#1747

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Beige Silk Robe à l’Anglaise, ca. 1747 (altered 1770s), British.

Met Museum.

[dailysmilingnatsume]

[vizuart]

Johan Pasch (1706-1769) - The "Hen Picture" (Hönstavlan [sv]), 1747

[quotation--marks]

If ever I should be persuaded to have him, I shall watch how the imperative husband comes upon him; how the obsequious lover goes off; in short, how he ASCENDS, and how I DESCEND, in the matrimonial wheel, never to take my turn again, but by fits and starts, like the feeble struggles of a sinking state for its dying liberty.

Samuel Richardson, Clarissa; or, The History of a Young Lady

[nordleuchten]

24 Days of La Fayette: December 22nd – Jean-Baptiste, Chevalier de Gouvion

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 3, April 27, 1780–March 29, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1980, p. 251.

Jean-Baptiste, Chevalier de Gouvion was born on January 8, 1747 to Jean François Gouvion and Marguerite Catherine Olry. He was the oldest of at least thirteen children. His father was a police officer and several of his brothers and cousins found their way into the army, often as engineer’s and often in high-ranking positions. At least one of his cousins was later knighted – like Gouvion himself.

Gouvion joined the army as an engineer. He had been commissioned first lieutenant of engineers in 1771, and later decided to join the War in America. He became a brevet captain shortly prior to his departure. Contrasting to La Fayette, Gouvion was permitted to do so. He sailed from Nantes on March 5, 1777 with a group of French military engineers. The expedition was organized by Benjamin Franklin. The group arrived in North Carolina and travelled to Philadelphia, there to present themselves to the Continental Congress on July 5, 1777. He was granted the rank of major of engineers and on November 17, 1777 he was made a lieutenant-colonel.

The Marquis de La Fayette valued Gouvion’s skills and character and after a visit to several native American tribes, La Fayette send Gouvion to oversee the construction of a small fort. He wrote in his Memoirs:

The Oneidas and the Tuscaroras, our only true friends, asked for a fort, and M. de Lafayette left with them M. de Gouvion, a French officer who had a rare combination of intelligence, talent, and virtue. Whenever the army needed Indians, or there was any business to be conducted with those tribes, they always had recourse to the influence of M. de Lafayette, whose necklaces and words the Indians respected.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 248.

Gouvion enjoyed La Fayette’s complete trust, and his skills soon impressed several other officers, amongst them George Washington. Gouvion was accompanied by another man that would go one to become one of La Fayette’s aide-de-camps – Louis Tousard. When Gouvion’s work was finished, La Fayette wrote to Henry Laurens on June 7, 1778:

Clel. Gouvion is just coming from the indians. That gentleman has been of a greater use to America among them than it is possible to say. It is uncommon to join a greater modesty, to greater science, more agreable [illegible word] and more profound parts as an officer and gentleman.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, p. 71.

Gouvion found himself again in the employ of La Fayette during the continuation of the campaign of 1778. The Marquis wrote to the Comte D’Estaing on July 30, 1778:

Since General Washington told me to take an engineer with me, I took and now send to Providence M. de Gouvion, captain in France in the engineering regiment, who lives up to the most flattering idea one might have of him.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, pp. 124-125.

On the same day, La Fayette also wrote to General John Sullivan with whom he was supposed to rendezvous:

I send forward to you Lt. Colonel Gouvion of the engeneers whom I have brought with me. He is one of the most sensible and worthy gentlemen I ever met with. His military knowledge in the engeneery way is compleat. In a word I have selected and desir’d him from Gal. Porta'll as the very man I was glad to have with us.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, p. 126.

By the end of 1778, Gouvion worked for Major General Alexander McDougall at West Point. McDougall wrote to George Washington on December 10, 1778:

But to effect this, and secure West Point, I shall want more heavy Cannon, I wish therefore to have your Excellency’s Order for those at Boston, which I am informed are subject to it. Cannot Some of the Somerset’s Cannon be procured for those important purposes? If either can be procured, no Time should be lost. It is for those Services I request Colonel Delaradiere or Lieut. Colonel Gouvion to be with me, to assist me in whatever I may be deficient in Science. The latter I would prefer, if he is equally qualifyed. (…) I have directed Lieutenant Colonel Gouvion the Engeneer, to repair to West Point with me to make an accurate Report of the present State of the works.

“To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 10 December 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 18, 1 November 1778 – 14 January 1779, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 389–393.] (07/04/2023)

George Washington replied on December16, 1778:

You will detain Colo. Gouvion with you ’till you hear further on the subject. General Du Portail, to whom I generally leave the particular arrangements of his Corps, is now at Philadelphia. Inclosed is a line to Mr Gouvion directing him to continue with you ’till further orders.

“From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 16 December 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 18, 1 November 1778 – 14 January 1779, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 425–426.] (07/04/2023)

McDougall was delighted by Gouvion’s work and Gouvion would continue to work at West Point and surrounding sites like Stoney Point and King’s Ferry for the whole of 1779. He lend his talents to Generals Wayne, Woodford and Heath among others.

By August of 1779 he took a short break from his engineering duties and sat on the court martial for Colonel Armand. See the General Orders from August 5, 1779:

The Commander in Chief directs a General Court Martial to sit at the ussual place tomorrow morning ten ôclock for the trial of Colonel Armand. Colonel Stewart to preside. Colonel Gouvion, Lieutenant Colonels Ford, Dubuisson & Littlefield; Majors De La Neuville, Leavensworth & Ville Franche Captain Du Ponceau and a Captain from the Maryland Pennsylvania and Connecticutt Lines and the Garrison to attend as Members.

“General Orders, 5 August 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 22, 1 August–21 October 1779, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013, pp. 35–37.] (07/04/2023)

By early 1780, the question of Gouvion’s future in the Continental Army arose. Washington wrote a letter on January 2, 1780 to Samuel Huntington:

Congress were pleased by their resolution of the 1st of January last to express their desire of retaining Brigadier General Du Portail, Colonels La Radiere and Laumoy, and Lt Col. De Gouvion in the service of these states for another campaing, if agreeable to them. These gentlemen having accepted the invitation, have now completed the term to which it extended; and it is with pleasure I can inform Congress that their subsequent conduct has more than justified the opinio⟨n⟩ expressed in my letter on which that resolution is founded. They have been particularly useful in the course of this last period, and have acquired general esteem and confidence⟨.⟩ I cannot forbear adding that the better the gentleman at the head of the corps is known the more he is found to be a man of abilities, and of distinguished military merit.

“From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 2 January 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 24, 1 January–9 March 1780, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2016, pp. 8–10.] (07/04/2023)

Prompted by a letter from Brigadier General Duportail from April 2, 1780 to George Washington, Gouvion was for a short time transferred to Washington’s command. The commander-in-chief wrote on April 28, 1780 to Major General Robert Howe:

General DuPortail being gone to the Southward, it is necessary that Col. Gouvion should repair to this army. If there are any previous arrangements you wish him to make, you will be pleased to direct him to make them and to set out for Head Quarters as speedily as he can.

“From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 28 April 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 25, 10 March–12 May 1780, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2017, pp. 505–506.] (07/04/2023)

These arrangements did not last long however, since Gouvion’s arrival was delayed and by June 26, 1780, Washington had ordered Gouvion to return to West Point. Therefore, by 1780, Gouvion again worked on the fortifications of West Point. In General Duportail’s absence, he was the commander of the corps of engineers and effectively displaced Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who had previously been the chief engineer at West Point. Kosciuszko wrote Washington on July 30, 1780:

To this day I have not received your Excellencys order respecting my destination, having nothing to do at present as all the artifficers are directed to receive Leut. Colo: Gouvions orders, I beg your Excellency to give me permision to leave the Engeneer Department and direct me a Command in the Light Infantry in the Army under your immediate Command or the Army at the Southward agreable to my ranck I now hold.

“To George Washington from Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, 30 July 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 27, 5 July–27 August 1780, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019, p. 359.] (07/04/2023)

It was around this time, in late 1780, after Arnolds Treason, that Gouvion wished to join La Fayette as an aide-de-camp. The Marquis wrote Nathanael Greene on November 10, 1780:

Upon My Giving a hint to Clel. Gouvion that I had Some desire of joining you, he has Earnestly Requested I would take him as a Volonteer aid de Camp.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 3, April 27, 1780–March 29, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1980, p. 223.

Shortly after Arnold’s treason has become public, Gouvion with a small party of men had arrested Joshua Hett Smith. Now he was sent with La Fayette to inspect the Forts Lee and Washington and La Fayette praised that Gouvion “with the eyes of an engineer” would see things that he himself missed. In March of 1781, Gouvion was permitted by George Washington to meet with General Rochambeau to pay his respects and to meet with friends that served under Rochambeau.

On April 8, 1781, Washington wrote to La Fayette:

It is General duPortails desire that Colo. Gouvion may return to him. Independant of the occasion which there may be for him here, there is another reason which operates against his going with you, it is, that he would interfere with Colo. Kosciusko who has been considered as the commanding Engineer with the southern Army.

“From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 April 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

To which La Fayette replied on April 13, 1780:

I Have Received Your Excellency’s Letter Relating to Clel Gouvion—it would Have Been Very Agreable to Me to keep this officer (…)

“To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 April 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

When La Fayette took command of troops in Richmond, he wrote Washington on May 24, 1781:

As I am for the present fixed in the command of the troops in this State, I Beg it as a great favor that you will please to send me Clel Gouvion. Should a jonction Be made with General Greene He will act as my aid de camp.

“To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

Washington ordered Gouvion on September 2, 1781, to join La Fayette’s camp in Virginia and there to await his orders. He arrived in camp on September 10. Just after the Battle of Yorktown, Gouvion desired to return home to his native France – he had been in America these past four years. In answer to the application George Washington wrote to General Duportail on October 26, 1781:

In answer to your letter of the 24th I beg leave to inform you, that as no immediate operation requires your presence in this country, I shall most chearfully second your application to Congress for a Six months furlough to yourself & Col. Gouvion for the purpose of arranging your private affairs in France. (…) I cannot forebear addg at the same time it will always afford me the greatest pleasure at all times to give the most particular testimony of the zeal, talents and distinguished services of yourself and Colonel Gouvion—and entreat you to be persuaded of my earnest wish that you may receive those rewards from Congress which you desire, at a more convenient opportunity.

“From George Washington to Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 26 October 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

Gouvion returned to France on the same ship that brought La Fayette and few other French officers home. Before he left, he received a glowing recommendation from General Washington:

From the particular recommendations of General Du Portail—and from my own particular observation—I feel the highest pleasure in rendering justice to the distinguished military Talents of Lt Colonel Gouvion, and his indefatigable perseverance in the most valuable services—his Decisive judgement and spirit of enterprise have been conspicuous on all occasions—particularly in the late siege of York—where the opening of the Trenches, the commencement of the second parallel—a very important lodgement in two of the Enemys works that were carried Sword in hand, and their connexion with our attacks—were committed to him—and executed under his orders with that energy and precision which constitute the great Engineer.

“From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste de Gouvion, 31 October 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

John Jay noted in his diary that Duportail and Gouvion set out for America on October 15, 1782 and went right back to work. He was apparently in such a demand, that Washington wrote to La Fayette on March 23, 1783:

As it is your wish, I have given Colo. Gouvion my consent to meet you at the rendezvous appointed him—& he sets out with all the alacrity of a friend to attend it. You must receive him as a precious loan because I esteem and value him and because it is to you only I would part with him.

“From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 March 1783,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

When Gouvion resigned his commission in October of 1783 to return to France once and for all, now that the War was finished, he had already received numerous official and unofficial recommendations. During his return trip to France, he had received a promotion in the French army, and it was there that he resumed his career. He was promoted to Mestre de camp in 1787.

But the fun should not come too short. We have several invitations from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams for example, as well as protocols of the French chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati that all mention Gouvion. Then we also have this letter from Duportail to George Washington from March 3, 1784:

I saw yesterday for the first time a man in the Clouds and with Colonel gouvion we Regretted that you Could not enjoy so extraordinary view.

“To George Washington from Duportail, 3 March 1784,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 1, 1 January 1784 – 17 July 1784, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992, pp. 168–169.] (07/04/2023)

With the begin of the French Revolution and La Fayette’s appointment as commander of the newly formed National Guard, Gouvion joined his old friend and became a Major in the National Guard. He was one of the officers on duty on the night of June 20, 1791. Despite this blunder, he was made a Maréchal de camp on June 30, 1791. On September 7 of the same year, he became a deputy for Paris in the Legislative Assembly but he became disillusioned after the mutiny at Nancy. His brother was one of the commanding officers at Nancy and was killed during the mutiny. Gouvion was enraged by the pardons that some of the troop received and after his episode (and a duel that he fought with a fellow deputy of the assembly, Choudien) left the assembly altogether to again join La Fayette on the field.

Jean-Baptiste, Chevalier de Gouvion was killed in action by a cannonball during the battle at Grisuelle by Maubeuge on June 11, 1792. La Fayette made sure that his friend was buried with all honours.

While this post is long enough as it is, permit me one last quote to illustrate the trust that Gouvion’s character had earned. The Marquis de La Fayette wrote on September 1, 1781:

Inclosed I send you His letter and that of Mis. de St Simon Both of whom I Request you will Have translated By Tilmangh or Gouvion alone as there are parts of them personal which I do not choose to show to others

“To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 September 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (07/04/2023)

[sigalrm]

Sanssouci Palace by Pascal Volk

[my-chaos-radio]

Release: August 18, 2003

Lyrics:

Now I will tell you what I've done for you

50 thousand tears I've cried

Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you

And you still won't hear me (going under)

I'm dying again

Don't want your hand this time, I'll save myself

Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)

Not tormented, daily defeated by you

Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm going under

I'm dying again

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies

(So I don't know what's real)

So I don't know what's real and what's not

(Don't know what's real and what's not)

Always confusing the thoughts in my head (ooh)

So I can't trust myself anymore

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm...

I'm dying again

So go on and scream

Scream at me, I'm so far away (so far away)

I won't be broken again (again)

I've got to breathe, I can't keep going under

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm going under (going under)

Songwriter:

Going under (drowning in you)

I'm going under

David Hodges / Amy Lee / Ben Moody

SongFacts:

👉📖

Homepage:

Evanescence

[thediamondarcher]

The difference between knowing how to write a bad parent having dementia without absolutely losing the point of how having an abuser as a parent can affect you and how you don't need to forgive them. (BECAUSE NOTHING SHOULD GIVE THE MESSAGE SHAMELESS GAVE)

In Beatrice's last scene we see BoJack empathizing with her but not forgiving her, because he doesn't have to.

He was genuinely feeling bad about her because he realized she's not the same person who abused him anymore.

We got to see Beatrice as a child, the abuse, the bullying, the being silent and mistreated, everything in just a couple of episodes. While in shameless we got 11 seasons to see Franks backstory and they barely showed that, the show ended with a scene trying to make us feel bad about an abuser without even explaining anything, we're just supposed to feel sorry for him because he has dementia? I'm not even saying that showing his past would've helped with the show giving a good message because someone's past doesn't justify their actions but they didn't even make an effort to try to write it in a good and not hurtful way.

I really think shameless is giving an awful point with Frank's character. They're basically telling you to forgive your abuser just because they're "also broken" which is completely ridiculous and can really affect other people's mental health and journey. While BJHM is showing not to forgive, just understand.

I know they're just shows but writers should be more aware of how showing these types of characters can affect real people who went through real abuse.

I don't hate Shameless but i do think the writers of that show should've thought things twice before giving this awful message (also being a famous show and a lot of people's comfort show this is even more dangerous)

you don't have to forgive your abuser!!

[quiltofstars]

NGC 1747 (center) in the LMC // Christian HENNES

[slowtraincomingsoon]

99 1747 in Oberwiesenthal am 10.05.2024

[iepurasdepraf]

ᒍEᖇᐯIᔕ TETᑕᕼ: ᒪIGᕼTᔕ OᑌT - ᑭᗩᖇT 2

Music for this part - Part 1

Through the haze of cigarette smoke, your client gave his speech "The elaborate branching structure of the dendritic tree allows a singular neuron to receive inputs from the other neurons through synaptic connections. The cortical pyramidal neuron of figure one point one A and the cortical interneuron of figure one point one C each receive thousands of synaptic inputs, shown in figure g one a, in less than a second, and for the cerebellar Purkinje cell of figure one point one B the number is over one hundred thousand. Figure one point one does not show the full extent of the axons of these neurons-" 

The way he spoke with a little booze in him made it seem like the dingey strip club backroom his own private symposium. If he’d been graced with a little more confidence, he’d have made for a great professor or at least that's your opinion, but it’s not like you’d gone to college. 

You had to blink. Hard. Rubbing your eyes with the heels of your palms in desperate search of relief you wondered if he’d breathed in the last thirty minutes. You weren't sure. You weren't even sure if you had either, but your head was spinning either way so you could only imagine he was reeling.

Initially, you'd managed to understand what he was talking about. His figures were hand drawn, but clear and well labeled, but during the course of the presentation that had slowly waned and been overtaken by a sea of information that just kept rising. It all started bleeding together in your head and your eyes had begun burning from squinting at his cracked phone screen where he was showing you the arithmetic and diagrams. 

You’d gotten at best a D or C in math, you couldn’t remember anymore, but you’d passed. That said, you certainly weren’t built for this. This was a whole other level. The formulas looked like something from a scifi movie you’d see written on what was essentially a high tech whiteboard right before an alien burst out of someone’s spleen. 

“The electrical signal of relevance to the nervous system is the difference in electrical potential between the interior of a neuron and the surrounding extracellular medium-” Not wanting to be rude since he was paying for your time, you raised your hand and were quickly called upon by your impromptu teacher with nothing, but delighted glee on his face that you were even listening “Yes!?” "Whereabouts in this presentation are we?" "We're just about through the first half." "The first half?" Dear God in Heaven.

His nose scrunched up a little exposing his buckteeth even more, he must have caught on that he was frying your brain in its pan. You couldn’t tell if it was a smile or a grimace. Maybe he found it funny? "How many parts are there?" You asked, trying your hardest to sound amused and not worn out. "Five! Well, five and a, ah... sort of post note." You laughed a little restlessly and sat up on the sofa. Legs long having gone numb from being in one position for so long.

He held up his flashcards, smudged as they were from his sweaty hands. "I felt like I needed at least eight parts to fully explain, but I ran out of cards." "Why not buy more cards?" His hand lowered as he thought about it "I- Well, I suppose I... didn't want to admit my poor foreplanning to myself?" You press your fingers to your eyes for some relief. It didn’t help and that didn't make sense, but nothing had since he stopped stuttering. Sure, the words were coming out now, but that didn’t mean they made sense even with his extensive explanation. If anything it was making it worse.

Your hands fell to your lap as you asked “Who are you giving this presentation to, Jervis?” He turned red when you said his first name. You could tell it was that by the way his eyes fluttered and how he wriggled. It was like every now and then he remembered you were a pretty lady giving him the time of day and it staggered him a little. 

“The-The board. Well, I- let me explain.” He sat on the edge of the small platform of a stage you’d made him stand on when he started this whole thing to try to make it feel more like he was presenting. His feet couldn’t even reach the ground. “I don’t do things like this, you see. I’m a lab rat through and through. I haven’t given a-any kind of presentation since I defended my thesis for my doctorate.”

There was something wrong with you. That was actually impressive and you nearly asked what his thesis was about, but you also wanted to go home before five. “I work for Wayne Enterprises and normally I’m kept down in the basements- they keep all the non-theoretical work in the basements for security reasons... I shouldn’t have told you that.” 

He laughed his security breach of an anxiety spike off in a concerningly manic way again and all you could think to do was nod in response, nearly used to it at this point. That or you were so worn down you were just accepting it for the sake of what was left of your mental bandwidth. “Recently, I don’t know why for certain, but they’re- Oh, how did Dr. Kates put it? Doing an internal audit of ongoing research to access security, costs, and productivity. I assume they suspect someone is misusing grant money.”

“Is someone?” You ask, now a little invested in his workplace drama. “Heavens no!” He dismisses the very idea with a flick of his wrist. An oddly elegant gesture for someone so tense, but that was probably the liquor in him. “They barely give us enough to keep the power on in the labs. If someone was doing that the flickering lights would have surely let us know long before accounting noticed.” Jervis rolls his eyes grumbling, “Useless things they are. Still haven’t approved of my new slides.” He was getting distracted so you lean forward with your elbows on your thighs to get his attention. “Why would them thinking someone’s stealing money have you doing a presentation to the board?”

He blinks like a toad, eyes unable to settle on just one part of you until he registers you are looking still at him and you know that so he looks elsewhere instead, fumbling with his cards to try to get his train of thoughts back on the rails. He didn’t succeed right away. “I…They-well, they- um…Hm.” Jervis clears his throat “T-to-to prove I am making progress or rather have been. To-ah, establish a timeline of my-my work.” 

Your head tilts slightly to the side “Would they be able to tell?” “What?” Your simple question seems to knock him out of his self conscious stupor. “Well, you’ve written a really detailed presentation, but are the people you’re going to be presenting it to going to be able to understand what you’re showing them? Are they scientists too? It sounds more like it’s going to be to a committee.”

“They… are not scientists.” You saw the cold realization washed over him. They’d have no idea what he was talking about and the way he looked at you nearly made you feel guilty. All that work and they’d never understand it. Christ, that was brutal. It made you feel bad for not getting it either. He was clearly onto something he desperately wanted to share, but it was like he couldn't simplify his ideas enough to explain what they were to anyone with a room temperature IQ.

You bounced your leg trying to think up a solution even though you still weren’t entirely sure why you gave a shit. You should just get up and go home. Tell him it’s late and you have to get some sleep. But no, you sat there puzzling trying to help this total stranger. You stood up, unable to sit anymore. The digging drive to pace while you thought winning out as it usually did so back and forth in front of the despondent scientist you went. 

“Ok, we can figure this out.” You assured, sounding more confident then you actually were. “You’re smart. I’m…well, I’m smart too. Just… not as smart.” You laughed, but he looked like a kicked puppy. Maybe you were the only smart one right now. You told yourself that was fine while you gnawed on your thumb nail. Chipping the black fingernail polish off with your front teeth. You were so tired. 

Your eyes hurt, your back hurt, your legs hurt, and you smelled like a sweaty ashtray full of cheap beer. You weren’t getting anywhere with this tonight. “When are you giving your presentation?” “Next week. Friday of next week.” It was only Sunday, well, Monday now. You had time. “I’ll tell you what,” You turned to him with a clap of your hands that made him jump to attention.

“We’ll keep working on it. Instead of trying to explain where you are, let’s try to show what it took to get here. We’ll figure this out, but not tonight. I have to work today, but after that I’m free until Wednesday. Meet me here after work and I'll give you your money’s worth.” You winked at him “I owe you for what you paid me for, don’t worry. You still have,” after checking the yellow stained clock on the wall over his head you confirmed “Two hours and forty five minutes.”

Jervis stood up, only coming up to the very bottom of your ribs “You promise?!” What a pathetically endearing man. “Promise.” You presented your pinky finger and he gasped like you’d surprised him with a diamond ring, but he puffed himself up and raised his own pinky to interlock with yours all the same. “Pinky promise.” “I-I- Hehehe-”

He wriggled like a worm on a hook. Turning red as the perfect shade of lipstick making the pale dusting of freckles over his nose and cheeks stand out. “I’ve never- ah… No one’s ever pinky promised me anything,” He cleared his throat then tilted his chin up and stood as tall as he could with his feet flat on the floor to shake on it properly “Jolly good.”

You couldn’t help, but snort. With a shake of your hands the pact was made.

Banner art: DRCL - Midnight Children by Sakamoto Shinichi

[quotation--marks]

I find by a few words which dropped from her unawares, that they have all an absolute dependence upon what they suppose to be a meekness in my temper. But in this they may be mistaken, for I verily think upon a strict examination of myself that I have almost as much in me of my father’s as of my mother’s family.

Samuel Richardson, Clarissa; or, The History of a Young Lady

[inmymagnetoera]

Charles, talking about Lorna, Wanda and Pietro: Why didn't you tell me you had 3 children?!

Erik: Well, because I wanted to keep them secret. OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T KNOW-

[ourflagmeansbts]

Source (Season 1 - July 24th 2022)

rawletv: @joberde and I in #Barbados 1747. Waaaay b4 Rihanna @rihannaofficilal

[beyourselfchulanmaria]

相思令•吳山青     宋詞 ／林逋 Lin Bu (Chinese poet during the Northern Song dynasty) 

吳山青，越山青。兩岸青山相送迎，爭忍有離情？ 君淚盈，妾淚盈。羅帶同心結未成，江頭潮已平。

Everlasting Longing

The northern hills so green, The southern hills were green, They saw your boats which comes and go river between. How can be bear that grief at parting is so keen?

Tears streaming from your eyes, Tears streaming of mine too, We tried to tie love together but in vain. Seeing the tide subsided peacefully.

ps. 林逋 Lin Bu (967 or 968—1028) Chinese poet 他出生於儒學世家，恬淡好古，早年曾遊歷於江淮等地，隱居西湖孤山，終生不仕不娶，惟喜植梅養鶴，自謂 「以梅為妻，以鶴為子」，人稱「梅妻鶴子」。

* Ink painting of Lin Bu(林逋) by Kanō Sansetsu (狩野 山雪 1589–1651 Japanese), Edo period, 17th century.

* Ink painting by 清代著名嶺南書畫家和詩人 (Chinese 1747-1799) Li Jian (黎簡).