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letters2fiction · 9 months ago

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Welcome to Letters2fiction!

The concept here is to send in a question or a letter request, and you’ll get a response from your fictional character of choice, from the list below. Please stick to the list I’ve made, but of course, you can ask if there’s some other characters I write for, I don’t always remember all the shows, movies or books I’ve consumed over the years and I’m sure I’m missing a lot 😅

Status: New Characters added - Thursday March 21st, 2024

TV SERIES

A Discovery of Witches:

Matthew Clairmont

Baldwin Montclair

Gallowglass de Clermont

Marcus Whitmore

Philippe de Clermont

Jack Blackfriars

Sarah Bishop

Emily Mather

Diana Bishop

Ysabeau de Clermont

Miriam Shepard

Phoebe Taylor

Gerbert D’Aurillac

Peter Knox

Father Andrew Hubbard

Benjamin Fuchs

Satu Järvinen

Meridiana

Law and Order:

Rafael Barba

Sonny Carisi

Joe Velasco

Mike Duarte

Terry Bruno

Peter Stone

Hasim Khaldun

Nick Amaro NEW!

Mike Dodds

Grace Muncy

Kat Tamin

Toni Churlish

Amanda Rollins

Olivia Benson

Rita Calhoun

Casey Novak

Melinda Warner

George Huang

Sam Maroun

Nolan Price

Jamie Whelan

Bobby Reyes

Jet Slootmaekers

Ayanna Bell

Jack McCoy

Elliot Stabler

One Chicago:

Jay Halstead (Could also be Will if you want)

Antonio Dawson

Adam Ruzek

Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz

Dante Torres

Vanessa Rojas

Kevin Atwater

Sean Roman

Matt Casey

Kelly Severide

Joe Cruz

Sylvie Brett

Blake Gallo

Christopher Hermann

"Mouch"

Otis

Violet Mikami

Evan Hawkins

Mayans MC:

Angel Reyes

Miguel

Bishop

Coco

Nestor

911 verse:

Athena Grant

Bobby Nash

Henrietta "Hen" Wilson

Evan "Buck" Buckley

Eddie Diaz

Howie "Chimney" Han

Ravi Panikkar

T.K. Strand

Owen Strand

Carlos Reyes

Marjan Marwani

Paul Strickland

Tommy Vega

Judson "Judd" Ryder

Grace Ryder

Nancy Gillian

Mateo Chavez

The Rookie:

Lucy Chen

Tim Bradford

Celina Juarez

Aaron Thorsen

Nyla Harper

Angela Lopez

Wesley Evers

BBC Sherlock:

Greg Lestrade

Mycroft Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Moriarty

Molly

Bridgerton:

Anthony Bridgerton

Benedict Bridgerton

Simon Basset

Daphne Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton

Kate Sharma

Edwina Sharma

Marina Thompson/Crane

Outlander:

Jamie Fraser

Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser

Frank Randall

Black Jack Randall

Brianna Fraser

Roger MacKenzie

Fergus Fraser

Marsali Fraser

Jenny Fraser Murray

Ian Murray Sr.

Ian Fraser Murray

Murtagh Mackenzie

Call The Midwife:

Shelagh Turner / Sister Bernadette

Dr. Patrick Turner

Nurse Trixie Franklin

Nurse Phyllis Crane

Lucille Anderson

Nurse Barbara Gilbert

Chummy

Sister Hilda

Miss Higgins

PC Peter Noakes

Reverend Tom Hereward NEW!

Narcos:

Horacio Carrillo

Peaky Blinders:

Tommy Shelby

Downton Abbey:

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham

Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham

Lady Mary Crawley

Lady Edith Crawley

Lady Sybil Crawley

Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Isobel Crawley

Matthew Crawley

Lady Rose MacClare

Lady Rosamund Painswick

Henry Talbot

Tom Branson

Mr. Charles Carson

Mrs. Hughes / Elsie May Carson

John Bates

Anna Bates

Daisy Mason

Thomas Barrow

Joseph Molesley

Land Girl:

Connie Carter

Reverend Henry Jameson (Gwilym Lee's version)

Midsomer Murder:

DCI Tom Barnaby

Joyce Barnaby

Dr. George Bullard

DCI John Barnaby

Sarah Barnaby

DS Ben Jones

DS Jamie Winter

Sgt. Gavin Troy

Fleur Perkins

WPC Gail Stephens

Kate Wilding

DS Charlie Nelson

Sergeant Dan Scott

NEW! Once Upon A Time

Regina / The Evil Queen

Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White

David Nolan / Prince Charming

Emma Swan

Killian Jones / Captain Hook

Mr. Gold / Rumplestiltskin

Neal Cassidy / Baelfire

Peter Pan

Sheriff Graham Humbert / The Huntsman

Jefferson / The Mad Hatter

Belle

Robin of Locksley / Robin Hood

Will Scarlet

Zelena / Wicked Witch

Alice (Once in Wonderland)

Cyrus (Once in Wonderland)

Jafar (Once in Wonderland)

Gideon

Tiger Lily

Naveen

Tiana

Granny

Ariel

Prince Eric

Aladdin

Jasmine

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Hercules

Megara

Tinker Bell

Merida

Red Riding Hood

Mulan

Aurora / Sleeping Beauty

Prince Phillip

Cinderella

Prince Thomas

NEW! The Vampire Diaries / The Originals

Stefan Salvatore

Damon Salvatore

Caroline Forbes

Elena Gilbert

Bonnie Bennett

Enzo St. John

Niklaus Mikaelson

Elijah Mikaelson

Kol Mikaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson

Freya Mikaelson

Finn Mikaelson

Mikael

Esther

Marcel Gerard

Davina Claire

MOVIES

The Pirates of the Caribbean:

Captain Jack Sparrow

Barbossa

Will Turner

Elizabeth Swann

James Norrington

Kingsman:

Merlin

Harry Hart

Eggsy Unwin

James Spencer / Lancelot

Alastair / Percival

Roxy Morton / Lancelot

Maximillian Morton / The Shepherd

Orlando Oxford

Jack Daniels / Whiskey

Gin

BOOKS

Dreamland Billionaire series - Lauren Asher:

Declan

Callahan

Rowan

Iris

Alana

Zahra

Dirty Air series - Lauren Asher:

Noah

Liam

Jax

Santiago

Maya

Sophie

Elena

Chloe

Ladies in Stem - Ali Hazelwood books:

Olive

Adam

Bee

Levi

Elsie

Jack

Mara

Liam

Sadie

Erik

Hannah

Ian

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros:

Xaden Riorson

Dain Aetos

Jack Barlowe

Rhiannan Matthias

Violet Sorrengail

Mira Sorrengail

Lillith Sorrengail

Bodhi Durran

Liam Mairi

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newyorkthegoldenage · 5 months ago

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Apologies—I meant to post this to another of my blogs. But since a few folks have liked it, I guess I'll leave it.

NYCB Attracting Younger Fans

The AP put out this story, which has run in many papers.

I've never understood why so many organizations prize young patrons over old. The old ones have more money, after all. But I suppose they're thinking of their future: today's young people are tomorrow's "sea of gray." 🙄

It's also news to me that Whelan is in charge of programming. I'm sure that Stafford has (a big) say in what goes on.

At 75, NYC Ballet is getting older. Its audience is skewing younger, and that’s the plan

By JOCELYN NOVECK Updated 12:58 AM EDT, May 24, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — Alice McDermott settled into her seat at New York City Ballet on a recent Friday night, excited to see her first-ever ballet performance. The 31-year-old Manhattanite, who works in recruiting, was on a fun girls’ night out with three friends she’d met through work, starting with dinner.

“They told me I’d love the ballet,” says McDermott, who was also excited to realize she was already familiar with one of the evening’s performers, Tiler Peck, via the dancer’s popular Instagram feed. “They said you can put on a nice dress and just immerse yourself in another world, whilst marveling at what the human body can achieve.”

Seems they were right: At the end of the evening, McDermott, a new fan, went home and watched a ballet documentary.

Perhaps you could call it “Ballet and the City”? Whatever the term for McDermott’s ballet evening with pals, the scenario would surely be music to the ears of the company — which has been celebrating its 75th birthday with fanfare this year — and especially its artistic leaders of the past five years, Jonathan Stafford and Wendy Whelan.

The two, both former dancers at the storied troupe founded by George Balanchine, have made it a key goal to bring in a younger audience to ensure the company’s long-term health — and more broadly, to guard the vitality of a centuries-old art form.

It seems to be working. Though some initiatives have been in place for longer, the last five years have seen a marked shift, according to numbers provided to the Associated Press: In 2023, 53% of ticket buyers were under age 50, and people in their 30s made up the largest age segment by decade. Five years earlier, in 2018, 41% of ticket buyers were under 50, and people in their 60s made up the largest age segment.

Now, longtime ballet followers note that on a bustling Friday evening you can look down from the first ring of the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center and not simply see, well, a sea of gray.

`A GENERATION OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS’ A major factor in attracting younger people, especially those under 30, has been affordable pricing. There are also evenings targeting young professionals, including post-show receptions. And there have been collaborations with visual or musical artists with youthful followings — like the musician Solange, who in 2022 was commissioned to score a ballet by 23-year old choreographer Gianna Reisen.

The Solange collaboration was a significant moment, Whelan and Stafford said in a recent interview, surveying the past five years as the thumping of leaping dancers’ feet echoed through the ceiling above Stafford’s office.

“We sold out every show,” Whelan noted. “It was a little nugget, but it was memorable.”

Perhaps even more important was the fact, says Stafford, that about 70% of those ticket buyers were new to the company — contributing to “a generation of young professionals in the city that are at our theater every night now.”

Wendy Whelan and Jonathan Stafford, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo: Bebeto Matthews via the AP

Katherine Brown, the ballet’s executive director, said the company had taken a look at the theater and vastly reduced the price of certain seats — and saw them fill up. She also noted the 30-for-30 program, where members under 30 can buy any seat in the house for $30. “That thing has just exploded,” Brown says, from some 1,800 members in the last full season before the pandemic-forced shutdown, to some 14,000 now.

One can’t discount the “pure economics” of an evening at the ballet, especially for young people, says Wendy Perron, longtime dance writer and former editor of Dance Magazine. “When I was in New York in the ’70s and ‘80s, I just couldn’t afford to go to the ballet,” she says.

GETTING BETTER ACQUAINTED Also not to be discounted: the effect of social media in promoting dancers as people with personalities.

“We’ve got this crop of really exciting but also relatable, approachable dancers, and through social media, audiences can connect to them in a way they couldn’t back when we were dancing,” says Stafford, who retired as a dancer in 2014.

Consider Peck, one of the company’s most popular ballerinas (and a rising choreographer), whose Instagram feed had reached McDermott before she ever saw her dance. Peck supplies her half-million followers with short, punchy videos about everything from her 10 favorite dance roles to how she applies stage makeup. Her videos often feature her partner onstage and off, rising principal dancer Roman Mejia.

It’s all very different from a time when — like Odette in “Swan Lake” — ballerinas used to be mysterious and, above all, silent.

Social media — whether used by the company or via the dancers’ own feeds — can also answer questions. If you attended a performance of “The Nutcracker” a few seasons ago, you might have wondered why dancer Mira Nadon, as Sugarplum Fairy, suddenly disappeared from the stage at a key moment. The answer was on her Instagram later: her pointe shoe had slipped off.

“See, you can get all your answers from Instagram now,” quips Whelan, who herself has an active feed.

ESTABLISHING A PARTNERSHIP A few months ago, Whelan, a much-loved former NYCB principal who also retired in 2014, got a congratulatory text from Stafford in the morning — it had been exactly five years since the two had taken the helm after a turbulent period when #MeToo accusations caused scandal.

Historically, the company had been led by one man — Balanchine until 1983, then Peter Martins. This time, the board tried something new: a duet. Stafford was already interim head, and Whelan had applied for the job.

“They put us in a room and closed the door, and we were like – ‘Hi?’” Whelan says. “They were like, figure it out! And we did.” Stafford, the artistic director, serves as a bridge between the creative and business sides. Whelan, associate artistic director, focuses on the delicate task of programming.

Company insiders describe a mood different from the days when one outsized, all-powerful personality ruled from above. For one thing, the pair says they’ve instituted annual taking-stock conversations with each dancer.

Diversity — ballet is slowly changing but still overwhelmingly white — is also a priority, they say, and that includes diversifying “the pipeline,” meaning students at the affiliated School of American Ballet.

Recently, the company heralded its first two Black dancers to dance Dewdrop, the second most important female “Nutcracker” role: India Bradley and guest artist Alexandra Hutchinson of the Dance Theater of Harlem. Yet to come is a Black Sugarplum Fairy. The company says 26% of of its dancers identify as people of color, whereas 10 years ago that figure was 13%. Stafford and Whelan have commissioned 12 ballets by choreographers of color in the last six years, it says.

“We know where the gaps are, and we take it seriously,” Whelan says.

She and Stafford say they’re also paying more attention to wellness, be it physical training to avoid injury, healthy diets, or a more frank discussion of mental health.

As for the company’s financial health, it is strong, Brown says, four years after the pandemic cost tens of millions in losses The 2024 budget is roughly $102 million, compared to $88 million in 2019. Audience capacity has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

As for new fan McDermott, she’s planning more visits, along with her friends.

“I think we have a new tradition between the four of us,” she says. “We’ll definitely be making it a bit of a thing.”

#New York City Ballet #NYCB #younger audiences #Jonathan Stafford #Wendy Whelan #ballet #ballet audience #diversity in ballet #gray elders

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emrystheedgedancer · 1 year ago

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Other book series I love:

-The Inheritance Cycle (Christopher Paolini). It’s not the best written series ever but it was my gateway to other fantasy series besides Harry Potter. It has a special place in my heart.

-The Mirror Visitor series (Christelle Dabos). I still haven’t read the fourth book but the first three are just beautiful. A combination of Alice in Wonderland meets steampunk meets political intrigue where they literally decide to fight god. Just good, whimsical, strange but pleasant fantasy.

-The How to Train Your Dragon books (Cressida Cowell). Now disclaimer these are definitely written for a younger audience but 1) David Tennant narrates the audiobooks and 2) they’re absolutely hilarious anyway. Thoroughly enjoy each one and just how progressive ridiculous they get and how cool of a character Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is.

-The GrishaVerse (Leigh Bardugo). I like every book in the series. The first three are a typical YA trilogy with a few twists and some clever world building. The Six of Crowd duology is really excellent. The King of Scars duology has moments of greatness and also moments that make me furious. Overall though they’re all great reads and the world really sucks you in.

-The Glamourist Histories (Mary Robinette Kowal). These are a fantasy twist on Jane Austen style regency era writing. Each book gets a little bit more ridiculous but in the best way possible. And the main couple is so so cute.

-The Queen’s Thief series (Megan Whelan Turner). Now I haven’t yet read every book in this series. There were years and years in between each book. But the first four are excellent so I can only imagine the last two are also excellent. Lots of twisty turns and political intrigue.

-Jurassic Park and The Lost World (Michael Crichton). People will say “well I’ve seen the movies so do I really need to read the books?” And the answer is yes you do. Jurassic Park the book is so much richer and more interesting than the movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love the movie too but the book has a lot more nuance to it. More characters, an actually evil capitalist John Hammond, and a somewhat sympathetic Dennis Nedry. The second book isn’t nearly as good but it is still very worth the read.

#books #book reccs #book recommendations #fantasy books #not Cosmere #not Brandon Sanderson

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artdecosupernova-writing · 1 year ago

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▼ Precious Gems and Reaver Rock— A WASTE Playlist

▷ Spotify Version

I've lived a thousand lives. I've stared down the barrels of guns that could put craters into the side of a fully-decked dreadnought, kicked a Morrite's ass for looking at me funny after a particularly bad night at a bar, died and was resurrected with a computer in my head, and jumped out of a moving vehicle thirty thousand feet into a planet's atmosphere. But not a single thing I am doing, have done, or will ever do in my future could ever compare to the absolute dropkick to the face that manifested in the form of walking through my apartment door to find my boyfriend of four years standing in my living room, completely naked under my bathrobe, stifling an unpleasant, giggling girl behind his fucking back.

Do You Feel Me? ▷ Oliver Tree & Whelan

U Got That ▷ Halogen

Fortune Days ▷ The Glitch Mob

Animals (Extended Mix) ▷ Du Tonc

Sweatpants (Battle Tapes Remix) ▷ Childish Gambino | ALTERNATE: Derezzed (Remixed by The Glitch Mob) ▷ Daft Punk

The Best (feat. Alice Merton) ▷ AWOLNATION

Pacific Coast Highway ▷ Fukkk Offf

Future Club ▷ Perturbator

Wildfire (Mielo Remix) ▷ Slow Magic

Physical x Blinding Lights ▷ Dua Lipa x The Weeknd | ALTERNATE: Fire (Viceroy Remix) ▷ VHS Collection

Stupid Love ▷ Lady Gaga

We Can Make The World Stop ▷ The Glitch Mob

#WASTE #playlist

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paul-archibald · 1 year ago

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Classical Meet Jazz

Classical music has been the source of inspiration to many jazz musicians over the years such as Alice Coltrane, Charlie Mingus, Nina Simone and Miles Davis. But have there been any classical composers who been inspired to compose works influenced by the medium of jazz? Phil Whelan and Paul look at some incredible compositions where Classical meets Jazz Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)Jazz Suite…

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#Dmitri Shostakovich #George Gershwin #Igor Stravinsky #Jazz Suite No 1 #Kurt Weill #Mack the Knife #Paul Whiteman #Piano Rag #Rhapsody in Blue #Seiji Ozawa #William Russo

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periodfcnetwork · 2 years ago

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hi!! could you help me with finding female fcs in media set in or around the 1840s? im specifically looking for some in the early 20s range and one in the early 40s range.

hello! i'm not great with the 19th century, but going from a quick google search, i tried picking close to the decade you want:

amelia gething (23) - emily (2022), set in the 1800s?

suranne jones (44), gemma whelan (41) , amy james kelly (27 but was in her early to mid 20s during the show) - gentleman jack, set in 1830s

alice eve (41), emily reid (24), ella purnell (26) - belgravia, set in 1840s

kate winslet (47, some years younger during filming), saoirse ronan (28, some years younger during filming) - ammonite, set in 1840s

alison brie (40) - doctor thorne, set in 1850s

devrim lingnau (24) - the empress, set in 1850s

anna paquin (40) - alias grace, set in 1840s-1850s

kate fleetwood (50, was on her mid 40s during the show) - victoria, set in the 1800s; has done other period shows

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salty-accords · 6 months ago

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Alice's Procreation (Micro Essay)

{I originally wrote this piece for a Creative Writing course during my spring semester, in April 2024. It’s discussing a short fiction offshoot I wrote based on my WIP novel. For that course, and the creative project, I did an abundance of research on mythology, pregnancy, and trauma. This is a revision of the fourth essay I wrote for that class discussing my research, thoughts, and prospective implementation.

You can purchase a PDF copy of this for personal use in my Ko-Fi shop and Patreon, both of which have proper formatting.}

Date: May 20th, 2024. Original draft: April 2024.

TW: discussions of sexual abuse, reproductive abuse, pregnancy, ovulation, and trauma.

For this piece, I’ve done a lot of research about pregnancy.

Alice, my main character, suffers through an unwanted pregnancy—in Hell of all places—and all of the ails that can come with that. But I’ve never been pregnant, and this isn’t about to become another case of “[Professor]’s Student Does Something Wild™ For Class.” So how does one write a character who has a difficult pregnancy without having a difficult pregnancy?

Hopefully, the answer to this is “research” and lots of it, because that’s what I’ve been doing before bed for the last two months!

So, allow me to take you on a metaphorical journey of procreation and explain the sexual health concerns I’ve rudely imparted upon Alice. This essay is sponsored (not really) by Aphrodite and Demeter, Goddesses of Motherhood and Fertility.

Where do babies come from?

If you’re a parent or have children in your life, you might have heard this dreaded question once or twice. Might have answered it or said something along the lines of “Go ask your mom,” or the like. Don’t worry, this isn’t about to become a high school level health class paper; we’re all adults here, we know where babies “come from.” But how exactly does that work? That is, if someone is looking to have a baby, what might they do or look out for?

Well, the first step, for many, is figuring out when to attempt conception. Yes, the timing of the tango is very important for successful reproduction! According to the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a woman is most fertile two or three days before ovulation, and within twenty-four hours after ovulation. So, ovulation is very important if the end goal is offspring. (“Trying to conceive”)

What is ovulation, though? How does that work? Simply put, ovulation is when the ovaries release one or more ovum, or eggs—the little cells that sperm seek out for conception. Much like how menstruation is when the “most stuff” is happening with the uterus (the shedding, the cramps, the swelling, etc.), ovulation is kind of when “the most” is happening with the ovaries. (“Trying to conceive”) (Whelan; Rainford)

To trigger ovulation, the pituitary gland (yes, that one) releases lutropin, or Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which is primarily involved in the central nervous system and the reproductive organs. It does a lot of important things, like aid in the beginning of puberty and sexual maturation, and maintain sexual function and drive. It works in conjunction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to control the menstrual cycle, including ovulation. (Whelan; Rainford) (Madormo; Weiss) Lutropin is basically the hall monitor of your reproductive system, trying to wrangle the other hormones. During ovulation, a surge in LH causes the ovary to swell and rupture, releasing the egg(s) into the fallopian tube to be fertilized. FSH also surges; that’s what stimulates the growth of the egg(s) in the first place.

Ovulation usually only involves one egg, however, hyperovulation, the phenomenon of both ovaries producing a mature egg during ovulation, is well-documented, and fairly normal—this is how fraternal (non-identical) twins are conceived. This is commonly known as “twining” or a “multiple” or “multiples” pregnancy. More than two eggs are rarely produced during a natural cycle (i.e., without the involvement of fertility treatment). (Madormo; Weiss) (Mirabito; Rainford) (Kassel; Prophete)

In some cases, because of the swelling and burst of the egg being released, women can feel when ovulation begins. This might be denoted by a sharp, stabbing pain, a dull ache, or something similar to mild cramping, like during menstruation. This “ovulation pain” is called Mittelschmerz Pain and is usually located on one side of the abdomen—the side of the “participating” ovary, as you may have guessed. According to an article by the University of Florida Health, Mittelschmerz lasts between several minutes to up to 48 hours, but it is rarely associated with disorders or complications. (Cornforth; Sadaty) (Jacobson; Zieve)

Other signs of ovulation may be an increase in basal, or resting, body temperature, occasional, minor spotting, tender breasts, and bloating—all symptoms that mimic menstruation. However, unique to ovulation, cervical mucus, or vaginal discharge in laymen’s terms, changes in quality and often quantity during ovulation, becoming thinner and more “slippery” compared to other points in one’s cycle. There might also be an increase in volume (i.e., more discharge), and there’s a decrease in acidity. This change helps the process of fertilization by allowing sperm cells to more easily pass through the cervix and uterus. (Madormo; Weiss).

All of this points to a fact that is very useful for those with uteri: we can track ovulation and estimate when our next period ought to be (about fourteen to sixteen days post-ovulation and pre-ovulation). It’s a bit different for everybody, especially those of us who have other health concerns impacting their fertility and cycle, such as insomnia. Insomnia has been linked to PMS, both being caused by hormonal changes during the premenstrual process and as a result of premenstrual syndrome. Mood swings, cramps, irritability, and fatigue can also cause disturbed sleep and insomnia, which can lead to more pain, irritability, fatigue, and even anxiety—which is often comorbid with insomniac disorders!

According to a study by Luc Staner, MD, on the relationship between anxiety disorders and sleep, over 30% of individuals with an anxiety disorder also have insomnia. (“Sleep and anxiety disorders”) (Frothingham; Goga) A study done on the relationship between menstrual regularity and sleep found that women who had less than six hours of sleep per night were 44% more likely to have irregular periods than those who get a healthy seven to nine hours. (Kennedy; Nowakowski; et al.)

In terms of Alice, this all paints a lovely picture of how to make her life more difficult—as that is the “point” of her story: this girl goes through some terrible things through no fault of her own. However, this is a horror story about the trauma of reproductive abuse, so I have to make all of this more difficult than just run-of-the-mill cramps, insomnia, and bloating, though those are all there. I’ve done this by upping the ante of how horrible the witch nurse is. Her name’s Ursula and she’s kind of obsessed with Alice’s uterus.

Much like how you can examine the cervix with a finger to detect Chadwick's sign—darkish blue/purple discoloration in the genitals and cervix resulting from pregnancy—you can use a finger to feel for changes associated with ovulation. During ovulation, the cervix will be positioned slightly higher than usual and softer to the touch. Some describe it as “spongy,” though that word makes me feel ill reading it in conjunction with “feeling the cervix.” This is a difficult examination to perform on one’s own body, especially because the cervix is higher than it usually is outside of ovulation and sexual activity (it also rises as a result of arousal), but it’s fairly easy for a practiced Other to perform such examinations. As such, Ursula, the witch nurse, will be all kinds of up close and personal with Alice’s anatomy—much to Alice’s dismay.

Works Cited

“Cervix.” Cleveland Clinic, medically reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic professional, 15 June 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23279-cervix. Accessed 27 March 2024.

“Trying to conceive.” OASH, Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy-you-get-pregnant/trying-conceive. Accessed 24 March 2024.

Bruise, Chaunie (RN). “The Ultimate Guide to the Menstrual Cycle and Sleep.” SLEEPOPLiS, 07 August 2023, sleepopolis.com/education/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-menstrual-cycle-and-sleep/. Accessed 28 March 2024.

Christiansen, Sherry. “Chadwick's Sign in Pregnancy.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 03 October 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/chadwick-sign-diagnosis-indications-other-causes-5191239. Accessed 26 February 2024.

Cornforth, Tracee. “Body Changes During the Menstrual Cycle.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 21 October 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/the-menstrual-cycle-3520919. Accessed 23 March 2024.

Cornforth, Tracee. “Mittelschmerz Pain Between Periods.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 23 March 2022, www.verywellhealth.com/mittelschmerz-the-pain-between-periods-3520917. Accessed 23 March 2024.

Frothingham, Scott. “What Is the Link between Anxiety and Insomnia?” healthline, medically reviewed by Joshana K. Goga, PharmD MBA BCPP, Healthline Media LLC, 09 February 2024, www.healthline.com/health/anxiety-insomnia. Accessed 29 March 2024.

Han, Leo; et al. “Comparing cervical mucus changes in response to an oral proestin or oestrogen withdrawal in ovarian-suppressed women: a clinical pilot.” The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, Vol. 24, Issue 3, 08 May 2019, https://doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2019.1605503. Accessed 29 March 2024.

Jacobson, John D. (MD); Zieve, David (MD, MHA). “Mittelschmez.” UFHealth, reviewed by the A.D.A.M. Editorial team, University of Florida Health, 10 April 2023, www.ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/mittelschmerz. Accessed 24 March 2024.

Jones, Brandi (MSN-ED RN-BC). “Everything to Know About Menstruation.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 31 October 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/menstruation-8362045. Accessed 22 March 2024.

Kassel, Gabrielle. “What Are the Symptoms of Hyperovulation? [OBJ]” healthline, medically reviewed by Carla Prophete, MPAS, PA-C, edited by Tess Catlett, Healthline Media LLC, 21 February 2023, www.healthline.com/health/hyperovulation-symptoms. Accessed 27 March 2024.

Kennedy, Kat; Nowakowski, Sara (PhD, CBSM, DBSM). “The big idea.” TheConversation, The Conversation US, Inc., 20 October 2021, www.theconversation.com/short-sleepers-are-more-likely-to-suffer-from-irregular-and-heavy-periods-167339. Accessed 29 March 2024.

Kennedy, Kathryn E.R.; Onyeonwu, Chidera; Nowakowski, Sara; et al. “Menstrual regularity and bleeding is associated with sleep duration, sleep quality and fatigue in a community sample.” Journal of Sleep Research, Vol. 31, Issue 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 17 August 2021, www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.13434. Accessed 29 March 2024.

Kumar, Pratap, et al. “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.” Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 2, May-August 2011, DOI: 10.4103/0974-1208.86080, journals.lww.com/jhrs/fulltext/2011/04020/ovarian_hyperstimulation_syndrome.2.aspx. Accessed 27 March 2024.

Madormo, Carrie (RN, MPH). “What Are the Signs of Ovulation?” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 21 December 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/signs-of-ovulation-8402143. Accessed 23 March 2024.

Marcin, Ashley. “What Is OHSS and How Is It Treated?” healthline, medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, MD, Healthline Media LLC, 19 May 2020, www.healthline.com/health/infertility/ohss. Accessed 27 March 2024.

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Menstrual Cramps.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938. Accessed 23 March 2024.

Mirabito, Serenity (RN, OCN). “Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels: What You Should Know.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 05 December 2023. www.verywellhealth.com/fsh-levels-5218679. Accessed 27 March 2024.

Staner, Luc (MD). “Sleep and Anxiety Disorders.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, Vol. 5, Issue 3, https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2003.5.3/lstaner. Accessed 29 March 2024.

Whelan, Corey. “What Luteinizing Hormone Test Results Could Mean.” verywellhealth, medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, Dotdash Media, Inc., 10 October 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/luteinizing-hormone-function-test-5323790. Accessed 28 March 2024.

#creative writing #nonfiction #essay writing #pregnancy #ovulation #anatomy #biology #WIP: Novel

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alexandrinelirola-blog · 8 months ago

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Lake Mungo (2008), Joel Anderson

Si vous aimez les films de fantômes, qu’ils soient états-uniens, japonais ou autre, vous devez sûrement les associer à un certain type de narration : celui de l’avant et de l’après. Si les spiritualités, leurs protagonistes et leurs motifs varient selon les pays, tous les films de fantôme semblent avoir un concept commun: un esprit venu perturber les vivants. De Shirley Jackson et ses fantômes suicidés, jusqu’à Hideo Nakata et ses enfants laissés pour morts en passant par James Wan et ses esprits errants, les motivations des fantômes varient selon les histoires que l’on se raconte. Il y a les méchants moches comme Freddy (Les Griffes de la Nuit), typiques des slashers années 80 et de leurs tueurs vengeurs et masqués. Il y a les enfants mystérieux dans les orphelinats, les âmes meurtries dans les escaliers et les murs des maisons tokyoïtes… certains fantômes cherchent la vengeance, d’autre l’apaisement, et toujours, dans toutes les histoires, il s’agit pour les protagonistes de comprendre qui est le fantôme, et ce qui l’empêche de reposer en paix, afin de le chasser s’il est mauvais, ou de le mener à au repos. De bons ressors narratifs, qui font des fantômes les symboles des peines irrésolues et des crimes impunis. Mais est-ce ainsi que la mort se présente à nous ? Est-ce ainsi que nous l’anticipons ? Ne sommes-nous pas hantés toute notre vie par la perspective de notre propre mort et par celle des autres ? Le fantôme comme esprit qui ne trouve pas le repos est finalement un récit de la mort qui, quoi que l’on aime dire de la portée morbide des films d’horreur, la tient à une distance assez sécurisée.

C’est pourquoi j’aimerais rendre hommage à Lake Mungo (2008, Joel Anderson). Des années 90 aux années 2010, entre les True Crime, les Found Footage, et les légendes urbaines, un certain type d’horreur a savamment brouillé la ligne entre fiction et réalité. Lake Mungo, pépite reconnue mais peu discutée des années 2000, appartient à la catégorie très spécifique des faux True Crime Documentaries, donc aux True Crime Mockumentaries (le Mockumentaire existant aussi hors de l’horreur, avec des classiques de la comédie comme This is Spinal Tap ou What We Do in the Shadows). Ce film australien, qui fait honneur à son cinéma de genre national particulièrement sombre et poisseux, raconte la disparition d’une jeune fille, Alice, à l’occasion d’une baignade. Après quelques temps, son corps noyé est retrouvé dans le lac, mais seul son père se charge d’aller le reconnaître, laissant le reste de la famille dans un doute inconsolable. C’est alors qu’Alice commence à apparaître sur des photos, dans des vidéos de surveillance, et la famille, forcée d’investiguer, découvre les secrets d’une jeune fille qu’ils croyaient connaître. Plus discret que les certains found footage devenus des classiques de l’horreur, Lake Mungo semble toutefois posséder une véritable réputation parmi les aficionado.as. Il semble particulièrement intéressant en ce moment, alors que le succès des podcast et plateformes de streaming a relancé l’engouement pour le True Crime Documentary, dont la popularité ne date pas d’hier et qui n’a jamais vraiment tari.

À première vue, Lake Mungo a tout du True Crime aguicheur: les lents travellings sur les photos, les transitions fondues, les entretiens glaçants… Pourtant le film n’a rien à voir avec le sanglant Savageland (2015, Phil Guidry, Simon Herbert, and David Whelan), ni le terrifiant Horror in the High Desert (2012, Dutch Marich), autres Mockumentaries plus récents. Étrangement sombre et mélancolique, il dénote par son peu de moments chocs. On en sort en se demandant presque si c’est vraiment fini, si c’est tout. Un sentiment assez approprié, car Lake Mungo est un film de deuil, de dépression, et même, allons-y carrément, de mort. Pas la mort mystère et résolution comme nous en parlions plus tôt, mais la mort latente, celle qui endeuille jusqu’à nos souvenirs les plus joyeux du défunt. Et contre toute attente, le True Crime se révèle être une forme tout particulièrement appropriée.

Le mystère central du film semblent d’abord être les apparitions du fantôme d’Alice. Mais très vite, la véracité de ces apparitions est remise en doute, et l’enquête se focalise sur les secrets de la jeune fille. Il devient évident que l’adolescente cachait une détresse que personne dans son entourage n’avait bien voulu déceler. L’incapacité des parents à comprendre que leur enfant a été violé par des proches devient discrètement mais sûrement, pour celleux qui veulent bien le voir, un sujet central. Le choc central du film est presque anticlimatique : on découvre que le fantôme noyé d’Alice lui était apparu avant sa mort. C’est là que Lake Mungo commence à briser le cycle classique du fantôme, et brouille la ligne entre le monde des morts et celui des vivants, proposant une vision originale des apparitions. Dans cette histoire, Alice vit comme un fantôme que personne ne remarque, son propre cadavre lui apparaît avant sa mort, puis son frère truque des photos pour la faire apparaître après sa disparition, bref, personne ne regarde au bon endroit et les fantômes ne sont jamais où on les attend. Le passé et le présent s’entremêlent et le regret surpasse la peur. Cette temporalité du deuil est mise en forme habilement grâce au choix approprié du True Crime, dont un des ressors narratifs les plus connus est l’interview: on y vit les événements après leur résolution, les protagonistes nous les racontent en appuyant sur leurs sentiments de peur, de surprise, de regret. Les détails de l’histoire sont révélés au compte goutte, rappelant sans cesse au spectateur.ice que l’histoire s’est déroulée sans lui. Maintenu en haleine, le.a spectateur.ice s’immerge dans un récit déjà résolu. Les personnes interviewées restent assises devant le même décor flou durant toute la durée du film et ne parlent que du défunt, limitant notre perception de leur réalité au drame qu’ils ont traversé. Par définition, le True Crime est donc un espace narratif d’une inquiétante étrangeté où passé et présent s’entremêlent, où les protagonistes n’existent qu’à travers le récit d’un seul événement tragique. Si ces outils narratifs ne servent généralement qu’à garantir la monté en tension d’une histoire mystérieuse et sanglante, dans Lake Mungo ils alimentent une diégèse où le regret régit tout, où une jeune fille que personne ne voyait se regardait déjà elle-même dans la mort, où les vivants ratent le fantôme qui leur apparaît tant ils sont occupés à en inventer d’autres. Lake Mungo révèle le True Crime comme un genre au potentiel hautement mélancolique.

Depuis le prétendu premier film d’horreur en found footage, le toujours aussi controversé Cannibal Holocaust (1980, Ruggero Deodato), les vraies-fausses histoires des années 90 à 2010, qui ont parfois véritablement berné leur public (le Projet Blairwitch a su en confondre beaucoup), ont infiltré les films jusque dans les circuits bien plus discrets et difficilement traçables de nos légendes urbaines. Est-ce une des raisons pour lesquelles l’Horreur de ces décennies nous a parue si proche de nos intimités, si palpable? Quoi qu’il en soit, le respect des amateur.ices pour Lake Mungo est une reconnaissance de la capacité qu’a eu Joel Anderson à raconter la dépression adolescente et déni adulte. Si chaque amateurice d’horreur a ses goûts et ses préférences, il me semble que quiconque invite les récits de mort dans son quotidien comme nous le faisons, saura apprécier la précision des sentiments qu’invoque ce film.

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redmontcity · 10 months ago

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the watchdogs (#wd)

teen superheroes and morality

alice wolf

max gabriel

side

teddy faisal

jon saleh

billie whelan

issack mahmud

#nav #wd

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eli-writes-sometimes · 2 years ago

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God of Chaos Character Intros!

I changed their designs slightly from the intro post, but they will be vaguely similar.

This is going to be a long one, so the intros will be under the cut :)

Picrew link

The first of the three main characters, we have the titular god of chaos themself, Markos!

Godly outfit:

Human disguise:

They/them

The immortal, infinite "god" of chaos

They aren't a being that represents chaos, they are chaos personified

Can manipulate fire, and uses this to their advantage, disguising themself as just your run-of-the-mill pyromancer when on Earth

When looking at them normally, it's very clear that they aren't human (red irises and slit pupils aren't very common human features, after all) but it's amazing what a pair of reflective sunglasses can hide

Aurora Whelan, the narrator:

They/she

Telekinetic

The first person that meets Markos on Earth

Likes talking to people, but in moderation, and hides in the woods behind their house when they want to avoid interaction with people

Is very proud of these woods and being alone in them, so when Markos appears in them unconscious, her first reaction is annoyance rather than concern

Aurora's roommate and best friend. Noah Lowry:

He/him

Nosokinetic (can manipulate viruses/bacteria)

Reclusive, only really talks to Aurora (and occasionally Markos once the two of them meet)

Is obsessed with the science behind viruses and reads every book he can find on them

Has a fun fact for every occasion

And the less relevant, but still definitely there, characters!

Mercel

Godly outfit:

Human disguise:

They/them

The immortal, but not infinite, "god" of war

Like Markos, they don't represent war, but is war personified

Since war is a human-created concept, they will eventually cease to exist when either humanity stops fighting wars (unlikely) or when humanity finally dies out (inevitable)

Used to be in a relationship with Markos but Markos broke it off, thinking that it would be dangerous, and Mercel never got over it

The antagonist of the story

Alice Axelson

She/her

Aurora's girlfriend

Hydrokinetic (can manipulate water)

Doesn't quite know everything that's going on with Markos, but she'll be damned if Aurora is going to run headfirst into something that they don't understand without her

The token supportive girlfriend

Is fluent in Norwegian

James Wolfe

He/him

Pyrokinetic (can manipulate fire)

Loveable nerd, knows anything and everything about whatever niche science (usually biology) takes his fancy (at the time of the story, it's parasitology, but there has also been mycology or virology)

There are photos of him and Noah outside museums all over Noah and Aurora's flat

#i love these guys so much #also i love the way noah looks in that picture so much #my ocs #oc intro #original characters #writing characters #wip goc #eli doesnt write sometimes #character intro #my characters

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