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yandere-daydreams · 2 years ago

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Title: Infestation.

Written for a lovely anonymous commissioner.

Pairing: Yandere!Gyutaro x Reader (Demon Slayer).

Word Count: 3.5k.

TW: Modern AU, Implied Non//Con, Long-Term Stalking, Unbalanced Power Dynamics, Voyueristic Themes, Blood/Bruising, and Mentions of Cannibalism.

You only got to tour the apartment once before you signed the lease.

A ‘realtor’ with piercing eyes and silver hair met you at the door twenty minutes late with a heavy ring of keys in one hand and a disposable cup from an upscale coffee-chain in the other, muttering something about traffic as she let you into the dank, dark space. She explained, as she shoved open creaking doors and tried her best to clear the dust off neglected furniture, that her uncle owned the building, that she and her brother had stayed here for a while before she found another place on the other side of town. You asked if her family was close-nit, and she looked away, mumbling ‘something like that’ under her breath. You asked if she did this kind of thing for her uncle often, and she gave you a strange look and didn’t answer. You didn’t have the courage to press the topic. She had the kind of presence that made you want to shrink into yourself, to agree with everything she said and do anything and everything you could not to get on her nerves. If, at any point, she’d put a contract in front of you and told you to sign on the dotted line, you probably would’ve done it. If the apartment hadn’t been in the state it was, you probably would’ve asked her for it yourself, just to try and get on her good side.

The space itself was, somehow, even worse than the listing had made it out to be. The lights flickered, the walls were water-stained, and you couldn’t fully open the fridge door without lodging the handle against the cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen. If you hadn’t been so desperate, you might’ve walked out in the first fifteen minutes, but you were, so you held your tongue and nodded along and let her sit you down in front of a manilla folder, already plotting out how you’d politely refuse and thank her for her time and beg the owner of the studio a few blocks north to give you another chance. That was what you thought you were going to do, at least, until you saw the rent.

“That’s… not what it was on the listing,” you muttered.

“That’s the rate. Take it or leave it.”

“Without utilities?”

“With. But you’re on your own if you want cable.”

“When would I be able to move in?”

“If you can get me out of here in an hour or less, whenever the hell you want.”

You signed everything she put in front of you, barely bothering to pretend to read the countless forms. She left you the keys, apologized for how loud the other tenants could be (something that must’ve changed since she moved out, you guessed – the entire floor was dead quiet), and in two days, your former roommates had sent you off with a tearful goodbye and, for the first time in longer than you could remember, you finally had room to breathe. A musky, beige room that you were pretty sure you’d have to have fumed sooner or later, but still – room to breathe.

And you were thankful for it. At first, at least, you were thankful for it.

And then, three months in, things started to go missing.

Which wasn’t that bad, on its own. You’d lost things before, and you weren’t the kind of person who’d break out the salt and thyme the first time one of your socks went missing, or you couldn’t find a pen you just seen a few days ago, or a mug you could’ve sworn you’d left on your bedside table the night before somehow made its way to your kitchen counter by the next morning, its contents drained but its clay handle still warm. You took it in stride. You laughed and smiled as you told your friends about the soft creaking you would sometimes hear coming from just behind drywall, the creepy stains on the bathroom floor that just barely look like dried blood when you squint, and you ignored what you couldn’t brush off so easily, kept the hours you spent lying awake at night because you just can’t shake the feeling of unblinking eyes prying into your flesh, the bruises and cuts you’ve decided to blame on thin mattresses and sharp corners to yourself.

You didn’t tell anyone when your missing things started reappearing, either.

Not that you really could. You didn’t know how you’d start to explain the cold feeling of dread that knotted in your chest as you lingered in the doorway to your bedroom, how to laugh as you told someone, anyone about the tattered remains of a shirt you hadn’t seen in weeks that were currently spread across your bed – all ripped to shreds and stained with the same chalky, white substance you couldn’t bring yourself to give a name to. It was all you could do to stare at the mess from a distance, biting the inside of your cheek as you tried to ignore the bitter taste rising up from the back of your throat. Your closest neighbor was two floors down, and you’d only spoken a handful of words to the building’s other occupants as a whole, but still, half-formed fears of faceless stalkers and angered spirits gnawed at the back of your mind. It was probably--

Mice, you decided. It was probably mice. You didn’t know what an infestation looked like, never had to deal with one before, but for what you were paying for a place like this, there were bound to be mice. That’s all it could’ve been. Cute, harmless mice.

Still, you never found it in yourself to tell anyone about your little infestation.

And then, seven months in, the realtor let herself into your apartment.

It was a small miracle that you’d been awake at the time, that you were buried in a small mountain’s worth of blankets on your worn-out couch, reading some mindless contemporary romance when you heard the lock click, when you saw the same young woman who’d shown you around that first day step over the threshold – her expression one of mild annoyance and more than a trace of exasperation. She didn’t seem to notice you, not at first, not until you cleared your throat, sitting up in a half-hearted effort to make yourself more presentable. You tried to think of something to say, to ask if there was an emergency, but instead, made that much meeker and that much smaller by her aura alone, you just found yourself mumbling, “Can I help you?”

Her eyes widened as she shot to face you, her shock apparent. “You’re still here?”

“…yes?” Were you not supposed to be? You weren’t sure how long your lease was supposed to last, hadn’t talked to the landlord beyond a single, minute-long call when you first signed on. You’d been paying your rent, but still, there might’ve been a notice that you missed, a clause that’d slipped your mind. You didn’t know why the landlord would choose to address that by asking his niece to barge into your apartment in the middle of the night, but the panic remained. “Is something wrong?”

Her lips quirked, something coming across her features that you weren’t able to read in the dim light. “You’ve been away, though, right? On vacation? Staying at a friend’s house?”

“No, I… Was I supposed to be?” You pushed yourself to your feet. “Is there something wrong with the building?”

“The building’s not the fucking problem,” she snapped. You recoiled, but she didn’t seem to care, just letting out an irritated groan as she went on. “He knows he’s not supposed to take this long. Muzan’s going to be—” She cut herself off, throwing her head back and rubbing her temples. She clenched her eyes shut, and only when she opened them again did she seem to notice your discomfort, your muted distress. Just as quickly as she lost her composure, she regained it, her sneer softening into a small smile and her posture straightening until she looked not like a woman who’d walked into someone else’s apartment with no warning or explanation, but a passing acquaintance you’d been the one to approach and who was simply too polite to tell you that she had better places to be. “My apologies for the disturbance. I’ll make sure to call ahead, next time.”

She waited for you to nod, to pretend you knew what she was talking about before starting back toward the door, leaving just as suddenly as she’d come. Without giving yourself time to think, you rushed after her, leaning against the doorframe. You couldn’t imagine how she’d gotten here. The lights hadn’t worked since the day you moved in, and the hallway was as pitch-black and as endless as it’d ever been. “Wait!” She glanced over her shoulder, her smile already strained. You drew back, but forced yourself to go on. “It’s not a big deal, but I think this building might have a rat problem.”

She took a moment to respond.

Finally, as her grin broadened, she said, “There aren’t any rats.”

That night, you woke up screaming, covered in your own blood, and missing a piece of your thigh.

And then, a year after you first set foot in that godforsaken apartment, you met him.

‘Met’ might’ve been the wrong word. It implied something soft, something cute, something harmless – like mice or ghost stories or miscommunications. From the moment you snapped awake, a searing pain in your shoulder and hot blood already drenching your chest, he was all aggression, all bared teeth and dark eyes and gore-soaked lips curling back into a smile just as sickening as that of the woman who had to be his sister, if only because you couldn’t bring yourself to believe that your misery extended beyond the reach of their fucked-up family.

You couldn’t bring yourself to believe this was happening at all, but if you had to, you were going to tell yourself you had someone, other than yourself, to blame.

He was on top of you, straddling your waist, one hand planted next to your head and the other curled loosely around your throat, his palm pressing the delicate junction between your windpipe and diaphragm, making it difficult to manage anything but quick, shallow breaths. He’d never been this close before. You’d seen him out of the corner of your eye, occasionally – little, half-remembered blurs in the darkness; distorted splotches you’d tried to write off as depressions in the drywall or a trick of your own paranoia-ridden mind – but never like this, never close enough to see the muddled whites of his eyes, the pale grey tenor of his skin, the sharpened points of his teeth where your blood didn’t quite blot them out. On instinct, you tried to sit up, to bolt from underneath him, but he only had to flex his hand where it was wrapped around your neck and you were frozen, not willing to test his patience or your own perseverance. You didn’t know if he was strong enough to snap your neck, but he’d already proven that he could tear you apart. If he hadn’t already decided he was going to eat you alive, you’d rather not do anything to put the idea in his head.

You did what you could to go limp, to seem as small and unimposing as possible, and yet, he still let out a breathy chuckle as he shoved you downward – until your back was flat against the mattress and he was allowed to hover as far above you as possible, casting himself as something endlessly strong and impossible to grasp and impossible to escape as anything else that lurked in the dark.

“Easy, now. Wouldn’t want to get yourself hurt, would ya?” His voice was as terrible as the rest of him, raspy and barely audible yet dripping with corrosive, acidic arrogance at the same time. “It’d be a shame if you made be bruise that pretty skin. Loses some of its flavor if you beat it up too much.”

So he was going to eat you. You couldn’t pretend to be surprised, couldn’t say a nightmare featuring fanged monsters with hungry mouths hadn’t accompanied every new missing chunk of flesh and discolored bitemark, but your breath still hitched in your throat, your body going tense beneath him. Your distress was muted, but not subtle enough to escape his prying eyes. His grin widened, the corners of his lips cracking and splitting open. “You scared, little mouse?”

You hesitated, thinking for a moment before nodding. There was a bark of a laugh, a row of blunt nails burrowed into the space just below your jugular. “What do you think I’m going to do to you?” He asked, arching his back and leaning toward you, coming close enough for the tips of his messy hair to brush against your skin. “Tear you apart? Gut you and keep your hollowed-out husk as a trophy?”

There wasn’t a delay, this time. It was all you could do to wait until he’d finished to spit out the one thing you couldn’t seem to get off your mind. “Eat me.”

There was a long pause, agonizing and infinite.

Then, something sparked behind his eyes, and his smile took on a sickening lilt.

You could practically hear your heart beating out of your check, feel something deep in your chest twist and writhe as he dipped even lower; his face soon buried in the small of your neck. His hand fell away, drifting lower – his fingertips skirting over your side, groping softly at your hip before drifting to your wrist, to your hand. There was a clumsy attempt made to intertwine his fingers with yours, not helped by your own unchallenged immobility, but eventually, he managed to take your hand in his own. His skin was cold to the touch, and yet, you still felt like you were burning wherever his body pressed against yours. “No, no, I’m not gonna do anything to hurt ya. Not that badly, at least.” His voice lightened, his drawl softening around the edges. Like he was trying to calm you down. Like he thought anything he said could possibly calm you down. “I don’t have the stomach to binge like that. The last guy Daki dragged in wasn’t like you. All muscle, no flavor, had to choke down every bite. I would’ve swallowed you whole as soon as you as walked through that door just to get the taste out of my mouth, but you looked so damn cute, all oblivious and shit – I just didn’t have the heart to.”

He straightened his back, but didn’t pull away. Rather, he stayed as close to you as possible, his scarred lips brushing against your neck, then your shoulder, finally settling on your collarbone. He couldn’t be human. You didn’t decide that, you knew it. Nothing human or mortal or natural would have so many scars, or be so pale, or have teeth so sharp – even the gentlest touches violent enough to break the skin. Not that he tried very hard to be gentle. There was the faint feeling of rough lips ghosting over your skin, and then a sharp, sudden piercing sensation; flesh and muscle splitting apart underneath the first hint of pressure. “Not that I didn’t want to,” he muttered, his breath cold against your skin. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a decent fucking meal? If I had my sister’s self-restraint, I’d already be down to the bones.”

And yet, he didn’t stop himself from latching onto the shallow scrape, his tongue running over your skin as he let out a deep, guttural moan, the sound only slightly stifled by his proximity. You held your breath, clenching your eyes shut as he lapped up the thin trail of blood that flowed outward, over your chest. Visions of hearts torn from chests and pale hands digging through split-open stomachs flitted through your mind, but in the end, he only jerked back was a sharp laugh – more lively than it’d ever been before. There was a certain light to his eyes now, too, a new sense of rejuvenation you almost couldn’t bring yourself to recognize in the same creature who’d stalked you for months, who’d knocked on your walls and watched you at night and given you so many chances to run away, so many chances that you’d been too hopeful and too idiotic to take. You felt him shifting above you, heard your sheets rustle, and you braced yourself, going stiff in preparation for a pointed nail stabbed into your throat, or a skull-crushing blow to your head, or--

Or, for him, it, whatever he was, to kiss you.

You hadn’t known to expect it would be as brutal as it was. What little delicacy, what little gentleness he had was gone. For longer than seemed possible, your world was one of clashing teeth and probing hands and lips pushed against yours with enough force to bruise. You didn’t know whether or not he was trying to scare you, but the gesture was more violent than affectionate – messy and overwhelming and enough to have you on the edge of tears by the time he drew back, panting. He opened his mouth, but you were already talking, words spilling from your lips without reservation. Appeals to ‘please, don’t hurt me’ blurring with an incoherent blend of ‘don’t kill me’ and ‘I’ll do anything’ – anything you could think of, anything that might’ve gotten him to give you the space to breathe. Some of it made sense, most of it didn’t, and all of it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

If he was listening, if he cared, none of it earned anything more than a wry smile, a soft kiss to the top of your head. At that point, you were so desperate, so distressed, you couldn’t stop yourself from leaning into it – only whimpering as he hummed gently and drew you upward, until you were the one sitting in his lap, cradled in his arms. It occurred to you, not for the first time, how much bigger his frame was than yours, how small you felt in his arms. Like a bird with an injured wing, unable to fly and trapped in.

Like a mouse, your neck already snapped by the impartial hammer and your body caught in the maw of something much larger and much more dangerous than yourself.

“You’re shaking.” He was laughing, but you were. You couldn’t stop. Your body refused to listen to you, to push him away, to run, but you just couldn’t stop yourself from shivering – trembling violently enough for it to border on convulsions. “What’d I tell you the first time you freaked out, huh?”

That he liked the way you tasted. That he’d been watching you for months. That he’d thought about killing you and, if he got hungry enough, he’d probably think about it again.

You swallowed, willing the knot of dread at the back of your throat to loosen. “That you weren’t going to hurt me.”

“And you don’t think I’d lie to you, do ya?”

It would’ve been kinder if he did, if he pretended to be something remotely human. “I don’t.”

“Because I haven’t, and I’m not. That’d just be a waste, 'specially when I haven’t gotten half of what I want out of ya, yet.” You were dragged away from his chest, poised to face him. You were given a few seconds to stare up at him through the darkness, to try to begin to process what was happening, what he was doing, before a scarred palm was cupping your cheek, before he was kissing you, again – shallowly, fleetingly, before moving upward, pressing his lips against your forehead and dipping back toward your neck.

This time, he wasn’t content just to content just to hold your hand. You could feel his fingertips skirting over your thighs, leaving strips of numbness spreading across whatever he made contact with, making an attempt at delicacy before his attention drifted and his touch grew rougher, his hold bruising, his skin frigid where it pressed against yours. Against your better judgement, you leaned into your paralysis, not returning his bizarre affection, but making no effort to push him away, either. You tried to hold yourself straight, but not stiff, to keep your eyes open and your jaw locked into place, but even your neutrality was enough to encourage him, to spur him forward. You barely had time to brace yourself before you were being shoved downward once again, before you were being pinned against your own thin mattress with enough force for the jutting springs to dig into your back. Again, he was above you, and again, you were powerless beneath him, just as scared as you’d been when he was just a ghost of fear lurking in your peripheral.

“Don’t worry, little mouse.”

Just as helpless as you’d been when you couldn't see the threat at all.

“I’m takin’ care of you, now.”

#yandere #yandere x you #yandere imagines #yandere oneshot #yandere x reader #yandere scenarios #yandere commission #commission writing #demon slayer #demon slayer imagine #yandere demon slayer #yandere gyutaro #gyutaro x you #yanderecore #yancore

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riaaanna · 9 months ago

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Freddie Mercury’s London Residence Lists at £30 Million

Garden Lodge, the spectacular Kensington home of the rock music legend, has been in the care of his friend Mary Austin for 30 years. She’s now selling it.

Garden Lodge is listed for £30 million ($38 million). Source: Knight Frank

By Sarah Rappaport.

Mary Austin remembers the first time she saw Garden Lodge. She was accompanying her friend Freddie Mercury as he was house-hunting in London in 1980.

“It was a summer day, children were playing in the garden, and I was behind Freddie as we came in. It was so quiet and so peaceful, and that continued through the house,” Austin says, speaking exclusively to Bloomberg News from inside the Kensington property. She says he decided to buy the home that same day.

“Freddie went outside and said, ‘Tell them to take it off the market. I’ll give them the asking price now,’” she says.

The double doors lead inside to a living space that Mercury called the Japanese room. Photographer: Barney Hindle

Austin says Mercury was looking for an escape in London, a place where he could create and work on his music in peace without being hounded by the media—and Garden Lodge was it for him. “The press had been pursuing him to come out, and he wouldn’t, and why should he? And this gave him the wonderful feeling that he could create and live and be private here,” she says.

Austin inherited the property from Mercury upon his death in 1991 and has been living here ever since. She says at first she wasn’t sure if it’d be healthy for her to live in the home amid her grief from his untimely passing. But she realized that she could make a life at Garden Lodge and that she didn’t need to let go “for quite some years.”

“It was really only ever my house in name only,” says Austin, her voice full of emotion. “I had worked on the house with him and for him, and it will always be his. It was his dream, it was his vision.”

Austin, 72, has decided to list the property with Knight Frank for £30 million ($38 million). This follows a massively successful Sotheby’s auction this past September in which more than $50 million was raised selling Mercury’s belongings, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The house, when I saw it in mid-February, was mostly empty. But the design and details, such as citrus-yellow paint on the walls and spectacular art deco mirrors in the rock star’s dressing room, are the way Mercury left them. It stands as a tribute to Mercury’s own taste.

The dining room, with pink and green cornice detailing, photographed prior to the Sotheby’s sale. The French gilt-and-bronze clock from the 1870s sold for £30,480. Photographer: Barney Hindle

The plan was to do the auction and then think about selling the house, Austin says. “The auction was enormous. And I wasn’t sure how I would feel at this moment. But I realized that the time had come.” Austin says she’s alone in the house now, her kids are grown up and live elsewhere, and she feels like it’s time to start a new chapter in her life and move on. After a whirlwind year, she says this will be her last interview.

Touring the House

Garden Lodge is just past Cromwell Road in the heart of upscale Kensington, but it’s completely private, set back from the quiet residential road and protected by an 8-foot Edwardian brick security wall topped by an even higher spiked fence, with cameras around it. The wall’s famous green door, which acted as a shrine for Mercury fans who scribbled messages on it, sold in the Sotheby’s auction for £412,750. There’s another door there now protected by clear casing.

The house is set back from the road by a large garden. Photographer: Barney Hindle

Just through the door lies a Japanese-inspired garden with blooming magnolia trees, a wooden pergola and a carp pond. The whole effect once inside the gated walls feels like a country retreat, with the high walls blocking out the noise of the streets. You wouldn’t feel like you’re just a 10-minute walk from the popular Kensington High Street, in the middle of prime central London.

“Freddie had an absolute vision for the garden. Kyoto Gardens was what came to mind—he wanted to re-create that tranquil environment,” says Austin, recalling some “very special memories” of having lunch with Mercury outside on sunny days by the pond.

The property offers eight bedrooms, and Mercury’s studio-house has an impressive brick exterior. Once inside the main entrance, to the left is what the singer called the Japanese room, one of two main living spaces. It has double doors that lead out to the garden and was his personal reflection space, says Austin. “We knew not to disturb him when he was in there.”

The ground floor also has a dining room where Mercury used to throw dinner parties, with planned menus and handwritten seating plans, including a space for his cat Oscar. Mercury was incredibly involved in the design of the room; he even painted the designs on the wall himself.

A mustache-less Mercury painting the cornice. Source: Knight Frank

Mercury’s dining room designs, which you can see him painting in the photo above. Source: Knight Frank

“He couldn’t get the decorator to match the ideas that he had in his head, so he had to do it himself,” says Austin, adding that Mercury did a design with pinks, greens and yellows on the wall.

Taking up the largest amount of the ground floor is the studio drawing room, with its wooden floors, yellow walls and ornate stone fireplace. This room was home to Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand piano, on which he wrote Bohemian Rhapsody; it sold for £1.7 million at Sotheby’s. Austin remembers pushing the piano to different spots around the room with Mercury, trying to find the ideal placement upon his move-in.

Here was the main room for entertaining, and there’s a staircase at the edge of the room that leads to an upstairs bar area, where someone getting a drink could observe the party going on below. Its two-story windows fill the room with light and look onto the expansive garden and its host of topiary trees.

Austin says she didn’t go to all of his parties but remembers a hat party that was in her words “a little full-on.”

“He designed a hat for everybody and had them all made,” she says. “He’d give you a hat, or you’d have a choice of two or three depending on how he felt about you that day.”

Along with the generous entertainment spaces, the ground floor has a cloakroom and a kitchen—with modern appliances—set back from the dining room. There’s a discreet utility room to the side that has served as a delivery area, and when I saw it, a place for Austin’s cats to sleep.

Upstairs, Mercury’s four-part primary suite lies at the end of a hallway carpeted in thick cream pile. Once you enter, you’re surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mirrors in an art deco dressing room. The mirrored doors artfully hide cabinets where he stored his clothes, including his famous stage outfits. On the side of the dressing room are two full en suite bathrooms, one of which has FM engraved in the marble. Just ahead, sliding mirrored doors open to the bedroom space, with a terrace that overlooks the garden and into the tranquil spaces of Kensington beyond.

Mercury’s Martin D35 acoustic guitar, photographed in the mirrored dressing room. Photographer: Barney Hindle

There’s a strong sense of personality and sense of time throughout the house, such as the light pink marble and green tub in a guest bathroom or the theatrical flair of the drawing room. It’s not a blank canvas, and that’s part of what makes it so special.

Before Freddie

Queen’s Mercury was the most famous occupant of Garden Lodge but wasn’t the only creative person to live there. The Neo-Georgian property was built at the turn of the 20th century as a combined home and studio for painter Cecil Rea and sculptor Constance Halford.

Other owners included Peter Wilson, a former chairman of Sotheby’s auction house, and British intelligence operative-turned-art-dealer Tomás Harris. It’s easy to imagine his own parties at Garden Lodge, with artists and spies mingling around the studio drawing room and the celebrations spilling out in the garden.

When Mercury bought the home, it was owned by a member of the prestigious Hoare banking family. Before its citrus-yellow makeover, the dining room was where they kept their safe.

“Mr. Hoare was taking us around, and I was just fascinated,” Austin says. “He said, ‘Oh, this is the safe. My father always sleeps at the bank, and when he can’t sleep at the bank, he brings all the money here.’”

The dining room as Mercury might have kept it. “He loved a dinner party,” says Austin. Photographer: Barney Hindle

Now that the property has been emptied of most of Mercury’s possessions, being in the house reminds Austin of how it was in the mid-’80s when Mercury was working with architect and designer Robin Moore Ede to make the home his own.

“We’ve actually revitalized the place to almost what it was before he moved his piano and belongings here. It was finished for at least a year before he moved in,” Austin says. “I would come here to work, I would come here to supervise, I would be here most of the time. And I suddenly find myself back to 1985.”

The Future of Garden Lodge

Austin first went to Knight Frank and explored selling the house 25 years ago, though she wasn’t quite ready to part with it then and, she says, appreciated that the agent she spoke to made sure to ask her if she was sure about a sale. She is now, she says, and is coming to terms with the fact that a future buyer will likely make changes to the property.

“The last thing you want is for someone to say, ‘Yes, I’ll buy it,’ and exploit it, and demolish it,” she says. “This is unique and has its beauty, and I know it has a purpose for someone—it did for Freddie.”

Prospective buyers should contact Paddy Dring or James Pace at Knight Frank for exact details of the property. Layouts, square footage and the size of the lot were not shared by the agency and are not being made available to the public for privacy reasons, they say. The listing itself is not being put online.

Dring says the property itself is a piece of cultural history, but it would be notable even without its famous owner. It’s incredibly rare to see such a large unmodernized home in central London with a mature garden area, he says. “It’s unbelievably special and a complete one-off.”

More of Mercury’s designs for the dining room cornice. Source: Knight Frank

Kensington is sought-after, too. After Mayfair, it was the London area with the most sales priced above £10 million in 2023, according to Knight Frank. The average sale price for a Kensington detached home in the past year was about £18 million, according to Rightmove data. Comparable recent property sales near the £30 million asking price include ones with the same amount of bedrooms in nearby Holland Park—both updated recently and with swimming pools—but without any rock legend imprimatur.

As to whom Austin sees buying the house, she has a feeling that it’ll be another artist. “If it’s not another creative, it should be because it is, it has that atmosphere,” she says. “There might be a buyer with a similar modus operandi to Freddie.”

But, she continues, gesturing around the grand, now piano-less drawing room, “Once you’ve sold, you’ve sold. You can’t hold on to the past forever, I suppose. I’ll be leaving with it very warm in my heart.”

#queen band #freddie mercury #auction

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sleepingsongbird · 1 year ago

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Alrighty so I’m finally getting around to writing some modern au One Piece fic so I figured I should probably share some background for it!

Everything is set in one giant city and I have put way too much thought into this

City is roughly split up between the “four emperors”

The Grand Line(NE-SW) is the main commercial street that runs through the center of the city where every large group has a front. It intersects Red Street(NW-SE) which divides the territories. The Hospital sits at the East corner of where the Grand line and red street intersect.

Big mom’s pastries

The Red Force bar - cocktail bar

Kids repair shop

The Amazon Lily - Boa Hancock’s strip club

Rayleigh is a legal consultant and the only piece of neutral territory on the grand line

Marinefold- the Town hall sits dead center of Red street

Lodge square - located in the center in front of city hall

Pacifista church - run by Kuma, large mega church

Etc.

The Heart territory is a couple blocks in the East side that spans from Law’s apartment to the employee entrance of the hospital

All of the Hearts work either at the hospital or the Heart Club

Hearts are highly territorial despite being in Red Hairs area

The Hearts have tattoos but no markings on their medical uniforms

The large hospital where Law works is neutral territory and pretty much every doctor/surgeon there is affiliated with a group

The white coats of the doctors each have the symbol of their affiliated group embroidered with white thread. Each major group has at least one doctor that is deemed safe to go to

Kaido is a Yakuza group and Kin'emon’s group is the remnants of the Kozuki clan that are trying to retake the territory

East side is Red Hair

Locations-

Baratie- restaurant Sanji works at and common meeting place of the Straw Hats

Water 7- Large mechanic shop, Franky uses one of the workshops there for personal projects and to repair their Van(The Sunny)

The Heart Club- A below ground nightclub owned by Law

Patty’s bar- Run by Makino and frequented by Shanks

Mihawk’s Dojo- Zoro frequently trains there

Elegia recordings - Run by Shanks and started to Publish his daughter’s music

Uta started as a streamer then starting doing live performances once her popularity grew, she is often out of the city on tour

She is a very active protester and has been arrested multiple times

Soul KIng - Music supply shop owned by brook

Brook who was a famous musician who faked his death and moved into town to avoid the publicity (still very recognizable)

The straw hats live friends style with 3 apartments on the same floor. They are the local menaces and are constant up in everyone’s business

North Side is Kaido

Locations

Onigashima- Formally called the Kozuki theater was taken over by Kaido and turned into a club. Run by Orochi but paid for by Kaido. The daughter of Oden works undercover as a dancer.

Oden restaurant - Named after the late boss of the Kozuki family is run by his friends and son, current front to the Kozuki Yakuza group

DonQuixote Inc. headquarters- Center of Doffy’s operations and front for the family

Dressrosa Casino - run by Doflamingo. Hosts fights at its arena. Formerly run by the Riku family, Viola Riku currently sits on the board.

Punk Labs- Caesar’s lab, Donquixote is their parent company. Was formally run by Vegapunk.

Cipher pol - Government intelligence. Has agents stationed in every region

-Local occult shop run by Hawkins. Perona works part time doing seances

West side is Big Mom

Locations

Germa 66 publishing company- a well known action comic publishing company owned and run by Sanji’s family

Thriller Bark - Haunted house run by Gecko Moria

Zoo - Run by a wildlife conservation group called Zou

Drum University Campus - known for its medical programs

South side is Whitebeard

Locations

Local Police station

Alabasta Gallery - an upscale art gallery. Formerly run by the Nefertari family has recently become a front for the Baroque Works gang run by Crocodile selling counterfeit art

The family heir Vivi is a curator trying to gain evidence to take down Crocodile and restore the Gallery to its former glory.

Museum - has previously bought works from the prestigious Alabasta gallery. Robin works as a curator and researcher there.

The yami - dive bar run by Blackbeard

The coast(East Coast)

Impel Down- High security prison located on an island off the coast

Enies Lobby- an old mansion island now used for major celebrity and political events

The big top - an amusement park and circus located on the boardwalk. Run by Buggy. Alvida runs the big top in his absence.

Buggy is the primary informant in the city and also works as a clown at the local hospital to cheer up the patients and gather information.

The Barto Club - a bar and exclusive club dedicated to the strawhats gang. Run by Bartolomeo. Invitation only.

The Polar Tang- Luxury Yacht that Is outfitted with a full medical infirmary owned by the Hearts

Outskirts

Cocoyasi orchards - citrus farm owned by Nami’s family run by Nojiko

Baltago Cafe - front for the revolutionary army, an anarchistic group opposing the government. Koala is their head barista. Militia operations run by Dragon. Sabo is a member.

Feel free to use this as inspiration or setting for any fanfic or art just tag me so I can check it out!

#one piece #one piece modern au #modern au #one piece writing #straw hat pirates #red haired pirates #beast pirates #big mom pirates #whitebeard pirates #heart pirates #trafalgar d water law #one piece shanks #big mom #buggy the clown #dracule mihawk #one piece headcanons

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soul-dwelling · 3 months ago

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How Would You Design a ‘Soul Eater’ Theme Park?

Enough of my friends who are Soul Eater fans are theme park nerds.

And I’ve watched enough videos by David Ganssle (Patreon / YouTube) where he imagines hypothetical theme parks and their rides.

So, what would you put into a Soul Eater theme park? Share your ideas in comments or reblogs.

Under “Read More” is my idea…

For my idea, on the spectrum of “the sky’s the limit” to “let’s make this realistic,” I am far more “the sky’s the limit.” I am not going to worry here about logistics: I am not concerned about the feasibility of location or its environmental impact, I am not concerned too much about target audiences so much as what I as one fan would want in the park, I am not concerned about profitability or budget, and I am not concerned with how to build the ride or how it would work.

What I am focused on are eight (for the sake of Kid) of these categories for a theme park: the one symbolic building, location, lodging, dining options, one major ride, one smaller ride, one ride for children, and merchandise.

Let’s start with the building and the location…

One Symbolic Building and the Location: The DWMA in Nevada

Of course a Soul Eater theme park is going to be shaped like Death City, so of course it has to be situated in Nevada. I am not imagining this theme park as in Las Vegas proper--you would really need this building to look as if it is the one and only city anywhere in sight.

(Again, I am not concerned with environmental impact or logistics: I don’t know whether such a spot exists in Nevada, and as much as I enjoy theme parks, this is just imaginary, I would rather this be the equivalent of a Theme Park Tycoon or Sim City construction than something I would actually put down in the middle of the desert and threaten the ecosystem and the public trying to get through the desert to see it.)

We’ll get to what the DWMA has inside when talking about rides. Otherwise, this is pretty much a literal city in terms of size, shops, restaurants, even services like the barbershop where Excalibur shaved Hero’s head.

Lodging: Dorms and Apartments

Guests would have options for where to stay, some less expensive than others, with the trade-off being the size of the room but the experience you get.

We know from NOT that there are dorms for students. We only ever saw the dorms for the main trio of girls, and that one was presented as pretty upscaled compared to how others in Death City were living. Maybe one dorm is more expensive for guests and duplicates the NOT look, although the size of rooms may be limited and still require three to a room in some cases. And maybe other dorms are less attractive: this can be a worldbuilding exercise to emphasize that, yes, there were some pretty bad dorms at the DWMA.

The more expensive experience at this theme park would be recreations of the homes of the main characters. The apartment complex where Soul and Maka live is pretty much going to be a hotel where every room looks like the one Soul and Maka lived in in the anime, including the color scheme, posters, even an animatronic Blair Cat napping in the living room. Black Star and Tsubaki’s home is a more traditional Japanese apartment. And the most expensive option will be Gallows Manor, with just a handful of rooms duplicating what we are left to imagine the bedrooms of Kid, Liz, and Patty look like.

Dining Options (and Live Performances): The DWMA Cafeteria and Deathbucks

I’m cheating here throwing in a live performance, but that’ll make sense below when we get to the DWMA Cafeteria.

There have to be more dining options than just these two. And the manga had other options, some that are more open to lawsuits for intellectual property violations such as Death Robbins. But aside from coming up with clever names for typical shops (a pizza place called Tombstone, a candy shop called Death by Chocolate), let’s just stick to these two.

Deathbucks is going to look like what it did in NOT, including the same type of foods, drinks, and outfits for the (adult, not teen) staff (albeit more suitable to what the employees want, given how problematic it is that it was Spirit designing these clothes). What will make this Deathbucks different from the NOT anime is the holiday offerings. We already saw what the place looks like during Halloween, but how would Death City celebrate New Year’s, Valentine’s, Saint Patrick’s, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas?

The Cafeteria is like the first anime, and as established in NOT offers a range of dining options from all over the world. But there is one major difference: there is a stage at the cafeteria, similar to how some schools, at least the public schools I went to in the US, would combine the cafeteria and the auditorium--a “cafetorium.” The curtains are closed at the 30 minute mark, but at the top of the hour they open to reveal…an animatronic Excalibur, ready to begin his five-hour recitation. But, no, it won’t go on that long, as the Moomin knockoff with the short attention span will bounce from topic to topic, with a performer operating the animatronic to even remark on specific people in the audience. And of course the event has to start with Excalibur singing his song--and for the finale, a far more impressive big band iteration of his song.

For other live performances, maybe Hook Cemetery is a stage area. We already have “Thriller,” the old Beetlejuice show at Universal Studios--of course a graveyard is going to be a spot for live music featuring performers dressed as corpses and zombies.

There can also be dining options that build upon what we know about characters already. Mifune likes candy--maybe he and Angela are alive in this timeline and run a candy store?

One Major Ride: Asura’s Revenge

This hypothetical is less engaging than the smaller ride, if only because I haven’t figured out what to do with it beyond location and title.

Maybe it’s an indoor coaster at the bottom of the DWMA? Maybe it’s a maze? Maybe it has a ride component where you have to pick your team--”Meister” or “Weapon”--and whoever gets the most “points” slicing apart Clowns wins?

In any case, you can’t have a Soul Eater theme park without a recreation of the Kishin Shrine. You can even start the ride with the bag containing Asura ripping open, re-enacting his resurrection as his body regains its shape. How do you stage this with animatronics? No clue--but it’d be fun to have it.

One Smaller Ride: Dr. Stein’s Wild Ride

This is not the most creative option, I do not like simulator rides, and ripping off of that unfunny fink Jimmy Fallon makes me want to vomit. But this is what I’m stuck with…

Along the hallways of the DWMA are numerous classrooms. Guests enter Class Crescent Moon for the pre-show, staged as that day’s lecture. You hear the familiar “Ding-Dong-Dong-Dead” chimes as you turn your attention to the front of the class and the chalkboard, in this case a screen, and using animation and image mapping enters the teacher for the day. (Which one? More on that in a moment.)

The lecture continues, pretty much introducing you to the kind of ride this is, only presented in lecture format: “Classes at the DWMA are not for those faint of heart. Therefore, if you have a medical emergency such as high blood pressure, or if you are pregnant or have back injuries, we do not recommend you join us on this ride--er, lecture.”

But then the class discussion is interrupted. And here is where “re-ride-ability” kicks in: the teacher lecturing and the students interrupting changes each time you enter the pre-show. Maybe the lecture is by Sid, who gets tired of Black Star’s antics. Maybe it’s Azusa who keeps getting interrupted as Marie comes in to ask a troubling question--”How fast do oily rags burn?”--before escalating into utter chaos--”THE BUILDING’S ON FIRE, AND I CAN ONLY SMASH SO MANY TOILETS TO PUT IT OUT!” Or it’s Spirit--and Maka just has enough. In any case, whatever happens leads to the entire class being sent to detention--because Sid thinks Black Star goaded the class, because Azusa just takes it out on the student, because Maka smashed her poor father’s head in with a book and has to pay penance.

You are escorted by the teacher aides to smaller classrooms serving as detention. This again is a screen-based room, where at the front, asleep with his feet propped up, is Stein, animated like the teachers were in Crescent Moon. When it is time for detention to start, he wakes up, stretches, and instructs you to buckle up your seats. Why do you need to buckle up your seats? Stein has created a mobile detention room--and to keep you from screwing up again, he’s going to scare the lesson into you. He pulls lever and spins out on his rolling chair, with your chairs now propelled forward on a tether after him, smashing through the wall of the detention room and into the hallway. You speed down the hall, you do a sharp turn at the corner, you probably run over Hero along the way, you head down the stairs and bounce up and down each step. You just avoid the Kishin’s Shrine. You head back up to the spires of the DWMA, where you’re just hanging over them before you descend down!

How do you avoid dying? …I haven’t thought that far through this. Maybe Gen has a new drone to haul you up. Maybe Granny ropes you up and swings you back with her incredible weight. Maybe at the bottom Tezca opens a mirror that sends you into the Death Room, where an animatronic Lord Death greets you and asks you to enjoy the rest of your visit--before asking you to sign a waiver so he doesn’t get sued. You exit out the Death Room and through the guillotines before ending up in a gift shop.

One Children’s Ride: Patty’s Carousel of Nutty Animals

It’s a children’s carousel, only the animals in it look like something Patty would draw and design, including ones that are mythological and incredible. Instead of trying to catch the ring, you have to aim to crack the giraffe’s neck. And as much as I loathe Fire Force, it is not as if you can’t pull from designs from Vulcan’s taxidermy to really amp up how creepy-cute the animal designs are--or even strongly hint that Patty did use taxidermy to make the animals you’re riding, to Kid and Liz’s disgust.

Merchandise

There has been plenty of Soul Eater merch over the years, so enough of that can be sold or made again to sell here. You’d have the typical anime fan stuff: figures, shirts, cosplay outfit kits, replicas of weapons, plushies.

But what can be sold here that is not available anywhere else in the world? Just having “special edition” keychains, shirts, food, and other merch is kind of disappointing.

Or, since this is an entire city, maybe the merchandise is just stuff you would typically buy in Death City? Soul buys albums, so maybe there is just a regular music store there. You can have loads of bookstores, maybe even literal libraries--with lessons on how to properly use a book as a lethal weapon. Maybe expensive speciality shops to “forge” your own weapon?

Or is the point of the merch here supposed to be about unique activities, not tangible products? Do you have Tsubaki doing a cooking class, only to be interrupted by Black Star? Kid trying to teach painting--only to get disrupted by his insistence on symmetry?

One Last Thing: Immersion and Cosplay

One other detail I’ll add: since this is unrealistic and more about being “the sky’s the limit,” you would have guests encouraged to show up in cosplay and act out who they want to be as a meister or a weapon. I am not worrying about security having to check the replicas of weapons being brought in, people hiding their identities in their outfits--this is not about realism, this is just imagining what could be if all things were ideal.

Thoughts?

So, those are my quick ideas for a Soul Eater theme park. Which rides would you put in your version? Let me know in comments or reblogs.

#soul eater #long post

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sideeffectsofhavingnolife · 2 months ago

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IPKKND S:1 EP-4

I don't know why but I feel strangely exhausted today. Eh! Just one of those days.

Fourth Episode of Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, here we come

"Maine tumse pehle bhi kaha hai, apni aukaat me raha karo" Sir, what?!

We just started and he's got her beat again. Let my girl vent once. I want her to say some real ugly stuff, he deserves it.

"Kyu... Kya kiya maine? "This bitch! Look at his smug face.

Girl, stop clutching your Kurta and try to snap back at least.

There he goes, Score 4:0

Yeah, sure! Follow him and preach about God. Definitely the next best course of action.

Look at him talking about dard, you're not the only one who has endured pain in life, buddy, it doesn't give you the right to be an asshole or to harass women.

I thought the speech would be about him being a dick the last time they met and possibly a threat of lodging a harassment complaint.

But go off, Khushi, tell him how big and universal God is, whom Arnav doesn't even believe in. Seems like it should work.

Damn! I was just being sarcastic but looks like it actually worked, he looks pissed.

Where are you even scurrying off to? Oh right! She has to apologize to a lot of people.

Fuck! I knew that the fashion show footage would be on the news but I didn't predict that Arnav would do it to take revenge.

Lol, he cares more about a girl who made a lousy speech than his own company's reputation.

I can't say this enough, the sister and the dad are the most sweetest.

Who was the groom, anyway? Are we ever gonna meet him?

Oh, she mentioned the missing pearls.

I feel bad for my girl, sexual harassment is not a joke, it can be so traumatizing.

Yay! The return of 'Laard Governer'.

Did this man just called him 'bhai'

"Bhai, navratre chal rahe hai" same here dude, perfectly matched the timing.

Let's not oversell, Khushi.

You barely made a dent and it still made him mad.

"Chote log aksar aukaat se bada mooh kholte hai" There's no end to this shit.

This guy seems really close to Arnav. Wonder what's their deal?

We are in for a dance sequence, I guess.

Or more like casual fun.

The mother saw, she is gonna be even more upset.

Not the freeze with the broom right in her face.

Mom! Come be a part of this.

Yes, coax her in. I want to spend some good moments with the mother, I feel like she has been sulking from the very start.

That's right! collective Bua slander is what we live for in this house.

"Aap hi ki beti hu na?"

Let's go! Be the wholesome family you all deserve.

I already know the dad's gonna be a part of it. So stop with the tense music.

Aghh this Bua needs to shut the fuck up and get out of the house.

Why is your head aching Bua? Aap ne hi to sabke sar me dard kar rakha hai.

Thanks Dad! Keep your daughter away from this poisonous bitch.

What's with this nosy caterer? I guess we are not done with our toxicity quota of the day yet.

Somebody shoot this motherfucker down, please.

That's your signal, Khushi. Tear this man a new one.

Nice, so that's her thing, she is good with accounting stuff.

The dad is so proud of her as well.

I wish the sister was here too but she is stuck making chai for the Bua at home.

What a weird shooting set! The fake stars, disco balls, and a backdrop that looks like someone upscaled a screenshot of a Google image. Not to mention the bad lighting. Like what exactly are you even shooting for?

Are those the dresses from the Runway? Because they look just as terrible.

He basically called him a kutta and I am not surprised.

But I don't understand why won't he just throw money at his face if he is so rich.

Are padaaa!

He shouldn't have challanged Arnav's childhood trauma.

Don't talk about people's mother disrespectfully in general, though.

Another one!

2 Crores for two slaps. I wish I got a deal like that. I'd be a billionare by now, if only my mother beating me counted.

Back to Bua ji. 🙄

Fuck! she'll discover the footage first. That's not gonna end well.

What the fuck is this news reporter?

No but why are the needless arrows and circles so absurdly accurate, I've seen it in real news channels.

The sister showed up as well.

Nah! There's no way any cameras were taking those close ups.

How did these people even saw this news?

Somebody in the crowd literally said "Dekh dekh, kaise chal rahi hai?" like what?

Of, course, they are standing in front of a television store but also how did they recognise her so fast? Am I the only person in the world who won't be able to tell even the most famous celebrity apart from a crowd. If they were not surrounded by a crew.

Holy shit! The reporter's voice over just scared me.

"Pakke hue aam ki tarah tapak jaati hai" Please! 😂I am guessing they paid the reporter or he has a personal vendetta against her because why would you deliver these statements with such intristic passion if not for money?

Okay, so it reallly picked up at the end. Excited to see what happens next. I mean I am sure this would lead to some sort of inciting incident but at the same time, it would reallly hurt to see Khushi's parents' dissapointed faces.

But let's not act like I didn't wish for more drama.

#ipkknd episode liveblogs #seriously who was that groom though?#Khushi better apologize to that man #Arnav! I also want 2 crores thrown at my face please

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boostingevents · 5 months ago

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Boosting events

MICE Procedures at Tokyo's Ritz-Carlton.

MICE events-meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions—are crucial sectors of the hospitality sector that generate substantial business and unmatched networking chances. As a leading location for MICE events, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo stands out for combining elegance and cutting-edge amenities to provide remarkable experiences for event planners and business travelers. Important Players The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo requires a coordinated effort from a number of important parties to successfully organize MICE events.

Event Planners: These experts oversee logistics from the beginning to the end, making sure that every aspect meets the needs of the customer.

Hotel Management: Ensures that the hotel's high standards are upheld by supervising all aspects of operations.

AV Technicians: Manage the setup and operation of audio-visual equipment, guaranteeing smooth presentations and communications.

Event Planners: These experts oversee logistics from the beginning to the end, making sure that every aspect meets the needs of the customer.

Hotel Management: Ensures that the hotel's high standards are upheld by supervising all aspects of operations.

AV Technicians: Manage the setup and operation of audio-visual equipment, guaranteeing smooth presentations and communications.

Catering Teams: Provide specialized menus and outstanding food service tailored to each event's requirements.

Location The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo has a range of areas that are intended to meet different MICE requirements:

Conference Rooms: Perfect for board meetings and seminars, these spaces have cutting-edge technology and adaptable seating arrangements. Suitable for major conferences, gala dinners, and exhibits, the ballrooms are grand and beautiful. The outdoor areas are scenic settings that offer stunning views of Tokyo and are ideal for incentive events and cocktail receptions.

Types of Meetings The Hotel can host a variety of events such as

Conferences: Large-scale gatherings with several sessions and substantial AV requirements. * Board Meetings: * Closed, high-stakes meetings that demand seclusion and first-rate amenities.

Incentive Trips: Opulent experiences created to honor top performers, with special access to the hotel's amenities.

Exhibitions: Areas intended for exhibiting goods and services, with plenty of space for booths and displays.

Obstacles: There are several obstacles to planning MICE events at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, including:

Logistical complexity: Careful preparation and effective execution are necessary for managing major events.

Technical issues: Making sure that every piece of AV equipment works well.

Customization Needs: Meeting cultural quirks and particular customer preferences. The hotel employs skilled individuals who anticipate and proactively handle potential concerns as part of its experienced staff approach to managing these challenges. Cutting-edge technology dependable IT assistance and AV systems.

Personalized service: Solutions created specifically to satisfy each client's needs.

SWOT evaluation Advantages: First-rate location and opulent amenities; skilled and knowledgeable personnel. • Cutting-edge technical assistance. Weaknesses: Exorbitant price may turn off certain customers. • Limited availability in the busiest times of year.

Possibilities include: Growing alliances with multinational companies. Improving eco-friendly procedures to draw in environmentally conscientious customers. Risks: Variations in the economy that impact company travel expenditures. Growing competition from other upscale lodging establishments and event spaces.

Pertinence to the PPT Display We covered control strategies and competitive advantages in café management in our class presentation. A hotel like The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo deals with significantly more complexity than a café, even though both require careful planning and quality control for their MICE operations. To manage various and large-scale events effectively, MICE operations management requires not only providing outstanding service but also utilizing technology and remaining adaptable. Imagination and Originality Using narrative to draw readers in, we can see a busy meeting taking place at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, with executives from all over the world networking in front of the breathtaking skyline of the city. The blog will look better with high-quality photos of the hotel's sophisticated ballrooms, state-of-the-art conference rooms, and tranquil outdoor areas.

Final Thoughts: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo is a prime example of MICE quality, providing opulent accommodations, attentive service, and cutting-edge technology. It is a top option for business gatherings in the center of Tokyo because of its success in hosting MICE events, which is a tribute to smart management techniques.

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rpgtoons · 2 years ago

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There is a SECRET TUNNEL between the Champion's Lodge and Wormroot Inn through which exquisite (bit illegal) goods are smuggled into the upscale lodge 👀

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broken-clover · 1 year ago

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4- Healing

Though I still feel like these are still difficult characters to write, I thought it would be fun to do something for Sly Cooper today! I also keep wondering if I'm adhering to my own prompts decently enough but I'm just trying my best!

The series spends most of its time on the actual jobs, which makes sense given it's a video game and you want to play the actual interesting parts, but it's nice to think about the downtime in between, I like imagining the guys just chilling out sometimes

Given the nature of this prompt there's some mention of broken bones and injuries, but nothing especially graphic.

They took turns doing the laundry. Hypothetically.

Because really, the truth was that Murray tried his best, but he was never very good at folding things neatly, and Sly would always pretend that he couldn’t tell whose clothing belonged to whom, despite their obviously different sizes. Bentley just preferred doing the job himself anyway, because then he could take as long as he wanted to smooth out creases and snip off loose strings.

Sly wouldn't be much use with his broken wrist, anyway. He was remarkably upbeat about the whole thing, even if everyone else was absolutely baffled at how he’d managed to injure himself doing the same thing he’d done regularly for years. Nobody teased him too badly for it- it would be hypocritical, seeing as how Murray had gotten lost three times in the same corridor earlier that day, and an errant jet boost on his chair had nearly gotten Bentley’s head stuck in the ceiling. Jobs weren’t always as smooth as they were on the blueprints. It wasn’t the end of the world, anyway, as despite all the hiccups and missteps, they’d still slipped back out of the high-rise carrying numerous personal treasures of the city’s wealthiest business tycoons.

The pile of gemstones and still-framed art pieces looked stunningly out of place in what passed for the safehouse’s living room. It wasn’t an especially upscale place, being an apartment perched atop a dry cleaner’s, but the whole point of a safehouse was to be unassuming and easy to miss. It was still far from the shabbiest place they’d ever hunkered down in, plenty big for the three of them.

“D’ya think he got lost?” Murray looked up from staring at his twiddling thumbs. “Should I have picked it up instead?”

Bentley didn’t slow in rolling the hippo’s newly-cleaned scarf into a neat pile to go with the rest. “It’s Sly, Murray, he’s got a good sense of direction. I’m sure he just got held up at the checkout line.”

“Hmm…” One set of fingers smoothed down a band-aid covering where a fragment of door had gotten lodged in the back of his hand while he’d knocked it down. He always tried to deal with those quickly, Bentley had told him all about the kinds of infections you could get from letting wounds get dirty. The adrenaline masked it while they were working, but once the work was over and it started to wear off, it was easy to notice all the spots that hurt. Even disregarding any cuts or wounds, all his muscles ached from how much they had been used in such a short time.

“Try not to worry too much, okay?” Noting his friend’s continued fretting, Bentley put down the shirt he was folding and gave the hippo a pat on the arm.

The string of bells hung above the door jingled as it swung open. “Honey, I’m home!”

“See? I said it was fine.” The turtle nodded to himself.

Sly padded into the room, demeanor bright despite the matted fur and sling around his neck. “Got dinner.” He announced, lifting up a stuffed plastic bag with his good hand. “Cashier tossed in a couple extra egg rolls ‘cause she felt bad about my arm.”

“Ohhh yeah, ‘The Murray’ has been waiting all day for the deliciousness that is spare ribs. Toss it my way, buddy!”

“Don’t- don’t toss it, I just finished with the laundry!” Bentley protested.

Some heists were capped off with week-long vacations and money thrown every which way as they partied until dawn, and others with quiet tuck-ins at the safehouse, pajamas, and a lot of unwinding.

Sly glanced between the turtle and his work. “No trouble with that, huh? Guess you aren’t concussed after all. Still figured all that hacking would’ve sprained your brain.” He paused. "Seriously, nothing bothering you after hitting your head like that?"

“I wear a helmet for a reason. I still advise you to do likewise.”

“Mmm, yeah, gonna get back to you on that one.” He noticed Bentley’s empty wheelchair parked by the unoccupied corner of the couch. Without any hesitation, he climbed up over the sofa’s overstuffed back and flopped down in between Murray and the armrest.

Bentley stared at him. “...You could have just asked to move it.”

“Felt rude to.”

“And you’re going to exacerbate your injuries in being a smart alek.” He nudged his glasses out of their place to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I swear, sometimes-”

“Hey, c’mon, guys, don’t fight. Aren’t you tired?”

“Alright, Murray, alright.” Sly raised his hand in defeat. He offered Bentley a carton of wonton soup. “Truce?”

“Truce. You know I’m just trying to make sure your injuries heal properly, right?”

“Yeah, mom, you’re always keeping an eye on us.”

The three sank into their chit-chatting and Chinese takeout. Murray commandeered the remote control, flipping through public access channels until they found some old 50’s sci-fi that was corny enough for everyone to get enjoyment out of. He and Sly laughed through mouthfuls of food, while Bentley rolled his eyes and scolded them for their lack of table manners, even as Murray rightfully pointed out that there was no table to speak of. Maybe it was the tiredness, the adrenaline wearing off, or just being in an agreeable mood, but Bentley for some reason found that absolutely hilarious, proceeding to nearly choke on his own dinner from laughing too hard.

“Good job, guys,” Sly said. “Nice work all around. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Bentley fell asleep first, just aware enough while he was nodding off to put his soup on the coffee table where it wouldn’t spill, only to pass out right atop the clean laundry he'd so meticulously sorted. While he seemed unfazed, Sly abruptly joined him halfway through the movie’s third act, with an empty takeout container still nestled in his lap and his tail wrapped around his legs. Murray stayed where he was, sandwiched between the two. It wasn’t a generous fit, but he didn’t try to get up, or even to move. He didn’t want to accidentally jostle any limbs or bump into any sore spots, let alone accidentally wake anyone up. They both needed the rest. And he was fine where he was. He always felt safer when his friends were close.

#Frog Writes #comfortober #sly cooper

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vacation-resort-solutions · 10 months ago

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The Lofts at Green Valley - Your Ultimate Getaway Retreat Discover the epitome of luxury and relaxation at The Lofts at Green Valley. Nestled in a picturesque location, these meticulously designed lofts offer a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. Unwind in style and immerse yourself in the tranquility of Green Valley's stunning surroundings. Your dream getaway starts here.

#getawayvrs #vacation rentals #vacation resort solutions #Green Valley retreat #luxury vacation rental #upscale accommodations #tranquil getaway #The Lofts #premium lodging #scenic destination #travel escape #relaxation haven #exclusive retreat #GetawayVRS.

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hendolish · 1 year ago

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Well, it's me again. But not with stonesford this time! (I know shocking). This time, with hendolish ficlet.

I think Skye absolutely loves Hendo, and he loves her too. She's always excited when he visits Jack, and Grealish is so glad that his precious dog and his bf like each other.

However, sometimes Skye doesn’t let him spend time with Hendo and wants to keep him for herself, making Jack feel a little bit betrayed.

jack grealish/jordan henderson | puppy love ♡

The living room of Jack's upscale home is bathed in the soft afternoon light, shadows dancing across the wooden flooring. Skye, with her curly, golden fur, prances around the room, the very epitome of joy. Her little paws patter against the floor, creating a familiar rhythm. It's a sound Jack has grown fond of, a comfort in his often-hectic life.

Today, though, there’s an added energy in her step. A guest has arrived.

Jordan strides in, his tall frame dwarfed only by his larger-than-life aura. That familiar, warm smile plays on his lips, reserved just for Jack. But today, there's another who demands his attention. Skye.

As soon as she spots him, her excited barks fill the room. Tail wagging with vigour, she launches herself at Jordan, who, laughing, scoops her up into his embrace. Their bond is evident, undeniable even. It's as though they've known each other for lifetimes, not just the handful of meetings they've had.

Jack watches from the doorway, an amused yet fond smile on his face. He’s always been protective of Skye, his loyal companion through thick and thin. To see her bond so seamlessly with Jordan, to see those two worlds collide and intertwine, fills his heart with warmth. Yet, a tiny twinge of jealousy surfaces. Not towards Jordan, but rather Skye. He chuckles internally at the absurdity.

"Oi, Skye," Jack teases, his voice playful, "You planning on giving my boyfriend back anytime soon?"

Jordan laughs, lowering Skye to the ground, but she promptly places herself between the two men, her stance playful yet defiant, tail wagging enthusiastically.

Jack raises an eyebrow, feigning a betrayed look. "So, that's how it is? Trading me in for Hendo?"

Jordan ruffles Skye’s fur, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially into her floppy ear. "We’re a team now, aren't we?" He then looks up, meeting Jack's faux-accusing gaze with a smirk. "Looks like I've got competition."

Despite the playful banter, the room is thick with genuine affection. The three of them forming a unique bond.

As the evening sun paints the room golden, the three of them settle on the plush couch. Skye comfortably lodged between Jack and Jordan, her head resting on Jordan’s lap. Their fingers entwine, a silent promise of shared moments, laughter and love. It's clear that, in this moment, all is right in their world.

♡

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housetobuynearme · 6 months ago

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7 Best Hotels In Napa, CA

When visiting Napa, CA, consider these top hotel picks: Napa Valley Lodge offers a tranquil retreat with cozy rooms and complimentary wine tastings. The Meritage Resort And Spa provides luxury amidst vineyards, with upscale amenities and a unique underground spa. Napa Winery Inn exudes charm with personalized service and a convenient location. SENZA Hotel beckons with plush rooms, an outdoor pool, and complimentary breakfast. Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection is a top luxury choice with modern rooms and an award-winning spa. The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley and Archer Hotel Napa promise unforgettable stays. Get ready for an unforgettable Napa experience.

Napa Valley Lodge

Napa Valley Lodge offers a tranquil retreat in the heart of California's wine country. Nestled among vineyards and rolling hills, the lodge provides a peaceful escape for visitors looking to unwind and explore the beauty of Napa Valley. The cozy rooms feature comfortable furnishings and modern amenities, ensuring a relaxing stay for guests.

One of the highlights of Napa Valley Lodge is the beautiful outdoor area, complete with a heated pool and hot tub. It's the perfect spot to soak up the sunshine and enjoy a glass of local wine. The lodge also offers complimentary wine tasting events, allowing guests to sample a variety of wines from nearby wineries.

In addition to its serene atmosphere, Napa Valley Lodge is conveniently located near top attractions such as wineries, restaurants, and hiking trails. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or a weekend of wine tasting with friends, this charming lodge provides the ideal home base for exploring all that Napa Valley has to offer.

The Meritage Resort And Spa

Nestled amidst the lush vineyards of California's renowned wine region, The Meritage Resort And Spa offers a luxurious escape for travelers seeking relaxation and indulgence. Boasting a blend of upscale amenities and picturesque surroundings, this resort caters to guests looking to unwind in style. The spacious and elegantly appointed rooms provide a comfortable retreat after a day of exploring the nearby wineries.

One of the highlights of The Meritage Resort And Spa is its underground spa, Spa Terra, where guests can indulge in a variety of rejuvenating treatments. The resort also features multiple dining options, including its signature restaurant Siena, serving delectable dishes paired with local wines.

For those looking to stay active during their getaway, the resort offers a fitness center, pools, and even a bowling alley. Additionally, the resort's proximity to various vineyards makes it a convenient choice for wine enthusiasts looking to explore Napa Valley's renowned wine scene. With its luxurious accommodations and top-notch facilities, The Meritage Resort And Spa provides a memorable stay in the heart of wine country.

Napa Winery Inn

With its charming ambiance and proximity to local vineyards, the Napa Winery Inn beckons guests seeking a quaint retreat in the heart of California's wine country. The inn offers a cozy and intimate setting that makes visitors feel right at home. The rooms are tastefully decorated, providing a comfortable space to relax after a day of wine tasting and exploring the picturesque surroundings.

One of the highlights of staying at the Napa Winery Inn is the personalized service provided by the attentive staff. From offering recommendations for nearby wineries to ensuring that guests have everything they need for a pleasant stay, the staff goes above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome.

In addition to its inviting atmosphere, the inn boasts a convenient location near some of Napa Valley's most renowned wineries. Guests can easily explore the vineyards, sample exquisite wines, and soak in the beauty of the rolling hills that define this iconic wine region.

SENZA Hotel

Located just a short drive away from downtown Napa, SENZA Hotel offers a luxurious retreat amidst the vineyards of California's wine country. The hotel boasts modern and elegant rooms with amenities like plush bedding, flat-screen TVs, and espresso machines. Guests can unwind in the outdoor pool, surrounded by picturesque views of the vineyards, or relax in the hot tub after a day of wine tasting. SENZA Hotel provides a complimentary breakfast each morning, featuring fresh local ingredients to start the day off right.

For those looking to explore the surrounding area, the hotel offers bike rentals to cruise through the scenic vineyard paths or visit nearby wineries. The attentive staff is knowledgeable about the best local wineries and can help guests plan their wine tasting adventures. SENZA Hotel's serene ambiance and personalized service make it an ideal choice for travelers seeking a tranquil and upscale experience in Napa Valley.

Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection

One of the top luxury accommodations in Napa, CA is Solage, part of the esteemed Auberge Resorts Collection. Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Solage offers a unique blend of relaxation and sophistication. The resort boasts modern, spacious rooms with chic decor and luxurious amenities.

Guests can indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments at the award-winning Spa Solage, known for its healing thermal waters and innovative wellness programs. The on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, Solbar, serves up delectable farm-to-table cuisine paired with an extensive selection of local wines.

Solage provides a range of activities for guests to enjoy, including biking through vineyards, relaxing by the pool, or participating in fitness classes. The resort's attentive staff ensures that every guest's needs are met, creating a memorable and personalized experience.

Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway, a wine tasting adventure, or simply a tranquil retreat, Solage at Auberge Resorts Collection offers a luxurious escape in the heart of Napa Valley.

The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley, Tapestry By Hilton

Nestled in the stunning Napa Valley, The Knoll Hotel offers a charming getaway experience as part of the Tapestry By Hilton collection. The hotel's picturesque surroundings and elegant design make it a top choice for travelers seeking a luxurious yet cozy retreat in the heart of wine country.

With spacious rooms and suites that boast modern amenities and tasteful decor, The Knoll Hotel provides a tranquil oasis for guests looking to unwind and indulge in the beauty of Napa Valley. The on-site restaurant serves delectable dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, providing a true taste of the region's culinary delights.

Guests can also enjoy the hotel's outdoor pool, perfect for relaxing and soaking in the California sunshine, or explore the nearby vineyards and wineries that make Napa Valley famous. The Knoll Hotel's attentive staff are dedicated to ensuring a memorable stay for every guest, making it a standout choice for those seeking a refined and unforgettable Napa Valley experience.

Archer Hotel Napa

With its modern amenities and stylish design, Archer Hotel Napa offers a sophisticated retreat in the heart of Napa Valley. The hotel's chic rooms are elegantly furnished and feature luxurious touches like plush bedding and sleek bathrooms. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome, providing top-notch service and recommendations for exploring the local area.

One of the highlights of our stay at Archer Hotel Napa was the rooftop bar, which offers stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. We enjoyed sipping on handcrafted cocktails while watching the sunset, creating a truly memorable experience. Additionally, the hotel's central location made it easy for us to visit nearby wineries, restaurants, and shops.

About Sell Quick California, LLC

Sell Quick California, LLC is your go-to house buying service in the heart of Napa, California. Specializing in facilitating swift and effortless transactions, our company caters to homeowners looking to sell their properties without the usual hassles associated with traditional sales. At Sell Quick California, we pride ourselves on our commitment to transparency and integrity. We make the process as straightforward as possible by offering no-obligation cash proposals, ensuring you receive the best value without the need for any repairs. Our deep understanding of the California Napa Valley buy house market enables us to guarantee fast closings, tailored to fit your specific timeline, making it an ideal solution for anyone looking to sell quickly. Whether you are a seasoned seller or a first-time homebuyer, our team is just a call away, ready to provide seamless service that meets your real estate needs with efficiency and reliability. Trust Sell Quick California, LLC for a stress-free property selling experience where your convenience is our top priority.

Sell Quick California, LLC 1648 Tallac St, Napa, CA 94558, United States (707) 307-5554 https://www.google.com/maps?cid=15080355270405531959

#realestate #real estate #sell my house

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