#adam brice

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Australian lace-lid. Location: Mossman, Queensland.

Photograph: Adam Brice

[ghostlyarchaeologist]

"It's a new project. Top priority. Come on, let's go."

The Ark S01E04 We Weren't Supposed to Be Awake

[salfrelick]

when rhys hits a grand slam vs the franchise he owns, what do you do?

pose for the camera, of course!

[dare-g]

The Overnight (2015)

[bellarkeselection]

Has anyone else started watching this series called The Ark because I just started watching it and it reminds me of The 100

Should I write a book about the series???

[nordleuchten]

What was Lafayette's opinions on slavery? Sorry if this has been asked before ^^

Dear Anon,

excellent question! And please, never be sorry to ask anything. :-) While something like this has already been asked, I needed to update the post anyway.

The short answer is, La Fayette was decidedly opposed to the concept of slavery. But, just like with many white men of influence at that time – the matter was not quite that simple.

La Fayette had his first real exposure to the concept of slavery during his first visit to America. He soon could not quite understand how a people, fighting for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness could keep other people in bondage. He furthermore witnessed first hand the bravery, ingenuity, cleverness and determination of enslaved people – one notable person here is James Armistead, later James Armistead Lafayette. When the state of Virginia refused to grant James his freedom after the end of the Revolutionary War, La Fayette used the full weight of his name to aide James, who rendered an invaluable service to La Fayette by spying for him on the British. The two men would later meet again during La Fayette’s tour to America 1824/25.

Back home in France with free time on his hand La Fayette wanted actions to follow his words. He wanted to show everybody that it was possible to abolish slavery – gradually at least. He wanted to purchase a plantation and a number of enslaved individuals and then teach them everything they needed to know – in his opinion at least, to be freed. He told Washington (and a number of other people) about his idea and tried to enlist his aide. In general, La Fayette often discussed the matter of slavery with Washington, who owned quite a number of enslaved individuals himself, and even tried to convince him of freeing all these men and women. La Fayette hoped that Washington’s greater than life reputation would convince other people to do so as well. Washington’s reputation and great name were also surely among the reasons why La Fayette wanted his help with regard to his plantation-project. He wrote the following in a letter to Washington on February 5, 1783:

Now, My dear General, that You are Going to Enjoy some Ease and Quiet, Permit me to propose a plan tot you Which Might Become Greatly Beneficial to the Black part of Mankind—Let us Unite in Purchasing a small Estate Where We May try the Experiment to free the Negroes, and Use them only as tenants—Such an Example as Yours Might Render it a General Practice, and if We succeed in America, I Will chearfully devote a part of My time to Render the Method fascionable in the West indias—if it Be a Wild scheme, I Had Rather Be Mad that Way, than to Be thought Wise on the other tack.

“To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 February 1783,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (01/25/2023)

For the next three years, not, much was happening – until La Fayette wrote Washington again on July 14, 1785:

You Remember an idea which I imparted to you three years ago—I am Going to try it in the french Colony of Cayenne—But will write more fully on the Subject in my other letters.

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 14 July 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 3, 19 May 1785 – 31 March 1786, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 120–121.] (01/25/2023)

He wrote again to Washington on February 6, 1786:

(…) an other Secret I intrust to you, my dear General, is that I Have purchased for Hundred And twenty five thousand French livres a plantation in the Colony of Cayenne and am going to free my Negroes in order to Make that Experiment which you know is My Hobby Horse.

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 6 February 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 3, 19 May 1785 – 31 March 1786, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 538–547.] (01/25/2023)

La Fayette had instructed his attorney to buy property in French Guiana in a letter on June 7, 1785 with the condition that he would “neither sell nor exchange any black.“ The 125.000 Livre he paid translate roughly to 1.250.000 modern US Dollar. The plantation was named La Belle Gabrielle and was the “home” of just under seventy individuals between the ages of a few months and 59 years (I have sadly never seen a more precise number). The Administer of the plantation, a Monsieur de Geneste, send La Fayette a list with the names, ages, and descriptions of these people. Here is the first page of his report.

Intendant L. de Geneste. “List of Negro Slaves Selected by Daniel Lescallier” for Lafayette’s Experimental Plantation. March 1, 1789, La Fayette: Citizen of Two Worlds, Cornell University. (01/25/2023)

La Belle Gabrielle was a clove and cinnamon plantation and after La Fayette bought the property, he employed the following changes. The people there were paid, given free time and days off and an education. Furthermore, the severity of their punishments was toned down to resemble the punishment that any free white labourer would face under similar circumstances. He soon bought additional property because La Belle Gabrielle did not sustain itself, since the production was switched to less labour intensive and less profitable crops. When the French Revolution really hit it off in 1789, La Fayette had less and less time to spend on his “hobby horse” as he called it. His wife Adrienne, who was involved from the begin, took over and managed now most of the plantation’s affairs. Adrienne was a very religious person and the moral and religious education of the people on the plantation was for her of great importance. Shee corresponded regularly with Miolas Jacquemin, a missionary who lived in a settlement of missionaries close by the plantation. It seems as though he not only reported to her what was happening on the plantation but that he and his fellow missionaries also coordinated the religious education of the people there.

In 1792, when the National Convention called for La Fayette’s arrest and he was captured by the Prussians, his properties were sold, including his plantation. His improvements on the plantations were revoked. In February of 1794 the Convention abolished slavery and French Guiana was actually one of the places that was reached by the new law while in many French colonies things continued like they were despite the new law. Furthermore, French Guiana was one of the few places that did not see a lot of violent upheaval during this time – something La Fayette later in life took great comfort in.

Jules Germain Cloquet wrote about this whole endeavour:

But he was not content with sterile wishes; and on his return to France, flattering himself, like Turgot and Poivre, that the gradual emancipation of the negroes might be conciliated with the personal interests of the colonists, he was desirous of establishing the fact by experience, and for that purpose he tried a special experiment, on a scale sufficiently large to put the question to the test. At that period, the intendant of Cayenne was a man of skill, probity, and experience, named Lescalier, whose opinions on the subject coincided with those of Lafayette. Marshal de Castries, the minister of the marine, not only consented to the experiment, but determined to aid it by permitting Lescalier to try upon the king's negroes the scheme for a new system. Lafayette had at first devoted 100,000 francs to this object: he confided the management of the residence which he had purchased at Cayenne to a man distinguished for philosophy and talent named Richeprey, who generously devoted himself to the direction of the experiment. The seminarists established in the colony, and above all the Abbé Farjon, the curate of it applauded and encouraged the measure. It is but justice to the colonists of Cayenne to say, that the negroes had been treated with more humanity there than elsewhere.

Richeprey’s six months’ stay there, and the example set by him before he fell a victim to the climate, contributed still further to assuage their lot. Larochefoucauld was to purchase another plantation as soon as Richeprey’s establishment had met with some success, and a third was afterwards to be bought by Malesherbes, who took a cordial interest in the plan. The untimely death of Richeprey, the difficulty of replacing such a man, the departure of the intendant, and a change in the ministry, threw obstacles in the way of this noble undertaking. When Lafayette had been proscribed in 1792, the National Convention confiscated all his property, and ordered his negroes to be sold at Cayenne, in spite of the remonstrances of Lafayette, who protested against the sale, observing that the negroes had been purchased only to be restored to liberty after their instruction, and not to be again sold as objects of trade and speculation. At a later period, all the negroes of the French colonies were declared free by a decree of the National Convention. It is nevertheless remarkable, that some of Lafayette’s plans with regard to slave emancipation were realized: Cayenne, the only one of our colonies in which the example set by him of instructing the negroes had been followed, was also the only colony in which no disorders took place. Urged by gratitude, the negroes of his plantation declared to Richeprey’s successor that if Lafayette’s property was confiscated they would avail themselves of their liberty, but that in the opposite case they would remain and continue to cultivate his estate. Lafayette was desirous of emancipating the negroes only by degrees and in proportion as their moral intellectual education rendered them worthy of freedom. He foresaw all the inconveniences that might the sudden emancipation of a people debased by slavery, and the dangers that must follow their transition from a state of brutal degradation to one entire liberty, - a state that must prove to them more than one of unbridled licentiousness, of despotism would artfully take advantage, as of a weapon, first to establish, and next to justify sway. For man, in fact, there are moral as well physical transitions. The prisoner enfeebled by a confinement in dark dungeons cannot, without danger, be suddenly restored to the light of day. The slave, like manner is, fitted to enjoy liberty only after enlightenment as to the privileges which it confers, duties which it imposes, and the limits prescribed to by reason and justice. But, in Lafayette’s opinion, the greater the difficulties that impeded the abolition of slavery, the more energetic should be the zeal, the more persevering the efforts, of the genuine to obtain so honourable a result; and he saw with pain that paltry considerations of interest paralysed the hearts of some who might have given a impulse to negro emancipation.

Jules Germain Cloquet, Recollections of the Private Life of General Lafayette, Baldwin and Cradock, London, 1835, pp. 152-154.

Even after this failed project and his personal hardships, he continued to be outspoken. He was a member of several manumission societies and corresponded with abolitionists all around the world. He and his wife Adrienne joined the Society of the Friends of Blacks right when it was founded in 1788. He was unanimously named a member of the Society for the Emancipation of the Blacks. He was also Vice-President of the Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America. His last known letter was written to an abolitionist society in Glasgow. Interestingly, one of the few letter we have written by La Fayette to his daughters and daughters-in-law talks about slavery:

(…) there [Florida and Louisiana] is only one point to which I decidedly cannot resign myself: that is slavery, and the anti-Black prejudices. I believe that in this respect my travel might have been useful. The fact that I asked to meet with colored men who fought on January 8 was another proof of what I am preaching continuously, not for the beauty of it, but in order to bring gradual healing.

Lafayette. Letter to his Daughters and Grand-daughters. New Orleans, April 15, 1825, La Fayette: Citizen of Two Worlds, Cornell University. (01/25/2023)

La Fayette was praised and quoted by many abolitionists that came after him, Frederick Douglass quoted letters between George Washington and La Fayette in relation to the plantation in Cayenne in his news paper. Senator Charles Sumner famously quoted a letter by La Fayette to John Adams from February 22, 1786:

(…) in the Cause of My Black Brethren I feel Myself Warmly interested, and Most decidedly Side, so far as Respects them, Against the White part of Mankind— Whatever Be the Complexion of the Enslaved, it does not, in my opinion, Alter the Complexion of the Crime Which the Enslaver Commits, a Crime Much Blaker than Any Affrican face— it is to me a Matter of Great Anxiety and Concern to find that this trade is Some times perpetrated under the flag of liberty, our dear and Noble Stripes, to which Virtue and Glory Have Been Constant Standard Bearers—

“To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 22 February 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 18, December 1785–January 1787, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Sara Martin, C. James Taylor, Sara Georgini, Hobson Woodward, Sara B. Sikes, Amanda M. Norton. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016, pp. 182–183.] (01/25/2023)

Most notable is perhaps this quote from La Fayette:

Digital Commonwealth: Massachusetts Collections Online, Boston Public Library, Anti-Slavery (Collection of Distinction) (01/25/2023)

I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery.

The British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson claimed that La Fayette wrote the above quote in a letter to him. This quote was printed on broadsides as seen above and distributed in America, mainly in New England I think. While it can be debated if La Fayette really said it like this, the publication of the broadsides had an enormous impact.

We could conclude the matter here and agree that La Fayette really meant well, he was opposed to slavery and earnestly wanted to do something. Were all of his believes as enlightened as he might have wanted them to be? Definitely not! Could some of his measures have been more thoughtful, more effective - in simple term “better”? Certainly! But La Fayette tried, and he meant well – while meaning well is still far cray from doing the right thing, it is still something.

We however, have to talk about two further aspects, something that some contemporary books often like to gloss over, because it is not quite that pretty and simple.

There is this letter from Henry Laurens to La Fayette, dated October 23, 1777:

I have not seen the french Gentleman who did me the honour to bring your Letter, but will enquire of your black Servant where he may be found & you may depend upon me Sir to attempt, at least, to Serve him, nor shall the Subject concerning Mr. De Valfort depart from my mind.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, pp. 126-128.

The “black Servant” that Laurens refers to was an enslaved man that La Fayette’s aide-de-camp Edmund Brice purchased for 180 Pounds on August 4, 1777. We no neither the name of the men, his age, nor his fate. This is the only reference that we find in La Fayette’s papers and it is hard to say what happened to the man. From context is fair to say that he probably was not long with La Fayette.

Then there is another matter, proposed by La Fayette in a letter. Take the following summary with a grain of salt, since I have only read the letter once and that was in a rush. The letter was in relation to the Canada expedition – the expedition was chronically underfunded and there was supposedly private property that had been confiscated, among the property were a number of enslaved individuals. La Fayette proposed that in selling these individuals, enough money could be raised. The expedition was aborted in the end and La Fayette never again came up with such ideas, so I like to think that he learned his lesson there.

This turned into a rather long post, but I think that this topic needs an in-depth discussion, especially since La Fayette tends to be put on a pedestal in some representations. As I already said, he meant well and had the best of intentions, even more so as he grew older, and he was determined to do something instead of twiddling his thumbs and his influence certainly helped the cause. He saw slavery as an evil that needed to be abolished. But we also have to see the wider picture and realize that he was an imperfect man with a fair amount of flaws.

[graphicpolicy]

Census from Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Sebastián Piriz, and Bernardo Brice gets collected in January 2024

Census from Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Sebastián Piriz, and Bernardo Brice gets collected in January 2024 #comics #comicbooks

Dark Horse Comics will bring Census, a supernatural horror comedy, co-written by Eisner award-nominated writer, TV producer and podcaster Marc Bernardin and writer, TV producer and director Adam Freeman with art and colors by Sebastián Piriz, and lettering by Bernardo Brice— to print for the first time in January 2024. To get the job of a lifetime, sometimes you have to sell your soul.…

[baseballjerseynumbers]

Spring Training:

Zach McAllister assigned 22

Ali Sánchez assigned 41

Jeurys Familia assigned 43

Austin Adams assigned 55

Juan Centeno assigned 56

Stefan Crichton assigned 58

Ryan Hendrix assigned 68

Austin Brice assigned 70

Phillip Evans assigned 86

Peter Solomon assigned 89

Yairo Muñoz assigned 95

P.J. Higgins assigned 96

[herpsandbirds]

Children’s ("Stimson's") Python (Antaresia childreni), juvenile, family Pythonidae, Port Hedland region of the Pilbara, Western Australia

This population was formerly referred to as Stimson’s Python, but they are no longer considered to be a distinct subspecies. No subspecies are currently recognized for Children’s Python.

Some people do though consider Stimson's to be a distinct species, A. stimsoni.

photograph by Adam Brice

Is there anyone with a good knowledge of these snakes that could give us an opinion on the status of Stimson's Pythons?

[hamiltonaf]

One Night Stand | Kylian Mbappé

Pairing: Kylian Mbappé x Female Reader

Requested: Anonymous

Word Count: 3.3K

Warnings: Infidelity / Cursing / Angst but turns into fluff

A/N: Hello loves, apologies for posting this requested after weeks…I’ve been away on holiday for a while and the jet lag is killing me. Sorry I got carried away with writing this. Also, I’m not forgiving when it comes to cheating, but for the request…the reader has a forgiving heart. Anywho, enjoy .xoxo

Summer break seemed to have a bug outbreak that every footballer was either already in the USA or were on their way. Kylian insisted that we should travel to Miami but unfortunately the timing wasn’t right for me to tag along with him since I had 2 final exams. However, the best part about being done with my exams is not the freedom itself, but it was my birthday.

I usually don’t enjoy celebrating birthdays, nothing is that exciting about getting older each year, but I do look forward to spending time with my loved ones, also not gonna lie that I appreciate the love from everyone.

I studied well in advance for these exams so I wasn’t too stressed out. The week of the exams I just spent my time revising and gosh I couldn’t wait to be over and done with it all.

Besides the anxiety that I was hiding, I was quite annoyed and bothered from the fight Kylian and I had just before he left to Miami. He tried to convince me to spend my birthday in Miami, which as lovely as it sounds I wasn’t feeling it this year. I wanted to spend my birthday casually with family and friends, basically a get together without the formality of it being a party.

It would’ve been a bonus for me to go to Miami with him because besides celebrating my birthday, beforehand Kylian had a party at the Hamptons to attend which was hosted by Michael Rubin. Sounds incredible but unfortunately the Hamptons party fell on the day of my last exam and the next day is my birthday. The dates were clashing and it just wasn’t working out so we both ended up arguing.

Basically the math wasn’t mathing for me to go. In the end of it, Kylian said that he’d be here for my birthday and he’d instead take Brice as his plus one for the Hamptons party. I was okay with it but low-key I was disappointed that he was so adamant on going to this party. I get that it’s an A-list celebrity party, but I mean he goes for those kind of events all the time, what was it for him to miss this one ? I tried to put myself into his shoes and understood that he really needed a break from this season so he deserved a holiday, but the other side of me wanted to spend the holiday with him.

Even though we got through our differences, the tension was still in the air since he left a few days early. From the looks of paparazzi pictures on social media, he seemed to have the time of his life away. I hated that I couldn’t stop myself from reading the comments under his papped pictures.

“Where’s his girlfriend, (Y/N) ?”

“Isn’t (Y/N)’s bday coming up ?”

“Did Ky and (Y/N/N) break up ?”

“I would’ve expected his gf to be with him during the break, we barely see them together in public :(“

Our conversations for the past few days were normal, just the usual catch up on each others day and him asking about my exams. My mood was at ease and I was overjoyed once I left the exam room of my final exam. I first messaged Kylian about my excitement for him to be back and how much I miss him, but then it hit me with the time difference he’s still sleeping.

I spent the day at my parents house to enjoy some quality time with them. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that Kylian was trying to video call me.

“Hey handsome” I greeted. He just woke up and ugh I miss him so much. “Ma chérie…how did it go ?” He asked in his husky morning voice. Melting. “It went well. I’m just glad it’s all over” I sighed. “Ahh that’s good. I’m sure you did amazing as always. You’re one of the most smartest people I know” he smiled half asleep. “Hmm, are you trying to butter me up ahead of my birthday” I raised a brow. “Have to be nice to the birthday girl” he winked. “Ky ! You’re indirectly calling me dumb every other day” I pouted. “Babe jokes aside, I mean it when I say you’re one of the most smartest people I know and not forgetting how talented you are” he smiled. “Oh stop it” I faked wiping a tear. “Being on a break isn’t the same without you, I really miss you and I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly. I thought maybe if we cooled off our minds away for a day it would help - that’s probably one of the most dumbest things I thought. If anything, I miss you more than usual and can’t wait to be back home to spend your special day with you” he pouted.

“It is what it is Ky. We fought and we apologised, well you apologised about 20 times which really wasn’t necessary because I didn’t stop loving you. Just forget about it though, it’s done, it’s in the past now. I just want you back home” I pouted back. “Just a few more hours. Straight after the party I’ll take a flight back home and I’ll be back in time for your birthday” he said as he got up from the bed, revealing his bare torso. “Are you trying to tease me ?” I raised a brow. “Is it working ?” He smirked. “Kylian. Stop it” I blushed. “Alright alright. I need to get ready and do some things before going for the party. I’ll call you later okay ? Je t’aime” he blew a kiss. “Okayyy… have fun, but not too much fun. Just kidding. Love youuu baby ! Ciao” I said lastly as I returned the kiss and ended the call.

The last I spoke to Kylian was during our video call in the afternoon and I haven’t heard from him since. I even messaged Brice but he wasn’t much help - I asked him where Kylian was and he told me that they both were at the party. I tried not to think about it but I hated that deep down it actually bothered me that he didn’t even show the slightest care for my birthday.

Midnight struck and my family, and friends had surprised me with a cute cake, beautiful bouquet arrangements and lots of gifts. I was so overwhelmed that I actually started crying whilst everyone started singing for me. After some time one of my friends had asked what did Kylian get me and if he phoned. I can’t believe I had to lie for him. I tried to justify that he hasn’t called due to the time difference and him being at the Hamptons party.

To my luck, all my friends had left after about an hour. I couldn’t handle lying for Kylian and faking it all in front of my friends and family. I never felt more shit than right now, a mix of emotions ran through me, I don’t know whether to cry or call him up and give him an earful. I stayed up for s few hours, it was well after midnight in Miami. He forgot. Tears threatened to escape and I couldn’t help but cry myself to sleep.

I woke up after 3 hours, anxiously checking my phone for anything on my social media or messages. My socials were bombarded with messages from fans, friends and family. Even Kylian’s parents and Ethan wished me, yet nothing from Kylian.

As petty as I wanted to be, I was itching to talk to Kylian because I was livid. I tried video calling him the first time. Nothing. Second attempt. Nothing. Third attempt after a few rings, he finally picked up. “Kylian you better have a damn good excuse as to why you weren’t answering my messages. What the hell happened to you ?” I asked frustrated. “Hmm” he hummed half asleep. “Is this a damn joke” I said as I grew annoyed. “Who’s yelling on the phone ?” said an unfamiliar voice. My body froze and I could feel the blood almost drain from my body. It was a girls voice and he’s still in bed. “Kylian. Who. Is. That ?” I paused between each word. “It’s no one” he lied. That was it. I ended the call.

Did that just happen ? Did I have a fever dream ? I actually pinched myself to confirm that just unfolded. Kylian tries to call me back and I ended the call. Second attempt at calling me and I ended the call again. It went on a few times and I continued ending the call. Brice tried calling me after, I had no intention to hear their lame excuse. I continued to end the call. Eventually I switched off my phone.

Yet again my emotions had taken over me and I cried my heart out. What did I do to deserve this ? So many questions raced through my mind. Who was the girl ? How long has this been going on ? Did he plan this to spend time with her in Miami ? Did he purposely fight with me so we could break up ? My mind was racing. I needed to be completely on my own.

I lied to my parents that I’m going out with my friends for the day. It then hit me that this shit was happening on my birthday. Wow. I needed to let off some steam so I drove off and parked randomly to go for a run. I don’t know where I was going but I continued running until I was so exhausted and couldn’t make it anymore. I finally decided to unlock my phone and wasn’t surprised by the notifications. 25 missed calls from Kylian. 10 missed calls from Brice. 31 messages from Kylian.

Curiosity took over me and I opened the messages. Not like I was going to reply. Basically him saying that it’s not what I think, he’s so sorry, he got drunk at the party and he’s already on his flight back home. I left him on read. I got back to my car and went back to our place. The house felt cold and no longer felt like a home. I went straight to our room and started packing my things. Packing took much longer than expected. I had a bad habit of admiring the gifts he got me and cried at the memory before fighting the thought, and setting the gift aside to give it back.

I got disrupted mid-way when Kylian tried calling and messaging me again. The audacity. Many hours later It was pretty late in the evening, I packed majority of my things, the rest I could get some other time.

Just as I was carrying my belongings downstairs, he walks through the front door calling my name. Shit. “Thank god you’re here. I was worried sick about you. I’m so so sorry I missed your birthday babe” he said as he walked towards me. “Don’t come near me. We’re done” I said as I stormed off back to the room to bring the remainder of the packed things. “What are you doing (Y/N) ?” He asked worried as he followed behind me. “Leaving and getting as far away as possible from you !” I raised my voice.

“Can we just sit down and talk ?” He asked. I slammed a box on the bed as I looked at him standing across from me. “You wanna talk ? Sure. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll do the talking” I said as he then walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. I walked over to stand in front of him with my arms folded over my chest. “First of all, it’s killing me to know this, did you plan this Miami trip to meet her ?” I said ‘her’ in disgust.

“What ? No ! How could you think that-“ I cut him off. “Kylian, you have some damn nerve to face me and argue with me when you’re the one who fucking cheated” I said. Kylian and myself were shocked by my use of words. This is probably the first time he heard me swear. “Ma chérie, I swear we didn’t sleep together. She took advantage of me and got me drunk. We just kissed” he said. I pressed my lips together firmly and looked up as I felt the tears pool at my eyes. The tears spilled and I couldn’t hear this shit anymore. I walked away from him to grab my stuff. He held me by arm, “Wait” he called. “Leave me alone” I said as I pulled my arm away and walked downstairs.

“You didn’t let me finish” he said which made me stop in my tracks. “I don’t give a damn. I’m not okay. I tried this entire day convincing myself that I’m strong though I know I’m not. I stayed up waiting for you to call or message but I got nothing. I feel like a damn idiot for covering for you when people asked me if you called or messaged or got me anything for my birthday ! I cried myself to sleep and woke up like 3 hours later stressing about you. I don’t even know why I even bothered… oh yeah that’s right, because I loved you. Then I had to be the one to call you to find out that you cheated. How’s that for a birthday present ?” I raised a brow. “I understand you’re upset but you still didn’t let me explain” he argued.

“I couldn’t care whether y’all kissed or if y’all slept together or whatever the fuck actually happened. The fact remains that you cheated and I’m not here for that. Had the tables turned around, you wouldn’t give me a chance either. You had Brice with you the entire time I’m sure” I raised a brow. “Yeah” he answered softly. “So what’s your excuse if Brice was there ?” I asked with my hands on my hips.

“Everything was going fine, I wasn’t even planning to stay till late because I wanted to fly home sooner” he said, to which I didn’t say anything for him to continue. “Just as I was about to leave, she practically grabbed my face and forced me to drink which for all I know could’ve been spiked” he continued. “I was drunk and so was Brice so when we were leaving, she came with” a pang of jealousy struck through me. “Do I know her ? Do you know her ? Who the hell is she ?” I questioned. “She’s just some influencer, I know her but not personally” he answered honestly. “And then ?” I asked. “When I got back to the hotel, she tried kissing me and I didn’t realise what was happening until like a second later. So I pushed her off and I guess I passed out after, that’s when you called not long after… I was half asleep and she was still around”

“Then ?” I raised a brow. “I kicked her out and rushed to leave to come back home” he said as he slowly walked towards me. He grabbed a hold of my hands and rubbed small circles. I pulled my hand away. “Kylian. You can’t just come back and expect me to forget all about this. I don’t even know what to believe at this point” I said softly. “(Y/N) I’m telling the truth” he argued. “You just said that you knew her… our trust is broken ! Forget about what you did for a second. You forgot about my birthday and you didn’t even have the decency to message or call me whilst I stayed up for your dumbass. You know what. I’m done talking. I literally have a migraine at this point. I haven’t eaten since yesterday, I’m living on like 3 hours of sleep… I don’t deserve to feel this shit on my birthday” I said as I burst into tears.

“Baby don’t cry. I swear on my life that I’m telling the truth. I’d never do anything intentionally to hurt you. I’d never want to break your trust. I love you too much to do that” he pouted as he pulled me in for a hug. I didn’t even try to push him away. As much as I was in pain, deep down my heart was saying that he’s telling the truth.

When I broke away from the hug, he wiped away the tears from my face. “It hurts me to see you like this. More especially that I’m the reason for all of this. I didn’t mean to ruin your birthday. I planned a special day for us and unfortunately everything didn’t go as planned. I’m really really sorry for all of this. I love you so so much. It was terrible being without you whilst I was away and now i don’t ever want to leave you. Please don’t give up on us and let me try to get your trust back. I said this earlier and I mean it when I say that I swear on my mum, and my dad, that I didn’t intentionally cheat on you. It was all on that girl” he said wholeheartedly.

I sniffled and wiped away my tears. “I need time” I sighed. A knock at the door interrupted us, that’s when I walked away from him to answer. “Hello” I greeted. “Ahh (Y/N), happy birthday ! I believe these are for you” Kylian’s driver said as he stepped aside and unveiled 10 huge flower arrangements, along with a number of boxes of designer items. “Oh my god” my jaw dropped as I stepped outside. I felt like crying again. “Please don’t tell me you sent these” I said as I turned around to face Kylian. “What..why ? I did…” he said hesitantly.

“You’re making this so hard for me right now” I said in frustration. “First of all, thank you so much. You really didn’t have to get me so much. Flowers alone would’ve been more than enough, you know that by now” I smiled. “I can’t not spoil you on your birthday” he smiled back. “I really appreciate it. Thank you” I said as I pulled him in for a hug. He gave me a tight squeeze for a second before placing a kiss on my forehead. He then pulled me by my hand inside, whilst a few people who came along with the driver helped to bring the gifts inside.

“This was part of your surprise that I had planned. I got all these gifts for you and had them kept away with my mom for the past few days. I felt awful for going away and not spending more time with you. It’s the least I could do to show my appreciation and love for you since you’ve been through it all with me. You deserve nothing but the best, always. Happy Birthday ma chérie” he smiled. “I have no idea how to thank you. I’m so overwhelmed and mixed with emotions. I never ever thought you’d do wrong in my eyes, until today, but I believe I know you very well by now… I know when you’re telling the truth. Sooo… this will all take some time to go back to normal, but I’m willing to look past this and move on from it” I huffed. He caught my by surprise when he engulfed me in a hug. “I love you” he said as he kissed my forehead.

“Can I please kiss you ?” He asked softly. “Ky, now you’re just pushing my limits” I playfully warned. “Just one” he pouted. “Ugh fine” I sighed. He cupped my cheeks as he softly placed his lips on mine. “That’s it for the day” I smiled as I started to walk away. “How about one more ?” He pouted as he trailed behind me. “No Kyky” I laughed as I started running away. “(Y/N)” he whined.

[aurorawest]

Reading update

Light Up the Lamp by Kit Oliver - 5/5 stars

Kit Oliver can do no wrong, I guess. I figured I'd like this one a lot given that I loved her other two novels, but hockey books usually aren't five star reads for me. Along comes this book! Unrelentingly lovely, and even though I knew it was going to have an HEA, I still found myself worried that Gil wasn't going to figure shit out.

The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell - 5/5 stars

Gorgeous book that read like a dreamy, dark fairy tale. The first book by Arden Powell I read was really funny, and this was like the complete opposite. Powell has range! This one is sad, but still has a happy ending. If you like Emily Tesh's Greenhollow Duology, I highly recommend this one. They're definitely in the same vein.

Deosil by Jordan L Hawk - 4.75/5 stars

I was SO SAD to get to the end of this series. Whyborne, Griffin, Christine, Iskander, Persephone, Maggie, Niles...I could go on, I love them all. It's hard to say good-bye but they all got a wonderful ending.

The Inside Edge by Ashlyn Kane - 3/5 stars

The Taste of Desert Green by Kim Fielding - 4.25/5 stars

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass - 1/5 stars

Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James - 4/5 stars

Roustabout by Morgan Brice - 3/5 stars

Prince in Disguise by Tavia Lark - 5/5 stars

Loved this one just as much as the first in the series. I expected the Draskorans to be...idk, like stereotype fantasy barbarians, so it was extremely refreshing that they weren't.

Old Time Religion by EH Lupton - 5/5 stars

Ahhhhhhhh I love this series!! I really really enjoyed the first book, and I loved this one even more. Really good, really original. I can't recommend this one and Dionysus in Wisconsin enough!

A Thief and a Gentleman by Arden Powell - 3.5/5 stars

The Devil to Pay by Katie Daysh - 4.75/5 stars

If you like Patrick O'Brian but find yourself thinking, surely this could be more gay? Then Katie Daysh's books are for you. This is the second in the series and I was delighted to learn yesterday from her newsletter that she's working on the third, because I definitely am not ready for the series to end! The first book was from Nightingale's POV (there might have been some bits from Courtney's POV? But not many), and this one is entirely from Courtney's. Courtney and Nightingale didn't actually get to spend much time together in this one so I hope they catch more of a break in book 3.

Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson - DNF at pg 6

The Engineer by CS Poe - 4/5 stars

The Larks Still Bravely Singing by Aster Glenn Gray - 5/5 stars

If you're not reading Aster Glenn Gray yet, why not? Why not??? Seriously, if you like Cat Sebastian, PLEASE give Aster Glenn Gray a try. I have yet to read a book by the woman that isn't gorgeous. This book is set right at the tail end of WWI and into the interwar period and is about two young English men who were injured and invalided out of the army. They're both disabled (Robert, the POV character, is missing a leg, and David is missing a hand) and have PTSD.

Also recommended if you like KJ Charles's Will Darling Adventures trilogy. The Larks Still Bravely Singing is just straight historical romance, not romantic suspense, but it deals with similar themes.

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S Jae-Jones - DNF at pg 24

Mr Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell - 4.75/5 stars

LOVED this book. I think it's the only historical romance I've read that uses the Industrial Revolution so heavily in the plot, which I really enjoyed. Plus, gorgeous cover.

Honey Mead Murder by Dahlia Donovan - DNF at pg 5

A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey - 3.25/5 stars

String Theory by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James - 3.75/5 stars

One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny - 5/5 stars

I honestly don't know why, when I received this book in like, November, I didn't immediately put it on the top of my TBR pile. I knew I was going to love it; I was super excited to get my copy. Every time I've shuffled my TBR (like, my actual physical TBR...it's a whole thing...it's actually been mistaken for my full book collection but haha no that's just 200 books I haven't read yet sitting on my stairs...), I've lamented that it's not closer to the top. And then I realized, this is literally my TBR and my own weird fake rules that I've made up about it, so I can actually just pull it from the stack and read it now. So I did!

And yeah, I loved it. So much. Raff and Penn will probably live rent free in my mind forever, not to mention Ash and Lily. I loved the medieval setting (another setting you don't see much in queer historical romance!) and how it really felt like a different world than ours. Plus I'm a sucker for road trip romances. And daddy issues. And horrific scars.

And ugh, the training scenes. The sexual tension. The PINING. Masterfully done. Chef's kiss.

Also we're going to find out who Oliver was, right? RIGHT??? And what happened to Penn's brother?

Out of Touch by Michael Sarais - DNF at pg 7

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves - 4.25/5 stars

Always enjoy a mystery that's well-paced and well-written. I've never actually read anything by Ann Cleeves but I'm going to pick up the rest of this series.

The Death I Gave Him by Em X Liu - DNF at pg 284

[ghostlyarchaeologist]

"You're not a terrible leader." "It's okay, Bartender. You don't have to kiss my ass."

The Ark S02E10 It Should Have Been You.

[simslegacy5083]

NSB (Straud Legacy) Gen 9 Ep 55: Hungry For Love

Watching his friends and relatives, including his ex Isra, find love, get married, and expand their families made Luigi’s plan to focus on improving himself over pursuing romance challenging.

Even sims he barely saw anymore called him up to talk about their relationships, leaving him jealous and dissatisfied with his lonely life. It made him wonder why no one was asking HIM out. Was he not good enough company for any sim to want his warm, soft presence in their life and bed?

---------------------------------------------

Even his relatives who were neither warm nor soft were doing better than him. He did his best to soothe Tess’s circuits when she called in a tizzy about Hunter’s upcoming proposal but hung up the phone with a lingering feeling of being left behind.

Luigi hoped to talk things out with his no-nonsense housemate, but even she showed up for breakfast wearing a sparkling engagement ring.

Too overcome with envy to show the proper excitement on his friend’s behalf, he stumbled through a half rant, half apology for his emotional disarray. Bonnie just sighed and let him vent, knowing her friend well enough not to take his self-absorbed reaction to her and Leroy’s engagement personally. When he ran out of steam, she assured him his “happily ever after” was out there somewhere if he just made a little effort to find it.

---------------------------------------------

Luigi couldn’t deny Bonnie’s wisdom about leaving out the welcome mat for love, but before he signed up for Meet and Mingle, he got another call.

At last! His teammate Jade, who had been so adamant that their fling was a “one time thing”, was actually interested in him! He wished he knew what had changed her mind, but he was far too excited to worry about that, agreeing to meet right after class at the old arcade in Cooperdale.

---------------------------------------------

He started things off by leading her over to one of the bubble machines scattered throughout the venue, flirtatiously joking that they simply had to sample the “Jade Dragon” flavor in honor of Jade’s fiercely competitive spirit.

The bubbles loosened their lips and relaxed them both. Jade maybe relaxed a little too much, flippantly complaining that her husband, Brice, could never be bothered to do anything fun like this anymore… she only seemed to realize she’d said it aloud when she saw Luigi’s dumbfounded look.

Another married sim?! Luigi supposed it didn’t have to be a deal breaker, as long as he didn’t wind up in a weird open relationship with a distant cousin.

---------------------------------------------

When Luigi inquired about the details of Jade’s committed relationship, she admitted that her husband would “kill her and the other guy” if he found out that she was seeing someone else, but what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt anyone!

She knew Luigi could keep a secret; he’d never breathed a word about their shower escapade after all. Brice was such a “stick in the mud”, she deserved to have a little fun and Luigi certainly seemed to know how to show a girl a good time!

---------------------------------------------

Mind blown, Luigi retorted that his discretion wasn’t an open invitation to pull him into drama he knew nothing about. Was this why Jade had told him their little fling after the game was a “one time thing”? At her guilty look he suddenly felt cheap and used, bitterly embarrassed by his earlier hopes.

Before he did something he knew he’d regret Luigi stood, grinding out “go home to your husband” before turning and storming out the door. He didn’t know why it seemed married sims had a “thing” for him, but he’d clearly have to vet his dates more thoroughly moving forward!

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View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[silveragelovechild]

THE ARK?

I discovered a sci-fi show that’s already in its second season and I didn’t know it existed. That’s one problem with all the independent streaming services - it hard to know about everything that’s available. The show is “The Ark” and it’s on the Syfy channel (which I no longer get) but I found it on the Peacock streaming service which I get free.

I’m not recommending it per se, at this point I’m just sharing that it exists.

As you might guess by its title, it’s about a ship from Earth ship traveling to Alpha Centauri (just like the Jupiter 2). I thought the first episode started well… a cold open where the ship suffers a disaster and one of the units containing cryo chambers is damaged and torn away. In another cryo chamber, the passengers awaken and are able to escape into the main part of the ship. The command crew and most of the senior staff are dead. The surviving crew are younger and less experienced

I thought the design of the ship looked good, and effects and editing were better than you might expect from a TV budget. So I decided to watch some more.

The bulk of the cast looks to be between 20 and 30, emphasizing the idea that they are inexperienced. I like the main character - Lt. Sharon Garnet played by Christie Burke. Garnet young but shes one of the highest ranking officers left alive. Apparently Burke played Renesmee Cullen in the Twilight movies.

There are also two other lieutenants: Lt. Lane (Reece Ritchie). He far too unlikable, argumentative and wants to be in charge. The other is Lt. Brice (Richard Fleeshman). He’s the more laid back and tries to be useful. I like the Brice but Lane should be thrown out an airlock.

And of course there the over-worked doctor who resorts to taking drugs to stay alert. (Another over used trope.)

A few years ago there was a show that was part of the Stargate franchise - Stargate Universe . It involve a bunch of random character stuck on a ship traveling between galaxies. It had a nerd who was a genius at solving things - in every episode. Well - the Ark has two of those nerds - a girl nerd (Alicia played by Stacey Read). And a boy nerd (Angus played by Ryan Adams). If they had a nerd-off competition - Alicia would win hands down because she’s nerdy and perky at the same time. Alicia and Angus take turns every other episode solving the latest disaster. Neither of them irritates me as much as the nerd from Stargate Universe but the genius nerd trope is wearing thin.

After episode 4 I started skipping or fast forwarding scenes. There were too many episodes where a part of the ship malfunctions and they need to solve it immediately. Then there’s the problem with scientific inaccuracy….

In a season 2 episode, they need more fuel and conveniently discover a star system in between Earth and Alpha Centauri. But Alpha Centauri is the nearest star to Earth! UGH! That kind of lame research has no place in a 21st Century sci-fi show!

I stopped that episode and skipped to one where they encounter a parallel version of their ship. Truthfully, it’s the best episode of the ones I’ve seen (even tho, with all my skipping around I didn’t know all the characters). But… dammit! The girl nerd immediately says she would try and untangle the quantum entanglement. Apparently nerds are how writers can solve anything, any time, any where!

[silverxxs-world]

Hangman Adam Page vs Samoa Joe(c) vs Swerve Strickland

JR is Back

And swerve got dancers

Hangman:

🔥 Joe Joe Joe Joe Joe Joe 🔥

They already forgot Joe was here

YES WE GOT THE WALK AWAY

Yes he is a Samoan king he is my tribal cheif

Wait they’re working together

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go

Swerve eye is swelling up

He’s laughing

Joe noooooooo

Tony helped jr put his socks on awww

Muscle buster

Swerve stomp 

House call

Buts he’s not covering

House call again

Omh mu god

Stomp

Hangman wtf

The ref

Why

Hang man

Joe get him

Joe do it

Buckshot lariat

No no no no no no

A second one

But there’s no ref

Yes yes yes yes

Oh my god not Brice

Wait

Get him Joe

Swerve with the buckshot

Joe is going to win it Joe’s gonna win it

Joe wins

[autumnwoodsdreamer]

Echoes (Playlist)

A little playlist of songs I associate with my fic Echoes (the one where Din has a clone baby and ends up on Sorgan again)

Little Apple — The Open Sea

Back to You — Canyon City

When the Cold Comes — Peter Bradley Adams

Bay of Pigs — Rogue Valley

Who Saved Who — Mindy Smith & Matthew Perryman Jones

From Where You Are — Lifehouse

Ivy — Taylor Swift

Sweet Troubled Man — Jill Andrews

Outlaw Man — Eagles

What a Woman Can Do — McAlister Kemp

Hurt — Boyce Avenue

Fading Bright Eyes Dark — Scars On 45

Nobody Knows — The Lumineers

All That I’m Asking For — Lifehouse

All Because — Ari Hest

These Times — SafetySuit

Living and Existing — CJ Starnes

Keep on Running — The Light The Heat

Hollow Sound — Satellite Station

Headlights — The National Parks

Runaway — Keith Johns

I Found You — Leire & Atticus Blue

Neverland (version two) — Joshua Radin & Maddie Poppe

Glad You Exist — Dan + Shay

She’s All You Need — Sister Hazel

I Stayed For the Girl — Sister Hazel

Somewhere in the World — Altiyan Childs

Treetops — Howie Day

The Tallest Tree — Lunatic Wolf

Not All Heroes Wear Capes — Owl City

We Can Find a Place — Davis John Patton

A Face Like Mine — Peter Bradley Adams

Not That Far Away — Jordan Moyes

Majorie — Taylor Swift

The Riddle — Five for Fighting

Boy — Lee Brice

How I Go — Yellowcard