#alec x grace/clara

[mellicose]

The Ocean in the Snow

A Hardy x Grace Christmas fic

Rating: Mature, for sex and angst Characters: Hardy x Grace Word Count: 4150 Warnings: none

Summary: It’s their first Christmas, and Hardy and Grace find themselves alone in his bungalow by the the sea. Alec is transfixed by the sight of the grey winter sea through the snow, and Grace does what she can to bring him back into himself, and to her.

He watched the churning waves through the snow.

The sea was a strange thing - it was different every season. In the summer, it was all saturated tones of green and blue, crystalline, inviting. In the fall, there were shades of brown and ochre in the blue to match the trees. But a winter sea … It was a frightening thing. It seemed angrier, more active. It’s as if it refused to be still, and freeze. It creamed and foamed in shades of grey that made it look more cold and desolate that it was. But he knew that there was still life underneath the surface, stolen life-

“Do you miss her?” a hand squeezed his shoulder. He jumped, startled from his thoughts. It was Grace.

“Do I miss-?” he looked back toward the beach, his mouth open. Grace’s eyes were filled with tender sympathy. She hugged him from the back, squeezing hard. Her breasts were a pleasant softness against him.

“Daisy. Yes.”  He turned in her arms to hug her back. “She wanted to be with her grandparents,” he said, referring to his ex-wife’s parents. And he didn’t blame her. There were getting on in years. But she wasn’t referring to his daughter.

Grace looked out the large picture window of his bungalow by the sea. The snowfall was light, but steady, and it would only get heavier as they day progressed. She had the strange urge to go for a walk in the uninviting gray, down to the shore.

“A white Christmas,” she said, smiling up at him. She tugged at his wire rimmed glasses, straightening them. He smiled, but his eyes were not in it. It only solidified her urge. “How long has it been since you had a Christmas by the ocean?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I dunno. Never. I don’t really like it. Too cold and wet.” He always avoided water during Christmas. He preferred being safely ensconced in the suburbs, with a bit of turkey and red wine. But fate had finally brought him back to the sea. And to Grace.

Grace’s eyes fell to the bouquet of flowers that she brought to his house. There were white lilies and red roses, and some baby’s breath.  She let him go and started to pick the white lilies out of the vase and lay them gently on the counter.

“What are you doing?” he said, his brow raised.

“Let’s go for a walk,” she said, and started to put her coat on. It was a bright red wool thing, with a beret and a fluffy white scarf with yellow stripes. She looked like Mondrian painting. He looked back out the window. The beach was deserted, and there were gleaming chunks of ice in the orange sand at the tide line. His nipples peaked just looking at it, but one look at Grace made him start putting on his coat.

“This is kinda romantic,” she said as they walked carefully down the icy hill path to the beach.

“Not really,” he said. He looked down at their feet, ready to drop to the ground to break her fall if she slid.

“Maybe not,” she said, squeezing his arm. He looked at her. Her nose was already red, her cheeks shiny with the cold. But in her eyes was a determination that gave him a second wind.

The sand crunched underneath their galoshes, and he started to walk them toward the jetty at the far end of the beach. She let herself be guided, and they walked in silence, their bodies leaning into the vicious bite of the wind. As they got near the water, his gait lagged. She took his hand and laced her gloved fingers in his, and squeezed.

You can do it.

But he stopped. All of the wooden jetty’s surfaces were shining with ice.

“You’re not going on that thing,” he said, his lower lip sticking out in a pout.

“Good call, detective,” she said, and gently pulled him toward the middle of the beach. From there, they could see the town, and the cliffs. There was no movement save for the wind, and the water. She put her arms around him again. The lilies slapped against his back in the sharp breezes. “Merry Christmas, Hardy,” she said. He looked down at her and she giggled. There were specks of snow glued to the glass with the cold.

“Merry Christmas to you,” he said, curling into her body as he hugged her. When they kissed, there was a delectable contrast of cold lips and hot mouth that turned her hands to fists on his old blue overcoat.

“You taste like strong tea,” she said as they broke the kiss.

“Bitter?” he said, wiping the cold water from her cheek.

“No,” she said dreamily. “Comforting. Sweet.”

“Weird. I don’t put sugar in my tea.”

“Then it’s not the tea. It’s you,” she said, and kissed him again.

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[eydika]

eydika’s name list 2.0

more... names because the first name list I made isn’t enough anymore

A

Abaddon

Abbey / Abbie

Abel

Ace

Ada

Adam

Adrien

Agnes

Aiden

Akari

Alaska

Alchemy

Alec / Alex / Alexa

Alessi / Alessia

Alexis

Aliana / Alianna

Alice

Alison

Alistair

Alivia

Allie / Ally

Alpha

Alya

Amber

Amelia

Amity

Amos

Amy

Andie / Andy

Andrew

Andromeda

Angel

Anita

Anna / Anne

Annabelle / Annie

Apollo

Apple

Apricot

April

Archer / Archie

Arden

Ares

Argus

Ariel

Aron / Aaron / Auron

Arrow

Artemis

Arthur

Artis

Arya

Ash / Asher

Aspen / Aspyn

Astrid

Athena

Atlas

Atticus

Aubrey / Audrey

Audio

Auger

Auggie

August

Aurelia

Aurora

Austin

Autumn

Ava / Avaline / Avalon / Aveline

Avery / Avrey

Aya

B

Baby

Barbie

Basil

Bea / Bee

Bean

Beatrice / Beatriz

Bébé

Beck / Beckett

Beetle

Bella / Belle

Beryl

Betty

Bijou

Billie

Birdie

Bishop

Bitter

Blair / Blaire

Blaise

Bloom

Blue / Blu

Boheme

Bonnie

Bowie

Briar

Bridget

Brina

Brody

Bryson

Bunny

Byron

C

Cade / Cadea / Caden

Cairo

Cal / Calum

Caleb

Callie

Calliope

Calvin

Cameron

Candace

Canopy

Carly / Carlie

Carol / Caroline

Carter

Casper

Cassandra

Cassius

Catherine

Celia

Cetus

Chance

Charlotte

Cherry

China

Chip

Chloe

Cian

Cinnamon

Civet

Clara / Clary / Clarabelle

Claire

Clementine

Cleo

Clover

Cobalt

Colby

Colt / Colten

Constance

Cooper

Cora

Corey

Corvus

Cosmo

Cricket

Cynthia

Cyra

Cyrus

D

Dacre

Daisy

Dakota

Dalia

Dallas

Damien

Dana

Dandelion

Dandy

Dante

Daphne

Darby / Darcy

Darius

Darla

Davina / Divina

Davos

Dawn

Deacon

Deb

December

Deja

Delaney

Delta

Demi

Denim

Denver

Desmond

Dexter

Diego

Digit

Dion / Dior

DJ

Doe

Domino

Donna

Doran

Dorothy / Dot / Dottie

Douglas

Dune

Dusk

Dylan

E

Eachan

Ebele

Ebony

Echo

Eden

Edris

Effi / Effie

Egan

Elijah

Eliza

Ella / Ellie

Elliot

Ellis

Elodie

Elsbeth / Elspeth

Elsie

Elyse

Embla

Emily

Emlyn

Emma

Emmett

Emory

Erica

Erin

Ernest

Ernie

Esryn

Estelle

Ethan

Eugene

Eva / Eve / Evie

Evan

Evangeline

F

Fae / Fee

Faith

Fawn

Fawke

Felix

Fenris

Fergus

Ferris

Fig / Figgy

Finbar

Fizz

Fletcher

Fleur

Flint

Flora / Florence

Forrest

Fox

Frankie

Freya

G

Gage

Gaia

Gavin

Gemma

Gene / Genesis / Genevieve

Gigi

Gil

Giselle

Gladys

Gloom

Gloria / Glory

Goldie

Grace / Gracie

Greta

Griffin

Gus

H

Hadley

Hailey

Hana

Harlow

Harmony

Harper

Hawk

Hayden

Hazel

Hector

Henley

Henry

Hera / Hero

Honey / Honeydew

Hope

Hunter

I

Ian / Ion

Idris

Ieni

Iesha

Illori

Ilya

Imelda

Imogen

Imp

India

Indira

Ingrid

Irina

Iris

Isaac

Isara

Isla

Ivory / Ivy

Izzy

J

Jack / Jackie

Jade

Jake

Janice / Janis

Jason

Jasper

Jay / Joy

Jenan

Jericho

Jerry

Jibo

Jill

Jinx

Joan

Jude / Judith

Juleka

Juli / Julip

June / Juno

Juniper

Jupiter

Justice

K

Kaiven

Kale

Kappa

Kayla

Kellen

Kelly

Kes

Kimber

Kitana

Kitty

Kiwi

Knox

Kris

Kristy / Kirsty

Krull

Kumo

L

Laken

Lana

Lapse

Lark

Laurel

Lavender

Lemon

Lenka

Leo / Leon / Leonie

Levitt

Liberty

Lilac

Lilith

Lima

Lindsey

Locus / Lotus

Lottie

Luca / Luka

Lucia / Lucie / Lucy

Lucille

Lucky

Luis

Luna / Louna

Luther

Lux

Lynn

M

Mabel / Mable / Maple

Madison

Mae / May

Maeve

Magnolia

Mango

Mantis

March

Marcia / Marcy

Margaux / Margo / Margot

Marina

Marion

Marley

Marmalade

Mars

Martha

Mary

Mason

Maude

Maura

Maxine

Maya

Meadow

Medea

Melancholia

Melba

Memphis

Mercedes

Mercy

Mick

Milan

Milla

Millenia

Milo

Mina / Mona

Minerva

Minnie

Minnow

Miron

Misery

Mona

Monday

Montgomery

Monty

Morrigan

Morwenna

Myrtle

N

Nana

Nancy

Nasira

Nate

Nathaniel

Naveed

Navy

Ned

Nefarian

Ness

Nestor

Never

Newt

Nikki

Noah

Nora

Norma

Nova

Nutmeg

Nye

Nyx

O

Octa

October

Odessa

Olive / Olivia

Ollie

Omega

Omen

Onyx

Opal

Ophelia

Oriana / Orion

Oscar / Oskar

Otis

Owen

Ozzy / Ozzie

P

Paige

Paisley

Parker

Pat / Pattie

Paula / Paola

Pea / Peach

Pebble

Penelope

Pepper

Pepsi

Percy

Petrichor

Philippa

Philomena

Phoebe

Phoenix

Piccolo

Pip / Piper

Pixie

Poe

Pollux

Pomeline

Poppy

Portia

Primrose

Q

Queen

Quentin

Quibble

Quincy

Quinn

R

Rachel

Radian

Ransom

Raven

Ray

Razzia

Rebus / Remus

Reverie

Rhubarb

Rick

Rider / Ryder

Rigby

Rilla

Roach

Robin

Rory

Rosa / Rosalie

Rose

Roux

Rowan

Roxanne / Roxie / Roxy

Ruben

Ruby

Rune

S

Sabina / Sabine / Sabrina

Sable

Sadie

Saffron

Sage / Saige

Salem

Sam / Samantha / Sammie

Savant

Savian

Scarlett

Scotty

Scout

Sean

Sesame

Shea

Skye / Skylar

Sloane

Solomon

Spencer

Sprout

Star

Stella

Sunny

Sybil

Syc

Symphony

T

Tabea

Tabitha / Tabs

Tali / Talia

Tasha

Tate

Tau

Temper

Tharan

Theodora / Theodosia

Theros

Thimble

Thirteen

Thorn

Tia

Tilda

Tina

Topaz

Tora / Torian

Trinity

Trixie

Trope

Tulip

Turnip

Twig

U

Ukiyo

Umara

Umbra

Ursa

V

Valentin

Valerie

Valora

Vargas

Vaughn

Vector

Vega / Vegas

Velvet

Venus

Vera

Vernon

Vesper

Vinette

Violet

Vivek

Volt

W

Waverly

Wednesday

Wendy

Wes

Whisper

William

Willow

Winnie

Winona

Winter

Wish

Wren

X + Y + Z

Xena / Xenia

Xeno / Xenos

Yuki

Yuri

Zafira

Zaria

Zephyr

Zero

Zoe / Zoelle

Zona

Zyra

LAST NAMES

Abbot

Abernathy

Alton

Arcanum

Ashe

Astor

Badger

Balker

Bass

Bennett

Benton

Blake

Bleu

Blunt

Blythe

Cable

Cabot

Cain

Carter

Carver

Castillo

Choi

Clemonte

Coldwell

Collins

Colt

Craft

Craven

Crimson

Croft

Dabney

Danvers

Dayholt

Delpy

Driver

Dyer

Eades

Edge

Epithet

Epps

Evert

Farley

Fell

Fenner

Fig

Finch

Findlay

Fletcher

Foley

Fowler

Fray

Freud

Frost

Geller

Gill

Guest

Hale

Hapley

Harp

Hart

Hearst

Hooper

Hunt

Hyde

Ivy

Jinx

Keller

Kersey

Kingsley

Knight

Knox

Kraft

Krav

Laveau

Lecter

Lock / Lockwood

Lowell

Lush

Marr

Mills

Mist

Morgan

Morrison

Murray

Myers

Oaks

Patel

Pierce

Pike

Powell

Price

Pruitt

Quint

Quiver

Random

Ripley

Ryder

Sears

Sloane

Sparks

Stele

Strom

Sutton

Talbot

Tate

Thorne

Twig

Twist

Tycho

Utley

Valentine

Vance

Vaughn

Vos

Walker

Wallow

Weaver

Webb

Wiley

Wilkes

Winston

Wreath

Wright

Wrong

York

Zella

Zepeda

[sleepingdragonhq]

Hey everyone, under the cut you will find the list of everyone’s costumes as well as lists for the couples romantic and platonic. You can find the poll for the costume contest here. We have added a few more awards this year. As always you vote for the top five in each category, five points for first place, four points for second and so on. You should be voting for individuals in every category except the couples ones. Please vote before the 31st of October as we will be announcing the winners from that point onward. If we have missed any on any of the lists please let us know !!

Aaron Hale - Frankenstein

Adabella Skeeter - Sandy (Grease)

Adeline Mulciber - Beetlejuice 

Aiden Wolffe - Bucky Barnes (Marvel)

Aisha Vane - Wednesday Addams (Addams Family)

Alastair Watson - Iron Man (Marvel)

Albus Potter - Victor Van Dort (Corpse Bride)

Alec Fray - Spiderman (Marvel)

Alexander Hawthorne - Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) 

Alison Wood - Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park)

Alice Longbottom II - Eleven (Stranger Things)

Annika Parkinson - Wonder Woman (DC)

Archer Selwyn - Peter Pan (Disney)

Ariadne McLaggen - Elastigirl (The Incredibles)

Ariella Belefleur - Anastasia (Anastasia)

Aryana Robins - Mia Thermopolis (The Princess Diaries)

Ash Highmore - Pot Head

Aurora Claremont - Daphne Blake (Scooby Doo)

Axel Wolffe - Ghost

Benjamin Ollivander - Dr. Facilier (Disney)

Bentley Lockhart - Dorothy (Wizard of Oz)

Brett Holland - Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

Brigid Callaghan - Trixie Tang (Fairly Odd Parents)

Caleb Cresswell - Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)

Camille McGonagall - Barbara Maitland (Beetlejuice)

Candice Cresswell - Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

Casey Abrams - Judy Hopps (Zootopia)

Caspian Berrycloth - Zebra

Cassius Cresswell - Ron Swanson (Parks & Rec)

Celestina Shacklebolt - Storm (X-Men/Marvel)

Charlotte Watson - Princess Buttercup (The Princess Bride)

Chase Sayre - Simon Snow (Carry On Series)

Clara Arquette - Cinderella (Disney)

Colm McCarthy - Vampire

Cynthia Clearwater - Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tales)

Cyrus Clearwater - Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Daniel McKinnon - Jason Dean (Heathers)

Darcy Mulciber - Medusa (Mythology)

Declan Rowland - Timmy Turner (Fairly Odd Parents)

Diana Rosier - Anastasia (Anastasia)

Dominique Weasley - Eleven (Stranger Things)

Edith De Lapin - Taylor Swift (Lover Era)

Edward Lupin - Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Eleanor Pucey - Harley Quinn (DC)

Electra Carrow - Emily (Corpse Bride)

Elena Flores - Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Elide Weasley - Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)

Elodie De Lapin - Taylor Swift (Reputation Era)

Erin McCormack - Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)

Evan Parkinson - Captain America (Marvel)

Evangeline Pickering - Elastigirl (The Incredibles)

Evelyn Carrow - Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

Everett Pickering - Tin Man (Wizard of Oz)

Felix Hopkirk - Thor (Marvel)

Fletcher Duke - Flower Thrower (Banksy Art)

Frank Longbottom II - Nick Wilde (Zootopia)

Fred Weasley - Superman (DC)

Gabriel Larkin - Danny (Grease)

Gale MacDougal - Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who)

Grace Turner - Wendy (Peter Pan)

Griffin Jones - Catwoman (DC)

Gwendolyn Hawkes - Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians)

Harper Lee Clark - Princess Anneliese (Princess and the Pauper)

Hazel MacDougal - Cher (Clueless)

Hugo Granger-Weasley - Unicorn

Hunter Adams - Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)

Jace Greengrass - t-shirt that says “costume”

James Ashcroft - Starlord (Guardians of the Galaxy)

James Potter - Mario (Super Mario Bros)

Jasper Locklear - Prince Phillip (Sleeping Beauty)

Jaxon DuQuan - Skeleton

Jonah Finch - Joker (DC)

Josephine Flamel - Violet Beauregarde (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Joshua Selwyn - Spiderman (Marvel)

Juliet Highmore - Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Kristoff Flynn - Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)

Laurel Ollivander - Devil

Layla Rowle - Poison Ivy (DC)

Liam Alvarez - Miles Morales (Into the Spiderverse)

Lily Potter - Max (Stranger Things)

Levi Highmore - Ghost

Long Huojin - Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)

Lorcan Scamander - Spiderman (Marvel)

Louis Weasley - Jim Hawkins (Treasure Planet)

Lucienne Wolffe - Scary Alice

Lucy Weasley - Erika (Princess and the Pauper)

Lyra Malfoy - Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

Lysander Scamander - 7 (7/11)

Mackenzie Potter - Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros)

Madeline Brown - Rachel Green (Friends)

Malachai Arquette - Prince Charming (Disney)

Manon Flamel - Captain Marvel (Marvel)

Marcus Carson - Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)

Mason Jones - Ghost

Matthew Asprey - Niffler

Matthias Vallois - Dimitri (Anastasia)

Meredith Wayfelle - Coraline (Coraline)

Molly Weasley II - Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)

Mortimer Claremont - White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland)

Natalya Dolohova - Na’vi (Avatar)

Nate Wood - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Jurassic Park)

Nesta Greenwood - Fiona (Shrek)

Nova Slughorn - Devil

Octavia Coleman - Mummy

Odette Flume - Beret Girl (An Extremely Goofy Movie)

Orlando Lockhart - Firefighter 

Peggy Carson - Pepper Potts (Marvel)

Penelope Hawthorne - Khaleesi/Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)

Pepper Rosewood - Pirate

Perseus Mulciber - Khal Drogo (Game of Thrones)

Pippa Rosewood - Pirate

Poppy Zabini - Eleven (7/11)

Rayna Sayre - Rebel Spy (Star Wars)

Reid Anderson - Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

Rory Goldstein - Owen Grady (Jurassic World)

Scorpius Malfoy - Bas Pitch (Carry On Series)

Sebastian Nott - Mr. Incredible (The Incredibles)

Seraphina Macaulay - Velma Dinkley (Scooby Doo)

Seung Krum - Deadpool (Marvel)

Sofia Clarke - Wonder Woman (DC)

Tallulah Abbott - Clown 

Theodore Oliver - Hector Rivera (Coco)

Theseus McLaggen - Adam Maitland (Beetlejuice)

Thomas Goyle - The Riddler (DC)

Tobias Atwell - Wolverine (X-Men/Marvel)

Toby Anderson - Westley (The Princess Bride)

Vera McKinnon - Heather Chandler (Heathers)

Verity Nott - Gamora (Marvel/Guardians of the Galaxy)

Victoire Weasley - Jessica Rabbit (Roger Rabbit)

William Ashcroft - Clark Kent / Superman (DC)

Romantic Couples

Aiden & Evan - Bucky Barnes & Captain America

Alastair & Peggy - Tony Stark/Iron Man & Pepper Potts (Marvel)

Albus & Electra - Victor & Emily (Corpse Bride)

Archer & Grace - Peter Pan & Wendy (Peter Pan)

Bentley & Everett - Dorothy & Tin Man (Wizard of Oz)

Chase & Scorpius - Simon & Baz (Carry On Series)

Declan & Brigid - Timmy & Trixie (Fairly Odd Parents)

Frank & Casey - Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps (Zootopia)

Gabriel & Adabella - Danny & Sandy (Grease)

James & Mackenzie - Mario & Peach (Super Mario Bros)

James & Verity - Starlord & Gamora (Marvel/Guardians of the Galaxy)

Jasper & Lyra - Prince Phillip & Princess Aurora (Disney)

Joshua & Seung - Spiderman & Deadpool (Marvel)

Kristoff & Elena - Gomez & Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Lysander & Poppy - 7/11

Malachai & Clara - Prince Charming & Cinderella (Disney)

Matthias & Ariella - Dmitri & Anastasia (Anastasia)

Perseus & Penelope - Khal Drogo & Khaleesi/Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)

Sebastian & Ariadne - Mr. Incredible & Elastigirl (The Incredibles)

Tobias & Celestina - Wolverine & Storm (Marvel/X-Men)

Toby & Charlie - Westley & Princess Buttercup (The Princess Bride)

Platonic Couples

Aurora & Seraphina - Daphne & Velma (Scooby Doo)

Axel, Levi & Mason - Ghosts

Alice & Lily - Eleven & Max (Stranger Things)

Eleanor, Griffin & Layla - Harley Quinn, Catwoman & Poison Ivy (DC)

Gale & Juliet - Tenth Doctor & Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Harper & Lucy - Princess Anneliese & Erika (Princess and the Pauper)

Nate & Alison - T-Rex & Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park)

Pepper & Pippa - Pirates

Theseus & Camille - Adam & Barbara Maitland (Beetlejuice)

[tesaonews]

Crítica | Infiltrado na Klan é um filme histórico

Em 1989, Faça a Coisa Certa recebeu os prêmios maiores das associações de críticos de cinema de Los Angeles e de Chicago, duas das mais importantes do EUA. Ainda esteve perto dos mesmos prêmios por diversas entidades ao redor do seu país e do mundo. Mas, nas premiações, mais populares, como Globo de Ouro, Oscar e Cannes, o filme saiu de mãos abanando. Parece que não era o momento para ele (o filme) e para Spike Lee (seu diretor). Um filme-denúncia forte, no ano em que a Guerra Fria chegaria ao fim, talvez fosse um filme impactante demais com sua realidade irônica. Aquele era um ano mais blasé, para um filme como Conduzindo Miss Daisy.

Faça a Coisa Certa (Imagem: Universal Pictures)

Durante a sua carreira, Lee voltaria a tentar outros filmes, sempre com estímulo de denúncia. Passando pelo excelente biográfico Malcom X (1992), pelo drama musical com toques de comédia cruel A Hora do Show (2000) e por diversos outros que não deixaram seu nome cair no esquecimento. Entre curtas, longas, documentários, ficções, segmentos, vídeos institucionais e episódios de séries, são mais de 80 trabalhos dirigidos por ele em 39 anos como diretor.

Cuidado! Daqui em diante a crítica pode conter spoilers!

Antes que seja tarde demais

Em meio ao segundo ato de Infiltrado na Klan, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) – o primeiro oficial negro contratado pelo Departamento de Polícia de Colorado Springs (e um dos primeiros do país) – discute com um superior (o Sargento Trapp, interpretado por Ken Garito) sobre o futuro da Ku Klux Klan. Ele (Ron) havia se infiltrado na KKK e conversado, através de ligações telefônicas, com David Duke (Topher Grace), o diretor da organização. Trapp sugere que Duke está de olho na política através de uma estratégia baseada em polêmicas. Ron ri, porque acredita que os sujeitos, apesar de serem potencialmente perigosos, são ridículos.

– A América nunca elegeria alguém como David Duke como presidente. – Por que você não acorda?!

Parece estranho, dentro da filmografia de Spike Lee, que o alerta para o perigo do crescimento de uma entidade como a Kun Klux Klan seja feito por um personagem branco. É um diálogo simples, que simbolicamente já havia sido construído ao final de um dos primeiros filmes do diretor, o Revolução Estudantil (1988), mas que recebe a complexidade do quanto os acontecimentos são claros e, muitas vezes, evita-se enxergá-los. Esse alerta partindo de um branco, de posição superior dentro da polícia, soa como um despertador dentro de um pesadelo-mais-do-que-real, do qual é difícil acordar, mas necessário antes que seja tarde demais.

Iniciando com uma das cenas mais emblemáticas do cinema, Infiltrado na Klan mostra Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) em …E o Vento Levou caminhando por uma praça cheia de mortos e feridos, todos sob uma bandeira de batalha esfarrapada. Logo em seguida, Lee faz um paralelo genial entre a ascensão do cinema enquanto arte e o surgimento do segundo grupo da KKK: Apresentada pelo Dr. Kennebrew Beauregard (o quase sempre irônico Alec Baldwin), a cena revela a exibição de O Nascimento de uma Nação, filme que é peça-chave da sedimentação da linguagem cinematográfica, mas que foi (e é) altamente criticado por retratar os afro-americanos (interpretados por atores brancos com as caras pintadas de negro – através da prática de blackface) como ininteligentes e sexualmente agressivos em relação às mulheres brancas. O filme, coescrito e dirigido por D.W. Griffith, também apresenta a Ku Klux Klan (cuja fundação original é dramatizada) como uma força heroica.

O Nascimento de uma Nação (Imagem: Reprodução)

A verdade é que o cinema tem um poder que talvez seja percebido por poucos cineastas. Se aquele filme foi lançado em 1915 e dele veio uma parcela considerável do incentivo para que surgisse uma nova horda da KKK, Spike Lee, aqui, promove não somente o seu costumeiro e sempre bem-vindo discurso contra o racismo, mas também uma investida direta, sem arrodeios, sobre alguns dos papéis da arte na contemporaneidade: denúncia, provocação, fazer pensar.

Uma marca difícil de ser descontruída

Como bem relembra Infiltrado na Klan em seu desfecho, em uma transição da reconstituição do passado (o ficcional) para uma realidade que poderia ser distópica se não fosse a realidade em si, Lee revela que os EUA de hoje têm um presidente que o legítimo David Duke gosta bastante. O mais forte, porém, é que o corroteirista e diretor não está muito preocupado em explicar exatamente como o ser humano chegou a esse ponto. Ele está claramente angustiado pelo fato de que, na verdade, pouco se saiu de um ponto inicial. Mas isso, para Lee, não significa que nada mudou, mas que atitudes e ideias racistas acompanham a humanidade como uma marca difícil de ser desconstruída.

Ainda (e voltando a’O Nascimento de uma Nação), Spike Lee utiliza uma das inovações que Griffith deu ao cinema, a edição paralela, para a construção de uma sequência absurda (no melhor sentido dessa palavra): Enquanto um grupo branco come pipoca em algazarra, um grupo de estudantes negros se reúne do outro lado da cidade para ouvir o testemunho de Jerome Turner (Harry Belafonte), que fala do linchamento do seu melhor amigo no Texas, na época em que o filme de 1915 estava nos cinemas.

Infiltrado na Klan (Imagem: Universal Pictures)

O diretor, por outro lado e naturalmente, demonstra total liberdade com Ron, a personagem de Washington (filho do Denzel). Ele é alguém que parece refletir a própria carreira de Lee. Como lidar com o sistema? Trabalhando dentro dele? Empurrando-o do lado de fora? Ou quebrando ele em pedaços?

A realidade mais clara é a de que, como na batalha de …E o Vento Levou, sempre alguém irá passear sobre os corpos. Alguém, igualmente, posará de vencedor. Sempre, também, haverá “um general de cinco estrelas com o c* na mão” (citando Renato Russo). Quem sofre são os soldados, aqueles que vão à batalha. E, ao expor uma bandeira norte-americana de cabeça para baixo dentro do seu próprio país, Lee cede três interpretações: vergonha, emergência e protesto. E todas são válidas.

– Por que você não acorda?!

Um filme histórico

Infiltrado na Klan está recheado de toda a polêmica necessária que perfura a carreira do seu diretor. Ele (o diretor) é um provocador que não permite que o seu filme divirta sem restrições. Estar confortável demais assistindo a BlacKkKlansman (no original) é assinar um atestado de indiferença para a luta de uma minoria achincalhada.

Assim, assistir a Infiltrado na Klan é estar diante de um filme sarcasticamente divertido e, ao mesmo tempo, pesadamente atual. Ao final, a direção pode ser a mais incrível de uma carreira; a fotografia pode ter uma crueza com propósitos claros de construir toda uma realidade indigesta (e ao mesmo tempo aceitável demais); as atuações podem estar inteiramente em seus lugares mais apropriados… toda a técnica pode estar em sintonia (e está), mas a grandeza do filme está em sua mensagem, em sua força político-social.

Infiltrado na Klan (Imagem: Universal Pictures)

Spike Lee é um gigante. Infiltrado na Klan é um filme histórico.

Leia aqui a matéria original

O post Crítica | Infiltrado na Klan é um filme histórico apareceu primeiro em Tesão News.

source https://tesaonews.com.br/noticia-tesao/critica-infiltrado-na-klan-e-um-filme-historico/

[bloguniversodegatos]

Nomes para Gatos

Se está procurando nomes para gatos, então veio ao lugar certo!

Nós os amantes de gatos sabemos perfeitamente que os gatos não são somente animais elegantes e misteriosos, também têm o seu lado adorável e atencioso. Se está na dúvida de que nome dar ao seu novo gato macho ou fêmea, vai encontrar em abundância aqui, mas não são nomes quaisquer… só apresentamos os TOP TOP TOP !!

Se há algo neste mundo que pode ser considerado bonito, é um gatinho! Então por que não escolher um nome bonito para combinar. Estão aqui mais de 500 nomes TOP, adoráveis, doces, encantadores, deliciosos e bonitos para o seu novo gato.

Aprecie, e nós temos a certeza que vai encontrar nesta lista nomes para gatos o nome perfeito!!

Letra A

Abdul

Abel

Abelardo

Abigail

Abner

Abu

Acacia

Ace

Acerola

Adam

Adão

Adda

Adonis

Adrik

Adry

Afrodite

Agapi

Ágata

Agatha

Agostinho

Aiara

Aícha

Aika(o)

Aiki

Aila

Aileen

Aimê

Aimee

Aislan

Aiwa

Akan

Akaya

Akenaton

Akesa

Akira

Alanis

Alba

Aldo

Alec

Alecrim

Aleetza

Alef

Alegria

Aleluia

Alemã

Aleska

Alex

Alexia

Alf

Alfa

Alice

Alicia

Alika

Alina

Alisson

Alita

Alladim

Allan

Allen

Amanda

Angel

Anita

Annette

Anny

Aragorn

Ari

Armand

Arthur

Átila

Letra B

Babalu

Babi

Babi

Babuska

Baby

Bach

Baixinha

Baltazar

Bambina

Bamboo

Banjo

Barney

Bartô

Bartolomeu

Batatinha

Batman

Bebel

Bel

Bela

Bella

Belo

Bernardo

Betina

Betty

Bia

Bianca

Bianco

Bichana

Biju

Bili

Billy

Bingo

Birosca

Biscoito

Bisteca

Bizunzo

Black

Blanc

Blanche

Bob

Bola

Bolacha

Bolão

Bolero

Bond

Bong

Bonnie

Bono

Bóris

Box

Brama

Branca de Neve

Branco

Branquinha

Brenda

Brewsky

Brigitte

Broke

Brown

Brutus

Buck

Bud

Buffy

Letra C

Cacau

Caco

Caio

Caker

Calico

Calipso

Calvin

Caos

Capitu

Capone

Carlton

Cartman

Cascão

Cassie

Catarina

Catbert

Catherine

Catita

Cebolinha

Cecil

Cecília

Cesar

Chandon

Chanty

Charles

Charlie

Charlotte

Cheddder

Cheetara

Chiara

Chica

Chico

Chiquinha

Chocolate

Chocookie

Chopp

Christine

Chun-li

Churchil

Chuvisco

Ciça

Cinderela

Cindy

Clara

Clarence

Clark

Cléo

Cocoa (cocoa Jumbo)

Colombo

Cometa

Conan

Conrad

Constantino

Cookie

Corisco

Cristal

Cuíca

Letra D

Dafne

Daisy

Dali

Daphne

Dara

Dawn

Debbie

Debbie

Diane

Dickens

Dilbert

Ding

Dingo

Dinha

Dionísio

Dixon

Docinho

Dolly

Dolores

Donatello

Dongo

Donna

Dorinha

Dorothy

Draco

Dreamer

Duda

Dunga

Duque

Duquesa

Letra E

Eclipse

Eddie

Edward

Eecat

Electra

Ellie

Elliot

Elvis

Elza

Ema

Emily

Endora

Erica

Ernie

Esmeralda

Esquimó

Estela

Ester

Estrela

Ethel

Eva

Letra F

Fadinha

Faísca

Fanny

Feijão

Felícia

Felipe

Felix

Felizberto

Fígaro

Firenze

Flynn

Ford

Formosa

Fragolina

Frajola

Francisco

Fred

Freud

Frida

Frodo

Fumaça

Furr

Furrface

Futrica

Letra G

Gaby

Galileu

Garfield

Gargamel

Gastone

Geleia

Genghis Khan

George

Georgia

Geraldo

Gertrudes

Getúlio

Gigi

Gina

Gipsy

Godiva

Gomes

Google

Gordinha

Gordo

Gordon

Grace

Gregor

Gregory

Gucci

Guel

Gulliver

Letra H

Hard Rock

Haroldo

Hell Cat

Hércules

Hero

Hobbes

Horácio

Horshack

Hunter

Letra I

Iago

Igraine

Ingrid

Irene

Iris

Isis

Izzy

Letra J

Jack

Jackie

Jacques

Jade

Jamal

James

Jana

Janes

Janie

Jasmin

Java

Jazz

Jeane

Jedi

Jennifer

Jéssica

Jezebel

Jimmy

Joaquim

Jody

Joe

Johnson

Josie

Joyce

Ju

Juba

Judy

Jujuba

Julie

Julieta

Juliette

Jully

Juvenal

Letra K

Karen

Karla

Kathlen

Katuxa

Kazooie

Kelby

Kelly

Kenny

Kevin

Kika

Kim

Kipper

Kitty

Kramer

Krica

Letra L

Lacyr

Lady

Laila

Laka

Lawrence

Leão

Leela

Léia

Lenin

Leo

Leona

Leoni

Lhasa

Lila

Lili

Lilica

Linda

Lira

Little Lou

Lolita

Lord

Luana

Lucas

Lucky

Ludmila

Lully

Lulu

Luly

Luma

Lurdinha

Letra M

Mabel

Madalena

Madonna

Mafalda

Maggie

Magnun

Maisena

Malu

Manchinha

Mandachuva

Manoel

Mao

Marajá

Marcelle

Margarida

Margot

Maria

Marie

Marieta

Marilu

Marilyn

Mario Jorge

Mark

Marlene

Marley

Marllon

Marshmallow

Matilde

Matisse

Max

Mayfair

McDonald

Megi

Mel

Menininho

Merlin

Mia Farrow

Mia Maria

Mia

Mialice

Michael

Michelângelo

Michelle

Miguel

Mila

Milk

Milky

Millwood

Mimi

Minerva

Mingau

Minner

Minus

Mio

Missy

Miúda

Mizzy

Molly

Mogwai

Morgana

Morgause

Morris

Mozart

Mr. Magoo

Mr. Tibbs

Mufasa

Muffin-head

Muffins

Letra N

Nabuco

Nacho

Naila

Nala

Naomi

Napoleão

Nata

Natasha

Naytiri

Negresco

Neon

Nero

Nestor

Neve

Nick

Nicki

Nicolau

Nicole

Nike

Nikita

Nikkie

Nina

Noé

Nora

Nyashia

Letra O

Obelix

Odete

Ofélia

Ogden

Olavo

Oliver

Olívia

Oncinha

Onofre

Opus

Orson

Oscar

Oslo

Otávio

Ozzie

Letra P

Paçoca

Paloma

Pancho

Panda

Pandora

Pango

Pantufa

Patty

Paty

Paul

Pedrita

Peggy Sue

Pelota

Peludinho

Penelope

Pepita

Perebras

Peteka

Petty

Pety

Phoebe

Picco

Piggy

Pilão

Pingo

Pink

Pipa

Piper

Pipoca

Pirata

Pitchula

Pittuka

Pity

Platão

Poofy

Porpeta

Princesa

Prue

Puppy

Letra R

Rafael

Rajá

Ramon

Ramona

Ramone

Rapunzel

Rebeca

Reena

Ricky

Ringo

Rita

Romeu

Rosana

Rotten

Roxane

Rubi

Runa

Rush

Letra S

Safira

Salete

Salomão

Samantha

Samy

Sancho

Sandy

Sansão

Sapeca

Sarah

Sasha

Sashimi

Scarlet

Schroeder

Scissors

Scratchy

Scully

Sebastian

Serafim

Shamu

Shana

Sheena

She-Ra

Sherlock

Shiva

Silvestre

Simba

Simon

Sinatra

Sissi

Skol

Smurfette

Snowball

Socks

Sofia

Sonata

Soneca

Sony

Sopher

Sophia

Spock

Stan

Stephanie

Stinkey Pukey

Sugar

Suri

Sushi

Swedish Pie

Letra T

Tabatah

Tabbella

Tachinha

Tales

Talvany

Tango

Tango

Tanka

Tany

Tapioca

Tarik

Tati

Tatiana

Taxi

Teco

Tempestade

Teo

Teodoro

Tequila

Tiany

Tico

Timoteo

Tininha

Tiny

Tiphanny

Tipy

Titi

Tolstoi

Tom

Tomás

Tonho

Tonico

Torts

Toy

Tracy

Tricô

Trika

Tristan

Tuca

Tutti

Twister

Twix

Letra U

Ubinho

Udi

Uninho

Urana

Úrsula

Uto

Uva

Letra V

Valdemar

Valentin

Valentina

Vegas

Veludo

Verônica

Vicky

Vida

Viking

Vilão

Violeta

Viper

Virgílio

Vito

Vitória

Letra W

Walton

Watson

Whisky

William

Wizard

Letra X

Xarope

Xavier

Xênia

Xit

Xulica

Xuxa

Letra Y

Yan

Yasmin

Yeats

Yoda

Yoshi

Yuri

Letra Z

Zacarias

Zap

Zé

Zeca

Zenzero

Zhara

Ziggy

Zorro

Veja também:

Treinar o seu gato – Grandes dicas!

Gatinhos quais os cuidados a ter

Dicas para ter um gato FELIZ!

Gostou do artigo? Então NÃO deixe de PARTILHAR com os amigos!

O post Nomes para Gatos aparece primeiro no Universo de Gatos Blog.

from Universo de Gatos Blog http://bit.ly/2pk5729 via IFTTT

[mellicose]

If you're on the run Winding some place just tryin' to find the sun Whether the sunshine whether the rain River I love you just the same

But sometimes in a time of trouble When you're out of hand and your muddy bubbles Roll across my floor Carryin' away the things I treasure Hell there ain't ain't no way to measure Why I love you more than I did the day before

River in the rain Sometimes at night you look like a long white train Winding your way away from me River I've never seen the sea...

Alec x Grace

[mellicose]

The Sea Inside - Act Five, Part 4

Rated: Mature, for rough sex and mentions of cutting

Word Count: 3660

Summary: Despite Frank's omnipresence, Clara can't help but think back on more beautiful times with Hardy. After Frank tasks her with keeping a close eye on Hardy, Ieva starts to wonder about Clara's real reason for coming back.

The party was a success.

The greenhouse crawled with attractive costumed people. The champagne flowed and libidos were up. Frank kept her close, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. A couple walked by them, dressed as an iconic comic book couple.

“Look, it’s Catwoman!” she said, breaking from his grip.

“You did an amazing job,” she said, looking at the masked woman’s latexed body.

“Thank you, mistress,” she said, nearly bowing.

“Don’t be silly! Do a twirl - I want to see the back,” she said, pulling her back up.

The woman arched and turned, giving her a choice view.

“Ahh. Gorgeous,” she said. She cupped her hand on her ass, and giggled as the latex squeaked. “Fun.”

Frank walked up and saw Grace having a bit of fun. “Would you like them to join us?” he said, feeling particularly magnanimous.

“It’s okay. I was just admiring her costume,” she said, putting her hands on woman’s patent leather corseted waist. “It brings back memories.”

He nodded at them and they walked away, hand in hand.

“Memories?” he asked as he guided her back to their roped off area. “I don’t remember you ever dressing as Catwoman in one of our scenes.”

She lay in the pillows and drank her champagne. “It wasn’t a scene. Just a silly halloween thing. It was ages ago.”

He nodded slowly. It must’ve been when they were apart. He felt a hot, intense stab of jealousy. Most miserably, his cock stood straight up in his trousers because of it.

“Who did you wear it for?” he said, tracing the silver swirls up her thighs.

“I didn’t wear it for anyone in particular. It was for a halloween party,” she said. There was an unusual edge of irritation in her voice. He knew her too well. She was lying. His hand moved up her body and tangled in her hair. She sighed happily, then squealed as it turned into a fist.

“Get up.”

She rose, getting up on tip toe to ease the pain. It felt as if he might snatch her scalp right off her skull. A few people looked in their direction, then looked away again. Anyone who knew Frank knew about his temper. He walked quickly out of the greenhouse and up the stairs to their bedroom.

Want more? Click here, or on the link!

[mellicose]

The Sea Inside - Act Four, Part 3

Fandom: Broadchurch, Alec Hardy

Pairing: Hardy x Grace [Clara], Ellie x Melissa

Word Count: 4306

Warnings: Mild violence, mentions of past trauma, angst

Read previous chapter | Read on Ao3

Summary: With her visit to Hardy, Tess sets off an explosive cascade of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.

Clara stared at her phone uneasily. In the time they’d been together, Alec had never been away without explicitly telling her he wouldn’t be there when she got home.

She took off her scrubs and went into the shower.

Anxiety began to eat away at her, but she tried to drown it in the warm water.

He had never been inconsistent or secretive. They might’ve called him in to work. That’s all. He would call back soon enough with his apologies. She would forgive him and go to bed and feel silly for being insecure…

A faraway pain brought her back to the present. She had rubbed her belly raw with the loofah. She dropped it and turned off the water.

She sat down on the toilet, still dripping. He didn’t even text. Surprisingly, he had turned into an inveterate texter. He over texted his excuses when he couldn’t make something now. 

But there was no text. No quick, awkward message where he never fails to mention how much he hates voicemail.

Nothing.

She walked to the kitchen, still nude. Some of the cabinets were open, and the sink was sticky and brown with spilled tea. Alec’s. There was only one mug, though. She closed the cabinets and walked to the bedroom, sniffing the air.

It was excruciating, but it was habit. She looked at her vanity. Her high end lipsticks, which she usually lined up neatly on the table, were moved. Her Dior red was thrown in the middle of the table, still open, ruined.

Her face twitched.

She turned on the lights and looked around. The bed was still made, but that didn’t mean shit. She caressed the sheets, but her eyes searched them for stains.

It’s impossible. We did something last night. And this morning. Alec is eager, but he couldn’t possibly -

Something mint green and gauzy caught her eye. She hated green, and refused to wear it outside of scrubs. She stood stock still and let the inevitable wave of pain wash over her heart.

She closed her eyes. She wanted to scream. To cry and throw all the pointless trinkets of her new, better self against the wall.

Instead, she calmly picked it up. It was a watercolor scarf, hand painted by the looks of it. Silk. Her nose flared.

And it smelled exactly like Tess.

She fell to sitting, bunching the scarf in her trembling fists.

After everything, Alec allowed that woman in their home. In their bedroom. The insecurity she felt while in Tess’s home flooded back. She had asked whether she missed him. She understood why a woman like that would lie, but not him.

Had the party had knocked something loose in him that he thought he’d buried years ago?

Did he prefer Tess’s casual coldness to her silences? Had she frightened him away with the allusion to a family of their own?

She screamed each question louder and louder in her head, until she was a rocking, crying mess on the floor.

Tess’s smug face blinked more and more clearly in her mind’s eye. Even after all this time and suffering, he still loved Tess best. She had been just a placeholder, someone to warm his bed during his despair.

I keep telling you, little bird…

Frank’s voice cut through her anger cleanly. She went into a cold sweat.

Trust no man. None except me.

“Nooooo,” she said out out, putting her hands over her ears fruitlessly.

I hurt you, but that’s because I love you. And love hurts, little bird. It hurts like the dickens.

She stood up and started to recite the same nursery rhythms that her case worker had taught her so many years ago to calm herself when she felt she was going to have an anxiety attack.

Mary mary quite contrary how does your-

They hurt you, little bird

-how does your garden grow/with silver bells and cockle shells -

But you can hurt them right back. Just like Daddy taught you…

She forced her breathing to slow. The pain was settling in, something she had been able to block out when Alec had her well in hand…but he was gone.

He was not here. He was with her.

Her tendons sang with tension. There was once a time when she would not have gone running when someone hurt her or tried to hurt someone she loved. Daddy hadn’t only taught her to fuck. He’d taught her to fight.

She dressed slowly, putting on the white sundress that Alec loved so much. She raked her fingers through her damp hair, then dabbed some of the ruined red lipstick on her trembling lips.

She grabbed the bat she hid behind her door in case of intruders. The metal was cool and heavy in her hands, comforting. She caught sight of her reflection in her vanity.

Her eyes were huge and dark, her face red with a fever she had not allowed herself to feel for years. Rage started to bubble up through the cracks in her that not even Alec had been able to heal.

“Alec,” she said softly. His name was a benediction to her. Her eyes settled on his clothes, well worn and monotone, in her closet. The new shoes she had gotten him that he refused to wear because they were ‘far too chi chi’. His ties, draped on the chair by the door by her bras. Her face twisted with agony.

It was all just a dream. None of it had ever been real. Only the pain was real.  Her palm creaked against the bat’s rubber grip. She looked at a framed photograph of her and Alec that he had given her for Christmas. She was so happy. Already, she couldn’t remember the feeling.

She swung the bat in perfect form - she’d loved baseball as a kid - and the glass shattered. The frame bounced on the wall, leaving an ugly dent. She walked to where it landed and hit it again, and again, and again until the silver dented and the photo was completely destroyed. Tears streamed down her face, blinding her. She swung freely, hitting the lamp on the bedside table. It crashed and went dark. She walked to the framed art prints on her wall. De la Tour’s Magdalene shattered to nothing. The Vermeer girl that Alec complained followed him with her eyes. Botero’s version of Mona Lisa, which had made her giggle the first time she saw it. She broke them all, then the other lamp. She walked into her closet and took handfuls of clothes and threw them in the tub. All the pretty things Grace loved. Especially the gray skirt with the buttons. She picked up her bottles of perfume, stalked into the bathroom, and poured every single bottle - hundreds of pounds’ worth of perfume - onto thousands of pounds’ worth of clothes. Her heart rate increased. She went into a bathroom drawer and took out out a box of matches.

Grace would burn by her own hand. It was fitting.

She lit the match and threw it on the alcohol-doused clothing, and it went up like a bomb. Her eyes watered and her lungs stung but she watched it burn until the tub was a black crater of ash. By then, the smoke detectors were going crazy. She opened the windows, but the neighbors had to smell it by now, and they would call the fire brigade.

She picked the watercolor scarf off the floor, tore it in half, and wrapped it around her bleeding knuckle. Red bloomed through the layers of pale green. She slung the bat over her shoulder and grabbed her keys, leaving her purse and phone behind. It was lies anyway.

She put the bat on the passenger’s seat. She heard sirens from afar, and drove in the other direction to the nearest fast food joint for a cup of strong coffee.

She had a long drive ahead of her.

Hardy went back inside when the cold became unbearable. He tried to be silent, but his sodden pyjamas squished with each step. He walked to the bathroom and took them off, then tried to dry himself with a couple of Ellie’s hand towels. He crept like a pale wraith to where his street clothes were folded and put them on quickly, then wrapped the blanket around himself to stop his shivering.

As maudlin as it was, a good cry had really helped to clear his mind. It was not Clara’s fault that she had been born into such evil. And even though she had chosen not to tell him the uglier bits of her past, he loved her deeply, and understood.

Or better said, he would try. Every day.

“Clara,” he said out loud. “Clara Zamora.” He saw her face behind his closed eyelids. Heard her infectious laughter. How strong was she if could still laugh like that, after all she had known?

Tess had once told him that any woman worthy of the name has secrets. At the time, he didn’t think twice about it, since his love for her was still new. Only later did he realize exactly what she meant. Mystery, even pain, was alluring to a man like him. Why else would he have insisted with her after he caught her being unfaithful? Or insisted with Ellie, after her despair with Joe?

She was right, and she had seen it on Clara. That’s why she knew exactly how to pluck it, then researched her so thoroughly.

Tess was a clever monster.

He didn’t let anger overtake his sadness. Tess didn’t have to know that she had affected him, and Clara - Grace - didn’t have to know that he found out about her past. For her, he could keep the secret, and love her until she was ready to tell him, if it ever happened.

If not, he was completely okay with it.

He watched the rain on the window backlit by the floodlights in Ellie’s neighbor’s driveway. His eyelids drooped. He shifted position, and something dug painfully into his hip. He grabbed it and it vibrated - his cell. He squinted into the screen.

There were two missed calls and one text, all from Grace.

Where are you baby? I was looking forward to your prickly kisses xx

His eyes watered. He dialed her personal phone, eager to hear her voice, but it went straight through to voicemail.

“This is Doctor Grace Lastra. If this is an emergency, please dial 999. If not, kindly hang up because I most probably won’t bother with this message.” Then, a giggle.

“Ugh, I hate these. Darling, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you - I’m at Ellie and Mel’s house. Had a bit of a minor emergency, but everything’s alright now. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. We can go to the shops together. For the trousers, remember? I love you,” he said breathlessly just as the phone beeped in his ear.

He texted her as well.

Actually listen to the messages this time, baby. I love you.

He put the phone on the coffee table and yawned. The crying had made him sleepy. He turned on his side and hugged the pillow.

Just a few hours, he thought, then slipped into unconsciousness.

The firemen were ready to bust through the door, but they found that was was already open. They stomped into the apartment in full gear and found nothing but smoke and ruins.

“Jesus Christ. It’s like someone had a crackin’ row in ‘ere,” one of them said, lifting up the oxygen mask. Another fireman walked up behind him after checking the bathroom. He held a charred glass perfume bottle.

“It looks like he might’ve caught her cheating,” he said, eying the horribly dented frame. The couple in the photo was nearly indistinguishable. He had seen damage like this before. It had all the classic signs of a crime of passion. “There’s no one about, though. Whatever happened, whoever they were, they’re gone.”

Glass crunched underneath their heavy boots. One of them knelt and took a closer look at the off-white carpeting. “Looks like blood, mate. I think we might have to notify the police, just in case.”

The other one got on his two-way. “Could you get me the lease-holder’s name and number, please? Give them a ring. And notify the local police. This place is a wreck, and we just found blood.” He turned to the other fireman crawling over the detritus. “Alright, boys, you best feck off. We might be ruining valuable evidence.”

They grumbled and walked single file out of the apartment. One of them put his hand up.

“You hear that?” A phone rang somewhere close.

“Sounds like it’s coming from the parlor,” another said.The noise was coming from a woman’s handbag. “Over ‘ere.” He took off heavy gloves, and looked at the screen. The number was familiar.

“Fiona?”

“Aw, bollocks.” It was the dispatcher, trying to call the owner.

“Yeah, looks like she left her bag and mobile here,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Can we get a bead on the man in the photo?”

“On it, boss,” a younger one yelled. He walked outside, where a very worried man stood with his arms crossed. “You the landlord?”

“Yes. What’s the damage?”

The fireman’s eyebrows rose. “There’s some moderate damage to the bathroom, but it’s mostly soot.”

“Was it their fault?” he said.

“You should wait until the police come by and have a look. They can answer your questions far better than I can, sir,” he said. He took off his helmet and threw it in the back of the truck.

“Bloody hell, he is the police. Where is he?” he said.

“Who is?”

“The bloke who moved in with Dr. Lastra - been there about… four months now. He’s a DI for the local police. Hardy, I think ‘is name is. A sour-faced fucker,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what she sees in him.”

“I’ll let the captain know. Thank you for you assistance,” he said, and walked back into the building.

He ran into the captain in stairway. He was headed down, talking into his two way.

“I just spoke with the landlord. He says a DI Hardy lives there with Dr. Grace Lastra.”

“I got that from the post. Fiona just called the station. They have someone coming, but they are also calling DI Hardy. Apparently, he took off from work on the weekend. He didn’t say why, though.”

“A doctor and and DI,” the younger fireman said, shaking his head. “It doesn’t seem…right.”

The captain hoisted off his oxygen tank and shrugged. “I’ve been in the fire brigade for 20 years, and one of the first things I learned is that fancy titles don’t mean shit to raw human nature,” he said. He took off his heavy fireproof jacket. “Either way, it’s a police problem now.”

His phone rang him awake.

He jumped up quickly - he set it so it was always loud and clear when work called.

“DI Hardy.”

“Where are you?” the dispatcher said with no preamble.

“I’m at a friend’s home, about an hour and a half away. What’s going on?” He grabbed his tie and put it on. It was all muscle memory now - he didn’t even think about it.

“And Doctor Lastra?”

“At home sleeping, presumably,” he said. He felt a chill.

The young woman sighed.

“What is it, for God’s sake? It’s-” he looked at the phone screen “-2:19 in the morning.”

“There’s been a fire. Nothing too-”

He nearly dropped the phone. “Oh fuck, is she okay?”

“-Sir! Sir!” she was yelling into the phone. He ran up the stairs and knocked on Ellie’s door insistently.

“Ellie!” he said in a tense whisper. He heard her groan. Bed springs creaked and she opened, her hair a poofy tangle.

“Jesus, Hardy, what now?” she said. Just as soon as she saw his face, the sleep flew from her eyes. “What is it?”

“There’s been a fire. At my apartment-” He put the phone to his ear again, and winced. She was still yelling, trying to get his attention.

“-I’ve been trying to say-”

“Is Grace alright? Jesus Christ, is she hurt?” he said, his voice going higher with despair.

“-that she’s not there, sir. We have DS Pravhati there now. Her bag and mobile are still at the scene, but she’s gone. ”

“What d’you mean she’s not there? I have confirmation she got home safe two hours ago.” Ellie went into her walk in to dress. Mel put on her robe, her face steely with annoyance.

“I’ll have him call you just as soon as he finishes questioning the other tenants-”

“-No. You will have him call me now. The very instant you hang up.” He put on his suit coat and combed his fingers through his hair. It was still damp from the rain.

Ellie came out, dressed in a gray suit. She ran the brush blind through her curls and tied it up.

“Where are you going, Ellie?” Mel whispered as she put on socks and shoes.

“I’m going with Hardy,” she said, going into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Tom’s door opened.

“What’s with all the damn noise, Mum?” he said.

“Watch you mouth, young man,” Ellie said through foam. She spat and rinsed and gave him a smile. “Normal police drama,” she said. He scratched at his bare chest.

“But you and Hardy don’t even work together anymore,” he said, perplexed.

“Didn’t stop me before,” she said and gave him a quick kiss. “We’re a good team. I’m off.” He rolled his eyes and went back into his bedroom.

“Miller!” he yelled from the bottom of the stairs. The front door creaked open.

Mel grabbed her elbow. “Ellie, I’ve got a bad feeling about all this. Just…let him go. Stay here with me. I sleep best with you.”

She took Mel’s hand, kissed her knuckles, then went after Alec.

He didn’t like to wait.

She drove through the sleep-silent streets, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. Soon, Tess’s white bungalow with the hydrangea bushes underneath the parlor window came into view. She let out a shuddering breath.

She had made a three hour trip in an hour and 45 minutes. The needle had gone past 120 miles an hour more than once, but miraculously, no police had been snoozing by a radar.

She didn’t cry a drop since getting in the car, but it also felt like she had not blinked. Her corneas ached, but her vision was catlike.

She brought the car to a silent stop at the mouth of the driveway.

She spent the whole drive fighting back the overlapping waves of anxiety, anger, and despair, but now that she’d arrived, she couldn’t feel him. She opened the door and sniffed the air. Her dark eyes flashed gold.

Nothing.

She looked down, and she gripped the bat firmly in the hand still wrapped in Tess’s scarf. She hissed and pulled it off. It drifted to the concrete. Her car - a shiny gray SUV with the brand new transmission she bought - sat in the driveway. The house was dark. The windows blinked blindly in the street lights.

Her grip loosened.

She was in my home. In my bedroom.

Her mouth filled with bile.

She came into our home.

Still, she hesitated. Grace - she had a nice life. And a lovely man.

But after everything, he was the one who let her in. To the bedroom where they made love just hours before. Where she dropped her tacky scarf doused in her stinking perfume.

Yet Grace could survive. She’d gone through far worse.

She took a step back. Her bare feet slapped on the concrete. She looked down, surprised. She forgot to put on shoes. There was something written into the concrete underneath her foot.

Tess + Hardywith a heart around it. Inside, as well, was the imprint of a tiny hand, and a date. Summer of ‘04.

Tears dripped from her chin to the pavement. They had once been a real family, something she’d never, ever had. Even with the bitterness, who’s to say there wasn’t still love left? Could she blame Alec if he wanted to be with the mother of his only child? Why else would he have let her in? All that talk of poison meant nothing if he kept drinking her in. Could she, of all people, blame him?

She knelt and leaned heavily against the bat. She was in agony.

Alec was the sunbeam eaking through the cracks in her dark room. He was the promise of love, and normalcy.

But now, he hurt more than years of abuses piled on abuses had ever hurt. She shivered. He’d become the torturer to give her sweet relief, just to turn the screw even tighter.

She stood, teetering. The bat’s metal sung as she dragged it beside her walking to the hydrangeas in front of the house. The flowers were deep blue.

Of course they were. Alec had lived and loved there. She caressed the blossoms, but her hand turned to a ripping claw. Blue flew over her shoulder until she had topped both bushes. She was ankle deep in dying flowers. Fury blossomed in her chest. It felt almost erotically good, since it obliterated the pain.

Tess was in her home. She came in her bedroom. Tainted her things. Took what she had marked as hers.

She raised the bat. Her lips peeled back from her teeth and she ran, silently, toward Tess’s car.

Hardy’s car was already humming when Ellie stepped in. He pulled out of the driveway with a screech.

“Easy. You’ll scare the neighbors,” Ellie said.

He changed gears, but the car didn’t respond quick enough to suit him. The gears ground hideously.

She put her hand on his. “Let me drive. I always drive.”

Without a word, he stopped and got out of the car. They changed places and she drove out of the neighborhood without a sound.

She waited until they hit the carriageway to open her mouth.

“What happened?”

He grunted. “I don’t know. Pravhati hasn’t called yet.” He checked his mobile. No one had called. He dialed the dispatcher.

“Detective Hardy?”

He didn’t mince words. “Why hasn’t Pravhati called?”

“He did not answer when I called him - he must be in the middle of an interview - but I texted him to contact you immediately.”

“I’m on my way back. Regardless, I will be taking over as soon-” His phone vibrated in his hand.”-What the hell?”

It was Daisy.

She was sobbing. “Dad! Oh God where are-” she was cut off. There was rustling as someone took her phone.

“Hardy!” It was Tess.“Bloody fucking ‘ell,” she said, going into the Northern accent she reverted to only when she was truly upset. Daisy wept somewhere close and tried to take her phone back. There was a slap and a moan.  “Your crazy bitch of a girlfriend just tried to kill us both,” she said, panting into the phone. “Ruined the car, ripped out the hydrangeas and nearly took my fucking ‘ead off before I zapped her with my Taser.”

“Where is she?”

“Who the fuck cares where she is,” Tess screamed. “She was trying to kill me with a goddamn baseball bat, screaming bloody murder about taking what’s hers or some shite-”

“Mum, why were you over there today? What did you dooo?” Daisy wailed. He heard another sharp slap.

“You keep your mouth shut, young lady. And just to let you know, I’m aware what you’re up to with yer father.”

“Tess.” His voice was soft. She was still panting. “Where is Grace?”

“Grace? What a fucking irony that name is,” she said. “Jesus, look at my car,” she said in despair. “Just got it fixed, too.”

“Where is Grace?!” he screamed. Ellie gasped and drove into the breakdown lane.

She sniffed. “Where d’ye think? I tased her before she killed us both, and she passed out in our driveway. I cuffed her and called Zed. She’s been arrested, and you bet your narrow ass I’m pressing charges, so don’t start.”

“Where is she?” he asked a third time.

“Our old station,” she said.

“Dad, please come! I want to go-” His phone vibrated in his ear again. It was Pravhati.

“Grace is in Sandbrook,” he answered flatly.

“Yes, sir. The station just phoned. The damage to the apartment is minimal. Items of clothing burnt in the bathtub, and she destroyed art prints and some photos in the bedroom. There was a bloody piece of cloth - looks like a scarf, torn in half and discarded. We’re taking that in, and some blood samples from the carpet.  Other than that, nothing worthy of note.”

“Och aye?”

Tess tried to call him back, but he ignored the vibrating.

“Yes, sir. It looks like she was upset and decided to burn most of her clothes and break things.” He paused. “Do you have any idea what might’ve happened in the last 24 hours to make her behave in this fashion?”

He took a deep breath. He was getting tunnel vision. “Tell the captain I’ll be in later. I’m going to Sandbrook,” he said, and hung up.

He opened the window a crack and pushed his phone through it. Ellie drove quietly, her face pale with secondhand misery.

“Could you turn around, head north?”

“We’ve been headed that way for the last ten minutes,” she said. “We’ll be there soon enough.” The gas pedal touched the floor.