#aalto apartments

[skirtmag]

[conformi]

Alvar Aalto, Schönbühl Apartment House and Commercial Centre, Lucerne, Switzerland, 1964-1967 VS Mecanoo, Hillekop, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1987-1989

[hommedessept]

[n0tamused]

hi!! i saw that your requests are open so i just wanted to ask if you could write fluffy relationship headcanons of mortefi and aalto with a gn!reader in mind? these two are just so lajdxhanflvksjahsbxjs i really like them a lot <3 (which is why mortefi pls come home pspspspsspsps)

also, i really love your writing!! it induces serotonin and dopamine in me bc 1) characters feel really accurate, 2) the flow and how you write each scene is so smooth and beautifully descriptive, and 3) dialogue feels realistic and natural!! anyways, have a good day!!

A/N: First Aalto request-! Your wish is my command, anon! And thank you so much for your sweet words, they really made my day and reassured me with my writing :) I do hope this can make you happy too, enjoy! <3 And you have a good day too!<3

Aalto:

-Let me say this first- this man has energy for both of you and Encore, he is extroverted so you can rest assured that if you’re not in the mood for much talking that he has you covered. Don’t want to talk to someone? He is talking for you. Don’t feel like running to the store to buy something? He is already getting his boots on. 

-Despite having the energy of being too open, discretion flows through his blood and he would never say anything you wouldn’t like him saying to anyone else. You could say you pushed someone down the stairs and he’d be sitting opposite of you like “oh! okay!” and then pretends he never heard of it

-On the topic of that, if you ever need any information, he is your man to turn to, and all information may be yours for the discounted price of 3 kisses, maybe more if he’s feeling cheeky.

-Loves teasing you and getting into playful banter, it’s the sweetest thing to him. Playful insults too, but if you pretend to be hurt, he comes up to you to “kiss the hurt away” and he just babies you until you break character. If he, by accident, really does hit a nerve he drops the play and apologizes quickly, and would probably feel bad about it for longer than he’d let on, but you’d know by the abundance of gifts and the fact he wants to do about everything for you 

-He also loves to get a little rough,  nothing serious but along with the verbal banter he likes a little bit of a tussle. Interlacing your fingers and pushing and pulling, laughing along with you until one of you loses your balance or yields. Loves to playfight with you in bed too, before you two go to sleep until he traps you in an embrace that you’ll have to fall asleep in

-He can be a pretty hard sleeper, so good luck trying to get out of his hold. He can be easy to wake, he has a sixth sense for danger too

-Despite his big and extroverted demeanor, sometimes he wishes for nothing more but an evening of silence with his head in your lap, sighing softly as you card your fingers through his hair, smiling if you decide to kiss his forehead

-Encore is your big bonding point. She comes with Aalto like a bonus package, and as chaotic as she can be she is really sweet and loves whoever uncle Aalto trusts enough to be his partner

-Sometimes she stays over, and a lot of times you can see her indulge in making little trinkets, some of them which are for you, some for others

-Even at her young age she has lots of stories to share, and her and Aalto make one hell of a story-teller duo

-Aalto does need to go out to business a lot, and sometimes it takes him days to get what he was sent out to do, and in all that time he misses his home (you) greatly

-He can’t guarantee to send you letters in this time period, as even a small mistake can mean doom of his mission, but he does promise to try, if only to lessen your own worries

Mortefi:

-A relationship Mortefi isn’t difficult, and it can be classified as quite the low maintenance. This does not mean he doesn’t love you or give you your due attention and love, it’s just that both of you are busy with your work and separate lives. You two just seem to never lose that spark no matter how much time you spend apart

-He never liked the idea of combining his love life and work life together into one big mess, he knows it carries its own risks and distractions, and in his field of science that is dangerous. And with this his time management between work and you is impeccable 

-He is there for you when you need him, and his love language is mainly acts of service.

-Words aren’t his forte and he can find it difficult to express his love, he still tries. Perhaps not with his own lips, but he looks for symphonies of his feelings in other songs and melodies before he shows you the one that encapsulates all he feels towards you

-He is the sort of person to send you random article links, be it about something aimed to improve your health, or links to poems or songs. Just drops them or hoards them in your chats..

-Mortefi is a bit sensitive to smells, he really doesn’t like strong odors unless it's those antiseptic chemicals that keep his lab sparkly clean. So he doesn't wear any strong colognes either. It’s the softer smells he wears, musky with woody accents mmmm

-He is a clean freak and can get a bit snappy if he finds his lab messy due to some subordinate’s negligence or if he doesn’t have time to tidy up his home

-He starts huffing and puffing like a mother hen as he stomps around throwing everything into place, tucking every corner back into its place meticulously

-He cleans his own things, and a lot of times goes to tidy your own things since he’s already at it, and really doesn’t like seeing any sort of mess, small or big

-Does gently remind you to pick up after yourself, whether you’re with him and even more so if you’re not with him

-He is an organized hoarder. He has a whole shelf for his little things, some he made and some he got or found while on field expeditions. He is more than happy to tell you about them if you’re curious about their origins or purpose

-He can sometimes spend a lot of time in the office in his home, working on little projects for the kids that would visit the lab soon, and other time he also spends working on gifts for you

-One of the ways he shows his love to you, besides little practical devices, utility belts and multi purpose watches and compasses, is to make you deserts.

-Sweet treats are his specialty but if you he hears you are craving something savory he does know a few recipes that might be to your liking

-Knows how to whip up a bomb medicinal soup btw, that thing can regrow your limbs I’m sure

-Loves to kiss your nape a lot. Especially in those quiet moments when you’re doing something at home and he just comes up behind you, kissing your nape gently and inhaling your scent

-Loves to kiss your head too. It’s just so practical but also shows how tender he can be, how careful and tender his love is. If you’re hugging him he just turns his head and plants his lips to your temple or the top of your head, sometimes he’d lean in and whisper something sweet to you too

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

[thefoxtherapist]

Birthday Kisses

Happy Birthday Aalto!!! He's my favourite<3

I'm a bad bf though because I did not realise it was June 11th, so sorry.

You heard the keys in the lock, or rather, you heard him struggle with the keys in the lock. You could hear his frustrated sigh, the thud of him hitting his head on the wooden door. It was then you stood up to let the poor man in, his keys never seemed to work, you weren’t really sure how he managed.

You coughed as you entered the entrance of your apartment, a greyish golden mist formed underneath the door, seeping into the entrance. You crossed your arms over your chest as you watched the mist grow in size and shape. Eventually, it became humanoid, and quickly, it became Aalto.

He took a step back in surprise, clearly he hadn’t expected you to be standing there. The man pushed his sunglasses up onto his head, pushing his bangs up in the process. You snickered, uncrossing your arms to step closer to him where you could lean up and kiss his exposed forehead.

“Done protecting the world for the day?”

You watched his face twist, he looked tired, but his annoyance was played up, a faux exasperation. “It never ends.” Aalto shook his head, his sunglasses falling back onto his face, albeit, awkwardly. You reached up, plucking them from his face to put on the entrance table in their usual location.

“Find what you wanted at least?”

Aalto stretched his arms upwards before he took his terminal off, setting it beside his sunglasses. He then bent down to undo his boots. “Not exactly, but at least we found answers. Did Encore get in okay?”

“Yeah, she’s in bed.” 

His boots came off then he stood to take his poncho off, abandoning it on the ground beside the door. He paused when he felt your stare on him, slowly bending down to pick it up and put it in the closet instead. A sheepish smile on his face.

“Do you know what day it is?”

Aalto stopped to think about it as he began to undo the various pieces of armour he wore daily. He let out a small sound and you couldn’t help your adoring smile at his expression of confusion. “Tuesday?” He finally answered, at least he was right about that, it was Tuesday.

You beckoned him to follow you further into the apartment, and he did, following you into the living room where he left his gear on the couch. Then into the kitchen. Aalto hoisted himself up on the counter as you went to the ice chest, crossing his ankles, still gloved hands in his lap.

You pulled open the ice chest door, bending down to grab something from within. Fluffy silver hair fell into his face as you closed the door with your hip, holding a small box in your hands. He uncrossed his ankles, spreading his legs so you could stand between them comfortably.

“What’s this?”

“For you.”

Aalto took the box, feeling the weight in his hands, the slight indent, the shape. He quickly opened the box, golden eyes widening in clear glee. “A cake?!” He looked up at you, his canines visible as he grinned. But then he paused, realisation dawned on him. His eyes dropped back to the cake in the box. 

“It’s my birthday..”

“Happy birthday, Aalto.”

You reached above him, opening a cupboard near his head, you took a small bouquet out from within. A dozen wintry bells bundled together with silver and golden ribbons. Aalto put the cake on the counter beside him, his arms wrapping around you and pulling you into an awkwardly angled hug.

“You remembered.” 

“Of course I remembered.”

“I didn’t even remember!”

You pulled back slightly to look up at him. “Too busy playing hero for the rest of us.” He rolled his eyes at your comment, but you meant it genuinely. You also set the flowers down so you could push yourself up in his arms. At this angle, you were able to enact your final goal.

Aalto always smiled into your kisses, part of what made him so endearing. Even if it made kissing him more difficult for no good reason. You were just happy he seemed so happy by the fact you remembered his birthday.

“Alright! Let’s dig into this cake before Encore smells it!”

“I got her one of her own.”

“Smart!”

[xiangtefi]

because xiangli has released, here are all of the voicelines from him about others, and vice versa:

From Xiangli:

About Mortefi

Mortefi is an interesting person. He's devoted to his work with unwavering determination. It's that kind of intense drive that pushes scientists towards brilliant discoveries. I know he considers me a "genius"—but in a workplace with only "geniuses", many ideas will never be realized. My dear friend has yet to grasp his true potential.

About Jinhsi

Magistrate Jinhsi has been paying close attention to the battles against Tacet Discords. She often visits the Academy to learn about our latest progress in weapons development. During those visits, she always seems tense. I understand the pressure and weight she carries, with all the promises and expectations placed on her shoulders...

About Jiyan

The Midnight Rangers bring valuable insights on Tacet Discords from their years of combat experience. General Jiyan has shared his extensive knowledge and new ideas with us. He possesses a gentle and just nature, but what truly sets him apart is his composure. This is essential for someone in his position.

About Aalto

Aalto once approached me with an offer from the Black Shores, but I declined. Life at the Academy suits me well. Though his manner may seem unserious, Aalto has a sharp eye for valuable information and connections for rare materials. I've frequently relied on his services.

About Baizhi

Baizhi is a great researcher. Our work doesn't often overlap, but I've read her reports and they're well-informed and persuasive. She often participates in field research, earning her a reputation among peers for bringing back valuable data.

Other Characters:

From Taoqi

Mr. Xiangli? Yes, he is a great collaborator of ours at the Ministry of Development. Our work partially overlaps with the Academy's research projects, and I consult him daily. Despite his genius intellect and quick thinking, I have no issue keeping up with his ideas.

From Baizhi

His good temper is almost as impressive as the exceptional talent he has. I've never seen him raise his voice in anger at anyone. No matter how impossible the task sounds, he always delivers.

From Mortefi

That Xiangli Yao... One day I'll outdo him, and create even better inventions!

[enden-k]

goddd I wish wuwa worked better on mobile it looks so interesting but it's practically unplayable (my phone isn't even that much of a potato, it's pretty decent, but it's just not optimized like at all. ahh)

anyway because I can't: are there any parts of the story that stuck out to you as particularly interesting so far? or is it too early to tell?

i already heard it caused unusual overheating and stuff, seems like they didnt fix everything 0: thats too bad, maybe soon!!

apart of that one time it had rlly bad lags, after the fix my game runs smoothly now idk

i finished the main story so far i think!! there wasnt anything that rlly stuck out for me, there was just sections i rlly enjoyed like meeting jinhsi for the first time (shes so pretty aaaaa), the black shores entire section and the battle against the dreamless (love its design)

tho maybe idk, rover retrieving that resonance beacon w encore and aalto was pretty interesting to me simply bc of the location, the vibes and the experiments there, i kinda like that stuff

[midnight-ranger-general-jiyan]

((

My luck in WuWa has so far been the best in all of the Gacha games and it has become a curse in some manner.

I have a S1 Jiyan with his signature weapon

I have S1 Calcharo

I have S1 Encore

I have S0 Lingyang.

All of these came relatively early (not high pity circumstances. Calcharo was my choice in the free 5 star selector and the beginner banner selector. Lingyang came in the standard banner. Encore came in the first begginer banner and as loss of 50/50 in my first 10 pull in Jiyan's banner)

I think I have all the 4 stars in the game.... except... Aalto! And he is the one four star (apart from Mortefi who I have) that I want. Ugh...

Sent this to my friend the other day but I am still salty about it.

Me: Oh wait! Aalto is in Yinlin's banner. Let me pull for him.

*several pulls later*

Me: still no Aalto. Hmm.. let's pull carefully.

*pulls one wish to get a Baizhi con.*

Me: Oh okay. She's my healer, I can use her con. Let me pull another.

*pulls another wish to get a Yuanwu con*

Me: Not Peepaw (my friend calls him that and I think it is hilarious!) Okay, one more pull.

*pulls another wish to get a 4 star broadblade called discord.*

Me: wtf... still no Aalto?

*pulls again and the dreaded thing happens. The tide turns gold.*

Me: please let me lose 50/50, please let it be a Calcharo or Verina. Please.

Yinlin: What's that look on your face for? Surprised to see me?

Me: 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

I DIDN'T EVEN WANT YOU. I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ECHO XP MATERIAL TO BUILD YOU!!!!!!! ))

[sagethegaywitch]

Our Child (Part II)

Yandere Mermaid Family x GN Reader

TW: yandere behavior, blood

Genre: yandere

(Part I), (Part III)

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

Y/N’s Pov

It’s been a few days since you saved that merman, and the fact that you found and rescued a mythical creature only seemed to hit you when your adrenaline ran out.  You paced the floors of your apartment after you returned that night, trying to figure out how it was possible for mermen to actually exist.  Now you travel to the rocky tidal pool each sunset, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creature again.  Ever since that day, you’ve felt eyes on you every time you are near the beach, sometimes even when you're at your beach-side apartment.  You assure yourself it’s nothing, but you can’t shake how intense and threatening they feel.

One night, on your nightly stroll, you wander the sandy beach, a bit upset that your work prevented you from seeing the sunset.  But you’re quickly excited when you hear splashing nearby.  You run over to the tidal pool, but are surprised to see a different merman sitting on one of the rocks.  Compared to the one you saved, he has longer dark green hair that drapes over his shoulders, and his tail is a slightly darker blue-green color, but he oddly reminds you of the other.  He looks up when you approach, and you offer him a small wave to show you were friendly.  The merman pauses and looks you up and down before cautiously crawling closer to you, and you freeze not wanting to scare him off.  Now he’s only a feel inches from you and leans his face close to yours, sniffing around, trying to catch your scent.  You remind yourself that he can probably smell fear as he gently pokes your cheeks and drags his webbed claws through your hair.  You start to relax a bit, realizing he probably won’t hurt you, and you try to spark a conversation, assuming he spoke English.

“I’m Y/N, what’s your name?” you ask, keeping your voice soft and calm.

The merman looks at you, tilting his head in a questioning manner before pointing to you and opening his mouth.

“Y-Y/N,” he gurgles out, his voice sounding like it was underwater.

“Yes!  I’m Y/N,” you cheer before pointing at him.  “And you are?”

He looks at your finger pointing at him, connecting the dots in his head before responding, “A-Aalto.”

“Aalto?” you question, the name sounding foreign on your tongue.

“A-Aal-to,” he corrects.

“Alright, I’m just going to call you Al,” you conclude.

The merman lets out a series of chirps and clicks, and you hope that they’re happy sounds and that you didn’t piss him off.  He nudges his cheek against yours before rubbing his neck all over your face, neck, and hair, as if marking his territory.  You suddenly worry that you have just been marked by this strange merman, and if you were to see the one you rescued, he would be pretty upset at this turn of events.  You’re brought back to reality when the merman starts trying to drag you towards the water.  Thinking he just wants some help getting back to his home, you follow him to the cold ocean water.  The moment he’s fully submerged and the water gets up to your knees, he grabs your ankle and attempts to pull you in with him.  Panic seizes you as you assume the worst and he’s trying to drown you, so you reasonably kick at his face until you make contact.  Momentarily surprised, he lets go and you quickly drag yourself out of the water, the ocean soaking into your clothing and making them heavy.  You run all the way home, slamming your door closed and locking the door.  You’re panting and shaking from the cold water, completely unaware of the eyes watching you.

Aalto’s Pov

“Damn it,” I groan, holding my bleeding nose as I swim back home.  “Didn’t think they would put up a fight.”

I surface in the little air pocket part of our cave (they live in a water cave, but there is one room with an air pocket hole that leads to a small cave with a rocky floor, if that makes any sense), where we plan to keep our little human, and I’m welcomed by my father and brother.

“Welcome home, darling!” Kano exclaims before slowly realizing I was not carrying a human with me.

He deflated sadly, moping in the little nest of dried seaweed and scrap clothing that he worked hard on making for the human’s comfort.  Malik began reassuring his child, patting Kano’s shoulder before looking at me for answers, as if my bloody nose wasn’t enough evidence.

“They kicked me in the face when I tried to bring them here, and I let them go,�� I sigh, disappointed in myself.

“It’s alright, Aalto.  We’ll try again soon,” Malik tells me, offering me an understanding smile and a piece of clothing for my nose.

I haul myself to sit on the edge of the pool, allowing my body to rest on the rock floor of our human’s room as I attempt to stop the bloody flow on my face.  My mind keeps wandering to the moment they said my name, their mouth struggling to say it properly.  I’m touched that they think we’re already siblings and gave me a nickname, and I’m totally going to rub it in Kano’s face later.  But for now, we need to focus on gaining our darling’s trust again and getting them here safely before we can begin the transformation process.

[fuji-sen]

WUWA! Highschool Graduation memories mini-series

drabbles! and oneshots!

To all the recently graduated students! Congratulations! Here's a little dose of delulu.

🎓 Can be seen as platonic or romantic. [scar is flirty at one point, so maybe he's more romantic-- sorry I can't help it, i love the guy]

🎓 modern au.

🎓 graduation is based on my highschool graduation but this can be interchanged to a college graduation one.

୧⍤⃝💐batch 1

Sanhua, Jinhsi, Scar

note: I assume the characters above are young adults, which I've based on their character models. Scar is confirmed to be a young adult based on his character/personality description into WuWa fandom site. Others I based also on their appearance like in the case of Aalto, Yangyang and Chixia. I'll base it off on this post!

setting: The above characters have already graduated or are older years, and knowing you, they decided to go to your graduation to support you! isn't that just sweet? ❣️

Your palms felt sweaty as you stood up with your classmates, forming a line as the MC of the event called names and listed their awards apart from the diploma.

‘God I wonder if I have an award or am I just going to get a diploma..?’ you worriedly thought. You wore a well planned outfit under your toga that reached a few inches below your knees. Your hat was loose and would nearly fall every time you'd bow at the given time.

The tassel of the cap would sway, sometimes hitting your cheeks or getting tangled with your hair, it was beginning to be annoying at this point.

You were graduating and you were so very afraid to mess up. What if your toga wasn't ironed? was it wrinkly? were your shoes polished?

Hands reached to try and smoothen the nonexistent wrinkles of your toga you even looked down to check your shoes when you realize they were in fact not polished, but it didn't look bad at all, you were just too deep into your graduation blues and worries ‘am I underdressed? or maybe overdressed? do I look plain? or too extravagant-?!’

Your schoolmate that sat nearby called your name in a hushed manner, you stared at them until you realized they were motioning for you to move up the line so you quickly scampered.

"[your full name]" the MC announced as you robotically found yourself walking up the stairs and onto the stage where your principal and school director were there with your diploma and medals for your achievements.

"Woohoo!" Someone cheered despite the silence and the background music playing on repeat, your eyes glanced to meet theirs and your jitters washed away as they clapped for you enthusiastically, even much louder than the instrumental music.

Your Principal eyes your friend with annoyance before turning to you as he handed you your diploma.

You turned to the vast seas of students, teachers and watchers.

You were no longer worried or self-conscious and with a bright smile you bowed in front of them. Finally free from the shackles of your school, and ready to move on to the next stage,

knowing your friend was there for you.

(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ₊˚ʚ 🌱 ₊˚✧ ﾟ.°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

❄️ Sanhua ⊹ ࣪ ˖

probably a year or two younger than you,

╰┈➤ Sanhua was there for even before the start of the ceremony. She was there when you were buying your outfit, or choosing from your wardrobe.

╰┈➤ She chatted you often in between your graduation practices and preparations. She made sure you ate, you slept, you had your things prepared and made sure you chose clothes that you'd be comfortable in.

╰┈➤ She came to the venue early to get better seats, and she'd clapped respectfully as she watched you.

╰┈➤ Sanhua was already in college, she was the secretary for her college's student council president. So she was skilled in preparation, meetings, and so on.

╰┈➤ The white haired beauty approached you after your graduation, greeting you with a smile as she was proud of you. She knew you worked hard to be able to graduate and you deserved your diploma and the medals you were awarded with.

╰┈➤ She didn't come alone or empty handed. Beside her was Jinhsi but that would be for another part. In her hands was a sentimental gift she known you'd appreciate and a bouquet of wintry bells wrapped in pure white floral wrapping, tied together with a ribbon dyed with the color of her eyes and of course a note.

As the ceremony officially ended and the faculty that was part of the graduation had left or more or less scattered, talking with their students. You relaxed, chatting with your classmates, hugging and congratulating one another.

"It's your friend" A classmate tapped you and motioned to a figure that was approaching you. You smiled at the older female as you quickly made your way, through the crowds and groups, to her.

You greeted her with a warm and friendly smile "Sanhua! Thanks for coming!" You'd say and looked at her, silently communicating if you could hug her or not.

The stoic yet kind secretary opened her arms and you quickly enveloped her in a hug. "Congratulations [name]." she said reciprocating your hug but you winced as her gift accidentally hit you wrong at your back.

"Oh sorry" she quickly released you and handed you your gifts, you smelled the subtle scent of the wintry bells and you could vaguely feel the coldness. "It's okay, thank you for the gifts you didn't have to."

"Just you being here for my graduation is enough but aren't you busy with your projects?" you questioned as you stood side by side at the corner watching the people interact with each other.

For someone like Sanhua privacy and alone time was what she had preferred and you didn't mind, you had already greeted your friends anyways and some of your teachers.

"It's alright, I'm on schedule for most of my deadlines." She told you and you believed her, it was Sanhua after all, she was always reliable, hardworking and straight-laced.

"Have you thought about college?" She suddenly asked you, turning her eyes on you as she watched you scrunched up your face. "Oh come on, I just graduated, I wanna have fun!"

Her lips quirked in amusement, her hand made its way to your back "All right then, why don't we go to the mall? get some food?" She suggested and on cue, your stomach growls.

"Sounds great, I had a light breakfast and now I'm starving" you sigh in relief as you both walk towards the exit of the venue.

You laced your fingers with her's and you hummed in satisfaction, your lips quirked to a grin as you told her "I'm thinking about going to Jinzhou Academy,"

Her eyes seemed to shine, that was her college too. "It's close, has a good reputation and my favorite secretary is right there."

"Just secretary?" she repeated her lips mirroring your own.

"An amazing girl, beautiful, talented, hardworking, one of my greatest friends" you listed up as she chuckled.

(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ₊˚ʚ 🌱 ₊˚✧ ﾟ.°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

✨ Jinhsi ⊹ ࣪ ˖

a year or two younger / high position in a student council or at least student representative for her year.

╰┈➤ Jinhsi definitely made time for you in her busy schedule, and don't worry, it's no problem for her afterall it is her friend's/SO/[petname]'s graduation, a milestone meant to be celebrated.

╰┈➤ Definitely the one you come to with questions about the procedures when you're too shy to ask your teachers.

"yes you can wear that type of shoes or that color of dress"

╰┈➤ Would meet you up there at the venue considering you'd either get there by your parents or in a school bus.

╰┈➤ would make sure you are well hydrated and not hungry since she knows how long this ceremonies get.

"here I brought you your [fave drink], make sure you take care of yourself."

╰┈➤ She'll stand in a decent area, making sure she has a good view of you so she can take pictures and videos.

╰┈➤ Is the first one to approach you as soon as the ceremony has ended with a small present (definitely handmade and very personal between you two) and a modest bouquet of flowers.

"[name]" you turned around when a voice greeted you, and lo and behold you are met with Jinhsi, which wasn't really a surprised since you had already met her when you first arrived at the venue wherein she gave you some snacks and calmed your nerves.

You smiled at her warmly, thanking her for coming and saying that she didn't have to knowing her busy schedules considering her school year hasn't quite ended.

"You don't need to worry, I have already dealt with most of the urgent itinerary I have." She assured you and handed you a bouquet of flowers, and a small present. "Oh thank you Jinhsi! I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything. ."

She chuckled "you don't need to, why would I even get anything when it's your graduation." she told you and your cheeks flushed at the reminder, "it's just, you're one of my most cherished friends and you treat me well." you reasoned "you deserve a gift for all your hardwork too."

It was her turn to blush at your words, she usually didn't get flustered much but considering your sincere and genuine nature she couldn't help it.

And with that, the two of you left, you bid goodbye to your classmates and friends and even thanked your professors with Jinhsi, and then you went off, having decided that the two of you should go watch one of the shows at the Jinzhou Theater.

(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ₊˚ʚ 🌱 ₊˚✧ ﾟ.°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

❤️‍🔥Scar⊹ ࣪ ˖

a year or more older than you, plus points if he had also graduated from your school and he was the #1 menace there.

╰┈➤ your teachers and some of your classmates give you a sour look when they find Scar there, clapping and shouting your name in his cheers as soon as he saw you.

╰┈➤ man would definitely be one of those loud participants, clapping loudly, hyping you up, it would amuse others while some would glare at him in annoyance.

╰┈➤ isn't even hiding the fact that he's taking pictures or videos of you, even doing weird poses for the 'perfect shot tm' or smth [probably for blackmail, scratch that, definitely for blackmail] despite your glares at him or signs of embarrassment.

╰┈➤ of course he'd also talk shit or throw boo's at students he either hates or knew they were giving you trouble.

╰┈➤ is almost kicked out of the venue but scares off most of the security.

╰┈➤ finally shuts up when your name is called, watching you intently as you stood up and walk to the platform, and when your eyes meet you are met with a soft smile as he nodded at you in encouragement, mouthing the words 'congrats little lamb.'

your cheeks were flushed in embarrassment as your friends from class giggles and tease you about your friend that came to watch you graduate. Scar was your senior here in school and he had already graduated in a grand way that definitely left a mark in your school.

He basically did a huge ass prank which nearly burned down the last venue.

It was honestly a miracle how he graduated with his track record, you had suspected the school had given up on him and just handed him to be his current college's problem.

"you should go to him before he ends up burning this venue" your classmate joked, playfully punching your elbow as you forced out a laugh, you wouldn't even be surprised if he actually did it.

And you find him with a few of your teachers who sent you a 'please take him away and far from us' look, iykyk.

"Little lamb!" Scar greeted you with open arms as he noticed your presence approaching him, [meanwhile your teachers leave quickly], "you dork" you laugh punching his arm and he simply smirked at your greeting.

"Is that really how you greet your favorite senpai/senior?" he asked suddenly pouting as you rolled your eyes, "thanks for embarrassing the shit out of me."

He cracked up a grin, bowing at you as if you were a king/queen. "anything for my little lamb." your cheeks flushed as he took your hand and kiss the back of it, he stared at you in a way that made your heart skip a beat and your cheeks instantly redden.

Scar offered you a simply gift, a bouquet of roses with a few baby breaths here and there, wrapped in black wrapping paper, and accompanying it was a cute plushie of a lamb holding a pink tulip, one that you had seen in pinterest boards.

You'd seen leave the venue, pulling scar along to make sure he doesn't cause anymore trouble as the two of you went to somewhere to have fun.

(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ₊˚ʚ 🌱 ₊˚✧ ﾟ.°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

I procrastinated this too much to the point its not even graduation season anymore-- still belated happy graduation to you readers. I'm now a college student share ko lang hahahaha

comment who would you want to see next.

[pikselis]

Hey, if your IKEA is not showing up and you pirate the game, it's because of the version you are using, either Mr DJ or G4TW, but if you get it on internet archive (which is legal) you can get the entire ultimate collection and it will work again. Reinstalling is a pain in the rear but it's worth it for those crisp nice IKEA objects

I do have Ikea stuff ✨, just not my fave collection. I like some of the shapes in the collection but the colors are kind of too tame (?) to my tastes. So when making cc -free houses it's really easy for me not to use them. They might look cool in modern buils tho🤔.

They are also really recognizable so I can see that I haven't used the stuff back. I would tell about other backs I have not used but I can't reconize them as easily. (maybe like apartment life and M&G, but I love those backs and almost always use them 🤔)

I do LOVE these two tho:

but imagine instead of Ikea, sims 2 did a stuff back with Alvar Aalto 😳 and we would have gotten this as the cc free colors 😍:

[merulanoir]

Just white people things: traipsing around an old manor's grounds in 30°C heat for three hours to look at ugly paintings and then walking 2km in the sun to go see a house that was probably designed by Alvar Aalto but which is also literally just an apartment building.

~culture~

[violentvalerian]

The Best Bad News // Part 1/3 // A Little Calamity

“This day fucking sucks!”

Aalto walked to the door of the living room and peeked around the corner into the hallway. There stood his roommate, drenched from head to toe and dripping water onto the hardwood floor. And looking massively annoyed.

“Lemme guess,” Aalto said, throwing his pale hair back, “You got into a fight with a sprinkler and lost.”

“Yes, Aalto, that’s exactly what happened,” the dark-haired man in the hall grumbled with an eyeroll and peeled his soaked black denim jacket off his slender form, hanging it up to dry, “It’s raining cats and dogs outside.”

His words were accentuated by a clap of thunder that made both young men jump.

“Oh really?” Aalto asked with a grin, “Thanks for letting me know, Ro. Wouldn’t have guessed.”

“I’m gonna go take a shower,” Ro said, kicking off his sneakers that hit the ground with a wet splat. A flash of lightning lit up the otherwise dim apartment.

“You hungry or something?” Aalto asked, “I could order us something.”

“I can’t afford to get takeout every day,” Ro complained, “Don’t we have anything to pop into the oven or something?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Aalto graciously said and placed his hand on his chest, “It’s on me tonight.”

“Really?” Ro asked and looked at him with wide eyes, “You’re actually serious? Never thought I’d ever see you so generous.”

“What?” Aalto exclaimed, “I’m always generous! Just not when it comes to monetary things. Whatever! What do you want?”

“I don’t care, you decide,” Ro said and quickly disappeared into the bathroom to avoid any further questions. He was notoriously bad at making decisions, no matter the subject.

He tore off all his clothes that were sodden with cold water. The rain had totally caught him off-guard on the way back from the library where he’d worked on some assignments for his history studies. First he’d been drowning in work, and then almost drowning in the literal sense with how heavy the storm was.

He stepped into the shower and turned on the water, cursing when the ice cold stream hit him, colder even than the rain. For some reason, Aalto liked to take freezing showers, and no matter how many times Ro begged him to at least turn the tap back into a neutral position, he never remembered to do so. At least it didn’t take forever to warm up today, and soon he was wrapped in a misty cocoon of warm steam and water that relaxed his tense shoulders and smoothed the goosebumps that had risen on his skin from the cold.

Feeling like a completely reborn person, Ro emerged from the bathroom and went into his room to change. It was small, barely large enough for his bed and his desk. Since he’d only moved in a few short months ago when he started studying in Jinzhou, the walls were still bare, and in a corner there was a tower of not unpacked moving boxes whose structural integrity seemed worryingly precarious.

Ro threw on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt and  returned to the living room to see Aalto lounging on the couch in front of the TV, ignoring some sports game while scrolling on his phone, as he always did. Despite only knowing each other for two months, Ro and Aalto had already grown to be close friends, albeit with rather different interests and personalities.

“Feeling better?” Aalto asked, noticing Ro’s presence, “I ordered pizza by the way.”

“Much better,” Ro replied and pushed his legs off the couch to take a seat, “Hope you didn’t get tuna for me again.”

“Nah, you don’t like fish, I get it. There was a two for one deal on something with four cheeses.”

“So you’re not paying for me after all,” Ro grinned.

“Yes I am!” Aalto insisted, “I bought a pizza just for you and just so happened to get one for free myself.”

“Sure, sure,” Ro laughed and pulled out his phone. When he opened Echoline, the most popular social media in Huanglong and beyond, his face fell. “Oh… my… god,” he breathed, pronouncing every word as if it were a full sentence, “No fucking way!”

“What?” Aalto asked, “What is it now?”

“No way!” Ro repeated and flew to his feet, staring at his phone in disbelief.

“What?!” Aalto asked, pushing himself into a more upright position, “Tell me! The suspense is killing me.”

Ro furiously tapped and swiped on his phone. “My favorite band is going on tour for their second album, and they’re playing a show here! In Jinzhou! And… oh my god… It’s on my birthday! Oh my god, I have to be there!”

“Oh hell yeah, congrats,” Aalto said, but he’d lost interest. He knew Ro’s taste in music differed from his own greatly. Aalto liked all kinds of sounds that came out of computers, the less real instruments, the better, as long as the bassline was heavy enough to shake the ground. Ro, on the other hand, liked classic rock and alt punk. Music was one of the things they’d never agree on.

“Ah!” Ro now shrieked in horror, “No! No, that can’t be true!”

“What is it now?” Aalto sighed.

Ro sobbed. “It’s already sold out?! How is that possible? They only went on sale a few hours ago!”

“Damn, those guys must be pretty popular for that to happen.”

“Yeah,” Ro said sadly, “They’re from the New Fed, and this is their first international tour. Fans have been begging for one for years. And now they’re gonna be here, but I won’t be. I’m gonna cry. This is the worst day of my life!”

“From the New Federation?” Aalto asked, “Think I might know them?”

He’d moved to Huanglong from the New Federation a year ago to study business at Jinzhou’s Huaxu Academy that was famous for its excellent courses. And its insultingly low acceptance rate.

“Pfft!” Ro scoffed, “They don’t do your stinky robot music. They got real guitars and drums and vocals that haven’t been fried by ten different filters and overlays.”

“Stinky?!” Aalto asked in offense, “Don’t insult my modern taste like that just ‘cause you’re still stuck in the eighties!”

But Ro wasn’t even listening anymore. “Ahh, the lead singer…” He sighed, “He’s got a voice sent from the heavens, I swear, and he’s just dreamy. They’re all really good, but Cal is just on another level.”

Aalto perked up, grabbing his roommate by the shoulders. “What did you say?”

“That the lead singer is on another level?” Ro asked in confusion.

“No, what did you call him?” Aalto asked and almost shook him, “Cal?”

“Yes,” Ro slowly said, looking at Aalto like he was crazy, “Calcharo. He’s the lead singer of the Ghost Hounds, my favorite band.”

“Holy shit!” Aalto exclaimed and let out a hearty laugh, “Why didn’t you tell me you’re a Ghost Hounds fan sooner?!”

“You know them?” Ro asked in surprise and tilted his head, “Didn’t think that’d be something you’re into.”

Aalto laughed again. “Their music be damned, of course I know them!”

“Huh?” Ro was utterly confused.

Aalto beamed at him when he dropped the mother of all bombshells. “Calcharo is my brother!”

Ro’s jaw dropped and he coughed up an incomprehensible bouquet of word fragments, sputtering and gasping for air. “Wh- B- You… He… B- brother?!”

“Yeah, my big bro!” Aalto confirmed, nodding rapidly, “No way you like his stuff!”

“His stuff is the best stuff ever!” Ro called out, “Between Me and the Devil is my favorite song of all time! I can’t fucking believe you’re Calcharo’s brother! You are, right?! You’re not bullshitting me right now, right?!”

“Hell no!” Aalto denied and pulled out his phone, quickly digging through his gallery and producing a photo he held under Ro’s nose. It was a capture of an older, physical photograph from an album. On it were two boys with the same light hair, both carrying large backpacks. One was significantly taller than the other and showed only a faint smile while his shorter counterpart grinned between both ears and revealed countless gaps in his teeth.  “Look, Dad sent this the other day because he was going through our family albums. It’s my first day of school! Here is me, and there’s Cal. He’s four years older than me.”

Ro’s jaw dropped again. Despite the kid in the picture looking far, far younger - around ten or eleven - it was undoubtedly Calcharo, lead singer of the Ghost Hounds, with his naturally white hair and those pale blue eyes. Looking at Aalto again, the resemblance suddenly hit him. It was almost uncanny. He had the same hair, even styled it similarly with the bangs hanging around the side of his face and the rest of it always combed back, and their face shape was really similar as well, only Aalto’s jaw wasn’t as pronounced as Calcharo’s. And their eyes were different. But despite that, Ro totally bought it.

“That’s crazy!” Ro screeched. “Crazy! Insane!”

“I’m gonna call him,” Aalto said, holding up his phone with his arm stretched out, “and ask him if he can do my bestie a favor and drop some tix.”

Ro gasped, nearly hyperventilating. “No way! You’d do that for me?!”

“Duh!” Aalto said and flicked his forehead, “Means I don’t have to worry about a birthday present for you. Easy win!”

“You rat!” Ro said with a grin, “I’ll love you for the rest of my days if you make that happen.”

“Leave it to me!” Aalto said eagerly, “I’ll call him right now.”

Unfortunately for him, right now was also the moment the doorbell rang incessantly.

“Ooh!” Aalto whistled, “Dinner time!”

He zipped into the hall to accept the food. Ro, meanwhile, held his hand against his mouth so Aalto wouldn’t hear his squeals of joy as he kicked his feet in excitement. This was the best day ever!

A couple days later, Aalto waltzed into Ro’s room unannounced, totally unnoticed by the aforementioned.

Ro was sitting at his desk over the fattest book Aalto had ever seen, headphones over his ears and bobbing his head in the rhythm of his song. Aalto hesitated for a moment and listened in, giggling when he very faintly made out his brother’s voice. Perfect timing.

He tapped Ro’s shoulder, making him let out a startled gasp and whip around.

“Jesus, Aalto!” Ro complained, “You scared me!”

“I got something for you!” Aalto said in a sing-song voice and revealed a nondescript envelope from behind his back.

“For me?” Ro asked and accepted the envelope, opening it as Aalto watched him eagerly.

“It’s something really special. A VIP ticket for the Ghost Hounds gig!”

Ro shrieked and launched himself out of his chair to throw himself into Aalto’s arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He said and hugged him so tightly that the other almost couldn’t breathe, “You’re the best friend ever, Aalto! I love you!”

Aalto let out a nervous chuckle and patted his back. “No problemo. Just played some of my connections. Easy peasy.”

Ro continued hugging and praising him to high heaven, almost making Aalto blush uncomfortably until he could free himself.

“I got a second ticket, actually,” Aalto revealed, “You can have it if there’s someone specific you want to go with, but if you don’t mind, I’ll go with you.”

“Sure! It’s gonna be a ton of fun!” Ro cheered and clasped his hands together but then realized, “Wait, you don’t like the music though.”

“It’s not like I hate it,” Aalto said with a shrug, “Besides, I rarely get to see Cal now that I moved away and he’s always on the road anyway. Gotta hunt him down for a second of his time. Besides…” He showed a sneaky grin. “If I'm there and Cal knows that I'm there, it's only right I introduce you to him and vice versa.”

Ro stared at him like he was a Messiah, then spun and jumped on the spot, cheering, “You are literally the best, Aalto!”

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” he laughed and watched Ron's victory dance. How endearing that sight was…

That same day, Ro went to his favorite neighborhood stationary store to buy an archaic paper calendar (with motivational quotes and pictures of kittens) for the explicit purpose to mark the date of the concert and his birthday. ‘Ghost Hounds!!!’ The calendar now proudly announced. He counted how many days he'd have to wait. Sixty-nine. Two months and three weeks and a few more days.

The calendar was the first thing to decorate the walls of his room, right next to the window under which his bed stood. A Ghost Hounds poster soon found its spot next to it, the cover art of A Little Calamity, the album his favorite song was on. A second poster followed, this one showing the three band members posing for the camera. Calcharo in front with his bass slung around his shoulders, Encore, who looked laughably short next to him, on his left with her signature red and pink electric guitar, and then a little bit behind them was Mortefi sitting by his drum set. Ro dared to hope that he'd get the poster signed by all three of them. It would be a dream come true.

Every day upon going to sleep, Ro crossed off another day, watching the concert come closer and closer. Two months became six weeks, then four, then two, one week, three days, and finally! The day was there.

It was a Saturday, and despite his immeasurable excitement, Ro had been able to sleep in in preparation for his long night. It was almost noon when Aalto knocked on his door.

“Rise and shine, birthday boy!” He said with a wide grin.

Ro tiredly lifted his head out of his sheets and blinked at him. His hair was a mess, the black strands thoroughly disheveled. He looked like he had about zero idea of where or who he was.

Aalto walked to the bed and crouched next to it to get on eye level with him.

“Gotcha something,” he said and presented a cupcake on his palm, “I didn’t know what you like so I went for red velvet, the classic.”

“Hm?” Ro groaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, “Cake? For me?”

“Of course!” Aalto said, “Again, it’s your birthday. You know what that means.”

“Birthday,” Ro muttered and turned over to look at his calendar. There were no more days left to cross off. Today was the day. The day marked in red and circled thrice over. ‘Ghost Hounds!!!’

“Holy fuck!” Ro suddenly exploded and pushed his blanket away, practically falling out of his bed, “It’s the day! The day is here! Ghost Hounds!”

“Easy there,” Aalto placated him, “Cake first. Everything else later.”

He presented his cupcake again and Ro smiled, accepting the small pastry. “You’re right. Let’s share.”

“I already had breakfast,” Aalto waved him off and sat in Ro’s desk chair, watching him peel away the paper from the cake and taking a hearty bite, “Good?”

“Sho good,” Ro said with a full mouth, closing his eyes in delight, “Thanks Aalto.”

“You’re welcome.” Aalto grinned and pulled out his phone. “Cal texted me earlier, they made it to Jinzhou and are setting up. What’s the location called again?”

“Dragon’s Nest,” Ro said without hesitation, “Small club downtown. Why did they pick such a small venue, anyway?”

“Cal said they didn’t expect that kinda interest,” Aalto said with a shrug, “Ghost Hounds are almost more famous in Huanglong than in the New Fed.”

“Huh,” Ro said in thought, “Who would’ve guessed.”

“Anything you wanna do on your special day?” Aalto asked, aimlessly spinning in circles on his chair.

Ro shook his head. “I have to mentally prepare. I still can’t believe I’m actually going to see the Ghost Hounds live.”

“Not just see,” Aalto corrected him, “Meet. Thanks to your super special best friend and his premium network.”

Ro squealed.

The two continued casually chatting while Ro answered some happy birthday texts.

“Hey, what are you wearing later?” Ro asked at some point.

Aalto looked down on himself. Blue jeans, plain white t-shirt. “This?” He asked.

“Fair.” Ro nodded and eyed his closet. “Can you help me pick something?”

Aalto sighed, “Sure.”

Ro sent him out of his room and went to shower, then picked out an outfit he always felt comfortable in. Dark blue suit pants and a white button-down. However, when he went into the living room to show off, Aalto only briefly looked up from his phone and said, “Too formal.”

Ro grumbled and went to change. Cargo pants and a way oversized shirt with a graphic print.

“Too casual,” Aalto judged.

“Bruh,” Ro complained, but went back to the drawing board regardless. Next on the list was a pair of shorts and a bright yellow crew neck long sleeve.

“Hmm,” Aalto hesitated for a moment, “That’s gonna make you stand out for sure, but don’t wear shorts to a concert.”

“Why not?” Ro asked, confused.

“I dunno,” Aalto said with a shrug, “Just don’t.”

“Fine,” Ro groaned, and this time he dug deep in his closet to find the clothes he rarely wore and wouldn’t show himself in anywhere. Either because he lacked an occasion or wasn’t comfortable enough to flaunt them. But if not today, then when would he ever?

He walked into the living room again, provocatively asking, “What do you have to say about this, huh?”

Aalto looked him up and down, blinked, looked some more, and finally said, “That’s the one. Damn, Ro.”

Ro did a little spin, smiling timidly. He was donning a sleeveless cotton top with a high collar, black and tight. Not obnoxiously so, but it did show off his figure flatteringly. As did his black jeans, ripped at the knees and thighs, washed out and a bit rugged.

“Glad that that’s settled,” Ro sighed, satisfied.

“Wanna head out?” Aalto asked, “It’s sill a bit early, but we could grab a bite before the show.”

“Sure,” Ro agreed. At this point he was glad for any distraction from the excitement churning his stomach. It felt like his intestines were a bunch of writhing knots and coils, and he felt so incredibly nervous. The only thing that helped was to not think about the gig later, but it was hard, no, impossible not to think about it. He was a mess. An excited, giddy mess.

Aalto tried to make some sort of sensible conversation, but there was no getting through to him. While they ate Panhua’s signature ramen, all Ro could talk about was the concert. What songs would they play? In which order? Aalto knew barely any of their songs so he couldn’t contribute much. Would he laugh at Ro if he sang along out of tune? He promised not to. Would he tell Calcharo how obsessed he was with him? No, of course not. Aalto didn’t want to embarrass his friend. What was Calcharo like, anyway? He’d see, Aalto told him, getting mildly annoyed.

Soon enough it was time to head to the venue. The Dragon’s Nest was a small club with only two floors and a bar in the corner. It often hosted concerts of lesser known bands that weren’t popular enough to fill stadiums, hence the vibe was more personal, intimate, almost.

With their VIP passes, Aalto and Ro could skip the long line in front of the entrance to the club, and they were corralled into an area right in front of the stage, literally the best seats in the house. Except there were no seats. It was standing only. The venue wasn’t packed, but it certainly was more comfortable in the VIP area where they didn’t have to stand shoulder to shoulder with their neighbors. Ro continuously shifted his weight from one foot to the other and kept telling Aalto how crazy this all was and that he couldn’t believe that they were here and it was less than half an hour before the concert was set to begin.

Having enough of his fangirling, Aalto excused himself under the guise of getting drinks for them both, which he actually did, but in reality he just wanted to catch a short break.

Aalto returned just as the lights in the room dimmed, and he almost didn’t find his way back if it weren’t for Ro squealing and raving.

“It’s starting!” He roared and absentmindedly chugged half of the whiskey coke Aalto handed him in one go, “It’s really starting!”

The room was fully dark now, and the crowd grew silent. Then, the first sounds of drums, a light on the left of the stage, and Mortefi, the drummer, under it, already giving his all. Another light, this one on the right-hand side, tracking Encore who gave the crowd a double thumbs up before strumming the first riff on her guitar, and it was one Ro would’ve recognized anywhere.

“That’s Between Me and the Devil!” Ro screamed, grabbing onto Aalto’s arm so hard it hurt, “That’s my favorite song!”

“Wow!” Aalto shouted back, “They’re opening with your favorite song? What a surprise!”

Ro was oblivious to his sarcasm, he was too busy biting on his lips, waiting for the vocals to kick in. Calcharo was still nowhere to be seen, though he already played the bassline, but then…

“Hey! I don’t know where I’m goin’...”

The first line. Ro heard his voice and was ready to faint.

“But you know where I’ve been…”

The central lights finally flared up, shining down on pure white hair and a shiny, ultra-violet bass played by nimble fingers belonging to the revered lead singer.

Aalto noticed Ro grow completely silent by his side and looked over to find him stare upwards, following every single one of Calcharo’s motions, utterly awestruck.

Calcharo finished the first verse, and into an instrumental break said, “Hello Jinzhou!”

The crowd roared.

“How are you doing?”

The crowd screamed.

“Hell yeah!” Calcharo called out, “I know you’ve been waiting for us, and we’re going to make this a night you won't forget! You ready?!”

The crowd thunderously sounded out their approval, and Calcharo took it as a sign to pick up his bass again and pour out his heart into the chorus, with Encore delivering powerful backup vocals and Mortefi going wild on his drums.

Ro’s eyes were swimming in tears of helpless euphoria, and his heart beat to the song that was so special to him. He was pulled into the rapture that was unlike anything he’d ever experienced as he watched the musicians perform their passion turned music. It was an eternity but just a blink at the same time, so much in so few minutes, but still the better part of two hours passed, filled with song after song. For some, Calcharo took a backseat and let Encore have the lead, and she shredded her guitar like no tomorrow, delivering vocals that were so powerful that no one could have guessed they’d come from this pink-haired girl with the small stature.

Mortefi had his chance to shine during the numerous drum solos, and Ro realized they were different from all the recordings he knew. Mortefi was improvising, freestyling live, whipping up new rhythms and tunes on the spot. The chemistry between the band members was impeccable, they complemented each other perfectly, an entirely new whole growing from them as parts.

After playing all songs from First Last Time, the album this tour was meant to honor, as well as many of their fan’s favorites, Calcharo signaled a break and leaned onto the stand of his microphone.

“I know it’s the last thing you want to hear,” he began, his voice slightly hoarse from his extortion, “but we’re through with our planned line-up.”

Sad crowd noises ensued.

“But!” Calcharo sparked hope, “There’s still one thing we gotta do.” He cast his eyes over his eager onlookers that hung to his every word. “A little birdie told me that we have a special guest tonight. Someone here has completed another trip ‘round the sun, and that deserves a celebration, don’t you think?”

Despite barely knowing what he was going on about, the crowd cheered. Ro raised his eyebrows and glanced at Aalto who was trying hard to keep his grinning in check.

“We wanted to keep it a secret for a while longer, but we’re already hard at work on our next album, and you’re the first ever people to get an exclusive first listen of our newest song, Bad News.” Calcharo found Aalto in the first row, then looked over, met Ro’s eyes and pointed at him. And everything else faded away when he said,  “Ro, this one’s for you!”

Ro stopped feeling the ground beneath his feet, stopped smelling the sweat of so many bodies moving as one, stopped hearing the crowd going absolutely wild for the last time. He  could only perceive the beat of Mortefi’s drums, the hum of Calcharo’s bass, and the tune Encore strummed on her guitar. And he only saw him.

“You’ve heard the rumors I know they’re pretty bad The only thing worse than the rumors Are the cold heart facts I ain’t no angel But maybe you like it like that…”

Maybe Calcharo wasn’t an angel, but he looked like one, surrounded by the colorful flood lights reflecting off his hair, painting a halo around him. And Ro did like it like that. It was one of the best sights of his life.

“Mama told me I always was a problem child But Lord knows I never had a problem getting wild I know some back roads, baby If you wanna get lost for a while…”

Ro did want to get lost. Or maybe he already was. Lost in the performance, lost in the rush of watching Calcharo and his band go all out for a final time this night. He almost forgot to take notice of the song that was fast-paced and energetic like all Ghost Hounds songs but still felt like a different flavor, a new spin on everything their fans loved most.

“I'm bad news I bet you heard about that Yeah, I'm bad news and bad news travels fast Hey!”

The Chorus shook the ground, or maybe it was the jumps of the crowd moving in sync, encouraged by Calcharo who raised his arms and walked around on stage, hopping and dancing with way more energy than he should have had left over after two hours of exerting himself like that.

Ro stood still through it all, wholly in disbelief that this was supposedly for him, out of all these people. This global premiere was dedicated to him, and it made tears stream down his face while he grinned from ear to ear. This was the best night of his life. Period.

The Ghost Hounds delivered the rest of the song and ended it to thunderous applause.

“Thank you, Jinzhou!” Calcharo called and bowed, “You were fucking amazing! We’ll be back for sure, but for now, take care, get home safe, and always, always keep your fangs sharp!”

Under more cheers and roars, the stage went dark, and when the lights in the room came back on, Calcharo, Mortefi, and Encore were gone.

---

All lyrics and song titles are from the real life band Ghost Hounds. Go listen to them if you like what you read here.

AO3 link to the whole fic

[pm-fmp]

Graphical Direction Ideas - Part 2

In this blog post, I aim to expand upon my quest for visual inspiration, venturing beyond the typical aesthetics found in games to develop a truly unique graphical style. My design philosophy centers around creating a minimalist yet complex visual experience, prioritizing functionality while ensuring each element is visually stunning and engaging.

Below, I've curated a selection of graphics that align with my vision for the initial concept art sketches. These images captivate me with their vibrant colors, intricate details, and overall ambiance, setting a foundational tone for my creative process.

Bellow i've included a collection of images that more closely resemble the potential look of my game. These examples skilfully blend realistic terrain with digital wireframe effects, providing a closer reference point for what I envision.

This particular one (bellow) stands out as my favourite. It merges realistic landscapes with a cohesive, stylish execution that resonates deeply with my artistic goals.

Stepping back, the subsequent images shift focus slightly, serving more as references for colour schemes and shape language. These pieces are especially compelling, offering a broader perspective that could influence how players perceive the game world through an in-game monitor.

I've also explored the intriguing world of Data Visualization art. A new discovery for me, this form of art transforms data—such as Netflix viewership—into visually engaging pieces. One image, in particular, reimagines data as art, providing a fresh perspective that could inspire elements like a research tree interface within the game.

Lastly, I've been examining online videos that feature wireframe and holographic cityscapes superimposed on realistic terrains. These resources are proving invaluable as I continue to refine and evolve my visual strategy for the game.

Through these explorations, I'm not just defining a visual language for my game; I'm also discovering unique graphical styles that are rarely seen in games. Each step of this journey is a vital component of my creative process, allowing me to craft visuals that stand apart in the gaming world.

References

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Adams, W. Ferreirinha, G. Bussey, S. Rigley, M. (2022). BATTLEFIELD 2042 | MAPS + INTERFACE. [Online Image] Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/134505091/BATTLEFIELD-2042-MAPS-INTERFACE (Accessed 31 March 2024)

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GEOARCHITECTURE. (2015). CHOO_BRIEF 3_18S. [Online Image] Available at: https://www.geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/the-urban-hyperobject/choo_brief-3_18s/#main (Accessed 31 March 2024)

GEOARCHITECTURE. (2018). AVRAAMIDES_BRIEF_1B_7S. [Online Image] Available at: https://www.geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/teaching/ds18_2017-dhaka-design-ing-a-delta/avraamides_brief_1b_7s/#main (Accessed 31 March 2024)

GEOARCHITECTURE. (N.A.). DS18_2016/17: MONSOON ASSEMBLAGES CHENNAI, BRIEF 1: HYDROLOGICAL PROTOTYPE. [Online Image] Available at: https://www.geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/teaching/ds18_201617-monsoon-assemblages-chennai/ds18_201617-monsoon-assemblages-chennai-brief-1-hydrological-prototype/ (Accessed 31 March 2024)

Gupta, A. (N.A.). Limm – digital art collection | Deskriptiv. [Online Image] Available at: arch2o.com/limm-digital-art-collection-deskriptiv/ (Accessed 31 March 2024)

Hightopo. (2021). Intelligent Operations Centre for Smart City. [Online Video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz0VIM4LsWE (Accessed 31 March 2024)

Hightopo. (2022). Smart Port Dashboard | Cesium GIS 3D Map Port | Digital Twin | الشحن الذكي | 스마트 배송 | 智慧海運. [Online Video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk9EfkS1jr8 (Accessed 31 March 2024)

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[engbergeurovacay23]

Wednesday, Sights Around Helsinki

On Wednesday morning, I woke up first, even though I had a terrible night’s sleep.  As I mentioned in the last post, I didn’t get to bed until very late on Tuesday night, and then I had trouble actually falling asleep.  Then, right after I was actually solidly asleep, at like 2:30 a.m., my phone rang, and someone who had called me twice got through my “sleep mode,” because calls will ring through if someone calls you multiple times.  It was a business and not an urgent matter, so it was really irritating that my phone rang – and then I had trouble getting back to sleep again!

Anyway, Cece was the next awake, and she was chipper as can be, and then Eric was next awake, and then, Rowan.  He was sleepy! The kids are sleeping in the very odd sleeping loft, and the side of it that Rowan is in is the darkest spot, so I think he was comfy and in deep sleep over there in slumberland—and his lil’ body probably needed the Zs!

The laundry marathon began as soon as I was up.  We didn’t do laundry for five or six days, so like everything we brought on this whole trip needed to be washed once we got to the Helsinki Airbnb and its washer and dryer (yay for a dryer!!).  I made the error, however, of not noticing the water was off – so Eric heard the periodic alert sounds from the washer and turned its water on and, then, we were off to the races with the laundry!

We had a grand plan for Wednesday to start our adventures at the farthest destination from our Airbnb (still not very far and still in central Helsinki): the 1952 Olympic stadium.  Rowan visited it when he was 22 months old, our first time in Helsinki.  This time, he’ll actually remember it!  But, as we walked north in that direction, along one of the main thoroughfares, we made a few stops: Moomin Shop Helsinki and the restaurant at Finlandia Hall, a very famous (designed by Alvar Aalto) and beautiful modernist building that was under construction last year and was again this year and will be for maybe two more years in the future!  It is undergoing major restoration and renovation. So, Cece at this point was not feeling super well.  She was yawning frequently and was soooo tired.  I wasn’t sure whether she was coming down with something or whether she was just exhausted from our long day the day before and her not-enough-sleep night.   Rowan and I ate at the Finlandia Hall restaurant, availing ourselves of their incredible 12 Euro buffet lunch, and Cece laid down and slept on one of the outdoor couches (I could see her from where I was inside; I was like six feet away from her and she wanted to be outside with Eric); Eric sat with her and actually went on a very quick swim in a very seaweed-y lagoon.

OK, so Finnish and other Nordic countries know how to do a lunch buffet.  Banish any preconceptions you have about “buffets”—this is probably nothing like it. Finlandia Hall had three kinds of very grainy and wholesome-seeming bread, four different salads featuring local ingredients (also representing the preferences of the Finnish palate), coffee, multiple kinds of tea, roasted vegetables, a pureed potato and leek soup, and some other things I am forgetting!  The stars of the menu were parsnips, potatoes, multiple colors of tomatoes, and tiny mozzarella balls.  And the bread was a superstar, too.   All of plates and bowls were Marimekko, as were the napkins. The meal was so delicious and Rowan and I had a nice time sitting together and chatting, but, of course, we were sad that Cece was in a questionable state of health.  We wanted to see whether she was going to bounce back or whether Eric or I would have to go back to the apartment with her.

Wouldn’t you know it—she was much better after her little rest!  From Finlandia Hall, we continued on our way to the Olympic Stadium.  But, on the way, we encountered the Winter Garden (Talvipuutarha), a beautiful garden inside a wonderful-looking glass gazebo, clearly from an earlier era. We all went in to ogle the flowers and plants.  It reminded us of a very similar (but larger) garden in Gothenburg, Sweden, that we visited last summer.  Also, the building looked like one I saw in Forest Park in St. Louis in June!

We arrived to the Olympic Tower around 1 p.m. and bought a ticket to ride up 11 stories to the top of its iconic tower (which, unfortunately, I did not take a picture of from the distance! But, you can read about it and see it here).  So, the stadium was actually built in the 1930s and I don’t know the whole back-story on it, but, there were no Olympics for some time (1940 and 1944) because of, well, World War 2, and, then, the first one after that was in London.  Next up, Helsinki in 1952! The tower is so incredible and we were really lucky that the weather cleared a bit while we were at the very top (13 stories up; you walk up the last two) and we could see all around the city.  Nearby was a swimming complex, with all of the very high platform dives, lanes, and a water park, and then there was also an amusement park that we could see.  I mean, we could see like everything, but those were the most noticeable things in the foreground, looking North. Looking south was a very picturesque row of pastel mid-rise residential buildings that are so “iconic Helsinki.”

From Olympic stadium, we walked towards the Church in the Rock (Temppeliaukio Church), which I’d wanted to see for a while! We finally made it happen this time,  but en route we popped into a bike shop and a paper shop, you know, the kind of place that sells journals, stickers, pens, postcards—lots of cute, cute things!  I could not resist—and bought both postcards and stickers ;)  It was the kind of place that 12-year-old me lived for!

The Church in the Rock was amazing.  We walked all around its inside (it wasn’t very big) and we sat and reflected, and Cece rested some more. The roof was so interesting, made of copper tape or thin strips of copper, and the inside of the sanctuary was blasted out of solid rock.  Check out the website linked above, which will tell and show you all about it!

So, we’d been truckin’ along much of the day!  The next place we visited was a large downtown mall, because we wanted to see what was happenin’ at one of our favorite Finnish stores, Tokmanni (basically, a smaller-format Target-like store, even sharing a logo! But, not related to our Target, amazingly).  The city-center Tokmanni was not as amazing as the suburban ones, so I just got a few things (souvenirs for friends, like those ensuring that my plants at home are watered!).  We then desperately needed a bathroom and a few things for dinner!  Again, a department store was the logical place: Stockmann.  Now, Stockmann is such a favorite of mine.  Their food hall is drool-worthy.  We got just a few things to make dinner with and the kids were totally about to either fall asleep or have a hunger-induced tantrum.  Luckily, they kept it in check and we got home and had them fed by 7:30.  Cece went to bed right after!  Rowan still had some residual energy that needed an outlet, so he and I went on a walk.

Our walk took us just down our street and past, well, the Russian Embassy.  Across the street from the Russian Embassy were buildings with Ukrainian flags in their windows and there was a fence with artificial sunflowers  woven through it and messages of support for Ukraine.   The Russian embassy was a really huge complex – with lots of gates and cameras.  As you might imagine, what with their sharing of a long land border with Russia and their recent admission to NATO, Finland and the Finnish people are not fans of Russia. So, Rowan’s and my walk took us down past that expanse, and then we just made a big rectangle.  Our apartment is in the “Design District,” so there were some neat shop windows to look in.

And that, my friends, was our very long Wednesday!  I can tell you, I feel asleep much more easily on Wednesday night ;)