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insanityclause · 5 months ago

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Over the past 13 years, Tom Hiddleston has died more times than he can recall. “Let me think about this,” the actor tells us, pausing to count in his head. “I think, officially, there were two big ones.”

He’s referring to his many exits from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the blockbuster franchise in which he’s played shape-shifting Norse god Loki Laufeyson since Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film “Thor”—the son of Asgardians Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Frigga (Rene Russo), and the half-sibling of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the god of thunder.

The character has since bounced between villain and reluctant antihero across five films, a handful of post-credits scenes, and Michael Waldron’s Disney+ spinoff series “Loki,” which Hiddleston also executive produces. The show wrapped its second—and supposedly final—season last November. The finale presents an end for the character, but not one of the aforementioned “big ones.”

Hiddleston’s first “official” farewell came in Alan Taylor’s 2013 sequel “Thor: The Dark World,” which saw the god of mischief take a sword to the chest to save his beefy brother. “As written in the first script, it was a true sacrifice,” Hiddleston says. Unfortunately for Marvel’s long-term plans, the actor had done too good a job playing the trickster.

“When Marvel [executives] were testing the movie, they’d given [viewers] questionnaires that said, ‘Is there anything you didn’t understand?’ ” he remembers. “Literally every single audience member said, ‘Well, obviously, Loki’s not really dead.’ ”

In classic comic-book fashion, the character did return, gallivanting alongside his brother in Taika Waititi’s 2017 follow-up “Thor: Ragnarok.” He died again one year later (“big one” number two) in the Russo brothers’ “Avengers: Infinity War.” There were no smokescreens or questionnaires this time; audiences watched as Loki’s neck was crushed by the purple fist of intergalactic warlord Thanos (Josh Brolin).

Hiddleston remembers arriving in Atlanta to shoot his final scene and immediately bumping into Brolin. “He came up to me, gave me this huge hug, and said, ‘I’m so sorry, man.’ ”

He meant it, too; everyone meant it. The sun, it seemed, had actually set on Hiddleston’s MCU journey. “At the end of that scene, I got a big round of applause, and everybody was so sweet and kind and gracious,” he says. “I got notes and emails saying, ‘Tom, you’ve done so much for us—what a journey. Come and see us anytime.’ I really thought that was the end.”

And it was, for real, right up until it wasn’t—when the time-traveling shenanigans of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” blasted a younger version of Loki out of the established canon and into his own series. Over two seasons, the multiversal storyline envisions the title character as a figure who exists outside time and space. Across all there is, was, and may come to pass, there will always be a Loki, in some form, wreaking havoc.

Hiddleston has long since accepted what this means for him as an actor. Maybe “Loki” Season 2 really was his last time in the role; or maybe he’ll play him until the sun burns out. “I’ve realized that, in human consciousness, that’s who Loki is,” he says. “Loki is this ancient, mythic character, who, in our collective mythology, represents the trickster, the transgressor, the boundary-crosser, the shape-shifter—somebody who’s mercurial and spontaneous and unpredictable who will always confound your expectations and wriggle out from underneath your certainties and convictions. Someone who we need and [who] is necessary.”

Hiddleston pauses, getting emotional. “Maybe Loki escaping death a couple of times is sort of an emblem of who he is in our culture,” he says, grinning at his own gusto. The actor has a habit of being self-deprecating about the depth of the character’s lore. “I spend a lot of time thinking about Loki. You can probably tell.”

You can tell, and it’s incredibly endearing. Talking to Hiddleston about Loki feels like discussing Shakespeare’s Richard III with Laurence Olivier or Tennessee Williams’ Blanche DuBois with Jessica Lange. They were actors who put their definitive stamps on those roles by returning to the well and constantly digging deeper.

In conversation, Hiddleston is equally as likely to reference comic-book arcs as he is the ancient, anonymous Old Norse scribes of the “Poetic Edda” or Richard Wagner’s epic four-cycle opera “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” He speaks reverently of actors who embodied the trickster god before him, like Jim Carrey in Chuck Russell’s 1994 comedy “The Mask” and Alan Cumming in Lawrence Guterman’s 2005 sequel, “Son of the Mask.” He also heaps praise on those who played the part after him, such as his “Loki” costars Sophia Di Martino, Richard E. Grant, Deobia Oparei, and—in one very surreal Season 1 moment—“some alligator they found somewhere.” He cites legendary Marvel creators Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Walter Simonson alongside the likes of English essayist Walter Pater and Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who once wrote of life as a “splendid torch” to keep burning for those who follow.

“Loki is ‘a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment,’ ” Hiddleston quotes, “and I want to make it burn as brightly as I can before passing it on to future generations.”

This level of study started before he even landed the role. He recalls the 24 hours leading up to his “Thor” audition, when he was 28 years old. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2005, he quickly earned small-screen and stage acclaim—but he hadn’t yet achieved a major breakthrough. When he received the script for “Thor,” it felt familiar. “I remember thinking, This is almost Shakespearean, this language,” Hiddleston says. “What’s the best example I can [look to] of an actor who managed to humanize and make real this elevated world of myth?”

He found the answer in Christopher Reeve, who played the title role in Richard Donner’s 1978 blockbuster “Superman.” “He’s masterful in that film,” Hiddleston says. “In a way, it’s a similar premise: He’s a god or he’s a being from a different realm, and it’s not naturalistic in the way that we might expect. He does it so truthfully, and it’s so clear and clean and open and honest. I thought, If I can even approximate or get close to the kind of clarity that Christopher Reeve had in those films, I’ll be lucky.”

And then, the morning of his “Thor” audition, Hiddleston went for a run, “which is my habit before doing anything unusual,” he explains.

Running has remained a constant throughout the actor’s MCU tenure. At any given moment over the last decade, the god of mischief was likely doing laps around Marvel’s go-to shooting location, Pinewood Studios (now Trilith Studios) in Atlanta. “Life is movement; I really believe that,” Hiddleston says.

“I find when I’m running or walking, the repetitive nature of it relaxes the mind and allows ideas and inspiration to come from a deeper place. I see my work as an actor—especially in preparation for a project or a scene—as almost preparing myself to be open and ready to receive ideas, to receive energy from other actors, to receive energy from my imagination.”

Hiddleston found the technique particularly helpful when he was filming a scene for the “Loki” series premiere that he calls “one of the most thrilling challenges I’ve ever had as an actor.” In it, Loki has been poached from the flow of time itself by the temporality-policing Time Variance Authority and forced to watch what is, essentially, a highlight reel of his entire MCU arc. It’s one of the most deeply existential moments you’ll ever find streaming alongside the likes of “Bluey” and the “Cars” movies. Here is a man watching the sum total of his life—his hopes, his dreams, his failures, his own death—play out in a 30-second clip that ends with the cold, clinical words: “End of file.”

“I just kept imagining: If you were afforded the opportunity or forced to watch your own death as a bystander, it would bring about an existential shock and crisis unlike any other,” Hiddleston explains. “It was a scene where I thought, I don’t have a reference for how to play this. I just have to allow shock, disgust, disgrace, shame, disbelief, acceptance, incredulity, and sorrow to exist in the center of me.”

As an executive producer on the series, Hiddleston had a say as to which of Loki’s many misdeeds would play in the sequence. He chose clips like Frigga’s death in “Thor: The Dark World” and his father’s final words in “Thor: Ragnarok”—moments Hiddleston knew would most fill the character with regret. As production was preparing to shoot the scene, he asked first assistant director Richard Graves for a 20-minute warning.

“I decided to jog around the stage and internalize as many of those memories of those people, those characters, those actors [as possible]—to try and find the center of my own vulnerability,” Hiddleston says. “Part of the joy of it was just going back to basics, trying to simplify this very complex thing…. Go for a jog, get into your body, allow yourself to be open, and just be there; just feel it.”

One “Loki”-like time jump later, Hiddleston found himself in a similar situation as he was preparing to shoot his final moment of Season 2—a scene that effectively caps Loki’s 13-year arc. Across 12 episodes, the show guided its title character toward a truly heroic end: With all of existence on the verge of collapse, he steps out of time to tie the strands of every reality together. As the credits roll, Loki sits at the center of time, holding in place all that is—alone.

It’s a lot for any actor to internalize, especially one who’s performing solo in front of a blue screen. With 45 minutes to cameras rolling, episode co-director Aaron Moorhead made a suggestion. “He said to me, ‘Why don’t you go back, if you can bear it, and watch some of your work [over] the last 15 years?’ ” Hiddleston remembers. “ ‘Take it in, see what it means to you, and then carry it when you step out onto the stage.’ ”

The actor took Moorhead’s advice to heart. And suddenly, without meaning to, he was mirroring the moment that started the series: absorbing the sum total of Loki’s MCU run. But this time, his regret had been replaced with gratitude. Hiddleston watched clips from “Thor,” remembering a time when he and Hemsworth had yet to ascend to the A-list. He recalled working with powerhouses like Hopkins and Russo, and the bonds he forged with the “original six Avengers” in 2011. He thought about how fun it was to film “Thor: Ragnarok” with Tessa Thompson and Jeff Goldblum, and of the more recent friendships he found with his “Loki” castmates Di Martino and Owen Wilson.

“I thought, What Loki is doing, he is doing for his friends. And so, Tom, why don’t you do it for your friends?” Hiddleston says. “That’s where the two of us met in that moment. And then I was so grateful I had this most amazing crew, and we did it together.”

The actor is, of course, noncommittal as to whether this is actually the end of his MCU run. The franchise is scheduled out until at least 2027, and Hemsworth has mentioned his desire to make another “Thor” film. And if Loki’s past has proven anything, even the most official endings can be undone.

Either way, it seems to Hiddleston that something significant has ended, even if it’s just Loki’s full-circle arc. “I hope it feels redemptive because his broken soul is partially healed; and you see that this character, who is capable of love, has made a decision from and for love,” he says. The actor cites the “beautiful prologue” of the first “Thor” film, in which Hopkins’ Odin tells his two sons: “Only one of you can ascend to the throne, but both of you were born to be kings.”

“At the end of Season 2, Loki is sitting on a kind of throne; but it’s not arrived in the shape he expected, and there’s no glory in it,” Hiddleston explains. “There’s a kind of burden, and he’s alone. He’s doing it for his friends, but he has to stay there without them. There’s a poetic melancholy there which I found very moving.”

For now, Hiddleston “can’t even conceive” of his life without Loki. He only hopes that he’s lived up to his guiding ethos as an actor, which he sums up with a plea from E.M. Forster’s 1910 novel “Howards End”: “Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height.”

“The feedback loop for actors is that we get to inhabit a fiction,” Hiddleston says. “But hopefully, that fiction bears the shape of a truth that we recognize about life—that what we do reflects the ups and downs, the peaks and troughs, and the breadth and profundity of all of our lives.”

Hiddleston exists in that space between fiction and reality, the work and the resulting art, the prose and the passion. Long after we’ve moved on from our interview and started casually discussing the cherry blossoms blooming in New York, his eyes light up. He’s made another connection, remembered one more thing—just one last thing he’d like to impart about Loki.

He spends a lot of time thinking about Loki. You can probably tell.

“I’m so aware that the reason I’ve been able to play him for so long is because of the audience’s curiosity and passion,” Hiddleston says. “I’ve been delighted to find that for a character of such stature, he’s remarkably human. Many of the characteristics that people connect to in Loki are deeply human feelings. That’s been the pleasure, is infusing this elevated character with humanity.”

Even then, honestly, it feels as if Hiddleston, like Loki, could go on forever. Unfortunately, outside of the MCU, time moves in only one direction. Once again, he has to run.

This story originally appeared in the June 6 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe to In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to hear our full conversation with Hiddleston (out 6/6).

#tom hiddleston #interview #backstage magazine #loki s2 #emmy fyc

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orange-foxes · 29 days ago

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The Minyard-Josten Rivalry

💥 Secrets and Honesty by fullyvisible (43k, series: Part 1 of 3)

Neil and Andrew aren't on the same professional teams, but that doesn't mean they're any less together. When a photograph gets taken out of context, they decide to go with it, as long as they're both having fun. And they are. Right?

💥 The Crooked Kind by youreyestheyglow (10k)

Neil went pro a year ago--and not on Andrew's team. The problem: they're private people, and when the press takes their declarations of hate at face value, Andrew and Neil find themselves unwilling to end the rumors.

💥 Minyard-Josten: A Rivalry For The Ages by dustbottle (4k)

After four years of playing together at Palmetto State University, Neil and Andrew end up on different professional teams. Neil is the new striker for the Atlanta Hawks; Andrew is goalie for the Boston Rebels. This is the story of their so-called rivalry. Three guesses as to who starts the rumours. (Spoilers: It’s Neil.)

💥 Captured moments by simplydevotedtoyou (9k, series: part 3 of 3)

Neil has finally made it to pros, joining the RedSock Lions in Chicago. Andrew however is with the Houston Hornets. When Andrew is asked about how he feels about seeing his ex team mate on an opposing team, he makes a comment which starts the supposed 'rivalry' between the ex team mates. What the majority of people don't know is that Neil and Andrew are in fact together and have been since college, well that is until someone releases photos of them which show that the whole rivalry wasn't 100% real. or Neil and Andrew are both too stubborn to let the other have the last word.

💥 The Truth Behind It by wematch (3k)

Neil finally makes a Twitter account the year after he leaves the Foxes. His PR has been nagging him about making a social media account since he joined the team but ultimately he uses it to annoy Andrew. Of course things escalate and the rumours of a rivalry between the two form, that is until Neil clarifies everything.

💥 Reputation by lemonicee (8k)

The rise and fall of the Minyard-Josten Rivalry. Usually when Neil starts shit in a post-game press interview, he does it on purpose. This time, he really just meant for it to be a joke. “How do you feel about the possibility of ending up on a team with a former Fox teammate?” is the next question. “Great,” Neil answers, sincere. “I would love to play with Matt or Kevin again.” “What about Minyard? Would you sign with Atlanta?” Neil says, “Andrew? He’s a nightmare.” He knows it’s a joke. His team knows it’s a joke. Andrew will know it’s a joke. The press does not seem to know that it’s a joke.

💥 Rivalry? by loverloverlover (3k)

"In their first pro-game against each other last year, Andrew had greeted him with a middle finger and his signature two-fingered salute. Neil had shot back a mockingly flirty wave, but no one else saw the affection behind their gestures—only the taunts." OR Andrew and Neil are on different professional Exy teams, and after being apart for months, their teams are finally playing each other. In true Neil Josten fashion, something goes wrong.

💥 Minyard vs Josten ;) by introvertedtiger (2k)

ever since Neil and Andrew had gone pro and started playing AGAINST each other, the media thought they hated each other. in reality they’ve been married for two years and Neil’s getting bored of the rivalry and is finally ready to change the name on his jersey.

💥 The societies we despise by This_Witch_Writes (5k)

Technically it all started because of two cats. Andrew’s phone number had been leaked and he was waiting on a new sim card. So when Neil saw the cats, one black and one ginger, play fighting beside the Chicago Bean, he had tweeted the picture to him instead of texting it. An innocent enough tweet on the surface, tagging Andrew and adding the caption “us”. To Neil, Andrew and their family, an obvious and even uncharacteristically sappy statement of long-held affection. To exy fans on the internet, a declaration of war.

#aftg #aftg fic rec #aftg fanfiction #the foxhole court fanfiction #masterpost #rivalry #andreil #andrew/neil #all for the game

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dailytomlinson · 2 years ago

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FAITH IN THE FUTURE WORLD TOUR: NORTH AMERICA LEG

May 26th: Uncasville, CT

May 27th: Gilford, NH

May 29th: Laval, QC, Canada

May 30th: Toronto, ON, Canada

June 1st: Cuyahoga Falls, OH

June 2nd: Sterling Heights, MI

June 3rd: Cincinnati, OH

June 6th: Columbus, OH

June 7th: Indianapolis, IN

June 9th: Maryland Heights, MO

June 10th: Kansas City, MO

June 13th: Milwaukee, WI

June 15th: Chicago, IL

June 16th: Minneapolis, MN

June 17th: Council Bluffs, IA

June 19th: Sioux Falls, SD

CANCELLED: Morrison, CO

June 24th: Seattle, WA

June 26th: Vancouver, BC, Canada

June 27th: Troutdale, OR

June 29th: Berkeley, CA

June 30th: Los Angeles, CA

July 1st: Las Vegas, NV

July 3rd: Phoenix, AZ

July 6th: Irving, TX

July 7th: Austin, TX

July 8th: Woodlands, TX

July 11th: St. Augustine, FL

July 13th: Hollywood, FL

July 14th: Tampa, FL

July 15th: Atlanta, GA

July 18th: Nashville, TN

July 19th: Charlotte, NC

July 21st: Raleigh, NC

July 22nd: Columbia, MD

July 24th: Boston, MA

July 25th: Boston, MA

July 27th: Philadelphia, PA

July 28th: Asbury Park, NJ

July 29th: New York, NY

The North America Leg of the Faith In The Future Tour has officially ended.

While Louis is away, you can reminisce all the amazing moments of this leg on our recap tag, revisit all the looks on our fitfwt fashion tag and check out each concert's setlist as well.

For all the incredible posters, we made two compilations posts that you can check out here & here, or you can find it on our tag for all posters, including future ones, here.

Lastly, we also have a post with all the the portrait pictures shared from this leg here!

See you guys at the Away From Home Festival and the Europe leg.

64 days, 39 shows, 2 countries: DONE ✅

#fitfwt:northamericaleg

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miyuhpapayuh · 1 year ago

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𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞.

The night was finally here, and Simone couldn't be more excited– for many reasons.

She's been praying all week, for exposure that would send her career skyrocketing to the moon.

She'd finally get to show off her Logan original, and who wouldn't wanna be seen with a man as fine as hers!?

Ogling at how the fabric hugged her skin, she finally sat down and slid her feet into the gold heels Anthony gifted her, wrapping the laces around her ankles.

She decided to let Fiona do her hair in the same fashion as Jasmine's half up half down, since she'd fallen in love with it. Fluffing the strands in her ponytail, she lets it fall over her shoulders.

"I look so good.... wow."

"Wow is right." Anthony walks into her room with a red rose in his hand, causing all thirty-two of her teeth to present themselves, in a blindingly-white smile.

"You were supposed to wait downstairs, it was gonna be a surprise." She says, not being able to suppress the smile on her face as he closes in the space between them, placing sweet kisses on her lips.

"Usually, I'm a very patient man, but you've been up here squealing for the last fifteen minutes," he says, while she playfully rolls her eyes and turns back towards her mirror. "I had to see what the fuss was about."

"And, well?"

"You look fucking amazing, babygirl." He wraps one arm around her waist and hands her the pretty red flower. She puts it up to her nose as the rosiness on her cheeks starts to become more evident.

"Thank you. You clean up nice, as well." He was clad in a white dress shirt with a couple of the buttons undone, daringly orange slacks and white loafers.

"Ah, she's being nice to me. Tonight must be very special." He teases.

She tries to turn in his grasp, which he tightens.

"I've been nice to you, before tonight!"

"Only because I ate that pretty pussy of yours.”

The inside of her thighs tingle at the memory.

She clears her throat. "Well, maybe you should do that, more often, hm?" She stares into the mirror, meeting his glazed over gaze.

With that, he releases his tight hold on her, making sure to keep her hand in his. "Let's get you to this event, before we miss it altogether.

˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇ෆ.₊̣̇.̑ෆ₊̣̇˟̑ෆ

Stepping out of his custom painted, candy green BMW M3, Anthony rounds the passenger side and opens Simone's door, shielding her from the bright lights of the cameras.

Tossing his keys to the valet, he waits for her to hook her hand onto his broad arm and escorts her up the stairs of the W hotel— one of the fanciest places in downtown Atlanta.

"I hope they caught my good side," she jokes as they head towards the elevator.

"You don't have a bad side." He says.

She looks up at him with a raised brow. He looks down and matches her gaze, causing her to look away and laugh.

"Am I lying?" A chuckle intertwined with his question.

"No, no... you're not lying."

They step inside and ride up to the fifth floor. The doors slide open and a gasp leaves her mouth. Pink and black balloons litter the high ceilings, along with gold streamers.

"Wow, they really outdo themselves, every year!" She exclaims.

He nods in agreement.

"Agreed. Last year was nice, but this is better." He carefully helps her down the shiny, black winding staircase to the cherrywood floor.

"Simone!" Jada calls out, waving her hand over her head, trying to get her best friend's attention.

"You hear my name?" Simone glances in different directions as the calling continues.

"Sounds like Jada." He says, looking around now, too.

"Simone! Over here!" The pair turn to their left, finding Jada in a scandalous, red dress. The velvet number clings to her figure like a second skin, with a slit that sits at her right hip.

"Well, damn! I think you might've shown me up tonight." Simone huffs, pulling Jada into a hug.

"I could never! This dress is killing me! I love your hair, too! You look absolutely stunning!”

"Thank you, thank you! You look amazing, sis. Who slayed this hair?"

She flips her burgundy, two-toned hair off her shoulder.

"Obviously, me! You know, I don't let anybody do my hair, besides Fiona, cause she'd literally kill me if I denied her."

"We make her sound scary."

"She is."

Jada smirks as she tilts her head up at Anthony, who squints his eyes at her, in a lighthearted manner.

“Hey, boyfriend!” She sings, making Simone sigh.

"Always nice to see you, Jada. Tell your sister, congratulations, for me."

"I definitely will. How's life been treating you?"

"Oh, it's very sweet, right now." he squeezes

Simone's shoulder. "How about you?"

"Peachy as hell. Tonight's just another cherry on top." Her dimples deepen.

"There's the superstar!" Logan walks up to Simone, immediately stopping herself from gawking at the man behind her.

"Hey, Logan! Wow, this dress is beautiful! Did you make this one, too!?"

"Indeed, I did!" She turns towards Jada with her hand outstretched. "Hi, I'm Logan. I've heard so much about you."

"And, everybody's familiar with the famous Logan!

You're so pretty! I'm Jada." She compliments.

"So are you!"

"Logan, this is Anthony. Anthony, this Logan, the best assistant I've ever had." He shakes her hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Logan. You've got some real talent."

"Oh, the friend,” she drags out, making Jada snicker. “It's nice to meet you, too, and thank you! I appreciate that.”

"Can I get everybody's attention, towards the front?” Rose taps the mic twice, while everyone starts to turn their heads towards the stage.

Her chocolate, sequined dress hugs her curves in all the right places, while the slit that runs up her thigh adds a sultry vibe.

"Wow, it's starting to fill up in here, huh?"

Laughter fills the room, proving how much space it has, as the bass of the sound bounces off the vast walls.

“I wanna thank everybody for doing their part in making tonight happen. It takes so much time to coordinate these things, and I just really appreciate the dedication and hard work that y'all have been putting in, since the year started. I know everybody isn't here yet, but I just wanted to quickly say that."

She waves as everyone applauds.

"She looks so good!" Simone compliments aloud.

"She does! You see the slit?!" Jada excitedly asks.

"I did! I know her husband is loving it."

Simone chuckles, before asking the very question that's been on the tip of her tongue, since Jada called her over.

"Where's Derek?" Jada smiles, before rolling her eyes.

"He's talking to Mark. That man's always got something going on," she rolls her eyes. "I told him that I'd be by the bar when he was done."

Simone stretches on her toes and stares in the direction of the bar, spotting Derek waiting for Jada.

"I see him. Let's head over there." They head through the slight crowd of people and sit along the granite countertop on black barstools.

"Hey, baby." Jada greets Derek with a kiss. "Look who I found!"

"Hey, Simone," he extends a hug her way. "It's nice to see you, again.”

"You, too!" She says, giving him a knowing look. He laughs, before slapping hands with Anthony.

"Wassup, man!” They say in unison, making the girls laugh.

Sitting beside her, he sits it on Simone's knee, beginning to rub circles on her exposed skin.

"Can I get a shot of tequila?” she looks over at him, "you want anything?"

He shakes his head. "I'm good for now.”

Simone grabs her shot and knocks it back, before leaning back into his chest.

“Thanks again for coming with me, tonight.”

"I know how important this is to you. I wouldn't have missed it, babygirl." He kisses her cheek.

"Hello, beautiful people!” Rose greets, placing her cold hands on Simone and Jada's shoulders.

"Hey, boss lady!" Simone responds.

"You look beautiful tonight!" Jada adds.

"Thank you. You two show out every year with these dresses, I see!"

"We all got the memo about the slit, too!" They burst into a fit of giggles. Anthony chuckles at their exchange.

"Who is this gorgeous man, you've got on your arm, honey?"

"This is Anthony. Anthony, this is my boss, Rose." They politely shake each other's hand.

"That's her boo thang!" Jada interjects with a grin on her face.

"Well, it's definitely nice to meet you. I knew there was a source behind this glow." Rose says, knowingly.

"Anything to make her happy. It's nice to meet you, as well.

"Do you mind if I steal her, for a minute?"

"Just as long as you bring her back to me." He smirks as he helps Simone off the stool.

"I promise. Come, dear. I've got something to show you." The pair head back through the crowd, towards the side of the stage, where a gold plaque sits.

"I wanted to show you this. Look in the top left corner."

"Oh my God, Rose! Is that my name?!" She asks in disbelief.

"Of course it is, girl! You deserve it."

"This is huge! Oh wow, this is so huge!" She starts pacing, dramatically.

"I've got another surprise for you.”

“What??” Simone asks, blinking rapidly as she steps back onto the stage, gaining everyone's attention, quicker this time.

"Now that everyone has arrived, I wanna thank everybody again for coming. Now I can share my announcement with you all."

"I've been thinking about how my business has been running for the past three years, and I've been making some slight changes. I'll be opening two new locations in October. There'll be one in California and one in Manhattan. Also, I've decided to finally pick my COO. I'd been sitting on it, because I couldn't picture who was right for this position, but now it's clearer than it's ever been.”

She reaches for the black and pink, hand-sculpted glass A. "It is with great pleasure that I introduce to y'all, Simone Carson." The body of well-dressed people applauds for her.

Jada's mouth falls open as she starts cheering, while Anthony ecstatically claps like the proud beau he is.

Simone, on the other hand, carries her shaky legs up the steps to accept the award. Her widened eyes cause Rose to laugh.

"Really? Me??" She asks, over the noise.

"There's no one else more deserving, dear!" She gives Simone a hug and moves away from the mic, letting her have the spotlight.

She nervously smiles and looks out at the people, as their cheering comes to a slow stop.

"Wow... I don't even know what to say.... thank you," she looks towards Rose. "You have a lot of faith in me and I don't always know what to do with that, because I don't wanna disappoint you, but obviously I'm doing something right!," slight laughter erupts. "I appreciate you for giving me a chance to show my creativity. I probably would've never made it this far, without you constantly pushing me. Thank you so much.”

"We love you, Simone!" Jada yells from the side of the stage, just a few feet behind Anthony, who's got the most impressed expression on his face. More people join in, the applause beginning again.

"I love y'all, too! Thanks, again."

Rose and Simone are escorted down the stairs and off to the side of the stage, where she places the award in security's hands.

"I'm gonna lock it up in the office, just to keep it safe. It'll be in your office tomorrow.”

Simone nods, still in shock. "Thank you.”

"You're welcome. Your friends are waiting for you." She pats her shoulder. "Enjoy the rest of your night. I'll see you, Monday."

"Oh my gosh, congratulations!" Jada rushes over, pulling Simone into a hug that pulls her tears to the surface.

"Thank you! I'm so shocked right now. I would've never guessed that I'd be in this position!"

"You deserve it, girl! You work your ass off!"

"It's true!" Logan pops up. "You deserve it all! I'm so happy for you.

"Ugh," Simone drags her thumbs underneath her eyes, stopping the tears from ruining her makeup.

"Thanks, you guys."

"Awww!" They pull her into a hug, smothering her with their love.

"Ant’s is waiting on you." Jada gets behind her and pushes her towards him. Simone playfully smacks her hands away.

"Cut it out! I'm going." She walks the short distance to him, yelping as her feet leave the ground.

His strong arms hold her up as he places a passionate kiss on her lips, making her head spin as she reaches out to hold his shoulders.

"I'm so proud of you." His voice takes on a husky tone that'll quickly ruin her panties, before the night is through.

He sets her back on her feet, his hands lingering on her hips.

"Thank you, baby." The look in her brown eyes is one he's only seen a couple of times.

"You had no clue, did you?” He asks, laughing as she shakes her head.

"I never thought, in a million years, that a position like that would have my name on it! Like, who am I??"

"A boss. A go-getter. You're everything.” He says, laying it on extra thick.

She smirks. "I'm everything, huh?"

"You didn't need me to tell you that."

"No, but I like the way it sounds, coming out of your mouth." She bites down on her bottom lip.

"You wanna celebrate here or take it back to the crib, because the way you're talking–”

"Relax. You're not the only one that can tease."

She pulls him back towards the bar and orders three more shots of tequila, all of them immediately hitting her bloodstream to give her the buzz she's been craving.

"Can you drink with me, please?"

He lets his shoulders slouch as she orders him two shots of rum. She slides them towards him, cheesing widely as she watches him knock them back, clapping obnoxiously.

“Yay, no more stuck in the mud!” She teases.

"Keep it up.”

"Or what?" She challenges him.

He darkly chuckles. "You'll see.”

As the night goes on, the liquor continues to flow between them, along with the skyrocketing sexual tension.

Popping another shrimp puff into her mouth, her eyes dance across his face. "Let's get out of here."

Without a word, he pulls her up from the stool and leads her towards the elevator, sliding inside before the doors close. She reaches forward to push the button for the first floor.

Completely in their own world and ignoring the other two people inside, Anthony kisses along Simone's neck as she tries to suppress her moans.

The doors open and they practically rush outside, not caring about the millions of flashing cameras going off as they do so.

"Miss Carson, over here!"

"Is this your new beau?!"

"How does it feel to be a COO?!"

"It's feels fucking great!” She slurs at the reporters as he opens the passenger door for her, laughing as she dramatically slides into the seat.

“Let's get you home.”

Unlocking her front door, Simone, less than gracefully, walks through her living area, into the kitchen and pulls the bottle of peach crown royal out of her top left cabinet, twisting the top off.

"It's that type of night, huh?" He amusedly questions, leaning on her white marble countertop.

She responds by turning the bottle up, swallowing some of the strong, yet sweet, poison. Sitting it down, she drags her thumb across her bottom lip.

"This is my celebratory liquor! This calls for it, no?" She smirks as he rounds the counter, closing in the space between them.

"Yes, but I think you've drank enough, tonight." He dips his head into her neck, kissing her hot spots. "Let me show you how proud I am.”

She bites her lip and verbally agrees, squealing as he lifts her off the ground and rushes upstairs.

"Wait, wait!” He sets her on her feet, almost confused, until she turns around and points to the back of her dress for him to unhook it.

"We can't mess up this dress. I may be drunk, but I'm not crazy.... well..."

"I was just about to say,” he starts, but gets cut off by her turning her head to glare at him.

"Your words, not mine." He chuckles, carefully pulling the dress away from her body, leaving her in nothing but the red lace thong that he'd gifted her, on one of their many shopping sprees.

"Mm," a growl leaves his throat, leaving a trail of goosebumps along her skin.

His lips kiss a path down her back, as he kneels down to untie her shoes and help her step out of them.

She sighs as her toes welcome the plushness of her pink carpet, before turning back around to face him.

He picks her up and sits her on the edge of her bed, pulling her small ottoman in front of him and sitting down.

Pulling her drenched thong to the side, he groans at the string of nectar that clings to the fabric.

"Look at this pretty fuckin' pussy,” he breathes, pressing his thumb against her clit, sending her back arching away from the bed.

"Mmm." She tugs on her bottom lip as she stares at him through her low lids. "It's so wet for you.”

"I see," his thumb continues to rub her clit in circles, slowly driving her insane.

"Unh– please..." her hand reaches out to grip his curls, pulling him closer to her core.

"What do you need me to do, princess?" He teasingly kisses her inner thigh, as she rests her legs on his shoulders.

"Eat this pussy, baby."

He glides his tongue over her slit and suckles her clit into his mouth, warranting her soft cries to fill the air.

"Ohh fuck!" Her head falls back into her pillows as she locks her ankles around his neck. He moans at her sweet taste.

"Just like that,” his tongue laps up her slit, repeatedly.

"Mmm... pussy so good, babygirl," he moans against her, making matters worse. He dips his tongue into her drenched opening, slurping up everything she has to offer.

Taking his index and middle finger, he rubs them against her slit and plunges them into her, immediately curving to her spot as his tongue finds her clit, suckling it like his favorite candy.

"You're gonna make me cum!" Her back arches as she grabs his wrist, moaning as he increases his pace and flicks his tongue against her clit.

"I'm gonna cum!-– I'm gonna cum!"

Her hands rub over his head, fighting between pulling him closer and kicking him away.

"Cum for me, baby." He growls against her heat.

Her body caves in as her orgasm rushes through her. Her profane praises fill in his ears as he continues his lashing on her sensitive bud.

"Unh! St— ooh shit, stop!" She pushes his head away and cups her wet core, trying to catch her breath.

Her low, red eyes stare up at him, while he strips out of his clothes, making her throb all over again.

"C'mere,” she beckons him with one finger, pulling him for a juicy kiss, which turns into him stealing her breath as he dives into her.

Groaning against her lips, he stuffs his face into her neck and begins slowly thrusting in and out of her. Her nails scrape along his back.

"Fuck!" She whimpers, "just like that, baby.”

Slightly increasing his pace, his hips begin to roll into hers, making her see stars, on top of the alcohol rushing through her bloodstream.

"You're so deep!" She kisses his ear and wraps her legs around his waist.

"You like that shit," his gruff tone sends a chill up her spine.

“Love that shit, baby,” she moans back, “fuck me!”

Leaning up and placing his hands flat on the bed, his hips begin to slam into hers, deliciously knocking against her spot.

Her body reacts by seizing up, she places her hand at his hip, slightly keeping him back. "Fuck!"

"Take this dick, princess." His hand wraps around her throat, while hers stays glued to his hip.

"I- unh!"

"You what, babygirl? " he teases, pressing his thumb against the front of her throat, a little weakness he'd learned in the first few times they'd had sex.

Her hands travel up to his stomach, pressing firmly against it. He grips her wrists and places both of her hands over her head.

"Keep them up here." He demands, returning his hand to her neck, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip.

"It's so deep!" Her hands tremble something terrible as her spot is continuously pressed up against by his thick intruder.

"You can handle it," he assures. "Handle this dick, like a big girl."

Her eyes roll back slightly at his words, but the force of him pulling out and jabbing back in to precisely hit her spot sends them all the way back in her head.

"Shit!" Her hands fly towards his waist. He quickly grabs and places them back over her head, leaning closer to her face.

"Keep ‘em up,” he repeats before leaning back up and dipping his hips into her.

Her hands go to her mouth, muffling her cries as she bends away from the bed.

"You look so good, takin' this dick... hands up, babygirl."

Her hands reluctantly leave his skin again, falling just above her head, twitching to push at his waist, instead they tighten their grip on the sheets.

"Why you keep pushin' me away, huh?" Leaning down to hover his lips over hers, his strokes never let up.

Her fluttering gaze makes him smile and kiss her parted lips. "Too much?"

"Yes," her hands find his shoulders, immediately digging into his skin. Taking her hands into his own, he presses them back into the mattress, holding them there.

"It's too much, huh?" He taunts, hitting a little deeper.

"Yes! Ooh shit! Ooh shit!" Her toes curl at the intense pleasure rushing through her body. His lips find her neck, whispering into her heated skin.

"You want me to stop?"

"No! Don't stop!"

"Say it, again."

"D-don't stop,” she whimpers.

"Again."

"Don't stop, baby! I'm gonna cum!"

"Cum on this dick, princess." His strokes speed up, knocking her breath away and pulling a strong orgasm out of her.

Her mouth drops open as she squirms underneath him, digging her nails into her hands as he continues to drill into her.

"Ohh fuck! It feels so good, fuck!"

"That's right, baby," he nips at her skin, "drench that shit."

His name rolls off her tongue as she goes into orgasmic shock, wiggling in his grasp til he releases her.

Cupping her hand over her sensitive lower lips, she doesn't get the chance to recoup as she's flipped over and gripped up by the hips.

Her breath gets caught in her chest as he slams back into her. He grips the front of her throat with one hand as he begins to pound into her.

"Oh shhhit!" Her hand slaps against his stomach as he speeds up. Her back continuously arches at the feeling.

"Shut up." his hand collides with her cheek, leaving it stinging something awful.

"Fuck! Wh--what did I do?"

Wrapping his hand around her ponytail, he yanks her up, his chest pressing against her back.

"Remember all that shit you was talking, princess?... bein’ so fuckin’ bold… huh?” He smacks her ass again, another yelp leaving her.

"Come on, baby... talk yo shit."

"I'm– unh! I'm so-- fuck!" Her nails dig into his thighs as she tries to force her words out, his sped up thrusts doing nothing to help her.

"Say it!"

"Shhhhhit!--I'm s-sorry!" She stumbles, feeling another orgasm creep up in her belly.

"What was that?" He taunts.

"I'm sorryyy! Fuck! I- ooooh, I missed you!" She whines as her body caves in and her fingers latch onto the sheets in front of her.

"I know, babygirl," the smirk is evident in his voice, "I missed your bratty ass, too.”

"I'm cummin'!" A gasp leaves her mouth as she collapses into the sweaty, deep blue cotton sheets.

Continuing to glide in and out of her, he kisses up her back and neck, chuckling at her heavy breathing.

"Shit.... you make such a mess, princess." He mumbles, staring down at the white cream coating his thick shaft.

He was far from done.

Rolling over to turn her alarm off, Simone ends up smacking the phone off the dresser, completely.

"Ugh," she grumbles and turns back in the other direction, laying her head back on Anthony’s warm chest.

She glances up at his face and laughs to herself, at his soft snores. Feeling a kick in her bladder, she's off to her bathroom to relieve it of all the tequila and whiskey, from the night before.

Washing her hands, her fluffy slippered feet carry her back into her room. She bends down to retrieve her phone, rolling her eyes as the alarm that woke her up, was pertaining to her having a conference call for the first steps in the redesign for Allura.

Plopping down on the bed, she places her phone right over his face and snaps a couple of pictures, giggling as he starts to move around a bit.

Latching his hand onto her arm, he lazily pulls her back into his side and kisses her face, eyes still closed. She lays the phone on the dresser.

"Duty calls, this early in the morning?" He asks, soothingly running the tips of his fingers up and down her back.

"Nah, it was just a reminder. I set random alarms to keep me on my feet, today." She explains.

"Yet, you're still in bed," he chuckles as she crawls onto his chest, tucking her face into his neck.

"I don't wanna get up, right now." She mumbles, sighing as he wraps his warm arms around her.

"Come on, boss lady. I'll make you breakfast," he turns his head in her direction to nip at her ear, which makes her flinch.

"You'll make my favorite?" She asks, her face still tucked in his neck.

"Of course, babygirl." He leans his head over to kiss her shoulder. "Cinnamon and strawberry french toast with scrambled eggs."

She giggles as his kisses reach her neck, just milliseconds away from her sweet spot as she reveals her morning face.

"Okay, okay!"

"Thanks for taking my makeup off, by the way. I was out of it."

"It's nothing. As much as I love to listen to you rant about your extensive and expensive skincare, I thought I'd save you, this go-round." He smiles as she stares him down.

"You're an ass."

"An ass, that put yours to sleep."

Cutting into her third slice of French toast, Simone grumbles at the sound of her alarm going off, again.

"You never take off, do you?" Anthony states more than asks, flipping another piece of the egg, strawberry and cinnamon battered bread in the pan.

"I didn't realize how fast this would move! Rose said in a week tops and she meant it!" He laughs at the change in her pitch as she goes on.

"This basically fell in my lap, and like the goofy bitch I am, I decided to take on the fucking challenge." She frowns.

"Quit referring to yourself as such and stop pouting. Look at me," he says, waiting for her gaze to line up with his.

"You're a boss. Bosses get things done— isn't that what you always tell me? I mean, look at what you accomplished last night!”

"Yeah, I know but-"

"No but's, Simone. You got this, and you know you do. I agree, it's a big project, but there's nothing too big for you to handle.

Suddenly feeling full, she mushes the rest of her eggs with her fork, letting her eyes linger on the mountain of man at her stove.

"I wish I believed in me, as much as you do." She chuckles as he nods in agreement.

"Me too."

“Can you show me how much you believe in me? I need a pep talk.” She says, smirking at the words leaving her lips.

“Whatever you need, princess.” He chuckles, hoisting her up from the stool and carrying her over to the sofa.

After a mid-morning quickie that almost clashed with her conference call, Simone rushes into her upstairs office space and closes the door, leaving Anthony downstairs, with a wide grin on his face.

Quickly re-buttoning her shirt, she sits down in her pink office chair and places the phone on speaker.

"Good morning, Miss Carson, are you ready?" A female voice asks.

"Yes, good morning," she grabs her bottle of water and chugs half of it, trying to rehydrate and calm her nerves.

"Alright, let's get started. My name is Sabrina, how are you?"

"It's nice to meet you, Sabrina. I'm doing good, how about yourself?"

"Pleasure's mine, and I'm well. Now, the best place for us to start would be in the front and work our way around and up. I'm thinking maybe, either the lobby or the elevators. Which one works for you?"

"We can start with the elevators. It'll be an inconvenience, but I'd rather knock that out, now.”

"Alright, great. What ideas did you have in mind to give those elevators a facelift?"

"I was thinking cream marble with gold veins on the interior with a mirrored accent wall on the back panel. Also candlelight trim around the floor borders. Also, I need a smooth transition between the interior and exterior of the building, but we can cross that bridge when we get to it," she ends with a soft laugh.

Sabrina is on the other end using her iPad to make notes and sketches of possible end results.

“I like the way that sounds, Miss Carson. Rose did make mention of black marble on the exterior, so I definitely see what you mean about having a smooth transition between the spaces."

What was meant to be a roughly thirty minute conference turned into two hours as the pair continued to share ideas back and forth.

"I can tell this is going to be a lovely partnership,

Simone. You've got some serious style.

"Thank you so much!," she says, accepting the compliment graciously.

"We also heard about you getting the COO position, congratulations!," Simone softly laughs, responding with a second, sweet thank you.

"You're welcome. I think we made a pretty good headway today. The crew will be in on Monday at 9am sharp to start renovations. I'll call if I have any more questions, and don't be afraid to do the same.”

"Will do, ma'am. You have a great rest of your day."

“You too, boss lady.”

As soon as she hangs up, an incoming call from Jada comes through.

Propping her phone up against her folders, she accepts the FaceTime call, shaking her head as a cheery Jada comes into view.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, chile."

"You disappeared early, last night." Jada gives her a knowing look.

"Sorry, girl. That dick was callin' my name."

"Mmhm. The glow says it all. You look like somebody oiled your fast ass up!"

"Oh, he definitely could!" she fondly sighs and leans back in her chair. "What's up, though?"

"I just wanted to call and bother you, and congratulate you, again! Miss COO! We should celebrate!"

"Yes, we should! You got plans, tonight?" Simone asks.

"I do, now! Let's go to Peach!"

"Alright, what color are we wearing?"

"Hmm... black?, maybe.... pink?"

"Oh God, I gotta go see what I can find, now."

“Yes, cause we finna fuck it up tonight!”

@thegifstories @blackerthings @honestpreference @sheabuttahwrites @soufcakmistress @ghostfacekill-monger @abeautifulmindexposed @twistedcharismaaa @headcannonxgalore @henneseyhoe @harmshake @cecereads209 @planetblaque @nayaxwrites @blowmymbackout @nayaesworld

#sugarff #miyuhpapayuh #poc writers #blackwriters #black romance #tabria majors #yahya abdul mateen ii #simone x anthony #black ocs #brown thick oc #black!reader #black!oc #black fiction

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alltimefail-sims · 8 months ago

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Okay friends I need to talk about this little girl for a second because Shereé is so!!!!! freaking!!! cute!!!!! I can't stand it!!!

I didn't want to take the spotlight off of Terrance in my main submission post, but let's talk about Shereé a little bit!

Fun headcanons about the Chapman family below the cut! ❤️❤️❤️

When I was dressing her up and adding little details to each outfit category I wanted the baubles in her hair to be different colors to reflect my vision of Shereé sitting cross-legged on the living room floor while Terrance sits on the sofa behind her, swapping each one out to match her outfit for the day. 🥺💕

Also you can't really see them super well in the screenshots but she is wearing diamond studs in the shape of her favorite cartoon character, Hello Kitty! I imagine they were her first "big girl" earrings - the first ones she got to switch the standard piercing studs out with - and they were a birthday present from her dad!!

Speaking of ear piercings: when the Claire's associate pulled out the piercing guns Terrance was more scared than Shereé was lmao. He might have shed a tear or two because (1) when she initially flinched at the pain he nearly died and (2) he was hit with the overwhelming feeling that his baby girl is growing up waaaaaay too fast!

Shereé is kind of a picky (and bougie) eater and that's what got Terrance into cooking in the first place!! He was a chronic doordasher before she came around! When Shereé tries something at a restaraunt and likes it, Terrance enjoys the challenge of making the dish at home "but better." He's successful about 45% of the time 😒 (lol).

I said in the OG post that Shereé wants to be "a superstar" when she grows up and that's because she loooooooves to sing, dance, and play her piano! I imagine she would be a drama club and choir girly, but if ballet was a thing in game she would do that as well! I also imagine she goes to weekly private piano lessons. She's just super damn talented and Terrance will tell anyone and everyone in the vicinity about it!

Terrance lets Shereé try out her new nail polish colors on him and sometimes they will even play spa, dress-up, makeover, fashion show, etc. Terrance does not GAF about boy game this girl game that he's just gonna play and make his daughter happy!

Like her peers she was not immune to the TikTok influencer Stanley cup madness unfortunately, but she is "Way too mature" to bully anyone! But tbh if Terrance found out she was being a bully over a damn cup he would toss that shit in the trash with a quickness anyway 😂

Shereé can be heard saying "You're too grown for that daddy" at least once a day. He will never escape the childish allegations, not even from his own daughter lmao.

When I went into their household in game the first autonomous thing Shereé did was complain about the heat... so I guess she doesn't like summer very much and especially doesn't like hot weather 😂

Also I got an ask about how to pronounce Shereé and I would pronounce is SHER-RAY as opposed to SHER-REE, if that makes sense. (I couldn't find a video with this specific pronunciation but if you've ever seen The Real Housewives of Atlanta I believe Shereé Whitfield pronounces it like this as well!!!)

Okay I'm gonna shut up - I've gotten the oversharing about these characters out of my system (for now). I'll end this with the cute popups they got about each other in the literal miniscule 5 mins I spent in their household:

Obsessed with them, genuinely and truly. My heart can't take it

***Please ignore that her accented 'e' is missing from the whims. I was just testing the household. Her name is correct now <3 These sentiments were too cute not to share though

#ts4 #simblr #ts4 cas #the sims 4 #show us your sims #the sims community #sims 4 #ts4 screenshots #ts4 gameplay #my ocs #oc: terrance #oc: shereé

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ummick · 7 months ago

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Mick Schumacher On Fashion, Le Mans and Fronting Tommy Hilfiger's New Campaign

It's a big year for sports, as the Paris Olympics near, tennis champs prep for Wimbledon, and the Euros inch closer. In the midst of it all Tommy Hilfiger is getting in on the action with the release of an International Games collection. Refashioning timeless icons for the new generation, the collection is a modern interpretation of the brand's 1996 capsule collection released to celebrate the Olympics arriving in Atlanta, reworking track-ready styles including archival varsity jackets, rugby jerseys and basketball vests in Tommy's signature red, white and blue. Speaking on the new collection, Hilfiger says: "The sporting calendar sets the cultural pulse for the year, and 2024's shaping up to be amazing. We're building on our legacy of working with pioneers in sport and reimagining timeless American icons through an archival lens." To front the campaign, the US house has turned to the global sporting stage to curate a team of athletes who embody the brand's spirit, including All-Pro NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs, college basketball guard Deja Kelly, star of the all-Japan skateboarding association Aori Nishimura, and Formula 1 driver and current member of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Mick Schumacher. Ahead of the collection drop, in the conversation below we speak to Schumacher about his first memories of Tommy Hilfiger, his personal style, and prepping for Le Mans.

Ella Joyce: "What was it like working with Tommy Hilfiger? Do you have personal memories of the brand?" Mick: "It was great! Not only is it exciting to wear Tommy and to have attended the NYFW show with all the exceptional details, but to be a part of the campaign and the bigger brand story is just incredible. A personal memory for me is when the brand worked with Ferrari back in the day, before their current partnership with the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team. My dad used to bring back so much kit and, honestly, I was just running around as the best-dressed kid in school!" EJ: "How does the campaign resonate with you?" Mick: "I really believe Tommy was able to create something that brings both sport and style to the table. I'm sporty, I love to do my workouts and be active outdoors, and to be able to do that fashionably is so important. I was so happy to be part of this campaign with other athletes, too. It was amazing to get to know them better and see how their sport and personalities impact their individual styles." EJ: "Off the track, how would you describe your personal style?" Mick: "I think the best word would be 'changeable.' I love to experiment and try new things with my style. I think you can see this across my social media, but I would probably look different if you saw me on the street two days in a row. From a classic look to a more casual or baggy streetwear look, I love the creativity that comes with personal style. It's so fun."

EJ: "You're currently competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. How's it going? What's coming up next for you?" Mick: "Yes, we just had our first race in Qatar, a ten-hour race! It was the first time I had to be on for that amount of time while learning and experiencing that type of race, but it was an interesting run. We learned a lot as a team. One of the cars even scored points, so it proves that we're on pace and the project is moving in the right direction, especially as everyone is gearing up for Le Mans." EJ: "Do you have any pre-race rituals?" Mick: "I don't, actually. It depends on how I'm feeling in the moment. If I'm nervous or stressed, or whatever it is, I'll always try to adapt to what's happening. Maybe one day I'm nervous so I have to work on calming down, and another day I'm too calm so I have to pump myself up. It all depends on the day."

EJ: "You're photographed alongside a host of other athletes for the campaign. How do you think your generation of athletes compares to generations which have come before?" Mick: "I think we are really different to athletes from the previous generation. Of course, social media and phones have made an impact, but it's also because we're so precise about what we're doing. We have strict training and a solid laid-out plan in front of us on how to achieve our desired results. We have so much research and information which leads our way, while back in the day it was more experimental." EJ: "America and collegiate heritage heavily inspire Tommy Hilfiger. Is there a specific place which inspires you?" Mick: "The racetrack. I've always been a part of it, from doing laps in a car to just being on the track. In terms of style, I've always been interested in fashion, most likely inspired by my dad at a young age; however, my girlfriend is heavily involved in the fashion world, so it's helpful when I need to know what looks good and what doesn't. Inspiration is all around, so it depends on where I look!"

#mick schumacher #f1 #formula 1 #wec #fic ref #fic ref 2024 #not a race #2024 not a race #between australia and japan 2024 #(note to self: article published apr 4 2024)#with michael

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danielforshort · 11 months ago

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Genshin Impact Cosplay Xiao's hanfu (2023)

For my hanfu for Xiao I made three pieces: the double tassel (faux) pearl necklace, the changshan (长衫), and the beizi (褙子, bèi zǐ). Here are all the nitty gritty details on how I went about this design, things I loved, and things I'd change up. You can find more photos and a story highlight of my process on my Instagram mushkin_changeling.

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2023)

Reference Photos and Notes

Fashion and history and culture are all of great interest to me, and I knew that I wanted to start moving my cosplays towards hanfu designs and elements. You can read more about my internalized sinophobia and how that affected my cosplays in this Instagram post.

I spent so much time staring at Xiao's in game outfit trying to figure out what elements I was could translate into hanfu. Before this cosplay I had never worn hanfu. I was born in China but raised by white parents who did not dedicate much time or energy in ensuring I had access to knowledge about my culture.

The elements I picked at first for Xiao's hanfu were

His weird shoulder armor -> black yunjian (云肩) with gold enbroidery

Purple neck scarf (back) -> Yunjian ribbons

His necklace -> Chinese tassel necklace

Asymmetrical sleeve -> long flowing outer blue coat with gold embroidery

Pink tabbard/waist cloth -> a blue mamian with an embroidered pink design for the front

Looking at all of these elements I knew what I was going for was a hanfu ensemble from the Ming dynasty. I spent a lot of time looking at photos, reading pages, and educating myself on hanfu. I was even able to give a very introductory presentation about hanfu at Momocon 2023! You can read my slides at this link: Hanfu History 101 slides

I made a really ambitious plan for his hanfu that I had to cut back on due to energy and time constraints (did I mention that during the construction time I was moving, defending my thesis, and transitioning to my PhD program?!?)

Due to these constraints I ended up purchasing a mamian. I bought my mamian from Etsy (the store is OrientalBigbang and the link is here). I love my mamian. In fact I love it so much I wore it to my master's graduation ceremony!

It doesn't have the pink embroidery on it that i wanted but I knew going in that the level of customization I wanted would only be possibly from a commissioned mamian or if I made it myself. I was still very happy with how the mamian looked and felt.

Changshan (inner top)

Xiao's in game outfit is a weird tanktop with embroidery on it and a single detached sleeve. I decided to emulate this with a changshan. Most of the reference photos I found on DuckDuckGo showed asymmetrical changshan but a few were symmetrical, which I wanted. This is the photo I referenced most often.

(Photo credit: Newhanfu.com)

I ended up picking this kind of cream off white fabric (all of my fabrics were thrifted bedsheets). I bought these closures off of Amazon and really loved their color. (link here)

(Photo credit: Amazon)

Lots of the sides of a changshan are tied together rather than sewn which was fun and interesting. I ended up sewing a lot of small rectangular tubes for ties. I also didn't measure the armpit area quite right before cutting (measure twice, cut once, fuck up and make do) so that area is tied together rather than sewn.

Overall I really like the look and feel of the changshan. I didn't end of doing any embroidery. The collar didn't come out quite symmetrical which irritates me but I was pleased with the overall look and feel of it. I would go back and alter some of it to make it more polished or upgraded, but I don't hate it. I even felt confident enough in it to spend a lot of my con day wandering around in the changshan and mamian because Atlanta is hot goddamn.

Beizi (outer coat)

I actually made Xiao's game outfit in 2022, from scratch. My favourite bit was his singular sleeve which has a kind of swirling design on it. I hoped to capture that element with an embroidered beizi. I picked a light sort of cornflower blue for my beizi and a lilac for the collar (to emulate the purple neck scarf his in game outfit has).

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2022)

I had big aspirations for the beizi's embroidery. I really wanted to design and embroider Peng (Chinese mythological fish bird). There are a few reference images from DuckDuckGo (very popular one is below) and I sketched a few ideas. The idea was to embroider the Peng on the left sleeve for Xiao's tattoo. This was another detail that I was excited about that I unfortunately had to ditch.

I was able to embroider some things though! I picked osmanthus flowers ("Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember, but where are those who share the memory?") and peonies, because they're symbolic in Chinese culture and also my favourite.

I loved the embroidery part of this cosplay the most. It was such a wonderful tactile craft that combined my love of sketching and sewing.

I also lined the beizi with a plain cotton sheet. I thought this was a good idea (I love how a lined costume looks and feels) but it actually made the beizi a little heavy. That was not fun in the Atlanta summer heat.

Twin Tassel Necklace

I found a strand of cream colored faux pearls at my local queer clothing swap and thought they were perfect for my twin tassel necklace. I mostly based it off of the below reference photo (photo credit: Nuwa Hanfu) and the general look of Xiao's in game necklace.

This is what I ended up with. I don't hate it but I also don't love it. This was the last thing I made in the cosplay so my energy and time were running short and I think that's apparent in the overall look of this piece.

(Photo credit: Donald aka hustographyphoto on Instagram from Momocon 2023)

Things I'd Change Up

I would change the beizi's colors to be pure white with decoration, instead of the sky blue I chose. I shied away from crisp whites for two reasons: they're hard to keep clean and I didn't want it to be a funeral outfit. After Momocon 2023 I realised that Xiao is literally Edge Boy Supreme and his story and character are steeped in mourning, death, and grief, so white would have been a perfect color.

I would have thrifted less bedsheets. The hanfu overall had very little texture because the fabrics I chose were plain cotton. In the future I'll aim for more texture (more common in curtain fabric) or I'll buy at a fabric store.

I would make a yunjian (云肩) like I had originally planned. I had wanted to hand embroider a cloud collar (black with gold thread) but ran out of energy and time before I got around to it. I would add that element to my next iteration of this costume because it reflects Xiao's in game outfit really well (he has this weird black shoulder/neck armor).

I would reconstruct the necklace entirely. Because I was working with one long strand that i looped to make two layers around my neck it never lay flat and looked a bit less put together. I would cut the strand and remake the necklace entirely next time. The necklace might even be unnecesarry with the yunjian, so I would probably more likely incorporate the beads into the yunjian.

I would dedicate more time to actually fulfill all of my embroidery dreams! I would embroider the Peng, add designs to the collar of the beizi, etc.

Ending Notes

I hope this doesn't sound dreary or like I'm disappointed in my cosplay. I am so incredibly proud of myself and this creation. I have been slowly finding my way back into my love of costumes and sewing and this is the project that helped. It is incredible to blend my love of history and research with my culture and cosplay.

I hope to return to this cosplay and make improvements! I hope to continue to branch out with my love of hanfu and apply it to some cosplays (I'm looking at you Baizhu). Thank you to everyone who told me they loved my cosplay, who attended my panel, and made my con and cosplay a wonderful experience.

#cosplay #genshin impact #hanfu #chinese culture #my photos #hobby #photography #cosplaying #xiao alatus #genshin #momocon

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