#[ berkeleys ]

[designedonchaos]

schitt’s creek sentence starters - Closed, @berkeleys

"Okay, so. Lots of talking. Lots of emoting." Mars is jotting down notes. He knows a lot of this already - of course he does. But going to Lara's old friend and the governor Julian Berkeley made sense when he might have to make a speech at this bloody opening. Schmoozing, chatting up old folks, and wining and dining was easy for the architect. Speeches... well. Mars would never say he was piss-poor at anything, but he knows he's got a lot to learn. "What else, Oh Wise One? I've got people to impress at this function." He teases, crossing one leg in his chair.

[givemearmstopraywith]

Passover seder at UC Berkeley’s Gaza solidarity encampment (via twitter)

[but-sometimes-im-not]

phoenix, 2024 post-s2. the Bentley has been left untouched for so long that a nightingale family has made a nest under her grille. nothing will ever be as it was, but something new will be reborn.

[tooquirkytolose]

Softly filtered dead wife in movie montage but of the sandwich I had one time and can't stop thinking about

[kropotkindersurprise]

Mario Savio giving a speech at Berkeley in 1964 during an occupation of the university.

I mistakenly labeled this as an occupation and speech against the Vietnam war. It was in fact an occupation by the Free Speech Movement, who objected to attacks on free speech and academic freedom during the cold war, when "radical" student groups were banned and faculty had to swear an anti-Communist loyalty oath or be fired. Students objected to universities being used as a source of knowledge and innovation for the military industrial complex but not being allowed to speak their minds that, which does have a lot of parallels with the current occupations.

There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you can't take part! You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus -- and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it -- that unless you're free the machine will be prevented from working at all!!

[rileytakeda]

He's smooth, they have to give him that. It's why they've backed him in the past. Contrary to popular belief, they can recognize when to bite the bullet and toe the party line, and Julian Berkeley is still miles better than the other candidate, but on a day like this one, that's a hollow consolation. "I don't like to speak for anyone but myself," they say finally, but their tone is slightly less combative than it was a moment ago.

"Have you said that publicly?" they ask sincerely, not trying to make it a gotcha. "Will you say it publicly now?" Now that he's so close to a goal that he's been working towards for years. Is he willing to put it on the line for the masses who could actively benefit from it?

Julian's not just another politician. While Riley could and will have the same conversation with Abel, the reach isn't the same. In a few months' time, Julian could be the most powerful man in the world, with the influence to affect not just the lives of Americans, but for people across the globe. "It's not a matter of theory when it comes to you. You could actually be in a position to do something."

"I am asking them, every day at the rallies," Julian says. "But, alas, you're right. I am only one man." As opposed to his team, which are many. "So this is my fate, I suppose, asking one person at a time. But if I were to pick anyone, I would believe you're a fair candidate to speak for the masses."

As a former diplomat, Julian has lived through this conflict for far longer than the media has had it in its spotlight. He'd crafted statements — shaken unshakable hands, and made peace with those who never wish to have it.

"A ceasefire is the only option." In his tone, it sounds simple. Perhaps it is. "A world is only free, if it's free of violence also. And I'll stand by that."

[enchantedbook]

From Chatterbox by Stanley Berkeley, 1888

[biceratops7]

Y’ALL I JUST FOUND SOMETHING WILD:

I figured this out by pure accident because musically, I’m not a big fan of Tori Amos’s singing style (I’m sorry 🙁, besides the point though!), so I pulled up the original instead to put on my playlist.

And GUYS. I don’t think “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” is about them at the Ritz together in the 21st century, or at least not at first…

It’s about this.

“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” originally came out in 1940 by Vera Lynn, one year before Crowley pulled the most romantic ass stunt Aziraphale had ever seen and, let’s be honest, the vibes uh… changed. I mean there was a reason the rumor of them being an item spread in hell around this time.

And that’s not all, the song was actually meant to be part of a musical, on the West End. The place where they made a fond memory together for the first time in nearly a hundred years, took care of each other, trusted each other. Hell, where Crowley and Aziraphale, both friends of the theatre in different ways, probably heard this song about causing the impossible and falling in love just a year prior for the first time.

Yah so I’ve FULLY drank my own koolaide and completely believe that they already associated this song with each other. Not only saw it as a fond reminder of that night in 1941, but the quiet, gentle reality they might have together someday. But they wouldn’t DARE say that out loud, wouldn’t be ridiculous enough to let themselves hope for it.

I think this was Aziraphale breaking the unspoken rules and acknowledging this thing they share. Him saying “I know, I see you. I hope so too.”

[designedonchaos]

✵ julian

Send ✵ and my muse will answer the following.  

Their first impression of your muse: A friend of Lara, professional to a fault. Seems nice enough.

Current impression:  Friend and someone to go to for advice. Mars thinks Julian's a pretty cool guy and is glad he's reached out even after Lara's death.

Are they attracted to your muse?: Julian's handsome! But no.

Something they find frightening about your muse: Politics are fucking frightening to Mars, so. Julian willingly being a part of that circus is a bit intimidating to him.

Something they find adorable about your muse:  His humor is pretty adorable.

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  No

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  Platonic, sure!

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  Dignified

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: No

Would my muse hug/kiss yours?: Hug yes, no kissy

[elizabeaufort]

⸻ Elizabeth had a bit of laughs crisis when he mentioned the reaction from Bush towards the words spoken by his mother. She knew exactly what kind of picture he was referring to. She had to rub a bit on the corner of her eyes that was watered from laughing. ⎯ Lux hoped her question wasn't too evasive. It wasn't like she would later publish online or sell the information to any journalists, or that she was an undercover reporter from his rivals or any big company to destroy the image of Julian. ⎯ The question was genuine, and pure curiosity.

She smirks at the definition his friend told him. ❛ Ohhh, I see. ❜ She says softly as he explains further his point of view. After he concluded. ❛ Ah, a friend of my father once told me each choice is a renounce. As long as you find happiness between the lines, and are happy, it is what matters in the end. ❜ She stands up. ❛ Maybe, I should go… ❜ She feels like she was wasting or taking too much time from the future president.

"You know the picture?" Julian asks. "That."

There's only one way to accept such an answer, and that is to nod. Accept Lux's rejection for her mother, and all that it holds within it. Magnitudes, without a doubt.

But the question — well, that does strike him in surprise.

It's different to be put on the spot tonight. For debates, or interviews, there is a lengthy prep stage where Julian and his team go over every which possible question and answer he could be faced with. This is different.

"...I have this one long-time friend. The night I won the gubernatorial election, he left me a voicemail at three am — drunkenly rambling about how the two loneliest places in the universe are the Oval Office, and a solo mission on the moon." Julian recalls that night with a short, not all that humorous laugh. "I don't know if he's right, but I've never been able to shake it."

Beat. "It is lonely in the sense that no one else can know what it's like, being where I am. Dealing with what I deal with it. How I live every aspect of life in front of millions." Crowds flash before his eyes. "Those feelings will always be only my own."

"But there's no loneliness when it comes to the people around me, no. My wife, my team, my children." And more. "That's the key. I'm always happy to fall back into their safety net." Beat. "Every choice has a price, and I suppose becoming the most important man on Earth, comes with the highest of all. But I can't complain. I've known it since the start. It's the life I've chosen."

[vintagehomecollection]

The Cottage Book, 1989

[mysharona1987]

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

[ambroselangford]

"Julian, I am nothing if not an open book to you." No hidden agenda. Because politicians liked how far his arm could reach, how sharp his talons were, but they wouldn't have trusted him if he had not been transparent with them.

"Cataloguing purposes?" The older man allows himself an unbecoming snort. "I can't believe I'm helping a hellion become head of the country," leaning back into his seat, Ambrose set down his phone face down. "I suppose it's a good thing I'm not going for a pornstar martini then." He wouldn't. Too sugary, as were all cocktails with a suggestive name. Go figure.

"Then I'll happily have a bourbon with you."

"Somehow," he laughs, "I'm not at all surprised that you do."

"Upset? No," a shake of his head. His turn to tease back. "But I might need to take a picture of you with it, for... cataloguing purposes." One thing's for sure: they're never beating the brat allegations.

Julian takes the offered seat, and eyes their surroundings for a waiter. "You know me, Ambrose. I wouldn't turn down a bourbon."

[agentfascinateur]

From Gaza to the Student Protest Movement, with love:

Thank you 💜