#hermitage castle

[billyclicks]

📍 Hermitage Castle, Scotland

Hermitage Castle is a semi-ruined castle in the border region of Scotland. The castle has a reputation, both from its history and its appearance, as one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland. • In 1320, the area was held by William de Soules, a man so widely despised that there are 2 stories about his death. • One myth has it that he was boiled alive in molten lead by locals after inflicting a reign of terror on the neighbourhood. In another, he died a prisoner…

[jenniferrobingallery]

Travel Changes Everything

Have you ever: Hung backwards and upside down to kiss the famous ‘Blarney Stone‘, where others had fallen to their death attempting this? Watched a magnificent sunset from Antelope Island that mesmerized your senses as you had never seen colors like this? Took the same route that pilgrims took up the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick? This 5th century pilgrimage has been taken every year for…

[bletheringskite]

Robin Redcap and William de Soulis

The most famous of the Redcaps in Scottish folklore is Robin Redcap, the familiar of William de Soules, a Scottish Border nobleman in the early fourteenth century.

Lord Soules was a cruel and violent man and was deeply unpopular with the people. He lived in the foreboding Hermitage Castle, once brilliantly described as the embodiment of the phrase ‘sod off’ in stone.

Countless complaints had been made about Lord Soules over the years and by 1321 more and more were reaching the ears of the king, Robert the Bruce. When news of Soules’s latest atrocity reached Bruce he called for him to be put to death.

Unfortunately Soules was protected by his Redcap and could not be bound by rope or injured by steel, so his ingenious executioners rolled him up in a sheet of lead and boiled him to death in a cauldron on Ninestane Rig, a ring of standing stones near Hermitage Castle.

[dianasultanova]

Winter Palace St. Petersburg

[aishatonu]

Loch Ness & the Highlands, 2.0

Loch Ness & the Highlands, 2.0

I thought taking a two-day tour to Loch Ness and the Highlands would prove to be twice as good as last week’s one-day tour, but I wasn’t as impressed with the tour this time.  Don’t mistake me, I loved seeing both sights again, but the tour itself was lacking.  For one thing the tour guide had the personality of a flaccid noodle; whereas the other tours I’ve taken the guides have been chock full…

[rabbitcruiser]

Hermitage of Santa Ana, Castro Urdiales

Located at the foot of the breakwater in a corner of the port is the natural rock rock known today as the Rock of Santa Ana. Before the construction of the aforementioned breakwater, this imposing stone wall served as a natural passage for all the boats that left the port to the sea. It was then known as the Cantu Santa Ana or Canto de Santa Ana.

At the top of the rock we can see a small rectangular construction with a lintelled portico, built in stone with a hipped wooden roof.

The origins of this construction take us back to Roman times during which the Flavióbriga colony was built in this corner of the Cantabrian Sea, although it is true that excavations carried out in previous years have discovered remains that support the use of this watchtower from the Magdalenian period in the upper Palaeolithic.

There are numerous construction phases that the building has undergone so unraveling the time and function of each of the remains found (walls, foundations, etc.) has been really difficult. In addition, we must bear in mind that a large part of the objects found are part of the filling material that over the centuries has been brought from the vicinity of the church of Santa María de la Asunción, an old medieval cemetery.

Even so, among the remains visible in the glazed floor of the interior, we find the remains of a possible Roman construction. It is believed that it could have been a lighthouse due to the strategic location of the rock within the port.

The rest of the constructions overlapping each other, range from the Middle Ages to the present.

The function of this building during the Middle Ages until the eighteenth century was that of religious center as a hermitage and more importantly, that of political and administrative center. The hermitage of Sta. Ana was the meeting place of the Cabildo de Navegantes y Mareantes de San Andrés, a very important institution in the life and hostoria of the fishing village.

The reasons for its numerous collapses and reconstructions have been several: times of crisis, wars, disuse, weather disasters ...

The stone staircase that develops from the base to the portico, collects in its first section, part of the steps of the disappeared Teatro de la Villa located in the Plaza de La Barrera and demolished in 1979. These stairs are accessible all year round, but not the building. It usually opens only during the summer season. However, we always recommend going to the regional tourist office located in Amestoy Park.

Source

[branditsignspa]

Importance Of A Sign Company In Wilmington, DE And New Castle, PA

Starting a small business may be exciting, but it also comes with its share of responsibilities. There are numerous things to take care of, and the business owner does not find enough time to think of advertising the new store/company to the target population. One of the best ways to arrive with a bang would be to erect one of those beautiful monument signs in Wilmington, DE, and Hermitage, PA. This not only leads a visitor to the company entrance but also captures attention big time.

Sure, there are multiple types of signage available for similar purposes. Why should one order a monument sign specifically, then? It helps expand one’s knowledge about the features and specifics of such signs.

Monument Sign: what is it?

Such signs are commonplace, with almost every individual passing by without a clue of their nature. It is interesting to note that monument signs are free-standing signs that require no additional support except the ground below them. It is not surprising to come across huge signs on the ground level in front of essential building structures such as museums, schools, or office buildings. The signs may not always be rooted to the ground. Instead, it is common enough to find a narrow space between the ground and the lower end of the sign. Sometimes, the signs use natural materials such as stones and wood to showcase the nature of the building it draws attention to. The modern structures with a monument sign right at their entrance or driveway may be fashioned out of modern elements such as steel and aluminum to display the contemporary structure of the building behind it too.

Advantages of using Monument Signs

Grabbing attention is the objective of all outdoor signage, and this one is no exception. Besides, it is attractive enough to be noticeable instantly. Some of the things that the user gains by opting for this particular sign include:-

· Providing Direction- A monument sign is usually big and draws instant attention from across the road. First-time visitors thus find it easy to locate the office/facility as the sign directs them by displaying the address. Therefore, there is no possibility of losing precious prospects or angering existing customers.

· Compliance- Installing a sign within the city limits requires the statutory authorities' requisite permit. A monument sign is one of the most popular types of signage that will instantly get the go-ahead. Communities that have to follow height restrictions prefer these signs as they are constructed at ground level.

· Practical- Apart from providing direction to visitors and workers, the signs also double up as a marketing tool. Its noticeability gives the user an edge over the competitors, with the brand name gaining recognition and retention in memory due to its attractiveness and unique display that matches the building perfectly.

Simply considering the right signage will not make it an instant hot, however. The business owner must take pains to find the right sign company in Wilmington, DE, and New Castle, PA, to create and install it too.

[allyriadayne]

could you talk more about the daynes post robert's rebellion?

SURE

first of, this is mostly my hcs, speculations and a mix of things i must have read back when there was the height of asoiaf meta in 2013 because there is almost nothing about the daynes post robert's rebellion. so bear with me.

just to set the scene, the members of house dayne left after the mess of the rebellion were the unnamed older brother of ashara and arthur, the lord and father of edric; allyria the youngest sister that i headcanon to be much younger than her older siblings seeing as she is betrothed to beric dondarrion who is was in his twenties per agot so i don't think the marriage would've occurred if allyria was in her middle thirties or forties if she was closer to ashara and arthur; edric, twelve years old, beric's loyal squire; and gerold aka darkstar head of high hermitage, also in his twenties? around arianne's age.

(c) Eddie Mendoza for the cover of A Song of Ice and Fire 2025 Calendar

under the cut because i'm crazy

i don't know if the books are ever going to make clear what happened at the toj-starfall zone but we can be sure only that ned went from one to the other with lyanna's bones and supposedly baby jon to return dawn to the daynes. ashara had a baby of father unknown and shortly after ned was there she took her own life, body never found. i go back and forward in thinking if ashara's brother lord dayne was there with her when ned went or if he was one of the dornish commanders defending the targs. in any case, his presence was completely zero during this time so i think he was too injured for a time or too sickly in general to do something to reestablish the dayne name in dorne after arthur being an important part in elia's disgrace and indirectly, her murder.

because yeah after arthur and ashara's death and going by the books there is zero mention of them, even in the chapters set in dorne or others about dornish characters make no mention of them. and it's strange considering that when you read awoiaf and f&b, the daynes are The knights of dorne. queen nymeria marries a dayne, sends a starfall king to the wall, meria martell commands a dayne to burn oldtown, arguably one of the most powerful cities of the time, out of all the sons of daeron ii and myriah martell, maekar marries a dayne, the only dornish lady. it could be nothing OR something but i think it does mean something. we see there's no daynes in oberyn's party in kl or speculation in general about the new sword of the morning beyond remembering dear old arthur. they've fallen completely into obscurity. the house was reduced to a young girl and its child lord.

edric's dad dies before agot (he doesn't seem to afflicted by his death when he meets arya if he were less than a year dead, inheriting the lordship at such a young age would've been dramatic to him), i would say just after becoming a page to beric dondarrion at 7 yo and i headcanon the marriage between beric and allyria was brokered at this time too. this was part of a fic i was writing like 500 years ago but i think lord dayne must have known he would not live too long, not to see edric grow so he must have looked for someone to prepare and take care of allyria and edric after he died. betrothing allyria to a marcher lord is......strange. if a dornish person would have to be married to someone it would go like this 1) not from the reach 2) not from the marches in that order, there is too much bad blood. the daynes have a longstanding tradition of killing oakhearts so marrying allyria to the heir of blackhaven and giving him his only heir, lord dayne entrusted a complete stranger with the future of his house.

beric would've been in charge of teaching young edric just about everything. he would be living in the stormlands for almost half his live, learning from a his maester and how to govern a stormlands' castle. meanwhile, allyria in a few years probably around agot time would be ready to marry beric when she reached her majority. she would've been the defacto ruler of starfall in edric's name when lord dayne dies, i think the idea was to swap when edric gained his spurs: he would return to starfall after a successful run as a tourney knight, probably gaining some recognition from whatever beric was tasked with at the capital (rip king) and then accompany allyria to be married to his knight master. andddd fin.

the thing is. allyria being so young during the rebellion, lord dayne absence for whatever reason and then dying, let the younger members with no connections in the wider dorne political context. it is said young children go to the water gardens and it's fun yeah but it's def a starting point for politics for many lords. it's close to the martells and it's an opportunity to make friends with future rulers, /everyone/ is going. the daynes didn't have this. allyria was probably very young when the rebellion happened (i think no older than 5) and for obvious reasons she was not sent to the water gardens; as for ned, i think lord dayne could not secure an invitation, this or he died too early to even try. if allyria had gone, she would've been for sure one of arianne's companions, she has both the breeding and the standing, but NOT and it's crucial, the reputation. see what arianne has to say in affc about gerold's standing:

"He is highborn enough to make a worthy consort, she thought. Father would question my good sense, but our children would be as beautiful as dragonlords."

it's must be passé to associate with the daynes at this point. think of the conningtons losing all standing when joncon lost the battle and was exiled.

in any case, allyria, more than edric, grew in obscurity. as of the books she's betrothed to a marcher lord nobody knows if he's alive or dead, has a missing nephew and it's in charge of one of the most ancient first men houses of westeros. sad! at least ned is having more fun. which leads me to darkstar. i see his thirst to prove himself, his notoriety as a cruel knight as another way to separate himself from what the main branch has fallen into. he is in his twenties so he was probably affected by the same dark cloud as the others.

"If I led a quarter of a million men to death, would they call me Gerold the Great? I shall remain Darkstar, I think. At least it is mine own."

he wants to have what arthur had, but not be the sword of the morning, he wants something that it's his own, as he says. he may want the sword and the fame like arthur, but not to be associated with another's bad luck so to speak. it's very telling that he's called one of "the most dangerous man in dorne" and what is the sword of the morning if not this? he's a dark mirror of the daynes pre rebellion, just like allyria would've been a renown beauty just like ashara is she wasn't cloistered. something something gerold and allyria as mirrors of what could've happened to ashara and arthur if they hadn't the protection of the monarchy.

i once read gerold is meant to have young ned's plot after germ scrapped the five year time skip and i think this is half true. i do think there is something to be done about dawn the sword and i think gerold is going to steal it and do something with it, something ned can't do because he's /still/ in the riverlands. i don't know what but i think it ties nicely with the theme of deconstructing the noble knight archetype. arthur is only great because he knew how to kill.

writing this i had a breakdown about the parallels between arthur and gerold

to finish this rambling i want to say my hopes for house dayne in what is left of asoiaf is 1) ned alive 2) gerold steals dawn 3) and like. something. honestly i will take anything at this point about allyria. DOES SHE EVEN KNOW? my poor girl and 4) if germ wants to clear the toj situation then it's fine.

thanks for asking and to anyone reaching this point lol. this is mostly general but if you want to talk about anything specific just message me! k thx muah!

[amarynthian-chronicles]

Our Guest Chapter 2

Vampire!Sun, Vampire!Moon, Vampire!Eclipse x Hunter Reader

(You arrive at a sinister and luxurious castle with the innocent intention of checking why its mysterious residents haven't been paying any taxes or utilities for the past several centuries. Very useful excuse for a vampire hunter to have when trying to do some good old infiltrating. The three vampire lords however, fully intend to capture and seduce you, but that is a bit difficult when you keep asking them about their financial books. Will they be able to make you theirs? Are they onto your little schemes and playing along? Will you finally get that plate of cupcakes? We'll find out)

The storm continued to reign and rage, asserting authority over the night sky.

Lightning pierced the vast horizon, akin to a vein branching into infinity, pulsating with pure electrical energy.

The darkness didn't mind being defeated by such a force. If we allow ourselves some poetic freedom, we may even say it enjoyed it greatly, for the triumph of light offered a breathtaking spectacle as compensation.

Wondrous illumination, casting shades of pale pink and white, tinges of blue here and there, creating an illusion of ethereal smoke, or perhaps even a gathering of spectres, having their macabre symposium among the clouds, conspiring to terrify mortals with such a magnificent display of celestial power.

Wait for it, count the seconds, anticipation and excitement blending into one.

Finally, the roaring echo of Their Thunderous Majesty reverberated across the heavens.

Luminous lightning and threatening thunder, inevitable companions, eternal partners in crime creating a memorable show capable of stirring the sensitive sensibilities.

A feast for the senses, amplified when combined with the majestic atmosphere of the castle, echoes of thunder across the halls, shadowy corners being graced with mere seconds of flickering light as the storm saw fit, revealing all sorts of scultpures and portraits that changed details from the last time you had glanced at them. Blink and you miss it, but the promise of the whole spectacle repeating itself remained.

While your dinner was being prepared, you had asked your gracious hosts for a short tour of the household. For very legitimate inventory check purposes. It was only logical that an auditor would get an overview of the suspiciously large amount of precious possessions that would place both the Louvre and the Hermitage Museum to shame. You had also asked for further insight into their official records containing more details of the origin of acquisition and nominal value of each item.

Sun's rules had stipulated that you were strictly forbidden from wandering around on your own, so that limit was a bit of an inconvenience, but beggars cannot be choosers and you went along with it. The Viscount and the Marquis would be your primary guides for the time being, while the Grand Duke had gone to fetch the jewellery he had promised.

Alright, no problem. At least you would be getting an overview of the basic layout of your new surroundings, right? Right?

Oh, dearest Y/N, you got your wish granted in the worst way possible.

What you received was less of a coherent house tour and more of whatever type of delirium Dante had been experiencing when Virgil was taking him along on a casual joyride across the Nine Circles of Hell as if it were a macabre theme park with no entrance fees to be paid.

All aboard the Pandaemonium Express, darlings, hosted and organized by the Celestial Coven.

Viscount Sun was fiddling with an obscenely large bundle of keys, opening random doors of various shapes and sizes, revealing the contents of chambers for barely a few moments before closing them quickly after. You would be graced with several seconds of whichever horror was living its best life in those rooms, ranging from a group of ghosts and a boogeyman having a poker night, all the way to macabre apparitions and disfigured beings crawling and contorting their form all over the ceiling, chanting and whispering in unison.

Sun did his best to remain as cheerful and manic as possible, slamming another door shut to stop a few wailing wraiths from escaping.

“Nothing suspicious there, my pretty, we got nothing to hide.“

“I have questions.“

“What a coincidence, I too have questions! I had many of those over the course of my life. We have so much in common, love, it must be a sign from the universe that our souls were destined to meet.“

He opened another room that was seemingly safe to actually step inside. Cautious, you entered, observing all the paintings hanging from the walls. It appeared to be a collection of the works of Antoine Watteau, serene, idyllic, innocent. The faint lights in the room suddenly flickered, before going completely out. Strike of lightning, darkness once more, lights back on.

You blinked in surprise as you saw that all of Watteau's picturesque works were replaced by Francisco Goya's portrayals of witches and demons, Henry Fuseli's “Nightmare“ and Edvard Munch's “Love and Pain“. How fitting, especially since that particiular work from Munch had always been referred to as the “Vampire“.

“Care to explain that, my lord?“

“Optical illusion and masterful application of special effects. I cannot divulge more details than that, a magician never reveals the secrets of the trade.“

“Not that. How did you get your hands on originals that are officially in several different museums across the globe?“

“Mad skills.“

“Is that a confession of smuggling?“

“My words linger somewhere in the realm of jester's privilege, love, all to brighten up your evening. Why worry over their veracity? Perhaps it was an old gift from the original painters that had a bond of friendship with our ancestors. Or perhaps there had been a very elaborate heist some decades ago that deserves its own picture show. Who knows?“

He made an elegant bow and allowed you to exit the room first. You continued onwards in the hallway, focused on your notes. Well, as much as you could, considering the impractical writing tool the Viscount had so kindly and innocently provided.

Aesthetic be damned, the accursed quill was a nightmare to work with. You had punctured so many holes in the paper and gotten more ink on the side of your hand than on the document itself.

As Sun was closing the door, right before it clicked, lightning struck again. For a moment the paintings were covered in rivulets of blood, then all of it vanished, yet another forgotten echo of the past.

You were acutely aware of Moon's presence in the penumbra beneath the vaulted ceiling, the lunar-themed vampire's impish giggling echoing in the halls every once in a while.

He was still keeping to his theory that you could use a good and proper scare, so he made sure to keep soaring with the aid of his cord, eyes of unforgiving scarlet, giving him a truly demonic aura in the shadowy recesses of the lofty structure. He couldn't help his inner insane conductor that wished to command the orchestra of your cardiovascular system to fit his tempo.

He couldn't let Sun have all the fun with you, after all.

Moon made sure to make full use of all the hidden traps the castle had to offer, pressing sconces or pulling levers, cackling wickedly as various mechanisms would activate.

Swinging pendulums with curved blades would dash past you, conveniently missing their “target“, but still achieving the effect of being an inconvenience. Well-timed arrows being shot from hidden automatic crossbows in the walls, trapdoors opening at random, medieval knight armours coming to life and standing in your way.

Madness and shenanigans notwithstanding, you did your best to remain composed and maintain the typical indifference of an administrative official. You even asked the living armours if they had a valid permit and other documents necessary to wield glaives and other spearlike weaponry, and one of them almost began to cry because he didn't have any of that. You ended up patting him on the back and saying “there, there“ to offer emotional support.

Sun would look upwards and give his twin a stern glare, but that hardly had any effect on Moon's behaviour and barely fazed him. However, Moon did seem rather upset with your lack of fear. How cruel of you, giving the maestro nothing to work with.

Moon untied his dark cloak and snapped his fingers, letting the elegant cloth transform into a myriad of bats and sending them in your direction. From a rational perspective, one could merely interpret it as domesticated bats coming to greet a newcomer, nobody saw the magic trick in the shadows anyway.

You froze as the little rascals began to fly around you. Alright, challenge accepted. If Moon wanted to play, then you would play, but the tune would be set according to your own personal preference. We could ignore professionalism for a moment. Before Sun could take any action to stop Moon's tomfoolery, you acted first.

“Please hold these papers and quill for me, my lord Viscount. I need my hands free.“

“Wait, what?“

Animal familiars served as extensions of one's soul, and vampiric bats were no exception. It was more than obvious that Moon harboured a certain fondness for you, and therefore it made sense that his familiars would never be truly hostile to you. You held up your hand and made an affectionate coo at the dear creatures, calling for them as if they were kittens. As expected, a cute little bat landed on the palm of your hand, looking up at you with curious eyes. You patted its head and gave little scratches behind its ear.

To say that Moon almost had a cardiac arrest would be an understatement, his control over his own familiars falling apart as all of them were collectively sharing the joyful feeling of getting head scratches, himself included.

You extended your other arm, as if offering a nice resting place for the other darlings to hang onto. As expected, the bats huddled together and made themselves comfortable by hanging from your sleeve, all in a nice row. The one from your palm happily joined them.

You looked up at Moon and smiled, satisfied with your work.

“Your pets seem to like me. By my understanding, after seeing all of your contraptions, this castle operates as an unregistered haunted house attraction? It would fail plenty of safety requirements, my dear Marquis.“

“Allow me to remind you of the ancient saying about winning battles, but not the war itself.“

“What an odd war this is.“

There was a wisdom in being passive, at least temporarily. Not only did it force the other party to be active and therefore show their metaphorical cards first, it also allowed you to read more into their modus operandi. Besides, it offered an opportunity for you to acquaint yourself with certain nuances that would otherwise remain hidden knowledge. Behaviour patterns, sounds, habits, reactions, all of it was precious information.

Old rule of keeping friends close and enemies closer. Especially if your opponents were within stabbing distance. True, you could be the one that ends up injured first, but that brings us again to the usefulness of waiting for the other to initiate the lethal dance. After all, there was no greater pleasure than getting an enemy close enough to attack you, you pull out their own blade from your flesh, whisper a polite “thank you“ for the free weapon they had so kindly provided, and stab them right back. Where it counts, right in the heart.

No hurry. We got no train to catch.

You smile at the abyss, it smiles back, you give each other a high five, perfect summary of your approach to impossible situations. A puzzle to solve, a mathematical problem, and all the obstacles in front of you were a group of factors that you could play with in order to create a solution.

And, by heavens, the euphoria of solving a problem was far more powerful than any fear of death. Fear was powerless in the realm of manic joy. Defeat the monsters by showing them that you are far more insane than they could ever hope to be, letting them know that they were trapped with you and not the other way around.

Speaking of which, you had been memorizing the pattern of Moon's traps and listening to the specific sounds they produced when activated, their combination forming a sequence of notes, ascending and descending, as if he wished to create a parody of an arpeggio. Of course, it was inevitable for him to use musical theory on absolutely everything. If your calculations were accurate, then you knew exactly what would be coming next.

You had also noticed that the arrows were adjusted to miss their mark by exactly ten centimeters, and a tiny click would be heard right before they were released.

Focus. You had to utilise another part of yourself, the one that only understood cold discipline, the same sober force that had broken the hypnotic spell the trio had placed you under when you first arrived on their doorstep.

Let the Northern wind banish the euphoria away for the time being, it had done its part of providing insane genius. Allow frost to take over, you needed the calm precision of Winter for your next stunt, turn off all primary instincts. There it was. Reach for it. Don't breathe.

Sun's eyes widened in absolute shock as you swiftly caught a passing arrow with your bare hand as if it were second nature.

You needed the events around you to go even slower. Keep focusing, there had to be a mechanism on the lower area in the corridor that could stop the next trap. Another click. You found it. Pendulums would be coming soon.

You ignored Sun's words as you proceeded to move towards a wall, noticing a small opening. More metallic sounds were soon heard coming from within. Without thought, you shoved the arrow inside with the precision of a surgeon, hitting straight between the cogs of the concealed apparatus, blocking any further motion. The pendulum that had already been released suddenly stopped mid-swing.

Silence reigned for several seconds. You heard Moon land right behind you. His thoughts were in a fine disarray, but what truly surprised him was the sound of your heart and flow of your blood. Or rather, a sudden almost complete lack thereof. The former giddy cadence had slowed drastically, almost as if you had forced your system into temporary hibernation.

Moon glanced over at the little bats that were still resting on your other arm, and he huffed as he noticed that they were napping without a care in the world, choosing to remain unbothered by their master's current thoughts as if they simply turned on a mental answering machine to receive his commands instead. Adorable traitors. He snapped his fingers, trying to get his point across, and the darling creatures woke up and flew away, refusing to form back into his cloak.

Slowly, steadily, your warmth returned, Winter melting back into Spring. It was a gradual process and you needed to return to the desired equilibrium gently. The downsides of your peculiar technique were that that you would feel very hungry after using it and more sensitive to cold when returning to your normal functions. You sneezed. Oh, damn it, not again.

You spoke, voice a bit more stern than you intended:

“I hope we are done with these tricks and traps finally, shall we move onto the next room, gentlemen?“

You stood in front of the next door, waiting patiently for Sun to unlock it, casual as if nothing even happened, while the boys were trying to process the whole situation, the lack of explanations driving them insane.

Vampires were known to be obsessive creatures, always needing to keep their mind occupied and craving answers to their questions. Curiosity and knowledge were a consolation prize when blood was not available, providing a similar ecstasy. It was therefore no surprise that plenty of them found solace in scholarly disciplines, such as music, art and philosophy.

A gentle flame bloomed in Moon's heart, slivers of desire and pleasure flickering alongside those of pride and interest. You had the audacity to cause his creations to malfunction and this only made him wish to build even more of them, he would give you all the puzzles in the world to solve, beyond those that required solutions to musical riddles.

What a hunt it could be. Finally a true challenge in the doldrums of immortality, an aurora borealis appearing in his night sky after an eternity of starless darkness.

So many new possibilities, a vampire of his calibre chasing after the only person capable of silencing their heart, leaving only the sweet scent of their blood to tease and torment him. Nevertheless, it did not escape his notice that you needed some time to properly return to normal after such a feat. He would be there to soothe you. Moon knew very well how to take care of priceless instruments.

Sun came over to your side, cautious, but very much intrigued. He returned the papers and quill to you, grinning.

“I have questions, dear comet.“

“Let me see, how was it you worded your replies earlier regarding all of those odd occurences? Ah, yes. What a coincidence, I too have questions. A magician never reveals their secrets, and so on, and so forth.“

“Using my own weapons against me?“

“Of course. I'm not going to waste those in my arsenal, have you seen the prices for new ones these days?“

There was some trouble with opening the new door, as no key seemed to work on the lock. If anything, the room seemed as if nobody had touched it in ages. Sun groaned.

“I could have sworn it was this one. I may need your help, darling. Pick a key, any key, your guess is as good as mine.“

“This one with the little heart seems cute.“

“Tenth time's the charm.“

Moon smirked and commented:

“I can always go fetch a drill.“

The Viscount made a happy noise as the lock finally clicked, but his joy was short-lived as a solid avalanche of heavy leather-bound books and scrolls of parchment comically buried him as soon as he opened the door. The Marquis burst out laughing.

“Well, that's a sad way to die, brother.“

“Shut up!“

The tomes were in a dire condition and as soon as you reached for one, the binding partially fell apart. You managed to decipher that at least some of them held some financial information, but whoever had compiled it was probably either dead drunk or not paid enough to care. You knelt down, removing a few books to help dig Sun out.

“Sir, these records are basically antediluvian.“

“So is the dust. Do you mind categorizing them year by year by yourself, love? Could take you a while, really. Days. Months. A decade. You know, I propose you just move in at this point, no problem.“

“This is absolute chaos and the charts here make no sense. Was there anyone tasked with keeping track of the transactions? Debts, income?“

Sun and Moon gave each other a look, both of them humming in thought and inspecting the vast corridors of their brilliant minds, arriving somewhere on the forgotten level that had a sign with “to delete later, seriously“ written on it.

They whispered to each other:

“Didn't we have that notary, Moon?“

“Yes, we did. Somewhere in the early Baroque era.“

“The chap's probably not alive now, is he?“

“He could be, if I play a note or two.“

Sun frowned at him, narrowing his eyes and speaking in a tone as if dealing with a troublesome child.

“Out of the question, not a topic of discussion. You can hardly control yourself once you start going crazy with your musical necromancy powers.“

“I am officially offended by such a statement. The dancing dead are always a delight to see.“

“Yes, especially that one time on the national news on a Sunday evening. Thank goodness mortals have no concept of common sense, so they proclaimed it a zombie flash mob and turned it into an annual trend.“

“You can't let things go, can you?“

There was something heartwarming about their childish banter, and you could not help but smile. You didn't know what was more adorable, their wisecracks or the fact that they were convinced you couldn't hear them. Oh, well.

The corridor was illuminated by lightning once more, drops of rain still continuously hitting the windows, providing a soothing combination of sounds, and soon enough the roar of thunder reverberated all across the castle. Personally, you would have loved to simply snuggle up in a soft blanket, with a collection of priceless hardcover books nearby for you to read, but we digress.

While the boys were still busy with their verbal swordplay, you took the time to gaze through the window. The garden area had a very intricate design, serving to enchant and bedazzle the beholder. Shrubberies and flower bed areas were placed to replicate the shapes of constellations, labyrinthine paths and lanes forming the shapes of the sun and the moon, fountains with sculptures that no master could ever replicate. It reminded you of the style that André Le Nôtre had been known for, but Sun's variation was ten times more magnificent.

The Viscount was truly an incredibly talented man when it came to visual arts, his work was breathtaking. Speak of the devil. You heard him whisper next to your ear.

“A shame that we cannot take you out for a stroll through our gardens tonight, love.“

“I see you two are done arguing?“

“We were too charmed by the wonder in your eyes to continue. You seem mesmerized. Perhaps we can enjoy them another day, when the weather permits. There are so many gazebos, labyrinths and hidden havens for us to explore together. I place additional lighting during our dance parties. Visitors love to frolic in the garden area the most. It offers a perfect shelter for clandestine activities, where gentle sighs and tender kisses are exchanged between loving promises.“

You shuddered as you heard Moon speak, his hands squeezing your shoulders, massaging them.

“An ideal location for a good game of hide and seek, in my humble opinion. Especially if it slowly evolves into a chase. Fair warning, dearest, I always win, so I expect you to place maximum effort if you want to escape me.“

“There is no greater pleasure than stealing victory from someone who is far too accustomed to it.“

Moon gave you an affectionate nuzzle, making your heart rate slightly increase, and he made sure to keep memorizing the harmonies of your blood. The skin of your neck was warm and silken. It would be so easy to puncture it with his sharp teeth and any lesser vampire would have already done so with wild abandon. Not yet, no, he craved the reward that came after a proper capture, precious and well-deserved.

Nevertheless, a small part of him would have loved to enjoy the simplicity of domestic bliss, without the thrill of the hunt. It would be nice to assist you in preparing for your slumber. Brushing your hair, letting the tingling sensations along your sensitive scalp lull you further into the embrace of slumber, singing softly or playing an instrument for you. Perhaps one day.

Your voice brought his attention back to reality:

“I do warmly recommend investing in an emotional support plushie, sir.“

“Oh? Hardly a sound financial advice. I already have one here, no need to seek others.“

“You know, since you're already at it, could you please focus your ministrations a little to the left? I am feeling some tension and ache there.“

“Of course, Your Majesty. Although, do you permit me to do my best to properly help you with that health issue?“

“Alright, granted.“

You stiffened as you felt his hands around your neck, but his hold was gentle, akin to what one may expect from a medical doctor. He traced his fingers over the carotid sinus and the vagus nerve area, applying pressure on the nerve and proceeding with a gentle massage. There were many benefits to such a manoeuvre and the effects were almost instantaneous for you, allowing you relax.

Moon had registered that your little hibernation technique had a strain on your body, regardless of your remarkable recovery abilities. Rather terrifying recovery abilities, more like. By all means, it was a miracle that you were even alive. Skill level notwithstanding, such a drastic back-and-forth change in blood flow intensity and oxygenation, coupled with the lack of an adequate presence of leukocytes when needed, was bound to temporarily mess up the immune system, create issues with blood circulation and cause muscle aches.

He focused, listening attentively. Your blood was singing softly, a gentle lullaby of past, present and future. With sufficient focus, he could read many things about you, but for now chose not to. Again, it would be too easy and there was no glory in easy prey. Oh, but how magnificent it would be to enjoy such a composition.

Every vibration was carved in the texture of flesh, almost in a similar way that sound was perfectly preserved in the grooves of a vinyl record, or the metal pins on the cylinder of a music box being able to replicate a melody. Your blood could hear all that had ever happened to you, after all. Even if all cells eventually replaced themselves, flesh regenerating and changing over the years, all of them would still whisper secrets to each other, containing them forever. For Moon, it would be like listening to a recording.

Pleasant tingles went down your spine and, surpringly enough, it did make you feel better. You closed your eyes, fully leaning into Moon's touch, much to his delight.

“I have to admit, you are really good at this, my lord Marquis.“

“The pleasure is all mine.“

He could get used to this idyllic scenario. It was certainly different from what he would feel while hunting or feeding. Each individual hunt was often a dramatic symphony that he conducted as if possessed, letting the rhythm completely take over all sanity and consume him in the same manner he would take all drops of blood that a person had to offer, shuddering from the tragic swan song of a dying heart offering the last bit of the nectar of life, grande finale, all for him, only for him.

Corpses had no music left in them. Therefore, he would keep some blood for his ink for composing, and in that way have a record of the person's inner workings forever at his disposal, along with the possibility to summon the body back from the dead if he so pleased. If there were to be a dire need for an urgent army of the dead, he could temporarily revive thousands through the usage of his own blood, writing specific notes and chords with it and then simply playing the tune on an instrument.

Coincidentally, it was a nice surprise and a change for you, as well. Any other vampire would have used the opportunity and take advantage of your vulnerability in that moment.

Your humanity was an asset that you would use regularly to lure the ravenous beings of the Night. Your scent was sweet and therefore perfect bait, especially if you were letting your heart slow its rhythm, thus tricking the vampires into thinking that you were dying and helpless. They would come, starved, ready to feast, and you would pierce their heart the moment they were close enough, unexpecting. You were silent and you were quick, moving like a midnight curse, unyielding and inevitable.

But let us return to our current adventure.

Sun wished to have his fair share of your attention once more, so he reached and combed his fingers through your hair, sharp claws caressing your scalp, sending tingles down your spine. You could honestly get used to all of that pampering, you almost fell asleep right there and then. Sun spoke:

“Since we cannot play outside, perhaps we should use this opportunity to think of a story together. The weather adds to the spooky atmosphere, after all, doesn't it?“

You hummed, still too relaxed to care what was going on.

“Will we ever get some work done here, sir? We still got rooms to go through.“

“No, I don't think so.“

“Alright, I will take the bait. What shall we make? A horror story?“

You had always been a great admirer and avid reader of horror fiction, dear Y/N, both classical and modern. However, you were of the opinion that the common perception of such tales had become rather stagnant, as if those stories had already given all the lessons and messages they had to give.

You had half a mind to one day write a collection of essays to give a new perspective regarding that particular genre. For instance, contrary to common sense and popular expectations, natural law dictated that sooner or later an administrative official or a legal professional was bound to enter the abode of a vampire.

It would be fun if you were to rewrite the whole summary of “Dracula“ into “aspiring solicitor visits a charming old vampire, helps him purchase real estate in several easy steps and this becomes everybody else's problem.“

Moon released you from his embrace and grinned.

“Perhaps a tale about a group of devilish fiends that lurk in the dark of your chamber and wait to steal you away.“

“You know, that is rather hilarious if you think about it.“

“Oh?“

“Imagine, they just sit there and look at the time every once in a while as they wait for your potential entrance so they could potentially kidnap you. What if your plans change and they just end up sitting there in the corner for nothing all night? I suppose they would read a nearby magazine or something.“

That certainly got a laugh out of him. Alright, enough tomfoolery, the three of you agreed to improvise as the story went along.

As was customary in most dark fairy tale beginnings, there was a walk through the forest. We cannot have you go with a bicycle, imagine the hassle. It would not be as frightening and serious if the handsome monsters had to jog along to keep up with you while trying to lead you astray or trick you into their clutches. Although it would be hilarious if they were to run after you with a net, but we digress.

A character named Darling Red Riding Hood was carrying a basket full of cakes and other treats, on their merry way through the perilous realm that belonged to two very trustworthy hunters that were totally not wolfish demons in disguise. Quite a lot of irony to unpack there, in your opinion.

“Gentlemen, we should make a whole compilation of parodies of fairy tales.“

“Don't get out of character, we are coming to the good part.“

“Sorry, sorry. My, such big hands you have, my dear Viscount Sun.“

“The better to hold you with, precious.“

Moon, of course, had to protest:

“I thought I would be the one doing the holding, brother.“

“Well, you already got the eyes and the teeth part, don't be greedy.“

They settled for a compromise of both doing the holding, otherwise a whole war would break out.

“Does Darling Red proceed to run or should I just make them initiate a pillow fight with their opponents?“

“Oh, no, anything but the deadly power of the pillows.“

“If we make a chase scene, I would love for Moon's character to trip over the carpet at least once.“

“How rude.“

Eventually, the three of you created several ending scenarios and agreed that you would properly choose one during the course of your stay. Under the condition that Sun makes all the notes, since you were very much done with the whole quill fiasco.

The situation was rather absurd and you had no idea how things had gotten to that point really, but you were having fun in that specific moment and it also allowed you to acquire a more relaxed perspective of things. For instance, you were very well aware that Grand Duke Eclipse was taking a suspiciously long time to get the collection of jewellery ready. What on earth was the old man doing?

Sun tapped your shoulder to get your attention.

“Any other silly ideas to note down? Potential sequels?“

“I was thinking about another ending idea. What if there never was a grandmother and Darling Red Riding Hood just used that as an excuse to trick the wolfish fiends into going to the cottage first, trapping them inside?“

“That would be very sneaky and wicked.“

“Well, so is stalking people in the forest for nefarious purposes. Double standards, I see.“

“And what will Darling Red do with their newly acquired prisoners?“

“Well, the house isn't going to vacuum itself and someone has to do the cooking.“

Sun and Moon looked at each other before cackling.

“What an elaborate plan just to get someone to do the housekeeping for you. But maybe they predicted the whole plot all along and have their own schemes. I am certain they would find a way to trick Darling Red and return the favour. Write all of that down, we got some good material here that we can expand upon.“

“I am trying, give me a second.“

“Having some trouble there? That notebook has seen some better days, I reckon. What a dangerous little impaler you are, puncturing that poor piece of paper ever so cruelly. And look at all those smudged letters, what a fine mess.“

Oh, enough was enough.

You huffed as if you were an offended princess, holding up the quill to Sun.

“I wish to return this item and report it as a faulty product. I also regret to inform you that the ink doesn't dry, either.“

“Give it some time, it is all a matter of practice and the correct position of the wrist. As for the ink, well, I hardly ever had such problems. Medieval monks used to ascribe manuscript errors to a sly demon named Titivillus. Mayhaps he is the one interfering with your efforts.“

He winked at you. You were not having it.

“My lord Viscount, falsely accusing an innocent demon in such a manner. I would feel slighted if I were him. Perhaps even file a lawsuit for slander.“

“Gracious goodness, heaven forbid, we don't need another administrative affair on top of this one. Besides, I would take this writing problem as a sign that you need to quit your current job altogether.“

“Excuse me?“

“You are excused. You see, I find myself in need of an art model. If you ever get bored of your tiresome profession, I shall be waiting, welcoming you with open arms. You should be lying on crimson velvet, inspiring beauteous images, not walking around in the rain from door to door like a street urchin.“

“Tempting, sir, but we will have a problem if you keep making me write with this torture device should I choose to stay.“

You sighed as you looked down at the ink stains on your hand.

“I do hope these markings are not permanent. Will warm water and soap suffice to get this out?“

He contemplated the answer for a while. Sun was hardly fazed by your attempts at being cold with him. Blood never told a single lie and the sweetness of yours was certainly guilty of high treason, displaying a palette of dawn-coloured emotions that no ice could keep contained. Frozen fruit remained sweet and there was no wine more precious than the one made from special grapes collected in Winter.

Sun saw artistic value in each and every gesture, shades and colours that he would make sure to remember so he could create a similar version on the canvas.

The fabric of your clothes, each lock of your hair having its subtle and delicate texture, slight curls at the ends after drying from the rain. Your cheeks, soft eyelashes, the way your eyes reflected the distant source of light, the curve and shape of your lips, he wished to immortalize all of it in countless paintings.

To your surprise, Sun reached for your ink-stained hand, holding it gently as if it were a fragile bird, inspecting the patterns.

“Sir?“

“Permit me one simple gesture to prove my devotion, same way you allowed Moon to do so.“

You blushed as his fingers caressed your skin, a part of you apprehensive of the ink making a mess on his hands, as well. You were about to speak, but words evaporated the moment you realized what Sun was doing. He traced his index finger along the stained area, commanding its shape and direction, and suddenly the ink flowed as if it were a living tattoo, rearranging itself into the shape of a comet.

Sun then pressed his lips to the newly made image, his reverence almost palpable.

“Comets are made out of ice, but their full potential is released the closer they come to the warmth of the sun, their companionship creating the vapour that forms the comet's tail. You would be doing me a great honour if you chose to be my assistant in creating similar wonders, love.“

You were certain that there were little sparkles in your eyes, but let us remain professional.

“I will keep your offer in mind, Viscount. Nice parlour trick, I'll give you that. I hope you don't charge your guests for witnessing such shows.“

“I could simply say I am freelancing for compensation that is selectively given. A donation, if you will.“

He meant what he said, he wanted a partnership, body and soul. Nevertheless, his darker side was equally potent, dreaming of your warm blood colouring the flowers on his canvas, gentle droplets on each petal, giving life to his art in ways no mortal ever did.

He was fully aware of the perils of his own duality and the consequences of losing control of himself. There was nothing more disturbing than using kindness for evil and he made an effort to only apply that part of himself when it was for the benefit of the entirety of the Celestial Coven.

Viscount Sun possessed an additional ability that no other vampire had ever been gifted with: he could freely walk in the daylight. Therefore, he was often the diplomat of the group, the link to the outside world that kept up their pristine image in the eyes of mortals. He was gentle and therefore lethal, prancing happily and collecting everyone's trust and adoration with his charm. Giving someone your trust was akin to carving out your heart and handing it over to them with a smile, the tender organ still beating in the palm of your hand.

Being the one most accustomed to keeping up appearances, it only made sense for him to be gifted with the power over images and illusions. Additionally, this allowed him to see through his paintings as if they were a magic mirror, and it was not uncommon for him to gift special portraits to those that the coven had an interest in monitoring from afar, be it either people in important positions or those they needed information on.

He did not possess Moon's hunting instincts, but he excelled in psychological torture. Allowing certain prisoners to escape, letting them spread the word to all the denizens in the local town that there were vampires living in the castle. Sun would then casually appear in broad daylight, dressed in his best suit, grinning and wishing the former prisoner a good day, watching them whimper in shock. Needless to say that everyone around them would become more than convinced that the accuser was insane.

There had always been such a joy in Sun's eyes, a kindness seemingly so sincere, as if inviting an audience to a magical wonderland of his own making, a picture he himself had painted, promising and coaxing, never mentioning that there were no real exits once entered.

You were well aware of all of his shenanigans and past deeds, which is why your common sense commanded you to be very careful with him. However, he was also adorable, so you could permit yourself a moment or two of indulgence. Reasonable dosage.

You cleared your throat when you realized you were silent for far too long.

“Out of curiosity, are there any secret passageways around here? Seems only natural, we already have everything else that constitutes a typical Gothic story scenario.“

“Yes, but those are hardly practical. Last time we installed those, Eclipse got stuck in the walls. We miscalculated the tunnel measurements, you see. After a while we heard some very cranky noises, but we couldn't pinpoint where he was exactly. Took an eternity to get him out.“

Fun and games came to a stop when a dark voice spoke:

“Why, thank you for sharing that silly story with our beautiful guest, Sun. My good name shall never recover.“

The Viscount looked over at the end of the hallway. The familiar regal figure was standing there, gazing out the window, studying the storm absentmindedly. His expression was almost soft, pensive. Sun called out:

“All in good fun, esteemed brother. We would never mock you, heaven forbid. I see you brought all of your paraphernalia with you.“

You blinked in shock when you noticed the absurd amount of coffers, chests and trunks around Eclipse, including a large jewellery cabinet that bore the crest of the Celestial Coven. The man had casually hauled over a king's ransom to your presence as if it were the most normal thing in the world, without any of you even hearing him appear.

Eyes of gold and liquid honey were now focused on you, but they did not seek to enchant you, at least for the time being. Something was different about his general demeanour. You had no idea what to expect, whether you should be alarmed, concerned or intrigued.

“Are you alright, sir?“

“Would you pardon an old dreamer for getting lost in his reveries? Also, I ask for a moment of your time, diligent scribe, it won't be long.“

“Of course, no problem.“

“Much obliged.“

Another blink and he was gone, his form disappearing in smoke. You winced, alert and prepared for a confrontation should the situation demand it. Sun and Moon both had a knowing smile, aware that their brother had prepared a beautiful show for you.

“Relax, comet. You do love parlour tricks still, don't you?“

“I think I am reaching my limit for one evening, honestly.“

The nearby window opened on its own accord, strong winds playing with the heavy velvet curtains. The passing droplets of rain suddenly halted their course, hovering in the air, before floating towards you. With bated breath, you watched them glow and transform into tear-shaped diamonds.

A single thread of a spider's web was summoned from a dark corner, undulating in the air, radiating light as its properties were subjected to a miraculous metamorphosis into a chain of white gold.

The chain proceeded to connect the diamonds together, particles of dust in the air becoming incandescent and transforming into filigree for each jewel. Unconsciously, you extended your palm and watched it land there, incredulous of what you had just witnessed.

Eclipse's voice was at your ear, tender, almost a purr.

“Alchemy is a divine scholarly discipline, morning star. A minute oscillation in structure on the atomic level can alter the physical properties of any object in existence. The same logic applies to all parts of nature, from the humble rock in the groumd, all the way to the exalted blood that courses through our veins and gives life.“

He reached for the newly-made treasure from your hand and gently placed it around your neck, his fingers lightly playing with a lock of your hair after he finished. From what he had silently observed, diamonds seemed to partially resonate with your soul, but didn't quite fit to serve as its new home. The energies of your spirit kept interchanging during the evening while you were playing with his brothers, vernal bliss turning into a kingdom of frost, back and forth.

What other jewels would be appropriate for your spirit? Emeralds? Indicolite? When it came to your inner essence, it was important to dedicate the diligence of a true craftsman that was observing the structure of a gem under a lens. Moreover, it was of crucial importance to match the energy of the blood with the proper stone.

As for you, dear Y/N, you had no idea whether you should continue to marvel at all of the wonders presented to you, or if you should start to lowkey panic over the amount of spiritual energy that the Grand Duke had accumulated in his considerably long career of snatching human souls by sealing their blood in jewels. Alchemical transmutation was a monstrous power and to see its application was both incredible and terrifying.

Alright, you had already been aware that he would be the most dangerous out of the three. Nothing new. However, you required more information. You were mostly acquainted with the way Sun and Moon were able to use their powers in practice, as well as knowing where they drew the line and boundaries they would never cross. You needed to have the same experience with Eclipse to properly build a strategy against him. Another mathematical problem to solve, a challenge, a mystery to unravel.

The Grand Duke placed a finger under your chin to get your attention.

“A miracle, our darling is speechless.“

“I am merely processing the fact that you could singlehandedly crash the entire international gem market this way.“

“Oh, my, how villainous of me. I should be stopped.“

“Well, that is why I am here, correct?“

“Beauteous Venus, bright herald of both morning and evening, you combine within you the lethal gift of dawn and the comforting shelter of dusk, but I assure you, your little inspection will never make this noble house fall. Now, shall we continue?“

With a swift motion, he produced a golden key out of thin air and made his merry way to the many chests and coffers he had brought, opening them and revealing all that was stored within. Handmade music boxes, pocket watches, rings and bracelets galore, crowns, diadems, sceptres, various complex tools and instruments, bejewelled daggers. All of it made by his own hand.

Sun and Moon did not wish to remain on the side and they happily joined the fun, helping you unbox priceless items as if they were regular Christmas gifts. Giggling, you playfully placed a tiara on Moon's head and plenty of rings on Sun's fingers, as well as an obscene amount of pearl necklaces around his neck.

“We look ridiculous.“

“On the contrary, I think this appearance will be very useful should you ever apply to work at an airport.“

“How so?“

“With all those sparkles, it will be very easy to help navigate the plane to where it needs to land.“

“Very funny.“

A few items caught your eye in particular. With childish curiosity, you reached for the ornate sabres that were stored in one chest, the quality of their material and design beyond description. There were various other types of swords, such as elegant rapiers and light smallswords. Blades were a thing of immense beauty and you harboured almost the same type of weakness for them as you did for chocolate cupcakes. And books.

As was expected, Sun was quick to reprimand you.

“No, no, sharp objects down. Bad comet.“

“But they are pretty.“

“You will poke someone's eye out.“

“That doesn't make them any less pretty. Also, rude. I am very skilled when it comes to duels with historical weapons, thank you very much.“

“Now, what was it you said to those poor knights earlier this evening? Do you have a permit to wield those?“

“Actually, I do.“

The economic principles of supply and demand had a tendency of functioning the same way one would expect from cosmically linked soulmates. It was in that particular moment that both you and Eclipse realised a few things. He needed a way to get to your blood without initiating a full frontal attack and you needed a way to learn how he functioned when in action, even if it was all a part of the little absurd farce all four of you were partaking in.

It was therefore no wonder that the Grand Duke took the opportunity as soon as it presented itself.

“Did someone mention a duel?“

There was nothing worse than being in the same room with an unstoppable force and an immovable object, especially when both of them had a penchant and passion for swords. Eclipse was setting down some basic rules for you to follow and you were adding some adjustments to them, especially those dealing with collateral damage. Modern fencing regulations be damned, let's go wild. The Viscount and the Marquis exchanged a look of concern. They certainly were not in the mood for acting as makeshift daycare attendants and they could feel the migraine coming in their direction in a metaphorical car with broken metaphorical breaks.

You sealed the deal with a handshake, a true professional one this time. No time for hand kissing when it came to business.

“To finalize, what will lead to direct victory, my lord?“

Eclipse tilted his head, grin widening, red circles appearing in his golden eyes.

“First blood.“

AO3

[superconductivebean]

#934: natty > seb ; not a slander

Your post, @crowtitx, reminded me of a post I did… quite a long time ago tbh, it was on Aug 17!! D: Damn time flies fast.

Anyway, I was comparing Natty and Sebastian in that quest and here is what I was able to pin down:

Natty is friendly and has no other intent than to genuinely help MC to acclimatise and become their friend because Natty remembers what it felt like to start a new school in not just another part of the world, but a completely new one;

Sebastian, at the other hand, doesn't hide his curiosity. I'd say, it doesn't feel comfortable; he always nudges in a question or a some kind of remark that goes unexplained because he always has something else to add, to say, to comment on, to make it all about his deep interest in MC's ability to duel.

From the standpoint of the game's narrative and getting into the plot, Sebastian's companionship might look like a good deal for getting into the thick of it. His questions, despite being super… what's the other for 'intrusive', meddlesome? and me-me-my-about-me, keeps the grinds going; he breathes in the sense of people knowing MC is an odd one out and that they have secrets to themselves.

From the same standpoint, Natty has more of a laid-back approach and tackles things as they come. She doesn't push MC to answer any questions, nor she asks any of the same curious nature. She's just here and offers nothing more than a walk to a completely new area to a person who just characterised the castle as 'positively enormous'; there are already a ton to take notice of and think about, having Natty by the side might feel tad boring but it's relaxing, imbuing in a sense of time not moving as rapidly as it was on a previous in-game day.

The option for a someone like me, lmao, I was literally stuck at DADA Tower's Hermitage for a good hour my first time playing the game (subsequently, Natty was my choice then).

Walking down the road with Natty has one of my favourite conversations in the game!

Natty asks:

How are you settling in? I remember the weeks that followed my arrival feeling quite strange. Everything was so new and unfamiliar.

and MC answers with:

I’m getting used to things. What about you? Do you finally feel settled?

MC, few mere hours into this new world, doesn't care to elaborate on their struggles, instead they're eager to know more about Natty! Slice of life I'm on this planet for ftw ngl tbh.

It doesn't happen with Sebastian en route bar the question about Anne -- which is prompted by the natural course of the conversation, it's not MC's own deep interest, I sensed. How do I word it properly: there is a difference between being genuine and polite. Otherwise they wouldn't ask Natty back quite energetically, if you recall the tone of their voice; it's different with Sebastian, MC sounds rather timid and might I add, the whole conversation with Sebastian is gloomy.

But it sets the tone for the further Sebastian quests quite well, and here's the catch for the narrative bit I mentioned earlier:

he doesn't get nor MC, neither the player into the thick of it, lest we assume the game must be about him for this point to have sense plot-wise.

Getting back to Natty, her approach certainly was a preparation for the introduction for the companion system. I'm convinced we were ought to have her as our very first companion to travel with and to do side-quests with thus spending time with her and learning all about the castle, the valley, the society, everything MC could have interest in. That would've also solved the pacing issues I mentioned; Sebastian doesn't suffer from them half as much simply because he has a plethora of quests where you just… talk or meet somewhere to also have a chat, and then to have a chat here, then there, etcetcetc.

In conclusion, I prefer Natty over Sebastian.

Also, I want to mention, as a bonus, what Professor Sharp has to say about each of them:

And Professor Weasley:

[useless-catalanfacts]

Mare de Déu de la Roca hermitage in Mont-roig del Camp (Camp de Tarragona, Catalonia).

According to the belief, the hermitage was built in the place where a shepherd had found a statue of the Virgin Mary under a palm tree. The earliest written document that testifies there was a shrine on this site dates from 1230, next to a feudal castle that has not survived the passage of time. However, almost all the building that is still standing nowadays was built between the 1500s and the 1700s. The hermitage has been attacked in various wars, most brutally by the French army in the Napoleonic invasion of 1811, and needed to be partially rebuilt after that. The hermitage's library, as well as the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that was worshipped here (probably made in the 1700s), were burned down in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War.

Photos from Turisme Mont-roig del Camp and fer55/Wikimedia Commons. Info: Diputació de Tarragona.

[devilsrains]

aoike character guide book

places visited in yasuko aoike's works (translation under the cut by the lovely @asnowperson)

ENGLAND 1- London (Midnight Collector side story among others) 2- The National Gallery (London) (Pt.1 A Thousand Kisses) 3- British Museum (London) (Pt.1) 4- Salibury Military Base (Lieutenant Colonel Eberbach side story) 5- Heathrow Airport (No.11 Seven Days in September among others)

GERMANY 6- Plymouth (El halcón) 7- Bonn 8- NATO Bonn Office 9- Cologne 10- Thermal Spas on the Rhine River and the old castles (Eroica, among others) 11- Lilienthal Monastery (Shuudoushi Falco) 12- Berlin (No. 15 Nosferatu, among otheres) 13- Trier (No.17 Trojan Horse) 14- German Military Hospital (Intermission side story) 15- Dresden (No.16 The Panda’s Maze) 16-Hamburg (From Lawrence with Love side story) 17- Eberbach Mansion

FRANCE/ITALY/GREECE 18- Paris (No.17 Trojan Horse) 19- Louvre Museum (No.1 A Thousand Kisses) 20- Charles de Gaulle Airport (No.11 Seven Days in September) 21- Nice (No.17 Trojan Horse) 22- Avignon (Alcazar Oujo) 23- Catacombes (No.8 Veni Vidi Vici) 24- St.Peter’s Basilica (No.8 Veni Vidi Vici) 25- St.Peter’s Square (No.8 Veni Vidi Vici) 26- Parthenon Temple (No.4 Love in Greece)

SPAIN/PORTUGAL 27- Sevilla (Alcazar Oujo) 28- Sigüenza (Alcazar Oujo) 29- Toledo (Alcazar Oujo) 30- Jerez Castle (Alcazar Oujo) 31- Jerez Monastery (Alcazar Oujo) 32- Jaén (No.18 Judgment of Paris) 33- Plaza de Toros de Jaén (No.18 Judgment of Paris) 34- Córdoba (Eroica) 35- Zuera, Alcala (No.11 Seven Days in September) 36- Aragon region (Eroica) 37- Calatayud (Alcazar Oujo) 38- Granada (Alcazar Oujo) 39- Barcelona (Eroica) 40- Valencia (Alcazar Oujo) 41- Lisbon (No.3 Achilles’ Last Stand)

SWITZERLAND/AUSTRIA/LICHTENSTEIN/ROMANIA 42- Zürich (No.13 The Seventh Seal) 43- Luzern (No.12 The Laughing Cardinals) 44- Vienna State Opera (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 45- Vienna Central Cemetery (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 46- Innsbruck (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 47- Innsbruck Airport (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 48- Hofburg Palace (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 49- Tyrol region (No.14 Emperor Waltz) 50- Lichtenstein (No.13 The Seventh Seal) 51- Romania military base (No. 15 Nosferatu)

THE NETHERLANDS/BELGIUM 52- Amsterdam (Eroica, Madan no Shashu) 53- Bruxelles (No.17 Trojan Horse) 54- NATO HQ (No.19 Poseidon 2000) 55- European Commission HQ (No.13 The Seventh Seal) 56- Antwerp (No.17 Trojan Horse)

NORWAY/SWEDEN/DENMARK 57- Oslo Airport (No.11 Seven Days in September) 58- Mora (No.13 The Seventh Seal) 59- Copenhagen (No.19 Poseidon 2000) 60- Kronborg Castle (No.19 Poseidon 2000) 61- Lousiana Museum of Modern Art (No.19 Poseidon 2000)

TURKEY/SYRIA/LEBANON/ISRAEL/PALESTINE/IRAN 62- İstanbul (No.13 The Seventh Seal) 63- Rumeli Hisarı (No.11 Seven Days in September) 64- Turkish air base (No.6 Inshallah) 65- National borders of Anatolian plateau (No.6 Inshallah) 66- Historical remains of Palmyra (No.6 Inshallah) 67- Beirut (No.6 Inshallah) 68- Jerusalam (Saladin no Hi) 69- Gaza (Saladin no Hi) 70- Tehran (No.6 Inshallah)

EGYPT/TUNISIA 71- Ancient remains outside Cairo (No.6 Inshallah) 72- El Alameyn (No.6 Inshallah) 73- Giza Pyramids (No.11 Seven Days in September) 74- Alexandria (No.11 Seven Days in September) 75- Hotel Rosetta (No.11 Seven Days in September) 76- Carthage (No.17 Trojan Horse)

RUSSIA/JAPAN/USA/OTHERS 77- Moscow (No.19 Poseidon 2000) 78- St. Petersburg (No.18 Judgment of Paris) 79- Hermitage Museum (No.18 Judgment of Paris) 80- Siberia (A Tale of Alaska side story) 81- Uspensky Air Base (Eroica) 82- Tokyo Tower (Hiiro no Yuuwaku) 83- Alaska (A Tale of Alaska side story) 84- FBI Fairbanks Office (No.9 The Alaskan Front) 85- Tazlina Lake (No.9 The Alaskan Front) 86- Hawaii (No.9 The Alaskan Front) 87- West of Eden (Eve no Musukotachi) 88- Olympos (Eve no Musukotachi)

[gogmstuff]

More images of 1913 fashion -

1913 Ethel Mary, née Bell-Irving, later 15th Countess of Lauderdale by Samuel Henry William Llewellyn (Thirlestane Castle - Lauder, Berwickshire, UK) From centuriespast.tumblr.com/post/148847411164/ethel-mary-18911970-15th-countess-of 815X1200.

Left 1913 Gazette du Bon Ton "Le Conseiller des Dames Robe et Manteau pour le Theatre" by Barbier 643X844.

Right 1913 Gazette du Bon Ton "Tais-Toi Mon Coeur!… Robe de lingerie de Doeuillet 1913 Gazette du Bon Ton "Le Marriage au Chateau" by Brissaud artophile.com 750X1011.

1913 Gazette du Bon Ton "Le Marriage au Chateau" by Brissaud. From artophile.com 1797X1125.

Left 1913 Journal des Dames et des Modes "Manteau de velours frappe citron. Col velours blance et Renard blanc" by Dammy. From artophile.com 750X1189.

Center 1913 Journal des Dames et des Modes "Mantelet de taffetas a la vieille garni de chenille verte - Manchon brode de perles". From artophile.com 757X1200.

Right 1913 Journal des Dames et des Modes "Parure d'Hermine et Putois". From artophile.com 701X1200.

1913 Lady, traditionally identified as Rosa Lewis by Frank Moss Bennett (auctioned by Christie's). From their Web site 906X1904.

Left 1913 Journal des Dames et des Modes "Robe de charmeuse blance a tunique de mousseline de soie violette brodee de perl et bordee de skunks. Manteau de velours etrusque" by Pichenot artophile.com 750X1197.

Right 1913 Journal des Dames et des Modes "Robe de charmeuse nore avec corsage et panier formes d'un obi drape" by Barbier artophile.com 734X1200.

1913 Madame Jean Maillard-Norbert by Léon François Comerre (location ?). From tumblr.com/eirene; fixed most obvious spots w Pshop 1332X3072.

1913 Lina Bilitis with Two Pekinese by Giovanni Boldini (location ?). From Amber Tree's photostream on flickr 1510X2872.

1913 Madame Michelham by Giovanni Boldini (location ?). From wikiart.org-en-giovanni-boldini-madame-michelham-1913 1589X2356 @72.

1913 María Teresa González del Valle by Nicanor Piñole (Fundación Banco Santander - Madrid, Spain). From artsandculture.google.com; fixed spots w Pshop 2036X2698.

1913 Señora, amiga de Mr. Ryan by Joaquín Sorolla y Bástida (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - La Habana, Cuba). From joaquin-sorolla.blogspot.com/search/label/Retrato%20de%20Señora 1191X1600.

1913 Evening dress of Vera Karakhan by House of Paul Poiret (Hermitage). From tumblr.com/antiquebee/731802632464875520?.

Left 1913 (June issue) La Gazette du Bon Ton, "Je Suis Perdue Robe d'été de Chéruit" tumblr.com/mote-historie/729728522325753856/pierre-brissaud-je-suis-perdue-robe-d%C3%A9t%C3%A9-de?source=share&.

Center 1913 La Mode cover art La Mode par Boué Soeurs by George Barbier. From tumblr.com/mote-historie/731263453639196672/george-barbier-la-mode-par-bou%C3%A9-soeurs-french?source=share&.

Right 1913 Les Modes Dinner Dresses by Gustave Beer. From tumblr.com/mote-historie/731172312816254976/dinner-dresses-by-beer-1913?source=share& 1975X2861

Left 1913 Tanzerin by Julie Wolfthorn (location ?). From tumblr.com/random-brushstrokes 727X1024.

Right 1913 Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby, Philip de László (location ?). From tumblr.com/la-belle-histoire/745161897381445633/portrait-of-anastasia-mikhailovna-de-torby-philip? 608X960.

Left ca. 1913 Dame in een zwarte strompeljapon met kant by anonymous (Rijksmuseum). From their Web site; fixed flaws & spots w Pshop 3542X5395.

Right ca. 1913 Dame in een geel/groen geruite strompeljapon by anonymous (Rijksmuseum). From their Web site; fixed flaws & spots Pshop 3476X5328; fixed flaws & spots w Pshop 3645X5328

[shadowcrowsworld]

Love of fire 3

Eris x reader

Summary: Y/N doesn't feel like her place is in the night Court.

!English isn't my first language!

I was fiddeling with the hem of the dress that Eris got me. It was a simple dark green dress with enough fabric to hide my shaking hands.

Eris was somewhere in his room searching for thinks he wanted to take with him. For me this one was easy. When he took me here I had nothing with me so what should I pack when there wasn't anything I could take with me.

His dogs where around me, feeling my anxiety creeping up. It was one thing, being in this cabin with Eris but staying with his father was a big difference.

A person who was cruel and not even his own son likes him, not even to mention trusting. I never met Beron jet but I could keep it that way and stay the next days here with Eris.

For sure I don't know his intentions but he makes me feel safe and I don't have to were a mask around him.

When Eris stepped out of his room, he came to me and helped me of the sofa. "I don't know in what mood my father will be, but I will protect you. You must believe this. I know it will be hard, and I will not hold it against you if you don't trust me, but I will do everything I can to keep you safe."

I could see that he didn't wanted to go back to his father himself. My problem was I was already starting to trust him against my knowledge.

Upon arriving at the Hermitage Castle with Eris he gone completely silend and i could see the mask he was wearing over his happy self i got to know in the last two days. We entered the imposing hall. The castle was a somber yet majestic place, its walls adorned with autumnal colors and peculiar, glowing vegetation. The echo of our footsteps resonated through the empty corridors as we approached the room where Beron awaited us.

Beron, the ruler of the Autumn Court, slowly rose from his throne adorned with golden foliage as we entered. His gaze, sharp and penetrating like a frosty wind, fixed upon me. Goosebumps crawled up my arms as I tried to conceal my nervousness.

Eris, who unexpectedly appeared calm and composed, stepped forward and bowed before Beron. "My Lord, I have brought her here as the Pact demands," he said.

Beron nodded curtly, then turned his gaze back to me. "The fourth Archeron sister, how intriguing," his voice deep with thinly veiled mockery. "You are in my court now, and here, my rules prevail. But for now, you shall find respite and take residence in one of the guest chambers and we will have a conversation at dinner."

I breathed a sigh of relief that he did not press further questions for the moment. I followed Eris to one of the guest chambers, where I could find a moment of reprieve. Although the future remained uncertain, I felt a tad safer in this strange and perilous world of the Autumn Court.

As we got to my room for the rest of the week, Eris stopped me before I could go into the room. "I know you can protect yourself but I please don't open this door when it is someone who isn't me. My father has way to many friends that have the same opinion than Beron. My privat rooms are on the other site of this castle and I can't protect you but when you feel okay with it I will get you one of my rooms prepared."

I could see how nervous he got at the end. "Thank you Eris, when it isn't a problem for you I would take one of your rooms and I will not open this door till you get me for dinner"

The relief was clearly visible in his face. "Thank you Y/N you don't know how much that means to me."

You don't know how much this gesture means to me Eris and that you allow me to make my own choice.

In one quick moment of bravery I raised up on my toes and kissed his cheek. "See you later fire boy." And before he could see blush on my own face and hearing my heart running out of my chest. And closed the door fast behind my back.

What are you doing Y/N you can't fall in love with him.

-----------

Tags: @judig92 ; @issybee0611 ; @percyjacksonspeen ; @positivewitch ;

[russpals]

Peterhoff Palace Complex

Photographs: Different views of Peterhof, which, rather than one specific place, is an astoundingly beautiful complex of palaces, gardens, pavilions, and fountains. The photos here and the text are a mere preview of a fraction of the place in all its grandeur.

The Grand Palace, Lower and Upper Gardens and Fountains

The Peterhoff Palace (which comes from the Dutch "Pieterhof," meaning "Pieter's Court") is a complex of palaces, gardens, pavilions, and fountains located in Petergof, Saint Petersburg, Russia, commissioned by Peter the Great in response to Louis XIV Palace of Versailles in France.

Peter the Great began constructing his new capital, St. Petersburg, in 1703 after successfully adding Swedish provinces to Russian territory.  Saint Petersburg allowed Russian access to the Baltic Sea through the Neva River that flowed to the Gulf of Finland.

Throughout the early 18th century, Peter the Great built and expanded the Peterhof Palace complex. Based on his sketches, he constructed the Monplaisir Palace (French: "my delight"). This would be Peter's summer retreat that he would use on his way coming and going from Europe. Later, he expanded his plans to include a group of palaces and gardens further inland, on the model of Versailles.

Most of the Peterhoff land is comprised of what is called the "Lower Gardens." In the middle of the lower gardens is the Grand Palace. The area behind this palace is the "Upper Gardens" and is comparatively smaller. The Grand Palace is not the only historic royal building in Peterhoff. The palaces of Monplaisir and Marli, as well as the pavilion known as the 'Hermitage,' were all raised during the initial construction of Peterhoff during the reign of Peter the Great.

There are a number of cascades and fountains through the grounds, which have various symbolic meanings and are in themselves great technological achievements. The greatest of these is that all of the fountains in Peterhoff operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. The elevation difference creates the pressure that drives most of the fountains of the Lower Gardens.

Gothic Chapel in Peterhof:  An Orthodox church in the name of Saint Alexander Nevsky situated in the Alexandria Park; Nicholas I ordered its construction to complement the Cottage Palace

Alexandria Park, the Cottage Palace, and the Farmers Palace

To the east of the main park at Peterhof lies an expanse of landscaped parkland in the English style, named after Alexandra Fedorovna, wife of Nicholas I. The land was used as a royal hunting ground for most of the 18th century and left to go wild after the court moved to Tsarskoe Selo.

In 1825, the land was passed to Nicholas I, who commissioned a Scottish architect and landscape gardener to create an English-style estate with a "cottage" palace and home farm. This was partly a concession to Alexandra (nee Charlotte of Prussia), who found the pomp and grandeur of court life oppressive. Alexandra loved the cottage. The Cottage Palace was completed in 1829 and became the permanent summer residence of the Tsar's family. Alexandria Park is one of the best-landscaped parks on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

The building is equal parts seaside villa, Gothic castle, and English farmhouse, but extremely elegant, with several charming decorative details. The palace's interiors exemplify the private tastes of Nicholas and Alexandra and their children and grandchildren. The spectacular trompe l'oeil murals around the staircase, depicting gothic arches and vaults, and Nicholas's Naval Study, with superb views over the Gulf of Finland, are particularly impressive.

The Farm Palace was initially a pavilion in Alexandria Park close to the Cottage Palace and Gothic Chapel. Meant to be a pastoral farm with a row of household buildings, it was later expanded into a summer residence for the family of Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich of Russia. The palace became the favorite summer residence of Alexander II and his family. After many reconstructions, the house was named "The Farm Palace" in 1859. It would eventually be a favorite of Alexander III and Nicholas II.

The Lower Dacha at Peterhoff (badly damaged in World War II and destroyed in the 1960s) - in the process of reconstruction

The Lower Dacha was in Alexandria Park, part of the Peterhof complex created by Tsar Peter I in the early 18th century as an Imperial summer residence. The palace was the home of Tsar Nicholas II while in residence at Peterhof (it was built for him), and several of his children were born there. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and was destroyed in the 1960s. The Lower Dacha is in the process of being restored. It is expected that the restoration will be completed by 2025. The picture below where the intact building can be seen, is from the early twentieth century. Photographs of the ruins have been included as well.

[rabbitcruiser]

Castle of Santa Ana, Castro Urdiales (No. 1)

The castle of Santa Ana is a fortress located on a rocky promontory in Castro-Urdiales, on a peninsula where there is also the fortified church Sta. Mª de la Asunción (xiii century), the ruins of another previous church (that of San Pedro, from the xii century), and the hermitage of Santa Ana, built as a watchtower, linked to the castle by a bridge. The complex has very good views of the sea, the port and the town. A lighthouse was built inside the enclosure in 1853, whose machinery occupied the chapel. It is one of the best preserved castles in northern Spain.

It has a pentagonal floor plan with cylindrical corner towers 15 meters high, which protect a rectangular enclosure of 22.75 x 12.35 meters; Inside this, in turn, there is a hall of 17 x 7 m covered by a barrel vault. One of the cylinders is actually covering a triangular space that advances from the inner rectangle towards the villa, while the other four act as buttresses of the vault of the living space. Another defense, crenellated and lower, is visible in the part of the lighthouse. It completely lacks gaps, so that the defense could only be done from the towers. The factory is made of cyclopean stones taken with lime. The castle, as well as the citadel, was protected by a wall between 6 and 7 meters high, which preserves a small canvas very deteriorated with the original battlements and merlons.

The access is located on the sea side, through a small door.

It is not known for sure when the castle was founded, speculating that the beginning of the works could coincide with the foundation of the town; However, the founding charter has not reached us. A defensive structure probably existed even earlier.

The current building began its construction in the twelfth century, undergoing various modifications and additions and being abandoned in the sixteenth century.

During a restoration in the twentieth century the lighthouse keeper's house, built inside the enclosure, was demolished. Along with all of Puebla Vieja de Castro-Urdiales, it was declared a historic-artistic site in 1978.

Source: WIkipedia