#domestic destinations

[beingjellybeans]

Where to travel in 2023: Airbnb reveals the hottest destinations for Filipinos this year

This 2023, there’s definitely no slowing down Filipinos’ revived wanderlust. Whether it’s a well-deserved retreat to your favourite city,  exploring a hidden gem you’re visiting for the first time, or rediscovering one of the Philippines’ many beautiful islands — travel is definitely a treat that everyone is looking forward to this year. As more countries reopen their borders and airlines add…

[ineffablesheets]

Oh nothing just soldiers and their super model boyfriends

[eloise175]

❝ Domestic headcanon ❞

Over time, Callisto developed some kind of fixation to match with Penelope in every way.

She wears purple? He also wears purple. He has his new clothes tailored with her dresses in mind, and besides those, he also had new sets made for them both.

It is a known fact that Penelope is a late riser, in contrast to Callisto who wakes up early in the morning to get his work done, so of course he’d get ready for the day before she does. And if he saw Penelope wearing a specific dress after she ventured out of their room, he’d go back to change his clothes to match with hers.

Penelope knows Callisto will keep doing that even if she tells him it’s not necessary. When asked why, his answer is simply “Because I want to.”

If he looks down at his clothes randomly, he gets reminded of the fact that him and Penelope are matching fits; it also serves to show off that him and her are made for each other, or at least that’s what he keeps on babbling about to an exasperated Cedric who seriously couldn’t care less by that point.

Seeing that, at one point Penelope starts deciding what to wear for the next day before going to bed, so Callisto knows exactly what to choose. More often than not, the two of them decide together on the outfits, with Penelope being the one that has the final say in things and Callisto complying, (mostly because he leaves the choice to her).

It becomes something they’re known for, and the people serving at the palace often place their bets on what the couple will wear next.

[kuroneko1815]

Imperial Domesticity: New Year’s Festivities

Penelope’s first new year’s celebration as the Empress meant that everyone would have their eyes on her. But she also wanted her New Year’s Kiss. Thankfully, her husband was willing to figure out a way to do it.

There was much to be done for the New Years ball, this was Penelope’s first new years as the empress, before that, she’d helped with the preparations as the Emperor’s paramour and fiancée, as well as the highest ranking woman in the empire. Now though, all eyes would be on her and they would be picking through the entire event, eyeing each detail to see what could be criticized and what parts of the traditions and rituals had she messed up.

Callisto tried to get Penelope to rest, trying to reassure her that he could take care of everything. Whenever such a thing would be brought up, Penelope would turn to him with a fierce look on her face.

“No! I’ve always handled this, even before we were married and now that we are, I am not going to give it up!” She said furiously.

Callisto tried to calm her down, subtly moving to soothe her by catching her hand and rubbing the back of her hand. He entwined their fingers together and kissed the back of her hand. The effects were instantaneous. Penelope’s shoulders relaxed, her breathing calmed.

“I’m sorry, I know you’re worried but it’s just…” so much of the tradition had been cut away by the late and unlamented former Queen that when Penelope had begun reinstating them, there were some push backs. The woman had been truly vain and lazy, discarding some of the more solemn traditions that had been the empresses and queens traditional roles, things of solemnity, and turned it into a mockery, a spectacle, of excessive extravagances, indulgences, and vice.

Part of the tradition had been to honour the fallen soldiers and others who had sacrificed for the good of the Empire, instead they toasted the fat purses of those which had managed to ingratiate themselves with her and her son, she had also done away with the new years alms and winter charities where the poorest within the city, the orphanages, and those who were the sickest were able to receive a meal.

The Queen’s excuse? There wasn’t any budget or funding for it. But of course there wouldn’t be, not when she and her son threw balls every other day, served only the finest wines and purchased gowns with money they’d taken from the coffers and funds set aside for such charity works. The empires worst state of finances was recorded during her tenure as the reigning lady of the empire.

And Penelope had no wish to leave the empire in such a state for her child. So she worked hard to set an example, to make sure that her babe and all other children they would have in the future would be beloved by the masses and would have their support. Because she knew one thing, there were far more commoners than there were nobles, and far more commoner knights than landed and enobled ones, and among them, quite a bit of the titled knights had relations still among the commoners.

And so, Callisto knew Penelope was trying her hardest to set things to right. He kissed her forehead and drew her close. “I know, love. But you don’t have to work so hard, let me share your burden.” He said. “Let me carry this weight for you so that you don’t have to be alone.”

“Alright.” She said as she hugged him back.

-

-

Callisto could see Penelope with her eyes out on the time. As they danced around the room, their eyes on one another, she would frequently call out the time under her breath.

“Is there something special that’s going to happen at midnight?” He asked.

“Oh, it’s just that I wanted to make sure I got the midnight kiss right for our first new year as a married couple.” She said.

“Hmm? A midnight kiss? Come to think of it, you did always pull me away in to the balcony just before midnight.” Callisto said, recalling the last few years.

“It’s meant to be good luck. If mistletoe kisses meant you’d stay with that person, then midnight kisses means a deepened bond and good luck, especially in our relationship.”

“Is that so?” Callisto said thoughtfully, an idea beginning to form in his mind.

-

-

After his speech honouring the soldiers, the scholars, mages, and the artists, and every other person who had worked hard to ensure the continued prosperity of the empire, it became increasingly clear that they wouldn’t be able to sneak away for their midnight kiss.

Callisto didn’t mind. He pulled Penelope up, a glass of wine in his hand. Everybody stared at him in confusion, the first half of the rituals had been performed to close out the old year, the speeches were done, so why were they suddenly to raise their glasses in a toast? He could see their looks.

But he took a sip and swallowed before he pulled Penelope into his arms, dipped her, and then kissed her full on the lips as the clock struck midnight marking a new year and then fireworks lit up the skies simultaneously in their first public kiss since their wedding.

Throughout the empire, the people celebrated the new year, magic used to broadcast to the people throughout the empire showed the observation of the rituals, a broadcast that allowed the people to familiarize themselves with their rulers, also showed the kiss.

In the aftermath of what would become a tradition of its own to see the Emperor and Empress mark the turn of the year with a kiss before they returned to the rituals of peace and prosperity for a new year and then to the festivities of the day, many couples would begin their own tradition of a midnight kiss, though none would get it quite as right in timing as the Emperor.

My idea is that the traditions would herald back to the time of the golden dragon and the old religion, i.e. the ancient mages, and despite the people not remembering the ancient mages for a long time, they still kept those traditions and held them sacred. The fact that some of the nobles and the Queen in particular, moved away from them left a bitter taste in their mouth. Especially when the war began shortly after the Queen began to do away with it. While it was never mentioned what had begun the war, the people still saw it as a bad omen and thought that the fact that they had taken away those rituals, many of which had to be done by the Queen or Empress, had a part to play in it, and let’s not forget the fact that a lot of the funding for the charities were cut by the Queen while she threw large celebrations and feasts, it was like a slap in the face to the people who had laboured hard but had no food to eat, and their husbands, brothers, and sons were dying on the battlefield.

So when Penelope brought back those traditions, gradually at first, until that year when she became the empress, they saw it as a good sign. And then Penelope gave birth to what people saw as the golden dragon’s second coming and they were convinced. Also, Penelope was the one who came up with the idea of broadcasting the wedding, well, technically, Callisto did, she just mentioned watching the royal weddings back when she was in Korea and he was so enthralled with the idea of showing his new wife off that he made the mages figure out how to do it. And when they had succeeded in that, Penelope thought about broadcasting just the ritual parts. And it did work and it became a tradition as ingrained as the midnight kiss.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Happy New Year! Stay healthy and safe!

[auroargraves]

imagine after the curse is broken hongjo lovingly caressing shinyu's face and him enjoying it without any fear of the red hand returning

Listen!

You know how Shinyu is one big pupper? Like he’s clingy and he’s territorial and I know he will want Hongjo to always be near him all the time. To have Hongjo always touching him even if it means to pinch him because he’s being annoying will make Shinyu happy.

To have Hongjo lovingly, tenderly caresses Shinyu’s face? Especially when he’s about to fall asleep? Or maybe they’re just chilling on a rainy weekend; nothing to do but to just be soft? With Shinyu’s head on Hongjo’s lap? With him whining for her to pay attention to him because she’s watching some drama? So she complies because she’s also whipped for Shinyu as much as he is to her? Her small fingers petting his hair, combing it back because no matter how much he tells her that he looks docile with his hair down, she loves it even more when his hair is pushed back?

Because he’s handsome and now she’s looking at him because she can feel him staring at her and sure enough he is staring at her and she’s just gently runs her fingertips on his forehead, down to his brows and the bridge of his nose, avoiding his lips which makes him pout but she tilts his head up by his chin and she looks and she stares and he keeps on staring back and she smiles and blushes and he asks why are you blushing and she shakes her head, not wanting to tell him that he looks so friggin handsome because his ego is already big so she doesn’t wanna add more weight to that but he’s relentless and he’s tickling her in hope she will tell him but she only laughs and now they both are wrestling on the couch, laughing/giggling like losers in love 😭♥️😭♥️

[aeons-domain]

[mando-of-esverr]

Darius's Modified Galactic Map

[nobodyfearspercy]

These two are cultists for two different Lovecraftian entities, they get along super great (lies)

[aggressionbread]

For what an amazing and life changing technological advancement air travel is, flying has got to be one of the most unpleasant experiences.

[une-sanz-pluis]

William B. Robison, “The Bard, the Bride, and the Muse Bemused: Katherine of Valois on Film in Shakespeare’s Henry V”, The Palgrave Book of Shakespeare’s Queens (eds. Kavita Mudan Finn, Valerie Schutte, Palgrave Macmillan 2018)

[ineffablesheets]

House: throws his dirty socks on the floor

Wilson: we’ve been over this, the laundry basket is right there.

House: i’m a doctor, not a miracle worker.

[auroargraves]

Anyway, we have established that Shinyu and Hongjo have been married for 300 years, yes? There’s no way they would be that comfortable with each other like this except for a fact that they’re old married couple.

Shinyu saying Hongjo looks ugly and Hongjo replies with she always looks pretty and Shinyu just straights up being smitten by her?

MARRIED COUPLE BEHAVIOUR

[lionheartlr]

Discover Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

A Brief History of Bangladesh Bangladesh, located in South Asia, has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. The region was known as Bengal and was a significant cultural and commercial hub. Over the centuries, it saw the rise and fall of several dynasties, including the Maurya, Gupta, and Pala empires. Colonial Period In the late 16th century, the region came under Mughal rule, which…

[chutiitravell]

Budget-Friendly Travel: 4 Destinations from India in 2024

Travel on a budget with our guide to 4 affordable destinations from India in 2024. Explore Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka for enriching experiences without breaking the bank. Know more https://chutii.com/blog/budget-friendly-2024-travel-4-countries-from-india