#2021 Celebratory Arch

[kirbyfigure]

Animal crossing New Horizons pngs

[megatownac]

I know I already mentioned it on my New Year's Day post, but man! I really hate that they have a 2021 and 2022 celebratory arch, but not a 2023 arch! They're not gonna have any more arches, either! These two are it!

I can only get so mad about them not having like 20 or 30 of these arches ready to go at launch, but once Nintendo decided not to add any more items, you'd think that the last thing they'd add would be all of these arches, right? How much memory could they possibly take up? I'll bet that they added way more than 20 new items as part of the other updates!

Well, whatever. Like I said, it's only a matter of time, like five or six more years, before the next game in the series comes out, right? And Pocket Camp is surely making more money than New Horizons, and you'd better believe they keep adding new items to that one. Too many. Enough that I worry that that game's actually going to run into memory limitation problems.

[jvgsjeff]

[txemrn]

Riley's Baby

a Creepy Campfire Tale

Book: The Royal Romance/Heir

Pairing: Drake x Riley

Word Count: 2000 (+/-)

Warnings: ⛔TW⛔ dub-con, non-con, rape, group-rape; language; pregnancy discussion; occult-like depictions; bizarre imagery; OOC LIs (Drake & Liam); suggested major character death

A/N: This is my submission for Creepy Campfire Tales 2021! Huge special thanks to @speedyoperarascalparty for creating and hosting this spooky event! 🎃🎃🎃 Also a huge thank you to @kat-tia801 for pre-reading this!

By continuing to read below the cut, you acknowledge that you are at least 18 years of age or older.

------

"Is this real?" Riley Brooks-Walker throws her arms around her now-husband's shoulders, stealing a celebratory kiss. "We're married? No more hiding--?"

Drake steals her words with his lips, gently cupping the back of her neck. "It's real, Walker," he huskily chuckles. Grabbing the keys Liam lent him, he unlocks the front door to their bungalow in paradise. As they enter, they notice a chilled bottle of champagne and a plate with two apple tarts. Starving, Riley reaches for the decadent treat. Popping it in her mouth, she grabs a card with the royal crest embossed on the front.

Best wishes to the future Duke & Duchess.

-L

"'Future Duke & Duchess'?" Riley mumbles with a full mouth.

"We’re not official. Not yet." Drake grabs the bottle of bubbly, and hastily pops it open, passing it to his bride. "We have to do a few more ceremonies--"

"Balls?" She arches an eyebrow before they both fall into a titter of laughter. Riley grabs the bottle, chugging several long swallows.

"Easy there," Drake jests as he takes the half-empty bottle away from her. He wraps an arm around her, his crooked grin meeting her bright smile. He leans down to kiss her, but suddenly, Riley grows rigid. She clenches tightly to her belly as the color drains from her face. A soft groan escapes her lips as she stumbles to a chair.

"I guess that champagne was stronger than I thought--" she conceals a burp, her eyes fluttering closed as she moans.

"You okay there?"

"Mhmm, I'm fine. Just a little too much too fast." Riley's words fall into more groans.

Having her eat the other tart, Drake suggests they turn in for the evening. He grabs Riley by the arm, guiding her to their luxurious bed. Within minutes of tucking her into the silk sheets, her snores reverberate across the suite.

-------

Deep in her darkened slumber, Riley is weightless, swimming in a sea of black velvet; however, her body is out of her own control, her arms and legs moving without her command. Somewhere beyond reality, submerged into the remoteness of her subconscious. Time feels obsolete, moving slowly before her.

But suddenly, she’s not alone. Out from the darkness, the familiar silhouette of her husband saunters towards her. He crawls on top of Riley’s vulnerable, naked body. She tries to reach out to touch his musculature, but her body remains motionless. Feeling the warmth of his skin against hers relaxes her mind.

His fervent lips find her mouth, wasting no time to hungrily dance with her tongue. Drake seizes her hands, lifting them above her head. Riley can feel silk cords being woven around her wrists, sending a thrill between her legs.

“Trust me.”

She abruptly feels his firm length thrust into her fully, the sudden painful stretch causing the room to spin into a dizzying spiral. She clenches her eyes closed, feeling him relentlessly pummel into her body until he finishes deep inside of her.

Riley’s eyes flicker open; but instead of seeing her husband, she is shocked to see the smoldering crystal blues of Liam. Feeling her nerves stand on end, his lips press firmly into hers. His large body wedges between her petite, slender legs as his fingers find her slick center. His mouth grazes against the shell of her ear.

“For Cordonia.”

Without warning, he buries himself to the hilt into her body. She tries to fight, but her arms won’t move; she tries to scream for Drake, but only audible moans escape her mouth. The unbearable fullness and immense discomfort tumbles Riley into a state of shock. Her vision becomes like a strobe light: one moment she is resting in the stillness of the vast vacancy of space in her resting mind. The next minute, another member of the Cordonian council thrusts themselves into her, groaning in euphoric pleasure, emptying themselves into her depths.

Eyes of brown, hazel, green and blue flash before her gaze until finally a haunting pair, a pair that pleads for her in the most feral of ways, a red pair begins mercilessly ravaging her--

"AHHH!" Drenched in a cold sweat, Riley startles from her slumber, sobbing.

Drake wakes, instantly wrapping his arms around his wife. "Shhh, I'm here, baby," he whispers, stroking her wet locks.

"Drake?” Riley sniffles. She looks around the room, recognizing she is back in reality. "It was awful!" She nuzzles into his chest, her body trembling in fear. His embrace tightens around her as he traces comforting circles across her back.

"Shhh… It's okay. It's over now."

------

The rest of the honeymoon went according to plan. Well, almost. Riley’s terrible nightmare affected her more than they both realized. When it came time to head back home, their marriage was yet to be consummated. Swamped with duties, the newlyweds barely have alone time at their own duchy. It didn’t seem to bother Riley, and Drake is fine with waiting; but they both agreed that they would make more of an effort with their upcoming trip to Texas for Savannah’s wedding.

On the day of the wedding, the whole party was ready for the ceremony--everyone except Riley. Offering to help, Hana found her best friend ghost-pale, her head hanging over the toilet. Cleaning her up, they attempt to zip up Riley’s bridesmaid’s dress; however, despite sucking in her bloated abdomen, Hana can’t pull the zipper past Riley’s midsection.

"Riley! You don't think--" Hana cradles her hands on her friend's stomach, "--are you pregnant?"

Riley scoffs. "You have to be having sex--" her voice trails off as she remembers the night of her terrifying dream a month ago. Did she and Drake actually have sex that night? Suddenly the old familiar feeling sweeps across her weak body, and Riley runs back into the bathroom.

Immediately after the ceremony, Drake returns to the guest room in the farmhouse only to find Riley uncontrollably crying on the bathroom floor-- that, and a positive pregnancy test. He tenderly picks her up off the ground, and tucks her into bed.

“I’m sorry, Drake,” she weakly cries, “I’m so sorry--”

“For what?” Drake takes her cold, clammy hands in his, a warm smile blossoming on his face. “This is great news!” He kisses her knuckles. “We’re having a baby!”

“Did I hear right?” Liam pushes the bedroom door open. “I don’t mean to pry--”

“Not at all, Li,” Drake welcomes his friend into their room. Clapping him on the back, he escorts Liam to Riley’s side.

“Wow, I am just--” Like falling into a trance, Liam places his hands on Riley’s lower abdomen, massaging and staring at her belly intently. But, with a quick shake of his head, he grins kindly, first at Riley, then Drake. “--so happy for you two. Gosh, my two best friends, becoming parents.”

Riley raises an eyebrow at Drake, eyeing Liam’s hand on her belly. He gives her a subtle nod. “Listen, Li,” Drake starts, “Riley isn’t feeling the best--”

“Of course,” he stands up to excuse himself. “Pardon the intrusion.” Liam gives one more toothy smile before turning to open the door--but he stops. “Let me get you set up with some of Cordonia’s best prenatal care!” Drake and Riley look at each other before staring back at their overzealous friend. “Consider it an early baby gift from the crown!” With a skip in his step, Liam exits.

As the door shuts, the newlyweds tumble into a roaring laughter. “You’d think this baby is supposed to change the course of Cordonian history or something,” she giggles, but a sudden sobering chill stuns her husband.

-------

It is a miserable pregnancy for Riley. She spends most of her days with extreme fatigue and sickness. But, despite her inability to nourish herself, the obstetrician encourages the young couple not to worry, that the baby is actually measuring huge, growing exceedingly ahead of schedule. ‘Must be those burly Walker genes,’ they’d all joke.

Liam stopped by one day to catch up with the newlyweds. He brought Riley a box of apple tarts, the same ones from their honeymoon. He reports that his mother had terrible morning sickness, and oddly enough, the apple tart was the only thing she could stomach. Surprisingly, Riley finishes the whole dozen in one sitting. The next morning, Drake placed a daily order. By the end of the month at her follow-up appointment, Riley finally put on some weight.

However, Riley’s bump seemed to be growing exponentially, almost before their eyes; the fetus was completely measuring off of the growth charts at the clinic, and the ultrasound pictures were suspiciously fuzzy. After making a few Google searches, Riley worries something is wrong with the baby. She pleads with Drake that they call for a second opinion, but he reassures her.

Reaching 30 weeks, Riley developed a new craving, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Slowly waddling to the main kitchen, she fishes through the refrigerator. Her old friend nausea begins to rear its ugly head as she taste-tests different foods.

Suddenly, she finds it, the aroma making the baby kick for joy. Easing into a chair, Riley devours the rich contents, barely coming up for air before going back for seconds. Then thirds. After licking her fingers, she laps at the juices on the white butcher paper--

“What the fuck are you doing?” Drake grabs Riley’s wrists, stopping her feast of bright red, freshly ground, raw meat. Terrified, Drake calls the obstetrician; but, the doctor reassures him, telling him at this point in her pregnancy, let her eat ‘whatever the baby wants.’ With the approval of the doctor, Riley drunkenly consumes limitless pounds of raw meat and apple tarts; the baby’s kicks, however, grow painfully stronger.

The day had finally come for Drake and Riley: they were going to be honored as the official Duke and Duchess of Valtoria. Liam invited them to the palace for an intimate dinner with the council. Barely able to support the weight of her overly-stretched bump, Drake escorts his wife into the grand ballroom.

Each member of the board comes up to greet the couple, spending extended amounts of time rubbing Riley’s stomach. Worried, she turns to Drake, but he reassures her.

Liam finally hushes the group. “Drake Walker, your faithfulness and sacrifice is our great honor. May your name live forever.”

Riley furrows her eyebrows, curiously looking around at the other members; but everyone else pleasantly smiles, nodding in understanding.

Liam continues. “In the matter of the summus princeps and in accordance with the law set out by the elders before us, the Via Imperii: the time of the awakening has arrived--”

The lights suddenly dim, candles lighting the hall. Several men suddenly grab Riley, laying her flat onto a table. “Drake?” she shrieks, but he doesn’t turn.

“...and under a new moon shall bring forth a new heir, conceived in the womb of a foreigner…”

“STOP!” She screams. “DRAKE! PLEASE!” She wails as they strap down her arms and legs. “Not my baby! PLEASE NOT MY BABY!”

“...the seed of the Beast shall be protected by the seeds of the Chosen and nourished by the flesh of the land…”

Chanting ‘All hail the Via Imperii’, the council undresses Riley, exposing the expanse of her belly. Her obstetrician appears, dribbling fresh, warm goat’s blood on Riley’s nakedness. Members begin to fall to their knees in worship.

“... on the 240th day, the fruit of the foreigner’s womb shall spring forth, claiming it’s right to the throne…”

The creature inside abruptly stretches its body, coming to life. “CUT IT OUT!” Riley’s belly expands one direction before being pulled uncomfortably in the other direction. Her skin pulls tautly, some areas beginning to rip under the pressure. “AHHHH! MAKE IT STOP! GET IT OUT OF ME!” Her blood-curdling screams become deafening as the sudden puncture of large, black nails pierce through her thinning skin.

Suddenly, everything stops. Riley’s yells: merely echoes.

Drake looks to his motionless wife, a smile etching across his face as he falls to his knees.

I’m finally a royal.

“Blessed be.”

------

CCT Tags:

Writers: @speedyoperarascalparty @rainbowsinthestorm @twinkleallnight @burnsoslow @queenrileyrose @txemrn @kat-tia801 @walkerdrakewalker @leelee10898 @arosentinel @angelasscribbles @dcbbw @bebepac @annekebbphotography @sirbeepsalot

Readers: @kingliam2019 @tessa-liam @lovingchoices14 @queen-arabella-of-cordonia @princessleac1 @bascmve01 @iaminlovewithtrr @tinkie1973 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite

TRR Tags: @ao719 @bbrandy2002 @charlotteg234 @foreverethereal123 @gkittylove99 @glaimtruelovealways @iaminlovewithtrr @khoicesbyk @lucy-268 @neotericthemis @nestledonthaveone @sfb123 @shannonwrote @shewillreadyou @texaskitten30 @yourmajesty09

[isitinacnh]

the 2021 celebratory arch is new to acnh

[travel-voyages]

The Best Ways to Drive Across Country

During Covid, even driving vacations can get a little bumpy so we asked AAA trip-planning pros to suggest three foolproof routes (for now or after the pandemic) and a few tips for smoothing the way

By  Andrew Nelson  Feb. 2, 2021

FOR STIR-crazed Americans wrestling with the virus and its variants while awaiting the vaccine, the dream of roaming pedal-to-the-metal across the continent is a transfixing one. “In quarantine you’re not just stuck in a place physically, you’re stuck mentally, and travel opens up your thoughts,” said Chicago photographer Jasmin Shah who made several cross-country trips last year. Whatever the inspiration, be it Sacagawea, Kerouac or “Thelma & Louise,” it’s still possible to conduct an epic cross-country road trip during the pandemic. But do plenty of research before heading out the door. Think about “snacks, water, cleaning supplies and stops,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice-president of travel at the American Automobile Association (AAA), who ticked off a list of precautions to consider. “You need to plan ahead to have freedom and flexibility.” Covid-19 restrictions, quarantines, openings and closings change frequently so check them often. AAA, for example, posts such information on the organization’s travel planning site

 Ms. Twidale’s team of travel planners outline three memorable trips:

  New York to Seattle Shore to Shore

Crossing the continent via Interstates 80 and 90 would take 42 hours straight through, but Ms. Twidale cautions travelers not to rush the 2,852-mile-long route. Bisecting 11 states, the journey offers plenty to see and do. The route includes urban layovers in Cleveland, with a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Chicago for its deep-dish pizza (locals like delivery from Lou Malnati’s) with a stop by Lake Michigan. In South Dakota, visit the town of Mitchell and its Corn Palace. From Montana, a short southern detour to Wyoming will deliver you to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, before finally ending by Puget Sound in Seattle and a visit to the Space Needle. (Amazon’s twin Spheres, however, are closed.)

 Chicago to Los AngelesTime Travel to the Old West  

Any list of cross-country trips should include Route 66, the country’s “Mother Road” between the Midwest and California before the Interstate Highway System. “It’s going back in time,” Ms. Twidale said about making the 2,448-mile-long drive. AAA’s recommended stops include iconic monuments like the St. Louis Gateway Arch and quirky roadside attractions like Illinois’s 1924 Ariston Café, or the Cadillac Ranch art installation in Amarillo, Tex. In Arizona slight detours will take you to Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest national parks and if you need a respite, sleep over in Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel. In California you’ll pass near the desert wilds of Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks before concluding the trip in Los Angeles at the Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific Ocean. Order a celebratory takeout meal at nearby local favorite Chez Jay.

Washington, D.C. to DenverCivil Rights History Lesson

This 2,032-mile-long road trip features stops along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, a collection of destinations in 16 mostly southern states and Washington, D.C., that highlight Black Americans’ fight for justice, and concludes in Denver. Begin at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington near the Lincoln Memorial, location of his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. Stop in Greensboro, N.C., the city famous for its Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins. In Memphis, Tenn., see the Lorraine Motel, part of the National Civil Rights Museum, and site of Dr. King’s assassination. In Topeka, Kan., explore the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site commemorating the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that began the country’s desegregation efforts. In Colorado, visit the Black American West Museum (temporarily closed) and take a walking tour of Five Points, Denver’s historic Black neighborhood. Once the “Harlem of the West,” it’s now filled with galleries, restaurants and microbreweries.

DRIVERS ED / Practical tips from recent cross-country road warriors

Carry pandemic precautions including extra masks, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves for pumping gas, and check openings and closures before arrival.

Keep Reading

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-ways-to-drive-across-country-11612298638?width=10&height=5

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[architectnews]

Starry Street Wuhou, Chengdu Shi

Starry Street Wuhou, Chengdu Shi Mixed-Use Building Project, Chinese Shops and Homes, Architecture Images

Starry Street Wuhou in Chengdu Shi

7 Jul 2021

Design: CLOU architects

Location: Chengdu Shi, China

Starry Street Wuhou

Completed and started operating at the end of 2020 Starry Street Wuhou in Chengdu designed by CLOU architects offers a symbiotic three-body spatial system that connects living, retail and social spaces in the community.

Three-body spatial system Starry Street is located in the newly planned Wuhou District of southwest Chengdu. It’s adjac

ent to the intersection of two main roads as well as that of two new metro lines in which connect residents of the area directly with the office and industrial park. CLOU’s design aims to connect the living, retail, and social spaces into a symbiotic “three-body spatial system”.

The entire project is divided into three levels, interweaved with each other from bottom to top, including retail, social and living space. Retail space located on floors 1–2 ground plane is vibrant and appealing enough to fully utilize operational value. The upper level is a residential area with windows facing streets and open views.

Residential, Social, Retail Space The project consists of multiple programs such as retail, residential, and SOHO apartments. With such a program mix, CLOU confronts design challenges such as how to avoid the dark and canyon-like retail street problem amongst high towers, how to deal with the sound and light interference from the retail sector to the residential part, and how to balance the squeeze of six towers towards public space? Thus, the final design solution can form a self-circulated space system of mutual benefit and common growth between community and business.

The south and north areas of the project feature SOHO apartments, an outdoor basketball court, an urban farm, pop-up stores, and landscaped steps. The multilayered public space provides the local residents with solutions for their need for a healthy lifestyle and social interaction as well as the appreciation of outdoor nature.

Futuristic Urban Life The north entrance along the street draws people in with landscaped steps, rain sheds, and hollow glass banquet centers. CLOU breaks the spatial definition of the outdoor steps at the entrance, extending the size of the rain shed and the buildings on both sides. Entering the courtyard surrounded by the residential towers, the community urban life is connected by the upward vertical circulation. The sunken plaza accommodating supermarkets and restaurants resonates through the round atrium with the second floor’s programs such as cinema, live performance stage, and pop-up event place.

The southern block includes programs such as gym, outdoor basketball, yoga, and urban farms, which stimulate more interactions, self-improvements, and happiness through physical activities. The area that extends to the north block features celebratory, artsy, and futuristic program types such as IMAX cinema, karaoke bars, restaurants, and event gathering space.

Starry Street Wuhou in Chengdu Shi, China – Building Information

Design: CLOU architects

Type: Residential, Commercial, SOHO Location: Wuhou, Chengdu Construction Area: 108,940 sqm Status: Completion in 2020 Architecture Design: CLOU architects Design Team: Jan Clostermann, Zhi Zhang, Lin Li, Sebastian Loaiza, Christopher Biggin, Alessandra Sebastiani, Yadi Zhong, Kyra Zhao, Tom Lin, Yaxi Wang, Qiao Ding, Myung Lee, Valentina Kholoshenko Landscape Design: Lab D+H Construction Drawings: Zhouyu Huazhou Façade Consultant: BJetimes Lighting Consultant: LEOX

About CLOU architects CLOU is an international design studio with award-winning expertise in architecture, interiors, and landscapes. The team designs their projects—many of them on a large scale—around community nodes and social spaces.

A community of 65+ talents from China, and all over the world enjoy working collaboratively and imaginatively on bespoke projects. Their demanding clients range from shopping mall developers to house builders, hotel operators, and schools. In the process, CLOU architects strive to realize projects that will positively influence the people involved in its process, the environment, and the communities who live and work there.

Photographer: Arch-Exist

Starry Street Wuhou, Chengdu Shi images / information received 070721

Location: Chengdu Shi, China

Chengdu Buildings

Chengdu Buildings

Cultural Exchange City Reception Center Architecture: aoe photography : Arch-Exist Sino-Italian Cultural Exchange

Chengdu City Music Hall Complex, Wuhou – a World Architecture Festival Award winner Architect: Andrew Bromberg at Aedas image from architects Chengdu City Music Hall Complex

Valextra Flagship Store Architects: Neri&Hu photograph : Pedro Pegenaute Valextra Flagship Store

‘Sliced Porosity Block’ Design: Steven Holl Architects photo © Iwan Baan Chengdu Building Complex

Chengdu Tianfu Cultural Centre Design: Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas Chengdu Tianfu Cultural Centre

Chengdu Tianfu Great City Design: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Chengdu Tianfu Great City

Linked Hybrid Design: Steven Holl Architects Linked Hybrid

Bank of Chéngdu Headquarters Design: Nikken Sekkei Bank of Chéngdu Headquarters

Architecture in China

Chinese Architecture Designs – chronological list

Chinese Architect Studios – Design Office Listings

Chinese Buildings

Tianfu One Exhibition Gallery in Chengdu

LWK + PARTNERS Asia Pacific Property Awards

Comments / photos for Starry Street Wuhou, Chengdu Shi page welcome

Chengdu, China is the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

The post Starry Street Wuhou, Chengdu Shi appeared first on e-architect.

[anerdsplaza]

Welcome 2021

As 2020 ended, New Horizons celebrated with fireworks surrounded by our villagers. It was a sweet way to end the year and here's what to look forward to. Logging into Resident Services, you'll be gifted 500 miles and set up for 7+ day miles no matter where you had left off before yesterday. On Nook Shopping, there are now seven items you can buy for a short time; 2021 celebratory arch, Olivier salad, Zodiac ox, Kagamimochi, kadomatsu, new year's shimehazari, and Yut Nori. While there isn't a lot to talk about, a new year is coming along and we can look forward to new updates for the game.

Leaving the Plaza, Ellie!