#also included the church shot in this since it fit the colors

[vdearest]

– seattle: day 3, abby – the escape

[dsknsk]

A lot of people feel, including me, like Mabayu doesn't seem to fit within the main Holy Quintet. In this post I'm going to try and explain what I think are the reasons behind that.

I'm putting aside the fact that she was designed later, because that's something that's rather obvious. I'm looking at the stuff under the hood now, and I think the main cause is this:

The Holy Quintet by itself already forms a clear and concise group design-wise.

The Holy Quintet is an expertly designed group, because they still maintain their sense of individuality when viewed alone. Remember, the first instance that had all of these five work together on the big screen was Rebellion, not even the main series. This meant that a lot of the time, we were seeing these five girls on their own, not as a group. And yet their designs also work well when viewed as a group.

Each girl has a certain set theme and a certain color that their costume heavily features. Their designs do a good job of conveying their personality, since it is heavily implied that in this universe, one's own magical outfit is basically what you think you'd look badass in.

Madoka herself incorporates elements of the traditional magical girl and fairy themes, and her main color is pink. Despite that, she also incorporates flowers (i.e red rose on her bow, because deep red roses were often symbolic of the wounds of Christ, and the cherry blossom on her skirt because of her death/rebirth symbolism) in her design in a much more subtle manner. Her weapon being a bow and arrow meanwhile points towards her tendency to see herself as plain (as a bow and arrow tend to be plain weapons) and at the same time, her determination that works behind the scenes. In the end, Madoka's outfit shows her personality that's kind, gentle, but still very determined and knowing what she wants in the end.

Sayaka's outfit balances themes of girly romance, music, and the knight in shining armor, and her main color is blue. Out of everyone in the Quintet, her outfit shows the most skin. I believe that this is on purpose for multiple reasons - one being that her wish was intended to be a step on her journey to receive the love of a boy. That aside, while she has a knight theme (with a heroic cape and all), she's also still very fond of things like love and music, so some sense of stereotypical girliness is also translated into the ruffles and the collar. Her weapon is of course a cutlass, one that wouldn't be out of place within a pirate setting, and one that hints at the stereotype of the hero always being the one with the sword. Sayaka's outfit, when everything comes together, conveys the image of someone with heroic ideals driven by their ideas of love and romance.

Mami's outfit has themes of the German dirndl and the huntress, while also at the same time being her image of a proper lady, and her main color is yellow. It's not the screaming, fluorescent kind of yellow, but the soothing, soft yellow we often associate flowers with. That said, she also has flower themes to encapsulate her 'proper lady' image. (That's also why she has those ojou ringlets - it's what a girl's idea of a fancy lady would look like, and Mami's whole thing is that she's a young teen who has a facade of maturity). Her rifles are typically single-shot and her ribbons bind, tie herself and others to the life of a Puella Magi, something that really has no reward. Also, because ribbons typically wrap gifts, and she thought she was getting a gift when wishing. Mami's outfit displays that sense of maturity she wants others to see, and the effectiveness of a marksman who never misses (hey...).

Kyouko's outfit incorporates both pirate-y elements and hints to her religious background, and her main color is red. I mean, the symbol of her father's church is literally what holds her Soul Gem in it. Aside from that, Kyouko's outfit is by far the simplest so to say, but there's clearly gone thought in it. The way it flares out at the bottom allows for both the only ruffles she has to show and prevents the coat from being too long so that she can still move freely in it. Her own weapon being a spear gives her great flexibility (as it allows one to fight while still keeping a distance from your opponent) and her personal magic being confusion (cloning is a good way to confuse others) with some added barriers stems from her wish. The entire package translates to an outlaw image, from someone who does what they want regardless of what others may think, but at the same time also hints to their hidden trauma.

Homura, finally, is a very curious example of a school uniform with dull, mourning colors, a very subtle theme of time and a main color that's purple. Her own outfit isn't all that different from her school uniform, hinting at that school was the only place where she formed a meaningful connection, and its dull colors much reflect the mourning situation she was in when she made her wish. It conveys this sense of cold calmness that surrounds her for much of the main series, including her shield. A shield can be used to protect oneself and or others, and one can say that her main aim is to protect someone else, rendering herself useless when that goal is gone. She has also protected, hidden much of herself away in that entire process.

And then I look at Mabayu.

(edit is in the other post on my blog by the way).

This outfit conveys one thing: movies! What else? Movies! What's her personality? That she's a cinephile, of course!

Color-wise, her outfit's main color is purple, and her Soul Gem and eyes are too (indicating that that's what her main color is supposed to be), but her hair is bright green with a yellowish tint. In my personal opinion, green and purple don't tend to fit well with eachother. I'm not sure what it is, but...it's not good on my eyes. It also happened with the collaboration Senjougahara. I'm not immediately saying that her hair should be purple, as I'm not too fond of the hair's design having to fit within her movie theme either, as I doubt it'd bring a meaningful change, but it being this yellowy green color doesn't work for me. It's just a part of a whole that doesn't exactly click in my head. None of the other five girls had their hair clash with their main color, which is I think one of the reasons Mabayu sticks out.

Fanservice is another element that I want to mention. None of the main five have a cut like this in their skirts, and while Sayaka is the one showing the most skin, I believe that the way her outfit shows skin has a purpose within the whole of it. Mabayu's skirt cuts like this:

Which is. A thing.

That aside...we don't really know much about this girl aside from that she loves movies (golly gee who'd have guessed) yet. The Holy Quintet have established personalities that we've got to know and love for years now. Mabayu is a newcomer from we are supposed to believe that she was somehow the missing puzzle piece. The missing puzzle piece that was never mentioned anywhere in any kind of media work before, never present in any kind of history we've been shown like The Different Story, or anywhere hinted towards even existing. We have to believe that she was somehow cut away from it. The role she originally played in all of this? I don't know. My best guess is that the way she cuts things with her weapon and the way her stupid skirt is cut hints at her being cut out, but that's a weak connection in itself.

Speaking of her weapon...all five girls use traditional, old-fashioned weapons. Mabayu uses a cut-in-half scissor that is normally used to cut movie reels with, repurposed as a weapon. It being cut in half is I think also meant to convey that she was somehow 'cut' from the Holy Quintet. Which I still have a hard time believing. It's like an idea a particularly wannabe fan would come up with, by inserting their own OC into the main gang.

And I'm not quite sold on the idea of her being the OG Witch that became Walpy. Yet. Partially because I think that the OG magical girl behind Walpy deserves a better design.

[beepboop358]

A Prom in S4 Theory & Music Coding Predictions

Some leaked set pics indicate that there MAY BE a junior/senior prom at Hawkins High, which they are calling the "Lover's Ball". It's unclear if this prom will be included on screen, or if it will just be mentioned as an event coming up at Hawkins High because this flyer could just extra set decor. Regardless if the prom happens on screen or not, there will probably be some tension about 'who's asking who' to the prom that we will see in s4. Given that this picture was just leaked a few weeks ago, it probably falls closer to the end of the season sequentially.

Having a big school dance in s4 is suspiciously close to how they had the Snowball scene in s2. This would certainly follow the even/odd season patterns, (and actually add to the list of the patterns), which kind of makes me think we will see this prom on screen, or at the very least it will be mentioned in the course of the season.

The Duffer Brothers love Steven King and reference his work and especially 'IT' a lot in the show, but they haven't done anything with Carrie yet so maybe we will get a Carrie moment this season at the prom...

Carrie was on the video store fridays movie inspiration board for ST4.

At the "Lover's Ball", there will be definitely be some music coding relating to Byler. Since music coding is kind of a key thing in the show, I've been rifling through 80's songs to try and find some that may fit with s4's themes/character storylines (and I may do a seperate post about that later), but for this post I'm just gonna focus on what they might use at the prom for relating to Byler.

Since the season is most likely going to take place in 1986, I only selected songs that had a compatible release year so it would be historically accurate. (these songs would also be great for a byler playlist!)

Some strong contenders for the songs that might play at the prom to reference Mike and Will's relationship could be:

"True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper (1986)

This song is honestly too good of an option for them not to use. I'm reallllyyy crossing my fingers for this one.

It's hard to take courage In a world full of people You can lose sight of it all And the darkness inside you Can make you feel so small

"And I see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid (don't be afraid) To let them show your true colors True colors are beautiful (you're beautiful, oh) Like a rainbow Oh oh oh oh oh like a rainbow"

If this world makes you crazy And you've taken all you can bear You call me up Because you know I'll be there

"Heaven" by Bryan Adams (1984)

This first verse is literally just the story of Byler... 😭 The rest of the song applies but that verse verse is just sooooo accurate. (I'm crossing my fingers for this one too)

"Oh thinkin' about all our younger years There was only you and me We were young and wild and free Now nothing can take you away from me We've been down that road before But that's over now You keep me comin' back for more

Baby you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven And love is all that I need And I found it there in your heart Isn't too hard to see We're in heaven

Oh once in your life you find someone Who will turn your world around Bring you up when you're feelin' down Yeah nothin' can change what you mean to me Oh there's lots that I could say But just hold me now 'Cause our love will light the way"

"Take My Breath Away" by Berlin (1986)

This song is on Will's Spotify playlist, and I thought it could also be used at the prom since it's a romantic song. I see it as an 'entrance to the prom' moment song, almost like a 'first look' - like the Mike and El moment at the snowball when she first walks in, but with Mike and Will this time. I think the lyrics clearly hint to this kind of 'first look' moment as well.

"Watchin' every motion in my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean, finally lovers know no shame Turning and returning to some secret place inside Watchin' in slow motion as you turn around and say...take my breath away"

Watchin' every motion in this foolish lover's game Haunted by the notion, somewhere there's a love in flames Turning and returning to some secret place inside Watchin' in slow motion as you turn my way and say...take my breath away"

"In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins (1981)

This song was originally meant to be included in the snowball scene from s2, but it ultimately was not used and "Every Breath You Take" was used for this scene instead. Since it was intended to be a part of the s2 dance, that's why I think it may be used at the prom this season. (you can read the scripts on 8flix)

——— I forgot to include this explanation originally BUT, I think this song might be used to show some anger/resentment between the two, and to show a decent amount of tension, depending on their development this season. Like maybe Mike is kind of leading Will on in private by continuing to initiate intimate scenes between them, but in public Mike is still trying to put on his “straight boy act” and kind of being a jackass about it, and this song could be used to show the tension between them that has caused.

"And I've been waiting for this moment, for all my life, (Oh lord)

Well, I was there and I saw what you did I saw it with my own two eyes So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been It's all been a pack of lies.

Well I remember, I remember don't worry How could I ever forget It's the first time, the last time we ever met But I know the reason why you keep this silence up

No you don't fool me The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows It's no stranger to you and me"

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel (1986)

Some of the lyrics in this song just SCREAMS byler, just look at the 1st, 2nd and 4th paragraphs. I would be suprised if they didn't use this song in either s4/s5.

Love, I get so lost sometimes Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart When I want to run away I drive off in my car But whichever way I go I come back to the place you are

All my instincts, they return The grand facade, so soon will burn Without a noise, without my pride I reach out from the inside

In your eyes The light, the heat (in your eyes) I am complete (in your eyes) I see the doorway (in your eyes) To a thousand churches (in your eyes) The resolution (in your eyes) Of all the fruitless searches (in your eyes)

Love, I don't like to see so much pain So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away I get so tired working so hard for our survival I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

"Heroes" by David Bowie (1975)

David Bowie was bisexual. A cover of his song “Heroes” is used in the show twice already, sung by Peter Gabriel. The song plays when they pull Will's fake body out of the water in season one and Mike cries in his Mom's arms, with some very queer-coded lyrics in the background, and after Hopper's letter in s3 (which is very Byler-centric)

"I will be king. And you, you will be queen 'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact. Yes, we're lovers, and that is that. Though nothing will keep us together. We could steal time just for one day We can be heroes forever and ever. What d'you say? I, I wish I could swim, like dolphins, like dolphins could swim I, I can remember (I remember) Standing by the wall (By the wall) And the guns shot above our heads (Over our heads) And we kissed as though nothing could fall (Nothing could fall) And the shame was on the other side. Oh, we can beat them forever and ever. Then we could be heroes just for one day We're nothing, and nothing will help us Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay But we could be safer just for one day"

I just thought the above songs might be some highly likely possibilities given that they fit the year of the s4 and also make references to not only love, but the idea of hiding, pain, shame, longing, etc., and can make some (partially stretching here) references to other things in the show such as:

RAINBOWS and TRUE COLORS, SHINING THROUGH (rainbows imagery is always associated with Mike & Will in the show and a is symbol of lgbtq+ pride, True Colors shining through = who you really are on the inside finally coming out)

IF THIS WORLD MAKES YOU CRAZY ("crazy together", "only love makes you that crazy" and references the "world" motif in the show)

YOUNGER YEARS, ONLY YOU AND ME, YOUNG, WILD AND FREE (references "not wanting things to change" and wanting "to make things go how they were" part in Hopper's letter, and the "But we're not kids anymore" comment during the Byler fight)

ENDLESS OCEAN and SWIM, LIKE DOLPHINS (references water's significance in the show)

FLAMES (Will in front of the burning car in s4 teaser?)

LIES and LYING (Mike lying to El about how he feels)

INSTINCTS RETURNING, FACADES BURNING, WITHOUT MY PRIDE, I REACH OUT FROM THE INSIDE (Mike's feelings for Will are his instincts, the facade is the act he put on in s3 to seem straight, burning could reference Will & fire, and I think the last 2 lines of that 2nd verse reference vulnerability- perhaps in an apology/confession)

I GET SO LOST (confusion about his sexuality, feeling lost without the other) and SO MUCH WASTED TIME (known each other since kindergarten but were unaware the other felt the same way/was dealing with same things, they could have been even closer)

KINGS and QUEENS (the d&d game mike wrote where he has king Tristan give him a medal in s1)

STEALING TIME (references "turning back the clock, to make things go how they were" part in Hopper's letter and the time theme in s4 and time is central to the s4 plot)

AND WE KISS - AND THE SHAME (references the shame they both feel about being gay since it was so stigmatized in the 80's)

Byler @ Prom Possibilities:

If Mike and Will did dance together at the prom, they will probably get bullied because they live in a small conservative town. They will probably either run out, upset, or Eleven will step in to protect them which could lead to the Carrie moment.

Or Mike and Will will not dance together in the actual dance room, but instead sneak off to somewhere else in the school and have a private Byler dance moment where they can't be teased and it's just them together.

OR Mike and Will are still acting weird at this point in the season because neither of them is communicating what needs to be said out of fear, or one of them has confessed or done something to indicate how they feel, but the other hasn’t so everything is weird between them. There would be lots of tension from this and we would get lots of longing looks and adoring moments between the two of them from the sidelines. (I think this one is the most likely)

[imagine-it-to-be-true]

Fix You - Caius Volturi x FemOC Three Shot: Part 2

Hey guys! So, originally, this story was supposed to be a One-shot. But because of the overwhelming amount of requests I’ve received (thank you so much sweeties, by the way), I’ve decided to make it into a three parter. This is part 2, and the first part can be found on my blog. I’m not sure when I get around to writing part 3 as uni starts back up today, but I’ll try my best not to keep you in suspense for too long. This part is more centred around chaos than romance. Nothing belongs to me (including the GIF) Also, warnings: violence, blood, death.

Andromeda’s POV

The sensations were weird. First, I had been in a lot of pain around my stomach region. I could hardly breathe, let alone express my pain to the handsome-yet-creepy, blonde stranger taking care of me. Though I’m sure he knew. I mean, even I knew I was dying, and he was helpless to save me, so I didn’t bother speaking. I could see the concern in his eyes and hear his sweet whisperings as he stroked my cheeks and wiped away my tears. But these little comforts were not enough to stop the hurt. Then, when I saw him holding a huge syringe, it sent me into panic mode. I never liked needles, not to mention ones which were about to inject unfamiliar liquids into me. But he reassured me it would help, which calmed me down. Not like I could defend myself in that moment anyways. I guess it couldn’t hurt me more. It turned out he was right. After a few minutes, I noticed the pain slowly going away. Maybe it wasn’t the liquid, but the fast-approaching release of death, I wasn’t sure. My cries began to slow, and I could feel more pleasant sensations, such as the pale man stroking my hand with his thumb, gently massaging circles into it. Then, he asked,

“What is your name, omorfiá mou?”

Gasping for air, I attempted to speak,

“Andromeda,” came my whispered reply. With my half-opened eyes, I was able to see his perfect lips draw up in a smile. Focusing on his features, I didn’t even realize that my pain was entirely gone, and I was feeling rather loopy. I watched the man bend down closer to me, brushing my hair back and running his ice-cold knuckles down the side of my neck. Suddenly I felt a sense of vulnerability. I felt his cool breath hitting my ear as he whispered,

“Do not be afraid. You will live forever. You are mine now, and I will never let anything hurt you again.” I was confused and fear began to resurface. I had gotten away from one creep, only to be taken by another. This man scared me to my core. But before I could dwell on my thoughts, I saw him quickly lean down towards my neck, as if he was about to kiss me. That was not what happened.

Indeed, I momentarily felt his cool lips touch the sensitive skin of my neck. But then a sharp pain erupted. Whatever it was that he injected into me was definitely helping. I was aching again, though differently this time. It was a dull, electrifying, fiery sensation, which immediately spread from my neck to my brain, and all the way down to the tips of my toes. My body was on fire, but it was not as intense. If one were to be scratched over and over and over again, pain would increase. This was what I was going through. It was continuous and that was making it worse. An hour had passed, then two, then I lost count. I couldn’t see anything anymore, my vision clouded. Yet I could still hear him. He never seemed to leave. Others would come and go. Time would pass and I would feel needles in my arms. I assume he kept injecting me with whatever it was, which managed my pain; probably morphine. I learned his name was Caius from others who had come in and spoken to him. Caius. What an unusual name. But it fit him.

He had injected so much morphine into me that the dull burning sensation eventually stopped. That, or perhaps I adjusted to it. I could not tell how much time had passed, but by now, it had been a while, for sure. I had given up. If it were not for his constant voice, and feeling of his icy hands touching my own, I would have believed I passed on. But eventually, my vision slowly began to return. I hadn’t felt injections in hours, and no pain returned, which was strange.

The entire time I lay there, presumably dying, I thought of my life. Who would miss me? I had no parents. Both died in a car crash when I was 12. I was in the back seat and miraculously survived. Given no time to adjust to the tragedy, I was immediately placed in a foster home in New Haven, where I experienced endless amounts of bullying. But as with all foster children, my stay was temporary. For the next five years, I bounced from one home to the next. This made me reserved, quiet, and untrusting. I was socially awkward and had very few friends. My main comforts came from the company of animals. Truthfully, I got used to this solitary existence, finding that I expressed myself better through storytelling than the spoken word. In fact, my unfortunate childhood did not impact my standing at school. I was always a good student, and this landed me a fully paid scholarship to NYU where I completed a double degree in journalism and history. The lack of family and friends allowed me to dedicate all my time to my studies and work, which was conducting research for my professor. Then, after graduating, I decided to make a drastic change and start fresh with a move to Europe. For the last two years, I had spent my time travelling several countries and writing articles on historical artifacts, buildings, and churches. I sold my stories to networks as a freelance historical journalist, living alone and moving often from place to place. In fact, Volterra was my last stop in Europe before I planned to relocate to Egypt and focus on Pharaonic history there. Not many of Volterra’s tourists knew about the building I had been photographing, which was off the main street and down an alleyway. It was not glamorous, but historic, which drove me to it. That is where I was and what I was doing when I was suddenly grabbed and dragged into a dark alleyway.

My life had been flashing before my eyes over and over again. I wanted to live. To do better. To be better. I was sick of being alone. So, when my vision began returning, I was filled with motivation to live. Really live. Finally, I could focus my eyes. I stared up at what appeared to be a bed canopy. It was velvet, and dark red in color. To my right, I could sense the smell of burning candles. It was so prominent that it made my nose burn. My hands were balled into fists, grasping the cotton sheets and I could see that I ripped holes in them. How much pain was I in that I ripped a bedsheet with my bare hands? I then noticed something strange. I was not breathing. Since when was I not breathing? This frightened me immensely, and I bolted into an upright sitting position. As I did, the bed violently shook. The canopy swayed as if it would collapse at any second. Did I do this? I’m a weak little girl who couldn’t even fight off a drunk man in an alleyway, how was I doing all this? I heard a sound to my left and immediately snapped my head towards the source. It was a young woman – girl more like it – that I did not recognize. She had strange red eyes, much like my rescuer. But she frightened me more than him. There was a certain evil surrounding her, I could sense it. How, I did not know. All I knew was that she did not wish me well.

“Hello, Andromeda.” She spoke coolly.

I looked at her, suspicion and confusion painted over my face.

“H-how do you know my name?”

“Master Caius told me.”

‘Master?’ that sounded strange. Not something a girl would call a man. What was this, a sex trafficking operation? Before I could speak, she continued.

“He has been by your side. He will return any minute now. He went out hunting for you.” She spoke like an information-giving robot: just spewing facts, unmoving, her expression unchanging.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Hunting… that’s not necessary. I- I don’t eat meat.” Her expression finally changed. Her smirk transformed into a creepy smile, and she let out a laugh.

“Believe me, dear girl. It is not exactly meat he will be returning with.” She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room. Two guards opened the bedroom door for her and shut it as she left. So, they have my room guarded. I guess they aren’t going to let me leave.

I was not in a hurry; I needed to see Caius. Thank him. And ask him how he was able to fix me. Was I remembering correctly that he bit me?! What a strange thing to do. I looked down on my stomach, which was completely injury-free. Then, I reached my hand to the back of my neck, trying to feel any bitemarks there. Nothing. What the hell? I did not understand. I had a lot of questions and needed answers, the most pressing of which was why my throat was on fire. I would have asked the girl, but something in me yelled to keep my distance from her; that she was dangerous. Slowly, I stood up from the bed, noticing that the white dress I had on when I was shot was no longer on me. Instead, I wore a soft, white nightgown, with lace on the collar. It seemed like a typical garment from Tudor England, or something. It was unlike anything I had seen in any mall or shop. Come to think of it, the entire room had a historic, gothic feel to it. The décor resembled a royal palace.

My feet hit the marble floor and I began walking around the room, making my way to the bookshelf. There, a massive assortment of books awaited. However, they were not the typical books one would find in a normal home. These were all historic and ancient. I picked up a copy of the Iliad. Looking at the bindings, I could tell the book was old. More interestingly, it was still written in Homeric Greek – not a language many would be able to read. Whoever this belongs to was most definitely smart.

Suddenly, I felt the burning in my throat worsen. The sensation intensified to the point where I was nearly panicking. Ready to run for the doors and ask the guards for help, I heard footsteps approaching.

The door swung open, and the man… Caius walked in. No longer dying, I could properly admire his features. He looked perfect, truly. Not a single flaw on his face or skin. His nearly white, blonde hair carefully combed back behind his ears. He moved towards where I was sat in an armchair and knelt in front of me. Immediately, I was filled with a calmness. It was like I was home. I cannot describe it completely, but it was as if all problems were erased, and I was safe. This was the second time I managed to judge a person based on feelings, all within the last few minutes. First with the young woman from earlier, and now Caius. Before he could speak, the feeling was gone, and replaced once again with unease and danger, as I watched the young woman reappear, dragging a man by his wrist. Behind her, the guards entered the room and stood on either side of the man. I could feel that he was not dangerous, as the fear was practically radiating off him. The woman stepped behind him and gave him a push towards me.

“Dinner,” she stated coldly. I looked from her to the frightened man, to Caius. I could see annoyance on his face, as he turned to her and spoke.

“Must you, Jane? Do you not know of patience?”

“Forgive me, Master Caius. You were not one to show patience often, and I do learn from you.” She stated simply.

When Caius turned to me, I was grasping my throat, which was burning almost unbearably. “What is happening?!” I choked out.

“I know this will not make sense to you right now, and I will explain everything, I promise. But the only thing that will stop the ache is if you drink blood. You need to drink this man’s blood.” Caius whispered to me, out of earshot of the poor man.

I froze and looked at him with wide eyes, face in complete and utter shock.

“WHAT?! What did you just say?!” I exclaimed, not believing what I heard.

He sighed and leaned in once again, whispering. “In order to save your life from your injuries, I was forced to turn you into a vampire. You need blood, and you need it now. Trust me.” He tried again.

“I WILL NOT! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!” Hastily standing, I pushed him away. My intention was to give him a normal, hard push so that he gets the message. But nothing prepared me for what happened. When I pushed him, he went flying across the room and hitting a marble column, which shattered on impact. Immediately, the room was filled with noise and dust as the column went crashing down around him. I pushed myself into the corner of the room and watched in terror. That impact would have killed an elephant. Yet Caius, simply rose, brushing dust off his blazer and pants. The evil woman – Jane as he called her – appeared emotionless as she turned her attention from Caius to me.

“Fine. More for us then,” she said. What followed, was simply too much for me to handle.

First, I heard Caius yelling, “Jane, NO!” In one swift motion, she tore the frightened man’s throat with her teeth. Blood gushed out from the wound, spilling all over the white marble floor. I screamed in terror. But what was even more terrifying than the poor man’s death, was the smell of his blood. It was driving me crazy. It was like nothing I had ever experienced it. I craved it. Needed it. And was so close to taking it all for myself. But with any remaining strength I had left, I stopped myself. This was not me. I was a vegetarian because I cared for the well-being of animals. There was not a thing in the world which would force me to do anything to harm another living soul. So, I curled up in a ball in my corner and rocked back and forth, trying to focus my senses on anything other than the delicious smell of blood.

“I will deal with you later. Take him and leave, now!” I heard Caius’ voice. “You are not to come here again; you are not to see her! Now go!”

“Yes, Master Caius.” I heard her disgusting, venomous voice once again as she left. The doors closed and the room was filled with silence.

I momentarily thought Caius left too, but then I felt the sensation of safety return to me.

“How did I do that?” I ask with a shaking voice.

“You are a new vampire. For the first few weeks, you will be stronger than the rest of us. This will pass, and you will adjust.” He said gently.

I continued hugging my knees and rocking. Caius continued.

“This is not how a newborn should experience the first moments. But Andromeda…” he hesitated, “You need to feed. If you do not, it will only get worse. Your awareness will seize to function, and you will eventually kill more than you would have otherwise.”

With no response from me, Caius reached for my hands, placing his own over them. This woke a rage inside of me. I grasped his wrists and pushed him backwards. His back hit the wall, not as hard this time. I began speaking.

“You did this to me. You made me this… this… monster. This is on you. You should have let me die. Now, because of your selfish need for heroism, I will murder countless others.”

We both rose to our feet. He gently approached me again, saying my name, but I held my hand up to block him. “Get out. I don’t ever want to see you again. I hate you.”

With that, I pushed him towards the direction of the door. He paused,

“Andromeda-”

“GET OUT!” I picked up a glass vase and threw it in his direction, and he finally left. I sat down on the cold marble tiles, pressing my back against the wall, and screamed in agony.

[melodyalanaroster]

Miracle Romance

"Oh my god." Alana gasped with tears in her eyes. She stood in front of a large mirror and stared at herself. "I finally look like Serenity." She smiled as she left the dressing room and showed herself to Nathaniel. "You look amazing." Nathaniel smiled. Alana began to cry. “For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be like her... And now, even for a few moments... I can be her.” Tears made their way down her face as she smiled. "I guess I have to break your one rule." Nathaniel smiled. "You are not dying your hair black." Alana remarked. "I could wear a wig." Nathaniel replied. “But Nath... We talked about this...” Alana began. "I am not letting anyone else be your Endymion." Nathaniel interjected.

★

Throughout Alana's life, she had made it very clear that Sailor Moon had been a staple to her. It was a staple in the Roster family. By the time Alana reached the point of living in the Black Tower, at least four generations of the family enjoyed it. Including both primary sets of sisters, Margaret and little Ravenna.

She would play pretend with Viktor, Severina and Sam when they were children. She would always be Sailor Moon and Princess Serenity, Viktor was Tuxedo Mask and Prince Endymion, Severina was Sailor Venus and Sam was always Sailor Jupiter. The tree house in Alana's backyard was often the Moon Kingdom and they would frequently save the world. The adventures would always end with the power of love winning and the kids going into the house for a snack.

As the kids reached adolescence, they were forced to stop playing. But, their love of the anime was still prevalent. Alana always kept up with merchandise news and rumors about the release of a second anime. Lynne had made sure that Alana and Sam had their own copies of the manga, original anime and movies. Viktor happily talked about being Endymion to Alana’s Serenity until they were forced to break up. They wanted to continue the fantasy, but circumstance parted them. Severina was always happy to talk to everyone, and toss out ideas for a proper cosplay group, but Sam dampened the idea with the reminder that, as long as Viktor’s and Severina’s fathers remained in control of their lives, they’d never be allowed to do so.

When Lynne moved Alana and Sam to Amouria, things began to change. "She won't shut up about that Nathaniel guy." Viktor growled as he sat down next to Severina. “Viktor, you knew from the day one that you and Mels weren't allowed to be together. She has to find her Endymion." Severina sighed. “But seriously? aunt Lynne moves her and Sam to Amouria and they both immediately find guys they like?” Viktor complained. “You know Mels talks about other guys too. Right now, it could be Castiel, Lysander, Armin or Nathaniel.” Severina tried to make things sound better. “No, it's definitely Nathaniel. She barely mentions the others to me. Mostly about Armin playing games, Castiel being an ass, and Lysander losing his notebook. But she dotes on Nathaniel a lot.” Viktor retorted. Severina sighed. "Viktor... Do you remember what happened to Adonis and Beryl? Their envy got the best of them, they became evil and they died. Please keep a clear head.” She reasoned. "I am not like Adonis and Beryl." Viktor shot. “Viktor, I can't believe I have to be the voice of reason here. Both of our moms made it very clear that aunt Lynne, Mels and Sam have more freedom than we do. They're not blue bloods. They have to find their miracle elsewhere... Although, you and I will probably end up being paired together in an arranged marriage set up by our fathers.” She explained. Viktor thought for a couple of minutes and sighed. "I just thought..." 

The first time Nathaniel ever went into Alana's room, he instantly noticed her Sailor Moon dolls. "They're really hard to find these days... And Sailor Moon means a lot to me..." She said as she explained what the show meant to her. “It's a connection to my past, my closest friends, and my family.” She smiled. Nathaniel looked puzzled for a bit, then smiled. "That's really sweet.". He smiled. He noticed a picture of her, Sam, Severina and Viktor on a shelf and picked it up. “You all look like you’re having so much fun.” He mused. “Yeah... That’s the only time we’ve ever been able to dress up.” Alana sighed, wistfully. The kids were in makeshift Sailor Scout uniforms. Their hair wasn’t perfect, and Viktor’s tux didn’t fit right, but they didn’t care. The photo had been taken a few weeks before Cosima Chevalier’s death, and was one of the last happy memories they had as a group. “Its cute.” Nathaniel chuckled as he looked at her lovingly.

When her mother went into the hospital, Nate arranged it to where Alana and Lynne could sit and watch whatever they wanted in the room. Lynne suggested marathoning Sailor Moon. The days in the hospital weren't as bad when they watched the show and Lynne stayed stable, but there were days where not even fighting evil by moonlight could save the day. But, that didn't keep them from trying. It didn't take them long to get through all five seasons and three movies of the original anime. “I heard they're making a second anime that's supposed to be closer to the manga!” Alana attempted to be cheery. She was sure that she, Severina and Sam had told her about Crystal, but she really couldn’t think of anything positive to say.  “That's lovely! Do you know when it's set to come out?” Lynne asked. “I have no idea. I'm sure Toei will update us when they can!” Alana replied. “I hope its soon.” Lynne smiled. Suddenly, Lynne began coughing and her monitors started to go off. “NURSE! HELP!” Alana cried.

Even when Sam and Alana fought so badly that the Military and RDR felt it was necessary to create a treaty between the two organizations to prevent the sisters from ever being enemies again, it was actually their love of Sailor Moon that truly began to bring them together again. Severina had gotten wind of the fight and forced the girls to go to her house. “OW! RINI! YOU'RE HURTING MY EAR!” Alana whined. “Seriously! What the hell?” Sam whined. “I don't care if I'm hurting you two! This kind of fighting is unacceptable! You two are sisters and you know that this behavior will tear the family apart! I won't allow that!" Severina began to cry as she lead the sisters to her home theater. "What's all this?" Alana asked. "You've forced my hand, so I'm pulling out the big guns!" Severina cried as she grabbed a remote and turned on the screen. Sam and Alana looked at the menu then at each other. "Go figure." Sam grinned. "Of course." Alana grinned. The menu on the screen was the DVD menu to Sailor Moon R: The Promise Of The Rose. By the time the song “The Power Of Love” was playing, tears were streaming down the sisters' faces. "Mels." Sam began to choke. "Sam." Alana's voice wavered. They looked at each other, sadness and regret in their eyes. “Mels... I’m s-so s-sorry f-for what I-I said..” Sam sniffled. “I’m s-sorry t-too S-Sami...” Alana blubbered as she hugged Sam. “I love you.” Sam muttered as she held onto her sister. “I love you too.” Alana murmured. 

When Death’s Domain was getting set up, Alana dedicated a whole room to the series. “You’re seriously going to have an entire room dedicated to Sailor Moon?” Derek had asked. “Yes. Its going to have shelves for merch, posters, and a couch to relax on.” Alana mused. “Melody can have whatever she wants for her apartment. And, if it helps her destress, I most definitely approve.” The  Red Death announced. “Well, the majority of my collection will be in there. There’s going to be something Sailor Moon related in every room.” Alana smiled. “Of course there will be.” Derek facepalmed. “I’m not apologizing. I love Sailor Moon and I wanna showcase it in my home.” Alana laughed. “And I’m sure you’re going to do nothing but post about your collection for a while.” Derek rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Moonies have a good presence online.” Alana mused. “I thought “Moonies” were people who followed the Unification Church?” The Red Death inquired. “Yeah, they are called that, but Sailor Moon fans are also called “Moonies”. I know, in certain circles, I have to be sure to differentiate... But, its what we’re called.” Alana explained as she shrugged her shoulders. The room ended up becoming a paradise for fans of the series. Shelves filled with various collectibles, a couch decorated with two throw pillows and a blanket, a coffee table with two sets of coasters, a large rug, framed posters, plushies, moon and star lights along the walls and showering down the window and a tv mounted on one wall. In contrast to the vast majority of Death’s Domain, the room was an explosion of bright colors.

★

Nathaniel stepped into the restroom for a few minutes. Alana watched the door in anticipation. When he came out, he was running his hands along the circumference of the black wig, making sure it was in its proper place. The thought of how similar he looked to Viktor shot through her mind. She did her best to suppress that thought. "You don't even like cosplay..." She muttered as she smiled. "You do so much for me, I don't mind doing this for you." He grinned. "Nathaniel! I love you!” She cried as she wrapped her arms around him. “I knew I was going to see Princess Serenity, I didn't know Prince Endymion would be with her!” someone called from behind them. They turned around and saw Sam leaning in the doorway. “Sam! I look just like her!” Alana cried. "I wonder if I can get Ken to be Nephrite." Sam commented. “I'm sure he would be if you asked him. You two would be the perfect Jupiter and Nephrite!” Alana beamed. “I didn't know this was turning into a full on cosplay group!” Ken laughed as he walked up behind Sam. "Why not?" Sam asked. "I'm not sure Viktor would appreciate being Kunzite." Alana remarked. “He'd have to get used to it. Since Nathaniel is Endymion, that demotes Viktor to Kunzite.” Sam stated. "Right because when you guys were kids, Viktor was always Endymion." Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “Viktor has had years to accept his position in my sister's life. If he doesn't accept it, it will not end well for him.” Sam replied. "Do you think he will?" Nathaniel asked. "If he truly cares about her, he will." Sam nodded. “Viktor has known for years that our time ended long ago. Accepting his new position is painful for him, but he is well aware of the fact that it's something that he must do.” Alana explained.

A few minutes later, Renee walked into the room. “You both look magnificent! The girls and I have gotten a backdrop ready, would you two mind taking a few pictures?” She beamed. Alana smiled and turned to Nathaniel, a very hopeful look on her face. "Would you be okay with that?" She asked. Nathaniel nodded. "Sure." He grinned. They followed Renee into a room. "Oh my god! You two look utterly amazing!”, “You look beautiful Mels! Nathaniel, you look so handsome!”, “True Moon and Earth royalty!” the other girls cooed when they saw them. “I think we should do a cosplay group. I'm Jupiter and Rini will be Venus.” Sam commented when she walked in. "I volunteer to be Mercury!" Renee cheered. "I'll be Mars." Lyra smiled. "I'll be Pluto." Veronica beamed. "I don't mind being Saturn." Nora suggested. "I wonder if we could get Lucy and Noelle to be Uranus and Neptune." Sam pondered. "We could also see about getting Ravenna to be Chibi Moon." Alana proposed. “I think that would be fantastic. Who would be the rest of the Shitennou?” Lyra asked. "I could see if Armin could be Jadeite." Alana thought out loud. "Are we really setting up a cosplay group?" Nathaniel asked. Sam looked at Nath, as if he had said something really stupid. "Do you not realize how highly rated Sailor Moon cosplay groups are?" She asked. Nathaniel shook his head. “Sailor Moon cosplay groups are some of the most elite cosplayers in the anime world. Sailor Moon being one of the most iconic anime in history, it is instantly recognizable. The cosplayers take some of the most beautiful pictures, make some of the coolest videos, and even do events. They may not be unionized like Star Wars' 501st Legion, but they come together and coalesce with great ease whenever they recognize each other. Children who recognize them run up to them the same way that they do with superheroes, and typically, they are nice to them. It is a sisterhood of love and justice.” Sam explained. "Not to mention how fun it would be to finally be in one." Alana cooed. “We'd still need Zoisite.” Veronica stated. "I wonder if Derek could be him." Nora pondered. “Uh, guys? Can we please get to the photoshoot?” Renee asked impatiently. 

After posting for photos for what felt like an eternity, Nathaniel and Alana went into the changing room to get out of their cosplays. "You do look really beautiful in that." Nathaniel smiled as he took the black wig off. Alana blushed. "Do you really think so?" She asked nervously. “Of course. You look magnificent.” He blushed as he walked over to her and kissed her. “Thank you for doing this my love. It means the world to me.” Tears came to Alana's eyes as she spoke. “I love you my Melody.” Nathaniel cooed as he wiped a tear from her cheek. “I love you so much Nathaniel!” She mused as she threw her arms around him.

★

A few weeks later, in the early hours of the morning, several cars arrived at an old castle in the country. “This place looks amazing! Perfect for our photo shoot!” Alana cheered as she got out of the car. “Welcome to the Astarian Royal Palace Lady Melody!” A woman with long brown hair, sunglasses and wearing a knee length blue dress beamed as she walked up to them. “Mrs. Reynard, I presume?” Alana asked as she shook the woman's hand. “Yes ma'am. We spoke over the phone.” the woman smiled. “You are fully aware as to why we need the palace today. Am I correct?” Alana inquired. “Yes. For your little photoshoot. Cosplay, I believe.” Mrs. Reynard replied. “Yes. Sailor Moon. Its important the palace be the backdrop to this shoot.” Alana stated. “The photographer will be here in a few minutes to set up. They'll need time.” Mrs. Reynard explained. “That's fine. We need time to prepare.” Alana smiled.

After a couple of hours, the members of the group began to step out of their respective preparation rooms and into a lounge. Lynne Roster as Queen Serenity, Sam as Sailor Jupiter, Severina as Sailor Venus, Renee as Sailor Mercury, Lyra as Sailor Mars, Noelle as Sailor Uranus, Lucy as Sailor Neptune, Nora as Sailor Saturn, Veronica as Sailor Pluto, Ravenna as Small Lady Serenity, Viktor as Kunzite, Ken as Nephrite, Armin as Jadeite, Derek as Zoisite, Nathaniel as Prince Endymion and Alana as Princess Serenity. When the entire group was gathered in the lounge, tears filled Alana's eyes. “It's so beautiful!” she happily cried out. “Awe! Mels!” Severina cheered as she hugged Alana. “This was a fantastic idea!” Lynne beamed. "How long do we all need to wear this?" Armin asked, slightly uncomfortable. “Just a few hours. We're gonna get a TON of shots! ” someone replied as they walked up. It was a young woman with short platinum blonde hair, bright green eyes, and pale skin. She wore black pants, a white button up top and a deep blue beret. "You all look so regal!" She cheered. “Alright everyone, let me introduce you to you Catarina. She's a friend of mine from boarding school. She's the photographer I told you guys about!” Severina introduced. “Hello everyone! It is an absolute pleasure to meet you all!” Catherine bowed. ” Severina introduced. “Hello everyone! It is an absolute pleasure to meet you all!” Catherine bowed.

The photoshoot took several hours, and took place at various locations within the castle grounds. Lynne insisted on at least one family shot with Sam and Alana, and one with Sam, Alana, Severina, Ravenna, Ken, Nathaniel, and Viktor. “This is odd. I don't quite know the anime, but those characters aren't actually family, aren't they?” Catarina asked, curiously. “Not exactly... I mean, Queen Serenity, Princess Serenity, and Small Lady Serenity are three generations of lunar royalty, and Prince Endymion is Princess Serenity's husband and Sailor Chibi Moon's father... But, this shot isn't about the show's family. It's about their family.” Lyra explained. “Oh. That's sweet!” Catarina smiled. Alana insisted each “couple” got their own picture. Viktor wasn't too happy that his couldn't be with Alana, but he didn't mind posing with Severina. Kentin was very happy to have a romantic pose with Sam. "Nephrite and Jupiter look so fantastic!" Renee cheered. “Are you kidding? I've been wanting to do this set for a long time!” Sam beamed. “My favorite part of all of this. I hate this wig, but being your knight is worth it.” Ken mused as he looked at Sam lovingly. "This is awkward." Derek rolled his eyes when he and Renee had their turn. "Oh grow up!" Renee snapped. "Derek... You know what happens when Renee gets mad!" Alana laughed. “Yeah... She gets pretty scary.” Derek sighed. Everyone laughed as Renee forced Derek into a somewhat romantic pose. "But this is so awkward!" Derek whined. "Just do it!" Renee demanded. When their part of the shoot ended, Derek sat down and shot back a bottle of water. “That was weird. "Lyra, Armin, you're up!" Alana cheered. “Now this will be interesting! ” Ken chuckled. “And in Dragon Ball references Armin! Toei may own both franchises, but now is not the time to try to mix the two!” Sam ordered. “Awe come on! That takes part of the fun out of it!” Armin whined. “Armin, if we were doing a smaller photoshoot, I wouldn't mind a few “fun” shots. So please be more serious.” Alana urgent. "Fine." Armin sighed as he and Lyra took their places in front of the camera. 

“God that was exhausting! Who'd have thought that Cosplay would be THAT much work?” Nathaniel whined he crashed onto the living room couch at Death's Domain. "If you had cosplayed as the Winter Soldier when Armin and I cosplayed as Captain America and Black Widow at that Marvel Exhibition in High School, you would have known, first hand, A LOT sooner!" Alana shot as she crashed down next to him. "You still won't let me live that down?" He asked. "Nope." She chuckled. "Why not?" He asked. “Because Armin and I worked our asses off to do our characters justice and we were hoping you would join in on the fun. Especially considering how Natasha and Bucky get together in the comics several times, so it would have been a cute “couple's cosplay” for you and me. Not to mention how cosplay is more than just “wearing a costume”. When someone properly cosplays, they also wish to play the character, even for just a day. They temporarily escape reality and enter the one the character they're cosplaying as resides in. Weeks, months, and even years are spent building props and even hand making the items and outfits. There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into it!” She explained. "I know you and Armin love it, but I don't think I could do it as often as you want to." Nathaniel sighed. “I get that. Its not for everybody. But, I'm thankful you did it for me.” Alana Mused. “I love you Alana. You always do so much for me... And it has been a long time since I've been the "prince" to your "princess." He grinned. "And I'm sure rubbing it Viktor's face added to your enjoyment.” She chuckled. "That did make it a bit more fun." He smirked. "I really wish you wouldn't antagonize him." She sighed. over you and find someone else. It's the same with Castiel. You're not going to be with him, so he needs to quit pining." He shot. "Yes, but with Castiel, you two have reached a mutual agreement, and he has angered me in such a way that I spat that truth with him." She chimed in. "Which makes the situation with Viktor worse. had your family and Severina telling him for years... Yet he insists." He huffed as he rolled his eyes. "Despite that, he is still one of my best and oldest friends. We were raised together and are still like family. Can you at least try to play nice with him?" She requested. Nathaniel looked at her annoyed. "Please! Pretty please! My sweet Endymion…” Alana begged as she playfully batted her eyes. He thought for a minute and exhaled. “Fine. ” He sighed. "Thank you." She mused. “But if he oversteps the boundaries that you and I put in place, I won't be so kind.” He stated. She cuddled up next to him and kissed his cheek. "I love you Nathaniel." She cooed. He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I love you too Alana."

★

Several weeks later, after the images from the photoshoot had been posted and gone viral, an idea came to Severina's mind. She turned to Alana and Sam and smiled. "What?" Sam asked. “What if we did a cosplay concert?!” Severina cheered. “Nope. I'm not singing.” Alana stated. “PLEASE! We could choose a song from Sailor Moon and singing it at a convention!” Severina urged. “Really? What song would we even do?” Sam asked. “What about “Moon Effect”? It's sung by all of the scouts!” Severina cheered. “Please no. I don't sing.” Alana begged. "But, you wouldn't be alone... And we can't do it without our Sailor Moon!" Sam sneered. “Honey... You're such a beautiful singer! Please!!!!” Severina pleaded. “No…” Alana muttered. “Damn it Mels! Just do it! We all know that you sing when you're alone! On top of that, Nath, Rini, Viktor, Mom and I have all been telling you for years that we all think your singing is beautiful! So, just do it!” Sam snapped. "Don't forget how your teammates think so too." Severina added. Alana thought for a few minutes and huffed. “Fine. I'll do it.” She sighed. “Huzzah! Let's do it at Comic Con!” Sam cheered. "No! That’s too big a venue!" Alana pleaded "That's why it should be done there! You'll get over your stage fright on one of the biggest stages on the Convention Circuit!" Sam explained. "My babies singing a Sailor Moon song in full cosplay? I'd love to help you with it!" Lynne cheered as she walked up to them. "Fantastic! We'll make it a family project!" Severina smiled. Alana looked around at the other women, thought for a few minutes, sighed, and sheepishly grinned. “I guess the Roster Family women are putting on a show!”

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

Words cannot describe how badly I've wanted to write something Sailor Moon related to my story... 

Sailor Moon means a lot to me... It was my mom’s and my “thing”. No matter how much we fought, argued, and went at each other’s throats, we always bonded over the series. The first and last time I watched it in it’s entirety was with her just before her disease started taking its hold. She was the one who got me my first bits of merch, who was always happy to talk to me about it. The last Christmas gift I got her was a blanket with all the scouts on it, and she gave me plushies of Luna and Artemis. When mom died, Sailor Moon came to mean so much more to me. My aunt made me pendants with her ashes in them that look like the Legendary Silver Crystal, I got Pluto’s Garnet Rod tattooed on my back, and I became more adamant about collecting items. Each time I get a new item, I feel closer to her... There are times where I’ll even burst into tears because of Sailor Moon making me think of her....

Yes, I used the character sprite of Nathaniel that I edited from the Dark Chocolate Steward to make him look more like Endymion. I made his hair black, and edited his rings and earrings out.

Little tip... The bit about Adonis won't make sense unless you've read the Codename Sailor V manga.... If you’re not in the mood to read it, Adonis was a lowly Venusian soldier who was in love with his princess (Venus). Venus fell in love with Kunzite instead of him. He found her on Earth and cursed her to never be able to have love again, thus freeing more of her time up to focus on her duty as the leader of Princess Serenity’s Sailor Guardians.

This was originally going to be a Valentine's Day special for 2020. Then 2020 became the dumpster fire that it was and my real life needed more of my attention....

The majority of this does take place during the first year between University Life and Love Life. Before Nath and Alana go on their globe trotting adventure. The flashback section takes place at various points in time.

Credit goes to:

Naoko Takeuchi for Sailor Moon

@candysweetposts for the Princess Serenity Pack (seriously, thank you for going through with my request!)

@chinomiko and Beemoov for My Candy Love

[pub-lius]

The 1775 Campaign: Lexington and Concord - Siege of Boston

Last we left off, the British had just arrived in Lexington, Massachusetts from a long March through Brackish Water. Now, we shall discuss what occurred at Lexington and Concord, as well as Bunker Hill, the Battle of Quebec, and the Siege of Boston.

*Several crucial Individuals will be discussed, but separate Posts will only be made on a Few. If you would like a detailed, but still relatively Brief, Biography on anyOne in particular, or any Events, for that matter, send an Ask, and I will see it done (if I have the time). Of course, any additional questions or requests are accepted and encouraged.

Prior to Lexington and Concord, Governor General Thomas Gage was tasked with suppressing the Revolt started by Colonists in Opposition to more strict British law Enforcement. In order to do this, Gage enforced the Coercive Acts, which were even more strict. Obviously, this only made Things worse.

In April 1775, orders for the seizure of Weapon Stores in Concord, Massachusetts were issued, but it is not known if the British intended to arrest Patriot Leaders, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were taking refuge in Lexington. On April 18th, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott set out on their ride to warn Patriots of the British Approach as two Lanterns were lit in the window of the Old North Church. Meanwhile, British Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith assembles 700 regulars to march on Concord.

Lexington and Concord

The Patriots were led by John Parker, and massed at about 3,960 Men by the end of the Battle. The British totaled at around 1,500 men under John Pitcairn and Francis Smith.

At 5:00 am on April 19th, the British march into Lexington, and are faced with 70 of Parker’s militia. The British charge the Patriots, and Parker orders his Men to disperse. There is a Gunshot, but which side fired it is unknown. The British fire a Volley, striking 8 Militiamen, and walking away with a Victory.

The British enter Concord at 8:00 am. The officers order around 220 troops to secure the North Bridge, then to go to Barrett Farm. Around 400 militia gather on the high Ground to see Smoke rising from the Town, and falsely presume the British are burning the Town, which leads to an Advance. The leading Company was led by Isaac Davis, who is quoted as saying, “I haven’t a man afraid to go.”

In response to the Patriot Assault, the British retreat to the Shore of the River. The British open Fire, and kill two Men, one of which was Davis. This Volley is referred to as the “Shot heard round the World”.

The British then retreat back to Boston, all the While being harassed and attacked on all Sides by Patriots along Battle Road. When they make it back to Lexington, they are attacked once more by Parker’s men.

The Americans faced 93 casualties: 49 killed, 39 wounded, and 5 missing. The British suffered 300 Casualties: 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 53 missing. Ouch. The British conduct a running Fight, and unclear Orders on behalf of the Patriots allow the British to escape. But, this left a 20,000 man Militia opposing General Gage.

The next event occurs on June 17, 1775. Gage is facing excess pressure to suppress this Rebellion. He plans to launch an Attack on the Heights North and South of Boston. Unfortunately for him, the Details were leaked to the Patriots, and the Patriot Militia gathered to defend Charlestown, Massachusetts. Many of these militia included free and enslaved African Americans. The sheer Number of the Militia intimidated the British Leaders, Gage, William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne. From June 15 to June 16, the Patriots move to Breed’s Hill to prepare a fortified Position. Their left Flank was exposed along the south Bank of the Mystic River, and, despite being disorderly and ill-equipped, the Patriots assemble a makeshift Fortification.

Bunker Hill

General Israel Putnam leads the 2,400 Patriot troops against General Gage’s 3,000 Regulars and Grenadiers. The British move across Boston Harbor and disembark in lower Charleston for the Assault on Breed’s Hill (the Battle didn’t actually occur on Bunker Hill). Sir William Howe leads the Troops up the Hill, and, allegedly, William Prescott says, “don’t fire until you see the Whites of their Eyes,” in order to save Gunpowder.

Once the British are within Range of Patriot Guns, the Militia unleashes an unforgiving Volley. According to one Patriot, “They advanced toward us in order to swallow us up, but they found a choaky mouthful of us. (sic)” This volley was repeated once more, until the third Assault when the Patriots ran out of Ammunition, allowing the British to break through their Works. 

The two sides then engaged in intense, close-combat Fighting. It was at this Point that a “black soldier named Salem” shot and mortally wounded Major John Pitcairn, who allegedly ordered the Fire at Lexington and Concord.

The Patriots faced 450 Casualties: 115 killed, 305 wounded, and 30 missing. The British, on the other Hand, suffered a whopping 1,054: 226 killed, 828 wounded, and 0 missing. Big Ouch. It was then that the British abandon Plans to seize another High Point.

As the Battle of Bunker Hill was occurring, on June 14, the Continental Army was established by the Continental Congress, and on the following day, Colonel George Washington was made His Excellency General George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

George Washington was nominated by a Massachusetts Delegate, John Adams (not something to boast about). Washington graciously accepted his Commission, but did not feel as though he was fit for the job. But this wasn’t just because Johnny appreciated Washington’s toned Muscles and supple Hamstrings. Up until this Point, the War was almost entirely fought in the New England Colonies (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island). In order to inspire other Regions, namely the South, to support the Effort, they needed a noteworthy Southern Leader. Other Colonies (as they were still known) and Regions were placated with Appointments as well.

Siege of Boston

Washington arrives at the Cambridge Encampment on July 2 to find the “Continental Army” in disarray. The Militia were entirely ignorant to military Tactics and Standards of Discipline. His first Objective was to establish Order, gather Provisions, and instill Discipline. 

Some of his subordinate Officers include Horatio Gates and Charles Lee, two highly esteemed Veterans from the French and Indian War. Additionally, there was General Nathaniel Greene, and Colonel Henry Knox. Washington’s Aides-de-Camp included Thomas Mifflin and Joseph Reed, two Crucial Players later in the War (not in a good way). None of these Men had worked together, or separately, on something of this Scale.

The first General Orders of the War include the excerpt, “The Colonels or commanding Officers of each Regt are ordered forthwith, to make two Returns of the Number of men in their respective Regiments; distinguishing such as are sick, wounded or absent on furlough: And also the quantity of ammunition each Regimt now has.” (sic), showing how quickly Washington began sending out Instructions to better organize the Army. 

Washington also had to strategize how to get the British from Boston, while also obeying Congress, which often went against the best Interest of the Army, and dealing with Natural Enemies. Provisions were scarce, the Continental Army lacked ammunition and had no artillery, and Diseases such as Smallpox were plaguing the Men.

For several Months, the Army saw only some small-scale Skirmishes, which only lasted for a few volleys before a Ceasefire was called, with a few Raids thrown in for Color. Also during this time, Washington sent 1,000 troops to Canada under Generals Arnold and Montgomery, which will be discussed after this. 

General Washington also ran into a Problem that would last him the Entirety of the War: Enlistments. Congress conjured a System for the Army, where Militiamen could enlist for only a year. Thus, Washington couldn’t guarantee that he would still have an Army after December 31, and if he was lucky enough to have one, they were completely untrained once more. The beginning of 1776 was one of these Lucky Times.

Meanwhile, the British were stuck in Boston. Although Howe was ordered to evacuate the City in November, they were short on Ships, and had to transport, not only the Army, but Hundreds of Loyalists, who flocked into Boston, causing Overcrowding and Scarcity. Smallpox and dysentery were rampant among the British. Additionally, they have limited Access to mainland Resources, leaving them with only exhaustible Supplies of Food, Water, Firewood, and Clothing.

In late January, Colonel Henry Knox arrives with captured Artillery from Fort Ticonderoga, which had been recently taken by the Patriots. Washington decided to bombard the British from Dorchester Heights, the Hills (including Bunker and Breed’s Hills) south of Boston. Washington devised an complex Amphibious Assault, but was overruled by his Subordinates, which became a usual Occurrence.

In Early March, the Artillery was moved to Dorchester Heights. Since it was hard to dig through the frozen Ground, the Continentals hired Carpenters to build timber Breastworks.

On March 6, Howe sees the suddenly-built Fortifications, and is quoted as saying, “My God, these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in 3 months.” From how quickly these Fortifications were built, the British supposed that the Americans had at least 20,000 men.

The British attempted firing at the Americans, but they were out of Range. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the Charles River, around 4,000 troops under Generals Greene, Putnam and Sullivan prepared to block the North Side of the Boston Peninsula, following Washington’s Amphibious Plan.

In addition to British fears of a Second Bunker Hill, a large Storm ruined the Chances of a full Engagement. On March 6, the British vote to evacuate, and on March 8, How writes to Washington, bargaining that he would not burn Boston if Washington allowed his Army and Loyalists to leave unharmed. Washington granted this request, and on March 17, Soldiers and Loyalists numbering around 11,000 left Boston for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 

"I shall feel no pain from the toil or the danger of the campaign. My unhappiness will flow frok the uneasiness I know you will feel being left alone." -George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775

Quebec Campaign

As mentioned before, General Washington ordered an Attack on the Colony of Quebec. The Quebec Campaign lasted from August of 1775 to July 1776. 

Congress wanted Quebec to become another of the rebellious Colonies for two Reasons. The first being that English Protestants saw Quebecois Catholics as a physical and cultural Threat. Additionally, the Early Americans wanted Continental Unity across North America. Thus, Congress pushed Washington to capture Quebec, and he eventually complied.

On August 25, General Richard Montgomery ordered 1,200 troops from Ticonderoga into the Quebec Territory, settling at the Ile aux Noix along the Richelieu River. On September 17, Montgomery laid Siege to Fort St. John’s, which was under the Command of General Guy Carleton. 

Carleton attempted to lift the Siege of October 30, and chose to surrender on November 3. Then, Montgomery surrounded Montreal, which was surrendered without Resistance on November 13.

Then, Washington ordered 1,100 men under General Benedict Arnold to move around the enemy’s Side towards Quebec City. Arnold set out on September 15 to the Mouth of the Kennebec River. His Troops faced a 400 mile March through largely uninhabited Terrain. By the End of the March, Arnold only had 600 men, after many Deaths and a large scale Desertion. They finally reached Quebec on November 14, and waited for Montgomery, who arrived on December 2, bringing their Numbers to 1,100.

Montgomery ordered a multi-pronged Attack against the Fortifications on December 31. He separated his Men into 3 Divisions, under himself, Arnold, and General Livingston. They attempted to use a Snowstorm as a Cover, which blinded the Continentals and clogged their Guns. The Engagement ended with Arnold wounded, Montgomery dead, Aaron Burr unemployed, and 400 captured Americans.

Consequently, Arnold took command of the Campaign, and continued the Siege for several Months. In May 1776, John Burgoyne added Reinforcements to the British Garrison. Burgoyne drove Arnold back to New York.

Meanwhile, Congress had to come up with an Excuse for their lack of Judgement. Delegates such as John Adams and Richard Henry Lee (Virginia is his home) blamed an Outbreak of Smallpox. All of the Smart People blamed themselves because it was, in fact, their Fault. A report from a Committee made to consider this Issue (consisting of Franklin, Chase, and Carrol in May 1776) stated that Congress’ Indecision and lack of Organization prevented necessities needed to execute the Strategy. This will become a Reoccurring Theme.

Americans still believed Quebec could be added to the United States up until the early 19th Century, especially those who had served in Congress during this period, such as Thomas Jefferson.

“...I hope our force, add the benefits of skill, the acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching; & will give us experience for the attack of Halifax, the next, & the final expulsion of England from the American continent.” -Thomas Jefferson, August 4, 1812

Sources:

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/lexington-and-concord

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bunker-hill

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/siege-boston

Texts for first set of images: https://www.loc.gov/item/rbpe.10800500/

Images and texts for second set of images: https://www.loc.gov/resource/dcmsiabooks.accountofbattleo00dear_0/?sp=5

https://www.thoughtco.com/american-revolution-battles-2360662

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-05-02-0231

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/quebec-campaign/#5

George Washington’s Indispensable Men by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

[tcm]

The Aura of Carmen Jones By Constance Cherise

Based on Georges Bizet's opera, the all-Black 20th Century-Fox musical CARMEN JONES (‘54), starring Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated Dorothy Dandridge and EGOT Harry Belafonte, was a significant progression for its historical time-frame. Best expressed by author and film historian Donald Bogle in his book Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography, “…it represented a major step forward during the Eisenhower era.”

The Cleveland, Ohio-born Dandridge, who had been lighting the stage on fire as a chanteuse in her nightclub act prior to starring in CARMEN, was not originally considered for any role—far less the lead—by infamous director Otto Preminger. According to Bogle, Preminger (who during the course of filming would become Dandridge’s lover) viewed her as “too sweet and regal,” based off of her previous nightclub performances, where Dandridge presented as a sensual vocalist, draped in sinuous gowns that clung to her figure. In order to get the role, Dandridge stripped her “polished” persona, modified her makeup and fashion revealing an alter ego to Preminger. He took one look at her and declared “My God. It’s Carmen!”

Often compared to Lena Horne, the exquisitely beautiful Dandridge was trained as an artist alongside her sister from childhood. The Dandridge Sisters evolved from church gatherings to the acclaimed Cotton Club, where Dandridge met her future husband Harold Nicholas of the famed Nicholas Brothers. Soft spoken, stunning and a quick study, Dandridge collaborated with arranger/composer Phil Moore, devising a smoldering nightclub act that was eagerly received in all-white venues. Her crossover appeal lent well to Hollywood. When talk of a CARMEN JONES production spread, Black Hollywood clamored. CARMEN JONES would be the first all-Black musical since MGM’s CABIN IN THE SKY (‘43), as well as the first Black film shot in Technicolor. Stars the likes of Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll and Pearl Bailey would solidify roles.

The lyrics of Carmen’s first song of the film, “Dats Love,” is an announcement of her essence.

“You go for me and I'm taboo

But if you're hard to get I go for you

And if I do then you are through, boy

My baby that's the end of you”

From the moment Carmen sashays into the cafeteria, casually holding a red rose (a present from one of her hopefuls no doubt), we know she is unique based solely on her black ruffle trimmed, low-cut blouse and fitted red skirt: A subliminal combination of colors associated with the image of a stereotypical devil.

She is decisive of her prey. She admires Joe (Harry Belafonte) unabashedly sizing him up as an alpha. Her mind is made up. She is going to get exactly what she wants, and who could blame her? Joe with his honey-toned skin and chiseled features is beautiful, and the fact that he is unresponsive intrigues her senses all the more. Her playful banter with a frustrated Joe while traveling in the Jeep is only a precursor. Carmen is content with turning up the heat in increments, because in her mind there is no doubt, she is already the victor. As Joe continually shoves her away, she answers: "The harder I get bumped the more of me bounces." She’s surprising, simultaneously amusing and unapologetic.

Instead of relenting in fear when Joe grabs her in a fit of jealousy, Carmen ferociously fights to be released from his clutches punctuating her need for freedom. She is not acting out as a means of manipulation, although clearly, she knows how to manipulate. This particular response is created out of authentic self-preservation and she possesses the audaciousness to be a woman who is the master of her own soul, regardless of her lover's emotion. Of course, naturally, Joe becomes obsessively caught in Carmen’s beguiling web, where his passion is so overwhelming it results in murder. But, Carmen's outright refusal to be possessed within itself is her power and depending on perspective, may also be her pitfall.

Although she was a vocalist, like much of the cast, Dandridge was not able to meet the demands of the film's operatic hue. Dandridge took great strains to make the dubbed vocals of Marilyn Horne as seamless as possible, mimicking Horne’s breath work.

The NAACP was originally opposed to an all-Black cast as the organization rallied for integration. The controversy of CARMEN JONES truly lay in the lead’s overt sexuality. Carmen obeys her primitive nature, wafting where her emotions lead, and as a result the script was gone over with a fine-tooth comb prior to filming for review by the Hays Office. Dandridge was the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Life magazine, and by the time the film was in production she was viewed by black and white audiences alike (albeit taboo for a white audience) as a bonafied sex symbol. Still, Dandridge faced inevitable racial truths. When once threatening to swim at the all-white hotel which she headlined, suddenly the pool required draining.

Dandridge's performance in CARMEN JONES garnered a Best Actress Oscar nomination, the first for a Black individual. Despite her loss to Grace Kelly, the community saw her nomination alone as a hard earned and long-suffering triumph. After her achievement for CARMEN JONES, demand for her performances grew. Dandridge was booked in illustrious venues including the Empire Room in New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel; however, her movie career began to flail on Preminger’s advice to turn down multiple roles offered to her that he perceived as below her Oscar nominee stance. It would be a three-year stint until she would once again return to film, garnering a Golden Globe nomination for PORGY AND BESS (‘59). Over the course of her life, Dandridge would turn to alcohol and prescription medications to fill the void of her failed sometimes abusive relationships and intimate struggles. Her life came to a tragic end at the age of 42 as a result of an overdose.

There was an extraordinary capacity within Dandridge, of which CARMEN JONES only allowed us a glimpse. It is true, Dandridge’s beauty and sex appeal opened doors enjoyed by Black artists to date. It is also true that the racial constraints of the day measurably blocked Dandridge as well as other minority performers of the era. But when I look at Dandridge, I see a woman who despite her pristine beauty, her elegant poise her sexual appeal, or throngs of fans that loved her, much like many of other enviable starlets we can easily name, simply did not love herself enough, and that, is the most unfortunate tragedy of all.

[serene-victory-77]

My Shadow and Bone Show Thoughts Cuz I’m Impressed

So I just finished watching it a few hours ago, and I think since everyone is throwing their thoughts out into the void that is tumblr, I will too! Warning, this is gonna be a long one Things That I Liked!

- Mal and Malina is incredibly redeemed! I know a lot of people, myself included, didn’t like Book Mal, but Show Mal is completely different and anything I could have ever wanted from his character. 

- Alina going “I made mistakes at the Little Palace” about the Darkling and Mal basically going “I don’t care/I’m not mad” and not holding it against her, and being so mature about it/really sweet to Alina was. Amazing.

- Malina doesn’t kiss and this is a plus for me because they’re still actually developing them!

- Baghra was amazing, and I especially loved her interactions with the Darkling. It was always one of the better parts of the triology, how complicated/nuance Baghra and the Darkling are, and I think the show did it justice!

- David and Genya. David and Genya at Alina’s presentation with Geyna looking at him, David looking away, and then when Genya looks away he looks at her? Precious. And Genya complimenting him.

- The Darkling is not nearly as much of a creep, but he’s still a villain. He has more depth, but I’m glad they’re not trying to “redeem” him.

- Side Note, favorite Darkling scene is when David lifts a finger to be called on, and the Darkling goes “You don’t have to- *sigh* Yes, David?” I don’t know why he seems to like David, but I’m here for it

- Show Zoya is still a bit of a bitch, like Book Zoya, but so much more interesting, and actually fun. She’s not “nicer” exactly, but I just liked her more.

- Idk why but I’m obsessed with the First Army scenes and the skiff scenes, they’re wonderful. 

Getting into more Crow territory here,

- Milo the Goat and everything he stands for. Milo saving Mal. Milo the emotional support goat. Who came up with that idea? I’d like to thank them.

- Jesper was incredible and absolutely stole any and all scenes he was in. The show never flunches away from it, and I loved every single moment. Any “Jesper Shooting His Guns” scene was absolutely amazing. 

- Inej’s outfits, Jesper’s red waistcoat/vest, Kaz’s black on black on black apparel, all good. 

- The Crows blended really well into the Grisha story and I’m officially impressed. I did have a hard time wrapping my head around Kaz and the Darkling being in the same frame, but still, I’m overall very happy with it

- Inej throwing a knife and stabbing the Darkling. Amazing. Also Inej lowkey fangirling over Alina, super cute!!

- Whatever communication Inej and Zoya were having on that skiff, I’m here for it. 

- Nina! I was nervous because Danielle Galligan wasn’t what I imagined for Nina, but she really got her spunk and attitude! She’s a bit more mature in how she reads...uh watches...? But still amazing, and I think she might have the most direct book quotes? 

- Matthias being a blushing maiden here and there :)

Things I Didn’t Like/Was Confused By!

- I still don’t get why Jesper has such little issue going to Ravka/the literal Little Palace

- Kaz has his moments but seems really far out of his depth. I mean he kinda is, it makes sense, but I love in-control, always-a-step-ahead Kaz, and I missed that. But we’ll probably get it in the next seasons

- Kaz isn’t nearly as good a brawler as in the books, I’m hoping there’s more of that later

- Why did the Darkling reveal his name so Alina so quickly? It was a bit boring and lackluster while in the books it’s a bigger deal, and I kinda missed that. It’s not really a problem, but just a bit of an odd choice

- I would still have infinitely preferred a super-true-to-the-books-Six-of-Crows-adaption over the mashup, but this is still good

- I’m genuinely not sure if non-book-readers can tell Kanej is even a thing? I’ve heard people say Kaz is too open in the show (Where?? Tell me, I don’t see it. You mean how in the last episode he kinda maybe sorta admits Inej had a point? 8 hours in? Is that it? That’s not being open or soft, he’s a prick the entire time, Freddy Carter just has an oddly soft/kind face even as Kaz), but I think they might’ve gone, oddly enough, a bit too light. Why are they close? If you don’t know the books, you don’t know what Kaz means about Inej watching over him, past killing the Inferni in the church. 

- Overall though, that’s mostly it! I don’t actively dislike many things, which is very, very impressive Favorite Scenes!

- Jesper shooting the Volcra while holding Milo the Goat

- Kaz stabbing the Volcra with the crow head trying to protect Inej

- Jesper watching Alina climb into a carriage trunk and just going “???” “Okay then!”

- Genya complimenting David

- Mal and Alina holding hands at any point  Concerns?

- I have no idea who they’re gonna cast as Wylan. I know people are a bit worked up about Nikolai, but finding a charming blond guy isn’t hard. How are they going to find a sweet/fluffy looking curly headed boy that doesn’t look creepily young in comparison to the others? I want him to fit in visually while still being the Wylan we know and love, and I’m a bit worried

- I have no idea what the Crows are gonna do once they’re back in Ketterdam

Other Thoughts: I think my favorite thing was that readers really had an edge. The adaptation jumps right into the world with very little exposition, and things are explained in the moment. I know adaptations should stand alone from the books, and it kinda does, but the fact that the readers don’t feel forgotten and that we do know what the Grisha are and their colors, the countries from the get go, we know why Kaz has gloves and a cane even if it isn’t explained in the show, we know what the Menagerie is and Inej’s situation, we know why Jesper is such an amazing shot, we get insight and I like that. 

I think people who haven’t read the books might need to look stuff up or ask a friend who does know what’s going on, and they can catch on after that easily enough, but the fact that it feels as if the readers are in on a joke/secret, especially catching book lines and stuff like that, was really neat. Not in a gatekeeping way (I kinda look forward to having my friends go ??? over some parts tbh), but just kinda knowing we’re enjoying an extra level to the entire story, and it’s still a really good show even if you haven’t read the books.

So yeah, go and watch it!! Idk if anyone will, but send an ask if you have any thoughts you’d like to share too!

[uzumaki-rebellion]

“Wet Sugar” [Part 19 of 30]

Summary: Erik teaches Yani a lesson and change is in the air...

NSFW. Mature Audience. Smut.

"Sunshine & the rain Sunshine & the rain I'm feelin that pressure, now, now I'm feelin that same old round and round I can't go forward

I need a boost to catapult me high feels like the come up is way too tight chokin and squeezin' my life, every time"

Joi—"Sunshine & The Rain"

Yani knew Erik watched her from the security cams when she left for the night. She made sure to walk in front of all visible optics in case Neal was lurking for her too. Huntsman commenting on her relationship with Erik frightened her. Did Klaue know about it too?

The thought worried her all night when she slept at Leona's apartment. When she arrived back at the compound to cook breakfast and prep for the dinner meal, she stayed in the front house the entire time. It wasn't until the men left for the day to explore island bars that she even took a bit of time to walk down to the cove to relax. Erik was gone with the men. She had hoped that he could stay behind with her, but he made a point of driving the others into town. She asked him to pick up bottled water and extra batteries just in case they needed them.

The sky was even grayer when the men returned late in the evening. She ignored them all, including Erik. The standing freezer had an abundance of nickel-sized scallops and prosciutto. Yani cooked thin spaghetti noodles with fish sauce and fresh garlic with the scallops and tossed together an Italian salad with the thin slices of cured ham. This particular crew wasn't particular or even cared for dessert, so she watched them eat her food and quickly cleaned up after them when they were done.

She heard Erik talking to the others in the front house den. He was encouraging the men to leave early in the morning before the storm arrived, but the captain of the boat had trepidations about sailing back to Florida. Erik mentioned Puerto Rico but there was grumbling. The point became moot when one of the men turned up the view screen and the weather report was dire. The storm had grown and would pass by the island sooner than originally predicted.

The men would stay longer.

Erik sent her a text.

Go home and don't come back here until I tell you. Get to safety with your family.

She quickly texted him back.

If it gets bad, the safest place here is under the middle house. There is a large crawlspace there right under the kitchen window outside. The panic room is only for you. No one else.

Hug the baby for me.

Yani put together a to-go plate for herself and slipped away from the grounds without the men noticing.

Her Aunt and cousins made plans to stay in a shelter and she packed up pull-ups and baby food for Sydette and a small clothing bag for herself. Piling blankets in her car, she drove herself, Sydette and Twyla to the church shelter they had used since she was a child. It was better to be safe than sorry, and the other islanders who thought the same were already hunkering down for the night. As a child she had survived a Category 3 storm, so she was only slightly anxious with a Category 2 on the way.

The entire night she listened to prayers, a short sermon from the Pastor, and soft whispers from all around her as they all waited to see what the next day would bring. She dozed off around two in the morning but was abruptly woken up with Sydette clutched in her embrace as the wind howled outside the church. It was seven in the morning but darkness surrounded them.

Yani sat up and looked at Leona and Twyla.

"How bad is it?" she asked.

"We were lucky. The hurricane died down and didn't even come near us. Right now we are getting the tail end of a strong tropical storm. Praise God. Them say it'll pass through by evening," Leona said.

Yani exhaled with relief.

She changed Sydette's pull up and cleaned her hands with hand sanitizer before opening up a jar of baby food.

"We should go home," Twyla said.

"I think we should stay until we know for sure it is safe," Leona said.

Yani checked her cell. Erik sent a few texts while she was asleep. It looked like he was awake all night by the number of messages he left for her and the baby. She texted him back letting him know her family's plan to stay at the church longer. She was glad that their cell phones still worked.

Food was served throughout the day and by early evening, the winds had died away leaving a summer rain and the winking of sun rays peeking through the last of the clouded sky. She packed up her things and drove back to Leona's.

There was a time-sensitive notification in her emails that jumped out at her as she contacted relatives in the states to let them know they were okay. Although cell service worked on the island, it was crackly and hard to hear when they tried calling overseas.

The email was from the University.

A nursing student had dropped out of the early summer track for three online classes and Yani was offered the spot because of her high entry test scores. She accepted quickly and took a deep breath. She was going to start school sooner than expected. It meant she could qualify for three prerequisites for the newly created nurse/midwife track she wanted to get into. It also meant she had a shot at entering the accelerated program that was opening the following Spring.

It was happening.

Her career goals were coming to fruition.

Yani took a moment sitting in front of her Aunt's desktop computer in the living room. She touched her chest and felt her heart pounding. As long as she kept up her grades she would succeed. Gratefulness swelled inside of her. The time Erik gave her to relax and do some self-study on her own made her feel confident accepting the early start. She could do this. For herself and her baby.

She grabbed her phone.

"Killmonger."

"You and the baby good?"

Hearing his voice made her eyes water. She was glad she didn't face chat him.

"We're fine. Back at Auntie's. Killmonger…I get to start school early."

"Yeah?"

She spilled out her good news and Twyla walked in on her and saw the joy on her face. Her cousin's hand rubbing her back at the news made Yani feel happy.

School would start in a week.

She was ready.

###

Erik didn't allow Yani to return to the compound until the mercs had left.

He baked her a cake to congratulate her on her early start for school, and he damn near ran to her car when she pulled onto the property with the baby. His hand gripped her neck so tight once he had her in his arms. He didn't allow Sydette to leave his side once he had her back with him. The mercs leaving along with the storm made the compound feel light and free again.

Watching Yani eat the cake he made while feeding some to Sydette calmed his nerves. Their first night back together had them all cuddled together in one bed, and he spent the rest of the week spoiling Yani with fancy food, back rubs, foot massages and nights out with her friends while he looked after the baby.

Her last night going out before she started her classes found him cooking oxtails the way Leona showed him how to do it and attempting to make a decent batch of stew peas and rice. Sydette ran around him in the kitchen of Klaue's main house while Yani got showered for her evening of fun. He made the food for Yani's return because she was always starving after a late night out.

Packing the food up into the fridge, he gathered Sydette's overnight bag and carried the baby into the master bedroom.

"Aye Sweet Pea, say bye-bye to Mama. Kiss!" Yani said holding out her hands for Sydette.

Draped in a fluffy white bathrobe and face unmade, Erik watched Yani give smooches all over Sydette's face.

"Be a good girl for Twyla," she said.

"Be back," he said.

Taking Sydette away from her, Erik drove to Leona's and handed the baby over to Twyla. By the time he made it back to the compound, Yani had on her make-up and her clothes…

"The fuck you wearing?"

She stood in front of the master bedroom vanity mirror primping and smoothing oil onto her platinum-colored hair. Face beat like a Boss Bitch, her eyes dragged away from her own visage and gazed at him.

"What you mean?"

"Bend over."

Yani leaned forward slightly and the short form-fitting white shirt she was wearing like a mini dress raised up and he could see the underside of her ass cheeks clear as day.

"Nah…nah…put some pants on or get something else on—"

"Serious?"

She sucked her teeth at him.

"You ain't got no panties on—"

"Yes, I do."

She lifted up the dress higher and he saw silky white boy shorts.

Erik twisted up his lips. He didn't want to be that dude. He didn't want to sound or look like an insecure pooh butt. Women could wear what they wanted. He appreciated women who dressed sexy and were confident in that sexiness.

However…

"Yani, these niggas be ruthless in the club. Why you gotta have so much ass out? You know they gonna push up on you…I can see your cheeks, girl—"

"Barely. Just tell me you don't wahn mi grindin' on niggas—"

"I don't want you grindin' on niggas with that dress on."

"I'm not changing clothes."

She put her hand on her hip and her eyes challenged him to say different.

He fell back and watched her slip on her heels and grab her small purse.

"Who's picking you up?"

"Lesonne. I'm catching a cab back if I get tired early…stop trippin'. It's really not that short…"

His eyes dragged down to her thighs. He could see the tops of them. The dress shirt flared out on the sides hanging low enough to cover her hips, but the cut still showed a lot from the front and back.

Let her show off in peace.

The click-clack of her silver heels on the tiled floor broke him out of his thoughts of making her stay home with him. He seriously thought of going with her, but she was so bubbly gossiping with her girlfriends that he had to figure out why he was so agitated about a dress. A stupid dress he would've lusted over himself had he seen her in a club with it on. He would've been one of the men pushing up on her if he didn't know her.

She checked her phone.

"They're on their way," she said.

He followed her up to the main gate of the compound, and the longer they walked with her ahead of him, the more time he had to look at her hips twisting as she walked, her thighs all out teasing him. Erik felt that gnawing need to control what was happening. He reached out and stroked the right curve off her ass.

"Don't have them dudes—"

She brushed his hand away from her body.

His eyes narrowed and he pulled her arm back toward him.

"Are you listening to me?"

"I'll be a good girl."

She said the words, but the twist of her lips told him otherwise. He reached behind her and slapped her ass. Hard.

"Ow!"

She punched him in his chest.

"I'll be up waiting for you."

"I may not be back until early tomorrow."

Now he was really irritated.

"So what was the point of me taking Sydette to your Aunt's? We were supposed to have a grown- up night together before you start school—"

"I told you that I wasn't sure when I would be back—"

"You said no later than one or two."

"Well, it may be later than that—"

"So we not fucking?"

She checked her cell and fixed the thin white belt that cinched her waist.

"We'll see how I feel when I get back."

She rubbed his arm and turned around to show him her backside. Jiggling her cheeks, she giggled at him with her teasing.

"See, now you're being mean," he said.

He took his flat palm and smacked the shit out of her rump. She yelped and rubbed her ass.

"Save that for when I get—"

He yanked her panties down and slapped her vulva.

"Killmonger!"

Her hands tried to block his.

"Take them off."

"They're going to be here—"

"Take them off."

They heard Lesonne's car roll to the front of the gate, music blaring, tires screeching to a halt. Yani's phone vibrated in her purse. She pulled it out.

"Tell her you'll be out in a minute," he whispered.

Her fingers swiped her phone screen and she put her cell back in her purse.

"Panties."

Yani stepped out of her tiny boy shorts and held them. He moved up against her and traced his finger along her lips, the red matte lipstick rich on her mouth. He bent down and kissed her, serving her his warm tongue and he felt her body go limp against his.

Slipping two fingers between her legs, he separated her folds. She tugged on the bulge in his jeans. Inserting his fingers into her pussy, he thrust in and out slowly making her squirm. Her hand made his dick lift up so that it pointed at her.

"You wore that dress just to fuck with me," he whispered.

Her eyes were glassy and her pussy was dripping. The sticky fluid from her body made squishy sounds. He kept manipulating her folds until her legs shook. She vacillated between biting her lips, staring down at his fingers, and closing her eyes as he varied the depth and speed of his digits inside of her.

"Erik…fuck…"

"You come home at a decent hour so I can get in all this. Hear?"

Yani bit her lips as she tried to stifle the tiny groans coming from her mouth.

"I should fuck you right now, right here," he said.

"They're waiting…"

"So."

"Huuhnnn…"

Her hands rested against his chest, her warm fingers, pushing him back.

Hooking his fingers, Erik tapped on her walls and let his thumb flick over her clit.

"I should pick you up and let you slide down this dick. Fuck you standing up—"

"Stop!"

Yani removed his fingers from her slit and stepped away from him.

"Let me get going. I'll let you have it all when I get back."

He spun her around and pushed her against the gate. Dropping to his knees he pulled her soft ass cheeks apart and shoved his entire face into her pussy lips.

He heard Yani's hands slam against the metal gate bracing herself and she pushed her backside out giving him even more access to her private parts. Sliding his tongue along her outer labia, he licked his bottom lip that was wet with saliva.

He heard faint sounds escape her mouth as she tried to keep quiet as her friends waited on the other side of the gate. Shoving his tongue deep inside of her, Yani rocked her hips back to smash her ass into his face and he loved it. He gripped his dick through his pants and squeezed his balls to keep himself from cumming. He wanted to be knee-deep in her walls when he did that.

Removing his tongue, he let Yani's ass strike his face, getting his beard drenched with her sweet fluids. He had her soaking wet. It was time to make her pussy submit. Erik became a flurry of fingers and wet tongue kissing as he licked her engorged labia like icing off a cake. Bathing her pussy with his saliva, he dragged his tongue along all the sensitive parts that made her melt in his mouth.

"Daddy gon' chop this peach up when you get back."

He felt the heavy throbbing weight between his legs and before the surge from his balls could overtake him, Yani shuddered while his lips sucked on her clit, her release making her plump vulva spasm.

"Pussy sloppy, baby…"

He licked up all the excess juices that poured from her and kissed her folds gently, his full lips pressing against her skin, still feeling the slight spasms from the tail end of her orgasm.

"Watch yourself," he said.

She pulled her panties back on while he stood up and adjusted his dick. He was so horny for her.

"Just gonna leave Daddy like this?"

She rolled her eyes and he opened the gate for her.

His erection grew more rigid as he watched her walk away from him and get into the car.

Such a tease.

###

Erik surveyed some gun schematics on his laptop. It was nearing midnight and he was restless. He had tried to watch porn earlier, but none of the women he saw online excited him enough to rub one out. All he had eyes for was Yani and that mini dress. He took out some weed he got from Kendall and rolled a tight one. The baby wasn't there so he felt cool about indulging.

His cell buzzed and when he checked it, there were a series of pictures that Yani sent him. A few group shots with her friends, but a few with men at the club posing with her crew, and sure enough, that fucking dress was doing too much.

He went back to looking at gun designs and another text blew up his phone.

A video.

Yani and her girls dancing, but Yani was winding on some Rasta looking clown who was pressed up against her.

"See, this the shit I was talking about," he grumbled.

It didn't matter. He was going to use up a whole bottle of lube when she came home. A long drag on his herb had him toasted. Shit was potent as fuck.

The clip was only a minute long but long enough to let him know she was buzzing and showing off. Her girlfriends were egging her on and just as tipsy and feisty as she was.

He texted her.

Slow your roll, Ma. For real.

You not my daddy, lol!

She sent him more pictures, trying her best to be provocative. He didn't fall for it.

It wasn't until he saw a thirty-second video clip of another man grinding on her and patting her vulva through her dress that he jumped off the couch.

###

"We run tings. Tings nuh run we!"

The Flourgon song made Yani's hips dip, and she watched the crowd dance while she sipped on her apple martini in the V.I.P. section she reserved for her friends. It was ladies' night, and this particular club was a diverse mix of locals and white tourists. She liked the booth they were set up in. They could see what was happening around the club, but other patrons couldn't see what they were doing.

All of her friends were happy for her, and she was cutting up in the club with them, feeling powerful and ready to take on the world. Bottle service was popping and she was given extra drinks for free because of her connection to Kendall who had performed there the previous weekend.

The music switched to R&B and Yani followed her friends onto the floor and they became ridiculous with their dancing. She kicked off her heels and swung them in her hand as she downed shots and sang off-key to the music with her girls.

She took out her cell and took more video shots to send to Erik. She posted two pictures on her social media page of the group shots she had in their V.I.P. booth. On her way back to her section, she stopped by the bar to order hot wings and potato poppers to snack on and soak up the liquor in her belly.

Stepping near her booth, Lesonne tugged on her arm.

"Is that your man?"

Yani was confused by the question until she saw Erik bee-lining his way toward her. His lips were tight when he reached her group.

"There she is, Miz fatness."

The gruff island voice startled Yani as a man she had danced with earlier rubbed up against her, his hand sliding around her waist, his locs falling against her cheek.

In front of Erik.

Her man's eyes lowered to stare at the stranger's hand and Yani moved up on the single step that led to her booth to separate herself from the man. Her friends filed behind her, their eyes taking in the whole scene.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Erik shoved past the other man, his shoulder knocking him aside.

"Aye!"

"Fuck you want?" Erik said.

The stranger looked Erik up and down, and what he saw made him move along without another word.

Yani's friends stood away from them, leaning against the railing that separated their section. They looked out onto the dance floor. The tone of Erik's voice made Yani nervous.

"Why yuh here?"

She eased him into a corner of their section where no one on the floor could see them too well. But her friends could hear everything.

"You tryna be too cute. That's why I'm here. Got niggas touching your pussy in public—"

Yani heard her friend Milah let out an "Ooh…I knew it."

His eyes were on her dress again.

"Please. Don't make a scene, man. Not here. We're having a good time. You didn't need to come down here to tell me that. Coulda texted—"

"Nah, you wanted this attention."

His eyes were blazing. She caught a whiff of weed from his breath.

Lesonne placed a shot glass into Erik's hand.

"Drink up. It's a celebration," Lesonne said.

Erik tossed back the tequila and Yani moved over to the railing to watch the crowd and divert Erik's attention. She was shocked when she felt his palm strike under her ass. He pressed up against her and let his hands grip the railing, trapping her there. His hot breath tickled her ear as he leaned in to whisper.

"Didn't I tell you to watch yourself before you left? You think I was playing?"

"It was nothin'."

His hand reached down and clutched at her mound.

"He had his hand on you like this. Bitch, I can feel how fat your puss is through this dress. You let that nigga touch my shit."

Yani's eyes darted to the side. All four of her friends had their eyes glued to the dance floor, but she knew their ears were stinging from Erik's words.

"Let's talk about this at home—"

"No."

His voice was raspy against her ear.

"You tryna get fucked in the club?"

Now he was getting loud. She tried to turn around but he kept her in place, his groin shoved hard against her ass. She turned her head and his lips met hers. He wasn't gentle with her mouth, but he was gentle with his hips rocking into her. He dropped his right hand down and wiggled his fingers under the front of her dress and slipped them down her panties. The stimulation from his fingers across her plump clit had her mewling and pushing back against him. The blood in her body thrummed hot as his tongue slid against hers. No matter what happened between them, his kisses always disarmed her.

Her head dropped forward when his fingers sunk into her pussy.

"This what you wanted?"

"Ooh."

He was digging deep.

"I saw you out there dancing. All this big ass out in the open…"

Her friends pretended not to notice, but they could hear everything. Even her wet folds being assailed by his hand.

Erik removed his hand from her slit for a few seconds, and she felt him unzip his pants and lift up the back of her dress. She gripped her fingers around the railing. Two of her friends slipped away to the dance floor. The other two stood rooted, heads facing forward. Erik yanked her panties down to her knees.

Her skin felt tingly and once she felt him lining his glans against her opening, she accepted what she had done. She wanted to incite his ardor. She wanted to flaunt her body to get him enflamed for her. She wanted him begging for her pussy. At home.

But no.

He drove all the way across the island, walked into this club so he could-

"Fuck, Killmonger!"

His dick stretched out her opening, and from the angle he entered her, the head of his dick tugged down on her clit and the sensation shot out a hot ripple of pleasure up to her nipples and down to her toes.

From the floor, if anyone looked up, they would simply look like a couple hugged up watching the action. Erik kept his hands gripped on her waist as he rocked into her.

"Fucking slut."

His words slurred in her ear.

"Look at your friends. Making them watch Daddy fuck you like this."

Her eyes flicked over to glance at Milah and Lesonne who stayed behind. Milah's eyes were brazen and aroused watching Yani get pounded in public. Her eyes trailed down Yani's body until she was staring at Erik's dick pumping in and out of her.

"Shit, Yani. Yuh nasty. Him beating up that pum pum," Milah said.

Erik dragged her over to the back of the VIP section and away from her friends, his dick still rooted deep within her. He grabbed her arms to balance himself and really started to thrust. Yani chewed on her lips trying to keep quiet, but a few cries got out, drowned by the loud bass thudding throughout the club. Her balance was thrown off when he released her arms and she reached out to hold onto the wall.

Erik yanked her underwear back up as he pulled out.

"Be still."

She whimpered as he placed his erection between her thighs and jerked off his load into her panties. He swallowed the grunts in his throat as the last of his semen spilled out.

"Pull your panties back up," he said.

Yani did as she was told, her soaked underwear sticking to her vulva. She smoothed down her dress and still felt the thumping of her clit. She turned to face him and he zipped up his pants.

"Let somebody touch my shit now, girl."

He looked at her friends who avoided eye contact with both of them and left her standing there. They watched him move through the crowd, his swagger so acute that Yani had to pour herself a glass of champagne and gulp it down.

Panties filled with cum and a face filled with embarrassment, Yani said nothing to Milah or Lesonne.

###

Erik was reading in bed when Yani returned to the compound. He'd been at the house for over an hour before she came back.

She showered and crawled onto the bed next to him. He ignored her, even though she was butt naked. After a time, he put the book on the nightstand and looked at her.

"Rest of the night was cool?"

"Yeah."

His eyes tried not to stare at her body too much, but he couldn't help it. Her face looked pouty. He pinched one of her nipples.

"You fucked me in front of my friends."

"So. They didn't look bothered by it. They say something?"

"Not really."

"You need to apologize to me."

"For what?"

"Making me come out there. I had shit to do here. But you got out of pocket. Stole some work time from me."

Her fingers stroked his naked chest tracing the skin between his keloids.

"I'm sorry."

"Nah. Not like that. You know what I want."

He pulled the covers back from his body and lifted up his dick. Her fingers clasped it and she lowered her head and wrapped her lips around it.

"Damn," he hissed.

Once she had him standing at attention, her fingers slipped between her legs and she fondled her clit.

"Get it ready for me. You got some making up to do."

Her mouth sucked and licked up and down the sides of his length and he groaned from her loving tongue swiping against his balls. He reached for the lube next to his book and slathered his dick with it.

"Turn around. Sideways," he directed her.

He tilted his hips to the left slightly and Yani lowered her ass, her fingers holding open her labia.

"Slide down Daddy's dick, baby."

She was on her hands and knees and he had the pleasure of watching her entire side view as she bounced on his dick. His left hand rested on her ass cheek.

"I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Show me."

Her breasts jiggled and he reached over to play with her big nipple. She had a steady rhythm.

"You gon' let some other nigga touch my pussy again?"

Her lips curled up and she shook her head vigorously when he started thrusting up into her.

"What? I didn't hear you."

Her hand reached back and touched his side.

"Ooomph…Daddy!"

He was stretching her out real good.

"Answer me."

He slapped her backside. She leaned down on her elbows and pressed her face into the mattress. That wouldn't do. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to face him. She plucked on her nipples and pushed her breasts together for him. Her pussy was squeezing him while he let her do most of the work. He slapped the side of her hip and her eyes shot open.

"You betta answer me—"

"I won't let no one touch my pussy…just you…just you."

"This pussy is so good…you liked it when Daddy fucked you at the club, huh?"

"Yeah."

"You liked your friends watching me dick you down, huh?"

Her pussy clenched around him.

"Yeah, you liked that shit. You liked them seeing what you get all the time. Daddy's big dick all in your fat pussy."

She was wailing as she bounced on his dick. He played with her nipple and watched his thickness split her good. He lifted up and held her back, widening his thighs so he could get his balls all up in her ass. He held her in that position for a long time, punishing her folds until she was begging him to let her cum.

"Don't you ever let me catch you with some other man's hand on this pussy. Hear me?"

"Yeah!"

Erik pulled out and pushed her onto her stomach. He climbed on top of her and inserted his dick once more. He gave her slow thrusts until her fingers were clawing the pillows.

"Cum on me, Yani."

She screamed his name and fell apart on his dick. He didn't wait for her to finish as he sped up his pace and then pulled her on her knees so he could watch her rock back onto his length.

"Had all my cum in your panties…"

"Yeah…"

"You liked that, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

He groaned out loud.

"Cum in me, Daddy."

"Whatchu want Daddy to do? Tell me again…"

"Cum in my pussy…"

"…fill your pussy up?"

"Make a big mess, Daddy…"

"Like I did at the club?"

"Yeah."

"Wet your pussy up like I did those panties?"

"Please—"

"Tell me—"

"I want you to wet my pussy up. Make a big mess like you put in my panties—"

"That's what you want?"

"Yeah."

"You like it when I make you sloppy—"

"Yeah."

"Give you a big cream pie—"

"Mmmhmmm."

"Ah shit-!"

It never failed. Talking to her while watching the sexy dimpling in her ass, her thighs striking his, it never took long for him to let go whenever he was ready. He ejaculated, the tight pulling on his balls letting him know he had emptied out another huge load.

He stayed in her pussy for the rest of the night, fucking her until she fell asleep in his arms. The bottle of lube was empty like he thought it would be.

###

Erik worked hard to get a workable mock-up of the weapons he wanted to convert with the vibranium. He found it hard to concentrate for the last few weeks because he and Yani had both been busy. Sex was infrequent, and she was gone from the compound a lot. He thought her online classes would keep her close, but it actually took her away. She started a study group with a few other online students on the island and met with them three times a week. Her courses were time-consuming and her energy was spent on assignments, getting high grades on her quizzes and tests, and caring for Sydette. She was mentally drained by the end of the day and was often knocked out by the time he joined her in bed at night.

He felt displaced.

Their life had been perfect, but now he was losing her to school.

When her midterm rolled around and they were easing into August, she dropped some news on him that upset him. The apartment she was going to share with her roommate was available and the leasing agent wanted her and her roommate to take it right away or risk losing it to another tenant. She wanted to move out right away. Her roommate was ready to get the apartment too.

She told him while he took out braids from Sydette's hair on the porch.

Yani was going to settle on the other side of the island with the baby, leaving him at the compound alone.

As always, when it rained, it poured.

While Yani went out for several days with her roommate to buy furniture and cookware for her new apartment, he received word from Klaue: he was coming back to St. Thomas.

Early.

###

Chapter 20 Here

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[umichenginabroad]

Sevilla y el Día de la Mujer

Hey Everyone!

What a week it has been! Due to the coronavirus I began cancelling my spring break (to Italy and Greece) and decided not to book any other trips far in advance because many universities are pulling their students home from Europe and I don’t want to have to cancel more trips. Therefore, I did not start planning my trip to Sevilla this weekend until the Tuesday before, which made for a bit of a hectic week. However, my weekend was absolutely amazing!

Thursday night I took an overnight bus with a friend to Sevilla. It left at 1am (Friday morning technically) and got into Sevilla at 7:15 am. The bus was surprisingly comfortable and I actually slept a decent amount. We then went straight to our hostel Oasis, and even though it was too early to check in, they let us leave our luggage in a storage room, check out the rooftop terrace view

and gave us a suggestion for a cafe to get breakfast in that was very close. Then we walked around the neighborhood until the hostel’s free walking tour at 11:15. The guide for the tour was absolutely fantastic, and I learned a ton. We went to all the main tourist attractions in Sevilla and he explained many places I would not have otherwise known anything about. Of course we did not go inside the ones you have to pay for but he still told us some of the history. At the end it was clear we were expected to tip, which we were happy to do since the tour was so great, but it would have been nice if they had told us that at the hostel, just in case we didn’t have the right bills in cash. We then walked around Plaza de España, since the tour had ended there, 

and our guide had given us some suggestions of where to take the best pictures based on the time of day and sun location.

Both of us were very excited about this plaza because Dorn in Game of Thrones was filmed here. Since our guide had given us a suggestion for a cheap lunch place, we went there and were very happy with the food and the prices. 

After our lunch we went to the main cathedral. It was absolutely breathtaking and enormous. 

Here’s a picture of me next to one of the pillars for a size comparison, we couldn’t even fit the ceiling in the shot so it’s still hard to tell just how massive this room is. 

We also decided to walk up the tower, (which, according to our walking-tour guide, historically was rung five times a day, and so it was built with a spiralling ramp all the way up so the bell-ringer could ride a donkey up to the top) and the views were fantastic.

Apparently Christopher Colombus is buried in this church too, but there are many stories of him being buried elsewhere as well, however they do have a whole exhibit set up about it.

As our tour guide had recommended, it was much cheaper with a student ID and we also got entrance included to another big church in Sevilla which we went to the next day. After our very full day of walking we headed back to the hostel to check in and take a nap. The room was perfectly adequate and a great price, and had a little balcony as well. After our nap, we woke up and decided to go to the terrace on the roof of the hostel. We ended up making some friends with people we met having a guitar jam session up there, and hung out with them for the evening. The next morning we decided to go to the Alcazar early in the morning to maybe beat the line, and it really only took about half an hour of waiting for us to get inside. We walked around for a few hours inside (taking many pictures)

but what I enjoyed the most about the Alcazar were its surrounding gardens which were absolutely stunning.

And we also saw tons of ducklings running around in the gardens which was incredibly cute! And a peacock!

We walked around some more during the afternoon, and also went to the other smaller church, which was still huge and beautiful, and if I hadn’t just seen the main cathedral I would have been shellshocked again.

In the evening, we had dinner and went to a flamenco show at La Carbonería. We were not allowed to take photos or videos of the performers but it was absolutely fantastic. La Carbonería is not a traditional show where you buy a ticket and watch performers on a stage, but a group of performers in a pub. The entrance is free and it is incredibly amazing to watch. You can choose to buy drinks or tapas if you want, and the prices are very good but they only accept cash. Getting there early was essential so we were able to get good seats. After the show, we went to the bus station to catch the overnight bus back to Madrid. This was essential because we wanted to be back in time to participate in the 8M (March 8th) women’s march in Madrid. 

This event is huge every year, even with the coronavirus concerns there were still around 120,000 people in attendance, blocking one of the main roads in Madrid. I met up with some friends in Retiro park first in order to make some signs together and walk to the event together. 

Much like a football game in Ann Arbor, there are so many people in one area that cell service does not work well so it’s important to arrive with your group and not lose them. When we got to the march I was shocked by how many people were there, I’ve never been a part of something that huge before. 

There were groups drumming, and people chanting, and tons of amazing signs everywhere. 

Some of the buildings surrounding the march were lit up purple (the color symbolizing women’s rights in this march) in support of the march.

It was such an awesome experience to partake in a protest in a different language as well, and I had so much fun learning all the different chants. 

Thanks for reading, have a great week!

-Leah Webber

Civil Engineering

Engineering - IPE: Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain - UP Comillas

[miairviin]

Jó estét

Madeline and I got on a bus at 7 am and drove 3 hours, arriving in the bold city of Budapest. We arrived at the station and discovered we had a long walk to our hostel, so we got a move on. At the beginning of our walk, there wasn’t a whole lot to see, the wind was blowing, and it was cold. After about a half hour of walking, we took a quick coffee break, just to sit down and warm up for a bit. It was here where we found out Hungary uses a different currency than Europe. They do accept euros, but their national currency is the Hungarian Forint. One Hungarian Forint is worth .003 euros, so prices appeared daunting at first. But it turns out that the coffee Madeline got was just under 2 euros.

Once we finished there, we set back out in search of our hostel. This proved to be a quite difficult task, as Google maps sent us the wrong way. We were now an hour in with no real food since breakfast. (Which consisted of granola bars.)So we decided to stop for some food. Since there had been a multitude of gyro joints, we decided to give Hungarian gyros a shot. It was delicious! The worst part of the meal was hearing the word thousand when he told us the price.

When we finally found the hostel, we took a very seemingly unreliable elevator to the top floor, and met our very friendly manager Matthew. We got settled, charged our phones, washed our faces, and then it was time to head out and see the city.

Similar to Vienna, we had no plan and decided we would spend the rest of the day wandering to the different sites Budapest had to offer. We began with the St. Stephens Basilica. Again, the cathedral looked as if it had sprouted up overnight like a flower in a field of grass. It was in a square with dessert shops, souvenir shops, and restaurants on its perimeter. Yet it stood in the center, regal and beautiful. Its beauty and grandeur only fit into a photo when I backed all the way up to almost the edge of the square. We got to go inside where to our surprise, a wedding ceremony was taking place! I assumed traditional wedding vows were being read, but I honestly don’t know because it was all in Hungarian.

Next we made our way over to the bridges that connected the Buda part of the city to the Pest part. We strolled along the bridge and took in the skyline with the water in front and the sun glittering against the surface. It was hard not to feel grateful for the day.

We then arrived at the shoes on the Danube. I had only seen pictures and never really knew what they meant. Logic and the general symbolism led me in the direction of a Holocaust memorial. I was partially right. The memorial is to honor the jews who were ordered to take of their shoes at the edge of the Danube before they were shot into the river. It was chilling to think of each pair of shoes as a human being. Then to think about them staring down into the water knowing what was coming next. I took a quiet moment standing next to a pair of delicate heels. What even goes through your mind at that point? It was impossible to imagine. I continue to appreciate the accessibility of these memorials throughout Europe. They force you to stop and reflect as you go about your day. They ground you, and remind you that in these beautiful places terrible things happened and we cannot forget that.

After the shoes, we walked up a flight of stairs to see the extravagant parliament building which was surrounded by beautiful statues of historical figures I did not recognize. It was a moment similar to the realization of the different currencies. We really hopped on a bus for 3 hours and when we got off, we were in an entirely different country with a different currency, government, language, cuisine, architecture, history, and culture. I am truly thankful for the exposure and experience days like these provide. It reminds me how big the world is, how much there truly is out there. The parliament building stretched on forever with its red roof and long spires shooting out. There are definitely differences in the architecture between Vienna and Budapest, but there are also similarities. Like Vienna and even in Berlin, many of the buildings surrounding the Parliament Building were cream with green and gold accents. That being said, Budapest definitely had style and a brashness whereas Vienna has a more classic air to it.

We headed to the bridge that would take us from the Pest part of the city to the Buda part, but first, Margaret Island. Margaret Island is a small island that is only 2 and a half kilometers long. It sits in the middle of the Danube river just off one of the many bridges tethering the Buda and the Pest together. It’s a tranquil spot, dominated mainly by young families pushing strollers, joggers, and dog walkers. There really wasn’t a ton to do here, so once we took in the views, we continued on to Buda.

We hiked to Fisherman’s Bastion which was an old fort that offered a panoramic view of the city. Since night had taken over the sky, our view was one of glimmering lights for as far as we could see. They danced on the river, they outlined the bridges that connected the city, they marked windows of buildings, they illuminated places of worship. It was truly breathtaking. Night offered the skyline a look that I expected from Budapest: exciting and exhilarating. Matthias Church was a quick walk where again, I was left speechless by the architecture that made up the church. It was a smaller version of the basilica, but equally as beautiful.

We ended our touristy stint at the Buda Castle which was right next to the church and bastion. It was complete with statues and ornate columns. The lights that shone up onto the statues casted eerie shadows against the walls, their frozen arms outstretched and lips etched into a permanent frown. It was quiet though. By the time we got there it was definitely dinner time, and there were very few tourists wandering around the grounds. We decided that it was dinner time for us too, and made our way back to the city for some traditional Hungarian food. This included Hungarian Ratatouille and the delicious chimney cake, a staple to Budapest dessert. The Ratatouille has sausage, a yummy tomato based sauce with a little bit of a kick, some crispy potato wedges, and vegetables. Chimney cakes are made by wrapping dough around a rod and cooking the cake in a small oven. When it’s finished, they slide the cake off the rod, so the dough is in the shape of a round chimney which you are free to coat in whatever topping you wish. We polished off the night by stopping by a bar, grabbing a glass of wine with some friends from Athens who also ended up in Budapest.

Before calling it a night, we stopped into a ruin bar for some of the night life that has become synonymous with Budapest. Ruin bars get their name because they are untouched buildings that have been converted into amazing bar spaces complete with dance floors, which of course made me a very happy girl. The one we picked was called Szimpla Kert and we knew it must have been a good one because there was quite a long line to get in. Once we were in, colorful lights showered down from the ceiling. Music was everywhere, and despite the old walls of building, a youthful energy charged the air with electricity. Luckily, we were a five minute walk from the hostel so it wasn’t too long until we were finally off of our feet for the day. In total, we took about 40,000 steps which is 18 miles. This is actually a new record for me, according to my pedometer app.

Until tomorrow, good night, Budapest, jó estét!

[purplesurveys]

662

What is the wallpaper on your computer screen? Why did you choose it? It’s one of the default Mac wallpapers, but I picked the shot with a pinkish hue, because pink. The default ones are already pretty enough, so I don’t feel the need to scour the web for the perfect wallpaper image. Is there a pattern on the pants you’re currently wearing? Which one? I’m currently wearing a romper. It’s just plain sky blue. Do you like going to baby showers? Do you go only for the cake? As an Asian, I can tell you baby showers are hugely a first-world thing. I think the more hip, Western-influenced, and upper-middle millennials and Gen Z Asian crowd can have the means to do them, but it’s like 90% not a thing here. In a region where there’s poverty in front of you, only the rich can pull them off; and for most of us, the biggest concern is that the baby remains healthy. Who is the person you text the most in your life? What relation are you? Gabie, probs. Girlfriend. Angela, my best friend, comes a close second. Mexican food, Chinese food, Italian food, French food or American food? Chinese > Mexican > Italian > American > French. I think I only like French cuisine for their pastries and escargot, but that’s about it.

Has there ever been a time in your life, you felt sexually undecided? Yeah. I still get confused about it from time to time, so eventually I just slapped the term demisexual on me and by far it’s been the most fitting for me. Does your mother annoy you when the holidays come along in the year? No? If anything I get worried a lot more because she comes home a lot late, and it always turns out to be because she spends the entire evening gift-shopping for family, friends, and co-workers hahahaha. What is the color scheme of your absolute favorite fast-food restaurant? I don’t really have a favorite fast food place anymore... if it counts, maybe Yellow Cab? They have a yellow and black color scheme, like the literal yellow cabs of New York. Do you think tattoos and piercings are sexy on the opposite sex? I don’t mind them; I don’t think of them in terms of being ~sexy lmao. Do people ever ask you to do things they’re too short to accomplish? Nah I’m usually the short one who needs people to reach stuff for me. Do your siblings bring people around that your parents don’t approve of? Mmm nope, not really. My mom loves my sister’s boyfriend, and as far as I know my brother doesn’t bring anybody home. Is there carpet or hardwood floor in your bedroom? Hardwood. I don’t know if there’s any Filipino home that has carpet floors. Do you check the texture of things first or the smell of them? As much as I hate this habit of mine, I tend to want to know the smell of everything. I only check the texture if I think it’s going to be satisfying, like if it’s anything like slime or sand. Have you ever broken the arm or head off of a trophy? How did you do this? Nope. I don’t think I’ve already even held a trophy before. Do you believe in superstitious things such as breaking a mirror? I only follow one superstition that has something to do with my school, but that’s it. I don’t obsess over it and I know it’s fake, but ‘following’ what the superstition says hasn’t gotten me in trouble in my last four years in university, so I just continue following it HAHA. Do you get sick of people who call themselves bipolar all the time? I do hate it but fortunately a lot of people are now more sensitive when it comes to mental health and mental health issues. I don’t hear this word thrown as much as it was in like 2011 anymore. Ever have an ultra-sound performed on you? What was it for? Nah, no reason to. I’ve only had X-rays of my spine taken. Do you like those ‘end of the world,’ ‘Armageddon’ movies? Never did. I was never into the whole apocalypse/disaster/wartime genres. What color are the headphones you have at this moment in time? I don’t have headphones. And I also don’t have earphones anymore :( I want a new pair soooo baaaaadddd. Ever been choked severely on something during lunch at your school? I’ve never choked on solids, but I’ve choked on water several times, when the droplets get stuck in your throat and your lungs get all confused and you’re left gasping for air but you just choke some more because the water in your throat blocks any air from coming in, so you end up coughing to near death. The last time this happened was during a lunch break in my INTERNSHIP, and it was so embarrassing because I couldn’t tell them what was happening, I was just coughing frantically and slowly turning red lol.

Do you remember who you sat next to in Kindergarten? Who was it? Yeah, the girl in front of me in the class list was I think Kaira, and the one after me was Kaye. I was friends with Kaira throughout high school and we still are today, but back in kinder she used to be my bully. But during recess, I usually sat beside a girl named Raegan, who was one of my good friends for a while. Has anyone ever compared you to an animal? Which one(s)? I don’t think so. Has anyone, including yourself, forgot it was your own birthday? On my 18th birthday my high school friend group completely forgot. It makes me feel like shit every time it’s brought up, so we’re not bringing it up tonight. Chocolate or strawberry birthday cake? Choose one. Chocolate! Do you eat more vegetables or fruits? What’s your favorite fruit/veggie? I loooooove me some vegetables – I’d try all of them in a heartbeat. My favorite is broccoli. And I hate most fruits, but I’ll give an exception to avocado. Do you abbreviate things way too often? Do you get called out on it? Not really, I just use the usual shortcuts – lol, lmao, rn, tbh, idk. My mom would get confused sometimes and ask me for the meaning of some abbreviations I use, but she doesn’t ‘call me out’ on it. Ever been in one of those church Christmas plays before? Why/why not? Hahahaha no, because I never wanted to join and it’s one of those things I’d never allow myself to be in no matter how much my mom forced me. What is the funniest conjunction you use throughout your day? ...Are conjunctions supposed to be funny? Have you ever thrown a roll of toilet paper at someone before? Nope. Does the dentist calm you or does it tend to stress you out? I like the dentist. I’ve never had big issues with my teeth (save for my worst ever toothache last year), so the idea of having my teeth cleaned and treated is actually pretty calming to me. The one time it ever stressed me out was when my dentist had to extract a dead tooth and he had to put three injections on the roof of my mouth. It was the first time I’ve ever caught myself literally shaking in fear, huhuhuhu. If you had to choose, which is the worst movie you’ve ever seen? Jack and Jill, for movies that are objectively bad. But in general, Knives Out was a big fucking waste of my time and money. Have you ever found yourself talking to an inanimate object? When I say sorry for bumping into them D: Do you like movies that are originally based on children’s books? Not all of them. Some were hits for me like Charlotte’s Web and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and some I didn’t really care for, like Coraline. Is your hair more thick or thin? Is it more curly or straight? THICK. So thick I could never pull off a bob, even though I’ve had the desire to adopt it as my look for a while now. It’s straight but it’ll sometimes be wavy. Something on the human body that grosses you out the most: Raised moles. Do you like meeting new people? What’s your most common greeting? Uhhhh I’m okay with meeting new people but it still depends on their crowd or the air that they carry around them. If I have a meh feeling about them or if their body language initially rubs me off the wrong way, I’d be hesitant. With my situation now, I usually say hi, tell them my name, we exchange our courses, then we talk about school stuff to break the ice. Ever think of what it would be like to be a mermaid or merman? Not really. Ariel has since showed me that it wouldn’t mean much, so I never actively wanted to be a mermaid. If you had to choose, which celebrity would you date out of all of them? Kristen Stewart or Hayley Williams. Do people feel sorry for you for no reason? Have they ever? I don’t think so. Idk, idk how people feel about me. What is something that bothers you about most surveys in general? I never liked surveys that go too deep, like those that ask me what I think of socialism or abortion, hhhhhhhh. I answer surveys so I can talk about my dog, say what I learned in school, or discuss who I had lunch with, and not to get all political. Simple yes/no questions can also be annoying so most times I elaborate. Who would you take with you on a stranded/deserted island? Maybe Gab? She’s super smart and resourceful and makes everything work haha. Do you have your own personal boom box in your bedroom? No. I was too young to want to have one. Would you survive if zombies were to take over the world? Why or why not? Probably not. I can’t even cross the street without holding on for dear life to my friends’ arms lmaoooooo. What would you say is the worst part of high school period? Adjusting. I took a while to, and when I hadn’t yet, it was the worst. I was left out of everything, had no opportunity to figure out who I was or what I needed at the time, and nothing and no one approached me unless I did so myself. What is your favorite color of apple? Red, green or yellow? I don’t like apples. Ever want to be a doctor? Is it because of all the hospital shows? I never wanted to be a doctor as a kid, but now I do see the point in going to med school. I’ve always liked and been good at memorizing names and terms, and biology is my favorite subject along with history, so a part of me thinks what could have happened if I pursued some specialization of med. As for hospital shows, I’ve never seen one. What do you think of all these reality shows that try to alter personality? I’m not sure what they mean? Don’t they all do that? Reality TV personalities always seem like much exaggerated versions of themselves. Where are your favorite pair of shoes in the whole world right now? I wear it too much but my Onitsuka Tiger sneakers are a k e e p e r. So comfy and such a classy-looking pair. Do you live anywhere near a mall? If you live in the Philippines, there is an 80–90% chance you live near a mall. In my case, I just live quite far from the main entrance of our gated village so it’s a bit of a drive; but the village itself is like two minutes away from one mall, four minutes away from two others, and five minutes away from still another one. Malling is pretty much the national pastime, so we’re loaded with them. Do you like drawing smiley faces or do you think they’re overrated? They’re pretty harmless, I don’t see why they should be deemed as overrated lol. If you were dying who would you say goodbye to first out of everyone? Gabie. Are you someone who actually likes to babysit children? I’ve never formally baby-sat someone, actually; at best I was put in charge of my younger siblings and cousins and looked out for them and took up the position of the responsible older sister whenever our parents weren’t watching. But to me it was already kinda like babysitting based on what I’ve seen in American TV hahahaha, and I always liked that sort of task. Do you ever have those ‘ah ha!’ moments? Do those annoy you? If the a-ha moment meant I was stupid in the past, then yes it would annoy me. Like for example if I’m driving somewhere and already far from home, then had an a-ha moment that I forgot something important back at the house, then I’d be pretty pissed with myself. But if the a-ha moment was something like a realization, I’d be relieved to have it. Do you hardly ever remember where you put things at? YES I HATE that about myself. I’ve lost earphones, my Hydro Flask, my yellow pad paper, readings, jackets, hair ties, socks, and school IDs because of it. What’s your favorite lunch meat, if you even like any in the first place? I don’t eat lunch meat. When is the next time you’ll eat a cupcake, if you know when? I have no clue :( Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts though, but they’re just so hard to find or get. Where did you last buy socks from? What do those socks look like? The last time I bought socks was like 2015, back when they were a trend here for some reason. It has a bacon and eggs design, and I actually just wore them the other day haha. Do you ever lay in the grass and look up at the sky, just because? I’d look up at the sky, but not on grass. I find it itchy. When do you normally go to sleep on the weekends? Depends on what and how much I did during the day and how tired I am. Like just earlier (Friday evening) I was passed out by 9:30 because I stayed up til 2 AM working on a Powerpoint and had to wake up at 6 in the morning to continue working. But other nights I could stay up till midnight. Have you ever met someone with the same ‘biggest fear’ as you? I haven’t met anyone afraid of knives and injections and any sharp stuff like me, no. Do you ever have movie nights with your significant other? We don’t do movie nights ever, which I recently and finally realized when we did sit down and watch Titanic together a couple of weeks ago lmaaaaaaaaao. It was honestly really fun doing it and I remember remarking that we in fact never did movie nights in the last four years. Would you rather write with a pen or a pencil? Why is this? Pen. It’s just more convenient for me. Pencils get blunt as you use them, and I’m too impatient for that. Do you like candy bars? Are you trying to slack off of them? I honestly have nothing against them, but given that I have several many relatives who work overseas and have brought home candy bars as pasalubong (gifts) in the last 22 years of my existence... you can imagine how tired I can get of them. What is your favorite number? Is it significant with your life? 4. Not really. It just reminds me of Beyoncé and happier days haha. Are you afraid of being kidnapped if you go outside at nighttime? Yup. That’s why I never walk outside at night except when I’m at a mall or in school. I just drive everywhere. Has your mother ever called your school because of your grades? No. Whenever I struggled in school it was always just due to either 1 or 2 subjects, so there was no reason to ring up our adviser as it was never that worrisome in my case. I was never failing all my classes at the same time, basically. In the next twenty minutes, what will you be doing and where will you be? Maybe another survey or watching BoJack Horseman? Idk. It’s 3:44 AM and I’m pretty awake so I dunno if I’d still want to sleep. Do you like showers or baths better? Why did you choose your choice? Showerrrr. It’s quicker, plus it’s what I do more often. Are you a controversial person? Do your views oppose others? This was me as a teenager because I thought it would be cool to be edgy and have a different opinion than everyone else BLECK please delete that person lmfao. But now, hmmm the way I’d explain it is that in the case of e.g. being pro-choice, LGBT, critical of the Catholic Church, basically the more liberal ideas, I seem to be in the majority opinion about relevant issues on the Internet/social media. 

But I live in the Philippines, where society is still mostly traditional, conservative, modest, and disapproving of a lot of the progressive stuff happening in the rest of the world – hell, divorce isn’t even legal here. That said, a lot of my views which would otherwise line up with those on social media or those in like US or Canada or Europe would get me a lot of hate and criticism in the Philippines, especially among the older generation. Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? Who for? Yeah we threw one for Dave a few years back. My friends also threw an advanced surprise party for Raf on my actual birthday, and I was too hurt about it so I didn’t attend. What would you say your average word per minute time is on the keyboard? We did this in class once for fun when we weren’t really discussing anything, and if I remember anything I hit somewhere between 70-80 words. What is your least favorite class in school? Why is this? Chemistry, calculus, and trigonometry. So fucking useless. Do you bite your fingernails or tap them on desks? I tap my nails onto desks. I only bite them when I’m anxious. Have you ever wanted to be in a band? What position exactly? I wanted to learn the drums but never explicitly wanted to be in a band. Who is your role model or hero in life if you have one? No role models for me. Do you ever call your cousins just to talk to them randomly? No. We’re close, but we’re also busy, so the only time we get to catch up is when we get to have family lunches/reunions. Do you find any of your friends’ parents creepy or really mean? Not at all. All of my friends’ parents have been lovely. Do you ever have to wash your clothes at someone else’s house? Nope. When is the next time you’ll go to the library? Why is this? I dunno actually. I don’t really have to pick up a book to read for a class right now. Do you like fiction or non-fiction books more? What’s your favorite? Non-fiction. I don’t have a favorite but I will sit down and read any biography you offer me. Do you constantly have to be told to shut up? By who? No, and that would hurt, I think. I have friends who I lowkey think are too talkative for my social battery, but I’d never tell them to shut up. Do you know how to play pool? Are you any good at it? Nah. I don’t even know how to swing(?) the cue. Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated? Have you always? Yeah, I always try to. I always assume or imagine they’re going through something, so I always try to be a little kinder. Were you a really mean kid or a sweet and quiet kid? I was quiet, neither mean nor sweet. I didn’t make trouble at all but I wasn’t exactly the most darling of kids either haha. I was just too shy to move or talk. Are you someone who likes to get in arguments or fights a lot? I’d get in one if I have to, but I don’t thrive on them. How do you make sure people know you don’t like them at all? I don’t have to make a big spectacle about it if I don’t like someone for whatever reason. I can still be polite and civil if I have to interact with them. < Pretty much. The one way someone would know (if they even notice at all) is that if I would do anything and everything to avoid having to talk to them. Would you say you’re someone who likes to cuss a lot? I say shit and fuck pretty often. Do you keep secrets from your parents that you don’t keep from your friends? My entire relationship is a glaring answer to this. What is your father’s best friend’s name? Do you know them personally? I don’t know if my dad has one. He has close friends, but not sure about a best friend. If you had to, where would you get a tattoo at? Why? Inner wrist, but I know that would hurt so I might just settle with having no tattoos ever haha. I picked it becauuuuse, idk, it just seems pretty intimate to me. How much was the cell phone you have at this moment in time? It was the newest model when I got it so it cost like P45,000 or a little less than $1000. Would you say you hang out with people the majority of your life? Yes. For the last 18 years my life has revolved around going to school, so I’m allllllways around people. What would you do if you woke up randomly with purple hair? I’d be pissed and try to hunt down whoever dyed my hair in my sleep, but then afterwards I’d assess if it suits me or not HAHAHA. It’s dyed anyway, so I might as well make sure I look good with it. Do you ever look in the mirror and name all of your flaws for no reason? Yeah, especially the ones on my face. Doesn’t get to happen a lot but I’d do it occasionally. Are you getting sick of the reality show Survivor? Why? I never watched it, but I’m surprised it’s still on. < This. Do you usually explain to people why you do the things you do? It depends what I do but generally, I’m not weird or crazy or daring enough for me to have to explain myself to people all the time. In contrast, I have an org-mate who’s a little on the...experimental side, and we have caught him trying to drink glue or stabbing himself with a pen. He always says he just wants to know how it smells/tastes/feels like, depending on the situation. We’re all lowkey concerned about him though lol. Ever submit a video to America’s Funniest Home Videos? We didn’t, because I don’t live in America. The most painful medical procedure you’ve ever had? Anything that had me getting pricked, so like platelet count tests and the one time I needed to get IV placed on my wrist. I’m WINCING just thinking about them. Are you someone who likes to eat Poptarts? What’s your favorite flavor? Love Poptarts, my favorite is the chocolate one. We don’t get a lot of flavors here, hence the basic choice. Ever have a dream you’re being abducted by aliens? Was it scary? Never. Do you like people who are loud or people who are quiet? I like quiet people who can get chatty and loud when necessary. Does personality weigh out the sense of ‘good looks?’ In terms of who I find attractive? Not really, looks still matter to me. When is the next time you’ll see someone who is pregnant? I only know one person who is and I only see that girl like once a decade lmao so I have no clue if I’ll see anyone else who’s pregnant. Do you hate it when people copy the things you do? No, unless it’s the exact same thing I’ve been doing. Where is your favorite piece of electronic equipment? It is on the drawer next to my bed. Where is the person who ‘owns your heart’ at this moment in time? She’s in her dorm, all passed out considering it’s 4:40 AM lol. Has anyone ever told you that you’re good at cooking? Hell no. I’d tell them they’re completely mistaking me for a different person, because I don’t enter the kitchen at allllllll. Would you say you’re a fast texter, or are you pretty slow? I’m fast. What is your favorite flavor of Doritos? What do you drink with them? Nacho Cheese is fine with me. Do you have any enemies who you think are dangerous? I don’t have any enemies. < Yep. Do you ever try to squeeze information out of people? Sure. It comes with being a journ student lmao. Does it freak you out when the police drive by your house? I live in a private village so this never happens. I do get paranoid when I’m driving and there’s a police car coming from behind me, though. Are you someone who tends to take a whole lot of naps? Not really. I always have a lot of work to do so I can’t nap even though I would want to. What is your favorite nickname you like to be called? Why do you like it? I’m fine with Robyn. I’ve gone by it since I was four. Do you already have your outfit for tomorrow planned out? Eh not really. I usually don’t think of my Sunday outfits until I’m actually already in front of the closet anyway. I never feel like making an effort for church.  What is the color of your favorite pair of pants? What brand are they? Blue. No clue, but they’re mom jeans. Has your favorite song ever been featured on a commercial? Nah. I’ve never heard Paramore on a commercial. Do you ever promise pc4pc on Myspace then never return the favor? I never did Myspace. I’m vaguely familiar with the slang, though. What is one song right now that really gets on your nerves? That new Demi Lovato ballad. Bless her for allowing herself to be vulnerable on that track, but for the most part I cannotttttt stand her voice. What would you say was the best year of your life? Why? 2014, a lot of things seemed to fall into my lap back then, and I was simply happy and satisfied. Do those annoying infomercials ever draw you in to buy things? I have never been convinced to buy anything they sell but I WILL spend hours watching the commercials just because of how entertaining they are. Have you ever been pulled over by the cops for speeding? No. Speeding isn’t an issue here tbh. If it was nearly everybody would be pulled over, I think. Common reasons for being pulled over are like making illegal u-turns, overtaking on a solid double line, or being caught driving when your car is under coding for that day. Is anyone in your family a firefighter? Who is it anyway? Nope.

[vanessagalang]

Last week, I finally had the courage, and time to have my maternity shoot. 😀

It was such a surreal experience; it was a first time for everyone! My hair and makeup artist, the photo and video team, my husband, and of course, me!

I know it can be unnecessary, since we have so much to prepare for birth and the days after that, but I definitely wanted to push this idea to document this wonderful miracle while I can. And of course, it won’t be possible for me not to write about it here. Teehee!

So I’d like to share some tips and a guide on what you need to do just in case you’ll be holding your own momma-shoot!

Find a Comfortable Venue

I was 35 weeks when I had this shoot, and according to some of my readings, the best weeks to hold this photoshoot is when you are between your 28th to 35th. In this time, at least your tummy is showy enough to be captured, and at the same time, safer. We don’t want to be bothered by the fact that you can give birth any minute while posing for the camera, do we?

Photo Credit: http://sanrafaelriveradventure.com/

I tried looking for studios, and a good AirBNB place, but all the places I’ve looked for are either too cramped, doesn’t allow photoshoots, or are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive!

Good thing, I stumbled upon a post in my feed about this cute getaway place in Bulacan. It’s called San Rafael River Adventure, and the place actually looks divine! 😀

They have a lot of fun activities that you can use for other types of shoots, like the prenup. But since I will just be using the entire accommodation, this should be enough.

It is highly important that you feel comfortable with the location or your venue, because of our condition. This is not the shoot where we can be adventurous. Leave it to the prenups and getaway trips! 😀

I booked the Glass Stilt Cottage, which is newly constructed by the way. I can’t believe I have a view of the lake in front of me! They have a comfy bed, and a jacuzzi. The space outside was enough to cater at least 6 people. There was a hammock, a sliding sofa, good lighting and a breezy weather to top it off. The air condition was good inside as well, plus the windows were perfect for those silhouette shots I was eyeing. Plus I thought that their rainy season promo was just perfect! So, what does a pregnant girl got to do? Book it right away of course! 😀

I am happy that the resort was very quick to reply, and I was given the available dates. I made a group chat, and voila, scheduled it right away together with the available dates of my team! 😀

2. Create Your Mood Board

I am a very bad pregnant-person-slash-client. Grr. I bash myself.

Oh well, I know I have to prepare for this weeks ago, but I was only able to send this to my team two days prior to our shooting day. I was too busy with some other things that I rarely had time to browse Pinterest or create a mood board.

But being the good crammer that I am, I was able to whip one just in time. Hehe 😀

Since I got a really good deal with Grid Studio too, (they are our civil wedding photo and video team by the way); they offered me unlimited shots, so yeah I want to maximize that. 😀

I thought about 5 sets and took inspiration from the things I found online, and of course with the available props and wardrobe that I have.

a. Whimsical Woman

I bought this pink ensemble way back in May, thinking it could be a good alternative for a bridal robe for my church wedding. But turns out, it could serve its purpose at an earlier date!

I also bought these flower crowns in SM. I couldn’t decide which one I like more, so I got them both. Haha Ayoko na pahirapan sarili ko! (I don’t want to have the burden of thinking which one is better!)

b. Simple and Laidback Mom + Hubby

I saw a lot of simples, and laidback shots that are perfect to include baby things, and the husband too. It looks soft on the eyes, very loving, and “very family”.

c. Boss Mama

This one is credited to my working-productive-self! Even though I’m pregnant, I am still very hands-on in my business especially that it’s new and the brand is just starting to pick up.

I always tell myself, I will not lose my identity and individuality just because of the new role that motherhood could bring; more so, it will be a big improvement. I will be a much better version because I’m adding a new role in my resume.

d. Boudoir

I actually wanted one before prior to getting married, but due to time constraints and indecisiveness, I wasn’t able to come up with one. Hopefully, when I get my body back post-pregnancy!

So in the meantime, I thought why not have one while expecting? It’s a totally new form because for once in my life I am not skinny, and I’ve got a few extra curves to flaunt. 😀

I can’t wait to share the silhouette photos! 😀

e. Summertime

Since I love wearing a bikini, and there was a Jacuzzi in our venue, there was no way I would pass on the opportunity of wearing one.

It was very funny too, because for once in my life, I have to buy an extra-large bikini! Haha 😀 I was pretty sad when I didn’t get the color I wanted because I was too big for the available Large size. Goodie, they have this red one that can fit my baby bump.

Which reminds me, I actually had a mini shoot wearing a bikini when I was in Bataan. I was 18 weeks here, and you could see how I just look ‘busog’.

3. Find a Good Maternity Shoot Team

This was easy. I was able to establish a really good relationship with my civil wedding photo-video-HMU team that I thought about them instantly. They actually haven’t done any maternity shoots, so this made the whole experience more exciting.

I actually thought of getting other suppliers, but I realized I will still get a better deal if I get my original team. I also saw some studios offering maternity shoots. Sure they are cheaper, but what I didn’t like is that they don’t give raw files of the photos, and they will only release like 5 to 10 shots, printed and edited. Plus there was no video too.

Grid Studio offered me unlimited shots, a video, printed photos and raw files, plus we can shoot anywhere I like, so yes, there was nothing left to discuss.

Elaine Cordova Makeup Artistry is such a good find too. She has done my makeup for a blog photoshoot and at my actual wedding, and I am really satisfied. She has great skills, plus I don’t have to burn holes in my pockets just to avail her airbush makeup. Elaine is also very instinctive, she knows what you want, asks for your makeup pegs, and deliberately retouches you every now and then, without you even asking.

4. Know Your Poses

Expect a lot of dreamy looks and belly-touching poses on a maternity shoot. So be sure your nails are polished! If you gain some weight and some extra chubbs in your face like I do, be sure you know your angles so you can still achieve the looks you want.

It’s also good to research poses with your husband/partner so things could go on smoothly. I am so happy that Rose and Michael of Grid Studio are very directive when it comes to poses. It was amazing how they handled and directed us even though it was also their first to cover a maternity shoot.

5. Prepare Your Props

We weren’t able to buy a lot of props, but good thing I was able to nick some of the random shopping baby finds we had. Plus it is so helpful that friends and family also gave their baby gifts earlier! Haha More props for us!

Here is the list of the props I think would help add more character to a maternity shoot:

Baby clothes

Baby shoes (Be gender specific)

Baby socks

Baby toys

Ultrasound Photos

Baby book / Storybook

Pregnancy book

Stuffed toy (I had a kangaroo with a little joey in its pouch)

A figure of the first letter of baby’s name (We didn’t have time to find one. Sad. )

6. Get a Good Night Sleep The Day Before

Please do! It’s good for your skin, and to rid those circles under your eyes. Plus it helps you to have good energy for the entire day!

I only had an hour’s sleep though. I was finishing bulk orders ready for delivery the next day, that’s why. I think my strong desire and excitement for the shoot to happen are what sustained me to last the whole day! 😀

7. Enjoy Being Gorgeously Pregnant and Pose the Belly Away

Honestly, I was extra weary that I won’t look great in this shoot, because I’m fat, my skin is dry, my belly button is protruding, my linea nigra is so apparent, my face feels like it’s going to burst, etc.

But hey, I am a walking miracle! That should be enough to keep me happy and make me feel beautiful. So I just accepted all these flaws that I have in my head, after all, these are all normal for a pregnant woman, duh?

So I just prepared myself that I won’t get the usual results in this photoshoot, unlike the past ones. I have to accept that early on. I will look different. Very different. But there’s a growing life inside me, and this little one is going to change my life forever. And being able to document that in a maternity shoot is already a blessing. Truly, something I would treasure for the years to come.

If you are thinking of having one too, I highly recommend it! It doesn’t have to put a big dent on your wallet though. You can always have the kind of shoot you want, whether in your home, studio, in a DIY setup, on the beach, or anywhere you find it comfortable doing. You just have to do your research, and be resourceful!

Go my mermom merfriends! 😀 Be confident and strut that baby bump soon! 😀 You only get pregnant once, or twice, or thrice! Haha 😀 Whatever the frequency is, it would be a great keepsake for your family to remember by, and a great photo to show the little one once he is outside too!

I will share my final shots when I get them!

Enjoy your pregnancy! I’m popping soon!

**, Via

7 Things to Do When Preparing for Your Maternity Shoot Last week, I finally had the courage, and time to have my maternity shoot. 😀 It was such a surreal experience; it was a first time for everyone!

[doomonfilm]

Ranking : Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999)

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that time has come... I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone, and I’m officially putting down rankings for the directors I like.  I’m sure that, one day, I will contradict myself, and forever be shamed by my vain desire to document my musings, but that’s life eh?  If I’m going to start ranking, I may as well go with my hands down favorite director : Stanley Kubrick.

For this particular ranking group, we will focus on his films that received major distribution and theatrical release.  All films in his filmography prior and up to Killer’s Kiss will be omitted for the purposes of this list.  A.I. Artificial Intelligence will also be omitted, as this was not directed by Kubrick.

11.  Spartacus (1960) I don’t know, at this point, what number one will be, but I know with great certainty that Spartacus will be at the bottom of this list.  From what my fan-based research has taught me, Kirk Douglas took an opportunity to hitch his wagon to a rising director-shaped star, but Kubrick was not given the freedoms normally associated with his projects.  In my opinion, it shows, in spite of the fact that Spartacus is a much better film than many other Hollywood offerings.

10.  The Killing (1956) While a great film in its own right, The Killing falls low on this list due to the fact that the story is nowhere near as unique or controversial as a handful of the films that followed it.  The ending twist is a nice balloon burst of a moment, and top-notch performances across the board make it noteworthy, but it does stand within the shadows of giants within the canon of modern day cinema when placed against Kubrick’s latter work.

9.  Lolita (1962) The first true controversial offering in the Kubrick catalog.  He took what was already controversial material and embraced it fully, hiring Sue Lyon to portray Lolita at the age of 16.  The film pre-dated the ratings board, but pressure from the Hays code and the Catholic church forced Kubrick to tone down much of the story, opting instead for visual humor and symbolic moments to substitute for the outright eroticism portrayed in the original book.  Due to these restraints, the film does not pack quite the wallop it wants to, and is mostly controversial more so in nature than in execution.

8.  Eyes Wide Shut (1999) In the eyes of many fans, this was the true final film in Kubrick’s canon.  A heavily mysterious production preceded the release of this film, with then married stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman being famously quiet about the project when asked.  The film, like most Kubrick fare, found controversy in its erotically charged Bohemian Grove-esque scenes, but the film itself is a riveting tale about love, trust and commitment in the modern day marriage.  A fitting final statement from a true legend.

7.  Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Although Lolita was a funny film in its own right, this was the film that truly showed me how intelligent a sense of humor Kubrick possessed.  It actually took me several viewings to truly understand the depth of the comedy, as many of the laughs are played as straight as the military men the cast portrays.  The subject matter itself is extremely dark, and at the time so relevant that it actually seemed to be occurring via the Cuban Missle Crisis.  Well before 2001 : A Space Odyssey made it crystal clear Kubrick was a genius, this film was a bold announcement of that fact.

6.  Paths of Glory (1957) Stanley Kubrick knew how to make a war film, and Paths of Glory was proof of that right out of the gate.  The film was only his second in terms of feature length full scale productions, but the elements he shows mastery of hint to the skill level of a seasoned veteran : the trench shots are a spectacle to behold, the tension of the trial (and subsequent executions) delivered both visually and within the narrative is pitch perfect, and the ending is one of the most tear-jerking and heartbreaking endings captured on film.  The young woman who would sing the song that scores this ending, as a matter of fact, later went on to marry Kubrick.

5.  The Shining (1980) Not many films can be an instant box office success upon release, only to find another life nearly four decades later as an endless source for interpretations, conspiracy theories and visual trickery.  The film famously took on a life of its own from the Stephen King novel in the hands of Kubrick, and people to this day debate the fallout of the production and the lasting effects it had on star Shelley Duvall.  What cannot be debated, however, is the fact that the film disturbs, frightens and intrigues in ways that few horror films can.

4.  Full Metal Jacket (1987) This film gets such a high placement on my list strictly because of sentimental value.  One late night on Cinemax, I stumbled across army recruits getting haircuts to the song Goodbye My Sweetheart, Hello Vietnam, and as a budding fan of Vietnam cinema I was hooked.  The following journey was one that changed me forever, particularly right around the halfway mark when who I then thought was the protagonist blew his brains out, and before I could process what happened we were waist-deep in Wei City.  Almost everything that was an earmark of Kubrick style was present in this film : deeply punctuating score for compelling moments, stark usage of color, unique framing (purposefully not done in widescreen format), a wholly intriguing story, and a significant connection to the real world.  This film, in my opinion, may be the best film to introduce someone to the films of Stanley Kubrick with.

3.  Barry Lyndon (1975) When I finally purchased the Kubrick collection in its entirety, this was the film I was least familiar with.  I never was a big Ryan O’Neal guy on top of that, so my expectations were pretty much non-existent.  The impact this film had on me, therefore, was more than likely magnified due to my lack of knowledge.  This is by FAR the most beautiful of all the Kubrick films... the story behind the lengths he went to for creating a camera that could shoot indoors and outdoors with natural lighting is legendary in its own right.  Every frame of this film is truly a painting, and the story is perhaps the most heartbreaking portrayal of Murphy’s Law I’ve ever seen committed to film.  Truly a spectacle to behold.

2.  A Clockwork Orange (1971) The most controversial of all Kubrick films, hands down.  Not only was the film controversial enough to cause public outcry due to copycat criminals emulating Alex and his Droogs, but Kubrick made the controversial decision to remove the film from British theaters in the midst of several high-profile court cases that directly attributed their actions as influenced by the film.  On its own merit, the film is a brutally straightforward and honest tale of a young monster’s criminal and sexual exploits, the monsters that try to take advantage of him for their sake, and the monsters created by opportunity when given the chance for revenge.  Kubrick took a standout book and made a nearly perfect film out of it, and a film that will undoubtedly stand the test of time despite production choices that make it instantly recognizable to a specific time period.

1.  2001 : A Space Odyssey (1968) Of all the films out there, and not just those made by Kubrick, this is one of the closest attempts and executions of what could be considered pure art that there is.  This film is astonishing on monumental levels : visually, it was way ahead of its time, and is scientifically sound on top of that... in terms of story, the tale is incredibly expansive, but flows effortlessly between incredibly long cycles of time while handling incredibly lofty concepts... as an experience, not many films force you to ask (and attempt to answer) deeply ambiguous questions about mankind, the nature of existence, and artificial intelligence, and I argue that no other attempt at an experience would be nearly as entertaining.  This is the true signal of genius in a catalog full of genius level work.

It’s not hard to see why many people, including myself, consider Stanley Kubrick to be the best to ever grace a director’s chair.  His catalog is truly unparalleled, and even his worst work is miles ahead of the best work of many contemporaries and directors that have emerged since.

[filmstruck]

Two Texas Movies That’ll Talk the Ears Off a Mule by Nathaniel Thompson

One thing you get attuned to growing up in the South is an ear for accents, which also means that when you hear a bad Southern accent in a film, it’s like hearing someone raking their nails on a chalkboard. That also makes you even more grateful when movies manage to get it right, and one state that’s had much better luck over the years than usual in Texas. While actors almost always struggle and usually fail trying to capture the twang of someone from Georgia, Alabama or the Carolinas, characters from Texas tend to be more convincing thanks to the combination of traditional Southern drawl and cowboy swagger that can switch from arrogance to vulnerability in the blink of an eye. It’s an actor’s dream, and you can find some fine examples in the current “Deep in the Heart of Texas” spotlight on FilmStruck featuring a wide array of cinematic snapshots of the Lone Star state.

Hollywood has had a long-running love affair with Texas stories for decades, but the first really modern look at what it’s like growing up in a small town there arrived with Peter Bogdanovich’s THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (’71), arguably the definitive Texas film for reasons numerous enough to fill books (which they have) and a great American coming-of-age story to boot. The film’s influence has extended through many subsequent films about the twilight period of adolescence, with its candid sexuality and sad-eyed outlook often emphasized by critics over its welcome adherence to that prime Texas quality, the gift of gab. The way characters talk in this film is just as important and naturalistic as what Robert Altman was doing around the same time, and though this one doesn’t get the same amount of credit in that regard, it’s a clear influence on two ‘90s films you’ll find pair up with that classic quite nicely if you’re up for some FilmStruck binging.

No single director has made the most of Texas locations as spectacularly and consistently as Richard Linklater, who’s turned out a string of modern classics set all over the state including DAZED AND CONFUSED (’93), BOYHOOD (’14), EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (’16), and my personal pick as his most underrated masterpiece, BERNIE (’11), which opens with a quick primer for the ages covering the major territories of Texas. You can find the basis for all of those films with Linklater’s very first legitimately released feature film, SLACKER (’91), which is available for streaming right now and should be part of anyone’s basic ‘90s cinema education. It’s the ultimate Texas yakking film as it tosses any kind of traditional storyline out the window; instead we meet a succession of Austin, Texas residents who mainly represent the crazier side of Generation X a la Texas, pontificating on any number of topics including UFO and assassination conspiracies, financial woes, and pop culture, most memorably Madonna. In what may be a weird nod to Martin Scorsese’s role in TAXI DRIVER (’76), Linklater himself even turns up as a taxi cab passenger in the opening minutes running his mouth about a dream with “nothing going on at all” and how The Wizard of Oz serves as an example of how multiple realities exist. The cumulative effect is dizzying, surreal, morbid, and often hilarious, setting the template for Linklater’s more adventurous side that would turn up again in those BERNIE townspeople segments and his philosophical animated experiment WAKING LIFE (2001) as well as the frequently overlooked SUBURBIA (1996). Shot for peanuts on 16mm with a slew of real colorful Austin residents, it’s really ground zero for the city’s current reputation as the state’s premiere cinema haven and a quirky cultural oasis that has become a synonym for movie geek culture. Now, whether we’ve all really been on Mars since ’62 is a question that has yet to be answered…

I’d bet good money that the one film in this spotlight seen by the smallest amount of people has to be one of the most recent: DANCER, TEXAS POP. 81 (’98). This one proved to be a tough sell at a tricky time when little indies like this were getting crowded out, neither hitting the Miramax-ified art house crowd nor the slick big-budget studio product filling the rapidly accumulating multiplexes. That’s a shame as it’s a sweet little charmer of a film whose PG rating probably turned off any potential younger viewers hoping for something a little rowdier, and if it were made today it would probably go straight to streaming. So in a way it’s fitting you’ll probably find it for the first time here on FilmStruck, where its easygoing charms will be nice and easy to digest. This was part of a slew of late ‘90s teen films essentially throwing a lot of young actors in different combinations to recreate the brat pack magic of the prior decade. Some of them scored direct hits like the SCREAM sequels, AMERICAN PIE (’99) and CAN’T HARDLY WAIT, another 1998 film that shares three of this film’s stars, Peter Facinelli, Ethan Embry and Breckin Meyer. (The fourth star here, Eddie Mills, hasn’t been nearly as high profile.)

Technically it has more of a plot than SLACKER but not by much as it features a snapshot of four young men about to graduate from high school, first seen sitting in the middle of the road in foldout chairs under the blazing sun and pondering how to get the Rand McNally atlas to acknowledge their home’s existence. All of them are contemplating leaving the itty-bitty township—as they remark more than once, they first got tickets to go to California two years ago—but there’s also the value of nurturing the roots you’ve been setting up throughout your young life. Not surprisingly, some characters go through with the decision to move way while others have a different fate in store. Mostly though it’s a positive snapshot of male camaraderie without any artificial drama as we stop along the way for concerns like finding a job, enduring a bumbling mishap at church or just hanging out on a porch having a chat. It’s not the kind of thing some viewers will find gripping, but it’s a nice afternoon viewing choice and ultimately quite moving at the end if you let it work its subtle charms. Can’t say I’m a huge fan of the treacly score, but you can’t have everything.

A lot of credit for this film’s authenticity has to go to writer-director Tim McCanlies, making his directorial debut and using his knack for little details as a fifth-generation Texan to paint a vivid portrait of day-to-day small-town life. His second feature film, SECONDHAND LIONS (’03), returned to Texas to equally convincing effect, though in between he also wrote what would become one of the most acclaimed American animated films of the past two decades, THE IRON GIANT (’99). It’s a shame we haven’t heard from him in several years as he’s a voice worth hearing.

[abigailskoda]

Wedding Plans in 2015

It enables to visualise your favored wedding. Women have long planned their ideal wedding day,  Custom Made Jewellery however with the robust have an impact on of celeb marriages the current fashion for weddings has unfold far and huge, and is not restrained to the vastly rich. The picks you now have are fantastic, and lots of old traditions are being ditched or subtle for greater cutting-edge day ones. So wherein do you begin?

Well, there have been plenty of movies to watch for thought or thoughts; The Knot, Love clearly, My Best Friends Wedding, even TV hits like "Friends" had its proportion of weddings. These are great, however these weddings are approximately particular characters and personalities. They are high-quality to poach thoughts that you could construct on and refine, however in the end...

Start it with YOU! That's right, suppose 'big ego', 'no limits' and start at the top! Pretend for a moment you have got a bottomless pocket and pass beforehand and draw up your ideal wedding ceremony due to the fact you are about you!

So design all of it to your pad, appearance and research from the excellent weddings that inspire you- from the marriage dress to the ceremony and on to the reception(s). Yeah this is right, you could have multiple and it does not even have to be sooner or later both as some weddings cross on all week. It's a one-off unique day for you and there will be no others to suit it.

So now you've got a rough best wedding ceremony planned right? Well, perhaps your price range is a attention, so time to start making your dream wedding ceremony work on your practical wedding ceremony. Keep in mind your dream wedding though as it may be feasible for to overlay some of it onto your practical one. Hopefully, you have months till the large day so perhaps consider beginning with the less complicated stuff first; things you may cross and discover right now and work into your finances. In a wedding there are belongings you have to have, things that should be there (however no longer crucial) and things that you may easily afford to lose, specifically if it does no longer be just right for you.

The wedding get dressed and the venue are the first to arrange. Put yourself in an imaginary white room and visualise your dream dress acting on you. Next believe the white of the room turning into your venue. So which one seems better, less expensive, and practical in your thoughts? A Church or a registry office... ?

WEDDING THEMES

Themed weddings are a contemporary fashion in 2014, and from what I am seeing as a photographer there also are famous colour and food topics. If a fave shade is important to you then this may be start of your topic. Since the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, a brand new conventional style benchmark turned into set and additionally because the movie "The Great Gatsby" there was a definite flow in the direction of the 1920's appearance.

Now subject matters do include a fee tag, however will genuinely stand out for years to come. For subject matter inspirations take a look on-line and see what catches your eye.

THE DRESS & THE SHOES

wedding ceremony footwear The selections obtainable are more various than ever before, and in the long run you your dress and shoes are going to be the centre of attraction and remembered. Your photographer bases the wedding pix round you. Everyone else who brings their cameras are going to be pointing them at you as properly. Therefore, one component to preserve in thoughts: region your dress and shoes on the top of the budget list.

So what is current right now? Functional dresses that may be used time and again? Or something that flickers glamour and taste?

"Less is More" 1855 poem "Andrea del Sarto

Wedding clothes in hues apart from shades of white are simply something distinctive - creative and ambitious. They can be used over and over. Blush colorations, like red or peach are coming round again. A fashionable, pale, shimmering crimson is actually some thing to do not forget but in my opinion you cannot beat white. The classic white dress still sits at the pinnacle and has finished for loads of years.

Wedding portraiture

Depending on where you've got your ceremony, there are some issues to maintain in thoughts. A church wedding historically way hiring a unique vehicle to get you there. You ought to additionally think about the time you have got within the day as nicely; how lengthy will the journey be from A to B after which to C. If you are having a expert photographer, ensure you propose with him/her in which, how long and what sort of photography you would really like.

What's hot right now could be total coverage, and I locate the most interesting pix are the pre-wedding ceremony ones: the bridal prepping photographs of the makeup artist at paintings, the hair being styled, the marriage dress placing up prepared to be worn, the shoes, the state-of-the-art sparkling jewelry. As a society, we are now, greater than ever interested by the who, how and what went into creating a massive occasion. Look at any popular movie on DVD and Blu-ray nowadays and you may frequently locate the making-of documentaries are honestly longer than the film.

Preparation Preparation

We like seeing the main actors in between takes, behaving certainly and offering a little perception into their actual personalities. The equal applies to you, your bridesmaids, the Groom and grooms men. You clearly are going to be a superstar for the day and seeing the bridesmaids having a touch amusing getting geared up is exactly what you are going to need to look back on... No matter how antique they're.

A rite in a lodge may additionally imply no automobile is required, and you could loosen up a bit more due to the fact everything's central; all roads factor to one venue for absolutely everyone concerned. Also guests can book rooms for the night time so your reception does no longer ought to have a set end time.

Now permit's now not overlook a few key details both, have you concept about how the ring gets offered all through the rite? A favourite in the meanwhile is a adorned pillow with pins at the rings, or the own family canine sporting it down the aisle on call. Just be innovative, it is the little things that add that speciality.

Some church buildings and registrars have policies you want to be aware about and this is made clean when you are booking with them. They normally insist on only one respectable photographer being allowed to photo the event. This is not intended to be suggest or too controlling but it is a information protection trouble and in a few instances a copyright issue as nicely with reference to the venue. For instance, on the subject of the signing of the legitimate sign up no pictures is allowed - complete stop. This is a policy all officials will observe. But as soon as this formality is finished the photographer is free to seize the satisfied couple signing a fake e book rather.

Respect and Social Media

Something to keep in mind is the release of guest images onto social media at the night time of the marriage. You may or won't have an opinion on this, however a few couples ask their visitors to keep again their pictures and not submit them directly to social web sites till the legit ones are launched to so as hold their 'distinct' excellent. What I recommend is to ask every person on their invites to ship their pics to the bride and groom afterwards, and let them be the primary to peer their very own wedding.

Now I need to factor out a few facts right here: newbie photographers are anywhere and most of the people very own a few quite true cameras which can rival the photographers own device. Does this mean that uncle David is going to get the same snap shots as your hired photographer? Do you really want a photographer at all?

I can virtually say I even have in no way been wowed by those snaps. People do get lucky occasionally with perhaps 1 in 50. I even have but seen most of them emerge as online in social media web sites with titles like; pinnacle 100 worst wedding ceremony pictures though.

The factor is, you need a professional for quality and peace of thoughts. Like Jamie Oliver cooking a Wedding Breakfast or Maggie Sottero designing a unique get dressed, professionals in their field have the suitable device and skills to supply. A professional photographer is aware of what to look for and in which to be. You cannot assume a member of the family or pal to take on such a duty. The expert brings back-up facilities so no photograph is lost. He/she has the competencies to procedure your pictures and keep them nicely afterwards. Your employed photographer could have be versed in adjusting your snap shots, sprucing and cropping them to fit industrial print requirements geared up for printing.

DETAILS OF THE RECEPTION

Hunger - After a rite, maximum guests are hungry and thirsty. When making plans your wedding reception it might be sensible to provide canapés/appetisers with any reception beverages. These will revive any flagging visitors, and potentially save you any early inebriation.

Wedding reception

Cake - The wedding cake is a subculture that people seem to be re-vamping and modernising. Recent weddings I actually have attended have seen the slicing of the conventional iced fruit cake take a backseat and sometimes just no longer appear in any respect! This may be seasonal preference, as an example, iciness tastes veer towards chocolate and wealthy flavours, while in summer time I actually have visible light sponges, lemon cake or maybe simply an amazing antique cheesecake. Wedding fairs are presently promoting ice-cream desserts that double as a dessert for the Wedding Breakfast, or layered tiers of frosted cupcakes that can be dispensed on the large day with out the need to reduce the cake.

Messages - The conventional way is a visitor signing e book, it's a incredible keep sake to take home. But there are already new ideas available. How approximately a wishing well that guests can put little notes into? Once you're finished with it after the wedding, stick it in the lawn and permit nature grow round it.

Presents - A super way to make the speeches extra interesting is giving out offers to those who have helped and been there for you, you can even strive a a laugh raffle or supply out lottery tickets.

Kids - If there are youngsters present, you may be sure that they'll be bored and ready to begin running around, having amusing and generally getting under your ft. You can plan for this too, via having bubble blowing bottles available to hand out. It appears top on the snap shots too and is such fun even the adults be a part of in!

Staff - If you're having a large themed wedding ceremony, it is worth checking with the caterers in the event that they have a few form of uniform. A concept right here is request group of workers wear white gloves, they simply look classy and clean.

Food - The cutting-edge take on the Wedding Breakfast is less conventional with extra highly spiced delicacies at the menu. Styles vary however, through the years peoples tastes have simply modified. The greater creative your food the extra memorable your day can be, and depending on how lots time and money you have, how approximately attempting an eight route meal? It's all approximately the flavor.

Music at the same time as you consume - If you visit any wedding ceremony fair you'll locate some exquisite musicians to pick from. They can accompany your meal playing the piano or harp and will frequently play something you request. At one wedding I included recently the subject became rock, so the pianist become playing hits from ACDC, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Queen, Slip Knot and plenty of, many more. It turned into exclusive and funky!

Up lighting effects - Hiring a few lighting fixtures for the night is a first rate manner to absolutely alternate the temper of your event and deliver it an super appearance. Up lighting factor on the partitions and ceilings and may be set to a coloration to fit your theme. White fairy lighting fixtures can create a pretty history for your night time picture's and are in particular powerful after dark.

Night Music - Cover bands are famous in the interim and there are some fantastic businesses obtainable focusing on weddings. They will play your favourite tracks on request. Disco's, well do you need a disco? Technology is good enough now to be able to pretty a lot create your very own custom playlist that blends into each music from a computer or iPod/iPad. Just plug that into the band's amplifier and click play. You can alternate your own track with the band to present them a ruin. By the manner... Recollect to feed the band!

Flowers - Real or Fake? Its a hard one to decide upon, and it is able to be pretty nice to have vegetation to hide parts of employed halls. For others its some thing to perhaps forgo and overlook altogether. It without a doubt topics on how much importance it has for you.