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ali-annals · 4 months

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i could be the way forward (i know I'll pay for it) (forever is the sweetest con, pt 2)

Pairing: Jason Todd x Marinette Dupain-Cheng PART ONE Moodboard

Rating: G | Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Ao3 | WC: 1.6k | TW: -

A/N: This is part of a series called The Eras Tour (Jasonette’s Version), a collection of Jasonette-centric fics I wrote for the Maribat discord server Maribat? Get In!’s 2024 Civil War event. Not beta’d.

Years after retiring from Ladybug, Marinette Dupain-Cheng goes by many other names, switching identities as easily as she breathes…until she tries to swindle the wrong guy.

Marinette swirled her olive in the dregs of her martini, forlornly chewing on the other. The chatter of the multitude of people passing through the bar was a welcome background noise for her to tune out as she thought of her ex-partner.

The news anchor’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts of dark hair and teal eyes. Had he said-

“Oh, he was the sweetest boy, always so polite,” said a little old lady who had appeared on the stool next to her. She looked harmless, but she wouldn’t have survived this long in a city like Gotham without having something up her sleeve. “We all missed him greatly. He was a ray of sunshine, one that Gotham let through her smog to give us all hope.”

Marinette turned to her. “Would you mind telling me more about him and what’s happening? I’m somewhat new here.”

The party was in full swing by the time her limo pulled up to the event hall. The chauffeur opened the door for her, her date for the night getting out and offering his hand in silent escort.

They entered the hall, fashionably late and thus commanding everyone’s attention without even trying. She knew she looked good, having put her own touch on the off-the-rack dress she’d found in an adorable boutique.

She took in the crowd as she descended the stairs, using her temporary height to her advantage. So many dark-haired men here, yet the one she wanted to see wasn’t.

Her date led her to a small group of people by the foot of the stairs, two of which had ‘PRESS’ lanyards over their suit and dress.

“Clark, Lois, it’s good to see you! How have you been? This is my date, Melody Dupain. Melody, these are my friends, Clark Kent and Lois Lane.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” she nodded.

“It’s nice to meet you, Melody,” said Lois. “We just talked the other day, nothing’s changed,” she added to her date.

“Good to hear. Excuse us, the mayor wanted a word.”

Marinette continued on her way, taking the time her date was socializing to scan the room.

She excused herself from the conversation, heading in the direction of the French doors she’d spotted as she came in.

The cool air was refreshing after the heat of the ballroom and cloying perfumes. She found a quiet spot overlooking the gardens, underneath a garden party tent of some kind. Little drops of rain soon echoed calmingly as they bounced off the canvas top.

“May I have this dance?”

She startled, the rain having covered anyone’s approaching footsteps.

“Dancing is a dangerous game. Haven’t you read any Jane Austen, where the characters fall in love because they danced?”

She turned, her breath catching.

He smirked. “Of course I’ve read Jane Austen; I’m not a heathen, what do you take me for?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Watching my ex-swindling-partner attempt to swindle my dad, apparently,” he shrugged. “And just when I thought life was going to be boring again.”

“How…was everything I heard true?”

“Depends on what you heard, but probably. Although the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I’m fine now.”

“Jay.”

“Look, this isn’t a great place to get into everything. How about we skip the party and go get Batburger?”

She hadn’t even heard the end of his proposition and she grabbed his hand, leading the way out.

“I’ll take you to my favourite gargoyle and we can talk there.”

“Of course you have a favourite gargoyle,” she rolled her eyes at him fondly.

He opened the door to a black Rolls Royce.

She settled in the comfy seat appreciatively, running her hands over the dash. “You finally got your fancy car, huh?”

He chuckled dryly. “Yep. First long con I ever did, and I’m still runnin’ it. Now I’m actually old enough to drive the things.”

“Please just tell me you’re not pretending to be Bruce’s dead son,” she said as they pulled into the Batburger drive through.

“No, I wouldn’t do that…well, maybe. But no, I’m the real dead son. But why are you trying to swindle the guy who has a dead son?”

“Not so dead anymore,” she retorted, waving at him. “Because I had to see if it was really you, homme stupide . I came to Gotham because it’s a wonderful place to hide, and then I found my ex-partner beat me to swindling high society, only it might not be a swindle at all! What did you even need the money for, if your dad is the richest guy in America?!”

He shrugged, paying and collecting their order. “His money ain’t my money. Also, he didn’t know I was alive, and I had some…things to take care of first.”

They climbed up the rusty fire escape to the roof of the building that housed his favourite gargoyle. Jason handed her her burger and fries.

“Your dress looks really nice, Mar. Did you make it?”

“I restyled it,” she sniffed, biting hungrily into her burger. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“Why are you so mad? I’m not even stopping you conning my dad or giving you away.”

“Because I thought I’d never see you again, and then I did and I wasn’t even prepared for it, and now I’m thrown all off-kilter! And I can’t in good conscience hustle your dad, he’s your dad !”

“I mean, if it helps, I hustle him all the time,” he shrugged, bumping her shoulder with his.

“It really doesn’t…okay, maybe a little bit. But I’m still not stealing from your dad! This was going to be my last con.”

“What? Why?” He looked at her, startled. “Are you in trouble?”

“Not as far as I know,” she bit a fry moodily in half. “I’m tired of it. Constantly looking over my shoulder, switching up my identity, never getting close to anyone. I’ll use what I have to settle down somewhere and set up a sewing shop or something, live a boring life and find a husband and have two-point-five kids…”

“It’ll never work.”

Marinette punched his shoulder for his immediate pessimistic shut-down.

“Ow! I mean, you won’t be happy without the adrenaline rush, the danger. But,” he raised his finger, “I have an idea.”

“Do tell,” she said dryly, used to his ideas.

“Marry me.”

She coughed out the fry she’d been eating. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious. Marry me. It’ll take care of a lot of problems for us. We can’t legally testify against each other, in case our pasts catch up to us. You’ll be richer than Croesus, you can bug Bruce all the time –and it’ll be great leverage for me: “Bruce, how could you date your future daughter-in-law”--and we can go around long-conning society with a permanent identity and no one to catch us.”

“And just how will we do that?” she asked, getting interested in spite of herself.

“I can only tell you if you agree,” he said mock-solemnly.

She punched his shoulder again.

“Ow! If you’re gonna turn to punching me, maybe I'll take it back!”

“Tell me why we’re long-conning society, Jason,” she threatened.

“Because we’re the Todd-Waynes during the day, but the vigilantes Red Hood and Mrs Red Hood (name subject to change) at night!”

She blinked at him. “That makes so much sense. Wait, why will I be a vigilante?”

He gave her a flat look. “Pixie. You told me you used to be a hero. You need the adrenaline rush, that’s why you’re currently a swindler. You can go back to heroing, get your thrills, and feel good about it while you do it, instead of sullying your conscience by swindling old men grieving the loss of their son-ow!”

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But you have to answer a few questions for me first.”

“Only if you answer three of mine.”

“You’re a horrible negotiator.”

He simply smiled serenely at her.

She huffed. “Fine, I’ll answer three of your questions, but you have to answer as many as I ask you. You are getting the better part of the deal, may I remind you.”

“Sounds good.”

“Why do you want to marry me?”

“Ooh, loaded question, right off the bat. Well, I like you. I can trust you, we work well together, we know each other well already.”

“Why did you stay so long with me if your dad is a billionaire?”

“To take care of you. Also, it was nice to have someone around who knew me but also didn’t know me, if you know what I mean.”

“Crystal clear,” she deadpanned. “But yes, I think so. You wanted someone to know you without knowing the past you with all the baggage and pre-made judgments. I felt the same way. Why did you want to take care of me?”

“Why not? I like you.”

“Jason! You can’t just say stuff like that!”

“You wanted the truth!”

“Yeah, but I’m gonna fall off this roof in shock!”

“I’ll catch you then. As long as you’re falling for me.”

Marinette sputtered at his blatant flirting. “ You’ll be falling because of me.”

“I already am.”

“Jason Todd!”

The banter and interrogation continued until all the burgers and fries were gone. Jason sighed, leaning back on his elbows, kicking his feet over the side. “There’s something you should probably know before we do anything else.”

She eyed him cautiously. “Okay…”

“I wasn’t planning on partnering with you, but I felt like there was something between us after the first night. We got along so well after that, and it was an easy cover to keep when I had some Hood business to take care of. But we spent more time together, and I started falling for you. It wasn’t the plan, but I couldn’t stop–and I didn’t particularly want to stop, either. I love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

She bit her lip hard, willing away the tears. “I love you too, Jason Todd-Wayne.”

#jasonette #fic #ali writes #mgi cw 24 #dcxmlb

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dangerousbandsymbol · 6 months

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7 + 1 twenty one pilots ask:

i was tagged by @pantaloonwarrior @dasloddl and @silverlininghills thank you guys! 💜

1. when/how did you discover them? + what was the first song you listened to?

i consider my 'official' discovery of twenty one pilots in january 2019 when the chlorine mv dropped and randomly got on my youtube homepage and blew my mind

though before that i had already heard stressed out/ride/heathens, i think the very first song i heard from them was ride

2. have you been on concert(s)?

sadly no... my dream is to go one of those small venue shows like they did during takeover tour

3. do you remember where you were when trench dropped (if you were a fan by then)?

i wasn't a yet fan back then but what i would give to be in the trench rollout dmaorg updates yellow everywhere era!!

4. favourite thing about the clique?

how we weren't just drawn to the music but the message behind it—and everyone on here is so nice i love y'all and also we have the best artists (drawing/writing/making music)

5. any memorable/funny/interesting quote (from interviews/bts footage/…) you especially like?

i learned the word plausible from the boys, also shoutout to will smith for being such a great friend and providing them places to shoot music videos in

6. what would you want to ask/tell them if you got the chance?

i would like to tell them they're not alone in their struggles either, they're always helping us with their music but it'd be nice that they were the ones being supported for once, i would ask tyler what were the nicher inspirations for the dema/trench world, i'd thank josh dun for overcoming his fear of public speaking because i'm the same look up to him so much

7. which tattoo would you like to know the meaning of (if you do)?

tyler's •|i|• Ø i+! ].[ tattoo, josh's sleeve

i have like three additional questions so here we go:

which album cover do you like best? (from dasloddl)

i love them all but if i had to choose, self titled. because it started as just a sketch drawn by a friend of the band, and nobody had expected it to mean so much to people years later. so i really love that authenticity and that how by looking at it you feel connected to tyler in 2009

I’d love to hear about some memorable moment you had because of this band, it can be anything, whatever you’re comfortable sharing <3 (from pantaloonwarrior)

around a month ago i found a random personalised mug at my school left by a past student and the drawings on the mug were a reference to neon gravestones... that moment of connection with someone in the same place but different times really moved and if i never discovered this band i would've never had this experience <3 (i made a post abt it here)

what do you think the genre/vibe of the next album is going to be? (from silverlininghills)

trench but ever better—gritty & eerie & crisp & euphoric & light & heavy

+1 for @vulture-who-feeds-on-pain @kaminokilljoy @lane-doubter @spookiestbandito: if the boys released a mashup of 2+ of their songs (think sai livestream version songs), which songs would you want to see mixed together?

#ask games #sisi.txt

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fortysixandtwo · 2 years

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Amon Amarth kicked off their Great Heathen Army Tour in America this past Friday in Las Vegas and I got to meet the band before the show. Johan Hegg is a giant!

This was my fourth time seeing Amon Amarth LIVE in concert and it was just as awesome as it always has been 🤘

Cattle Decapitation, Obituary, and Carcass were the openers and Cattle Decapitation performed a new song from their upcoming album for the first time.

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my-chaos-radio · 1 year

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youtube

Release: March 3, 1986

Lyrics:

I've nothing much to offer

There's nothing much to take

I'm an absolute beginner

But I'm absolutely sane

As long as we're together

The rest can go to hell

I absolutely love you

But we're absolute beginners

With eyes completely open

But nervous all the same

If our love song

Could fly over mountains

Could laugh at the ocean

Just like the films

There's no reason

To feel all the hard times

To lay down the hard lines

It's absolutely true

Nothing much could happen

Nothing we can't shake

Oh, we're absolute beginners

With nothing much at stake

As long as you're still smiling

There's nothing more I need

I absolutely love you

But we're absolute beginners

But if my love is your love

We're certain to succeed

Songwriter: David Bowie

If our love song

Could fly over mountains

Sail over heartaches

Just like the films

If there's reason

To feel all the hard times

To lay down the hard lines

It's absolutely true

SongFacts:

"Absolute Beginners" is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. Released on 3 March 1986, it was the theme song to the 1986 film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book 'Absolute Beginners').

Although the film was not a commercial success, the song was a big hit, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten on the main singles charts in ten other countries. In the US, it peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Bowie performed "Absolute Beginners" live on his 1987 Glass Spider Tour, his 2000 "Mini" Tour, and his 2002 Heathen Tour. The song has been included on a number of Bowie's compilation and "Best-of" releases, and was included as a bonus track on the 1995 re-release of Tonight (1984).

Bowie was good friends with the film's director, Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the 'Jazzin' for Blue Jean' short film). Bowie agreed to Temple's request to write music for the film if he could also play the part of Vendice Partners.

It was recorded at Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley's Westside Studios, London. The sessions were completed rapidly, but the song was delayed due to the problems with completing the film. Virgin wanted the release to tie in with the film's opening. The song featured Rick Wakeman on piano, who had previously performed on Bowie's "Space Oddity" single and Hunky Dory album. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record the charity cover of "Dancing in the Street" with Bowie, which used many of the same musicians. Bowie recorded the lead vocal of "Absolute Beginners" at Westside Studios in August.

Julien Temple shot the music video, which echoed the 1950s style of the movie. The video was a homage to an old British advert for Strand cigarettes. The ill-fated advertising tagline "You're never alone with a Strand" is quoted by Partners in the film. The video also uses footage from the film.

In 2016, Entertainment Weekly chose it as one of Bowie's 20 best music videos. They stated the video "does a far better job of expressing the noirish romanticism" of MacInnes' novel than the film did and also praised the "great dance-fighting scene at the end".

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cricketnationrise · 2 years

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tag some mutuals you want to get to know better!

thank you @appalamutte for the tag!

favorite time of year: any weather cool enough to wear a flannel shirt and not melt, yet warm enough the flannel is all i need

comfort food: cheese fries with bacon

favorite dessert: snickerdoodle cookies

things you collect: snarky reading magnets, programs from shows i've worked on, embroidery floss that "i'll use eventually"

favorite drink: sweet tea

favorite musical artist: sara bareilles

last song you listened to: automatic by lake street drive

last movie you watched: legally blonde

last series you watched: ted lasso (for the first time)

series you’re currently watching: junior great british bake off, season 7 of Good Bones

current obsession: SIX: The Musical since I just saw it the other week, Charmer <3, the fact that my local bagel shop is now open 6 days a week instead of 4

a dream place to visit: new zealand (LOTR film location tour)

a place that you want to go back to: New River Gorge in West Virginia specifically to go whitewater rafting again

something you want: the boiler in my apartment building to be working, another tattoo

currently working on: my last FTH fic, 200 followers prompts, a hockey adjacent cross stitch

tagging a few people: @stardew-allie (since youre new! hi!), @jam-heathen and @thoughtsofthegirlwiththecurl plus anyone else who wants to!

#cricket chirps #get to know you tag game

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thephotopitmagazine · 2 years

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AMON AMARTH TO MAKE HISTORY WITH THE GREAT HEATHEN TOUR

AMON AMARTH To Make History With THE GREAT HEATHEN TOUR As The First Extreme Metal Band To Headline The Iconic Kia Forum With The First Co-Presents Between Top On-Air Terrestrial And Satellite Radio Talent Bringing Infamous North American Theater Production To Entire Tour And Full European Production To Arena Shows In Los Angeles, Montreal and New York Watch Brand New Tour Teaser HERE Latest…

View On WordPress

#Amon Amarth #Live Nation #on tour #The Great Heathen Army #The Great Heathen Tour

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cksmart-world · 3 months

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SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart

February 13, 2024

CARPET BOMBED BY TAYLOR SWIFT

She's here. She's there. She's everywhere. She's on Facebook. She's on Instagram. She's on Tic Tok. Taylor Swift is Time magazine's person of the year. You're right Wilson, it's like we're being carpet bombed by Taylor Swift. She is in Tokyo. Will she make it back for the Super Bowl? She's over Hawaii. She's made it to L.A. Yes, she's in Las Vegas to see beau Travis Kelce play pigskin hero. Oh thank goodness. Taylor Swift won four Grammies — four! More than 535 million follow her on social media — 535 million! Taylor Swift has 12 houses — 12! Her Eras Tour is set to make $1billion — $1 billion. She gave each member of her Eras Tour staff a $100,000 bonus — $100,000. Taylor Swift has a new album coming out called, “The Tortured Poets Department.” But why is there no apostrophe on “poets?” Is it one poet and they forgot the apostrophe — Poet's — or is many tortured poets — Poets'? People want to know. Not since Paris Hilton have we needed to keep up with someone's every move. Did she wear panties to the party? Does she have a sex tape with Kelce? Why do those MAGA people think she's a secret agent for the Pentagon? What does feng shui say about her future? Does she marry Kelce? Does she defeat Trump? Can you stand it, Wilson. Can you stand it.

UTAH — LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

Some people might not like Utah on account of were not woke here. Well if you don't love Utah's “weird” ways, as Gov. Spencer Cox put it, then by all means hit the road. Brainiac analyst Andy Larsen at The Salt Lake Tribune noted that some of our policies enacted by the state legislature might encourage some folks to leave or not come here in the first place. Cry us a river. According to the data, Utah is losing promising students, graduates, doctors, scientists, techies, teachers and the like — a veritable brain drain — because we're a little narrow-minded. Boohoo. These people want reproductive healthcare for women, they want diversity at schools and work, they want to be free to teach in classrooms without Puritan overseers, they want books in libraries and a place were their LGBTQ kids aren't prone to suicide. Picky, picky, picky. When it comes to morality and culture wars the righteous brethren on Capitol Hill know what's best. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is “almost evil,” according to Cox and Utah lawmakers couldn't move fast enough to show the Republican National Committee how we roll when it comes to things that aren't The Great Salt Lake. So stuff that in your blue blazer and don't let the door hit you in your heathen ass on the way out of Zion.

THE BEST LAWS ARE MADE IN THE DARK

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, knows a thing or two about lawmaking — keep it secret and make it quick. He's proposing legislation that would create an all-powerful Water Development Council and Water Agent that could plan massive projects, like pipelines and dams, out of sight of the public. Pretty slick. The proposed legislation would exempt the council and agent from the Utah Open Meetings Act and open records law. Is that cool, or what. Why mess around with a democratic process when you can just meet in the basement and get stuff done without a bunch of citizen whining. After all, it's just water they could import from other states. It's so much more efficient than airing the details out in public — like how much it could cost and little things like that. It might be just coincidence but some folks on Capitol Hill are talking about building pipelines from the Pacific Ocean or the Columbia River to The Great Salt Lake. That could cost hundreds of billions, but it's just taxpayer money. So, why buy water rights from the alfalfa growers along the Bear River, where much of the lake's source water is sucked up. After all, farming is tradition and we don't want to mess with that. And anyway, how would the Chinese feed their cattle without Utah alfalfa.

Post script — That's it for another Super Week here at Smart Bomb, where we keep track of Tayor Swift so you don't have to. Ha! Just kidding. No one can keep track of Taylor Swift. OK, trick question: Who won the Super Bowl? Answer: Taylor Swift duh. Pop star Adele has this advice for people complaining about seeing Taylor Swift at football games: “Get a f-ing life!” So take that, Wilson. Moving right along: Speaking of the Once-Great Salt Lake, Brian Steed, the lake's new commissioner, told KUER that 800 square miles of now-exposed lake-bed pose a health risk from blowing dust containing carcinogens and heavy metals. It would cost an initial $1.5 billion to hold the dust down plus $15 million a year in maintenance. Or we could fill the lake back to healthy levels at a fraction of the cost. But hey, no worries, the legislature thinks the Lord will take care of it. And then there is this: According to the Deseret News, Jim Leany took the furnishings from Lamb's Grill, the old Salt Lake City landmark, and moved them to his TRUreligion Pancake and Steakhouse on Orem's State Street. Lamb's, of course, was where Utah's powerbroker huddled to remake the capital city with taxpayer money. And maybe there was a little bit in it for them, too. Ah, those were the days.

Well Wilson, we could do something to honor Taylor Swift but she really doesn't need any help or accolades. Still, this whole thing with the MAGA conspiracy that Swift is a psyops agent is really a gas. So, what do you say, Wilson, you and the guys in the band must have something for those real secret agents out there that keep evil at bay:

There's a man who leads a life of danger To everyone he meets he stays a stranger With every move he makes Another chance he takes Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow Secret Agent Man Secret Agent Man They've given you a number and taken away your name Beware of pretty faces that you find A pretty face can hide an evil mind Oh, be careful what you say Or you'll give yourself away Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow Secret Agent Man Secret Agent Man They've given you a number and taken away your name Swinging on the Riviera one day And then laying in a Bombay alley next day Oh, don't you let the wrong words slip While kissing persuasive lips Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow Secret Agent Man Secret Agent Man They've given you a number and taken away your name

(Secret Agent Man — Johnny Rivers)

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sinfultray1408 · 11 months

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Scene Comparisons: -2-

My Life With Chaplin: An Intimate Memoir by Lita Grey Chaplin with Morton Cooper (pg. 23-25)

Wife of the Life of the Party: A Memoir by Lita Grey Chaplin and Jeffrey Vance (pg. 11-12)

As far as Grandpa was concerned, Charlie Chaplin was the only justification for motion pictures. Everyone else in the industry was a rotter, a heathen, a lecher, out to corrupt decency; the movie folks, after all, were the ones who had vulgarized and changed the face and perhaps the soul of the Hollywood he loved. He was hanged if he would let me anywhere near a movie studio, in spite of Mama's--and Grandma's gentle chidings that he was too straitlaced for his own good. He even glowered when Merna Kennedy, my best friend, came to the house to play.

Merna and I had met at dancing school. She was a pretty, red-haired girl who danced well and who had had a little fling, in fact, at touring in vaudeville. This upset Grandpa, and although he was always civil with Merna, he was never really comfortable when I brought her home.

One of our neighbors, and one of Mama's friends, was Chuck Riesner, Charlie Chaplin's assistant director. One day Chuck rang our bell - grandpa was out, fortunately - with an offer to make. "We're starting to shoot a six-reeler, and it may interest you, Lillian," he told Mama. "It's a great story. Mr. Chaplin's calling it The Kid for the time being and we need some small fry for some of the sequences. If you like I can get Lillita a part. It won't pay much, and it won't take long, but it would be a nice experience for her."

Interested? Mama and I both became feverish with excitement. The following day, at Chuck's suggestion, we appeared at the Chaplin studio, having remembered to forget to say anything to Grandpa. In his office Chuck explained that California law had two rules about child players: I would have to have an adult chaperon at all times, and my schooling was not to be interrupted; the Board of Education would send a teacher to the studio every weekday for as long as I was in The Kid.

Before the end of the discussion it was agreed that we would be issued a contract, the terms of which were that Mama would act as chaperon in addition to her work as an extra in the picture. Chuck walked with us to the front gate, but on the way he paused at a door. “While you're here you might as well meet Mr. Chaplin, if he's not too busy,” he said, and knocked.

I gaped at Mama, who seemed to be taking the earth-quake in stride. I was going to come face to face with Charlie Chaplin, which for a twelve-year-old girl in 1920 was almost like coming face to face with God.

"Come in."

Motioning for us to wait, Chuck entered the room. From my side of the door, I could see Charlie Chaplin - Charlie Chaplin! seated at a long desk, busily leafing through a sheaf of papers as Chuck talked to him. He wasn't wearing the tramp costume he'd worn the day I'd fled from him in the restaurant. I saw the somber-faced, mid-thirtyish Charlie Chaplin whose non-Tramp photographs were in the newspapers and magazines. I was nervous, and my knees almost buckled when Chuck beckoned us in.

However many private insecurities and self-doubts I had at twelve, I was not an ingrown kid; I had learned poise, and I was satisfied that my personality was an agreeable one- and I'd learned to enjoy meeting people. Yet when we went into that small, spare, neat office my palms were moist, and I was sure I would be tongue-tied. I felt awkward and infantile and homely. The day before I had stood, in front of our full-length mirror, melodramatically posing and admiring my developing breasts. Now, perversely, I was ashamed of them, and although I was dressed modestly enough, I wished that I were wearing a coat to hide them completely.

The great man didn't leap to his feet with courtly, expansive gestures of welcome, but he did rise and smile as the introductions were made. His eyes were violet blue, and soulful. He had small hands and feet, a disproportionately large head and a lithe body, and, I noticed, slightly protruding teeth. He was quietly refined, and he had a commanding presence.

"I'm pleased to know you," he said, nodding slightly to Mama. He was rather restrained with me as well, but he did take my hand and shake it. He saw me flinch, and evidently - and accurately - associating my flinching with the fact that my palm was disgracefully damp, his smile broadened. "You're an extremely pretty child, my dear," he said warmly, "and I'm glad Mr. Riesner found you." Before I could find my voice to thank him, he released my soggy hand and said to Chuck, as though I were no longer in the office, "She should do well with us. Those are striking eyes. She reminds me a bit of the child in the 'Age of Innocence’ painting."

He appeared ready to dismiss us, and as he stepped back to his chair Chuck gave me a solemn wink. I was certainly ready to go, but that was the moment Mama decided to bubble. "Mr. Chaplin, I suppose you wouldn't remember, but oh, quite a number of years ago - you met Lillita. It was in that restaurant right around -“

He listened politely to her pointless story. "Oh, yes, I do remember," he lied, edging closer to his chair. "Ah - now, if you will excuse me, I must get back to work.”

I was furious with Mama on our way back home. I insisted that she shouldn't have brought up such a silly thing, that he was merely being polite in having us in his office for a few minutes.

"It wasn't silly at all," she said blithely. "He does remember meeting you. I could tell as soon as I reminded him."

On one particular day in the spring of 1920, I was on our front porch doing my homework with Merna, when I looked up and saw Chuck Riesner walking along in front of our flat. He was motioning to me to come and join him. He was with a man I did not know. Leaving Merna, I ran across our lawn to join the two men.

"Lillita," said Chuck, "I want you to meet Charlie Chaplin." This Mr. Chaplin did not look anything like the Charlie Chaplin I had seen before. I understood from Hal Parker that real people were used for the movie screens and that makeup and costume altered one's appearance, but this man did not look anything like Charlie Chaplin.

Chuck Riesner evidently could see the incredulity on my face. "This is Mr. Charlie Chaplin, Lillita. I've been telling Mr. Chaplin about you and thought you might like to be in a movie. We're using some young people, and I think you'll photograph well."

Charlie spoke. "Would you like to be in a movie?"

"I'd love to be in your movie," I said. "But I'll have to ask my mother."

"Oh, certainly," said Chuck.

Chuck Riesner was fond of me. I was spending a lot of time at his house playing with Dinky (Dean Franklin); I have always loved babies. Chuck wanted to do something kind for me by having Charlie use me in one of his films.

"You go and get your mother," said Chuck. "I'm sure she'll let you be in a movie.”

"All right!" I said. "I'll go get her." I raced across our lawn, stopped on the porch to tell Merna that I would be right back, and dashed up the stairs to our flat on the second floor. Finding Mama in the kitchen ironing one of my dresses, I yelled, "Mama! Mr. Riesner is downstairs with Charlie Chaplin! They want me to be in a movie. Can I? Oh, please, can I?"

My mother put her iron down on the metal plate and turned to look at me. Calmly, she said to me, "Why, you're covered with perspiration. Go wash your face.”

"But Mama, they want to see you! Will you go downstairs and talk to them?"

My mother was not about to be rushed.

When I passed her inspection, my mother and I went downstairs and met with Chuck Riesner and Charlie.

Mother and Chuck did all the talking. Charlie and I just looked at each other. He was striking in appearance with coal black hair, which was greying at the temples, and marvelous blue eyes.

He wore a grey business suit with a shirt open at the neck and buttoned shoes. He had beautiful eyes, I thought. When he smiled, I recognized the toothy smile of the Tramp I had seen before.

Mama told Chuck that I could be in the movie as long as my education was not neglected and that I was given a chaperone.

"Oh, that's no problem," assured Chuck. "The Board of Education will make certain Lillita has a tutor for her lessons, and as far as a chaperone is concerned, I don't know anyone better suited for that role than you, Mrs. Parker." Mama was pleased.

#charlie chaplin #lita grey #memoir #the tramp #the little tramp #chapter 1 #chapter one #merna kennedy #chapter 2 #chapter two #charles chaplin

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