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queenofthedisneyverse · 5 months

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Encanto God au

I got another Alma and Mirabel bonding au!

Ok so, what if the Madrigals were gods? Like:

The story/au goes that Alma fell in love with a human man, Pedro. Her parents, friends, and even strangers told her that it won’t end well but Alma, being the young goddess she was, didn’t listen. The way they met was at the candle festival, Alma loved festivals, so she wasn’t going to pass up a fun time.

So, she disguised herself as a human and went to the festival. Soon meeting the love of her life. They dated, got married, and had three demigod children. Everyone on earth and above the clouds were of course happy for them. But her parents and friends couldn’t fight the feeling of something going wrong.

On the night of the triplets' birth, Alma was in a deep coma like sleep, as any mother would be. While asleep with her three babies next to her, Pedro was outside talking to a “friend”. This “friend” got word of Pedro marrying a goddess and having children with her. His jealousy got the best of him and when Pedro was in his calmest and happiest state…he killed him.

Not long after Alma woke up in a cold sweat and went outside to look for her husband. At the moment, a raid was going on. Houses and stores are up in flames, men with machetes on horses left and right and Pedro…After what seemed like days of weeping and sobbing, she found the man who killed her husband and…dealt with him properly, let's say.

After that incident, the only humans allowed to come near her were Pedro’s parents, high up on Monte Encanto (Mount Encanto, Like Mount Olympus ). Humans can only go to Mount Olympus when they are invited, no other way. On the plus side, it’s incredibly too high for any human to climb.

Alma was quite upset and hates herself for not being vigilant enough to protect her husband, therefore she’s going to protect her children and never let them near humans. In her mind, falling in love with them is the worst thing you can do, on both sides.

Where does Mirabel come in? Give me a sec

Remember how I mentioned Pedro’s parents? Yeah, they wanted his grave to be on earth. They wanted it on earth because they didn’t want to constantly have to have Alma’s permission for them to see their own son’s grave on mount Encanto. So, out of respect of his parents, she lets the grave be on earth and every so often she visits it when she needs time alone or is too stressed out.

Her children sometimes tag along with her on his birthday and leave some flowers or gifts for him to take into the afterlife. You know how the skeletons in Coco would take a magical version of the gift sat on their grave?

Yeah, they believe that’s how he takes the gifts. On one of his birthdays, the triplets and Alma visited his grave with gifts to give him. While doing so, they heard a faint cry. A baby's cry, they looked around to see if there was any baby in the distance. They didn’t see anything. The cry was far but close enough to hear, which is strange, who would leave a baby at a graveyard of all places?

After looking around a bit more, they found a little baby girl in a basket near a tree. She was small, very small, and she looked…new. Like not even a day new, like she was born mere hours ago.

Julieta, being the caring mother she is, picked the baby up and held her close. The little infant was cold, very cold, and from the vibe she was giving Julieta, more than likely sick.

“She’s just a baby, who would do such a thing?!”

Alma stared at the little one and she knew right then and there, she had to care for this child. Unlike her granddaughters, who had been born within the safety of alabaster stone pylons, and in the presence of trained nursemaids draped in maroon and gold silks, this little baby had no such luxury.

Unlike Isabela, whose head was christened in rosewater the minute she was birthed, or Luisa who was immediately coddled in the finest of linens to warm, or Dolores who was put in the finest cradle made of gold and calming scented clouds to lay her head on. Mirabel was in nothing but a withered old basket and wearing…nothing. There was a simple small blanket covering her, nothing more.

And to top it all off, she was born on her late husband's birthday, March 6th. This little girl was a miracle. She would’ve called her a gift from the gods but she just went with a gift from her Pedro.

So, from then on, little Mirabel (or sometimes Miracle) was welcomed into the family as a Madrigal. A mere human yes, but still an amazing little gift that Alma welcomed with open arms.

She was going to teach her everything from literature, mathematics, combat, science, just anything in the little girl's early years to make sure that she was going to be strong, independent, and smart just like her.

“I give you my word neita, you will be outstanding”

Mirabel/Miracle was given to Julieta and Agustin to care for but…it’s more like Alma adopted her herself. She read her stories, gave her gifts, fed her, clothed in the best clothes, etc. To make sure absolutely nothing happened to her little Miracle, Alma made a potion for Mirabel to take everyday to make sure she’s immortal.

The potion was supposed to give her other magical properties but it only gave her immortality, no god magic like her sisters or primos. No super strength, healing, no ability to control weather, ability to make plants, shapeshifting, or hear from far places, nothing.

No matter how many potions Alma made, no magic from her family would stick besides immortality. No matter, she was still special, and will forever be special in Alma’s eyes.

At school (for the god kids, but Mirabel was easily accepted in) Alma made sure she only had the best teachers, if she couldn’t always be the one teaching her then Alma was going to make sure gods who were well qualified were going to.

Mirabel isn’t bullied per say but she isn’t well liked either. To gods, humans aren’t anything but an annoyance or something to play with. So seeing something you were taught to not see as anything but a speck is doing better in class than you…does get annoying. And most of them think she doesn’t deserve to be there

All of the god kids avoid her unless they are paired up with her for an assignment. Other than that, they don’t pay much attention to her, and it’s easier for them because they are much taller in comparison to her. They don’t even have to look down in her direction.

God children ages 1-5 are about half her height at fifteen. So in this au, Antonio is at her shoulders, Camilo is four feet above her, Luisa is two feet above him, Isabela/Dolores are three feet over her, and the adults are a few inches above the two oldest girls.

Alma keeps her height small in case she has to talk to Mirabel, who she knows can’t stand her smallness. Did I mention that Mirabel needs to nearly climb everything in her castle to get to it? If no one in the family is around she really has to climb her way to the kitchen counter just to make a snack.

Oh, and Alma doesn’t look old is this au. From what I’ve read in Greek mythology and seen in Greek statues, none of the gods look or seem to be older than 30 so Alma looks 26 but she’s about the same age she is in canon. Same goes for the triplets, no gray hair or that much wrinkles.

Mirabel does have her own room in this au and all that jazz. I’m not so sure what to do for dynamics but I think I’ll keep things the same? Idk,

I was thinking that maybe Mirabel, Camilo, and Dolores are ok with each other, but leave them in a room alone and it’s just gonna be…awkward and silent. They don’t talk much seeing as they just have stuff to do but they're alright with each other. Antonio and Mira still have that cute little brother and older sister relationship though.

Luisa and Mirabel are cool, Luisa is a little overprotective of her, but it’s not to the point of where it’s annoying. I’m not sure about Isabela and Mirabel’s relationship though. I feel like Isabela is slightly Jealous that Mirabel gets more attention from Alma in regards to gifts, excellent teachers, and knowledge about anything and everything she gives her.

Don’t get me wrong, she loves her and would rip the entire fabric of the universe for her, but Isa just isn’t quite sure what to do with her. Julieta and Agustin are still loving parents and shower her with love and care when they can.

Felix and Pepa love her too and speak to her when they have the time. Bruno does the same and cracks some jokes if she’s ever upset.

The idea that I had is that Mirabel is like Ariel but different. She wants to go to the human world just to feel normal. Her thinking is that she's a person just like the rest of the people in the village she sees.

Nobody is up on some high horse of superiority; the people are just people. No one treats or looks at her like she's some omen you're not supposed to talk to.

On the plus side, they don't ignore her as if she isn't there and it's a rarity for anyone to be above 6'4, she's amazed by the simple fact that her height is average among girls and some boys.

The only problem is that she knows damn well she isn't supposed to be down there. Alma expects everyone, Including Mirabel, that no one is supposed to talk to humans.

"It'll be the worst thing you could do, for both ends"

But Mirabel isn't a goddess, just a human with immortality, so nothing can go wrong right?

That’s all I’ve got for now, if you have any ideas, let me know! Oh, and here's everyone's majors

Alma - Goddess of strength, independence, fertility, and festivity

Julieta - Goddess of peace, healing and fertility

Agustin - God of loyalty, crafting, and perseverance

Isabela - Goddess of flowers, elegance, and beauty

Luisa - Goddess of strength, independence, and loyalty

Pepa - Goddess of war, emotions, and storms

Felix - God of light, happiness, and love

Dolores - Goddess of silence, peace, and hope

Camilo - God of trickery, comedy, and festivity

Antonio - God of animals, happiness, and imagination

Bruno - God of Prophecy, wisdom, and laughter/comedy

#encanto au #alma madrigal #mirabel madrigal #julieta madrigal #agustin madrigal #isabela madrigal #luisa madrigal #pepa madrigal #felix madrigal #dolores madrigal #camilo madrigal #antonio madrigal #bruno madrigal #Encanto God Au #mythology #my asks are open

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bruh-changbin · 2 years

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pleasure over pain (teaser)

part 2 to invasion of privacy

pairing: roommate!heeseung x afab reader

genre: smut, some angst, just over all stupidity (minors dni)

word count: TBD, approx. 6k

synopsis: after being subjected to listening to you bring a guy home, heeseung's forced to face how he feels about you. with some questionable advice from his friends, he finally begins to formulate a plan on how to talk to you without holing up

posting: october 19

a/n: HELLOOOO tumblr is being very weird rn and i can't tell if my tags aren't working or if i'm shadowbanned or if i'm just overreacting and everything's fine so i guess we'll see. i know lots of you have been waiting for the sister fic of invasion of privacy so here she is!!! i thank you all for being so patient 🤧🩹😸💗

tag list is open, send an ask, private message or comment to be added

jay and jake’s basement; dubiously nicknamed ‘the cave’ by sunghoon.

‘the cave’ was gifted this nickname because it looks exactly like one - dark grey walls with pathetic little foggy rectangles for windows and a musty odour that can still be detected over copious amounts of air freshener.

the layout is simple enough; two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and quite literally the most miserable living room in existence. said living room consists of 3 crusty corduroy couches that form a ‘u’ shape facing a tv exploding with a multitude of wires and gaming consoles. the coffee table is a slab of wood placed on top of some milk crates, and the only decoration is a pylon that jake stole on a drunken night out. it’s the perfect hang out spot.

despite all of this, jay and jake happened to score the best rental situation out of the four of them. heeseung’s isn’t bad since he lives with you of course. sunghoon, who left housing to the last minute, is stuck renting a spare bedroom in the basement of an old lady’s townhouse - whenever she sees him she pinches his cheeks and calls him ‘munchkin’.

the energy in the cave today is different than usual. heeseung’s in the centre of the group therapy-esque semi-circle his friends have formed around him on the couches. jay and sunghoon stare at him in anticipation while jake fiddles with the fraying edge of the couch, clearly wishing they were playing video games or smoking weed instead.

“so,” jay starts after the four boys had been sitting in silence for several moments, “what’s going on heeseung?”

ah yes, the emergency text heeseung sent in the groupchat after his conversation with you this morning. where does he even begin?

“it’s about y/n…”

jake’s interest is piqued now, his head snapping up at the mention of girl talk.

jay speaks up, “what about y/n?”

“oh my god, did you two finally fuck? LETS GOOOO HEE!” this coming from jake, who’s about to start jumping up and down on the couch while sunghoon whoops in celebration.

“no, no, no! we didn’t… fuck” heeseung prefers saying ‘make love’ or ‘hook up’, he things ‘fuck’ is too vulgar and not romantic in the slightest.

“oh,” jake mutters, clearly disappointed.

“you know heeseung i don’t know why you get so flustered around her. it’s clear she likes you” jay folds his arms across his chest, making him look eerily similar to a suburban dad who loves golf.

“she likes me as a friend, nothing more.”

sunghoon furrows his brows, “what’s wrong with that?”

jake scoffs, “sunghoon, where have you been? heeseung likes y/n… more than a friend kind of like, you know?”

sunghoon raises his hands in defence, then offers his two cents: “why don’t you just take the horse by the reigns and make the first move?”

“i don’t know… i feel like she’ll think i’m a loser when she finds out that…” heeseung trails off.

“that you’re a virgin” jay finishes for him.

#enhypen smut #heeseung smut #lee heeseung smut #enhypen imagines #enhypen fanfiction #enhypen blurbs #enhypen x reader #lee heeseung x reader #heeseung x reader #✎ - pleasure over pain

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metmuseum · 6 months

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Karnak. Pylone de Ptolomee. 1880s. Credit line: Gift of Mrs. John L. Swayze, 1981 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/263127

#aesthetic #art #abstract art #art museum #art history #The Metropolitan Museum of Art #museum #museum photography #museum aesthetic #dark academia

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sweepseven · 2 months

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Cirque du Soleil Alegría In a New Light review

So far the kindest thing I've done for myself in 2024 was go all the way to London to see this show. What a lovely, desperately needed reset. No need to linger on the preamble because team: this show continues to be damn near perfect. It felt like a true gift to be there. There are three total changes I would make if it were to suit me perfectly. Just three. That's insane. For comparison I love Ka with all my heart but I'd make probably fifty changes if given the opportunity. The three I'd make are:

Less clown time (though I swear the reason is different from my usual clown complaints)

Replace duo adagio

Reinstate Valsajoïa, the single greatest original song Cirque has produced since probably 2016. Possibly even 2008.

So let's talk about those three, and also the other one million reasons this is Cirque's greatest show in nearly 20 years.

Preshow animation: My friend and I had a time getting to Royal Albert Hall on time so I didn't get to soak in everything to quite the extent that I prefer to before a show starts, but the moment I walked in my guess that this show in this setting was the most perfect pair imaginable was validated. I don't think I'm even being biased because it's so recent - I genuinely think the only set that could maybe suit this theatre better is Quidam. The crown of the stage disappeared into the darkness above, creating an astounding sense of immersion and scale, and even the iconic mushroom acoustic diffusers look like they belonged to the set. The rigging was a delight to see too - I'm always fascinated by how they adapt the rigging to adjust for the lack of pylons. It wasn't as cozy as a Grand Chapiteau, of course, but the audience is so dense and extends so high, and the entire setting is so elegant, that the size and scope were a perfect match.

The animation itself was Fleur messing around with the Old Birds. Pretty unremarkable. He didn't shout Alegria! like in the original show, but then again I'm not sure I remember him doing it back in 2019 either. Bring it baaaack, it's iconiiiic.

Opening: Gonna confess up front that I was in tears for the duration of Mirko. The current singer duo, Sarah Menesse and Cassía Raquel, are incredible in every way. I'll talk more about them further down but it bears stating now that I was in shambles within the first five seconds. Details I never want to forget: the silhouette of the Nymphs' wings behind the curtain; the sharp, prim, yet commanding presence of the White Singer on the right side. I was completely taken by her in four notes.

Acro poles: This was a strong act five years ago and I think it's only grown tighter with time! This show wastes no time on ceremony and dives right into the action, which is a fun contrast between the old and new versions. The original made a grand show of parading and presenting the different factions. Here it's more bam here are the Aristocrats, bam here are the Bronx real quick, now everyone out of the way, we're getting right to it. Where the original was the story of forcibly overthrowing an old order, this one respects the structure of the past while willingly - if cautiously - making way for the future. This act does a very good job of illustrating that. The Aristocrats look like a fun, if slightly catty bunch! You almost want to be one... until you meet the Bronx.

Cyr wheel: I completely forgot Rinalto Vera is back for this act. I had only just recovered from Mirko and then this fucking song starts and I'm beside myself all over again. This is the kind of thing that makes me hold onto faith that the old Cirque is still in there somewhere - this, the musical refs to La Nouba in Drawn to Life... they know how to respect their old shows! When they bother, they do it beautifully! I only wish they treated their new creations with the same respect and care they pay to their golden era.

Anyway Ghislain Ramage is the only person I want to see on a cyr wheel ever again. I saw him work magic in Kooza and that was without the deliberate weight that comes from a non-rotational act. Something about him seems impossible - like he's too tall to be that lithe and fluid, or that you couldn't possibly evoke so much emotion from a cyr wheel act. He does. Every moment of it was mesmerizing.

It's the nitpickiest thing I could possibly say, but I do think something is lost in not having this act performed by an Old Bird or Aristocrat. Though since the mirror imagery of the original wasn't brought over to IANL, I suppose it's not completely necessary. Still. That was an element that really brought an inimitable quality to the original act and I wished there was an analog in this version. It could very well have made it the best act in the entire show. Yes, the entire show, which is crazy because you already know how I feel about.......

Duo trapeze: Fuck me, people. This act. It's a wonder I can be relied upon to behave rationally because it. is. utter. perfection. The only thing that holds me in my seat is the fear that if I move or blink I'll miss a split-second. I forgot the White Singer was onstage because I was too busy watching. That is fucking unheard of. My hands were clasped over my heart. I was beaming in awe the entire time. No other artist has had the particular effect Nicolai Kuntz has on me. Fucking this?? That relaxed, cross-legged on a goddamn trapeze gazing in admiration? That is shit designed to kill me. That is fucking lethal.

Anyway the skill level in this act is exquisite from both Nicolai and Roxane - another perfect act that has somehow grown more perfect with time. And what I love most about it is that though although they're a duo, although the song is called Querer, although the entire point is that they're impossibly aligned, it still feels just shy of romantic. The love being expressed here is not specifically for one another, but for flight itself, and the joy of sharing it with someone who understands. I might be projecting, since this act feels like a live illustration of my personal love for trapeze, but they have never seemed like lovers to me. More perfectly kindred spirits, and it serves the act beautifully.

Fire knife dance: Excellent! Impossibly high energy! The crowd adored it! We had one drop, which I've never seen in a fire act, but the artist handled it with fun and grace. There is nothing negative to be said for this act, but I can't not mention how exceptional Tuione Tovo was. Holding that against this artist feels like a teacher never giving A+s because "there's always something better." But there really was something undefinable in Tuione's energy and smile that isn't quite here.

Aerial straps: How many times can I say "a perfect act has become yet more perfect"? I've seen a lot of straps acts, people. Like, too many. I have immense respect for the discipline so it's not hard to impress me, but it's quite difficult to surprise me. There is a drop to ankles in this act that surprised me. I gasped. This act looks at every other romantic straps duo act and says "ok amateurs." The little smooch had the audience in raptures. The snow is used to better effect than the world deserves. It's just exquisite.

Hoops: I know Elena Lev is the queen, but I think this artist might actually be better! And she's so young! She's got her whole career ahead of her! This is probably the best hoops act Cirque has going for it right now, and that's really saying something. She does the "spin like fifteen hoops" thing better than I think I've ever seen anyone do it. Her control over her apparatus is unmatched.

Powertrack: OOO-EE! POWERTRAAAAACK. Top five act in the show right here, and it would earn that position through energy alone. And it's got a fuck ton going on for it besides. Every trick is massive. Every one is executed with fierce, tangible joy. Fleur has an excellent highlight moment that's indicative of a character adjustment in the new version (see below) that I really loved. I wanted to see Lucie Colebeck's triple bad (the first and so far only female triple tuck in Cirque history!!) but it was performed by another artist tonight. Still amazing. Watching this act makes you feel like you can run a marathon.

Duo adagio: The one and only let down of the whole show. I just do not like these Nymphs. I don't like their wings, I never have, and I can't believe Cirque is so opposed to returning to something just a notch closer to the luxurious feathers of the original. Their wings feel like a symbol of their overall impact on the show: kinda just there and we don't really know why. This act was the same. And it's a goddamn shame because Cassía's Vai Vedrai is power made musical. Slotting this act so late in the show makes it feel like a rotational act and it's just not fair to the artists or the song, probably the second most famous in Alegria's history. Last time I got handbalancing in instead and it was a gorgeous story of an Angel supported by a Bronx that was reiterated in high bar. Any sort of connection to the broader show is unfortunately missing in this act, which seems to only exist to remind you that the Nymphs are characters. I'd prefer to see this replaced with a return to the slow, luxurious contortion style of the 90s. Or imagine Dralion's ballet on lights here!! Or ribbon manipulation from the early days. Maybe a little too similar to hoops, but don't forget this is the show that has swinging trapeze and aerials traps and...

Flying trapeze: My light, my love, my delight. The Flying Tunizianis are immaculate. This is perfect flying trapeze act construction imo: some swings to let the audience know what's happening, an easy trick or two (planches) to prime them, then flips and twists galore to show what the fuck it's really all about. And! Importantly! A pause in the middle with a few styles and splits to bring back some grace and remind you trapeze is more than just guessing what the fuck you just saw. It is so, so good. For myriad stupid reasons I haven't flown in a month, and I'm so excited and inspired to get back at it after seeing this act. iirc the biggest tricks were triples and a double double (or full out? it all happened so fast!!). Either way, difficulty level second only to Mystere and I would argue better act composition overall.

However. I felt the removal of Valsajoïa acutely. It was nice to hear a little Icare, but if we didn't need it for aerial high bar's comeback, we certainly don't need it here. I suppose they were going for a more "daring" sound, but tbh I don't think it does a lot to enhance the act further, especially with the way the Tunizianis have choreographed it. The result isn't as graceful nor as impactful, even with the (tragic! teasing!) snatches of Valsapena and Valsajoïa still left in there.

I spent the whole act praying for some kind of suicide dismount and the very last was a reverse one and lost my fucking mind. My inspiration trick, my signature, my beloved!!! I gotta learn a reverse one bad.

Finale: What is there left to say? It's brief, it's gorgeous, it's effective: just like the transition from opening to acro pole, the transition from flying trapeze to finale is quick and honest, and the whole thing is over before you know it. It feels like a real thank you for joining the cast in the journey of the show. A joyous, magical feeling.

Music: I leaned back and scrubbed my face with my hands just now. That's what it's like trying to summarize what the fuck was going on vocally and instrumentally in this show.

It. Was. Splendid. I was utterly convinced that no one could do an IANL White Singer like Irene Lombard, and then here's comes Sarah with a flavor and characterization all her own. Where Irene was an angel, Sarah was a witch. She was sharp, she annunciated, every note was a call to action that drove the plot forward. Some songs were her strength (like Mirko), and some I prefer Irene (like Querer). At all times both singers' presences were impossible to ignore, and for a show with such a reputation for well-recognized, highly awarded music, the legacy is not lost.

This is also a very mobile band, which I always love. Accordion and cello parade around at times, sometimes even to emphasize character arcs (like the accordion following one clown after he's cast out of court to highlight his sorrow to both comical and emotional effect). Drums have a fantastic, well deserved Kooza-esque highlight moment during fire knife dance. Though you don't see them every moment, there's no point in the show that you can miss the fact that the music is live. They've struck an exceptional balance between highlighted and unobtrusive.

If anyone would like a recording of this performance's audio, drop me an ask and I'll be glad to share.

Clowns: My primary critique. Listen: they are so good. But I think Cirque noticed that and responded by giving them too much time. Their every act is strong but maybe 2-3 minutes too long, and it has the effect of pulling focus from the theme of the show and settling it on their shoulders instead. The result weakens both: they are not highlighted enough to carry a show like the Luzia clown main character does, and they take up too much time for the audience to realize they are meant to be one story among many.

Taken as they are though, the clown acts really are excellent. They are not tedious in the moment, only when held up against the broader landscape of the show. Their relationship still feels a little transgressive in a beautiful, comforting, validating way. Muted though the love story is, something about that adds to the honesty as much as the bravery. It deserves a ton of praise for that. Everyone in the room was fully invested in them. Snowstorm was beautiful and the music does so much to enhance the storytelling they give us.

(I did not remember the extended gun cleaning/masturbation gag from 2019 but that was the only part where I was like okay, let's move it along, boys.)

Misc.

Fleur doesn't seem like much of a bad guy anymore, and though I miss his old ornery edge, I'm not bothered by his current phase. He helps paint a picture not of a broken kingdom, but of a confused one, which leaves room for collaboration and acceptance reinforced by acts like acro pole and powertrack. There is room for both regimes in this new future. When it comes time to hand the crystal over to the White Singer, he does so without an ounce of reluctance or apprehension. It's a gesture of "let's do this together," not "you take the lead." It's very warm and effective.

Le Bal isn't quite as fun as it was in 2019. It wasn't positioned as a joking funeral march but rather just further hijinks between Fleur and the Old Birds. Like the lack of mirrors in cyr wheel, this wasn't a detriment to the show as it exists today, but it was a simplification of something that was once a little more dynamic.

Overall: As always I am exhausted just writing this. I beg you: see Alegria. Travel as far and as long as you can to make it happen. It is worth it. I live in fear that it'll never come back to do a full and proper North American tour (NYC deserves it, god damn it, it's been over six years), but if it never does, I'll know I made every effort, and I'll know it paid off in droves.

#cirque du soleil #alegria #reviews

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torntruth · 4 months

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okay but now I am CURIOUS AF. what level in each dishonored game was the hardest for you, what were you trying to achieve, and how many attempts did it take you ? owo (I've only ever played the first game to a point where I was making efforts, but for me it was Return to the Tower and I restarted at least 10 times to get the Shadow achievement, I don't remember what difficulty)

i always play on easiest because i never want that much of a challenge. but if i'm also to be honest, i didn't play dishonored nearly as much as dishonored 2 because i'm absolutely head over heels in love with emily. but i do believe return to the tower because if i'm remembering correctly, that mission specifically to get to the announcer and stealth it, you had to go through a very specific arc pylon that was infinitely hard because it had to be timed with slow time very specifically or you weren't going to get by it.

dishonored 2 i have like 75% of it memorized because i'm so in love with it's beauty and stealth is a little easier because you can stealth kill people by dropping on them instead of it just being a drop assassination but --

a crack in the slab. they take away your powers and you have to learn to traverse the whole level by switching at ideal times between the past and the present. i've personally got it down to a tee down, but stealthing this the first time was an absolute nightmare. there isn't even far reach or blink, there is just emily and corvo and their swords and learning how to use an object the outsider gifted because the whole entire mansion was perverted by how dark delilah's use of magic was.

but in the end it's also rewarding. if you knock stilton out and that was the catalyst that prevented billie searching for him, therefore he doesn't go to the trial, doesn't turn insane, and billie keeps her arm an eye.

but out of all the games --

a hole in the world in dishonored: doto was a complete nightmare. they took the no kill achievement out of this game because billie is a killer, after all. a pure assassin, but to get that stealth through this mission was a full nightmare because of the envisioned. like, look at them --

once they saw you or heard you, billie literally could not escape from them. they would find her.

#[ ooc. ] 𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒.

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lockejhaven · 2 years

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Good Evening and happy WBW to you!

Are there certain marriage rituals or politics in your world?

Are there certain governmental types and why did you choose this system?

Happy WBW and thank you for the ask! Not gonna lie, I saw this ask and I was like 'wait, its Wednesday??' Luckily, you've asked questions that I can absolutely answer, and in depth, too!

Putting my responses after the cut ^^

Chress

Alatheian 'marriage': An intimate union between two or more souls.

This custom is universal within the cultures of Alatheia. It is the closest custom to marriage, and yet, it is not quite the same. Alatheians are quite fluid, often having multiple partners.

Chress allows multiple souls to share energy between them, allowing them to speak across long distances and feel comfort from each other's presence. It is a promise to protect one another as well as themselves, for when an individual cannot take care of themself, they cannot take care of their partner.

This custom is intimate and often done in private with the ones that you desire. It is not meant to restrict, and can be undone the moment an individual wishes it to. Those who are abusive towards their partners find that their chress will become broken and shattered, unless they are particularly powerful.

It is also common to give your desired partner a gift while proposing. The gift can be anything you think your partner will love, whether it's classically romantic or not.

Those involved in chress with one or more are known as chressual beings and/or chressual partners.

The Novaneri Government

My most developed city, run by the Syl* *Best described as 'bulky gladiator elves with crystal formations on their belly buttons. I'll be making a full post about them later on.

Novaneri started out as nearly every settlement does; with a small group coming together in a time of hardship. For the first few hundred years, the settlement lived peacefully on their island in Whispering Tides, with no true leader(s). Even as the settlement grew into a small city, the syl kept government in the hands of the people; the surrounding forest reminded them of the necessity for peace and order, and discouraged any type of major conflict.

It was only after quite a few generations that a true government was established. Once the city had grown quite large and technology improved, the syl found themselves becoming a center of activity; the large amounts of energy harnessed by the city became an irresistible target for the hungry creatures within the tides. During this time, the syl banded together to protect their home and their people, and a leader rose from their ranks.

Many syl died during this time, and it was thanks to a certain innovator and explorer by the name of Fleur Luciana that protective pylons were built around the outskirts of the city. After discovering energy pockets in oddly even increments at the base of the island, Fleur worked quickly to harness the energy and shroud the city from the consciousness of both faunis and mortalis. The construction of the pylons was the most difficult and dangerous achievement in syl history, with timely attacks on the build sites by hungry faunis and dangerous tactics to get the pylons running as quickly as possible. Efficiency and stability would come later.

The syl are ruled by a single maire. Presently, the maire is equal to the people thanks to the current maire, Mikhyl Luphine. The syl maire lives and works for the people, with the people. There is no throne room; no larger office, and no higher place of power. They are fully capable of protecting themself from any threat and as such do not have a personal guard of any kind. The only difference between the maire and the average citizen is the ability to make decisions for the country.

locket’s tags: @365runesofwriting @enchanted-lightning-aes @thepixiediaries @midnights-melodiverse @perasperaadastrawriting

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#syl #mikhyl luphine #fables and feathers #locket answers #feathers

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wolgraugorimilir · 2 years

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This is a painting I just finished !

The architecture is inspired by the temple pylons at Karnak, and the iconography is copied mostly from the temple of Seti I at Abydos (my fav <3)

This is a gift for a friend

#my art #watercolor #ancient history #ancient Egypt

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crypticsiren1 · 2 years

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Making aesthetics with text.

Bright neon lights. Playful spotlights. Loud club music, still sounding in my head for a long time. A mixture of red and black colors. Lingerie that fits perfectly. Scarlet rose with sharp thorns.

High heels and fishnet stockings. Persistent fougere aroma of fresh lavender with spicy herbs.

Frayed books with poetry, read to holes. Bookmarks with flower herbarium.

Graceful body curves. Crimson plump lips and smokey eye makeup. Long fluffy eyelashes and pleasant features. Exquisite garnet hair color. Neat bun at the back of the head. Almond-shaped marigold shade of ripe cherries.

Delicate soft velvet, pleasantly touching the skin. Glass goblet full of wine. A dizzying feeling of intoxication. Carefree flirting. Expressive expression. Lust-bitten lips.

A bright flash of emotion. Sudden chill running down the skin. Rose petals in the bath. A fragrant bomb bubbling in the water.

Lipstick marks from kisses on paper letters. Swirl letters and small heart designs.

Chili chocolate flavor. Favorite creative work. The soul is in harmony with the body. Graceful movement around the pylon. The real pleasure of a new life.

The caress of a palm on your face. A languid look full of love. Air kiss. A smile meant only for you.

Seductive swaying of rounded hips when walking. A body rubbed with shimmery highlighter sparkles. The smell of hairspray.

Photos taken on a Polaroid and hanging along the wall on a garland with yellowish lights. Full-sized posters with beautiful girls, and inviting to visit her at the club. Postcard with her photo as a gift.

A night you don't want to end.

#velvet velour #vtm #vtmb #wod #world of darkness #vampire the masquerade

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ilopisara · 4 months

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21.01. 21:25 | Ilo Pisara vs HC LEV BOHEMIA 7 - 3

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round as I regale you with the tale of our latest ice capade where we turned HC LEV BOHEMIA into mere practice pylons! Our glorious team, Ilo Pisara, emerged victorious in a 7-3 drubbing that had more highlights than my secretary's hairdo. Let's talk about Teppo Winnipeg – this defensive dynamo was dishing out assists like they were going out of style. Five assists? The man must have thought he was playing Oprah handing out gifts to her audience. And those interceptions? Seven times he said "Yoink!" and snatched dreams right from under their noses! Sami Noddy on the left wing – oh boy! With five goals to his name, Sami wasn't just grinding; he was pulverizing them into dust. Sure, ten giveaways might suggest butterfingers but when you score half your team’s total goals... all is forgiven! Jani Saari at center played like a maestro conducting an orchestra of chaos for the opposition—two goals plus five helpers while juggling possession longer than a street performer on a unicycle. And Powder Barrel between the pipes... well let's say if saving pucks were relationships—he'd be single. But hey, four saves are better than none; even Swiss cheese can stop something occasionally. Remember folks: after our last heart-wrenching loss against Duunarit by one measly goal—we've bounced back harder than bad checks in this league. Onward Ilo Pisara—to future games where we aim not just to win but dominate with panache!

#nhl24

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xlightxhouse · 1 year

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Status: Open ♡ ♡ ♡ Rules and About ♡ ♡ ♡ Matching length not expected

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Really... we can't thank you enough," Stede spoke to the pair of fishermen, a hand braced on one of the pylons supporting the dock. They had been damn lucky to see the two men. Luckier still that they'd agreed to help, considering they had been the first victims of the Gentleman Pirate and his... now rather depleted crew.

Stede did his best to help the men push off before he turned to that depleted crew, rubbing his hands together, "Well. Here we are. The Republic of Pirates."

"Didn't think it was possible for it to be an even worse idea to be here," Oluwande looked over his shoulder towards the crowd of people milling on the docks.

"Yes, well," Stede cleared his throat. "This is as good a place as any to start our search."

The rest of the crew looked at him tiredly. They were all sunburnt and heat-tired. The supplies that Stede had brought with him in his dinghy had helped, but they certainly weren't enough to have everyone up and in fighting condition. Roach idly fanned himself, then pointed.

"Another gift shop."

"Mm. Think it's the same one. Sister location," Wee John squinted in that direction and Stede turned his head to look.

"That's worse," Roach's sigh drew Stede's attention back and the blond gestured in the air.

"Right. Let's split up, and start trying to gather some intel. Surely someone has some idea of where Edward might be sailing, currently," Stede pressed his hands together. "Maybe you can...check out the gift shop?"

They all stared at him for what felt like too long, until Olu gave them a little nod. Seemingly taking that as an indication to take action, the remnants of Stede's crew started to wander off and disappear into the crowd. Olu was the only one who remained, standing next to Stede with his hands in his pockets.

"Maybe... we'll hear some news about Jim," Stede suggested, looking over at the other man. Olu nodded slowly.

"How do you think all of this is going to go?" Olu asked, looking back at Stede.

"Edward is a reasonable man," Stede hazarded, raising his brows as he spoke. "When I find him, I'll explain what happened... that I made a terrible mistake... and we'll fix it."

Oluwande sucked his teeth and shook his head, "I'm... not sure where you're getting 'reasonable man' from... Last we saw him, he wasn't exactly what I'd call reasonable."

The last time Oluwande had seen Edward, it was like a switch had flipped. The man went from a soft, sad, wreck singing his heartache on the deck of the ship to having Izzy Hands barking orders at them to empty out the captain's cabin of everything Stede had owned. He'd also looked like he had chased a bottle of rum around a soot pile.

He looked like shit.

And they all really should have thought more about the "talent show" on the little island. Maybe they'd been hopeful that the dip in mood had been temporary. In the time that Edward had sailed with them, they'd all gotten used to the fact that he had mood swings. And it had seemed reasonable that he'd have more extreme ones, mourning Stede.

Damn but it sucked that they were all caught up in the middle of this "terrible mistake", as Stede had put it.

"Well, he's always been reasonable with me," Stede puffed in response to Olu. "I just... I appreciate your help, Oluwande. I do. And I'm sorry that I need it again. I just know, if I can find him, if I can talk to him... I can fix this."

"I hope you're right," Olu answered, feeling deep down in his gut that Stede wasn't. "I'm going to... go. Look around."

"Thank you," Stede reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Maybe you can poke your head into Jackie'z? I rather think I'm still banned."

Olu blinked at him and shrugged his shoulders up towards his ears. Jim had told him about resolving things with Jackie... so there was a possibility that going there wouldn't be a death sentence, "I'll think about it."

Stede nodded. Soon enough, he was left alone as Olu disappeared into the crowd of milling people. Arriving in the Republic of Pirates aboard the Revenge had been invigorating. Arriving on a fishing boat with a mostly starved crew and not a penny to his name was... humbling. But, he had a mission.

He had to find out where Edward was. He pushed his hair back from his face and joined the crowd of milling bodies.

"Excuse me?" the blond asked the first person who seemed like they were vaguely in charge of one of the gatherings of people he moved through. "Excuse me! Yoo-hoo! I was wondering... sorry, sir. Didn't see you there. Yes. I was wondering... if you would happen to know where I might find Blackbeard?"

#Verse: The Lonely Loser #Post S1 #Stede Bonnet RP #OFMD RP #Our Flag Means Death RP #open starter

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xoknowssmut · 1 year

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White Elephant

Janice was literally glowing, her swollen belly with twin girls, and her wife Jessica smiled, a proud parent. She put their contribution to the presents on the table, and started the game. Both had more than they'd ever want, so instead of a traditional baby shower gifts, they thought a "White Elephant" gift exchange would be best, and let everyone have a bit of fun.

In a White Elephant gift exchange, a name would be drawn. The drawn name could either pick a new gift and unwrap it, or choose from the gifts that had already been unwrapped, making that person choose a new unwrapped gift. The names were drawn, and Cassie chose first. She eyed Jessica's gift, but chose a different one, which turned out to be a nice candle display.

Rachel was next, and she eyed the candle display, taking it from Cassie's hands. Cassie laughed it off, knowing she could choose a new gift, and picked up Jessica's gift. She unwrapped it, a crystal cylinder tapering off at the tip. As she held it, she felt a warmth in her panties, felt her clit swelling, growing in length laying flat against her tummy until a flared head peeked out of the waistband of her panties.

As the next few gifts were picked, and the candles stolen again, Cassie's hand drifted to the waist of her dress. She felt the protusion, which felt just like a cock head. And when she felt it, it was like she was touching her clit. How did she grow a dick? She sat the crystal pylon down, and her penis shrank back, tucking itself in her panties, tucking itself in her cleft, back under her hood. She grabbed the crystal again and again she grew.

She looked, shocked, at Janice and Jessica, and Jessica smiled and winked at her. They had been secretive as to who was the "father" of Jessica's child, and at once Cassie knew. She held the crystal, enjoying the tightness in her panties. She clenched her kegels, and enjoyed the feeling as her cockhead flared against the silk of her dress. And she adjusted the belt around her waist as she felt precum wetness leaking from the tip.

She continued to explore herself absently, as much as she could in a room cooing with women exchanging gifts. If only they knew. She wondered, who would choose a cock? She hadn't, but she knew she had to explore this. She relished the gift, but would have to hope none of the other girls choose to take it from her, as the candles had been taken from her earlier. She felt a pang of jealousy and anger, but held the crystal dildo as casually as she could, hoping no one would choose it.

And, three gifts later, when Sammie came towards her to take her crystal cock (and her real one, unknown to Sammie,) Cassie mewed a "Noooooo." And the other girls laughed as Cassie. Sammie grabbed the obelisk, shook herself with a start, and sat down. Now Sammie knew the secret, knew Cassie's secret, and maybe knew Jessica and Janice's secret. Cassie felt the pang of loss, jealous of Sammie, furious at her for taking away her toy before she even got to play with it.

The rest of the gifts went around, and Cassie was trying to console herself with the Spa package. "I'd rather have a different package," she thought to herself, pouting, when Jessica and Janice stood up.

"Now that all the gifts are gone, there'll be one last drawing, one last person will get her pick of the gifts," Jessica said, and Cassie's hopes rose again.

Janice drew, kissed her wife, and announced Cassie's name. Sammie's eyes went wide, knowing what Cassie knew, And when Cassie walked to her, slowly, with a sly grin spreading across her face, Sammie would soon know the loss Cassie felt, Cassie grabbed the crystal phallus, handed the spa set to Sammie, and said, "No hard feelings."

And she realized just how prophetic those words would be.

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