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noona-clock · 5 years ago

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Mistletoe Manor - Part 10, Final Chapter

Genre: 1900′s AU/Romance

Pairings: Park Seo Joon, Bang Yongguk, Brian Kang, Jung Daehyung, Jung Jaehyun, Lee Taeyong x OCs

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | Words: 4,408

A/N: Chelle ( @prettywordsyouleft ) and I wanted to create a magical Christmas for everyone and what better way to do that than at Mistletoe Manor! Because of the nature of having several idols, we chose to work with OCs and we hope you love them as much as we do.

Mistletoe Manor will be posted daily at 10am NZST / 4pm EST daily.

“Lydia!” Evie hissed as the maid passed her room, her head sticking out into the hallway in quite the unladylike fashion.

Lydia paused, her head jerking back slightly in surprise, and she turned on her heel to face the middle Hawthorne sister. “Yes, My Lady?” she answered back in a whisper.

Evie simply motioned the maid inside her bedroom, opening the door a bit wider to allow her to come through.

“What is it, Lady Evie?” Lydia asked quietly once both of them were behind a closed door.

“Will you...” Evie began, her brow furrowing nervously. “...Do my hair? For the ball tonight?”

A smile immediately spread across Lydia’s lips, and even though she would be adding in doing Evie’s hair to her list of other things to do tonight, she nodded. “Of course, I will.” Because Lydia was quite sure Evie was only asking her because she wanted to look especially lovely tonight.

For a certain gentleman.

Evie let out a soft sigh of relief and then headed toward her vanity, sitting down in the chair and waiting patiently for Lydia to get situated.

“I’ve got just the idea, Miss,” Lydia grinned as she reached for Evie’s hairbrush. “Trust me. It will look gorgeous.”

“I trust you with my life, Lydia” Evie replied with a sly smirk. “I most certainly trust you with my hair.”

Lydia chuckled gently, shaking her head a little as she began to smooth Evie’s hair back into a chignon.

About twenty minutes later, Lydia placed the final pin into Evie’s coiffure and took a step back.

“Just one more thing, Miss,” she said before opening a drawer in Evie’s vanity and pulling out a pearl-encrusted clip. “This is the perfect finishing touch, and it will go lovely with your green gown.”

Lydia carefully placed the clip just above Evie’s ear, holding her breath and trying to keep as still as possible.

“Oh, Lydia,” Evie breathed as she gazed into her mirror, eyes a bit wide. “It looks beautiful.”

“Lord Yongguk won’t know what hit him,” Lydia said with a soft giggle.

Evie’s cheeks pinkened, of course, but the corners of her mouth lifted into a delighted grin.

“Thank you,” Evie gushed, turning around and reaching for Lydia’s hands, grasping them in-between her own. “I owe you.”

“Of course, you don’t, My Lady,” Lydia chuckled. “I’m happy to help, especially if it means you’re one step closer to finding love.”

Evie’s eyes darted away bashfully, but then she took a breath and forced her gaze back to Lydia. “Well... I would still like to do something for you.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Lydia asked with a confused smirk.

“I... would like you to...” But instead of finishing her sentence, Evie rose from her chair and hurried over to her wardrobe. She opened the door and reached inside, taking out a simple but beautiful blue dress. “I would like you to wear this. I think we’re about the same size, and... something tells me... tonight will be special.”

The look on Evie’s face, though, made it clear she didn’t just think tonight would be special but she knew. As if someone had actually told her.

“My Lady,” Lydia murmured, aghast. She walked over to the wardrobe, reaching out and grasping one side of the dress in-between two fingers. “Oh, I couldn’t. This is much too fine for a maid to wear.”

“You could, and you will,” Evie insisted. “I’ll help you get changed.”

“But --”

“You know how stubborn the Hawthorne sisters can be,” Evie interrupted. “I am not taking ‘No’ for an answer.”

Lydia tried her best to act exasperated with Evie’s insistence, but she was secretly (or maybe not-so-secretly) delighted. It would most certainly be the most beautiful dress she’d ever worn, and she had a strange feeling it would be a special night.

Maybe not for her, but certainly for Evie.

...But also maybe for her, too.

All around the manor, nobility and servants alike were preparing for the Mistletoe Ball. All the decorations and food were ready, the orchestra was warming up in the entryway, and the first guests would be arriving any minute now.

Upstairs, Evie finished buttoning up the back of Lydia’s dress, holding back a squeal at how beautiful she looked.

Daehyun snuck into the bedroom he shared with Cassie, admitting to wanting a peek before the ball began. The couple shared a warm kiss (or five) and whispered loving compliments to each other.

Joey examined herself for the sixtieth time in the full-length mirror in her room, smoothing down the skirts of her gold dress and wishing she could smooth the rapid beat of her heart.

Grace forced out another cough, assuring her aunt that her illness was nothing serious. Just a head cold. All she needed was rest, and she would be fine tomorrow. And she tried not to think about Jaehyun waiting for her out in the garden, hopefully not freezing his fingers off.

Brian slid Yongguk’s jacket onto his shoulder, brushing off any stray hair or piece of lint. He ignored the nervous breath his employer let out because he knew by now Yongguk would rather not talk about whatever anxieties were on his mind. And also he didn’t have time for any sort of pep talk now because he had to go downstairs and get ready himself.

Speaking of downstairs...

Seo Joon furrowed his brow as he tugged at the cuffs of his jacket. It was probably time to replace the only nice suit he owned that wasn’t his uniform, but it was too late to worry about that now. He had plenty of other things on his mind.

Anna let out a squeal before clapping her hand over her mouth, not wanting to draw attention to herself. Taeyong, like Daehyun upstairs, had snuck into her room to see her, and he’d greeted her by tiptoeing silently up behind her and grabbing her suddenly around the waist.

And then the footman standing by the front door opened it, greeting the first guests to arrive and effectively starting the evening.

Even though Yongguk and Evie hadn’t verbally agreed to meet in the library half an hour into the evening, he still knew that’s where he would find her. Over the past few weeks, it had become their special place. They had spent hours together in the library, and... Well, it was where he’d fallen in love with her.

Truthfully, Yongguk had never been in love before in his life. He wasn’t exactly certain what love was supposed to feel like, but... if what he felt for Evie wasn’t love, then he had no earthly idea what would be.

Every spare moment, he found himself thinking of her. Or wishing he was with her. Or coming up with an excuse to find her and spend time with her.

He dreamed of her, both at night and during the day. He imagined his future, and every single time, the only person he imagined sharing it with was her.

When he had approached Daehyun just yesterday and confessed all of this to him, hoping to get some advice, his friend had surprised him by letting out a victorious ‘whoop.’

“More than half the reason I brought you here was because I knew you would like her,” Daehyun had admitted, clapping Yongguk on the back. “I just adore when I end up being right.”

But then Daehyun had given him actually helpful advice and had told him to just... go for it. Tell her how he felt. Put his heart on his sleeve.

Yongguk had never been great about doing that, but he was positive Evie returned his romantic feelings. If she wasn’t quite in love with him yet, maybe she would be in the near future.

But Daehyun was right. He would never know unless he told her.

So, he was going to tell her.

Tonight.

Right now, actually, because -- as he’d suspected -- she was in the library already.

The creak of the door closing alerted Evie to his presence, and she jumped slightly, almost dropping the book in her hands.

“Oh,” she breathed, though a smile came to her lips when she realized who the intruder was. “I was wondering if you’d find me here.”

Yongguk tamped down a smirk as he slowly made his way over to her. “We said we’d be wallflowers together,” he reminded her with raised eyebrows. “We can’t do that if we’re not together.��

“You are absolutely right,” Evie replied, giggling softly.

“And you,” Yongguk said quietly. He was now close enough to truly take in her appearance, and his breath caught in his throat as he attempted to continue speaking. “Are… exquisite.”

Evie’s cheeks pinkened, and her smile turned bashful. “Lydia did my hair. She said this clip --” She lifted one hand to point to the pearl hair clip above her ear. “-- was the perfect finishing touch.”

Since he was now standing directly in front of her, as close as he could get without just taking her in his arms, he lifted his hand to touch the clip. Though, really, he would have taken any excuse to touch her.

“It does look beautiful,” he murmured. “But... you don’t need a perfect finishing touch to make you look beautiful.”

Evie blushed even more, her cheeks now a very deep pink as she tried to hold back a grin. “My Lord, if you keep saying things like that to me, I fear my heart may beat right out of my chest,” she said with a soft chuckle.

Yongguk shifted his gaze from her hair clip to her eyes -- her soft yet sparkling eyes -- and took a deep breath. “Evie... As long as your heart is mine, I don’t care what it does.”

Evie’s grin fell, her eyes widening as she returned his gaze.

“Surely you must know already: my heart is yours. I think it’s been yours since we met, and it...” Yongguk took a nervous breath, hoping he could say this without sounding too forward or too sickly sweet. “It shall be yours for as long as I live.”

Evie’s eyes now filled with tears, and even though Yongguk assumed they were happy tears, he still lifted one hand and gently cradled her cheek. He trailed his thumb delicately underneath her eye, and he found he couldn’t stop his lips from pulling into the tiniest grin.

“Do you really mean that?” Evie replied in a choked whisper.

“I do. I know we’ve only known each other for a few weeks, but I never imagined I could feel this way about someone before, and I --”

But she cut him off with a kiss.

Yongguk hummed in surprise, but it only took him a few seconds to gather his bearings and kiss her back. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest and feeling as if the world was turning upside-down because she felt so good against him.

Evie kissed him desperately, her lips obviously inexperienced but also hungry. And when she pulled away, she only did so enough to speak. “I’ve felt the same way,” she whispered, her breath fanning over his lips as she talked. “It’s been so strange because I didn’t understand, but now --”

“I love you,” Yongguk told her, and he tightened his hold on her.

“I love you, too,” Evie replied with the most delighted tone. She sounded happier than any human had any right to be, and Yongguk knew he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life. And then she repeated herself, her smile brighter than any Yongguk had ever seen. “I love you, too.”

Yongguk leaned in to capture her lips in another kiss, and he knew -- deep in his soul, he knew he would never kiss anyone else ever again. And that knowledge made him the most content man to ever walk the Earth.

“I hardly even recognized you,” Joey stated as she arrived on the dance floor with Brian. “You actually don’t look half-bad.”

It took everything in her not to blurt out that he was probably the most handsome man she’d ever seen in her entire life. He was wearing a dark green, well-fitted suit, and he’d slicked his hair back from his forehead. Apparently, that was all it took to make Joey’s heart leap into a frenzy.

“You look...” Brian began, his eyes shifting down to her gold dress. “All right, I guess.”

“What a compliment,” Joey replied as she pursed her lips.

“You’re welcome.”

Brian then slid his arm around her waist, taking her hand in his and pulling her close to him -- maybe a bit too close, but surely no one would notice. And when he began to lead her into a sway in time with the music, her heart began to beat even faster -- maybe a bit too fast, but surely no one would notice.

“So, are you happy now?” Brian asked quietly, just a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Why should I be happy?”

“Because you told me I’d better dance with you at the Mistletoe Ball, and now here I am. Dancing with you at the Mistletoe Ball.”

“Yes, but I also said I would dislike dancing with you, and that’s why you should do it. Because you adore doing things I dislike,” Joey pointed out.

Brian let his smirk take over his lips just a little more, and his gaze was rather intense as he looked down at her. “But do you dislike it?”

The tone of his voice -- the gentle teasing, the subtle flirtation -- was enough to make Joey’s breath catch in her throat. “...What would you do if I didn’t?”

Because she certainly did not dislike being so close to him. She did not dislike the feeling of being in his arms.

“It may surprise you to hear I also adore doing things you don’t dislike.”

“You’re right, this is surprising.”

Brian chuckled softly, and Joey couldn’t keep herself from smiling at the sound of his laugh.

“You know...” Brian murmured, almost whispering. “You -- you’re beautiful when you smile.”

“You flatter me,” Joey replied instinctively, trying to tamp down her grin.

“I’m not in the habit of flattering anyone,” he stated. “Especially not you.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“I only mean -- I like to just be honest.”

Joey lifted her eyebrows slightly, and when she heard the orchestra winding down, finishing up the song, she suddenly felt an urge to take action.

“Can I be honest?” she asked quietly.

Brian simply nodded, his gaze somewhat intense and causing palpitations in Joey’s heart.

She opened her mouth to speak... but the music stopped, and all the couples around them ceased their dancing to applaud politely. So, Joey took Brian’s hand and led him to a small room nearby. Her gaze shifted around to make sure no one noticed, and once she had herded him inside, she closed the door.

Since no one had previously occupied the room, there were no lights on. The almost complete darkness settled around them, and it took a few moments of blinking for Joey to be able to see Brian’s outline.

But she could feel him. She felt his presence and the intensity of his gaze. And she felt his hands gently grasping at her arms.

“Honestly,” she whispered, stepping as close to him as she dared. “I never thought I would meet someone who could put up with my personality. Who would challenge me and -- and accept me and --”

She had been about to say ‘love me,’ but she wouldn’t go there. Not just yet.

“You drive me absolutely insane,” she continued. “But in the best way possible. And I think, after all this time of thinking I would never find my match -- I think... I have. In you.”

Brian didn’t say anything for a few moments... several moments... more than several moments, and Joey was about to excuse herself out of embarrassment.

But then she suddenly heard Brian move, and before she knew it, his lips had crashed down on hers, kissing her more intensely than she’d ever imagined.

Her heart leaped up into her throat, her stomach flipped over and then dropped down to her feet, her breath got caught inside her lungs... but despite her body’s physical reaction to the kiss, Joey accepted his lips. She cradled them and pulled at them and moved her hands to the sides of his face and tangled her fingers in his hair and let out a soft moan when she felt his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

And then Brian suddenly pulled away.

Joey whined instinctively, reaching to kiss him again, but Brian spoke before she had the chance.

“I’m just a valet,” he breathed. “And you’re --”

“If you think I care about that, I’m walking out of here this instant,” Joey interrupted before she pulled him down into another kiss.

As his lips melted her insides, as -- eventually -- his tongue slipped into her mouth and explored, the beginnings of an idea unfolded in Joey’s mind.

A certifiably bonkers idea, but...

When Joey could no longer breathe, when her lungs were burning from kissing Brian for so long, she broke away.

“Take me away,” she panted.

“What do you --”

“I want to be with you, but I don’t know if it would even be possible if we stayed here,” she explained. “Do you want to be with me?”

“More than anything,” Brian whispered, tilting his head to press his forehead to hers.

“Then let’s go. Let’s go somewhere no one will judge us or try to keep us apart. Somewhere we can drive each other crazy and no one will know who we are.”

Brian chuckled softly, leaning in and capturing her lips in a quick, tender kiss.

“You want to run away together?” he smirked.

“Yes. I want to run away together.”

She knew it was crazy, but... truthfully, only her head knew it was crazy.

Her heart knew it was right.

Seo Joon had tried so many times to approach Lydia, but every single time he had taken a step toward her, someone else had beat him to it.

He’d never known Lydia was so popular until tonight.

Of course, she was, though. She was...

Well. She was the most amazing person he knew. Kind and gentle and loyal and caring and beautiful and --

And if he didn’t go through with his plan now, he felt like he would burst.

She was currently speaking with one of the housemaids, and Seo Joon felt rude for interrupting... but he had no choice. Not anymore.

“Excuse me,” he murmured when he approached the two ladies. “I... I was wondering if I might ask Lydia to dance?”

The housemaid tamped down a smirk and took a few steps back.

“Of course,” Lydia answered, her cheeks pinkening as she reached up to slide her hand into his.

Seo Joon led her onto the dance floor, pulling her into his embrace and trying not to blurt out what he needed to tell her. She just looked particularly beautiful tonight, and he had been holding his feelings in for so many years...

But another few minutes wouldn’t kill him. Probably.

“You look lovely,” he said as they began to step around the room in time with the music. “Is that a new dress?”

“Oh -- it’s Lady Evie’s,” Lydia explained with a blushing grin. “She lent it to me.”

“It...” Seo Joon gulped down his nerves. “It looks like it was made for you. I’ve never seen that color blue complement a person so well.”

“Seo Joon,” Lydia chuckled, her cheeks getting pinker. “Well, thank you. I appreciate your kind words.”

Seo Joon simply smiled down at her before silently leading her in the dance for a minute or two. His brain was working a mile a minute at the moment, and he knew if he said anything right now, it would all come out in a jumbled mess.

He’d had feelings for Lydia for so long now; if he didn’t sort through all of his thoughts and emotions, he knew he wouldn’t be able to properly convey to her just how...

Just how much he...

Well, now that he was thinking about it, there was really only one thing to say.

“Lydia, there’s something I need to --”

Before he had the chance to finish his sentence, Lady Evie hurried up to Lydia with an expression of stricken panic.

“Lydia,” she hissed. “Lydia, you must come quickly. I cannot find Joey, and Yongguk cannot find Brian, and we think --”

“Oh, dear,” Lydia said with a whimper as she began to turn away from Seo Joon. “I am so sorry, Seo Joon, please excuse --”

“No,” he interrupted, his tone more sharp than he’d intended. “I have to --”

“Will you help us look for them?” she pleaded as if she hadn’t even heard him.

“Lydia, wait. I need to tell you --”

“Please,” she said, grasping his arm and trying to pull him off the dance floor.

He felt the words coming up his throat, and he knew there was no way he could stop them. He hadn’t wanted to tell her like this -- rushed and in front of so many people -- but he had to. He couldn’t wait even a second longer.

“Lydia, I love you.”

Lydia paused. Lady Evie paused. Even Lord Yongguk paused.

“I love you, and I’m sorry for telling you like this, and I’m sorry for not telling you years ago. Please -- accept my humble apologies for going about this all the wrong way, I just --”

To his -- and probably everyone’s -- surprise, Lydia stepped up to him, rose up on her toes, and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

“I love you, too,” she replied earnestly. “So very much. You don’t ever have to apologize to me, but will you please help us find Lady Josephine and Brian?”

Seo Joon searched her eyes, his brow furrowed deeply. But before he could agree, Lydia spoke again.

“I promise we will talk more later. But right now --”

He nodded and swiftly took Lydia’s hand, striding off the dance floor and toward the closest room where two people might hide.

Even though Lydia stayed close by his side for the next twenty minutes, Seo Joon was able to focus on the task at hand. He wanted to lock her in a room with him and kiss her like he’d always wanted to... but he knew there was plenty of time for that later.

After searching every single room on the first and second floors of the manor, there was still no trace of either Joey or Brian. Seo Joon and Lydia were headed to the entryway to meet back up with Lady Evie and Lord Yongguk when, all of a sudden, he heard two voices.

The door leading to the downstairs staircase burst open as did the front door to the manor. Anna (and Taeyong) came through one, Grace (and Jaehyun) the other.

“Lady Evie!” Anna cried breathlessly, holding a piece of paper tightly to her chest.

“Evie! Cassie!” Grace called out at the same time.

“What?” Lydia answered, hurrying down the stairs to meet up with the two of them. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“A note,” Anna answered immediately. “From Lady Josephine. She’s --”

“I saw them,” Grace interrupted. “I didn’t know who it was at first, but it was definitely Joey.”

Evie and Yongguk appeared in the entryway then, and Cassie and Daehyun followed behind them.

“What on earth is going on?” Cassie asked, her brow deeply furrowed.

Lydia jumped a little, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t want to, but she knew she should be the one to break the news to her mistress. “We believe... Lady Josephine... has... run off. With... Brian.”

Before Cassie had the chance to gasp or cry out or yell, Yongguk stepped in front of her and took her hands.

“I will find them. And, if it helps, I know my valet. He would never do anything to hurt your sister.”

“It’s not him I’m worried about,” Cassie told him with a shake of her head. “I don’t know what she’ll do!”

“I’ll go with you,” Daehyun volunteered.

“I’ll drive,” Seo Joon nodded. “Come, we needn’t waste any more time.”

“Please be careful,” Cassie implored, gripping Daehyun’s arms before he had the chance to leave. “I’ve only just got you back.”

“I will return,” Daehyun assured her with a grin. “I promise you.”

He leaned in to kiss her, whispering his love against her lips and then kissing her again.

Yongguk turned to Evie, reaching up and delicately cradling her face in his palms. “We will find them. And as soon as we get back, I’m asking you to marry me, all right?”

Despite the frightening situation, a smile curved Evie’s lips, and she couldn’t stop herself from standing on her toes and kissing Yongguk -- her future husband.

“All right,” she whispered. “Please hurry.”

“Seo Joon,” Lydia called out, hurrying after him and grasping the sleeve of his jacket. “Shall I come with you? I don’t want Lady Josephine to be frightened --”

And she then realized how utterly silly that sounded.

Lady Josephine? Frightened?

Seo Joon, who had turned to face her, looked down at her with a lopsided grin. “I don’t think that’s possible,” he chuckled. “Besides, I think Lady Cassandra needs you here.”

Lydia simply nodded, but she tightened her grip on his jacket before she said, “And... we’ll talk when you return.”

Seo Joon’s gaze softened, and he lifted one hand, pressing it gently against her cheek. “Yes,” he whispered. “When I return.”

And as Cassie, Evie, and Lydia stood in the entryway watching Daehyun, Yongguk, and Seo Joon rushing through the front door out to the garage, they all held their breath.

Evie linked her arm through Cassie’s, holding her older sister close to her side and resting her chin on her shoulder.

Lydia slid her arm across Cassie’s back, her fingers brushing against Evie’s shoulder. Anna and Grace joined them, providing their own comfort and assuring the two ladies of the house that everything would be all right.

Cassie wasn’t sure if everything would be all right. She had no way of knowing what would happen when -- or if -- they ever found Joey and Brian. Nor did Evie.

But what they did know was there had never been a Christmas quite like this at Mistletoe Manor. It was certainly one nobody would ever forget.

The End

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prettywordsyouleft · 5 years ago

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Mistletoe Manor - Part 5

Summary: Christmas is the most important time of year for all those who live within Mistletoe Manor. From the staff to the Hawthorne family themselves, everyone works hard to ensure that the festive season is a success every year! We invite you to see if everyone can pull off another magical Christmas at the manor this year.

Pairing: Park Seo Joon, Bang Yongguk, Brian Kang, Jung Daehyun, Jung Jaehyun, Lee Taeyong and OCs.

Genre: regency au / romance / christmas au

A/N: Becky ( @noona-clock ) and I wanted to create a magical Christmas for everyone and what better way to do that than at Mistletoe Manor! Because of the nature of having several idols, we chose to work with OCs and we hope you love them as much as we do.

Mistletoe Manor will be posted daily at 10am NZST / 4pm EST daily.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

For such an ordeal that it had been to get to this night, the opening of the Winter Festival had gone off without a single issue. And as Cassie walked around with Evie and Joey, she couldn’t stop smiling.

Everyone looked so happy.

This was what Christmas was all about for the Hawthorne’s. All the long hours had paid off to see those who made this area of land prosperous laughing and enjoying themselves. From ice-skating to hot cocoa and sitting on Santa’s knee, the market had something for everyone. It renewed hope that whatever hardships people faced could be overcome with the magic this season possessed.

Cassie was hopeful that even if she had to spend this Christmas without Daehyun, she would continue to smile just like this.

“Is that Anna and Taeyong holding hands over there?” Evie questioned and Cassie grinned as Joey clapped her own hands together.

“It’s truly about time they realised there was more to their arguing.”

“Do you think they won’t bicker so much anymore then?” Cassie wondered and the sisters watched on as Taeyong attempted to show Anna how to skate. She was soon frustrated and pushed him away. They couldn’t help but chuckle, some things never changed.

Cassie then spotted Jaehyun and Grace trying out handmade treats together and not far behind them was Lydia and Seo Joon. Her smile grew as their hands inched closer to one another inconspicuously. She hoped that in the New Year these couples – or those not yet together – would be proudly showing off their affections for one another.

“Do you think there is any hope for me to find love this Christmas?” Evie suddenly asked, and each sister on her side turned to look at her curiously. Evie blushed. “Just a thought!”

“I hope you both get what you want this Christmas,” Cassie encouraged and Joey let out a snort.

“It would take a special type of man to match me. I don’t have a desirable disposition.”

“Nonsense, someone will rise to the challenge!”

“Or die trying,” Evie added on, laughing with her older sister as Joey pouted.

“I pray Daehyun is back in time too,” Joey mentioned a moment later, eyeing Cassie cautiously.

Cassie waved her hands around herself. “I’m fine; please do not look at me waiting to see if I will cry again. I am done crying over it. I am his wife and he has to come back at some point.”

“Yes, but you love Christmas.”

“And he loves you.”

“How do you know that he does?” she questioned the pair and Evie shrugged whilst Joey inspected her nails. “Say, even if he loves me most ardently, it doesn’t mean he will magically appear for Christmas. He is serving our King and that has to come first.”

“Well, he has twenty-nine days to make it back in time and finally put you first. Anything could happen between now and then.”

December began and the manor was livelier than ever. Grace’s parents had arrived, much had other relatives. Cassie spent her days trying to get her own pursuits fulfilled or spent time with her sisters and Grace, before taking part in fancy dinners and get-togethers in the evening. There was an element to every Christmas she always seemed to forget until the jolly season was upon them.

It was utterly exhausting.

Still, on the fifth day of December, she rose to the sound of hooves upon the driveway. With the five inches of snow already settled upon the ground outside, using cars had been suspended until the roads were clear. And knowing all the expected guests, bar Daehyun and his company, were already lodged here at the manor, she sprung from her bed, dashing over to shift the drapes aside anxiously.

Her hopes were dashed when it was just the Vicar from the village stopping by to meet with her father.

Climbing back into her bed, Cassie thumped at the bedding in a very unladylike manner. A brief giggle from the doorway alerted her that this moment had not gone unwitnessed. Lydia grinned as she made her way to the bed. “My Lady, are we feeling alright?”

“Quite.”

“Well then, shall we prepare for your day? I am afraid it is another one that will keep you busy.”

“I shall rest for a month after December leaves us,” Cassie offered dramatically, heaving herself up and preparing for the day ahead.

She spent time reading with Evie and Grace in the library, sewing with her Mother and Joey in the parlour and played a game of cards with Lydia and Seo Joon when she was meant to be upstairs attending another dreadfully boring family meeting.

Seo Joon shot her a look. “This headache you claim to have is not preventing you from winning yet again, My Lady.”

“Perhaps it improves my skills greatly.”

“Actually Seo Joon, you’re just not the best at card games.”

“What?” the man questioned Lydia’s admission, his mouth falling apart incredulously. “Must I show you of my worth?”

“Will you be able to beat Cassie at all today?” Lydia wondered with an airy laugh.

“Just you wait; I will ensure you never utter such words about me again!”

“But not right now, I’m afraid.” Glancing up at Taeyong’s stricken expression, he came over to Cassie’s side. “Your mother just came to check on you and found you were not in your bed resting as you proclaimed. I told her that I saw you walking down to the conservatory, and so-”

“Of course, I must go.” Standing up, Cassie then smiled at her friends. “I task Lydia with the opportunity to challenge you instead, Seo Joon.”

“I accept!” Seo Joon replied heartedly, sweeping the cards up as his mood increased.

Whilst Cassie’s decreased. Thanking Taeyong for his help, she slipped into the main room, weakly taking hold of Grace’s hand. “Did I miss anything?”

“Nothing of importance. Aunt Jane has been projecting something of a song for about twenty minutes now.”

“That long?!” Cassie whispered, aghast. “Last year someone stopped her after ten.”

“It appears she is quite the force this year, sister,” Evie lamented and the girls all sighed in unison.

After another hour of family time, Cassie was released to freshen up for dinner, frowning when she heard a carriage out on the driveway again. She chastised her need to check out the window and yet she made her way there, realising guests from within town would be arriving for dinner.

She told herself to stop hoping her Christmas miracle would come true tonight.

Cassie focused on smiling more. She didn’t wish for the questions to come from nosy relatives of why she felt particularly disheartened today and so she put on a brave face and actively threw herself into conversation with her cousin Severus about his recent purchase of some run-down estate up north. She nodded when she needed to and she laughed at the right times, Severus none the wiser that Cassie was completely bored.

And thankfully, Grace came to her aid, rescuing her with an excuse to need to stretch her legs with a companion.

“You miss him tonight, don’t you?”

“How do you miss someone you barely spent time with?” Cassie wondered, still nodding in answer. “It is odd, today I felt as if he would arrive.”

“Maybe he will, there is still time, the night is young,” her cousin encouraged and Cassie smiled at Grace.

“Where will I be in this world if I did not have you to make me hopeful?”

“Perhaps in the arms of a man who has waited almost a year to take you back within them?”

Turning hastily, Cassie gasped, her knees growing weak at the person before her. He caught her just in time and smiled broadly. “Why, you even fall at my feet! I did not expect that until some time into our relationship, Cassandra.”

“Daehyun.”

“Oh you have other companions with you,” Grace announced, moving away from the pair staring at one another longingly. “Earl Yongguk is it? And who might you be? Come with me, surely you must be famished from your travels.”

Cassie slowly smiled, lifting a hand up to his face. Daehyun grinned when she became delighted, laughing with her. “I am here.”

“I half expect this to be a dream, I’ll have you know.”

“Shall I go back out the door and then come in again?” he suggested and she shook her head, gripping him tighter.

“I fear if you go out again, I will have to wait another year to see you.”

“So you did miss me!” Her cheeks coloured and Daehyun caressed them tenderly. “So beautiful.”

“What is?”

“You.”

“I was concerned that your words would just be that, words,” she admitted, taking his hand and leading him over to the library, shutting the door behind them. Once seated on a chaise, she soaked him in quietly. “It feels those words make this moment easier for us both.”

“I did worry you would be less inclined to take my hand once I was back,” Daehyun told her and she instantly took it in hers, making him laugh, his smile brighter than any she had ever seen. “It appears my wife is just as enchanted as I.”

“We do have a lot to learn about each other,” Cassie pointed out and Daehyun nodded. “However, I am all too pleased to see you.”

“Not as much as I am.”

“You made it back in time for Christmas,” she murmured, taking his cheek in her hand again. It amazed her by how natural this felt to do. And she giggled when he nuzzled into her hand affectionately. “Thank you.”

“You waited so long for me; I was not prepared to miss spending this time of year with you.”

“Just like last year?” Daehyun chuckled, taking her hand from his cheek and burying it into his chest. “Last year, we barely spoke to one another. Did you not wish to marry me?”

“No, I did not,” she answered and his hand faltered on hers. Cassie then smiled. “But I am relieved I did.”

“I wanted to marry you as soon as I saw you,” Daehyun expressed, surprising his wife. “You were exactly who I dreamed of marrying. Someone who had a mind of her own, who was intelligent and caring. You were so selfless whenever I watched over you. I wanted to offer you the world.”

“I never knew you felt this way.”

Daehyun nodded. “Because you would barely stop to have time for me. I did not wish to intrude.”

“I thought you were standoffish because of the arrangement.”

“I was enamoured by your beauty.”

Cassie attempted to settle her emotions, her lip wobbling as she asked, “And now?”

“Now I want to kiss my wife that I have missed since the day I left her behind. May I?”

“Will you ask every time?” she wondered, her mouth now hovering around his.

“I hope in time, I can just kiss you without my heart thudding and giving me away like this.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be, I already gave you my heart,” she told him as she pressed her lips to his, her mind and soul soaring. This is what she had always dreamed of. The prince of her fairytales was right before her, holding onto her as he kissed her passionately, months lost between them to establish such a physical love.

And yet, had it not been for their separation, for all the letters, Cassie was unsure if she would have reached such an easy conclusion that she loved Daehyun as much as she already did. She was grateful for the lessons she learned, and the time to grow and fall in love with the man she had married at the start of the year. She was also excited for where their future would carry them, and what her life could amount to. Until then, it was Christmas time and she had received her present early. Cassie was certain this year the festive season would be her favourite so far.

“I am sorry I was late, I wanted to be here for your festival,” Daehyun murmured when he pulled back and Cassie shook her head, dismissing his claim with a smile.

“You were right on time, my love.”

_________________

Part 6

[Christmas 2019 Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist] | [Request Guidelines]

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matildainmotion · 7 years ago

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Mothers Who Make: A Letter of Invitation to all the Producer Job Applicants and Everyone Else Too....

Dear Kandy, Courtney, Charlotte, Benjamin, Ben, Eleonora, Grace, Hazel, Kimberly, Otto, Clarrisa, Debbie, Keltie, Anna, Cameron, Delea, Ellen, Helen, Jenny, Laun, Lucy, Mandy, Mary, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth, Sherona, Tina, Toyah, Claire, Genine, Georgie, Heidi, Kate, Li, Michelle, Noemi, Rebecca, Rhiannon, Sarah, Victoria, Becca, Ray, Ruby, Sara Marie, Viccy, Suzy, Jenna, Rosie, Leonie, Cariad, Cristina, Faith, Hilary, Lily, Liz, Lizzy, Lydia, Sam, Ruth, Sarah, Rebecca and everyone one else too,

There is something that I have noticed happens increasingly in both professional and commercial contexts: “Dear Matilda,…..” begins the email, letter, text which is trying to sell me something, persuade me to join a cause, or tell me that my story has not been short listed. The script that follows is the same script that is being sent to thousands if not millions of others. It is not in truth addressed to me but by using my name as an opener it makes it sound as if it is personal, as if someone, somewhere cares about me enough to write. Sometimes the cause is a good one but nonetheless it bothers me, this co-opting of a personal tone for professional ends, because it seems hypocritical – the personal gets such a bad name, until it is useful. It makes me think of the wolf, dressed up as grandma – looking sweet, ready to pounce. So I thought I would try to do this differently, to be transparent about writing the same words to all of you. I intend to write you individual replies but it is going to take me a long time because there are many of you – 65 in total –and I don’t want to leave you waiting months. Anyway there are some things I want to say to all of you. Here they are……

Firstly a huge thank you. It has been extraordinary to receive and read your applications for the role of producer for Mothers Who Make. It has been moving and startling. You made me laugh, cry, feel outrage, passion and amazement. Above all it has been incredibly humbling, again. I say ‘again’ because this has been the story of Mothers Who Make all along. I set out to do something small, low impact, straightforward – start a local group for some creative mothers, raise some funds, recruit a producer – and the response each time was such that the process became profound and far-reaching. I never expected so many applications. I never expected so many people to want the role or to understand the initiative with such depth or to engage with such generosity and commitment.

Not all of you are mothers. I was impressed by the men who applied and by the women who are not mothers but who have the vision to support this mother-centred movement. Most of you however are mothers, and there was one thing that struck me about you - the same thing that often hits home when I am sitting in a Mothers Who Make meeting. It is simply this: how much you are doing. Often the mothers in a meeting are apologetic for how little they are currently making and then as they talk further it transpires that they are engaged in epic endeavours - training for a marathon was one example from the last meeting, but it is a good one because marathon-running is such a symbol of heroic effort and so many of us have figurative marathons to run. The phrase a ‘mother producer’ is a tautology. Mothers are producers – we produce milk, meals, clothes, wet wipes, stories, songs, comfort. We produce people. It is a staggering feat. But on top of that, on the basis of your applications, I know that you are also producing plays, dances, books, companies, websites, records, workshops, exhibitions, venues, networks, art galleries and more – there is a stunning breadth of skills, experience and abilities amongst you. I would, seriously, love to hire you all.

However, at present I can only pay for 1 producer so there are 64 of you who will be disappointed. In a professional context what I am currently writing is referred to as a ‘rejection letter.’ It strikes me now as a strange phrase since it sounds intensely personal, ‘rejection’ being the word used when an offer of love is turned down, when a suitor is jilted or spurned. You have, many of you, made me an offer of love and the very last thing that I want or need to do is to reject it. Quite the opposite. Since I am in the business of re-inventing how business might be done, what I am writing to you now is a letter of invitation, not rejection. I am not trying to dismiss any disappointment you may feel in not getting the role of MWM producer. This is not a booby prize (though why the word ‘booby’ has come to connote a poor comfort instead of a rich result is in itself revealing!). I am entirely serious in my invitation to you. In many ways the role of producer is a small one – 5.5 months. The role which I am inviting you to take on is far more vital and longer term than that. Let me explain…

I have been thinking about the ‘Me Too’ campaign. A common ‘me too’ narrative is this: a man in a position of power has been unprofessional, has ‘got personal’ in an undesirable way. Until recently this was acceptable. People turned a blind eye. The ‘Me Too’ campaign is the process of un-blinding us all. But there is another kind of blindness still at work. When a woman is labelled as unprofessional, as having ‘got personal,’ a likely narrative is this: she has become emotional, or she has become a mother. In other words she has introduced an element of care into a less-than-caring context. MWM aims to begin to foreground and give credence to this form of ‘me too’ narrative and to ask what what it would be like if ‘getting personal’ in this way could be reframed as positive, rather than it also being deemed as undesirable or even offensive. My invitation to you is to engage with me in this research.

As I explained in my ‘unoffical job ad’ letter, I never intended to found a national network. It has been powered entirely by you – people-power. We now have a tiny injection of funds. The money will not last long and while I hope we will use it well to achieve a great deal it is not the thing that will make MWM grow. You will. Your stories. Your engagement. Your valuing of your mothering and your making and of each other. You are the ones who will be the producers of MWM, along with everything else that you are already, incredibly, producing.

I am inspired by La Leche League, the international organisation, that supports women through the many challenges of breastfeeding. It is run by volunteers, by women who care enough to show up and help another woman learn to breastfeed. It began with a small group of women at a picnic. Two of them were breastfeeding and the others expressed an interest and said how they were sad they had failed to breastfeed their children. Now it is huge. In the last year alone over 25000 women have been supported by it across the world, via meetings, helplines, online enquiries and more. Maybe MWM will one day have a reach this grand, or maybe not, but either way I believe passionately in the power of the impetus that lies behind both LLL and MWM.

So here are some things you can do – both practical and then less tangible. Some of you, I know, are doing them already. If you are a mother you can attend a MWM meeting. You can start a MWM hub near you. Whomever you are you can tell others about the movement. Many of you have said that you are good at all the things I am not so good at, like social media. You can use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – all of this, to spread the word.

And then here is the less tangible, yet even more extraordinary thing that you can do. You can be unprofessional, by which I mean you can care with pride. Value your care for your children, for your making, for each other, for anyone. Sweeping statement coming up…..I really believe that if anything is going to save the world it will be this: an incremental yet momentous shift in valuing long-term care over short-term gain.

I read a stunning blog this morning by a mother who is also a climate scientist. It was about the sea, about how she takes her son to the beach on the train and how she knows that in doing even this much she is participating in a system that is warming our oceans, how this will impact on her son and how terrifying this is. The sea is on my mind. My daughter is on my lap, breastfeeding. It is another Saturday in another coffee shop, as it was when I wrote to you before with my ‘unofficial job ad.’ I may not be inviting you to be my producer, but frankly that is a drop in the ocean. I am inviting you, collectively, to be the ocean - a sea of change. We need it.

Thank you.

Matilda x

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michael-radi-the-glamorous-life · 4 years ago

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How To Listen

One of the most important skills we have as human beings is our ability to communicate, and to do so effectively.

However, one could easily argue that - societally speaking - we have not been communicating effectively with one another, or have only been doing so with a select group of people. The events of the past ten days seem like blatant proof of that.

A large part - if not the largest part - of effective communication and the subsequent forward momentum of progress is:

Active Listening.

We - and I’m speaking to the heavily White majority of my readership here - are being asked right now to Actively Listen to our Black peers, friends, family, colleagues, allies, acquaintances, and all Black voices across the country.

So how do we do this? What does this mean? Where to start?

Active Listening

The practice of Active Listening can be defined as:

Giving total concentration to what is being said, providing full attention and utilizing all senses.

Active Listening is not merely hearing the sounds, nor is it giving passive attention whilst waiting for the next moment. Likewise, it is not waiting for your turn to speak.

The purpose of Active Listening is to fully comprehend what is being said and to provide both empathy and understanding. It is not critical - where you would listen and then offer your own opinion/insight - and it is not with the intention of reply, except to show comprehension.

Active Listening should be:

Neutral and non-judgemental

Patient

Filled with cues that you are listening (particularly if in person)

Open to asking questions and to clarification

Inclusive of reflection back on what has been said

Here are some clarifications on what Active Listening should not include:

Wandering thoughts

Disrespect

Interruptions

Distraction

One-upping the speaker

Focus on small details

Self-centering the narrative

Passing over what was not comprehended

Active Listening should establish a sense of trust and - most importantly - it is about the Speaker, not the listener.

Like any skill, Active Listening takes practice, but it may be the most crucial skill we can possibly posses.

Not Our Time

White folx: This is not our time to speak.

Honestly, I hesitated even writing this post today. But ultimately, it seemed that if I could use this platform to help educate and provide information that is critical at this time, it would be better to speak up right now than do my own work quietly.

We have been talking and controlling the narrative in this country from the beginning, and that was not right. We were wrong. So we must do better.

Right now Black folx are speaking up - as they have been the whole time - and are finally being heard. So instead of trying to raise our own voice into that conversation, it is time for us to sit down and Listen.

Here are some important considerations before we dive in:

Is this education going to be quick? No.

Is it going to be easy? No.

Are we going to make mistakes? Yes, and then we own up to those mistakes and we fix them.

Will we encounter discomfort? YES. If you’re not uncomfortable throughout this process, you’re likely not trying hard enough to learn.

Will we have to unlearn habits, practices, and biases? Oh yes. Many many many.

Can we rely on Black folx to educate us? NO. This is up to US to learn. They tried teaching when we weren’t listening, so now WE must do the work.

Will we get a pat on the back for our work, time, and effort? No. I know you’re going to want one, but we don’t get one. Not when we’re 250 years late.

Do we have to post on social media? No. As long as you’re doing the work and having the conversations, social media is not necessary. Honestly - and I’m trying to do this myself - the conversation on our social media accounts should be about providing resources to other White folx and amplifying what is being said by Black voices.

Should I ask questions? Yes! Ask other White folx if you’re confused about something. Do some research. Find a friend or family member you can trust with a question you think is silly or embarrassing. It’s all part of the work.

And I’m sure there are plenty more questions to answer even beyond these, but let’s dive in.

Where To Start

There is an overwhelming amount of material to be consumed for our education.

I’ve been collecting a list of places to start, which I figured could be helpful to everyone. I’ve broken it down into categories, which I hope you will all find helpful.

If you have further suggestions, please place them in the comments!

Watch:

Netflix:

13th

American Son

Black Earth Rising

Brian Banks

Dear White People

Get On The Bus

The Kaliep Browder Story

LA 92

See You Yesterday

Strong Island

When They See Us

HBO:

King In The Wilderness

Notes From The Field

We Are The Giant

Hulu:

3 1/2 Minutes. 10 Bullets

Blindspotting (free with Cinemax)

The Hate U Give (free with Cinemax)

If Beale Street Could Talk

Amazon Prime:

Blindspotting

Just Mercy (rent free in June)

Quest

Westwind: Djalu’s Legacy

CBC:

The Skin We’re In

SBS On Demand:

First Australians

Rent:

12 Years A Slave (possibly still on Netflix)

BlacKkKlansmen

Black Britain On Film

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975

Blood & Water (series)

Clemency

Detroit

Do Not Resist

Do the Right Thing

Fruitvale Station (possibly still on Netflix)

The House I Live In

I Am Not Your Negro (possibly still on Netflix)

Malcolm X

Maya Angelou: And I Still Rise

More Than A Month

Putaparri and the Rainmakers

Queen and Slim

Queen Sono

Queen Sugar

Roots

Selma

Slavery By Another Name

The Tall Man

Online:

Black Lives Matter activist videos: blacklivesmatter.com/activist-shorts/

Read:

Books:

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble

Blood In My Eye by George L. Jackson

If They Come In The Morning… by Angela Y. Davis

The Great Unlearn by Rachel Cargle

Me And White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack (essay) by Peggy McIntosh

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made For Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

The Warmth Of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherrie Moraga

Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Playwrights (and a First Play Suggestion)

Dominique Morissea - Pipeline

Lynn Nottage - Sweat

Anna Deavere Smith - Notes From The Field

Dael Orlandersmith - Yellowman

August Wilson - Fences

Katori Hall - The Mountaintop

Jocelyn Bioh - School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play

Alice Childress - Wine In The Wilderness

Jeremy O. Harris - Slave Play

Lydia Diamond - Stick Fly

Antoinette Nwandu - Pass Over

Charles Fuller - A Soldier’s Play

Aleshea Harris - What to Send Up When it Goes Down

Peal Cleage - The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years

Danai Guria - Eclipsed

Adrienne Kennedy - Funnyhouse of a Negro

Langston Hughes - Simply Heaven

Lorraine Hansberry - A Raisin in the Sun

James Baldwin - Blues for Mister Charlie

Charles Gordone - No Place to be Somebody

Tarell Alvin McCraney - Choir Boy

Colman Domingo - Dot

Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) - Dutchman and the Slave

Lonne Elder III - Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

Douglas Turner Ward - Day of Absence & Happy Ending

Kia Corthron - Breath, Boom

Ntozake Shange - For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rain-bow is Enuf

Mfonsio Udofia - Her Portmanteau

Suzan-Lori Parks - Topdog/Underdog

Samm-Art Williams - Home

George C. Wolfe - Spunk & The Colored Museum

Listen:

Podcasts:

1619

About Race

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

Code Switch (NPR)

The Combahee River Collective Statement

Diversity Gap

How to Survive the End of the World

The Intelligence

Intersectionality Matters

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Pod For The Cause

Pod Save the People

Seeing White

Speaking of Racism

The Stoop

TED Radio Hour: Confronting Racism

Uncomfortable Conversations

We Live Here

What Matters

You’re Pretty For A…

Audiobook:

How To Be An Antiracist

Beginning

Is that list comprehensive? Nope.

This is just the start.

But to make progress, we all must begin somewhere. I hope this list helps you find a place to begin and that you will continue to do the work. In the meantime, I’m here if you have questions.

Be well, friends. Cheers.

#glamorous life blog #glamorous life #Black Lives Matter #education #listen #active listening #learn #books #playwright #play #Black authors #watch #read #podcast

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othersportsnews-blog · 7 years ago

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LPGA Private Survey - Speaking up about golfing inequalities

New Post has been published on https://othersportsnews.com/lpga-private-survey-speaking-up-about-golfing-inequalities/

LPGA Private Survey - Speaking up about golfing inequalities

7:thirty AM ET

Anna Katherine Clemmons

Shut

Anna Katherine Clemmons is a contributing author for ESPN The Magazine.

We questioned 49 LPGA Tour gamers 9 queries that they answered anonymously previously this 12 months. Their responses elicited some intriguing replies about various subject areas in women’s golfing.

Some queries had indeed or no solutions, when other folks needed deeper considered. In just one situation, we appeared for just one rule they would change, and some pros arrived again with how there were just far too quite a few “silly” policies to choose from.

So here is how quite a few, but not all, LPGA gamers feel about the state of their tour, how to take care of it and even President Donald Trump’s effects on the sport.

What is the biggest situation facing the LPGA Tour suitable now?

Not surprisingly, 35 % of gamers reported the pay gap involving the LPGA Tour and the PGA Tour is the biggest situation facing the women’s activity. For illustration, the full purse at the men’s U.S. Open in June was $12 million when this week’s U.S. Women’s Open is $five million — which transpires to be a report on the women’s aspect.

Nearly twenty % of gamers considered obtaining more viewership and general media coverage was vital to their result in 12 % reported their agenda, which frequently bounces from East Coastline to West Coastline (not to point out overall swings by way of other continents) is the biggest situation.

*Bundled 9 different solutions

What the gamers reported:

“It can be also other perks that go together with getting a PGA Tour pro that we deficiency on our tour: retirement compensation, health-related compensation, stuff like that. People points are a luxurious on that tour that we by no means even fathom.”

Real or phony: It hurts the LPGA that it would not have a much better footprint in the United States.

Extra than 50 percent reported real, however 18 % reported it both of those hurts and aids the LPGA Tour.

What the gamers reported:

“It can be substantial in the other nations around the world for the reason that the nations around the world and their providers get guiding women’s golfing and they do a fantastic work of advertising and marketing and earning the gamers appear like superstars. That’s not performed in the U.S., so you see that there’s much less enthusiasm all over women’s golfing. If you can change the discussion below and get the providers to boost the women of all ages like they’ve performed in other nations around the world, if providers below could see what advantage that is when global providers do the exact same detail, you are going to see that advancement and enthusiasm below to get included in women’s golfing.”

Identify the ideal feminine player in the activity suitable now (and you can not pick yourself).

Lexi Thompson, Ariya Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu and Lydia Ko were the top names between their peers, accounting for 85 % of the votes. (This question was questioned more than Might and June of this 12 months.)

What the gamers reported:

“When [Lexi Thompson’s] activity is on, she’s so tough to conquer for the reason that she hits so significantly more time than most people else. When you hit that extensive and straight, it can be tough to contend with her.”

Yes or no: LPGA Tour gamers, as as opposed to PGA Tour gamers, are compensated fairly.

With 78 % expressing no, more gamers dodged the question completely (*).

What the gamers reported:

— “I really don’t feel that’s a honest question for the reason that I feel it can be an evident respond to. I really don’t feel it’s going to ever be honest. The only sport that’s honest is involving women’s and men’s tennis. I would be delighted if we could just get a minimal more. I feel it can be way far too far-fetched to feel we would ever get to exactly where the PGA [Tour] is, but if we could get to exactly where the purses are $2 million, $three.five million, so week in and week out, you are actively playing for a good chunk.”

— “It’d be neat to see an function exactly where you see the top 60 gentlemen and the top 60 women of all ages perform with alternate tee times to carry consciousness to women’s golfing. It can be recognized — I am buddies with anyone, so I can say this — but for an American audience, the South Koreans usually are not the ideal — it can be just real that in women’s golfing there are a lot of them and they are productive and fantastic and have great work ethic, but in Korea, they are freaking rock stars. And you see some of the ideal purses coming out of Asia. But as far as American viewership and sponsorship, it hurts.”

Yes or no: There really should be more of a performing connection involving the LPGA and PGA Tour.

A whopping ninety two % reported indeed. Even though both of those tours declared a strategic partnership in current several years, how might they do it? 1 player had a handful of strategies.

*Various gamers selected not to discuss the subject

What the gamers reported:

— “I really don’t know if the PGA Tour men would do [a joint function] for the reason that I really don’t feel they treatment sufficient about us….. Just the lifestyles. … They fly constitution everywhere you go, they lease out homes, they have chefs touring everywhere you go with them. And it can be the exact same activity — this transpires in sporting activities, company. It can be a incredibly hot-button subject of gender wage gap.”

— “When presented the choice involving turning on men’s and women’s golfing, individuals switch on men’s, so really don’t enable them contend. Have a women’s tournament on Monday by way of Wednesday so you can watch women of all ages on some days and the gentlemen on the other. When you are directly competing, it can be tough, but then individuals could be like, ‘Oh, the women of all ages are actively playing currently, let us switch it on and see what is actually going on.'”

How would you quality President Trump’s effects on women’s golfing (A by way of F)?

Even though we reported the question was about Trump’s influence on golfing and not about politics, 33 % of gamers nevertheless would not comment. Some failed to want to comment for political good reasons, other folks just reported they failed to know significantly about his influence on the women’s activity, when other folks reported they were not American and most well-liked not to go there. Of people that did give him a quality from the general pool of 49 pros, 27 % marked him as A-minus or above, when 55 % reported B-minus or above.

What the gamers reported:

— “Whether you like his political views or not, he’s performed a lot for the activity of golfing, and you really don’t truly get that, primarily on the women’s aspect. It can be very neat that we’re actively playing at his system and the purse is so substantial for us. It really should be a fantastic function.”

Would you ever think about not actively playing in the U.S. Women’s Open for the reason that it can be getting held at Trump Countrywide in Bedminster, New Jersey?

Not a solitary player reported she would skip the U.S. Women’s Open. The good reasons were varied, from “a tournament is a tournament and he’s our president,” to “you’ve acquired to test and hold politics out of sport,” to other folks who considered it might affect some gamers but not them.

*Some gamers selected not to discuss the subject.

What the gamers reported:

— “Actually if you are going to not perform for the reason that it can be [at Trump’s system], that’s just getting petty, for the reason that we’re not there to see him, we’re there for the golfing system for the tournament. It would not matter who owns it, it by no means mattered prior to, so I would not ever pull out for the reason that he’s the owner of the system and I feel that would be uncommon. It can be the U.S. Women’s Open, it can be a significant, and it can be on a attractive golfing system.”

If there is just one rule in golfing that you could change by fiat, what would it be?

Some policies are not getting dealt with by the future variations to the Guidelines of Golf (like no cost aid from balls that land in divots in fairways, which garnered 35 % of solutions by LPGA Tour gamers). Some others, these types of as correcting spike marks on greens, will be allowed when the new policies go into influence on Jan. one, 2019. Television viewers calling in policies violations was the only other situation to get double-digit recognition by the gamers, and, by the way, just isn’t at present slated to be updated prior to the 2019 change.

*Players had 8 other strategies for just one rule to change.

What the gamers reported:

— “Oh, wow. 1 rule? Can I do two? I feel you really should get aid from a divot in the fairway and also when you are off the green and there’s a ball mark in your way, you really should be equipped to take care of that.”

Should really Lexi Thompson have been penalized for the policies infraction at the ANA Inspiration this 12 months?

A full of 80 % of gamers responding reported Thompson deserved at least a 2-shot penalty, but only 10 % general considered the four-shot penalty she obtained was ideal. Experienced Thompson been penalized only two shots, she would have received the 2017 ANA Inspiration instead of dropping in a playoff.

What the gamers reported:

— “It can be a hundred % honest [to be penalized the four strokes]. That’s the rule — she moved it. So it can be honest suitable now. But does it need to have to be modified? Yes. People had a in good shape about her obtaining 2 shots for the card, but they really don’t notice that it made use of to be a [disqualification for that exact same infraction].”

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prettywordsyouleft · 5 years ago

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Mistletoe Manor - Part 3

Pairing: Park Seo Joon, Bang Yongguk, Brian Kang, Jung Daehyun, Jung Jaehyun, Lee Taeyong and OCs.

Genre: regency au / romance / christmas au

Mistletoe Manor will be posted daily at 10am NZST / 4pm EST daily.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Activity within the manor had increased with the countdown to the opening of the Winter Festival. It was rather chaotic at times and as Cassie made her way downstairs, she almost knocked into Anna carrying a large pile of linen up them.

“Careful, Anna!” she exclaimed and the housemaid sidestepped immediately, balancing the load within her arms precariously. Cassie held out a prepared hand in case the pile began to fall. “Do you need a hand?”

“I’ve got two to spare,” a voice called and Cassie grinned as Taeyong jogged up the stairs to take half of the pile away from the maid.

“What would we do without you, Taeyong?”

“I was doing just fine, My Lady,” Anna mentioned gruffly, shooting the footman a brief glare that made Cassie chuckle as she continued down the stairs. Tensions were heightened because of the flurry in events, though today Cassie’s mood was rather jubilant. Even if she had to step around a stack of deliveries in the foyer, Percy promptly informing her that the back entry was entirely full.

“And you have another letter from the Earl,” the old butler announced, pulling it out from within his breast pocket and handing it over.

“Thank you, Percy. I’ll see to it when I have some time. Is the car ready for our trip to the market setup?”

“It is, My Lady.”

“I’m coming also, sister!” Josephine called from the other end of the foyer, placing on a hat along with her gloves. She came to a hasty stop at Cassie’s side before she grinned. “You cannot leave without me.”

“Why, I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing! What of Evie?”

“Something about a critical moment in a book. I swear, she will never see much of the world if she keeps searching for it within the pages written by others!”

“Perhaps she’s well-versed more than we are, cousin,” Grace mentioned, appearing from the library with a warm smile, reaching out fondly to take Cassie’s hand. “You needn’t worry. Evie has been working on the final touches to the lineup for the festival opening.”

“I never worry when it comes to Evie.”

“Just me?!” Joey concluded and the other two laughed, stepping out into the brisk morning. Winter felt as if it would come early this year, and as Cassie looked to the skies, she was certain it wouldn’t be long until snow was upon the ground.

It made her grip at the letter within her gloved hand more tightly.

“Good morning,” Seo Joon, the family’s chauffeur greeted, opening the back door to the car. Joey got in first and Cassie hesitated, her eyes returning to the front door of the house.

“Is Lydia coming as well?”

“She is just finishing up on a task asked of her, she told me to send her apologies for making our journey to the town delayed,” Seo Joon mentioned and Cassie smiled at him.

“It is no problem to wait. Grace, why don’t you get in next?”

“I have another ride of my own.”

“You do?”

Seo Joon nodded, gesturing to down the drive. “Jaehyun has the cart hooked up with supplies and is waiting not far from here. Safe travels, Miss Grace.”

As Cassie watched her cousin almost run down the driveway to where Jaehyun had indeed been waiting, she couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. Directing her gaze back to their chauffeur, she raised an eyebrow at him.

“Why, I feel you know a great more than I do right now.”

“I am not privy to all knowledge but I do feel Miss Grace enjoys sitting up front in that cart with Jaehyun these days.”

Joey laughed, shaking her head. “It would be such a bumpy ride compared to your smooth driving, Seo Joon.”

“I’ll accept your compliment,” Seo Joon answered with a grin and then gestured for Cassie to climb into the car. She did, and before she could ponder in wonderment over the progression of Grace and Jaehyun’s budding romance, Lydia came rushing through the front door, out of breath.

“I am truly sorry I was so late.”

“Shut the door, Seo Joon,” Cassie instructed and he frowned, looking at Lydia waiting to get in.

“Cassie! Lydia has to get in and with Grace not riding with us she can sit in the back.”

“Nonsense, I need this space here for my uh – my gloves.”

Taking them off immediately, everyone stared at her irrational movement.

“Shall I travel in the front with Seo Joon, My Lady?” Lydia implored, clicking onto Cassie’s mannerisms. Her cheeks were still flushed, though Cassie was certain it was now because of her generous offer.

It wasn’t just Jaehyun and Grace who were feeling things that hadn’t quite been spoken into public knowledge as of yet.

With Lydia in the front and Cassie’s gloves safely on the seat beside her, they started off to the village, both sisters discussing plans in the back seat whilst subtle advances happened in the front. Everyone seemed to be full of spirit once they arrived at the market site, and there was much to go through. Cassie checked the layout of the stalls, the setup up of the lanterns and even spoke with the labourer who had built the stage for the Christmas carollers to stand upon.

“Are you certain it is stable enough? It will hold thirty people most nights,” Lydia, who had spent the majority of her time at Cassie’s side, inquired, her brows knitting together with doubt.

“It does look rather thin in the base, you are right.”

“My Lady, do not fear. The wood I have sourced is incredibly sturdy!” And to make his point, the man climbed onto the stage, welcoming others to join him. Several workers stopped to assist him in his plight and Grace and Jaehyun came over to where they stood.

“I fear it’s not safe wood, if I may speak up about it,” Jaehyun murmured and Cassie glanced up at him, her eyes widening.

“Are you certain? It seems to be holding them well.”

“If we get snow or rain before the cover is erected, it will soften. It’s been cut against the grain.”

“You can tell that from one look?” Seo Joon asked and the gardener nodded. Cassie grew concerned; they had already paid for these materials weeks ago.

“My Lady, it is holding up,” Lydia attempted to console her right when there was a deafening crack. There were several gasps and shrieks as the stage collapsed into its base, cries of pain emanating from several of those within it.

Racing forward, Cassie helped a man out and then looked at the disaster before her. “The festival starts in five days. What will we do?”

It was a nightmare no one had expected so close to the big day. And with the accident, several of the workers were injured, mostly the man who was behind it all.

“I got a good deal on these supplies,” he exclaimed woefully and Josephine patted his lower arm gently before looking to her sister.

“Cassie, I’ll go with the injured to the physician. I know you’ll find a solution whilst I am gone.”

“We have one already,” Seo Joon announced when Cassie moved back to the group from the manor house, pointing at Jaehyun working with a sheet of paper from Grace’s journal. He was sketching out a new stage, and as Cassie looked at his design, she was amazed.

“Are you a carpenter?” Jaehyun glanced up at her and then shook his head. “No, My Lady, but my father is. I learned a lot of his trade when I was still at home.”

“Is there anything you cannot do?” Grace breathed and Cassie smiled momentarily.

Only for her hopes to fall short. “This is wonderful but where will we source materials from and have everything done within five days?”

“Now stop your worrying, My Lady,” Lydia replied firmly, taking Cassie’s hand in hers. “If there’s one thing I know about the staff at Mistletoe Manor is that we rise to the challenge. It will be done.”

Seo Joon had already loosened off a few buttons to his shirt and rolled up his sleeves once his coat was off, conversing with Jaehyun over how to start the structure first. Even Grace had begun helping with the planning; pointing out where she felt the stage would need extra reinforcement. Sharing a somewhat troubled smile with Lydia, Cassie stepped forward to assist as much as she could as well.

By the time they returned home, everyone was exhausted and hungry. Dinner was sombre, Lord Hawthorne making new arrangements to assist Jaehyun and Seo Joon with the project. Their mother had retired early over concerns that the festival may not start on time and Cassie was subdued, forgoing the evening meeting with her sisters and Grace in the drawing room.

It was when she was removing her clothing that she felt the letter she had carried around all day, hesitating to sit down and open it. She craved promising news and with Daehyun’s last letter, Cassie feared it would only bring forth more troubles for her to make her way through.

Still, she needed comfort right now and Daehyun’s letters had become an incredible source of that for her. Just seeing her name scrawled at the top of the letter made her feel some ease from the familiarity of his handwriting. She read through the first two pages that documented his journey of late, and of his questions for her, laughing when he told a tale of how the King had fallen into a mud patch and he hadn’t been able to hold his tongue conservatively. She had discovered her husband was easily amused and could just imagine Daehyun’s improper conduct and his sleepless night before meeting with the King the following day to apologise.

There was no news whether his schedule had changed yet, though he did speak of another Earl, one she had heard of when researching Daehyun. It appeared Yongguk had no plans after the expedition and would accompany him back to the manor.

Still, Cassie didn’t know when that would be and her smile soon faded with his final words.

I do not know when I will see you next but know my heart is with you this season. As it always will be,

Daehyun.

The tears soon began to fall, Cassie overcome with the emotions of everything lately. She had held it together for as long as she could, knowing so many relied on her to be strong and lead the way. It was a curse; she had always been headstrong in a way that made even Josephine turn to her for the right direction whenever she was lost.

But she had no idea which direction she was meant to be going in and it was maddening. Cassie needed someone who would just come in and support her, to allow her to be weak for once. She knew Grace would be there, and yet with her relationship with Jaehyun forming, Cassie didn’t wish to burden her cousin when she was experiencing such joy. And she didn’t want to turn to her parents either. Her father had already been disappointed tonight and he had tasked Cassie with this to do herself. She was prideful, wanting to be successful even if she was exhausted from trying so hard.

Cassie didn’t hear the door open; however, she felt the arms that wrapped around her, gazing through her tears at Lydia before burying herself into the woman. If there was anyone who had seen Cassie at her absolute worst, it was her. They were close and the lines often blurred between their roles and friendship. Breaking down further, Cassie didn’t wish to imagine life when she left the manor.

Even if she was eager to start her married life with Daehyun now, she didn’t wish to lose the strongest ally she had at her side either.

“Let us get up from the floor, hm?” Lydia coaxed, helping Cassie to her feet and over to her bed. She remained in a daze and Lydia removed her stockings, patting her knees gently when she was done. “Is it not good news with your husband?”

“I…” Cassie started, knowing there had been so much she had kept within. She had spoken of her concerns with Daehyun’s delay to Grace and felt much better after doing so. There was so much more troubling her though and Lydia’s gentle encouragement opened the floodgates. It took her some time to explain all her worries, with some breaks needed as the fresh tears fell and soaked into her nightgown. Lydia hadn’t said much; in fact, the only constant was her hand in Cassie’s, prompting her words out until there were no more to give.

Hugging her, Lydia finally took in a breath before speaking. “For this moment in time, I will speak to you as a friend and not someone who serves this family, okay? Cassie, you are placing too much onto your shoulders. We are all here for you and this festival will go off without a hitch. You have worked too hard for it not to. I know the setback startled you but you are surrounded by so many people who wish to help you. And they will if you just ask that of them.”

“I feel so lost, I-I don’t even know who to talk to or who to ask what of.”

Lydia smiled, brushing the remnants of her tears away. “So tell them. Tomorrow at the meeting, tell everyone. Allow others to lead until you are ready to do so again.”

“Oh, I couldn’t burden-”

“When is it ever a burden when it comes to you, Cassandra Hawthorne? You have given up so much of yourself for everyone else. Let us carry you just this once.”

_________________

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