#dana parkin

[whatwouldvalerydo]

The theory of blow magic - The girls get it - 7/9

Warning: minor sexual references (nothing major), swearing (but old fashion ;-) )

Too many characters to fit in a picture, which was delaying me so I said no thank you. We now enter the HPMA era.

Characters mentioned here or in passing belong to: @kc-and-co @lifeofkaze @flareshogwarts @the-al-chemist

Chatter drifted above the heads of multiple students crossing the halls of the school, left and right a subtle buzz of voices and laughter. Sturdy combat boots of the latest fashion tapped against the cold floor as Scarlett made her way to her group of friends.

“Well it’s here, just like last year for Nova.” She slapped down on the cold fountain stone a yellow stained page between Dana and Saffron.

“The curse followed you?” Saffron said, taking the page in her hand to read it “This is some very odd ritual, why would someone need sixty-nine candles, a bathtub in which to scrub for one hour in direct moon light.” Peering closer, she added “Bathtub can be replaced with a lake or any large body of water and a sponge of the finest quality in a slightly elongated oval shape?”

Dana leaned closer to her friend, inspecting the instructions further down the page “Left hand in” she angled her head to better see the fading drawing “what is that shape? Blow at a certain angle, nails not touching?” she looked up at Scarlett, sheltering her eyes from late autumn sun above them “Sounds like a fancy way of taking a bath and doing your manicure? Oh do you think the theory of blow magic is actually a spell for drying nail polish faster?”

Lowering her heart shaped sun glasses down her nose, Scarlett ran her piercing across her upper teeth “If anyone is inventing a spell for that it’s me. Sounds like a long explanation for a fancy spa day, or whatever qualified as spa back in those days. Do you think they washed properly?”

Saffron looked at them “I think, they had the same baths at school. It could be a way to blow dry your hair explained in another page that’s around school.”

Rolling her eyes, Scarlett tried to remember what the page Nova had back when she was year seven. Looking up at the school, she cursed out loud for the lack of signal “I can’t wait for this year to be over. I’m done with the old era vibe.” Sticking her tongue out she locked eyes with a professor “Not aimed at you so don’t flatter yourself.”

“Five points from Slytherin.”

“Of course. What else is new? Are you sure you still have points left to deduct or are you sabotaging future generations as well?” she yelled, several heads turning, some groaning, housemates having forsaken the chance of winning the most house points ever since she started causing chaos left and right “Well that went well.” She scoffed looking at her friends.

“What did?” Turning around to say something nasty, she only grimaced when she looked up to see Dorian “Aha you have one too.” Reaching inside of his pocket, he produced a single sheet of paper with only one line written on it “I think someone is playing a prank on me honestly.”

Handing the paper over to the girls, they looked at the line over and over again, confusion between their brows followed by realization and a fit of laughter erupting as Scarlett read out loud “Thou shall ingest a satchel of Richards.” Giving him back the paper, she nodded her head “Fancy way of saying you can suck it. Hey, while you’re here, why don’t you go ask your dad about this magic theory?”

“No thank you.” Dorian immediately dismissing the idea “Something tells me I can’t go to my father with this, he would give me detention for sure.”

Dana gave him an apologetic look, feeling in a sense sorry for him. Having a parent be a teacher at the school appeared counterproductive on even the best day.

“Sorry.” Saffron whispered as if feeling his pain and reading Dana’s mind.

“Oh yay, you have more.” A voice enthusiastically spoke from the other side of the yard, Phil jogging over to them “Can I have them?” he asked pointing at the papers.

Giving him a confused look, Scarlett asked “Why?” before she could even think about what the explanation would actually mean.

“Glad you asked” pointing a finger in her face, he smiled down at her “I want to get on top of it and finish this quest before it reaches me in my last year.” Taking the pages without even asking, he stuffed them in his school bag.

“You do know Hogwarts isn’t a fancy open world game right?” Scarlett asked. Taking a small box from his pocket he started turning the handle on its side, music playing “What is that?”

“Boss music from the latest expansion on the game we were playing.” Clearing his throat he continued “If I am to embark on this quest, I will use all my wits in order to ensure this dungeon gets completed in maximum time with all my stats intact.” The small group shared a confused look between themselves “Onwards to my group of knights. Good day to you ladies” he took a bow “And you my good sir.”

Dorian blinked watching him jog away “I…what did I just witnessed.”

“You get used to it.” Dana smiled causing Scarlett to roll her eyes.

“Do you though?”

“So what do we do about the curse now?” Saffron asked.

“We let Phil handle it. I don’t have time for this blow theory.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Dorian smiled “I still think someone is pranking me.”

“You’re not that interesting to prank Winger.” Strutting away, Scarlett left them alone, wandering inside the castle in search of more interesting activities. If anything needed blowing, it was some steam. She has had enough of the weird school she found herself in.

[lifeofkaze]

Say No to This

A/N: This story can be read as a standalone short, or in context with this story here. This was written for the June prompt of the @hp-12monthsofmagic challenge, which I took a little more liberally in my interpretation this time. Warning: Horrid abuse of the French language. It's been a while.

“Quite the show out there, isn’t it?”

“It’s impressive,” Dana nodded, turning away from the rumble of voices filling the arena. She had never before seen a duelling ground this packed, the benches filled up to the top with witches and wizards from all across Europe. It was the opening tournament of the international season, and everyone had come to see the show. “Is it always this full?”

“It’ll be even fuller once the round is in full swing,” Michaela Morrison, coach of the Scottish National team, replied, “what with the World Cup just around the corner and all that.” 

The World Cup. Dana let the word sit on the tip of her tongue for a moment. She had dreamed of attending them since she’d been a student at Hogwarts, and now she was courted by both the English and the Scottish teams, vying for her allegiance. The Scots had gone as far as taking her backstage with them as their guest, which was exactly where Dana was at.

“Technically, the season has already started,” Michaela broke Dana from her thoughts, “but there’s still one name left I can call up for my line-up. You know that, don’t you?”

Dana tensed. Of course she knew; it was all everyone had been telling her for weeks.

“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll think about it.”

“I will need your answer soon,” Michaela said gravely. “You’re not the only witch who can pack a punch. Others would chop their arm off for an offer like that.”

“I said, I’ll think about it,” Dana repeated, sharply.

“Think quickly, then.”

With a bell ringing to signal the beginning of the tournament, Michaela left to be with her team. Dana was glad for her leaving; she was sick of being pushed to decide. The coach of the English team had stood on her doorstep not even a week after she’d won the national championship, much quicker than his Scottish rival, but Michaela had turned out to be the more insistent of the two. They’d been in contact every day since, the letters stacking up on her desk too many for Dana to count.

The competing teams were lined up at the entrance to the duelling ground. Members of the Scottish team gave Dana a smile, which she politely returned before dropping her eyes. They had been exceptionally welcoming to her, and leaving them in the balance made her feel more guilty than she cared to admit. 

As the duellists entered the arena to the thundering applause of the spectators, Dana quietly left and found her seat. She had a stellar view of the stage but it was the ranks surrounding her that drew her attention. With a sinking feeling, she realised that she seemed to be the only person who had come alone. Her eyes settled on a couple sitting close to her. They looked happy, very much in love. The feeling of loneliness hovering on the edge of her mind increased as the dark-haired young wizard put an arm around his girlfriend and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh, and she quickly looked away.

She was here to learn something, after all. Her next step, a privilege. She’d better pay attention to what actually mattered. 

***

The afterparty took place at a pub adjacent to the duelling grounds, reserved for the national teams and their entourage entirely. A plethora of different languages and accents filled the air, and there was food, drinks, and the promise of good company.

Dana had been reluctant to rejoin the Scottish team after the tournament had ended but hadn’t found a reason to decline their invitation either. She soon regretted her decision; she felt even more alone than she had sitting in the stands, the champagne in her hand tasting sour and making her head throb as the conversations brushed her by. 

She had just left a group of Italian witches to their devices when she spotted Michaela pushing through the crowd in her direction. Hastily, Dana emptied her champagne in one big swig that made her shudder and started towards the exit in such a hurry that she didn’t see the person crossing her path until it was too late. She staggered backwards as the two of them collided, the other person letting out a strangled-sounding “Oof!” as they fell to the ground. 

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you at all!” Dana exclaimed, rushing to help the young man to his feet. “Are you alright?”

“It’s no bother,” he answered with a soft accent. “What you did to that champagne just now, though… that was a crime.”

Dana stared. His dark skin and curly hair were familiar to her, somehow, but it took another moment for the Sickle to drop on her.

“You’re from the French team!” she called out. “You were in the tournament earlier.”

“I believe that applies to most people here.” 

“Of course.” Colour rose to Dana’s cheeks. “Your dancing charm was incredible. I’ve never seen anyone go down with such an impressive tango.”

“I like to finish my opponents off with style,” the French wizard laughed. He extended his hand. “I’m Louis de la Fayette.”

“Nice to meet you, Louis de la Fayette,” Dana smiled. “I’m Dana. Dana Parkin.”

“Parkin?” Louis’ eyes widened. “As in, Parkin Parkin?” 

Dana tensed involuntarily. Her apprehension dissolved, however, when Louis whistled lowly. 

“The Dana Parkin, qui l'aurait cru. Your championship duel last season was the talk of the team, even at home in Paris. Why didn’t I see you in the ring?”

“I didn’t duel today,” Dana shook her head. “I was up in the stands.” 

“What would someone like you be doing on the sidelines, instead of down with us where you belong?”

His question bothered her considerably less than when Dana had asked herself the same thing. “Learning to hex someone into tangoing themselves to defeat, I guess.” 

Her intention of leaving the party entirely forgotten, Louis and Dana moved to the bar, where Louis declined Dana’s offer of getting him a proper Scottish lager as a means of apology and returned with two glasses of red wine instead. Their conversation came easily, switching between English and French. Dana hadn’t spoken it in years but found she enjoyed dusting off her language skills, immensely. With every sip of wine she became more fluent, Louis’ jokes funnier, and the nagging feeling of isolation less bit by bit. 

When they had emptied their glasses they moved on to the next, and when those were empty, too, and Louis made to get them new ones, Dana placed a hand on his arm and smiled.

“Laisse-moi, s’il te plaît.”

She slid off her bar stool, maybe a little bit too quickly. The room suddenly spinning, she took a step forward, the grip on Louis’ arm tightening. Her cheeks flushed, Dana leaned her head against his shoulder and laughed.

“Wow, I don’t know where that came from.” 

“Je le sais,” Louis snorted, but not unkindly. “You Brits can’t handle your wine.”

Dana straightened up but didn’t move away. She giggled. “I’m Scottish, for the record.”

“Then, Scottish girl, you can’t handle your wine.”

“Sounds like I need more practice, then.”

“That could be arranged.” 

The smile on Louis’ face changed. He was so close that Dana could have counted his ludicrously long lashes, should she have wished so. Before she knew it, he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers in a kiss that tasted of rich wine. For just a moment, Dana kissed him back, his hands resting on her waist and pulling her in.

Abruptly, she came back to her senses. The pressure of her hands on Louis’ chest increased, pushing him away. Horrified, Dana staggered backwards, clasping her hand in front of her mouth. 

“Dana?” Louis asked, his voice sounding far away. “What’s wrong?”

Eyes wide, Dana took another step back and away from him, wheeling around and pushing through the crowd toward the exit as fast as she could. She burst through the door, gulping down the cool night air. Quick steps took her away from the light and the noise spilling from the pub. Rounding a corner, she leaned against the wall and covered her face with her hands.

What have I done, what have I done, what have I done?!

With shaking hands, Dana took out her wand. She had to talk to Dylan, now. She had to tell him. She had never meant to cheat on him. Never, never– 

She cast her spell, but instead of a happy little hedgehog, only a quivering band of silver mist appeared, disbanding into nothingness only moments after. Defeated, Dana stared at where it had vanished.

All she wanted was to go home. 

She returned to the pub to go and get her things when the door opened and a group of witches stepped outside, Michaela Morrison among them.

“Dana,” she smiled and waved as soon as she spotted her. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Dana swallowed heavily. “Not now, okay?”

“You can’t keep avoiding me forever,” Michaela said, stepping sideways to block Dana’s way to the door. “I only want what’s best for you. You’re wasting away your potential.” 

“I’m not.”

“You are. If you stop pushing yourself, you’re going to lose your edge. Talent only gets you so far - it’s dedication that really gets you places. You want to go places, don’t you, Dana?”

“Listen, Michaela…”

“Don’t you?”

“I do,” Dana snapped. “But now is not a good time. Next year –”

“– will be too late for you. Your star is on the rise now.” Her face softened. “Think about how many people can only dream of being where you are now. This is your shot, girl. Your chance to step from your family’s shadow. Isn’t that what you always wanted?”

“I guess so.” Dana pressed her lips together. “I’ll think about it. For real, this time.”

Considering her, Michaela inclined her head and caught up to her friends. Dana looked after her, stony-faced. She thought about Michaela’s words. She felt nothing.

“Dana?”

She jumped, so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Louis approaching. He must have taken her reaction wrongly because he stopped a couple of feet from her and raised his hands, palms facing her. 

“I only wanted to see if you’re okay.”

“Yes,” Dana nodded, immediately after shaking her head. “No. No, I’m actually not okay at all.”

“If this is about me kissing you, I never meant to –”

“I have a boyfriend,” Dana blurted out, the shame at both the thought of Dylan and the look on Louis’s face making her cheeks burn. “I should have told you straightaway. I never should have kissed you. I’m so very, very sorry.”

Blowing out his cheeks, Louis ran his hand over his hair. “Just my luck. Why are the good ones always taken?”

Dana’s eyes dropped to her bright red Converse. The left one had a tiny doodle of a penguin on its side, which Dylan had drawn. It was so old that it had all but faded, but Dana knew that it was there, regardless.

“I’m honestly sorry.”

“What for? I kissed you, after all.”

“Yes, but –”

“I’m not holding it against you, really.” He tilted his head, a wry smile crossing his face. “Whoever your boyfriend is, he must be very lucky to have scored a girl like you.”

It was too much for Dana. The first tear fell, followed by more and more as the reality of how long she hadn’t seen Dylan crashed over her. She let Louis draw her into a hug, the gesture nothing but kindness. 

Sobbing, she told him about Dylan - how they’d known each other, loved each other, and how terribly she missed him every moment of every day they weren’t together. How he was out there living his dream while she was here living hers. When all her tears and her frustration had eventually been spilt, she wiped her eyes and let go of Louis, feeling more tired than ever before.

“I’m sorry,” she smiled shakily and hiccoughed. “I’m usually not much of a whiner.”

Louis made a clicking sound with his tongue. “What to say? Les plus grandes douceurs et l’infortunes, c’est l’amour.” 

“It’s been more pain than sweetness, lately,” said Dana sadly. “Dylan barely gets to come home as it is, but at least I’m here when he does. If I take Michaela’s offer, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to match our schedules.” 

“I think you must make up your mind,” Louis hummed. “How do you Brits say? Have your cake and eat?” 

“I’m Scottish. And not quite.”

“In that case, do what makes you happy, Scottish girl.” He tapped his forefinger to his nose. “Trust me, I know all about cakes. I’m French.” 

His joke made Dana laugh, if only for a bit. “What if I don’t know what I want to do with my cake, though?” 

“Ah, but I think you do,” Louis said with a twinkle to his eye. He pointed at his chest, right above his heart. “If you listen to this, I promise you, you can’t go wrong.” 

[hphmmatthewluther]

How about a crackship between Jane (who has the coolest Animagus form btw) and ma girl Dana?

Oooo that sounds like a fun one!!

Here they are! I used Dana's Patronus to contrast the Axolotl and it ended up making the whole thing have a very autumn vibe!!

[cavenewstimes]

Mick Parkin thinks he belongs at this level after UFC London win over Jamal Pogues

July 23, 2023 10:30 am ET LONDON – Mick Parkin beat Jamal Pogues with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 224 at The O2 in London. Take a look inside the fight with Parkin, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum from England who won his highly anticipated official UFC debut. Parkin on the fight’s key moment Jul 22, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Mick Parkin…

[usernoneexistent]

A/N: Apologise for the delay. I had to cut out two prompts to make it in time. To start off on 'the journey', we will following Flynn and how his troubles lead him to starting Hogwarts a term late. Thanks to @cursebreakerfarrier for this challenge.

Characters featured: Rory McTavish @the-al-chemist, Dana Parkin @lifeofkaze.

Characters mentions: Phil Baker @samshogwarts.

Warnings: description of physical injury, uncontrolled magic.

There's one cow on the white field. Flynn stared, bored out of his mind out of the window. He was already over the game of counting every animal that passed by on the train. The young boy sat alone in his compartment, getting odd stares from passengers as they walked, wondering who he was.

The truth is that this was Flynn's first day at Hogwarts, and it wasn't his parent's first choice for his place of education. To them, going to a muggle high school while focusing on his football career at Southampton Saints academy after school. Instead, he ended with a suspension. Flynn had never meant for the windows to shatter simultaneously or send many flying footballs at Andrew Gibson. Or the referee only made whistle sounds out of his throat, and the math teacher only gave all the answers when he struggled with the math problems. He knew all that was to do with the magical powers he previously knew nothing about until an elderly lady showed up at their house in July.

It was just a typical day; Flynn returned from football practice. His father, Jan Nowak, handed him a letter. He ran up eagerly, hoping that he had been accepted into the Southampton academy again. Still, in his disappointment and confusion, he was accepted into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. This was a hoax, right? A bad joke from his friends. They always laughed about how sometimes Flynn pulls off miracle stunts during a match that even left the referee scratching his head. The strange letter was chucked in the bin before the doorbell rang. A woman dressed in dark green velvet robes contrasted against the sweltering summer heat sternly looked and introduced herself.

He found that she was Professor McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts. She came personally to their home to help explain that Flynn was a wizard. His mother was shocked and shaken by the news, while his father seemed fidgety. His older sister, Isla, stood at the living room door glaring at the surprise guest while his little sister, Harper, clung to him. Flynn was ecstatic, a wizard, and he could use cool magical powers like Merlin on CBBC. Jan and Elizabeth were hesitant about sending their only son off to a boarding school in Scotland, and Isla protested. Claiming it was unfair that she had to go to an ordinary high school while Flynn could go to a special private school, and how would that be fair on Harper too?

Flynn tried to argue back, but Isla ultimately won like she always does. His parents declined Flynn's placement and said he would attend high school instead. On top of that, Flynn had a prosperous football career to think about and shouldn't be distracted by magic. Despite the Headmistress disagreeing with Flynn's parents' decision, Professor McGonagall respected their wishes and told them that Flynn would always have a place at Hogwarts. With that, she left, and Flynn's life resumed usually. As expected.

The first term seemed to be okay, at least for Flynn. He had his mates and his football, and yeah, there were the occasional mishaps, but as time went on. More unusual things would happen anytime Flynn was around, and the staff and students were catching on. Until December, Flynn would end up hurting some students and faced the head teacher.

His mother was furious, while his father looked quietly disappointed. There was some yelling from everyone apart from Flynn and Harper, but it was finally settled that Flynn would get sent to Hogwarts. Just until he can manage his powers.

"Whoops, sorry wrong compartment." His thick Scottish accent pulled Flynn out of his trance. Red hair and a lopsided grin greeted him. "I don't think I've seen you around. Are you a second or third year?

It wasn't impossible to believe Flynn was older than he actually was. Thanks to his Polish genes, he had always been a head taller than the rest of his classmates. "This is my first time going to Hogwarts. I'm a first year."

"Really?!" Rory seemed surprised. He hadn't seen him around or in any classes either. He wondered why Flynn joined so late but saved the questions for later. "Well, I'm Rory McTavish, by the way. I'm a first-year like you."

Flynn's face seemed to brighten up. He had hoped he could make new friends after leaving a hasty note with his old ones. "Nice to meet you, Rory. I'm Flynn Nowak."

He leaned against the door frame. "Why don't you join me and ma pals? Must be boring being here all by yourself."

"Sure thing."

Flynn grabbed his stuff and followed Rory to another compartment. He introduced Flynn to his other friends. Most were curious about the boy who arrived late though he was relieved to learn that Rory was a muggleborn like him. Flynn was so ill-equipped for the magic world, having to travel to Diagon Alley with a giant named Hagrid to buy his school supplies. Though Flynn remained optimistic that he would have a fun time. Even classes looked so different and exciting. First of all, he had no more boring Math classes or English though he missed the IT classes, mucking about and playing games on the computer while the teacher turned their backs.

The night fell quickly, and the lanterns were lighting the Hogsmeade station when they arrived. The bricked platform and the quaint, colourful buildings straight from the British countryside. The snow had settled, leaving a blanket of the white sheet covering the roofs. Flynn followed Rory only to hear the thudding footsteps catching behind them.

"Flynn Nowak!"

"Hagrid?"

"Thank Merlin I caught up with yeh," The friendly half-giant cast a shadow over the first years. "Professor McGonagall wanted me ter escort yeh ter hogwarts castle. Just so yeh wouldn't get los' an' accidentally stumble inter the forbidden forest."

"What's the forbidden forest?" Flynn whispered to Rory. He simply grinned back, "I guess you'll find out soon enough."

Hagrid walked with Flynn while Rory caught up with his other friends on the passageway to Hogwarts.

"Hagrid, is the forbidden forest dangerous?"

"Course it is. That's why it's called forbidden." He chuckled lightly, but his thick brows furrowed in. "But if yeh wan' ma advise, is ter never wander ter the forbidden forest alone. It is dangerous. Too many students have gotten injured or los' there."

The castle glowed from the inside, standing impressively on top of the hill. The castle looked a little out of Horrible Histories or a medieval documentary. No wonder Isla was so jealous of him. He gets to live in a castle for most of the year. Inside it was more impressive, the sheer size. He thought he had seen massive at the 2010 football league final at the Wembley Stadium when Southampton won the cup that year. Still, there was something so intricate about Hogwarts.

"In there is the great hall. We'll wait on the stage until the Headmistress calls yeh up fer the sorting ceremony." Hagrid pointed towards the open archway, guarded by moving statue knights. Most students were seated and sat at one of the four large tables. Flynn caught the many stares from the other students. He noticed no roof but a starry sky lightened by floating candles. Floating banners with animal symbols aligned above the tables. Adults sat at a long table at the very back of the hall. Flynn presumed they were the teachers. Some wore colourful clothing, which he found sort of amusing.

"What's the sorting ceremony?"

"D'you remember abou' the Hogwart's houses?" He was referring back to their trip to Diagon Alley. Hagrid gave him a crash course about Hogwarts and what to expect. Including was about the four Houses that every student would be sorted into. He remembered Gryffindor, the brave one. Ravenclaw is the smart one and the one his older sister would love. Hufflepuff, the nice one had a certain appeal, and Slytherin, where the ambitious students go.

"Yeah, I remember."

"The sorting ceremony sorts yeh inter yer house. That's Professor McGonagall starting her speech. Get ready."

Hagrid nudged Flynn to straighten out as the Headmistress walked up to the golden eagle podium. She wore the same green velvet dress as she had that previous Summer to his door. The day his life ultimately changed.

"Welcome back everyone, I hoped you had a great Christmas and a..."

Despite Flynn's best efforts, he struggled to focus on the speech. He got distracted by the flickering candles that swayed with the wind. He wondered how it was possible for the ceiling not to exist, yet outside there was a roof. He believes. Was that the actual sky? Does it change with the weather to the outside? Is it a mirror so they can see the weather? Wait, was that a ghost just there?

"Mr Nowak!"

"Yes, Ms." Flynn panicked; he was supposed to pay attention until she called him. He had missed the majority of the speech.

"Call me Professor or Headmistress McGonagall, not Ms, Mr Nowak." The students erupted in laughter, and Flynn nervously grinned back, laughing off his mishap. Hagrid (probably meant gently, but it wasn't) pushed Flynn towards the chair next to the Headmistress. She was holding an old and musky hat that resembled a face. He sat down on the chair, unsure what would happen next. She placed the hat on his head.

"Hmm...my, my, we have a late comer...I do love them..." Flynn almost squirmed at the ticklish mess of the voice. His leg shaking on the stool. "They usually are the most interesting..."

Who are you? Flynn wondered. Or what are you? It's what, right?

"I am the sorting hat...you are very open and unafraid of new things and unafraid to ask questions...yes...I know where to place you...GRYFFINDOR!"

The middle left table cheered, which Flynn assumed would be the Gryffindor table. Professor McGonagall took the hat off, and Flynn walked towards them, unsure. He quickly spotted Rory making space for him.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, the best house ever. So happy to have you joining us mate."

Before Flynn could open his mouth, Professor McGonagall calmed the rowdy Gryffindors down with an unwavering stare alone. He hurried to sit down to avoid further embarrassment with the Headmistress.

"That concludes the start of term speech. Enjoy the feast." Professor McGonagall concluded.

Food appeared magically, and the drinks would continually replenish themselves. Flynn couldn't wait to uncover more magic as his time went on. Of course, he couldn't escape the barrage of questions from his new classmates, not that he minded much.

"Why'd you start Hogwarts now?!"

"Were you held back?!"

"Did your magic develop late?!"

Flynn answered as much as he could while trying to eat his meal. It was surprisingly tricky. He found out who his new dormmates were, Rory naturally, and Phil Baker, who he found out very quickly, was into video games and manga. Phil seemed happy when he asked what games Flynn played and that he knew a little about manga. He had 'borrowed' some from Harper, who read them religiously.

"Okay, give him some space guys." An older girl interrupted them. She had dark hair framing her delicate face. "I hope they haven't bothered you too much. As you can see we're a little rowdy but everybody means well."

"No, it's fine but thanks for the help anyway..." Flynn searched for her name.

"It's Dana Parkin." She shook his hand with a friendly smile. "I'm in the year above you but if you need any help. Please just come to me."

"I will, thanks."

Flynn seemed more assured that his stay at Hogwarts would be an experience. Everyone he had met so far was friendly, in his opinion. Good or bad, he is looking forward to his stay and secretly hopes it will be a long one too.

[mallowjiccesyt]

Life Is Strange Remastered - Part 5 [PC]  

Watch Max retrieve Warren's flash drive from Dana and return it to Warren who's waiting for her in the parking lot. How hard can that be?

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Mallowjicces YT

For Life Is Strange Remastered Gameplay, see this playlist:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLIeDZMG-0ZA4Ewd56PikA4SijRpYziu

[rassilon-imprimatur]

The X-Files duo Mulder and Scully’s excised cameo in Lance Parkin’s The Dying Days, for your pleasure! (Printed in the Broadsword fanzine)

[the-al-chemist]

The Turn of the Fruit

A/N: Saffron only gets one prompt for @kc-and-co’s Spring Challenge, and this is it: “Fruit”. This story features @lifeofkaze’s Dana Parkin, who is helping Saffron to face her fear and get back her zest for life. Warnings: phobias, fears, kiwi fruits.

Ever since she first purchased her wand at Ollivander’s, shortly after her eleventh birthday, Danielle Parkin had been fascinated by the spells she could cast with it. Once she started at Hogwarts, she quickly set about learning as many of them as she could.

In Charms, she was taught the basic incantations for day-to-day use, but she soon found out that cleaning charms and cheering charms were not the most exciting, and although Transfiguration covered more flamboyant spells, Dana couldn’t really see the point in knowing how to change a ferret into a feather duster. There was one subject that managed to strike a balance between practicality and glamour, and that subject was Defence Against the Dark Arts.

In the two years Dana had been at Hogwarts, the lessons had become a highlight of her week. And this week, Dana’s class would be learning a spell she had been looking forward to casting for some time: the Boggart banishing spell.

She had been reading up about the spell in advance, and about the creature it was designed to repel, though Boggarts were not truly creatures at all. They were non-beings, shapeshifters that were able to take the form of the person facing them’s worst fear. The spell to repel them was able to force them out of that shape and into another, one that the caster found funny.

“The spell isn’t really the thing that sees off the Boggart at all,” their teacher told them. “It’s your laughter, so really think of the thing that will make you laugh the most.”

One by one, the students approached the wooden trunk containing the Boggart, and faced their fears. A clown turned into a seal balancing a ball on its nose, a raging thundercloud turned into a rainbow, a growling dog turned into a teddy bear. Soon, it was Dana’s turn.

As Dana approached the teddy-shaped Boggart, it disappeared. The air swirled in front of her as the Boggart decided on its new shape, the one that would terrify her the most, before deciding on…

A pair of large crossed meat cleavers, sharp and bloody and ominous, hovered before Dana, floating towards her. Her heart began to beat in her chest, faster and faster as the knives drew closer and closer, and she took a deep breath before raising her wand and casting the incantation she had learned in advance:

“Riddikulus!”

The knives disappeared, and in their place stood a penguin dressed in a bow tie and top hat. The penguin began to tap dance to a music that Dana could not hear, and though she did not laugh out loud, it was only because she was smiling so proudly to herself, a smile that was reflected on her teacher’s face as she stepped to one side, ready for the next student to have a go at facing the Boggart.

Taking Dana’s place in the middle of the classroom was Saffron Summers, a Hufflepuff girl who had a reputation for strangeness that put many of her peers off befriending her. Dana was not one of them. She found Saffron’s eccentricity endearing, and quite enjoyed being partnered with the peculiar blonde girl in Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The class fell quiet as Dana’s penguin disappeared and the Boggart began to choose a new form to take. Dana could see why; after all, who knew what sort of diabolical creature would exist in the darkest recesses of the mind of someone as odd as Saffron Summers? As for Dana herself, she closed her eyes. She knew that Saffron’s greatest joy in life was the care of her pet rabbits, and she really did not fancy seeing a dead bunny today, thank you very much.

Dana kept her eyes closed as the silence in the classroom gave way to hushed whispers, but as the whispers turned into stifled giggles, she frowned. How could anyone find someone’s pet dying funny? Cautiously, she opened one eye, then the other, to see that the one thing that scared Saffron Summers most in all the world was, in fact…

A kiwi fruit.

One single brown hairy fruit lay motionless on the floor in the middle of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Around the walls, Dana’s classmates were sniggering, and she almost laughed herself, out of a sense of relief rather than amusement. However, her laughter died the moment she saw the look on Saffron’s face. Poor Saffron had turned completely pale, and her wide brown eyes were filled with tears and terror. Dana had never seen anyone look so frightened.

Before Saffron even had a chance to cast the Boggart banishing spell, the kiwi fruit disappeared, the barely concealed snickers of their peers having grown loud enough to banish the Boggart without her input. A moment later, Saffron disappeared too, bursting into tears and running right out of the classroom.

She did not return before the bell rang to mark the end of the lesson, and though Dana kept her eyes peeled, she did not catch sight of Saffron for the rest of the day. By the time it reached dinner time, Saffron was still nowhere to be seen. Dana was starting to get worried, and so she headed over to the Hufflepuff table to see if anyone in Saffron’s own house knew where she might be.

“I saw her heading for the dormitories,” she was informed by Rylie Hopper-Lee, a Hufflepuff girl in the year below. “She looked really upset. I tried asking her what was wrong, but she ran up the corridor into her room before I could stop her. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Dana sighed. “Rylie, do you think there’s any way you could sneak me into the Hufflepuff dormitories after dinner? I’d really like to try to cheer Saffron up, we are sort of friends, after all.”

Rylie hesitated, but after a moment she nodded. Having agreed to meet Rylie at the entrance to the Hufflepuff dormitories, Dana ran up to her own dormitory in Gryffindor tower to fetch a box of brightly coloured nail varnishes from her chest of drawers, and carried it back down again to the basement of the castle, through the bright and cosy Hufflepuff common room, and down a tunnel shaped corridor lined with semicircular wooden doors. Dana knocked on the door Rylie told her was the one to Saffron’s dormitory.

No voice answered her knock, but Dana entered the room anyway, peering around the door to find Saffron sitting inside her open wardrobe clutching three large crystals, whilst her rabbits hopped about, roaming free around the dormitory. Dana sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the wardrobe.

“Saffron? I came to see if you were okay,” she told her, and Saffron’s eyes widened.

“Oh,” she said, quietly.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh,” Saffron said again. “Oh, no. Not really.”

“You know what I do when I feel sad? I paint my nails.” Dana opened her box of nail varnishes, held it out to Saffron and tilted her head to one side. “I can paint your nails too, if you like? You can pick whichever colour you like.”

Saffron’s attention had clearly been caught by the brightly coloured bottles, as she leant in towards the open box, but she frowned.

“Are they tested on animals?” She asked. “And are they vegan?”

“I don’t actually know, but we can check the labels.”

Though she didn’t smile, Saffron nodded her head, and between them the two girls picked out two bottles of nail varnish that met Saffron’s requirements - one purple and the other mint green - and Dana applied the two colours to Saffron’s nails in an alternating pattern.

“Thank you very much,” said Saffron, admiring the finished effect and blowing gently on her still damp nails.

“You’re welcome,” Dana replied. She paused before continuing, “Saffron, I’m really sorry that people laughed at your Boggart. It was really unkind of them.”

“Oh. Yes, I suppose it was.”

“You can’t help what scares you.”

“No, I know.”

Dana couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you so scared of kiwi fruit?”

Saffron opened her mouth as if to answer, before shutting it again without saying a word. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes became tearful again.

“Why aren’t you?” she asked Dana eventually, her voice a terrified whisper.

It was a question that Dana had never thought to ask herself before, and one that she found herself unable to answer.

“I have an idea,” she told Saffron. “I think I know how to make you feel less frightened. Come with me.”

She stood up and held out her hand, and Saffron took it. The two of them walked out of the Hufflepuff dormitories and up into the main castle, walking until they reached the now dark and deserted Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. In one corner of the room was the trunk containing the Boggart, and Dana pulled the trunk into the centre. Saffron took a large step backwards and away from it.

“Wow,” she frowned. “I don’t think I like this idea.”

“I know, but hear me out a minute.”

“I will.”

“Okay, so I know you aren’t into duelling at all, but the thing everyone always says is that you have to keep your eye on your opponent’s wand so you get an idea of what they’re going to do and when,” Dana said, leaning against the trunk. “But my mum’s friend gave me private lessons, and she said you’re better looking them in the eye. They don’t expect that, and they think that you are so confident that you don’t even need to look at their wand, so it throws them off. They are trying to be the intimidating one, but when you face them so directly like that it makes them intimidated by you. Does that make sense?”

Saffron frowned and said nothing, so Dana stood up, and unlocked the trunk, holding it shut as she told Saffron:

“If you can face the Boggart, then it won’t be the scary one anymore, will it? And it’s not like you’ll be facing it alone. I’ll be here with you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Dana and Saffron exchanged small smiles, one nervous, the other reassuring, and Dana opened the trunk. The swirling air that was the Boggart deciding on a form moved closer to Saffron, before shrinking down to the ground in front of her in the image of a brown fuzzy fruit. Saffron seemed to shrink too, her hand and bottom lip trembling as she stared at it in abject terror.

“It’s not real, Saffron!” Dana told her. “It’s not a real kiwi fruit, just a Boggart pretending to be one to scare you. Look it in the eye and let it know that you are the one to be scared of!”

Her words seemed to strike a cord with Saffron, because although the kiwi fruit did not have eyes, she stared at it with less fear and more determination, took a shaky breath, and raised her wand.

“Riddikulus!”

The kiwi fruit did not disappear, but instead, got bigger. Brown fluffy feathers sprouted from it, and it grew legs, wings, and a long beak.

“It’s a kiwi bird, Saff, you did it!”

“Oh, wow,” at last, Saffron was smiling. “I suppose I did.”

“Now you just need to laugh, and that will banish it completely.”

Saffron’s smile slipped slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Dana asked her.

“No, we can’t banish him now,” Saffron shook her head, her long blonde hair swishing as she did so. “He’s too cute to banish. Look at his little fluffy wings. I love kiwi birds.”

“But it’s not really a kiwi bird, Saff, it’s still a Boggart, pretending.”

“Yes, I know. But he isn’t doing any harm just pretending, is he?”

Dana smiled and linked arms with Saffron. “No, I suppose he isn’t.”

And so, the two newly best friends left the classroom arm in arm, leaving the kiwi bird Boggart to peck its way around the empty room, scaring absolutely no one.

[carewyncromwell]

@lifeofkaze​ Okay seriously, if these guys are doing a DnD campaign, Farid would watching from a distance wistfully for a long while because his brother Malik plays tabletop RPGs all the time and damn it Farid wishes he was here so much until one or multiple peoplearound the table peer-pressured him to make a character.

Then he’d end up having some really kick-ass druid character with the luckiest dice rolls ever. 🤣 Damn it, Kaze, I’m reminded of the MMORPG AU we did with Farid and Reva back in the olden days so much right now!!

Dylan still regrets being talked into playing a halfling in his latest DnD campaign.

Reva wants to know when the next energy drink delivery is coming in.

Dana wants to know too, but for very different reasons.

Phil: Dylan, Unfortunately, you missed the roll by 2 points, and as a Dungeon Master I can't change that. But at least your weapon has a better crit now. So, GG! And about the energys Reva, next week will be a new Patch in Warcraft, so I guess my Dad send a new package the next day. Rockstar ok? And.... Dana want some too? Lul, I will write my dad, so he send us more! Can't wait for the next campaign! Still have to nerf the monsters, otherwise they're OP. But there is nice loot for that.

[lifeofkaze]

Naturally, I am sending you ☕& 🧥because everyone needs coffee and a warm coat... and a PSL for (Dana, give that back!) you.

Dana has run off with the PSL but that's okay. She deserves (and likes) it more than I do. Speaking of her...

☕ coffee or tea: describe your OC’s favorite place to relax.

Dana loves nothing more than sitting in her friend Saffron's (@the-al-chemist) vegan café in Diagon Alley, looking out at the bustling street (preferably) covered in colourful leaves and enjoying a PSL from the Gryffindor mug especially reserved for her.

Dylan's comfort spot is on top of a mountain - any mountain - with his dog Hendrix, maybe Dana, and all other people faaaaar below him.

Reva doesn't know chill but Dante's bed is a good start.

🧥 warm coat: share a happy or fuzzy scene from your wip!

They set off toward the Manchester Metropolitan campus still engaged in banter. It was a good hour’s walk to the university grounds, but Lizzie found that time was flying by. It being early on a weekend, the streets were mostly empty, aside from the occasional runner or people walking their dogs. For a moment she worried that the café might be closed for summer break, but when they passed beneath the old trees of All Saints Park and the small terrace with its wicker chairs came into sight, the doors stood wide open, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeting them from afar. “You go on ahead,” Orion said as she was about to enter the café. He’d taken his phone from his pocket and begun typing into it. “I’ll join you in a second.” “I was banking on your employee’s discount.” “Those were the days.” He glanced up at her, a flash in his eyes. “Ask if you get something for hanging on the wall of fame.” “The what now?” “Did I never tell you? We printed out pictures of our most loyal customers and stuck them to our lockers to worship.”  “And what would I be on there for?” “Being a notorious cherry iced tea fiend.” “You just made that up.” Orion motioned toward the door, already engrossed in his notes again. “Only one way to find out.”

From "When Stars Iginite" (original rewrite), C21

[bookmarkbrowse]

All winners head to UFC

All winners head to UFC

MMA Junkie is live covering Dana White’s Contender Series 51 event on Tuesday. Dana White’s Contenders series card sees potential clients fighting for the chance to sign the UFC deal, and UFC President Dana White will be on hand to make the decision. In the fifth week of Season 6, 10 fighters competed for a chance at UFC contracts. Heavyweights are in the game when Mick Parkin (6-0) takes on…

[news247planet]

#Parkin #Thinks #UFC Mick Parkin thinks he belongs at this stage after UFC London win over Jamal Pogues https://news247planet.com/?p=453074

[libellule-ao3]

The humour, the dialogue (which is really one of the strengths of this whole fanfic! 😮‍💨*admiring sigh*) and the interactions between everyone convey the Hogwarts school atmosphere very well, with rebellious and mischievous students, especially Scarlett who is a real eye-catcher here. 🤣

The theory of blow magic - The girls get it - 7/9

Warning: minor sexual references (nothing major), swearing (but old fashion ;-) )

Too many characters to fit in a picture, which was delaying me so I said no thank you. We now enter the HPMA era.

Characters mentioned here or in passing belong to: @kc-and-co @lifeofkaze @flareshogwarts @the-al-chemist

Chatter drifted above the heads of multiple students crossing the halls of the school, left and right a subtle buzz of voices and laughter. Sturdy combat boots of the latest fashion tapped against the cold floor as Scarlett made her way to her group of friends.

“Well it’s here, just like last year for Nova.” She slapped down on the cold fountain stone a yellow stained page between Dana and Saffron.

“The curse followed you?” Saffron said, taking the page in her hand to read it “This is some very odd ritual, why would someone need sixty-nine candles, a bathtub in which to scrub for one hour in direct moon light.” Peering closer, she added “Bathtub can be replaced with a lake or any large body of water and a sponge of the finest quality in a slightly elongated oval shape?”

Dana leaned closer to her friend, inspecting the instructions further down the page “Left hand in” she angled her head to better see the fading drawing “what is that shape? Blow at a certain angle, nails not touching?” she looked up at Scarlett, sheltering her eyes from late autumn sun above them “Sounds like a fancy way of taking a bath and doing your manicure? Oh do you think the theory of blow magic is actually a spell for drying nail polish faster?”

Lowering her heart shaped sun glasses down her nose, Scarlett ran her piercing across her upper teeth “If anyone is inventing a spell for that it’s me. Sounds like a long explanation for a fancy spa day, or whatever qualified as spa back in those days. Do you think they washed properly?”

Saffron looked at them “I think, they had the same baths at school. It could be a way to blow dry your hair explained in another page that’s around school.”

Rolling her eyes, Scarlett tried to remember what the page Nova had back when she was year seven. Looking up at the school, she cursed out loud for the lack of signal “I can’t wait for this year to be over. I’m done with the old era vibe.” Sticking her tongue out she locked eyes with a professor “Not aimed at you so don’t flatter yourself.”

“Five points from Slytherin.”

“Of course. What else is new? Are you sure you still have points left to deduct or are you sabotaging future generations as well?” she yelled, several heads turning, some groaning, housemates having forsaken the chance of winning the most house points ever since she started causing chaos left and right “Well that went well.” She scoffed looking at her friends.

“What did?” Turning around to say something nasty, she only grimaced when she looked up to see Dorian “Aha you have one too.” Reaching inside of his pocket, he produced a single sheet of paper with only one line written on it “I think someone is playing a prank on me honestly.”

Handing the paper over to the girls, they looked at the line over and over again, confusion between their brows followed by realization and a fit of laughter erupting as Scarlett read out loud “Thou shall ingest a satchel of Richards.” Giving him back the paper, she nodded her head “Fancy way of saying you can suck it. Hey, while you’re here, why don’t you go ask your dad about this magic theory?”

“No thank you.” Dorian immediately dismissing the idea “Something tells me I can’t go to my father with this, he would give me detention for sure.”

Dana gave him an apologetic look, feeling in a sense sorry for him. Having a parent be a teacher at the school appeared counterproductive on even the best day.

“Sorry.” Saffron whispered as if feeling his pain and reading Dana’s mind.

“Oh yay, you have more.” A voice enthusiastically spoke from the other side of the yard, Phil jogging over to them “Can I have them?” he asked pointing at the papers.

Giving him a confused look, Scarlett asked “Why?” before she could even think about what the explanation would actually mean.

“Glad you asked” pointing a finger in her face, he smiled down at her “I want to get on top of it and finish this quest before it reaches me in my last year.” Taking the pages without even asking, he stuffed them in his school bag.

“You do know Hogwarts isn’t a fancy open world game right?” Scarlett asked. Taking a small box from his pocket he started turning the handle on its side, music playing “What is that?”

“Boss music from the latest expansion on the game we were playing.” Clearing his throat he continued “If I am to embark on this quest, I will use all my wits in order to ensure this dungeon gets completed in maximum time with all my stats intact.” The small group shared a confused look between themselves “Onwards to my group of knights. Good day to you ladies” he took a bow “And you my good sir.”

Dorian blinked watching him jog away “I…what did I just witnessed.”

“You get used to it.” Dana smiled causing Scarlett to roll her eyes.

“Do you though?”

“So what do we do about the curse now?” Saffron asked.

“We let Phil handle it. I don’t have time for this blow theory.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Dorian smiled “I still think someone is pranking me.”

“You’re not that interesting to prank Winger.” Strutting away, Scarlett left them alone, wandering inside the castle in search of more interesting activities. If anything needed blowing, it was some steam. She has had enough of the weird school she found herself in.

[usernoneexistent]

Collection of mostly one shot stories of my magic awakened/Next Gen OCs in chronological order.

2008/2009:

Überraschung (Duncan featuring Jacob, Juniper, Charlie and Tarragon)

Heimweh (Duncan)

2010/2011:

A Fresh Start (Flynn featuring Rory McTavish @the-al-chemist & Dana Parkin @lifeofkaze)

2011/2012:

Pinky Promise (Tarragon and the Weasley and Potters)

A Goo Advice (Duncan featuring Marceline Lane-Adler @slytherindisaster & Rosalyn Murk @indigobackfire)

Woodland (Tarragon featuring Saffron Summers @the-al-chemist, Dylan Amari @lifeofkaze, and Patrick Hopper-Lee @thatravenpuffwitch)

Friendship Bracelets (Zola & Tarragon)

2012/2013:

Harper starts Hogwarts 1|2|3

Teenagers (Duncan featuring Marceline Lane-Adler @slytherindisaster)

2013/2014:

After School Lessons (Duncan featuring Zadie Taylor-Allen @the-al-chemist)

Octopus Stoffteir (Duncan x Rosalyn @indigobackfire)

Sunrise Will Come (Zola ft Tarragon)

2014/2015:

We Don't Talk About Oscar

Not The End (Duncan and Jacob)

2015/2016:

Watermelon Sugar (Zola featuring Rory McTavish @the-al-chemist)

[plusorminuscongress]

“The Most Mysterious Woman…” Identified!

“The Most Mysterious Woman…” Identified! By Neely Tucker Published June 29, 2020 at 09:41AM

The photo that stumped readers for years. She looked so familiar, yet no one could identify her.

Cary O’Dell at the Library’s National Recording Registry is the maestro of our ever-popular Mystery Photo Contest. He’s back with big news.

It was a mystery that I was beginning to think would never be solved.

You’ll remember, dear readers of our Mystery Photo Contest, the dark-haired actress in the striped shirt. The pensive gaze off camera. The dark eyes. Her identity had flummoxed us for so long I eventually nicknamed her “The Most Mysterious Woman in the World” last December.

Half a year later, kids, we announce this mystery is SOLVED!

Our heroine in alive and well and still working in the film and television industry. She was identified by James Owen, the only reader to match the face to the name in a couple of years of online guesses. He was nearly as excited as I was when I let him know the news: “Very cool! Happy to help!”

And our mystery woman’s name is – wait, don’t you want to hear the story first?

Most of you know of my ongoing search to put names with some of the unidentified movie, TV and music photos we found within a very large collection of press stills acquired by the Library a few years ago. We posted many of these unidentified faces in our Mystery Photo Contest and you guys have been terrific at tracking them down. Among others, there was Cynthia Lynn, she of “Hogan’s Heroes,” and Esther Anderson, the Jamaican actress and film producer.

But one of the most puzzling of all was that soft-focus photo of the young actress coolly looking off to her right, posed before a blurry background. Guesses poured in. Her secret to anonymity seemed to be that she so resembled so many other actresses of the late ’60s and early ’70s that she looked like everyone and no one. When I sent the photo to Tina Sinatra — a popular guess — she said, “Yes, we all looked alike at that time with our Marlo Thomas hair.”

Some of the other guesses that readers ventured: Marlo Thomas herself, Paula Prentiss, Celeste Yarnall, Dana Delany, Sherry Jackson, Kim Darby, Lucie Arnaz, Stephanie Zimbalist, Susan Saint James, Barbara Parkins, Bonnie Bedelia, Diana Canova, Lynn Loring, Katharine Ross and Linda Harrison.

I reached out to all of these women over the past couple of years. One by one, they all said some variation of, “Nope. Not me.”

But after our December “most mysterious woman” post, new guesses flooded in. I went back to work. Some of the very gracious actresses I contacted after reader suggestions: Mary McDonnell, Gail Hire, Anne Archer, Katherine Justice, Sabrina Scharf, Jody Miller, Maureen McGovern, Samantha Eggar, Jennifer Salt, Pamela Tiffin and Lesley Ann Warren.

You guessed it: Zilch. De nada. Nothing.

Then there was that guess from James Owen. I had dutifully fired off an email to the actress he suggested. And, on a recent day, I got a response. I clicked it open.

“That’s a very nice photo of me,” wrote Wendy Phillips. “Thanks. I hadn’t seen it before.”

Yes, in fact, I did almost fall out of my chair.

After I read that line several times over, I immediately replied:  “ARE YOU KIDDING?  That’s you?!  Could you call me?”

Wendy Phillips today. Photo: Courtesy Wendy Phillips.

Brooklyn native Wendy Phillips began her career in 1975 at the age of 23, starring in the critically-acclaimed TV adaptation of “Death Be Not Proud” (opposite Robby Benson). She’s been working ever since. The Internet Movie Database counts 89 credits over the past 45 years, including the big screen’s “Bugsy,” “I Am Sam” and “Airplane II.”  On TV, she has starred in “Promised Land,” “A Year in the Life,” “Falcon Crest,” “Home Front” and “Big Love.” Her most recent role was appearing in two episodes of CBS’s “Seal Team” in 2018.

In our conversation, she said she thinks our mystery photo was taken on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot. “It wasn’t unusual to be pulled off a soundstage by a photographer or the press department and be made to quickly pose and get a picture, kind of on the run,” she said. “The funny part is I remember the outfit because I hated the sleeves.”

She continued: “I am pretty sure it was from a pilot I did called ‘Love Tapes.’ The original script was called ‘They’re Playing Our Tapes’– ugh!  It was made by MGM and then got tied up in legal battles between the executive producer and the studio.  It finally aired in 1980 as a TV movie.”

The pilot never took off, but it wasn’t from the lack of talent. It featured several female TV stars of the era — Loretta Swit (better known as Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan from “M*A*S*H”), Mariette Hartley (lots of westerns and those great Polaroid commercials with James Garner) and Jan Smithers (Bailey on “WKRP in Cincinnati”).

Of our epic search for her, I said, “We tried to make you Barbara Parkins and Dana Delaney….”

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Dana and I had a similar look, were a similar type; she and I and Erin Gray were always auditioning against each other.”

She was quite amused by our lengthy search and cheerfully noted the photo was far from the best likeness of her. I would like to thank her not only for solving this mystery but also for her good humor that went along with it.  And I would like to thank James Owen, the one (and only one) who suggested “Wendy Phillips” in the first place.

Subscribe to the blog— it’s free! — and the largest library in world history will send cool stories straight to your inbox

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[uneasylisteningradio]

Audio & Playlist for January 11, 2020: Emergency Anti-War Episode

Image: John Heartfield 1932 Well I usually do a show about war for Memorial Day but current events necessitated an extra one. 100% anti. I’ll be off next Saturday (the 18th) but Dana from Don’t Back the Front is hosting so you know it will be good. Back the 25th. 

As usual you can hear a replay of the show on Valley Free Radio this Wednesday night at 11pm EST right after Poison Ivy of the Mind!

link to downloadable audio Playlist: Crucifix - Annihilation Zounds - War Mischief Brew - Against

DJ speaks over Goran Bregovic - War

Aus-Rotten - Tuesday May 18 1993 Police des Mouers - Puppets of War Vaaska - Guerra Sagrada Ruth Copeland - The Medal

Phil Ochs - Cops of the World Pete Seeger - Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream Hellkrusher - Dying for Who Sepultura - Territory

Sweet Honey in the Rock - Study War No More New Model Army - Here Comes the War Buffy Sainte-Marie - Universal Soldier Rudimentary Peni - Poppycock Varukers - Another Religion Another War DOA - World War 3

Discharge - Visions of War Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger - Brother Did You Weep Dirt - Anti-War The Zombies - Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914) Peerless Quartet - I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier Proletariat - Torn Curtain Agnostic Front - Final War Eric B. and Rakim - Casualties of War The Passion Killers - Start Again

Teenage Fanclub - Shock and Awe Bill Withers - I Can't Write Left-Handed Hari-Kari - Prey 4 Peace Dr. Know - War Theatre

Dead Kennedys - When You Get Drafted False Prophets - Banana Split Republic Bloodkrow Butcher - Anti-War Voices of East Harlem - Simple Song of Freedom

Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore The Kinks - Some Mother's Son Les Poppys - Non, Non Rien á Changé Anti-Pasti - Another Dead Soldier The Levellers - Another Man's Cause Motorhead - 1916 Nausea - Johnny Got His Gun

The Exploited - Let's Have a War (Said Maggie One Day) Midnight Oil - Forgotten Years Kraut - Unemployed The Fix - Off to War Subhumans - Religious Wars Slayer - War Ensemble

Warwound - The Final Nightmare Hornsey at War - Hornsey at War The Turtles - We Ain't Gonna Party Anymore Skeptix - Such is War Blood Pressure - Drone War Danny & the Parkins Sisters - War is on Your Doorstep

Billy Bragg - Between the Wars