#based on the m r james story

[marisashorror]

Number 13

2021

[brokehorrorfan]

The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand will be published in hardcover and e-book on August 19, 2025 via Gallery Books.

Edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, the anthology features 34 short stories based on The Stand. It includes an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Golden, and an afterword by Keene.

Contributors include Wayne Brady & Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S.A. Cosby, Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters. Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Pre-order The End of the World As We Know It.

[britpop-band-shite]

CURRENT EVENT

Best britpop person, matchups will be randomised, fairly self explanatory. Submit musicians not bands (ie submit Damon Albarn not Blur). Feel free to judge based off whatever you like. Other poll submissions still open

HOW POLL SUBMISSIONS WORK

literally just send an ask and I’ll make it! You can do a poll on artists, songs, or albums. I am widening the scope of genres, while this blog is focused on britpop I don’t mind if other 90s bands or adjacent artists crop up.

PREVIOUS TOURNEY WINNERS AND INFO BELOW

1st: Blur

2nd: Manic Street Preachers

3rd: Suede

❌ELIMINATED ARTISTS❌

the artist they lost too will be in brackets

Teenage Fanclub (Round 1: Echobelly)

Rialto (Round 1: S*M*A*S*H)

Space (Round 1: Stereophonics)

Gorkys Zygotic Mynci (Round 1: Shampoo)

Ocean Colour Scene (Round 1: Placebo)

Reef (Round 1: Elastica)

Cecil (Round 1: Gene)

Silver Sun (Round 1: Skunk Ananise)

Bis (Round 1: Blur)

Nilon Bombers (Round 1: Powder)

Pimlico (Round 1: Northern Uproar)

60ft Dolls (Round 1: Gay Dad)

The Verve (Round 1: The Stone Roses)

Thurman (Round 1: Ash)

Oasis (Round 1: Pulp)

These Animal Men (Round 1: Salad)

The Lightning Seeds (Round 1: Ride)

Me Me Me (Round 1: Jocasta)

Mansun (Round 1: Super Furry Animals)

Heavy Stereo (Round 1: The Divine Comedy)

Bennet (Round 1: Republica)

Cast (Round 1: McAlmont & Butler)

Hefner (Round 1: The Pointy Birds)

Kula Shaker (Round 1: Manic Street Preachers)

Geneva (Round 1: Marion)

David Devant & His Spirit Wife (Round 1: The Boo Radleys)

Kenickie (Round 1: Lush)

The Seahorses (Round 1: The Bluetones)

Longpigs (Round 1: James)

Denim (Round 1: Catatonia)

Feeder (Round 1: Suede)

Saint Etienne (Round 1: The Charlatans)

Speedy (Round 1: Whiteout)

The Supernaturals (Round 1: The La’s)

Dodgy (Round 1: Sleeper)

Cornershop (Round 1: Supergrass)

Kinky Machine (Round 1: Menswe@r)

Hurricane #1 (Round 1: Shed Seven)

Babybird (Round 1: Paul Weller)

Delicatessen (Round 1: Daisy Chainsaw)

The Auteurs (Round 1: Strangelove)

Embrace (Round 1: Black Grape)

Theaudience (Round 1: Travis)

My Life Story (Round 1: The Beautiful South)

Babylon Zoo (Round 1: Edwyn Collins)

Young Offenders (Round 1: The Flamingoes)

Gene (Round 2: Ash)

The Bluetones (Round 2: The Divine Comedy)

Northern Uproar (Round 2: Strangelove)

Daisy Chainsaw (Round 2: Pulp)

Marion (Round 2: Echobelly)

Black Grape (Round 2: Blur)

Edwyn Collins (Round 2: Manic Street Preachers)

Skunk Ananise (Round 2: The Stone Roses)

The Boo Radleys (Round 2: Republica)

Salad (Round 2: The Beautiful South)

Gay Dad (Round 2: Sleeper)

The Pointy Birds (Round 2: The Flamingoes)

S*M*A*S*H (Round 2: James)

The Charlatans (Round 2: Super Furry Animals)

Menswe@r (Round 2: Elastica)

Jocasta (Round 2: Suede)

Shampoo (Round 2: Placebo)

Travis (Round 2: McAlmont & Butler)

Ride (Round 2: Catatonia)

Shed Seven (Round 2: Paul Weller)

Supergrass (Round 2: Lush)

Whiteout (Round 2: Stereophonics)

James (Round 3: Elastica)

Pulp (Round 3: Placebo)

Paul Weller (Round 3: Lush)

McAlmont & Butler (Round 3: Ash)

Echobelly (Round 3: Suede)

Republica (Round 3: Blur)

Catatonia (Round 3: Manic Street Preachers)

The Beautiful South (Round 3: Sleeper)

Strangelove (Round 3: Stereophonics)

The Divine Comedy (Round 3: Super Furry Animals)

The Flamingoes (Round 3: The Stone Roses)

Ash (Round 4: Placebo/Super Furry Animals)

The Stone Roses (Round 4: Manic Street Preachers)

Stereophonics (Round 4: Blur)

Sleeper (Round 4: Lush)

Elastica (Round 4: Suede)

Placebo (Round 5: Suede)

Lush (Round 5: Blur)

Super Furry Animals (Round 5: Manic Street Preachers)

[pagan-stitches]

Christmas Eve viewing:

A Ghost Story for Christmas: Count Magnus (2022)

and

A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Ash Tree (1975)

Both were based on M. R. James short stories.

I really enjoyed The Ash Tree. It was genuinely creepy.

[meraki-yao]

Hi correct me if I’m wrong but I thought I saw you mention that the same intimacy coordinator who worked on rwrb also worked on m&g, if that’s so, why was the intimacy approached differently, it seems rwrb was really toned down and alex and henry are a very passionate couple in the books and nich and taylor can definitely deliver passion and intimacy and it was rated-r so why do you think rwrb was approached differently and rather toned down, I mean what we got was great I’m still so attached to this movie 3 months later and that doesn’t happen often unless I absolutely love the movie or show but I feel like they were holding back and it becomes the question of why, was it n&t choice or matthew and intimacy coordinator or everything was done in how they wanted to tell the story, idk to me you can’t help but notice after the release of the trailer/teaser for m&g, I know it’s a different story and it’s more a drama based on a true story but very different in how they approached intimacy and affection

Okay so this turned into an essay.

I’m gonna dissect your ask into two parts, feel free to send me another ask if I missed something

Q1: Why was the intimacy in RWRB approached differently and less intense than M&G

Q2: Why was the intimacy in RWRB toned down from the book even with an R rating and with Taylor & Nick clearly capable of delivering passion and intimacy, and who was responsible for that

Firstly, yes, Robbie Taylor Hunt was the intimacy coordinator for both RWRB and M&G

Secondly, a little bit of background for M&G to aid my explanation later: While M&G isn’t out yet, I did read George Villiers’ Wikipedia page (Thanks Henry), listen to Nick talk a bit about him from a podcast episode, and watch the trailer. To summarize quickly, King James I has a list of male lovers, Mary Villiers realized her son had potential, so she more or less moulded him into a figure that the King would immensely like. Sex with the King was all for political power: George has sex with the King, and the King enjoys the pleasure he brings and lavishes him with treasures and political power in return. Historical records seem to indicate that the King really did love George as a partner, as odd (and in our modern times, toxic and maybe even “grooming”, George was 21 and the King was 48 when they met) as their relationship was. But the truth is George gained a lot from the King: he ended up one of the highest-ranking members of the court, and the only duke who wasn’t from the royal family.

So to answer your questions:

A1:

It’s mainly because since these are two different stories, the meaning of intimacy is different in each context.

RWRB is a love story. It is about the growth of the romantic relationship between Alex and Henry. Granted, they started with a friends-with-benefits arrangement but from the moment Henry kissed Alex on New Year's they both held mutual, genuine affection towards each other which later grew into love and devotion. This affection doesn’t have an underlying hidden purpose. Their intimacy is a reflection of their genuine feelings towards each other, which is why Paris is so gentle, quiet and soft. That’s the slow comfort of falling in love. Note that in the Paris scene, while it is clear what they’re physically doing, the focus is on their faces. You don’t see much below their waist. Matthew made that choice deliberately: this was an emotional experience for them as much as it was a physical experience. The sex in RWRB shows growing love.

Sex means something entirely different in M&G. To put it in a crude way, George Villiers, under his mother’s order/guidance/manipulation, fucked his way to power. Is there real affection and love between him and any or all of his partners, the King included? We honestly can’t know, because history only records what Geroge wanted to show, but it is incredibly unlikely that he did. Remember how I said there isn't an underlying hidden purpose in Alex and Henry’s affection? That’s not true for George: the hidden purpose is that he wants political power. Sex isn’t love in M&G, it’s entirely power play. And power play is violent and rough and messy, so the sex, as a reflection of that, is portrayed as such as well. Note that in the trailer, we see a lot of the body, but if you look at their faces, which isn’t the focus, he… kinda looks in pain?

A way I see it is in RWRB, Alex and Henry are both giving each other pleasure, as well as their heart. It’s slow, it’s gentle, and it’s respectful: Henry guides Alex in, Alex pays attention to each change on Henry’s face, and only moves when Henry consents, and even then, he moves slowly and the speed later builds up

Now look at the M&G trailer, it’s more like George’s partners are taking pleasure from him. It, at the very least, looks far less mutual than what Alex and Henry have. Geroge gives others pleasure, and in return, he gets political power.

TLDR: RWRB’s intimacy was less intense than that of M&G because intimacy has a different meaning/ symbolism in each story.

A2:

Part of this is because of the limitations of movie storytelling.

A book doesn’t have time limits, a movie does.

If you look at the book, at the beginning of Alex and Henry’s relationship, a lot of the sex was kind of repetitive in a way. Paris and MET for Alex’s birthday were covered in three pages. And both of those Alex compartmentalized as “friendship with benefits”. Aside from the internal monologue of him observing Henry sleeping which can’t be delivered on screen effectively, it’s mostly reiterating the same sentiment from the polo match: they use their international events as escapades to have sex with each other. But put that in the movie and it would take up the limited movie time, time that needs to be used for effective storytelling. The time used for Alex and Henry’s walk in the Paris garden could be used for a montage of all of their kinky sexual shenanigans instead, but if the polo hook-up can establish the intensity of their hooks up in the same way, then that time is better used exploring Henry’s baggage. TLDR: not enough time in regard to the number of times they have sex compared to the book.

The other part is by Matthew’s design.

I don’t remember where I saw/heard it from, either a podcast or an article, where Matthew half-jokingly said people will get bored if it’s just smut all the time. Yes, Alex and Henry are a very passionate couple, as shown by their first hook-up in the movie and the polo scene, but because gay sex in media is mostly portrayed as this wild, sexy frenzy, Matthew also wanted to show that gay sex can be emotionally vulnerable, which is why Paris was so focused on their faces, ergo, their emotions. Matthew wanted it to be something gentle and emotion-focused, so that was his priority in designing the scene.

Also there’s the fact that they���re older in the movie, thus more mature and a little less… hormonal. I think they get to the emotional connection a little earlier than their book counterparts.

A thing to note is that the movie wasn’t aiming for an R rating. In a really good podcast episode with Matthew and Tommy Didario, he even expressed disappointment in MAP for rating the movie R, saying that if it was a straight couple, it most likely wouldn’t have gotten an R rating, and even if we ignore latent homophobia, there’s are films much more violent than RWRB is sexually explicit, yet those films are PG 13.

I agree that if needed, Nick and Taylor can deliver something more intense. They’re clearly comfortable with each other, as seen from the bloopers of Paris morning and the fact that Robbie wasn’t there when they shot the lake scene, yet they were comfortable enough with touching each other and gentle kisses. They’ve also both done more explicit things: Taylor with Minx, Nick with M&G (granted that came later).

But the thing is, the RWRB movie doesn’t exactly… need more, from the storytelling perspective. I might say putting a sexy montage in between Polo and Paris might clarify the timeline a little, but that would still just be little clips of what we’ve already seen in the previous two scenes. And just from what I’ve seen, people who have read the book (myself included) would think it’s toned down, but some YouTube reaction videos from people who haven’t read the book find it really spicy. We book readers just have a comparison.

TLDR: In the movie's story, we didn't really need more sex scenes

Wow, I didn’t intend this to be so long, but I haven’t written a RWRB essay in a hot minute. This was a lot of fun, so thank you for the ask, and I hope I could answer you!

[themculibrary]

New Year's Fluff Masterlist

A Kiss Before Midnight (ao3) - stuckinthepast (theboybarnes) steve/bucky T, 1k

Summary: Steve and Bucky sneak out of the party early so they can be each others first kiss of the year, but can they wait until midnight?

All I Can Taste (ao3) - SailorChibi bucky/steve/tony/t'challa G, 2k

Summary: Tony thought he’d be spending New Year’s Eve alone.

He was wrong.

A New Beginning (ao3) - starksdummy bruce/clint G, 673

Summary: Bruce isn't looking forward to facing another New Year's Eve alone.

A New Start (ao3) - notvegs bucky/clint G, 1k

Summary: Bucky needs a new start for the new year and is surprised in who he finds it.

Fireworks (ao3) - shipskicksandgiggles harley/peter G, 1k

Summary: Spending New Year’s alone was perfectly fine with Peter. That changes when his best friend shows up at his door with a couple of glasses and a bottle of champagne

gonna show him i care (ao3) - allcolorsoftherainbow sam/bucky G, 4k

Summary: Based on the Tumblr prompt: “Character A is stuck working in a coffee shop on Christmas Day and Character B is the lonely soul spending their whole day there.”

i’d say i love you with my final breath (ao3) - wmthackeray druig/makkari N/R, 2k

Summary: He presses his forehead to hers and it’s like hundreds of years of tension simply drips off of her, and she feels lighter than ever. As if she could run through the entire universe – but she won’t, since she’s back in the place she likes best.

On the eve of a new millennium, Makkari decides she’s tired of celebrating alone. So she pays Druig a visit.

I'll Be So Blue Just Thinking About You (ao3) - bloodfest peter/thor T, 15k

Summary: All the lights and the music and the presents from Mantis' Christmas party had been nothing short of amazing, but Peter still found himself feeling like something was missing.

Or, more accurately, someone.

Just Another Day (ao3) - dreamerfound T, 340

Summary: Clint has no desire to celebrate the new year.

Next Year and Forever (ao3) - RiaRose steve/tony T, 9k

Summary: The Nomad Resort, owned by Steve Rogers, has become a home away from home for many of the world's elite. During the winter holidays, it hosts an ice exhibition with Olympic gold medalist Anthony Stark. He's done the show for five years running, despite everyone being confused as to why a world-class figure skater would want to do the same show over and over. Especially when he's invited to perform at bigger and better venues.

It just so happens that he and the resort owner have quite the crush on each other. They just don't realize the other feels the same.

New Year's Dance (ao3) - james clint/phil G, 451

Summary: Just a tiny snippet of Clint on New Year's.

Off the Mark (ao3) - brandnewfashion steve/tony T, 11k

Summary: In which Tony makes assumptions, and Steve disproves every single one of them.

Aka a “five times Steve surprised Tony, and one time Tony surprised Steve” story.

Reason for the Season (ao3) - TheologyDiscography bucky/brock M, 1k

Summary: Brock and Winter getting a peaceful moment together after a mission.

Resolved (ao3) - FestiveFerret steve/tony T, 3k

Summary: Okay. He just had to approach it like a mission. Objective: Kiss Tony Stark at midnight.

Smooth Like Velvet (ao3) - Rubick sam/bucky T, 5k

Summary: Steve hummed, taking a step back. “Sam is not going to know what hit him when he sees you.”

Bucky’s pulse spiked as he frowned at Steve. “What—What are you talking about? Why would I care what Sam thinks?”

Steve chuckled and looked at him the way Bucky had seen him look at Tony way too often—with a mixture of frustration and fondness. “Come on, Buck. You don’t have to hide it with me.”

~~~

It’s the Stark annual NYE bash, Bucky’s in a tux, and he’s not staring at Sam across the dance floor.

He’s totally not.

The Wine Thief (ao3) - LaraWinner darcy/loki G, 1k

Summary: A chance meeting and new beginnings.

Three, Two, One (ao3) - SailorChibi tony/stephen T, 2k

Summary: Tony throws a New Year’s Eve party to help Peter save face, never expecting that he’ll receive a kiss of his own from his crush at midnight.

Traditions (ao3) - JustJill clint/darcy T, 710

Summary: Clint and Darcy spend NYE together.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? (ao3) - PlayItRight yelena/kate T, 8k

Summary: After the craziest Christmas of Kate Bishop’s life, she’s back home and ready to relax for the end of the year. But when Kate receives a text from a mysterious yet familiar unknown number, will New Year’s really be relaxing?

When Christmas Spirit knocks on your door (ao3) - MonsterinaCup peggy/steve G, 11k

Summary: When the spirit of Christmas decides to visit someone, it makes someone's life more interesting. Just ask Peggy, and she'll tell you her story.

When Saturday morning came, December 23, Peggy was ready to keep herself busy reviewing the cases she handled. Given that SHIELD Law firm is closed for the holidays until the 27th, Peggy is left with no choice but to take a break and find something to do for Christmas. Unfortunately, reading cases is the only thing Peggy could think of doing. Or so, she thought.

[callsignspark]

Mar[r]y Me - part 8.5

pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Mariella “M&M” Vertucci (fem!OC)

summary: A love story told through friendship, laughter, and food.

series warnings: 18+ minors DNI, discussion of insecurities, difficult family relationships, discussions of food and alcohol use, discussions of body image, conversations on what it’s like to be a fat woman trying to date in today’s society, extreme fluff, warnings to be added as needed

word count: 2.3k

previous part | series masterlist | main masterlist

note: happy Friday! this is a short but sweet one! see here for my soft-tober announcement and here for a quick update on what's happening in the month of October! have a great weekend!

part 8.5 - McDonald's apple pie

“Don’t get any ideas.”

“I’d never dream of it!”

Mary snuggles deeper into the couch as Pierce Brosnan - her favorite James Bond - races through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City on a motorcycle with Michelle Yeoh handcuffed to his wrist. Her chest hurts; tight from an overwhelming urge to cry and a tiredness she can’t quite shake no matter how much she’s been sleeping lately.

The day had been spent with Danielle and the kids, and it had been fun. They had gone to the beach and gotten Thai food for dinner, the adults devouring pad thai while Annabeth watched Frozen again. It was nice; she loved her family, but she missed Bradley.

More than she thought she would.

They didn’t get a chance to properly say goodbye. He had received a hug and the same “be safe, see you in two months” as everyone else. There wasn’t a spare second to sneak away and kiss him goodbye; there was always someone near them the entire time.

All she could do was slip a good luck note into the palm of his hand and hug him for an extra second longer than anyone else. It was hardly anything, but he still gave her a big smile and a sneaky forehead kiss, whispering that his peanut butter bites were safely stored at the bottom of his pack.

For the millionth time since she sat with Mav in her office and they watched the carrier steam away, Mary wonders where Bradley is. Thanks to her security clearance, she knows he's floating somewhere in the Pacific, but nothing more.

Maybe he’ll come back with an even deeper tan.

Somehow, Bradley is always sort of tan, even in January. Yes, they live in California, where it’s beach weather year-round, but it’s like he was born with a built-in base layer of golden skin.

Bond is just about to magically escape from another precarious situation he’s gotten himself into when the doorbell rings. Mary peeks over the top of the couch, trying to figure out who could be at her front door. Her family is in New York, Slider went back to Pensacola last week, and the majority of people she knows in California are also in the middle of the ocean with Bradley.

The bell rings again, whoever it is knocking this time. She sighs - they’re not going away - and frees herself from her perfectly crafted blanket burrito, a poor substitution for the pair of strong arms she’s missing.

Carefully peeking through the side window, she’s surprised to find Flora standing there and quickly opens the door, a blur of red and pink taking over her vision.

“Happy birthday!” Flora yells, shoving an enormous floral arrangement in her face.

“Than- thank you?”

Mary tentatively grabs the vase, taken off guard, as Flora walks in and slips her clogs off. Dropping her huge L.L. Bean tote bag on the dining room table, Flora laughs at how Mary is frozen at the front door, flowers hiding her torso but not her confused face.

“Here, give me those, and you open this.” Flora pulls a box out of her Mary Poppins-sized bag and takes the vase back. She carefully places the arrangement on the island, fiddling with the stems so they look perfect.

“What is happening?”

“Well, your boyfriend came into my shop about three weeks ago and asked me if I would do him a favor. He was so sweet and pathetic; I couldn’t help but say yes.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Funny.” Flora hums, eyebrow arching in disbelief. “I didn’t say a name, but you knew who I was talking about.”

Mary flushes, the tips of her ears on fire as she tries to stutter out an excuse.

“It’s okay, Mary.” Flora takes pity on her. “I know it’s complicated, but let’s face it, that man would do anything for you. Which is why I’m here, on a Sunday night, with gifts.”

“Gifts?” Mary echoes. “Plural?”

“Mmhm. First up, a floral arrangement full of warm tones because “red is her favorite color, but all red would probably be overbearing” - which is a direct quote.”

“They’re beautiful, Flora.”

“He did a good job, and he deserves a reward for understanding that flowers are expensive and you can’t cheap out if you want a nice, big bouquet. Next is the box.” She slides the brown box across the table, fluffing the ribbon curls on top. “I have no idea what’s in that one.”

Mary carefully opens the ribbons tied around the box, her throat tightening when she takes the lid off. At the top is a notecard with Bradley’s handwriting.

She pulls the sweater out of the box, and her eyes start to water as she holds it up for Flora to see. It’s a light yellow, almost the same shade as the stick of butter softening on her counter, practically identical to the one sitting in her closet, a red stain still covering the front. The material is so soft she can’t help but press her face into it, tears escaping as Bradley’s cologne washes over her.

Fuck. I miss him so much.

This was anticipated; she knows how sad Dani can get during Reuben’s deployments. Knows how sad she would get when her best friend was gone for months. It’s only been two weeks, but it’s the longest they’ve gone without seeing each other. Even during the rough patch in January, they still got glimpses of each other at work. The worst part is not knowing how he’s doing. If he’s okay. She assumes he is; Mav hadn’t mentioned anything, and she’s pretty sure he would tell her.

It would be the only way she would find out. Mary isn’t naïve enough to believe that she would be a first-tier point of contact if he got hurt. They haven’t even gone on a date yet, and the only time they kissed was that day in her office.

She’s pulled out of the impending spiral by a gentle hand rubbing her shoulders, which she didn’t realize were shaking. She lets herself be comforted by Flora, the older woman pulling her into a hug, uncaring about the tears staining her shirt.

“Sorry.” Mary sniffles, pulling back after a minute to wipe her eyes. “I just really miss him, more than I thought I would.”

“It’s okay, I get it.”

“That’s right. I forgot about Jake.”

She realizes she said something wrong by the way Flora’s hand goes stiff on her back.

“Jake and I are not together.”

“Oh. He just- when we were talking, he kinda implied that the two of you were sort of seeing each other.”

“We’ve fucked a few times, we're not together.”

Mary blinks at her. Jake had never said anything about sex; he was lamenting that Flora didn’t want to see a movie he was excited about. Sad that the florist wouldn’t join him.

“Jake, I mean, I don’t know Flora very well, but I gotta say she doesn’t really seem like a zombie apocalypse kinda girl.” Mary gently soothed, trying to give equal attention to her email inbox and the mopey Texan. “Why don’t you find a movie you’ll both like?”

“I tried! She doesn’t want to go to the movies at all. I know she’s busy - like she runs a whole ass business all by herself - but it’s like she doesn’t even care that we’re gonna be gone for two months!”

“Did you tell her that you want to spend time together before you leave?”

“No. We’re just- that’s not-” Jake sighs, cut off by Mary’s phone.

They had never finished their conversation; Jake had a hop and Mary a meeting, and a few days later, he was shipping out alongside Bradley.

“Okay. I’m sorry, he didn’t mention that, so I must have misunderstood.”

“You probably didn’t.” Flora rolls her eyes. “Jake likes to talk like we’re together, but I’ve told him several times a relationship is not what I’m looking for from him.”

“Can I ask why?” She quickly backtracks when the other woman’s face scrunches up. “Oh my god, you absolutely don’t have to say anything. I wasn’t trying to push.”

“No, you’re fine. Jake is a great guy. He’s smart and funny and handsome, but we want different things in life. Things that can’t be compromised on and that I won’t ever change my mind about. So there’s really no reason for us to try anything serious. I told him that before they deployed, but I’m officially breaking it off when they’re back because I’m not sure he got the hint.”

“That makes sense; that’s probably the best way to go about it.” She nods, impressed by how strong Flora is in her conviction and a bit sad at the same time. Those two would be great.

“Sucks, though. He’s incredible in bed.”

Mary lets out a bark of laughter at the complete 180 in conversation. “That surprises me and doesn’t surprise me all at the same time.”

“It’s that atrocious arrogance of his, isn’t it?”

“Yes! An ego like that means a man is either totally overcompensating, or he knows he’s good, and he’s got the moves to prove it.”

“Oh, he’s got the moves. Believe me.” They laugh at the eyebrow wiggle that accompanies Flora’s words.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta know. That ridiculous Texas accent he pulls out when he’s trying to charm someone-”

“-does he use it in bed? More frequently than you would imagine.”

“Okay… but, like, does it do it for you?”

“I plead the Fifth,” Flora says as she furiously nods.

“Stop! Wait! And the cowboy hat?”

She laughs harder, tears in her eyes as she gasps, “Both of us!”

“You’ve both worn it?!”

Flora’s confirmation makes them both howl with laughter, Mary bending over and holding onto the table for support. It takes a few minutes for them to calm down, wiping tears away as they catch their breath.

“Well, that’s got to be the least shocking thing I’ve learned about Jake.”

It makes them both start giggling again; the blonde man’s affinity for his home state is well-known, frequently coming up in conversation.

“I should get going. I have to be up early to set up for a funeral. But I have one more thing for you, well, two things.” Flora dips back into her bag, pulling out a brown paper bag and a square envelope. “From Bradley.”

“McDonald’s?”

“Well, he requested I get you an apple pie - it had to be an apple pie - from Sift, but by the time I got there this afternoon, all their pies were gone. So I improvised, and thankfully, Mickey D’s had just done a fresh batch.”

“Apple pie is my favorite.” Mary quietly says, peeking into the bag and seeing five pie boxes. “Thank you for doing this, Flora.”

“It’s no problem. Bradley was so cute when he came in; I couldn’t help but agree. It’s sweet how much he cares about you.”

“I’m starting to understand how much he really does.” A content feeling settles in her chest, warming her up from the cold sadness that was taking over earlier.

Only 60 more days until Bradley is home.

“You’ll probably want to warm those up before you eat them,” Flora says, slipping her shoes back on, getting ready to leave.

“Hey, we're having a girls' night and putting together care packages for the Daggers next week. You should come, you can help with Nat’s box. Plus, it’s great to have extra hands to help put them together.”

“That sounds fun; I’d love to join you guys.” She opens the door and hesitates for a second, turning back to Mary. “No one knows about me and Jake hooking up. I didn’t tell Nat because she wouldn’t understand, and I don’t think he’s told anyone either. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“No problem. I’m always here to talk if you want some fairly neutral input.”

“Fairly neutral?”

She shrugs. “I know he can be an idiot, but Jake is a good guy, and he’s also my friend, so I can’t be completely unbiased about him. Fairly neutral is the best I can offer.”

“Fair enough.” Flora smiles at her, yelling back as she walks down the steps. “We should grab dinner sometime! Have a good night!”

“Night!” Mary waves, happier than she’s been since the beginning of the month.

She locks the door after making sure Flora gets into her car safely, promising herself that she’ll reach out to friends more. No more moping around, being sad that Bradley is gone.

I’ve got to learn how to deal with this if we’re going to date. It’s not like he’s going to leave the Navy; he’s going to be gone.

Snapping photos of her presents, she starts mentally composing the thank you email she’s going to send to Bradley. The Lincoln is on a communications blackout for the first three weeks of the cruise, but she’s been sending him little updates. Letting him know when she’s thinking of him, hoping she isn’t filling up his inbox too much.

She plops back into her favorite corner of the couch, stretching out on the chaise that makes her get a little hot under the collar every time she sits on it.

“Let’s read this card.” She mumbles to herself around a bite of pie as Bond saves the world and gets the girl.

A photo flutters out of the envelope as she pulls the card out, and she loses her breath when she flips it over. It’s the two of them on Valentine’s Day. When she made him pancakes, the photo he said he was going to tape up in his bunk.

A promise he followed through on, his last text showing off his rack. Corners of the blue blanket neatly tucked in, and the photo of the two of them taped on the wall right next to his pillow. Mary looks at the photo he printed for her, smiling at the happiness radiating from both of them. The corners of their eyes crinkled, and her dimple popping out; she still can’t quite believe that Bradley Bradshaw wants her, of all people.

Then she reads the card, and her insecurities quiet down for the night.

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[strangestcase]

I’m trying to start reading gothic literature, but I don’t really know where to start. What books in the genre would you recommend?

Cracks knuckles.

Start off with a selection of Edgar Allan Poe short stories. There's a reason he's considered the best Gothic writer. Most if not all of his fiction falls squarely into the gothic genre, even his non-horror production. The more you read the better, but The Fall of the House of Usher is one of the best representatives of the Gothic you can find. Also check out his poetry and scientific essays, if you can, the guy was a real Renaissance man. He also wrote one novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, which, along with Lovecraft's In the Mountains of Madness and Cambell's Who goes there? aka The Thing From Another World constitutes some sort of "trilogy" (since each story was based on the one prior).

Then you can move on to other short story selections. Short stories are easier to read and digest, I think, and plenty of fun. I recommend the following authors:

J. Sheridan Le Fanu- Irish writer that took a page from Irish folklore and legends. Madam Crowl's Ghost is a favorite of mine.

R. Louis Stevenson- usually a children's author, Stevenson liked to merge genres and used pretty interesting concepts for his horror production.

Guy de Maupassant- he was commisioned to write, so he often recycled entire concepts and plots, leaving us with many different versions of the same story (and a lot of heavy-handed morals. god bless).

Charles Dickens- predictably enough, he specialized in ghost stories

M. R. James- James' short horror stories have some of the most interesting monster concepts I've ever read, from a haunted dollhouse that recreates the events of a real-life haunting, to a possessed pattern print.

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer- little man puts the "Dark Romanticism" in, well, Dark Romanticism. If you know Spanish, do yourself a favor and read his short stories untranslated.

Elizabeth Gaskell- wrote plenty of good horror stories, and often from a female perspective, which is always a treat.

Bram Stoker- his stuff is very hit or miss, but when he hits, he hits hard. Read The Judge's House for a very nasty ghost story and then toss Stoker into the garbage because everything else he wrote is either comically racist or just dumb.

And now as for specific must-read short stories:

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman- maybe the true monster was medical misogyny all along! (Obvious content warning for graphic medical abuse, misogyny, and domestic abuse.)

What was it? by Fritz O'Brien- short story in the vein of "hey wouldnt it be fucked up if this happened?" Don't read if you have sleep paralysis.

The Open Door by Margaret Oliphant- a missing child, a mysterious door, and forces beyond human comprehension.

The Empty House by Algernon Blackwood- would you spend a full night in a haunted house? (Very paranoia inducing, it's such a treat.)

The Ghostly Rental by Henry James- in which the "ghosts" aren't actually ghosts, but something far, far weirder and cooler.

The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs- this tear-wrenching and suspenseful little tale will forever remind you to be careful what you wish for...

The gothic literature "classics", as in, full lenght novels and short novellas, can be a bit difficult to read due to length. My personal recommendations are:

Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley- a foundational text of science fiction with a nestled narrative frame and themes of personal and social responsability, bodily autonomy, and freedom. Young alchemist Victor Frankenstein attempts to blur the line between life and death, and unwittlingly sets off his downfall in the process by creating a humanoid creature he can't control and won't respond to. CW child death, death by axphysiation, incest, description of unsanitary environments.

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. Louis Stevenson- it is considered the first modern psychological horror story, and, while it's a mere sixty pages long, each and every one of them is packed with a dark revelation about tight-laced Victorian society. When his lifelong friend writes up a suspicious will leaving everything to a stranger, a lawyer decides to look into it, leading him down a spiral of discoveries all related to a disturbing experiment. CW suicide, graphic descriptions of violence, drug abuse.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan le Fanu- very much a classic vampire tale, with an interesting sapphic spin, in which the predatory lesbian trope bleeds, pun intended, into a twisted love story. Laura is a young girl who considers herself prim and proper, until the day the charming Carmilla stops by the family manor claiming to be her soulmate, sparking off a romance marked by a series of strange events. CW implied sexual assault, gore.

The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- I consider it an early attempt at daylight horror, and while the plot is mostly romantic drama (canonically bisexual romantic drama!), the descriptions make everything else worthwhile. Beautiful model Dorian Gray's life is changed when he befriends a cunning aristocrat, which prompts him to wish to remain young forever while his portrait ages in his place... and his wish is granted. CW extreme antisemitism, suicide, graphic descriptions of gore and violence.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James- a ghostly classic which is marked by its ambiguity and the opacity of its plot, all which make it all the more disturbing, if a little hard to follow at times. Bly Manor has appointed a new nanny to take care of a pair of twins, but soon enough, she finds out not all is well in the house, and a dark force might be preying on the children. CW implied incest, implied child abuse.

The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen- technically an example of very early cosmic horror, sitting at the intersection between Poe and Lovecraft, and clearly influenced by late Victorian scientific advancements. Some particularly gruesome deaths lead a group of men to slowly uncover the past of a one Helen Vaughan, and nature of a procedure performed on her mother before her conception. CW implied child abuse, suicide, sexual harrassment, human experimentation, extreme intersexism.

And those would be it!

[mi6-cafe]

Long Fic Readalong!

What: We’re going to celebrate longer fanfics by dedicating a few weekends to reading them. This means we’ll read one or two chapters each readalong session.

When: Every Saturday at 9pm eastern/6pm Pacific (your local time here)

Where: We’ll be reading on discord in the readalongs channel. (Invite to discord here, or message @spiritofcamelot)

Okay cool, but what fic? We are reading “Bond'n'Roll” by CMDAK. You can join us without any familiarity of the story and just ask for a recap on what you missed.

July 6th we will be starting with chapter 1!!

Please join us to read, to just hang out and listen, and to generally enjoy a good story together!

Chapters: 27/27 Fandom: James Bond (Craig Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: James Bond/Q, Eve Moneypenny/R Characters: James Bond, Q (James Bond), Alec Trevelyan, Eve Moneypenny, R (James Bond), M | Olivia Mansfield, Raoul Silva | Tiago Rodriguez, Le Chiffre, Safin (James Bond) Additional Tags: Rockstar AU, Possessive James Bond, Jealous James Bond, Jealous Silva, BAMF Q (James Bond), determined James Bond, Manager Q, Fluff Summary:

When one too many managers beg to either be reassigned or threaten to quit and go to SPECTRE, M decides to bring out the big guns and appoints Q to 'Shaken, not Stirred'. Some chapters will contain art by the lovely aliensundermybed. Fic based on their AU.

[drratiosstudent]

List of my favourite books / plays categorised by genres/authors

*In no particular order. It's hard to pick a favourite*

*Do search up the reviews, summary and trigger warnings for these books if you do intend to read it, many of them are not easy reads*

*For poetry, web novel, manga/hua/hwa/webtoon/anime/other recs, check my #WinterLEFavList tags~

*As of 3rd February 2025*

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

Deep/Classic/Heavy Books

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Ones who walk away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

1984 by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngoni Adichie

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngoni Adichie

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Aristotle and Dante Discover the secrets of the universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Maus (Graphic Novel) by Art Spiegelman

The boy in the striped pajamas by John Boyne

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Book of Evidence by John Banville

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Siddhartha Novel by Hermann Hesse

The weight of our sky by Hanna Alkaf

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

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

Morally gray/dark-ish/angst books

The Cruel Prince Series by Holly Black

Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard

Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo

Room by Emma Donoghue

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Gone Series by Michael Grant

The hate u give by Angie Thomas

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

Autobiography/memoir/non-fiction/based on true stories/self-help

Dear Life by Rachel Clarke

When Breath becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

The body keeps the score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Anne Frank's Diary by Anne Frank

January First: A Child's descent into madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield

The Man Who Mistook HIs Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

The Last Lecture by Jeffrey Maslow and Randy Pausch

Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius and Megan Lloyd Davies

Binge Crazy: A Psychotherapist's Memoir of Food Addiction, Mental Illness, Obesity and Recovery by Natalie Gold

Elena Vanishing: A Memoir by Clare B. Dunkle and Elena Dunkle

The happiness cure why you’re not build for constant happiness and how to find a way through by Dr Anders Hansen

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Beyond the Story by BTS and Myeongseok Kang

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

Other nice books I liked when I was younger (YA category I think?)

Rick Riordan books (PJO universe, Kane's Chronicles, Magnus Chase, Trials of Apollo, Crossovers etc.)

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hunger games by Suzanne Collins

Lorien Legacies by Pitaccus Lore (James Frey, Job Hughes and formerly Greg Boose)

Mortality Doctrine Series by James Dashner

Time Riders Series by Alex Scarrow

Mistborn (First book of the series by Brandon Sanderson) I've got too many books so I haven't started reading the series yet, but I did like the first book.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

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

Mystery/crime

Death in the Nile by Agatha Christie

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus

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

Plays

W;t Margaret Edson

A Doll’s House

A Streetcar Named Desire

You can’t tie a mustang down by Christos Chomenidis inspired by Euripides’ Ion

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

*I'll add web novels and poetry list in another section!*

[briankeene]

F.A.Q. The End Of The World As We Know It: Tales From Stephen King’s The Stand

What follows are the Frequently Asked Questions for THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: TALES OF STEPHEN KING’S THE STAND — a forthcoming anthology edited by myself and Christopher Golden. Please bookmark this page and check back from time to time, as I will update things as they develop.

Q: What is this, exactly?

A: An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.

Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Q: Who is in the book?

A: Featuring an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Christopher Golden, and an afterword by Brian Keene. Contributors include Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

Q: Who is the publisher?

A: Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, are publishing the hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions in North America. Various foriegn language editions will be published by various foreign publishers.

Q: So there will be hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions?

A: Yes. The hardcover and the eBook are already up for preorder via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all other booksellers. (Note: as of 10/16/24 Amazon’s hardcover link does not yet work, so check back often or use a different bookseller). You can also preorder from Overlook Connection and get a limited edition dust jacket by Glenn Chadbourne, as well as other cool collectibles.

Q: What’s the cost?

A: The hardcover is listed at $35. The eBook is listed at $16.99. The hardcover that comes with the extra dust jacket from Overlook is $69.95.

Q: Will there be a signed limited edition or a special collector’s edition of some kind?

A: Probably, but it is too early to say for sure.

Q: You listed the contributors above. Anything more you can tell us about the actual stories?

A: Sure. The book is split into four parts. Part One takes place during the initial spread of Captain Trips and the dreams. Part Two takes place between the migrations to Boulder and Las Vegas and the Hand of God moment. Part Three takes place after the conclusion of the novel, detailing the world in the decades that follow. And Part Four takes place… well, that would involve major spoilers.

Here is the finalized Table of Contents:

Foreword by Christopher Golden

Introduction by Stephen King

PART ONE: DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS

Room 24 by Caroline Kepnes The Tripps by Wrath James White Bright Light City by Meg Gardiner Every Dog Has Its Day by Bryan Smith Lockdown by Bev Vincent In A Pig’s Eye by Joe R. Lansdale Lenora by Jonathan Janz The Hope Boat by Gabino Iglesias Wrong Fucking Place, Wrong Fucking Time by C. Robert Cargill Prey Instinct by Hailey Piper Grace by Tim Lebbon Moving Day by Richard Chizmar La Mala Horla by Alex Segura The African Painted Dog by Catriona Ward Till Human Voices Wake Us, And We Drown by Poppy Z. Brite Kovach’s Last Case by Michael Koryta Make Your Own Way by Alma Katsu

PART TWO: THE LONG WALK

I Love The Dead by Josh Malerman Milagros by Cynthia Pelayo The Legion of Swine by S.A. Cosby Keep The Devil Down by Rio Youers Across The Pond by V Castro The Boat Man by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes The Story I Tell Is the Story of Some of Us by Paul Tremblay The Mosque at the End of the World by Usman T. Malik Abigail’s Gethsemane by Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus

PART THREE: LIFE WAS SUCH A WHEEL

He’s A Righteous Man by Ronald Malfi Awaiting Orders In Flaggston by Somer Canon Grand Junction by Chuck Wendig Hunted to Extinction by Premee Mohamed Came The Last Night of Sadness by Catherynne M. Valente The Devil’s Children by Sarah Langan

PART FOUR: OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE

Walk On Gilded Splinters by David J. Schow The Unfortunate Convalescence of the SuperLawyer by Nat Cassidy

Afterword by Brian Keene

[boxcarwild]

The Stalls of Barchester is the first of the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas strand, first broadcast on BBC 1 at 11.00pm on 24 December 1971. Based on the story "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral" from the 1911 collection More Ghost Stories by M. R. James, it was adapted, produced and directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark.

[pagan-stitches]

A Ghost Story For Christmas — The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1974), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark

Based on the short story by M. R. James

Tonight’s entertainment

[fingofinance]

Novated Lease FBT: How It Impacts Your Car Salary Packaging

When it comes to making the most of your salary package, a Novated Lease is a popular option for employees looking to drive a new car while potentially reducing their taxable income. However, understanding how the Novated Lease FBT (Fringe Benefits Tax) works is crucial to ensure you’re maximizing your benefits while staying compliant with tax regulations.

What is a Novated Lease?

A Novated Lease is a three-way agreement between you, your employer, and a leasing company. Essentially, your employer deducts car-related costs, such as lease payments, fuel, maintenance, and insurance, from your pre-tax salary. This arrangement can significantly reduce your taxable income, making it a financially attractive option for many.

What is Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT)?

FBT is a tax employers pay on benefits provided to employees or their associates, such as a company car. For those using a Novated Lease, FBT comes into play as the car is considered a fringe benefit. Understanding how FBT applies to your lease is essential for accurately calculating the overall cost and potential savings.

How Does Novated Lease FBT Work?

When you enter into a Novated Lease, the taxable value of the car—based on factors such as its purchase price and the distance traveled—determines the FBT liability. Employers typically offset this tax by passing it on to employees through salary deductions. This ensures the benefit of the lease is not entirely tax-free, but it can still offer significant savings compared to traditional car ownership.

The Benefits of a Novated Lease Despite FBT

While the inclusion of FBT might seem like a drawback, Novated Lease FBT still offers notable advantages:

Reduced Taxable Income: By packaging your car costs into your pre-tax salary, you lower your taxable income, potentially reducing the overall tax you pay.

Convenience: Bundling expenses like fuel, insurance, and servicing into a single payment simplifies your finances.

Cost Savings: Discounts on vehicle purchase prices and running costs are often available through fleet discounts negotiated by leasing companies.

Using a Novated Lease Calculator

One of the best ways to understand the financial implications of a Novated Lease and FBT is by using a novated lease calculator. These tools allow you to input details such as:

Your salary

The cost of the car

Expected annual mileage

Lease duration

The calculator provides a clear picture of your take-home pay after accounting for lease payments, FBT, and potential tax savings. This transparency helps you make an informed decision before committing to a lease agreement.

Testimonials: Real Stories from Novated Lease Users

"Switching to a Novated Lease was a game-changer for me. Even with the FBT considerations, my monthly car expenses dropped, and managing everything through salary packaging made life so much easier!" – Sarah M., Marketing Manager.

"Using a novated lease calculator helped me see the exact savings I’d get. It’s been a smooth experience, and I’m thrilled with my new car and the tax benefits!" – James R., IT Consultant.

FAQs About Novated Lease FBT

1. Does FBT make a Novated Lease less beneficial?

Not necessarily. While FBT is an added cost, the overall tax savings from salary packaging often outweigh the FBT liability, especially when using tools like a novated lease calculator to estimate your savings.

2. Can I avoid FBT altogether with a Novated Lease?

Some vehicles, such as electric vehicles (EVs) under certain conditions, may qualify for FBT exemptions or reductions. Always check current government policies or consult a tax professional for guidance.

3. What happens if I leave my job during the lease term?

If you leave your job, the lease can be transferred to a new employer, or you may need to take over the lease payments independently. It’s important to understand this clause in your lease agreement.

Conclusion

A Novated Lease can be a powerful tool for reducing your taxable income and enjoying the convenience of a new car. While Novated Lease FBT is a factor to consider, the benefits often outweigh the costs for many employees. By using resources like a novated lease calculator, you can gain a clearer understanding of the potential savings and make an informed decision tailored to your financial situation.

Salary packaging your car through a Novated Lease isn’t just about driving a new vehicle—it’s about driving smarter, saving tax, and simplifying your expenses. Explore your options and consult with your employer or a leasing specialist to ensure this financial strategy works for you!

[themculibrary]

Classic Marvel Fandom Tropes Masterlist

5 Times Peter Parker Was Sick 1 Time It Was The Avengers (ao3) - authornotes N/R, 3k

Summary: Basically Peter gets coddled, and then takes his revenge.

A Day In The Past (ao3) - CumberRachel steve/bucky E, 13k

Summary: Lounging on the couch with his boyfriend is usually how Steve loves to spend an evening, only he doesn't feel right. his head hurts, his muscles ache and its hard to breathe. Probably just exhaustion after a mission right?

A Drop In The Ocean (ao3) - veterani steve/tony T, 3k

Summary: Peter Parker never wanted to reveal to anyone that he was Spiderman.

Unfortunately, a guy called Darken decided to change that.

Aye Oh- Let's Go! (ao3) - FrozenHearts wanda/vision T, 12k

Summary: Flash knows something is up with Peter.

He sets about to prove it to the Decathalon Team.

Breathless (ao3) - thelittlestpurplecat steve/bucky E, 24k

Summary: Steve's Serum is failing. He's suffering again from asthma, colorblindness, dizziness and heart trouble, problems he thought he'd left behind in the 40's. Tony and Bruce can see the problem, but not how to fix it, and Bucky is determined through all of this to do what's best for Steve, even if he's not always sure what that is.

Carry on Wayward Son (ao3) - TinyButFierce G, 9k

Summary: Five times the Avengers didn’t meet Tony’s kid and the one time they did.

Dad Level: 3000 (ao3) - whumphoarder G, 5k

Summary: Peter comes down with the flu while visiting the Stark family (and Happy) at the lake house during his spring break from MIT. Thankfully, Tony has been spending the last five years honing his Dad Skills™. He's got this.

Don't touch him (ao3) - awesome_goddess_of_mischief phil/tony M, 3k

Summary: After Phil's death, the team moves into Stark tower to keep bonding. Tony is wearing himself thin trying to honour his husband's last wish, for the team to be together.

But it's slowly starting to become too much.

The team bullies continuely. Until one day the genius breaks. Luckily there's an unexpected guest ready to put the pieces back together again.

Give Up The Ghost. (ao3) - Chaneladdict bucky/peggy/steve E, 340k

Summary: Post WW2 leaves Peggy Carter picking up the pieces of her world after the loss of Steve Rogers, left behind dealing with the same loss and longing, Bucky Barnes attempts, albeit halfheartedly, to pick up the pieces of the same war, the same loss.

With more in common than they at first care to admit, we see what happens to those Steve loved and had to leave behind... And what happens when he comes back and finds the two people he loved most in the world, in love with each other and still VERY much in love with him.

A story of finding love in the most unconventional of places.

How To Hook A Superhero (ao3) - daynight steve/bucky M, 4k

Summary: Bucky is a college student who just got the internship of a lifetime, assisting a photographer whose latest assignment is to profile Captain America. The Captain couldn't possibly be interested…right?

It's Above My Clearance Level (ao3) - tsk G, 5k

Summary: In which Peter's class goes on a field trip to Stark Tower, and no one knows why this kid has such high clearance.

James Barnes, Agent of SHIELD (ao3) - Kala_Sathinee steve/bucky E, 75k

Summary: Bucky never fell from the train. When they storm the final HYDRA base, he’s there at Steve’s side. But Steve still goes into the ice, and Bucky is left to deal with a world without him. A world in which he tries to find a purpose.

Kissin’ Dynamite (ao3) - crime_fighting_spiderling mj/peter, pepper/tony G, 27k

Summary: “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” Peter spoke. MJ shoved a permission slip into his hand at his comment.

“You’re going.” She simply stated.

Where Peter and his class go on a field trip to Stark Tower.

Lights To Guide You Home (ao3) - JolinarJackson T, 185k

Summary: Tony becomes Peter's guardian after May dies unexpectedly and over the course of a year, they learn to become a family.

Louder Than Words (ao3) - ARGHHHHHH steve/tony G, 858

Summary: Domestic Avengers movie night, post 2012 Avengers.

Ned Leed's field trip to Stark Industries (ao3) - Drake_DiAngelo G, 15k

Summary: Your generic Field Trip trope, but slightly different because it's Ned centric and hopefully everyone stays in character.

Also, Peter is absolutely everywhere they go but they never quite manage to actually see him. (Or realize its him) They did see Spiderman though, so that's nice.

Our Lingering Frost (ao3) - eyres steve/bucky G, 7k

Summary: When S.H.I.E.L.D. finally locates the plane Captain America drove into the ocean, Colonel James Barnes drops everything to go bring Steve's body home at long last. He finds more than he was expecting.

Raise Me Up (ao3) - LBIGreyhound13 T, 124k

Summary: Takes place 10 months after Spider-Man: Homecoming. After Aunt May suddenly dies, Peter has nowhere to go. Luckily, there’s a certain mentor of his, who comes in to save him...in more ways than one.

Take Me Home (ao3) - dabblingwithwords steve/bucky, pepper/tony M, 78k

Summary: “I’m so sorry, I’m gonna help you I promise, just don’t move, fuck, I ran over Captain America–” the man apologized, over and over, and all Steve managed to say was, “You’re really attractive,” before passing out on the guy’s lap in the middle of the road.

Wingman (ao3) - sahiya G, 4k

Summary: Holy shit, Rhodey thought. Tony’s a dad.

[alexesguerra]

Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything Contributor(s): Doty, James R (Author) Publisher: Avery Publishing Group ISBN: 0593541146 Physical Info: 1.08" H x 8.48" L x 5.85" W (0.9 lbs) 304 pages James R. Doty, MD, is an adjunct professor at Stanford University and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). He serves on the board of a number of nonprofits and is the former chairman of the Dalai Lama Foundation. He is the host of the Into the Magic Shop podcast, which is also the title of his beloved and bestselling book. Review Quotes: "I encourage everyone to read the amazing new book by Dr. James Doty. Mind Magic reveals the power of self-agency to transform our good intentions into effective actions that will enhance your personal well-being and make our world a better place." --Phil Zimbardo, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Lucifer Effect and founder of the Heroic Imagination Project "In Mind Magic, noted Stanford scientist and physician James Doty shows us how to master our minds to find true fulfillment. This lucid and thought-provoking book challenges the way that you think about success, and can change your life." --Barnaby Marsh, Ph.D., Institute for Advanced Study and author of How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life "Using his own experience and solid neuroscience, Dr. Doty outlines a way for anyone, regardless of circumstance, to improve their lives and manifest their dreams." --Werner Erhard, founder of EST & Landmark Forum "Stanford neurosurgeon and compassion scientist James Doty shares the underlying neuroscience of manifestation. Through six short exercises we are taught to focus our attention, gain clarity and commit to our intentions, allowing us to reach our highest aspirations...that is real magic." --Paul Gilbert, Ph.D., OBE, author of The Compassionate Mind and Living Like Crazy "Dr. Doty offers us insights into manifesting our dreams using neuroscience, insights gained from a challenging childhood, and the stories of many others. Mind Magic brings all of this knowledge together to create a transformative path to achieve one's goals." --Scott Kriens, Chairman of Juniper Networks and founder of 1440 Multiversity "The idea of manifestation for many seems impossible. Dr. Doty intertwines his own life experiences with an understanding of the neuroscience of manifestation and makes what seems impossible, possible. Mind Magic offers us a clear path to making our dreams a reality." --BJ Miller, M.D., author of A Beginner's Guide to the End "Our happiness in many ways is related to our ability to manifest. Stanford neurosurgeon and neuroscientist James Doty is an expert in meditation and mind training. He explains how intention is manifested in the brain and offers six steps each of us can use to create the life we want. Powerful and profound." --Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive and The Sleep Revolution, CEO of Thrive Global "Manifestation isn't just magic --it's real neuroscience. What James Doty shows us in this book will change everything you thought you knew about how to reach a goal, realize a dream, or make a wish come true." --Chip Conley, New York Times bestselling author of Emotional Equations and founder of the Modern Elder Academy " Mind Magic is a book we need now! Dr. James Doty offers powerful, neuroscience-based techniques for manifestation that can change our lives and change our world." --Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason "Dr. Doty is to be congratulated for offering a practical guide based in neuroscience on the mechanics of how personal reality is created in consciousness." --Deepak Chopra, M.D., New York Times bestselling author, wellbeing expert and humanitarian "I have to confess that before reading this deeply fascinating book, I had always consigned the concept of 'manifesting' to the realms of New Age nonsense, along with astrology, crystals and the like. James Doty, the renowned neuroscientist and brain surgeon, has made me think again. Indeed he has truly made me think. Mind Magic is a remarkable and superbly written adventure into the mind and its hidden secrets. It may not enable you to manifest a Ferrari, but it will set you on to the road to manifesting prizes of far greater worth." --Stephen Fry, actor and comedian " Mind Magic doesn't just explain the neuroscience of manifestation, but provides readers with actionable techniques and exercises to change their lives and the lives of everyone around them. An illuminating exploration of our unlimited potential." --Tan Chade-Meng, New York Times bestselling author of Search Inside Yourself "Mind Magic takes us on a journey from ancient spiritual technique to modern neuroscience. It provides an expanded understanding of our personal power, as well as practical tools for embracing it. Dr. Doty shares secrets of manifestation based on his own experience as well as his scientific knowledge. It is his heart as well as his intellect that permeate the page, leaving us with the "fierce belief in possibility" that's promised at the beginning of the book. This book is about the mind but it's also about magic...for in truly understanding one, we understand the other." --Marianne Williamson, author, speaker, humanitarian and presidential candidate "Brilliant, passionate, and effective, this could be the best guide ever written to making your dreams come true. Integrating brain science, wisdom traditions, and practical psychology, it brings readers along a proven, step-by-step path toward fulfilling their goals. Along the way, Dr. Doty is a kind and encouraging presence, sharing many inspiring examples of others who have faced challenges and still succeeded using the methods he describes. A beautiful gem of a book." --Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom "Dr. Doty's book, Mind Magic, has given us a concrete program, based on neuroscience, into how to manifest our intentions the right way, and by doing so, we are empowered to live a life of meaning and purpose." --Jon Hamm, actor " Mind Magic is another master work by Dr. Jim Doty. He clears up the misunderstandings and false promises of the "law of attraction" through his deep scholarship, knowledge of neuroscience, and by doing so restores the integrity of manifestation. A must read for those who want to change their lives." --Lynne Twist, author, global activist, and founder of the Soul of Money Institute and the Pachamama Alliance Publisher Marketing: A deep exploration of the neuroscience behind manifestation, with a six-part plan for realizing your dreams For decades the practice of manifestation has been widely dismissed as self-involved, materialistic pseudoscience. But as neuroscientist and recognized compassion leader Dr. James Doty reveals, manifestation introduces us to different possibilities, and it lays the groundwork for a kinder, better world. Doty grounds us in the practices that change our brain structures: attention, meditation, visualization, and compassion. This mind magic allows us to move through the world in ways that help us see clearly--reclaiming our agency, realizing our dreams, and reaching out to help others along the path. Where previous works about manifestation have focused narrowly on outward success and individual benefit, Mind Magic delivers an openhearted call to make manifestation part of a deeper contribution to healing the problems we face today.