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strangeland-jewel · 6 years ago

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Q&A with Tom

SO, it all started with this

And here I gather all questions and answers from today with our favourite singer. Hope you enjoy!

*Note* Question with ‘ ******* ‘ in front is question that came with picture. If I have a permission from the owner, I’ll edit the post then. Now I’m just going to put *Note* behind it and describe what the photo is like.

**Do not repost any pictures here in this post (except the one with Tom’s dog which belongs to Tom). They are all from personal accounts on Twitter and I asked for a permission to post them only here. If you want to use the pictures in your post, contact the owners. I leave all the details for that below each pictures posted.**

Q: Will “It’s Over” ever get released? Love that song

A: Must find a home for it. One of my absolute favourites. So yes, I hope so!

Q: Any reading recommendations? :)

A: Stoner. Fabulous, if depressing.

Q: What kind of in ears do you wear? They look amazing

A: They’re made by ACS. Very good. I’d be more or less deaf by now if it wasn’t for in-ear technology!

Q: Thanks for your solo album! Great stuff. When do you think that the next Keane album will be released?

A: Can’t really say yet but it’s coming.

Q: Will there be any more solo stuff or will it be back to Keane?

A: I’m writing all the time. But let’s see what happens.

Q: What is your input on the new Keane album?

A: Singing as best I can.

Q: Do you think you’d have any plans to do a 15 year anniversary tour of hopes and fears?

A: Interesting idea but feels to soon for a retrospective move like that. Maybe the 25th anniversary. Or the 50th...if we’re not pushing up daisies by that point.

*******Q: In honor of Somewhere Only We Know being our family’s song *Note* A picture of tattoo saying ‘simple thing’ on the side of a body.

A: Nice! I reckon 90% of people think it’s “sympathy”. Well done for getting the lyric correct...cos I’m not paying for laser removal.

Q: Absoluted loved "time" being played at Hastings last summer... have you been writing anything else along that style of music? Or was it a one off?

A: Yep.

Q: Does the new keane album include any songs written by you?

A: Err no, I ran out the way of the Tim Rice-Oxley songwriting juggernaut.

Q: Do you have a regular ritual before you go on stage ?

A: Just pacing around feeling panicked.

Q: Favorite place in the world?

A: Family cuddle. (Sorry for the sentimentality there).

Q: Any advice for new musicians?

A: Write what you feel, don’t be afraid to enter the swamp of shame inside you and lay it all out there. That’s what people will connect with.

Q: What do you miss most about being on tour with Keane?

A: Banter that only we can understand with a darkness that should only be shared amongst friends.

Q: What would you say to a bundle of 11/12 years old who ended up loving your music after singing Under A Million Lights? If you sent me a message, I could show them in class and I can tell they would collapse (in thankfulness and awe!) They love you.

A: You are the greatest class of all time and you will save the world...

Q: Can you give me a birthday shout out?! It was yesterday!

A: Happy Birthday legend.

Q: Any plans on visiting Dublin for a concert soon

A: Be feckin’ rude not to.

Q: Are they any tickets left for your Harrogate show? #asktom

A: Probably!

Q: Do you feel as comfortable as usual working with keane? Has anything changed?

A: It’s like a mad old family which, as most of us know, brings its heady cocktail of love and pain.

A: For those of you asking about the dog. She’s a total pain in the arse...but very lovely too.

Q: Did you see the Michael Jackson documentary and what was your conclusion?

A: I can’t bear to watch it. It doesn’t sound so good for Jacko. Mind you, I’d say he’s got bigger problems right now.

Q: Is it a hard task to write a song (music+words)? For instance... "Quicksand"?

A: The hardest but most rewarding part. Lyrics are like a puzzle that has to be figured out.

Q: What would you say to the younger Tom Chaplin?

A: Go and see a therapist Tom. It’s ok, you’re ok, it’s gonna be alright.

Q: Best thing about Hastings /Battle?

A: Battle is all sweet, nostalgic memories for me. Hastings Old Town is lovely. St Leonard’s is a funky place these days.

Q: Which would you rather be attacked by? 1 horse sized duck or a dozen duck sized horses?

A: Definitely the horse sized duck. I nearly wrote dick then. Thank you autocorrect...for once.

Q: What do you feel when you listen "Fly to Me" by Keane?

A: We played it at my Grandfather’s funeral, so I think of him.

Q: What is "Closer Now" about?

A: Unrequited love. Long time ago!

Q: Would love to just get a hello!! I've been a longtime fan of yours, and listen to your music everyday. One of the people I support at work is 60 years old and completely blind. They love playing the Keane classics on the piano! They would love to know you said hello!

A: Hello!!

Q: In what way(s) has therapy helped you?

A: It’s helped in every corner of my life...particularly the corners I didn’t know about.

Q: Do you get fed up with me taking your photo at gigs ?

A: Most definitely not! You’re bloody wonderful Mark.

Q: Are you watching any tv show or movie you can recommend?

A: I’m just watching Fleabag series 2. Just got to the haircut scene...nearly spat my tea out!

Q: Do you like my username? *Note* this guy’s username is @tomchaplin

A: Huh?? That’s both clever and a bit worrying....

Q: Your opinion about LGBT community?

A: We’re all on this journey together, let’s accept all of our fellow travellers!

Q: What is Black Burning Heart about? One of my favourites

A: God only knows...and Tim. Tim knows too.

Q: Not a question more of a request. My son James has just started chemotherapy. He’s 16 and a big fan. Could you send a hello please

A: Hello James. Whatever happens, keep wearing that mile wide smile.

Q: My teacher just said if you reply to this tweet we wouldn’t have homework so if you have a soul please help us poor children out.

A: Pens down. Also, don’t worry about school tomorrow, take a long weekend.

Q: Do you like this photo I took of you

(Taken by Olivia from @xplodinglemon on Twitter. Here is the LINK direct to her tweet.)

A: Anyone who says life is boring without drugs hasn’t seen this photo.

Q: Matchy matchy. Mine are a pain in the area too. Must be a doodle thing...

(Taken by Lainey Farrant from @Lainey_Farrant on Twitter. Here is the LINK direct to her tweet.)

A: oh my, that is quite the collection. 4 of them??? You must be utterly bonkers.

Q: Last question, why Ipswich why not Man Utd???

A: Clearly I’m not a glory seeker.

Q: Can you remember how any of the old songs go? Asking for a friend. (*Note* Our drummer Richard came asking this himself lol)

A: Great question Richard! I think nearly all of them have a beginning and an ending and maybe some stuff that happens in the middle. Hope that helps!

Q: How does it feel knowing people feel so strongly about your music and have such close connections to moments of their own life? For me ‘Hardened Heart’, ‘Hamburg Song’ and ‘Eveybodys Changing’ have such close links to things that happened to me and always will #asktom

A: We’re nothing if we’re not connected to each other in this life. I like to think that I would be ok stranded on a desert island...but two days in I’d be a quivering wreck.

And that’s it for today! Did you send him your questions? Got his answer? I send mind several times but they are just not so interesting haha. Let’s hope we’ll have some fun like this again and all of us will be a little luckier than today!

#Tom Chaplin #Twitter #richard hughes #Q&A

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stillthewordgirl · 6 years ago

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LOT/CC fic: Rebuilt

For a month or so after the events of "Me vs. You" and "Wager," the members of Team Legends have watched Sara and Snart slowly rebuild their friendship and learn to work together again. Eventually, everyone knows, something will have to give.

(Of course, knowing the Legends, it might take something strange to give them that push.)

Takes place a month or so after "Me vs. You" and "Wager." (Find the series here.) Many thanks to LarielRomeniel for the beta!

Can also be read here on AO3.

It’s been an interesting month, all right.

But honestly, Mick thinks, it’s been a pretty good one.

No one’s quite sure what’s going on with Sara and Snart—including, perhaps, Sara and Snart. By Mick’s best guess, they haven’t slept together again, but they’re…easier with each other. Frankly, they’re acting much the way they used to, way back in the beginning, after St. Roch and before the Oculus, all circling around each other and card games and eye sex with a side of innuendo. They even got in a bar fight, trying to apprehend a leprechaun who’d completely bought into the stereotype and taken over an Irish pub in Boston.

That was fun. Mick approved.

And when Sara and Snart are actually talking, and working together instead of against each other, they make a damned good team. While Mick knows he and Snart make a good team too, Snart had been right—that dynamic had always been between the brains and the brawn before, and that’s changed a little now. Mick isn’t proud…he knows he’ll always be the brawn…but he’s used to working with others now, Sara and Haircut and Pretty and New Girl and Charlie, and he doesn’t instinctively look to Snart to tell him what to do these days.

And that could have hurt a lot (and would have once, he thinks), but miraculously it doesn’t, especially not now, when the pieces are starting to fit together again, probably better than they ever did before. He and Snart, they’ll always have each other’s backs.

Crew’s just bigger, that’s all.

Even Nate's gotten used to Snart’s presence on the team. Sara had pulled him aside and although Mick doesn’t know what she’d said, the historian was rather more thoughtful after that. And then Snart pulled him out of an ambush by a group of what Constantine called redcaps, which were essentially lawn gnomes with attitude and big honkin’ teeth. Teeth capable of rending metal, which would have gone very badly for Pretty if Snart hadn’t dropped into their midst, laying about with his gun, clearing a path for them both to run for it.

Yeah, since then, even Nate has acknowledged Snart’s place here. Haircut, of course, is still pleased as punch the former thief was back. Zari herself has taken a great liking to Snart, and Charlie, while still dubious, has inexplicably decided that any friend of Mick’s is a friend of hers.

(Mick still can’t figure out why he’s Charlie’s favorite person on board. It pleases him and unnerves him in equal measure. She looks like Amaya, who he’d come to...to care for...but she’s also a badass, fire-breathing shapeshifter. Which is awesome, but...why him?)

Constantine, of course, is being his usual obnoxious self. He’s stopped barging into the cargo bay or wherever Sara and Snart are hanging out, trying to catch them at something, ever since he nearly got one of Sara’s knives through his eye. But he still thinks he deserves that bottle of whiskey, or maybe it’s just an excuse to be a prat (to use his own word).

(Given the man’s tendency to poke at things he really shouldn’t be poking at, Mick honestly wonders how he’s survived so long. One of life’s mysteries.)

And then there’s the Time Bureau.

Gary keeps watching Snart like he’s afraid the other man's going to go full supervillain right before his eyes. (Mick still thinks he peed himself the first time Snart actually spoke to him.) Ava, meanwhile, has accepted their assertions that Snart isn’t what she thought he was—but now she clearly suspects there’s something up between her ex and the newcomer, if Mick’s any judge. And she’s clearly not sure how she feels about that.

That’s fun. “Fun,” in this case, meaning “likely to blow up and be a problem at the worst possible moment.” Mick has decided, however, that it’s not his problem. Not yet, anyway.

At any rate, the balance isn’t perfect, but it works. And who knows how long they could have continued like this, really, if it hadn’t been for the hydras.

“The what?”

Zari’s voice is disbelieving. Mick can’t blame her. In fact, they’re all staring at John Constantine in varying degrees of disbelief, because no matter how many of these mythological whatsits they deal with, it will never stop being weird.

Well. Most of them. Charlie just nods. But then, Charlie is a sort of amazing being herself, and she sometimes seems to forget that she doesn’t have easy access to her dragon form here.

“Isn’t that...some sort of evil organization?” Haircut asks, looking around. “I thought...”

Constantine shrugs. “That sort does like its creature names, but no. Not in this universe, anyway.” He turns away before any of them can continue that line of questioning. “They’re bad enough, let me tell you. Reptilian critters. They have nine heads and, just like the stories say, if you cut off one, two grow back.”

Sara closes her eyes in a “give me strength” sort of expression. The captain is leaning against the holotable, on which Gideon is now projecting an artist’s rendition of a hydra, and Mick can’t say he blames her, either.

“OK,” she says then, opening her eyes. “Where and when is it? I’ll set the course, and then we can start talking about a plan.”

Constantine gives her a wary look. “Well, that’s not all. They’re resistant to magic. In fact, they’re attracted to it.” He steadfastly ignores Sara’s sigh. “And, their blood is poisonous, deadly poisonous. Even if you only get a whiff of it. So, no blades, luv,” he says, pointing at Sara. “Sorry. I do know you love your pointy objects.”

Sara’s even louder sigh is drowned out, though, by Haircut, who’s perked up.

“Fire,” he says, looking over at Mick with a grin. “That’s what Hercules used. In the stories. He did cut the heads off, but then cauterized them with fire.”

Constantine points at him. "Bingo. Whatever removes the head without actual bloodshed. I mean, you need to take precautions just in case, but better if they’re not needed.”

“And ice,” Snart interjected laconically. “Frozen things smash.”

Mick notices him idly rubbing his right wrist as he speaks. Ah, damn. He still can’t believe the bastard did that, smashed his own hand off, whether it was to keep him from killing the Legends or keep the Legends from killing him.

“So where are these things?” he cuts in as the old guilt surges. “I want to burn something.”

Constantine nods to him. “1958 small-town Pennsylvania,” he says, leaning on the table himself as a map appears. “Out in the sticks, fortunately.” He points to a random plot of green on the grid. “We got a breeding pair here in the hills. Need to banish them—or better yet, just dispose of them—before we get a mess of baby hydras. No one wants that.”

Mick thinks later that he should have known at that moment that things were going to go sideways.

They have a good plan when they land just outside Benjamin, Pennsylvania. Even Mick thinks so. Sara had taken the newer capabilities of both his and Snart’s guns into consideration (with much consultation with Snart, a fact no one missed) and, with Constantine’s information on the habits of hydras, concocted a plan of attack that involved luring the pair of hydras out of hiding and into the line of fire.

And since Constantine had come to them, and hydras were both resistant to and attracted to magic, he got to play bait.

“I’m not going to make one of the others do it when you’re so perfectly suited,” Sara had told him mock-innocently when he’d objected. “You can throw a little magic around, draw them out. We’ll protect you.”

Constantine complained and Constantine sulked, but then Constantine did as told. While Charlie stayed by the ship (so no residual aura of dragon could scare off the smaller hydras), the others split into teams of Leonard and Sara, Mick and Zari, and Ray and Nate, one for each hydra and a “utility infielder” sort of pair. Each team has one person who can provide some sort of hydra-vanquishing firepower (or ice power, as it were) and one as, well, a hydra-herder.

Then Constantine saunters out into the field, gives them all a long-suffering look, and throws a fireball into the air.

It’s magical fire, not real, but that’s the idea. As the sparks rain down around him, he folds his arms, turns to face the others, and scowls at them.

And then there’s a hissing noise from the hill behind him.

The creature that emerges isn’t quite as big as they’ve been warned it could be, but it’s big enough. It’s a muddy green color, with four stumpy legs off a body that looks a little like an alarmingly large alligator, and its tail is lashing back and forth with what seems to be ire at its visitors.

And so are the nine sinuous necks that emerge from where the creature’s head would usually be.

“Whoa,” Haircut breathes. Nate’s jaw drops. “Where’s Percy Jackson when you need him?” he yells, looking around as if the fictional demigod is going to appear out of nowhere. (For all Mick knows, he could. No weirder than murderous garden gnomes now, is it?)

(What? He reads.)

Fictional characters aside, though, Mick swears at the sight of the thing. His gun is already primed, but he raises it then, trading glances with Zari and looking over at Sara. The captain is watching the monster calmly. Snart, his own gun primed, is at her side. Then she looks at Mick and nods.

That’s all he needs.

Zari throws her hands in the air and then buffets the creature with a gust of wind, distracting it, while Mick runs for its other side. He raises his gun and aims for the leftmost several heads, firing and grinning as they crisp and the thing howls, other heads whipping his way. But then Zari’s fanning the flames, and Mick ducks to the other side, and Haircut’s firing at one of the heads with his suit’s blasters, and...

Mick hears Constantine yelling and, out of the corner of his eye, sees the other hydra coming. But then he hears the whine of Snart’s gun and Sara’s crisp voice and...they know their business. He has his own, right now.

In the end, it doesn’t take so long, really. There are two dead monsters, with some combination of 18 heads charred, blasted, or frozen and shattered. Mick prods one with a boot, then raises his gun and, at a nod from Sara, sets them on fire. Constantine had said the best way to dispose of them was to burn it all, which should even negate the poison. They’ve already churned up the dirt so much here that the blaze shouldn’t spread, but he’ll keep an eye on it.

He’s come a long way from the man who wanted to watch the world burn. He doesn’t even want these hills to go up. People live ‘round here.

Constantine wanders over, studying the burning corpses, then turns to peer in the direction the second hydra had come from.

“The female came from a cave over there,” he says, nodding. “ ’Cross the field. If they have a nest, that’s where it would be.” He shrugs. “There might be eggs; there might be babies, though that’s less likely. Either way, cold will do for them.”

Snart rolls his eyes but holsters his gun again and starts that way. Sara falls into step with him. Mick smirks, then looks over at Ray, who’s removed his helmet and part of his suit, tinkering with something. “You OK there, Haircut?”

The other man nods. “Yeah.” He glances up, a little sheepish. “That thing caught me with its tail, sent me sprawling. Going to have to fix the propulsion system.”

“Well, at least you didn’t get chomped.”

“Yeah,” Nate says with a grin, joining them. “I can’t believe it. A plan actually went...according to plan!”

Mick groans. “Don’t say that kinda thing, Pretty!”

“What?”

“You’ve been part of this team long enough to...”

That’s when they hear it.

It sounds like…hissing. Higher pitched than before, but louder, as if it’s coming from more throats, even though it seems farther away. Mick, frowning, turns, and bumps into Constantine, who’s staring at the hill where he’d sent Sara and Snart.

Mick looks too. Then he squints.

Some of the greenery on the hill, it’s...moving?

He realizes what’s going on at the same moment Constantine curses. “It’s a damned nest!” the warlock yells. “And those aren’t babies, they’re half grown!”

“Are you tellin’ me those are teenage hydras?” Mick bellows, drawing his gun again and taking a few steps. But he already knows he can’t make it there in time. None of them are going to be able to get there in time. Especially not with Haircut’s suit on the fritz.

Mick sees Sara and Snart, visible near the faint dark cave opening at the bottom, look at each other, sees them both draw weapons, and then...

Then the swarm is on them, and they’re fighting.

Mick knows that they’ve been training together again. Actually training rather than “training,” too, because the one time Constantine had interrupted them in the training room, he’d gotten an eyeful of no more than two fully clothed people experimenting with how Snart’s new cold gun worked and the best ways of utilizing it in battle.

(And then Sara had gleefully decided that the warlock needed a little more physical conditioning if he was going to run with the Legends. Constantine had limped about complaining for days, gotten off the ship again as soon as humanly possible, and only returned when he needed the Legends to help take care of another myth-turned-real.)

Still, this is the first chance anyone’s had to see what that training might be amounting to.

They’ve backed up to a sheer incline, and Snart’s shooting one critter after another, keeping the heads back, as Sara smashes them as soon as she can. She’s moving in her usual graceful fashion, like it’s a dance, and they’re working together, like they can read each other’s minds, and damn, that’s a pretty picture.

Even though he knew the swarm would descend before they arrived, Mick’s crossed the field anyway, but it’s almost as though stepping in at this point would mess up the dynamic, so he waits, watching, to see if he needs to help. The others skid to a halt near him, all of them staring.

Just in time to see the maneuver that ends the battle.

Mick hears Sara yell something, sees Snart nod, and then sees something pretty amazing. Amazinger. More amazing.

Sara steps back. Snart ducks, going to a knee, but then he slides something on his gun and raises it, pulling the trigger. A spray of blue emits, fanning out a lot farther than the blast of the cold gun usually does, and Snart holds it rock steady--even as Sara steps up, planting a foot on his shoulder, and uses it as a springboard to launch herself forward, into the air….and sweep her bo across as the blue light dies, smashing at least 16 hydra heads into icy shards as she explodes through them, landing neatly on the ground.

Nothing else moves.

Sara lowers her bo. Snart holsters his gun in one smooth motion. And then they look at each other.

Damn.

Zari shakes her head, stepping up on Mick’s left side.

“I feel like I should either applaud or tell them to get a room,” she whispers. “Maybe both?”

Mick doesn’t have words. He just nods.

Constantine wanders up on the other side. Even the unflappable warlock is, well, flapped.

“Bloody hell,” he mutters. “I didn’t even take part in that and I feel like I need a cig.”

They watch as Sara and Snart head their way. They’re both ruffled, but they’re side by side, and Mick doesn’t think it’s his imagination that they’re walking more closely than usual. Sara smirks at them, but Snart manages to maintain his usual cool expression…but Mick, at least, notes a certain gleam in his eye.

Constantine clears his throat.

“I don’t say stuff like this casually, you two,” he says. “But that was...amazing.”

Sara laughs, then, looking around.

“It was, wasn’t it?” she says, a smile tugging at her lips. “C’mon, team. Let’s get home.”

It’s just the aftermath of one mission out of many, but their get-together afterward feels like a victory feast, probably because they all suspect there was no way they should have been able to walk away from a confrontation with nine hydras, even if seven of them were only partly grown. Especially with their mission accomplished and no real casualties.

Constantine had stayed behind to make sure there was no further cleanup work to do. He’ll turn up at some point, Mick knows, probably with his eager buddy from the Time Bureau, and try to drag them into new trouble (probably succeeding) and resolve his wager. Maybe Mick will even try to make the pair in question ‘fess up, just because it seems a bit ridiculous to even pretend there’s nothing going on there.

Even now, right there in the galley, with the whole Waverider team present, there’s tension.

Oh, it’s not a bad tension. Not now. Snart’s leaning back in a chair at the table, balanced in a way that should probably have him crashing to the floor if he wasn’t, well, Snart. He’s not even looking at Blondie, who’s checked her hip against the counter and is talking to Nate, who seems to be blathering on about monsters throughout history, and which ones might be real, and how he wants to write a paper and other such nonsense.

But they’re clearly aware…no, aware…of each other. Even Mick, who knows perfectly well he tends to be oblivious to some things, can see that. Every once in a while, they glance at each other, and…yeah.

Finally, Sara makes a noise of contentment. She glances around the room, and while her eyes don’t particularly land on Snart, Mick’s pretty sure no one misses the smile that touches her lips as her gaze slides past him.

“Well,” she says, stretching. “It’s been fun, celebrating a clear victory for once, but I’m beat. We’ll stay in the timestream for a bit, at least until something else presents itself or John turns up again like a bad penny.”

She pauses, then meets Mick’s eyes. “You have the ship,” she informs him. “OK? For at least a few hours. I need the rest.”

He nods, but Sara barely seems to notice. Turning, she gives Snart a long look. He returns it, expressionless. And then Sara turns and walks away, toward her room.

For a long moment, the galley is quiet and relatively still. Snart takes another sip of his scotch. Ray gives Mick a look that’s frankly a bit distressed. Nate becomes preoccupied by his napkin, and Zari stuffs a miniature éclair in her mouth.

Charlie looks back and forth between them all, confusion on her face. And then, before Mick even realizes what she’s going to do, she speaks up.

“Aren’t you going to go after her?” she asks, looking at Snart. “Because you really should. Even I can see that.”

Nate chokes on a drink, much like he had back when this all started, and Zari closes her eyes. Ray looks like he’d wished he’d said it first. Mick stifles a sigh.

But Snart actually gives Charlie a slight smile. He looks down, considering his drink, then nods, tossing it back before sitting the glass down and climbing to his feet.

“I believe,” he tells her, “that you’re entirely correct.”

And then he smirks at Micks, nods to the others, and saunters after Sara.

The silence lasts a beat or two past when he’s moved out of sight, and then more than one person lets out an explosive sigh. Zari shakes her head and reaches for another eclair, and Ray and Nate exchange glances, smirking.

Charlie cocks her head to the side and then grins at Mick, pleased with her own actions. And Mick, after a moment, gives her a smile in return.

He just really hopes those two don’t fuck this up.

“All right, then,” he says, getting up himself. Time to switch to coffee, if he has the ship. “Anyone want something else to drink?”

#rebuilding bridges #Captain Canary #sara lance #leonard snart #legends of tomorrow

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motownfiction · 2 years ago

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prove it all night

Steph knows it’s a stretch to say that the D in the middle of her painting could only stand for Daniel, even though she’s only thought it in front of herself. She knows it needs explanation, even in her head, the place where it already makes sense.

Except that’s the thing. Steph’s feelings about Daniel DeLuca (about him, about him, about him, never for him) don’t make sense. They’re just there, underneath her skin like a Frank Sinatra tune, festering with no way out, except for on the canvas no one else will ever see. She puts her paintbrush in the water and takes another step back. Leonard Cohen is still spinning on her turntable, but he doesn’t seem to fit anymore. Mood music is all too real, she thinks, and you can use it for any mood, even moods you didn’t think could exist. Sam taught Steph all about that because he loves her (and she loves him). She takes the needle off the Cohen record and puts on a different one. Darkness on the Edge of Town. She sighs and flops down on her bed, eyes to the ceiling. Of course, she knows why she chose this record. She just wishes she hadn’t.

It all started in French class one day in the middle of March, not even two months ago. Daniel was out sick, which was important, because it gave Melissa Kaminski, Kim Campbell, and Vicky St. John the chance to talk about him.

Specifically, what they knew about him.

From experience.

Steph couldn’t say she was shocked to overhear the stories. Before last month, Sam talked about Daniel’s escapades all the time, almost like he was using them as anecdotal evidence in his own case for why they should join the ranks of the active. But none of what the girls were saying sounded new. Before then, Steph had heard all about Daniel’s movie date with Melissa Kaminski, his study date with Kim Campbell, and what happened at the mall between him and Vicky St. John. Even if she wasn’t dating one of Daniel’s best friends, Steph is pretty sure she would have heard it all, anyway. St. Catherine’s is like a McDonald’s for gossip: It comes out quickly, so you better get it while it’s hot. Stories about Daniel DeLuca’s extracurricular activities had been around for so long, they were old news. They were gossipy Big Macs in a world seduced by McRibs and Shamrock Shakes.

What she is shocked by is her reaction to the stories.

She likes them.

And not only does she like them, she wishes she was in them. More to the point, she wishes she had stories to share. Not stories about Sam, either. No, that would be too easy and too fair. Steph wishes she, too, had stories about Daniel.

She hasn’t been able to quite shake the feeling since.

When the feelings come on, they’re the strangest thing. Steph never looked at Daniel like a potential suitor before, but there was just something about the way the other girls described him that made her realize she’d been seeing him that way all along. There’s just something about him that’s easy to fall in love with and hard to look away from. Maybe it’s his smile. He’s got the sweetest smile. Sam smiles like he’s ready to get his picture taken and stapled in as a Tiger Beat centerfold, but Daniel smiles like a real guy. A guy you could take home to your mother. A guy you could love even after he got a haircut. In French class, she begins doodling something in the margins of her notebook that looks a little like Daniel’s eyes before she scribbles it out, suddenly terrified that he’ll come back to school the next day and see it. It’s not until after school, when Sam comes by and gives her a small kiss at her locker, that she realizes she should have been afraid that Sam would see the doodle, too. For the rest of the night, she chocks it up to being sixteen and having all sorts of strange feelings you can’t explain. By the time she falls asleep, she’s pretty much convinced herself of it, too.

Then she has a dream about being stranded in the rain with Daniel, and she knows it’s something she can’t ignore.

Today, she listens to Springsteen on the record player, and she thinks about Daniel even more. She ran into him when she went to buy this record at the store. He rightly observed that she might be a little late to fall in love with Springsteen, and she responded that it doesn’t matter when you fall in love with somebody as long as you fall in love with them at all. When she closes her eyes, she can still see the smile he flashed her. Flirty and innocent, a combination he shouldn’t have ever been able to pull off, given what she knows about him and all of his experience. She remembers the way he tapped his fingertips to the album cover and said, “‘Prove It All Night’ is my favorite.” Since then, “Prove It All Night” has been Steph’s favorite, too.

Baby, just one kiss will get these things for you / a kiss to seal our fate tonight …

In the end, it’s not that Steph wants to kiss Daniel. It’s not that she wants to do anything with him. She’s just sixteen, and sometimes, she gets distracted. Not all of those distractions mean anything. On Friday at lunch, she and Sam were walking around the football field, and Steph got distracted by Anita Gataki’s incredible ability with a LaCrosse stick. She’s pretty sure she doesn’t want to kiss Anita Gataki. So why would she want to kiss Daniel?

Curiosity.

All the other girls talk about Daniel. He’s practically a trend, like Maybelline lip glosses or Ralph Macchio. If Steph wants to kiss him, it’s not because she’s attracted to him. It’s not because she likes him. It’s because she wants to know what in the world everybody else is talking about … what in the world everybody else sees. As a teenager, it’s her responsibility to keep up with fashion. As far as the girls at St. Catherine’s are concerned, Daniel DeLuca is part of that fashion.

She closes her eyes and dreams about walking along the river with Daniel. In her daydream, they stop to gaze out at the water, and Daniel tucks a strand of Steph’s hair behind her ear. She turns a soft shade of pink and confesses she’s worried that her kissing is no longer enough for Sam. Daniel says he doubts it, and Steph suggests that she could practice kissing Daniel, so he could see if anything was lacking. In the fantasy, she purses her lips; in real life, she does the same. But she feels nothing. Just air. Slowly, Steph opens her eyes again, and Springsteen pulls her back into reality.

Everybody’s got a hunger, a hunger they can’t resist.

She exhales loudly. It’s just a song. It’s just a stupid song.

A few minutes later, Steph’s mother, Susie, knocks on the door.

“Stephanie!” she calls through the other side. “Sam’s on the phone. He wants to know if you’re still planning to meet him at the bowling alley with all of your friends.”

Steph’s heart skips a proverbial beat. All of their friends were really all of Sam’s friends, but at this moment, the only thing that matters is seeing Daniel … and proving that Steph doesn’t want to kiss him. That she doesn’t want any part of him.

She jumps out of bed, opens the door, and takes the phone from her mother’s hand.

And of course, she’s thrilled to meet at the bowling alley. No place else she’d rather be.

#drabble #writeblr #ch: steph armstrong #ch: susie armstrong #ch: sam doyle #ch: daniel deluca #year: 1983 #series: first of may

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ultramaga · 3 years ago

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Just remembered walking to work and some minor celebrity almost totaled me with their car door.

Their partner was dropping them off and they weren't watching what they were doing, I'd say at a guess.

I was just steaming along, not looking forward to the end of the journey but trying not to be late, and suddenly I'm nearly bowled over and my heart is hammering and there's this woman

Her, but we were both thirty I think?

And I'm confused as hell because I recognize her but she's out of context because I've only ever seen her on the small screen, and I think I apologized and got away and then felt embarrassed for apologizing.

I lived in artarmon, which was lovely, but worked in st Leonards, which really wasn't.

Artarmon was a hell of a place. I remember there was a topless haircut place. My friend wasn't game to go alone and wanted me to go too, but I wouldn't because it was just too weird.

Years before, I commuted from west pennant hills to artarmon as a casual junior programmer, and my workmates would eat at these fantastic places while I chewed my peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

It was difficult to travel so far, and sometimes I'd have more work to do at home, but I loved it.

I miss visual basic, I've never seen an environment since that was as suited to me.

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michaeldee · 4 years ago

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Wk 3 - Local Competition

LOCAL COMPETITION

Fade Room (Toronto, Ontario)

475A Rogers Rd, York, ON M6M 1B2

https://faderoom.com/

Website Experience:

Fade Room’s website has a clean and modern look and is easy to navigate. You can find clear headings such as announcements, products, Google reviews, addresses, and brands they’ve worked within the past on the main page. Their social media icons are well laid out and visible for new customers to access. Most importantly, customers can book an appointment with one of the three barbers online, creating a hassle-free experience.

Market Positioning:

Fade Room has been operational since 2016 and has a strong customer base around the Stockyards District and Eglinton West area of Toronto. They have collaborated with major brands such as Heineken, Children's Aid Foundation, and Reebok, leading to a very professional and trusted brand.

Reviews:

Fade Room has received a perfect 5.0 rating on Google reviews with over 384 reviews. They have also received an excellent rating on blogTO (5/5) and Yellow Pages (5/5). All of the reviews refer to the service delivered, while the other reviews are about the shop's barbers and environment.

Pricing:

Men's haircut (excluding beard trim) is moderately priced at approximately $40 plus. The interior design and exceptional customer service are factored into the price. The barbershop is well equipped with the latest hair clipper gear, flat-screen TVs, and vintage barber chairs, delivering a top-notch customer experience.

Shipping:

Fade Room also sells merchandise. There is a sign-up page for new customers to register their profile. Customers can buy items such as t-shirts, sandals, and hair care products.

Social Media:

Fade Room has been the most active on major social media outlets such as Instagram and Facebook, but they also remain relevant on other outlets such as YouTube. Followers on Instagram can see high-quality photos daily and can stay informed on current trends and topics in the industry on their blog. While posting consistently on social media platforms, Fade Room ensures to post unique images and videos that attract new clientele and retain current ones.

Weaknesses:

Due to Fade Room’s growing popularity, clients find it challenging to get an appointment for their haircuts. Their customer base's most significant pain point is that appointments need to be booked weeks in advance, and the shop does not offer walk-ins. This long wait time for an appointment can deter new customers, who are generally looking to get a haircut as soon as possible, from their shop.

❎❎❎❎❎❎

Barbershop by evr.snce (Mississauga, Ontario)

2275 Britannia Rd W #17, Mississauga, ON L5M 2G6

http://www.evrsnce.com/

Website Experience:

The website is simple and easy to navigate. It is not as robust compared to Fade Room, but it has the necessary information that a new customer would need: social media handles, barbers, portfolios, location and prices. Prices are visible on the main page and are clear on what a particular price entails. The only drawback is that when booking an appointment, it takes you to a third-party website that requires you to create an account. Creating an account with a third-party vendor may be a nuisance and hinder them from attracting new clientele.

Market Positioning:

Evr.snce has a strong presence in the Mississauga area, Britannia Road, to be specific. While the brand is unique, what differentiates this barbershop from others is the skill set that the barbers at evr.snce have. Although this barbershop has not collaborated with other brands, customer reviews dictate exceptional artistry.

Reviews:

Barbershop by evr.snce has a perfect 5.0 rating on their Google page with over 150+ unique reviews. They have 754 unique reviews on Booksy, an appointment management app, with 750 of those reviews receiving a 5/5 rating.

Pricing:

A typical men’s haircut (excluding beard work) costs $40+. This is the median price for most men’s haircuts in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Shipping:

Barbershop by evr.snce does not sell products on their website.

Social Media:

The only social media platform that this barbershop has is Instagram, and they are nowhere as active as Fade Room barbershop.

Weaknesses:

Evr.snce's biggest weakness is the user experience of their website. Making an appointment online is the most significant use case of a barbershop's website. However, users of evr.snce's website are forced to join a third-party booking website to make an appointment. This extra step can be very frustrating to new customers who want to make an appointment in the quickest way possible.

❎❎❎❎❎❎

Throne Barbershop (Toronto, Ontario)

399 Yonge Street Located on the 2nd level, along, Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5B 1S9

https://thronebarbershop.com/

Website Experience:

Throne Barbershop has a simple website that includes essential information such as location, social media handles, and booking. However, scheduling an appointment with the barbershop leads customers to a third-party website that requires them to sign-in. As already mentioned, this may be a nuisance for new clientele. The website does not have their hours of operation listed, and they also have third-party advertisements posted on their website, which lacks professionalism.

Market Positioning:

Throne Barbershop is situated in downtown Toronto's heart and has a strong customer base, as evidenced by photographs of top athletes and movie stars donning their merchandise.

Reviews:

Throne Barbershop has an impressive Google rating of 4.8 stars with over 900+ unique reviews and a 4.2-star rating from blogTO. One of the barbers is also featured on Sportsnet.ca for cutting a Toronto Blue Jays player's hair. That same barber is also known as a celebrity barber for Kwahi Leonard and Tristan Thompson, to name a few.

Pricing:

A typical men's haircut costs approximately $40, excluding beard work, which is average for most barbershops in Toronto.

Shipping:

Throne Barbershop sells their merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies, key chains and hats. It seems that they utilize the Shopify platform to sell their products. Customers can pay through Google Pay and PayPal.

Social Media:

Throne Barbershop has an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page. On Instagram, they have 13K followers and post high-quality photos of mostly their products.

Weakness:

Throne Barbershop does not offer a wide variety of haircut styles. An overwhelming number of their negative reviews stated their barbers were not well trained in any other haircut besides the trendy "fade." This lack of variety narrows their potential customer base.

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anastpaul · 7 years ago

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Saint of the Day – St Leonard of Noblac (c 496-559) Monk, Hermit, Abbot, Miracle-worker. Patronages – • against burglaries • against robberies or robbers • barrel makers, coopers • blacksmiths • captives, prisoners • childbirth • coal miners • coppersmiths • farmers • greengrocers, grocers • horses • locksmiths • miners • porters • prisoners of war • 33 cities. Attributes – depicted as an abbot holding chains, fetters or locks, or manacles.

Saint Leonard was born to noble and illustrious parents in Gaul (now France), in the castle of Vendome in Orleans. Born into Frankish royalty, he belonged to the court of King Clovis and his relatives were dignitaries, military commanders and people of both privilege and society. Leonard was baptised by future Saint Remigius and the King, himself, stood as sponsor for him. While he was still very young, the kingdom was threatened by an invading army. The Queen, knowing of Leonard’s Christian faith, jokingly suggested to Leonard that he invoke the help of his God to repel an invading repeal the attack. Leonard prayed, the tide of battle turned and the armies of Gaul were victorious. Saint Remigius used this miracle to convert the King and thousands of followers to Christianity.

From an early age, Leonard was destined for the service of the Lord. As he matured, he was so moved by the holy examples of Saint Remigius, Archbishop of Rheims that he renounced the world in order to lead a more perfect life. Looking to Saint Remigius for advice and spiritual guidance, Leonard quickly came to embrace and exemplify the greatest of Christian virtues and while still a young man, took the tonsure (monk’s haircut) as a symbol to the world of his commitment to serving the Lord. His first calling was in service to prisoners, who he showed great charity, and worked miracles of freedom. Leonard asked the kind monarch to grant him personally the right to liberate prisoners whom he would find worthy of it, any time at all. Based upon his exemplary life, prudence and good judgment (despite a young age), the king agreed.

Leonard earned himself a reputation of goodness, piety and sancity and soon all in the kingdom knew of him. He became a person of pilgrimage, with the sick and poor traveling great distances for his healing and charity. To each, he devoted himself, not only taking care of their physical needs but teaching them the virtues of patience and love and instructing them in the ways of sound doctrine. The king, so pleased with the reputation the holy man was earning for the court, desired to attach him permanently into his service but Leonard, ever humble, replied that he preferred to live in humility and obscurity, as Christ had chosen for Himself for so many years. With the king’s permission, Leonard retired to a monastery in Orleans.

Saint Maximin, the abbot of the monastery, saw to it that Leonard was soon ordained a deacon, which office he accepted out of obedience. However, Leonard did not aspire to any additional ecclesiastical dignities. Rather, he desired a life of austerity, sanctification and preaching—the latter task taking him from the monastery to the pagans of the province of Limoges. On his evangelical journeys, Leonard discovered a nearby mountain, heavily forested and rich in solitude. There he built a cell from the fallen branches of trees and remained for some time, taking great pleasure in the provisions of the Lord. Leonard lived on herbs, wild fruits and spring water, relying solely on the Lord to provide. He spent his days in communion with God, devoting himself to prayer, meditation and physical mortification. Somehow, he was still found by those who sought him and continued to work miracles for the people through his devotion and suffering. For example, from his prayers, the spouse of a nearby king successfully delivered a healthy child following a difficult labour. In deep gratitude, the king bestowed upon Saint Leonard the part of the forest in which he lived, allowing him to do with it as he would. Leonard built a beautiful oratory to the Our Blessed Mother, and was soon joined by two disciples.

With a more prominent building, Leonard was easier to find and the sick increased in numbers, seeking healing. Similarly, word of Saint Leonard’s charity toward those in prison spread and following prayers for his intercession, prisoners reported witnessing their chains break before their eyes. These prisoners would then travel in pilgrimage and thanksgiving to Saint Leonard, dragging their heavy chains and offering them in homage. Soon, a large collection of chains and leg irons could be found at the oratory! Saint Leonard treated each of these freed prisoners with respect and dignity, offering those who wished a tract of land in the forest on which to begin anew. Many remained, transforming their lives into honest work, serving the oratory and the poor of the region and coming to Christ through the work of Saint Leonard. Eventually, a monastery was constructed, attracting an even greater number of disciples.

He fell ill while traveling and as the end of his time on earth grew near, he miraculously had himself transported back to the Oratory of Our Lady, where he died. Numerous miracles of healing and freedom continued to occurand he remains a popular saint of intercession throughout France and Europe. After his death, churches and monasteries were widely dedicated to him throughout Europe, including in France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and many other countries. Pilgrims continued to travel long distances to his tomb and over 4,000 miraculous favours have been recorded at his intercession.

(via Saint of the Day – St Leonard of Noblac (c496-559) – AnaStpaul)

#stleonardofnoblac #november6stleonardofnoblac #catholic #catholicism

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sophienetter · 6 years ago

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PLAYING NOW #15

VOLUME 15: What i’m listening to and loving right now…

Listen on → Spotify Listen on → Apple Music Come On To Me // Paul McCartney Humility (feat. George Benson) // Gorillaz Fast Slow Disco // St. Vincent The Rover // Interpol PARAD(w/m) E (Rostam Remix) // Sylvan Esso Head Full of Steam // The Go-Betweens Lips Like Sugar // Echo & The Bunnymen Plage // Crystal Fighters Brick of Coconuts // Jacuzzi Boys Hello Can You Go // WOOZE Berlin Lovers // Still Corners You’re Not Wrong // Wet Gypsy Eyes // The Jimi Hendrix Experience You On My Mind in My Sleep // Richard Ashcroft Alison // Slowdive Someone Else’s Heart // Elvis Costello Bird On a Wire // Leonard Cohen A Perfect Miracle // Spiritualized For What It’s Worth // Buffalo Springfield Love Plus One // Haircut 100 I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass // Nick Lowe Into Black // Blouse Miracle Man // M. Ward I Only Hurt the Ones I Love // Black Honey The Getaway // Ray Davies

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salondeauvillespa · 8 years ago

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DISCOVER THE BEST HAIR SALON IN MONTREAL

New Post has been published on https://www.salondeauville.com/discover-the-best-hair-salon-in-montreal/

DISCOVER THE BEST HAIR SALON IN MONTREAL

More than just a barbershop, a Montreal Spa Haven What makes a truly heavenly experience when you need a haircut or are looking for the best salon in Montreal? What to look for when a new hairstyle is needed? Maybe new hair colour, hair extensions, maybe you just want to try a new hairdresser or change your look? Whether it be for the ladies, or even men’s haircuts, everyone wants a professional service and to feel pampered. TREAT YOURSELF RIGHT Why not try a full-service Montreal salon? That’s right, a beauty salon. The type that specializes in uncovering the most glamourous version of you. The kind of luxurious place where all the sights, sounds, and smells tell you instantaneously that you’ve come to the right place. You don’t want to go to any old corner barber shop or even outdated beauty shop for that special occasion. You want a hair stylist, a true Montreal spa that will take care of your needs from A to Z. WHERE TO FIND THE RIGHT STYLIST So where do you find the best spa in Montreal? Look no further than Salon Deauville, in the heart of St. Leonard. It’s not only the best hair salon in the city, but they’re also experts in massage, makeup, facials, pedicures, eyelash treatments, and a fantastic nail salon. A modern take on the traditional beauty shop that will provide a full-service treatment with any combination of services you desire. They use all the most modern new, clean tools and equipment, and the latest techniques. Each of their haircare professionals are friendly, caring, thorough, attentive, and in touch with the latest hairstyles and fashion trends. They will listen to your needs and wants, take a close look at the current state of your hair and scalp, and diagnose any problem areas or issues. Then come up with the very best solution for a rich, healthy and glamourous new style that brings out the best in you. ANY HAIR TYPE, FOR ANY OCCASION Whether it be long or short, straight or curly, thick or fine, damaged or strong, coloured or natural, with dry or oily scalp … their proud and expertly trained barbers and hairdressers are ready for the challenge. Do you have a Christmas party, wedding, engagement, bridal shower, or job interview coming up? Maybe you want to impress that special someone in your life, or just want to feel fresh, new and invigorated. You might choose to add in 100% natural human hair extensions or darken your hair colour, maybe go straight or wavy for the first time. Formal or casual, for maintenance or for a whole new hairdo, you need to choose the right stylist at the right salon. Don’t have time to visit the salon, and want home hair services? Salon Deauville will come to you! THE LATEST IN COLOUR TECHNOLOGY Need to cover up that bit of grey hair? Afraid to try and colour that black hair or delicate blonde hair on your own? Need an expert opinion and new hair color ideas using new and innovative products? The hair stylists at Salon Deauville will have the answers for you. They can also offer options for short hair styles, long hair styles, updo’s, or free flowing curls. THE BEST HAIRCARE PRODUCTS What’s the only thing better than a one-time expert shampoo, cut and style from a creative professional stylist? The ability to keep your hair looking that way for weeks and months at a time. Everyone wants full, rich, lustrous, manageable hair on a healthy scalp! Everyone wants to keep their locks growing long and strong. So unless you’re born with supernatural genes that don’t require any help, ask about one of Salon Deauville’s high-quality and affordable haircare products to take home. From shampoos to conditioners to gels to hairspray. Whether for vitamin infusion, thickening, styling, or holding. And all the best brands like:

AMERICAN CREW

AVEDA

DAVINES

GOLDWELL

KERASTASE

UNIQ ONE

FULL-SERVICE TREATMENT While you’re there, be sure to ask about the various treatments for your finger nails (they’re also the best nail salon in the city!), pedicures, facials, makeup, eyelashes, massages, spray tanning, and waxing/hair removal. There’s sure to be a service or product that will reveal the true beauty of your inner self … literally from head to toe. If you book in advance, you can benefit from the prices and time savings of a full-service spa day. Why not? Everyone needs the care and proper maintenance once in a while. You deserve it! DON’T TRUST RANDOM “HAIRCUT IN MY AREA” OPTIONS Next time you’re wondering: “Where is the best hair salon near me?” or “Who are the best hairdressers in my area?” Don’t walk into just any unproven hair shop. You never know what you’re going to get! If it’s time for a trim, a full haircut, or even a complete overhaul of your look, there’s only one place in Montreal to visit. For women or for men. Any age. This is the place. When thinking about your next haircare adventure and want only the best, don’t hesitate, call 514-735-4432 or E-mail [email protected] to book an appointment.

#best hair salon #spa

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