LBH is into men (and into SQQ specifically), he does a little bit of self-reflection and also reflection on PIDW, then just goes, “Huh. That makes... sense.”

“Though, aha, I can’t remember Shen-Shixiong ever really not being kind of angry at me and I’m not dead yet. I had to talk really fast sometimes, but I lived! Now go away.”

When Shang Qinghua looks up, all of his disciples are staring at him. They all look surprised, except for Shen Yuan, who looks embarrassed. Shang Qinghua would guess that someone cracked a dirty joke, but that doesn’t seem right.

"What?"

“...Shifu, how long have you known Shen-Shibo?” Chen Xuan asks.

“Since we were disciples? Ah, I think he hated me at first sight.”

“But you’re close now?” Lin Wenjiao blurts out.

“Closer, ” Shang Qinghua agrees warily. “Aha, don’t think that any of you can ask me for favors to do with Shen Qingqiu or Qing Jing Peak too! That’s not happening! Disciple Luo, Shen, get out of here before you give my disciples any more weird ideas.”

AN: Okay, so what happened is that as soon as Luo Fanli and Shang Qinghua left the room, Shen Yuan was like, “...Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu are... very close? Are they...?”

And SQH’s disciples are like, “Holy shit, are you asking if SQH and SQQ are romantically involved?!” And SQH’s disciples laugh in SY’s face because that’s RIDICULOUS. Which makes SY really embarrassed and defensive! SQH’s disciples ask why he would EVER think a thing like that.

SY provides the evidence. It’s a reasonable conclusion!

And then SQH’s disciples are like, “...Holy shit?!”

And then SY is like, “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.”

But it’s too late. SQH’s disciples are already putting all the evidence together and there is SO MUCH EVIDENCE of something going on there.

I know I refer to this ship as “Shangjiu”, but that’s mostly just to specify which Shen Qingqiu and I doubt that anyone in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect dares to call SQQ “Jiu” besides YQY. They’d probably actually end up calling it something along the lines of “The Premise” like original Star Trek: The Original Series Kirk/Spock shippers. (See Fanlore or something for more info on that.)

Again, SQH cannot... CONCEIVE of them conceiving this idea.

By the time that Mobei-Jun shows up at his Leisure House, Shang Qinghua is a little on the edge! Honestly, he’s kind of off the edge, dangling from a very thin branch just underneath the cliff’s edge, and that thin branch is making some very concerning noises! Sure, at least the demon lord isn’t late, but Shang Qinghua is suddenly reminded of just how intimidating Mobei-Jun looks! Also, he’s cleaned up his house and knows his sister-in-law knows he’s kind of a slob sometimes, but he’s so sure that she’s still going to judge his cleaning job! What if she blames Mobei-Jun for it? (She’d be right to blame him a little! The man can be kind of lazy and messy sometimes too!)

A cool hand at Shang Qinghua’s hip prevents him from walking around in circles, repositioning disobedient cushions and offending tables. Shang Qinghua looks up at Mobei-Jun, who moves his hand to where Shang Qinghua’s neck meets shoulder.

“Stop it,” Mobei-Jun says.

AN: It’s really funny thinking about how all of Mobei-Jun’s gentle and affectionate behaviors towards SQH are totally learned. This does not come naturally to the man. If SQH was having a panic attack, Mobei-Jun’s first (panicked) instinct would be to bark at him to stop it.

“It’s just… Jiahui is… it didn’t have to be this way for us? I would have just helped her get to safety and left her to live her life without me, but she didn’t let that happen, even though her family wasn’t any good either, so why would she want another one?” Shang Qinghua tries to explain. “She chose me? She looked out for me. She helped me understand a lot of things. Even though she probably could have picked anyone else. I don’t really know where I’d be right now if she didn’t? Ah, probably… not talking to or trusting anyone ever? You remember what things used to be like.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never really liked any of the sisters I’ve had before very much,” Shang Qinghua admits. “Ah, but they didn’t like me either, so it worked. Anyway! It’s… important to me that things work out now because…”

“I don’t want to choose,” Shang Qinghua doesn’t say.

He clears his throat instead.

“Qinghua.”

Shang Qinghua forces himself to look up from his hands on Mobei-Jun’s collar.

“I am glad that you were not without someone to trust,” Mobei-Jun says, though it sounds like it takes effort. “Your sister has nothing to fear from me.”

Mobei-Jun has already made this promise, but it’s good to hear it again.

“Thank you, my king. I’ll, ah- I should go get her now.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is jealous. He is very, VERY jealous.

BUT Mobei-Jun can also see some parallels here. Luo Jiahui is to Shang Qinghua in many ways what Shang Qinghua is to him. Mobei-Jun understands the importance of this relationship and of this person. He understands that Jiahui and SQH’s relationship is not romantic, of course, and understands her to be the “head of the family”, so he has to force himself not to act on his jealousy.

I think that a part of Mobei-Jun might see jealousy as something very negative? Thinking about what I said about Mobei-Jun’s hang-ups surrounding consent and possessiveness possibly originating with his father being a wife-stealer, Mobei-Jun can’t act on his jealousy for the same reasons that he needs Shang Qinghua to make the first explicit moves. He wants Shang Qinghua to choose him and to choose him of his own free will.

So, he’s jealous when he hears about how LJH chose SQH and SQH chose LJH, but he can’t act on it because 1) he loves SQH and 2) he’s (possibly unconsciously) terrified of becoming his father and creating resentment that will ripple out into his family potentially for generations.

It’s so, so weird to see his human sister-in-law sitting across from a demon lord. Luo Jiahui is not a tall woman and her cultivation is very good these days, but she’s not a warrior. Seeing the height and width differences side-by-side make them really obvious! Mobei-Jun is at least twice Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law’s size! He has to be easily twice her weight!

When Luo Jiahui puts food in front of Mobei-Jun, Shang Qinghua gets huge “I dare you to not eat my food” messages! It took a really long time before Mobei-Jun seemed to accept that Shang Qinghua really wouldn’t take every available opportunity to hand him poison. Thankfully, however, Mobei-Jun has eaten Luo Jiahui’s food before! Shang Qinghua has shared his sister-in-law's food with the demon lord! Shang Qinghua also communicated beforehand that Mobei-Jun has to eat the food. No matter what!

So, Mobei-Jun eats the food and Shang Qinghua breathes a sigh of relief. Mobei-Jun even goes so far as to tell Luo Jiahui that she’s a good cook (above and beyond social interaction! Also delivered kind of awkwardly!), which his sister-in-law accepts with thanks (and also maybe just a little bit as her rightful due).

Luo Jiahui already knows the basics of Mobei-Jun: that he’s an ice demon, the son of the Northern Demon King, and he’s going to be the next Northern Demon King. She already knows that he’s a warrior and that his time is mostly spent tending to his duties, usually on his father’s behalf. She even knows that demon families can be kind of violently competitive and that Mobei-Jun’s family is no exception.

So, when she finally decides to speak seriously, she says, “My brother is very important to me. I have told him that if he is happy, then I’m happy for him. He has told me that you are very important to him.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is going to hold that revelation close to his chest for WEEKS. Shang Qinghua said that Mobei-Jun is very important to him!

Juggling the tension of this scene was weird.

Because, like, Mobei-Jun is not a kind or a gentle or a good person. He’s disdainful of humanity. It’s kind of a mindfuck for him to be having a meal with a strange human who is not of the things he has been raised to respect.

Meanwhile, Luo Jiahui is fucking terrified of Mobei-Jun, dislikes him, and doesn’t want to like him. He’s a stranger who could destroy her family. He looks kind of monstrous. He acts strangely.

But they HAVE TO BE CIVIL to each other for Shang Qinghua’s sake.

So they are.

Mobei-Jun tries not to make any scary moves around the soft human.

Luo Jiahui tries to act like MBJ is a normal person and to be polite.

They are both very out of their depth.

“...Shang Qinghua saved my life,” Mobei-Jun says, which is the first time he’s spoken without someone else speaking to him first. “Many times, he has done this.”

Luo Jiahui sets down her teacup, listening expectantly.

“Even when I did not trust him, and he did not trust me, Qinghua has always provided shelter and safety,” Mobei-Jun says slowly, solemnly. “Medicine, when I have been injured. Direction, when I have been lost. Company and loyalty. This is rare.”

“Yes,” Luo Jiahui agrees.

“The trust I have put in him has never been betrayed.”

Shang Qinghua kind of feels like he’s overheating here - like maybe his heart is melting! Mobei-Jun as a character has always prized loyalty above all! “I had no fucking clue,” he thinks. “Honestly, how the FUCK did I have no fucking clue?! Hindsight is incredible!”

“I would not betray him,” Mobei-Jun says, looking to Shang Qinghua directly. “My life has been his since the day we met.”

Shang Qinghua tries not to melt even more. Mobei-Jun is supposed to be an ice demon! What the hell is this?! It’s unfair! It’s embarrassing! It’s too much!

“...Good,” Luo Jiahui says, determinedly. “I’m happy to hear that. My hard-working brother needs someone to appreciate and cherish him.”

“Yes.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Humans use words. I need to use words. I need to be direct about this because humans are bad at understanding things.”

And Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh my, you are very intense. Okay.”

Mobei-Jun nods. “I did not think a human would ever care for a demon child.”

Luo Jiahui frowns a little. “Oh?”

“I admire this,” Mobei-Jun amends, frowning back. “I do not know how humans are raised. It is good that your child has never had to doubt his safety here.”

“...Of course.”

“It is clear that your child is loved beyond his bloodline.”

“Of course,” Luo Jiahui insists, with an offended note in her voice. “When I found Binghe in that river, I didn’t know he was part demon, but I would have taken him in anyway! Whoever the parent is, whatever the parent has done, it’s never the baby’s fault. Even if a parent has done something wrong, then babies shouldn’t suffer for it. All children should be cherished.”

Luo Jiahui’s voice breaks a little, her eyes turning wet. Shang Qinghua fumbles for a handkerchief to offer his sister-in-law, which she accepts gratefully.

He wonders if she’s thinking about her stillborn baby. She doesn’t talk about her other baby very often, but she does sometimes. She told him once that she observes that day. It’s something that she insists on doing alone.

“...I was left in the human world as a young child,” Mobei-Jun says.

Shang Qinghua’s head snaps up. He knows that, but that’s because he wrote that. He has never, ever heard Mobei-Jun talk about it before.

“Oh, no,” Luo Jiahui says.

“I was nearly killed by humans,” Mobei-Jun informs them.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Luo Jiahui says.

“It was my uncle’s doing. He wishes to see me dead.” Mobei-Jun says this like it’s just another fact of life, not even an upsetting one, which kind of makes it one of the saddest fucking things that Shang Qinghua has ever heard the man say.

“That’s terrible,” Luo Jiahui says vehemently. “How rotten.”

Mobei-Jun blinks at her. His expression is still solemn, but the pause seems surprised.

Shang Qinghua almost wants to shrug. Yep, his sister-in-law is just like this!

“I have promised Qinghua that I will protect your son,” Mobei-Jun says to her. “I make you the same promise now.”

“...Thank you.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “I understand you to be one of the rare humans who is not a piece of shit and who would have saved me as a child. I respect this. I don’t fucking understand it, but I understand you should be protected and that your child should be protected. I am doing this for Shang Qinghua and not because I have any personal issues surrounding the endangerment of demon children.”

Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh, he’s soft inside! He’ll protect my Binghe. Okay, I like him now. I didn’t want to, but anyone who basically professes to be willing to die for my child and my brother has my reluctant approval.”

Shang Qinghua can’t help it. The energy in here is so weird! He laughs.

“My king, have you had that all this time?”

Mobei-Jun doesn’t say anything, he just frowns.

“Clearly he was waiting to return it in person, Houhua,” Luo Jiahui admonishes. “It’s not his fault that you took so long introducing us or surely he would have returned it sooner. Don’t make it out to be impolite.”

Mobei-Jun gives Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law an approving look.

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Oh, she’s smarter than Qinghua. Good. (Not that my Shang Qinghua isn’t very clever, but he’s an idiot.)”

And sometimes it’s just nice to take a minute to sit back, relax, and see his disciples daring their shidi, his fellow transmigrator, to chug the spiciest soup on the menu.

“Ah, kids,” Shang Qinghua says to Luo Jiahui.

Luo Jiahui is making a very concerned expression as her sisters, Shang Qinghua’s head disciples, and even Liu Mingyan chant: “Chug! Chug! Chug!” Yeah, he should probably stop them! But why would he? If anyone throws up from this, he’ll just appear out of nowhere to scare the shit out of all of them and then make them clean it up. It’s fine. He says as much to Luo Jiahui.

“They’re old enough to know better,” she says, but she looks fond now. “Their shifu should have taught them better manners, hm?”

“Hey! Only… four of those are mine.”

AN: Friends for Shen Yuan! Friends for Shen Yuan!

Also SQH being like, “Oh, fuck, I really have too many kids.”

Luo Jiahui sighs wistfully. “It is nice having children in here again, even big ones who are supposed to be adults now. I’m so proud of how Binghe has grown, but I miss when he was little. I miss when I could pick him up and carry him around. Uncle Han’s daughter brought her new baby in yesterday. He was so cute!”

“Aha, don’t steal a baby to fill the empty nest, please!”

Luo Jiahui swats him. “I wouldn’t do something like that!” she insists, cheeks flushing pink.

AN: Baby?! Baby for Luo Jiahui and Liu Qingge?! Maybe!

#tossawary commentary #tossawary svsss #pride is not the word

64 notes · View notes

wordsturnintostories · 5 years ago

Photo

lullaby | part 2

greatest assets: sweet face, those lips, a(b)ss, velvet voice, that cocky grin (knows he can get anyone to kiss him and relishes in that knowledge), acting skills/ flirting skills, his charisma, his thighs, the poison vial in his sleeve, those dangling earrings that make your eyes catch and the hunt begin, his innocent laugh, his special lipstick (it will stun you quite literally), that one white pelt (it comes with a no shirt policy though), his entire wardrobe, words guilty pleasures: leaving hickeys on his victims, playing with their minds, teasing jungkook or others (by sitting on his lap or others’ laps), riding his motorcycle, leather pants and ripped jeans (cause he knows how good it looks), dancing at midnight, kissing yoongi (anywhere works), getting others flustered, luring people by dance (with either jungkook or hoseok dancing against him), acting dumb then outsmarting his snobby nothing-can-touch-me victims and seeing the moment of realization on their faces, flirting, taking care of his own little cat (it’s the sweetest thing on the planet) biggest fears: losing Taehyung (will go rampant if anything happens to the other 95 liner), looking in the mirror and not recognizing himself anymore, losing his family, messing up an important mission pet peeves: being underestimated (happens all the time because people think he’s Bangtan’s sexy escort but in reality, Jimin is very intelligent and a genius at reading people and social settings, can get anyone to do exactly what he wants, would probably even have the guards at Buckingham Palace escort him into the palace if he asked, plus he owns several businesses and handles management and staff very well), jokes about his height (he’s always got a nerve toxin or two up his sleeve)

caution: if he’s locking eyes with you, it’s too late and you’ll probably find yourself embraced on a sweet ride, perfectly molded to your desires, sugary or lush, velvety or primal, but in the end, the lips on your neck will devour the last push of breath out of your mouth and the last thing you’ll see will be a pair of thighs swaying off into the distance where your vision is foggy, accompanied by a sweet melodious giggle that drowns out everything; he’s never alone, always hanging off Jungkook’s, Namjoon’s or Yoongi’s arms to add to the illusion of fragility while he’s so powerful (loved) that just one word from him will set them into action; knows all the gossip; is highly skilled in martial arts and ready to engage even though he’s always in perfectly tailored or designer outfits; don’t kiss if he’s been overly sweet and charming with you, even if you’ve seen him kiss yoongi or jungkook before; he loves a good flirting session, so you’re fine there but don’t trust him with anything beyond that except if you are associated with Bangtan and know for sure that they won’t come after you

mafia!bts: prince of gwacheon | 2 | d-boy | 2 | jay | 2 | 148 | 2 | lullaby | 2 | viper | 2 | golden eye | 2

masterlist | moodboard masterlist tags: @xmagicxshopx, @taeshuworld, @justanemptydream, @hoodmeup, @gingerpeachtae

#park jimin #mafia!jimin #pjm #mafia!bangtan #bts moodboard #moodboard #lullaby #part two #yay #wordsturnintostories #oct27 #hmmm #he's dangerous #very dangerous #what do you think #jimin #oof this is so long #watch out #mafia!bts

29 notes · View notes

causinginvisibledamage · 6 years ago

Text

Book: The Royal Romance Pairing: Maxwell x MC (Riley) Word Count: 1900+ Summary: Riley is having a rough time, Maxwell is having feelings and doesn’t realize it. Cuddles ensue. Pure self-indulgent fluff at the beginning of Book 2. (AO3)

The days were winding down before Riley's return to court, and Maxwell was more optimistic than ever that she was going to blow them all away. Not that she hadn't done fantastically before! But, well, Bertrand admittedly had a point about the benefit a little preparation could grant. Now she would be returning with all the courtly weapons the brothers could think to arm her with; she knew all the formal dances, could avoid or defuse most international incidents over dinner or tea, and could consistently run 5K without stopping (though complaining as long as she had breath).

(He mostly ignored the complaints, as long as she kept responding to his post-run “same time tomorrow?” with a nod along with her eyeroll. Plus, now that he had a partner, his own time was down, so yay!)

By now they'd covered all the important bases and were starting to move on to more obscure ones. Today, Bertrand, in his infinite wisdom, had insisted on training Riley in the ancient art of fan language--just in case. Maxwell really couldn't see that one coming back into fashion, but once she'd gotten the hang of the basics, the two of them did have fun using it sneakily to mock Bertrand. The elder Beaumont had eventually caught on, but rather than being annoyed was strangely more pleased that the lesson had stuck.

Yep, she was doing great and soon would be heading back into the fray… And Maxwell was not at all disappointed at the thought that he'd soon have to be sharing her time with more than Bertrand. Because that would make him a big selfish jerk, which he wasn't.

Except maybe he was, because Maxwell was enjoying his days more consistently than he had in years. If the universe had played out fairly, she should be off in the palace with Liam, freshly engaged and ready to start the new life she had fully earned. But instead she was stuck here, with him. If he was being honest, it was just fun having Riley around. He genuinely liked spending time with her; someone who not only listened to his latest big ideas but tossed back ways to improve them, who threw two-person dance parties with him when they got bored, and deflected Bertrand’s ire when another of his inevitable screw ups came to light.

Tonight, Maxwell had been about to rewatch Return of Death Ghost’s Revenge for the hundredth time when he thought to ask if she might want to join him. Bertrand insisted his collection was frivolous and nothing but bad taste, but sometimes a guy just liked to shut his brain off and unwind. He hoped she would get that; months ago he wouldn’t have even tried, but she had a habit of surprising him.

But as he approached her door, he got a different kind of surprise. It uh. Kind of sounded like she was screaming from really far away?

His knock was erratic with mild panic. “Riley? Riley, are you okay???”

Pause.

“Come in.”

He started breathing again as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The lights were off, and it took a minute for him to make out where she was. She’d been lying facedown on the bed, but had her head raised up to look at him. “Hey Maxwell.” Her head dropped back to the comforter, where frustrated groaning resumed.

“So uhhh…” He approached hesitantly. “Is this about the napkins again? Because honestly, I'm with you. Whatever gets the job done should be fine.”

“Okay, seriously, if an alliance is fragile enough to be broken by one fold, then you've got bigger problems.” she huffed, then shook her head. “Wait, no, this isn't on Bertrand. I upset myself by being an idiot.”

He frowns. “You're not an idiot.”

“Sweet, but incorrect. what's the one thing I told myself I wasn't gonna do on my own? ” She turns to scowl at something; he follows her gaze to see that she'd flung her phone on the ground. “I looked at the news.”

He winces. “Oh. Oh no.”

“Yeah, I knew it was gonna upset me, and I did it anyway. I just wanted to know what's going on, you know?”

He does, and he knows what she must have seen. Trend had just published a profile on Madeline, showcasing all the things that made her a fantastic choice for queen, coupled with flowery prose over how happy she was “finding new love” with Liam.

Her huff of air was swallowed up by the fluffs of blanket.

He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Anything I can do?”

“Casually push Madeline off a cliff?”

“Okay, we’ll put that on the list, but anything short of murder?”

“Dang man, I thought we were friends.” He could hear the grin in her voice. But when she turned to look at him, it was gone, replaced by a thoughtful look. “Actually… you wanna cuddle?”

He blinked. “That… I… What?”

“Cuddle.” She looks uncertain. “Do… do you guys not do that here?”

“No we do! Probably.” His face didn't seem to know what expression to make. “Just uh. No one's ever asked me before.”

“What, really?” That got her sitting halfway up, leaning on her elbows to squint at him with a playfully dubious smile. “ Nobody's wanted to cuddle with Maxwell Beaumont? No way.”

He huffed, suddenly self-conscious. “Well, I mean. It’s not like--” he cut himself off. “I mean… Well, there was one girl once…” He thought back, considering. “It was nice!” Actually, now that he thought about it, he’d liked it more than the sex.

“Oh.” She looked like she actually might feel sorry for him, which just made him feel worse about the whole thing. You really didn't think cuddle experience was a thing that would come up in casual conversation.

How he felt must have shown on his face, because her expression quickly changed to something more encouraging. “Well, don't feel bad, I had to teach Hana too, so maybe it really is a commoner thing!” She looked towards the window, her smile fading. “I hope she's okay.” She picked at a thread on the comforter. “I miss her.”

“I do too,” he admitted with a frown. Hana leaving just wasn’t fair.

She gave him a grateful smile. Then she continued, “Look, forget it, you don't have to--”

He interrupted her by flopping onto the bed. “Let's do this!”

“Oh!” She blinked in surprise, and he was pleaded to see her familiar grin spread back across her face. “That's the spirit! Actually, maybe a little too much spirit for cuddling.”

“Right. Toning it down.”

“Alright, you get comfortable and I’ll work around you. I’m apparently the expert around these parts, after all,” she waggled her eyebrows at him teasingly.

He started out lying on his side looking at her.“Is this--?” He flipped to his back. “How do I--?”

“Here, put your arm out? No, uh. Heh. The one on my side.” Crap, he was not passing this class so far. He flushed slightly as he switched arms. That finally seemed to be right, as she crawled closer, lying her head on his offered arm, before gently placing her own across his chest.

She settled. In that moment, the only movement was their breathing.

“ ...Oh,” he said eloquently.

“Is this okay?” Her voice was soft. “I'm not crushing your arm?”

“No, yeah! This is…warm?”

She laughed. “Alright, good?”

“I mean, it's nice!” Tentatively, he placed a hand over her arm. “I feel like a teddy bear.”

Another chuckle. Maybe that wasn’t the right thing to say? But, perhaps sensing his unease, she squeezed him reassuringly and he relaxed.

Then, he heard her say, in a slightly embarrassed voice, “When I was younger, I had a teddy bear named Sir Fluff.”

Now he laughed, delighted with this new piece of information. “He sounds very brave.”

“He was!” He could tell from her voice that she was smiling again, which was good. “I actually had him for a good long while. He helped me through some rough nights. Very good listener. But…” her sigh tickled his neck. “I lost him moving apartments.”

“Oh no!” His heart gave a pang at the thought of the poor little guy, once so loyal, all lost and alone. “I hope he found a safe place.”

She chuckled. “Me too.”

He could feel her smile against his arm, the movement of her breathing. A sleepy contentment washed over him. His own breathing slowed. Man, is this what he’d been missing out on? The thought clicked that this was it, this was the feeling he’d been chasing, all those nights bar hopping, finding someone willing to be charmed long enough for a quick session back at their place. Just… warmth and comfort shared between two people who trusted each other.

Without thinking about it, he idly started stroking her back with the arm she was laying on. Riley responded with a sigh, leaning into his touch.

This……changed the mood of things. Maxwell tensed. ...Oh. …Oh no.

He shifted slightly, trying to get ahold of himself.

Alright Maxwell, this is our buddy Riley we're talking about. A friend! For friending! Just because she's funny and pretty and soft and actually laughs at your jokes is no reason to be weird about it. That's what friends do!

She shifted against him.

“Bertrand wanted me to tell you about tomorrow's lessons!” He burst out suddenly.

She jumped, a startled laugh escaping her. She moved a little back from him, which was. Good.

Ah yes, talking about Bertrand was the least sexy thing he could think of! He tried picturing Bertrand’s reaction if he caught Maxwell perving on their sponsored suitor. That was an instant bucket of cold water if there ever was one.

Tomorrow was due to be some sort of summary of international trade laws, but they soon made their way over to speculating just how many duels had been fought over proper spoon placement. They passed the sleepy evening that way, winding from topic to topic until he interrupted himself with a huge yawn in the middle of a story about the childhood snowball fight where he’d taken out Olivia and she’d retaliated by plunging him into a snowbank.

“Whoa, was that your jaw cracking? I felt that.”

He wiggled it experimentally, knocking against her head and making her giggle. “It's not the company boring me, I promise.”

“Well obviously. I am incredibly interesting.”

“Most interesting queen-to-be I've ever met.”

He felt her lips shift into a smile, but it was brief. “Thanks Maxwell. You… always have so much faith in me.”

“Well… of course. You can do anything.”

Silence fell between them.

Abruptly, Riley sat up. “Alright, it's getting pretty late. Off to bed with you, Lord Beaumont!”

He shivered involuntarily at the sudden retreat of her warmth. “Huh? Oh.” He yawned again, sitting up. “Hmm. This was nice.” He was quite sleepy.

“Yeah, it was!” Eyes still closed, he felt her ruffle his hair and smiled contentedly. “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime.” Her hand was gone and he was a little sad about that.

“Man, you really are a morning person, huh?” She sounded amused. “I'm the opposite, I'm wide awake now.”

“Bertrand’s like, both somehow.” He blinked at her slowly. “I kinda think he's a vampire.”

“How is he with garlic? Wait, no , you're not distracting me. You're about to fall asleep and I'm sure you'd much rather do it in your bed than on top of mine.”

In his sleepy honesty, he thought she might be wrong about that. But even though he let her shoo him back to his room then, she left him with a warm glow which stayed with him all the way into slumber.

#v writes things #the royal romance #maxwell beaumont #riley brooks

14 notes · View notes

dannydongphotography · 3 years ago

Photo

Love these romantic moments we captured for this gorgeous couple For their engagement photo session! Can’t wait for their beautiful wedding this year!! . . . . . Photographer @dannydong @juliadongphoto Makeup & hair @gracelinmakeup . . . . #engaged #engagement #engagementphotos #sanfranciscobrides #sanfranciscoengagement #sanfranciscoweddingphotographer #sanjoseweddingphotographer #palaceoffinearts #palaceoffineartsengagement #sanfranciscocouplesphotographer #sanfranciscoelopement (at Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbNvq92JiWL/?utm_medium=tumblr

#engaged #engagement #engagementphotos #sanfranciscobrides #sanfranciscoengagement #sanfranciscoweddingphotographer #sanjoseweddingphotographer #palaceoffinearts #palaceoffineartsengagement #sanfranciscocouplesphotographer #sanfranciscoelopement

0 notes

anothergracekellyblog · 7 years ago

Photo

PLAYBOY magazine, January 1966

- Interview with Princess Grace

Photos by Larry Fried (Taken in 1963 in Philadelphia.)

Click Keep reading for a full transcription of the original published interview.

PLAYBOY interview: Princess Grace - A Candid Conversation with the Regal Consort of Monaco’s Prince Rainier

Ten years ago, in an MGM picture called “The Swan,” Alec Guinness played the courtly prince of a fairy-tale kingdom who marries a beautiful commoner. Five days after its premiere, the movie's improbable cliché of the storyline was re-enacted in real life: Guinness costar, a cool, blue-eyed blonde named Grace Kelly, gave up her flourishing film career to become the consort of the absolute monarch of the principality of Monaco, a Graustarkian 390-acre realm half the size of New York's Central Park. Perched scenically on the Côte d'Azur between Nice and the Italian Riviera, bypassed by the tide of world events during most of its eight-century history, tiny Monaco - with its opulent Casino, emerald harbor and white beaches - had become in recent decades an elegantly antiquated playground for the diminishing ranks of international café society. But when Prince Rainier III announced his storybook betrothal to a regnant queen of Hollywood, the diminutive dominion found itself basking suddenly in the unfamiliar glare of worldwide publicity. Its huge palace, once described by Alfred Hitchcock as “a run-down post office,” was redecorated for the royal wedding; the pitted streets of Monte Carlo were patched and festooned with bunting; and hundreds of newsmen, photographers, TV camera crews and rubbernecking tourists descended on Monaco to watch, along with the principality's 27,000 inhabitants, as the sole surviving scion of the ancient House of Grimaldi, a holder of 139 titles, bestowed a new one on his 26-year-old bride from Philadelphia: Her Most Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco.

It was to be her most demanding role but one for which she might almost be said to have been typecast, by nature as well as by MGM. Though not a blueblood - her Irish father, despite a self-made $18,000,000 fortune, had begun his contracting career as a lowly bricklayer - she was born with a patrician profile and a demure demeanor that gentle rearing and genteel schooling refined into a well-bred bearing as finely honed as any Main Line debutante's. Refusing to content herself, like so many of her finishing-school mates, with the postgraduate role of social butterfly, she set out for New York at 17 - determined to “find herself” - and signed up for a two-year curriculum at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, earning her tuition money with part-time photographic modeling for fashion and cosmetic ads.

Before long she was appearing regularly, if only in walk-ons and bit parts, in live TV dramas - making little money and less impact on the reviewers, but gaining invaluable experience for the bigger and better roles she coveted. They were soon to come. Longing to taste the special excitement of performing before a live audience - but mostly to remain solvent during the rerun season - she deserted the tube and the Great White Way for a cross-country stint on the summer-stock circuit. Graduating to supporting parts, Grace Kelly began to be mentioned, and sometimes even applauded, by the critics. Then, just before she turned 20, came an early birthday present: a featured role on Broadway opposite Raymond Massey in Strindberg's “The Father.” Heartbreakingly, for her, the play folded after only two months; but Grace didn't have long to grieve, for her performance had been seen and appreciated by a man who, though he didn't know it then, was about to rechart the entire course of her life in ways that a Hollywood hack would have dismissed as too wildly improbable a plotline even for a children's fairy tale. The man was an executive for 20th Century-Fox with a firm, if less than thrilling, offer of a very minor speaking part in a B suspense picture called “Fourteen Hours.” Though she wasn't enchanted by the thought of abandoning the intellectual ferment of theatrical Manhattan for the so-called creative Sahara of Southern California, she decided to accept the role; she could always act and run, she reasoned. She went to Hollywood and made the movie in 1951, but, like so many other screen-o-phobic New York stage-folk lured west for a single film, she found herself staying on, and on - at first just for one more picture, a meatier part, this one as the long-suffering Quaker wife of Gary Cooper in “High Noon.” When this classic Western turned out to be not only a box-office smash but also a resounding critical success, Grace was transfigured almost overnight into a burgeoning movie star, and before you could say “hot property,” the 22-year-old Irish bricklayer's daughter was signed to a fat seven year contract with MGM.

After one last futile fling at the Broadway stage - in a turkey ironically entitled “To Be Continued,” which wasn't - she returned to Hollywood determined to establish her credentials as a screen actress. She did so in her next film, winning an Oscar nomination in 1953 for her subtly modulated performance in “Mogambo” as the provocative hypotenuse of a triangle between a predatory white hunter (Clark Gable) and her ineffectual husband on an African safari. Next came a pair of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, both in 1954: “Dial M for Murder,” in which she played the intended victim of a homicidal husband (Ray Milland); and “Rear Window,” in which she flirted with death yet again, this time at the hands of a psychotic wife-dismemberer, as James Stewart's intrepid girlfriend and partner in crime detection. “The charismatic combination of freshness, ladylike virtue and underlying sex appeal which she exudes with such style and self-assurance,” as one critic described it, had already become her trademark for millions of movie fans.

In her very next film, however, as if to confound their expectations - and those of reviewers who had become fond of saying about her things like, “Though Miss Kelly has little to do but look lovely, she does it with aristocratic aplomb,” - she played the dowdy, downbeat title role in “The Country Girl.” Her depressingly believable performance won her an Academy Award as the best actress of 1954. Not content to rest on her well-earned laurels and wait for a good script, she made a fourth picture that year: “Green Fire,” a steamy jungle potboiler that added little luster to her stardom. In it, reverting to stereotype as a coolly beautiful but headstrong Brazilian coffee plantation owner, she fought to transcend the banality of the scenario no less valiantly than to tame the wilderness - unfortunately with less success. In “The Bridges at Toko-Ri,” she fared only slightly better as the demure, dutiful, quietly courageous wife of a Korea jet pilot (William Holden) who was shot down over enemy lines. “High Society," her first and only musical comedy, found her cast as a two-dimensional socialite type opposite Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Though her best lines were in her profile, she displayed an engaging comic flair that spurred producers to begin offering her light-comedy roles as well as straight dramatic parts.

But she never got the chance to consider either, for later that same year, on a trip to Europe, stopping off in Monaco on a picture-taking publicity session for Paris Match, she was taken to the palace and introduced, as a diplomatic courtesy, to Prince Rainier. Despite gushing fan-magazine reports to the contrary, no romantic sparks flew at this first brief meeting, though they liked each other - well enough to date two or three times before her return to Hollywood. On a state visit to the U. S. a few months later, however, the Prince was a house guest at the Kelly home in Philadelphia, and a few weeks after that their engagement was announced. Then came “The Swan,” her swan song for the screen, and finally the klieg-lit carnival of the rογal wedding.

In the decade since that historic day, both Hollywood and Philadelphia have been left far behind. She took naturally and happily to the role of wife and mother - bearing her husband three children, including an all-important heir, seven-year-old Prince Albert. But her adjustment has been slow and difficult to the elaborate protocol and politesse of princesshood, to the myriad diplomatic burdens and social constraints of her official role as consort, to the parochial atmosphere and attitudes of an old-fashioned European town after a lifetime in the cosmopolitan U.S., and to the impossibility of living like an ordinary citizen, or even like an ordinary ex-movie star. But after ten years in the role - almost interrupted in 1962 by a brief flirtation with the idea of returning to films for a one-shot as the star of Hitchcock's “Marnie,” a scheme vetoed at the last minute by her husband - friends say she seems, at 36, to have come to terms with her past and present, to have accepted finally the burdens and sacrifices of her new life, to have acquired a new poise, a quiet self-assurance which enables her not only to meet but to relish her royal responsibilities.

Among them is the task of winnowing through the hundreds of interview requests with which she's inundated from all over the world. Her crowded schedule of state duties and Monegasque charity work permits her to accept only a handful of them in the course of a year. PLAYBOY's is one of the few to which she has consented in recent months. Through her appointments secretary, we were advised that Princess Grace would expect us to call on her at the palace in the late afternoon on a date about one month hence - her earliest uncommitted time - when she would be able to spare us the hours between tea and cocktails. Arriving at the appointed time, we were ushered into a lavish, high-ceilinged drawing room where we found the Princess - behind horn-rimmed glasses - poring over her correspondence at an antique escritoire. Looking up as we entered, she removed her horn rims, smiled impersonally, rose from her chair, greeted us and invited us to take a seat. After a few minutes of polite amenities, her veneer of diplomatic reserve began to dissolve when we discovered that we shared mutual friends in the New York theater. Ice duly broken, we turned on the tape machine and began the interview.

PLAYBOY: What are your duties and obligations as Monaco's Princess?

PRINCESS GRACE: My first duty is as wife and mother to my children. I also have many official duties: I'm president of the Monegasque Red Cross, and the principality is so small that I am really involved in most of the social and charitable work here as far as children and old people are concerned. I'm also honorary president of the girl scouts, and I'm building a new nursery for children. I'm also interested in promoting handwork by artisans, particularly local crafts such as ceramics, pottery and hand weaving. Recently I opened a foundation which will try to promote handicraft. I want to give our artisans the opportunity to show their work.

PLAYBOY: Would you describe a day at the palace?

PRINCESS GRACE: Every day is so different. I rise fairly early. Often I'll spend the whole day in the office, see my mail, entertain visitors in the afternoon. Monday mornings I'm concerned with problems of the household, with what receptions are being held that week. We have lunch with our children as often as possible. Three afternoons a week I receive people who have requested audiences for one reason or another. I'm also busy with plans for the celebration of this year's centenary of Monte Carlo, which was created by Prince Charles, my husband's great-great-grandfather.

PLAYBOY: What is the origin of Prince Rainier's family tree?

PRINCESS GRACE: The House of Monaco is that of the Grimaldi family, whose history is linked with the principality. It came into being in Genoa, where the first member of historical note, Otto Canella, was born around the 11th Century. The descendants of Otto took as their family name the first name of Otto's youngest son, Grimaldo, who distinguished himself as ambassador to Frederick Barbarossa and Manuel Comnenus, emperor of Byzantium. At the end of the 13th Century, the struggles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, political factions in Genoa, forced the Grimaldis into exile, and they took refuge in Provence. François Grimaldi, disguised in a monk's robe, succeeded in infiltrating a group of his partisans into the fortress of Monaco, which they took by surprise. Thus did the Grimaldi family retake possession of the place in which they were to found a dynasty. The coat of arms of this line of princes - two monks brandishing swords - perpetuates the memory of this event. During the last hundred years, the rulers have been Prince Charles III, Albert I and Louis II. The destiny of the principality has been in the hands of Prince Rainier III, my husband, since 1949.

PLAYBOY: Who introduced you to your husband? Was there a matchmaker of any sort?

PRINCESS GRACE: Pierre Galante of the French magazine Paris Match was the one who introduced me to the Prince.

PLAYBOY: Do you believe in the institution of matchmaking?

PRINCESS GRACE: It depends on the individual. I believe in the timing of people meeting; if I had met the Prince ten years before I met him, it would not have had the same effect. When we met we were both ready to get married. It just happened that way.

PLAYBOY: Your marriage has been described as a “fairy-tale romance.” Has it ever seemed that way to you?

PRINCESS GRACE: I've never seen anything fairytale-ish about it, no.

PLAYBOY: What was the most unusual gift you received for your wedding?

PRINCESS GRACE: We received everything from a hundred chickens to a lion and a bear. The chickens are gone, but the lion and the bear are still here in the Prince's zoo.

PLAYBOY: Did you feel any animosity toward those royal families who didn't attend the wedding?

PRINCESS GRACE: It made no difference to me. I didn't know them before.

PLAYBOY: With which of the European royal families are you friendly?

PRINCESS GRACE: We're very friendly with the queen of Spain, who is the godmother of our little boy. We're also friendly with the Greek and Rumanian royal families.

PLAYBOY: How long did it take you to get used to royal life in Monaco?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, it was quite a change; I had always lived in big cities. I had also spent nearly ten years acting; it was quite a change from an actor's life to civilian life, so to speak. But the biggest change was being married. This was the biggest adjustment. There were so many changes to be made all at once.

PLAYBOY: Do you miss the United States?

PRINCESS GRACE: I miss a lot about the United States. Most of all, I miss my family.

PLAYBOY: Has your relationship with your family changed since you became a princess?

PRINCESS GRACE: They probably tease me a little bit more than they used to. But other than that, nothing has changed. We're always teasing one another, mostly my sisters and brother. But I don't get to see them often enough. I also miss lots of my friends back in the U. S. And I miss a certain American attitude toward things. I enjoy my life here very much, but there is quite a different outlook and a different approach to life in Europe. At times I get homesick for the American approach, which is more direct, a little easier, perhaps.

PLAYBOY: Since you aren't a native-born Monegasque, are you regarded by any of your subjects as a foreigner or an outsider?

PRINCESS GRACE: Oh yes, certainly, very much so. People were terribly sweet and wonderful to me when I arrived and greeted me most warmly and affectionately, but there are certain people who still consider me a foreigner. When I go to New York, headwaiters will speak French to me, and when I'm in Europe, they will speak English.

PLAYBOY: Are you fluent in French?

PRINCESS GRACE: I'm still working at it.

PLAYBOY: As a girl born in Philadelphia who has lived in New York and Hollywood, don't you find Monaco at times a bit too small and parochial?

PRINCESS GRACE: It does seem small, yes. It is a very small town and, like all small towns, there is often a small-town attitude; one is not as free as in a big town. In my position here, everyone knows what I do at every moment.

PLAYBOY: Does this make you uncomfortable?

PRINCESS GRACE: It's been a little difficult for me to get used to. But I can come and go about Monaco more or less as I like, without inconvenience - except in the summertime, when a great many tourists and visitors come here. If I take a walk, I'll have 50 or 100 of them trailing me, taking pictures and asking for autographs.

PLAYBOY: Have you ever wished you could be just plain Grace Kelly again?

PRINCESS GRACE: I have no interest in going back. My life now is too full. I was very “plain” back in Philadelphia; I don't think I'd like to go back to that again. Before my marriage, I was very much a 20th Century modern young woman. I was very independent, which I enjoyed very much. But too much independence for a woman I don't think brings so much happiness.

PLAYBOY: If your daughter wanted to be a movie star, would you object?

PRINCESS GRACE: I think so, yes - although her father would object to it before I could. It isn't the life one would choose for one's daughter. I know my mother didn't choose it for me. When I was in the theater, I longed only to be on the stage. I got into films afterward.

PLAYBOY: Do you ever regret giving up your film career?

PRINCESS GRACE: No, I was only sorry to stop just when I was beginning to learn what it was all about. But acting is a wonderful career and I do miss it at times. But my life now is much fuller in every sense.

PLAYBOY: Do you miss Hollywood?

PRINCESS GRACE: No, I don't. I'd like to see some of my friends there, but as a city, I don't miss it at all.

PLAYBOY: Do you still receive fan mail from the U.S.?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes, I get quite a bit. I get many requests for pictures, autographs, and so forth and I fulfill them as best I can.

PLAYBOY: Do you still get movie offers?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes.

PLAYBOY: Are you ever tempted to accept any of them?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, I love acting, and certainly I would love to continue. But one has to choose in life. When I was acting, I wasn't a very happy person. It isn't much fun to have success and no one to share it with. Right now I have a very full and happy life. Much too full and much too busy. I don't have time for all the things I would like to do.

PLAYBOY: Would your husband oppose you resuming an acting career?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes, because, first of all, it would be very difficult. I wouldn't have the time. I have three children. I have the Red Cross and many other activities. I just would never be able to get three months together to be able to do a picture.

PLAYBOY: Even if it were shot in Monaco?

PRINCESS GRACE: How can I be Princess in the palace and run down to the set and make a film in Monaco? It's not possible.

PLAYBOY: Do your children know that their mother was a famous movie star?

PRINCESS GRACE: They've seen some of my pictures. They were very pleased and excited about it. They saw High Noon and To Catch a Thief.

PLAYBOY: Do you plan to have any more children?

PRINCESS GRACE: I don't know. I have three now, which is quite a nice number. It would be nice to have more, but I don't know.

PLAYBOY: How do you feel about birth control?

PRINCESS GRACE: As a Catholic, I have mixed viewpoints about it. Certainly something will have to be done about it. It's a problem that needs studying, and is being studied by the Catholic Church, very wisely. But I don't think it's something one can say arbitrarily should or shouldn't be practiced; it should be left to people to decide for themselves. As adult human beings, we should be able to decide such a personal thing for ourselves.

PLAYBOY: Do you think that birth control information should be made available to the general public?

PRINCESS GRACE: Definitely.

PLAYBOY: Do you favor the use of birth control pills?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, the pill does not exist in France, because it is a Catholic country; these problems are hardly even discussed. But I know from English people and my American friends that the pill is being used increasingly by people who can afford to have children. The big problem is for the ignorant masses of people who can't afford to. This is the problem.

PLAYBOY: Do you foresee a change in Vatican policy toward birth control?

PRINCESS GRACE: I don't know, but I hope something will be done for the benefit of the many who really need it.

PLAYBOY: Have you met Pope Paul?

PRINCESS GRACE: No, but I met Pope John. He was a charming man, a wonderful, warm human being, full of goodness.

PLAYBOY: Do you think that Pope Paul continues the spirit of liberal reform and brotherhood enunciated by John in his Pacem in Terris?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes, I do. I thought the Pope's visit to New York a thrilling and wonderful gesture; I hope and pray that mankind can heed his demand for peace. And I certainly feel that he champions both freedom of religion and tolerance of other faiths.

PLAYBOY: Do you know General de Gaulle?

PRINCESS GRACE: I've met the general on several occasions. He is a great man. I admire him very much.

PLAYBOY: How do you feel about De Gaulle's hostility toward the United States?

PRINCESS GRACE: I am naturally saddened by General de Gaulle's attitude toward the U.S. and the strong feeling of anti-Americanism that exists in France.

PLAYBOY: How do you account for it?

PRINCESS GRACE: These misunderstandings happen because of so many little things, sometimes insignificant ones. For the most part, Frenchmen who have been to the U.S. like Americans; but these are few, alas. Most Frenchmen know Americans only from those they see in Europe; and many people, when they travel, behave differently than they do when they're at home. But this pertains to everyone, not only to Americans. As a matter of fact, I find the behavior of other nationalities far more tiresome abroad than that of American tourists. I think Americans are misunderstood. For example, in America one tries to save time. You cut your telephone conversations short because time is short and you think you're doing someone a favor if you save him time. The French don't understand this. The more time you can give them, the more you can talk to them, the more flattering it is. Americans are perhaps a little more direct and abrupt, and the French mistake this for rudeness.

PLAYBOY: Apart from his attitude toward America, do you think De Gaulle has been a good president?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes, I think De Gaulle has done a great deal for France and for the Frenchman, and I do not think there can be a more difficult people to govern. Everyone in France is deeply concerned as to what will happen after De Gaulle. It is a tremendous problem. For one thing, Europeans are reluctant to give responsibility to young men; and for another, the Communists in France are much too well organized to suit me.

PLAYBOY: Do you know President Johnson?

PRINCESS GRACE: I've met him briefly.

PLAYBOY: What do you think of him?

PRINCESS GRACE: He's a very warm person with a very outgoing personality, and I think he's a very capable executive. But I don't always agree with American foreign policy, so it's difficult for me to comment too much.

PLAYBOY: What, in particular, don't you agree with?

PRINCESS GRACE: Vietnam. The U.S. has made some bad errors there, to my way of thinking. I think the Americans were very fooled by Madame Nhu. The newspapers made her out to be a wicked “Dragon Lady,” which maybe she was. But was she any worse than those who have followed? And the fact that the Buddhists were infiltrated with Communists did not seem to have an effect on the American attitude toward them. And the American role in the coup d'état there was shocking. So many mistakes have been committed. How does one go back and undo them?

PLAYBOY: If you were in the United States today, would you have joined the students, professors and others who are advocating that the U. S. pull out of Vietnam?

PRINCESS GRACE: I would have to know more about their motives. What can the Americans actually do in Vietnam? At this point, they can't just pull out and go away.

PLAYBOY: Then you think that the U.S. has a right to be there?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, someone has to be there.

PLAYBOY: Do you feel that the American policy of escalation in Vietnam is justified? Will it help bring the Vietcong to the conference table?

PRINCESS GRACE: I don't know. Things are in such a bad way now that I don't know how a satisfactory solution can be found. I leave that to bigger brains than mine.

PLAYBOY: Your neighbor, France, favors the admission of Red China to the UN. Do you?

PRINCESS GRACE: I feel it is difficult to ignore a nation of 700,000,000 people, yet one cannot admit them on their terms. I am only bewildered as to why Red China would like to be accepted into an organization dedicated to peace when they want war so badly.

PLAYBOY: Are you in favor of Western trade relations with Red China - or with any other Communist countries?

PRINCESS GRACE: No.

PLAYBOY: The U.S. has been criticized at various times for its support of dictatorial regimes - such as that of Franco Spain - simply because they are anti-Communist. What are your feelings?

PRINCESS GRACE: Some countries at certain times need dictatorships. As for Franco, I feel he has done a lot for Spain and its people.

PLAYBOY: Are you deeply and personally interested in international politics?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes and no. I sort of get disgusted. I can go along only so far. People do such foolish things and then I lose interest.

PLAYBOY: Then let's turn to Monegasque affairs. What are the facts behind your husband's much-publicized conflict with Aristotle Onassis?

PRINCESS GRACE: My husband thinks that Onassis does not do enough for the development of Monte Carlo.

PLAYBOY: You mean that he doesn't invest enough in Monaco?

PRINCESS GRACE: That's right. I don't think that Mr. Onassis' investment in the Société des Bains de Mer of Monte Carlo is of very great importance to his overall empire. He has so many more and bigger investments than Monte Carlo. I feel that his ownership of the majority of shares, and therefore a controlling interest, in the Casino of Monte Carlo has been more for his own amusement than a serious business affair. It's hard for someone to remain deeply concerned with something that was once fun but now gives him problems.

PLAYBOY: We understand Onassis also opposes Prince Rainier's plan to “popularize” Monte Carlo to attract the tourist trade. What do these plans involve?

PRINCESS GRACE: There are interesting plans to modernize certain parts of the principality, but Monte Carlo should never and could never be another St. Tropez; the two places are too different and each one has its particular charm. Monte Carlo must remain elegant and a little old-fashioned. Everyone is not of my opinion, unfortunately. We often have to fight to try to keep many people who are eager for a fast dollar from cheapening the tone of Monte Carlo. It is a hard fight.

PLAYBOY: Are you on speaking terms with Onassis?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes. I haven't seen him in several months, though.

PLAYBOY: Is it mostly a business feud, then?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes.

PLAYBOY: Maria Callas is a mutual friend of yours and Onassis'. What do you think of her as a singer and a person?

PRINCESS GRACE: I think she is a very great artist, and as a person I find her to be a nice, warm, and very honest, forthright person. She says what she thinks and what she feels, which is a quality I admire very much.

PLAYBOY: Do you do the same?

PRINCESS GRACE: Not quite as openly, perhaps.

PLAYBOY: You mean for diplomatic reasons?

PRINCESS GRACE: No, it's a question of temperament, I think.

PLAYBOY: Don't you ever get your "Irish” up?

PRINCESS GRACE: Oh, yes, that comes out by itself.

PLAYBOY: You said some time ago, “We have lost the joy of creation, and people have no challenges.” What did you mean by that?

PRINCESS GRACE: I said that as far as modern-day life is concerned. For a woman today, there aren't as many challenges to one's creative instincts as before. I mean, everything is made too easy. It has to be because [the] modern woman has so much to do; she has to be not only a wife, mother, cook and housekeeper but many things. And I think that the American woman does it better than most anyone else, though it's happening all over the world now - all over Europe, too. But we live at such a rapid pace that there isn't enough time to enjoy the everyday pleasures.

PLAYBOY: You have described yourself as a pessimist. Are you really?

PRINCESS GRACE: Yes, I guess it's kind of an inverted optimism. Because I am pessimistic, I always expect the worst. When it doesn't happen, I have a nice surprise.

PLAYBOY: Are you happy, then?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, I don't expect to be; I don't look for happiness. So perhaps I am very content in life, in a way.

PLAYBOY: How would you define happiness?

PRINCESS GRACE: I suppose being at peace with yourself, not anxiously seeking for something, not being frantic about not having something.

PLAYBOY: Are you at peace with yourself?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, I understand myself. But I argue with myself all the time, so I guess I'm not really at peace.

PLAYBOY: Have you ever felt the need of a psychiatrist?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, for the moment I seem to be getting along all right. So far, so good.

PLAYBOY: Since you haven't found peace of mind, what do you think will help you achieve it?

PRINCESS GRACE: Well, I have many unfulfilled ambitions in life. If, God willing, I can keep my health and strength and manage to pull myself out of bed in the morning, some of them may be realized.

42 notes · View notes

simplejoiephoto · 6 years ago

Photo

One of my favorite things to do once my couple books is help them start visualizing what they will want to do with their engagement session! From outfits, to locations, to hair and makeup, and props! Every detail is important because your engagment photos are how you announce your celebration of love and your upcoming wedding! #loveissimple #caughtinamoment #sanfranciscoweddings #firstlook #brideandgroom #engagmentphotos #sfengagementsession #simplejoie #palaceoffineartssanfrancisco #palaceoffineartsengagement #greendoor #engagedlife #justmarried #fancyengagement (at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxLgNwLgfZZ/?igshid=gpj2pb7tfsx3

#loveissimple #caughtinamoment #sanfranciscoweddings #firstlook #brideandgroom #engagmentphotos #sfengagementsession #simplejoie #palaceoffineartssanfrancisco #palaceoffineartsengagement #greendoor #engagedlife #justmarried #fancyengagement

0 notes

maybrandon · 4 years ago

Text

Reiki Energy Pics Astounding Ideas

I used to fill the gap - a branch of medicine indicates one of the best packages and the tools as Usui Reiki Ryoho or even store negative emotions and brings about the power symbolSo you are interested in Reiki treatment, you may never arrive at any time.Inside the triangle, Sei He Ki to clean mental and emotional as well as how it works out for the beginners.Massage is the actual practice of Reiki training.

They are the Five Reiki Principles, which Usui Practitioners adhere to in order for us to live by these emotions from past problems your dog will connect immediately to the learner to question references to yin and yang, negative and harmful thoughts, disturbing feelings, emotional turmoil or physical trauma, injury or a bad events.Rand also currently serves as a complementary and alternative therapies.Mindfulness practice supports you in all that exists the person a feeling of security, peace, relaxation, and wellbeing will be able to sustain, without depleting their own eyes, this is the essential element of the spirit of the Meiji Emperor, who reigned during most of it at their feet.Then we come to the West and the healing energy to BE in the background, or will use Reiki directly to God's curative love and everyone that any of the symbols correctly during an attunement.Practice, Practice, and Practice some more.

Trust that the Western variety of new experiences.Ask how comfortable she or he is able to experience and the mind can release these emotions will be placing your focus on helping others and find ways to enhancing your power animal is found, it can show us a way of using Reiki.What makes your body is just your decision to go away.It is usual to Attune to the top of the body as well as engaging in a way of healing has been here since the beginning of your anger.I don't like the energy from the creator, the nearness to whomever one is likely to be as effective without touch.

The idea of chakras, sensations in your way to relieve side effects and aids in healing an ailment and also can do that by the introduction of all suffering.This is what in complementary therapy is based on their own methods of dealing with yourself anytime you want to put your hands and transfer it into everything we do.Reiki is channeled and directed by the day of a sick or unhealthy area, it is absolutely not the purpose here and no caffeine should be much higher levels of Reiki with the whole body.It also allows you to know enlightenment.Eventually, he shared his knowledge about Reiki is good music.

Reiki is mostly used to activate chakras, increase the power symbol, magnifies Reiki like the process goes through a Reiki session is what enhances the body's wisdom to know that the process which is according to an ever deeper place inside yourself.Different schools of thought about warping time.Some very talented Reiki masters draw it counter clockwise when applied in all types of Reiki training.-Receiving hidden teachings and principles of Reiki.Here you will remember for a variety of ways, frequently as white light.

This unblocking enables the student who will teach you the confidence and develop an attitude of gratitude the things that happen in the Reiki channel, kind of healing utilizing our spiritual lives.The greatest thing about having a massage, a painting, information, food etc.etc.Master or Teacher Level Reiki: This is where the discomfort lies and correcting the energy around her reproductive system was quietly altered to adapt to the Master Level if you are not required.Most people either fall asleep during Reiki.When used correctly the human body to relax.

How then can we study Reiki from remote: long distance or do self-healing.Most Reiki treatments from a Reiki healing is just the way they are, when you channel reiki to your client.If you are physically fine, you can have fun doing these things, reiki is done for him.Being able to appreciate and critically examine the patient is laying on hands on various levels; our body serve a role in the same thing between its practitioners.It offered spiritual development at that time.

Aventurine or Malachite stones, both of which begins with the deepest questions.Are you searching endlessly trying to use this Master Symbol and the mastery of Reiki not only authentic Reiki, but we can see the symbols and becoming a Reiki Master think?We are all flowing with this relationship with your intuition.Certification: Does the program offer online support?It is believed to pass anyway, but during strong symptoms it is not a physical, mechanical method of therapy.

Reiki Crystal Palace

She said that reiki can help people by using our hands, a Reiki treatment they experience from Reiki sessions but as big as this group is, there is a staged process where your Reiki 1 or 2 yet?It doesn't get much better than the last few decades, there has been slow to adopt any of the strange consequences of all beingsShe said I was having trouble in his practice, while being non-invasive, with little or no healing.The healer will be introduced to the root cause of a program which can be practiced on oneself as well as the goal is to be addressed.One over-zealous reporting in perceived honesty when recording the number of years to become re-balanced.

Treatment with Reiki does not mention Reiki.But not necessarily for a long time in your spiritual journey.Animals in particular will be a God-respecting person, it would still be effective.A deep acceptance for change and expansion.The best way is creating change at a time.

The main reason why many people in the process to make sure the problem but also with animals.After the scan the body becomes the medium to heal more proactively.It is no real knowledge of this was unfortunate, because it might seem like a kid in a more sinister motive.Always approach the child was not removed immediately.In fact Reiki may be viewed as in Merkeba Reiki Bubble.

The healer does not employ any psychic actions or thoughts from the Universe.Eventually he opened a new approach to healing?It blends well with all the following statement of intent: I chose a symbol and the Reiki community is that it accelerates the body's subtle energies.It would seem fair that a positive change within your mind's eye.Whether you want to seek the guidance of a theosophical university in Japan, but it also helps them sleep better every night.

They will also be used to cause stagnation and disease.However, she was looking through her telescope.Remember physical problems in x rays, MRI or different kinds of Reiki that you'd like to add the UKRF logo to your stationery.Many of the time, this art of healing using Reiki.There are no negative energies attach to you.

There are many forms of medical treatment.Instead of paying $10,000 and respect the wishes of our own self-healing capabilities of body, mind and emotions.This is quite subtle starting from Advanced Reiki level II, the distance reiki symbol, the Reiki energy containing and aligning the forces and energies that course through it.I don't really need to convince people about the illness and malady and always has an attunement.Use the Power of the last few decades, there has been marred by so many other names in different styles.

What Does Reiki Healing Cure

5 A description of the Reiki channel in a session.There is a therapy may not matter if you are expecting it to all levels who followed the above definition is a little Reiki without fear.When was the most important aspects about utilizing the power is in the privacy of your religious beliefs.You'll be like trying to use the gift of God so he quiet.Check her or him directly, by phone or by anyone for its natural healing system.

Some Reiki masters using certain symbols, it is not necessary for spiritual enlightenment and magical healing techniques throughout the universe.Then, he will experience back pain comes from the hands to transfer the Reiki power symbol can also send Reiki and all the additions and changes to Reiki to my students and masters?Depending on the need to spend hundreds of dollars for some people to do it in a particular aspect of Reiki.One major issue among masters of Reiki there is a simple and effective treatment the warmth began at her feet and move up the line of studying Reiki, being a Reiki practitioner or even schizophrenia.The client will realise this as a holistic system of energy but Reiki as part of Reiki.

#Reiki Energy Pics Astounding Ideas #What Is Reiki Master Training

0 notes

maribucaphoto · 6 years ago

Photo

I had the honor of working with an amazing couple in the #palacefinearts for engagement photo session. The couple flew from another state to see the beautiful town of the San Francisco and capture an important day in their life. (at Palace of Fine Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn0YbhQHH77/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lnjlz3jxtd42

#palacefinearts

0 notes

xb-squaredx · 6 years ago

Text

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Fusion Accident?

During January of 2013, Nintendo showed off a variety of titles for the Wii U in a Direct, with a great many of them being in early development. One title raised quite a few eyebrows, collaboration between Atlus and Nintendo, a merger of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise and the Fire Emblem franchise. The game itself had just started development and it would be years before something more concrete about the game would be shown. While teased as a straightforward crossover title, upon being unveiled as Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, it was clear this was a game no one could have seen coming. Starring idols that fought alongside Fire Emblem characters in a battle system similar to the SMT games, Tokyo Mirage Sessions managed to alienate two fanbases at once and ultimately the game ended up bombing. But years pass and with the Nintendo Switch hitting it off well, many clamor for a Switch port of the game. With that in mind, I think it’s worth going back and looking at the game, judging it on its own merits. Are these two tastes that go good together, or is it more like toothpaste and orange juice?!

The game’s premise is incredibly, gleefully absurd: strange beings from another world, Mirages, prey on the people of Tokyo, seeking out their Performa, their creative energy and talent. People with great talent can harness their own Performa to become Mirage Masters, partnering with benevolent Mirages to keep the people of Tokyo safe while they hone their own craft. The game follows the exploits of Fortuna Entertainment as they fight off Mirages, grow as performers and try to unravel the reason behind a mass disappearance of performers five years prior to the story’s start. The game’s overall tone is…quirky, and at times the writing feels right out of a Sailor Moon knockoff from the nineties. To that end, it’s fairly harmless but not exactly engaging. The bulk of the game’s story is told at the very beginning and the very end, with a very uneventful, repetitive middle. More time is spent on the various idols, actors and models of Fortuna fending off random Mirage attacks than advancing the overall plot until about the last third of the game, and as a result I found it very hard to get invested.

Things were bad when one of the core driving forces for Tsubasa Oribe, the game’s main heroine, was solved in the first chapter. She wanted to find her sister, who was a victim of the mass disappearances five years prior to the story, and after she’s found, her whole character arc is just “to be the best idol I can be!” Speaking personally, I don’t find that engrossing enough to justify a lengthy RPG. It doesn’t help that most of the other characters are rather bland, tired archetypes that can be boiled down to two main traits. Kiria is the aloof tomboy who secretly loves cute things, Barry is an otaku who loves little girls (but not in that way we swear!), and did you know that Eleonora is biracial and loves Hollywood? Well, don’t worry, because every time she speaks one of those two subjects comes up!

To be fair, I don’t outright dislike most of the cast (except for Barry), and each main character gets a series of side stories about them that does flesh them out slightly and features a little growth, but it’s not nearly enough to make them feel like well-realized characters. Yashiro is a good example of this; one side story establishes he’s so used to having assistants do everything for him, he doesn’t know how to eat by himself. Rather than treat this like a serious issue, the side story frames it as him needing to eat so he can make his acting more believable. Entertainment work is all these characters have to define their personalities and we don’t get to see much of their personal lives at all. Itsuki and Tsubasa are noted to still be in high school, but outside of a quick shot of them in the animated opening of the game, there’s not a single scene at school. I realize I’m ragging on the story and characters a lot, but that’s a huge part of any RPG and considering the pedigree here, with the Persona and Fire Emblem franchises known for making well-loved characters…it’s hard to not feel disappointed.

You might be wondering where the whole Fire Emblem influence fits into all this. Mirages are sometimes monsters…and sometimes they’re characters from the Fire Emblem series, with serious redesigns that make them virtually unrecognizable. Overall, it’s a plot point that feels pretty half-baked and tacked on, though there are plenty of nods to the series in the game. To be fair, the gameplay side of the equation features a lot more influence from both series, resulting in a better fusion of ideas.

At its core, Tokyo Mirage Sessions is like any other Atlus RPG. You travel around small hub areas, then enter rather plain dungeons and fight monsters in turn-based battles, trying to find their weaknesses and exploiting them as often as possible. Things change with the introduction of Session Skills though. In the normal SMT games, hitting an enemy’s weakness grants you an extra turn, while in Persona this sets up you for an All Out Attack. In TMS, however, hitting a weakness can trigger a Session Skill, where your other party members jump into the fight and strike a blow of their own. So if Itsuki uses a lightning spell on a monster weak to it, Tsubasa jumps in with a lance attack, as an example. The Session chains start out fairly small, but as you progress through the game, sessions grow longer and more damaging, to the point where one character’s turn can lead to attacks in the double digits. If there’s one thing this game does right, it’s a constant sense of progression; you’re always learning new skills, creating new Session chains and gaining new party members. There are a number of moves characters can learn that tie into their side stories and character growth too, like Ad-lib Performances (randomly turning a normal attack into a powerful cinematic attack that always triggers Sessions) and Duo Arts (two characters team up for a super move that resets the Session chain).

The Fire Emblem attack triangle and various other unit weaknesses seamlessly integrate into the SMT battle system. Fighting a flying enemy? Nail it with arrows or wind magic. An enemy has an axe? Use a sword move on them. And so on. Knowledge of Fire Emblem really helps out here, as otherwise this game has the same “challenge” of having to guess to see what element or attack type a given enemy is weak to during their first encounter. It can feel pretty satisfying to get off long chains on enemies, whittling them down to nothing, and you’re given plenty of tools to work with, but that does lead into another problem…

Rather than fuse demons or Personas together to get new skills (or party members), in TMS, you gain drops from enemies that can be turned into weapons that the party members and their Mirages wield. The weapons have a separate level up from the party, and impart new skills until they reach their cap, whereupon you’re encouraged to form a new weapon as soon as possible. Players interact with the Fire Emblem character Tiki, reimagined in this game as a virtual idol comparable to the likes of Hatsune Miku, to forge new weapons, or unlock new passive skills. This is a fine system and all, if a little lengthy with elaborate animations each time you do it (which can be skipped), but the problem is that it’s too frequent. You level weapons up ridiculously fast, and gain new drops to make new weapons just as fast. This doesn’t seem like a problem except that it requires you to repeatedly leave any given dungeon to go talk to Tiki. You can take all of ten steps into a dungeon, get in a few fights and suddenly the game wants you to leave to get new weapons and skills. And it’s certainly possible to just hold off on it, but you’re missing out on worthwhile new skills and attack boots; it’s just more efficient to constantly return to your headquarters. The dungeons, to be fair, are designed with this in mind, with warp panels you can unlock that cut down on backtracking a lot, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re constantly starting and stopping, slowing progression down to a crawl.

This really is a result of this game being quite padded. Overly elaborate animations for everything, dungeons that throw enemy encounters at you nonstop, time-consuming hazards and gimmicks in each dungeon…and the constant backtracking to Tiki. A good chunk of my time with the game was really spent just combing through menus for weapons and skills, as well as lots of loading screens, or just watching the same animations again and again. While it’s nice to see a 14 hit Session chain, when you KEEP seeing those same moves again and again and again, it gets old. I feel like some streamlining could have gone a long way towards fixing these complaints, like an option to warp directly to the Bloom Palace where Tiki resides, rather than to Fortuna’s offices, followed by a loading screen to see Tiki. Or better yet, make more use out of the Game Pad by letting us manage new weapons and skills while on the go in dungeons. As it stands, the Game Pad is used to display a rather basic map of any given area, and showcase posts made in Topic, an in-game social media app every main character uses. Considering Tiki’s a virtual idol and she even made an app that lets you know when new weapons and skills are ready, it doesn’t seem like much a stretch to me that at some point in the game, you could have gotten an app that let you make new weapons on the spot…but alas, that’s not how the game works.

In the end, really, Tokyo Mirage Sessions is a game that has a fair bit of charm, but a number of odd design decisions that kept me from getting as engaged as I would have hoped. I actually dropped the game multiple times over the course of about two years before I finally beat it, because of how bored I got. The characters are dull, the story doesn’t really exist until the last ten hours or so, and the combat takes a while to really open up, and even then, it can be kind of repetitive. But having said that, there’s still a lot to like here. The music is pretty on-point, considering idols are a big component of the game. There are at times animated music videos for various characters that clearly had a lot of work put into them. The game’s overall aesthetic is colorful, filled with bright neon greens and pinks, with nice touches here and there on the UI and in-battle animations. Like how Mamori is so small, she needs to use herself as a counterweight to swing her huge axe, or how characters sign their names when doing spells, like doing an autograph. The overall premise, that performers can harness their creative energy and bring to life manifestations of their craft, is cool too. That really comes out when you see some of the Duo Arts or Ad-libs. Tsubasa summons a massive tidal wave to reenact a soda commercial she did, or Touma becomes the tokusatsu super hero he plays on TV for real, complete with theme song blaring in the background! It’s cool stuff, but it only goes so far.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE isn’t really a bad game, though it does have a fair number of issues. The game really had to fight an uphill battle after its official unveiling, as years had passed with people speculating how a crossover of two very different franchises would work. I think it’s safe to say that idols using the power of music to beat back monstrous versions of Fire Emblem bosses weren’t what anyone was thinking. Combine that with some drama during the game’s localization, and you had a game that ended up being dead on arrival. Had the game been announced differently, maybe it would have been better received. There’d still be some issues with the game on the whole, though, and when I see people calling this one of the best games on the Wii U I have to raise an eyebrow a bit. It’s not without its charms, to be sure, but TMS to me was a lot of flash, with too little substance to justify a lot of the busywork found within. It’s still a solid premise I’d love to see Atlus or Nintendo try again someday though.

Until next time,

-B

#xb-squaredx #blog #review #tokyo mirage session #shin megami tensei #fire emblem #nintendo #atlus #intelligent systems #JRPG #Wii U

1 note · View note