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USQaf Fic: "Embraced..." - by Xof - Author Notes & PicSpam!!!
"Embraced..." - The Author's Notes - By Xof
Or rather - Pic Spam!!! and London Links Galore!!! Wheeeeeeee...
I wanted to give folks an inside look at the story as it played out in my head. And as such, I'm sharing with you detailed information on the places they went, things they may have seen and what their clothing, tattoos and toys looked like!!!
You will get to *SEE* what you've been reading - and I encourage you all to click on the links provided to find out more about the places they visited.
I went to London a few years back - much to my joy, and I used a lot of the places I saw in the fic, but there are just as many places the boys went, that I didn't! For those, I researched my little heart out so it would read just as well as the ones I'd seen myself.
(I'll put YES or NO next to the sites mentioned so you will know which are which...lol.)
So enjoy - as Brian/Michael did! The photos, the information and a look at Declan/Ashton's London - under the cut.
The following incorporate only the London aspect of "Embraced..." - so I am giving you their travel timeline so you can mirror it with the story.
London Timeline –
London Tour – Virtual Tour – Click Here - Also note, looking for clips about London on YouTube is fun!!!
Sat (1st day) –
Zaika – Click Here (Yes)
Sun (2nd day) –
Covent Garden - Click Here (Yes)
((( Numerology - Ash's Favorite #11 – Click Here & Click Here )))
Full English Breakfast -
Trafalgar Square - Click Here (Yes)
National Gallery – Click Here (Yes)
The National is one HUGE and GORGEOUS space - Have fun browsing the paintings at the link above!
Gifts Brian/Michael bought & the Leonardo Cartoon -
Click Here - Scarf
Click Here - Leonardo Cartoon
Click Here - Petite Danseuse Figurine
Mon (3rd day) –
Tate Museum Site – Click Here (No)
Trust me - You have to see the photos of & from the Tate Modern Online, a few of which will have you saying "That's art?" lol...
Harrods – Click Here (No - but I drove by it a lot!!)
I'd seen documentaries on this place - so I didn't feel like I'd missed out too badly. Still, I would like to browse through one day!
Michael's fitting with Declan's scene taylor - this is what Brian was having Michael fitted for!!!
Tues (4th day) –
British Museum – Click Here (YES!!!)
Exhibit Pics -
The Elgin Marbles from the Pantheon -
And just to PROVE that I didn't make up the ANCIENT STONE WILLY that Ash loved showing them so much!!!
Oh, btw - Ash's little wooden caricature sculptures? They are based on a chess set you can see on display at the Brit Mu!
Sir John Soane Museum – Click Here (No - much to my regret.)
Sir John Soane Museum – Tidbits – Click Here & Click Here
And here's a couple drawings of the sarcophagus!!!
Electric Cinema – Click Here (No)
Electric Cinema – Old – Click Here (It's been renevated since this pic, but appeared in "Notting Hill" looking like this.)
Wed (5th day) –
Tower of London - Click Here (YES!!!)
The London Dungeon – Click Here (No)
Thurs (6th day) –
London Eye – Click Here (No - I regret not going up, pout!)
Gay Hussar - Click Here (No, but Ash MADE me insert the "Gay Hussey" joke. Bad, man!)
Tattoo – Celtic Tree of Life Lovers - Click Here
Yes - this is the basis for Ash's tattoo - although, I adapted it a bit. Afterall, it's two men we're talking about...lol. Can you believe it's really a belt buckle???
Fri (7th day) – Exhibit, Br/M's 1st without
Don't you wish I had pics of the Declan exhibit? I soooo wish I did. POUT!!!
However, I am going to share bits of costume sources, some of which may surprise you...lol.
Declan’s Cane – Click Here
Ash's Collar -
Brian's Costume Inspiration – Click Here - His vest was adapted from this and several Tudor style corsets I adore.
Ash's pants!!! Yes, dear reader. He's dressed in J-Lo's leather/denim pants...lol.
But seriously, the pic doesn't do them justice. You need to see them in motion to appreciate their VOOM! factor - I suggest you do so here:
Michael's outfit!!! Yes, I did bow to my latest love - and "borrowed" clothes worn by Japanese singer/musician/actor Gackt from his "Drug Party" concert tour. (Now don't run away! The outfit is fantastic!)
Newton’s Cradle – Click Here - Brian & Michael's gift to Declan & Ash.
Sat (8th day) –
Play day – boys are ravenous with the newness of being bare. IE - They don't go anywhere to mention...lol.
Sun (9th day) –
Camden Lock Market – Click Here (No)
Mon (10th day) –
Day in – aftermath of ash's mum – scene witnessed by br/m.
Declan & Ash's toys for the scene:
Tues (11th day) –
Brian and Declan visit Master You - whose name is based on the violinist/guitarist for GACKTJob, btw. :)
Michael & Ash go to have a "Conversation with Oscar Wilde" - (Yes!!! One of THE best moments of my London trip. Just happening upon this by accident during a London stroll.)
London Duck Tour – Click Here (No - I didn't know about it, but I would have if I'd known it existed!!!)
Pollock’s Toy Museum – Click Here (No)
Wed (12th day) –
Sherlock Holmes Museum – Click Here & Click Here (No - Another one I want to see!)
Goodies bought at the Sherlock Holmes Gift Store by Brian/Michael -
Murder One – Click Here (No)
The Sherlock Holmes Public House and Restaurant - Click Here (No)
Forbidden Planet - Click Here (No, dang it!!!)
Jack The Ripper Walk – Click Here & Click Here (No, but would love to one day.)
Thurs (13th day) –
Victoria & Albert Museum – Click Here (Yes!!!)
Lobby -
V&A – Collections – Click Here
Cast Court -
V&A – David – Click Here
V&A – David’s Fig Leaf – Click Here
V&A – Images – Click Here
V&A – Tattoos: A Day Of Record – Click Here
V&A – Three Graces – Click Here
Harvey Nichols – Click Here (No)
Wagamama – Click Here (Yes, one of the many in London.)
The Circus Space – Click Here - Paid Day Lessons Click Here (No)
Fri (14th day) –
Last day, Tats for Br/M, The Eye (night) toast via Dec
Very rough sketch for the placement of both Michael/Brian's tattoos. This doesn't showcase the font/lettering, or Hugh's skill with giving the tattoos depth. My descriptions in the fic gives much more detail as the finished look for both.
Michael -
Brian -
Sat (15th day) –
Br/M Dec/Ash fly out
It's my hope that you've enjoyed the story and these notes/pics/links. If you were a fan of the original, welcome back! If you are new to the stories, here's hoping this will peak your interest enough so that you read them both!!!
Hugs
xof
PS - The picspam feature photos of nude statues from art museums and such - therefore, if you're at work, have a care. :)
A care, and a quick toggle hand...lol.
.
Or rather - Pic Spam!!! and London Links Galore!!! Wheeeeeeee...
I wanted to give folks an inside look at the story as it played out in my head. And as such, I'm sharing with you detailed information on the places they went, things they may have seen and what their clothing, tattoos and toys looked like!!!
You will get to *SEE* what you've been reading - and I encourage you all to click on the links provided to find out more about the places they visited.
I went to London a few years back - much to my joy, and I used a lot of the places I saw in the fic, but there are just as many places the boys went, that I didn't! For those, I researched my little heart out so it would read just as well as the ones I'd seen myself.
(I'll put YES or NO next to the sites mentioned so you will know which are which...lol.)
So enjoy - as Brian/Michael did! The photos, the information and a look at Declan/Ashton's London - under the cut.
The following incorporate only the London aspect of "Embraced..." - so I am giving you their travel timeline so you can mirror it with the story.
London Timeline –
London Tour – Virtual Tour – Click Here - Also note, looking for clips about London on YouTube is fun!!!
Sat (1st day) –
Zaika – Click Here (Yes)
Sun (2nd day) –
Covent Garden - Click Here (Yes)
((( Numerology - Ash's Favorite #11 – Click Here & Click Here )))
Full English Breakfast -
Trafalgar Square - Click Here (Yes)
National Gallery – Click Here (Yes)
The National is one HUGE and GORGEOUS space - Have fun browsing the paintings at the link above!
Gifts Brian/Michael bought & the Leonardo Cartoon -
Click Here - Scarf
Click Here - Leonardo Cartoon
Click Here - Petite Danseuse Figurine
Mon (3rd day) –
Tate Museum Site – Click Here (No)
Trust me - You have to see the photos of & from the Tate Modern Online, a few of which will have you saying "That's art?" lol...
Harrods – Click Here (No - but I drove by it a lot!!)
I'd seen documentaries on this place - so I didn't feel like I'd missed out too badly. Still, I would like to browse through one day!
Michael's fitting with Declan's scene taylor - this is what Brian was having Michael fitted for!!!
Tues (4th day) –
British Museum – Click Here (YES!!!)
Exhibit Pics -
The Elgin Marbles from the Pantheon -
And just to PROVE that I didn't make up the ANCIENT STONE WILLY that Ash loved showing them so much!!!
Oh, btw - Ash's little wooden caricature sculptures? They are based on a chess set you can see on display at the Brit Mu!
Sir John Soane Museum – Click Here (No - much to my regret.)
Sir John Soane Museum – Tidbits – Click Here & Click Here
And here's a couple drawings of the sarcophagus!!!
Electric Cinema – Click Here (No)
Electric Cinema – Old – Click Here (It's been renevated since this pic, but appeared in "Notting Hill" looking like this.)
Wed (5th day) –
Tower of London - Click Here (YES!!!)
The London Dungeon – Click Here (No)
Thurs (6th day) –
London Eye – Click Here (No - I regret not going up, pout!)
Gay Hussar - Click Here (No, but Ash MADE me insert the "Gay Hussey" joke. Bad, man!)
Tattoo – Celtic Tree of Life Lovers - Click Here
Yes - this is the basis for Ash's tattoo - although, I adapted it a bit. Afterall, it's two men we're talking about...lol. Can you believe it's really a belt buckle???
Fri (7th day) – Exhibit, Br/M's 1st without
Don't you wish I had pics of the Declan exhibit? I soooo wish I did. POUT!!!
However, I am going to share bits of costume sources, some of which may surprise you...lol.
Declan’s Cane – Click Here
Ash's Collar -
Brian's Costume Inspiration – Click Here - His vest was adapted from this and several Tudor style corsets I adore.
Ash's pants!!! Yes, dear reader. He's dressed in J-Lo's leather/denim pants...lol.
But seriously, the pic doesn't do them justice. You need to see them in motion to appreciate their VOOM! factor - I suggest you do so here:
Michael's outfit!!! Yes, I did bow to my latest love - and "borrowed" clothes worn by Japanese singer/musician/actor Gackt from his "Drug Party" concert tour. (Now don't run away! The outfit is fantastic!)
Newton’s Cradle – Click Here - Brian & Michael's gift to Declan & Ash.
Sat (8th day) –
Play day – boys are ravenous with the newness of being bare. IE - They don't go anywhere to mention...lol.
Sun (9th day) –
Camden Lock Market – Click Here (No)
Mon (10th day) –
Day in – aftermath of ash's mum – scene witnessed by br/m.
Declan & Ash's toys for the scene:
Tues (11th day) –
Brian and Declan visit Master You - whose name is based on the violinist/guitarist for GACKTJob, btw. :)
Michael & Ash go to have a "Conversation with Oscar Wilde" - (Yes!!! One of THE best moments of my London trip. Just happening upon this by accident during a London stroll.)
London Duck Tour – Click Here (No - I didn't know about it, but I would have if I'd known it existed!!!)
Pollock’s Toy Museum – Click Here (No)
Wed (12th day) –
Sherlock Holmes Museum – Click Here & Click Here (No - Another one I want to see!)
Goodies bought at the Sherlock Holmes Gift Store by Brian/Michael -
Murder One – Click Here (No)
The Sherlock Holmes Public House and Restaurant - Click Here (No)
Forbidden Planet - Click Here (No, dang it!!!)
Jack The Ripper Walk – Click Here & Click Here (No, but would love to one day.)
Thurs (13th day) –
Victoria & Albert Museum – Click Here (Yes!!!)
Lobby -
V&A – Collections – Click Here
Cast Court -
V&A – David – Click Here
V&A – David’s Fig Leaf – Click Here
V&A – Images – Click Here
V&A – Tattoos: A Day Of Record – Click Here
V&A – Three Graces – Click Here
Harvey Nichols – Click Here (No)
Wagamama – Click Here (Yes, one of the many in London.)
The Circus Space – Click Here - Paid Day Lessons Click Here (No)
Fri (14th day) –
Last day, Tats for Br/M, The Eye (night) toast via Dec
Very rough sketch for the placement of both Michael/Brian's tattoos. This doesn't showcase the font/lettering, or Hugh's skill with giving the tattoos depth. My descriptions in the fic gives much more detail as the finished look for both.
Michael -
Brian -
Sat (15th day) –
Br/M Dec/Ash fly out
It's my hope that you've enjoyed the story and these notes/pics/links. If you were a fan of the original, welcome back! If you are new to the stories, here's hoping this will peak your interest enough so that you read them both!!!
Hugs
xof
PS - The picspam feature photos of nude statues from art museums and such - therefore, if you're at work, have a care. :)
A care, and a quick toggle hand...lol.
.