#and an area of cobblestone in front of it and a stream that flowed by it and was a perfect place for clan meetings

[the-gay-prometheus]

My most fleshed out group of clans was inspired by my favorite area to walk in at my old college. I literally drew clan borders on satellite images from Google maps.

guys will see a location and think wow thats a great place for a clan of warrior cats

[missdreamshade]

The True Beast

Pairing: Gaston!Hyunjin x Belle!Reader

Genre: yandere au + beauty and the beast au

Summary: What if Gaston managed to intervene before Belle went off in search for her father?

Warnings: yandere content, dark/possessive/toxic/ abusive themes ahead, please read at your own risk

You sighed, snapping your book closed in order to glare up at the annoying man dressed in red.

“Hyunjin, enough of this. I already said I wouldn’t marry you.”

Your words came out harsher than you wanted, but you hoped that maybe this time he would actually listen to them. It was becoming exhausting to turn him down day after day. Dodging the constant flow of advances sent your way. You didn’t want him. You simply never would. He was everything you despised in a person. Cocky. Arrogant. A delusional sense of entitlement.

“I know you’re just playing hard to get, Y/n, but this game we are playing is starting to get tiresome.”

“Then take the hint,” you whispered, shaking your head before leaving him and his ego standing alone in the street.

* * *

You strolled up to your cottage near the outskirts of town, your shoes clicking against the cobblestone ground. Your eyes were fixated on the page in front of you, completely emerged in the story unfolding.

“How is it I’ve looked at you my whole, and yet it feels like I’m now finally getting to truly see you?”

The prince gripped onto her chin, tilting her head up to stare deeply into her eyes. Slowly leaning in, his eyes flickering down to her lips.

—

Without warning, your body collided with another, sending you stumbling backwards. Simultaneously letting out a surprised yelp, you snapped your eyes up from the page you were reading.

“Father?”

“Oh! I’m sorry, mon rayon de soleil, I didn’t see you coming,” your father replied, startled.

You watched as he fastened the the ropes of a carriage securely to the saddle of his horse, Philippe.

“You’re off already? I thought you weren’t leaving until tomorrow morning.”

“I wasn’t planning on leaving so soon,” he solemnly explained, “But the journey is going to be longer than I originally anticipated.”

A small pout formed on your lips, “I understand, have a safe travel, okay?”

You leaned up onto your lip toes, pressing an endearing kiss onto your father’s cheek. Turning towards Philippe, you dragged your hand across his snout.

“And you, take care of my father for me.”

* * *

The cottage was eerily silent all night without your father present. You thought you’d be use to his escapades by now, but you never really could get comfortable with the thought of him travelling alone.

Sighing, you kicked yourself out of bed.

“I can’t sit around and worry all day,” you muttered to yourself, pulling your hair back and tying a ribbon around to keep it in place.

You grabbed a small wicker basket, preparing to head to the town’s bakery. Slipping on your shoes, you exited your home, skipping down the pathway to the gate.

Suddenly, the booming sound of hooves pounding against the ground caught your attention. Whipping your head in the direction of the noise, your mouth fell agape in a silent gasp.

“P-Philippe,” you questioned, running over to the frantic horse, “Where’s your carriage? Where’s my father?”

The horse kicked out it’s leg, shattering a wooden board of the fence in half.

“You wait right here!”

You turned around, running back into your home, trying to gather up all the supplies you need to search for your the last piece of family you had left.

The door to your cottage slowly created open, only to slam shut seconds later. Halting all your movements, you carefully crept out into the conman area.

“Hello,” you called out.

Your eyes scanned around the room until they landed on a familiar man wearing obnoxiously bright red. A grin spread across his lips the moment his eyes landed on your figure. A tiny bouquets of half-wilted daisies were gripped in his hand.

Oh no, not again, you internally groaned. He sauntered up to you, successfully cornering you in the back room of your home.

“These are for you,” he happily exclaimed, holding out the pathetic grouping of flowers.

You sighed, “You know I can’t accept those.”

“Look, Y/n, you haven’t given me an honest shot-”

“I have, Hyunjin, many many times. Like I’ve said before, I am not interested.”

His eyes began to grow dark at your words, causing an anxious pit to grow in your stomach. It was almost as if something had snapped inside him. The hopeful grin was wiped off his face in seconds, leaving behind a scowl. Avoiding his gaze, you look down to the wooden floorboards.

“N-Now, I really don’t have time for this,” you mumbled, deciding to attempt pushing past the persistent man, “Something terrible has happened to my father-”

A loud yelp escaped past your lips the second a painfully tight grip wrapped itself around your arm, jerking you back to your original spot.

“I didn’t say you could leave,” he growled, tightening his grip even more.

Tears welled up in the corner of your eyes, fear and pain coursing through your body.

“Hyunjin, let go. Please. You’re hurting me,” you pleaded while desperately trying to tug your arm from his grasp.

A low chuckle erupted from Hyunjin’s chest. He pulled you in closer, colliding his lips roughly onto yours. Your hand raised up, preparing yourself to slap him, but he easily caught your wrist.

“You don’t want me,” he murmured breathlessly after pulling away.

Even though his eyes were staring intensely into yours, he sounded like he was talking to himself.

“You’re mine, why can’t you understand that!” he suddenly bellowed, causing you to flinch away.

“I-I was never—” you tried to meekly reply, but your voice was cut off by a force throwing you backwards, making you to crash down to the ground below.

You felt Hyunjin’s boot overlap onto your hand, stepping down. A sickening crack echoed throughout room. You let out a shriek of pure agony, tears now streaming uncontrollably down your cheeks.

“You don’t need anyone else but me, darling. Not your pesky father. Not anyone else in this dreadful little town.”

Removing his boot from your hand, he crouched down beside you. His own hand reached out, wiping away some stray tears that slipped down your cheeks.

“I gave you many chances not to break my heart, ma belle, but you just never took them. Looks like it’s finally my turn to break you.”

• • •

I tried to add some French petnames to make it more connected to Beauty and the Beast, but why do I feel like I butchered it😭

[aressss1]

Sweet Nothings

(God!Technoblade x Male!Reader)

Read Me on AO3!

~~~~~~

You were very content with your life in this tiny village. Business was at its peak, and you were well known amongst the people. You had your regulars that came in daily, and you even had found an apprentice to help you out around the shop. Niki, was a great apprentice, learning how to bake and tend to the bakery on her own. The eagerness in her actions made you confident that she would be just fine taking care of the place in your stead, when you needed a break once in a while.

 One early morning, when the world was still dark, you walked the cobblestone streets to your bakery. The warm glow of the over hanging lanterns washed over your form. There was a cold nip to the air as you walked. Letting your eyes wander, your eyes spot the decorations overhead. Festival decorations, for a festival made in celebration of the era of peace among your lands, and for the blood god.

Today was Niki’s first day alone in the bakery. Your job today was to set up a booth and run it for the festival. You had the perfect spot to entice travelers from across the world to eat your delicious baked goods. Town square was the perfect place, but you… had scored the place closest to the entrance of the town square to set up your booth. The area that had gotten the most foot traffic in festivals. You were excited for what could come of this. Your bakery could very well thrive off this one day alone!

 The bakery before you was already lit up. You smirked knowing that your apprentice had beaten you to the punch. You twisted the doorknob and walked in whistling a familiar tune, signifying to Niki that you weren’t some stranger just walking in.

 “Morning boss!” Niki leaned out from behind the doorway of the kitchen as she said it. “You’re looking really handsome today!” Her eyes sparkled and you smirked. The garb you had chosen for the festival cost you a pretty penny, but it was worth it.

 “Well, a man has gotta look his best for his business don’t you think?” You ran your fingers through your hair, before putting your chef’s hat on. “How many goods have you made so far this morning my dear?”

 The beginning of the morning went by smoothly. You had set up your booth while Niki had made quadruple the amount of baked goods that you normally made on a regular day. Festivals were good for business and you didn’t want to keep the people waiting. Now… You wished the middle of the day went just as smooth.

 More foot traffic meant more problems… Thieves taking from your stock, people touching everything they didn’t intend to buy, people who weren’t satisfied being rude, and so much more. You had your hands full with everything. By the end of the festival when lanterns were sent into the sky to celebrate the blood god keeping peace across the land, you were out of breath. Your booth had seen it’s last customer of the day, and your head was still reeling. But that didn’t stop you from lighting your own lantern. You let it go as you still stood next to your booth, unaware of the fact that eyes lingered over you, as you closed your eyes uttering your thanks to the very blood god who watched you with curious eyes.

 His eyes spotted your lantern ascending into the sky, he didn’t make himself known to you, He scanned over you once more before he followed the lantern’s light, awaiting the moment that it would come down. When it did, he looked at your handiwork adorning the material. Drawings and script told a story of your gratitude, that, without the peace that he had given, you would be a broken man with no passion in life. This peace gave you enough to stand on so you could pave your way into a successful business.

 A slight smile pulled at his lips, a mortal had piqued his interest, there was definitely more he wanted to know about you. He would rest now and make himself known to you later. He held onto your lantern, keeping it for himself.

 Days passed, and you struggled with the volume of customers who had come in. So each day you adjusted your inventory, to keep up with your customers. There were times when you could breath in between bursts of people. You could cry at the success from the booth just days before.

 On one of your breaks, you sat down on a stool to help ease the discomfort in your back. You had been on your feet the entire day and you needed this break. You reveled in the silence and peace, you closed your eyes, letting out a little sigh. When the door opened, and you heard the bell sound off, signifying a customer, you gave off a small, tired grunt.

 “Welcome to my bakery, how may I help you-” When you opened your eyes all the air left your lungs, and you couldn’t say any more. In front of you, stood a very tall man, with long pink hair, a golden crown that reminded you more of a circlet gilded his head. His ears were pointed and downturned, making it obvious he wasn’t human. His eyes rivalled the gold that sat atop his head. Deep purple to black armor hugged his body and a royal red cloak spilled from around his shoulders.

 His eyes studied your face, and you felt a blush redden your cheeks. He moved around your bakery in the most graceful way you had ever seen anyone move and you fought to regain your composure.

 “Make yourself at home, take a look around and if you need anything you can just ask.” You bowed your head to offer your respect to him. When his eyes searched over you once more you cleared your throat. Was this guy a soldier? A commander? His aura was one that suggested he was a man of power. Even so, this guy didn’t know what to get… His eyes wandered around looking at all the pastries and other baked goods, it was obvious he was having trouble deciding on what to get.

 “Would you like a sample?” You offered, you almost shrunk at the man’s gaze, but you didn’t let yourself falter you held out a cupcake for him to take, and when he took it, you felt your heartbeat in your ears. When he hesitantly took a bite, you visibly relaxed when he gave you a smile, crumbs falling from his lip.

 “I’ll take some more of these.” His deep voice shook you to your very core. Strangely, as much as this guy was intimidating… He was alluring, and you packaged up more cupcakes for him, giving him an extra one, because he was a first-time customer. Or… At least you told yourself that.

 “Thank you very much! Here is your order and should you come back you will be welcomed with open arms!” You told him your name as he held his hand out with his payment. When he dropped it into your hand your eyes widened and in the palm of your hand were three gold pieces. Your heart dropped and when you looked back up, he was gone. You charged mere copper for your goods, not gold??? You were dumbfounded.

 Months had passed, and the mysterious stranger came in each and every day. Ordering and trying new things from you. He had become a constant in your life, and you found yourself growing closer to him. You found out his name was Techno, and he was a war hero. You could tell he was leaving bits and pieces from you, but you figured if he wanted you to know he would tell you.

 One night you locked up your bakery, and you were just about to head home. Your steps echoing off the cobblestone path once more. You looked up to see Techno, knelt down in front of someone, holding out a loaf of bread out to a straggler down on his luck. You had sold Techno that bread earlier. You couldn’t help but feel the smile tug on your lips. Techno stood tall after the straggler thanked him profusely, his eyes finding yours. You felt your heartbeat faster, as he towered over you.

 “You have brought beauty into this world and it’s a crime not to share it.” Techno cocked his head at you, his hand resting on your cheek. “I would like to see more of the beauty you create.” He drops his hand from your face, holding it out for you to take.

 You sigh happily, intertwining your fingers with his, happy to follow him wherever he would lead you. He led you to a place where you could see every star, away from the village. Foliage surrounded you and it was a nice change of pace rather than the buildings around you.

 Techno looked at you, as you marveled at the scenery before you. He basked in your presence; you were such a breath of fresh air opposed to every other mortal around. He watched you make your way to a nearby stream, kneeling letting the cool water flow through your fingers. Techno summoned forth your lantern. When you stood and faced him again, you were shocked at the lantern in his hands.

 “How did you get that?” You felt heat rise up to your cheeks.

 “It tells a beautiful story.” He ignored your question, “Of a man, who was cast out based on his preferences… Going on a hard-earned journey to make a bakery. Determined to be successful, while hiding who you truly are, is… Tragic.” Techno cupped your cheek, his eyes boring into yours. “I do not wish to take credit for your hard work because I slaughter those who wish to upset the peace.”

 Your eyes widened; the blood god was real… And he was standing before you, gazing at you with a fond expression. This beautiful man before you stroked your cheek with his thumb, and you felt your tears coming forth. You were scared, scared to tell Niki of your preferences, in fear she would abandon you. If any of your patrons knew, your business would be ruined…

 “This world is filled with cruelty.” His words caused shivers to go up your spine. “I… want to shield you from that cruelty.” He leaned closer and closer to you, his lips just barely grazing yours. “If you’ll have me.” He barely whispered, but you heard him loud and clear. You threw your arms around his shoulders, standing on your tip toes to push your lips against his. That was when your tears spilled forth.

 The two of you, melted into each other, the moon above shone down on you. Before too long this towering blood god cradled you in his arms, your head resting on his chest plate. You thought you were content with your life before… What you had before couldn’t compare to what you had now. Technoblade the Blood God had fallen for a mortal, and no one could take you away from him.

[fandomsnerd]

Lips Stained Red

(Cross posted with AO3) 

When Jaskier stumbles out of a halfway run-down inn into the grey of early morning light, sleep still crusting his eyes, he has no intention of finding a fight. His focus is breakfast, for himself and Roach, then find a worthy distraction for the day. Something to stop him worrying about the fact Geralt wasn’t back yet.

Something to stop him thinking about the fact Geralt was supposed to be back yesterday evening. Stop replaying the Witcher’s calm and altogether unremarkable parting words over and over in his head-

The scream is sharp, piercing through the early morning fog, concerningly loud and concerningly close. Fuck.

He should turn around, stumble back inside, back up the stairs, give himself a few hours more sleep before returning to deal with the mess of the day.

But then he’s never been very good at doing what he should

A second cry leads him round the side of the inn, into a dim lit alleyway, the tall buildings lining the edges cutting out most of the weak sunlight, only just starting to stream into the sky.  

He trails down it wearily, not nearly as awake as he would like to be.

Round another corner, to the back of the building, it’s there he finds them.

Four men, well, three and the innkeeper. A bloody and beaten innkeeper.

There was blood dripping from a split in the side of the man’s head, eyes cloudy and unfocused, arm up in defence-

He should probably leave.  

He watches one of the men hoist up a thick wooden bat, swing it round and bring it down against the Innkeeper’s head. Watches the man’s body crumple to the ground from the weight of the blow.

He should definitely leave

But…

The man had been kind, letting them in for less than adequate coin, accepting Geralt’s word that the rest would come after Geralt received payment for a finished job.

It shouldn’t matter. He should just leave.

The innkeeper groans, curls an arm over his head as his attacker lifts the bat once more.

Fuck.

“Um, hello- hello there.”

He’s not sure what he hopes to achieve with the words, provide a distraction? Draw their attention for a moment if nothing else. Part of him clings to a slim and desperate hope he might be able to choose the right words to defuse the situation

It works in part.

In that one of the men, thankfully unarmed, turns their attention away from the curled body.

Towards Jaskier.

Shit.

As the concerningly large man steps towards him he has just enough time to realise this may have been a… mistake.

“Right, now, um hello, if we could just slow down for a moment-”

The man swings, and he thanks the gods for instincts, driving him forward. He ducks around the fist, throwing himself to the side as best he can, somehow avoiding the first blow.

“Now I’m sure if we just-”

The man swings again, making contact this time, a fist slammed into his head, ears stinging. He gasps at the blow, tries to shake off the ringing.

He stumbles back, trying to give himself a second to let his jostled brain settle. Shit.

Another blow, he manages to half block this one, arm knocking away the worst of the blow, gods his head hurts.  Clearly attempts at conversation would get him nowhere.  

He takes a breath, steps forward and swings back. Smashes a fist into the fucker’s neck, feels a hand smash into flesh, bones protesting at the move.  

A worthy injury, the man stumbles back, choking, momentarily dazed if nothing else.

Fingers flex, ready for a second hit. Wondering what damage he could do if he manages to hit the same spot twice.

Not that he gets the chance to find out.

An arm wraps around his neck, yanking him back, cutting off the cry half formed in his throat.

He struggles, feet skidding against the ground, arms reaching up to tug uselessly on the tight and crushing weight around his neck, nails digging in, in a desperate attempt to force release. A soft chuckle rings in his ear, the man clearly certain of his inability to get away.

So, he throws a hand backwards, fingers scrabbling against the man’s face, aiming high to miss sharp and pointed teeth. A thumb finds an eye socket, pressing in hard. He feels something shift, something move under his thumb, giving way under the pressing weight.

The man screams.

Good.

The arm loosens around his neck, not a full release, but certainly weakened. He can work with that.

He curls his thumb, feeling the eyeball shift in response, revelling in the resulting scream. This proves enough, the arm around his throat dropping away.

He tips forward, deciding to go with the movement and sends himself sailing into the first asshole. It results in a heavy collision, a move he quickly regrets, realising that unlike him his attackers are built like a brick wall.

He feels his nose burst, caught between the rest of him and the bastard’s chest, blood pouring out and splattering across the man’s shirt.

He gags, yanking back, pressing a hand against the flow. Feels hot blood drip out between his fingers, splattering down his chin, warm and wet.

Fuck.

He splutters as it drips against his lips, a mist of blood droplets scattering into the air. The man laughs at the sound, fucker.    

So, he does the only thing he can think of, he smashes his forehead into the man’s face.  Feels the man’s nose crumple in turn. Good.

The man cries out, a wonderous sound. He presses on, drives a knee up, directly into the man’s groin. Feels the man crumple against him, half bent over and gasping for breath.

He drives the knee up again, earning a weak sob from the man.

He steps back, lets the man crumble to his knees.

Just in time to notice the heavy hat swinging at his head. He finches, head shifted to the side, arm reaching up to block the blow.  

He feels the whack vibrate through his arm, shaking it to the bone. Fuck does that hurt.

Still, he curls an arm around the wood, and yanks.  

And then the man yanks back.

Rough wood tears through the flesh of his hand, ripping a cracked scream from his lips.

But he does not let go.

He yanks back again. Lets himself become so focused on the piece of wood, on tugging it free, that he doesn’t notice the fist until it smashes into his face.

His already aching nose explodes once more in pain, his grip drops, bat slid easily out of his hand as he buckles over, clutching his aching and agonising face.

He hears the fucker in front of him step forward, boot scuffing against the rough cobblestones.

He tries not to panic, feeling his heart pick up, blood pumping through his body.

He does his best to straighten up. Square up. Stare down his opponent, prepare himself for the next hit.

The man laughs at that, lazily twirling the bat, clearly certain he has gained the higher ground. The man moves forward slowly, taking his time with the approach.  

He swallows. Feels the burn of hot blood trickle down his throat, soft and silky. Does his best not to share his fear. Tires not to flinch when the fucker takes another step towards him.

The last thing he expects is for the bastard to freeze, muscles seemingly locking in place. The man blanches, face draining of blood. His eyes focus on a spot just behind behind Jaskier, a tremble sliding into his fingers.

In the stillness he finally notices it, the sound of soft foot fall from behind him, someone, something, moving towards him.

He can’t stop a shiver when a wave of fear momentarily floods over him at the sound, trying not to panic further, debating whether he should risk looking behind him.

He feels the presence behind him. The heat of another body, the quiet huff of a breath- a… possibly familiar breath of a sound.

His attacker drops the bat, stumbling over his feet to back up, scrambling down the alleyway.

He hears a decidedly familiar huff from behind him, feeling the hot breath on the back of his head.

He tilts his head back, half turning, not surprised to see the familiar face of the Witcher.

“Hello,” the word comes out half gurgled, mouth slick with blood, “I didn’t know you were in the area.”

Geralt startles at that, a frown painting his face.

He snorts at the response, it’s not his fault, he may be concussed, he really shouldn’t be blamed for whatever words choose to stumble free from his lips right now.  Sticky, syrupy words, slowly spilling free.

Geralt’s frown deepens, taking a step back to give himself room to spin Jaskier the rest of the way round by the shoulders. Geralt presses a hand to Jaskier’s forehead, peels up one of the bard’s eyelids as wide as it will go, studying his pupils.

He tugs back from the touch, he is fine. He will be fine. He just needs a few minutes for his head to stop spinning.

Geralt hesitates, hand left hovering in the air, uncertainty showing plain on his face, “are you okay?”

He snorts, freezing in horror at the jet of blood which pours free, some of it splatters onto Geralt. He groans, shoves a sleeve against his nose in a desperate hope to at least somewhat stem the flow of blood still trickling free from it.

Spits out an, “I’m fine,” words muffled and mushy.

Geralt rises an eyebrow, staring at him closely, “Jaskier,” the word had the hint of a warning in it, a threat of what would happen if he lies about how he is, “how are you?”

He groans, eyes squeezed shut for a moment as he tries to take note of his current state. Work out the honest answer to the question. Cracks his neck, rolls sore shoulders, feeling them click back into place.

“ ‘m okay… think my nose is broken though.”

Geralt chuckles at that, “judging from the blood I’d be more surprised if it wasn’t.”

He groans again, daring a look down at himself, doublet and undershirt both stained in a splattering of red. Bright droplets already soaked in deep to expensive fabric, not the ideal outcome he wanted.

“…bollocks.”

Geralt huffs at that, the edge of amusement playing at his lips, well hidden under layers of irritation, unimpressed to see Jaskier more concerned with the state of his shirt than himself. “It’s had worse.”

He splutters, “this was new Geralt! I hadn’t even got the chance to perform in it yet.”

Geralt offers an almost smile at that, “you’re a menace,” he says softly, lacking any true bite.

“I’m a menace-”

“I leave you alone for half a day and look what you get into.”

“Hey, now- this wasn’t my fault, what was I supposed to do, leave an innocent man to die-”

He freezes at that, spins at the sudden thought of the innkeeper, realising that throughout the mess of a fight he had managed to completely forget about the man. Breathes a sigh of relief when he finds the man propped up against the side of the building, seemingly still breathing. Less relieving is the notably glossy stare in his eye, blood still sluggishly trickling down his face.

“Hmm, he is not okay.” Geralt offers helpfully over his shoulder.

“Yes, I can see that, thank you.”

“Someone should get him to a healer.”

At that he turns and levels Geralt with a meaningful stare, “someone should.”

“… it’s not my job.”

The Witcher grumbles, as he fusses over the innkeeper, checking the man is conscious, trying to coax… or possibly scare, coherent words out of him. Geralt pretends not to care, pretends this entire thing is beneath him, not something he does, as he always does when helping someone. But Jaskier has seen it all more than enough times to know it’s all an act.

The innkeeper proves more alive than expected, waving off most of the help, not letting them do much more than lift the man to his feet, help carry him back into the inn, half dumped behind the bar, left to be someone else’s problem.

Likely his wife’s, the poor woman having just woken up, clearly terrified by her poor husband’s current appearance.  

She bustles them out, swings the inn door shut with a determinative slam, leaving the two of them blinking in the bright morning light.

He stretches, rolls tired shoulders, and offers a tired sigh to the day, “well now that was not the best start to the day,”

Geralt snorts, turning to look at him properly once again. The Witcher seems to still for a second, hesitating for a moment, an unsure hand suddenly moving to wipe clean a spot on Jaskier’s cheek. A wasted effort, given the thick layer of blood trailing down from his nose, lips stained a vibrant red.

Geralt hums, examining the smear of red on his fingers, “not the worst start either.”

He hums back, an uncomfortable shiver flickering down his spine, “yea… it could have been much worse, if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

Geralt frowns slightly at that, “that’s not… you would have delt with it.”

He raises an eyebrow in response, “careful Geralt, that’s almost a compliment.”

Geralt smiles at the words, offering him a comfortable, if a touch painful, pat on the shoulder, “as close as you’ll get to one.”

He laughs back, wincing at the ache of his face, the crack of half dried blood painting his face, some still sluggishly trickling down his chin, uncomfortable and sticky.

Geralt snorts at the sight, uselessly wiping a smear of blood from the corner of Jaskier’s mouth, “Gods, You’re a mess.”

He hums at the touch, head tilted back, soaking in the sunlight, warm and comfortable despite the aching pain in his face, nose decidedly broken, “mmm, I’ll tidy up once we can get back into the room.” He sighs, scrunches his nose as best he can, trying to assess the damage, “you might need to take over earning our coin for a few weeks, I don’t know how much I’ll be bringing in with my pretty face looking like this.”

Geralt raises an eyebrow, “what makes you think I’ll spend my coin covering for your mistakes bard?”

He doesn’t bother responding to the question, knowing it’s not a real threat. That Geralt may complain and moan as much as he wants, but at the end of the day he will do his best to cover everything they need until Jaskier’s face heals.

Instead he tilts, knocking their shoulders together comfortably, an acknowledgement that he understands the jest.  Geralt nudges back, solid and secure.

He sighs at the contact, it truly had been an unusual start to a day, and the gods only know he had had better.

But perhaps it wasn’t the worst it could have been.

[dreamlover31]

Love Will Find a Way: Chapter 21

For the next several weeks, Rafael and Alexa settled into their new brownstone, every box was unpacked and every piece of furniture were arranged in the appropriate setting. At the same time, they resumed their daily functions with Rafael prosecuting difficult albeit worthy cases, and Alexa doing her part in ensuring that abused women and children were safe from imminent threats.

Ever since the incident involving Nicole’s abusive boyfriend, security at the shelter had been significantly upgraded, aside from metal detectors, a key card system was put into place along with a security booth encased in bullet proof glass. In addition, despite numerous budget cuts, a patrol car is parked outside the building, the new measures have given the staff members as well as their occupants a worry-free state of mind.

Alexa sat in her office looking over case files for incoming residents, word had gotten around about her pregnancy, whenever she walked in, she found small trinkets and gift baskets that congratulated her or had humorous sayings about motherhood.

Her focus shifted from the manila folder in her hand towards a figurine that Gladys bought for her, it was of a woman who was cradling her swollen belly as she looked downward, a few words were scribbled underneath the small cobblestone walkway that it stood on. The scripture read ‘You are about to receive the most precious gift anyone could give you.’

She smiled as she stroked her clothed belly, slowly, her mind wandered with thoughts of what this baby…this precious gift would look like, if he/she would inherit its father’s sassy attitude, what he/she would grow up to be but while these happy imaginings were flowing through, a terrible fear over casted them, I don’t know anything about becoming a parent, what if I screw up somewhere down the line and it ends up being so screwed up that it’s going to need therapy for the rest of its life. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door.

“Come in”

The door opened slowly, Alexa remained seated while she waited for the person to come into full view, her face lit up when she saw that it was Rafael holding a brown paper bag in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. She lifted herself off the chair and stepped to him, her arms slinked around his neck, in the same moment, the two shared a peck on the lips then nuzzled at each other’s noses.

“What are doing here? I thought you were in court”

“And hello to you too. The judge granted a continuance”

Alexa nodded as her gaze drifted to the paper bag in his hand.

“You brought me lunch?”

“Thought you might want to eat something before our appointment”

Alexa blinked a few times in the instant her facial expression changed into one of confusion, appointment? That’s funny, I don’t remember scheduling an appointment with anyone…but then again, I’ve been so busy with moving into the new house and catching up on my paperwork. Rafael observed her trying to recover the memory that had faded, ultimately, he decided to relieve her of her struggle.

“It’s ok, I know you’ve been busy…there have been times where I’ve forgotten a few things”

“You mean like the time you forgot that we were supposed to have dinner at that new Brazilian restaurant that opened up and ended up ordering in”

Rafael let out a small laugh while he simultaneously nodded.

“Not exactly my finest hour…but back to our present situation. We have an ultrasound scheduled today”

Alexa’s eyes widened, at the same time, she covered her mouth with both hands in a display of shock.

“Oh, my god…I totally forgot, I’m so sorry”

“It’s ok carino, here, why don’t you just sit down and have some lunch and we’ll head over to the doctor’s office”

“Ok”

She took the bag from his hand and opened it to see its contents, the aroma of fresh vegetables and salad dressing enveloped her nostrils, as a small moan vibrated along the inside of her lips. Her hand slipped inside the bag and removed a small plastic container and a black plastic fork, she passed Rafael the empty bag while he handed her the bottled water.

She made her way back to her desk placing the contents of her meal on top, Rafael spotted the loveseat on the left side of the room, before he lowered himself on it, he made a pit stop to the wastebasket at her desk and threw away the empty bag. They sat in a comfortable silence as Alexa dined on the fresh Caesar salad and sipped the cool crisp water, once she had her fill, she used a napkin to wipe any excess dressing from her mouth and then disposed of the remnants of her lunch.

“Alright then, you ready to go?”

“Yeah, I just have to let Gladys know that she needs to cover for me”

“I’ll be waiting out front”

Alexa reached for her purse then proceeded towards the door, she held it open as she gestured him to leave first, he thanked her as he headed out. The door closed behind her when she saw Gladys walking by, she signaled for her to come over, when they were in speaking distance, Alexa informed her that she’d be gone for the rest of the day due to a doctor’s appointment and that she had to hold down the fort so to speak, to which Gladys graciously accepted.

They embraced before Alexa followed Rafael to the front of the shelter, when she came outside, he had pulled up in the black SUV they recently purchased, since a little bundle of joy was on the way, they would need the extra space. After she climbed into the passenger seat and strapped on her seat belt, he put the car in gear and drove off.

As soon as he found a suitable parking space, they exited the vehicle and entered through the front lobby of the building, at the reception desk, Rafael announced their scheduled visit with the ultrasound technician. The receptionist concurred with his statement and directed them to the waiting area, she relayed that the tech would be with them shortly, the two of them spotted a couple of empty chairs and sat down.

As the minutes ticked by, Rafael twiddled his thumbs and nervously tapped his foot on the shagged carpeting of the waiting room, meanwhile, Alexa took a moment to survey the room, she observed some of the people but took an interest in the young couple that sat across from them. From the rings of that encircled their fingers, she surmised that they were married, the man’s head was curled up against his wife’s neck and shoulder; his hand was placed on top of her round belly gently rubbing it.

Alexa couldn’t help but feel touched by the show of affection he was giving not only his wife but their unborn child, at that moment, she pictured her and Rafael in that same position and inwardly chuckled. She turned towards Rafael and saw his current state, one of stress and nervousness, her hand intertwined inside his own, at that point he faced her.

“Hey, are you ok?”

“Yeah…I’m just a little nervous”

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine”

“Alexa?”

Both turned and saw a young blonde woman in scrubs, she introduced herself as the ultrasound technician they were scheduled to meet with, Alexa and Rafael stood up then shook hands with the young woman and followed her lead into the examination room.

After engaging in small talk, Alexa laid flat on the examination table, she lifted her shirt until it bordered along her chest area; Rafael pulled up a chair alongside the table. The technician applied the ultrasound gel on her stomach, with her back turned she turned on and calibrated the machine, then she proceeded to place the wand in the middle of Alexa’s abdomen and glided it along the designated area where the gel sat.

While she was making her movements along her stomach, Rafael’s and Alexa’s attention went towards the monitor of the machine, they waited anxiously for a clear picture of their little one, just as she’d done for him, Rafael took her hand into his and then pressed small kisses on her knuckles. The technician was at work pressing buttons to focus the image on display before them, after a few moments, something came on the monitor.

“Ok…I think I’m getting something here…there we go, say hello to your baby mom and dad”

Pure, unadulterated bliss spread across their faces as they took in the sight of the small human being, who was about the size of a pea pod, that was their child, as they continued to look on, tears began to form in Alexa’s eyes. I can’t believe that this is my baby, this beautiful little miracle…this is the most exhilarating moment of my life and I am ecstatic that the man I love is here to witness it with me and be a part of it.

“Would you like to know the sex of your baby?”

“Are you sure it’s developed enough yet?”

“You’re at 13 weeks, that’s the appropriate time for the baby’s gender to form”

Alexa looked up at Rafael as if to obtain permission from him, but he responded with a nod and permitted the technician to reveal their child’s identity. She looked back to the screen and continued to slide the wand along Alexa’s belly, then after a few minutes, she could make out the baby’s private area.

“Alright, I don’t see any testicles or a penis, so I think it’s safe to say that you guys are having a baby girl”

“Oh, my God…” Alexa gasped as she covered her eyes to attempt to shield her oncoming tears of joy, Rafael was equally overjoyed as he leaned over and placed small kisses on her forehead, Alexa wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck while streams of tears ran on to his jacket.

“I love you Alexa”

“I love you too Rafi”

“You guys want to listen to her heartbeat?”

“Of course”

With the click of a button, the rhythmic beating of their daughter’s tiny heart echoed throughout the room, Alexa’s tears continued to roll down her face, and at that moment, it was Rafael’s turn to show his emotions. Tears began to prick from his eyes, despite his efforts to remain strong, Alexa turned to him and gave him a reassuring stroke of his arm.

“It’s ok to cry Rafi, this is a very special moment for us”

“I know carino”

He gave her another peck on her forehead as tears began to fall from his eyes, a few minutes passed by as they regained their composure, the technician handed them their own copy of the sonogram picture of their daughter. She handed Alexa a paper towel to wipe the gel from her stomach, when they exited the room, they showed their appreciation with Rafael shaking her hand and Alexa enthusiastically hugging her.

Before they returned to their parking spot, they waved good bye to the technician and the receptionist, once they were inside and securely fastened, Rafael put the car in gear and made the turn around back to their home, during the drive, the expectant parents held hands while still feeling the sense of joy and overall wonder two parents experience after getting a peek of their child until the delivery day. Later that evening, Rafael and Alexa laid on their king-sized bed, her shirt was hiked up enough to where her stomach was exposed; as they laid side by side, Rafael traced small patterns across her stomach while she looked upon his face lovingly.

“It all seems so surreal”

“I know”

“Guess we need to get started on the nursery”

“I’m sure you have some ideas on how to decorate it”

“Maybe”

“Hmph…well I’ve already decided on the name”

“Really…when were you going to tell me?”

“Soon”

Rafael rolled his eyes as he scoffed while Alexa let out a small giggle.

“Alright, what’s the name?”

“Nadia…Nadia Jasmine Barba”

“I love it, it’s perfect”

She leaned forward and kissed him softly upon his lips, he returned her kiss as his hand perched itself on top of her hip, they continued to engage in a waltz of small tender kisses for a few moments while a medley of soft sighs and little bits of laughter joined in; they paused for a second to catch their breath.

In that instant, Alexa gazed upwards towards the skylight; tiny dots of light cascaded along the darkened sky, the natural beauty of this rare occurrence captivated her to the point where her heart clenched, Rafael shared in the experience as he draped an arm over her then held her close. Suddenly, there was a sliver of light that darted across the night sky, she pointed at it and exclaimed:

“Oh, Rafi look, a shooting star, quick make a wish”

“It came true already”

Once again, their eyes locked on to each other, she smiled at him then gave him another sweet and loving kiss, from there, he pulled the covers from under and placed them over their bodies. Alexa snuggled up against him with her arms splayed across his chest, Rafael in turn placed his hand on top the small of her back, within a few seconds; their minds drifted off into that of a deep sleep.

Tagging: @madpanda75 @laceybellerain @southern-magnolia @tropes-and-tales @teamsladsandgents @karens-imagined-world @itsjustmyfantasyroom @beccabarba @thatesqcrush @youreverycolor

[jghouse-asia-pacific]

New Post has been published on https://www.jg-house.com/2020/11/11/eternal-goodbye-rome/

Eternal Goodbye: Rome

Esby looked away just for a moment from the streams of cars with the image of her face appearing before his eyes. The digital watch strapped to his left wrist showed 7:15, its round face illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun. He had 30 minutes. The road to Fiumicino, the international airport on the outskirts of Rome, would be jammed.

The garbage on the streets was piling up. He had heard about the chaos of Rome, in fact, before he had moved to the Italian capital three months earlier. His colleagues in other European capitals were fond of using a different nickname for the Eternal City: Cairo North. But now the disorder was overwhelming.

Esby fought the impulse to kneel on the sidewalk next to a clump of weeds and an empty bottle of San Pellegrino mineral water at the edge of Via Cristoforo Colombo. It was the busiest thoroughfare in Rome. He could feel the presence of the Roman drivers, only inches away from him, as they navigated their motorbikes or slightly larger cars along the streams of traffic flowing in both directions as far as the eye could see.

None of it made sense to Esby. He laughed, looking up at the sky. Life now with Julienne was different than it had been. He would see her again soon, although how soon depended on when he arrived at the airport. Only fifteen minutes before, Esby barely could remain calm in his chair as he sat at his desk at the back of the editorial team’s office holding the receiver of the telephone to his ear and listened to the dispatcher speaking in local dialect.

“A taxi,” she had said, “will arrive for you in twenty minutes.”

All week Esby had been waiting to hear those words. He was, without a doubt, excited to see Julienne. To his colleagues and also to himself, he freely admitted the fact. But at the same time, he was feeling, he realized, increasingly anxious. Rome, in many respects, was a beautiful city, despite the growing mounds of garbage. However, most of all, it was stressful. Romans, often aggressively and dramatically, seemed to pursue conflict and tension; he, in contrast, required a certain amount of peace and harmony. In Rome, he barely could get by on his own. How could he look after Julienne, prone to self-doubt and insecurity?

The sky above the highway still displayed its lighter shades of blue. To the east it revealed darker shades of purple and even streaks of black to signal the approaching night. As Esby’s eyes moved, shifting his view from the blue expanse above back down to the grey streets and buildings of the city below, his glance fell on a small green sports utility vehicle.

People on the Street

Esby watched as the vehicle detached itself from a stream of cars and pulled to the side of the wide boulevard. It came to a halt directly in front of him. Esby recognized the driver. Carlo Medrone, a production manager in Esby’s company, sat behind the steering wheel of the compact SUV. The middle-aged corpulent man rolled down the window on the passenger door.

“Ciao, bello!” Carlo shouted.

The words resonated in Esby’s head. Loud, aggressive, familiar. Esby bent his torso slightly from its upright position to make eye contact with the driver, but instead his gaze was captured and directed downward to the floor in front of the passenger seat. In the next moment, Esby’s glance shifted back upward again, detaching itself from the images of naked women in lewd poses on plain covers of various magazines on the floor and, then, fastening on Carlo’s face. As quickly as Esby had felt in the previous moment a wave of embarrassment, he now felt a sudden and genuine confusion.

The Roman’s face was impassive, almost innocent.

Then Esby recalled that Carlo’s long-time boss, a Frenchman named Daniel, had published a series of pornographic titles for many years, although he had attempted to hide their existence from Esby and his compatriots who now worked for Daniel’s newest magazines, including the latest one about buying and selling art, where Esby was managing editor.

When Esby had moved to Europe 15 months earlier to take on the role of editor, he had struggled to adapt to a new life, both inside and outside the office of the young magazine. Then, a year after he had arrived in Brussels, where he and the rest of the editorial staff initially were based, he was forced to pick up his possessions and move to Rome, where his bosses in New York and their close friend and Roman partner, Daniel, had decided to take advantage of lower labor costs and publish all magazines.

“Where are you going?” Carlo asked, speaking in his native Romanesco with its long, indecent drawl. “Do you want a ride?” Esby felt a different emotion then. Was it disdain?

“I’m going to the airport, capo,” Esby replied, pronouncing carefully the words in the Italian he had been learning to speak, although he had studied the language at the university in California for three years because of some vague, romantic notions he had long since buried along with other, painful memories. Esby doubted the older man would want to drive him such a long distance. Fiumicino occupied a grassy plot of land 25 kilometers west of Rome.

Young Woman

“Well, we’ll see each other tomorrow at the office. Ciao,” Carlo said.

Carlo shifted his corpulence in the seat, looked over his left shoulder, and waited a few moments. Then he shot his car forward. The car moved away from Esby, and he watched as it attached itself once again to the stream of cars flowing, he thought, with more urgency among the dim shadows of evening.

Esby knew, at that moment, his life would never be the same, no matter the direction of his relationship with Julienne or the success or failure of his magazine, which currently was headed toward bankruptcy. He knew he had to keep trying out new ideas and new projects. He couldn’t go back to where he started. In California, there was nothing for him, except demons he was trying to escape.

  ***

“Ha. Ha. Ha.”

Then came a shriek. It happened again.

Esby opened his eyes. Laughter, he realized, had come from the corridor just beyond the door to his hotel room. He was awake now. A third shriek of laughter reached his ears, this time accompanied by the sound of rapid, but not heavy, footsteps on a carpeted floor. It was a small girl, or perhaps boy, Esby decided, running down the corridor. Then he heard the sound of a door opening and closing.

“The child is inside a room now,” he said to himself. He pictured the doors, all painted a dark red, to at least ten rooms along the light brown-carpeted hallway on the 5th floor of Hotel La Rovere, just off Piazza della Rovere.

A silence ensued. Esby looked to his right at the blue numbers of the digital readout covering the face of the clock on the nightstand.

“It’s almost 10:15,” he whispered. But the morning, the first part of Saturday, the day before Easter, had passed by entirely.

“Was breakfast still being served in the restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel? If the dining room downstairs was closed, could he find a small market or café nearby where he could order a quick meal?”

“There isn’t much time,” he whispered again.

Diners

Esby raised his torso a foot off the bed, propping himself on his elbows, and looked to his left. He saw the body lying next to him, completely enclosed in a white sheet and black comforter with red stitching. Julienne, still asleep, lay on her side facing the window, the window now hidden behind a thick, green curtain overlooking the narrow, cobblestone street below. A narrow band of sunlight breaking through the point at which the two parts of the curtain came together lit up a corresponding patch of brown carpet lying between the window and Julienne’s side of the bed.

Esby stood up from his side of the bed and moved toward the bathroom next to the front door.

The moment Esby closed the door of the bathroom and turned on the light above the blue-tiled sink, scenes from the previous night came flooding back.

The airport, on a Friday night leading into Easter week-end, barely could contain the surging crowds, large numbers of travelers who either were departing for other cities or were arriving in Rome. Small units, meanwhile, of traditional, brightly costumed carabinieri or more solemn, black-uniformed military personnel roamed the congested spaces of the terminal, moving their eyes from side to side.

Esby recalled rushing through the terminal, thinking he was one hour late and expecting to find Julienne sitting on a hard, metal seat, fuming, ready to voice displeasure. But, then, he recalled, after carving a path through the crowds and reaching a designated waiting room, he had lingered for one-and-a-half hours, pacing back and forth on the hard linoleum floor until seeing at last on a monitor above his head an update indicating Julienne’s plane—Virgin Express flight 2717—had landed in Rome.

The plane had departed Brussels much later than planned. Why hadn’t Julienne called? Maybe the plane been trapped on the tarmac, unexpectedly, and Julienne couldn’t call because her cell phone didn’t have a signal inside the cabin? Maybe she had forgotten her phone?

It was almost midnight, Esby remembered, when Julienne appeared in the baggage-claim area, walking quickly and assuredly on five-inch heels pulling a small suitcase on wheels. He had wanted to take her back to the city center and check into the hotel room he had reserved. But, immediately, he realized he couldn’t.

“Let’s go find a restaurant and eat some pizza or pasta,” Julienne said upon approaching him, flashing her trademark smile and kissing him. Then she transferred the handle of her suitcase from her left hand to his right hand. “I’m hungry,” she added.

Julienne never explained either the reason the plane arrived in Rome late or why she had not called. Her phone, he noticed, was inside her purse. It was another mysterious misconnection. Something always seemed to go wrong, or she changed plans with no explanation.

***

#Europe, #Italy, #LifeCulture #Beauty, #Culture, #Love, #Rome

[ssendlessexpanse]

PROLOGUE - CHAPTER 1 MAPS

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

PARADISE | DECK [ x ] - The deck of the ship is mostly light brown hard wood, and the railings are gold. 

Foyer - The Foyer is located at the stern of the ship. The floors are dark hard wood, and the walls are covered in ornate navy blue wallpaper. The first noticeable thing upon entering the room is the large elevator that sits tucked in between two curving staircases. It’s completely see-through and glows a faint blue. The top of the elevator has a large golden clock being held by a golden statue of a woman. The two curving stair cases lead up to large wooden double doors. A gold plaque reads ‘CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS’ on the front of the door. It appears to be locked. Upon looking up you notice that the ceiling of the room is in fact a large glowing clock that is ticking away. 

Edit: The large glowing clock that makes up the ceiling in the foyer now glows red.

Volleyball Courts - Two sand pits stand in the middle of the light brown wood of the deck. The nets are large and there is a basket of volley balls waiting on the sides of both courts. Beach chairs lay out on the outskirts of the volleyball court for benched players and spectators alike. 

Edit: There is a cart filled with volleyballs, and extra wire for the nets laid out next to the courts. 

Pool - A small set of stairs leads down to a sand pit that mimics a beach. A beautiful clear pool sits in the middle, with two islands on both ends of the pool and a bar sitting in the very center equipped with fine liquors, beers, and an icy maker. Palm trees jut from the sands on the left and right of the pool, and umbrellas with beach chairs are scattered about to take a break from swimming. There is a shed close to the entrance to the bow of the ship where inflatable balls, tubes, and more are kept. 

F1 | LIVING QUARTERS [ x ]

Suites - Upon exiting the elevator, the first thing to note is the long and wide hallway of rooms. The walls and floor match that of the foyer above you.  In the center of the room is a long fountain of water that has a gentle flow of water shooting up rhythmically. Each door has a sign that can be written on accompanied by a marker. The inside of each suite has the same hardwood floors as the lobby and foyer, but each room has different colored walls. Provided is a bed for one, a closet, a dresser, a desk with storage, a small vault for valuables, and a balcony overlooking the ocean. There is a bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet as well.

Lounge - The Lounge shares the same floor and wall combo as the foyer and lobby. Inside is large bar to the left of the room with all manner of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages you can imagine. A pool table and accessories sit across the bar. Further into the room there are several tables set up with chairs tucked underneath each of them. A large jukebox sits in the back of the room. There are several book cases lining the right wall. The most notable part of the room is the large stage that sits at the end. It has deep blue curtains that are currently closed.

Restaurant - The restaurant is incredibly large and seems to fit more people than are meant to be on the ship. There is a host station at the front of the restaurant with books detailing which guests are meant to sit where, and server assignments. No one is manning the station, however. The whole room is dimly lit in a soft blue with candles on each of the tables providing yellow light on each of them. The ceiling resembles the top of a cave and there is a large chandelier in the center of the room that has mechanical fish moving in a circle around it as if they are swimming. Their shadows can be seen projected by the lights in places around the room. At the end of the room is a large stage with a piano, and a door that leads back to the kitchen. 

Kitchen - The kitchen has checkerboard black and white tiles, and pristine white walls. Ovens, stoves, microwaves, blenders, and all manner of cooking equipment can be found anywhere you look. Pots and pans hang from the ceiling and silverware sets are laid out and easy to find. There are several carts for carrying food lined up against one wall. There is a large container mounted to the wall with all manner of knives, but it is locked up tight. In the back of the room is dry stock storage, and a large cooler and freezer to keep food cold. 

Edit: The dry stock storage shelf seems more full than usual... but you quickly notice it’s because the dry stock has been stuffed on to the other shelves and now there is a shelf dedicated to rat poison. There seem to be a box of locks and keys as well, but they seem to only fit on to the freezer door. 

F2 | DIONYSUS’ GARDEN [ x ] - The third floor of the ship is drastically different from the rest of the ship so far. When you exit the elevator you suddenly feel as if you are in a different time. A large white marble sign covered in vines and grapes reads DIONYSUS’ GARDEN and leads into an area that feels like an ancient Greek garden. Broken white columns are scattered around covered in wild life, and there is a white cobblestone path, broken and with plants coming through some of the stones. There are two small streams that are on each side of the pathway. The ceiling is covered in leaves with light shining through some openings to mimic trees and sunlight. There are marble statues of the same woman in robes scattered about the floor in different poses. 

Spa - The spa includes several automated massage tables and chairs, as well as a steam room in the back. There seems to be towels, nail files and polish, and all manner of pampering tools stored at the front desk of the room.

Winery - The Winery is almost completely wood. In the back of the room are four incredibly large barrels of aged wine. The ceiling is covered in grape vines and plant life. There is a long bar on the right side of the room, and several small tables with two chairs to each scattered around. The room is mostly candle lit. The walls of the room have several paintings of what appear to be wine vineyards and the scenery of Italy. 

Edit: Several bottle openers are lined up on the counter.

Edit 2: Two paintings in the room are missing.

Game Room [ x ] - The Game Room would be dimly lit if not for all the neon lights and flashing of game machines. It appears to be a large casino, but you can see there are tables set up for board games, arcade machines, dart boards, and more. There is upbeat music playing in here to keep a high energy. In the center of the room is a statue of Dot cheering and a ticket machine in front of her. 

Club [ x ] - There is a large flashing tunnel leading into the club’s red doors. Upon entering, you are greeted by a large dance floor with pulsating lights, and complicated lighting machinery and a disco ball above. There is a DJ station in the back of the room that seems to be automated and sits on top of a stage. The music playing is loud, and you’re surprised you couldn’t hear it as you approached. Against one wall is another bar fit with the finest drinks, and in another corner is a spiraling staircase that leads to a VIP seating area. 

Observatory [ x ] - The final room on this floor is tucked away in the very back. The door leading into it is large, purple, and covered in vines. It takes a bit to open, but you manage to do it with a bit of force. Upon entering you feel as if you’ve been transported outside again. The room is circular with flowers and plant life everywhere you look. Even underfoot is grass and a small stone path that leads to the center of the room where several benches circle a large fountain. The ceiling looks like the night sky with twinkling stars. Occasionally the stars will connect with lines to show different constellations. Floating around the room are small lights that glow occasionally that seem to be acting as fireflies. The room fills you with a sense of peace. 

Edit: There is a box of gardening supplies in the back of the room. Gardening hoes, shovels, watering cans, and etc.

[themurphyzone]

Mayor Murphy Ch 2

Ch 2- Isabelle and Exposition

As soon as Milo set one foot outside the train station, he was immediately swarmed by several excited anthropomorphic animals. “Is that the new mayor?” a white squirrel asked. “I sincerely hope I’m not seeing things.” 

“Oh, Marshal. Patience is a virtue,” a doe rolled her eyes. 

An alligator huffed. “Who cares? Let the guy speak already!” 

A yellow dog gestured for them to calm down. Perched on top of her head was a pair of bells that rang with every move she made. “From us to you, we say, WELCOME TO FORTUNA!” 

Everyone released party poppers, cheering. They failed to notice Milo’s confusion. He waved shyly. “Um, hi?” 

“Milo! What’s going on out here?” Melissa demanded, rushing out of the station. “Who are you people?” 

“Animals? People-animals?” Sara scratched her head. “Did we get off at the right stop?” 

“Everyone keeps saying Fortuna, so we must be in the correct place,” Zack reasoned. “But first, we’re just here on a penpal exchange. Do you guys not get a lot of people coming through here?” 

The yellow dog bowed in apology. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ve been planning this day for months since Tortimer retired that I didn’t really prepare a good explanation!” Starry eyed, she grabbed Milo’s hands. “And you, you’re perfect for the job! This sweatervest just radiates power! The storing capacity of your backpack!”

Sara gently pried her off Milo. “We really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Eep!” she bowed so quickly several times that Milo thought she was going to get whiplash. “I need to explain stuff better! I’m so sorry! My name is Isabelle, and I’m the secretary! But we’ll get to that in a moment. The more important thing is, you’re our mayor!” 

“Mayor?” Milo gasped. “Well, as cool as that sounds, I just got out of 7th grade. I don’t know much about civics.”

“That’s okay, Mayor Milo! I handle all the paperwork around here! Now, we should really continue this discussion at Town Hall. So if you and your friends would kindly follow me,” Isabelle said. 

The other animals whispered to each other, sneaking curious glances at them as they walked away. 

Fortuna looked like a great place to live in, even if it was rather vacant. They passed by several small flower gardens, surrounded by honeybees and small, white butterflies. Peaches blossomed on the trees, though one in particular caught Milo’s eye. 

“Hey, Isabelle?” Milo asked, interrupting her spiel about the previous mayor. “What kind of peach is that? I’ve never seen anything like it before.” He pointed to a golden peach that hung on the lowest branch of a nearby tree. 

“An excellent question, Mayor Milo!” Isabelle tapped the trunk. “This here is what we like to call a Perfect Peach! There are many varieties of Perfect Fruit, and if you sell only one of these babies to a town where it’s not native, then you get a whole lot of Bells!” 

“Bells?” Melissa asked. 

“I’m getting ahead of myself. It would be a lot easier if you learn by doing these things!” Isabelle set off at a much quicker pace, forcing everyone to run so they could keep up with her. “Town Hall is just over that bridge!” She pointed to a flowing, sky blue river with an old bridge above it. On the other bank rested an impressive building with the words “Town Hall” on a wooden plaque above the entrance. 

Isabelle crossed the rickety bridge with ease, lightly humming as she waited for everyone else. “You guys might want to cross first,” Milo offered. 

Melissa set one foot on the bridge, tensely clutching the ropes as she carefully moved to the other side. Zack made it across after much encouragement. Melissa patted his back as he breathed heavily. Sara slipped her arm around a coil of rope before carefully moving across, her foot nearly going through a gap in the blanks. 

“Come on, Milo!” Melissa yelled. 

Milo hiked up his backpack, wobbling as the bridge swayed beneath his feet. He made it to the middle before the plank beneath him collapsed, dropping him several feet into the water below. 

Milo splashed around wildly for a few seconds before realizing that he wasn’t moving. Isabelle giggled. “You’re so silly, Mayor Milo! The rivers aren’t deep at all around these parts!” 

“By any chance, are you aware of Murphy’s Law?” Milo asked, grabbing the end of the rope Sara threw to him. She and Zack hauled him onto the bank, unfolding a towel so he could dry off. 

“No, I’ve never heard of it,” Isabelle said. 

“It just means anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” Melissa explained. “Milo’s descended from the guy it was named for.” 

“It’s a family thing,” Sara added. “But we usually try to see it as a way to explore more opportunities.”

“That’s interesting! It would liven up the town a little more!” Isabelle clapped. “Let’s go in. I might have spare clothes lying around somewhere....” She opened the door, her short, poofy tail wagging in excitement. 

They took advantage of the waiting area at the front while Isabelle dug around for a spare set of clothes. “I’m so confused right now,” Zack shook his head.

“Join the club,” Melissa muttered. 

Sara looked up from drying Milo’s hair. “We were caught so off guard that we left all our luggage at the train station. We’d better grab it the first chance we get.” 

“I don’t think it’s so bad. Suddenly being declared mayor aside, of course,” Milo said. 

Isabelle carried a bundle of clothes back to them. “Here’s what we have available! I have to find the paperwork, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll need to go find that too. I’m so sorry, I’ll try to be better organized in the future! I promise!” 

She dropped the clothes on an empty seat and ducked behind the counter, several crumpled up sheets of paper flying through the air. Milo looked through the pile, selecting a red t-shirt with a diamond pattern and a pair of jeans. “Isabelle?” he called. “I hate to interrupt, but do you happen to have anywhere private I could change?” 

There was a muffled “ow” as she withdrew her head from a cabinet. “No, you aren’t interrupting anything! And don’t worry about a thing. One size fits all, otherwise it wouldn’t be made from the Able Sisters!” She led Milo to a small office in the back, smiling as she shut the door. “I’ll have the paperwork out before you know it, so please take your time!” 

The first thing in the room Milo noticed was the enormous painting of what appeared to be an old tortoise with a beard. It hung above an empty fireplace, obviously well-kept and free of dust. A polished, dark brown desk proudly sat in the middle of the room. Milo draped his wet clothes on a chair and pulled on the set Isabelle had generously provided. 

“She wasn’t kidding. One size really does fit all,” Milo marveled at how comfortable the jeans was. As an afterthought, he also brought out a spare sweatervest from his backpack and pulled it over the shirt. He spun around in the plush, black chair for several minutes before stepping out. 

Isabelle grinned. “I knew you would look good in the red argyle tee! Even if I don’t have much of an eye for fashion.”

“Okay, so could you please explain all this mayor stuff?” Zack asked. “And about the penpal program?” 

“Ah! I forgot to tell your penpals to include that in correspondence!” Isabelle shrieked. “Okay, our former mayor Tortimer decided to retire so he could enjoy his golden years in peace. This caused a major disruption in the time stream of Crossing Valley. My twin brother, Digby, came up with the idea of the penpal program to find eligible young people to take his place.” 

“Did you say time stream?” Sara gasped. “Milo, it’s like we’re living in an episode of Dr. Zone! This is gonna be so cool! But what exactly is Crossing Valley?” 

It was Isabelle’s turn to be in shock. “You’ve never heard of Crossing Valley? Fortuna is just one of many towns in it! All the towns are at different points in time, so while it’s the beginning of summer here, it could easily be Toy Day elsewhere. And that’s just scratching the surface. I know we look cut off if you just look at the size of the cliffs, but with a few Public Works Projects, PWPs for short, we could easily have contact with other towns.” 

“Right, so time stuff. Okay then,” Zack said. 

“It really does sound like a Dr. Zone episode,” Milo said. 

Isabelle glanced at him. “Mayor, who is Dr. Zone?” 

“He’s a character from a TV show we like,” Sara said. “Say, do you get cable out here?” 

Isabelle shook her head. “Programming in Crossing Valley and the outside world tend to be very different. However, we do have wi-fi.” 

Sara deflated. “Guess we’re livestreaming Dr. Zone for the summer, Milo. It doesn’t really feel as good if we aren’t watching it on the big screen.”

“Before I give you the paperwork, you need to go visit Nook’s Homes. It’s a big real estate office, you can’t miss it! Just cross the railroad tracks and you’ll be there in no time! You need to be a resident of the town before we can officially declare you mayor,” Isabelle said. “Also, Digby can answer more questions about the penpal program. We’re trying something new to attract more animals to move in, but he’ll be able to tell you more about that than I ever could, the dork.”

“Real estate? Hold on, I don’t have the money to purchase a house!” Milo protested. 

“It’s not hard to make Bells around here. But for now, just focus on finding a good place to live,” Isabelle ushered everyone out of Town Hall, waving to them.  

“All in favor of going with the flow?” Sara asked. Everyone nodded. “As I thought. Isabelle’s nice and stuff, but I don’t thinks she realizes that you aren’t staying here permanently.” 

They walked along the riverbank, finding a cobblestone bridge downstream. While crossing, a rabbit with three gaping, empty holes in the middle of her head stopped them. “Hi, you’re our new mayor, right? Diana told me the news, doyoing! Oh, my name is Coco! It’s a pleasure!” 

Zack stiffened. “What’s up with your face?” 

Melissa lightly punched him on the shoulder. “Don’t be rude!” she growled. 

“Oh, it’s okay. I don’t mind,” Coco replied. Her facial expressions didn’t move as she spoke, so it was impossible to tell if she was offended by the question. “I’m actually a spirit possessing a haniwa.” 

She skipped away, oblivious to Zack freaking out. “I have no idea what a haniwa is,” Melissa said. 

“They’re terracotta figures that were used for funeral rites in Ancient Japan,” Sara explained. 

“Let me guess, you learned about it from Dr. Zone,” Melissa said. 

“No, she’s just really into history,” Milo smiled. 

As they swung by the train station to pick up their belongings, they discovered all their luggage was missing. “Hey, monkey man!” Sara shouted. She lifted up him by his shirt, the monkey anxiously squeaking in shock. “What happened to all our things? We have valuables, you know!” 

“Double eek eek! It’s all been taken care of! The Nook’s Homes crew have your things and are waiting for you right now!” the monkey screeched. 

“This is way too much exposition for one day,” Melissa sighed. 

[wnestaarcheron-blog]

Twisted Nightmares begin

There was nobody around. As fey opened her eyes and looked around she found herself in a room she’d only been in once. In place of a bed, she was on a table. No, it wasn’t that, it was a stretcher. A cruel device meant to stretch the joins of the poor soul strapped into the leathers on each corner.

A coppery tang filled the air and looking down Fey found, much to her horror, she was laying in blood. Not hers, no she felt fine. However there was a lot of blood. She tried to cry out as she scrambled off the torture device, only to find that not only could she not make any sound, but the floor was quite literally flooded with blood as she practically face-planted into it. Scrambling back, she sits in the middle of the blood filled room while taking stock of everything around her. 

The device she awoke on was planted in a corner, the blood on it having flowed steadily from the ceiling above. Blood dripped from the cracks in the wood above her head while along the walls it flowed in streams between the cracks of the cobblestone walls. Of which were littered with shackles that held decaying bodies reeking of death and various other torture devices.

While looking around she notices a rather plain looking door, no blood to be seen on it. Not even a smudge. In fact, the blood seemed to be held back by some sort of invisible barrier.

Quickly, Fey gets up and runs towards the door. She reaches out a hand. . .and as her hand touches the door she’s thrown back violently, slamming into a brazier that was placed in the center of the room and knocking it over. The fire instantly sizzles out and the room becomes much darker, lit only by the small scones adorning four corners of the room.

Getting up with a groan she looks around. Wait, did the room get smaller? A few of the torture devices seem to be closer together and not quite as well placed as before. No, it had to be her imagination.

Once more she tries the door, with much more caution. As her fingers graze the door handle, the hand is thrown back. It twists painfully and she cries out. Or tries to, as she finds that she really doesn’t have a voice. Panic begins to well in her and she looks around.

Okay, the room definitely got smaller. Some of the devices are misaligned or collided with each other. And where the scones had a good few feet of clearance from the nearest wall they now had less. Now she really takes a good look at the room.

To her right is a wall lined with shackled corpses that have limbs twisted or shattered in ways that make her cringe. Some of the shackles have bolt like devices or numerous needles that pierce the decaying flesh.

The wall in front has a triangular shaped piece of wood with shackles above it as well as a few cages that are far too small for even her to sit in comfortably. The left has the device she awoke in along with some that look to crush joints and one that looks to hold someone in place with daggers that can be adjusted. Maybe. . .

She quickly wades through the blood, which has gone from her ankles to her knees now, and tries to pry a dagger loose. At first it doesn’t budge, but after twisting a knob at the other side of the wooden frame it comes loose.

Experimentally she throws it at the door while watching the walls. It’s thrown back straight at her and she has no time to react as it pierces through her completely, slamming into the wall behind her. She feels the icy burn and it takes a moment for her to realize she was hit. Only, when she looks down there’s no wound. Blood, yes, but no wound. The pain lingered a moment then faded and she gasped. ‘What the rutting hells is going on?’ She thinks to herself.

Again the walls seemed to have shrunk, now pushing the devices towards the center of the room. The door however hasn’t budged, and the blood was still avoiding that specific spot, even though it was now climbing to her waist.

Sheer terror runs through Fey. Blood still poured through the ceiling and along the walls and she was no closer to figuring out how to get out.

CLICK. CLICK. PING.

Suddenly the walls begin a very slow advance, like the three walls moved through each other in a way that defied physics. Terror grips Fey. ‘This is where I die! I have no idea where I am, but I am going to die!’

Frantically she throws herself at the door again, only to be launched back. She charges again, trying to bust through it, but once again she’s thrown back. Fey does this over and over, until the walls are now touching her shoulders. Tears stream down her face and she tries to reach for the door again. It throws her hand back, and the walls click. She closes her eyes and waits to be crushed. . .

Only nothing happens. She opens her eyes and she’s standing in the middle of a room, the same room, but there’s no blood and the walls are where they should be. She’s still covered in blood up to her shoulders though. But she was unharmed, and the door was wide open now leading into a dark hallway.

Moving forward, her entire body suddenly bursts into extreme pain, and she falls to the floor with wide eyes as she tries to scream. Still no voice, the only thing she hears is air escaping her lungs as her entire body feels like it got smashed into paste. Quick as it came though, it was gone. Save for the exhausted feeling in the wake of all her muscles contracting in pain at the same time.

Pushing herself slowly to her feet she makes her way to the door. The only sound in the area is the soft padding of her footsteps as she makes it to the doorway. Peering into the hallway though there’s nothing. It’s pitch black. She cant even see two steps before her, like there’s a wall of pure black.

Looking back she inspects the scones. A torch placed into an iron bracket just above head height. She reaches up and grabs it, sliding it up and out of the bracket. She hurries back to the doorway and steps out into the hallway.

Despite the torch, she hardly can see any further. The light dimly touches the walls, merely two feet from where she stood. Regardless she presses on slowly, straining her eyes to try and pierce the shroud of darkness. Unfortunately she doesn’t have the eyes of a keeper, so she has to rely on the light from the fire.

Or had. There was a sudden strong breeze from behind her blows the torch out, and her panic rises again. She frantically looks around but there’s nothing to cast any light and nothing to light the torch with. And her attempt to use Aether to light anything fails miserably as she cant pull up any of her reserves of magic. It was like a blanket was thrown over her well of magic.

There was scratching somewhere down the hall. Like metal drug against stone. She cranes her ears to try and pin point the location, but in the hall it seemed to echo from everywhere at once.

Fey finds a wall and begins running. The sound of the metal on stone followed her. Everywhere and nowhere at once threatening to topple her sense of balance were it not for the hand running along the wall beside her.

The sound of iron on stone grew louder and louder, and the sound of shrill laughter beneath it. A young woman, but yet not. All the hair on Fey’s neck was on end and her tail was puffed up to double the normal size.

Time seemed to slow as she heard movement behind her, and she turned in time to see a figure with no eyes and gangling limbs leap at her. An elongated arm stretched far beyond what should be possible reached back and speared for Fey.

Dodging to the size, the arm narrowly missed and caused a giant crater in the wall where she was not a second before. She tries to cry out as she runs but she cant, her voice still gone entirely.

An eerie laugh, high pitched and not wholly of this world sounds behind her followed by the sound of another jump. Fey looks back and trips at the same time that she sees that arm come back.

The arm goes straight through Fey’s belly, pinning her to the ground. She tries to scream, to no avail. Nor does her struggling which only causes more pain. Once more the figure comes into sight. No eyes, no bone structure and the lips were sewn shut.

Her mind went completely blank, between the pain and the frightening sight before her as the misshapen being stood over her. The knees went the wrong way and the skin was tight to the bone with seemingly nothing beneath it.

Once more that laugh sounds as the creature stands over her and raises another arm. Fey could do nothing as it brought that arm down towards her, and she shuts her eyes.

There’s the sound of something slamming into the cobblestone beside her, and she opens an eye slightly. The hallway was lit and the creature was gone. Once more she looked down to find her belly intact. Though the pain still lingered, and this time it didn’t fade right away.

She laid there for a time, panting. Pressing a hand to her belly she slowly pushes herself to her feet. The pain keeps pulsating in her belly throughout her entire body, but she keeps going.

And so does the hallway, it never seems to end. Fey walks for what feels like hours, no doorways come in sight or windows. The feeling of being watched begins to grow and Fey finds herself looking over her shoulder constantly. Someone or something was watching her. And there still was no end to the hallway.

_______________________________________________________

END PART ONE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED

_______________________________________________________

[shutupxdance-blog]

TW: SUICIDE 

There’s something at the back of his neck. Jude’s eyes shoot open, head thrashing from side to side in a worried frenzy. The thing holds him still a minute, pressing, but not throttling. He stills, looking to side like a cat being held by the nape. It’s a hand, following a strong arm, with power, but gentleness. There is his father’s scraggly beard, his thick framed glasses, the sharpness of his jaw and weight of his tall frame- but not the tenderness of his eyes. There are clothes known to Jude on him. Their well coveted, pristine, and loved Sunday clothes, reserved only for entering God’s house. His own clothes are tattered, ripped, patched, like a street beggar. He flashes his eyes towards that sage face, but in return, only receives the wrinkles and crow’s feet that run down the side of his face. He pays him no mind, but lays the hand there. Stern faced. Stern handed. Hollow, an imitation. The gallows-walker’s breath is abated, and catches in his throat. To the father’s left is a visage as worn and old as his, pressed hair running over her shoulders, smiling lips instead drawn taught. Her tediously ironed dress looks faded. She looks onwards, chin high, as mother always did when approaching the chapel. Jude carries his head low, but the father’s guiding hand brings his sight back to level. He peeks, slowly, to his right. A boastful silhouette, solemn instead of boisterous, like the model edifice Theodore always was. Shaggy hair, covering his eyes slightly, a face ever unchanging, as Mason always had. They’re dressed the same, pressed suits or vests, clean and pristine, but aged, somehow. Like a sepia frame was cast over his eyes. There are figures beyond them, the whole communion, with vigil candles clasped in their hand, held up slightly. They are undefined faces, unknowable entities, but they come to mourn. Jude trembles, looking straight on, struggling to maintain composure. The father takes the initiative, a step forward, pressing Jude to step forward on the winding path towards the church. There’s the squelching of mud underneath their shoes, coupled with the clicking of cobblestone. The dark night air, the overcast sky, the soft drip of one or two drops on his face. He follows along, as does the remaining family members, and the entirety of the churchbodies. His teeth are grit hard enough to break, his skin, clammy, his chest, hollowing. A hum overtakes the communion, a melancholic melody coupled with a sorrowful harmony. The aria casts over them with the coming rain. The trek is slow paced, but over quickly, as if the space ahead contorted and shrank just for them, God’s children. An eternity in an instant. They stand in front of mighty oak panels. Jude is coaxed up the steps, and the doors swing open with a gust, awaiting his arrival. It’s empty, unlit, with the only light streaming through two great glass windows at the back of the foyer. The congregation files in, shambling forward like an army of corpses, presenting Jude to a tall figure: a robed priest, standing over a podium, shadow stretching across and out of the church itself. His father gently pushes Jude to his knees in front of the holy man, and all but the Huxley family sits like statues among the pews. It’s a still, oppressive, humid air, filled with nothing but silence. “Oh Father,” the gruff, worn voice of Christen Huxley begs, drenched in hoarseness and sorrow. “The Devil’s got my boy. Please, we humbly beg- cleanse this boy’s soul once again. Rid him of those sinful thoughts.”

A cough rings out. Jude tries to speak, to open his mouth, but all that comes out is a series of wheezy coughs and a few drops of black phlegm spattering the floor. The congregation swells with gasps, glancing from side to side, astonished murmurs. Annabelle sobs something fierce, rushing to the comfort of her eldest son, who embraces her gently. Theodore lacks any eyes, but Jude feels his gaze weigh down upon him. Mason does not offer any solace. The priest looks down at him, coldly. He does not dare to budge an inch under the watch of God’s eye. “I will do my best,” the man starts. Behind the podium, his old hands reach, brandishing something leather. A flog, beaded knots across each rope, a cold, unforgiving atmosphere. It rises up, a soul ascending to heaven, judgement from above. He tenses for this first hit.

“May the holy cross be my light!” It calls.

Strikes bludgeon across his face, bruising, searing like a brand.

“Crux sacra sit mihi lux!” They echo.

Cracking like lightning against earth, blood from the side of his head, out of his ears, from his nose.

“Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil.”

It seems like ages, from his head, his neck, his back, it’s bloodied, bruised, bleeding. A proper beating if any. There’s not a spot left unsullied.

“Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas.”

Inert, sitting on his knees, head hung down. Not an inch of movement, save for gravity and blood. The words fade away, his hearing deafened by nothing but ringing, the words of prayer lost on him.

The priest crouches slightly after what seems like hours of lashing. It’s a deceptively gentle touch, a caress of both sides of his face, eyelids hung low, breath abating. He shakes Jude once, twice, and his family looks on, trembling themselves. The sobs of his mother are joined by his brothers, and eventually, his father, staring down guiltily at his battered form, knowing they may as well have held the flog themselves.

“Speak.”

The priest commands. He tries, Jude tries, his lungs exhausted, coughing out specs of black.

“Speak!” He can’t. The words well in his throat, sting at the corners of his eyes. Tears roll down, at last, inky and black, abyssal and unholy. It perforates his being, creaks upwards and gushes up from the floorboards, nothingness, thick, soupy, nothingness. He cries soundlessly, overpowered by the screams of the churchbodies in horror and abhorrence, the abandonment of his kin as they step back, the rejection of the priest. For once, he staggers to his aching feet, bloodied body, clothes stained with black. He runs, he runs because it’s all he can do, out the doors, with the crowd following.

“Demon, demon! Unhand our holy youth!”

It aches to move, but Jude runs like never before, the cocktail of pain and guilt overpowered by his sheer need to live. He’s never wanted to live any more that in this moment, running from the mob behind him, torches in hand. He detours, brushing past the trunks of Old Scratch’s territory: the forest. The rain hails down on him, the mud clings to his shoes. He tumbles over roots, falls to his scraped and worn hands, but never stops. Through rivers, through darkness, through water and storm.

The Huxleys lead the charge, a clamor of prayer and obscenities, of loving hands holding torches and pitchforks. Neighbours turn to hunters, family into executioners. He’s alone to rot, cutting and scraping what little untouched skin he has, wiping the tears out of his eyes. He runs until their voices become faint, until he lacks the breath to continue on. The chase ends in a clearing, where the trees criss and cross as prison bars do, gating the path in front of him, and closing off the path behind him. Nothing but grass and still wind surrounds him, the moon hanging high above his head as he collapses in the center, looking up, pleading. His once white clothes are stained black and red, lying in the center of what unfurls to be a pentagram. He’s on his knees once again, but no prayer comes from his lips. A crackling noise breaks through, like the cold nights on the stage when he tended that small flame in the company of others. He turns, alone, to a skyline of trees lit ablaze, burning like wicker and candles, smokestacks high into the sky. The stars of the night are covered, leaving only the moon as his bramble cage joins in the wake of the congregation. Their torches, this destruction, his death. He can’t hold it any longer- the tears from his eyes are unsightly and dark, but they hit the ground, flooding the grass until his trousers are soaked. It soaks into the ground, bubbling slowly, ferociously, in an area in front of him. Something curls, unfurls, billows and rises up from the ground, a figure dressed in black, forming and shaping like it’s being carved out of the liquid. It’s a flowing, wrapping robe, topped with the skull of a ram. Something distinctly inhuman and human simultaneously. He cries, and it comes closer. Jude falls back, sobbing, but it takes him in its arms, swaddles it in its body, coos something unholy. It’s fingers rake through his hair, stroking him gently, covering him from the heat of the fire. Bruised and battered, he gives in, leaning forth into its loving embrace, smelling like smoke and honey. It recedes, pulling away slowly, sticky and viscous, clinging to his right hand for a bit. The flames surround the both of them, moments away from consuming them entirely. Clingy hands soon part, leaving an object in Jude’s grasp.

A revolver.

He looks up to Old Scratch, with pleading eyes. It nods at him, kneeling down, staying with him and by his side at the same time. The flames nearly reach him. Jude realizes, in that moment that this should’ve happened a long time ago,

In the end, the moon loved the sun so much that it set every dawn so the morning could shine.

[Thanks to Airi for the art!]

[thetrickisnotmindingthatith-blog]

To Catch a Thief and Charade Review.

Decided that i’d start calling these “reviews” as opposed to a quirky title.

Watched To Catch a Thief and Charade. Thief was a masterpiece, had some flaws but I can ignore them as they're very much due of its time. Alfred Hitchcock directs. also works with acclaimed cinematographer Robert Burks, who undoubtedly deservedly took home the Oscar for his ingrainingly beautiful work on the film. They make every location be as gorgeous and warm as comfortably possible. From the use of wides in Cary Grants cobblestone filled house at the start of the film. The luxurious, warm, beguiling landscapes of south France with its streets, the almost artistic, painting like look of the town in daylight and also the interiors of the buildings the beach and the waters. The contrast, spectrum and juxtaposition of colours in the French celebratory fireworks are also worthy of praise. But most importantly the consistently, undeviating, relentlessly beautiful silhouette driven rooftop confrontation in the finale of the movie. I’ll more than work towards capturing a look as close to this prepossessing, perplexingly, enchantingly beautiful work of art in future, if I can. Cary Grant is great, he delivers that very classy, very ravishing, very radiant, very bodacious,  very priceless and very Classic Hollywood actor feel that he usually brings to his movies. All of Grants performances perfectly deliver whatever the film needs and more. In North by North West, he seamlessly mixes the confused and sometimes terrified emotions of the character while also doing a good job with the humour. In Thief Grant portrays a very charming, very Bond like character. He does a great job with the Thievery aspects in reference to the rooftop climbing, I’m not 100% sure if it’s a stunt double in the wide shots or not, but Grant realistically moves across roofs like an ex thief who still has that charismatic spark in him. Grace Kelly is also great as always, she portrays an independent, fashionable and likeable character. The line “Mother the book is upside down” was particularity funny in the context of the scene. But saying that those two deliver great performances is among one of the most prominent inevitabilities in Hollywood history. The story it self is simple Former thief is mistaken for local thief so he goes on the run to catch a thief, you see I didn’t even intent to do a title drop it’s just that the plot is so simple. It flows like a calm, untampered, uninterrupted watery stream. The previous comment also applies to the films editing so the pacing in turn isn’t so much fast paced nor does it move in a rapid succession it just flows appropriately.   

Charade was also great, while not as good as Thief it was still an excellent film. I guess since the films are so similar then it’d make more than enough sense to structure this section in a similar way. The film looks very nice, the locations from the romantic and quiet boat ride, the ever so memorable streets of France, the park area and the snug, cosy and appealing hotel. Cary Grant is excellent as usual. But Audrey Hepburn is the real star of the movie. She gives her  characters a quiet, individualistic, classy and welcoming sense and is one of the best actresses in any medium, of all time. Her iconic and unmatched fashion choices are always a great pleasure to see in her movies and are a deserving talking point both in her films and in her overall influence on the world. The story it self is simple A recently widowed madame (Audrey Hepburn) slowly falls in love with a dashing gentleman (Cary Grant) and they both go through twists and turns, confronting with her husbands past flames Audreys character must work with Grant to uncover her husbands murder and also discover the Macguffin of $250,000. The film also blesses it’s audience with a charming and slick Saul Bass style opening complete with a vibrant use of colours and simple, yet effective, effects and transitions. It’s a rather quirky film I say “rather” not to suggest a sense of nuance but more that the film has small aspects of some very well delivered quirkiness. From Grant trying to grab an orange with his chin and neck to him showering with a suit on, both instances were very funny and memorable. The film got better as it went along but still had some inevitable technical flaws due to its time also the child actor wasn’t very good (although he might’ve been dubbed) The finale in the theatre was very well executed. The slow culmination of ingredients required to stop the antagonist was done in a way where eagle eyed, creatively aware and active viewers can piece thing together showing how much trust the creative team behind the film has in their audience. It’s the best Alfred Hitchcock film not directed by Alfred Hitchcock with the best Saul bass opening not made by Saul Bass. 

Also both the films used the always classic, adorable and authentic effect of front projection and rear projection, which are pretty much staples of older Hollywood movies being used in films like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, North by North West, Dr. No and it’s hilariously spoofed in Airplane. It always adds a little charm to them, a film isn’t affected if it doesn’t use it, but it does add a little bit to an older film, it’s especially great to see it in an overview or retrospective as you go from these old effects of front and rear projections of roads to seeing some incredibly realistic effects used in tentpole blockbusters nowadays specifically films like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the films that follow it (including Fantastic Beasts) also stuff like Inception, Blade Runner 2049, The Last Jedi and even in TV with Game of Thrones. You get a really gorgeous overview of Hollywood and how far things have and can come special effects wise. 

[joesbrownusa]

Houses For Sale in Millrift, PA

Bluestone Blvd, Millrift, PA

Price: $175000

This 33 acre parcel of land is located in the town of Millrift, PA. The quaint, hamlet of Millrift is a little known treasure located on the west bank of the Delaware River just 5 miles from the Borough of Matamoras and Port Jervis, NY. The land is mostly level and bordered by enchanting stone walls and hardwoods. Nearby State Lands offer additional hunting, hiking and fishing opportunities. Ideal private, property to build your dream home or cabin and yet still close to shopping, I-84 and the NYC commuter train.

107 110 ,127Glenwood Hotel, Millrift, PA

Price: $2395000

Addresses are 107,110,127 Glenwood Hotel Road. A once in a lifetime offering in a unique and breathtaking setting, words can hardly describe the serene beauty found on the ultimate resort compound distant 1.30 mim from Manhattan!Access the Rustic elegance of the Pennsylvania Dutch Style Glenwood hotel by Mirror Lake via a cobblestone dam bridge graced by stone arches and a waterwheel.Patios,terraces,veranda,dock,heated swimming pool & gazebo; all invite you to take in the beautiful settings.With 14 bdrs and individual marble baths,state of the art commercial kitchen.Inside,a large room and 12 seating bar welcomes you to stay and take in the beauty. Downstairs,a huge prep commercial kitchen with walk/drive out access is ideal for large gatherings. The covered walking bridge modeled after the famous Alpine Bassano del Grappa bridge designed by Palladio crosses the stream to an Adirondack style Lodge over a pristine stream.The lodge won the best renovation in the County award.It accomodates large seatings. Meandering through a nature path, you get to a set of fenced-in tennis courts.Over the hill is a magical and charming cottswald style intimate cottage. Total Bedrooms: 16, Total bathrooms:19, Total half baths: 2. See also MLS: 6656076.

Address Not Disclosed, Millrift, PA

Price: $1495000

AUCTION:To be sold on NOV.14,2015,1 PM to 2 PM.Spoken Bid Method Sale on November 14,2015.Sold As is,where is.10pc.Buyer s premium.Subject to owners confirmation.Cooperating broker 2% commission.Agents to register their clients 72 hr bef. Nov.14 w. a $ 50,000 cashiers check.A once in a lifetime offering in a unique and breathtaking setting, words can hardly describe the serene beauty found on this ultimate family compound located just ninety minutes from Manhattan in bucolic Mill Rift, PA. On sixteen private acres, the Bushkill River winds its way through the property, flowing into thre e spectacular crystal clear waterfalls that then form natural pools for swimming below. Strategically placed lights illuminate majestic mount laurels and pines creating a wonderland at night while inviting tiered blue stone patios along both sides of the falls are connected by several foot bridges allowing for hours of relaxation and exploration. Three houses all unique in size and character have been lovingly restored with details ls plucked from Tuscany and include a sunny three bedroom Victorian, a guest house with wraparound deck, greenhouse, modern and complete kitchen with granite counters, brass sink and stainless steel appliances, three bedrooms and the historic stone saw mill. Restored in a labor of love by current owners, this home needs to be seen to be believed. Built alongside the falls, every room is enveloped by the sights and sounds of the cascading waters. The living room with its walls of windows allows visitors to take in the spectacular scale of the environment. A true chef’s kitchen includes a cooking fireplace, professional grade appliances. Doors to balconies offer the view of native trout waiting to be fished and the mist of the water as it moves through the property. Throughout all three houses bathrooms have been remodeled with every luxury in mind. Adding to a heavenly package are an art studio, handsome private home office, two garages, a barn with water and electric, fenced vegetable garden and a deluxe log sauna. See also MLS: 6656071.

181 Bluestone Blvd, Millrift, PA

Price: $339000

FARMHOUSE COLONIAL 1.78 ACRES FEATURING MAGNIFICENT MT VIEWS OF THE DELAWARE-NO COMMUNITY! Sip coffee on your front porch each morning and take in the view of the Delaware River and the NJ High Point Monument! See for miles from your hot tub, country rocking chair front porch or reading nook! Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, master with ensuite bath, custom kitchen, formal dining room. living room with propane fireplace and family room. Immaculately kept with attention paid to every detail! Owens Corning basement finishes! Move right in and enjoy your new home because all of the work ha s already been done! Basement area is plumbed and can easily be converted from work shop area to another living area! Paved driveway and two car attached garage with a 2 car enclosed car port!

from Houses For Sale – The OC Home Search http://www.theochomesearch.com/houses-for-sale-in-millrift-pa/ from OC Home Search https://theochomesearch.tumblr.com/post/158086870975

[cenniedolls]

So, I have this Luts event head coming with my order from them around the end of the month, and I’m hoping it will work on this body, a SD13 from Volks’ last Michele release (he’s so short and cute! the hands are really nice).  I had to have one of those Boy’s Dormitory outfit sets, and ended up getting the body too.  

If these things work together, the doll will be Shae, my grumpy runaway prince-turned-librarian.  I probably have eyes in the right color that will work at least temporarily, but I’ll need to get a wig (shouldn’t be too hard; Shae’s hair doesn’t have much particular style, just long and straight and blond with some kind of layered fringe).  I tried drawing him in the Volks outfit from memory and close enough; mostly I just love the cape.

Shae story introduction under the cut, if you’re interested.  Basically, his family is murdered and he ditches out to live in the library in a country that’s pretty much as far away as possible; eventually someone comes to find him oh and he’s eternally 15 and immortal 

Yesterday, Shae had watched the anxious little satyr walk away from the library for the last time, hooves clip-clopping against the cobblestones in the square, and wondered who the next strange misfit to disturb his peace would be.  When he had crossed the ocean to live in Cydrane, he had underestimated how busy making his life in the library would be.  Every year or two, someone would show up wanting to learn - about history, magic, science; as many topics as types of people - with the assumption that the Great Library would have all the answers.  They always left, weeks or months or sometimes years later, in varying degrees of satisfaction; there were some things, especially magic, that just couldn’t be contained in paper, even in this most grandiose shrine to preserved knowledge.  Shae himself knew a few things about magic that couldn’t be learned here, not that he ever shared them with the visitors.

Today, he was pleased to be alone again.  Helping those visitors with their research wasn’t his responsibility.  Shae had carved out a very particular niche for himself, dealing exclusively with the maintenance of the oldest collections the Library held; unlike the other librarians, he didn’t guide guests in their search for information.  It had taken a while before everyone forgot how he had stormed in one ordinary morning and ensconced himself in the underground stacks, but now, very few people ever bothered his peace.  The library staff had realized his value with little delay, and encouraged him to stay right where he was.  Only that special type of outsider sought him out now, and only after the more sociable librarians had tried their best.

 Staring vacantly into the antique mirror over his vanity, Shae finished brushing his hair.  His own wide eyes stared back, framed by golden fringe and perfectly smooth skin.  He was past wishing that the royal family of Etenkellankar had sent their children through the Chaos Gate at an age later than fifteen.  These days, no one batted an eye at the apparent child who oversaw the deepest areas of the stacks.  Still, Shae occasionally wished that he hadn’t been the type of child to indulge his mother’s wishes for his appearance; brushing out all of this hair was tedious, and cutting it was no longer an option.  Most of the noble children who went through the Gate came out unchanged.  Shae had come out unchangeable, though it hadn’t been clear how much so until later.

Well, no one here knew the details, and it was well known that fey-blooded individuals with extreme anomalies cropped up from time to time.  People thought he merely had more magic in his blood than usual.  Shae didn’t try to correct the impression that there was simply something strange in his family history.  It wasn’t entirely innaccurate; after all, few things were more rare and unusual than foreign princes.  The handful of library staff who had been here as long as he had were all discreet, protective older figures, now, and didn’t ask questions.  Other than whether he was eating enough.

Most people assumed that he was older than he looked, but in the sense that they saw a precociously successful young adult with a youthful appearance.  He had been both precocious and mature at fifteen, so that made sense.  There weren’t many people he knew for long enough that they began to wonder.  As long as he didn’t slip up in conversation, no one connected him to the prince who had vanished from Etenkellankar a generation ago.

Well, anyone who had been looking for that prince, would have been looking for Elishon Shaiel Etenkellanka’er, not a blonde child who went simply by Shae.  At first they would have been looking for a similar teenager, but what the Chaos Gate had done to him was still a little-known secret when he left, so anyone still searching now would be expecting an adult, affected by the passage of time in the usual way.  Before he left, everyone had thought he was simply late blooming.  The bitterness he couldn’t hide at their commiserations was typical of boys who really would gain that extra height, someday.  It had been an easy enough farce to play, for the three years in between his ceremony and the murder of his family.  

The assassins had found out his secret that night, when the youngest prince stood back up with swords in his back.  None of them had lived to tell about it, though; at eighteen, Shae had been a dangerous mage.

Then he’d left the country.  Walked out of the castle that same night.  Orlie had tried to talk him out of it, but even his best friend couldn’t sway him; Shae had gotten on the first riverboat he could, and the first ocean ship after that, and ended up here, walking out of the depths of the library into the sunlit back courtyard.

Rhoselle expected him to show up in the outbuilding where the librarians who stayed on site lived every morning.  If he didn’t, she would only come down to his rooms beneath the stacks to find him, and drag him blinking into the fresh air regardless.

This morning, it was just Rhoselle and Lewis, her husband, cooking breakfast in the old-fashioned kitchen; Sylvaness, the youngest permanent staff, was sipping tea at the table.  A few others came and went, and of course most of the staff didn’t live at the library, but most mornings found half a dozen people tucked into the small dining area.

“Rhoselle was just about to send Lewis after you,” Sylvaness informed him, barely looking up from her tea.  

Across the room, Lewis shrugged, with a smile that crinkled the skin around his eyes.  The light streaming in the windows washed the grey out of his hair, turning it nearly as blond as it had been, when they’d met.  Shae had watched he and Rhoselle fall in love, years ago.  He had played with their daughter as she learned to walk, endured a phase of childish infatuation, and attended her wedding a few years past.  Now that she had gone to live in the city with her new family, Rhoselle treated Shae as a sort of replacement child, not that there was much difference in her behavior.  Even when they’d been the same age, she had mothered him.

“I didn’t realize you were beck,” Shae said, sitting down across from Sylvaness.  She was in charge of unusual acquisitions, and last he had heard, she’d been out in the salt marsh to the south, after some mythical manuscript.

“Last night,” she confirmed.  Straightening, Sylvaness braced an arm on the table and turned to look him in the eyes.  “I got some interesting information on my way back.  Apparently there’s a man who arrived in the city a couple days ago, looking for someone.  He was asking around about the Library yesterday, which is why I heard about it.”

Shae raised an eyebrow at her.  “That doesn’t seem particularly relevant.  Plenty of people who visit the city ask about the library.”

Sylvaness, of course, simply arched a brow back at him.  “Sure, but it doesn’t always get reported to me.  More than one of my contacts mentioned this man to me, when I was checking around.”

“Well, the boy will show up soon enough, if it’s the Library he wants,” Rhoselle said, plunking a plate of breakfast in front of each of them.  “They always do.  Now eat up, you two.”

They always did, that much was true.  Then again, it was hard to miss the Library, towering as it did over the city from atop one of the two hills the capital was built around.  Surrounded by a cluster of outbuildings and an ancient wall, the library was nearly a city in itself, though the gates always stood open.  Even Shae had been impressed, when he first came to this country.  Cydrane valued knowledge, and a long history of its princes had guaranteed that tradition.

Shae went back down to the stacks after breakfast, with a promise to Rhoselle that he would come out for supper.  Sylvaness brought him a few brittle old tomes from her latest excursion, and he catalogued them; beyond her brief visit, the expanse of narrow shelves that made up his realm was silent.  Shae preferred it that way.  Without distracting visitors, he could sink into the slow, steady flow of what needed to be done.  There were always collections to check, sections to reorganize, and new books to take care of.  One of Sylvaness’s most recent deliveries demanded serious restoration, and Shae had a few other books that needed maintenance.  The day flew by.

Back up the narrow stairs, back through the lower levels of the public areas of the library, back up the main steps, around the edge of the ground floor, out the understated back entrance.  Back across the courtyard, sunset casting long shadows all the way to the walls of Rhoselle and Lewis’s little dormitory.  They would be waiting, and Sylvaness would be there; more of the other librarians too, this time of day-

“Elishon?  Ellie?  Is… Is that really-”

Shae froze at his name, and hearing the old nickname too turned all the blood in his veins to ice.  His own hair blinded him as he spun, catching the bars of sunlight that made it past the Library’s austere shape in a haze of gold.

Squinting against the light, Shae tried to make out the person saying those names, names that ought to be thick with nearly four decades of dust.  He took a step back as the person moved forward, backlit beyond hope of recognition.

“I didn’t think I’d actually find you- Well, I did, or I wouldn’t be looking, but it’s still a shock-”  The man stepped into the library’s shadow, and Shae could finally see that no, he wasn’t Orlie, though the smile, the shape of his shoulders, the color of his hair, even the hint of a joke in his voice, these things were the same, familiar traits.  This man was older than Orlie had been, when Shae had left Etenkellankar, yes, but still far younger than Orlie would be today, even though Shae himself had stayed the same.  Shae gasped in a breath, feeling his heartbeat rushing in his chest as the first moment of blinding horror passed.

“You really do look just like the portraits.  Father said you would, but it’s hard to believe, still.”  That not-quite-familiar grin was swimming in front of his eyes, now; Shae tried to breath again, but the pounding feeling wasn’t subsiding.  As he tried to focus, the smile on the stranger’s face began to turn anxious.

“Are you alright?  I suppose I should introduce myself, my apologies…”

The rest of his words vanished, flooded out by the pounding of his heart and the sharp white light of unconsciousness.

[joesbrownusa]

Houses For Sale in Millrift, PA

Bluestone Blvd, Millrift, PA

Price: $175000

This 33 acre parcel of land is located in the town of Millrift, PA. The quaint, hamlet of Millrift is a little known treasure located on the west bank of the Delaware River just 5 miles from the Borough of Matamoras and Port Jervis, NY. The land is mostly level and bordered by enchanting stone walls and hardwoods. Nearby State Lands offer additional hunting, hiking and fishing opportunities. Ideal private, property to build your dream home or cabin and yet still close to shopping, I-84 and the NYC commuter train.

107 110 ,127Glenwood Hotel, Millrift, PA

Price: $2395000

Addresses are 107,110,127 Glenwood Hotel Road. A once in a lifetime offering in a unique and breathtaking setting, words can hardly describe the serene beauty found on the ultimate resort compound distant 1.30 mim from Manhattan!Access the Rustic elegance of the Pennsylvania Dutch Style Glenwood hotel by Mirror Lake via a cobblestone dam bridge graced by stone arches and a waterwheel.Patios,terraces,veranda,dock,heated swimming pool & gazebo; all invite you to take in the beautiful settings.With 14 bdrs and individual marble baths,state of the art commercial kitchen.Inside,a large room and 12 seating bar welcomes you to stay and take in the beauty. Downstairs,a huge prep commercial kitchen with walk/drive out access is ideal for large gatherings. The covered walking bridge modeled after the famous Alpine Bassano del Grappa bridge designed by Palladio crosses the stream to an Adirondack style Lodge over a pristine stream.The lodge won the best renovation in the County award.It accomodates large seatings. Meandering through a nature path, you get to a set of fenced-in tennis courts.Over the hill is a magical and charming cottswald style intimate cottage. Total Bedrooms: 16, Total bathrooms:19, Total half baths: 2. See also MLS: 6656076.

Address Not Disclosed, Millrift, PA

Price: $1495000

AUCTION:To be sold on NOV.14,2015,1 PM to 2 PM.Spoken Bid Method Sale on November 14,2015.Sold As is,where is.10pc.Buyer s premium.Subject to owners confirmation.Cooperating broker 2% commission.Agents to register their clients 72 hr bef. Nov.14 w. a $ 50,000 cashiers check.A once in a lifetime offering in a unique and breathtaking setting, words can hardly describe the serene beauty found on this ultimate family compound located just ninety minutes from Manhattan in bucolic Mill Rift, PA. On sixteen private acres, the Bushkill River winds its way through the property, flowing into thre e spectacular crystal clear waterfalls that then form natural pools for swimming below. Strategically placed lights illuminate majestic mount laurels and pines creating a wonderland at night while inviting tiered blue stone patios along both sides of the falls are connected by several foot bridges allowing for hours of relaxation and exploration. Three houses all unique in size and character have been lovingly restored with details ls plucked from Tuscany and include a sunny three bedroom Victorian, a guest house with wraparound deck, greenhouse, modern and complete kitchen with granite counters, brass sink and stainless steel appliances, three bedrooms and the historic stone saw mill. Restored in a labor of love by current owners, this home needs to be seen to be believed. Built alongside the falls, every room is enveloped by the sights and sounds of the cascading waters. The living room with its walls of windows allows visitors to take in the spectacular scale of the environment. A true chef’s kitchen includes a cooking fireplace, professional grade appliances. Doors to balconies offer the view of native trout waiting to be fished and the mist of the water as it moves through the property. Throughout all three houses bathrooms have been remodeled with every luxury in mind. Adding to a heavenly package are an art studio, handsome private home office, two garages, a barn with water and electric, fenced vegetable garden and a deluxe log sauna. See also MLS: 6656071.

181 Bluestone Blvd, Millrift, PA

Price: $339000

FARMHOUSE COLONIAL 1.78 ACRES FEATURING MAGNIFICENT MT VIEWS OF THE DELAWARE-NO COMMUNITY! Sip coffee on your front porch each morning and take in the view of the Delaware River and the NJ High Point Monument! See for miles from your hot tub, country rocking chair front porch or reading nook! Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, master with ensuite bath, custom kitchen, formal dining room. living room with propane fireplace and family room. Immaculately kept with attention paid to every detail! Owens Corning basement finishes! Move right in and enjoy your new home because all of the work ha s already been done! Basement area is plumbed and can easily be converted from work shop area to another living area! Paved driveway and two car attached garage with a 2 car enclosed car port!

from Houses For Sale – The OC Home Search http://www.theochomesearch.com/houses-for-sale-in-millrift-pa/ from OC Home Search https://theochomesearch.tumblr.com/post/158054868575

[joesbrownusa]

Houses For Sale in Gladwyne, PA

1110 Norsam Rd

Price: $675000

Bring your magic touch to make this home your own! Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Gladwyne, this brick Colonial home has privacy and scenic views, yet has quick access to Gladwyne Village, schools and a short walk to Henry Lane Park. It is sited on almost 1 acre with private woods you can enjoy from the side yard or rear patio. The spacious living room and dining room are wonderful for family celebrations. The freshly painted kitchen with a door to the back brick patio is perfect for family dinners. Five large bedrooms are nicely spaced on the 2nd floor. Rear bedroom could be used for guests, in-laws or an au pair suite. When you must leave home, Center City, King of Prussia and the train, are an easy commute

408 Mill Creek Rd

Price: $1369900

When entering this home you will be transported to a European hillside retreat. The grand foyer with soaring ceiling and curved staircase leads to the step down fireside living room with a balcony overlooking Mill Creek. Passing through the custom bar with sink, wine refrigerator and built-in storage for your crystal, you’ll find the formal dining room. French doors open to the walled patio perfect for alfresco dining and relaxing. Off of the dining room you will find the butlers pantry leading to the grand kitchen with breathtaking Marble topped Island, stainless appliances, walk-in pa ntry and stunning cabinetry. You can again access to the walled patio from here. The kitchen flows into the family room with floor to ceiling bookcases and doors, which lead out to the deck with views of the professional landscaping and natural habitats along the creek. Upstairs there are four bedrooms. The Master Suite comprises the entire second floor. With is fireplace and balcony; the bedroom is a place for serene rest and relaxation. The dressing area, with numerous custom closets leads to the bathroom with shower and whirlpool tub, which has views of the lovely hillside. A den/home office/nursery area completes this floor. The Third floor boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is a fun space off of the hallway currently being used as a playroom. The Lowest Level, with outside entrance to the driveway and access to the heated two car-attached garage is for the fun-loving spirit in all of us. There is a work out room (5th bedroom) and full bath. The billiards room with bar and built in seating flows leads to the media room. Reclining in the custom seating will make you never want to go to a movie theater or professional sporting event again. A laundry room and an elevator, which services all floors, complete this level.

1428 Colton Rd

Price: $3325000

An artful and exquisite balance between the best of old and new, Ardwyn blends classic stone and brick French Norman architecture with a chic, modern interior. Under the design talents of Castlecomb Projects the finishes are bold, impeccably selected and masterfully crafted with the artistry evident in the respect shown to the 70 year old structure. A truly glamourous home with no space being too precious to be off limits for active family life. Soaring ceilings, Exquisite detailing and superior execution. Ardwyn will come to define the “New Classic” For Mainline Living. Please note tha t Taxes and Assessment are To Be Determined.

1543 Monk Rd

Price: $16500000

Linden Hill is a legendary estate property notable for its world-class architecture and its 50-acre, park-like setting. Designed between 1928 and 1931 by Edmund B. Gilchrist for stockbroker Rodman Ellison Griscom, the property was owned for more than 50 years by the Dorrance family of Campbells Soup Company. Enter Linden Hills very private grounds and travel past fenced pastures and stone outbuildings reminiscent of the quaintest of French villages. An initial courtyard formed by turreted caretakers quarters, a 10-car garage, stables and additional staff houses leads to the crest of a h ill. Soon, at the end of a narrow walled lane, the magnificent manor house reveals itself, a majestic example of French Normandy-inspired design of breathtaking scale and symmetry. Pass through the courtyard entry where brick chimney stacks on guest houses cleverly frame the main house, and behold a truly historic mansion, beautifully maintained with complete respect for its origins, yet offering every modern amenity. Its grand-scale formal rooms offer elegant and easy, expansive or intimate entertaining spaces. Private quarters are equally inviting with family living quarters that accommodate guests for short-term or extended stays. Beyond the main house are two pools, a pool house, tennis court and a beautiful aviary, all set within absolutely stunning gardens and grounds. As a legacy property that can also serve as a family retreat, look no farther than the timeless and spectacular Linden Hill.Taxes are based on 67.70 Acres.

100 Maplehill Rd

Price: $25900000

A lesson in extraordinary living. Positioned at the end of a private lane on two parcels totaling 32 acres is The Estate at Maple Hill. A six bedroom seven and three half bath main residence, completed in 2009 boasting a full stone exterior with limestone accents, graduated multi-colored slate roof and sweeping terraces on three of the home’s exposures. Commanding views of the supremely private acreage are enhanced by a perimeter of mature flowering and evergreen trees, nature/ATV trail, stream and rolling wildflower meadow. The artistry and precision build talents of architect Peter Zi mmerman and Cherokee Construction result in signature style, blending both traditional elements,including decorative plaster work, inlaid stone floors, hand wrought iron stairs with single slab white marble treads with modern demands and appointments such as a professional standard gym, indoor pool with self closing seamless glass door, screening quality theater and wine cellar with separate tasting room. Every room, every space, every surface has been carefully considered whether it is the highly polished floor to ceiling deco inspired office,the tiered illuminated onyx bar serving both the formal dining room as well as the informal step down family room or the indulgent master suite with volume ceiling, sitting room, individual walk-in closets, one with nap room and large shared bath with central soaking tub and seated shower. The natural topography of the sprawling lawns has been crafted to provide exceptional outdoor living spaces as well. A plateau on the northeastern corner of the property offers the ideal location for the tennis/sports court equipped with lights for night play, while a stone terrace and fire pit offer end of day retreat off the informal living area of the home. A guest house with additional bedrooms, full bath and generous living room is located atop 3 of the homes 7 car garages. Offering all of the turnkey convenience of newer construction while capturing all of the romance and sophistication of stately stone structures, Maple Hill is the newest of the Main Line’s landmark properties

1409 Wesleys Run

Price: $760000

Beautiful 5 bedroom, 4 ½ bath french colonial home located in a desirable community. The home features a 2-story entrance, dining room, 2 fireplaces. Amazing balcony, and spacious patio.Dining Room with crown molding and hardwood floors, separate office/study plus a wonderful large eat-in Kitchen with a granite breakfast bar and granite island that opens to an expansive Great Room. Master Bedroom Suite with Large, marble Master Bathroom with his / her sinks and corner Jacuzzi. The 2nd floor offers 4 additional generously sized bedrooms and 2 full baths.Finished lower level offers grea t entertainment and plenty of storage. Patio and beautifully lot. Oversized garages. Award winning Lower Merion Schools, Close to 76, 476, King of Prussia and minutes from Conshohocken

1125 Woodmont Rd

Price: $1999000

Now’s your chance! You won’t find 13,000+ sq ft in Lower Merion Twp on 2+ acres at this value! Head down the private gated tree lined driveway and enter into the cobblestone courtyard. Pause for a moment to take in the one of a kind grand Mediterranean Estate beauty. This home offers a tremendous amount of space, privacy and an endless supply of natural beauty on 2.69 acres in the coveted Gladwyne Estates section of Lower Merion. Spectacular architecture, soaring ceilings, exposed mahogany beams, a must-see custom shattered glass staircase, beautiful Snaido cabinetry, multiple terraces to enjoy the spectacular views. Endless entertaining possibilities in the grand 2 story great room or the outdoor kitchen over looking the private grounds. Coffered ceilings, His and Her Master Baths, Sauna, art gallery, a private wing including an elevatorare just a few more extraordinary features this home offers. Don’t miss this chance to own a spectacular piece of property, schedule your appointment today and see the value for yourself. This home is in great condition and ready for a new owner to bring back it’s beauty. Home is being offered as-is.

1621 Briar Hill Rd

Price: $399000

Spectacular hillside views from every window in this 4-5 bedroom/3 bath contemporary home nestled on over two and a half tranquil acres. Imagine the endless possibilities from its inviting open floor plan, hardwood floors, fireside living room/dining room. With over 3,000 square feet of living space, this unique home offers a first floor master bedroom suite and is less than a 15 minute drive into Center City Philadelphia. Award winning Lower Merion School system. With a little creativity and an open mind – this property, being sold in “as-is” condition could be transformed into a dream home. The property is being sold in as-is condition, purchaser is responsible for use and occupancy permit and all inspections.

510 Williamson Rd

Price: $1899999

Northside Gladwyne 3-Story Stone/Cedar Manor home sits on a beautiful flat Front Lot and private serene Rear Lot, a wonderful example of famed architect Walter Durham. This 5/6 Bedroom 7~ Bath has been masterfully expanded to 7,200+ Sqft, tastefully renovated with emphasis on timeless design, finest quality materials, craftsmanship, architectural designs & luxurious amenities. Classic raised-panel millwork, gracious expanded soaring spaces, room sizes, walk-in closets. The gourmet kitchen has vaulted ceilings, sunny Skylights and professionally equipped – Viking double Ovens, Range, War ming Drawer, Sub-Zero, Scotsman Fridge & Icemaker, 2 Asko dishwashers and overlooks Slate terrace, Perennial gardens, well-manicured private grounds and Potting Shed. Countless improvements include NEW open-concept floor plan, 1st flr In-law Suite, Carrara Kitchen, Bedrooms, Full Baths on every floor, Cedar roofs, double-wide driveway, high efficiency systems, extensive tree-work & much more. Stunning Master Suite His & Her luxurious Kohler Baths, Coffee Bar and envious stroll-in Master Closets. Finished Walk-out Lower Level has over 1,800SqFt. Gym, Media/Playroom & Full Bath. Pristine condition classic Main Line home move in and instantly enjoy being a resident of Gladwyne’s most coveted locations across from the open preserve of the 30-acre Bridlewild horse riding/walking trails created in 1927 by the riders of the Gladwyne Hunt. A perfect location, walk-able to the village of Gladwyne for shopping, beauty salon, coffee shop, dining, banking, post office, tennis courts, horse riding/walking trails and only 9 miles to Phila!

1222 Club House Rd

Price: $1179000

Beautiful Cape Cod style home, expanded and renovated, featuring a great floor plan, perfect for living & entertaining with hardwood, limestone and flagstone floors, vaulted ceilings & high-end finishes. Highlights include a 2-story foyer opening into spacious Dining & Living Rooms with fireplace; custom wet bar with copper sink; picture window and French door that opens to the backyard & patio. Gourmet Kitchen open to a Den with a vaulted ceiling. Stunning Sunroom with vaulted beadboard ceiling, radiant heated flagstone floor, 3 walls of windows & sliding glass doors to the backyard & patio. Library/Den with custom cabinetry (can also be used 4th/guest bedroom) with a full hall marble bathroom. Luxurious 1st floor Master Suite features a vaulted ceiling, sitting area with a bay window, custom designed walk-in closets and Marble Master Bathroom. 2nd floor features an open Loft/Office overlooking the main floor, 2 Bedrooms, Hall Bathroom & bonus storage room. Beautifully landscaped grounds with lovely flagstone patio, beautiful backyard, Japanese cut leaf maples trees and flowering bushes. Additional Features include sprinkler system with automatic rain sensors, security system, 3 zone Heat & Air Conditioning, Whole House Backup Generator & many more beautiful custom details.

1040 Stony Ln

Price: $2500000

Stunning 8200 sq. ft. custom Mediterranean contemporary home positioned on 2 ~ private acres across from the 8th Hole of Philadelphia Country Club offers unparalleled living w/ 5 bdrms & 6 full baths in the main house & 1 bdrm w/ full bath in the adjacent cottage. Enter the grand Foyer wrapped w/ windows & highlighted by inset granite floors. To the Right of Foyer find the Formal LR enhanced w/ dramatic, vaulted ceilings, 2 exposures of light & corner set gas log fireplace. A few steps up find an elegant Music Rm, centrally located for entertaining or in home practice, this space connec ts to both the kit & living area & provides exceptional flow. The expansive Formal DR w/ enclosed wet bar also comes equipped w/ a wood burning fireplace & generous custom built-in cabinets. Its southerly wall is a long gallery w/ views of the private yard & access to the handsome wood-paneled Lbry replete w/ custom bookshelves, a screening area, & a working office space. The 2-story Fmly Rm is flooded w/ light & provides a gas fireplace, custom window seats & shelving. The Bulthaup Kit has no rival. Spectacular chef’s kit is complete w/ black granite counter-tops & Bulthaups classic honey toned cabinets w/ brushed stainless accents. Expertly appointed, w/ 2 large under-counter sinks, built-in ice maker, 600 series Sub-Zero refrigeration, Viking stove w/ gas burners, griddle & grill as well as 2 Gaggenau wall ovens & built-in Miele coffee center. Off this main kit is a large outfitted Caterer’s Kit offering an addl full sized Sub Zero refrigerator, adjacent large Laundry, & Powder Rm. Access a convenient Mudrm/Fmly Entrance & beyond lies the attached 2 car garage detailed w/ oversized cabinetry & epoxy finished floors. Ascend a custom open stair to the Master Retreat highlighted w/ His & Her bathrms & generous, separate closets & custom storage. Master connects to a bright open gym & to a Southern facing outdoor deck w/ hot tub, enjoying long views of the property’s rear & side. 3 spacious, addl fmly or guest bdrms, 1 w/ private bath, the other 2 w/ shared adjoining bath are found on this lvl while the third floor offers a large suite w/ a full bath & expansive closet space. The Finished Basement boasts a Screening Rm, a Game Rm, a Craft’s Rm, & a full bath w/ a Sauna, in addition to storage. A detached Guesthouse provides a vaulted-ceiling LR, a full Galley Kitchen, a sizable Deck & a Bdrm w/ its own Bathrm. A 3-car garage on its first lvl finishes this building.

1116 Stony Ln

Price: $3400000

A custom built prominent southern brick colonial estate home overlooking the broad expanse of the Philadelphia CC golf course. Set back from the road 2.32 acres. This home redefines curb appeal, beckons visitors from a long drive to a wide landscaped circle at the front door or turning right to the 3 car attached garage The elegant front entrance framed by 4 ionic white columns welcomes you to one of the most comfortable & practical homes in Gladwyne. A 23 yr. old, 8200 s.f. home with a 700 s.f. finished LL. 5 bedrooms, 4 full & 2 half baths, a total of 10 rooms on 2 stories w/ 5 firepl aces. Gas driven, fully air-conditioned, public water, double bed onsite septic. The 18 ‘grand foyer features a parallel in period dual curved staircase leading to upper level landing. From the foyer there is a view of a FR to the left & a formal DR to the right A few steps ahead one enters through matching white columns a dramatic 2 story GR highlighted by heavy timbered roof beams, a beautiful fireplace, a full bar all bathed in the light from a full 2 story rear wall of glass providing views of a wide expanse of rear yard. A beautiful pool & plenty of room to add a tennis court. While still in the GR one can see a generous & smartly designed kitchen on the right, separate from & wisely near the DR. Beyond the kitchen the traditional back staircase leads to 4 bedrooms on the upper level. Beyond & adjacent to the back stairs one finds a mud & laundry room & full bath w/ shower convenient to pool traffic. Left entering the GR you will pass a powder room on route to a bright sun room & a stunning formal study library appointed with rich & warm cherry paneling, a coffered ceiling w/ a host of built in shelves & storage space. The upper level equally well designed reveals a very large MBR w/ walk in closets & sitting room, generous bath w/ both a jacucci & a steam shower. On the other side of the upper level one finds 4 bedrooms, 2 w/ full ensuite bathrooms & 2 offering Jack & Jill access. The lower level includes a sauna, additional storage & a multi-purpose recreation room. The rear yard is fully fenced & a full house generator housed uniquely in a separate building out of site in the rear yard. There is a 3 car attached heated garage. You can’t leave until you spend time on the balcony above the main entrance. This 30′ x 15’ space is embraced by the same 4 ionic columns offering stunning views of the acres & acres of the famous golf course.

320 Righters Mill Rd

Price: $895000+

Exciting 4 bedroom 3 ½ bath new construction single family home in Gladwyne Village offering three finished levels of beautifully designed and polished space with 2 car garage and an easy stroll to the center of town, playground and tennis courts. A deep covered porch with standing seam metal roof welcomes you into the generous open floor plan with 9 foot ceilings featuring large scale Living Room with gas burning fireplace and connection to the Dining Room brightened by a triple paned window. Steps away find a gourmet Kitchen boasting stainless steel Bosch appliances including five b urner gas range, optic white 42 inch cabinets, granite counter tops and granite center seated island. Off the back of the house is a is a large mudroom finished with bench, storage closet and separate hanging closet as well as a powder room completed with Kohler fixtures. Ascend to a deluxe Master Suite highlighted with tray ceiling, seated area, two large closets and handsome bath with standing shower, soaking tub and double sinks. Two additional bedrooms share a hall bath with double vanities, shower/ tub and large inset linen closet. Generous laundry Room with wash tub, folding counter and room for full sized side by side washer dryer. Lower level is finished with family room, bedroom, full bath and excellent unfinished storage. Constructed by Waverly/Thistlewood Partnership a team committed to quality construction. Expected delivery summer of 2017.

1333 Youngs Ford Rd

Price: $4199999

Originally the estate home of E.Fenimore Johnson this magnificent Stone Manor home and adjacent Carriage house stand as one of the Main Lines true landmark properties having sheltered only 2 families in its rich 75 year history. Set on almost 6 acres of land and ringed by additional conserved grounds, the home was comprehensively renovated and expanded from 2004-2006 to satisfy the demands of a modern day family while embracing the quality and scale of the original architecture. A gated entry and arrival courtyard open to a centrally located Reception Hall. The inviting Living Room, enh anced by a full wall of windows showcasing the rear yard, gleaming wood paneled Library and Solarium with wrap around windows and french doors to the stone terrace, enjoy a Southeastern exposure while the Dining Room, Family Room with fireplace and coffered ceiling, chef’s Kitchen and Breakfast Room face towards the South and the West, providing full day sun and warm afternoon light. A sweeping stair with overlook balcony ascends to the homes second level. The main house offers 5 guest or family bedrooms all with ensuite baths, in addition to a romantic Master Bedroom retreat with his and her baths, Sitting Room & immense outfitted closet. Fully finished Lower Level offers large recreation space with oversized rustic stone fireplace, gym, primary storage and mechanicals. The recently refreshed home is unique in its ability to offer grand as well as intimate spaces on its 4 finished levels. Exquisitely detailed, beautifully maintained and professionally appointed. A one-of-a kind offering within the suburb of Gladwyne.

112 Old Gulph Rd

Price: $685000

If you have been looking for a very special historic property in Lower Merion, look no further. Enjoy a waterfall view, and a guest house. This 200 year young gem is ‘one of a kind’ – loaded with charm, and modern day updates. The main house welcomes you into the entrance hall with a volume ceiling. The magnificent living room has a 10 ft ceiling, an antique mantle piece, and deep window sills. The gracious dining room has random width floors.The sun room has a fireplace, flagstone floor, and a view of the stream and waterfall. The eat in kitchen was redone in 2005 with granite counters . The second floor has two bedrooms and 1 bath. The third floor has a master bedroom with sitting room and bath. The guest house has 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and breakfast area. Enjoy the waterfall view from your deck off the kitchen. OPEN HOUSE Sunday 2/12/17 from 1-3pm.

341 Conshohocken State Rd

Price: $399000

This unit is part of a small, private community known as “The Gladwyne” right in downtown Gladwyne. While it provides a feeling of seclusion, it is within easy walking distance to Gladwyne Village. You enter the foyer through a covered front where the main floor contains a powder room, kitchen, dining room, and ample-sized living room. The Kitchen offers plenty of counter space and direct access to the dining room and front hallway. The dining room can accommodate a large table and accent pieces and flows nicely into the living room. The living room has built-in book shelves, a wood-bur ning fireplace, access to the private back patio, and a bump-out that can be used as an office area. The upper floor has two family-sized bedrooms, each with a full bath and lots of closet space. A third room (“bonus room”) could be used as an office, den, extra bedroom, or for storage. There are two large hall closets, as well. All rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors are filed with natural sunlight letting the outside in. The lower level is currently unfinished but allows for many possibilities. Currently, the laundry is found on this level as well as storage and an extensive work area that is heated by a wood stove. This unit comes with a one-car, detached garage and numerous extra parking spots are available on the property’s driveway. The entire condominium is a “U-shaped” structure that surrounds a beautiful courtyard with patio tables and chairs. This unit represents tremendous value in Gladwyne with its dining, shopping, library, schools, public transportation, Township Park, and Lower Merion Schools all within easy range. A must-see!

1614 Monk Rd

Price: $399900

Location, Location, Location! Monk Road,Gladwyne. Most homes on this street go for 2 – 12 million!!! Multiple Above Ask Offers Are Expected. Please bring your ‘highest and best’. Sellr will wait 2 weeks from listing date to review all offers. Please make your sellr’s acceptance date 3/15/17 or after. This home is full of potential. It’s architecture was ‘cutting edge’ back in the late 50’s early 60’s when it was built and boasts plenty of window exposure, open air floor plan, 3 levels, exposed beams, and a balcony off the master BR. Great for an investor/builder or for an owner occupant with construction experience. With the right design/build team there is money to be made (or equity built) on this deal. Want more space? The right half of the house could provide for a second floor addition as well as a 2 car garage. A semi-circle driveway might be another improvement. The house immediately next door was recently on the market for more than 4 times ask. Property being sold in as-is condition. No representations or warranties made. Cash offers preferred. Or ask listing agnt about the possibility of pvt. financing for qualified investor/builders. No home inspection contingencies will be accepted, so please bring your pros for a look before you bid. Bring your imagination and construction crew and turn this fixer into a stunningly BEAUTY!!!

929 Merion Square Rd

Price: $475000

If you’re looking for a charming and historical Main Line home, look no further. Giving you the character and charm of a classic Gladwyne farmhouse, and the spacious rooms and modern conveniences of a newer home, 929 Merion Square Road has it all! Enter through the lovely front porch and you’ll find beautiful hardwood floors throughout the living and dining rooms, both with newer windows that allow for plentiful natural light. The kitchen boasts stainless steel and updated appliances, a farmhouse sink, classic shaker style cabinets, ample storage and a mudroom off the kitchen leading to the large, flat backyard, 1-car detached garage, and greenhouse/shed. The second floor consists of two generously-sized bedrooms and large hall bathroom with wood floors, beadboard wainscoting, beautiful chrome fixtures and porcelain tub and shower in impeccable condition surrounded by white subway tile. The third floor includes two additional, spacious bedrooms. Walk to the Village of Gladwyne, park, schools, and tennis courts from this convenient location. With updated electrical system, newer heater (2016), separately-zoned, AC units, greenhouse/shed, and with new windows throughout, this classic Main Line home is truly a must-see!

220 Glenmoor Rd

Price: $1379000

First time offered for sale! Custom designed by Ann Capron and built by Michael Cutler as his own residence in 1993, this classic English country home, with gardens, surrounded by estate/deer fencing, sits on a quiet cul-de-sac in Gladwyne. Features include 10′ 1st floor and 9′ 2nd floor ceilings, an overabundance of architectural windows, spacious light filled rooms, and every amenity desired by the discerning buyer. Entering into the 2 story foyer provides a view of both light-filled formal living and dining spaces with views to the patio and gardens. Also off the entry is a spacious den/office with a full wall of custom bookcases, a fireplace and views of the private entry garden out to the front yard. Transitional Rutt kitchen, with separate eating area, features a center island with space for 3 stools, granite counters, all wood cabinetry, top-of-the-line appliances and a built-in desk area. The kitchen is directly adjacent to a large, 2 story family room with fireplace and access to the rear patio. Other main floor highlights include a spacious laundry room, 2 closets- 1 walk-in, direct access to oversized 3 car garage, 2 powder rooms, stairs to upper level, and a door to the rear yard. Upstairs is a large master suite with tree views, walk-in closets, bath with custom double vanity, spa tub and all marble shower. Bedroom #2 en suite, bedrooms #3 & #4 share a hall bath, #5th bedroom with private bath that can be accessed from a back stair or through bedroom #4. Two cedar closets and a luggage closet. The fully finished lower level has a full bath, a second office, a great room with built-in entertainment/storage unit, a finished storage room or workout room with walk-in closet and a large unfinished storage/mechanical area. The beautifully landscaped yard features many mature trees, a custom designed brick path from the driveway to the front entry courtyard and great spaces for both family play and entertaining.

650 Dodds Ln

Price: $4999999

Rocky Crest is a grand dame of the Main Line, a very privately situated, c. 1908 estate on 15+ acres (5.9 are preserved for perpetuity). Its design reflects classic, timeless principles of scale, proportion and detail. Winding your way down the private lane feels like you’ve arrived at a proper English country house, from the fancy wrought-iron gateway to the imposing, columned, and pedimented front facade. Its setting, designed by landscape architect Thomas W. Sears, consists of formal gardens and terraced lawns rolling out to sun-dappled expanses dotted by mature trees. Inside, a gran d reception foyer runs front to back. Throughout the home French doors provide access to terraces able to comfortably host a large soiree. While Rocky Crest’s formal rooms are magnificent, with exquisite millwork and moldings, fireplaces, soaring ceilings and oversized sash windows, its everyday spaces are eminently livable. The fully updated, custom kitchen features top-grade fixtures, finishes and appliances. The large dining area also accesses an informal dining/family room and sunroom beyond. These rooms and a richly paneled study are the heart of the home. They access a veranda where al fresco dining is on order throughout the summer. Private quarters (13 BR/9.3BA) are located on the second and third floors, accessible via a grand staircase, elevator or rear staircase. To one side is a series of five guest en-suite bedrooms. The main bedroom suite comprises an entire wing and has its own sitting room with fireplace, an office/nursery, well-designed dressing rooms, and his and her baths, all updated. There are five bedrooms and two full baths on the third floor, plus generous storage. Notably, each bedroom has lovely views of the grounds. A wet bar on the first floor hides a stairwell down to a space finished in the ‘Rathskeller’ tradition with fireplace and plenty of space for table games or fitness area. A nearly Olympic-sized pool, complete with pool house, and tennis court provide more recreational opportunities. Separated from the main residence is a carriage house/garage with two one-bedroom apartments above and stables converted to a fun wine-tasting room with climate-controlled cellar able to hold 1,000 bottles. Rocky Crest, so magnificent in its repose, will rise to any occasion, whether used as a family house or a place to entertain ? a must-have estate home for the buyer who wants the quality of old-world craftsmanship along with important modern updates.

from Houses For Sale – The OC Home Search http://www.theochomesearch.com/houses-for-sale-in-gladwyne-pa/ from OC Home Search https://theochomesearch.tumblr.com/post/157992535230