#Christian Dyer

[spaghettiisgross]

girls after saying “it is what it is” for the 6039277292 time

[ironcolouredocean]

sad girls

stefanie martini- emerald city (2017) / Anna dymna -Dama kameliowa(1995) / kirsten dunst - the virgin suicides(1999) / olivia hussey- romeo and juliet (1968) / winona ryder- girl interrupted (1999) / natja brunckhorst- christiane f. (1981) / natalia dyer- i believe in unicorns (2014) / heather graham - drugstore cowboy (1989) / sheryl lee -twin peaks

[genderflu1dwh0r]

Holy shit, why does David Dyer look like a bald, off brand Christian Slater??

[penofwildfire]

The Red Visors are actually there to keep people from fucking in the game, Unagami told me himself.

[gameofthunder66]

-watched 2/21/2023- 3 stars- on Disney+

Silly Story! Good Ending!

As some already know, never skip watching any of the credits in Marvel Movies because you will miss seeing good parts leading up their next movies.

n Movies watched in 2022: Thor Love and Thunder

[wonder-worker]

Noble girls received confusingly mixed messages about the clothing they should choose. The clearest Biblical guidance came from the author of 1 Timothy who had advised that ‘women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls or expensive clothes, but with good works’. This provided justification for generations of Christian authors who associated fine clothing with sinfulness. Jean de Meun, whose Roman de la Rose was to be found in many fifteenth-century noble houses, asserted that ‘a woman who wants to be beautiful . . . wants to wage war on Chastity’. Yet devotional books routinely indicated the high status of virgin martyrs and the Virgin Mary herself by depicting them in opulent and elegant garments, like the cloth of gold dress that St Cecilia wore over her hair shirt. The upper classes believed that ‘in a well-ordered society, consumption patterns would reflect the hierarchy of status’. In 1363 parliament had even introduced sumptuary laws outlining the types of clothing permissible to those of various stations. Gentlemen whose lands were worth less than £ 100 annually were forbidden to wear silk, embroidered clothing, gold jewellery ‘or any manner of fur’, and their wives and children likewise. Knights whose land was valued at less than 200 marks annually were forbidden to wear the most expensive wools and furs or cloth of gold, and even those receiving £ 1,000 a year could only wear ermine or cloth embroidered with jewels in their headwear. Although the legislation was repealed just over a year later, as Christopher Dyer has argued, it indicates the legislators’ ‘assumption that the higher aristocracy ought to wear’ opulent apparel that distinguished them from their inferiors.

One author who tried to steer a helpful middle course was Christine de Pisan, the daughter of an Italian physician and widow of one of the secretaries of Charles V of France...In her manual, Le Trésor de la Cité des Dames, Christine advised ‘the wise princess’ to ensure that ‘the clothing and the ornaments of her women, though they be appropriately beautiful and rich, be of a modest fashion, well-fitting and seemly, neat and properly cared for. There should be no deviation from this modesty nor any immodesty in the matter of plunging necklines or other excesses.'

-J.L. Laynesmith, "Cecily Duchess of York"

[hollywoodfamerp]

WELCOME TO THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL GALLIA

Right in the middle of Milan, you'll find our home away from home for this trip. The Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a five star luxury escape known for its remarkable spirit and prestigious pedigree. When you're not enjoying our fashion show or the rest of what the city has to offer, our celebrities will be able to relax at the spa and salt cabin, enjoy a plethora of the best Italian cuisine, and take in the sights of the city at the rooftop bar.

Under the cut is the roommates list. Couples have been roomed together and everyone else was randomized by a generator. If you have been roomed with another fc that you play, please message us politely and we will fix it asap! Roommates are subject to change due to unfollows, follows, activity check etc. so please like this post to keep up to date on any changes.

PLEASE LIKE THIS SO YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF UPDATES!

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Josephine Skriver

Adria Arjona and Mason Mount

Akanishi Jin and Lee Sunmi

Alexa Bliss and Joe Jonas

Alycia Debnam Carey and Wong Kunhang

Ana de Armas and Jensen Ackles

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh

Anne Hathaway and Xu Minghao

Anya Taylor Joy and Vanessa Merrell

Ariana DeBose and Miles Teller

Ariana Grande and Emma Mackey

Ashley Fliehr (Charlotte Flair) and Demi Bennett (Rhea Ripley)

Ashton Irwin and Harry Styles

Aubrey Plaza and Renee Rapp

Austin Butler and Beyoncé

Awsten Knight and Renee Paquette (Renee Young)

Bae Joohyun (Irene) and Maxence Danet-Fauvel

Barry Keoghan and David Tennant

Bella Hadid and Troian Bellisario

Benson Boone and Manu Ríos

Bill Skarsgard and Lauren Jauregui

Billie Eilish and Mazz Murray

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Brittany Baker and Cha Eunwoo

Byun Baekhyun and Megan Thee Stallion

Cameron Boyer and Christina Aguilera

Candice Swanepoel and Tom Hardy

Cari Fletcher and Victoria de Angelis

Cate Blanchett and Choi San

Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul (Ten) and Jackson Wang

Chloe Bailey and Josh O’Connor

Choi Minho and Kim Ahyoung (Yura)

Choi Soobin and Jeon Wonwoo

Chou Tzuyu and Lupita Nyong’o

Chris Evans and Naomi Scott

Chris Pine and Sam Claflin

Christian Yu and Kim Jisoo

Christopher Bang (Bang Chan) and Hwang Hyunjin

Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Bailey

Colby Lopez (Seth Rollins) and Rebecca Quin (Becky Lynch)

Dakota Johnson and Sam Heughan

Damiano David and Ethan Torchio

Danny Amendola and Olivia Culpo

Diamanté Quiava Valentin Harper (Saweetie) and Kim Hongjoong

Dove Cameron and Sophie Turner

Dua Lipa and Joseph Quinn

Elizabeth Lail and Jason Sudeikis

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

Emma Stone and Vanessa Hudgens

Georgia Tennant and Liam Hemsworth

Gigi Hadid and Ryan Gosling

Glen Powell and Romee Strijd

Hailee Steinfeld and Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Hailey Baldwin and Luke Hemmings

Halle Bailey and Olivia Rodrigo

Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Lyons

Harry Kane and Momgo Hirai

Isabela Merced and Lily Collins

Jack Grealish and Lily James

Jack Lowden and Saoirse Ronan

Jang Gyuri and Veronica Merrell

Jenna Ortega and Perrie Edwards

Jeon Jungkook and Lucy Hale

Jeremy Allen White and Maika Monroe

Jessica Chastain and Madelyn Cline

Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson

Joe Burrow and Rylee Arnold

Joe Keery and Kelsea Ballerini

Joe Locke and Kit Connor

Jonathan Good (Jon Moxley) and Nick Robinson

Jordyn Woods and Niall Horan

Joshua Hong (Hong Jisoo) and Kim Taehyung

Jung Wooyoung and Taylor Hill

Jung Yoonoh (Jaehyun) and Lee Taeyong

Kang Seulgi and Pedro Pascal

Kathryn Hahn and Shawn Mendes

Kendall Jenner and Sabrina Carpenter

Kim Jongin (Kai) and Lee Taemin

Kim Jungwoo and Lucas Wong

Kim Mingyu and Sana Minatozaki

Kim Minjeong (Winter) and Yoo Siah (YooA)

Kim Namjoon and Min Yoongi

Lee Donghyuck (Haechan) and Mark Lee

Lee Felix and Sydney Sweeney

Lee Jeno and Na Jaemin

Lili Reinhart and Zoë Kravitz

Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan

Matt Smith and Tate McRae

Mercedes Justine Varnado (Sasha Banks) and Pamela Martinez (Bayley)

Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan

Natalia Dyer and Tom Holland

Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez

Nick Jonas and Selena Gomez

Olivia O’Brien and Rihanna

Park Seonghwa and Shemar Moore

Paul Mescal and Zendaya Coleman

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Xiao Dejun (Xiaojun) and Yoo Jimin (Karina)

Vanessa Kirby and Zac Efron

Taron Egerton and Valentina Zenere

Chris Hemsworth and Skeet Ulrich

[waystarresourceco]

Kendall’s office with a breakdown of identifiable degrees and awards. A list of books are under the cut. (x)

Degrees:

B.A. in Economics (summa or magna cum laude) – Harvard University

E.M.B.A. (Executive Master of Business Administration) – INSEAD

INSEAD has locations in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) and North America (San Francisco); unclear which location Kendall attended 

Awards:

Liz Rogers Award for Leadership in Business and Entertainment Media

Books (Left to Right):

The New Digital Age by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen

Masters of Innovation: Building the Perpetually Innovative Company by Kai Engle, Violetka Dirlea, and Stephen Dyer (credit to @poeland and @kenzie-ann27 for the ID!)

Responsibility at Work by Howard Gardner

Beijing Welcomes You by Tom Scocca

Confessions of a Radical Industrialist by Ray C. Anderson

Known and Unknown by Donald Rumsfeld

Collision Low Crossers by Nicholas Dawidoff

The Credible Company by Roger D'Aprix (thanks again to @poeland and @kenzie-ann27 for this one as well!)

The Moment of Clarity by Christian Madsbjerg and Mikkel B. Rasmussen

Emperors and Idiots by Mike Vaccaro

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan

The Hedge Fund Mirage by Simon Lark

The Mobile Mind Shift by Ted Schadler, Josh Bernoff, and Julie Ask

Denial and Deception by Melissa Boyle Mahle

The Good Jobs Strategy by Zeynep Ton

Trauma Red by Peter Rhee

Good for the Money: My Fight to Pay Back America by Bob Benmosche (huge thanks to @poeland for identifying!)

[Unidentified]

In an Uncertain World: Tough Choices from Wall Street to Washington by Robert Rubin (huge thanks to @flippy-floppy for identifying!)

Feel free to message if anyone can identify any of the other items/books/details!

[etherealash]

Old-Time Tradition: Folk Musicals

Newsies 1992 (Kenny Ortega)

"Newsies" is a musical drama film inspired by the true story of the Newsboys' Strike of 1899 in New York City. It follows a group of young newsboys, led by Jack Kelly, played by a very young Christian Bale, as they band together to fight against unfair working conditions and a price hike for newspapers by the powerful publishing titans of the time, culminating in a historic strike that challenges the injustices of the era.

What do the musical numbers signify about identity in the course of the film’s narrative?

In "Newsies," musical numbers deeply intertwine with the narrative to highlight the newsboys' collective and individual identities, showcasing their unity, dreams, and resilience against injustice. Songs like "Seize the Day" articulate their collective struggle and aspirations, while others such as "Santa Fe" reveal personal desires and conflicts. These performances not only act as a powerful form of resistance but also chart the newsboys' growth and transformation, embodying their hopeful and indomitable spirit.

What is the purpose of the songs in the characters’ lives?

"Newsies" uses its musical numbers not just for entertainment but as a vital narrative tool that advances the plot and deepens character development. For example, "Carrying the Banner" sets the stage for the entire film, introducing the audience to the daily grind and aspirations of the newsboys. This song, like others in the film, serves a dual purpose: it's both an exposition and a unifying anthem that binds the newsboys together, showcasing their shared struggles and dreams. The songs in "Newsies" articulate the characters' desires for fairness, belonging, and recognition, transforming individual grievances into a collective call to action. Through music, the film navigates themes of solidarity, resistance, and the pursuit of justice, making the characters' internal motivations and external conflicts resonate with the audience on an emotional level.

In what ways are the songs and/or musical performances racialized and/or gendered?

While the focus of "Newsies" is predominantly on the male characters, the roles of Sarah Jacobs and Medda Larkson offer insights into the film's approach to gender representation. The focus on a predominantly male group of newsboys subtly reflects the historical context and gender dynamics of the labor force. Sarah's character, though not central to the plot, provides a subtle commentary on the domestic and supportive roles relegated to women during the period. Her interactions with the male characters add depth to the narrative, offering a glimpse into the personal stakes involved in the newsboys' strike. Medda Larkson, on the other hand, represents a figure of autonomy and influence. Her performance in "High Times Hard Times" is the only showcase of her character's talent. It also serves as a moment of solidarity with the newsboys' cause. These characters, though operating on the margins of the main narrative, underscore the film's engagement with gender dynamics amidst a predominantly male-driven story.

What elements of the film align with White musicals’ longing to transform the ordinary into utopia?

Dyer's analysis highlights a characteristic longing in White musicals to transform the ordinary into a utopia. "Newsies" embodies this longing through its rousing musical numbers that idealize the power of unity and collective action. Songs like "Seize the Day," "Santa Fe" and "King of New York" encapsulate the characters' aspirations for a better life, transcending their immediate realities through the euphoria of musical expression. This utopian vision is a hallmark of the traditional musical genre, resonating with the notion that communal effort and determination can lead to significant social change.

How does the film reflect the temporal circularity of Black musicals?

Dyer discusses the temporal circularity of Black musicals, contrasting it with the linear progression often found in White musicals. "Newsies," however, aligns more closely with the linear narrative progression typical of White musicals. This narrative structure emphasizes growth, change, and the possibility of a better future. The film culminates in a negotiated victory for the newsboys, symbolized by the triumphant reprise of key musical themes. This resolution reflects the characters' journey from oppression to empowerment, underscoring the film's investment in the idea of progress and the efficacy of collective action. "Newsies" thus concludes on a note of optimism, suggesting that change is achievable and that unity can lead to meaningful social transformation.

"Newsies" presents a rich tapestry of struggle, growth, and triumph, encapsulated through its memorable musical numbers and characters. The film's exploration of solidarity, justice, and the power of collective voice resonates with audiences, offering a spirited take on historical events while engaging with broader themes of identity, community, and resistance.

Discussion Questions

Considering the portrayal of collective identity in Newsies, how might this portrayal differ in a black musical with a similar theme of resistance or social change?

How important do you think individual character development is in stories that are primarily focused on group struggles? Can personal dreams coexist with collective goals without overshadowing them?

Explore how the hopeful and indomitable spirit communicated through the musical numbers in Newsies compares with the portrayal of hope and resistance in black musicals. What might these differences or similarities say about cultural perspectives on struggle and change?

Why might ending a story on a hopeful note be particularly impactful in narratives dealing with social and economic challenges? How does hope influence the audience's reception of the story's message?

[delightingintragedy]

Mars Correspondences

From Christian Astrology by William Lilly

(It is mostly word for word. I tried to format it to fit into a nice correspondence list, but the information itself is untouched.)

Zodiac: Aries is his Day-house, Scorpio is his Night-house. Exhaulted in Capricorn, Depressed in Cancer, Detriment in Libra and Taurus.

Nature: Masculine, Nocturnal Planet, in nature hot and dry, choleric and fiery, the lesser Infortune, author of Quarrels, Strifes, and Contentions.

Profession: Princes Ruling by Tyranny and Oppression, or Tyrants, Usurpers, new Conquerors. Generals in Armies, Colonels, Captains, or any Soldiers having command in Armies, all manner of Soldiers, Physicians, Apothecaries, Surgeons, Alchemists, Gunners, Butchers, Marshals, Sergeants, Bailiffs, Hangmen, Thieves, Smiths, Bakers, Armourers, Watchmakers, Botchers, Tailors, Cutlers of Swords and Knives, Barbers, Dyers, Cooks, Carpenters, Gamesters, Bear-wards, Tanners, Curriers.

Diseases: The Gall, the left Ear, tertian Fevers, pestilent burning Fevers, Migraines in the Head, Carbuncles, the Plague and all Plague-sores, Burnings, Ringworm, Blisters, Frenzies, mad sudden distempers in the Head, Yellow-jaundice, Bloodyflux, Fistulas, all Wounds and Diseases in men's Genitals, the Stone both in Reins and Bladder, Scars or small Pox in the Face, all hurts by Iron, the Shingles, and such other Diseases as arise by abundance of too much Choler, Anger or Passion.

Colour: Red colour, or Yellow, fiery and shining like Saffron.

Savour: Those which are bitter, sharp and burn the Tongue.

Herbs: The Herbs which we attribute to Mars are such as come near to redness, whose leaves are pointed and sharp, whose taste is caustic and burning, love to grow on dry places, are corrosive, and penetrating the Flesh and Bone with a most subtle heat: They are as follows: The Nettle, all manner of Thistles, Restharrow or Cammock, Devils-milk or Petty spurge, the white and red Brambles, the white called vulgarly by the Herbalists Ramme, Lingwort, Onions, Scammony, Garlic, Mustard-seed, Pepper, Ginger, Leeks, Dittander, Horehound, Hemlock, red Sanders, Tamarinds, all Herbs attracting or drawing choler by Sympathy, Radish, Castoreum, Aresmart, Assarum, Carduus Benedictus, Cantharides.

Trees: All Trees which are prickly, as a Thorn, Chestnut.

Beasts: Panther, Tiger, Mastiff, Vulture, Fox; of living creatures, those that are Warlike, Ravenous and Bold, the Castor, Horse, Mule, Ostrich, the Goat, the Wolf, the Leopard, the wild Ass, the Gnats, Flies, Lapwing, Cockatrice, the Griffin, Bear.

Fishes, etc: The Pike, the Shark, the Barbel, the Fork-fish, all stinking Worms, Scorpions.

Birds, etc: The Hawk, the Vulture, the Kite or Glead, (all ravenous Fowl), the Raven, Cormorant, the Owl, (some say the Eagle), the Crow, the Pye.

Places: Smith's Shops, Furnaces, Slaughterhouses, places where Bricks or Charcoal are burned or have been burned, Chimneys, Forges.

Minerals: Iron, Antimony, Arsenic, Brimstone, Ochre.

Stones: Adamant, Loadstone, Bloodstone, Jasper, the many coloured Amethyst, the Touchstone, red Lead or Vermilion.

Weather: Red Clouds, Thunder, Lightning, Fiery impressions, and pestilent Airs, which usually appear after a long time of dryness and fair Weather, by improper and unwholesome Mists.

Winds: Western Winds

Angel: Samael

Planetary Alliances: His Friends are only Venus; Enemies all the other planets.

Week Day: Tuesday

Correspondence posts for the other planets: [Sun] [Moon] [Mercury] [Venus] [Jupiter] [Saturn]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

It Happened Today in Christian History

June 1, 1660: Mary Dyer, Quaker, is hanged in Boston for preaching Quaker doctrine.

[corn-fanfiction]

Oh My Love (Damien Karras x GN Reader Pt. 6)

(Pt. 5) (Pt.7)

“I'm a human first. Humans lie.”

I’m not ashamed of what I do and I have no reason to be.

“Which part were you lying about?”

Damien massages his jaw. Something passes over his face.

“I’m sorry you had to see that. And I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”

Your brows pull together. “That’s it?”

“Is there something else?”

“You apologize to me and suddenly the problem is gone?”

“The problem is my own to carry. I did you wrong and I want to apologize. That’s it. There’s nothing else.”

You nod mutely and watch the horizon. “Alright, then.”

-

Rating: M

Author’s notes: no tws apply

What comes next?

More of the same. Fleeting glances, stolen moments that almost, almost end in contact. Laughter and information shared among friends. Friends.

Two weeks of this.

You're sitting in his residency room with Joe there as well. The three of you are studying- reading through different books on the psychology of religion, demonic cults, the works. You're reading for you, Damien's reading your notes from the Satanic ritual book you now refuse to touch, and Dyer is reading some long forgotten, translated tome about Judeo-Christian folklore. You all have been at it for hours. A half eaten pizza lies cold and forgotten on the cot next to Joe. You've taken up at the desk chair with your feet resting on the bed, and Damien has claimed the remaining chair in the corner. The window is cracked to allow the cigarette smoke to linger out and a radio is softly playing Pavarotti behind you.

All things considered, it's a perfect way to spend an evening.

At some point, Joe checks his watch. “Ah shit. I got to go. Dinner with a parisher and her husband. You two got it from here?”

“Not that we won't miss your genius contributions,” you mutter.

“‘Genius’ is the best you can do?”

“I'm tired.”

“Then go home.” Joseph puts on his coat and hat and bids you and Damien goodbye. Soon, you and Damien are alone.

The atmosphere instantly changes. The last time you two had been alone in here together you'd ended up sleeping next to each other. That isn't something you're looking to repeat tonight. You have class in the morning.

“Any closer?” Damien asks without looking up from the notes. You blow a raspberry.

“Maybe? I'm going cross eyed.”

A few minutes of silence. There's a soft singing that drifts in through the window. Craning your neck, you see a group of carolers across the street in front of a row of townhouses.

You'd almost forgotten that Christmas is in five days.

“Any plans for Christmas?” You ask and close your book.

“Visiting my mother in New York.” His eyes flick up to your face to gauge your reaction. “What about you?”

You shrug. “I don't know. Probably not. My aunt and uncle and I aren't exactly on speaking terms. I don't mind it. I've never minded being alone. But it'll…” your throat catches at the start of a truth you haven't spoken yet. “It'll be the first Christmas I have without them.”

Damien nods silently. You can feel the words before they escape his lips.

“You know-”

“No.”

He looks at you in shock. “What?”

“I know what you're going to ask. And the answer is no.”

“Well let's assume you're wrong about what I'm going to ask. Listen, I'm sure Mama wouldn't mind another guest. She makes enough food for ten people.”

“Damien.”

“All you'd have to put up with is my uncle pestering you with invasive questions.”

“I don't need you feeling sorry for me.”

“I don't feel sorry for you. I feel empathetic towards you. Isn't that okay?”

“I don't want to intrude.”

“You won't.”

Won't. Not wouldn't. He already anticipates you saying yes.

“You don't have a car,” you say, taking one last drag of your cigarette and blowing the smoke out the window. You smash it into an ashtray on Damien's desk.

“No. I take the subway.”

“To Manhattan?”

“Brooklyn.”

“Right.” You nod. “With your luggage?”

“Just a bag.”

“What if it gets stolen?”

“What if the subway crashes into a giant rat? Are you coming or not?”

You watch the carolers diligently and let your eyes glaze over. There's a couple walking past with their young son. For a moment, you've never existed. Your parents and William somehow survived. But Damien would be alone right now.

No, you think. He has Joe.

Well, he's not asking Joe to Christmas, is he?

You don't have anything else going on. No better excuses than saying that you're afraid of crossing a line.

You shrug. What the hell.

“Sure. Why not.”

You don't leave until early Christmas morning as Damien drew the short straw for midnight mass on Christmas Eve. You guzzle down coffee and watch as Damien leads the parish in classic songs and hymns. You sing along under your breath. You suddenly think that you haven't listened to your music in a while. It's always you in the back of the church, enjoying Betty's company, watching as Damien or Joe, but usually Damien, give their homilies.

Once mass dismisses, Damien slips on a coat and you grab your things.

“Ready?”

You nod and squeeze your eyes.

“Are you going to make it?”

You nod your head through a nod. “I'll make it.”

Damien leads you to the closest subway stop; you've only been there once and it was during daylight. The good news is that the station is sparse. The bad news is that it echoes with loneliness. What few people there are seem to stare at Damien.

You look over at him and notice a stoic discomfort on his face.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“They're…staring at you.”

“It's the collar,” he says. “They never expect to see us outside of churches. And if they do, they want help.”

You two have made it to the northbound train stop. You glance around at some homeless people that stare at the two of you unabashed.

“And what kind of help are they looking for?”

“You never know until they're asking.”

“And you're above it?”

The sleep is talking. His face sours.

“No. But it's hard to stop. It's hard to start afterwards.”

You nod but you don't fully understand. The train comes soon and you both board. It's nearly empty. Over your shoulder you spare one last look to the men and women that continue to stare as you depart. They never asked you for help, sure, but you never offered it.

What a lonely place the world can be.

You awaken to Damien lightly shaking your arm. The voice overhead announces your arrival in Manhattan. Damien stands and offers you a hand.

“Were you awake the whole time?”

“I take this commute a lot. Come on, the next train leaves soon.”

You shuffle to the next stop. Thank god you're tired and Damien is surefooted. If you had to be any more alert you may just be terrified of the subway stations. The barrenness, the desolation. The way bodies drift in and out of tunnels like ghosts. At some point you lean against Damien slightly as you two wait for the second train. You steal a glance upwards. The swinging florescent light overhead casts a halo around his dark curls. How badly you want to touch them.

He looks down at you and smiles. From here, you notice something different. He's taken his collar off.

For the sake of comfort you decide not to address it, though you doubt in your current state you'd be able to with tact anyway.

There's the second train, then the third and final. You sleep the whole way through. Damien has many sleepless nights. What's a few hours on the train?

Christmas morning in Brooklyn is just as bustling as you had expected. You'd been to New York once: Times Square with your parents and a young William. You had gone to see The Sound of Music on Broadway. There was some humor in that, or perhaps irony, that you were still too tired to find.

You follow closely behind Damien as he leads you to a narrow sidewalk that borders a brown-stone apartment. Down the street there are children playing in the snow.

You can't help but notice, and you've gleaned some of Damien's past before, that this is a poor neighborhood. That there are dripping water stains and holes in the plaster inside the front entryway. Damien takes you upstairs to the third floor. He knocks on a door and then opens it.

“Mama? I'm here.”

You follow him inside and close the door behind you.

“Dimmi?” A stout elderly woman crosses from the kitchen. She is much shorter than Damien but they share remarkable features.

“Geia sou, Mamá,” Damien says as he kisses his mother on her cheek. You stand awkwardly in the doorway until she notices you.

“O, kalesnéos!” She exclaims and walks towards you. “And what is your name?”

You tell her and she breaks into a smile. She turns back to Damien. “Poly elkystikós!”

“Mamá,” Damien says. He sounds exasperated. You start to remove your coat but he notices and helps you out of it, hanging it along with his on a nearby hook.

“What did she say?”

Damien clears his throat. “Just that she's happy to have someone else here.”

You hum. Elkystikós.

“John! O anipsiós sou eínai aftós,” Mrs. Karras calls from the kitchen. Then, “Kai éfere énan kalesméno.”

Out of an adjoining room comes a man a bit younger than Mrs. Karras, but not by much. He comes over and pulls Damien into a hug.

“Dimmi, Dimmi, Dimmi. Still not too good for us, eh? And who did you bring with you?”

Damien introduces you to his Uncle John. The man nods, though his eyes keep flitting between you and Damien.

“Ah, anyway. Your mother has been cooking all morning. Help me set the table.”

John totters away with Damien at his heels, but not before he can turn around and give you a reassuring smile. You return it and rub your hands together, trying to shake the morning's cold.

You decide to head for the kitchen as Damien and John get set up in the living room for the meal. Mrs. Karras is busy at work, toiling over two pots on the stove and something else in the oven. You're almost afraid to interrupt her work.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Karras?”

She smiles at you over her shoulder.

“Come in! Just finishing up.”

“Anything I can help with? I'm not great at cooking- I'd burn water if given the opportunity.”

“You can stir?”

You nod and take over one of the pots, stirring it with a wooden spoon. She doesn't talk to you, just hums a tune you don't recognize.

“What are you singing.”

“Ah, kalanta.”

“Kalanta?”

“Christmas carols.”

“Oh! Well it sounds lovely.”

Mrs. Karras smiles at you and continues her work. You don't mind the quiet. Greek music- kalantas play on a nearby radio. There's something peaceful about settling into the task at hand.

“Dimmi!” Mrs. Karras calls. Damien comes to the kitchen.

“Mamá?”

“Take the pork from the oven, parakaló.”

Damien does, pressing his back to your back to slip into the small kitchen. He carefully takes the pork shoulder from the oven and places it on a rack on the counter.

“Anything else, Mamá?”

“Óchi, Dimmi.”

Mrs. Karras looks to you and wipes her hands on her apron.

“Okay. Dinner is on.”

Damien was right: Mrs. Karras cooked enough for ten people.

The pork roast, spanakopita, roasted potatoes, and of course wine. You had no problem loading up your plate with food.

“So, how do you know Dimmi?” John asks between bites. It’s not as casual a question as you’d prefer. There’s some skepticism laced within.

“I work at Holy Trinity.”

John’s eyebrows raise. “A priest?”

“No,” you laugh. “No, not for me. I’m a graduate student. I help Trinity translate Latin texts.”

“Ah, is there good money in that?”

You feel Damien stiffen slightly next to you. His chewing slows.

“Well, it certainly pays at least. It’s a pretty good deal to be paid through a degree.”

John hums. “Well. Sounds like you’ll put your degree to use. Not everyone does.”

Damien sets down his fork and wipes his mouth, setting a steely gaze on his uncle.

“Siopí , John!”

John lifts his hand in defense. “What did I say wrong? If there’s nothing wrong with it, Damien should not mind me speaking the truth.”

The table grows quiet. You clear your throat.

“Damien does really important work at Trinity,” you say through a smile. “Certainly more important than mine.”

“Don’t do that,” Damien tilts his head towards you.

“Don’t do what?”

“Belittle your work just to come to my defense. I’m not ashamed of what I do and I have no reason to be.”

“No, your poor mother only has to walk three flights of stairs.”

“John!”

“Speak plainly, Uncle John.”

“All I am saying is that you have a degree and could be making more money in private practice.”

“And what is it you do?”

John sets his eyes on you. You don’t know what’s come over you but your heart is pulsing in your ears. Damien rests a hand on your forearm under the table.

Your sleeves are rolled up.

The barrier has been broken.

“Factory accident when I was 56. Now I survive off my military pension. And what is it you do? Translate a dead language? Did you parents pay for you to get a useless degree?”

“Se proeidipoió,” Damien says.

“John, will you stop!”

At the mention of your parents you feel tears well up and you hate them.

“Now we're crying. Yes, yes. Meanwhile those poorer off suffer. I am very sorry.”

John pushes his way from the table and steps out into the hall. Damien tries to move his hand to sit atop yours but immediately upon contact you jerk away. Through tears, you gather up empty plates.

“I'll uh, get these washed, Mrs. Karras.”

You stumble into the kitchen and set the dishes in the sink as gently as you can, which may in fact have been anything but gentle. Somewhere behind you, the window opens and shuts.

Mrs. Karras comes in and takes the sponge from your hands as you scrub furiously against a plate.

“Próseche. It’s good china.”

You laugh through tears at Mrs. Karras’s kind smile. She jerks her head to the window.

“Go check.”

You nod, wipe the tears from your face. Carefully you go to the window and climb out onto the fire escape. Damien is looking out onto the street, the setting sun casting a rainbow hue onto the snow banks. Cigarette smoke curls into the cold air.

You wrap your arms around yourself and approach him.

“Is this where you came to brood as a kid?”

It is strange to think you’re actually in Damien’s childhood home. You think to yourself that you’ll have to check the walls for portraits of a chubby baby when you get back inside.

“You shouldn't have done that.”

You freeze and any humor you are attempting falls from your face.

“Shouldn't have done what?”

“Defended me.”

You draw closer. “What was I supposed to do?”

“Let me handle it.”

“He was treating you like shit!”

“He's my family.”

Damien’s trying to keep calm, but he delivers an intensity to let you know to drop it . Of course, you don’t.

“So? What does that have to do anything?”

He flicks out his cigarette and steps to you.

“If we were having dinner with your family and the same thing happened, what would you say?”

Shit . You think of that exact situation: in Aunt Grace’s gilded dining room, clean holly and poinsettias decorating the walls. Clean candles, perfect turkey, your young cousins sitting in their velvet Christmas best. And none of them can even look at you.

“It wouldn't be the same thing. You know what they'd say and you know how I'd feel.”

He takes a moment to look into your eyes. His face softens. “Well, maybe it's the same for me.”

You stutter. “But, you said…”

“I'm a human first. Humans lie.”

I’m not ashamed of what I do and I have no reason to be.

“Which part were you lying about?”

Damien massages his jaw. Something passes over his face.

“I’m sorry you had to see that. And I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”

Your brows pull together. “That’s it?”

“Is there something else?”

“You apologize to me and suddenly the problem is gone?”

“The problem is my own to carry. I did you wrong and I want to apologize. That’s it. There’s nothing else.”

You nod mutely and watch the horizon. “Alright, then.”

Damien’s eyes drop to the street below. “Snow’s really piled up down there.”

“When were you thinking of leaving?”

“Before the end of the day. Mama doesn’t have enough room for the four of us.”

You sneak a look to Damien. He notices.

“What?”

“Your mom made apple pie. She said it’s your favorite?”

Damien chuckles and hangs his head. Finally, a real reaction.

“She’s right. Alright, dessert.”

The four of you resign yourselves to a polite, if not tense dessert. By the end of it, you’re stuffed and listening to Mrs. Karras offers insight into Damien’s childhood. She walks you along the walls of the living room and shows you exactly what you wanted: chubby baby pictures of Damien. Then, Damien as a child in a school uniform. Then, Damien as a young adult, cheesing with a bloodied face and crooked nose, raising a trophy in the air.

“Holy…”

Damien comes up behind you. “Ah…didn’t think those were still here.”

“You were a boxer?”

“And a baseball player.”

“And a candlestick maker?”

“Alright, that’s enough out of you.”

“I don’t think it is.” Your eyes move to a photo of Damien in a graduation cap and gown. “Was this seminary or medical?”

Damien considers it for a moment. “Seminary…I think.”

“You don’t remember?”

“I must’ve been twenty or something, and after two graduations you start to forget them.”

“And yet…”

He eyes you warily. Maybe there’s humor there. Maybe there isn’t. “And yet?”

“Nothing,” you shake your head. “I think I was going to attempt a joke but my subconscious thought better of it.”

Damien lifts his sleeve and checks his watch. “Gee, it’s already half past seven. We ought to head out.”

Mrs. Karras poked her head around the corner. “No go! Door blocked.”

“What do you mean blocked?”

“The snow! It blocks the front door. Cannot go in or out. You must stay the night.”

“Mama,” Damien sighs. “We both have to work tomorrow.”

“See for yourself,” Mrs. Karras waves dismissively. “Don’t trust your Mama, Dimmi. Me hercule!”

Damien looks to you. “Let me go check.”

He leaves for a few minutes and you continue to browse the many photographs and trinkets around the apartment. Soon, Damien returns.

“Well, she was right. Completely blocked off. We’ll have to wait until they clear it in the morning.”

“Didn’t you say your mother doesn’t have enough beds? I don’t want to put her out. I can probably foot it to a hotel-”

“No, absolutely not. Especially in this weather and time of day. No, Uncle John takes the couch, you’ll have my bed and I’ll take the floor.”

You cross your arms. “Absolutely not! You’re old. Floor’s bad for your back. I’ll take the floor.”

He rolls his eyes. “‘Old’. Wisened.”

“Ancient.”

“Petulant.”

“Me?” You ask in mock offense. “Never.”

Mrs. Karras lights a fire and the four of you tune into the movie channel. It’s a Wonderful Life . The irony is not lost on either you or Damien. Each time a particular scene happens, you two share a knowing glance. An inside joke. A history.

Mrs. Karras goes to bed early and Uncle John needs the couch, so you and Damien sequester yourselves to his room. His childhood room. There, you see further proof of his life before priesthood. Secular books, boxing and baseball trophies, ribbons, medals. His bed is twin-size. Arguably big enough for two people, comfortably.

Damien lends you a spare set of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt promoting a local boxing ring. You test the size of the bed, scooching to the wall and making yourself as small as possible.

Damien has changed as well and is placing a single pillow and blanket on the floor.

“There’s room up here…” you mumble.

“There’s room down here, too.”

“Come up here or I’m coming down there.”

He doesn’t move.

“Fine.”

“If you’re not careful we’ll all start to think you just want to sleep next to me.”

“I want you to be comfortable.”

“I’m comfortable.”

You shift around. “I’m cold.”

“Put on a sweatshirt,” Damien mutters into his pillow.

“I’m lonely.”

“What else is new?”

“Ouch.”

Sleepiness begins to take you.

“Are you cold?” you ask. He doesn’t say anything. “There’s plenty more blankets.” You roll to the edge of the bed just enough to see Damien pulling the threadbare blanket tighter around himself.

He jumps when you toss the comforter on top of him. He’s right: there is more room on the floor. You flop a pillow onto his face for good measure and slink to the floor. With the now pile of blankets and pillows, you’re just as comfortable as before, and you notice Damien relaxing.

“Better?”

Damien hums. While you'd like to think you're approaching some friendly banter, you know you're both tired and decide not to push him. His back is to you and you figure that's a fine way to go to sleep.

And, at some point when you wake up in the middle of the night, Damien's turned to face you and you suddenly realize you've never seen him asleep, though he's seen you in that state. His mouth is parted slightly, his breathing soft, his face finally relaxed and looking at least ten years younger without the lines on his face being exaggerated by stress. You yearn to run your finger along his jagged features. To brush his soft hair away. To kiss him.

To what?????

You turn away abruptly and squeeze your eyes shut to block out the intrusive thought. No. No way.

You've gotten away with the ambiguity of it all until now. How could you let it happen?

But then, you remember. He has touched you. He touched you in the way you weren't supposed to. Innocuous, sure. But you both knew. You both know.

Maybe you're delusional. Maybe you're not. There's really only one way to find out.

[californiahq-archived]

Hello! I am very interested in joining, but would like to know if there are any faceclaims you all would really like to see join the rp? There are just so many great faces that I wanted to ask before sending in an application. Thank you!

hi, thank you for your interest! here are some fcs that came to mind! mason gooding, harris dickinson, pedro pascal, oscar isaac, manny montana, rudy pankow, jonathan daviss, andrew garfield, lorenzo zurzolo, arón piper, manny jacinto, evan mock, aaron tveit, thomas doherty, archie renaux, brenton thwaites, casey deidrick, avan jogia, maxence danet fauvel, logan lerman, keith powers, raymond ablack, rahul kohli, andy samberg, joseph quinn, xolo maridueña, tanner buchanan, clayton cardenas, mario casas, bill skarsgard, zethpan smith gneist, bradley cooper, joseph morgan, alberto rosende, emilio sakraya, tom holland, manu rios, luke grimes, kedar williams stirling, regé jean page, andré lamoglia, henry zaga, chay suede, elias kacavas, josh heuston, nico tortorella, felix mallard, jamie dornan, chris wood, justice smith, luka sabbat, alex fitzalan, jeff satur, herman tømmeraas, carloto cotta, ander puig, froy gutierrez, charles michael davis, george sear, darren barnet, jon bernthal, ben barnes, anthony ramos, corey mylchreest, anthony keyvan, sinqua walls, cody christian, eddie redmayne, jaehyun, hugh dancy, michael evans behling, elliot fletcher, emre bey, joe keery, chance perdomo, ross lynch, gavin leatherwood, richard madden, alex aiono, shiloh fernandez, chris evans, chris wood, jacob elordi, danny ramirez, drew starkey, havana rose liu, davika hoorne, lalisa, lulu antariksa, christina hendricks, zion moreno, jennie kim, danielle rose russell, kaylee bryant, anya chalotra, simone ashley, charithra chandran, maia mitchell, cierra ramirez, melissa barrera, hailee steinfeld, diane guerrero, stephanie beatriz, melissa fumero, greta onieogou, maia reficco, alisha boe, paris berelc, camila mendes, bruna marquezine, camila queiroz, anne hathaway, lauren tsai, rachel hilson, inbar lavi, lesley ann brandt, giorgia whigham, antonia gentry, katie douglas, melisa asli pamuk, margot robbie, jenna coleman, halston sage, chelsea clark, brianne howey, cindy kimberly, chloe bennet, halle bailey, sara waisglass, jessica alexander, christian serratos, phoebe tonkin, claire holt, isabella gomez, courtney eaton, madelyn cline, madison bailey, abigail cowen, jessie mei li, blu hunt, auli’i cravalho, anya taylor joy, annie murphy, mila kunis, simary barlas, mimi keene, aimee lou wood, emma mackey, samantha logan, natalia dyer, megan suri, maya hawke, coco jones, jasmine tookes, ana de armas, chase sui wonders, priscilla quintana, maris rascal, keke palmer, angelique boyer, rachel sennott, benedetta porcaroli, valentina zenere, ludovica martino, joey king, fivel stewart, adeline rudolph, natasha liu bordizzo – hope these help!

[felteverywhere]

i’m currently suffering through winter and looking for distraction, so i’m very desperate for seaside/beach town, taylor swift song/romcom/romance book inspired plots right now. open to any and all dynamics (preferably m/f or f/f) and very happy to make new characters from the fcs listed under the cut (though i’d be down to think about others). down to write here or on discord. please like this or im me if you’re interested! 

fcs i’m itching to play against: grace van patten, devyn nekoda, willa fitzgerald, lola tung, katie douglas, mallory bechtel, nicole wallace, emilija baranac, natalia dyer, madelyn cline, priscilla quintana, christian serratos, özge özacar, emily alyn lind, jenny boyd, sydney sweeney, lili reinhart, kathryn newton, halle bailey, gideon adlon, grace van dien, hunter schafer, coco jones, ayça ayşin turan, laci j mailey, neslihan atagül, greta onieogou, violett beane, brittany o’grady, vanessa morgan, jeanine mason, reina hardesty, rachel hilson, zoey deutch, bailee madison, zaria simone.

existing muses i’d like to use: dawson, dove, rosalie, spencer, finley, jacob, saverina. 

fcs i’d like to use: christopher briney, kyle allen, rudy pankow, maddie phillips, laura harrier, fivel stewart, dylan sprouse, henry zaga, joshua bassett, dylan arnold, jordan gonzalez, brenton thwaites, thomas weatherall, chris wood, casey deidrick, alex fitzalan, oktay cubuk, oliver stark, ozan dolunay, jordan connor, ben levin, evan roderick, jack mulhern, leo howard, lorenzo zurzolo, khadijha red thunder, luke mitchell, rob raco, talia ryder + any of the ladies above.