#loving lapis queue | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

adventuresofzoeganov · 18 days ago

Text

Lazuli

Part One - I'll Come With You

4,512 words

A meandering electric piano scale flowed from the speakers of her Tonner’s radio. Atmospheric voices joined the instrumental as she approached the giant glittering space station that was the Holistic University of Yechtara. It floated before the scenic backdrop of the Yechtaran planet, an amalgamation of hundreds of skyscrapers surrounded by a glass-panelled ring. Hundreds of bigger and smaller space crafts were flying towards or away from it. Zoe didn’t know why she was feeling anxious. She’d called Nick yesterday. “So good to hear from you! Of course you can come! I’d love to see you.”

She mouthed the lyrics along with the song. There’s nothing like lapis lazuli…

Nick had told her to come to docking station 15, where private visitors were received. She’d never been to a building with 15 entire docking stations. She turned up the volume to drown out her nervous thoughts, but just as the chorus began, it was interrupted by an angry beep.

Please join a queue to one of the docking stations read a red line of text on her dashboard display. Right. She had noticed the queues, she just hadn’t been sure if they were meant for her. She flew horizontally along the building, searching for her docking station. A number appearing on her display showed the ones she passed, and she finally filed in at number 15. Her palms were damp around the joystick controller. This all reminded her a bit too much of her training at PilOrg, the Wheel’s pilot organisation. She’d been a good pilot, all right. Just not a good student. She’d dropped out eventually.

Zoe waited for way too many anxiety-inducing minutes, inching forward in the queue, until she could finally pass through the gate. Below her were about five landing stages, lit by a bright cold light seemingly coming from nowhere. One of the landing stages blinked green, the docked spaceship gliding into a chute at the end of the room. The security guards on the landing stage waved at her, and she descended. One hand on the joystick, the other on her gun holster at her belt. This was the biggest center of knowledge and education in the Wheel of Fortune. They wouldn’t just let her walk around with it.

The Tonner landed with a jolt, and her door sprung open, revealing two stern looking security guards.

“Please step out of the vehicle,” said one of them.

Zoe gave the dashboard a small pat and wriggled out of the seat. It was, as always, inelegant. She felt the stare of the security guard bore into her, heard the hum of the cold lights and felt the smooth floor under her dirty soles. Christ, she wanted to get out of here as quickly as she could.

“Any weapons or dangerous items on you?” asked the security guard.

“Just this gun,” said Zoe and pulled it from her belt carefully. “I have a permit.”

The second security guard took the gun out of her hand.

“Let me see this permit, then,” said the first one. Zoe fished a thin brown wallet out of one of her pockets and handed it to the guard. They opened it and studied it for a while. It was forged, of course. The Yechtaran weapons permit was one of the hardest to receive in the entire galaxy. Convinced that she wouldn’t even receive the, say, Kryxian weapons permit, Martyn had helped her forge a couple of different papers when he gave her the gun, just in case. It wasn’t that she couldn’t shoot – she had quite the hand for it, actually – it was that no one in their right mind would allow Zoe Ganov to carry a weapon. She didn’t know why she kept it, really. Comfort?

Zoe shot a nervous glance around the room to see if anyone else had noticed her walking into the university with a gun. Her gaze wandered through the nearly empty reception area, until her eyes stopped at an all too familiar figure. A nervous smile tugged at her lips. Nick waved at her.

“Right, all in order,” said the security guard and handed the forged permit back to her. She felt only slightly relieved. They patted her down for any other dangerous items, checked her luggage (one backpack filled with two shirts and a pair of sweatpants) and then told her to register at the reception desk.

At this point she was already a nervous wreck. The receptionist was a shiny android who, for some reason, had been given red eyes.

“Name?”

“Zoe Evelyn Ganov.”

“Age?”

“Twenty-two.”

“Solar system of residence?”

“None. At the moment.”

“Occupation?”

She hesitated. She could hardly say she was a musician.

“Taxi driver.” It wasn’t technically untrue. She did work for BlackBird from time to time, when she really had no other option. It sounded better than ‘Uh, waiting tables and retail.’

The receptionist didn’t seem to care.

“Duration of visit?”

“Three days.”

The receptionist hummed, its red eyes flickering. A small plastic card emerged from the slit she’d thought was its mouth.

“Please take temporary identification from the card dispenser. You will be able to move freely around the University and eat at the canteen. When checking out, show the identification to reclaim your vehicle and any confiscated items.”

The receptionist’s voice briefly changed to a tinny human voice with a heavy British accent.

“Enjoy your stay.”

Zoe gingerly pulled the card from its mouth and saw the tiny picture of her, looking scared and confused, printed onto it. It must’ve taken a picture right there. So much for data privacy.

She opened another small gate using her brand new ID card, and finally, Nick walked towards her. He was wearing one of his patterned knit jumpers that were so ugly, they looked a bit cool. His hair was lighter and straighter than hers, his nose thinner and his green eyes had a hint of grey and blue. People had always said they looked so much alike, but Zoe couldn’t agree less.

“Zoe!” she heard him say, and something in her lit up.

“Nick,” she tried to reply, but it was muffled against his shoulder as he enveloped her in a big hug. She awkwardly raised her arms and patted him on the back. With Nick it wasn’t uncomfortable, she just wasn’t used to it anymore.

Nick pulled away from the hug, holding her shoulders. He’d grown a mustache since they’d been home for the holidays, well, at least he’d tried to. Zoe contemplated making an off-handed comment about it, and decided not to.

“It’s so good to see you again!” Zoe nodded.

“It’s been a while.”

“How are you?”

“Oh, well, you know…”

Zoe ran her fingers over her thumb, a nervous habit she’d never been able to shake. Nick nodded, then his forehead creased.

“I saw them take a gun from you?” he asked, as if he wasn’t sure. “What on Earth do you need a gun for?”

Zoe shrugged.

“Oh, you know. Retail.”

“Ah,” he said, and nodded slowly. This wasn’t the first time Zoe had given her family a non-answer when they asked about her life. Nick seemed to let it go for the moment. Part of her wished he didn’t.

༄༄༄

Ever since her birth, Zoe and Nick had been mortal enemies. She had been certain of that for quite a long time. He was always just there. He was annoying, a show-off, unfair to her, and unfortunately also a bit cool. She imitated him, he got annoyed, they fought, they made a fragile peace. Zoe didn’t even remember most of what they fought about, or what exactly she imitated – only that it culminated in Nick yelling at her for putting peanut butter on her toast after he had done the same. She thought that it was unfair in this particular instance, but that generally, she kind of deserved it.

Not all of their childhood had been spent fighting, though. They sang along to their favourite songs in the car, went swimming with their grandparents, and played video games together (Nick, of course, nearly always beat her). The inconvenient age gap of three years however meant that nearly everything they did got Nick to yell, Zoe to cry and their parents annoyed eventually.

Zoe couldn’t quite pinpoint when the shift in their relationship happened. It was probably a mixture of them both growing older, and Nick spending less time at home. When Zoe turned fifteen, they’d stopped fighting altogether, despite the occasional struggle over who had to do the dishes and who would hang up the laundry. Then Nick got a job, and then he moved away entirely, to study architecture. Zoe didn’t exactly know what she missed. Endless fighting and annoyance? Having to share chores with someone more unreliable than her?

Every time she saw him again, at holidays or birthdays, she felt like there was this great big something inside her, which leapt up at the sound of his footsteps on the stairs, but then quietly sank down again when she actually talked to him. After she’d moved out, they saw each other maybe twice a year, and she grew more distant and secretive about her life, out of embarrassment. That something never disappeared, though. It only made her sad now.

༄༄༄

Nick led her through a long gangway towards the main building, the huge windows offering a stunning view to the space around the university. Inside the main, well, cluster of buildings, they went through a myriad of fluorescently lit corridors, lined with hundreds of doors.

“The floor panels are color-coded,” explained Nick. “Each floor is divided into five main streets, all numbered and with their own color, so you always know where you are. In theory.” Zoe tried to memorize their route. Green, yellow, beige. Well, beige turning a brownish gray from all kinds of footprints and tire marks. Whose idea was it to have a beige floor anyway?

They eventually passed into an area with blue floor panels, which looked to be the dormitories. Every couple of doors, the outer wall bent away to make a free space with a big window and a couple of armchairs or sofas. Nick stopped at a door not too far from one of these corners, and pressed his ID card onto a little screen next to it. The door quietly slid open, and revealed a couple of rooms.

“We’ve got a free bed for you,” he said. “There are visitor accommodations, but, well, they’re a bit pricey.” Zoe nodded. Working various jobs without any kind of finished training, she’d always been tight on money.

“Thanks.” Nick turned and gave her a smile. It rubbed Zoe the wrong way. Was it pity? No, she decided. That had always been her father’s look. Nick was just being considerate.

She dropped off her backpack next to her bed, which was in Nick’s room. It was quite long and comparatively narrow, the walls were hung with framed movie posters, the floor was covered in boxes, clothes, and Zoe even spotted a guitar in one corner. She smiled fondly. It had been a good long while since they’d slept in the same room. Zoe remembered the bunk bed they’d shared for a few years. She had frequently annoyed Nick to death, pestering him with questions and bad jokes.

“Nick, what does ‘crisis’ mean?” a six year old Zoe had once asked a nine year old Nick, who could only sigh in response. Zoe didn’t even remember his explanation. Only that it added to the pile of grudges they would hold against each other for the first fifteen years of her life.

Nick showed her around the well equipped dorm – they had two bedrooms, a bathroom and even their own kitchen, which also functioned as their living room. Nick’s roommate, Mnymo, was sitting at their table, eating a slice of pizza and watching a TV show on his small holoscreen. His head jerked around as they entered. He was lean, had bright green skin and fins where Zoe would’ve expected ears. Gills peeked out of his purple turtle-neck jumper. His startled expression eased into a smile, revealing very thin and sharp teeth.

“Oh, hey!” he said, mouth half full with pizza. “Didn’t hear you coming. Michael’s about to propose to Lisa! Couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in a seminar right now?” asked Nick with an amused smile. Mnymo swallowed the rest of his pizza and flashed a smile.

“Maybe. I think they’ll be just fine without me.”

Nick shook his head and turned around to Zoe.

“This is my wonderful roommate, Mnymo. He’s supposed to be studying electrical engineering. I have no idea how he passes his classes each semester, but we’ve been here for about three years now.” Mnymo smiled and waved at her.

“You must be Zoe then, I’ve heard a lot about you. Oh, stunning belt!” Zoe looked down at her rhinestone monstrosity.

“Uh, thanks. A friend gave it to me.” She noticed Nick’s curious look, but didn’t react.

“What do you think of the Hole?” Mnymo asked. Zoe had to think for a moment, then realised he meant the university. She tried to eloquently sum up her impression of it so far.

“Um, it’s big.”

“I was just about to give her a tour,” said Nick. Mnymo nodded and took another bite of his pizza.

“Better get to it then,” he mumbled and looked back at his holoscreen.

Nick gestured for her to leave the kitchen, and he led them into the dormitory corridors.

“He’s a nice guy, if a bit, uh, talkative,” he said. “Hope he didn’t scare you.” Zoe stopped fidgeting with her belt.

“Oh, not at all. He seemed nice.”

“Good,” said Nick with a smile.

He showed her around the corridors, most of them leading to seminar rooms. One of the doors stood half open and Zoe could see students sitting at glowing white tables. A couple of words flowed through the door, all of them technically in a language Zoe understood, but which made her feel like she was learning it all over again.

Next up was a library, the natural sciences one to be precise.

“There are twelve separate libraries in total,” whispered Nick as they stood in the entrance. An oval room opened up before them, four stories high, shelves piling on shelves. They radiated a cool light which hung in the atmosphere like the humming silence. Dozens of students stood in front of the shelves, talked to each other in hushed voices or studied at the desks in the free area in the middle of the oval.

“I think I wrote my entire bachelor’s thesis here,” said Nick as they turned their back to the library. “It was a very quiet three weeks.”

“I can imagine,” said Zoe. “I think I’d go insane in there.” Nick chuckled.

“Yeah, I think you would.”

They spent a lot of the tour standing in elevators. There were so many on each floor, they barely had to queue. The dashboard inside consisted of a couple of blue buttons with letters, and below about three times as many metallic buttons with numbers. Zoe guessed the building had been divided into subsections, so that they wouldn’t have to put over a hundred buttons into the elevators.

“One button for the vertical unit, and one for the specific floor,” Nick explained. “Don’t even try to count them. This elevator doesn’t even go all the way to the top.” Zoe raised her eyebrows.

“How long does it take to go from one end to the other?”

“Too long.”

They stepped out into another red-floored corridor, in which the faintest smell of paint and wax hung. Zoe threw a confused look to Nick.

“Artists,” he said with a sarcastic eye-roll.

They walked to the end of the corridor, where the usually shiny metal doors were painted over to look like green velvet curtains.

“This is the wonderful student-run theater,” said Nick and pushed open one of the doors. Him and Zoe stuck their heads through the opening. Over a couple of rows of black folding chairs they saw the stage, currently only occupied by some white boxes and two students in black clothing. They seemed to be rehearsing a scene, while the rest of the group sat in the front row. Nick shuffled further into the room and waved to one of the actors. They stopped speaking and waved back, making everyone turn their heads to Nick. Zoe tried to disappear behind the door.

“Nicolas Elijah Ganov, what did I say about interrupting rehearsals?” called one of the students in the front row.

“My apologies, your holiness!” Nick shouted back with a laugh in his voice. “See you later, Ellis!”

“Get out, Nick!” said the actor who had waved back, and blew him a kiss.

Nick saluted and shuffled back out of the room. A grin spread across his face.

“So that’s Ellis?” said Zoe, who’d pieced it together.

“Yup. You’re the first one to meet them, actually. Well, of the family, that is.” Zoe couldn’t help but feel a little proud. He’d talked about his partner a bit last Christmas, a couple of months ago. Their grandparents had always pestered them both with questions about potential partners, which Nick and Zoe had both liked to avoid for a time. That was the first time she had heard of Nick’s partner – they had been dating for about two months before. She was happy for him, at least she tried very hard to be. The feeling of being left behind had been gnawing at her for years, and she tried her best to ignore it.

They spent some more time in an elevator, going back down. They hadn’t even been halfway up. She leaned on one of the railings.

“It’s not for the weak of legs,” joked Nick. Zoe snorted.

“I’m a bit hungry from all this standing around.” Nick snapped his fingers and pointed at her. He’d always looked cooler than her doing that.

“Well, isn’t it lucky that we’re going down to the Bottom. I mean, the bottom canteen. We just call it the bottom.”

“Of course you do.”

The Bottom, as all the students had to call it, was a giant glass egg with free floating tables and chairs, the buffet counters on a platform in the middle. The entire construction was a big “fuck you” to people with a fear of heights, with thin gangways between the tables and the Yechtaran planet beneath your feet. Inside her Tonner, Zoe had always (or almost always) felt safe. This was a different deal. She tried not to look down as they went to grab their food.

Nick led them to a free table and she sat down with a sigh.

“Whose idea was this glass floor?” she asked as if it was an accusation. “The same guy with the beige floor panels?” Nick laughed.

“I think it’s supposed to be a scenic view.” Zoe glanced down at the continents and oceans unfolding beneath her. She tried to put on her most unimpressed face.

“I’d speak my mind freely, but I don’t want the Yechtaran royalty to go after me,” she mumbled. Nick chuckled.

“I’d recommend eating your sandwich instead.” Zoe nodded and bit into the still warm bread. She hadn’t recognized all the ingredients listed, but Nick had said to trust him. He had gotten a slice of spinach lasagna.

“Oh, that’s good. A classic, but it always delivers,” he said after one fork. “How’s yours?”

Zoe could only nod, her mouth still filled with feta cheese, tomatoes and some kind of salad leaf she had never tasted before.

They both took a bite of each other’s food, and Nick gave her a thumbs up.

“I think these are two of the few actually edible dishes in the Bottom,” he said after swallowing.

“Huh. Bottom of the barrel,” mused Zoe and got a laugh out of Nick.

“You don’t know how new that joke is.”

“I like to think of myself as avant-garde.” Nick raised his eyebrows and nodded vigorously.

“Proven by that stylish belt!”

“You mean my little rhinestone nightmare? Yeah, I’m pretty proud of it.”

“Your friend must be a fashion designer.” Clever, thought Zoe. Smooth. But today was not the day she’d start blabbing about her life.

“Unless he also dropped out of PilOrg training, then I don’t think so.”

“Ah, your PilOrg friend. Martyn, right?” Zoe nodded. She’d taken Martyn’s name to stand in for whatever acquaintance she needed to explain at family holidays. For all they knew, he was her only friend who she’d met during her pilot training. Well, about half of that was true.

“Did he, uh, give you that ship as well?��

“The Tonner? Yeah.” So much was true. “He got it cheaper at a PilOrg… Yard sale.”

“A yard sale?”

“Eh… technical terms.”

Nick took another bite of his lasagna. Maybe he’d noticed her hesitancy to talk. Maybe to him, this was just the way she always talked.

The lights in the canteen started to dim as they finished their meal. She’d arrived quite late in the simulated daily cycle, and the building was preparing for the night.

“I think we should go to sleep early today. At least I will,” said Nick, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve got a seminar early tomorrow. You can sleep in if you want to.”

Zoe nodded. “Sounds good.”

“And then,” continued Nick, “I’ve got a lecture tomorrow at twelve. It’s all about the effects of a vacuum on all kinds of construction materials. Sounds boring, I know, but I think it’s always quite entertaining. You could come if you want to.”

“I don’t think I’ve got anything better to do,” she said.

“And that,” he said with a smile, “is exactly how you get through four years of university. Keep it up.”

༄༄༄

Nick stayed in the kitchen for a while, talking to Mnymo, while Zoe desperately tried to sleep. She kept thinking of the room they’d shared, of all the holidays they’d gone on. When they’d been about ten and thirteen, they even had to sleep in the same double bed. Although it was more annoying than fun for both of them, she’d always been scared to sleep alone back home. How easy it had all been.

When Nick finally went to bed, she pretended to be asleep.

༄༄༄

The sound of crickets chirping filled the suffocatingly hot air. Now and then, a mild breeze rustled through the cypress trees, but it couldn’t save the climate of a Tryscan summer afternoon. It didn’t bother the two children sitting in the shadow of a blue and white striped sunshade. The small metal table between the two, its white varnish already chipped off in numerous places, was arguably the worst surface for the game of Mikado they were playing. They’d stuck a folded piece of paper under one of its legs, but it still tilted a bit to one side if you rested a hand on it. Because of previous incidents, they’d agreed that only the player whose turn it was could have their hands anywhere near the table. Right now, it was Zoe’s turn.

“Come on!” moaned Nick. “Just pick it up!” Zoe didn’t reply. This game required maximum concentration. Nick tried his best to distract her.

“Oh, that doesn’t look good,” he said as she reached for a stick laying on top of two others. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. That looks shaky!” She held her breath, then pressed down a finger on its pointed end. The stick rose up and she carefully took it away from the big pile in the middle and laid it to her own. She breathed out.

“Beginner’s luck,” said Nick. She grinned.

“Your turn.”

Nick flexed his fingers and tried to pick up a stick by both of its ends. Not a bad method per se, but Zoe noticed that he pressed his right index finger against the stick just a moment before his left, so that it was pushed over the sticks it was covering. They rolled a millimeter to the side.

“Uh uh,” she said, the grin on her face widening. Nick pursed his lips and laid the stick back down again.

Zoe tried the exact same trick, watched the distance of her fingers to the stick’s ends, and quickly lifted up the stick.

“Seriously?” said Nick, the playfulness of his jabs being tinted with annoyance. They played a couple of turns, Zoe’s pile ever growing. After a while, there was only the pile left where multiple sticks lay wildly stacked on top of each other. Nick sighed and picked up one of his own sticks.

“Watch me.” Zoe giggled. It was their grandpa’s signature Mikado move, which relied more on showmanship than skill.

“That never works.” Nick shrugged, a diabolical smile on his lips. He guided the stick beneath one on the top of the pile.

“You just need enough… force!” He threw his hand in the air, the stick flying with it, and for a moment Zoe was seriously impressed. Then the entire pile collapsed. They both burst out laughing.

“I think that counts,” said Nick after letting out a breath. Zoe nodded vigorously.

“I didn’t see anything move, did you?” Nick sighed and laid the stick back onto the now much less complicated pile.

“It was worth a try.”

“For me? Definitely.” Picking up the rest of the sticks was a breeze for Zoe. They didn’t even have to count their piles. The winner was obvious.

Nick leaned back in his fragile metal chair. He closed his eyes. “I guess it’s only fair that you’re better than me at, like, one game.”

“Yeah, Mikado. What am I going to do with Mikado?”

He shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. You’ve got very steady hands. That’s useful.”

"Really?" Zoe crossed her arms. “I wish they had steady hands class in school. I’d only get good grades in steady hands class.” Nick smiled gently.

“No, I mean, surgeons need calm hands. Pilots, too.” Zoe turned her head and looked to the endless blue sky. A single cloud seemed to float in place. She did like the idea of flying, although she wasn’t very fond of heights.

“What are you going to be?” she asked Nick. She didn’t look at him, but she heard him sigh.

“Haven’t really thought about it.”

“Aren’t you going to play guitar?”

“That’s just a hobby.” The way he said it made Zoe sad. Mikado was also just a game, really.

She let her eyes wander down from the cloud to the horizon, where the distant mountain tops formed a gentle zig-zag line. They’d gone there on a hike yesterday, and Zoe had never felt so at home and alive as between the rocks and trees and brooks.

“If piloting doesn’t work out, I’ll run away to the mountains and befriend the goats.” Nick chuckled softly.

“I’ll come with you.”

#hey yeah so ive been hyping this up for about two months now. took me like maybe three weeks to edit/write.#and im still not entirely satisfied with the outcome but i cannot physically bring myself to edit this more #anyway this is part one of three. yes i did originally call them acts but i figured even thats a bit too pretentious for me #although they do kinda work with the three act structure. if you squint a little #s 2 ep 1.1 #🌀

0 notes

goldentatours · 2 months ago

Text

Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour by Car from Delhi – A Magical Experience

India is a land of mesmerizing landscapes, rich history, and architectural marvels. Among its many wonders, the Taj Mahal stands as a symbol of love and beauty, attracting tourists from across the globe. No trip to India can be considered complete without witnessing the scenic beauty of the Taj Mahal. And if you want to experience this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the most breathtaking way, visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise is the perfect choice.

The Unique Experience of Seeing the Taj Mahal at Sunrise

Visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise offers a unique and mesmerizing experience. Here’s why:

Tranquility and Serenity: The early morning hours are peaceful, allowing visitors to admire the monument without the usual crowds.

Golden Glow on White Marble: As the sun rises, the white marble of the Taj Mahal reflects golden hues, creating a surreal and captivating sight.

Cooler Weather: Morning temperatures are more pleasant, especially during the warmer months.

Better Photography Opportunities: The soft lighting at sunrise enhances the visual appeal of the monument, making it an ideal time for photography.

Historical Significance of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is not just an architectural marvel; it is a monument deeply rooted in history and emotion. Here are some key historical aspects:

Built in the 17th Century: Commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632, the Taj Mahal was constructed as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

A Symbol of Love: The monument is often regarded as the ultimate representation of love and devotion.

Influence of Persian and Indian Architecture: The design of the Taj Mahal blends elements of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized in 1983, the Taj Mahal is one of the most visited landmarks in the world.

Architectural Marvel of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an engineering and artistic masterpiece. Some of its architectural highlights include:

Intricate Marble Inlay Work: The white marble is adorned with exquisite inlay work featuring semi-precious stones such as jasper, onyx, and lapis lazuli.

Perfect Symmetry: The layout of the Taj Mahal follows a symmetrical design, with a central dome flanked by four minarets.

Calligraphic Inscriptions: The entrance and walls feature inscriptions from the Quran, adding to the spiritual significance of the monument.

Innovative Engineering: The Taj Mahal’s foundation was designed to withstand potential structural issues caused by the nearby Yamuna River.

Best Time to Visit the Taj Mahal

While the Taj Mahal is open throughout the year, the best time to visit is:

October to March: The weather is cooler and more comfortable for sightseeing.

During Sunrise: This is the most enchanting time to witness the Taj Mahal in its full splendor.

Avoiding Fridays: The Taj Mahal remains closed to visitors on Fridays as it serves as an active mosque.

Cultural and Spiritual Aspects

The Taj Mahal is not just a historical site; it holds cultural and spiritual significance:

A Sacred Place: Many visitors approach the Taj Mahal with reverence, as it houses the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

Influence of Islamic Traditions: The architectural elements, including domes, minarets, and calligraphy, reflect the Islamic influence on Mughal architecture.

Legends and Mysteries: Several myths surround the Taj Mahal, including the legend that Shah Jahan planned to build a black Taj Mahal opposite the white one.

Travel Tips for Visiting the Taj Mahal

Purchase Tickets Online: Booking tickets in advance can save time and avoid long queues.

Follow Security Regulations: Certain items, such as large bags and food, are not allowed inside the monument.

Wear Comfortable Shoes: The area requires a fair amount of walking.

Respect Local Customs: Dress modestly and be mindful of cultural sensitivities.

Hire a Knowledgeable Guide: A guide can provide deeper insights into the history and architecture of the Taj Mahal.

Environmental Concerns and Conservation Efforts

Air Pollution Impact: The Taj Mahal’s white marble has been affected by pollution, leading to conservation efforts to protect the monument.

Yamuna River Conservation: Since the Taj Mahal stands on the banks of the Yamuna River, efforts are being made to maintain the river’s ecological balance.

Preservation Programs: Regular cleaning and restoration efforts ensure that the beauty of the Taj Mahal is preserved for future generations.

Conclusion

The Taj Mahal at sunrise is an awe-inspiring sight that leaves visitors with unforgettable memories. Its historical significance, architectural grandeur, and cultural importance make it one of the most treasured landmarks in the world. A visit to this magnificent monument not only allows one to admire its beauty but also to appreciate the deep love and craftsmanship that went into its creation.

For anyone traveling to India, witnessing the Taj Mahal at sunrise is an experience that should not be missed. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply a traveler seeking beauty, the Taj Mahal offers an unparalleled experience that remains etched in the heart forever.

#taj mahal #golden triangle tour #india tourism #taj mahal tour #taj mahal submission

0 notes

naturaltraveler18 · 7 months ago

Text

The Taj Mahal: A Timeless Wonder

Introduction

The Taj Mahal, often referred to as a symbol of love, stands majestically on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. This UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts millions of visitors each year, enchanting them with its architectural beauty and historical significance. In this blog, we will explore the history, architecture, cultural impact, and visitor experience of the Taj Mahal.

Historical Context

The Mughal Empire

To understand the significance of the Taj Mahal, it’s essential to delve into the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the 19th century. This period was marked by immense cultural and architectural advancements, blending Persian, Islamic, and Indian influences.

The Story Behind the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She died during childbirth in 1631, leaving Shah Jahan heartbroken. His love for her inspired the construction of this grand mausoleum, a testament to eternal love. The project began in 1632 and took about 22 years to complete, involving thousands of artisans and laborers.

Architectural Marvel

Design and Layout

The Taj Mahal showcases a harmonious blend of architectural styles, primarily Mughal, Persian, and Indian. The complex is set within a 17-hectare garden, representing paradise, with a reflecting pool that mirrors the stunning white marble mausoleum. The central dome, rising to 35 meters, is surrounded by four smaller domes, creating an impressive silhouette.

Materials Used

One of the most striking features of the Taj Mahal is its dazzling white marble, sourced from Makrana, Rajasthan. This marble is known for its luminescent quality, which changes color throughout the day, appearing pink in the morning, white at noon, and golden under the moonlight. Precious stones, including jade, lapis lazuli, and turquoise, were intricately inlaid into the marble, adding to its grandeur.

Symbolism in Architecture

The Taj Mahal is not just a tomb; it embodies various layers of meaning. The symmetrical gardens represent the Islamic concept of paradise, while the central dome signifies the sky and the heavens. The intricate carvings and calligraphy further enhance its spiritual significance, reflecting the philosophical and artistic ethos of the Mughal era.

Cultural Impact

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1983, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its cultural and historical importance. This status has helped preserve its beauty and legacy, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its magnificence.

A Symbol of Love

The Taj Mahal is often referred to as the "symbol of love." It has inspired countless poems, songs, and artistic expressions around the world. The story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal continues to resonate with people, making the monument a popular destination for couples seeking romance and connection.

Influence on Art and Architecture

The Taj Mahal has influenced countless artists and architects globally. Its design principles can be seen in various structures, from modern buildings to public parks. The intricate inlay work has inspired artisans across India, showcasing the enduring legacy of Mughal craftsmanship.

Visitor Experience

Planning Your Visit

If you’re planning to visit the Taj Mahal, it’s essential to consider the best time to go. The monument is open year-round, but the cooler months from October to March are ideal for exploring. Early morning visits provide a serene atmosphere, with fewer crowds and a magical sunrise illuminating the monument.

Ticket Information

Visitors must purchase tickets to enter the Taj Mahal. Different pricing tiers exist for Indian and foreign tourists, with additional fees for entry to the main mausoleum. It’s advisable to book tickets online in advance to avoid long queues.

Exploring the Complex

Upon entering the Taj Mahal complex, visitors are greeted by the grand gateway, which offers a stunning first glimpse of the mausoleum. As you walk through the gardens, take time to appreciate the intricate pathways, reflecting pools, and the carefully manicured flora that adds to the serene ambiance.

Photography Tips

The Taj Mahal is a photographer’s dream, with countless angles and perspectives to capture its beauty. For the best photos, try to visit during sunrise or sunset, when the light casts a golden hue on the marble. Don’t forget to explore the intricate details of the inlaid stones and carvings, which can be mesmerizing up close.

Conservation Efforts

Preserving a Heritage

The Taj Mahal faces challenges related to pollution, structural wear, and climate change. Efforts have been made to preserve this iconic monument, including initiatives to reduce air pollution in Agra and restore the gardens to their original glory.

Role of the Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plays a crucial role in the conservation of the Taj Mahal. Regular maintenance, restoration projects, and public awareness campaigns aim to protect this architectural masterpiece for future generations.

The Taj Mahal in Popular Culture

Literature and Film

The Taj Mahal has made appearances in numerous books, films, and television shows. It often serves as a backdrop for romantic scenes, reinforcing its status as a symbol of love. Literature ranging from poetry to novels has been inspired by its beauty and the tragic love story behind its creation.

Global Recognition

Beyond its national significance, the Taj Mahal is recognized worldwide as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This title has further solidified its status as a must-visit destination, attracting tourists from all corners of the globe.

Conclusion

The Taj Mahal is more than just a monument; it is a profound expression of love, an architectural marvel, and a cultural icon. Its timeless beauty continues to inspire and captivate hearts, making it a place where history, art, and emotion intertwine. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply seeking a romantic getaway, the Taj Mahal promises an unforgettable experience.

As you stand before this breathtaking structure, you can't help but feel the weight of its history and the love that inspired its creation. The Taj Mahal is not just a place to visit; it is a journey into the heart of a timeless love story, a celebration of human creativity, and a reminder of the beauty that can arise from loss.

0 notes

onejamtart · 1 year ago

Text

OJT EATS | Singapulah

If you've walked down Shaftesbury Avenue lately, you may have seen a bit of a queue forming across the road from the Les Mis theatre. If you look closely, you'll see that it is for a new Singapore restaurant called Singapulah.

The place has a very retro aesthetic that works really well. It essentially looks like something out of Singapore in the 80s (or at least how we imagine it would look - seeing as we don't have any real idea)

Food-wise, the place is all about showing off the classics of Singaporean cuisine, including some slightly lesser known dishes such as this kueh pie tee. Apparently it's a signature Peranakan dish made with crisp shells filled with stewed turnip and carrots and topped with prawn and peanuts. This was really refreshing and a nice light start to the meal.

While they do all the classics, there's also a couple of slight twists. These were fried chilli crab baos. It's a pretty good attempt at getting all the elements of a chilli crab in a handy snack sized portion. You have the fried mantou in the bun dough and then it's filled with the chilli crab mixture. We'd have liked a little bit more actual crab in this but other than that, this was really nice. A great little alternative for when you don't want a whole crab.

This place does a bunch of different type of noodles so we figured we had to order at least one of them. This was the Singapulah Bak Chor Mee. It's a wheat noodle dish with fish balls, pork belly and a bunch of other things too.

Onto the kopi pork: little morsels of slightly crispy pork in an ever so slightly coffee flavoured sauce. These were very tasty. I couldn't really taste the coffee too much and it was more a slightly sweet almost bbq sauce but there was a hint of the bitterness that you get from coffee in there.

Then it was finally onto dessert. We ordered the kueh lapis which is what looks like a multilayered rice cake. It was very sticky and the flavour was pretty subtle but a lovely end to the meal.

All in all, this was a pretty impressive meal. The decor and atmosphere of the place was excellent and I'll definitely be going back at some point to try their chilli crab and cereal prawns! It's a little pricey for what it is but worth a visit for a good example of some Singaporean classics.

Singapulah, 53 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LB

Cheers, JL

#foodporn #food porn #Singapulah #SingaporeFood #London #LondonFood #London Food #London Restaurants #Chinatown #Singapore Food #Singapore Restaurant

0 notes

lovinglapislazuli · 4 years ago

Photo

Whatever they are doing, I believe they are doing it in good faith despite their weird attitude... Are they right? I don't know but they sure think they are

#Precure #Tropical Rouge Precure #Deltarune #Ralsei #Seahorse Butler #my art #loving lapis queue

20 notes · View notes

lovinglapislazuli · 5 years ago

Text

Hey look another au! These look cool :D Dastardly’s power is easy to guess, but I am curious about what Penny and Peter can do.

Wacky Race One Piece AU. Dick Dastardly has Dynamite fruit, Penelope has a Pink Fruit, and Peter uses his power watch to fight.

#Wacky Races 2017 #wacky races #one piece #dick dastardly #penelope pitstop #peter perfect #loving lapis queue

7 notes · View notes

heartsmused · 6 years ago

Text

@plethorangels || cont.

Natsuki knew the older man had a point but she couldn’t help but rattle off such a defensive answer when he had came over to her desk. She couldn’t help it she always had such angry and snippy feelings towards any male figure in her life especially authority figures ( for obvious reasons ). She wanted to take the help she truly did — if she didn’t get her grades up it would be even worse at home than ever — but her pride wanted to do this herself; she wasn’t some dumb little freshman anymore she was more than capable doing things herself. Even so, Natsuki can’t help but crumble at how sincere her teacher sounded so maybe, just maybe she could let someone in just this once.

“Ugh I know, Yagi-sensei! But I guess I do need some help so I guess I’ll take you up on your offer to help me study...”

#m: natsuki #plethorangels #// oh i love that idea tbh its wonderful && also yes please adopt natsuki she needs a good dad #✦ lapis is away please leave a message || queue

3 notes · View notes

stayarmytinyzenmoa-l · 2 years ago

Text

Lapis Love [Ch. 3]

Nobility AU; Fantasy AU

TW: Language

CW: Arranged/Political Marriage

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy

Pairing: Mercenary!Liu Yangyang x Noblity!Reader

Y/N Pronouns: Female (She/Her)

Summary: When hit with the sudden news that you’d be married you freaked out and with the help of your brother you ran away to avoid becoming embroiled in a political war. However, your betrothed was just as freaked out as you were and sent a mercenary after you. When you’re two paths cross unknowingly, suddenly your month journey to refuge becomes that much more interesting.

(3/?) [First] | [Previous] | [Next]

[NCT Masterlist] | [Other Groups Masterlist] | [Lapis Love Masterlist]

Word Count: 4.2K

Notes: I have decided that the queue function on this damn site doesn't want to work for me anymore so :D It's fine AHAHA I hope you enjoy <3 As you can see, I'm in my fantasy writing phase lol

Disclaimer: Please remember that this is an AU and a work of fiction, obviously the idols mentioned/written about in this story would never partake in these actions. The idols mentioned in this work are meant to be seen more as face claims rather than the actual idols themselves.

Feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for reading!

You were definitely strange. That’s what Yangyang’s initial thought of you was. Especially now. As soon as you’d walked into the tavern you were very near a loss for words. He didn’t know what was more probable, the fact that you’d never been into a tavern or the fact that you were just afraid of large gatherings. He could read it entirely from the shock on your face, you weren’t used to places like this. Where the hell did you come from, then? He had his suspicions when you’d helped out that street urchin earlier but he thought himself well acquainted with the noble families in Eotias, and he’d never seen or heard of anyone who looked remotely like you before. Then again, despite being a man, you oddly matched the description he was given on the small parchment. How frustrating. All he had to work with was a tiny piece of paper and the knowledge that the Winter Noble used ice magic. Of course, aside from physical characteristics, he was certain that you weren’t the Noble he was looking for. Any person could match these features, hell, he just saw another person walk by who matched them. Then, a loud guffaw echoed across the tavern, and while his head whipped over to where it came from, he just barely noticed that every muscle in your body tensed up.

You weren’t used to this. Just who was this companion he picked up?

“Are you good?” Yangyang asks.

“Just fine, thank you,” you replied. Then there’s that. Your vocabulary was too refined to just be the average traveler.

To say the least, his curiosity was getting the better of him. If there was one thing that would definitely bite him in the ass one day, it was his insatiable need to get to the bottom of things.

He only spoke to you because of the curious bracelet on your wrist. The simple ringlet of silver with the obvious Lapis Lazuli in the middle of it. The one thing he needed. Could it be? Were you running from the Winter Noble? Maybe through some stroke of luck, you’d be able to help each other out, or maybe he’d be able to buy the bracelet off of you. It was secured tightly onto your wrist, trust, he tried to steal it much earlier. Whatever the reason for it was, you were clearly very protective of it.

“I’ll rent a room for us then,” you stepped past him and he followed you regardless. If his theory was right then you’d have no clue how to do this.

“Hello, sirs, two rooms tonight?” The tavern hostess asks.

“Ye—”

“One room, two beds,” Yangyang cuts in. Yup, looks like you didn’t know how to budget either. Yangyang sighed, what point was there to having someone fund the trip if they didn’t know how to spend wisely? He ignored the pointed glare you gave him and paid attention to the hostess instead.

“Alrighty, boys, that’ll be two gold pieces for one night,” she says. Yangyang leans on the counter.

“Come on, gorgeous, give us a discount?” Yangyang winks. The hostess’ smile falters and, in an instant, Yangyang finds himself on the floor after being harshly shoved over by… wait, who pushed him over? He sits up quickly just in time for you to retract your hand.

“I’m sorry about him, here you are,” you handed the two gold pieces and Yangyang rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t aware how shameless by companion is,” you sighed.

“Hey! I was trying to save some money!” Yangyang argues while pushing himself up.

“There are much more noble ways to do it, I thought you’d know considering you were a knight in training, am I correct?” You fired back. Shit, he completely forgot about that little white lie. “Chivalry is truly dead,” you shook your head and turned to the hostess, who seemed to have stars in her eyes now.

“I… er… your room is… down the hall, to the left, fifth room,” she stammers. You offered her a grin and the woman very nearly fawned over you, eliciting a groan from Yangyang.

“Thank you, miss, have a good night,” you reached out to take the keys from her, and she made it a point to grab your hand first to place them gently into your palm. You walked past Yangyang and he stumbled to catch up.

“Kevin, my man, you can’t just leave a lovely lady like that alone!”

“Yangyang, you animal, leave the poor girl alone,” you unlocked the door and walked in first, the door swinging shut behind you, but Yangyang quickly walked in.

“Couldn’t you tell? She’s head over heels for you! Use it! Get discounts!”

“You’re shameless, Liu,” you shook your head, dropping your knapsack on the bed by the window. “If this partnership is going to work out proper, I suggest you brush up on your basic manners.”

“No can do, Kev, I’m a free spirit through and through,” Yangyang collapses on his bed.

“Being free does not equate to being an ass,” you shot back. Yangyang sits up.

“You’re an asshole.”

“So be it.”

“Where are you from, anyway? No one I know around here talks like you do,” he frowns. You stared at him.

“F-Fairham,” you finally answered. Yangyang rose an eyebrow as he leaned forward toward you.

“Bullshit.”

“It is not!”

“You hesitated.”

“And what of it?!”

“You’re not really from Fairham, are you?!”

“And how would you know the truth?!”

“Trust me, bub, I know Fairham when I see it,” he continues.

“I swear to you! I’m from Fairham through and through!” You continues to defend. Yangyang leaned back on his palms now.

“Okay, fine, I’ll take the bait,” he shrugs. Fairham. You weren’t from Fairham, there was no way. He was from Fairham. Born and raised. But then why would you hide where you’re actually from? Unless he was right in that you really were running away from something. You had a sense of skepticism in your eyes, Yangyang recognized it well enough from being friends with Renjun for so long, and it had only furthered his suspicions.

Especially when he stared at the sword that now lay on the bed next to you. You asked him for sword lessons, and yet you had what must be an expensive blade in your hands. The contradictions surrounding you just continued to pile, and Yangyang knew a liar when he saw one.

“So… where’d the sword come from, then?” He asks. He couldn’t deny it, that sword was just so damn familiar. You looked over to him, hands suddenly clutching onto the sheath.

“Why the inquiry?”

“Just curious.”

“My older brother,” you answered. “He couldn’t join me on this journey, so he left me his sword instead,” you explained.

“Oh… do you mind?” He asks, reaching for the sword already, but you pulled it away from his grasp before he could hear an answer.

“I do mind, actually, thank you very much. We just met, Liu, and I’m not so inclined to trust you with something that is dear to me,” you rambled off. Yangyang stood up and crossed his arms, lips pressing in a tight line.

“Okay, Kevin, let me level with you here,” he says. “I know you’re running away from something.” That struck a cord. The way your entire body tensed up while your eyes darted to the side, specifically towards the sword, so he was right. There are two possibilities now. One, you stole the sword and you’re now running away from whoever wanted to take it back. Two, you’re telling the truth. “You don’t have to tell me why, because, quite frankly, it doesn’t matter to me. But we’re going to have to have some level of trust here,” he says.

“But… I was warned not to trust anyone.”

“Whoever told you that has a good conscience, then, because they’re right. The roads to Stardenn aren’t a walk in the park,” he says. “Look, I don’t know who, what, or where you’re running from, but I have a feeling you’re not used to this kind of stuff so…” Yangyang reaches into his bag and tosses a scroll onto the table separating the two beds. Again, surprise strikes your features.

“An enchanted contract? I didn’t take you to be one to carry this around,” you unrolled the parchment. At the moment, it remained blank. It was a common thing carried by mercenaries to make sure that both parties fulfill their ends of the deal. The terms and conditions were simple, both parties are allowed up to three conditions, then, when they both sign the parchment, they are bound to those boundaries until both ends of the agreement are met. If, at any point, these conditions are disregarded or broken, the offender will receive a punishment either set by the other or equivalent to the condition broken.

“It’s a just in case measure, anyone traveling the main roads would have them,” he says. The parchment laid undisturbed and a quill appears in front of you. “The term is obvious. Until we reach Stardenn, right?”

“Correct, until we reach our destination,” you confirmed. Yangyang handed you the quill and watched you write down the term.

The term of the contract is set to whenever the two contractors enter Stardenn safely.

“Well, then, who shall write the first condition?” You ask.

“Chivalry’s dead, right?” Yangyang takes the quill and writes down the his set of conditions.

1. I, Liu Yangyang, will honor the conditions set by my traveling companion.

2. I, Liu Yangyang, will be truthful to my companion.

3. I, Liu Yangyang, will not consciously attempt any harm on my traveling companion.

“Well, that’s that then,” he signs his name at the bottom and hands you the quill. You took it hesitantly and you hovered the tip over the page. It was clear on your face that you were focusing on what to write. “Hey, if it’s that hard, then just write the same things I did,” he says.

“I feel like that’s a trap,” you muttered.

“Oh, come on, what did I just say about trust?” He asks.

“Yeah, yeah,” you glanced out the window and he follows your gaze. Then, in moments, the window slams open and a gust of snow blows into the room. Yangyang was quick to run to the window and shut the doors before too much snow could get in, but the wind continued to fight back, as if pushing on the wooden frames to fight its way inside.

“A little help here, Kevin?!” He shouts.

“Have patience, I’m almost done with this,” you answered. “Plus, it looks like you have it quite handled,” you continued, standing up from your spot and signing the contract. Then, as you lifted your quill from the page, the parchment glowed and rolled itself up before promptly disappearing with a flicker along with the quill.

“Hey! You couldn’t have waited for me?!” He shouts, the window suddenly calming and his body slamming against the frame. He groaned and rubbed his pounding head.

“What? I wrote the same as you, there’s no need,” you shrugged. “Here, want me to prove it?” You took the sword in your hand and Yangyang immediately rose his hands.

“Nope, no, no, it’s fine, I trust you,” he says quickly. Then, he catches onto how you held the sword’s handle. “Oh… man, you really don’t know how to use a sword, do you?” Your expression changed slowly into one of realization before settling on embarrassment and placing the sword back on the bed.

“… No, I have no experience with swordsmanship,” you mumbled. Yangyang walks over to you, grabbing his own sword on the way. Strange, with a sword of that quality, surely you had to have some kind of experience, but perhaps he was wrong. Then again, it was from your brother. But it wasn’t rare that brothers trained together, even Renjun, who was shit with swordsmanship, knew the basics.

“Now with that signed, do you still mind?” His hand hovers over your sword and you shook your head. Although, as Yangyang pulled the blade out of it’s sheath, he didn’t sense your gaze waver once. The blade was unsheathed quickly, flawlessly, and the material itself was unlike any Yangyang had ever seen before. The edge was pristine, sharp enough to cut through anything, and the material was light despite it’s sturdy feel. The hilt was something that truly mesmerized him, however, he couldn’t tell the material below it, but the leather that wrapped around it was made of a demon’s hide. Now this wasn’t something that he’d have guessed on look alone, no, it’s simply because the material matched the sheath. One look at it and Yangyang could tell that the material was crafted from the material left behind from the Nuckelavee, an ancient demon vanquished by…

Yangyang paused, stealing a look towards you for a moment. You were more preoccupied with the blade in his hand as opposed to him, though.

The Nuckelavee was vanquished by a previous incarnation of the Summer Noble, Moon Suho. He had learned all about him in Academy, he was heralded for his skills with swordsmanship before his supernatural abilities. Any and all materials left behind the Nuckelavee was left in the care of House Moon after that.

You just continued to surprise him. The bracelet, the sword, what else were you hiding?

Just who did he invite into his life?

“How did you get this sword again?” He asks. Your brother, tell him more about this person.

“My older brother was also training to be a knight, he graduated early, so he left me with this,” you answered. Yangyang turned back to the sword, slowly rotating it to observe it. Kevin, Kevin, come to think of it, that name actually rung a bell. He knew a Kevin back in Academy who was exceptionally gifted in swordsmanship, but they were in different classes, so he knew him by reputation only. Was it just a coincidence? “Why?”

“Just weird that someone with no experience whatsoever would have this,” he says. He’s been trying to catch you in a lie. You’re either an extremely good liar (unlikely) or you’re telling him the truth (also unlikely). “It’s extremely high quality for someone who doesn’t know a thing about it,” he stands up now, flipping it in his hand to get a feel for the weight. The stories were true, it was a blade crafted for a master. Yangyang looked closely at the blade now, unknown runes had been etched into the blade just above the hilt. “Go ahead and grab mine over there, it’s lighter than this one, so you shouldn’t have trouble holding it,” he says. He noticed than when you held the sword originally, your wrist wavered as if what you were holding was too heavy.

“Oh, alright,” you did as he said and walked next to him. He peered over at how you were holding it again.

“You’re going to break your wrist if you hold it like that, hold it like this,” he demonstrates for you and you copied. “Uh… hold on, it’ll be easier if I fix it for you,” he leans the sword against his leg while he reached for your wrist. “Relax a little,” he mutters, adjusting your hold on the hilt. “Try now, it should feel a little more comfortable, this way, you’re putting the pressure more on your palm than your fingers, so it shouldn’t be as uncomfortable.”

“Oh, you’re right!” Your eyes seemed to shine despite the darkened room. “Does this count as our first lesson?” You ask.

“Sure, let’s call it repayment for getting us a room tonight,” Yangyang says, looking over your form again. “Looks like we’re going to need a lot of work…” he mutters after. This was going to be a long journey.

“What was that?” You tilted your head and Yangyang could feel the nervousness build in his throat.

What the hell has he gotten himself into?

The knock at the door ended the already lengthening session. Or, at least, it felt like hours. You’d always watched Kevin’s and Byul's practices and you’d always wondered why it was so taxing on them, and now you regret laughing at them. Your hands were cramping from holding Kevin’s heavy sword for too long. Gods above, did he have to give you such a heavy weapon? Would it have killed him for him to give you a dagger? You spared a glance to Yangyang, who only shrugged. You frowned and opened the door yourself, seeing the hostess on the other side.

“Hello, sorry for the sudden intrusion,” she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “It’s just that another room just opened up if you wanted it, free of charge since it was so sudden,” she says, wiping sweat from her brow. She looked like she just finished up rushing through chores. A quick glance over revealed the truth. Dampened bottom of her skirt and patched middle where her knees would’ve been on the floor, she’d just been cleaning the floors at least.

“Certainly, I’ll accept your offer,” you nodded. “No harsh feelings, right, Liu?” You asked. Yangyang only shook his head.

“Be my guest.” He hands you your belongings.

“Please guide me to my new accommodations,” you smiled. The woman in front of you matched your expression and ushered you to follow her. Soon enough, you were in your new room. Noticeably enough, it was much cleaner than the last one you’d been in. Fresh sheets for sure, dusted furniture, and mopped floors.

“Please enjoy your stay here at Kilvein’s inn,” she says before excusing herself. You slumped on the bed, more comfortable now. You could hear the springs creak under you and the comforter on top was tattered and by no means what you were used to, but with all the pent up exhaustion from just getting here, you couldn’t care any less. You didn’t expect your journey to be this hard already, and it was still the first day. The sun was barely setting, actually, yet you were so exhausted you could barely move. So, instead, your mind wandered for you.

You didn’t blame people for spreading such rumors about you. Cold and icy. It was a bit of a generalization you weren’t too fond of, but when you grow up with already so little power, you learn how to compensate. Your noble family was no powerful one, they held power over their domain based on the respect of the people alone. Then, you were even the youngest of four. You weren’t supposed to inherit anything, really. The dukedom was planned to go to Byulyi, then she turned it over to Taeil, your parents would rather die before handing the seat to Kevin, so that left you. Being cooped inside taking lessons on how to run a territory, that’s bound to do something to you. But you never really imagined that people would thing you were that cruel.

Sure, you’d constantly turn down invitations from other children your age, you’d stay inside to study all day, and maybe on the off occasion you’d accidentally snap at whoever was unlucky enough to cross your path. But you always apologized, you always tried to make it right. And you thought you were doing pretty well. Perhaps you thought wrong.

You took your cap off, finally letting your hair loose, and after a deep sigh, you fell asleep.

That was close. You nearly had a heart attack when Yangyang banged his fist on your door. Even now, you were still making sure that your stray hairs were tucked neatly under your cap. Why was he rushing you to get out of the tavern anyway? It’s not like he was in a rush for something, and even if he was there was no way it was as pressing as your situation. Still, you couldn’t deny that he was helpful. Even now as Yangyang walked slightly ahead of you, he was quick to pick up on things that were going on around you. The movement of animals, the sounds of water, he was accustomed to traveling and you weren’t. You looked down at your hand, a ghost-like feeling of how he’d fixed your form last night still wavering. You thanked god for the darkness of the room, lest he saw the embarrassment written all over your face.

It was true, a quill was very different to a sword, but who knew that you wouldn’t have even been able to hold a sword correctly? Kevin would have ridiculed you for sure. His sword glinted at your side, the gem shining in the sunlight. No doubt by now your absence has been noted and the guards were scrambling around the territory for you. You wondered if word had reached Bleakgate yet, to the ears of the man who you had supposedly been betrothed to. You looked up to Yangyang, who had been walking silently this whole time except to warn you of animals.

“Yangyang?” You took quick steps to catch up with him.

“Wait!” Yangyang’s hand flew out and, within seconds, a boar charged out of the bushes, completely catching you off guard. With a quick yelp, you grabbed onto the closest thing to you. Yangyang, meanwhile, took a steadying step back. “Relax, it’s just a boar,” Yangyang croaks out. You immediately release him.

“Pardon me,” you cleared your throat while Yangyang scoffs.

“Have you ever been out of Fairham?” He asks. You shook your head.

“No, not necessarily,” you answer. Yangyang sighs.

“Alright, well, first thing is first, always be aware of your surroundings,” he says. “You can’t just waltz around the roads like nothing, haven’t you heard of the demonic beast sightings?” He asks. No, you hadn’t heard of such things. But you’d already made yourself out to be a fool enough to him.

“I know,” you answer. “Why else did you think I asked you to teach me how to use this?” You gestured to the weapon attached at your hip.

“I had a feeling too,” he answers. “So, be on your guard, until you pick up on the basics, I’ll handle any monsters that come our way,” he says. “It shouldn’t be hard, most of the monsters on the way to Stardenn are pretty weak anyway,” he adds.

“So it shouldn’t be a problem for me then, right?” You ask. Yangyang looks at you. You pulled the sword out and pointed it towards the bushes. “Would I have been able to handle that boar?” You continue. Yangyang shakes his head.

“No,” he turns his back to you and continues down the road. You, meanwhile, quickly caught up with him.

“What? But you said that the monsters here are weak, right? How hard could it be?”

“You have no experience with sword fighting, you’ve never been out of Fairham, and you jumped at the sight of a monster, do you really think you’re cut out for fighting?” He asks. Okay, he didn’t have to be so harsh about it. You frowned, immediately walking ahead of him and towards the closest living creature you could see.

“And? What of this, then?” You pointed to the substance with the tip of your sword.

“That… that would be a simple slime,” your companion answers.

“And? Is it malevolent?”

“You know… you speak very eloquently to be from Fairham village,” he grimaces.

“Nonsense! I simply speak this way because of upbringing,” you defended.

“Well, whatever, to answer your question, no, it’s not bad. Not this one, at least. If it wanted to attack it would’ve done so already,” he rolls his eyes. You placed the sword down and crouched next to the small creature, its jelly eyes looking up at you with such sparkle.

“Can we keep it?”

“No.”

“Whatever for?! It’s quite adorable, is it not?” You cupped your hands and the slime creature rolled onto them. “Well then, I suppose that answers it. I shall call you Sloane!” You announced. The slime, no, Sloane looked up at you with a new excitement, as if it were proud to have been given a name.

“Sloane? That’s an oddly human name for a slime.”

“Silence. Your name is oddly animal for a human.”

“How is Yangyang a name for an animal?!”

“Have you seen your mannerisms? If you didn’t look like a man I’d mistake you for a monster!”

“You— Why am I even helping you?!”

“Ah, so I see you’ve also fallen for my devilish charms, haven’t you?”

“Don’t be too proud of yourself.”

“I shall do whatever it is I so desire, now, we have a similar goal, remember? That’s why you’re still here!” You reminded him. “We’re both going to Stardenn, you have muscles and I have money, we work well together,” you crossed your arms.

“Ugh, right,” Yangyang groans. “… You think I have muscles?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” you said coldly. Yangyang stared back at you, initiating yet another one of these tediously petty competitions, but you would rather die than let him win. After a few moments, Yangyang cracks and a victorious smile rose on your face.

“Fine, the slime can stay,” he concedes.

“The slime? What slime?” You tilted your head to the side and the creature in your hands, if it was even possible, seemed to glare. Yangyang sighs.

“Pardon me, Sloane can stay.”

“Wonderous! Let us continue on our journey, dear knight-to-be!”

General Tag List: @stopeatread @bat-shark-repellant @raeincitizen @umbralhelwolf @yangsrose @kazooms

NCT Tag List: @cherrylovr @minjiville @resonantcherry

Lapis Love: @billboard-singer @awakey

If you want to be added to either tag list or removed just send me a reply to this post, and ask, or a DM and I’ll add you as soon as possible!

#nct #nct x reader #nct x you #nct x yn #nct u #nct u x reader #nct u x you #nct u x yn #wayv #wayv x reader #wayv x you #wayv x yn #yangyang x reader #yangyang x you #yangyang x yn #my writings #lapis love

19 notes · View notes