#Series - Turquoise New Mexico

[dragonbinx]

Silent Night

Part of my Christmas series from last winter.  Posted on on Ao3 here.

Series: Roswell, New Mexico

Ship: Malex

Characters: Alex Guerin, Michael Guerin

The only lights still on in the Guerin’s house were the ones on the Christmas tree by the time Alex came home. It was almost midnight, so that wasn’t surprising. Michael had tried to stay up every night that Alex had been late the last week and a half, but he hadn’t made it the night before, and it looked like he hadn’t lasted tonight, either.

Limping a little, his leg sore from being on his feet too much, Alex made his way into the living room and saw Michael slumped over on the coach. Apparently he hadn’t given up on waiting for him, but sleep had taken him anyway. On the coffee table was a pile of wrapping paper and a nicely if not entirely neatly wrapped gift. Which also wasn’t surprising, because recently Michael had been way more enthusiastic about the holidays than Alex had ever seen him before.

Their first Christmas as a couple hadn’t been too long after they’d gotten back together, and they hadn’t made a big deal of it. Alex had put up his artificial tree with the ornaments he’d gotten twelve to a box at HomeGoods. They’d exchanged gifts on Christmas morning before going over to Isobel’s for an early dinner. Then they’d returned to Alex’s and had enthusiastic holiday sex, and Michael hadn’t gone back to the Airstream for four days.

This year, Michael had apparently gotten into the whole thing. He’d gotten a real tree, for starters, and he had made ornaments with some spare alien glass and turquoise to mix in with Alex’ generic ones. He’d put multi-colored lights outside and rigged them on a timer, and they twinkled, a beautiful welcome every night Alex had come home late. He’d gotten a sprig of mistletoe and put it up in a different place every morning, stopping Alex in whatever random spot in the house it was that day with a smug grin and waggling eyebrows; and Alex always rolled his eyes and then kissed him anyway.

He was also making some side dishes to bring to Isobel’s this year, and had pestered their friends to plan a get together for Christmas Eve, too. And now here he was, asleep next to a Christmas present.

Alex gingerly sat down on the coffee table and pushed the curls out of Michael’s eyes. His face was peaceful - no, more than that, he was happy. Up close, there was an unmistakable tilt to the corners of his mouth. He was smiling in his sleep.

Alex looked down at the gift next to him. The wrapping was a little off, the corners of one side kinda pointy, the cut of the paper lopsided under the tape. And there was extra paper scattered around, partially folded and torn, like Michael had tried more than once to wrap it right. The tag said ‘Alex’, written in green ink in Michael’s handwriting.

Neither of them had really had holidays of any kind growing up. Maybe Michael’s sudden Christmas obsession was because his of his own deprived childhood and having something more than an Airstream to decorate. But looking at the present that Michael had worked so hard to get right, Alex thought maybe it was about him. Or possibly about them. About trying to make their first Christmas as husbands, as a family, special for Alex.

He leaned over and kissed Michael lightly on the forehead, then pulled the throw blanket off the arm of the coach and laid it over him.

As quietly as he could, he fixed himself a quick sandwich, then limped into their bedroom to take off his prosthetic. A longer than usual hot shower and some clean clothes later, and Alex finally felt his stressful day falling away. He was ready to start spending the holidays with his husband.

Something that would happen sooner than expected, as Michael had apparently moved while he was in the shower from being passed out on the coach to being passed out in their bed. Alex smiled fondly as he pulled back the sheets and blankets and slipped in next to him.

“Mmm, Alex.”

He looked over in surprise at his husband, who still appeared asleep. “Michael?”

A single eye dragged open. “Missed you,” Michael mumbled.

“I know, I’m sorry,” Alex soothed, reached out to rub Michael’s arm. “But I finished the project I’ve been working on tonight. So I can take off work until after New Year’s.”

The other eye opened, and a wide smile slowly overtook Michael’s face. “Really?”

“Really. I wanted to surprise you. I probably should have told you, though, I didn’t expect it to take this long.”

“S’okay. It’s a good surprise.” Michael scooted closer, laying his head on Alex’s shoulder and throwing his arm across his stomach. “Can’t wait for Christmas. First time.”

“Me, too.” He wrapped an arm around Michael’s shoulders and pulled him as close as he could. “You made me excited about it.”

“Awww,” Michael cooed sleepily, pressing a sloppy kiss to Alex’s shoulder, both his eyes closed again. “Same, baby.”

“Okay, time to sleep,” Alex said, both because Michael was mostly there already, and also because he couldn’t handle many more big emotions this late at night. “Goodnight, Michael.”

“M’rry Christmas, Alex.”

He laughed, snuggling further into his pillow and his husband at the same time. “Not for another couple days. But sure. Merry Christmas.”

[southwest-artisans]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Zuni Ring Native American Sterling Silver Turquoise Sun face Kachina sz 8.5US***.

[godivemex]

Exploring the Hidden Depths: Cenote Diving Adventures in Tulum, Mexico

Introduction

Nestled along the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Tulum is a paradise for diving enthusiasts. Beyond the turquoise waters lie a series of natural wonders known as cenotes. These freshwater sinkholes, formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, unveil a mesmerizing underwater world. From the thrill of cavern diving to encounters with bull sharks, Tulum offers a diverse and exhilarating diving experience. In this article, we'll delve into the enchanting realm of cenote diving, exploring the best sites and experiences in Tulum.

Cenote Diving in Tulum: A Unique Subterranean World

Cenote diving is a unique form of diving that allows explorers to venture into the intricate cave systems that lie beneath the surface. These caverns are adorned with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, creating an ethereal and otherworldly environment. Diving in cenotes is a blend of adventure and awe, providing an opportunity to witness the geological marvels that have formed over thousands of years.

Cavern Diving: A Glimpse into Earth's History

Cavern diving is the first level of cenote diving, providing divers with the chance to explore the illuminated zones of these subterranean caves. Guided by experienced professionals, divers can navigate through narrow passages and witness the captivating interplay of light and shadow on the cave walls. Cavern diving offers a unique perspective on the geological processes that have shaped this hidden world.

Bull Shark Diving: A Thrilling Encounter

For adrenaline seekers, Tulum offers an extraordinary opportunity to dive alongside bull sharks. These apex predators gather in the warm waters off the coast of Tulum from November to March, providing an unforgettable and exhilarating experience for seasoned divers. Under the guidance of certified professionals, divers can observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat while adhering to strict safety protocols.

Cenote Diving Tulum Price: Accessibility for All

While cenote diving is an exceptional and specialized form of diving, Tulum offers a range of options to suit different budgets. From introductory packages for beginners to comprehensive courses for advanced divers, there are options available for every level of experience. The investment in this unique diving experience is well worth the memories and insights gained from exploring these ancient subterranean landscapes.

Cave Diving Mexico: The Ultimate Frontier

For highly trained and certified cave divers, Mexico's cenotes offer some of the most challenging and rewarding cave diving experiences in the world. These dives require specialized training and equipment, as divers navigate through intricate passages and delve into the heart of the underground cave systems. Cave diving in Mexico is a testament to human exploration and the allure of the unknown.

Conclusion: Unearthing the Mysteries of Tulum's Cenotes

Cenote diving in Tulum is a transformative experience, offering a rare glimpse into the hidden wonders of our planet. From the enchanting beauty of caverns to the thrilling encounters with bull sharks, Tulum's underwater world leaves an indelible mark on divers. Whether you're a beginner seeking adventure or an experienced diver in pursuit of new challenges, Tulum's cenotes promise a journey into the heart of Earth's history. Embrace the call of the cenotes, and discover a world that few have been privileged to witness.

For more info:-

Cavern Diving

Cenote Diving

[dragonstepp]

Sometimes you can't

win for losing. My apartment complex (assisted housing) recently dropped its lease with Spectrum to get some other internet, but I chose to keep Spectrum since I like the organization, and my internet and Wifi and landline phone are all connected to it. But when I got my first bill, it was $184.00, which I can hardly afford on my social security, so I called and dropped the entertainment package. It brought my bill down to $115.00, but then I discovered that cut out my TCM (I love the old movies). So I signed up for it again, and that is when I learned that I had basically put me into another entertainment package. Since I like ESPN, I need to keep it. That makes my present costs $157.00.

So today I decided on Spectrum free movies to watch Dark Winds. When I clicked on it, I found out I have to pay for each individual episode. I have not looked to see how much that was going to cost me. I cannot pay for it yet until I get another socsec payment on the 3rd. Oh no!!!!

Anyway, I have to find out how much it will cost me. That is because in reading a write-up about it that it was based on the John Hillerman books, mysteries about the Navajo (Dineh, the Navajo word for The People, and which is how they identify with. I have always adored the Navajo (Dineh), and had the privilege of meeting a few when I was living in Vegas. I have also read almost all of the Hillerman books. I was able to watch a documentary about the series.

The actors who play most of the Navajo police force have facial hair. The Dineh do not have facial hair. So they have had to shave their faces to play Jim Leaphorn, Chee,Dand several other characters. But otherwise, they are true to the characters. Since I have not had a chance to watch any of the 14 episodes (2 seasons so far), I do not yet know how well they follow the books. But they are shooting the series in Navajo Nation, including a lot of shots of Shiprock (Tse bida'ki = The Winged Rock). Their legend has it that the Dineh lived on a lower level of Earth, and were in wars with other Native American tribes, so they climbed up a plants, got up on Tse bida'ki, and flew to New Mexico). It is a sacred monument in Monument. Valley (the part in New Mexico). It represents a big bird, its sacred colours are red, black, white, and yellow, it's rocks are jet, turquoise, and a couple of other stones related to the red, white and yellow - look it up on Google - just type in Shiprock.. Fascinating information.

The actors spoke about having to learn the Navajo language, and they used a lot of the Dineh folks as extras, who speak the language. I once had a dictionary of the Navajo language, but returned it to the organization who have offices on Navajo Nation. It was a rather rare book.

So I will be getting the series Dark Wind as soon as I can afford to pay for it. And have to wonder if I am going to be bringing back the high costs of watching it. I guess I am going to have to stop ordering a lot of stuff from Amazon, although with my scooter having limited places to carry stuff, I buy a lot of my foods from Amazon, which means I get it delivered instead of having to carry it hope from the grocery store.

As I said, you sometimes cannot win for losing.

Carol

[citymousesd]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SOLD SANTA FE Custom Dyed Ranch Hat.

[monstrousgourmandizingcats]

for the book asks: maroon, turquoise, violet

Maroon: Unfinished Tales, because of the bloodlike flowers on the summit of Amon Rudh.

Turquoise: Lost in the Cosmos by Walker Percy, because a standout passage from it is set in New Mexico and that state is strongly associated with turquoise (especially the stone but also the color) in American visual arts.

Violet: A sourcebook on early Canadian Jesuit records that I use at work, because the physical book itself has a dark purple color scheme.

Give me a word and/or a color and I’ll tell you which of my favorite books/series it reminds me of and why!

[strawberryclementine]

I love these additions!

With regards to Howard's shoes, my reaction to his burial without them is conflicted. On one hand, to enter the afterlife barefoot is a freeing thing, but on the other hand, Howard is stripped of many things that comprise his identity (his ring, wallet, keys, and shiny leather shoes) before his burial.

This makes me wonder: who is Howard without those parts of his identity? As viewers, we don't know much about him beyond what those material things represent: his wife, his wealth, and his career. Howard has always been devoted to HHM, and thus to his squeaky-clean lawyer persona that his colleagues and the public knew. From what little we saw, he also seemed devoted to resurrecting his relationship with Cheryl, even during his final days. Being stripped of the symbols of things that mattered to him, Howard enters the afterlife naked and humiliated, which is also true to his ruined reputation. It's freeing but also uncomfortable and vulnerable to be barefoot.

In contrast, Lalo's corpse remains untouched and he is put to rest with his shoes. Like you said, this is symbolic of justice being put to rest. Even in death, the symbol of justice (Howard) is left vulnerable and humiliated beside the symbol of injustice/crime (Lalo).

And yes, the yellow-blue/turquoise colour of Lalo's shoes really makes his shoes stand out, even in the darker shots of the show. Their vibrance matches his personality and intent very well.

One thing that has also come to mind is that the colour of his shoes is like the turquoise mineral, which has a history of being mined in many parts of the world, including New Mexico and Mexico. I don't know much of the history or the symbolism, but some internet research told me it has been used as a symbol and token for luck and protection against danger, which is relevant to Lalo's hopes and wishes during the series.

I might be a little silly for asking this, but are there any thoughts/themes behind Lalo's blue moccasins? They always stood out to me in a funny, sort of cartoonish way because of the colour. I'm reminded of the blatant "colour-coding" of the Breaking Bad character outfits (ie. Skyler in blue, Marie in purple). I know the characters aren't as blatantly "colour-coded" in Better Call Saul, and in this show the style/fit of clothing that the characters wear is really deliberate, but these bright blue shoes in particular really stand out to me. They're probably noiseless, which would have helped him sneak around in his final episodes, but the colour is quite loud and memorable.

He wears the shoes several times, but most memorably, he wears them when he kills Howard, whose signature colour is blue (though Lalo's shoes are definitely a different shade from Howard's "Hamlindigo" blue). Lalo is also buried in the shoes, beside Howard, whose shoes are removed just before he is put in his grave.

Anyways, I only have threads/beginnings of ideas about this, but I feel like there is something to be said about these blue shoes. Any thoughts?

[thebloggergirls]

Book Review: Cowboy in the Crosshairs by B.A. Tortuga

Book Review: Cowboy in the Crosshairs by B.A. Tortuga

Reviewed by Nikyta Title: Cowboy in the Crosshairs Author: B.A. Tortuga Series: Turquoise, New Mexico #1; Dreamspun Desires #53 Heroes: TJ & Wacey Genre: M/M Contemporary Length: 232 pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Release Date: March 6, 2018 Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon Add it to your shelf: Goodreads Blurb: Once upon a time, a prince lived in a magical kingdom called Turquoise,…

[gra-sonas]

CW viewers first met Nathan Dean as Jackson on the hit "Vampire Diaries" spinoff "The Originals." However, his werewolf stint on the series wasn't his first foray on TV. The actor starred in over 300 episodes of "General Hospital," later scoring roles on shows like "Bunheads," "True Blood," and "Once Upon a Time." Between his notable TV appearances, Dean appeared in movies such as "Teeth," "The Roommate," and "Pet."

Luckily for CW followers, the network frequently features actors from past projects in new endeavors, providing fans with plentiful reunions. After a successful run on the vampire show, Dean scored a leading role as Max in "Roswell, New Mexico." Sticking true to his supernatural roots, Dean plays an alien deputy (the outer space kind, of course). Early in Season 3, the CW greenlit a Season 4, with filming on the horizon.

Looper spoke to Nathan Dean in an exclusive interview, during which he dished on Season 3 of "Roswell, New Mexico," what he really thinks about UFOs, and what it was like working on "The Originals," "Once Upon a Time," and "True Blood."

Do you have a favorite moment with the cast on or off set?

I mean, I think this past year was probably just our first day back, being everyone was so locked down in the pandemic and just the fact that we were able to come back in October. I remember the first [day] we were trying out all these new COVID protocols. We had to wear masks. We had to do the thing, but just to see our crew again here.

I mean, the crew we have here in New Mexico is such a family to us. And being able to be on set, we had a day zero, and a day double zero, and test days. And the first day back was just the crew and me. And it was just so wonderful to see everyone again and realize it wasn't necessarily the apocalypse, the end of the world like we all thought, and we're back. We're back, and everyone was good, and everyone was very conscious of being healthy and staying in the bubble that we had, and just to see their faces again was fantastic.

The series recently changed showrunners. How do you feel about the new direction? And can you tease anything that fans might expect from Max's character arc this season?

Yeah. We did. I mean, Chris Hollier is our showrunner now, and he was a producer for us the last couple of years. And when he took over, we tried to move not only Max, but I think every character, into a more adult, mature way of operating. We spent a lot of time in Season 1 in particular, but Season 2 as well, flashing back to high school. And we all had a high school outlook on each other. And moving forward, we've been able to mature the characters, I think. And this year is a great year, I think, for Max in particular, because he has to literally look himself in the eye and become the person that he was meant to be instead of someone he used to be.

Were you a fan of the original "Roswell" before snagging your role on the series?

I had never actually seen it. I mean, I don't watch a whole lot of TV, and I was familiar with the show, and I knew the book series. So yeah, when we decided to reboot this thing, it was really, really cool to see the support that we got from the original show. And we've had some of the people back. Shiri [Appleby] directed episodes for us. Last year we had ... Jason [Behr] was back for a little bit. And it's just great to know that we're in this family. It's not like no one saw us as trying to take it over or rewrite history. We're just embracing the history that's already there and just building on it and spinning it into a modern world. So yeah, their support was wonderful, and we're excited to have more of that going forward.

What direction do you hope Max goes in the future?

Well, Max spends a whole lot of time this season having to look himself in the face — literally questions a lot of things. We've done a lot in the past, the high school flashbacks and this and that, but I think this year, not only for Max but for all the characters, we see this maturation happen where you're no longer looking backward into who they used to be. Now this season, we're finally looking forward to who we want to be. And I think Max and Joan embody that dynamic, but yeah, you see it with Michael, Isabel, Maria, Liz. You see every character really take a step forward this year, and that's a credit to our showrunner and to our writers for trusting us to take that leap and move the show, looking forward instead of looking back.

Are there any particular adult storylines that you're excited to maybe see him tackle or that you'd like to see him tackle?

Well, I think it's his relationship with Liz, really. We ended Season 2 in a pretty bad place. I mean, Liz runs off, Max goes all arsonist on her, it's a little bit of an immature response to something. You just have a temper tantrum and light everything on fire. But I think this year, yeah, we really see Max and Liz move forward in a way that is much more mature and adult and respectful. And they, I mean, obviously the elephant in the room is, "Well hey, you blew up all my stuff." "Yeah, sorry." But how do you come back from that? And I think we see them take a step forward in a big way this year, and I'm excited for people to see that this year because we haven't historically had a very adult relationship, and now we're moving towards that.

Is there anyone you'd love to see appear on the show?

I mean, I would love to have Jason [Behr] back, I would say. I mean, he wasn't with us for long last year, and it was just great to see him and learn from him and watch him work. So I would love to see some more of the 1940s flashback-y kind of stuff, learn some more of that. We have a little bit of that in season three. We have some of that, which is a lot of fun, and yeah, I mean, I'm always in for that.

I love flashbacks, other time periods, different things that shows do. Is there a time period that you'd love to see the show tackle in flashbacks?

Yeah. I mean, we get into it this year, more of the ... Because the crash was what? 1947, I believe. We get into that a little bit more, and that's always fun. I love that time period. I love being able to play in that arena, and hopefully, we get some more of that in Season 3, and hopefully, going forward in Season 4, we'll have some more of that as well.

Have you been able to direct yet?

I have not. I haven't tried. I haven't asked to. Actually Maria, Heather [Hemmens], who plays Maria on our show, she directed this past year. And I know Michael Trevino, who plays Kyle, he wants to get into directing. So hopefully, we'll have him this coming year. And I haven't looked to direct on this show. I would love to direct a short film or something like that, but on this show, I'll leave our show to the professionals. I'll find directing somewhere else.

"Roswell, New Mexico" actually films in New Mexico. How do you think that choice has positively affected the feel of the show?

Oh, it changes everything. I mean, New Mexico, I don't know if you've had a chance to come out here, but New Mexico is such an amazing place. I mean, they call it the Land of Enchantment for a reason. Growing up in Texas, I've driven through New Mexico a million times, but I never stopped. And when I finally got here and just took it in, I mean, the sky is huge out here. The air is different out here. It's everywhere you look: the sunsets are incredible. It informs so much of the show.

And also, having crew from New Mexico, having a local crew out here, you see it on our show, the turquoise, just the style, the whole thing. But we see that every day. That's just the people that we work with, and to be able to film here, I think, informs so much of what it is to crash land in this crazy place. And yeah, I don't think we could pull this off anywhere else. This is such a wonderful place, and yeah, we're very lucky to be here.

Speaking of crash landing, New Mexico has been a hotbed for reported UFO sightings for years. Have you ever seen anything weird yourself, or have you heard stories from other cast members or locals?

I haven't heard any abduction stories, but it's definitely ... we get on set every time there's an airplane or an airline will report that they've seen something weird. We're the first ones to know about it. I mean, the skies here are crazy — there are times when you look up in the clouds, you're like, "Is that something? I don't know." But yeah, I mean, we have all that here. We're very much in it, but yeah, I have not personally been abducted yet, but I'm hoping for it.

Fingers crossed? [Laughs] So in June, the government released a report confirming that they can't explain 143 UFO sightings, which is a wild revelation. Do you think that there's any credence to the idea that these might be actual extraterrestrial events, or do you think there's a simpler explanation to all of that?

I mean, I think it definitely it could be. I'm not writing it off. When you hear, you see videos, you can see video of Air Force pilots, and there's something on their radar that you just can't explain. I don't know if it's aliens. I don't know if it's probes or some sort of drone that someone sent out, I don't know. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was true. I mean, I think the universe is too big of a place for us to be all alone here. And if aliens are going to come somewhere, you should come to New Mexico because it's awesome and we're waiting for you.

So would you be team "Leave the aliens alone and let them do their thing," or "Let's initiate contact and see what happens"?

Oh, I would love to initiate contact. I would love to. I would love to go on a spaceship. I would love to go explore that. I think if ... There are all these movies, "War of the Worlds." There's all this stuff that imagines aliens are going to come here and destroy us. If you're going to travel all that distance, you're not looking to destroy anybody. So I think it would be a really interesting conversation. I think we would have a lot to learn from an advanced civilization that traveled all this way. I think we would have a lot to learn.

The series tackles a ton of critical social issues like immigration, ICE, and domestic violence. Have there been any of those subjects that particularly resonate with you and that you're proud of the show for homing in on? And is there something that you'd like to see them do in the future?

Well, for me personally, I mean, I'm a cop on the show. That's been a huge debate over the last couple of years, and this season, we get into the good and the bad of that. We see the good sides of it and what it can be, and then we also can see the bad side.

And for me personally, that's been something that I think we've talked about a little bit that I'm very happy with. And also, I mean, everyone just went through this huge pandemic. We can't ignore that. So that's something, when our character of Kyle, who's a doctor — what he's had to go through — I think that's one of the things that makes our show relatable and makes our show ... we're not shying away from the cop controversy. We're not shying away from the things people had to go through with the pandemic.

We're willing to talk about it. And thankfully, we have such a great platform to do that with this backdrop of aliens and all this stuff. We can really home in on the human aspects of that world, given the fact that we're an alien show. It makes talking about the human stuff much more, I think, palpable. And yeah, that's something that we've always done. And going forward, we'll see what the world has in store for us the next year or two, and we'll talk about that, whatever comes up, we're here for it.

Several other actors from the "Vampire Diaries" universe have also come to "Roswell." What was it like working with Riley Voelkel and Steven Krueger again — and getting a chance to work with other "TVD" alums, like Michael Trevino and Kayla Ewell?

It's great. I mean, CW does a great job of keeping the family together. Working with Trevino is fantastic. He's a great guy, and I've known him for a long time. Same with Jason Krueger and Riley. I've known them for a long time, and just to have those familiar faces around is always nice, but it's fun too then to see these people who, we come from this vampire-werewolf world, and now we're in this alien world. It's fun to see that transition and get to see what else they can bring to the table.

Definitely. So you've been a werewolf, you've been a vampire, you've been an alien, and you've even been a fairytale character. Do you have a favorite? And do you gravitate more toward shows with supernatural undertones, or did it just sort of happen that way?

It just sort of happened. I mean, I would say for me, my favorite is always just being a human. That seems to be the hardest job to get, but no, I mean, it just sort of happened. And it's fun because, like I was saying, having a backdrop of something supernatural highlights the humanity.

I mean, if you have this ... There are aliens, and there's this, and there's that, but then you have these human moments, and those are the ones that you hold precious because sure, you can throw people around and you can jump out of trees, and you can do all this crazy supernatural stuff. But at the end of the day, it's about the human moments. And I think that's what supernatural shows tend to bring out the most.

"Roswell" isn't your first time being on a CW show. You also starred in "The Originals." What was it like working on set with Phoebe Tonkin and Joseph Morgan and the rest of that cast?

Oh, they were great. I mean, we were out in Atlanta, and I mean, geez, that was like five, six, seven years ago now.

Really? That long?

Right? Crazy. But it was great. I mean, every set is going to be different, and we were in Atlanta for "The Originals." And so we had the Atlanta crew there, and we got to know that city a lot. And then moving out here to New Mexico, it's a completely different landscape. It's a completely different setup.

Thankfully it's nice to always have the familiar faces, but yeah, we have a New Mexico crew, and this platform is totally different because we're not talking about supernatural witchcraft and this and that. We're talking about sci-fi. We're talking about aliens. We're talking about all this other stuff. So I mean, they're both different. I mean, I loved Atlanta. I will always love Atlanta, but yeah, I'm just grateful to be out here in New Mexico now.

Is there anything you wish that Jackson did on the show before your storyline ended, and how do you feel about your character's first ending and then getting to meet Hope and Hayley again at the end?

I think that was a really sweet way to go out. Jackson was always a passenger on that ship. The story was about the vampires and about Phoebe's character, and Jackson was always just sort of a bystander. So, to have that kind of closure with Hope at the end and have that moment, it was nice. I think Jackson serves his purpose. The story wasn't about him, but yeah, it was nice that they brought me back, and I was able to have that moment.

To that end, "The Originals" birthed the backdoor pilot for the "Legacies" spinoff. Would you come back for something like a flashback episode if given the opportunity? Or are you happy with where it ended up?

I'm happy where it ended up. I think "Legacies" is on its own journey now. And I know the actress who plays Hope, and I know that they're on their own path. Jackson doesn't really have a place there.

The great thing about the entire "Vampire Diaries" franchise is its deep roots in history, culture, and folklore. Do you have any favorite storylines, time periods, or pieces of folklore that the show tackled throughout its run?

Yeah, I mean, I think when I was doing the vampire/werewolf stuff, it was fascinating to learn so much about where those legends came from. The origin stories of, you have, what was it? Vlad the Impaler was one of the first people thought to be vampires and these horribly dark stories that gave rise to these myths and legends.

And it was really, really fun to just learn about all of that and to learn the history of where these myths come from and why they're so compelling today. I mean, why do we still talk about this stuff? What is it that draws our attention to it? So it was just fun to learn, I mean, from an intellectual standpoint, just get into the mindsets of people that may have thought these bloodthirsty sorts of things. It was kind of wild, and yeah, it was a lot of fun to learn about.

You had a stint as James in the last season of "True Blood." Was it difficult coming on so late into such a beloved show? Were you nervous, or did you feel welcomed right away? And what was your biggest takeaway from that series?

I definitely felt welcomed. I actually knew Deborah Ann Woll, who played my love interest off the top. I knew her from way long ago. We actually go way back. So I was familiar enough with the cast and crew. They welcomed me in. It was weird coming in at the end of a show because they had been together for seven years at that point, that cast.

And stepping in, I got to see a lot of the heartbreak and the sadness of it coming to an end, but I was grateful to be a part of it. And I learned a lot from Stephen [Moyer] and from Anna [Paquin], and it was a great environment. I wish it had gone on longer, but I was grateful for the year that I got there.

You played another classic fairytale character in "Once Upon a Time" as Hansel. What was that experience like? And how do you feel that the show handled its own spin on the Hansel and Gretel fairytale? And do you have any fond memories of that set and that cast?

Well, I love that set. I mean, actually, our current showrunner, Chris Hollier, was one of the writers on that show. And I was in a situation this year similar to the one I was in when I was on "Once Upon a Time" — getting to have this dual life, this secret life. And I like the direction that they went on "Once Upon a Time," it was a lot of fun, but it was a great crew. It was a great cast. And it was fun to play a little darkly twisted version of a fairytale character. You think fairytales, you think happily ever after, but yeah, I didn't have one of those kinds of characters on that show, and it was really fun. It was very fun to play the dark side of all that.

Is there any other franchise that you'd like to break into? "Star Wars"? Marvel? Anything like that?

Oh, any of it, all of it. Yeah, sure. I mean, I would love to, Disney+, they're doing a lot of great stuff with Marvel and with the "Star Wars" franchise. And I mean, I would love to be any part of that because Marvel's just awesome. So, that would just be fun, but "Star Wars" is cool because it's a time period in and of itself. They really have created this out-of-time universe that there are spaceships, but they also have lightsabers, and they're sword fighting, but they're flying through the galaxy. So it's this weird mashup. That would definitely be fun. I mean, I would love to get into any of that.

Would you want to play an alien? A Jedi? Or a Sith?

Ooh.

That's the real question.

Maybe a Sith. I don't know. Yeah. I think that would be fun. Yeah, yeah. You just don't have rules at that point.

I feel like the Jedi don't follow any of their rules either. [Laughs]

That is true. They have a lot of rules, they just don't listen. Yeah.

Is there anything else that's upcoming for you that you want to talk about?

I don't know. I mean, right now, I'm just focused on Season 4. We get started in a couple weeks. I'm curious to see how we springboard off of Season 3, because Season 3 is wild, and I hope people enjoy it as much as we did filming it. So I'm excited to tackle Season 4, and then beyond that, we'll see if we get to Season 5.

We'll be lucky to do that, but yeah, I mean, there are always projects. There's so much happening in the world of TV right now and in film, and there are so many different avenues that you can take. We had actors on our show that were directing their own short films this past year that were doing all this. So there are tons of avenues for it. And I'm just focused on Season 4 right now. I'll be doing that for the next six months, and then beyond that, we'll see. We'll see what comes down the pipe.

Is there anything else about the show or anything else you want to add?

No. I mean, not really. I mean, I think I'm excited to hear feedback and to hear what people think about the different, the Jones, Max difference, this sort of dichotomy that we have in Season 3. I'm excited to see what people think about that and what that reveals going forward. And then, yeah, again, I'm excited to see these characters take a step forward in terms of their maturity with each other and respecting each other and Liz and Max finally figuring it out and finally getting on the same page for the first time. So that'll all be fun. That'll be fun looking forward.

Definitely. Well, congratulations on getting a new season before the current one has even popped off. I love seeing that.

[skyler-bane]

TAG 9 PEOPLE YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW BETTER !  

TAGGED BY: @ayakoito , @isabellariverarp , @fiendish-insanity-in-the-written

Tagging: @voxvulgi , @shuuhuu , @plotjotsandespressoshots , @amourpoetique , @melsworldofmuses , @brokenblondeprincess​

FAVORITE COLOR: turquoise

CURRENTLY READING: nothing, I barely have time for my tv shows or movies now, but I listen to podcasts

LAST SONG: Maggie Reilly - Everytime We Touch (Cat vibes!)

LAST SERIES: Big Sky & Roswell New Mexico 4

LAST MOVIE: Tin Cup (1996)

SWEET / SPICY / SAVORY: all, combined

CURRENTLY WORKING ON: myself?

[lambourngb]

For the WIP game: fossils

This is my coda to 3x04 where I dealt with Alex not being in the episode and my early thoughts about Deep Sky, and the Lockhart Machine... not sure if it holds up now. The danger in not finishing a coda before new canon airs...

****

All hell broke loose in the Deep Sky headquarters when the Lockhart machine turned on and then stayed on for forty-seven minutes. After the old song from 1941 had finished playing, the frequency changed on the machine, and suddenly, instead of continuing music it started broadcasting military call signs and aerial checkpoint chatter.

Ramos, after his initial shock over the change, had fumbled with his cell phone to start recording the new information, as the crowd near the machine grew around them. Alex had half-second to wonder what the previous operation 47 days ago had been like.

Alex frowned after a few seconds of listening, something wasn’t right according to his memory of air traffic control. Then he blinked hard, and spoke up, “That’s not NORAD broadcasting, that’s-”

“It’s from 1947!” A technician called, rapidly typing in their computer. “It’s the night of the crash in Roswell, holy shit-”

The machine played for forty-seven minutes the conversations from Strategic Air Command of the Army Air Force pilots encountering falling objects in the sky. A ship, then another pilot confirmed multiple contacts in the airspace over New Mexico. Alex had listened with a sick fascination at the mobilization of forces targeted on Roswell. Orders regarding the containment of a foreign enemy. Aliens.

The excitement in the room was not focused on the reveal of aliens, Alex had noted with a dawning discomfort, but on the section of the recording where a pilot had reported a returned signal from the unidentified craft. A broadcast had been sent from the ship, presumably a distress beacon as it lost altitude, but it was not in any intelligible language. It was sent in a series of clicks and blasts of noise. That had everyone in the room talking excitedly.

After the machine had finally fallen silent, Ramos appeared next to Alex’s elbow and had eyed the piece of turquoise still clutched in his hand. “I need to know the origins of that rock, Alex.” Ramos had held out his hand, his dark eyes were serious, letting Alex know that it wasn’t a request but an order to hand it over.

“I went out for some air to look at the sky, like you said, and I tripped over it on the ground. I picked it up because it was pretty. I didn’t realize I still had it in my pocket,” Alex had lied, any mention of Michael swallowed down deep where all of his secrets lived. Reluctantly with no other option, Alex placed the stone in the other man’s palm, keeping all signs of wariness far from his face.

Ramos never stopped studying his face, his nearly black eyes were apparently weighing everything Alex had ever said to him. He turned away with an unimpressed look to hand the stone off to a waiting scientist. It wasn’t clear to him if Ramos had bought the idea that Alex was the type to pick up “pretty rocks” on a whim, but the new glut of information from the Lockhart machine had kept him from interrogating Alex further.

Now, almost twenty-four hours later, he stared up at the plain white ceiling in a barracks room and wondered if he had made a mistake in joining Deep Sky. It was just a job offer, he had told himself. Secrecy had been a part of his Air Force career; his entire background had been vetted not long after he had shown proficiency in cyber security. He had felt zero guilt in leaving Michael Guerin off his list of associates, and no one, except maybe his father, would have questioned the gap at the time. Forrest warning him that the organization required social isolation had felt a little histrionic to Alex.

It wasn’t going to get that far, not with his short-term goals in place.

[southwest-artisans]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Zuni Ring Native American Sterling Silver Turquoise Sun face Kachina sz 6.5US***.

[undeadgoathead]

Bad Things Happen Bingo - Part 1

Intro: Hey all, I’ve been writing nonfiction and poetry for years, but I only recently started dabbling in fiction. I wrote a rough draft for my debut novel, The Black Moon of Lilith, for NaNoWriMo 2020, and now I’m working on the sequel, Spirits of the High Desert! Both books will be part of an overarching series, The Land of Entrapment, an urban fantasy series about the surreal mysticism of New Mexico. 

While writing my stories, I stumbled across the Whump community. I’m new to Whump (and fic writing in general) but so far, I like the concept of using pain as catharsis, and exploring hurt/comfort tropes as they relate to character development. So thank you to @badthingshappenbingo for sending me a card, and inspiring me to write with these delightfully sadistic Whump prompts! 

Fandom: Land of Entrapment Series (Original work)

Characters: Bitterclover, Devilsclaw, Sagebrush, Tribulus (mentioned), Larkspur (Mentioned) [All OC's]

Prompt: Theft

Summary: Bitterclover and Devilsclaw have been captured by the Thorn Empire. Sagebrush helps them, but at a price. 

As the sun rose, Devilsclaw and Bitterclover were awoken by the sound of the iron dungeon door being opened, and slammed closed again. Footsteps approached. It was difficult to see in the dim torchlight, but Sagebrush’s rotund silhouette was unmistakable.

“So the rumors are true! Poor Devilsclaw is being held prisoner in his own fortress.” He sounded genuinely sympathetic. “And is that little Bitterclover? Dear Oberon, you fools are in over your heads.” He clicked his tongue as he fumbled with a keyring, until he found the one that fit Devilsclaw’s cell. He opened the door cautiously. Devilsclaw mumbled and moaned behind his mask, and wriggled against his chains.

“Be still. I will help you.” Sagebrush chanted an ancient spell, and the chains loosened themselves. One by one, links broke themselves, until the chains fell away to the ground. He whispered another enchantment, and the mask of iron loosened its grip on Devilsclaw’s face, until it too fell at his feet. Devilsclaw gasped for air and blinked his eyes. Even the musty air and dim light of the dungeon was sensory overload, after suffering from sensory deprivation for so long.

“Thank you.” He finally managed.

“It’s the least I could do. But don’t even bother trying to make a wish on Bitterclover, just because you can speak again. Tribulus’s alchemy is so strong, that no magic can supercede his enchantments on this dungeon. But since you’re stuck anyway, the chains and such seem like overkill. Here, have some water.” He handed a canteen to Devilsclaw, and another to Bitterclover, through the bars of their prison. They both thanked him and drank greedily.

Sagebrush tried to smile, but his eyes still seemed sad and heavy. “There’s something else I came here for, and it’s not exactly to help you. I hope you understand I’m just following orders. And, lass, don’t be too hard on Larkspur. She’s just doing her job too. Please find it in your heart to forgive her.” Sagebrush said to Bitterclover, as he unlocked her cell. “Tribulus ordered me to confiscate your valuables. Keeping you here is going to be expensive, what with the lodging and the water and the food. Even as a prisoner, you need to earn your keep.”

“That’s outrageous! You’ve already taken so much from me! My love, my freedom, my dignity. Why take my livelihood as well?” Bitterclover shouted.

“I’m sorry, just obeying my master. Now empty your pockets, or I’ll empty them for you.” Sagebrush’s kind smile turned into a stern frown. Bitterclover sighed, exasperated,  as she pulled out a leather pouch of gold coins, a small porcelain box full of raw turquoise, silver bullion wrapped in silk, and a handful of colorful glass beads. Sagebrush frowned, seeming deep in thought.

“Let’s see… The gold will pay for your debt to Tribulus, and then some, so I’ll give all these coins to him. I’ll take those glass beads for myself, as they are exquisite. And I’ll let you hold on to your silver and turquoise, if you promise to keep it a secret from Tribulus. He’ll punish us both if he finds out that I only gave him a cut of the goods, instead of all of it.”

“How generous of you to allow me to keep some of my own belongings. It’s better than nothing, I suppose. But it would be even better if you didn’t steal from me in the first place.” Bitterclover glowered.

“So do we have a deal? Remember, as a wish-granter, you are bound to your word.” Sagebrush smiled again.

“Fine. But I’m not exactly happy about it.”

“Good girl.” Sagebrush pocketed the leather pouch of gold, and jingled the glass beads in his hands.

“May I ask why you wanted the glass beads, of all things? They are not as valuable as the gold, silver, or even the turquoise. But by all means, suit yourself.”

“Oh, they just catch the eye. And we alchemists have a penchant for pretty things, don’t we? The joy of beauty is valuable in and of itself. We are all drawn to baubles that remind us of fond memories.”

“Keep them, you crazy old man.” Bitterclover scowled, earning a worried shushing from Devilsclaw. Sagebrush just laughed.

“That’s the spirit, lass. Don’t lose that fiery temper. And thanks, again.” With that, Sagebrush exited the dungeon, pockets jingling as he closed the door behind him.

[citymousesd]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SANTA FE Custom Dyed Ranch Hat.

[littleeyesofpallas]

I made a post a ways back just kinda nodding to how cool the Patch Tribe were in Shaman King, but I sorta wanted to elaborate on what made them so cool.  So, here we go!

For starters, it’s just plain rare to see Native American characters in any form of media, least of all Japanese pop media.  And even when there is some presence it’s often dated, lack luster and superficial, and/or outright insulting.  To be clear, the Patch aren’t exactly a full departure from that, but they manage to leverage the better angles of it without dipping into dangerous territory.

To start the Patch are first introduced via the character Silva, very obviously named and themed after Native American silver jewelry, along with turquoise it is iconic of south western arts and crafts.  Silva uniquely possesses 5 different guardian spirits (where as most characters have just 1, or 2 as a unique oddity) that together form his Over Soul form, Silver Arms.  His spirits are all animals native to the North American continent (Bal Eagle, Coral Snake, Gopher Tortoise, American Bison, and Coyote) although not all present in the same regions within the United States.  The Silver Arms also have a special form, the Totem Pole Cannon, which is slightly problematic in that totem poles are more a facet of north western Native American cultures, without much overlap with the South Western tribes being referenced in the rest of Silva’s design.  A common faux pas of trying to conflate disparate cultures under the umbrella of a singular “Native American” label.  Still, what I appreciate is that Silva is an authority figure in the fighting tournament arc that is introduced early on in the  manga, and he is both benevolent and powerful, as a mentor figure to the hero.  It’s not entirely accurate or culturally sensitive per say, but it does have at its core a tone of respect.

I also appreciate the running gag in which the Patch Tribe are shown to be almost nonsensically well funded and technologically advanced, as their tribe facilitates and runs the world wide fighting tournament; they distribute high tech gadgets to help organize fights, measure fighting power, and frequently transport the many participants in confusingly industrial/military grade vehicles all emblazoned with their tribe’s triangular crest.  Although the shamanist/animist nature of Native American religions is the basis of them being such prominent figures, the departure from worn old clichés of a “primitive” or “savage” naturalist life style, even just as a joke, is refreshing.

I’m also just a sucker for uniforms with subtle personal variations, and Japan’s love of the ~10 Bad Guys bundle-pack kind of trope. (Rurouni Kenshin’s Juupongatana, Naruto’s Akatsuki, Bleach’s 12 Captains, Espada, & Sternritter, etc...)  In the case of the Patch, the final stage of the story has the heroes having to march thru 9 “Plants”, elementally attuned rooms where they must fight the 10 Patch Officiants who had been running the tournament as neutral entities previously.  I love the curious selection of environments that the Plant’s embody:

I love the way each officiant wears a uniform cloak with a metal plate representing their animal spirit overtop their otherwise unique outfit.  I absolutely love how Silva’s stupidly straight forward name got used as the basis for naming the rest of the Patch Officiants after different metals: Lead, Boron, Magnesium, Radium, Kalium (Potassium), Rhenium, Chromium, Thallium, Silver & Rutherfordium.

I love that there’s a pun in how Chrom’s little brother is named Nichrom as a play on Nichrome being a Nickle-Chromium alloy, but also the Japanese number 2:二:“ni”, functionally making his name “2nd Chrom” or "Chrom 2″

I love that Kalium(Potassium) is a vital nutrient especially prominent in particularly hearty vegetables and grains like yams, potatoes, nuts, soy, bran, and beans, and Kalim appears in his Plant, The Plateau, plowing the flatlands, and his spirit is Black Sickle, all giving him a distinct farming theme.

I love that Thallium is named from Greek, θαλλός:thallós, meaning "a green shoot or twig" and Thalim’s spirit is Green Seed, the plant spirit.

I love how Rutherfor is named after Rutherfordium, and is the only non-naturally occurring element used in this naming scheme to give her a distinctly alien feel.  I love that her spirit, Grey Saucer is a gray and that it’s a nod to the modern alien abduction sightings common to the south west United States, and the association with Aera 51 and Roswell New Mexico.

And I love that the villain Hao’s backstory included him having been a member of the Patch tribe in a past life before reincarnating as the hero’s twin brother, and how Silva is a descendent of that previous incarnation of Hao, tying together the linage of this powerful Native American tribe with the more familiar Japanese lineages of Shugendo, Shinto, Buddhist, and Daoist/Onmyo faiths that all funnel down into the hero’s character.

I also love how in the sequel series, Shaman King Flowers, Silva’s daughter, Alumi, inherits Silver Arms and assumes the role of the hero, Hana’s love interest reuniting the two families of Hao across time, space and the cycle of reincarnation.  Also her name is from Aluminum, duh.

[aewriting]

End of year fic recommendations: Best Westerns

For a series set in New Mexico, featuring lots of turquoise, boots, and “macho cowboy swagger,” I’m a little surprised we don’t get more Western AUs. That being said, some of the ones that have been written are SO good. These are my two favorites.

And the Sun Rose Red by @christchex

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20445401

I loved this story. Absolutely loved it. This was one of my more memorable fic reading experiences of the year because it just so fully swept me up in the setting and the story. Just very immersive. It’s so well-written. It’s not a Malex-centric story, which is sort of unusual for me, but I love the way all the characters were portrayed, in this very particular setting. Just a beautiful story.

Boy, I’ll Hunt You Down, by @andrea-lyn

This is such a good story. There is one line that Michael says in this story that is just so, so memorable to me: “I thought sons were supposed to matter to fathers more than horses.” The plot is really good, and I think the characterizations are great as well.