#(and of course he would go on to play lincoln eventually) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

aces-and-angels · 4 months

Text

countdown to 2024 @choicesfandomappreciation

deadlines? we don't know her😗💅🏼 so many works to shoutout- so brace yourselves gang- this'll be a long one

now- without further ado- here are some writers that made my year:

🖤@thedistantshoresproject

sending love to the whole team on board who are working tirelessly to finish this magnificent project. i was so excited to read the demo this year! knowing how long the journey has been and reading the updates each week- i realize how weary yall must be and hope that i can convey my gratitude for bringing back our favorite pirates in one awesome sequel 🖤

---

🖤@bloodboundsiege

another demo for the books- and another fanmade project that i am rooting for; i personally have only read through finn's demo but i'm already in love with all the characters. plus- who wouldn't be excited for the chance to romance gaius??? there is a ton of lore in op's blog for all the new lis that i 100% recommend to read through. excited to see what's in store in the new year!

---

🖤@hashiedraws

the way i ran to play this story when it dropped😭 if yall are fans of ilw- then you may know that one of the artists released this wonderful vn this year. it's a story that keeps on serving 🎾 the artwork is incredible and the accompanying story is an absolute treasure. i was on the floor- in tears- jaw-dropped. trust me- it was an experience. one i recommend yall take too 😊

---

🖤 @lovehugsandcandy

the queen of colt- and tbh- one of my literary muses. your writing is such an inspiration to me and having you back on the dash this year for blades was definitely a highlight 🖤 a snippet from one of my favorite fics this year:

read 'bound' here "Of course. We have plenty of time for that... don't we?" “Because you’re not leaving?” He squeezes her hand. “I’m not leaving.” It’s a whisper more powerful than any rope.

---

🖤@jerzwriter

the heart you have is so warm and inviting- and it shows with each work you've shared🖤 i've cherished reading your works for trystan x carolina- picking one to highlight seems cruel but i'll give it a shot lol. their banter/dynamic is so beautifully portrayed and never fails to bring a smile to my face:

read 'tricks and treats' here “There is no Trystan,” he snickered, playfully pulling her close. “Only the Big Bad Wolf..uh.. no.. I mean Grandma! I’m Grandma, trust me.” “Grandma? What big paws you have!” she beamed as he nuzzled into her neck and playfully growled. “The better to paw you with, my dear...” “Well, you can paw me once we get to the party. We’re very late.”

---

🖤@theoriginaltortuga

your four part series- 'responsibility, rage, and recent resurrection' was such a good read and deserves some love. it ain't a secret i'm a big ilw fan- and a sucker for bonus scenes. reading a more fleshed out version of connor's eventual turning was *chef's kiss* immaculate- i shamelessly go back to this fic from time to time:

read 'responsibility, rage, and recent resurrection' here Grief and terror had been a part of Connor since the night Devon died. The feelings came and went, but they never left completely and Connor worried that he would never feel peace again. With Devon alive but unconscious, a massacre set for a few days, and the man who’d killed his mother on the loose; those feelings were more overwhelming than ever. Not to mention the anger that had been festering in his chest since his mom was killed. All of it led back to one simple thing: Westchester wasn’t safe.

---

🖤@linkysmommy

mother lincoln- i wanna thank you for blessing me with not only ilw itself but ilw fics (and some other works of yours i've recently had the pleasure of reading😉) though, imma pivot real quick from ilw and actually give some praise to another project of yours- and the reason i downloaded storyloom in the first place- open heart: a toxic situation. what a story full of mystery, romance, and ✨bryce✨ (there are multiple lis to choose from- i just really love bryce lmao)

read this beauty right here

---

🖤 @saibug1022

the angst legend- i go to you for the hurt lmaoo. but really- it is a talent to write the way you do and i'm lucky to reap the benefits of reading your work. the time you put into crafting your mcs- making them fully fleshed out blorbos- then giving the most heart-wrenching scenarios to deal with- incredible✨ here's some love for the villain stories out there:

read 'a funeral of faith' here “I had no place in Undermount while humans and orcs treated me like an outsider. I was kidnapped and tortured while my friends and two of the men I loved gave up on me and left me to die. And the other man I loved used and betrayed me for power and disappeared when I still forgave him.”

---

🖤 @professor-abeloved

prepare to be adored, admired, and appreciated- your mcs are everything to me. the way you write is so special and uniquely you- and i love your work dearly. i've got your fics seared in my brain- here's one of the many (bc we as a fandom silently agreed that linc angst just hits different):

read 'lincoln's bad day' here “Sorry,” Ro called out for what felt like the nth time with an awkward grimace. “You okay? I can get an ice pack or a salonpas or—” “It’s fine,” Lincoln says, clutching his aching jaw. In some weird way, it’s surprisingly… therapeutic? There’s something about a being confronted with such raw, unimaginable Power that has the capacity to utterly destroy you if it chooses, but instead it’s draping a small, lilac cardigan over your shoulders as it looks you over for bruises. read 'lincoln's bad day' here “Sorry,” Ro called out for what felt like the nth time with an awkward grimace. “You okay? I can get an ice pack or a salonpas or—” “It’s fine,” Lincoln says, clutching his aching jaw. In some weird way, it’s surprisingly… therapeutic? There’s something about a being confronted with such raw, unimaginable Power that has the capacity to utterly destroy you if it chooses, but instead it’s draping a small, lilac cardigan over your shoulders as it looks you over for bruises.

---

🖤@mydemonsdrivealimo

bless your beautiful, magnificent brain- atp your hcs are my canon lmaoo. bryce and jensen are so special to me and it's no secret how much love you've poured into them through your work. slowly but surely, i'm getting around to reading all the fics of theirs. the ones i have read were amazing. time to shower praise for your most recent work (also i'm rooting for you- writer's block is a biatch):

read 'halloween' here “Hey, sorry,” Bryce said, giving his waist a quick squeeze before unceremoniously flopping into one of the chairs, the force sending it back enough that Jensen had to pull him closer. “You’re lucky I didn’t lock you out and eat it for you,” Jensen said with a quick wave to the food in front of him, taking a seat in his own chair. “M’fucking starving.” He was already shoveling crab rangoon into his mouth, ignoring the steam coming off of it.

---

🖤 @aria-ashryver

a ray of sunshine- you deserve the world and more🥰 one thing on my to-do list for the new year is to finally sit down and read SICSIG. from the snippets i've seen, i know i'll treasure the heck out of it. when i do- i apologize in advance for the person i become lmao (give it up for the poly romance yall)

read 'snow in crimson, starlight in gold' here

---

🖤@me

self-love, amirite? reading through old works is either a hit or miss for me lol- but the process of writing has been a welcome journey of mine. from the frantic word vomit to staring at a blinking cursor- it's been a ride. and i'm thankful to everyone above for inspiring me to keep moving forward 🖤

read whatever yall want here

---

this list could go on and on and i'm definitely missing some people- but to the writers out there: you are the heartbeat of the fandom and we are lucky to have you 🖤

#playchoices #choices #choices countdown to 2024

34 notes · View notes

asshlyyyy · 1 year

Text

Fairytale

Series Warnings: Language, fake relationship, lying, drinking, major depressive disorder, mommy issues. Mentions of occasionally sexula interactions/ wording. Maybe eventual smut. Individual chapter warnings will appear as needed.

Masterlist | Previous Part | Next Part

Chapter 8: Wedding Shower

Everything was… well, it was almost perfect. You felt like it was missing something. Besides the food of course. Austin was on his way to go pick it up now. Everything was out, the decorations were on point… You just felt as if it wasn’t done. Maybe that was because it wouldn’t be perfect in your mother’s eyes. Mia would love it… your mother on the other hand.

“There’s my lil sister.” You turned towards the voice and saw your brother. A smile found its way onto your face. He was a few years older than Mia. About two years older in fact.

“Max,” you smiled and walked over to him. You two shared a quick hug before he quickly asked the burning question. He was the only other main family member that hasn’t met Austin yet. You knew he was most likely going to give him the brother talk.

The brother talk is, in your opinion, much worse than the dad talk. They tend to… well, how do you put it. Threaten them much more. Every boyfriend you ever had got the, “If you hurt her, I will kill you. That is a promise.’ Well, Maxwell hasn’t been arrested yet for murder! So, that’s a positive.

“So, where’s your boyfriend? I am dying to meet him.” Max held a playful smile. It was like he was hinting that you wouldn’t bring him. This might have been true, but Austin agreed to help. So, you didn’t have to go down that path.

“Oh, he’s just out picking up the food.” You answered with a smile.

“Still making up excuses I see,” he ruffled up your hair. You knew he was playing with you, but still, it hurt a bit.

“I’m serious,” you laughed gently and pushed away his hand. “He’s also getting ice for the drinks.”

“Mhm, we’ll see about that,” he teased you. You rolled your eyes and saw his wife, Kenzie. You smiled and made your way over to her with your hands out.

“Kenzziieee,” You said with a light squeal. Kenzie smiled at your sight and matched your energy.

“Y/n/nnnn.” She smiled. You pulled her into a tight hug, only to let out a gasp at the much bigger stomach. You pulled away and looked down at her rounded stomach.

“Oh my gosh! No way!” You exclaimed. You were going to be an aunt! Sure you knew this day would come eventually, but soon!?

“Yes way,” she smiled, “due in July.” She answered your unspoken question.

“Well, I promise you I will be here.” You told her with a smile. You didn’t know if by July your fake boyfriend would be real. You didn’t know if you were going to come clean beforehand. Nonetheless, you were going to be there for them.

“Well, they can’t wait to meet their cool aunt either.” She said as she rubbed her bump.

“Do you know the gender yet?” You asked as Max made his way to Kenzie. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the side of her head.

“We could if we wanted, but we wanted to wait. Be surprised you know?” Max answered.

“A surprise, I like it.” You smiled. You continued to talk with Kenzie and Max. As time went by more and more people started to arrive. Family members, and friends of Mia and Nick.

You heard your phone going off and pulled it up to your face. You answered the call quickly once you saw Austin’s name.

“Hey, what’s up? You almost here?” You asked him.

“Yup, I’m down the road right now. Might be hard to find a parking space though.” He chuckled lightly.

“I told ya we should’ve put a chair to reserve your spot.” You rolled your eyes lightly and headed inside. “Not to mention, there are still more people to come.” You made your way to the front yard.

“I’ll pull round front okay? Help take the food in and find somewhere to park.” Austin explained to you.

“Okay, don’t be too long though, I think I see my aunt’s car. I do not want to be alone with her.” You said as you spotted her loud obnoxious blue Lincoln navigator.

“I’ll be there soon, don’t worry. Bye,” Austin reassured you.

“Bye,” you pulled your phone away and hung up. You slipped your phone back into its pocket and waited there for Austin. You were hoping and praying that when your aunt got out of her car… he would be pulling up. That way, you would be too busy to converse with her.

You tapped your foot against the driveway in anticipation. Well, it was more in nerves than anticipation. You were actually surprised your mother hasn’t pulled you to the side yet. Her opinion should not matter. It doesn’t matter in fact. All that matters is your sister’s and Nick’s opinion.

They were the bride and groom. Who cares if your mother doesn’t like it. She isn’t the person you threw this whole wedding party for. She had her wedding party years ago. She’ll probably use the, ‘I just want everything perfect for my sweet baby angel’. God, it made you gagged. If it wasn’t clear… Mia was her favorite. So, when Mia picked you as her maid of honor, your mother saw that as a pick fest.

If one thing went wrong and you made your sister cry. Well, you wouldn’t hear the end of it. Maybe your depression was because of your mother? The more you think about it… When you were younger and you would take Mia’s toys or steal some of her food… You would get punished. Screamed at even.

You shook your head and took in a deep breath. “Shove those feelings deep down, Y/n. Today is not about you.” You whispered to yourself. You smoothed out your light green dress. It wasn’t much longer until Austin was pulling up.

You walked over to the car, which he parked in the middle of the street for the time being. He got out of the car and you couldn’t help but smile. He still needed to change into his party wear clothes, but he still look amazing as always.

“No issues?” You asked as you walked around to the trunk.

“None at all. All the sandwiches and cookies were prepared, and transported safely.” He smiled as he opened the trunk. He wasn’t crazy, he saw how beautiful you looked. He just wanted to find a moment where you were both alone to compliment you.

“Good, I do not need anything disastrous happening.” You commented and picked up the box of cookies. Austin grabbed the two boxes of sandwiches and you two made your way inside.

“Nothing bad will happen,” Austin reassured you.

“I know, I just… I can’t help but think it will end in fire.” You replied as you placed the box down on the kitchen counter.

“You did amazing okay? Celebrate it, and have fun with your sister. Now, I gotta move the car before someone gets mad.” You nodded and watched as he rushed away. You let out a sigh and opened the boxes. You had to get these on a tray and outside before the bride and groom arrive.

“Need some help?” You turned at the voice and forced a pained smile onto your face.

“Aunt Eliana, how wonderful of you to offer, but I must decline. You should be out in the back.” You told her.

“Oh please, and miss spending time with my niece who I hardly see? Oh please,” She placed down her glass of champagne, which you have no idea how she got. You guys are serving water out of mason jars- the ice. Oh my god, Austin still has the ice-

“You okay there hun? You look like you just saw someone get killed.”

“Oh no no,” you chuckled lightly and shook your head. “Sorry, just got a lot on my mind.”

“I would imagine so. Say, where is that boyfriend of yours? Your mother has been telling me… quite a lot about him.

“He’s parking the car. He just dropped off the food.” You answered as you finished up one of the trays. Now you just had to do three more.

“Right,” she hummed and nodded. It was like she didn’t believe you. You don’t blame them, yet it still hurt. You couldn’t figure out why it hurts, you just knew that it did. First, it was your brother, and now it was your nosy aunt.

“Aunt Eliana, I just need to do this on my own. Please enjoy refreshments, though you seem to have brought yourself some alcohol-”

“Oh, I never come to a party without bringing alcohol. We’re all adults here, no harm… right?” She smirked gently. Was she hinting that you were acting like a child? You paused in your traying and turned to look at her.

“Look, I have been very busy, as I am right now. I am making sure my sister has the best wedding party among other events leading up to her wedding. Now please, we can talk later, but for right now, leave me alone.” You told her off. She held a face of… disbelief.

She couldn’t believe that you just told her off. Not many people dared to in fact. So, when some young niece of hers decides to throw at her… she doesn’t know how to act. She just nodded and left. You were finally alone. No one was in the house, everyone was outside.

Once you finished up the trays you took them outside one by one. You placed them over on the empty tables and placed out the plates and napkins. You let out a breath and smiled at everyone as you went back inside.

“Hey,” you found Austin. You smiled at his appearance. He has since changed into something more formal, but still casual. You walked over to him and flatten out his shirt.

“You look good,” you whispered gently.

“Well, you look beautiful. Blew me away when I got out of the car.” You blushed at his compliment and shook your head.

“Thank you,” you said softly. Austin wrapped his arm around you and kissed the side of your head.

“When’s your sister coming in?” He asked.

“She should be in soon. She said a bit after four.” You told him. Austin nodded in response and the two of you headed outside. You looked around for your brother so that you could finally introduce him to Austin.

“Come on, I spot my brother.” You said and pulled Austin over to Max and Kenzie.

“So this is the mystery boyfriend, huh?”

“I’m AUsitn, nice to meet you,” Austin said as he held his hand out to Max. He nodded and took Ausitn’s hand in his.

“Nice to meet you two, now… we need to talk.” Max threw an arm around Austin and the two walked off.

“Great.” you wished and shook your head. Kenzie let out a light laugh and shook her head.

“You should be lucky to have a brother. Sometimes you don’t want all the attention on you.” She explained. You shrugged your shoulders.

“I don’t know. No one really wants to hear that they will be killed if they hurt me.” You told her.

“He cares a lot for you. It shows he’ll be a great father.” She smiled at the thought. You looked over at her and matched her smile.

“You both are going to be great parents. I just know it.” You said. She pulled you into a hug and let out a comforting breath.

“Thank you, Y/n. It means a lot.” She said as you returned her hug.

“Can I… can I be honest with you?” You asked her once you two pulled away.

“Of course, you can tell me anything.” You looked around and grabbed her hand. You pulled her inside and to the bathroom. The only place where you two would be alone. “Um… Can I-”

“It’s not weird I promise I just… I need to get this off my chest.” were you really about to tell Kenzie the truth? Yes. Maybe it was because she wasn’t blood-related or… you didn’t know, but htis lie was slowly eating you up alive.

“You aren’t going to confess your love for me are you?” She joked lightly.

“No of course not. Austin and I aren’t really together.” You said rather quickly. Kenzie raised her eyebrow in confusion.

“I’m going to need you to slow down. Just a bit.” She said softly.

You let out a breath and looked down at your feet. “Austin and I… we aren’t really together. I made up this fake boyfriend four years ago, and then this wedding happened, and… now I’m in love with him and I just…”

“Wait… you two aren't together? You look like you’re together.” She looked at you shocked. As you imagined anyone would look.

“We just planned it very well.” You shrugged.

“Honey, anyone can fake a relationship, but you can’t fake the way you look at someone. You two are madly in love with each other.” She explained. You started to shake your head. If what she’s saying was true, then she was implying that Austin was in love with you. Which he can’t. There was just no way someone like him can love you.

“Austin doesn’t love me. He can’t love me.” You shook your head.

“Why not?” She asked.

“It’s a long story, but there is no way he loves me.”

“You won’t know unless you confess.” You shook your head nd let out a breath.

“I rather just not say anything at all. We just have so much longer, and then we’ll cut off all contact.” You said as you walked out of the bathroom.

“But then you’ll be wondering what if? And it will eat you alive.” She pointed out. You let out a sigh and nodded. She was right. You would be wondering what if?

“I just don’t want to think about it,” You shook your head.

“There you are, I was looking for you,” Austin broke you two out of your conversation.

“You were?” You looked at him confused. You thought he would’ve just continued talking to your brother, but somehow he managed to get away.

“Yeah, thought we weren’t gonna leave each other's sides.?” He chuckles lightly and grabs your hand.

“Sorry, I was talkin’ to, Kenzie.” You smiled softly and gave his hand a squeeze.

“I saw your sister and Nick pull in.” He told you. You smiled softly and went out to the front with him. You watched as your sister got out in her cute white dress.

“Oh my gosh, Mia! You look so beautiful!” You squealed and walked over to her. She smiled and grabbed your hands in hers.

“Thank you, you look just as beautiful. Now, let’s see this party because I am dying to open presents.” She admitted. You chuckled lightly and shook your head.

“Come on, let’s get you to that party.” You took her over to the party.

The party went amazing, dare you even say perfect. Everyone enjoyed the sandwiches and the cookies. Then, of course, Mia and Nick loved their presents very much. Your sister spoke highly of you, and you were generally just overall happy.

Your mother didn’t speak to you. Your crazy aunt didn’t talk to you again. You would pretty much call that a win. You just spent all your time with your sister and your brother. And of course your in-laws.

You were now back in your room taking off your shoes. Austin was downstairs taking the last of the trash out to the can. You sat down on the bed and started to take off your earrings. One event was done, and now you had a few more left to go.

Maybe you should talk to Austin about the whole… falling in love with him. No no… you can’t do that. This was a whole fake thing. Neither one of you was supposed to fall in love. It was a simple helping a friend out. Nothing more, and nothing less. Though… you two were kissing more than needed.

“Hey, you did amazing,” Austin said as he came into the room. You looked at him and smiled.

“Thank you, I had my amazing boyfriend to help me.” You complimented him. He returned your smile with one of his own.

“Yeah, we make a great couple.” He said softly and sat down next to you. You looked over at him and nodded in agreement.

“Yeah,” You looked down at your hands. “Yeah, we do. I just wish… I wish it was real.” You muttered under your lips.

“You wish it was real?” He asked you.

“W-well,” you quickly look at him. “Not with you of course, I-I, with someone else who actually loved me- w-we are just friends of course so-”

He cut you off by closing the distance between you two. His lips on yours, and yours on his. “I want it to be real.” He muttered against your lips.

“You do?” You whispered lightly and looked into his beautiful eyes.

“I do. God, I do.” He pushed you gently onto the bed. You had no idea what was to come, but god you knew one thing for sure. You wanted it. You wanted him. You wanted his love. You wanted his comfort. You wanted his everything.

I just want to thank everyone who is still here. I appreciate every like, comment, and reblog who heartedly. I want to be able to get back to rebloging some of my favorite fics. I want to be able to expand my writing.

Don't get me wrong, I still have so many ideas for Austin and Elvis. I think I would want to get this whole list done first before I go ahead and start in a new fandom.

Mutual Taglist: @darlinboypresley @emmymaehereeeeee @venus-haze @austinstyles

#asshlyyyy writes #austin butler fanfiction #austin butler imagine #austin butler fanfic #austin butler #austin butler fluff #austin butler x reader #austin butler x #austin butler x y/n #austin butler x you

69 notes · View notes

fictionadventurer · 10 months

Text

@story-courty I can corroborate! Edwin Booth, elder brother of John Wilkes and the man considered possibly the greatest actor of the nineteenth century, saved Robert Todd Lincoln from falling from a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey. We don't know the exact date of the incident, but it most likely occurred sometime in 1863 or 1864, when Robert was returning to Washington from Harvard, and Booth was going to Richmond with John T. Ford, owner of (believe it or not) Ford's Theater.

The Library of Congress website provides a link to the April 26, 1865 edition of the Cleveland Morning Leader that tells the story like this.

Not a month since, Mr. Edwin Booth was proceeding to Washington. At Trenton, there was a general scramble to reach the cars, which had started, leaving many behind in the refreshment saloon. Mr. Edwin Booth was preceded by a gentleman whose foot slipped as he was stepping upon the platform, and who would have fallen at once beneath the wheels had not Mr. Edwin Booth's arm sustained him. The gentleman remarked that he had had a narrow escape of his life, and was thankful to his preserver. It was Robert Lincoln, the son that that great, good man who now lies dead before our blistered eyes, and whose name we cannot mention without choking. In some way the incident came to the knowledge of Lieutenant General Grant, who at once wrote a civil letter to Mr. Edwin Booth, and said that if he could serve him at any time he would be glad to do so. Mr. Booth replied, playfully, that when he (Grant) was in Richmond, he would like to play for him there.

Robert Lincoln confirmed the story for the Century Magazine in 1909. (Possibly as part of nationwide centennial celebrations of Abraham Lincoln's birth).

The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.

Edwin Booth didn't know the name of the man he'd saved until 1865, when Adam Badeau, another officer on Grant's staff who Lincoln had told the story to, wrote him a letter about it. Booth was a staunch Unionist and admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and he'd been feuding with his younger brother for years because of his Confederate sympathies. The news of the assassination devastated him, and he later told a friend that one of the only things that got him through those dark months afterward was the knowledge that he'd saved Robert's life. People initially thought that the Booth name was too blackened for Edwin to continue his career in acting, but he made a triumphant return to the stage in 1866 for a performance of Hamlet that got rave reviews, and eventually opened his own theater and went on a worldwide tour.

I can't fail to mention that this is only one of the coincidences regarding presidential assassinations in Robert Todd Lincoln's life, because he is the only man to have been present at events surrounding three of the four assassinations of American presidents. He was present at his father's deathbed after the assassination (though he wasn't at the theater and always regretted it, because he would have been sitting at the back of the box between Booth and his father). In 1881, he served as Secretary of War under President James Garfield, and was with him at the train station when he was shot by a crazed office-seeker. Robert secured the services of the doctor who had cared for Abraham Lincoln--though, unfortunately, this doctor's overzealous methods, insistence on his own theories, and refusal to follow antiseptic practices caused the infection that actually killed Garfield more than two months later. In 1901, Robert Lincoln was working as president of the Pullman Palace Car Company when President William McKinley invited him to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York where McKinley was making an appearance. At the same time Lincoln's train pulled in to the station, McKinley was shot by an assassin who'd joined the receiving line to meet him. Lincoln immediately went to the hospital to visit the injured McKinley, who died six days later.

Robert Lincoln was a major figure in the Republican Party whose name was often mentioned as a presidential candidate, but Robert never pursued the office, for what should be obvious reasons.

This blog from the U.S. National Archives sums up the situation well.

When Theodore Roosevelt assumed the Presidency, Lincoln wrote him. “I do not congratulate you for I have seen too much of the seamy side of the Presidential Robe to think of it as a desirable garment.” Later, he was invited to the White House as a figurehead of the Republican Party. He declined and swore he would never step foot in the White House again. “I am not going and they’d better not invite me,” he said, “because there is a certain fatality about presidential functions when I am present.”

#answered asks #history is awesome #presidential talk #story-courty #i knew this story before i started my lincoln deep dive this year #though it hadn't shown up in any of my reading yet #the only place it was mentioned was in the lincoln assassination episode of 'timeless'#where robert todd is a character and is given an ironic line about how his family owes a great debt to the booths #i'm glad to have had the chance to do a little digging and confirm the details

32 notes · View notes

droughtofapathy · 5 months

Text

The Gilded Age's Broadway Divas: Susan Blane (Laura Benanti)

Newly widowed Susan Blane has one purpose on this show, and apparently it's to get railed by a younger man and then get chased off by his mother and have her heart broken. Again. And then we never see her again. The end. Justice for Susan.

Now, I will preface this by saying that Laura Benanti lands outside my scope of interest--she's a little young for my tastes. However, I've always been amused and delighted by her performances, and I appreciate how raunchy she is, even if the quirkyness can be a bit...much at times. Laura is a five-time Tony nominee who won in 2008 for her role as Louise in Gypsy alongside Patti LuPone.

Starting off young, Laura Benanti made her Broadway debut at eighteen as the understudy to the late great Rebecca Luker's Maria in The Sound of Music, and eventually replaced her. She's had roles as Cinderella in Into the Woods (2002), Candela in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Eileen Sherwood in the Encores! Wonderful Town opposite Donna Murphy, our beloved Mrs. Astor.

#1: "Wouldn't it be Loverly?" My Fair Lady (2018)

youtube

Lincoln Center is soprano territory. As one of the classical soprano dying breeds, Laura took over the role of Eliza Doolittle from Lauren Ambrose in the recent Broadway Revival. Her Eliza was older than most (Laura was on the cusp of forty when the took the role), and a delight, I must say. This show is, of course, a classic, and as such is dated like a classic. The production did attempt to give Eliza more agency, and it seemed to go over fine.

As Susan Blane spends most of her time in the white clothing of Newport, I just kept thinking about the Ascot Gavotte the entire time. The ladies of Newport would fit right in at the racetrack.

Fellow soprano Kelli O'Hara has also played this role in a different Lincoln Center theater back in 2007.

#2: "Model Behavior," Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2011)

youtube

A critical failure despite its stellar cast, this show closed in less than three months, but nevertheless earned Laura a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk. Watching this masterclass of a breakdown, you can see why. Set in 80s Spain, the show features Candela, played by Laura, who's freaking out because her romantic interest might be a terrorist. But other than that, he's perfect. She sure knows how to pick 'em...

Tension behind the scenes between leading lady Sherie Rene Scott and Diva Patti LuPone made things a little...well. Anyway.

#3: Laura Benanti & The Skivvies - Passion Massion (2014)

youtube

So, I'm gonna be honest, I was going to go with a different Skivvies video, but then I saw Sexy Fosca, and I am baffled, horrified, and delighted.

The Skivvies is a hilarious cabaret group that performs, as you can imagine, in their underwear, and they have guest singers come on, also dressed in lingerie and other underthings. Most of their guest singers are working theatre actors, but sometimes we get Laura Benanti. She was a Skivvies regular for a time, and has a collection of comedic clips you can all enjoy on your own time.

#4: "Vanilla Ice Cream," She Loves Me (2015)

youtube

Broadway sopranos pass around roles like hot potatoes. Kelli O'Hara played Amalia Balash in the 2001 concert, and while some members of the cast transferred to Broadway five years later, Kelli was already in The King and I, and since Broadway has like four sopranos of this age that they rotate around, enter Laura Benanti. Though the show and her role was largely overshadowed by a little show called Hamilton that season, the production has a PBS proshot I'd recommend watching.

She Loves Me is yet another adaptation of an early 30s Hungarian play that was also the inspiration for You've Got Mail, so if you've seen that, you know the plot of this. (Side note: Gilded Age's Katie Finneran had a small role as Maureen, the Nanny who runs off with the kids' mother(?) I've never seen it, and that plot wasn't in the musical.)

#5: "So Many People," Saturday Night (2010)

youtube

If you thought we were going to get through Laura Benanti without a Sondheim, guess again. While Audra McDonald and Donna Murphy were part of the Ladies in Red, Laura Benanti instead gave us the other oft-sung cabaret number of Saturday Night in the Joanna Gleason dress, only reversed in color. Look it up and you'll see what I mean.

Laura was the last person to perform before the Ladies in Red segment, and thus isn't often remembered. But I remember. (Incidentally, "I Remember" is the song she sang for the Sondheim 90th.)

LINK TO MASTERPOST

#the gilded age #susan blane #laura benanti #sondheim #she loves me #my fair lady #women on the verge of a nervous breakdown #broadway #musical theatre

7 notes · View notes

twdmusicboxmystery · 8 months

Text

Maybe Emily doesn't know all of the details??

@boofy777:

I know over the years TD has wondered about EK’s game face, etc, and how she seems awkward in interviews whenever TD or a return of Beth is mentioned. Maybe she really doesn’t know???

I am bringing this up because there is a precedent for this in the Fast and Furious Franchise, which is a huge blockbuster with many followers. In the 4th film, the character of Letty Ortiz, a main character and the romantic partner of Dominic Turetto, also a bad boy sort like Daryl, is killed in a fiery explosion. We even see a funeral service and a grave for Letty.

Michelle Rodriguez, the actress who plays Letty, found out of Letty’s impending return from the dead WHEN SHE WENT TO THE MOVIES TO WATCH THE 5TH INSTALLMANT AND SAW HER IMAGE IN A CODA SCENE AFTER THE CREDITS ROLLED. In true soap opera fashion, Letty had been whisked away to work for another international crime syndicate, secretly hospitalized, and also awoke later with amnesia.

Michelle Rodriguez also WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY STORY LINES ETC UNTIL SHE ARRIVED ON SET FOR FILMING OF THE 6TH FILM. She had no clue.

I have often wondered if this is the case with EMILY - she knows a return is very possible but no story lines or a time frame has been specifically shared. It would make sense, because it would be difficult to keep things under wraps for so long. The fewer people that know and the less they do know, the better.

Anyway, thanks for reading and I just wanted to share this since I think after nearly ten years, anything is possible. :)

@twdmusicboxmystery:

I get why you would think that, and it’s a valid possibility.

But for me, I’ve just seen too much evidence that she knows and has known since at least the beginning of S5, as have most of the other major players.

It’s not something we can prove, of course. But we have evidence that Gimple told her before filming for S5 even began, when he talked to her about where they were going with her character.

We also have evidence, based on what he said in interviews, that Andy (Andrew Lincoln) knew all about it and her return. He was careful not to actually SAY that, of course. But it was implied.

And we’ve proven beyond doubt that what happened at Grady was planned at least one season before in S4, so they didn’t just decide to kill her off at the last second, which is what she and the writers claimed. True, that doesn’t prove that Emily herself knew, but it proves that they are lying about things. So what else are they lying about? And taken together with everything else, it doesn’t seem likely to me that Emily doesn’t know.

There’s also the fact that Emily hasn’t taken any major roles since leaving the show. The ones she’s done have all been tiny, minor rolls for ABC pilots. I have an entire list of posts about this HERE.

And we know that ABC and AMC are sort of “sister companies.” That’s really not the correct term, but it’s the easiest way to describe it. They share actors and those under contract to one can work for the other. We’ve seen multiple TWD actors go back and forth this way, many of them returning to work in the TWDU after working on ABC shows. (Lauren Cohen, Michael Cudlitz, Sydney Park, etc). Emily has done the first part where she’s done ABC pilots. We just haven’t seen her actual return to the TWDU yet.

I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there. Like I said, taken as a whole, I just see too much evidence that Emily knows exactly what’s going on. The best we could say is that, especially if the timeline has been pushed back, which I’m sure it has (Covid, if nothing else) then she might not have known the exact dates for WHEN it would happen, but I think she always knew for sure that it eventually would. She was just waiting on a call from Gimple, and working on her music with a few small acting gigs on the side in the meantime.

I really hope when all is said and done, and she’s back, they just come out and explain exactly what happened, what was planned, how it changed, etc., so that we can know for sure. I’m not convinced they’ll do that, but a girl can hope, right?

Thanks so much for your thoughts, Dear! Xoxo! 🍁 🍂 💞

#submission #beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defianc #beth is almost here #bethyl

8 notes · View notes

jedivoodoochile · 8 months

Text

Behind The Music

"Nature Boy" was Nat King Cole's first big hit, since then it has been covered over 1223 times! The story behind the song is even more sensational.

Joe Moondad has the strange story of eden ahbez:

"In the late 40s, there was a rumor that there was a "hermit," disenchanted and disillusioned with the world, supposedly "out-of-sync" with society, living in California in a cave under one of the L’s in the Hollywood sign.

No one really cared about this strange man, until one night in 1947, when someone tried to enter backstage at the Lincoln Theater in Los Angeles. Nat King Cole was playing there, and the man said he had something for Cole. Of course, the employees didn't let the strange man see Cole, so he gave whatever he had with Cole's manager.

What he had was a song sheet, which Cole would later take a look at. Cole liked the song and wanted to record it, but he had to find the strange man. When asked, the people who saw the man said he was strange, indeed, with shoulder-length hair and beard, wearing sandals and a white robe.

Cole finally tracked him down in New York City. When Cole asked him where he was staying, the strange man declared he was staying at the best hotel in New York - outside, literally, in Central Park. He said his name was eden ahbez (spelled all in lower-case letters). The song he gave Cole was titled, "Nature Boy." It became Cole's first big hit, and was soon covered by other artists through the years, from Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, most recently.

Of course, the media went crazy about the strange, mysterious man who handed Nat King Cole, one of the biggest hits during that time. Everyone went out to try to find out more about him.

What little they found was that he was once an orphan, who never stayed at one place very long, living in various foster homes. He explained he just never fit in and was always searching, for something.

["They say he wandered very far...

Very far, over land and sea..."

They found out he would hop freight trains and walked across country several times, subsisting solely on raw fruits and vegetables, then one day he completely vanished.

["A little shy and sad of eye...

But very wise was he..."]

He finally showed up again in the Hollywood hills. When a policeman stopped the strange, long-haired man with beard, sandals, and robe, ahbez simply replied, "I look crazy but I'm not. And the funny thing is that other people don't look crazy but they are."

["And then one day...

One magic day he passed my way..."]

He then showed up backstage at Nat King Cole's concert in Los Angeles, to present him with the song, "Nature Boy." No one seems to really know why he selected Cole, there were some rumors that he came out of hiding when he began to hear about the racism going on and trouble throughout the world, and he thought "King" was the best person at that time to pass his message along.

["While we spoke of many things...

Fools and Kings..."]

When he was asked about racism, he replied, "Some white people hate black people, and some white people love black people, some black people hate white people, and some black people love white people. So you see it's not an issue of black and white, it's an issue of Lovers and Haters."

It was that theme of love that he continued to talk about, what was missing in the world, and what would be needed in the future if we are to survive.

ahbez would eventually get his message out, especially after the counter-culture finally caught up with him and the hippie movement began, when other artists such as Donovan, Grace Slick, and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson sought him out. He also wrote songs for Eartha Kitt and had another song recorded by Sam Cooke.

In 2009, Congressman Bill Aswad recited the last lyrics of the song before the Vermont House of Representatives at the passing of his state's same-sex marriage bill in '09.

Author Raymond Knapp described the track as a "mystically charged vagabond song" whose lyrics evoked an intense sense of loss and haplessness, with the final line delivering a universal truth, described by Knapp as "indestructible" and "salvaged somehow from the perilous journey of life."

["This he said to me...

The greatest thing you'll ever learn...

Is just to love and be loved in return."]

➖➖➖

"George Alexander Aberle (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), known as eden ahbez, was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s to 1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential in the hippie movement.

He was known to friends simply as ahbe.

Ahbez composed the song "Nature Boy", which became a No. 1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat "King" Cole.

Living a bucolic life from at least the 1940s, he traveled in sandals and wore shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles and studied Oriental mysticism. He slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruits, and nuts. He claimed to live on three dollars per week.

In the mid 1950s, he wrote songs for Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, and others, as well as writing some rock-and-roll novelty songs. In 1957, his song "Lonely Island" was recorded by Sam Cooke, becoming the second and final Ahbez composition to hit the Top 40.

In 1959, he began recording instrumental music, which combined his signature somber tones with exotic arrangements and (according to the record sleeve) "primitive rhythms". He often performed bongo, flute, and poetry gigs at beat coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area. In 1960, he recorded his only solo LP, Eden's Island, for Del-Fi Records. This mixed beatnik poetry with exotica arrangements. Ahbez promoted the album through a coast-to-coast walking tour making personal appearances, but it sold poorly.

During the 1960s, ahbez released five singles. Grace Slick's band, the Great Society, recorded a version of "Nature Boy" in 1966 and ahbez was photographed in the studio with Brian Wilson during a session for the Smile album in early 1967. Later that year, British singer Donovan sought out ahbez in Palm Springs, and the two wanderers shared a reportedly "near-telepathic" conversation. In the 1970s, Big Star's Alex Chilton recorded a version of "Nature Boy" with the photographer William Eggleston on piano. The song was finally released as a bonus track on the 1992 Rykodisc re-release of the album Third/Sister Lovers.

In 1974, ahbez was reported to be living in the Los Angeles suburb of Sunland, and he owned a record label named Sunland Records, for which he was recording under the name "Eden Abba." From the late 1980s until his death, ahbez worked closely with Joe Romersa, an engineer/drummer in Los Angeles. The master tapes, photos, and final works of eden ahbez are in Romersa's possession.

Ahbez died on March 4, 1995, of injuries sustained in a car accident, at the age of 86. Another album, Echoes from Nature Boy, was released posthumously."

#nat king cole

4 notes · View notes

orcristwielder · 2 years

Text

VERSES

Below you will see verses that have been in the works for Thorin, and some I'd like to incorporate into his background. Depending on the situation and time, some of these may not even work. Any of these verses you wish to write in, please let me know. Otherwise, we will stick to his canon au or modern.

• CANON DIVERGENT AU:

This AU is more of a 'what if Thorin lived' type of thing. Basically, everything that's canon happens up until the end when he fights Azog. Yes, he still is gravely wounded, but he does survive the battle depending on how we choose to do the storyline. Mainly, it is Gandalf that comes with help and is almost too late but thankfully isn't. Thorin ends up passing our from blood loss and from there, he is put into a sleeping coma while in recovery. Eventually, he does wake up but the wound on his chest is permanently a sensitive spot for him, always will be. His nephews survive as well, and with help from Balin and Dain, Fili sees to the mountain's rebuilding - after he has healed, of course. Somewhere in here he does abdicate the throne permanently and retires to the Shire with Bilbo, and makes a homely life for himself living as a blacksmith. His portrayal is also much more than him being stuck on himself, but being more for his people and less long winded speeches.

• MODERN AU

Thorin was born in the United Kingdom and lived there until the age of 10, then moved to the United States and has lived there ever since. He graduated high school and goes into the military, serving a few years until he is discharged for medical reasons. When he returns home he learns that his younger brother is in jail and must take guardianship of his young niece, Esmeralda. Of course, he takes up odd jobs to help his niece as he does not like to sit around, but eventually he ends up working as a CIA agent. His brother, Frerin, is a bounty hunter and he often has to seek assistance from him so he bargains his brother's release on the notion that should Frerin help and remain on good behavior, he can be free from jail.

• MARVEL VERSE

Thorin's agent au comes into play with this. He takes up working as an agent of SHIELD working as a second in command for Nick Fury. Rather than sit on the sidelines like much everyone else chooses, he would prefer to get in and do the work with the team as well. Going undercover when needed, setting up missions, but he also seeks out other opinions and thoughts on decisions. At one point, he had to go under cover as a HYDRA agent to learn of enemy plans and what steps to take. He meets Darcy who becomes much like a daughter to him later on down the road, taking her in under his wing.

• HISTORICAL AU

Thorin, given his background in being an agent, becomes a bodyguard in the past. Whether it be 1800's or 1960's and up, he lives to protect and serve. This could also work for past kings and queens of England, just depends upon the storyline again. This is how he would come to meet many historical figures such as Elvis, Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham Lincoln, etc. With this, the story is that Thorin is born to a wealthy family but strays away from what is the norm for that time period and pretty much does his own thing. This is how he ends up building the respect he had with said figures, and whomever else he comes into contact with.

• SUPERNATURAL VERSE

No, not the show. But the verse itself. There are two things I can go with this. One: Thorin as an FBI agent working with local law enforcement to track down whatever has been killing innocent folks. Whether it be vampires, werewolves or serial killers, he task the local police force with helping in scouting out information and areas of where the suspect may have been. Of course, he doesn't believe in said supernatural beings until one evening he comes face to face with a vampire and is lucky to make it out alive. Yes, he eventually befriends the supernatural and learns that it is someone who had gone rogue that is causing all of the chaos in the sleepy town.

Two: Thorin is born in the 1600's to a wealthy family and is the eldest of three. Growing up, he and his siblings had been raised to follow social norms and the like, but his younger brother Frerin bucks against status quo. As adults Thorin takes over the family business just as talk rises that there are strange things happening in their small town. One by one, citizens are missing and turn up dead the next day. Sadly, Thorin is not left alone. His brother goes missing one day only to turn up a week later dead, leaving behind a small child whom Thorin takes in. He has his own encounter with what killed his brother and has a brush with death but is left alive, needing blood and makes his first kill cementing his transformation to a vampire.

There's a third:

He comes from a long line of vampire hunters. Think Castlevania, Van Helsing, Helsing, etc.

OTHER FANTASY VERSES

Thorin is a dwarf for these. Kind of ties into his canon divergence and leaves off with him passing out and being tossed into another verse like GoT, Labriynth, etc. If you're a fantasy verse chances are Thorin will more than likely fit into that verse/era.

HARRY POTTER VERSE

Thorin becomes a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Starting off as a substitute at first he then slowly moves on into being a permanent professor, teaching about mythological creatures — he becomes a substitute for Hagrid when Hagrid is gone for a while.

• ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

Thorin is a former agent fighting to care for his young niece and two nephews. No sign of his brother, Frerin, he is left to the task of making sure that Esme is safe and that they get to sanctuary safely. Fighting the dead was not what he had in mind, but here they were; walking aimlessly and waiting for their next meal. Along the way, he meets many others who have last family over the last couple of weeks, joining up with said survivors to fight and survive through this disaster that he knew had been created by their own government.

— MORE TO BE ADDED.

#¤— nyxus speaking #¤— verses

3 notes · View notes

denimbex1986 · 9 months

Text

'Oscar season proper hasn’t even started yet, but we do have two strong Oscar contenders in Barbenheimer. Both films have set the box office aflame, with Barbie crossing the billion dollar mark worldwide in just 17 days. For Oppenheimer, it’s box office performance is an even bigger deal, considering it’s three hours long, dialogue driven, not based on any kind of franchise IP or brand, and is rated R.

Oppenheimer, right now, is number 10 on the all time highest grossing films with an R-rating. To find a Best Picture winner on that list, you have to scroll all the way down to #23, with Gladiator. Other Best Picture winners on that list include Rain Man (#31), Slumdog Millionaire (#64), The King’s Speech (#67), The Godfather (#75), Argo (#76), The Departed (#81), The Silence of the Lambs (#83), American Beauty (#86), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (#133), Unforgiven (#169), Shakespeare in Love (#177), and Schindler’s List (#185).

That’s a hell of a list, and Oppenheimer is in good company. But does that mean Oppenheimer can win? Most people who don’t cover the Oscars would think it can’t lose. How could it? Christopher Nolan is not just a visionary director, but he is someone who still believes in movie theaters and real film. He continues to advance the art form of cinema, and even though all of that sounds like a press kit paragraph, it’s also true. He has earned his place in the pantheon with Oppenheimer, his best film in my opinion.

But if you’ve been around for a while, as I have (almost 25 years covering the race), you understand that Oppenheimer is being set up as THE FRONTRUNNER right now, which means the hive mind will go to war with the movie, championing some other movie that makes them FEEL something. Eventually, the scrappy underdog that could emerges triumphant. This seems to be a constant in the Oscar race now. It’s the MEAN OLD FRONTRUNNER vs. the plucky underdog that could.

The Social Network — mean old frontrunner; The King’s Speech — plucky underdog that could. Lincoln — the mean old frontrunner; Argo — plucky underdog that could La La Land — mean old frontrunner; Moonlight — plucky underdog that could 1917 — mean old frontrunner; Parasite — plucky underdog that could The Power of the Dog — mean old frontrunner; CODA — plucky underdog that could The Fabelmans — mean old frontrunner; Everything Everywhere All at Once — the plucky underdog that could

The Oscar race exists outside of reality most years, but especially in the past decade or so. What wins Best Picture now has less to do with accomplishment and more to do with how people FEEL in the moment. Whatever that thing is has changed over time. For a while, it was always Nazis and WW2. We all assumed if Nazis were in play, the Oscars would throw Oscars at it. Now, though, that has been tweaked somewhat.

What seems to rule the hive mind more than anything right now is social justice or identity. In his latest piece at Deadine, Michael Cipely digs into “identity reporting.” He writes that the Academy has relaxed the rules somewhat when it comes to “identity reporting,” meaning those who must meet the requirements as laid out by RAISE (what we all know as the DEI mandate) now longer have to report specific details or names. Instead, they are being allowed to jot down those in their cast and crew who identify as a marginalized group — although by now, are they REALLY marginalized in an industry that elevates them?.

As Cieply points out, films can bypass all of it by taking themselves out of Best Picture contention. That means they will not qualify to “win” Best Picture anymore. But of course, if these films did opt-out and they were movies people wanted to vote for, then they would possibly be seen as non-compliant at best (and could very well be accused of much worse). Yes, it’s very bizarre. The Academy was backed into a corner and did what they thought was best, but it has, I think, done harm to their brand and has meddled in what should be an organic process of finding “the best.”

Trump’s win in 2016 did upend the Oscars. There is no point in denying that. La La Land was eventually demonized as “racist,” and Moonlight was the absolution for their sins just enough to push it over the top for Best Picture. Three Billboards was also hit with charges of racism that knocked it out of contention, handing the win to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, which was about a deaf woman, her Black friend, and a sea creature.

Finally, the Green Book apocalypse was really the moment the Oscars changed permanently and thrust into motion actions that would eventually lead to the DEI mandate, along with the changes we saw happen at BAFTA and everywhere else in the film and awards industry. Green Book was hit with charges of racism AND homophobia (it being about a Black, gay man and a white bigoted man becoming friends as they drove through the Jim Crow South). Heartwarming and crowdpleasing, the Green Book aftermath was a way of smacking down all awards voters and shaming them for what they actually liked.

Green Book defeating Roma paved the way for Parasite’s win the following year, becoming the first film from South Korea (and first International Feature nominee) to win Best Picture, highlighting just how global the Oscars had become. But no matter how great Parasite is (and it is great), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917 were films from the American studio system, and thus, it seemed to many like the industry just didn’t much care anymore about their own business.

It is what it is. The rapture was stronger to award Parasite, and if they hadn’t, the 2020 Oscars would have awarded all white people in all of the top awards. All of the acting nominees except Cynthia Erivo in Best Actress were white. You can imagine how that would have gone down. Awarding Parasite meant glowing headlines the next day instead of condemnations.

The rapture is real. It started after Green Book and seemed to have climaxed this past year with Everything Everywhere All at Once, which was “woke” but it was also inventive and profitable and had captured the zeigeist among a certain set of people. That sounds a lot like Barbie to me. Think about it like this. What do you think makes people leap to their feet more: seeing someone like Greta Gerwig win Best Director and Best Picture or seeing Christopher Nolan win Best Director and Best Picture?

What matters to them is how the event expresses who they are and what defines them as people. They care less about presenting themselves as people who understand what makes something great. Not good, not interesting, not moving or fun, but great. The Academy never really has been able to solve that one. Every so often, they can’t help but land on an unequivocal masterpiece but it’s been a while. One could say Parasite was that masterpiece and maybe it was. But I personally can’t believe it beat 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — it was just one of those years of great movies.

Maybe this year will be another year like that. Gold Derby and most pundits elsewhere now have Oppenheimer at number one, which almost guarantees the film can’t make it through the home stretch just by the nature of people like us meddling in the process. And that’s a damn shame. The best movie should win, period. Perception should not matter, temporary drama unfolding over a period of months should not matter but somehow it does.

We don’t know if Oppenheimer is the best film of 2023, but it’s set the bar extremely high for any other film to match its accomplishment. Of course, jaded souls such as myself understand that it’s just those kinds of movies voters seem to love to puncture. Oppenheimer is a mostly white cast — how is that going to play? Will there be agonizing think pieces? Probably.

If this is a contest between Barbeheimer, then Barbie will win. There is no way they give the prize to the “white guy” movie over the billion dollar baby directed by Gerwig. And I can’t argue with that because I know it would be good for the Oscars and good for Hollywood to award something that popular. I can’t sit here and tell you that it shouldn’t win. But I can say that Oppenheimer is the more accomplished of the two and is probably, at least right now, the film of the year.'

#Oppenheimer #Barbenheimer #Barbie #Oscars #Best Picture

0 notes

trolledu · 2 years

Text

The strange encounter of Nat King Cole with eden ahbez...

By Jonathan Pienaar.

In the late 40s, there was a rumor that there was a "hermit," disenchanted and disillusioned with the world, supposedly "out-of-sync" with society, living in California in a cave under one of the L’s in the Hollywood sign.No one really cared about this strange man, until one night in 1947, when someone tried to enter backstage at the Lincoln Theater in Los Angeles. Nat King Cole was playing there, and the man said he had something for Cole.Of course, the employees didn't let the strange man see Cole, so he gave whatever he had to Cole's manager.What he had was a song sheet, which Cole would later take a look at. Cole liked the song and wanted to record it, but he had to find the strange man. When asked, the people who saw the man said he was strange, indeed, with shoulder-length hair and beard, wearing sandals and a white robe.

Of course, the media went crazy about the strange, mysterious man who handed Nat King Cole, one of the biggest hits during that time. Everyone went out to try to find out more about him. What little they found was that he was once an orphan, who never stayed at one place very long, living in various foster homes. He explained he just never fit in and was always searching, for something. ["They say he wandered very far...Very far, over land and sea..."They found out he would hop freight trains and walked across country several times, subsisting solely on raw fruits and vegetables, then one day he completely vanished. ["A little shy and sad of eye...But very wise was he..."

"And then one day...One magic day he passed my way..."

No one seems to really know why he selected Cole, there were some rumors that he came out of hiding when he began to hear about the racism going on and trouble throughout the world, and he thought "King" was the best person at that time to pass his message along.

"While we spoke of many things...Fools and Kings..."

It was that theme of love that he continued to talk about, what was missing in the world, and what would be needed in the future if we are to survive. ahbez would eventually get his message out, especially after the counter-culture finally caught up with him and the hippie movement began, when other artists such as Donovan, Grace Slick, and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson sought him out. He also wrote songs for Eartha Kitt and had another song recorded by Sam Cooke.

In 2009, Congressman Bill Aswad recited the last lyrics of the song before the Vermont House of Representatives at the passing of his state's same-sex marriage bill in '09.

"This he said to me...The greatest thing you'll ever learn...Is just to love and be loved in return."

George Alexander Aberle (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), known as eden ahbez, was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s to 1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential in the hippie movement. He was known to friends simply as ahbe. ahbez composed the song "Nature Boy", which became a No. 1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat "King" Cole. Living a bucolic life from at least the 1940s, he traveled in sandals and wore shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles and studied Oriental mysticism. He slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruits, and nuts. He claimed to live on three dollars per week. In the mid 1950s, he wrote songs for Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, and others, as well as writing some rock-and-roll novelty songs.

In 1957, his song "Lonely Island" was recorded by Sam Cooke, becoming the second and final ahbez composition to hit the Top 40. In 1959, he began recording instrumental music, which combined his signature somber tones with exotic arrangements and (according to the record sleeve) "primitive rhythms". He often performed bongo, flute, and poetry gigs at beat coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area.

In 1960, he recorded his only solo LP, Eden's Island, for Del-Fi Records. This mixed beatnik poetry with exotica arrangements. ahbez promoted the album through a coast-to-coast walking tour making personal appearances, but it sold poorly. During the 1960s, ahbez released five singles. Grace Slick's band, the Great Society, recorded a version of "Nature Boy" in 1966 and ahbez was photographed in the studio with Brian Wilson during a session for the Smile album in early 1967. Later that year, British singer Donovan sought out ahbez in Palm Springs, and the two wanderers shared a reportedly "near-telepathic" conversation.

In the 1970s, Big Star's Alex Chilton recorded a version of "Nature Boy" with the photographer William Eggleston on piano. The song was finally released as a bonus track on the 1992 Rykodisc re-release of the album Third/Sister Lovers.

#history #stories #storytelling #trolleng #trolledu

0 notes

h-worksrambles · 2 years

Text

Had a random brainworm about the Sam & Max series because this franchise still hasn’t left my head.

The three Telltale games all kind of iterate on a specific episodic formula, with the third game often seen as the one that bucks the trend in a lot of ways, making it the favourite for a lot of fans. Now I love Devil’s Playhouse to death, don’t get me wrong. But playing through the Beyond Time and Space remaster again helped me notice that you can already see a shift in progression as early as the second season.

Specifically, the way the last two seasons use the Commissioner. Or rather, how they don’t. Full Season Two and Three spoilers below.

In Save the World, the Commissioner calls at the start of every episode. Each time he gives Sam & Max the details of their case. And of course he does. That’s standard Sam & Max fare from as far back as the original comic. But then we get to Beyond Time and Space. The Commissioner only calls at the start of ONE episode, Night of the Raving Dead. In every other episode, Sam & Max stumble on the supernatural threat of the week themselves.

In 201, the Maim-Tron attacks their street. The boys see it was apparently sent by Santa and head to the North Pole for answers about what wise guy tried to kill them.

In 202, they see Sybil and Lincoln get abducted by the Bermuda Triangle and follow after them.

In 204, Flint realises Bosco has gone missing, and Sam & Max go with him to look for the guy.

And in 205, Sam & Max are spit out at the gateway to the underworld after escaping T.H.E.M.’s ship and decide to help Bosco get out of Hell.

In each of these cases, the Commissioner doesn’t need to send the boys off on a case. They take initiative to investigate something that bothers them. And of course, Season Three is far more plot focused, so Sam & Max can be pretty naturally led through events in a way that doesn’t require the Commissioner sending them off on a new case.

Why is this, then? Most likely it’s a creative writing choice. It’s much less restricting to have to frame every case around Sam & Max being purposely sent somewhere. And the world of this series is weird enough that you can pretty plausibly have stuff just happen around the two to get them involved naturally. And in both cases, it arguably makes the otherwise comedic story a little more personal than it would be if the Commissioner was constantly sending them on their way. It’s just more interesting to have stories arise from character motivations rather than point blank orders.

Plus, I think it works better with what each season is going for. Season Two derives a lot of its comedy from problematising Sam & Max’s role as both would-be agents of justice, and self centred causes of chaos. They get involved not because it’s their job, but simply because they ‘can’t think of a reason not to’. They stick their nose in any business that interests them and often cause as many problems as they solve. Heck, even though Satan and the Soda Poppers are the villains of 205, most of the characters you free from Hell (Santa, Grandpa Stinky, Timmy, the Elves, Bosco and Leonard) are all only there because of Sam & Max (at least in part). Season Two doubles down on Sam & Max as characters who are both the cause of, and solution to, most of the series’ problems. They’ll mess everything up out of blind selfishness, and they’re only really here to pass the time, but they will do the right thing eventually, and so we can still have our wacky, happy ending.

Season Three meanwhile, is a much more story focused entry, where the fate of the world is at stake multiple times. This game also incorporates the boys’ self centred adrenaline junkie life style, but in a different way. Here, because the stakes are higher, the two are forced out of their comfort zone, placed in real danger of losing each other, and, moreover, tasked with setting aside their own whims and actually being heroes for once. Even the final antagonist has a whole villain monologue berating Sam & Max for not taking things seriously enough. And while we’re obviously not supposed to take the Narrator’s words at face value, in that regard he kind of has a point. And this culminates in Max making a sacrifice play for the sake of the whole city, showcasing a selflessness Max was always capable of but that a lot of people wouldn’t expect. Hence this doubles down on the idea that the last game set up (albeit mostly as a vehicle for jokes). That even fun loving, jerkass goofballs like Sam & Max, can do the right thing when push comes to shove.

I don’t know if Telltale’s writers cut down on the Commisioner’s presence with the express intention of building up a character arc. In fact, they probably didn’t. Again, it was most likely done to free the writers up to make new scenarios rather than using the same formula as rigidly as they did in Season One. But I think it’s interesting to see the two results of downplaying this character. Season Two crafts a comedy of errors where our endearing but obnoxious anti heroes nearly screw up and ruin everything, before coming through at the last second and saving the day. Season Three tells a dramedy that pushes Sam & Max to actually be the heroes they’ve claimed they are all this time. It’s interesting how one minor tweak to the formula can yield two very different outcomes in different contexts.

#sam and max #sam and max beyond time and space #sam and max the devil's playhouse #sam and max spoilers #commissioner #formula breaks

52 notes · View notes

dreamwritesimagines · 3 years

Text

Twisted 20 - The Compass [Spencer Reid x Reader]

A.N.: Thank you so much for your wonderful support my loves! Here’s the next chapter, I hope you will like it as well, and please let me know what you think of it! ❤❤ Ily, kisses! ❤❤❤

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Murder, serial killers, violence, manipulation, mentions of sex, drinking, smoking, blood.

Word Count: 4000

Summary: Coming home can be unpleasant.

After getting a phone call from the FBI, you were now sure of one thing:

Karma really needed another hobby other than messing with you, and this break up was definitely not going the way it was supposed to go.

For starters, people who broke up with each other were not supposed to see each other this much. You had different lives, different social circles, different jobs and somehow universe kept pushing you two in each other’s space.

To make things worse, the last time you talked to Garcia she had offhandedly mentioned Luke dragging Spencer to a nightclub much to his displeasure and introducing him to a friend of his. Naturally, your mind was full of images of Spencer in a happy relationship, eventually moving to a house in the suburbs with her and having kids and all that.

“I don’t know what Luke is thinking,” Garcia said, “But I’m two seconds away from pulling him aside and giving him a piece of my mind. Reid is obviously still not over you, ambushing him to introduce him to a girl won’t change that.”

Needless to say, you had been in a terrible mood for the last couple of days.

“What’s taking her so long?” you checked your wristwatch and Nolan looked at you over his newspaper.

“Oh she’s talking to the board of the charity auction,” he said, “There are some last minute changes, apparently.”

You heaved a sigh and checked the time again, “I can’t stay for long,” you murmured and Nolan raised his brows.

“Oh? In a hurry?”

“Me and Spencer and…well, some of his team will go by the woods,” you said, “They found some bones near dad’s cabin close to the weekend house and they think it might help me remember where the rest is buried.”

He made a face, “That’s disturbing.”

“Nah, I thought going on a dead body remains hunt with my ex in the woods near one of my childhood trauma places would be romantic,” you deadpanned, “You don’t do that with your exes?”

“Not really?”

“Oh man you’re missing out.”

He let out a chuckle and shook his head, “I take it things haven’t improved on the heartbreak front?”

“I wouldn’t know, apparently his friend is setting him up with someone.”

“Mm, let me guess,” he mused, “Your plan is to do nothing about it?”

“No, I’m actually following your example,” you smiled at him sweetly, “I’ll just wait for decades and hope the girl turns out to be a serial killer.”

He tilted his head. “Touché.”

“Aw thank you,” you pushed at the food in your plate, “No seriously, what can I do? I can’t just go to him and tell him not to date other people. We broke up— I broke up with him.”

“You could explain the reason behind that.”

“I can’t do that.”

He clicked his tongue, “Well then, I suggest you get ready just in case he happens to ask for your help planning his wedding.”

“You’ve been absolutely no help at all Nolan, I appreciate that.”

“I’m offering you my wisdom and you’re not taking it,” he held up his hands, gesturing surrender, “I also suggested to get his superiors to fix a meeting with him to talk to him about certain boundaries and mistakes but…”

“Get his superiors— I’m sorry, what?”

“I play poker with the head of the department he works under.”

“Of course you do.” You sipped your coffee, “When did you suggest that exactly?”

“Oh not to you, to your mother,” he nodded to himself as he saw the look on your face, “Yeah. But then I saw how it could not only damage some professional relationships, but also it’s better to let young people solve their own problems, no matter how easy it is to solve them with an outsider’s influence.”

You pulled your brows together.

“Try again.”

“I asked your mother and she said no.”

“Oh thank God.” You pinched the bridge of your nose, “Yeah no, don’t do that. We’re not in high school, you know?”

“Could’ve fooled me,” he smiled slightly at the scandalized look on your face.

“Whatever,” you waved a hand in the air, “It’s strange that mom said no though. She doesn’t really like him nowadays, and she keeps listing all his….disadvantages whenever I talk about him.”

“Disadvantages?”

“Mm hm. The other day she said it was maybe for the best in the long run, because he’s an FBI agent so considering his paychecks, we would eventually fight about our future children’s tuition fees.”

Nolan thought for a moment, “She does have a point, considering what FBI pays their agents…”

You blinked a couple of times, “Right,” you said, “That’s exactly why I broke up with him. Because who would be paying for our hypothetical future children’s future tuition fees, yeah. Deal breaker, that one.”

“It could be a contributing factor though—“ he started but you heard your mother’s heels approaching and soon enough she walked into the living room and pressed a kiss on your cheek.

“Darling, I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting,” she told you before pecking Nolan on the lips, making him smile, “This whole charity auction, honestly…”

“Do I have to come to that thing?” you looked between them, your brows pulled together in an attempt to make them take pity on you but your mother tilted her head.

“Yes you do.”

“It’s just that…” you heaved a dramatic sigh, “You know, I’m going through a break up—“

“You’ve been going through a break up for more than a month now, you’re not allowed to use that as an excuse.”

“My heart is broken!”

“Good, focus on charity then.”

You rolled your eyes and turned to Nolan, “What’s the real reason she’s dragging me to this?”

“Oh no, I’m not getting caught in this crossfire.”

“Mom?”

She cleared her throat and sipped her coffee, “The other day when I visited Nolan at work, he happened to introduce me to this very handsome Chief Marketing Officer who’s handling—“

“Oh no.”

“Keep in mind that we pay him more than what FBI pays his agents.” Nolan stated, laughing up his sleeve as if he found it hilarious and you scrunched up your nose.

“Nolan, I know you were born in the eighteenth century but that’s actually not a problem we have these days.”

“He’s single,” your mother said as if she wasn’t even listening and you threw your head back, letting out a whine, “He loves dogs and squash—“

“Jesus Christ.”

“Don’t worry, he’s not sitting at our table,” your mother said, “I fixed another surprise for you at our table, and I figured you’d want to keep your options open.”

“Besides, if your ex boyfriend is moving on…” Nolan trailed off and your mother raised her brows.

“Oh, Spencer has a girlfriend now?”

“No!” you said way too loudly and then cleared your throat, “I mean—I don’t care. But I don’t think so, I would’ve heard it.”

“See? More reason for you to meet other people.”

You pouted, “I hate this so much. I can’t believe I’m being dragged into this nonsense only because you guys are making me, this is seriously bullshit…”

“Y/N, do you want some cookies?” Nolan interrupted your grumbling, “One of my assistants brought them from France the other day.”

You scoffed, “How old do you think I—” you paused for a moment, then shrugged your shoulders, “Actually yeah, I’d love some cookies right now.”

***

Unfortunately, when you left your mother’s house you had overestimated the traffic and how long it would take you to get there so by the time you had pulled over by the road leading into the woods, you could only see one FBI car. You didn’t have to wonder who was in it when your eyes caught the sight of Spencer leaning against it and your heart skipped a beat.

“Fuck…” you murmured to yourself and considered for a short second to drive away until others got there, but it was too late. Spencer turned his head, saw your car and stopped dead on his tracks so you heaved a sigh and pushed open the door to step outside. You looked around before you pulled yourself up to sit on the hood before you fished your cigarette pack out of your purse.

“You’re early.” Spencer said and you raised your glances to look at him for a second before lighting your cigarette.

“So are you,” you put the lighter back into your purse, “Came by yourself?”

“Luke is talking with the police.”

“Lovely,” you exhaled the smoke and he crossed his arms, looking up at the sky for a moment before stealing a look at you.

You had no idea what to say to him. After that one day of truce, it was like you were back to being enemies and ignoring each other. The fact that he might have been ready to date another person made you feel even worse if it was possible, especially after that phone call between you. He had said that he was a mess just like you were, he had said you had taken a part of him when you left him, and—

You didn’t even know what you hoped for. You knew it wouldn’t change anything, and yet the thought of him being with someone else was more than enough to make you feel like you were falling off a cliff.

Maybe it was just the truce talking. Maybe he didn’t mean any of that.

Your phone vibrating in your purse made you snap out of your thoughts and you looked at the caller I.D., then frowned and answered.

“Hey, I’m a little busy at the moment.”

“On a Sunday?” Lincoln’s voice reached you, “Who’s the workaholic now?”

“Still you Linc,” you said and Spencer’s head shot up, “What’s up?”

“I just called to let you know that they just moved me to your table.”

You pulled your brows, “I’m sorry, what?”

“At the charity auction. My table was 3, they just e-mailed me to say I’ve been moved to 1.”

“Jesus Christ, you’re the surprise?” you asked, pinching the bridge of your nose, “Somebody needs to stop my mother.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing,” you said, “I…That’s great, we’ll sit together then. If you like sulking the whole night, we’ll be just fine.”

“Come on, it could be fun.”

“I doubt that.”

“Hey, at least you’re not alone.”

“I’ll drink throughout that night, you sure you can keep up?”

“Do you even know who you’re talking to, you amateur?”

“Oh it’s on.” You smiled slightly and he chuckled.

“I’ll see you at our table then. With drinks.”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” you said before you hung up, and put the phone back into your purse before you felt Spencer’s burning gaze on you, so you looked up at him.

“What?” you asked and he scoffed a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

“Nothing.”

“Professor.”

“I didn’t say anything,” he said, his gaze fixed on the woods and you tilted your head.

“Fine.”

He sucked a breath through his clenched teeth, as if trying to decide whether to say anything or not before you could ask again, Luke approached you two, another car pulling over by your car.

“Hey there.” You greeted Luke as you jumped off the hood and he tilted his head.

“Why are you shorter?”

You motioned at your sneakers, “I figured since we’re going into the woods, heels would be a bad idea.”

“Is this the first time I’m seeing you without heels?”

“Probably.”

“Should we get going?”

JJ stole a look at Spencer and you, then turned to Luke, “Actually, do you mind coming with me to the car for a moment? There’s this file I want to get your opinion on.” She nodded at you, “You guys go ahead if you want.”

You pulled your brows together for a second, trying to understand what was happening but then decided you wouldn’t question it and stepped into the woods, a shiver running down your spine.

It looked way too familiar.

You gritted your teeth and started walking, and it didn’t take long for Spencer to catch up with you.

“So I never got to ask you,” you managed to say after almost ten minutes of complete silence, “That…that blood vial in that petal bowl, whose blood was it?”

“Anthony’s.”

“Right,” you murmured as you kept walking, “Was it….was it something my dad did back then?”

“No.” Spencer said curtly and you looked over your shoulder.

“So then what does it—“

“Are you dating other people?” the words left his lips in a hurry as if he didn’t know how to stop them and you stopped dead on your tracks.

“I beg your pardon?”

He opened his mouth for a moment like he was trying to find the right words but then he closed it and shrugged his shoulders.

“Never mind,” he murmured, walking past you and you gawked after him for a while before you rushed after him.

“No, what was that?”

“Nothing.”

Maybe your whole theory about Spencer being a genius therefore not being able to be jealous wasn’t exactly the truth.

“I’m not— is this about Lincoln?” you held up the phone in your hand before you sped up to catch up with his long strides, “There’s this stupid charity auction bullshit and we’re both attending it, that’s it.”

“Alright,” he murmured, still walking and you let out a breath.

“Spencer!”

“What?” he turned around to look at you, that fire burning in his eyes again, “I said never mind, okay?”

“I’m not dating Lincoln!” you exclaimed “And I— even if I were, at least he’s not someone I met at a nightclub my friends forced me to go, unlike some of us.”

“What does that-” he started but it hit him in a second, “Garcia told you.”

“It came up.”

He raised his brows, “Yeah? How?”

“It just did.” You managed to say even if your cheeks were burning, “So what? You’re going to stand there and ask me that when you’re moving on already?”

“I’m not moving on!” he said as if you had just insulted him, “Besides, you broke up with me remember?”

“Yeah and you wasted no time Spencer, congratulations.” You murmured as you walked past him but as soon as your eyes caught the sight of the huge cabin by the small hill, your breath got caught in your throat and you took a step back, the memory flashing through your mind so fast that the headache hit you out of nowhere.

Your father tugged you by your hand through the woods as you yawned, rubbing at your eyes.

“Are you sleepy honey?”

You nodded, looking up at him,

“Daddy I thought we were going to come here tomorrow, with mom and Mina.” you said as you hugged the huge teddy bear you had brought with you when your father had woken you up and told you that you would be taking a small trip to the cabin.

“We are,” he said, “We will go back home after our hunt is done here.”

“Yeah but mom says Mina and I can’t be outside the cabin at night,” you murmured, “The lake is too close, remember? We might fall in, she says.”

“She’s right, no leaving the cabin by yourself when it’s dark outside,” he said, “Or else no chocolate for a week, you know the rules.”

“Okay, okay…” you yawned again, and your father knelt down so that you could look him in the eye.

“Petal honey, I want you to pay attention,” he said, “Look around. Let’s say you’re in the woods by yourself and you’re hunting. You know how we hunt, right?”

You took a deep breath, “Stab the prey, twist the knife, pull it back and watch them bleed.”

“Very good,” he said, “When you’re hunting in the woods, what’s the first thing you do?”

“Look up at the sky,” you said, “That’s how I know where I am.”

“Good start. How about if your prey is running to get away from you? How do you chase them?”

“People aren’t calm when they’re being hunted,” you repeated what he had told you, “They make noises. I follow that, and wait for them to tire themselves out.”

He nodded, then you both climbed the stairs to the front door of the cabin.

“And what’s the one thing you remember?”

“To stay calm and patient.”

He smiled at you and opened the door to the cabin so that you could see the bloodied person tied to a chair, screaming through the gag.

“Good,” he said, “Let’s go over what we do with the prey, shall we?”

“Y/N!” Spencer’s voice cut through the memory, almost grabbing you and pulling you back to the reality and it was only when you realized you weren’t standing anymore, instead you were on the ground on your knees, gasping for breath.

“I can’t—“ you choked out, pressing a hand over your chest “I—I can’t breathe—“

“Yes you can,” he helped you sit and lean your back to the tree trunk, “You just need to focus on me, alright? Can you breathe with me?”

You sniffled, trying to match your breathing with his and he nodded,

“There you go,” he said with a smile, “You’re doing great. Is it okay if I touch you?”

You nodded your head, still desperate to cling to anything that would protect you from that memory and he entwined his fingers with you.

“Keep your focus on me,” he said as he wiped the teardrop off your cheek with his free hand, awakening a fire right beneath your cheekbone, “Here’s what we’re going to do, you will inhale when I squeeze your hand, exhale when I stop. Can we do that together?”

You inhaled when you felt his grip tightening around your hand, then exhaled when it became loose again.

“Y/N?”

You let out a shaky breath, “Hm?”

“Why are public proposals so bad?”

A teary laugh escaped from your lips, “Professor…”

“No, I want you to tell me,” he said as you inhaled again when he squeezed your hand, “Why are they so bad?”

“Because they—“ you exhaled, “They’re not private.”

“They could be romantic.”

“But they’re not,” you protested, “They’re not romantic. They’re pretentious.”

“Pretentious?” he squeezed your hand once more and you took another breath.

“If you need an audience for something like that, you’re pretentious yeah.” You said as the nausea slowly retreated and he pushed your hair behind your ear before his knuckles brushed over your neck, it lasted only a moment but it was enough for you.

“Thanks,” you mumbled and he offered you a small smile.

“Anytime.”

“Brings back the memories, huh?” you leaned your head back to the tree trunk and he nodded.

“Yeah,” he murmured, “Yeah it really does.”

You pressed your lips together, “Spencer, why are you helping me?” you asked him, taking him by surprise, “With….all this. I thought you hated me.”

He swallowed thickly,

“I can’t hate you,” his voice was almost a murmur, “I wish I could. Trust me, I tried.”

“Guys?” you heard Luke’s voice and you turned your head to see them approaching, “What’re you—what happened?”

“We’ll meet you there in a second,” Spencer said, shooting JJ a look and she nodded.

“Okay,” she said, “Come on Luke.”

They walked past you to the cabin and you looked up at the sky for a couple of seconds before willing yourself to focus on him again.

“You remembered something,” he said and you nodded.

“A memory,” you managed to say, “I…Spencer, there are dead bodies in there.”

“I know, we found bones in the backyard—“

“No,” you cut him off, “You don’t understand. There are dead bodies in the cabin.”

He pulled his brows together and you pulled your hand out of his before standing up on shaky legs, still holding onto the tree for support.

“Y/N, we can wait-” he said but you shook your head and made your way to the cabin until you reached the stairs. Every cell in your body was screaming at you to run away, but you managed to force yourself to climb the stone stairs and stopped for a moment at the door as Spencer stepped to stand next to you. Everything looked exactly the same as you had left them all those years ago right before your father was arrested.

A shudder went down your spine, the same as the one you had gotten when you woke up in your apartment after being drugged. Something in here was way too dangerous for you and it wouldn’t rest until you were at its mercy so you had to get away before it could dig its claws under your skin, but-

You had to do this. You could do this.

You had been through much worse than this before.

You had survived your father, you had survived his copycats, you had survived everything thrown your way so far, you could survive this as well.

You rolled your shoulders back and stepped into the huge living room, the memory pushing at your mind but you shook your head, forcing yourself to focus.

“We can leave if you want,” Spencer murmured and you dug your fingernails into your palms hard enough to hurt.

There was a reason why police couldn’t find anything in this goddamn place when they first checked. You had repressed the memory just like you had repressed the rest, and now that you were here…

The memories about the cabin were swirling in your head, each more terrifying than other.

“Luke.”

Luke turned his head, “Yeah?”

“Do you mind stepping aside for a moment?” you asked, “Actually, if no one could—if no one could stand on the rug that’d be ideal. Thanks.”

JJ shot you a look but nodded at the two other agents walking around the living room and you slowly approached the magnetic chess board by the coffee table, holding out your hand over the pieces for a second. Panic roared through you but you gritted your teeth and moved the pawn, then put the bishop where your father taught you to put it way back then.

“It’ll be like a treasure hunt, but you need to keep it a secret,” he had told you, “Pinky swear?”

You turned the queen in hand your for a moment, then put it right next to the bishop and the small basement trapdoor which was impossible to see even if someone was looking for it clicked under the rug. Spencer froze for a moment before he and Luke pulled the rug off the floor and pulled open the hatch but the smell coming from downstairs made you cover your mouth.

“Stay here,” Luke told the agents as he went downstairs and Spencer followed him right before JJ did. You stalled there for a moment, trying to repress the fear pinning you to your spot before you stepped closer to the stairs leading down to the secret basement.

“Miss—“ the agent said but you ignored him and made your way down. JJ and Spencer already had their flashlights on as Luke held his gun, ready to pull the trigger at any unexpected movement.

“You can’t be here.” Spencer told you but you weren’t even mood to snap back at him. You dragged your fingertips on the wall until you found the switch and turned the light on, the smell getting worse and worse.

There were three huge boxes by the wall, all tightly shut and you had a feeling—

No, not a feeling. What you had was a memory and you knew exactly what was in them.

Spencer turned to you, apparently ready to tell you to go upstairs again but as soon as his eyes caught something over your shoulder, he froze, his jaw clenching. You could feel your heartbeat getting faster and faster as Luke stopped dead on his tracks.

“Y/N, go upstairs.” Spencer said, his tone way too controlled until you turned your head, “No wait, don’t look—“

But it was too late. The bloodied message on the wall made you gasp as you took a step back, unable to look away as that familiar dread filled you once more, the simple line causing goosebumps to rise on your skin;

Welcome home Petal.

Chapter 21

#spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid imagines #spencer reid x you #criminal minds #spencer #reid #spencer x reader #reid x reader #twisted

1K notes · View notes

sometimesrosy · 3 years

Note

Do you still post about The 100? I'm one who has read the books so watching the way they treated Bellamy as well as Bob pissed me off it also didn't make any sense reminded me of how Lincoln and the actor who played him was treated I don't know if I'm the only one who feels that way or not of course I shipped Bellarke and seeing how Jason also baited and trolled the fans I don't like it I think he even said in a interview once that they'll get there with their relationship obviously that was

a lie but seeing their relationship every season you can see how it was getting there only to be ripped away from us I thought at least by the end of season 6 something would happen between them but nope then maybe season 7? Sadly we got nothing and if that doesn't make it bad what's worse is Bellamy's death was basically excused like he deserved it even though later on he was right. Another thing though is the way he acted in the later half of season 7 is nothing like him.

+++

I do still post about The 100, but much more rarely. I'm not obsessed anymore and I'm still a bit pissed about how they ended it, how they treated Bellamy and how they treated Clarke.

I'm mad at JR. Long ago, when he screwed over Ricky, I didn't want to judge because, well, I didn't have enough information to judge. But as JR repeated his behavior with Bob, it turns out that the fans that hated him were correct. He was an asshole. I mean, he's a hollywood director so I assumed he was, as it's like a professional requirement or something, but he was an asshole in service of his ego instead of an asshole in service of his story. So they were absolutely right.

And he DID say Bellarke would get there eventually but it was a long journey. He also had Bob and Eliza act as if they were in love. And he wrote a story with that love at the center-- whether it was consummated or not.

It was NOT a lie. That was the story he was telling. But something kept him from declaring it within the narrative every time. We don't know what it was. Was he afraid of the Moonlighting curse? (where the two love interests lost their chemistry once they consummated? of course those actors HATED each other while Bellarke's actors married each other.) Was he waiting for the BEST moment, and then waited too long? Was he truly just screwing with the Bellarke fans? Did he RESENT the bellarke fans? (they were harassing him so my money is on this. it was revenge.) Did he get angry at Bob for betraying him and taking care of himself? IDK maybe. Seems like. Also I read something anon from people on set, and apparently JR essentially dropped The 100 in anticipation of his NEW series. He sold out his current show so that he could get picked up. And he had plenty of opportunities for Bellarke romance, and chose, each time, not to go there.

I hated how he erased Bellamy from the story and then whitewashed every character who loved him in order to erase his importance. It didn't just affect Bellamy, who was unrecognizable. It also affected Echo, who no longer had a purpose in the narrative, and Octavia, whose very identity was built on Bellamy's love for her, and of course Clarke, who was the head to his heart, and without that heart, she just became.... well, literally crazy.

So disrespectful to the main character. But then that is what happens when someone erases the second protagonist.

...

This is why I don't talk about The 100 anymore. Because every time I do, it devolves into me ranting about how season 7 betrayed the story and characters and became some other kind of show in which the evil cultist is the hero and the rebels who are trying to make a better world are not worthy of heaven. Which is exactly the OPPOSITE of the first 6 years and instead, plays into trumpism and fascism and all the current political bullshit, and that's just too damn coincidental for me. JR sold out and it's all his fault. I will never watch that new show. He betrayed the story and his audience, and lost our trust. And that isn't about bellarke being denied, it's about story for me. Bellarke WAS a love story whether it was consummated or not. All those near misses means that was the story. But he didn't even give us the TRAGIC love story he could have, because he was a dick.

#oops 100 rant

81 notes · View notes

thestupidhelmet · 3 years

Note

Honestly? I would love to read a complete AU from you where Jackie never met Kelso, so she's introduced to the gang as Hyde's girlfriend when they get together. It would be tricky to write because Jackie's relationship with Kelso was very important to her character development, but I'm really curious to see how you what you would come up with!

Thank you, @zeppelin-and-unicorns!

The first two questions that story would have to answer is 1) how does Jackie meet Hyde and 2) how do Hyde and Jackie start connecting?

On the show, the quick answer to both is Kelso. The longer answer to the second is that Hyde recognizes and cares about Jackie's vulnerability, and his instinct to help and protect her kicks in.

This turned into a ficlet.

In this fanfic AU, one possibility is that Jackie's junior cheer squad (vs. varsity cheer squad) friends play truth or dare at lunch. Jackie keeps picking truth, and one of her teammates calls her on it, claiming Jackie's too chicken to do a dare. To prove this teammate wrong, Jackie picks dare her next turn.

Hyde has a reputation around school, and his mom is the lunch lady. The cheer squad member who gives Jackie the dare knows this about Edna (Jackie doesn't on the show until "Career Day" [1x18]). She dares Jackie to go on a date with "Gross" Edna's son.

Jackie: She has a son?

Cheerleader 1 [pointing at Hyde across the cafeteria]: That's him.

Jackie: That table has four boys at it. Which one is her son? Please tell me it's not the bony, geeky one.

Cheerleader 1: It's the one with the pork-chop sideburns.

Jackie: Ew! That's almost as bad.

Cheerleader 1: So you're not gonna do it?

Cheerleader 2: Such a chicken.

Jackie [to Cheerleader 2]: Would you?

Cheerleader 2: It's not my dare. It's yours.

Jackie: Fine.

Jackie goes to Hyde's table, taps Hyde on the shoulder, and says, "Hi, I'm Jackie Burkhart, you might've heard of me. I'm the star cheerleader in the junior cheer squad. My dad is on the town council and owns Fatso Burger. Anyway, you're going to pick me up for a date this Saturday night at seven, okay? I'll slip my address in your locker. Which one is it?"

Hyde stares at her, unsure of who this nutcase is, what's happening, and why it's happening. Eric, though, thinking this situation is funny says, "His locker's 302 on the third floor."

Jackie: Thanks!

She strides away with a skip in her step, satisfied with herself. Kelso is shocked a cheerleader asked Hyde out instead of him.

Donna: She didn't ask. She gave him an order.

Fez: She could order me around any time. "Fez, carry my books. Fez, fondle my books. Fez, kiss my books."

Eric: Are you sure you mean books?

Fez: In my country, when a woman asks a man to touch her books, it's the beginning of courtship.

Donna: Of course it is.

Hyde: Fez, if you want to "carry her books," you can pick her up on Saturday instead of me.

Fez: Really?

Hyde: Consider it my gift to you.

Back at Jackie's table--

Cheerleader 1: So did you do it?

Jackie: We're going on a date this Saturday. I'll, of course, write instructions for him: one, shave off the sideburns; two, show up in a button-down shirt and slacks; and three, get a haircut.

Cheerleader 2: Where is he gonna take you?

Jackie: I haven't decided yet. Maybe the Vineyard.

Cheerleader 1: Are you going to pay? Because no way he can afford that place.

Jackie: I'm sure he's saved up enough of an allowance or money from a job in case an opportunity like this came along.

Cheerleader 1: Yeah, right. He's got no dad. His mom makes diddly-squat, and I know because my dad's on the school board. Hyde cuts classes a lot and not to work at one of your dad's fast-food joints. To smoke joints.

Jackie: You mean he's a head?

Cheerleader 1: Yeah, so if he actually show's up for your date, know the grass is higher on his side of the fence.

---

Saturday, 7:00 pm. Fez shows up for the date. Standing at the front door of her house, Jackie is shocked and asks where Steven is.

Fez: After he got your list of ... demands, he told me to tell you where you could stuff them. But you may demand all you want from me, and I will give it.

Jackie: Um ... okay. I demand that you tell Steven he's a fool, a jerk, and has no idea what he's missing.

Fez: Are we not going out on a date?

Jackie: No.

Fez: I see. How about--

Jackie shuts the front door in his face. Unfortunately, the junior cheer squad members missed nothing. They hid themselves by the gate of the Burkhart Mansion and were able to witness the whole exchange. They don't know what was said, but they know Fez showed up instead of Hyde and that Jackie sent him away.

---

Jackie becomes determined to fulfill her dare, especially after the cheerleaders' ribbing at school the following Monday. She tries to ingratiate herself to Hyde, which pissed him off even more. He eventually gets sick enough of her pursuit to make a haiku on the spot:

Go the hell away. We're not going on a date Ever or today.

The cheer squad overhears this and laughs at Jackie profusely. Hyde overhears the laughter and taunts as he walks off and begins to put the pieces together: the cheer squad put Jackie up to this. He returns to Jackie in the school hallway and says, "You got a driver's license and a car?"

Jackie: Yeah ...

Hyde: Meet me at my house this Saturday at eight. I'll put my address in your locker. Which is it?

Jackie: 715, fifth floor.

Hyde: Cool.

As Hyde walks away again, Jackie calls after him, "Is this gonna be a date?

Hyde says, "What else, man?"

The cheer squad gawk at Jackie while Jackie smiles triumphantly -- and smugly.

---

This is how Jackie and Hyde’s connection begins. Their first date is mostly filled with them questioning each other about why they are the way they are, both coming across as judgmental, and both hearing advice about to be better people. By the end of the date, they’re not talking to each other. Jackie drops Hyde off at his house, but before he slams the passenger-side of her Lincoln, he thinks he hears Jackie say, “Thank you.”

#That 70s Show #That '70s Show #Jackie x Hyde #Jackie Burkhart #Steven Hyde #Ask #zeppelin-and-unicorns #Comment #Response #Ask Game #Ficlet

47 notes · View notes

dwellordream · 3 years

Text

“Military diplomacy was another area of war where noblewomen sometimes took a leading role. The term ‘diplomacy’ in this case refers to negotiations undertaken either to find peace between two warring sides or in order to forge an alliance. Many noblewomen had a significant role to play in the diplomatic process and an interest in successfully completing the negotiation process. However, the limited military role most noblewomen enjoyed meant that in practise female diplomacy in the Middle Ages was affected only by royal, or other similarly highly placed women whose importance, symbolic or otherwise, compelled their inclusion in the negotiations.

Several instances of diplomacy stand out in this regard. During the Investiture Controversy, for example, Matilda of Tuscany pursued diplomacy alongside her military support of the reform papacy. At the Lenten Synod in 1075 she tried to ease tensions in a bitter dispute between Gregory and Censius Stephani, a noted enemy of the reform papacy, by calling for clemency on Censius’ behalf, after he was arrested and sentenced to death. The following year at the Synod of Worms Matilda and Pope Gregory were accused by the Emperor Henry of an overly intimate and improper sexual relationship. Matilda and the pope responded by toning down the frequency of their correspondence and thenceforth only communicating through legates, thus stifling any further allegations of misconduct and illustrating a diplomatic solution by Matilda to another potential source of conflict.

Most well- known of all were Matilda’s efforts in negotiating a truce between pope and emperor at her castle of Canossa in January 1077. The fortress itself and the protection offered by her troops undoubtedly encouraged Gregory to meet with the emperor when he otherwise would not have; moreover, Matilda’s personal efforts to convince the pope to receive Henry after his three day penance outside the gates and her sponsoring of the final agreement played a major part in achieving a peaceful accord.

Noblewomen were also diplomatically active in the French and Anglo- Norman domains. Adela of Blois (c.1067-1137), countess of Blois, Chartres, and Meaux, was known for her efforts in reconciling a conflict between Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry I in 1104, by arranging a face-to-face negotiation that resulted in their eventual reconciliation. Adela was also active in creating an Anglo-Norman-Thibaudian alliance against Louis VI in the early 1110s, after he threatened Thibaudian autonomy in the Chartrain by revoking castle-building privileges and claiming certain ecclesiastical properties. A few years later Adela played a pivotal role in helping King Henry I’s negotiator Thurstan (Archbishop of York) reach a favourable settlement resolving Henry’s dispute with King Louis.

Blanche of Castile (1188-1252) was likewise active in negotiating treaties that helped to ensure royal power in the north of France while ruling as regent for her son, Louis IX. Among the more notable agreements were the 1229 Treaty of Paris-Meaux between Louis IX and Raymond VII of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse, which brought an end to the Albigensian Crusade, and the 1242 Peace of Lorris that essentially confirmed the terms of the 1229 treaty and ended any chance of southern France remaining independent from royal authority. The importance of Blanche’s role in both cases is worth noting: in 1229 Blanche was still regent (Louis’ personal government did not begin until around 1236) and thus her acceptance of the treaty was significant, even though she did not personally negotiate the actual conditions of the treaty, while in 1242 Raymond had Blanche act as an intermediary on his behalf in achieving a final peace with the king.

In England, the Countess Mabel, Robert of Gloucester’s wife, held King Stephen in captivity after his capture at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, which enabled Robert to bargain for his release after he had himself been captured by Stephen’s forces during the same battle. For her part, Stephen’s wife Matilda of Boulogne was simultaneously active in negotiating her husband’s release.

In the Holy Land noblewomen were also at times an important part of the diplomatic process. Baldwin II’s wife, Morphia, was said by Orderic to have been active in the negotiations for Baldwin’s release from captivity in 1124. Likewise, when in 1152 Queen Melisende found herself under siege in Jerusalem by her own son Baldwin III, who was fighting her for control of the Latin kingdom, she was able – through the mediation of the Church – to secure the city of Nablus and surrounding lands to which she could retire. Evidently, her sixteen years as ruler must have counted for something in the negotiations with Baldwin, for she was able to emerge just a few years later to a position of relative power and freedom in Baldwin’s government.

Occasionally, women in the Holy Land were even said to have attempted diplomacy with Muslims. According to William of Tyre, Melisende’s sister, Alice of Antioch, attempted to send an alleged peace offering to the Muslim leader Zengi, as part of her efforts to gain control of Antioch in the early 1130s, but was unsuccessful. Asbridge has cautioned against accepting the testimony of William of Tyre too uncritically, as no contemporary Muslim accounts mention this offer of peace.

Similarly unclear is the role played by Queen Marguerite (c.1221-1295), wife of Louis IX, whom Louis’ biographer Jean de Joinville portrayed as a dignified, pious, and thoughtful noblewoman, and who was mentioned during the course of Louis’ negotiations with the Saracens following his capture at the battle of Mansourah in April 1250. According to Joinville, the king could not guarantee to his captors that he could pay their ransom because he would have to get the queen to consent to paying it and ‘as his consort, she was mistress of her actions’, although as Hodgson notes, ‘this may have been a bargaining ploy’.

Whatever the case, Marguerite did display some leadership in helping to keep together the Christian forces in the city of Damietta during the king’s captivity by arranging to buy all the food in the city at her own expense, although she was eventually forced to give up the city as part of the conditions of surrender. Medieval noblewomen, therefore, sometimes played an integral part in initiating or indirectly assisting the diplomatic process, even if they were not necessarily the ones who argued and finalised the treaties themselves. As we have seen, their role was often one of intercession or intervention on behalf of other parties, conveying messages back and forth between sides so that opposing enemies did not have to meet face-to-face.

Blanche of Castile’s intermediary role in concluding the 1242 Peace of Lorris and the meeting between Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII sponsored by Countess Matilda were both clear examples of the mediating role noblewomen might assume, but they were not the only noblewomen to perform this function. Phillipa of Hainault, wife of Edward III, was known to have interceded for the burghers of Calais to prevent their execution following Edward’s successful siege in 1347. In a similar way Ermengard, viscountess of Narbonne (c.1127-c.1196/97) helped arbitrate peace on behalf of Count Raymond V of Toulouse when he was in negotiations with one Roger of Béziers in 1171, and again in 1176 when she acted played a mediating or ‘go-between’ role in a separate peace between Raymond and Alfons of Aragon.

Likewise, Jeanne d’Évreux, third wife of King Charles IV of France, and Queen Blanche d’Évreux, second wife of King Philip VI of France, twice interceded on behalf of Charles II, king of Navarre. In 1354 they helped Charles obtain a pardon from King John II of France for Charles’ involvement in the murder of the Constable of France, while in 1357 they helped to reconcile relations between Charles and the Dauphin, (the future Charles V) who was regent of France due to John’s imprisonment in England at that time.

Their success, and that of the other noblewomen cited, is indicative of the impact intercession could have in effectively contributing towards peace negotiations, and as such, they decreased the likelihood of war. Together with women like Adela who forged alliances for their safety, therefore, these women’s actions must be included as a part of medieval military history.”

- James Michael Illston, ‘An Entirely Masculine Activity’? Women and War in the High and Late Middle Ages Reconsidered

#james michael illston #medieval #high middle ages #late middle ages #military #noblewomen #queens #diplomacy #matilda of tuscany #adela of blois #blanche of castile #margaret of provence #philippa of hainault #joan of evreux #blanche of navarre #history

50 notes · View notes

warsofasoiaf · 3 years

Note

After all the stuff Glenn did in your playthrough, how high do you think he'd be ranked as a president? (Also which salon won in tomsk? They're my favorite unifyer by far).

Glenn would probably be thought of as one of the all-time greats, up there with Washington and Lincoln. The Mars Landing is obviously one hell of an accomplishment that would rank among the scientific marvels of a 20th century that had its fair share of them, but it's not just Mars. The SALT Accords help preserve the world from nuclear armageddon, the Iranian intervention and support of the Arab Democratic Republic out of Yemen would help solve the oil crisis (if that content had actually been implemented for the USA - as I understand it currently the Oil Crisis is only addressable as Germany, Italy, and Iberia). He successfully negotiated the Honolulu Accords (I timed it so it was one of the last foci I took before Glenn took office) and returned the Eisenhower Islands and Hawaii to American control without losing the Panama Canal Zone. I also took Glenn's anti-corruption foci and played it completely straight, not favoring NASA at all and going the "complete ban" route, and was able to establish Glenn's domestic legislation successfully, including social security and Medicare (without caving to drug companies).

Glenn's biggest detractors would probably be people who disapproved of his handling of the uranium mine handling. I seized them, which probably will eventually need to be undone as a temporary strategic measure following the SALT accords or be seen as unconstitutional. Followers of Michael Harrington would probably get annoyed that I didn't limit to a six-hour workday to compromise with the Democrats on the labor bill. Obviously, the Yock and Hall types will be furious at President Glenn, who not only united American society but addressed the issues that would have caused them to get elected in the first place. The bean counters probably would have gotten mad at Glenn when the Oil Crisis hit, but again, that's due to the lack of Oil Crisis content for USA - that permanent 8% increase is hard to overcome as far as budgets are concerned even if I was able to make sure my debt-to-income ratio stayed below 65%. Environmentalists too, would probably not like Glenn, since they were anti-nuclear power in the 1970's (and still have a strong anti-nuclear current today).

Tomsk is this playthrough united under the Dekabristy. Alas, they're not as cool as Sakharov's Modernisty, but that's to be expected. The Tomsk salons are imperfect pieces of a great whole - The Decemberists want to conserve and protect nature, the Modernists want to decriminalize homosexuality and provide education, the Humanists want to protect the working man (albeit at a cost of mass conscription), and the Bastilards look to establish healthcare to a population that badly needs it.

I've united Russia as most of the unifiers. While Tomsk is undoubtedly one of the more wholesome unifiers, I think Keremvero under Yuriy is probably my favorite one in Central Siberia because it combines wholesomeness and insanity in a very good way. How can a general going on a drug binge after his best friend betrays him, claiming to be a Rurikid, and establishing a decent Russia not a fun time? "King Rurik" not only sticks it to the Germans, but does so in absolute style. Same with WerBell, who is less wholesome but ten times more insane in a good way - he isn't the best unifier but he is clearly the biggest laugh riot. Given how much I love Metal Gear, making Mitchell WerBell III turn into Big Boss and Russia turn into Outer Heaven is just *chef's kiss* perfect.

Plenty of good unifiers though. Alexander Men is pretty cool. I think they're pulling Kosygin out of Komi, but he was a good unifier. Yeltsin was another good surprise candidate despite the hate he gets from the fans, and of course, Sablin is Wholesome 100 Big Chungus to the point that Trix shoots from his butthole.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#tno #the new order: last days of old europe #the new order

16 notes · View notes

amelialincoln · 3 years

Text

Something Good Can Work

Amelia was notoriously a light sleeper. To her frustration, Link was not. Instead, he was usually restless, dreaming about who knows what. She’d ask him about the dreams every couple of weeks, trying to force something out of him that he was obviously set on burrowing deep inside. Thus, she was always unsuccessful which resulted in many sleepless nights, as her boyfriend tossed and turned beside her. Since Scout had been born she sometimes questioned if she even slept at all. Every little sound jerked her awake and she’d find herself standing in the doorway of Scout’s room, pleading that he was still sound asleep in his crib or, as he’d grown older, his new twin bed. And he always was, with his mouth slightly agape and his little brown curls jutted out in a halo around his head. She’d triple check that the baby monitor was on and working, press a gentle kiss upon her son’s head and finally make her way back to the shared bed, where Link was probably radiating like a furnace.

Her nightly checks on Scout became a bit more obvious as she grew with their second child. At around six months Amelia lost her ability to be light on her feet, to the point where even her heavy sleeper of a boyfriend would be able to sense her trying to sneak out of their bed. He’d pull her back towards him, wrapping her up in the warm, familiar embrace, that she had become reliant on, and tell her that everything was all right. After deciding that telling him about the slight creak that came from the hallway (which was most definitely an intruder coming to take their son) was a bit delusional, the nightly routine had come to cease and forced herself to stay put as the curtains swayed and the refrigerator hummed. She knew the increasing paranoia was centred around the masked man that had come into their family store when she was young but the whole thing seemed like a lot to put on Link, so she chose to keep it all inside. Much like her boyfriend, with his own silent nightmares.

Amelia was awoken from her light sleep that morning by the slight dip at the end of their bed. Their mattress was already so unbalanced by the contrast in weight between her and Link that any added pressure would cause the bed to creak and grind along the back wall. She shot up, trying to mask the look of shock on her face as she met Scout’s grinning expression.

“Happy Mama’s Day!” Scout cried, holding out the makeshift card that he must have worked on at preschool the day before.

“Thanks, baby,” Amelia tried to hide the shake in her voice as she awkwardly pulled him up beside her, allowing him to cuddle up to her swollen abdomen. Link stood in the doorway, holding a plate of their favourite pastries from the bakery down the street, watching the exchange with slight concern.

“You slept well,” he remarked. “Didn’t even stir when I got up.” He’d begun to notice the lack of sleep that she’d been getting over the course of her pregnancy, with him becoming more and more cautious of her health. Amelia nodded as she read over the jagged but carefully cut out flower petals, each containing a letter of her name that contained an endearing word that Scout associated with her. “Long, huh?” Link chuckled, peering over her shoulder. “That’s a good one, Scout.”

“L words are hard,” Scout pouted in response. “I couldn’t think of a good one.”

“It’s good, bud,” Link laughed. “I think that one might be better for my name though. I don’t know if you’d be here right now if your Mom wasn’t so obsessed with how long I am,” he smirked at Amelia.

“Link!”

“Yeah, you are pretty tall. A lot taller than Mom. I guess she isn’t that long.” Scout shrugged, staring at the card with a pondering expression on his face. “I think love for L is a better one now. Can I go change it?” He asked.

“Of course,” Amelia responded, glaring at Link who was still suppressing laughter. “But you did a perfect job, okay? Your Daddy is just being silly.” Scout nodded, gripping the card with his pudgy toddler hands and running out of their bedroom. “You’re unbelievable.” Amelia shook her head as Link placed down the platter of baked goods and carefully lowered himself down to sit at the edge of their bed.

“You say that after you asked for sex as your gift for Mother’s Day.” He chuckled, placing a couple of soft kisses on her forehead and lips.

“I’m hormonal,” Amelia whined, biting into the croissant that Link handed to her. “And you made him feel bad about his card, which was great.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Link shook his head, his eyes casting down to the muffin he was picking apart. “Amazing, magical, exciting, long, ice cream and awesome is exactly how I would describe you too.” The grin on his face was full of amusement. Amelia shook her head, suppressing a smile as Scout came bounding back into the room with his revised card. Amelia placed it on her bedside and allowed her son to crawl into her lap and nuzzle into her chest. Scout, tuckered out from the excitement of waiting patiently for Link to allow him to wake up his mother and presenting his card, fell asleep almost immediately, small snores radiating from his mouth.

“You okay, Mia?” Link asked, pushing a fallen strand of hair out of her face as he watched her stare absentmindedly at their sleeping boy. “You seem a little out of it.” Her ocean blue eyes raised up to meet his as she snapped out of the daze she was in.

“Just tired,” she gave him a small smile. “It’s weird to think that next Mother’s Day there will be two of them.”

“Maybe even for Father’s Day,” Link grinned. Amelia nodded, pressing a hand to her stomach as their little girl rolled lazily inside of her.

“You guys walked down to the bakery this morning? I didn’t know they were open this early.” She glanced at the bedside alarm clock which read 6:45. Mornings in the Lincoln apartment were almost always early.

“We went late last night while you were still at work. We were going to just get donuts for dessert but we ended up picking up some stuff for breakfast as well,” he explained, ruffling Scout’s shaggy brown hair as he stirred in his sleep.

“You walked? Our neighbourhood isn’t the best place to be just walking around late at night, especially since Scout tends to bolt off the minute you're not watching him and go chat up strangers. I was talking to Mrs. Hudgins on the third floor and she said that two men tried to mug her on Friday. She was lucky that that guy, Kevin, in the lobby saw it happening because he came out right away. I don’t think that--”

“We drove,” Link interrupted her, watching the worry start to melt off her face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” Amelia shook her head for the second time before leaning back against the bed frame. “I’m just worried that once the new baby comes I won’t be as alert if he runs off because I’ll be pushing the stroller. Or if I’ll be too preoccupied with getting her out of the carseat and won’t notice if someone comes out of nowhere and grabs him…” she trailed off, glancing at Scout who was shifting uncomfortably as Amelia had stopped playing gently with his hair. His girlfriend sighed as she dropped her previously gesturing hand back atop their son’s head.

“Hey, if it’s worrying you this much we can start looking for other places,” he assured her, placing a warm and comforting hand on her knee and shifting closer to the pair of them.

“I’ve looked a bit,” she admitted. “You know how much I like going on those real-estate websites and looking at houses just for fun." She shrugged as her smile faded. "I just think that moving would be stressful right now and I can’t help carry boxes or be on my feet all day packing. Even if we were to move after the baby’s born I’ll still be in postpartum for awhile and if I tear or anything I’ll be in recovery for a bit.”

“Well, it seems like you’ve given this a lot of thought.” Link shifted on the bed, trying to read her expression.

“I have lots of time to think about it when I’m up all night,” she tried to joke and just received a more concerned look from him. “I’m kidding.”

“Yeah, I know,” he avoided her gaze by glancing down at Scout. “We’re running late so I can drive him today.” Link pulled the protesting toddler up and into his arms.

“But it’s Mother’s Day. I wanna be with mom!” Scout shrieked, causing Amelia to wince. “Mommy, please,” he cried, as he met his Mom’s teary, hormonal expression.

“It’s okay, honey. It’s time for school but I can pick you up and we can go to the park to play,” Amelia answered, trying to keep her voice level and ignoring Link’s sympathetic gaze as tears threatened to spill from her eyes at the sight of seeing him so upset.

“Promise?” Scout mumbled as Link lingered in the doorway.

“Promise,” Amelia confirmed.

She was always shocked by how little time it took Link to get Scout ready for practically any occasion. They were out the door in five, locking it quickly and Amelia watched out the window as Link pulled out of the narrow parking garage with ease. Scout grinning from ear to ear as she watched him connect his phone to the bluetooth of their car and undoubtedly play Scout’s favourite song, which funnily enough was Better When I'm Dancing by Meghan Trainer. Amelia and Link usually couldn't help but suppress their laughter when he continued to request it every time they were in the car.

She lingered in bed for a bit longer. Her third trimester had her energy levels at an all time low. She could barely make it through a shift at work now. When she was pregnant with Scout she worked until she basically went into labor but the second time around Link would often find her passed out in on call rooms or her office when she was at the hospital and would have to practically drag her home. Eventually, she made her way into the kitchen finding a colourful bouquet of tulips and hydrangeas with a small written note from Link and the rest of the bakery goods on the island. The note contained a long and neatly written paragraph about how amazing of a mother, and a wife, she was along with a quickly scribbled message at the bottom, probably written last minute this morning, saying he had to go check up on a patient at the hospital quickly after dropping Scout off but would be back to spend the rest of the day together in an hour. They’d talked about getting married a lot but, after four years of being together and the wedding talk beginning to fade, Link had just begun to call her his wife, despite them not getting around to actually getting a marriage license. She’d already had her big fancy wedding once so it wasn’t a big deal to her; however, she wanted Link to have the same and knew that someday they would get around to at least having one themselves. She also died at the idea of Scout being their ring bearer and maybe, if she was old enough, their little girl being the flower girl.

[][][]

Link checked his watch for the thousandth time in what seemed like a singular minute. He had promised Amelia they’d spend the day together and had even asked for the day off to be with his pregnant girlfriend, who had been spending more and more time away from work as her pregnancy progressed. Apparently Nico had screwed up and had accidentally made a false diagnosis on a trauma patient so Link was there to do damage control and try to talk a patient into not deciding to sue the entire hospital.

“There’s not much else I can say to them.” Link stepped out into the hallway where an angry Bailey and a sulking Nico were waiting. “The mistake was fair, I might’ve done the same as a fellow. It’s just shitty that it happened to a lawyer who knows a lot more about the law than I do. In that case, I don’t really know why you called me in…” he glanced at his boss, “respectfully.”

“Well, considering that--”

“Dr. Bailey,” he interrupted, itching to get back to Amelia. “There’s nothing more that I can do here. Nico made a mistake. It happens all the time. As doctors we aren’t perfect but it ended up being an easy fix. The guy is an ass, he’s looking for money but in the end this hospital saved his life so what happens from now on is out of our hands.” To Link’s surprise, Bailey nodded.

“Alright, thank you for trying, Dr. Lincoln. Tell Shepherd to have your baby, we need her back. Too many stupid mistakes are ruining my hospital. Shepherd doesn’t make mistakes.” She glared at Nico before leaving the pair, who shrugged. Link nodded to his fellow with a hint of annoyance by his attitude before making his way into the elevator and glancing at his phone which had lit up with his girlfriend’s name.

“Hey, babe. Sorry I’m just heading out now, what’s up?” He pushed the P1 button and waited for his girlfriend's response.

“Link,” the panic in her voice was evident.

“What’s going on? Is the baby okay? Are you okay?” He answered quickly, ever since the scare they’d had a couple months back about a possible placental abruption the pair had been on pretty high alert, he prayed to god that everything was alright.

“I-I think someone’s trying to break in,” she answered with ragged breaths. “Someone is fiddling with the locks. I can hear them and I don’t know what to do. I don't know w-what to do. I...I love you.” Link sprinted out of the elevator as the doors opened to the underground parkade.

“Did you call the front desk? They can get to you quickly and call the police. Where are you?” He practically launched himself into their SUV as his phone connected to the car��s speakers and sound of Amelia’s uncontrollable fast paced breathing filled his ears.

“I’m in our room. I don’t know where to go,” the noise of her escalating panic attack was cut off as he heard their apartment’s door open through the phone.

“Amelia?” There was talking from the other end for a moment before her voice returned on the line.

“H-Hey, I’m sorry, it’s the apartment maintenance guys coming to fix the ice maker. I didn’t hear them knock so they thought we weren’t home and let themselves in. I’m sorry, I thought…” she trailed off and Link’s head fell forward in relief, allowing the wave of nausea that was clouding over him, at the idea of someone harming her and their baby, to pass. “Link, I--”

“It’s okay," he exhaled, "I’ll be home in a sec, okay?” He willed the sound of his own distress to be hidden by the crackling of the phone from the lack of service in the underground parkade. “Just try to calm down, Amelia. We don’t want you going into preterm labor,” he tried to keep his voice light. “I’ll be home soon.” The phone call ended as he steered out of the parking lot and out onto the highway. When he’d bought the apartment he didn’t have any thought about whether it was "kid friendly" at the time. He hadn’t even thought about the idea of sharing it with anyone else. It was the perfect place for just himself. With nice enough neighbours and not too expensive for the amount of space. He’d definitely thought about moving after Amelia had moved in and again after they’d had Scout. But like everything else in their life, including the wedding they always used to talk about, work came first and they never seemed to have the time to search for a new place.

[][][]

Upon arriving home he found Amelia curled up on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, still visibly shaking. She burst into tears as he entered the apartment and burrowed her face in her hands.

“Babe, come here,” he sighed, pulling her into his chest and wiping tears off her face with his thumb.

“I’m sorry for overreacting,” she faltered, allowing herself to finally relax into his arms. “It’s just I didn’t hear them knock, I was napping on the couch and then I woke up to the door handle rattling and it sounded like someone was picking the lock and I got so scared I couldn’t--”

“Breathe,” he reminded her, rubbing protective circles on her back. “It’s okay, Mia. As long as you’re both okay.” He watched her face change as she was reminded of the condition she was in.

“She wasn’t moving f-for awhile.” She sputtered as she followed the breathing pattern he was setting for her. “But since you’ve been back I can feel her again.”

“She just missed her Daddy,” Link smiled softly, placing a hand on the underside of her stomach and trying to distract her. “Scout’s definitely a Momma’s boy so it’s only fair this one likes me better.”

“Scout does not like me better.” Link watched her breathing normalize as her mind was filled with the thought of their son. “You’re the one who takes him to get donuts after I say no.”

“And what does he say every time I bring him and you’re not there?” Link asked, watching his girlfriend grin. “I want to bring one back for Mommy.” He mimicked Scout’s adorable pleading voice. “Speaking of Scout, he probably needs to get picked up soon.” He glanced at the clock. “Do you want me to go grab him?”

“It’s okay I’ll go, I promised him. It’s raining so we can’t go to the park but I can tell him that we’ll make a fort when we get back.”

“Are you sure you’re good to drive? You still look a bit anxious. I can come with you?” He offered, taking her cold hand into his and bringing it to his lips. She shook her head, standing up slowly with the help of his hand guiding up her lower back.

“I’ll be fine, it’s only a couple of blocks,” she assured him. “Can you make him lunch for when he gets back? He didn’t have a very big breakfast.” She noted as she absentmindedly soothed a spot on her abdomen and reached for her coat.

“Of course,” he confirmed, stepping up to help her. “Call me if you need anything.” Even though today was a false alarm he couldn’t help but feel an added sense of worry that came with her being by herself but he didn’t want to scare her with his own unease. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

[][][]

Scout was visibly upset by the lack of visit to the park as Amelia secured him into his car seat. He gripped tightly onto the bouquet of wildflowers he picked at recess to add to his father’s preexisting bouquet of flowers that sat in the kitchen before he handed them to his mother, as she finished clipping him into his car seat.

“Getting big,” a voice from behind her made her jump. She turned to find Scout’s teacher from last year getting into the parked car beside theirs. “When are you due?”

“Next month,” she answered lightly. “On the sixth.” She smiled at Scout before shutting the door and climbing into the front seat to avoid getting any wetter.

“We’ve seen a lot of Atticus around,” the teacher continued. “Scout mentioned that you were feeling sick a lot?”

“Mostly past that now,” she glanced back at Scout who was nodding and shook her head with amusement. “His father just usually picks him up on his way back from work now since I’m on maternity.” The man nodded, giving Scout a quick wave who returned it excitedly.

“Well, it's nice to see you around again, I definitely miss having Scout in my class. Have a great rest of your day,” he replied before pulling out of the parking lot.

“You miss your mom picking you up?” Amelia smirked into the rearview mirror at Scout who was still happily smiling to himself about receiving some appraisal from his teacher.

“Nooooooo,” Scout giggled. “You just talk to the other moms for so long it means I get more play time.”

“Right,” she laughed.

[][][]

Amelia pushed open the door to their apartment and watched Scout launch himself into his father’s arms, out of breath from climbing the stairs. The two stared back at them, with the same happy grin that was the one trait in which Scout had adopted from his father.

“My handsome boys,” She laughed, as they both wore an adorable blush. “What did Daddy make you for lunch?” She asked as Link set him down in his highchair which they still used considering that Scout was the squirmiest toddler and had adopted his mother’s ADHD.

“Grilled cheese!” Scout announced happily, doing his little food wiggle. Link chuckled, setting down the plastic plate on the highchair and receiving the high five that Scout was attempting to slap him with.

“Hey, I have something to show you,” he whispered, guiding Amelia over to the couch gently and pulling her into his lap. He quickly typed his password into his laptop and clicked on one of the open tabs.

“Link…”

“It's a five bedroom. Which I know is super big but Maggie always says that you wanted four kids.” He rested his chin on her shoulder as he watched her face flicker with surprise. “But if we don’t want that anymore one...or two can be guest rooms.” She shushed him, motioning for him to keep clicking through the photos. “It’s got a big backyard and look at the master bathroom. You always talk about wanting two sinks right? Cause I’m so messy. Isn’t it nice?” He teased, she nodded soundlessly. “And here’s the kitchen.” She let out a little gasp. “That’s big enough for a family of six, huh?” He let her look through the rest of the photos, biting the skin on the top of her thumb as she looked. “It’s like a ten minute drive from Mer’s.”

“Link, this is way out of our budget and look, it’s already sold,” she muttered, lingering on the photo of the bedroom that had been staged as a nursery. Link could practically feel her hormones raging.

“Do you like it?” He asked tentatively.

“I mean of course, it’s perfect.” He let out a sigh of relief.

“I was hoping you’d say that cause people were bidding and we were going to lose it. So I kind of bought it.”

“You, what?” She spun around to face him.

“Happy Mother’s Day?”

“You bought a freaking house for Mother’s Day?” Her eyes were wide and teary.

“Yeah, that might have been a bit of a stupid decision to make on my own. I’m realizing that now,” he bit his lip uncomfortably.

“Thank you,” she finally managed to say through tears, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in as close as her baby bump would allow. “I love it. Thank you.”

“I just was in a position where if we put an offer in it would’ve been sold and I got Jackson to facetime me and walk around in it because they were holding an open house and he lives nearby. I’m sorry if you’re freaking out a bit.”

“I mean a bit. When do we move in? I’m not going to be much help.”

“First of June,” he watched the wheels turn inside her head.

“We’re moving in a week before I’m due?” She exclaimed, glancing around at everything that was going to be needed to be packed away. “Link.”

“I know...but it’s going to be fine. Maggie offered to help and I’ll handle everything, okay? I talked to Bailey and she’s going to give me some time off to sort through everything.”

“Okay…” she replied hesitantly, staring at the photos of their place again. “Is this even real? Aw, Link, look at the swing set in the back. Maybe she’ll be a movement baby like Scout and I can swing with her outside while he plays.” Her eyes rested on Scout who was continuing to demolish his lunch.

“And the hammock in the back corner, did you see that?” He answered excitedly. “We can lie in there together when it gets warmer with the kids.”

“It’s perfect,” she said in awe. He leant back in relief, her words obliterating all his fear and looked over his shoulder at his son, who was licking his leftover smoothie off the high chair surface.

“Hey bud, what do you think of a swing set?”

“For me?” Scout exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement and turning to his mother for confirmation. Amelia nodded, laughing at the reaction that their three year old was displaying to them.

“You did good, babe,” she squeezed his hand gently with a hint of pride. “You did good.”

#amelia shepherd #amelink #amelink fanfiction #atticus lincoln #atticus link

32 notes · View notes