O King of Misrule

"Who protecteth Nirn from roguish particles, ye ill from on high? The Aurora, curtain of light that wrappeth the globe in its folds."

--The Guardian of Stars

Gold posey ring inscribed "My Heart You Have/ And Yours I Crave" English, 17th-18th century

from Timeline Auctions

Wood and faience game board with pieces, Egypt, 18th Dynasty, circa 1550-1295 BC

from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

End of the Road (Nicolas Delort)

Forest glade, Santa Barbara, Julius Leblanc Stewart, 1918

DM: She pulls out a large rock and speaks into it...

Me, OOC: Oh my God, it's a rockie-talkie!

DM: [After a solid 30 seconds of laughter] I have never heard anyone call a Sending Stone a "rockie-talkie".

Eden lets out the breath they were holding as an amused huff and a mutter "thank you" as they cast their eyes down to their hands, and Roland's hands, as the dance resumes around them. An illusion unshattered. Roland greets them not as an intruder, but simply an unexpected guest -- or something like that.

To be honest, they'd spent so much time flitting from dream to dream to dream that they rarely contemplated their own condition. Their dress shimmered in an impossibly-shifting way, like motion under the surface of dark water, like the memories that left their handprints in so many places but eluded Eden's ability to recall. Still, they could catch one thing -- a reason as to why. But why ruin the party with that?

"I think..." They raise their head again and answer, "I think the first is true? I think I'm also asleep, somewhere out there. But, ah..."

They shake their head lightly. "There is a purpose, it's just... my memory doesn't aid me much here admittedly, and it's depressing besides. I can assure you I don't intend to take anything from you, if you worry about such things. You have a delightful dream here-"

Eden raise their hands clasped in Roland's, in invitation. "-Is it so bad to return to the revelry?"

"Thou art buoyed by the sweet clarity of a river gone through its secular Path," says Roland, and his antler'd head bobs with his own definition. He raises, too, their clasped hands, and beams with all the serenity of joyfulness, of amiability, and perfect in his golden friendliness. "We shall! Wilt thou lead? Or dost thou find comfort in mine own feet?" asks he.

"Of how long hast thou traveled?" inquires Roland, too, and now that the proverbial dam is broken and all Sight is clear in its crystalline shine, none shalt he hold back his fantastic curiosity. "Hast thou done this for all of thine life, Woodland Being?"

Despite the adrenaline in the moment, Vailintin's rabbit-heart beating out of their chest, Roland's kiss is soft. They cup his cheeks and close their eyes; stealing a fraction of time in their harried getaway to pour out their heart to Roland.

The stars above them light their path as they make good their escape. Vailintin is deeply curious of the goodies in Roland's bag. What books and trinkets has he absconded with to ignite the ire of the guards."

"I am having fun now," Vaillintin says as they untie their skirt and let it hide their bare feet. Their shoes are back up with the guards somewhere; Vailintin will be barefoot for the rest of the night and the stones are cool against the soles of their feet. "What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, dear?"

He snickers in triumph, swinging their clasped hands like a giddy childe.

"Such of the illegal Form," comes Roland's smarmy answer, and he performs this handsomeness with a pretty, cunning wink. "They art bound for snatch'd artifacts and wondr'us philosophy of stolen fossils for the lesser-known tribes and accoutrements of intermediate reality; I hath reclaimed them," says Roland proudly, and snickers in appling, dimpling cheeks.

The kiss placed on her forehead had her smile remaining before she gave a nod of her head to his proposal. "I would love to." Her words were soft, yet there was a hint of excitement to them. "I think a new drink would be lovely." Happily taking a hold of his hand, she gave a playful tug of his arm, guiding him to a nearby booth.

He beams, sweet brevity like heady bubbles to fill his veins, and he releases her embrace to offer her a chosen seat at a nearby booth, his palm spread and theatric in the bend of his waist.

"How goes thee?" asks he, once more, as he waves for a waiter; borne for a late dinner, and something wonderfully alcoholic. "The last we met, thou were spake of the gaming industry?" inquires Roland, such unsure. "Art thou still within the grounds for computer technology?"

Gold ring with spinel seal and hidden key, India, mid to late 19th century

from Christies

Seven of Cups and The Sun

It's a sort of open-air flea market, you can find all kinds of stuff there.

werewolves and transformation

Magnificent gold and enamel plique-à-jour pendant/brooch designed as a “Morning Glory”. It was once part of the collection of Ada Rehan, a popular actress of the late 19th century who starred in several Shakespearean plays.

Work signed Marcus & Co around 1900. Via The Newark Museum of Art collection

fun words :

Cute gender neutral things to call your partner