#turquoise tiled fireplaces

[exo-plushie]

Open Family Room Inspiration for a large timeless open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room remodel with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

[rocketjumper]

Traditional Family Room Family room: large traditional open concept family room idea with gray walls, a tile fireplace, a standard fireplace, and no television.

[lecter-starling]

Mediterranean Living Room - Living Room Inspiration for a large mediterranean formal and enclosed marble floor and beige floor living room remodel with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

[chasing-after-memories]

Enclosed Living Room in Los Angeles

[neotattooart]

Family Room Open (Los Angeles)

[yorkfactorycomplaint]

Dining Room - Enclosed

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Delightful 1860 stone folly, (a building that has little or no function, and pretends to be something that it is not. The building of follies was especially popular in England during the 18th and 19th centuries), in Gloucester, UK. 3bds, 2ba, £525k / $685,230. The house needs some refreshing- the carpeting is worn and some of the walls seem yellowed.

I love the pink fireplace and the chandelier. It will need new flooring, though.

The wallpaper in the dining room is cute, but it looks yellowed. The carpet is shot, too. It's a sizeable space, so it could look very nice.

The large kitchen looks like a playhouse kitchen, doesn't it?

The large family room features sunny yellow walls, a painted beam, and turquoise fireplace.

Vintage bath with some fancy tiles.

In the primary bedroom, the bed should probably go into the nook on the right.

This is cute. I really like the closets.

Isn't this adorable? Some cute and colorful furniture would be amazing in here.

The 2nd bath is blue, which could be nice.

Oh, this smaller bedroom also has a built-in nook. Very nice.

Larger room that fits 3 beds. It could also have a nice sitting area and desk if it has fewer beds.

I like the tile in this bath. Victorian toilet and stained glass window gives a vintage look.

Tiered patios in the back.

Two stone outbuildings.

Lovely pond.

The original little folly was expanded to make it a large home.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152084159#/?channel=RES_BUY

[spindrifters]

hey, 12 and 20 for the ask game? xx

12. What inspired this wip

divine madness, as discussed.

but also! sort of a need to poke at the parts of the world in canon I'm most uncomfortable with, the question of what would happen if I pulled on that just a little bit more and maybe said the quiet parts out loud. where does that inevitably lead to? and is there a way to jiggle certain parts around to make them work?

that, and wanting to explore how any large-scale revolution is going to begin with much smaller, internal, personal revolutions. I really wanted to write a story about healing.

20. Describe your favourite location

how do I pick?? there are a few, but I have to go with (SPOILER ALERT) hope and sarah's house on phoenix isle.

The turquoise house sits some ways back from the cliff’s edge, faded from time and wind and salt. A two-story cottage, its small vegetable garden out front overgrown from several weeks’ neglect. Inside, the kitchen is bright and exploding with color — green-tiled countertops and wind chimes made of shell dangling from the window.

there's a mezuzah on the front doorframe, a huge scrubbed wooden table in the kitchen and all sorts of sephardi food and a radio that's always playing, and a big back shed where hope keeps all her engineering projects and other tinkering bits. the living room is small but cozy, with lots of books and squashy chairs and couches, and on the mantel over the fireplace are shabbat candlesticks and sarah's wand and the framed photo of lyall and remus, and sarah's art and various ayin haras hang around everywhere. upstairs is the little white bathroom with a tub. hope and sarah's room is bigger, and it looks out to the nearby shore. remus's room is a little smaller, but it has a big bed with a quilt sarah made, and the windows are big and they look out to the road and the island's forest trees. there's a little bookcase filled to bursting and there are lots of warm clothes in his dresser and half of them belong to sirius and one of the jumpers was given to him by isaac and he's just started putting his drawings up on the walls.

wip ask game

[havethetouch]

update~

Still alive n kicking my guys, disassembling ikea furniture like it owes me a shitton of money and packing boxes with a vengance.

I am also incredibly pissed off currently but that works fine for me because spite is a good fuel and I have to get shit done so it works in my favour. Don't worry my absolute darling sibling from other parental units helped me through the thick of emotional bs I stumbled into a few days ago so I am doing well in spite of shit which is good because I don't have time for any of that crap anyway.

The 14th is gonna be M-day sponsored by Mama and BroBro and their sick ass big cars and if we employ our generational Tetris skills we might get this show on the road with just one big trip.

And given that the big day is around the corner I am vibrating again with possibility and my inherited need to make home and nest I am so ready to flip off the flat and run for them hills baby~

So yeah big excite around the corner lotsa stuff to remember still like quitting the utilities and have my mail forwarded to catch stragglers ans all that jazz. First thing to assemble after will be my workroom obviously everything else is secondary. My darling aunt gifted me her slim glass cabinets that I will mount to the wall and sort my inkbottles into which already has me giddy mainly because sorting these babies after type and colour is the most carthatic thing ever and I earned myself some carthasis me thinks.

Imma post some pics once I'm done with it, still need to rig up the electricity in the workroom up properly bc right now it has a 50s chandelier going and that is not enough light for a proper workroom especially since I am a nocturnal beast and good light makes the difference when mixing colours and getting the hues right (used to have a real shitty desklamp and had sometimes to go off memory with my tools to get the colours right which is a point of pride but also wasn't fun). Anywaythe workroom will get the all white treatment mostly, white furniture (imma sand down my table and repaint that in white too), mostly white walls to hang my favourite artworks without visual discrations and some turquoise accents. Other side of the workroom gets a bigass rattan circular disk chair I dream of a massive thing with pillows and blankets that I can curl up in like a nest while I do embroidery and I even saw some neat fireplaces that come in white too which will be needed bc the workroom is hit with cold on two fronts as it is the last room on the corner of the house and it gets icy, which mind, is good for my materials like the copics bc it will keep em usable longer but I need the fireplace to warm myself up in winter if I stay too long in there which I will bc I can draw for hours and should not become an icicle while I am at it hah.

Either way plans start to take actual shapes now and it's hella nice. But also lotsa work ahead like I need to retile my bathroom at some point too. The good things about all my renovation projects and plans for breathing new life in some of the furniture is that I can do most stuff by myself bc my dad was a handy man and he taught me a broad spectrum of things you usually call handimens and specialists for. Hope my old man looks down at me fondly from whichever afterlife and laughs his ass off when I start cursing over retiling the bathroom though bc tiles are lil bitches but man I can't wait. I am so excited.

[amberfaber40]

There's No Subway Tile in Spain

There's No Subway Tile in Spain

Seville was the first stop on our trip to Spain and Italy. We stayed right in the downtown core in

Modern-Spanish Style Color Palette

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Breathtaking and peaceful

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Casa Turquoise Spanish Colonial | Integrity Luxury Homes

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Designed by George Washington Smith in the 1920s, the Spanish Revival residence exemplifies the best of Southern Californian living.

Seville was the first stop on our trip to Spain and Italy. We stayed right in the downtown core in a lovely boutique hotel that served afternoon tea and a lovely buffet breakfast each morning.Back home, I have walked into so many homes where there is an elaborately ornate staircase design that often looks totally out of place. Now I know where the design was inspired. And it fits right in here. Along with the tile after one of my followers on Instagram noted “There’s no subway tile Maria”.So that’s what inspired this post. Which was easy to write because I took so many photos of all the tile work.I know many of you, who are longtime readers, might fall off your chair or drop your morning coffee but here is where decorative tile has a place:This was a doorway in the reception area of the hotel:Here’s the staircase (below):The first night, we had dinner in a nearby restaurant. I liked the way the muted red encaustic tile related to the bricks on the same wall (below):And it also worked well with the black and white tile floors:This was the backsplash tile in the breakfast room, back in the hotel (below):This was the floor in the Seville Cathedral nearby (below):Then we toured the Real Alcazar of Seville, castle and gardens. Gorgeous tiles everywhere (below):       When does this kind of tile work back home? In context with a Spanish/Mediterranean style home, with an exterior that possibly looks like this:Image sourceAn entry staircase with iron railings ornate or not (below):Centsational StyleWood beamed ceilings, ornate, spanish style pendants, black, arched windows, all belong in a house with this colourful tile (below):image sourceYou could also design a terra cotta floor with a turquoise kitchen (below):Image sourceIn this Spanish kitchen with the beams in the ceiling and curved plaster hood fan, I could even live with the blue backsplash because it’s been repeated in the plates and tile underneath the window.Image sourcePerhaps your styling might look like this with the Spanish style wall sconce as well:Image sourceIn a Spanish style home, your powder room could look like this (below). Notice the arched doorway and perfect light fixture.Image sourceI love this fireplace design (below). So classic and timeless. Again, notice the beams and the arched french doors. The beautiful outdoor fireplace too with the iron gate.image sourceIt’s rare that I think a black leather sofa looks good but here in this more neutral ‘Spanish inspired’ living room, it works. Because there’s not too much black to make it heavy and masculine (below):image sourceWhat I have seen all too often is people will go on a trip to Europe and fall in love with a particular style and when they get home they start adding these random design elements that in no way work with the existing style of their home.That’s where random arches that have no place suddenly appear, or the busy, ornate staircase railing I mentioned at the beginning of this post or random rows of tile on a staircase kick that in no way belongs.Decorative tile has a place. And that place is definitely not as a random strip in your kitchen backsplash or shower surround.At least if you’re going to introduce accent tile, go big or go home, (like the bathroom image above) but don’t just install bits and pieces of it. Decorative tile is like a strong wall colour. If you’ve decided to paint a room red, go for it, don’t just paint it on a single wall, that rarely works.Related post: A New Way to Design Accent Tile: Ceramic ArchitectureHere are a couple more images once we arrived in Barcelona: Here I am sitting outside at dinner in a Tapas restaurant in Seville:The sidewalks in Seville were mostly concrete in a hex shape! Isn’t that incredible? You can see it behind me too in the photo above.Hexagonal concrete tile in SevilleYou’ll notice white walls are big in Spanish design. If this is the stye of your home and you need to choose the right white, download my ebook,  White is Complicated; A Decorators Guide to Choosing the Right White, here. Or take advantage of our eDesign services here, to find your perfect paint colour.We fly into Naples tomorrow and our first stop on our Amalfi Coast tour is Capri Island! I can’t wait, follow along on my Insta stories here.Do you like Spanish style design?Related post:Why Stone and Accent Tile are Not as Important as you ThinkOne more Reason you Should Skip Accent Tiles AltogetherAsk Maria: What Mood does Black and White Convey, Warm or Cool?SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

[bluewavesofchange]

The girl and the dragon

I don't own Yugioh or it's characters or Beauty and the beast

Chapter 14

Zigfried had ridden for several days and nights before arriving at his destination, a large manor like building sitting on a hill top on the outskirts of Paris, a menacing looking fence surrounding it. The front gates stood closed but weren't locked. The pink haired man got off his steed and tied him to the fence before making his way up the stone path leading to the manor, already hearing the screams of the patrons inside, their wails and shrieks sending a shiver down the man's spine. He sees a silhouette in one of the windows, the figure banging against the glass to be let out but is eventually dragged away by someone else. It was disturbing to say the least, but it needed to be done. This was the only way he would get what he wanted.

He walks up the white stone steps, reaching the door and knocking. He only waited a moment before the door opened, a man with shaggy brown hair dressed in a white button up shirt with a red waistcoat and black trousers, a pair of spectacles on his nose. He had a deceptive smile on his face as he spoke in a cockney accent, "Good day, sir. Welcome t' the Oricalcos institute for the mentally ill. Y'here t' be admitted, or ya droppin' someone else off?"

Zigfried rolled his eyes, "Valon it's me. I'm here to see Dr. Dartz. Is he in?" this wasn't the first time Zigfried had visited this place, nor was it the first time he had come up with a scheme to send someone here to get his way. He got rid of a lot of people he disliked by threatening to have them admitted here, the institute had a habit of accepting basically anyone into their walls...even if they weren't mentally ill...rumour had it that they would never be heard from again...

Valon adjusted his glasses, "Ere now, the good doctor's in. You got an appointment, then?" he smirks as Zigfried sighed in frustration. He wanted to say something else when another figure came into view, a tall muscular man with dirt blond hair dressed in a white nurse attendant outfit. He wore an apathetic expression on his face, his cold blue eyes staring Zigfried down before turning his attention to Valon, "Enough of your games Valon. Let Mr. Von Schroeder in." the brunet frowned as he stepped aside to let Zigfried in as he glared at the muscular man, "Oi, 'ow come you gotta go and muck about wiv me fun Raphael?"

The blond man looked at him emotionlessly, "Don't you have filing to do?" Valon pouted before walking back to the reception desk that was littered with papers. Raphael turns back to Zigfried, "My apologies sir. Dr. Dartz is in his office. You know the way." He leaves without another word heading down the hall. The pink haired man headed in the opposite direction. The lower flower was mostly quiet, the elderly were kept on this level while those who were more unstable were kept deeper in the manor and on the upper floors.

The halls were clean and well kept, doors to rooms along the walls were locked tight, and keeping whoever resided in the confines was sealed away. The heels on Zigfried's heels clicked on the white tile floors as he eventually came across a set of doors that were different from the others, these having the names of the doctors that ran this place on them. He found the one he was looking for and knocked on the door. A voice from inside told him to enter and he slowly steps inside.

The room was interesting to say the lease, the walls where a grey colour with a few stone pillars carved into them, artworks that depicted ancient Greece hanging around the space, a few busts of historical figures stood on the pedestals. There was a fireplace with snakes decorating the sides; above the mantel was a large painting of a man with turquoise hair dressed in a fine white suite and a pendant made of a green gem hanging from his neck. His eyes were two different colours and in the background was the very manor that Zigfried was standing in.

There was a large brown desk standing in front a set of windows, grey curtains tied back to let the sunlight in. And sitting at the desk was Dr. Dartz, a man of mystery and a dark past. Not much was known about him as he just showed up one day with the deed to the old manor on the hill, claiming to be a doctor who could work with the mentally ill. The building was under renovations for a while before it opened its doors a few years ago, becoming an institute for those suffering from mental issues.

Throughout the years it became well known and a respected place, it was a good place that helped those where were deemed undesirable. However to others it was a place you sent people that you wished to dispose of. Politian's who wanted their rivals gone, family's that wished to gain inheritance, men that wished to get rid of their wives to go after younger woman or their mistresses, people that simply wanted revenge or were spiteful towards someone else...

They would disappear into the manor and were never heard from again...

The other doctors were somewhat aware of what was going on but stayed out of the way when it came to Dartz and his two followers as people called them; Valon and Raphael. They showed up round about the same time as Dartz and followed his every will and command. Valon was quirky, always carrying a smile on his face and acting friendly...but if you mess with him, well anyone you loved or cared for would vanish into thin air and so would any evidence that they ever existed. Rumour was he belonged to one of the biggest crime families in England, the rulers of the great countries underground...

Raphael was the complete opposite of Valon, he was quiet and reserved, keeping to himself and looking at others with an unreadable expression. He was incredibly strong and could easily handle the patients that experienced violent outbursts without even break a sweat. He followed Dartz orders religiously and without question. Didn't matter if it was an instruction to get rid of a body or restrain a patient or even to go fetch a person from the door, he obeyed ever command. He had no personality otherwise which was strange as some rumours had it that he was once an unground fighter with a temper that led him to kill someone (though it was never proven) and that after one trip to Dr. Dartz and the man became a blank canvas and obedient man servant...was he drugged? Tortured? Hypnotised? No one could be sure but one thing was clear the brute's whole personality was just gone.

There used to be a fourth member of this strange group but he simply disappeared one day, a young man by the name of Alister who had lost his little brother when he was young...the trauma and loss making him nearly mad with grief until Dartz got a hold of him, the man seeming to be completely cured of his depression and insanity and turning his life around to become an investigator of sorts...getting any bit of dirt on Dartz's patients or the people that were against the doctor. However one stormy night fighting could be heard from Dartz office, a few moments later Alister stormed out shouting that he was doing to make the man pay for everything that he did...the next day however Alister was gone with no signs or records that he ever existed...

Dartz looked up from the papers on his desk, a slight smile on his face as he stood up while straightening his jacket, "Mr. Von Schroeder, always a pleasure to see you." He walked around the table to shake the Zigfried's hand before guiding him to sit in one of the chairs at his desk, "Likewise doctor." The young man replied as he sat down.

Dartz walked over to the glass cabinet and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of wine, bringing it over and pouring them each a drink, "So what can I do for you on this fine day?" the doctor handed Zigfried his glass before sipping from his own.

The pink haired man eyed the red liquid for a moment before taking a drink, the rich bitter taste covering his tongue, letting out a sigh at the flavour, "I came to ask for your assistance on a rather difficult matter that I have found myself in..." he glanced up at the doctor as he smirked, "...A matter that your expertise is qualified for."

This seemed to intrigue the other man as he sat back down, "Is that so? And who is the unwilling patient that needs admission to my humble institute?"

Zigfried sat back as he continued to drink his wine, "I have two patients in mind actually. An old man by the name of Sugoroku Muto has clearly gone insane and his dying grandson Yugi Muto..." Dartz raised a brow, his interest growing as the other continued, "...You see Mr. Muto has a granddaughter that I do believe is unfit to be taking care of an loony old man and her brother that could drop dead any day now...so why not send them here where they can be..." Zigfried sets his glass down and pulls out a small bag of gold coins and sets it on the doctors desk, "...taken care of here." He states as he pushes the bag towards Darts.

The doctor carefully takes the pouch and opens it, counting the coins that were visible as his smile turned to a grin, "And what of the granddaughter? Won't she be against this help that you wish to offer her family members?" Zigfried shook his head, a look of malice forming in his eyes, "I will be taking care of her. She'll need someone to comfort her when she discovers her family has passed away in this place...after all her brother has been sick since the day he was born and her grandfather is well past his prime." He downs his glass of wine, setting it down on the wooden desk, "If she had only agreed to marry me...then none of this would have to happen...perhaps if she changes her mind and agree to become my wife then she would see them alive and well again...or not. After all accidents do happen..."

He leans forward with a nasty grin on his face, "Do you think you can help me doctor?" Dartz mulls the thought over in his head as he closes the pouch and slips it into his pocket, "It'll take some time to make preparations but we should be able to help you on the matter." The men stand up and shake hands, "I will be congratulating you on your engagement when the day comes." Both men laughing darkly.

The morning sun glowed over the castle, its light seeping through the window of Serena's room, hitting her face as she was roused from her sleep. Her eyes slowly opened as she sat up, yawning softly as she stretched. She took a moment to wake up and looked around her room, it was the same one she had woken up in all those days ago, thinking it would be her prison for the rest of her days but now she saw it as her space...possibly her home away from home...

Home...

A pang of sadness filled her heart. This had been the longest that she had been away from her family. She had been at her brother's side since he was two, now it had been more than a week since she last saw him. Was he alright? Did the flower work? Was he going to live? She didn't know...

Seto had told her she had repaid her debt to him and had told her she could leave which was odd considering how he was when they met...but she had decided to stay, to get to know him and throughout the past few days she enjoyed spending time with him, he wasn't this monster that he made himself appear to be but rather someone who was sophisticated and sweet even...kind...thoughtful...things that she didn't expect to come from him. And she saw the compassionate and loving side slip through the cracks of the beast when his little brother joined them and they would spend time together...

...making it feel like...a family...

She got out of bed and walked over to the dresser, a basin of fresh warm water waiting for her as she dipped a cloth in it. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment and removed the gaze and bandages on her cheek...the three slashes were healing nicely and would leave behind nothing back faint scars. A part of her still feared the Kaiba, the part that reminded her what he had done to her and that he seen her as his property (the letters on her arm was a reminder of that) but the other side of her knew better. No one is born evil and it is the events in their lives that guide them to becoming vicious and terrible people...or they hide away the vulnerable sides of themselves behind a mask of anger and rage to protect them and she believed that was the case with Seto...

She had caught glimpses of faint scars on his body when she was still treating him and taking care of him while his injuries healed; they were years old from what she could tell, some more faded than others but all telling a story of abuse, hidden away by scales and by a mask of a man that wished to protect himself. She wanted to know more, to ask about them but she knew better, she would give him chance to open up to her and trust her, wanting to help him heal from his past rather than let it weigh him down any longer.

She didn't know why she was doing any of this, maybe it was because of the fact that he had saved her or she felt sorry for him or because she had been a caretaker for most of her life...but maybe it was because she saw a bit of herself in him, someone who has had to give up their childhood and lives for someone else.

It was an odd thought, she loved her little brother very dearly and she never regretted giving up her youth to care for him and her grandfather but...a selfish part of her sometimes wondered what her life would've been life if she didn't...the friends she would've had, the adventures she would've gone on like her grandfather went on in his youth, being able to attend school and make something of herself...maybe even finding love and having a family of her own...

There is a knock on the door distracting her from her thoughts as she turned towards the sound. Slowly it opened as the a young woman with brown hair dressed in a purple robe, a long feather duster in her hand, "Ms. Muto are you up?" this was Anzu, she as a kind woman that had arrived at the castle same time as Honda. She was hired as a cleaner, wish to raise the funds to attend a ballet school in Paris. But like everyone else she was trapped her, transformed into some form of witch or magic user, only she wasn't as strong as Atem or Mana.

Serena hadn't seen much of her but the girl was friendly and sweet whenever they spoke. The raven haired woman smiled at her, "I'm up. You don't need to call me Ms Anzu." The maid smiled a little, "Sorry about that. How did you sleep?"

"I slept well thank you." She hummed softly as she went to wash her face while Anzu went over to make her bed, "Master Kaiba has made an odd request of all of us today..." Serena raised a brow as she glanced over at the other, "Really? What request?"

"He wishes for us to...clean the castle..."

"And that's odd?" Serena smiled softly as she looked for something to wear. "Well that's not the odd thing...he said he would be helping us and...he requested that you joined him..." Serena stopped and looked at the woman, tilting her head curiously. What was he up to?

Everything started with gathering and throwing out anything and everything that was broken and unsalvageable. Everyone chipped in, the Kaiba brothers included, Mokuba more than happy to help while Seto was hesitant but a little encouragement from Serena helped him pick up the pace as she was eager to help as well.

On one of the trips Jou passed the other dragonoid and tripped him, Seto stumbling but Serena was there to steady him, a gentle smile on her face as she took some the things he was carrying and they walked together to dispose of it.

The next few days was filled with heavy cleaning and repairs, all the windows and doors of the castle had been opened to allow the dust to filter out, everyone armed with dusters and brooms to get rid of the dirt and cobwebs. Serena was on a ladder trying to dust off some of the high shelves in the den and cleaning the bookshelves, Seto sorting through the books and dusting them off. Mana was there too to help, peering at the two of them and summoned one of her puff balls, commanding it to bump into the ladder Serena was standing on, the woman losing her balance and falling off, her eyes closed tightly waiting for the impact she would make with the floor but it never came, finding herself in Seto's arms who had moved quickly to catch her, a gentle look in his eyes as he gazed at her.

More instances of this kept happening as the days past, the bond between Serena and the Seto growing more and more...just being around each other would bring a smile to the woman's face as she got to see more of the man Seto had once been...the other glancing at her when she wasn't looking and hiding a smile...

The castle started to look more like it did back before the curse and before Gozuburo came to live there. The walls getting a fresh coat of paint after the claw marks and holes were patched up. Those who could wield magic restored the portraits that had been ruined and replaced the carpets with new ones, the curtains were renewed, once again framing the windows with vibrant blue colours, Honda and Jou worked on repairing the furniture that could still be rescued and fixed what they could. Ryou was responsible for restoring the medical rooms and Melvin worked in the kitchen (though there wasn't much to repair there as he had kept his kitchen pristine over the years). Serena would join him some days and taught him some of her recipes...

There was a day she managed to drag Seto with her, the two of them making pork buns for everyone in the castle. At first he found it annoying as he was struggling with the simplest steps as he had never once stepped foot in the kitchen but Serena was patient with him, standing beside him as she gently took hold of his clawed hands, their fingers interlacing as she guided him on what to do, though his focus wasn't on what she was teaching him but rather her presence so close to him and her hands on his, touching him without fear and with such gentleness. His lips curled into a soft smile as they worked in perfect harmony.

Then the next day nobody could find the two, not even Mokuba or Atem knew where they were. They searched the halls for hours until they reached the library, hearing voices coming from inside...peering in the two friends found the two missing persons...

Inside the library was a large table that held a map of the world, Serena was leaning over it pointing out all the different places her grandfather had visited during his life and the stories he told her of their histories and cultures. Seto was listening to every word as his eyes folded her hand as she pointed out the countries...his arm wrapped around the woman's waist, his hand resting on her hip...the two of them unaware that they were being watched...

Then there came a day when the ballroom was finally cleaned out, the white marble floor glimmering again and the chandelier sparkling as the sunlight shone in through the window, hitting it just right giving the room a magical glow. Serena stood in the centre of it, looking around the space in wonder, not even noticing when Seto approached her...standing beside her as he rests a hand on his shoulder, his gentle gaze on her as he spoke in a soft voice, "Beautiful..." Serena was pulled from her thoughts as she looked up at the other, a warm smile on her lips before looking back around the large room, "It sure is..."

Seto gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before looking around as well, memories of the balls and parties that his family use to host...the friendly face, the music, the laughter that filled this place...his mother and father dragging him and Mokuba onto the floor to dance with them, his father's laughter and jokes as he interacted with the guests...his mother's smile and graceful nature as she waltz with Hikaru...him and his little brother sneaking sweet treats and baked goods from the buffet tables and eating them in the gardens as they watched the stars...

These memories made his heart ache, things he longed for and to have again...his parents, his happiness, his childhood, everything he missed and was ripped away from him...he fell deeper and deeper into his memories as he had not thought about them in years, the pain and grief having been too much for him to handle...he never wanted this life...he wanted to grow up with his parents by his side, to watch Mokuba grow up with him with smiles on their faces...to take over from his father when he came of age, giving his parents a chance to live out the rest of their days in peace...

He had never realized how much he had truly missed the life he had had and how much he missed his parents...his mother's voice and warm hugs...his father's kind words and gentle teaching...he missed feeling safe and not having to fear getting a beating from his uncle if he made a mistake...

He was so lost in his mind that he didn't notice the tears running down his cheeks...his thoughts going into overdrive...he felt so lost and he had been lost for so long...like there would never be an end to his torment and suffering...

But then he felt something in the fog...gentle hands on his cheeks, wiping away his tears and calling out to him with the caring and soft voice...slowly he returned to himself and found himself looking deeply into Serena's eyes, a look of concern on her face, he sees her lips moving but can't hear her voice just yet...

What had he done to deserve someone like her in his life? She had become a beacon of light in the darkness that had become his existence. She treated him with kindness and care, spending time with him, teaching him and showing what it meant to be human again...she had done what neither Mokuba nor Atem could achieve in the past few years...she got him to feel again...to remember the past that he had buried so deep down in his heart...and she made him feel something he thought was impossible for someone as broken as him...he felt love...he had fallen in love with her...

He gently rests his hands over hers, giving them a soft squeeze as he leaned into her touch, the warmth from her palms seeping into his very soul as her sweet voice finally found his ears, "Seto?"

He let out a soft sigh, "I'm alright...just...reflecting..." he let go of her hands and pulled away, stepping past her as he looked around the ballroom again, "The last time this place was ever used was when I turned 16...and we were all turned into these...things..." he stared down at his clawed hands, "Before that was when my parents were still alive...when everything in this world made sense and I was happy...when life was simple..." he looked out of one of the windows, there was a tree just outside of it, the last autumn leaf falling from the branch...

Seto slowly turned back to Serena, "You should've seen the parties and balls we use to host back in the day...people from all over attended...even as far as Egypt which is where Atem is from...music, food, dancing...it was...magical in a way..."

Serena slowly walked over to him, taking his hand in hers, running her thumb over his knuckles. This was the first time he had mentioned his parents and his past...he said they had turned into strange creatures when he turned 16 which meant that something had happened that he didn't say. She could see the pain in his eyes and wished she knew how to ease him of his grief. Little did she know that just being there with him was enough...

"I'm sure they were amazing." She smiled softly, "I would've loved to have been here to see it..."

Seto nodded before a thought slowly came to mind...a grin playing on his lips, "Maybe you could still attend one..." Serena tiled her head curiously to the side as he reached over and tucked some of her hair behind her ear, "We could have a ball...tonight...just me...and you..." and then he could confess his feelings to her...

A look of confusion fell on her face as she seemed to maul the idea in her head...slowly she nodded as she intertwined her fingers with his as she held his hand, "I would love to attend a ball with you..."

[redorich]

SOLD TO ONE DORECTION BOATEM?!

chapter four

"Und hier ist mein fucked up robo-dungeon," Doc waves to a rusty trapdoor sitting conspicuously in the center of the empty floor of the boiler room. Why Doc felt the need to extend his tour of the Boatem Mansion to here is beyond Grian.

"Don't go in there, you will get electrocuted. Desu." Doc rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck loudly to cover up for the fact that he almost forgot to end his sentence with a Japanese particle.

Very suddenly, in a bout of mania or something much like it, Grian grasps Doc firmly by the shoulders and stares intently into his eyes like a man pleading for mercy before a pitiless jury. "Doc, they're not here right now. It's just us down here. I know you're fluent in English."

"Ich have nein idea what you are talking about, desu," Doc rolls his eyes. They're very hard to focus on. In the dim light of a single dangling lightbulb in this boiler room, Grian can't make out whether the man's skin is green or white. His eyes keep telling him not to think about it, not to think about the blood on his frilly maid apron or the weird placidity of his gait.

"Kein idea," Grian whimpers like a broken man.

"Anyway, we should continue the house tour, desu!" Doc says jovially. It's like he's been reset. He shrugs Grian's hands off of his shoulders and turns to the ascending stairs. For lack of anything better to do, Grian follows.

Conveniently, the door right next to the stairs has a hot pink laser-engraved nameplate with the word "Grain" on it and embossed turquoise flowers along the bottom edge.

"Hier ist your rööm, desu," Doc says, holding the door open and bowing his head like Sebastian does in Kuroshitsuji.

All the throw pillows have a black-and-off-white chevron pattern. The bed is so massive that it takes up three quarters of the room's floorspace, and the comforter that covers the whole thing is neon, striped, and furry, like someone skinned a Yo Gabba Gabba character for the Christmas fireplace-rug.

The canopy covering the bed is layered pink tulle wrapped with lit fairy lights. Grian looks up at the ceiling for a sprinkler for this fire hazard and finds none. The ceiling is made of pocked, dingy, and water-stained tiles like every public school ever. The walls are pink, and have stylized decals of "girly things" like the Eiffel tower and flamingos.

"Wait, is that..?" Grian squints, unsure that what he's seeing is real. "Is that a fathead of David Cameron on the wall?"

Grian makes the vocal equivalent of a shrug in response to his own question. "Oddly contemporary, I suppose..? Maybe someone's got opinions."

"Do you like it, desu?" Doc asks. He's so close that Grian can smell, oddly enough, vanilla perfume in the air.

Grian jumps out of his skin. "Buggering--! Christ, wear a bell!"

Doc does not move. He is still uncomfortably close.

Fed up, Grian snaps, "Social distance."

With a laugh, Doc walks backward. He keeps walking until his back hits the pink wall, then he scoots left along the wall until he hits the doorframe, as he backs out of the room, he says, "Ja, ich will now perform social distancing with mein five meters."

The words are dreadful, settling into Grian's bones like a curse. He does not want to know the significance of Doc's five meters. He feels faint.

Well, no, he's actually faint. He stumbles toward the monstrosity bed so as not to crack his head open on the floor when he passes out.

"G'night," he mumbles deliriously.

Oo.oOo.oOo.oO

A/N: OH NOEESSSS!!1! grain fainted!!!1!!1 what happens next?? ehehe leave a reveiw for next chapter >:^)

grian: WHOSE THIS GRAIN?????

me: O.o i sowwy grian-sama pls forgive watashi...

grian: humph.... *crosses arms angrily* your lucky your cute...

me: OMG grian-sama thinks watashi is kawaii??? :D

pearl: NO WAy hes MINE!!!!!!!!!!

me: back off b!tch!!!!!!!!11!@

grian: iam sorry pearl but i love author-chan not u........ we can still be nakama though

pearl: *runs away cryeing*

[believemetheodore]

Americana

Ted Lasso x Rebecca Welton

That Arizona sky, burning in your eyes Buried in my soul, like California gold Ted Considers who and what home is to him. (inspired by the lyrics from "Always remember us this way" by Lady Gaga on the A Star Is Born soundtrack)

Warnings: mentions of Ted's father's death (not explicit), mentions of divorce. Let me know if there's anything else you want me to add

It's a rare but deeply appreciated sunny day in London, and Ted finds himself squinting away the sun even behind his yellow lenses. The smell of freshly cut grass is in the air; it reminds him of warm summer days punctuated by beer bottles and sunburned shoulders. It reminds him of home. His old home. Kansas City. Richmond is his home now. 

He'd never expected to call anywhere but America home. When he started coaching, he'd known and even been excited by the prospect of moving to a different state someday. But, never had he considered a move to a different continent. Heck, he thought he'd lost his mind when he'd agreed to coach overseas. 

He's never regretted it, though. He likes to believe that fate does have a hand in some things. 

Though Richmond is where he wants to be, his mind wanders. There's a lot he misses. A lot he hopes to see again. But it's hard to say he's homesick on days like this when memories of another life echo back at him. 

He remembers spending a couple of weeks in Arizona to visit his aunt. It had been the last trip they’d taken as a family before his dad passed away. At fifteen, he hadn’t appreciated what that holiday would mean to him, even just a couple of months later. 

He would have tried harder to remember the moments he spent with his father; he would’ve kept a better hold of the words he said and the jokes he told. Still, he remembers the beauty, the feel of the yellow sand and the desert heat. He tries not to dwell on what he neglected to cherish, instead choosing to be grateful for the details and imagery that continue to bring him back there in his mind. 

Red food colouring still brings back the taste of gas station slushies he gulped down during the drive down, and the crackle of a fireplace calls up the orange glow of nightly backyard bonfires. Clay roof tiles will always be synonymous with warmth. His room had a window that opened up to part of the roof, and while he'd never been interested in sneaking out, sitting out there for the view was irresistible. Sunbaked,  brilliant turquoise sky turning sea glass green moments before sunset. The exact colour of Rebecca’s eyes. Glimmering and beguiling. Beautiful. 

He knows his breath caught in his throat the first time he noticed. All conversation about that weekend’s away match and travel details disappeared. He hopes he wasn’t just staring at her, but he couldn’t help but think it was a sign. It was a confirmation that his move to England wasn’t a mistake, a bittersweet offering from the universe, a slice of home brought to life. At the time, it wasn’t even a thought that Rebecca Welton, The Boss, and those ocean-green eyes could calm him the way they do.

Rebecca, he learned quickly, had a lot of walls built up around her. Walking herself through the narratives others had created for her. Hiding behind the person, she assumed everyone saw. Her eyes always told the truth, though, and shared the whole story.  

He is glad to have the memories and such gentle reminders of his past. The details might be hazy, but the emotion lingers. He holds tight to the feeling, the mental picture of those Arizona skies, singing along to Kenny Rogers on the car ride home with his mom and dad. He knows he was happy there, just the same as he knows Richmond, with Rebecca, is where he’s meant to be.

When Ted first arrived in England, a piece of him was missing. He’d always preached believing. Miniature copies of the sign he hung in the club’s locker room were strewn across his home like a scavenger hunt for hope. Stuck the mirror in his bathroom, taped to the back wall of his closet, hiding in the kitchen cabinets, waiting to be found when he needed them most. But, it had been easy to feel like he’d lost himself. 

There were days when it felt like he was just going through the motions, repeating his mantra to himself, but ironically not believing it. 

Separating from Michelle had hurt, and the divorce felt like his world had been flipped upside down. If he’s honest now, he thinks some of him knew that things with Michelle were over long before he got on the plane. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much love you’ve got, it’s just not the right fit, and that’s okay. He’s grateful for the times they shared together, the good and the bad. He’ll never stop thanking the stars for Henry. There’s not a single thing that he'd take back.

In grade school, Ted had been obsessed with the wild west. He’d been asked to do a project about it and spent his evenings reading books and watching old television shows his father recorded for him. The gold rush really struck his fancy. So many people so willing to pick up their lives and travel such a great distance, hoping to find gold, and strike rich. At the time, the prospect (pardon the pun), had been thrilling to him. All the excitement, the anticipation, it filled him with wonder. He dressed up like a cowboy three years in a row. He knows better now; the Hollywood magic of it all long since faded. There was nothing glamorous or romantic about the death, the sickness, the destruction, the gun fights, and the land clearing. There weren’t very many good cowboys in the end. 

Still, they had one thing going for them; a belief in something they couldn’t see. Risking it all because they believed they’d be the next lucky son of a gun to get their hands on a gold nugget. Working day in and day out, with nothing but their hope, determined to change their lives. 

And at the end of the day, that’s all life really is; believing you’re going to find that gold. Holding out for those moments and people you know will change your life forever. You believe in second chances, in love, in winning that big game, and in what is meant to be will be. It’s the hope of it all that drives us. 

He knows that it's not just one event that decides a life path or builds a philosophy, but he's sure that every little moment counts and that those days he spent pouring over those stories of California gold helped plant the seed of the power of believing. 

After Michelle, Ted didn’t think he’d get a chance to love again, and in all honesty, he was okay with that. It had taken a while to accept, even longer to figure out what to do with all the unspent adoration and the stock-piled affections he had stored away. He supposed love didn’t come with a label and learned to sprinkle some of that extra devotion into everything he did; he made better biscuits that way. 

While falling for Rebecca Welton hadn’t been his plan, he can’t say it surprised him either. The love he had to give wasn’t the love that Michelle needed. 

But Rebecca and him clicked in a way he’d never imagined. Even as friends, there was never a doubt in Ted’s mind that they were meant to know each other, and he let himself hope they could be together, glimmering and golden.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice”. Ted liked that. “Life is long,” T. S. Elliot said. A long life with lots of love, Ted could believe in that. 

He always thought falling in love should feel like waiting for a storm to roll through.

 The nervous anticipation, the fear of those strong winds and breaking branches, the adrenaline rush of twisters and cyclones circling through. He will never forget the storms from back home, the destruction they could leave in their wake without even really trying. Now he thinks love might be more like the sound of a rainstorm you know means no harm. The calm relief of normalcy. 

Though he thinks to himself, ‘normal’ is really a matter of perception. For a long time, tornado season, windstorms, and rainstorms had just been a fact of life. He appreciates the calm more now, the steady beating lulling you to sleep, the worst of the brouhaha having passed, and waking to the gentle tap tap tap on the window panes before the sun rises. The rain in London reminds him of home sometimes. Just the same as thinking of home reminds him of her sometimes. 

It’s funny how two things can still feel so intrinsically connected despite being worlds apart. Another nudge from the universe promising that moving on isn’t the same as forgetting. Having loved doesn’t mean you’re out of love to give. He keeps the past, present, and future close, holding them all safe in his heart. 

Training had taken longer than usual as they took advantage of the excellent weather to practice a few new plays. His dinner is in the fridge, covered in tin foil, his name in delicate script on a pink sticky note. Rebecca’s empty wine glass sits in the sink. 

She’s in bed already when he gets upstairs. He does his best to stay quiet, showering and getting ready for the night. Despite his efforts, her eyes are open when he climbs beneath the duvet beside her, pressing a kiss to the knuckles of her outstretched hand. 

“Didn’t mean to wake ya,” he mumbles, getting comfortable. “I’m glad you did,” she smiles, “It’s nice falling asleep with you”. “I can’t argue with that”.  

They discuss their plans for the next day, content to be warmed by the other. 

He’s glad he’s got the day off tomorrow, looking forward to moving some of the last of his belongings from his apartment into Rebecca’s townhouse. Their townhouse. And he plans on trying out an apple crumble recipe his mom sent him last week. He knows Rebecca is going to love it. 

The familiar sound of rain against the lulls them to sleep. He’s happy to be home. 

[paseoroad]

5 Rustic Bathroom Decor Ideas You Can Try For Your Home

The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in a home, but bathroom decor is often an afterthought. The good news is, it doesn't have to be.

Decorating your bathroom is an excellent way to make a design statement. And if you're looking to achieve a beautiful rustic home, you'll be glad to know there are many ways to decorate with rustic bathroom home decor.

Whether you're looking to add a simple rustic touch or do an all-over rustic refresh, we gathered the best rustic bathroom decor ideas you can try for your home.

Use natural materials like wood, stone, and metal

One of the best ways to create a rustic bathroom is to incorporate natural materials.

1. Wood

For example, adding a wooden bathroom vanity or mirror is a great way to add some rustic charm. Solid-cut wooden frames look classic, but you can also experiment with ripped-up wood for a rugged look or intricately carved frames for a more elegant feel. Distressed or unfinished wooden frames do a great job of adding a cozy, lived-in charm.

Aside from storing your bathroom towels and toiletries, wooden shelves can also be a design opportunity.

2. Stone

Using stone tiles for your floor, shower surround, or accent wall is also a practical and stylish design choice. There are plenty of stone designs to choose from, but natural stones such as marble, slate, or granite work best.

If you have enough space, you can place a large stone basin in the center of a room. This basin could function as a sink or planter. And if you’ve got even more space, incorporating a nice, toasty fireplace is a surefire way to create an elegant, rustic ambiance in your bathroom.

3. Metal

You can also look for metal wall fixtures and accessories, such as towel racks, soap holders, and tissue holders. Similar to wood, distressed or rusted-looking metal adds a beautiful, vintage appeal. Metal light fixtures near your bathtub or above your bathroom mirror are other ways to incorporate metal into your bathroom ensemble.

Copper or copper-finish bathtubs may be a bit unconventional, but when introduced to a bathroom, they can definitely inspire a rich, rustic vibe. You can go for a simple design or amp up the rustic aesthetic by adding turquoise accents, grooves, or intricate metal rim detailing.

Go for warm, earthy colors

Various rustic styles rely heavily on earthy colors, such as warm browns, beige, and reds. While you can certainly start painting your bathroom walls, there's no need to go all in. Introducing earth-tone bathroom towels and shower curtains is a great way to experiment with colors, especially if you're having trouble choosing a palette you like. For a dramatic pop of color, you can mix in rich jewel tones like turquoise teal or ruby red.

Add plant life to your bathroom

Whether you use real or artificial plants in your decor, adding plant life can breathe color and life into your bathroom.

Plants present a lot of design opportunities as well. You can place plants on the shelves, hanging off the walls, by the window sill, and more. You can also experiment with different plant sizes — maybe a small plant pot beside the bathtub or a large leafed plant to cover the corner.

For a casual farmhouse look, you can repurpose mason jars, galvanized buckets, clay pots, or old tin cans instead of traditional plant or flower vases.

Conclusion

From a total bathroom makeover to making small design changes, there are many decorating choices you can make to achieve the rustic bathroom of your dreams.

You also don't need to have a big budget. With some elbow grease and lots of creativity, you can come up with many DIY rustic bathroom decors that can significantly impact your bathroom's overall design. No matter what rustic style you're going for, one thing's certain: the design possibilities are endless!

[halcyonstorm]

Ahhh my final submission for LH drabble week: Angst Monday (yes i posted it on a tuesday)! Please enjoy and comment your thoughts and feedback. @levihan-drabbles

Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Hange Zoë, Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë Characters: Levi Ackerman, Hange Zoë Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Shingeki no Kyojin Chapter 126: Pride Spoilers, Shingeki no Kyojin Chapter 126: Pride, Shingeki no Kyojin Chapter 132: Wings of Freedom Spoilers, Angst and Feels, right person wrong time, What-If Series: Part 8 of Short Fics Summary:

They just wanted an ending.

The sound of the shotgun rang in Hange’s ears as she shot two of her ex-soldiers dead, tears trickling down her face. She hated that it had to end up like this. She had known them personally, too. The whole world was against them. She took a deep sigh. After surveying the forest and deeming it safe, she returned back to Levi’s side. He was unconscious with Hange’s Survey Corps cloak wrapped around his face. Her heart ached when she started unraveling the cloak, exposing his injured, tainted face. The biggest scar ran from the top of his forehead, through his right eye, into his cheek. She felt herself get overwhelmed seeing him in this shape.

“The pursuers are all gone, Levi…” It’s safe, for now, she wanted to say. You’re safe with me. She knew this was temporary, though. They would never truly be safe again.

-

Hange had begun to set up camp. She pitched a tent, chopped at trees and gathered sticks to start a fire and was able to clean Levi’s wounds and body. He could develop an infection if she didn’t act fast. After all, she wasn’t sure how long he’d been face down in the mud unconscious. She started with his hand, using a wet cloth to clean the dirt as gently as she possibly could. Then, she wrapped his exposed wound, starting at his wrist and weaving the bandage around the empty space on his hand. She brought his hand to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on top. It broke her heart to see him in such critical condition.

After his hand, she tended to his face. She dampened her cloth in the basin of water, slowly and gently caressing his face to clean off the dirt and mud. She took this moment to indulge in admiring him. He looked peaceful, at least for that moment. She brushed his raven black hair out of his face, patting his gash with the cloth, blood crusted on the scar. His skin was smooth as she couldn’t resist the urge to touch his cheek with the back of her hand. His eyelashes were long and straight which she never noticed before. She had never been this close to him before. She made her way down his face to his lips. She dunked the cloth in the basin again, wringing it out, and then dabbed at his lips to cleanse them. As she cleaned him, she felt tears well up in her eyes. 

“The fact that you're still alive with these wounds is because you’re an Ackerman,” she determined, starting to sterilize her needles in the fire. She grabbed the thread and started to stitch his face. She was careful, making sure to only go as deep as she needed to avoid causing more pain. Her heart throbbed in her chest when she imagined how much pain he was in. I wish it were me instead. She thought. After carefully poking and prodding at his face, stitching him up as well as she could, she dumped her tools into a pot of boiling water to be cleansed. She ran a hand through her hair, gripping a chunk of it and squeezing, tempted to pull it out. She felt like she was going to explode. After everything her and Eren had been through, he still turned his back on her and her soldiers. Rage boiled up inside her, poisoning every cell in her body. 

Why couldn’t things be different? She’d ask herself.

“I’d rather the two of us just live here. Right, Levi?” She said softly aloud, turning to look at Levi’s unconscious face. Her selfish ideas spilled from her mouth and into the ears of her partner. She truly wanted to live with him. She wanted a life with him. She wanted to wake up with him every morning, make him tea, explore the forest, forget about the shitty world they were born into for even just a moment. She was grateful he was unconscious and couldn’t hear her. She allowed the tears to flow for just a brief period. No one was around, she was safe to let it go. Her exhale was shaky as her throat tightened. She blinked and hot tears came rushing down. She covered her face with her hands, allowing herself to cry. Not just cry… to sob. Her heart felt as if it was being torn apart strand by strand. Like someone physically shoved their hands inside her chest, pulling it apart. She felt a strong urge to scream, but she covered her mouth tightly with her hand, allowing a few moans to escape.

All she wanted was peace. She wanted all the suffering to end. She wanted Levi to be healthy and happy. She wanted to explore the world with him, try new things with him. There was so much she wanted to do couldn’t, and she knew that. When she joined the Survey Corps, she knew what she signed up for. She wasn’t afraid to die for the cause, but she just wanted Levi to be happy. She knew how deeply he had suffered. He lost his mother, Isabel, Farlan, Gunther, Eld, Petra, Oulo, Mike, Erwin, and countless more soldiers. She would do everything in her power to make him happy and not just survive but to truly live.

Later that evening, she began to work on building the cart to carry Levi. She contemplated carrying him on her back, but it was unrealistic. She was strong, but not strong enough to carry him for possibly days on end. She was working on hammering a nail into the wheel when there was a crash of lightning. Suddenly, she was knelt in soft, white sand. The sky shone turquoise behind her. She placed her makeshift hammer down, leaving an imprint on the sand. She put her hands on the ground to help her stand up. That is where she saw a familiar tall man with his dark brown hair tied in a knot. He was facing away from her, sitting in the sand with his knees to his chest. She slowly walked up to him, sand filling her shoes.

“Eren?” The man turned his head to face Hange. She is hesitant to sit down, but he waves her over to him.

“Hange-san,” he began. “I am sorry for everything.”

“Wh… What are you talking about?”

“You’re going to die soon,” he admitted, drawing circles in the sand. “Levi will try to stop you, but you can’t let him.”

“I don’t understand… how do you know all this?”

“This is all a part of my plan to eradicate the Titans…” he muttered. “But I am sorry it has to end this way. I know how much you and Levi care for each other. It will be painful, I will admit. But it is for a good cause.” 

Hange shook her head in confusion. “What the hell? What will happen to Levi? Isn’t there another way?”

“No… There's no other way. Levi will be survive in the end. Don’t worry about that.” He had already made up his mind. “I am sorry. Go inside. Levi is waiting for you.” As Eren spoke, he pointed into the distance. Suddenly, they weren’t in the sand staring at the turquoise sky anymore. They were in a similar forest with tall pine trees. There was a small cabin with smoke exiting through the chimney. The cabin looked like it was something Hange and Levi could’ve made themselves. She opened the door hesitantly to find Levi sitting in the rocking chair, a cup of hot tea in his hand. 

“Hange, you’re home,” Levi said, pleasantly surprised. She noticed his scar was present, clean and healed. He didn’t wear an eyepatch like she did. His right eye was white and cloudy. He stood up slowly, placed his tea cup in the tea dish, and walked towards her. She was able to admire his outfit. He wasn’t in his military gear, but in a beige sweater and grey trousers. He looked comfortable and at peace, which is what Hange always wanted for him. She was at a loss for words.

“What is this?” 

“This is the most I can give you, Hange-san. A life with Levi.” She felt tears well up in her eyes. “I can let you stay here a little while longer.” Eren disappeared when she looked back to where she heard his voice. She looked at Levi, placing her hands on his cheeks. Levi’s lips curled into a small, sad smile.

“Look at our house, Hange,” he said, gesturing towards the center of the room. She looked away from him to admire the house. Their house. It was very cozy: it had two large burgundy sofas against the back and right wall, a fireplace in the center of the living room which had fierce flames. Levi led her to the kitchen and dining room. The kitchen had off-white square tiles as the floor and wooden cabinets, as well as a stove. There was a wooden table with two chairs. It made Hange’s heart swell, even bringing tears to her eyes. They did get to live together in another life.

“Levi…” she whimpered, looking at him again. He grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers.

“We’ll be here again, one day…” Levi said. Suddenly, she felt a breeze flow through her hair. Then, the house started to fade into nothingness and blow away. Levi was the last to disappear. Hange felt herself reaching out and grasping for him, begging him to come back. 

Then, she was back to reality; hammer in hand, arm in the air, ready to swing.

What just happened? She asked herself. She felt as if she had taken a long nap, dreaming of a place so distant. She swore she had a dream, but it was long forgotten, deep in her unconscious mind. A tear was streaming down her face, her heart pounding in her chest, as if she just woke up from a nightmare.

“Don’t tell me… Eren… the world…” she muttered. The words came spewing out of her mouth for a reason unknown to her. “LEVI!” She turned to look at her partner only to find out he’d woken up. He was attempting to sit up.

“That damned beast titan…” he groaned, pain overwhelming him. 

“You don’t need to get up,” Hange insisted, placing her hands gently on his chest. He eased back to his previous supine position. “What happened?” He briefly explained what happened, how Zeke was prepared to die for the cause. Hange sighed. She could barely handle the thought of what happened. She did hear the thunder spear go off, after all… She felt guilt tug at her damaged heart. Maybe she could’ve prevented it.

“I know you’re full of regret, but for now…” She was interrupted.

“What's left if we run and hide like this?” Levi asked, looking her in the eyes so fiercely she couldn’t look away.  She felt her face turn red and hot.

“So, you heard my soliloquy, huh…” She mustered up the strength to look away. She was embarrassed, but then she realized he didn’t reject her. He said ‘what if we run away and hide like this?’ Him, her, together. He looked past her shoulder.

“What is that? Are you planning to pull me by horse? I know you, you aren’t able to stay out of the action…” She noticed his eyes were starting to appear wet… was he tearing up?

“That’s right. I can’t.” Hange sighed, looking into her lap.

The two knew what was to come; Hange and Levi knew what was coming from the moment they joined the Survey Corps. Duty first. Love second. They yearned to be together, but they knew that they had met each other at the worst time. Perhaps in another life, they would find peace. They would find freedom from this terrible world and find comfort in each other. They just wanted an ending. An ending to the war, an ending to the suppression of true emotions, an ending to the strain on their hearts since the first day of joining the military. They didn’t care where or how, as long as it was an ending together.

[starkey]

5 and 6? :)

5. Do you have a favourite film soundtrack?

Rush by Hans Zimmer!

6. What does your dream home look like?

It looks a lot like my current one! High ceilings, with decorative moulding and a ceiling rose, an old fireplace with ornate tiles, a view over the city, sparkling at night. a living room lined with books and plants, light wood floors, a big clock on the wall, soft indigo velvet sofas, a blue/grey vintage writing desk, a gold moon-shaped planter in the window. in the kitchen, which is full of light, a dining nook with emerald green cushions and slate placemats. a bedroom in turquoise and burgandy and greys, with dark furniture and lots of soft blankets, and a black and brass bedstead. A kitten sleeping on the couch. Soon my favourite art by Turner and Whistler will be on the walls, and a record player will be turning in the corner. I’m within 20 minutes of most of the people I love, and an hour away from almost everyone else 🌃✨