#Norton Common

[starvingxxxsiren]

"that's so me!"

...I say, and it's a picture of a 30 year old man.

[intuitive-spontaneity]

[jils-things]

been brainstorming about making an irene skin to match with his soul ca.tcher skin - i reaaally love the dia de los muertos inspired outfit he has (primarily death inspired, with life/flowers aka marigolds as the secondary design) and i was thinking to do something similar for her but instead its primarily life/flower inspired, with death as the secondary design - and realized that i could play with some hanahaki inspired concepts. im talking about the thought of flowers presented all over her dress, the trope isnt applied to their relationship. just the dress. the idea of plants slowly covering her appearance is already spooky of a concept and i like it.

and then i suddenly recall the concept of "sprouting" in grim fandango where dead individuals (or skeletons of course) get "sprouted" which is basically flowers covering their being. its spooky and i love it....

i did have that conceptualized years ago for irene, but she appeared more nymph/fairy like, so im gonna redo that and make it more spooky hehehehe

THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT IS DWELLING IN ME CHAT !!!!

[vampoccult]

idv headcanons (featuring norton + nortnaib) 

im awake and i got a test on thursday. tomorrow i got a 2 hour practice with tutoring in the morning. instead of going to sleep at 12 am, I decided to write some of my norton headcanons with a little bit of nortnaib because i am mentally unwell. (I have a fic abt nortnaib in the works so don't stay in tune for that)

☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽☽

norton subconsciously scratches the burns marks that adorn his arms whenever he's nervous. + whenever he talks to someone he would point it away from them.

I know it isn't canon but i feel like norton would be snarky and mocking to others. would make fun of them a lot. however, he only does this to people he's close with unless its something related to anger.

inferiority and superiority complex. at the same exact time

has a hard time accepting accountably, but once he's alone and away from everyones eyes he would beat himself up about it.

only cares about himself but is quite sensitive to others at the same time.

ignores you if you piss him off.

doesn't typically care about anyone else, BUT if he were to get into an argument with him he would almost always win. somehow knows every piece of dirt about you and uses it against you. keeps grudges.

hates the dark. that's an automatic given.

ur probs thinking "this shit has nothing to do with naib. you fucking liar." and you'd be completely right

I think that naib would know how to deal with everything nortons has going on actually. for example, when he gets scared at being in the dark or goes through random meltdowns, I just have a feeling that naib would know exactly what to do. could this be because of his past in the military, seeing men in similar situations? idfk lmfao go ask a theorist.

both of them have loads of scars, but I don't think naib is that insecure about that as much as norton is. he is typically the one to reassure norton that his scars make him who he is.

there's always light in nortons room, and naib makes sure to keep it on for him consistently.

+very random one but they would both curse each other out, sometimes doing it in their native language. norton calling naib a bitch in Spanish and naib clapping back in an instant with Nepali. they don't really understand wtf the other is saying but the anger in their voice is all the same.

jesus fucking christ

[ejunkiet]

goes to see a play based on a book a friend described as “torture porn”

nearly faints during the first hour after it triggers a panic attack

lesson learned

[justalittlesolarpunk]

I’ve teased it. You’ve waited. I’ve procrastinated. You’ve probably forgotten all about it.

But now, finally, I’m here with my solarpunk resources masterpost!

YouTube Channels:

Andrewism

The Solarpunk Scene

Solarpunk Life

Solarpunk Station

Our Changing Climate

Podcasts:

The Joy Report

How To Save A Planet

Demand Utopia

Solarpunk Presents

Outrage and Optimisim

From What If To What Next

Solarpunk Now

Idealistically

The Extinction Rebellion Podcast

The Landworkers' Radio

Wilder

What Could Possibly Go Right?

Frontiers of Commoning

The War on Cars

The Rewild Podcast

Solacene

Imagining Tomorrow

Books (Fiction):

Ursula K. Le Guin: The Left Hand of Darkness The Dispossessed The Word for World is Forest

Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild-Built A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Phoebe Wagner: When We Hold Each Other Up

Phoebe Wagner, Bronte Christopher Wieland: Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation

Brenda J. Pierson: Wings of Renewal: A Solarpunk Dragon Anthology

Gerson Lodi-Ribeiro: Solarpunk: Ecological and Fantastical Stories in a Sustainable World

Justine Norton-Kertson: Bioluminescent: A Lunarpunk Anthology

Sim Kern: The Free People’s Village

Ruthanna Emrys: A Half-Built Garden

Sarina Ulibarri: Glass & Gardens

Books (Non-fiction):

Murray Bookchin: The Ecology of Freedom

George Monbiot: Feral

Miles Olson: Unlearn, Rewild

Mark Shepard: Restoration Agriculture

Kristin Ohlson: The Soil Will Save Us

Rowan Hooper: How To Spend A Trillion Dollars

Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing: The Mushroom At The End of The World

Kimberly Nicholas: Under The Sky We Make

Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass

David Miller: Solved

Ayana Johnson, Katharine Wilkinson: All We Can Save

Jonathan Safran Foer: We Are The Weather

Colin Tudge: Six Steps Back To The Land

Edward Wilson: Half-Earth

Natalie Fee: How To Save The World For Free

Kaden Hogan: Humans of Climate Change

Rebecca Huntley: How To Talk About Climate Change In A Way That Makes A Difference

Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac: The Future We Choose

Jonathon Porritt: Hope In Hell

Paul Hawken: Regeneration

Mark Maslin: How To Save Our Planet

Katherine Hayhoe: Saving Us

Jimmy Dunson: Building Power While The Lights Are Out

Paul Raekstad, Sofa Saio Gradin: Prefigurative Politics

Andreas Malm: How To Blow Up A Pipeline

Phoebe Wagner, Bronte Christopher Wieland: Almanac For The Anthropocene

Chris Turner: How To Be A Climate Optimist

William MacAskill: What We Owe To The Future

Mikaela Loach: It's Not That Radical

Miles Richardson: Reconnection

David Harvey: Spaces of Hope Rebel Cities

Eric Holthaus: The Future Earth

Zahra Biabani: Climate Optimism

David Ehrenfeld: Becoming Good Ancestors

Stephen Gliessman: Agroecology

Chris Carlsson: Nowtopia

Jon Alexander: Citizens

Leah Thomas: The Intersectional Environmentalist

Greta Thunberg: The Climate Book

Jen Bendell, Rupert Read: Deep Adaptation

Seth Godin: The Carbon Almanac

Jane Goodall: The Book of Hope

Vandana Shiva: Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture

Amitav Ghosh: The Great Derangement

Minouche Shafik: What We Owe To Each Other

Dieter Helm: Net Zero

Chris Goodall: What We Need To Do Now

Aldo Leopold: A Sand County Almanac

Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Stephanie Foote: The Cambridge Companion To The Environmental Humanities

Bella Lack: The Children of The Anthropocene

Hannah Ritchie: Not The End of The World

Chris Turner: How To Be A Climate Optimist

Kim Stanley Robinson: Ministry For The Future

Fiona Mathews, Tim Kendall: Black Ops & Beaver Bombing

Jeff Goodell: The Water Will Come

Lynne Jones: Sorry For The Inconvenience But This Is An Emergency

Helen Crist: Abundant Earth

Sam Bentley: Good News, Planet Earth!

Timothy Beal: When Time Is Short

Andrew Boyd: I Want A Better Catastrophe

Kristen R. Ghodsee: Everyday Utopia

Elizabeth Cripps: What Climate Justice Means & Why We Should Care

Kylie Flanagan: Climate Resilience

Chris Johnstone, Joanna Macy: Active Hope

Mark Engler: This is an Uprising

Anne Therese Gennari: The Climate Optimist Handbook

Magazines:

Solarpunk Magazine

Positive News

Resurgence & Ecologist

Ethical Consumer

Films (Fiction):

How To Blow Up A Pipeline

The End We Start From

Woman At War

Black Panther

Star Trek

Tomorrowland

Films (Documentary):

2040: How We Can Save The Planet

The People vs Big Oil

Wild Isles

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

Generation Green New Deal

Planet Earth III

Video Games:

Terra Nil

Animal Crossing

Gilded Shadows

Anno 2070

Stardew Valley

RPGs:

Solarpunk Futures

Perfect Storm

Advocacy Groups:

A22 Network

Extinction Rebellion

Greenpeace

Friends of The Earth

Green New Deal Rising

Apps:

Ethy

Sojo

BackMarket

Depop

Vinted

Olio

Buy Nothing

Too Good To Go

Websites:

European Co-housing

UK Co-housing

US Co-housing

Brought By Bike (connects you with zero-carbon delivery goods)

ClimateBase (find a sustainable career)

Environmentjob (ditto)

Businesses (🤢):

Ethical Superstore

Hodmedods

Fairtransport/Sail Cargo Alliance

Let me know if you think there’s anything I’ve missed!

[herpsandbirds]

Spix’s Saddleback Toad aka Pumpkin Toadlet (Brachycephalus ephippium), family Brachycephalidae, endemic to Atlantic Rainforest in SE Brazil

Poisonous.

This is the most common of the Saddleback Toads,  Brachycephalus spp.

As with other Brachycephalus, they lay a few eggs in moist terrestrial locations, and the young live as tadpoles in the eggs, and then hatch out as froglets.

Adults reach a max. snout vent length of up to 19.7 mm (0.78 in).

They are actually unable to hear their own advertisement calls, as their ears are underdeveloped.

They also do not hop, but instead slowly crawl across the forest floor.

photograph by Norton Santos

(Origin of meme is unknown)

[talaok]

Will you kiss me?

Pairing: Pedro pascal x reader

Summary: You are a famous actress who Pedro has a crush on, and he finally gets to meet you once you get both invited to The Graham Norton Show

warnings: just fluff

a/n: I had to

"What a pair we have here tonight huh?"Graham spoke enthusiastically, making the audience explode in roaring cheers and applauses.

You just smiled as you tried looking at the crowd, getting overwhelmed by the blinding lights.

"Y/n Y/l/n and Pedro Pascal, just- wow"

Other applauses filled the studio.

"Ok so let's start with you y/n, you have a show coming out next week, two oscar nominated films already out, and one more coming out next month" he took a deep breath, feigning fatigue "You must be tired, I mean, How long has it been since you slept?" he joked, making you laugh.

"well I did work a lot this past year, but it was worth it, I'm happy I got to be part of so many wonderful projects and I'm really proud of all of them, I just can't wait for people to see them"

"well I'm sure we're all gonna love them"

"I hope so, I'm always nervous about it"

"Really?" The man beside you asked, surprise clear in his tone.

Pedro Pascal,

You had heard of him before, of the boom he seemed to have made lately, but had never met him until half an hour ago, when you briefly introduced yourselves to one another.

He looked nervous, awkward even, and you didn't know if it was because of the show he was about to get on, if he just was like that, or if there was something else bothering him.

"of course, when I go to premiers I'm always looking over at how people are reacting, if they're like bored or on their phones or actually interested, it's nervewracking, don't you?"

"well of course I do" he chuckled "but I'm no one compared to you"

He had a beautiful smile, you noticed, sweet, comforting.

"oh stop it" you smacked his shoulder playfully " you're a big deal, Pedro"

He just shook his head, still smiling softly, and Graham took the opportunity to intervene.

"of course you are, I mean, Game of Thrones, Narcos," he listed " and now the Mandalorian and The last of us, I mean you're really killing it"

The crowd cheered some more at the mention of those shows.

"thank you," he said shyly, looking like he almost wanted them to stop.

"so how does it feel?" he asked, "to be on such massive hits at the same time?"

"Well, it feels... scary" he laughed, joined by the audience

"you don't like being the center of attention?" Graham asked

"oh no I do" he corrected, making you laugh "It's just frightening at times, 

but I'm having a good time y'know, it's also comforting seeing everyone I've worked with kind of be in the same position as me" he shrugged.

"People you've worked with?"

"yes, you know like Bella Ramsey, they're also- well they're young so of course, they're new to this- but, y'know, we're not used to all this attention and it feels good to have someone by your side who understands what's going on"

"of course" graham nodded "that's true, Bella is really young" he noticed "that's a thing both your shows have in common, young people," he said, "how did that feel? working with the new generation, I'm not saying you're old, but did you ever feel left out?"

"oh, all time" Pedro laughed

"yeah me too" you agreed "there were times when I was really lost but too ashamed to ask " you laughed in embarrassment

"absolutely," Pedro said, " they have a language of their own"

"right?!" you exclaimed, happy someone finally understood you.

"yes, like, there's one term that I learned recently that's really wonderful- somebody was saying - you swerve - "

You frowned

"do you know what swerving is?"

"nope" 

"I was like oh- get somebody off your scent or something like that- I don't know - confuse somebody, and they were like: no, they come in for a kiss and you swerve" he demonstrated, pretending to be avoiding a kiss on the cheek.

"Isn't that great?"

you nodded, laughing, as an idea came to you

"We should try"

His eyes widened as he turned to you 

"c'mon swerve me"

"no, I cannot swerve you!"

"c'mon it's for science"

"I can't, I can't swerve y/n Y/l/n, that's like - a crime"

"oh stop it, just do it, I wanna try it c'mon," you said, flattered

"ok fine, but just because I can't say no to you" he surrendered

"ok" you cleared your throat, preparing yourself "Oh wow, hi Pedro" you pretended to greet him, going in for a kiss.

He just smiled, as he did, eventually avoid your kiss,

his beard grazed your cheek, and the proximity to him, sparked something inside you, something quick, but likewise persistent.

As you leaned away, you noticed with amusement the flush on his cheeks and had to bite down a smile.

He fanned himself exaggeratedly "I'm blushing," he mumbled, making you chuckle, as you rested a hand on his arm, trying to soothe him.

" So how does swerving feel?" Graham asked

"it's... interesting" you glanced at him.

"It makes me feel rude" he looked at you too now, "I would never do it, it feels- it's mean"

"oh we know you wouldn't" you reassured him.

"I didn't like it" he shook his head

You smiled, tilting your head "would it make you feel better if we did it again without the swerving?"

You noticed how he seemed to have a momentary shutdown.

"yes," he said bluntly

"oh my god yes"

You laughed softly, as his mouth gaped open.

"Will you kiss me?" he almost begged, which was funny considering you had proposed it.

"Alright then, come here" you gestured, and he leaned closer, letting you press a quick kiss to his cheek.

"there" you smiled

"I think I just died"

"oh stop it, you're flattering me," you said, noticing a trace of red on his face "whoops, sorry I left a lipstick print" you went to clean it 

"no no" he stopped you 

"please leave it, I want proof this actually happened"

[freakspectors]

RAHHHHHH im back again hi sinner’s box

anyways norton nsfw hc’s 🫨

- anon graves

𝒩𝑜𝓇𝓉𝑜𝓃 𝒞𝒶𝓂𝓅𝒷𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒮𝓂𝓊𝓉 𝐻𝒸𝓈 .

Norton Campbell | "Prospector" x Gender-Neutral Reader Smut Headcanons .

warnings ; smut , oral sex , cunnilingus , praise , teasing , begging .

authors note ; kane . i see you . anyway i love nort SO much he's literally my pookie ... i knew i was gonna have a fun ass time writing this . i scan the entire fucking earth for norton things all the time BUT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING so I'm glad to produce for y'all ... anyway GO READ SHOO SHOO !! <3

✦ There's so much things I can think of for this man it's actually wild.

✦ I wouldn't say Nortons's too kinky.. but there are some things that drive him insane.

✦ A good example of that is hearing you beg. Hearing your pretty, breathless moans and cries of his name while he edges the life out of you just gets him not going, but revving.

✦ He also likes when you give him praise while he pleases you. Every time you tell him how good he feels while he's fucking you, you can feel his grip tighten and his dick twitch inside of you a little. <3

✦ Nort is so talkative. He doesn't shut up.

✦ He's always teasing you about how messy you get for him, how you're so eager to take all of his seed like a common whore.. moments later he turns into a moaning mess and gives you endless praise while stuffing his cock in you.

✦ It's almost like he's talking just to talk. He doesn't know what the fuck he's saying himself - he's too horny to make sense of his words.

✦ Norton. LOVES. Giving. Head.

✦ Definitely got a tongue piercing for that reason.

✦ He's so sloppy and fast, there's always a sticky mess all over your thighs and his face when he's done with you.

✦ He doesn't even do it as just prep anymore - it's a hobby at this point. Horny but busy? He'll give you head. Upset from a lost match? He'll give you head to calm down. Tired but horny? He'll let you sit on his face. He does it because it's fun. Norton also likes it when you suffocate him with your thighs while he does.. <3

✦ Nort likes you giving him head just as much, actually. Watching you choke on him while looking up at him with teary doe eyes has the power to make him nut on the spot - he has to hold himself back.

✦ His favorite position is Leap Frog. Debate me. You can't, I'm right.

✦ Norton loves to hold onto you while he fucks you into the mattress, your back arched and hips raised for him to grab onto. It drives him absolutely mad; I swear to you.

✦ He's an ass guy. A BIG ass guy. He'll smack your ass with no shame and pretend he did absolutely nothing wrong.

✦ He's unintentionally rough - he always apologizes afterwards, but he has yet to know that you enjoy it.

✦ Norton doesn't want to hurt you, is all. No one has really cared for him since you, and he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he made you leave him, too.

✦ Because of this, he loves when you say you need him. He'll make you repeat it until you cum, enjoying the feeling of being loved and needed by someone for the first time in a while.

@ orpherizz 2023 . do not share or repost .

[geekcavepodcast]

Moxxi Headlines in New Borderlands Comic Book

Dark Horse, in collaboration with Gearbox Entertainment, has announced a new comic book set in the Borderlands universe. Borderlands: Moxxi's Mysterious Memento is written by Amy Chu, illustrated by Mike Norton, colored by Heather Breckel, and lettered by Deron Bennet.

"Former celebrity and current badass Siren Amara misses the fame and excitement of her glory days. Nowadays, common stooges don’t know who they’re messing with—though they’ll soon find out. In order to reclaim the highs of her former heroics, she needs a gig. Luckily, Moxxi needs help recovering a mysterious artifact!" (Dark Horse)

Borderlands: Moxxi's Mysterious Memento #1 (of 4) goes on sale on Novebmer 13, 2024.

(Image via Dark Horse - Cover of Borderlands: Moxxi's Mysterious Memento #1)

[turbulentscrawl]

Since the topic of body hcs and body hair hcs overall...may I ask what do you think survivors smell like? I've seen some people differ and I just wanna know your thoughts ;w;

Also, we've gotta be honest. They *will* stink at times, specially after matches. But hey that's only but natural so *shrugs*.

They definitely smell more distinct than I think we'd be used to in general, yeah. And I DON'T think most of them smell unique enough to say how they're different from others, specifically, but there are a few things to consider, if we're looking at it a little more realistically:

More regular cleanliness was becoming normal in the 1800s, when most of the survivors were from, but the actual frequency of bathing varied by class and career. Showering daily still was not common until the 1900s, though. Even without any concerns about water supply in the manor, I would imagine most of them average a full clean-up maybe twice a week? A little more for those who get into actual filth on their days off. (looking at Emma, since she digs in the dirt and spend a lot of time outside.)

Deodorent was not invented until 1888, and didn't become popular until the 1930s or so. And most early deodorents didn't come with much in the way of additional scents, rather they just killed bacteria that caused excess body odors. Most of the people in the manor would not have used this, except perhaps the latest arrivals like Frederick and Alice. Instead, before deodorant, people took steps like shaving their underarms to prevent more sweat and bad scents, and used products like perfume and talcum powder to freshen up and get rid of odors.

Fancier soaps were around in the 1800s, but were used sparingly and economically. The lower class especially would have made their own ashen lye soap to bathe and wash their clothes. (Which, if you've never smelled unscented lye soap, is not pleasant to the nose imo. It's a bit of a pungent chemical smell, mixed with the scent of whatever the soap base was, which was usually lard and olive oil.) More expensive soaps could have been made from things like almond oil, coconut oil, or goat's milk, plus herbs or extracts for something much better smelling.

There's not a ton of hard labor to do in the manor, which would keep some people from working up so much of a sweat, but there's not likely an AC there. On the plus side, I don't imagine there's too much weather fluctuation in the manor for the sake of keeping the passage of time as confusing as possible, which also means it's not getting too hot. Most of the temperature changes you experience would be on the maps. I also don't think a lot of the Hunters would sweat! Any of those who have been dead and were brought back probably don't perspire anymore, though they may have the slightest hint of something off about them.

In short...yeah there's definitely more BO than we're used to in most modern settings. Most of the people in the manor are going to smell pretty natural--which won't always be offensive to the nose, mind you, since they say the smell of someone who's right for you will smell GOOD--plus some talcum/baby power or perfume scents to 'soften the blow' a bit. (Though it wasn't really in fashion to DROWN yourself in perfume by most of these peoples' time, so I think only a few people might lay it on too thick. Mary or Vera, for instance.)

And some people probably maintain very small scent hints about their professions or lives before the manor, just to distinguish them up close. Luchino has a touch of carbolic acid on his clothes, from sterilizing tools in the lab. Norton still smells of coal and minerals, just a touch. Victor smells a bit like sun-heated dog due to walking around outside all day with Wick, and Ithaqua like snowy pine trees from his years wandering and guarding winter woods. You get the idea.

I won't say who I think smells the worst or the best because that;s just too subjective--especially since I've revealed I don't like the smell of lye which is probably what most of them would have used LOL. But I'm definitely not one to say 'let's fully suspend our disbelief and say Naib smells freshly showered and uses Old Spice 😜'.

[athanasius-symposium-of-writings]

The Economic Difference Between The Miner and Mine Owner's Daughter

Based of this ask @anastasiablossomlove

Rated Explicit | Warning: period typical sexism

Ao3

Chapter Two

The world will not change if change does not happen from the top!

Your father is wealthy, as a mining owner with some oil stocks, he has money and power. As such, he made sure you wanted for nothing. You are his little girl, his sunshine, a gift your mother left before her death. You love your father, a humble creature unlike most old money children, you only want his love and time when he can spare it.

Outside of business, you are the only thing he cares about. Maybe even possessive given how he controls who you interact with, when you can go out, and now. Now, as you are of age; a beautiful young woman who society believes should be married off, your father has selected a fine young man to court you.

He is a pig! A selfish prick! If there was a ditch nearby, you would push him in it!

“Let him go.” Your voice is loud, foreman-level loud, as your idiot fiancee believes encouraging competition between the miners will boost output. Output being coal mined. “Get back to your posts!” The other miners stared as if in disbelief that this woman was ordering them around.

“Honey, come now,” You glare at the peacock, “Let the boys let out some steam.”

“By beating each other to near-death?! Are you a fool?” You shake your head, “If they can't move, they can't work, if they can't work,” Stabbing the head of your hand fan into that ugly clean suit of your fiancee, “No coal. And I do not have to explain any further what happens when there's no coal.”

Most of the old miners can share many stories about the Mine Owner's daughter. The tomboy who was willing to pick up a pickaxe and mine with workers.

Your father would quickly scold you but cave in when you relentlessly asked him to teach you the business.

Paperwork, counting the money, and many other things.

You know this company like the back of your own hand.

Thus why you are territorial about it.

The man who you will refuse to marry is upstaged most disrespectfully by a woman putting him in his place. He knows how this looks, the societal sexism showing its ugly face as he yells at you about your place.

“Then our arrangement is over.” Breaking the fan he gave you as a gift and rolling up your sleeves. “Help me take him to the infirmary!” Ignoring the spoiled brat and giving your attention to the miner who was beaten. Another miner helps you and one of the other miner tells your former fiancee to leave.

His name is Norton Campbell, he is slightly older than you, he works the mine because his father worked the mine. The debt of the father falls upon the son, an all too common way to get workers.

You met him once while sneaking a visit over to the mining site. The workers travel wherever the coal appears. The conditions are always horrible, most of these workers do not get to see past their forties.

The world will not change if change does not happen from the top!

You heard those words from a politician, a person speaking up for the workers. If only the rich would listen… Father says it is a waste of time, that the workers will only demand more and not work for even half of what they take.

When you look at the resting man on the cot, a scar on his face from all too common accidents in the mine, you see a man who works for less than anything he is given.

You know all this because you have seen and worked on all of the payroll for each and every miner in this company.

“Miss,” An old man, the doctor here, “Your father just arrived.”

You groan as you lean against the old wooden chair, “God above…” He is going to be very cross about what happened between the brat and yourself. Cross but he will agree when you tell him the facts. “Thank you.” Smiling at the doctor. “Here.” Giving him a few coins, “Tell your wife I hope to see her soon.”

You are generous. None of the workers take your money without doing something to earn it, pride maybe? In doing so you have learned a lot. Most of the old workers are a part of your heart. You care about them. When they pass on, you send the families (if they have any) a care package and pay for the funerals.

It is the least you can do…

If only you could change things…

He is tall, with some muscle on him but malnutrition, a dark scar on the left side of his face, and his eyes lack the light of life in them. His name is Norton Campbell, you address him as Mr. Campbell. He is the youngest miner here, his father was a worker here before he became ill. The other miners, a group of four or five, harass Mr. Campbell, especially on paydays.

Competition makes revenue, you glare at papers on your father's desk. That statement works for not allowing monopolies in business! That does not work when miners are willing to kill one another for some scraps!

Suddenly you do not want to eat the soup given to you. Soup to keep you warm on this winter night.

Then an idea pops into your head! Why not give this to the miner— Norton, it would keep him warm!

In your walks among the workers, you noticed Norton often (too often to the point of unhealthy) works overtime. Often he is doing twenty-four-hour shifts with only three hours to sleep before the next shift.

Again, you see the paperwork.

So, a bowl of soup should help! Yes, you know he probably won't take it from you given how you are literally the daughter of the man keeping him in debt, but you have to try!

So tonight, dark and cold like coal, you put on your cloak and grab the tray with soup, bread, and oranges.

You are careful not to let anyone see you leave the cabin and especially careful not to let any of the other miners see you sneak into the mines.

A few lights help guide you towards the sound of iron hitting rock, the sound echoing until you are at the source. There he stands working with only an acetylene mining lamp on his hat to light his path.

“Mr. Campbell?” He stops at the sound of your voice, “I uh,” You do not need the light to know the moment he looks at you the glare in his eyes is like a thousand knives. “Here. For you.” Placing the tray down as if you were leaving an offering to a lion.

He stares at you and then returns to work.

You understand, you truly do. So you leave, going back to the cabin… Here it is warm and fresh air, with clean linen and a bed to sleep in. Tomorrow you will wake up after the miners, you will do no backbreaking work… You resume living your privileged life.

But when you leave the cabin, you see the tray you left for Mr. Campbell empty save for the dishes.

[emby-m]

Highway Cavalier and Dulcinea

Fifth in the “Putting Alice into Nort’s Skin Lines” project

They would tell tales of thee, if they knew thee, my Dulcinea. Instead, I, thy humble vassal, thy cavalier of the highway, tell tales of thee. A lady of grace and poise, riding astride your piebald hackney, hair of gold plaited back, eyes like suns beneath your goggles, hands like ivory steering your noble steed – any beam of the sun of thy beauty that reached my eyes would have given light to my reason and strength to my heart, so that I could be unmatched and unequaled in wisdom and valor. Thou hast strayed away from El Toboso, and yet I cannot seek thee.

Design and backstory under the cut:

Setting/text notes:

Highway Cavalier obviously based on Don Quixote with ‘the Cavalier’ and ‘Rocinante’, so Alice was a natural fit for a Dulcinea, a remote and far off lover who the cavalier acts for.

I imagine Alice died prior to the events of the story but maybe she’s just far far away…

Part of the text is directly lifted from Chapter 8 of Volume 2, in the Ormsby translation.

Thee and thou for ~intimacy~

Imagine this as an old-timey black and white photograph Norton keeps in his glovebox…

Norton’s design:

Agh agh agh so much to change so little time agh agh agh

Ok so the typical motorcycle jacket we think of wasn’t in production until at least the 20s but I figured a short riding coat would make sense. We do have motorcycle riding in this period (motor corps in World War I!) plus riding gear is consistent between that and horses.

The pants with the knee-reinforcements are normal, so I kept them but they’re not… jeans. His undershirt is a regular stand-up collar shirt – protective, but not whatever he’s got for padding there.

Alice’s design:

So women also had a motorcycle corps in World War I which is pretty cool. Their coats tended to be longer and somewhat fuller, with most of the shaping coming from the belting and some very heavy pleats in the waist. These were, quite spiffily, worn with a shirtwaist and tie. Pants/ jodhpurs were common (split skirts were too, the point being you NEED to ride astride on a motorcycle.)

The motorcycle they’re leaning on is hers, which is a contemporary Phelon & Moore 500cc single cylinder motorcycle. 

This is the age of no helmets. So. No helmets.

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

So do you truly believe that men are being discriminated against solely for being men in the family court? I’ve seen statistics showing that men actually do get custody if they ask but they tend not to ask ???

Yes, men are not treated equally in family court. A hundred and fifty years ago, it was common practice that children by default remained with the father after divorce, as they were going to be the ones paying to feed and clothe and educate them. A woman, Caroline Norton, pushed for what became known as the "Tender Years Doctrine", which asserted children should remain with their mother for the first 4 years. The feminists that followed never fought against this, or for equal rights for both sexes, and in fact usually viciously attack anyone even stating that fathers should have the same rights and access to their children as mothers.