#Four Seasons Manor
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Four Seasons Manor (四季山庄): Set Layout, Part Three!
This is the third and final post detailing my set sleuthing adventure, looking for the sets that make up Word of Honor's Siji Manor. If you're stumbling over this post in the wild - hi! I draw architectural drafts of cdrama sets, as accurately to the show as I can. A huge amount of research goes into creating my art, and so far no set location has been as elusive as this one.
Split across two sets - one located in Hengdian World Studio's Spring and Autumn Tang Park, and the other in Hengdian's Huaxia film studio - this post is the final part uncovering the layout of Siji Manor. (And nothing will make sense if you read this post first, go back to part one and part two!!)
A reminder, before we dive right back into the breakdown of my completed birdseye view, that this last part will cover the main courtyard of what I have dubbed the "interior" Siji set, highlighted in red below:
Let's dive in!
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The Main Courtyard
The main hall (6), the largest building in this set, is what I and @minnarr, who shares my brainrot 🙏 and has been a great help in this process, have been calling "Everlasting."
This is because sign over the entrance reads, "萬古長青" (wàn gǔ cháng qīng), which to my layman's knowledge translates as "Everlasting and Evergreen," an idiom that can be extrapolated to mean "forever green throughout the ages," which describes a noble spirit or deep friendship that will last forever, like an eternal Springtime:
In the above screenshots, you can see that Chengling's training area (9) is set up in front of this main hall, and over his head in the third picture, you can just about see the moon window that is a feature of WKX's room.
Importantly, the pavilion (10) just about seen behind Chengling's training area, marks a de facto boundary for this set as it appears in WOH, as the camera angles of these episodes never never stray past it. For a long time - until I began to watch Mysterious Lotus Casebook and Heroes, which handed me the final puzzle pieces to rule out this set as part of the film parks - I thought the entire set must finish just to the right of the pavilion.
That is not so. If I pull up some screenshots from MLC and reintroduce the scant few photographs I've found of the "Mansion Scene" Huaxia set itself from part two, you can see this main courtyard in full:
In these photos and screenshots, we can now see the main courtyard almost in full: the main building with its projecting entrance (I'm unsure if the term portico applies to Asian architecture); the pavillion to its left, standing opposite Building 8 which we will come to in a moment; and Building 11 at the end of what, in MLC, is a central pathway - but that I have interpreted in my own drawing to be a path of scattered stepping stones like the rest of the set, considering the smaller courtyard (5) - as discussed in part two - appears to be taking on the role of a more formal courtyard.
'Everlasting' and 'Gentle Winds'
For a moment, though, I need to draw us back to the main building. This building - Everlasting - is very important as, by vehicle of drama magic, this is where the two Siji sets conflate.
In episode 24 we cut from a shot of the main building in the exterior Siji set, whose sign reads "風輕雲淡" (fēng qīng yún dàn), or "Gentle Winds and Light Clouds," to this interior shot of Everlasting:
And to confirm that this interior shot is Everlasting, or building 6, we return to MLC, where we are treated to an outside-to-inside shot of the build, whose inset floor matches that of WOH's Everlasting building, seen clearest in episode 24, above, and episode 28:
(I do have more screenshots that I may add in later, but right now I'm running out of steam, please just take my word for it. 😂)
Cold River Room
Now, unfortunately I've been unable to place the medicine room, in which ZZS grinds herbs, in what photo resources I have of this film studio. Likewise for the room I've taken to calling the "infirmary" (where WKX takes a healing bath after his confrontation with YBY). Equally as unhelpful, there's simply no discernible exterior details seen from inside these two rooms that I can dig my research claws into and try to identify a placement or orientation for them:
The room they spend their first night at Siji Manor in, however, is a different story. That room - dubbed as the "Cold River Room" by Minna - is Building 8.
This was quite easy to place, thanks to this screenshot of a behind the scenes video (that I've since long lost the link to, unfortunately - if you have a link, I'd be very grateful if you share it with me so that I may add the source). Here, we can see the column inscriptions on Everlasting through the window:
So I can confirm this building to be the room they spend their first night as Siji in, seen here behind Chengling as well as in a MLC screenshot - showing its place across from the pavilion clearly:
The Pond
The last part of the main courtyard - and of this set breakdown overall - is the pond and Building 11:
I had suspected their was some kind of water trough or strip of pond between the seating area (4) and the pavilion (10) for a while, but never had the resources to confirm it. I still can't. However, a film studio's entire purpose is to shapeshift from one design brief to another. Sometimes, there is a pond and sometimes there isn't, as these two images show:
The left image is a photograph from the article about Hengdian's film studios linked above, taken from the seating area (4), while the right image is a screenshot from Heroes episode 13, the camera positioned in front of Building 11. I simply decided that I liked the pond there, so I included it in my Siji layout.
As an aside, in this scene in Heroes, with the camera panning just a bit further right, we get a lovely clear shot of the archway from the formal courtyard (5) to this one:
Finally, we come to Building 11. You'll notice that I called the courtyard of the QHZ snow scene in WOH a "formal" courtyard (5), on account of the clearly defined, linear paving.
However, it doesn't have the large gate of a main courtyard:
This courtyard, the one with Everlasting, does. The winding steppingstones used as paving in the Siji set dressing of this location takes away from the formality of this courtyard that, once you see it in its entirety in shows such as MLC or Heroes, it certainly has. To that point, Building 11 - or rather, structure 11, as may be more appropriate to call it now - is actually a large gateway. This is easiest seen in Heroes, episode 13:
Of course, that doesn't mean we have to designate it as a gateway in the Siji layout. I don't think it's meant to have that identity, based on the above - well, it's not meant to have an identity at all. It's never seen in the show. But, given the Siji set dressing and the resemblance it bears to Building 8, the Cold River Room, I might consider giving it the identity of one of the rooms I've been unable to locate - the infirmary, or the medicine room.
Let me hear your thoughts!
I'd like to hear your suggestions and thoughts on that. On all of it! Because despite all of this research, I am still left with the gargantuan task of drafting it all into a finished piece. And as such, I am still faced with the dilemma I began to outline months ago in part one:
How could I merge these two very different sets together? Should I merge them together?
I have rambled ideas at friends about presenting an architecture draft that is simply reportage - showing both sets, and summarizing the information I've given you all here before making suggestions on how they could combine into "one true set".
But on the other hand, do I draft the Siji I see emerging in the crossover of these two sets - the one I can feel starting to take shape in my brain? And then simply offer this research up as the facts.
There's still a long way to go, but thank you for being here! As always, if you'd like to support my research madness and help fuel my many artistic endeavors, please consider donating to my kofi or checking out my print shop:
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And happy new year! I hope 2024 brings you happiness and opportunity in all that you wish ✨
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
#nikkidraws#四季山庄#山河令#four seasons manor#word of honor#shan he ling#shl meta#woh meta#word of honor meta#woh set design#shl set design#set design#yeeting this from me now it's taken two days to do both of these posts at the same time 😭#i hope this last post makes sense i'm so tiiiiired
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"Four Seasons Manor" by Cindy Zhan
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A grown Zhang Chengling visits shifu on Mount Changming, only to say his final farewell.
This is an ending, of sorts.
TW: major character death, grief, mild emeto
Read it here.
#word of honor#wenzhou#wen kexing#zhou zishu#zhang chengling#zhang nianxiang#gu xiang#four seasons manor#山河令#山河令 word of honor#温周#温客行#周子舒#word of honor fanfic
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#wife of four season manor#wen kexing#princess lao wen#zhou zishu#chinese drama#cdrama#word of honor#shan he ling#山河令 word of honor#wenzhou
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on the one hand wen kexing and zhou zishu NEED to stop fucking swinging zhang chengling around like a baseball bat in combat situations. but on the other hand it is very funny. so maybe they can just put a bike helmet on him as a compromise
#when zhou zishu was zhang chengling’s age he was the leader of four seasons manor#he was NOT getting thrown around like a pokeball#ryddles
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heidi: girl of the alps x word of honor gifset
#consider:#wen kexing gets dragged back to four seasons manor#(a mountain residence)#because otherwise he would just fuck shit up#also hes an orphan#four seasons manor sect is the family he was supposed to have#but life happened that made him become estranged with it#then life happens again and its his sole path back into normal life#over the course of being there he finds peace in simple life#found family & small town societies#wen kexing is heidi i rest my case#my gif#my fmv#word of honor#heidi: girl of the alps#wen kexing
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having thoughts about true bdsm couple. like……. one wants to be punished/craves release and the other craves control.
nicest people you’ll ever meet, but behind closed doors…..
#I’ve been having a lot of dreams lately about like…… love and owernership#and like Victorian style I Serve This House And Therefore I Serve You type relationships that are WAYYY more intense than the usual ones#skkdkdkdkxkd#like……#I’ve been dreaming about this guy who is some kind of general who is on leave#and he has purchased a plot of land with an old manor in it#that has only two staff members#a cook and a house manager#and the manager has been there for forever and she’s very young to be in such a position but she’s the only one who would ever agree to#do it. there’s something wrong with the risidual magic of the place. the seasons last for just weeks instead of months so no crops will grow#so they’re alone in this infertile place with their secrets and their vulnerabilities and there’s no where to hide#and winter comes and goes four times a year#and the general becomes obsessed with the manager who he initially only thought was odd and unfortunate#nothing can live or grow here except her. he wants to cloister her away so he can admire her like a hothouse flower#he wants to tear apart anyone who would do her harm with his teeth#all grace and societal niceties vanish. what’s left is animal wanting; so intense it eclipses all else#sorry for the weird rant in the tags i am pmsing <3
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Good Omens filming locations masterpost! ❤ 🐍😊 Part 2
(here to part 1 :))
Here to the map :)
Others in England (cont):
Tadfield Manor (S01E01, S01E02) - Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross
Scene: The Tadfield Manor where the satanic nuns run the hospital in the first episode and Aziraphale and Crowley visit in the second episode
Availability (as of 2024): The manor has been in private hands since 2016 - in 2023 sold again, I didn't find on the internet that it would be available to visit in any form, the manor is not visitble from the public road.
Link on the map
Four Horsemen meeting (S01E05) – Old School Cafe, Longcross Road B386
Scene: The cafe where Four Horsemen meet
Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the cafe Mon-Fri 7:30-15:00, Sat-Sun 8:30-15:00
Link on the map
Heaven middle floors (S01E01, S01E03, S01E04, S01E05) - Weybridge Business Park, Addlestone
Scene: The Heaven middle floors scenes in season 1 were filmed here
Availability (as of 2024): The places can be sort of seen from the street but I don't think that visiting is possible
Link on the map
Pollution by the river (S01E04) – River Wey Navigation, Guildford
Scene: The International Express Man delivers the package to Pollution
(fun fact: this one was the harderst one to pin down the exact location, I only knew bc of an article that the schooting took place by "Wey Navigation" which is a river long 32km (miles), I tried to find a better mention or through google maps comparing place for a long time but couldn't, finally I wrote to the River Way Navigation organization on facebook but they had no record of the shooting. Finally, in one of the photos I noticed that in the background there is a footbridge that I saw a photo of a similar footbridge while searching on a history of Wey Navigation river on the UK National Trust page and fortunately the previous mentioned facebook page knew where it was, WAHOO! :))
Availability (as of 2024): all day
Link on the map
Hogback Wood (S01E01, S01E02, S01E04, S01E05) - Painshill Park, Cobham
Scene: The Hogback Wood where The Them play, seen in several episodes.
Availability (as of 2024): The entrance to the park is paid (£11 with prebooking online on https://painshill.co.uk/visit-us/ticket-prices-booking/) They open at 10 and close at 16-18 depending on the season. The World Word II crater they shot the main scene at should be in the west-south tip of the park. The whole path there and back is 4km (2,5 miles).
Link on the map
International Express Man's house (S01E04) - Shetland Close, Guildford
Scene: The International Express Man leaves the house to make deliveries
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Agnes Nutter's village (S01E02) - Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester
Scene: The Agnes Nutter's village in episode two. In the map I highlighted which part we see the villagers and Witchfinder Major Pulsifer to through in the show.
Availability (as of 2024): The entrance fee is paid (£15.50 for an adult ticket prebooked online https://www.wealddown.co.uk/), it opens at 10 and closes at 16-17 depending on the month.
Link on the map
Tadfield Air Base (S01E05, S01E06) - RAF Upper Heyford, Bicester
Scene: For the shooting of the Tadfield Air Base the former RAF Upper Heyford was used, by the examining the google maps and screenshots from the series I think that the area labeled as 'Shelter 9' was used.
Availability (as of 2024): The place is no longer used by RAF purposes, there are several companies that use certain areas it but it is not available for public. The Upper Heyford Heritage though organizes (paid - £25.00) tours through the airbase: http://www.upperheyfordheritage.co.uk/home-page/tour-booking/
Link on the map
Soho (S1) – Bovingdon Airfield Studios
Scene: The Aziraphale's bookshop and Soho in season one were built at Bovingdon Airfield Studios
Availability (as of 2024): The studios can be rented but I don't think they are publicly available – the Soho is not there anymore though, it is now build in studios in Scotland.
Link on the map
The motorway on fire (S01E05) - M96 Training Motorway at Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh
Scene: The motorway on fire when Crowley is heading for Tadfield was filmed at M95 Training Motorway at Fire Service College that is usually used for training emergency service professionals
Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available.
Link on the map
South Africa:
The 1941 church (S01E03) - St. Saviour's Church, Claremont, Cape Town
Scene: The scene in Season 1 where Aziraphale is outsmarted by the Nazis and is saved by Crowley
Availability (as of 2024): Their facebook says Always open
Link on the map
Famine at a fancy restaurant (S01E03) - Mutual Heights building, Cape Town
Scene: The restaurant where we meet Famine for the first time
Availability (as of 2024): It is a building with flats, offices and a reception, not available to public.
Link on the map
Crowley in a cinema (S01E04) - Joseph Stone Auditorium, Cape Town
Scene: Crowley in a cinema (with Neil Gaiman cameo) watching animated rabbits when Hastur interrupts
Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available as such but they there are presentations and and such happening there https://www.facebook.com/josephstone1968/
Link on the map
Aziraphale dancing gavotte (S01E04) - Casa Labia, Cape Town
Scene: Aziraphale dancing gavotte in a discreet gentlemen's club in Portland Place in the late 1880s was filmed at Casa Labia in Cape Town
Availability (as of 2024): Casa labia is hotel and a restaurant so it can be visited in that way https://www.casalabia.com/
Link on the map
Anathema's child home (S01E02) - Llandudno Rock Villa, Cape Town
Scene: The home which we see Anathema as a child with The Book (in the show it's Malibu, California)
Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the villa itself seems that it can be rented
Link on the map
Eden desert and ep6 time bubble desert (S01E01,S01E06) – Atlantis Dunes, Cape Town
Scene: The Eden desert scenes and the time bubble with Adam and AC were filmed in the Atlantis Dunes at the outskirts of Cape Town
Availability (as of 2024): The Atlantis Dunes – or Witzands Aquifer Conservation Area – is a protected natural area. Biking adventures can be booked through https://atlantisdunes.com/ or also other activities through https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/Witzands%20Aquifer%20Nature%20Reserve
Link on the map
The apple tree in the Garden of Eden (S01E01) - Waterfall Valley (formerly Cascade Country Manor), Paarl
Scene: The Eden apple tree with the waterfall in the background was filmed at the retreat Waterfall Valley (then Cascade Country Manor) (the tree was added by the film crew for the scene)
Availability (as of 2024): I am not sure if you can visit the waterfall like that or you have to be a guest in the restreat. The retreat is available for booking: https://www.waterfallvalley.online/
Link on the map
There were other scenes also filmed at South Africa (thought not specified exactly where): Hell was filmed in Cape Town in a former abattoir. The Noah’s Ark scene and the Crucifixion scene were filmed on a windswept plain just outside Cape Town. Also the Meggido scenes. The entire village used for the scene with War causing mayhem in an african village is in fact a set, built on scrubland over a sand mine just outside Cape Town. The French Revolution scene wa shot on a set that had been used twenty-four hours earlier for the scene in Ancient Rome. Famine visiting a burger place with Elvis was shot on a set in Cape Town. Also some scene's in Anathema's cottage with Anathema and Newt.
SEASON 2
Most of season 2 has been shot inside the film studio in Bathgate (f.e. the whole Soho has been built there), the Hell in S2 has been shot in an old disused factory (not specififed which one). The shots of the Edinburgh castle have been shot from the top of the The Caledonian hotel.
Edinburgh:
Crowley and Shax in St James's Park (S02E01) – Inverleith Park, Edinburgh
Scene: Crowley and Shax meet to discuss the news in St James's Park – the scene though was actually filmed in Scotland.
Availability (as of 2024): All day
Link on the map
The place where Crowley parks the Bentley (S02E01, S02E02) – Circus Lane, Edinburgh
Scene: The place Crowley goes to to park the Bentley and sleep there
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
AC and Elspeth in Edinburgh (S02E03) - Moray Place, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth are taking the first "pickled herring" to be sold, Aziraphale and Crowley are debating good and evil
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Detective Aziraphale parks the Bentley (S02E03) – Victoria Street, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale arrives in the Bentley and happily goes to investigate
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
The Resurrectionist (S02E03, S02E06) - Cask and Barrel, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale goes to investigate to The Resurrectionist bar (also in Gabriel's memories with Beelzebub) – filmed in the Cask and Barrel bar
Availability (as of 2024): outside all day, inside 12-24, Fri-Sat 12-1
Link on the map
Stirling:
Edinburgh cementery (S02E03) - Old Town Cemetery, Stirling
Scene: The cemetery in episode 3 was filmed at the Stirling cemetery (grave, some gravestones, Gabriel's statue and the crypt has been added by the crew for the shooting)
Availability (as of 2024): all day
Link on the map
AC and Elspeth going through Edinburgh (S02E03) – Broad Street, Stirling
Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth going through Edinburgh while Aziraphale is trying to persuade her that she could do something else
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Meeting Wee Morag (S02E03) - Mar's Wark, Stirling
Scene: The small corridor behind the gate where Wee Morag is staying
Availability (as of 2024): The front all day, the corridor if not through the gate then hopefully from the other side
Link on the map
Others in Scotland:
AC drinking whiskey with Mr Darlymple and the corridor to Mr Darlymple (S02E03) – Hopetoun House, Queensferry
Scene: Aziraphale and Crowley drinking whisky with Mr Darlymple while he explains why he needs fresh dead bodies also at the house has been filmed the corridor reading to Mr Darlymple
Availability (as of 2024): Hopetoun is visitable, Friday 29 March 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024 Open 5 days per week (Thursday – Monday) from 11am to 5pm, £13.50 for an adult ticket for House and Grounds (to see both), or £13.50 for Grounds (to see the corridor)
Link on the map
The Windmill Theatre in 1941 (S02E04) - Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness
Scene: The theatre that Crowley delivered the broken alcohol to and Aziraphale performed the bullet catch
Availability (as of 2024): You can visit the cinema for a movie or an event https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/whats-on/
Link on the map
Soho and more (S2) - The Pyramids Studio, Bathgate
Scene: The S2 Soho has been built in the Bathgate studio, also there were built and shot many other scenes
Availability (as of 2024): It is not available to visit for public
Link on the map
London:
Possibly only streets were filmed and the Bentley was added with VFX.
C on the way to A after A calls him (S02E01) - Wardour Street, London
Scene: Crowley on the way to Aziraphale after Aziraphale calls him (to tell him about Gabriel)
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
C rushing to A after Beelzebub's visit (S02E01) - Regent Street St James's, London
Scene: Crowley rushing to Aziraphale after Beelzebub told with that anyone who will be find helping Gabriel will be dealt with extreme sanctions
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Whew! This masterpost took me several weeks, hope you enjoyed it and it might help you plan your trip to see the Good Omens places! :) ❤ 🐍😊 Wahoo! :)
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[ a shooting star falling from the heavens ] lucifer Morningstar x F!Reader Concept [eventual slow burn]
[Story Concept: a shooting star flew off course, falling down towards Hell. A star that was supposed to fall into Heaven and become and angel.
The angel was taken in by the Morningstar family and became, a servant for the family. Helping care for the Princess of Hell, Charlie. Who eventually saw the maid as an aunt.
Calling her auntie!y/n.
A few chapters will cover the bases of the years, y/n has served in the family. and still serves years later after the princess has grown up into a young woman and Lilith left her husband and subsequently disappeared
during thoses years of servitude y/n did develop some feelings towards the king, but pushed them down denying them denying her feelings.
Lilith was kind yet could be scary at times but she was beautiful, and treated the maid as if she was apart of the family. one photo hanging on the wall in the hallway of all four.
y/n still stayed even after Lilith had left, helping lucifer as much as she could. even though at this point he didn’t really need her service anymore wish daughter was out on her own. And his wife had left him.
But she still insisted on staying wanting to help him, cause she loved him. Even though she knew nothing would come of it. She just wanted to see him happy and help him through his rough time.
it’s that slow burn that happens during thoses seven years, but doesn’t take somewhat shape till around the time the show begins.
He’s still not over Lilith but there’s this pull he’s feeling towards the reader. He gets a little flustered and nervous, but brushes it off. It’s really only just them in the manor now just the two of them. She still continues to serve the family and will till the end of time, remaining loyal.
I don’t imagine a full on confession, but like maybe either he kisses her on the forehead before he flew off to help his daughter at the hotel. during the finale… when she had a panic attack worried for everyone at the hotel wishing she could help
she then quickly makes pancakes for everyone when the fight is over, after getting a text from Lucifer and bringing them over to the hotel..
it’s just slow burn something small and maybe won’t see any development until season 2
with Lilith being in it most likely
for it to also end with the reader suddenly being beamed up to heaven leaving what will happen when season 2 comes out a mystery
#lucifer x reader#hazbin hotel lucifer x reader#lucifer morningstar x reader#angst#x reader#headcanons#romance#hazbin hotel#lucifer morningstar
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Four Seasons Manor (四季山庄): Set Layout!
If you’ve been following my descent into madness my research progress for my next set design project, you’ll know that it immediately became impossible for me to work out the layout of Siji Manor from screenshot studies of the show alone.
To backtrack to about a year ago: it quickly became clear that the exterior shots of the manor’s first courtyard and the birdseye view we see in episode 24 is not located in the same set, or possibly even film base, as the “interior set”. Unfortunately, that secondary set is where many of the indoor scenes take place (with significant rooms, such as Wen Kexing’s bedroom being redressed to be used for other scenes in the show), and is where the secondary courtyard is located. I soon realised that I had to do three things in order to create a Four Seasons Manor for my project that feels as authentic as possible to the one we are presented with in the show.
First, find the full film base on Google Earth (which has the most up-to-date satalite imagery I can find); second, identify all the buildings to create a “complete” Manor and confirm the secondary set isn’t just another part of the first; and third, find the secondary set in order to correctly map its layout and marry it with the birdseye view.
Friends, I have achieved two of those three things.
The second set still evades me. But so far, I have finally managed to correctly and completely identify the film base that is presented to us as Four Seasons Manor:
(Full research breakdown under the cut.)
This is one of two full manor sets on Hengdian World Studio’s No.1 Mountain in the ‘Spring and Autumn Tang Park’ filmbase. In anticipation for the birdseye plan in my set design project, I’ve gone ahead and mapped it out faithfully to the satalite image:
As you can see, there's five distinct areas that make up this manor: three courtyards (labelled 1,2,4) and two gardens (3,5). The first courtyard will be familiar to everyone who has watched Word of Honor:
It is the main courtyard of Four Seasons Manor. Likewise, the fifth area will also be familiar to you all, although you may not realise it yet. It's Sanbai Manor:*
*With the exception of the main gate. The main gate of Sanbai Manor is actually from another set in the Spring and Autumn Park filmbase - the Tang Palace. There is fantastic drone footage of that set here. The Sanbai Manor gate is at the rear of the set, but you may recognise the opening shot of this clip as another place we see in the very first episode of WOH 🤫 Edit: I forgot I had a second douyin clip for the Tang Palace set.
These are the main two areas used in WOH of this set. Confirmation of the rest of the set comes from drama New Life Begins and various douyin videos and tourist photos on the internet. I won't bore you with a breakdown because Tumblr has eaten too many drafts of this post and I am Tired, but here is a snapshot of my confirmation process:
Find the difference between these two pictures
Edit: On rewatch, I can confirm that are 4 is also used in WOH. We see it in the very first scene of episode 1, dressed as the Military Governer Li’s Manor:
Here is a daylight photograph (source here) of that same building:
You may be wondering though, about the alternate layout I have detailed in my map:
Friends, this is where I would like to hear your ideas.
After scouring many clips and photographs trying to confirm whether these photos are part of this same set or a later development, I've found that since the satalite picture of this site was taken by Google Earth in 2020, corresponding to what we see in WOH, Hengdian has remodeled this part of the set. You can see a wonderful walkthrough of areas 4 and 5 here, in which you can see the remodelled layout:
This douyin video was the last confirmation I needed to place the photographs from the article. This photograph in particular feels very much like Siji Manor to me, and so I will be trying to include this remodelled layout in my project design:
But.
Despite not having located the secondary set yet, I have been thinking over which area would be best to remodel myself, to try and incoporate the kitchen space and the two rooms it sits between, which I have confirmed to be WKX and ZZS's rooms:
Reminder of that early process here.
There are two options that I see right now:
1) I use area 4 as this second courtyard. I remove the gate, make the main room ZZS's room, remove the side halls, drop in a kitchen, put WKX's room where the gate was. Chengling's training dummies then get dropped whereabouts the hexagonal pavillion is in the alternate layout, and I tweak a random building here or there:
However, somewhat crucially - the view from WKX's moon widow would be blocked by the big building that is the centerpiece of area 5. I don't like that. Past the first courtyard, there's a certain sprawl and lack of uniformity to Siji Manor created in part by this CGI shot. I think that's why the above photo appealed so much to me.
So, 2) I remodel area 3. It's pretty sparse. I was thinking of making courtyard #2's main hall into a private study or meeting room, with the sidehalls being ZZS's "medicine room" and the "first night room" - the Cold River Room, as @minnarr called it in their stellar sleuthing post (I hope you don't mind that I'm using the name? And may continue to use it? Also, I'm still searching for this set and your sleuthing is going to be so much help.) - they could later become Chengling's room (and Han Ying's. For hanwenzhou headcanon rights).
Area 4 could then be used as a training courtyard and lecture hall perhaps? Meanwhile area 3 can be completely redone, to have ZZS's room at the bottom facing north, WKX's facing south:
The "training area" is then still technically past a covered walkway to the left of their courtyard. The spirit remains. However, crucially: The dotted line between areas 3 and 4 is indicative of a drop in elevation. The whole set is on a slope, with areas 1,2 and 3 at a higher elevation to 4 and 5. So. If the moon window in WKX's room did face west across the garden and down the mountain, it would actually be true to the CGI we see out of his window in the show: Especially because you see part of a roof. That could totally be the roof of the building that sits against the dotted line.
But additionally, there's also this alternate orientation:
It makes the kitchen feel more tucked away, and the additional screened walkway would give ZZS and WKX their privacy. But the view from the moon window would be blocked, and there's no reason to not have the rooms central to the courtyard the way they are here.
...Does any of that make sense? I bypassed Normal about this show a solid year ago. I'm leaning towards option 2 right now, but I will continue my hunt through cdrama for this other set. What's irritating is that I can see its style in lots of other places, including Lotus Pier, and I just can't find the real world setting for it...
ANYWAY, as always, thank you for joining me on my research adventures. Supporting me through ko-fi, and checking out my previous CQL projects here and on inprnt, would be greatly appreciated.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
#nikkidraws#nikkispeaks#my neurodivergance is showing#but more importantly#also my epic sleuthing skills#true to form i will now yeet this post from me because my brain is DONE with it#woh set design#set design saga#word of honor#four seasons manor#siji manor#wenzhou#my hanwenzhou agenda#shan he ling#hengdian world studios#spring and autumn tang park#spring and autumn tang garden
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TGCF: My theory on the inspiration behind the 4 calamities
In some of the oldest Chinese myths and legends, there are 4 guardian gods of the four cardinal directions - the green dragon, white tiger, crimson bird, and black tortoise, and each have a colour, season and element associated with them.
I'm not sure if anyone has made this connection before, but I'm writing it down if anyone is interested. There are spoilers about the calamities' identity.
First, the 青龙 （qing long, green dragon) --> Qi Rong, Night-touring Green lantern.
The qinglong's territory is the East, and its colour is qing, which means green, or turqoise. Its element is wood, and its season is spring. Closely associated with royalty and the imperial family.
Now, for the similarities with our favourite green goblin. "qing" is literally the colour in Qi Rong's title, and his colour scheme. Qi Rong has a habit of hanging corpses from trees, which may be his relation to the element "wood". He does not have any obvious coleration with the season "spring"- perhaps he was born in spring. He is royalty, part of the imperial family as cousin to the crown prince.
Second, the 白虎 （bai hu, white tiger)--> Bai Wuxiang, White Clothed Disaster upon the Earth.
The baihu's territory is the West, its colour is white, element is gold/metal, and its season is summer. It is the king of all beasts, associated with disease and war, often used as a guardian symbol by soldiers.
On the other hand, Jun Wu's title, alias and colour scheme are all white, and has plenty of weapons that may be his link to the element of "gold/metal". I don't think he has anything to do with summer, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. He is king of the gods, a god of war, and the one to spread the human face disease.
As east and west are considered a pair, the guardian spirits are meant to reflect each other. In Chinese poems and such, symmetry is important, and both Qi Rong and Jun Wu were princes, one becoming revered by the highest of gods, covered with masks and false identities, one becoming the object of disgust by the lowest of ghosts, using his real name and face. There is a certain poetic symmetry to it, don't you think?
To the second pair. The 朱雀 (zhu que, crimson bird)----> Hua Cheng, Crimson Rain Sought Flower
The zhuque rules over the south, its colour is red, element is fire, and its season is summer. It is the king of all birds, more powerful than even the phoenix, immortal and undying. As such, in many places it is also considered a symbol of life.
Now, to the most popular ghost king: Hua Cheng. The english translation of his title is "crimson", and his colour scheme is indubitably red and autumn-y shades. He also re-re-met Xie Lian in autumn ( I think - I mean, the leaves were all red in the donghua??), and has died again and again to return like the zhuque. He is the king of all ghosts, with a great determination to live(sorta? are ghosts alive??) for his love.
Lastly, my personal favourite, the 玄武 (xuan wu, black tortoise)---->He Xuan, Black Water Sinking Ships
The xuanwu, also called a tortoise, is actually the only spirit to be a combination of 2 animals, a snake and a tortoise. It rules over the north. Its colour is black( sometimes depicted as dark blue), element is water, and its season is winter. In earlier legends, he is considered a guide and guardian to the netherworld, of death and of long life.
Thus, to our poor indebted water ghost. He Xuan's name is "xuan", the same! goddamn! character! as the spirit! His title and colour scheme are all to do with the colour black, and he is a water ghost because he died because of the Water Master. He has been marked by death, yet survived and vowed revenge. This, and the fact that his house is called the Nether Water Manor, is probably his relation to the netherworld of the xuanwu.
To the pair of south and north. Both Hua Cheng and He Xuan have suffered and suffered again, yet Hua Cheng chooses to linger on due to hope and love, and He Xuan due to revenge and hatred. But hatred and love are two sides of the same coin. If Hua Cheng hadn't experienced the hatred from his childhood, he wouldn't have thrown himself from the city wall and met Xie Lian. If He Xuan hadn't loved his family, so much, he wouldn't have broken that hard after their deaths to lose himself to hatred and empty vengence.
Aaaaaand that concludes this essay. Keep in mind that this is a theory, and probably even isn't true, but if anybody wants a more detailed description of the guardian spirits, or to know more about the similarities between the mythical creatures of ancient china and tgcf, I will be more than happy to make a part 2.
Thanks for reading!!
#he xuan#tgcf#bai wuxiang#hua cheng#qi rong#four great calamities#heaven official's blessing#tian guan ci fu#black water submerging boats#black water sinking ships#night-touring green lantern#crimson rain sought flower#white-clothed calamity#shan hai jing#meta#tgcf meta
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Bat Boys on Valentines Day
Dick Grayson
* Made reservations a month ago
* Cross-checked the regular menu and seasonal menu to make sure there were things you’d like and conformed to your dietary preferences
* Surprises you with flowers and a big ticket high-fashion item like a Luis Vuitton bag or a pair of shoes
* When he hands it over the shocked look on your face makes him smile.
* You shower him with kisses in a second.
* “I” *kiss* “love” *kiss* “you” *kiss* “so” *kiss* “much!”
* He laughs at the ticklish feeling and kisses you back when it’s over.
* “No, I love you so much.”
Jason Todd
* He hates crowds and decides to make you a nice pleasant meal at home.
* He decided the menu over a month ago, a full four course meal with curated cocktails, wine and ambiance.
* He ‘borrows’ some fine dining dishes from the manor and sets the table up with candles and a bouquet of flowers.
* “Do you like it?” He asks, nervous and afraid—he cooks for himself all the time but cooking for you makes him afraid beyond belief
* What if you don’t like it? What if you have a secret allergy? What if you never want to talk to him again because he didn’t take you out like a traditional date?
* “I love it! The risotto is so good and, are these truffles?”
* Afterwards he gives you some books he knows you want or that you would like and pressed flower bookmarks that he made himself.
* “Jason Todd, you are my entire heart.”
Tim Drake
* He forgets.
* “I thought Valentine’s Day was always on Thursday!” He shrieks, flipping through the phone book for any restaurant that’ll take you.
* “That’s Thanksgiving Tim.”
* But it’s okay—
* “Shit, you think dominos will still deliver today?” You shout from the other side of the room.
* —because you forgot too.
* You have pizza in bed while watching movies and cuddling.
* “This isn’t the worst right?” He asks.
* “Any day with quality time with you is a good day.” You mumble after a yawn, cuddling into his chest as he flushed bright pink.
Duke Thomas
* Classic Dinner and a Movie
* You guys haven’t been dating for long so he doesn’t want to scare you off with anything intense.
* You end up goofing around too long at the arcade connected to the movie theatre and missing your reservation slot.
* You end up getting soft pretzels and sitting by the lake.
* “Honestly, I think this is way better than eating at a French restaurant.”
* He laughs, “any time with you is a good one.”
Damian Waybe
* It’s a three person date — You, Damian, and Titus.
* You go for a walk around the lake, playing with Titus and jokingly splashing each other, and then a picnic on the grassy bluff above.
* “It’s pretty quiet today, huh?”
* “Everyone’s probably at the new french restaurant downtown.” He holds out a dipped strawberry for you which you bite into.
* “The one you can pronounce?”
* You laugh at his frown, pressing a kiss to his cheek, only to laugh again when Titus nudges you with his nose and places his head in your lap with a wagging tag.
* “Of course I didn’t forget you, kisses for Titus too!”
Bonus:
Bruce Wayne
* Wines and dines and sixty-nines you
* He’s probably got a standing reservation at the best restaurant in the city on account of the fact that he’s richer than god
* Gets a private room or balcony that overlooks the city so you have privacy but also the glitz and glam of a night out
* Already called ahead of time and got the chef to make your favorite dinner—just for you
* As a gift he gives you six orgasms in a row a cute little diamond accessory with his initial in gold.
#batman imagine#dc comics imagine#dick grayson imagine#dick grayson x reader#jason todd x reader#Jason Todd imagine#tim drake x reader#tim drake imagines#duke thomas x reader#duke thomas imagine#damian wayne x you#Damian Wayne imagine#Damian Wayne x reader#Bruce Wayne imagine#Bruce Wayne x reader#dick Grayson#Jason Todd#Tim Drake#duke Thomas#Damian Wayne#Bruce Wayne#superhero--imagines
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Ask Again Later
WHUMPTOBER DAY 31. Prompt: Forced to choose.
Fandom: Batfam.
Summary: You are being flooded with threats. Text after text after text or headings about how your brothers were going to die if you didn’t make a descision. It was simple. Your life, or theirs.
Warnings: Blood, death, grief.
Word count: 1.1k (I know it’s short I’m sorry but it’s angsty!)
Note: Annd with that the whumptober season has come to an end. I just want to say a huge thank you. You guys are all incredible and the support I have gotten from you all is insane. I’m looking forward to working on requests now and to keep writing my own little fantasies for you all.
MASTERLIST ⛤ WHUMPTOBER WORKS
🕸 ⋆ ⁶𖤐⁶ ࣪⋆🕸
“Fuck.”
You were stuck. A life threatening decision looming over your head like a dark cloud about five minutes before it is about to rain. Your foot bounced anxiously against the floor as you stared at your phone, rolling it around in your hand. You hadn’t moved much since the first one came through. It buzzed again. With trembling fingers you scanned the words on the screen.
‘Tick Tock, little Bat.’
You weren’t sure entirely how you had ended up in this predicament. One minute you were just going about your business in the manor and the next you found yourself locked up in your room with the message glowing brightly on your screen.
The message was dark and foreboding and no matter how hard you tried to shake it from your mind it came back. They were threatening to kill your brothers. One text after the next filled to the brim of details of how they wanted to carve them to pieces. Fear stuck you like a hammer as they continued to flood in, text after text after text each ending with the same haunting line.
‘It’s up to you whether they live or die. Choose wisely, Wayne. Your time is running out.’
In theory, the choice was simple. It was your life for theirs. And you knew what you were supposed to choose… but there were so many complexities woven within the situation that made it hard to think straight. In hindsight, you would have made the choice in a heartbeat. You would have given your life for theirs any day, but you couldn’t leave them like this not so suddenly. The four of them were away on patrol. Halloween was a busy night for the Bats. With so many people out, it took as many hands as possible to ensure Gotham’s safety. It was your job to monitor the screens, but you were too preoccupied with the text messages.
It was when the picture of Damian came flashing though that things shifted. This was no joke. They had eyes on you and your brothers and had the power to end you all with a with a snap of their fingers
You sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of your nose as you pondered. You knew you would have to make the decision soon, but it was a double negative. Stay, and risk the lives of your brothers, or go and send them into a spiral of sudden grief. It felt so cruel to leave them without an explanation, but it felt even cruller to let them die when you had the power to stop such things occurring.
You always took pleasure in the little details. The way that Damian hid his little smile behind his hand after he had pretended he wasn’t interested. The way that Dick always seemed to hum the same song over and over for days on end until finally he would move into the next and the cycle would begin again. And then there was Jason’s hair that was always just a little bit too long so that it dangled over his eyes and he constantly had to brush it out of his face. You would miss the little moments deeply. Spending time with your brothers was something that you cherished deeply, even if they more often than not contained childish bickering. You smiled at the memories but it quickly morphed into a deep frown.
You had made your decision.
Pushing the chair out from under the table with a groan as it shifted beneath your weight, you reached for a pen and paper and began to write, not bothering to wipe your tears as you scrawled across the page. You wrote six notes. One for each of your brothers, one for Bruce and Alfred.
After you had done that you slid them beneath the respective doors and shrugged in your coat. You sniffled taking one last look at your home before disappearing into the night to seal your fate.
~~
The wind howled against your skin, whipping around your body as you trudged. You had to pull your coat up to hide your face. You knew that if you were seen there was no going back. Your brothers would be able to convince you to turn back. But you knew that wasn’t an option. As your drew nearer to the rendezvous point, your heart dropped.
Then the hooded figure appeared from the building and froze. Taking them in completely. You took a shuddering breath, sending the other two spill in from behind you to surround you. There was no going back now.
Their grip was harsh on your arm as they dragged you through the twisting corridors. They had searched your body for weapons, stripping you of the small dagger you had tucked away in your boot.
They led to a room lit by flickering golden candlelight. The three of them inched you into the middle of the room before dropping their cloaks.
“Begin.” One of them hissed from behind a mask.
And suddenly your body was consumed in a pain so violent that you were forced to your knees.
~~~
“Y/N?” Jason called out. It was unusually quiet in the manor. The lights were out and there was no sign that you were around besides a lukewarm mug of coffee discarded by the computer.
Tim bumped into his brother as he turned the corner. “Have you seen her?” He asked. “I can’t find her anywhere.”
Jason shook his head, concern bubbling up in his stomach. “No.”
“Maybe she’s in her room?”
The two of them barged up the stairs and turned into your room only to find Damian slipping out of your room. The lights were off. You weren’t home.
It was at that fateful moment that Dick came out of his room with shaky hands. He was holding the folded, tear stained paper. He had found the letter. With bloodshot eyes he turned to his younger brothers. “She’s gone.”
The Manor wept that night. No body slept as their body wracked with sobs that wailed throughout the walls. The was a dark hole left that your light had filled. It was as though someone had sniffed out a candle, stripping the vigilantes of any joy and light that they once had. You were gone, and with you your spirit and hope and the Wayne’s would never be the same again.
🕸 ⋆ ⁶𖤐⁶ ࣪⋆🕸
<- DAY THIRTY
Super awesome Taglist:
@senjoritanana
@deans-spinster-witch
@amaryllis23
#whumptober#whumptober2023#whumptober 23#no.31#forced to chose#batfam x reader#death#grief#suicide note#suicide#jason Todd#Damian Wayne#Tim drake#dick Grayson#jason Todd x reader#Damian Wayne x reader#Tim drake x reader#dick Grayson x reader
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So Re: Dracula ended and has left a horror-themed-audiofiction-shaped hole in your life? Please allow me to recommend Shadows At The Door as your next listen! Some reasons you may be interested:
David Ault (Judge Moneybags, aka Lord Arthur Godalming) is, for the first couple of seasons, almost literally the entire cast. There are jokes about it. So many jokes. I think there are even T-shirts.
Karim Kronfli- you know, that Dracula dude? Is also a recurring VA, including for SatD's PHENOMENAL dramatisation of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Rahul Motherfucking Kohli - also a VA for SatD! Believe me when I say I screamed like a little girl and replayed the episode four times in a day.
Ever listened to The Magnus Archives? Did you like their sound design? Nico does the score for SatD as well and it's BREATHTAKING.
Jamie Flanagan wrote the script for an episode in the current season. Yes, THAT Jamie Flanagan. The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House Of Usher, Jamie Flanagan. You're welcome.
Two podcasts in one! Each episode features not just the horror fiction, but a post-episode discussion that is every bit as entertaining as the stories themselves. Mark Nixon (the showrunner) and David (Ault, yes), occasionally joined by VAs or writers, chat together thoughtfully, irreverently, frequently filthily, always entertainingly, sometimes even about the episode itself, lol (digressions are frequent, and frequently hilarious).
Drunk. Ghost. Stories. Trust me. TRUST ME.
The sound design is exquisite. Mark has a fantastically talented ear for effective and atmospheric foley and a flawless editor's touch.
An engaging blend of classic stories and new authors.
QUEER REP IN QUEER MEDIA MADE BY QUEER PEOPLE!!!!
Genuinely, Shadows at the Door is one of my favourite podcasts, full stop, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's just *so damn good*. Please consider giving it a listen!
#podcasts#horror podcasts#shadows at the door#david ault#mark nixon#re: dracula#karim kronfli#rahul kohli#jamie flanagan#horror#audiofiction#y'all i'm serious it's so fucking good
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AFHMB is a dark fantasy, colonial era WIP IF with some historical inspiration and intended for a ~16+ audience. It is hosted on Itch.io, made with Twine, and will be free start-to-finish.
Demo here.
Warnings for general death, very briefly mentioned infant death, war, and disease, amongst others.
The war’s victory was not a joyous affair. There was no celebration when the encroaching forces were routed from the land. No drinking. No parties. No cheering or tearful greetings from spouses who had not seen one another in nearly a decade.
The silence was unmistakable. Loud. Overwhelming.
There was no joy to be found in it.
The removal of enemy soldiers from Herritus was instead met by one of the bleakest seasons to have ever settled over the country’s south. Crops and livestock died of the cold, infants were unable to be roused from their frigid sleep, and chromatia returned from its grave with wretched determination.
The streets are deserted- not a soul travels the worn roads. The homeless freeze to death and community shelters across the nation are wrung dry. Not even a noble such as yourself is safe from the cold’s grip.
It seeps in through the cracked windows, through the gaps under the doors. Your fire cannot douse it. No matter how many lanterns you light, the shudders will not be dispelled. You don a dozen layers; it finds a way through each.
When you are diagnosed with the grey ruin and made to realise you may have only a few months left to live, you must take it upon yourself to remove any remaining loose ends- before the sickness takes you.
And yet...something is wrong in the town of Nērisk. Something impossible is happening. And someway, somehow, it all ties back in to your brother’s murder twenty years prior.
Reminder that everything here is subject to change. It is a WIP for a reason.
- Customize your MC, including their gender (with options for women, men, and nonbinary MCs, plus enby men and women) and pronouns (supports multiple sets and custom input), appearance, and skills.
- MC’s personality is semi-set. You can shift the way they develop and how they react to some situations, but some facets of themself will always be set.
- Optionally romance any of 9 options, with 10 poly routes available, including one quad (four person) option.
- Discover that not everything in Nērisk is as it seems, and that you cannot put your past behind you quite so easily...
- You are not the hero of this story. Rediscover old friends, and with them, old vices you thought you’d overcome.
Florain Vettikar [M/F]: An individual from your past you held dear (ex-best friend or ex-lover), taken from you too soon as karmic retribution. They’re long dead...but that doesn’t mean they’re gone.
Aviri von Jhersten [NB]: Someone you knew long ago. Their hands and yours are stained with the same blood, yet they were the one to claim guilt for the fresh grave. Now, they return, with new money and old vendettas.
Cillian Rittaker [M/NB/F]: You had seen Cillian once in passing as a child, a poor orphan your mother had shooed you away from. Nowadays, ze’s a powerful healer...and Nērisk’s final bastion against the chromatia.
Liel Amorson [M/F]: A childhood friend. You haven’t seen them in the decades since their family was forced to flee Nērisk, but now they return. You’d think they hadn’t changed at all if not for the emptiness in their eyes.
Acrocantus vel Yurius [M]: A son of the king of a distant country, who ran to Nērisk to escape his father and his homeland. He’s completely out of his depth...and is paying you to let him stay in your manor.
Ueryphus el Lirisis [NB]: Vel Yurius’ personal guard. They don’t trust you, and maybe they’re right not to. Still, they manage being unhappily polite, if only due to your extended grace when it comes to housing them.
Niphiles Ivares [F]: A wanderer, constantly coming and going. You’ve seen her around a few times, maybe even had a chat or two. Now, though, she’s trapped here in Nērisk, and growing increasingly paranoid…
Micah Kirrest [NB]: An annoyingly kind and persistent barkeep- and perhaps the only person you can call friend. Recently, you’d been separated, and now ey refuse to leave your side...no matter the circumstances.
Allifair ve Ketimnar [M/F]: As a child, they were forced to train under the same church authority you were, and now, they’re a priest with that same church. They hide their guilt well with jokes and snark. Too well.
[Poly routes are Florain/Aviri, Florain/Liel, Florain/Micah, Aviri/Micah, Cillian/Niphiles, Cillian/Aviri, Cillian/Allifair, Liel/Micah, and Acrocantus/Ueryphus.]
[The four-person poly route is Florain/Liel/Micah.]
Demo
Tag Directory [TBA]
#interactive fiction#writing#interactive novel#if wip#twine game#if intro#a firsthand murder ballad if
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DESIRE- pt 1
KING!SATORU X QUEEN READER
WARNINGS: arranged marriage, minor misogyny, dysfunctional family relationship
A/N: I am quite excited for this series, lets just see if I don’t give up on it halfway through, lol
series master list —> part two
It was far late from noon when one of your ladies ran into your room. Just when you thought your duties for the day were done, here comes another. Although it may seem easy living in your estate as princess with a thousand maids at your beck and call, you were also being groomed and moulded to be the best queen for your country.
“Your highness, your father writes to you.” She has a white letter in her hands. Knowing her, you wouldn’t be surprised if she opened the letter and read it herself.
A sigh leaves your lips as you hear it’s from your father, the king. Feigning a healthy father-daughter relationship was harder than it looks. In reality, you hadn’t seen your father regularly since he sent you to live in Seymour Manor when you were four. The only times you recall seeing him is during galas and balls where his attention is caught between the fine port being served or being involved in a dance, not you.
Your thumb grazed over the red Royal seal that your father was known for. Reluctantly, you open the letter, reading the words carefully.
To my darling daughter,
I hope the standards and degree of the manor has provided you with the upmost guidance as you reach this new age of womanhood. I wish to see you again as we approach our new season.
However, I do not write you to discuss your wellbeing, unfortunately. I wish to discuss your betrothal to Sir Satoru Gojo of the Gojo clan. His father, the head of the Gojo clan, wishes to see you and his son marry before the year ends.
I will not hasten you, daughter. But, as princess of our great kingdom, I do wish to see what you will do once you become queen. More importantly, if you will produce an heir that will continue our great monarchy. I rest assured knowing the nannies and ladies at Seymour Manor have groomed you into being the perfect wife to Satoru and the perfect queen for our nation.
May God be with you,
Your father.
This is the 5th letter he’s sent about this Satoru Gojo since some months ago. You crumble it up and throw it behind you, like you’ve done before. Who is he to rush you into marrying a man you’ve never met? You’ve hardly ‘met’ with your father.
“Augusta, remind our mailman that I will not receive any more letters from my father-” “But, your highness..” Your maid interrupts.
You look at her softly, “My father must be having you all nervous. Trust me, Augusta, that man is not to be feared. Oh, are you scared? You shouldn’t be. Tell the mailman it is the princess’ direct orders.”
“Your highness…” She sighs. “A carriage awaits you outside from the palace. Along with your bags…”
She sees your features soften as you come to the realisation. The joints in your body stiffened up as you blinked at her a couple more times, trying to spot dishonesty. But, to no avail.
You were getting sent down to the palace, whether you liked it or not.
“My lady-” “Very well.” You purse your lips as you exit the room.
The manor became smaller and smaller as you begin your journey. Memories of you playing with toys when you were a toddler and running around in the outside fields plague your mind.
It was home. No mother. No father. No worries. Just the maids and nannies raising you into the open minded woman you are. They were the mother(s) you never had. It made you fear how quickly your happiness could be snatched away.
“Excited, my lady?” Your father’s footman asked. God knows why he was selected to chaperone your travel. He saw you glare at him before returning your gaze back yo the window.
“Take this as an opportunity, your highness. Soon, you will be married and produce a surplus amount of heirs for your kingdom.” He says, a little too excitedly.
You sigh. “James?”
He sits up, “Yes, my lady?”
“Stop talking.” You sarcastically smile.
As you arrive to the palace, you see your father stand outside the front stairs of the palace. He looks mighty in his royal clothing, a proud smile adorns his face as your carriage comes to a stop, like he raised you.
It was unnerving seeing your father standing alone. It was just last winter where your mother succumb to a terrible illness and met her maker. If you weren’t in this predicament you’re in now, you’d count that as the most depressive moment in your life.
Your father’s footman offered his hand, helping you step out of the carriage. The king speed walked down the steps, grinning from ear to ear. You curtsey in front of him, almost second nature to you.
“Hello, father,” the words leave your mouth bitterly. “How are you?”
“Better now you are here, darling.” His eyes squinted as he smiled. “Please, tell me, how was your travel?”
Another fake smile plasters your face, “A little home sick. However, I was fine.”
His fave dropped, “Well, this is your home now, dear. You are at rest when you are here.”
You watch him as he takes a deep breath in, “That is good. Well, what are you all waiting for?! Accompany my daughter with her things as she settles into her new home.”
You’re left with your thoughts as you sit on your new bed. The only thing that comes to mind is how your freedom is gone and now in the hands of this Satoru Gojo.
Wonders of his appearance come flooding into your mind. What would he look like? He could be some scrawny adolescent. No, your father couldn’t give the title of ‘King’ to a child. Maybe he was an old man. As old as your father. His belly round and his hair fading.
Goosebumps plague your skin as someone suddenly walks into your room.
“My lady, the garments have arrived.” A maid walks in.
Your brow raises, “Garments? I did not send for garments.”
She smiles, “My apologies, your betrothed sent them.” Some more people walk in, holding beautiful dresses. They contrast your everyday dresses you wear back home, where the thoughts of marriage never crossed your mind and days ended when you passed out in the fields.
“My betrothed..?”
“He sent these for you to wear tonight during dinner. It’ll be you, him, his mother and father and of course, the King.” She says merrily. “He must be enamoured by your beauty.”
Your brow rises, the fabric used is clearly expensive and foreign. Silky satin and the brightest purple that has ever met the eye. It was all too grand. A huge contrast from your country-house dresses you grew to love.
But beautiful nonetheless.
Whoever this Gojo Satoru was, he was playing his cards right.
Everything tells you to run out of the palace gates as you head downstairs for dinner. If you took off your shoes, you could make it to the town hall. Or was it the boutique?
It had been so long you’ve forgotten what surrounds the palace. Soldiers would definitely catch you within seconds.
A sound of laughters interrupts your thoughts. It’s your father’s and someone else’s. Before you could even breathe into the room, you are held back as you remember you are to be announced.
“Her highness, Princess Y/N!” A butler announced.
All murmurs stop as you walk in the room. The Gojo clan stood up upon your arrival. You noticed the smiles of the mother and the father and then your eyes landed on a man no other suitor could compare to.
His hair was snow white, it reminded you of snowy days where you cosied up to the fire place. His eyes were cerulean, bright and blue. But his stare made you feel small. The way he looked at you, like he was analysing your demeanour, how you walked, how you carried yourself.
They all bowed as you took your seat. “Pleasure to meet you, your highness.” The head of the Gojo clan grinned. “Your father has spoken highly of you. He’s assured you will be the perfect fit for our son.”
So, this is the infamous Satoru Gojo. The way they spoke of him, as if he is the prize. It was hard to not be egotistical considering you were, quite frankly, the future queen.
“Yes. This is a momentous occasion. We are currently witnessing the start of the of the next generation. I’m confident that Gojo will be a great king.”
You sit there, waiting for your father to mention you and how great you will take care of your kingdom. But your wishes were never grabted, they moved onto another topic swiftly.
Throughout dinner, Satoru kept locking eyes with you. Even with the jokes and banter your father and his were throwing about, his eyes lured you back in.
“We are to discuss the date of the wedding, and then the coronation. It should be quick and around the same time, we don’t want to string this along any more than we have.” The king spoke with a certain dominance that shook the bones of everyone in the room, but you of course.
Gojo’s father nodded, “Of course, your majesty. And may I thank you again for recognising Satoru as capable of being king.”
You clearly have missed a plethora of conversations and rumours of Satoru becoming king. “Yes, I see Satoru as the son I never had. He’s most capable of carrying this kingdom to glory.”
Satoru smiles for the first time during dinner, “I’m sure I’ll do that with the help of your daughter, your majesty. Every king needs his queen.”
You want to scoff.
“Of course. And then, hopefully, we’ll see Princess Y/N withchild very soon.” His father spoke. It made you sick how they spoke about you as if you weren’t there.
Suddenly, you felt something wet on your lap. As you look down, you notice the burgundy red wine staining your blush pink gown.
Gojo’s mother gasped, “Oh no, your gown..” You wonder if she was even worried about you embarrassing yourself or rather the fact her family spent a pretty dime on was ruined by your carelessness.
You take a deep breath in, already frustrated from the lack of communication regarding your own marriage and your father’s lack of awareness. “Pardon my absence for one moment..”
The party watches as you stand up and leave abruptly. Satoru notices as your father mumbles something about you being dramatic and unladylike. “I shall go check on her.” Satoru suggests.
“Satoru, you shouldn’t-” “I’m only to check on her welfare. She seemed conflicted tonight.”
The Gojo parents turn to look at the king who is now slumped over in his seat, “Very well.”
You seek comfort under the stars on a balcony, the atmosphere downstairs was too suffocating. It seemed you were a pawn in this big crown game.
“My lady.”
You gasp as you turn around to see the very man you grew to despise in a short amount of time. “Must you cut up my peace..?”
Satoru walked towards you slowly, “It’s a shame the dress is stained…This is the one I wanted you to specifically wear.”
His attempts at flirting made you sick. “I would thank you for the dress. But seeing its already ruined, I don’t think my appreciation would go far.”
Satoru nodded, “It is alright. Did you like your dresses? Were they a good fit? If not, I can get my men to-”
You hold up a hand, “Leave the other two. They are sufficient for gardening.”
He breathed out a chuckle, “Your highness, did I do something to offend you? If so, I do apologise. My father raised me to be a gentleman.”
Nothing leaves your lips as he responds. No smart remark, No rolling of your eyes, nothing. He was nicer than he seemed during dinner. However, you didn’t know what to trust. But something inside you told you to build some sort of relationship with him, considering you two will rule a nation together.
You scoffed as you remain your gaze on the environment, “Gentlemen? You…You hardly know me, why do you wish to be wed?”
“You are really magnificent, Y/N.” He whispers. The absence of formalities and honourifics threw you off immensely. He was now very close to you. It was only now you noticed how tall he was. “If I was just a commoner, I’d still want you as my bride.”
You blink up at him, “Satoru, if I am to be your bride, you can leave the theatrics at home. I’m not a child, I will not fall for such…dishonesty!”
“Dishonesty?” He chuckles once more, stroking the side of his face with his gloved hand, “Have you been like this with other suitors or just me?”
You look away. You’ve never had other suitors. Only him.
“Pardon me, Satoru, but I must go to my chambers. The sun is resting, and I shall rest with it. You don’t want to stop the future queen from receiving her sleep.” You begin to walk away from him.
“Trust me your highness, once wed, I plan to.” He mumbled.
Satoru sees you turn around swiftly staring at him with confusion. If it weren’t for his good looks, you would’ve sent the guards to behead him as quickly as possible. You open your mouth to say something but nothing comes out. Instead, you walk away.
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