#the winter palace

[hoiist]

[gravedigg]

Representatives of the Inquisition, tucked away from the din at the Winter Palace.

[apoemaday]

The Winter Palace

by Philip Larkin

Most people know more as they get older: I give all that the cold shoulder.

I spent my second quarter-century Losing what I had learnt at university.

And refusing to take in what had happened since. Now I know none of the names in the public prints,

And am starting to give offence by forgetting faces And swearing I’ve never been in certain places.

It will be worth it, if in the end I manage To blank out whatever it is that is doing the damage.

Then there will be nothing I know. My mind will fold into itself, like fields, like snow.

[vladimirka]

old Dragon Age Inquisition x BKDK

[meg-does-art]

Halamshiral

[No reposts or use with AI]

[wolfwhisperertf]

These two have me giggling and kicking my feet!

[animezinglife]

"I thought you didn't dance." "For you, I'll try."

[5queerducksinatrenchcoat]

my girl's out here playing her own fucken game

she DOES NOT like gaspard, but DOES like the idea of briala having official power to help the elves when leliana brings it up.

she thinks about the locket she found: celene obviously still loves briala, and briala definitely still has feeling for celene, even after all *gestures widely at 'the masked empire'*

the wheels in her head start turning, and she's certain she can make this work out how she wants.

emmaera's not really a big manipulator, but it's really only celene that's getting it, and orlesian nobles are fair game tbh

[cansofbees]

halamshiral

[moonlightheretic]

"Don't tell me.... Are you jealous of this frock?" "Most certainly. I would rather see layers of such...outspoken fabrics festooning at your ankles, a pity it must only remain a thought."

[ladydeadrabbit]

Rhythm [Cassandra Pentaghast]

Rating: General audience

Warnings: None

Category: F/M

Fandom: Dragon Age

Relationship: MaleInquisitor/Cassandra Pentaghast

Summary: Male Lavellan Inquisitor wants to dance with the beautiful, but stubborn, Cassandra Pentaghast.

Your bored, tired eyes glazed over across the crowd of party-goers as you swirled the glass of sparkling champagne in one hand while the other buried itself deep within the pocket of the black dress pants of your tuxedo. Quiet piano music played off into the background as chatter and laughter filled the air. You sighed once, took a sip, and sighed again as your [eye colored] gaze moved from one spot to the next.

From across the room, you could spot the short stature of Varric Tethras sitting at a table with a crowd around him- more than likely, he was telling an over-exaggerated tell about you. Probably something along the lines of "and then Lavellan slew a bear single-handedly with his eyes closed."

You chuckled at the thought before something, in the corner of your eye caught your attention.

Turning your head, your breath caught in your throat at the sight before you.

There, leaning against the wall fidgeting nervously, was Cassandra Pentaghast. Her athletic build was squeezed into a slim, open-legged, black dress. The long braid she'd normally have pinned to her head was now let-loose to flow down her backside.

You must've been staring as she turned and caught your eye. She offered a small smile before wading her way through the crowd and over to your side.

"Some party Vivienne has decided to throw, huh?" Her thick accent flowed through your pointed ears as her dark chocolate-colored eye's met yours.

"Haha, yeah. But I'm not really one for these types of things...." you shrugged as your gaze nervously moved away from her.

"I...can relate," she admitted. "I only came because Viv insisted that I wear this dress," she gestured down to herself.

"Vivie does have divine taste's. You look wonderful, Cassandra." This time you met her gaze. She needed to see that you were telling her the truth and not just trying to be nice in hopes of not offending her.

Cas' face instantly burned red at the unexpected compliment just as the band, that was previously playing something light and soft, kicked up the beat to some soft Jazz-swing music.

"Hey," you caught her attention again. "Would you like to dance?"

"N-No! No...I can't, really, I'm a horrible dancer."

"Awe common, Cassie, you can't be that bad." You held out your hand for her to take, "I'll lead."

Hesitantly, and mush to your surprise, she took your hand.

You started off with the simple one step forward two step's back as you guided her with your right hand on her hip and the left one holding her's.

At first, the ravenette was tense in your hold and kept stumbling over her own feet. But with soft-spoken words of encouragement and gentle eyes locked to her's in reassurance. You physically felt the muscle's in her back relax and her stronghold your hand and shoulder loosen.

And before you knew it, there was a small circle gathered around the two of you clapping to the beat, and Cassandra was smiling brightly than the sun.

And as the song mellowed out and your dance came to an end Cassandra pulled you into a kiss.

"Thank you, Lavellan, I didn't know you had such a good rhythm."

"If you think that's good rhythm then you should come up to my room tonight," you sent her a goofy wink- to which she rolled her eyes at.

[worker-and-soldier]

Two portraits of Alexander Kerensky painted in 1917 by Ilya Yefimovich Repin, along with a photograph of Kerensky in the same year and location (the former Tsar's library in the Winter Palace).

Source, with more interesting information.

[hotcocoandmarshmallows]

If I had a nickle for every European palace that was stormed by revolutionaries and then turned into an art museum (in this chapter of my textbook) I would have three nickles. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened 3 times.

[urdnotcadash]

| Sunshine Cadash | Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts | 8/10 “We will save Thedas from calamity, but only together may we accomplish this.”

[thedreadfulwolf]

going for a public truce in wewh because I just know Mharaven doesn't give a damn who's on the throne has long as the worried about the world ending threat

like "idk you're all assholes just focus for a moment"

[starshiningsirius]

FROM ANASTASIA! 🤔😫🫠😩

The Winter Palace / The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg; photo by @memory-of-the-romanovs