#venetian pool

[atticus13]

the last riviera.

Venetian Pool

Coral Gables, Miami, FL

May 29, 2023

[thebestharleyquinn]

.•°¤*(¯`★´¯)*¤° 𝒾𝓷 Ⓜ𝔂 ℂ𝓞ˢⓂเＣ є𝓇α. °¤*(¯´★`¯)*¤°•.

Fun fact: These pics were taken last December at the Venetian hotel and resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was actually really cold this day and I was freezing my a** off lmao but I definitely pulled it off well though! Man, what I wouldn’t do to be in this pool again. California is experiencing heat waves and it’s so hot. Hope everyone is staying hydrated and I hope you all have a awesome / fun summer! Stay safe and stay cool❕😊🙌🏻

Swimsuit: @amazon

Link below ⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/CNSTORE-Lattice-Waisted-Tankini-Swimsuit/dp/B07T9T4C7Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_37_sspa?crid=2OXVI3C36SDMM&keywords=cosmic+bathing+suit&qid=1688185870&sprefix=cosmic+barthi%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-37-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

Pc: @jimbembenek @venetianvegas @vegas @jeffreestarcosmetics 🌟

🌞🌙

[zenderela]

Santa Barbara Mediterranean Exterior Inspiration for a large, three-story, Mediterranean-beige home with a shed roof and a tile roof

[jaeyunluvr]

Billiards and wine (p.sh)

SMUT minors dni!!!

includes :: ceo!hoon, husband!hoon, female!reader, use of nicknames, pussy licking, clit rubbing, kissing, clothed sex+pls lmk if I missed any,, not proofread !! word count :: 1k+

tagging :: @minhosimthings because again, this emerged out of our daily reel marathon <3

accompanying your husband to his solo billiards game at his office after working hours, watching him concentrate while playing, all as you have a glass of wine were your favourite activities to be done on a weekend.

today was a saturday night, the one where your ceo husband got off work early to spend his time. you sat on the couch tucked into a corner of the room, as you sipped the alcohol from the elegant Venetian glass which was custom made for both of you.

the way he was dressed in a suit, the way his slender fingers handled the cue stick made you crave for him. not to mention the amount of time you guys have spent together this week, which was barely a few hours because of his busy schedule.

he promised to spend time with you after this one game but you were getting impatient and needy. how could you not when he was standing there, right in front of you looking like an absolute meal?

so you walked towards him, as he bent backwards to reach the red ball, his waist against the table. this turned you on even more and you grabbed his hands before he could push the stick against the ball restricting his actions.

one hand on his shoulder, you pressed your lips onto his in desire as sunghoon rested his elbows on the table holding both of your weight, letting you have your way even though he got interrupted.

letting go off the kiss, he pulled you closer by your waist, letting his hands drop to your thighs as he lifted you up, spinning you around and landed you on the table. his teasing fingers run up your thighs, into your skirt.

the touch makes you shiver and the edges of the table are so cold as they pressed against your thighs.

he looked into your eyes and says "wanted my attention so bad huh?" and you don't answer. it's like you're paralyzed under his hungry gaze.

he smirks at your speechlessness and dips his head down to latch his lips onto your neck, kissing it and digging his fanged teeth into your soft skin.

whimpers leave your mouth and it drives him batshit crazy. he brings up his hand to your lips and draws his thumb against your lower lip, bringing it down to your chin and pulls you in for a kiss. the kiss wasn't sweet, it rather felt hungry and needy.

he sucks on your tongue as you let out a moan in utter pleasure. it was seriously insane how crazy he made you. he grabs your neck as his pushes his tongue deeper into your throat and you stumble back onto the table your hands not being able to support you anymore. he holds you by your waist, his tongue still working out against yours.

he pushes you down onto the table and pulls your skirt up. one thing sunghoon really liked was clothed sex. he loved how he could slide his hands into your clothing forcefully and you couldn't see the touches coming.

he dips his head down further, placing a trail of kisses against your inner thigh. he could see the wetness pooling inside your white panties making them translucent. he could see how the folds of your pussy stuck to it and it drove him crazy.

he slid his thumb up and down your clothed clit. you were already sensitive from how he looked and how he kissed you stupid and the absolute subtle touch made you jump a little bit.

you couldn't see his face but you could sense the smug expression of his. he slowly pushed your panties to the side only to be met with the sight of your pussy soaking wet for him.

he loved it when you were sensitive like this. his mouth watered at the sight and he couldn't wait to taste you.

his warm tongue licked a stripe against your pussy, from your hole to the clit, making you jolt against the green surface as a loud gasp left your mouth.

he pauses.

"you like that baby?" he sees you frantically nodding at his question but it leaves him dissatisfied.

"use your words, pretty" fucking words? You had none left. but you still choked them out.

"yes, baby I need you so bad." he smirks at you and harshly licks your clit again and again, your sensitive nerves pulsing at the contact.

your toes were curling from time to time you swore to God he was making you feel so fucking good. strings of whimpers and moans left your mouth as he started sucking on your cunt.

your breaking point was when he drove his tongue against your hole while his fingers tapped and swiped against your clit. your hands find their way into his hair as you grip onto his locks for dear life. you started squirming under his touch and he held you down with his hand.

"hoon! too much" you said between moans but he didn't have the slightest consideration for it.

he knew you liked it, he knows what you want. always.

"take it princess" he said as he continued to rub your clit. you could feel the knot in your stomach and you knew you were about to come undone in a few seconds.

"about to come princess?" he asked. you seriously had no words at this point and just nodded at him and he let you reach your climax as your body shivered frantically under his hold as a loud moan escaped past your lips.

loud panting was heard as he got off of his knees and he climbed onto the table hovering you.

he stared into your brown orbs and your fucked out state turned him on a LOT more than earlier.

he leaned in to press a kiss to your lips, the kiss being much more sweeter and full of love this time.

he got off the table and pulled you up holding your hand. he held you by the waist and led you out of the room. "let's get home baby, then maybe you'll get the fuck you wanted all along"

[howyaben]

Home Bar - Southwestern Home Bar

[voleuri]

Mudroom Front Door (Santa Barbara)

[two-white-butterflies]

peaches - am. targaryen

Description: Your father decided to marry you to the elusive, Aemond Targaryen. After a year of marriage, he still refuses to acknowledge your existence - that is until after Criston Cole becomes his son's teaching instructor. Cole isn't only interested in teaching your son. (MODERN AU) Rating: Mature 18+ (breast play, jealousy sex, desk sex, slight breeding kink, size kink, spit kink because it wouldn't be an aemond fic without it.)

There was nothing to love - no personality or show of appreciation. He kept to himself and expected you to do the same. "Aegon, please calm down." you mumble aware of Aemond's gaze from inside his office. "I wanna go swimming!" the child demands staring at the pool with his adorable purple eyes.

Aemond has shown no interest in helping you raise his son. He's there for parties and events - there when the child has a nightmare, but when it comes to Aegon's day-to-day activities - he's absent. You sigh. Aemond is a great father, but he's occupied with his work.

"We have to wait for the instructor, ñuha tresy." you smile, adjusting the skimpy swimsuit that you wore. It was revealing - it exaggerated the best parts of your body, while hiding the parts that you hated. Any husband wouldn't be able to keep his hands off you - but he was able to. Aemond has never touched you before - not even a strand of your hair. "Please, I won't go in the deep parts." he promised, jumping up and down with excitement.

A laugh escapes your lips, not trusting the little boy.

You lean down to his body - pushing a strand of his hair away from his face. "Have patience, little one." you answered firmly, prompting the boy to give you his best puppy eyes. You were about to allow him down the pool but someone clears their throat from behind you.

Criston Cole was staring at you - specifically your endowments. Your posture shifts as your body regains it's full height. He had that porno look in his eyes. The one that a man has before fucking a girl in a pornhub video. You didn't like it - you felt disgusted.

"Well, Mr. Cole will take care of you now." you walked to the side - gathering the robe on the daybed. You walk away from the pool - trusting the maids to supervise your step-son.

Completely unaware of Aemond's gaze.

He tried to focus on the mountains of paperwork on his desk - but he couldn't. His mind was elsewhere. He imagines you wearing that red swimsuit. The fucking swimsuit that you bought for him - the swimsuit that he should be the only one looking when you wore. He sees the way Criston Cole stares at you.

He places his pen down, opening his venetian blind slightly to watch his son learning to swim. You were standing there again - hovering over them with a blue-towel on your hands.

His son wasn't learning to swim - he was on top of a fucking floater while the instructor ogled at your breasts. His grip on his fountain pen tightens, spilling ink on his brand new pants.

He'll fucking gouge that man's eyes.

He reaches for his telephone, dialing his sister. "Helaena, are you there?" he pauses waiting for his sister's reply.

"Yeah?" she questioned.

"Can you escort Mr. Cole to his car? We won't be needing his services any longer." he commands, earning a snort from his older sister. "Is this because of his wandering eye?" she inquired, and he could hear the faint sound of someone slurping milkshake on the other line.

"If you have a problem with him staring at (your name)'s body, then you should fire all of your house-staff." she taunted, not telling the full truth - but also wanting to see how the situation would turn out. You were a pretty little thing - the eye-candy inside the Targaryen manor.

Everyone but Aemond seemed to be engrossed with you.

"What?" he interrogated, voice suddenly raising with anger. He could imagine all of his servants staring at you, watching you strut like a model on fashion-week.

"Fire Mr. Cole, right? I'm on it." she promised, ignoring his outburst and hanging up on him.

You were annoyed with everything.

Annoyed with Aegon singing his favorite nursery rhyme while underwater. Annoyed by your husband's lack of emotion and annoyed with Cole trying to talk to you.

Helaena comes to save you.

"Mr. Cole." she looks down with her sweet voice. "Yes?" he asked, pretending to hold little Aegon. "The maids have prepared your towels and the shower that you will be using. We do not need your lessons anymore." she announced and his face falls flat on the ground. "What? That's impossible - Aeg doesn't know how to swim yet." he defended but Helaena's thin-lipped smile proved that he wasn't doing shit.

"We can have that arranged, but as of the moment we have no need of you." the woman added, one of the maids held unto the boy while Criston emerged from the pool - mumbling strings of insults.

There were three rules before your marriage to him. One, don't do anything that would ruin his reputation. Two, remain loyal to him. And three, never go inside his rooms.

This was your first time stepping on the carpet that was outside his office door.

"Aemond." you call out.

The door opens automatically and you welcome yourself inside.

He doesn't stare at you - or even acknowledges your existence. He keeps on jotting down his notebook. "Did you have to fire Mr. Criston? I don't like him but Aegon adores him." you ask in a soft tone, careful to not offend him.

It was impossible to offend him - no matter how hard you tried, he always kept his cool.

"He's incompetent. There's no room for that in my household." he replies in a cold tone, continuing to sign a few bands of contracts. "I suppose," you look around the room - scanning around his decor. There were pictures of history around the walls - the beginning of industrialism and the decline of tradition.

He was a man of the arts - and you didn't know that.

You knew nothing about your husband. How fucking stupid.

" - and don't wear that swimsuit again." he added after a deep breath. Your eyebrows merged into each other. He wasn't going to tell you what you could and couldn't wear. "I beg your pardon?" you inquire.

He looks up from his paper - and unto you. The girl who was still wearing the said swimsuit.

"It's not appropriate." he asserted through gritted teeth. He couldn't understand why he was riled up at the thought of other man staring at you - and your round and perfect peaches. "What is appropriate to you? I cannot wear my pajamas around the pool." you responded in a brash manner, his eye widens at your show of rebellion.

"You can wear a bikini but not around men." he tried to reason, navigating himself around the labyrinth of his own reasoning. He didn't make sense. "Not around you, then?" you take a step forward, dominating over him in front of his desk.

He stands up, reaching for the collar of the bathrobe that you wore - he pulls your body closer, merging his lips with yours.

What is his is yours.

His money, his empire, even his son - but you were only his.

His to fuck. His to breed.

A moan escapes your mouth as you began climbing over the desk. Kneeling but you weren't able to reach his height. Your head only reached his eyebrows. "He was staring at you, huh?" he asked, slowly untangling the strings that held your top.

With a tug of a string, your breasts were revealed to him. Taut and bouncy, like he imagined them. His hands fondled your breasts, playing and teasing them. He lowers his head, sniffing your neck and placing a nipple inside of his mouth.

He was sucking you - like a newborn babe searching for milk.

"Aemond." you moaned, pulling his head closer.

His right hand trails down to your mound, teasing it through the cloth. "You are mine." he announced, pressing kisses on both of your breast - alternating between the two of them. "Yours." you replied, his hands untangling the string that held your bottom - letting it loose.

He frees himself from your grasp, reaching down to unbuckle his belt. He lowers his boxers - freeing his cock that stood tall and proud. Your eyes widened at his length - it was going to fit, but it was going to hurt.

You sit properly on his desk, legs wide open as you welcomed him. "Do it." you demanded earning an amused chuckle from the business magnate. He places a hand on your face - cupping your cheeks. He inserts a finger inside your mouth, allowing you to suck on it as his cock enters your hole.

It was pleasure - breath taking pleasure.

Your grip on his shoulder tightens, telling him to go deeper.

"Harder." you moaned.

He complies with your order, lifting your leg to reach the top of his elbows. "Fuck - shit." you cursed, entering a new realm of pleasure. There were stars in your eyes. You hold unto his shoulder, eyes gazing up to interlock with his.

His eye was beautiful.

It was a deep shade of lavender.

"Keep moaning and I'll cum." he threatened, pulling your body closer and rocking his desk. The paperwork was forgotten - all in favor of his beautiful girl. "Cum inside of me." you moaned again, feeling his length prod inside your cervix. "You want to give our son a sibling?" he chuckled darkly.

"Yes!" you moan. His cock was reaching places you didn't believe was possible.

You hear the desk rock loudly - like an earthquake. Your leg falls on his side, and he raises the other one over his shoulder - slightly tipping your body to be lying down. "Oh - Aemond!" you scream feeling otherworldly bliss.

His hands squeeze around your cheeks, staring at your face - mouth wide open with lust. "Who owns you?" he asks, squeezing it tightly. "You do!" you answer, and he smiles.

Rocking on a steady rhythm.

"Open your mouth, princess." he commands and you follow him, opening wider. He closes his mouth - gathering the spit on his tongue, releasing it on your mouth. "Swallow." he ordered and you obeyed him - the faint taste of whiskey lathering inside your mouth.

"I love you," you confess feeling a hot sensation in the bottom of your stomach. "I love you to, princess." he replies, merging your lips together as thick ropes of cum populate your ovaries.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

1999 castle style home in Potomac, MD is colorful and over-the-top. It was featured in Home Beautiful and Decor Magazine, 2 publications I'm not familiar with. 4bds, 6ba, $3.25M + $406/mo HOA.

The entrance has a big gothic arch and large stripes on the walls. The wood trim is painted to match the stone.

Dramatic sweeping staircase has Medieval iron mesh railings. The walls have a faux Venetian plaster finish.

The home is a mix of styles that boggle my mind. This is a provincial music room in the turret.

The sitting room features an ultra modern fireplace wall.

It has what look to be sliding shelving and a mezzanine.

Yes, it definitely slides, note the hardware and the guide in the floor so you don't get crushed sitting there.

Dining room with the faux finish on the walls and coffered ceiling.

Butler's pantry off the dining room is even a kitchenette.

Stone guest half bath with a sink set into a carved base.

The kitchen is gigantic.

Nice green cabinets, a ladder to get to the uppermost ones, a gorgeous stone exhaust hood, and a banquette in the dining area.

A seating space with a fireplace that matches the exhaust hood.

Classy wood paneled office with an ornate ceiling.

Going up the turret stairs.

The mezzanine.

Small library/sitting room.

The primary is very large and has rounded shelf walls. Look at how the ceiling goes up higher above the bed and I think it has a mirror.

Very lavish bath.

Even the closet/dressing room is elegant.

Then, the stairs sweep down to the lower level.

To the rec room & pool room.

Wine cellar with tasting table & seating.

Kitchenette.

Home gym.

Large patio, but no pool.

Home is on 1.60 acres.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9906-River-View-Ct-Potomac-MD-20854/37269504_zpid/

[i-smoke-chapstick]

'DON'T BLAME ME, [PART TWO]

-GOTHAM!JERVIS TETCH X READER-

⋆ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 ; You meet the man from the club again.

⋆ tags/warnings. GOTHAM!jervis x female reader. SLOW BURN!!! Not sure how many chapters this will be yet! LOTS OF PLOT SET-UP!! AGE GAP ROMANCE! (reader is Jim and Barbara's daughter) Jervis and reader are lowkey Hamilton and Burr parallels. She fell first, he fell harder. Writing this kind of artistically and as character studies for everyone. Reader's still reminiscing. Daddy issues. Jervis being an obsessive freak, per usual. More reader lore is dropped. I'm taking canon out back and beating it with a stick until it stops twitching. Jim Gordon is...Jim Gordoning.

⋆ tag list (tell me if you want to be removed!) @adalwolfgang @jervis-tetch-my-beloved @honestmrdual @moonlightnyx

⋆ 'PART ONE, - 'PART TWO, - ‘PART THREE, - ‘PART FOUR, - ‘PART FIVE, - ‘PART SIX, - 'PART SEVEN, - 'PART EIGHT, - 'PART NINE, -'PART TEN, - 'PART ELEVEN, - 'PART TWELVE, - 'PART THIRTEEN,

♫ “Something happened for the first time, in the darkest little paradise.” Don't Blame Me by Taylor Swift

Everything feels cold on mornings like these.

The light bleeds in through the venetian blinds, gray and gloomy. You huddle into the blankets, clinging to any warmth you can find. It's your dads house, or rather, apartment. You remember waking up in a king-sized bed years prior.

Your thoughts drift back to old memories again. You wish you could push them out.

"Dad, I'm scared." You say, seven years old, middle of the night, clutching a rabbit stuffed animal. Your mom rubs her face, still groggy and half-awake.

"Hey, hey. It's okay." He whispers through his own fatigue, stretching out his arms for you to join them on the bed. "Why are you scared?"

You hop on the bed, crawling into him. Your mother tosses, turning over with a lazy hum before drifting back to sleep. You squeeze your rabbit, Mr. Marbles, and bury yourself in the covers.

"What if they get me?" You ask, voice small. You can't see your fathers eyes soften through the darkness.

"Who?" He seems to sober up from sleep at your question, clearing his throat. His voice becomes a bit clearer.

"The bad guys." You say the words like they're sacred. It feels hard to get them out, and it feels swallowing salt-water.

Silence.

"I won't let them, I swear to you." Your dads voice speaks, and in his arms, you feel sleep slowly return to you. "I'm gonna protect you. And mommy."

"What about you?"

Silence.

"Go to sleep, Y/N. Everything's going to be okay."

You fell asleep that night, quiet, waking up to pancakes, and light that was much warmer than what you have now.

You sit up in your own bed, cramped. You heave a sigh, rubbing your temples. You're not tired like you should be. You stayed up the previous night, jumping roof-tops with Selina. It was a welcome distraction, the adrenaline that pooled in your blood at night. Mornings in Gotham were worse.

You hear whispers in the room over. Thin walls. You don't care to listen as you get dressed, but you do wonder who exactly your father could be talking too.

"How'd you find me?"

"Oh, you're famous, sir. You're names in the papers. The famous bounty hunter." You wince. Jim Gordon. Your father. The bounty hunter.

You walk to the room quietly, before stopping. You see the two men sitting down, and you piece together just who exactly is on the couch.

Both men turn to face you at the interruption, and Mr. Tetch looks equally as surprised as you are. His eyebrows pull together, and your dad looks like he's been caught doing something. He knows you don't approve of this bounty hunter bullshit.

"Ms. Y/N?" Mr. Tetch calls, and Jim picks his head up at this. He gives you a look.

"You two have met...?" Your dad speaks, sizing up the situation in concerned curiosity.

Before you can answer, Mr. Tetch does for you.

"Yes, sir. We've met at the Siren's club. Your daughter, I presume?" He asks, inquisitively. He looks as though gears are turning in his head. Jim simply nods, a bit uncertainly.

"Hi." You give a small wave. Mr. Tetch brightens up at this, somehow fascinated.

"Right." Jim says, slowly. He looks back between the two of you.

That familiar feeling of silence sounds out again. It tastes bitter.

"...I want you to find my dear friend." Mr. Tetch speaks up. "We're very close. But...her condition proved too much for me. I sought help, the worst kind, the fiend. Professor Strange." He hisses the insult with venom. You watch your dad raise a brow as he sips his coffee.

"Her condition?" He asks, and you marvel at the words. How odd.

"Some poison, in her blood." The man responds, like it's casual. "very rare, unique, in fact. He took her in. Said she needed constant supervision. He wouldn't let me see her."

There's an edge to his voice. The way he talks about this friend of his. Poisoned blood, you think, curious. For some reason it embitters you. You hate this fucking city sometimes.

"You go to the police?" Your dad asks. Of course he'd ask that.

"Useless." Mr. Tetch says, solemnly. "This is Gotham, after all."

You let out a soft chuckle at that, which makes both of them look at you. Both sets of eyes zone in on you. Your dad looks disappointed.

"Well, he's not wrong." You nip, and Mr. Tetch cocks his head up. "The GCPD is a shit show."

Mr. Tetch looks surprised at your audacity, and a bit amused. Your father reprimands you.

"Y/N." He says, and you bite back a retort. He sighs, dragging a hand along his face. "Indian Hill escapees get five grand from the GCPD. You able to top that?"

You remember when all the money in the world couldn't have swayed the famous Jim Gordon from his duty.

Mr. Tetch pulls out a wide wad of cash from his pocket, "I'll double it." He speaks. Woah. Did your mom give him that much for just one show? No way in hell. He must have gotten this money somewhere else.

"I'll see what I can do." Jim says, without question. You want to roll your eyes.

"Thank you, very much." The man responds. Polite, isn't he?

You watch as your dad pockets the money, and how he's handed a photo of a beautiful woman. In a strange way, it makes you feel a bit insecure.

"Leave your number-" Jim goes to speak, when Mr. Tetch interrupts him, handing a business card. Eager much.

The man leaves without a word, sending you a final glance before he turns. Those dark eyes...they startle you. He sends a small, intrigued smile. Again, it feels like the world stops. Your breath catches in your throat.

When he's gone, you stand on your toes to hover over your dads shoulder. You two stare at the business card in synonymous silence.

"The Great Jervis Tetch" Hah. So that's his first name. Jervis.

You suddenly feel warm. Maybe this house isn't that cold after all.

[blueiskewl]

Archaeologists Discovered Large Roman Baths Under Museum in Croatia

The pool, mosaic floors and underfloor heating once formed part of Emperor Diocletian’s palace.

Archaeologists working to install a lift and restore the ground floor of Split City Museum got more than they bargained for when they unearthed sizable Roman baths underneath the building’s reception. The museum in Croatia’s second largest city was founded in 1946 and is held inside the Dominik Papalić palace—the former home of the affluent Papalić family who settled in Split during the 14th century.

The baths are in a well-preserved condition and include a pool, mosaic floors, ancient underfloor heating, an oil and grape press, and a furnace. Communal bathing was common across the Roman Empire, and baths acted as a space for relaxation and socializing.

The Split baths are believed to have been part of Diocletian’s Palace, built in the city at the end of the 3rd century for the Roman emperor’s retirement. The large fortress once spanned half of Split’s Old Town, and parts of the palace’s remains are listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The discovery of these Roman baths confute historians’ previous understandings about the layout of the ancient complex.

he repairs were planned as part of the “Palace of Life, City of Change” project, which is described as an “integrated program of development of the visitor infrastructure of the Old City Core with Diocletian’s palace.”

Split lies on the Adriatic Sea coast and was founded in the 3rd century B.C.E. as a Greek colony (then known as Aspálathos). Split’s landscape is made up of myriad architectural styles spanning hundreds of years, from classical ruins to Venetian Gothic structures. The director of the Split City Museum Vesna Bulić Baketić, spoke about the city’s rich architectural composition, “the fact that all of these layers of earlier buildings that once made up the city are visible inside the Split City Museum provides this museum with additional value that is exceptionally rare.”

The museum plans to open up part of the newly discovered baths to the public, once the structural integrity of the building has been ensured. The ground floor will also be restructured to celebrate the new discovery. “Showing our visitors the ‘living past’ that speaks to us through the original layers of centuries long gone adds insurmountable value and legacy to future generations,” Baketić said. “It is up to us to carry this out in the best and most professional way.”

By Verity Babbs.

[glitterslag]

"Cool necklace." Says Robin, gesturing to the glint of gold-wrapped red that rests in the hollow of Chrissy's throat.

Chrissy's spread out languidly across the Harrington's leather sofa, looking like she should be centrefold in the latest Playboy. She's still in her pink bikini top from before, one of Steve's big dad shirts flung on over the top and a pair of barely-there jean shorts to cover the rest. Her hair is pool-damp, skin golden, and there's a sweaty can of Natty Light in her hand, which hangs wanly on the floor below. She's Pre-Raphaelite.

Robin sits on the carpet beneath her, looking up at her with the shy admiration characteristic of someone in Chrissy's company for the first time.

Chrissy turns her benevolent gaze onto Robin, smiles down at her all warm and lazy like sunlight trickling in through the gaps in the Venetian blind. Eddie knows full well what it's like to be caught in the glare.

"Thanks." she smiles, catching his eye across the room for a brief flicker.

Eddie's been fused to the La-Z-Boy for the past hour, melting further and further into the leather in a drunken haze.

He's currently rendered mute - he gets that way, when he's drunk. Quiet. Probably the only time he ever is. And so he lets Chrissy field Robin's next question:

"What's the meaning behind it?"

His heart quickens as he watches her toy with the dice at her neck. The d20 Eddie had given her usually sits unseen beneath the collar of her shirt, and for a mortifying second, Eddie is certain she's embarrassed. Certain she's going to shove it away, gloss over the question and move the conversation swiftly on. She doesn't, though.

"It means fate." She says steadily. They lock eyes again across the room and she grins, melts him. Only someone who knows her as well as he does would see the mischief there. Eddie takes a sip of cold beer and swallows. She speaks again. "It means destiny."

✨read more of this 'verse here✨

[taylortruther]

this is not superbowl related but i very badly want to go to vegas and ride a gondola at the venetian and enjoy a gigantic buffet and swim in a luxe swimming pool then go to a cirque show and have some free cocktails at a casino where i will lose $50 on slots because i can't play cards

[lovelyangryheart]

William A. Fishbaugh: Jack Pierson at the Venetian Pool, Coral Gables, FL, 3 December 1924 

[psychic-refugee]

For @akekla

Request: "Hi, please write a fanfic of wenvier, where Wednesday is a circus artist, and Xavier is a spectator in love."

This might be nowhere near what you wanted, but I hope you like it anyway.

It was called the Midnight Menagerie. A circus that came to Jericho and it was the talk of the town.

No one knew where it came from, or even saw it set up. It simply appeared one night, already fully lit with its fairy lights, torches, and haunting music that played as people gathered to see the spectacles.

Xavier could not describe the circus, other than walking into a waking dream. Everything felt hazy, but sensuous. The circus was only open at midnight, when children would be asleep for hours.

It drew the curious, as very few things ever happened in their little coastal town.

They stayed for the acrobatic show.

It was nothing like Xavier had ever seen. He didn’t think the human body could move as fast or in as many ways as the performers did for the Midnight Menagerie.

They flew through the air, all while wearing Venetian masks that hid their face instead of traditional circus make up.

Their costumes hugged every dip, curve, and muscle, leaving very little to the imagination.

Their most popular acts were Enid and Ajax.

Enid’s specialty was the aerial silks and rope. Her grace in the face of death-defying heights, relying on silk or rope had the audience saying small prayers for her safety while unable to look away.

Ajax jumped and flipped through the Wheel of Death, a metal apparatus that spun in circles with two circular cages on each end. The crowd would gasp and thought for certain that each jump would be his last.

Xavier’s favorite part was The Narrator. A woman of dark, ethereal beauty whose raspy voice spun a tale that left him mesmerized and enchanted. She was the only one without a mask, but wore a flowy red dress and wide brim hat. It all added to her mysterious beauty, and he wished he had the nerve to approach her.

Each act was part of a surreal tale that felt more like a disjointed dream than a story.

The circus only offered one snack for its patrons, a small cake of black and red frosting that had a distinct floral taste that Xavier could not name. Every care went away after he took a bite, and he found himself in a fog of pleasure that he would keep chasing night after night.

After the last act, there were always a group of customers that would be invited backstage to meet the performers.

Everyone wanted to be chosen, but very few were.

None seemed to notice that those who were chosen the night before, were not seen again.

No one could resist the allure of the Midnight Menagerie, and so they kept coming and coming, enjoying the show, and eating small cakes.

There was one night when he caught the eye of The Narrator, black pools of obsidian and a half smile had him promising any deity that was listening that he would give anything to meet her.

Still, whatever made the chosen special, he did not have. He came back every night anyway.

The crowd was getting smaller and smaller. No one noticed except Xavier. He did not care.

Since she had noticed him, she had sought him out with her eyes as she told her tale. Her half smile seemed to be reserved just for him. He wanted to meet her, but he was never chosen.

Until one night, and the crowd was maybe a handful of people which was all that was left of the population of Jericho, he was finally chosen by a beautiful woman with dark skin and turquoise eyes. Her voice felt like silk, and if he wasn’t so eager to meet The Narrator, he just might have come under the Siren’s spell.

The back tent was luxurious, filled with large pillows the size of beds along the floor and even more of the cakes were freely given on small tables. He helped himself to one, and the world was a pleasant haze.

As he walked through the tent, which seemed much larger on the inside than the outside would suggest, he passed many couples in varying states of undress and in passionate embraces.

He was seated on one of the plush pillows, he absently saw across from him Tyler Galpin, the Sheriff’s son, between Enid and Ajax. Although they had all been masked before, he could recognize them from her blonde hair tinged pink and blue at the ends, and Ajax’s glorious mane of dark hair.

Tyler was all but naked between the two, Enid nipped at his chest and Ajax taking harsh kisses with tongue and teeth.

Xavier normally hated Tyler who was a lifelong bully that extended into adulthood, but that night he couldn’t be bothered. He also would have blushed at such a scene, unused to such public displays of carnality.

Instead, he merely waited patiently until he could see The Narrator.

In his haze, he did catch the eye of Enid who gave him a playful wink.

It totally unfazed him when fangs dropped from her mouth, and Ajax’s eyes turned a serpentine green.

Tyler was too blissed out to notice as well, he even smiled as they both descended upon either side of his neck and pierced his skin. He sighed in ecstasy as they drained him of all blood, his eyes never losing their unfocused haze as the light went out of them.

Xavier wasn’t sure if he should be happy or very worried at his rivals demise, so he simply kept looking.

The Siren cupped his jaw gently so that he would look into her gem like eyes. She leaned in close and was confused when he had back away from her impending kiss. Despite the haze of the small cakes, she wasn’t the one he wanted.

Before Bianca could voice any confusion or offer more cake, she was harshly grabbed by her shoulder and lifted up as if she weighed nothing.

“I told you, this one is mine,” The Narrator said softly, which in turn sent a shiver of fear through the other woman.

“Of course,” Bianca conceded as if it were a simple mistake. She walked away and found another meal for the night.  

The Narrator offered her hand, and he eagerly took it, standing up and following her further into the tent.

They passed by a curtain of black and white beads, and suddenly he was in a grand Victorian bedroom, with a great ebony canopy bed that dominated the room. From the window he could see a graveyard under the moonlight, something whispered he was no longer in Jericho.

She tossed off her red hat, and a disembodied hand had jumped up to catch it and scurried to put it away.

Nothing seemed to bother him, as he only had eyes for her.

She sat at the edge of the bed and gently patted beside her, inviting him to join.

As he blinked, her dress went from blood red, to black and white.

He had never witnessed anything more lovely than she as he sat beside her.

As if reading his mind, she gave the first full smile he had seen from her, and her fangs glinted dangerously. She smiled even wider when he showed no fear, the lotus cakes still within his blood.

“We will be moving on soon, Jericho has no more to offer,” she told him softly as she caressed his hair. “Would you like to come with us?” she asked when he looked despondent at the thought.

“Yes,” he didn’t have anything to lose as he was not close with his father, and he could do art anywhere.

“Once you stay, you may never leave, you will forever be part of the Midnight Menagerie,” she warned.

Something in his heart told him she meant it and was not just being hyperbolic. Her eyes told the story of an ancient bloodline, a predator that had traveled and fed for millennia.

“Where you are is where I want to be,” he said firmly, then leaned down to kiss her.

Her kiss was a dark promise of eternity, her fangs nipping at his lips causing crimson pearls to well. She kissed him harder and drank of his sweet blood.

His blood smeared across his cheek as she peppered kisses along his jawline and made her way to his throat. He gasped as her fangs easily sank in and she pulled his life from him to her own. Before his heart stopped, she dragged a sharp nail across her bosom and pushed his lips to the wound.

He drank from her the gift of immortality, binding himself to her forever.

The next night, the Midnight Menagerie was gone and left no trace, none of the townspeople could even clearly recall if it was there at all. None had really noticed that so many had disappeared, and none reported it either.

The town of Jericho would eventually replace its lost population, and in several decades they may see the return of the mysterious circus.

Without lifting a finger, the entire circus was now in Hawkins, Indiana.

When Xavier awoke the next night, his moss green eyes took their own gemlike quality and saw a new world with his new eyes. He was ready for his first performance and first meal.

He would wear the mask of a Venetian jester and his act would be to shoot arrows of fire towards a woman named Yoko on a spinning target.  

The big tent was filled to capacity of spectators, all would feed well that night.

[jeanieology]

Venetian Pool 🥲

[gtunesmiff]

The Miami Biltmore || Coral Gables, Florida

The Miami Biltmore Hotel and Country Club is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1926.

The hotel’s tower was designed as a recreation of the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain, and its main structure is reminiscent of Mediterranean Renaissance–era architecture, with several balconies, ornate terrazzos, and tile floors.

15-acre site was connected by canals to a swimming pool created from a rock-pit/quarry, still in operation by the City of Coral Gables, and accessed by "Venetian gondolas" (hence the pool's name as "Venetian Pool")

In the 1920s, the new hotel drew notable guests such as Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Franklin Roosevelt, and Al Capone.

During World War II, however, the luxury hotel was converted into an army hospital.

The building remained a Veterans Administration Hospital until the City of Coral Gables restored it to its former glory in the 1980s.

The modern Biltmore also underwent a more recent $40 million dollar renovation, which added a championship golf club and one of the largest hotel pools in the country.