#white silk area rug

[carrollismo]

Contemporary Dining Room - Great Room An illustration of a large, modern great room with a light wood floor and a beige floor, white walls, and no fireplace

[briannakbaker]

Dining Room - Transitional Dining Room Kitchen/dining room combo - large transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea with gray walls

[theamazingtutorials]

Enclosed Living Room Large traditional enclosed living room idea with a brick fireplace, light wood floors, and blue walls. There is also a wall-mounted television.

[miyukinaru]

Bedroom Master in Indianapolis Large transitional master light wood floor bedroom photo with white walls and no fireplace

[fyeahhyolyn]

Transitional Living Room New Orleans Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept and formal light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

[readrtheme]

Family Room Tampa Large image of a family room with a travertine floor and a two-sided fireplace in the Tuscan style, as well as blue walls, a bar, and a media wall.

[tanuki-kimono]

Great example of everyday noragi (work clothes, worn by farmers for ex.)​ from Taisho period. Note the makisode sleeve shape, offering freedom of mouvement!

You can see the close-up of the weave, made from asa (bast-fiber like hemp or linen) and kamiyori (twisted paper thread​). Despite its "rugged" materials, weave is delicately interlocked with regular black stripes.

The coat also presents geometrical sashiko (white quilting), both reinforcing easily worn areas (collar, hems, inner center back), and decorating the garment.

PSA for writers: please please please don't put characters doing manual labour in "silk" kimono. I'll be forever grateful ;)

[ghost-n-butteredtoast]

I have a prompt if you want it. What do the RE8 women and reader do while spending the evening/night by a cozy fire? Do they play games? Read books to each other? Cuddle the fuck out of each other? I need yo know.

A nice little prompt to get me thinking outside the box a bit... LET'S GET COZY BY THE FIREPLACE, SHALL WE? 🔥

Alcina

On a nearby table, Alcina adjusted the contents of a tray a maid had dutifully left for the Lady: a bottle Sanguis Virginis for herself, and a bottle of the newest blend she had created for you, a sweet red – blood-free, of course, and two wine glasses.

She smirks as she drapes a blanket over the back of the leather couch in case you get cold, but she knows you won’t need it.

A knock at the door, and a maid announces your arrival. Alcina glances at you over the back of the couch. “Ah, draga. Come join me, won’t you?” You enter the room and the maid closes the door behind you.

Alcina had mentioned something about a gift of sorts earlier in the day, but you were not expecting this. She stands up from her seat on the couch, and as she turns to you, she slowly unties her black silk robe revealing her surprise: miles of black lace and porcelain skin that glows in the light of the fire.

She reaches out to you, takes your hand, and leads you to the area in front of the fireplace where red velvet pillows lay atop a plush white rug.

The logs in the fireplace crackled, the flames low. You offer to stoke the fire, but your eyes are unable to leave the woman who was now kneeling before you. Alcina gathers your shirt in her fists pulling you closer.

Even though you are now eye to eye with her, you still see her robe slide down her shoulders as she takes you into her strong arms. She nuzzles your neck, and nips and licks her way up to the shell of your ear before whispering…

“You needn’t bother with the fire, draga mea. Allow me to keep you warm tonight.”

Donna

Donna plans a cozy evening by the fire for just the two of you.

She makes a deal with Angie to leave the both of you alone, promising to take her to see the Dimitrescu daughters tomorrow for fun and games. Donna also locks up the kitchen knives for the evening, making the doll pout.

You bring a pile of books you’ve slowly been making your way through. Donna has laid her current knitting project and a few balls of yarn on the couch.

She brings in a tray of tea and cookies and places it on the table next to your books. “I thought you might read aloud while I knit. I do so love hearing your voice.” This makes you smile as you pour tea for two.

After nibbling on a cookie, Donna randomly selects a book from your pile… Death in the Garden: Poisonous Plants and Their Use Throughout History. “Sounds fascinating. Tell me what you have learned, amore mia.”

She knits, and you read. You sit with your back against the arm of the couch; your feet stretched towards her. Her posture is straight as an arrow at first, but she relaxes as you continue to read.

While you were engrossed in your book, you failed to notice Donna had abandoned her knitting project. She had been watching you, her sweet smile giving way to a yawn. “My apologies.” She says shyly. The warmth of the fire and your voice soothes me.”

You use a stray piece of yarn to mark your place in the book before crawling across the couch to Donna. She presses a kiss into your hair after covering you both with a blanket. “Comfortable, mia cara?”

“Mmm, very,” and you continue to read until the fire dies, falling asleep curled up next to each other.

The Dimitrescu Daughters

It’s a dark and stormy night. Alcina has had a long day. She asks you to keep the girls entertained while she bathes and tries to rid herself of “this infernal headache.” You kiss her and reassure her you can keep the girls out of trouble.

The girls were known to terrorize the maids morning, noon, and night – the time of day didn’t matter, but they just found it exceptionally thrilling to do so on nights like these.

Before they can set off to gallivant throughout the castle, you tell them you have a better idea and to meet you in the library. You instruct them to start up the fireplace while you grab a few supplies.

When you return, you find the girls sitting next to the fire: Bela picks at her nails while Cassandra and Daniela play Rock Paper Scissors. Daniela wins again, Cassandra tackles her sister, and you intervene, slapping and yelling at them to quiet down while pulling the brunette off the redhead. Cassandra playfully snaps at you (at least you think she is playing). “This had better be good.” She says staring you down.

You dump the bag of marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolates out onto the floor in front of the girls. “What the hell is this?” Cassandra asks.

“S’mores. I am going to show you how to make s’mores and then we are going to tell scary stories.”

The process of showing the girls how to make s’mores was…a messy one. The maids were going to be pissed, but the girls thoroughly enjoy themselves. Bela had some grace in construction and eating, Cassandra cursed as she set several marshmallows on fire, flinging them across the room as she tried to extinguish them (you had to run after the blazing balls of goo, making sure they didn’t set fire to anything else), and Dani hummed and smiled as she bit into her s’more, marshmallow and chocolate oozing out the sides and running down her chin.

They gathered around to listen to your tale of terror. The fire is warm, and the lightning flashes through the large skylight above. Surprisingly, they stay focused and do not budge, until you release a jump scare on them causing them to scream and swarm to their mother.

You are quite pleased with yourself; you, the silly little human who scared the Dimitrescu girls.

Minutes later, Alcina enters the room to find you on your back, laughing hysterically, popping the last s’more into your mouth. “Draga?” She growls. Her beautiful white negligee, your favorite, is now covered in chocolate hand prints and smudges where the girls had grabbed at her. She smiles, but it is terrifying, which trumps your scary story jump scare.

“You…look…beautiful…sweetheart?” You wince. “I’ll be up to bed shortly…I’ll just...clean all this up and-,”

“Oh, no!” She shakes her head. “This…” she gestures at her attire, “is now off limits. You can sleep in the guestroom tonight!”

Miranda

The priestess sat at her desk doing work while you sat on the couch. Occasionally, you would ask if there was anything you could get her. She would respond with a curt “no,” or simply dismiss you with a flick of the wrist.

You walk to the fireplace and start a fire. “What are you doing?” She grumbles without looking at you.

You tell her you were a bit chilly, and thought a fire might help, that you would prepare some tea and she was welcome to join you if she was able to take a break.

Miranda was a bit cold, as she had not moved much for the past several hours, but she was unwilling to abandon her work entirely, opting to take a few journals over to the couch.

Smiling up at her, you curl your legs up closer to your body, making room for the regal woman. She nods when you hand her a cup of tea. She rarely says thank you.

She is not much for conversation, ever really, but especially while she works. Her beauty is captivating, and you can not help but steal glances as she reads and takes notes. Her brilliance and madness, both stemming from love and pain, only add to that beauty.

“You’re watching me. Why?” She asks without looking at you.

Of course, she notices. She sees all. She knows all. “I’m sorry,” you say, shivering as you look away embarrassed.

A black feathered wing spreads out to you, fluttering gently as if beckoning you to come closer. Miranda clears her throat but continues to work, not saying a word.

Cautiously you crawl over to her and lay your head against her arm. She wraps her wing around you to keep you warm. As she continues to work, you stroke her feathers until you fall asleep.

[dyxtd21]

Desert Rose aesthetic moodboard!!

Desert Rose:

Appearance: Desert Rose is a unique gemstone entity that manifests in the form of a wooden marionette, evoking both beauty and melancholy in her appearance. Despite her gemstone nature, she embodies the texture and appearance of weathered wood, with a dusty brown coloration interspersed with delicate white hues. Her gemstone is a blooming rose-cut, positioned prominently on her chest area, radiating a subtle, inner light amidst the rugged exterior.

Her features are finely crafted to resemble the intricacies of a marionette, with joints and details that mimic the craftsmanship of a skilled puppeteer. Desert Rose's eyes, though made of gemstone, reflect a deep sadness and longing, capturing the essence of her existence as a creation bound by strings.

Attire: Desert Rose wears attire that complements her marionette form while emphasizing her gemstone nature. She is adorned in a simple, elegant dress crafted from fine silk that mimics the appearance of weathered fabric. The dress is a soft brown hue with delicate white patterns, symbolizing the blend of her wooden appearance and gemstone essence.

Around her neck, Desert Rose wears a chain adorned with a miniature desert rose pendant, a nod to her name and a reminder of the beauty that lies within her. Her attire is designed to reflect the duality of her existence—a gemstone entity trapped within the guise of a marionette, yearning for freedom and autonomy beyond her puppet strings.

Personality: Desert Rose's personality is shaped by her unique existence as a gemstone marionette. She experiences moments of sorrow and introspection, longing for independence and the ability to define her own path. Despite her melancholy, she possesses a quiet strength and resilience, finding solace in the fleeting moments of beauty and humanity that she encounters.

Her gemstone nature imbues her with a deep sense of empathy and understanding for others who face challenges and adversity. Desert Rose harbors a gentle spirit, offering comfort and companionship to those who share her struggle for autonomy and self-discovery.

(Her creator is Candy Jade, who I'll talk and write about tomorrow)

[shecreateshome]

44 Decor Ideas for Your Dream Bedroom

1. Luxurious Bedding: - Start with the foundation – invest in high-quality, luxurious bedding for the ultimate comfort.

2. Statement Headboard: - Elevate your bed with a statement headboard that adds style and drama to your bedroom.

3. Soft, Neutral Colors: - Choose soft, neutral colors like muted grays, serene whites, and calming pastels to create a tranquil atmosphere.

4. Cozy Throw Blankets: - Place cozy throw blankets at the foot of your bed for an inviting touch.

5. Plush Area Rug: - Define your bedroom space with a plush area rug that adds warmth and texture.

6. Ambient Lighting: - Install ambient lighting fixtures like dimmable sconces or pendant lights for a soothing atmosphere.

7. Floating Nightstands: - Opt for floating nightstands to save space and create a modern look.

8. Wall Art Gallery: - Create a gallery wall with your favorite artwork or family photos.

9. Ceiling Fan with Lights: - Combine functionality and style with a ceiling fan that includes integrated lighting.

10. Sheer Curtains: - Hang sheer curtains to allow natural light while maintaining privacy.

11. Accent Wall: - Paint one wall in a bold, contrasting color or use wallpaper to create an accent wall.

12. Full-Length Mirror: - Add a full-length mirror to make your bedroom feel larger and provide a practical space for getting ready.

13. Dresser with Mirror: - Choose a dresser with an attached mirror to streamline your morning routine.

14. Customized Shelving: - Install customized shelving to display books, decorative items, and personal mementos.

15. Canopy Bed: - Create a romantic ambiance with a canopy bed draped in sheer fabric.

16. Bedside Table Lamps: - Illuminate your bedside tables with elegant table lamps for bedtime reading.

17. Elegant Wall Decals: - Decorate your walls with elegant wall decals for a stylish and removable design element.

18. Plentiful Pillows: - Layer your bed with an assortment of pillows in different sizes and textures for added comfort.

19. Statement Chandelier: - Make a grand statement with a striking chandelier as a focal point in your bedroom.

20. Room-Enhancing Plants: - Bring nature indoors with bedroom-friendly plants like peace lilies or snake plants.

21. Tufted Ottoman: - Add a tufted ottoman to provide extra seating and storage space.

22. Coordinating Bedside Tables: - Choose matching bedside tables to create a cohesive look.

23. Customized Headboard: - Design a customized headboard that perfectly fits your bedroom's style.

24. Soft Roman Shades: - Install soft Roman shades for a timeless and functional window treatment.

25. Bed Bench: - Place a bed bench at the foot of your bed for a touch of luxury and additional seating.

26. Dreamy Canopy Curtains: - Hang dreamy canopy curtains for an ethereal atmosphere in your bedroom.

27. Mirrored Furniture: - Incorporate mirrored furniture for added glamour and a spacious feel.

28. Layered Bedding Textures: - Mix and match bedding textures like linen, velvet, and silk for a luxurious look.

29. Window Seat Nook: - Create a cozy window seat nook with cushions and throw pillows for a tranquil reading spot.

30. Statement Accent Chair: - Place a statement accent chair in a corner for a stylish and functional addition.

31. Textured Wall Panels: - Enhance your bedroom's texture with textured wall panels or wood paneling.

32. Dressing Screen: - Use a dressing screen for privacy and a touch of vintage charm.

33. Minimalist Floating Shelves: - Install minimalist floating shelves for a sleek and clutter-free display.

34. Vanity Table: - Set up a vanity table with a chic mirror for your beauty routine.

35. Luxurious Bed Canopy: - Elevate your bed with a luxurious canopy for a regal touch.

36. Dramatic Black Accents: - Introduce black accents through decor items or furniture for a touch of drama.

37. Layered Curtains: - Layer curtains with sheers and blackout options for flexibility in light control.

38. Patterned Bedspread: - Opt for a patterned bedspread to add visual interest and personality.

39. Cozy Reading Nook: - Create a cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair and good lighting.

40. Monogrammed Bedding: - Personalize your bedding with monogrammed pillows or sheets.

41. Gold and Metallic Accents: - Incorporate gold or metallic accents for a touch of opulence.

42. Wall-Mounted TV: - Mount a TV on the wall for entertainment without taking up floor space.

43. Elegant Crown Molding: - Add elegant crown molding for a touch of architectural charm.

44. Serene Ocean Vibes: - Create a calming ocean-inspired bedroom with blue hues and nautical decor.

[firapolemos05]

Whumpmas in July

Day 25: Share a sneak peak

Little preview to a sequel I'm making for Still your Heart. Narcos will not be having a good time.

CW: captivity, use of 'master' as a title, nonhuman whumpee, pet whump, creepy whumper

She leads him down one of many hallways, lined with various artworks and shining sconces. It's unfamiliar, and while he's supposed to keep his eyes cast downward, he can't help but take in the decor. Usually when Master presents him, he's brought to the dining room or the parlor, or some other gathering area for guests.

She stops at a pair of wooden doors, and once opened, gestures for him to enter.

It's one of the guest bedrooms. 

A crackling fireplace bathes the space in a warm glow, colluding with the darkness leaking in from the night outside the windows and balcony doors. The glow lights up the rich browns of the wooden furniture, carved with ornate motifs that must be the bane of whomever was tasked with keeping them polished and free of dust. His eyes are immediately drawn to the large four-poster bed. The columns at its corners taper to spire-like points above the canopy frame, from which hang silk drapes of burgundy. A cushioned bench sits at its foot, and a plush rug of intricate patterns ('looks like Muthamian make,' says a far-off point of his mind) spans the area of dark hardwood surrounding the bed.

"Ah there he is." The voice pulls the Champion’s attention back to the opposite end of the room. A figure rises from an armchair in front of the fireplace, and years of training make the tiefling drop to his knees, eyes down. "My my. You have my compliments, Scarlet. This is quite the ravishing introduction."

Something about the man's tone doesn't sit well. It twists a knot in his stomach. He can't pinpoint exactly why; it's not like this was the first time someone made condescending remarks towards him.

"I figured this would be to your liking," Master replies. One of her fingers strokes the spikes on his horns, flicking a dangling gemstone. "You did mention wanting to see him in red."

Footfalls approach, and black leather shoes with gold buckles enter the Champion’s vision. A snap of fingers tells him he should look up. Pale stockings, slate blue pants rising high on the waist, a white dress shirt frilled at the collar and cuffs, and a smiling face framed in brown hair. In his hand was a wooden cane with a curved ivory handle.

"A pleasure to formally meet you, Champion," the man greets, words rolling with a thick Mężnydzik accent. Short, rounded ears speak human and high-quality clothes plus a well-trimmed beard speak high class. "Ivan Mitreski, I am an associate of your master."

[headingalaxys-spicy]

I don't know if you've ever done it, but I'd like to see some headcanons for Alpha Alfred and a fem Omega 😳 it could be nsfw or fluffy, it's up to you! Thank you much <33

Me: *On my third cup off coffee* (pumpkin spice or caramel apple is involved)

Alfred: Don’t you think you should chill on the-

Me: Yeah not happening. Here just take this script of unbridled hornyness.

Happy Friday I hope y’all have fun. I’m finally able to write. I’m on my full ass nonsense. 😂

Viewer discretion advised because this is a partial spice post.

Alfred is lowkey obsessed with you and, to some degree, does control you, but nothing that is crazy extreme. Just in terms of where you can be and some of the things you wear (although the latter isn’t highly enforced only sometimes. I.E., you’ll have more dresses and skirts than you’d like, and he’d never let you go alone to a major metropolitan area. Too dangerous. Fem omegas of your stature are pretty, talented, and overall strength-wise extremely weak. You’d be kidnapped in a heartbeat.

He’s also kind enough to not have it be an enforced rule that you have to wear one of the numerous collars that he’s bought for you. Yes, a lot of those said collars are made out of diamonds, silk, velvet, and one with an enticing red ruby in the center. He despersatly wanted to buy you a collar that would tantalize you enough to wear one for him. Even with his baby blues begging you to wear one you’ve still refused.

In his mind: “I’m going to get you Y/N! You don’t know how adorable you’d look in one of these!” He will continue to pout about it for awhile and will playfully attack you with an intense tickle session.

His favorite thing to do to you is pounce on you. (Yes, it annoys you for a few reasons #1, he’s heavy, but also…) Just as you’re about to fall asleep on the couch, he will take this as the perfect time to strike. He wants the maximum shock value out of you. He curls himself around you like a large, warm duvet, and due to his muscles, he feels like a warm, heated & weighted blanket. Once you are in his grasp, he will throw himself off the couch and roll around on the carpet like a rolle polle bug. It’s a nerve-racking experience for 30-45 seconds while he shouts in your ear. (Talk about sensory overload.) You know he does this because he’s excited to see you and loves you. He also does it to get his scent all over you. You were taken, and that’s what he wanted to convey to anyone who interacted with you that you belonged to him. He does spray your clothes, by the way, with his special cologne.

He likes to sit next to you on the couch to whack you with his golden retriever tail. He thinks he’s funny, so he does try to beatbox, complete with thunderous clapping, leg slaps and Alfred even slaps your legs for added effect. You will yelp in pain because he isn’t exactly gentle when he does these things to you. You will have multiple red marks on your skin where he made multiple slaps on your leg while he created his mix tape. He will give you gentle, light butterfly kisses that make sparkles fly up to your gut. You blush. It will look as if a wildfire had swept across your face. He enjoys making you blush. It’s one of his favorite pastimes. His hands will move up your face and caress your cheeks for a few moments, drinking in your flustered face. He will then move to pinching your cheeks and trying to make you do silly faces. His favorite is trying to make loud whale noises…..(Think Dory from Finding Nemo doing her whale call.) You do kick him in the stomach to make him stop.

Whenever there is a storm outside, he likes to have the comfiest fluffy white rug with nice weighted throw blankets that can cool the two of you off if things get too heated. Speaking of things being heated….

He liked to play the song “Lay it Down” by Steelix to start off the steamy session. You’ve become accustomed to this, and you mentally prepare for his aggressive attack on your body.

THE SPICY STUFF

When you start he will remove your clothes to “Kiss me More” He will start by kissing your shins and move upwards to your thinly clothed sweet spot.

It’s a given that you’ll be cream-pied every time the two of you will make love. (It can’t be helped really since you belong to him and depending on the situation you can die if you go too many heats without being knotted in by him.)

It’s a given that you’re ALWAYS sore afterward you were sure it was because the size of his 8 ½ cock and the speed in which he bulldozed into at the pace of “Touch my body” by Mariah Carrey, “Sugar” by Maroon 5, and “Sweet Spot” Kim Petras. As he rhythmically bangs you to the song that's playing, he’s in a state of pure bliss as his claws dig into your soft skin keeping you in place. He shows your pussy no mercy. Only when the music tempo slows so will he. As long as it’s upbeat and fast the pounding on your core will last.

You will feel relief when you heard the song “Slow it Down” by Kim Petras and his movements will soften. He will make slow love to you and try to harmonize his heartbeat with yours as his heated member began to get stuck in your heat and your slick walls began to close in on him. The base of his member swelled to twice his size to complete the knot inside of you. Now that he was fully erect and interconnected to you not a single drop of him would be wasted. You howl out in pleasure encouraging him to continue and proving him with a melody that is easier to listen too than the song that gently played in the room. His thrusts were sloppy and he was coated in sweat, tiny droplets of blood, and your juices.

Alfred is good with getting things done. You only had sex once and you were already showing signs that life was beginning to grow inside of you. He will be overjoyed and spin you in the air. He will smile and smirk at you while his tail is whipping at you with glee. His dick rushed upwards towards the sky causing the buldge in his jeans to become large and senstive.

“Ready to go again?” He kisses your cheek softly to coax you to say yes and sing his name.

“Y/N, Y/N come on you know you want to~” He will lick your cheek and rub his budding heat aganist your entrance, which will only be there for a few more seconds more before he rips it off your body.

From there Alfred will proceed to leave his mating mark on the right side of your collarbone. Mind you this will hurt like hell for a few hours once he sinks his canines into you. Once he does this a lot of your body will be inflamed so he will do his best to maintain a slow and steady pace as not to injure you or give you a long lasting rash in between your thighs due to all the heat, sweat, and friction.

[mariethebard]

AU based on this fic by @arielchelby :

In the year 306 AC, Alysanne Targaryen was born in the Lands of Always Winter, a few seconds older than her twin brother, Daeron, after the destruction of the Iron Throne. The eldest of eight children of the couple Jaehaerys and Daenerys, her parents received the island of Dragonstone and its vassals after an agreement between the southern and northern crowns, with the loyalties of the houses: Bar Emmon, Celtigar, Rambton, Sunglass and Velaryon, in exchange for the protection of the last dragons.

Very protected and spoiled, she was a quiet child, who was dragged in the pieces made by her brother. Growing up, she fell in love with luxury, hoarding jewels, silk, and rugs, devoting herself to what her septa taught her. The maiden considers herself more suitable for academic and recreational areas such as mathematics, embroidery, alchemy, dance and languages, despite having a high knowledge of weapons and strategies, believing that some women are destined for the art of poison.

Her dragon egg hatched while still in her cradle, and a beautiful beast emerged, Alyssane named it: 'darkest night' for the deep blue hue and white details. Reserved, everyone knew she was a feisty beauty, who prefers her younger brothers and dragon over anyone. Her solitude and insistent beauty, if followed by the vessel from which she was adapted to sorcery, rumors grew worse when she married her twin brother without her parents' knowledge in the year 321 AC.

[saltineofswing]

APOSTATE

Destiny 2 || 3200 Words

In Another World, In Some Ways Like The One We Know...

The dark cavern did not smell like rotting chitin and decomposing muscle fibers, the fetid stench of rusted iron and maggot earth, like most other Hive abodes Toland had inhabited. Rather it smelled like rain-damp wood and old parchment; Toland found either smell pleasant, but it was easier to breathe around the latter while traversing physically, and so he was glad for Ish-Mulmir’s preference for self-grooming. 

“O Thief-Of-Moths,” Toland began, sweeping through the gossamer curtain of fabric and out of the swirling eddies of lunar wind, “One who they call Throne Watcher, and also Shadow of Eleusinia, and also the Clever Blade, and also Ish-Mulmir. I have come to seek parlay with you. It is the agreed-upon time; the Earth is in high repose and the Sun has turned its hateful eye from this hollow place, and we have such grim and wonderful work to do.” He steepled his fingers together as he stepped deeper into the den, his bone-crested robes sweeping the footsteps away behind him. 

From deeper in the cave came a sound like parchment rasping over bone, and a sound of mandibles clattering together, like many sets of chattering teeth.

Brazenly walking into a Hive den amounted to certain death for most Guardians, Warlock or not, but this was no ordinary Hive den. Toland courteously wiped his booted feet on the mat set just inside the curtain covering Ish-Mulmir’s den, which said ‘WELCOME’ emblazoned in bright green letters. The rug beyond the mat was mostly clean, though time had tarnished the once bright ivory color – especially at the edges – and worn the fibers so that it looked somewhat like a large, ovular map of antiquity. The trinkets of many a bored patrolling Guardian hung along the walls among many whittled bones which dangled from the ceiling, strung into intricate charms, like gruesome wind chimes. Additional gossamer curtains, some sheer and some opaque, hung here and there like sheets of spiderweb, breaking the space into neat little sections. 

Against the stove leaned a long, thin blade, carved of the longest bone of some unknowable thing. 

A curtain – opaque – in the back of the den curled aside and Ish-Mulmir stepped through. She was not so tall as a Knight or Wizard, though she stood taller than an Acolyte and cut a more imposing figure. At first, many assumed that the fine and detailed fabric that draped around her shoulders and obscured her body from view was simply a very nice, Hive-themed robe or cloak; in fact they were wings, patterned like a moth designed by time to evoke some alien landscape, and they slid behind her with an insectoid shiver to rest at her back as she wove gracefully between furniture and approached him. 

“Toland,” the creature rasped in crooked Hive dialect, like stones grinding together between two hands. “I’ve told you that you don’t need to do that every time we meet.”

“It’s not for you,” Toland replied coyly. “How have you slept, Ish-Mulmir?” 

“Poorly,” Thief-Of-Moths said. “Ever more my dreams turn towards the Reef, the Shore, and the city beyond. I dream of her, caught both there in a place with no ceiling, and also near to us and the Earth, where the Queen’s portal connects our two worlds with void-silk.” Her movements were bird-like and darting as she traversed her den to her stove, where a pot sat simmering. The stew within had no odor that Toland could detect, but as Ish-Mulmir’s bony face passed over the thick broth she seemed satisfied by what she smelled. “Will you stay for lunch?”

“I’m afraid I am anxious to carry out our chore for the day,” Toland said, declining with a graceful tip of his head. The eye that sat in the middle of his forehead blinked between wavelengths of light, and the den exploded with colors – pheromone marks that revealed themselves like ink under ultraviolet light. Reds and greens and bright phosphorescent yellow-whites, cordoning off areas of specific purpose. “My appetite will be along shortly after our business is concluded.” 

“After, then,” Ish-Mulmir agreed; she brought the wooden spoon delicately to her mouth, her mandibles clicking together, and her teeth scraped the wood. 

Since the Young Wolf had taken Ish-Mulmir to the Librarian and purged the chronology of Worm-blackened corruption from her genetic history, Toland had noticed many healthful changes in her. Her tongue was dry and crisp, curled delicately, as opposed to wet and swollen like a maggot; her chitin was no longer cracked and flaky, and had begun to grow a sparse, bristly fur; her wings, of course, had filled in beautifully with feathery insect scales over the patches of scarred leather that had once marred them like a skinned animal made into a coat. Toland knew that she could not be Krill, for those creatures had been extinct for many eons – but the body that had been parsed out of alternate timelines and re-evolved biology was not Hive, either, not quite. Vex technology, stolen and repurposed or otherwise, was not in his area of expertise.

Her bony face turned towards him, and he reflected that many Guardians probably still saw little else but the Hive in her gaunt features and Lich-like complexion. She was still quite alien, though that did not preclude her from beauty. “Have you spoken to the Vanguard about what must come next?”

“Yes, Ikora has been enlightened to what we discovered during our last ritual,” Toland said. “The crystal – for now – remains mostly dormant. If what Savathûn told us is true, and it almost certainly is not, freeing her is going to be the difficult part of this entire affair.” 

“Asûr-Ïst-Alam-Kost,” Ish-Mulmir said, as she often did after the Witch Queen’s name was mentioned; there was no easy translation into the common tongue that Toland had figured out for this oft-repeated phrase, but he likened it closest to ‘Keep her name to yourself’. It was an honorific and a warning and a disparagement at once. “And what of Osiris?”

Toland sneered slightly, though his intent had been to smile. “The old master Vanguard is busy with other things. Jin has enlisted he and the Saint in his investigations into he who calls himself ‘Drifter’. Unfortunately, this is not the only area in strife in the system. But he gave me his blessing, for whatever that is worth, and assured me that the Guardians could handle it. As if I didn’t already know that.”

He hadn’t come deeper into the den than a few steps past the welcome mat, and that proved to be fortuitous; he usually didn’t mind shuffling through the curtains, but he also usually didn’t need to worry about them getting tangled in his ungainly arms and legs. Ish-Mulmir slunk through her den towards him with a basket of woven Earth-grasses under her arm, full of bone shards and woven leather tassels. Devrim had gifted her a bottle of wine as a housewarming present, but she had kept its delivery vessel instead. “Let us go outside, to the circle,” Ish-Mulmir said. “And hope that the Guardians have cleared the opposition.”

Toland sometimes thought the crooked light that the Moon received from the Earth had become more natural to him than the proper light of the sun on his homeworld above. Indeed, Guardians had burned every last fleck of Hive chitin to dust by the time the two of them had made their way to the ritual circle in Sorrow’s Harbor. As they approached, the Guardians who had cleansed the area greeted Ish-Mulmir with bright and cheery pleasantries. How are you? I made you this from a piece of aluminum, do you want it? Do you need helium coils? Your wings are looking nice today. Can I have your sword? Why did you need this circle cleared again? Can I help you perform your ritual? 

Toland found their brightness to be grating, like children scuffling about the feet of their teacher. He fantasized about the obscure and faintly disparaging non-sequiturs he would deliver if a Guardian tried to engage him in conversation, or dribbled some placative banality in his direction; but it didn’t matter, because none of them bothered. “Yes, yes, I am sure we all have many important things to discuss,” he finally said above the chatter of the crowd, “But I’m afraid we are on a time-table. Shoo, realm-walkers. Begone from this place, so that we may begin the ceremonies.” 

The Guardians slowly dispersed, leaving Toland and Thief-Of-Moths to their business, crafting the ritual circle beneath the peaking light of the Earth. 

“You profess to loathe their affections,” Ish-Mulmir said with a shrewd cant of her head, “but their disinterest and mistrust still stings you.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Toland sniffed. 

“Very well. But I think they would not balk at your presence if you would only sing them a less bitter song, O once-shattered. I know you have the notes.”

Toland gripped the simply-wrapped hilt of the silvery blade that always sat against his hip, tucked into his belt. The metal was never cold against his skin, as if Guren supported him even in this state. “I reserve my sweeter songs for the few who have already heard them,” Toland said, and thought of its three matching mates.

“Yes – I am surprised that Sai Mota is not here,” Ish-Mulmir said. She began to place the bone shards in proper sequence, stacking them into the appropriate runes they needed. “Did you tell her that we were performing the final ritual?”

“Sai Mota does not always know what is best for her,” Toland said. “Nor do I, which is why I did not invite her here. This requires the kind of precision one cannot find at the tip of a dagger.” 

“She is going to be very cross with you.”

So be it, Toland thought to himself, and turned his attention to completing the runes. So be it. She would forgive him when he had finally achieved their mutual goal.

When the last rune was lain in place the bones shivered and snapped together as if magnetized. The ritual circle flexed and groaned as Toland and Thief-Of-Moths took their respective places of power and began to guide the spell. Toland felt an exhilarated rush of energy race through him and lamented, silently, that Guren was too dead to feel it. The lamentation fed the circle. Toland lamented that Omar had been reduced to a simple munition. The lamentation fed the circle. Toland lamented that Eriana and Vell had given up on their quest and left him behind. The lamentation fed the circle. More than anything he lamented that even after all this time, and everything they had shared, and how desperate she was to see this mission through, he continued to fail Sai Mota. The lamentation fed the circle.

“O Witch Queen, God of Liars and Deceit,” Ish-Mulmir said, “We call you to this mortal place, an act of parlay, between the dulled edges of two great scimitars. We invoke the right of communion and have brought you tithe.” Toland closed his eyes to listen to Ish-Mulmir’s song with more clarity and focus. Hive had two voices, he had discovered long ago; a voice for speaking to kin, and a voice for speaking to God. The former was difficult for a human to articulate. The latter, impossible, and rarely heard in any way that a Guardian could hear. So Toland listened as Ish-Mulmir sang, calling to Savathûn in twin crisp and resonant tones that twined into a clear, wheedling tremolo.

Then the roil of magic snapped taut like a cable, and Toland was nearly thrown from his feet as the magic bucked and strained under the weight of a new presence. Three pinpricks of light appeared in the air over their heads, and Ish-Mulmir fell silent – she would not speak in the true presence of Savathûn, Toland knew that. But she had done her part. The pinpricks stretched and widened until they merged, and through a large oval aperture Toland beheld another land. 

The crystal hung with dreadful weight suspended in midair somewhere in the stone halls of the Dreaming City. It was, save the crystal, an empty room to anyone without the requisite number of eyes to properly glean its occupant. Savathûn’s phantom consciousness paced the confines of her prison cell, slowly orbiting the crystal; in its twisted facets Toland could just barely make out the shape of a courtly bow. Within, Toland thought, was not the body of a Hive god. Though he could not be positive, and though hope chafed him like bone plates, within the crystal was Eris Morn.

“Well well, the aspirant one. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps I had seen the last of you after a week went by with no call. How long has it been, Toland?” Savathûn’s voice purred in his ear, a false human croon that many mistook for mockery. Toland never heard mockery in Savathûn’s voice; only temptation. And occasionally – though he would never tell her, for it would ruin what little power over her that he possessed – longing. “You look pale. And fleshy.”

“It has been some months,” Toland said, steeping his fingers again and providing Savathûn with a graceful smile. “I decided to take the mortal vessel out today to meet you. Wearing my best seemed fitting, now that our time together is reaching its end.”

“A paltry threat, Toland, I know you can do better than that.” Savathûn tutted him coyly. “Mara Sov feeds me five a day, each more bitter and angry than the last, and I admit that I wish she were more imaginative. Like you. I find it quaint that any of you think my death is on the table as an outcome of this little sleepover. I don’t think you know what that even means.”

“It is not you who defines death in this place,” Toland said to the Witch Queen, his voice lofty and pointed like a blade. “It is we, in the low places. If you wish to truly let your words become law, you’re welcome to come join us in learning the art of looking upward.”

“Ah, Toland,” Savathûn sighed, “You are nothing if not consistent. Does it still sting you to be so rejected?” She let her phantasmal fingertips brush the surface of the crystal. Ripples of light crept like veins through the stone where they touched. “Or does it sting you more that I have her, and you do not?”

“I don’t see why I have to choose.”

“You cannot save her,” Savathûn said innocently. “She is not yours to save.”

“It’s not about ownership. I own nothing, and I know nothing, and that is my greatest power,” Toland replied. He was not angry; he was, instead, clever. “I can tell that your plans are constructed upon the head of a pin, and your focus is wholly bent towards balance. You think yourself vulnerable in different ways from us, but in this we are the same: you stand on a precipice above a deep and black abyss, and you cannot afford to fall in. Without balance, you have nothing, O great and powerful liar.“

Savathûn hummed in thought at that, and that more than anything else gave Toland pause. That she considered anything he said made the hairs prickle on the nape of his neck as if she had threatened him with some great unkindness, and his mouth tilted into a lopsided black gash across the pale skin of his face. He blinked his eyes, one at a time, and tried to decide through the silence what it meant to him that she was taking him seriously. Some trick? She did love to watch mortals squirm. A calculated maneuver designed to shatter his repose? Well, it had worked. Or maybe…

“I am not sure if that is true,” Savathûn finally said, though she chose her words with unusual care. “But I admit that I don’t know. I suppose it is worth examining. Thank you for your input, Toland. As always, I find your viewpoint on these matters refreshing and valuable. Now – as much as I find the company charming, I believe I have my favorite Guardian coming to visit me today for the first time in a long time. I need to rest before I entertain again – those of you with two eyes require more effort to engage. Ta for now.”

Toland did not have time to unroll his tongue from his throat and get the last word in, as Savathûn swept her hand in a placid motion as if hanging up a phone, and the portal twisted into a hundred shards and was lost. Ice raced through him like cracks in a mirror, and he felt these cracks turn warm and boil his blood at being both acknowledged and dismissed in such short order. He hissed through his teeth like a Dreg and smoothed down his robes, focusing on the poise of his motions to help keep him from losing his composure. 

“Well,” he said, once his heart rate had quieted somewhat and he could no longer hear blood rushing through the space between his skin and his skull. “I must apologize for wasting your time, dear Thief of Moths. I was expecting something more concrete. She is less rattled by her circumstances than I had hoped, after depriving her of attention for so long.”

“Aiat. I am not necessarily surprised. After all, she claims to be alone – but if we are correct, she does have a cell-mate.” Ish-Mulmir’s croaking voice was almost jarring after Savathûn’s carefully-manicured mahogany buzz. Without the Witch Queen’s presence clogging the Veil, she was speaking once again.

He had been chasing her, with Sai Mota and Eriana-3 and Vell Tarlowe, since their nightmare together during the first fall of the Moon. First locked away in Crota’s personal chambers like a mounted trophy, then lost to his father’s hateful touch and very nearly Taken. The astral echoes she was able to scatter across the Ascendant Realm were like pinpricks of radiant light in the dark for him and the others and the younger Guardians that had invested themselves in her recovery. But since Oryx’s fall – since her crystal prison had been inches from being Taken – she had been silent. 

Just like every time they spoke with Savathûn, Toland though of Eris, alone save for one of her most hated foes, and took some small amount of solace in the fact that they had at least saved her from Crota and Oryx’s daggered grasps. Just like every time they spoke with Savathûn, he did not think about the last time he had touched her before he had lost her. “I suppose that is true.”

“Do not despair, my friend. With the Queen and her Techeuns working from the other side, the day draws near. Savathûn cannot keep her from us for much longer; her power in this regard is stretched thin. And, of course, it is possible that she may yet keep her word.”

“One way or another,” Toland said, nodding in agreement, “At long last, we will finally bring Eris Morn home.”

[patronsaintofmath]

WHAT WOULD YOUR FUTURE HOUSE BE????

okok

so obviously my room w a king size bed adorned all nice w lace decorations or sheets ooh & like silk sheets maybe w silk pillowcases & i want my room to be like a beige color or to have some browns yknow & white. i want a nice big rug w like faux fur ooh i would have like wooden frames & i would frame like little things i find on my hikes or other trips or actually maybe all these fancy things can be for the living room bc i want glow in the dark stuff in my room maybe i can have two rooms no no pa’ que tanto ok sticking w original plan.

ok then i would have a room dedicated to mushrooms so what i mean by this is i would have a small area where i grow mushrooms bc they have to be in the right conditions w the right temperature & whatnot. i cannot have that now bc my room is not ideal & i have nowhere else to put them unfortunately. i can maybe put up plants in there too.

i would have a room just for my ball pit. i can have a tv in there ooo maybe it can be a game room ya i can have the switch & guitar hero set up in there ya ya & i can have big comfy couches. i can have pictures of all those who join me in that game room up. i can have line my toys, trinkets, lego sets, etc up for display in there yeah yeah & i can have glow in the dark stuff there

i would have like three bathrooms. one for myself which would be probabalt just a white bathroom maybe w beige color yknow so it can match w my room & then the other bathrooms would probably be like white & grey or white & lavender or white & pastel blue

i would have line two guest rooms. not sure how i would decorate those pero eso es lo de menos.

i’d have two fridges in the kitchen & a big kit ch en area. i would have a big living room w big brown leather couches & a fireplace.

i would have big backyard & a pool & i would have swings in the front yard. i would have maybe like cedar trees in my huge backyard & like a willow tree in the front yard. ooo i would have an orange tree & a lemon tree maybe in the back or in the front doesn’t matter but i want them there. actually maybe i would have them in the front that way anyone can get some oranges & lemons or limes. lime tree would be good.

thats all i can think of rn

[galactia]

Zhongli’s Apartment

Done up in shades of red, brown, and gold, Zhongli’s apartment is one of moderate luxury, on the side of somewhat old-fashioned, but lacking none of Liyue’s modern amenities. The below picture is a general aesthetic pic, though hardly exact: his apartment has wooden floors, dark gold/brown patterned curtains commissioned personally, and many plush rugs.

When at home he prefers to wear a robe and no shoes/socks, and though the above is a close reference for what an entertaining/sitting area would look like, his central room has long sofas, and floor cushions.

Above, is a very faithful representation of his bed. He primarily has black silk sheets, and earthen tone blankets, though sometimes white/cream colored covers or sheets will also be seen. His bed his spacious and sturdy, and has no lack of cushioning at every angle. Despite being a warm dragon-being he does enjoy a plethora of blankets, and will often have softer blankets draped over the sides for use.

His apartment, and particularly his bedroom, are sound-proofed using his geo shielding, so any partners need not worry about privacy. 

Other features to note:

He has a balcony over-looking the city. There is a tea table and chairs there.

He has an indoor kitchen with many rather ancient vintages and aging spices, etc to accommodate his century-long standing tastes.

He has an indoor, in-ground bath. Yes, it is quite nice - surrounded by polished black granite. 

He burns incense when he is home. It is a special formulation he orders custom, made from steeped glaze lilies for a subtle flora aroma, aged mint oil, sand-bearer leaves, and sunsettia

He pays his own rent. He is well payed for his consulting, and he consults also for businesses, scholars, ect. He is forgetful sometimes when it comes to carrying mora on his person, but he isn’t poor by any means.