#Virgin Hotel Chicago

[octuscle]

Whenever George went on vacation to the Dominican Republic, he felt he had missed his youth. He saw the young people having fun, partying into the night. He had gone through school and university at high speed with great success, had made a career as a lawyer, and could now stop working in his early 50s without any problem. He could live a nice life here or anywhere on the planet. Every time he sat in a sidewalk café in Santo Domingo, he took it upon himself to do so. And then packed his bags again after two weeks and flew back to Chicago.

George walked through the street markets. He saw all the fake sports jerseys, the fake sneakers, the fake gold jewelry. What he wouldn't give right now to be sitting on the beach or at a bus stop with other chaps in those clothes, drinking a beer and whistling at girls. Sure, he actually was into lads, but that was another one of his big life lies. And so he had remained single and a virgin all his life. Oh, what the hell, he thought. I can take a necklace like that with me sometime. Might make jerking off in front of the mirror more fun.

He bought one of the swanky chains and picked up another cheap fake gold-colored Rolex. Actually silly, he could have bought everything in real. But to feel like a little Latino gangster, this watch was better. He didn't have to take it home, maybe the maid would be happy if he left everything in the room. George put on the chain and watch and walked around the city a bit more, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the streets. And then at some point made his way to the hotel to freshen up before dinner.

The watch and chain didn't go with his dark blue suit, of course. But he liked to be well dressed for dinner. Even though the hotel was mainly frequented by newly rich Russians and Arabs, he didn't want to make an exception. He had carefully hidden the chain and watch under his shirt; the feeling of the large pendant resting on his chest was enough for him. And after dinner, he stood naked, with only the watch and chain, in front of the bathroom mirror and jerked off.

He had even slept with the watch and chain on. When he got up, everything felt so heavy. He examined the watch more closely. Actually, it looked perfect. And weighed heavy, too. Was it perhaps not a fake at all. He was also unsure about the necklace. Had he perhaps bought stolen goods…? Anyway, he was well rested and rested. And he could see that when he looked in the mirror. He had not looked so refreshed for a long time. And he had gotten color. On his tanned skin, the gold chain looked even better.

George didn't even take off his new jewelry to shower. And the white shirt was unbuttoned so much today that you could see the chain flashing. He also left the cuffs of the shirt open. The white shirt, the beige shorts, the gold jewelry. There was almost something southern about him, he had to think with a grin. The fact that he ordered his banana pancakes in Spanish and wished the Russian Barbie doll a good morning in her native language didn't even occur to him. George slept away most of the day at the pool. Every now and then, when it got too hot for him, he jumped into the cool water and took a few laps. The admiring looks of the one or other lady at the edge of the pool, when he catapulted himself wet out of the pool, he did not notice at all. Instead, he exchanged more frequent and intense glances with the pool boy.

He signed off for dinner at the hotel. He wasn't in the mood for a five-course dinner today. He was more in the mood for some street food, a few beers and whatever else came along. He didn't even remember packing a black satin shirt. But with black suit pants and black loafers, he looked very handsome. George combed his hair back with lots of wet gel. And he threw himself into the nightlife.

It had been daylight by the time George had gotten back to the hotel. If he remembered correctly, he had gotten another beer from the concierge. Other than that, he couldn't remember much. It was much too late for breakfast when he was finally awake. So he pulled right on swim shorts and a bright red shirt, which he left open. He was proud to still have such an impressive six-pack in his early 40s. Everyone was allowed to see that. The pool boy had reserved him the daybed right next to the artificial waterfall. That was perfect for discreet conversations. George had also used the evening to stock up on enough drugs for his customers here at the hotel. The staff, of course, knew what would happen if a busty blonde, a hairy Russian, or an Arabian stud joined George on the bed and the curtains were drawn. There could be sex involved. But in any case, money was exchanged for drugs. And a good portion of the money went into the pockets of the hotel staff. So people smiled. And kept quiet.

George spent the evening on Santo Domingo's Malecón. Getting supplies. And supplying customers in the casinos. George himself never gambled. Nor did he take drugs. He needed a clear mind and a functioning body for his job.

Jorge woke up in his permanent suite at the very top of the Catalonia. The view of the sea was fantastic. His breakfast was set. His personal trainer was already waiting in the hotel's gym. Yesterday had been a successful evening, so before he moved into his poolside "office," he needed fresh stuff. He awaited his supplier on the bench at the back entrance of the hotel. They were usually undisturbed here at this time of day.

It had all been over a year now. The Catalonia was now only occasionally his workplace. Jorge had gotten himself a warehouse in the old town, where he officially sells cheap souvenirs for the street vendors. In fact, he managed his drug mules from here. Personally, he only served the particularly important customers. Or the particularly horny.

Realized at the request of @axeegliter. No idea why my chat is down, bro. But I'm working on it!

And a bow to

and

You are two of the most handsome fellas I know.

[hlficlibrary]

atonement anon here! thank you for the response on my previous ask. i would like to request fic recs with some similar vibes as the movie atonement has please :) thank you lots!!

Hi, again! So what I tried to find you are fics that have some similar themes to Atonement...like betrayal, forbidden love, historical, and/or false accusations. Hope they fit what you're looking for!

Landslide by aimmyarrowshigh, spibsy

The year is 1976. In November, Jimmy Carter will take control of the White House. Americans are meeting Laverne & Shirley at their apartment in Milwaukee. Hotel California diverges from the reign of Kool & the Gang. And the FBI is still reeling from the repercussions of Watergate, the tragedy at Wounded Knee, Operation Family Secrets, and the strategic terrors of the anti-cult movement.

That's what Special Agent Harry Styles has been told is the basis of his mission to an abandoned farmhouse in rural New Hampshire.

With his hair grown out long and his shirt untucked, he's going undercover to do reconnaissance on suspected cult leader Louis Tomlinson, who has led a group of people out into the middle of nowhere, leaving no record of the life he'd had before. All Harry knows is what the agency gave him: Tomlinson's name, and instructions to figure out what he's doing with the eleven people he brought with him.

In the year that Harry spends undercover and under Louis Tomlinson's wing, he learns more than he ever expected.

Shooting Stars in the Woods by frenchkiss

A Tudor era AU. Prince Louis I of England has everything a man could ever dream of, but his lack of husband is driving his father, the King, to madness. But Louis doesn't want any of the eligible bachelors his father pushes his way. All he wants is to be able to do is marry the knight he's been in love with for two years now.

The love story of a royal and his servant, separated by class but joined by heart. Their relationship has remained a careful secret for a long time now, but when a threat to the kingdom forces them both to leave the palace, it turns out their secret isn't the only one that could topple everything they’ve ever known.

Victorian Boy by audreyhheart

Victorian AU. Harry the virgin Duke of Somerset knows little of love, while Louis the sly Duke of Warwick knows too much. When the two dukes come together for the Bilsdale fox hunt in York, Harry finds himself drawn into Louis' bed. But when secrets from Louis' dark past come to light, Harry fears that the fox isn't the only one being hunted.

Echoes & Omens by @itsmotivatingcara

Echoes of the dead come in many forms. Their imprints forever tied to the ones who'd killed them.

Louis Tomlinson is able to track the dead using their echoes, they call to him. He's used that gift to aid Scotland Yard in their investigations, with the hopes of studying Criminology at Cambridge University. He's lived a life of privilege and good fortune as a Marquess, son of the late Duke Tomlinson, with his life mapped out since day one.

Until two terrible truths are revealed.

One, he's adopted. Two, his biological parents are London's most notorious serial killers.

Against his family's wishes, Louis travels to Chicago to uncover the truth of their incarceration. Much to his dismay, his biological mother's Lawyer, Harry Styles, wants to take his case. Together, they work to uncover what really happened all those years ago, but perhaps more is revealed than they could've ever anticipated. Trapped in a whirlwind of portents and omens, Louis and Harry find themselves pitted against an enemy they'd not foreseen.

[jules-has-notes]

2016 VoicePlay summer fun — campers, cruises, costumes, charity, and… cops?

The excitement of the spring months rolled right into the summer. After he'd had a few weeks of concentrated new-dad time, the other guys gathered up Layne and headed to Ohio.

They first returned to Port Clinton for a show at the Lakeside Chautauqua Auditorium, and spent the night at a vintage (possibly haunted) hotel. From there, they scooted down to Dayton to be the featured artists at Camp A Cappella.

.

Ahoy, mateys

A week later, while the others took care of things at home, Geoff and Earl teamed up with three of their buddies from Echo — Erik Winger, Antonio Fernandez, and Deejay Young — for a quick cruise on the Royal Caribbean Allure to the Virgin Islands. During their time at sea, they crossed paths with Us the Duo, who had just finished opening for the North American and European legs of Pentatonix's world tour.

.

No rest for the ambitious

They arrived home to an exciting milestone: 100K likes on Facebook! In the meantime, Eli did some session recording work, while Layne and Tony prepped for their next PattyCake video, and Layne worked on an additional side project. (Paternity leave was supposed to be less busy, dude!)

.

Runnin', runnin'

Once the guys were all together again, they got into production on projects for both PattyCake and VoicePlay for most of August. In between location shoots for "Will.of.Oz", they reunited with Emoni Wilkins to film their video for "I Love Me".

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Cruisin'

At the end of the month, the guys grabbed Winger again, and boarded the Royal Caribbean Oasis for yet another voyage. Since they set sail on Geoff's birthday, they had a toast on board.

.

Almost as soon as they got home, they traded one guest for another, snagging Antonio for the middle leg of an eastbound Panama Canal trip on the Disney Wonder. (Though it seems that they were possibly getting weary from so much travel.) They also seem to have run afoul of the Mexican police on their way home, but I'm pretty sure the getting arrested part was just a joke.

.

Hop, skip, and a jump

After a few days of rest, they embarked on a series of quick trips. First they flew up to New Hampshire for the UNH A Cappella Fest. Next came a show in Iowa, and then a charity fundraiser in Chicago.

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All about those babes

During their next stint at home, they made time for a little hanging without working. Most of the guys let someone else do the singing for once when they attended a local Meghan Trainor concert. The group included Layne, Cyndi, and their older girls; Cyndi's sister Steph and her elder daughter; Earl and Nick; and Tony.

Meanwhile, Eli spent some time with his own family to celebrate his sister's birthday, and Geoff got his domesticity on at home with Kathy.

.

Back to woOOOork

As summer wound down, VoicePlay prepared for their favorite time of year by finally filming a music video for their arrangement of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" off of their 2012 album "Once Upon an Ever After".

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All eh-board

They closed out September with a cruise on the Disney Magic from Nova Scotia to NYC and back. Since Tony and Layne were deep in production for their next PattyCake project (and Layne understandably wanted some more time at home with the baby), the rest of the guys called on both Winger and Antonio to fill in again.

[itslilsoosh]

Oh Mother

upset and afraid I walked down his street “fuck it” I’m gonna lose my virginity. I was angry with her. I didn’t want to sit in my room and be controlled all the way from another state. What I can’t and not do. It’s done now and she won’t know she’ll never know. In Arizona I lay screaming in pain rushed to the hospital to figure out what’s going on my mother by my side. Have you been sexually active? In front of my mom? No nurse… it must of been my face my mom knew I was lying. It was just a cyst rupture. No privacy like my whole body was out on display for her to figure out she took me to the bathroom. I’m peeing in a cup: “you had sex didn’t you” I… yes. I don’t know why I didn’t lie I guess I was afraid of her. Quietness. She took my phone. You can see the anger in her eyes the disappointment. The disgust. I started to cry I thought I’d never get to speak that man ever again. I was scared. To be honest I wanted to stay at the hospital I knew once I left it was about to get ugly. We arrived at the hotel. I was shaking. My mom was screaming at me. My brothers, my uncles, my grandma, my cousins the whole family were notified at the hotel. I felt naked like my body didn’t belong to me. That wasn’t yours to tell mother. Demanding we all go back home my whole family hopped inside a white van we rented. I sit in the corner with my hood over my face bc my eyes were swollen and filled with tears. I felt violated and everybody knew. Everybody knew my business and nobody cared to ask if I was okay. Not one. Everyone that I was the biggest sinner for losing my virginity. Nobody spoke a word to me. Just stares and glares. Speaking to each other like nothing happened. A 7 hour car ride of hell. I felt so ashamed, embarrassed, angry, sad, and hurt. When we got home I didn’t have a phone, I wasn’t allowed to leave my house, I wasn’t allowed to go back to Chicago to my ballet school, I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone. My own brothers wouldn’t even talk to me. I was only allowed to cry and watch Downtown Abbey on KPBS. She was punishing me. The thing is I was 19. Completely an adult. Nobody and I mean nobody should have made me feel that way. Especially the one person that I was supposed to feel safe with. Ever since that car ride I swear to god… I’ve sworn to myself I’ll never forgive her for that. She’ll always have this black cloud over her and I can’t see past it. She’ll never have my love fully. Oh mother what did you do?

[tabtour]

Las temperaturas empiezan a alzarse y el calor insufla un no se qué al aire que da la pauta del comienzo de una nueva temporada veraniega. Con ella llegan los festivales musicales, y todo el mundo está alerta de conocer los lineups para asistir a su evento de preferencia, si no a todos. Pero el resto no importa, porque Take A Bite! es el festival que se corona como el rey de la temporada. Arrancando en Chicago, la cuna de Take A Bite! y la primera parada del tour, el festival promete un fin de semana inolvidable para los asistentes. Y para sus artistas también, que nunca son descuidados por el staff organizador. A modo de bienvenida, como un gran agasajo por los arduos meses venideros, se ha decidido dar comienzo a la temporada con un pequeño evento en uno de los bares y clubes nocturnos más calientes de la ciudad ventosa: el Cerise, en la azotea del Virgin Hotel.  Así que, ¡a calentar motores! Que la celebración corre por cuenta de la producción de Take A Bite!. No importa si eres un artista con una larga trayectoria, o si es tu primer año como staff del festival: todes están invitades.

[tinygmusic]

GIRL GROUP XG RELEASES “WOKE UP REMIXX” FEATURING JAY PARK, AWICH, AND MORE

Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | 20th September 2024

Hip-hop / R&B girl group XG taps in Jay Park, OZworld, AKLO, Paloalto, VERBAL, Awich, Tak, and Dok2 for the remix of their song, “WOKE UP.”

"WOKE UP REMIXX"  features the most notable rappers in East Asia with the original “WOKE UP” backtrack which is a mix of an 808 bass and distinctive East Asian sounds. Each rapper adds their own unique style to the track with lyrics referencing their own music, East Asian culture and even an ode to hip-hop. The flawless blend between all the rappers resulted into a 6 minute track that showcases the hip-hop talent of East Asia to the world.  

Just recently, XG announced their highly-anticipated second mini album, “AWE” will release on November 8th, 2024. The album will include pre-release single, “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” and “WOKE UP REMIXX” in addition to six new tracks. You can pre-order the album HERE.

After completing a run of shows in Asia for their “The first HOWL” tour, XG will be headed to North America next month to begin the next leg of their tour. The tour will start on October 4th in Las Vegas at The Theater at Virgin Hotels and conclude on October 21st in Chicago at Wintrust Arena. Following this run of dates, XG will head to Europe to complete the tour there before returning to Japan for their final shows. With a busy schedule, XG continues to dominate and enchant the world with their eccentric style and incredible flair. Stay tuned for more from XG. 

About XG:

XG is a seven-member HIPHOP / R&B girl group consisting of JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA. They debuted in March 2022 with their first single "Tippy Toes" under the global entertainment production company "XGALX," which aims to promote bold culture worldwide and produce artists with unique worldviews. XG operates primarily on the global stage, participating in major music festivals in countries such as the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. They achieved numerous milestones, including ranking first as the first Japanese artist on the Billboard "Hot Trending Songs Powered by Twitter" chart and becoming the first Japanese girl group to grace the cover of the U.S. "Billboard" magazine. XG, through their unconventional music and performances, they aim to empower people from various backgrounds around the world.

Keep up with XG

Instagram

X (Twitter)

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Website

Weverse

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

DEEZER

genie

Melon

TIDAL

iTunes Store

YouTube Music

[aceroxluz]

( ANA DE ARMAS . CISFEMALE . SHE/HER ) - the chicago resident , ( LUISA ‘LUZ’ ACERO ) , was heard blaring ( IGUAL QUE UN ÁNGEL / KALI UCHIS ) this morning . the ( THIRTY-TWO ) year old is ( UNEMPLOYED ) in the city & has lived the ( EAST ) tower for ( ONE YEAR ) . since being here , they have been told to be ( - SARCASTIC ) , but also ( + FLIRTY ) , i guess we’ll find out soon !

Luisa had no illusions about her life. Born in a small home in Santa Clara, her father was a dishwasher and her mother was a maid both at the same swanky hotel for tourists, both hardworking and trying their best, trying to make something of themselves as best they could. Luz realized at a young age though that, no matter how hard they worked, it never really mattered. Nothing they owned was really theirs. Sure they had a place to live, had food, had possessions, but…at the end of the day, all that could be taken away by the snap of fingers if the hotel owner (or some snooty guest) wanted to cause problems. They lived their life tiptoeing by.

Luz wanted more than that for herself. She wanted more than cooking and cleaning and being at someone else's beck and call. So when she found ways to do that...she jumped at it, morals be damned.

Luisa was barely sixteen the first time she not only slept with someone, but was paid for it too. Her virginity for enough money to buy extra food for them for a week? Easy deal. And then she kept at it, covertly sleeping with men (and women on occasion) in exchange for food and money. She soon caught the attention of higher up hotel guests too, and while they could use her as they wanted for a pretty penny, she started coercing them into giving her more. Eventually, along with food and money, she could sometimes get gifts. Clothes and jewelry, makeup. Anything she could want until she was old enough to have an actual job. She doubled down on her beliefs then. She didn’t want to be a maid. Or a waitress. Or anything like that. She was good at sleeping with people…good at being a good time. So she ran with it, all covertly under her parents' nose.

For years it went on like that, with Luz earning enough money from her clientele that she not only got her parents a better place to live, but she got them out of their jobs altogether. And when she was twenty-five, she earned a best gift of all: a way off the island. The US had always been the dream after all, a goal that never quite seemed attainable--until now.

Her mother had a cousin in Miami that took them in once they arrived, and with her parents squared away, Luz decided to do life on her own now, heading north to New York (she'd had a few hotel guests always inviting her to the city after all, promising her more money and jewels if she ever took them up on it). And for years, Luz did just that, happily hanging off the arm of some well-off man, wearing pretty dresses and expensive jewels in exchange for, well, not a whole lot of effort on her part. Finally last year though, she decided a change of scenery was in order and headed off to Chicago, an old client telling her she'd have fun there- which she definitely has. And while she still has some clients here and there looking for more of the high end escort type, she's found an equally-fun way of getting cash quick in ways of being a cam girl. Her Onlyfans is not only premium content, but an easy way to connect with clients old and new--all from the comforts of her bedroom.

And sure Luz would one day like to actually have someone want her for her and not just her body, she'd like to maybe even one day get a real job, but until then, she could at least make sure she was financially secured so she'd never, ever, have to struggle in the ways her parents did.

[suckitsurveys]

What color are your eyes? They are green.

Is anyone you work with currently on maternity leave or vacation? Yeah, a few coworkers are on vacation this week.

Favorite boy’s name? I’ve always loved Eli.

Baked macaroni and cheese or regular? I like both but baked is SO good.

What’s the first thing you learned how to draw? I don’t know.

Name one of your friends’ children: None of my close friends have kids.

What was the name of your 5th grade teacher? Mr. Jacker.

Sterling silver or titanium? Whichever.

How many hours do you work in a day? 8 hours typically but I’ve been working 9 for some extra money.

Have you ever been to a casino? Yes, a few. Some here in the Chicago area and some out in Nevada (not LV).

Who wrote the last book you read? I haven’t read something in a while.

What’s the middle name of your bestfriend? Ann, Marie, Allen, Raymond.

What’s your favorite food? Sushi.

How far away do you live from the closest aquarium? Like half an hour.

Favorite girl’s name? Josie or Alexandra.

Name one of your candle scents: Gardenia.

What’s the name of your favorite restaurant? Any place with all you can eat sushi.

Are you in a relationship? If so, how long? Yes, I am married. We’ve been together a total of 13 years and married for 7.

Who in your family has a birthday in January? My mother’s birthday is the 28th.

When was the last time you lost power? How long was it out and the cause? A few weeks ago because of a storm.

Do you know any twins? Yes.

What’s your favorite flower? Gardenias.

Pick 3 random colors: Purple, orange, grey.

Would you ever dye your hair that color? I’ve had purple hair before. I don’t think I’d do like, straight up orange but I’d do a reddish orange. And I’ll have grey eventually.

Do you own any underwear that color? Yes.

Can this be used as a last name? Grey is a common last name.

What’s your favorite country song? Jolene by Dolly Parton.

Do you drink alcohol? Sometimes.

Do you use any food delivery services such as UberEats, DoorDash, etc? Sometimes.

What color is your mailbox? White.

What age did you lose your virginity? 20.

Dogs or cats? Cats.

Do you know anyone who’s been to prison? Yup.

What’s one thing on your shopping list? Snacks for our road trip next week!

Freeze tag or musical chairs? Freeze tag.

Where did you go on your last vacation? NOLA. I’m going to The Dells next week though.

Have you ever been stuck in the mud? Maybe?

What was the last thing you took a picture of? My cat.

Name someone you work with: Eric..

Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell or McDonald’s? Taco Bell.

Did you ever get an allowance as a child? Not a set amount, no.

What food do you see the most of at baby showers? I haven’t been to enough baby showers to notice a common food, but maybe cupcakes or some sort of sweet treat.

Do you know the capital of your state? Yes.

Have you ever rode on a motorcycle? Nope.

When’s the last time you ate any type of sweet? Yesterday I had one of those Reese’s Big Cups with caramel which is easily my new favorite candy.

Pizza rolls or bagel bites? Both are good.

What kind of flooring is in the room you’re in? Carpet tiles.

Is the internet connection good where you live at? Yeah.

Do you need to do laundry? We need some towels washed.

What’s your favorite scent? Gardenia.

Have you ever lived in a hotel before? Not lived, no.

What kind of pets does your grandmother have? My grandparents are all dead.

Do you follow any type of trials? Not really, no.

What’s the last show you really got into that you have to wait for the next season of? I mean, I’m waiting for the next seasons of The White Lotus and Stranger Things.

SpongeBob or Patrick? Plankton.

When’s the last time you saw fireworks? About a month ago on the 4th.

Have you ever witnessed a car accident? Yup.

Do you own a pair of fuzzy socks? Yes.

What kind of ice cream is your favorite? Butter Pecan.

Have you ever been skinny dipping? Yes.

Sprinkles or frosting? Frosting.

Do you like mushrooms? I looooove mushrooms.

How many tattoos do you have? 11.

Do you own any type of hand sanitizers? Yes, I almost always have some on me.

Have you ever worked in a grocery store? Nope.

What’s your Subway order? I dislike subway.

When was the last time you used the bathroom? Just a few moments ago.

Do you know how to roller skate? Yes, but I have not tried in a very long time.

Can you read sheet music? Nope.

How old is your youngest sibling? I am the youngest.

Do you have an Amazon account? Yes.

What day is payday? Twice a month on Fridays.

What’s one food your family has at Thanksgiving? My dad makes this amazing andouille sausage and cornbread stuffing.

Do you like painting? Sure.

Have you ever been swimming with dolphins? No.

What’s your favorite snack food? Chips and salsa/guac/cheese.

You’re watching Law & Order, is it the regular or SVU? I’m not into that show.

What were you doing last time it snowed? I don’t know, probably complaining about it.

Do you have to sleep with a fan on? Yes, or some kind of white noise.

Chapstick or lip gloss? Chapstick.

When was the last time you took a shower? Sunday night.

Do you know how to play basketball? For the most part.

Name one thing you put on a salad: Croutons.

Do you own anything that’s your favorite color? Yeah.

What’s the last thing you ordered from a Mexican restaurant? Tacos and chips and guac

Do you carry a purse or a backpack? I have a little mini backpack I used as a purse.

What kind of soda is your favorite? Root Beer, specifically Barq’s.

Have you ever cut yourself shaving? Oh yeah.

Penguins or pandas? Pandas. Do you like your in-laws? I FUCKING HATE my brother in law (sister’s husband) with a fucking fiery burning passion greater and hotter than the force of 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 suns. BUT my husband’s family is awesome and his mom loves me and is so kind and sweet to me. They’re really great.

What do you usually do for Christmas? Last year we started a new tradition where we do “Christmas morning” with my sister and her family on Christmas eve morning at my dad’s house, and then we have an extended family party. Christmas morning we haven’t figured out yet; we’d usually celebrate with my sister and her family but they got tired of having to rush through to make it to her husband’s side of the family’s party. Last year Mark and I went over to my dad’s and just hung out with him for a bit

Have you ever used any type of Aromatherapy? Yeah.

Toe socks or ankle socks? Ankle. Who’s your favorite Pokémon character? Human? Ash. Actual Pokemon? Pikachu, always.

What’s the temperature range in your area? It’s 67F right now.

Does your trash need to be taken out? No, I took it out last night.

Nachos or chips and salsa? Both.

What’s the name of your pets? Friday, Sake, Ramona.

Have you been around anyone that creeped you out? Yes.

What’s your Chick-fil-A order? I don’t eat there.

Regular or pink lemonade? Both are nice.

Do you know anyone who’s lost their house in a natural disaster? I don’t think so.

What’s your favorite candy? Kit Kats, Sour Patch Kids, and those new Reese’s Big Cups with caramel. Chinese or Japanese cuisine? Japanese.

Colored pencils or sharpies? Sharpies.

Do you own a pair of Crocs? Nope.

Have you ever been to DisneyWorld? I have not.

Does anyone in your family have a birthday in February? Yes, my cousin’s daughter and my nephew-in-law.

How long does it take for your phone to fully charge? I have no idea.

What color is your hairbrush? Pink and black.

Is there any movies out that you want to see? I want to see Wicked and the new Beetlejuice movie.

Do you know how to run a cash register? I did at one point but it’s been a while.

Chicken or beef noodles? Beef I guess, although in general I’m not a fan of noodles.

What year did you get your drivers license? Uhhhhhh 2010.

What kind of makeup do you wear? When I do wear make up it’s foundation, eyeliner, mascara and maybe lipstick.

What’s your Taco Bell order? Crunchy tacos and nachos and a Baja Blast.

Do you wear any type of shimmer spray or glitter? Not usually.

Have you ever lived in a trailer/doublewide? No.

What’s your boyfriends/girlfriends middle name? My husband’s middle name is Allen.

Are you into anime? Eh, there’s a couple I like but I wouldn’t say I’m “into” it.

Pizza or nacho lunchables? I don’t remember having nacho ones, just pizza.

Have you ever been to a strip club? Nope.

Do you know how to play any instruments? Nope.

Have you ever been inside of a courtroom? Yes.

What kind of restaurants do you eat at while you’re on vacation? I mean, depends, but I like to try local foods.

Did you ever participate in any pageants when you were younger? Nope.

What kind of cheese is your favorite? Goat cheese, sharp cheddar, fresh mozz.

Does your phone have any cracks or scuffs? Yeah, but just on the case, which I suppose is the reason I have a case lol.

Have you ever had a professional massage? Nope.

Which would you rather have, twins or triplets? If I had no other choice, twins.

Do you drink energy drinks? No.

Can you swim? Yes.

Make the perfect taco salad: Lettuce, ground beef, salsa, cheese, guac, dressing.

Have you ever lived with friends or a roommate? Just my husband.

Who in your family has a birthday in March? My cousin Kelly.

What kind of pasta do you like? Yes.

Do you know how to play volleyball? I've never tried.

How much decorating do you do around the holidays? I like to deck out my dad’s house since he has the Christmas Eve party every year.

Have you ever been on a cruise? Yeah when I was little.

At what age did you learn how to tie your shoes? I was around 5 I think.

Oreos or chocolate chip cookies? Both.

What did you dress up for Halloween as a child? I can’t remember EVERY costume but I was definitely your basic ghost, witch, vampire, black cat array.

Can you count to ten in Spanish? Yeah.

Name a character from your favorite TV show: Princess Carolyn.

Do you like going to arcades? Sure.

What was the last personal care item you bought from the store? Deodorant.

Airplanes or helicopters? Planes.

Have you ever been camping for more than a week? Not more than a week, no.

What kind of meat do you like the most? Seafood.

Do you actually stop and pet dogs you actually see? No. Unless the dog seems interested in me, I will then ask the owner if I can pet them.

Have you ever been in an ambulance? Nope.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve found at a hotel before? I don’t know.

How far is the closest Target? There’s one a few blocks from us now.

Snakes or spiders? Spiders.

What’s your Panera Bread order? I rarely go.

Do you have any cool keychains? Sure.

How old is your oldest living grandparent? --

Do you watch movies? Sure.

Who in your family has a birthday in April? My dad and two of my cousins.

Have you ever had your nails done professionally? Yup.

What color Christmas tree do you use? Green.

What’s your go to dipping sauces? Definitely depends on what I am dipping.

Do you know how to properly pack a U-Haul truck? Sure?

What was your least favorite math? All of it.

Have you ever been published in a magazine? Not that I know of.

What color is your snow gloves? Black.

How old were you when you last went to the dentist? Oops it’s been a bit.

Do you own a printer? Nope.

What’s your Applebees order? I've been to Applebee’s like maybe 3 times.

Do you bring home seashells from the beach? Sometimes.

What kind of video games do you play? I don’t really play video games. Sometimes Wii Bowing and Super Smash Bros but not much else.

Is anyone in your family in law enforcement? I don’t think so.

How long ago was the last funeral you attended? At the beginning of June.

What color is the blanket on your bed? Navy blue.

Where did you get your name from? A movie my mom liked.

Do you wear lipstick? Sometimes.

What’s a fruit you dislike? Raspberries.

What kind of donuts do you like? Jelly filled or Boston cream.

Do you know how to braid hair? Yes, but only basic braids.

What’s one accessory you wear? I have a permanent bracelet on my left wrist.

How many hoodies/jackets do you own? A good handful.

What was the last name of the road you lived on? Not sharing that as I still frequent that house.

What brand of chocolate do you prefer? I’m not picky.

Nike or Adidas? Adidas.

What will your future wedding colors be? I wore a sapphire blue dress.

Do you have a phone mount in your car? Yeah.

Make the perfect omelet: Mushrooms, spinach, feta, cheddar.

[duadaily]

NYLON Nights Chicago at The Virgin Hotel in Chicago, Illinois - July 28, 2016

[landosgirl97]

bestie are we getting that mile high virgin reader with chase soon? :) it can be based on the obx events recently :)

Here. We. Go.

I was in line at the JFK airport on my way to Chicago for a conference. When I got to the gate, they notified me that my ticket had been upgraded to first class. “Why was I upgraded? That seems odd.” “We overbooked and the only seat left was first class. Because you were booked through a business, we gave it to you.” I smiled at her, proceeding over the bridge into the plane and found my seat. The person next to me must not have wanted to talk, cause their hood was up and they were completely turned to the window. I placed my things overhead and got settled with my laptop bag. As soon as the curtain closed, separating us from coach before take off, I saw him turn and buckle himself in, still staying kind of hidden. I settled myself in my seat until we were in the air. I brought my table down and made myself comfortable. I opened my laptop, connected to the Wi-Fi and got started on my classes, splitting my screen between that and Netflix for some background noise. After I started on my class, I noticed that my neighbor had taken his hood off and gotten more comfortable. I saw him looking at my screen, so I turned my head toward him, showing a small smile. He smiled back, pulling his headphone out. “Hey, I’m Chase, nice to meet you. Sorry I’m so secretive at first.” I nod my head, “I get it, being a Netflix star and all.” I wink at him. “Wait, you know who I am?” I nod. “And you aren’t freaking out,making a scene, or asking for an autograph?” I giggle and shake my head. “Never. Doesn’t that get overwhelming?” I ask, slightly distracted by the quiz I’m taking in class. He nods, “It does, what are you working on there?” I turn my computer toward him slightly, showing him. “I need to renew my nursing license, and since I have a few hours, I’m taking the time to do it now.” His eyebrows shoot up, “a nurse huh? Isn’t that hard?” I just shrug, “occasionally, but honestly, I work in a clinic so I have it easy compared to most people.” He watched me as I finished the test and he saw my score pop up on the screen. “Perfect score, not bad!” I laugh, shutting my laptop. “So, tell me about yourself.”

We sat and talked for a bout 45 minutes when I noticed his hand fall onto my thigh, rubbing up and down. I noticed that my body broke out in goosebumps at his touch. I looked up at him and bit my lip. “What are you thinking?” He smiles at me, “I think you’re beautiful and I’d like to maybe see you in Chicago if you’re okay with that? Maybe see my hotel room?” I smirked at him. “I’d love that, but maybe we can get an early start?” He raises his eyebrow at me. “What do you mean exactly?” I unbuckled my seatbelt, walking toward the bathroom and tilting my head to the side, asking him to follow. I placed my finger over my lips in a “shh” motion, and shut the door behind me, leaving it unlocked. About a minute later, he followed in behind me, shutting and locking the odor. I perched myself on the sink, letting him slide my dress up my hips. He stood between my legs, letting him hands trail up my thigh. I let him kiss me harshly on the lips, smirking as I moaned against his lips. He continued his kissed across my jaw, down my neck and to my collarbone. I bit my lip, trying to contain my moans as I let my hands trail down his body. He let me run my hands up his shirt and down hi taut torso. “We have to hurry so we don’t get caught. Can you be quiet for me baby?” I nod, biting my lip to stay quiet. He pulled his sweats and underwear down and his hard cock hit against his abdomen. I shimmied my underwear down to my ankles, spreading my legs apart an letting him slide between them. He slid his fingers down, rubbing against my clit slightly, before sliding his coc into me, trusting harshly. I wrapped my legs around him, digging my heels into the flesh above his ass, shoving him into me faster and harder. He cradled my head in his hands to keep my head from hitting the mirror behind me. He held me tight to him, changing the angle of his thrusts, hitting deeper against me. I could feel him deeper inside of me than normal, and mixed with the feeling of almost being caught? It was euphoric. I could feel ever ridge and vein in his cock pulling in and out of me, the wet sounds coming from where our bodies met, the harsh, quick breathes making his chest rise and fall, and the way he was making my toes curl so hard they cramped. I had never felt anything like it before. “Fuck, Chase- c-close..” I gasped, hoping he understood whatI said. He must have, because as soon as I felt his finger rubbing circles on my clit, I lost it. My head lulled back, eyes closed tight, and thighs shaking. I would have screamed if his hand wasn’t around my neck. Soon after, I felt his thrusts still as he filled me with thick ropes of his cum. “Holy shit- that was-“ we were interrupted by a quick knock on the door. “Occupied!” I stated, waiting until we heard receding footsteps to giggle slightly, getting dressed and going back to our seats. I buckled myself back in and turned to him, “I never answered your question.” He looked at me confused. I smirked, “yes, I’d love to see your hotel room when we land.” He smirked at me and nodded, signaling that he agreed with me. Soon we would be on land again, much more comfortable and able to fully enjoy each other.

Tag List: @pankhoeforlife @maybankslover @bethoconnor @samxslaughter @tishanas-darlings @jjmaybank63 @outerbankspov @pankowperfection @hoebx @adventuresinobx @penny4yourthoughts

[8iunie]

LOUD KIDS TOUR GETS LOUDER ‘22 - Venues

~ North America 2022 ~

October 26th, 2022: Mexico City, Mexico - Pepsi Center WTC 🇲🇽

October 31st, 2022: Seattle, Washington - Paramount Theatre 🇺🇸

November 3rd, 2022 / November 4th, 2022: San Francisco, California - The Masonic 🇺🇸

November 7th, 2022: Los Angeles, California - The Hollywood Palladium 🇺🇸

November 8th, 2022: San Diego, California - San Diego Sports Arena (SOMA) 🇺🇸

November 10th, 2022: Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona Financial Theatre 🇺🇸

November 12th, 2022: Salt Lake City, Utah - The Complex 🇺🇸   

November 14th, 2022: Denver, Colorado - The Fillmore Auditorium 🇺🇸

November 17th, 2022: Chicago, Illinois - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 🇺🇸 

November 18th, 2022: Detroit, Michigan - The Fillmore Detroit 🇺🇸

November 21st, 2022 / November 22nd, 2022: Toronto, Ontario - History 🇨🇦

November 24th, 2022: Montreal, Quebec - MTELUS 🇨🇦

November 26th, 2022: Boston, Massachusetts - MGM Music Hall at Fenway 🇺🇸

November 28th, 2022 / November 29th, 2022: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The Fillmore Philadelphia 🇺🇸

December 2nd, 2022 / December 3rd, 2022: New York City, New York - The Hammerstein Ballroom 🇺🇸

December 5th, 2022: Washington, D.C. - The Anthem 🇺🇸   

December 7th, 2022: Atlanta, Georgia - Tabernacle 🇺🇸

December 9th, 2022: Miami, Florida - Hard Rock Live 🇺🇸

December 12th, 2022: Houston, Texas - 713 Music Hall 🇺🇸  

December 13th, 2022: Dallas, Texas - South Side Ballroom 🇺🇸

December 16th, 2022: Las Vegas, Nevada - The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas 🇺🇸

These pictures are not mine, credits to the owners

[demona-andariel]

Object of Obsession - 43 / 46

Fandom: Halloween

Pairing: Michael Myers x OFC

Summary: In Haddonfield everyone knows the legend that was Michael Myers. Content and at ease, they’d forgotten what it was to feel fear in the month of October. But now, he finds himself back and ready for blood but then a bond forms between him and one of his victims. A bond he can’t seem to break. And it starts to make him do things he never thought of doing before.

Warnings: (Encompassing the whole story in no particular order) kidnapping, noncon, explicit sexual content, smut, loss of virginity, rough sex, blood and violence, knifeplay, canon-typical violence

Author Note: Minors DNI!

Word Count: 7,094

Chapter 43 - Heart & Soul

Gretchen stared out of her hospital room window. Her arms wrapped around her chest as she hugged herself tightly. She was going home soon. Not her apartment in Chicago. Nor the house she had inhabited with Michael. Not that she could go back there even if she wanted too.

She bit her lower lip at the thought, fighting back the tears. They'd let it burn. They had let the house burn to the ground, leaving basically only a skeletal structure in its place. There were so many people there, watching: Firefighters, police, reporters, curious citizens. Brandon had tried to take her to see everything. But Jethro wouldn't allow it, much to her relief. He didn't want her anywhere near the police. He didn't want to give them any more ammunition to build up a case against her. Because, apparently, that's what they wanted to do.

It was the reason why she was cuffed to the hospital bed when she woke up a day ago. That was one of the first things Jethro made sure to take care of, admonishing "Nathan" for even allowing the police to handcuff her in the first place.

"Victim", "Stockholm syndrome", and "threaten legal action", were some of the words that she picked up while Jethro laid it in on "Nathan". It partially amused her, the look of frustration and anger on Brandon's face as he tried to keep himself calm. But then the other part wanted to scream and shout that it wasn't Nathan but a ghost in his body who was in control. It was oddly curious why he decided to play along and pretend to be Nathan. Maybe he hoped Jethro would leave the two of them alone for a longer period of time.

Her uncle didn't. She wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe her evident distress and pain about the whole situation made him regret keeping secrets. But then again, he did put her back on the pills to suppress her powers. That was why she was still in the hospital instead of a hotel. He wanted the doctors to monitor her. Whatever lie he told them worked. As well as a psych evaluation or something like that. She wasn't entirely sure. She had kept her mind distant, uncaring of what her eventual fate would be. She wasn't quite ready to live again.

The sound of an ambulance siren caused her to clap her hands over her ears. Her mind flashed back to the video Brandon had shown her the day before. It was of the police and firefighters, sifting through the charred rubble of the place she was starting to call home. She had closed her eyes for the rest of it, unfortunately, she couldn't close her ears. Gods, damn him. She tried to be brave. Tried to hold back her emotions, but the sound of their excited voices as they found his charred body broke her.

Luckily, she didn't have to hear much more. Jethro had stepped back into the room at that moment and yelled at "Nathan", smacking him on the back of his head.

"Gods, Nathan. You're being childish and an asshole. Your cousin is hurting. Delete that video and go get us something to eat."

Nathan. Was he still in there? A part of her hoped he was. Hoped he was fighting to regain control of his body. While a smaller part of her hoped he wasn't. Because, if he couldn't regain control and was watching what Brandon was doing with his body it would destroy him.

Chills ran through her, causing her skin to rise. For now, she was safe from him. Safe from his advances, but that wasn't going to last long. For whatever reason, Jethro kept himself close by, showing up at random times, making it impossible for Brandon to find the right moment to accost her.

"Still feeling sorry for yourself?" Nathan's voice cut into her mind.

Brandon. She had to keep reminding herself of that fact. She heard Nathan. She saw Nathan. But she knew it was Brandon.

Gretchen focused on the outside. The sun was slowly setting, it was going to be dark in an hour or so. From her vantage point, she could see families already setting out, turning from one residential street to another. All dressed up for Halloween. Even the hospital staff had dressed up.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

His fingers brushed her arm and she jerked back. "He's fucked you up so bad, baby," he said.

She glared at him. Brandon let out a sigh as if he was disappointed in her.

"Well, I brought someone. A real expert about the man who you think you love."

Gretchen slightly turned. Her eyes landed on Dr. Loomis. She'd never met him before, but she was familiar with his face. It was featured on the inside cover of the book he'd written about Michael Myers. A book she owned, having bought it shortly after moving to Haddonfield. Gods. How didn't she see it then?

"Dr. Loomis," she said.

He was in a wheelchair wearing a hospital gown. Brandon moved away from her and leaned against a wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He clearly planned on observing.

"Michael do that?" she asked. Her voice surprised her with how casual she sounded.

Dr. Loomis nodded. "He came to his old family house and attacked an innocent couple who lived there."

She snorted. "Innocent?" she asked. "I won't deny that Michael's a killer." Was. "And that he's killed innocent people before. But I highly doubt, in your case, they were as innocent as you want me to believe."

Dr. Loomis studied her for a moment. "They would have been innocent," he corrected. "Michael is not the man you think he is."

"And who do you think I think he is?"

"A man who can love. Who can care. He can't care, Miss. Carter. He can't love."

She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the window, turning her full attention on the old man. "I never said I thought he could love," she said.

"But you think he can care," Dr. Loomis stated.

Unfortunately, she couldn't deny that, as much as she wanted to. She did believe that he did care about her in his own way. He wouldn't have done the things he did if he didn't care. Love? Her heartbeat picked up at the thought. No, she couldn't even entertain that thought.

Dr. Loomis shook his head. "He can't care."

"You're the expert," she said.

He nodded his head in agreement even though she was being sarcastic. "I've known him since he was six years old. I worked with him for fifteen years. And what I quickly came to realize is that there is nothing inside of him. You can't rehabilitate him. You can't change him. He has no conscience. No understanding between life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I spent eight long years trying to reach him. Searching for what you thought you saw. A scared, scarred little boy who just needed the right tools to find that humanity in them. He doesn't have it in him. Didn't you see? His pale, emotionless face with the blackest of eyes?"

Blue. Blue eyes. She didn't answer.

"When I realized there was just nothing I could do it hit me that he needed to be locked up, forever. He's evil. It's really that simple. He doesn't know how to love. The first time he escaped, he proved it. Killing all those people until he was too injured to continue. I thought we put a stop to him. Hoped that his disappearance was because he was dead."

You're going about this conversation all wrong, Dr. Loomis. She wanted to say. I did not once say I tried to change him. I knew who he was from the start. Do I hate that he kills people? Of course. But my heart loves him. And we both know that love isn't logical. Maybe he didn't care. But he accepted me for who I was without question. That's all I wanted. All I needed.

Her eyes traveled down to Dr. Loomis's lap. The man had a folder in his hands. He looked down, his fingers tightened on the folder for a moment before he let it go. He glanced at Brandon.

"I shouldn't have these. And I shouldn't show them to you. But, I talked to your cousin and we think that this will help you. Help you understand the kind of man who kidnapped you. I understand that he killed your boyfriend in front of you. And that perhaps your brain had to switch into survival mode. But you're free now and maybe this will help you realize what kind of monster had you living with him."

Dr. Loomis hesitated then pulled out a photo. Gretchen let out a sigh and took it. A picture of Brandon no doubt. Or maybe one of the many victims that Michael had killed over the years.

Her heart plummeted as she clenched her jaw. Dr. Amelaner was it? The woman was lying on what appeared to be tile floor, covered in blood with clear knife wounds in her chest. She did recognize her. Sort of. Her brain was still a little fuzzy from that day. She liked her. She asked Michael to let her live. A silent plea. He had. Did he go back to kill her later?

"No," she said, shaking her head as she handed him back the photo. "He didn't do that." It didn't make sense. Why would he let the woman go just to kill her later? Wasn't like Gretchen would have left him if he had murdered the woman in front of her.

"I interviewed her. She said Michael let her go, but that's not like him, Miss. Carter. I don't know what his reasoning for it was. Perhaps he enjoyed the thought of her living in terror for a little while before finishing what he had started. She lived in terror. Her idiot of a husband thought they were safe. He found out the hard way." Dr. Loomis pulled out another photo. "As did their son."

Gretchen straightened her shoulders. "Michael doesn't kill kids. You even wrote that in your book."

"He didn't. But clearly, he did this time," Brandon said.

She glared at him, shaking her head. Dr. Loomis gave Brandon a look as well. A shut-up-and-let-me-hand-this look.

"It is possible for serial killers to change and Michael has no remorse, Miss. Carter. He has been gone for almost nine years. He doesn't understand morality. I believed he didn't kill children before because he didn't see them. Clearly, he saw this boy. Maybe the kid tried to defend his parents. We'll never know."

"Show her the others as well. Victims I'm sure she didn't know about." Brandon didn't wait, grabbing the folder and pulling out two photos, putting them in front of her face.

"Mr. Carter-" Dr. Loomis interjected.

"Your dead boyfriend's parents, if I'm not mistaken," Brandon said, knowing the answer.

She didn't grab the photos, leaning back as her eyes stared at the gruesome images. His mother looked as if she'd been strangled before her throat was slit. His father looked as if his neck had been snapped.

"Mr. Carter!" Dr. Loomis said firmly. "This is not-"

"I think you've done enough, Dr. Loomis," Brandon interrupted. He forced the pictures into Gretchen's hands before turning. Done enough? More like, Brandon was done with the doctor. He'd brought the man because he knew Gretchen wouldn't believe him if he brought the photos himself. He used Dr. Loomis to get the information he wanted her to know. Lies?

"When did they die?" Gretchen asked just as Brandon opened the door to her room.

"A couple of days ago," Dr. Loomis said.

She nodded her head and turned her back to look out the window again. Was it possible? She tried to piece together a timeline. Did he have time to make it to town and do the murders before coming back? Maybe? With all that had happened, she lost all concept of time.

The door closed, but she wasn't alone.

"You killed them, didn't you?" she asked, turning to face Brandon. She couldn't trust him, and having her back turned to him while alone with him was a very bad idea.

"God, Gretchen. You're so stupid," he snapped, placing his hand on his face. He groaned in frustration. "Still refusing to see that serial killer for who he really was? I've never met the doctor chick in my life. And why the fuck would I kill my own parents? What would that do for me? Cause me more pain than anything else. And make you suspicious. Can't you see, baby? He's trying to get between us. Even in death, the bastard laid enough seeds of doubt to ruin my credibility."

"You lost all your credibility when you decided to haunt me," she said, feeling no sympathy for him.

He studied her. Suddenly, the mood shifted. He sauntered over to her, forcing her back until she hit the wall and window sill. He set one hand on the window sill by her side and the other on the window beside her head. His body and warmth were far too close to her.

"Move," she said, pushing his body back. He barely budged.

"My love," he whispered, dropping his voice to sound more soothing.

His constant shifting of moods was giving her whiplash. He seemed to be trying to find the right thing to say or do that would win her over. But nothing he did was genuine. It was all an act, a ploy. He spoke half-truths, manipulating them to whatever light he needed them to be viewed at. But in the end, it didn't matter what he said or did.

Gretchen searched his face for a moment. He didn't get it. He didn't understand. "Brandon. There is literally nothing you can do or say that will make me love you," she said, speaking the thoughts instead of leaving them in. He could have been truly the nicest guy in the world. He could have had a heart made of gold for her. Self-sacrificing. But none of that would have mattered. Her heart had set itself on one person and refused to budge.

His countenance changed again. His lips pressed into a thin line and his muscles flexed. Without warning, his hand wrapped around her neck and he forced her head to twist up. Her bruises screamed in pain, but she managed to give him a look of contempt. His thumb pressed against her jawbone for a moment. For once, the eyes looking back at her were Brandon's, dark and emotionless.

"There you are," she said.

"Here I am," he replied. "You could have gone along with the act. I was more than happy to pretend to be a caring boyfriend/husband for you. Both in public and private. Shower you with praises, be the gentleman that other women would die for. But I can see that you won't change. I won, Gretchen. He lost. You're mine. When we leave this hospital, you're going with me. And you can forget having any form of freedom. Clearly, being the nice guy in this situation isn't going to help my case. So I guess I'll just have to be the bad guy." A cruel smile crossed his face as his eyes glistened with joy at whatever he was thinking. "I'm going to break you, Gretchen."

She glared at him, refusing to give him any satisfaction of fear that he was clearly aiming for. He could try, but she wasn't going to let him succeed.

"You think I can't?" he asked, reading her defiance correctly. "I have an entire lifetime to dedicate to making you realize you are mine. Always have been and always will be."

Her skin went cold at the thought of being stuck with him for the rest of her life. His fingers brushed her lips and then hair.

"You told me before that you would never kill yourself. And you and I both know that's true. You'll be stuck with me. Desperately fighting me a stupid battle because you belong to me. You've always belonged to me. You came to me."

He looked toward the door out of the corner of his eyes before returning his gaze to her face.

"Don't forget. Your uncle's life hinges on your silence. He only lives because he's your family," he warned.

He only lives because he's the only person you can use against me.

Brandon let her go and took a step back. She massaged her throat with her hand. The door opened and Jethro walked in.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, clearly feeling the tension in the room.

"Yeah, fine," Brandon said, flashing Jethro a smile as if he hadn't just shown his real side to her.

Gretchen just nodded her head. Damn him. Damn him and that stupid herb. She clenched her jaw, fighting with her inner feelings of frustration and hopelessness.

Gods. You're being such a baby right now. He can threaten you all he wants. But he's scared of you. He knows you'll never be his. He's desperate.

The problem was, desperate people did desperate things.

"Son, could you get us some food? What are you feeling like, Gretchen? Pizza?"

"Sure," Gretchen said with a shrug of her shoulders. What the fuck could she do? For now, nothing. She tilted her head to one side and grimaced. But, she'd gotten off the pill they gave her before without anyone noticing. It may take some time. She would probably be subjected to things she didn't want to do. But, he wasn't always going to be on guard.

The thing was, Brandon was arrogant. He would slip up. He would eventually lower his guard. Lower it when he thought he'd broken her. It would take some time though. He wouldn't believe her if she suddenly loved him.

Dammit. Why couldn't she have been a seductress?

"There's a mom and pop pizza place down the street. Why not order us a couple of pies? Pineapple and onions on one."

Gretchen felt a smile tug on her face. Her favorite type of pizza. Her uncle was trying to make her feel better. It was a nice thought.

"Sure thing, dad," Nathan said.

She frowned. His voice sounded just a little bit off to her. Gretchen looked up to snap a glare at Brandon. He wasn't looking at her, his focus remained on Jethro for a moment as if he was trying to figure something out. Her frown deepened. Brandon? Nathan's face slowly twisted and morphed into an odd combination of Brandon and her cousin. The pills were losing their effect? Her heartbeat picked up at the thought.

She lowered her eyes to the ground as Brandon turned to look at her. If that was true, she didn't want him suspecting a thing. The door closed a little harsher than it needed to, betraying Brandon's annoyance.

She heard Jethro's shoes tap on the floor as he walked to her and stopped by her side. Her eyes focused on the darkening sky. She saw the same family she'd seen earlier walking out of the street they had gone down to go to another street. From where she stood, they looked like a perfect family. Husband, wife, and two kids. They were probably laughing and having a good old time. The world was at peace without Michael.

Her mind went back to the pictures she'd seen. The poor doctor and her family. She couldn't believe Brandon. Not about that.

You don't know Michael, Dr. Loomis's words repeated in her mind.

But I do know he could have killed her when I was there. He didn't. It doesn't make sense. The only thing that made sense was Brandon had killed her and tried to pin the murders on Michael. Perhaps hoping to finally win her over? Was he capable of that?

Yes. Those eyes he had showed her moments ago betrayed him.

"How are you feeling?" Jethro asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders, refusing to look at him. "Alright, I guess," she said. She tapped her fingers on her skin. Her brain mulled over all the information she'd received. So much to figure out and she felt as if she didn't have a lot of time. She felt it. The slow lifting of the fog in her mind. She couldn't let them know that the pills were losing their effect. Not until she found a way to rip Brandon out of her cousin without killing Nathan.

"Sorry," she murmured. "I don't feel like talking." As much as she wanted to trust her uncle with the truth, she couldn't. What if he didn't believe her? No, he would believe her. He wouldn't side with her psycho ex-boyfriend's ghost. But, how could he help? Maybe her uncle could get rid of the ghost. Maybe, but should you really risk it? She internally sighed. No. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't risk losing the last person who knew her. The last person who cared.

Secrets? Fuck! She hated secrets and now she was going to keep this from him. Because that was the right thing to do, wasn't it? She was alone in this battle.

Her heart dropped at the sudden feeling of loneliness. She never noticed it before. Her own loneliness. Her uncle and cousin loved her, of that she had little doubt. But both, in their own way, still kept her just a little too far, not quite arm's length but might as well be. Jethro with his secrets, both encouraging her to embrace who she was, while also deliberately keeping important pieces of information from her.

Nathan and she were a little bit closer, till one day they weren't. Now she understood why. This was what she told him would happen, wasn't it? That a ghost would take over his body. Did she see him rape her? See her beg for help? Possibly. She probably would have. Not now though.

Gretchen clenched her fists in determination. Even if Brandon managed to have his way with her, she was going to fight him. She wasn't going to beg for mercy. She fought Michael at first. Brandon… well… she was never going to stop fighting him.

Michael.

He had to be the one to not make her feel alone. Brandon didn't have that. What he had was her looking forward to that specific vision. She latched onto him because she couldn't wait for that moment, but she still went home alone after their dates. Hell, she may have mentioned him in passing, but never sat down to tell her family she was dating someone. She convinced herself it was because she was afraid they'd chase him away. She never bothered showing off her art to him because she didn't think he'd care. He made her feel self-conscious about her body, why show him even more of her interests? He clearly wasn't the one. She should have known from the start. Would Michael have cared about her art? He did seem a little bit intrigued, but there hadn't been time to properly explore that.

Time.

Gretchen took in a deep breath and shakily let it out.

"They said you were cursed," Jethro finally said, cutting into her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes. "Cursed because I'm a woman? One of the few who are born into the family?" She did feel cursed in a way. Cursed to be unhappy, to forever be alone. She looked up at her uncle. His face was void of any emotion.

"Do not interfere," he continued. "The family rule. There are consequences, I was warned. You would bring about events that would lead to the death and destruction of our house. They said all we had to do was let your powers kill you. They said it would be better for all of us, including you."

She let out a deep sigh. "I guess they were right, weren't they? Killed my parents. Fell in love with a serial killer. I-" pushed a ghost to possess my cousin. She shook her head.

"Your parents would still be alive if your father hadn't acted so rashly," he said firmly. "He was an idiot. Your mother died because you had no idea what was happening. She didn't blame you. Before she died she told me to take care of you. Protect you. And I failed."

She swallowed, trying to force the lump down that was starting to develop in her throat.

"You and the other women in our family share two things in common. Two things that have always gone against you. I should have told you before. Prepared you," he said. He paused for a moment, meeting her eyes. "Your power and love."

Gretchen looked at him startled. Jethro shifted his stance.

"There are always two who come for you. Two men drawn or bound by fate. One, your soulmate. The other, a rejected suitor. The history goes way back. A legend. An evil man, a killer, his dark soul and possessive nature always searches for her, for you. He kills anyone in his way and does whatever he has to do even going so far as killing her if he can't have her."

Gretchen gulped. That almost sounded like Michael. She could see him killing anyone he thought was a threat keeping her from him. Hell, she could even imagine him killing any previous boyfriend she had if she told him about any other man she'd been romantically involved with. Maybe he would have killed Brandon's parents. Would have, but he didn't. He was possessive. He was a killer. And to the rest of the world, he was evil.

And he would never kill you.

"We have had an entire branch of the family killed off when they interfered. Your father and I grew up being told if we had a girl it would be better to let her die. Let your visions drive you to madness because it was a better death than what awaited you if he ever got to you. Your soulmate never has a chance against this man. But then you were born. Your mother refused to believe that the things we were told were completely true. People have reasons to lie and manipulate the truth. So we went against the family rule. We weren't sure what they would do if they found out, so we worked hard to keep it a secret. That's why we didn't tell you anything then. You were a kid. You didn't have a filter. And, I didn't tell you anything after your parents died because I was unsure."

Jethro ran his fingers through his hair looking uneasy. "Honestly, I thought it was just going to be visions. No one mentioned you could do anything else, not even-" He paused and shook his head. "I'll get to her in a moment. You scared me. I will admit, I did worry that maybe the family was right and I'd fucked up. What you do isn't natural. And in the wrong hands-"

"Wrong hands?"

Jethro turned away. He picked up his briefcase and set it on the bed. Opening it, he placed his hand on a paper. He froze as if he was rethinking his movements. With a sigh, he pulled it out and handed it to her.

It was old and severally creased as if someone had crumpled it up and tried to throw it away multiple times.

"Michael," Gretchen said softly as she looked at the drawing on the page. It was just his mask with a hint of his neck. Not much detail and rather simplistic, compared to the one she had drawn over a week ago. Not that his mask had much detail to being with. One of the drawings she'd made when she was a kid, apparently.

No eyes. I guess I needed to see them first.

"When you drew that, Michael was in the news. Your father asked about him but you refused to answer. He thought you were afraid. Michael was out there somewhere and your father was worried he'd show up any day to take you away despite your age. I think." Jethro paused. "I'm not entirely sure. But I think you may have shown your father you could do more than have visions because he started getting scared of you. I didn't understand it at the time. But he spent more time with you than your mother did."

She nodded. She knew in typical households it was the father who was always gone. In her case, it was her mother. But, if she did show she could do more, she didn't remember it.

"The reason why your mother was gone so much was because she was looking for something to help you," Jethro continued as if he read her mind. "Her family disowned her when she showed her interest in the occult as a kid. Very Christian. It was a taboo subject in her house. She came here fearing for her life when she refused to change her mind. When she had you, well it just confirmed what she believed. She delved into that world looking for a way to help you. And she did. She found that herb that you were taking."

She frowned. Were? For some reason, her brain picked up on that word.

"Even though she found it, she didn't want you to permanently take it. She saw it as a tool to help dampen your powers. To help you learn to better control them. Your visions. But your father wanted a more permanent solution. I'm not trying to get you to hate your father. He was flawed and scared. He attacked you because he feared what would happen to you if you were taken. Having kids with a killer? Damn idiot. But, he started to think we were dooming the world." Jethro let out a deep sigh.

"I should have seen it coming. It makes sense. You can see future events although you can't control them. But, what if you could? What if he forced you to help him, make sure he was never caught. The world would never be safe from him."

If that were true, I would have been able to save him. I would have seen his death coming, she thought. She clenched her jaw. All she saw was a mark that was supposed to be on her face. A mark that was now gone whenever she looked in the mirror.

Jethro pulled out a book from his suitcase and handed it to her. She frowned as she took it from him.

"The family has kept items belonging to each of the women. Mementos. Warnings. When your parents died I dug in deep, searching for all the information I could about them, about you. Gwyneth's diary. She was born at some point in the 1600s. A lot like you. Very sweet, very optimistic, and completely in love."

Gretchen carefully opened the book.

"It's a copy. I have the original safely stored at home," he reassured her. "She's the only one, other than you, who managed to live into their twenties. She was twenty-one before she was killed." He paused and moved to stand by her side and look out the window. "There was only one witness who recounted the tale. Her brother. He ultimately died from his wounds a year later. The family had been looking for her. She went missing five years prior. They knew who had her. A man who was known in the area as a merciless killer. Ruthless. Uncaring. The people feared him. He was the wrong man. By the time they found her she didn't want to go back with them. We call it Stockholm syndrome now. Of course, they didn't know it at the time."

Gretchen rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure why.

"Her brother claimed, that when it was clear she was going to go back with her family her husband, I guess you can say lost his shit. Her family had brought a group with them to help bring her back and he turned them into a mob. Claiming she was a witch. Her brother tried to stop them, but a mob did what a mob did best and burned her as a witch. From there it was apparently a bloodbath."

Gretchen gulped. Her skin prickled as she felt heat wrap around her body. A woman's pained-filled scream echoed in her mind. Her own of her past life? That would explain the rush of past images she had gone through when she was losing her mind. Screams, and voices of people she knew but didn't know.

"Huh," she said. She stared at the book. It would be interesting to read the woman's words. Was she taken against her will? Did she suffer from Stockholm syndrome? Or was this evil man the one she realized she was supposed to be with?

"I have a feeling," Jethro said, interrupting her thoughts. "That you'll find some things in common with her."

Stockholm syndrome? "As in-"

"As in history and the stories we're told are written by the survivors. When you told me you were going to stay with Michael I decided to look back at her diary. I had it in my head, going in the first time I read it, that she probably had Stockholm syndrome."

"Now?"

He didn't answer, studying her for a moment. "Now I think we have a lot more to talk through. A lot more to figure out." He stuck his hand into his pant pocket and pulled out his keys, handing them to her.

She took them, giving him a look of confusion.

"I've left a condensed version of our family history along with some possibly relevant items in the car. I took you off that damned herb the moment I got here. But, it might take a bit to leave your system."

Her eyes widened with surprise.

"I know he's not Nathan. The last time you went off that herb you had a vision when you were alone with Nathan. He told me why you attacked him. You almost killed him, but it wasn't him you were fighting. You told him he wasn't who he claimed to be. I think you told him other things. Things he didn't want to tell me. He just wanted me to know that at some point he might not be himself. Whoever that is, I know he's not Nathan. You're not safe here. Not with him around. You need to get stronger. Figure out how to use your powers. I'm sorry I stifled you. I shouldn't have. Should have really embraced who you are like your mother wanted us to. But we can't go back in time. I'm going to start correcting my mistakes. And the first thing is getting you out of here and away from him."

"But-"

"No, Gretchen," he said firmly, shaking his head. "I fucked up. I fucked up big time. He may have threatened my life to make you compliant, but I'm a grown man. You don't need to protect me. I can handle myself."

She slammed into him as she hugged him, causing him to gasp at the force she used. He squeezed her for a brief moment before pushing her back.

"Okay, we need to go. He'll be back soon. I want you at least out of this building before he returns. I parked the car by the front door. As close as possible."

She nodded her head. She gave him one last quick hug before the two of them walked out of the room.

"I thought you were up to something," Brandon drawled the moment they stepped into the hallway. Both of them froze. Brandon leaned against the far wall. His eyes focused on Gretchen. Jethro stepped in front of her and squared his shoulders.

"We're going on a walk. Just the two of us. We have a lot we need to talk about," he said.

"Sounds good, pops. I'll join ya. I think I need to learn more about our family history anyway," he said as he pushed off the wall. He flashed Jethro the most Brandon of smiles. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two officers move in. Her heart picked up.

Brandon dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes with a loud thud onto the hallway. His hand pressed against his cheek as he shook his head.

"Gretchen! Go!" Jethro shouted. He'd surprised Brandon with a rather hard punch, apparently.

Don't die. Her flight instincts kicked in. She ran. As much as she wanted to stay and fight. As much as she wanted to kick Brandon's ass, she wasn't strong enough. The haziness in her mind was still there, although it had let up a little bit. Not enough, still need more time. She could only hope and pray that he wouldn't kill her uncle in revenge. Hope that Nathan would be able to keep his father relatively safe.

"Gretchen! Get back here!" Brandon shouted.

She didn't look back, turning down the first hall she came across.

"Hey!" Two more officers ran at her from that end of the hallway. She spun around and ran. The elevator door dinged as it opened. An invitation to get inside. She threw her body at the door to the stairway. Using the elevator was an extremely bad idea. They could stop it and trap her.

Car. Car.

She flew down the stairs, practically running into a man. His fingers grabbed at her, but she pushed away, somehow slipping by. Her mind focused on one thing. Freedom. She just needed to find her uncle's car and then just drive. Where? Didn't matter. She didn't have time to think about that. She just needed to get away.

"Get back here you, bitch!" A man yelled down from the floor she came from.

Yeah, because that will get me running back to you.

Somehow, she managed to reach the bottom floor without tripping or falling, despite having skipped as many steps as possible. To her amusement, one of the officers wasn't so lucky as she heard him cry out and fall down a set of stairs.

One down, who knows how many more to go.

Gretchen threw open the main floor door and rushed into the main hallway. Her eyes spotted Dr. Loomis, who sat in his wheelchair by the front desk. Michael's mask, in an evidence bag, was set on his lap. She so desperately wanted to grab it and take it with her.

No. She needed to focus. She'd think about Michael later. Front door! Car! Dr. Loomis couldn't stop her.

A body slammed into hers, dropping her onto the ground. Her world went black for a brief moment as her head exploded with pain. Her whole body cried out with pain. She groaned as she tried to get her mind to focus again.

"Yeah, that's not happening," a man growled. Hands grabbed her as they tried to stop her from fighting back.

Fight.

She weakly struggled against him. Her mind and body did their best to recuperate from the tackle. Another set of hands joined the first, lifting her to her feet. Clothing wrapped around her arms, making her frown.

No. They were putting a straitjacket on her.

"Let me go," she screamed as she kicked her legs out and rolled her body in an attempt to get away. Perhaps slip under the jacket before it was fully on.

"This is for your own good," one of the men said.

She was too late. The two men tightened the straps of the straitjacket, forcing her arms to wrap around her. Her skin grew hot as rage brewed inside of her. They had no right to touch her. No right to confine her. She wasn't under arrest. She shouldn't even have had to run in the first place. But that son of a bitch wouldn't let her go.

Gretchen screamed in anger, demanding her head clear. Fuck them. Fuck the world. She glared at one of the men. She recognized him. He was part of the group who came to her home and killed Michael.

"Fuck you. Suffer a-" A cloth was pushed into her mouth and the man quickly clamped his hand over it. She couldn't spit it out. That was the bad thing about her power. She needed to speak. Hot tears streamed down her face.

"Stop fighting you stupid, bitch. Hey! Get something to calm her down. Now!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a female nurse run toward her with a needle.

No. If they knocked her out, there was no telling where she would end up. The men were clearly working with Brandon. There was no way they weren't. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what she could do. There was no exit, no escape. She'd tried. She'd failed.

The world around her seemed to slow down as if she were in a movie. Her heart went from rapid pounding to more steady beats as her eyes landed on him.

Michael.

Nobody noticed him. But then again, how would they? He was a ghost after all. She knew that. But, he made her feel more at peace with whatever fate had in store for her. He'd be there, giving her his ghostly strength.

Her eyes stung with tears. Perhaps this was a good thing. Him being a ghost. Michael could have a one on one with Brandon now that they were on equal grounds. She would rather Michael haunt her than Brandon. And Michael would win, without a doubt. He was a killer in life, he would be a killer in death too.

Her fingers itched to run through his short brown hair again. Gods. He wasn't wearing his mask! He wasn't wearing it because it had been taken from him before he was killed. He still wore his same old clothes, dark patches stained his coveralls. Blood? Probably. His right hand clutched his butcher's knife with blood dripping down the blade and landing on the floor. Could the ghost hurt flesh and blood? He could probably possess someone. If Brandon could do it so could Michael.

The female nurse stepped into view and in front of Michael's ghost.

Gretchen watched as his big hand reached out. This next part was going to suck. Her heart dropped as she fought the tears from spilling, still struggling against the two men who held her. She was going to have to watch him realize he couldn't hurt anyone. At least, not yet.

The woman let out a startled cry as she was pulled back. Michael spun her around and then lifted her up by her throat and buried his knife into her chest. She let out a cry of pain and surprise. Everyone froze. Pulling the knife back out, he slammed it back into the nurse. Her body went slack.

Michael callously tossed her body to one side. She landed with a loud thud on the ground.

"Oh shit," one of the men said.

Gretchen's eyes widened. Michael stared at the nurse's body for a moment, cocking his head just a little. Then he raised his gaze and locked eyes with her.

Let the world bleed.

Chapter 44 - Halloween

[krispyweiss]

Roger McGuinn at Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio, Aug. 22, 2023

There’s no need for Roger McGuinn to write a book. His Songs and Stories With … tour is his autobiography. And hearing the man speak and sing about his incredible life and career is much more enjoyable than reading about it anyway.

As the jangle of an electric guitar playing the Byrds’ arrangement of “My Back Pages” filled the hall - “My ‘My Way,’” McGuinn called it - he walked on stage, stepped to a mic and began to sing. At 81, McGuinn’s voice betrayed some fragility at various points during his two-set, 110-minute performance inside Newark, Ohio’s, three-quarters-full Midland Theatre. But he still plays and sings like a Byrd.

After the opener, McGuinn, dressed in all black save for a red feather in his fedora, took a seat and, surrounded by a banjo, 12- and six-string acoustic guitars, his trusty electric Rickenbacker and tropical plants, proceeded to tell his life’s story. And the concert had the arc of a book, beginning with his childhood in Chicago where he first heard “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” - snippets of which he played - before he went to the Old Town School of Folk Music and got turned on to Bob Gibson and Lead Belly, leading McGuinn to offer full versions of “Daddy Roll ’Em” and “On Easter Morn’ He Rose.”

A teenaged McGuinn then met Pete Seeger, from whom he learned “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” played on electric, and “Rolling Down to Old Maui,” rendered acoustically. He was hired by the Limeliters, met David Crosby in California and Joan Baez (“Virgin Mary”) in New York. He traveled to South America and was inspired to write what would become the bridge of “Chestnut Mare” while sitting on a cliff and eventually went to work for Bobby Darin in Las Vegas - McGuinn was there when Darin discovered Wayne Newton. This was all before McGuinn met Peter Fonda, which prompted “The Ballad of Easy Rider.”

McGuinn wrapped the first set with “I Wasn’t Born to Follow” and “Mr. Spaceman.” He opened set two the way he’d opened the gig, with the sounds of “So You Want to be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star” announcing his arrival and “Lover of the Bayou” following. And despite any wear and tear on his vocal cords, the McGuinn of 2023 is smoother than the raspy McGuinn of 1970’s (Untitled).

From here, McGuinn’s storytelling turned nonlinear as he talked about his friendship with Tom Petty (“King of the Hill”); touring Europe with him and Bob Dylan (a singalong “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”); and the shenanigans of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder trek. It was here that McGuinn got permission to record Joni Mitchell’s “Dreamland,” also performed, and was inspired to write “Jolly Roger” by the pirate-like nature of the cross-country escapade in a retrofitted Greyhound bus borrowed from Frank Zappa

McGuinn plucked the banjo on “Old Blue” and recalled working in the Brill Building and nicking the Beach Boys to write and record “Beach Ball” with the the City Surfers, featuring the Bee Gees on background vocals. He then went on to explain how the Byrds ripped off the Beatles not only in their name but by taking the latter’s idea of using folk chords in rock music and - sampling “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to demonstrate - as inspiration for creating folk-rock with songs like “The Water is Wide” and “You Showed Me.”

The Byrd was as enthusiastic as a small child with a new toy when he talked about reconnecting with Crosby and joining forces with Gene Clark, Michael Clarke and Chris Hillman; meeting the Beatles and the Stones in England; and serving as the opening act for Hoyt Axton, whose mother wrote the aforementioned “Heartbreak Hotel,” thus bringing the story full circle.

The set proper closed with McGuinn showing off his substantial lead-guitar chops on a lengthy acoustic rendering of “Eight Miles High,” before he walked off without a word. He walked back on without a word, preceded again by the telltale jangle, and performed “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better,” “She Don’t Care about Time” and “May the Road Rise to Meet You” while standing at the off-center mic.

Including parts or all of 30 songs in total, the set and its stories left even the most knowledgable McGuinn fans even more so. And no one left a stranger.

Grade card: Roger McGuinn at Midland Theatre - 8/22/23 - A-

8/23/23

[shotattheshow]

[TOUR] King Diamond announces North American dates with Overkill

For the first time in five years, metal legend King Diamond is hitting the road, embarking on a 35-date North American tour aptly titled Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920.

Set in a 1920s mental institution, the brand new stage show is based on The Institute, King Diamond’s forthcoming double LP in 2025, and promises to be the Mercyful Fate frontman’s most elaborate production to date. The new music tells a horror concept story, and the accompanying onstage visuals are guaranteed to rock and shock in equal measure.

“We have been busy putting this ever-growing horror story together, and it’s still growing,” said King Diamond in a statement. “I know the end of it, but how we will get there will be a long trip. There are so many characters, and so many unexpected things along this journey.

“There will be some horrific surprises taking place on stage, but we are not to be held responsible since we are on a whole different timeline in 1920. It was back at the time when medicine was going through a dark period with lots of testing on human beings in order to progress medicine. This is Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, also known as The Institute, enter if you dare!”

Joining the King are New Jersey thrashers Overkill and Ventura, California power trio Night Demon. Additionally, Danish solo black metal artist Myrkur will provide backing vocals and play the organ on select songs throughout the night

The tour kicks off October 15 in San Antonio and finishes in the Lone Star State in Dallas on December 6. Full tour dates are below:

October 15 - Boeing Center at Tech Port. - San Antonio, TX

October 16 - Bayou Music Center - Houston, TX

October 18 - Andrew J Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH

October 19 - The Factory - St. Louis, MO

October 20 - The Midland Theater - Kansas City, MO

October 22 - Murat Theatre At Old National Center - Indianapolis, IN

October 23 - The Louisville Palace Theatre - Louisville, KY

October 25 - The Eastern - Atlanta, GA

October 26 - Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater - St. Petersburg, FL

October 28 - The Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD

October 30 - Kings Theater - Brooklyn, NY

October 31 - Roadrunner - Boston, MA *

November 02 - MTelus - Montreal, QC

November 03 - The Theatre At Great Canadian - Mississauga, ON

November 04 - The Masonic Temple - Detroit, MI

November 06 - The Agora Theatre & Ballroom - Cleveland, OH

November 07 - The Chicago Theatre - Chicago, IL

November 08 - The Riverside Theater - Milwaukee, WI

November 10 - The Fillmore - Minneapolis, MN

November 11 - Vibrant Music Hall - Waukee, IA

November 14 - Mission Ballroom - Denver, CO

November 16 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT

November 18 - Orpheum - Vancouver, BC

November 20 - Edmonton Convention Center - Edmonton, AB

November 21 - TCU Place - Saskatoon, SK

November 22 - Grey Eagle Resort And Casino - Calgary, AB

November 24 - Keller Auditorium - Portland, OR

November 25 - Moore Theater - Seattle, WA

November 27 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA

November 29 - YouTube Theater - Los Angeles, CA

November 30 - The Theater At Virgin Hotels - Las Vegas, NV

December 01 - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre - San Diego, CA

December 02 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ

December 04 - REVEL - Albuquerque, NM

December 06 - The Factory In Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX

* No OVERKILL

Tickets go on artist presale Wednesday, July 31 at 10 a.m. EST, and on general sale Friday, August 2 at 10 a.m. local time. For tickets, go to kingdiamondcoven.com

[lboogie1906]

Chief Petty Officer Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. (November 4, 1889 - November 23, 1987) Composer, conductor, and flutist was born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Jacob Henry Adams, a carpenter, and Petrina Evangeline Dinzey, a seamstress.

His early education was at the Moravian Town School. He studied his subjects in both English and Dutch Creole. Most of his missionary teachers were artisans. He became section leader and soloist with the St. Thomas Municipal Band and was in the island’s first Carnival Parade. He played the piccolo and flute in the parade. He traveled back and forth by ferry to neighboring Christiansted, where he was the music editor of the St. Croix Herald.

He married Ella Joseph (1917). They had seven children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He joined the Navy and became the first African American to be a bandmaster for a Navy band. He founded and led an all-Black ensemble that performed classical music, ballads, and the blues.

He moved to Philadelphia, where he studied at the University of Pennsylvania. He studied at the School of Music Theory at Carnegie Hall. He received a BA in Music from the Chicago University Extension Conservatory.

His compositions included “Warbling in the Moonlight” for flute/ piccolo and orchestra, “Doux Rêve d ‘Amour” for piano, as well as “Sweet Virgin Isles,” “Bull Passin,” “Ingolf March,” “Spirit of the U.S.N.,” and “Caribbean Echoes”. His “The Governor’s Own” and the “Virgin Islands March,” are his compositions that were most performed. The latter was and remains popular in the Virgin Islands and in communities where Virgin Islanders settled.

He was an entrepreneur. He was a charter member of the Virgin Islands Hotel Association and served as its president. He converted his home into a thriving guest house and remained there until he retired from active performing in 1971.

Fisk University celebrated him by awarding him an Honorary Doctor of Human Letters. The Virgin Islands Fifteenth Legislature awarded him the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[recentlyheardcom]

A Mariah Carey Christmas Pop-Up Bar Is Coming to New Orleans

Halloween is over, which means one thing: It’s officially Mariah Carey season. This year, the Queen of Christmas and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” hitmaker is teaming up with Virgin Hotels for a one-of-a-kind holiday pop-up bar, and it’s coming to New Orleans. From Friday, November 15 through Sunday, December 29, Virgin Hotels New Orleans — as well as Virgin Hotels in Chicago, Dallas,…