#barmy funding

[barmyproductions]

Many thanks to our current backers. Let’s keep it going! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/barmydalepodcast/barmy-dale-podcast-and-radio-sitcom or link in bio #kickstarter #kickstartercampaign #crowdfunding #crowdfund #crowdfunderuk #crowdfundingcampaign #podcast #podcasting #podcastseries #podcastcomedy #comedypodcast #comedypodcasts #comedy #radio #radiocomedy #sitcom #barmydale

[justforbooks]

David Lodge

Booker prize-nominated author and critic who was known for his Catholic novels and satires on academic life

David Lodge, who has died aged 89, was, like his close friend Malcolm Bradbury, a professor of English literature who became even better known as a novelist. The two men occupied adjacent offices for some years at Birmingham University in the early 1960s and greatly influenced each other. Both were grammar school boys from non-academic backgrounds who became leading figures in English letters without ever darkening the gateways of Oxford or Cambridge universities. Both wrote novels in part out of an instinct to reach a wide constituency of readers with literary tastes.

Lodge worked briefly for the British Council before getting his first academic job in 1960, as a lecturer in English literature at Birmingham. In the same year his first novel, The Picturegoers, was published. This and the novel that followed, Ginger, You’re Barmy (1962), were written under the influence of Graham Greene, a fellow doubting Roman Catholic novelist whom the young Lodge much admired. Lodge’s own PhD, The Catholic Novel from the Oxford Movement to the Present Day, had examined the genre to which he himself began to contribute.

The protagonist of The British Museum Is Falling Down (1965), Adam Appleby, agonises over the rights and wrongs of contraception, and Lodge’s early fiction was clearly rooted in his own scruples and discontents. The novel was also notable for its gift of literary parody: Adam is researching for an English literature PhD and sections of the novel mimic the styles of leading 20th-century novelists. This dexterity was as characteristic a feature of its author as the religious questioning. The subject matter of this and most of his subsequent novels was drawn from his close knowledge of literary academia, and its follies.

David was the only child of a dance-band musician and sometime singer, William Lodge, and was brought up in Brockley, south-east London. His mother, Rosalie, was a Roman Catholic and he was educated at St Joseph’s academy, a Catholic grammar school in Blackheath run by a religious order, the De La Salle Brothers. He went to University College London to read English – he said that he was put off applying to Oxbridge by the impression of it he received from reading novelists such as Evelyn Waugh. From 1955 until 1957 he did national service in the Royal Armoured Corps. The experience would later be used in Ginger, You’re Barmy, which gives a jaundiced picture of army life. He then returned to UCL as a postgraduate.

When he was 24 and still studying for his PhD, Lodge married Mary Jacob, a fellow Catholic, whom he met while both were English undergraduates. Soon the couple had two sons and a daughter. (He would look back with something like amazement at their conviction that they should use only the methods of birth control approved by the church.) The third of their children, Christopher, had Down’s syndrome. He lived at home until he was in his 20s, and his care and education were a central commitment of family life. Lodge was later to raise funds and campaign on behalf of sheltered communities for adults with learning difficulties.

Two formative periods in the US – at the Harkness Commonwealth Fellowship (1964-65), then as a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1969 – animated both Lodge’s academic studies and his fiction. He turned to the campus novel, a genre in which he became a household name. Changing Places (1975) featured Philip Swallow, a bumbling, middle-aged English literature lecturer who is liberated, sexually and intellectually, by an academic exchange with a dynamic American professor, Morris Zapp. As well as exchanging jobs, the two men take up with each other’s wives. Zapp, based on Lodge’s friend Stanley Fish, became his best loved character. The novel won the Hawthornden prize and his widest readership to date.

It was followed by the playfully allusive Small World (1984), which continued Swallow’s and Zapp’s misadventures, and then Nice Work (1988), whose two main characters, a feminist academic and a bluff businessman, enacted the clash between two worlds. Inevitably, they also have an affair. These last two novels were both shortlisted for the Booker prize.

The main location for Lodge’s campus novels was the University of Rummidge, a scarcely disguised version of the University of Birmingham, where he continued to work. The novels reflected the academic fashions of the period, of which he was a slightly hesitant leader. His early criticism, such as his Language of Fiction (1966), showed him applying the close reading techniques of the “new criticism” to classic fiction. This first book was widely read by students and he was soon established as a leading academic analyst of classic fiction.

In the late 1970s, like other literary academics of his generation, he was stirred by the arrival of literary theory in British universities, and his own critical writings changed in response. The first symptom of his new interest was his collection Working With Structuralism (1981). His Modern Criticism and Theory: A Reader (1988) would become a standard anthology for students. He was a pioneer in making the sometimes arcane vocabulary of narratologists accessible to the general reader.

He had a special liking for the work of the Russian theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, whose delight in the novel’s subversive clash of different voices and viewpoints clearly appealed to him. By the mid-80s, however, Lodge’s interest in such theory had waned, and he was later to decide that it was a movement that had exhausted itself.

Thanks to the success of his fiction, by 1984 he was working only part-time as an academic, and in 1987 he retired from his post at Birmingham, though he continued to live in the city for the rest of his life and was made an honorary professor of his old university (and later emeritus professor). He was to admit that his use in his fiction of his observations from his professional life sometimes made colleagues, and therefore himself, uneasy. He remained a critic, however, as well as a novelist. For two years his column in the Independent on Sunday exemplified, for the general reader, the usefulness of particular items of critical vocabulary. Selections were collected in The Art of Fiction (1992).

His campus novels had taken him away from the Catholic themes that he had still been exploring in How Far Can You Go? (1980), which was the Whitbread book of the year. (In this novel Lodge gives one of his leading characters his own experience of having a child with Down’s syndrome.) Paradise News (1991) returned to the territory of religious dogma and doubt, and seemed to announce Lodge’s inexorable move away from religious certainty: its protagonist only achieves contentment by conquering his Catholic hang-ups.

Yet, Lodge’s fiction was not exactly becoming more secular: both Therapy (1995) and Thinks ... (2001) have leading characters on whom Catholicism still has its hold. Lodge had come to describe himself as an interested observer of Roman Catholicism, rather than an actual believer, but his fiction tells the story of a writer still fiercely engaged by Christian themes.

With academia behind him, he entered new territory as a writer. At the end of the 1980s he adapted Small World then Nice Work for television (the former for Granada, the latter for the BBC). He then adapted Charles Dickens’s Martin Chuzzlewit as a six-part BBC serial (1994). If Ulysses was his favourite novel, Dickens was probably his favourite novelist, and his involvement with this dramatisation seemed a logical fusing of his populism and his literariness. He also wrote three plays, including The Writing Game, staged at Birmingham Repertory theatre in 1990 and adapted for television.

His literary tastes were catholic (in the non-religious sense) at a time when literary academics were becoming more specialised. He wrote introductions to the works of authors ranging from Jane Austen and George Eliot to EM Forster and Patrick Hamilton. His critical generosity and sound judgment made him a natural choice to chair the Booker prize judges in 1989. He seems a quintessentially English proponent of a peculiarly English genre – the comic novel – but his work was widely translated. In France his popularity was marked when he was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1997. In 1998 he was made a CBE.

Ever the trained critic, he was candid in his analysis of his own narrative, confessing that, as a novelist, he had used up much of his own experience by his 60s. His later novels remained literary, but were not necessarily rooted in what he called “phases of my own life”, like the novels that had gone before. So Author, Author (2004) dramatised a period in the life of Henry James, while A Man of Parts (2011) was based on the life of HG Wells. They were biographically impeccable, but made less of Lodge’s gift for comedy than earlier novels. The former suffered the misfortune of being published at the same time as Colm Toibín’s novel about Henry James, The Master. Lodge wrote a rueful account of the coincidence and its consequences in The Year of Henry James, or Timing Is All (2006).

In 2008 he published what was, in many ways, his most autobiographical novel, and one of his best, Deaf Sentence. Lodge had started losing his hearing in his mid-40s. Up to this point, only those closest to him had realised that his partial deafness had deeply influenced him. It contributed to his decision to retire from academia and turned him in on himself. Struggling to keep up with conversations, he said, had stopped him being amusing. Lodge often spoke of his feelings of anxiety, undiminished by literary success or academic standing. Yet the deafness that depressed him in life became comic in his novel.

Admirers of Lodge’s novels were often surprised to find him, in person, dolefully reflective. This was the spirit of his memoir, Quite a Good Time to Be Born, published in 2015. Covering the period from his birth to his breakthrough, at the age of 40, with Changing Places, it gives (despite the title) a glum and minutely circumstantial account of growing up a Roman Catholic in the 1940s and 50s.

Lodge looks back with some amazement at his younger self’s respect for Catholic doctrine. Two further volumes of memoirs, covering later periods of his life, followed. Writer’s Luck (2018), should have relished his middle years of celebrity and success, but is more precise about the small disappointments of his literary life. Varying Degrees of Success (2020), covering the years after academia, lets us know just how wearying the business of writing can be.

His last published work of fiction was The Man Who Wouldn’t Get Up (2016), a collection of short stories mostly composed between the 1950s and 90s. Humorously fable-like, they serve as a reminder of this melancholy man’s comic instinct. Fiction allowed him to combine his literary-critical intelligence with a gift for observing absurdities, in order to fashion his own peculiarly bleak brand of comedy.

Mary died in 2022. He is survived by their three children, Stephen, Christopher and Julia.

🔔 David John Lodge, writer and critic, born 28 January 1935; died 1 January 2025

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[msvblight]

Been thinking about two characters I played in Call of Cthulhu and how they've both survived and remained sane, and have kinda changed the world the game master is running the investigations in.

The first is Gertrude Millard who moved from deepest darkest Minnesota to Boston to live with and take care of her brother because he was "Oh so gloomy after the war, ya" working for a bank she was caught up in two investigations. After those she set off to start the "Millard Foundation for Paranormal Research".

The second is Barnabus "Barmy Barney" Collins Duncan II from England and part of the Duncan family. A... heavily eccentric and well travelled Bertie Wooster type that was caught up in an investigation after his uncle passed away and the family was invited to their estate for the will reading.

How they connect is that I discussed with the game master that Barney could tie in to the Millard Foundation - using his considerable fortune (He spends a lot of money, but somehow always stumbles into more) to help fund the foundation. On top of Gertrude's many smart investments.

So now The Millard Foundation is an organisation that will start cropping up.

I'm really hoping the GM runs some pulp cthulhu and such, because it would be great fun to play as an Agent of the Millard Foundation taking the fight to thise mythos creeps.

[lemonhemlock]

at this point I stopped listening to all these know it all keyboard pundits..lol. at the end of the day offensive defensive tactics, real is advancing with the qualification and their teams with all the best tactics and alignment are not there.

people would be so much more chill if they realised the average male football fan has no fucking clue what they're talking about, constantly contradicts themselves, moves goalposts (lol) to make his argument and does not even understand the tactics they're supposedly criticising. and that goes for a lot of male pundits, too! we really do not have to imitate them in order to fit in.

today i had to face off a male colleague who was spouting the same inconsistent discourse - to him (you can tell the quality of his argument by the fact that he supports dortmund and liverpool), defensive football is apparently "disgusting". that's the term he used - so what was disgusting last night was not the fact that manchester city is a team that have no right to be even playing in europe because of their financial crimes or that they're a club funded by an authoritarian regime as a PR exercise - no, what was "disgusting" was the fact that rma played defensively - a valid style, well within the rules, not even with major fouls or ugly tricks.

he likes the beauty of attacking football, you see, and whenever attacking football doesn't win the game, it's a crying shame and the opposing side are never deserving winners. might i remind everyone how the hell liverpool played in the final against tottenham back in 2019? aka the most boring champions league final ever? but, in his barmy worldview, it's valid if his favourite team happens to do it out of necessity to secure the title!

it reeks so much of sour grapes and sore losers that you can only laugh. what the hell can i say when my favourite positions™️ to watch are GK and defender. i think playing defensively is great! and, call me crazy, but i THINK that being able to switch it up tactically as the situation demands is admirable and should be appreciated. like you said, anon, if their artsy teams with beautiful tactics had played better, they would be in the semifinal and not rma. they didn't, so they're not. cry harder!

you don't get "lucky" winning so many penalty shootouts and you don't get "lucky" winning 5 ucl trophies in 9 years, god forbid they acknowledge there is something about this team that's akin to necromancy. that this is the team you have to kill 100 times before you're sure to get rid of them. and even then. even then! you look away one second and it's enough for delusion to become truth.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning!  I hope you slept well and feel rested?  Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in Blue Towelling Robe No. 1, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.  Welcome to the weekend! 

Wow!  Here we are again: Friday!  Where did that week go?  No, seriously, where did that week go?

‘Alterations’ by Michael Abbensetts was first performed at the New End Theatre in Hampstead (starring Don Warrington) in 1978.  We went and saw a new production at The Lyttleton Theatre last night and it was enjoyable!  Runs until April 5th. 

Thursday’s weather was completely mental!  I left Whetstone at 11.55, the sun was shining, so I put on my shades.  At Henley’s Corner, trying to turn on to the North Circular, it began to pour down with not just rain but sleet!

So glad my weekend is going to be quiet!  My week days – particular these next few weeks, assignment-marking fortnight – is going to be barmy!   

Amusing that some people thought my post about Stedman Pearson was “fake”.  I check my sources.  My sources are good! 

My first ISA was with Nat. West.  I was not impressed.  The interest rate was so low, I was making pence every year.  So, I looked for a better ISA and found that Sainsbury’s had created a banking division and had their own ISA.  I switched my funds.  Wow!  Real interest from a real interest rate!  What’s happened now?  Sainsbury’s have sold their banking business to Nat. West.  Not impressed!  I will never forget the day Nat. West. offered me my own ‘trader’ to trade on the stock market.  I put money into an account and the ‘trader’ lost it all within weeks!   

Hope you can join me tomorrow at 1.00 p.m. for ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’.  The Letter D (Part One).  Executive Producer: Joanne Henry.  Part Two has been created by Maxine Beckford and that is a cracker too! 

Have a fabulous and funky Friday!  I love you all.  You’re probably thinking, “You don’t even know me!” but, if people can hate for no reason, why can’t I love?

[thcecrowd]

Nominated as Best Podcast at the World Wide Comedy Awards in 2021 and 2 years in a row for Best Comedy Podcast by DiscoverPods. Barmy Dale is British comedy at its best. Quirky, witty, farcical and always uproarious. "The writing is on point, the acting is on point, the timing is on point. Check out Barmy Dale!" Comedy News Daily (USA) "Completely charming.""The funniest scripted podcast in the world."Ranked in the Top 10 internet sitcoms! (Feedspot) Starring Juliet Howland, Camilla Simson, Vicki Michelle (Allo Allo) Jeffery Holland (Hi Di Hi) Judy Buxton (On The Up) Mike Fenton Stevens (Benidorm) Karl Howman (Brush Strokes) and many more! Broadcast on BBC Radio Derby since 2020.

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/barmydalepodcast/barmy-dale-podcast-and-radio-sitcom

[suckerfordr3]

Priorities - Part V

“I moved out here just about four years ago. I got hired as an analyst and packed my bags, moved countries and didn’t look back, I was all of 21. I wanted to have an adventure. It was more about exploring a new city and country than about the job but I fell in love with it, the job was great and I was good, I worked hard got promoted even signed on some clients of my own and it paid well and I was happy. Monaco is barmy. It’s like no other place I’ve been before and at some point I got caught up in it all. I’d met a group of friends and they kind of adopted me into their life and with them came the parties. I didn’t date much aside from you know casually, nothing serious. There was this one guy, a trust fund rich type, we were friends, maybe friends is stretching it a little but we knew each other well enough and after a bad day at work on a random yacht party by the marina, we hooked up. We didn’t talk about it afterwards, it was a meaningless encounter. Just getting out stress and…” you pause from your rambling, taking in a deep breath and you continue.

“I realised around two months later that I hadn’t had a proper period, I’m not exactly the most regular person so I wasn’t worried but I went in for a check up and they told me the one thing I didn’t really want to hear. I was pregnant.”

“I decided to keep it, it wasn’t a religious or morality thing, I just kind of knew that I wanted it.. him, I wanted him. A couple of months later Luke popped out. It was all kinds of drama, from my family, my friends thought I’d lost my marbles. And he, uhh Luke’s father, I mean more of a sperm donor I guess, he bailed. Stopped hanging out with any of our friends, I think he still lives here but he didn’t want to be around. So I had Luke all for my own. And he’s 2, he’s a brown haired little boy and he’s adorable. And there’s not one part of me that regrets any of the sleepless nights or even the 14 hour delivery or the constant financial worry of raising a kid in this fucking expensive city, he’s my everything.” You didn’t cry like you’d expected, instead you felt a little relived to be able to tell Daniel something real about you. If it was a deal breaker then it would be his loss, Ethan’s words rang in your ears.

“I haven’t really dated since then, Luke is two, and you’re the first guy who I’ve gone on a date with since becoming a single mom. And whatever this is to you, a random hookup or if you’re looking for a date, a relationship, a cliff diving drinking buddy or a whatever in me, I just felt like you should know. Cause he’s literally a part of me and the most important thing in my life.” You finish speaking, and evaluate quickly in you head your monologue, and you decide whilst it wasn’t the most eloquent speech, it was good enough for carrying through your sentiment.

Daniel hadn’t made a peep till you had finished speaking. He carefully unfurled his arms from around you and stepped inside. You didn’t follow him. You stood running through all the worst case scenarios before shrugging on your discarded top. If you are going to be rejected then maybe having some clothes on might save you some dignity. When Daniel returns you see him carrying out a bottle of water and your phone. Some part of your brain thinks that maybe he’ll ask you to find a ride home.

Instead he hands you your phone and opens the bottle of water and gives it to you. You drink from it wordlessly and put it down. Daniel then proceeds to place his hands on your face, cupping your cheeks, making you lock eyes with him. You notice how intense and deep his brown eyes are.

He pulls you into a kiss. It’s different from any of the kisses you’ve shared before, Daniel moves his lips against yours, open mouthed but tenderly as if to shower you with affection. His hands hold you in place so he has all the control but there’s no fighting or dominance displayed. He kisses you and it feels vulnerable. And your heart melts more than a little when he pulls away.

“Thank you for telling me y/n. I can’t even imagine what a fucking cunt Luke’s father was to abandon not only you but his kid, ducking coward. I’ve known you for all of two weeks and I don’t think anyone will be able to pry me away from you if you’d have me. Which brings me to your little ramble about this being a random hookup, it’s not, I told you the first day I met you that I feel like we clicked. And I’ve got killer instincts, y/n I really really want you” you feel your eyes water a little as you let out a tiny laugh for being an emotional wreck.

“So if you’ll have me I’d like to date you, I promise not to steal you away from your little man, he’s the most important person in your life and I’ll strive for at least second. I just would really like to spend time with you and figure this out. And honestly you being a hot sexy young mom is kinda of a turn on” Daniel adds the last part with a cheeky smile, you can’t help but wiggle your eyebrows at his statement earning a laugh from Daniel.

“So you big idiot can I see a picture of him already or do I have to grovel?” You smile up at him and pull up your phone to show him Luke, you show him some pictures from the ultrasounds, videos from his birthdays, even him taking his first steps, Danny coos and awes at his baby pictures, the last one you show him is one of you holding him for the first time, you’re crying, your hair is sweaty and you look like a huge wreck. So you try to brush pass it but Daniel swipes the phone out of your hand running inside and sitting down on the sofa You let out you a sigh of disapproval, “Danny no give that back I’m huge and nine months pregnant, if you want to say new born Luke I’ll show you something else” you run behind him, you stand in front of him and try to swat your phone away from him hand but he’s much stronger than you so you stand no chance. He pins your hands together easily with one hand makes you sit on top of him and traps you with his arm whilst zooming in on the picture.

“Shut up babe, this is beautiful, was anyone with you during your delivery?” He says looking with awe at the picture. You give up struggling and lean into his bare chest, his stubble tickles your neck “My sister had our whole family over for her my nephews birth, I missed it cause I was just working but mum kept me in loop, god 14 hours must have been tough” sounding a little sad towards the end imaging you going through childbirth without support.

“Yah no umm I was alone, I had a really nice nurse, didn’t speak much English though and my brain couldn’t really deal with speaking French at that moment but she coaxed me through everything, really nice woman so I wasn’t fully alone.”

Daniel nuzzled his nose behind your ear and then places a kiss on your cheek mumbling “I’m sorry you had to go through that” sounding genuinely disheartened at the thought.

“Hey it’s alright don’t pity me, I’m happy I’m good and it wasn’t all bad I got a little dude out of it, now I’m never alone.”

You turn around to straddle him, kissing him once on his nose and then again on his dimples before placing a soft peck on his lips to let him know that it’s okay.

“Can I meet him? If that’s not too quick ” Daniel asks you and you don’t really know what to say. “I didn’t really think about that” his face fell at your words. You think for a moment, before saying “But I think I can arrange that” Daniel smiles widely at you “really?” he asks, “yah sure why not?” You tell him smiling at how happy that made him.

“You know I haven’t seen my nephew in two years, he’s grown up so much and I didn’t get to see it, I’m gone all the time any way but I used to get the summers and winters with him, I’m worried he’s forgotten me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true babe” you say as you rub his back, “you’ll see him soon, I’m sure you’re planning a trip as soon as it’s feasible. Some things in life are out of our control and no one saw this pandemic coming, so don’t blame yourself for not being there for him, I’m sure he’s got a lot of growing up left to do and you’ll be there through that. Plus I’m sure you’re his hero, an F1 driver for an uncle, he must be your biggest fan”

“You know?” Daniel looks up to you surprised.

“I didn’t until today actually. Ethan my best mate and emergency babysitter found you on Netflix, you looked very hot, didn’t watch much though in case you weren’t okay with it”

“no no that’s alright I’m pretty sure millions have seen it by now, nothing is there that I hadn’t approved to be put in or filmed. I was going to tell you but you beat me to the confession portion of our date. So are you impressed by me being such a hunky high performance athlete?” Daniel asks you whilst wiggling your eyebrows suggestively. “Nope you’re still a dweeb, just one that is apparently paid millions to drive around in circles” you tell him in jest. Daniel feigns offence at your comment “I don’t drive in circles, I drive in complex circuits in the fastest and most competitive motorsport in existence” he tells you. “Sure buddy, whatever helps you sleep at night” you tell him trying to return to the lighthearted rapport you shared with him, Daniel apparently has the same idea as he proceeds to tickle you. You let out a shriek telling him to stop and trying to get away “nope not until you admit I’m a sporting god and the pinnacle of human performance” he says smiling at you struggling.

You were still sitting on his lap so your best bet was to free yourself and make a run for it, but Daniel had other intentions, sensing your motive he tightens his grasp on your waist and moves you and himself so that he has you pinned onto the couch with him on top of you.

You’re too busy laughing and squirming to realise that you in all of that movement the top that you were wearing had ridden up leaving your midriff exposed down to your underwear. Neither of you had bothered getting dressed after drying off and you could see all of Daniel’s tattoos, you thought to yourself that he really is a work of art.

Daniel’s hand stopped moving, you stopped laughing and the two of you locked eyes. His eyes burned with need and you are pretty sure yours mirrored his, it had been way too long since you felt this kind of desire. He hooked his fingers into the lower hem of your top and pulled it off you wordlessly. You pull him towards yourself trying to get him to kiss you but he denies you. Instead he says to you “let me take care of you” you raise an eyebrow questioningly but you quickly understand what he means when he palms your breasts from the outside letting out a groan at how well they filled your hands. Thank god for pregnancy. You moaned when he slipped his hand past your nipples which never quite recovered from breast feeding and were quite sensitive to any touch. Daniel noticing your sensitivity decided to zero in on your pleasure. He tool your bra off deftly and took an areola into his mouth. You let out a loud moan when his teeth made contact Daniel deciding not to push you too hard the first time around let you go and maintained a more gentle touch. His one hand was cupping your other tit and the other wandered to your underwear. Slipping through the band he used the pads of his fingers to locate your clit, he knew he found it when you let out a breathy moan. His ministrations continued but having his hand and mouth on you was getting overwhelming, “Danny I literally haven’t had sex in almost three years, I’m not going to last if you continue like this” you said to him breathlessly.

“Three years really babe?” He says releasing your nipple from his mouth. “Yup” you say pulling him in for a kiss, but before his lips touches yours he whispers to you, “better make this worth the wait then” and he plunges two of his fingers into your already wet folds, your moan is swallowed by his kiss and you realise you might be in some amount of trouble in the arms of this man.

Link for part 1

Link for part 6

[imaginedsoldier]

People will spend hours watching "ending explained" videos and reading about how Ed, Edd, n Eddy is set in purgatory or some such barmy nonsense, but the moment you tell them a piece of media was motivated by racism or corporate interest in affecting public opinion or the Pentagon's funding suddenly you're reading too much into it.

[misskittysmagicportal]

When Vicky Needed Honey

(An OC Kiss Week collaboration between @super-unpredictable98 and @misskittysmagicportal. No warnings, just mother/daughter love. Moonwalkers/The Umbrella Academy AU)

I woke up with that weird feeling again. I looked over at Klaus, still pretty much asleep, and grunted. On my way to the bathroom I prayed and prayed, but no luck. My period was nowhere to be found. A couple of days, I can understand, an entire week is a bit more worrying.

The last few days I've been feeling kinda sick, but it could be stress. I've been feeling kinda tired, understandable after two apocalypses. I've been feeling a little dizzy, which could easily be from the time travel... But my period wouldn't come, so that was starting to freak me out.

"Hey, Vanya... Would you buy a pregnancy test for me?" I rehearsed in front of the mirror. "No, no, I should ask Allison. She has a daughter, she'd understand, right?"

I nearly jumped when Klaus shifted in his sleep, I hoped with all my might he didn't hear what I just said. I sat on the edge of the tub and let my head roll back. How the fuck did we let that happen? We always wear a condom!

Well, technically a condom has 98% of effectiveness, according to the box, which I was reading as I thought about it. That means... 2 out of 100 women will get pregnant. With the amount of sex we have, it wouldn't be surprising that I could become part of this 2%. Damn it, Klaus! Why do you have to be so charming? Blame it on three decades of suppressed desire I guess.

I had to talk to someone, someone who wouldn't judge me, someone I could trust. There was only one person I could think of, so I went back into the room and as silently as possible, I slid the black briefcase from under our bed. The date was already set, so all I had to do was open it.

I felt that familiar pull of time travel, that endless rope that dragged me across the universe, which seemed to take forever, even though it was less than a second. As soon as I landed, I regretted it, my stomach did not like the disturbance and I felt like I was about to throw up.

"Vicky? Are you ok?" I felt a gentle hand on my back and took a few deep breaths before being able to turn back.

"Honey! Thank fucking God you're here! I need to talk to you."

"Is it Klaus? It's Klaus. Oh my god, tell me he's alright"

"Alright, I think we should sit down for this one..."

Honey nodded with a smile and took my hand as we made our way to the couch. I chewed on my bottom lip for a little while, thinking of the best way to say it, but I didn't wanna admit it:

"So, I'm gonna say it and I need you to listen because it's very complex," I started. "I think I'm pregnant, and I feel horrible because I don't want to be. Not that I don't want any kids, I do, in the future. The problem is that we just came out of the second apocalypse, everything is a mess, my family is all over the place. I love Klaus more than anything, so I don't wanna throw this onto him, you know? He's been through so much already!"

"Sweetie..."

"And I'm terrified of not being a good mother, the only mother I ever had was a robot. I love her to bits, but what if all I can give my child is robot-love? I don't even know what it feels like, my birth mom clearly didn't love me, she chose to give me away for money, I understand she wasn't expecting to get pregnant out of the blue, but... I don't understand why she couldn't love me. I feel so selfish and so stupid for letting this happen, and I keep thinking about my biological mom, I'm freaking out here," I started sobbing. "You're the only person I can talk to."

**

Honey began to live for the sound of her “kids” popping by the apartment. She brought the books home with her more often in case Klaus would come by to learn more about himself. Or Luther who really just wanted the tiny woman to hold him the way a robot never could. And Diego who well, was always hitting on her. Allison and Vicky and Vanya helped her feel not so alone.

Yeah, they were her children. They were mostly older than Honey. The discarded. The outcast. Who suffered abuse. They were the bought and sold to a billionaire. They were a magical pregnancy and 43 terrified women, one she would become 15 years from now. Thank God she already knew what one of those felt like.

Honey was checking on Sugar and Sunny as they napped. The large crow with his beak buried in his ebony feathers kept one large yellow eye on them from above. Sunny was enamored with the corvid. Klaus, despite being 35 years older than himself, was deeply jealous.

It was from their room, after hearing a familiar VOIP sound in the living room, that Honey just felt in her body something was wrong. There was an anxiety emanating from Vicky whose back was to her.

“Vicky? Are you ok?” Honey gently touched the woman. She wanted to hug her, but opted for minor affection.

Vicky's expression in response worried Honey. “Is it Klaus? It's Klaus. Oh my god, tell me he's alright.” Her lip started to tremble. For a clone of Leon, Klaus was infused with his mother.

Half an hour later, Honey could only stare slack-jawed over Vicky's guts being spilled all over the couch. So to speak.

Honey took Vicky’s hand and did what her mom would do. What she and Julia found themselves doing with their children. Whether they were full grown men or toddlers. Honey kissed Vicky's hand several times and held it over her heart.

“First of all, I can't speak for your birth mother or the others. I know Klaus told me it was a spontaneous pregnancy. Like BAM! We're suddenly giving birth. For me, even being 45,” Honey shivered dramatically, “I would rather kill Reginald and take you all. But whatever the other women did. That's on them.

“But! If anyone knows about an unexpected pregnancy, it's me. She's asleep in the other room with her brother. I think I realized I was knocked up, I just ignored it until Leon mentioned something about my body being new. We NEVER used protection. Pills in the sixties were for married women only. The fact that we had sex for over a year before anything happened is a freaking miracle.

I took two tests in the flat. Then at the clinic. Just a few weeks before, abortion became legal AND funded by the NHS. I told no one, went and made that woman tell me every single step of the process. I asked how easy the adoption process in the UK is. I wasn't keeping it no matter what.”

Now Honey took both of Vicky’s hands, “You have so many readily available options.” She kissed them both again, “But please just let Klaus know. It's YOUR choice. YOURS. Ultimately, I changed my mind. I had her on my own. Pregnancy, birth, her first six months. I wasn't even on the same continent as Leon. But if my baby would have half his looks, and his way of loving, and even an OUNCE of his heart, Leon deserved to be a dad. I WANTED to have his baby. I don't regret my decision. I don't want to regret yours either. We all love you.”

Honey kissed Vicky's forehead, “I mean I'm your mom now.”

**

I would've started crying if I wasn't already, it felt so good to finally have someone to hold my hand. I can only imagine dad's reaction if I told him I was pregnant with Klaus' baby... It was awesome to not be judged for once.

"I wanna tell him, I'm just scared... If I really am pregnant, I wanna keep it, but what if he doesn't like it? What if he doesn't wanna be a dad?"

My desperate rambling was interrupted by a blue surge of energy right in the middle of the room, that could only mean one thing... Klaus and Five fell from it with a loud thud.

I had to cover my mouth not to scream, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest, but Honey seemed pleased with the new visitors.

"Jesus Vicky... I woke up and you were gone, I was worried!" Klaus squeezed me in a tight hug.

"I told you she was fine, Victoria can handle herself," Five rolled his eyes. "It's not like she can get hurt."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disappear."

Klaus moved to give Honey a hug as well, she kissed his forehead and urged him to sit down between us.

"I know this face, Scnucki..." Klaus placed his hand on my cheek. "What's wrong?"

I looked over at Honey and she gave me a reassuring nod. With a sigh, I took Klaus' hand, tracing the 'hello' with the tip of my finger.

"Klausie," I tried to muster the courage to say it. "I know the timing might not be the best, things are a little crazy right now, but I think I might be..."

"Might be...?" He stared at me nervously.

"Pregnant."

Klaus' mouth dropped and he widened his eyes. Shit! Shit! He hates it, he wasn't happy. He was gonna leave me right there and then.

"But we always..."

"I know, but apparently condoms are only 98% effective."

"You two really abuse your luck," Five mused.

"Timing isn't great, but if you want to keep it, I'm with you. It's our baby," a smile tugged at Klaus' lips. "And I love you, so..."

"Actually," I got up as fast as I could. "I love you too, but I'm not pregnant. If you guys will excuse me, I gotta go to the toilet, like right now!"

**

Honey watched as Vicky ran off to the bathroom. She was left with a bewildered Klaus, slack jawed over everything that quickly took place. She could only snort as Leon popped up from the same corner Vicky had just flown around. Mouth agape identical to his clone.

“Alright love,” Leon kissed her on the cheek. “Never told me the kids were coming ‘round for a visit.” He eyed up Five, still uncertain of him.

Klaus dramatically planted a fist on his hip, “Im thirty-six.”

“Too right. What's going on? Is Vicky ok she looked barmy.”

“Well we were almost grandparents.”

“GRANDPARENTS?! I'm thirty! Bloody hell I can't keep track of the ten we have now. Can't handle a baby, mate. Not coming from you. No offense.”

“All of it taken,” Klaus quipped.

“Well we don't need to worry about it. Pretty sure Vicky just overwhelmingly got her period. Better luck next time!”

Every single person in the room nearly knocked Honey flat with a loud in unison “NEXT TIME?”

She wouldn't make that mistake again.

[lilylovessev]

how it feels || snily

Lily took a slow drag of her roll-up, pacing back and forth, the music emitting from the bar was merely background noise to her thoughts. She slowly exhaled the cherry scented smoke, having used the filters that she’d purchased whilst in Eastern Europe. She’d landed back in the midst of reality, having spent the last year travelling with her best friend Marlene. They had received a small grant from the Ministry to carry out their research projects, and so, they’d taken the opportunity to go abroad. It had been the most incredible, eye-opening experience that she could ever have possibly imagined that it would be. They had seen and done so much. It was the first time in her life that she’d truly had the opportunity to be adventurous, and rebellious. They’d certainly had their fair share of fun, to say the very least. And now, they were back in the midst of their friendship group and it was as if they had never been anywhere. The familiarity was reassuring, but she missed the lifestyle.

“You alright, gorgeous?”

And then there was him. She rolled her eyes, before turning and smiling, “I’m fan-fucking-tastic.” She winked at him, “So, this match tomorrow... Should you really be drinking quite so much now? You need to be on top form for such an important game.” Of course, she was only teasing. He played in the local league, albeit in his spare time. He was training to be an Auror, which was beyond her. He had to have had a good word put in from old Fleamont to the Ministry.

“If we’re all being forced to be there, it better be worth my time on a bloody Sunday morning,” she exclaimed, pecking his cheek before then throwing down her cigarette and heading back inside. She paused in the doorway, turning back to look at him, “I mean, you won’t at all be up for a shag tonight, will you? You need to conserve your energy.” She smirked, before turning away and walking back in. Well, he was good, that much she couldn’t possibly deny. He was athletic and could go for hours. That and he was obsessed with her. It wasn’t so much the case for her.

//

“Are you being serious?”

“Deadly.” Lily spooned a mouthful of cereal into her gob, “What do you know about him then?”

“He’s a bad boy, not at all reformed. His business does very well, and he’s incredibly knowledgeable. My Dad helped fund the shop. He approached a few of the ‘old’ families, all of whom obliged. He’s close with the Malfoys’. You know, him and Lucius were very bad boys when they were younger.” The blonde widened her eyes, “I have no idea how they escaped trouble, serious trouble, at least. Tact and blood status, I suppose. You should see him. He’s one hell of a beast of a bloke.”

The redhead smiled slowly, “Look, I don’t care about any of that.”

“Oh, you will.”

“Dumbledore pointed me in his direction. He can’t be... like, completely untrustworthy or anything like that.” She shrugged, groaning as she caught sight of the time on the clock nearby. “Shit, I best go.” She brought the bowl to her mouth, drinking the rest of the milk before running out of the kitchen to get dressed, given that she was bare-arse naked aside from a baggy shirt that she’d stolen from James.

//

Lily paused outside of the shop, not so tucked away in the midst of Diagon Alley. It was almost the start of the new school year and so the place was mad, there were kids everywhere. She groaned at the sight of some overly hormonal fourteen-year-olds gawking through the window. However, when she followed their gaze, she could easily understand why they were practically salivating. in amongst the customers, he was easily recognisable. Her eyes widened, and she cocked an eyebrow. Well. This was certainly a fantastic idea. 

She gracefully moved past the girls, before walking inside, the bell announcing her arrival. The walls were lined with potion vials, all impeccably organised, which she could appreciate.

“Can I help you?”

“No... Hopefully, he can though.” She moved past the girl, who had been far too eager to serve her, in order to reach her target. She approached him confidently,  “Severus Snape?”

It was so obviously him, but she had to be polite, right? He turned to her, clearly wondering what was going on. 

“My name is Lily Evans,” she introduced herself, holding out her ring-scattered hand. “As not to beat around the bush, I’d like to be your apprentice. I asked Professor Dumbledore up at Hogwarts as to who he thought he would take me on for my field of interest and he recommended asking you. Here,” she handed over a folder. “It has all of my credentials and I’ve included a copy of the write up of the project that I completed over the last year, fully endorsed by the Ministry. You’ll see just how invested I am in potioneering. I’m not interested in being paid, I just need the experience. That and I’d be working alongside you, which would be valuable. I’m hard-working. I’m gutsy and I take initiative. I could bring something to this. I’m looking to create a... brand, of my own, so to speak. I would be so greatly appreciative of your time and effort.”

Well, she had to sell herself to him, right? He was looking at her as if she was completely and utterly barmy. It was only really at that moment that she realised that this was looking like a no-go. He had a look in his eyes that actually caused her to feel what she could only describe as embarrassment. Why should she feel that way?! Everyone had to start somewhere, right? Was she crazy to start here though? Possibly. She just didn’t want to go to the Ministry yet, given that once she was there, she’d surely be trapped. 

“At least consider it, please.”

[art-full-dodger]

NEW HOUSES BUILT IN THE AREA.... ALL OCCUPIED BY CONSTABLUARY FAMILIES AND AMERICAN LIMMEES.... BUILT ILLEGALLY ON FARMLAND ALLOTMENTS THE BUILDERS ORGANISED BY SOUTH DIBBLY COUNCIL... CONSTABLUARY FAMILIES ARE THE COUNCILORS..... AT SOUTH DIBBLY...RUNNING THE LICAL MAGISTRATES COURTS ALL MEMBERS OF CHRISTCHURCH OR SHALL WE SAY THE LATTERDAY SHITHEADS.... NUFFIELD HEALTH SERVICES ....N.H.S.?? IS ALSO FUNDED BY THESE NAZI CUNTS... FUNDED BY DIBBLY COUNCIL INCLUDING THE MENTAL UNIT WHERE YOU ARE PUT IMMEDIATELY IF YOU MAKE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THESE BASTARDS...THEY ALSO TAKE ORDERS FROM THEIR PAEDOPHILIC CHURCH LEADERS THE CONSTABLUARY.... CANT CATCH THE PAEDOPILE RING OR THE HEROIN DEALERS.... ITS MEXICAN NAME INSULINE..... BECAUSE THERE THE ONES DOING IT..... MUSLIM MARRIGES ENFORCED OF COURSE THE AMERICAN LIMMEES ARE THIS AND ARE THE WORST...... THEY LOOT FOOTBALL.... FOR CASH AND SMUGGLE HEROIN FROM EQUADOR USING IT INTO THE AREA.... CAPTAIN SMACK HEAD USED FOR SMUGGLING AND,A TAX WRITE OFF FOR THE BARMY ARMY....... (at Penworthamdale, South Ribble) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpigcYaNivA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[barmyproductions]

Posted @withregram • @barmyprods Get yourself a Barmy Dale T Shirt as part of our Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Check it out here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/barmydalepodcast/barmy-dale-podcast-and-radio-sitcom #kickstarter #kickstartercampaign #crowdfund #crowdfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #podcast #podcastersofinstagram #podcastcomedy #comedypodcast #comedy #sitcom #comedyshow #radiocomedy #radiositcom #barmydale #derbyshire #madeinderbyshire

[updatesnews]

Wales news: Welsh Labour ploughs ahead with ‘barmy’ plans for Tourism Tax on overnight sta | Politics | News

Wales news: Welsh Labour ploughs ahead with ‘barmy’ plans for Tourism Tax on overnight sta | Politics | News

Mark Drakeford’s administration confirmed that a consultation will be launched this autumn when further details will be released about how it could look. It is already understood that visitors who are staying overnight would have to pay a fee to the local council under the scheme. It would be up to local authorities to set it and the Welsh Government said it would raise important funds for…

[cryptosnewss]

OpenLive NFT Secures $1M Fund to Bolster Potential NFT Projects

OpenLive NFT Secures $1M Fund to Bolster Potential NFT Projects

[PRESS RELEASE – Please Read Disclaimer] OpenLive NFT, an innovative NFT marketplace specially designed for the exchange of NFTs such as popular NFT platforms, Rarible, Opensea, Foundation, etc. crypto and blockchain industry. FA Capital, Stech, Fudubank, CoinPublic, Zuki Moba, Moniwar, Cowboy-Snake, Barmy and JADE Labs are major players in the crypto sphere who have contributed enormously to the…

[dhoine-dyaebl]

TW3 #02

Date: 13.5.2018

Hours played: 1:39

Quests finished: A frying pan, spick and span, Lilac & Gooseberries (not finished), Missing in action, Temerian Valuables, Dirty funds, The Beast of White Orchard (not finished)

Summary:

 So the second entry. I checked the notice board, because sometimes funny useless notes appear. Saw one offering lessons in Nilfgaardian from a guy from Vicovaro. And it seemed really familiar, so I googled it and apparently Cahir (from the books) is from there. Huh.

I went around to get some XP and came upon old Gran and her pan. I think this quest is one of the most iconic ones, because everybody remembers this quest. On the other hand when she uses ‘me’ instead of ‘my’ grinds my gears.

Gran: “And they say when I gab to meself, I’m going barmy!”

Then I went to the Nilfgaardian Garrison to get some clues on Yennefer. Met the Quartermaster and haggled a bit. The Nilfgaardian (Peter Saar Gwynlewe) is rational and normal and I try to be polite, but...sassy Geralt is the best.

Peter Saar Gwynleve: I’m not yet fluent in Common Tongue.

Geralt: Probably mastered the basics, though. ‘Hands up’, ‘kill them’...

Peter Saar Gwynleve: No, first came idioms. Don’t play with fire for example.

Of course I accepted the quest for the griffin. Then did the Missing in action sidequest and helped the poor dude find his brother after the battle. I’m still poor so grave robbing is necessary. I mean they are NPCs so I don’t feel too bad. Made the decision for the Nilfgaardian to stay with the brothers, because I have a faint heart and try to get the least-people-die option  if I can. I’m slowly getting into the rhythm of TW3, but riding is still a problem, mainly turns and obstacles like fences.

Killed a couple of drowners and did few Undiscovered locations (6) and leveled up to 2. I’m putting most of my ability points into Signs, because the most compatible gear is the Cat School one, which looks best (to me). And I think Signs are the easiest way for me.

Huh, when I started killing drowners all peasants started yelling “Murderer!” and one of them was even puking. Like I’m helping you out for free. You should at least look thankful. I did the Temerian Valuables and Dirty funds, which are basically treasure hunts so nothing interesting. Heh, Submarine Geralt (me on Geralt swimming).

Went to finally work on the main quest The Beast of White Orchard. I chose to go to the hunter, Myslav, first. We killed a few wild dogs together and I think we became casual friends so I unlocked his tragic backstory. He’s gay. Then I just collected flowers and herbs for potions. I crafted Swallow, White Honey and Cat.

What paths do you use when playing? Do you go by road or just straight through forest, rivers...I mean both have some pros and cons. Road are easier to navigate on horseback and unlock you more quests and Fast travel posts. Paths straight through the forest make finding herbs and monsters for killing far easier.

Previous =/= Next

Question: Should I include pictures and/or short videos? Because some things cannot be put into words. On other hand it will take longer, because I would have to do this on the gaming PC, which is almost always occupied.

[justjessame]

Early Warning Chapter 1

When Riley Richards was four years old, she told her older brother Reed that he was going to one day be able to see a star in person. He laughed at her and said she was mad. When she was six, she told him that he was going to fall off the balcony of their grandparents' roof in the country two years from that day, and he told her that she was completely barmy.

Two years later, he was in the emergency room with his arm in a cast, having fallen off the balcony after being dared by the neighbor to try to balance himself on the balcony edge. She tried very hard not to tell him she told him so, but she failed.

Riley Richards wasn't all that different from Reed Richards. She was dark haired and light eyed. She was highly intelligent, although her intelligence wasn't maths and science based. She was far more literature, writing, and creativity based. While he was more literal and had more dry humor, she was by far more sarcastic and had a more playful way about her. Her empathy and ability to "see" what was coming was more pronounced, even with Reed's urge to be at the forefront of technology.

While Reed was dating Sue Storm, Riley was attending the best boarding schools and colleges their family's money and her intelligence could provide. She met Sue a time or two. They got along alright. The majority of Riley's interaction with Reed's contemporaries was with Ben Grimm. In Ben she found a kindred soul, a person who didn't see a little girl playing pretend. Ben took stock in what Riley said she felt and saw. He took her warnings seriously and also allowed for her playfulness. He could also see that she felt a protectiveness for her older brother, even if Reed didn't.

Of the people scheduled for Reed's experiment being bankrolled by Dr. Victor von Doom, only Johnny Storm and von Doom are unknown to Riley. And of those two, von Doom gives Riley the most anxiety. She knows that Reed won't listen, but Ben will. And so, here she is, landing on Reed's doorstep, weeks before the experimental trip into space is set to commence. She's praying that her darling brother will for once just go with the flow and let her visit go unattested.

Approaching the Baxter Building, Riley is once again taken by the size. She wonders again why her parents bothered cutting her brother off. Their wealth is vast, even by most American standards, but they wanted their children to eventually be "self-made". Understandable, but Reed is a genius. Even if he has some pie in the sky ideas, eventually one would have panned out. Riley knew this, but her parents also believed in tough love. The lights will eventually go out in this building. How sad.

"Not on my watch," Riley whispered, entering when the doorman held the door. Her bags were being held until she sent for them. She only hoped it wouldn't be too long of a wait. Walking to the elevator, she was happy to note that they still had an operator. "Penthouse, please."

She exited at the top floor, and was chuckling to herself as she smelled what could only be described as ozone. Reed would forever be associated with that smell. "Reed?" She called, hoping he'd do his own version of Marco Polo. "Where are you brother mine?"

"Riley?!" She heard his voice coming from the direction of what appeared to be the kitchen. "What the dickens are you doing here?" His head popped up from under the countertop. "Did the parents send you?"

She laughed, seeing his hair sticking up undignified in every direction. "God no, do you honestly believe that Mother and Father would send me anywhere?" She shucked off her jacket and tossed it in the general direction of a chair where it landed perfectly. "What in the hell are you doing?" The kitchen, if that's the room they were in was a disaster. Everything was tossed. If he was looking for something in particular, he hadn't found it, or if he had, she couldn't tell.

"I'm trying to get ready for my trip," he said, standing up from where he'd been crouched. "I have a list of everything that needs done around here. And I'm trying to get to all of it."

Riley perched on a stool at the counter, careful of the mess. "Dear God, tell me what you're crossing off that's causing mass destruction?" She said, gesturing around her. "Or are you adding whilst subtracting?"

Reed groaned, realizing his little sister was correct in her deduction. He had been fixing a slight leak in the plumbing and created a complete disaster. Shaking his head, he returned to his question of why she was in front of him. "Don't distract me. Why are you here?" He said, tossing the wrench on top of the mess and grabbing a stool to sit next to her.

"I heard you were heading to space, dear brother." She said, turning to face him. The better to ignore the mess. "I thought I'd offer to house sit for you." She glanced around his mess. "I may even buy you one of those cute signs or welcome mats 'bless this mess'." She gave a shudder.

Reed found himself chuckling despite himself. His little sister had arrived just when he needed her for once. Dear God, when had he last seen her? "I think I may have missed you, Riley." He said, pulling her in for a hug that surprised them both. "I need time to get everything together, and Ben has to get his aggravation under control."

"What's got Ben's panties in a bunch?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow as she pulled away from the hug. "He gets to pilot a shuttle into space. He should literally be over the moon."

One look at Reed's face and she knew. Ben wasn't going to be the pilot. The hotshot, Sue's brother was going to be the pilot. Crap, no wonder, she could pick up the stress and anxiety of this trip before she'd even landed on this continent. Ugh, well at least Ben was getting to spend the last bit of time with his fiance Debbie.

"Alright, well, you take the time to get your scientific hoo hah together." Riley said, as Reed rolled his eyes at her very scientific term. "I'll take the time to find people to make sure your 'honey do' list is completed." Before Reed could argue, she held up a hand. "Reed, you aren't the only Richards with a trust fund. And I haven't touched mine, yet."

She smiled as he gave her an exhausted nod. "Is it alright if I call and have my bags sent?" She asked, making sure permission was granted. Another nod. "Good, now call Ben and tell him that little sister is here, and make sure he knows I want at least lunch before the final farewell to you lot!"

As Reed went off to make his phone call, and before she sent word for her bags to be sent, Riley took a deep breath. She hoped against hope that her feelings of panic were wrong, but she knew that they weren't. Something bad was going to happen. Something she couldn't stop, not even with warning. All she could do was be here for the fallout. And that's what she fully intended to do. That and warn Ben. Why? Because Ben was in the most danger, of that she was absolutely sure.