#St. Marys Apartments

[robmoses1]

A Beautiful Entry

I was walking down the street this weekend when I noticed this beautiful entry way to this old apartment building. I love old buildings and this entry is just awesome. To me, walking up to this door everyday is much more appealing than walking into a a shiny new building. Anyhow, I live in a house, so whatever haha. I still love this. Thanks for stopping by, Rob

[no0dlru]

Typical Saturday night in Devon

[morbidology]

On July 2, 1951, the quiet city of St. Petersburg, Florida, was rocked by one of the most mysterious and controversial deaths in modern history. Mary Reeser, a 67-year-old widow, was found burned to death in her apartment under circumstances so bizarre that they have puzzled investigators, scientists, and conspiracy theorists for decades.

The macabre discovery was made by Reeser’s landlady, Pansy Carpenter, who had tried to deliver a telegram to her tenant that morning. After receiving no response and noticing an unusually warm doorknob, Carpenter sought help from neighbors. When they managed to open the door, they were met with an astonishing scene: a room relatively untouched by fire, save for the corner where Reeser's remains were found.

Mary Reeser’s body had been almost completely incinerated, reduced to ashes along with the chair she had been sitting in. What remained of her were a part of her backbone, a shrunken skull, and a completely intact left foot still in its slipper. The surrounding area showed minimal damage—plastic household items a short distance from the seat remained unscathed, and although the walls and ceiling were coated with a greasy soot, they were not burnt.

The investigation was led by the St. Petersburg Police Department, who quickly recognized the unusual nature of the scene. Local authorities were joined by the FBI and other experts to determine how such an intense fire could have started and burned so selectively.

Initial hypotheses ranged from a dropped cigarette to an electrical fault. However, both were quickly dismissed. The chair's materials and Reeser's clothing would not typically combust so thoroughly without a higher, sustained temperature than could be achieved by a mere cigarette. Furthermore, there was no evidence of an electrical fire or an accelerant.

As conventional explanations failed, the case began to attract attention from proponents of spontaneous human combustion, a rare and controversial phenomenon in which a person is believed to catch fire without an external ignition source. Advocates of SHC argue that a combination of factors, such as the wick effect (where clothing can absorb melted human fat and act like a candle), could explain the intense and localized burning seen in cases like Reeser’s.

Dr. Wilton Krogman, a physical anthropologist, examined the case and expressed disbelief at the completeness of the combustion. He noted that even bodies exposed to extreme heat in cremation chambers do not typically burn as thoroughly as Reeser's remains had. Dr. Krogman described the case as "the most amazing thing I have ever seen" and found it difficult to reconcile with the known laws of science.

Despite extensive investigation, the official cause of Mary Reeser’s death was ultimately ruled as “death by fire of unknown origin.” The case has remained a source of fascination and debate, appearing in numerous books, documentaries, and discussions about unexplained phenomena.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Glynis Johns (Mary Poppins, The Court Jester)—LISTEN, I'd let that woman's voice with all its gravely hoarseness (positive) wash over me all goddamn day, but if that's not enough she managed to play the straight woman to Danny Kaye's jester, all with her cleavage so plunging it might as well have been catapulted into the ocean right after Basil Rathbone

Eartha Kitt (Anna Lucasta, St. Louis Blues)—My friend and I have a saying: NOBODY is Eartha Kitt. A thousand have tried, and they've all come up empty and will continue to do so. Everyone knows her for something: from "Santa Baby" to Yzma in Emperor's New Groove to Catwoman to making Lady Bird Johnson cry for the Vietnam War. She was a master of comedy and sex, an extremely vocal activist, and she aged like fine wine... I honestly don't know what I can say about her that hasn't already been said, so I'll stick to linking all my propaganda. Like what else do you want from me. She was iconic at everything she ever did. Literally name another. How can anyone even think of her and not want to absolutely drown?

This is round 4 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Glynis Johns:

She walks the line between sexy and cute. Her best role for me is in "The Court Jester as Maid Jean. She's fantastic as the soft but tough captain of the outlaw band and she looks stunning in every gown she wears throughout the film. And of course we can't forget her iconic turn as the suffragette mother, Mrs. Banks, in Mary Poppins! Also shoutout to her distinctive and beautiful voice, kind of smoky and husky. Extremely hot and set her apart from many of her peers."

"She was amazing in Mary Poppins (the Suffragette song is severely underrated) and apparently she was Welsh? National pride! And she advocated for arts funding in Wales, which is very cool. Also, she died recently (RIP) making her one of the last survivors of the Golden Age of Hollywood, according to Wikipedia. Also also, she just has a cheeky energy I like? And her eyes are beautiful!"

"She had this wonderful wit and charm to her no matter the role and the most distinctive, striking voice!"

"I mean, incredibly beautiful and talented, can do drama can do comedy. And she was a mermaid."

"Like Bette Davis she has eyes to die for. Unlike Bette Davis you felt comforted by them, even when she was batting her eyelashes at you. Would glady go to Downing Street with her and throw things at the Prime minister"

"Listen, listen. I was raised on Mary Poppins and "Votes for women! (step in time)" single-handedly taught me how to be a feminist. Also The Court Jester is one of my favourite movies of all time and she is UNBELIEVABLY gorgeous, charismatic, funny, and clever in it. She knocks several men out. Absolute icon."

"I love Glynis Johns. Most of the reason is The Court Jester where she's a sensible and capable foil to whatever what going on with Danny Kaye at the time. She was also the first star I based an OC on. An OC that I still have to this day! Anyway here have some YouTube links love u bye"

Mermaid clip:

Court Jester (sharing a bed trope):

Court Jester (seducing the king):

"VOTES FOR WOMEN! Well, votes for this woman. Please."

Eartha Kitt:

"A hot vintage woman who was not just known for her voice, beauty, poise, and presence, but also her unapologetic ways of speaking about how she was mistreated in the show business as a girl who grew up on cotton fields in South Carolina in the 1930s through the 1940s coming to Broadway first and then Hollywood."

"Have you watched her sing?? Have you seen her face?? Have you heard her talk?? How could you not fall instantly in love. She makes me incoherent with how hot she is."

"She can ACT she can SING she can speak FOUR LANGUAGES she is a GODDESS!!! Although she is (rightfully) remembered for her singing, TV appearances (Catwoman my beloved), and later film roles, her early appearances in film are no less impressive or noteworthy!! She’s an amazing actress with so much charisma in every role. She was also blacklisted from Hollywood for 10 years for criticizing the Johnson administration/Vietnam War, so. Iconic. Also Orson Welles apparently called her “the most exciting woman in the world.”

"She had such a stunning, remarkable appearance, like she could tear you to shreds with just a glance- but the most undeniable part of her hotness was her voice, and it makes sense that it's what most people nowadays know her for. Nothing encapsulates the sheer magnetism of her singing better than this clip of her and Nat King Cole in St. Louis Blues, she pops in at 2:49. Also I know it's post-1970 but her song that was cut from Emperor's New Groove is likely to make you feel Feelings."

Even with as racist as Hollywood was in the 1950s and 60s, Eartha Kitt STILL managed to have a thriving career. She also once had a threesome with Paul Newman and James Dean, and called out LBJ over the Vietnam War so hard that it made First Lady Johnson cry. Eartha Kitt was talented, sexy, and a total badass activist.

[sickvictorianangel]

My "hot takes" about RDR2:

All the characters are well written, complex and well played. But that doesn't mean I need to like every one of them or defend them.

We all love John because of own bias (thanks to RDR1). His only redeemable point is after the end of the Epilogue. This man was irresponsible, a deadbeat, didn't listen to Abigail even at the end and caused his own death, leaving Abigail and Jack alone.

Abigail, Mary-Beth, Karen, Tilly and Sadie are the best women in the whole game and I will always stand up for them. Abigail fought for her son with teeth and nails, she always did her best for the ones she loved. Mary-Beth, Karen and Tilly were soulmates, who always defended each other and had each other's back all the time. They stood up for themselves many many times and were a girls girl. Being there for Abigail all the time when Jack was kidnapped and trying to pull Karen out of the hole she was burying herself. And of course, Sadie was a strong woman. She didn't just devote herself to avenge her late husband, but she devoted her time to stand up and move on. She was loyal to Arthur and such a good friend to Abigail, John and Charles. Her loyalty carried the love she felt even when the people she loved died.

Which also brings me to: I will always defend Molly! She abandoned everything she was and had for a narcissist that stole her youth and will to live. She tried to salvage her broken "relationship" in every way she could, always receiving the bad hand of Dutch's attitude. In the end, dying trying to show her feelings that were constantly dismissed. Molly deserved better.

Susan Grimshaw wasn't a bad woman, she lived for the well being of the gang and loyalty to Dutch. She was hard and cold, but because she learned that was the only way for survival. She died being loyal to the Van Der Linde gang. She died siding with Arthur and John.

Reverend Swanson was a sick man. Addiction is a disease! I will always love that man and defend him. And in the end, he also reached his redemption.

Hosea was the glue that kept everyone together, the gang only existed for so long and succeeded because of him. Until Dutch's ego talked louder and louder, putting everyone in such a fragile position that ended up taking his own life.

No, Dutch didn't get crazy. Dutch was always a narcissist and didn't want to carry the responsibility of his actions, always blaming everyone and pointing fingers around trying to frame someone for the downfall of the gang. For him to be happy and satisfied, you had to side with him and his decision no matter how crazy they were. Micah was just a mirror for his own actions to come to life. Making Arthur and John question if that was a "new Dutch" or if he was already like that. And don't make me even talk about how this man became a whole rap!st in RDR1.

Mary is a complex character and necessary for Arthur's growth. But, Mary is just a rich woman from the 1800s. The way she treated the other girls from the gang with such disdain, treating them like they were inferior? Fuck you, girl. She was always a red flag for me for the simple fact that Karen, Mary-Beth and Tilly didn't like her at all. Only Abigail talking positive about her once. And no, I don't care that she "used Arthur" lmao That part is extremely important to Arthur's path of redemption, so get over that already (to all the annoying men in the fandom).

Charles, Lenny and Kieran are literal angels. Victims of their circumstances but acted with honor till the end of everything. Always ready to help. I've never seen these boys harassing anyone.

Javier was blind loyal, his ideals weren't real and depended on Dutch's empty words to hold it. When everything fell apart, Javier became the opposite of what he preached so much.

Bill was never a good person. Bill was a big drunk bully. He was always a coward, even before RDR1. His loyalty was with some of the members of the gang (as long as they were white... Tilly got his ass during the stagecoach mission and I love that).

Arthur is one of the best written characters I've ever seen. We see someone who was hurt since a child, who was forced to become a "hard man" by every person in his life. He was made to believe by everyone that he was just a strong and ugly motherfucker, whose only use was to do someone's dirty work. But in reality, he was soft. Arthur was an artist, and the people that actually knew that soft side of him, knew how reliable he was. His redemption story is actually beautiful. Arthur is the base of the gang and the pivotal point in the story. His actions and sacrifice started a butterfly effect so strong that it change the course of everyone's life.

And to end this huge mountain of nothing lol I just wanna say that those are MY OWN OPINIONS. I love that game so much and I hope we can see even more of the whole gang and other characters some day again.

[willixmsonswife]

rest/leah williamson

*leah williamson x fem!reader *the word 'rest' is simply not included in leah's vocabulary *tiny argument and mentions of her torn acl at the beginning but happy end :)

*2.75k words

.................................

"I tore my acl." Those were definitely not the words I wanted to hear from Leah when I walked into her room. I had watched her limp off the pitch during the match and I wasn't able to concentrate on the rest of it. I had to wait until she was in the hospital to see her because the security wouldn't let me. "She's my best friend, she needs me!" didn't really change their mind.

So I waited three hours in my apartment, car keys in one hand, phone in the other. I almost dropped my phone when it rang and immediately accepted the call. "Hello?" I tried to hide the worry in my voice but it was still very present. "Hello is this y/n y/l/n?" An unfamiliar voice answered. "Yes, that's me. Who is this?" Maybe it wasn't the call I was expecting. "I'm a nurse at the St. Marys Hospital in London and I'm calling for Leah Williamson. She would've called herself but she has to undergo an MRI at the moment. I'm calling you because your number was marked as the one to call if something happened and I think she really needs someone to be by her side." I felt my heart drop further and further while the nurse talked. Leah had to undergo an MRI by herself and I was probably the only person that knew that she was terrified of those machines. Plus, an MRI was not a good sign for her knee. "Okay, thank you for calling me. I'll be there in 15 minutes." I hung up and just stared at my phone. What if she really tore her acl? What if she couldn't play football for the rest of the year? That would be pure torture for her and it would absolutely destroy her not only physically but mentally. She worked so hard to be selected for the World Cup and wore the captain armband with pride every single time. I had to be there for her through all of it. I stood up and drove to the hospital as fast as I could.

.................................

"Excuse me? I'm here to see Leah Williamson. A nurse called me earlier saying that-"

"Ah yes, you are miss y/l/n right?"

"Yes, yes that's me."

"Miss Williamson is currently staying in room 204 which is just across the corridor on the right side." She pointed towards the direction and I thanked her before searching for the right room. 200, 202, 204. There it was. I took a deep breath. I had to be calm now, I had to pull myself together for Leah.

I knocked three times and heard her response soon after. "Come in." So I did. The first thing I saw as I entered were her jersey and her shorts, neatly folded on a chair at the other end of the room. I took a few steps towards her bed but she only looked at me when I stood directly next to her. "I tore my acl." Her eyes were bloodshot and I could hear in her voice that she already cried. "Lee, I-"

"No. Please don't say anything. I don't want to hear your encouragements and how everything's going to be fine! It's not! I'm not able to play in Australia and I'm gonna let the whole team down! It's not going to be fine!" Her voice became louder and louder while she talked and she screamed the last sentence. I was well aware that this anger was not directed towards me but more towards the fact that this happened to her, now, and that she couldn't do anything about it. So instead of telling her that, I hugged her tight. I could feel her tense muscles relaxing at my touch and she just gave in to her feelings. "Why did it have to be me? Why now?" She said in between sobs, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know Leah, I'm so sorry." I just held her and rubbed her back comfortingly while she cried.

.................................

This whole situation happened over two months ago. Leah was now past the surgery and had started rehab. It was going well but one thing bothered me extremely. "Leah?" I stopped the episode I was watching and sat up from the sofa. The apartment was completely silent now that the tv had stopped. "Lee?" I went upstairs and knocked on her bedroom door. "Yes?" I opened the door and was met by Leah standing in front of her closet, only dressed in shorts and a bra, holding up a dress and a blazer. My eyes instantly moved from her well trained body to the floor, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable. "Oh hi y/n. What's up?"

"I, eh- I called you from down stairs. Wanted to know what I should make for dinner."

"Oh right. You-" She turned around to face me and saw me looking down, embarrassment unfortunately still clearly written on my face. "You can look at me y'know?"

"Oh, I just- I didn't know if-"

"y/n, we're living together. We're best friends and room mates. I'm absolutely not bothered by you looking at me and it does not make me feel uncomfortable. Trust me." I lifted my head and her piercing blue eyes looked straight into mine. My cheeks immediately turned a bit redder but I tried to ignore it, hoping that she didn't notice. Unknown to me, she did and she wasn't upset about it one bit. "So, dinner. What should I make?"

"Actually, I'm going out this evening. You only have to cook for yourself."

"What? You're going out? Again? With who and where?"

"With Alex, she invited me as her plus one to this event and-"

"Lee you can not possibly be serious right now."

"What do you mean?"

"Leah, you had your surgery two months ago and only started rehab, It's going well, yes, but the doctor still said that you have to take things slow especially going out for so long. You already met up with over ten different people in not even two weeks! You have to rest and give your knee a break, please."

"Oh and you suddenly care about that? So you don't want me to return to my normal life and just have fun with my friends? You want me to stay home and just do nothing apart from the rehab? What great best friend you are!"

I tried my best to stay calm, not wanting to start an argument at this moment.

"That's not what I said and you know that. I just don't want you overwork your knee and set you back in you rehab because we both know that that's the last thing you would want right now. You just have to accept that your life is not the same as before right now but-"

"I know that it's not the same! I had to actually come to terms with the change, you didn't! You could just continue your life like nothing happened because nothing happened to you! You didn't tear your acl, you didn't have to undergo surgery, you don't have to go to rehab four times a week because your life didn't change one bit!" I did not expect her to start yelling at me. I just stood there and didn't move, scared that she would just snap again. I did not deserve any of those accusations and I was totally aware of that.

"You know what? Go to your event. Why don't you just stay at Alex' house for that matter? So you two can just party all night long and forget about everything."

I saw in Leah's eyes that she knew she had overstepped a line. "y/n-" She took a step forward and reached for my hand but I stepped back.

"No. You don't get to do that Leah. I know that your life is hard right now but I'm doing everything I can to help and support you. I cook for you, I drive you everywhere, I go to rehab with you because you don't want to feel alone and I even started to work from home just so you don't have to feel lonely in our apartment! And you know why I do that? Because I love you okay? I love you Leah and I would do everything for you, even tear my own acl just so you have someone who feels what you had to feel! I love you way more than I should and I'm sorry that I care about your health and your wellbeing so much."

With those words I left her room and stormed into mine, which was just across from hers. I slammed the door shut before she could even think about following me. Hot tears streamed over my cheeks as I sat down on the edge of my bed. Leah and I rarely argued which I was extremely thankful for. And normally we always apologized to each other minutes after it enden because we couldn't stand the thought of being mad at one another. But not this time. This fight was the biggest one we've had and I knew that it wouldn't just be solved by saying sorry.

Thinking about the fight, I realized what I said to her. Did I actually confess my feelings to her in an argument? Oh god. I let myself fall onto my bed and just wanted to turn back time. How could I be so stupid and let my emotions get the best of me?

.................................

About half an hour later I heard Leah's door open. I could hear her stop in front of my door and I imagined her standing there, only a few meters away from me, contemplating what to do or say next. Then she knocked. "y/n?" I couldn't get myself to answer and just continued to stare at my ceiling. At least I had stopped crying now. "I- fuck. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. That argument escalated way too fast and I- I don't even know what I wanna say. I'm sorry. I'm going now, Alex is waiting outside. Call me tomorrow, please."Her voice broke and I could hear that she was as close to crying as I was. And yet, I didn't answer. She was allowed to do whatever she wanted and I was not going to stop her. I listened to her steps as she walked downstairs, struggled to put on her shoes and finally left the house. She didn't slam the door like I did, she closed it carefully, like everything was normal. Except it wasn't. I had this weird feeling like something heavy was laying on my chest and I couldn't breathe properly. Maybe it was good that she left, maybe that was what we needed. A watery smile appeared on my lips when I thought about it. Who was I even kidding? I already missed her even though she only left 10 minutes ago. How pathetic was that? I slowly made my way out of my bed and carefully opened the door as if someone was still here that I could possibly bother. I took the same steps down stairs that Leah took only a few moments ago. The tv was still on pause so I just sat down and continued to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S aimlessly. Just when I thought about calling Keira to tell her about everything that had happened, I heard someone opening the door. Who was that? The only person who had a spare key was Keira and the last time I checked she was in Barcelona. My eyes were fixed on the door. The remote In my right hand, I was ready to throw it at- "Leah?" I lowered my hand and looked at her confused. "What the fuck are you doing here? You're supposed to go out with Alex." My confusion was replaced by slight anger as I recalled the events from earlier. "Oh y/n, I- I didn't expect you to be downstairs. I thought-"

"What are you doing here Leah?"

She closed the door behind here and took her shoes off before she came to sit on the couch next to me. I turned so I could face her and watched her carefully as she placed a bag on the small table next to us. "Please let me talk y/n. I need to apologize to you."

I nodded, signaling her to continue and that I was listening.

"Okay so, I need to tell you that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said any of the things that I said earlier because you don't deserve it. You did everything you could for me and I took it for granted which it's absolutely not. You didn't have to do that and yet you still did because you care for me. You stayed by my side during the time before the surgery, encouraged me right before it and were the first to visit me afterwards. You helped me come home and made me feel more at home than I ever felt before. I want to thank you for that. It might take more than just this apology but I'm willing to do everything for you that you did for me."

"Leah-"

"No, I'm not finished." She took my hands in hers and gently stroke her thumb over the back of my hand.

"During those couple months, I could always count on you, you were always there for me. You made me feel things I never felt before. I'm not the best at expressing my emotions and I think you're aware of that." I chuckled and a small smile made its way onto her face. "But this is different. Every time you drove me somewhere, rehab, the store, literally anywhere and put your hand on my thigh to comfort me, it felt like small fireworks exploded in my whole body. I had no idea why that was the case but I just always wanted to be close to you. Every single touch, every single look, every single hug wasn't enough because I wanted to feel you close the entire time. What I'm trying to say is, I think I fell for you. No, scratch that. I'm madly in love with you y/n and when you told me that you felt the same in my room, my brain just couldn't process the fact that you actually said that." She let out a slight chuckle and looked directly into my eyes. "I like you too y/n."

"I- wow. I did not expect that. Are you serious?"

"One hundred twenty percent." I smiled and leaned forward to hug her. "Thank you Lee, I really appreciate it." I felt her place a kiss on my temple and my heart swell at that small gesture. "So what's in that bag?" I asked as I let go of her. "Take out from the Japanese restaurant that you love so much. I thought you might don't wanna cook after this whole thing."

I just looked at her, sitting in front of me, eyes full of love. "Thank you Lee. It's perfect honestly." I grabbed one of the take out boxes and Leah got us two forks from the kitchen. We settled on the couch and continued to watch the episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S that I had started.

.................................

I finished before her and 'obliviously' put my hand on her thigh, tracing random patterns on it. I could feel her tense and just grinned. She placed her empty box on the table and I shifted in my seat until I faced her. She sensed my gaze on her and turned her head. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Nope, nothing." I moved my hand up a bit more and Leah's cheeks turned a dark shade of red. "So, I set off small fireworks in you?" I smirked at her teasingly and she just looked down, trying to hide her now crimson red cheeks. I lifted her head with one finger and leaned forward. "Was is too much?"

"Not at all Lee. I'm just glad to know that I'm not alone with that feeling." I whispered against her lips before I closed the gap and enjoyed her soft lips on mine. We parted after a few seconds and I rested my head on her chest. "It might take more than one kiss like that to convince me that you're not lying about this." I grinned and Leah let out a small laugh. "I think that's possible to arrange."

i'm baaack! this maybe took a bit more than a few day but eyyy, at least i finished it. i hope you liked it :)

and this whole text is not proofread so i apologize in advance for any possible mistakes

[kamotecue]

part four: as the only heiress to the throne, you had your royal duties, that meant you meeting with the lionesses ahead of the world cup.

part one | part two | part three

you sighed as scorpius drove to st. george’s park, it was the last thing on your schedule for the day. your father wanted you to greet and wish the best with the 2023 world cup approaching.

you were literally stuck with media duties, something you quite hated. it was the way the press would turn something around, which well annoyed you. as the car pulled up you saw sarina weigman, the lionesses’s head coach.

“i’m nervous.” you stated, as scorpius chuckled.

“the great y/n, nervous? social anxiety should be afraid.” scorpius joked, as you jokingly glared at him.

“it’s not like i’m dating their captain, i only met three of them. what if the rest of the team don’t like me?” you asked, as scorpius looked at you.

“they’ll love you, besides who could ever hate you.” scorpius said, as you laughed. a lot of people could, you thought.

the car came to a stop, as scorpius killed the engine before heading out to open your door. as your door opened, you stepped out confidently, shaking hands with the dutch manager as she gave you a small smile.

“it’s an honor, your highness.” sarina said, as you nodded.

“the pleasures all mine.” you walked in with sarina, scorpius following behind, always five feet apart. you were lead to a dining area where the lionesses had settled, a few taking a glimpse at you.

the coaching staff were at their designated table, while you joined the table of ella toone who sat with alessia russo, esme morgan, ellie roebuck and mary earps.

“are you really dating our skipper?” ella asked, in disbelief as alessia gently slapped ella’s arm to which you laughed at.

“yes, i am dating leah. is it that much of a shock?” you asked, as ella shrugged.

“you are the crown princess, while our skipper is well—just leah.” ella said, a bit loud making you wince as a few stopped to look at your table.

“just leah was the one i fell in love with, the seven year old that i met on the football pitch.” alessia gave you a soft smile; happy that their skipper had someone to love.

“what do you love about leah?” mary asked, as you gave her a contented smile.

“a lot, really. when we were kids, and i’d meet her on the pitch she’d bring me flowers ‘just because’. or how much she cares about this team, how she loves football, how serious she is. or how blue her eyes are.” you said, as keira gave you a nod of approval.

“has she taught you football?” ellie asked, as you nodded.

“when we were kids, and i’d meet leah on the pitch where we would play soccer. she’s taught me everything i know. she’d also let me borrow a pair of her boots, as we had the same shoe size.” ellie gushed at how cute it was.

“can you tell us more stories?” esme asked as you nodded.

“i had to play goal keeper, just to block lee’s shots. there was this one time, the ball had hit my face. leah rushed to me to check if i had broken anything, or if my nose was bleeding. let’s just say, she scared scorpius.” alessia laughed.

“scorpius?” esme asked as scorpius moved from his position, giving her a small smile.

“my bodyguard.” as you introduced him to the team, he went back to his original position.

“if you weren’t a princess, what job would you take?” keira asked, from the other table.

“well, i am majoring in physiotherapy. after that, i’d enter med school, and graduate.” as keira looked at you in shock.

“i always wanted to do more research, on why it’s more common for females to tear their acl.” you said, stunning those who heard your conversation.

“interesting, leah’s got a keeper.” mary said, as she winked. i laughed at her joke.

“quite literally, i joined a youth team as a goal keeper.” you said, as they looked at you with wide eyes.

“however i only played for about 4 years? before quitting.” ella looked at you in shock, mary was proud another goal keeper.

“i heard there’s a foosball table, would you join me in a game?” rachel asked as she passed by to which you nodded to.

yet here you were absolutely crushing the daly-bright duo, georgia was your partner.

“you’re good at foosball too.” rachel said as the game came to an end.

“what can i say, i’m great at many things.” you said, as you’ve taken lessons in a few instruments, played various sports, and etc.

“well, i believe it’s time for us to go, my lady. you have a date with ms. williamson.” scorpius said, as you flushed.

“can we stop and get flowers?” you asked, as scorpius nodded. keira definitely approved of you, it was cute, your relationship with leah.

[world-of-wales]

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TO THE LITTLE CUPCAKE HRH PRINCE LOUIS ARTHUR CHARLES OF WALES ♡

On 23 April 2018, Prince Louis was born to Catherine and William, then known as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in St Mary's Hospital, London, at 11:01 BST. He was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother Elizabeth II as the third child and second son of Will & Cat. The new prince's name was announced as Louis Arthur Charles in honour of his 3rd-great-uncle Earl Mountbatten of Burma - Louis, his father - Prince William and his paternal grandfather - Charles. The 11 week old little prince was christened by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on 9 July in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. He wore the handmade replica of the Royal Christening Robe, and the Lily Font and water from the River Jordan were used during the baptism. Louis spent the early years of his life at Apartment IA at Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall. He started at Willcocks Nursery School near Kensington Palace in April 2021. In 2022, the family relocated to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, after which he started at Lambrook School along with his older siblings. Born as a Prince of Cambridge, he became HRH Prince Louis of Wales after his his grandfather conferred his parents with the titles of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Louis is currently fourth in line to the throne. He made his official royal debut at the Trooping of Colour in 2019 and since then has accompanied his parents and siblings for engagements and events including his great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and his grandfather's Coronation in 2023. Louis, who enjoys being outdoors, is known to be mad about rugby and loves cricket and tennis. As per his mother, he's got the signature ballboy pose down perfectly. He is also 'very quick' on his scooter and loves gardening. The little cutie is very proud of his sunflowers.

[georgevilliers]

Mary & George thots

I watched all 7 episodes this morning starting at 4:30am on about 4 hours of sleep so here are all of my very sleep deprived but professional opinions. Also, I read the book The King's Assassin by Benjamin Woolley so i have Extra Opinions

(spoilers and lengthy thots beneath the cut)

These are not going to be in any specific order because I can not be bothered (see: me being up since 4am on 4 hours of sleep) and as a blanket statement I loved the show!!!!! Most of the things I will say are going to be neutral statements relating to differences I saw between what I read in the book and what was in the show. These are not good or bad things, just observations! I think it's fun and interesting to look at the things they changed to make it more interesting and palatable for a tv viewing audience, and I don't think it changes the quality of the product at all! With that out of the way, let's get on to the content:

we'll start with the things I loved

NICHOLAS GALITZINE. Like. HELLO??? I am very familiar with his work (watched everything he's been in and recorded a podcast about it) and I know he's been criminally undervalued in almost every project he's ever done but this really, really tested his limits and I mean that in a very good way. You can tell this whole project was a test of his abilities as an actor both physically and mentally and he really rose to the challenge in such an impressive way. I'm not really sure if this is ever going to be Emmy/awards fodder (if they meant it to be they released it at a very poor time but thats a different discussion for another time) but I do think this is going to lead to some very interesting places for him. People (important decision making ones) are going to see this and realise what his abilities are and this is a very good thing.

The costumes are so incredible. The details, the colours, the cuts, the CAMP. I'm not a costuming expert so I have no way of knowing how accurate any of the costuming was but damn did it look good.

On that note the CAMP. Oh my god. This really had that je ne sais quoi that makes something camp in the way only queer people can make something camp, so really hats off to everyone involved in the production value.

I should mention all of the actors here, including Julianne Moore and Tony Curran. I am biased, being that I now seem to only exist to consume Nicky G media, but everyone did such a great job.

The script is so complex and rich, I really don't envy the actors having to memorize some of the tongue twisters that were part of the dialogue.

I think they did a really good job of crafting George as a character. As someone who is predisposed to love Nick's face (lol) I really did feel a bit of hatred towards him sometimes. I found him embarrassing, hot headed, full of himself, and pitiable, sometimes all within a few scenes!

Let's talk about some of the big changes I noticed

they really REALLY made up about 95% of Mary's storyline, I would say. This is just going off the King's Assassin, mind you, but from what I learned about Mary from that book is that essentially her only role in the course George's life took was the initial bit: sending him to France to become a learned gentleman, and sending him to London to try to catch the king's attention. If anyone has any recommendations for sources about Mary's life I could read about I would be very interested in it in order to piece together more fact and fiction! In general, I would just assume the vast majority of Mary's storyline did not happen, but it was fun though! One thing that is mentioned in the book is that her and the king did become good friends.

I really missed the use of nicknames from James. I guess it was hard to show most of them on screen as a lot of them appeared in letters they wrote to each other when they were apart, but James often referred to him as "Steenie" referring to St Stephen who apparently "had the face of an angel", amongst numerous other nicknames such as wife, dog, and child etc.

I also really wish they had included this famous speech of King James' to his privy council, because it is burned into my brain I can literally recite it word for word now: "You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else, and more than you who are here assembled. I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had John, and I have George."

I think they sort of removed some of George's abilities in order to make him rely on Mary more to involve her character in the storylines. In reality he made all of his own political decisions, knew how to play the king without help if he needed, and was a competent (if not terrible and easily swayed by bribery and trying to level up his own interests) member of the government

One of my favourite things to learn from the book is that when George took a wife (which, I believe in reality he was all too happy to marry in order to secure his possessions with an heir) she was welcomed by the king with open arms. King James became besties with Katie and he considered her as sort of part of their "family". In general I think they played up the "jealousies" from King James.

While it is alleged that George did kill James, it was not by asphyxiation. According to the book, he was suffering what is now known as malaria and had a violent fit, thought to be brought on by a "medication" George gave him which was provided by a doctor but actually administered by George, which is what ended up finally killing him

In general I wish the end hadn't felt so...rushed? Maybe it only felt that way because I know how it actually plays out and maybe if I rewatch while not trying to think about real life events so much, it might feel less so. But the whole issue with Spain took up such a small amount of time in the show when in real life it was like...a problem spanning multiple years. And I know they obviously can not show all of that within a 7 episode television show, it does seem like maybe they should have left it out altogether if they weren't really going to see it to its full justice?

My other small complaint is that it felt to me in some parts that the love between King James and George wasn't there. Certainly it feels to me like perhaps George did not feel the same level of love towards King James as the king felt for him, but the king certainly felt so much love for George. There were multiple instances outlined in the book in which they were "on the outs" because George started ignoring him in favour of Charles, or for other reasons, and it seemed to really tear at the king and he seemed to often be the one reaching out to George trying to keep his love close, rather than George trying to rein the king back in under his power. At that point, George had all of the power he needed and the king was so passive and loved him so much, he stayed the king's favourite until death, and George had very little to worry about in that regard.

There! That's all I can think of for now, and I think this has gone on quite long enough. I feel I need to rewatch the show and try harder to not think about real life situations and just enjoy the story. The fiction in the series is greater than the fact but I still think it's fun! And I recognise that there is a need to dramatize things greatly because the way things really played out in reality would not make good television at all. I hope no real history scholars find this post, and if you do please be gentle with me! I am not really an expert, just a history fan (even though I do find myself wanting to quit my job and become a George Villiers scholar).

If you read all of this you really deserve a medal, and you have all my thanks!

[and-her-saints]

i prayed a rosary for the first time with a new friend today.

after we were done, they made a comment about how intimate it felt. i have not stopped thinking about it since.

a rosary, to me, is something that has always been so personal, so internal. it echoes within me, and there it stays. i rarely pray out loud, or make much noise. i sort of fold into myself, into my own “interior castle” (st. teresa of ávila reference lols)

and yet, today there was someone there. we listened to each other’s quirks when reciting these ancient prayers (i apparently say the Hail Mary weirdly in Spanish) and gave each other grace in the spaces where we messed up the words.

there was togetherness in the meditation. togetherness in the call and response. i’ve always pondered what in Matthew 18:20, “When two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20) i always related it back to Mass. to Church. to liturgy.

but even through a phone screen, an ocean apart and time zones away. i felt that verse come alive in the platonic love i am nurturing with my new queer catholic buddy. i feel gratefulness <3

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Fuck it Friday

Thank you @diazsdimples and @bidisasterevankinard for tagging me!

Here is a snippet from the upcoming chapter of Long Death.

---

Buck opens his mouth to say that it wouldn’t have been funny if Tommy saw what Buck saw on that first call, but is interrupted by his phone ringing. Buck huffs and checks the caller ID, surprised to see Athena’s name lighting up his screen. 

“Strange,” Buck mumbles before lifting the phone to his ear and accepting the call. “Hey, Athena?”

“Buck,” her tone is serious. “You need to come to the ER at St. Mary right away.”

Buck’s heart drops like a stone. He’s already walking towards the front door of Tommy’s apartment, reaching for his keys on the hook.

“What happened, Athena? Is Bobby-”

“It’s not Bobby,” she cuts him off. “Buck, Eddie has been attacked.” 

---

No pressure tagging @pantsaretherealheroes @jeeyuns @exhuastedpigeon @aroeddiediaz @theotherbuckley

@steadfastsaturnsrings @mangacat201 @daughterofscotland @madneywedding @tizniz

@evanbegins @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @wildlife4life @buckleybabyblues @adarkermiserablecrow

@epicbuddieficrecs @diazheartsbuckley @watchyourbuck @buddieswhvre @your-catfish-friend

@l0v3t0hat3y0u @lyricfulloflight @kwills91

[royaltysimblr]

Princess Madeleine Through the Years

Read her update below!!

HRH Princess Madeleine was often in the shadow of her older sister, Mary, Princess of the Isle who would later become Queen Mary III. Madeleine was often viewed by the media as the quiet and shy daughter of the King and Queen. Madeleine was rarely in scandal and her life was not nearly reported on as much as her siblings, Princess Mary & Prince Michael. During Princess Madeleine's early 20s, she was thought to have been linked with a family friend, Archibald Vernick.

Famed WAFTA award-winning actor Yusuf Raheem was seen at Princess Madeleine's 25th birthday celebrations. Princess Madeleine was seen leaving his apartment in San Myshuno multiple times throughout the year, sparking rumors of a relationship between the two. Yusuf Raheem was invited to spend Winterfest with the royal family at Statford Castle and was seen in the royal procession to St. George's Chapel. After a year and a half of dating, San Myshuno Palace announced that the couple were engaged. Three and a half months later, on July 15th, the wedding was held at St.Mary's Cathedral in Windenburg. The ceremony was televised and reportedly watched by 190 million viewers worldwide. Following the ceremony, a wedding breakfast was held at Angleterre Palace and a ball was thrown at Sulani House, hosted by Madeleine's cousin, Princess Margaret, Duchess of Montcroix. Princess Madeleine was given the titles Duchess of Richmond, Marchioness of Wixby, and Countess of Brancaster. Yusuf Raheem was reportedly offered a title but declined it. The couple moved into apartments in Kingston Palace which originally belonged to Princess Madeleine's great aunt, Princess Alice.

On May 25th, around 9 months after the wedding, Princess Madeleine gave birth to her first child, Prince Noah Ahmed Raheem. A year and a half later, on September 14th, Princess Madeleine gave birth to Princess Lina Marie Raheem. After five years of marriage, San Myshuno Palace announced that Princess Madeleine and Yusuf Raheem would be getting divorced. Many news outlets reported that Raheem cheated on Princess Madeleine throughout the marriage, however, Princess Madeleine denied these reports. The couple also reportedly conflicted over the Princess not supporting Raheem's acting career throughout the marriage. Allegedly Raheem was forced to give up acting jobs due to him being a member of the royal family. Princess Madeleine gave Raheem 6 million dollars in their divorce settlement. The former couple are reportedly on friendly terms, with Yusuf Raheem seen attending a few royal family events such as the 45th birthday celebrations of Queen Mary.

Prince Noah & Princess Lina were raised primarily in San Myshuno and split time between their mother's apartments at Kingston Palace and their father's penthouse in San Myshuno. The children spent many summers with their mother at her summer residence, Primrose Cottage, a house on the Statford Castle Estate. The children attended Alcott Nursery School and Canterbury Academy. Prince Noah attended Wroxham University, graduating with a degree in business management. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Princess Lina, attended Witham University, majoring in Political Science. Over the last few years, Prince Noah and Princess Lina have been in regular attendance at royal family events with their mother. Prince Noah and Princess Lina have attended a few of their father's movie premieres in Simerica and San Myshuno over the last few years.

Princess Madeleine has taken an average of 190 engagements a year for the last 15 years. Princess Madeleine is one of the hardest-working members of the royal family and is a patron to over 150 organizations and charities including the Windenburg Women's Institute. Princess Madeleine's charities and organizations primarily aim at raising awareness about disabilities and mental health. Princess Madeleine has consistently been ranked as the second most popular member of the royal family, usually behind the Queen herself.

[officalroyalsofpierreland]

The Emperor's 30 Year Jubilee | Service of Thanksgiving

St. Windenburg Cathedral, Windensen, Pierreland

The nation held a Service of Thanksgiving for the Emperor to which allies and family attended.

First to arrive is HM King Alexios Constantine of Greecesim with his children, TRH Crown Prince Stephanos and Princess Sofia of Greecesim. King Alexios lasted visited Pierreland as Crown Prince at the Wedding of the Emperor and Empress. However, the Emperor and Empress have visited Greecesim many times over the years, with the two nations sharing a strong naval alliance. King Alexios celebrated 10 years on the Greecesim throne, with those celebrations ending yesterday.

Next to arrive is TIM Queen Vivianna II and King Phillippe of the Ionian Union. Apart of the family of Europesim, the Ionian Union has a shared history with Pierreland with a Princess of Pierreland being an ancestor of the current Queen. On a more recent and personal note, Queen Vivianna had a short relationship with Crown Prince Louis years ago but has since found happiness with the French prince. @funkyllama

Rounding out the monarchs of Europesim, TIM Emperor Napoleon V and Empress Charlotte of the French arrived with the doting pair entering the cathedral. The youngest monarch, young Napoleon V none the less has inherited a strong relationship with Pierreland and even served with the Pierreland Navy for a brief joint exercise while he was a student at the Polytechnic. @empiredesimparte

The start of family have arrived with HM King Henrik of Charleston and HRH Prince Michael of Charleston who is also the Grand Duke of Burgundy in Pierreland. They arrived with their children, TRH Crown Princess Aurora, Prince Damien & Princess Brigitta. The Charlestonian Royal family has spent time with members of the Pierreland Imperial family at private Imperial retreats where the reigning monarchs have be seen to take it slightly easier together over the years. @thecharlestonroyalfamily

Next to arrive are TIH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Siene. The parents of HIH Prince Anthony and HRH Crown Princess Minerva, the pair are the eldest members of the Imperial family. With some health scares over the past year, many do worry for the health of the Grand Duke and are surprised to see him at today's service.

Following the arrival of her parents, we see TRH the Crown Princess Minerva and Crown Prince Nicholas of Lunaria. Crown Princess Minerva is a beloved member of the Valois family, with her mark being made in her furthering ties with Lunaria, first as Pierreland's Ambassador to the nation but now as their Crown Princess. She comes back to Pierreland as often as her schedule allows to visit with her immediate family, her cousin the Emperor, good friend the Empress and their children. Her daughters arrived behind her, TRH Princess Alexandrine wearing blue, Princess Odessa in pink, and Princess Magdalena being accompanied by her boyfriend Prince Magnus of Argyll. Princess Magdalena has been seen in Pierreland studying at her mother's alma mater, the University of Brichester-Siene, and often in the orbit of the Scottish Prince. Princess Magdalena also has deep ties to the Imperial Family and Emperor David due to her close friendship with Crown Prince Louis since they were both toddlers. @simsroyallegacy

Arriving after his younger sister, HIH the Earl of Clairvaux arrived with his husband, Lord Consort Nashville of Clairvaux. The Earl has worked as a member of the Imperial Judicial Courts for the past 20 years and often advises the Emperor on legal matters. Meanwhile the Lord Consort is a former member of the Imperial Army.

Next to arrive are the members of the Scottish Royal Family, TM King Alexander III & Queen Marie Christine. Queen Marie Christine is the Emperor's younger sister and has held a deep love for her homeland and her family. The pair have ensured that their children have had exposure to both cultures with both families spending time at various royal retreats over the years. Meanwhile TRH the Duke and Duchess of Rothsey arrive, with the pair having their own unique ties to the Emperor. The pair are reportedly very well loved by the Emperor, who insisted on being their first state visit!

Next to arrive are the Emperor's adoptive children, the Grand Duke of Bordeaux & Mrs. Isabella Villa, and their families. First is the Grand Duke & Grand Duchess of Bordeaux and their three children, Lord Arthur, Lord Dominque and Lady Artemis. This is followed by Mr Sebastian and Mrs. Isabella Villa along with their two sons, Arthur and Jeffery. @royalhouseofcarrington

Last to Arrive is the immediate Imperial family. HIH Crown Prince Louis was all smiles and waves as he entered wearing a light blue waist coat with his morning suit while his younger twin siblings opted to go for a dark blue approach with HIH Princess Maria Aisha forgoing a hat or fascinator on this occasion. Last to enter, were of course TIM Emperor David and Empress Katalina. The pair, who have been married for the majority of the Emperor's reign, seemed to be in as love as ever as they carried on a conversation that they were having in the car.

The service, led by the Archbishop of Windensen, spoke of servant leadership (pretty apt due to the amount of monarchs and future monarchs in the room) and prayed for the Emperor's health and peace for the Empire.

[renthony]

🏳️‍🌈

(Drop a 🏳️‍🌈 in my inbox and I’ll respond with a queer media recommendation!)

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin, Jenn St-Onge, and Joy San is a story of elderly Black sapphic love. It follows two teenage girls who meet at church bingo in the 60s, fall in love, get separated, and eventually find each other again late in life.

I don't remember how I first found this graphic novel, but it made me cry multiple times. It made me think about the queer elders in my life, especially my lesbian great-aunt who game out in the 60s. Seeing stories about queer elders makes me feel like my partners and I have a shot at growing old together, too.

The story follows the characters all the way up to their deaths, and it depicts their struggles with unaccepting family and society. It ultimately has a happy ending, but it still hits hard in the heartstrings. I love it a lot.

Here's the official plot summary:

When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid-’60s, Hazel and Mari reunite again at a church bingo hall. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage. From TEE FRANKLIN (NAILBITER’s "THE OUTFIT," Love is Love) and JENN ST-ONGE (Jem & The Misfits), BINGO LOVE is a touching story of love, family, and resiliency that spans over 60 years.

The story is great, the art is beautiful, and I really want to get my hands on the edition that includes bonus stories--the copy I read only had the original story.

Ask For a Rec | Other Media Recommendations | Support Links

[secondhandsorrows]

Keys to Crafting Characters Readers Will Root For (w/ some examples)

As a writer and while making up this blog, I’m quite adamant that characters are just as important (if not more) as plot. In the grand scheme of things, an active, relatable, and engaging main character is crucial for a novel's success. But how exactly do we make a character all these things? There’s many ways, in fact. It is up to us as authors to keep track and manage the developmental arc of our protagonist: primarily, who they are on the inside, and how they grow or change / adapt to the situations or people around them. 

Here are some examples and tips to help you develop a compelling protagonist (or all kinds of characters). Keep in mind these tips are at their most basic, essential level (there’s just so much that can be explored in each one), so I hope to go further into each point sometime in the future. 

~`* They have clear goals and motivations.

First things first: you’d want to clearly define your character's goals and motivations — and the sooner, the better. Proper and well-set goals and motivations provide a sense of direction to the narrative. They should be specific, measurable, and achievable — or perhaps, not achievable, at least to its fullest extent. This would ultimately depend on the type of arc or ending you intend to write for your story, but there should at least be some main goal the character is vying for, and a motivation that dictates how much they want or need it. 

For example: An aspiring actress hoping to make it to the stage and audition for the lead role in her favorite play.  —> Why does she want to be an actress so badly? What does it mean to her to act in her favorite performance? What does she have to prove, to herself or others?

~`* They are flawed, yet relatable:

I’m sure you’ve all heard this before… but I’m still going to reiterate:

Your character should have relatable flaws that readers can sympathize with. It’s no secret that flaws make characters human and relatable. Flawed characters help us remember that nobody’s perfect, and that we’re not alone in our struggles and in our plights (stay back, Mary Sues!). These flaws can be anything, from fears, limitations, biases, misbeliefs, quirks, shortcomings, or behaviors. It’s useful two have at least two: a minor flaw and a major flaw, where the former affects only the only character and nothing else, and the latter hinders the character and affects the plot. 

For example: A highly-knowledgeable yet socially awkward and oblivious professor who can hold a bar of soap better than a conversation.  —> Does this flaw make him out to be charming or weird to others? How can his social-awkwardness affect the plot… does it hinder him from connecting to his students or colleagues? 

~`* They have unique talents or interests.

Sometimes I read a story, and personally I have a hard time connecting with a character if all they care about from beginning to end is what’s happening in the plot. It’s like they exist for the sole purpose of the plot, and are nothing but a shell to see through the events or its challenges. This is understandable, especially when it’s an action-packed story or thriller. 

Personally, I can’t help but wonder what its main character does for fun. What they’re like before the events of the novel. 

I think it can be useful your character skills or interests that set them apart. This not only makes them interesting, but can drive the plot in unexpected ways. *Bonus points if they have a particular skill or hobby that conflicts with the way they present themselves to others, or if they hide it well if they are embarrassed by it or afraid of getting judged. Essentially, this is all to clue-in on the reader to the character’s backstory, their personality. It helps them seem more individualistic, like humans with their own sets of interests or ideas that give them more complexity and uniqueness. This can also be useful in creating parallels or connections to your story’s themes or your character’s arc. 

For example: A brave warrior with an aptitude for gardening and flower arranging.  —> Seems random, right? But what if this warrior had workin in their relative’s flower shop, and has kept the skill alive in their days of battle to see pieces of beauty around them, hope from fear and danger? They might dig graves of their fallen friends and leave behind flowers in remembrance. Just an obscure  example, but see all the possibilities something like this can open up?

~`* They have deep, complex relationships.

Sometimes we can get a better idea of a character when we see them interact with the people around them. It’s like showing vs. telling, where we get a firsthand look at how the main character treats his family members, how he accepts or refuses help from those he’s close with, what he appreciates most about his significant other, how he feels about the annoying neighbor next door. Who’s the one person they most admire and never want to let down? Who’s the one person they despise with all their body and soul? Whether it's friends, family, enemies, or romantic entanglements, complex interactions and relationships add layers to your character and in how they showcase themselves to the world. 

For example: An excellent, compassionate therapist with a strained relationship with his own family member.  —> How does this character feel about this kind of relationship? Does it stem out of shared family troubles, or something deeper? Is there a glimmer of possibility the therapist might reconcile with this relative, or are they dashed because of mutual pride or distrust? 

~`* They often face moral dilemmas.

It’s time to get philosophical. Human nature is full of paradoxes and tough moral questions, and so characters with conflicting qualities can be intriguing and relatable. Introduce moral dilemmas and conflicting values that force your character to make tough choices and confront their conflicting values. Do they have a friend with conflicting beliefs that challenge their own? Are they forced to act a certain way because of external pressures? Are they forced to choose between saving one person while destroying another? 

No matter how serious this dilemma is, you can also add a moment of clarity or self-awareness for your character. This can be a turning point where they acknowledge and confront the conflict within themselves, thus becoming face-to-face with their internal crisis and how they decide to go from there. Do they weigh the pros and cons considerably, do they fumble because they’re hesitant, or do they embrace the new changes? 

Despite conflicting values, make sure your character's behavior is consistent with their established personality. Consistency helps maintain authenticity and keeps the character grounded. 

For example: A scientist torn between protecting humanity and the pressure of making a groundbreaking discovery.  —> How does making this discovery very important to this character? What do they stand to lose… what do they stand to gain? Are they at the risk of becoming something completely opposite of who they were at the beginning of the story, losing their sense of morality or forced to choose a side? 

~`* They show their quirks and habits.

Introduce quirks or habits that make your character memorable. These little details can make the character more relatable and interesting, because just like talents or hobbies, this can also give a clearer sense to the reader of what kind of personality the character has and what they’re like. Not to forget, it also helps them to stand out from other characters on the page, giving them a unique voice with their kind of dialogue, their behaviors, style, and mannerisms.  

For example: A scholar who can focus only if she’s chewing gum or wearing her lucky ring.  —> How might’ve this character started this habit or tradition? Does it actually work? Does it not work, but they still do it anyways because it’s comforting for them? Also, where did they get this quirk from?

~`* They have a backstory.

Most of what we’ve been discussing in this post already leaves some framework for the character’s backstory. It’s important to have a meaningful backstory in mind that influences the character's present actions and explains why they are they way that they are. This adds depth and helps readers understand their fears, desires, and motivations better; not shallow and two-dimensional as cardboard cut-outs. 

Sometimes we don’t get a backstory for our character right away. Backstories takes time to brainstorm and shape — let alone into a complex or compelling one — but its helpful to trust the process. What you can do if you’re still looking for the right one, is to ask yourself questions  on things that matter to you most. This pertains to your story’s themes and other main ideas you may like writing about, such as grief or family matters. It all boils down to who your character is (the present), and where it stemmed from (the past). If we take this a step further: does this backstory guide them or force them to make changes within themselves, thus leading to their changed self at the end of the novel/series (the future)?

For example: A woman with a fear of marriage because she’s seen firsthand its faults, including her own parents’. —> Is her parents’ divorce still something she’s struggling to come to terms with? Is her misbelief equating marriage to constant conflict? Does she have a secret desire to get married, yet it put off by its pressures? Does she make up for this fear by focusing on other matters? Will this fear later be disproven?

~`* They are often vulnerable. 

Every hero needs vulnerabilities. Imperfections. Weaknesses. We’ve talked about strengths and flaws before, but giving them that dent in their armor, any little opening someone or something might get through, leaves a reminder that no one, especially our hero, is invincible. Nobody’s perfect, after all (side-eyeing you, Mary Sues…). Make your characters messy: adding vulnerabilities helps makes them more authentic and genuine, opening up chances for them to learn and evolve as the story moves along. 

It can also add a layer of suspense to the story, especially in conflict and tension. How will the character handle someone breaking their walls down, or a bad experience threatening to make them crumble and fall back to old habits? How do they handle their insecurities? How well do they hide their fears, and will they ever admit them?

For example: An old woman with bad eyesight and lives alone can’t tell that the reluctant robber breaking into her home is not her grandson.  —> This is a fun little example that opens up many possibilities. Her bad eyesight is a physical vulnerability, and so is her soft spot for her supposed grandson. The robber notices this, and he too may have a soft spot for any old woman who treats him kindly. Does he use this to his advantage to rob the house, or does he humor her for a while?

I’d definitely like to expand on these tips sometime. If there’s anything you’d like to share or add, please do so! I’d love to hear y’alls thoughts. Hope this helped!

[columtard]

source (I’m not 100% sure the original photo is from Reddit, but that’s where I found it.)

Genevieve Bergeron, 21 :

A second-year scholarship student in mechanical engineering. She played the clarinet and sang in a professional choir. In her spare time she played basketball and swam.

Helene Colgan, 23 :

Was in her final year of mechanical engineering and planned to do her master's degree. She had three job offers and was leaning toward accepting one from a company based near Toronto.

Nathalie Croteau, 23 :

Was another graduating mechanical engineer. She planned to take a two-week vacation in Cancun, Mexico, with Colgan at the end of the month.

Barbara Daigneault, 22 :

Was to graduate at the end of the year. She was a teaching assistant for her father Pierre, a mechanical engineering professor with the city's other French-language engineering school at the Universite de Québec à Montréal.

Anne-Marie Edward, 21 :

Was a chemical engineering student. She loved outdoor sports like skiing, diving and riding and was always surrounded with friends.

Maud Haviernick, 29 :

Was a second-year student in engineering materials, a branch of metallurgy, and a graduate in environmental design from the Universite de Québec à Montréal.

Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31 :

Was the oldest of the victims, was a first-year nursing student. She arrived in Montréal from Poland with her husband in.

Maryse Laganiere, 25 :

Was the only non-student killed. She worked in the budget department of the engineering school. She had recently married.

Maryse Leclair, 23 :

Was in fourth-year metallurgical engineering, had a year to go before graduation and was one of the top students in the school. She acted in plays in junior college. She was the first victim whose name was known and she was found by her father, Montreal police Lt. Pierre Leclair.

Anne-Marie Lemay, 27 :

Was in fourth-year mechanical engineering.

Sonia Pelletier, 28 :

Was the head of her class and the pride of St-Utric, Que., her remote birthplace in the Gaspe peninsula. She had five sisters and two brothers. She was killed the day before she was to graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. She had a job interview lined up for the following week.

Michele Richard, 21 :

Was in second-year metallurgical engineering. She was presenting a paper with Haviernick when she was killed.

Annie St-Arneault, 23 :

Was a mechanical engineering student from La Tuque, Que. Her friends considered her a fine student. She was killed as she sat listening to a presentation in her last class before graduation. She had a job interview with Alcan Aluminium scheduled for the following day.

Annie Turcotte, 21 :

Was in her first year and lived with her brother in a small apartment near the university. She was described as gentle and athletic - she was a diver and a swimmer. She went into metallurgical engineering so she could one day help improve the environment.