#Ingrid’s husband is her dream person in this universe

[watersdeep]

The size different between the normal sized bodies and pinnacle bodies is…..amazing.

#finally Heskur is huge like he’s supposed to be #delicious #Ingrid’s husband is her dream person in this universe #as she gets romanced by gale lmao #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 tav #baldur's gate oc #dream visitor #Tav

[bewitching-elizabeth-olsen]

Press: Elizabeth Olsen’s 20/21 Vision

The Marvel star takes us inside her transformation to a new kind of hero

GALLERY LINKS

Studio Photoshoots > 2021 > Session 002

Magazine Scans > 2021 > Grazia

  GRAZIA: Elizabeth Olsen is a trooper. We are in a field in Surrey on the outskirts of the Marvel studios; it’s a biting minus one and she is standing in a Chanel broderie anglaise sundress and increasingly soggy UGG boots. Her feline cheekbones face skywards, but Olsen is slowly sinking into the mud, trilling out high notes to keep herself warm (possibly distracted) and of course with spirits high. “It was the wind I think, that was worse than the sideways rain,” she jokes as we trundle back to the soundstage hangar that we are using as a studio. It’s the kind of moment that could go viral on Instagram, that is, if Olsen were on social media. Yet one of the biggest stars of our current cultural moment is completely offline – and that surprising fact might just be the least interesting thing about her. If anything, it is a sign of how Olsen has come into her own as a confident, decisive star with the power to create her own universe.

On the cusp of her 32nd birthday, Olsen is fastidious and professional, yes, but also bright, engaging, creative, and collaborative. Born and raised in the California sunshine, she is surprisingly at ease in the blustery conditions that deluge the English countryside in late January – or, it’s that she’s very good at acting. “It was one of the ugliest days of this winter – just hilarious – but I knew we wanted the shot,” the 31-year-old actress says.

Since October, Olsen’s been living in the leafy British countryside with her “man-guy-partner,” musician Robbie Arnett, just a short drive to the Surrey compound where Doctor Strange is being filmed. It’s a closed set, masked in secrecy as much as the socially distanced masked crew dotted all over the 200-acre studio. “It feels right being in a small city right now,” she says.

Indeed, Olsen is a modern-day Renaissance woman. Learned and dedicated to her craft, she studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a semester at the Moscow Art Theatre School studying Stanislavski. (Surely, no matter how much of a genius the Russian theatre master was, he never could have conceived of the Marvel universe.)

Approached with the concept of WandaVision, “I thought it was perfect for television, and a very original idea that made me excited,” Olsen says. Also, she was happy she would get to work with Bettany again: “He’s very precise, like me.”

In many ways, WandaVision is a love letter to the first American television heyday. Olsen, who stayed up late watching Nick at Nite reruns as a child, says it’s a bit of a homecoming in that way. “I was a very hammy, performative child,” she explains. “So, I do think I got to live out some sort of childhood dream doing the show.”

“The highlight was really getting to tell a story about these superhero individuals told in different decades of American sitcoms, trying to match the tone of those sitcoms in order to help orate the story,” she says. “But keep it playful and fun.” Little did she know just how much we’d need that.

Half-filmed pre-pandemic in Atlanta and half post-pandemic in LA – with a six-month hiatus in-between “until all the unions figured out to work safely” – WandaVision was released almost a year into the pandemic. In many ways, it is an artifact of its time: centered upon a yearning for the simplicity of earlier days, yet shot through with the creeping realization that such days may never return, and perhaps never existed to begin with.

Indeed, the weekly story of suburban superheroes Wanda and Vision has played out like a parable of our times: Wanda living in her chosen bubble, her trauma resonating in the world we find ourselves in today. Olsen appreciates a good metaphor, but feels people may be projecting a bit much. “I see Wanda as a victim of extreme trauma, who does not understand how to process it,” she explains. “She has been a human experiment.” (Not to belabor the point, but haven’t we all?)

Being summoned by Marvel is like being called to a parallel universe for an actor: thrilling, yes, but not without a tinge of terror and a dash of the unknown. Six years in, though, it’s become like family in some ways. As a member of two dynasties – Olsen and Marvel – family is key to Olsen. She checks in on her mom (who still lives in California) and, like many American daughters, is researching which vaccine mom should get.

The performative gene runs strong through her family, of course – and no, we don’t mean her sisters. Olsen’s mom was a ballerina. Still, when she first started auditioning, Olsen took special care to carve her own path – one far from Full House. “Nepotism is a thing and I’m very aware of it,” she says. “And of course, I’ve always wanted to do it alone.” She did just that, her acting credentials consistently rising as her sister’s cemented their fashion kudos. Olsen bears a noticeable resemblance to her fashion-designer older sisters and her sartorial DNA is similarly low-key. She loves The Row (of course) and NYC label Khaite’s denim and cashmere.

For Olsen, her day job is like playing dress-up. This time around, she walked away from WandaVision with the girdle worn underneath her 50s wedding dress, laughing, “I mean, to have a custom undergarment like that, I felt like it was necessary!” Her WandaVision co-star, Kathryn Hahn, also became her shopping cohort when filming.

“She’s dangerous!” Olsen says. “She has the most exquisite, minimal but expensive taste.” It was Hahn who led Olsen to the independent boutique where she found the belted Julia Jentzsch trench that she wore to our shoot.

At the rail of samples compiled by the stylist, Olsen gravitates towards a spacious linen boilersuit and longline cashmere cardigan. Has she always been a tomboy, I ask? “I think I felt uncomfortable being a child being told they were pretty,” she says of her early auditions at age 10, adding that her love of ballet and musical theater could leave her “feeling exposed” at a young age.

Speaking of over-exposure, Olsen is distinctly offline in a time when so many are defined by their social media presence. Among celebrities and regular digital citizens, the perfect balance of online and off is up for debate, but Olsen is clear: social media saturation is a choice for all of us, and everyone needs to draw their own boundaries.

“It has to be a personal decision, right?” she begins. “So, my opinion has nothing to do with what anyone else does or doesn’t do with it.” Her own journey began when she momentarily dabbled with Instagram (since deleted), while filming Ingrid Goes West, director Matt Spicer’s frightening and funny debut feature about a social stalker, co-starring Aubrey Plaza.

Up until that time, she says, “I had never touched it before. I thought, ‘This is an interesting social experiment for myself, to see if it is a good source to talk about charities or a good source to talk about small projects, or to share something goofier about myself.’ But I think at the end of the day, what I discovered was one, I’m really bad at creating a perceived identity!”

“I didn’t find it very organic to who I am as a person,” she continues. “I found some joy in putting up silly videos, but I think the main reason I stopped – not I think, I know the main reason why I stopped – was because of the organization in my brain.”

“Lots of horrible things happen all the time. Or, lots of great things happen all the time. Whether it’s something terrifying, like a natural disaster or a school shooting or a death, there are so many things that happen, and I love processing information. I love reading articles. I love listening to podcasts. I love communicating about things that are happening in the world to people around me. And what I don’t love is that my brain organization was saying, ‘Should I post about this?’ That seemed very unhealthy ….”

“And to then contribute to these platitudes that I don’t really love, you have to subscribe to two different ways of thinking,” she says. “So, I didn’t like that, and there was a lot of it that was just bothering me for my own sake of what value systems I have.”

That’s not to say that there’s any inherent value system – pro or con – in using Instagram. Olsen is clear that like any other method of expression, it’s up to the individual to use it as they see fit. “I do see a use of it and how you can use it well for work,” she says. “But I don’t think that I would like to use that tool to promote myself.”

She’s private for a millennial yes, but not prim. On the photoshoot, lockdown experiences were shared, and Olsen recounted her (hilarious) first at-home bikini wax: banishing her husband upstairs “for an extended chat with his therapist,” her trusted waxer on speed dial, and microwave set to ping! (Yes, Olsen is a trooper, as I mentioned.)

We catch up over Zoom a week later, her hair once again pulled up in a casual topknot, her cashmere turtleneck simmering in a dark claret, and her entire being suffused with covetable understatement. She chats buoyantly against an unexpected backdrop of pirate ship wallpaper in the playroom of a house she shares with Arnett, who proposed with an emerald and diamond ring in 2019.

“We first started to try to make it the gym, but it was so cramped,” she says of the jolly space. The home gym was instead awarded a larger room, where Olsen loves to maintain a varied fitness regime – running, yoga, dancing, more – though after all the intense Marvel filming, she jokes, “maybe it’s time to give up on my body?!” Being comic book fit does sound grueling or “time-consuming fun” as she anoints the “strenuous physical demands.”

Like most of us, she is longing for the spring, but she still takes a regular constitutional walk in a nearby Richmond park, whatever the weather. “The deer are incredible; every time I see them I feel alive,” she says. “We have been lucky to have nature around us in lockdown.” It’s a marked difference from her paparazzi-populated home in the Hills. “They know our walks, where we get coffee, work-out…,” she trails off.

Her haven in Los Angeles is her backyard, complete with a mid-century swimming pool and an edible garden. “It’s crazy the blackberries grow like weeds! I love watching a kid’s first reaction to an edible garden,” she gushes That has been the part of the pandemic travel restrictions she’s found hardest: missing her friend’s children growing up, and others who have been born this past year that she’s yet to meet. They will no doubt all be treated to her homemade blackberry sorbet on her return stateside.

Yet, her time on British soil will likely be prolonged, with a prospective indie commencing filming here when Doctor Strange wraps. Prompted for more detail, her firm charm kicks in. “I can’t jinx it!” she insists. Still, she will share that she’s heavily involved in the creative, and that funding smaller productions in the current climate has been a challenge.

Through it all, Olsen has remained determined and calm. “I feel patience is my superpower. But my weakness also,” she says. “I feel like it gets tested more than others who don’t have a lot of patience. If someone learns you’re easygoing or that you’re relaxed, sometimes it gets taken advantage of.” While she waits for the green light on that film, she is busy producing a new children’s cartoon with Arnett, “about loving and caring for our world,” and has also written a children’s book about to be published by Random House, all while the demands of Marvel life continue to surround her.

Indeed, Olsen is a superhero for the modern age: Multi-hyphenate, but fiercely devoted to the craft that she loves; instantly recognizable, yet thoughtfully protective of her private life; a woman with style, substance, success, and deep rewarding relationships with those around her; focused on a vision of a better world for us all.

Press: Elizabeth Olsen’s 20/21 Vision was originally published on Elizabeth Olsen Source • Your source for everything Elizabeth Olsen

#Elizabeth Olsen #WandaVision #Avengers #Scarlet Witch #Wanda Maximoff #Sorry For Your Loss #Avengers Infinity War #Avengers Age of Ultron #Captain America Civil War #Ingrid Goes West #Godzilla

[danceworshipper]

Ida Sommer - HPHL MC

Info subject to change as more game information is released. All of my HPHL ocs exist in the same universe

[profile template by me]

Personal

Full Name: Ida Marie Sommer

Gender: Female (cis)

Sexuality: Pansexual (closeted)

Birthday: August 20th

Birthstone: Peridot

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Age: 14 (at beginning of game)

Blood Status: Pureblood

3 Positive Traits:

- Charming

- Spiritual (nature oriented)

- Resilient

3 Negative Traits:

- Childish

- Uncommunicative

- Vain

Usual First Impression: When first meeting Ida, people often assume she is immature, ignorant, and easy to take advantage of due to her sheltered nature and cutesy appearance. This impression is highly incorrect

Location

Birthplace: Germany (exact location TBD)

Current Home: Her father's estate in one of the richest areas (Germany)

Future Home: A beautiful cottage secluded from the world, near a mountainside (Germany)

Favorite Place: A cliff overseeing the sea in Japan, close to the little shop where she got her wand

Disliked Place: Her maternal grandparents' home, simply because she doesn't enjoy their company

Appearance

[image created using the Live Portrait Maker app]

Face Shape: Roundish jaw, soft features with a strong brow bone

Eye Color: Yellowish green

Hair Color: Light blonde

Hair Style: Ida wears her hair down or in a single braid. Her hair is mostly straight with side bangs, and is parted in the middle

Skin Tone: Light

Freckles/Spots: A few freckles on her cheeks, more visible when she's been out in the sun

Scars: None during her schooling. After graduation, Ida marks her arms with runes only she and Sebastien can make sense of to strengthen her connection to the world around her

Piercings/Tattoos: Single earlobe piercings.

Final Height: 5'9"

Final Weight: 137lbs

Physique: Thin with long legs, slightly wider than average shoulders

Clothing Style: Ida is a rich kid, so her clothing is always of high quality material and her jewelry is noticeably unflawed. She dresses modestly until she turns seventeen, when she stops caring what her parents think. Her favorite colors to wear are pastels

Carried Items:

- her wand

- a locket with a picture of her and her parents in it - not worn, but kept in her satchel

- a silver pocket watch stuck at 11:18 pm, handed to her by the same Seer who told her where to get her wand

- a handful of candy

- extra quills for her roommate who keeps forgetting hers

- a book from the Restricted Section about Elementals, written by Elementals and charmed so no one other than an Elemental can ever figure out what it says

Magic

Wand: 12 inches of firm Ebony wood with a koi-mer hair core. A pitch black, rounded wand with a pattern of scales carved into the handle. This wand was custom made in a small, almost unknown shop in Japan after a Seer she bumped into on the street told Ida that her perfect wand would be created there. It would seem foolish to go all the way from Germany to Japan on the word of an unknown Seer, but it was Ida's turn to plan the summer trip, so she picked a place in Japan close enough to the mentioned shop

Animagus: Loon

Boggart Form: A headless figure easily recognizable as herself, crumbling away into dust. A failed attempt to merge with nature resulting in her demise

Riddikulus Form: A statue of her like the one in her parents' back garden, over glorifying her features, that has been attacked and is crumbling away. She hates that statue

Amortentia (to others): Someone smelling Ida would smell lime juice, fresh water, and static electricity

Amortentia (to her): TBD

Patronus: Ida has never been able to cast a Patronus. Not for a lack of happy enough memories, but because of her powerful soul. The Patronus can never escape her magical core

Patronus Memory: N/A

Mirror of Erised: A tree so big it grows up an entire mountainside. The tree bark is covered in swirling patterns Ida recognizes as Elemental runes. She doesn't yet know what exactly this tree is, but she feels an undeniable longing for it

Family Spells: The Sommer family has no special family spells

Inherent Magic: Elemental

- Ida has all the magic of a normal witch, but on top of that has a deep connection to the earth and the magic stemming from it, even beyond the earth into the universe. If not properly trained (or if driven to a great enough temptation), an Elemental could vaporize the entire planet, or bend it to their will. They could also leave humanity behind if they so wished and become nature itself

- Elementals are theorized to have fragments of Merlin's soul fused with their own, hence why they feel strong connections to each other and can't ever fatally harm one of their own. Most Elementals also fall in love with each other as well, and the connection is thought to be stronger than a normal human's love could ever be. These connections help ensure no Elemental gives in to whichever temptation has the strongest pull on them. Only one Elemental has ever yet gone evil, and this is how it was discovered that they cannot kill one another

- This special magic is not hereditary. In fact, no one knows what causes someone to be born an Elemental, only that there have been less and less of them in the recent centuries. There are only two known Elementals left: Ida and Sebastien

Family

Mother: Lina is a warm hearted woman who wants the best for her daughter, misguided though she might be. She often has to shout at her husband to trying to hold Ida back, or discourage Ida's dreams. She noticed Ida's growing power long before her husband did, and was the one to finally contact someone for help when Ida grew so strong and uncontrolled she couldn't stop floating

Father: Elias is a business oriented man who, though he loves his daughter, up until her reveal as an Elemental wished she was a son. He's the reason Ida was homeschooled for so long, as he didn't think a girl was worth the tuition money. He refused to believe that Ida was anything other than ordinary until a man in a high position told him otherwise

Sisters: None

Brothers: None

Pets: A screech owl named Goldig, meaning 'cute'

Other Important Family: Ida's paternal aunt, Ingrid, is one of the biggest influences in her life as a child. Ingrid is an independent witch who lives fabulously by herself with her dead husband's fortune. Ida used to yearn for a future where she wasn't tied down by a man and could do as she pleased

Family Values: The Sommer family as a whole is mainly concerned with two things: remaining pureblooded, and growing richer. Most of the Sommers are decently good people, but they have period-appropriate prejudices and are willing to leave someone behind to save themselves, metaphorically and literally

Opinion on Family: Up until entering Hogwarts, Ida really only knew her family, so she loved them and thought very highly of them. As she becomes more socialized and learns more about the world, she starts to notice her parents' many flaws and though she never stopped loving them, she does resent them for homeschooling her and ignoring the signs of her being abnormal, because she used to think she was broken when in reality she's nearly a god

Friendships

Introverted or Extroverted: Extroverted

Best Friend: Sebastien Parr - another mc of mine who is also an Elemental, and an exchange student from Beauxbatons

Worst Friend: TBD

Friend She Didn't Expect: TBD

Who She Wishes Was Her Friend: TBD

List of Casual Friends:

- Sophia Burton @gcldensnitch

- Charlotte Grant @weasleysandwheezes

- canon friends TBD

Romance

Current Crush: None

Current Partner: None

Past Partners: None

Future Partners: TBD - will likely be picked from the game's characters, but could possibly be someone else's mc

Her Type: TBD

Hogwarts

House: Slytherin

Prefect Status: No

Quidditch: Never played, but loves to watch

Clubs: None

Organizations: The fake Headmaster's Apprentices organization that she and Sebastien use to hide what they're really doing

Favorite Class: Herbology

Least Favorite Class: History of Magic

Favorite Professor: TBD

Least Favorite Professor: TBD

Timeline

Young Childhood: Ida is kept at home. She knows no children her age, and spends most of her free time roaming her father's land. No matter how far she wanders, she never seems to get lost. Ida has strange dreams where she watches the world as an outsider. After being told by a Seer that her ideal wand would be created at a small shop in Japan, Ida convinces her father to spend a month there over the summer, and her mother takes her to the shop to get her wand. Ida sneaks out one night and climbs a cliff that looks out over the ocean. In later years she can't remember whether rising up over the waters and hearing the stars call to her by name was a dream or not, but she knows the moon smiled at her.

First Year: N/A

Second Year: N/A

Third Year: Ida's uncontrolled Elemental magic reaches a breaking point, and Ida explodes her little study room as she lifts up in the air, unable to come down. Her mother sends for help: two healers, a historian, and three government officials later, Ida is brought down and informed that she will be enrolled in Hogwarts the following year. She is not informed why, though her parents are

Fourth Year: Ida enters Hogwarts with no social skills. She meets Sebastien and they're both informed of their true nature. As Ida struggles to catch up on her studies as well as train her Elemental magic, she also learns just how wonderful having friends her age is

Fifth Year: TBD

Sixth Year: Ida grows suspicious of Sebastien's "friend" Dorian. Other details TBD

Seventh Year: TBD

Post Graduation: Ida marks herself with ancient Elemental runes and her father gifts her the cottage. She spends a year and a half where almost no one hears from her, before appearing back in her friends' lives as if nothing happened, looking healthier and happier than ever

Career(s): Ida doesn't live long enough to have a career

Marriage and Children: Ida marries (TBD) from school, someone who had always had a crush on her that she eventually returned the feelings for. They spend a beautiful three years together before her end. Ida manages to give her love a son, but only after she's gone

Death: Ida sacrifices herself to stop Sebastien and Dorian from destroying the world. Ida's biggest temptation as an Elemental was always to leave her humanity behind and become nature, so she does. She traps the two men inside of a ridiculously large tree that grows out of the mountainside near her cottage. This tree forms from her body, and has a notch where her favorite necklace can be inserted to be allowed entry to the chamber Sebastien and Dorian are trapped. However, she hid the necklace in Japan, where no one will find it until a century has passed and her friends have passed away. Ida can occasionally gather her spirit into a physical form to communicate with her love and child that she left behind

Notable Facts Not Previously Mentioned

- Ida is the ancestor of my main hphm mcs, Gracie and Tessa Chiva, on their father's side

- The reason Ida is sent to Hogwarts and not Durmstrang is the fear of bad influences. No one wanted to risk her being corrupted

- Ida does feel guilty about leaving her love behind, but since she couldn't kill Sebastien and she still loved him and wanted him to be happy, this was the only way she could think of to stop him

- Her love watched her leave humanity behind. As they wept, Ida's spirit gathered to say her goodbyes, and point them to their son, who had been born from Ida's final breath at exactly 11:18 pm

- Ida thinks very highly of herself. This is both from being praised so much as a child and hearing so much about the good she can do as an Elemental

- She throws a graduation party so extravagant that it's talked about for decades after her death

- No one but her love knows what truly happened to her. All anyone else knows is that she and Sebastien disappeared at the same time

#hphl oc #hogwarts legacy #ida sommer #character profile

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY SHUNS AUDITIONS

July 21, 1950

[In the below article, reprinted verbatim, Johnson writes using a lot of imagery and insider jargon.  This sort of article was common in trade papers like Variety, but seems odd in a daily newspaper.]

Hollywood—(NEA) Lucille Ball slipped me the lowdown on her failure to pin to the canvas the dumb chick role in “Born Yesterday” and make it holler uncle. (1)

She’s got a touch of Francis the mule in her when it comes to auditions. (2)

Instead of scrimmaging for the role with Evelyn Keyes, Judy Holliday, Marie Wilson, Shelly Winters and Jan Sterling, (3) Lucille went bolting the other way. 

The “let’s-see-if-you’re-it” boys pleaded and cajoled. 

But Miss Anti-Auditions wasn’t having any of the competition, thank you. 

“I figure if they want you, they want you,” Lucille plainspoke it. If you’ve got to read and test for it, to heck with it.’

She isn’t chronicled in Hollywood history, but once, badgered by her RKO bosses, Lucille went tripping over to David O. Selznick’s office for a whack at the Scarlett O’Hara role in “Gone With the Wind.” 

That’s what curdled her in the first place. 

“It was awful,’’ Lucille shudders. I was shaking all over when I hit Selznick’s office. My knees gave way. I did the whole audition in scrubwoman position. Selznick laughs and says thanks a lot. (4)

Judy Holliday landed the junkman’s doll role and Lucille grabbed a railroad ticket for a personal appearance tour with hubby Desi Arnaz. She strutted to Latin rhythms, swung a glittering purse in a manner dear to runaway girls and wisecracked for the customers. (5)

MIMICS OSCAR WINNER 

At the last moment she nixed a dancing and singing routine. The star with the forest-fire hair shrugged: 

“I decided it would be silly to compete with Grable.” (6)

A lot of movie queens laid in fresh supplies of smelling salts, ice beanies and copies of “Release From Nervous Tension” when word got around that Lucille was about to whoop it up on the six-a-day circuit. (7)

She’s a blister-raiser from way back and the air was shrill with ouches about a year ago when she whipped up an impression of an Academy Award winner. 

But the girls can go back to worrying about other things—like shrinking from larger-than-life to television screen size. 

Lucille didn’t let any “furriners” see the routine. 

“It's for Hollywood only," she said. “I should take radio-active material on the road?” 

Her Oscar-grabber routine is strictly for unreal anyhow, she says. and no blood relation to Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Ingrid Bergman or any other Screen Duse. (8) She insisted:

“She's any movie star, even me. This character has to go up on that stage and act surprised. She’s only been rehearsing what she's going say flor eight weeks. So she says, ‘Ye gads, me?  But I’m so unprepared. Really, I didn’t dream...” Lucille is generally is as unflinching about the movie queen business as Pearl White was about onrushing trains. (9)

But her knees executed some wobbles that aren’t in Arthur Murray’s rhumba dance book when she checked into her first vaudeville dressing room. (10)

“Those stages—they’re so big.” she gasped. “Hey, I’d hate to get caught in the middle of one of those stages without bread and water.” 

Lucille didn’t take any chances with out-of-town press interviews, either. “I once did a personal appearance tour with Maureen O'Hara and had to show up at a press party,” she grinned. (11)

My sinus - I just die from it - was acting up. The reporter next to me didn’t understand my puffed eyes and cold sores. He called Maureen a lady in his story. But he referred to me as a whisky tenor with red-runny eyes.” 

Lucille’s brain cells work on direct current and she’s not one to make with the figure eights when a straight glide to home base would get her there quicker. 

They still laugh about her exit line to Louis B. Mayer. (12) Mayer always referred to her as a thoroughbred and sometimes compared her to his famous horses. "Yes, and like your other nags, I'm leaving your stable," Lucille said when she decided to bow out of her contract. 

She has high hopes for her new picture “The Fuller Brush Man.” Not that she enjoyed it: (13)

“Honey, this ones that I don t enjoy turn out be the best ones.  This one put me in the hospital. My feet are still bandaged up. I’m a mess. No more physical-type pictures for me.”

#   #   #    FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) The 1946 Broadway hit comedy Born Yesterday by Garsin Kanin was bought by Columbia Pictures. Things got complicated when its stage star, Judy Holliday, swore she would not do the film version. Columbia used this as fuel for publicity about who would win the role.  Naturally, Lucille Ball was considered a top contender.  As the article states, she was not eager, however, to prove her worth to the ‘let’s-see-if-you’re-it’ boys (aka producers).  There was talk of Lucille performing the play in London, or summer stock, but her film contracts would not allow her time off for a stage run. 

(2) Mules are supposedly notoriously stubborn animals - just like Lucy. Francis the Talking Mule was the star of seven popular Universal-International film comedies. The character originated in the 1946 novel Francis by David Stern III, adapting his own script for the first entry, simply titled Francis.  On “I Love Lucy” Fred Mertz sometimes called Ethel “Francis” to indicate she was being stubborn about something. 

(3) These were some of the Hollywood stars looking to play the part of Billie Dawn in the film Born Yesterday. Evelyn Keyes (1916 – 2008) was best known for playing Sue Ellen, Scarlett O’Hara’s kid sister, in Gone With The Wind (1939).  Judy Holliday (1921-65), changed her mind about playing the role she originated on Broadway, but by then the casting net was cast, and she was just another performer on the short list. She eventually got the role, which defined her career. Marie Wilson (1916-72) was a zany comedic actress in the style of Gracie Burns. She was widely known as the star of radio and TV’s “My Friend Irma”. Shelley Winters (1920-2006) would be nominated for an Oscar the year after this article. She was adept at playing drama and comedy, and had a long-lasting career in Hollywood.  She appeared on “Here’s Lucy” in 1968; Critics raved about her Jan Sterling’s portrayal of Billie Dawn in the Chicago touring company of Born Yesterday and Columbia brought her out to the West Coast to test for the film. At one point, she was actually announced to play the part but the role ultimately went to Holliday.

(4) Lucille Ball did indeed read (not screen test) for the role of Scarlet O’Hara, just like nearly all of the women in Hollywood in 1938. Ball told the story several times on television, each time with varying details, but probably most completely on “Bob Hope’s Unrehearsed Antics of The Stars” (1984).

(5) This is a vivid description of the “Cuban Pete / Sally Sweet” portion of Lucy and Desi’s nightclub act to convince sponsors to buy them as a couple. 

(6) Betty Grable (1916-73) was considered one of the most famous pin-up girls in history. In addition to her million dollar gams (legs), she could sing, dance, and act, too. She guest starred with her then-husband Harry James on “Lucy Wins A Racehorse”, an installment of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” aired on February 3, 1958.

(7) “Release from Nervous Tension” was an actual best-selling book by Dr. David Harold Fink, published in 1950. Vaudeville and Burlesque shows were often known as the ‘six-a-day circuit’ because sometimes there would be as many as six performances of the same act in a day.  Naturally, this did not apply to Lucy and Desi, who were big film and radio stars at the time. 

(8)  These were some of Hollywood’s top-line dramatic actors. Bette Davis (1908-89) had won two Oscars, and was nominated for several others during her long career. She was supposed to guest-star on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in “The Celebrity Next Door” in 1957 but dropped out after a horse-riding accident, leaving the role to Tallulah Bankhead; Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020) had also won two Oscars, the second the year this article was published. She was best remembered for playing Melanie Wilkes in Gone With The Wind (1939); Ingrid Bergman (1915-82) was a Swedish-born actress, who, by career’s end, had scored three Academy Awards.  When Johnson talks about “any other screen Duse” he is referring to Eleonor Duse (1858-1924), an Italian-born stage actress known for her grand, dramatic style.  

(9) Pearl White (1889-1938) was best known as the silent film actress who was tied to the railroad tracks in “The Perils of Pauline” (1914).  

(10) Arthur Murray (1895-1991) was a ballroom dancer and businessman best known for the chain of dancing schools that bear his name. Murray was often a punchline on “I Love Lucy,” especially when the subject of dancing came up. The Rhumba was a Latin dance that took America by storm in the late 1940s and 1950. Desi Arnaz often called his orchestra a ‘rhumba band.’ 

(11) Maureen O’Hara (1920-2015) and Lucille Ball had starred in Dance, Girl, Dance in 1940. As a result, the two went on a promotional tour that took them to several US cities, including the nation’s capitol. 

(12) Louis B. Meyer (1884-1957), along with Samuel Goldwyn and Marcus Loew of Metro Pictures, had formed a new motion picture company called Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1918. Over the next 25 years, MGM was "the Tiffany of the studios," producing more films and movie stars than any other studio in the world. Mayer became the highest-paid man in America, and one of the country's most successful horse breeders. Both he and MGM reached their peaks at the end of World War II, and Mayer was forced out in 1951, just a year after this article was written. 

(13) Erskine Johnson gets the title wrong. Lucille had madeThe Fuller Brush Girl, a sequel to The Fuller Brush Man (1948).  The film was released in mid-September 1950. 

#Lucille Ball #Erskine Johnson #Newspaper #Fuller Brush Girl #Born Yesterday #Judy Holliday #MGM #Louis B. Mayer #Pearl White #Olivia DeHavilland #Bette Davis #Ingrid Bergman #Release from Nervous Tension #Eleonor Duse #Betty Grable #Desi Arnaz #Gone With The Wind

[thequeenofcronuts]

Justify My Love - Chapter 4 - Be OK, Pressing On

Book: The Royal Romance Word Count: 4,835-ish Pairing: Maxwell x MC (Kristina Hampshire), Hana, Drake, OCs

Warnings - Language 

A/N In this TRR kinda sorta off cannon Series: Kristina (MC) decides she cannot stay in Cordonia after the events of the Coronation Ball. Not so much caring about her own reputation, but caring for the life of the man she has been falling for, which is not the prince. She returns to New York and is faced with her heartbreak and regret while Maxwell is left in Cordonia struggling to understand the truth behind his feelings. Will they let each other go?

**All characters and named places are owned by Pixelberry Studios. Rights to the songs lyrics and  titles in this series belong to:

Justify My Love (Madonna) - Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Reach Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management

Be OK (Ingrid Michaelson) - Cabin 24 Records

Pressing On (Relient K) - Universal Music Publishing Group

Series Tags @littleblossom357 @alj4890 @cosigottahavefaith

——————————

Kristina's POV

- Be OK -

Kristina still hasn't opened up to Daniel about her time abroad…at all…and it's been weeks since she returned. They do talk every day, but it's mainly because Daniel calls her. She goes to work and comes home, and that is it. Except for her days off when she chooses to just stay home the whole time. Truthfully, he is starting to get rather nervous about her lack of socialization and her apparent lack of any true emotion. She just plasters on a fake smile for work. It's been awhile since he has seen a glimpse of the real Kristina he knows is still in there somewhere. It's time to call in reinforcements, he decides.

He reaches out to his best friend from back home, Stephen, and his wife, Lisa. The first time Kristina met the couple, over a year and a half ago, they instantly became friends. They all share the same dry and sarcastic sense of humor, enjoy lots of witty banter, and are all around Kristina's type of people. Daniel decides to make the FaceTime call to the couple. During the call Stephen quips, “Ok, so Lisa and I get that you're telling us that Kris is currently an emotional wreck without the emotions part…” Lisa cuts off her husband, “but can you give me an example. Girls are better suited to break down these kind of things.” Daniel chuckles with a sound thick of disbelief. “Ok Professor Reader of the Female Mind, last week I brought a box over filled with one of her all time favorite treats.” “Ok, so we’re talking cronuts.” “Lisa, let the man speak before you go all girl detective. Proceed Daniel.” “Ok, yes I thought a box of them could help her mood. Boy was I wrong. She basically went from tears, to sobs, to yelling, and then stormed out of her apartment to the laundry room in the basement of the building.” “Dude, I know I’m just a guy here,” Stephen shoots Lisa a look of feigned cluelessness, “but why the basement laundry room? Oh magnificent Lisa, explain this piece of your investigative puzzle.” Daniel jumps in, “When you see the size of her studio apartment you’ll understand why she sought out her privacy in there.” “And that's it Daniel” Lisa asks, “she ran from a box of cronuts? … Yeah, I got nothing. I’ll concede that this is way above the girl code of understanding.” Stephen tries to contain his triumphant laughter, but just can't. “Way to go all things woman super sleuth!” “Ok, ok, but we have to figure this out. Who knew a delicate pastry would be our beginning lead? We’ll be there asap.” Lisa says then ends the phone chat.

Daniel got the exact reaction from Kristina he expecting as he told her the couple was coming for a visit, “I know I always do the itinerary for their visits, but this visit it is up to Lisa. So have her plan it since I am adamant about not being apart of any of it.” Kristina said coldly. A few days later Lisa took the duty on and planned Operation Crack Open Kristina. This was meant to crush the shell that was becoming Kristina; and by the time Lisa had finished the itinerary the plan was set into motion. Unbeknownst to Kristina she was heading on a weekend trip to Atlantic City. The Hotel was booked, Daniel had a rental car scheduled, and the choices for entertainment were set.

The day Lisa and Stephen’s flight landed Daniel took them straight to Kristina's for the ambush. They stood in her doorway telling her that the weekend retreat was imminent. Which Kristina calls it a friendly form of forced kidnapping. Lisa just giggles as she she packs Kristina’s overnight bag as Kristina was strongly voicing her concerns as a protest for the trip. “I don't “go” out to places any more and I don't want to start now….. Atlantic City is too far from the city for just a couple of days and one night…..I hadn't planned for something like this so I don't have the money….” All to which Daniel, Stephen, and Lisa easily counters.

Daniel - “Kris, it's just roughly a two hour drive to Atlantic City, so a weekend trip is completely doable.”

Stephen - “The three of us are splitting the trip. Two adjoining rooms and the rental car are easily covered by Daniel and us.”

Lisa - “Today is the day you go from “don't go places” to getting out of this apartment, now.”

Lisa tosses Kristina the overnight bag while Stephen claps his hands with a triumphant look, “And……mic dropped…so off we go.”

Not too long later they’re on the road while Kristina is shaking shaking her head thinking to herself, I really love these people, I do, just not so much this weekend. She settles into the passenger seat with a dramatic sigh which is completely ignored by her companions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Kristina watches through the window, of the surprisingly nice and comfy rental car, the world whizz by while chatter fills the vehicle. She puts in her earbuds to drown it all out and picks a playlist that she recently made tapping shuffle. The music cancels out all the noise when the first song plays, which is one of her current favorites. Sometimes song lyrics coincide with the exact emotions of your thoughts and heart. She closes her eyes and gets lost in the song….

‘I just want to be okay, be okay, be ok I just to be okay today I just want to be okay, be okay, be ok I just to be okay today

‘I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today I just want to feel something today I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today I just want to feel something today’…

Daniel looks over and lightly smacks Kristina's knee to get her attention, so she takes out one earbud to pause the song. “What Daniel?” She looks over and arches an eyebrow at him. He looks over again and answers, “Kris, are you going to join us in our amazing conversations? Maybe sometime soon?”. “Daniel, just please watch the road,” she answers, “we don't need to add an accident to this crazy weekend.” Stephen yells from the backseat, “Yeah, crazy awesome weekend here we come!” Kristina looks over her shoulder while narrowing her eyes in a glassy stare, “ Stephen, that wasn't the actual sentiment I was going for with my statement.” He retorts jovially, “ I know, but we gotta get you out of this funk you’ve been swimming in girl!”

Kristina crosses her arms and huffs, her mind answers, It's not a funk and you have no idea. “Just because you and Lisa have a wonderful marriage and Daniel is now serious with Mitch, doesn't prove that ‘There's someone for everyone’. Every hopeless romantic likes to remind their single friends this. ‘Just wait and see, it will happen for you.’ Well I hate to spoil the dream, but waiting for the person that makes you whole is a crock of shit.” Daniel looks in the rear view mirror at Lisa and Stephen and Lisa throws them a knowing look…they just witnessed a bit of Kristina's shell cracking.

“Speaking of couples, why am I going on this trip? Shouldn't this be a couples thing? Where's your boyfriend Daniel?” There's a slight tone of disgust in her voice. Daniel blows air through his lips, man she's even more stubborn than when she decided that it was a fabulous idea to fly off to a distant country on a whim. “Mitch couldn't get off work.” Daniel stated while he shrugged his shoulders. Unbeknownst to Kristina, the group never intended for Mitch to go. And since they had a “can't be cancelled” reservation, they “needed” her to come. They explained that because the trip was bit expensive it needed to happen. Lisa pipes into the conversation, “Reason number one: Look at it this way, Kris, you need to get out and live, Mitch’s inability to go provides the opportunity! Just going to work doesn't count as going out and experiencing life” Stephen adds “"Reason B we needed you to come to have an even number.” I know you all think this is some intervention type thingy, but not going to work. Kristina internally says to herself. Kristina sends icy daggers to the group.

“Man Daniel, can you turn the heat on because it just got cold in here!” Lisa smacks Stephen’s arm and whispers, “I don't think the brand of humor you’re attempting is going to work right now, so can it.” Daniel continues, “While Mitch’s job comes with vacation time Kris, it doesn't mean he gets to take it on a whim. It's not like that in retail.” “Oh riiiight,” she says with an almost playful but still flat tone, “That’s right, Mitch is a manager at a big time department store.” Kristina gives a rye smile, “So I guess while he works, you get to go out and play. Sounds like you're a ‘gold digger’ to me Daniel.” It's silent in the car for a moment and Stephen can't hold it in. “Shit Kris, that was….an actual joke. Hold the presses we have breaking news! Kristina Hampshire almost cracked a smile as she totally dissed one of her BFFs!” He wears a sarcastic, mocking look of horror and when Kristina sees it over her shoulder she throws a balled up wrapper from her breakfast sandwich, hitting him right in the mouth. “Shut it Stephen.” “Sweet Kris, looks you still do human emotions! Man, Lets go PAR-TAAAAAY!!

Party…of all the words he could say, any other word, he yells party. Shit, really?! Why do the gods torture me? Kristina's mind goes immediately to Maxwell. Well honestly there really isn't a moment he doesn't consume her thoughts. Her face instantly sours. “Ugh, I so LOVINGLY HATE you all! So just drop it. DROP.IT. Drop ALL of it.” Lisa reaches from the backseat and gives Kristina's shoulder a gentle squeeze, as she understands that patients is the only way to crack through more of Kristina's shell. So she changes the subject. “Sleeping arrangements. We have two adjoining rooms. Kristina and I will share one and have some girl time. If you see the adjoining door is shut stay the fuck out. Got it boys?” They nod as if their mother had just grabbed them by the ear for a good scolding. “Otherwise we all can enjoy time together.”

Quite fills the cabin of the car again. Daniel turns on the radio for something to listen to, while the other three put in earbuds. Kristina has ended all conversion…for now. She rests her head back onto the window and closes her eyes while the song that paused picks up where it left off and her mind drifts…

Maxwell had his phone connected to a pretty decent pair of portable speakers in Kristina's room. The music is blaring as it was a rare night with no scheduled court functions due to the day being a travel day, to Applewood Manor. And….what made it unbelievably more awesome was Bertrand decided to forgo any lessons or lectures for the night. He had a fairly bad headache, and while they felt sorry for him, Kristina and Maxwell decided to use every second of this unexpected and glorious freedom. They moved some furniture around the room giving them a nice space as a dance floor, and with the music pumping, pajamas donned, and snacks acquired the private VIP party began.

Kristina nearly lost all of her composure when she got a glimpse of Maxwell's sea blue pajamas with an orange squid pattern. She was uncontrollably laughing at the sight and asked, “Where is the calypso music, Maxwell? Are we under the sea?” He just sauntered to the center of their “dance floor” spinning on the ball of his left foot stopping to face her in a ‘Charlie’s Angels’ type pose. Kristina's collapsed on the bed laughing so hard she could barely speak. She managed to get out, “H-how…do…you…know…” huge breath then continues to cackle, “How…you do know…Charlie’s…Angels….?” Maxwell puts his hands on his hips, looking at her with a serious face, and he answers matter of factly,  “ Come on Kristina, hello, the internet. You might want to watch some videos on there sometime. Maybe one of these day you can look at some tutorial videos and manage to keep up with my smooth moves.” His eyebrows wiggle and Kristina throws a pillow at him. “I think my moves are more than acceptable. Thank you very much.” Maxwell walks over to the bed, bows dramatically and offers her his hand. She takes it and she began to shimmy and shake to the beat, while Maxwell stood back with his arms crossed shaking his head in a mock of disapproval. “Not bad Kristina, my young grasshopper, but let the master teach you his ways.”

After a while of dancing they were breathless and decided to take a break. Sitting on the floor with Kristina rested her head on Maxwell’s shoulder he began to show her some of his favorite internet videos and memes that left them both in stitches. Neither one had laughed like they did that night in so long. It's not Bertrand sets aside time for frivolity in his daily agenda. Laughing until they were in pain Maxwell spontaneously jumped up and pulled Kristina up with him. “I’ve got a second wind, so it's time for the master to test the moves he so masterfully taught you.”

Kristina soon was mesmerized by Maxwell and the way his body moved. She stepped back to observe, okay possibly ogle him as he was going seamlessly from one form of type of dance moves into another. While he wasn't quite as muscular as Liam or Drake, dancing certainly did benefit his physique. Between that and his carefree spirit with a heart of gold he pulled her in unexpectedly. Finally he again grabbed Kristina by the hand bringing her close to dance. Bam, she feeling butterflies in her stomach and was a bit dizzy. Problem was this dance didn't seem to affect him the same way. Kristina don't go there. Keep this as the easy, happy friendship it is. While thinking all of this and losing her focus she ends up tripping falling to the ground while they both uncontrollably giggled. Just as Maxwell leaned down to help her up, while he was looking right into her eyes, there is a rather loud thumping on the door. Maxwell went to turn the music down and grabs an apple from the nightstand while Kristina jumps up and opens the door to find a rather grumpier than usual Drake. How can he be even more grouchy than usual. Must be a natural talent.

Drake stands outside her door in a white t-shirt, and lounge pants, with his hair tussled in all directions. “Ummm, hi Drake. Were we bothering you?” Kristina tried so hard to stifle her snickers as his disheveled appearance. Maxwell yelled, “Hey buddy, want to join the party?” and Kristina stepped aside to let Drake into the room. After three steps he finds Maxwell lounging on the bed munching on the apple. “Beaumont, I should have known.” Drake says with bite to his tone. “Do you two know what time it is? Some people are trying to sleep.” Drake exasperatedly taps on his wrist watch, while Kristina notices something odd in his balled up hand.

“Watcha got there, Walker?”  Drake uncomfortably shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “Uh…well what the hell? Might as well tell you…ear plugs.” Maxwell eagerly jumps into the conversation. “What do you need ear plugs for, Drake?” He looks at him with half a smirk. Nervously Drake tries to find his words carefully. “Uh, well, um,…” Drake closes eyes so he won't have to look at either of them while he explains, “When traveling with court you never know where your assigned bedroom will be located. And you know how a lot of nobles are. So, earplugs are always good for not having to listen to all the sounds of their, uhhh, extracurricular activities.” Before Kristina can even start to laugh at poor Drake, Maxwell turns to her and quickly lets out, “So, Kristina, what Drake is telling us is we’re louder than two nobles.” He wiggles his eyebrows. As she and Maxwell burst into fits of laughter Drake turns a deep shade of red, curses under his breath while turning back on his heel leaving, slamming the door behind him.

Kristina can't stand it any longer as she is laughing so hard it is literally painful. She falls back onto the bed next to Maxwell and it takes what feels like forever for both to get ahold of their composure. After a few minutes of comfortable silence Kristina turns her head towards him. “Hey Maxwell, I really enjoyed tonight and hanging out with you.” Maxwell turns to respond and Kristina notices how close they are, almost noses touching. “Awww Kristina, me too.” For just a few seconds Kristina feels the anticipation of a kiss, but Maxwell, in no way catching the drift, ruffles her hair and sits up. “Well, we should get some sleep. It won't be long until I’ll be knocking on your door for your morning wakeup call. I’ll come by a little early and help you get the room back together.” Kristina nods, and gets up as he does. Walking him to the door he gives her a big bear hug as he tells her good night while he walks out her door. Kristina quietly leans her back against the now close door and sighs. Her heart flutters as she thinks about being so close to him, and thinking they were so close to a moment. She walks over to turn off the light and flops down on the bed. Staring at the ceiling with a dreamy smile. She knew she was now seriously in trouble. The Crown Prince was the furthest thing from her mind.

Kristina is brought back to the present by a bump in the road and opens up her eyes seeing her reflection in the window. A small smile fades as fast as it graces her lips. She didn't even realize that while she was reliving that night she had subconsciously replayed the song.

‘Open me up and you will see I’m a gallery of broken hearts I’m beyond repair let me be And give me back my broken parts’

‘Just me back my pieces Just give them back to me please Just give back my pieces And let hold my broken parts’

——————————

Maxwell’s POV

- Pressing On -

Drake as never been so happy to be off a plane, and even more elated when Maxwell spots Hana in the baggage claim area. Seeing her, leaving Drake behind, he runs to pick her up and swing her in a circle. As Hana giggles, “Maxwell put me down. While I am happy we are untied again, save that enthusiasm for Kristina.” Maxwell complies and steps back mouth agape. “How do you know that I was thinking about what you know, that I didn't know, but now I know, and you know that I know, but you just found out that I know what I didn't know which you already knew?” Hana shakes her head and squeezes Maxwell's shoulder. “Just a guess seeing your current enthusiasm, and manic force of energy.” She winks at Drake who has caught up to them giving her a “save me” look.

“Now let's get our luggage, check-in to the hotel and grab something to eat.” Hana gently takes control. “And Maxwell,” Drake says seriously while looking into the hyperactive eyes of the guy in front of him, “absolutely no caffeine in any form for the rest of the day. I’d rather not strangle you…today at least.” Hana gives Drake a pointed stare.” “Guys, all of this is to clear Kristina's name and hopefully bring her back to Cordonia. We all miss our best friend so much, and hopefully we can also give her and Maxwell chance to figure things out. So let’s all get along.”  “Fine” Drake huffs. “But you are responsible for him.” She sighs a happy sigh, “It's good to be back together. Now onward and upward to get our girl back.” Hana skips ahead.

The three settle into their hotel rooms ordering room service delivered to Hana’s room. While eating they catch up on their lives since the Coronation Night, which mainly meant letting Maxwell know what has been happening while he locked himself away from the world. Drake was actually there for it all, so he was tuning in and out of the conversation.

Hana explains to Maxwell that once she returned home to Shanghai her parents were less than pleased with what they considered the most major failure of their family’s life due to her fruitless Social Season. Soon after her arrival home her parents started working on finding a match for Hana themselves. Fortunately a few weeks later she was called back to court with the offer that there were possible “advantageous matches” she shouldn't miss. She knew without a doubt the invitation was facilitated by the new King.

Her parents were quite pleased and allowed Hana return almost immediately when the offer was received. With Kristina gone and Kiara as the future queen they saw a perfect opportunity for her return. When back in Cordonia she spent her time working with Drake to find Tariq and hopefully Kristina. Several “potential matches” Kiara knew that would appease Hana’s parents gave them time for their search. Maxwell showed his concern for Hana, but Hana knew she would deal with the consequences from her parents. She also thought a real match might be possible since there was no more pressure to marry a prince. Really she desperately wanted her best friend back and to happy together more than anything. What Hana kept to herself was the hope that she might be able to stay as Kiara had briefly mentioned a place for her in the palace. It was allowed for Drake, why not her too?

Once they had finished eating Hana explained the events of the Royals since Kristina was dragged out of the palace. Some parts Maxwell knew, as there news that was impossible to escape from with Bertrand around. For instance, Liam had chosen Lady Kiara, a surprise to all for certain, for his queen. More surprising was that the King Father was quite happy with the match. With her intelligence, diplomatic background, communication abilities, and her father’s connections Lady Kiara brought more to the position of queen than any of the other suitors. Plus she had, what Liam sensed of the remaining suitors, the best temperament for the role of his queen. The Queen Mother on the other hand was not as pleased with the match of course, as Madeleine lost the crown for a second, and final, time. Though she couldn't deny the qualities Lady Kiara possessed, which meant  ultimately she had no say.

Then Hana began to patiently answer Maxwell's incessant questions on things important to him which he did miss while ignoring his friend’s attempts to contact him. “Hana, has Liam really fallen out of love with Kristina? I mean I find it hard to believe considering all I saw with him in New York, and with her beyond. Bertrand and I were certain he was going to, well going to propose to her.” Maxwell looked at Hana in disbelief. Hana continued, “While Liam was certainly heartbroken losing the chance of possible true love, he still put his country first.” Drake added in a sort of bitter tone, “I don't think there was any surprise in that. Country and responsibilities first. No matter the circumstances, even if the love of his life was literally dragged out of the palace and sent back to America. Of course he would still choose country.”

Maxwell looks out the window before he speaks again. “Yeah Drake, but I still seriously cannot believe he just falls out of love and lets her go. That there was a Prince, going to be King, who seemed to be head over heels for Kristina, but she doesn't end up loving him or wanting him. That she supposedly loved me. Things like this don't happen. Especially for screw ups like me.” Hana saw the hurt the behind his his eyes and lightly put a hand on his knee, while Drake went to the mini bar. “Did I just waste that whole damn plane ride. You got off the plane on cloud nine and now we're basically back to square one. I need whisky.” Drake just shakes his head. Hana turns sharply to Drake while in a calm, even voice. “What, do you expect Drake. That Maxwell, who is just processing all of this would immediately suspend all his disbelief and uncertainty. Don't we all question the prospect of love even if we are hit with it by a two by four?” Drake turns to the window, “Fine, fine. Just get on with this.”

Hana continues. “With Kiara’s abilities made obvious to court, and figuring that he and Kiara were amiable, Liam decided that there was no way to know what the future could hold for himself and Kiara. She is a lovely woman with fantastic qualities for his Queen. So yes Maxwell, no matter if it was love or infatuation he had with the new possibilities of love I can believe that he chose Kiara honestly.” Maxwell contemplated the answers he was given and went to his next question. “So, if we find Tariq, get him to give the statement and convince Kristina to come home, how are we certain this works…” he hangs his head, “…for her and me?” Drake takes this one, “You don't. Who ever does, but if you give up after all I’ve done up to this point I will leave you here in LA, and have you find your own way back home. So quit the moping again, and just press on with all of this.” Hana sighs, “While Drake has a somewhat harsh and tangled point, we do just have to go by faith. But we know you love her, and as her best friend I truly believe in my heart that I’m right about her loving you.”

Hana continues. “ I can't deny that Liam will always hold a special place in his heart for Kristina, but things do change with time. Much to our surprise, Kiara amazed him by understanding his need for Kristina in his life. Not to be mistaken as any kind of “arrangement”, but Kiara sees a friendship for both Liam and herself with Kristina.” Maxwell interrupts, “But why? That makes no sense. Well, none of this sounds believable. Especially when there are kings and queens involved. How can I even have a place in this story? So Kiara is just ok with all this, and Liam accepts it all?” Drake looks at Hana and thinks to himself, How on earth is this woman so patient with him? “Maxwell, during the Social Season Kiara became to enjoy Kristina, and even formed an alliance with her. She also saw the bond that we,” Hana points to the three of them, “that we all share. Plus she is not a fool. She saw the spark in Kristina's eyes whenever you were together. You've got to admit you two spent pretty much everyday together. Reading people and their body language is kind of a major part of the diplomatic side of her. And with that Kiara doesn't see Kristina a threat. Plus, if we get Kristina back to you, we all benefit. That works for a woman with a diplomatic mind, like Kiara.”

Maxwell thinks for awhile, trying to believe all this information. Finally Drake breaks in, “Beaumont, I need more whiskey, so think on your own time. I say we walk the area to see where we are in reference to the locations we have for Tariq and then find a bar. With lots and lots of whiskey.” The two agree with him and leave the hotel. While Hana and Drake look at maps on their phones and discuss where they will start the search in the morning, Maxwell drops behind them with his mind going in a thousand different directions which are on top of the normal thousands of thoughts he has all the time. So, I need to try. Going home now would just be wrong, right? Yeah, I can do this. It may actually work out, and I’m already here and can't sit back anymore or I lose her for sure. Ok. Drake is right…I’m pressing on.

#the royal romance #choices trr #choices the royal romance #maxwell x mc #maxwell beaumont x mc #maxwell beaumont #trr maxwell x mc

[hickorycreekrp-blog]

Out of Character:

Name/Alias: Hermia

Pronouns: She/her

Age: Twenty

Timezone: GMT +1

Face Claim Preferences: Mädchen Amick

Character Basics:

Full Name: Winnifred Rosula Jennings ( née Vogelstein )

Nicknames/Prefers: Winnie

Age: Forty-Six

Occupation: Veterinarian @ Paws for Life Veterinary Clinic

Pronouns: She/Her/Dr/Mrs

Gender: Cisgender Female

Hometown: Altman, Canada

Current Neighborhood: Rose Acres

Highest Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Religion: Jewish ( non-practicing )

Family and Relationships:

Parents: Arthur Vogelstein & Seraphine Vogelstein ( née MacKenzie )

Siblings: Dexter Vogelstein, Deborah Vogelstein, Eliza Weston ( née Vogelstein ), Liam Vogelstein

Children: Zosia Elizabeth Jennings, Aaron Dantes Jennings, Barbara Lillith Jennings, Tessa Clair Jennings

Other: Her husband’s name is Nicholas Andrew Jennings, an affluent CEO of a stock company in New York, known as IBOS. He is now facing twenty-five years of prison ( with a chance of parole ) for theft, tax fraud and racketeering. Before his trial, he stole 80 million dollars from his company stating a “glitch” in the system. Of course, Winnie did not know about this and quickly left his ass after she found out he was having an affair with his secretary ( big shocker ) & was using the money to fund his secret love child with her. After he was sent to jail, she filed for a divorce.

Pets: Olivander “Oli” ( dog ) & Machivalli “Mac” ( cat )

Sexual Orientation: Bi/Sexual

Romantic Orientation: Bi/Romantic

Marital Status: Divorced

Personality:

Favorite Film: Casablanca ( Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman )

Favorite TV Show: Doesn’t watch too much television, but Newsroom & Big Little Lies were a genius.

Favorite Book: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

Favorite Song: Make Our Garden Grown from the operetta Candide

Favorite Color: Mint Green or Burgundy

Likes: Art ( classical & modern but mostly Renaissance ), Bagpipe Music, Human Rights, Italian & Asian cuisine, Musicals ( Sunday in the Park with George & The Color Purple are her favorites ), Symphonies, Wine

Dislikes: Baking, Carpooling, Country Music, Football, Guns, Nicholas Jennings, PTA Meetings, Romance Novels, Cooking Stressful Holiday Meals

History:

( TW: Car Accident, Infant Death & Adultery )

I. Winnifred had a particularly “normal” childhood, for nothing too extraordinary happened. She didn’t grow up in a circus or have infamous parents and the only dragons she saw were the ones her brothers pretended to be when they played in the backyard. She, of course, was always the heralding princess/damsel-in-distress, but in real life, Winnie was nothing like that. She was a strong, independent child with a knack for the cello. Quite studious too, one could often find her nestled in some corner, tucked away in between the vivid pages of fantasy novels. She dreamed of a life far more exciting than boring old Canada where the routine was pretty much the same. Day after day, night after night. This only added to the fact that she had four other siblings, two of them being twins so she often got pushed aside. She wasn’t a twin, nor the first born girl so she often got lost in the mix. Nonetheless, her parents gave her all the affection they could give despite their hectic schedules for her father was a neurosurgeon and her mother, a therapist. The young girl went to school, then to her afterschool activities such as soccer or cello practice and finally back home to help with dinner and do her homework. Her father was of Jewish descent and her mother, Scottish, but she often went to a synagogue since her mother wasn’t particularly religious and didn’t mind her children following the Jewish Faith. That was pretty much the gist of her everyday life in the dreary city.

II. In high school, she did rather well for herself, she broke out of her timid unnoticeable shell and branched out to more sociable groups. Winnifred had a personality that was very laid back and easy going, so meshed with quite a few different circles. She was captain of the debate team, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, homecoming queen and president of her class. Yes, she breezed through high school with flying colors. She had the attention of her peers, one in particular. His name was Liam Duncan and he was the first boy to ever notice her – truly notice her. And instead of dating the captain of the football team like most high school dramas, she fell for the so called “bad boy”; the alternative guy that was from the wrong side of town and worked in his father’s mechanic shop. Not only that, but he was soulful, poetic and actually choose to be alone. Very little in common with his older brother, Altman’s former golden boy, Learner who died two years prior. Liam had bigger dreams than Altman, hoping to move to Los Angeles when high school was over and pursue a career in music. Winnifred fell for his charms whilst tutoring him in math and ever since the two were inseparable. They were the “it” couple, the couple everyone talked about and quite simply “couple goals” deemed by most of their classmates; despite his lower reputation. They spent all of the sophomore and junior year dreaming of a life they would share after high school. They would move to California and Winnie would attend Stanford for animal studies whilst Liam would go to Los Angeles to try and get a record deal. Then the two would meet on weekends and continue their blossoming relationship that felt a lot like love. The sickening kind of love one saw on movie screens and teenage melodramas. But midway through their senior year, Winnie learned she was pregnant. That meant bye bye college, bye bye California, bye bye everything they had ever dreamed of. Winnie was hesitant to have the child because she so dearly wanted to go to college but Liam convinced her they could make this work, with the baby. The two didn’t mention it to her parents since she wasn’t even showing yet and they heavily considered running away after graduation. But Winnie had too much respect for her parents to do such a dreadful thing. The two lived in a blissful state of mind, excited about the prospects of their upcoming family. That was until prom night, senior year. The two had gotten in a fight since Liam refused to go to the school dance. He claimed the pair always hung out with her friends and he was tired of them always looking down on him. So she went alone, but that didn’t stop her from dancing with another guy. It was one dance and perhaps somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew Liam would show up and see them. And he did. To say he wasn’t happy was an understatement; he was livid. He stormed out of the gymnasium and towards his car with Winnifred rushing after him in years. The two then got into the car and started to drive whilst continuing their heated argument. Winnifred berated the young man, stating how he knew these things were important to her; she knew they were just “silly high school dances” that wouldn’t mean a thing in years to come, but she wanted so much to have a good time. Before their freedom was practically taken away from them due to their child. Life would be hard from then on and she wanted to enjoy what little youth she had left. Liam just scoffed her off, his foot pressing on the acceleration more and more as his voice raised in anger. And then the climax, there was a bright light, some screaming and then a quite swerve. After that, everything went black. Liam was barely hurt but Winnie ended up in the hospital, her injuries making her lose the baby. Feeling heartbroken over their lost child, Winnifred’s heart further broke when she realized it was time to say goodbye to her dream; her first love, her Liam.

III. After high school, Winnie got accepted into Standford and moved to California like she had planned. She hadn’t spoken to Liam, but the last thing she heard was that he moved to New York City, ran off with some girl that could make him happy. Winnie was a sullen shell of the girl she used to be after losing her baby and her love. The outgoing, passionate side of the girl seemed to quickly disappear, replaced with a gray matter. But nevertheless, she persisted. She was more drawn back in college, more restless at the haunting memories of all that could’ve been. That was until she met Lillian Peters. She was a swimmer and the resident assistant in Winnie’s shitty dorm. Winnifred had always known she was attracted to girls but never got the chance to explore her sexuality due to her long-term relationship with Liam. The two had a rocky start for one, Lillian had a boyfriend whom she seemed to be content with. And two, Winnie could barely get out a word around the girl, her ego being severely bruised after the events that prolonged in high school. Despite these obstacles, the two became friends, helping each other study, going to parties together and taking small road trips on the weekends. Her days were filled with Lillian, not Liam, but she still felt a sense of hopelessness. She wondered if her heart would ever open again and one night, the two finally found their way together. The couple was together Winnie’s first two years of college and Winnie finally felt as if she could breathe again. Lillian brought her back to life; not just surviving, but really living. For the longest time, she felt so broken and Lillian seemed to pick up the pieces and remind her she was whole. But then Lillian’s last year of university, she got a scholarship to go swim in Ireland and it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. Winnie was happy for the girl, but it did hurt, to be abandoned again. The two figured a long distance relationship wasn’t in the cards for them and thought they could always try again when they were older. After that, Winnie spent some time alone, not wanting to get close to anyone who could so easily leave again.

IV. Her senior year of college is when she met Nicholas Andrew Jennings. He was a Harvard graduate, on vacation in California; little did Winnie know it was to see his then girlfriend. The two met when he came into the diner with his friends and at the time, Winnie was waitressing in her free time. He was instantly infatuated with the young girl’s beauty and wit, but she quickly declined his advances. Soon, he came into the diner every day, ordering coffee and french fries, just to talk to her. At the end of two months, she relented and finally went out on a date with him. He was charming and willing to move slow, which made her feel safe and comforted. He didn’t seem like most of the asshole guys she had encountered, being a little older so possibly more mature. Her final year of college, the two officially started dating, but on their six month anniversary, she realized she had once again, gotten pregnant. The man, now entering business school at Yale, suggested that he marry her, even though the two hardly knew each other. And at first, she declined because she wanted to be in love when she got married, not just some arrangements his parents made him choose. As the months passed by, she soon realized how hard it would be to juggle schooling and a baby, alone. So she married him for the sake of the baby’s life. She saw single mothers and how hard their lives were, especially since she still wanted to continue working towards her degree. The two got married and settled down on the east coast. By then, she had graduated from Stanford with honors and after having her child, she was hoping to go back to school. But her schooling took a backseat to building a stable life, for the moment she laid eyes on her daughter, her Zosia she fell in love. She vowed that she would do whatever it took to give this child, a happy life filled with love and adventure. She resisted turning into a helicopter mother as long as possible, for she didn’t want to be an overbearing mother that eventually pushed her kids away. No no, she refused to be that parent and soon one kid turned into four; Zosia, Aaron, Barbara, and Tessa. Before she knew it, she was wearing yoga pants and taking her kids to soccer practice and complaining out the school system.

V. Nicholas was not the love of her life, for the passion she had previously felt with her other partners outweighed what she felt in her marriage by miles. By it wasn’t a loveless one either. The two grew together in a union that closely resembled strong affection, bordering on love. But the question whether they were in love or not always seemed to loom around. They didn’t often fight and when they did it was mostly about trivial things like who did the dishes last or coming home late and to outsiders, they absolutely adored each other. Together, they were the ultimate parenting team, always switching roles of good cop/bad cop. But it was no secret which parents the kids liked best; for their mother was full of motherly kindness and was around a lot more. And whilst Nicholas was climbing his way up the corporate latter, Winnie went back to school once her kids were in high school. She soon got her doctor’s degree in Veterinary science at Cornell University and began working at a local clinic.

VI. When she was thirty-eight, their picture perfect life seemed to shatter and it all started with the crack in the foundation. Rumors circulated that Nicholas had been spending a little too much time with his secretary, but the man convinced his wife it was just idle gossip. But Winnifred wasn’t stupid, she knew all the late phone calls, abrupt business meetings and carelessly thought out lies added up to. Her husband was having an affair. Not that she was terribly surprised, their marriage had quickly drained of any sexual behavior. But she still vowed that she would not continue raising their kids in an unhappy marriage. So she took their kids and went to stay with her parents for a couple weeks to let him figure things out. When she came back, he claimed he has broken things off but instead, he got the woman pregnant unbeknownst to his wife. Believing him, the couple went to therapy to try and repair what little was left of their marriage, but it quickly spiraled after the police arrested him. News broke that he had been embezzling and taking part in a Ponzi scheme that drained 80 million dollars worth of people’s money. The company chalked it down to a “glitch” in the algorithm, but Winnie knew what really happened after she found out her husband’s latest business trip was to Geneva, not D.C. The man had done wrong and Winnie was not going to “stand by her man” and all that crap. She was going to leave his lying, cheating ass and make sure he never went near her kids again. As the trials proceeded, Winnie went to go stay with her parents, her reputation being sorely disheartened from all the vicious lies. “They lived in the same house together, how could she not know?” They all whispered behind her back. But she had nothing to hide so when the investigators started looking into her finances, she came out clean as a whistle. Because of the company’s high status in the stock world, the trials were highly publicized and the veterinarian was soon bombarded daily by cameras and reporters. It wasn’t until midway through the trail when the knowledge of her husband’s secret child became public and that seemed like the final straw and quickly filed for a divorce. Rebuilding the pieces of her life was hard; for everything they had shared was now gone. She found stable work in Hickory Creek, a nice town that reminded her of Altman and since her last kid was in college, she needed worry about them as she began anew.

#Mädchen Amick fc #character: female #character: 40s #character: rose acres #hickorycreek winnifred jennings

[celebritylive]

For three days in Nashville, it was a country music glutton’s feast of performers: Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum.

Was there any reason to complain? Well, maybe that Chris Stapleton did fail to show up, but he had a good excuse with three of his five kids down with the flu.

Otherwise, the artist lineups had the sparkliest shine at Country Radio Seminar, the broadcasting convention held last Wednesday through Friday. CRS offers artists and labels the annual opportunity for one-stop radio promotion: to break news, to introduce new music and to boost songs already charting.

No doubt the biggest industry news was label hopscotching by two superstars: Tim McGraw, who recently split from Sony, was the jaw-dropping surprise at Big Machine’s luncheon on Friday, returning to the company where he’d made himself at home from 2012 to 2017; he didn’t perform at the event, but he’s set to release a new single soon and will tour this summer. Reba McEntire’s appearance was the shocker at Team UMG’s revue at Ryman Auditorium on Thursday. Emigrating from Big Machine to her original label, Universal Music Group, she rewarded her audience with a trio of classics: “How Blue,” “And Still” and “Fancy.”

Kenny Chesney, who jumped from Sony to Warner Music a couple of years ago, appeared at Warner’s luncheon on Wednesday to receive the artist humanitarian award from the Country Radio Broadcasters. He was honored for his bountiful charitable efforts, including donating all proceeds, more than $1.1 million, from his 2018 album, Songs for the Saints, to Hurricane Irma relief. Chesney kept any new music under wraps, instead performing crowd-pleasers “Save It for a Rainy Day,” “When The Sun Goes Down” and “Get Along.”

RELATED: After Losing His Own Dog, Kenny Chesney Helped Save 1,400 Animals in the Year Following Hurricane Irma

Since CRS offers a captive audience of radio’s decision-makers, it’s often the moment when new songs are premiered.

This time around, Keith Urban advanced his new single, “God Whispered Your Name” — a luscious R&B-tinged love song with an outro “hallelujah” chorus — that the rest of the world will hear on Thursday.

Just back from two months of surfing, Kip Moore brought his current single, “She’s Mine,” out to play for a verse and a chorus before effortlessly segueing into “Janie Blu,” a soulful heartbreaker probably destined for his next album.

Hard at work on their next project, the Brothers Osborne delivered a first-time performance of “Skeletons,” with trademark guitar licks and a driving “It Ain’t My Fault” beat.

Sam Hunt didn’t bring a hip, hop or click track with him, but he did arrive at UMG’s event with three acoustic guitarists to help him deliver a surprisingly traditional “three chords and the truth” country ballad. Solemn and mournful, “2016” is steeped in regret (“I thought I wanted my freedom / I told myself I’d have a ball / But it turns out goin’ out and chasin’ / Dreams and lonely women / Ain’t freedom after all”). Surely it has some real-life inspiration, considering his well-documented reconciliation that year with girlfriend Hannah Lee Fowler, whom he married in 2017. Hunt’s new album, Southside, is due out April 3.

Kelsea Ballerini also surprised by going traditional in a completely different direction, adding her first-ever drinking song to her catalog. “Hole in the Bottle,” debuting at Amazon Music’s showcase, features a lot of the same tongue-in-cheekiness of Ballerini’s “I Hate Love Songs”: “There’s a hole in the bottle / Leakin’ all this wine / It’s already empty/ It ain’t even suppertime.” (Ballerini takes her country vibe only so far: The bottle holds Cabernet, not whiskey.) The song is sure to show up on her third album, dropping March 20.

At the end of an hour-long Q&A covering his life and career, Eric Church premiered one of 28 songs he’d completed in an astonishing 28-day marathon, in which he wrote and recorded a song a day. Perhaps to be titled, “Jenny,” the high-spirited love song comes with lots of renegade spirit.

RELATED: Who Is That Unmasked Man? Without His Trademark Shades, Eric Church Talks Career, Drive and That Outlaw Image

Still looking for a career-breakout hit, Mickey Guyton delivered a searing debut of “What Are You Gonna Tell Her.” The freshly penned ballad is a bracing dose of reality to young girls with big dreams — a timely message that may be a hard sell to country radio, but the ecstatic reception by the crowd at the UMG event clearly signaled it deserves a national audience.

Other up-and-comers with new music, some just released, also drew attention: Sami Bearden, Savana Santos and Sam Backoff — the girls-next-door trio Avenue Beat — showed they’re blazing their own trail with an infectious song like “Ruin That For Me,” which goes to radio March 23. Travis Denning brought a welcome helping of merriment with new release “ABBY” (which stands for “anybody but you”). At Big Machine’s luncheon, Payton Smith auditioned to be the next country-rock god with a four-song set, including upcoming debut single, “Like I Knew You Would.”

RELATED: Five Things to Know About Travis Denning, Country’s New Go-To Guy for a Good Time

Caylee Hammack was at her storytelling best with new single, the autobiographical “Small Town Hypocrite” (though she might have to find another four-letter word to rhyme with “hypocrite” to get it on terrestrial radio). Danielle Bradbery’s two brand-new ballads, ““Girls In My Hometown” and “Never Have I Ever,” reminded listeners of the crystalline voice that was The Voice on that TV show’s fourth season.

Luke Bryan prepped listeners for his seventh album, out April 24, by performing recently released title cut, “Born Here, Live Here, Die Here.” Carrie Underwood, a newcomer at the UMG event, offered an acoustic version of album cut “Spinning Bottles” and duetted with Urban on their No. 1 hit, “The Fighter.”

Dierks Bentley showed up as Hot Country Knights frontman Doug Douglason in his bad wig and (yikes) a crop-top T-shirt; he and his ’90s-throwback band threw down their new single, “Pick Her Up.” Florida Georgia Line and Lady Antebellum both did victory laps, delivering sets of selected hits at the Big Machine event. Miranda Lambert topped an hour-long Q&A with two Wildcard cuts, “Dark Bars” and “How Dare You Love.” And Garth Brooks turned in an 11-song set of covers and his own hits at CRS’s annual songwriters event.

RELATED: Miranda Lambert Dishes on a Freaky Fan Encounter, Dog-Discipline Magic and Her Husband’s Favorite Song Request

Five fresh talents — Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans, Riley Green, Runaway June and Mitchell Tenpenny  — were voted by broadcasters to be the 2020 class of CRS’s “New Faces,” and each was rewarded with short sets on the final night of the conference. Their stage performances proved they’re all just as riveting to the eyes as the ears, and each amply proved the power of the personal.

Andress drew a standing ovation for her top 15-and-climbing “More Hearts Than Mine,” inspired by real life. The loss of loved ones brought out the emotional depth in three artists: Evans’ “Things That We Drink To” was dedicated to his late manager, Rob Potts; Tenpenny performed “Walk Like Him,” inspired by his late father; and Green wrenched hearts with his career-defining “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” And though Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne and Hannah Mulholland of Runaway June didn’t write “We Were Rich,” they made that looking-back song their own with a stirring delivery.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/2T63nbD

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