#by oll guest

[toastinthegrass]

- Don`t worry about it. It`s nothing. - You can tell me.

[cs-cabin-and-crew]

Some art I did for @lexeriaopyra and their OC! Thank you for giving me permission to draw your character!

I also tried a new style for fun so I hope you like it.

I’ve had to put it off due to school and job stuff (aka working with McCosh on her backerkit) but I’m so glad I got to her!

The OC is mentioned in @t-the-ring-master’s requested story from Bramble the mountain king!

Find the story here: https://www.tumblr.com/t-the-ring-master/760205460247871488/olle

[t-the-ring-master]

How Bramble: the mountain king characters react to the Nils king daughter helping Olle.

Request: circus guest anon

Request open.

Not me over here picking one of the trolls and naming him and giving him a backstory just for this.

I named him Mari after my dog Mars and a small streamer I watch. He used be human in this which is how I made them and the daughter know each other. The daughter is the requesters OC, and I wasn’t given a name so we’ll just refer to her as the kings daughter in this.

Loved this request and imma have fun with this one. I added the frog king because I can.

Olle:

He didn’t expect to receive help. Not so far into the forest and so far into the bloody water at that. But Olle knew he couldn’t be picky… he had to save her, with any help he could get.

Even if that help was the blood of the root cause of the horrors he’s been through. But most of all… he did expect to find help in a rock. How long had she been stuck in there?

Frog king:

He has no opinion really, he’s just a frog. But he was happy to help her and Olle get across the water.

Mari(the troll that first kidnaps Olle’s sister):

He wishes he could remember. He wishes he knew this body of his could remember her, the little girl he made an oath as a human to protect. The very reason he learned to pick up a blade. The reason he had become such a monster… but he doesn’t, he just knows he must feed the king. Mari may no longer be human, but he still has minimal control, he will stall himself. Maybe they’ll have a chance of escape if he just brings them to the castle rather than make them a meal. No matter how starving he is.

(Lowkey wanna write a mini story on this man now. Of course with requester’s permission because the princess is their OC.)

King Nils:

She was the last thing he saw when he turned into this… she will be the last thing he sees when he finally is free, even if it destroys everything around him.

Despite his hope, he didn’t expect to see his son and daughter together once again. Only this time it isn’t his beloved son, it isn’t the child he lost and that caused him to do this to himself, to his daughter. He doesn’t even care about Olle at that point… he just hopes she can forgive her father for the sins he has committed, and the hell he made her life.

Lemus:

If she’s a friend of Olle’s, then she is a friend of Lemus. He likes her, she’s nice.

He just wishes she didn’t stay when the castle fell and Olle didn’t get hurt.

Näcken:

No thoughts… just Violin -more like violence-, and murder. Why is he falling? Why can’t he feel anything anymore? And why can he hear familiar voices around him? Is this the price he pays for everything? Why does it… feel nice? For once he feels human again. Maybe that fall wasn’t such a bad thing.

Never mind, his spine hurts.

[burlveneer-music]

Beat Funktion - Skywards - the grand finale & title track of their new album, on which they lean into 70s-style disco-jazz

Finally, the eighth studio album by chart-topping funk maestros Beat Funktion is here, entitled "Skywards". Foot-tapping grooves and electrifying jazz solos grace each and every bar of the Swedish funkateers’ dance-floor-friendly new repertoire… Swedish funk sextet Beat Funktion amazed worldwide audiences back in 2014 when three of their albums, "Voodooland", "Mandy’s Secret" and "Olympus" peaked at #1 on the American and Canadian jazz charts, raising the question how Sweden and funk could possibly have anything to do with eachother. Today, the band has established itself as one of Scandinavia’s most ardent and prolific funk groups, showcasing a delicious Nordic retro-sound with heaps of jazz and psychedelia thrown in. Band members are top jazzers Karl Olandersson on trumpet, Olle Thunström on tenor sax, Johan Öijen on guitar, Daniel Lantz on keys, Pal Johnson on bass and Jon Eriksson on drums - now with guests percussionist Ola Bothzén and vocalist Sara Englund adding extra spice. In a true 70s fashion, "Skywards", boasting 11 tracks, is a rich and varied concept album with a sci-fi vibe, aimed for the dance hungry party-goers as well as the arty, beard-scratching connoisseurs…

[laresearchette]

Wednesday, February 08, 2024

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: SANTO MALDITO (Disney + Star) SUPER BOWL GREATEST COMMERCIALS: BATTLE OF THE DECADES (Global) 8:00pm NOT DEAD YET (CTV2) 8:30pm KUNG FU (CTV2) 9:00pm VANDERPUMP RULES (Slice) 9:00pm A MILLION LITTLE THINGS (W Network) 10:00pm SOUTH PARK (Much) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT THE FLASH (CW Feed/Premiering on February 10 on Netflix Canada)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

DISNEY + STAR ALONE (Season 6) AMERICAN PICKERS: BEST OF SEASON 3 AND 4 AMERICAN PICKERS (Seasons 21-23) ARRANGED (Season 1) ATLANTA PLASTIC (Season 1) BROKE-ASS BRIDE (Season 1) DANCE MOMS: MIAMI (Season 1) DANCE MOMS (Season 7) EMPIRE OF LIGHT THE FIRST 48 (Seasons 17-18) FORGED IN FIRE (Seasons 2-3) ICE ROAD TRUCKERS (Season 11) INTERVENTION (Seasons 19, 21-22) KINDRED LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT (Season 1) MARVEL STUDIOS’ ASSEMBLED: THE MAKING OF BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER ME AND MICKEY (Season 1) MIRACULOUS TALES OF LADYBUG AND CAT NOIR (Seasons 1-3) SANTO MALDITO (Season 1) STORAGE WARS (Season 2 and 14) STORAGE WARS: UNLOCKED (Season 1)

NETFLIX CANADA BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND THE EXCHANGE

G LEAGUE BASKETBALL (TSN4) 11:00am: Maine vs. Raptors 905

BOLLYWED (documentary) 7:00pm/7:30pm (SEASON FINALE): Mom puts Chandni and Roop in charge of an important event; Chandan is put on ice while organizing a surprise for Kuki. In Episode Two, Kuki is missing when the family prepares for its first solo fashion show and the clock ticks down to Diwali.

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 7:30pm: 76ers vs. Celtics (TSN/TSN4/TSN5) 7:30pm: Spurs vs. Raptors (SN1) 10:00pm: Mavericks vs. Clippers (TSN) 10:00pm: Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

NHL HOCKEY (SN) 8:00pm: Canucks vs. Rangers

STILL STANDING (CBC) 8:00pm: Ucluelet, BC: Perched on the most westerly edge of Canada and despite its incredible beauty, Ucluelet is having to work hard to attract tourists from its well-known neighbor, Tofino.

RUN THE BURBS (CBC) 8:30pm:  Camille hosts a menu-tasting for famous guests; Andrew refuses money from his parents, even though times are tight. PRETTY HARD CASES (CBC) 9:00pm: Sam, Kelly, Naz, and Nathan stage a purple rain take-down at a roller-skating rink; on her way there, Kelly is shaken by an eye-opening altercation with the police.

THE MACHINERY (Crave) 9:00pm: Olle hides the bag of money; police detective Nina finds evidence indicating Olle is the one who ordered the equipment used in the robbery; whoever is trying to set Olle up seems to have done a good job.

FURY (Crave) 9:50pm: Undercover cop Ragna infiltrates a nationalistic subculture following a killing in Norway, and her journey pulls her into a spiral of hatred and reveals a terrorist plot aimed at the heart of Europe.

[cawamedia]

ASEAN day 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden

The Embassy of Malaysia and the Embassy of Thailand in Sweden invited Cawa Media for the wonderful ASEAN day 2024. The ASEAN Committee including Olle Burell from the Stockholm City Council, adressed CAWA Media and distinguished guests and ambassadors on the traditional ASEAN Day event that was hosted in Stockholm on the 15th of June 2024. Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and…

[stellan-bluesman-viking]

Rest & Bar "MÖLLAN" Proudly Present's Sun 17 Dec - 2023 - FU_K CHRISTMAS !!! A Soul-Funk & R'N'B Christmas Party @ 3 Advent Event !!! https://fb.me/e/xwha4Oq3B with - VIKING's - L.L.B.B. = Lovely Little Big Band !!! Orchestra Line Up 2U4 The Night Is: Feat: Host, Chapel Master & Vocal = Stellan "Iry" Viking... Mrs, Brown aka or alias = Anna Lindahl Ståleker: Lead Vocal. Per-Oscar Nilsson: Lead Guitar. Oskar Ek: Lead Guitar. Karl Martin Almqvist: Tenor Saxophone. Fredrik Davidsson: Trumpet. Ola Åkerman: Trombone. Maciej Szymczynski: Piano & Key's. Johnny "Big Time" Åman: Electric Bass. Nelson Galott Rivera: Percussion. Olle Dernevik: Drums. Samuel "Tin Man" Albertsson: Drums. + Guest Artist's All Night Long !!! Benny Pedersen: Pedal Steel Guitar. Viggo Bjerhagen: Blues Guitar. https://www.facebook.com/events/3213141965657845 @ The Stage 20.30-23.00 (2-Set) Show !!! Be In Time / It's Gonna Be Full Packed !!! _____________________________________________ FU*K CHRISTMAS & VIKING's L.L.B.B. (Lovely Little Big Band) @ Möllan / Sadde’s Place -2023-12-17- 001 https://youtu.be/caFauQulNxg?si=WvzQSUrnhWzUGFle _____________________________________________ FU*K CHRISTMAS & VIKING's L.L.B.B. (Lovely Little Big Band) @ Möllan / Sadde’s Place -2023-12-17- 002 https://youtu.be/QUhdMIvVl38?si=vDpydMACxyL2ww0a _____________________________________________ Arr: * Sadetti Dagli, Rosa Vera Gildag, Möllan Crew & WorldwidewelcomE *

[travelmemorie]

Jeju Island, located in South Korea, is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty, unique culture, and stunning landscapes. If you are planning a visit to Jeju Island and seeking exceptional accommodations, you're in for a treat. The island boasts a wide range of hotels that offer luxurious amenities, breathtaking views, and top-notch services. Whether you are looking for a beachfront retreat, a secluded mountain getaway, or a modern resort, Jeju Island has something to suit every taste and preference.

Main Points

Shilla Stay Jeju: Located in the heart of Jeju City, Shilla Stay Jeju is a modern and stylish hotel offering comfortable rooms with contemporary designs. The hotel features a rooftop pool with panoramic views of the city, a fitness center, and a variety of dining options. Its convenient location provides easy access to popular attractions, shopping districts, and local restaurants.

Lotte Hotel Jeju: Situated near Jungmun Beach, Lotte Hotel Jeju is a luxurious resort that offers a range of facilities and amenities for a memorable stay. The hotel features spacious rooms with ocean or mountain views, an outdoor swimming pool, a golf course, and an extensive selection of restaurants and bars. Guests can also enjoy various recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and water sports.

The Shilla Jeju: Known for its elegance and sophistication, The Shilla Jeju is a renowned 5-star hotel located in a stunning natural setting. The hotel offers spacious rooms with luxurious furnishings, multiple restaurants serving international and Korean cuisine, a spa, and a fitness center. Guests can also enjoy access to private beaches, lush gardens, and breathtaking views of the ocean.

Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju: Nestled amidst the picturesque surroundings of Jungmun Beach, Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju provides a tranquil and luxurious retreat. The resort offers well-appointed rooms with private balconies, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, and a variety of dining options. It is an ideal choice for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation in a serene environment.

Kensington Jeju Hotel: Situated near Seogwipo City, Kensington Jeju Hotel is a boutique-style hotel with a charming European-inspired design. The hotel features elegant rooms, a rooftop pool, a garden terrace, and a restaurant offering panoramic views of the ocean. It is conveniently located near attractions such as Jeongbang Waterfall and Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market.

Jeju Haevichi Hotel: Located in Seogwipo City, Jeju Haevichi Hotel offers a combination of modern luxury and traditional Korean elements. The hotel boasts spacious rooms, a large outdoor pool, a spa, and various dining options showcasing local flavors. It is known for its attentive service and scenic views of the surrounding nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jeju Island offers a selection of exceptional hotels that cater to different preferences and provide unforgettable experiences. From modern and stylish accommodations to luxurious resorts and boutique-style hotels, there is something for everyone. Whether you seek breathtaking ocean views, serene natural surroundings, or convenient city access, the hotels on Jeju Island deliver with their top-notch amenities, attentive service, and beautiful designs. Immerse yourself in the charm of Jeju Island by choosing one of these exceptional hotels for an extraordinary stay that complements your exploration of this captivating destination.

[nanowrimo]

4 Things to Focus on in Your First Rewrite

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Reedsy, a 2018 “Now What?” sponsor, is a user-friendly site that helps authors find editors, designers and publicists. Today, Reedsy staff writer Martin Cavannagh shares his top tips on how to approach your first novel edits:

Everybody talks about how hard it is to finish a first draft—as if to suggest everything that comes after that is a joyride. But in reality, the work has only begun.

Many advice posts will offer a laundry list of novel revision tactics: Show, don’t tell! Hone your dialogue! Get rid of unnecessary adjectives! These are all valuable tips, but your first rewrite must focus on basic storytelling. In this post, we’ll look at four things you should address in your first revision.

1. Uncover any hidden motifs and themes.

All artists (novelists included) will have specific obsessions and interests that percolate under the surface of their consciousness. In a quick first draft, it’s inevitable that some of these interests will work their way into your work. One hallmark of a skilled novelist is the ability to identify these motifs and lean into them.

For example, you may realize that your protagonist is betrayed by a number of her allies—and from that, it can become apparent that the idea of trust and faith plays a big part in your novel.

Once you’re able to identify your theme—that is, the spine of your story—you may find it easier to rewrite scenes to reinforce this idea and bring cohesion to your novel.

2. Identify your protagonist’s arc.

At its core, a story isn’t just a series of events that take place in a world. Drill into any story and you'd find that it’s almost always about characters dealing with conflict and change. A character arc is the internal journey that undertaken as a result of the plot.

TV’s Breaking Bad is about a chemistry teacher who starts making drugs and fighting the law. But if you track Walter White’s character arc, it’s also about a man who sacrifices his principles in the pursuit of power—and the real underlying story is his evolution from mild-mannered teacher to drug kingpin.

So ask yourself: “What want does your character have at the start of your book? And, under pressure, what are they willing to do to get it?

As your story develops, you may find that the answer to that last question changes: that’s character development, and as long as that change is logical in some way, then you have the basis of a character arc.

3. Ask, “what does this scene achieve?”

Very often, rewriting involves a whole lot of cutting out.

Of course, this is your book, and you can go on as many story tangents as you please. But if your intention is for other people to read your book, you need to be conscious of their time and interest. To ensure that you maintain momentum in your novel, you need to ask yourself what scene achieves.

If you aim to create a tight, propulsive structure, each of your scenes must either advance your plot or reveal something about your characters. Of course, there are exceptions to this loose rule: you may have chapters that are designed to elaborate on the world of your book. In these cases, you could argue that you are giving some greater context for why your character is the way you are. But if there’s a wonderfully written chapter that does absolutely nothing for character or story, you can either rewrite it so that it does or remove it to preserve the pace of your novel.

4. Build to an ending that is surprising and inevitable.

Sticking the landing is always one of the hardest things to do. The good thing about writing novels is that, unlike gymnastics, you can take all the time in the world to figure out how best to nail your ending.

In Poetics, Aristotle talks about the nature of drama and how an audience will respond well to endings that take them by surprise. But that in order for them to be truly satisfied, every step leading to that ending must be logical. When your reader reaches the climax of your novel, they won’t be saying, “Wait! Where the heck did that come from?!”

Twist endings, of course, shouldn’t be the goal of every novel. But if your climax involves a big reveal, make sure that you seed little clues in the build—so that readers can look back and go, “Ah, now I see what that means.”

The basic story elements that you’ll focus on in a first rewrite will be the firm skeleton upon which you will lay the muscle and skin of dialogue and narration. Once your characters are fully realized, and your structure is tight, you’re off to the races and ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of crafting remarkable prose.

For more tips on writing novels, check out this free online course from author Ben Galley.

Martin Cavannagh is a staff writer at Reedsy, a curated marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world’s best editors, designers and marketers. Over 2,500 books have been produced with Reedsy since 2015.

[theladyofdeath]

In the Bleak Midwinter {15}

A Throne of Glass Period AU: 1920s.

Summary: 2 years after Arobynn Hammel is killed by Rowan Whitethorn, Maeve has returned from Eyllwe with a vengeance. Meanwhile, Rowan is getting married, Lorcan is a father, and Lysandra is finally ready to give her heart away. There’s been peace in The Cadre’s Orynth for 2 years, but peace never lasts.

A/N: I am so sorry it took me so long to update this! I have a lot of WIPs going on at once. I promise to update this again this week, though! Anyway, enjoy! I mean...if you can...

All characters belong to SJM. I am no more than a fan with a plot.

**Warning: mature content - language, alcohol use, drug use, sex, murders and shit.

Links & masterlists:

Fanfic Masterlist

Ask me

The Cadre - 1920s AU {TOG}

In the Bleak Midwinter {The Cadre, Part 2}

Lysandra rolled over to find Aedion watching her with tired eyes. She chuckled, quietly, before rolling herself on top of him and pressing her mouth to his.

“Good morning, husband.”

“Wife,” he mumbled, his deep voice raspy from sleep, his hands wandering down to her bare ass. 

“I like that name on your lips,” she mumbled, rocking herself against his hardened cock.

He groaned, and flipped her over. Her back hit the mattress as he hovered over her, as his lips trailed down the side of her neck. With her fingers tangling into his long, golden hair, Lysandra’s eyes drifted shut as she allowed her husband to explore her body.

Those beautiful, soft lips trailed down her shoulder and across her collarbone, down to her breasts where he worshiped her, slowly, with his tongue, his lips. She never opened her eyes, she let herself get lost in his touch, and his touch alone. Aedion was always so gentle, so delicate, while being fully confident in everything he did to her. He wanted her to know that she was respected, adored, that he didn’t want to be like all the assholes she was forced to be with throughout the years. He never wanted her to feel degraded. And yet, at the same time, he had to let her know just how wild, how completely barbaric she made him. 

As his lips trailed lower, he displayed just that. 

His mouth wandered between her legs, his head disappeared beneath the sheets. Lysandra gripped onto the pillows that surrounded her as he stroked her in an agonizingly slow pace between her folds. She let loose a breath as her back arched, as his tongue took its sweet time tasting her. 

“Is this how you’ll wake me up every morning?” Lysandra breathed.

Aedion hummed something against her sex that brought an entirely new sensation sweeping through her body. 

She took it as a yes, and remained silent as he worked his charm. Silent enough, anyway. She couldn’t help the sounds she made as he sucked on her clit and held her ass down firmly against the mattress to keep her from writhing. 

And when he leaned up and pushed his cock inside of her, Lysandra became undone, her voice unable to not be heard.

She didn’t care.

Let them hear. 

She let them hear her joy, her triumph, her peace in the fact that she had married a man who loved her, respected her, a man who she was so madly in love with that it made her feel invincible, even in the chaos that was their lives. 

~~~

Rowan hated having so many people in the house. He was on guard, even though it was broad daylight and plenty of innocent people were around. He liked to think that even Maeve had a slight inkling of morals inside of her, somewhere. 

Aelin was loving it. She was loving the florists and the decorators and the caterers spread throughout the estate. His beautiful, pregnant wife was a people person, and she had been secluded for too long. 

“The band will be showing up soon,” Aelin told him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He chuckled, and kissed her, softly.

“Can’t wait,” he lied, and when the doors to the ballroom opened, his hand went straight for his gun, out of habit, out of instinct. 

It was only Gavriel and Natalia, and it was the latter who was talking and the former who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else in the world. He gave Rowan a pleading look, but Rowan only grinned. 

Gavriel had gotten himself into that mess and Rowan was having too much fun watching the outcome to help him out of it. 

“I wish you’d calm down,” Aelin said, quietly, running her hands down his forearms. “There’s going to be so many people here, Ro. And it actually feels normal for once. Haven’t you missed being normal?” 

Rowan snorted. “When have our lives ever been normal?”

“Normal for us,” Aelin clarified.  

“You should really be taking it easy, you know,” Rowan mumbled, cupping her face in his hands. “That baby needs to eat at some point. And rest. Maybe you should, you know, eat then rest instead of running around like a madwoman.” 

“Calling me a madwoman only makes me crazier,” she said, pressing her lips to his before fluttering off, yet again.

He watched her go, smiling fondly after her. She didn’t take his advice, whatsoever. For the rest of the afternoon, all she did was make sure the estate was in pristine condition. 

At least someone was doing it, he supposed.

He certainly didn’t want the job. 

Lorcan seemed to be doing well. Rowan thought that even he was excited to be around a crowd again - and Lorcan hated crowds nearly as much as Rowan did. Elide loved crowds though, loved people, loved parties. Maybe the event reminded him of her. Maybe he was channeling her energy. 

Even Rowan had to admit the sight of him chasing Lucy around the ballroom and through the halls was a sight to behold. 

Elide would be proud.

By the time guests began to arrive, Rowan was dressed in his finest suit, per his wife’s request, and greeting each of them as they came in, encouraging them all to donate to the building of the new library, which he would also be doing.

Gavriel was the one who was truly good at talking to strangers. Rowan tended to scare most of them, Lorcan more so, and Fenrys was keeping himself hidden in the corner. Vaughan was good at smiling, and nodding thanks to those who came into the door, but it was Gavriel who had a true way with words, a warm welcoming. 

It was because of that that Rowan made him stay close to the entryway.

His warm demeanor, and the fact that he could pick out a traitor, a fake, instantly, and had a great shot. 

“You need to relax,” Aelin whispered into Rowan’s ear, when it was clear he was tense. “You said tonight was safe, and if everyone else sees you uneasy, they’re going to panic.”

Rowan nodded, but didn’t say a thing. All day all he could think about, the second people began to stream through the door, was that this was a mistake.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, though. Natalia floated around Gavriel with a drink in her hand, even though she never actually said a word to him, allowing him to do his job. Lorcan walked around with Lucy in his arms, showing her off to every swooning woman that looked his way. Lorcan may not have been good with people, but Lucy was a definite conversation starter in her little, red frilly dress. Vaughan was walking around the room, silently thanking everyone for coming. Lysandra and Aedion were obsessed with the world now knowing they were man and wife, and had already told the story of their wedding a hundred times. 

Although Fenrys lingered in the corner, his foot tapped along with the beat of the band. 

“Ro.” His eyes snapped down to Aelin, who was frowning. “You’re worrying me.” 

“Why?” he asked, then forced a smile. “Go have fun, A. Enjoy your time. I’m alright, alright?”

Her smile was uncertain, but she nodded, nonetheless. After finding Lysandra and dragging her friend onto the dance floor, Rowan went to check all the posts, to make sure everything was secure. 

~~~~

Aelin was exhausted. 

Being pregnant and socializing with people for hours on end did not collide well. By the time ten rolled around, she was ready to be in her comfy clothes, in bed.

It seemed that Lucy thought the same, as she was sound asleep on Lorcan’s shoulder.

“Want me to bring her up with me?” Aelin asked, stifling her yawn. “Natalia’s drunk off her ass and I’m exhausted.” 

Lorcan chuckled and looked around at the still bustling party. “Yeah, that’d be great.” 

Aelin smiled as she took Lucy from Lorcan’s arms. The toddler barely stirred as she settled against Aelin, her cheek resting on her aunt’s shoulder. After telling everyone goodnight, Aelin was walking up the stairs with a snoozing Lucy. 

After getting into Lorcan’s bedroom, Aelin dug up a little nightgown and helped an exhausted Lucy into it before sitting in the corner rocking chair for a moment to help her settle back down. Once she was sleeping soundly with her mouth hanging open, Aelin carried her to her crib and laid her down. For a moment, she looked at the toddler, admiring the little miracle. She looked so much like her father, but so many things about Lucy reminded her of Elide. Her wild nature, her curiosity, her beautiful smile. Aelin missed her friend, missed the girl she had grown up with, but she was so grateful to have Lucy, someone Aelin could watch grow up, someone to remind Aelin everyday of the young life that was lost too soon. 

She kissed the toddler’s forehead before settling onto Lorcan’s bed. With all the people downstairs, Aelin thought it best to stay close. Surprisingly, Lorcan’s bed smelled pretty good. It was definitely comfortable. With a yawn, Aelin closed her eyes and settled into a deep, peaceful sleep. 

The next time she opened her eyes, though, she was met with a knife at her throat and malicious, violet eyes staring back at her in the darkness. 

~~~~~

Lorcan was exhausted by the time the workers were breaking down the decor. They had raised a ton of money for the library, which was a good thing, but Lorcan could have done without the endless conversing with other people. Elide had always been the people person, not him. 

As he padded up the stairs, all he wanted was to fall into his bed and sleep for days. With a yawn, he stumbled through his doorway, and strutted to the little hall in between his bedroom and Natalia’s that she shared with Lucy. 

He was only a few feet away from the crib when he stilled. At first, he thought it was a trick of the light, thought the darkness was messing with his mind. Then he took another step closer, and another, and another, until his fingers were gripping the side of the crib and his knuckles were turning white.

A panic began to rise in the pit of his stomach when the realization hit him.

The crib was empty. 

He looked around as if Lucy had climbed out of her crib and began to discover the excitement of the room. As if she could have been hiding, Lorcan began to tear the room apart. Books fell to the ground, pillows flew across the room, everything inside of Natalia’s wardrobe was thrown out.

Lucy was nowhere,

“Lucille!” he yelled, knowing full well that his voice was full of terror. A thousand different scenarios ran through his mind, all with a different outcome, all unimaginable. “Lucy!” 

With Natalia’s room a mess, he found nothing, and he was just about to tear the rest of the estate apart when he threw open the door.

Rowan stood there, his eyes wide. 

Locan’s chest was heaving as he met his friend’s stare. 

“Aelin’s gone,” Rowan whispered, holding up a note. The pristine cursive was all too familiar. “And she has Lucy, too.” 

~~~~

@mariamuses  @garnet-29  @writer-reader-traveller  @rowaelin-cressworth  @space-buns-arsinoe  @negativenesta  @empress-ofbloodshed  @the-regal-warrior  @starseternalnighttriumphant  @westofmoon  @sammyjojaaaa  @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter  @carbconnoisseur @acer6437  @lorcansalvatearupmyheart  @cool-ish-nerd  @mynewdreamwasyou  @mourning-razorlust  @thespiritualrider  @rowaelinforeverworld  @didsomeonesayviolin  @gloriouspaintercreatorbandit  @yeah-just-ignore-me-thanks  @queen-of-glass  @the-dark-swan  @http-itsrebecca  @holdingon-21@babycardan @tswaney17  @mollycateoc  @chemicha  @bat-wing-rhys @exersize-me-i-dare-u @thespiritualrider  @luna-the-little @morebooks-pls  @shyvioletcat  @hermajestyanna  @a97girl  @stardustsroses  @queenofthemoon22 @alifletcher2012  @awkward-avocado-s  @faerie-queen-fireheart  @cwheart  @lovemollywho @emilyrose111294  @nerdperson524  @sleeping-and-books @cursebreaker29 @flora-and-fae @feyrethedarklady @the-dark-swan @rowaelinforeverworld @sjmsstuff @januarystears @mis-lil-red  @acourtofmoonlight   @rowaelinforeverworld  @courtofmaasdestruction @jjellybean  @thewayshedreamed  @wind-drinker  @aelin-rowan-whitehorn  @starseternalnighttriumphant  @hurema @http-itsrebecca  @lorcansalvatearupmyheart  @cityofchelsea16 @januarystears  @iliketoasterstrudels  @lightitup-bryce  @yikesitsmaddie @feyrethedarklady @i-love-all-books  @keshavomit  @sleeping-and-books @scarznstars  @http-itsrebecca @cat5313 @moondancer-204  @booklover242 @belamoonbeam @they-call-me-cuatro   @b00kworm  @mu-si-ca-l   @thegayerpotato  @abraxos-is-toothless  @keshavomit  @musicdreamer003   @superspiritfestival  @sailorsassley  @mymultiversee @alxanxah @viviaannvu123  @mysweetvillain @theghostlyharrypooperfan @highqueenofelfhame​  @shyvioletcat @maastrash @the-third-me​ @rinad307

[clouds-of-wings]

Drinking spiced cherry wine from the discounter and actually reading the lyrics of Beloved Antichrist for once - Part 2 (Act 1)

Narrator: At this point, Seth is still with his parish and has no idea he’s the Antichrist Seth, speaking for the first time: WOE TO YOU, EARTH AND SEA!

PArish not pErish! Learn English! The mistake comes twice in a row, so I know it’s not just a typo.

“Lift from me infant smiles”, wut? Does that mean that he’s being reborn into maturity? Huh... alright.

Actually if I’m going to comment every time they use an expression that’s like a square peg in a round hole I’ll be typing until 4am, so let’s just say WUT really loudly ONCE and let it cover the whole opera.

I’m gonna stop commenting on the bad English too. I say this with all the affection available to me (like 9 affections) but bad English is a job requirement if you’re gonna write lyrics for Therion. This is how it has always been. If you can reliably create a present tense verb form and remember the s behind the third person singular - don’t apply. And the singers always go along with it. I’ll drink some more wine and say it adds to the charm.

The opera passes the Bechdel test in the second song.

Cmon, “United States of Europe”? Is that the best name you guys could come up with? How bout Eurotopia? Eurotzania? Jesus Christ Superstate? Greater Berlin Area? European Union Rules Oll People Everywhere?

There’s actually a lot going on here story-wise. I wouldn’t have thought it since all the songs kiiinda sound very similar to me. I mean I like the opera very much, musically, but the songs kinda merge into one another. They could have been one 3 hour long song. Land of Canaan has more different styles in it to my ear, and that’s “only” 10 minutes. Actually it has more styles to my eyes. My synaesthesia sees all of BA very similarly. Same colours, same textures, same sense of space. How much so? Enough that I kept abbreviating the name of the opera to “BC” instead of “BA” because the colours of the letters fit better and I didn’t even realize my mistake for a while.

I REALLY have questions about the logistics. In a steampunk post-apocalyptic world they have a continent-wide election..? Just, how long does that take? How do they communicate the results? Did they lay new phone lines? Are the old ones still functional? Do they send letters or send a messenger to inform of the regional results? What are the ballots made of? Did they build new paper processing plants? How did they get mass production back on its feet anyway? Whom did they force into the mines?

More problems that the anime adaptation will sort out, I guess.

Johanna does her duty as big sister in warning Helena not to believe every random man who acts like he’s the second coming of Christ & God’s gift to the world, a touch of realism

Seth needs only the barest of friendly pokes to fall from faith, This is Most Concerning. And understandable if you read the notes to the piece in question, but in the actual text of the opera it isn’t even mentioned before that he can’t hear God anymore. A bit rushed. Maybe they cut out a song? IIRC the original version of the opera was half an hour longer.

Also I love how meta “The Solid Black Beyond” is. “Hey WHY do you worship Jesus, I made you, you’re my son, do what I want you to do instead and, uhhh trust me it will TOTALLY work out fine!” - spoken by Satan, who is voiced by - the composer.

The president of Europe reads a brilliant insightful book and immediately realizes how misguided he has been. Hahaha. Ohh bless your hearts, guys. If only.

Garden of Peace needs to be much MUCH longer. None of the stuff mentioned in the summary actually happens in the text. Helena tells Seth her life story? BITCH WHERE!

It really bothers me that the text - not just here - focuses almost exclusively on the emotional content of the scenes and doesn’t tell us much about the story, which is explained only in the summaries. This might work for an album, but watching an opera like this would be very confusing. If you don’t read along with the notes (which afaik the non-limited edition of the CD release doesn’t even have), you’ll be ??? the whole time. I tried to read the lyrics once on some lyrics site, without these summaries, and they made no sense to me without context. A lot goes on in the story summaries. Very little goes on in what the characters actually say. And with many of these things I can’t think of a nonverbal way to communicate them.

I remember Christofer saying in an interview that he can’t write recitatives. Maybe that’s the problem. It’s like reading a text with many nouns but too few verbs. I don’t know though. I’m not too much of an opera buff. I did try to get into them but I find them boring. The only ones I watched the whole way through were Mefistofele (largely a waste of time but with one VERY good scene), and Orlando, thanks to Marijana Mijanovic playing the main character. It made me question my sexuality when she had murder in her eyes and an axe in her hands, but I do remember the story making sense.

I feel like I need to listen to the entire opera WHILE reading the text WHILE high enough that I can hallucinate the stage production in order to really judge the quality of the writing tbh.

I like the amount of characterization the characters get (mostly in the summaries). Helena has a special star she always sees, that’s sweet. Also foreshadowing. She has always loved the morning star, and then she marries the Antichrist.

Also, do Johanna and Helena symbolize the duality of humankind? QUESTIONS! The Two Daughters of Wisdom.

“Lots of stylish guests are strolling around” 8)

The mortal enemies DANCE AT A PALACE BALL. Oh this is SO anime material!

Okay this one line in “The Palace Ball” pisses me off every time I listen to BA. It’s such a small detail but it irritates me to no end. “May I have the pleasure to offer you a dance.” An Old-fashioned Gentleman(TM) would never say this to an Old-fashioned Lady(TM). It implies that he’s doing her a favour. He should ASK her for a dance, not OFFER her one, because (the polite fiction is that) she’s doing him a favour by accepting. This is just basic etiquette! You penguins!

Narrator: Seth finds himself politely rebuffed by Johanna. Johanna: Your powers ain’t shit, plus you’re evil, now fuck off.

I do want to know Seth’s brilliant philosophy that makes the world a perfect place, but it was definitely smart of the people behind this work not to try to come up with one.

Wow this takes a lot longer than I thought. I have acid reflux from the alcohol, which I’m not used to, and it’s late. I’ll do the rest some other time.

[sarcasticplasmic-reticulum]

Find the Perfect Dining Chairs

Dining chairs are essential for any dining room. All things considered, with regards to getting a charge out of any good supper, a good chair has a significant effect. You can find dining chairs at essentially any value level-there are chairs that are amazingly costly and top of the line and afterward there are chairs that scarcely make an imprint in your wallet. These are generally carport sale finds or deal outlet discounts.

With regards to finding the ideal chairs for your dining space, everything reduces to style and comfort. One of the most important things you should start with when choosing what kind of dining chairs to purchase is the manner by which to consolidate a good, comfortable chair that doesn't give you a spinal pain, with something that is stylish and elegant. Obviously, you'll have a scope of picks, traversing in shapes, sizes and styles; your chairs ought to be welcoming, and entice your guests to take a load off.

Your exemplary dining chair is normally a wood issue with an upholstered back. The mid-Georgian-style mahogany dining chair, with hand cut detail and fitted free seat, is a case of this conventional style, offering both class and comfort when imparting a feast to good companions. Another best approach is a steel chair like the Robert Mallet Stevens notable steel chair of 1928. This chair is amazingly smoothed out and smooth; it shouts straightforward extravagance. You can ordinarily find brushed and cleaned completes; powder covered chairs in a scope of tones are additionally accessible. Obviously, if you do settle on a designer chair, the sticker price will run a smidgen higher than something you'd find at Ikea. Metal chairs work out positively for glass or metal dining tables and they additionally supplement the Bauhaus style. Other designer chairs worth a look incorporate the square shaped square chair by BDDW, the strong Deer chair via Autobahn, or the lower end, yet fun Olle Ikea chair.

For those searching for something somewhat more calm, there's consistently home sales and yard sales. These are incredible spots to find shrouded treasures. Do some looking and you can find some exemplary fixeruppers. Numerous chairs can be sanded and covered up; you can include slips or reupholster the seat covers. Moreover, you could include toss pads for a more comfortable, comfortable look. Consider painting a lot of comparative chairs different tones for an additionally convincing look. Have a go at adhering to essential tones for a Mondrian-enlivened look; or if you lean toward one tone, attempt degrees, paint the chairs different shades to accomplish a Pantone-ish slope. Or on the other hand, if you've discovered an arrangement of confounded chairs, paint them one uniform tone to give the dining room a unified look; each chair holds its particular shape and character, adding profundity to the room. For a combination of blend coordinated chairs, for example, low lying stools, high back chairs and so forth, adhere to a short proximity of shades. The mixed bag as of now makes your chairs stick out, so you need to keep things together by picking one shade, for instance, dim pecan or light blonde.

Recall that before purchasing anything, you need to think about your lifestyle and tastes. If you have kids for example, you should lay off the designer styles and do some deal chasing. If you like tossing rich evening gatherings for companions and partners, look to dazzle.

[laresearchette]

Wednesday, March 01, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: THE MANDALORIAN (Disney+Star) SURVIVOR (Global) 8:00pm THE NATE & JEREMIAH HOME PROJECT (HGTV Canada) 9:00pm TRUE LIES (CTV) 10:00pm THE WINE DOWN WITH MARY J. BLIGE (BET Canada) 10:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

CBC GEM BORN TO BE THE KING DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME MIDWIVES ODD SQUAD (Season 1 - Episodes 1-20)

CRAVE TV MONSTER FAMILY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH COLLECTIONS: Bechdel Test Approved Biopics Celebrating Pride Docs Funny Women Gal Pals Leading Women Made By Women Oscar-Winning, Emerging Voices Women in Music Women in Sport Women Who Kick Butt

DISNEY + STAR THE MANDALORIAN (Season 3) STILL MISSING MORGAN (Season 1 - All Episodes Available) VIRGIN: THE SERIES (Season 1 - All Episodes Available) WILD CRIME (Season 2 - All Episodes Available)

NETFLIX CANADA BABY MAMA CHEAT (Season 1) COUPLES RETREAT FAKES (Season 1) GRAN TORINO HUNT THE INTERN LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL LITTLE ANGEL: VOLUME 2 MEN IN BLACK MEN IN BLACK II OMERTÀ PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN SENSE AND SENSIBILITY STEPMOM THE THREESOME TONIGHT YOU’RE SLEEPING WITH ME WHEN WE WERE BOYS WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS (Season 2)

MLB BASEBALL (TSN/TSN3) 1:00pm: Nationals vs. Yankees

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 7:00pm: Suns vs. Hornets (TSN/TSN3/TSN4) 7:00pm: Cavaliers vs. Celtics (SN Now) 7:30pm: 76ers vs. Heat (TSN/TSN4) 10:00pm: Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers

NHL HOCKEY (SN) 8:00pm: Leafs vs. Oilers (SN1) 10:00pm: Hurricanes vs. Knights

STILL STANDING (CBC) 8:00pm: Wabush, NL: Cain's Quest, one of the longest snowmobile races in the world, turns Wabush from "the middle of nowhere" to the center of it all.

RUN THE BURBS (CBC) 8:30pm:  Andrew organizes Rockridge's Lunar New Year festival, and an unwanted guest shows up; Camille starts a curry war. PRETTY HARD CASES (CBC) 9:00pm: Sam and Kelly set up an elaborate fake informant operation to uncover incriminating evidence in the purple rain case, but the play is derailed when Naz becomes the prime suspect in a murder.

SALVAGE KINGS (History Canada) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE):  In the season premiere, Ted takes the plunge with his own new salvage business and hits the ground running at an abandoned wrecking yard that may be holding hidden treasures.

WICKED TUNA (Nat Geo Canada) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Bluefin season opens; the fleet battles for the first fish.

THE MACHINERY (Crave) 9:00pm:  Olle realizes he can't trust anyone; he manages to find out who is the brains behind the plot against him; Nina finds out who Olle's father is and goes to see him; Olle is running out of options.

LETHAL LOVE (Super Chanel Fuse) 9:00pm:  After a business owner starts receiving online threats, doubts and paranoia creep in when she reconnects with a former flame and meets a new client.

FURY (Crave) 9:50pm: Biting the Bullet

THE REPAIR SHOP AUSTRALIA (Makeful) 10:00pm:  Majella restores a leather shoe sewing machine; Paul brings an Edison Voice Recorder back from the brink; Britta resurrects a headless rocking horse.

[soliser]

Devilgram Name: SKRIR  (Skoll + Fenrir) Best Gifts during Surprise Guest Time: Redxred Apple Pie, Wicked Cupcake, Comfort Candy, Book. Where you can touch: Head Rub, Cheek Tap, Shoulders.

Trivia.

Skoll’s Devilgram name matches Hati’s ‘HARIR’.

Skoll is never seen in her actual Vargr form. But if needed, she is the same size as Cerberus.

( under is home screen dialogue )

Greeting:

“Good morning! It’s a beautiful day!”

“I get a little lonely when you’re not around...”

“What are you doing awake now? Aren’t humans supposed to be sleeping now?”

“Wow! I never knew that humans could stay awake this late.”

Player Returns:

“Welcome back! What were you doing?”

“Where were you? I was getting worried...”

“I-I can wait even longer, you know!”

Touched by Player: 

“I wouldn’t mind if you patted my head a little longer...”

“Yes? Did you need something?”

“W-Wait, that spot, I-I’m ticklish!”

Comments About Characters: 

“Hati took one of my sweets again... they needs to know that they can’t steal from my stash.”

“Did you know, Father was the original reason why I’m keeping a stash of food. Most of them are from him. He thinks I don’t eat enough.”

Idle Screen:

"Heeey, don’t ignore me...”

“I’m not lonely... Not in the slightest...”

“Hmm, hmhmhmmhmm♪”

“Sol’s got another job so I’ve got to put that in the book later.”

[stellan-bluesman-viking]

Rest & Bar "MÖLLAN" Proudly Present's Sun 17 Dec - 2023 - FU_K CHRISTMAS !!! A Soul-Funk & R'N'B Christmas Party @ 3 Advent Event !!! https://fb.me/e/xwha4Oq3B with - VIKING's - L.L.B.B. = Lovely Little Big Band !!! Orchestra Line Up 2U4 The Night Is: Feat: Host, Chapel Master & Vocal = Stellan "Iry" Viking... Mrs, Brown aka or alias = Anna Lindahl Ståleker: Lead Vocal. Per-Oscar Nilsson: Lead Guitar. Oskar Ek: Lead Guitar. Karl Martin Almqvist: Tenor Saxophone. Fredrik Davidsson: Trumpet. Ola Åkerman: Trombone. Maciej Szymczynski: Piano & Key's. Johnny "Big Time" Åman: Electric Bass. Nelson Galott Rivera: Percussion. Olle Dernevik: Drums. Samuel "Tin Man" Albertsson: Drums. + Guest Artist's All Night Long !!! Benny Pedersen: Pedal Steel Guitar. Viggo Bjerhagen: Blues Guitar. https://www.facebook.com/events/3213141965657845 @ The Stage 20.30-23.00 (2-Set) Show !!! Be In Time / It's Gonna Be Full Packed !!! _____________________________________________ FU*K CHRISTMAS & VIKING's L.L.B.B. (Lovely Little Big Band) @ Möllan / Sadde’s Place -2023-12-17- 001 https://youtu.be/caFauQulNxg?si=WvzQSUrnhWzUGFle _____________________________________________ FU*K CHRISTMAS & VIKING's L.L.B.B. (Lovely Little Big Band) @ Möllan / Sadde’s Place -2023-12-17- 002 https://youtu.be/QUhdMIvVl38?si=vDpydMACxyL2ww0a _____________________________________________ Arr: * Sadetti Dagli, Rosa Vera Gildag, Möllan Crew & WorldwidewelcomE *

[nanowrimo]

NaNo Prep: Outline Your Story Like a Subway Map

We’re deep into NaNo Prep Season, and this week, we’ve asked participants to share their thoughts on how to craft great plots and build immersive worlds. Today, author and entrepreneur Gabriela Pereira shares her method of mapping out her story:

As a New Yorker born and raised, I think of an outline as being like a subway map. What I love about this approach is that it allows you to see how the various threads of your story work together, but you can also tease those elements apart and look at them individually to see how each thread holds up on its own.

When you make a subway map outline, each line represents a different subplot or story element you want to track. The dots (or stops) represent scenes in your story. Some scenes are like local stops on a subway and apply only to one story thread, while other scenes are like express stops and represent intersections between the story threads and mark key moments in your story. For an example of this technique in action, check out the subway map of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

Want to learn how to put together a story map like this? Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Write out your scenes.

List out all the scenes in your story or novel. I like to use index cards for this step, because it allows me to move scenes around and also look at each one apart from the rest of the story. On each card I’ll give the scene a title, then list the major characters who appear and what happens in that scene. I also make a note to myself about why the scene is important to the story overall, because if I can’t think of a compelling reason for that scene to exist, then I should consider cutting it altogether.

Step 2: Choose which elements to track.

You can track just about any aspect of your novel or story with this mapping technique: multiple plot lines, different points of view, and recurring images or thematic elements. You can even use story-mapping to keep track of your supporting cast and which characters appear in which scenes. To avoid letting your map sprawl and become out of control, I recommend focusing your map on either plot, character, or imagery. Once you have chosen which elements I recommend color-coding your scenes according to the thread (or threads) where it appears.

A plot-centered map focuses on your novel or short story’s main plot and subplots and each of these threads has a dramatic question that drives it. In our Hunger Games example, the main plot concerns the major dramatic question (MDQ): “Will Katniss survive the Games?” This book also has a series of subplots, driven by lesser dramatic questions (LDQs), like “Will Katniss return Peeta’s affections?” Notice that the dramatic questions—both major and lesser—focus on the protagonist, since this is the character driving the story.

A character-centered map is useful if you need to keep track of a sprawling supporting cast or are using multiple points of view (POV). For this type of story map, instead of worrying about MDQs for the different plot threads, you will need to think of dramatic question specific each character you are tracking. This question usually centers around that particular character’s biggest desire. For example, the dramatic questions for characters in the movie The Wizard of Oz would be: “will Dorothy ever get back to Kansas?” or “will the Scarecrow finally get a brain?”

An imagery or theme-centered story map can be useful when you need to track recurring images or thematic elements as they appear throughout your story. The elements you track with this type of map can be anything (e.g. music, color, art, weather, nature, etc.), but relate to the emotions you want to make your readers feel. This type of story map is extremely powerful because it helps you understand and enhance how your readers experience your book.

Step 3: Create Your Map

Once you have created your scene-by-scene outline and labeled each scene according to the various threads or elements you want to track, the only thing that remains is to draw the actual map. Start by plotting the scenes where two or more threads intercept (the express stops), then fill in the other scenes (local stops) around those pivotal moments.

With this map, you’ll be able to look at how different plotlines, characters, or thematic elements intercept, but you can also pull these threads (subway lines) apart to see how they work independent of the rest of the story.

While this approach might look very different from a traditional outline, you can easily extract a list outline or spreadsheet from your map. You can also adapt this technique and use it in concert with other types of outlines. As you gear up for NaNoWriMo, the most important thing is for you to find an outline technique that work best for you, and I hope you will give story mapping a try.

Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, Gabriela teaches at national conferences, regional workshops, and online. She is also the host of the podcast DIY MFA Radio and author of the book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community (Writer’s Digest Books, 2016). Go to DIYMFA.com/storymap to download a print-friendly version of the story map from this post.