#The Letter London Cafe

[misscromwellsmonocle]

Citizen No25 "The Letter, London Café" (2017) by Luis Pérez

[get-back-homeward]

The following day, two of the Beatles were sitting in the Kardomah café. Their Wednesday-night Cavern residency was preceded this week by a lunchtime session, and John and Paul were still in the habit of staying in town on such days, idling away afternoons in “the KD.” This time they were chatting to one of John’s old mates from art school, who then said, “I believe Brian Epstein is managing you—which one of you does he fancy?” It was just a bit of lads’ banter, something that often came up behind Brian’s back, along with digs about him being Jewish. Nothing more would have been said about it if one of the two Beatles (or both) hadn’t then relayed the comment to Brian’s face. He was mortified. It was a stain on his character; it was combustible, in view of homosexual acts being illegal; and, because he was still denying this side of his life to the Beatles, it was a direct challenge for him to respond. Forty-eight hours later, Brian turned the matter over to his lawyer; and seven days after passing the comment, John’s friend from art school was dumped deep in it.

We have been consulted by Mr. Brian Epstein who instructs us that on the February 21st last in the Kardomah Café, Church Street, Liverpool, you uttered a certain highly malicious and defamatory statement concerning him to two members of the Beatles. We are instructed that in the course of a conversation you said, “I believe Brian Epstein is managing you. Which one of you does he fancy?” The unwarranted innuendo contained in that remark is perfectly clear and is one to which our client takes the gravest possible exception and the damaging nature of which has caused him considerable anxiety and distress. He is not prepared to tolerate the utterance of such remarks by you and we accordingly have to require that we receive by return your written apology together with an undertaking that this or similar remarks will not be made by you in the future.

The apology and undertaking arrived by return of post and that was the end of the matter—but it was another hard and damaging episode for Brian.

From Tune In (Ch. 25: Feb 6–Mar 8, 1961)

[enwoso]

CASUAL — leah williamson

wow, it’s a long one. this has admittedly taken me so long to write. i had the idea of this fic at the start of october but for some reason its just took so long to actually finish lol, but anyways as always hope you enjoy🤍

warning: implied smut, mdni 18+

masterlist

"girl where did you end up last night?" your best friend and also flatmate, amelie asked as you sat in your local cafe debriefing from last nights' night out events over a 'morning' coffee — it was more late afternoon — the two of you having very different endings to the night.

you sat swirling the dregs of your coffee around as you tried to find the way to explain, not so much how you didn't end up back at the flat cause you know she's knows that after catching you walking through the front door at nine am this morning in last nights clothes your head hanging from both the severe amount of alcohol you'd consumed last night but also in slight shame.

it was more whose apartment you stayed at you were trying to find the words to tell her about.

"oh y/n. you didn't did you-" amelie began as you nodded as a defeated sigh left your lips. that being all the clarification your best friend needed. ok, it may not be your proudest moment but who are you to deny a sexy, goddess of a women. but you knew this was heading in the direction of your getting another ear full.

"y/n.. what have i told you, you need to cut all ties with leah. you deserve someone who's going to treat you so much better-" amelie reached out grabbing your hands as you were still looking down at your coffee cup, you looked up a little.

you knew she was right, but you couldn't admit that to yourself. there was something about leah she was addicting and no matter how many times you ended up in between her sheets telling yourself it was the last time, it always happened again.

"yeah but-" you began but amelie gave you a stern look as her eyebrows raised as you rolled your eyes, "ok i get the message, i'll put it on my to-do list — cut leah williamson off." you dryly said, knowing it would be easier said than actually done.

"seriously you need too, your acting like a loser-" amelie continued as you opened your mouth to say something about the small insult she'd thrown your way but you were unable to. "you are though, your better than the rumours that people are spitting-"

"how do you-"

"people talk y/n!"

you'd heard the rumours going around the locals plus there'd been some article posted on an instagram post noticing you in leah's car after a match — you being labelled as 'mysterious girl'.

you weren't known to the media, thank god, you were lucky if you had over two hundred followers as if you had anymore than that fans would have an absolute field day with the news.

instead you were just a normal, twenty six year old girl who'd grown up in north london and had the usual nine to five corporate job as well as having a casual relationship with the leah williamson but you kept that under wraps as after all it was just something which was casual.

you'd met through a mutual friend of yours who also happened to be one of leah's teammates. lotte, who you went to school together and you'd stayed somewhat in contact. it always being a pleasant surprise to see her whenever your paths crossed.

you had bumped into her in a coffee shop near hours before you were being pressed up against a club wall by a blonde defender, having had one too many. the two of you had spent the night being overly touchy and flirting, her lips being felt all around your body leaving your skin feeling hot and your head all fuzzy.

"mine or yours?" leah whispered against your ear, as her teeth grazed your earlobe, you having to refrain yourself from whimpering. leah's hands gripping your hips as your were tangled in the ends of her hair.

"yours" you managed to get out, although it was quiet leah hear every letter. her hands reaching up to grab your hand as she dragged you through the club and towards the exit without as much of a bat of an eyelid towards her friends who she was leaving behind.

to both your luck there was a black cab waiting on the side of the road, both of you taking the chance to get in as leah immediately told the driver her address.

leah's hand stayed on your thigh the entire time as her thumb drew little circles absentmindedly, the busy streets of london making it feel like it's taken hours just to get a few minutes up the road.

as you watched out the window there was a cloud of regret you knew you'd feel in the morning but right now that wasn't what you mind wanted. you right now wanted leah.

so as soon as you cross the threshold of her apartment, you were pinned against the wall. the coldness sending a sharp shiver down your spine. "your so gorgeous" leah whispered as her eyes darkened, the sweet innocence of her blue eyes long gone.

inching closer so that your faces were impossibly close, taking one of her hands as it lands on the back of your neck and kisses you. slow but deep.

letting yourself get lost in her lips as it becomes more passionate and searching but then leah leans back a little, realising that you were in the middle of her hallway.

"come with me, baby" she whispers, her accent thick as the pet name rolls off her tongue but laced with love making your head spin even more as she extends her hand for you to grab as she leads you towards her bedroom, pushing the door open with her foot as her other hand laces itself back around you waist pulling you back to being impossibly close to her.

giving her a teasing look as she kisses you again this one more needy and fervent. feeling her hands all around your body nipping and pulling at your skin as you feel the back of you legs on the edge of her bed. a slight push and you back met with softness of her white sheets.

a small moan leaving leah's lips into the kiss as she felt your hands gently squeeze her ass, feeling her smile against your lips knowing that you were having the same affect on her as she was on you. you were both driving each other crazy.

as the kiss grow more sloppy as whines were being strung from both of your lips, your hips mindlessly starting to slowly grind against her. leah moving to kiss your neck leaving small kisses and sucking on your neck that elicited small moans from your lips as your breathing hitches.

leah's kisses to your neck becoming more intense you could feel yourself getting wetter and wetter by the second as you hips carried on to move against her. your hands lingering on her back as your nails dug that little deeper, more than likely leaving scratch marks.

"please le-" you moan out softly, needing more.

-

that wasn't the last time you saw the blonde defender, nor the last time you ended up with your limbs tangled between each other.

whenever the other had, had a drink or just when you needed company leah seemed to always be there. you felt like you craved her at all hours of the day. you found your mind sometimes wondering what she may be doing when you weren't by her side.

but you weren't together, it was just a casual thing. is what you found you were telling yourself.

but with each weekend that passed you found yourself spending them with leah more and more often. which is exactly what had happened this weekend.

leah had called you, she never calls you only ever texts. strange is what you thought when you saw her caller id on the screen a small smile slipping onto your lips as you pressed accept.

"hello?" you said as leah was yet to speak, you thought maybe she had called the wrong number. maybe she hadn't meant to call you .

"hi y/n-" she finally spoke but she lacked her usual confident tone, this time it had been replaced with a nervous shake of her accent. like she had something in her head that she needed to get out.

"did you need something le?" you ask as there is a deafening silence on the other end, a few rustling sounds before leah clears her throat.

"um are you doing anything this afternoon-" leah paused as you think to your plans for the afternoon, "more specifically are you doing anything at two?" leah continued as she waited your response as you hummed.

"no i should be free, why?" you asked wondering what this was going to lead to, what did she have planned.

"fabulous!" a breath of relief was let out from leah as she had a big grin on her face on the other line which if you could have saw would have made you smile, "since you aren't doing anything, do you wanna come to my match?"

you felt as though her words had just fell on deaf ears, you couldn't believe what you were actually hearing. ever since you and leah had- well whatever your relationship was it had always been in the darkness of everyone else, behind peoples back and away from prying eyes.

this felt like a step, you didn't know what direction but it felt like it meant something good.

as you tried to contain your happiness you nodded forgetting she wasn't actually in the room with you, "i- um i would love to le"

"great! i'll erm get your tickets sorted and send them over" leah explained as you hummed along before she quickly had to say her goodbyes claiming that she needed to get her pre match routine started.

since having to re-organise your afternoon, you were now going around rushing trying to find an outfit. not knowing if it was too cliche you going in an arsenal jersey of leah's or whether a subtle hint of red in your outfit would be a better idea.

deciding on just the subtle hint of red, finding a red cap which just so happen to also be leah’s which she’d left at yours after one night.

once you got the match you were amazed at the amount of people who had turned up, yourself not being as clued in of how big a scale women’s football was as admittedly you didn’t exactly have a big interest in football or in sport in general.

but for leah, you’d sit and watch football match after match if you knew it would make her happy.

once you found your seat in the stand you quickly sent the blonde a message not expecting her to even reply but she did.

Y/N:) - i’m here! good luck, i’ll be cheering you on☺️

LE<3 - i seen you! i’ve been looking for that hat. but i think it’s found a better home now;)

LE<3 - meet me near the dugout at the end!

finding yourself smiling at her messages as she sent another telling you what to say to the security so they would let you in to where leah wanted you to be, before slipping your phone back into your pocket ready to watch a game of football.

the ninety minutes felt as if they flew by, and at first you must admit you didn’t exactly understand what you were watching so you just cheered when everyone else around you did, but at the first half and definitely into the second half you managed to get a few rules down — with the help of a google search..

watching as leah walked around clapping and waving to fans looking so effortlessly good in her kit and with the fact she’d just run around for a good ninety minutes it never managed to fail to surprise you how easy she made it look.

despite the team only coming out with a draw which you knew leah would be slightly huffed about especially since they were by far the better team, you still were incredibly proud of her.

walking down and reciting the exact words that leah had messaged you to the security you made it to where she had told you to meet her, but that’s when a certain someone recognised you. a wide smile and arms wide open for you.

"oh y/n it's lovely to see you" amanda engulfed you in a hug, a warm fuzzy but also bittersweet feeling filling your chest. you'd met her mum totally by accident one of the first times that you and leah slept together. she'd been dropping of groceries for her daughter. leah trying to rush you out the door before things got to awkward.

but instead amanda being the polite women she is asked her daughter to introduce you to her. it ending up you stayed an extra two hours longer than you'd planned much to leah's discomfort, but in a way that made it all the more that enjoyable.

"what you doing after here?" amanda asked as she pulled you out the hug, leah lingering just behind you chewing the inside of her lip. "just if your not busy you can always join us for a few drinks" amanda smiled so sincerely as you thought over the invitiation briefly, would it be awkward - maybe? but friends can go out for drinks too!

“yeah, i’d love too” you grinned as a small cheer left amanda’s lips, you seeing the slight falter of a look on leah’s face before it turned back to her signature tight lipped frown.

or maybe you did it just to spite the blonde defender who stood so nervous next to you.

"brilliant! leah we'll wait out at the cars for you" amanda directed towards her daughter as she nodded a small sigh leaving her lips as she plastered on a fake smile, you knew there was a part of her that didnt want you there but that just added fuel to your fire.

amanda looping her arm with yours as the two of you walked towards where the cars would be at the back of the emirates stadium to take you and the williamson family for a few drinks to celebrate the win.

"so how have you been?" amanda asks as she walks beside you, a genuine interest in her tone, as you hum catching her up with your life which hadn't been all that exciting, most days merging into one.

"leah tells me you've been helping her with some business project? how's it going?" amanda asks and you swear your throat started to close up, your words getting stuck in between your lips as your eyes goes wide.

"oh- um yeah it's coming together-" quite literally. you stutter out a response hoping it doesn't raise to much suspicion and praying that the topic is over with just as quick as it came.

"leah won't give me a clue what it's about" amanda complains as she continues to tell you about the countless times she tried to get it out of her daughter as you hummed along more in your head as to why leah would say you were just business partners? why not just say your friends, cause after all you were?

"mhm well i won't be one to spoil the surprise then" you nervously chuckled as you saw the cars in the distance knowing you were close to the end of the conversation. amanda letting out a groan as she hoped she'd be able to get the big surprise out of you but that would be pretty hard considering there was no big surprise.

you were going to have to talk with leah, which would be a little odd as when the two of you were alone, not much talking would be done well not the converse action.

amanda letting go of your arm as she got into the other side of the cab, leah coming out the exit of the back of the stadium as she jogged quickly getting into the people carrier. sitting herself in the seat next to you as she shot you a soft smile.

-

the night was actually going smoothly, leah seemed to get out of whatever strop she was in when you were stood with her family in the emirates and was actually talking to you now. well more flirting with you. her hand getting dangerously high up on your thigh as she spoke.

"have i told you how pretty you look-" she blurted out as you took a small sip of your drink, a small smile appearing on your face as you lifted the glass from your lips and back to the table.

"you may have mentioned a few times" you whispered as this time it was leah's time to smile as her hand drifted a little further up your thigh as you shot her look as she squeezed your thigh making you jump in your seat a little.

"le-" you harhsly said inbetween your teeth as she looked at you so innocently as if she had not clue what she was doing to you but you know she knew. leah knew what her touch was doing to you and how it was affecting you.

leah had you right where she wanted you and honestly, you were going to let her - you'd face the consequences later on. right now, you wanted her, in more ways than one.

standing up with a loud scrape of your chair, all eyes turning to land on you, "m'sorry just- i'll be back-" you stutter out, your cheeks all flushed as you made a beeline straight for the toilets.

amanda looking worryingly over her shoulder at you before turning to leah, who just simply shrugged that making her mum's eyebrows furrow even more.

"i better go and check on her" leah stood up excusing herself as she followed suit pushing the door on the pub toilet door seeing you touching up your lip gloss as you regained your composure from the feeling on her hands on your body.

leah locking the door behind her, a rye smile on her lips as she stepped just that little bit closer to you, feeling your heart beat just that little bit faster.

was it nerves, probably but maybe it was more the uncertainty as you never knew what you were going to get with the blonde.

"are you sure?" leah whispered as she placed a quick kiss to your cheek before resting her hands to your hips as a smug smile came from you before you nodded.

"do you think you can keep up?" leah teased as your shot her a shocked look as she pulled you into deeper into the bathroom, your back now pushed flush against the sink.

"i'm sure i can.. business partner-" you whisper as you inch closer to her, making your eyes switch between her eyes and lips a flash of shock appearing on her face.

but just as leah opened her mouth to say another teasing comment, you wrap your hand behind her neck and slam your lips against hers. the kiss quickly turning heated when leah's tongue enters your mouth as a familiar warmth floods your body in seconds,

her hands gripping at your waist as she tugs you closer to her without breaking the kiss. the sound of your lips together was enough to leave an uncomfortable throbbing inbetween your legs.

leah pulls back for a moment searching for anything in your eyes that may say that you don't want this but there was nothing but lust, a small whine leaving your lips at the loss of contact in your lips before leah's diving right back in.

the sound that had been blasting through the pub had now quieten to a mere hum as your focus was solely now on the girl in front of you.

her hands placed on the small on your back slightly pushing in to make your back arch as your chest pushed into her. as leah's hands soon made their way slowly to slide down you your ass as your tongues graze against each other.

"so pretty for me, my love" your heart jumps at her loving tone as you feel the blood rush to your cheeks, leah's words always having some sort of effect on you and always leaving you feeling flustered.

leah's eyes roam your figure as her hand traces absentmindedly, as if she planning her next attack on your body. the blonde noticing the way your breath hitched when her fingers sit on your pulse point on your neck.

leah rotating her hand so her fingers lie gently against it awaiting your reaction as she smirks watching as you squeeze your eyes shut, as your hands grip against the rim of the sink.

a small chuckle leaves leah's lips as she leans down to press her lips to your neck sucking harshly on your sweet spot. a string of little whimpers leave your pretty little lips as you tilt your head more to the side allowing leah to have more access.

"le, please do something" you beg, feeling her hand roam underneath your hoodie, grazing across your breasts.

"don't be impatient baby girl" she rasps against your ear, tugging down on it with her teeth as you feel your self squeeze your thighs together. hoping it will help you relieve some tension between her legs.

leah finally lifting your hoodie over your head as she throws to the ground of the pub bathroom. usually you would have felt embarrassed as you would feel your whole body want to cower aways but with leah, it felt different. it felt good, it felt right.

-

it was a typical saturday night, leah had her home match at the emirates on the sunday so she was taking advantage of her the small out of rest time she had. a small hum of the tv playing in the background as you watched it, but really all your mind could focus on was the fact leah’s fingers were combing through the ends of your hair.

you were lying wrapped in leah's arms on her couch as the tv played, leah focused on some insta reel on her phone. you head tucked on her chest as it heaved up and down, the wholesome of the interaction. it felt like it was meant to be — it felt real.

"le?" you whispered your head turning to look up at the blonde as a small hum left her lips, her phone lowering a little.

"where do you see yourself in a year?" you asked, it was something that played on your mind a lot, cause would you still be in some casual relationship with leah or would you have your own apartment and she’d show you off to her friends as something more.

you were more hoping for the second option, since the months had passed since you both promised out of breathe that there wouldn’t be any strings attached.

and boy oh boy had that changed, especially since your favourite bra lived in her dresser. it was pretty hard to be casual.

“cause maybe we’d be more and going on cute little dates in a cafe before you’d go off to training” you began as you sat up, you rambling on as your hands flew around with some enthusiasm making you miss the way leah’s face changed.

“and then when you come home i’d be there waiting, your dinner on the table-“ you paused as you looked down to see leah’s face, puzzled but also her eyes they told you a different emotion, not the same energy you had but it was sadness — more a sense of guilt.

“i- sorry i got ahead of myself” you mumbled as your back sunk into the back of her couch, the further side from her.

leah shook her head, and you were half expecting her to wrap you in a hug and kiss your cheek and tell you it was okay and that maybe she felt the same way.

but she didn’t.

"y/n, remember, we're not together-" leah cut straight to the point, her tone blunt as you felt your heart drop and your brows furrowing and a quickly developing pout spreading across your lips.

you let out a shaky breath as you nodded slowly, you understood. she had kept her side of the promise of no strings attached. “i- just thought maybe?” you said so quietly it only came out as a whisper as you fidgeted with your fingers.

looking up to see leah’s face it told you everything you needed to know. you’d only known the blonde for a several amount of months but you knew her well enough to know what her face was telling you without actually having to say the actual words.

“oh i get it” you scoffed slightly, choking back on the tears which pricked at your eyes. all it ever was going to be was casual.

leah’s opened her mouth but nothing came out as she sat herself up on the couch but before she could even attempt to reach out to you, you were up from the couch. slipping your shoes on your feet. you didn’t want to be in the same room as her.

“y/n- don’t” leah finally managed to get out as she followed your actions following you into her hallway which was littered with her football memorabilia from her glittering career. but you shook your head, her voice to painful to hear as you stopped with your back to her just before the front door.

"do you know what's actually quite funny-" you paused to let out a little chuckle as you stood mere metres from the door, as you looked up from your shoes spinning slightly so you faced her. leah stood her shoulders sunken as she tried to plead with you not to leave.

"i actually thought i meant something to you- but i guess that's just how little i actually meant to you" you sighed as tried to steady your breath, tears prickling at your eyes ready to fall at any moment.

"i- i was ready-" you paused as your words got stuck in your throat, leah reaching out for you as you took a step back. "i was ready to give you my everything" you admitted it coming out just a little louder than a whisper.

"y/n-"

“no leah, you’d made it clear how you feel” you spat out as you spun on your heal, leaving leah calling out your name but your ignored her, reaching for the door and hearing how it clicked shut behind you.

part of you was hoping she was going to rip her front door open and call after you and not stop until you were back in the warmth of her arms but the corridor in her apartment block was silent.

the other part of you hated yourself how long you had let it drag out for, but now you were free. she can go to hell.

stumbling through the street as your tears fell down your cheeks, tapping away at your phone until you found the contact you wanted, the dial drilling through your ear a few times before it got to voicemail.

you sighed as you heard the beep, "i cut her off, amelie."

[aloneandforsakenbyfateandbyman]

Having no money is SO frustrating because I want to go to London Paris New York, I want to take a cruise to Antarctica, I want to dance to reggae in the Caribbean, I want to be a weeaboo in Japan!

But no I have to go to work for slave wages and piss away my 20s printing out letters for old men and filing reports on other ugly old men!!! This is hell on earth. Being young and too broke to enjoy your youth.

Stuck seeing lame boomers twice your age every fucking day who order you around instead of sitting in Parisian cafes reading poetry and living a life of romance like Jean Pierre Leaud in La Maman et la Putain 🥲 I wish life were a French Nouvelle Vague movie but instead it’s a nightmare simulator controlled by rich old reptilians

[koiimii]

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐥. 𝟏

“𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧.”

————

- He’ll read to you, especially on rainy nights. He loves giving different odd and funny voices to the different characters in his books. You’ll be lying in bed, cozied up with the tea he’s made for you both. He’ll be sat beside you, leaning over a new book he’s picked up. Legs crossed and cigarette lazily tucked between his teeth as he drags his finger along the pages, doing his best impression of the stressed old lady in the dialogue.

- After dinner on date-nights or even just to get out of the house, Alex’s favorite thing is coffee and desserts. He’ll find cute and quaint cafes around your area, you’ll get your coats, and you’ll walk hand and hand down the London strips. He especially loves doing this in the fall. Getting a table outside and ordering cake to share with some coffee or tea. The colorful leaves around you two, the soft music, the ambience. It’s perfect.

- Alex is a very hopeless romantic. One of the things he loved to do most is write you letters. Love letters and all. You’d find them on your table when you’d come home from work, or in your car. You’d find one tied to the gifts he’d buy you just because. He had a way with words and he knew how to use them.

- You’d never forget the one evening, Alex came to visit you, and you had forgotten entirely. He found you, balled up on the spiral staircase of your apartment building, balling your eyes out. He sat with you on the steps, and kissed you, and hugged you, all for an entire hour until you came down. He never once complained. And the staircase became your regular talking space.

- When you first met Alex it was in Paris on a getaway trip, and he found you absolutely captivating. You came to his hotel room, and you sat on the floor together, then you moved to his tiny balcony. You poured glass upon glass of wine and it was up, up, and away from there. You woke up tangled in his sheets the next morning, and figured that was it until Alex entered the bedroom with breakfast on a tray.

- When you were still a student, Alex would constantly surprise you on campus. He’d walked up to the cafe you were always cooped up in studying, at the same table in the corner with roses or petunias behind his back. Sometimes you’d know he was there, when you’d come back from the bathroom and see a pack of Marlboro cigarettes in the seat across from you, and his coat on the back of the chair.

————

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝.

A/N: Just something short and sweet. Random scenarios that came to time throughout the week. Not very good, but still.

[fancyfeathers]

And Then There Were None (Yandere William James Moriarty /w Author Darling Masterlist)

Thinking about William with an author darling again but after she escapes and basically challenges him to find her, quoting him when he was talking to Sherlock saying…

“Catch me if you can, Professor Moriarty.”

I feel like she has 1920 vibes even if it is set in the Victorian era, but she is based on Agatha Christie and she lived in that era. To me she develops his femme fatale personality in her boost of confidence after outsmarting the Lord of Crime, regaining her former self and then some. I’m just imagining her sitting in her hotel room in one of those Hollywood Star robes with the feathers and silk, and she is eating breakfast or having a smoke while reading a newspaper and the top story is still about the disappearance of a famous author, she has not only successfully hidden and fooled from the Lord of Crime but all England…

She has really out done herself this time.

I genuinely think after a bit of fun messing around in London, running circles around William with the help of few her author friends who are just having a blast out of this, she would put herself back to work, looking for inspiration for her next book. She probably travels off to other countries looking for inspiration and soon the books come funneling out but with no clue where the author is…

A tale about a serial killer during the Venice Carnival

A story about a murder in Moscow during the freezing Russian winter, isolating the protagonists from the outside world.

A missing person case in Mexico City during Día de los Muertos.

A book about murderous woman in the Cook County Jail using their looks to get away with murder.

A mad man in a small town north of London loosing his mind due to exposure to mercury.

A murder of a new money family during a party in New York City.

The mixture of all of these books and the author’s disappearance from the public eyes makes her all the more popular. No one has seen her since she first went mission, not even her entail disappearance not even her publisher who has only been getting telegrams, letters, and packages from her, from whatever city she is in then, Vienna, Rome, St. Petersburg, Paris, Cario, Chicago, Dublin, and so on.

Meanwhile William is reading all of her novels in his little free time, and trying to find her becomes a side dream, after all he still has his goals as the Lord of Crime and if he follows every step she takes he will never get anything done.

He hears the talk on the street about her latest novel and his students talk about how they have to read a book of hers for their literature class and ask Professor William if he is really married to this genius author who is both infamous and famous, and if he actually knows where she is. William just smiles and looks at his students…

“I think you should focus on your assignment rather than press me about the state of my wife and I, yes?”

Can he even call her his wife? He hasn’t seen her since that night at the opera.

She told him to catch her and he didn’t…

He was so confident that he could because he has before…

Maybe that is it, do what he did before.

She is sitting at a cafe in Perros-Guirec, France, enjoying a cup of tea with a friend of hers, another mystery author who she is visiting, when a newspaper is thrown on their table with the headline of a murder based on her books…

Just like those murders all those years ago that brought her to William, scaring her into giving up writing.

He is finally making his move and she gave him the material to do it.

She looks up at the stranger who handed gave her the paper, both confused and frightened, he is just an ordinary looking man, but he smiles at her as he hands her a business card.

“My boss asked for this edition to be personally delivered to you. He would like to meet with you if you have the time, that is.”

“W-wha?”

She watches as the man walks off, leaving her and her friend alone. How did anyone find her? Not even William has even found her yet. She looks over the business card, turning it over to look at the back and she nearly screams in horror at what was written on it, but manages to keep it in as she is in public. She drops the card and her friend picks it up and reads it over and his eyes widen as well and he looks up at her as she just sits there in shock for a long moment before…

“I need to go back to London…”

A few days later, William is sitting in the drawing room of the Moriarty Estate, reading the paper himself, when Louis walks in with a letter, giving it to William saying this came for him. He reads it and it simply tells him to meet the sender at the last place they saw each other, it is not signed but it doesn’t have to be…

He recognizes the hand writing, it’s his darling’s.

He goes off to the opera house and to the opera box he met her at last time and she is there, sitting there alone, clutching that business card in hand.

“Dearest-“

“William, you are a crime consultant… I would like to hire your services.”

Her voice sounds terrified, a first for her in a long time. She hands him the business card to read and he sees the back first and he is immediately filled with rage…

It would be a shame if those murders were placed on you, it would certainly gather attention.

He looks up at her and she just looks terrified, angry, sad, and so much that it’s almost overwhelming for her mind to handle.

“You are being blackmailed, yes?”

“Correct, he wants to hire my writing services, but of course they are not for sale so hire is a bit of a lie, demanding my cooperation would be a better word...”

He flips the card over to see the other side with the name as she continues…

“…Charles Augustus Milverton, practically controls the news media, if he has me in his hand he would have control over all forms of media publishing… I know what this will cost me, and honestly you have nothing to loose and have everything to gain with having me again and I promise not to disappear again if you deal with him.”

“Presumably you want him dead?”

“Preferably.”

“Do any of your author friends know about this?”

“Yes, they all know about the blackmail, some of them have been blackmailed themselves by him but not to this extent… I… I am doing this for them, I do not want them to be silenced with their writing or their words… but I will not come back to you until this is done.”

“Then consider it done, my dear.”

He bends down to kiss her cheek before leaving the box and she sits there in silence again for a few minutes before the door to the box opens again and another man comes to sit down next to her.

“You are a truly remarkable actress, you performed your role perfectly, I do hope our partnership can continue on to deal with this Lord of Crime.”

A smile comes across her face as she looks up at the man next to her.

“Of course, after all the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Mr. Milverton.”

She is no fool, she knows William did not buy her act and was merely playing along, he knows she has no intention of going back to him, but where is the fun in ending the game early?

And why would she call him on his bluff and end the chase she has been winning?

Sometimes the cat lets the mouse run to enjoy the chase that much more.

[cl-01-kestis]

Come Back, I Always Do - Fred Weasley x Female Ex!Reader | Part 1

Summary: You break up with Fred Weasley after being accepted into a school overseas. Things are going well after you’re sent back to Britain 6 years after to work in Hogwarts, but you soon realise your story with him isn’t quite finished like you imagined.

Warnings: slow burn, angst, break ups, everyone lives AU, reader is muggle-born

Part 2

You still remembered the day you left Fred Weasley, the two of you were sitting inside a small muggle cafe not far from Kings Cross, silent and scared to speak.

He knew it was coming, he often heard you speaking of your desire to work overseas and specialise in Magizoology. He loved hearing you speak about your plans for the future, but he feared the day it would come true.

Fred sat with tear stained cheeks over an untouched americano as he watched you explain your situation, showing him your acceptance letter into a magic university in New York. He was speechless, smiling through his tears as he read through the letter. But his heart was ready to cave in, he couldn’t process that it was all coming true.

The two of you nearly died in the battle of Hogwarts, although you were closer to death than he was. He and Molly held you in their arms as they tried to shake you awake, his cries being the only thing anyone heard in the great hall. He thought you had died, your body was so cold and still. But his mother managed to bring you back into consciousness with some form of unknown magic.

Yet here you were, leaving him again. Just when he thought he was safe, just when he thought you could both finally settle down, you were slipping through his fingers. You gave him a necklace which you wore everyday, marking a reminder of your love for him. Fred wanted to refuse it, angry that you couldn’t stay. But he couldn’t say no to you, especially when you were just as upset as he was.

You left him sitting alone in the cafe, trying not to sob on your way out as you clutched your acceptance letter tight.

Your parents comforted you when you returned home, knowing how difficult the situation was for you. Fred was your world, but there was no way he could come with you, and you couldn’t stay. They both helped you pack your things when the time came, all the books and endless magical necessities took a while to cram in, but you eventually managed.

New York was unlike anything you had ever experienced, it was busier than London, the people were somewhat the same, but you were completely alone with no one to support you. You wished Fred was there the whole time, trying not to get emotional when he popped up into your mind at any given moment.

When you unpacked your things in your dorm, you only realised that your mother had packed an old letter from Fred when you were both still in high school. You hung the letter up on your wall beside a bunch of other photos with your friends and family back home, wanting to remind yourself of what you once had.

Your degree took 5 years to complete, but the years felt like they went by quicker than you could cast a spell. One second you were starting your first lecture, the next you were graduating as a qualified magizoologist.

It wasn’t long before the job offers started piling in, most were in America but one job in particular caught your eye. To your delight and surprise, Hogwarts was in search of an advanced Magizooligist teacher. You remember there wasn’t a teacher for that subject when you studied there, so there must’ve been a high request from students for a new and more experienced Magizoologist.

So you applied for the job as soon as possible, packing what was necessary for the interview in Scotland. Albus called off the job for anyone else as soon as he saw that you had applied. He didn’t want to put you through an interview, he had to since it was protocol, but he knew you were perfectly capable of teaching at Hogwarts. When he read your resume alongside Minerva, the two of them knew you’d be the perfect fit.

The interview was very comfortable, McGonagall was the one asking you the questions but she had a bright smile on her face the entire time. She was delighted to have you back in Hogwarts, regardless if you got the job or not.

To no one’s surprise, you aced the interview with flying colours and you were offered your own place to stay in Hogwarts. You called your parents and told them the news, the both of them were teary and excited beyond measure, inviting you out for a celebratory meal as a result.

One week later you were leaving your old apartment in New York and moving to Hogwarts. You were shown to your new classroom which had been unused for quite some time and spent hours decorating it with McGonagall and a few helpful elf’s. You made it feel like home rather than a classroom, setting up a kettle and teabags in the corner as well as a few candles and cushions. You set up your surgical tools by your desk, also bringing in different medicines, ready for display to the advanced students. For the younger students, you made simple diagrams of different magic animals and even set up a fun quiz for them to partake. You were having so much fun and school hadn’t even started yet.

News had broke out that a new teacher had arrived at Hogwarts, it even made it to the daily prophet, displayed within a small article on the front page. It just so happened that Arthur Weasley was reading it on a Sunday afternoon, the majority of his kids out tie house, when all of a sudden he spotted an oddly familiar name. He asked Molly where he had heard the name before but his thoughts were cut off when his wife let out a loud scream, snatching the newspaper from his hands as he looked at her worriedly.

The short woman smiled widely, calling on Ron who was currently visiting with Hermione, now his fiancé. The two of them ran into the kitchen with concerned expressions, until they realised no one was in danger.

“Mum, what’s the screaming for?!” Ron groaned, splaying his arms out before crossing them over his chest. Hermione let out a soft chuckle and curiously peeked at the newspaper in her soon-to-be mother in law’s hands.

“(Y/N) (S/N) is the new magizoology teacher at Hogwarts!” Molly yelled excitedly, turning the paper around and pointing to the small article underneath the large heading of a different subject. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in surprise, the both of them smiling. But Ron found his smile leaving his face, looking at his mum.

“Do you think Fred knows?” His voice was quiet, remembering the downfall of your relationship from 6 years ago. Hermione’s smile dropped off too, and so did Mollies and Arthur’s. Everyone went silent, until Molly cleared her throat and smiled sadly.

“He never reads the news, maybe it’s best we don’t tell him” She patted Ron on the shoulder, handing the newspaper back to her husband who decided to read the rest of your article, sipping his cup of coffee as Molly lead her son and his fiancée into the living room.

“Maybe we should invite her to the wedding? She’s still an old family friend, she was always there for Ron, Harry and I during high school” Hermione reasoned with the mother and son, but Molly wasn’t sure. Fred was distraught after you left, he went to his mother almost every night for closure, wanting to know he did a good job as your boyfriend. Molly remembers his drop in happiness and fulfilment, she remembers George fearing for his health nearly everyday. If he saw you now, Molly wasn’t sure how he’d react. The two of you would absolutely see each other if you were both invited to the wedding, but it wasn’t her decision to invite you. It was Ron and Hermione’s.

“If you invite her, please take note that not everything will go as planned. Their breakup was devastating for the both of them, they might still need time away from each other” Molly whispered, aware of the other kids in the house. George and Ginny were visiting briefly, the two of them up in their own bedrooms, but Molly couldn’t risk either of them hearing, especially George.

“We’ll have a think about it, thanks mum” Ron smiled warmly towards Molly, assuring her as she nodded her head and headed back into the kitchen. Hermione tugged Ron’s jumper, looking at him with bright eyes.

“We need to invite her” She muttered quietly, taking his hand into her own.

“I know, but should we really?” Ron pressed a kiss to her knuckle, unable to resist showering her with affection every minute.

“If we put aside Fred, we should still invite her, you know how much she did for us in high school” Mione reasoned, making sure her tone wasn’t too loud in case anyone upstairs was nosing around.

“Maybe you’re right” Ron sighed, looking at his fiancée’s small engagement ring which gleamed brightly under the candlelight of the living room.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs” Hermione kissed his cheek, beckoning him back to their room as he grumbled to himself.

-

Term had finally started. There was a particular buzz emitting around the students, desperate to meet their new Magizoology teacher. You were blissful and content about your new job, your skin humming with nervous anticipation. You weren’t sure how the students would react to you, you hoped they felt comfortable and attentive to your teaching. You didn’t wear any formal teaching uniform, you felt like Magizoology wasn’t the type of subject to mingle well with formal wear. So you opted for a jumper and jeans, your wand slipped haphazard in your back pocket.

As you were teaching during your second week at Hogwarts, explaining the primary organs of a Chimera, Mrs McGonagall slipped through the door to hand you a small letter with a wax stamp. You thanked her and slipped it into your drawer, continuing to teach as you sat on your desk. After you finished your lectures to the 6th years, you gave them a small surprise quiz about various medicines to treat magic creatures. You heard a few groans echo around the class, but that didn’t deter you from handing them out.

As the students sat their quiz, you opened up the mysterious envelope from your drawer. You slipped out the letter as quietly as possible, eyes scanning the impressively fancy calligraphy at the top. Your heart couldn’t help but drop when you read the heading, eyes unblinking as you read over the two names displayed on the letter.

‘Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger invite you to their wedding at The Burrow on the 1st of October with friends and family’

You wanted to throw up, not because of the wedding but because you hadn’t heard the name Weasley in almost 7 years. You didn’t even feel worthy of going to their wedding, you felt like you needed to phone them and talk things through.

Contact details and the address were at the bottom of the letter, Hermione’s being the first one. You excused yourself from the class, knowing the call wouldn’t take long and the quiz wouldn’t finish for another hour, and ran to your room to fetch your telephone. You stood out into the hallway, nearby the window so your service didn’t drop as you dialled Hermione’s number.

It rang for a solid 30 seconds, each ring making you feel more and more thinned out. But to your relief, she finally answered with a short and casual ‘hello?’.

“Hermione, it’s (Y/N)” You called her name with a smile, one of your hands pressed against your chest as you tried to suppress your anxiety.

“(Y/N)?! Merlin’s beard you have no idea how good it is to hear from you! I’m assuming you got the letter?” Hermione was ecstatic as she spoke to you, yet you couldn’t help but think she also sounded rather nervous.

“I did indeed, but I just want to ask why?” You look out into the breathtaking scenery of the highlands through the glass, holding onto the stone window ledge as you patiently waited for her response.

“Well… we realised you were back from New York after seeing you in the papers, so we thought we might as well ask” Hermione’s voice was hopeful, she felt awkward explaining why she invited you but she was sure you understood.

“I see, and who’s we?” You ask, a hint of worry in your tone. Hermione paused, taking in your question and realising what you meant.

“Just me and Ron, Molly and Arthur know as well but they’re leaving the situation to us” The young witch assured. Your eyes grew cloudy when you heard Hermione mention Molly and Arthur, they were practically your family at a point in your life, now they’re strangers, it stung much worse than you anticipated.

“You sure you want me at the wedding? I mean, heaven forbid you know who sees me, Mione, he would never recover” You argue calmly, chewing your bottom lip as your hand anxiously tapped against the stone ledge.

“Is it really that bad to say his name? He’s not voldemort, (Y/N)” Hermione scoffed with a grin, but you couldn’t feel amused, you couldn’t think of his name without wanting to cry.

“I know, it’s hard enough to think about him” You admit, straying away from the window and back to your living quarters. Hermione went silent at the other end of the phone, almost as if she was sad to hear you say such a thing and didn’t know how to respond. You couldn’t blame her.

“If you go, I’ll do my best to make sure you stay away from each other, all of us will if that’s what you want” She suggested.

“Don’t be silly, it’s your wedding day, you shouldn’t be worrying about me,” You groan. “Plus I haven’t seen you in 6 years, I’m not even sure I’m close enough to attend” There was something sorrowful laced in your tone. Hermione gasped and frowned on the other side of the line.

“You are closer than most of the attendees, (Y/N), aside from your connection to the Weasley’s, you helped us more than anyone else did in high school, you certainly helped me learn a thing or two” The brunette vouched for you strongly.

“Still, maybe not everyone will agree.”

“Well there’s only one way to find out” She raised a brow, and you had no other choice but to roll your eyes and chuckle softly to yourself.

“What time does the reception start?” You smile.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

[marvelshifter111]

Me and Loki in all of my DRs - tropes

Marvel - friends to lovers, everyone knows they're dating except them, slow burn, grumpy-sunshine

"when i look at you, the world gets silent"

A romance between a Avengers recruit and the prince of Asgard

Late night conversations, coffee and tea, books, cafe dates, autumn, New York

Wednesday - friends to lovers, high school sweethearts, slow burn

"i have late conversations with the moon. He tells me about sun and i tell him about you"

A romance between a moon child and a joutn

Moonlight, night, coffee, study dates, library, rain

Maleficent - enemies to lovers, forbidden love, royalty, fantasy

"i don't know if i should kiss you or stab you"

A forbidden romance between a fairy and the prince of Asgard

Forest, rain, flowers, tea, dawn, gold

Star Trek - enemies to lovers (kinda), forbidden love, he falls first

"i like you more than i planned"

A romance between a lieutenant in the science division (i think, I don't know this stuff) and the prince of Asgard

Technology, blue, stars, night, a lot of questions, books

Cafe-library owner - friends to lovers, slow burn, grumpy-sunshine

"the most beautiful part is, i wasn't even looking when i found you"

A romance between a cafe owner and English literature teacher

Books, coffee, coffee dates, brown, autumn, candles

Fame (old money) - friends to lovers, celebrity, slow burn

"when I'm with you. nothing matters."

A romance between a model and a writer

Books, love songs, letters, brown, afternoon, coffee, London, Paris

Fame (new money) - friends to lovers, celebrity, he falls first

"and in the middle of my chaos, there was you"

A romance between a model and a writer

Books, love songs, letters, tea, black, money, photoshoots, New York

[interstellarlyinlove]

This is Sirius’ favorite day. 

Which is a little surprising considering this is the day his family officially disowned him. All of it is terribly confusing. “And what’s a blender, exactly?”

Remus is sitting on the swing next to him. His hair is getting messed around by the early Autumn wind and his tongue is purple from the blue ice cream they had earlier. “Who even taught you that word?”

“I heard the pretty lady tell the other employee that the blender was broken earlier. What’s a blender?”

“Why don’t you just break up with me and get it over with?” Remus asks, grinning. “Calling someone else pretty in front of me? Do help me take out the knife in my back that you put there, pretty boy.”

Sirius laughs. “Just answer the question, my darling.”

“It’s something that blends things together. You’d think that would be obvious.”

“How does it do that?”

“You plug it in and push a button and a sharp knife-like attachment starts twisting around and blending the things together.”

Sirius nods. “So it needs the electricity to work? And that doesn’t sound very safe at all. I would’ve lost at least one finger by now if I were a muggle.”

Remus nods. “I don’t doubt that at all. And It’s just electricity, pretty darling. Drop the ‘the’.”

“What’s electricity, again?”

“That’s a rather big question,” Remus hums. “I guess at school they would tell us that it’s the flow of electrons through an appropriate material like copp–”

“Electrons?” Sirius asks. 

“I’m really more English smart than Physics smart, my love,” Remus says. He thinks for a moment. “I can get you a book about it, though, if you’d like. But electrons are tiny negatively-charged–”

“You lost me again, baby. Negatively-charged? What’s that?”

Remus shakes his head. “Remind me to get you that book.”

Sirius nods. He then smiles. “Thank you, Re.” He pauses. “And not for the book, which sounds super cool by the way, I can’t wait to read it– but, thanks. For today.”

“Of course, pretty boy. You don’t need to thank me.”

Sirius laughs. “I’m never living that down, am I?”

Remus shakes his head no. 

“Today kind of reminded me that they’re not the whole world, you know?” Sirius says. “Getting that letter made me feel like everything was falling apart all around me and spending today with you made me realize how dramatic that sounds. Fuck them.”

Remus smiles softly and nods. “Fuck them.”

“Do you think we’re going to get detention for skipping classes all day?” Sirius asks. 

Remus nods. “Oh, definitely.”

“I wouldn’t mind spending two weeks scrubbing trophies if I get to spend the time doing that with you.”

“How adorable. You still called that lady pretty, though, so I’m not sure–”

“Oh, shut up,” Sirius says, grinning. “Should we apparate back? The sun is setting.”

Sirius doesn’t really remember much of this morning. He read that goddamn awful letter at breakfast and sort of felt like he no longer was in his body at all. He exited the great hall and Remus followed him and he thinks he may have been crying when he explained everything. Then he remembers being in the shrieking shack and Remus holding out his hand and telling Sirius to trust him. 

As if Sirius has ever in his life not trusted Remus. 

Spending the day in the part of muggle London where Remus grew up grounded Sirius in a way that surprised even himself. Walking around the busy streets, looking at all the shops and cafes made Sirius feel insignificant in the best way possible. It helped him get out of his head and realize that the world wasn’t actually ending, no matter how much it felt like it. 

More than anything, having Remus by his side is what made him come to that epiphany. Sitting next to Remus now, in an empty playground with sand in his shoes and a breeze in the air is actually all that matters. And to the deepest pits of hell with everything else. Sirius will figure it out and the world is not ending. 

“Watch the sunset with me. Then we can go back.”

“I love you,” Sirius says. “Thank you for always knowing how to fix everything. I adore you.”

“Right back at you, pretty boy.”

Sirius chuckles, resting his head on Remus’ shoulder. They’re sitting on the swing set watching the sunset and the worst day of Sirius’ life is no longer all that bad. 

[blackswaneuroparedux]

I never admitted to anybody during my entire military service that I had been an actor. I was terrified that I would be put in charge of Ensa [Entertainments' National Service Association]. Not even my closest friends knew I was an actor. I told them I was reading English at St Andrews University.

- Richard Todd

In his heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Richard Todd was Britain’s leading matinee idol. If you love old movies, you’ll have seen Todd in one of his starring roles in “The Virgin Queen” opposite Bette Davis, “Stage Struck” with Marlene Dietrich, or “The Dam Busters” for which he won a Golden Globe Award. He was the tough little Scotsman in the wartime weepie “The Hasty Heart” and had audiences madly hunting for hankies.

Those were the days when Todd streaked across North American film screens as virtually every romantic hero from Rob Roy to Robin Hood. Ian Fleming chose him to play James Bond in “Dr. No” in 1962, but a schedule clash meant Sean Connery stepped into the role.

Little less known is the fact that he was also among the first British soldiers and the first Irishman to land in Normandy on D Day. More specifically, he participated in Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944.

So it must have been surreal for Richard Todd the hearthrob actor to find himself playing Major John Howard in the epic movie ‘The Longest Day’ (1962) based on Cornelius Ryan’s book. Not least because he served with Howard and took part in the fighting at Pegasus Bridge that Major John Howard was tasked to secure on D Day.

Richard Todd was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1919. His father was a medic in the British Army and, as his posting required, the early years of his life were spent in India. The family settled in Devon upon their return to England, and Richard was educated at Shrewsbury Public School, in Shropshire. The theatre was his first love, and he furthered his dramatic skills at the Italia Conti school, thereafter moving to Scotland where he helped to form the Dundee Repertory Theatre. When War was declared, Todd went to St. Andrew's University on the following day to volunteer. He was not a member of the University, but he not only convinced the selection unit that he was, but also added that he had been reading English there for six months, and that he had obtained a Cert A in his school cadet corps; a key point to being accepted as an officer. Despite success in passing off this invented career, Todd was to be disappointed by a lack of interest in him thereafter.

Becoming increasingly desperate to get into the War before it ended, he sent numerous letters to the War Office to press his case, which, in June 1940, was finally noticed.

Accepted by the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Todd went to Sandhurst to receive his officer training. He had a very lucky escape here when he was in a corridor on the second floor of a building when it was hit by a bomb, and he was blown into the garden outside by the blast. He got to his feet in the darkness and did not feel particularly affected by it, but an examination by torchlight revealed that his whole body was covered in blood from numerous small wounds.

A spell his hospital delayed his passing out from Sandhurst until early 1941. Celebrating in London, he narrowly avoided death again when he found his usual haunt, the Cafe de Paris, was too crowded to admit him and so he went elsewhere; it was hit by a bomb that same night and 84 people were killed.

His Battalion, the 2nd/4th Battalion The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was posted to XII Corps in defence of Kent, where a German invasion if it came would almost certainly land. Todd was given command of the infantry in the Dymchurch Redoubt, a fort of the Napoleonic era mounting two six-inch guns.

In the event of an invasion, this would certainly have been a primary target for the enemy, and those manning it were told that, with the main defensive line far to their rear, they would be left to fight to the end. General Montgomery commanded XII Corps at this time, and his characteristic emphasis on training and preparedness led to the formation of the first Battle Schools. Richard Todd attended one of these, and the experience allowed him to run his own School when, in December 1941, he was sent to Iceland with the 1st/4th King's Own Light Infantry to be trained in arctic and mountain warfare. Returning to England in September 1942, he eventually ended up in the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion of the 6th Airborne Division. He was among troops of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion who, at 00:40 hours on 6 June 1944, landed behind the Normandy beaches in a cornfield, perilously close to tracer fire.

Todd scrambled into a wood and with 150 other paratroopers reached Pegasus and Ranville bridges, vital crossings to allow Allied forces to break out from the beachheads into Normandy. They had been seized by a glider force from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry under the command of Major John Howard, who needed reinforcements to fend off ferocious German attacks.

In his memoirs, Caught in the Act, Todd would write of the carnage, “There was no cessation in the Germans' probing with patrols and counter-attacks, some led by tanks, and the regimental aid post was overrun in the early hours. The wounded being tended there were all killed where they lay. There was sporadic enemy mortar and artillery fire we could do nothing about. One shell landed in a hedge near me, killing a couple of our men.”

Todd would go on and see action at the Battle of the Bulge and push into the Rhine into Germany. After VE day, his division returned to the UK for a few weeks, then was sent on counter-insurgency operations in Palestine. During this posting he was seriously injured when his Jeep overturned, breaking both shoulders and receiving a concussion. He returned to the UK to be demobilised in 1946. 

In 1962, Todd was given the part of Major John Howard in the film adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book about the D-Day landings, ‘The Longest Day’ (1962). Due to the nature of cinema, it was impossible for the film to give a thorough reflection of the role of the 6th Airborne Division during the Invasion, and as such their activities were solely represented by a reconstruction of the capture of Bénouville Bridge by Howard's coup-de-main force. Although briefly mentioned, the role of the 7th Battalion in the defence of the western bridgehead was largely ignored, and so it appeared as if the defence of the bridge rested only on Howard's men.

Naturally, the omission of their fierce defence of Bénouville caused some resentment amongst veterans, not least because one of their own was championing this re-working of history. Todd, however, regarded ‘The Longest Day’ (1962) as a film rather than a documentary, and his part in it was simply that of an actor doing as he was told.

Richard Todd would never have guessed, that in 17 years since he was on Pegasus Bridge as a paratrooper that he would standing there again as an actor portraying Major John Howard who was given the order: 'Hold,… until relieved'. It had to be Richard Todd’s 'twilight-zone' moment.

The ‘relieve’ for Howard had to come from Lord Lovat and his troops, who had landed on SWORD Beach, and were legging it towards Pegasus Bridge.

Before the shooting of the scenes were started at Pegasus Bridge, the film producer of The Longest Day, Darryl F. Zanuck, had the real life Lord Lovat and Major John Howard brought over to meet the men who were going to portray them (Peter Lawford portrayed Lord Lovat). The men had not seen each other since 6 June 1944.

Photo (above). From L-R: Peter Lawford, Lord Lovat, Richard Todd, Major John Howard.

[guiltypleasureswriting]

Day 51: May 13, 2024

Regulus was becoming more and more frustrated by the day. He had gained barely any information. All he knew what that the Dark Lord was likely looking for a way to become immortal; but every method of immortality Regulus knew of did not necessitate an unspecific object. He had been spending every free moment combing through the Cottage’s library but was yet to find any detailed, useful information. He needed help. More than Kreacher could give.

Regulus sat outside a muggle cafe in London, waiting. Occasionally he got a strange look for sitting out doors in the depths of winter. Even with his collar flipped up to guard from the wind and a subtle warming charm, there was a chill in his bones.

A few days before, Regulus had sent a letter to Pandora, begging her to hear him out. Hopefully, she didn’t rat him out. Pandora was never very involved with the death eaters. She refused to speak to Regulus for months after he joined. Their friendship was never the same. 

beginning | previous | next

Sorry about the time jump from the last post lol

@zn0v1a @accuratewhereabouts @dovewings369 @transwolfstar

[kanmom51]

Jikook Other Moments

GCFS

GCFS

GCFT, GCFS the likelihood of Jikook being just friends

SONGS

All of my life (Park Won) - Jungkook’s cover from 27 February 2018

Jungkook’s cover of Adam Levine’s Lost Stars

Is Magic Shop about Jimin

JK’s cover to ‘Only then’

JK’s Still with you (LINK NOT WORKING)

Just because - Only then again

Your Eyes Tell

Falling

Falling too

Jikook and Lauv’s Never not - JK’s cover included

Jikook and Charlie Puth’s We don’t talk anymore

We don’t talk anymore - Jikook

Jungkook and Hate everything

Stay alive

My You

BTS and Lauv - why wasn’t ‘Who’ promoted by BH

Okey guys, we can now reveal the big secret

Is letter a song for army?

Letter - the lyrics that didn't make it

Serendipity and Letter

Bringing this back

MVS

Fire MV the making of - Jikook

BTB Coldplay X BTS ‘My Universe’ MV Shoot

BTB ‘Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)’ MV Shoot Sketch - does this ring any bells?

Yes, this does look familiar

And just in case my previous point about this moment was not understood...

More Jikookery in the Yet to come MV shoot BTB

JM loves telling us JK is handsome

AIRPORT

Leaving for LA 17 November 2021

JM & JK at the airports (NY & Seoul) September 2021

One year ago...18 September 2021

JK and JM left in separate cars

Other moments

Jikook in London

Jikook in London 2

JM staring at JK

with JK it's a matter of control

Is Jungkook being himself most with Jimin

Catalyst explained

BTS do have different work schedules at times...

And yet again in unison

JK’s film dreams fulfilled?

BTB Bad decisions recording sketch

When Jikook are not sat together in lives

Jikook hesitation to touch

Jikook selfie

Jikook selfie 18 September 2021

They are happy

Jikook are not Romeo and Juliet (the tragedy)

Jungkook calling JM handsome

BTB 28 October 2021 - BTS visit to the UN

Love yourself 4 year anniversary

[BANGTAN BOMB] Meeting with Megan Thee Stallion - BTS - 8 November 2021

Jikook at the concert

Look familiar?

Jikook at the concert  Link 5; Link 6

Beautiful beach photo

JK is a romantic at heart

April fool’s 2022 from LV - enjoy while it lasts

JK being as bold as shit on his IG story 2022

JK has grown and matured so much

Are Jikook different now days?

JK IG story 29 April 2022

JK being JM’s copycat all the way

BTS Proof live photo sketch

Jikook at Hobi’s Jack in the box party

Big hit Global auditions 2022 (BTS) message

BTS message on DisneyPlusHotstar

Jack in the box party - BTB

More from the Jack in the box BTB

The way I see it...(photo folios)

Jikook at the white house - BTB

Happy Chuseok

Run BTS dance practice

BT21 have you ever seen something so cute?

Naver new article - Title look familiar?

JM now fulfilling the dreams of some super lucky fans

BTB Hobi Entrance Ceremony with BTS

BTB Hobi enlistment translation of JM-JK moment

BT21 Chimmy's red undies

Magnate cafe IG 26.4.2023

Time to wrap up and close shop

The Jikook/JK/JM allies

Letter again

Serendipity is now the preface and Letter is the forever

Did RM just show us he's working out with Jikook?

Dear.Army

Do I need to say anymore?

Once again they do this

Jikook June 2023 posts, Still with you and the numbers

Dear.Army again

JM playing the Guitar BTB

This happened

[frothingatthemaw]

MAG 2 do not open

statement of joshua gillespie regarding his time in possession of an apparently empty wooden casket. statement given nov 22, 1998. audio recording by jonathan sims, head archivist of the magnus institute, london

[STATEMENT BEGINS]

our boy josh went to amsterdam for a few weeks with his friends after graduating (they were all in their early 20s)

he was drunk/high most of the time and acted silly even more of the time

and perhaps this is why he decided to go Out (that morning). date ? unknown. middle of may 👍👍👍

all his friends were eeping mimimi so he went out and looked around at the buildings (architecture major)

but after a few hours he got a bit lost due to he didnt have a map/navigation

however it was mid afternoon and he was kinda lost on purpose. but still he decided to find his way back. he cant speak dutch though so he spent a while going the wrong way

by the time he got back the sky was darkening a bit and he was Stressed. so he went to a cafe before going with his friends.

he was there for a while (who knows) but it was Dark Outside when he realized there was a guy at his table. who looked so ordinary joshy boy couldnt describe him. he "had an odd density to him" with short brown(?) hair (maybe the difficulty was due to drugs)

the guys name is john and he said something about "also being an englishman inside a foreign land" (which joshua remembers because its strange)

john is "from liverpool" (accentless 🤨🤨🤨) and look for a friend who he could rely on for a favor

although josh was high. this is rather suspicious behavior. nuh uh !!

but no, josh. its just looking after a package until friends can pick it up !! + he reaches into his jacket(?) and pulls out an envelope. with 10k moneys in it. (he counted)

bad idea and yet he says yes. and then john says hell be in touch and just leaves.

josh has a bit of a panic but BUT something weighs him down and stops him from chasing after john

he DID NOT spend any of his moneys. and wants to return it. but alas. it looms over him. and john does not show up for the rest of the trip.

he flies back to england and everything goes smoothly

AND THEN A YEAR LATER !! he spends some of the moneys in bournemouth (south coast of england) to move there for his Job (architects firm) (entry level job with meh pay)

rent is a tad high and he doesnt want strangers so he uses his moneys. because john hadnt any of his details. and if it was drugs like he thought 10k would be nothing to them. also he grew a beard so recognizing him would be harder

so he rents a place near the center of the town and moves in right away

a few weeks later he was making breakfast and then suddenly. doorbell. two red faced delivery men with a Large (immense) package

they asked if he was joshua gillespie (he was) and they had a delivery addressed to him and then they just went in. they werent wearing uniforms and they seemed to not be from any delivery company.

he wanted to ask questions but they placed the box and left. and they were both super tall (6'0+ tall) and "very imposing" so its not like he couldve stopped them if he wanted to

the door Slammed and he was alone with the package (2m long, 1m wide, 1m deep) sealed with packing tape + his address was on it (no return address or anything though)

he was gonna be late for work but he couldnt leave without seeing what was in the box so he went and got a knife to cut through the tape

in the box was a coffin !!! quite unexpected. he stared at the coffin in Mute Surprise.

the coffin was made of unvarnished pale yellow wood and had a thick metal chain wrapped around it. it was locked with an iron padlock (closed) (key was in the hole)

he was reaching for the key BUT !! he noticed 2 things.

1. a piece of paper

2. "DO NOT OPEN" scratched into the wood (letters 3 inches tall)

he stopped reaching for the padlock and started sitting on the floor, being quite confused.

he unfolded the piece of paper. it said:

"delivered with gratitude.

-J"

and now he connected the coffin with john from amsterdam. and all these questions come to his head (is this the package) (is he looking after a corpse) (whos gonna pick it up) (when)

he called in sick and sat and stared at the coffin with no idea what to do.

then he started sniffing it. and smelled nothing. but it didnt stink (so there was either no body or it was a fresh body) (because it was early summer)

as he got up his hand brushed the coffin and it was Warm. like it was in the sun for a While. it made his flesh crawl slightly and he stopped touching it.

he went to make tea and was relieved standing next to the kettle because he couldnt see the coffin from there. and when he was done making his tea he just kept standing there. sipping his too hot tea.

when we went back into the hall (where the coffin was) it was still there and unmoving. he took the key out of the lock and put it on the table and then he grabbed the coffin by the chains and pulled it to the living room and pushed it against the wall

he then recycled the cardboard box like normal. and then he just Had a coffin.

at first he assumed it was drugs in the coffin. but also why would you store something in a coffin and then leave it with a stranger. he decided not to think about it and avoid the living room.

he stayed on the lookout for Rot smells but there was no smell.

eventually he got used to it and started using the living room again (after about a week)

at some point he even used the coffin as a table and placed his orange juice on the lid. and he didnt even realize it until he heard moving. and then there was (slow) (deliberate) scratching at the lid (under his drink) (moving the surface)

this was quite confusing to joshy woshy (the coffin had been there long enough that anything living in it shouldve died) (if there was something in it that could move why didnt it before ???)

he picked up his glass and the scratching stopped. hrmmm. he places it on the other end of the lid and a few (4) seconds later the scratching starts up again (insistently)

he took the glass away again and the scratching didnt stop for another 5 minutes (golly)

he decided to not do it again and used his powers of Ignoring.

he chose to not open it or see inside and instead to not do that. he will not look inside.

coward? maybe. but he lives soooo

he felt better about his decision a few days later. it was Raining and a saturday. he had no friends because he had a coffin in his living room (not good for a social life)

he was instead in his room reading.

the rain outside was Heavy and Big. and the coffin was singing (moaning melodiously) (dats cwazy)

he went out and stared at the coffin for a while and then went back into his room, put some headphones on, and played music to drown it out.

and it was like this for a few months (coffin scratches at stuff atop it + siiings in the raaaain)

he considered handing it off to someone else or going to the magnus institute to investigate but. instead he decided that he was scareder of john (not to be confused with jon, the archivist) (not the same guy) (just btw) than of the coffin. so he kept quiet.

joshua believes the coffin may have given him bad dreams (he doesnt remember his dreams but he kept waking up in a panic) (clutching at his throat) (unable to breathe)

he also started sleepwalking. the first time this happened, he was woken up by the cold (middle of winter) (he keeps his heat off at night)

he was standing in the living room over the coffin when he awoke with the key in his hand (golly !!) this worried him so he went to the doctor + got a referral to the sleep clinic at the hopital but he didnt have the problems at the hopital

he started hiding the key in harder to reach spots but he kept waking up with the key in his hand. one day he woke up and had the key literally in the lock and almost opened it.

so what does he do? he puts the key in a bowl of water and freezes it. sometimes he still woke up to himself trying to get the key, but he always woke up before anything happened due to it was cold

for like 18 months hes just kinda used to this. when suddenly it rains and then the coffin doesnt start singing (:0)

he went to go check on it and yeah. it was not Singing. and then theres a knock at the door (light) (unobtrusive) (rang out like thunder in the quiet flat)

john + the delivery men stood there. and they were surprised to see joshua although he wasnt surprised to see them. he asked if they were there for the coffin (they were)

john says he hoped it hadnt been too much trouble. josh "tells him where to stick it".

john is Impressed when josh goes to the freezer and gets the key. he was so excited to get rid of it that he just drops the ice on the floor and told them the coffin was in the living room. he does not want to see what they do with it or if they open it. and when someone starts screaming. he does not want to know who it is or why. he leaves when the delivery men carry the coffin away.

he follows them downstairs and watches them lock it away into the van (labelled "breekon and hope deliveries") (then they drove away) (there was no sign of john)

and that was the last he ever heard of it. he moved to london with a new job after. and now he just tries not to think about it.

[STATEMENT ENDS]

"its always nice to hear that my home town is not entirely devoid of odd occurrences and eerie stories. ice cream, beaches, and boredom are all very well, but im glad to hear bournemouth has at least a few apparitions to call its own." he has drugs + no witnesses as a theme so clearly this statement isnt true. also the institute didnt find any supporting evidence whatsoever + jon thinks its a waste of time now (almost 20 years later)

he did mention it to tim though, who did some digging anyways. breekon and hope existed + were a courier service until 09 when they went into liquidation. but they were based in nottingham (very north of bournemouth) (no records of deliveries available)

the owners of the building that the apartment joshua gillespie listed as the site of events keep extensive records that go back 40ish years. and from what tim could find, for the 2 years that joshua lived there, he was the only person who was there and the other 7 apartments were empty. nobody moved in after he left and the building was sold + demolished soon after the statement was given.

nobody who worked for the housing association in the 90s is still there. and although he tried, tim could not get an explanation for Why joshua gillespie lived entirely alone in that quite large building.

[RECORDING ENDS]

THIS IS MY FAV EPISODE THAT I HEARD WHEN I LISTENED TO THE FEW THAT I DID !!!!!!!!

this clears up my confusion a lot and this was written so well????? you make things our very clearly in the way the actual podcast did not do for me, so thank you for your service <3

i love this whole story so much and how it just is a complete mystery. i hope it's somehow revisited or something. or more information is ever gathered. or something. because something about this story is fucking delicious to me and i'd love to know of more in the same vein or maybe even theories upon this one if no other information was ever given about it in canon tma. OUGHHHH!!!!!!

how did josh just Live Like This btw. i would've lost my mind. how did he just Ignore it all when THAT'S what is happening in your small space of a flat....... hats off to him i guess. he's a stronger man than me

also many apologies for getting to this so goddamn late... i promise i always will get back to them, it may just take me a while due to mental illness stuff and etc. i hope you understand sjksjsk i'm trying my best and i appreciate your time into these a lot. i love them, so thank you for sharing :] hearing these are so fun!!

[dhr-ao3]

About a Girl

About a Girl https://ift.tt/INvwnyg by appelsinkage Nearly two decades after the war, a widowed Draco Malfoy lives a solitary life in Muggle London running a cafe and writing letters to the son his in-laws have banned him from seeing. His lonely life becomes a little less lonely when he gains a ten-year-old stalker by the name of Rose Weasley. Ever since Rose Weasley’s half-brother, Hugo, was born her dad hasn’t had time for her. She really misses having a dad. So when she realizes Draco Malfoy isn’t evil, she decides he’s an okay temporary substitute. When a divorced Hermione Granger learns that her ten-year-old daughter has spent weeks harassing Draco Malfoy at his workplace instead of attending her summer classes at the Muggle community center, she is incredibly embarrassed and apologetic. She promises the former Death Eater to keep Rose from bothering him, but her stubborn daughter keeps going back. As Hermione watches Draco and her daughter build a father-daughter relationship, she finds herself falling in love. Meanwhile, she puts a plan into motion to help Draco reunite with the son he hasn’t seen in years. (The overall concept is based on the book/film About a Boy, but the plot is drastically different. Draco respects women. I promise.) Words: 730, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Rose Weasley, Scorpius Malfoy, Teddy Lupin, Harry Potter Characters, Original Female Character(s) Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy & Rose Weasley, Hermione Granger & Scorpius Malfoy, Ron Weasley/Original Female Character(s), Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Additional Tags: Post-Second Wizarding War with Voldemort (Harry Potter), Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Down and Out Draco Malfoy, for a bit, He becomes rich again, Draco Malfoy in the Muggle World, Divorced Hermione Granger, Widowed Draco Malfoy, Hugo isn’t Hermione’s son, Ron and his new young wife had Hugo, Fertility Issues, Hermione had fertility issues after having Rose, She still wants another baby, Ron and his new wife are not the nicest, but they aren’t evil, Ron still loves Rose he’s just preoccupied, But Rose doesn’t know that, Father-Daughter Relationship, Father-Son Relationship, Explicit Language, I’m not sure about smut, potential canon-typical violence, Past Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Draco went off the deep end after Astoria died, He’s better now, Bigotry & Prejudice, Custody Battle, Between Draco and Astoria’s parents, Gay Charlie Weasley, Molly Weasley is kind to Hermione most of the time, Draco Malfoy Needs a Hug, Draco Malfoy Needs Therapy, Supportive Narcissa Black Malfoy, But she might not be in most of this fic, Lucius Malfoy died in Azkaban, POV Third Person, POV Alternating, Starts with an extremely short prologue via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/nzOu7J4 July 17, 2024 at 09:43AM

[mailontumb]

Hello! I have been requested a fanfic about Mizu from Blu Eyed Samurai!

The person who asked the fanfic wants to stay anymous

Any who heree is the fanfic!

Note blue: mizu !! orange:ringo !! Purple:Mr Yogan !! Pink: butler

——————————————————————————————————————

Mizu’s Father?

———

Mizu was wandering around at the market in the London. She was pretty hungry as she just got to the country known for the British monarchy. After wondering around she found a place to exchange her yen’s to pounds and decided to get a ride to go to a place to eat. She decided to eat at a small cafe, as she went in she ordered some fresh bread and tea. After the food arrived she burnt herself a lil trying to take a small sip of the tea. As she finally ate the last piece of her bread sand decided to continue her hunt to find the 4 white men that went to japan

Mizu decided to go find them but ultimately got lost for 3 hours in the woods…but during the 3 hours she heard a rustling noises coming from one of the bushes. She drew her blade out getting ready to attack but it was just but it was just ringo. “ ringo…why the hell are you here?…didnt i told you to stay in the hut and dont follow me?” “Uhh…sorry I just wanna follow you….” ringo replied awkwardly “whatever just stay away from me.” After that encounter with ringo she finally found her way out and ask around if they have seen the 4 men that went to japan and stayed there illegally.

After no success a man came from out of nowhere and gave Mizu a letter saying she looked exactly like the man in the picture. Mizu at first didn’t believe it before looking the picture and was shocked to find out she does and asked the man where he found it and who the person in the picture was , the man gave her a little envelope with an address written on it. As the man left Mizu gazed on the address wondering if she has found her dad.She decided to go and find a ride to take to the address which later on she found out was a mansion.

After finding a ride and going to the mansion , she gazed at it for a while and finally going to the front door and l knocking on it. A butler appears and asked “hello and good morning, please state your business & reason why you were to see Mr Yogan.” “Uhh…im here to see him to…interview him?”“Hm…I guess you’re the reporter, alright then come in…” the butler assisted Mizu to a living room and serve her a cup of tea which did not burn Mizu this time. She ask the butler if the Mr Yogan is gonna come home anytime soon. “Soon my dear pls be patient” the butler said firmly.

20 minute of waiting later a man who is appear to be in his mid 60’s looking worried walked in the room the butler who was sitting across Mizu this entire time introduce him as the Mr Yogan wich Mizu had so long waited for… the man who politely said hi to Mizu then said “so are we ready to begin to interview?” “Uh..yes Uhm sorry…let’s start?…” Mizu replied nervously”alright hit me with the question!” “Do you recognise this person in the picture?” Taken it aback the man inspect the picture and said…”oh…sorry what is your name?” “Mizu,why?” “Mizu,if your are trying to find this man im sorry but he was my late brother who was a terrible criminal and was executed not long after serving a couple of years in the famous prison of London, The Anastasia Prison… but you can find his grave at the High Gate cemetery it’s just around the block” Mizu who was surprise to found out that one of the 4 men she was searching for had passed away. She later then asked “im sorry but did he ever had a secret child back a japan?” “Oh yes he did! He told me before he was executed,why?” “Heh…nothing but Uhm that is all of the question! I got to go now! Hehe bye?” “Oh Uhm that was fast but alright? Bye.” Mizu quickly left and decided to head to the cemetery.

After entering she quickly searched for anyone who had the last name Yogan as she knows that Mr Yogan was the brother of one of the 4 men she was searching for. Suddenly she saw a grave with the last name being Yopgan and the grave wich appear to have a withered rose right next to and a stone wirtten on it ‘James Yogan, Born at 1578 and Died at 1613, was a beloved brother & a horrible criminal.’ “Yeesh…i didn’t expect to meet you here dad…i hope you ended up in hell after making my whole life themed after it. Goodbye and im glad you died”. She quickly left the cemetery and told ringo to stop hiding in the bushes. Ringo appeared and asked her how did she noticed him “ringo you are way too easy to predict. Now come one let’s go back home”.

___________

The end.

I hope you guys enjoyed this fanfic! I had fun writing it and i hope to post more fanfic of your request! And Here i am out tap out have a great day byeee!

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Nightshift

Nightshift, from Glasgow, occupies the softer, dreamier end of the post-punk spectrum. The debut full-length, Zöe, got our attention in 2021 with its tight, pinging chords and airy ethereality. Jennifer Kelly wrote, “It is hardly a punk album at all on some levels, and yet it also is, just gauzier and more inferential.” The band has since expanded to a four-piece and produced a second album, Homosapien, which we liked as well, noting “a crisper, more rock-band-ish iteration of Nightshift’s dreamy, surreal punk.” Here the band members (Andrew Doig, Rob Alexander, Eothen Stearn and Chris White) describe some of their favorite things in music, books and film.

Andrew Doig

Bedmaker — S​/​t

My music choice is Bedmaker’s debut album on Dischord Records featuring the legendary Amanda MacKaye on vocals, some agitated and tight post punk with a classic Washington DC flavor.

Jeff Noon — Vurt

I have chosen the book Vurt by Jeff Noon cuz I love this Manchester influenced cyberpunk weirdness, it’s a refreshing northern England style take on Neuromancer type vibes.

Rob Alexander

Lily Paine — Between Silence and Speech

Between Silence and Speech is a brilliant and inspiring book of poetry and illustrations by Glasgow artist Lily Paine; I read it most days. There’s a really good film on YouTube (LILY - a medical documentary) by a medical student called Will Nutter about this artist.

L — Marilyn Monroe — All of Us

The debut album from Glasgow band L on Radical Documents is a jaw-dropping, mind-melted magic poetry rock virtuosos’ trip. They’ve got Jack Mellin, a legendary guitarist from Glasgow who has been part of the Nightshift at some point too.

R.Aggs

Our great friend Ray (R.Aggs) who contributed fiddle to Homosapien, fronts some amazing bands, Sacred Paws, Trash Kit and Shopping, and has two amazing solo records out that are uniquely uplifting and beautiful, each with banger following banger. I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up thinking that I didn’t like music anymore; listening to this has brought me back to life!

Eothen Stearn

Kai Cheng Thom — Falling Back in Love with Being Human

This book was recommended to me by a colleague who runs the anti-racist library at Woodlands Community. I had been discussing feelings of being overwhelmed and a desire to reconnect with the world, and she suggested this book. It’s an amazing collection, a mixture of short excerpts and vignettes, each accompanied by a small invitation. For instance, one might invite you to visit a place you’ve never been, or to write a letter to yourself. These invitations are often inward-facing, but some are like spells, encouraging reconnection with the world and finding small joys.

The author, a sex worker and trans woman, writes from a decolonizing perspective. The book is not just a series of stories; it’s interactive, with each short piece followed by an invitation, creating a rhythm almost like a metronome. I read it while on holiday, and it came at a perfect time. I’m grateful for its existence.

Grave Goods — Tuesday Nothing Exists

Manchester and Dublin power duo who take you on a journey. I’m really inspired by the sound and rhythms of the Grave Goods album. The lyrics are great, with a spoken word element and excellent timing. The music feels raw and exciting.

Robyn Rocket — Love EP

Some of you might be familiar with Robyn Rocket. Robyn, an instrumentalist who plays the trumpet, is a pioneer for neurodiverse musicians, being neurodiverse herself. She has been featured in The Wire magazine and is actively working to make spaces more accessible for neurodiverse individuals. Robyn is heavily involved with Heart n Soul in London, an amazing charity, and she also programs her night, Robyn Rocket, at Cafe OTO. She plays in various projects, including Dean Rodney Jr. and the Cowboys.

I love her collaborative approach, and her latest record features contributions from many people. Her work has a cosmic quality, both in her music and her illustrations. I’m thrilled that she’s receiving the recognition she deserves.

Chris White

Rob Churm — The Stone Tape — Posters 2001 – 2023

Rob Churm’s poster book is a great look at some of his art, featuring bands and venues from the past 20 years in Glasgow. It name-checks many of the venues and musicians I’ve seen since moving here in 2005 and features numerous previous bands that Nightshift members and contributors have been involved in. It’s a great one to look through, and the markings and colors look amazing. It also includes the first Nightshift gig poster, which has us on the bill with my next recommendation.

Alfred Bellman — Congregate

This is, for me, the sound and vibe of our last shared studio space, where Nightshift recorded most of our releases so far. For years, I’d show up at the door and hear this guy blasting out space-age psych jazz fusion — drones, drums, hymn-like verses, raps, and basslines. His first cassette album was put out by Doig on his Cusp label, the same label as our first Nightshift tape. This new one was put up on Bandcamp at the end of last year. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays trombone on our new album and drums in Rob’s other band, Radio Banter. His music is great and deserves more listeners, I reckon. Check it out!