#and actually if the new place has Aldi

[wowbright]

A month ago I was wondering how long I could go without renewing my Costco membership. Then I discovered WinCo. Now I'm pretty sure the answer is "until I move to a place where there are no WinCos."

[apprenticestanheight]

heyy, i’m here requesting being loyal to my word lol, i have this little idea where adam is stalking/taking pics reader for a job and actually gets like obsessed ?? with them and tries to awkwardly make a move lmao, and obviously this happens before the bathroom events, idk if this idea sucks i just miss my pookie💔

Aldis- A.S x gn! reader

I love this idea so much and writing it was so fun!! Thank you so much for sending it in, writing for Adam is definitely a blast lol

Fic type- this is fluffy!!

Warnings- shitty bosses are implied, and the prices that are mentioned are inaccurate (I looked up aldi grocery prices and then adjusted for inflation by like, a dollar or two lol), stalk-ish behavior is mentioned (adam talks about trailing you going to and from work), cigarettes and smoking are mentioned a few times and Adam might be a little ooc

It started off as a job. Adam found himself hired by your employer to see what it was, exactly, that you did on the way to work and from it. Adam didn't want to know why your boss had wanted to know that of you and the money was good enough to not question it, so he went along with the words of your boss because the money, in the end, helped him pay rent on the shitty apartment he called home.

It started, apparently, because you'd come late to work a couple of mornings in a row with a variety of different excuses--the rain on a day of downpour, your car had broken down, your car was in the shop, your alarms weren't working--but Adam didn't bother to question that, either. He got his camera, he trailed you, he developed the photos and took them to your boss in exchange for cash that could be either devoted to making the rent or buying cigarettes.

Eventually, what was originally just a job became something a bit more for him. He caught himself genuinely caring about you, trailing you not because your boss asked but to make sure you got home without issue.

Care became infatuation, and infatuation got Adam Stanheight where he was--standing inside an Aldi Supermarket at six in the evening on a crisp day in late summer-early fall, having pretended to bump into you in the candle section, of all places, while he shopped Aldi for the deals that he could get on groceries as he needed them anyway.

"Shit!" Adam cursed, catching the candle you held before it could hit the ground on the basis of nothing but luck. "I am so sorry--I barely know my way around this area. I don't typically come down here, but the shop near my apartment is closed for renovations and I needed to grab groceries." Not entirely a lie--you lived in a different spot in New Jersey than he had, but only twenty minutes in a car, and the shop near his apartment where he could've grabbed groceries was closed, so it was Aldis and their bargain deals on any and everything both out of necessity and his minds desire to make a move.

"Oh, no worries!" You laughed. "Seriously--I don't know my way around here either, I typically shop somewhere else, but stuff has happened at work so I gotta do what I gotta do."

Adam had stopped taking photos of you only two days before, having been let go from the job after 'complications' according to your boss.

Adam was trying to flirt, but the flirting part of getting someone to give you their number was not quite his strong suit.

"So," you said. "There must've been another shop in your area. What brings you here?"

"You know that it's impossible to pass on ground beef at 99 cents a pound," Adam said, laughing. "Or a dozen eggs for $1.35, or milk for the low low price of $1.86--it's a rough economy and I am doing my best."

You laughed, and Adams heart gave a funny little flip. "$200 gets you a fuck ton more here than it does anywhere else. I've got candle money, which is nice to have again."

"Are things at work all right?" Adam asked, a feeble attempt at flirting that probably came off a bit too invasive. "Shit--there I go. Asking the way too personal questions. You don't have to answer that, we barely know each other and I don't mean to be invasive."

"My boss has cut my hours in half, is all," you said, shrugging. "I'll be looking for a new job next week, do you know anybody?"

"Nobody reputable," Adam said. "Not that I work with people who aren't, but--"

"What do you do, and what's your name? I'd like to put a name to a handsome face."

"My name is Adam Stanheight," he said. "I take photos."

"Subject matter?"

"PI stuff," Adam said. "I am a glorified snitch, basically, but the money is good."

"Well, glorified snitch," you said. "My name is Y/N and I work in marketing. You ever wanna make a career switch, give me a call."

You passed him your number, and Adam found himself in awe just a bit. He'd fumbled his way through flirting with you like it was the act of trying to share a cigarette and he was a first-time smoker, and you'd flirted like it was nothing.

"What if I don't want to make a career switch?"

"Call me anyway," you said. "We can shop at Aldis together and I can tell you all about the woes of my life in the frozen fruit aisle."

You walked away thereafter, and Adam was left to stand, his cart to his left, in awe.

[maryellencarter]

yo tunglr how goest it

so! things keep Happening. i am like "i should make a post" and then things happen and i would need a whole additional post

so uh. where to start. i was in minnesota. i did not like minnesota. the social services are pretty damn solid but i did not know anybody except john and it was looking like a three year wait to get into housing, and i had to park a mile and a half away from the shelter because clearly letting homeless people park their cars next to the homeless shelter encourages them to remain homeless or something :P

and i have been trying for ten years to get back to the east coast, to the only place where i know more than one person in meatspace in the entire world. and then my tax refund came out to be Enough that i could afford to go to there. so i was like fuck it i will go to there

(can i afford to exist on the east coast? probably not. but i can't afford to exist anywhere that allows trans people. may as well be not affording to exist in a place where i have some sort of a network.)

so first i went to leia's and got a bunch of my stuff. mainly electronics and knitting. and then i came to here. i had arranged with a friend to use her address to receive mail and do laundry and shower and all those fun things you cannot do in a car. also i acquired some car-camping gadgets that plug into my car's cigarette lighter, such as an electric blanket.

(i even found out that my car has a 15amp cigarette lighter circuit like a semi truck, instead of a 10amp circuit like most passenger cars, so i can use a trucker's cookbox to heat up food! very exciting. still don't have an electric kettle but i saw a hopeful looking one at a truckstop, i'm just trying to pinch my pennies.)

anyway SO! got to friend's house. things went well for 2 nights. i successfully tested riding the metro and did not get the motion sickness. this was excellent news as i had to quit my last job in this area due to inability to arrive on time as i kept having to hop off metro and let my tummy settle

then friend's husband decided actually the plan that we thought had been cleared with him was Not okay, because he had managed to hear a totally different plan that only existed inside his head. (he does this. he has not managed to grasp that friend is against the palestinian genocide. they are both jewish so this is. a topic of regular conversation let us say)

so. i have been put up in a hotel for a week. very cozy. i just figured out how to use the coffee maker to make hot water for instant mashed potatoes. the week is running out but i have been looking into options.

so yesterday of course my phone had to go and fucking brick itself. (i think it was yesterday. time has been. somewhat. look i don't have a phone okay i can't exactly look at the date every five seconds as normal)

phone repair place gave me a free diagnosis, which was, the battery swoll up just enough to pop the back slightly open (it is not a phone that is supposed to open) and let water in and now the motherboard is ruined. it cannot be fixed

thank fuck i had picked up my electronics at leia's, thus i was able to communicate via ipad and laptop that this Had Happened. navigation is being *really goddamn hard* because i have to memorize directions from my wifi-only ipad before going out, and then somehow correlate them with very bad interstate signage (the only way i survived getting back from the phone repair place is that i'd been to an aldi in the same shopping center while my phone still worked)

i mean i could take transit but have you ever tried to take transit without a phone when transit maps are digital only

any fucking way. so then i went to the department of food stamps and all that stuff, to ask about assistance. the department told me i would have to be a resident in the county for nine months before i could even get into a shelter. also i got shuffled between several desks that were supposed to help me applicate for food stamps and medicaid before my name just... fell off the big monitor that showed all the people waiting and where they should go.

so my friend mara who is well connected in the local activism community began making Noises and we emailed a bunch of people. there is a place (nondenominational even! in minnesota you had your choice of the catholics, the "union gospel mission", or the sally army) that does free hot meals and helping applicate for shit and sometimes has charities come to give away free phones and so forth. sounds very much like the big central shelter and help center i was at in minnesota, except crucially not catholic.

(the catholics are better to deal with than the folks who require you to attend services in order to receive help. but they're still very... catholic about it.)

anyway that place says i can park there and not get towed, which is my largest concern. i have not actually gone to there yet because i did not feel like driving that far from my hotel with no gmaps until i have to. but it sounds extremely promising. i have some other emails to follow up on too but today i went and got one of my roughly-annual migraines so i was flat on my back in a dark room all day.

(at least the migraine had the decency to hit while i have a room and a bed and darkness all available. very polite of it. this has not been the case any time in the past six months and it has been a worry)

anyway i can't friggin get my lifeline provider (aka free government phone service for teh poors) to log me in on their website to look for a new phone without them being able to text my old phone, even though they offer me email verification and then just don't load the next page, so there is a solid nonzero chance i may lose this phone number. my contacts *should* be backed up to my gmail if i can get another android phone though.

so. uh. let's see. a new smartphone and service would run me close to $200 minimum. (i've been checking on a cheap service i had before becoming eligible for lifeline, which i was happy with. their very cheapest smartphone is like $114 on sale and their cheapest from a brand i've ever heard of, which i would strongly prefer, is a motorola running about $140 on sale. it's giant and clunky with a badly placed fingerprint reader but "able to get cellular service and run google maps therefrom" is my main priority right now.)

i have about $200 of my tax refund left in the bank. also i still need to buy gas. and some more food soon, i'm about down to canned chili (very edible cold in tortillas) and instant mashed potatoes (can make with cold water but they are significantly less delicious that way). and probably some other things i'm forgetting, and i haven't even started looking into the emissions test or my maryland ID and license plates. which i also wanted to budget about $200 for in case i have to pay excise tax for moving states like i did in minnesota (i don't know if i was supposed to or if the dmv fucked up). i forgot to ask if the one place does gas cards but i need to.

anyway i have to be out of my hotel room saturday morning so i am planning to spend tomorrow packing my shit back up and hauling it mostly down to my car. also i need another bath at some point. too much has been happening

sleeping in a bed has been very nice though. hadn't done that since august. i can sleep in my car and it's mostly comfortable but i'm fat and my steering wheel does not respect that

anyway. um. until more things explode i guess that is my update? jesus murphy. it's holy week and you can friggin tell. really bringing my catholic out. tomorrow is good friday and i definitely expect something more to explode. hell, my micro sd card was making noises about being corrupted and i was going to transfer stuff off it onto a new one via my computer and i haven't even started that yet because i've been so frazzled. it better not die along with jesus tomorrow, it's got all my music on it

[chasing-rabbits]

Oh but on a better note I’m going over to my parents tomorrow for lots of tasty food and maybe watch a movie or play some games idk yet my sleepings sorta fucked itself again.

I have too many dietary issues so food is really a big deal for me now (although things are definitely improving in terms of choice at supermarkets but its still expensive so eh) But there’s this place that does GF vegan cream teas, cakes and they keep expanding to other things. Anyways mostly I just really love their scones especially because they now have a dairy free alternative to the clotted cream & its so good! They also have some savoury items now too. I really want to try their quiches. Usually my mum also gets me some of their mini cake loafs & brownies, the mini cake loafs are the kinda thing you’d expect for a cream tea so not massive but they now do proper sized cake loads actually their pretty fucking big. Oh and we found a place that does a GF Vegan birthday cake that is soo good. It uses more of a chocolate ganache instead of icing and the centre is raspberry it’s not a jam like a Victoria sponge has but its made with real raspberries and its really tasty and fresh. It’s from this place in the UK called Lola’s cupcakes they mostly have pop up stalls that’s how we found them well my brother did when he was in London they had a stand near the station selling cupcake versions of the same thing. Oh and my dad managed to snag some of Aldis vegan ‘not salmon’ its meant to be smoked salmon so heres hoping it tastes good. I find fish stuff is harder to replicate then again it depends I tried some good ‘fish cakes’ before but I tried some vegan ‘prawns’ years ago that were disgusting and some vegan ‘tuna’ that was oddly sweet. But it is one of the few items that is GF. Veganuary kinda sucks now because most of the stuff that comes out isn’t GF but there’s still some gems actually Aldi surprised me with how many items were GF in the fake meat section as prior to this they had 1 fake meat item that was GF now they have many including ‘pulled pork’ which I didn’t expect to be GF at all. I just hope they keep these new lines after veganuary is over cos last year they didnt well some stayed but most disappeared and it sucked and it’s not like it doesnt sell either my local Aldi was wiped out of the vegan salmon and a lot of the other stuff when I went I got so upset so my dad went to the one near him he did however by 3 packs of the stuff so I really hope I like it.

[alicealder]

WARNING: A LOT ABOUT HER BACKSTORY HAS CHANGED. in the absence of candy girl and dead!lux, i had to find a new way to fuck her life up. it’s what she deserves. 

QUICK STATS !

FULL NAME: Alina Alessia Aldi Alice Audrey Alder NICKNAMES: Al, Ali DOB: September 17th, 1965 ZODIAC BIG THREE: Virgo sun, Pisces moon, Libra rising GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis woman & she/her SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Home of sexual EDUCATION: High-school diploma ; one year of college ENNEAGRAM: 2w3 MBTI: ENFJ TEMPERAMENT: Sanguine-Melancholic MORAL ALIGNMENT: True Neutral JOB: History Museum Receptionist ( ex-MILF Kamilla... omg ) MAJOR: Philosophy

BACKSTORY !

triggers: brief mention of homophobia, idk televangelist mom sucks but i do not believe i wrote anything trigger-worthy, DRUGS. EVEN MORE SO THAN LAST TIME., very briefly implied sex work, implied OD

UPDATE: give me a sec to figure out how her aunt came into the picture when she was also in Sicily... give me a sec... but everything still remains!

Annabelle Alder has always preceded herself. With numbers to rival Tammy Faye Bakker’s, you don’t have to care about televangelism to have heard of her anyway. And what an honor it is! That the Georgia-based televangelist would choose Cherry to broadcast! Oh, California was a much better place for it, yes yes... But L.A. is so fast-paced!

-- Of course, she was not actually Georgia-based. Coming from Italy to leave a relationship that will be briefly described below -- and to start her career! -- she legally changed her name and Alice’s name to something more... American. 

ANYWAY, much like every good televangelist, Alessandra Aldi’s scandals were prompted only by her words... save for how her child, Alice, came to be. She would tell reporters that her father succumbed to a long, difficult illness; she would tell those in her social circle that he left the two high and dry. She would tell no one -- yes, it would take great sleuthing -- the truth: Alice had been the result of a short-lived toxic relationship that she left. No marriage!

'Not knowing’ would become a constant in Alice’s life -- and that would lead to several poor decisions. The lies Annabelle Alder spouted did nothing to help the health of the household. What separated truth from fiction? At a point, Alice didn’t know if even Anne knew. She would bring it home, these rantings and ravings, and the confusion and stress would grow. Two women in a household ruled by one thing they would always share: not knowing.

Alice, however, managed to entertain many a friendship. To compare herself in those days to what she became, she was all but a Mary Sue! Sociable, smart, loyal... if a bit clingy to some of them (see: Lux Lewis... basically her very own Needy Lesnicki) -- she was a good kid. She followed her mother’s teachings, as blurred as they were with what she would say at home (God loves everyone, God hates everyone; put your trust in God, put your fear in God), and came to develop that open-minded Tammy Faye spin. 

She and Lux had always been close, but they managed to grow closer... or, perhaps, close -- in a different way. For nearly two years, they would rendezvous -- use the darkness to cloak a different type of love. 

For her standing’s sake, Alice accepted the term that Lux would continue to date boys... though there always seemed to be a feel for air quotes surrounding the word ‘date.’ Anyway, y’all know this story.

Things ended only when Lux could no longer take discount Tammy Faye’s rantings and ravings. And maybe Alice’s simping was a factor too, but mainly discount Tammy Faye. They broke it off... but with a smile.

-- A fake smile, apparently. The Wonderland Ball saw Alice being bullied like Pennywise in It: Chapter Two. Lux’s side crew of friends going after everything from her simping to her sexuality (because these are NPCs in a backstory that takes place in the ‘80s...) to her mother’s career to her accent -- so on and so forth. Everything that could be touched on was touched on!

It was all enough to prompt Alice to distance herself. From her mother, from Lux, and, inadvertently, from the Gang... Not enough for her to say she didn’t consider the Gang her friends anymore, but enough for her to seek out a new social circle. People who really didn’t give a fuck. The slackers! The metal heads! Not her normal speed, but they were nice...

Her mother had not noticed the change in their... closeness up until Alice’s grades slipped... from an A+ in math to an A! Omg! Less than perfect, ring the alarms!

And what poor timing, too! It was just as the rumor that Lux was a lesbian was pinned on her, just as her social ousting was beginning, that they had their very first larger-than-life confrontation.

Absolute nonsense from both parties. Perfectly pointed from discount Tammy Faye, and... alright insults from Alice ( see, it was pretty much her first time being a bitch, so... ). It was so perfectly ridiculous that two things Tammy Faye Anne hurled at her were enough to drive her to her aunt: first, some homophobic bullshit. then, a comparison to her father -- her origin story!

Her aunt, Angela Alder ( known by all of her past rockstar affairs as “Indigo” -- save for Mick Jagger, so she would say... claim that he and Keith Richards wrote ‘Angie’ about her ), had settled in Cherry so few years ago after her life of wandering was over with. Partly to continue her life in California, partly to totally oppose her sister’s energy. And she was happy to take Alice in! At first! But we’ll get to that!

After this, Alice figured... ‘fuck it! hey, slackers, I’ll join your world!’ It seemed slow at first, but the taste of freedom? Before she knew it, she was properly in the ‘80s! She had snorted her first line of cocaine! Wow, how had she not already tried that? Absolutely insane! So fun!

Despite the latter half of the school year being rather tumultuous -- socially, familial, and now health -- she still managed to graduate with high marks. Most of it was certainly credit to the former half bleeding over, but...

Now that she was on her way to CCU, why spend time preparing for it? It had been easy as fuck to get into -- why waste that summer? Her aunt offered her a part-time summer job at the Cineplex, so of course she agreed! There were so many reasons she needed that! Like, first and foremost, she needed money. Second, she got to be a nepo baby! Third, it would certainly help her fuel her habit... but we’ll get to that.

Before we get to that, July of ‘84 marked the true beginning of her descent. A night with some guy (no, not like that), there was a fatal mix-up. What she snorted was, decidedly, not cocaine.

*’Carmen’ MV vc*: How does meth change our brains?

It was intense. It was euphoric. It was long. And it drove her to take advantage of her aunt’s generosity, stealing from the register. At first, she received a slap on the hand -- she’s a nepo baby! Second strike came with a demotion that didn’t place her near the cash register... but of course she still found a way. Third strike, she was a goner.

Alright... well, the high is long as fuck -- sleep barely exists! Money can be made at night if you know the right places! Or if you walk far enough! Just head over to Grape...

Suffice it to say, Alice did not make many wise decisions that summer.

Did she still technically go to college? Yes. Was she still technically present in class? ...Sometimes. Was it completely out of character for there to be days she skipped over? Absolutely! 

Soon, she was speed-balling. Soon, she was being forced into reality by her aunt -- if she would not take recovery seriously, she had to face the consequences and... leave. Soon, she was getting even further out of touch with the Gang. Soon, she would go to her mother’s for no reason but to spar. A few literal blows later...

Maybe she really was like whoever her father was. She sure was toxic enough!

Relationships were dying out quickly. There were ebbs and flows -- days she tried to ‘be clean’ (the concept of developing meth mouth really helped...), days she gave up. And no near-death experience was doing much to deter her. After all, what was there to lose? She hated it. Oh, she hated it. She hated what she had become. But she had gotten herself into that toxic relationship and, unlike her mother, she could not just leave.

Well... you know how the story goes? Someone almost dies, finds Christ, and turns their life around? The same thing happened... the only difference being that she did not find Christ, she heard: “you are your own God.” and would later learn that such a concept was all but the thesis statement of Satanism. It was not a religion based around drinking a virgin’s blood and sacrificing a baby, as her mother had shared with the world. It wasn’t a religion at all.

But something about that message -- something about the emphasis on how a person should celebrate themself -- caused Alice to brave recovery, first steps led by Angie. 

The summer was spent tumultuously, to say the very least. Recovery was a bitch, and going back was so damn easy! But... she found a band-aid solution. She still craved the sweet release of death, but a little less! 

Although still awful, a combination of lower dose addy and oxy? ...At least it isn’t meth and heroin?

Anyway, the job that had opened up at the museum ( with past-MILF Kamilla who May does still simp for ) was about the only one she found that: 1) looked even remotely interesting, and 2) ...accepted her. 

Rolling the boulder up that hill, her presence... if nothing else, exists. During torture sessions by the LDB, she wouldn’t be completely out of it! Wow! But improvements are to be made... The eagle must soar again!

And is May nice enough to do that or is she gonna fuck things up again? As my favorite show, ‘Hollywoo Stars and Celebs: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let’s Find Out!’ would say: Let’s find out!

TL ; DR!

DRUGS TW. IMPLIED OD TW. Alice’s mom is a discount Italian Tammy Faye who fr moved to America and changed their names for no reason other than making them more American. Preceding her career, she was in a relationship with some toxic dude who got her knocked up and she ran off. Lies to everyone and says Alice’s father died/left them. Alice must be perfect. Alice gets in her relationship with Lux, homophobic Tammy Faye’s rantings and ravings drive Lux away. Alice deflates, a la Pennywise, at the Wonderland Dance when Lux’s friends are absolute bitches to her. Distances herself from Lux and mom, but not the Gang yet. Hangs out with some slacker metalheads. Rumor getting pinned on her that ousts her from the social world turns her completely to the slackers and she says ‘cocaine cocaine cocaine!’ Big Earth-shattering fight w mom, leaves and lives with aunt who was a groupie. Accidentally tries meth one night and gets hooked. Starts speed-balling it with heroin. Steals from her aunt’s cash register. Her aunt eventually has enough of her not taking recovery into consideration and Alice is audi. Alexa play ‘Carmen’ by Lana Del Rey. Somehow passes school. Friendships are dying and she hates herself but the drugs... Has close calls. Does nothing. Has one close call and she managed to find Satanism through it (see: the philosophy). Satanic Panic + mom had her under the assumption that Satanists sacrificed babies, but nah, it’s just ‘be your own god.’ Goes through recovery which is a bitch. Doesn’t fully work though. Off heroin + meth, but her band-aid solution is oxy + addy. Speedball Lite™. Trying to function now. Trying to rebuild shit. The end!

HEADCANONS !

Possesses dual citizenship in the United States and Italy. And, on that note? Fluent in Italian (namely Sicilian) and English.

( DRUGS TW ) ...Please don’t ask me how she didn’t get Meth Mouth after almost a year when some people get it after like a month... it just scares me... I’m too obsessed with keeping my teeth clean... Suspension of disbelief? Dentures? You choose! She did have that slight aging side effect, but it’s been. going down, to say the last. ( Lmao we can say there was some hair loss though -- no full bald spots or anything, but you get it! Same with skin -- nothing drastic, but you get it! Mainly because there’s this thing called an FC- ) ( END DRUGS TW ) Yes, the only full one being portrayed by her FC is the premature aging.

Danzig is her favorite band, but, in a few years, she’ll be saying that the man himself can fuck right off. 

Also a Billy Idol bitch. Also a Pantera bitch. You know, just the vibes.

TOOOOOOTTTTALLLLLLL PINK FLOYD BITCH!!! hates that Roger left the band he was the last great mind!

The Final Cut was released only two years ago in this timeline omg do you know how exciting that is for me, another Pink Floyd bitch who has seen Roger twice in concert?

I mean, very few people say they’re a Satanist, and even fewer people said it during the Satanic Panic since all it took was an accusation to get you imprisoned for decades, but ‘close’ friends... they might not know know, but they know. That was the reason she selected Philosophy as her major, after all!

Grades during her Freshman year at CCU sucked -- something that has never happened before! But what else would you expect? That said, she is trying to get back into the habit of being a decent student... but that’s easier said than done, especially in her. state.

( DRUGS TW ) It was pretty hard to hide her hardcore speed-balling -- even if she didn’t have meth mouth, there was the jonesing! -- but it’s more of an open secret that she’s switched to... soft speed-balling. Two steps backwards, one step forward.( END DRUGS TW )

( MENTAL ILLNESS MENTION TW ) Oh, btw, her family totally runs rampant with mental illness. There’s definitely a reason Annabelle has no clue what the fuck she’s talking about half the time. Then there’s the father she doesn’t know, but was definitely an addict with some violent tendencies. Angie is the sanest one, and she was a groupie! ( MENTAL ILLNESS MENTION TW )

After abusing such highly addictive drugs for as long as she did, there have been some long-term psychological effects. I mean, brain damage is a legit thing! But I added this here at 4:00am so I’ll expand tomorrow.

If Lana Del Rey existed in the ‘80s? She’d love that bitch. Methamphetamines... pink flamingo... blue ‘50s queen... blue oyster cove... So true of her!

Living arrangement is being sorted out, as was her previous living arrangement when she was briefly not allowed to live under Angie’s roof in the hopes of a wakeup call ( that just backfired ). In any case? Using taking care of a cactus to hold herself accountable for something.

Has a light Italian lilt from spending early years of her childhood in Sicily + living under her Sicilian mother’s roof for so long. Of course, discount Tammy Faye was good at putting on an American accent during broadcasts, but it got exhausting at home.

Oh lmao I put this as part of the questions/answers we sent to Em and I think it’s so funny: January definitely had a rumor that she was sleeping with the Nightstalker.

Alice will probably never know her father, but his FC? ...Danny Devito. 

There are three different links in the following sentence: This was Alice.

More to come as I navigate this brave new world...!

NEW CONNECTION IDEAS !

ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY ! She’s not sober -- not even close -- but she’s functioning. And functioning means getting back to the responsibilities she once had... such as being a decent student and getting to work on time. This person is that to her... a tutor, more or less, as her brain gets its cells back -- and someone who reminds her to set a damn alarm and to actually get out of bed when she hears the damn alarm and- (And, I mean, this is also completely legit considering brain damage is involved...)

ABSOLUTE THROES ! Kinda left a lot of stuff for the Gang out when I started going into her worsening addiction for a reason -- to plot what was happening with everyone at that point. Anyway, would love for someone to have seen her in the absolute throes and been like ‘damn this is getting more fucked up than 1998/9 -- oh, what’s ‘99?’

AND SHE. FUCKED. GREG ! MAY WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS CONNECTION ! ( sex work tw ) Anyone who has a parent or parental figure who’s... sleazy, to say the least? Who might go to Grape every now and again? Who might solicit the services of an 18-19 (?) y/o looking for a way to get money for her next fix? (Despite her sexuality, she would not have turned a man down.) ...Alice isn’t proud of it!

MORE TO COME ! those were fr just the first that came to mind...

[umichenginabroad]

Week 5: Home Away From Home

Hallo! I suppose since I have been living here for over a month now, it may be time to tell you more about… y’know… the actual living situation part of my experience in Aachen. After long work/excursion filled days and Motor Bar filled nights, my lovely apartment in Kastanienweg patiently awaits me.

Some pictures from the UROP excursion to Castle Bruehl last weekend and the Fooseball table at Motor Bar (went undefeated all night😤)

When I tell you this apartment has got me spoiled, I mean it. Maybe my expectations were set too low from my recent-ish tour of my next year apartment in Ann Arbor. From its abnormally small oven better suited to an antique shop and the layer of dust coating just about everything, I believe it possible that that place was designed, furnished, and last-cleaned in the 70s… In comparison, my KaWo (Kastanienweg Wohnheim) apartment is a dream come true (and also somehow half the price but that's a whole rant for another time).

My room is larger than my double dorm at West Quad, and I have it all to myself. Though the IKEA decoration may leave something to be desired aesthetically…, the room feels clean and new and has a certain Gemuetlichkeit I know I’ll miss when I go back to face the reality of Ann Arbor Housing. I share my bathroom and kitchen with only one other roommate. Though not another member of the UROP program, she is also an international student here at RWTH Aachen. 

Pictures of my apartment bedroom, shared kitchen, and exterior

Since all UROP students are placed in buildings close to their lab facilities, there is quite a variety in living arrangements. Some students have 2 or 3 roommates. Some live in dorm style buildings with single rooms, personal bathrooms, but a shared kitchen for the whole floor. And on the other side of the spectrum are some lucky students with entire kitchen/bathroom/bedroom units all to themselves. Regardless though, I don’t think you can go too wrong with any of the options. All bedrooms are singles and the dorm student communities are also really fun (in fact, I just went to a Fussball watch party an apartment was throwing for the Germany v. Hungary Euro Cup game and it was a blast).

Video from the Halifax Student Dorm Football Watch Party

It's not quite a home without home-cooked meals, and luckily I’ve prepared my fair share of high-quality cuisine. By this, I mean I have mastered the art of preparing frozen wiener schnitzels and potato pancakes… though the number of vegetables in my meals may leave something to be desired. 

Each apartment complex is within a <15 minute bus ride to a grocery store. There are quite a few different options: Aldi, Lidl, REWE, Kaufmann, etc. and I must admit I haven’t been able to discern a significant difference between any of them aside from REWE and ExpressMarkt being “considered��� more expensive. Maybe it's partially because my brain is mentally stuck in dollars, but most essential grocery items seem fairly cheap here overall. Milk is consistently 1-2 euros, baked goods are typically less than 3, and not one of my shopping trips has yet totalled above 35 euros.

Of course, even in my perfect KaWo home there have still been some minor inconveniences. Setting up the wifi, lacking a microwave, and the general European distaste for air conditioning have posed some challenges… but with a bedside fan, a saucepan, and a healthy portion of patience, my home in KaWo is something I could happily get used to. :)

Bis Spaeter! 

Sarah Bargfrede

Computer Science

UROP Program in Aachen

[kyutiekittyy]

Paris the city of love

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. With an official estimated population of 2,102,650 residents as of 1 January 2023[2] in an area of more than 105 km2 (41 sq mi),[5] Paris is the fifth-most populated city in the European Union and the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2022.[6] Since the 17th century, Paris has been one of the world's major centres of finance, diplomacy, commerce, culture, fashion, gastronomy and many areas. For its leading role in the arts and sciences, as well as its early and extensive system of street lighting, in the 19th century, it became known as the City of Light.

French culture is most commonly associated with Paris, which is a center of fashion, cuisine, art and architecture, but life outside of the City of Lights is very different and varies by region.

France doesn't just have culture; the word "culture" is actually French. "'Culture' derives from the same French term, which in turn derives from the Latin 'colere,' meaning to tend to the earth and grow, cultivate and nurture," Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science.

Historically, French culture was influenced by Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures as well as the Franks, a Germanic tribe. France was initially defined as the western area of Germany known as Rhineland but it later came to refer to a territory that was known as Gaul during the Iron Age and Ancient Roman era.

The rental expenses in Paris

Here’s an indication of the average monthly rent in Paris based on our rental index 2022.

Furnished Private Room with utilities (best for students): €789.

Furnished Studio with utilities (best for singles, couples, or new graduates): €1,101.

Unfurnished Apartment with utilities (best for couples or families): €1,978.

These prices are just the average rental prices across Paris. Depending on which neighborhood you live in, prices will vary. If you choose to live outside of the center, you can find more affordable places.

With high rental prices and a dense population within the city, the accommodation hunt in Paris is quite competitive. So the best advice we can give you would be to start your housing search as early as possible.

But be cautious of rental scams! The competitive accommodation hunt makes the real estate sector vulnerable to fraudsters. To avoid rental scams, use a trusted service, such as HousingAnywhere and StudaPart.

For a hassle-free move in, you can easily find furnished apartments for rent in Paris.

Cost of groceries in Paris

The cost of groceries will vary depending on your eating habits, diet and which store you’re shopping from. The good news is that Paris has many options for you to shop from, depending on your budget. You can shop at some discount stores, such as Franprix, Aldi, or Lidl, supermarket chains, such as Carrefour or Intermarché, or niche stores for organic produce at Biocoop or NaturéO. Depending on where you shop from, expect to pay €200 to €300 for your monthly food expenses.

Below you’ll find average prices for common food products in Paris:Food/BeverageAverage CostWater (1.5 liter bottle)€0.81($0.88)Bottle of wine (mid-range)€8.00($8.72)Domestic beer (0.5 liter bottle)€1.88($2.05)Imported beer (0.33 liter bottle)€2.71($2.95)Milk (1 liter, generic)€1.14($1.24)Fresh white bread (500 g)€2.11($2.30)Rice (white, 1 kg)€2($2.18)Eggs (medium, 12 pieces)€3.91($4.26)Local cheese (1 kg)€14.87($16.21)Chicken fillet (1 kg)€12.16($13.26)Beef (1 kg)€19.87($21.66)Banana (1 kg)€1.89($2.06)Apples (1 kg)€3.19($3.48)Oranges (1 kg)€2.81($3.06)Potatoes (1 kg)€1.95($2.13)

Cost of health insurance

Expats: Health insurance in France depends on residency, not employment status. So if you’ve a permanent residence (you’ll live in France for at least for 6 months), you’ve to get French health insurance within 3 months of your arrival. The French health insurance will cover about 70% of the doctor's costs and 80% of the hospital costs.

In France, the average cost of health

insurance for one person is €40 per month. Of course, prices vary depending on the policy. Generally, basic coverage will cover basic dentistry costs too. But complex procedures will be on you.

International students: International students from the EU/EEA region can simply use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if they’re temporarily in France. For more extended stays, all students (both non-EU and EU) must register with Student’s Social Security (Sécurité Sociale Etudiante). You’ll pay €38 per month for a complete package as a student. There’re also cheaper plans for those who make less frequent visits to the doctor and medical check-ups.

Cost of leisure activities

One of the many perks of living in Paris is benefiting from a wide selection of entertainment and leisure activities.

Whether you want to treat yourself by eating out or seeing a new movie, it’s always best to budget well so you won’t empty your bank account.

Restaurants: from Michelin star restaurants to small cafés specializing in cuisines from every culture, prices will vary:TypeAverage CostA meal in an inexpensive restaurant€15($16.35)Three course meal for two in a middle-class restaurant€60($65.41)Cappuccino (medium)€3.80($4.14)Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)€6.80($7.41)Bottle of wine in a restaurant€12-€40($13.08-$43.61)Croissant in a café€2($2.18)

Leisure time and personal care:TypeAverage CostCinema ticket€12($13,08)Monthly gym membership€36($39.25)Museum ticket€7-€20($7.63-$21.80)Haircut female€40-€70($43.61-$76.31)Haircut male€20-€50($21.80-$54.51)Colouring roots€50-€80($54.51-$87.21)Wet manicure€20-€50($21.80-$54.51

Transportation costs in Paris

Public transport: Paris has an extensive public transportation system that allows you to reach every corner of the city at an affordable price. A single one-way metro ticket will cost €1.90. But if you’re planning to use public transport regularly, opt for a monthly pass for €73. The monthly pass covers all the zones of the metro, bus, regional train, and tram trips.

Cycling: Cycling is still a common transportation method. You’ll find Vélib' public sharing bicycles throughout the city. Annual subscription fees start from €3.10 per month.

Or you can make a one-time investment by buying a bike.BikeAverage CostCity bike€340($370.65)Electric bike€1,600-€3,000 -($1744.24-$3270.45)Second-hand bike€70-€200($76.31-$218.03)

Taxis: Compared to other cities like Amsterdam and London, taxis aren’t too expensive. The base fare is €2.60 and then €1.65 per km.

Personal cars: A secondhand car can cost around €1,200, and a new car can cost upwards of €26,000. The gasoline price is €2 on average per liter. So expect to pay €80 for a full tank. Keep in mind that it’s cheaper to buy fuel from fill-up stations attached to supermarkets than the big service station. You’ll also need to pay an average of €4 per hour for public parking.

Paris Do’s and Don’ts: 9 Unwritten Rules That Every Parisian Knows To make navigating the dizzying whirlwind of Paris simple and stress-free, brush up on these essential etiquette do’s and don'ts before your next trip.

Do say “bonjour”

Greetings go a long way. The most important word any Paris traveler needs is “bonjour,” Emily counsels. No matter which other French words you know, this one is tantamount. “Any interaction with anyone—be it your bus driver, your waiter, or a shopkeeper—should always begin with ‘bonjour.’ ‘Bonjour’ doesn't just mean hello: it primes the other person for a conversation or a request. You should say ‘bonjour,’ wait for the other person to say ‘bonjour’ back, and then proceed with your request. (If you don’t speak French, the next words out of your mouth will likely be ‘Parlez-vous anglais?’ ‘Do you speak English?’).”

Don’t eat on the go

Paris is not a place in a rush. If you’re visiting Paris from a country that prizes efficient desk meals over 3-course lunches, slow your roll—time works a little differently in Paris, especially around mealtimes. Eating on public transportation is particularly frowned upon (“I once saw some backpackers make Camembert sandwiches on the Paris Métro, and you could feel the judgment in the air,” Emily says), but even munching a sandwich as you stroll is a faux pas.

Do keep your voice down

Indoor voice? Maybe make it your outdoor voice too. “Fellow Americans: keep your voice down; we tend to yell,” says Emily. Sure, it’s a bit of tough love, but it helps to practice your inside voice before you hop on that flight overseas. In Paris, speaking loudly in restaurants, on trains, and in other public spaces isn’t just seen as rude—as a visitor, it’s also the fastest way to stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, think of turning down the volume a notch or two as a sign of respect for those around you. “I would say keep your voice down on public transport, and try not to take phone calls,” Emily adds.

Don't forget to ask for the check

Parisians are unlikely to hurry you out of the door. In the United States, many servers drop the check on your table before you’re even done with dessert. Not so in Paris, where that kind of hustle and bustle would amount to a culinary capital offense. Lingering with loved ones over leisurely, multi-course meals is pretty much a national sport here, and most waiters don’t want to disturb your flow.

Do serve others around you first

Common courtesy is key. Speaking of leisurely meals with loved ones—be sure to keep those loved ones in mind as you sip and pour at the dinner table. “Always serve other people water or wine at the table before serving yourself,” Emily counsels. It’s a small piece of dining etiquette, but a detail that is sure to win your companions’ approval. The same rule also applies if you find yourself enjoying an apéro or meal at a local’s home. “Don’t help yourself to more drinks at someone’s house; wait to be served,” Emily says.

Don't overdress

Trying too hard is very passé. Paris is an unabashedly fashionable city famed for its well-heeled residents; no wonder visitors fret about the best way to “dress Parisian” before a big trip. For starters: there’s no pressure or obligation to overhaul your wardrobe before your getaway. That said, if you want a look that fits in with the city’s vibe, think simple—staple pieces, minimalist accessories, artfully tousled hair, maybe a quick swipe of red lipstick. If you’ve reached Emily in Paris levels of color and maximalism, you’ve gone several steps too far, despite what Netflix would have you think.

Do explore beyond the left bank

There’s much more of Paris to enjoy. Paris’ Left Bank lives large in the imaginations of visitors, all Café de Flore and Boulevard Saint-Germain; Jardin du Luxembourg and Quartier Latin; Shakespeare & Company and Sorbonne. And while no Paris trip is complete without exploring the area’s highlights, you’d be remiss not to spend time getting to know the locals-frequented neighborhoods of the Right Bank, from the boutique-and-gallery-filled streets of the Marais to the street-art-bedecked Belleville and the too-cool-for-school Canal Saint-Martin area.

Don't plan on a big Sunday shopping trip

There’ll be little to nothing open. Whether you’re looking to stock up your Airbnb with groceries or browse Paris’ charming boutiques, it’s best to avoid planning that big shopping trip for Sunday. As a holdover from longstanding social custom, many shops are open for only a brief window of time on Sunday, or even shuttered entirely. And while recent modernization has seen some changes to the Sunday shopping laws, don’t expect that you’ll be able to access all the amenities and offerings you normally would (nor certain restaurants, museums, and other venues).

The annual average temperature is in the lower 50s F (roughly 12 °C); the July average is in the upper 60s F (about 19 °C), and the January average is in the upper 30s F (about 3 °C). The temperature drops below freezing for about a month each year, and snow falls on approximately half of those days. The city has taken measures to decrease air pollution, and a system of water purification has made tap water safe for drinking.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris

https://www.livescience.com/39149-french-culture.html

https://housinganywhere.com/Paris--France/paris-cost-of-living

https://www.viator.com/en-PH/blog/Paris-Dos-and-Donts-Parisian-Etiquette-for-Beginners/l94414

https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris/Climate

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2023/06/mortgage-costs-right-now-are-terrifying

'Mortgage costs right now are terrifying'

Ian Thackray

By Jemma Dempsey

BBC News

Searching for a new mortgage is time consuming when you have a demanding job, a new baby to care for and a Victorian home to renovate.

“Last time we looked properly, [the repayment] had pretty much doubled to £850 or £900 a month,” says Ian Thackray. “It’s terrifying quite honestly.”

Ian’s five-year fixed rate deal expires at the end of the year and the blacksmith and his partner, who is currently on maternity leave, find themselves, like so many others, in a “very difficult” situation.

They have been paying £450 a month for their terraced home in Blandford Forum, Dorset.

From August, when his partner returns to work, they need to factor in a monthly childcare bill of £600, and with Ian being self-employed, his wages fluctuate.

“There have been times on my way home from work when I’ve looked at the ads for Aldi, Lidl and Tesco and at £14 an hour, it’s really tempting. If I have to give up being a blacksmith, then I will,” the 39-year-old says.

The craftsman is not alone. Many are facing similar financial dilemmas as they contemplate rising mortgage costs.

The Bank of England has been steadily raising interest rates for the last year and a half, as it tries to tackle soaring prices.

After figures last week showed inflation not coming down as quickly as expected, many now predict the central bank will continue to raise rates from their current level of 4.5% to as high as 5.5%.

That in turn had an immediate impact on the mortgage market. Lenders began raising their rates. According to financial data firm Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed-rate mortgage is now 5.49% and the average five-year fixed is currently 5.17%.

And within a week hundreds of mortgage deals were removed from the market as lenders reassessed their offers.

Mortgage rates rise after inflation surprise

Nearly 800 mortgage deals pulled amid rates fears

How the interest rate rise affects you

“Carnage” is how Craig Fish from Lodestone brokers in London described the situation.

“I’m currently on hold to NatWest – 30 minutes and counting – to discuss a possible new mortgage as they have just announced they are withdrawing rates at 10.30pm tonight. Do the lenders think the future is this uncertain?” he said earlier this week.

Jo Wilder

Jo Wilder, 28, works for Cardiff Council and pays £700 a month for a studio apartment she has been renting for the past 18 months. She now wants to buy her own home – a process that is taking longer than she hopes, as she watches rates rise.

Despite having a healthy 20% deposit and a mortgage in principle, she says there are “not really any properties on the market”.

Repayments on a three-year fixed-rate deal at 4.5% would be between £500 and £600 but she is worried about interest rates going up.

“It’s not ideal. I’m just going to have to wait it out and hope rates come down. It really is very stressful,” she says.

Jo had hoped getting her own place would mean a drop in monthly outgoings but with rising food prices she no longer thinks that will be the case.

“It is disheartening,” she adds. “The way things are going I think it is actually going to be the same price, which is pretty daunting to be honest.”

‘A nightmare’

In Bedfordshire, Anthony Jones and his wife have a 14-month-old daughter – they want to upsize and have been trying to sell since last August.

The couple’s five-year fixed deal has ended and they are now on a tracker mortgage, leaving them £200 worse off a month, at a little over £1,200.

“It’s a bit of a nightmare,” says Anthony. “We’re looking at upsizing and all of a sudden are having to question the affordability of it.”

The 33-year-old says when they first put their house on the market there had been “a lot of interest initially, then all of a sudden we had people saying ‘our mortgage offer has been pulled’ and ‘we can’t afford it anymore’.”

The couple have reduced the asking price from £300,000 to £275,000, but say they cannot accept less because otherwise they will not have the deposit for their second home.

“Our daughter has grown so quickly, we need a garden and bigger bedrooms and more storage. The lack of space is even causing arguments between me and my partner,” says Anthony.

What happens if I miss a mortgage payment?

A shortfall equivalent to two or more months’ repayments means you are officially in arrears

Your lender must then treat you fairly by considering any requests about changing how you pay, perhaps with lower repayments for a short period

Any arrangement you come to will be reflected on your credit file – affecting your ability to borrow money in the future

Read more here

The upheaval for people going through the application process comes as Bank of England figures this week showed a decline in the number of mortgages being approved.

The number of net mortgage approvals for house purchases fell to 48,700 in April from 51,500 in March.

Mortgage broker London & Country is now seeing a trend for people fixing for one or two years, rather than the previous most popular five-year term, on the basis that interest rates will have fallen by the time they come to look for their next deal.

Spokesman David Hollingworth says people who are refinancing should start searching for a new product six months before the end of their current deal.

Some may want to consider taking out new mortgages over a longer term – something a lot of first-time buyers do to “give themselves breathing space”, he says.

If it is a struggle to meet payments on an existing mortgage there is also the option of extending the term, but Mr Hollingworth says this is “not a move to be taken lightly because it will significantly increase the overall interest bill, by tens of thousands of pounds”.

Related Topics

Inflation

Mortgages

More on this story

How the interest rate rise affects you

24 May

Nearly 800 mortgage deals pulled amid rates fears

4 days ago

Mortgage rates rise after inflation surprise

26 May

[shego1142]

Also, idk how true this is for other places, but if you live in Georgia, you’re going to call it Kroger, not Kroger’s. I should know because I grew up in a Kroger. But you might hear some folks around my town call Walmart “Walmart’s” just on a whim. Ingles is always Ingles.

Publix is definitely like a fancy high priced Kroger, Ingles is usually thought to be slightly lower priced than Kroger (although recently it’s been getting more and more pricey which is concerning since most of the poor and elderly people shop primarily at Ingles)

Also this sounds like a racist joke but there was at one time actually like a language barrier regarding the store Ingles, which the store is named after someone with that last name and the word Inglés in Spanish which means “English” and unfortunately made it seem like the grocery store was only for people who speak English which is very much not true. I think that’s mostly been cleared up and made apparent now though

We have an Aldis, which is relatively new-ish (and a Lidl has been being worked on for years now) and while they’re considered very low price they’re also considered lower quality (once found bacon that still had hair and nipples on it!)

We have a Costco now which is new and absolutely packed, the main wholesale places are BJs and Sam’s Club. Fun fact, I’ve lived here for years and still do not know where the Sam’s Club is.

Sam’s Club is definitely considered to be like a privileged/rich people shop too, which is weird because why would rich people need to buy in bulk but yea?

Costco is like middle class people and BJs is for poor peeps (I want a BJs membership so much, mostly for the meme of it all but ironically idk if I can afford $25 a month rn)

Target is like a fancy/rich person Walmart. Kmarts used to be cheaper Walmarts but they’re all dead now.

Biglots is weird and they used to be better/cheaper than they are now… there’s no equivalent to a biglots they’re sort of like liminal spaces with just the most strange things for sale.

We have dollar trees and dollar general. Dollar tree is cheaper, everything used to cost $1 now everything costs $1.25 because price gouging is being marketed as inflation.

We have Ace Hardware, Lowes and Home Depot, in order from people’s perception of most to least expensive (but I personally like shopping at Lowes more, usually find better deals at my one specifically)

Also! We have Hardee’s in Georgia where some states might have Carl’s Jr.

I have never seen a single Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods in my life. There’s a few Sprouts around but they’re like the anti-vaxx autism mommy Uber Rich person shops (and the shop routinely supports A$ so they’re not even on my radar as a shop to buy anything from)

Also, at least in the places I’ve lived, if you’re shopping at Kroger you probably don’t have the money to go to Barnes & Noble and you’d probably go to a locally owned bookstore (we have two, one is in the library!) they have books for $3 each and frequently do “fill a bag” sales too!

Or you’d go to one of like 20 thrift stores. I haven’t had Barnes & Noble money since I was 13/14.

It’s easy to write like an American. “Katelyn stopped at Barnes and Noble on the way back from Krogers. It was 100 degrees out that day.” There you go, job done.

--

Not in my state.

[be-gay-do-heists]

hello yall :) the holy month of elul started last night, which is typically a time for contemplation, so since it is impossible for me to stop thinking about leverage, i decided to write an essay. hope anyone interested in reading it enjoys, and that it makes at least a little sense!! spoilers for leverage redemption

-----

Leverage, Judaism, and “Doing the Work”: An Essay for Elul

When it comes to Elul and the approaching High Holidays, Leverage might seem like an odd topic to meditate on.

The TNT crime drama that ran from 2008-2012, and which released a new season this summer following its renewal, centers on a group of found-family thieves who help the victims of corporations and oligarchs (sometimes based on real-world examples), using wacky heists and cons to bring down the rich and powerful. In one episode, the team’s clients want to reclaim their father’s prized Glimt piece that had been stolen in the Shoah and never returned, but aside from this and the throwaway lines and jokes standard for most mainstream television, there’s not a ton textually Jewish about Leverage. However, despite this, I have found that the show has strong resonance among Jewish fans, and lots of potential for analysis along Jewish themes. This tends to focus on one character in particular: the group’s brilliant, pop culture-savvy, and personable hacker, Alec Hardison, played by the phenomenally talented Aldis Hodge.

I can’t remember when or where I first encountered a reading of Hardison as Jewish, but not only is this a somewhat popular interpretation, it doesn’t feel like that much of a leap. In the show itself, Hardison has a couple of the aforementioned throwaway lines that potentially point to him being Jewish, even if they’re only in service of that moment’s grift. It’s hard to point to what exactly makes reading Hardison as Jewish feel so natural. My first guess is the easy way Hardison fits into the traditional paradigms of Jewish masculinity explored by scholars such as Daniel Boyarin (2). Most of the time, the hacker is not portrayed as athletic or physical; he is usually the foil to the team’s more physically-adept characters like fighter Eliot, or thief Parker. Indeed, Hardison’s strength is mental, expressed not only through his computer wizardry but his passions for science, technology, music, popular media, as well as his studious research into whatever scenario the group might come up against. In spite of his self-identification as a “geek,” Hardison is nevertheless confident, emotionally sensitive, and secure in his masculinity. I would argue he is representative of the traditional Jewish masculine ideal, originating in the rabbinic period and solidified in medieval Europe, of the dedicated and thoughtful scholar (3). Another reason for popular readings of Hardison as Jewish may be the desire for more representation of Jews of color. Although mainstream American Jewish institutions are beginning to recognize the incredible diversity of Jews in the United States (4), and popular figures such as Tiffany Haddish are amplifying the experiences of non-white Jews, it is still difficult to find Jews of color represented in popular media. For those eager to see this kind of representation, then, interpreting Hardison, a black man who places himself tangential to Jewishness, in this way is a tempting avenue.

Regardless, all of the above remains fan interpretation, and there was little in the text of the show that seriously tied Judaism into Hardison’s identity. At least, until we got this beautiful speech from Hardison in the very first episode of the renewed show, directed at the character of Harry Wilson, a former corporate lawyer looking to atone for the injustice he was partner to throughout his career:

“In the Jewish faith, repentance, redemption, is a process. You can’t make restitution and then promise to change. You have to change first. Do the work, Harry. Then and only then can you begin to ask for forgiveness. [...] So this… this isn’t the win. It’s the start, Harry.”

I was floored to hear this speech, and thrilled that it explained the reboot’s title, Leverage: Redemption. Although not mentioned by its Hebrew name, teshuvah forms the whole basis for the new season. Teshuvah is the concept of repentance or atonement for the sins one has committed. Stemming from the root shuv/shuva, it carries the literal sense of “return.” In a spiritual context, this usually means a return to G-d, of finding one’s way back to holiness and by extension good favor in the eyes of the Divine. But equally important is restoring one’s relationships with fellow humans by repairing any hurt one has caused over the past year. This is of special significance in the holy month of Elul, leading into Rosh haShanah, the Yamim Noraim, and Yom Kippur, but one can undertake a journey of redemption at any point in time. That teshuvah is a journey is a vital message for Harry to hear; one job, one reparative act isn’t enough to overturn years of being on the wrong side of justice, to his chagrin. As the season progresses, we get to watch his path of teshuvah unfold, with all its frustrations and consequences. Harry grows into his role as a fixer, not only someone who can find jobs and marks for the team, but fixes what he has broken or harmed.

So why was Hardison the one to make this speech?

I do maintain that it does provide a stronger textual basis for reading Hardison as Jewish by implication (though the brief on-screen explanation for why he knows about teshuvah, that his foster-parent Nana raised a multi-faith household, is important in its own merit, and meshes well with his character traits of empathy and understanding for diverse experiences). However, beyond this, Hardison isn’t exactly an archetypical model for teshuvah. In the original series, he was the youngest character of the main ensemble, a hacking prodigy in the start of his adult career, with few mistakes or slights against others under his belt. In one flashback we see that his possibly first crime was stealing from the Bank of Iceland to pay off his Nana’s medical bills, and that his other early hacking exploits were in the service of fulfilling personal desires, with only those who could afford to pay the bill as targets. Indeed, in the middle of his speech, Hardison points to Eliot, the character with the most violent and gritty past who views his work with the Leverage team as atonement, for a prime example of ongoing teshuvah. So while no one is perfect and everyone has a reason for doing teshuvah, this question of why Hardison is the one to give this series-defining speech inspired me to look at his character choices and behavior, and see how they resonate with a different but interrelated Jewish principle, that of tikkun olam. 

Tikkun olam is literally translated as “repairing the world,” and can take many different forms, such as protecting the rights of vulnerable people in society, or giving tzedakah (5). In modern times, tikkun olam is often the rallying cry for Jewish social activists, particularly among environmentalists for whom literally restoring the health of the natural world is the key goal. Teshuvah and tikkun olam are intertwined (the former is the latter performed at an interpersonal level) and both hold a sense of fixing or repairing, but tikkun olam really revolves around a person feeling called to address an injustice that they may have not had a personal hand in creating. Hardison’s sense of a universal scale of justice which he has the power to help right on a global level and his newfound drive to do humanitarian work, picked up sometime after the end of the original series, make tikkun olam a central value for his character. This is why we get this nice bit of dialogue from Eliot to Hardison in the second episode of the reboot, when the latter’s outside efforts to organize international aid start distracting him from his work with the team: “Is [humanitarian work] a side gig? In our line of work, you’re one of the best. But in that line of work… you’re the only one, man.” The character who most exemplifies teshuvah reminds Hardison of his amazing ability to effect change for the better on a huge stage, to do some effective tikkun olam. It’s this acknowledgement of where Hardison can do the most good that prompts the character’s absence for the remainder of the episodes released thus far, turning his side gig into his main gig.

With this in mind, it will be interesting to see where Hardison’s arc for this season goes. Separated from the rest of the team, the hacker still has remarkable power to change the world, because it is, after all, the “age of the geek.” However, he is still one person. For all that both teshuvah and tikkun olam are individual responsibilities and require individual decision-making and effort, the latter especially relies on collective work to actually make things happen. Hardison leaving is better than trying to do humanitarian work and Leverage at the same time, but there’s only so long he can be the “only one” in the field before burning out. I’m reminded of one of the most famous (for good reason) maxims in Judaism:

It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to neglect it. (6)

Elul is traditionally a time for introspection and heeding the calls to repentance. After a year where it’s never been easier to feel powerless and drained by everything going on around us, I think it’s worth taking the time to examine what kind of work we are capable of in our own lives. Maybe it’s fixing the very recent and tangible hurts we’ve left behind, like Harry. Maybe it’s the little changes for the better that we make every day, motivated by our sense of responsibility, like Eliot. And maybe it’s the grueling challenge of major social change, like Hardison. And if any of this work gets too much, who can we fall back on for support and healing? Determining what needs repair, working on our own scale and where our efforts are most helpful, and thereby contributing to justice in realistic ways means that we can start the new year fresh, having contemplated in holiday fashion how we can be better agents in the world.

Shana tovah u’metukah and ketivah tovah to all (7), and may the work we do in the coming year be for good!

------

(1) Disclaimer: everybody’s fandom experiences are different, and this is just what I’ve picked up on in my short time watching and enjoying this show with others.

(2) See, for example, the introduction and first chapter of Boyarin’s book Unheroic Conduct: The Rise of Heterosexuality and the Invention of the Jewish Man (I especially recommend at least this portion if you are interested in queer theory and Judaic studies). There he explores the development of Jewish masculinity in direct opposition to Christian masculine standards.

(3) I might even go so far as to place Hardison well within the Jewish masculine ideal of Edelkayt, gentle and studious nobility (although I would hesitate to call him timid, another trait associated with Edelkayt). Boyarin explains that this scholarly, non-athletic model of man did not carry negative associations in the historical Jewish mindset, but was rather the height of attractiveness (Boyarin, 2, 51).

(4) Jews of color make up 20% of American Jews, according to statistics from Be’chol Lashon, and this number is projected to increase as American demographics continue to change: https://globaljews.org/about/mission/. 

(5) Tzedakah is commonly known as righteous charity. According to traditional authority Maimonides, it should be given anonymously and without embarrassment to the person in need, generous, and designed to help the recipient become self-sufficient.

(6) Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot, 2:16

(7) “A good and sweet year” and “a good inscription [in the Book of Life]”

[unscharf-an-den-raendern]

Things Die Ärzte actually made songs about

I hate protest songs so much I wrote a protest song to protest protest songs

I miss my Tamagotchi uwu

Help, my girlfriend’s new haircut is terrible

Help, my girlfriend’s taste in music is terrible

Help, my girlfriend just exploded

Help, my girlfriend got abducted by aliens

I don’t want to be a bug

We want to prove to people we’re sophisticated after all, so we’re naming random philosophs

René is fed up with his life and wants to become a ninja, so he takes a sword, goes to Poland, then gets deported and has to pay a fine for illegaly trying to enter Poland

Claudia has sex with a dog (part 1)/Claudia has sex with a horse (part 2)/Claudia has sex with a man (part 3)/Claudia fucking died (part 95)

Grandmas are hot

The cashier wearing a red miniskirt is hot

The world would be a better place if all the men were women (except me lol)

Men are trash, don’t trust them

I wish I were a zombie

I wish I were Madonna’s colon

They’re only playing trash on the radio, so I’m setting it on fire

Buzzfeed Unsolved: What happened to Buddy Holly’s glasses?

*upbeat Banjo playing* I want to die!

Bela and Farin sing about how they want to fuck each other and Rod (they’re all straight AFAIK).

Nazis don’t deserve the sun

I made a God out of a piece of wood and put him on my shelf

An entire album containing only songs about hair

Japanese terrorists with their pants down throw cat food from ALDI at old women

Let’s just all die, it would be a lot better for the environment

I’m gonna kill you by throwing cotton balls at you

Don’t eat animals, eat people instead

[leverage-commentary]

Leverage Season 3, Episode 1, The Jailhouse Job, Audio Commentary Transcript

Dean: Hi, I'm Dean Devlin, Executive Producer and Director of this episode of Leverage.

John: I'm John Rogers, Executive Producer and Writer of the episode of Leverage. Hey, who's that?

Aldis: This is Alec Hardison, and I play Aldis Hodge, sometimes, on the show called Leverage.

John: Niiiiice, thank you. People wanna hear from the actors, so uh, we basically grabbed him out of his front yard and brought him here, so, you're stuck for the day.

Aldis: I was kidnapped in the middle of the night by him; I have no idea what I'm doing, people.

John: Well, we talk about the show and talk about— there you go.

Aldis: Ah! Who's that sexy cho— ~Sexual Chocolate!~ Yeah!

John: Before we talk about the directing and other stuff, we should talk quickly about how we managed to wind up in this particular situation. Yet again we ended the season in a total corner. We had written ourselves into— You know, people saw that Tim Hutton— Tim Hutton's character was going to jail and thought that was a cliffhanger. Not a cliffhanger. If the show had ended at that point - perfectly happy ending to the show. It’s the guy realizing he's a thief. So, once again, we wrote ourselves into a corner - a lead character is in jail. And it's worth noting that we had a totally different way of starting the season until we went to a meeting with Michael Wright, president of TNT, and he said, "I can't wait to see the jailbreak episode." And we went "Yes! That's exactly what we're going to do: the jailbreak episode."

Dean: So, of course, in the typical Leverage style, rather than having one amazing escape from prison, this episode has two amazing escapes from prison, starting with this opening sequence.

John: It was a ton of fun and that was kinda the interesting challenge, is that we knew we had to do the straight version of the break out from prison, and also a good mislead for the audience. And also, new night. We were on a new night, so we wanted to introduce everybody to what they do. For example, Aldis looking very smooth in a suit.

Aldis: ~Sexual Chocolate!~

John: That it? You're just going to sit there and go "~Sexual Chocolate!~" all day?

Aldis: Every time I see me, ‘Sexual Chocolate’.

John: All right.

[Laughter]

John: And this, by the way, is the introduction of the taser, which pays off in the season finale.

Aldis: Please pay attention. Track the taser. There should be a blog for the taser throughout the entire season. Track the taser.

John: There is a blog about how often Beth Riesgraf tasers men. You don't wanna go there. 

Aldis: Well, hey.

[Laughing and mumbling over each other]

John: It's really disturbing.

Aldis: Who started that blog, wasn't you was it?

John: No it wasn't. Definitely wasn't. Uhhh, great fight. New fight- Kevin Jackson, did some great fight stuff this year and one of the most brutal things we've ever done here.

Dean: Threw a man in front of a moving car.

John: Yep. Boom!

Dean: And I love Christian's expression right? "Oops."

[Laughing]

John: I remember we were talking about that and going, ‘Is that safe?’ And you were, as usual when you're directing, going ‘Eeehhh, pretty, pretty safe.’

Dean: Safe-ish.

John: And then we… break narrative. And we go to subjective storytelling. And that was fun, actually, because that was also one of the things we wanted to play around with is: people had seen the heist, they'd seen the cons, and we've got this year to play around with how we tell these stories. And tell them from different viewpoints.

John: Dean, this is a great prison set. What is this?

Dean: This is an actual prison in Oregon that is not used. We shot in it once before, and it- what was the name of that episode? 

John: Uh, I can't remember. Oh! It was Lost Heir.

Aldis: Lost Heir, right.

Dean: The Lost Heir. We'd shot there before and we were familiar with it, and now that we had an episode that took place nearly entirely at a prison we thought, "Let's go back."

John: Yeah. It was a fantastic location. Now! Why don't you tell us about the new office setup here and what you think?

Aldis: ~Sexual Chocolate!~

John: Yes.

Aldis: The guys, we — the team — decided to remodel the office because, you know, wanna get back to, you know: thinking, cracking knuckles, banging heads. And we had to get in that setting where it wasn't so comfortable and more business. We got a new fancy table, lights up, as you can see. Set up a couple panels, put up some screens. Of course, Nate has yet again, he's coming home to a new house.

John: Yeah. We try to do that every season. But it's interesting, you know, Aldis is the actor who works the most with those accursed screens. 

Aldis: Love 'em.

John: And so, the most used — love that wink — the most used to the fact that y'know we're constantly trying to figure out ways to do those information dumps up early. And this season, if you heard us talk on the other commentaries, the first season we loved the office, but couldn't shoot in the set. Too small.

Aldis: Shyeah.

John: Second season we loved the space, but it felt too casual with the living room. So this really is our attempt at finding the best of both worlds.

Aldis: And I absolutely love those glass panels on the side. 

John: Yeah, those turned out to be a lot of fun.

Aldis: Yes indeed.

John: You like shooting through those.

Dean: It gave us a chance to shoot through the monitor as opposed to shooting around them. 

John: Yep.

Aldis: They're not just for looks, people, we give you different angles with different art. A work!

Dean: So this season we decided to introduce a new character, and we'd had a lot of conversations about who this character should be. There'd be a French secret agent, or an Eastern Europe. And we were actually talking with the distributor from Italy about, you know, if we were going to make it Italian who would they suggest, and it was actually the distributor in Italy who said "Have you seen Elisabetta Canalis?" And we- I had never seen her before, and we started looking at her stuff and we thought, ‘Well, this is a totally different way of going than what we'd been talking about,’ and we got really excited about it.

John: But it was very late sixties which is what I like. I mean, the whole vibe of Leverage is this late sixties con and heist movie, and so this really matched. Now tell us about shooting this, because this, you can only do this with only one camera on Earth.

Dean: Now this, we were fortunate enough to get the very first RED cameras with the new MX chip. So it allowed us to shoot in super, super low light. So you'll see in the scene that Elisabetta is actually completely in the dark, which we shot entirely in natural light, and then later she gives herself her own light by lighting the lighter to light her cigarette.

John: And that's it. So that lighting is actually not done through, that's practical lighting. That's off the lighter. And also kind of cool — nice legs.

[Laughing]

John: That's- I'd forgotten that shot. But I'd also remembered when we talked about introducing the character, how to make her more exotic and more foreign, the translator — and you had said "Remember that cool sequence in Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the translator doing it for Francois Truffaut?"

Dean: Exactly.

John: And so that sequence actually worked out great. That character, that guy's a real translator and he did the simultaneous translation.

Dean: And Aldis, you want to tell us about this actor here?

Aldis: Yaaay! For those of y'all that don't know, that other ~Sexual Chocolate!~ is my brother, Edwin Hodge. That's my older brother, he's definitely doing his thing. We were happy to have him on to guest for— I was actually honored to have him guest on our opener.

Dean: He was spectacular, I have to say.

John: He was really spectacular. I mean, if you were ever to give us any trouble or problems or anything like that...

Aldis: I can't tell you how many times, how many times— 

John: I don't have anything on you, man! So tell me, how long have you and your brother been acting?

Aldis: Well for me, twenty-one years. Him, twenty-two years.

John: Wow. And what was the, did you ever work together before?

Aldis: We'd worked together plenty of times. We started off doing Sesame Street together, then we did Saturday Night Live together...

John: This is actually based on a scene from Sesame Street. You did the Sesame Street—

Aldis: Yes.

[Laughing]

John: —are brutalized by a Latino gang.

Aldis: I do, I do remember that.

John: By the way, that's a buddy of mine, Eddie Perez, the stunt guy that Tim beats up.

Dean: Oh, I didn't know that.

Aldis: Eddie Perez? Yeah, he's a sweet guy. He was cool to work with.

John: Really great guy. One of the last great driving stunt men, actually. Works with cars.

Aldis: Oh really?

John: Yeah. This was a ton of fun. We had no idea how this jail break was going to work at all, until we went to the prison and walked through it again and again and again and found these locations.

Aldis: Now look, people, this is the truth. John, he got himself arrested on hiatus.

[Laughing]

Aldis: You may not have heard about this, but he had to figure his way out, so he spoke from real experience.

John: Yeah, this is based on my breakout from a Washington State prison.

Aldis: Exactly.

Dean: This performance here, by Edwin, was so amazing to me because when he first came in he was doing it very dramatically, and realistic, and gritty.

Aldis: Mmhmm.

Dean: And the only note I gave him was "Let's play this scene for comedy," and within a second, not only did he change the performance, he came up with a new character. I mean, just like [snaps] right in front of my eyes. I've never seen something that transformative that quickly. Luckily it was one of the first things we shot and so he was able to set the character for the rest of the show.

Aldis: Nice.

Dean: But it was a truly remarkable performance.

John: I'd also like— 

Aldis: All of which he learned from me.

[Laughing]

John: Hey, I know. He constantly goes "What would Aldis do?" I think he has a little wristband.

Aldis: He does.

John: I like the sullen choice that you've made here, which is, you know— No one is more serious about Leverage than Hardison.

Aldis: [Laughing]

John: You know. And so the idea that he is being deprived of the fun of ripping off rich white guys is really pissing him off. And you can see him in this scene kind of coming around. Now—-

Aldis: Hardison was jacking with rich white guys the entire time the team was on break, man.

[Laughing]

John: Exactly.

Aldis: Never stopped.

John: So without, if he— Tim doesn't want to play any more. Now that's— I don't think we'd actually written the helicopter in at that point. You picked that up and just started playing with it and we wound up setting it in.

Aldis: That was— who dropped that? I think maybe our prop guy.

John: Yeah, brought in the pieces of the helicopter so you could play with it.

Aldis: Yeah, pieces, and just started playing with it. You know we try and, our camera operator Gary Camp was talking to me about setting up a nice shot with the helicopter and everything. Gary Camp, by the way, is amazing.

John: Yeah, our A operator.

Aldis: If you don't know his name you definitely know his work. Uh, Dean?

Dean: He's not only the A operator, he does all of our steadicam work and he's done pretty much every film I've ever done in my career.

John: Wow.

Aldis: Yes indeed.

John: We're very lucky to have him.

Aldis: Even the home videos.

[Laughing]

Aldis: Birthday parties, graduation, yes.

John: Creepy, very creepy.

Aldis: Yes.

John: And that's Rockford Private Correctional Facility. What's fun is we joked around about making it Rockford and it turned out to be the only prison name that cleared.

[Laughing]

John: So that, we actually had to use it, we didn't have a choice.

Dean: Now this, this storyline by the way is again one of these things where we did a story, and then later real life mimicked it.

John: I had done research on private prisons looking as soon as we started talking about prisons and shortly after this episode aired, there was an escape from a private prison in the southwest.

Dean: In Arizona.

John: Yeah. And the problems of private prisons really hit the national press. One of the common arcs when we do a Leverage story is if you go on the web, or you go on the forums afterwards, people go, you see the fans go through a curve which is, "I really loved that episode, but that thing was a little unbelievable how evil they were." And then you see the next set of posts is, "I'm gonna do some research and find out about that."

Aldis: And it's real. 

John: And the third set of posts is, "Oh my God, that's horrible!"

[Laughing]

John: We spend an enormous amount of our time finding out horrible, true things. Now by the way, lovely accent on this.

Aldis: Thank you very much.

John: Now how did you prep your accents? Because you do a lot of them this year. You started doing them second year, more of them, and then between The Ice Man and that great Scottish thing you did in the finale, how did you, how do you usually prep your accents?

Aldis: [Laughs] Well we have our resident dialect coach on set, Ms. Mary Mac, who works with, she works with Gina a lot, and myself whenever it comes to an accent. But I've always grown up playing with accents. I loved it. It's a part of the acting world that I've enjoyed is being able to be a completely different type of person, from you know, different type of land, whatever, so. Whenever an accent comes up, man I eat up the opportunity, try my best at it. And, thank you. Had a good time with it.

John: Well that's the fun, the fun of Leverage. I mean, we get it even from our guest stars, is they get to play different characters. I mean, cause you know, you've done serious stuff before. What was the longest? You were on Friday Night Lights for a while.

Aldis: Friday Night Lights, yeah.

John: Full season?

Aldis: I was there first season, dipping in and out. Honestly, we were talking about a second season then Leverage came along so I was like "Ahh~ I gotta..."

John: I'm here every week.

[Laughing]

John: I'm gonna do the job where I'm here every week. 

Aldis: You know, nothing against Friday Night Lights. Loved it. I mean, great show, great series, great actors, but Leverage was my kicker, man. I saw a lot of potential with the show and here we are: three seasons later going into four.

John: Yeah, going into four. Then this is a lot of fun. This again is one of those little things you get to do when you're doing multiple seasons. Christian's recurring the doctor alias— 

Dean: Right.

John: And we started this year to lay in, and it became shorthand with the fans, when they see certain aliases they know what characters they're playing. You know, Tim's character, with Gina's character. It's nice because real con men tend to have recurring characters they've invested in, they've done the background on, that they can inhabit very well.

Aldis: And Christian does great at this particular character here.

John: Yeah. With the doctor's sort of, very soft intellectual. He plays against the type really well.

Aldis: It's the complete antithesis of who Eliot is.

John: Yes, and Christian, according to him.

[Laughing]

Dean: And I love the evil dentist idea. It hearkens back to, you know, Marathon Man or something.

John: I think we referenced Marathon Man, yeah. Well also, I had literally just had my wisdom teeth pulled out like two weeks before. And it's one of those things where people go, you know, "You're not writing in a garret [Editor’s Note: this was our best guess of what they meant; not 100% sure], you're pulling stuff from your life," and because I'm a control freak— 

Aldis: I love this.

John: —I had insisted on- Yeah, I know, this is great. I had insisted on them not putting me under and showing me the wisdom teeth.

Dean: Whoa, man.

John: And sort of, the smell stayed with me and that's how it wound up in the script.

Dean: Wow.

John: Cause that was the nastiest thing.

[Laughing]

Aldis: I kept my wisdom teeth.

John: Did you keep your wisdom teeth?

Aldis: Of course.

John: What did you do with them?

Aldis: I still got 'em. Imma make a necklace out of them.

John: Now that is...

[Laughing]

Aldis: I like this. In this scene, in the beginning, Tim looks very confused when he first leans back in the chair and it actually starts moving. That's because he didn't expect it in real life, it wasn't rehearsed.

John: Oh that's right, yeah.

Aldis: He got in the chair and I think, I don't know what, Christian hit a button or something like that?

Dean: He stepped on the pedal— 

Aldis: Pedal, yeah.

Dean: —and then the chair just sunk to the floor.

[Laughing]

Aldis: And Tim was like, "Wait, what's going on?" So it was a very real reaction, which was fun to watch.

John: Also, this was one of the times we started using the thumb drives again that we had used in first season but not- not having to haul laptops and computers around as much.

Aldis: Right.

John: Yeah. I have a lot of friends who work in the computer sciences, computer engineering, we know actual hackers and they tend to just work off of, sort of, these little burn off flash drives they have entire operating systems running on. They just plug into whatever computer is nearby or whatever monitor is nearby.

Dean: And later in the season we started using the iPad.

John: Yeah we started using the iPad tablet once we got it because we always wanted a tablet. You know, we'd always wanted some portable way of showing those graphics.

Aldis: And then later in season four we will start using little children.

[Laughing]

John: Just little children to act out the heists, and just dressed up as the characters.

Aldis: It'll go— they will hack into computers. We will pull them out of our pockets, and uh, you know.

Dean: Once again I just want to do another shoutout to our DP Dave Connell. I’m- just looking at this I'm reminded again of, you know, how beautiful the photography is on this show.

John: Yeah. The little bounce off the face— I mean, when you go back to Tim he's got the bounce, there you go, that little flare.

Aldis: Yeah, that's cool.

John: And then the bounce off of Christian's glasses is great.

Dean: It's really elegant work.

Aldis: Yeah. Normally you'd think the bounce would be right on his eyes, you know that typical dramatic, but Dave goes for something different and makes it awesome.

John: Nah, Connell always does interesting stuff. This is interesting. This is one of those scenes that actually. We wound up cannibalizing, it was actually a two minute scene of how they get everything off him. And when we got to the set it's like, "This doesn't work at all," which is the joy of TV. It's like in a movie you spend two years prepping and you go build it. In TV it's like, "Alright, what hallway are we in?" And so we wound up using a compressed version and then cannibalized for later. This was also a ton of fun, is the contest they have on what they can lift.

Aldis: Exactly.

Dean: And by the way, this is a real judge's chamber that we're shooting in.

John: Yeah. That's right! They gave it— God bless you, Portland.

Dean: Yeah. The best place to shoot.

Aldis: Ah, we just got 'em liquored up one night, paid em off. It was good. I'm kidding, people, I'm kidding.

Dean: It was also so much fun to see these two back together again, you know, because with Gina having been out-

John: Yeah this is the first one, yeah that’s right.

Dean: This is the first time were back and suddenly that- that sisterhood between them came right back. 

John: Yeah the- Parkers good at certain stuff, Sophie's good at other stuff, they had a very easy working relationship. And also were trying to accentuate: the team had gotten closer with Nate gone. 

Dean: Right.

John: You know they had fallen into a different rhythm and to a great degree they kind of- they had a much more equal relationship, and one that we wound up stepping Nate Ford into. This of course- well there's two things. There's two horrible crimes in this episode. One is the sort of nightmare of private prisons, which is just a bad idea all around.

Aldis: Right.

John: And two is: we based this scam of paying judges to send people to certain facilities based on a really horrible true story that happened in Pennsylvania, with juvenile offenders. Where they were bribing these two judges they got a couple million each, to send kids who were really- had done no crimes to a year or two in these private facilities so they could bill insurance companies and bill the state.

Dean: That’s right. And the very controversial law this year that was passed in Arizona for immigration seems that it was sponsored by people who worked in the private prison industry.

John: Because you're gonna have to have some facility where you can put these people once you round them up on little or no basis of evidence. I remember when we were screening this episode in the theater I had someone sitting next to me and when this happened I- this part occurred where we occurred where we explained the con, I turned to them and I said “Yeah this is based on a real case”. And he said “Really”? I said “Yeah this really happened.” And there was a pause and he turned to me and went “In America?”

[Laughter]

John: Yeah! That’s- 

Dean: It's amazing.

John: It's amazing. And this speech also that Christian really nailed, which is about how people fall for it. We have a lot of times where we have victims fall for stuff and the audience sometimes goes “Ah would you fall for it?” And the recurring theme we get from con men is that, yes, people are hardwired to believe in authority figures. Most people believe if a cop tells them to do something, or a judge tells them to do something, or anyone in a suit tells them to do something, they should do it because they want to be good citizens, they want to behave. So we are very susceptible to American society to abuse of power. Sadly.

Aldis: They forget the fact that authorities uphold the law, they're not the law and they're humans with their own ambitions.

John: Exactly that's- and I’m- you know I got police in the family. I'm very pro police, and you know one of the things you should also be aware of is that when we do stories about this, it's always about the bad people within a generally very good system. But there's bad people in that system. And the- unfortunately the trust we have in them allows them to get away with stuff like this for years.

Aldis: Yeah I would love to say I'm pro-police John, but you know.

John: Yeah I know.

Aldis: I've not met a lot of good police in my life.

John: We have a very different relationship with the police.

Aldis: Yeah we do, we really do.

John: We're talking to police officers at 2 o’clock in the morning we’re probably having different conversations.

Aldis: We are, we are.

John: I've never been pulled over for driving while Irish.

Aldis: I'm pro law though. I’m pro-law and pro-good cops.

John: Pro-good lawyers.

Aldis: Good cops.

[Laughter]

Dean: Inside humor here the poster there was for Senator Camp, referencing Gary Camp who we were talking about earlier.

Aldis: Exactly.

Dean: But the photo is of Mark Franco who is Head of Post Production and does all of our digital effects.

John: Who makes a great sleazy lawyer.

[Laughter]

John: And this, by the way, is upstairs at the prison. This is upstairs we just turned those bullpens. Yes she is wearing the Monica Lewinsky beret. You know, matter of fact, in the script it says ‘the Monica Lewinsky beret.’ Now -

Dean: Aldis I love your delivery of the line- the tag at the end of this scene. Which I think you improved?

Aldis: I think so.

John: Yes, you did improv.

Aldis: Yes, yes, indeed.

John: Now the- how do you as an actor- you know we- how do you deal with improvs? Cause, you know, we have a pretty loose policy about it, but you guys are very good about self regulating. So sort of describe how you approach the text

Aldis: Every time I improv, John chases me with a stick and beats me.

[Laughter]

John: Well it's the stick of obedience.

Aldis: Never caught me. Nah approaching improv is just, it deals with the surroundings, you know everybody's- it's a very comfortable set. Those of you who may know, I have a rule: give them one straight, then give them hell. Means to respect the writing, respect the theory of it, and then afterwards if there's potential to play around a little bit and see what else the character can bring to it. Not me the actor, but just, you know, what would my character do in this situation? We can figure it out together as a working team. You know, just take a chance.

John: And that's one of the good things is: we have the writers on the set. 

Aldis: Right.

John: You know, a lot of shows don't have the writers on the set and it’s important for the writer to be there to sort of give feedback with the actors and, ‘Is this right? Is this not right?’ You know, we started with very young writers, and you know we really trained them all.

Aldis: They are about 12 or 13.

John: Really they were about 12 or 13 when we hired them. We had no money we hired our staff writers- 

Aldis: Kidding.

John: We told them, you know, you're there to work in partnership with the actor; you're not there to dictate.

Dean: I want to give another shoutout to Derek Frederickson who does all of our amazing graphics. Some of the best ones we ever did are actually in this episode.

John: Yeah. Well the matching maps. The map to map is just really one of the favorite things we've ever done.

Aldis: Yeah, he's probably one of the people I work with the most without actually working with.

Dean: Right.

John: Yeah exactly. Because you're the-

Aldis: He makes my life easy.

John: Yeah, well because, you know, he backs up the giant speeches we give you with-

Aldis: Exactly with the cool graphics.

John: With the graphics. And that was actually the audition piece for Hardison was the giant page and a half speech that's in the pilot. Because we knew, like, a lot of people could land the jokes, a lot of people could- but anyone who could make it through that speech and actually make it entertaining, would have to do it every single goddamn week of this show. So that's how you got the job.

Aldis: Yes indeed.

Dean: This is one of my favorite montages we ever did. How did you come up with it?

John: We don't do a lot of montages.

Dean: How did you come up with this one John?

John: It was a matter of figuring out how you would break out of the jail, what the interesting bits of the breakout would be, work backwards to what you would want to see, and then planting those clues within the montage, and giving each person something interesting to do. And the fun of it was: I've always wanted to see him- I like weird maps. I like to see people sketch out stuff. I like to see how people process information. You know. Hardison uses computers in a very intuitive, natural way. Parker was trained, as we find out this season, by Richard Chamberlain, by an old school 1960’s thief.

Dean: So she needs to draw it up on the map.

John: She needs pages, she needs paper, she needs to feel stuff.

Dean: Stickers.

John: While Nate is able to- you know, something that happens a little later in the season, we talk about memory techniques. Nate has trained himself to recreate three-dimensional images in his head. And so all he needs is rough references, and so that's what the chess board came from.

Aldis: Now John does any of that come from your experience of how you process information?

John: Yeah each writer has- that's my handwriting on the side there. I’m the only one who can generate enormous amounts of bullshit to fill those empty spaces

Aldis: Which is amazing. I saw John do that one time. It was just like a genius line, genius line, genius theory, rhetoric. I'm like just out of nowhere.

John: Well I have a lot of useless information in my head. That's my job is to store enormous amounts of useless information.

Dean: One of my favorite jokes. “So-phie”

John: “Soo-phie”

Aldis: “Sooo-phie”

Dean: As if she's never said the name before.

John: Never heard the name before.

Aldis: Exactly.

[Laughter]

John: It's a joy watching the two of you work.

Dean: Beth really nailed it.

John: And the look, the look is what drops it. I mean you know, that's actually one of the nice things- I'll say, I say this even when Aldis isn't here: the nice thing about an actor who's got the character totally committed and into the scene at all times is when you need to cut to them, even when you're not expecting to cut to them ,you have something interesting to cut to. And that's an important thing a lot of actors are just focused on when it's their shot. 

Aldis: Right.

John: But you never know when you're gonna have to wind up having to go to another shot.

Aldis: Well, you know, what's running through my head when I'm doing a scene is ~Sexual Chocolate~!

[Laughter]

John: Is that it? Is that the whole-

Aldis: That's it.

John: That's good to know.

Aldis: That's it. No, as an actor when you're on set, the moment- as soon as you're on set, regardless of what- where the camera’s at, you can be seen in a reflection on a window. You always have to be ‘on’, doing your thing, cause you never know.

John: Yeah we have a lot of glass on this set.

Aldis: We have a lot of glass.

[Laughter]

John: This was fun, too, coming up with the senate doing- I did a ton of research on Senate races, and it really was one of those things where it's like, ‘Wow it’s not expensive to become a Senator”. You know, it's expensive as hell to become a governor and a couple other roles, but really? A Senator? That's- for being a part of the world's worst deliberative body, as my nickname is for it, it's not a high access charge. Yeah when you're asked about where- if this comes from personal experience, I did a lot of research into memory techniques that we wound up using in the high school episode. And so-

Aldis: Right, Roman Room.

John: Yeah, the Roman Room. So to a great degree Nate processes information like I do while the other characters tend to process information the way some of the other writers do. You know. Parker processes like Chris does. Chris needs to see the location, needs to see the geography.

Dean: This is another setup that pays off in the season finale about her tolerance of heat.

John: Yes.

Aldis: Yes.

John: Yeah that sort of-

Dean: That comes back in the finale.

John: We do pay attention actually, we do actually put some thought into this.

Aldis: We like to give the audience a ride from the season opener to the season finale. So you can have fun watching and going back, catching things. You're gonna have to watch it about a good 37 times.

John: You should buy DVDs for your friends and they should watch it together.

Aldis: Yeah, yeah, you know just keep going, keep watching.

John: Keep going, keep going.

[Laughter]

John: We’re making that up, that was a total coincidence. No, this was a lot of fun, too, is the resetting the relationship, where in the old days Nate just would've told them what to do. 

Dean: Right.

John: This is the team going “Alright you're- you've screwed up man. You lied to us, you screwed it up. You- if we're gonna play this game, we’re gonna play it as a team from now on.”

Aldis: And we're gonna use your money and make you broke.

John: Which was a lot of fun. Real prison. I can't believe this, it's just sitting there. Two great actors, two great local actors. And what's interesting is the acting pool in Portland is so good we did a season opener with no LA actors.

Dean: Yeah.

John: Yeah, season opener.

Dean: But except Edwin.

John: Except Edwin. But yeah you know we brought him up, we wrote that role specifically for him.

Aldis: Why thank you.

John: But I wanted to try him out because you had been a little trouble.

Aldis: You know, me and my wild party days.

John: Your wild partying, and your watch designing, your drunken orgiastic watch designing yeah. You're out of control.

Dean: I love how relaxed they are at with their disregard for human life. It's really not like a big deal for them.

John: Well you wouldn't have gotten into this situation if you were that type of people. 

Dean: Exactly.

Aldis: Yeah.

John: This is a very 1970’s moment. There was something about it cause I had to leave during the shooting for some reason. And this, when we were shooting that morning it felt like we were shooting The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

[Laughter]

John: This is the real control room. This is the real- again, and I had a friend, a very good friend, who was actually a corrections officer and I dinged him a while ago and just asked him like, “How do people die in prisons?” And he filled me in and I was like “Wow, first off I won't sleep for a week, thank you so much”. Second, we wound up using it. You know in this particular episode-

Aldis: By the way, I'm pretty sure most people are wondering because it is a real working prison, Dean what did you do with the real inmates?

Dean: They're doing catering.

[Laughter]

Dean: Craft service.

John: Absolutely put them to work.

Aldis: Very nice deal.

John: We turned them loose. You know- they were all non violent offenders.

Dean: It was amazing, they all told me they were innocent.

Aldis: They're back in society!

[Laughter]

John: What a horrible mistake, that all those innocent people were in prison. And Elisabetta, you know, stirring the pot, and that was kind of the fun of the episode was: in a standard con or heist show, a standard crime show, she would screw them. And part of the fun in the ending was having Nate Ford be that one step ahead. Always trying to- our audience is very smart, they've seen every con and heist movie on earth. We have to constantly play with the meta game of what they've seen and what they know is happening. And this was- I remember this was a ton of fun walking in, cause we didn't- again, didn't know how the breakout was gonna go.

Dean: And that's a nice little digital effect shot there.

Aldis: And once again, this is how John broke out of his situation.

John: We walked in the prison.

Dean: I love the Spanish soap opera part here.

Aldis: That was fun, that was hilarious.

John: The Spanish soap opera was a ton of  fun. We walked into the prison, and this was great when you're workin with your director who's also your studio and collaborative partner rather than just a guy for hire. We walked into that kitchen, and you were like “Look at these pots! We can- How do we shoot these”? And I went “Well alright, let's put those in.” And it was really a collection of just random elements. Oh and her glee, her glee at that- using the helicopter. And she's on the count. I love that shot. She never gets to be on the count, she never gets to be by the board calling it out. 

Dean: And we get to see how nervous she is, and how much she's really come to care about these people. 

John: Yeah.

Aldis: Right.

Dean: And I love this fight scene. This is one of my favorites of the season.

John: Well it's brutal. And it really- its interesting cause it kind of reset the tone for the fights. I don't know if we started shooting, or we just changed the fight choreography. We started working close a lot more. And it just makes it a lot more brutal. And it really kind of focused and helped us build up something to do with the Eliot character, which was: really remind the audience what an unpleasant human being he used to be. You know? This is a guy who killed people. You know, and it's an important thing to know for the season and how the season ends. Also this is an improv. Look at me. Look at me. And just and then boom.

Dean: Goodnight.

John: That's a really vicious son of a bitch. 

Dean: Yeah.

[Laughter]

John: You know, that's not a judicious man. And the crack about the glasses, that was a nice bit of acting. Yeah, this was a pain in the ass to plot. Trying to move people through all the different locations and everything, and there were a couple different variations where they never escape from the prison, they both escape from the prison, it was- yeah.

Dean: It's a very complex episode.

John: Well it was hard because once we realized we wanted to help a guy in prison, once you break somebody out of prison they've broken the law. You know, and it's- that was a really, you- if an innocent man is in prison as you and you break him out, you've made him a criminal. And so that was really one of the big challenges of the episode was trying to figure out how to make the crime work.

Aldis: Isn’t that quite the oxymoron.

John: Yeah exactly. And you know even the crime that he went in for which was transporting liquor across state lines.

Dean: Paper in the door folded that many times. That real?

John: Yeah. There's a great Mythbusters about how much stress- oh Mythbusters, by the way? Our go to show. And not-

[Laughter]

John: And not just because of my horrible crush on Kari Byron. But also because they specialize in the same stuff we do, which is weird facts proven with practical objects. You know, we wind up going to the YouTube Mythbuster archive quite a bit on this show.

Aldis: Nice.

John: Yeah, absolutely, paper folded that much can absolutely support that much weight. The door would probably vibrate more. But that's pretty much it.

Dean: Aldis, I love what you're doing in these scenes with him.

Aldis: It was fun. Playing around. Playing around with the accent and him as well, he was a very pleasant actor to work with. 

John: And this is tricky because the fourth acts, this season in particular, tend to run in real time. 

Dean: Yeah.

John: You know, we really found in the end of the second season, kind of in the middle of the second season, we realized the fourth and fifth act tends to run in real time. And in this one, there's a lot of moving parts.

Dean: Lot of moving parts. Lots of moving cameras. If you notice every single time we cut, someone’s on the move. They've walking, they're running, they're coming around a corner, the cameras rushing.

John: That's my obsession too. Gary Camp always hates my scripts because I always have people entering and exiting scenes. I hate people sitting in a scene, there's just, you know.

Aldis: Bring energy into the room.

Dean: There's very few scenes with people sitting across the table talking to each other.

John: People should be entering a scene with information, or exiting with intent.

Aldis: Right.

John: Otherwise the scene is just the exposition. I mean, you know, really, at least in television.

Aldis: By the way, for future writers, that was a nugget of knowledge from John Rogers, you might want to take notes.

John: Yeah, just take notes. You too can write Catwoman, just keep that little journal together. Yeah, this was a ton of fun, and also how you fool- this was originally written to fool a motion detector, because you can fool a motion detector with a sheet. But we thought the refrigeration unit would be a lot more fun and would be more interesting.

Aldis: Once again, for all the criminals out there, nuggets of knowledge from John Rogers.

John: This was the first time we shot through- shooting through that glass just gave just that extra dimension. 

Aldis: Right.

John: I'm trying to remember how we came up with-

Dean: And those are the actual surveillance cameras.

John: I'm trying to remember how we came up with this. It was based on… there was an Italian crime lord who broke out of prison by helicopter, not once but twice.

Aldis: I saw that actually.

John: Yeah you saw that article right?

Aldis: Yeah.

John: And we were thinking how can we play around with that. And then we saw somebody demonstrating these things on YouTube.

Dean: I love that shot.

John: That Marc Roskin did that profile shot, right? That was second uint. Yeah that's a very great visual gag in that shot.

Aldis: It's killing me.

John: Our second unit and our producing director Marc Roskin. Boy, glad to have a prison, it's hard to buy that much barbed wire on short notice.

[Laughter]

John: And the whole idea of getting people to look one way while you're doing something else. You know, look in one direction, while you’re doing something else, was crucial to the series.

Aldis: That's a real bank right?

John: That's actually a post office.

Aldis: Oh.

Dean: This is the post office in the building where we shot the courtroom scenes, so we just happened to be lucky enough to have the downstairs double for a bank for us.

John: Did I always go through the Guinness that fast last year?

[Laughter]

John: I usually- I used to make it last the whole episode, but I just blew through it this time. Also this was great, we do- you'll notice we did a lot of stuff about election finance this year. Because we did a great bit of research early in the season and we talked to the elections lawyer, the elections finance lawyer for a giantly famous human being. Who took us through the various ways you move money, break the law, don't break the law. Short the- long-short, it's incredibly corrupt. It's both very easy to break the law and wind up going to law and wind up going to jail for a long period of time, and very easy to move money without getting caught.

Dean: Now this is the dirtiest sight gag we've ever done on the show.

Aldis: Yeah.

[Laughter]

Dean: Right?

[Laughter]

John: Oh come on! They were meant to just be making out. Who’s idea was it to have her come up into frame?

Dean: Ok-

John: Cause I wasn't there that day.

Aldis: That's Dean Devlin's vision.

Dean: And I love how Beth plays it with the messy hair, and the-

John: The fake secretary.

Aldis: It's a sexy Beth moment. Sexy Beth.

John: Sexy Beth with the rustled hair, and yeah.

[Laughter]

John: Yeah that was the shot that launched a thousand fanfics right there. That was- the fans really loved that one

Dean: And we were talking about improvisations, the ending of this again, Aldis, you improved. And then we brought it back for the season finale.

Aldis: Yeah. ‘Haaay’.

[Laughter]

John: Because frankly there's no way not to respond at that moment. 

Aldis: Exactly.

John: When sexy Beth puts on the sexy hair- this was great, by the way. Robert Blanche playing Bonanno was a one off in the second season- 

Dean: Right.

John: And turned out to be both such a great actor, a useful character, and a fan favorite. When we screened this- we screened this in a theater, when he entered, the crowd erupted.

Dean: They went nuts.

John: They went nuts. He's become like a sort of, part of the, you know, the Leverage mythos like Sterling. And that's a sign he's a local Portland actor; that's a sign that when a good actor digs in on a role, the writers want to go there. Because you know you have another tool. You're telling a lot of stories in a season.

Aldis: Yeah.

John: We've told 44 of these goddamn stories and there’s two or three crimes in each one. We've burned through like 7 episodes- 7 seasons worth of episodes on a normal show. When all of a sudden an actor gives you another tool, you wanna kiss them on the mouth. And also Robert's a very handsome man, so. Ok how did you do this shot?

Dean: So when we shot this, we thought we had enough extras. But then later when we looked at it, we didn't. So we took alternate takes, and pasted in extras in alternate positions to give us twice as many extras as we had that day.

John: So there's half as many humans in that room. 

Dean: That’s right.

John: They're just from different takes.

Aldis: Visual effects!

John: But that's the way visual effects are used in television now. Most people look at the big flashy stuff, but usually it’s just meant- it's used to add production value.

Aldis: Now that's Mark Franco’s work?

Dean: That is.

John: Mark Franco actually did that, and in the season finale did a huge version of that. Where he filled a 2,000 theater with 40 people.

Dean: Right.

John: Just, it's a really fantastic shot. I love also Robert’s take “Nate Ford and is a very bad man”. I mean, he really- that line is very tricky. No this was a ton of fun and this is the standard, this is: Dean, first season, established the rules: the villain must suffer, we must gloat over him, and then the good guy the victim gets the reward. You know its just-

Dean: That's right.

John: You must have, no matter how many sort of up our own butt little writer tricks we do, you must have those beats for the emotions to work.

Dean: And when we forget them, we miss them.

John: Yes. The couple episodes where you kind of, for editing or writing or whatever, skip them, you miss them.

Dean: And you go “Wow, why isn't it working? Oh I know why! We forgot the gloat! Oh we forgot to pay off the victim.”

John: Yeah, Robert does a proxy gloat here.

Dean: Oh yeah.

[Laughter]

John: A very nice proxy gloat.

Dean: Excellent proxy gloat.

John: Yeah. Now it’s really fascinating, the more that we research the way the world works for this show, the more you realize why people go to jail and why they don't. And really, this year, you see us taking advantage, a lot of times of the fact that the only way to really bring down people within the system is by screwing larger pieces of the system. You know?

Dean: Right.

John: And that's, by the way, he drops a great bit of physical menace there; it's a lovely performance. Thank you state of Oregon for building that prison.

[Laughter]

John: And this is another great Aldis Hodge thing where we’ve given him an enormous amount of pipe to spit out on the fly, while moving.

Aldis: Once again ~Sexual Chocolate~!

John: Thank you, I was waiting for it, that's why I paused.

Aldis: Yes. Hey hey.

John: And this is- we actually considered doing the season this way. We actually considered doing the season with them on the run.

Dean: Yeah.

John: Yeah. And so we wound up using a piece of that for this. And you'll notice the choice here, where Tim is playing Nate as not surprised in any way shape or form. 

Dean: Right.

John: You know and that was- again Dean had actually given me the notes off the first draft, where it's more interesting if it's a chess match instead of being ordered. You know what I mean? He is as good as they think he is.

Dean: That's right. Although at the very end of this scene, and it was Tim’s idea, cause I already- was ready to move on to my next thing. And he said “Let me do one more take.” And at the very end when she leaves him, for the first time we see that he's actually frightened of her. And it was a great choice because we- cause Nate is never scared of anyone. And when he's scared of her, we become very scared of her.

John: Yeah. It's tough because it's a character we've met for a grand total of five minutes. That is gonna give us the spine for the episode.

Aldis: I think this scene is a great piece of candy for the audience because they get to understand what our mentality- or at least they get to presume what our mentality is going to be for the duration of, you know, us trying to get out of our predicament that she's put us in. I mean it's a first. We blackmail people this entire you know two season, this is the first time somebody’s blackmailing us.

Dean: Right.

John: And it's a nice- we originally I think in the first draft this was in sequence. That was the blackmail, and then the argument. And then- and again every writer has different techniques, I like to-

Dean: Intercut.

John: -do the intercut, and we went back cause I was lik,e “You know we're gonna be cutting it intercut anyway, why don't we just write it that way?” And so bouncing back and forth between proposition, reaction, proposition, reaction. It’s a really good way to split up pipe, because it allows you to put emotional charge into exposition; you don't have to wait for the result. And also allows you to be brutally honest. Shoot a scene with two actors, and then shoot a scene with five actors. Instead of trying to shoot a scene with all this pipe and six actors. Most people don't realize that's a big thing of television, is you know every time you have actors in a scene you have to cover them.

Dean: There's a great turn that you do in this, Aldis, where everybody there is scared, they're concerned, they're worried, but then you make the turn that shows us how excited they are that they get to do this again.

Aldis: Thank you, man.

John: Well that's- it's interesting because every character has a different role on the show. And Hardison's job is, to a great degree, to tell the audience what it's ok to feel. You know when he's upset, you're upset. When he buys into, ‘it's gonna be ok here’, that's the audience’s prompt that they, you know, they can buy into it alright. He did a great bit of menace here. This is- this is a lovely scene, was this one of Elisabetta's first days right?

Dean: Yeah.

John: Cause we shot 301 and 302 back to back.

Dean: I think this was her second day of shooting with us. 

John: And she did a lovely job. And she's someone with whom you do not screw. You know, she definitely comes across that way in this scene. And there: he could kill her, and then the turn. 

Dean: Yeah, you can just see just that nervousness.

John: Yeah, we might be in over our heads here. And that was a big challenge this year too, is making sure everyone understands they are in over their heads. You know the team is very good, and how do you keep stakes and threat up? 

Dean: I mean this whole season builds to a finale, and we actually thought about it. And you'll see when we get to the finale it's- they're dealing at a level we've never seen them in the previous seasons.

John: Well, also it's interesting because here's where Christian, as Eliot, knows Damien Moreau. And so you'll see every time when Moreau comes up, that he's playing something in the back of the scene that he's not letting the rest of the crew know. 

Dean: Right.

John: You know that's definitely. And there you go, there's the turn. And-

Dean: And then she gets it!

John: We’re back! There you go. Exactly. I mean it's tricky, there's, you know, there's a lot of ensembles on television, but you have to design them very specifically to do certain jobs in every episode.

Dean: I tell you, after having-

John: Your job is to be both the emotion barometer and Sexual Chocolate.

Aldis: Sexual Chocolate, yes.

Dean: After the half season of Gina not being part of the team, it was really great to shoot a scene like this and just see all the- all you know all the flavors back together again.

John: Yeah I mean we love Jeri. Don't get me wrong we adore Jeri.

Dean: She was awesome.

John: I mean a show with Edwin and Jeri? I mean that would be fantastic, I would do that. But-

[Laughter]

John: But yeah. I remember the first day we were doing this again, it's like ah there are the voices! You know there's the stuff we love doing at 2 oclock in the morning, for no money, back in first season. 

Aldis: I think this is a great turn for Sophie’s character right here, because usually she’s- 

Dean: Nagging him.

Aldis: She's chasing. And this, she's opening the door to either be chased or… 

Dean: That's right.

John: Equality.

Aldis: You know to level the playing field.

John: This is the tricky bit. This is an arc we were going to do second season. 

Dean: Right, but we couldn’t.

John: We couldn't. So you know this is now, really emotionally between the two of them, where we wanted to wind up in the middle of second season. And then Gina of course went off and had a beautiful, beautiful baby, so.

Aldis: Great shot.

Dean: Thank you very much for joining us for the opening episode of season three of Leverage.

John: That's Dean Devlin, I'm John Rogers and-

Aldis: ~Sexual Chocolate~!

[Laughter]

John: Aldis Hodge.

[gabolange]

So, let’s talk about Leverage: Redemption. In which I am medium-whelmed at best.

Spoilers below the cut.

I finished the show a couple of days ago and I keep trying to figure out why I didn’t love it. This isn’t to say I didn’t like it, because I did, but it didn’t land for me the way it seems to have landed for a lot of people, and so here I am with, like, meta. Party like it’s 2008 and all that.

2008. I actually didn’t meet Leverage until 2010 despite friends telling me for ages I should watch. It one of those moments that became a forever memory for many reasons, but the most important is this: the show was perfect. Those first hours spent watching a rerun marathon on TNT on a hot-as-fuck July 4 in Albuquerque, New Mexico came with them the understanding that this show was truly special.

It was funny, it was topical, it was sexy, and it was so fucking smart. I fell in love right away with all of them, but especially with Sophie, and with Nate, and with their complicated, complex, adult history. And then over the course of catching up and keeping up, I fell even harder, with them and those themes, with watching Parker and Hardison grow into themselves, with watching Eliot deal every day with his demons. I loved the way the show balanced light and dark, how it could have Archie’s zappy cane in the same breath as Eliot giving Nate advice about what it would mean to kill. I loved that we all loved Maggie, even though ex-wives are known in television to be evil shrews. I loved Tara’s complexity, and Sterling’s wit, and how every episode was a chess game. And oh, how I loved Sophie’s journey, how she had to decide every day not how to live but who to be.

When I say it was perfect, I don’t mean it didn’t have its duds. Of course it did. But it did the thing it was trying to do better than anyone has ever done it, with intelligence and respect, and its finale is one of the three best series finales ever filmed.

This is all to say the bar for Leverage: Redemption was both sky high and very low. When I heard they weren’t bringing Nate back, my first thought was don’t you fucking dare break my heart. If Nate was drunk off his ass in a ditch somewhere, if he had broken Sophie’s heart--that would be the ultimate betrayal (hi, I still have feelings about The Doctor Blake Mysteries). And so the bar was: don’t break my heart, while also being something like the perfect show.

They didn’t break my heart. I said early the best thing would be to kill Nate after he and Sophie had good, long, happy years together. And they did, and it was the right place to start.

They gave me that, and I am grateful, but when I look at the rest, I guess I was underwhelmed. Or at least only whelmed. Medium-whelmed at best.

There were things I loved: Hardison and Parker’s relationship. Eliot’s careful watch over Sophie. Hardison growing up to become the most epic white hat hacker ever. The idea that getting back into the game would be the thing that would make Sophie happy. Hardison’s commentary on redemption. The idea of Leverage: International. Gina Bellman is still made of magic and heartbreak and perfection.

There were things I liked: I am fond of our Mister Wilson, even if I find Noah Wylie about as interesting as plain toast. There were some truly great Eliot beats. I don’t yet like Breanna, but I like the idea of Breanna. I liked the way Nate hovered over the entire thing, because Sophie brought him with her. I think the sets were great, and I was impressed at how much they were able to do in a pandemic. I found utterly baffling but nonetheless charming that we meet Harry in the middle of a failed heist in which the team judges his technique and then adopts him. I liked Fake Nate and everything they did with that. The show had many bright spots, and I don’t in any way want to diminish them.

But. It wasn’t smart. It wasn’t sexy. Except for Sophie’s grief and Hardison’s plans, it picked up the character beats where we left them ten years ago. Has Parker been mastermind for this entire time? I would have loved to see that. Have they learned how to do this well without Sophie and Nate? I would have loved to see that. Show me the history.

Show me the history. Breanna and Hardison and Parker all say this is the worst timeline, and we know it is because we have lived it. But in the universe of the show, it doesn’t really seem that bad -- the plots of the week were silly and so small. I remember finding Damien Moreau too big, once upon a time, but this all felt too easy, the stakes far too small for this to be a show where everything has gotten worse. Nate almost murdered two guys in cold blood, folks. The show was missing any of the darkness that made the original truly compelling, and so lost the balance we loved between that and finding joy. I don’t need it in every episode, but I need a hint that there’s something bigger and meaner out there other than throwaway dialog.

(And, when it tried to go dark, it swung and missed. The episode with the collapsed building was timely, but as someone with anxiety and PTSD, the way the crew played on this guy who had apparently tried to do better this time around...was kinda not okay, to be honest.)

I don’t have OT3 goggles, but I think if I did, I would find Hardison’s absence a little sad--he was the glue, and they needed to do more to bring Parker and Eliot together as friends / colleagues / long-term members of the same polycue / whatever. But even without OT3 goggles, I missed Hardison a whole lot. And I am SO happy for Aldis Hodge growing up to be a real movie star, but he brought so much presence and capability to every scene he was in, even when he was just a kid. Nobody else has his gravitas, or Timothy Hutton’s.

I do have Sophie goggles, and Sophie / Nate goggles. And they didn’t ruin the ship or anything, of course not. But I missed the frisson they brought, the way they made the show just that much more adult. And I am so very, very glad they got their happiness, but I am kinda sad that sexy got replaced with grief.

So yeah. I don’t know. I didn’t hate it at all. I am willing to give it a chance, to let it grow into something I love. But it isn’t, at least not yet.

(x-posted to dreamwidth)

[cooliogirl101]

Some thoughts about the new Leverage…first of all I’ll start off the positive points. I really liked that they didn’t try to replace Nate and Hardison with Harry and Breanna, because that would’ve been doomed to fail from the start. Instead they’re wholly their own characters, with their own unique place on the team. Also, Nate and (later) Hardison’s absences are constantly felt— which on the one hand is crucial, because of how important they were to the original team and anything less would be doing the show an injustice. On the other hand, it sucks because I miss them so much (I also developed a new appreciation for Nate, who was far from my favorite character on the original Leverage. But for all his flaws, he contributed so much to the dynamic on the team and him missing feels like a giant gaping hole…which I acknowledge is probably the point).

The dynamic between Parker, Hardison, and Eliot is largely the same but you can see how their relationship has grown at the same time. I like the little additions they’ve added to the show, like the food truck thing, I thought that was really creative and true to both Eliot and Hardison (Eliot’s cooking meets Hardison’s Lucille, basically). I admit I was hesitant about Noah Wyle’s addition, but he actually fits really well into the team. I mean he’s no Nate but he was never meant to be and he definitely meets the “scarily competent” criteria for being a part of Leverage. I am a bit hesitant about Breanna, Hardison’a foster sister. I can definitely see hints of Hardison in her but at the same time, I instantly liked Hardison in the original Leverage (Aldis Hodge’s charisma is something else— he was iconic from the first “age of the geek”). I’m….not feeling the same connection to Breanna, I’m pretty neutral towards her, but maybe that’ll change in the future.

I also feel like the original Leverage was a lot more emotional; it did a really good job balancing humor and lightness with heavier bits like Nate’s grief and alcoholism, Eliot’s past, Sophie struggling to find herself, Parker learning to feel again. There are emotional moments in Redemption too (Harry Wilson’s guilt over what he used to do, what he used to take pride in is clear to see, as well as Sophie’s grief) but I don’t think it has quite the same depth here (that flashback to Sam’s death in the original still gives me chills).

Overall, it’s still Leverage. It’s fun and cathartic and a nice escape from the world. It’s great seeing Eliot and Parker and Sophie again. Yes, I miss Hardison and Nate constantly but if you liked the original show, I’d definitely give this one a chance. Also, if any of you have seen it already, I’d love to hear from you! Curious if you guys feel the same as me :)

[londonspirit]

It's been nearly a decade since the TNT crime drama Leverage aired its series finale, but the 2012 finale, "The Long Good-bye Job," isn't the last fans will see of Leverage Consulting & Associates. In 2020, it was announced that a Leverage reboot was officially in the works, with original series executive producer and director Dean Devlin overseeing the new, 13-episode revival. The Leverage reboot is headed to IMDb TV, with original cast members Beth Riesgraf, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, and Aldis Hodge set to reprise their roles and Noah Wyle joining as a new character. Filming on the Leverage reboot took place in the late summer and early fall of 2020, with the cast sharing reunion photos from the set on social media. But, since then, all has been quiet on the Leverage front — until now.

Recently, Collider's own Christina Radish had the opportunity to speak with Hodge about the Leverage reboot during a larger conversation about the new season of City on a Hill, which stars Hodge and Kevin Bacon. We were most curious to know how many episodes of the reboot Hodge would appear in, and the actor shared that "I can't speak to it directly, but I will be in several episodes. I was hoping to do more, but quarantine. But I'll be in a few episodes, but I can't speak to specifics. It will be a splashy surprise. I dip in and I dip out."

With that bar of expectation set, we wanted to know if Hodge would ever be interested in appearing in future Leverage episodes, should the new season spark a renewal. Hodge not only gave a candid response and confirmed details about the reboot, but also revealed the official title of the Leverage reboot in his answer — something that hasn't been previously announced.

Yeah, if ['Leverage'] continues and [my] schedule allows and permits. The first series for 'Leverage', I hold it near and dear to my heart. It's something that we all built, and living in the wake of its legacy, 'Leverage,' now entitled 'Leverage: Redemption,' is definitely something that I plan to continue with, just for the nostalgia of it. I know the fans love it and I have fun with it. We have a great new cast. We have a new cast member, her name is Aleyse Shannon and she's really fantastic. We also have Noah Wyle, as one of our cast members. Aleyse comes on playing my adopted little sister. She's a really bright light with great energy, and I'd love to see where she's at. I really wanna see where their brother-sister relationship goes.

Leverage: Redemption, eh? Well, it sounds like we have our first tease about the plot of the Leverage reboot based on this official title.

Hodge continued, sharing with us his initial reaction when he first heard about Devlin's plans to bring Leverage back. He recalled, "I was shocked when Dean Devlin, our producer, called me and said, 'I'm getting the gang back together.' I was like, 'Really?!'" and went on to explain, "I know he'd been trying to find the right home for it for a while, and it was just time and patience. Amazon became the right home."

The Leverage alum also explained to Collider that the real reason Leverage is coming back is because "the fan support has been so strong, which makes me really happy," continuing,

It teaches me about fan loyalty. I can only be so grateful that we're able to get the chance to come back. It's never happened in my career. That kind of fan loyalty means so much. It means a great deal because it allows us, as artists, to understand the actual effect we have and the connection that we make with our audience. That fan loyalty is strong with Leverage... The fan support is everything. For me, it's a great surprise, but one that's quite awesome to experience."

Leverage: Redemption is expected to premiere in 2021. You can rewatch Leverage the original series with Tubi or Pluto TV. Look for our full interview with Hodge soon.

[officialthiamlibrary]

Hi!! Do you know any well written mpreg fics?? <3 thanks for the help!!

Here you are! (Just a heads up, be sure to send this as an ask next time instead of a submission!)

Apha Red and An Off White Moon by ScarredMuzzle (General | Complete | 4.5K) Tags: Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, True Mates Summary:The first big supermoon is coming up and the Alpha Red pack needs to prepare for what might happen with the kids. A Peek Inside:Liam shoved the last bag into the trunk and slammed it, willing everything to stay put. With everyone packing for a long weekend, both the minivan and Theo’s truck was loaded with bags. He felt the slight prickle under his skin, the aching reason that they were even taking a trip up to Lydia’s quiet lakehouse. Clearly the kids were feeling it too.

Little Paws by louis_wife505 (Not Rated | WIP | 35K) Tags: MPREG, smut, enemies to friends to lover Summary: Theo and Liam have a one night stand. They thought they could ignore it and forget it happened but fate has different plans. A Peek Inside: It didn't take a genius to tell Liam was uncomfortable with her coming on to them. Theo figured the girl would leave them alone if she thought they were a couple. Unfortunately she wasn't convinced with just Theo's verbal claim. "Excuse us. Babe let's dance." 

Fuck Food Lion okay? by synfulshark (Mature | Complete | 1.6K) Tags: Liam mpreg Summary: Liam doesn't feel great and want's Theo to make him one of his favorite home made meals so he does, but he finds out he doesn't have exactly what he needs so he has to go on a grocery run to aldi. His and Liam's go to for grocery supplies but they don't have one thing they need so he has to go to....food Lion. A Peek Inside: He scanned till he found Isaac's and he typed out a fast reply as he waited. ScarffyWolfBitch: Whatcha up to? SexyAssHellBitch: Aldi, Liam was hungry as fuck so he sent me to get food, ScarffyWolfBitch: What he want this time? Jesus didn't they kick you out of there for talking about killing people?

Knot The Brightest Idea by Haikyuuties_baeritto123 (Explicit | Complete | 2.6K) Tags: Knotting, outdoor sex, implied mpreg Summary: In retrospect, it probably wasn’t Theo’s brightest idea to get both he and Liam riled up before meeting the pack at the park. But the little wolf was just so easy to get flustered and Theo doesn’t pass up any opportunity to make Liam blush such a pretty shade of red. But perhaps this time he’s taken it a little too far. A Peek Inside: Theo melts and completely forgets about his phone; letting it rest on the bench beside them in order to get a good grip on Liam’s hips. The kiss is desperate and over quickly when Liam pulls back to whimper “Can’t wait” Theo does a quick survey of the area. It’s late at night so there isn’t anyone around, and the bench they are sat on is secluded from the majority of the path…but they could still get caught.

Woohoo by Shipper_trash (Teen | Complete | 1.1K) Tags: Omega Liam, alpha Theo Summary: This is a future fic, in the same 'verse as this: Get Together!! A Peek Inside: “We should seriously start watching something else,” Erica complains, shoving at Lydia who is giving her a glare. Even with tears running down her face, she looks scary. Stiles is impressed.   There is a murmur of agreement among the group of friends. Tissues are distributed, faces cleaned before Allison, Kira and Isaac decide to clean up the mess of plates and glasses on the too small coffee table. Stiles decides to help out by dialing up the pizza place’s number which they all love and ordering their usual. The lady on the other end knows the order by heart and he only has to say his name before she confirms the order and the price.  

Cracks in the surface by eliottsevak (Teen | Complete | 1.3K) Tags: Twink Liam Summary: Theo got Liam pregnant, then Kira sent him to hell. A Peek Inside: Liam knew it bordered on psychotic that Liam still found Theo to be a good person despite Theo trying to tear apart his pack and kill his alpha, but something was tugging himself to the older chimera.

Troubles (Yeah, Troubles Now) by NekoAliceYamiYaoi (Teen | Complete | 16K) Tags: Married Thiam, Nolan is Thiam’s adopted kid, angst with a happy ending, references to cheating but no actual cheating Summary: In all of his almost 6 years of life, Nolan never thought that he would be so afraid. And here we was, standing in front of the completely torn and with stenches of ink all over it dress that aunt Lydia had bought a few days ago. A Peek Inside: Nolan had only wanted to look at the dress because it had beautiful flowers in it. As he entered his dads room, he noticed Lydia's clean clothes on top of the bed, perfectly folded. He was touching the soft clothing -since his dads room had a big mirror behind the door- when he looked down and saw a spider -a big spider, not a tiny one- walking towards his feet. He screamed in fear and threw his hands up in the air, but had forgotten that he was holding the dress over his hands. He looked up as the dress flew in the air and landed in one of the blades of the ceiling fan, twirling around the room for a few seconds before the fan in a quick motion threw the dress to the boudoir where Liam kept a small portion of ink and it splattered all over the dress.

“Hello, Daddy.” by Katherin_Ravenlin (Teen | WIP | 13K) Tags: Break up, angst, alpha Liam, creepy, beating, misunderstandings, graphic depictions of violence, underage, rape/non-con Summary: Theo is already mated to Liam, they are spending their last high school year together and planning to go to college, the pack seemed to accept that they are together and Theo has big plans for their last prom - when Hayden comes back in town. The distance starts to grow between the Babywolf and the First Chimera, accusations start to settle in between them as Hayden's abusive boyfriend could be watching from any dark corner and somebody from the pack keeps leaking information about the hiding girl's whereabouts. But who is the one doing it? A Peek Inside: Laying on his back in the damp grass wasn't what Theo considered a good time. However, Liam curled up on his chest, cuddling into him stroking his skin like some kind of treasure while watching the sundown on the edge of a clearing far away from the city made it a quite okay experience. Liam nuzzles into his chest and hugs him a pit tighter, and Theo thinks, that getting his clothes damp is worth it, after all.

A Little Thing Called Love by Lanceiferroar (Explicit | Complete | 23K) Tags: Major character death, strangers to lovers, smut Summary: Liam Dunbar moves to Beacon Hills and never expects his life would change this much. A Peek Inside: Liam looked as they pulled up to their new house. “We’re here!” Liam’s mom said. Liam looked and saw the house. It was two floors, a nice yard, and an in ground pool. At least he had that going for him. He could work on his tan and lay by the pool. Maybe this life would not be too bad. Liam walked into the house and found his new room. It was surprisingly better than his room back home. He had a walk in closet and his own bathroom. No more waiting for mom or dad to get out. He could go whenever he needed to and take as long of showers as he wanted to. 

Creating Beauty From Mistakes by awesomerosie (Mature | WIP | 31K) Tags: Fluff and Humor, mentions of abuse, Starvation, mention of suicide Summary: The Dread Doctors did more than mess with Theo's status as a human, they messed with his status as a man too. A Peek Inside: Liam stood in the corner, gaping like a fish. Theo was going to kill him. He was going to drag him into the woods and beat him to death. It would take a while, a long while, but he would do it; he was just that enraged. Liam stepped closer, immediately flinching away from Theo’s snarl. At first, Theo thought he was just getting fat, but then a few days ago he started hearing a faint thumping following him. For all he knew, he had grown another heart or something, and in a way, he had.