#queen victoria gardens

[keepingitneutral]

MPavilion 10, Queen Victoria Gardens, Australia,

Designed by Tadao Ando,

Commissioned by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation

[emaadsidiki]

Vitamin Green 🌼🌿

[sabistarphotos]

November 9, 2018

Desert Botanical Garden

Phoenix, AZ

[faguscarolinensis]

Agave victoriae-reginae / Queen Victoria Agave at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University in Durham, NC

[fuzzysparrow]

Carisbrooke Castle

Located near Newport on the Isle of Wight is a castle where King Charles I spent some of his final months. Carisbrooke Castle, named after the local village, is a historic motte-and-bailey castle dating back to the 12th century. Today, the building is an English Heritage site and museum, but it also serves as a ceremonial centre for the island. Before the construction of the castle, Anglo-Saxons…

[thefollyflaneuse]

The Gothic Temple, or Mausoleum of Princess Charlotte, Claremont, Surrey

Soon after her marriage in 1816 Princess Charlotte of Wales, only daughter of George IV and his estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick, settled at Claremont House in Surrey with her husband Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. The Princess ordered the construction of a gothic summerhouse on the spot where she first alighted on the estate, and called the retreat her ‘House on the Hill’. In the spring of…

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

Again, not an exhaustive list but for anyone else in the UK, these are where riots are expected today:

Aldershot - Immigration Advisors at 40 Victoria Road GU11 1TH, starting at 19:30.

Bedford - Immigration INN (Inn?) on Ford End Road MK40 4JT, at 20:00.

Birmingham - Refugee and Migrant Centre on Frederick Street B1 3HN, beginning at 20:00.

Bishop Auckland - outside the Town Hall on Market Place DL14 7NP.

Blackburn - Rafiq Immigration Services on Whalley Road BB5 1AA, at 20:00.

Blackpool - Immigration Solicitors at the Enterprise Centre on Lytham Road FY1 1EW, starting at 20:00.

Bolton - Deane & Bolton Immigration Lawyers on Chorley New Road BL1 4QR, at 20:00.

Brentford - UK Immigration Help in The Mile on 1000 Great West Road TW8 9DW, starting around 19:00.

Brighton - Raj Rayan Immigration in Queensberry House at 106 Queens Road BN1 3XF, starting either at 19:30 or 20:00.

Bristol - Gya Williams Immigration on West Street BS2 OBL, at 20:00.

Burnley - at Thompson Park on 111 Ormerod Rioad BB11 3QWat, starting at 13:00.

Canterbury - UK Immigration Clinic in the Canterbury Innovation Centre CT2 7FG, at 20:00.

Chatham - Immigration Status UK on Maidstone Road ME5 9FD, at 20:00.

Cheadle - Intime Immigration Services on Brooks Drive SK8 3TD, at 20:00.

Chelmsford - UK Immigration Information Centre on Violet Close CM1 6XG, at 20:00.

Derby - Immigration Advisory Service, Normanton Road DE23 6US, at 20:00.

Dover - Kent Immigration and Visa Advice at 5A Castle Hill Road CT16 1QG, reportedly around 20:00.

Durham - in Crook at Market Place, at 18:00. (Unsure as to whether this is the same one as in Bishop Auckland as I know Crook is near there?)

Finchley - Immigration and Nationality Services within Foundation House at 4 Percy Road N128BU, around 19:00.

Harrow - Yes UK Immigration and North Harrow Community Library within the Business Centre at 429-433 Pinner Road HA1 4HN, in North Harrow, at 19:00.

Hastings - Black Rock Immigration at 37 Cambridge Gardens TN34 1EN, at 20:00.

Hull - Conroy Baker Immigration Lawyer in Norwich House, 1 Savile Street HU1 3ES, at 20:00.

Lewisham - the Clock Tower, SE13 5JH, 19:00.

Lincoln - Immigration Lawyer Services on Carlton Mews LN2 4FJ, at 20:00.

Liverpool - Merseyside Refugee Centre in St Anne's Centre on 7 Overbury Street L7 3HJ, at 20:00.

Liverpool - Sandpiper Hotel (might be on Ormskirk Old Road? if any scousers can clarify where that is, that'd be great) at 13:00.

Middlesbrough - Immigration Advice Centre which is the Co-Operative Buildings at 251 Linthorpe Road TS1 4AT, at 20:00.

Newcastle - United Immigration Services in Artisan Unit 3, The Beacon on Westgate Road NE4 9PQ, at 20:00.

Northampton - Zenith Immigration Lawyers at 2 Talbot Road NN1 4JB, starting at 20:00.

Nottingham - East Midlands Immigration Services at 15 Stonesbury Vale NG2 7UR, at 20:00.

Oldham - somewhere on Ellen Street 0L9 6QR, at 20:00

Oxford - Asylum Welcome in Unit 7 in Newtec Place on Magdelen Road OX4 1RE, around 19:00. [Updated as of 15:53]

Peterborough - Smart Immigration Services in Laxton House at 191 Lincoln Road PE1 2PN, at 20:00.

Plymouth - in a Morrisons car park, I don't know which but I saw Victory Parade associated with it? If anyone from Plymouth can clarify, please do. Not sure on time.

Portsmouth - UK Border Agency at Kettering Terrace PO2 8QN, at 20:00

Preston - Adriana Immigration Services at 109 Church Street PR1 3BS, at 19:00 or 20:00.

Rotherham - Parker Rhodes Hickmotts, The Point S60 1BP, at 20:00.

Sheffield - City Hall on Barker's Pool S1 2JA, at 13:00.

Sheffield - White Rose Visas at 101 Wilkinson Street S10 2GJ, at 20:00.

Southampton - Y-Axis Immigration Consultants, Cumberland Place on Grosvenor Square SO15 2BG, at 20:00.

Southend - MNS Immigration Solicitors on Ditton Court Road SS0 7HG, at 20:00.

Stoke-On-Trent - ZR Visas on Metcalfe Road ST6 7AZ, in Tunstall, at 20:00.

Sunderland - North of England Refugee Service which is in Suite 12 in the Eagle Building at 201 High Street East SR1 2AX, at 20:00.

Swindon - I have no details for this, just seen that something might be kicking off there.

Tamworth - Lawrencia & Co Immigration Solicitors within the Amber Business Village on Amber Close B77 4RP, no details on time unfortunately.

Walthamstow - Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau at 187 Hoe Street E17 3AP, at 20:00.

Wigan - Support for Wigan Arrivals Project, Penson Street WN1 2LP, at 20:00.

York - only detail I've got it is York Stay City Hotel.

[judesmoonbeauty]

Victor's Main Story Highlights & Thoughts:

Chapters 1-4

These are extremely pared down highlights and will not contain everything mentioned, but will contain the important bits. There are other bloggers translating the route. Highlights may not be 100% accurate.

Chapter 1: Kate awakes from a dream about a music box in a church. It's the day after she met Vogel. There's a brief replay of Act 2 prologue.

She meets up to report to Victor. Within one week, she has accompanied all Crown members on missions. Flashbacks are provided for each group and their quirks.

The entire time she hasn't witnessed one death.

The next day, Kate decides that she wants to know more about Victor. Will suggests Kate helps him with his work.

They meet Victor in his office. Initially, Victor was hesitatant to let her help, but agrees after William reasons with that Victor was the one who assigned her the position of fairytale keeper.

Chapter 2: After some days of helping Victor, Kate is on a mission with Liam and Al to recover drugged candy that is in circulation. Meanwhile, Jude and Ellis on handling another aspect of the mission.

Al and Liam discuss how Victor always seems to make the right choice about who to send where. Further, he always seems to know where they are. Alfons suggests that he may know not only their pasts, but even things they themselves don't know about their pasts.

They discuss Kate's work with Victor. She says they do paperwork and then have tea time. He's always in the office with Kate. A point is raised that it's odd for the Queen's aide to always be in the office and not with the Queen.

The next day, Kate accidently eavesdrops on Victor and Will talking about Kate. She is very quick with her work, brightens up the room and for Victor, a healing presence. Kate gets caught listening in and the guys laugh at her and call her cute.

Chapter 3: In the dead of night, a few privy council members meet up and talk about Vogel's and Kate's arrival. They start grumbling about being suspicious of them and speaking against the Queen's decision for establishing Crown.

Victor shows up and coldly shuts them down. He was so scary that the men couldn't move even after he left them.

The next day, Victor tells Kate they can't have tea because he has a meeting. He leaves and Kate gets to work so they can have a longer tea time the following day.

Harry shows up as she's reading the prognosis reports of those affected by the drugged candy. Even children were affected. They discuss the drug case a bit and he asks Kate if she likes Victor (not romantically). He tells her not to get too close if she wants to go back to her old life.

He warns her that he can't trust him because he's hiding something. He doesn't know what and he doesn't want to know. Harry says that even though Victor is aware Harry knows he's hiding something, Victor just laughs it away.

After he leaves, Kate is surprised Vic is hiding something, but it's not too shocking seeing how everyone has a secret or two. That's when she realizes that Victor grabbed the wrong envelope for the meeting.

Forgetting Harrison's warning, she goes to look for Victor.

Chapter 4:

Kate's lost. She only knows the way from Crown Castle to Victor's office. She's never wandered around the palace, even though she is considered a guest. She gets directions and stumbles in on a conversation in the garden.

This leads to a brief history about the monarchy of Britain. Essentially, the royal family are a symbol, and though the Queen reigns, she doesn't rule because there is a parliment.

Queen Victoria became the Queen at 18, although she wasn't supposed to, but due to the line of succession being wiped for various reasons, she ended up on the throne. Everything flourished under her reign.

Kate spots Victor and is going to call out to him when she witnesses his cold demeanor to some one from court asking for a budget increase. Victor rejects it and refuses to tax the people for it. After the person leaves (terrified of Victor), Kate gets startled by a leaf flying in her face and Victor notices her.

After an exchange, he leaves for the meeting with a kiss to the back of her hand. That night, Victor still hasn't returned to Crown and Kate is waiting for him. Once William shows up, she confesses how she was surprised at his difference in attitude. William explains that people have different sides. Work, family, friends, lovers. People can show different sides of themselves to each of these. Especially so for Victor since he is the Queen's aide, the head of Crown, dealing with court life, etc.

The next morning, Kate decides to start fresh. Victor and she head to town that day for shopping.

Normal Story:

He does a lot of it, and Kate has to reel him in. Finally, she finds something that she's interested in: a music box. They go inside and the store owner plays it for her. It's a melody that holds memories and she explains that someone played a music box for her once when she was crying, but she can't remember the face, voice or anything else but the music box. Victor says he has one that plays the same melody, but the cylinder is broken, so it won't play anymore. He buys it for her and tells her that her help is worth more than the price of the music box.

My thoughts: It's only four chapters, but it's nice. It's so sweet and I'm honestly just so happy that Victor and Kate finally have their moment. I feel like Will is quite flirty with Kate too?? Vogel is mentioned, but we haven't seen any of the guys yet, so I am hoping that we at least get to see some Vivi & Dari dialogue.

I actually have read some spoilers already, and tbh, the spoiler's didn't surprise me either....I don't know if that's a good or bad thing yet. It's not like it's deterred me from playing the route and I want to finish at least one end prior to forming an solid opinion on it.

[reccyls]

Victor's Main Route: Chapter 4 + Premium Story

< Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter >

(Am I going to make it in time?)

As I ran all the way from the office to where the meeting was supposed to take place, I realized that the only location I knew how to get to in the royal palace was Victor’s office.

(At least I was able to ask directions from a palace guard that I’d seen before, but…)

Although I had received permission to walk around the palace since I was the queen’s guest, I hadn’t ever really used it. So although I knew the name of the meeting location, I had no idea how to get there. 

(It should be around this corner…)

Following the directions I had been given, I proceeded towards the garden. But just then, I overheard someone speaking.

Middle-Aged Parliament Member: Do you know why the meeting was pushed back?

Glasses-Wearing Parliament Member: Apparently it was on Her Majesty’s request. We weren’t informed of why.

Middle-Aged Parliament Member: Is it Her Majesty’s request, or her aide’s?

Glasses-Wearing Parliament Member: When it comes to that man, who can tell?

(So the meeting got delayed. Thank goodness, that means I’ll make it in time.)

Reassured by what I heard, I was about to start walking again, when…

Glasses-Wearing Parliament Member: Be careful of what you say, unless you want to be accused of treason.

Middle-Aged Parliament Member: My word! As if I would ever support republicanism!

(“Republicanism.”)

The word caused me to stop in my tracks. The men’s voices gradually grew distant.

This country is a constitutional monarchy ruled over by Her Majesty. The ruler, our queen, stands as a symbol while the parliament holds governmental power. “The monarch reigns, but does not rule.” As the adage suggests, true power is held by the nobility that make up the parliament. To contrast, in republicanism, the monarch holds no power whatsoever and all governmental power is in the hands of the people.

(Why are they talking about that, though?)

The roots of England’s constitutional monarchy stretch back to the Glorious Revolution of the 17th century.

(But that all happened way before I was born.)

The country now was one where the royal family were symbols of power. Of course, from here on, Her Majesty would continue to be revered. As I thought of Her Majesty, I started walking again.

(Queen Victoria was 18 years old when she came to power.) (She originally was not supposed to be the queen.) (However, everyone else who had a stronger claim to the throne ended up dying one by one.)

I recalled my school lessons about the royal family from when I was a child. The England of today is a country that has overcome all manner of hardships including war and famine. And at the center of it all was the royal family, as my history lessons went. Queen Victoria had not been in line for the throne, but ended up ascending. This was because the other members of the royal family in the line of succession passed away due to illness and other factors. However, ever since Her Majesty came to power, the economy has flourished and industry advanced rapidly. And so England came to be known as the country where the sun never sets. This was all due to Queen Victoria. When I was working at the post office, a lot of my female colleagues greatly respected her.

(Now that I think about it, being part of a group created by Her Majesty is actually incredible.) (And I’m even working with Victor, Her Majesty’s personal aide.) (No normal person would believe it if I told them.)

Ever since I’d become the Fairytale Keeper, I’d only ever spoken with Crown members, or other people associated with them. I took a look around me once more, this time really taking in exactly what kind of place I found myself in.

(If I was still working at the post office, walking around the palace like this would get me arrested immediately.) (I’d never be able to look for Victor in those circumstances)

The beautiful gardens, historic buildings, and atmosphere of elegance and sophistication could not be found anywhere else but here. It made me feel quite touched.

Kate: Ah-

In the corridor that led out to the gardens, I could see the fluttering of long black hair. There was only one person with such striking features and jet black clothes in the palace.

(Found him.)

I raised my hand to wave to him and call out, but.

Kate: Vic-

Victor: The decision was already made yesterday. Is there anything else?

Fearful Parliament Member: No, but the budget–

Victor: The national budget was allocated at the beginning of this year. Victor: Unless you can demonstrate an actual problem, you will not be getting any additional funding. Victor: Raising taxes to get more revenue from the citizens is out of the question. Victor: Is that all, or did you need anything else?

At Victor’s icy glare and sharp mannerisms, I stopped in my tracks.

Fearful Parliament Member: …No, nothing else. Pardon me.

The man bowed his head and scurried away. The profile of the Victor that let out a sigh and began walking was completely different to the Victor I knew.

(It’s like he’s a stranger…)

As I was still trying to come to terms with what I had seen, something falling in front of me made me unintentionally raise my voice.

Kate: Ack!

Victor: …Kate?

It was just a leaf that had blown into my face.  But startled, I reflexively backed away, and the sound of my feet hitting the ground rang out in the hallway. Victor’s jewel-like eyes widened as he realized I was there.

Victor: What are you doing here?

He was back to being the Victor I knew.

Kate: I think you took the wrong envelope with you earlier.

Victor: Hm? …Oh, you’re right!

He frowned as he looked between the envelope he was carrying and the one I had brought.

Victor: I’m sorry you had to come all this way.

Kate: I’m just glad I managed to get them to you in time.

As I passed the papers over to Victor, I couldn’t help but stare at him. I still couldn’t believe my eyes about the Victor I had seen earlier.

Victor: Kate? Is something the matter?

Kate: …It’s nothing.

His head tilted in confusion, his soft expression, and eyes filled with kindness… All of that was part of the Victor I knew.

(But then what was that…?)

Victor: I would escort you back to the office, but unfortunately the meeting…

Kate: It’s okay, I can go back myself. Kate: Good luck with the meeting.

He gently took my right hand and pressed a kiss to it.

Victor: Thank you. I’ll be off now.

I was rooted to the spot as the warmth on the back of my hand faded, watching his broad back disappear.

-----

(It’s pretty late…)

After that, I returned to the office, but I couldn’t concentrate on work. Before I knew it, night had fallen.

(Victor never made it back.)

William: Oh? You’re later than usual.

Kate: I couldn’t finish my work on time, so I had to stay longer.

William was walking down the stairs so I looked up.

William: Did Victor shove all his work at you?

He sounded amused.

I couldn’t concentrate on work… (+4/+4)

It wasn’t his fault.

Yeah…

Kate: No, it was because I couldn’t concentrate properly. I didn’t realize how late it was. Kate: It’s not that there was that much work to do…

William: Then you must have been quite distracted. William: And so? What had our dear robin so worked up she couldn’t concentrate?

I couldn’t stop my gaze from dropping to the ground.

Kate: Earlier today, Victor took the wrong materials for his meeting so I went to give him the right ones. Kate: When I saw him, he was acting like a completely different person. It surprised me.

The sound of William descending the stairs continued, and soon I could see his shoes stop before me.

Kate: The Victor I know is always cheerful and kind. And sometimes he can be a little teasing. But he’s always reliable. Kate: But when I saw him today, he was so cold, and he had a totally different expression on his face. Kate: I guess I suddenly feel like there’s a huge gap between us…

Maybe it was also because of what Harrison told me earlier. I’d never seen Victor act like that before. In addition to shock, I also felt a little lonely because of that gap.

(Victor is like a guardian figure for all of Crown.)

Because of that, maybe Victor thought of me as someone who was only to be protected. It felt as though a line had been drawn between us.

William: A person wears many different faces.

I raised my head to look at William. His expression was uncharacteristically serious.

William: The face you show to your friends, the face you wear at work, the face that only your lover may see. William: Without conscious thought, we use all these different faces so that we can be a part of society. William: You and I do the same.

This was something that everyone did. Not deliberately, or at least not always deliberately.

William: But when it comes to Victor, I think he’s stronger than the average person for it.

Kate: How do you mean?

William: The queen’s aide, Crown’s leader, the Reaper of the Palace… Just for work, he already has so many faces to wear. William: Kindness in itself is not enough for him to speak out regarding the happenings of the royal palace. William: Especially not if he speaks for Her Majesty.

(That is true.)

In a constitutional monarchy, the queen’s word alone is not absolute.

(The parliament also has control over the government.)

So if there were any disagreement among the parliament, it was possible that the queen’s wishes may not be respected.

(That’s probably happened a lot, actually.)

The cold face that Victor wore could then be a necessary resource for someone in the position of the queen’s aide.

William: But I think the face Victor lets you see is a special one.

Kate: What?

William’s eyes narrowed in amusement, and he lifted my chin with one finger.

William: You say you feel like there’s a gap between you and Victor. But he never lets anyone stay in his office, you know. William: I’ve never stayed there longer than a few minutes, for example.

Kate: That… that doesn’t mean it’s special, does it? Maybe there just wasn’t ever a reason to…

William: I think that even if there was a reason, he wouldn’t let it happen. William: At any rate, I’ve never seen him let anyone stay there for hours and hours every day.

The finger on my chin slid along my jaw, then withdrew.

William: Doesn’t that sound special enough?

William’s captivating smile deepened.

Kate: I… don’t know…

William: Haha, that’s fine. William: But even if you feel as though there was a gap between you, just know that he has let you in when he hasn’t ever done the same for others, and that he does value your company.  William: Of course, we all value you too.

Throwing on his cape, William headed out, but I couldn’t watch him leave.

-----

Kate: Special, huh…

Warm sunlight streamed in through my window. Today the weather was unusually good for London, with not a single cloud in the sky. As soon as I woke up, William’s words from yesterday continued to echo in my mind. I couldn’t quite stop myself from whispering them under my breath.

(So many things have changed ever since I came here.)

It wasn’t only the obvious things, but also in the discovery of things that I’d never known before. Every day passed by just like that.

(No one outside my family had ever called me special before.)

For William to say that Crown valued me… Even though I knew my stay with them was limited, being accepted by them filled me with happiness. And, for Victor…

Kate: …Now that I think about it, I think someone did call me special a long time ago…

I searched through my memories as if I were pulling clothes out of a drawer, and as always, my thoughts returned to a particular childhood memory.

As the sound of a music box played in the background, someone whose face I couldn’t remember spoke. ???: You are… special… Their words were cut off, like always. But I know that when I heard those words, I smiled.

A knock at my door pulled me away from the world of memory.

Kate: Yes?

As I quickly climbed out of bed, Victor’s voice floated through the door.

Victor: Good morning, Kate.

As I was about to open the door, I remembered that I was in my sleepwear. I opened the door just a crack so only my face would be visible.

Victor: …Did you just wake up?

Kate: …Yeah.

As he blinked in surprise, I averted my gaze.

Victor: My deepest apologies for calling on a lady before she’s ready. I’ll be back later.

Kate: Huh? Wait!

He was already turning to leave so I called out to him in a panic.

Kate: One minute!

Victor: Hm?

Victor turned back around, looking flabbergasted.

Kate: Just give me one minute to get ready! Wait right there!

Victor: …Haha.

At my declaration, a bright smile rose to his lips.

…

Kate: Sorry to make you wait.

Victor: One minute on the dot! Amazing, Kate!

Victor burst into applause when I finished getting ready in a single minute, as I said I would.

Kate: I think that’s faster than I’ve ever gotten ready in my life… Kate: So did you need something from me?

When I asked why he was looking for me, he grinned.

Victor: Her Majesty has asked you to take the day off.

Kate: Oh, okay. I can help with th-

Victor: So, Kate…

He took my hand in his.

Victor: Let’s go out together.

Premium Story: Memories and Music Boxes

Victor: That outfit looks like it’ll suit you perfectly, let’s get that too!

Kate: …Victor.

Victor: And those shoes are beautiful, they’d be just right. And–

Kate: Victor!

A few hours ago…

Victor: As your reward, let’s go shopping for the day!

Kate: A reward? For what?

I tilted my head in confusion.

Victor: It’s been some time since you became Crown’s Fairytale Keeper, and you’ve also started helping me with my work. Victor: All your hard work can’t go unpaid.

Kate: You’ve already done so much for me, I can’t accept a reward too…

My clothing, accommodation, and meals were all covered for as long as I was staying at Crown’s castle. And I could work without any delays or difficulties.

Victor: Even so, this is Her Majesty’s order. Victor: “Be sure to reward your hardworking Fairytale Keeper,” she said.

Victor snapped his fingers and winked, then smiled.

Victor: So today, we’re buying anything you want.

…

And that was what happened.

Victor: …Sorry. I just couldn’t help myself because everything looked like it’d be perfect for you…

It was like Victor physically couldn’t stop himself from ordering every single thing that caught his eye for me. He kept going back and forth to all sorts of stores saying that whatever he picked up would look great on me.

(This is definitely too much.)

Although his apology was very adorable and it did make me want to forgive him…

(If I let him off the hook, there’s not going to be any more space in my room tomorrow!)

As he tried to head back into the store he just came out of, I grabbed his arm and shook his head.

Kate: No more ordering until I find something I actually want.

Victor: But-!

His look of shock and betrayal hit me right in the heart. But I couldn’t give in!

(Victor, I’m doing this for your wallet’s sake!)

Victor: Just a little more, one more store, I promise!

Kate: If you’re not going to listen to me, then I’m not going to like you anymore!

He stopped immediately.

Kate: Victor?

Without a word, he turned back around and dropped his head on my shoulder.

Victor: …Fine… If you’ll hate me, I’ll stop…

His faint voice was muffled by my shoulder. His hair tickled at my neck, and when I shifted, my nose caught a scent not unlike that of a cool night. It didn’t take long for me to realize it was his scent.

(...Now that’s not fair.)

Even though he reacted so cutely to me saying I’d hate him,  Everything else about him–the touch of his hair, his scent, his hands–reminded me that he was a man.

Kate: Hold on until I find something, okay?

His expression brightened, and he took my hand in his.

Victor: Then you have to let me know immediately if anything catches your eye!

(I need to find something quick.)

I glanced over the rows of shops, hoping to find something that would catch my interest. My gaze lingered at one windowfront, and I came to a stop.

Victor: Kate?

The glittering sight beyond the glass reminded me of my childhood.

Victor: Let’s go in.

Noticing that this particular store had drawn my attention, Victor pulled open the door.

Elderly Owner: Welcome.

Standing within the store was a man who appeared to be the owner, wearing neat clothes.

Elderly Owner: If there’s anything you’re interested in, feel free to play them.

Kate: Really!?

Elderly Owner: Of course. Listen as much as you want.

I bowed my head to the store owner, who smiled brightly at me, and then I carefully reached for a music box.

Victor: Is this the one you’re interested in?

Kate: Yes. It’s incredibly beautiful. And…

Victor: Hm?

Kate: I have a memory about a music box.

There was a special cylinder inserted into the beautifully crafted music box.

Victor: I have a music box myself that also plays this song.

Kate: Do you?

The melody that poured from this music box felt similar to the one that I distantly recalled.

Victor: I do. But the cylinder was unfortunately damaged, so it can’t be played anymore.

The delicate pins of the rotating cylinder were the notes, plucking the teeth of the comb to play their song. Without the cylinder, there was no music. Victor gazed at the music box with eyes full of nostalgia, though it seemed there were other emotions mixed into his gaze. Without fully realizing why, I grabbed his sleeve. When Victor noticed, he turned to smile at me, his expression full of his usual gentleness.

Victor: So is this what you want?

Kate: But…

A music box like this would be far too expensive for me to afford.

Victor: Don’t worry about the price. It’s supposed to be a gift for you, after all. Victor: And the work that you do is worth far more than the price of one single music box.

Victor took the music box from my hands and handed it to the owner.

Elderly Owner: Would you like to replace the cylinder with a different one?

(That means the music box will play a different song.)

Kate: No, I’d like this one.

I refused the owner’s offer, because I knew Victor had a music box that played the same song. Taking the packaged music box from the owner, I gave Victor my gratitude.

Kate: Thank you for such a wonderful gift.

Victor: Do you think you can keep working hard tomorrow?

Kate: Definitely.

Victor looked to the box holding the music box, then suddenly spoke.

Victor: You said earlier that you have a memory about a music box?

Kate: When I was a lot younger, someone played a music box for me when I was crying.

The sound of the music box was patchy in my memories.

Kate: I don’t remember what that person looked or sounded like, or what we talked about. Or even what the song was like. Kate: But, it’s still an important memory to me.

Victor: …Memories are like magic. A protective spell, so we can continue to live on.

There was something wistful in his expression, so I asked him a question.

Kate: Do you also have an important memory like that?

Victor: I do.

Victor gently ran his finger across the music box.

Victor: When I think back over that memory, it gives me the strength to face forward and keep going. Victor: It’s the greatest magic I know.

The tenderness in every word was a match for the soft melody of the music box.

Kate: That’s wonderful.

I could only imagine how precious of a memory it could be. Victor, still smiling softly, said nothing more. I closed my eyes, feeling as if the cut-off melody of my memories was being pieced back together. That melody still lived on, even now.

[pubbamoon]

04. ROHINI NAKSHATRA (10°00' TAURUS - 23°20' TAURUS)

Rohini nakshatra is the fourth nakshatra in Vedic astrology. It's located fully in Taurus, a fixed and earth sign ruled by Venus, which is about having a short, but a good time and having fun. The combination between the Moon and Venus makes this nakshatra about nurturing, youth, creativity, desire, fertility, materialism and growth. If you have Sun, Moon, Ascendant, chart ruler or Atmakaraka in Rohini nakshatra, then we can say that you have the prominent Rohini nakshatra in your chart.

Rohini nakshatra is the Star of Ascent, and the word ascent means rising, ascending, growing, developing etc. The power of this nakshatra is to grow. Rohini nakshatra relates to garden and agriculture. The planet Moon, the ruler of this nakshatra, is a luminary which represents light, the mind, manifesting and bringing things into existence. The symbol of this nakshatra is a chariot, representing movement and progress in life. Rohini in English means the red one and the color red relates to passion and desire. People with prominent Rohini nakshatra in their chart usually have nurturing and creative abilities and are also passionate and attached to material things.

The deity of Rohini nakshatra is Lord Krishna, the Hindu god of protection, love and compassion. He is always pictured playing a flute and is the major deity in Hinduism. With that being said, people with the prominent Rohini nakshatra in their chart are romantic, drawn to music, can even be musicians and are liked by everyone. This nakshatra gives people a popularity or some form of a luxurious life, since Rohini nakshatra relates to luxury and materialism. In mythology, Rohini was a Hindu goddess of the stars and a wife of Chandra (Moon). You might also hear that the deity of Rohini nakshatra is Prajapati (Brahma), the Hindu god of creation.

The yoni/animal of Rohini nakshatra is a male snake/serpent, representing possession, seduction, charm and romance. The Rohini natives may likely be charming people who try to seduce their partner for romantic purposes. There is an exaltation point of the shadow planet Rahu in Rohini nakshatra, at the 20° of Taurus. Rahu represents materialism, so it makes Rohini a materialistic nakshatra.

The padas of Rohini nakshatra:

Pada 1 (10°00' Taurus - 13°20' Taurus) - Aries Navamsa

Pada 2 (13°20' Taurus - 16°40' Taurus) - Taurus Navamsa

Pada 3 (16°40' Taurus - 20°00' Taurus) - Gemini Navamsa

Pada 4 (20°00' Taurus - 23°20' Taurus) - Cancer Navamsa

Celebrities with Rohini nakshatra in their chart:

Marilyn Monroe - Rohini Sun

Angelina Jolie - Rohini Sun

John F. Kennedy - Rohini Sun

Barrack Obama - Rohini Moon

Gwyneth Paltrow - Rohini Moon

Tina Turner - Rohini Moon

Queen Victoria - Rohini Sun, Moon and Ascendant

Kristen Stewart - Rohini Ascendant

Will Smith - Rohini Ascendant

Best regards, Paky McGee

[manias-wordcount]

Hello! I hope your taking requests

ciel x reader, it’s like an au where ciel is still the Queen’s Guard/Watch Dog except Queen Victoria is replaced with the reader as the Queen. Not like future Queen like she is ruling the country. She is still very young, perhaps one or two years older than ciel with a crown that is too big for her head and heavy making her movements slow. She’s much like the Queen of Hearts from the original Alice in Wonderland. With her being very strict and easy to offend, often leading to the beheading of people. Other than that she is quite calm and likes it when people make her laugh. She’s very well educated and efficient with all the responsibilities that follow behind her even at her age, so she has quite a lot of free time that she spends with ciel.

Queen! Reader HCs (Ciel Phantomhive)

𝗔/𝗡: 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆!

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?

𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚?

You weren’t expecting to rise to power so quickly and yet here you are

For the most part, your subjects are fine with you…or perhaps it’s that they fear you

Nevertheless, you still do know that deep down inside, you’re still young at heart

So maybe that’s why you like to spend so much time in your guard dog’s manor

Because Ciel is a polite and respectful enough boy to you

And admittedly, you’ve grown to see him as a friend in between the long hideaways in his library and the quiet tea-time sessions you both share in his garden 

You feel that although your relationship started purely transactional, this relationship the two of you have could bloom into something more one day

Or maybe that’s just you coping with the fact that you’re never surrounded by anyone your own age these days

…And maybe all the times Ciel has offered to fix your hair and your crown for you is really starting to mess with your heart (but that’s an issue you and your court can deal with on another day)

That being said, his staff is nice enough too

Sebastian is probably the most efficient butler you’ve ever met, and the other three make you laugh much more than they disappoint you

They’re much better than the boring and stiff members of your staff who always drag down your mood by acting too prim and proper (especially in the moments when you don’t want that!)

 So the Phantomhive Staff make the perfect excuse to visit your guard dog for a bit of relaxation time

And although you’re still his queen and he is still you’re loyal subject

It is truly nice to meet a boy who doesn’t fear your every word and lives in a house full of people who make you laugh every time you come to visit

[deepinthegroves]

༺✧ my royalty dr ✧༻

"you could have the world at your whim, and yet you use it purely for love? i don't understand you." "you don't have to. he's my whole world, i'll do everything for him." a scoff. "if you say so."

Rowan Amara Victoria [REDACTED] is the 4th Princess of Spain, and the 7th in line for the throne. She bears a very different appearance to her siblings, with dark hair and green eyes, though that can be attributed to her being adopted by the Queen of Spain since she was a baby. It was said that she had been left in the royal gardens, and the Queen herself had taken pity on the child and taken her in – and how glad she must be, with how talented the Princess is!

It is said that the Princess is skilled at many instruments, including but not limited to the piano, violin, and flute. She is also known to speak many languages and is known to be very charismatic and friendly, easily charming up the foreign nobles. It is no wonder that she is friends with the princes of Italy, England, and France, to name a few!

Though she had a close call with a cult when she was younger, something that the royal family has hushed up with very few details about the incident, it seems as if it did not affect the Princess, and we are all the more glad for it.

"you once asked me why I'd give up having the world for love... is that what you want?" "..you know it is." "mm. i'll lay it at your feet then."

Gion Zecchino. The second Prince of Italy, born to the second Queen. A prodigy, with a high IQ and is known to be charismatic. He will do everything, work at everything, till he is the best he could be at it, because it is the only way to be the best, to get to the level his grandfather, the King Emeritus, approves of. He will best his half-brother, the current heir to the throne, no matter what – even if it's clear that he is merely a simpleton and he has been covering up for Giovanni's mistakes his whole life.

He does not care for anyone. He insists upon it. It is a weakness he cannot afford. And yet... in the privacy of his room, in the company of only himself and his mind, he'd admit, he has a soft spot for three people. Livio, his bodyguard and aide who he's known since childhood; Gina, his little sister, the one who he'd spoil and protect; and Rowan, that infuriating princess who he could never figure out.

hands grab at my arm, pulling me back. "you need to be more careful," he hisses, lips against my ear. i turn, green eyes meeting blue ones, scanning over his beautiful face. "so you do care."

meeting in the hallways of the Italian palace was fate, a event that set the ball rolling. my heart may have belonged to another at this point, much to his irritation and confusion, but it'd eventually be his. i understand him, he doesn't fully understand me – that is our dynamic and he doubts it'd ever change.

he knows of the pending marriage arrangement from my mother, and the both of us has worked out an arrangement where we both benefit from this future marriage. we've always worked well together, and it wouldn't change with this arrangement – it might even improve it. but how much of the line has blurred between a necessary arrangement and true feelings? hell if he knows.

poor Gion, surrounded by weirdos and freaks... first Anu, now me.

notes: very much based on a comic series, but i don't think it's really well known and i don't want to reveal my location based off of it LMAO. if you think you know the comic, hmuuuu i need to talk about this with fellow fans. relationship post probably coming soon.. i have a significant amount of things to share about this dr. (edit: can't believe tumblr fucked up my formatting at first..)

[emaadsidiki]

The Water Lily Pond ⚘༉ ࿐ྀུ ❀ꦿ֗

One instant, one aspect of nature contains it all. ~Claude Monet

[pmamtraveller]

JAMES SANT - A THORN AMIDST THE ROSES, 1887

This is a depiction of two Victorian women seated in a garden. One of them pricked by a Thorn while the other helps remove it. Sant, influenced by prominent artists like John Varley, created this work during a period when such domestic scenes were popular in Victorian art.

As the Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria, appointed in 1872, Sant was immersed in the artistic expectations of the time, particularly regarding depictions of beauty and innocence. His experience with royal portraiture likely informed his approach to symbolism in this painting, where the thorn represents the duality of love and pain. This connection to royalty allowed Sant to refine his style, evident in this work.

Sant's style significantly influenced Victorian art through his focus on portraiture, particularly of women and children. His royal connection elevated his status, allowing him to set trends in portraiture that emphasized both beauty and narrative. His works often featured allegorical elements, reflecting the complexities of life and relationships, which became a hallmark of Victorian art during this period.

The one challenge that Sant faced was Queen Victoria's dissatisfaction with his portraits. Sant got criticism from the Queen, who disliked his depictions of her. This disapproval led to her refusal to sit for future portraits. Consequently, while Sant continued to paint other notable figures and enjoyed some success, the shadow of the Queen's discontent affected his reputation and legacy, as he was unable to fulfill the expectations associated with his royal appointment.

[jgthirlwell]

Prometheus’ Garden is a 1988 film by the acclaimed clay animator Bruce Bickford (1947–2019), well known for his collaborations with Frank Zappa.

The film was updated in 2024 with a new reimagined score created by 28 artists, who contributed one minute each : JG Thirlwell, The Residents, Bradford Reed, Victoria Keddie, Edley ODowd (Psychic TV), Ian Williams (Battles), Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Michel Langevin (Voivod), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Mv Carbon, Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt), David J, Jim Coleman and many more. The new version of the film was produced by Eric White, Aaron Guadamuz & Sam Zimmerman.

The NYC premiere will be a 2pm matinee on March 22 2025 at TV Eye in Queens. Tickets available here

[teatimeatwinterpalace]

Afternoon Tea in the Garden of Clarence House, 1897. (x) Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince George, Duke of York later King George V, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess Victoria Melita, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine, Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess Mary, Duchess of York later Queen Mary, Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine.