#Manchester Photo Booths

[pink-dino]

The Queen is Dead (Manchester 2024) Day 1 🎀 (June 15th 2024, Saturday)

Set in the historical venue of Victoria Baths, this event was indeed unique!

My favorite part was ofc meeting mutuals. Tina ( @snow_priestess on IG) is such a major fashion inspiration. Actually seeing her and buying something from her booth was so fun!

Same goes for Krys ( @ hasenlace on IG) who I usually only see during special occasions. So I had to to travel to Manchester to see them even though we both live in Germany. 🥹 Coincidentally, we both wore pins from the same German artist on our collars, that was fun!

And Josine ( @ josinemaaike on IG) has been my fashion icon for years!! I'm so happy we finally got to meet. 💗

What occured to me during Sunday: The necklace I wore with my coord was actually the first ever egl / kawaii accessoire I bought during my first convention. I'm so happy I still wear it almost 10 years later! 🎀💗

One of the main events of that day was the fashion show, featuring Haenuli and Atelier Pierrot as the main brands, but also Wirehead, R. R. Memorandum, Distant Melody, Starlusthats, I do declare, Summertales Boutique, Naddine Atelier and more!

Mandatory group photo of the german + austrian folk at the event 💗 (aka our discord server group photo)

[lethalchiralium]

That's... not really (?) a request the lyrics just reminded me of simon riley:

And I've been meaning to tell you

I think your house is haunted

Your dad is always mad and that must be why

And I think you should come live with

Me and we can be pirates

Then you won't have to cry

Or hide in the closet

And just like a folk song

Our love will be passed on

Please picture me

In the weeds

Before I learned civility

I used to scream ferociously

Any time I wanted

Sweet tea in the summer

Cross my heart, won't tell no other

And though I can't recall your face

I still got love for you

Pack your dolls and a sweater

We'll move to India forever

Passed down like folk songs

Our love lasts so long

(But in case you see potential and feel like it ofc: imagine him and a girl in middle school. They were very close, told each other a lot... so much so that everyone around them thought they were dating but they were just best friends (not really but too young to understand just how deeply they loved each other) and got separated over time and lost contact.) Anyway... hope you have a good day 😊

in honor of speak now (taylor’s version) and of folklore by taylor swift, i give you this

When he saw you again, it was like his lungs were ripped out of his ribcage by an ungodly force.

Your mesmerizing smile made his heart flutter and at that moment, he wished he could change things. Change every time he hid in his closet, change the moment he had to leave you, and change the moment of when he knew he loved you from a desolate night in the arid desert of Mexico to a night where your head was cuddled on his chest, both of you underneath your pink and fluffy blankets when you were both fifteen. He would change the way he left you to believe he had died.

His heartbeat was in his throat, lips dry as he hoped you were alright. He wanted to tell you that he had kept the Manchester United pin you gave to him when you were both fourteen, that it had the needle snipped off so it could settle in his chest pocket of his tactical vest. He hoped you still had that photo booth photo of him and you that was forever saved in your wallet since thirteen.

He wanted to tell you that he still remembered those nights under the stars on the swings, he remembered you fighting off his bullies when you two had first met with a brick in hand, pink lip gloss smile, and scraped up knees. He remembered you pulling him out of that closet at fourteen as his father screamed downstairs, out of his window, in the dark and out of harm. You tucked him into your perfume-drenched pink blankets and wrapped your arms around his bruised chest, hand holding the back of his head to your collarbone as your lips whispered promises into his once bloodied hair.

Don’t walk away. Don’t walk away. Don’t walk away.

You were as beautiful as the day he had left, his breath was shallow and his legs were paralyzed as he watched you determinedly walk past him and towards your destination. He had memorized that walk long ago, one you always made towards him with the world’s brightest smile on your face.

He’d wait all night for you, or until his heart explodes, he had remembered thinking one night as you held his hand, tugging him towards your home. “You can run away with me any time you want, Simon Riley.”

The silence of the people around him made his body be set ablaze, his chest felt as if it was being electrocuted as your smile grew wider.

Do it. Do it now, do it!

Please, don’t walk away, Y/N. Please, not when I finally have you back.

He stood and moved into the middle of the aisle of the church, the priest already speaking the words he needed to hear as he gazed upon your beautiful wedding dress and your boring groom.

Speak now, Simon.

Run away with me any time you want, Simon Riley.

“I object.”

let me know if i should have a part two 🫶

Copyright © 2023 lethalchiralium. All rights reserved.

[polar-bears-making-pancakes]

Hellooooo!! Quick question, what’s the dealio with the guys (Dan and Phil?) you’re always posting about? How long have they been together for bc they seem super crazy happy together (this is me wanting to learn about the ppl that are living in ur head rent free tell me all the lore )

well, okay okay, imagine it's a year 2009. Dan Howell, a teen from small and smelly Reading, UK dealing with internalised homophobia, complicated family dynamic, and school bullying, just becomes 18 years old. He has his favourite youtuber Phil Lester, known as AmazingPhil, who posts videos on yt since 2007, and has a cool emo myspeace profile. Dan decides to comment on every single one of his posts, replay to his tweets, comment on his videos etc. He also posts cute photos of himself on his myspace. Phil succumbs to his charms and they become fast online friends. Dan starts posting "naked booths" on daily booth, saucy photos of himself. They constantly interact publicly and stake claim of each other mentioning the hours upon hours they spend together on skype. Then they meet up on October 19th 2009. Dan takes the train to Manchester, they, luckily for us now, document most of that time online. Dan stays with Phil in Rawtenstall for a few days when Phil's parents are absent. And the rest is history.

Now they are 15 years together this year. And this is not a fanfic, this is phan reality. I really recommend you watch basically I'm gay by Daniel Howell if you want to know Dan's perspective of everything. If you want gay entertainment I recommend Dan and Phil Games channel :D

[assortedseaglass]

The Seamstress & The Sailor - Chapter Ten

Tom Bennett x OFC

[Masterlist]

Warnings: Swearing (v strong), suggestive language, ableist language, World on Fire spoilers.

Word Count: 7.4K

Note: Surprise! New chapter a day earlier than planned. I took down the poll as most people were voting for one longer chapter, so here it is!

January 1940

The new decade began blissfully for Bess Vaughn. True to his word, Tom indeed popped round the morning of New Year’s Day, on the pretense of spending time with Albie. When Cora told him that Albie was still in bed, having “over-exerted” himself the night before, Tom said he’d wait and was contented to listening to the sisters’ chatter while running his finger along Bess’ thigh under the table.

When Albie came down, washed but bedraggled, all but Bess and Tom had left for work. Not a minute after Bess had seen them off did Tom run back in.

“Told your brother I forgot something.”

“And did y-” Tom silenced her with a kiss. Then another. And another.

“Albie...will be wondering…where you are-” Bess said between kisses.

“Let him wait,” And with his hands cupping Bess’ neck, Tom rolled his tongue over hers and melted at the contented sigh it produced from her. “Still on for later?” He asked when he pulled back to look at her.

“Still haven’t found another girl that wants to go with you?”

“No need when I’ve got the best girl in Manchester.”

“Only Manchester?”

“Well, you didn’t see some of the girls in Port Stanley.” Bess slapped his shoulder. Tom winked and darted into the street to meet Albie.

“I’m off to see the girls,” Bess announced that evening once her family had demolished their dinner.

“Give Roberta and Hattie my love,” Fergal said from his armchair. “Back by eleven,” he waggled his finger jovially.

“Yes, dadda.” Bess kissed his cheek and left by the back gate. The first thing she saw when she stepped into the ginnel were those blue eyes gleaming at her. A cigarette hung jauntily from his lips. Bess raised her eyes at his attire; navy slacks and jumper underneath his blue jacket.

“Got to get a few perks from being in the navy,” he said with a smirk.

Bess tutted and took the cigarette from his lips, puffing smoke seductively into his face when she was finished. Every now and then, Tom made a gesture so unexpectedly romantic Bess’ heart skip a beat, and just that happened when he took Bess’ hand in his, kissed it and led her on their way. “Belle Vue, here we come.”

Tom was right. Wearing a uniform did bring its perks. Free entry to Belle Vue, a free round at the bar, free entry to rides and numerous handshakes.

“Do you always take girls on such cheap dates?” Bess teased. Tom answered by buying her candyfloss, and winning prizes for her at the coconut shy and hoopla. When Bess said she’d rather the coconut than the prize, Tom laughed.

“What? I’ve never had one before.”

“Good luck fitting that in your purse.” Once more, he was right, and Bess carried the coconut around for the rest of the night, the only exception when she left it at the carousel operator’s booth. Bess begged and begged Tom to join her, and he agreed on the condition he didn’t have to sit on a horse. Owing to the restriction of her skirt and bulk of her coat, Bess sat side saddle, with Tom stood at the neck of the painted horse. When the carousel sprang into life, the jaunty tune rattling around Belle Vue, Bess squealed. Tom never thought stoic Bess Vaughn capable of such a noise, and he watched her glee with awe. Bess caught him staring her.

“Mam loved the carousel. She used to bring us down when we were little and it was all we wanted to go on.” Tom, too, used to come down with Lois and his mother. Somewhere was a photo of the three of them stood by the carousel, taken by Douglas. Behind them the carousel was a blur, spinning out of reach of the camera’s capabilities.  

On the horse behind Bess and Tom, a little girl was being held by her older brother. She couldn’t care less about the carousel. Her eyes were watching Bess’ hair, the greens and pinks of the bulbs giving the copper a hazy halo. Bess tipped her head back in enjoyment, and the little girl’s eyes lit up. Tom watched the little girl watching Bess and smiled. He should have done this sooner.

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“How was it last night?”

“Eh?” Tom looked from the cigarette dwindling between his fingers to his father.

“Last night? How was it?”

Tom nodded. “Fine, yeah.”

“Lads all ok?”

“Yeah, they’re good.”

“Walter Watson’s in a bit of a state. Saw him this morning at the corner shop.”

“Probably deserved it,”

Douglas hummed. Pacifist or not, after Walter terrorised Bess as a girl, Douglas had considered giving him a thump from time to time. The pair fell silent and an unspoken conversation hung in the air. They both knew it was coming, but who would be first over the breach? A minute passed.

“I thought I was finally doing something for the right reasons. Something good.” Tom didn’t look his dad in the eye. His voice was firm, quiet. “But when I came up for air, and I saw our lads lying dead, something of them looking more like meat than bloke to be honest dad,” Douglas flinched, heartbroken his son now had the same memories as he. “I knew the German lads had the same.” Tom paused, waiting for his dad to speak. When he didn’t, Tom continued.

“I was right to be bad all along. So, where’s the sense of risking my life?” he caught Douglas’ eye. “You know? I’m-I’m done.”

“I think you should go back.” Douglas said without hesitation. Tom’s eyes fluttered with confusion and his anger roared into life.

“You want me to go back? To war? That you hate?”

“No, don’t want you to go back,” Douglas pinched the bridge of his nose. If Etta was here, she’d know what to say. “I just think that you should.”

Tom felt like he’d been kicked. “Because it’s me?”

“And because it’s me.” Douglas said quickly, making sure Tom didn’t misunderstand. “They’ll use you, to get at me. And they won’t register you in a million years”.

“You don’t know that dad,” Tom whispered, though he already sounded defeated.

“If the peace movement accept any lad who goes AWOL, then it’ll make us look like we’re encouraging deserters, no genuine conscientious objectors-” Douglas spoke with more passion than his son had heard in a long time, and wished his father would speak about him that way.

“And I’m not genuine? You don’t think I’m genuine?” Were it not for the sadness creeping into his bones, he would have screamed at his dad. Douglas watched him momentarily.

“Are you, son?” Father and son watched each other.

“I can be.” Tom whispered, sincere. “If you coach me.”

Douglas ignored this statement, Tom at once confirming the intentions of his plan to desert and admitting his fear. “And what if you get court-martialled for going AWOL? You could be hanged for desertion,” Tom’s eyes flickered to his cigarette and the thought of Bess. “Or getting beat up to a pulp in prison every day, eh?”

Tom nodded with a finality that made Douglas’ heart sink. “You know what? Yeah, you’re right.” He finished his cigarette. “Daft idea.” The chair scrapped against the kitchen floor as he stood and made his way to the stairs.

“No,” Douglas tried to keep his son close. “I just think you should think it through,”

“Yep. Not my strong suit dad.” Upstairs, the door to Tom and Lois’ room slammed.

Lois arrived home that night to find Douglas reading by the fire.

“Tom out?” She asked, hanging her coat and putting the kettle on the stove.

“He’s upstairs.” Douglas said without looking up.

“Nice evening?” This time her father didn’t reply. “House full of bloody cheer.” Lois roughly placed a cup of tea in front of her father, still angry at him for telling Robina Chase she was expecting Harry’s baby, and made her way upstairs.

“Tea for you.” Tom was lying against his pillow in his undershirt, smoking a cigarette and sulking. He didn’t reply, not even a word of thanks. She knew of her brother’s plan to desert and had spent the last few days waiting for her father to tell Tom he should go back. Deep down, although she selfishly wanted him to stay, she knew her father was right. “Do you want me to talk to dad?”

“He's a pacificist, but he wants me to go back and start killing people. Why don’t you ask him to explain that?” Tom gesticulated with his cigarette, his face a mixture of confusion, hurt and disgust.

“Maybe he thinks you aren’t a very good shot,” Lois ginned over her cup of tea.

“Ha-ha,” Tom said sarcastically. “That one of your ENSA jokes?” Lois’ smile faded when she saw the sadness in her brother’s eyes. “You know, for a moment, I thought he might be pleased. Just for a moment-”

“Go back down there and fight him then! Don’t just give up!”

“Why does it matter to you either way?” Tom was trying to keep his anger at the situation in check. It would be a damn sight easier if people trusted in him enough to speak their mind rather than this cryptic nonsense.  

“I need you to stay here. I need my brother.”

“What, you? You’ve never needed anything off me, all my life.” Lois looked away from him when he asked this and sipped her tea. “Fine.” Tom rolled over on his bed, not bothering to get under the covers. After a few minutes, he heard Lois put her cup on the table and switch off the light. Through the thin curtains, Tom could see the faint glow of the house across the street, and he thought of Bess. She’d be sat by the fire now, reading or playing the piano. Imagining the warmth of her soft lips and dark gaze of her eyes, Tom drifted into a sleep not plagued by nightmares, but filled with warmth and copper hair and ragtime.

✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼

“What did you tell them?” Bess panted, tucking a stray curl behind her ear as she approached Tom. The long coat she wore over her jumper and slacks was undone, and she looked unusually agitated.

“That I’m ill, what about you?” He said with a smile, watching as she tried to regain her composure.

“That I had a meeting with Robina Chase about her spring wardrobe. Dot wanted to stay behind and chat about it. Almost had to force her out the door, didn’t want to miss the showing.”

Gone with the Wind was still on at the picture house, and Tom had bought the two of them tickets. Quite honestly, he couldn’t care less about a three hour melodrama, but spending those hours with Bess in a darkened room certainly enticed him. By the time the afternoon showing had finished, Bess was glad for the winter. Four o’clock and the sun was just setting, perfectly hiding the mess of her hair and lipstick. Tom, rebellious by reputation, looked devilishly dishevelled and no one batted an eyelid at his swollen lips and tousled hair. In case Douglas was home from work, or Lois back from visiting friends, Bess led Tom down the ginnel behind the Vaughns’.

“The girls and dadda won’t be back from their shifts for at least another hour, and Albie’s paying Frank a visit.”

Tom took a step closer to Bess and held the lapels of her coat. “Miss Vaughn, are you inviting me inside?” He looked down his nose at her, chin turned up so she couldn’t reach his lips. Tom pulled her coat so she stumbled into his chest.

“I’m prepared to ruin my reputation for you, Mr Bennett.” At the suggestiveness in her voice, Tom’s eyebrows raised and he fought with every fibre not to lift her over his shoulder and carry her inside. She unlatched the gate and unlocked the yard door. No sooner had he stepped inside was her hand in his, leading him silently up the stairs. This wasn’t the first time Tom had been in the Vaughn girls’ bedroom, but it was the first time he had been in through the door. And during the day.

Bess made her way to the wardrobe by the vanity and hung up her coat. Tom looked at around; it was so different to the room he shared with Lois. There were dried flowers in a vase, make up scattered across the vanity and a makeshift washing line strung up with hosiery. The blankets, clearly heirlooms or made by Bess and her sisters, were in warm, faded colours. A picture of their mother hung on the wall next to a crucifix, and as Bess turned on the lamps, a homely glow doused the room. The only things that were the same as his own room were the two beds to accommodate them all, the peeling wallpaper and the cold of the rattling windows.

“Dadda’s not hiding under the bed, you can sit down.” Bess smiled as she drew a folding partition across the corner of the room.

“Wouldn’t put it past your ‘dadda’,” Tom said as he kicked off his shoes and lay on his side.

“I know you wanted to wait, but can we tell them soon? Please-”

“I just think they’d find it odd, us having grown up together.” Tom stretched on the bed.

“I’m fed up of all this sneaking around, Tom. You’ve just got your dad and Lois, but there’s five of us here at the moment. I can’t keep it up much longer,”

“I know, I know,”

“Before you go back? Please?”

Tom nodded noncommittally. “Before I go back.” He watched as she stepped behind the screen and seized the change of subject. “Don’t you girls get undressed in front of each other? All hanging around in your underwear-”

“I can hear the smirk on your face, Tom Bennett.”

He smiled and took out his cigarettes. “Mind if I smoke?” Bess hummed by way of a reply and Tom struck a match. The light of the room flickered. Through the thin fabric of the changing screen, Tom could see Bess as she moved around in front of the lamp. Saw as she pulled her jumper over her head, then her blouse, and tossed them at the chair in the corner. Saw as she bent over to remove her slacks. Suddenly, there were her legs. There was the dip in her waist after the curve of her hip. She stretched, oh so slowly, lazily bringing her hands to her hair. Next thing, Tom watched as shadowy tendrils of hair fell around her shoulders. He'd seen a naked woman before. Didn’t really think much of it, a body was a body, a means to an end. But the suggestion of Bess awoke in him a different beast entirely. He shifted on the bed and adjusted his trousers, tantalised by this unexpected striptease. Bess disappeared from the lamplight’s reach for a moment to root around the wardrobe. When she returned and bent over to step into a skirt, Tom flung his head back against the pillow and supressed a groan. What he wouldn’t give to collapse that bloody partition and watch her shimmy back out of the skirt. A fresh jumper, no blouse, was next and she folded the screen away.

“Are you alright?” Bess asked, for Tom was lying back on the bed she shared with Dot, his hand across his eyes, cigarette forgotten between his fingers.

“Mmm,” Bess smiled at the feeble response. She never lit the lamp when she was changing, but knowing Tom was on the other side to see, it was too tempting to tease him. She laughed warmly and Tom opened his eyes. Her hair was loose, like she had just woken up, the jumper she wore too large and slumping of her shoulder a little. The skirt she had tucked it into met halfway down her calves and was cut loosely. No hosiery. Tom bit his lip and watched Bess blush as he looked her over. He continued to stare, revelling in the effect it had. Enjoying how flustered he could make the famously unflappable Bess Vaughn. Bess clearly didn’t and picked up Dot’s pillow. She flung it at Tom’s head, only to miss when he ducked with a shout and the hit her bedside table instead. A book fell to the floor.

“Bloody aggressive,” Tom muttered jokily as he leant to pick up the book. “Well, hello. Keep me on your bedside table, do you?” Between his fingers he held his photograph, which had fluttered out of the book’s pages. Bess sat beside him and took the picture, running her finger across his sepia face. She looked from the photo to the real thing beside her. One brow was cocked, mouth curved in a lopsided smirk.

“I was scared you wouldn’t come back. It was like, if I kept you where I could always see you, you wouldn’t get hurt.”

Tom shook his head, self-belief still rattled after his conversation with his father. “But why me?”

“Why not?” Bess said simply, at her quiet and secretive best. “I have something for you.” She leant across Tom’s lap and from the drawer of the bedside table, pulled out a piece of card wrapped in tissue paper and handed it to him.

The paper fell away, and the dark eyes of Bess gazed softly up at him from a photograph.

“Now I won’t have to use my imagination,”

“God, Tom,” Bess kissed him suddenly. With one hand, Tom placed the picture on the table and then brought it to fist in Bess’ loose hair. He pulled firmly and exposed her neck to him, placing lazy, hot, open-mouthed kisses to her neck. The moan that left Bess was sinful. Tom pushed her back roughly against the bed, and she had barely gasped when his mouth was on her again. Sidling up to the side of her body, Tom ran one large hand along the side of her hip, her ribcage, grazed her breast and then tangled it in her hair once again.

“Fuck,” he hissed. One of Bess’ legs had hooked around his own and brought it between her thighs. Bess pulled her face away from his and place a hand on his cheek. She studied him and tears began forming in her eyes.

“I don’t want you to go back,” she whispered.

Tom kissed the side of her head as a tear fell into her hair, brushing some of the copper away from her face. He searched her amber eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t want to go back either.”

Bess frantically kissed the corners of his mouth, his neck, the flash of collarbone exposed by his shirt. “Stay,” she whispered, continuing to pepper him with kisses until she found his mouth.

“I’m trying-” Tom said against her lips. Bess stopped.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m trying-” He huffed and sat up, leaving Bess bereft at no longer having his body against hers. “I’m trying to get dad to sign me up. As a conchie.”

“But you don’t believe in it,”

“I don’t know if I believe in killing people either.” he replied hotly. Bess didn’t say anything, just continued to look at him curiously. Tom looked at his hands, stood to pace around the room, sat at the vanity, then stood again and moved to the window. All the while Bess watched him, and waited.

“It’s just-” he turned to face her, perched at the end of the bed. For a split second, those dark eyes diverted his attention. He looked to the door instead and spoke quickly. “It’s just I fucking hated life here. Always making a nuisance of myself, disappointing dad and Lois, and with absolutely no direction. I thought that by going, I’d avoid jail, see the world and if I died then so what? Everyone would either think I was a hero or be better off without me.” Bess gasped. Her shock was not derived from his words, but from the tone with which he spoke them. He was neither angry nor sad; Tom seemed to have accepted long ago that this was other people’s opinion of him. That this was his opinion of himself. She hurried to the window and took his hands as he continued speaking.

“Out there,” he looked at their entwined fingers. “You’re just another body. Another tiny cog in the machine. And it’s exactly the same for the Germans as it is for us. We’re just pawns in some big man’s game. And watching your mates get blown to pieces-” The tips of his ears were turning pink with repressed anger. When he looked back at Bess his eyes were wild with fury. “I’m not going back to shoot at people like me. What’s the point of it all? It doesn’t stop anything. Look at our dads! ‘The war to end all wars’ they called it! What a load of fucking bollocks.” He spat and turned away. “And now…now I’ve finally got something worth staying for. Someone who doesn’t think I’m no good.”   

Slowly, Bess moved herself between Tom and the window. She placed her chin on his chest so that he was forced to look at her. “You are good, Tom. You’ve always been good.” His solemn eyes took her in. Bess let him look at her, willed him to see the honesty in her eyes. Tom was terrified of the feelings she stirred in him, but in some sick way, he loved it. He couldn’t get enough of how scared she made him of himself.  Brushing it way, his mouth twisted into a grin, and he touched a finger to his lips. Bess rolled her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Palms flat against her back, he rubbed her nose with his and kissed those delicious, rosebud lips of hers.

On the street below, Cora was walking home from work with Dot and their father, the two chattering arm in arm. Albie pushed his bike alongside them, the ticking of the wheels and clack of the girls’ shoes the only sound as the sun set.

“-and then dadda, listen to this! Then, she had the cheek to tell me that it was Henry Fonda, not Humphrey Boggart.”

“And what did you tell her, my girl?” Fergal smiled as he patted the hand of his youngest child.

“Well-” Cora smiled as Dot launched into a tirade about the factory gossip and Albie laughed at her. They were almost home, the light from the house already warming Cora after the cold walk home. She looked up. The light came not from the kitchen, which was utterly dark, but the bedroom window. The bedroom window where their sister was in a passionate embrace with Tom Bennett.

“We need to go round the back.”

“What, why?” Albie stopped pushing his bike.

“I forgot, the door jammed this morning when we left for work.” Cora was already making her way back down the street. “Remember, Dot?”

“No?” she replied, confused.

“I’ll just give it a shove-”

“Don’t be stupid, dadda!” Cora all but shouted. “We don’t need you taking it off the hinges. It’ll be easier from the inside. Hurry up, I’m freezing!”

When the door to the yard opened and the raucous voices of her family filled the small house, Bess swore and near shoved Tom out of the window.

“Steady on!” He laughed.

“They’re home,” She pushed open the sash. “Hurry up!”

“My shoes! And my coat!” Tom was halfway out of the window.

“I’ll throw them.”

“Give us a kiss,”

“Tom!”

“I won’t go without a ki-” Bess silenced him with her lips. He winked when she pulled away, and disappeared down the drainpipe. Once he was safely on the street, Bess tossed down his jacket, then one shoe-

“’What light through yonder window breaks?’” He held one hand to his chest, the other extended to the open window. Bess lobbed the second shoe at him.

“Ssh!” The door opened behind her and Bess spun round. Cora stood in the doorway.

“Bit cold to have the window open.” She eyed her sister suspiciously.

“Thought I heard something in the street, must have been you lot coming home.”

“Mmm,” Cora murmured through pursed lips and left, shutting the door behind her. When Bess looked back to the street, Tom was gone.

✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼

Next day, and Bess was stood watching the blacksmith finishing cutting the metal for her work at the factory. Hand on her hip, the other touching her mouth, she kept replaying the moment Tom pressed his body to hers on the bed. How hungry he looked for her. She shivered.

“Better come back down to earth before you get up there,” the blacksmith said, gesturing to the Lancaster plane behind her. Queenie was already at work with some of the other girls, drilling enormous rivets into the wings of the mammoth war machine as their legs dangled over the edge. Below them, Roberta was unloading equipment from a truck.

“Cheers,” Bess took the metal parts and made her way to the ladder leant against the body of the beast. Between the screeches of the drill where the screeches of Queenie’s giggles. Bess took a deep breath through her nose, determined not to let anything ruin her day. Tomorrow, Tom would either register as a conscientious objector, or go back to war. Tonight, he was taking her dancing at the Palais. Bess told the foreman she had to leave early to see her doctor. Really, she was going to walk through Alexandra Park with Tom.

The metal was hoisted up to Bess once she found her place on the wing, opposite the giggling girl, and she got to work. Queenie was harmless. Irritating, yes, but harmless. The hum of the drill drowned out Queenie’s gossip for an hour or two, but as the women polished the wing free of scratches from their work, it became impossible.

“What did you think of Hattie’s new fella, Roberta? She could do better than a farmer, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers-”

“Did you see that Gone with the Wind? I fell asleep-”

“I could never leave the house without makeup. I’d be mortified if a fella saw me without my lippy and at least some curls in my hair-” Bess held her head a little higher at this statement.

“Have you seen Walter Watson? Got beaten up on New Year’s Eve but won’t say who-”

“That battle off the coast of Argentina sounded awful. You, know, the one that Tom Bennett was in?” Bess stopped polishing when Queenie said this. It was the most sensible thing she had said all day. The moment didn’t last long. “He lost one of his little friends, Vic I think he was called. And another fella, Henry, lost an arm. Awful. But at least they have more fun than the army,”

“You think a battle where you fear being blown up or drowned is fun?” Bess put her rag down and rested one arm on her knee. She faced Queenie in challenge. The other woman didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh don’t be like that, Bess.” Queenie said, as though she were talking to a misbehaving child. “But at least they get shore leave from time to time. The army never get a break. And from what Tom said about his time in Port Stanley, they certainly have a lot of fun.”

Bess felt her cheeks redden.

“It’ll be straight to the pub for rum and beer, before hitting the town. All hands on deck there, if you see what I mean.” Bess could see Tom’s scratched writing in her mind.

“Not that they had as much fun as they’d planned, that bulldog of an able seamen Henry-” Queenie cut herself off. “I shouldn’t speak ill of a cripple. Anyway, he was breathing down their necks the whole time. Still, Tom managed to buy a little canary in Port Stanley and they placed bets on the ship for when the dear thing would lay an egg. Don’t think they could do that in the army.”

Bess’ blood ran cold. She had been with Tom almost every day since he had returned home. Nearly two weeks. When had he found the time to tell Queenie all this? Certainly not the one dance they shared on New Year’s Eve.

“How do you know all this, Queenie?”

Queenie lowered her eyes and giggled. A few of the other girls looked up or leaned in. “Well,” she said suggestively with a smile. “From Tom’s letters.”

The bell rang. Bess was first to the ladder, leaving the excited whispers above her as she landed on the factory floor. From somewhere nearby, she heard Roberta ask if she was ok. She couldn’t respond. As fast as her feet would carry her, she hurried to the changing room, removed her boiler suit and bolted to the factory gates. Shame, long buried, welled up from somewhere deep within her and fat tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Creep, ugly, Paddy, witch. A memory stirred and the stench of stale milk filled her nostrils. The image of Tom saving her from childhood taunts turned sour when she remembered his words.

“I’m not jealous of a bloke who can’t kick his way out of a wet paper bag, is shorter than your dad’s temper and dances with the only girl who doesn’t say no because she doesn’t say anything at all.”

Bess’ breath became ragged as she hurried away from Queenie fucking Warren.

“You didn’t see some of the girls in Port Stanley.”

He was just teasing, her.

“I just think they’d find it odd, us.”

He wanted to hide her.

“This is all you’re good for, Bess Vaughn.”

Walter’s voice rattled around her mind. She’d never be able to escape him, not as a girl, not as a woman. Anger rose up the hackles of her spine and, mixed with her shame, made a potent concoction.

“Perhaps you could make yourself a dress next time.”

“Teach her about dressing and acting like a woman.”

The voices of Tom, Walter, Dennis Warley and even her father hounded her, and with a gasp the first hot tear fell from Bess’ cheek. The January day stung her face, which was red with rage, and she took great lung-fulls of the crisp air as she stepped into the street. She smacked into broad shoulders and was knocked backwards. The kind, concerned face of Douglas Bennett was looking down at her. That fucking peace paper, she thought.

“Everything alright, love?” He asked, holding onto her shoulders as he tried to look at her.

“You’re an odd lass.” She thought they were friends. Wrenching herself from his grip, Bess ran down the cobbled road towards home. By the time she made it to their street, Bess’s rage had turned into full-blooded fury. Marching along the cobbles, intent on banging down the Bennett’s door, she stopped suddenly. A beautiful, burgundy Rolls Royce was parked outside her house. Matching her car, and wearing the immaculate suit that Bess had made her, was Robina Chase. However, she didn’t seem to be waiting for Bess. She seemed to be talking to someone across the road. Bess’ heart sank as she approached and overheard the conversation.

“But if you’re not a mate of his then what do you want with him? Hm?” It was Tom. Bess watched Mrs Chase’s stunned face and for the first time, she pitied her. Apparently, Tom wasn’t just a twat towards her and men that looked at him the wrong way. He was a cunt to everyone. “Did he give you the wrong change on the last bus home?” He laughed mockingly at the woman and shut the door on her.

Bess could feel her blood boiling over. “Mrs Chase!” She hurried forwards.

“Miss Vaughn?” Robina seemed stunned by Bess’ grubby attire and even more so by her dishevelled face. Bess tried to ignore her stare, and push the memory of the last time she saw Mrs Chase from her mind. Before she could say anything further, the door to the Bennett house opened.

“Hang on, missus.” Tom leant nonchalantly on the door. He needed a slapping. “I was only pulling your leg. If my dad’s got a fancy woman on the go that’s his business.”

Robina floundered. People were staring and she’d never encountered a young man like this before.

“He’s at the Tait and Somers factory. I’ve just seen him there.” Bess said quietly, and for the first time, Tom noticed her. Noticed her red cheeks and puffy eyes. Noticed the fast rise and fall of her chest. His heartbeat quickened.

“Thank you, Bess.” Robina said, jolting awkwardly. Bess thought she’d received an electric shock, but when she noticed Mrs Chase’s hand lower to her side, she realised Robina had been tempted to show her some affection. Hastily, the older woman got into her car and drove away.

“What’s happened?” Tom was at Bess’ side in an instant. “Was it Walter?”

“Get away from me.” Bess whispered lowly.

“I’ll kill him,” Tom muttered, reaching out to touch Bess. The moment his fingers made contact with her arm she pushed him away.

“I said, get away from me.” She didn’t shout, but her teeth were bared, her brows a singular straight line.

“What the fuck, Bess?” He hissed. “Tell me what’s happened-” Bess watched Tom’s own anger flare behind his eyes and she wanted to laugh. It was nothing, nothing, compared to what she was about to unleash.

“Queenie. Fucking. Warren.”  

“Eh?”

“Now I know why you told me to leave her alone.”

“What?”

“In your letter,” Bess took a sudden step forward so she was an inch from Tom’s chin. “’Lay off Queenie Warren. I know she’s annoying but she means well.”She quoted.

“Right,” he said slowly. “I still don’t understand what I’m meant to have done,”

“Then think.” Bess spat quickly.

“Bess, people are staring.”

“You normally love the attention.”

Tom stared down his long nose at her. His nostrils flared, and his mouth twitched as though he wanted to speak. There was a beat of silence, then he grabbed her arm and dragged her towards his house. “Get off me!” Bess tried to keep her feet firmly on the ground but Tom was too strong. He flung her over the threshold and slammed the door. Bess span around as Tom advanced on her.

“Someone’s put money in the metre,” he growled at her. Bess pushed him away again.

“Don’t you start on me-”

“You’re the one shouting at me like a fucking banshee!”

Bess stared at him. His brow was set into a hard line, the blue eyes shadowed beneath them were cold. The broad shoulders he’d inherited from his father were squared and pushed back, and the jaw that Bess always admired was pushed forward. He continued to look down at her. This wasn’t a defensive stance. It was a challenge. Somehow, it proved to Bess that he knew. Knew what she was about to say. The shame returned and, defeated, she spoke quietly.

“When did you start writing to Queenie?”

There was that familiar pout, just quickly, and the scrunch of his nose that he always did when he got caught. Bess took a deep, shuddering breath and Tom snapped.

“So I’m not allowed to write to other girls, am I?”

“Of course you are,” Bess drooped sadly. “It’s just-”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”

“Oh shut up, you fucking hypocrite! A more jealous man never drew breath.” Bess’ anger returned as she shrieked at him. “Going around beating up anyone who so much as looks at me.”

“I apologised about that dickhead. And I don’t see you defending me when he’s the one that got me arrested!”

“You beat him to a pulp!”

“And if he hadn’t squealed like a fucking pig, I wouldn’t have nearly been blown up!” Tom roared in her face.

“There have been other times-”

“Did you want me to leave you and Walter to it then?” Tom laughed cruelly. “Enjoying it were you?”

SMACK

Bess struck Tom across the face. The force of it caused him to stagger, strands of his perfectly set hair coming loose. He looked back at her, stunned. A red handprint was blooming on his cheek.

“Bess, I’m sor-”

“BE QUIET!” They watched each other, though Bess’ eyes were unseeing. Instead, she watched flickers of memory speed before her eyes. Everything was piecing together in her mind. There was a knock at the door. Tom pinched the bridge of his nose then opened it.

“Mrs Mason.”

“Is everything alright? I heard shouting,”

“Everything’s fine.”. Tom shut the door and turned to Bess. His rudeness made her laugh, sadly. The anger had waned once again, and her eyes were brimming with tears. He waited for her to speak.

“Of course, you’re allowed to write to other girls. And yes, I’m jealous. But when you left we didn’t have an understanding. I wasn’t your girl. I wonder if I even am now.” Tom took a step towards Bess but she held up a hand and continued. “You’re allowed to write to other girls, but what breaks my heart-what breaks my heart-” She started to cry. “What breaks my heart is that you didn’t ask Queenie to keep it a secret.”

“Bess, I-”

“Nothing’s changed, has it? It’s why you always snuck in at night, it’s why you asked me not to tell Douglas and Lois about our letters, it’s why you don’t want to go back to war, and it’s why you’ve made me sneak around like your dirty little secret. You’ve never committed to anything or anyone. It’s not because you’re a womaniser, or because you don’t believe in the war. It’s because you’re a coward.”

The anguish eating away at Tom was bulldozed by defence. “I’m a coward for not wanting to die!?”

“You’re a coward because you won’t admit it. It’s because you ‘don’t believe in war’, it’s because you ‘don’t want to go to jail’, it’s because ‘you’re a conscientious objector’. Why can’t you just admit that you’re scared? Why can’t you just admit that you’re ashamed to be seen with me?” Bess broke down before him and Tom had no idea what to do. What to say. His silence confirmed Bess’ fears. Tom Bennett was embarrassed to be seen with Bess Vaughn.

With nothing left to say, she made to leave. She tried pushing past Tom in the narrow hallway when a hand came to her waist. She stopped, waiting. Breath fluttered against her face, and all Bess wanted to do was look at him. Look at those beautiful eyes. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she watched the pulse accelerate in his neck, and the way it hollowed as he inhaled. His hand fell from her waist. The words didn’t come, and he let her go.

Mrs Mason, Mrs O’Connell and Mrs Flaherty startled as the Bennett door opened. They watched Bess stride into her own home, and scurried away when shouts and crashes emitted from the house she had just left.

 ✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼　 　✼

When Tom came downstairs the next morning, kit bag sling over his shoulder and naval uniform already itching, he scoffed at the sight of Vera on the table in her cage. He dropped the bag and Douglas looked up from his newspaper.

“I bet the fucking canary doesn’t have to go, does she?”

Douglas sighed. “Tom, I wish you’d understand, we can’t register any lad who comes back from war and says he’s a conchie-”

“It’s not any lad, is it? It’s me.” Look at me dad, look at me.

“I know, I know, and as I keep saying, that’s part of the problem – you’re my son. They’d crucify you.”

“The problem is for you- the problem is that I am your son. And you can’t see anything of me in yourself,”

“Oh, no. I can see a lot of your mother though. That bloody-minded streak of hers,”

“Nice try, dad,” Tom said bitterly, looking at the floor. “Still doesn’t taste good.”

“No.” Douglas didn’t know what to say. He never knew what to say, it seemed. He tried to find the right words but stopped when Tom’s hand appeared before his face.

“I refused to shake this lad’s hand on the Exeter. I never got a chance to put it right. It’s the only think I learned from the whole shitty thing.” Douglas’ warm hand slipped into his son’s, and overwhelmingly, Douglas didn’t want to let go. Tom nodded to himself and slipped his fingers from his father’s grasp. He shouldered his kit bag.

“Look after yourself. Keep ducking.” Lois muttered into his shoulder as he hugged her. With one last look at his father, Tom left for the station. He had thirty-five minutes until the train departed and reasoned with himself to visit the house across the road. He knocked twice and hoped the door would open. When it did, his heart sank.

“Tom! Oh, are you heading off?” Cora stepped onto the front step and wrapped her arms around him. She pulled back with a quick kiss of his cheek. “Keep yourself safe for us.”

“Thanks, Cora. Look, I haven’t got long. Bess isn’t in, is she?”

“I’m sorry, Tom. She left to deliver some clothes about twenty minutes ago. Can I give her a message?”

Tom thought for a moment. “No. No, it’s ok. Bye, Cora. Give Roger a handshake from me.” Cora chuckled and watched him walk down the road. Closing the door, she turned to the person hovering in the kitchen doorway.

“Bess-”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Bess,” Cora pleaded patiently. “You might never see him again.” Her sister turned away and trudged back to their bedroom. Five minutes later, the back door slammed, and Cora saw Bess hurrying down the yard.

She took the tram into central and sprinted to Manchester London Road station. Past soldiers, crying families, past Royal Infirmary and help needed posters. She hurried through the ticket barrier and yelled at the porter to tell her which platform was departing to Portsmouth. Steam billowed left, right and centre. Platform four. Uttering apologies and excuse me’s, Bess pushed through the crowd.

“Tom?” She was calling out to him. “Tom?” A sailor, tall and blond, was up ahead with his back to her. Bess ran forward and gripped his shoulders, but when he turned his face was brutish and rugged. Not her Tom. The doors of the train began slamming shut and she was struck by the urge to leap into a carriage.

“Tom!” Her voice was frantic now and, as the whistle blew, a sob tore from her throat. The coupling rods began turning the wheels, and the train pulled away from the platform. From a walk to a run, Bess’ feet carried her along the platform as she looked through the windows of the carriages. Maybe he didn’t go after all. Defied Douglas and registered as a CO. She saw him. His eyes, it was always his eyes, watched her sadly through the glass as she ran to keep up with the train. He stood from his seat, pulled down the window and watched as she struggled to run alongside. She was crying, and no sooner had she called his name, was she disappearing behind the steam from the engine. When the air cleared, the platform was empty.

Bess stood on the platform for an hour, buffeted by passersby, watching the spot where she last saw Tom. He was gone.

Note: I’m sorry. See you soon!  

Tags: @aemonds-wifey @multiple-fandoms-girl @jessssica1234 @babyblue711 @anditsmywholeheart @allthefandomtherapy @valerie977 @bookwyrmsblog @phantomontheinternet @chainsawsangel @greenowlfactif @thelittleswanao3 @yentroucnagol @beiigegalx @skikikikiikhhjuuh @just-emmaaaa @mefools @aquakaris @its-actually-minicika @whoknows333 @arcielee @honeymaltgelato @girlwith-thepearlearring

[johndunwin]

Two photo booths, their simple, utilitarian design stands out, evoking nostalgia. Taken in Manchester's Piccadilly, the image focuses on the empty booths, one softly lit, awaiting the next person. The scene, with its emphasis on functionality and design, offers a quiet moment of reflection in the everyday hustle

[phanlentinesup]

“the first time we met”

Over the years, Dan and Phil have told various stories of how they met. For this post, I'll just focus on the day they first met in real life, which is what Phil talks about in the Valentine's Day video. However, if you’re interested in hearing all the different versions they’ve told, and reading a quick deconstruction of the fake ones, as well as my opinion as to why they are now lying about how they met, head on over here.

They first met in person on October 19, 2009. On that day, Dan took a train to Manchester from Reading. Phil picked him up at the train station, then they went to Starbucks, visited the Apple Store, went on the Manchester Eye and then went to the Skybar. Dan spent the night at Phil’s (Phil’s parents were away on holiday), and on the next day they shot Phil is not on fire. Dan spent a second night at Phil’s house, then went back home on the 21st.

Tweet from danisnotonfire on October 7, 2009 Dan sends a picture of his train ticket confirmation to Phil. This is the train that’ll take him to Manchester on the day they’ll first meet in real life.

Tweet from AmazingPhil on October 7, 2009 In reply to Dan sending him the train ticket confirmation.

Dailybooth from Phil on October 9, 2009 Confirms his parents are leaving. "Today doing 2 weeks worth of shopping for when my parents are away."

"PARANORMAL ACTIVITY" video from AmazingPhil on October 17, 2009 [watch on YouTube] At 2:05, Phil mentions his parents are not at home.

Tweet from AmazingPhil on October 26, 2009 Indicating his parents have come back.

"I like fire and petrol" video from AmazingPhil on November 5, 2009 [watch on YouTube] At 1:24 he mentions his parents are back from America.

Tweet from AmazingPhil on October 18, 2009

Tweets and pictures from October 19 Here’s a series of tweets and pictures that they posted on that day and that gives us an idea of what they did.

12:40 PM - Dan’s train arrives in Manchester Piccadilly Train Station (time confirmed by ticket pictured above). From Dan’s formspring (Nov 25, 2009):

1:13 PM - Dan and Phil are at Starbucks.

Time unknown - At the Apple Store

3:15 PM - Dan and Phil are at the Skybar (this is the Manchester Skybar, by the way: Cloud 23)

[The timestamp on Dan’s tweet is incorrect, obviously, as he mentions the sun setting. The sun set at 6:00 PM that day, so the correct time is probably 5:12 PM]

7:24 PM:

11:57 PM - 2:22 AM - Use your imagination on this one, folks.

And the next day at noon:

Dailybooth from Phil on October 20, 2009 Filming Phil is not on fire.

"Phil is not on fire" video from AmazingPhil [watch on YouTube] Shot on October 20th, the day after they first met. [Interesting sidenote: The PINOF video is heavily edited and the clips aren’t shown in the order they were shot, as you can tell by the state of their cat face drawings. If you put the clips back in chronological order, you may notice that they took a break in the middle of filming during which a) the pillows on the bed were rearranged and b) the makeup on their noses became really smudgy. Hmm, what could they have done to cause this?]

Dailybooth from Phil on October 21 Photo taken by Dan, and comments from Phil to Dan on October 22: "come back."

Dailybooth from danisnotonfire on October 23 "Sorry I haven’t boothed in like 4 days. My head’s been swimming with all sorts of stuff." [He’d been with Phil for 3 of those last 4 days]

Screenshot comparison Notice the similar clothing.

Photo for Dan and Phil’s dailybooths that day.

Phil’s drawing for the Valentine’s Day video.

[personthattoleratesme]

soo, this is not the first time I'm getting into a fandom that's over a decade old (i seem to have a knack for it) and it's always so exciting, it almost makes me feel like an archaeologist or detective piecing together the history of an ancient civilization

well, okay, back on track:

after those initial videos i mostly watched their post 2019 joined content which turned out to be a great thing because a) there isn't that much of it, so it felt very approachable b) it helped immensely in getting to know their current selves (this probably sounds weird, what i mean is that they have changed over the course of the years (even beyond the obvious 'they are out and more true to themselves than ever before') and it was good to get to know the status quo before diving into the past) c) it's simply great entertainment

i then went on a Dan's Long Videos™️ spree, watched daily dystopia and phil's newer videos and finally gave into the urge to take a look at the tumblr fandom, which I'd been avoiding on purpose up until then because honestly, i was scared of what it would be like. i was quite pleasantly surprised at how chill is here (I won't lie though, there were a few things that almost activated my fight-or-flight reflex because they sounded a bit too similar to that fandom, but overall i have come to the conclusion that i do like it here).

anyways, at that point i would've felt pretty lost facing such a giant mountain of lore and videos if it wasn't for dan and phil and phannies being so goddamn nostalgic. just by hanging around here and watching their videos you get a pretty good idea of what is important, be it a rough timeline of what happened when and where or what the most iconic and best videos are.

i had so much fun going through the pinofs, the crafting channel, their more or less desastrous attempts at baking, the og google feud, random gaming channel vids from golf to the impossible quiz and i could go on, it is honestly addicting. it's also quite dangerous because there is always more to watch and i know that i have barely scratched the surface.

also, it's really interesting to go back to the first videos I've watched and to see how much my perspective and understanding of them has changed in that short amount of time

by now I've dialled down the binging a little bit and am just jumping from one recommendation to the next, but i do (possibly ignorantly) feel like i have the most important things covered and am now simply enjoying the ride.

if you have any personal favs you feel like i might not have seen yet, please do feel free to share them! :)

- a now very tired new phannie

anon you seem to have taken a pretty good approach. starting with the post-2019 joint content is definitely a lot easier than watching the mountain of joint content from before that. eventually you'll probably catch up on everything but in the meantime as long as you've got most of the important videos i think you'll be fine in the fandom.

i do think there's still some demon phannie tendencies here on tumblr (i include myself in that) but i think generally we do try to keep it respectful, and also we try to kind of keep it away from them and just have our demon discussions in our safe little pocket of the internet.

yeah you've truly come here at a great time in terms of nostalgia. i mean the roblox video alone is just pure nostalgia content and probably helped you get to know the lore of the iconic london apartment. and generally we're all just really sappy about them and their relationship so old vidoes and gifs are always circling around.

you just made me do a deep dive into all of their channels to remember what videos they even have and i think i have a good selection of recommendations in case you haven't watched them:

the photo booth challenge (dan's channel), and the wardrobe (phil's channel), both iconic fan favorites

all of the day in the life videos (manchester, london, festive, japan, australia), they're not big on vlogging so it's nice to get the occasional little slices of their domestic life

dan's internet support group series, not too big of a series but very dan

dan's diss track, also very iconic

giving the people what they want

all of the sims videos (it's a lot, i know, but it's great to watch if you're ever bored)

overcooked, they played it a couple times on live streams and there's just something about them without any editing that's very fun to watch

keep talking and nobody explodes

the top dan memes videos, great to catch up on some lore

there's a lot more probably but these are the ones i can think of right now.

there's also a lot of lore hidden in all the live things they did, which there is a lot of cause they each used to to weekly live streams, they had a weekly radio show, and then the lockdown stereo shows. i would recommend just looking up some compilations of those, they usually contain a lot of the important lore moments. the stereo shows are quite fun to listen to as podcasts, so i would recommend doing that. also because it's a lot more recent than their old live streams it's a lot more relevant.

anyway, another very long answer. if you have more things to say feel free to do so :)

[survey--s]

469.

What is the best part of your life?  I feel like I’m in it, to be honest. I’m married, healthy, happy, child-free, earning a decent income and have no real stresses to worry about.

Do you care about gun laws? Not really, in the sense that I live in the UK and we have gun restrictions in place already. Knife crime is a MUCH bigger thing here and you can’t really legislate against that as much, for obvious reasons.

Would you ever consider getting a facial piercing? I’ve had my nose pierced for about a decade but I’m not really interested in any others.

Do you listen to '80s metal? Sure, I listen to songs from loads of different genres and decades.

Do you like acoustic or electric guitar better? Acoustic, though it does depend on how it’s being played.

What was the last major city you visited? Manchester.

Have you taken a painkiller today? Nope.

Have you ever had a pumpkin latte and if so, did you like it? I have - they’re decent enough but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get one - it’s just something I order if they happen to be available at the time.

Are you currently in a relationship? If so, do you think it will last? Yes, and yes - I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t think that.

Have you ever been camping in the wilderness? No. Part of me quite likes the idea of sleeping under the stars and having a campfire, but I suspect the reality is somewhat different lol.

Did your parents go to college? If so, what did they study? Yeah - my dad studied medicine and my mum studied nursing, though she originally wanting to be an archaeologist.

Name the strangest game you’ve ever played (video game or real game): I don’t know - nothing specific is coming to mind.

Would you pay if your dog needed an operation? Yeah, of course I would. That’s what insurance and credit cards are for lol.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in a grocery store? Live lobsters in a tank for sale.

Have you ever met any bands/band members before? Yeah, a few people.

What states have you been to in the past year? Zero.

Have you ever fostered an animal? No - I’d struggle to give them back lol.

Who did you last talk to in Facebook chat? My mum.

What do you think of guys wearing colored skinny jeans? People can where whatever they want.

Would you ever get blonde highlights? Sure, I got highlights a lot as a teenager.

Will you go to your high school reunion? Fuck no.

What animal have you always wanted as a pet but couldn’t have? Sugar gliders.

Have you ever been in a hospital and not felt safe? No, thankfully not.

What’s the highest fever you’ve ever had? I have no idea, I haven’t taken my temperature since I was about eight.

One thing you promised yourself you’d never do and then did? Quit my job without another one lined up. I’ve done that twice now lol.

Have you ever had to call 911? Yeah, twice for a client who was an alcoholic and in withdrawal.

Do you get along with your significant other’s friends? He doesn’t really have any friends, but the ones I know are nice enough.

Are you one of those people who will not use a public washroom? No, I use one pretty much everyday when I’m working.

What is something that you do often with your family? Go for walks.

Do you enjoy the sound of crickets at night and birds in the morning? Yeah, as long as they’re not keeping me awake or waking me up lol.

Do you need a haircut? I do.

What is the most expensive gift you have ever given someone? Uh, no idea - nothing much as I’m broke lol.

Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Yeah, when I was younger.

Do you feel bad when you kill bugs? Not really.

Do you like animal print things? No.

Do you have any pets that you had since you were born? No, we never had pets growing up.

Are all your pets micro chipped? The dog is and so is Purrlock as he was a rescue, but the others aren’t.

Would you ever cope in a jail? I mean, I’d do my best.

Have you ever seen an alligator in person? Yeah, at the zoo.

Are you a liberal? I’m more liberal than conservative.

Were you fearless or a coward in the face of the child hunter in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? I don’t even remember seeing that film. I must have done but it really doesn’t stick in my memory at all.

Did you ever hit anything while learning to drive? Yeah, but nothing major - just the curb a few times and maybe a rock?

Have you or a pet ever gotten a tapeworm? No, thankfully not.

Do you know any furries? Yeah - well, we’re acquaintances rather than anything else.

Do you snore? Steal the covers? Roll around in your sleep? I am guilty of all three of those things lol.

Is the lion the best character in The Wizard of Oz? I liked the Tin Man.

Would you immediately look for someone right after you broke up with your bf/gf? I mean, I wouldn’t do it intentionally, but I met Mike very quickly after I ended things with Chris and it worked out well lol.

Have you ever studied any new age or occult religions such as Wicca? No.

Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed? More aggressive than passive.

Are you someone who actually likes to babysit children? No, not really. I’d rather dog-sit.

Do you find any of your friends’ parents creepy or really mean? No.

Who did you last have over your house, and why were they there? Uhh, I have no idea - we pretty much never have people over lol.

Recently, who in your house has gotten on your nerves the most? I only live with Mike and he annoyed me last night by keeping me up until 2am with his ridiculous snoring.

Ever kissed a friend’s crush? No.

If something was wrong who is the first girl you would go to? My mum.

What do you dislike about your smile? I just feel like it looks really awkward.

Have you ever kissed in the snow? Yeah.

Have you ever liked a football player? Yeah, one of my ex’s was really into football.

Has the last person you kissed taken their shirt off in front of you? Yeah.

Are you good at hiding your feelings? It depends on the situation.

When was your first kiss? I was eleven and a half.

What’s your most popular post? None of them, but I don’t post on here to be popular.

Is anyone in your family over six feet tall? My maternal granddad was about 6′4″ or something, apparently.

Has anyone lost their virginity to you? Yes.

What improvement would be the most beneficial to your life right now? An unlimited supply of money would be amazing thanks.

Have you ever merged finances with a significant other? Nope. We’re married and still have separate finances and bank accounts.

What’s the least amount you’ve weighed since reaching your full height? I have absolutely no idea.

What were your high school’s team colors? Dark blue, pale blue and white.

Who were your best friends in high school? Linnet, Agnes, Kirsty, Fiona and Becca.

Have you ever been to Chicago? No, I’ve never been to the US.

Are you close with your cousins? Nope.

Are you close to any aunts or uncles? No. That’s what happens when you’re raised on the opposite side of the world to all your family lol.

What was your favorite thing to do at sleepovers when you were younger? Gossip, watch movies, tell ghost stories, have midnight feasts, dance, play games - the usual stuff, really.

Does your town have a big fountain in it? No.

What’s your favorite rock band? The Beatles.

Who’s your favorite country singer? Dolly Parton.

Has your hair color changed since you were a toddler? No.

[foolishfern]

i will continue to yap then !

no same, seeing pictures of myself other people have taken makes my skin crawl, i hate it

i say manchester but technically i’m near bury ! so it can take over an hour just to get to the city centre sometimes >_<

omg afflecks scares me so badly ! i’ve been in twice and both times i’ve had a bad experience :(

i swear there’s a craft shop in stevenson square that has a photo booth but it’s always been out of order when i’ve been in :(

what did you think of afflecks when you visited? i’m always interested in people’s perspective of manchester who aren’t local to the area !

-sage !

I’m like the yapper herder.. everyone I know just TALKS and I love it.

They need to invent pictures of yourself that make people happy and not emotionally tortured

I’m near Manchester too!! I’m about ?? 25-30 minutes away on train, so I use to visit quite often. It’s less now, as I work weekends/evenings, but I still like to go a few times a year. I might go towards the end of this month.

I’m sorry you had a bad experience at afflecks :( that sucks.

I’m an afflecks rotter tbh. When I was a teenager, I use to be one of those people who would sulk around afflecks in my band T-shirts and knee high converse. It was my fav stomping ground.

I hope you guys can find one !! If not, I’ll locate a photobooth in Manchester and send you the exact location. Down to the inches of the shop it’s in.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Olivia Booth’s newest single ‘Wasted’ offers fierce rock-pop attitude and next-level confidence in a quick-paced sound

Inspired by acts like Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender and Bastille and backed up by a band of close friends and fellow students at BIMM Manchester, Olivia Booth has been making her mark on the music scene since her 2022 debut. As she began creating while young, her work reflects many of the experiences that come with love, finding yourself and entering adulthood, and her latest ‘Wasted’ may be the most relatable to anyone and everyone.

Exploring the destructive aftermath of finding out a partner has been cheating, ‘Wasted’ follows the thoughts of a woman scorned and deserving of better, processing the realisation that her precious time and energy has been wasted on a situation that could’ve been put to bed long ago. With an experience that many can likely pin to their own experiences, it’s no surprise that despite being burnt, ‘Wasted’ rises from the ashes as one hell of an anthem that’s ready to pick itself back up and take on the world. The sound moves quickly to match the speeding thoughts and rising adrenaline that comes with the curtains falling from a false reality, swaying through eclectic beats and a distant guitar riff for a sound that races to make sense of it all. Olivia’s powerful vocals are really the main focus of it all though, powerfully climbing into a higher range and confidently simmering into sultry lows that keep her self-assured head above water, even when the rocky waves try to pull her under.

The chorus lets off an outburst of bottled-up sound, fiercely dancing through thunderous drums, shaken percussion, vigorous guitar strums and bright piano-like keys, absolutely enclasping you in a performance that’s high energy and unforgivingly bold. Taking a few moments to pause and allow the catchy hooks to engrain their way into your mind before jumping back on and off, Olivia ensures you won’t be able to get enough. You wouldn’t know she was anything other than completely in control either, singing some of the most empowering lines like ‘don’t forget to thank me first’ that allow her to regain a sense of importance that was stripped away, knowing her worth and not allowing anyone to lessen it. A slither of attitude seeps through the recounting that ‘you’re telling me that it’s fine, you wanted me on the side’, completely bewildered that anyone could possibly think she was undeserving of being loved wholly and in isolation.

Penning this partner to be a ‘master of deception’, it’s clear that ‘Wasted’ is just quite frankly over it, freeing herself of these emotions and finally ready to move forward as the icon she is. But not before letting the world know what happens if anyone does her wrong, ‘I find your secrets, I found your bed’, a clear indication that they made their bed elsewhere and they need to make peace with their poor decision to lose her. It’s loud, in-your-face and also quite a bit of fun too, with Olivia Boost impatiently ready to make her mark and leave her message. Keep listening here, you won’t regret it.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[candy-floss-crazy]

Exhibition And Promotional Carts

Custom Branded Promotional Carts and Food Trucks   Custom Catering For Exhibitions And Promotions Make your promotion the stand out one. No one really wants a cheap biro, or a squeezy ball. Give them a delicious gourmet burger, or sizzling French crepe, in a custom branded package. Not only will they thank you for it, but they will remember your brand for all the right reasons. The carts and food trucks can be branded as little or as much as you require. From a simple logo to a full vehicle wrap. Ask us for how we can help add some sizzle to your event.... Bears On Tour One of our vintage French Citroen HY vans was custom branded with a partial wrap for a series of events for the Birmingham Bears cricket team. We turned up at a number of venues around the West Midlands dispensing a range of coffees, specialist teas and hot chocolate. EY Waffle On A Stick Van Another of our little vintage vans, this time a Citroen Acadiane was pressed into service for the legal company EY, (formerly Ernst Young). We attended a major festival dispensing free waffles on a stick. The van itself drew as much attention as the free waffles. Curved Strawberries and Cream Cart Our distinctive curved candy red cart was prepared for the Thames Valley Park industrial estate to treat the residents to free strawberries and cream during Wimbledon week. Western Union Photo Booth Our traditional red telephone box photo booth was supplied for a series of Western Union events. Dispensing branded photos to promote the money transfer company. Legal And General Housing Another strawberry and cream cart. This time for Legal and General at the launch of a new housing development on the outskirts of London. Custom Ice Cream Trike For Pen Insurance Our traditional ice cream trike branded up for Pen insurance at a series of exhibitions in the Manchester Central venue. We have also supplied a number of other catering carts to other companies in the group. Custom branded carts and food trucks for exhibitions and sales promotions throughout the UK and Europe. Read the full article

[tomgroves234]

Best Photo Booth in Cheshire | Tom Groves

Why Choose Tom Groves for Photo Booth Hire in Cheshire?

There are plenty of reasons to choose Tom Groves for your photo booth hire needs. Here are just a few:

High-Quality Photo Booths: Tom Groves uses only the highest-quality photo booths for your event, ensuring that you get the best possible photos and memories.

Experienced Professionals: The team at Tom Groves has years of experience in the photo booth industry, so you can trust them to deliver the best possible service.

Customizable Packages: Tom Groves offers a range of customizable packages to suit your specific needs and budget.

Photo Booth Hire for Parties in Cheshire

Photo Booth Hire for Weddings in Cheshire

A wedding is one of the most special days in your life, and you want to make sure that every moment is captured. With Tom Groves, you can get the best photo booth hire for weddings in Cheshire, with a range of customizable packages to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a classic photo booth, a digital booth, or a green screen booth, Tom Groves has the perfect option for you.

Customizable Packages for Your Needs

At Tom Groves, we understand that every event is unique, which is why we offer a range of customizable packages to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for a basic photo booth package or a more elaborate package with props and backdrops, we can help you create the perfect package for your event.

Affordable Prices for Every Budget

Choose Tom Groves for Your Photo Booth Hire Needs

If you’re looking for the best photo booth hire in Cheshire, look no further than Tom Groves. With years of experience, high-quality equipment, customizable packages, and affordable prices, we are the go-to source for all your photo booth needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to book your photo booth hire package. Photo Booth Features and Options

Tom Groves offers a range of features and options to make your photo booth experience even more enjoyable. Some of these options include:

Green Screen: With a green screen photo booth, you can choose from a range of backgrounds to create the perfect setting for your photos.

GIFs and Boomerangs: Create fun and engaging GIFs and Boomerangs to share on social media.

Props: Choose from a range of props to add some extra fun to your photos.

Customized Backdrops: Choose a customized backdrop to match the theme of your event.

Why Photo Booth Hire is a Great Idea

There are plenty of reasons to consider photo booth hire for your event. Here are just a few:

Create Memories: A photo booth is a great way to create lasting memories that you and your guests can cherish for years to come.

Entertainment: A photo booth provides endless entertainment for your guests, ensuring that everyone has a great time.

Customization: With customizable packages and options, you can create a photo booth experience that perfectly matches the theme of your event.

Book Your Photo Booth Hire Today

If you’re ready to book your photo booth hire in Cheshire, contact Tom Groves today. We offer a range of customizable packages to suit your specific needs and budget, and our team of experienced professionals will ensure that your event is a success. With high-quality equipment, affordable prices, and a reputation for excellence, Tom Groves is the go-to source for photo booth hire in Cheshire and Manchester. Contact us today to learn more!

[diamondleisure]

Standard post published to Diamond Leisure at May 24, 2023 11:00

Jukebox Machine Hire Manchester

If you own a business, you always look for other ways to keep guests entertained. Using items such as a jukebox machine and giving guests the option to choose the music is an underrated approach. A jukebox allows people to choose their music, and Diamond Leisure’s jukebox machine hire offers you an extensive catalogue of music. We have various jukeboxes for hire, such as Classic Jukeboxes, Venue Hub Vide, Playdium, and Angelina. The Playdium and Angelina jukeboxes come complete with a Photo booth so users can upload images directly to social media. Exposing your business further and for free amongst social circles online.

Learn more

source https://local.google.com/place?id=17620602622588382051&use=posts&lpsid=CIHM0ogKEICAgICx_enIBw

[boothorium]

Create Lasting Memories with Boothorium's Photo Booths for Parties in the UK

If you're planning a party or event in the UK, you might be looking for ways to add some extra fun and excitement for your guests. One great option to consider is a photo booth from Boothorium. With their high-quality equipment and excellent service, Boothorium can help you create memories that your guests will cherish for years to come.

Boothorium offers a range of different photo booth options to suit different events and budgets. Their classic photo booth is a popular choice, as it comes with a range of different props and backdrops to create fun and creative photos. They also offer a green screen photo booth, which allows you to choose any background you like for your photos, whether it's a tropical beach, a city skyline, or something else entirely.

Another option to consider is their magic mirror photo booth, which is a full-length mirror that takes photos and prints them out instantly. This is a great choice for events where guests might want to take full-body shots, such as weddings or proms. Boothorium also offers a selfie pod, which is a more compact and portable option that can be set up almost anywhere.

In addition to their high-quality equipment, Boothorium also offers excellent service to ensure that your photo booth experience runs smoothly. They provide an attendant who will set up the booth, help your guests with any questions they might have, and ensure that the equipment is running smoothly throughout the event. They also offer a range of customization options, such as personalized backdrops and prints, to help you create a unique experience for your guests.

Boothorium is based in the UK and covers a wide range of areas, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, and more. They offer competitive pricing for their photo booth services This makes them a great choice for events of all sizes, whether you're hosting a small birthday party or a large corporate event.

Overall, a photo booth from Boothorium is an excellent choice for adding some extra fun and excitement to your next party or event in the UK. With their high-quality equipment, excellent service, and range of customization options, you can create a memorable experience that your guests will love.

For More Info:-

Photo Booth for Party

Hire Photo Booth for Party

[manchestergalore]

Fountain Street, Booth Street corner, Manchester  

1969

Same view on google maps

[jstxnes]

Toying with Him - John Stones

A/N: A story based on the photo below. It had to be done 😏

“Let’s go out, come on.” You mumble to you friends who were sat opposite you at the restaurant you’d all ended up for dinner. Yes, you had suggested a meal and they were more than willing but going out after? Not so much.

“It’s already late and we all have work tomorrow.” One of your friends chuckled, downing the last of her wine. “And you’ve had enough.” Your other friend glanced at your empty glass. You’d had a bottle, not two.

“Fine, then I’ll go by myself.” You shrug, getting up and grabbing your coat, pulling it on. You just wanted to go out for a couple of drinks. Work had been tough and it felt like forever since you were out and just let loose so you took it on yourself to do what you wanted to do.

“Y/N, wait.” Your friends sigh as they grab their coats and follow you. “A few drinks and that’s it..” They roll their eyes with a laugh as you hug them both. “Come on, let’s go and cause havoc.” You grin, walking into the Manchester night towards the clubs.

“This one.” You grin as you nod towards the roped entry, a red carpet laid out before it as you show your ID to the security standing on the door and lets you all through. You make your way downstairs, the music thumping and lights shining and make your way to the bar, ordering shots and drinks for the three of you.

You felt like it had only been about an hour that the drinks were flowing, you were dancing and your head was pounding but it had been about 3 and it was coming up about 1 in the morning. Your friends had tried to get you to leave multiple times but you weren’t having any of it. “This is the last one and then we’re taking you home.” Your friend sighs as you go to order another drink.

“I’ll get it.” A man’s voice pops up from beside you. You look over at him, telling him not to bother before you try and stop the following words coming out, but you couldn’t. “You’re John…Stones.” You mumble before covering your mouth, letting out a laugh. He can only chuckle and nod. “The last time I checked, I was.” He gives you a grin and passes you the drink over that he’d ordered for you as well as keeping one in his hand for himself. “I’m over here with a few friends if you want to join me?” He nods towards the booth they were settled in. You look at your friends who can’t help but laugh and shake their heads. “I’ll make sure she gets home, I promise.” He smiles. “I’ll call you when he has me in a taxi and when I’m inside..” You insist, nodding your head. They give in and nod. “Please make sure she gets home okay.” Your friend looks at John. “We know where you work.” They chuckle before making sure you were okay before leaving.

“They’re funny.” You chuckle as he helps you into the booth and sit down beside him, sipping on your drink. “What are you doing out? I mean, I didn’t know you could with what you do and stuff?” You ask him, seeing him chuckle slightly. “We can sometimes, when they’ve given us a few days off. I still have to go to the gym tomorrow but luckily that’s about 20 steps from by bed.” He sips on his drink.

You nod, sipping on your own drink. “Makes sense.” You smile as you look around the booth, seeing his friends laughing and joking. “Didn’t wanna hang out with them?” You ask with a grin as he shakes his head. “I saw you..” He smiled, leaning back as his eyes catch yours. You feel your cheeks heat up as you glance down at the drink in your hand as your hear him. “Cute..”

John smiles over at you before looking away. He felt nervous and he had no idea why. You were beautiful and he saw that, even in the drunken state you were in. He found it funny, in a good way. He’d seen plenty of girls and he wasn’t stupid, he knew he could have any girl he wanted but there was something about you that just caught his eye and he couldn’t keep them away from you.

You sit back, feeling his eyes burn into you. He intimidated you but you weren’t going to let him know that. As far as he was concerned, his eyes were on you and that was it. “So..” You lean back against his shoulder and glance up at him, feeling the warm of his body radiate off him. He looked good. Really good. White button up shirt, sleeves rolled and jeans. You literally wanted to drool on him.

“So..” John chews on his bottom lip as he leans down towards your ear. “You look beautiful tonight, I hope you know that.” He whispers as you close your eyes for a moment. You could smell the mix of alcohol and aftershave coming off of him and it made you weak at the knees.

“I do..” You smile to yourself as you look up at him. “Thank you for letting me know though, I do appreciate it.” You finish your drink and place it down on the table before leaning back against him again. You shift slightly, biting your lip as you watch him for a moment. Your fingers move against the buttons of his shirt for a moment, trailing up to the opened button at the top, your fingers gazing over them, missing the patch of bare skin on his chest. You feel him intake a breath, smirking slightly to yourself. “You okay?” You ask as he nods. “Yeah..” He lets out a breath. “Course.”

You grin and nod your head as you pull your hand away, feeling him relax once more as you reach over to pour yourself a drink from the bottles they had. You knew his eyes were on you the whole time and you loved that you were toying with him. You sit back down, crossing your legs, only making the dress you were wearing shorter as it rode up your legs as you take a sip of your drink.

You move your hand against his thigh, unknowingly as you sit beside him, feeling him tense once again. You couldn’t help but smirk to yourself as he tries to ignore it and make out like he was okay. You knew he wasn’t and you loved it. “I like this shirt you have on..” You move your hand once again, trailing the buttoned up shirt to the open button at the top. This time your fingers brush against the skin of his chest, feeling him shiver beneath your touch. You wanted him. But again, he wasn’t going to know that. Not yet.

“You suit it..” You whisper into his ear as you pull yourself away and down the rest of the drink you had. “And as lovely as this has been, John.” You smile at him. “I need to get home.” You breathe out as you grab your coat. “Let me..make sure you get home okay. I need to head back too.” He clears his throat as he turns away to grab his jacket, sorting himself out also. “Problem?” You ask, biting your lip as you see him shift his jeans slightly as he shakes his head. “Nope.”

You grin, nodding as you say bye to the others and also letting your friends know you were on the way home as John orders a car. “Yours or mine?” He whispers from behind. You feel the butterflies in your stomach as his warm breath hits the side of your neck. “I’m going to mine…but I’m sure you’ll find your way back to yours.” You grin as you both get into the car that had arrived. “Nice try though..” You smile cheekily at him. All he can do is shake his head.

What he didn’t know is that you’d left your number in his jacket pocket. If he was smart and found it then he’d get anything he wanted. You just knew he didn’t know that. Just yet anyways.