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#while Leonardo Michelangelo and Raphael are from the high renaissance

yanderepuck · 19 days

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I just found this article

So let me talk about some things.

I saw the Mona Lisa two months ago. I knew what to expect. I know it's not a GIANT painting. The colors aren't bright. It is simply a portrait of an unknown woman. Even while standing there waiting to see it I hear people around me go "so what's so great about this?" "Why is this so popular" "it's so small and there's not much detail"

ITS NOT ABOUT THE PAINTING. ITS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU DIRECTLY SEE. ITS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE TECHNIQUES.

Do you know what was before the Early and High Renaissance?

THE UGLY ASS BYZANTINE ART. GOD I GET SO TIRED OF SEEING IT.

IT IS FLAT. IT IS UGLY. TOO MANY GODDAMN HALOS.

PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ANATOMY YET. They were painting to show scenes of the Bible and biblical figures. Leonardo spent YEARS on the Mona Lisa because he was creating new techniques. He was doing the research himself. Hell so was Michelangelo. These two did so many illegal things to be able to portray the human body so accurately. This is why other artists like Raphael were able to paint so much. All they had to do was study these paintings to figure out the techniques.

Leonardo didnt get as much done because he was experimenting with things.

But because that was so long ago these things are common for us to see in paintings. They are expected. It is what makes a good piece of art.

BUT BACK THEN?? IMAGINE BEING AROUND BYZANTINE ART AND SUDDENLY THIS ITALIAN IS COMING OUT WITH ART THAT LOOKS LIKE A REAL PERSON

No I'm not saying Leonardo was the first to do this. But you think to think of it from the perspective of the time period.

People go and see the Mona Lisa as if the Mona Lisa is the only great painting in existence. No. It's not that great from a 21st century perspective. It's average. It's unfinished.

If you truly want to see the Mona Lisa it's honestly better to Google it. You can't get too close to it and so many people are there saying negative things about it

And then there's the Italians in the side saying France stole it

The Mona Lisa will still be viewable if they decide to move it. It will just make the flow of people easier. The Mona Lisa isn't the only painting in that room which makes it annoying for others trying to look at the other paintings

#mona lisa #da vinci #leonardo da vinci #art history

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freakurodani · 1 year

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Would you like to share your thoughts on the bokuakakuroken dynamic?

OKAY so uhh it took me longer to get to this than anticipated. unfortunately i got this ask RIGHT before i started my shift, and its been ough, more than 12 hours since i ended my shift, which means my thoughts had so much time to change and morph

i will try to gather my thoughts into coherency fjakjbas (no promises tho,,), these arent all necessarily romantic, i think they CAN be! but i think if they are a polycule, theyre a friendgroup first?? idk, i think they are a mix of romantic, queerplatonic, friendship soup yknow??

but i really enjoy the subtle rivalry between akaashi and kenma on the court. It's not the overt goading and gloating that bokuto and kuro have with each other, but its there. And I adore it. Captains and setters mirroring each other... balance... in my brain. I think there is lots of team work OFF the court between kenma and akaashi too, especially when it comes to making fun of bokuto and kuroo. they have an understanding

i think bokuto and kenma are an interesting pair. in volleyball, bokuto is WAY TOO MUCH for kenma. he's loud and boisterous and greedy. he's like shouyou, kenma can't get away with anything. off the court, bokuto is STILL A LOT, but he also shows such *genuine* interest in kenma's interests, he's attentive and engaged. he also gets *way less* scandalized by nudity and gore in Kenma's more intense games. Kenma isnt great at explaining things, but bokutos go gettem attitude makes him a pretty fun player two

kuroo and akaashi... i thought about them a lot. to me, they are STEM and HUMANITIES solidarity. I'm going to tangent to curate the vibe~~.

The separation of stem and humanities is a fairly recent development in education/academia. in the european renaissance, art and science were so deeply interconnected. to be an artist you had to understand the natural world. it helped you greatly as a scientist if you could depict the world you saw. Leonardo da Vinci probably comes to mind, incredible artist and inventor. He stared at water for hours watching it ripple. He believed that if you were not outside drawing every second you could, you were hardly an artist at all (he was VERY hardcore, and VERY uhh.. most ppl didnt like him much. Same with michelangelo. Raphael was the renaissance's golden boy, it's why the pope was in close contact with him while he did the school of athens in his library while michelangelo was still waiting for a letter back from the pope about the sistine chapel (pope didnt wanna talk to him) none of this is relevant but i LOVE talking about this stuff. Bernini is my favorite, though he is Baroque/late renaissance rather than High Renaissance (after the mannerist movement!! very important distinction. (did you know there were TWO bernini's? Gianlorenzo's father, pietro would have been more famous if his son wasn't a prodigy. but he wasn't resentful, he ate up his son's skill, was very proud "i will be known as the father an mentor of the great gianlorenzo!" cute stuff) what number of parenthesis am i at? i think this is the last one)

i digress. I think of akaashi, a literature nerd, and kuroo, a science nerd. and I think of them appreciating that about each other. I like to think that if one of them has intense, burning thoughts about something that moves them, a passage written so beautifully, a chemical reaction so moving, they share with each other. both of them i think, share a certain appreciation for the beauty in the world, and can really appreciate the beauty that the other's perspective comes from. they bleed into each other, akaashi starts thinking more of the physical world, and kuroo, already a metaphorical savant (we are blood, anyone?) appreciates akaashi's musing (absolutely LAUGHED at him the first time Akaashi waxed poetic about bokuto though. They have solidarity but they still lowkey antagonize each other aksfjbaksjfbaskjfbakj)

i think ill cut my thoughts off here. ive really rambled and i think most of it wasn't STRICTLY about bokuakakuroken, but when i was thinking about them yesterday, this.. kinda was the deal. my thoughts can be really difficult to capture and tie down, theyre amorphous clouds that twist and change in hurricane winds so sometimes they just come out as "WAAHA CRYING SOBBINGS OUGH" because thats the only way i can get them out before they slip away

im supposed to be writing things down more, it helps me a lot. but, if you were interested in maybe a sneak peak of what its like to try to think of a single topic in my brain,,, here u go! please enjoy the content you asked for, and i hope the content you DIDNT ask for was at least a little bit interesting <3

#conspiracy lvl: ask #i will not put this in the tags #since its a fucking mess asbfjkajfbaksjfa #art musings #i just...really wanted to talk about it #long post

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aureatchi · 1 month

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ᝰ𓂃⊹ ִֶָ ‘ 𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐎 𝐔𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝒲𝐸 𝒟𝒪 𝒜𝑅𝒯 ! artist!osamu d. x artist!reader x artist!fyodor d.

who said “michelangelo” created the sistine chapel and crowned “leonardo da vinci” the most famous artist in all renaissance history? sure, dazai osamu and fyodor dostoevsky were rivals, but the story of their entanglements with a girl perhaps even more gifted than them didn’t have to be lost to time.

৻ꪆ INFO. fem!reader. historical + renaissance!au. love triangles. arranged marriage. lots of drama. murder; minor character death. reader has an ability. fluff; angst. suggestive themes. religious imagery. rivals to lovers. dazai → leonardo da vinci, fyodor → michelangelo, reader → raphael. bsd manga & beast spoilers mentioned. somehow follows canon events. tba + heed individual chapter warnings. ﾉ wc. tbd

ongoing. no schedule; posting dates for chapters will be updated on here.

৻ꪆ P.S. REVERIE. finally !! my super self-indulgent fyozai rivals to lovers artist!au series is here + my first series on tumblr. ᡣ𐭩

CHAPTER I 𓂃⊹ she painted the high renaissance onto her blank canvas

CHAPTER II 𓂃⊹ once you have tasted the taste of the sky, you will forever look up

CHAPTER III 𓂃⊹ i saw the angel in the marble and carved until i set her free / i am still learning.

CHAPTER IV 𓂃⊹ the mona lisa crime

COMMENT UNDER THIS POST TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGSLIST ! ◞ xtra info+playlist. ◞ character sheets.

৻ꪆ this is a work of fiction. obviously, some aspects of this series are historically inaccurate, even while i add true facts i researched from this time period. firstly, the main goal of this au is to captivate this era’s aesthetics! :)

reblogging the chapters are cherished; they are what support me the most <3. ﾉ dividers + support banner by cafekitsune. graphic mine; DO NOT save. art used @/tigerAngel_21 on twt.

#৻ꪆ 𓂃 ‘til death we do art #bungo stray dogs x reader #bungou stray dogs x reader #bsd x reader #bsd x you #dazai x reader #fyodor x reader #dazai x you #fyodor x you #bsd dazai #fyodor bsd #bsd fanfic #bsd fluff #bungo stray dogs #bsd imagines #dazai fluff #fyodor fluff #bsd scenarios

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eternal3d2d · 3 months

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ladyrena04 · 9 months

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Reconnecting (Epilogue)

Every color has several meanings depending on who you ask. Generally, red is associated with things such as anger or danger. Orange can be associated with optimism and energy, blue with intuition and inspiration, yellow with happiness and hope, and so on. However, when one thinks of loneliness and independence, they normally wouldn’t think purple, would they? Colors are generally a matter of expressing personality, and these four brothers are a great example of this. These brothers, however, aren’t your average brothers. They’re ninjas. Man-sized turtle ninjas. They got their names from Renaissance artists, as decided by their sensei.

Leonardo sports a blue mask and wields dual katana. He is the family’s battle strategist. Raphael wears red and uses sais; he may have a temper, but he helps his family out of their issues. Michelangelo is the family’s medic. Regardless of whether or not he’s studied medicine, he knows what should and shouldn’t be seen with injuries. He wears an orange mask and uses nunchucks. Finally, the leader of the pack, Donatello. He is highly intelligent, as he works with technology. He dons a purple mask and wields the traditional bo staff. He has distanced himself from his family for years, and it only seems to be getting truer with the passing of time.

Of course, all ninjas have their sensei or master. This is also true with the turtle boys. Their leader is named Splinter. He was once a human, but ended up being mutated into a rat. He’s a master of ninjutsu and, when they were young, taught his sons to train in the arts as well. While their training is rough and tedious, they always have time to develop their interests. The turtles also became friends with two human beings; high school students named Casey Jones and April O'Neil.

April becomes the turtles’ first friend after a bit of hesitation from Master Splinter. She, in her spare time, studies botany. She can be very enthusiastic when she hears anyone talking about her interests. She has orange hair and is usually seen wearing pretty much any yellow shirt one could think of. April spent many years with her found family in the turtles and learned how to defend herself during that time. Master Splinter trained her in the ninja arts for her to become a kunoichi, a female ninja, so that she doesn’t have to depend on anyone else to protect her.

Casey is somewhat of a loner at school. He doesn’t really have many friends outside of his hockey teammates. He’s very intelligent, but he prefers not to show it. He’s got street smarts and book smarts. Casey’s style is closer to a skater boy aesthetic, and as mentioned before, he plays hockey for the school. He tends to get distracted by street fights in the middle of hockey games and takes off to stop them. He uses his hockey mask as his disguise and his hockey stick as his weapon of choice.

The day was July 8th, and it was Michelangelo’s fifth birthday. Like his brothers, he would be receiving his weapon from his father at the end of the day. While he slept, his brothers gathered in the main living area of the lair to set up the surprise party for their younger brother.

“I can’t believe the day is finally here, guys!”

“Well, do not forget that today is Mikey’s day, Raph,” Donnie tells his elder brother.

“C’mon, Donnie, have a little more fun. You know how Mikey is, all he wants is to have a little fun on his birthday!” Leo said.

“You know how Donnie is, Leo… everything has to be set up ‘perfect’ or ‘nothing will go right’,” Raph sighs. Donnie, frustrated, goes quiet, knowing that Raphael was right. He knows he tries to make every little thing stick to a schedule or protocol. He has every minute of every family event planned out and doesn’t just “go with the flow” of things. Leo, Raph and Mikey make the most of every moment of their lives and enjoy themselves, like kids should. Donnie, however, does not.

He was given the responsibility of leading his brothers through life at a young age. Splinter realized that Donatello was gifted with extreme intelligence and he was able to pick up learned abilities much quicker than his brothers. He gave the responsibility of leadership to his second youngest son. While leadership may be a huge title for someone at such a young age, Splinter knows that Donnie can handle it thanks to his ability to make the right decisions.

Donatello walks into his room and begins packing up a small robot he had made for Michelangelo. He proceeds to look over at his work table and pick up a small device he had been working on.

“They think I’m no fun? I can be fun…” he thought. He places the device on the inside of his shell and turns it on as he walks out his room with Mikey’s present.

Donnie goes back into the main area with his elder brothers. He places his gift for Michelangelo next to the table. As he does, Splinter comes out of his room with his extravagantly decorated gift for his youngest. He places his gift next to his chair and sits down.

“I’m gonna go wake Mikey up!” Leonardo shakes his arms happily.

“Leo, wait! Shouldn’t we wait for April?” Raphael questions. “But pancakes, Raph. With sprinkles. And whipped cream,” Leo bounces as his eyes shine brighter with each ingredient he mentions. Raph pauses for a second, looks at his younger brother and grins.

“Let’s go get Mikey!” he shouts as he runs off with Leo. Donnie also smiles and runs off to the kitchen to get his baby brother’s birthday breakfast.

“Wait for me guys!” he exclaims, following Leo and Raph as they exchange glances as if to say “he changed quick.” The three eldest run to Michelangelo’s room, breakfast in tow, to wake him up for his birthday surprise. Raph turns the light on as Leo and Donnie jump on the bed next to their kid brother.

“Happy Birthday, Mike!” they shout, as he wakes up. Leo places a birthday hat on his head, Donnie hands him his breakfast, and Raph hugs him. The young turtle, after he’s fully woken up, smiles and hugs his brothers.

“Thanks, you guys! You’re the best!” he giggles as Donnie checks his glucose patch.

“Of course! Also, you’re free to eat your breakfast. Your sugar level is fine, and we used low sugar ingredients for yours!” Mikey gasps after his purple clad brother tells him this and proceeds to eat his breakfast.

“We’ll meet you in the living room, Mikey! Just come join us when you’re ready!” Raph smiles and leaves his room, Leo and Donnie following. Mikey looks at his pictures from his other birthdays and smiles as he eats his breakfast. After he finishes, he goes into the living room with the rest. He gets comfy on his bean bag chair as the family hears some footsteps climbing down into the lair. They turn their heads to see a small human girl climbing down. The boys cheer upon their friend joining them. “Welcome, Miss O’Neil. Happy you could join us,” Splinter smiles at her.

“Hi, sensei! Glad you invited me!” April grins. “Happy birthday, Miguelito!” She smiles as she hugs Mikey as he thanks her. She places her gift bag next to the rest of them as she sits with the other boys. “Hi guys!” “Hey April!” Leo smiles.

“What’s up?!” Raph grins.

“Greetings, friend,” Donnie spoke. “Shall we begin the gift giving?”

“I want dad’s first!” Mikey spoke excitedly. “I want my weapon now, I wanna know what it is!” Splinter chuckles at his excitement.

“You must be patient, Michelangelo. You know your weapon is the final gift you receive, just like your brothers before you,” he spoke quietly, receiving an awe in disappointment from Mikey. Raphael hands his baby brother his present, being a new set of watercolor cakes and watercolor paper. Michelangelo giggles with excitement. Watercolors are his favorite painting medium because, as he says, “I don’t have to mix colors to get different shades, I just have to change how much water to mix with the paint.” Next, Leonardo hands Mikey his present. When he opens it, he finds a bunch of vintage action figures.

“I found those just kinda… laying around where they were dropped down here. Cleaned ‘em up for you and thought you might like them the most out of all of us!” he smiles. He receives a hug from Mikey as well as many thanks. Donatello’s present for Michelangelo was a cooking set, including a mini oven he built himself. The excitement on Michelangelo’s face brought a smile to Donnie’s face, knowing his brother can now make his own recipes for desserts that won’t mess with his diabetes.

“Miguel! Here!” April said excitedly. “I got you something too!” She hands Mikey his present and he opens it. “I got you some knee pads and shoulder pads because you’re a goofy lil guy and you’re kinda clumsy and I don't want you to hurt yourself because I love you guys so much and-” she just squeals. Splinter just chuckles, “Thank you, April. You're a very kind, young lady.”

“Your present papa!” Mikey says with the most adorable sparkling eyes. “I’m ready for my weapon!” The ninja master smiles at his youngest son and stands up, using his cane for leverage.

“Of course, Michelangelo,” he picked up the box and carried it to the small turtle. He sits next to him and hands him the box. Mikey proceeded to open the box and his eyes lit up in excitement.

“Nunchucks?! Awesome!” He picks one up and swings it around, nearly hitting himself in the head, only for Splinter to block it in time.

“Careful, my son. Those nunchaku are a challenge to learn, but I fully believe you can do it. They take a lot of focus to control properly.”

“So, sensei, why exactly do we have the weapons that we do?” Donnie asks the rat.

“The weapons I assigned to you boys are opposite to your personalities to keep balance. Raphael, you are the most… chaotic, in the best way. Your sai are weapons of defense instead of giving you power to be destructive. Leonardo, you are possibly the most level headed, and the one I trust most to not harm innocents with the powerful katana. Donatello, your powerful and highly intelligent brain is wonderful for creating your own weapons, but a simple weapon can take just as much brain power to use. Michelangelo, you seem to be the least focused, but that does not affect your intelligence. Nunchaku, as I said already, requires a lot of focus to use. Your childlike nature requires something to help your ability to focus.” The boys look at their weapons in thought of what Splinter said.

“Will I get a weapon someday, sensei?” April asked Splinter.

“That decision is not mine to make, my dear. It is your parents' choice on whether you are trained as a kunoichi and trained to use a powerful weapon.” The young girl seemed disappointed, knowing her parents wouldn’t allow her to learn to fight. Raphael hugs her and picks her up, laughing.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t still play!” he says as April starts giggling. All of the kids get up and go to play while Master Splinter supervises them. Of course, being mostly boys, the kids begin roughhousing a bit, Mikey especially as he’s trying out his new weapons. Donnie somewhat trains his younger brother as he learns his weapon. Raph, April and Leo are running around playing tag, or as they call it, “ninja tag.”

During the mini training session with Michelangelo and Donatello, Donatello miscalculated Michelangelo’s swing, causing Mikey to hit the miniscule machine on his elder brother’s shell. The machine short circuits, shocking Donnie in the process. He yelps a bit, causing his family to look at him and prompting Mikey to apologize profusely.

“Donnie, I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to, I promise! I-I’m still learni-” Michelangelo gets cut off by his brother.

“Stop it, Mikey! I-I should have left the teaching to Dad, I shouldn’t have taken this on myself!” Donnie raised his voice, “No one listens to anything I say, anyways! I’m always the bad guy, the party pooper, the stick in the mud, whatever! Why should I try to lead you guys if you don’t pay attention?!” Donnie storms off to his lab, Mikey tearing up. His birthday party had been ruined, and he felt as if it was his fault.

“Oh Donnie messed up making Mikey cry! I’ll show him!” April begins walking to the laboratory as Leo and Raph comfort Mikey, but Splinter stops her.

“I understand the frustration, April, but we should not escalate the situation any further. Yelling at Donatello will only cause this to get worse. Give him some time to calm himself.”

“But he yelled at Mikey! And on his birthday! I don’t know what got into Donnie all of a sudden, sensei, but I don’t like it.” Splinter sighs in response, “I am also unsure. I can only hope he learns to properly filter his anger sooner rather than later. I hope he learns to be a kid and enjoy himself. I cannot force him to stop taking everything as seriously as if it were the end of the world, but I wish he learns this ability soon. And to not take his brothers for granted…”

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artprintsai · 1 year

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"The Evolution of Art throughout History"

The Renaissance (14th-17th centuries) was a significant period in art history, where art was reborn in Europe. Artists of this time period were heavily influenced by the classical art of ancient Greece and Rome. Many of the famous artists of the Renaissance, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, produced some of their most famous works during this time.

The Baroque period (17th-18th centuries) was marked by grandeur and opulence in art. This period saw the emergence of great artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Velázquez. Baroque art was characterized by exaggerated motion and dramatic lighting, as well as a strong sense of emotion.

The 19th century was marked by the rise of Romanticism, which emphasized emotion and individualism. Famous artists from this period include William Blake, Eugène Delacroix, and Francisco Goya. Realism also emerged during this time, with artists such as Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet depicting everyday life in a realistic manner.

In the 20th century, art saw many new movements and styles emerge, including Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Famous artists from this period include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock.

Overall, the history of art is a vast and complex topic, spanning thousands of years and encompassing countless movements and styles. By studying the art of different time periods and cultures, we can gain a deeper understanding of the human experience and the ways in which art reflects and shapes our world.

On a side note, if you're looking for beautiful art prints, check out ArtPrintsAI on Etsy. They have a wide selection of high-quality prints featuring famous works of art from throughout history.

The history of world art is a broad and fascinating topic that spans centuries and continents. From ancient cave paintings to contemporary installations, art has always been a reflection of the society and culture in which it was created. In this article, we will take a brief look at some of the most significant periods in the history of art.

The ancient world saw the emergence of many great civilizations, each with its unique style of art. The ancient Egyptians, for example, created elaborate tomb paintings and sculptures, while the Greeks were known for their realistic depictions of the human form. In Asia, the art of calligraphy and ink painting emerged, which focused on the beauty of line and form.

The Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century, was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement. This period saw the emergence of great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, who produced some of their most famous works during this time. Renaissance art was characterized by a renewed interest in classical art and culture, as well as a focus on realism and perspective.

The Baroque period, which followed the Renaissance, was marked by grandeur and opulence. This period saw the emergence of great artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Velázquez. Baroque art was characterized by exaggerated motion, dramatic lighting, and a strong sense of emotion.

In the 19th century, Romanticism emerged, which emphasized emotion and individualism. Famous artists from this period include William Blake, Eugène Delacroix, and Francisco Goya. Realism also emerged during this time, with artists such as Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet depicting everyday life in a realistic manner.

The 20th century saw the emergence of many new movements and styles in art, including Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Famous artists from this period include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock.

Thank you for your patience. Here is the continuation of the article:

In conclusion, the history of world art is a vast and fascinating subject that spans thousands of years and encompasses a variety of styles, movements, and artists from all corners of the globe. From the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux to the contemporary installations of Ai Weiwei, art has been an integral part of human culture and expression. By studying the history of art, we can gain a deeper understanding of our world and ourselves, and appreciate the beauty and creativity that humans are capable of producing.

On a final note, if you're looking to add some beautiful art to your collection, be sure to check out ArtPrintsAI on Etsy. They offer a wide selection of stunning prints and artworks from talented artists around the world.

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rnguyen-aet · 3 years

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Shapes

Creatures in Monster Hunter World:

Monster Hunter World is an Action RPG where players embark on hunts to track down large, powerful beasts and fight them. Over the summer of 2019, my friends and I would spend whole days playing this game and showing off the gear that we were able to craft from the materials we got after hunts. After countless hours of playing Monster Hunter World, I've really come to appreciate the fluidity of the monster's design.

The first two images above are from the game's official artbook. They feature concept art and sketches of a monster called Tobi-Kadachi. Many of the game's monsters are distinctly biomorphic and made of curvilinear shapes. The focus on these two design features of the monsters create a very natural feel, allowing them to fit into their surroundings or habitats, while also allowing animators to create fluid animations in combat.

The third image features the monster named Odogaron. I hopped into the game to catch a picture of the beast using the in-game camera. From looking at the image, one can tell that the Odogaron is in an aggressive position and on the verge of pouncing. This is achieved through the use of a technique called squash and stretch. Almost all of the monsters in the game will have recognizable attacks that are fast but telegraphed, signaling to the players they must react quickly to dodge out of the way of an incoming attack.

Shape Glossary:

Shape is the external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure. As a verb, to shape is to give a particular form. As artists, we shape our characters outward appearance by using shapes.

Abstract Shapes and Abstraction (see Non-objective Shapes)

Abstract means no recognizable objects. Abstraction is a sliding scale from realism to completely non representational. Abstract shapes can be used in backgrounds and textures. The background pattern in this Minecraft image is abstract. The character is still recognizable as a human, but the doctor’s human form is abstracted in the game of Minecraft to conform to the blocks of the game world

Biomorphic

Biomorphic is a free-form pattern or design with a shape suggestive of a living organism, especially an amoeba or protozoan.

Curvilinear Shapes

Curvilinear shapes are s-curves. Curvilinear shapes inform Jessica Rabbit’s character design and can represent a winding river vanishing into the distance.

Distortion

Distortion is exaggeration, contortion, reform, slant, twist, or warp in ways that depart from reality. Look at the Minecraft Human body example. The figure of the Minecraft doctor is distorted by the shape of the blocks.

Idealism

Idealism asserts that the physical world is less important than the mind or the spirit which shapes and animates it. Idealists choose the soul, the mind, or the psyche over the body, the material, and the historical. When ideals (of appearance, or proportion for example) regulate the way an artist represents the world, her work can be described as Idealistic. The leading artists of the High Renaissance - Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo - are all associated with varying forms of Idealism, as were ancient Greek sculptors. How do you think idealism affects avatar customization?

Non-objective Shapes (see Abstract Shapes)

Non-objective shapes have no object as a reference and no recognizable subject matter. Non-objective shapes are often used to simplify design shapes. Geometric shapes such as a triangle, square, and circle are abstract until you put them together to represent a house or a smiley face. One Minecraft block, away from the game, is a non-objective shape. Inside the game that same block, depending on it’s color and texture could represent a part of a landscape, sheep, or sword. The block as part of a character or environment inside the game would no longer be abstract.

Positive and Negative Shapes

Positive space is the subject, focal point, or areas of high interest in any composition. Negative space is the area around the areas of interest. All compositions balance positive and negative space. Yes, stuff in the negative space can point to the focal point to make it most obvious. Positive and negative create a whole. Every composition is a combination of positive and negative space. Wield the positive and negative spaces with control and story-telling magic to become a design master.

Realism or Naturalism

Rectilinear Shapes

Rectilinear is a boxy shape made with straight lines. For example, the screen you are looking at is a rectilinear shape filled with little square pixels, and pixels are also rectilinear. A storyboard is a series of drawings in a linear set of rectilinear frames.

Representational

Representational means objects that players can name. The object represents something from the real world, or something that has the verisimilitude of realism. A cartoon bunny can represent a rabbit without being realistic. Representational is a sliding scale from realism to almost abstract. 2 dots and a curve can be arranged into an abstract pattern or they can be arranged into an emoji that represents a smiley face.

Silhouette

Silhouette is a profile or shape that is easy to identify. Squash and Stretch Squash and stretch are shapes profiles that emphasize motion. The stretched position shows the form in an extended condition. When you do a sit up your belly squashes and your back stretches.

#Shape #Design #Sketch #Art #Concept #MHW

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dreams-and-beauty-universe · 3 years

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Madonna della Seggiola by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino

“Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance movement, was so well-known and renowned as a painter during his lifetime he was known simply by his first name, Raphael. He is known so today by only his first name and a master painter during the Italian Renaissance. His contemporaries were Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Together these three form the triumvirate of master artists and genius' from this same period of art.

Throughout his short lifetime, Raphael, who died at the age of only thirty-seven, painted many portraits, frescos, and stanzes (room paintings) and left a legacy of prolific works to his adoring public. His paintings are known for their visual achievement of the classical antiquities and the ideal of human grandeur.

His name has become synonymous with 'classical' and his genius was in strengthening and refining painting techniques rather than technical innovation. His paintings show elements of grace and refinement because of the influence of his early teacher, Perugino. There is a subtle elegance to his figures and sweetness in his female faces.

While the paintings and frescos of Michelangelo are bold, wild and unconventional, Raphael maintains a strict attention to the artistic rules and techniques in his paintings. There is a grandeur that is not found in Michelangelo's or da Vinci's paintings as there is in Raphael's.

Raphael's paintings have a more serene and harmonious quality to them and they were regarded as the highest painting models to emulate during the Renaissance period. This was much to the consternation of Michelangelo and caused much friction and inner conflict for Michelangelo.

He is best known for his stanze, or room, paintings done in the Papal apartments at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, and these are the greatest masterpieces left behind by Raphael today. He is best known for his stanze, The School of Athens, his finest and most perfect fresco left behind.

His early series of Madonna paintings, painted while he lived in Florence, are also considered the best in the world even today.

"Wedding of the Virgin", one of Raphael's early completed altarpiece frescoes.

Early life

Raphael was born in Urbino in the central Marche region of Italy. His father was Giovanni Santi, a court painter and poet to the Duke of Urbino. Therefore, Raphael grew up in this Italian court, known to set the model throughout Italy for its grace and manners. Here, Raphael learned excellent, refined manners and social skills. He mixed easily with the highest circles throughout his life because of his father's position at court.

His father is said to have apprenticed him out to the Umbrian artistic workshop of Piero Perugino who was an early influence in Raphael's paintings and other artistic pursuits at the young age of eight. This was a rare occurrence at such a young age, but Raphael's mother, Magia died in 1491, when he was eight. It is believed his father, busy with his own workshop, wanted Raphael busy during his days without his mother.

Perugino's workshop was active in both Perugia and Florence and Raphael was a master of Perugino's workshop and fully trained when he left.

Three years later, Raphael's father died and at the young age of eleven, along with his step-mother, he successfully took over and ran his father's workshop. By now, Raphael was a master painter and so began painting frescoed altarpieces at churches around Umbria. Some of these only partially survive today.

Wedding of the Virgin, pictured above, is Raphael's most sophisticated altarpiece he painted from this period of his paintings.

"Madonna della Sedia" (The Virgin Enthroned) 1516-17. Part of Raphel's Madonna series.

Florence 1504 - 08

Raphael spend these years living and working in Florence, Italy and this is known as the 'Florentine period' of his art. Here Raphael was greatly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and his paintings.

Raphael's painted figures began to take more dynamic and complex positions. His drawings of portraits of young women used da Vinci's three quarter length pyramidal composition as seen in da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

Raphael continued with his tranquil paintings but he also branched out into drawings of fighting nude men so popular at this time in Florence. He also perfected da Vinci's sfumato technique to give subtlely to his painting of flesh on canvas. He also developed the interplay of glances between his groups of figures but they are much less enigmatic than those of da Vinci.

This was Raphael's period of painting Madonnas and though he assimilated da Vinci's techniques in his paintings he kept the soft clear light in his paintings he had learned from Perugino as a youth. His Madonnas portray a tender humanity along with the divine that shines forth in these paintings. The subtle use of colors and the sfumato technique are evidence of da Vinci's influence in his paintings.

Raphel also adapted the lessons of tone, color and light from da Vinci and then added his grace and harmony to his faultless paintings.

In his painting, Depostion of Christ (1507), Raphael draws on a classical sarcophagi for his composition. He spread his figures across the front of the canvas space in a complex and not wholly, successful arrangement. So, although, he was influenced by da Vinci, not every painting included da Vinci's techniques.

The Madonna della Sedia, pictured above, although painted after his period in Florence, is still considered one of Raphael's great Madonnas. It has the perfect balance of curving forms in round frame and the harmonious colors are not rich and glowing but subtle yet full. This Madonna shows perfect balance, harmony, and untroubled radiance.

Within these four years in Florence, Raphael had achieved so much success that he was now a well known painter throughout Italy and all of Europe and became very popular with the public.

"Stanza della Segnatura", 1511, one of the "Raphael rooms" he painted in the Papal apartments and Sistine Chapel. To the right is his famed "School of Athens" the most famous and renowned fresco painted by Raphael.

Rome 1508 - 20

Raphael moved to Rome in 1508 at the request of Pope Julius II and he was commissioned to fresco paint the Papal apartments and the walls of the Sistine Chapel. Meanwhile, Michelangelo was painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

This is when Michelangelo began his great dislike in Raphael and his paintings, believing that Raphael and the Pope were conspiring against him. Michelangelo even went so far as to accuse Raphael of plagiarism, but his accusations were not taken seriously.

Raphael's stanze paintings, or room paintings, in the papal apartments and Sistine Chapel are considered the great masterpieces by Raphael. These paintings show all the gatherings of High Renaissance principles and techniques Raphael used in his paintings. They represent the intellectual reconciliation of Christianity and classical antiquity.

The School of Athens, 1509-11, is Raphael's first history painting and it is near perfect in composition and construction The perfect structure of reason built by the classic philosophers is symbolized by the architecture of the paintings. Raphael, who bore Michelangelo no ill will, even painted Michelangelo in this fresco as Heraclitus.

Raphael completed a sequence of three rooms in the papal apartments each with paintings on each wall.

With the death of Pope Julius II in 1513, the succeeding Pope Leo X kept Raphael on and commissioned him to not only paint but as architect and archaeologist. Raphael at one point was named the architect of St. Peter's for the papal court. But, it is his masterpiece paintings and frescos that are his greatest legacy.

His frescoes display harmony, movement within strict symmetry and the merging of the real and the ideal. In his later stanzes we see Michelangelo's influence. In The Expulsion of Heliodorus (1511-13) we see the beginnings of the Mannerist and Baroque movements, with the dramatic contrasts of light and dark and the stronger and richer colors of those movements.

In painting these rooms, Raphael achieved 'sprezzatura' which is a certain nonchalance that conceals all artistry and makes whatever he painted to look uncontrived and effortless. It was this 'effortlessness' of Raphael's paintings that drove Michelangelo mad with jealousy.

Raphael died suddenly at the age of thirty-seven after a brief illness. His last painting, The Transfiguration (1520), was left unfinished and eventually completed by his pupils of his workshop.

Raphel had never married, but in 1514 became engaged to a Maria Bibbiens. It is unknown why they never married, but it is believed Raphael had a mistress, Margherita Luti.

With the death of Raphael came the end of the High Renaissance movement in painting and the Mannerism movement began. Michelangelo was named architect of St. Peter's and he discarded Raphael's designs for the great basilica and created his own.

Raphael was buried in The Pantheon in Rome at his bequest and his funeral was large, grand and attended by large crowds of his public who adored him.

Giorgio Vasari, the 16th century art historian and artist in his own right, called Raphel 'the prince of painters' for the simple yet majestic dignity of his paintings.”

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ineffablequeers · 5 years

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After the apocalypse, Aziraphale would stay in Crowley's flat occasionally, and one day he discovers Crowley's secretive collection while he is sleeping. Beautiful unknown sketches from Renaissance masters, and there is this painting hiding deep beneath everything else. An angel and a demon standing on Eden's wall.

The fact that Aziraphale loves the finest things in life is really not surprising for anyone. Food, wine, clothes, even books: everything he owns is the best, and only the best is allowed in his life. He's the most hedonistic angel you could ever bump into, that's all. He's on Earth to collect every beautiful object he can find, as long as it catches his interests obviously, and he has a knack for owning first editions of every book in his shop.

Crowley, on the other hand, doesn't collect things. Well, he doesn't collect material things. Even his plants are more of an outlet for him, rather than something to take pride in. His own personal Eden, in a way.

The only mean he has to self-flagellate himself over his Fall.

So, when Aziraphale walks into his flat, he's not surprised to find it so bare and unfurnished. Hell, he wasn't even sure Crowley had a table in there (or a chair)

It takes him around five seconds to spot the Leonardo sketch on the wall, but when he does, his heart starts flipping in his chest.

"Good Lord, Crowley- that's authentic? I never managed to meet Leonardo, but this- how did you get your hands on it?" he whispers in awe, walking closer to the painting and raising slightly his hand as if to touch it, before withdrawing shyly.

"He gave it to me," Crowley replies, not even glancing at the sketch, his eyes still hidden by the sunglasses, focused on the amazed angel. "When I was in Florence. Lovely city."

Aziraphale stares at him with his mouth agape. "You. You were friends with Leonardo?"

Crowley shrugs. "I don't think friends is the right term. He asked me to be his... paramour, of sorts." he smiles fondly at the memory. "He was a genius, and he had lots of lovers. We became confidants, and he understood when I told him I was not interested in pursuing a more physical relationship."

If angels had a heart, Aziraphale would be dead already. God, he can't believe his own ears. Surely Crowley is just messing with him.

"If you don't believe me, look at the inscription."

There, in Leonardo's unmistakable handwriting, a dedication recites: Al mio amico Antonio.

To my friend Anthony.

Maybe he is dead, and this was some weird, post mortem dream he was currently in. It wouldn't be the weirdest thing.

But no, he's quite sure he's not dead, and Crowley knew Leonardo personally-

"Wait," he exclaims out of the blue. "Why didn't you accept his offer? I mean, I thought you of all people would-"

"I couldn't possibly give him what he wanted- devotion. He was a great man, and a good friend, but my heart was never going to be his. He knew that, and respected it." Now his voice is less soft and blunter. Even harsh, maybe?

Crowley turns around, letting out a small sigh.

"It's been a long day, Angel. We should rest for a while, " he mutters. "Are you coming?"

Aziraphale nods, still dumbfounded. What did Crowley mean?

There's no time for these questions: Aziraphale feels the exhaustion of six-thousand years downing on him, and although he's never been one to sleep, he's quite sure he could do so for a good few centuries. He follows Crowley down the hall, every closed door lighting a spark of curiosity in him, until they reach a bedroom.

Unlike the rest of the flat, this room exudes comfort and coziness, with a heavy woolen blanket resting on the bed and a few plants on one of the bedside tables. The bed itself is covered in a tartan bedding, not much different from the kind Aziraphale likes so much, and the angel shrugs it off by blaming a last-minute miracle from Crowley to make him feel more comfortable.

He smiles fondly at the Casino Royale copy next to the lamp, and his smile grows bigger as he notices the demon's blush.

"Oh Crowley, there's no need to be embarrassed about your Ian Fleming obsession. It's endearing, really-"

Crowley groans and hides the book in the first drawer.

"Shut up."

Aziraphale laughs affectionately at Crowley's crimson cheeks.

"There's just- I only have one bedroom, but you can stay here," Crowley mumbles, lowering his eyes. He's glad he hasn't taken the glasses off.

Aziraphale glances at him confused. "Why don't you miracle one up?"

"I'm afraid I'm not really strong enough to do any kind of magic anytime soon. The Big One before drained me."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry! I should've realized. Well, it's no bind- we can just share a bed."

Crowley snickers. "Won't that be a tad too fast for your liking?"

Aziraphale rolls his eyes and takes off his jacket before lying down on the left side of the bed. He thinks he sees Crowley gulp, before the demon joins him.

They lay there for a few minutes, not close enough to touch, but still enough to feel each other's presence.

Aziraphale stops breathing.

"This is new," he whispers at some point.

"It's been six thousand years. I think sharing a bed is fine at this point." Crowley replies, his voice heavy with sleep. He sounds so cute that Aziraphale could die from it. He just chuckles, then closes his eyes.

Five minutes after, they're both deep in the arms of Morpheus. It doesn't last long - not for the angel at least - and he only manages to rest for a couple hours.

He gets up quietly, wandering down the hall, snooping in different rooms. They all look the same: bare, cold and unwelcoming. He thinks that Crowley must really have a problem with this whole punishing himself thing. Forcing himself into an environment he hates just to make himself suffer.

He thinks for a second that the flat seems quite a lot like Heaven - spare and unpleasant - but it makes his heart ache. Does Crowley miss being an angel? Does he really regret Falling?

Does he miss his Heavenly home?

He walks into a room, turning the light on. As soon as he glances around, he feels the ground disappear from under his feet.

Sketches. Sketches and paintings are all over the place, ranging from Impressionist paintings to Baroque ones, a collection to rival the Louvre's.

A whole wall is covered in older pictures, not unlike Leonardo's one, and many of them have some kind of inscription.

He almost falls to his knees.

"Good Lord-" he whispers in awe. There's a Michelangelo on his left, half-covered by what looks like a Raphael, and they're originals. Not actual paintings, but sketches, the first attempts of some of the most famous works of art in the world. Some of these are new to him, and he realizes that they're the ones that didn't make it.

There's one, quite hidden behind another stack, that catches his eye. He carefully takes it out, and his mouth falls wide open.

It's them.

Two figures on a high wall, in front of a luxurious garden. One of them has white wings, and is using one to cover the other person from the rain. The second one has dark, crow-like wings, and he's gazing lovingly at the angel. In a corner, a quick scribble.

Che l'angelo possa accorgersi del tuo devoto sguardo.

May the angel notice your loving gaze.

●

Posted on Ao3

#crowley #david tennant #good omens #ineffable husbands #michael sheen #crowley x aziraphale #aziraphale #gomens #my fic

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desi6n · 4 years

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Shapes are an important part of design as they are the building blocks (no pun intended) of larger more complex structures. By breaking things down into shapes we are able to more easily identify the features that make up a characters appearance.

In the latest Minecraft live, they revealed the newest mob that will be added to the game, the Warden. Much like other creatures in Minecraft it is made up of Rectilinear pieces to fit into the blocky world of the game. Despite this, there is still a level of Biomorphism in the creatures ears as they are inspired by a new block coming in this update, sculk growths, which appear to be a type of cave fungus. The ears, while pixelated, have a free form organic-like structure reminiscient of fungi. These components combined help achieve a very unique Silhouette for the mob unlike anything else thus far. A pillar of the new update is contrast, so the design team sought out to create something with a brand new yet easily identifiable shape compared to things already in the game.

In summary, shapes are the key components in what makes a character and it is by identifying these specific shapes we are able to understand how designers can create unique characters.

Shape Glossary

Shape

Abstract Shapes and Abstraction (see Non-objective Shapes)

Abstract means no recognizable objects. Abstraction is a sliding scale from realism to completely non representational. Abstract shapes can be used in backgrounds and textures.

Biomorphic

Biomorphic is a free-form pattern or design with a shape suggestive of a living organism, especially an amoeba or protozoan.

Curvilinear Shapes

Curvilinear shapes are s-curves. Curvilinear shapes inform Jessica Rabbit’s characterdesign and can represent a winding river vanishing into the distance.

Distortion

Distortion is exaggeration, contortion, reform, slant, twist, or warp in ways that departfrom reality. Look at the Minecraft Human body example. The figure of the Minecraft character is distorted by the shape of the blocks.

Idealism

Idealism asserts that the physical world is less important than the mind or the spirit which shapes and animates it. Idealists choose the soul, the mind, or the psyche overthe body, the material, and the historical. When ideals (of appearance, or proportion forexample) regulate the way an artist represents the world, her work can be described as Idealistic. The leading artists of the High Renaissance - Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo - are all associated with varying forms of Idealism, as were ancient Greek sculptors.

Non-objective Shapes (see Abstract Shapes)

Non-objective shapes have no object as a reference and no recognizable subjectmatter. Non-objective shapes are often used to simplify design shapes. Geometric shapes such as a triangle, square, and circle are abstract until you put them together to represent a house or a smiley face. One Minecraft block, away from the game, is a non-objective shape. Inside the game that same block, depending on it’s color and texture could represent a part of a landscape, sheep, or sword. The block as part of a character or environment inside the game would no longer be abstract.

Positive and Negative Shapes

Positive space is the subject, focal point, or areas of high interest in any composition. Negative space is the area around the areas of interest. All compositions balance positive and negative space. Yes, stuff in the negative space can point to the focal pointto make it most obvious. Positive and negative create a whole. Every composition is acombination of positive and negative space. Wield the positive and negative spaces with control and story-telling magic to become a design master.

Realism or Naturalism

Rectilinear Shapes

Representational

Silhouette

Silhouette is a profile or shape that is easy to identify.

Squash and Stretch

Squash and stretch are shapes profiles that emphasize motion. The stretched positionshows the form in an extended condition. When you do a sit up your belly squashes and your back stretches.

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aftermathdb · 4 years

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DEATH BATTLE Review: Leonardo vs. Jason

Many years ago, Leonardo was destined to do battle with Tommy Oliver, but instead did battle with Zitz… And today, we see him do battle with Jason Lee Scott.

Ground rules for this fight: No zords, no turtle-mechs, no teammates. Just a good old fashioned, 1v1 battle to the death.

Leonardo′s Preview.

Beneath the streets of New York, four ordinary turtles were mutated by contact with a strange mutagen, and were trained by a equally mutated Rat-Person who named them after Renaissance artists and trained them in ninjutsu. If that sounds like a parody… That’s because it is…

Regardless, these Genetically Altered Shinobi Terrapins were in need of a leader. Donatello was smart and technical but he wasn’t a strategist for battle, Raphael was too hotheaded, and Michelangelo… is Michelangelo.

So the true leader in blue was chose to lead the team. Though most just call him Leonardo.

Leonardo embodies Bushido. For those of you confused, don’t worry, Boomstick is too. For those of you who don’t understand why ninjas and samurais have a lot of beef, it’s because ninjas were literally made to fight samurais.

And they make a quick note: As there is no “definitive” version of Leonardo to choose from, anything that’s reasonable is fair game. As in, if at least two Leos can/have done it, it’s on the table.

So, no double-mutations, dragon transformations, or anything too out of the ordinary.

The hosts go over Leo’s mastery of martial arts, and his weapons. Essentially, the Ninjaken Swords are just Katanas without the curve. As well as multiple other ninja needs like smoke bombs, grapple guns, kunai and ninja stars, and the works.

And we lead into a Wiz and Boomstick animated segment where… I’m not sure why or how, but Boomstick’s smile looks… better? Maybe it has something to to do with the way the teeth are drawn.

(please ignore the typo. I was in a bit of a rush)

A mixture of both a joke and part of the analysis. I like it.

Leonardo knows how to heal with (a missed opportunity for a Boomstick joke) the ninja magic of self-healing. While not potent enough to fix fatal wounds, it’s still handy nonetheless.

The hosts also go over how Leonardo is fast enough to dodge lightning,

Push over this giant pillar onto a giant mutated cockroach

And was even able to hold back this mutated tyrannosaurs’ bite.

And across multiple timelines, he’s usually the one who deals the finishing blow to the Shredder.

While teen angst and immaturity can hold him back from his full potential, Leo’s one heckuva fighter.

Jason′s Preview.

After 10000 years of being trapped in a magic space dumpster, the evil witch Rita Repulsa was set to conquer earth. So the galactic sage Zordon recruited some overbearing and overemotional humans to defend Earth. And every team needs a leader. So enter the levelheaded martial arts teacher: Jason Lee Scott.

Jason draws power from the Morphin’ Grid, and i order to gain access to it, he just needs to shout out three words.

“It’s Morphin’ Time!”

With this power on his sai-aye-aye-aye-aye-ide

The hosts apparently deduce that the Morphin’ Grid takes the hits for Jason, as evidenced by the sparks.

And after going over the weapons, we go into our next Wiz and Boomstick segment.

And after going over the Power Sword and a whole lot of weapons, and some key weaknesses. Like the whole thing about how they can’t escalate a fight.

So the Power Blaster is off-limits if it’s not actually needed.

But Grid-Enhanced individuals are still strong in their own right. Like when Jason lifted this enormous boulder over his head.

Nice.

Other Grid-Enhanced feats include

Pushing over a boulder weighing in at about 125000 tons, dodging lightning for a bit, and surviving the Power Rangers’ command center exploding.

And while Jason does lose his powers when he takes too much damage, he’ll still be one heckuva fighter. Especially with the power on his si-i-i-i-i-ide!

The Battle Itself.

Luis and Zack are the main animators for this, Leonardo will be voiced by Jon Allen and Jason will be reprised by Alejandro Saab, Audio Lead by Chris Kokkinos, and soundtrack of Teenage Morphin’ Ninja Power by Therewolf. And before we get into it, I gotta say that that track name is awesome!

So the fight starts off with Jason trying to get somewhere while Leo is eating his pizza, and Jason runs into Leo.

Which causes…

The pizza to fall.

Leo calls him out on it, and Jason sees him as one of Rita’s monsters.

And after a quick scuffle, Jason morphs.

So we get into a quick stand-off, and we seriously get into another opportunity where the “Fight Byte” could come back. They don’t have to do it for all of them, they can just choose which ones they do want to use it for.

At least make it a ringtone.

So, right off the bat, Leo narrowly takes speed, as they seem to land an equal number of attacks on each other. But it’s also clear that Jason takes strength early on as well, as he basically shrugs off all of Leo’s attacks.

Jason summons his Power Sword, and we get into a really cool sword fight sequence. Not as cool as Sasuke vs. Hiei’s sword clash, but still cool nonetheless.

And after a quick scuffle, Jason shows off for a bit…

And Leo’s swords break.

Jason goes in for a Tyrannosaurus Charge, and we get a recreation of that scene from Johnny Cage vs. Captain Falcon when the other guy was just blown away from how cool the other guy is.

Leo retreats into the sewer after knocking a drain cover at Jason, and he recovers the damage that was done to him.

As well as getting his newer weapon.

So now we’re at a teleport spam, where Jason is trying to hit Leo, but Leo is just too quick to actually strike.

And once Jason does land a hit, Leo’s shell is stopping him

Leo teleports high up, and we go into our finishing blow in

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

What’s bonkers here is that Power Rangers have finally ended their losing streak! Woo!

Verdict + Explanation.

After some quick joking around with Boomstick, we get into the reason why Jason won. While Leo has dodged lightning more reliably and had better training, he was simply outclassed everywhere else.

And that training wouldn’t really be that much help because Jason’s morph gives him extra skills to work with. Call it cheating, but whatever. It’s Power Rangers.

Leo can reasonably scale to a Turtle Villain named Baron Draxum in terms of durability.

Now, the Barron survived this 12 ton explosion. Which is impressive, but not compared to Jason who survived the Command Center exploding. That blast was nearly 54 times greater than what Leo could scale to.

Strength was also in Jason’s favor too. While Leo could push over large stone pillars, Grid-Enhanced beings could push around 125000 ton boulders.

It wasn’t as one sided as it might seem though. Leo certainly was more skilled and was faster. If those were the only stats that mattered, that would have gotten him more wins. But Jason ultimately came out on top.

Overall impression.

Overall, this fight really does feel like an interesting episode. It’s definitely one of those “Playground Debates” that you probably would have had if you were a kid watching one or both of these shows.

The fight is interesting, and the dialogue is delightfully corny. The fight is certainly longer than Canary-Sindel, so it’s easier to soak in how each ability and stat stacks against the other. Like I said, speed was only a narrow win on Leo’s end, and it showed because he was able to dodge more easily, but it also showed that strength and durability was on Jason’s simply because he was able to tank any attack Leo threw at him no problem, and was able to basically shatter Leo’s weapons casually.

The soundtrack is awesome, and it definitely makes it feel like an 80s/90s nostalgia trip where your childhood tries to kill the other childhood.

8.7/10.

Next Time…

Well so much for Genos vs. Cyborg or War Machine vs... Uh… Huh. I guess War Machine is like how I view Dinobot. Not a whole lot of options for him that aren’t super shallow.

Is there a fight that you want me to review? - Send an ask/request, and I’ll look into it!

Do you want to read my fanfic based around DEATH BATTLE itself? click here!

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time for…

Cyber Fighter Smackdown.

#Death Battle #Deathbattle #review

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orangehibiscus-blog · 4 years

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Lines and Shapes

Lines have both a direction and a length. A line is a mark, streak, stroke, slash, path, stripe, border, contour, striation, course, route, and track. Curved, bent, thick, wide, broken, vertical, horizontal, burred, or freehand, lines delineate shapes, forms, and spaces, volumes, edges, movement and patterns. Not only that -- lines create both 2D and 3D objects and figures. Lines are awesome and powerful.

Contour lines indicate the edge around an object or the volume of an object. Contour lines dramatize changes of plane within the form. The curve of a belt around the waist is a contour line.

Diagonal Lines are useful to draw the eye into a composition such as toward the vanishing points. Three common types of diagonals are 1) actual diagonal lines 2) objects placed diagonally in a scene 3) a diagonal line created by the viewpoint such as the Dutch tilt.

Dutch Tilt (known as a dutch angle, canted angle, or oblique angle) is a type of camera shot that has a noticeable tilt on the camera’s “x-axis.” The Dutch tilt camera technique was introduced by German Expressionists in the 1920s — so it's not actually Dutch. Directors often use a Dutch angle to signal to the viewer that something is wrong, disorienting, or unsettling.

Explicit lines Explicit means clear, direct, and obvious. Is a drawing is easy to read? It may be that the lines are explicit, clean, with efficient use of variety.

Implied lines are lines in a scene that is not physically there but are suggested by points in the art. Implied lines suggest the edges of an object or planes within an object. An implied line is when a finger or gun is pointing to create an implied trajectory of intent. The implied line may be broken such as a dotted line, it may be defined by value, color, or texture, or it may not be visible at all. With implied lines, our brain interprets that a line exists.

Gesture Lines capture movement usually in an action pose gesture drawings used in storyboards.

Line As Value has a long history. Before modern printing artist used line drawings to create value, or shading, to achieve volume. In this quick sketch of a live elephant Rembrandt used outline contour lines around the edges of the elephant and curved contour lines around the big legs and belly. Most of the lines are at the lower part of the elephant to show that the light source was from above.

Line of action is an imaginary line that extends through the main action of the figure. When you draw an action figure you can capture the line of action on one layer then draw the figure drawing on another layer.

Line weight - refers to the thickness or thinness of a line, or parts of the same line.

Line quality Line quality is the expressive essence of lines. Varying the line quality makes objects appear more 3-dimensional and exciting. Range in line quality heightens descriptive and suggestive potential. A single line can change in darkness and width, can vanish all together to mentally reconnect later on an edge.

Psychic lines are invisible. Psychic lines form between characters or between a gun and a target, or a hand pointing in a direction. There is no real line yet we feel a line. Eyes looking in a direction, especially characters looking at each other create a psychic line.

Shape is the external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure. As a verb, to shape is to give a particular form. As artists we shape our characters outward appearance by using shapes.

Abstract - means there are no recognizable objects. Abstraction can be used in backgrounds and textures.

Biomorphic - a free form pattern or design with a shape suggestive of a living organism, especially an amoeba or protozoan.

Curvilinear - s-curves inform Jessica Rabbit and a wander along a river into the distance

Distortion - is exaggeration, contortion, reform, slant, twist, or warp in ways that depart from reality.

Idealism asserts that the physical world is less important than the mind or the spirit which shapes and animates it. Idealists choose the soul, the mind, or the psyche over the body, the material, and the historical. When ideals (of appearance, or proportion for example) regulate the way an artist represents the world her work can be described as Idealist. The leading artists of the High Renaissance -- Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo -- are all associated with slightly different forms of Idealism. How do you think idealism affects avatar customization?

Realism, or naturalism, attempts to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality or exotic or supernatural elements. In the visual arts, illusionistic realism is the accurate depiction of lifeforms, perspective, and the details of light and color. But realist or naturalist works of art may also be "realist" in their subject-matter, and emphasize the mundane, ugly, or sordid.

Positive and Negative - Positive space is the subject, focal point, or areas of high interest in any composition. Negative space is the area around the areas of interest. All compositions balance positive and negative space. Yes, stuff in the negative space can point to the focal point to make it most obvious. Positive and negative create a whole. Every composition is a combination of positive and negative space. Wield the positive and negative spaces with control and story-telling magic to become a design master.

Rectilinear - a boxy shape made with straight lines. For example, the screen you are looking at is a rectilinear shape filled with little square pixels, and pixels are also rectilinear. A storyboard is a series of drawings in a linear set of rectilinear frames.

Representational - means objects that players can name. The object represents something from the real world, or something that has the verisimilitude of realism. A cartoon bunny can represent a rabbit without being realistic. Representational is a sliding scale from realism to almost abstract. 2 dots and a curve can be arranged into abstract pattern or they can be arranged into an emoji that represents a smiley face.

Silhouette - a profile or shape that is easy to identify in dynamic environment

Squash/Stretch - shapes change profiles to emphasize motion. The stretched position shows the form in an extended condition. When you do a sit up your belly squashes and your back stretches.

This concept art of architecture was first made using contour lines. The lines outline each building and components of the building. For instance, the windows, pillars, and roofs are made up contour lines to show where the edge of each thing starts and ends and how it’s shaped. The artist also used different line weights to differentiate buildings from one another. You can tell part is attached to which building because the line weight differs. The thick lines also outline the building while the thinner inside lines show details of that particular building. In the illustration, the bridge and building is made of thick contour lines so we know that it’s connected. The bridge also has thin contour lines to show smaller details like bricks and stone/tile walkway. The overall art is also very rectilinear. It’s made up of primarily rectangles and squares that make up all the structures of the architectural piece.

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sciencespies · 4 years

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Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit

https://sciencespies.com/history/ten-museums-you-can-virtually-visit/

Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit

SMITHSONIANMAG.COM | March 20, 2020, 7 a.m.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, museums and cultural institutions across the globe are closing their doors to the public. But while visitors can no longer roam the halls of these institutions, virtual tools and online experiences mean anyone with an internet connection can browse world-class collections from home.

The Smithsonian Institution, of course, has its own array of virtual tours, experiences and educational resources. Among the other experiences on offer: Scroll through an extensive trove of 3-D photographs from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, explore online exhibits from the National Women’s History Museum in Virginia, or admire artistic masterpieces from the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Spain. Additionally, around 2,500 museums and galleries, including the Uffizi Galleries in Florence and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, are offering virtual tours and presenting online collections via the Google Arts and Culture portal.

For those in search of armchair travel inspiration, Smithsonian magazine has compiled a list of ten museums that have found new ways to fulfill their critical mission of cultivating creativity and spreading knowledge.

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

The museum is one of Madrid’s “Big Three” cultural institutions.

(Kyle Magnuson via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Home to the world’s second largest private collection of art, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza owns masterpieces by giants of virtually every art movement—to name just a few, Jan van Eyck, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Picasso and Dalí. To spotlight these artistic treasures, the Madrid museum offers an array of multimedia resources. Users can take a virtual tour of the entire building (or a thematic tour covering such topics as food, sustainability, fashion and even “inclusive love”); browse current and closed exhibits; and watch behind-the-scenes videos featuring interviews, lectures and technical studies.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea

Visitors look at a site-specific art project called Home Within Home by artist Suh Do-Ho during a media event before the opening of a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, in Seoul.

(Jung Yeon-Je / AFP via Getty Images)

Committed to offering a culturally rewarding experience since opening its doors in 2013, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul (MMCA) has established itself as a prominent cultural platform and leader in Korean art. In collaboration with Google Arts and Culture, the MMCA is now offering a virtual tour of its collections. This experience takes visitors through six floors of modern and contemporary art from Korea and around the world. Those seeking an educational walkthrough can follow along by tuning into curator-led recorded tours.

The Anne Frank House

Take a virtual tour of the Secret Annex, or explore the home where Frank and her family lived before going into hiding.

The Anne Frank House, established in cooperation with the famed diarist’s father, Otto, in 1957, strives to inform the public through educational programs and tours of the building where the teenager and her family hid during World War II. To delve deeper into the story detailed in Frank’s diary, online visitors can watch videos about her life; virtually explore the Secret Annex; look around the house where she lived before going into hiding; and view the Google Arts and Culture exhibition “Anne Frank: Her Life, Her Diary, Her Legacy.”

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums (pictured here), the Anne Frank House and the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City are among the many cultural institutions with online offerings.

(Getty Images)

Home to some 70,000 artworks and artifacts spanning centuries, continents and mediums, the 5.5-hectare Vatican Museums are among Italy’s finest cultural institutions. Virtual visitors can tour seven different sections of the sprawling complex, enjoying 360-degree views of the Sistine Chapel, perhaps best known for Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment fresco; Raphael’s Rooms, where the Renaissance artist’s School of Athens resides; and lesser-known but equally sumptuous locations such as the Pio Clementino Museum, the Niccoline Chapel and the Room of the Chiaroscuri.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim.

(Stan Honda / AFP via Getty Images)

“Since its founding, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has maintained a belief in the transformative powers of art,” reads the Manhattan museum’s website. “In uncertain times such as these, art can provide both solace and inspiration.”

In a nod to this mission, the Guggenheim, a cultural center and educational institution devoted to modern and contemporary art, has opened up its collections to online visitors. The building itself, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is an architectural masterpiece; audiences can listen to an audio guide of its history or journey up its spiral halls via a Google Arts and Culture virtual tour. For those who want to take a deeper dive into the museum’s collections, the Guggenheim’s online database features some 1,700 artworks by more than 625 artists.

The London National Gallery

You can virtually tour 18 galleries in this London institution.

(Getty Images)

Take a virtual tour of 18 gallery rooms, enjoy a panoramic view of the museum’s halls and click through a wide collection of artistic masterpieces using the National Gallery’s virtual tools. Based in London, this museum houses more than 2,300 works reflecting the Western European tradition between the 13th and 19th centuries. Collection highlights include Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers and J.M.W Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire.

NASA Research Centers

NASA space scientist, and mathematician Katherine Johnson poses for a portrait at work at NASA Langley Research Center in 1980.

(Photo by NASA / Donaldson Collection / Getty Images)

For those fascinated by space exploration, NASA offers online visitors the chance to take a behind-the-scenes look inside its facilities. Visitors can take virtual tours of the organization’s research centers, where aeronautic technology is developed and tested, and learn more about the functions of different facilities. The online tour of Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, covers 16 locations, including the Flight Research Hangar and the Katherine Johnson Computational Research Facility. The virtual tour of the Glenn Research Center in Ohio, meanwhile, takes visitors inside facilities such as the Supersonic Wind Tunnel, where high speed flight is researched, and the Zero Gravity Research Facility, where microgravity research is conducted.

The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Carved statue outside the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

(Photo by DEA / G. Dagli Orti / De Agostini via Getty Images)

Home to the world’s largest ancient Mexican art collection, in addition to an extensive collection of ethnographic objects, the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City preserves the country’s indigenous legacy and celebrates its cultural heritage. In collaboration with Google Arts and Culture, the museum has made some 140 items available for online visitors to explore from their homes. Among the objects available for viewing are the famous Aztec calendar sun stone and the striking jade death mask of ancient Mayan king Pakal the Great.

San Francisco’s De Young Museum

The observation tower at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

(Photo via Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images)

One of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the de Young Museum’s new copper-clad building in Golden Gate Park combines art with architecture. The collection features a priceless array of American art dating from the 17th to the 21st centuries, as well as artifacts from Africa and Oceania, modern and contemporary art, costumes, and textiles. Through Google Arts and Culture, the de Young offers 11 exhibits, including “Cult of the Machine” and “Ruth Asawa: A Working Life.”

The Louvre

The Louvre’s famous glass pyramid

(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

Housed in a large fortress along the banks of Paris’ Seine River, the Louvre regularly tops rankings of the most-visited museums in the world, with millions of visitors flocking to its halls in search of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and other instantly recognizable artworks. Virtual tours offered by the Louvre include a walkthrough of the Egyptian antiquities wing and a view of the museum’s moat, which was built in 1190 to protect Paris from invaders.

#History

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starryburglar-archive · 5 years

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Donatello Info

Full name: Donatello Hamato

Species: Mutated turtle ( verse dependant )

Age: 18 ( verse dependant )

Sexuality: Heterosexual

FC(s): Keito Hasumi ( Ensemble Stars )

Bio: Donatello is the third eldest/second youngest of 4 four brothers, all named after famous Renaissance men by their master and father, Hamato Yoshi—currently known as Splinter. The four brothers were once ordinary turtles; when they were infants the benevolent Hamato Yoshi purchased the four as pets. When their soon-to-be father walked passed a strange man, he felt something odd about him and followed.

Unfortunately, Yoshi gave away his position when he accidentally stepped on a brown rat’s tail. The Kraang, an alien race that looks like medium-sized brains with like 6 or 8 tentacles, found him and attempted to kill him, but Yoshi fought back hard. During the scuffle, the aliens dropped a container of mutagen, Yoshi, having to have stepped on that rat, thus mutated into a humanoid brown rat by the name of “Splinter”, While Donnie and his brothers, after having been in contact with Yoshi and the clerk of the pet store where they were bought, mutated into humanoid turtles. Yoshi raised the turtles as his own children and to train them in Ninjutsu.

Many years have passed since then. Not only did the boys have grown up and become very talented and skilful ninjas, but they have gone through many hardships due to the vengeful spirit of Splinter’s rival, Shredder. Unfortunately for them, at the end of the road, even after doing everything to prevent it, their father was killed by their mortal enemy. The four brothers avenged his father and finally put an end to Shredder’s wrath.

New York City may be safe from the Foot Clan ( for now ) but evil never rests. Donatello, along with his brothers and human friends—April O’Neil and Casey Jones—continue to watch over the city from the shadows and fighting anyone who disrupts its peace.

Note: Follows show canon up to season 4. Season 5 is hit or miss and will pick what is part of my canon as I go along.

[ MAIN || INBOX || HEADCANONS || VISAGE || MUSINGS ]

-----------------------------------------------

V001: Does Machines

Default main verse. Takes place post-season 4, after the definite defeat ( and death ) of The Shredder. The four brothers, plus April and Casey, and now live in peace in NYC. They will honour their father’s memory by continuing to be the protectors of the city, heroes from the shadows.

V002: tba eldarya

tba eldarya verse to be written in detail at a later time when im not lazy but some notes.

he and his brothers were orphaned when they were babies, not too long after they were born. their parents were murdered by demons

coincidentally, the baby turtles—or kappa if you wanna be technical about it—were found by an anthro rat, who used to be an elf long ago. he decided to raise them as their own children, and named them after four men from a funny book about human art during an era called “The Italian Rennaissance”.

this rat, called splinter, also was a skilled warrior and personally trained his sons so they would be able to defend themselves.

currently in their end-stage of their teenage years (kappa don’t age the same as regular turtles, so the brothers would be at least 118 years old in this verse), the four brothers mainly do mercenary work for others, going on hunts or escorting people to places where danger is high.

V003: tba human modern

tba human modern verse

V004: HeroAca

HeroAca verse. to be written in detail at a later time when im not lazy but some notes

he and his brothers are originally from the united states, born from two mutant parents from whom they inherited their shared quirk: turtle. however, their parents died not too long after they were born; they didn’t even get to name their children.

to their fortune, a japanese man found them while he was on a business trip to the country. this man, hamato yoshi, or also known by his hero name “splinter”, took pity of the orphan boys and decided to adopt all 4 on the spot. due to the lack of names, hamato yoshi went outside of the box and named his new sons after 4 famous renaissance men: leonardo, raphael, donatello and michelangelo.

their quick alone makes the brothers stand out since they look 100% turtle. they are able to hide in their shells for self-defence and are quite the herbivores, and to their luck, they are not slow like regular turtles are. quite the contrary, they are quite fast.

their father not only raised them but also trained them in ninjitsu. he knew mutant quicks can only get you so far if it’s not something that can grant you many unique abilities, like a frog, for example. that was his case as well, being born with the rat quirk – just like his father did with him, he personally trained his children to fight like warriors from the shadows.

currently, the four brothers are second-year students at u.a. high school and are all in the same class ( for better or worse ). leonardo’s hero name is “purple brainiac”

-----------------------------------------------

CONNECTIONS

Hamato Family

:: Donatello ♣ The perfect chemical reaction ( Hamatos ) ::

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ifishouldvanish · 5 years

Text

The Boston Hour (19/?)

In which Belle is an Antiques Roadshow super-fan and Gold is her favorite appraiser.

CHAPTER SUMMARY: Belle arrives in Syracuse on Friday, which is just fine. RATING: T WORDS: 10,132 TMI’s: [boop] A/N: So... apparently it's been almost 2 months since I updated this updated literally anything? Oops.

[Part One] [Part Two] [Part Three] [Part Four] [Part Five] [Part Six] [Part Seven] [Part Eight] [Part Nine] [Part Ten] [Part Eleven] [Part Twelve] [Part Thirteen] [Part Fourteen] [Part Fifteen] [Part Sixteen] [Part Seventeen] [Part Eighteen] [Read on AO3]

Rumford was only pretending to read the arts and culture section of the Syracuse Tribune.

What he was actually doing, was sneaking glances across the table at his son, who he was pretty sure was only pretending to be preoccupied with his phone.

Rumford would let his eyes glaze over a review of the local theatre’s production of A Doll’s House for a few minutes, then chance to peer over the A2-sized newsprint held taut in his hands. Their eyes would meet, and Neal would hurriedly take a bite out of his bagel and snap his attention back to his phone– as though he were engaged in some lively conversation via text.

Which was preposterous, because it was only seven-thirty in the morning.

Rumford had chosen his outfit with confident care last night– his purple shirt and his black pinstriped suit (not that pinstriped suit, but the other one, with the finer, more subtle pinstripes)– and as he got dressed this morning, he felt certain that Belle would fancy him quite a dish when she arrived in the afternoon.

Was downright giddy with the thought while he made himself his morning cup of tea.

Neal had dragged his feet down the stairs and into the kitchen some minutes later– and after watching him stare blankly at the open fridge for far too long, scratching at the patchy bit of scruff that had only begun to properly grow in last year, Rumford realized the unique opportunity that had been presented to him.

He’d still been waiting for the right time to share his special bit of news. And between his son’s groggy state, and his own unusually optimistic disposition, Rumford thought he just might be able to get the damned words out before his nerves caught up with him and ruined everything!

He could sneak it in somewhere, undetected, perhaps. “Good morning, son! I’m bisexual! D’ye sleep well last night?”

And Neal would grumble and shrug. “Huh? Oh, yeah, whatever, sure.”

And that’s when he would make his exit– “Anyway, I’d better get going! Shop isnae gonna open itself!” (That Miss Halloran had a set of keys and came in the same time he did was beside the point.)

It probably wouldn’t be until hours later, that Neal would even realize what he’d heard– and by then, Rumford would safely be twenty or so miles away from his son’s reaction, writing an insurance valuation for a collection of authentic German cuckoo clocks!

Yes, yes. That was how it was all supposed to unfold.

But what Rumford hadn’t counted on, was for Neal to be on such high alert. It was putting him on high alert.

Killing the vibe, as his son might say.

Rumford skimmed over the newspaper spread again.

An advertisement for the local symphony orchestra. A rundown of affordable entertainment in the area this month. An interview with Cora Mills, touting on about the new collection she was unveiling at the museum of fine arts next week. He’d actually read that one– curiosity having gotten the better of him. The thing was riddled with all her name-dropping and humble-bragging about what a challenge it was to curate the thing; casual mentions of how a not-so-modest personal contribution from the Mills family had made it possible for the museum to acquire that Picasso– which really ties the whole collection together, don’t you think?

Rumford let out a derisive huff through his nose and peered over the top of the newspaper again.

His own eyes looked back at him.

They darted away again, and Rumford’s finger twitched– hand reaching for his teacup to take a sip. This too, was preposterous, because his teacup was already empty– and had been the last four times he’d tried to drink from it.

He managed to stop himself, and drummed his fingers on the table instead.

The whole scenario was preposterous, damn it.

He’d come out to Belle like it was nothing that night in Storybrooke. So why was it, that he couldn’t get the words out in front of his boy?

He just needed to say it. Get it over with and off his chest.

So he coughed.

“Son,” he began before he could change his mind, “There’s… something I’d like to… discuss with you.”

Neal looked up at him, chewing on his everything bagel. Thoroughly.

Far more thoroughly than Rumford had ever seen him chew before.

“What’s up?” he finally asked, swallowing and dusting poppy seeds off his fingers. “Is it that renaissance artists-Ninja Turtles meme I posted on Facebook?”

Rumford furrowed his brows.

“‘Cause look–” Neal continued, “I know their namesakes are completely wrong. How they named the turtle with the short temper after Raphael and not Michelangelo– or the nerdy inventor turtle after Donatello and not Leonardo– is a massive oversight. I mean, Donatello was one of the forerunners of the Italian Renaissance! Why they didn’t name the leader of the turtles after him is beyond me! But it’s just a kid’s show, Pop.” He shrugged and tore another bite off of his bagel, returning to his phone. “Try not to look at it too closely.”

Rumford tilted his head. Was willing to admit he was at least mildly curious about these turtles now.

To himself.

He scowled back at his newspaper and turned the page. “No. It’s… I uh…” He shook his head, growing so terribly annoyed with himself. “Well, the thing is, is that… I um…”

I want you to know that I’m bisexual! I like men! And ladies! I used to have a big, fat crush on Jefferson, and in retrospect, I have definitely on at least two occasions purchased a new shirt and tie specifically because I thought he would like them on me!

Rumford swallowed hard. “I just…”

Did he? Did he used to have a crush on Jefferson? Or did he still have a crush on Jefferson?

How did these things even work?

Surely an attractive, charming person didn’t cease to be an attractive, charming person just because you met another attractive, charming person with whom you shared something special. Right?

Did it even matter?

After all, what was a silly crush compared to what he shared with Belle? Compared to love? To that feeling of trust and being wholly accepted by another person? Belle had said it herself, how she hadn't even told her best friend about her bisexuality because it felt like it just didn’t matter– so why should it be anyone’s business but his own that when he checked his emails every morning, he used to secretly hope there’d be one from Dr Bellamy? And how he'd quietly relished the first time he closed one of those emails with not just regards or warm regards, but warm-est regards.

“I…” Rumford began reaching for his empty teacup again.

Neal looked up from his phone again with raised brows, and Rumford could feel his nerves dragging the words back down to the pit of his tempestuous stomach.

There were some things that not even pinstripes could help.

“...Pop?” he asked. “You okay there?”

“Ah– yes!” Rumford cleared his throat. “See, I… I wanted to tell you... that I… love you very much!” he blurted.

There was a beat of silence, and Neal smothered a snort. “Uh… okay.” he said, easing his shoulders and taking another bite out of his bagel. “I love you too, Pop.”

The moment gave Rumford enough of a false sense of relief to nod and smile. But soon the table grew quiet.

Much too quiet.

“And–” he added, “I’m very, very proud of you!”

“Oh.” Neal covered his mouth as he mumbled around his food. “Cool. Thanks.”

“I just… wanted you to know that,” Rumford said– and he finally cracked and took that imaginary sip from his empty cup. “I-in case I don’t say it enough.”

Neal nodded slowly. Had the mind this time to finish chewing and swallow before reassuring him with a, “You do.”

“Good.” Rumford coughed and glanced at the watch he wasn’t wearing. “Anyway, I’ve got to get going. Open the shop an’ all that.”

“Yup. You go do that, Pop.”

“Aye,” he said, rising from his seat. “Gonnae… do that.”

Neal rolled his eyes and dropped what was left of his bagel onto his plate with an exasperated sigh. “Are you alright, dad?”

Rumford pretended to be too busy tucking in his chair to answer.

“...Aye. Aye!” he answered belatedly. “Of course!” Added a, “Why do ye ask?” for the effect of it.

Neal froze, a flash of sudden terror striking his eyes.

“Uh– Because– No reason!” he stammered. “You just… I don’t know! You’re like… quiet lately! And? You… you keep saying everything is fine! Which is like, highly suspicious. Because you’re you.”

Rumford darted his eyes around the kitchen and pouted his lips, feeling too exposed to deny anything.

Neal slowly relaxed back into his chair. “Is… is everything okay? With that… lady?” he whispered, as though someone might be eavesdropping.

Ha! Rumford thought. Of course!

His behavior had nothing at all to do with his semi-closeted bisexuality! He was just nervous about his visit from Belle!

A perfect alibi!

“That lady’s name is Belle,” Rumford corrected, grasping onto the red herring just handed to him. “And rest assured that things between us are…”

Magical?

Pure bliss?

Like a warm ray of sunshine on even his dullest of days?

Serious?

“Well, they’re more than fine.”

Neal eyed him skeptically for a moment, then smiled. “...Gross.”

“Make sure your room is nice and tidy, by the way,” Rumford said. “She’s–”

“I know, I know. This is your–” Neal took a deep breath and sighed. “Big weekend.” he finished with clearly feigned enthusiasm. “But don’t worry, Pop– my room will be the perfect balance of clean, yet lived-in.”

Rumford smiled. “I would appreciate that, thank you.” he said, beginning to clear the table.

“Uh… hey.” Neal coughed. “Why don’t you go on and head to the shop already? I can clean up.”

Rumford proceeded to wipe the crumbs off the edge of the table and onto his empty plate. “No, no. It’s fine. I still have a few minutes–”

“But I want to.” Neal insisted forcefully, donning a stiff smile.

Rumford paused and tilted his head at him. Could feel another knot beginning to form in his stomach.

“You’ve been cleaning up after me for eighteen years, Pop. It’s the least I could do.”

“Oh.” He blinked, shakily setting his plate back down. “O-okay.”

What was this? Rumford thought. Was there some kind of covert Stepford Sons program happening under his nose?

“I can sweep the floors and shi– stuff, too.” Neal offered. “Even pick up your dry cleaning– that way you’re all set to look sharp for your girlfriend this weekend.”

Rumford scoffed. “Now you’re beginning to sound highly suspicious.”

Neal stood up and crossed the table, maintaining an unsettling degree of eye contact while he took the plate and teacup from him. “Yeah, well… I start moving into my dorm next week. If I’m going to survive art school, I need to learn how to give off an air of mystery.”

Rumford cautiously slid his jacket off the back of his chair. “Alright… well that case, the baseboards in the bathroom could use some mystery.” he said, poking his arms through his sleeves. “We should make it back here at–”

“Perfect.” Neal smiled. “Say no more, this place will be spotless for when mom gets here.”

Rumford stopped buttoning his jacket. “What?”

Neal froze. “...What?”

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

“You said–”

“I said the place’ll be spotless.” he repeated.

Rumford took a deep breath. Considered his next move.

“Your… mother told me she was staying at a hotel,” he said innocently, as if the whole thing was of no concern to him– but make no mistake, it very much was of great concern.

There was an uncomfortable stretch of silence before Neal barked out a laugh. “Did I just say mom? I meant Belle, obviously.” he scoffed. “God. So embarrassing, right? You ever call a teacher ‘mom’ on accident? It’s so weird!” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “S’like, ‘Thanks brain! Just what I needed! Another horrifying memory to keep me up at night twenty years from now!’ ...Right?”

Rumford slowly resumed his buttoning. “Right…”

Neal noisily tossed the dishes in the sink and spun around. “Anyway, yeah. You should get going.” he said. “Wouldn’t wanna be late– Boss’ll never let you hear the end of it, am I right?”

Rumford brushed his hair out from his collar and scoffed, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach. “I’ll have you know that I am very lenient with my employees, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, but it’s best to lead by example, I always say.” Neal said, beginning to shoo him out of the kitchen and down the hall. “Have a great day, dad! Sell lots of old stuff!”

Rumford balked at the front door, refusing to step outside just yet.

His son never said “ best to lead by example”!

“Neal. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He scoffed. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Rumford’s hand drifted up to his lapel, but there was nothing there– no pink and purple and blue to answer for him– so he just narrowed his eyes, ignoring the way his conscience wrenched his heart in protest of the lie he was about to tell his son. “...No.”

“Then neither is there nothing I’m not telling you, either.” Neal said.

Rumford furrowed his brows, trying to decide whether or not that response was even grammatically correct.

Decided it was too early in the morning for that.

“...I have to get to the shop.” he said at last.

“Okay!” Neal said, already closing the door in his face. “Later Pop! Have a good day!”

“You too–”

Thwack!

Rumford flinched and blinked at the door in front of him.

His son was up to something. Hiding something. Of this he was certain.

Nevertheless, a smile soon crept over his face, reflecting back at him in the glass.

Belle was coming today.

He was going to woo her. Sweep her off her feet. Tell her little nothings that would make her giggle and blush.

He was going to have a great day.

*****

MR GOLD

PAWNBROKER • ANTIQUITIES DEALER • PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISER • CONSERVATION & RESTORATIONS Certified and accredited by the ISA, ASA, and AAA.

Belle smiled at the lettering on the shop’s window, feeling a ridiculous sense of pride over Rumford’s qualifications. Personal property appraisers in the United States didn’t require any state or federal licensing in order to practice, so that Rumford still took the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice seriously enough to maintain membership in all three major professional personal property appraisal associations was, well– undeniably sexy.

It had been a long, albeit scenic drive from Storybrooke, and as Belle had made her way down South Salina Street, she found it no wonder that Rumford had chosen Syracuse’s historic district to open his shop. She could recognize all sorts of architectural styles from the buildings she passed– Victorian Gothic, Art Deco, and Beaux-Arts! Italian Renaissance Revival and Italianate!

She’d found Rumford’s shop in a charming Federal style building and managed to secure herself a parking spot right in front.

Her man was waiting inside.

All there was left to do was walk in.

Oh, she’d dreamt of this day. More than a few times.

She’d open the door and step inside, her heels thumping loudly on the hardwood floors announcing her arrival. He’d be in the corner, dusting off some trinket, and pause to look at her.

“Hello,” he’d say. “Please, come in. Is there anything I can help you with?”

As a matter of fact, yes– there is,” she’d say, approaching him closely. “...Dr Gold.”

He’d admire her chutzpah. Stop and set down the piece he was dusting. Wet his lips. “And what might that be, dearie?” he’d ask with one of those crooked smirks on his face.

She’d gently drag a finger along the length of his tie before giving it a sharp tug, pulling him toward her. “This,” she’d tell him, and she’d press her lips to his, and he’d be totally into it, and they’d make out and end up doing it in an antique chair or something.

At least, that’s how it usually played out in her dreams. But this was no dream. She was really here, and she’d already made out with Rumford one and a half times in actual, real life.

No, no. This would be very different.

Because she was in love.

She was going to walk in there and give him a peck on the cheek– and he was going to blush and smile and just look so cute!

Belle opened the door, and a bell jingled musically overhead.

It was bigger than she was expecting, filled with bookcases and cabinets that blocked her view. They were all filled to the brim with little trinkets in a charming cacophony of sizes, colors, uses, and styles. The shelves and armoires formed little walls around staged dining and living room sets– some matching, while others were made up of eclectically paired end tables, sofas, and accent chairs, forming their own little found families. Heavy oak desks were scattered about, each of them topped with an old typewriter and no less than two antique lamps. Clocks and paintings covered the walls, while little frames and other such Objets d’Art covered every available surface.

Belle’s eyes settled on a glass cabinet filled with books, and she drifted toward it without a thought. Encyclopedia sets and atlases took up most of the shelves, but the remaining space was occupied by the likes of Mark Twain, Hannah Crafts, Louisa May Alcott, and Edgar Allan Poe.

She couldn't help herself. Reached a hand out to open the cabinet and–

“Looking for Mr Gold?”

Belle jumped and pulled away from the case, finding a young woman with blonde hair smiling at her. Her loose flannel and combat boots were a far cry from Rumford’s suits, and a stark contrast to the elegance and delicacy of the furnishings that surrounded them.

“Well– you won’t find him in there,” the girl chuckled, leaning against the case and patting an hand on it. “This here is just reference books and American literature.”

“...O-oh.” Belle managed. Words were hard when one's heart had just leapt out of their chest.

“In fact, you won’t find Mr Gold anywhere,” she said, hiking her brows.

“I-I’m sorry,” Belle said, “This is his shop, isn’t it?”

“Well, of course it is.” She nodded at the lettering on the window. “It’d be bonkers if it wasn’t– seeing as it’s got his name on the window an’all.”

Belle looked back and forth between the window, the girl.

This wasn’t how she imagined her first visit to Rumford’s shop at all. Was expecting a lot more… Rumford.

“You’re Belle,” the girl said, and extended a hand. “Name’s Tilly.”

“It’s… lovely to meet you, Tilly.” Belle slowly shook her hand, feeling more confused by the second.

Where was Rumford?

Sure, she was over an hour early– but she had an excuse for driving well over the speed limit!

Whoever decided that sixty miles an hour was an appropriate speed for a three lane highway, clearly never had to drive an excess of 400 miles to spend time with a man as charming and sexy as Rumford!

Anyone would develop a lead foot!

A set of heels began clacking across the floor, and Belle snapped her head around to look. Strutting toward them was another young woman, with bright red hair. She was dressed far more professionally in a pencil skirt and silk blouse, but as she got closer, Belle noticed she was wearing glasses with magnifying loupe attachments that made her look like some sort of mad scientist.

“Welcome to Mr Gold’s pawn and antiques!” she greeted brightly, extending a manicured hand. “I’m Ariel. What can I help you with today?”

Belle glanced anxiously around the shop– hoping a familiar, handsome face would come and sweep her away. “Um… well, I–”

“Psst.” Tilly nudged Ariel’s side and whispered something into her ear.

Her brows creased. And then, “Oh!” she gasped, “Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh,” Tilly nodded and cupped her hands over Ariel’s ear, whispering something too hushed for Belle to make out– something about pie?

A smile slowly spread across Ariel’s face. “You’re Belle?” she asked, and Belle didn't have anywhere near enough time to answer before she went, “Oh, this is so exciting! I mean, wow! Look at you! You're like, really cute!”

“Oh.” Belle chuckled uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around herself. “Uh… th… thank you?”

“But gosh!” Ariel shook her head, as if snapping out of a trance. “You must be looking for Mr Gold!”

“Yes!” Belle leapt at the mention of his name.

Yes, yes! Rumford! Where was Rumford? She needed to give him a kiss so she could see him blush! And maybe tell him she loved him! Was it too soon for that?

“I mean, yes,” she cleared her throat and smoothed out her skirt. “I um... I am.”

“I’m sorry!” Ariel laughed. “You're a bit early. Mr Gold is out on a house call at the moment. He should be back in–” she squinted at her wrist watch, blinking and shaking her head before adjusting one of the loupes out of the way so she could see properly. “...About fifteen minutes.”

Belle frowned. “A house call, you said?”

Ariel struggled to blink her eyes into focus a second time before giving up and taking her glasses off. “Yeah! We get a lot of those, actually. If the client has like, I dunno–” she shrugged, “something big that would be too much of a hassle to bring in?”

“Or a lot of something smalls.” Tilly said. “We once had a guy with a collection of over six hundred model trains.”

Belle’s lips parted, her eyes glazing over as she tried to picture it.

A house call.

Perhaps another place, another time, another universe.

Herself, with a massive collection of things in need of appraising. Rumford knocking at her door, prepared to take inventory of it all. He’d probably walk around with a little clipboard as he inspected each item with care, and she could offer him a cup of tea as he worked. Maybe a storm would hit, and it’d be far too dangerous for him to drive. She would have no choice but to insist he stay for dinner. He’d have no choice but to accept. And then she could ask him if he’d mind it if she changed into something more comfortable. Like a silk négligée.

“But, don’t worry!” Ariel said, squaring her shoulders. “Mr Gold gave me a specific set of instructions for what to do in the event that you arrived before he got back!”

“Oh.” Belle tucked her hair behind her ear, and her silly scenario behind a polite smile.

“The first of those instructions was to offer you a bottle of water and-or a snack.” Ariel explained dutifully, lifting her chin.

She could be the lonely, recent divorcee looking to part with all her ex-husband's material possessions (now hers, of course) so that she could finally pursue her dreams of traveling the world. Rumford could be… Rumford. He'd have to stop by the house a few times– because there'd be so much for him to appraise– and they'd strike up a heated romance. There'd be conversations that got too intimate, looks that lingered too long, until finally– on the last of his visits– they'd fall into bed together. They’d lie in each other's arms afterward, and she'd lace their fingers, look into those brown eyes and whisper, “Come to Paris with me.”

Ariel cleared her throat. “...Might I interest you in a bottle of water or a snack? Belle?”

“Oh. Oh, no thank you.” Belle chuckled and shook her head.

“Mr Gold ordered a charcuterie board fresh from the deli a few blocks down just for the occasion, that's got six different cheeses!” Tilly added to tempt her. “...That’s how you know he cares–” she winked. “He tries to feed you.”

Belle nibbled her lip. “Well, maybe when he gets back,” she said. “We can um, try to feed each other.”

Tilly scrunched her face. “Huh?”

Surely little cuts of cheese would be as sexy and fun to feed Rumford as cookies or strawberries, right? Maybe a dollop of Brie on her finger so he could–

“Alright then!” Ariel clapped her hands together, snapping Belle out of her fantasy again. “The second thing was to give you a brief tour of the building, starting with showing you where the restroom is in case you’d like to use it before we begin.”

“Oh, I’m fi–”

“Right this way, please,” she interrupted, spinning on her heels and heading to the back of the shop. Belle followed after her, dividing her attention between her host and the lovely bits and bobs everywhere. They neared the sales counter, and rows of sparkling watches, rings, and pendants lined the glass case.

“This building was built in 1847 and originally served as the offices for the Syracuse Times newspaper,” Ariel began. “The newspaper went defunct in 1923, and the building was abandoned until 1930– when the city took ownership and repurposed it into low income housing.”

There was sound of a car driving by, and Belle quickly looked over her shoulder to see if it was a certain black Cadillac.

It was a just a Honda.

“During the war,” Ariel continued, “the units were vacated and the building faced neglect, which led it to condemnation in 1944. But then– in 1948– it was purchased back from the city by the Mills family as part of a historic preservation effort. After the repairs were completed, it served as a department store, and throughout the seventies, the upper floors were renovated and converted into luxury apartments. However– as the other buildings in the area continued to decay, so did the value of the here’s the bathroom on your right.”

Ariel stopped abruptly at a door marked Women, and Belle almost stumbled right into her.

“Oh. No, I’m fine.” she assured. “Please, go on.”

Ariel blinked. “Right, then. Where was I?”

Tilly slumped against the wall and folded her arms over her chest. “The part where they tried to gentrify the block for the third, fourth, and fifth times, I believe.”

“Ah.” Ariel smiled. “Yes. You see, this retail space was an art gallery in 1989, a designer boutique in 1993, a posh nightclub from 1994 to 1998, and then another art gallery– all before Dr Gold first leased it in 2003 after having moved from Glasgow with nothing more than his wife and son, two PhDs, three Master’s degrees, and a dream. It’s been Mr Gold’s Pawn and Antiques ever since, making his shop the longest-running business on this block in over fifty years!”

“Oh wow…” Belle marvelled– not that Rumford being a sensible and successful business owner came as any surprise!

“Mr Gold’s Pawn and Antiques has become quite a fixture here in Syracuse’s historic district.” Ariel boasted. “You’ll find it mentioned on several tour programs in the area, and has been featured in several national publications dedicated to the fine practices of pawnbroking, antique collecting, and antique restoration.”

“Some of which I hear have readership in the dozens,” Tilly deadpanned.

Ariel pursed her lips and slowly turned to Tilly with a scolding look. “Anyway, Belle,” she said, “Feel free to have a look around, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to–”

“What's it like working with Rumford?”

The question had leapt out of her mouth without her permission, but all her enthusiasm. “You know. Out of uh, curiosity. Because… sixteen percent of couples meet at work? And it's… a side of Rumford I haven't really…” she cleared her throat, “Well, I mean technically he was working when I met him, but–”

“It's amazing!” Ariel squealed. “I was only hired as an assistant, but over the years, Mr Gold has taught me all sides of the business. Pawnbroking, market value appraisals and insurance valuations, jewelry and watch repair...” She leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper. “He started letting me make inventory purchases last year– I don't even have to check in with him if it costs us less than five hundred dollars!”

Belle laughed with giddy excitement. Could it be, that Ariel shared her enthusiasm for all things Rumford?

“He must think very highly of you,” she said. “I don’t imagine Rumford would entrust such responsibilities to just anyone.”

“You think so?” Ariel asked, and Tilly rolled her eyes. “Because I mean, it’s such a privilege working with Dr Gold. He’s just… the best in the business. You know, my father always used to tell me I was wasting my time hoarding junk. But then one day I saw Dr Gold recount the provenance of a fork on TV– and that’s when I realized I could actually make a career out of it!”

Belle gasped and inched closer. “I remember that episode!”

Of course, she remembered all the episodes– but it wasn’t every day (or any day, for that matter) that she got to talk to someone about the Roadshow!

“Milwaukee Hour Three in 2012?” Ariel asked.

“Mhm! That’s the one!” Belle nodded. “He was wearing a navy suit that day,” she sighed. “Looked so handsome...”

Ariel opened her mouth to speak, but cut herself off. “I… can't say I noticed. But–” she continued, “it was the same Milwaukee event where he appraised a set of antique corkscrews!”

“The ones that came in the cool wooden box!” Belle remembered.

Ariel gasped and pointed an affirming finger at her. “Yes! My favorite was the brass one that looked like–”

“A seashell!” Belle finished.

Ariel’s mouth opened wide into an awestruck grin, and Belle could only mirror it right back.

“I’ve never watched an episode of Antiques Roadshow in my life.”

They deflated then, their little moment over, and turned to look at Tilly.

“Mr Gold caught me trying to steal a Rolex.” she said. “Well, six Rolexes. ”

“Oh my.” Belle raised her brows and blinked. “That sounds like quite a story.”

“Mhm.” she nodded. “He asked me how much I expected to sell ‘em for, and when I told him, he laughed and said they were worth at least a hundred times as much– and that if I wanted to sell them, I might as well do so from behind the counter and earn a proper commision.”

Ariel wrapped an arm around her shoulders affectionately. “Tilly here snuck her way into our jewelry case and into our hearts.”

Tilly returned the gesture, and Belle thought the two of them looked liked sisters, hugging like that. “Working for Mr Gold is like having a second dad, really,” she said. “An awkward, fancy, dad.”

“He is, isn’t he?” Ariel thought out loud. "You know, I had my first Marine ball with my boyfriend last year, and I was telling Mr Gold how nervous I was, because I’d never been to anything fancy like that before? He spent the rest of the week teaching me table etiquette and how to Waltz!” she laughed. “Had me reformed into a proper lady come Friday!”

Belle drew in a deep breath, her mind already sprinting through the possibilities. “...Rumford knows how to ballroom dance?” she asked.

“Mhm!” Ariel nodded. “Said his aunties taught him.” She stared ahead blankly for a moment, then clicked her tongue. “I remember his allergies were really bad that day…”

Tilly snorted and traipsed back over to the sales counter. “I don't think those were allergies.” she said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.

“Uh-huh,” Ariel nodded. “Oh yeah. He said the ragweed was making his eyes–”

“If those were allergies, then he must have also been allergic to the time I told him I got my GED.” Tilly said, slipping her phone out of her pocket and tilting back in her chair.

“No…” Ariel dismissed with a playful roll of her eyes. “He just got a little emotional that day because he was so proud of–”

Tilly raised a brow at her, and Belle found herself smiling again. Did Rumford know his employees saw him as a father figure?

Oh, how she had the mind to kiss him! Again!

...Had it been fifteen minutes yet?

Ariel perked up and pointed a thumb at the door behind the counter. “Anyway, hey– I gotta watch in the back I'm working on right now. You wanna see? It's a vintage Cartier from like, 1930 or something.”

“Oh, I'd love to!” Belle nodded. Here she was, being invited to the back room of Rumford’s shop! Who knew what wonders lied beyond that door!

“Gah, it's so cool!” Ariel squealed, waving Belle over. “Come, come!”

She thrust the door open, and as Belle followed her inside, she didn't know where to look. There were boxes piled high on sturdy shelves and pieces of furniture covered with heavy tarps– some labeled with what she could only imagine were clients’ names.

A stately desk sat to the left, backed by a row of file cabinets, and Belle decided it must be where Rumford spent the better part of his days carrying out the less glamorous side of his work– hunched over a ledger or scattered pages of research with a creased brow.

Ariel led her to a long, wooden workbench on the opposite side of the room. The wall behind it was lined with crowded shelves and cabinets, and tools ranging from the tiniest forceps to the heaviest rubber mallet hung from a segment of pegboard.

“Customer brought this in last week,” she explained, taking her seat and putting her glasses back on. “Now, we only do quartz watch servicing in-house– we don't have the proper facilities to do mechanical watches– but we're taking care of all the cosmetic work on this one before we sending off to our watch guy.”

Belle sat beside her and it was only then that she saw it. The thing had a distinct rectangular face framed by white diamonds and a mesh link band in gleaming white gold.

“It’s beautiful,” she said in a whisper, scooting closer for a better look. “You know, for all the jewelry I've seen on the show– I’ve never actually seen what goes into repairing it.”

Ariel picked it up and held it under the light. “Few of the stones were missing, and a whole bunch of them are loose,” she explained, using a tiny pair of tweezers to point. “It’s a pavé setting, so the tricky part is tightening the prongs for one stone without loosening the stone next to it.”

She gave one of the outermost stones a wiggle to demonstrate, then swapped her tweezers for a pair of pliers and carefully nudged the prong into its rightful place. Belle watched her repeat the process a few times, moving from one stone to the next. At one of them she hesitated, and inspected the watch more closely. “See now, this one’s gone flat,” she said, and Belle tilted her head, squinting to see. “It can’t grip the stone at all, so it's gonna have to be retipped, and that’s a whole other–”

“Miss Halloran?”

Belle’s ears pricked at the sound of his voice.

Rumford. Rumford was back!

“Back here, Mr Gold!” Ariel hollered. She continued to work for a few seconds, then suddenly dropped her tools and jumped to her feet. “I mean, is there anything I can help you with, Mr Gold?” she offered, scurrying to the door. “Hang on, I'll be right–”

Ariel bumped into him at the doorway and froze, but that didn't keep him from peering over her– or rather around, as he she was considerably taller than him in her heels.

“Belle.” he smiled, face poking through the doorway.

Smoothing out her blouse, Ariel took a step back and let him in, Tilly following close behind.

Belle rushed to her feet, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Hi, Rumford,” she smiled back, but her voice only came out as a whisper as she drank up the sight of him.

Oh, what a dish he was! Looking so wonderfully kissable in his purple shirt and pinstripes!

“Oh, Belle,” he smiled again, making his way over and wrapping his arms around her.

Belle closed her eyes, relishing how warm and cuddly his hugs were. And how yummy he smelled. And–

“How was your trip?” he asked. “Didn't get lost on the–”

She cupped his face in her hands and reached up on her toes to peck him on the lips. “It was just fine,” she assured him.

“I-I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I tried to be quick, but I-I–”

“Hardly at all.”

“Good,” he relaxed. “That's good.”

Belle swept a lock of hair away from his cheek. “You look really handsome today.” she said softly.

He scoffed and looked away, cheeks shy and pink when he looked back at her. “You have a habit of saying that.”

“Well, you have a habit of looking handsome.”

His smile widened, and Belle felt him grasp her hand– and a tell-tale brush of his thumb against her knuckles let her know what was coming next. “I’d say you have a habit of looking beautiful, but I’m afraid it would be inaccurate; you, sweetheart, simply are beaut –”

Rumford paused with her hand only halfway to his lips when someone cleared their throat, robbing Belle of her kiss.

“You know what, Tilly?” Ariel said. “I think it’s past time we dusted the showroom.”

Tilly frowned. “What do you mean? I just did it the other–”

“I said I think it’s past time we dusted the showroom.” she repeated, jerking her head toward the door.

“Oh!” Tilly gasped. “Right, right.”

Rumford furrowed his brows. “The showroom looks fi–”

“Filthy! I know!” Ariel rolled her eyes emphatically.

“Shameful.” Tilly agreed.

“Anyway, it was lovely to meet you Belle!” Ariel said, opening the door to the closet and grabbing an armful of various cleaners, furniture polishes, and rags.

“Mhm! Charmed!” Tilly added, rolling out the vacuum. The wheels got stuck on the door trim, and she hoisted the thing up, dropping it noisily onto the hardwood floor.

“Easy now!” Rumford winced, “Watch the... floors.”

They hurried out of the room, hollering further niceties until the door slammed shut behind them, leaving Belle and Rumford standing in silence.

He darted his eyes back and forth between her and the door, rubbing a hand over his neck.

Belle bit back a smile, slowly wrapping her arms around him for another hug. She nuzzled against his shoulder and let out a happy sigh when she felt him hug her back.

Rumford's hugs had a way of warming her from the inside out and the outside in! Oh, if only she could fall asleep in his arms like this!

Well, she supposed that in a few hours she probably would be!

Belle slowly pulled away to see his face, and he stared back, the corner of his mouth giving a slight twitch– as though whatever he was feeling couldn’t be contained by his smile. He wet his lips, parted them as if to speak, but hesitated.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I-I got something for you.” he said at last. “A-a gift.”

Belle tried not to grin too widely. “I um, got something for you too,” she said.

“Oh,” he chuckled nervously. “You see, I– well, I was debating when I ought to give it to you, but… well, now you’re here, I– It seems silly to wait.”

Her grin broke free as she laughed, and his cheeks rounded into a smile.

“Well, my gift is um… perishable?” she said. “So–” she slipped away to dig through her bag where she’d set it on the workbench, carefully pulling out a white box. “It's um… Not much, but… well, I tried to remember your favorites.” she said, holding it out to him.

He hesitated, then opened the box.

“Oh, Belle…” he chuckled and shook his head, and Belle’s cheeks were already becoming sore from smiling. Had anyone ever given her as much cause to smile as her Rumford did?

She had a smile on her face yesterday, when she'd stopped by the bakery. But it wasn’t the promise of taking home some white chocolate raspberry cookies that had her in such high spirits, nor the mint chocolate chip, or the salted chocolate chunk and almond. No, no– it was the thought of the look on Rumford’s face when she gave them to him!

“I thought we could um, enjoy them later.” she said, licking her lips while she stared at his own.

“Sweetheart, this is too much.” he smiled.

“We’ll have to share them with the ladies, then.”

“P-please.” Rumford shook his head and walked over to his desk. Setting the box of cookies down, he unlocked one of the drawers and retrieved a small, oblong box adorned with blue ribbon. He had his own eager smile on his face as he walked back over and handed it to her. “O-open yours.”

Belle hesitated before plucking from his hands, immediately noting its weight– and a slight rattle inside that made her heart tingle and her palms sweat.

Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry!

Belle scolded herself for the thought. She was far from materialistic– but the significance of being gifted jewelry by one’s sweetheart wasn’t lost on her, either. Jewelry was serious! They were serious!

“I’m um… guessing it isn’t cookies,” she chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear.

He wet his lips and blushed, rubbing the back of his neck again. “‘Fraid not.”

She slid the ribbon off the box, and her fingers trembled as she pulled the lid off.

“Oh, Rumford…” she gasped. “It's beautiful.”

A bracelet! A bracelet! A bracelet! Gold! A string of gold with little flowers dangling like fairy lights! Roses! Gleaming! As if the petals had been kissed with morning dew! Jewelry! Shiny!

“I-I saw it and I just… well, I knew I couldn't let it leave this shop unless it was on your wrist.”

She blushed and nibbled her lip, fighting back another smile.

Rumford gave the box a pointed glance. “May I?”

Belle offered her wrist to him and nodded eagerly.

She watched, practically vibrating, as he gingerly removed the bracelet from its box. Sucked in a breath when his fingers brushed against her wrist, warm and rough next to the cold, smooth chain. There was the gentle click as he fastened the clasp, and there it was! A little piece of Rumford she could have with her wherever she went!

She played with one of the little rosebuds, poking it with her finger, and smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

“D-do you like it?” he asked.

“Rumford, I love it. It’s perfect.” she assured him.

She admired it on her wrist again and had a fleeting thought, but oh no. She couldn’t dare.

He caught her sideways glance and tilted his head. “What is it?”

“Could you um… tell me about it?”

A small smile slowly bloomed across his face. “Oh, darling, I'd love to. Please– sit,” he said, gesturing at a lavish settee on the far wall. Its wooden frame was intricately carved with scrolling flourishes and acanthus leaves, and the whole thing looked like it belonged in the decorative arts wing of the Louvre more than it did the cluttered back room of a pawn shop.

Belle stopped short of it and turned around. “I feel as though I shouldn’t be sitting on this,” she admitted.

“No– go on,” he chuckled. “It’s fine. We’ll be reupholstering it next week.”

Belle frowned. “Why? What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s a French Rococo piece,” Rumford shrugged. He stared at it for a moment and scowled. “That Jacobean upholstery the previous owner had it fitted with is hardly appropriate,” he explained disdainfully, taking her hand and inviting her to sit. “It’s appalling, the sort of things people think they can get away with.”

“Oh,” Belle giggled. “Well, in that case–” she dropped herself onto the seat cushion unceremoniously.

He smiled down at her as he unbuttoned his jacket, but Belle's imagination only had but a few seconds to run with that particular visual before he finished and took his seat beside her.

She gave him a moment to smooth out his tie before squirming against his side, at which point he laid her hand palm-up in his lap and tucked his thumb beneath the chain of the bracelet, rubbing her pulse point.

There was no way he didn't realize what he was doing.

“Perhaps first, sweetheart,” he said, “You might... humor me?”

Belle shifted to face him better and wet her lips. “I'd love to humor you, Rumford.”

He scoffed and looked down at their hands. “I was actually wondering if... you might describe it to me.”

She smiled and tilted her head at him. “I don't understand.”

“For you to look at me and see someone worth your while, Belle– you must see the world far more beautifully, and in such more vivid color, than I do. The things in this shop have become so pedestrian to me over the years. I can't help wondering what it must be like, to see things through your eyes.”

Silly man! she thought. Did he really think she was going to let him get away with speaking such ill of himself?

Belle reached her other hand up to cup his cheek, searched those brown eyes for any hesitation, and when she found none, pressed her lips to his.

“Of course you're worth my while, Rumford,” she told him as she pulled away, and he blushed and smiled just like she imagined he would.

“Oh, Belle, I...” he trailed off and rubbed his thumb into another little circle on her wrist. “Thank you.”

“But let's see now...” Belle pressed her lips together and studied the thing closely. “Well, um… I'd say it looks like an art nouveau piece.” she decided.

He lifted her wrist up and lowered his head to peck it with a kiss. “Then you'd be absolutely, one hundred percent correct, sweetheart.”

“Oh,” she giggled. “Rumford…”

“Go on.” he said. “Explain your rationale, Miss French.”

Belle fought back a smile.

Miss French.

“Well… if it came from this shop, I imagine it must be from no later than than the mid twentieth century, and a floral motif like this would have gone out of favor come the 1920s.”

“Very good.”

“But um… other than that, I'm not so sure. It just… doesn't look like it could be any older than the mid-nineteenth century. I'm afraid I can't articulate why, though.” she admitted with a frown. “I just can't–” she shook her head and laughed. “Oh my, this is going to sound silly, but I just can't picture it being worn by one of the heroines of my Regency novels.”

“That's fine,” he smiled, and shifted beside her. “And perfectly accurate. You see– enamel first surfaced in European jewelry during the baroque period, pioneered by the French artist Jean Toutin of Châteaudun.”

“Oh,” she gasped, feeling her arm break out in goosebumps at his effortless pronunciation.

“However, its popularity never quite rivalled that of diamonds and colored gemstones. Enamel was prone to chipping, and so come the eighteenth century, innovations in cutting techniques made bright, sparkling pieces with brilliant-cut diamonds the standard. Little of these pieces survive, though. Diamonds– due to their immense value– were often refitted and reset into new, more fashionable pieces over time, rather than kept as heirlooms.”

“That’s a shame,” Belle frowned.

“Indeed. You'll find such pieces in museums, but they're incredibly rare in the antique market.”

“Do you have any?” she asked. “Here, in the shop?”

His eyes drifted up to the ceiling as he thought about it. “...Not at the moment, no.”

“Hm,” Belle accepted simply.

He smiled and wet his lips. “Now, while floral motifs gained popularity all throughout the nineteenth century, it wasn't until the rise of art nouveau that jewelers began to really revisit enamel for their designs. The avant-garde weren't concerned so much with the value or longevity of the materials used, as much as they were the merit of the designs themselves. Diamonds were used as accents rather than centerpieces–if at all– as you can see here,” he explained, rolling one of the small rosebuds between his fingers so that the small stone in the center could catch the light.

“I like that about it,” she decided. “Not so flashy.”

“I agree,” he said, and they were so close, and he was so close.

Belle laid her free hand over his, slowly brushing her thumb back and forth over his knuckles.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

Her heartbeat quickened at the warmth and nearness of his voice, and she glanced back up at him. “Could you tell me more?”

Rumford scoffed. “Of course,” he said, wrapping his arm around her a little more tightly. “You see, many of these designs possessed all the… eroticism one might expect of any work of art from the movement. Nude women, mermaids and fae– all things far too scandalous or otherwise ostentatious for the average wearer. As a result, art nouveau jewelry was most often worn by glamorous showgirls or demimonde, who were–”

“Unmarried women with sugar daddies.” Belle cut in, wetting her lips.

Rumford smiled. “...That's right.” he said, wetting his own lips and brushing his thumb over her wrist again. “Good girl.”

Belle sank her teeth into her bottom lip and shifted in her seat. “I um, once read a book, where the protagonist was one such woman.”

His mouth curled into a crooked smirk. The same kind of smirk he wore in her dreams, right before they made out.

“That doesn't surprise me one bit, Miss French,” he said.

“Oh?” she teased. “And just what are you saying? Dr Gold?”

Was he being naughty?

“That one often becomes what one reads. And that you, darling, are as ethereal and bewitching as–”

The door to the showroom cracked open, and Ariel's arm reached through the opening, groping for the keyring hanging just beside the light switch.

“Sorry!” she hollered from behind the door, before knocking the keys off of their hook and onto the floor. “Forgot the– Whoops!”

Her hand withdrew, then reappeared along the floor, reaching again.

“Just ignore me!”

“Miss Halloran.” Rumford sighed. “For the love of– just come in, will you!”

Her hand froze, then disappeared again. “Okay!” she said. “I'm coming in!”

The door opened slowly and Ariel tiptoed inside, clearly trying to avert her eyes. She inevitably found them on the settee, and raised her hand in a tiny wave. “...hi.”

Rumford furrowed his brows. “Why is everyone behaving so bizarrely today?”

Ariel tilted her head. “I'm not– Oh!” she giggled and nearly dove to the floor for the keys. “There they are! Sneaky things!” She snapped back up and needlessly smoothed out her blouse. “I’m sorry– Wh-who's being bizarre?”

Rumford looked at the clock and sighed. “It’s four o'clock on a Friday.”

“Mhm,” she nodded. “Sure is, Mr Gold.”

“I think we're all eager to see ourselves home, no? Why don't you and Tilly start closing up?”

“Okay, sounds great.” she said, but made no move to leave.

Rumford raised his brows. “Miss Halloran? Was there something–?”

“Yeah. Yes. Um… Tilly was wondering if maybe she could uh–”

“Yes,” he smiled. “Yes, she can take the charcuterie board home.”

*****

Neal stopped scrolling through the app on his phone when he heard the front door crack open.

Over an hour earlier than expected.

Quickly plugging his phone into its charger, he jumped off his bed and bounded for the stairs.

“Hey, Po–” he froze midway when he saw her.

Tiny. Tiny brunette. In an even tinier skirt. The only thing about her that wasn't tiny were her shoes. Big, platform, stripper shoes. And yet, even with them on, she was still tinier than Pop.

So, so tiny.

Neal quietly retreated back up the stairs and watched the woman smile as his father gently removed her jacket. He pressed a doting little kiss to her shoulder and she spun around, giggling and making a comment about what a gentleman he was. He scoffed and Neal caught him blushing when he turned to hang her tiny jacket on the coat rack.

Pop turned to face her again and cupped her elbows, leaning in closely and rubbing little circles into her skin with his thumbs. Neal couldn't make out what he was saying, but given the context and the way she was blushing and demurely looking away, he had a few ideas.

He shook them away.

The tiny brunette nodded, they shared a quick peck on the lips, and Pop settled his hand on the small of her back, leading her toward the kitchen.

Oh, no.

This couldn't possibly the librarian he'd been telling him about. Pop told him she was younger and that she was beautiful– but surely this woman was too young, too… well, he wasn't about to use the word hot to describe a woman his dad was seeing but, if the platform shoes fit…

Neal finally continued his trek down the stairs, stomping loudly to alert them to his presence. He didn't need to walk in on anything he wasn't meant to see, after all. But when he rounded the corner to the kitchen, he caught his father in the middle of–

Grabbing a glass out of the cabinet.

“Ah. And here I was beginning to think there was an elephant in the house,” Pop deadpanned, stepping over to choose a bottle from the wine rack. “How many times do I have to tell ye tae stop stomping around like that? Old house like this, it–”

“Carries, I know.” Neal rolled his eyes.

Pop shot him a scolding look. “Do you?”

No correct answer to that, Neal quickly decided, and didn't say a word.

“Well, it's not important.” he dismissed, setting a bottle of wine out. “Son, I…” he spun around and rubbed his hand over the tiny woman's back, smiling at her. “I'd like to introduce you to Miss French.”

Yup.

Definitely his librarian.

This was no good. He wasn't supposed to be home for another hour, but she definitely wasn't supposed to be here for another hour.

It took Miss French a moment to finish making eyes at his father– a moment Neal used to muster as much calm as he could. No matter the fire and brimstone waiting to rain down on the three of them, the occasion called for politeness.

“Hey.” He finally offered his hand out. “S’Neal.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Neal.” she smiled, giving a startlingly firm handshake. “Your dad's um, told me a lot about you.”

“Oh. Great.” he said. “Miss… French.”

“You can just call me Belle.” she said, looking back at Pop expectantly.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I'm sorry, darling. You keep telling me and I keep–”

“Rumford, it's fine,” she hushed, taking his hand and smiling up at him. “Besides–” she whispered without really whispering at all, “I think I might like it when you call me Miss French…”

There was a flash of something strange in Pop's eyes, and the corner of his mouth tugged into a crooked smirk. “Is that so?” he murmured in her ear and tugged her a little closer. “...Miss French?”

“Rumford!” Belle giggled and smacked his arm. She suddenly fell silent and nibbled her lip, and good God, Pop was smoldering at her.

Gross.

Neal cleared his throat loudly. This was fine.

He would just need to act as surprised as they were when the time came. “...Right, well. I just came down to grab a soda, so–”

“Please–” his father cut in, “stay. We're about to start on dinner. We're making your favorite pork chops with red wine sauce, you know.”

Oh, hell yes.

“Hmm… pass. I uh, have homework?” He lied, quickly nabbing a soda can from the fridge and making a bolt for the stairs.

“Homework?” Pop asked. “Son, your classes haven't even started.”

“Oh, right. Homework… I meant, I have um…” he snapped his fingers, pretending to think of something.

Pop sighed. “Have you heard from your mother?” he asked.

“Uh… yeah!” he answered too quickly, laughing nervously. “Yeah, she landed like, half an hour ago.”

“Well... aren't you picking her up?”

Neal took a few heavy gulps from his soda can. “No. Why?”

“She's your mother.”

He shrugged. “So? She's a grown woman. She knows how to get an Uber– which is more than I can say for you.”

“Unbelievable.” Pop shook his head, but Belle giggled.

She had a sense of humor.

This was good.

“Hey– mom's the one who wanted to move back to Livahpool,” Neal said. “That she has to hop an eight hour flight and an hour cab ride every time she decides she wants to see me is her problem.”

Pop pressed his lips together. “So you're meeting her at the hotel at least?”

Neal's mouth hung open.

That was it. He was cornered.

“Uh… see, here's the thing about that,” he said. “You uh… you said Belle was coming this weekend.”

“Aye.”

“Well, today's Friday , so… technically… not the weekend?”

Pop wet his lips. The way he always did whenever he was pretending to not be angry about something. “What are you saying?”

Neal took a deep breath and braced himself. “I... might-have-told-mom-it-was-cool-if-she-came-over-for-dinner-tonight.” he blurted out as quickly as he could.

“What.”

“I was trying to be nice!” Neal said in his defense. “I thought– you know! Family dinner! All three of us! A one night offering to appease the gods!” he explained, gesturing wildly with his hands.

Pop tilted his head. “Your mother is… on her way to this house? Right now?”

“...Yes?”

“Oh, bloody hell.” Pop groaned. “She was supposed to– she was supposed to stay out of my hair.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “You know what? It's fine. This is all… going to be just fine.”

“Yeah! It's just like, Christmas came early this year!” Neal said. “But… you know. Just the bad parts.”

Pop sighed again. “No communication in this house.” he muttered under his breath. “W-when did this happen? Ye didnae think to tell me, son?”

“It… slipped my mind?”

“Did it?” he asked, and that was also definitely a rhetorical question.

“It did until this morning!” Neal admitted. “And I was going to tell you before you left so you'd have time to mentally prepare yourself, but you were acting really weird and it was killing the vibe!”

Pop reeled back, clutching a hand to his chest. “I was killing the vibe!?”

Neal snuck a glance at Belle– who, to her credit, seemed more entertained than anything.

“I didn't think it would be a big deal?” he grasped. “I mean it sucks, but it's not like, an emergency.” He swallowed hard, and pulled his trump card– “Look on the bright side: It's not like my life was in danger!”

The corners of Pop's mouth pinched in a way that said, I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed.

“What!?” Neal whined. “You're always telling me to like, be nicer to her and crap!”

Pop sighed. “I know, son. I know…”

“Oh! Oh!” he clapped his hands together, “I’ll just call and tell her not to come!”

Pop glared back at him like he had two heads. “No… don't... do that.”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause it's no’ proper!” he cried. He took a deep breath, and then another. “Look. It's… it's not your fault.” Pop said calmly. “She should have checked with me first.”

Belle rubbed his shoulder and hushed a few words of comfort into his ear. He looked back at her with a weak smile, which grew stronger when she pecked him on the cheek.

The whole thing felt so weird and foreign, and yet… nice, Neal thought.

“I'm sorry,” he mumbled. “It's just– you know how she does that thing. Where she's all, ‘I miss you, I don't see you enough…’ And then you feel guilty, so you just agree with whatever she's saying, and next thing you know, you've sold your second born–”

“It's fine.” Pop said, with all the acceptance of a man prepared to face his death. “It's just one meal, as you said. After all, what's the worst that could happen?”

Neal knew better than to answer that.

A/N: Thanks for sticking with this story y'all. u da real MVPs.

There's lots of big things on the horizon here, but updates will probably continue to be slow while I work on my Rumbelle Big Bang fic.

#rumbelle #rumbelle fic #fic: the boston hour

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