and my beloved, neither do you @idontbelcng - Tumblr Blog

⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚ aiysha hart, cis woman, she/her. yes, i know AMANI KARIM. the PAINTER has been in sage lake since 1901, and are still waiting for their soulmate, MELISA PAMUK / ADRIA ARJONA / JANET MONTGOMERY / NATHALIE EMMANUEL / NATALIE DORMER. they’re known around the lake for being SENSIBLE & HEEDFUL & COMPETENT, though it’s rumored they’re DISTANT & CYNICAL & GUARDED. may they find their other half in the ageless autumn.

Heya! My name is Nik ( they/them, she/her, gmt+8 ), and I’m absolutely excited to be here! I’ll be writing for my girl, Amani, and while I don’t think she’s all that keen on interacting with people, I sure as hell am! If you’re interested in plotting, like this post or go right ahead and send me a DM! Under the cut, you’ll find some basic stats and info on Amani. You can find a fuller bio ( and some connections ) in the about section!

#. / looking glass #. / dossier #sage.intro

flawlessbeautyqueens

Aiysha Hart photographed by Simon Emmett for Vanity Fair UK (2019)

#. / looking glass #the power in that first pic.........#get it sis !!!

rafaelxalvarez:

It was a classic wrong place at the wrong time situation. One moment he was in his own world while making his way across the barn, the next he was in the middle of a line dance he had no intention of joining. The whole scene must’ve been comical to any onlookers — Rafael accidentally turning the center of the dance into a jumbled mess while he clumsily moved around in an effort to avoid crashing into any of the lively dancers. The task was, of course, easier said than done. Completely unfamiliar with the dance, it was impossible not to continuously collide into someone — resulting in many embarrassed apologies, his drink spilling all over himself and several others, and the man repeatedly claiming that this was his nightmare.

Once he was finally able to escape the disaster on the dancefloor, he made a beeline for a nearby table where he immediately put his head down. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted to crawl under the table and remain there for the rest of the evening. “There’s no way that could’ve gone worse, is there?”

• • •

To a horrible person like herself, there was something almost morbidly fascinating about watching someone make a complete and utter fool of themselves in front of plenty other people, but being that Rafael Alvarez was someone she knew quite well ( a friend, even, she’d wager to say ) the secondhand embarrassment she felt for him instead won out. Amani found herself pursing her lips momentarily as she watched from a distance, seated alone by a table a ways away from the madness on the dancefloor — and just as Rafael stumbled over, his head low in what could only be shame, she set her glass down, leaned back against her seat, and crossed her arms.

“Oh, I can think of a few ways,” she said matter-of-factly, her face impassive. "Though your little blunder did make things more exciting for a brief moment there.” She offered him the bottle on her table. “Drown your sorrows in drink?”

#eyyy hope this is cool!#. / rafael alvarez 01 #. / new years barn bash

ivannapedreira:

Oh, god, she wondered if she’d spoke too highly of the mac and cheese. What if Amani hated it and never spoke to her again? More pressingly, why did the idea sting so badly? She was under no illusion to assume that the older woman did little more than humor her. But she shook that thought as soon as it was had. “Mhm, I promise…” She prayed she wouldn’t eat those words. The expression on her face was opposite to the uncertainty bubbling under the surface. Still, she wasn’t put off by Amani’s lack of enthusiasm. Over the past three years, she’d just learned to expect it. “Mostly likely. Probably.” Not, but she would reel it back in some. With a triumphant smile, she handed over the spoon. “When have I ever led you astray?” How could Ivanna with her years of wisdom?

• • •

As soon as the spoon was placed upon her palm, Amani closed her hand around it. She’d eaten dinner early on, some time during the beginning of the night, but she’d be lying if she said the mac and cheese didn’t look even the smallest bit inviting. “Sure,” she said briefly, curtly, before trying out the spoonful Ivanna had already prepared for her. Right away, both her eyebrows raised, and she cocked her head approvingly. Her reaction wasn’t all that big by any means, but for someone like Amani, it was more than enough. “I mean it’s not bad,” was her first comment, and she let it set for a few seconds ( perhaps, on some level, just to mess with the other a little ) before nodding and returning the spoon. “No, I’m kidding; it’s pretty good — thank you for the sample. Happy now?”

#. / ivanna pedreira 01 #. / new years barn bash

endingsfated:

Sometimes he believed it — that he was done with waiting, and yet something always kept that little spark of hope in his chest alive. Perhaps he was just too stubborn for his own good. “Do we have anything else to do but wait?” He asked. James had tried to leave once only to end up right back in the little town. “How ironic will it be, if we’re proven wrong.”

• • •

Amani rolled her eyes, not necessarily at James’ comment but more at the thought of being proven wrong. “I suppose,” she said tiredly before taking another long gulp of her drink. “But I’m not holding out hope.” She wasn’t sure whether to be envious or not of his continued trust — no matter how small — in what was to come. “I assume you still keep your watch on you?”

#. / james pierce 01 #. / new years barn bash

ivannapedreira:

Anyone else might have been dissuaded by Amani’s less than cheery disposition. She probably should have been, but it only encouraged Ivanna more. It brought an even wider smile to her face. For whatever reason, she wanted to get her attention. Even if she had to stoop to desperate measures. Ivanna’s pearly whites were on display for the world to see, but they were just directed at Amani. “Uh huh… you do.” Her confidence weakened marginally, because she knew she had a tough audience. She was no fool. Though, she wouldn’t be deterred. “Come on, Amani,” she pleaded, gently nudging her. “You know you want to. It tastes so good! I promise.”

• • •

The urge to roll her eyes and bring a hand up to her temples was resisted with near-Herculean effort. Ivanna hadn’t been around Sage Lake long — three years wasn’t much compared to Amani’s hundred-and-whatever-the-hell — but the two of them had gotten to know each other fairly quickly, and this came as no surprise, considering how utterly friendly and persistent the girl was. She had yet to lose the brightness in her eyes, Amani understood, and a hope not easily snuffed out ran through her like blood in the veins. “You promise,” she repeated, both eyebrows raised now as she looked at her. “If I agree, then you’ll stop nudging me, yes?” Partly as a joke ( but oh, was she bad at those ), she looked pointedly at the mac and cheese, offered her hand for the spoon, and said, “It better be good.”

#jksakjrkse #i will forever apologize on her behalf #ivanna's confidence weakening......................... oops #. / new years barn bash #. / ivanna pedreira 01

avpdsnail

shoutout to that underlying sense of unease that’s made a home in my bones

#. / musings

tolerateit

champagne problems, Taylor Swift

#. / musings

ivannapedreira:

Ivanna lived for these moments when everyone came together in celebration. It was a nice reprieve from knowing they’d never go back. Not that she cared all that much, her life was better for it in the long wrong. She stood off the side from the booths with a bowl of fancy mac and cheese. Each bite was just another from heaven above. The sounds that came out of her mouth couldn’t be helped. Somehow, she wasn’t distracted enough to not notice the other in her peripheral. “You have to try this,” she encouraged, already shoveling out a spoonful for them. “I promise, it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever eaten.”

• • •

Her first instinct was to say something moderately harsh (“doubt it”; “I don’t think so”; “no” — the list went on), but Amani held it in. She was, however, powerless to stop the quirking of her eyebrow, or the dubious expression her face took on when she looked down at Ivanna’s offer. The mac and cheese didn’t look half bad, and it wasn’t like she didn’t believe her when she said it was good — food and drinks were essentially the only reasons she went to these bashes after all. But still. Her dark eyes flickered back up to cast an impassive gaze at her companion, and when she spoke, it was with a voice so grave and so dry, she almost regretted saying anything at all. Almost. “Must I?”

#why is she like this #i'm so sorry ivanna #. / ivanna pedreira 01 #. / new years barn bash

ryebreadgf

nick alm

#. / artwork #. / musings

everlastingdawn:

Aurora smiled as she slid into the seat and flagged down the bartender to order a drink. It was always her first move when she came to one of the parties that was thrown in Sage Lake to get a drink first thing. She found that it helped her relax and helped her to be more social around people she didn’t know well. Though nothing would ever be more enjoyable for her than spending her free time in nature surrounded by pretty things. “Yes. That’s me. You’re Amani aren’t you? I think I’ve seen some paintings that you’ve done. Are you enjoying the party? I always find them a bit overwhelming.”

• • •

Amani allowed a small smile — but a tiny, miniscule stretch of the lips — to grace her features. She did like being recognized for her work. Hard not to be, considering there weren’t many visual artists around in their little world ( calling it a town wouldn’t do their complete isolation from the rest of humanity any justice ), but it was nice to know her portraits and studies had a place somewhere. “I can only hope whatever you’ve seen was to your liking,” she said with a brief nod before taking a sip of her drink. “Party’s fine, I suppose. I’ve no strong opinions on it.” Sort of. “The trick is to just stay back and find someone you can talk to.”

#. / aurora lexington 01 #. / new years barn bash

tvmlcss:

“ is it just me or does this year feel different?” jamie held his drink, actually participating this year. he and new years had a…tentative relationship, one that saw him occasionally refusing to even show his face on the day. he was fine, really, but something about the day just sort of brought back memories of his family that he’d rather not be forced to remember during a public event. shaking his head, he looked toward the person now standing next to him, shooting a polite smile in their direction. “ where are my manners…how’ve you been?”

• • •

Amani furrowed her brow, casting a doubtful side glance at her companion. She took a long sip from her glass of champagne before shaking her head and looking back at the throngs of people celebrating before them. “It’s just you,” she answered dryly, without even giving it a second thought. Certainly, themes and menus and people changed — but these things all changed the same way every year. “Utterly dandy, though, thank you for asking. I see you’ve decided to show your face this year. That mean something?”

#. / james rogers 01 #. / new years barn bash

endingsfated:

To say he’d become a skeptic over the years might have been putting it lightly, but as the years had begun to add up, and his wrist watch had continued to hold high numbers… well, it was hard not to, wasn’t it? Raising his glass to Amani’s words, James offered a mirthless chuckle. “Isn’t that how it always works?” He murmured. “Seems the greener they are, the quicker they find their soulmate. Yet here we stand.” Ancients in comparison to some of those wandering around the barn. “If my sister were here, she’d probably scold me. Say good things that come to those who wait or some nonsense. God knows if she’s right.”

• • •

No truer words were spoken, and Amani would drink to that. Always good to speak to someone who wasn’t completely sold, all wide-eyed and hopeful, about the whole shebang. “I believe we’re long past waiting, you and I,” she muttered, eyes trained straight ahead, watching the crowds carefully. James’ passing mention of his sister briefly touched on something in Amani, but she wasn’t about to entertain it — being here was painful enough as it was. “Reads like a bad joke, doesn’t it — ripped from our families and dropped in the middle of nowhere, then made to wait for something we’re not even sure is going to come. And early birds like us ‘ve been handed the short end of the stick.”

#. / james pierce 01 #. / new years barn bash

— Amani’s about page is up! Come check the connections and hit me up if anything floats your boat, you cool cats! CLICK HERE !

#. / ooc #. / looking glass #. / dossier #featuring first appearance amani in the graphic lmao

lvbrcrian:

This was, quite possibly, her least favourite time of the year ( she wasn’t too big on social events and winter was simply full of them. even if sage lake has not had a single day venturing into another season for the past… what? a hundred and twenty years. a hundred and twenty years. she should not even be alive at this point, let along being youthful and fraternizing with people ). She didn’t really see the point in such festivals, celebrating something that will never come, not for the citizens of Sage Lake - ageless ; eternal. Alone. Yes, she definitely didn’t see the point in such displays of giddiness and merriment, when she can’t really recall when was it last that she felt truly happy? Last decade? Last century?

But, alas, while she did not see the point in fraternizing for herself, she was both smart and empathetic enough to know that not everyone ( or even most of the people ) felt or thought the same way she did. The festivals went out for them, not her, and the least she could do was to attempt to socialise with someone other than her colleague. That is how Xue Yi found herself meandering through the sea of people, her lips stretched into a polite, but undoubtedly very customer service type of smile, greeting people she vaguely knew with a soft dip of her chin.

Heading over to the stool with beverages, Yi clung to her glass of cider like her life depended on it, dark eyes surveying the crowd, mentally checking the people she saw ; talked to him yesterday… oh, she looks nice, love the blazer… is that the - what’s his name again?… I’ve been here for over hundred years, I’m really getting too old for this. Too old? I should be -

Train of thought interrupted by a feeling of another person’s looming presence, Xue Yi turned a tight lipped smile in their direction, mentally preparing herself for whatever it was about to come out of her mouth. “Glorious weather, don’t you think? It really looked like it’ll rain this morning. I almost thought this event would have to be… postponed.”

• • •

The best strategy for getting through events like this, according to what Amani had gathered from years of reluctantly attending annual bash after annual bash, was continuous and deliberate wandering. You had to allow yourself brief conversations with people you knew well enough to have decent talks with, and you had to know when to stay a while and when to hang back and to watch — but ultimately, you had to keep yourself moving. These were necessary tactics; as strong as Amani’s urges were to leave early and dash back home, she had no desire to paint herself in a particularly negative light to those who planned and prepared for things like this. Bitter and frigid as she was, Amani would participate.

Still, it was entirely possible to run into someone you genuinely wanted to catch up with. Sage Lake wasn’t a large town by any means, but it wasn’t small either, and one could easily miss out on opportunities of the sort on this busy New Years’ night. Such was the case here, as Amani spotted an old ( in many more ways than one ) friend of hers back by the beverages. One more conversation then, she thought to herself as she approached, but before a word from her could be uttered, the other — nerves, perhaps? — quickly beat her to the punch.

Straight away, Amani quirked an eyebrow, one corner of her mouth raising in the faintest of smirks. “Does small talk frighten you that much?” she said smoothly, before settling down beside Xue Yi, the woman responsible for the Wormwood Library, and undeniably, Amani’s longest friend in Sage Lake. “You can relax, it’s only me — and I’ve made my sentiments perfectly clear to you before.” She took a quick sip of her drink. “Done much socializing tonight?”

#i guess the old ladies book club meeting is in session now ha....haha #. / xue yi 01 #. / new years barn bash

lacedbeauty:

with the festivities now in full swing, delilah was getting a bit more buzzed than she intended. she has been drowning drink after drink that she had to lean against a post for a second to catch her balance. holding a half-empty glass of wine in her hand, she gazed over the booths and muttered to herself, “ maybe we can have a book fair as well next time. though i’m not sure if anyone would be interested in buying some books in a party like this. ” glancing at the person next to her, she shot them a inquisitive look as she asked for their opinion, “ what do you think? ”

• • •

"I think,” Amani began as she watched Delilah with narrowed, doubtful eyes, “you’ve just about had enough to drink.” Granted, the thought of hosting a book fair alone was massively preferable to attending a New Year’s bash ( a thought she was certain not a lot of people in town shared ), but her friend’s attempt at keeping her balance was just a tad more concerning at the moment. Amani, who’d by this time been at this for years, held her liquor well enough — but it seemed the same couldn’t be said for Delilah. “Love a good book fair, you know that, though perhaps you ought to... hold off on the drinking a little?”

#. / delilah astor 01 #. / new years barn bash

weltenwellen

Susan Sontag, As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh

#. / musings

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and my beloved, neither do you