#Madeleine Mathers

[thetomorrowseries]

‘Hey, we could end up being the nation,’ Kevin said. ‘We could be the only ones left free, so we’d be the government and everything, wouldn’t we? Bags being Prime Minister.’ ‘I’ll be the Police Commissioner,’ Chris said. We all chose jobs, or got given them. Homer was Minister for Defence, and Chief of the General Staff. Lee was Pensioner of the Year, because of his leg. Robyn wanted to be Minister for Health but got Archbishop instead. Corrie said, ‘I’ll be Minister for Kevin’. She really could be sickening at times. Fi was Attorney General, because of her parents. I got named as Poet Laureate, which I was quite pleased about. Maybe it was that which first planted in Robyn’s head the idea of my writing all this down. – Tomorrow, When The War Began

[xoxoproject21]

TDA Orlando Predictions

Mini Female

Winner: Sylvie Win Szyndlar (Club)

Top 3/4: Aliya Yen (P21), Sienna DiPietro (The NINE ), Avery Altobelli (Epic Dance Complex)

Top 10:

Amelia Burres (3' N Motion Dance Studio)

Amaya Rodriguez (Dance Unlimited)

Mila Simunic (Legacy Dance Studio)

Elizabeth Pugach (Elite Danceworx)

Tinsley Wallace (Renner Dance Company)

Navy Forrest (Club)

Harper Schwalb (Club)

Mikaela Florez (Stars)

Leighton White (South Tulsa)

Top 20:

Reese Braga (Stars)

Ellianna Buck (CDC)

Remi Hilson (Starstruck Performing Arts Center)

Valentina Cancellara (Vlad's)

Alexis Yu (Vlad's)

Lainey Hess (West Florida Dance Company)

Cece Chung (P21)

Charlotte Watters (SpotLite Dance Studio)

Lyric Simmons (South Tulsa)

Junior Female

Winner: Regan Genera (P21)

Top 3/4: Anita Rodriguez (Stars), Bristyn Scifres (P21), Amabella Tarrago (Stars)

Top 10:

Ashley Otano (Stars)

Camila Giraldo (Stars)

Amabella Tarrago (Stars)

Helena Olaerts (Mather)

Berkeley Scifres (P21)

Sara Von Rotz (P21)

Isabella Zhong (Vlad's)

Elsie Sandall (Club)

Madeleine Shen (Northpointe)

Rylie Borden (Dance Unlimted)

Dakota Casteel (Spotlight)

Top 20:

Leiliani Lawlor (P21)

Kendyl Miller (club)

Keringtyn Spencer (Denise Wall)

Cydnee Abbott (CDC)

Bianca Rebellato (Vlad's)

Skye Harrell (Mather)

Reagan Hess (West Florida)

Malia Gazda (Dance Enthusiasm)

Francesca DeMartinis (Loperfido Dance Academy)

Kendall Brown (South Tulsa)

Teen Female

Winner: Gracyn French (P21)

Top 3/4: Kylee Casares (Stars), Bella Rose Penrose (Evolve), Hudson Benayon (Elite Danceworx)

Top 10:

Giselle Gandarilla (Stars)

Bella Rey D'Armas (Stars)

Hayley Marshall (True Dance and Company)

Lekha Rajkumar (Elite Danceworx)

Savy Luechtefeld (Carolina Collective Dance)

Leila Winker (Millennium Dance Complex - Nashville)

Desa Jankes (West Florida Dance Company )

Miyah LaGrant (CCJ Conservatory)

Stella Eberts (P21)

Brooklyn Ladia (P21)

Top 20:

Makaylyn Lewis (Northpointe)

Shayla Blair (Studio 412)

Ava D'Ambrosio (Westchester)

Jazmine Raine Werner (Dance Enthusiasm)

Kynlee Schultheis (South Tulsa)

Haileigh Brennan (Impact)

Elizabeth Bilecki (Impact)

Malaya DiMonte (Art&Soul)

Onna Williams (Evolve)

Senior Female

Winner: Sierra Drayton (Elite Danceworx)

Top 3/4: Sophie Garcia (Stars), Angel DiMartino Palladino (Vlad's), Dyllan Blackburn (Mather)

Top 10:

Catherine Clayton (Stars)

Arianna Quant (Stars)

Brooklyn Law (Elite Danceworx)

Kennedy Clouse (Elite Danceworx)

Tatiana Hagee (Evolve)

Ashley Choy (Art & Soul)

Sammi Chung (P21)

Lexi Blanchard (P21)

Top 20:

Savannah Manning (CCJ)

Isabel Joves (Impact)

Preslie Rosamond (Studio 413)

Elyse Wingertsahn (Evolve)

Kaitlyn Ortega (Mather)

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

April 2024 Young Adult Book Releases

🦇 Good morning, my bookish bats. I hope you have a good book, delicious latte, and sweet snack within reach! No TBR is complete without a few young adult novels, and plenty were released in April! Here are a few YA releases to consider adding to your shelves.

[ List Under the Cut ]

🩷 April 2 🩷 ✨ Your Blood, My Bones - Kelly Andrew ✨ What If... Loki Was Worthy? - Madeleine Roux ✨ Fate Be Changed - Farrah Rochon ✨ No Going Back - Patrick Flores-Scott ✨ The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Holly Jackson ✨ Darker by Four - June C.L. Tan ✨ Draw Down the Moon - P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast ✨ The Black Girl Survives in This One ✨ Wrath of the Talon - Sophie Kim ✨ Every Time You Hear That Song - Jenna Voris ✨ Otherworldly - F.T. Lukens ✨ Misdirection of Fault Lines - Anna Gracia ✨ Something Kindred - Ciera Burch ✨ Hearts Still Beating - Brooke Archer ✨ Call Forth a Fox - Markelle Grabo

🩷 April 9 🩷 ✨ Teenage Dirtbags - James Acker ✨ Canto Contigo - Jonny Garza Villa ✨ Dragonfruit - Makiia Lucier ✨ The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray - Christine Calella ✨ Fog & Fireflies - T.H. Lehnen ✨ Against the Darkness - Kendare Blake ✨ The Darkness Rises - Stacy Stokes ✨ Right Here, Right Now - Shannon Dunlap ✨ The Last Love Song - Kalie Holford

🩷 April 16 🩷 ✨ To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods - Molly X. Chang ✨ Merciless Saviors - H.E. Edgmon ✨ Deep Is the Fen - Lili Wilkinson ✨ This Is Me Trying - Racquel Marie ✨ Calling of Light - Lori M. Lee ✨ Pretty Furious - E.K. Johnston ✨ Dear Wendy - Ann Zhao ✨ The Lady of Rapture - Sarah Raughley ✨ The End of Always - Rebecca Phillips ✨ The Kill Factor - Ben Oliver ✨ The Breakup Lists - Adib Khorram ✨ We're Never Getting Home - Tracy Badua ✨ The Harrowing - Kristen Kiesling & Rye Hickman ✨ King of Dead Things - Nevin Holness ✨ Sheine Lende - Darcie Little Badger & Rovina Cai ✨ The One That Got Away with Murder - Trish Lundy

🩷 April 23 🩷 ✨ Song of the Six Realms - Judy I. Lin ✨ Off With Their Heads - Zoe Hana Mikuta ✨ Blood Justice - Terry J. Benton-Walker ✨ Kill Her Twice - Stacey Lee ✨ Dark Parts of the Universe - Samuel Mille ✨ Finally Fitz - Marisa Kanter ✨ The Merciless King of Moore High - Lily Sparks ✨ Out of Blue Comes Green - M.E. Corey ✨ A Whisper in the Walls - Scott Reintgen ✨ Homebody - Theo Parish ✨ Punk Rock Karaoke - Bianca Xunise

🩷 April 30 🩷 ✨ To a Darker Shore - Leanne Schwartz ✨ The Vanishing Station - Ana Ellickson ✨ The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge - Matthew Hubbar ✨ What's Eating Jackie Oh? - Patricia Park ✨ Sound the Gong - Joan He ✨ Playing for Keeps - Jennifer Dugan ✨ Not Like Other Girls - Meredith Adamo ✨ The Notes - Catherine Con Morse ✨ I'll Be Waiting for You - Mariko Turk ✨ Pillow Talk - Stephanie Cooke & Mel Valentine ✨ Saint-Seducing Gold - Brittany N. Williams ✨ Where Was Goodbye? - Janice Lynn Mather ✨ The Lilies - Quinn Diacon-Furtado

[alldancersaretalented]

Tigr Icons

Sophia Schiano (DancePlex -> ??)

Balbina Cueva (Ale Mancilla Dance Studio)

Madden Zook (Artflux)

Quincy Hadlock (Artistic Dance Project)

Andrez Jimenez (Artistic Edge Dance)

Alexis Austin (Brava Dance Center)

Caroline Medley (BPMDC)

Brooklyn Medley (BPMDC)

Savy Luechtefeld (Caroline Collective)

Cydney Abbott (CDC)

Grayson Niemcyzk (CDC)

Zac Gibson (Can Dance)

Caleb Livingston (Center Stage Dance Studio)

Amaya Weeks (Club)

Elsie Sandall (Club)

Ashton Wullbrandt (Club)

Lauryn Aniyah (Collective Phoenix)

Karson Koller (Collective Phoenix)

Morgan Wendt (Complexity Dance)

Kate Baker (CSPAS)

Violet Schwarz (CSPAS)

Brooklyn Ward (CSPAS)

Kylie Lawrence (CSPAS)

Stella Hafen (CSPAS)

Richie Ford (Coastal Dance Works)

Jakey McCullough (DH Dance Company)

Alana Gordon (Dance Connection)

Paige Kim (Dance Enthusiasm)

Aracely Lee (Dance Deluxe)

Gage Davis (Dance Deluxe)

Antonia Zanin (Dance Edge)

Haven Greene (DC Dance Factory)

Hannah Fogel (Dance Institute)

Zachary Roy (Dance Town)

Rylie Bordon (Dance Unlimited)

Addilynn Sullivan (Dance Unlimited Boise)

Cameron Janson (DDPC)

Kennedie Caldwell (Denise Wall)

Talia Mempin (Elements Elite)

Jack Schofield (Elite Academy for Dance)

Mya Lanigan (Evolve Dance Complex)

Gavin Morales (Evolve Dance Company)

Coltrane Vodicka (Evoke Dance Movement)

Addi Perrotto (Expressenz)

Brynn Jones (Expressenz)

Kate Jarboe (Expressenz)

Bella Aren (Focal Point)

Regina Espejo (Gaby Pinzon Dance)

Madelyn Duncan (GCDA Dance)

Sophie Flowers (HDC Studio)

Emory Pettit (Impact Elite)

Levi Caicco (In Motion Dance)

Blais Lingle (JD Charleston)

Phoebe McNamara (Just Elite Dance)

Taya Osso (Katies Dance Connection)

Finley Aldridge (Kim Massey)

Pierson Aldridge (Kim Massey)

Bella Charnstrom (Larkin)

Cameron Kennedy (LD Dancer)

Cha Cha Shen (Mather)

Helena Olaerts (Mather)

Cova Card (MVMT)

Canaan Blasit (MVMT)

Erika Del Mazo (New Era ADF)

Emma Bassel (New Level)

Desa Jankes (New Level)

Katie Dong (Nor Cal)

Mika Takase (Nor Cal)

Channing Embry (NSDPAC)

Matthew Conway (NSDPAC)

AvaLeigh Mackaron (NSDPAC)

Madeleine Shen (Northpointe)

Sophia SantaMaria (OCPAA)

Khloe Kwon (Pave)

Addyson Paul (Pave)

Camila Cuevas (PEDC)

Izzy Pascuale (Performance Edge 2)

Lincoln Russo (Poiroir Productions)

Stella Eberts (Project 21)

Richie Granese (Project 21)

Olivia Toneguzzo (Pulse Dance Centre)

Kaylin Gabosh (Revolution Dance)

Elena Markonidis (Rhythm Dance Co)

Ansley Matchack (Sceniccity Dance)

Dylan Custodio (Stars)

Hugo Silva (Stars)

Anita Rodriguez (Stars)

Camila Giraldo (Stars)

Skyla Lucena (Stars)

Santiago Sosa (Stars)

Alonzo Dock (Stars Elite Training)

Vera Souvannavong (Studio4Talent)

Samantha Sweetman (Studio4Talent)

Kloie Goodman (Synergy Academy)

Josh Lundy (Studio 413)

Peyton Nowacki (Studio 702)

Norah Johnson (Studio7TalentCenter)

Annabella Grace (Studio L Hoboken)

Avery Nicole (TDA Prep)

Katherine Khait (Techniques Dance)

Lakota Loya (The Right Combination Dance)

Rissa Laugana (The Rock)

Addison Price (The Rock)

Tiara Sherman (The Rock)

Caitlyn Paik (TTP Dance Pilates)

Kelsey Suka (Utah Dance Institute)

Kennedy Anderson (Vision Dance Alliance)

Rudie Bolton(Weissman)

Reagan Hess (WFDC)

Kaylin Marie (Your Haven)

Blake Metcalf (Xtreme)

[fortheloveoffanfic]

Behind Closed Doors

Keanu Reeves x OFC (Emma Mathers)

Masterlist Behind Closed Doors Masterlist

Warnings- tension, again.

When In Paris

The suite at the five star Parisian hotel was far more glamorous than anything Emma had ever experienced, and that was coming after an extensive flight spent on a private jet. The wonder in her eyes was unmatched, and by just looking at her face, Keanu could tell that their trip was her first time traveling in luxury. Something about the twinkle in her eyes made him want to see it more, he wanted to spoil Emma, just so he could hear that, melodic, breathless laugh that she'd emitted when they boarded the private jet, see the way her red painted lips parted in awe when they landed in magnificent Paris and be privy to the way her pretty eyes widened when they entered the suite.

Upon Miranda finding out that a new collaboration with a New York based cosmetic company would have her missing the premiere in Paris, Keanu had found himself breathing a sigh of relief. Partially because he didn't want to spend the trip, and by extension his birthday, tolerating Miranda's constant nitpicking of Emma's methods and the little insults she usually threw the girl's way. But there was another part of him, softer and more cautious about letting its intentions known, that insisted that he was actually relieved because no Miranda meant more time alone with Emma. Keanu knew that he shouldn't have been thinking like that, he was engaged and highly doubted that Matt and Poppy's nanny even returned his not-so-platonic feelings. She was young and would probably be repulsed by the idea of being tied down by a man his age, far less one with young children.

As Keanu settled into his room, the master bedroom right next to the slightly smaller room where the twins would be staying and directly across from Emma's room, he tried to push away the intrusive thoughts, only to be interrupted by none other than the subject of his wandering eyes. "Got a minute?" She smiled shyly, loosely gripping the knob of his ajar door.

"I could spare a few," he grinned brightly despite himself. For her, he'd carve time out of the busiest of schedules.

"Great," Emma blushed, noting the way his gaze roved her form, clad in a snug, white sweater and a simple pair of blue jeans, "The kids, they want to go out. I'd take them on my own, but I've never been here, and I wouldn't want to get lost." Glancing at the floor, she tucked an escaped strand behind her ear, and Keanu didn’t think he could put into words how much he wanted to be the one doing that; his thumb caressing her high cheek bone, her skin soft and warm to touch. “If you don’t have time, then-”

“No,” Keanu dropped the shirt he was holding back into the suitcase, walking around the foot of the king sized bed, collecting his leather jacket and scarf on his way towards Emma. He stopped closer to her than he should have, and with that proximity, she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze, “I have time, we could go for a walk and if I remember correctly there should be a great café about a block away. You’ll like it.”

Stunned, Emma blinked quickly, not expecting Keanu to be so readily on board the idea of going out mere hours after they’d gotten to the hotel. She had started to forget how much fun and how carefree he could be when Miranda wasn’t around and even if she knew that her opinion didn’t really matter in the scheme of things, Emma thought she preferred Keanu when he was alone.

Surprisingly, he led her towards the drawing room with his hand on the center of her back, almost weightless even as comforting warmth emanated from his palm. It was almost as if he wanted to touch her, though he knew he shouldn't.

Calling out to the kids, who came running excitedly, both still dressed to go out, Keanu swiped Emma’s camel coat from off the back of the grey, floral patterned cabriole sofa, helping her into it. His fingers brushed her shoulders through her sweater, electrifying her nerves, and when he absently passed his hands over her arms after it was on, Emma sucked in a breath, restraining herself from leaning into him, “Thank you,” she blushed, hoping he wouldn’t see it.

“Of course,” he hated having to take his hands off her and before he could stop himself, Keanu found himself wondering what it would be like if he were with Emma instead of Miranda, surely, he hadn’t known her for as long, but being with her came naturally, and as he watched her kneeling to get Poppy into her pink, fuzzy, petite coat, closing up the large plastic buttons at the front, Keanu couldn’t deny how purely familial it felt; just her, him and the children. No one moaning about how the children should stay back for the evening, telling Matt that he couldn’t wear blue on blue or making snide remarks in his ear about how the nanny was overstepping when she pecked the kids on their foreheads. Keanu liked it when Emma overstepped, when she cared for his children as if they were her own, when she lightened the mood with a joke told under her breath and when she’d, even if accidentally, showed her concern for his own wellbeing, as if he were more to her than just an employer. “Everyone ready?”

“Ready guys?” Emma turned the question to the twins as she slipped her cell into her nude colored shoulder purse, proceeding to stylishly wrap a floral scarf around her neck, adding a pop of color to her cool toned outfit. When they both nodded vigorously, bouncing in agreement, she offered her hand, giggling when Matt went for it, leaving Poppy with him, “Alright, then let's go, lead the way,” Emma beamed, turning to Keanu.

The café that Keanu had told Emma about was right where he remembered, and they were led to a table quickly by the young hostess; perk of being a celebrity. They were tucked cozily in the corner of the patio dining area, where their scenic surroundings were still visible; orange and yellow leaves peppering the sidewalk after having fallen from trees planted along the edges, while picturesque buildings on the other side of the worn brick street added to the view. A small platter of strawberries and cream macarons as well as orange and chocolate madeleines, along with two hot chocolates were enough to get Matt and Poppy settled for a while, talking and giggling amongst themselves. Emma was sitting across from him, occasionally slipping small forkfuls of French silk pie into her mouth as she drank in the beauty of city, “Do you like it?” Keanu interrupted her thoughts, just as she was setting her latte down, her cherry red lipstick lightly staining the delicate china.

“The coffee, the chocolate or Paris?” She held his gaze, tongue darting out ever so slightly to moisten her lips, just before she brought the silverware to her mouth again, a playful glimmer dancing in her eyes. She was so, so beautiful, and Keanu had caught himself staring a few too many times.

Smile still evident, he shifted around a sliver of his moose cake, the plate streaked with pink, white and brown, trying not to fumble on his words. Emma didn’t really make him nervous per say, it was quite the opposite actually, Keanu usually felt a comfort and ease around her that was absent in the company of most others, like she was simply encouraging him to be the best version of himself. Still, that didn’t mean he didn’t long to be close to perfection in her eyes; say all the right things at the right times, impress her because even if she didn’t make him feel like he had to, Emma made him feel like she deserved it. “All of it, Paris, the chocolate, the coffee,” he quoted in reverse.

“Its…..perfect,” inhaling, a lone shiver ran through her, and she sipped her latte again, “I’ve actually never been out of the states, so this kind of feels…….magical.” There was a childlike sparkle in her expression, something Keanu hadn’t witnessed in anyone other than children in years, at his age, there weren’t many luxuries that he hadn’t yet experienced, and despite their two years together, Keanu had yet to see anything close to that on Miranda’s face. There was a time, within the first few months of them dating where he’d strove to impress her, going any lengths just so she’d be happy with him, but by the eighth or ninth month, it became a daunting, tiring task, and Miranda didn’t seem to care what he did, as long as it was up to her expensive tastes. Emma though, there was an air about her that made Keanu feel special, like he could give her the smallest thing and she’d just be in awe.

“You’ve never travelled?” Keanu frowned, his kids had been travelling with him since they were a year old, and at that point, he didn’t think they knew a life that didn’t involve leaving their home country at least twice a year.

She nodded, tearing her gaze from across the street and casting it back towards Keanu, “Nope, not out of the states,” embarrassed, Emma drew in a soft breath from the chilly autumn air, “First we couldn’t really afford it, but even when I got older, after my mom got us in a good place, she had to save so I could go the college. I don’t mind though,” straightening her back, Emma regained her quiet confidence, “I’ve got a lot of time for that.”

“You do,” Keanu agreed, bringing his espresso to his lips, blowing on the scaling beverage before taking a long sip, “I mean, one day you’re gonna be a famous designer and you’ll get to go wherever you want.”

Laughing quietly, Emma bent her head shyly, wispy dark strands falling over her face, having escaped from her high ponytail, “I don’t know about that,” she dismissed, “I mean, its gonna take a while before I even cement myself in the L.A. fashion scene, famous…..that’s something else. It’s a nice thought though.”

“Its a great reality too,” tentatively, he reached for her hand laid on the top of the wicker table, squeezing affectionately, before catching himself and reluctantly retracting, “I’ve seen some of what you can do, those dresses your made yourself, that purple tutu you made Pop for her recital last month, you can do this Em. I know it probably doesn't mean a lot coming from me, but I believe in you.”

“I,” she stumbled on her words, astonished by his faith in her, “It actually does mean a lot to me Keanu,” Emma dragged her lower lip through her teeth, and Keanu shifted in his chair, inhaling sharply, “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he croaked, trying to slow his breaths. It was amazing how he could go from being wonderstruck by Emma to being turned on in just seconds. She was truly an enigma, one of a kind. “You know,” he huffed, hoping to change the topic and get them talking again to steer his thoughts away from anything too perverse, “This is my favorite, here, try it.” He offered her some of his cake on his fork, encouraging Emma to lean in. So much for going for something more innocent.

Hesitating, Emma eventually leaned over the table, letting Keanu feed her a bit of the cake, moaning in pleasure at its taste. She could easily see why it was his favorite, the raspberry, vanilla and dark chocolate all melded together in her mouth to create a symphony of flavor, each one complimenting the other perfectly as the moose melted on her tongue. “That’s amazing!” And at that, Poppy and Matt started cheering about how they wanted to try it too, their faces lighting up at how delightfully sweet the creamy desert was.

Dragging his lip through his teeth, Keanu chuckled as he looked on at Emma, “You have a little….” he gestured to the corner of his mouth, only laughing louder when Emma missed several times over. “Here,” he grabbed up his napkin, reaching over the table, “Let me,” dapping the corner of her lips, Keanu eyed the way her cheeks reddened and took a chance at carelessly brushing her skin with his thumb, his ragged breath matching hers. “Em…..” Knowing that the right thing would have meant pulling away wasn’t hard knowledge to come by, but knowing how to just be Emma’s friend and boss certainly was.

Her head tilted ever so slightly to the side and Emma’s blinking slowed, roughness of his touch so inviting that she wanted it to last forever. There was something at the tip of her lips, and Keanu yearned to know what it was, perhaps permission for his feelings, indication that she returned them, but alas, their moment was cut in half when Matt spotted a walking balloon vendor across the street, him and his sister protesting loudly, clamoring about how they wanted balloons. Immediately, Keanu pulled away, collecting his bearings and discarding the napkin, as Emma averted her stare, hoping to find anything more interesting. They’d come so close to crossing a line, and Keanu knew that had they kept going, he’d have hell to pay when he returned to L.A.

One Week Later The premiere had fallen exactly on Keanu’s birthday, which was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, him being gone for the day meant that Emma would have enough time to put her plan in action, but on the other, it also meant that by the time Keanu had gotten home, they kids were beat and borderline cranky. Thankfully though, Keanu had returned by half nine and neither Matt nor Poppy had fallen asleep in the cute little semi formal outfits Emma had dressed them in. As he’d walked in, flicking on the lights to illuminate the main room, looking tired and a little more down than she’d been expecting, Emma and the kids yelled excitedly, “Surprise!”

Shocked, Keanu jumped, holding his hand to his chest, speechless for a moment. Though, that, fortunately, didn’t last very long, “What is all this?” Second by second, a wide grin split his lips and his eyes scanned the room, landing on their set up on the coffee table; a layered cake, the one he’d mentioned as his favorite at the café, glasses along with a bottle of cider and a few presents, wrapped in cheerful paper with ribbons and bows adorning the top.

“It’s for you daddy!” Poppy was the first to run up to Keanu, grabbing his leg in a hug, followed only second later by Matt, who did the same. And just as he bent over, taking them into his ready arms, Emma stood from the sofa, not wanting to intrude on their moment, “Happy Birthday!” Kissing his cheek, Poppy, was sure to hug him as tightly as her little arms would allow.

“Happy Birthday daddy,” Matt followed suit, clinging to his father, playing with Keanu’s simple, black skinny tie as he hoisted them both on either side of his lips, “Do you like it? It was all Emma’s idea!”

“Well, I can’t take all the credit,” she admonished lightly when Keanu glanced to her, “I had a couple of excellent co planners,” tentatively, Emma finally approached them, her heels clicking quietly on the cream marble floors, “We just wanted to do something special for you.”

The warmth in his heart was reflected in his expression, and if his arms weren’t so full, he’d definitely lean in to pull Emma in a consuming hug, “Thank you,” it had been a while since anyone put that much effort into his birthday, the older he got, the less he’d want his family to do, and it went without saying that Miranda was never big on getting him anything more than a cushy present. In fact, usually, Keanu would be inclined to spend his birthday with just his children, watching movies with them on the sofa after a take out dinner. The quiet affairs never bothered him, he'd had enough parties and glitzy birthdays in his twenties and thirties, and was wholly ready to continue on with smaller, more intimate ones.

When he set the kids down, Keanu placed a hand on her elbow, still an arm's length away, leaning in to peck her cheek, "This is amazing, I can't tell you how much it means." When Keanu pulled away, despite his efforts not to stare, he found himself doing it anyway, absorbing the way her burnt orange sweater dress hugged every curve perfectly, boasting her legs when the hem cut off mid thigh. Her hair fell in voluminous waves down to the center of Emma’s back, framing her delicate features, and her simple, clean cut make-up accentuated her full lips and dark eyes. “And you,” Keanu stuttered, affectionately squeezed her elbow, “Look beautiful.”

Caught off guard, Emma blinked quickly, her deep burgundy lips moving to form words but never quite making it through any. “Oh!” A wider smile threatened to break through just as the apples of her cheeks unintentionally went red, “Thank you,” she took a step back and Keanu took that as a sign to reluctantly retract his touch. “Uh,” stuttering again, she looked around wildly, not really sure who’d done the initial overstepping but knowing that someone had to put an end to it, “Why don’t we sit? Yeah, you still have to blow out your candles and open your presents.”

“We can’t wait for you to see what we got you daddy!” Poppy jumped excitedly, a few raven strands escaping the braid Emma had put her hair in, falling over her face as she clapped small her hands. Without settling down in the slightest, she grabbed Keanu’s hand, the size of hers almost muted by his larger, rougher one as Poppy pulled her father towards the sofa, urging him to sit before hopping into his lap. Looking on, Emma offered her hand to Matt, leading him to the chair as well, trying not to think of how much she wanted something like that one day. The real deal, not just a pseudo family, where it felt like she was getting paid to play house, but a husband with children of her own who adored her as much as Matt and Poppy did Keanu.

Leaving a healthy, safe distance between them, Emma claimed a spot on the long sofa, chuckling when Matt mirrored his sister and situated himself in her lap, squirming in anticipation. “So,” securing the boy, she wrapped a slender arm around him, gently flattening her palm to his chest so he wouldn’t fall with all the movement he was doing, “What’ll it be birthday boy? Cake or presents first?”

“What do you two think?” Keanu bent forward to look at both his children, laughing softly when they both bounced in their places, cheering that he go with cake first. “Cake it is,” he determined, and soon after, Emma was reaching for the lighter on the table, keeping Matt away from the flame as she lit the tall candles strategically sunken into the cake, among the cluster of raspberries decorating the top. When all five were lit, Emma and the kids sang happy birthday, clapping when he blew out the candles. Afterwards, she cut them each a slice, and between bites, they moved on with presents.

Up first was the one that Emma had helped organize for Matt and Poppy to give him; they had done most of the the work while she’d simply provided guidance and occasionally, assistance. They’d chosen to make their father a picture frame, using popsicle sticks and colorful craft items, and it had turned out wonderfully, the neatly arranged painted, sticks decorated with buttons, cut out shapes made of plastic, and ribbon had a picture of Keanu and the twins on the inside. “I love it!” He hugged them tight, kissing their heads, still staring at his present. Even off to the side, Emma could see the softness in his eyes, the warmth clinging to his features, there wasn’t the slightest bit of untruth when Keanu said he’d loved the gift, and she admired him for it. A celebrity, who could probably buy anything he wanted at any given moment, appreciating a sweet, handmade gift as if the world had been served on a silver platter. “This is the best present ever!” Keanu hugged them again, keeping Matt and Poppy close.

It was only when he’d released them, did Emma present him with her gift, wrapped up in a blue and white polka dot box, held closed by white silk ribbon, “This one is from me,” her shy smile faltered when their hands touched, and she he'd her breath, hoping he’d like it.

Giving the edge of the ribbon a tug, Keanu undid the bow, opening the box. His jaw hung slack in breathless awe, and trying to be as gentle as possible, he reached into the box’s depths, producing an exact replica of the bike he rode to work almost every morning. It had been spray painted in the exact same colors, carried a downsized version of the very same details and even had a tiny license plate with his initials engraved onto it, “Em…” he gasped, running his fingers over the perfectly mimicked details, “This is….wow,” he huffed a chuckled.

Dragging her lip through her teeth, Emma searched his features, “Do you like it?” She probed nervously.

“Like it?” He glanced up at her, his emotions spilling out in just the way he looked at her, “I love it,” he chuckled louder, “Emma,” Keanu set his gift down on the coffee table, reaching for her bare knee with the hand that wasn’t holding Poppy close, “It’s so thoughtful of you.” The smile brightened his rugged, somewhat tired features as he added, "I love it."

"Great," Emma tried not to look him straight in the eye, knowing if she did, she might be wholly responsible for what happened next. His touch, warm on her thigh, squeezing affectionately, sent shivers up her spine and Emma was caught between wondering how things might have escalated if they were alone and thinking that it was time to pull away. "I'm glad you like it," even if she knew she'd already let his touch linger for far too long, Emma placed her hand over his, and faintly, she heard Keanu's breath hitch as his eyes widened slightly.

They both knew that at that point, their position wasn't unintentional, yet, before either of them could act, they were interrupted by Poppy stretching sleepily, admitting that she was tired. In an instant, whenever they were sharing had been broken, the moment was gone. Leaving them blinking quickly, seemingly emerging from a trance, and prompting them to get the kids ready for bed.

That night, Keanu helped Emma out with bedtime rituals, sticking around during bath time all the way through until they informed him that they wanted Emma to read to them before lights out. It was nearly eleven when she finally emerged from the hallway, shoes clicking softly until she finally decided that they were too much noise, nudging them off with her toes and resuming her small stature. “Hey,” she smiled tightly, calling Keanu’s attention as he stood at the floor to ceiling window, nursing something far stiffer than cider, the glittering lights of illuminated the Eiffel Tower casting a yellow glow on his face, the only thing brightening the room after he’d dimmed the lights.

“Hi,” he grinned widely, the way he always did when Emma walked into the room, ���Whiskey?” He offered, moving to the mini bar, ready to get her a drink.

“Sure,” in minutes, Keanu was approaching her, offering Emma the glass he’d gotten, their fingers once again brushing during the hand off. That time, they both just huffed shyly, pretending to ignore it as they approached the window, staring in silence for a while, until Keanu scoffed a chuckle. “What?” Turning to him, Emma observed his profile, wondering if people were even supposed to be made that perfect.

“Its just,” shrugging, Keanu punctuated his words with a brief sip of his drink, not even hissing at its strength, “It’s almost over. Another year gone.” He seemed pensive, his thoughts colliding and confusing him; she’d never seen him in that light and all Emma wanted to do was help.

The alcohol burnt her throat as it slid down, and unlike Keanu, it showed on Emma’s face, though, it created a familiar warmth in her belly, one that she liked; even if she was quickly going to learn that it wasn’t just breaking the autumn chill, but also ebbing away her inhibitions. “You sound disappointed,” and when Keanu didn’t offer a response, she gently pressed, “Are you?”

Shaking his head, Keanu downed the rest of his whiskey, wincing slightly and discarding his glass on the top of a nearby accent chest, slipping his hands into his pockets as he turned to face her. His tie was loosened at the neck and before the twins’ bath, Keanu had discarded his blazer on the chair nearby. He was striking, even when he was close to disheveled. “I don’t know,” the disconcertment echoed in his tone, “Do you ever think that you’re doing the right thing, but then…...there’s one little change, and suddenly it feels like you’re making a huge mistake?”

Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, Emma tried to decipher the true meaning behind his words, opting for an analogy when she couldn’t, “When I first started college, I knew exactly what I wanted; I wanted to be a designer,” she smiled wistfully, “And my nana always taught me to go after what I wanted, even if it was silly to everyone else. So I started fashion school, but then the fees started to take a toll on my mom’s finances, and even if I got two part time jobs, it still didn’t save me from starting to sink.” Emma sighed deeply, looking out towards the city again, “The circumstances changed, or maybe I just noticed them for the first time, and suddenly, going to fashion school seemed selfish, like I’d made a terrible decision, a huge mistake. But when I told my nana what I was thinking, she asked me where I saw myself in ten years and……..that’s how I knew I had to stay.”

Knitting his brows, Keanu seemed more perplexed than when they’d started their conversation, “I don’t understand,” his voice was gruff and low and he hung on, waiting for her explanation,

Sighing, Emma’s contemplative soiree softened, “I guess it meant, if you’re sure about something, if you know it’s right in your heart, then even if things get in the way, you’ll find your way back to it. We’re constantly searching for happiness, and what’s right is always so……subjective. But if you know it's right in here,” stepping closer, Emma gently tapped Keanu’s chest, “Then even if it wavers here,” her cool fingers rose to his temple, “You’ll always go back to it.” Like Keanu, Emma finished off her drink, leaning past him to leave her glass next to his, her other hand still on his face, then cupping his cheek.

“What if……” He mulled on his words, letting them rattle around in his mind fitfully before spilling, “What if what makes me happy, and what’s right in here,” he reached out, pressing two fingers to the center of Y/n’s chest, just above her breasts though still where he could feel her heartbeat, “Are two different things?”

A lump had settled in her throat and a minute part of Y/n knew where things were going, while everywhere else screamed that they shouldn’t have gotten there in the first place. Keanu was her boss, her engaged boss. Yet still, she couldn’t find it in herself to tear her hand away from his face, or push him off her. “They’re always the same thing,” sparing the city of love one last glance, Emma shifted her sights to Keanu, stoking the apple of his cheek, marveling at the way he tilted into the softness of her hand and barely noticing the way his hand had slid up to cup her neck. “Maybe you’re confused right now, but they're always the same.”

“I’m so confused right now,” Keanu confessed, closing the final inches of space. They were lost in each other’s stares and at that point, there was probably nothing in the world that could push them apart. With his hand on her neck, she could feel his callouses and his warmth, radiating, doing more than the finest spirits ever could. The cloud of air between them was tainted with the aroma of expensive booze, still clinging to their hot breaths, mingling with the smell of smoked cigarettes and the alluring fragrance of Emma’s perfume. With every exhale, their chests touched, ever so slightly.

“What do you want?” Emma nudged, licking her lips when Keanu’s face drew closer, tilting her head so she’d grant him access, anticipating what would happen next.

“I want…….” He furrowed his brows again, “I want to be happy.”

“Then be happy,” and that was all it took; the final thread snapped and her words were the permission he’d been seeking. And though, all along, Emma sensed it would happen, when Keanu’s lips were finally laid on hers, she was completely and utterly surprised. They started slow, locking and moving in tandem at a most leisurely pace, though as the pair felt each other out, Keanu’s free hand found the dip of Emma’s waist while she clutched a fistful of his shirt, the silky fabric wrinkling in her grasp, the air took on a new heat and their kiss grew steamy. Six months worth of almosts and boiling tension just swirled around them, pressing them together, and when his tongue broke past her lips, sliding over hers, Emma moaned into Keanu’s mouth.

No one had ever tasted like that, like their lips were meant to spar with hers, no hands ever fit so well on her body. Wrapping his tie around her fist, Emma yanked him closer and they stumbled back. By then their longer, passionate kisses were punctuated by shorter, sweeter pecks, and all she wanted was for him to hoist her up into his strong arms and press her against the cold glass.

Then it hit her; the criminality of what they were doing. Miranda already hated her, and she was going to marry Keanu. That make out session alone was putting her job on the line, the job that she so desperately needed. Logic kicked in and without warning, Emma was letting go of Keanu’s tie and pushing him away. He looked just as frayed as she was, and even a little hurt, “We shouldn’t…...this is wrong. We can’t do this,” Her whispered words were more to convince herself, and before Keanu could respond, Emma was apologizing, turning away from him and scuttling out of the room.

“Em,” he tried to call after her, but it was too late, Emma was already gone, and Keanu had a feeling that things had just gotten way more complicated than he could have ever imagine.

*****

Tagging- @harrisongslimited @magnificentclodpiebanana @keandrews @greenmanalishi @rdjloverxxx @danceoftwowolves @planetkt @wheretheriversrunintothesea

[crewman-penelope]

💛💙Happy Twin Tuesday💙💛

Also known as Malek Sandwich Day

In👏This 👏House 👏We 👏Love 👏Both

Did we all not wonder, how Sami had reacted while watching his bro as the bad guy? 😎

Did he shrieked by the jump scare moment?

How did he felt while watching Safin with Mathilde on his arms? Did his heart ache?

How about the make up?

Questions we get hopefully answers for, when a making of or the DVD with extras are out.

I do know, they had a small grown stundwomen (Chelsea Mather) for young Madeleine(Coline defaud), as also a nearly 7 years old double for the Mathilde actress Lisa-dorah Sonett, for switching places. But it must have been time consuming to work with such young actresses.

Source

@daughterofthesilmaril @txmel @badbadbadboyrami @sapphicsandsupernatural @neverendingstories00 @thefluffiestseahorse @tropicalhorn @ramicastiel @purpl3matt3r @xmxisxforxmaybe

[supersuicide]

via https://madeleine-ferguson.tumblr.com/post/184185274318/sheryl-lee-brenda-e-mathers-photographed-by

[betterthedevilyouknowuk]

Mythology Mondays - Beelzebub

Beelzebub is known as one of the princes of the seven princes of hell in demonology. He is also known as “Lord of the Flyers”, or “Lord of the Flies”. He has therefore been represented as both an anthropomorphic demon (pictured above) and a fly(pictured below).

Beelzebub (or Beelzebul) is a name derived from a Philistine god, formerly worshipped in Ekron, and later adopted by some Abrahamic religions as a ‘major demon’. The name Beelzebub is also associated with the Canaanite god Baal (whom we will cover in another post). Beelzebub is also used in some Christian mythology as another name for the Devil, similar to Satan. Due to his association with flies and demons with wings, he is regularly described as a flying being.

In Testament of Solomon, it is written that Beelzebul claims to cause destruction through tyrants, force men to worship demons, introduce lust to priests, wreak havoc in cities, inciting murders, and to bring on war. The Testament of Solomon is an Old Testament pseudepigraphical work, purportedly written by King Solomon, in which Solomon mostly describes particular demons whom he enslaved to help build the temple, with substantial Christian interpolations.

Occultist Johan Weyer from the 16th-century described Beelzebub as a high placing demon in Hell’s Hierarchy. He also wrote that Beelzebub led a successful revolt against the Devil. Similarly, 17th-century exorcist Sebastien Michaelis stated Beelzebub is among the three most prominent fallen angels (the other two being Lucifer and Leviathan).

John Milton wrote Beelzebub seemingly as the second-ranking of the many fallen angels in his epic poem Paradise Lost. Milton wrote of Beelzebub, "than whom, Satan except, none higher sat." Beelzebub is also a character in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

Sebastien Michaelis associated Beelzebub with the deadly sin of pride. However, according to Peter Binsfeld, Beelzebub was the demon of gluttony, one of the other seven deadly sins, whereas Francis Barrett asserted that Beelzebub was the prince of false gods.

Within religious circles, the accusation of demon possession has been used as both an insult and an attempt to categorize unexplained behavior. Not only had the Pharisees disparagingly accused Jesus of using Beelzebub's demonic powers to heal people (Luke 11:14–26), but others have been labeled possessed for acts of an extreme nature.

Down through history, Beelzebub has been held responsible for many cases of demonic possession, such as that of Sister Madeleine de Demandolx de la Palud, Aix-en-Provence in 1611, whose relationship with Father Jean-Baptiste Gaufridi led not only to countless traumatic events at the hands of her inquisitors but also to the torture and execution of that "bewitcher of young nuns", Gaufridi himself.

There are 7 relevant verses (source) in the Bible which refer to Beelzebub:

Mark 3:22

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."

Luke 11:15

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."

Luke 11:18-19

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges.

2 Kings 1:2

And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness."

Matthew 10:25

"It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!”

Matthew 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."

Matthew 10:27

"What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.”

Beelzebub was also imagined to be casting his influence in Salem, Massachusetts: his name came up repeatedly during the Salem witch trials, the last large-scale public expression of witch hysteria in North America or Europe, and afterward, Rev. Cotton Mather wrote a pamphlet, titled Of Beelzebub and his Plot.

In modern culture, the mythology of Beelzebub has also loosely been used in Japanese manga of the same name; Beelzebub. Where it follows the story of a baby found to be the son of a greater demon. 

Beelzebub’s use in mythology is used as an external excuse for primal feelings amongst humans such as jealousy, lust, and rebellion. Created simply so that people can pass on misdemeanors onto a creature who is unaccountable due to not existing on any real or physical level.

Wiki

[kwebtv]

Indian Summers  -   Channel 4  -  February 15 2015 - May 15, 2016

Period Drama (20 episodes)

Running Time:  60 minutes

Stars:

Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Ralph Whelan

Nikesh Patel as Aafrin Dalal

Julie Walters as Cynthia Coffin

Patrick Malahide as Lord Willingdon

Jemima West as Alice Whelan

Roshan Seth as Darius Dalal

Lillete Dubey as Roshana Dalal

Aysha Kala as Sooni Dalal

Alexander Cobb as Ian McLeod

Fiona Glascott as Sarah Raworth

Craig Parkinson as Dougie Raworth

Olivia Grant as Madeleine Mathers

Amber Rose Revah as Leena Prasad

Rick Warden as Ronnie Keane

Tanmay Dhanania as Naseem Ali Khan

Ashna Rabheru as Shamshad Dalal

Indi Nadarajah as Kaiser

Ash Nair as Bhupinder

Series 1

Ellora Torchia as Sita

Edward Hogg as Eugene Mathers

Alyy Khan as Ramu Sood

Daniel Skitch as Shopkeeper

Anthony Theil as The Coroner

Series 2

Art Malik as The Maharajah of Amritpur

Rachel Griffiths as Sirene

Sugandha Garg as Kaira Das

Arjun Mathur as Naresh Banerjee

Blake Ritson as Charlie Havistock

[tonyellisart]

SPACE ANNEX - GRAND OPENING - MAY 9TH - 6-9PM MOMENTUM Please join us for an epic celebration for the grand opening of our new gallery - Space Annex. We've transformed an old warehouse in the historic Baker Neighborhood into a beautiful setting to showcase our talented artists. This inaugural exhibit will serve as a marker of things to come. We invited all of our artists to create one special piece for the opening and we can't wait to share them with you. GRAND OPENING: THURSDAY MAY 9TH 6-9PMSPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY HANNAH KAHN DANCE COMPANY (our awesome neighbor) 8PM EXHIBITION DATES: MAY 9TH - JUNE 15THSPACE ANNEX - 95 S. CHEROKEE ST - DENVER - CO - 80223 FEATURING NEW WORK BY: MARKS AARDSMA I PATRICIA AARON I MONICA AIELLO I TYLER AIELLOROBIN AULT I STEVEN BARIS I PATTIE LEE BECKER I HEATHER BENTZRAMON BONILLA I PAUL BROKERING I FREA BUCKLER I JUDY CAMPBELLTAIKO CHANDLER I NANCY CHARAK I DIANE CIONNI I RIMAS CIURLIONISJODIE ROTH COOPER I JEFF CURRY I HAZE DIEDRICH I MADELEINE DODGEGRAEME DUNCAN I PAUL ECKE I MIGUEL EDWARDS I TONY ELLISJOSHUA ENCK I ANTHONY FALCETTA I MARCUS FITZGIBBONSKAREN FREEDMAN I AMBER GEORGE I JANE GUTHRIDGE I MICHAEL HEDGESHOWARD HERSH I RUTH HILLER I SCOTT HOLDEMAN I ANNA ELISE JOHNSONJEFF JUHLIN I NANCY KOENIGSBERG I WENDY KOWYNIA I KARINE LÉGERVIRGINIA MAITLAND I DAVID MARSHALL I FRANK MARTINEZ I HYLAND MATHERJOANNE MATTERA I SKYLER MCGEE I DIANE MCGREGOR I LEWIS MCINNISIAN MCLAUGHLIN I YIANNI MELLIOS I JEAN PIERRE MORINCONNOR O’DONNELL I SUE OEHME I REGULA ONSTAD I COREY POSTIGLIONELISA PURDY I MIKE RAND I LYNDA RAY I SANGEETA REDDYREBECCA RUTSTEIN I JULIA SANDERS I KAREN SCHARER I BEN SCHWABSTEPHEN SHACHTMAN I BILL SNIDER I BETSY STEWART I WILLIAM STOEHRKRISTA SVALBONAS I SHARON SWIDLER I CUONG TA I PHILIP TARLOWDEBRA VAN TUINEN I JEFF WENZEL I JEFF GLODE WISE I JOHN WOODNICK YOUNG

[thetomorrowseries]

“What's the future? It's a blank sheet of paper, and we draw lines on it, but sometimes our hand is held, and the lines we draw aren't the lines we wanted.”

[buildarocketboys]

Oh! The one good thing about that trailer tho was there was a girl who kissed Madeleine! Are we gonna get queer Madeleine after all?? Bc I got those vibes from the very first episode and I'd love to be proved right

[jamesmoriartyfromit]

[supersuicide]

via https://madeleine-ferguson.tumblr.com/post/184185274318/sheryl-lee-brenda-e-mathers-photographed-by

[buildarocketboys]

awwww remember how i shipped madeleine and alice for all of one episode honestly much better than either of them with ralph tbh

[jamesmoriartyfromit]