#Sonnet 24 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kil-g · 1 year

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the body is the frame

a/n: i very self-indulgently wrote this last night bc i was going thru a depression episode :| here is chesa and simon vaguely confessing their feelings to one another in the best way they know how to do it. or alternatively, the only way they know how to say "i love you" to each other.

parings: chesa "smoke" fernandez x simon "ghost" riley

word count: 1.1k

warnings: injuries, discussions of death

“I think you’re starting to like this.” Chesa says, sweat drips down from her temple. Simon takes a bit of her hair and pushes it aside.

“Funny.” He says.

“Well, are you?”

Simon lifts the towel cloth to her mouth and she takes it between her teeth and bites down.

“This is gonna hurt like hell.” He murmurs. She only hums through the fabric. He places his hand above her heart and grips her upper arm tight. In a quick and harsh motion, her arm snaps back into place. Chesa doesn’t flinch or even recoil against the sensation. “No, Fernandez. I’m not enjoying this. I don’t enjoy it.”

Instead, she tilts her head back and exhales heavily.

Gently, he takes the towel and tosses it aside. She sniffs and rubs at an itch on her nose.

“I don’t know.” She answers, instinctually bringing her hand up to the new relocated shoulder and massaging it slightly. “I think you secretly like it when I need you.”

“No.” He says. “Whenever you need me, it’s ‘cause you’ve been beaten within an inch of your life.“ He sits across from her. The moonlight coming from the window is slowly fracturing away through the boards. Softly, it radiates off her hair and makes the sweat on the left side of her face glisten.

“Worried about me, then?”

The answer is plain and simple as day. It sits over his tongue and scorches a strange taste over the top of it. He leans forward, propping his weight on his knee. Then, he opens his mouth to answer with a soft inhale and just as quickly decides against saying anything at all.

Of course he worried about her. He worried about everything. Certainly, he wasn’t vocal about it but nevertheless he worried.

But, usually when his worries subsided, he was finally calm like an ocean after a storm. Tension subsiding, washing away. It felt like being pulled out of water after you’d been drowning, or catching yourself before falling to the ground.

Worrying about Chesa was a whole other flavor. The resolution of the worry wasn’t an ocean at peace. It wasn’t a gulp of breath after a swallow of salt water. And, it certainly wasn’t the feeling of gravity beneath his feet.

It was like watching clouds cover the sun or catching the faint smell of a forest fire before you even get a chance to see the smoke.

Simon would worry about Chesa as if it were his condition. And, he’d still have no peace even after the worry resolved.

Then, she clears her throat. The noise yanks him harshly off his steady train of thought and, tentatively, he meets her eyes.

“Do you remember a few months ago, when I showed up at your place and I slept on the couch and you were in the armchair?” Simon murmurs. “You were watching this french film. I fell asleep.”

She hums, amusedly, “Yeah, I remember. You were out for a while.” She doesn’t acknowledge how much closer he’s gotten to her.

“Can’t remember the last time I’d slept like that.” He says. “I don’t know if it’s your place or if I was tired or if it was just you. I just know that I don’t sleep anywhere else like that.”

The softness of her features change and fracture in the light that’s only illuminating half her face. Without her noticing, Chesa’s brows wrinkle together. Then, she inhales and swallows on the air. “I think you were just tired.”

“I’m always tired, Chesa.” His eyes are looking straight through hers. Her eyes dart back and forth between his like she’s looking for even the slightest hint of a sick joke. But, there’s none to be found. “I worry. I do. I liked your couch, your place. But, I don’t have much of a reason to sleep there if you aren’t there, too.”

For a moment, it’s dead silent. The sound of her own heart beating in her chest is so loud that it makes her head spin. She leans forward until her forehead is in the crook of Simon’s neck and leans all of her weight onto him.

“I hate to tell you this, Simon. But, I’ve been playing fast and loose with my life for a good couple of years now.” He can feel her hand hook around one of the straps of his tactical vest. She pulls on it softly and almost snuggles into his neck, like she’s trying to find a way to get closer.

“So, I’ve noticed.”

“I doubt either of us will live for very long. I doubt that I will live very long.” Simon tilts his head to nuzzle his jaw against her hair. “But, in the meantime, you can have my couch. You could even crawl into bed beside me, and I wouldn’t do so much as bat an eye. I’d give you a key and all I’d ask is that you pay your half of the rent.”

“What do I do with the place if you’re dead?” He asks.

Chesa sits up slowly, only to accommodate the ache of her body. Her hand that was on his tactical vest runs upwards of his shoulder and she takes the fabric of his mask between her fingers. She lifts it slowly, higher and higher, until all of his face is made plain to her. Then, she places her hand against one cheek and presses her lips against the other. “Keep sleeping inside of it. On the couch, on the bed, or the floor. Replace all my decorations with whatever you like, just keep my pictures in a box underneath the bed so you don’t have dead people all over your walls. And, hang the Parol in a different place every Christmas.”

Wordlessly, he watches her. Her eyes move down to his lips and her finger traces the lines of scars running across it. He presses his jaws together and scrunches his nose for a split second. Then, he wets his lips and says, “I like you better alive.”

“I’m afraid that neither of us exactly have a say in the matter—“

The door swings open. With a feverish urgency, Simon tugs the mask back down over his face.

Gaz is stopped dead in his tracks, and abashedly, tries to look anywhere else besides their direction.

Ghost stands up and turns away from Smoke like nothing happened.

“Sergeant.” He says.

“Lieutenant.” Gaz replies. “The survey team’s covered ground. We’re ready to go.”

“I want everyone ready in five.” Ghost moves past him and out the door unceremoniously.

Smoke stands up, her hand massaging her painfully sore shoulder before making a circle with the arm.

Gaz considers her for a moment and she tries not to notice. Though, against his better judgment, he says, “So, you and the Lt—“

“Don’t.”

“Sorry.” He offers. Regarding him, she decides against saying anything else. Chesa inches past him then walks out the door.

Without closing it behind her, she turns in the opposite direction of where Ghost went and walks that way.

#other notes: i have been obsessed with shakespeare's sonnet 24 lately which is where i got the title from #simon ghost riley x oc #simon riley x oc #cod oc #mw2 oc #chesa #chesa x simon

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necromancy-savant · 8 months

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Sonnet 10

I can’t allow myself to cave and feel

Anything that would go against my way

I can’t be a machine like those I hate

And think that my sentience isn’t real.

Yet isn’t that what I think of myself?

That I am simply animalistic?

That I am so far from human instincts

I’ve made for myself just a living Hell

No, somehow I am yet far more vital

That those that waste their lives on "family"

I’m perfect and moved on while they're not full

Though they a monster would discern I am

I cannot decide what I then should be

When I think I am pure humanity

#that's it I don't have any more sonnets unless I write more #I stopped when I was like 24 and started writing songs #sonnet cycle

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hoonvrs · 8 months

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CIGARETTES — s. jaeyun smau

PAIRING jake x fmr

SYNOPSIS where university student jake develops a little crush on the girl he sees with a cigarette between her lips in the smoking area and decides he needs to impress her. how else would he do that except calling his smoker friend to teach him how to smoke ( spoiler: it doesn’t go so well. )

GENRE smau, fluff, crack, sprinkle of angst if you read it upside down, golden retriever x black cat duo

FEATURING ( enha ) all, ( ive ) gaeul, yujin, ( nct ) chenle, jisung

WARNING smoking [ don’t smoke kids ], swearing, kys/kms/suicide jokes, friendly bullying, dirty/sex jokes ( more will be added if necessary)

STATUS completed

TAGLIST ( CLOSED )

S. NOTE JAKE MY MANNN ( hoon look away ) as an 02z girl i finally have an smau for each bias so i feel v complete

also please don't spam like as it shadowbans me and lessens engagement <3

PROFILES

virgin mary’s | smoking HAWT | privs

CHAPTERS

01 BI yourself

02 we found love in the smoking area

03 life is roblox

04 you white whore

05 jake you beautiful bastard

06 are we rush houring rn

07 it’s the dawg in me

08 yuh :3

09 the brit

10 what if i was suicidal .

11 here comes christian bale

12 i don’t trust him. weird fella

13 give us another sonnet english boy

14 bros from yapan

15 he thinks he’s a 90s babe

16 i’m just a girl

17 i’m sat.

18 go piss girl

↳ extra: did life360 tell you that.

19 i got my peaches out in jojo

20 okayy little miss poet

21 i’m built different

22 WAHHHHHHW WAAHHH

23 i want you

24 why are u bricked up

25 PUKA PUKA POW POW

26 jake in his flop era

27 this is getting too homoerotic

28 they go low i go lowER

29 inshallah he will eat

30 hello ross lynch

31 filthy omega

32 u r sobir. die (+written 0.8k)

33 she shoiodv be inde clubbb…..

34 when he makes you his girlfriend

35 can’t take me anywhere

36 noo you’re so sexy haha

37 no. (+written 0.7k)

38 i feel so kawaii today

39 come home fat

40 wasn’t very dabatayo of you jay.

↳ extra: it’s actually dattebayo*

41 ur man can’t drive manual

42 i Want you so bad

43 hawk putuh

44 okay blondie

45 though shalt not fail, but prevail

↳ extra: random

EP1 upset my girl. i’m gonna Kms

EP2 im not smoking that shit

EP3 OUR girlfriend ☭

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gardenofafterthoughts · 15 days

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14/04/24

"Everything you do is full of flowers."

- Pablo Neruda; 100 Love Sonnets

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cinnbar-bun · 4 months

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hi hi this has to be my favorite one piece writing blog, seriously ur writing makes me so happy 😭🖤

not sure if i can request multiple characters but do you mind if i can get general sfw/nsfw headcanons for jinbe and brook?

sorry i really like weird old men (again love your writing and i hope you have a very nice day!!!!!)

A/n: Aw thank you sweetheart. Please enjoy this~! Also, sorry for not posting for a bit, I’ve been exhausted from work and lost some motivation to write oneshots :( but I just love Brook so much so I had to do this.

Brook + Jinbei General SFW + NSFW HCs

Note: separate relationships, reader is GN, smut headcanons inside. Fluffy mmm.

Word Count: 874

Brook

Brook, ever the performer, loves waking you up or lulling you to sleep with his music. Heck, he’ll even burst out into song throughout the day for you if you wish. He’s your 24/7 skeletal radio.

Sometimes he also does freestyle music and makes up lyrics and beats on the spot about whatever you’re doing or how he feels. They’re usually cheesy and not all that serious, but they never fail to lift your spirits up.

Brook likes to be dramatic in your presence to get some attention from you. Sometimes he’s like a spoiled baby but he can’t help it- you’re too amazing!! And he loves you so much!!

If you’re ever feeling too hot, Brook will always put a hand to your head or elsewhere to help you cool down with his devil fruit powers. He’s your not so little walking ice pack.

Brook, while eccentric, is still an old man at heart so he often likes to treat you and spoil you the old-fashioned way. Kneeling on the main deck as you’re on the top deck while he performs you sweet sonnets and ballads he made just for you. Always wanting to keep an arm around your waist. Walking on the street side of the sidewalk. Buying you flowers at any given moment.

He’s a charming gentleman, and it’s very clear when it comes to you.

That being said, he can still be a pervert and it’s full force for you.

He goes gaga over your body! Literally loses his soul when he even gets a peek of you because ??? Hello??? You’re beautiful??

Beyond just sexually, he adores your body. It’s hard for him to explain the feeling but ever since he’s become just a pile of bones, he’s found a greater appreciation for the human body.

When he’s in bed with you, he wants to explore every inch and crevice of your body. Don’t get shy on him now, it’s not like he even has eyes to stare at you, YOHOHOHO!

Kidding, but really, when you two are getting intimate, he focuses on you and your reactions a great deal. He can’t have sex with you the way a human would, so most of his pleasure is derived from your enjoyment- yeah, he’s still got it.

His phalanges are god tier, argue with the wall!!!

Jinbei

Local dad-friend to the crew, loyal husband to you. You might not even be married but you might as well be, that’s just how sweet he is.

He really likes trying new things with you. Even something as small as a new ice cream flavor makes him happy. It’s rather silly and mundane, but something about doing it with you makes it feel wonderful.

“‘Cereal milk’…? There’s really a flavor for that?!”

And alongside new things, he likes to make traditions for the two of you. He’s a very sentimental man, so it can end up being something like eating that one specific dish you two had on your first date, or having a spot on the ship to sit and cuddle.

Jinbei makes sure you get a healthy amount of fruit in you. He will be casually leaving you a plate of freshly cut fruits and a glass of water beside you. He’s not letting you devoid yourself of essential nutrients and hydration. Will force feed you if necessary.

Okay this is just my headcanon but he’s got old man eyes so if something is in smaller fonts he squints and holds the page up to his face to try and read it. It isn’t until you offer to just read it for him that he FINALLY gives in and has you read it for him.

He’s got a great laugh. A hearty, jovial laugh that anyone in the crew can hear from miles away. Honestly, your jokes might not even be that good, but to him, it’s hilarious. Just being so carefree and funny like this is special to him. Your jokes and funny faces seriously make his day, so please never feel embarrassed to tell him one.

I don’t have a segue for this. He is just a big boy.

And yeah, he knows that he’s huge, which is why he takes extra care to make sure you’re properly stretched and ready to take him.

He never really put too much thought into his body beyond his strength, but he has to admit, he loves when you shower attention and compliment his body. Especially in the bedroom, his face just warms up and he gets a bit prideful. It gets him going knowing his body turns you on so much.

Gentle giant. He’s not going to go feral on you, especially not during the first few times you two lay together. He may consider that sort of thing later, alongside many safety measures.

He does enjoy doggy, but also, he finds it so sexy when you ride him. Forward or reverse, it doesn’t matter. It’s also a pretty good compromise because he can let you set a pace while joining with you to get it “rougher” if you so wish.

Lots and lots of praise from Jinbei, all whispered lovingly into your ear as he’s pounding into you <3

#one piece x reader #one piece #one piece smut #one piece hcs #smut #op brook x reader #brook x reader #one piece brook #soul king brook #reader insert #x reader #jinbei x reader #jinbei #jinbe #jinbe x reader

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gamergirl929 · 1 year

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Seven Minutes In Heaven (Kristie Mewis x Reader)

SO, long time no see y’all it’s been a while, a long while, and I’m happy to be back, hopefully for a while this time. Now this started as a test fic, so I hadn’t planned on posting it, but after multiple asks and comments on my post, I’ve decided to post it... Be gentle, it IS FAR from perfect, I’m just trying to get the gears in my brain turning again...

So without further ado, here it goes... PLEASE let me know what you think.

After being dragged into a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven by Emily Sonnet, you somehow end up in the closet across from the woman you’d been crushing on since you joined the USWNT, and that woman was Kristie Mewis.

You fidget nervously, your throat bobbing as you eye the room of your teammates intently.

You weren’t exactly sure how you’d gotten roped into this, but the second ‘let’s play seven minutes in heaven’ left Emily Sonnett’s mouth, everyone squeaked, the aforementioned turning your way with a grin.

“Well, what do you say newbie?” She asked with a wink, and you shrug, your eyes darting nervously around the room filled with half of your teammates.

Emily leans close, whispering in your ear.

“Come on, you know you want to, and Kristie is playing.” She sings in your ear, and you blush, your eyes darting to the blonde she just mentioned, the woman giggling at something her Lindsey had said.

Emily nudges you, her brows wiggling suggestively, and you roll your eyes.

If there was one person you didn’t want to know that you had a crush on Kristie Mewis, it was Emily Sonnett, because, as you’d expected, she teased you relentlessly about it.

It was no surprise that, as you were a rookie, you were much younger than Kristie, who was currently 32, whereas you were 24, leaving an 8-year distance between the two of you.

However, even with the age gap, you still developed a crush on the older woman, something you’d become unable to combat.

“SOOO?” Emily says, giving you a nudge.

You roll your eyes, before letting out a huff.

“Fine.”

Emily throws a fist in the air, the woman with one goal in mind, and that was to get you and Kristie Mewis alone, together in the closet.

***

It wasn’t long before Kelley O’Hara joined in on the fun, along with Alex Morgan and a number of other veterans.

Though several of your teammates had been paired together, more often than not, when the closet door was opened, they were just sitting there, deep in conversation or giggling about something unheard by the remainder of you.

That, however, wasn’t the case when the door was opened for Alex and Kelley, their cheeks flushed red, the two breathing heavily.

“Goddamn.” Emily snickered, earning a flick on the head as Kelley made her way passed, her opposite hand linked with Alex’s, their fingers intertwined.

Thankfully, for you, you had yet to be chosen, but out of those remaining, Kristie had yet to be chosen as well, something that made your heart race.

In that moment, you’re pulled out of your daze, however when Emily and Lindsey are paired together, the pair blush profusely as they make their way into the closet.

Your eyes widen when you feel someone take a seat on the bed beside you, that someone making your chest tighten.

“I know that look.” Kristie says with a smile and your brows furrow, your throat bobbing.

“Wh-What look?” You stutter, the blonde nudging you, your cheeks heating up.

“You don’t want to play, do you?” She asks and you clear your throat, your attention focused entirely on your hands as you pick at a hangnail nervously.

Yous shrug.

“Not really.”

Kristie hums, giving you another nudge to get your attention.

“Then why’d you agree to play?” She asks and you again shrug.

“Peer pressure?” You say, cringing, the blonde detecting your obvious lie.

Your cheeks flush and she smirks.

A millisecond later her eyes widen, her smirk turning into a grin.

“Oh my god.” She squeals, her hand resting on your forearm, goosebumps, that you hope she doesn’t notice, sprouting across your skin.

“What?” You ask nervously, swallowing hard.

“You want to spend some alone time with someone in the closet, don’t you?” She teases, your entire face flushing the tips of your ears burning as you gape at the woman, who takes your silence as a yes.

“So?! Who is it?!”

You chuckle, your eyes darting away nervously as you try to think of something, ANYTHING to say.

It’s in that very moment that Trinity knocks hard on the closet door, which opens moments later to a disheveled and red-faced Emily and Lindsey, the taller of the two adjusting her shirt.

Emily grumbles under her breath as she and Lindsey crawl out of the closet.

“That wasn’t seven minutes in heaven, more like 5 minutes.” She mumbles.

It’s then that your attention is turned back to the blonde beside you, the woman frowning.

“Is it Em?” She asks and you clear your throat, your mouth opening and closing repeatedly, your silence ‘answering’ Kristie’s question.

You stiffen as her arm slips around your middle, the woman wrapping her arms tightly around you.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers in your ear, her hot breath making your breath hitch.

You’re unable to find your words, simply leaning into the blonde who pulls back a beat later, the woman smiling softly.

“You, okay?” She asks and you nod, cracking a small smile, your heart warming in your chest.

The clearing of a nearby throat pulls your attention away from the blonde, your eyes widening when you realize basically everyone in the room is looking your way.

“Well, if they’re already hugging out here, what do you think they’ll do in thereee?” Trinity sings, the rest of the team giggling.

Your eyes widen, your chest tightening.

“Wh-What do you mean?” You ask, turning to look at Kristie who glances at you.

Emily smirks, holding up a slip of paper, your name scrawled across its surface.

Lindsey beams, holding up her own piece of paper covered in Kristie’s neat handwriting.

“You’re up newbie, now get in there.”

***

You clear your throat as the closet door shuts on both you and Kristie, the two of you sitting cross-legged in front of one another, your bare knees brushing every so often with each movement.

Kristie hums.

“I’m sorry.”

Your brows furrow.

“For what?” You ask, your head cocked slightly to one side, something that makes a smile stretch across the woman’s face.

“About Em.”

You shrug.

“It’s okay.”

Kristie leans forwards, her hands resting on top of your own, your throat bobbing as you swallow hard.

“Are you sure?” She asks softly and you nod, a smile stretching across your face.

Kristie gives your hands a pat before leaning back, her back resting against one of the closet walls.

“So, what do you think of all this?” She asks, motioning around the small space and you chuckle.

“Never thought I’d be in THIS position after joining the national team.” You smile, glancing at Kristie who lets out an adorable giggle.

“What, you’re not into kissing your teammates?” She jests and you shake your head, your cheeks flushing.

“I’m not into kissing, well, anyone really.” You shrug and Kristie’s brows furrow.

“What do you mean?"

You turn your head, your cheeks flushing a deep shade of red when you realize what you’d just confessed.

Your mouth opens and closes for a moment before your tongue swipes at your lips.

“W-Well...” You stutter, taking a deep breath before you finish your sentence. “I’ve never—No one’s ever wanted to kiss me before.”

The blonde silently studies you for a moment before she sits up, leaning towards you.

“Seriously?” She asks and you shrug, the tips of your ears on fire as you flush with embarrassment.

In all honesty, you hadn’t planned on confessing one of your deepest ‘darkest’ secrets to the blonde, but you felt so at ease with her that you couldn’t stop yourself from sharing it.

“You have to be kidding me...” She mutters, and your brows furrow.

“What?” You ask and she shakes her head, as if in disbelief.

“I’m sure there are plenty of people who want to kiss you.” She whispers and you shake your head rapidly.

“There really aren’t.”

You suddenly become very interested in your hands, which are currently resting in your lap, your fingers playing together nervously.

“That’s ridiculous.” She scoffs, your head snapping upwards, your eyes locking with hers.

Your breath catches in your throat when she leans forward, gently cupping your cheek, your skin flushing beneath her touch.

“Kris?” You whisper, the blonde’s thumb running along your bottom lip.

“It’s ridiculous, because there is someone who wants to kiss you.” She whispers, her blue orbs darting from your Y/E/C eyes to your lips and back.

Your heart pounds wildly in your chest, the butterflies in your stomach flapping their wings ecstatically.

She traces your jawline with her index finger, the woman leaning in, her nose brushing your own.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you, for a really, really long time.” She mumbles, your eyes fluttering shut in anticipation as the woman begins closing the gap between you.

“TIME’S UP!”

The two of you spring apart, your eyes wide and cheeks flushed as you turn towards Emily Sonnett, who’s wearing a cheeky grin.

“What was going on there?” She teases, and you clear your throat, your mouth opening and closing as you try to find your words.

“Well, nothing now.” Kristie gripes, shooting Sonnett a glare.

Kristie shoots you one last glance, the woman frowning as she slips out of the closet, your eyes downcast as you follow suit, the moment between the two of you passing by, along with, what you expected, would be the final moment between the two of you.

***

Needless to say, after that you didn’t feel much like sticking around, slinking back to your room with your proverbial tail between your legs.

You stare up at your darkened ceiling, unable to sleep, thoughts of Kristie’s lips against your own plaguing your mind.

You’re pulled from your thoughts by a soft tapping against your door, a huff leaving you as you roll out of bed.

You grumble as you shuffle towards the door, certain that it was your roommate, Lindsey Horan, behind the door, the woman most likely forgetting something in the room that she hadn’t taken across the hall to Emily’s.

You jerk the door open in annoyance, your eyes squinting as the hotel’s hallway lights pour into the room.

“Linds?” You mumble, digging your fists into your eyes in an attempt to clear your vision.

“Guess again.”

Your eyes widen when your vision clears, revealing Kristie Mewis standing before you, the woman shuffling from foot to foot.

“Kris, what are you--

You’re cut off when the woman takes a step into your room, her hands cupping your cheeks, her nose again brushing yours as she leans in.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing you.” She confesses as you lean back against your hotel room’s wall, your heart pounding wildly in your chest.

However, before Kristie can close the distance between the two of you, someone clears their throat.

“You know, you could at least shut the door.”

The two of you again spring apart, Kristie’s gaze murderous as she glares across the hallway at Emily Sonnett, the blonde smiling around her toothbrush that was hanging out of her mouth.

“I swear to god, I’m going to kill you.” Kristie growls, mumbling under her breath as she advances on the blonde, flicking her in the head.

“Linds! Help!” Emily cries, earning a snort from within the hotel room.

“No, you’re the one who keeps cockblocking them, you’re on your own Em.”

Kristie pulls the blonde into a headlock, digging her knuckles into the top of her head as she growls angrily in her ear, words that you can’t quite make out.

Eventually, Emily wiggles free and runs into her room, slamming the door shut behind her, Kristie glaring at its surface for a moment before she turns to you.

She rubs the back of her neck in embarrassment.

“She, really knows how to kill a moment, huh?” She asks and you nod, your arms crossing across your chest.

The two of you stare silently at one another before Kristie frowns.

“Goodnight, Y/N.” She whispers and you smile.

“Goodnight, Kris.”

The woman slowly shuffles down the hallway, sparing one glance over her shoulder at you, before she turns down the hallway and out of sight, your head hanging low as you turn on your heels and slip into your hotel room, again, unable to get the thought of what it would feel like to have Kristie’s lips against your own.

Unbeknownst to you, across the hallway, Lindsey’s blue orb is peering through the peephole, the woman turning towards Emily, her eyes aflame, something that takes her aback.

“What??” Emily asks innocently, and Lindsey’s eyes narrow.

“You’re going to fix this.” She growls and Emily snorts.

“I didn’t even do anything.” She shrugs, squeaking when Lindsey threatens to throw a cleat at her, the blonde shielding her head.

“Okay! Okay! I’ll fix it!”

Lindsey nods.

“You better, or I’m never kissing you again.”

Emily pouts, her arms crossed.

“Fine."

“What was that?” Lindsey asks as she crawls into bed beside the blonde.

“I-I mean, right away darling?” She grins, earning an eye roll from the blonde beside her.

“That’s what I thought you said.”

***

As to be expected, the following day you were quiet, unwilling to voice your opinion on plays before the game, and unwilling to lift your gaze from the green beneath your feet, something that earned Emily a glare from basically everyone on the team.

“We have to fix this.” Lindsey says from her place on the sidelines, the blonde watching as Kristie gazes longingly across the field at you.

Emily’s head cocks to one side.

“I thought you said I was supposed to fix--”

Lindsey shakes her head, waving a dismissive hand in her direction.

“I know I did, but I can’t trust you to not cockblock them again.” She says, shooting the defender a glare, the woman smiling innocently.

“I would never!” She gasps, her hand on her heart.

Suddenly, a yellow vest flies in her direction, smacking her in the face, a vest previously being worn by Kelley O’Hara.

“Yes, you would.” She says, giving the blonde a shove, nearly pushing her off of the bench she’s sitting on.

“Hey!” Emily pouts, her former Washington Spirit teammate patting her on the head.

“So, what were you thinking?” Kelley asks Lindsey, her eyes boring into the back of her head.

Lindsey sighs, her shoulders sagging.

“I have no idea.”

Kelley strokes her chin, her eyes downcast as she stares down at the green field beneath her cleats.

Lindsey too is stroking her chin, focused on the ground beneath her feet, the woman humming.

A beat later two pairs of eyes widen, both women snapping their fingers, shouting at the same time.

“I’ve got it!”

***

You were confused, incredibly confused, how could you not be when you’d received an urgent text from the team’s group chat, urging you to make your way to Emily’s hotel room, for what, you weren’t quite sure.

You screech to a halt when you realize Kristie Mewis is standing just outside the hotel room’s door, her brows furrowed.

When she sees you, she clears her throat, holding her phone up.

“You get the text too?” She asks and you wordlessly nod, the two of you awkwardly staring at one another before the door’s pulled open, revealing nonother than Emily Sonnett, the woman sighing deeply.

“Come in, there’s something we have to show you.”

You glance Kristie’s way, the two of you sharing a confused look before you make your way into the hotel room, all eyes on the two of you step further into the room.

“What’s wrong?” You ask nervously, attempting to swallow the lump in your throat.

“We have to show you something.” Kelley says somberly, your brows furrowing in question.

The defender nods.

“The both of you.”

You glance Kristie’s way, the blonde shrugging, the woman obviously just as confused as you were.

“Well, what is it?” You ask, the team pointing towards the closet.

“It’s in there.”

You swallow hard, your throat bobbing, thoughts of the nights previous playing in your mind, thoughts of what nearly happened between you and the woman standing beside you plaguing your mind, similar thoughts plaguing her mind as well.

You clear your throat, nodding towards the closet.

“After you?” You say with a small smile, and she waves her arm towards the door.

“No, after you.”

You huff, shuffling towards the closet slowly, the blonde right behind you.

It’s when the closet door is open however that you’re roughly shoved from behind, you and Kristie nearly falling into the closet, the door slamming shut behind you.

“What the hell are you guys doing!?” Kristie says, trying to shove the door open, but unfortunately, it’s being blocked from the other side.

“You’re not coming out until the two of you talk.” Lindsey says through the door.

“Orrr you could cut to the chase and just—OW!” Emily yells, the sound of a soft smack sounding from beyond the door.

“Shut up.” Lindsey growls.

“You didn’t have to hit me so hard.” Emily mumbles.

“Just TALK IT OUT.” Kelley yells from the other side of the door, Kristie sighing in defeat as she turns towards you, the two of you lowering yourself to the floor, sitting much like you had a few nights ago.

You nervously stare at your hands, unwilling to look at the woman sitting in front of you, the older woman studying you silently.

Kristie rubs the back of her neck.

“Uhhhh...” She starts, her voice piercing the silence within the closet.

“Today was a good game, huh?” You ask, the blonde smiling before she nods.

“It was. Your crosses were great.”

You smile, your cheeks flushing.

“Not as great as your corners.”

“Ummm, that is NOT the type of talking you should be doing!” Kelley yells through the door, and you cover your face with your hands, hiding your flushed cheeks, missing the small smile that plays on Kristie’s face.

“Honestly, my corners could’ve been better... I was, kind of distracted today.” She mumbles, your brows furrowing as you uncover your face.

“What were you distracted by?” You ask, your head cocking to one side.

Your eyes widen when the woman scoots closer, her voice dropping below a whisper, as to not be heard by your teammates on the other side of the door.

She takes a deep breath, her eyes fluttering shut.

“You.”

Your eyes widen, your heart stuttering in your chest.

“M-Me?” You stutter the woman chuckling.

“Yes, you.”

You wiggle under her gaze, the small smile on the woman’s face growing.

A surge of courage rises within you, and you shrug.

“To be honest, I was distracted by you too.” You mumble, the woman’s breath catching softly.

“Why were you distracted by me?” She asks hopefully and you inhale deeply, holding your breath in an attempt to settle your nerves.

You move closer, your knee brushing hers.

“I think you know why.” You say, your voice barely above a whisper.

Kristie stares at you silently for a moment before she leans forwards, her tongue swiping at her lips, her blue orbs flicking from your eyes, to your lips and back.

“Why were you distracted by me?” You whisper, a smirk stretching across her face.

“I think you know why.” She repeats your statement, your heart skipping a beat.

Your breath hitches in your throat as the woman grabs a fistful of your shirt, giving you a gentle tug forwards, your lips finally meeting hers.

The kiss was everything you wanted and more, the taste of her lips was intoxicating, the feel of them moving against your own made your skin tingle, goosebumps rising on your flesh as her hand releases your shirt and falls to your waist, her fingers prodding into your hips.

She’s about to pull back, but you chase her lips, your fingers tangling in her soft blonde locks as the two of you kiss softly.

Reluctantly you part, only to lean back in once more, your lips lightly brushing.

“W-Wow.” You stammer, panting heavily, Kristie’s lips splitting in a grin.

“Yeah... Wow.” She whispers, wrapping her arms tightly around you.

You’re so focused on the woman in front of you that you don’t hear the cheer from your teammates on the other side of the door, Lindsey and Kelley high fiving, as their plan had been a success.

Meanwhile, in front of the closet door, Alyssa Naeher rolls her eyes, though she’s unable to keep herself from smiling despite the fact that she’d literally been used to keep the closet door held shut.

“Can I move now?”

From within the closet, you can’t help but giggle, the woman whose forehead is resting against your own giggling as well, the laughter of your teammates making your smiles widen.

“They seriously used Allyssa to block the door?” You giggle and Kristie nods, her shoulders shaking.

“Yes, yes they did.”

You hum, bumping your nose playfully against hers.

“Hopefully next time, they won’t have to lock us in a closet to get us to kiss.” You smirk, the blonde biting her bottom lip.

“Oh, they won’t have to.”

#uswnt x reader #uswnt imagine #kristie mewis x reader #kristie mewis imagine #I need any and all feedback

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sallysavestheday · 9 months

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Tagged by @thescrapwitch thank you very much! This is an interesting one: run a 24-hour poll of your WIPs, then write as many sentences for the winner as it gets votes. It's Wednesday slump time, so go ahead: decide my fate!

Tagging @cuarthol @grey-gazania @meadowlarkx @thelordofgifs @actual-bill-potts @polutrope @eilinelsghost @searchingforserendipity25 @dreamingthroughthenoise @welcomingdisaster @jouissants if you feel up to it or need motivation.

#asks and answers #tolkien fanfiction

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perpetual-stories · 1 year

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Writing 101: How to Write a Prologue

To help answer a question that was submitted to me, I’ll go ahead and create a whole separate post for it. I know it’s a bit different than what was asked in but I promise the answer to the question is there!

What Is a Prologue?

A prologue is a piece of writing found at the beginning of a literary work, before the first chapter and separate from the main story. The definition of prologue introduce important information—such as background details, or characters—that have some connection to the main story, but whose relevance is not immediately obvious.

Fitting the definition of prologue, the word comes from the Greek prologos, which means “before word.” The Ancient Greeks frequently used prologue in dramatic works of theater, where it functioned more like a first act to a play.

What Is the History of Prologue in Literature?

The invention of the prologue is attributed to Euripides, an influential Greek playwright and poet who predominantly produced tragedies about the darker side of human nature. Euripides’ plots often featured passion and revenge.

For a good example of how Euripides uses this literary device, consider the prologue to one of his most famous works, “Medea.” In the play, a woman takes revenge on her unfaithful husband by murdering him, his lover, and her own children. But before we get to the action, an old nurse enters the stage and tells the audience some of the facts so far:

Medea and her husband, Jason, are having marital problems

Jason has run off with someone else

Medea has been stricken by grief and has even begun to despise her own children by Jason

What Is the Purpose of Prologue in Literature?

Prologues serve an integral role in fiction writing, as well as playwriting. In modern literature, Geoffrey Chaucer started the tradition of using a prologue with his Canterbury Tales, a collection of 24 stories written from 1387-1400. Chaucer used his prologue as a kind of roadmap for the entire work, which tells the story of a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

A good prologue performs one of many functions in a story:

Foreshadowing events to come

Providing background information or backstory on the central conflict

Establishing a point of view (either the main character’s, or that of another character who is privy to the tale)

Setting the tone for the rest of the novel or play

What’s the Difference Between a Prologue and a Preface, Foreword, or Introduction?

While prefaces, forewords, and introductions serve a similar function of providing additional context for the content to come, they have some key differences from a prologue.

A preface is written from the point of view of the author, not a character or narrator. It explains the origins, development, legacy, or aims of the book, and often acknowledges others who contributed. Prefaces are employed mainly in nonfiction books, but may be used in fiction as well.

A foreword is written by a critic, subject matter expert, or other public figure who is not the author. A foreword typically introduces readers to the book by connecting its content or themes to their own experience. Forewords are used in both fiction and nonfiction.

An introduction is written from the point of view of the author, and offers additional information to help the reader understand the subject of the book, including historical context. Prefaces are employed mainly in nonfiction books.

3 Famous Examples of Prologues in Literature

Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare (1591-1595)

One of the most famous literary prologues of all time, this prologue takes the form of a sonnet that introduces readers to the setting and characters of the play, as well as the dire situation in which the two star-crossed lovers find themselves. The prologue begins as follows:

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Shakespeare doesn’t hold back on spoilers: the sonnet also reveals the play’s tragic ending.

Lolita,” Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

Nabokov’s prologue is designed to heighten the controversy of its subject matter. It takes the form of a fictional foreword by an academic, who has supposedly discovered the book and is warning readers of its subject matter prior to chapter one.

“These are not only vivid characters in a unique story: they warn us of dangerous trends; they point out potent evils,” it reads. “‘Lolita’ should make all of us—parents, social workers, educators—apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world.”

Jurassic Park,” Michael Crichton (1990)

Crichton actually offers two prologues, each showcasing a different style. The first reads like a legal document, outlining the seriousness of an “incident” and the “remarkable events” that followed.

The second prologue is more literary: a short scene, separate to the main story, in which a man is treated for an injury by a doctor in a remote village in Costa Rica. The doctor observes that the man seems to have been mauled by an animal. While treating him, the man wakes up and says one word: “Raptor.”

How to Write a Prologue in 3 Easy Steps

Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. In Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie (1944), the prologue introduces the audience to the play’s narrator, Tom Wingfield, who explains that what the audience is about to see is drawn from his own memories. Tom tells the audience: “I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it. The other characters are my mother Amanda, my sister Laura, and a gentleman caller who appears in the final scenes.”

Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. Sometimes, a prologue may be set centuries or miles apart from the book, and appear wholly unrelated; however, it will somehow tie back into the main plot later in the novel.

Add only relevant details. A prologue should not be an “information dump”: a good prologue enhances your story, rather than explaining it. The best way to decide what to include in a prologue is to ask yourself: what does the reader absolutely need to know before starting to read the main story?

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mkbgn-dont-blame-me · 22 days

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Today is Shakespeare’s Birthday.

He wrote most of his works within 24 years. 154 sonnets, 39 plays, and 3 narrative poems. Most of these were actually written in a single decade. When he did this, he became a study and a muse that has stood the test of time.

When Taylor Swift writes a 31 song album, she’s writing too much, using too many words, all her songs sound the same, and is wasting breath by making so many songs.

This is ART. This is POETRY.

Let the girl write!!

p.s. Shakespeare began writing his plays in 1589 and finished in 1613.

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

#taylor swift #dark academia #shakespeare #the bard #ttpd #the tortured poets department

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homomenhommes · 25 days

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THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

Based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … April 21

1109 – Died: St Anselm of Canterbury (born c.1033) UK English Archbishop, whose letters to his circle of close male friends read like homoerotic love letters. It was reported that Anselm wrote many letters to monks, male relatives and others that contained passionate expressions of attachment and affection. These letters were typically addressed "dilecto dilectori", sometimes translated as "to the beloved lover." While there is wide agreement that Anselm was personally committed to the monastic ideal of celibacy, some academics, including Brian P. McGuire and John Boswell have characterized these writings as expressions of a homosexual inclination.

He is also notable for dismissing a resolution from the Council of London in 1102 for harsh penalties for men guilty of sodomy, declaring that homosexuality was widespread and few men were embarrassed by it or had even been aware it was a serious matter; he felt that although sodomites should not be admitted to the priesthood, confessors should take into account mitigating factors such as age and marital status before prescribing penance, and he advised counselling rather than punishment.

1806 – English sailor James Jones receives 24 lashes for sex with another sailor. One month earlier, he had received 18 for a similar offense.

1906 – The British writer and aristocrat Stephen Tennant was born on this date (d.1987). Best known for his decadent lifestyle, it is said, albeit apocryphally, that he spent most of his life in bed. He was born in England, the youngest son of a Scots peer, Lord Glenconner, and the former Pamela Wyndham, one of The Souls. His mother was also a cousin of Lord Alfred Douglas , Oscar Wilde's lover and a sonneteer. On his father's death, Tennant's mother married Lord Grey, a fellow bird-lover. Tennant's eldest brother was Edward - "Bim" - who was killed in the First World War. During the twenties and thirties, Tennant was an important member - the "Brightest", it is said - of the "Bright Young People." His friends included Rex Whistler, Cecil Beaton, the Sitwells, Lady Diana Manners and the Mitford girls part of the set that made the Nordstrom Sisters popular at The Ritz in 1939. He is widely considered to be the model for Cedric Hampton in Nancy Mitford's novel Love in a Cold Climate; one of the inspirations for Lord Sebastian Flyte in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, and a model for Hon. Miles Malpractice in some of his other novels.

Also during the 1920s and 1930s, Tennant had an affair with the poet Siegfried Sassoon. Prior to this he had proposed to a friend, the novelist Elizabeth Bowen, but had been rejected. (Hoare relates how Tennant discussed plans with Bowen about bringing his Nanny with them on their honeymoon.) His relationship with Sassoon, however, was to be his most important: it lasted some four years before Tennant off-handedly put an abrupt end to it. Sassoon was reportedly depressed afterwards for three months, until Sassoon married in 1933 and became a father in 1936.

For most of his life, Tennant tried to start or finish a novel - Lascar. It is popularly believed that he spent the last 17 years of his life in bed at his family manor at Wilsford, Wiltshire, which he had redecorated by Syrie Maugham. Though undoubtedly idle, he was not truly lethargic: he made several visits to the United States and Italy, and struck up many new friendships, despite his later reputation as a recluse. This became increasingly true only towards the last years of his life. Yet even then, his life was not uneventful: he became landlord to V.S. Naipaul who immortalised Tennant in his novel The Enigma of Arrival. When Tennant died in 1987, he had far outlived most of his contemporaries.

1948 – Fred Nall Hollis is an American artist who uses the name "Nall". He owns a studio and gallery in Fairhope, Alabama.

Nall was born in Troy, Alabama. His father, a banker, later moved the family to Arab, Alabama, where Nall finished high school. Nall then attended the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in art with minors in psychology and political science. Nall was admitted to study at the École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) of Paris, France in 1971.

He traveled widely, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Mexico, with his art being influenced by surroundings ranging from Arabic and Byzantine architecture to Alabama quilts. His art was soon recognized and exhibited in the United States as well as Europe, He studied under Salvador Dali who trained him in artistic techniques and inspired him to devote his life to the pursuit of beauty through artwork.

Nall took care of James Baldwin on his deathbed. Nall had been friends with Baldwin from the early-1970s because Baldwin would buy him drinks at the Café de Flore. Nall recalled talking to Baldwin about racism in Alabama with the racially conscious author. In one conversation, Nall told Baldwin that "Through your books you liberated me from my guilt about being so bigoted coming from Alabama and because of my homosexuality." Baldwin insisted that "No, you liberated me in revealing this to me."Nall is close friends with Albert II, Prince of Monaco and Catherine Deneuve who both own multiple works created by him. He is also friends with Ringo Starr.

1953 – (Richard W.) Ric Weiland was a computer software pioneer and philanthropist (d.2006). He was one of the first five employees of Microsoft Corp.

Weiland was a high school classmate and friend of Paul Allen, with whom he created the Lakeside Programmers Group at Lakeside School, a preparatory school in Seattle. Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Kent Evans, and Weiland were involved with the Computer Center Corporation, using their PDP-10 - a mainframe computer system beloved of US universities in the late 60s and early 70s. They worked together to create a payroll program in COBOL for Portland company Information Sciences Inc., and wrote scheduling software for a school.

After he graduated from Stanford University, Allen and Bill Gates hired him in 1975, the same year they founded Microsoft in Albuquerque. As one of only five employees, Weiland was a lead programmer and developer for the company's BASIC and COBOL language systems, two of the first personal computing interfaces.

After a stint at Harvard Business School, he rejoined Microsoft in 1982 and became the project leader for Microsoft Works. He left Microsoft in 1988 and dedicated most of his time to philanthropy. He was described by Allen as a 'brilliant programmer' and a key contributor to the company's success.

Weiland was a donor to organisations such as the Pride Foundation, the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, United Way of King County, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Stanford University, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, AMFAR, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society. He was influential as an active member of the Northwest gay community. A member of the Pride Foundation's board of directors from 1997 to 2001, he helped win the fight to get General Electric to include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policy.

Weiland's personalized numberplate

Weiland also was a quiet but key second round investor in gay online media company PlanetOut Corp. His investment helped the company survive the dot com crash of 2000. PlanetOut was acquired by Online Partners in 2001 and is now called PlanetOut Inc.

It is estimated that during his life he contributed $30 million to over 50 organisations. He was known not to seek publicity for his philanthropy.

Ric Weiland died 24 June 2006 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was reported to have suffered from clinical depression. Weiland is survived by his partner Mike Schaefer and several nephews and nieces.

On February 24, 2008, Pride Foundation announced that Ric Weiland had bequeathed $65 million to support gay rights and HIV/AIDS organisations - the largest ever single bequest for LGBT community. Through his estate, Weiland established a fund at the Pride Foundation that will provide $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national LGBT and HIV/AIDS organisations that he personally selected and $19 million directly to Pride Foundation for their scholarships and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community.

1963 – Today's the birthday of the Golden Globe-nominated American writer, actor, and director John Cameron Mitchell. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus.

Mitchell's first professional stage role was Huckleberry Finn in a 1985 Organic Theater adaption at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Mitchell's first New York acting role was Huck Finn in the Broadway musical Big River (1985). He created the role of Dickon on Broadway in The Secret Garden, and appeared in the original cast of the Off Broadway musical Hello Again. He received Drama Desk nominations for both roles, and can be heard on the original cast recordings for each. (His rendition of the original demo version of "Giants in the Sky" can be heard as a bonus track on the 2007 remastered release of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.) He appeared in the original cast of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation (off- and on Broadway) and starred in Larry Kramer's Off Broadway sequel to The Normal Heart, The Destiny of Me, for which he received a Village Voice Obie Award and a Drama Desk nomination. Mitchell is a founding member of the Drama Department Theater Company, for which he adapted and directed Tennessee Williams' Kingdom of Earth starring Cynthia Nixon and Peter Sarsgaard.

In 1998, Mitchell wrote (along with composer Stephen Trask) and starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, an Obie Award-winning Off Broadway musical about an East German Transgender rock musician chasing after an ex-lover who plagiarized her songs. Three years later, he directed and starred in the feature film version of the play for which he won Best Director at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. His performance was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Both the play and the film were critical hits and have spawned cult followings around the world.

After the success of Hedwig, Mitchell expressed an interest in writing, directing and producing a film that incorporated explicit sex in a naturalistic and thoughtful way, without using "stars". After three years of talent searches, improv workshops and production, Shortbus premiered in May 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival. The film garnered many awards, at venues such as the Athens and Zurich International Film Festivals.

Shortbus

Mitchell was the executive producer of the 2004 film Tarnation, an award-winning documentary about the life of Jonathan Caouette (whom he met when the latter auditioned for Shortbus). In 2005, Mitchell directed music videos for Bright Eyes' "First Day of My Life" and the Scissor Sisters' "Filthy/Gorgeous," the latter of which was banned from MTV for its explicitly sexual content. Mitchell has appeared as a pundit on Politically Incorrect and various VH1 and Independent Film Channel programs. He introduced films on a show called Escape From Hollywood on IFC for two years.

In 1985, Mitchell came out as Gay to his family and friends. Though always open about his sexuality in his personal life, he came out publicly in a New York Times profile in 1992. His subsequent writing has often explored sexuality and gender. Mitchell lives in New York City. Along with Shortbus stars PJ DeBoy and Paul Dawson and performance artists Amber Martin and Angela Di Carlo, he is a co-founder and DJ of the long-running New York City monthly party "Mattachine".

Mattachines denied service at 'Julius' 1966

1966 – The first homosexual "Sip-In" held at Julius's bar in Greenwich Village. The Mattachine Society in hopes of overturning the State Liquor Authority's regulations against serving homosexuals in bars staged a direct action they called "a sip-in" inspired by the Black civil rights movement successes in lunch bars and transportation. While there was no law on the books against homosexuals in bars, the SLA often penalized bars that served homosexuals on the grounds that their gatherings were "disorderly." Bartenders ordered gay patrons to sit facing away from other customers to prevent cruising, denied them drinks, or just kicked them out as precautionary moves under the SLA's watch. At the same time, bars frequented by gays were often targeted by police in entrapment schemes.

By 1965, influenced by Frank Kameny's addresses in the early 1960s, Dick Leitsch, the president of the New York Mattachine Society, advocated direct actions, and the group staged the first public homosexual demonstrations and picket lines in the 1960s. Frank Kameny, founder of Mattachine Washington in 1961, had advocated militant action reminiscent of the black civil rights campaign, whilst also arguing for the morality of homosexuality.

The State Liquor Authority of New York State did not allow homosexuals to be served in licensed bars in the state under penalty of revocation of the bar's license to operate. This denial of public accommodation had been confirmed by a court decision in the early 1940's.

A legal study, commissioned by Mattachine New York on the city's alcohol beverage law concluded that there was no law that prohibited homosexuals gathering in bars but that there was a law that prohibited disorderly behaviour in bars, which the SLA had been interpreting as homosexual behavior. Leitsch, then, announced to the press that three members of Mattachine New York would turn up at a restaurant on the lower east side, announce their homosexuality and upon refusal of service make a complaint to the SLA. This came to be known as the 'Sip In' and only succeeded at the third attempt in the Julius Bar in Greenwich Village.

Dick Leitsch recalls:

We knew that Julius' would not serve us … and when we walked in, the bartender put glasses in front of us, and we told him that we were gay and we intended to remain orderly, we just wanted service. And he said, hey, you're gay, I can't serve you, and he put his hands over the top of the glass, which made wonderful photographs. The whole thing ended up in court, and the court decided well, yes, the Constitution says that people have the right to peacefully assemble and the state can't take that right away from you. And so the Liquor Authority can't prevent gay people from congregating in bars.

The 'Sip In', though, did gain extensive media attention and the resultant legal action against the SLA eventually prevented them from revoking licenses on the basis of homosexual solicitation in 1967. In the years before 1969 the organization also was effective in getting New York City to change its policy of police entrapment of gay men, and to rescind its hiring practices designed to screen out gay people.

1982 – Claybourne Elder is an American actor, singer, and writer, born on this date, who is best known for his work on television and on Broadway.

Elder is from Springville, Utah. His mother is a schoolteacher and father a carpenter, and he is the youngest of eight siblings. At an early age he played violin in the school orchestra. Elder studied acting at the Moscow Klasse Centre in Russia before attending Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. He earned a degree in dramaturgy and directing from The University of Utah.

In 2007, as a 23-year-old aspiring actor visiting New York City, he was in the standing-room section of the Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee when a stranger approached him, noted his obvious enthusiasm for theater, gave him $200, and told him to spend it the next night on a ticket to a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Elder did see that show and considered it—and the stranger's kindness—to be the factors that helped him decide to move to New York and pursue acting.

"I was deciding whether or not I wanted to move to New York," he says.

"I grew up in Utah, and I was thinking New York is this big, scary city. Having this stranger do this thing is one of the reasons that led me to think like, 'It's going to be okay, and I should move to New York.' "

Elder went on to become an actor receive rave reviews and be nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in A Play for originating the role of "Ollie Olson" in One Arm directed by Moisés Kaufman. He was nominated for a 2015 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical for Allegro at Classic Stage. He originated the roles of "Buck Barrow" in Bonnie & Clyde, "Hollis Bessemer" in Stephen Sondheim's Road Show and "Michael Victor" in Venice.

On Broadway, Elder is currently playing the role of Andy in the 2021 revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company.

In December 2021, Claybourne shared his experience of the generous stranger in an Instagram post to explain why he'd decided to give several tickets to his own show to strangers. Alongside the message, he asked his friends and followers: "If you know this guy - let me know. I would love to thank him." He included a pic of himself and the man who had given him the $200.

After sharing his story, Elder received a message from a friend who knew the stranger, Mark Howell. He said, "I saw your post, and I saw your picture of the man who gave you the money 15 years ago. He's one of my best friends."

It had been years since Howell had thought about that then-23-year-old he met outside the Circle in the Square Theatre. When Howell received a call from his old friend, he never suspected that Claybourne Elder would be waiting on the other line of the three-way FaceTime.

To learn that, not only had his random act of kindness inspired Elder to pursue his dreams, it also encouraged Elder to give back to other theatergoers in the same way, left Howell overwhelmed, to say the least.

Elder and director Eric Rosen were married in July 2012 in New York State. In 2017 they had a son through surrogacy.

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