#James McCready

[oscarwetnwilde]

James Wilby as James McCready in Trials And Retribution.

[yvieluvs]

a small collage of rockstars w cats

[musicmags]

[mychameleondays]

Blur: Modern Life Is Rubbish

Food FOOD LP 9

Released: May 10, 1993

[billthedrake]

ACCOUNTABILITY (PART ONE)

Story idea generously provided by @talesfromunderthemattress.

Jim McCready didn't like starting his work day at 6:00, but he'd been dedicated to his CrossFit routine, and the flex schedule allowed him to carve out a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Besides, he realized he could bang out most of his work emails pretty quickly first thing in the day, as he had his coffee, without the distractions of the office or some "crucial" issue coming up.

He was in the middle of one of those emails when a light knock came from the direction of his office door.

His eldest son, Ryan, stood there, tall and bed-headed, wearing just a pair of gym shorts and one of his dad's beat-up hand-me-down Auburn fraternity T-shirts that had become his favorite. Ryan was a football jock, a senior in high school now, and Jim was impressed at how much his kid was filling out that old T.

"Hey Dad," Ry said, his voice still thick with his morning grogginess. Even Ryan's voice had gotten deeper over the last few months, a reminder to Jim that his boy would be off to college very soon.

Jim pushed his chair back. He was already in his business casual for the office, khakis, loafers, button-down, quarter-zip sweater, and the cross necklace barely visible beneath the unbuttoned top of his shirt.

"Hey buddy, what's up?" he asked. When he was younger he used to chastise any of his four kids when they interrupted him at work. But a church seminar on spiritually guided parenting made him shift his focus, to put family first.

Ryan got a shy grin. "I just wanted to be honest with you... and I guess you're gonna realize pretty soon, if you haven't already..."

Two and two clicked for the middle-aged father. "Oh," he said. "I take it you're talking about the app?"

The nervous smile got a lot more nervous. "Yes, sir," his son answered. "I had a weak moment this morning.... you know..." The football tight end shuffled on his feet a little.

His father wasn't exactly happy. He'd convinced Ryan to install the accountability app on his phone. Covenant Watch. It pinged Jim anytime Ryan looked at a porn site or material flagged as sexual. Jim had even set up the same, installing Covenant Watch on his phone. Becoming accountability buddies with his son in the goal of a purer lifestyle. James McCready believed in practicing what he preached.

He'd only received two pings from the app before. Once was a mis-coded site, not porn. The other was a slip up. He and Ryan had a heart-to-heart talk about it, about temptation. And then they prayed. That was four months ago.

Something felt different now, but Jim couldn't put his finger on it. "Anything you need to talk about, buddy?"

Ryan laughed. "No, sir, I'm good. I mean... I'll do better. I promise."

Jim nodded. He believed his son. Ryan was a good kid. Good student, great athlete, devout Christian, head of his FCA chapter at school. And yet, this was Ryan's second accountability slip up.

"All right," the dad replied. "And Ry... thanks for being honest with me, buddy."

Ryan nodded. Maybe more chastised than his easygoing teen demeanor let on. "That's what accountability buddies are for, right, Dad?" He gave his father a longer look, then said, "Well, I'll let you get back to work, sir."

***

It was three days later. Ryan had fifth period free as a study period, with an arrangement to help out Coach Mitchell. Today he was actually studying for his AP biology test while Coach did some paperwork.

The phone buzzed in his pocket. He almost expected it was his best friend Braden Whitmore, but the dude had already gotten detention once for using his phone during Mrs. Clemens class, and even a dumb jock like Whitmore knew not to be that stupid to tempt a second infraction.

It was a banner notification from Covenant Watch. James McCready, 8 flagged sites, 14 flagged pages.

Ryan's heart beat excitedly. As he pulled up the accountability report, his suspicions were confirmed. Dad was looking up the videos Ryan had jacked off to Monday morning. Figures he would, the football jock reasoned. That's what accountability was about. If he didn't want his Dad to know he was watching porn, Ryan knew he shouldn't watch the stuff to begin with.

But Ryan had only watched a couple of videos in his moment of hormonal weakness. It had been a really great stroke session. While the church didn't have a problem with masturbation, their teachings made pornography the forbidden fruit. Just watch those videos of young jocks fucking some hot college chick was enough to make Ryan's palm feel extra amazing.

His teen dick was boning up fast now, and he placed the Bio book on his lap to hide his hardon from Coach, who was engrossed his work anyway. Taking one good look to make sure it was OK to pull it up, Ryan scrolled through the full Convenant Accountability Report.

His father had first watched the ones Ryan had, but then continued to watch more of the Hot Guys Fuck videos on PornHub. Like five of them.

"Hey Coach," Ryan spoke up. "Mind if I find the restroom?" Mitchell wasn't as strict in study period as some teachers, but safer to ask.

"Yep, McCready... you know where it is."

Ryan tried to play it cool, but it was like he couldn't get to that men's room stall fast enough. He shut the door and took his perch on the toilet seat and unzipped. Ryan pulled out his phone and ear buds. Helpfully, Covenant Watch had a link to the offending site, so it took just seconds to pull it up. He almost wasn't even thinking that Dad would be aware he watched it. Ryan just needed to see.

It was a hot one all right. The dude was jacked in that collegiate jock way. HUGE dick, too, thick and veiny.

At times like this the football player was glad his father had left his foreskin intact. Slowly, Ryan worked his shaft with his bare fist as he watched part of one video, then another. Then another. All with the same model/star. Dad clearly was into this stud, and the idea made Ryan's balls twitch with excitement. His hunk of a father had undoubtedly jerked off to the very thing Ryan was watching now.... tugging at that nice long Dad cock, working out a heavy, manly load... And then in the middle of the video a second buff dude entered the scene and started tonguing the dude's balls along with the chick.

Ryan was coming, blasting hard. Cum splattered on the tile floor in front of him, and the rest dribbled down his first.

"Fuck!" he hissed then caught himself, glad no one else was in the restroom during the middle of fifth period. Hurriedly, he cleaned up and flushed the tissue paper down the toilet. The video was still running and Ryan was about to shut it off, when it occurred to him that his Dad would know he watched it. He knew he could in a pinch pass it off as being an accountability buddy, just seeing what Dad had clicked on. His Dad probably wasn't dumb, but it's not like his old man hadn't done that to him.

But, fuck, a part of Ryan didn't want to get off easy. He clicked on the "Bisexual" tag and scrolled till he found a hot looking one. Then hit play. He didn't even need to let the whole thing run. He had to get back to Coach Mitchell's office pronto, anyway. But this would be enough. His Dad would know.

Ryan shut the video and stuffed his phone and earbuds back in his pocket. He washed up and made his way back. Now he was trying to play it cool in a different way, trying to calm his breathing and hoping that he hadn't totally fucked up.

***

Jim could barely look Ryan in the eye that evening. The father could not believe he'd been so incredibly weak that afternoon, but it had been a slow day at the office, and just, well... he was horny as fuck. He'd actually jerked off on Tuesday just looking at the names of the websites Ryan had watched. That's before the guilt had sunk in. He should be leading his son away from sin, in Christian stewardship.

Then that afternoon guilt gave way to horniness. He'd watched more. And not even thirty minutes later, Covenant Watch was sending its accountability report.

The thing that had caught him off guard now was that Ryan was doing his best to act cool. Jim knew his son was nervous as fuck, as nervous as he was, but every body language signal his son sent out over dinner or as he helped his Dad cleanup and do dishes was "it's cool, Dad."

The tension was still thick as they were alone in the kitchen. Ryan broke the spell, leaning in to whisper, "You mad at me, Dad?"

Jim shook his head. For all the emotions he was feeling he wasn't upset at Ryan. He had to wonder why he wasn't. "No..." he replied back in an equally soft whisper. "It's just we shouldn't have done it."

Ryan gave a grin, though it was more of a supportive one than a cocky one. Jim never felt as much as he did now that his eldest was all grown up, 18, fully sexual. "I know, Dad... it's just... knowing you were looking at those sites, too..." He didn't finish his thoughts be he didn't have to.

"Not my proudest moment," Jim said. "This stays between us?" He KNEW he shouldn't be asking his son to cover for his own shortcomings as a man and a father. Accountability had become conspiracy. But he also knew he didn't want Kelly knowing what he'd done. He'd rather lose face with Ryan than that.

"Course, Dad," Ryan said. "I guess that means I'm not grounded or anything..." OK, now that cocky smirk was there.

Jim had to laugh. "Nah, kiddo, you're not grounded."

The conversation had cleared the air a lot. Jim felt better, and as he got ready for bed that evening, he reflected that his own lack of conjugal connection with his wife had put him in the mindset where he'd stray. Not that he was blaming Kelly for any of his shortcomings. But the idea of the no-porn pledge was to channel his male desires into marriage.

But Kelly rebuffed his attempt to initiate sex that night. Any other night, it would have felt normal. Marriage was a partnership and both people had to want sex. That night, though, it was like Jim McCready was looking for a lifeline. Looking for his wife to save him from more debased desires.

Those desires came hard and heavy, as the father tried unsuccessfully to fall asleep. They continued even as he finally entered his deep REM sleep. And they were there when he woke up at 5 in the morning, rock hard as he'd ever been.

Jim lay awake thinking about the bisexual scene and how he wanted to watch more... how he got excited by the two guys kissing, or one dude sucking the other one. This wasn't the first time in his life that he'd had gay fantasies, but they seemed surprisingly strong now.

He looked over the clock. Earlier than he got up, but not too early, he decided. He slipped out of the bed and found some sweats to put on. He went to start the pot of coffee and then made his way to his home office and shut the door.

Last night everything had seemed clear in his head. He'd implied to Ryan that they'd stop this escalation. Only this morning, he was horny as fuck. Moreover, the more he replayed last night's conversation with Ry, the last he was convinced that his son saw it as a stop to things.

Already, Jim was pulling up Pornhub on his phone. With his heart beating, he clicked on the "Straight" selection on top and changed it to "Gay." The algorithm did the rest. The page filled with thumbnails of hot, muscled collegiate-jock looking guys. Handsome, clean-cut. Jim turned down the volume on the phone and pressed play for one...

***

Ryan woke up and when he looked at his phone there was a Convenant Watch notification. 27 forbidden sites accessed.

"Dad, you naughty fucker," he said aloud as he sat up in bed and looked at the full report. Already he was pulling down his briefs and taking his morning wood in hand.

***

Jim was a little disappointed that Ryan only watched one of the videos. Then he started getting freaked out. Maybe the gay video was a step too far. They'd shared some bi-ones, but this was different. As he got dressed for work after showering, his whole body shook. What if Ryan wasn't gonna keep this between them? If his son told anyone, Jim was royally and truly fucked.

But as he walked into the kitchen, everything was normal. His family was there eating breakfast. Ryan had gone through a phase of skipping breakfast or maybe just grabbing a breakfast bar, but now he was working out a lot and had football, and the kid now was eating nonstop.

"Morning, Dad," his daughter Olivia said as Jim came in and poured his second cup of coffee for the morning.

"Hey Princess," he winked, then Kelly greeted him, but mostly laid out the plan for shuttling the kids from practice that afternoon. Her bossy planning mode used to annoy the hell out of Jim, but now he appreciated how his wife kept it all running. They had four amazing children, who were growing up fast.

Some faster than others, Jim thought with a gulp as he looked over at Ryan, scarfing down eggs, sausage, and toast. At least the kid wasn't giving him the silent treatment or even seemed bothered.

It out the door time, now. Kelly took the two youngest, Sara and Mitchell, while Ryan would drive Olivia to the high school they both attended. Jim went to his office to retrieve his hard drive and papers to take in. He took one final check around to make sure he'd cleaned up the cum from earlier. It had been a big load, for sure.

He heard a knock.

"Hey Dad." It was Ryan's voice. Quiet, almost as his son stepped in and shut the door softly behind him. "Just wanna say, sir, you have good taste." Ryan had his normal polite kid demeanor, but that smirk coming back.

That caught Jim off guard. Ry's words but more than that his nonchalant approach. "Yeah, buddy?"

Ryan nodded, like he was getting turned on a little just talking to his father like this. "Oh yeah... I mean, I couldn't make it through one before losing it." His eyes locked with Jim's for a second. It turned the father on, and yet he also felt the earth was opening beneath him. Swallowing him to Hell. "Anyway... catch you later."

"Yeah," Jim croaked in reply. Mad that he couldn't be the responsible dad. Mad that he was letting his libido drive things. "Have a good day, son."

[expectiations]

River Song’s Last Words

Cover artwork, cast and story details are today revealed for The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words, a brand-new box set of apocalyptic audio drama, due for release August 2024. 

River Song may be the Doctor’s wife, but there’s so much more to her than that. Alex Kingston played the time-travelling archaeologist on Doctor Who between 2008 and 2015, and has reprised the role in many Big Finish audio dramas since, exploring what River gets up to when she’s not with her Time Lord husband.

The first box set in her new series, The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words sees River, after cheating death as a digital consciousness uploaded to the Library, brought back to life in a cloned body and sent to Earth in the future, not long before it’s set to be ravaged by solar flares.

Joining Kingston in this epic story’s cast is Greg Wise – who listeners may know from The Crown and Sense and Sensibility, as well as the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing – as ultra-rich tycoon Garrison Clay. He’s the man behind River’s temporary resurrection, and he has a mission for her.

And, Jamie Parker – best known for playing Harry Potter in the West End show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as roles in TV series Treadstone and The Crown – plays Sam Avner, a mysterious man who becomes an ally to River.

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, as a limited edition four-CD box set (plus digital download) for £29.99, or as a digital download only for £22.99.

Wrenched from her digital afterlife in the Library, River Song finds herself on sixty-first century Earth, resurrected in a clone body. Billionaire tech mogul Garrison Clay has a mystery to solve, and he’s selected River as the person to solve it.

Armed with only her sonic screwdriver and a fake ID, River heads out into a world soon to be ravaged by solar flares... where danger stalks her at every turn.

The story is divided into four episodes, or books, all scripted by Robert Valentine:

Book 1 – Apokalypsis

Book 2 – Fate & Fatality

Book 3 – The Black Hours

Book 4 – Book of the Dead

These four books together, as well as revealing an important chapter in River’s (after)life, serve as a prequel to the 1975 TV story The Ark in Space, with humanity preparing to flee the doomed Earth. Robert Whitelock guest stars as Lazar and Christine Kavanagh as Vira – characters originally played on television by Kenton Moore and Wendy Williams.

Also on the cast list of Last Words are Jane Booker, Shogo Miyakita, Jamie Zubairi, Jacob Daniels, Andrew James Spooner, Glen McCready, Issy Van Randwyck, and Nicholas Boulton.

Producer David Richardson said: “Robert Valentine has done something remarkable with this four-hour drama, which tells the story of the last days of planet Earth before it is destroyed by solar flares, a story told from the perspective of a woman temporarily brought back from the dead. It’s heart-breaking and exciting and doom-laden and, perhaps when you least expect it, uplifting and inspiring.”

Writer Robert Valentine added: “Originally, I thought I was going to be writing the final ever River Song story. Quickly I realised that I wasn’t, but I thought it would be fun to write something that feels like it’s the last we’ll ever see of River, and actually give that problem to her. Her life is usually intertwined with the Doctor’s, so I thought, what is her life like after her great relationship is over?

“And, the brief was to do a prequel to The Ark in Space, which is a Doctor Who classic, at the same time. When I went back and rewatched it, I realised that I wouldn't be allowed on this ship, I would have been one of the ones left behind. So I thought, let's give River a mission that leads into The Ark in Space, but with sympathy for those people who aren't on the Ark.”

Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector’s edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only).

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box sets are strictly limited to 1,250 copies and will not be repressed.

Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

[the-90s-music-colosseum]

The Most Attractive 90s Musician tournament - Round 1

GROUP A (over)

Match 1 - Geddy Lee vs Alanis Morisette

Match 2 - Brett Anderson vs Shirley Manson

Match 3 - KD Lang vs Kat Bjelland

Match 4 - Jarvis Cocker vs Mike Starr

Match 5 - Donita Sparks vs Matt Bellamy

Match 6 - Mike McCready vs Mike Dirnt

Match 7 - Zack de la Rocha vs Selena Quintanilla

Match 8 - Melissa auf der Maur vs Adam Horovitz

GROUP B (over)

Match 1 - Sean Kinney vs Mariah Carey

Match 2 - Rivers Cuomo vs Flea

Match 3 - Lauryn Hill vs Atsushi Sakurai

Match 4 - Shania Twain vs Dave Mustaine

Match 5 - Bilinda Butcher vs Whitney Houston

Match 6 - Dave Navarro vs Powerline

Match 7 - Dolores O'Riordan vs Missy Elliott

Match 8 - Janet Jackson vs Hope Sandoval

GROUP C (over)

Match 1 - Madonna vs Marty Friedman

Match 2 - Serj Tankian vs Prince

Match 3 - Tumblr anon vs Keanu Reeves

Match 4 - D'arcy Wretzky vs Kirk Hammett

Match 5 - Scott Stapp vs Martin Gore

Match 6 - Rachel Goswell vs Krist Novoselic

Match 7 - James Iha vs Tupac Shakur

Match 8 - Liam Gallagher vs Ville Valo

GROUP D (ongoing)

Match 1 - Patricia Morrison vs Chuck Schuldiner

Match 2 - Michael Stipe vs Michael Hutchence

Match 3 - Jason Newsted vs Mike Inez

Match 4 - Axl Rose vs Alex James

Match 5 - Kim Deal vs Tracy Chapman

Match 6 - Rob Halford vs Eric Martin

Match 7 - Henry Rollins vs Jay Kay

Match 8 - Chino Moreno vs Stephen Malkmus

ROUND 2 GROUP A PROPAGANDA SUBMISSION

Mini brackets and games:

Battle of the Mikes

previous tournament results <3 congratulations Tidal!

[scaryscarecrows]

James slams into a locked door, rattles the knob in desperation, and twists to face the oncoming hoard.

God, please...

"Hang on, I'll get it open!"

There's a click and the squeal of the hinges and the door swings backwards. He stumbles as a hand pulls him through.

SLAM!

His rescuer is a woman, five feet tall at best, wearing a nurse's uniform. He feels himself relax, a little. It's only his first day, his first three hours, he hasn't met everyone yet. It's not weird that this is a stranger.

"Gotcha," she says, locking the door back up. "This way, there's a shortcut to the offices."

The screams of the...patients...start to fade away as they go. She's quick, no hesitation, even when the flickering lights finally die, and he's a little pressed to keep up with her.

"Thanks," he gasps out. "I don't know what would have happened if--"

"They'd have torn you limb from limb," she says bluntly. "I've seen it happen. In here, we'll take a breather; you sound about to die."

He has no idea what this room is. The dark, twisted shapes of furniture are unfamiliar to him, and there's no windows. But it doesn't matter, because the door locks, and he sinks to the floor with his legs shaking. The nurse sits on a table or a desk, legs crossed at the ankles, white uniform the only thing even semi-visible in the gloom.

"You're new," she says carefully. "Aren't you?"

He nods.

"James McCready. My first shift started like, three hours ago."

She laughs suddenly.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry. Welcome to Arkham! I'm Katrina."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." He sucks in a fresh gasp for air and feels the shaking start to subside. "You, uh, been here long?"

"Few years. I was hired on...let's see..." She counts under her breath. "When Dr. Crane was the director. So yes, a few years."

Crane, Crane...he kinda remembers the name, but not really. It doesn't matter anyway, he's not the director now.

James plunks his head against the wall. God, that was close. It had been fine, at first, and then something had happened. They'd gotten out, gotten him down for a minute, tearing at his clothes and his skin, before he'd kicked free. Not before they got his weapons, but it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, he got away.

"We should get moving," Katrina says suddenly. "They're not the only ones you have to be careful of, and it's better to be in the offices. They have stronger locks."

"Okay."

He sticks closer than maybe is polite, because she's not tripping on furniture and he stubs his toe twice anyway. But they make their way out a back door, which she locks as well, and into a narrow hallway.

It's dusty here, like nobody ever uses this part of the building anymore. Bugs scurry along the baseboards and the occasional flash of lightning shows boarded-up doors and closed vents. It's quiet, too, without even distant shrieks.

But maybe that's a good thing. No shrieks=no inmates, right?

He thinks they'll come out into the main asylum, but instead she stops at a door labelled Crane, knocks once, and opens it.

"Here we are, Doctor. Our new patient."

The man inside is tall and thin. He's lit a couple of candles, and the leaping shadows make him look ghoulish. But he smiles and says, "I thought you'd be dragging him by the ankle."

"Not this time. Get in, you."

Before he can run, she grabs his arm and pulls, half-unbalancing him. The tall man is there in a flash, shockingly strong hands grasping at his wrists and yanking him the rest of the way into the room. Katrina kicks the door shut.

"I wouldn't try to get away," the man warns. "You're locked into this wing, and you don't know where you're going anyway."

"Please..."

"Shh." He's shoved onto a dusty couch. "Sit down, I insist. It's time for therapy."

"It's his first shift, love, be nice."

"Please, I won't tell anyone--"

"They already know," the man says dismissively. "Batman, last I heard, was tearing through the place. But unfortunately, he's outside and you are not. So." He picks up a syringe from the desk. "What shall we talk about?"

[oscarwetnwilde]

"You're fine, mate. Gary, you're fine. It's not even bleeding." James Wilby as James McCready in Trial And Retribution IV, Part Two (2000)

[crowwolf]

Glen McCready was making a Zelvor Playlist on Twitter

...my first thought? Riders in the Storm by The Doors (d'uh lol)

Lyrics:

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Into this house, we're born

Into this world, we're thrown

Like a dog without a bone

An actor out on loan

Riders on the storm

There's a killer on the road

His brain is squirmin' like a toad

Take a long holiday

Let your children play

If you give this man a ride

Sweet family will die

Killer on the road, yeah

Girl, you gotta love your man

Girl, you gotta love your man

Take him by the hand

Make him understand

The world on you depends

Our life will never end

Gotta love your man, yeah

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Into this house, we're born

Into this world, we're thrown

Like a dog without a bone

An actor out on loan

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: James Morrison / John Densmore / Ray Manzarek / Robby Krieger

Riders on the Storm lyrics © Sentric Music, TuneCore Inc., Wixen Music Publishing

[pers-books]

River Song’s Last Words 

Cover artwork, cast and story details are today revealed for The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words, a brand-new box set of apocalyptic audio drama, due for release August 2024. 

River Song may be the Doctor’s wife, but there’s so much more to her than that. Alex Kingston played the time-travelling archaeologist on Doctor Who between 2008 and 2015, and has reprised the role in many Big Finish audio dramas since, exploring what River gets up to when she’s not with her Time Lord husband. 

The first box set in her new series, The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words sees River, after cheating death as a digital consciousness uploaded to the Library, brought back to life in a cloned body and sent to Earth in the future, not long before it’s set to be ravaged by solar flares. 

Joining Kingston in this epic story’s cast is Greg Wise – who listeners may know from The Crown and Sense and Sensibility, as well as the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing – as ultra-rich tycoon Garrison Clay. He’s the man behind River’s temporary resurrection, and he has a mission for her. 

And, Jamie Parker – best known for playing Harry Potter in the West End show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as roles in TV series Treadstone and The Crown – plays Sam Avner, a mysterious man who becomes an ally to River. 

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, as a limited edition four-CD box set (plus digital download) for £29.99, or as a digital download only for £22.99.   

Wrenched from her digital afterlife in the Library, River Song finds herself on sixty-first century Earth, resurrected in a clone body. Billionaire tech mogul Garrison Clay has a mystery to solve, and he’s selected River as the person to solve it. 

Armed with only her sonic screwdriver and a fake ID, River heads out into a world soon to be ravaged by solar flares... where danger stalks her at every turn. 

The story is divided into four episodes, or books, all scripted by Robert Valentine: 

Book 1 – Apokalypsis  Book 2 – Fate & Fatality  Book 3 – The Black Hours  Book 4 – Book of the Dead 

These four books together, as well as revealing an important chapter in River’s (after)life, serve as a prequel to the 1975 TV story The Ark in Space, with humanity preparing to flee the doomed Earth. Robert Whitelock guest stars as Lazar and Christine Kavanagh as Vira – characters originally played on television by Kenton Moore and Wendy Williams. 

Also on the cast list of Last Words are Jane Booker, Shogo Miyakita, Jamie Zubairi, Jacob Daniels, Andrew James Spooner, Glen McCready, Issy Van Randwyck, and Nicholas Boulton. 

Producer David Richardson said: “Robert Valentine has done something remarkable with this four-hour drama, which tells the story of the last days of planet Earth before it is destroyed by solar flares, a story told from the perspective of a woman temporarily brought back from the dead. It’s heart-breaking and exciting and doom-laden and, perhaps when you least expect it, uplifting and inspiring.” 

Writer Robert Valentine added: “Originally, I thought I was going to be writing the final ever River Song story. Quickly I realised that I wasn’t, but I thought it would be fun to write something that feels like it’s the last we’ll ever see of River, and actually give that problem to her. Her life is usually intertwined with the Doctor’s, so I thought, what is her life like after her great relationship is over? 

“And, the brief was to do a prequel to The Ark in Space, which is a Doctor Who classic, at the same time. When I went back and rewatched it, I realised that I wouldn't be allowed on this ship, I would have been one of the ones left behind. So I thought, let's give River a mission that leads into The Ark in Space, but with sympathy for those people who aren't on the Ark.” 

Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector’s edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box sets are strictly limited to 1,250 copies and will not be repressed. 

Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

[onceandfutureheartache]

y’all 2020 was bad but damn was the merlin community fed. like the dale mccready archives? bradley james hosting a merlin quiz with the knights from his insane merlin memorabilia wall he created? bradley also doing an interview with a merlin podcast? (destiny and chicken my beloved) hell destiny and chicken in general? alexander vlahos’ having a live tweet along watching a merlin ep? FED I TELL YOU (like yeah i know everyone was bored during quarantine but GOD BLESS)

[forgeline]

Not just a car, but a tribute to a fallen friend. This BMW E90 M3 belonged to Tom McCready, and had been in a minor accident shortly before Tom passed away unexpectedly in 2022. So Tom’s best friend, James Walker, decided to honor Tom by not only restoring the car to its original glory but also by making a few key improvements along the way. James dropped it off to the team at BimmerWorld who repaired the damage and equipped it with a host of upgrades, including a CSF radiator and oil cooler package, Macht Schnell stage two air cleaner, Eisenmann axle-back exhaust, Motion Control Suspension adjustable coilovers, StopTech 380 mm/335 mm brake kit, BimmerWorld 82 mm lug stud conversion, 275/30ZR19 & 295/30ZR19 Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, and of course 19×9.5/19×10.5 Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1 wheels finished in Pearl Gray. We are confident that Tom would approve. See more at: https://forgeline.com/customer-gallery/james-walker 

[billsfangearring]

year in fic

I'll be honest, friends, I did very little in fandom other than read (99% of which was Aziraphale/Crowley and Jess McCready/Lupe García) this year, but @squidgilator tagged me in this so here we go...

✨January✨

I wrote a meta post and (later) published it on AO3. Who am I and what have I done with the 15-year lurker? (Remus/Sirius)

These are just my purely anecdotal observations as a longtime Wolfstar/Jily/Marauders fan who has recently spent some time mucking around in Wolfstar spaces from the aughts/noughties. I have not made any attempt to review Wolfstar fandom history in any sort of comprehensive or systematic way before spouting off like I know something in this post. Also, I wrote this on a whim in a little over an hour, so please forgive any mistakes/sparse sourcing.

Early Wolfstar Fandom vs. Today

✨June✨

I accidentally solicited a prompt then decided to try this writing thing with a tiny drabble featuring the Potter cat. (James/Lily)

“He shoots. He scores! Another ten points to Gryffindor. Potter’s on fire tonight. Look, he’s taken possession of the Quaffle again! Excellent broom handling as he dodges left and right. That hoop is wide open… goal!”

Harry claps his chubby hands, giggling, as James scoops up more baby food.

Dinner, Interrupted

✨August✨

My first fic, written for Cruel Summer fic fest! I haven't been able to bring myself to read it since, but hopefully it holds up. (Remus/Sirius)

He should have known that it had never been him and Remus alone together in the middle of London, hunched over cheap chips as their breath mingled with the exhaled smog of the city.

The wolf had always been there too.

it's not enough (this time)

Open tag! I'm loving everyone's wrap-up posts, so please share! <3

[ancientrimer]

Tag 9 people you want to know better!

Thank you kindly dearest dearest @twoguysonebeartrap for the tag this was very fun <3

First ship:

From a very young age I was primarily interested in canon ships, I rarely if ever came up with ships of my own and as such the main one I remember really caring about first is probably like Lily/James from H*rry Potter. In terms of non-canon couples though, I did have an unfortunate phase when I was into Fairy Tail and cared very much about Natsu/Lisanna because of their long friendship bond.

Three ships:

I’m not hugely passionate about shipping BUT I’ve been in fandom and particularly fanfic spaces long enough that I was bound to develop a few that lie very closely to my heart <3

Baze Malbus/Chirrut Îmwe. Sends me absolutely insane. They’ve known each other their entire lives. They’ve been life partners since they were like five. They stuck together through everything except for when they actually did split up for five years but they came together again because the loss of Baze’s faith didn’t affect their love for each other, or their love for the people of Jedha.

Monkey D. Luffy/Roronoa Zoro. They’re ace4ace they’re gay they’re romantic partners they’re friends they’re in a qppr they’re captain and first mate they’re dumbasses they’re the only fighters who can measure against each other they have a foundational joint understanding of morality, dreams, determination, and an it’s-achieving-my-goals-or-bust attitude. They understand each other fundamentally and it truly doesn’t matter if they’re in a relationship or not but I’m very very fascinated by their dynamic.

Lupe Garcia/Jess McCready. Listen I know A League of Their Own came out this year but I’ve grown to care about this one a lot. I’ve never seen a butch4butch ship at all much less one with an on screen relationship and heaps of chemistry and it really hit hard. They spotted each other through a throng of people and found community friendship a soul mate.

Last song:

“Lion” by Saint Mesa

Last movie:

I’m like a third through “Willow” but before that it was “The Harder They Fall” (very good movie!!)

Currently reading:

Like. A dozen books. Very few actively. I’m also listening to several audiobooks. None of them actively. But one of them is Howl’s Moving Castle! Which is very cosy as an experience even if it’s YA and I highly recommend it. It’s got very interesting intertextual takes on classic fairytales that slightly remind me of Terry Pratchett’s writing

Currently consuming:

Several different Dimension 20 campaigns concurrently

Currently craving:

Some truly deep and dream free sleep and a lie in. Hopefully I will get this next Sunday <3

Tagging (absolutely no pressure to do it ofc!!):

@missjenca, @beholdthemem, @asexualzoro, @phoebo-fugiente, @valenshawke, @cityofawesomeness, @archaicden

[sporadiceagleheart]

Today's joy with Rachel Joy Scott Friday edits is Rest In Peace to those famous stars & angels Verne Troyer, Richard Griffiths, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane, Helen McCrory, Roberts Blossom, Billie Burke, Frank Sutton, Jim Nabors, Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Clara Blandick, Shirley Temple and baby Leroy, Paul Grant, Leslie Phillips, Robert Hardy, Timothy Bateson, Terence Bayler, Robert Knox, Sam Beazley, Paul Ritter, Dave Legeno, Peter Cartwright, Derek Deadman, Hazel Douglas, Alfred Burke, Jimmy Gardner, Elizabeth Spriggs, Bob Newhart, Tom Poston, Dean Martin, Mary Frann, Betty White, Rik Mayall, Brian Nickels, Jerry Reed, Matthew Perry, Raymond Burr, Mary Ann Jackson, Dorothy DeBorba, Mary Kornman, Mildred Kornman, Peaches Jackson, Peggy Cartwright, Darla Jean Hood, Jean Darling, Peggy Montgomery, Bob Barker, Lucille Ricksen, Michael Kenneth Williams, Pat E. Johnson, Richard Burton, Cyril Cusack, Roger Lloyd Pack, Peter Frye, John Boswell, James Walker, Shirley Rosemary Stelfox, Shirley Jean Rickert, Janet Key, June Marlowe, Virginia Weidler, Jane Withers, Peter Michael Falk, Bruce Kirby, Mike Lally, John Finnegan, Robert Culp, Vito Scotti, Val Avery, Fred Draper, Alan Fudge, Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Richard Belzer, Richard Bull, Jerome Guardino, Bill Zuckert, Steven Gilborn, Ed McCready, Paul Carr, James Avery, Parley Edward Baer, Sherman Hemsley, Ellen Albertini Dow, Carl Reiner, Alan Wolf Arkin, Michael Jeter, Debbie Lee Carrington, James Caan, Ed Asner, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Paul Newman, Madge Sinclair, Robert Guillaume, Mary Ethel Gregory, Michael Landon, Katherine MacGregor, Kevin Hagen, Dabbs Greer, John Heard, Leonard Stone, John Candy, Victor Edwin French, Robin Williams, Peter Fonda, Geoffrey Palmer, Olivia Newton-John, Eve Arden, Rose Joan Blondell, Alice Ghostley, Darrell Zwerling, Dody Goodman, Lance Reddick, Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Anissa Jones, Bridgette Andersen, Dominique Dunne, Samantha Reed Smith, Heather and Judith Barsi, Fred Rogers, Olivia Twenty Dahl, Roald Dahl, Sofie Magdalene Dahl, Walter Elias Disney, Ruth Flora Disney, Denise Marie Nickerson, Louis XVII, Lois Janes, Marie Thérèse de France, Christopher Plummer, Eazy-E, Peter Cartwright, John William "Johnny" Carson,