#gaudy and vainglorious

[ehj3]

NOT TROOPING

This one’s based on the famous 1970 picture of the UK queen riding past a fainted soldier during the “trooping the colour” event. It’s been done over there since 1748 on or close to the symbolic, not the actual, birthday of the then reigning monarch. It does not resemble the recent,  as described by a North Korean presenter: “gaudy and vainglorious display of [the USA’s] dwindling military…

[deityforged]

In most of Ashmi's icons, you might notice her wearing nose rings / earrings / gaudy jewelry, and a lot of it is not just because she thinks its pretty , but because it does have some symbolism to her.

A lot of Ashmi's jewelry is pure gold, and that is because gold holds a significant place in cultural and spiritual beliefs in India. Gold is said to purify anything that it touches. She wore a lot of it after her family died , even after she denounced her religious beliefs , if only to hold onto some false pretense that all would be right.

It's probably one of the few things she still stands by - and why she finds comfort in it, even if others think of her as greedy / vainglorious.

[laeorinel]

FFXIV Write 2023 - Day 1 - Envoy

Unedited because lack of time ahhhhhh. One minute before deadline. I'm getting flashbacks to Uni.

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

Gods, what she would not give for a Garlean patrol to discover them now; she needed to hit something, anything. Hells, even one of the trees of the thinning forest she was walking through was looking tempting at this point. 

As Samara trudged along the path through the northern hills of Doma, she could spy an all too familiar ridgeline of mountains in the distance, colourful tattered banners dotting the peak. Were she a miqo'te, every hair would be standing on end; instead, her barbed tail was the only outward sign of her displeasure. Coiled and whipping around like a snake lashing out, spikes and scales, usually relaxed and somewhat hidden, were on full display, looking more akin to small blades than bits of scale and bone. 

Every instinct in her body was in conflict. Her mind was trying and failing to reign in her anger and anxiety, one screaming at her to fight whatever lay over those mountains and the other telling her to run away and never look back. Neither was really an option. They had to find a lost Lord. The fate of two kingdoms depended on it. No pressure, right?

Letting out an indignant huff, her grip around the katana's hilt at her side tightened. Why, of all people, did she have to be the one playing envoy? Surely, everyone knew at this point that if there was any diplomacy to be done, you called on Alphinaud, or maybe even Thancred with his damned silver tongue. Anyone but her. Her job was to kill things or be the one drawing the fire while everyone else killed things, not this. She was not good with words. There was a reason she spent most of her time in stoic silence. 

So here she was, a jumbled mess of anxious fury. Not the ideal mindset for someone about to engage in diplomacy, or her nonexistent brand of it at least, that would be delicate in the first place. Diplomacy with any Xaela tribes was complicated at the best of times. One wrong move could send two tribes who already held grudges with each other on the warpath. The only saving grace was it was nearing the time of the Tsagaan Sar. Most tribes would be cautious around this time, conserving their strength and preparing their warriors for the Nadaam. Most, not all. 

As Samara glanced up towards the encroaching ridgeline, her eyes settled on a few of the coloured banners. Her eyes were drawn to the dark blue of the Dotharl first. The Dotharli would be problematic regardless of the meeting conditions. Diplomacy was largely foreign to them and seen as a slight on their pride unless handled correctly. A battle of wills rather than blades. The outcome would largely depend on their Khagan or Khatun. They were one of the few tribes she could imagine still crossing blades with other tribes. 

Moving onto the gaudy yellow banner on the opposing ridge, she could almost picture a battle happening between this tribe and Dotharl any day of the week. The Oronir were known for their vainglorious pride, so convinced they were direct descendants of the Dawn Father, they fought with an almost zealous mindset. It did not take much to offend them or make them draw their blades. They would have to be handled carefully. Alphinaud would probably have advised her to listen to their demands, no matter how outrageous if they achieved their goal. Whether her own pride would allow that was the question...

Then there was the Adarkim - too lost in her own thoughts, the soft footsteps of Yugiri walking alongside her were missed entirely. "If I did not know better, I would say this task has you more ill at ease than our attempt on the Crown Prince's life." 

The shinobi took pity on her by not commenting on the obvious flinch or the sound of her sword moving ever so slightly from its sheathe. Samara sighed deeply in response. "I at least knew what I was getting myself into with that. It was a battle between hunters, albeit an uneven one. This? I have no idea what kind of battle I am walking into or even who my enemy is."

"You sound as though you expect conflict. The first step of diplomacy is perhaps not seeing this as a battle and whoever lies over those mountains as an enemy." Spoke Gosetsu from behind, a hand rubbing along his chin as he peered up towards the mountains ahead. 

"My people are warriors, Gosetsu. Everything is a battle to them, and even if they are not enemies, they cannot be called allies either." 

"Surely no harm can come from simply speaking with them?" Chimed in Lyse, observing Samara almost cautiously as if testing her response. 

Peering back to the mountains ahead, Samara sounded timid as she spoke. Uneasy. Something that was unheard of to Lyse. The Au ra woman always spoke with confidence and purpose. "Even if they do not recognise me at first, they will know I am of the Steppe. You can always tell when one is Steppe born just by the way they move. How they will respond to that, I cannot say. They may ignore me entirely. I am tribeless, after all. I may as well not exist to them." That confidence was replaced with irritation. "Regardless, you ask me to be a sheep among wolves. My weapons and armour are little more than decoration when I am armed only with words. And some see words as nothing but lies."

Lyse let out a sigh of her as she looked upon the path ahead. Thinking back to the words from Alphinaud of how best to aid Samara, she let the words flow freely. "As hard as this will be, this is why it has to be you. You know the Steppe and its people. How they think, work, plot and scheme."

"What I know of the Xaela is what I have read in books and tomes, and frankly, it is not enough. And that is ignoring any potential biases and falsehoods that exist in those books. Trust me, there will be plenty. Some Scholars in Sharlayan only care about how many papers they have with their name on it, rather than the contents." 

"I know there is more to this hesitance of yours. I won't ask you to tell me your secrets. Twelve knows I kept enough of my own from you. Just know that I'm with you, alright? Wherever this path leads."

"The others asked me to keep an eye on you. I'm not about to let them down." 

[thecurioustale]

It's DeLatia Day!

Lilit DeLatia! Child of the Empire! Spirubus extraordinaire! Top general of the Galan army! Today (Feb. 17) is her Earth-equivalent birthday.

Relancii years are shorter than ours, but this is the time of the year when her birthday falls, i.e. when winter is about two-thirds through. She's several years older than Galavar, making her the oldest member of the Guard of Galavar.

I am cooking ribs in her honor because Ol' Girl is very much a barbecued ribs, lick-yer-fingers clean kinda person.

I've always found her easy to write for, and she's a lot of fun. She has a larger-than-life, cheerfully selfish personality, and she has no qualms about taking comforts and favors for herself, or the last helping of food on the plate at parties.

She is a military strategic genius of a once-in-several-generations caliber, a far outlier in the best traditions of the brilliant Galan leadership, and is indisputably one of the best military leaders and military historians in the world—perhaps even outright the number-one best of them all.

And it all began one warm evening long ago, when she saw a young Galavar get his nose broken in a philosophy-related barfight and came to his rescue. She found it charming, and him. And he became her plaything and her inspiration, and she loved him, and followed him to the Easts Beyond the Edge of the World. She was the only witness when Sourros himself appeared before Galavar and commanded him to build the City of Sele. She was there from the very beginning, at the exact center of the Galance Ideal.

In Chapter 1 of After The Hero she bravely and wisely volunteers to be the one to duel with the Captain of the City Guard of Soda Fountain, to determine the fate of the city and avoid a devastating battle. Despite her age and relatively modest proficiency in combat, she does it because she knows she has to show her troops that she is with them, not only as their leader but as one of them, earning their loyalty for all the long hardships and deaths that are to come.

Despite her gaudy and vainglorious manner she is a creature of honor and discipline. As a spirubus she eschews long life during her Galan years by declining to consume the sparks of the Kindred of her own people, and so she ages, turning from young to old just like the viutari or you or I. She is a being of strong preferences and particularities, who likes her world to be ordered a certain way, and finds herself often in conflict with those who are her usurpers and nuisances. But she also strives, her whole life, for self-improvement and worthiness to wear her scarf, the great mantle of authority vested in her. She travels the world with Galavar in her youth despite the enormous adversities in so doing because of her enormous weight, even climbing with him the steps up the Cliffs of Raglan—an eleven-thousand foot goliath. She studies wark riding and swordplay to achieve at least a basic proficiency, so that she will never be a liability to her troops or to the Galan cause. She spends her whole life becoming a better person, and would that we could all say that. Galavar saves her in those young days, and, in the end, decades later, she saves Gala, many times over.

She has a lot in common with Silence, including her governmental and military posts, which is perhaps why the two of them so often rub up against each other in strife. The way we often see DeLatia behave is the way would often see Silence behave, except for a few crucial differences, the greatest of which is that DeLatia never tasted the bitter brew of defeat and dismay. From that night when she first met Galavar, she lived a charmed life that most of us could only dream of.

She is a most splendid thing, a queen, a king! Glorious is her legend.

Happy Birthday, Lilit.

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

Prompt #28: Vainglory

The handful of time she had been in the house two nights past had allowed Astrid to briefly take in the damage. But in the light of day, with time now to go through the manor now that the investigators were permitting...had she looked further on that night, Astrid knew she would have killed Camilla and her manservant flat out. Because what she had caught in that brief glimpse had been the tip of the iceberg.

The house had been looted. Period. From top to bottom, everything that Emma and Roderick had collected, from the smallest table to the largest painting was gone. Everything had been sold--turned into gil to feed Camilla's vainglory. The master bedroom had been the most damming example of this, silk and satin dresses strewn about like they were toys, gaudy jewels and makeup littering what had been Emma's vanity.

Kari's bedroom had been destroyed. Even her beloved collection of plush toys she'd had from infancy were ripped apart past saving. And when Astrid beheld the tiny, dank and cold storeroom that her granddaughter had been forced to sleep in, when she saw the rag-stuffed mattress and threadbare blankets that made up her bed, the food scrap bin that had made up her meals---

The investigators had been kind enough to give her privacy as she screamed. Grief, hate, self-loathing roiled in her belly, and not even the fact that Kari was safe at her manor could soothe Astrid. That little room was the final straw, and Astrid all but flung herself out of the now-house-of-horrors. There was nothing to show for her day's efforts save for an all-consuming rage that now was simmering beneath her surface, and a raggedy bag of books and journals that the investigators had found. They had belonged to Kari, and all they had wanted was her journal.

Heartsick and nauseated, Astrid could only curl up on the seat as the carriage began its trek back to the city, bag by her feet.

[bachelordeveloperdesin-blog]

Choosing a Web Designer

Here are a few hints in finding the correct individuals for the activity and a few contemplations to be considered.

1. Presentation

Numerous organizations search for a website specialist just as they were looking for a general product thing, for example, a light - for example All sites are equivalent and paying the bachelor developer multi year old understudy on a PC course to construct the webpage will procure the very same profit as paying an expert web advancement organization. Different organizations frequently feel they need to burn through heaps of pounds on a site for it to be fruitful.

Give us a chance to dissipate these fantasies

As opposed to what many trust, website composition is just a single part in the generation of your site. Some website specialists can talk day and night about how beautiful your site can be, however on the off chance that it isn't practical, easy to use, or equipped for helping you meet your online objectives, at that point all the shallow excellence on the planet won't resist fill it's need. The structure subject of a site is just a single segment of building a fruitful online nearness.

Picking a Web Designer isn't a simple errand! - Here are a few hints...

There is quite a lot more to website architecture than simply making a couple of pages look pretty in the event that you need to succeed. You have to think about your intended interest group, hidden message, content, wanted reactions, guest sway, online objectives, how you are going to gauge the achievement of the webpage and that's just the beginning. There is quite a lot more to website composition than simply making a couple of pages look lovely

2. Characterizing Your Requirements

On the off chance that you have no clue why you need a site or what you need the site to accomplish, it is also to take a seat and think it through, as opposed to hurrying to set up a "Trinket" that doesn't fill a need. Each site must fill a need, and that is normally where numerous sites misses the mark. They fill no need on the groun site is lifeless. It is link building just what you make it. The main life a site has is the one given to it by its architect and proprietor. On the off chance that the human component doesn't work superbly of characterizing the building hinders, the site will fill no need and in the end pass on an advanced demise. Each site ought to have an unmistakable reason With that as a main priority, we'd propose the primary stage is characterize the "Objectives" of the site in connection to the necessities and yearnings of the business or association included.

Characterizing the Goal

Each site ought to have a particular objective or number of objectives that are quantifiable. An objective can be anything from speaking with companions and partners through to making benefits by selling items or administrations on the web (internet business). Your objective in the primary occasion may even be to have a web nearness so potential customers don't see your association as being in reverse! When you have characterized an objective (or number of objectives), it's similarly imperative to characterize:

 The intended interest group. for example Who you need/hope to visit your site.

The activities you need to result from their visit. for example Making an online deal, motivating them to make a request and so on.

What benefits you are giving and accepting from having the site.

Characterizing the Key Functions (The activities)

When the objectives of the site have been built up, it's vital to characterize the activities required by site guests to meet the objectives. An activity is any detectable succession of occasions did by the end client.

Models may include:

Connecting - either by telephone, email or through an online structure.

Scattering Information.

Agreeing to accept a pamphlet.

Finishing a poll

Remarking on a Blog

Downloading or purchasing items

Utilizing an online device

Obviously, there are other elusive advantages that your site may give to an end client that don't result in direct "actions"... for example essentially giving "true serenity" to a current or planned client would be considered in that capacity. In the event that you haven't officially done as such, at that point it's likewise helpful to look at the challenge, for thoughts, different preferences.

Setting up Your Design and Development Preferences

When you have detailed the objectives and useful necessities for the site, it's a great opportunity to begin assembling an image of how you envision the site meeting up - with respect to structure and configuration topic. This shouldn't be an authoritative exercise - Your website specialist ought to almost certainly include a great deal of information and recommendations at a later stage, however it has a few plans to bolster into the prerequisites you approach the planner with in the principal occasion.

As pursues are a not many that we feel ought to be compulsory:

The site ought to hold fast to perceived models. The website ought to be composed to adjust and approve to the models characterized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) - this will thusly, mean your webpage ought to be cross-program agreeable (for example Show up the equivalent crosswise over different diverse kinds of internet browser).

The site ought to be available. In web terms, this implies it complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The site ought to be spotless, fresh and quick stacking.

The site ought to be anything but difficult to utilize and tame (see underneath).

Our Tip: Easy to utilize and Inoffensive - The WOW factor

Webbies regularly get requested to deliver a site with the "WOW factor". The "WOW factor" is a term that implies distinctive things to various individuals. Frequently, the individual or business appointing the site have vainglorious designs for broad activity, sprinkle screens, kid's shows, showy plans... This isn't the WOW factor - A striking gaudy plan with "off the divider" shading plans may appear to be strong and imaginative to certain individuals, however may truly put off other site clients - Find the glad medium.

On the off chance that an individual needs to purchase a couple of shoes on the web, at that point their main goal is fundamentally to locate the attractive pair of shoes at the correct cost in the snappiest conceivable time. They don't visit an online business webpage to watch a liveliness of shoes tap moving over the screen. Leave kid's shows and unnecessary liveliness that increase the value of those specialists in their own field. Individuals watch the Simpsons for that kind of diversion. They likely won't visit your site for (or be inspired by) to be "stunned" by immaterial endeavors to emerge.

Our own translation of the "WOW factor" is a site that is easy to utilize, perfect, fresh, easy to understand, quick stacking with incredible substance. Fundamentally, the site that conveys it's basic message rapidly and compactly is the best. Google has the WOW Factor and you don't see moderate stacking movement on that site. The WOW factor should mean Winning on the Web and that's it.

Alright, so you've mapped out certain objectives and necessities... time to begin searching for the privilege folks to feel free to actualize the answer for you.

3. Choosing a Web Designer/Developer

At first, the best spot to start is by assembling a waitlist of planners. You may do this in any number of ways yet here are a few proposals that you may wish to factor in:

The area of the imminent architect. This could conceivably be a factor for you. A few people are cheerful to work remotely and others favor some eye to eye communication. In the event that the last is basic to you, at that point you should concentrate on planners in your neighborhood.

The architect's portfolio. This is normally a key factor in any shortlisting procedure. You may support architects who have worked explicitly in the segment you are focusing on, or you may just like other random sites they have created.

Autonomous Word of mouth proposal. You may have gotten gleaming reports on specific creators and their after-deals administration. Try not to disregard this.

[crookedorel]

On the whole, Berkut found Adrestia – and its nobles, in particular – to be gaudy, ostentatious, and occasionally tacky, their pandering reeking of a festering rot of desperation that colored every smile, every vapid, insincere gesture.

He had assumed, unkindly, that this would be no different, and as they were led through the halls he found this assumption strengthening into a resolve with every echoing, vainglorious footstep.

And then he saw the portrait.

Of its original intent, it would not have looked out of place in any noble's manse, and certainly not in the imperial palace. He thought, vacantly, that perhaps if there had been time, if there had been a future, he might have called upon the favored portaiteer to paint Rinea in such a style, with such lavish ermines and fine silks and rows upon rows of fresh flowers that she might have looked as resplendent as he held her in his heart.

Their host inclined her head in thanks at the lady's dismissal, scurrying off back the way they came as though the gaping, bloody maw where there had once been eyes might have judged her every motion. Berkut had not noticed until she was well away the weight that her presence had settled in his gut, a sickly sweet bezoar of infectious sorrow.

The lady Ishtar turned to him, imploring, as she had been during their trial what had seemed like so long ago, and although he hated to deny her anything, he shook his head.

"Not versed. Victim, but not versed." It felt strange to admit aloud, though his chest puffed out a bit in defiance of the statement. "I daresay you are the more educated in these matters, of we two. But...it does bear a passing...familiarity that I have the misfortune of understanding."

He cocked his head, making defiant eye contact with the ghastly figure in the portrait, as though a predator that might have been frightened off by the display of confidence.

"But I surely doubt that there are any Faithful of this kind so far ashore."

the heart knows nothing of your love

( anniversary / reason +1 )

[ignot0]

Normal Jewelry Questions Answered Here In This Article

Looking for gems inside the present market, can be an exceptionally energizing background, however there are numerous things that you need to recollect and notice to. Begin with these adornments shopping tips and show signs of improvement thought of how to ensure yourself while shopping shrewdly.

Try not to buy any adornments from retailers in China. This nation is famous for selling counterfeit gemstone and metal gems. As a rule, the gems publicized as sterling silver with genuine turquoise is only a bit of metal showered in silver and the turquoise is a phony bit of plastic. Such merchants may acknowledge returns, yet the issue of delivery it back at your very own expense, is generally not justified, despite any potential benefits. Know about tricks this way. here the Blog with much information on Diamond Products The Diamond Club

Gems should last a real existence time. When you search for a bit of adornments, dependably utilize a merchant with a decent notoriety, guaranteeing that the piece you pick is of high caliber. A genuinely fantastic piece is one that is all around built and of unrivaled workmanship. Get some information about the history behind the piece and get familiar with who made it, just as the source of the materials. It is basic to buy excellent adornments on the off chance that you need it to turn into a cherished treasure go down for ages.

There are two sorts of classifications that gems falls under. Fine gems is adornments produced using silver, gold or platinum and is joined with any valuable or semi-valuable gemstones. Gems delegated outfit is any type of gems produced using ease metals that contain just a silver or gold surface completion just as manufactured or plastic "gemstones". The two classifications have their advantages and disadvantages, and it truly relies upon individual taste and spending that figures out which to purchase.

You don't need to settle with the customary clear precious stones. Precious stones are accessible in for all intents and purposes each shading in the rainbow. They come in blue, pink, red, yellow, darker, dark, purple and a lot more hues. You can discover pieces where hued precious stones are the point of convergence or you can discover pieces where they act like accents.

When wearing or purchasing gems, it is imperative to not run with anything huge and gaudy. I state this in exacting terms, not as in "the precious stone was so extensive." This is on the grounds that any gems like studs or accessories that are too substantial turned out to be vainglorious and ugly. It is ideal to stick to pieces that fit you and look right.

Try not to purchase oddity gems except if you know without a doubt that the individual you're getting it for will like it. On the off chance that your better half is a fanatic of Sleeping Beauty, at that point a diminutive person pendant is a suitable blessing. Don't simply purchase a thing of gems since it's adorable, ensure it's proper, as well.

With regards to wearing gems, your most logical option is to dependably keep it shortsighted. A basic jewelry and a few rings give a smooth look. One armlet with a basic pair of studs is design forward constantly. Don't over do your gems and the attention will stay on you and your most extraordinary pieces.

When you are taking a gander at purchasing any sort of gems, be it ensemble or vintage, it is imperative to recall that in light of the fact that a piece might be marked, it doesn't really mean it is progressively profitable. Some adornments makers sign each piece they make, which drops the estimation of a marked piece significantly.

When purchasing a wedding band, make sure to discover in advance, what shape stone she needs her jewel to be. As of now, there are nine unique shapes or slices of precious stones to browse.

When selling a bit of adornments on the web, you should intend to show the stone in the most ideal way you can. You should be extremely innovative to sell the piece. In the event that there's any one of a kind element, make sure to incorporate that highlight. In any case, you should ensure that any otherworldly cases you make are not professed to be logical certainties.

Understanding the diverse cuts of a precious stone will make your adornments buy a lot simpler. The slice of a precious stone alludes to the real cut of the jewel, not the state of the precious stone. The cut is critical when making a precious stone adornments buy since it decides the splendor and the general shimmer factor related with the thing.

On the off chance that you utilize a site to sell adornments, ensure individuals can discover what they need. You should offer distinctive approaches to glance through your items, for example by style and by sorts of adornments. Take a gander at what your simultaneous have on their site and think about utilizing a comparable association.

Wedding bands

Shop ahead of schedule for wedding bands to keep away from issues. Since wedding bands can normally take a month and a half to arrive, the prior, the better. On the off chance that you are requesting hand crafted adornments it can take much more. You may likewise have within the ring engraved, however make sure to add this to your request to stay away from additional time delays.

Do whatever it takes not to gain out of power when looking for wedding bands and wedding bands. You may need that tremendous ring your most loved performer got, yet the distinction lies in what your sweetheart can manage. Try not to weight him into attempting to bear the cost of something you realize he can not.

Shopping today for adornments, regardless of whether on the web or anyplace else can be hazardous and can likewise, present extraordinary open doors for funds. Observe to these insightful shopping tips so you can shop securely, inside your financial plan, and with the prescribed procedures close by. You could find that gems shopping is significantly more than you at any point envisioned.

[sarahw-world]

“Yellow Roses” - 04 Striptease

Hi guys! Here's the new chapter of my fic!

First of all, I'd like to give you all a HUGE THANK YOU for all the amazing feedback for my last chapter. I was really nervous about that one and it was so amazing and lovely to see that some of you enjoyed it. So, THANK YOU so much, it certainly motivated me to continue working hard on this story.

This one is a really long chapter, and also very intense...

I hope you like it!

Summary:

Bulma reflects on her relationship with Vegeta...

You can read it uncensored on AO3:

You can read it censored on FF:

Or you can keep reading under the break:

She swirled the half-drunk glass of hard liquor absent-mindedly, taking one final sip before depositing it on top of the table as she got mentally prepared to accept defeat and go back home on her own.

Stupid.

Stupid Bulma…

She never thought she’d ever experience such emotions ever again. That hideously familiar oppression in her chest as she held back the tears of humiliation, and that old sense of dread and disappointment which had grown to be so common during those last few years in her relationship with her now departed fiancé.

Neglect had become the norm back then, whether it was due to her boyfriend not truly listening to her whenever she’d try to have a real conversation with him, the faded but unmistakable traces of other ladies’ perfume on his old baseball uniforms, or those mortifying moments when his eyes would lecherously wander towards other women, sometimes as she’d be literally sitting on his lap and his hands would be distractedly caressing her thighs at the same time while they had a drink at one of those grotty pubs they used to frequent so much. In the end, even after Yamcha’s marriage proposal and the consequent official announcement of their engagement, Bulma had been outright unable to get rid of that troublesome voice in the back of her mind, that niggling echo which kept haunting her, warning her, letting her know that perhaps tying her life to his would turn out to be the greatest mistake she’d ever make.

To this day, Bulma still wanted, needed to believe that Yamcha hadn’t known just how degraded he’d made her feel in those days, and that those syrupy words of affection and atonement that’d come out of his lips during their incessant lover’s quarrels were filled with real honesty, regret, and the promise of a greater understanding of each other’s needs, in hopes of building a happier future together when the time came for them to finally tie the knot.

Bulma sighed tiredly as she drew the contours of the rim of her glass with a lazy finger, her mind suffocating in gloomy, melancholic thoughts at the sad memories of a merrier life, a promising existence forever gone to never come back. When the crisp breeze of the night made her break out in goosebumps, freezing cold, she relented once and for all, leisurely standing from her chair, grabbing her small clutch and wrapping her worn shawl around herself, proceeding to walk in the direction of her small apartment in resignation.

She was a fool, a delusional, silly little fool…

There was no other rational explanation that could possibly justify the unbelievably embarrassing way in which she’d ended up deceiving herself when it came to her expectations of her Saiyan lover.

The earthling could still recall the way he’d made her feel the last time they’d been together, when he’d quietly landed on her balcony, waiting patiently for her to make the first move. Vegeta’s unusual silence told her, right away, that he’d already heard the ghastly news of her best friend’s vicious murder, and yet, he’d still chosen to visit her anyway.

Much to her shame, Bulma had to admit that the prospect of her Prince’s return had been the one thing keeping her from losing her sanity ever since Launch had abandoned this world. And yet, in spite of that tiny flicker of hope burning brightly within her soul, a big part of her had still had qualms about the way in which her mysterious Prince would react to her new circumstances, fearing him to be his usual cynically aloof self, and perhaps to mock her, even reprimand her, for yielding to her pathetic human sensibilities.

Against all odds, instead of disdainful ridicule or malicious reprove, Vegeta had revealed a side of himself she never even knew he had in him. From the incredibly considerate offer of leaving, giving her some alone time if that’s what she needed the most, to the poignant tenderness in his touch, as if he were desperately attempting to comfort her, to assuage her pain the only way he could, through actions instead of words. With one single look at him she’d noted his discomfort, how useless and inadequate a warrior like him must have felt as he’d witnessed her state of mourning. And yet, he’d tried, he’d tried the best way he could to make things better, to try to make her forget about the outside world and the sheer madness her life had become.

But it wasn’t his astounding display of physical affection what’d startled her the most, it was his heartbreakingly moving inexperience when it came to dealing with any kind of emotion. That raw vulnerability in his usually remote eyes, and his confusion when she’d shyly offered to bathe him, his athletic body tense as a bow as she’d soaped him up, cleansing him with kind hands and then, much to her surprise, seeing him trying to reciprocate, making the effort to do for her what she’d just done for him.

Bulma knew just how exposed Vegeta had felt in that moment, his helplessness being such a vast contrast with that boundless arrogance of his, that vainglorious satisfaction that she knew he experienced every time he effortlessly bent her to his will with his wicked touch. The frightening ease with which he’d awaken her sensual appetites, hopelessly giving herself to him over and over again until he’d leave her come morning, utterly sated and completely spent, like a well-used rag doll, shamefully counting the days until their next encounter would take place.    

‘This is just a fuck. Nothing more…’ He’d whispered against her lips the first time she’d volunteered to share her bed and her body with him, the brutally honest words forever engraved in her memory.  

Bulma couldn’t forget.

She couldn’t allow herself to forget the crude terms of the agreement she’d signed up for when she’d eagerly agreed to spread her legs for him, embarking in a ‘relationship’ she never, in a million years, thought she’d ever be a part of.

After all, she was Bulma Briefs, heiress to the wealthiest, most technologically advanced company on Earth. A woman like her, born and raised in affluence, had grown accustomed to the finest things money could buy, including an ample selection of eligible bachelors literally trampling each other in the pathetic hopes of getting some scraps of her very selective attention. The earthling was no fool, and she knew too well that most of those men had only seen her as a trophy, an opulently beautiful little trophy they could proudly parade around, trying to compensate for their own deplorable shortcomings. She’d detested each and every one of those idiots back in those days, regarding them as nothing more than a bunch of feeble-minded social climbers and, yet, she’d now reached a point where she’d almost kill for a gaudy bouquet of flowers, a man opening the door of some nouveau rich designer car or some tediously cheesy conversation over a medium steak and a fine bottle of red wine at a lavish restaurant.

Her Saiyan lover had done neither of those things...         

*** Please visit AO3 or FF for more of this chapter! ***

[theworldthinks1]

7 Things to Never Expect from a Narcissists!

7 Things to Never Expect from a Narcissists!

Narcissists have a misshaped mental self view – Narcissists have a gaudy feeling of vainglory. They are distracted with themselves and accept that they are uncommon and interesting. They think they are better than every other person and ought to be dealt with in like manner.

Narcissists think they are of essential significance in everybody’s life — and to anyone they meet. They will in general…

[sportzprime]

WWE Triple H Short Biography

Triple H Introduction

Paul Levesque was conceived on July 27, 1969 in New Hampshire. At 14 years old, Triple H engaged in lifting weights. He was educated regarding Killer Kowalski’s school by his work out accomplice, Ted Arcidi. Ted had a short wrestling vocation and was one after another the seat press record holder. Triple H was prepared by Killer Kowalski and made his professional presentation in 1992. He is as of now hitched to Stephanie McMahon and is the child in-law of Vince McMahon.

Read More: Triple H WWE Journey

From French Snob to Triple H

During his vocation in the WCW, Paul Levesque changed his name to Jean-Paul Levesque and received the character of a vainglorious French Canadian privileged person. He wrestled under this name for one year before going to the WWE and renaming himself, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, or Triple H. Proficient wrestling could never be the equivalent. As a gaudy, rich child from Connecticut with an interminable path of sweethearts, Triple H is presently one of the most adored and detested characters in the WWE.

Triple H Unknown Facts

Prior to entering the universe of expert wrestling, Triple H thought about a profession as a visual craftsman.

Triple H’s signature tune before each match is The Game by the metal band, Motorhead.

Triple H’s vehicle of decision is a red Hummer.

[courtneytincher]

Turkmenistan leader drives around flaming crater in first new footage since death rumours

Turkmenistan state television has shown the country's eccentric stunt-loving president driving near a flaming gas crater in the first new footage of him since he disappeared from view last month, sparking rumours of his death. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who last appeared in public on July 5, was seen on a Sunday news broadcast behind the wheel of a rally car streaking through the desert of the gas-producing former Soviet republic near Iran and Afghanistan. The car was then filmed spinning in the dust and driving circles around the “Gates of Hell,” a 220-foot-wide collapsed natural gas field that has been burning continuously since scientists set it on fire in 1971.  The daring exploit was the culmination of 28 minutes of vainglorious footage that also showed the authoritarian leader riding a horse and a bicycle, showing government ministers how to lift weights and apparently shooting bullseyes in a target with an assault rifle.  He seemed to roll three strikes in row while bowling with the mayor of the capital, although cutaway video edits made it impossible to tell how many of these feats he actually achieved. Admiring officials nonetheless broke into reliable applause.  Mr Berdymukhamedov's overblown TV antics with fast cars and high-powered firearms are such a fixture of the media in the repressive Central Asian country that any undue absence is cause for confusion and gossip.  Hilariously unironic videos like one of him shooting targets while riding a bicycle distract from a increasingly dire economic situation in Turkmenistan, which is suffering from hyperinflation and food shortages, according to a June report by the London-based Foreign Policy Centre. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been credited with books about horses and once rapped an ode to his favourite steed Credit: Igor Sasin/AFP/Getty The presidential press service announced in July that Mr Berdymukhamedov was on a month-long holiday and published a video of him playing with cats and grandchildren.  Less than a week later, however, rumours began swirling on social media that he had died of liver failure. Other reports said his ageing mother was in critical condition in a German clinic. While officials did not comment on the leader's absence, state television broadcast footage of him inspecting construction projects. Observers noted, however, that it was almost certainly taken from an appearance in May.  The latest video, on the other hand, appeared to be entirely fresh.  In it, the macho yet creative Mr Berdymukhamedov was also seen signing a manuscript about Central Asian shepherd dogs and sipping a well-earned cup of tea. Foreign literature is mostly banned in Turkmenistan, but the president has been credited with writing some three dozen books about topics like horses, tea and medicinal plants. Dressed in a slightly psychedelic shirt of swirling primary colours, he played piano and drum machine on the recording of a song reportedly written by his grandson called Live, Turkmenistan! Only Forward with the Speed of a Horse! A horse fanatic, he had previously rapped an ode to his favourite steed in a gaudy music video with his grandson, who has sung Turkmenistan's praises in English on occasion.  Mr Berdymukhamedov files an assault rifle and throws knives at targets in a previous television appearance Credit: YouTube The personal dentist of Turkmenistan's first post-Soviet leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov came to power in 2006 and quickly established his own personality cult, erecting a golden statue of himself on a horse in the centre of the capital.  Turkmenistan is known as one of the most closed countries in the world, with the authorities enforcing an official ideology and cracking down on dissent.  It has historically close relations with Russia, which recently resumed gas imports from Turkmenistan after a crippling three-year suspension.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

Turkmenistan state television has shown the country's eccentric stunt-loving president driving near a flaming gas crater in the first new footage of him since he disappeared from view last month, sparking rumours of his death. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who last appeared in public on July 5, was seen on a Sunday news broadcast behind the wheel of a rally car streaking through the desert of the gas-producing former Soviet republic near Iran and Afghanistan. The car was then filmed spinning in the dust and driving circles around the “Gates of Hell,” a 220-foot-wide collapsed natural gas field that has been burning continuously since scientists set it on fire in 1971.  The daring exploit was the culmination of 28 minutes of vainglorious footage that also showed the authoritarian leader riding a horse and a bicycle, showing government ministers how to lift weights and apparently shooting bullseyes in a target with an assault rifle.  He seemed to roll three strikes in row while bowling with the mayor of the capital, although cutaway video edits made it impossible to tell how many of these feats he actually achieved. Admiring officials nonetheless broke into reliable applause.  Mr Berdymukhamedov's overblown TV antics with fast cars and high-powered firearms are such a fixture of the media in the repressive Central Asian country that any undue absence is cause for confusion and gossip.  Hilariously unironic videos like one of him shooting targets while riding a bicycle distract from a increasingly dire economic situation in Turkmenistan, which is suffering from hyperinflation and food shortages, according to a June report by the London-based Foreign Policy Centre. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been credited with books about horses and once rapped an ode to his favourite steed Credit: Igor Sasin/AFP/Getty The presidential press service announced in July that Mr Berdymukhamedov was on a month-long holiday and published a video of him playing with cats and grandchildren.  Less than a week later, however, rumours began swirling on social media that he had died of liver failure. Other reports said his ageing mother was in critical condition in a German clinic. While officials did not comment on the leader's absence, state television broadcast footage of him inspecting construction projects. Observers noted, however, that it was almost certainly taken from an appearance in May.  The latest video, on the other hand, appeared to be entirely fresh.  In it, the macho yet creative Mr Berdymukhamedov was also seen signing a manuscript about Central Asian shepherd dogs and sipping a well-earned cup of tea. Foreign literature is mostly banned in Turkmenistan, but the president has been credited with writing some three dozen books about topics like horses, tea and medicinal plants. Dressed in a slightly psychedelic shirt of swirling primary colours, he played piano and drum machine on the recording of a song reportedly written by his grandson called Live, Turkmenistan! Only Forward with the Speed of a Horse! A horse fanatic, he had previously rapped an ode to his favourite steed in a gaudy music video with his grandson, who has sung Turkmenistan's praises in English on occasion.  Mr Berdymukhamedov files an assault rifle and throws knives at targets in a previous television appearance Credit: YouTube The personal dentist of Turkmenistan's first post-Soviet leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov came to power in 2006 and quickly established his own personality cult, erecting a golden statue of himself on a horse in the centre of the capital.  Turkmenistan is known as one of the most closed countries in the world, with the authorities enforcing an official ideology and cracking down on dissent.  It has historically close relations with Russia, which recently resumed gas imports from Turkmenistan after a crippling three-year suspension.

August 05, 2019 at 05:25PM via IFTTT

[athena-alea-blog]

Good Kitchen Lighting: The Samurai Way

With the kitchen being a standout amongst the most voyaged rooms in many homes, great kitchen lighting is vital to its general plan and feeling.

The act of actualizing great lighting configuration is a well known and financially savvy venture that numerous mortgage holders embrace with a specific end goal to give their kitchens an additional individual touch and have it emerge from others.

There are a few spots, a large number of which some absolutely never consider, to include lighting. Did you ever consider kitchen cupboard lighting or kitchen lighting over the sink? These are only two spots where additional lighting to go keeping in mind the end goal to emphasize your apparatuses and other kitchen installations.

Through the correct outline choices, you can enhance your kitchen's look and make a positive mood that you, your family and visitors will extraordinarily appreciate.

So as to do that, in any case, it's imperative to recognize what the distinctive sorts of kitchen lighting are and how they are regularly executed into the plan of a kitchen.

The four sorts of lighting to consider before starting a kitchen rebuilding venture are errand lighting, surrounding lighting, enriching lighting and complement lighting. Each of these sorts of lighting fills an unexpected need in comparison to the others, so getting to know every one would be further bolstering your good fortune while you're in the arranging phases of your undertaking.

Encompassing lighting is frequently the most common kind of lighting. Its low force makes a delicate shine that makes it safe to work in many regions of the kitchen. Many individuals connect encompassing lighting with setting the state of mind in a room not simply in kitchens, but rather in places like eateries and bars too. The appropriate measure of encompassing light can make a room inviting and plain.

Errand lighting is a sort of kitchen lighting that gives an all the more high force shine. This is a direct result of this that assignment lighting is regularly constrained to places like the sink and cupboards, where having the capacity to see is imperative. To get the most use out of this sort of lighting, investigate putting it over your sink, as well as finished sort other overwhelming use kitchen things like cutting sheets and stoves also.

Highlight lighting is intended to demonstrate things off. In the event that you have a costly new cooler or another thing in your kitchen, for example, uncommon dishware that you need individuals to see, at that point this is the sort of lighting to use for that. It doesn't make the working regions of your kitchen more useful spots, yet its tasteful esteem has made it prevalent with property holders performing kitchen remodels regardless.

In conclusion, there is beautifying lighting. This sort of kitchen lighting enables you to make the space really your own. Whatever the outline of the lights, it's essential to recall the familiar aphorism of "toning it down would be ideal" with beautifying lighting. Trying too hard with enriching lighting can make for a vainglorious and gaudy appearance though a moderate approach can convey a downplayed refinement to the room.

It is safe to say that you are occupied with home renovating or adapting more about home increases all in all? Cunningham Contracting Inc has been helping mortgage holders in Annapolis, Silver Springs, and Gambrills, Maryland make consul lavatory augmentations, kitchen redesigning ventures, material repairs, home increments, canal monitors, washroom rebuilding and new homes for more than 20 years. Reach them today and get master help with your next home rebuilding venture.