#wood chandelier ceiling fans

[theaurum09]

Bedroom Lighting Ideas | The Aurum

Lighting plays a crucial role in bedroom design, yet it's often underestimated. The perfect lighting can turn your bedroom into a warm, inviting sanctuary while fulfilling practical needs. In this blog, we’ll explore seven Bedroom Lighting Ideas that will elevate your space, including floor lamps, task lighting, pendant lights, fairy lights, headboard lighting, chandeliers, and more.

Floor Lamps: Versatile and Chic

Floor lamps are an excellent addition to any bedroom, offering both style and utility. Here's why incorporating a floor lamp into your Bedroom Lighting Ideas can be beneficial:

Adaptability: Floor lamps are easy to move and reposition, making them perfect for adjusting your room's layout effortlessly.

Diverse Designs: Available in a variety of styles, from sleek and modern to classic and ornate, they can complement any décor.

Dual Functionality: Floor lamps can provide ambient lighting when placed in a corner or task lighting when positioned near a reading nook or desk.

When selecting a floor lamp, consider its height and the bulb’s brightness. A lamp with an adjustable arm or shade offers flexible lighting options for various activities.

Task Lighting: Precise and Practical

Task lighting is essential for activities such as reading, writing, or working on a laptop in bed. Effective task lighting prevents eye strain and enhances comfort. Here are some task lighting Bedroom Lighting Ideas:

Bedside Lamps: These classic choices are ideal for task lighting. Opt for lamps with adjustable heads to direct light exactly where you need it.

Wall-Mounted Reading Lights: Placed on either side of the bed, these lights provide focused illumination without disturbing your partner.

Desk Lamps: For those with a workspace in the bedroom, a desk lamp with an adjustable arm is perfect for focused tasks.

Ensure the light is bright enough for the task but not too harsh to disrupt the relaxing atmosphere of the bedroom.

Pendant Lights: Stylish and Space-Efficient

Pendant lights offer an elegant and space-saving solution for Bedroom Lighting Ideas. They are suspended from the ceiling and can serve multiple purposes:

Bedside Lighting: Consider hanging pendant lights on either side of the bed instead of using table lamps. This frees up nightstand space and adds a modern touch.

Primary Accent: A single, striking pendant light can act as the centerpiece of the room. Choose a design that matches your bedroom décor, whether it's minimalist, industrial, or bohemian.

Grouping: For a dramatic effect, hang multiple pendant lights at different heights, especially in larger bedrooms or over-seating areas.

When installing pendant lights, ensure they hang at the appropriate height to provide ample light without obstructing your view or movement.

Fairy Lights: Cozy and Whimsical

Fairy lights add a touch of magic and coziness to any bedroom. These versatile Bedroom Lighting Ideas can be used in several ways:

Headboard Accent: Arrange fairy lights over the headboard to form a gentle, illuminated outline around your bed.

Wall Art: Arrange fairy lights in patterns or shapes on the wall for a creative and personal touch.

Ceiling Drapes: Hang fairy lights from the ceiling for a canopy-like effect, adding a magical ambiance to the room.

Fairy lights come in various colors and styles, so choose ones that complement your bedroom's color scheme and mood.

Headboard Lighting: Sleek and Contemporary

Integrating lighting into the bed headboard is a sleek and modern approach to Bedroom Lighting Ideas. This method saves space and creates a seamless look:

LED Strips: Install LED strip lights along the top or sides of the headboard for a soft, even glow. Many allow adjustments for brightness and color temperature.

Built-in Reading Lights: Some headboards come with built-in lights that can be directed for reading, eliminating the need for additional lamps.

Ambient Glow: Use backlit headboards to cast a soft glow around the bed, enhancing the room's ambiance.

Headboard lighting adds a touch of sophistication and practicality to your bedroom design.

Chandeliers: Elegant and Statement-Making

Chandeliers aren't just for grand spaces; they can make a stunning statement in your bedroom. Here's why a chandelier should be on your list of Bedroom Lighting Ideas:

Focal Point: A chandelier can be the room's centerpiece, adding elegance and luxury.

Ambient Lighting: Chandeliers provide ample ambient light, making the room feel warm and welcoming.

Variety of Styles: From traditional crystal to modern geometric designs, there's a chandelier to suit every taste and décor style.

When choosing a chandelier, consider the room's size and ceiling height. It should be proportional to the space and hung at a height that provides adequate light without overwhelming the room.

Layered Lighting: Balanced and Functional

Achieving the perfect bedroom ambiance requires layered lighting. This approach combines different Bedroom Lighting Ideas to create a balanced and functional scheme:

Combine Ambient, Task, and Accent Lighting: Use a mix of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, bedside lamps, and accent lights to create a versatile setup.

Install Dimmers: Dimmers allow you to adjust the brightness of your lights for different activities and moods, particularly useful for chandeliers, floor lamps, and bedside lamps.

Layered lighting enhances both the functionality and the inviting atmosphere of your bedroom.

Conclusion

Selecting the right Bedroom Lighting Ideas is crucial for crafting a space that is both functional and visually pleasing. By incorporating a mix of floor lamps, task lighting, pendant lights, fairy lights, headboard lighting, chandeliers, and layered lighting, you can transform your bedroom into a cozy and stylish retreat. Consider your personal style, room layout, and specific lighting needs to choose the best options for your space. With the right lighting, your bedroom can become the ultimate haven of comfort and relaxation.

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[roguewavemusic]

Transitional Living Room in Miami Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room remodel with white walls and a music area and dark wood floors and brown floors.

[crimson-revolt]

Family Room - Loft-Style Example of a large family room in the mountain loft style with a medium tone wood floor, beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, and no television.

[levi-seijuro]

Loft-Style - Rustic Family Room Example of a large mountain style loft-style medium tone wood floor family room design with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

[psychoslave]

3/4 Bath - Bathroom

[benjaminaskinas]

Home Bar - Galley

[carpe-cullen]

Medium Sun Room in St Louis

[hometoursandotherstuff]

The wood in this 1849 home is insanely gorgeous. It's in Vicksburg, MS, has 8bd, 8ba, $749,900.

Inner doors open to the entrance hall. Look at how tall the doorways are and the crown molding is still intact.

The details on the stairs are stunning. Look the intricate carving on the newel post and the way it fans out. The floor was replaced and they chose the 2-tone look to tie in with the gorgeous woods.

The reception room is being used as a pool room. It has a lovely original fireplace.

The sitting room has a beautiful alcove, floor-to-ceiling shelving, and a lovely oak fireplace.

The sitting room shares the space with the dining room.

The kitchen renovation is cute. I like the creamy color of the cabinetry.

And, look at the cute little fireplace in the kitchen.

This large home has 8 bedrooms & baths. The 2nd floor hall has beautiful wainscoting.

This bedroom has the same alcove that the sitting room has with an elegant chandelier and a wall of built-in furniture.

This bedroom has shelving and a fireplace. Very nice.

Each bedroom is lovely. This one also has a fireplace.

They are all so comfortable and cozy. This one has a nice white fireplace.

This larger one fits 2 beds and is probably a guest room.

And this one is lovely, as well. The firebox in the fireplace is orignal, look at how old the bricks are.

Neat fenced yard has a gazebo.

And, it also has a beautiful pergola with columns and a cement patio.

The home's historic plaque is proudly displayed.

And, a framed picture of it back in the day is in the house and you can tell that the owners have taken pride in it.

The beautiful home is on a .28 acre lot.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1117-Grove-St-Vicksburg-MS-39183/78104036_zpid

[raisindave]

[Chapter 64] Seeing the World Through Ballistic-Tinted Glasses

With a heavy heart and a shotgun blast of apprehension, you swallowed all pride and pushed through the glass doors. Meeting new people is always the worst. 

"Hello?" you pressed your lips into a tight line, awkwardly calling into the empty restaurant.

Even when you crane your neck to sweep any corners where your 'new best friends' might be hiding, these exalted experts aren't anywhere to be seen. You took extra care to make your boots echo on polished wood floors, hopefully alerting someone to your presence, but long shadows from drawn curtains cast every corner in hostile darkness. It quickened your heart rate, making you almost frantic to find your peers; otherwise, you'd have to sheepishly report to Price that you'd lost them. A fate worse than death. Only when you came around to the other end of a chic, modern bar did you find another human. Faces you'd seen on Laswell's tablet manifested in the flesh, though not nearly as prim and put-together. 

You winged at the clamorous cracking of the glass, but her heavy gaze didn't waver. The Korvettenkapitän's dark formal jacket lay neatly strewn over the back of one of the cloth chairs, where she stood folding muscular arms over her chest. A finely ironed button-up with a tight collar made Laswell's similar clothing style look so much more approachable. Professor Kraus was within arms reach, slumped into a matching chair, nearly strangled by a chunky sweater of beige cable-knit wool. She stood tall and stern, commanding respect with her posture, whereas he seemed entirely aloof to your entrance, more concerned with sipping at another cup of coffee he'd kept as a backup. 

"Nice to meet you both," you sighed deeply, breathing away bubbling tension. 

This dining space would be so romantic and intimate if it were under the intended circumstances. Low cylindrical crystal chandeliers glitter even when they're illuminated by a stark floodlight, the apparent source of those long shadows. The shimmering crystals create the most stunning effect on the ceiling, almost like a water's surface sparking life into lofty ceilings of dark panels. Tabletops that aren't repurposed to function as makeshift workspaces are adorned with pristine white tablecloths that flow over the edges of the tables, with sultry, slender candlesticks and withered bouquets. Your 'new best friends' have established themselves next to an elegant bar of black wood and smooth steel, making use of the nearby kitchen's stark lighting. 

"Commander Karim told me about you," the polished Korvettenkapitän spoke, scuffing polished shoes as she approached. "She and I used to work together. She spoke highly of you, said you were one of the best she's ever seen." She glowered down her strong cheekbones at you skeptically.

Commander Karim? Who the hell is Commander Karim? 

Your mind spun as KKpt's words rattled in your mind, failing to stick their landing. So many faces had come and gone in the past few months; it's a wonder you can remember your own name if only it weren't shouted at you every other day. Precious seconds used wracking your mind are ticking down, and the Korvettenkapitän's social timer is quickly slipping. 

Who is that… who- oh! Commander Karim! Farah Karim! Oh, she's talking about Farah, and she left a good word about me too. I only worked with her for a few days, so I must've left a deceptively good first impression. Damn. I owe her a drink. 

"Farah was a treat to work with," you smile after a rigid pause. 

"Yes…" KKpt spoke cautiously, you turned to see that she was visibly unsettled by your usage of Farah's first name. "She called you 'Cricket.'"

"Ah," you chuckle weakly, "a nickname I've picked up. You can call me Lu-."

"Why 'Cricket?'" Professor Kraus cut you off, finally lifting his head to speak with piqued curiosity. 

"Are you a fan of the sport?" the Korvettenkapitän circled around you pensively, folding her hands behind her back as she stalked.

Words failed you for a moment. Why are you called cricket? When Soap's logic finally did click into place, it struck you as something you shouldn't explain in conjunction with a first introduction. Being pinned as a shit-talker isn't conducive to a reliable and hard-working teammate. It would be easy to lie; you could easily make something up like 'I'm a really good jumper' or 'I have a brother named Grasshopper,' but lying to allies you'd just met just doesn't feel right. There's nothing to fear from these people. They're peers. The professor, this Korvettenkapitän, just more faces you'll forget in a few weeks. But this time, you won't be the meeger and soft-spoken specialist they expect to meet. You've earned your merit. And you won't roll over and show your underbelly at the first sign of intimidation. 

"It's a nickname I got from chirping at my superiors," a wicked smile lit up your face, rolling back your shoulders. "And I pissed them off enough for them to grace me with a callsign."

"Yet you've managed to keep your employment in the military with such a lack of respect?" Korvettenkapitän Wolf lashed.

"I got promoted from Corporal to Sergeant a few months ago," you shrug, meeting KKpt's intense eyes with a matching challenge. 

Her eyes were dark, scathing. A different kind of dark from Ghost's. His were scathing and spiteful, the eyes of someone who could kill you without a second's remorse. Hers, too, were warning and lethal, but more skeptical than anything. You'd do anything to know what thoughts are rattling around under those tight curls that cling to her scalp like a helmet. 

"I like you, Cricket," she said, putting extra emphasis on your callsign. The sudden change from skepticism to camaraderie caught you entirely off guard.

Somehow those words lowered your guard enough to rest your hip on the side of their table, craning to take in their work. A handful of paper-thin laptops dotted the cris-crossing tables, temporary stations for these manic cryptologists to flit between. Cords and crumpled papers served as excellent trip hazards, and a deep coffee stain on one of the stark tablecloths will have to come out of the German military's budget. But you could feel the Korvettenkapitän's eyes on you. She's not done with you, and the anticipation of her next words sat in your conscience, even when you tried to look like you were reading. 

"I-I read your file, Sergeant Grant," Professor Kraus spoke shakily, seemingly oblivious that this topic had already been discussed while he studied his papers. "You're a bit of a superstar in the linguistic community lately."

His words made you freeze, turning your absent gaze to meet him. 

"What?"

"Your work in Al Mazrah was incredible. I've heard and read your transcriptions with some of my peers. What a bold choice to go into the town in person, and your use of sociolinguistics to infer and problem-solve is remarkable. It takes a lot of nerve to think of something like that, and do it yourself too," a phantom of a smile pulled at her cheeks.

"Oh, that wasn't my idea to go into town. It was actually Farah's… Commander Farah's," you corrected sheepishly. 

"You applied all the right methods, and your understanding of regional Arabic syntax is textbook. Beyond textbook, I was really impressed with how you-" the professor's gushing was cut off. 

"And your understanding of the message padding in the oral transmissions in Kazakhstan, that was some quick thinkin'," Korvettenkapitän cut in, stepping closer to you. 

Kazakhstan? When the hell was I in- oh… Chita, Russia. The first mission they had me on when I met 141. Laswell probably changed the details of my location and mission to protect the security of the task force, especially with something as highly sensitive as stolen nukes. I wonder what they would've thought of the other highly classified missions I've done. What would they think of that hostage recovery on the yacht in Mexico with all the Russian mobsters, posing as a sex worker, or when I was torturing vital info out of that guy in the dam. Maybe it's a blessing that they don't know about those missions. 

"I was just following orders," you manifested your most modest grin, feeling like you could shrivel into a ball at the sudden onslaught of affection. 

"Now- I wanted to pick your brain, Miss Grant," the professor bumped the table as he clumsily rose from his chair. "How did you get the idea to take one of the family members into the barricade in Verdansk?"

"What approach did you use to understand the sociolinguistics of Ukrainian Pidgin so fluently in ten days?" KKpt approached further, craning to stay in your field of view as she stood above you. 

"I'd do anything to see your notes," Kraus nearly lept over her words, keen eyes searching your face for answers.

Ukrainian Pigin? I definitely wasn't fluent in ten days, they pinned me as a 'Yankee' almost immediately. I can still feel the scar tissue from the beating I suffered because of it, too. Laswell must've buttered up my record because it certainly didn't go that smoothly. 

"I was doing what any of you would've done under the same pressure," you croaked, the barrage of attention making your visage of confidence crack. 

"Very good!" He blurted, tipping his new ceramic mug to you, almost giddy. 

There's nothing as foreign as this feeling. It feels like you're hallucinating. You were expecting to be reluctantly recruited as a forced addition due to the SAS' occupation of this existing encampment, yet you're receiving a hero's welcome? This celebrity status you've inadvertently gathered just by doing your job, it's like how the soldiers at all the barracks' look at Ghost and Price… revered. It feels good. It feels wrong. Like they're only praising you because Laswell puffed up some of the details and made you look more impressive than you actually are. These two are staring through you with keen but increasingly puzzled expressions, like they're watching your sense of self unfold before them.

"So what's the sitrep?" You blurted, eager to redirect the conversation in the creeping silence. 

"Right," KKpt Wolf stood straight-backed again, smoothing down her dress shirt and returning to the main table. "Our heartbeat detector shows five extra tangos outside of the known 21 hostages. They've been barricaded for 10 days, and they're all heavily armed, including remote detonation explosives stored in caches around the hostages."

"This is a Sig-Int mission, so we're working on the back foot," Kraus looked up past his heavy glasses to speak, haphazardly shifting the topic. 

"Sig-Int… so what Signals do we have Intelligence on?" 

The Korvettenkapitän slammed a booklet on the table at your hip, a predictable dazzle technique that failed to make you flinch. You're too used to Graves to be spooked by that, but at the same time, something about this woman makes you think she could give him a run for his money. She's got the physical intimidation down with broad shoulders and a tight mouth, but you'd never see Graves admit admiration for someone below him.

"We had a breakthrough two days ago, it's been the bane of my existence," the professor started, tugging at the high collar of his sweater. "A hostage held up one of the terrorist's internal messages to the window, and we got a glimpse at the code they're using."

KKpt Wolf placed down a still image taken through a sniper's scope of pale fingers pressing a crumpled note to one of the windows at the theatre. You slipped the shiny paper into your palm, examining the photo. Through a rain-spattered window, the hostage offered the linguistics team a Hail Mary: a string of strategically and clearly laid out letters and numbers in a grid along pale paper. A maroon emblem in the bottom right almost looked like a wax seal, though it was too obscured by the window pane to know for sure. They were begging the linguistics team to make sense of the nonsensical characters, but you're all just as confused as them.

"It's a one-time pad," you spoke, studying the text block with a crinkled face.

"You are quick," the Korvettenkapitän's confident tone resumed. 

"We haven't been able to crack it," Professor Kraus said, tossing his wiry glasses onto the desk and reclining in his chair again, defeated. 

One-time pads have been around since the 1800s, and they've been used in warfare and espionage ever since. Only usable for one message, and is useless immediately after, hence 'one-time.' Secure, virtually unbreakable, and as Professor Kraus put it, the bane of a linguist's existence. Scrambled letters and numbers make a chart-like structure on the page, a perfect block of text only discernible by the keyholder. They're annoying as hell. 

Kraus has been running a frequency analysis of the text, his swirling, elegant handwriting noting any repeating characters that might fit the vowel structure of any known language. Time and time again, slashes and dashes eliminate attempts at cracking the cipher, each new piece of dogeared loose-leaf signifying another failure. KKpt Wolf had a much more barbaric approach; a brute force assault on the letters, one by one, going through each potential possibility in an attempt to bend the cipher to her will. Her handwriting is stiff and rigid, with angular letters in all capitals, each failed jab at the code is slashed with a red pen. They both know what they're doing, unquestionably experts in their field. But they each represent polar ends of a linguistic cryptologist's approach. 

Piles of papers splayed on repurposed dinner tables proved they've been at this for a while. Borderline insanity bleeds into their word, sprawling dashes along one particular piece swipes over white tablecloths, indistinguishable from white paper for the exhausted linguists. You slid off the side of the table, standing on your feet again and pacing passively to pacify tense muscles. 

"These terrorist zealots won't do anything without the word from their 'god,' this 'oracle' figure they keep mentioning," Kraus grumbled after a raspy cough. "They won't operate without 'his' word."

"Fucking fanatics," KKpt cursed under her breath, resuming her lurking and muttering, moving in an opposite momentum to your pacing. 

"We suspect this is a seal from the oracle, proof that his coded orders are official," he added, tapping a thick finger on the maroon blotch at the corner of the photographed note. 

"It works in our favour, though," KKpt said in a brittle voice. "It means we won't have to worry about copycats. The media's having a goddamned field day." She pressed her clenched fist on the table beside you, and the professor sighed. 

"They've been receiving orders from this 'oracle' since they've been held up... Somehow," he clicked and un-clicked a pen, seemingly bored by the conversation as his eyes wandered to the rafters. 

"Somehow? That doesn't make any sense, isn't there a blockade?" You pressed, turning on your heels hotly. 

"There is a blockade." She spat with that familiar coldness. 

"Could they be receiving the transmissions digitally?"

"We've asked the area's satellite and landline providers. No transmissions are coming from inside the building. No cellular, nothing," she chided, refolding her arms over her chest again.

"If they aren't receiving it digitally and they aren't sneaking notes through the back door, how are they communicating?" you continued. "I-is there a signal flare communicating in binary we're missing or-"

"We have eyes on every window from here to the fucking Rhine River," she commanded, halting her stalking eerily.

"The Cuckoo Clock is ticking," Kraus said, oddly aloof. "Supplies are bone dry inside the theatre, and the hostages can't survive on vending machine food for much longer."

"The General says we have three days to figure it out," Korvettenkapitän Wolf barked, running a chill through your body. "Or all our necks are on the chopping block."

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Master List

[theaurum09]

Illuminate your sanctuary with our latest blog on Bedroom Lighting Ideas that blend style and functionality. Whether you're looking to create a serene ambiance or add a touch of elegance, our guide offers creative solutions to enhance your bedroom space. From layered lighting techniques to statement fixtures, explore how these Bedroom Lighting Ideas can transform your bedroom into a cozy and inviting retreat

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[ursawastricked]

The Glimmering Pearl

Silco x f!reader Moulin Rouge inspired fan fiction

The Dens Delight, a nightclub, one tucked between the undercut of Zaun and its sister city of Piltover, is the secret delight of the rich and poor of Runeterra. The call of loud swing music, the smell of cheap booze, and the warmth of the dens dancers draw in crowds by the hundreds every night, in attempts to lure them into spending.

You call this place home, it loves you like its daughter, and you take comfort knowing that the people love you just as much. That doesn't change that tonight,,you meet him. The eye of Zayn, the kingpin of the undercut,,and he might just be your ticket out of here.

warnings for fic: Drinking, lewd behavior, night club activity in general

word count: 3,289

total wordcont: 3,289

Silco found little joy in places like this. Despite The Drop's atmosphere of bright lights, loud music, drugs, thugs, and alcohol all surrounding him in most of his day to day life, he at least had the luxury of it being muted beneath his office. It didn't bite him like it did here. The sickeningly intense stretch of “rose” perfume stung his nose, and the booze sprinkled about on the floor and patrons stung the rest of his senses as he fought his way through the sea of under city patrons that flocked to places such as this when they needed to feel worth something.

Perhaps it wasn't his scene, but for Finn it was like home ground, which would be the only reason Silco had crawled here to begin with. With him he dragged some extra hands, but found that they too had quickly been washed away in a sea of drunkards, or pulled away by half clothes workers, each one's skirt a differnt brightly colored pattern to draw the attention of whomever had money to spend.

That is what made this place so aggravating. It wasn't like the brothels, those at least held some class in Silcos opinion. At places like Babbettes, attention was requested, then provided, it wasn't demanded, it did not result from a sudden “mis-step” that landed a women lewdly in your lap, or sneaking hands of a pretty face taking inappropriate hold on someone to weasel them into spending hard earned coin. He didn't worry about randomly spilling cheap beer on his silk vest, nor did he have to worry about them then offering to take it off for him. Simply put, he wasn't having fun. He wasn't enjoying the festivity filled floor below, packed not only with thousands of Pilties, desperate for depravity despite them sharing the house with Aunties who too had ventured here for that reason. He less enjoyed that now as he finally found sanctuary in a box seat above, that he could see Sevika, sitting back in a plush armchair, a lady hiking up her peacock colored skirt in his muscles lap, and as she would put it “Having friendly conversation”.

He grumbled lightly, offering a light from Finn as he sat finally. He accepted the silent offer, tucking a cigar between his lips and allowing the flames to lick at the end of the expense tobacco roll. He closed his eyes, another failed attempt to drown out the numbing sound of the ballroom below, as he inhaled a thick cloud of smog into his lungs. He held it for a moment of ease, letting it burn his throat and maybe even seer away the dreadful taste of whatever that wicked bartender considered ‘top shelf brandy’, before he willed himself to exhale the black smoke and let it ribbon away into the ceiling above. His good eye followed its path lazily, finding it curling around a collection of ropes and scaffolding tucked above the box seats and further toward what appeared to be the old placement of a chandelier. He wondered what monster had decided removing such a piece would make this palace look better, clearly a chandelier would vastly improve the facade of class in a place like this, but who was he to judge interior design. He was sure the random placement of ropes and wood made for a much better design choice, not to mention against an old classically crafted glass ceiling. Indeed, why would a chandelier be a valuable piece to keep. 

 His discomfort was quickly caught by Finn, who smirked at the rare entermainted of an uncomfortable and out of control Silco,“Is it too much for you, old man?" he taunted, flicking closed his lighter before snapping it open again, keeping in time with the current music. “I suppose after so many years, the sound of fun can be too much to bear.” he continued, leaning over the ledge and watching as workers danced about with unknowing citizens, unaware of how much each of those stolen kisses would cost them. “Perhaps you, Finn, confuse mindless noise for entertainment..” Silco snarled back, low, controlled. He tapped the ashes of his cigar into a provided bowl on the small table they were given.Finn only offered him a chuckle in response, shrugging off the large gold coat he had worn as he approched and placed himself into the opposite chair of Silco. “Mindless noise? Do you not hear the laughter? The singing of the entertainers?’ “The drunken howls, the croud whistles at the passing waitress, the belch of vomiting patrons…” Silco added bitterly, taking another deep breath of his chosen grounding tool tonight. Finn only stared back, aggravated quickly by the negativity. But to Silco, truth came in positives and negatives, if one side was to be ignored, then you were missing the picture. In this case, missing the picture of a loud, over decorated, overrated, and overly fancy club, one that looked pretty to hide the shady work it openly offered. The two watched each other's expression for a long moment, as two predators would in a territorial competition, who could remain standing their ground longer. But it was Finn who broke the silence first, rolling his hand over the table as he reached for his empty glass and held it up in signal to the standing by server. “I must admit, I had hoped for at least a little down time with you, Silco. Perhaps a meeting that doesn't require a rehearsed debate over the constant work and stress of running our little empire,” he began, maintaining their locked gaze as the server approached and poured a generous amount of amber liquid into Finn's waiting glass. He gestured for Silco to have his glass filled as well, before dragging it to his lips and letting it pass over his tongue during the pause in speaking.

“My empire..you still find yourself in the habit of forgetting where you come from. Where I came from.” Silco sneered, not given the courtesy of a glance to the server as they filled his glass and retreated back behind the curtain.

“Again with the age debate, ‘remember our lives before’, ‘the mines from which we came’, It is always your age that defends your power Silco..and I had just told you, I had hoped for down time with you.” Finn reminded him, placing down his glass with a soft ‘tink’.

Silco rolled his eyes slowly, taking his own glass and leaning back in the seat he had. He felt much more at ease then he would like to admit when the liquor passed his scared lip and spread over his tongue. He was elated to taste actual brandy, not the gasoline he had been fed not thirty minutes ago when he had first arrived. The flavor was rich, a velvety, warm taste, the whispers of the imported fruits it was made with still ghosted into each drop as he swallowed and let the liquid warm his belly, further drawing him into a more comforting position in this prison he found himself in. Embarrassingly enough, it had tamed him enough to cease the fight against Finn and just relax into his seat.

“Besides, the show tonight is one I think is best enjoyed when you have only her to focus on.” Finn cooed, reclining and gazing off into the crowd below. Silco took another blissful sip, considering the words Finn had said without much worry. Yes, this place was well known for its exotic performances, dancers, singers, usually half clothed like the rest of them. But now, with a drink in his hands, smoke in his lungs, and the sound of music slowing down, he welcomed whatever performance was interesting enough to catch Finn's attention as often as it seemed too. Let the show begin,

“Im sure.” he hummed, in reply, closing his eyes and clutching to the comfort of good brandy and an expensive cigar.

Another thirty minutes passed, Sevika arriving back beside Silco, dragging along the peacock lady and sitting her comfortably on her knee as she resumed her guard over the kingpin. He offered her a nod of acknowledgment, earning a satisfied nod back from her, enough of one that he had noticed the smudge of lipstick across her cheek and further down her neck.

He lifted his glass back to his lips before he saw the light dim, and following it immediately was the hush of the loud music, the hush of patrons and the awful howls of laughing girls. He followed all their gaze, to the lowering figure from the ceiling. Above the world, like a bird descending, a swing lowered just level with the box seats where the eye of zaun had found himself. Perched on the seat was a figure, one he had not quite expected. You. You sat above the crowd, your eyes closed tentatively as you held tight to the ropes connected to your seat. You held your breath, still finding your breath a bit constricted by the tight costume they had pulled you into tonight. It was a torturous thing, tight, stiff with what must have been a thousand false pearls, expertly patterned to trace your figure and accentuate your curves. You cross your legs expertly, earning a whistle from below and giving you a little boost of confidence. You straighten your back, take in a deep breath and start your usual performance.The silence breaks with a silk like voice, one Silco didn't expect as the swing slowly sways, and allows for the limited light to shimmer off the pearls stitched to your costume. His gaze locked first onto the tall black heel you wore, but slowly trailed up long legs, to the start of your costume just above your hip, and dragging slowly to your shoulders. But what broke the facade of his disinterest was when you suddenly dip your head back, catching his gaze in yours and revealing the face behind the vision he had been blessed with, as you reached out a hand toward the booth, and the swing slowly began to swing, descending down into the crowd below. His heart raced at the limited eye contact, and he found himself now like Finn, leaned closer to the edge of the box, chasing you to keep your figure in his sights as the music swelled slowly around the hall, reaching its peak when your heel clicked too the floor and you stood at the center of it all. The center of a once chaotic hell scape, had ceased and created a pool from which this divine thing could fully shine, and he was enraptured. This was entertainment indeed. Especially as your voice rang through the sound and your feet followed a practiced little prance around the crowd grabbing playfully at random from time to time and dragging them into your next little move before abandoning them in favor of another. You held the entire hall in the palm of your hand, those not too awestruck to speak offering your whistles, howls, and the occasional help in the song. You chuckle as you allow for a lucky customer to dip your weight, teasingly snatching his cap and placing it on your head for safe keeping. You leave his head spinning and Silco finds a light smile on his scarred lip as you step away, leaving everyone around you chasing your touch, one he imagined was heavenly based on how the other visitors clamored for a chance at it. He rested his glass against his lips as you retreated back to your swing, standing on it with a tight grip on the flimsy ropes before it lifted you again in the air. “Quite the show isn't it, Silco?” Finn murrmered on, stealing a peak at how Silco had become so focused after spitting so much distaine for this place earlier. Silco chuckled lightly, feeling just as relaxed as Finn insisted he be tonight, humming a quick “mhm”, and inhaling a deep breath of smoke. You smiled teasingly at the patrons that flooded where you once stood moments ago, spreading your stance a little for balance as you began to lean back and let the swing move carefree above them, using enough force so that the trajectory of it had began to circle and allow you a to give those in the boxes a bit of a closer look as you. Janna, this always felt so good, yes the height was a little frightening, but the way the people flocked to you, around you, starved for any glimmer of your attention, you felt like a god among them. But as always, the best part of a performance was engaging the audience, and you had been looking out all night for people to play with. About an hour ago you had been doing one final walk around before being dressed, when your eyes caught something particularly interesting moving through the club. A familiar Burgundy colored coat that swept over the dance floor and up the stairs into Finn's box. He was a regular, one you had a few run-ins with in the past, the occasional dance, invitations to his bed after a paid for “chat”, all of which you had politely declined. It wasn't in your best interest to leave the club with patrons after all, you were higher class then that, The Glimmering Pearl of the undercity. But this not so mystery guest, he was more your interest tonight. A ‘big catch’ as your den mother would put it. So you pulled your swing back, aiming directly for that box, and swinging back and propelling yourself toward the balcony. You hooked your legs over the lip of the ledge, sitting yourself nice and pretty in front of a very startled Eye of Zaun. He stared, dumfounded, the snicker of his accompanying crowd. How delightful, the king of the undercity, positively flustered at your sudden appearance. You could swear there was a hint of pink appearing across his skin, through it could just be the lights. You offer him a sly smile, tilting your head and kicking a foot up to rest the tip of your heel just under his jawline. He stared forward, completely enchanted as the satin of your shoe dragged against his skin, causing him to involuntarily lean forward into it. His eyes met yours finally, half lidded, hazey with a building desire as your heel was now placed on his shoulder. It was an easy transition to slip off the ledge slightly, and push more of your weight into his chair as you rested your one leg other his shoulder and leaned close enough to truly see if it was the lighting that resulted in that exquisite rosey color in his cheeks..it was to your excitement, not a trick of the light.  “Good evening, I do hope I didn’t startle you” You hummed, drawing your hand to your chest dramatically, feigning apologetic.Silcos good eye caught the movement effortlessly, taking a moment to admire how the lace of your gloves looked against your skin tone. Only then did he flick his mismatched gaze to yours, ignoring that his face was warmer then he would have liked. You looked into the infamous gaze, finding yourself a bit frozen when the burning orb of his bad eye focused itself on you, a gaze that had often resulted in the blood-spill of maybe thousands. It made you nervous, but quickly you tried to psyche yourself back up, back to flirting, maybe earn a little favor from the royal head of the undercity. “I can’t say I mind,” he replied, training his gaze on you before putting his half finished cigar to his cracked lip, maintaining eye contact as he took a long inhale. Despite your expertise in this, the game of flirtation, you held your breath. It was caught in your throat like you were preparing for something that wasn't coming, and you weren't able to hide it before he had seen it. The roll in his  mouth escaped its hold, and you failed to keep your eyes seedy, as they had now locked on his mouth. Silco cracked a half smirk, titling his head back to exhale the long cloud of smog from his lungs. It was an offered opening, one you hastily took to breath and return to your usual practice routine. You were able to bring back your coy smile, and bring your hands to his tie. You played with it between your fingers, as you expected it was fine silk. With a little smirk, you went with your usual game, loosening it before pulling it away from his throat. You waved it in front of his face,“I expect that back Madame,” he hummed, catching Finn's far too satisfied smirk in the corner of his eye. You giggle lightly, “Well,” as you drag the fabric over your chest, causing Silco to squirm lightly in his seat beneath you. Far more in your element now that you had an in, you tuck the scarf into your cleavage and push your weight back onto the ledge, “I expect i will be seeing you again then.” You tease, watching the hint of challenge in his good eye as you turn and give Finn a fast wink of acknowlagment, waving a little goodbye before you were back on your swing, being pulled back by gravity far away from the Eye of Zaun. As you vanish and drag the warmth in his lap away, Silco gives a disappointed sigh, watching you fly off with his scarf..He breathed in the last breath of his dying cigar before tapping it out in the ashtray. To his left, he can see Finn's stupid smirk still plastered on his artifical jaw.

“How much did it cost you?” Silco asked, refusing to give him anymore for the question, he didn't plan to disrupt his viewing experience just to address a constant thorn in his side. “Not a single coin.” Finn purred, leaning forward to follow you in time with Silco. Silcos raised his eyebrows lightly, trying to hide it, fruitlessly. It wasn't a feeling he would have admitted too, the burning feeling igniting deep in his chest, in the pit of his stomach, the top of the flames licking at his heart. You land again on the ground floor, enveloped almost immediately by the crowd of waiting fans, allowing light touches, lifts, and dips as you make your way to the stage. You strut, trying to keep up your sultry energy, lips softly pursed, eyes lidded, but you struggle as you fight away the growing heat in your cheeks, you try to convince yourself it's all the action. As you huff in a deep breath, tiptoeing up the stairs and clicking your heels loudly on the stage with a loud hollar into the crowd. Silco feels a hum deep in his chest as the sound echoes into him, and his pupils dilate. You give a few playful steps back, up the further stage steps into the feather like bed at the back with a deep call of your final verse. You lay down your weight, flirtatiously flicking your leg over. “MMMwah!” You call, with a dramatic kiss thrown into the crowd. You pull out your stolen scarf from your cleavage, waving it playfully toward Silco, whom you are pleased to see, just as focused as before. You feel the burn in your cheeks win, just as the curtains flutter closed in front of you, and you feel the heat finally reach you, the heat of that single burning eye that now knows about you. Your way out of here.

Yippie! my first big fic!

I really enjoyed working on this one, and I hope to write a part two if it goes well. 

If you enjoy for would like more please lmk, I'm finding for pretty Silco content 

[shecreateshome]

44 Decor Ideas for Your Dream Bedroom

1. Luxurious Bedding: - Start with the foundation – invest in high-quality, luxurious bedding for the ultimate comfort.

2. Statement Headboard: - Elevate your bed with a statement headboard that adds style and drama to your bedroom.

3. Soft, Neutral Colors: - Choose soft, neutral colors like muted grays, serene whites, and calming pastels to create a tranquil atmosphere.

4. Cozy Throw Blankets: - Place cozy throw blankets at the foot of your bed for an inviting touch.

5. Plush Area Rug: - Define your bedroom space with a plush area rug that adds warmth and texture.

6. Ambient Lighting: - Install ambient lighting fixtures like dimmable sconces or pendant lights for a soothing atmosphere.

7. Floating Nightstands: - Opt for floating nightstands to save space and create a modern look.

8. Wall Art Gallery: - Create a gallery wall with your favorite artwork or family photos.

9. Ceiling Fan with Lights: - Combine functionality and style with a ceiling fan that includes integrated lighting.

10. Sheer Curtains: - Hang sheer curtains to allow natural light while maintaining privacy.

11. Accent Wall: - Paint one wall in a bold, contrasting color or use wallpaper to create an accent wall.

12. Full-Length Mirror: - Add a full-length mirror to make your bedroom feel larger and provide a practical space for getting ready.

13. Dresser with Mirror: - Choose a dresser with an attached mirror to streamline your morning routine.

14. Customized Shelving: - Install customized shelving to display books, decorative items, and personal mementos.

15. Canopy Bed: - Create a romantic ambiance with a canopy bed draped in sheer fabric.

16. Bedside Table Lamps: - Illuminate your bedside tables with elegant table lamps for bedtime reading.

17. Elegant Wall Decals: - Decorate your walls with elegant wall decals for a stylish and removable design element.

18. Plentiful Pillows: - Layer your bed with an assortment of pillows in different sizes and textures for added comfort.

19. Statement Chandelier: - Make a grand statement with a striking chandelier as a focal point in your bedroom.

20. Room-Enhancing Plants: - Bring nature indoors with bedroom-friendly plants like peace lilies or snake plants.

21. Tufted Ottoman: - Add a tufted ottoman to provide extra seating and storage space.

22. Coordinating Bedside Tables: - Choose matching bedside tables to create a cohesive look.

23. Customized Headboard: - Design a customized headboard that perfectly fits your bedroom's style.

24. Soft Roman Shades: - Install soft Roman shades for a timeless and functional window treatment.

25. Bed Bench: - Place a bed bench at the foot of your bed for a touch of luxury and additional seating.

26. Dreamy Canopy Curtains: - Hang dreamy canopy curtains for an ethereal atmosphere in your bedroom.

27. Mirrored Furniture: - Incorporate mirrored furniture for added glamour and a spacious feel.

28. Layered Bedding Textures: - Mix and match bedding textures like linen, velvet, and silk for a luxurious look.

29. Window Seat Nook: - Create a cozy window seat nook with cushions and throw pillows for a tranquil reading spot.

30. Statement Accent Chair: - Place a statement accent chair in a corner for a stylish and functional addition.

31. Textured Wall Panels: - Enhance your bedroom's texture with textured wall panels or wood paneling.

32. Dressing Screen: - Use a dressing screen for privacy and a touch of vintage charm.

33. Minimalist Floating Shelves: - Install minimalist floating shelves for a sleek and clutter-free display.

34. Vanity Table: - Set up a vanity table with a chic mirror for your beauty routine.

35. Luxurious Bed Canopy: - Elevate your bed with a luxurious canopy for a regal touch.

36. Dramatic Black Accents: - Introduce black accents through decor items or furniture for a touch of drama.

37. Layered Curtains: - Layer curtains with sheers and blackout options for flexibility in light control.

38. Patterned Bedspread: - Opt for a patterned bedspread to add visual interest and personality.

39. Cozy Reading Nook: - Create a cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair and good lighting.

40. Monogrammed Bedding: - Personalize your bedding with monogrammed pillows or sheets.

41. Gold and Metallic Accents: - Incorporate gold or metallic accents for a touch of opulence.

42. Wall-Mounted TV: - Mount a TV on the wall for entertainment without taking up floor space.

43. Elegant Crown Molding: - Add elegant crown molding for a touch of architectural charm.

44. Serene Ocean Vibes: - Create a calming ocean-inspired bedroom with blue hues and nautical decor.

[goldenheartgirl1]

Ch.5-Blooming of an Apple TWST Mafia AU

The city was not what Epel expected, it was busy and companies were cut throat as he imagined, but getting a small job was a pain in itself. Money makes the world go ‘round, that was a saying that was more true when he entered the city, it drove Epel batty. Epel was currently going through extra curricular college with his family's support, they waited on the farm but he was determined to get a college degree in agronomy to help better his family farm. However, they could only provide so much with all the needs of the farm growing, so Epel was extremely frugal with his money and a job was still needed to keep him afloat. He technically still was in high school but being connected to a popular farm he was offered a chance to start college classes instead of taking the highschool classes, to which Epel excitedly agreed on. There was nothing special in his cheap apartment, he was surrounded by the deafening city with blaring car horns and thousands of voices echoed in the streets, up on the third floor of this apartment complex was where Epel stayed. Upon entering the apartment you could immediately see the one-person sized kitchen, the living room and dining area, and the door to the bathroom. The walls were a dull bone white color, the floor was faded oak wood and only one window in the room allowed any natural light, or at least the natural light that was not polluted by neon in the night. A mere four steps to the left and the bedroom could be found with a single bed and a cheap wardrobe propped against the wall with a larger mirror beside it. 

Epel’s apartment complex was designed to be small and thin, where all rooms could be seen just standing in any particular part of the place. But, for Epel it worked, it was affordable and a short commute to his college. Keeping up with college was no issue, and with his learning experiences on the farm it made some classes easier than others, yet money was always weighing on his mind. Sometimes skipping meals was a necessity and canceling any and all subscriptions was a must, his only entertainment came from books his parents gave to him or drawing in his notebook, and occasionally when he was eating some home grown apples he would start carving them into different shapes. It was a mundane life to say the least. After sending out applications to over 17 places, having to quit his current job due to safety violations that made the boy uncomfortable, he finally was called into one place for an interview in the morning. Feeling a rush of adrenaline the lavender haired boy hurried to pick out a nice olive green dress shirt and black slacks for tomorrow before settling to bed with a protein bar and grabbed his book to read.

“Alright, you can do this..it ain’t nothin’ big, just questions that you answer with the honest truth!”

After a thorough psyching, Epel took a breath and stepped into the store with the golden label of “Délices D'aconit” with a peacock blue background. Inside the shop it was blinding with white LED light panels covering the ceiling, from the center of the large cosmetic store a large arcadia crystal chandelier hung and sparkled above the customers, each display stand and furniture item had a gold accent and the walls were an elegant macaroon creme white. Everything was so overwhelming and even the faintest smell of an apple spice aroma warmed the room and Epel’s body. The boy was not a fan of makeup, or even familiar with any fancy products, but since this is the only place to call him he cannot risk screwing this up. Nervously he spoke with one of the staff workers, who gladly led him further into the store until they reached the stairs and went upstairs. Downstairs was filled with basic cosmetics, but upstairs was filled with the elite products with advertisements everywhere of famous celebrities. Epel was frankly shocked by how much some of the stuff cost, there was a one ounce bottle of foundation that was worth 140 thaumarks!

They walked to a locked door and the worker knocked before telling Epel to wait there and she returned to work, leaving the poor light blue eyed boy there overstimulated by the store. He muttered to himself after she left. “Is this part of their initiation? Tryn’ to intimidate me?”

When the door swung open Epel had to repress a shriek when a rather passionate man stepped out and greeted him in french. “Bienvenu! I am Rook Hunt, the head manager of Délices D'aconit. You must be Epel?”

His heart was beating so fast he could feel it in his throat, Epel just gave a modest smile and reached his right hand out. “Y-yeah, that’s me. I’m so thrilled ya’ll called me here.”

A black-gloved hand clasped his in a firm grip and shook Epel’s smaller hand, and the courteous smile from the stranger made the smaller boy shudder in apprehension. The man before him had sunflower blond mid-length hair cut in a bob style with straight-cut bangs, piercing emerald green eyes, and he wore brown winged eyeliner. Strangely enough his clothes were just the standard uniform of black slacks and a nice white dress shirt, but he wore a wide-brimmed brown hat with a large white feather on top. He let go of Epel’s hand and started to look over his appearance, even circling the farm-boy as he hummed to himself before asking in a cheerful voice.

“You must be from the farming country, oui? I will let you in on a little secret, if you want to work here then you need to learn to drop the accent.”

“Huh? Why’s that? It’s not like anyone couldn’t figur’ what I say.” Epel’s accent was heavy from his upbringing, he saw no issues with his speech and there were only a couple times someone has had trouble understanding him.

“Because we have lots of high-end clientele, they expect all of our employees to represent the beauty and a sense of breathtaking stature! Je ne sais quoi, is the best way to explain it.”

While it did sort of irk Epel, he still desperately needed this job and reluctantly agreed. “Well I..I’ll try to lessen my accent. Is there anything else I should be worried about?”

“Not that I can think of~ Now it is time for Vil’s judgment! You see, he owns this store and his own cosmetic line, and he prefers to pick his new employees personally.” Rook replied before gently pushing Epel into the room and closing the door behind them. The room was brightly lit just like everything else but it only contained an office space with two desks on either side of the room with separate computers, and at one desk the owner himself sat. 

Epel was mildly surprised by the person in front of him, fair skin was warmly complimented by the light beige blonde hair that draped down to almost reach the base of his neck, the beige color faded into a light purple at the tips and side-parted bangs with two loose braids on both sides, that connect at the back of his head. Epel could see the braids were held together in the back with a gold barrette, shaped like a heart with a sword going through it. Vil sat in his chair for a moment longer before flicking his wisteria colored eyes towards the two people in the office and stood up. A beautiful violet silk shirt fitted to the man’s frame, along with his white pants, and on his feet he wore violet ankle boots with gold heels. 

A refined smile tugged at the man’s lips, his eyes popped out more when Epel noticed the dark eyeshadow around the wisteria orbs, he then gently motioned for Epel to sit in the chair in front of the desk. “Welcome, I am Vil Schoenheit. You are Epel Felmier I presume?”

“Y-yes sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Epel replied, sitting in the chair and doing his best to drop his accent and resist the urge to fiddle with his clothes. 

Much like Rook, Vil took a moment to take in Epel’s appearance, to which the younger teen had to grip onto his legs to prevent fiddling with his shirt or hands. After a few seconds the bewitching man sat back down and began to speak. “Epel, how much do you know about make up?”

“I uh..Not very much sir, b-but I’m eager to learn!” 

“That’s what I like to hear. You have charming features so I’m sure you’ll fit in well here! We do require our staff to advertise some of our products, even simple things like wearing foundation. And from what Rook has noticed on your resume, the last place you worked at had you organizing and researching alternative products?”

“Yes..I just have a knack for finding things that are more natural.” Epel gave a half-hearted shrug, trying not to grimace at the idea of wearing make up as he further explained. “We had a lot of customers comment that not everything we sold was free from chemicals. So I did some research on my own and proposed it..but my boss was not impressed.”

Vil’s eyes stared into Epel before he said firmly. “I need someone with that sort of thinking, cosmetology is complicated and there are many beautiful faces in the world that are sensitive to certain products. If you are going to work here I need that same dedication and determination to better your understanding of our products.”

Epel quickly replied, not wanting to miss out on this job opportunity. “And I promise you’ll get it! I will ask questions and take time to look up some of our product's information!”

Rook gave a smile and a knowing look to Vil, who returned the look with a nod before standing up from his desk and holding a hand out to Epel. “I will hold you to that promise, welcome Epel. I will expect you here Friday afternoon for your first training.”

Epel happily took his hand and agreed to the first day of work, immediately after letting go of Vil’s hand, Rook led him to his own desk and took the time to prepare a work schedule for the teen. The lavender haired teen left that afternoon with a big smile, even treating himself to some take-out and enjoying some videos online when he arrived home. His first shift after school was calming, many employees showered him with compliments on how pretty he looked and showed him the ropes of where everything was, Rook primarily walked with him that day. Saturday, a busy day that was perfect practice for helping customers and checking people out at the registers, but much to Epel’s dismay he did have to wear eyeliner. Third and fourth day? Busy and chaotic. Fifth and sixth? Annoying, all the others ever talked about was the makeup and how beautiful Vil was on screen. Epel almost reached his wits end on the seventh day, it was not as if the pay was not going to be worth it, but hearing all the narcissistic, arrogant, and cosmetically absorbed conversations were starting to get to him.

It came to Epel’s attention that he had no connection to his fellow coworkers, Rook was fairly interesting and talked more about his interests rather than just makeup, but even he was constantly complimenting Vil. His boss was barely in the store due to being a model, but whenever Vil did show up he always had something to say about him or the way the store appeared. Epel had to admit, learning about their products was interesting and he even recommended some more natural makeup items for the store to sell, but for the most part he stayed away from the others as much as possible. Figuring out how to repress his accent and apply his eyeliner was the most painful thing to do on a daily basis. Between work and school Epel was exhausted, having to be in school from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon and then work from four until nine in the evening was draining. Sunday was the only day he had officially off and it was still filled with chores, studying, and other grown up tasks that grinded on Epel’s sanity. The pay was a bit higher than average rates though so Epel just had to grin and bear it. 

One wednesday night of October, Epel found himself closing with Rook and all of the other staff had either gone home or could not make it in, it was painfully slow that night and they still had 10 minutes before officially closing. All Epel wanted to do was go home and enjoy the grilled steak he still had from last night. Vil walked in just as Epel had finished dusting some of the light fixtures and stormed off to his office while calling out in a jaded tone. “Rook! Office, now!”

Rook’s eyes narrowed as he quickly followed after him and called back to Epel in a firm but pleasant manner. “Please watch the store, I will return soon.”

Epel was left in confusion but watched the clock until it ticked down to the last second, as soon as nine o’clock hit on the screen the teen practically ran to close up the doors and pull the curtains closed. Rook and Vil still had not returned so he decided to start turning off all the spotlights first, heading upstairs to get the second floor done first. One by one the rows of LED bulbs powered down and sky blue eyes noticed the slightly opened door to the office, yet despite his brain telling him to mind his own business something drew him to that door. As if like a marionette, Epel found himself pulled towards the ajar door and glanced in to see Vil and Rook having a very quiet and serious conversation. 

“Mon ami, please try to calm down-”

“Rook, he followed me. Do you have any idea how unnerving that is?”

Was Vil being stalked? Epel grew a bit worried now, if his boss was being stalked then that explained why he seemed so snappy when he came in. Rook only continued to talk, interrupting Vil and expressing his concern. “Oui, I understand, but Cater is not one to follow without order. More than likely he was trying to see where you were heading.”

“The fact that he was following me in the first place is my concern. If Riddle knows I am attending the party at Perdita’s estate then he will send someone to cut me off from seeing her.”

“Do you want me to go with you? I can clean up quickly.” Rook suggested with a smile and peppy tone.

“I need you to keep the Cards out.” Vil replied bitterly and waved his right hand absentmindedly. “The faster they fold, the easier it will be for me to retrieve her video surveillance.”

Perdita, that was the woman that founded the flawless facial cream that Epel was forced to try, why would Vil need access to her home security? For that matter, who was trying to stop Vil? Alarms started ringing in Epel’s head at the thought of working for a crook or some government agency, but he had to listen because things were still not making any sense.

“Remind me, what did she do?”

“Supposedly illegal animal testing for the products she makes, along with affairs and has a bad habit of spending more than she has. I already found evidence of her testing procedures, all I care about now is seeing if she has had an affair.”

“Sournois~ Is she part of the contracting committee?”

“Unfortunately no, but her husband is the owner of a popular jewelry store, someone with that kind of wealth has no care in the farm lands or the Afterglow district. If we can convince them to put their vote against the construction expansion then maybe we’ll have more leverage.”

Epel’s body tensed up, his breath shallow as he slowly moved away from the door, he had to call someone or just anyone that would listen. Keeping slow steps he started to walk down the stairs, but before he made it even halfway his body was yanked backwards from someone grabbing the back of his shirt. The boy struggled of course, reaching both hands back and clawing into the wrist of his assailant before using his entire body weight to slam them into the metal railing of the staircase. A pained gasp left the attacker and released Epel for a moment, letting the smaller teen dash down the stairs before he could be captured again. By the last step Epel’s heart pounded to the sound of hurried steps behind him, he quickly ran to the back door and sped around displays and corners to shake off his pursuer. When both fair-skinned hands shoved the back door open, the brightness of the store made it harder for his eyes to adjust quickly to the darkness that engulfed the city, yet his attempt to run was quickly interrupted when two hands grabbed onto his arms tightly.

An involuntary gasp left Epel from the spiking fingers that dug into his biceps at just the amount of pressure to keep him from struggling further. “Let me go!”

“Epel, what have you heard?”

Sky blue eyes widened as his eyes finally adjusted and looked up to see Vil staring down at him with a vexed expression, Rook came out of the building and chuckled with a strained smile as he held his right side. “Aie..ça fait mal..You’re stronger than you look Epel!”

Immediately the need to free himself occurred to Epel, he slammed the heel of his shoe down on Vil’s foot, only gaining a grunt from the man before the younger one found his back against the cement wall. Vil’s eyes were cold and filled with impatience, they bore into Epel’s as the teen realized just how strong Vil was in comparison to him, the throbbing on his back and the back of his head just proved it. Rook stood by with his left hand clutching his right side, staring at Epel and Vil with a detached yet troubled look, he briefly glanced at his friend as he cautioned. “Vil, be gentle. Epel, what exactly did you hear?”

“How should I know?!” Epel suddenly screeched, his accent reappearing which took both of his bosses off guard. “What in tarnation we’re ya’ll talking about? Blackmail? Parties? Cards? Someone called Cater? Somethin’ about miss Perdita, but whatar’ you tryin’ to do?! If it’s wha’ I think then I will tell the police!”

Vil and Rook just stared silently, but the grip on Epel’s arms never loosened up, the lavender haired boy’s chest heaved from his breathless yelling and only glared at Vil with determination. Surprisingly, Vil relaxed and released the teen, only to then say in a quiet and measured tone. “You picked up all of that and remembered key details..Epel, how would you feel about earning more money on the side? Granted, if you say no I could easily just ruin your scholarship and send you right back to the farm from which you came, so choose your answer wisely.”

“V-vil!” Rook gasped in shock, walking closer as Epel leaned on the wall with confusion. “There is no chance he would join in our business, and it is too dangerous.”

“That is up to him..” Vil replied, crossing his arms and never took his stern eyes off Epel. “Remember, there is no going back to a normal life whether you say yes or no, either ruin your chances or take the leap.”

Epel couldn’t even begin to process what Vil was really asking of him, but he knew it was a threat to his future. Vil gestured to the back door of the building, his behavior changing abruptly to a kinder tone. “Let us talk inside.” 

“No! You get to tell me right now!” Epel demanded and then questioned. “Are you both secret agents ‘r somethin’? Some gang members?”

Rook began to laugh loudly, hissing in pain a bit at the bruise forming on his side. “We are part of our own work. We do have ties to others in the city, but our job is less physical and more informational.”

“You see Epel,” Vil spoke, patting the invisible dirt off his gloves. “We take great pride in providing information that benefits the people of Afterglow and Ernte’s farmland district. Politicians, company owners, financial supporters, anyone that wants the construction to develop, we take great lengths to persuade them to think otherwise. When I found out you were from one of the farms I wanted to give you the opportunity to work for me, not many jobs pay well or want a farm boy.”

Eyes widened and Epel’s jaw dropped slightly at Vil’s words, he was taken off guard to be honest. “So..yer’ not assassins or anything?”

“Informants.” Rook smiled sweetly and elaborated further. “In a way, we are spies. With Vil’s fame it is easy to find dirt on those that threaten the poorer areas.”

“But..why do you both care?”

“I cannot stand those that trample on others,” Vil spoke bitterly, baring his teeth for a second before looking in Rook’s direction. “Those that have power and use it to hurt others disgust me.”

Rook nodded sadly and added to Vil’s statement. “And my family is in the Afterglow district, I could not forgive myself if I watched them being pushed out and homeless..”

The confessions stung Epel’s heart, both seemed so collected but their voices rang with anguish and loathing, they sounded so unconsoled from their pain. “What would you have me do?”

They looked at the teen and Vil gave an impressed smirk as he explained. “I would need you to help gather information, you will be paid, but you need to be loyal to us and train hard. This is a secret, not even your family can know, and when I call upon you then you must answer swiftly no matter what is going on in your life.”

Only two choices, crumbling and disappointing hell or secretiveness and promising a good future, this made his answer roll off his tongue. “I’m in.”

[ausetkmt]

I’ll admit right up front here that I’m kind of a wimp when it comes to creepy stuff. I’ve never been into scary movies, and even cover my eyes during the fake surgery scenes in “House.” But on my first trip to Italy, when I heard there was a chapel in Rome which had decorated its walls with the bones of more than 4,000 monks, I knew I had to see it. Little did I know at the time, bone churches in Europe aren’t that uncommon.

Which is excellent news if you, like me, are on a mission to see all the bone churches you can.

Bone churches, more accurately called “ossuaries,” exist in several countries in Europe, and can consist of everything from piles of decorated skulls to pieces of wall art made up of various human bones. If you’d like to make a tour of Europe’s bone churches, these are the spots you’ll definitely want to have on your list.

Capuchin Crypt – Rome, Italy

Since this was my introduction to bone churches – and a fine introduction at that – let’s have it be your introduction as well. Rome’s Capuchin Crypt occupies a tiny space underneath the Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione dei Cappuccini church in Rome. And while it’s not a crypt in the same sense as the Paris catacombs, the walls of this series of small chapels are entirely decorated with the bones of Capuchin monks, so the word “crypt” definitely feels like an apt moniker when you’re there.

The soil in the crypt was brought from Jerusalem and is considered holy, so burial space disappeared quickly. To make room for additional people who wanted to be buried in that soil, they began removing bones of previously-buried monks and stacking them. Eventually, someone had the brilliant (well, I think it’s brilliant, anyway) idea of using those bones to decorate the walls.

“”As you are, we once were. As we are, you shall be one day.””

The crypt features the bones of more than 4,000 monks who died between 1528 and 1870. There are six small chapels in the Capuchin Crypt, and all but one is creatively adorned with bones. Furthermore, some of the bone-covered chapels feature predominantly one particular bone. For instance, there’s a “Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones” and a “Crypt of the Pelvises.”

My favorite bits of decor are the little grim reaper sculpted from bones, featured on one chapel’s ceiling, and the sign in the final chapel which says, “As you are, we once were. As we are, you shall be one day.” These may not be signs of the monks having a sense of humor, but they certainly make me giggle.

Sedlec Ossuary – Sedlec, Czech Republic

Outside the town of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic (an easy and popular day-trip from Prague) sits the town of Sedlec, which may be famous for nothing besides its tiny bone church. Located beneath the Church of All Saints, the Sedlec Ossuary is – like the Capuchin Crypt – a massive collection of bones which have been arranged as art on the walls.

The ossuary was built in the 15th century in order to make room in the small adjacent cemetery for more burials, but it wasn’t until 1870 that the collected piles of bones were put to any kind of artistic use. That year, a local wood carver was hired to make sense of the bone chaos – but it’s unclear whether his bone art was exactly what the church had in mind.

“… a local wood carver was hired to make sense of the bone chaos – but it’s unclear whether his bone art was exactly what the church had in mind.”

Among the decorations in the Sedlec Ossuary, there’s a coat of arms on one wall representing a prominent local family of the time, and a massive chandelier (that actually works) hanging in the center of the room made entirely from bones. Not only that, the “artist” left his mark in bones – his signature and the date is crafted in bones near the church’s entrance.

Medieval Ossuary – Wamba, Spain

The tiny town of Wamba outside the city of Valladolid in northern Spain is home to yet another giant collection of bones, and like many other bone churches the original reason for piling the bones up was a simple lack of space remaining in the cemetery. The Medieval Ossuary in Wamba is in the Church of Santa Maria and contains bones from hundreds of villagers who died between the 12th and 18th centuries.

Unlike some of the other bone churches, the Wamba ossuary doesn’t have walls or ceilings which are ornately decorated with bones. Instead, the bones are just in huge piles – they’re organized piles, but they’re piles. Researchers have studied the bones and learned a great deal about medieval village life in Spain, but since all the bones are mixed together it’s impossible to put together a complete skeleton of one particular human being.

“As you see yourself, I saw myself too. As you see me, you will see yourself. Everything ends in this. Think about it and you won’t fall into sin.”

The designers of the Wamba ossuary wanted to convey the same kind of message to visitors as the designers of the Capuchin Crypt in Rome, because a sign over the entrance to the ossuary/shrine reads: “As you see yourself, I saw myself too. As you see me, you will see yourself. Everything ends in this. Think about it and you won’t fall into sin.”

Hallstatt Karner – Hallstatt, Austria

While most of the bone churches in Europe are filled with the bones of people who died hundreds of years ago, the ossuary in Hallstatt is different. The tradition in Austria has long been that graves are merely rented, and once the rental period is up bones are exhumed and moved to a karner, or bone house. The little Austrian village of Hallstatt is so small that the grave-rental period is a short 10 years.

“…and each skull has been lovingly painted with its previous owner’s name, profession, and death dates.”

One Hallstatt karner in particular, the Roman Catholic parish church, draws more visitors than just relatives paying their respects, as it has the skulls of more than 600 people on display – and each skull has been lovingly painted with its previous owner’s name, profession, and death dates.

While the last skull in the Hallstatt ossuary – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – dates from 1983, there are still requests today for individual skulls to be placed there after being appropriately dried and decorated.

San Bernardino alle Ossa – Milan, Italy

In the high fashion capital that is Milan, you might not expect something as morbid as a bone church. But a few steps from the city’s famous Duomo is a church with a tiny chapel in the back that’s absolutely full of bones. The church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is unremarkable in most respects, but once you find the sign pointing you to the “ossario,” you’re in luck.

The footprint of the ossuary is incredibly small, but the ceiling soars overhead so there’s plenty of space on the high walls for the stacks of bones. For the most part, there’s nothing much that’s artistic about the displays – they’re essentially just carefully placed skulls and large bones. But in the two biggest wall panels, the large bones make up the background while the skulls are strategically arranged to make the symbol of the cross.

Capela dos Ossos – Evora, Portugal

Bone churches by and large tend to be structures into which piles of bones have been placed. The Capela dos Ossos in the Church of St. Francis in Evora, Portugal, on the other hand, seems to be made of bones. The very walls of the chapel have bones in them, with cement holding everything together. Even the pillars supporting the ceiling have skulls running up and down them.

Built in the 16th century, the Capela dos Ossos (or Chapel of Bones) was built with the goal of pointing out how short life is. The poem at the chapel’s entrance emphasizes this, as it reads in part, “Where are you going in such a hurry, traveler? Pause … You have no greater concern than this one. … Recall how many have passed from this world, reflect on your similar end. Our bones that are here await yours.”

“Where are you going in such a hurry, traveler? Pause … You have no greater concern than this one. … Recall how many have passed from this world, reflect on your similar end. Our bones that are here await yours.”

Estimates are that there are roughly 5,000 bodies whose skeletons are represented in the chapel, and if that’s not macabre enough for you there are also two bodies hanging from chains – and one of them is that of a child.

Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo – Palermo, Italy

For many, the word “catacombs” conjures up images of the underground burial vaults in Paris and Rome where bones are stacked along the walls. In Palermo, it’s something quite different. The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are famous not just for the interesting way in which the dead are arranged, but also because of one amazingly well-preserved mummy.

Once again, the Palermo catacombs got their start in the late 16th century when the monks ran out of space in the cemetery. The climate in the underground space turned out to be ideal for preserving bodies, such that even some of the oldest skeletons in the catacombs still have some skin and hair left on them.

The last body to be placed in the catacombs was that of a two-year-old girl called Rosalia Lombardo, who remains so lifelike today that she looks like she could wake up from her nap any second and run outside to play – except she died in 1920. Rosalia’s body was perfectly preserved thanks to an embalming method which was, at the time, revolutionary. The specific formula was lost for decades, but was recently rediscovered – and what’s more, it still works.

St. Michan’s Church – Dublin, Ireland

While this isn’t technically a bone church, it fits nicely under the category of places to see skeletons. The burial vault that was built underneath St. Michan’s Church in Dublin may not have been intended as the perfect place to preserve bodies, but the limestone walls have resulted in a space where nothing rots. So as the coffins around the bodies disintegrate over time, the bodies themselves are left exposed and largely mummified.

Many of the bodies kept under St. Michan’s aren’t on public display, but visitors still flock to see the room containing four caskets without lids. The bodies of the four are entirely visible, including the mummified skin, and two of the bodies were cut into pieces before they went into their coffins. One of the bodies in the vault is a nun buried 400 years ago, though she’s not one of the bodies that’s visible to the public.

Catacombs – Paris, France

One of the most well-known collections of bones is also the largest and most-visited. The Catacombs of Paris contain a whopping six million bodies’ worth of bones spanning the walls of more than 300km of tunnels. You won’t see it all, and you shouldn’t try – but a guided tour is definitely something on many tourist to-do lists.

“The Catacombs of Paris contain a whopping six million bodies’ worth of bones…”

The Paris Catacombs exist partly because the city was running out of burial space, but also because cemeteries which were in the city limits were officially condemned because people living near them were getting sick. In the late 1780s the first bodies were moved into the underground tunnels, and it was opened to the public as a tourist attraction less than 100 years later.

[nwbeerguide]

The Seattle Mariners, along with Hatback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley, welcome you to Victory Hall.

image of Victory Hall, courtesy the Seattle Mariners

Located just minutes from the T-Mobile Park, Hatchback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley invite you to visit Victory Hall. Opening on Opening Day celebrating the start of the Seattle Mariners’ 2023 season, Victory Hall is your launchpad or home base for Seattle sports.

Opening at 3 pm, March 30th, fans and visitors will be nourished by two full-service bars, with 20 beers on draft all from the comfort of a 21 and over, exclusive indoor beer garden. During your visit, you’ll be serenaded by Deejay Hershe with the backdrop of baseball (or other sporting events) projected against a 20’ x 11’ TV. Course, for those who wish to roam you’ll catch up on the game, teams around the country, from five 100-inch flat screens throughout the space. 

Whether you're transcending between the indoor beer garden or the 1,200 square-foot outdoor patio, a breathtaking folding glass door greets you.

For those assuming this space is exclusive for the Seattle Mariners, the managers and staff have confirmed this will be an official bar for the Seahawks, Sounder, along with the Mariners. But like any sports watching destination, the televised games will change each day, with schedules posted on the Victory Hall website.

For those looking for an early start on Opening Day, look to the adjacent Hatback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley, which will be open at 11am.

While you’re there, check out Opening Day food trucks, Paella House and Isidro’s Authentic Mexican Food.

Reaching out to Victory Bar regarding the construction and what made this building so unique they shared the following. 

Victory Hall is housed in a historical railroad warehouse that dates back to 1914. The 9,500-square-foot space features 18-foot ceilings, preserved fir tree columns, historically preserved wooden ceiling beams, the original exposed brick walls, and the remains of a painted mural that is believed to have been the exterior facade of the 1914 warehouse.  

Luxurious polished concrete floors are surrounded by blackened wood walls stained to mirror the bar counters made by Pioneer Millwork using the Shou Sugi Ban method, a Japanese technique used to industrially char wood.  The space boasts 10 industrial chic steel chandeliers custom designed and fabricated by Resolute. The cut-out motif of the lighting is inspired by baseball stitching and a nod to the Mariners.

Besides food, drinks, audio-visual entertainment, and two locations for socializing, Victory Hall has partnered with Apicii, with its best-in-class catering, for those wishing to host events at Victory Hill. 

Besides this, the Mariners are opening The Boxyard which will feature an indoor beer garden, during Mariners, Sounders, or Seahawks home games, as well as concerts. All of this including Hatback Bar & Grille, Steelheads Alley, and the upcoming baseball and softball training center, await everyone. Reflecting on the progress towards creating an entertainment destination for Seattle sports fans, Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President Fred Rivera shared this. 

We’re excited for our fans to be able to experience Victory Hall on Opening Day and continue to see The Boxyard grow. Our expansion in the Sodo neighborhood is part of our larger goal to invest in our community and help bring more economic opportunities to the place we call home.

Victory Hall is at 12011st Ave South in Seattle, Washington, next to Hatback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley. For more information including games, events, and hours, visit www.mariners.com/victoryhall.

About Apicii 

Apicii is a New York City based hospitality company that has developed and operates a collection of acclaimed restaurants, bars, membership clubs and private event spaces across the country. Apicii is led by Tom Dillon, who has an unparalleled, 30-year track record in hospitality, having created, developed, or operated leading global brands, including 5 of the 100 top grossing restaurants in America. Tom has operated venues which have been covered extensively in the press and been awarded Best New Restaurant in America, as well as several Michelin starred venues. To learn more, visit www.apicii.com.

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3zgZHI6

[dynamicelectricworld]

Discover the Elegance of Fancy Fans with Dynamic Electric World

Are you looking to elevate the aesthetics of your home while keeping it cool? Look no further than fancy fans! Fancy fans are more than just cooling devices; they are a stylish addition to any room, blending functionality with stunning design. At Dynamic Electric World, we bring you a wide range of elegant and innovative fancy fan that cater to your unique taste and style. In this blog, we will explore why fancy fans are the perfect choice for modern homes and how Dynamic Electric World stands out as your go-to destination for these stunning ceiling pieces.

fancy fan

What Makes Fancy Fans So Special?

Fancy fans have become a popular choice among homeowners, interior designers, and decorators due to their ability to combine utility with aesthetic appeal. Here’s what sets them apart:

Stylish Designs: Unlike traditional ceiling fans, fancy fans come in an array of designs, ranging from sleek, minimalist styles to ornate, vintage-inspired models. This versatility allows you to find the perfect fan that complements your room’s décor.

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Enhances Room Ambiance: Fancy fans can drastically improve the ambiance of a room. Whether it's a luxurious chandelier fan for your dining room or a modern, sleek fan for your living space, the right fan can become a conversation starter.

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Why Choose Dynamic Electric World for Your Fancy Fans?

Dynamic Electric World is a trusted name in the electrical products industry, renowned for offering top-notch, stylish, and durable fans. Here’s why you should consider us when shopping for fancy fans:

Wide Variety of Options: At Dynamic Electric World, we provide a diverse collection of fancy fans to suit different tastes and preferences. Whether you are looking for something modern, vintage, or a statement piece, you’ll find the perfect fan with us.

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Top Fancy Fan Picks from Dynamic Electric World

Here are some of our top picks that have been favorites among our customers:

Chandelier Fancy Fan: Perfect for adding a touch of luxury to your living or dining room. This fan features crystal embellishments and a powerful motor, creating a stunning centerpiece.

Wooden Blade Fan with LED: A great blend of classic and modern, this fan comes with reversible wooden blades and integrated LED lights, making it ideal for any room.

Minimalist Metal Fan: For those who prefer a sleek, understated look, our metal fans provide a modern aesthetic without compromising on performance.