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#mornings in Sheffield park
rockonlavender · 1 month
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Sq prompt: Emma forgot to give that shirt back in season 1 and find it again years later. She decides to wear it again just to troll Regina. Regina's reaction is not what she expected...
Hello anon! I want to apologies for completing this prompt late but better late than never. I will be posting this story on ao3 as well, just need to come up with a title for it. So any suggestions is appreciated. Thank you to my beta @bytherosebushlaughing for her work! Enjoy!
Trigger warnings: none that I’m aware but if there is please let me know!
xxxx
If I had it my way, I would take the lead
And if I had it my way, I would take you deep
If my body had a say, I'd get it off my chest
Show you all the red lace underneath this dress
Emma shuffled through her closet, her fingers skimming over the array of tops hanging on the rod. Typically, she didn't fuss much about her wardrobe choices, but this morning felt different. She wanted to put in a little more effort to find the perfect top to pair with her black jeans and boots.
Frustration flickered across her features as she scanned through the various options, each one failing to meet her standards. But then, tucked away in the back of her closet, she spotted a hanger wrapped in a thin, clear plastic garment bag. A small smirk tugged at the corners of her lips as she remembered exactly what lay within.
Carefully, she unzipped the bag and pulled out the blue silk blouse that had been stolen from Regina's closet by Henry almost three years ago. It was a thoughtful gesture from her son, who had taken it for Emma to wear after she had spilled hot chocolate on her original top. Emma had intended to return it to Regina once it was ready, but amidst the chaos of the curse being broken and new threats arising, the task had slipped her mind.
With the blouse now gracing her frame, Emma swiftly slipped it on, skillfully buttoning it up while leaving the top three buttons undone for a casual yet stylish touch. She tucked the blouse into her jeans and pulled it out slightly, perfecting the effortlessly chic look.
Stepping in front of her full-size mirror beside the bedroom door, Emma smoothed down her Sheffield badge on her jeans, ensuring every detail was just right.
For her hairstyle, Emma opted for a ponytail with a twist. Gathering her hair into a ponytail, she left a section loose to create a side braid before incorporating it into the rest of her hair. The result was a playful yet elegant look, with her curls bouncing at the ends of her ponytail.
Taking one last glance in the mirror, Emma couldn't help but smile at her reflection.
It was noon when Emma strode into Granny's, the familiar scent of home-cooked meals enveloping her as she made her way to retrieve her and the mayor's lunch. She had placed the order ahead of time, a routine they had established to make their busy days a little easier.
Greeting Ruby with a warm smile, Emma exchanged pleasantries with the young waitress, who had become a close friend over time. They chatted about their day and their plans for the upcoming weekend, Ruby's excitement palpable as she mentioned the fair that was happening over the weekend.
Emma nodded along, understanding the significance of the event for the townsfolk. The fair, announced by the Madam Mayor herself a couple of months ago, was a rare treat for Storybrooke, offering modern-day fair rides and attractions. While Emma didn't find the fair particularly thrilling, she looked forward to experiencing it with Henry.
As Emma stepped out of Granny's, the midday sun cast a warm glow over the quaint streets of Storybrooke. She approached her beloved yellow bug parked just outside the diner, she unlocked the door and settled into the driver's seat, the worn leather embracing her like an old friend. As she started the engine and pulled away from the curb, the gentle hum of the car filled the air, carrying her towards the next stop.
Regina's eyes lifted from her work at the soft knock on her door.
"Yes?" she called out, her voice tinged with curiosity, though her attention was fully captured when the door opened and closed swiftly. "Miss Swan—" she began, only to be interrupted by Emma's entrance.
"Madam Mayor, I figured you could use a lunch break," Emma interjected, holding up a takeout bag from Granny's with a warm smile.
Regina closed her laptop with a soft click before rising to her feet, her movements graceful yet deliberate. She rounded her large desk, her gaze fixed firmly on Emma as she approached.
"While I do appreciate the meal, Miss Swan," she began, her voice measured but tinged with curiosity, "Care to explain why you still have my blouse?"
Standing in front of Emma, Regina's dark eyes bore into the green pair opposite her, a silent challenge hanging in the air between them.
Emma shrugged.
“Honestly, I had forgotten all about it. I meant to return after it was done at the cleaners but the curse broke and well…shit hit the fan after that.”
Regina's lips curled into a subtle, sly grin as she regarded Emma.
"I see," she purred softly. Her gaze drifted briefly to the open buttons on Emma's blouse before returning to meet her eyes. "Well, I suppose we've both had our share of distractions." She extended her hand gracefully, her fingers lightly brushing against Emma's as she gestured towards the takeout bag. "Thank you for the lunch, regardless," she added, her voice low and husky.
The takeout bag found itself placed on top of the desk as Regina's fingers grazed Emma's, a jolt of electricity surged through her body, igniting a fire within her that she couldn't ignore.
Her heart raced in her chest, the pounding of its rhythm echoing in her ears like a drumbeat. Heat surged from the depths of her core, spreading through her veins like wildfire, leaving her breathless and undone.
Emma swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she struggled to form coherent words. "Y-you’re welcome," she managed, her breath hitching in her throat.
The intensity of Regina's presence was overwhelming, leaving her dizzy with desire.
Regina's eyes held a smoldering intensity as she sensed Emma's reaction. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension.
Regina's fingers trailed along the delicate fabric of the blouse, savoring the sensation as she pulled it out of Emma's pants. The silk felt cool and smooth against her skin, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine.
"Now, Emma," Regina began, her voice low and sultry. "About this blouse..."
She held the garment up between them, her eyes locking with Emma's as she let the implications hang in the air.
Emma's breath hitched as Regina's lips brushed against her ear, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins. She felt herself being drawn closer, her hands instinctively finding their place on Regina's hips, anchoring her against the older woman's warm body.
"As much as I think you look decent in this top," Regina murmured against Emma's ear, "I have to say, Miss Swan, it looks much better on you when it's off and on the floor."
A soft moan escaped Emma's lips as Regina's words sent a shiver down her spine. The sensation of Regina's warm breath against her skin sent chills racing through her body, igniting a fire within her that she couldn't ignore.
Regina's fingers moved deftly, undoing the buttons of Emma's blouse with deliberate slowness, each one revealing more of her bare skin underneath. Emma's breath caught in her throat as Regina's touch sent shivers down her spine, her body trembling with anticipation.
"Is that so, Madam Mayor?" Emma's voice was barely a whisper, her lips hovering just inches from Regina's as she leaned in, her heart pounding in her chest.
Regina's dark eyes smoldered with desire as she met Emma's gaze, a small smirk playing at the corners of her lips. Without a word, she continued to undress Emma with her eyes, her touch igniting a fire within her.
As the last button came undone, Emma's blouse fell open, revealing her soft, milky skin to Regina's hungry gaze. A low moan escaped Emma's lips as Regina's fingers trailed lightly over her exposed flesh, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. Regina felt herself come undone, her fingertips tracing the smoothness of Emma's skin with reverence.
The sensation was like velvet against her touch, igniting a fire within her that she couldn't deny. Goosebumps rose on Emma's milky skin with every gentle caress, her abs rippling beneath Regina's touch, tempting her to explore further.
The desire to taste Emma's skin was overwhelming, the need to feel her warmth against her lips almost unbearable. Regina leaned in closer, her breath mingling with Emma's as she hovered just inches away, her lips tantalizingly close to Emma's exposed flesh.
With a hungry look in her eyes, Regina whispered softly, "You have no idea how much I want to taste you."
Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with longing and desire as she fought to control the urge to devour Emma whole.
“Gina, you can't say things like that..." Emma's voice was barely a whisper, her lips tantalizingly close to Regina's, the heat of their breath mingling in the space between them.
Regina's heart raced at the sound of Emma's voice, her breath hitching in anticipation as their lips drew closer. The air crackled with tension, each word a silent plea for more.
She leaned in closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull of Emma's presence.
Regina's voice trembled with a mixture of authority and vulnerability, her words a whispered plea that hung heavy in the air. Her eyes were fixed on Emma's soft pink lips, her desire evident in the way her hands fumbled with Emma's jeans.
"Emma, don't make me beg," Regina urged, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned in closer, the heat of their bodies mingling in the intimate space between them. Her fingers trembled with anticipation as she sought to remove the barrier between them, her need for Emma palpable in every touch.
"But I like it when you beg, Madam Mayor." Emma teased.
Regina's breath hitched at Emma's teasing words, a shiver of anticipation running down her spine. Despite her attempt to maintain composure, a small smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Oh, do you now?" Regina replied, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. The tension between them crackled in the air, their desires unspoken yet unmistakable.
"Oh, you know I do. And I love it even more when you're screaming for it," Emma teased, her lips dangerously close to Regina's, their breaths becoming one.
Regina's pulse quickened at Emma's words, her heart pounding in her chest as desire surged through her veins. Their closeness sent electric currents tingling across her skin, her body responding eagerly to Emma's proximity.
"Is that a promise, Miss Swan?" Regina whispered, her voice husky with desire as she leaned in closer, their lips mere centimeters apart.
Emma simply nodded and finally their lips met in a heated embrace, a surge of electricity coursed through their bodies, igniting a fire that had long smoldered between them. Regina's hands found their way to Emma's waist, pulling her closer as their tongues danced in a tantalizing rhythm.
Their kisses grew deeper, more urgent, each one a testament to the raw desire that simmered just beneath the surface. Emma's fingers tangled in Regina's hair, pulling her closer still, while Regina's nails traced gentle patterns along Emma's back, sending shivers down her spine.
Their breath mingled between kisses, hot and heavy with longing, as they lost themselves in each other completely. Time seemed to stand still as they explored each other's mouths with a hunger that bordered on desperation, their bodies pressed together in a passionate embrace.
With each touch, each caress, the tension between them mounted, building to a crescendo that threatened to consume them both.
As their lips continued to meet in a fervent dance, a soft knock on the door startled them both. Regina and Emma froze, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared hesitation. The interruption was unwelcome, but duty called, and they reluctantly began to pull away from each other, their breaths mingling in the still air of the office.
As their lips parted, Regina's heart pounded in her chest like a drumbeat, the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She quickly straightened her dress, her fingers fumbling with the fabric as she tried to compose herself. Beside her, Emma hastily buttoned her blouse back up, her movements mirroring Regina's sense of urgency.
Their shared moment of passion lingered in the air like a palpable heat, leaving them both with a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. Regina's mind raced with conflicting emotions, a tumultuous whirlwind of desire and apprehension.
Emma's expression mirrored Regina's turmoil, her features drawn tight with a mixture of longing and hesitation. They exchanged a fleeting glance, their eyes speaking volumes even as their words failed them.
Regina's touch was gentle yet possessive as she pulled Emma closer by the loop of her jeans, their bodies drawn together in an intimate embrace. With her free hand cradling Emma's cheek, she leaned in for one final kiss, their lips meeting in a lingering caress that spoke of unspoken promises and shared longing.
As they reluctantly pulled away from each other, Regina's voice was soft but resolute. "We'll continue this later," she murmured, her words carrying a hint of anticipation and longing.
Emma's heart fluttered at Regina's promise, her own desire mirrored in the depths of her green eyes. With a nod of agreement, she stepped back, her fingers lingering against Regina's before reluctantly releasing their hold.
With a deep breath, Regina finally composed herself enough to call out, "Come in.”
The door opened slowly, revealing one of Regina's advisors, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the scene before him. Regina quickly schooled her features into a mask of professionalism, though she couldn't quite shake the memory of the passion they had just shared.
As her advisor launched into the details of the upcoming meeting, Regina stole a fleeting glance at Emma before she slipped out of her office, their eyes meeting briefly before she turned her attention back to the task at hand.
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pagesfromthevoid · 2 years
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I just re-read Whatever the Poets Say, and it gets better every time, it brings me so much comfort 🥺
Whatever the Poets Say | b.b. | 13
Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader
Word Count: 3k
Warnings: None
Author’s Note: This gives me such joy to read truly 🥹🥹
Series Masterlist | Talk to Me!
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Dearest readers,
Now that you have returned to the city, there is much to be done. Two weddings to be planned in the Bridgerton household, for example. This author is certain that Lady Bridgerton is thriving under these conditions, of course. But something certainly feels amiss. 
Miss Everly and Mr. Bridgerton have not been seen in public since their last outing in the park. This author has it under good authority that the two are thriving in their engagement bliss, however. One would wonder how her mother would feel if she knew Miss Everly was planning a wedding instead of mourning, though?
The Sheffield’s were seen arriving in London for the first time in years. No doubt they are here to celebrate the engagement of their granddaughter. Perhaps something scandalous will come from the families meeting.
Only time will tell.
Yours Truly,
Lady Whistledown
Wedding planning was going far better than expected, now that she had admitted her overwhelming guilt to Benedict. He reminded her regularly that it was okay to feel bad; it was okay to feel guilty. But he wanted her to remember that it was also okay to be happy. That she should be excited to pick out flowers, and her dress, and her veil. It made the process easier, and it helped that Benedict joined her at the cemetery to lay flowers for her mother.
By Friday, things had calmed down. Not a lot, truly, because nothing ever seemed calm in the Bridgerton home. But enough that she felt less guilty and a little more excited about everything happening. Unfortunately, while she was feeling better, Benedict was having a bit of an existential moment of weakness. He had not called on her that morning, which was unusual since she was supposed to go to dinner with the Bridgerton’s and Sharma’s. So she and her father made their way to the Bridgerton home themselves, calling on Benedict.
Anthony had been the one to greet them, directing them to the upstairs drawing room where Benedict and Collin were. Without much else to say, Anthony returned to his own office. Lord Everly watched Anthony for a moment as she made her way upstairs.
“Go on without me, darling. I need to have a word with Lord Bridgerton,” he said, waving her off.
She nodded, moving on without much of an argument as she reached the drawing room. As she was about to knock, however, she stopped to listen as Benedict was yelling at Collin.
“Everything I have thought of myself is a lie, brother,” Benedict insisted, and she could imagine he was pacing back and forth. 
“You have earned your keep at the academy –,” Collin tried to argue but Benedict cut him off.
“But I did not get in on my own merit; I got in because Anthony paid my way in,” he argued. Her brow furrowed as she pressed her ear closer to the door. “And somehow everyone there knew it but me. I am…I am an imposter. Pretending that I am an artist when I am nothing more than a member of the ton, who can throw money at whatever they want to get it.”
Hearing how hard he was on himself broke her heart, and she couldn’t help it as she pushed the door open. Benedict looked up at surprise as she slipped into the drawing room alone, though Collin didn’t seem terribly phased by her appearance. Her name slipped through his lips before Benedict could stop himself, and she could see the flush in his skin as he realized she had heard him.
“You should not be so hard on yourself,” she pointed out, shutting the door behind her. “Collin is correct; you have earned your keep there.”
“You do not understand,” Benedict argued, running his hands through his hair. “I was only there because of Anthony. I did not get in because I am good at my work.”
“Perhaps I don’t,” she admitted, crossing the room towards him. “What I do understand is that you are an artist as much as I am a writer. And Collin is right, love. You have done more than enough to prove yourself. Even if your placement was secured by your brother –you are not an imposter.”
“It certainly feels as though I am,” Benedict admitted, collapsing onto the couch. 
She looked to Collin, frowning deeply now as she sat beside him Collin sat across from the two. “I will not try to convince you otherwise, because you must figure that out on your own. Anything I say, you will argue against because I am soon to be your wife. But you will not get any pity from me; I have seen your work. I know how hard you work.”
Benedict stared up at her for a moment before he covered his face with his hands. She sighed and leaned back as Lord Everly slipped into the room himself now.
“I seem to be missing all the fun,” he announced, smiling brightly at the two Bridgerton sons. “Benedict, my boy, you look like you are about to jump from the window.”
“He found out Anthony paid for his spot at the academy,” Collin explained, leaning back in his seat. “Miss Everly and I are trying to convince him that how he got in does not matter.”
“Well of course it matters,” Lord Everly argued, sitting beside Collin. She looked to her father with a deep frown as he leaned forward. “You must use your connections in this world, or else you will not get far in life. It is the sad truth of the world. I have watched you paint, though, Benedict. I have watched you work in my gardens. You are an artist by birth, and we can all see that.”
“I tried to tell him the same thing,” she pointed out, looking at her father with a soft smile.
“Well, he will simply need to prove himself further then,” Lord Everly concluded, clapping his hands together. “You must relax, Benedict. You are young, and full of life. Find something to open your eyes and help you take a moment to find yourself.”
“Oh!” She exclaimed, pointing at Collin. “The powder that Eloise stole from you –that is what helped me release the burdens I was holding. Perhaps it would help Benedict.”
Collin blanched, looking at her in horror as Lord Everly looked at Collin now with his brow raised. “Ah, so it was you that they got it from.”
“No, no,” Collin argued, pointing at her. “Eloise and her stole it from my room.”
“Oh, please. Do I seem upset to you, Collin?” Lord Everly grinned, clearly teasing him. Then he turned to her. “Did it really help you, dear?”
She nodded, looking back at Benedict. “It did, and I think it would do you wonders. Just a little.”
Collin hesitated before he nodded, pulling the pouch out of his pocket. She reached for the tea on the table, pouring Benedict a cup with a soft smile. Benedict hesitated for a moment, looking over the powder. Collin and her both warned that he just needed a pinch –with her reminding him how out of it she was when she had a little more than that. But Benedict seemed to panic, instead dumping half the pouch into his tea before downing it.
The three stared at him in horror as he made a face.
“Dinner is going to be interesting,” Lord Everly murmured, covering his mouth to hide his smile.
She gave her father a wary look before looking at Benedict with a small frown.
                                       *****
Dinner was, in fact, interesting.
Though not simply because Benedict was completely intoxicated the entire time (however, that was certainly the best part of it).
The Sheffield’s were particularly rude people, she decided about halfway through dinner. When they were not outright ignoring Kate and her existence, they were making snide comments about her father and her lineage. When they commented that Lady Mary had taken away their chance of knowing their only grandchild, Mary had corrected them by saying they had two. Neither seemed terribly thrilled with her correction, reminding her that Kate was not their grandchild. Miss Everly was sipping her champagne, trying her best to keep Benedict under control in the middle of it all.
By the end of the night, she was growing tired of the Sheffield’s and their behavior. Kate seemed despondent, and it was clear that the tension in the room was not going to ease. On top of that, they made it very clear that Kate was the reason why Edwina and Anthony were going to marry; they were only willing to pay Edwina’s dowry if she married someone of nobility. It had come as a shock, truly, to everyone but Kate, though she seemed distraught that they had even brought it up.
Anthony, having decided enough was enough, snapped at the Sheffield’s in anger. They were offended, both standing and accusing Anthony of disrespect. But he did not seem to care as he ordered them out of the house. The silence was tangible as he informed them that they were no longer invited to the wedding, and that their behavior towards Kate was truly unacceptable. Anthony spent a bit too long explaining all the things about Kate that they didn’t seem to know. Then he reminded them that he did not need their money, and neither did Edwina nor Lady Mary once they joined the Bridgerton family.  
The Sheffield’s left in anger, and the rest of the evening was…tense, to say the least. Though, she learned something very important about Anthony Bridgerton.
                                            *****
“I do believe your brother is in love,” she commented idly, pushing her needle up through the cloth in her hand. She didn’t even look up.
“You’ll need to be more specific,” Eloise pointed out, glancing up from her book. “I have four brothers, and I am very aware that Benedict is in love.”
She grinned to herself, drawing the needle through the pattern before pushing it back to the other side. “Anthony. He’s in love.”
Eloise scoffed, dropping her book into her lap. “You think Anthony is in love with Edwina? He has made himself very clear that he does not intend to find a love match. He simply wants a wife to fulfill whatever duty he thinks he has –”
“I did not say he was in love with Edwina,” she corrected, glancing up finally. Her needlework rested in her lap as she grinned knowingly.
Eloise’s brows furrowed as she looked at her future sister-in-law with confusion. “Who else would he be in love with?”
“I can’t believe no one else in this family notices,” she huffed, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. “I bet Daphne and your mother have. My father certainly has. And there is certainly no way that Lady Danbury has not picked up on it.”
“Yes, yes, we are an unobservant bunch. If you are done insulting your future family, please elaborate on who my brother is so in love with.”
“Kate, of course.”
Eloise simply stared at her for a long time, as if trying to piece together what she had missed between her brother and Miss Sharma. Miss Everly watched Eloise, waiting for realization to finally strike. Slowly, she could see the gears turning in Eloise’s mind as she sat up, discarding her book entirely. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth and finally turned to her soon to be sister.
“Oh my goodness, Anthony is in love with Kate!”
She nodded in agreement, grinning at Eloise smugly as she picked her needlework back up. “Your brother is a fool, because I do not think he sees it for himself.”
“Well someone needs to tell him –”
“Someone being Miss Kate Sharma, who is also in love with your brother,” she stated knowingly, poking the needle through the back of the fabric. 
“Why on earth are they not marrying each other then?”
“Truthfully, I do believe it is because your brother is blind,” she paused for a moment, humming to herself. “Or, if I am allowed to be quite frank, stupid.”
“I do believe both are acceptable reasons.”
“What are acceptable reasons?” Collin asked, striding into the sitting room with Benedict. Daphne, with her son in her arms, followed close behind.
“Being both blind and stupid,” Miss Everly repeated, smiling politely up at them. 
Daphne laughed, sitting down across from her and Eloise. “And what exactly are we describing as blind and stupid?”
“Anthony,” Eloise explained, kicking her feet back up on the couch so Collin couldn’t sit down. He swatted her legs though, moving her himself so he could. “Miss Everly is far more observant than we give her credit for.”
“I have never once doubted her observation skills,” Benedict quickly corrected, looking at her with a bright grin on his face. “She knows far more than she lets on.”
“I have the eyes and ears of a writer. I know all, and I see all,” she commented playfully, setting her needlework down one more time.
“A bit overconfident, are we not?” Collin teased, leaning back into the couch. “Then tell us, Miss Everly. What makes our elder brother so blind and stupid?”
She glanced at Eloise, who was snickering now. Daphne was watching her with curiosity and a smirk, as if she knew exactly what the young woman was going to say. She played off the smirk by bouncing her son on her knee, though. Of course Daphne knew; she knew what love looked like too. Collin and Benedict, however, seemed oblivious to the fact. 
“Your brother is in love with Kate,” she explained simply, resting her hands in her lap. “And Kate is in love with him.”
Collin opened his mouth to argue, but then clapped it shut with a quiet snap. Benedict leaned against the fireplace, contemplating what his fiancee had said. Both men sat quietly, much like Eloise did, as they pieced together everything they had seen between their brother and Kate Sharma. Benedict was the first to make a little sound of realization, covering his mouth. But Collin was the one who started laughing, shaking his head. 
“Oh hell,” he managed to get out through his laughs. “Anthony is blind and stupid, isn’t he?”
“I simply cannot believe none of you noticed before,” she pointed out, though she glanced at Daphne now. “You knew, though. Didn’t you?”
The Duchess of Hastings nodded, rolling her eyes. “I spoke to him about it, actually. I noticed at Aubrey Hall. Which prompted him to immediately propose to Edwina.”
“Why is he so against marrying Kate, then?” Eloise asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “They make a fine match.”
“Anthony does not believe marriage needs love to be successful,” Daphne reminded her sister, handing her son off to Collin now, who was reaching out for the baby. “You know how Anthony is. He thinks he must perform his duties as eldest as well as the viscount.”
“If I may,” Miss Everly spoke up, looking between her future family members. They nodded, waiting. “Lord Bridgerton is a bit of a hard-headed fool, and that will come back to bite him sooner rather than later.”
Eloise laughed, kicking her feet up. “Oh, I knew I liked you, Miss Everly.”
Benedict watched her with a mischievous gleam in his eye, grinning at her as she played with the lace of her skirt. He was lucky to have someone so keen and observant; and now comfortable enough to pick on his family like they all did. He couldn’t wait to marry her.
“Is that it then?” Eloise continued, frowning now as she looked between her siblings. “We simply let Anthony marry someone he does not love and make a fool of himself?”
Daphne sighed, nodding some. “I do believe we have to let Anthony figure it out on his own.”
“He cannot simply call off the engagement,” Benedict pointed out, pushing off the fireplace now and moving to lean over the back of the couch where his fiancee sat. “That will cause more of a scandal than anything else. Especially since this was the Queen’s choice in a match.”
“She would have to call it off, in order to ensure she would still be able to find a husband,” Daphne explained further, crossing her legs. “And I do not think Miss Edwina will do such a thing. She is quite smitten by Anthony.”
“Lord knows how,” Eloise mumbled, crossing her arms.
“I suppose the only thing we can do is remind Anthony every chance we get that he, in fact, is in love with Kate,” Miss Everly concluded, leaning back and looking up at Benedict. “If we all do it subtly,” she gave Eloise a knowing look before continuing, “He won’t be able to deny it much longer.”
“That still does not solve the issue of calling off the engagement.”
She hummed, unsure of what could be done about that. It would need to be done by Edwina, like Daphne said. And it certainly wouldn’t be an easy task to do. Edwina was very much in love with Anthony; she would not call off any engagement without a good reason. And the only good reason –him and Kate possibly getting caught together alone –would be heartbreaking for the poor girl. And Edwina was far too nice to hurt like that.
“Perhaps I will talk to her while we are getting fitted for our wedding gowns,” Miss Everly finally settled on, looking around the room. “Lady Mary and Lady Bridgerton thought it would be easier to do both fittings together at Madame Delacroix’s, since we are planning two weddings. I can always ask her about how she is feeling.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eloise look at Benedict with wide eyes. Benedict seemed confused, looking at his sister with his brow raised. 
“Plant seeds of doubt?” Collin pointed out, brow raised. “You are a bit diabolical, aren’t you?”
“That is not what I said,” she countered, giving him a pointed look. “All I am saying is that…sometimes, if we are not asked, we will bottle everything up until it is too late.”
“Diabolical,” Collin repeated, grinning at her. “That’s what you are.”
———
Taglist: @queensgirl718 @drowninginaseaofbooks @severewobblerlightdragon @wildflowerel
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usafphantom2 · 2 months
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SR-71 #960 is the same SR 71 that my father, Butch Sheffield, declined to eject from when one of the engines was in flames. He received his second distinguished flying cross because of this incident. He wrote in his unpublished book “The Very First” that since he had previously bailed out of the SR-71 #966, he feared another bailout might cause him to break his damaged back. When Dad did pass away in 2018, he was a 100% disabled veteran in part due to a back injury. 🇺🇸🇺🇸
The following are some excerpts from an article that appeared in The Washington Post on May 14, 1984
‘A highly sophisticated Air Force spy plane that was on public display here Saturday caught fire yesterday as it took off from Andrews Air Force Base, authorities reported.
‘The pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird shut down the right burning engine of the high-altitude reconnaissance jet and brought the airplane, which carries a crew of two, safely back to the runway, an Andrews spokesman said. The plane has been here at least since Friday morning, according to an Andrews spokesman. Still, authorities said they did not know when it arrived from Beale Air Force Base near Marysville, Calif., attached to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. Although its missions and activities are still shrouded to a great extent in secrecy, the black-painted SR-71 was one of some aircraft parked on the ramp at Andrews Saturday for inspection at the air show, attended by an estimated 370,000 persons. The plane said to carry a wide variety of information-gathering sensors along with cameras, was taking off shortly after noon yesterday when, according to a witness, the engine on its right side “burst into flames.”’
As told above, the Blackbird that suffered the accident was SR-71, #960. This is the same SR-71 Kelly Johnson told my father, Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO) Butch Sheffield, that was structurally unsound.
This very same airframe came very close to crashing previous times.
Once in 1968, when my Dad, Butch Sheffield, and Ben Bowles were flying it, and then again in the 1980s, when Dave Peters and Ed Bethart were flying it.
Then, in 1984, it experienced another mishap yet again… I am happy to report, like the old expression a cat with nine lives, this SR-71 escaped demise three times that I know of.
Today, you can see the 960 at Castle Air Force Base, California. It is on display outside.
I wish that all of the SR 71s could be placed inside a shelter to be preserved for many more generations. So that they can understand what can be done when you put together people with talent, and they drive to get the job done, written by Linda Sheffield Miller.
Photo credit John Olp
@Habubrats71 via X
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aimeedaisies · 1 year
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The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in March 2023
01/03 As Patron of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, HRH visited The Royal Northern Spring Show in Inverurie, Scotland 🚜
02/03 As President of the National Equine Forum, HRH attended the 31st National Equine Forum in London 🐴
03/03 Held an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the morning. As Royal Patron of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, later visited The Grange, Saunderton, on the occasion of their 40th Anniversary. In the evening as Patron of Tenovus Cancer Care, HRH attended their 80th Anniversary Concert at St David’s Hall, Cardiff 🎖️🐶🎤
07/03 Princess Anne accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, attended the races at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, where she presented the trophy to the winners of a race named in memory of her grandmother, The Queen Mother. Later she held a reception for the races at Windsor Castle 🏇🏼
08/03 Held two investiture ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon at Windsor Castle🎖️
09/03 As Patron of Maritime UK, HRH attended the Annual Awards in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire ⚓️
10/03 In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Princess Anne visited Special Quality Alloys Limited and ITM Power. Later, as Patron of the Vine trust she held a dinner at Holyrood House, Edinburgh ⚡️
12/03 As Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, accompanied by Sir Tim, HRH attended the International Rugby Match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🏉
13/03 King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Later the King and The Queen, with the aforementioned members (minus Catherine) of the royal family hosted members of the diplomatic and Commonwealth communities at Buckingham Palace for the annual Commonwealth Day Reception ⛪️🥂
14/03 unofficial Princess Anne attended Champion Day (day one) of Cheltenham Festival. Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the races, Zara is the Director of Cheltenham Racecourse.🐴
15/03 As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, Princess Anne visited the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham and laid a wreath at the memorial for Intelligence Corps staff. Later on HRH opened Five Valleys Medical Centre in Stroud, in the evening HRH, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended the Gloucestershire and District Agricultural Valuers Association’s Centenary Dinner at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester 🩺🥂
16/03 unofficial Princess Anne, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended St Patrick’s Thursday (day three) of Cheltenham Festival. Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the races 🐴
17/03 Princess Anne, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended Gold Cup day (day 4) of Cheltenham Festival and crowned Paul Townend, jockey of Galopin Des Champs the champion racer of the year and presented him with the gold cup 🏆
18/03 As patron Scottish Rugby Union, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, HRH attended the Guinness Six Nations International Rugby Match between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield Stadium and presented Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie with the Cuttitta Cup after beating Italy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇹🏉
20/03 As Patron of the Acid Attack Survivors Trust International, Princess Anne visited the set of Coronation Street at ITV studios in Salford. They are currently filming an acid attack storyline and HRH met with producers, script writers, the makeup department and actors and discussed how they have worked together to create and portray such a delicate storyline 📺
21/03 The Service of the Royal Victorian Order was held in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. King Charles, Sovereign of the Order, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Grand Master of the Order, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester were all present. Later King Charles held a reception at Windsor Castle for those who attended the service. 🏅🍾
22/03 As President of the Scotch Chef’s Club, Princess Anne visited Cowbag Farm in Kelso, where HRH was given a tour of the farm, met cows and sheep, unveiled a plaque and planted a gum tree. 🐮🐑
27/03 As Patron of the Butler Trust, HRH held the Annual Awards Ceremony at St James’s Palace. In the evening, as Patron of Save the Children UK, HRH accompanied by Sir Tim attended the International Financial Review Annual Awards Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane. 🥇🍾
28/03 Princess Anne carried out the following engagements in Suffolk;
As Royal Patron, National Coastwatch Institution, visited Felixstowe Station and afterwards attended a Reception at Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe. ⛵️
Opened Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s new Combined Fire and Police Station, Ipswich. 🚒
As Patron of the Excelsior Trust, visited the restored Great Yarmouth Shrimper Horace and Hannah at Ipswich Waterfront. ⛴️
28/03 Princess Anne carried out the following engagements in Suffolk and Norfolk;
Visited Adnams Brewery, to mark its 150th Anniversary. 🍻
Opened the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s new Headquarters, Lowestoft. 🐟
As Patron of Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse, visited Happisburgh Lighthouse. 💡
Visited Elm House Temporary Accommodation in Thetford. 🏠
30/03 As Patron of the Injured Jockeys Fund, Princess Anne opened their South West Hub at Taunton Rugby Club, Taunton. 🐎
31/03 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, HRH this visited Summerfield Stables in Birmingham. 🐴
Total official engagements for Anne in March: 51
2023 total so far: 142
Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in March: 10
2023 total so far: 38
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newtonsheffield · 2 years
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Please give us more of the ymhsb au. I love deb Kate and baby Tony so much! Maybe how Kate’s first meeting with Violent and Edmund went?
Oh but imagine how nervous Kate would be, worried if they think she'll be a good wife to Anthony completely unaware of the fact that Violet's nearly strangled Anthony because now, in her sitting room, she's going to have to entire a gentleman, his wife who had signed her letter Lady Mary Sharma, in the most elegant hand she's ever seen, and their two daughters! Thank you very much Anthony for that!
And Anthony's just grinning, "But she's very pretty Mother, and her laugh makes my chest feel tight."
"Oh! Oh is she Anthony? Well I'm very glad! Perhaps you should have spared a thought for your poor mother before you chased after a girl who was raised by someone whose official title is lady!"
"Why are you fidgeting so much?!" Edwina snipped irritatedly, swatting at Kate with her book who had been craning over Edwina to look out her window. "You've your own window to look out."
"Yes but I can't see the village appearing on my side."
Edwina rolled her eyes, turning the page of her book a little officiously for ten years old. "You've been so annoying since Mr Bridgerton left London."
Kate rolled her eyes, though her stomach was churning at the rightness of it. The discontent that had settled in her chest the moment she'd seen Anthony ride away from London, with his cart finally loaded, stabbing at her chest. She already met him that morning, before he'd come to take his leave of her parents, of course she had. The two of them had sat under a tree at the edge of the park, hidden from the world, his fingers tilting her chin up as their lips met again and again, her heart pounding in her chest as he'd pulled back, his bare chest shining in the morning sun, broad and powerful and strong under her explorations, growing bolder and bolder by the second.
"We can't do this in Kent." Anthony had gasped, even as she'd made a noise of protest.
"It might be awkward if we can't after we're married."
Anthony had rolled his eyes, "I meant before we wed."
Kate had nodded, missing him already. "I don't want you to go."
"I'm afraid I must ready my family for your arrival, and you'll follow in a week. Your father has given me his word that he doesn't mean to lock you away as soon as I leave." He'd growled playfully in her ear. "And my mother writes she has received a letter from your mother." Anthony grinned.
Anxiety had churned in her stomach even then. "Your parents... are they very cross?"
He'd shaken his head, Still grinning beautifully in the dawn. "They are... surprised."
"Do you think they'll... will they approve of me?"
His hands had shot out quickly, pulling her back against his chest tightly, "They are going to love you. You and I are meant to be together, Kate, I know we are."
Kate had felt it sting at her eyes, settling in her chest, the truth of it. "That doesn't mean your Mama won't tut at me."
"My Mama only ever tuts at me." He wiggled his eyebrows roguishly.
Silence settled between them for a long moment before Kate had sighed, "Well, stand up then. I wish to commit you to memory if that's all I'm to have for the next month."
And she'd missed him every day for a week, as their belongings had been packed, ready to withdraw from town completely following her wedding in Kent. Nothing but the worry gnawing at her stomach and Lady Sheffield storming into the drawing room to persuade Mary to make her see sense.
"Well, she's not even yours and you've managed to poison her completely!" lady Sheffield had spat at Mary who'd sat calmly sipping her tea while Edwina sat thunderstruck. "I'm not sure why I'm surprised! You weren't even her age when you were pregnant with that one! And her father was not yet your husband."
"And what am I to do, mama? Am I to lock her in her room with nothing but stale bread to eat and mice to converse with?" She had sounded nothing but bored, ignoring Kate's pleading apologetic look for the ire she was facing. "And from memory, Tharman would have been my husband by the time you learned of Edwina had Papa not thrown him from the house by the collar of his coat!"
Lady Sheffield had tutted, "You're to make her see sense, Mary!"
Mary had taken a long sip of her tea, still not having offered her mother one, before she turned towards Kate. Her voice calm. "Kate, darling, will you throw Mr Bridgerton over?"
"No, mama. I love him."
Mary had tutted in faux disappointment, her voice dry. "Drat. I felt sure that would work."
Lady Sheffield had stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her with a "You always were a useless girl!"
Kate had stared after her, with guilt swirling in her stomach. "Mama, I'm sorry, I-"
But Mary had burst into giggles, "Truly, I've not seen her more livid since the morning I told my Father I was pregnant. Lord, I'd forgotten how funny it was."
And now here they were, approaching the village she was to make her home.
"I suppose I've gotten used to seeing him every day." Kate said a little primly.
Edwina's brow furrowed, "But he didn't even visit every day."
Kate realised what she'd said, clearing her throat, avoiding her father's eyes as he stared pointedly at the roof of the carriage as though praying for strength before Mary intervened.
"Edwina, look Darling, a donkey!"
"Are we to meet Anthony in town, Kate?" Appa ground out, changing the subject completely, his voice tight as though he were reminding himself that he had promised not to hurt him.
She nodded, already craning her neck. "His letter said he would meet our carriage with his Mother and Father, they've invited us for dinner."
"Very kind of them." Mary said gently, pointedly, to Appa who nodded in agreement. "His mother's letter was very kindly written."
The carriage was slowing, rounding its way through the village before it stopped entirely outside a small inn.
"We can always go home, little one." Her father had caught her wrist as the footman had opened the door, stopping her from leaping out, his eyes serious. "If you decide at any point this isn't what you wish for, Mama and I will take you straight home."
She nodded gently, squeezing his hand, "I won't want to go home, Appa."
"But we can."
"Tharman, Darling, get out of the carriage before the Bridgertons think we're lunatics." Mary said briskly, nudging him forward until he got out, helping her down before he reached for Kate's hand.
She leapt down, already scouting around and-
"Kate!" Anthony had forgotten himself, clearly, forgotten that they were no longer alone in his excitement as he bounded forward, a bouquet of tulips crushed in his hand, his hair tousled over his forehead as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, and every ounce of anxiety Kate had had left her immediately. His chest was warm against her, his voice soft in her ear as he held her, "I missed you."
"I missed you as well." She whispered, letting herself be held.
"Mr Bridgerton? Lovely to make your acquaintance." She could hear her father saying behind them. "Mr Tharman Sharma, my wife, Lady Mary and our younger daughter, Miss Edwina. And you may have gathered, that young lady in your son's arms is Miss Kate Sharma."
"Mr Sharma, A pleasure." A slightly nervous voice responded before he cleared his throat. "My wife, Violet and I would like first of all to apologise for our son's actions, we were... surprised at him and I assure you -"
"Ahh they're in love." Kate heard her father say with what seemed to be a clap on Anthony's father's shoulder, "We'd be foolish to try and stop them!"
"Kate, Darling," Mary's voice floated back to her, "Perhaps you might wish to let that Mr Bridgerton breathe and introduce yourself."
Anthony let go of her immediately, blushing scarlet as he greeted her parents before turning towards his own who were watching her with curious expressions, his chest puffing proudly. "Mother, Father, I'd like to introduce Miss Kate Sharma. Kate, my Father Mr Edmund Bridgerton and my Mother Mrs Violet Bridgerton."
His father looked almost exactly like him, twenty years his senior but with the same kind smile as he inclined his head, and his mother looked startled when Kate curtsied in her direction, her lips parted in surprise at having been addressed so politely.
"It's lovely to meet you both, thank you for welcoming me into your family." She took a shuddering breath, a little of her anxiety returning as she cleared her throat. "I realise I may not be the wife you'd have chosen for Anthony but I intend to learn what I must in order to be a good wife to him and I... I'll make him happy."
And every inch of her relaxed when his father's laughter boomed through the town. "Miss Sharma, I can safely say, that is the one thing we aren't concerned by. The lad hasn't stopped smiling once. Now, if you'll have your man follow us, Mr Sharma, we'll direct you to the farm."
"Mrs Bridgerton, this is such a lovely Dress." Mary leapt in, addressing the startled woman, "You must come with us to Kate's dress fitting."
And everything fell into place.
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Arctic Monkeys’ Interview on Ruta 66 Magazine, October Issue 2022
Translated by RatioMonkeys on Twitter
I ain’t quite where I think I am… are you?
The matter requires complete confidentiality, so it doesn’t leak into the treacherous ocean that is social media. The interview with Alex Turner will be in London, towards the end of July. The Car -code title: Suffolk Punch- won’t be published until October 21st. If listened in another device other than the original, the copy will self-destruct. Agents in the service of Her Majesty will descend upon the journalist from Ruta 66 at the slightest indiscretion. Shhh…
And here I am, before Town Hall Hotel, in Bethnal Green, taking one last puff of a cigarette before deciding to enter and face the frontman of one of the most successful British bands since 2006, when they released their debut album of a title that already indicated its idiosyncrasy, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. That was not the first step, but the conclusion of two dazzling three years in which their fans, and the internet multiverse, had put them on the pedestal of valuable substance, a young rock band that, paradoxically, believed in the old principles: composing big songs, gathering those songs on a vinyl that enhanced them, playing them before crowds that would sing them at the top of their lungs.
“When I am in London, I stay here,” says an educated, youthful Alexander David Turner, recently showered, in designer jeans, summer jacket, comfortable boots. “In 2007, when I still lived in Sheffield, we created one of the Arctic Monkeys’ records here, in Shoreditch. Since then we always stay in the neighborhood, and in fact, I lived here for a couple of years. There is a nice park…”. Out of place as the international star that he is, the frontman of the Arctic Monkeys resides in L.A., as another northern English attracted by the Californian sunshine and the epicenter of spectacle. “I am not there as much as I was a couple of years ago”, he explains. “Well, I was in there months back. I am looking for a place to stay…”
The suite in which we are in, as the entire hotel, exudes a timeworn classic style that cushions luxury: 70s furniture of varnished wood that doesn't hide its scratches and fading but spotless vintage rugs. Sitting before coffee and scones, during the first hours of the morning, we enter the scene. Alex, amiable and shy, far away from the public image of a difficult interviewee or god-like singer, expresses himself in a choppy manner, as if his reasoning were questioning the words that he pronounces. At 36 years of age, he is seemingly cultured and has his own opinions. The sixty-something chronicler sighs with relief.
The Car is a brave album, without great outbursts, a trip that starts flat and that discovers its peaks and valleys as it goes. This tendency started in Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, where you started writing on the piano…
Certainly, the previous album started taking everything in a direction that… [thinks]. Well, the truth is I don’t think you can go backwards in music. And even if the listener expects a big smash, I think I’ve probably made the effort for it not to appear anywhere, because that’s the way I think it should be. But you don’t have to feel it like something that’s unnatural, on the very contrary, I think the album sounds open, even more than the previous one, where we started to open ourselves more.
When you released Tranquility Base, some fans demanded you on social media to go back to the studio and re-record it with guitars. But an artist must take risks, and I don’t see any other band from your generation that has evolved so much.
I hope so! If I think about our attitude when we were 17 and we played in a garage, you know, a group of guitars, drums and bass, I see that it all had to do with the instinct of “what can we do with this”. When you start you barely know how to play guitar, but you hear this voice that tells you that this is what comes out when you play altogether with your mates. It all relies in a sort of presentiment. And I think this is still true in everything we’ve done so far, that voice that comes from somewhere and keeps talking to you, that sort of instinct that forces you to move in a certain direction.
So, basically, you follow your instinct…
Absolutely, yes. I certainly do at a creative level. And it’s not always the easiest, to follow your instinct, either on the creative field or on your life. Your mind interposes between what you really feel and what you think you should do. But it’s also true that, when you do pop music, sometimes it’s easier to follow your instinct.
From the outside, people may think that when you started you were wild, heavy, and now more sophisticated. But you have to remember that it’s not only about volume, but also about feelings, and these can be as effective as a guitar riff…
I completely agree with you. Sometimes even more, I think. You have to recognize that… [mumbles]. Because if now we tried to do the kind of music we did ten years ago, it wouldn’t seem like the right thing to do. We can turn the volume up for five minutes, but you don’t have the same kind of inspiration in that sound as if you go to the next place that you reach when you write the rest of the song. You can always go back to the big dramatic effect, I think it’s something I still seek, but hoping to do it in a different way. (*Translator note: Most of this paragraph doesn’t make sense in the original article in Spanish either. It looks like he said a bunch of nonsense and they transcribed it word by word*).
You can always go back to that initial energy, sure.
Yeah, of course, I hope so… Recently we’ve been rehearsing altogether for two weeks, playing old songs out loud, and we had a great time. You know, lifting our guitars up in the air and making a lot of noise. We still enjoy ourselves with our loud guitars and we could take this into the recording studio. Perhaps someday we will.
Does the rest of the band share this presentiment you talk about? You have been together for a long time and you are a solid organism, even when you are the main songwriter.
I think the answer is yes… Certainly they all share that presentiment and, even if it wasn’t like that, I’d say sometimes not only they share it, but also if they see that I’m unsure about whether to follow my intuition, they’ll most likely encourage me to do so, to go in the direction that I’m not brave enough to follow. I remember times during the recording of this album where I was the first one to let my mind get in the way and tell myself that perhaps we weren’t doing the right thing, but the rest of the band would always encourage me to follow that road. And I think this is one of the reasons why we are still together.
I don’t think there’s anything bad about being unsure either, otherwise you take the easy route, you do an album that sounds like the previous one, you sell music, you don’t create it…
Exactly. You are absolutely right.
How is your internal dynamic? What does each member contribute?
When we started and we played in the garage it was different, because the way we’ve recorded the last two or three records has been different. We don’t play all together in a room anymore, although we did it in the previous record, but this time the contribution of each of us has been more fragmentary. I remember that during the recording I spent some time with each of the band members, individually, one on one, to try to use some of their musical ideas, more twisted stuff.
For example…?
In the third song of the album, “Sculptures Of Anything Goes”, we worked together with Jamie, the guitarist, and he’d just acquired a Moog synthesizer. He was experimenting with that machine, creating a loop with the drum machine that inspired the song and he took it far away from the original idea. After some time, it went back to its origin and what ends up in the album is the sound of that idea summed up with the resulting song. Jamie contributes, apart from the stimulus, a will to grow, evolve and push the boundaries of our music. He’s the kind of musician who likes to experiment with the sound of an instrument, to manipulate it, rather than just playing it. That’s what he contributes to the group.
You’ve said that you like to write a song in the moment, without thinking about it too much, but in the last two records the process has been more elaborate. Isn’t that more tiring and mistaken than just to write it, record it and that’s it?
I haven’t worked with such immediacy for a long time. I like that idea of doing something that quick right now, today! [Laughters], but for some reason it hasn’t been like that. I think you just have the opportunity to do it a few times, perhaps during a long time, I don’t know… And I think I might do it again, but I believe that when you realize that you’re not doing it, it’s too late. And you think ‘I’ve done it for some time, but it has no use anymore’…
Obviously, there are no traces in “The Car” of those young Arctic Monkeys who brok through the British scene with fierce guitars and echoes from 1979 singing about teenage angst and living in the suburbs with big hits like “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”. Alex Turner has already said it: it´s their instinct, that force of destiny that made Alex Turner take another path on his side Project “The Last Shadow Puppets” , travel with the band to the Mojave desert and collaborate with Josh Homme for “Humbug”, finally take over America with “Suck It And See” or dress like a rockabilly for “AM”. The fact that he doesn’t conceive writing another “No. 1 Party Anthem” and that he portrays his burdens over silky funk, string arrangements and high-graduation ballads, is due to the fact that he knows that, in the art of songwriting, standing still equals to rusting, falling into irrelevance, failing.
You can sense from the lyrics that you’re trying to expose your intimacy without exposing yourself too much. I find it more gratifying than the obvious pop narrative: you offer all the pieces for the listener to construct what they imagine. Do the lyrics come out spontaneously or do they require a slow elaboration?
On one side, yes, they come out spontaneously. It’s something that happens in time and, as in other areas, a sort of writing style develops. Then, at some point, you find out what that style is and you can play with it. I like what you say about the pieces in the puzzle. I like the idea that the other part of that puzzle is the music, that the melody completes the lyrics, that you can feel that harmony between lyrics and music, a whole. The lyrics are just a piece of the puzzle, not something you have to decipher, but something that goes together with the music…
I am one of those who think that the listener is the one who completes the song. Big songwriters have confessed to me that they understood their lyrics decades after having written them. They’re a product of the subconscious…
I saw an article about Nick Cave in a magazine, about that wonderfull conference he wrote and developed, “The Secret Life Of The Love Song”, in which he talks about this. I found that idea fascinating. I think it’s absolutely true. Some of the things that come from that instinct we were talking about, from that poetic voice that we don’t completely understand and that we haven’t fully processed or thought, they find their way into your artwork. It happens a lot of times and you realize what it means long after; you remember the real life events that made you reflect and inspired you to invent it. I take the album’s lyrics with me [he takes them out of his jacket’s pocket] and I re-read them trying to make them make sense. We could compare them with the ones you brought [Laughters].
You seem to write about failed relationships, with poignant irony and a few drops of sadness; problems with your loved ones, with daily routines, with the outside world…
I think there is a certain level of search that never gets out of reach for the lyrics in some of my songs, although perhaps in this album it’s all more open to the outside…
You’ve cited poet John Cooper Clarke as an influence, are there any other authors that left a mark on you? What did you read while you were working on The Car?
There was a moment in time where I knew the answer to this question in relation to the songs that appear in our records. Right now, it’s harder to draw a line between what I was reading back then and what ends up on the album, but perhaps it’s there, I don’t know. When I started to write these songs I read Raymond Chandler, Phillip Marlowe’s novels, although I don’t see that on the album, but “The Long Goodbye” is mentioned at some point, the idea of The Long Goodbye appears. I was enjoying Phillip Marlowe…
In these lyrics, there’s a similar use of the sharp phrase in which Chandler was a master…
Yeah, and the attitude in Marlowe’s character. An attitude that I think is well represented in Robert Altman’s film, the way in which the character acts with his cat, I don’t know… Something I haven’t talked about is a book that perhaps is the one that holds the closest relation with the album, “In The Blink Of An Eye”, which talks about cinematographic montage, by Walter Murch…
Apocalypse Now… Coppola’s editor!
Exactly… Someone recommended it to me a few years ago, it’s a short book. I read it and found it very interesting. That work fascinates me, cinema montage, the way he describes it. At the beginning he explains his work at Apocalypse Now, the big amount of material they had and the long time they worked on the film’s montage, a lot of hours every day. What he tells is very interesting, how they did lots of cuts and undid them later. Do the maths, they worked for two years to end up with a single montage. There are a lot of things in that book that touch me directly, not only on a creative level, but also personal and beyond. Very interesting.
In The Car, was there a lot of material you had to select or discard?
Not on an Apocalypse Now level [Laughters]. But there was a bit of that. And to be honest I enjoyed the fact that the edition took us so long. We allowed things to exist, we edited them and then undid what had been done. There’s a thing he mentions in the book, a dinner with some friends of his wife. He explained what he did for a living and someone said: “So your job is to cut out all the bad stuff…”. At first he got offended, but then he understood that in some way it was like that, but that the hard part was to be able to see what was the bad stuff. The idea is that montage is not so much about gathering the fragments of something, but about discovering a path through the story you’re telling. There are a lot of things like that in the book.
Well, it’s also about the story flowing at its own rhythm. If a very good passage of what you have written doesn’t contribute to the progression of the story, it has to be discarded…
Yes, and sometimes it’s hard to cut it out. There are songs that contributed to this album but that are not in it anymore. There’s one I can’t take off my head, and I want to find the way to release it at some point, because I feel that it was almost like the pattern for the whole record, but in the end there was no room for it, it made everything feel, I don’t know, cumbersome.
Success is a double-edged sword and Alex Turner knows it well. Arctic Monkeys’ fans love to go to unheard lengths, but the band is always under suspicion by the specialized press. They have been in opportunistic politicians’ mouths who have compared them to the Beatles, and have been cautioned for banting at awards ceremonies, or merely for winning awards and showing up to receive them. They are still on their merry way, limited by that  Sheffield rookie band with a strong Yorkshire accent, who listened to The Smiths, Velvet Underground, Oasis and The Strokes, while dreaming of leaving that loop of performances in pubs and dancehalls, which occurred steeply despite being denied to appear on live television. The Car places them on another level characterized by risked maturity and songs with a sophisticated excellence which underlines the ever-rough entrance into the adult world, love hangovers, and life traps. It will be curious to see how they are received by the public… and by critics.
On a sonic level, the album has many layers, lots of textures that need to stand out or hide. Is it here where your producer James Ford, who’s worked with you for a long time, helps with decision making?
He’s someone I trust much better than myself [Laughters]. That relation has gone through a lot, we’ve worked together a lot, and that leads to a mutual comprehension that is unmatchable. He is a part of the whole process, but I think that, on the topic of what needs to be discarded, here we’ve done a better job than we ever did. We’ve been capable of allowing everything to be the way it should be and have its own space. This was, I believe, much harder to do in the beginning because there was this feeling that everyone had to play all the time, while now we all take some distance and it’s probably more effective, since it allows things to flow their own way.
Is it because of the experience you’ve accumulated over all these years?
I think that has something to do, but also because these compositions allow and also insist in that it’s done taking turns. I feel it’s almost as if they were written like that, to be developed slowly, and the rhythm they are worked at is very important. It’s also important to have a vision of the big picture.
Let’s talk about how your voice has evolved. David Bowie, of course, would be a referent. Jarvis Cocker, Brett Anderson… How have you been improving as a singer?
Yeah, they are all references, of course. It’s true that my voice has changed. There’s a physical reason, your own growth, which alters it. But I think that’s the less important part, for I feel your way of singing has to match what you are trying to express. It’s hard to explain this with words. I think the sound of the voice helps, along with the melody, to the totality of the song.
Now you use it as an instrument, which is what great singers do: Sinatra, Nina Simone, Bowie, Marvin Gaye…
Once again, it’s a part of that puzzle you were talking about. The way you interpret a song is everything; sometimes you can make it mean different things depending on how you sing it. Those great singers you mention are technically very good, but in the beginning I didn’t care that much about that, and I’m happy that it was like that because our music didn’t require it. But I reached a point where I wanted to be a good singer. Nat King Cole! That song of his, “Where Did Everybody Go?”, I think it’s connected to all of that.
Do you suffer the syndrome of fame and success? You don’t look like the kind of person that feels comfortable with that, and it’s visible in your songs.
Well, sometimes I’ve had difficulties with some aspects of it. For me it’s a weird situation, although I don’t get chased on the street. They might stop me in some places, but normally it all goes well. And on the lyrics, since they are getting more open, I think there might be some of that, perhaps I’ve let some ideas related to that in my songs, things that I ignored in the past, because, well, who cares. But I don’t think that’s necessarily true nowadays, you can find a way to put it into a song.
YOU ONLY CALL ME WHEN YOU’RE HIGH
“Don’t get emotional, that ain’t like you/Yesterday’s still leaking through the roof, but that’s nothing new/I know I promised this is what I wouldn’t do/Somehow giving it the old romantic fool seems to better suit the mood”.
That’s how “The Car” starts, on the first verses of “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball”, preceded by dry hits of stentorian Philly Sould, confirming that the young man that wanted to be like The Strokes today aspires to the melodic depth of a crooner. Recorded at the Butley Priory Studios, Suffolk, and on the French La Frette, produced and mixed by James Ford, the band’s seventh studio album continues in that new style -atmospheric, confessional, solemn, poignant- with which the Arctic Monkeys surprised their fans on Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.
The funk riff and Bowie vibes from “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am”, the futuristic soul anointed in Moog of “Sculptures Of Anything Goes” -co-written by Jamie Cook- or the sustained euphoria of “Hello You” keep the pulse of an album that delves between raw and sophisticated, intimate and spectacular. A lagoon of brilliant surface and fathomless depths navigated by half times that catch you gradually. “Body Paint”, with those McCartney vibes, sounds as vaguely autobiographical as the rest (“For a master of deception and subterfuge/You’ve made yourself quite the bed to lie in/Do your time travelling through the tanning booth/So you don’t let the sun catch you crying”).
Ominous ballads follow, like “Big Ideas”, or the insidious, chimerical “Jet Skis On The Moat” and “Mr. Schwartz”, both co-written by Tom Rowley. And without understanding how we ended up here, “Perfect Sense” farewells a subtle, enigmatic collection where we shuffled between the bitter outcome of his penultimate romance with an American model and the nuisances of being, oh, a celebrity: (*Note from the translator: here goes a lyric snippet from Perfect Sense, but it’s written in Spanish. It’s stupid because it’s the final bit of the song, but they didn’t put the original version anywhere. What follows is a literal translation*). “Sometimes I wrap my head around it and it makes perfect sense,  keep reminding me that it ain't a race when my invincible streak turns into the final straight, if that’s what’s needed to say goodnight, be it that way”.
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guerrerense · 7 months
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Sheffield Park
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Sheffield Park por David Chandler Por Flickr: BR Standard 4 Tank 80151 stands at Sheffield Park on a very wet morning. Taken on the Friday afternoon of the Bluebell Railway's Branchline Weekend Gala earlier this year.
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nriacc · 1 year
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NRIACC: Chapter Summaries
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🚨 SPOILERS 🚨 SPOILERS 🚨 SPOILERS 🚨 
!DO NOT READ IF YOU’VE NOT READ THE FULL FIC!
I realise that not everyone is as sad as me and remembers every tiny detail of this rollercoaster of a fic, so I’ve put together chapters summaries that I've tried to make as concise as possible. Hope this helps with those rereading, love you all. Thanks for reading x
Part 1: Only Ones Who Know ~ The walk home. The night. The morning after.
Part 2: House is a Circus ~ Matt’s house party. Spin the bottle, shots, saucy times in Matt’s room. Fuck Josh.  
Part 3: The City ~ Wheels goes to Manchester and meets boys. Pool antics. They teach Wheels how to skate over the summer. Matty is a simp.
Part 4: Despair in the Departure Lounge ~ Wheels gets her fishnets and she takes her skateboard back home. Everyone’s at the park, Alex led her on, Wheels’ spot in the park. Peter is a gem and cheers her up but Josh is a dickhead.
Part 5: Heart Out ~ 2004: Wheels’ 18th birthday. 2005: Skating and Wheels gets her nickname. 2006: Never have I ever, club night where Matty takes wheels home early. 2007: Matty’s 18th, his house party where he and Wheels kiss. Matty drives her back to Sheffield.
Part 6: Hiding Tonight ~ Alex and Bestie comfort Wheels at Alex’s birthday party. The Fab Four (Wheels, Bestie, Al, Matt) night in, Wheels and Alex kiss just after midnight on her birthday. Matty turns up at Wheels uni flat with her birthday present and they agree to spend their summer together.
Part 7: Sex ~ Matty and her have their summer fling. Alex isn’t happy about it. Wheels and Matty have their fair ground date. Get tattoos and Wheels goes back to Sheffield.
Part 8: Dance Little Liar ~ Wheels starts to like Alex as more than a friend and they start dating but don’t address it. Favourite Worst Nightmare tour. Alex is a cheater. Wheels leaves and Matty comes to get her and comforts her.
Part 9: An Encounter ~ Wheels memories of her and Alex in her house make her move out into her flat. Both bands meet each other, bar antics, Alex tells Wheels he’s moving to NYC with Alexa.
Part 10: Do I Wanna Know? ~ Alex and Alexa split, he comes to live with Wheels. She shows him her spot in the park, he catches feelings, has a wet dream, and moves out. Alex and Matty both show up at Wheels flat and they chat whilst making her show them her dress for the wedding. The wedding.
Part 11: Settle Down ~ Movie night with Alex. Night in at Wheels flat, Alex wants to ask Wheels out properly but realise she already really likes Matty. Wheels back in Manchester and her and Matty are getting closer, Matty plans to ask her out and gets the boys to help him with grand ideas. The gig, Matty and Wheels are official. Alex cuts his hair then finds out about the new couple. Wheels does everyone’s eyebrows. MCU marathon. Matty’s parents divorce, his nana dies. Alex takes Wheels to the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. The 1975 get the green light for releasing their album.
Part 12: Head.Cars.Bending ~ The 1975 release EPs, Matty asks Wheels to be in a music video but she turns it down. Wheels and Alex talking album release dates, Wheels goes to catch the end of the Girls music video. Matty and Wheels argue. The accident, the hospital, and chapter ends with Alex finding Matty taking him to the hospital.
Part 13: Do Me A Favour ~ Wheels recovering. Matty’s a cheater. Alex looks after Wheels, AM gets number 1 album dethroning The 1975. Matty changed his number, Adam collecting Matty’s things. Alex and Arielle split up. Ben D*tto being a bellend, 75 boys come to save the day, Matty ends up ruining it.
Part 14: R U Mine? ~ Christmas flashback, Wheels gets upset at Matty’s presents, she smokes, Matty leaves and she brings him back. 2014 Brit Awards with Alex and the Monkeys. Brits afterparty.
Part 15: Separate And Ever Deadly ~ Andy’s wedding. Start of the AM tour. Wheels finds out about Matty and Alexa, Alex takes her around Perth to cheer her up. Matty and Arielle, Wheels leaves him a drunk voicemail. Wheels goes to see The 1975, Adam tells her about Matty and Halsey.
Part 16: One For The Road ~ Wheels has nightmares, Alex helps her. Wheels tries to draw and can’t, Alex comforts and talks to her, cosy bunk morning. Jealousy at the festival, Alex being cute on stage. Pick out new perfume. One For The Road music video and Wheels and Alex kiss. Breana loses Wheels bikini in the sea, Alex is the cutest.
Part 17: Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? ~ Alex and Wheels get high and it gets heated, they go to the beach and they both reflect on the past, bunk antics. Wheels shows Alex her skating. Alex takes her around Vegas and they get their tattoos.
Part 18: Somebody Else ~ Alex and Wheels watch the sunset on the decking as she writes a poem. Wheels extra happy and Alex knows why. Wheels’ brain jumps to wrong conclusions about pictures of Alex and his ex. Starry night with the Monkeys, shoulder tap happens here. Leeds Fest 2014 with The 1975 and Arctic Monkeys, afterparty disaster.
Part 19: How to draw / Petrichor ~ Back home from tour, The Fab Four have a drunk night in. Fun times but then the phone rings and Alex reveals he’s moving to LA. Time skip to 2015 Wheels having a boyfriend and her first gallery that Matty crashes. Alex tells Wheels to dump her boyfriend. Wheels reconciles with Matty.
Part 20: UGH! ~ Wheels baking at 75 boy’s flat, Matty sees her bracelet, Matty names their second album. Wheels goes to LA and listens to ILIWYS and misinterprets songs and watches the videos. Alex lets Wheels listen to EYCTE.
Part 21: The Birthday Party ~ Wheels’ 30th birthday party… Aftermath with Alex at the park, then at the flat with Matty.
Part 22: Settle For A Draw ~ Redo of 30th at a bar and both bands attend. Wheels kisses everyone. Adam’s house warming where Wheels gets very drunk and George carries her to bed. The day after where there’s an Alex v Matty ceasefire and Wheels and Bestie threesome reveal, Jamaica NDA reveal, and lots of band banter.
Part 23: What Should I Say ~ Wheels drunk on twitter, baiting Alex into phone sex, hangs up to chat to Matty. Everything revealed to her the next day, and George takes her out for Valentine’s Day. 2017 Brits with The 1975, and afterparty. Never Have I Ever at Wheels’ flat.
Part 24: Be My Mistake ~ Alex comforts Wheels about Matty being in rehab. During her trip to London, Adam gives her the letter from Matty. Wheels and Matty talk everything through and he tells her to give Alex a shot. Bestie’s boyfriend reveal. Wheels joins the Monkeys on tour and after listening to Only Angel they reveal how they feel and decide to try again.
Part 25: D is for Dangerous ~ Alex lets George take her out for Valentines so he can set up a cute date. Wheels and Bestie’s wine night with Alex ends with spice. Bestie teasing them the following morning. Wheels flat hunting in London with Alex. Wheels attends George’s sisters party with the 75 boys, meeting Matty’s girlfriend. Alex stands Wheels up and he says obscene things because he’s a drunk jealous twat. Wheels finishes things with him.
Part 26: It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You) ~ Wheels’ gallery, 75 boys are there and Alex shows up. Matty is single again. New Years with Alex and the Monkeys. Decorating gingerbread houses at Christmas with Matty. Matt Helders is a cheater. Wheels drives with Alex from London to Sheffield for the last date of The 1975’s UK tour. Matty’s a little shit on stage and Wheels leaves to go McDonalds with Alex, arrangements are agreed upon. After gig drinking in a bar, bathroom antics, Wheels and Alex leave together.
Part 27: Star Treatment ~ Wheels receives star treatment from Alex. The day after they talk, Wheels shaves Alex’s head, Alex cuts Wheels’ hair on Instagram live.
Part 28: From The Ritz To The Rubble ~ Another George and Wheels Valentines date. Matty says the wrong thing at the 2019 Brits, he and Wheels argue, Adam and Bestie end the arguing. Alex has a girlfriend, Wheels and Bestie go to Paris to see them, Alex’s girlfriend is a fucking bitch, Wheels is a bilingual legend. Ross and Wheels heart to heart, he makes her see sense. Alex doesn’t show up to Wheels’ birthday. Wheels tells Alex about what his girlfriend said, he doesn’t believe her so he gaslights her.
Part 29: Playing On My Mind ~ Leeds Fest 2019, Matty and Wheels reconcile, amazing afterparty. Matt Helders’ redemption arc, Alex listens into his and Wheels phone call and doesn’t apologise so he puts Alex in his place and tells him to fuck off. Wheels on US tour with The 1975. Matty and Wheels talk about love and they’re adorable. Wheels and Matty in Tennessee and they meet Ella and Matty buys cowboy boots and a hat. When back in London, Alex turns up at Wheels’ flat and apologises.
Part 30: Frail State Of Mind ~ Wheels and Bestie in Me & You Together Song music video. Wheels and Alex go to jazz club, end up dancing, get coffee afterwards before walking home. The 1975 O2 show where Wheels, Bestie, and Alex are in the crowd, they dance to Too Shy and cry at Guys. Back in Whee’s old flat, mystery caller turns out to be Peter, Party games and Bestie gets engaged. UK lockdown starts, Wheels is really struggling with it and she makes her decision and calls the man she can’t live without.
I Wanna Be Yours ~ Alex’s ending.
Me & You Together Song ~ Matty’s ending.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Happy reading besties, love you all x
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grandmaster-anne · 1 year
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Court Circular | 10th March 2023
Buckingham Palace
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa (Secretary General, Muslim World League) was received by The King this afternoon. His Majesty this evening attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, London SW7, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir Kenneth Olisa).
Kensington Palace
The Prince of Wales, President, the Earthshot Prize, this morning received Ms. Hannah Jones (Chief Executive) at Windsor Castle.
St. James's Palace
Today is the Anniversary of the Birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh this afternoon attended a Reception at Edinburgh City Chambers, 253 High Street, Edinburgh, in support of members of the Ukrainian community and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh (Councillor Robert Aldridge, the Rt. Hon. the Lord Provost).
St. James's Palace
The Princess Royal this afternoon visited Special Quality Alloys Limited, Bessemer Road, Sheffield. Her Royal Highness afterwards visited ITM Power plc, 2 Bessemer Park, Sheffield. The Princess Royal, Patron, the Vine Trust, this evening held a Dinner at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was received by the Reverend Neil Gardner (Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh).
Kensington Palace
The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, this morning invested Mr. Stuart Shilson as Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands at the Priory Church, St. John's Square, London EC1, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir Kenneth Olisa). His Royal Highness, Royal Patron, Temple Bar Trust, this afternoon attended the Ceremony of the Official Opening of the Gates of Temple Bar in Paternoster Square, London EC4. The Duchess of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Bermuda Regiment, was present at the Memorial Service to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the assassination of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Richard Sharples (formerly Governor of Bermuda) and his Aide-de-Camp, Captain Hugh Sayers, which was held in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London SW1, today.
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thebluemallet · 2 years
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Kate Sharma's Society Hairstyles: Part 1
I'm a little obsessed with Kate's hairstyles whenever she's in society mode. Be it Lady Danbury's drawing room, a promenade through the park, or at a ball. When she first meets Lady Danbury in Capital R Rake, her hair is already drastically different from how it looked when we first saw her on horseback earlier in the episode.
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It's pretty tightly pulled back and the braided bun is placed fairly high up on the back of her head.
And when we see her at the first two balls and in Lady Danbury's drawing room again with the suitors, her hair continues to be tightly pulled back and the hair placed higher on the back of her head.
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Now, Simone Ashley is a literal goddess/Disney Princess who has come to grace us with her presence here on Earth and she would look good in a potato sack. But her hairstyles in the first few episodes aren't as flattering on her as the ones we see her sporting in later episodes. I can only assume this is because if the Queen saw her in those other hairstyles, she'd go "...Edwina who?"
I think the more slicked back Kate's hair is, the more she is putting on her tough, guardian, "I must sacrifice my happiness and comfort for my family's no matter what" facade.
We see her with a braid in the first episode one more time when she speaks with Lady Danbury about the Sheffields.
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Braid 1- Loose with hair falling around her face
Braid 2- Tighter braid with the hair around the face more pulled back.
And the hair trend continues into Episodes 2 and 3.
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Except for scenes where she's in her bedroom and the first time she meets Anthony, we only see Kate's hair looser at two points in these first three episodes...and both of those times are when Anthony is present.
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First, when she and Anthony fall in the mud during pall mall. This scene has also been cited by the actors and producers of the show as the first time Anthony and Kate let their guard down around each other and break through some of the psychological and emotional walls they've built up around themselves.
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The second is immediately after her horseback ride at Aubrey Hall. Even though her hair is still pulled back, it's looser, the hair sits a little lower on the back of her head, and there are a few escaped curls. This is the morning after the failed proposal. Kate breathed a huge sigh of relief at the diner when Anthony didn't propose to Edwina. She also was in the middle of thanking Anthony for not proposing to her when he interrupted and told her to reassure Edwina that he still intended to propose.
And then of course...the bee happened 🐝
After this episode, Kate's hair is never pulled back as tightly as it once was again. The mask is beginning to slip and she's never going to get it fully back on again.
Click here for part 2!
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zenia-7 · 1 year
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New #kanthony fanfic, "Carte Blanche: I will catch you." Kate and Anthony meet in the park the morning after the disastrous dinner with the Sheffields to discuss what to do next. Anthony falls to a different side of the argument.
This is a submission to the Carte-Blanche writing challenge from Mx Kate B (katelai). Thank you @mxkateb for the prompt!
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shefeld · 1 year
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Sheaf house next to Sheffield Midland Station. The former Sheffield area headquarters of British Rail, opened in 1965. In the background Granville College & Norfolk Park flats, now all demolished
Morning Telegraph Golden Frame Calendar 1969.
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Lewis Fic Recs: Let It Snow!
The weather ships them! Winter storms, snowball fights, ice skating, and huddling for warmth. As usual, this list is far from exhaustive, so please feel free to add your own favs to the list!
Free Programme by paperscribe
1,999 Words, James/Robbie, Robbie/Val, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply Happy memories of Val and Robbie watching Olympic ice skating, full of affectionate teasing and Val's casual acceptance of Robbie's tiny crush on one of the male skaters. Many years later, James puts his arm around Robbie's waist and guides him out onto the ice, and Robbie remembers a decades-old fantasy.
Olympic Interlude by Lindenharp
1,609 Words, James/Robbie, Rated M, No Archive Warnings Apply Established Relationship. James wakes up an irritable Robbie early one morning to watch Olympic curling. But as James becomes engrossed in the match his inhibitions fall and his hand begins to wander, resulting in a pleasantly distracting method of celebrating Britain's win.
Team-building, Japanese Style by Willowbrooke
6,717 Words, Gen, pre-James/Robbie Rated G, No Archive Warnings Apply Innocent's latest innovative team-building attempt—Yukigassen, or competitive snowball fighting—leads to an exciting match and a fascinating look at different methods of workplace leadership—and a rather jealous Robbie when James ends up on Peterson's team.
Sunny, Snowy Sunday by Vita_S_West
3,106 Words, James/Robbie, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply Out for a walk after the evening's snowfall, Robbie comes across James in the park and resorts to throwing snowballs to get his attention. The lighthearted snowball fight that follows grows tense when James falls on top of Robbie and miscommunications threaten their pleasant morning.
More than fine by greenapricot
7,372 Words, James/Robbie, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply A storm leaves James and Robbie driving through the Peak District in dangerous conditions on Christmas Eve, until suddenly they find themselves stuck in a snowdrift. Braving wet snow and ice without adequate clothing, they find shelter in an empty cabin. Eventually, the necessity of physical touch in staving off hypothermia shifts the initial awkwardness and irritation into some beautiful moments of quiet intimacy.
Winter Storm by wendymr
6,497 Words, James/Robbie, Rated G, No Archive Warnings Apply A blizzard hits as James and Robbie are driving back form interviewing witnesses up in Sheffield, forcing them to endure traffic closings, the horrors of roadside food, an irritated, stranded populace, and the last open bed at the roadside motel. While the closeness puts an initial strain on their moods, it eventually leads to a much-needed discussion about loneliness and friendship—and a bit more.
Blame it on Derek by Evenlodes_Friend
4,011 Words, James/Robbie, Rated M, No Archive Warnings Apply Robbie doubts that Derek is a proper name for a winter storm of this size, though its toppled trees leave them stranded, all the same. Forced to share the last room at the nearby pub, an evening of childhood reminisces and pointed teasing slowly, without rushing, draws them ever closer together.
Snowpocalypse by Sarren
13,077 Words, James/Robbie, Rated E, No Archive Warnings Apply On what should have been a quick jaunt up to Newcastle for a case, the car dies, leaving James and Robbie stranded in the middle of a blizzard without emergency supplies. After a freezing trek through the snow, the two are taken in by a kindly elderly couple and put to bed in the spare room. The spend the next few days reading, playing bridge, doing chores around the house—and growing closer at night.
Snowbound by Willowbrooke
12,253 Words, James/Robbie, Rated M, No Archive Warnings Apply A witness attacks Lewis and Hathaway with a shovel then flees, leaving them injured and stranded in a remote cottage with a blizzard approaching. And while it may not be the most advisable behavior when stuck in a violent suspect's house, they make the most of the well-stocked pantry, the warm fireplace, the comfortable bed—and the hot shower.
Winter Wonderland by greenapricot
5,530 Words, James/Robbie, Rated E, No Archive Warnings Apply Robbie invites James for a short holiday at a remote, snow-covered cottage up in Scotland, complete with sheepskin rug, tartan decor, champagne bottles, and a single double bed. Things grow wonderfully heated between the two, despite the cold winter landscape beyond, and Robbie proves to be delightfully confident and sneaky.
Comfort Zone by lamardeuse
718 Words, James/Robbie, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply Established relationship. On an exchange program with the Mounties, James and Robbie find themselves stranded in a small Canadian shack. But the fire is warm against the cold outside, and James rumpled after his fight with the generator, leaving them with some rather enjoyable methods of keeping busy.
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usafphantom2 · 6 months
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I was delighted to see this picture of my old friend, Jim Shelton. Whenever I think of him, I think of the story of what he did at the OL8 Kadena. Jim is a Living Legend
These men worked hard and played hard. There was an unannounced competition between the Habu‘s to see who could create the funniest prank.
My Dad, Butch Sheffield he, sent a note to the Wing Commander Jerry O’Malley flunking him on his own inspection of base housing in 1972 to make the prank even funnier. I was at the O’Malley‘s house with Peggy when Mrs. O’Malley started screaming, “We flunked our own inspection! She ordered her daughter to get out to the driveway and scrub the already spotless driveway! When Jerry came home for lunch, Diane showed him the typewritten letter expressing their disappointment in how they kept their house on Lakeview Drive. (written by my father) he signed it, Colonel Hornblower O’Malley laughed and put the paper down. I don’t know if they ever figured out who it was, but this is how those men rolled. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat at this event and many more.
Jim’s prank,
We had a lot of fun with the Flight Surgeons. To us, they were just kids hanging around the big kids; They were fresh out of medical school and flight surgeons training at Brooks Field. They had the meaningless task of checking us before every flight. We were all very healthy and needed little or no care from them.
To their credit, they took their job very seriously, and this set them up for some excellent jokes that were played upon them.
Jim Sheldon thought up the best one, and took place at the OL. Jim wired up the Old World War Two ambulance the flight surgeons used while at the OL, so the red light on the top of the ambulance was always on when the ambulance was running. The light was behind the driver and on the top of the ambulance and could not be seen by the driver. He then met the new flight surgeon on the flight line when the tanker came in from the States. The tanker usually arrived about dinnertime.
Jim briefed the new flight surgeon that the ambulance was his to drive all the time he was at the OL and that he was always on duty, twenty-four hours a day, and should have the ambulance close by at all times in case of emergencies. Also, because he was on duty, he could park it anywhere on base and to disregard any and all reserved parking spaces.
Jim told him how to find the Officer Club. The new flight surgeon was impressed by how important he had become upon arrival at Kadena and drove off the flight line and toward the Officers Club for dinner. He was also impressed how people would pull over and let him pass on the road to the club.
The Base Commanders house sat up on a hill along the road from the flight line to the club. The Commander was sitting in his backyard relaxing with a beer after a long hard day at the office when he saw the ambulance with its red light 🔴going passing his house on the way to the club. He quickly called the command post whose duty it was to call him when any emergencies occurred on base. The Command Post didn’t know what was going on at the base. The Commander jumped into his staff car and went in hot pursuit of the ambulance.
When the Commander arrived at the Officers Club, he found the ambulance parked in HIS reserved parking space right in front of the Club. He jumped out and rushed into the Club asking who was driving the ambulance and where was the emergency?
They pointed to the new flight surgeon standing at the bar ordering a drink before dinner.
The next morning the Habu Commander had all the crews in his office to explain to them that they had upset the whole base and not to do anything like that again, but he could NOT keep a straight face while explaining the prank.
Jim Shelton is a very brave American patriot. He spent 10 hours in the SR 71 Cockpit Flying over the Israel in 1973 during the Yum Kippur War.
Linda Sheffield Miller
@Habubrats71 via X
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alexbkrieger13 · 2 years
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Swewnt behind the scenes on game day is organized chaos 😎 aftonbladet(.)se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/nWpmra/sa-laddar-landslaget-infor-em-premiaren-bakom-kulisserna
Love chaotic/ oganised gals
The first day is weeping. 90 minutes after sunrise, the Swedish staff is awakening at DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park. The area is scenic and the morning is still.
The team's material manager Jessica Karlsson is up with the rooster. 25 bags are going to the arena, she makes a double check so everything is packed.
Hedvig Lindahl, Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson will first come to the dining room. The breakfast buffet offers everything and it is only the first of today's many meals.
One by one, the players are smoothing to the table. World Cup debutante Johanna Rytting Kaneryd eats protein porridge. Hanna Glas has been sleeping out when she benches. It's only nine o'clock.
The last to breakfast are Nathalie Björn and Filippa Angeldahl. They feel a certain pride at it, yes Filippa thinks it feels completely unreasonable that there are teammates who have been up since six or seven in the morning.
The leaders who belong to the medical team keep a low profile, let players be but still have a stone track of how they feel. The daily monitors reach the team's Ipads and the information of deviant reporting is sent out into a separate WhatsApp group. Salivsamples reveal whether a player suffers from liquid deficiency.
If there is the least doubt, a leader seeks up the player in question. All small factors are counted whether physical or mental. There are physiotherapists, physiotherapists, doctors and psychologists in the staff.
Once everyone has been fed, the last tactical details should be fine.
This morning there is a meeting on fixed situations, where the team's appreciated video analysts have sold and picked out the clips worth showing. Then the players sit in the team groups. Hanna Glas, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson, Amanda Ilestedt and the remaining defensemen together review the offensive Dutch players. Vivianne miedema. The Netherlands's main threat, is being studied extra. "Magda has stopped her earlier in league matches and shares her experiences.
After the meeting, Hanna Glas takes a walk. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Fridolina Rolfö, zecira Musovic, Rebecka Blomqvist, Elin Rubensson, Hanna Bennison and Sofia Jakobsson do the same this morning.
Then it's time to eat. Again.
Lunch is extensive. There are pasta dishes, vegetarian alternatives and a fish dish with rice. After the meal there is a lot of room for the players' own needs. They're varying.
It's a clean up. She organizes in her hotel room and is satisfied by the crafts. Rebecka Blomqvist folds clothes and Amanda Nilen conducts a calmer stretch. When Stina Blackstenius listened to music and relaxed, she finds a teammate for some card games.
Inside the captain Caroline segers rooms are happening. Nothing. The Swedish team captain is in bed. And stares up the roof.
She's collecting energy, aware of how much is expected by her on the field.
When restlessness knocks on, the veteran takes out his cell phone and builds a house. Homeescape makes her escape for a while.
In a room further away, the shower is squaring. Kosovare Asllani loves to stand under running water on the day of the game.
The bus rolls at exactly time
Four hours to the game, at 4:00 p.m. The target-time is calling again. There has been been laid up rice and chicken, pasta with sauce, vegetarian dishes and yogurt for those who prefer.
The atmosphere and energy are escalating. Hanna Glas now gladly change her R'nB to more uptempo, as house music.
As the departure to the match trip approaches, security manager Stefan Dejemyr and team manager Magnus Andersson go into the bus. Before departure, Magnus has been checking through the team line several times. Nothing must go wrong with the documentation of the starting lineup to UEFA.
Magnus and Stefan are first and receive the players on the bus. Nobody's late.
The time of departure to the arena is carefully planned. The bus rolls exactly to land on Bramall Lane 90 minutes before kickoff. It is prestige for the Swedish leaders that the team comes at the minute.
When the players get into the locker room, everything is prepared. Jessica's made sure of that. They each get room to sit on, name signs show where. There hang the players' clothes and match shirts.
Nathalie Björn goes directly to his place. She has to unpack her bag before she goes out and feels the grass. Kosovare Asllani must step out with the right foot first on the field. When Stina Blackstenius changes, she puts on her right leg guard before the left. In the locker room, the music is pumping from the playlist.
The Swedish national team's performance scoach Pontus Ekblom has by now become restless. He's going on the field.
With 50 minutes left he stands there alone and dots the bar, sometimes with a light condivy smile from the goaltenders and even though he thinks it feels a little silly.
45 minutes left when the team warms the team - Johanna Rytting Kaneryd makes kneels, a must for the explosive outer forward. Then into the locker room for one last talk.
We've shown how to grow up out of asphalt
And deserves their too big shoes
How to scream out loud when the world keeps its breath
There's always been a fire in our blood.
When the tones from Molly Sanden and the players' own European Championship song roars out of the speaker, they know it's time to take off.
Leaders with the national team doctor Houman Ebrahimi at the head takes place behind the changes, in the stands Anders Eriksson is ready to send down sequences from the game to the bench.
Everyone's excited and in the match match.
Caroline Seger, with a rainbow tie on her arm, takes her team in hand and leads them out on the gold road. The players go out on Bramall Lane and are received by 2,700 singing Swedish fans in the stands.
A few minutes in eight local time and a national anthem later it's time.
The European Championship premiere can start. Hanna Glas will only make two quick jumps before the game can kick off.
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minim236 · 2 years
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Regent's Park Gazebo
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A bit of canon divergence - Edwina realises the morning of her wedding what she needs to do.
There is a panic at the palace usually for two reasons:
1. The King is in one of his worst states.
2. A Peacock has attacked one of the newer footmen.
But there was a third reason and the Queen screaming was an unusual sight. At a letter, she had received from her Diamond.
Brimsely sighed. It would be a longer season than he thought.
...
Mary excitedly went to go wake up Edwina to prepare for her wedding. Her youngest is in love and getting married!
"Edwina..." She gently opened
Pulling back the covers, she gasps when she sees the cushions and pillows lined up to mimic her figure.
She marched to Kate's room, where she had been laying out her maid of honour dress whilst a maid prepared a bath, "Kavita. Tell me you did not know Edwina is gone."
"What do you mean Edwina is missing?" Kate is just as panicked, which means she is not covering for her sister. The two tended to whenever Kate wanted to go for one of her rides or Edwina skipped lessons to sit in the library.
"Edwina is what?" Lady Danbury repeated when they told and Newton barked as if answering her. She didn't even glare at the dog this time.
"Perhaps Lord Bridgerton wanted to see her or she needed some air." Mary suggested.
Lady Danbury hummed in thought before marching outside. Mary and Kate looked at one another, confused before following her all the way to the stables.
One of the smaller horses, Moonbeam, was gone.
"You Sharma girls are worse than my godson." Agatha scowled.
...
Edwina did not have a whole plan when she awoke that morning. Well, she did have a plan. She just did not know how it would end.
Send a letter to the queen.
Send a letter to Anthony
Run away.
She had not really planned step 4. But she knew of one place she wanted to visit - the gazebo in the neck of Regent's Park. It was a quiet morning. No doubt everyone was preparing for her wedding.
She remembered this gazebo because of her parents. The story of their true and deep love.
Mary and Edwin would meet here under the stars. In Regent's Park Gazebo, falling in love in secret. He proposed to her here.
"Edwina!" She looked up, hearing her name called. It was Kate and Mary, running towards her. They had lept out of Lady Danbury's carriage.
"Oh, Edwina." Kate sighed in relief, hugging her tightly.
Kate had figured out her sister might come here. It was her favourite story - the one about how their appa and amma fell in love.
"What on earth were you thinking-" Mary switches from English to Tamil, scolding and fussing over her youngest, making sure she is not hurt. She hugged both her daughters, feeling relief like they were children again and one had run off.
"Sorry, Amma. I did not wish to cause any trouble." Edwina apologised.
"No harm done." Mary assured, "Just do not do that. My heart cannot take it when I do not know where the two of you run off to."
"Now, let's get you ready." Kate began, holding her hand.
"I can't." Edwina protested, removing herself from their arms.
"Does he really love me?"
Kate blinked "Of course, he must!" She worried that Anthony had done something, said something.
"I need to hear it. Know it." Edwina said determinedly, "I cannot do tis, unless I know."
Mary and Kate looked at one another.
...
Violet felt as if no one was ready for this wedding. Not even the groom.
"Let us go." Anthony ordered his siblings, purposefully clapping his hands next to Colin's head. His younger brother flinched as Benedict smirked and began following the groom.
"Ready for the rest of your life, brother?" Benedict smirked.
They were stopped by an out-of-breath footman from Lady Danbury's home.
"A message from Lady Sheffield-Sharma," The messenger said, "She has asked Lord Bridgerton to come to Regent's Park."
"Is she alright?" Benedict asked, worried. Even Eloise was now very interested in her brother's romantic house.
...
Violet and Anthony took a carriage to Regent's park, their carriage parked next to Lady Danbury's.
Anthony spots Kate sitting with Edwina in the gazebo as Mary approached the two.
"Lord Bridgerton. Violet." Mary greeted.
"Mary, is everything alright?" Violet asked.
"She will not go down the aisle until she speaks with you, Lord Bridgerton," Mary explained briefly and he nodded, jogging towards the gazebo.
Edwina was different, with her hair down, the skirt of her dress slightly muddied. Kate looked beautiful wearing her maid of honour dress, under a warm cloak. Anthony shook his head, trying not to be distracted by the eldest Sharma sister.
"Miss Edwina, is everything alright?" Anthony asked. She is not injured in any way that he can see, "It is bad luck to see one another before the wedding is it not?"
He hoped to make her laugh, but she did not this time. Kate squeezed her sister's hand and left the two, not without Anthony and her sparing a glance towards
"Why did you decide to court me?" Edwina asked. That was not the question he had been expecting. He sat down on the bench next to her.
"You are the loveliest young lady I have the pleasure of meeting this season. You are kind, intelligent, wise-" She did not wish to hear more of his pretty words.
"And why did you propose?" She interrupted bluntly.
"I had meant to do so properly. But I realised as you were leaving that I desperately wanted to marry you. To make you my Viscountess." Anthony implored.
"Because you love me?" It was no secret she desired to marry for love. The Queen had called them a true love match.
"I..." Anthony hesitated before "I understand you."
"You understand me?" She echoed, her accent thicker.
"I understand your role. Our roles align. I know your dilemma more than most and... we could share our burden." He said, gently taking her hand. She looked at him this time, her eyes serious.
"But do you love me? Are you marrying me because you love me? I know that is why I said yes because I love you. I wish to be your wife, the mother of your children, your partner. But I feel as if when you look at me, I do not know what it is you feel for me.
"Miss Edwina..."
"I am young, yes. But not as naive as many had thought. Perhaps it is from reading so many love stories or remembering the way my father looked at my mother that I woke up and I realised..." Edwina said.
She glanced at Kate, standing with Lady Danbury and her mother. She looks saddened. When she turned back to Anthony, he too was looking in her sister's direction. He quickly turned back to Edwina, thinking she had not noticed.
"I may not know properly what love is meant to be. But you do not look at me the way you..." She trailed off, feeling hurt, "So I ask: Do you love me, Lord Bridgerton?"
"I do not." Anthony admitted
Her heart shattered at those words, despite a part of her expecting it.
"Yet you knew I wished for a love match."
"I...yes. But I thought I had made it clear-"
"When? When did you make it clear?" Edwina demanded, "Everyone- even your own mother told you I wanted to marry a man who loved me. And I thought that when you invited us to your home, it meant that you were in fact falling in love with me. After you defended my family so gallantly. You merely marrying my title as a diamond. That is why you did not mind my lack of dowry. Not because you love me
"I was a fool."
"You are no fool," Anthony told her desperately.
"So has this been entertaining for you, My Lord?" She asked flatly, standing up.
"Miss Edwina," Anthony begged, "Please. Do not do this. Everyone has been expecting it all season. I care for you, I respect you."
"But you do not love me. If you cared for me, you would not have deceived me so." Edwina said, swallowing. She would not cry in front of him.
She twisted the betrothal ring off her finger and placed it in his hand.
"Miss Edwina-"
"Good day, my Lord." She said, walking away
"Edwina, come into the carriage," Kate asked, following Edwina to her horse. But she does not listen, untying the animal and mounting the horse.
"I see why you ride, akka. It clears the mind. I need to clear my mind too." She said flatly and rode off.
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