#Hudson Homecoming Event

[theunfortunateplace]

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When The Rain Falls ( Avatar Na'vi OC)

Description: After entering a glitchy pod to connect with her avatar Ryla must navigate the ways of the Tayrangi clan it wasn't an easy switch. Being stuck for a whole year she decides to take on the right of passage better known as the Iknimaya.

Say You love Me (Neteyam X Metkayina OC)

description:  follow Luaewe as her world literally gets turned upside down with new na’vi joining her village. Never having to face many obstacles besides finding her way back home. How will she be able to handle the constant jealousy she's faced with and an unwanted love triangle.

one-shots

Neteyam

Lo'ak

Jake

Tonowari

Jake & Tonowari

Tsu'tey

Supernatural

Series

One-shots

Dean Winchester

Sam Winchester

Cain

Black Panther

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Homecoming ( Namor X Black OC)

Description: After being away from home for so many years due to school keeping Adella busy she's finally able to go home after her hard work pays off but what she didn't expect was such an eventful homecoming.

To New Beginnings ( Namor X Shuri)

Description: Though Queen Ramonda survived the attack on Wakanda By Namor of Tolokan Shuri still saw this as a sign of disrespect and despite her mother's wishes she carried on and fought with Namor which only left both injured in the end. As a means to try and maintain peace between the two nations, she demands that her daughter fix the matter before it ends in a disaster.

One-shots

Namor

T'challa

M'baku

Original works (Non-Fandom related)

Forbidden Fruit

Description: Once you set eyes on the forbidden fruit it draws you in, and temps you. Puts you through all these battles and wars will it change you for the better or change you for the worse.

Bahlam Feeki

Description: Jamila Barlowe, A young art curator embarks on her journey across the Middle East. Walking into something that was bound to happen sooner or later is this what they call fate or just bad luck only time will tell ..... 

Satans Spectacle Read on AO3

Description: Tabitha Hudson a young 26 years old woman living in new york city after many years of trying to figure out who she was and who was the right company she finally got her feet back on the ground well that was until her coworker asked her to fill in for her shift at 'the blossom'

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.24 (after 1930)

1930 – A bloodless coup d'état in Brazil ends the First Republic, replacing it with the Vargas Era. 1931 – The George Washington Bridge opens to public traffic over the Hudson River. 1944 – World War II: Japan's center force is temporarily repulsed in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. 1945 – The United Nations Charter comes into effect. 1946 – A camera on board the V-2 No. 13 rocket takes the first photograph of earth from outer space. 1947 – Famed animator Walt Disney testifies before the House Un-American Activities Committee, naming Disney employees he believes to be communists. 1949 – The cornerstone of the United Nations Headquarters is laid. 1954 – US President Dwight D. Eisenhower pledges United States support to South Vietnam. 1957 – The United States Air Force starts the X-20 Dyna-Soar crewed space program. 1960 – Nedelin catastrophe: An R-16 ballistic missile explodes on the launch pad at the Soviet Union's Baikonur Cosmodrome space facility, killing over 100 people, including Field Marshal Mitrofan Nedelin. 1963 – An oxygen leak from an R-9 Desna missile at the Baikonur Cosmodrome triggers a fire that kills seven people. 1964 – Northern Rhodesia gains independence from the United Kingdom and becomes Zambia. 1975 – In Iceland, 90% of women take part in a national strike, refusing to work in protest of gender inequality. 1980 – The government of Poland legalizes the Solidarity trade union. 1986 – Nezar Hindawi is sentenced to 45 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down by a British court, for the attempted bombing of an El Al flight at Heathrow Airport. 1990 – Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti reveals to the Italian parliament the existence of Gladio, the Italian NATO force formed in 1956, intended to be activated in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion. 1992 – The Toronto Blue Jays become the first Major League Baseball team based outside the United States to win the World Series. 1998 – Deep Space 1 is launched to explore the asteroid belt and test new spacecraft technologies. 2003 – Concorde makes its last commercial flight. 2004 – Arsenal Football Club loses to Manchester United, ending a row of unbeaten matches at 49 matches, which is the record in the Premier League. 2005 – Hurricane Wilma makes landfall in Florida, resulting in 35 direct and 26 indirect fatalities and causing $20.6B USD in damage. 2007 – Chang'e 1, the first satellite in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, is launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. 2008 – "Bloody Friday" saw many of the world's stock exchanges experience the worst declines in their history, with drops of around 10% in most indices. 2014 – The China National Space Administration launches an experimental lunar mission, Chang'e 5-T1, which will loop behind the Moon and return to Earth. 2015 – A driver crashes into the Oklahoma State Homecoming parade, killing four people and injuring 34. 2016 – A French surveillance aircraft flying to Libya crashes on takeoff in Malta, killing all five people on board.

[bradyoil]

Writer, Director, Producer Tamika Miller Scores Big With Her Feature Film "Honor Student".

Filmmaker Tamika Miller is an episodic, award-winning commercial and film director/writer.  She's directed the NBC television drama QUANTUM LEAP, THE EQUALIZER for CBS and STATION 19 for ABC/Shondaland. We chat about her indie feature HONOR STUDENT, a thriller starring Emmy-Nominated actress Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid's Tale) and actor Hudson Yang (Fresh Off the Boat).

My wife and I loved "Honor Student" at the Pan African Film Festival and Tamika has been tearing up the festvial ciurcuit ever since. This chat is a masterclass on making your indie film by serving the storytelling with creativity and craft. Watch the trailer here.

45 minutes in, we chat about diversity, all the initiatives and their worth. It's eye opening and love Tamika's candor and perspective.

She is currently in pre-production for her much-anticipated feature film UNDERCARD, starring actress/comedienne Wanda Sykes in her first dramatic role. On the commercial front, SHOOT Magazine chose Tamika as a 'Director to Watch,' and presented her work at the Directors Guild of America in New York. 

EVENTS & COURSES

YIKES!! ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!! So excited for our Second Annual Filmmaker Retreat in Joshua Tree. Join us Sept. 28th to Oct. 1st in the desert for a transformational experience. "Define Your Voice is our theme and you'll emerge knowing what you want and how better to achieve it.

Check out my Masterclass or Commercial Directing Shadow online courses. (Note this link to the Shadow course is the one I mention in the show.) All my courses come with a free 1:1 mentorship call with yours truly. Taking the Shadow course is the only way to win a chance to shadow me on a real shoot! DM for details.

How To Pitch Ad Agencies and Director’s Treatments Unmasked are now bundled together with a free filmmaker consultation call, just like my other courses. Serious about making spots? The Commercial Director Mega Bundle for serious one-on-one mentoring and career growth.

  Jeannette Godoy’s hilarious romcom “Diamond In The Rough” streams on the Amazon Prime! Please support my wife filmmaker Jeannette Godoy’s romcom debut. It’s “Mean Girls” meets “Happy Gilmore” and crowds love it. Here’s the trailer.

  Thanks,

  Jordan 

  This episode is 54 minutes.

  My cult classic mockumentary, “Dill Scallion” is online so I’m giving 100% of the money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I’ve decided to donate the LIFETIME earnings every December, so the the donation will grow and grow. Thank you.

  Respect The Process podcast is brought to you by True Gentleman Industries, Inc. in partnership with Brady Oil Entertainment, Inc. 

Check out this episode!

[caterinaprimrose]

The Visuals (Lots of gifs)

Hudson Homecoming Party

June 19th, 5pm SVT, Gadgetzan, Tanaris 

(We had to change the location due to phasing! Tell your friends!)

Under the starry night of the desert, people come far and wide  from all walks of life to celebrate in the return of Braxton Hudson. Businessmen, Magistrates, Nobles, Celebrities, Gangsters, Crime Lords, Military officials, Politicians, Shop owners, Madams, Whores, Artists, Directors, Models, Actresses, Bards, Heiresses, Commoners, Street Rats, Drug dealers all came in their best and shiniest attire show their faces at the extravagant celebration. 

Large rounded spotlights swarm the skies like an out of control lighthouse, flashing pinks, purples, golds, and blues. It signaled like a warm beacon for people to join the night. Machines threw fireworks  and confetti up into the skies, layering atop the diamonds that shimmered the dark, blanketing sky. The sand was trashed with confetti pieces in the soft, cool sand.

One would call this less than a party and more of a carnival. Tigers in golden and jeweled collars and cuffs frame their legs. Their beautiful bright orange and deep black stripes catching attention. 

Beautiful women are dressed in cabaret, massive feathers sprout out from their head pieces, held by their arm. They dance in and out of cages, fluttering their assets and swinging, strung from the beams rolled in and used as rafters to support their weight as they trapeze from aerial fabric silk and hoops through the rain of confetti. 

Entertainers are spread all around.

Side by side are the concessions. The alcohol was of all variety, served by @jakefletcher . (He will have a menu in his TRP) 

His partner in the evening, bringing food, is none other than @mremaknu (Menu on his tumblr) to keep your bellies full to even out all of that alcohol!

For your personal safety and directing needs, Hudson Suits are in their usual attire and scattered all across the party to assist and ensure that no one is hurt in all of the organized chaos that is The Party of the Century! 

With substances being sold, as well as underhandedly passed around, your bodies are sure to have a grand time in this night of no restraint! 

But it doesn’t stop there! 

Throughout the night, you can indulge yourself in watching the brawls, 

Gambling!

Raffles, Betting! 

Watch a performance done by the beautiful Caterina Primrose!

And lose yourself to the night!

Tags below

@the-royal-courier @breakfast-inquiry @stonewater-bay-traders @braxtonhudson @susan-gampre @sistersolis @desmondslade @sistersinsin @zouriankraft @lakryss-sparrow @nikkithorpe @the-cleaner-wra @wardennerd @sikonaluvs @thedragonlorenews @wowrpevents @risrielthron @everythingisbetterwithpirates @edwinxerathi @dylibird @housestygian @houseofnobles-wra @house-morningstar @venreenaholt @cedrickholtstories @thecyanbladesman @warlordofruination @anthony-rosethourne @theodorebennas @adhelin @light-finds-a-way @thaylynnkestavin @conwulf @house-blackfyre-wra @theodorebennas @auroryn-dawnsworn @feathers-of-a-dove @kaideholt @harboson-c @ladysaraholt @ardanholt @dechlan-holt @rinohaholt @thalsianiii @cyprisnightingale @atc-wra @housekingsley @silkroad-wra @rementhil @theblackforge @areiusironborne @warlund-blackfyre @levvnightfall @ironstoutbrews @bath-ironstout @ironforgecraftfest @monishadangelo @fenril @iamnorthrend @minandra @vinsketchbook @zeronexfenris @galanordai-nightwind @eve-schofield @gilnean-wolves @svenrilstuff @gaveshillvack @brockdavenport @piercetheliving @viceofalltrades @poncystufftolookit @the-great-wise-moose

 @kelladen @blackenedhelm @aly-g-on-wyrmrest @easteye @kaidenblackwell @wayward-rogue @swiftsun-bal @i-am-miller @olivia-daae @olivia-lovecraft @olliehaldstan @geraldcreed @james-daweson @ryderflynn @unabashedrebel @thecyanbladesman @xianxiao-wra @recke-stoutmantle @stormbornwitch @stormwinduniv @heartoftheravenwra @embersong-event-co @shaureyne @the-wolfs-raven @wyrmrestwitch @jakefletcher @mremaknu @galfouhdiamond-eye @intoxication-wra @spirit-of-azeroth @joulienblackwald @chetchetchetchet @mustardbee @coldwall-collective @lady-songheart @voided-arrows @tirasiantrouper @gwenya @zelmanbelmaria @quellys @the-sirens-serenade @eldricceverton @eldrivh-allen @william-rothsford @penvenomstarkstar @marghettispaghetti @warlock-rogue @knightofthehawks @wiedaashcroft @summysparklesprocket @vinarei @raven-lockfall @ellwelune @candi-wra @wrynns-wolves @lorraine-lemieux @jazzystormwindlady @penni-gilpatrick @karoubelcourt @gangstercoyote

[maebarfield-blog]

Home Coming Attire

Mae might not be going, but a certain someone is and her attire is, lovely. 

[youngbugandtonystank]

Hey ;) I know I'm going to sound too demanding but can you do a specific homecoming timeline of irondad events? The dates when things happened and how they happened? If you don't want to do it that's okay! Thank you so much for everything and I love you blog!

Sure, why not♥

Let’s make an irondad timeline from the beginning to Infinity War. Since the events after IW don’t exist for me, that’s where I’ll end the timeline :D

Chronologically;

-2008-

On August 20th, Toomes’ crew is formed as they start salvaging items to sell from wreckages and then they turn to the illegal black market in 2012. No one interferes with their business until Peter Parker does in 2016.

On November 25th, Tony Stark (age: 38) admits to the world he’s Iron Man. 7-year-old Peter Parker watches the news while (as stated by director Jon Watts) ‘eating a big bowl of cereal'.

-2010-

On May 7th, the opening day of the Stark Expo, 9-year-old Peter Parker waits in line to get an autograph from his hero; Tony Stark (age: 42). Tony gives him the autograph.

On May 31st, Justin Hammer’s Stark Expo presentation is hijacked by Ivan Vanko. 9-year-old Peter Parker (with an Iron Man mask and fake gauntlets) tries to ‘help’ by standing up to a big drone-robot. Tony saves his life and congratulates him for his bravery. 

-2015-

Before June 2015 Tony was investigating Peter not for his powers, but because his intellect got his attention (this is only my speculation, I could be wrong) ‘Stark Industries announces new scholarships for promising students from urban city schools’ (June 2015). Peter said he’s had his powers for 6 months in Civil War (2016), meaning he got them in November/December, 2015. So the reason Tony could’ve been giving those scholarships in the first place, as speculated by many, may be because he was impressed with the kid’s intellect first (and then obviously found out he had powers) rather than his powers. Remember Tony deemed Peter worthy of going to MIT. 

This also means Tony’s been waiting to meet Peter for about a year. 

-2016-

On May 3rd, Peter stops a car from crashing into a bus before going to school. Tony keeps track of all of his activities. The same video Tony had on his phone (which he took from YouTube lmao):

Tony officially meets Peter Parker on May 23rd. Peter was 14 and Tony was 46. Tony’s birthday is on May 29, 1970 and Peter’s on August 10th, 2001. 

On May 24th Peter arrives in Germany and the events of the airport battle unfold. Same day, while Tony goes to help Steve and Bucky in Siberia, Peter sneaks out from his hotel in Berlin to join a party in his Spider-Man suit.

On May 25th, after spending Friday and Saturday in Germany, Peter flies home with Tony. First in Tony’s jet where Peter asks for food and he’s given crackers, fish eggs and juice (lmao) and then they drive him home in his car in the early hours of the morning.

This is where the convo and ‘not-hug’ happens:

On May 26th, Peter is talking with May about the ‘field-trip’ and tries to cover up his identity by telling May he got into another fight (as referenced before in the novels, Peter gets into fights in school to protect Ned from bullies) and Tony helps Rhodey with his physical therapy (while Vision starts his escapes with Wanda):

On August 10th, Peter quits school band a few weeks before term starts (he sends Happy a text about this, telling him that he has more time for crime fighting and that he made a pretty big sacrifice there lmao). It is also his birthday. Tony listens and reads all of Peter’s messages thanks to Happy.

On September 1st, Peter returns to school after his summer holidays meaning the beginning of his sophomore year. He also texts Happy telling him he’s ready for his next mission and informing him that school ends at 2:45 PM. Tony sells the Avengers Tower and relocates fully to the New Avengers Facility in upstate New York.

On September 8th-9th, Tony flies to India to go to a Hindu temple. He did it to center myself, as a form of therapy. 

On September 9th, they see each other again when Peter goes to Liz’s party but gets distracted by Toomes’ crew. Peter fights them and falls into the Hudson River. Tony saves him. Tony tells Peter to let other people handle Toomes and to stay close to the ground. 

On September 13th, Peter decides to attend the decathlon team competition to go to Washington, D.C. As Peter is being monitored all the time by Tony, Happy calls him to ask why he’s leaving New York and then he lets him off. Peter removes the tracker lmao

On September 14th, Peter saves his friends from the Washington Monument incident. He appears on Fox news:

On September 19th-20th, Peter is given detention but he sneaks out lmao (rebel son). The next day Peter also skips school to find Toomes and his crew. Tony calls Peter to congratulate him for the Washington heroic act. 

Peter goes on his own to fight Toomes’ crew. The ferry splits in half. Tony arrives and saves Peter and everyone else. Tony gives Peter the disappointed dad talk and takes the suit. He also buys Peter a Hello Kitty pajama set and takes him home. 

Peter cries to May and tells her he wanted Tony to see his potential. He feels like he lost the Stark ‘Internship’ (his dad-son relationship with tony lmao).

On September 21st, Peter is all over again given detention and reluctantly resolves to not try to be Spider-Man for the time being.  

On September 23rd, it’s Homecoming and moving (Avengers stuff to the new facility) day. Peter defeates Toomes and recovers the Avengers and Stark weaponry/equipment. He leaves a note for Happy to find. 

On September 26th, Peter gets a text from Happy, telling him to meet him at his school’s bathroom. He tells him Tony wants to see him at the New Avengers Facility. When Parker arrives at the upstate facility, Stark greets him and praises him for his work. 

Tony offers Peter an apartment at the facility. He also organized along with Pepper a room of press so Tony can step out and announce him as the newest member of the Avengers. Peter turns down the offer impressing his dad mentor. Tony and Pepper announce their engagement while Happy drives Peter home.

On September 27th, returning from school, Peter discovers that Tony gave him the suit back with a note saying the suit belongs to him. May finds out Peter’s secret. 

After September, 2016 Peter is given a real internship at Stark Industries where he works and learns from Tony Stark himself.

Tony frames the picture.

- 2017-

Somewhere between this year, Peter updates the Stark-made web-shooters Tony made for him and learns how to manage Tony’s technology at the official Stark Internship. 

Tony Stark along with Peter Parker create the organization Worldwide Engineering Brigade (or WEB headquarters). An organization where bright innovators and the world’s brightest young minds like Peter Parker invent new technologies and equip everyday people to become superheroes. 

Tony Stark designs different types of Spider-man suits for Peter.

They also did missions together as hinted in the movies several times. In FFH, reporters and people around the world saw Spider-man as the ‘next Tony Stark’ and the ‘next Iron Man’, and asked him questions that hinted the same; 

Sean: Sean Wilford, Queens Tribune. What is it like to take over from Tony Stark? Those are some big shoes to fill.

Woman: Are you the head Avenger? Are you the head Avenger now?

Fury: Stark chose you.

Peter: Tony did a lot for me, so... I owe it to him, to everybody.

Also, the coordination and the different dynamic demonstrated in Infinity War tells us that much.

-2018-

On May 30th, Pepper Potts and Tony Stark are out running in New York City and discuss their upcoming wedding. Tony starts dreaming and wanting a kid on his own thanks to his relationship with his son Peter Parker while Peter is in a bus ready to go to his field-trip to MoMa. 

And then nothing happens :D everything’s ok. 

I hope this is helpful for you guys. BTW, look:

Almost 20k fanfics for a platonic relationship. I feel really proud yall ♥

[the-real-tc]

Fic UPDATE! Wide River to Cross:  Chapter 22

A.N.: So close. We're so close now, dear readers. Thanks for sticking with me this far; not much longer now. I promise. As you'll see from the events in this chapter, it will be impossible to prolong the agony. (Who remembers the actual agony while watching Season 7, wondering what had happened between Jack and Lisa? I remember that agony...) All that aside, the good part about how long this story has taken me is that plot lines that have occurred down the line can be worked in, and they can make some semblance of sense. I hope. Anyway, here's the latest chapter.

Chapter 22

Homecoming

In the darkness of night, the tree-lined drive seemed eerily foreign to Lisa as the town car bore both her and Rachel to their familial estate. Though it was a view she had seen thousands of times in her life, this particular return to Fairfield granted her no trace of comfort or sense of homecoming. It was bordering on close to ten months that she had been absent—one of the longest spells she had been away since her past marriage to Dan and subsequent move to the USA.

Lisa could not help but recall other lengthy absences from Fairfield, particularly in her adolescence when she had attended boarding school in France with Rachel. While she had enjoyed those times away—thanks to her love of French culture and many outings with her doting Aunt Evelyn—the inevitable homesickness was alleviated only upon return. Now, she felt like a stranger returning to a strange place, creeping in like some interloper.

Like a thief in the night, she thought to herself wryly, fighting the encroaching discomposure without much success.

"We're here, Rach," Lisa whispered, giving her younger sibling a gentle nudge.

"Huh? Oh, thanks," Rachel mumbled sleepily. "I didn't realise I nodded off."

She smiled slightly, watching as Rachel rubbed bleary eyes before finishing off with a long yawn. Rachel had endured only one flight; Lisa had needed three to return to Alberta. Exhaustion was indeed beginning to overwhelm her, but there was a nervous tension buzzing through her veins, keeping her on an unusual level of alertness. Now that she was back in Hudson, the mere thought of being in the same town as Jack—and potentially encountering him anywhere—set her mind spinning. How would such a meeting play out? What words could pass her lips to express to him all that was in her heart? What words, if any, would he have to say to her?

Security lights illuminated the exteriors of the stables, dispelling the shadows. Night checks would have already been completed by this hour. All was quiet now, though Lisa knew Harry Wilkes would probably still be up in his office, burning the midnight oil while waiting for their arrival.

Good ol' Harry, Lisa thought with affection. He had been such a constant presence in her life since she was a little girl, working his way up from the very bottom as a stable hand to head groomsman. Matthew Stillman had come to trust the man with just about everything, and Lisa had done the same. Harry was dedicated to the care of the horses in a way that went beyond what was expected of a mere hired hand. Anyone else would have retired from the position by now, but Harry was still logging the same hours as he had during the past forty-five years as a Fairfield employee. He had been there through the lean years and through the successful ones.

Without her realising it, a long pout pulled at Lisa's face as the car pulled to a stop in front of the sprawling ranch house. She knew Harry was not thrilled with the idea of her selling Fairfield, even though he was guaranteed a handsome severance package. The rest of the staff might be keen on staying on with new owners; Harry would not—Lisa was certain of that.

"Why the long face?" Rachel asked, looking over at her. "Something wrong?"

"Hmm?" Lisa shook herself. "Oh, no. It's just that... I-I don't think Harry is pleased with my decision to sell, that's all."

"So Harry's still working here, eh?" Rachel said, lips quirking into a lop-sided smile. "Dad really lucked out when he hired him. He's been here since before I was even born. Good ol' Harry."

"I honestly don't think I could have managed without him when Dad got sick," Lisa mused out loud.

Sure enough, the door to the Fairfield business offices opened to reveal the man in question, silhouetted against the interior lights. He waved jauntily at them, and Lisa intuited he was intent on helping them unload their luggage.

"C'mon," she said to Rachel as she opened her door. "Let's get out before he gets the idea we're going to let him carry everything into the house. He's been up all night waiting; he's got to be tired after working all day."

"Right," Rachel said in agreement, though she was staving off another yawn of exhaustion.

"Ah, the two prettiest girls in Hudson have made their triumphant return," Harry greeted them affectionately; paternally.

"Oh, Harry," Lisa said with a chagrined laugh, "I don't know about 'triumphant', and after travelling all day, we look like something the cat dragged in."

"Ha! Speak for yourself, sis," Rachel interjected merrily. "Harry, flattery gets you everywhere. It's good to see you."

"Likewise, Rachel."

The three gathered for a warm group hug. As Lisa guessed moments earlier, the next words out of Harry's mouth were an offer to bring their luggage inside.

"No, no, you take it easy Harry," Lisa quickly stated. "You've had a long day, too. Rachel and I can manage just fine."

"Nonsense," Harry said, reaching for the largest of the pieces the chauffeur had just deposited from the trunk. "Your father would be horrified if he saw me standing by idly while you two dragged all this stuff by yourselves."

"Chivalry isn't dead in Hudson, I see," Rachel quipped, following the older man with her carry-on and a smaller suitcase.

"Thanks, Harry," Lisa said after everything was sitting in the spacious foyer.

"Happy to do it, Lisa," Harry said. "Welcome home."

"Yeah... for however long that's going to be," Lisa sighed.

"It's going to be hard seeing this place go," Harry uttered with a wistful air. "Fairfield has been a big part of Hudson ever since you made it the success it's become, Lisa. This town won't be the same without it—or you."

Not unkindly, Lisa asked: "Is this your way of trying to talk me out of selling?"

Harry shrugged. "Maybe. I know an old fella like me who's on his way to retirement can't interfere with the business decisions of his boss, but you know this place has always been more than just a 'job' for me."

"I know," Lisa said warmly, reaching out to touch his arm in a show of understanding. "And I thank you for everything you've done from the day my father hired you to this present time."

"You're welcome," he said, placing a hand over hers for a few moments. "I should be on my way. See you in the morning."

"Of course."

Harry turned to make his exit, but hesitated on the threshold. "There is something..."

Lisa waited expectantly. "What is it?" she asked when he did not continue.

"Hmmph. Nah, it can wait 'til tomorrow," he muttered. "Goodnight, ladies."

"'Bye," Rachel said, trying to suppress another yawn.

"Goodnight, Harry," Lisa said, closing the door behind him, slightly perturbed by the man's cryptic parting words. Whatever it was, she would learn of it the next day.

As cranky as Jack was at the notion of having the woolly creatures on his land, Georgie's 4H Club project meant sheep at Heartland was good for something. At least the kid could learn about the rearing of an animal she could handle. Lambs weren't liable to trample you, gore you, buck you off, or kick you in the head. It was decidedly not fun chasing down the specific lamb Georgie and Olivia wanted, especially since they could not agree on which one was the best one for their needs. Jack half-suspected they were changing their fickle minds on purpose, just for the spectacle of his sprawling about in the grass and weeds, grabbing at this lamb or that lamb.

It should have been Tim's job seeing after the sheep, but he picked that very week to head to Moose Jaw to visit with his son, Shane, so they could spend Thanksgiving together. Why was it his ex-son-in-law continued to be such an irritant and an imposition in his life? If not for Lou and Amy, the man would never again have darkened the door at Heartland.

After Georgie and Olivia finally settled on a lamb and Jack successfully secured it, he decided a little break was necessary. It was no use getting worked up over the flock again; also, the girls did not need his grumpy mood to ruin things for them. It was trial enough for Georgie to be partnered with Olivia, he knew, so he did his best to keep his cool while in their company.

Once inside the kitchen, he brewed a cup of tea and eased into a chair in the living room—the kitchen having been taken over by Peter and his laptop. The man really needed office space of some kind while he was here, Jack mused.

Why Tim felt the need to saddle his son-in-law with the nickname "The General" was beyond Jack, but then again, Tim knew exactly how to push other people's buttons. The recent fiasco involving Tricia and her near-delinquent daughter, Jade, at the fishing cabin was a fine example of that.

Jack sipped at his tea, trying to resolve in his mind yet again why Tim possessed such an unbridled sense of entitlement. He lacked what Jack's grandmother would have called social graces. His unsolicited comments could be tactless. The frustrating thing was that such comments were often uncomfortable truths no one else wanted to face or accept.

When Tim had first asked how the Arizona trip had been, Jack recalled initially telling him to mind his own business. Tim, ignoring Jack's desire for privacy had asked, point-blank:

"You missed Lisa, didn't you?"

"Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?!" Jack had retorted. "I had a swell time."

"You're not fooling me, old man. What did you do with yourself down there the whole time? You couldn't have been having that much of a 'swell time' because you cut it short and came home a week early!"

"I did happen to have some good times, thank you very much!"

"Yeah? Doing what?" Tim had challenged.

"Saddleback trip. Lookin' at real estate. Meeting nice people. Camping and fishing."

"Meeting nice people and fishing, eh? Catch anything good down there in Arizona?" Tim asked suggestively.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I hooked a very nice catfish."

"Oooh! A catfish!" Tim had crooned, pretending to be impressed. "How big was it?"

Knowing he would not be able to lie any further, Jack had groaned in annoyance and decided it was time to cease this line of questioning. "Dunno," he had sullenly replied. "It pulled free from the hook before I could reel it in. The sun was going down by then. I quit trying after that."

"Ha!" Tim had laughed triumphantly. "Dinner out of a can that night, right?"

Jack grit his teeth. "No, I forgot to bring a can opener. Are you done, now?"

"You 'forgot' to bring a can opener?" Tim crowed in derision. "So why didn't you just use your knife to open the can, or did you forget to bring a knife, too?"

"Oh, would you just shut up already!"

Jack stalked off and was thus out of earshot when a gleeful, self-righteous Tim muttered, "Ohhh, he totally missed Lisa."

It was already after 10:00 a.m. when Lisa awoke on Saturday morning. The inevitable jet-lag felt especially pronounced this time around, and she groaned when she realised the lateness of the hour. She so wanted to soak up a few more hours of sleep, but knew work was waiting. There was the matter Harry mentioned the night before which she wanted to get to the bottom of, but the first order of business absolutely had to be contacting the real estate agent.

After a quick shower, she shared a hurried breakfast with Rachel. Her sister was still drowsy and not much in the mood to talk while they ate. When Rachel drifted back to bed for a nap, Lisa finally got on the phone to the realtor, glad they were indeed open that day despite it being a holiday long weekend. After all those months in France of dithering on this, it felt almost anti-climactic the sale would finally be happening. The deed is done, Lisa thought after hanging up. She was not sure what emotions she was experiencing now that Fairfield would officially be on the market.

Ruefully, she thought, I really should call Dan and tell him the 'good' news. In all truth, her ex-husband was the last person she wanted to speak to after all their less-than-pleasant email correspondences over the past several months. I wonder what Jack would think if I called him and told him I was back in Hudson? Lisa stopped herself cold. Where did that thought come from?! I would have to explain to him that I'm finally selling the old place and moving to France for good, wouldn't I? I'd have to come up with some excuse as to why I didn't even tell him I was coming back.

She stood from behind her desk and decided it was time to check in on Harry, brushing aside any further thoughts of both of her exes.

"Ah, Lisa! Good morning," Harry greeted Lisa brightly when she knocked on the business office door.

"Good morning, Harry. I just got off the phone with the real estate people. Someone's going to be by later this week to properly assess the property and get some signs posted and such."

"Of course," he said with a nod of understanding.

"Harry, about that thing you mentioned last night..."

"Oh, yes. That," Harry said, lowering his voice.

Lisa caught his tone, and interpreted he was about to tell her something she would not particularly enjoy hearing. "Well, what is it?"

"It's Dan," Harry said in a manner that spoke volumes of disapproval.

"Dan? What's he done now?" Lisa asked guardedly.

"You'd better follow me," Harry said, rising from his seat.

He led Lisa out to the stables where they stopped in front of Fairfield Flyer's stall. The champion racer seemed strong and healthy, and Lisa looked at her head groomsman, awaiting an explanation.

"Dan and some of his people and vets have been here to see Flyer and Rhapsody quite a few times while you were gone," Harry started. "Since you have joint ownership, of course I couldn't stop him."

"Stop him from doing what?" Lisa asked, instantly on edge. Rhapsody was one of her broodmares.

"From getting all kinds of lab work done—and cell samples taken from Flyer."

"Cell samples..." Lisa mused out loud.

Harry continued. "Rhapsody is already nine months pregnant. You had no idea, did you?" he asked warily as he studied her reaction. "Don't answer that. Your expression tells me all I need to know."

Lisa felt her cheeks flush. "I always did have a lousy poker face," she grumbled.

"Ah, I should have known he didn't tell you, but you know I'm not the type to interfere," a contrite Harry said. "And given the nature of what he was doing, I wasn't sure if you were both keeping it a secret, or what. Sorry, Lisa."

"Don't apologize; this isn't remotely your fault. It seems I have a call to make to my 'business partner'. Thanks, Harry."

She strode out of the stables, absolutely steaming, trying to decide how best to have this conversation with Dan. Cell samples? That could only mean one thing, Lisa concluded, coupled with Dan's recent talk about getting into horse cloning. He was trying to warm me up to the idea, she now realised.

"Where do you get off cloning Fairfield Flyer without even consulting with me first?!" Lisa exploded when she had Dan on the line.

"Now hold on just a minute, Lisa—" Dan tried to interrupt.

"No, you hold on; I'm not finished," Lisa hissed through clenched teeth. "Harry told me you've been out to Fairfield to see Flyer and Rhapsody. This is the real reason you've been so demanding about the finances, isn't it? You weren't concerned about the Avignon facility—you were paying to have Flyer cloned. How many other horses did you have lined up for the procedure?"

From Dan's silence, Lisa knew she had hit the nail on the head.

"When were you going to tell me?" Lisa fumed. "When were you going to tell me the Avignon deal was all a sham and that you were really using my investment funds to clone Flyer and God knows how many others?"

"Okay, simmer down," Dan said, trying to placate her. "Avignon is still a go. But the focus has shifted slightly. It could be the best equine cloning facility in Europe, Lisa. If the clone of Flyer is a success, we're going to take it to Avignon as the poster boy for the procedure in race horses. We'd be one of the first out of the gate doing this. We could make history, Lisa, because the Racing Association is bound to come around once more people get on board."

"Have you lost your mind?" Lisa had to keep herself from shouting. "You go behind my back, and-and then try to tell me you're shifting the focus of the breeding facility we planned in France?"

"All that stuff you learned in that Lexington conference about performance markers is great, Lisa," Dan said, "but that's yesterday's science. Cloning is the future. Do you really want to be left behind?"

Lisa realised she was still too angry to have a rational talk with Dan. "Let's table that question," she finally said. "I just got into Hudson late last night, and I'm too tired to deal with this right now. But make no mistake, Dan, I'm not impressed you went behind my back."

"Fair enough, fair enough," Dan said, sounding almost relieved. "Hang on, did you just say you're back in Hudson?"

Lisa clenched her teeth in irritation. "How else do you think I found out about Flyer?"

"Uhhh—Harry told you, didn't he?"

"Of course Harry told me," snapped Lisa, relishing the discomfort she heard in Dan's voice. He sounded as if he were a guilty schoolboy.

"I see," Dan said in resignation. "Wait, if you're in Hudson, does that mean you've finally put Fairfield on the market?"

"Yes, Dan, you'll be happy to know I took care of that chore before calling you," Lisa replied testily.

"Good! That's great!" Dan exclaimed. "Finally. Look, Lisa, I get you're upset about the cloning thing. You're right; I should have included you in that decision. But Flyer is mine, too. I think in time, you'll see—"

"Ah, but Rhapsody is mine," Lisa cut in. "You're still on shaky ground, Dan. As I said just now, we'll discuss this later. You'll be lucky if I don't decide to involve my lawyer with this one."

She heard his exhalation of discontent, but she frankly did not care. Misappropriation of funds, she thought. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.

"Come on, Lisa. Are you really going to split hairs like that?" he whined. "Aren't we business partners in this whole breeding venture?"

It took all the control she could muster not to slam down the phone. Instead, she took a steadying breath before responding. "That didn't give you the right to use Rhapsody for your cloning experiment without consulting with me first. But what's done is done. Like I said, I'm not in the mood to discuss this right now. Goodbye."

Lisa did not wait to hear Dan respond before she hung up the call.

Rachel, having awakened from her nap, was sitting at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, flipping through an old edition of the Hudson Times. When Lisa wandered in, Rachel glanced up and said, "Uh-oh. I know that look. Something's got you mad."

Lisa groaned. "Ugh. What tipped you off?"

Rachel smirked. "Yeah, see, there's this vein that always pops out on your forehead whenever you blow a gasket," she answered, motioning to her own head.

Grumbling, Lisa swiped a self-conscious hand over her face.

"Hey, it's not like you get mad often, sis," Rachel said, trying to lighten the mood. "It must be something big."

Lisa plopped down wearily across from Rachel. "It's Dan," she began. "He's gone and tried to clone one of my best racers—Fairfield Flyer—without even asking me, first."

"Oh, wow. Is that even legal?" Rachel asked, folding the paper and putting it aside. "I'm not up on my horse cloning ethics."

"It is legal," Lisa said, "but it's damned expensive, comes with a pile of risk factors, and the Racing Association has yet to accept clones in sanctioned races."

"Didn't I read something a couple years ago about clones being accepted for show jumping in the Olympics?" asked Rachel.

Lisa nodded. "Yes. The Fédération Equestre Internationale did announce clones could be entered for equestrian events. I still don't know what Dan was thinking, though. Flyer is a racer, not a jumper, or dressage. It's infuriating. And it's not even about the ethics when it comes to cloning; it's that Dan was hounding me for months to get Fairfield sold so we could get going on an operation out of Avignon."

"Avignon?" repeated Rachel.

"Yes. You know I always wanted to retire to France, eventually."

"Right..."

"Anyway," Lisa continued, "I sold my share of the Dude Ranch back to Lou, and assumed those funds were going towards funding that Avignon operation. Obviously, Dan was funnelling all of it to help make the payments for the cloning procedure." She let out another huff of frustration; Rachel eyed her with pity.

"C'mon, Lisa," Rachel said after several moments of silence. "In the end, a horse is a horse, and we both know you love horses. When Rhapsody foals, you're going to love that clone. So forget Dan, and focus on making sure Rhapsody stays healthy through the rest of the pregnancy."

The words were like a thunderbolt, bringing a much-needed dose of reality. Lisa stared at Rachel for a few moments, speechless. "Are you sure you're the younger sister, here?" she eventually asked with an affectionate smile and shake of her head. "When did you get to be so wise?"

"Oh, I have my moments," Rachel answered airily.

"Well, I hope there's more wisdom where that came from," Lisa said, "because even though you're right about loving it when it arrives, I get the feeling that clone is going to become more like a monkey on my back."

Thanksgiving at Heartland was slightly less crowded than usual owing to the absences of Tim and Lou. Everyone was thankful for Jack's surviving the heart attack and for Amy's health and recovery after her recent scare with Zeus; Georgie was thankful in particular for her new family and for Phoenix.

At Fairfield, the celebration was slightly more subdued. Figuring this to be their final Thanksgiving together before the family farm passed into new hands, the Stillman sisters spent much of that holiday Monday* reminiscing about older, happier times, and some not-so-happy times, too.

"I used to love it when Aunt Evelyn would come to visit from wherever she had last been," Lisa remarked as they sat together in the cozy living room, a roaring fire burning in the hearth.

"Remember her first husband?" Rachel snickered.

"Ah, yes. Uncle Merrill," Lisa said. "With those massive sideburns we always wished he would shave off."

"Where did she meet him, again?"

"Wales, I think," Lisa replied. "But he was from Scotland."

"He claimed he was some Scottish lord, right?" asked Rachel. "I seem to remember that."

Lisa nodded seriously. "He apparently had the bank account to prove it, or so Aunt Evelyn told me."

"Well, she was married to him the longest," Rachel said.

"That's true," Lisa said, taking a sip of cider.

"Until he left her for a newer, younger model," Rachel said.

"And she took him to the cleaners," chortled Lisa. "Then promptly found herself another millionaire boyfriend."

"That one didn't last very long, did it?"

"Oh, a couple years, maybe? Then she had a few other gentlemen friends whose names I forget. Then she married Charles. They met on a cruise ship. Divorced him, too."

"Aunt Evelyn is addicted to men and to money," Rachel said. "And I mean that in the nicest possible way."

"Rachel, there is no nice way to call someone a gold digger," Lisa said, a peal of laughter breaking forth.

"Ha! You said it; not me!"

"All right, Aunt Evelyn may have her... flaws... but she's always been good to us," Lisa said sincerely.

"Yeah... you're right," Rachel said. "Though you're her favourite, you know."

Lisa cocked her head and frowned at her sister, puzzled by this comment. "Naw. She totally spoiled us both. What d'you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing." Rachel waved a hand dismissively. "I just got the feeling like she doted on you a little more. That's all."

"What? Why?"

Rachel stared at her older sister, considering for a few moments how to proceed. She blew out a breath and said, "Okay, remember that horse you had when we were kids? Silver?"

"Yes," Lisa said, thinking of the dapple grey mare she got as a rescue. She put aside her mug, sensing Rachel was about to say something she had been wanting to say for a long time, but never had the chance to get it off her chest.

"I remember when Silver got sick a few years later," Rachel said. "Dad didn't think he could afford to pay for the surgery."

"That's right," Lisa confirmed. "It was colic. Silver was getting old by that point, so Dad didn't think the risk was worth it."

"You know, I didn't even have my own horse at the time, and Aunt Evelyn swooped in and said she'd pay for the surgery," Rachel said, voice tainted with the slightest stain of bitterness. "You were seven when you got Silver. I remember, because I thought somehow that's what I would get when I turned seven, too. Funny, isn't it? We lived on a horse-breeding farm, and I didn't get my own horse until I was ten."

"Rachel, it's a stupid question... did you even really want your own horse?" Lisa asked carefully.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Of course I wanted my own horse," she said. "What little girl living in Hudson didn't 'want' her own horse?"

"I know, but 'wanting' a horse isn't the same as loving that horse when you finally get it, is it?"

Lisa thought back to when Rachel did receive her own horse the Christmas after she turned ten, a gift from Evelyn. In the beginning, the girl had been ecstatic, but the excitement had waned, and the horse was sometimes neglected.

"No, it isn't the same thing," admitted Rachel. "Look, I don't mean to sound petty. At the time, I was jealous; I admit it. When I was younger, I thought Aunt Evelyn paying for Silver's surgery when I didn't even have my own horse meant she loved you more and was ignoring me."

"I'm sorry, Rach," Lisa said sincerely. "I had no idea you felt that way."

"Like I said, I felt that way when I was younger. I thought having a horse would make me happy the way it seemed to make you happy; like it made other girls around town happy," Rachel said. "It wasn't until later I realised I wasn't actually a horse-crazy girl like everyone else."

"No, you were more boy-crazy," Lisa said, a small smile twitching her lips.

"Ohhh, was I ever," Rachel said, throwing back her head and casting her eyes to the ceiling.

"Do you ever regret leaving home when you did?" Lisa queried. "I mean, do you ever wish you had waited until you were a little more settled? Aunt Evelyn was willing to pay for your post-secondary education anywhere in the world like she did for me, you know."

"Yeah, I know. And I keep saying that the timing was probably wrong," Rachel said. "But I always come back to Ben. He's the reason I don't have regrets about that. I love my son more than my own life, Lisa. If I do regret anything is that his childhood probably wasn't as happy as it could have been because of my stupid relationship mistakes."

"Well, from what I can see, he's grown into a fine young man, Rachel," Lisa said, thinking of the rough patch Ben went through during Rachel's train wreck of a divorce. "He's learned some valuable life lessons and he's working hard now to achieve his goals."

"I admit I'm proud of him," Rachel said with a smile. "I'm sorry again for dumping him on you—"

"Oh, stop!" Lisa put up a hand. "We've been over this a hundred times. Even though I could have done a better job when he was here, it made me realise raising a child isn't a cakewalk."

"No, but it is worth it," Rachel said. "I look at Ben, and I think at least I did something right in the world."

"Yeah..." Lisa said softly.

"He did appreciate his time here, Lisa," Rachel said, getting an inkling of where Lisa's thoughts might have carried her at that moment.

"I hope so," Lisa uttered. "Though somehow, I think I acted a little more like Aunt Evelyn: dropping expensive gifts instead of making any meaningful impact on his life that would actually matter."

"I don't see it that way at all," Rachel countered. "You give from the heart, Lisa. You've always been the generous type. And with Fairfield's success came bigger ways to show that generosity. To be honest, I was a bit jealous of your giving nature, too."

"And if I'm going to be honest, I was a bit jealous of you," Lisa said seriously.

"Of me?" Rachel said, clearly shocked. "Whatever for?"

"You left home. Had a child. You... didn't have the weight of responsibility for Fairfield that I had," Lisa admitted. "I have loved building up the business into the success it is today, but I also thought kids would naturally come along when I was married to Dan. When that didn't happen, I thought about you and how easy it seemed for you."

"It wasn't easy at all, especially when Gary walked out on us," stated Rachel emphatically. "And I thought I'd have more kids too, when the ex-who-shall-not-be-named came into the picture and seemed like he'd be a great step-father to Ben. We all know how that turned out."

Lisa bobbed her head slowly, knowing no further words were needed on the subject of the breakup of Rachel's marriage.

At length, Rachel murmured: "I'm glad I came out here one last time. There was a time I couldn't wait to leave; relieved you were the older daughter that Dad would look to for running the business. I don't think I've ever truly appreciated how much of a burden you've shouldered."

"We've both had our burdens and hardships," Lisa said, looking at the glowing embers in the fireplace.

"I mean it, Lisa," Rachel insisted. "Thank you for being there for Dad, and for running Fairfield all these years. It's just a shame he didn't live long enough to see the success it's become."

"A success that's now coming to a close," Lisa said quietly. "When I pick up stakes and move to Avignon, it's going to be a whole new business."

"Nothing wrong with that," Rachel commented. "You haven't heard from Jack. You said it yourself that it's time to make a fresh start."

"I know," Lisa said. "And you're right. But being here in Hudson, well, it's brought back a lot of memories with him. Good memories. It hurts to finally realise that there won't be any more of those."

"Well, who knows? Maybe you'll meet a fine French gentleman in Avignon," Rachel said with a mirthful chuckle.

"Oh, no! The last thing I need is to turn into Aunt Evelyn," Lisa scoffed, chagrined at her sister's comment. Her thoughts suddenly took her to Toulon and the foul experience she had with Alphonse. It struck her his marriage to the young Audrey had come and gone that spring, and their baby was probably due any time. I sure dodged a bullet with that one, she decided, even if my "friends" thought we would make a good match.

"You could never be like Aunt Evelyn," Rachel said. "You're not a gold-digger, and the money you've made came through hard work. And the money doesn't really matter to you, either, does it?"

"I won't lie," Lisa replied. "The money matters, because I got to do things and go places I always dreamed of doing and seeing when I was a kid. But what's money if you don't have people you love to share it with?"

Rachel looked at her sister with sympathy. "You really did love him, didn't you?"

Lisa returned Rachel's glance. "With every fiber of my being. My whole world stopped when Lou told me about his heart attack. Nothing mattered after nearly losing him like that. I just wish I had the chance to tell him so."

"Look, it's not my place to tell you what to do or what not to do, Lis," Rachel said. "But you're here in Hudson now, and he's here. This could be your last chance to tell him."

A slight shiver ran down Lisa's spine at the notion of facing Jack and baring her heart as she had tried so many months ago, when she made the horrible mistake of renting the hospital bed for him. "I already squandered that 'last chance', Rach," Lisa said sadly. "It'll take a miracle to convince Jack to see me again. I blew it, and now I'm paying the price."

Thanksgiving dishes were washed and put away; night checks on the horses were finished; everyone was tucked away in bed. Jack, however, lingered by himself in the living room before the fire, sipping on a hot toddy. There was indeed much to be thankful for, he knew, particularly when it came to his own life. There's much to regret, too, he thought, watching as the flames licked at the seasoned logs. While life moved on, his heart still pined for her. He was still stuck in a place of uncertainty and inaction; of wanting to reach out and of pulling back again. It's been ten months. Lisa has moved on, surely. It would be wrong of me to call her now, after all that's gone on between us, and mess up whatever it is she has going. I should be thankful we had whatever it is we had and let her go. With that, Jack pulled himself up from the couch, doused the fire, and crept into his bedroom. As he closed his eyes, his last thought before falling asleep was that given his angry parting words with Lisa, spoken in the heat of the moment, he was undeserving of a second chance with her. Nothing will ever bring us back together; that's a bridge too far.

*To my non-Canadian readers: Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the 2nd Monday of October.

Chapter 23: Chance Encounter

[fericita-s]

Beginning After The End (Part 4)

Part 1   Part 2  Part 3

This concludes this story about Thea and Hubert falling in love after the deaths of Elias, Agnarr, and Iduna. Thank you @the-spaztic-fantastic​ for being the best beta ever and saying “YES MORE” when I said I wanted to think about these two and their lives after the events of WAIL. And for her many contributions including the idea of getting Henrik back with these two for some shenanigans and many of the gift ideas. Thea deserves good things!

Elias had shaved every day at home, lathering up with a soap with a distinct scent that Thea had come to associate with him.  She missed the smell of it.  He came home from expeditions with a beard that was coarse and full.  Its roughness against her face when they kissed hello was part of the homecoming ritual, as was watching him trim and then shave it off, the time spent apart measured in how long it was.  She would cup his smooth cheek with her hand and say “There you are!” when he finished and then together they began their favorite part of his homecoming. 

Hubert kept his beard short.  This was becoming a greater challenge now that the white hairs in it were growing faster than the brown.  He would turn to Thea from his dressing table with the mirror propped up and the scissors in his hand, exasperated and possibly wistful and say “Why are the old-man hairs the ones most intent on announcing their presence?” 

She found the best way to assuage this particular fear was to kiss him on the lips while her hands scratched at his bearded cheeks. “I like it.  It makes you look distinguished.  Very reliable for knowing the best way to introduce ice cars to the national railway.” Often the scissors would be abandoned as his hand found places to caress that elicited less verbal sounds of satisfaction from her.

***

Elias had presented her with gifts throughout their courtship and marriage through the imports his family was so involved in.  He paid attention to the latest fashions that his mother and Linnea followed closely and seemed to always be giving her a new bonnet or pair of gloves or piece of jewelry or box of books.  He bought her paints and pigments for her artwork and she exclaimed over the expense, grateful he knew how important it was to her.  She hadn’t packed any of those gifts in the trunks that came to Antwerp, though she had tucked her wedding ring into a pair of woolen socks, unwilling to part from it completely and yet wanting to try living without its constant presence on her hand.

Hubert was similarly generous with gifts.  For their first Christmas together, he had given all of the children their own horses and when Thea gently pointed out that perhaps the twins and Elias were too young for a horse, he bought them ponies as well.  Vadik had also received a pocket watch that Hubert had been gifted from his own father at the age of ten and a letter Elias had written to Hubert announcing Vadik’s birth.  Sasha had gasped when he presented her with a Stradivarius violin. They hadn’t seen her for the rest of the day, the pastoral symphony from Handel’s Messiah filling the house the only evidence of her presence and a testament to her delight.

To Thea, he had given his mother’s diamond ring, resized to fit her hand.  He had shrugged at the extravagance, saying only “Antwerp is known for diamonds and I never gave you a ring when we were wed.” But she had seen how pleased he was when she wore it, how his eyes looked at her hand and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.  Later, Sara had hugged her tightly and whispered how glad she was to see her brother in love.

That night when the last carol had been sung and the last candle extinguished, Hubert lit one in the bedroom to tell her of another gift.

“I saved the letters Elias wrote to me over the years.  Yours too, but it’s his I think you might like to see. We started corresponding the year we were all at the Royal Sommerhus together,” he said as he crossed the room to the tall chest of drawers.  He opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of papers tied neatly with a piece of string. 

“I should have told you about them before, but I wasn’t sure if they would cause joy or bereavement.  But I think either way, the decision is for you to make.” He was looking at the letter on top, and even with only candlelight Thea could see that it bore the creases of having been once folded as a letter.  Hubert didn’t raise his eyes to hers as he continued speaking.

“He loved you so much Thea.  And he said that so often in these letters.  Sometime casually, sometimes in grand declarations.  And they’re yours to read whenever you want to; alone or with me nearby.”

The diamond had spun on her finger and she twisted it back around as she answered him, careful to keep her voice even so he wouldn’t hear grief in her voice and regret this gift.  “Thank you, Hubert. I’ll read them another night.”

He returned the letters to the drawer and then got back in their bed.

“Thank you for all of the gifts.  The children and I - we’re so lucky to have you.” She hoped he could hear the sincerity in her voice, how much she meant it to be true.  Thinking about Elias was still a wound but it was more of a bruise now, not the gaping wound it had been before coming to Antwerp. And one she preferred, at least for now, to prod and examine by herself.

“I love giving you good things,” he said and she knew he was trying to say something else.

***

The night before Vadik was born, Thea had been so uncomfortably pregnant that she sent Elias to Hudson’s without her.  “Bring me back krumkake if there is any.  Or skolebrod.  Or both,” she’d said as he kissed her goodbye.  He’d returned with both.

When she was so heavily pregnant that only one dress fit and none of her shoes, she felt her stomach had no room for any food.  Hubert begged her to take one more sip of soup, one more bite of bread, and when her contractions began said he would go for the midwife himself and fetch Sasha from school until Thea told him she would rather he remain close by and to perhaps send a servant instead.  

“Try not to get drunk like Elias did when I labored with Sasha.  All will be well.  There’s nothing to fear,” she had said as he left the room.

Thea had cried out once when the midwife said “There’s another!”  Hubert rushed in and saw the birth of the second while clutching Thea’s hand, his mother’s diamond leaving a mark in his palm.

***

Elias had taken the children sailing and riding and swimming and hiking, sometimes with Thea and sometimes not.  He rolled to the very edge of the bed when Sasha and then later Vadik came into their room at the sound of thunder and needed to sleep pressed against their mother. He put a steady hand behind Thea as she carried their babies, pushed the pram or nursed.

Maybe because there were two at once, or because he was older when he became a father, or just because he was a different man, but Hubert held the babies at every opportunity.  They bought a second pram shortly after they realized the need for it, but the twins, Helen and Castor, were still small enough that they fit in one, tightly swaddled and fit neatly together as the family walked through De Zoologie and exclaimed over the animals.  Hubert pushed the pram and Thea would have thought that was the way of it in Antwerp except every other pram they passed was pushed by a nursemaid in uniform.  Hubert smiled and waved to those passing and Thea thought his pride in his family, in their family, was visible to even strangers.

***

“Three babies in two years; I know it’s been rare for you to have time to yourself,” Hubert said, with his hand on the doorknob.  Thea appreciated that he didn’t list the tragedies of those years, only the happy surprises: little Elias and Helen and Castor.  Little Elias was so big now that no one ever called him “the baby,” especially since the twins were currently taking up quite a bit of energy and attention, even spread as it was among Hubert, Thea, Sara, the nursemaids, and their older siblings.

It was their first anniversary, after all, and Thea was determined to have a happy day.  She had planned a menu with the cooks that would rival a royal wedding celebration.  Hubert’s friends and colleagues, who would probably have come to their wedding had it happened with any notice, were attending an anniversary dinner.  Even Henrik was coming. He was in the country to discuss the use of ice in train transport with Hubert and had promised to bring a few surprises of his own.  Thea had raised her eyebrows at this, but Hubert had been uncharacteristically unconcerned.

They were outside of a room Thea thought might be one of the sunrooms.  The Bonfrey family estate was large and she was still learning where everything was located a year into making it home.  The children seemed to learn it perfectly after one tour from Sara on the very first night.  But Thea would sometimes open several doors before ending up where she meant to, and wasn’t helped by the way the children were constantly leaving their books and playthings scattered in different places, a trail of unhelpful breadcrumbs like those from one of Hubert’s book of German fairy tales.

“Sara and Sasha helped me set this up the way they guessed you’d like,” said Hubert, and Thea was surprised to see a red flush on his cheeks, a nervous flexing in his hands.  They’d seen each other through so much this year - the grief of a funeral for beloved friends, a hellish trip across the sea, the birth of the twins - but she hadn’t seen him act like this before.  

He opened the door and gestured for her to enter first and she did.  

“Oh Hubert!” 

The room Hubert had led her into had been a sunroom.  The floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light that displayed the contents of the room to full effect: paints and pigments, canvases stacked high, chalks and charcoals, several easels, hog bristle brushes, even a pantograph for reducing or enlarging sketches. On the wall were shelves that were mostly empty save for a handful of books. 

“They’re photo studies. Of statues, paintings.  Some landscapes and some models,” Hubert said as she stepped forward and traced the embossed titles along the book spines.

Thea moved about the room, her hands running along shelves and then on to the paintbrushes, experimentally brushing them against her palm.  

“I thought you could use a place to be by yourself, to think and to paint or even to just sit and read. I can move the letters from Elias in here if you’d like.”

Thea turned to him and nodded.  “I would like that.  I like all of this, Hubert. So much.”

“Sasha said you’d like those the best,” he said as she examined the canvas. “ And Sara suggested we paint the room white and take out most of the furniture so you can choose how to decorate it.  We left a chair and a stool for you, and the couch for whoever wants to pose.”

Vadik suddenly ran in the room with little Elias close behind and Hubert scooped him up before he collided with the glass jars standing at the ready for mixing.

“And the best part,” he said, reaching into his pocket and taking out a key, “is that you can lock it to keep out any unwelcome visitors.”

“Like who?” Vadik asked.  “Uncle Henrik? But he just got here and Aunt Sara told me to fetch you to greet him!”

Thea laughed and ruffled his hair. “No, sweet, Uncle Henrik is most welcome.  Come with me so he can exclaim over how tall you’ve grown.”  

***

The anniversary dinner party went so late into the evening that it was the early morning hours before any guests left for home.  Though Hubert gripped the table when Henrik gave a toast, it was entirely appropriate and never once mentioned Paris, for which Thea knew Hubert was extremely grateful.

When Hubert was walking the last of the guests to the door, Henrik revealed his surprise - paintings and sketches Thea had made and left in Arendelle.  She went through the neatly preserved stack and was delighted to see among them Sasha, age ten and playing her violin, Vadik as a baby sleeping in his crib, Elias in the pond by the Royal Sommerhus, teaching Sasha to swim. She had left them in Arendelle hoping to leave some evidence of her family behind in case they all sunk to the bottom of the sea. Looking at them now, she was surprised to feel only joy.

“Linnea brought them back on her last visit and asked me to deliver them to you personally,” Henrik said.  

He didn’t ask why she hadn’t brought them when she and the children moved here and she was grateful.  He reached for the portrait of Elias that she was now tracing with her hand - one of him in an Arendelle navy uniform, trying to look serious but his smile rendered fully in the watercolor. “Thea, you know he loved you.  And you know he would have wanted you to find love again.  To be cared for and to care for others. To not be closed off and grieving for the rest of your days.” He placed the painting back in the pile and squeezed her hand.  “He liked Hubert.  He would have liked this for you, even though he would never have liked to leave you so permanently.”

***

Hubert helped Thea arrange the paintings Henrik had brought from Linnea.  With each painting she felt a fragmented piece of herself realign and became part of the whole, like a dried out watercolor palette being worked over with water and blending brushes.  Hubert had his hand on the doorknob to leave, but she didn’t want him to go.

“Henrik asked again if I wanted him to pose for me.  Nude of course.”

Hubert laughed. “Again? Is this something he does often?”

“A handful of times.  I think usually it was just to bother Elias,” she said as she fiddled with the nearby paintbrushes and straightened the stack of canvases that were already in a very neat pile.  She picked up the lay figure and worked its arms and legs.  “Thankfully you’ve given me this so I can decline.”

“If you ever need a live model, I’d be happy to do it.  To spare you the sight of Henrik.” He said and took his hand off of the doorknob.  “It’s why the couch is here after all.”  

He sat down on it and then she did too.  

“Did I tell you about the time Elias offered himself for the same purpose?”

“No,” Hubert laughed.  

“I was very flustered - we weren’t yet engaged. I told him of my art classes and the sketches we would do, how both men and women had posed nude for us. I was trying to impress him with my worldliness.  And he said ‘I’d be very pleased to pose for you anytime you’d like.’” Thea glanced at Hubert who was smiling at her story, and smiled in response and in memory of her attempt to show off.

“I told him there was no need as I’d already seen more men naked than I could count, and then he said ‘Just wait until you see what I do with it.’” Thea reddened and put her hand over her mouth, laughing.  “I’m sorry; you don’t want to hear that!”

But Hubert was laughing too and reached for her hands to squeeze them in reassurance.  “You can tell me anything about him.  We can both remember him.”

“Thank you,” Thea said, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling like another piece of herself was connected and whole again.

***

She loved him. She wasn’t sure when it started. Probably long before she said it, probably when her heart didn’t know what to call it anymore.  He had been patient and allowed her to find her way to it, not demanding it of her even when he said it freely and showed her in a hundred different ways.  

“Ice liebe dich,” she said, and kissed him on one cheek and then the other.  “Je t’aime.” 

The space between their lips was so small that she could feel his words as he spoke them, warm as they fell across her lips.  

“I love you too.  So much,”  Hubert said as he gently rested his forehead against hers and put his hands on her shoulders.  He rested them lightly and she could feel them tremble.

“Ik hou van je,” she said.  She had saved that one for last.  

Hubert spoke German when he was in a nostalgic mood and French for everyday.  Flemish was his language for murmuring in her ear while in bed at night, his body surrounding hers and bringing them both pleasure.  He spoke words of affection in Flemish after moments of ecstasy that she guessed he didn’t know if she was ready to hear.  But now, she was. And she was ready to say them too.

“Is that right?” asked Hubert, and pulled back from her so she could see his face.  His was smiling and his eyes were full of such hope and tenderness she knew he meant it was all he wanted.  “You love me in three languages?”

“I love you in every language. And I’ll learn them all, too, to tell you.  You loved me back to life and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say thank you enough.”

Hubert’s smile faltered a little and his brow furrowed.  They were small tells, but she could see them.  Someone who loved him could see that he was bothered. 

“Saying ‘I love you’ is better than ‘thank you.’  As long as it’s not an obligation.  As long as you don't think you have to say it to stay here and be my beloved,” he said, speaking gently and patiently, like always. 

She answered and kept her eyes on his.  She wanted him to feel the truth in what she said.  “No, I feel free.  You’ve made me free to love again. And I love you.”

He smiled and she saw the relief he felt at her words, the joy.  He moved his hands to her waist and her cheek and pulled her towards him in language their bodies were familiar with. “Well then. Let’s love.”

[msjr0119]

Hold On

Part 1 - Where’s Riley?

Nobody got injured at the Homecoming ball, they all get separated into different safe houses- for safety.

Riley and Drake had confirmed that they had feelings for each other, however Drake believed Riley should be with Liam. Heartbroken, she moves back to New York. Only keeping in touch with Hana, Maxwell and Olivia.

Riley meets lawyer, Nate Cooper and begins a relationship with him. In Cordonia, Drake begins to court Kiara.

Nine months after Riley had left Cordonia- there is a reunion, but not the reunion the friends had hoped for.

*Characters belong to Pixelberry*

If you are under 18 please do not read this series. If you do, you are consenting that you are over the age.

Series warnings: Suicide, domestic abuse, swearing, stabbing. If any of these triggers affect you do not read!

Tags- @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan

*****

Two days ago in Cordonia

There was no royal events occurring today in Cordonia. Riley’s friends had decided to take the opportunity to meet up- none of them had heard from Riley in a few days and began to panic.

Since Riley had left Cordonia, she had been in contact on a daily basis with Maxwell, Hana and Olivia. If she didn’t speak to them all, she would at least speak to one of them. Riley had one request after she left, that none of her friends spoke about Liam or Drake- they all agreed.

Hana was the last person known to speak to Riley. At the time she didn’t think anything was odd about the conversation. Until now. Riley had deleted all her social media profiles and no one could reach her. When Hana spoke to her, she seemed ‘down’- the previous conversations Riley showed enthusiasm and strength.

The three friends, were joined by Bertrand and Savannah- all meeting up together, without any disturbances was usually ‘mission impossible’. They had all considered just flying out to New York to check on her wellbeing. The former Crown Prince, now lived in New York and was dating Riley’s friend Beth. Neither of them had heard from Riley either- they had just assumed that she had returned to Cordonia. But that wasn’t the case.

Maxwell’s phone began to vibrate, he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his cell. He saw the caller ID- Leo. A bit of relief hit him, if anyone had any news on Riley it would be Leo.

“Hi Leo!”

“Erm, Max. Hi.” - Leo didn’t sound like the confident, cocky man they all knew.

“Leo! What’s up?”

“It’s... it’s... Riley. We haven’t heard from her in a few days. She eventually split up from her dodgy arsehole boyfriend... we... we had just assumed she had come back to you. She... have you read the news?”

Maxwell began to cry, his eyes were now like a busted dam. He thought of the worse scenario, before collapsing to the ground. The other friends, looked concerned. Olivia snatched the phone from Maxwell and put it on loudspeaker.

“Hi Leo, it’s Liv. Why has Maxwell just started crying? What the hell is going on?”

“Hi Liv, just type in google ‘New York Post’ and her name.... I can’t.... bring myself to say it out loud. I think now, is the right time to tell .... to tell Liam and Drake that you’ve all been talking to her behind their backs. I’ll let you all read it, then ring me back.”

Olivia hung up and requested Hana to follow Leo’s instructions. Hana nodded sadly, knowing it wasn’t good news- her hands trembled as she did it. She too, then fell to the ground next to Maxwell. Shocked. She began timidly reading out the article - whilst becoming more of an emotional wreck.

The young lady that was pulled out of the Hudson River, early hours yesterday morning has now been named by NYPD as Riley Brooks, a 25year old waitress and barmaid from Manhattan....

Hana felt like she couldn’t breathe. She felt as if she was due to have a panic attack. Everyone formed a group hug to comfort each other, all uncontrollably sobbing. Olivia picked up the phone and continued.

Miss Brooks is currently in an unstable condition in hospital. Two witnesses who were walking by at the time that Miss Brooks apparently entered the water, bravely jumped in the river and pulled her body to the river bank, where she received CPR after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest. There was support from other witnesses, who helped the two brave people also. Miss Brooks was then immediately rushed to hospital, as were the witnesses for a check up. No foul play is suspected at this time, however Detective David McDonald has requested if any other witnesses could come forward...

Olivia closed the tab. She couldn’t bear to read the rest of the article, whatever it said- it wasn’t important. Their friend was now fighting for her life and they needed to go to her immediately.

The Duchess, looked up towards the clear blue sky taking a deep breath and then concealed her tears. As she gazed back down she saw two figures walking towards to them all. Shit- she thought.

“I know this is hard. But either wipe away your tears or walk away from here.”

“Duchess Olivia! How can you be so cold? Our friend could have died! Could die...” Hana screamed back at Olivia, with the little bit of breath she had left in her.

“I know that Hana! Look! Liam and Drake are coming over here. And we all promised our friend to not tell them anything! Pack your bags all of you! We are going to New York!” - Olivia snapped at them, she was determined to rally them all together for Riley’s sake. They had all left, just as the gentlemen reached Olivia.

“Duchess Olivia.”

“Your Majesty.” She said as she curtsied. Faking a smile.

“Liv, are you okay? Have you been crying? Where are the others going?”

“Li, how the fuck do I know what they are doing? I’m not their keeper! And Olivia Nevrakis doesn’t cry- it must be the hayfever.” -LIES, Pinocchio.

Drake rose his eyebrows. Something was odd.

“Oh really? Hayfever? This time of year? Seriously Liv!”

“Fuck you Walker. What are you even doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be fucking Kiara? Or have you fucked her over like you did Riley? Excuse me, I have things to do.”

“Yeah things like packing a bag to see our friend who’s needing our help whilst you two didn’t give a fuck about her feelings” -she muttered under her breath, hoping the two men didn’t hear her.

Both men stared at the Duchess gobsmacked, as she strutted off in the opposite direction. Liam now knew his suspicions were true concerning Riley and Drake- he shook his head and walked away leaving Drake standing alone.

[castleportrpg]

It’s been an eventful week here at CASTLEPORT, with plenty of returns and surprises and we thank everyone for their participation and making our first event here an exciting one. 

Last Saturday’s HOMECOMING saw the CASTLEPORT REBELS soundly defeat the WESTCHESTER TIGERS 35-6, but the euphoria was short-lived thanks to an appearance by our missing leading lady RACHEL BERRY, armed with a chip on her shoulder and a sledgehammer to swing. The homecoming portraits of SANTANA LOPEZ and QUINN FABRAY are defaced and the glee club trophy case is destroyed. 

COMING HOME (para)

The vandalism at CASTLEPORT HIGH SCHOOL shocks the town and leaves more questions than answers, and the police seemed just as stumped, offering vague responses to reporter questions while urging anyone with information to come forward. 

BREAKING NEWS: Destruction at CPHS

Only days after the crime, DEPUTY WILLIAM SCHUESTER is dismissed from the Rachel Berry case amid a discovery of ‘questionable moral conflict’. Many speculate what the vague explanation means and SHERIFF ROSALIE LOPEZ offers no further insight, only to say that Schuester admitted to having a conflict of interest with the case and so decided to remove himself from the investigation, leaving DEPUTY CHANG tasked as lead on the mystery.

BREAKING NEWS: Schuester Resigns

Homecoming also saw the return of some old faces including JANE HAYWARD, home to visit family, and FINN HUDSON, formerly of Boston PD and now part of CASTLEPORT PD. As past of TASK TWO, all characters were questioned about their pasts with Rachel and on their current relationships. 

TASK TWO: Standard Procedure

After RYDER LYNN makes known his suspicions and bad feelings about the week’s events, Rachel decides to taunt him, sending a video clip from one of their intimate encounters as well as picture evidence of planted evidence at HUNTER CLARINGTON’s office and in the trunk of SUGAR MOTTA’s car. Unbeknownst to the three, Rachel also made calls to the police station, posing as Clarington and Motta employees sending in anonymous tips and pointing the police right to them. 

THE DELIVERY

THE FIRST CALL 

THE SECOND CALL

With Homecoming comes our third task, a musical blast from the past designed to give insight on your character’s life and personality during high school through the music they listened to that defined them, a significant time, or a memorable relationship in their life.

TASK THREE: Soundtrack Throwback

[nerdsworld]

NYC Homecoming "Fully Vaccinated" Attendees: 🤒🤕🤧🤢🤮

"Is it a Summer Cold or the Delta Variant?" -NYC Homecoming Concert 🤔

And I'm not seeing a whole lot of mask wearing in a majority of the photos on social media.

In the upcoming days and weeks you know these people are going to be sick,out there in the elements from heat and humidity TO rain,wind, getting in an air conditioned train or bus and you're fully soaked from rain...smh.

Sunday August 22,2021

L.George

[themanhattanbeat]

"We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" at Central Park on August 21

by Everynight Charley Crespo

July 27, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today an updated program for "WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert produced by New York City, Clive Davis and Live Nation." The concert will be staged on the Great Lawn in Central Park on August 21. The concert also will air live on various CNN television and online networks.

De Blasio originally announced on June 29 that Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Jennifer Hudson would perform at the event. Leaks later revealed that Journey and Patti Smith were added. That program has expanded to include Jon Batiste, Andrea Bocelli, Kane Brown, LL Cool J, Elvis Costello, Lucky Daye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Cynthia Erivo, Jimmy Fallon, Wyclef Jean, the Killers, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Barry Manilow, the New York Philharmonic, Polo G, Carlos Santana, and Rob Thomas.

more ….

https://themanhattanbeat.blogspot.com/2021/07/we-love-nyc-homecoming-concert-at.html

[aion-rsa]

Bruce Springsteen Headlines New York City’s Homecoming Concert Lineup

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

You will need a vaccination to get in, but New York’s Central Park Homecoming Concert is still following social distancing protocols, New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio announced. Performances will be spread out among all the boroughs, leading up to the main event. Legendary concert promoter Clive Davis followed suit, announcing the artists will be spread out among multiple genres, some produced through the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

The diverse mix will include the NY Philharmonic, Elvis Costello, LL Cool J, Patti Smith, The Killers, Wyclef Jean, Journey, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Jennifer Hudson is a main act, and not because she shares her name with the river.

Bruce Springsteen will be headlining the concert, but it hasn’t been announced if he will be backed by The E Street Band. He will perform with punk’s premier poet, Patti Smith. This will be Springsteen’s first performance to a large concert audience since The River anniversary tour in 2017. Springsteen’s Broadway show at the St. James was one of the first shows to reopen when New York began lifting restrictions.

The main concert will take place on the park’s Great Lawn as part of a weeklong celebration of the city’s reopening. Paul Simon will be playing it, of course. His name is almost synonymous with Central Park, and even if he’s not performing at a show there, he may be contractually obligated to be present anytime someone plays.

Outdoor summer concerts have been a part of New York City culture since the Castle Garden productions in 1824. “I can’t think of a better place than the Great Lawn of Central Park to be the place where you say that New York is reopening,” Davis said in a statement.

Central Park’s Great Lawn concerts are legendary, and some of music’s most defining moments happened there. Diana Ross got caught up in a storm during her show, and it brought out her greatest performance. Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John, and Carole King all put on iconic shows. Recent concerts by Global Citizen featured Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Metallica, Neil Young, and Coldplay.

In addition to the concert at the Great Lawn, The Universal Hip Hop Museum is in charge of curating four additional concerts, one in each of the outer boroughs, will be held in the days leading up to the Central Park event. “Throughout each of the five boroughs, we will be highlighting special talent that represent the spirit and soul of our city,” Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been, said in a statement. The acts have not been announced yet.

New York’s Central Park Homecoming Concert Performers include:

Jean-Baptiste Andrea Bocelli Kane Brown LL Cool J Elvis Costello Earth Wind & Fire joined by Lucky Daye and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds Cynthia Erivo Jimmy Fallon Jennifer Hudson Wyclef Jean Journey The Killers Gayle King Don Lemon Barry Manilow NY Philharmonic Polo G Carlos Santana with Rob Thomas Paul Simon Patti Smith duetting with Bruce Springsteen

The venues are: Monday, August 16, at Orchard Beach in The Bronx Tuesday, August 17, at Richmond County Bank Park in Staten Island Thursday, August 19, at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Brooklyn Friday, August 20, at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens Saturday, August 21, at The Great Lawn, Central Park in Manhattan

NYC Homecoming Week will be a “citywide celebration, featuring live concerts at iconic venues, free movie screenings, cultural activities, public art, and more,” according to the official site. “This five-borough week of events will drive support for the mom-and-pop businesses that define our neighborhoods and kept the heart of our city beating throughout the COVID pandemic.”

An audience of 60,000 is expected. Proof of vaccination is necessary to attend.Live Nation is involved with the production, and tickets will be free, except V.I.P. seating. Tickets will be made available starting Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

“WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert” will air Saturday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español.

The post Bruce Springsteen Headlines New York City’s Homecoming Concert Lineup appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2UMysor

[musicpromoapp]

Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon Announced for New York Homecoming Concert

Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon Announced for New York Homecoming Concert

Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Jennifer Hudson have been announced as headliners for a major summer concert in Central Park, as The New York Times reports. Booked by Clive Davis, the show will be part of a week of festivities celebrating the the reopening of New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio had previously said the event would occur in late August, according to the Times, but a confirmed date…

[megarockradio]

Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon to Play Central Park Concert

Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon to Play Central Park Concert

Two singer-songwriters will headline New York City “homecoming” event alongside R&B singer Jennifer Hudson: Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon to Play Central Park Concert Read the article at Ultimate Classic Rock: https://www.facebook.com/107710719302307/posts/5810741352332520

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.24

AD 69 – In the Second Battle of Bedriacum, troops loyal to Vespasian defeat those of Emperor Vitellius. 1260 – Chartres Cathedral is dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France. 1360 – The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. 1590 – John White, the governor of the second Roanoke Colony, returns to England after an unsuccessful search for the "lost" colonists. 1641 – Felim O'Neill of Kinard, the leader of the Irish Rebellion, issues his Proclamation of Dungannon, justifying the uprising and declaring continued loyalty to King Charles I of England. 1648 – The Peace of Westphalia is signed, marking the end of the Thirty Years' War. 1795 – Poland is completely consumed by Russia, Prussia and Austria. 1812 – Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Maloyaroslavets takes place near Moscow. 1851 – William Lassell discovers the moons Umbriel and Ariel orbiting Uranus. 1857 – Sheffield F.C., the world's oldest association football club still in operation, is founded in England. 1861 – The first transcontinental telegraph line across the United States is completed. 1871 – An estimated 17 to 20 Chinese immigrants are lynched in Los Angeles, California. 1889 – Henry Parkes delivers the Tenterfield Oration, effectively starting the federation process in Australia. 1901 – Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. 1902 – Guatemala's Santa María Volcano begins to erupt, becoming the third-largest eruption of the 20th century. 1911 – Orville Wright remains in the air nine minutes and 45 seconds in a glider at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. 1912 – First Balkan War: The Battle of Kirk Kilisse concludes with a Bulgarian victory against the Ottoman Empire. 1912 – First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo concludes with the Serbian victory against the Ottoman Empire. 1917 – World War I: Italy suffers a disastrous defeat on the Austro-Italian front. 1926 – Harry Houdini's last performance takes place at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit. 1929 – "Black Thursday" on the New York Stock Exchange. 1930 – A bloodless coup d'état in Brazil ends the First Republic, replacing it with the Vargas Era. 1931 – The George Washington Bridge opens to public traffic over the Hudson River. 1944 – World War II: Japan's center force is temporarily repulsed in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. 1945 – The United Nations Charter comes into effect. 1946 – A camera on board the V-2 No. 13 rocket takes the first photograph of earth from outer space. 1947 – Famed animator Walt Disney testifies before the House Un-American Activities Committee, naming Disney employees he believes to be communists. 1949 – The cornerstone of the United Nations Headquarters is laid. 1954 – President Eisenhower pledges United States support to South Vietnam. 1956 – At the request of the Stalinist regime of Ernő Gerő, a massive Soviet force invades Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution. Imre Nagy is reinstalled as Prime Minister. 1957 – The United States Air Force starts the X-20 Dyna-Soar manned space program. 1960 – A ballistic missile explodes on the launch pad in the Soviet Union, killing over 100 people. 1963 – An oxygen leak from an R-9 Desna missile at the Baikonur Cosmodrome triggers a fire that kills seven people. 1964 – Northern Rhodesia gains independence from the United Kingdom and becomes Zambia. 1975 – In Iceland, 90% of women take part in a national strike, refusing to work in protest of gender inequality. 1980 – The government of Poland legalizes the Solidarity trade union. 1986 – Nezar Hindawi is sentenced to 45 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down by a British court, for the attempted bombing of an El Al flight at Heathrow Airport. 1990 – Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti reveals to the Italian parliament the existence of Gladio, the Italian NATO force formed in 1956, intended to be activated in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion. 1992 – The Toronto Blue Jays become the first Major League Baseball team based outside the United States to win the World Series. 1998 – Deep Space 1 is launched to explore the asteroid belt and test new spacecraft technologies. 2002 – Police arrest spree killers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, ending the Beltway sniper attacks in the area around Washington, D.C. 2003 – Concorde makes its last commercial flight. 2004 – Arsenal Football Club loses to Manchester United, ending a row of unbeaten matches at 49 matches, which is the record in the Premier League. 2005 – Hurricane Wilma makes landfall in Florida, resulting in 35 direct and 26 indirect fatalities and causing $20.6B USD in damage. 2007 – Chang'e 1, the first satellite in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, is launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. 2008 – "Bloody Friday" saw many of the world's stock exchanges experience the worst declines in their history, with drops of around 10% in most indices. 2014 – The China National Space Administration launches an experimental lunar mission, Chang'e 5-T1, which will loop behind the Moon and return to Earth. 2015 – A driver crashes into the Oklahoma State Homecoming parade, killing four people and injuring 34. 2016 – A French surveillance aircraft flying to Libya crashes on takeoff in Malta, killing all five people on board.