#synaulia i

[yeastinfectionvale]

Thank you for the tag @carlosheinz @darlingnemesis @formulapookie for the tag

Rules: pick a song for each letter of your url and tag that many people (if you can)

Y - Yaar Anmulle (Radio Edit) - Sharry Mann

E - Etruria - Synaulia

A - Angel of Small Death & The Codeine Scene - Hozier

S - SLUT ME OUT 2 - NLE Choppa

T - Tharti Hildi Desi Mix - Angrej Ali, Aman Hayer

I - Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls

N - Nasha (Equals Sessions) - Faridkot, Amar Jalal

F - Fallin' - Alicia Keys

E - El Alma Que Te Trajo - Safety Trance, Arca

C - Chasing The Sun - The Wanted

T - Take Me Back To Eden - Sleep Token

I - I'm Outta Love - Anastacia

O - Oh Que Sera?, Willie Colon

N - No Excuses - Bru-C

V - Vapour - 5 Seconds of Summer

A - Act!ve - Calso

L - Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf, Lil Wayne

E - Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks

tagging @bbglewis @anitalianfrie @lain-at-the-gay-bar

[rattorandagio]

Tagged by @6o6 thank chuu :^3

10 songs I'm currently listening to...

(Do not kill me I am aware i am repetitive...)

Valerie dore ☆ Get Closer

Dir en grey ☆ ゆらめき (S.N.Y. mix)

Schwarz stein ☆ Transient

Dir en grey ☆ Bottom of the death valley

蜉蝣 ☆ 冷え性の女

Synaulia ☆ Ode to the lyre

Dir en grey ☆ HADES

La'mule ☆ sweet enemy

Kyo ☆ スカポルトロノ「清水寺ポルノType」

Kilhi+ice ☆ ブリキの太鼓

Tagginffff @ranuunculus :3

*gunshot

[rachelbethhines]

A Genre A Day

Ancient

Ancient music is music that developed in literate cultures, replacing prehistoric music. Ancient music refers to the various musical systems that were developed across various geographical regions such as Mesopotamia, India, Persia, Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. Ancient music is designated by the characterization of the basic notes and scales. It may have been transmitted through oral or written systems.

[cardest]

Italy & Rome playlist

Pizza. Fiat. Centurions. Fulci. Argento. Morricone. It’s all here in this Roma - Italia playlist. If you love ancient Roman history and horror film soundtracks, this is the playlist for you! Hit play right here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC18JtHohAYmD7g1FGA8S-D2B

Nero would enjoy this playlist! But, if there is a song or band I forgot or even a horror film soundtrack, or Italian prog record I mighta missed, let me know! This is one of my favorite playlists. Grazie!

ITALIA & ROMA

001 Goblin - La caccia 002 High On Fire -  Romulus And Remus 003 Braens Machine - Flying 004 Piero Umiliani - Produzione 005 Fantomas - Page 1 [6 Frames] 006 Lucio Fulci's Zombie Theme(1979) 007 Tullio De Piscopo drum pattern - Samba Carnival 008 Quella Vecchia Locanda - Il Tempo Della Gioia 009 Sandro Brugnolini - Amofen 010 Ufomammut - Mars 011 Gerardo Iacoucci - Tradimento 012 Procol Harum - Conquistador   013 LA TERZA MADRE  - Main Theme by Claudio Simonetti 014 Fantomas -  The Godfather 015 Toto Cutugno - L'Italiano 016 CHILDREN OF TECHNOLOGY - Fear the mohawk reaper 017 Ennio Morricone -  Non Rimane Piu Nessuno 018 Mina - Non credere 019 Bölzer - Roman Acupuncture 020 Jerry Goldsmith The Omen OST - Ave Satani 021 Lou Monte - roman guitar 022 Tony Di Marti - L'Uccellino Della Comare   023 Paul Chain Violet Theatre - 17 day 024 Satyricon -  The Ghost of Rome 025 Ghost - Con Clavi Con Dio 026 Charles Aznavour - Com'a Triste Venezia 027 Jula de Palma - Tua (1959) versione originale 028 Dean Martin - That's Amore   029 FORGOTTEN TOMB - We Owe You Nothing 030 Mike Patton - Ti Offro Da Bere 031 Death SS - Heavy Demons 032 The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Sword of Machiavelli 033 Afterhours - Milano Circonvallazione Esterna 034 Fantomas -  Page 17 [14 Frames] 035 Gluttony -  The Rise Of Pompey 036 Sherpa - Kim (((o))) Tigris & Euphrates 037 Umberto Tozzi Gloria - Italian Version 038 Franco Bracardi & Giorgio Bracardi -  Lo Strangolatore Di Boston 039 Black Hole - Bells of Death 040 Tarantella Pugliese - La Rondinella 041 Pino Villa- A Mucca Pazza 042 Opera IX - Bela Lugosi's Dead 043 MARIO MOLINO - TRAFFICO CAOTICO 044 Lucio Battisti - La Collina Dei Ciliegi 045 Tenebre (Main Title) by Goblin 046 SYK - FONG 047 FUOCO FATUO - Sulphureous Hazes 048 Primordial -  As Rome Burns 049 Abysmal Grief - Crypt of Horror 050 Mike Patton/Mondo Cane - re D'Amore 051 The Man from U. N. C. L. E. Soundtrack - Jimmy Renda Se 052 Stelvio Cipriani - Papaya 053 Fantomas - Page 28 [20 Frames] 054 Carlo Maria Cordio - Rosso Sangue (Absurd) 055 Emma De Angelis - Trip 056 BRUNO NICOLAI-Red Cats (1975) 057 Duncan Dhu - La barra de este hotel 058 FROZEN CROWN - Neverending 059 Pavor na Cidade dos Zumbis (City of the Living Dead, 1980) Theme 060 Jarboe & Father Murphy - The Ferryman 061 Mudhoney - When In Rome 062 Fantomas - Page 21 [11 Frames] 063  Ancient Roman Music - Synaulia I 064 Behemoth - Rome 64 C.E. / Slaying the Prophets ov Isa 065 Clutch - Nero's Fiddle 066 Gluttony -  The Rise Of Sulla 067 Goblin - L'alba dei morti viventi 068 Elvis Presley - Heart Of Rome 069 Bulldozer - Insurrection Of The Living Damned 070 Peggy Lee - When In Rome (I Do as the Romans Do) 071 Osanna - Variazione I (To Plinius) 072 GIULIANO SORGINI - Ultima Caccia 073 Ennio Morricone - Metti una sera a cena 074 Sepultura -  The Vatican 075 Rome Soundtrack 02 The Forum 076 Fantomas -  Page 4 [11 Frames] 077 Gladiator - Theme Song 078 Avantasia - The Glory of Rome 079 Caligula (1979)-Opening Credits 080 Umberto -  Temple Room 081 SODOM - Caligula 082 Lacuna Coil -  Survive 083 Gigliola Cinquetti - Non ho leta 084 Lucio Battisti - Emozioni 085 Goblin -  Markos 086 MIke Patton -  Urlo Negro 087 Sandro Brugnolini -  Megattera 088 Fantomas -  Page 25 [34 Frames] 089 The Italian Job Soundtrack- Opening Titles 090 Fabio Frizzi - Un Gatto Nel Cervello 091 Heidevolk - Het verbond met Rome 092 Messiah - Nero 093 Julio Iglesias - Todo el amor que te hace falta 094 Calabria - Luna Calabrisi 095 Various Artists -  Iena Sequence 096 Fantomas -  Page 5 [7 Frames] 097 Perry Como Mandolins In The Moonlight 098 The Beyond Soundtrack - main theme 099 Mercyful Fate - Gypsy 100 Goblin -  Suspiria 101 Ufomammut - Empireum 102 Diaframma - Neogrigio 103 Umberto -  The Psychic 104 NecroDeath - Master Of Morphine 105 The Dirtiest - Cento shot 106 Fantomas -  Page 29 [39 Frames] 107 La Morte Viene Dallo Spazio - Ashes 108 Achille Togliani Fontana Di Trevi 109 MV & EE - Much obliged 110 Isis Synaulia - Musica dell'antica Roma 111 Sandro Brugnolini - Marsuino 112 Giobia - far behind 113 Darvaza - silver chalice   114 Fantomas -  Investigation Of A Citizen Above suspicion 115 Rome Soundtrack - Main Title Theme 116 Nebulae - Carbon 117 Beat Fuga - Shake 118 Gruppo folk naxos - Tarantella siciliana 119 Russian Circles - Milano 120 Kalidia - Circe's spell 121 Harlan Williams, Beneath the Iron Heel of Pagan Rome 122 Exhorder - Slaughter in the Vatican 123 Vatican - the 5th of metal 124 Extrema - Deep Infection 125 Rod Stewart - Italian Girls 126 Louis Prima - Buona Sera 127 Mike Patton/Mondo Cane - Che Notte! 128 Sinoath -  Saturnalia 129 Piero Piccioni - L'Italia Vista dal Cielo (Lombardia) 130 PIERO UMILIANI - Topless Party 131 Dean Martin - Arrivederci Roma 132 Fantomas -  Page 30 [2 Frames] 133 Sadist - Nadir 134 Hour of Penance - Rise and Oppress 135  Virgin Steele - The Burning of Rome (Cry for Pompeii) 136 FROZEN CROWN - Battles In The Night 137 The Monolith Deathcult - Demigod 138 PIG DESTROYER -  Machiavellian 139 Raw Power  - State oppresion 140 La luna ammenzu o mari - Folk Sicilia 141 Angels and Demons Soundtrack - Main Theme (Hans Zimmer) 142 Lou Monte - Bella notte 143 Fantomas - Page 7 [6 Frames] 144 Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi - Theme of ''Rome'' 145 INFERNO OST Dario Argento - MAIN THEME 146 Hombres G - Venezia 147 Rome Soundtracks - The Battle has began (Caesar's Theme) 148 NORA ORLANDI- Ossessione 149 Stelvio Cipriani - Orgasmo Nero 150 Goblin -  Profondo Rosso - Mad Puppet 151 Duatha - Maximinus Thrax 152 Sodom - City of God 153 Caronte - Invocation to Paimon 154 Demoni (Demons) Soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti  - Killing 155 PSYCHEDELIC WITCHCRAFT - Rising On The Edge 156 James Reyne - Fall Of Rome 157 Fantomas -  Vendetta 158  Rome Soundtrack - 16Th Death of Pompey 159 Alessandro Alessandroni & Sorgini Giuliano - Overcraft 160 The Man from U. N. C. L. E. OST - Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera (Profumo Di Donna) 161 Clutch - Circus Maximus 162 Candlemass - Demons Gate 163 ROME - Uropia O Morte 164 Siouxsie And The Banshees - Cities In Dust (Extended 12 Version) 165 Tony Mottola - You And Only You 166 Musica dell'Antica Roma - Pavor 167 Fantomas - Page 6 [26 Frames] 168 Aborym -  II 169 Scorpions - The Sails Of Charon 170 Blind Guardian -  Lionheart 171 Septicflesh -  Dante's Inferno 172 MESSA - Leah 173 Mike Patton -  Senza Fine 174 Gary Numan - My Centurion 175 Frank Black and the Catholics - Back to Rome 176 Tonino Cavallo - Tarantella Siciliana 177 THE MELVINS - The Bloated Pope 178 Gluttony -  Lucullus In The East 179 Toto - Spanish Steps Of Rome 180 Fantomas -  Page 8 [9 Frames] 181 Mark Lanegan Band - Playing Nero 182 METRALLETA STEIN OST - Telemark 183 Luciano Pavarotti - Sole Mio 184 Jorja Chalmers - red light 185 Blood Ceremony -  Faunus 186 EKPYROSIS - Profound Death 187 Corleone  - Tutto diventerà rosso (feat. Mike Patton) 188 Primus -  The Storm 189 Museo Rosenbach - Superuomo 190 IVANO FOSSATI - MILANO 191 Lucio Dalla - Milano 192 Fantomas -  Page 9 [11 Frames] 193 Alessandro Allesendroni - Remember 194 Le Orme - Felona & Sorona - Return To Naught 195 Rome - The Spanish Drummer 196 Epitaph  -  Beyond the Mirror 197 Ephel Duath - The Passage 198 Three of You - New Life 199 Walter Rizzati I remember (Quella villa accanto al cimitero) 200 Lacuna Coil -  Heaven's A Lie 201 Judas Priest - Nostradamus 202 Triumvirat - Vesuvius 79 A.D. 203 Amedeo Tommasi - Exploration 204 Nero Kane † Lord Won't Come 205 FULCI - Eye Full Of Maggots 206 ULVER - Nemoralia 207 Voltumna  - Roma Delenda Est 208 Adorable - Sistine Chapel Ceiling 209 I Gres - Restless 210 Rita Pavone - Il Geghegè 211 Jahbulong - Under the influence of the fool 212 Theatres des Vampires -  Sangue 213 Antonio - High Voltage! 214 Fantomas -  Page 23 [17 Frames] 215 Sadist - Enslaver of Lies 216 Bunker 66 - (She's Got) Demon Eyes 217 GIULIANO SORGINI - Mad town 218 Zu -  Ostia 219 Moonraker - Miss Goodhead Meets Bond in Venice 220 Franco Micalizzi - I Due Volti Della Paura 221 John Zorn Naked City - The Sicilian Clan 222 Piero Umiliani - Nel Villaggio 223 Mike Patton/Mondo Cane - Cielo In Una Stanza 224 UFOMAMMUT - Warsheep 225 Fleshgod Apocalypse -  Elegy 226 SLASHER DAVE - Fulzzi 227 Panna Fredda - La Paura 228 Meads Of Asphodel - God Is Rome 229 Nora Orlandi - I Robot Original Version (Il dolce corpo di Deborah) 230 Caronte - Exctasy of Hecate 231 White Skull - Will of the Strong 232 Wotan - Thermopiles 233 Chromatics - Faded Now 234 Fantomas -  Page 2 [7 Frames] 235 Schizo - the main frame collapse 236 Ghost B.C. -  Per Aspera Ad Inferi 237 Dream Theater - The Count Of Tuscany 238 Satyricon -  Commando 239 Psico Galera - La Prima Volta 240 Scolopendra - Priest's blood soup 241 Theatres Des Vampires - 'Til the Last Drop of Blood 242 Victrola - Game of Despair 243 Blue Phantom - Diodo 244 Mortuary Drape - My Soul/primordial 245 Fantomas -  Page 11 [10 Frames] 246 Gianni Ferrio - Un dollaro bucato 247 Ataraxia - Canzona 248 Hexvessel - Phaedra 249 Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - Some Velvet Morning 250 Mike Patton -  L'Uomo Che Non Sapeva Amare 251 Idiota Civilizzato - Uno E Nessuno 252 Ennio Morricone - Main Theme for Dario Argento's THE CAT O'NINE TAILS 253 Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity 254 Monumentum - Battesimo: Nero Opaco 255 Opera IX - 1313 (Eradicate the False Idols) 256 Piedone lo sbirro OST - The Baron's death 257 Goblin - Deep red OST main theme 258 EKPYROSIS - Immolate the Denied 259 L'Impero delle Ombre - II Sabba 260 Monte Kristo - The Girl of Lucifer 261 Ghost - Lady Nite 262 Hallowed - Wake Up In The Night 263 Fantomas -  Page 27 [15 Frames] 264 Giuliano Sorgini - Lavoro cerebrale 265 Death SS - Vampire 266 VOLTURIAN - Broken 267 Cradle Of Filth - The 13th Caesar 268 Fulci - tropical sun 269 Alessandro Cortini - Perdere 270 Francesco Guccini - Bologna 271 Abysmal Grief  - Celebrate what they fear 272 Goblin - book of skulls 273 Tom Waits - In The Colosseum 274 Peggy Lee - Autumn In Rome 275 Ruins - Petit Portrait 276 Urna - Omnis Inifinita Mens Est Gremium Et Sepolcrum Universi 277 Nicolas Gaunin - Noa Noa Noa 278 Lacuna Coil - No Need to Explain 279 Theatres Des Vampires - Morgana Effect 280 Sepultura - City of Dis 281 Opera IX - The Oak 282 Rhapsody - Il cigno nero 283 Cripple Bastards  - Variante Alla Morte 284 Goblin - Witch (Susperia OST) 285 Death SS - revived 286 Henning Christiansen - L'essere Umano Errabando La Voca Errabando 287 Rolling Blackouts - The Second Of The First 288 Giuda - Overdrive 289 Hierophant  - Son of the new faith 290 Giorgio Faletti - Nati a Milano 291 Fabio Frizzi - A Cat in the Brain, Sequence 2 292 Dean Martin - On An Evening In Roma (Sott'er Celo De Roma) 293 FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE - Monnalisa 294 Valgrind - The Endless Circle 295 Oceana - Atlantidea Suite Part 1 296 Soda Stereo - Paseando Por Roma 297 Blasphemer - The Sixth Hour 298 Raw Power - Dreamer 299 Mike Patton/Mondo Cane - Deep down 300 Lacuna Coil - Swamped 301 Slalom OST by Ennio Morricone - Main theme 302 Stefano Marcucci - INFERNO 303 Lou Monte - Shaddap Ya Face 304 The Case of the Bloody Iris OST by Bruno Nicolai - Main theme 305 Mortuary Drape - Dreadful discovery 306 Antonio Riccardo Luciani - Cinque sottozero 307 Plateau Sigma -  Ouija and the Qvantvm 308 Piero Piccioni - Colpo rovente OST - main titles 309 Riz Ortolani - sette orchidee macchiate di rosso 310 Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse 311 Oliver Onions - Italian Girl 312 Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead 313 Metamorfosi - Spacciatore di Droga - Terremoto - Limbo 314 Body Count OST by Claudio Simonetti  - main theme 315 Symphony X - Underworld 316 Carlo Savina - Titoli di testa 317 Orchestra King Zerand - Night Song 318 Piero Umiliani - La schiava 319 CLAUDIO SIMONETTI'S GOBLIN - The Devil is back 320 Roman Holiday OST - Main title 666 Fabio Frizzi - Voci Dal Nulla

Perhaps not enough Morricone and needs more Goblin. The next update will have more, I am sure. Play it here:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC18JtHohAYmD7g1FGA8S-D2B

[itsloriel]

Ancient Roman Music - Synaulia I

[ego-driven-one-wing-angel]

1.1 - DEMURE | Sephiroth

A/N: AHHH, this was supposed to be up yesterday but my internet SUCKS sometimes so I’M SO SORRY. I HOPE YA’LL ENJOY IT!!

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS RATED 18+, READER DISCRETION ADVISED. IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SCENES, SWEARING, ADULT THEMES SUCH AS PAST ABUSE, ALCOHOL, AND AGAIN SEXUAL SCENES, I CAN NOT REPEAT THIS ENOUGH. This is basically an erotica between OC Kalista Shir and Sephiroth.

PLEASE TAKE CAUTION

1.1 - Chapter 1

“What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” - Charles Bukowski

[TRACK: Ancient Roman Music - Synaulia I]

(You can listen to the tracks in the background if you wish, these are just the songs that either inspire me/listen to while writing the chapter. Some of them are not in the taste of some readers, so it’s not necessary to listen to it. Anyway, enjoy!)

SEPHIROTH had no time to react. Just the immediate grabbing of a woman falling into his arms, blood coating his gloved hands, the collective angry screams of the other girls ganging up on a man still hiding in the room behind them. When he had entered the Poppy Circus Outlet, there were a number of things he was prepared to witness, but what happened in front of room 423 became more or less an example of how he can never be fully able for everything. 

One moment she had been hiding in his chest for help, her neck nipped with a blade, soaking the white sheet that barely covered her body in a light coat of red and soft tears, the next she was being dragged from his hands, and finding himself in the owner’s office with a wet rag to clean the dried blood upon his leather.

Lockwood “Daring” Heart kept his lips sealed as Sephiroth cleaned up the mess, trying to find words on how to describe the situation they all just had witnessed. Daring, who had owned the Poppy Circus for nearly six months, had never considered a mishap as large as one of his girl’s being targeted, let alone letting one of the top men in Midgar see the action unfold.

Daring was the type of man who was always dressed in a pressed suit of purple stripes, short yet thin, with a mustache curled at his sides. Daring had a kinder personality, especially compared to the others in the business. He’d never allow someone like Mr. Dunes to come cut his girls, let alone his most prized ones. He’d always kept such strict regulations, made sure his girls were just as happy as he was. He missed the ball on that one.

“I wasn’t aware you’d be coming in,” Daring said through his teeth, lighting a cigar with shaky hands. A moment passed as he took in a puff, letting it blow through his nose briefly before he tried to continue with his voice more steady. “Your SOLDIER men enjoy their time here, more so than the Honey Bee Inn apparently.���

Sephiroth didn’t say a word, but the tension building in the room made Daring take in another long inhale of his cigar, this time, taking the moment to let it fester in his lungs. Daring was terrified. Even more so when Sephiroth placed the wet, now bloodied, rag on the table beside him, and the ice-cold stare he had given Daring made his heart beat a little too fast.

“Genesis enjoys-”

“I’m not going to have the place shut down,” Sephiroth said, his voice as icy as his personality, but Daring still let out a deep breath at those words.

For a minute, he had thought his booming business was going to shut down. All his girls would be homeless on the streets, no longer taking refuge in their piece of heaven located in sector two.

The Poppy Circus Outlet was a rival to the infamous Honey Bee Inn, but had a lot less strict rules and more beautiful girls to choose from. The only pop of color amidst the construction, decorated in pinks and red, golds and yellows, the lobby displaying artistic views of the female form just to tease on what was hidden behind the iron doors. 

Daring always believed the underdog slum locals would be taking advantage of the Poppy Inn more than any other demographic, but he had been mistaken, poorly so. SOLDIER and all their tight-ass personnel kept coming back, and the more they did, the more money lined his pockets. The red-head with a bit of an attitude problem, Genesis, was a continuous source of money. Despite his ego problem and ridiculous requests, the girls not only loved him, but he always counted on that big paycheck to pay off the building.

If there was one man with the power to turn heads, Sephiroth would be one of them.

“Kalista is perfectly alright,” Daring reassured him, despite not getting a sense he even cared. “Just a little cut, the cheese knife got a bit too close I guess, caused her to panic, and when she panics,” he tried to smile, “they all panic.” Another deep puff caused Daring’s true personality to shine a little more, the happy-go-lucky, eccentric owner the rest of Midgar knew him to be.

“It would be more than a pleasure to continue having SOLDIER business,” Daring said with a click of his tongue, “and I’m sure Kalista would be willing to give an apology if-”

“An apology isn’t needed, it wasn’t her fault.”

“Right, but you know, for the blood. Can be quite damaging to clothing sometimes.” And his forced laughter cut off with an unexpected silence. “Okay, maybe an apology isn’t needed. But I’ll throw in some deals for your SOLDIER and we can forget this ever happened.”

Sephiroth’s brows furrowed just a little, almost as if his face hadn’t moved at all. But Daring could tell, the type of solace only found in men like Sephiroth, the ones who have kept everything so bottled in sometimes it was hard to convey even the best emotions. An enigma, both the same and different from Genesis.

“I want to meet her.”

Daring’s ears burned a bit, thinking it was some play on his mind in the heat of excitement and adrenaline. “Excuse me?”

The small office appeared smaller. The soft glow of red hiding his locked jaw, Sephiroth’s subtle grin, how Daring wished he wasn’t face-to-face with the one and only 1st class General. Any other man who had asked would have been given a flat out no, unless a payment had been provided first, but his tongue dared not say it. His stomach at his feet, the cigar no longer calming his nerves. A million things jumbled in his brain momentarily. 

He let out a nervous chuckle, but the lack of humor in Sephiroth sent shivers down Daring’s spine.

“Kalista is what we call a circi here in Poppy. You need an appointment, money, you can’t just ask to meet her and expect it to happen.”

“You just offered to have her give me an apology.”

“An apology and a meeting is different, at least here it is. Kalista is a busy girl.”

“Genesis always talked so fondly of this place.”

“We don’t allow mundan meetings, General.”

“Mentioned you could leave them on retainer.”

“I’m sorry.”

“A high price to make sure they’re yours and yours only.”

Daring let off a grin, another puff, nodding his head. “If you’re threatening me over this I won’t go down without a fight.”

“I only came to see where Genesis spends his time. No better way than to apologize than allow me just a meeting.

Daring let the smoke of his nose, finally setting his cigar on the ashtray, leaning forward. “One meeting. Ten minutes.”

Sephiroth’s subtle grin returned, “I’ll see what I can do in that time.”

KALISTA bit her tongue as she cleaned the blood from her skin, the graze stinging from the antiseptic soaked in the towel. She couldn’t help the shaking, how close the knife had gone to her face, the blade in her eye’s vision as he ran it up and down her body, scaring her, waiting for her panicked reaction to take over. But as she sat still, feeling the coldness of steel ponder above her thighs, near her waist, up near her neck, her heart began to beat fast, but she couldn’t move a muscle. She was just silently allowing him to lay wet kisses on her cheeks, the blade moving so close to her artery.

Her body hadn’t reacted in time as he pressed it in, his drunken breath filling her nostrils as she shoved him back. Grabbing the spare sheet on the floor in an attempt to run, her eyes growing wet. She didn’t even make it far in the end, simply colliding with something heavy, smelling of soap and a light sense of musk, a man, no one in the Poppy Inn left without a scent of vanilla and honey.

An outsider.

She couldn’t help but hold onto his arms until one of the other girls heard the running. How the man yelled behind her, requesting her to come back. She wouldn’t look, she wanted to escape in the outsider’s scent for a few moments longer.

Kalista  patted the skin as she glanced back in the mirror, inspecting the small cut like it was a war wound. It hadn’t even pierced deep, but Kalista was shaking like it had cut through her muscle and veins. 

Just focus. And Kalista shut her eyes briefly, trying to pine in on the small burn it left. One deep breath, fists clenched on her knees, She’d have to use all her energy, stop shaking for just a second to get the desired results, and just like that, it was done.

Kal took a moment to inspect again, parting her hair to examine her own work. One moment she had bared an unfortunate cut from a cheese knife, the next, it was as if nothing had happened. Minus the still chipping blood near her ear, the deed was no longer visible. Just as she liked it. Daring wouldn’t question it, nor would the girls. 

They knew her secret as well as she did.

Kal took a long drink of the champagne bottle left on her vanity, hoping the alcohol would ease her shattered nerves even briefly. She could hide it, but she couldn’t hide from it.

Thankfully Daring was a good guy or else Kal would have to do everything in her power to hide from that bastard Mr. Dunes. She’d have no need to wait in the halls for him to pass, for him to glance over her as if she was a piece of meat, he’d never have to endure that again, and neither would the others.

Kal finished off the rest of the bottle when a knock had come at her door. She instinctively wrapped her robe around tighter, wiping the smeared red lipstick with her sleeve before she approached the expected visitation.

But when she opened the door, she wasn’t arranged to meet the tall man standing behind him. For a second she had thought Daring was trying to strike up a conversation as he always did with her and her potential customers, but his solemn look said otherwise. It was like he was trying to send her a neurological signal as a warning, but Kal couldn’t tell why.

“Kalista.” Daring greeted her, a smile popping on his face for a second before it completely disappeared. There was a small amount of happiness in his eyes left, but the unfortunate accident had left Daring just as shaken up as she felt. “this is General Sephiroth. He’s the one you bleed all over.” 

Kalista bit her cheek, as always he was pretty blunt when it came to the job. 

“He works for SOLDIER.”

Kal nodded slowly as if she was intently listening, but she was a bit drunk at that point, not to mention Sephiroth seemed a little chillier than the other men Daring would bring down. She constantly walked cautious, and despite Sephiroth not giving off any terrifying vibes just yet, she still had to remain a bit hesitant. It’s how it started with Mr. Dunes. He was a very generous man in the light, but drunk and in the dark, knife-play was possibly the least dangerous thing he could have pulled. She was lucky to find out so quick.

“He wanted to come meet the bleeding woman.” Daring continued with a revamp of his playful tone. Allowing himself into her bedroom, Sephiroth following, Kal got a quick whiff of his soapy smell yet again as he brushed by, and she took in a deep breath. 

“I’m sorry if that’s worth anything,” Kalista said, trying not to bite her lip. She had already scraped off the excess dried skin the past few hours, anymore and she’d tear off her whole bottom lip. The other girl’s would be constantly tearing her apart with their humor, and after the knife, she needed a few days before she could handle being teased by childish entertainment. 

Daring patted her shoulder, “he doesn’t want an apology, Kal. Calm down. He just needs to ask you a few questions.”

Kalista was prepared to say something, but Daring had shushed her like a disobedient child, closing the door behind him before Kal could protest. She should have guessed he’d spring something on her so quickly. 

Sephiroth took a moment to inspect Kalista’s bedroom as Kal reopened her door, escaping to find Daring wherever he had disappeared to. 

Her room was much different than the bright crimson decorating throughout the rest of the Poppy Circus. Everything was coated with deep wine, burgundy, much more calm compared to the exaggerated golds in the hallways. Huge tapestries hung on the walls, a canopy hanging off her bed, large curtains blocking the sunlight, leaving nothing but the soft glow of the candles surrounding him.

Sephiroth stopped in front of her wall paintings, noticing a white streak that read Kalista Shir hidden in the corner. His fingers scraped over it, letting the leather run over the rough texture slowly, but before he could circle through her name, Kalista had stopped him in his tracks.

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t.” She said, taking in a deep breath. “The oils and dirt on your gloves would erode the paint faster.”

After a quick debriefing with Daring in the hall, she realized Sephiroth was a bigger name than she had originally thought. But that didn’t mean she had to let him run his hands all over her things as if he owned them. Customers paid for sex, not to view an art gallery.

“Do you paint?” Sephiroth asked, and she was taken back by his deeper voice. 

Kal shrugged. “Sometimes.”

“Do you also sometimes bleed on men in the hallways?”

Her eyebrows cocked, suppressing a smile. She had a hard time trying to tell if he was being serious or joking. “Yeah, it’s how I always find my next client. You know, a way to make sure they know I mark them before they mark me.” She let off a small grin.

Sephiroth had seen beautiful women all over Midgar, but none who had captivated him as much as Kalista seemed to. Underneath the soft candlelight glow, he could still see the freckles dusting her olive skin. Everywhere. On her exposed shoulders, her cheeks, small moles seen on her hands. Hair as dark as a raven’s wing, curly, cascading down her back, and eyes unlike one’s he’s ever come across. Auburn, almost even more gold than the designs of the Poppy Circus.

“That’s why I asked to come talk to you,” Sephiroth said, moving from the painting, inspecting Kalista’s vanity clear on the other side of the room. “Daring said you're a circi, what does it mean?”

“Daring has a big mouth,” she said quietly, “it’s a fancy word for reserved whore mind you.”

“A bit brash are we not?”

“You can sugarcoat a lot of things, that’s not one of them.”

Sephiroth tried to hide the grin, “how much are you usually reserved for?”

 “Depends I guess. When you put girls on retainers it adds bonus funds.” Kal swallowed hard, but she still tried to remain still, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs in the middle of the room.

“Hmm, like what?”

“The daily cost alone can range between five thosand to six thosand gil, added costs are unknown to me. You’d have to ask Daring about it.”

“He’s a strange man.”

“He’s annoying,” Kal corrected. “He can be good, but most of the time I’m stuck doing his work. If he allowed me to do my job and he does his, we wouldn’t be crossing paths so often.”

Kalista found another bottle of champagne, half-full, and took a moment to take a drink while he continued to inspect the paintings surrounding her room. She kept her eye on him as she tasted the sweet undertones.

“Kalista, correct?” Sephiroth tested the name on his tongue, pausing, turning back towards the open door. He could hear the small giggles and whispers of the other girl’s on the floor, probably listening in. He couldn’t ask the things he wanted. Not yet anyway. 

She was about to answer when he said a simple “take care, Kalista.” Leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Quietly, Kal sunk deeper in her chair.

When Sephiroth had officially left the building, Daring had popped back into her bedroom, his boisterous voice back and booming in her ear as she always remembered to be. Him begging her to tell him the things Sephiroth had asked, wondering why he had even walked through the Poppy Circus Outlet in the first place. But Kalista had nothing to say, and it would be another twenty-four hours before Kal could hear what he had wanted. 

CHAPTER TWO WILL BE PUBLISHED APRIL 10th, 2020

[voluptuarian]

I’ve been working on collecting some background music for my Bronze Age Greece-inspired D&D setting, and thought I’d share what I have so far!

Opening Narrations/Establishing

Muria - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Sea Borne - Dead Can Dance

Legendary Heirloom - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Paititi (City of the Serpent) - Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Eastern Path - Vangelis

City/Village (peaceful)

Barnabas - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Hills of Attika - Assasin's Creed: Odyssey

Sokrates - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

City (Power/Politics/Military)

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

Kiko - Dead Can Dance

Le Serpent Rouge - Arcana

Sports/Festivals

Sea Borne - Dead Can Dance

Dance of the Bacchantes - Dead Can Dance

Etruria - Synaulia

Bagoas' Dance - Vangelis

Religious (Temples and Shrines)

Minoan Palace - Derek and Brandon Fiechter

Rhea - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Fortuna - Synaulia

Pretress - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Le Serpent Rouge - Arcana

Mysterious/Religious

Muria - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Awakening - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Delphi - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Pretress - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Mystics - Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance

Rainbow Voice - David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir

Rhea - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Dream of the Owl - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

The Nemesis - Arcana

Mytilene - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Crystal Winds - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Secret Land of Apollo - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Anabasis - Dead Can Dance

Mysterious/Creepy

The Shimmering Sands - Assassin's Creed: Origins

Ancient Winds - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Atlantis - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Venus - Synaulia

Seductive Flame - Arcana

Metamorphosis - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Forgotten Isle - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

Dream of the Dolphin - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Very Creepy

Petrified Temple - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Peaceful

The Hills of Attika - Assassins's Creed: Odyssey

Phoibe the Orphan - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Sacred Land of Artemis - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Low-key Action

Pirates, Thugs, and Bandits - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Dance of the Bacchantes - Dead Can Dance

[sotiriabellou]

πσστ help me out here what live are you watching the mcr shows from. i would catch some streams during the eu tour αλλα εχω χασει ταυγα και τα πασχαλια w the american one <//3

ok sorry file alla tora pou mou to steiles den vlepo kanena stream oi mcr teliosan tin synaulia tous kata tis exi ta xaramata.nomizo that xanaexei simera to vradi ama thes na vreis tis imerominies ton synauliom tous mporeis apla na googlareis mcr return yparxei mia olokliri selida stin vikipaideia pou perilamvanei kai tis imerominies.tora yia tin ora oso paizoun stin ameriki ksekinane kata tis 7 me 8(stin ameriki) e kai ligo argoune alla synythos ego psaxno yia stream kata tis tesseris tesseramisi ta mesanyxta kai sinithos ta vrisko ap ton @/mcrbois.auta hope this helps

[thehomebrewery]

The Heart of the World: Mood Music

Some selections of background music for my Bronze Age Greece inspired homebrew setting. The list will be updated and added to as I find more music. Extended versions used when available. 

Opening Narrations/Establishing

Muria - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Sea Borne - Dead Can Dance

Legendary Heirloom - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Paititi (City of the Serpent) - Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Desert Mirages - Diablo III

Eastern Path - Vangelis

The City of Caldeum - Diablo III

City/Village (peaceful)

Barnabas - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Hills of Attika - Assasin's Creed: Odyssey

Sumeria Theme (Ancient) - Civilization VI

Sokrates - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

City/Village (industrious)

Candlekeep - Baldur's Gate

Sumeria Theme (Medieval) - Civilization VI

Splendor of Athens - God of War

City (Power/Politics/Military)

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

Kiko - Dead Can Dance

Le Serpent Rouge - Arcana

The Dungeon - Diablo III

Jahara, Land of the Garif - Final Fantasy XII

Splendor of Athens - God of War

Taverns/Inns

Ancient Celebration - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Ancient Greek Tavern (ambient)

Sports/Festivals

Sea Borne - Dead Can Dance

Dance of the Bacchantes - Dead Can Dance

Etruria - Synaulia

Bagoas' Dance - Vangelis

Peaceful

The Hills of Attika - Assassins's Creed: Odyssey

Above the Ruins - Ian Fisher

Phoenicia Ambient (Kilmer Duduk Variation) - Civilization VI

The Blacksmith - Titan Quest

Macedonia (Duduk Improv 2) - Civilization VI

Phoibe the Orphan - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Sacred Land of Artemis - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Sumeria Theme (Ancient) - Civilization VI

Ancient Greek Harp Music 

Religious (Temples and Shrines)

Minoan Palace - Derek and Brandon Fiechter

Rhea - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Fortuna - Synaulia

Pretress - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Le Serpent Rouge - Arcana

Mysterious/Religious

Muria - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Awakening - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Minoan Palace -  Derek and Brandon Fiechter

Delphi - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Tomb of Wraithwall - Final Fantasy XII

Pretress - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Mystics - Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance

Rainbow Voice - David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir

Rhea - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Dream of the Owl - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

The Nemesis - Arcana

Mytilene - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Crystal Winds - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The Secret Land of Apollo - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Bathhouse - God of War II

Anabasis - Dead Can Dance

Mysterious/Solemn

The Island - The Black Stallion

Paititi (City of the Serpent) - Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Awakening - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Caverns of Aranaea - Diablo III

Fields of Misery - Diablo III

Dream of the Owl - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Cemetery of the Forsaken - Diablo III

Mysterious/Creepy

The Shimmering Sands - Assassin's Creed: Origins

Ancient Winds - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

The City of Caldeum - Diablo III

Atlantis - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Overlook Road - Diablo III

Dahlgur Oasis - Diablo III

The Ruins of Ulcaster - Baldur’s Gate

Venus - Synaulia

Seductive Flame - Arcana

Tomb of Wraithwall - Final Fantasy XII

The Coven - Diablo III

Song for Alara - MtG Duel of the Planeswalkers

Metamorphosis - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Stinging Winds - Diablo III

Forgotten Isle - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Black Ring Citadel - Age of Conan: Hyperborian Adventures

Dream of the Dolphin - Atlantis: The Lost Tales

Alcarnus - Diablo III

Shandalar: The Wandering Plane - MtG Duel of the Planeswalkers

Very Creepy

Petrified Temple - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Through the Woods - Ryse: Son of Rome

Bog of Lost Souls - God of War II

Desert

The Shimmering Sands - Assassin's Creed: Origins

Dahlgur Oasis - Diablo III

Woodlands

Seaside

Low-key Action

Pirates, Thugs, and Bandits - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Hidden Camp - Diablo III

Battle Drum - Final Fantasy XII

Dance of the Bacchantes - Dead Can Dance

Le Serpent Rouge - Arcana

Desolate Sands - Diablo III

Basilius Orgy - Ryse: Son of Rome

The Invocation - Dead Can Dance

The Bathhouse - God of War II

Mystery Blue - Gypsy Caravan

High-key Action

The Drums of Gaugamela - Vangelis

The Honorable Prince of Troy - Warriors: Legends of Troy

The Invocation - Dead Can Dance

Exploration

Alcarnus - Diablo III

Song for Alara - MtG Duel of the Planeswalkers

The Ruins of Ulcaster - Baldur's Gate

Shandalar: The Wandering Plane - MtG Duel of the Planeswalkers

Bathhouse - God of War II

Overland Travel

Brasidas - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

The Wastes of Xhorhas - Ian Fisher

Sumerian Theme (Medieval) - Civilization VI

Lure of a Goddess - God of War III

Seafaring (Low-key)

Above the Ruins - Ian Fisher

Seafaring (High-key)

Sea Borne - Dead Can Dance

[ghrecords]

Corde Oblique ‎– I Maestri Del Colore

Label: Infinite Fog Productions ‎– IF-64 Format: CD Country: Italy Released: 02 May 2016 Style: Neo-Classical, Folk, Contemporary

The sixth album by Corde Oblique was conceived as a wooden palette used for mixing colors with sounds, the sounds of the colors are evoked by using lot of different musical instruments and musical styles. Almost all existing music tonalities have been used for the songs; moreover, every title refers to a different color and the graphic design is inspired to one of the most famous italian art history encyclopedias printed in the '60s.

The cover Picture is a photo from one of the main italian photographers: Franco Fontana.

The album includes 13 unreleased songs written and produced by the mastermind Riccardo Prencipe. Over 50 minutes of refined Progressive-Ethereal-Folk music. The album features various musicians and guests:

Riccardo Prencipe(electric, classical and acoustic guitar, ebow, medieval lute)

Edo Notarloberti (violin) (Ashram, Argine)

Umberto Lepore (bass, double bass)

Alessio Sica (drums) (Argine)

Annalisa Madonna (voice o tracks 6, 8, 9)

Caterina Pontrandolfo (voice on track 4)

Luigi Rubino (piano, synth)

Davide Afzal (bass on tracks 3, 12)

Alssandro D'Alessandro (diatonic accordeon)

Michele Maione (percussions)

Manuela Albano (cello)

Peppe Frana - MICROLOGUS ENSEMBLE - (oud)

Denitza Seraphimova - IRFAN - (voice on track 2)

Walter Maioli - SYNAULIA / AKTUALA - (Ney, flauto doppio tibetano, plagiaulos, flauto di pan, campanelli on track 5)

Charles Ferris - SINETERRA - (Tromba)

Lorenzo Ceriani, Alberto Maria Ruta, Rossella Bertucci, Francesco Solombrino -QUARTETTO SAVINIO - (violoncello, primo violino, secondo violino, viola) on track 10.

Buy: 14 € http://gh-records.com/1406-corde-oblique-i-maestri-del-colore.html

Payment methods: PayPal Pay by bankwire Pay whith cash on delivery (COD)

[asmissya]

Dubai na pas xeimwna pou exei "drosia" (to prwi gyrw stous 25 kai ftanei mexri 35-38) giati to kalokairi exei treli ygrasia kai 50+... tha tin vgazeis sto hotel diladi oxi tpt allo... top 5 synaulies pou exeis paei i tha itheles na pas? :)

Xmmm then o pateras mou einai tyxeros, paei thn kyriakhLoipon h ka ly te rh synaulia pou exw paei pote htan Deep PurpleTha hthela na paw opwsdhpote The 1975, Kanye, J Cole, cigarettes after sex, the neighborhood

[bubblemoon66]

#7 and #29 for the songs ask thing

7. Three songs you didn’t expect to like but eventually loved

i. Fever by Adam Lambert. A long long time ago I got asked to write a songfic to this song and my heart sunk because it was nothing like the music I was listening to at the time and I had no idea what to write. But after listening to it on repeat for about 50 times, inspiration struck and now listening to it just brings me lots of lovely memories of my ff.net days.

ii. Dinosaur Sex by Emmy the Great. This is one of those songs I judged by the name before I listened to it, but boy am I glad I gave it a chance because it’s a very pretty song. 

iii. Love Yourself by Sara Niemietz. I didn’t think I’d ever like a Bieber song but the postmodern jukebox has a way of turning around songs I don’t like. 

29. Three songs that influenced you most

Damn this is a hard one. Music has such a big influence on my writing (and my life in general) and there are so many songs that have inspired me. Sometimes a song will get me in the mood to write a specific scene, sometimes it’ll help me understand a particular character and sometimes it’ll even set the tone of an entire project. I’ll try and give some songs that have had a wide influence on a few different things, but I have a feeling you could ask me this in a week’s time and get completely different answers depending on what I’d been working on. 

i. My Immortal by Evanescence. Or any of their older songs, really. Evanescence had such massive impact on me and my writing (especially their demo album Origin) when I was a teenager. And even though I rarely listen to them nowadays, sometimes a story idea will pop into my head and I just know it’s because of a certain scene from one of their music videos or a single line from a song I haven’t listened to since I was 15. Like, I don’t think I can overstate the impact Evanescence had on my psyche.

ii. Sugarbread by SOAP&SKIN. Screaming, ominous Latin chanting and a very dramatic orchestra… it’s got everything I like in one song. But for real the terror and despair and power this song emulates makes me want to write melodramatic dark fantasy and I love it.

iii. Synphoniaci by Synaulia. This song, and the album it’s from, helped fuel my interest in ancient history and heavily influence one of my current WIPs. 

[ego-driven-one-wing-angel]

1.2 DEMURE | Sephiroth

ego-driven-one-wing-angel 1.2 DEMURE | Sephiroth

A/N: Ahhh, finally. This thing is up and I apologize for the long wait! But now that I have everything scheduled for the next three weeks, we can get this show on the road! Which means you’ll officially be getting a chapter out every week as previously described! So have fun!

WARNING:  THIS BOOK IS RATED 18+, READER DISCRETION ADVISED. THERE WILL BE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SCENES, SWEARING, ADULT THEMES SUCH AS PAST ABUSE, ALCOHOL, AND AGAIN SEXUAL SCENES, I CAN NOT REPEAT THIS ENOUGH. This is basically an erotica between OC Kalista Shir and Sephiroth.

PLEASE TAKE CAUTION.

CHAPTER 1 CAN BE FOUND HERE

1.2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.” - Elizabeth Edwards

[TRACK: Ancient Roman Music - Synaulia I]

(You can listen to the tracks in the background if you wish, these are just the songs that either inspire me/listen to while writing the chapter. Some of them are not in the taste of some readers, so it’s not necessary to listen to it. Anyway, enjoy!)

Kalista yawned as one of the other girls continued their fair share of stories. It was as per usual at the Poppy Circus Outlet. Where the workers gathered around in a circle, left in pillows and half-drunken champagne bottles, drowning out the Midgar noise with sweet music and their even sweeter voices of tales from the night before. Tradition they would call it, but that morning had them buzzing with more laughter and curiosity than ever before.

Adras, who had been labeled as floor two’s leading woman, kept a keen sight on Kalista as another eventful story filled their ears. It seemed their prized girl had no sleep the night before, with subtle black bags hanging from her eyelids, puffy cheeks, a lack in even participating besides slurping the champagne as if she had a better place to be. No surprise, she had been nicked with a knife. But that wasn’t what Adras was paying attention to. She had survived much worse, and still came out smiling. In other words, her usual chipper self was halted, and Adras had a flicker of an idea as to why.

“Well, didn’t you hear what happened last night?” Another one of the girl’s said quietly as if reading Adras’s thoughts, scooting over to Kal and barely grabbing at her thick black hair to call her attention. “A certain General was said to be seen walking out of Kalista’s room, quite scandalous don’t you agree?”

A hoard of laughter arose, and Kal took another sip of her champagne. “Nothing happened.”

Adras tried to keep a smile building on her angular features, a red eyebrow cocked. There was hardly a time where Kalista spilled her story with eager ears, but Sephiroth’s appearance had all the girl’s curious. Not a single one of them had met him before, what made Kalista so special? Special enough to receive an invite into her quarters late at night.

“Not what I heard.” Another said, almost insinuating details that were otherwise untrue. A sly smile, and it caused the other girls to nod and whisper as if they were small children.

“I promise you, it was as thrilling as watching paint dry. Nothing happened.”

Kalista tried not to let the wondering eyes burn, but it was hard keeping thirty girls occupied with fictional stories. Especially if it tarnished a name. Poppy Circus prided itself on secrecy, and if it ever got out that Shinra’s top notch poster boy was wandering in it’s halls, the secrecy would be no more.

But she tried not to imagine his hands running up and down her silk tapestries, so precise, so clean, no wonder he had a fan club built on hormonal young women. He was dripping sex appeal with the most mundane tasks, words, even making Kalista dream up dirty thoughts the moment he had left.

Adras popped open a new bottle, spilling it into her empty cup as she continued to stare, waiting for Kalista to give a few minute details. Anything would satisfy them all.

Kalista’s lips parted just as Daring’s signature knock rang against the wood doors, and all heads pointed until Daring popped in, his wide grin interrupting their storytime and mild interrogation.

Adras set her bottle down, as did the other girls to listen to today's news. The customer's, the rooms, the timeline on when and how they are presented and dressed for the upcoming day. If they were still on retainer, if they were removed, how much money they would be receiving and so forth. Important details every girl in the Poppy Circus kept their ears open for. Especially the ones who’s salary depended on the men who wandered through the doors.

“I have some very good news today,” Daring said, almost dancing as he clapped his hands together. His teeth were showing more than ever, his eyes nearly shut, and he let his voice run in a sing-song pattern. “We have one of our girl’s now set on an official retainer. Can you guess which one of you had captivated a man’s heart to the point of spending stupid amount of gil?”

A few of them shook their heads no.

Daring wandered over close to Kalista, pulling the champagne glass from her hands and sitting right beside her.

“Oh Kal,” he said as if he was on the brink of bursting into song, “can you guess? Just take a huge shot in the dark on which one of you has lured in a lucky lad.”

Kalista shrugged.

“Oh darling, it’s you!”

The other girls chorused into a wave of oohs, deliberately trying to come closer and listen further as Kalista sat up from her pillow, a little uneasy and wary of her future endeavors. Especially after the unfortunate customer she had dealt with previously, she was a bit terrified to hear what plans Daring had next. She could never be too cautious.

“What are you talking about?”

“Sephiroth.” He said as if it was obvious, handing her back her glass as he skittered off to the other side of the room. He was beyond proud, feet kicking as if dancing, twirling with the other girls, listening in on the music barely heard through the jukebox. “My little peach you, always seducing the best ones and you seemed to catch the biggest fish in the whole dang pond this time.”

Kalista let out a chuckle, taking a much needed sip of her now returned champagne. “You’re joking.”

“Why would I be joking?” And before she could ask anymore questions, he skipped back, placing a finger above her plump lips to shush her. “You must prepare to get ready, he’ll be back tonight”

Kalista fiddled with the pins in her hair, propping up a loose curl there, pulling her bangs from her face, letting them loose and raising them up as she couldn’t decide. Hair was never her specialty and she stared back at the mirror, focusing, watching as her hair turned from a solid black to a fire-crimson in a mere few seconds. She inspected her new look, trying to decide if red was too much, but the footsteps riding behind her door caused her hair to simmer back it’s raven flight.

Her stomach seemed to be lodged in her throat. There weren’t many men that sent her nerves haywire prior to her first appointment, but it seemed Sephiroth did. Maybe it was the major height difference, his voice, how he presented himself so well without even trying. She hardly met a man that could just waltz into her room with a set goal in mind, Daring was picky, and it meant she had to be on her best behavior if Sephiroth was graciously paying for her services.

But as she opened the door, Daring’s sweetened face popped back into view, the smile still evident, his teeth polished and primed with the faint smell of mint and alcohol.

“Oh, Kalista,” he said, pushing the door aside as he inspected his best showgirl. Hand underneath her chin, moving her head side-to-side to see the painted beauty of the Poppy Circus Outlet.

Lips like a rose, eyes lined with black, lashes set to a point with her natural rosy cheeks coming to view. With the candle-lit glow, he was quite pleased with how well she could present herself. One minute she was just a simple beauty, the next, a million-dollar prize. All dolled up in a silk robe.

“Beautiful as always,” he said, removing his hand and inspecting Kalista’s room next.

Compared to the other girls in the building, she always had a much cozier atmosphere. With thick blankets lining the windows and bed, tapestries with gold fringe and candles seeping out a sweet vanilla scent. Carpets so soft and fluffy, paintings and brushes hidden in corners, and Kal’s signature bottle of champagne always sitting at a table.

He always did appreciate Kal’s tactic on homely appeal.

“He’ll be here in the next hour,” Daring said, “Genesis and the other usual SOLDIER are already here, but I’m sure he wouldn’t want the attention to be brought unto him, you know, with his reputation and all.  So just be prepared when he does show, I won’t be there to break the ice.”

She nodded, “how much did he pay?”

“The usual. But I may or may not have taxed a bit more off him to pay the building off.”

“How much for me?”

“Seventy-percent, as always.”

Kalista couldn’t help but let the smile wander. “You always know what to say.”

“Of course I do, darling.” And he patted her on the shoulder, as he always did to wish her good luck. “If there’s any trouble like last night, please come to my office. Get one of the other girls. Don’t come back in here to hide out, alright?”

She gave a little kiss on the cheek, a red stain left on his tanned skin. “Always.”

One final pat and he shut the door behind him, leaving Kalista to her things. For a minute she believed Sephiroth was already there, but as the candles flickered and the other girl’s shut the doors to their bedrooms, she realized she was on her own for a while.

Within the hour. Daring’s voice popped back into her head, and she smacked her lips mindlessly as she fiddled with a stray curl. There was a lot to mentally prepare, and the only way to stop the anxiety from rising, and keep her stomach from releasing large amounts of alcohol, she turned to the one thing she knew.

Painting.

Kal hadn’t even pulled out all her brushes when another knock echoed on her door. The lump in her throat returned, and she couldn’t stop herself from staring blankly as another knock filled her eardrums. Her hands seemed to be shaking, and she couldn’t figure out why.

But with baited breath, she had made it to the door, opening it, and getting the fresh scent of honey and soap.

“You were downstairs in Daring’s private bar weren’t you?” She said matter-of-factly, letting Sephiroth in as she got another whiff of the honey infused wax they kept on in the bars downstairs. She could always tell when a customer would come crawling out the waiting room, it was usually very few, but those that had taken a minute or two waiting in Daring’s personal lounge always left with an engraved smell of sweet honey and tea leaves. Much different than the cigar smoke and hard liquor in level two’s free range bar.

The click of the door closing had her heart set on fire. Her mouth had gone dry. And a very low chuckle escaped her throat.

“What’s so funny?” Sephiroth asked, and Kalista tried not to speak as she shut the door completely, locking it as she always did in case curious souls decided to peek. Not the best in case she wanted to get out, but it was better than letting a pervert interrupt her most intimate moments.

“It’s nothing.” She finally said, turning back to find Sephiroth back in front of her paintings. He seemed to have a fascination with them, but she didn’t mind. She hadn’t met another person who appreciated the arts like she did. It felt different. Just to let someone take their view of her art, it was almost joy-ridden, and Kalista almost forgot the fear rising in her nerves.

Kalista placed her paintbrushes on the stand next to her, coming up behind Sephiroth just to peek at her own artwork too.

“Do you know who this is?” He curiously questioned, his eyebrows furrowed at the contrast of the blond woman holding a rose. So pristine, quaint, almost as if it was a snapshot of reality framed for the world to see.

Kalista shrugged, “she was this girl I met a long time ago. She used to work here. Never been painted, so I ought to change that.”

“And you kept it?”

“She never came back to get it.” She said quietly, almost as if the thought disappointed her. “I’ve had it ever since.”

He nodded at her answer, and for a moment the room was silent. Minus their low breathing and the wind picking up against the window.  They were beginning to hear the rest of the nightly cries of the other rooms, and Kalista tried not to think about it too much.

“Why did you put me on retainer?” She couldn’t help but say. Crossing her arms as if it was an interrogation scene and not a civil conversation. She was never supposed to ask, but Sephiroth was too weird not to question.

Most men who had paid her would already be taking their clothes off, kissing her, smearing her makeup as they drank too much champagne and vodka. Sephiroth only smelt like Darin’s honey, not a smidgen of alcohol left on his clothes or breath, nor even insinuating the concept of sex. Even last night, he hadn’t given a damn clue on what he really wanted from her. “How old are you, Kalista?”

He said her name so clearly, perfect enough to bottle every syllable.

“Twenty-two.”

“How long have you been working here?”

“Four years, but I’ve been with Daring much longer than that.”

“How long.”

“Does it really matter?”

“It does.”

She kept her mouth shut, brows furrowed as a slight smile appeared on Sephiroth’s lips. “Does it actually matter?” She repeated, and his blue eyes nearly burned through her, almost as if he was reading her every thought rather than just staring.

“I would like to know.”

“Hmm,” Kalista shook her head, stepping a few feet away as she lanced down at a near-extinguished candle. “Most people don’t ask for a full background. Let alone buy me before even having a single night with me. What do you really want, Sephiroth?”

And he let off another smile just by the sheer utter of his name. Kalista had a voice like velvet, smooth to the ears and capturing every word. She hadn’t said his name before, and it only added to the ideas circulating his mind.

[itsloriel]

Ancient Roman Music - Synaulia I