#A Mate For York

[staciass]

D’Ya know what, I’m low-key obsessed with this book.

I mean … it’s not perfect or even exceptional writing or lyrical and enchanting but I like the FMC she hasn’t done anything TSTL yet … lmao and the MMC is a bit clueless but it’s chalked down to the fact that the Vampires have a whole different culture I guess !?

It can be just so freaking cute, lighthearted, funny, sweet and spicy and cool all at the same time. I am honestly hooked, I love it !!!

[imdowndownbutdefinetlynotout]

Hayley's lyrics about Taylor

Taken (2020)/ Crystal clear (2020)/ Sudden Desire (2020)/ Over Those Hills (2021)/ Crystal Clear (2020)/ No Use I Just Do (2021)

[redwinesupercvnt]

i dont care where a fic takes place the marauders are gonna be british

[seagull-scribbles]

'Best man' can’t even tie a bow tie 💒

[newyorkthegoldenage]

The Guggenheim Museum opened its doors on October 21, 1959.

Photo: Robert Mates via the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

[greatwesternway]

heya! 👋

idk if it's been asked already but: do you have any voice claims for the TFISSAB crew?

Hello!

No one has asked this yet, but it makes sense to. The structure of the letters - that Ray and I each write alternating letters as our respective characters - gives away that its a roleplaying game of a sort. Face and voice claims are quite common in those games.

As it happens though, Ray and I both have backgrounds that sort discourage getting too specific with any kind of work we'd have to outsource. Ray is an animator and so voice casting is something they were trained for in school. I studied game design and learned a lot of the same things they did. Basically that not only is it no use getting your heart set too specifically on a particular voice, but it's also limiting. It's better to go into a casting with an open mind because an actor could surprise you. You could miss out on a truly iconic voice for a character if you're too focused on casting, say, an Ann Margaret type. 'Cause after all, at the end of the day, she won't be Ann Margaret.

Not to say that we consider casting actively for this particular project (most of our engines are stationary displays and so what would we animate them doing? Maybe we could do a radio play, lol). Just that we've been schoolt not to devote much energy in that direction in any project.

That said, we do have generalized ideas about voices though.

Truro describes Pioneer as having a "radio announcers voice", which is a very short way to tell you a lot about how he sounds. Authoritative yet approachable with an air of trustworthiness. And distinctly non-regional.

Pilot and Mate would have had urbanized (read: diluted) Texan accents during their work lives, but Pilot's has been dulled further by his retirement in Illinois. In the scenario in which Mate is rebuilt, his accent remains (Ray also likes the idea of Mate having a particularly deep voice for such a small build.)

999 is a New Yorker and so has an appropriate accent. While I wouldn't call this a voice claim, I did have Jill Zarin from Real Housewives of New York in mind when writing her haranguing U-505. 999 is not quite as nasal as that though.

2903 has a more southwestern accent but it's also diluted by urbanization and the need to be understood everywhere from Los Angeles to Chicago.

Basically, most of these are dictated by where they lived out their service lives. Although Frisco 1630, the Russian Decapod, pretends to have a Russian accent when she meets new engines.

[fellhellion]

hobie and miguel dynamic is just leftist infighting to me.

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Changretta's Mate-Daddy's girl

____________________________________________________________

Daddy’s little girl

_______________________Luca’s Pov________________

Detroit wasn’t Luca’s favorite city but to be fair it wasn’t his least favorite either. It was fine, especially for quick business. Several Italian families had promised to meet with him and all the alliances seemed to be going well.

A rival Sicilian gang close to where Luca had been born was the most interesting meeting of the day. They had approached him at breakfast in a diner with his men all around.

They had a deep seated hatred for the Purple gang.

After their intimidation tactic on Caroline in New York, he wasn’t exactly fond of them either.

It was nice to catch up with fellow Sicilians though.

“How's your wife Mr. Changretta? I went to school with her.” Lorenzo, that had been his name, he was heading up the gang here in little Sicily Detroit.

Luca thought he was fine up until he asked about his former school mate, Luca’s mate. He knew why it bothered him, he missed her, she was pregnant and he hated being away from her.

Lorenzo wasn’t coming off like a creep or like a forlorn school crush. Just normal small talk.

“ She's very pregnant and energetic.” Luca replied. He could ask if they’d been friends or dated but he thought better of it. He was a jealous man by nature but he knew she loved him more than anything and she was a good faithful women.

He’d lucked out with her.

“ I remember when my mate was pregnant. I swear, she’d rearrange furniture and get on a ladder to adjust pictures and things on a daily basis. I’m lucky I survived with her trying to give me daily heart attacks. “ Luca chuckled with him.

“I can relate, I think she's rearranged the nursery about a hundred times. One day it’ll be perfect.” He laughed thinking about her latest melt down on the pain color not being warm enough. It was beige, he hadn’t realized there were so many shades of beige let alone cold tones or warm tones.

“ After the baby comes. That’s when they get too tired to change anything around.” The other man smiled warmly. It was nice to have a conversation that wasn't about babies, gangs or politics right now.

He was beyond excited to be having children with Caroline. He had been doing just fine till he met her, but life seemed to have more meaning for him now, like he’d just been waiting.

“Babies, she's having twins. Doctor picked up two heartbeats on the last visit.” Luca had been stunned when she’d told him that and showed him the little paper confirming two.

“When you start you just go all out huh?” Lorenzo laughed as did Luca. It was true, his mate and cousins had made the same joke.

“Twins run on her side. She’s not amused when I pointed that out.” Luca hoped the next kid they had was a single pregnancy. He was so excited for the babies but two, well that was more than anticipated the first time. He wondered how chaotic his house would be the first few years…or the next eighteen years.

“I was surprised you came down with her pregnancy and her father visiting. Must not like your father in law huh?” Lorenzo’s little brother Antonio had addressed him now. Luca side-eyed him and grabbed a cigarette. I needed to process this information. I hadn’t known but he couldn’t show that. I was a boss, these boys were foot soldiers, I couldn't lose my cool or seem like I didn’t have an idea on what was happening back home. Don’t need a little upstart seizing an opportunity.

I smiled but I knew it was more like baring my teeth. Before the meeting I just got off a phone call with my beautiful mate. Antoni better be fuckin jokin, for her sake too. I hated secrets.

____________Caroline________________________________________________

“Mrs Changretta, there is an older man at the door for you. Claims he’s here for a visit.” Our maid, Yvonne, a pretty little brunette, stood by the couch after delivering the tea to Audrey and I.

I exchanged looks with my mother in law. I wasn’t expecting anyone let alone a man. Something wasn’t sitting right.

“Dante?” I called for Luca’s nephew and now my body guard since he’d taken Matteo with him to Detroit.

“Yes, Mrs. Changretta?” He stood at 6’1, tall and broad. He couldn’t have been Luca’s twin. Roman nose, dark thick hair and green eyes. I swear, he was the younger version of my mate.

With how amorous Luca was with me, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d had kids prior to me, however I doubted he wouldn’t be a part of their lives so I let my thoughts go.

“ I told you, we're family, it's Caroline.” I smiled tightly. I was more irritated today than usual. I felt like a blimp to be fair and the twins were boxing with my organs. Not helping my mood I'm sure. Every time I tried to stretch, Audrey would scold me and tell me not to move too much or they could get wrapped up in their umbilical cords. I swear, people forgot I was a nurse on a daily basis. We were going to be fine.

“ Go get a name from the man at the door. He waits outside until we know who he is.” Audrey smiled and nodded dismissing him. Gosh, I loved this woman. She was a godsend for me in New York. I think I knew more about her at this point than her own son did. A fact that annoyed my man endlessly.

“ Ugh, I'm going to pop, I swear. It’s going to be all babies and pasta.” I laughed with my mother in law at the absurd visual. Seriously though, I was over pasta. I just wanted bread and sweets, which my husband made sure were made or arrived daily from my favorite bakery downtown. I was a spoiled princess and I didn’t mind one bit.

Dante came jogging back, we weren't that far from the door. Audrey and I glanced at him wondering what the rush was.

“Mr. Turner, Noah Turner. Said he’s your father.”

I sat on the couch stunned for what felt like hours. I rubbed my stomach praying the babies would settle down. I did not want to see him alone, without Luca. This was trouble two times over. I could feel it.

“Dante, get his phone number for wherever he’s staying. I need to talk to Luca first, I may meet up with Mr. Turner later.” I heard the porciline chip as my mother in law slammed her teacup down in disbelief. He was still my dad even if I hadn’t spoken to him in several months. I wanted to know why he suddenly cared and why.

“Caroline?!” I shuttered knowing I was in for it by the elderly woman when my father left. I was still an adult.

“Luca first I said.” I said firmly. I was suddenly annoyed by everyone who was suddenly questioning me in the room.

Luca was getting impatient. He’d told her the plan a hundred times. He’d call when he was in the hotel room and about to leave. He’d been right on the nose with his time down to the exact minute. He could see the tension in his hand, his veins getting more pronounced under the black hands tattooed on him.

He understood she was getting heavily pregnant. Lots of trips to the bathroom and naps but come on. There were phones in literally every room of the apartment. Surely she was by one though and if he knew his mother, she was probably there visiting with her daughter, not daughter in law, she hated that title, saying they were closer than that.

“Oh God, is no one at that fucking apartment?!” He slammed his hand down on the table making his men jump. They were packed and ready to check out.

He was hoping to be back by tomorrow sometime. Driving straight through. He didn’t want to be away from her anymore then he had too in her condition.

“ Hello, Caroline speaking.” Relief flooded his body causing him to actually shutter. Thank God she finally answered. He could feel anger and tension draining out.

“Hey, I’m headed back. Anything exciting happening over there?” He was glad he was finally hearing from her

“Yeah, my dad showed up. I sent him away. When will you be home?” She sounded tense, scared and far away. He could tell she was upset. This is why he didn’t want to travel right now but he had needed to neutralize the threat. The hit would take place tonight. Luca didn’t need to be there since the New York Mafia technically wasn’t involved. It didn’t hurt that they provided some weapons and ammo to aid the Sicilian but that was neither here nor there to him.

“Yeah, I heard, I met up with your old school mate Lorenzo. He mentioned that your father went to New York.” The anger was returning causing his throat to ache. He wasn’t mad at her. He was angry at her father, he hated his family being threatened and he was worried about her.

“Lorenzo, I haven’t spoken to him…I don’t even know, since graduation.” She laughed, easing him up a bit. He could relax if she relaxed. They feed off each other's emotions through the mate bond. She’d honestly probably knew she was upset before he called.

“I’m on my way home, no meeting until I get there, yeah.” He didn’t know why he’d said it. She was one of the smartest people he knew. She could handle herself.

“Yeah, I love you.” She whispered lovingly into the phone. He smiled, feeling glad he was headed back to New York.

“I love you to baby.” He hoped Lorenzo won, he didn’t want to come back to Detroit anytime soon. Not without his girl.

[cinemafromcinema]

An eye for an eye

Israeli "people" or... Israeli "army"?

Relevant and irrelevant to Cinema

[tomorrowusa]

Almost no MAGA zombies demonstrate in front of the Trump hush money courthouse. 😝

Donald Trump has been asking supporters to demonstrate at the courthouse in NYC where he's on trial for his hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

So far, few have shown up over the past month or so. The biggest MAGA crowds over there amount to two or three dozen.

Conspiracy nuts attract the most attention. Nutcase Laura Loomer showed up once with a bullhorn and another time a Florida conspiracy fanatic set himself on fire.

But most of the time there's less activity outside the courthouse then you'd find at a dollar store in Queens.

Most of the people showing up for Trump are GOP sycophants who attend court sessions inside. Some are angling to be Trump's 2024 running mate; they obviously haven't learned the lesson of Mike Pence.

The New York Times describes what is a typical day at the courthouse.

Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican of Ohio who is in contention to be Trump’s running mate, joined Trump’s entourage in court. Also on hand were Senator Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama, and Representative Nicole Malliotakis of New York. Vance attacked Cohen and other participants in the trial in social media posts and at a news conference. That was several hours after three men in Trump hats had gathered for a demonstration in the same park where Vance had spoken. One, Dion Cini, from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, had brought 14 large Trump flags. He said the turnout was "definitely depressing, because Trump has asked people to come multiple times."

I'm trying to imagine Dion Cini, a semi-professional Trump lickspittle, taking the subway from southern Brooklyn to the Trump courthouse with "14 large Trump flags" during the morning rush hour. 😳

The pictures in the media of outside the Trump courthouse usually show the area on atypically eventful days. This is what it's usually like.

Over the course of a business day you'll usually see more people walking their dogs than cheering for Trump outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.

Trump is falsely claiming that the NYC police are turning away huge throngs of his supporters. That simply is not true.

Fact check: Trump falsely claims police turned away ‘thousands’ from Manhattan courthouse and that supporters ‘can’t get near’

You don't need to be an investigative reporter to know that Trump is lying about this.

Here is a Google map showing typical midday traffic around the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. I inserted the name of the building because the name doesn't show up at this scale.

There are a number of courts and government buildings clustered together in that part of Lower Manhattan. Feel free to check live traffic at any time at Google Maps. The Trump court address is: 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013.

Any streets that are blocked off by local authorities would show up on the NYC street closure map. This shows street status for Tuesday and Wednesday. I placed a rectangle, in Trump orange with a black outline, to designate the block with the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse at 100 Centre Street.

Those two closures would not prevent pedestrians from accessing the courthouse area. Two public parks are directly across the street from the courthouse and MAGA zombies are free to chant anti-democracy slogans from either one.

The NYC street closure map can be accessed here.

Once the case goes to the jury there might be greater security and larger crowds. But the mob seeking vengeance and retribution that Trump was hoping for simply hasn't materialized. You might even take a nap in the park the way Dozy Don does in the courtroom. 😴

[wevegotbackissues-blog]

The Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan Films Ranked

The Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films, produced during the 1930s and 1940s, are iconic in the history of cinema for their portrayal of the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Weissmuller, an accomplished swimmer and Olympic gold medallist, brought a unique charm and physicality to the role, embodying the wild yet noble spirit of Tarzan. His portrayal began with Tarzan The Ape Man…

[staciass]

So I gotta admit I am feeling a bit foolish. I mean geeeez.

THE TITLE !!!!

I should have known with the title that this would be more “Erotica” than “Story” I mean there is literally “Mate” in the title as in mating so ….

I honestly don’t think I will DNF at this point as with most “Erotica” books I’ll try and skip those scenes to see if the story can be salvaged but I mean how anyone can think a guy smelling a females turned on or “wet” as hot or sexy is beyond me especially as apparently the FMC is so wet it slides down her thighs lmao. I kid you not!! I mean just WTAF.

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK !!!!

[peekasso]

new york https://quickhoney.com/images/vector/

[medicinemane]

I'm sorry, it's the middle of the night, I have to vent about something

Surely there's a better word in the dictionary than "tariff", if that's your favorite word... I think you may just be a bit stupid

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Changretta's Mate chapter 10

Luca and Caroline have a hard decision to make about their future together and their unborn kids futures.

__________________________________________________________

The morning after

Luca Pov

I couldn't sleep. Couldn't stop thinking about the person who was pulling the strings and willing to put my mate and unborn babies in harm's way.

He’d gotten way too close to my family, literally across the street. When our maid, Noemi, opened the blinds in the morning, he had a perfect view into my home. Which means anyone who was in that room with him, got a full detailed view of who was in my home, when, what my security looked like…everything. Literally my whole daily life and floor plan mapped out in front of my unknown enemies.

The only time I’d ever felt so vulnerable in my life was the night my cornflower, blue eyed mate had come into the bar and promptly fled after it was revealed that she and I were mates through our marks and scents. She’d fled apparently due to trying to keep me safe from her fathers unscrupulous business dealings. I’d hunted her down the next day at her place of employment not wanting to live without her but still….My connection to her,which she thankfully cemented with me ,meant I had one less unsure moment.

And now I have two unique vulnerabilities again.

My bond to her was ironically still a vulnerability. I lived for that woman and yesterday I killed for her. Nah, I killed all four of us truthfully.

I still needed to find out, and quickly who’d sent Joseph Turner to a Bed and Breakfast directly across from my apartment. Someone knew where I lived even though my address and number was unlisted.

Someone who knew me personally…..had betrayed us.

That knowledge wasn’t sittin well with me, naturally.

I was humming with anger and anxiety. I need a hot shower and a good shave.

We needed to get a move on.

I detangled myself carefully from my beautiful blondes embrace. I didn’t want to wake her especially after yesterday's fiasco.

I flicked on the bathroom light, grateful that her back was turned to the door. Gently I closed the door.

She deserved her rest.

Her father had just been shot after trying to betray my family. The fact that she was also creating two of my babies meant that I’d do anything to keep her rested, healthy and safe.

Our mate's bond was tangled, heated and dark right now. We both had our own emotions, lets alone trying to help the other through anything at the moment.

I glanced up at the mirror. I had more than a five o'clock shadow. My stubble is dark and deep accentuating the scar down my cheek on the left side. The one Caroline so loving traced and kissed when I made love to her. My eyes were sunk in and dark racoon circles imprinted around my green eyes. I looked like shit honestly. I couldn’ present myself this way. Not with my position.

I chuckled darkly to myself, even the mirror was trying to tell me to rest, my mind though, nah, that was racing. Too much that needed to be done immediately.

I needed to get dressed for my day and start working. I had a lot to do before Caroline and my ma woke up.

Then I’d have two women to convince to help me find a home safe outside of where we are now. A fenced in house with a nice yard for the twins, somewhere for her to entertain for event’s, christmases and birthday.

Ugh, at least I couldn’t say I was getting bored…..hopefully she thought the same. I had at least an hour before I needed to wake her up and get us all moving.

God above, give me strength.

_________________________________________________________ I wasn’t sure God had quite heard my request for strength yet. He knew I had called a meeting between my three favorite ladies. Yet, at least two out of the three looked poised to kill.

Caroline looked incredulous like she didn’t quite hear what I said. Her toast was halfway to her parted mouth frozen in place while my news of the immediate move sunk in. It was almost comical.

I had made sure to provide an ample breakfast, the hope being that if their mouths were stuffed, perhaps I could get through everything in my plan that needed to happen today.

They had been shocked into silence until I explained that we couldn’t pack more than one bag from the house, to make it look like we were traveling for the weekend. Not moving. Throw off our scent.

They’d all been shopping for the babies. I knew they were gonna kill me based on the stone cold and surprised expressions on their beautiful faces. A whole fucking move in less then a week, no today.

“I’m sorry, we need to what…right now? Luca!” Caroline placed her toast on her white china plate and dabbed her na[kin to ehr mouth. I wished I wasn’t leaning against the sideboard right now. I wanted to wipe those crumbs off the corner of her O shaped lips and taste her mouth.

I stood trying to shake my intrusive thoughts from my mind.

She was smirking, obviously feeling my arousal through our mate bond. There was no way she could ever accuse me of not wanting her. She made me feral no matter what she was doing. Eating, getting ready for her day or hell, even breathing.

“Let me translate for your pregnant mate…” My olive skinned, dark hair and green eyed sister was ready for me today. Ready to slap me back into place like she did when we were kids. Her raised hand was only second to her sharp, keen tongue. She hadn’t been happy to scramble over here today and find a sitter last minute.

My sister had stood up quickly standing over her plate menacingly like a mama bear. She stood stiff, the anger radiating off of her. Didn’t she understand safety was a massive issue right now?

We honestly didn't have time for this today.

“Sit down sis, I don't need a translation.”I realize the magnitude of my request.” I sighed and glanced over at the bar. I doubted it was too early to drink yet, not with my sister ready to smack me around in my own apartment.

“What are you thinking about moving here now, five months pregnant. And the request to fill up the whole house before the twins are born. Are you crazy!?” She shouted at me. I knew it was but this wasn’t about me. This was about protecting my family. My right to do so….her rage be damned at the moment.

I glanced at my mother. She'd been fiddling with her napkin on her lap. She’d done that when she was gathering her wits about her. It was a habit I’d picked up on as a child. I knew when my parents were unhappy…she fidgeted while she was deep in thought. Always ready to react in perfect timing but with precision. My mama was one hell of a force herself.

“Both of you, please sit down while Caroline and I process.” No one disrespected our mother. Let alone us. We both sat down, although my sister did so with a glare and a pout.

“We have to move to stay safe unless you want me to send her away to a safe house in Italy. I'd prefer to see my children after they are born and I want to see my mate everyday, call me selfish.” I was relieved when my mate's long manicured hands wrapped around my mind and squeezed reassuringly.

If I didn’t need the help to get a move on and keep her safe I wouldn’t have called my mother and sister until we were all safely evacuated but I needed them.

I knew Caroline having met me on the run herself would understand.

“I understand and I’m sorry my life collided into all of yours and brought this all crashing down on our heads.” Carolines tearful admission was like a punch in the jaw. I reached up to pull her hair away from her face and rubbed her neck reassuringly.

“You're not at fault, your father and stepmother made life changing decisions that affected you. It was a fluke or God's plan, depending on how you look at it, that you ended up with one of the most powerful families in New York, Caroline. I think that it was by intelligent design that you were mated to my son.” I nodded at my mother, touched by her words. None of us blamed Caroline. It was just something to tackle as a family. Nothing more and nothing less.

“We can do a few main rooms now then do the rest over time. Ma and my sister can help and bring people we know we can trust to decorate, show samples and work. Everyone gets a background check and a threat of the black hand against them and their families if they think about betraying us. Problem solved.” The table was silent this time but I knew it was in agreement with my plan. It was honestly the only option.

“Do you have a district or house in mind?” God bless my mother and her readiness to do what needed to be done. What would I ever do without these intelligent shrewd women?

______________________________________________________________

Caroline’s pov

I honestly wasn’t upset, overwhelmed, well of course, but not upset. I expected a move shortly after the twins were born anyway. Probably before their first birthdays.

Luca and I had already talked about the future and the growing needs of our family.

I just felt bad that my family's choices were affecting my Italian family.

I absentmindedly rubbed my stomach while I thought of what I needed and wanted to pack. I smiled softly when his large and always warmed hands started rubbing circles to settle his babies down. Hey always settled when daddy's hands were on them. I think they knew they were safe then. I did.

I also knew we’d be keeping the apartment. Luca had gone over all our assets when we’d mated. All I brought to the table was myself but apparently that was enough…that and my troubles.

At least I wasn’t a boring person, right? Someone for everyone…..

“Okay, I need my notebook and a pencil. Can you two carry out bags as well?” I addressed my surprised mother and sister in law.

“ I have no idea how long till we can come back and transfer stuff. Will you be working out here from time to time?” I asked Luca, I already knew if he wasn't then he’d hire looks to keep nosy people busy while we actually were not physically here. Keep up appearances.

It was scary that he and I already had a plan in place. We both knew our life was dangerous. I wouldn't let it affect my babies more than I already had….

“Come on, we have a lot to do….”

______________________________________________________________ Sorry it took me so long to update. I had a bit of writters block but now I have three more outlined chapters so hopefully my regular posting schedule will be back on track for this story.

[becomingv-sobro]

Run for President as a write in candidate from New York but a political outsider that embodies the holy unity. Congress is fractured down the middle and though it is a duopoly it is broken. If it’s broke, fix it. That’s my motto, but then again I’m a Magnum cum laude engineer from the university of Michigan. Go blue, team red. I also have the better part of 15 years experience and Brandon invasion and new product development engineering, and big Corp. The former gives me an understanding of artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning that will allow us to position ourselves as a leader in the field, the ladder Means I have the ability to halt corporate, crony capitalism & corporate greed ($1.5T/year) and corporate welfare and not paying their fair share of corporate taxes ($100B/year)

how does corporate consolidation take money away from the consumers : conglomerations get richer by fixing prices and stealing small amounts of money penny by penny.

Corporate Consolidation : more robust, higher market share, reduced costs and competitiveness on the market. But, this can lead to fewer options, layoffs, higher pricing strategies to pad their bottom line with our pocket books. To achieve corporate social responsibility, goals when they focus on short-term profits and ignore actual consumer needs. 46% of respondents CEOs and top executives play the most prominent role in corporate social responsibility.