#dedicated to emma's great in the past present and future

[cloudslou]

for emma @essercipertuttienonperse​

atoms for peace by thom yorke / something great by one direction

[doomonfilm]

Results : The 93rd Academy Award Film Nominations (2021)

After weeks and weeks of speculation, rumination over nominees, streaming service deep dives, high-priced rentals and brain-bending predictions, the moment of truth has finally arrived.  This year, despite the ceremonies being split between the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the presentation was wonderfully cohesive.  Several stars stepped up to preface each award, present the nominees and name the winners, and in-between these moments, Questlove had my dream gig as Academy Awards DJ.  For one of the first public forays in a world creeping closer to a post-COVID-19 reality, the show came off exceptionally smooth and well-presented. 

Cicely Tyson, Ian Holm, Max Von Sydow, Cloris Leachman, Yaphet Koto and many more were recognized in light of their respective passings in 2020 courtesy of Angela Bassett and a moving Stevie Wonder selection, As.  Tyler Perry and the Motion Picture & Television Fund each received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for their long-established efforts, especially those during the COIVD-19 pandemic.  Announcements were made for a Steven Spielberg-directed update of West Side Story, the long-delayed In The Heights and Summer of Soul, the directorial debut of Questlove (who also provided his DJ services for the evening).  The show even had a couple of hilarious moments, including Daniel Kaluuya embarrassing his mother on national TV and a quiz show turned censor’s nightmare involving Questlove, Lil’ Rel Howery, Andra Day, Kaluuya and Glenn Close.  Several of the evening’s awards also allowed for stars and crew to voice their opinions, concerns and wishes about cultural ills, the lack of inclusion and how we should treat our fellow man.

While we all look forward to seeing what surprises each Academy Awards ceremony holds, what we really come for are the awards.  This year, I put in the work more than ever, and even I found myself surprised by some of the evening’s outcomes.  Here are my thoughts on the evening and the winners.

Best Picture

Winner : Nomadland Prediction : Minari

While I’m not surprised that Nomadland took the top award of the night, I am a bit sad that Minari ended up having to walk away almost empty-handed in light of this, especially seeing that Another Round took the Best International Feature award.  Hopefully Minari can find an audience in light of this snub, but despite how bitter I sound, I am happy for the success that Nomadland has found this award’s season. 

Best Director

Winner : Chloé Zhao, Nomadland Prediction : Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Chloé Zhao has been the belle of the ball this award’s season, and her successful run culminated in a strong showing at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.  With her next venture being a step into the MCU via The Eternals, let’s see if she can bring her sensibility (and award-winning credibility) into the world of the popcorn flick. 

Best Actor

Winner : Anthony Hopkins, The Father Prediction : Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

As Joaquin Phoenix said so prophetically prior to handing out this award (and I loosely quote), “it’s a shame that only one person can win”.  That being said, as great as Anthony Hopkins was in The Father, it’s amazing to me that this award did not go to Chadwick Boseman.  Some might say that giving it to him posthumously would not be sincere, but cards on the table, Boseman gave a powerhouse performance that deserved continued recognition right up to the top award.  The Academy Awards has a long history of “interesting” choices, and this is one of the most memorable to date.

Best Actress

Winner : Frances McDormand, Nomadland Prediction : Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

After Andra Day upset the balance at the Golden Globes, I had my doubts that the formidable Frances McDormand would garner any awards for Nomadland, despite her stellar track record.  Viola Davis looked like the frontrunner headed into the night, as she was poised to make Oscar history, which further narrowed McDormand's chances.  Once Nomadland won Best Picture, however, it seemed like the wave had shifted, and sure enough, the statue went to McDormand.  This was a monster of a cateogry, and her win was certainly a well-deserved one. 

Best Supporting Actor

Winner : Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah Prediction : Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

In one of the most controversial categories leading into the evening, Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield found themselves battling one another in the Best Supporting Actor category, which raised the question of whether or not Judas and the Black Messiah even had a lead.  This was further muddied by what seemed like a sure-thing victory for Chadwick Boseman in the Best Actor category (which ended up being quite the surprise category, to say the least).  With Kaluuya having the momentum coming into the night via a series of previous wins for his role as Fred Hampton, his win on the night was not a surprise victory, and his presence definitely helped make the show a memorable one.

Best Supporting Actress

Winner : Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari Prediction : Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

In what ended up being my favorite moment of the night, Yuh-Jung Youn helped save Minari from a wholly disappointing showing with her formidable victory in the Best Supporting Actress category.  Her acceptance speech was what the Oscar ceremony is all about, with her sincerity and appreciation being massively sincere, including a wonderful acknowledgement of getting to meet award presenter Brad Pitt.

Original Screenplay

Winner : Promising Young Woman Prediction : Promising Young Woman

Had Promising Young Woman walked away empty-handed, it would have been a pure travesty.  Its subject matter, however, not to mention its unforgiving approach, made it a tough choice for any of the top awards outside of Best Original Screenplay, but in my opinion, it is exactly those same aspects that made it the shoo-in win for this category.  Hollywood has a long way to go before it can be honest about the type of people it supports, but giving a film like this one a spotlight can help make that a reality. 

Adapted Screenplay

Winner : The Father Prediction : The Father

As one of the last films I ended up seeing in my pre-Academy Awards research, I was very curious to see how The Father would end up in regard to successes, and this was one of the categories that felt like a sure thing.  The passion and time spent on this play turned screenplay is evident for anyone who has seen this incredibly moving film, and while its other award of the night was definitely a shockwave of a closer, this award was certainly well-deserved and possibly expected.

Animated Feature

Winner : Soul Prediction : Soul

If there were a sure thing for the evening, this was the category.  Soul was the heavy favorite going into the night, and it did what it set out to do, which was win over everyone who had the pleasure of seeing it, including members of the Academy.

Production Design

Winner : Mank Prediction : News of the World

My curiosity of what kind of showing that Mank would have on the evening kept me in anticipation leading into the show, and while it didn’t garner any of the big awards, I am happy that the work put into capturing a bygone era was rewarded via its technical awards.  This one came as a surprise to me, but it was certainly not a bad choice.

Costume Design

Winner : Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Prediction : Emma

This award not only stood as a show of inclusion (something that the Academy has had to be aware of in the recent past), but a harbinger of possible results in the top acting awards.  Anytime that a film like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starts cleaning up in the tech spots, I start to look at it like a sort of consolation prize, and after the film’s leads not receiving awards for Best Actor or Best Actress, it seemed that this practice is still in effect.

Cinematography

Winner : Erik Messerschmidt, Mank Prediction : Erik Messerschmidt, Mank

As mentioned before, the aspect of Mank that really stood out to me was how David Fincher made his film feel authentically of the era it presents to us.  This immersion was created with the visuals and the sound, but with Sound of Metal being such a standout film centered around auditory stimulus, Mank felt like a longshot for that, but a sure shot for Best Cinematography.

Editing

Winner : Sound of Metal Prediction : The Trial of the Chicago 7

Sound of Metal had a very impressive night, and while it won the award everyone expected it to, seeing it win the Best Editing award as well only stands as a testament to how well put together the film is (no pun intended).

Makeup and Hairstyling

Winner :  Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Prediction : Pinocchio 

As mentioned in my Best Costume Design thoughts, while this award was well-deserved, it felt like a possible setup for a letdown later on in the evening,  It’s tough to think of an award in terms of what it may mean for a future loss, but that’s the way the award show cookie crumbles.

Sound

Winner : Sound of Metal Prediction : Sound of Metal

If Soul didn’t exist, then this award would’ve been the one that felt like the most obvious choice.  Capturing the world of deafness in film is not only incredibly difficult, but daring as well, as audio is one of the key aspects to creating the immersion needed to appreciate a film, but the sound design of this film brought us into a world many of us may never experience directly, and for that, it deserves to be awarded.

Visual Effects

Winner : Tenet Prediction : Love and Monsters

Tenet couldn’t go empty-handed this awards season, and with much of the competition being on a different cinematic and studio level (outside of Disney’s Mulan), Tenet certainly had the highest profile.  It is cool, however, to see a film (and director) so dedicated to practical and in-camera effects win the highest award in the game.

Score

Winner : Soul Prediction : Mank

In what continuously became the most hilarious occurrence to me from award show to award show, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross once again found themselves playing second banana to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.  While I have no issues with Soul winning this award, I think time may find that Mank’s incredibly period-authentic original score was overlooked in its brilliance.

Song

Winner : Fight for You (Judas and the Black Messiah) Prediction : Fight for You (Judas and the Black Messiah)

After a disappointing snub at the Golden Globes, it felt like H.E.R. my find herself walking away empty-handed for her standout work in the creation of Fight For You.  The song is not only a strong performance and recording by its own merit, but it captures the spirit and essence of Judas and the Black Messiah in a way that the other nominees fall short of. 

Documentary Feature

Winner : My Octopus Teacher Prediction : Collective

While a compelling film, I find myself baffled at the continued victories that My Octopus Teacher has racked up for the year.  Despite my lack of connection to it, it is impossible to ignore how deep and vast the film’s connection to the populous at large has been, and with an Oscar under its belt (along with the numerous other statues it has collected), it stands to likely grow a bigger and more supportive fanbase. 

International Feature

Winner : Another Round (Denmark) Prediction : Better Days (Hong Kong)

Not only was Minari robbed of wins in both the Best Picture and Best International Feature category, but the film that did win the Best International Feature category felt like a bit of a superficial choice.  With a film about bullying, a film about the failures of the healthcare system and a film about the lack of humanity during war all in the running (and all pitch-perfect films, to boot), a film about a group of entitled alcoholics being a poor influence to kids became leader of the pack.  Categories like this one are a chance to broaden American awareness of international art and culture, but this award feels like one of the bigger missteps of the evening.

Animated Short

Winner : If Anything Happens I Love You Prediction : Genius Loci

While Genius Loci was the more moving piece to me, If Anything Happens I Love You is certainly a film with a nuanced and artistic approach to an American epidemic that is public shootings (a school shooting, in this case).  While my heart feels the loss of this choice, my head is happy that such a moving and heartfelt film may get the chance to touch the lives of a broader audience.

Documentary Short

Winner : Colette Prediction : Do Not Split

First and foremost, all respect to Colette for the story it tells and the spotlight it puts on both its titular figure and the way that people of multiple generations dance around facing the Holocaust head on.  All that being said, Do Not Split was way too important of a film to go unawarded, especially in light of rising violence against members of the Asian-American community.

Live-Action Short

Winner : Two Distant Strangers Prediction : Two Distant Strangers

Definitely one of the categories that got the winner absolutely right.  Sadly, the film becomes more and more relevant with each passing day, with several Police-based shootings having taken place since the George Floyd trail conclusion.  Bravo to Joey Bada$$ and company for making such a brave and bold piece of art.

I ended up predicting of 9 the 23 films correct, which is not nearly as good in comparison to how confident I felt going into the night.  There were lots of surprises throughout the evening, especially in the final stretch, and I’m sure these decisions will be debated heavily for the next few weeks.  Luckily, we’ve got ourselves plenty of months to start taking in the 2021 releases, and with two-thirds of the year left to look forward to, it’ll be fun when we all reconvene to do this again in 2022.

[comicteaparty]

Webcomic Recommendations

Check out this plethora of webcomic recommendations archived from Comic Tea Party’s Webcomic Recommendations Channel!

Nutty (Court of Roses)

Children of Shadow: Ashes https://spiderforest.com/comics/children-of-shadow-ashes/ Genre: Anthro/Horror/Urban Fantasy Trigger Warnings: Rated Mature for blood, gore, and intense scenes Reasons: Some of the most lovely pencil work I've ever seen, well-rendered animal art and a compelling world!(edited)

Heirs of the Veil https://spiderforest.com/comics/heirs-of-the-veil/ Genre: Drama/Urban Fantasy Trigger Warnings: Rated PG-16+ for transphobia, dysphoria, mental illness, blood, trauma, body horror Reasons: Absolutely gorgeous artwork, really compelling illustrations of the lgbt experience

Aloe https://spiderforest.com/comics/aloe/ Genre: Adventure/Drama/Sci-Fi Trigger Warnings: Rated Teen for violence and blood Reasons: I'm normally not into sci-fi but this comic is so bright and colorful, I really love it a lot. Also the main character is non-binary!

Millennium https://spiderforest.com/comics/millennium/ Genre: Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-fi Trigger Warnings: Rated PG-13 for Mild Violence and Mild Language Reasons: Lovely art, fun characters, and an engaging space world! I love it so so much.

Sombulus https://spiderforest.com/comics/sombulus/ Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Fantast Trigger Warnings: Rated Young Adult, no warnings Reasons: An absolute blast, super fun story and characters, with a nice long archive too!

Arbalest https://spiderforest.com/comics/arbalest/ Genre: Fantasy/Horror Trigger Warnings: Rated Mature for partial nudity, blood/gore, sex, themes of abuse Reasons: A really compelling story in a non-traditional narrative style, and super spooky to boot.

And finally, to top this off, I'll drop in my own comic as well! Court of Roses https://spiderforest.com/comics/court-of-roses/ Genre: Adventure/Fantasy/Comedy Trigger Warnings: Rated Teen, for Fantasy Violence and Alcohol Use Reasons: Because this is my comic and it's my pride and joy and I love my bards a lot. :3

AntiBunny

Dead Winter http://deadwinter.cc/ Genre: Zombie Apocalypse Trigger Warnings: Violent Reasons: Well it's a straightforward zombie survival comic. What's impressive is how well the artist has studied comics as an art form and put thought and purpose into every panel.

HiddenElephant

http://welcome2earth.webcomic.ws/ Snarky alien crashes onto Earth. Not enough people are reading it in my opinion.

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

Super Galaxy Knights Deluxe R: http://sgkdr.thecomicseries.com/ Genre: Action, Comedy Trigger Warnings: Blood, Dismemberment Reasons: A recommendation for @Goobatron . It's my comic. The creator is me. Super Galaxy Knights is a story about Mizuki Sato, who goes on adventures through a strange world, making friends along the way. The dialogue is like... 70% banter, 30% total non-sequiturs. The art style uses 3D models, in like a weird cel-shaded style that's meant to be reminiscent of games like Wind Waker and Dragon Ball FighterZ. And there's also a bunch of animated panels/pages. There's also a ton of really strange characters. Like there's a dude whose power is that he always wins knife fights. There's a wizard who shrinks hot dogs and carries them around in capsules. Etc. One warning - the early pages are a bit rough-looking. Some have been redrawn recently, but others haven't yet, so it can be a bit jarring to go back and forth between styles.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Clockwork http://www.clockwork-comic.com/ Genre: Fantasy / Drama CW: Some language and violence Clockwork is a comic about Cog Kleinshmidt, a moody teenager with an uncanny talent for repairing machinery. He feels he’s a nobody, but is swept into the turbulent world of politics, and is forced to learn magic in a world where magic is strictly forbidden. The art in this comic is incredibly polished and lively, and the characters are all instantly endearing. The writing is also top-notch. The first time I read it, I was completely sucked in after only a few pages. It’s currently on hiatus while the creator prepares the next chapter, but it’s well worth the wait.(edited)

Moral_Gutpunch

Micheal Morbius: Freelance Vampire http://freelancevampire.thecomicseries.com/ Genre: Drama, comedy Trigger: mentions of death and violence, talk of abusive relationships, mention of rape. It's all in dialog. Micheal Morbius, from Marvel comics, struggles to adjust to a as normal a life as a vampire can have. He helps a friend get back on her feet, he goes through therapy, and he's visited by Spider-heroes, this time a new one. Meanwhile, a true monster lurks int he shadows. The art isn't good, but the story and dialog are worth it. It's my comic. I hope after I get a few more pages going people will enjoy the story. It's a story I've been wanting to write for ages and I figured I'm not going to write for Marvel anytime soon (yes, I checked copyright law, Marvel allows this). Dedicated to Stan Lee.

Pakky

The Boy Who Fell http://boywhofell.com/ Genre: Drama, Adventure, Action, Comedy TW: Violence, blood, fighting, ptsd, suicide, death Synopsis (from the website): The Boy Who Fell revolves around an innocent, softhearted and almost-spineless boy named Ren who suddenly finds himself in Hell after accidentally falling off a school rooftop. He is then forced to partake in a tournament full of powerful and vicious beings in order to attain his only way of going home: an all-powerful wish from the ruler of Hell himself. As the story progresses, lines between allies and enemies are blurred, dark pasts are revealed, political issues come to light and all the while, Ren slowly realizes that in order to survive this journey, he might have to give up the very things that make him human I love this webcomic and have been following this artist for over 10 years now and recommend their work to anyone who will listen haha! Super long running webcomic with a well developed storyline and world.

Shizamura 🌟 O Sarilho

Broken http://broken.spiderforest.com/ Genre: Horror Trigger Warnings: Military, death, monsters Reasons: Broken offers a very interesting twist on the concepts of fairies, presenting you with a fairy general on the battlefield fighting against corrupted abominations. The concepts and worldbuilding here are very interesting and the battle/action scenes are great. Often makes use of animation and some HTML/CSS for extra effect. Of Magic and Muses https://xiicomic.com/magic-and-muses/ Genre: Magical Girls, mystery Trigger Warnings: There's a big monster at some point? Reasons: It's a magical girl story! Except nobody knows what's happening, the powers the girls get are maybe not of a friendly nature and they wear armor? The escalation of events is suberb. It has a large (and growing) cast, but each character has their own unique personality, making them super easy to follow and love. Ghost Junk Sickness https://www.ghostjunksickness.com/ Genre: action, sci-fi Trigger Warnings: violence, limb loss, death Reasons: There's a lot to be said about this comic! I really like the characters, who are deeply flawed and charming and make a lot of mistakes (the main duo having an especially interesting, yet sorta problematic dynamic). The worldbuilding is interesting and quirky to match. The mysterious bounty The Ghost is a looming presence, and apparently we'll be learning more about them soon. Super exciting and fun action scenes too!

Desnik

https://monsterhead.net/ Genre: LGBT+ American rural occult fantasy Trigger Warnings: Animal death, mild body horror Reasons: The author/artist is an OC-loving member of the LGBT+ community, and her work deals with self-love in the face of weird circumstances. Love the colors, Carter is an appealing and relatable main character, and the worldbuilding is something I've never seen before.

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

http://www.phantomarine.com/ Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural Trigger Warnings: Death, Mild Body Horror, Mild Violence, Mild Language Reasons: ...This is my comic! (edited)

Phantomarine is a spooky-but-sweet fantasy webcomic about a ghostly princess and her perilous journey across a haunted sea, hoping to save her soul from a devious, shapeshifting death god known as the Red Tide King. Expect all manner of maritime mysteries – monstrous sea creatures, sacred lighthouses, strange afflictions, accursed marauders, feuding gods, grand sea battles, and a heaping helping of humor in-between.

eliushi [Keyspace]

https://tapas.io/series/KEYSPACE-A-Winged-Tale/ https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/keyspace-a-winged-tale/list?title_no=322364 Genre: YA Science Fantasy, LGBT+ Trigger warnings: Mild body horror/violence/monsters, death Reasons: My comic Blurb: Florence thought her idyllic life living with the winged beings would last forever. However, when her mother disappears from a mysterious expedition, she fears for the worst. Through exploring hidden laboratory tunnels beneath the forest, facing Machines from a century-long war against humans, and seeking guidance from the Lost people from a civilization gone by, Flo and her winged friends must piece together the past in order to save all those they love.

Shizamura 🌟 O Sarilho

O Sarilho https://www.sarilho.net/en Genre: Post-Apocaliptic/Sci-fi Trigger Warnings: War, military, death Reasons: I make it Short description: A small team goes on a mission to enemy territory to find the remains of an ancient satellite and they end up finding a lot more. There are computers and dams and electricity-worshipping future romans (edited)

GGY

Tile: Over 8 Miles https://tapas.io/episode/859067 Genre: Drama, Comedy, Slice of Life Reasons I make it: Cause its fun and I enjoy sharing the existence of my characters and their life outside my brain

Emma (Friends or Lovers?)

Dreamwalker Felix by KT and TK https://tapas.io/series/Dreamwalker-Felix and https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/dreamwalker-felix/list?title_no=182487 Genre: Fantasy/Supernatural Trigger Warnings: There's some body horror in there Reasons: The art is just beautiful, and it has tons of funny moments Friends or Lovers? by yours truly https://tapas.io/series/friendsorlovers and https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/friends-or-lovers/list?title_no=49520 Genre: Romance/school slice of life Trigger Warnings: Mentions and depictions of bullying Reasons: It's my comic, so I'll just quote a reader: "Your comic is more accurate to real teens in love in high school than most. It's really good stuff"

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Earth in a Pocket http://earthinapocket.spiderforest.com/ Genre: Retro Sci-fi, Iyashikei Trigger Warnings: none Reasons: This comic posted its final page very recently! It's a relatively short read; very gentle and hopeful without being cavity-causingly sweet. The creator has put together such a heartwarming story that I've been adoring for a while. One of my faves, now complete!

renieplayerone

O Human Star https://ohumanstar.com/ Genre: Scifi, Robots, Drama TW: Dysphoria, Depression Reasons: The characters are so well written and emotional, plus I love the simplistic color palette. They get across the journey of self-discovery in such an interesting way.(edited)

carcarchu

Arcane Flames https://tapas.io/series/Arcane-Flames Genre: Fantasy Trigger Warnings: death? Reasons: I've been following kutty sark for many years now and I've really been looking forward to this comic which I'm pleased to say even exceeded my expectations. Fantastic art and the tone of the story is just lovely, i adore al'vis

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

https://sfeertheory.com/ The art is incredible. Every character, even the background ones, is full of personality. I love a good underdog story, and Luca's speech in chapter three made me scream into my hands and tear up. I can't recommend it highly enough

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

http://secondcrimeanwar.thecomicseries.com/

The Second Crimean War is a powerful and fun story in an alternate 1990s decade in Ukraine. The art is black and white and improves in leaps and bounces as you move on in the story! The story itself draws you in from page one. There's suspense, there's (black) humor, there's atmosphere and adventure. Highly recommended if you like war/action/suspense.

varethane

Have you ever read Nasty Red Dogs? https://nastyreddogs.com/

oh golly, haha

yeah, it's a fun and twisted and surreal little tale, the early parts especially are like walking through a really bizarre dream that if you describe it, it ought to be called a nightmare, but at the moment you're in it, it doesn't FEEL like one lol

the creator also does a comic called Feast For A King, which I think is more well-known but I haven't read yet (will at some point tho): https://feastforaking.com/comic/

kelly-zine

Title: Zyra Slash Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Slice-Of-Life TW: None (for right now at least, it just started!) Reasons: I love Alex and their characters so much! ZS is a project I’ve been following and chatting with them about for a long time and it’s amazing to see it come to fruition. I think you’ll like it too. (Note that it’s on hiatus at the moment!) https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/zyra-slash/list?title_no=373763

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Title: Ark https://www.arkcomic.com/ Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Anthro TW: violence (nothing heavy yet, but my Spider Senses are tingling) Reasons: A 1920s-inspired, extremely believable fantasy setting. Hints of racial tension and a possible war brewing on the horizon. It's pretty early in the story, so hop in and claim the front row seats for this gorgeously illustrated comic! (edited)

Joichi [Hybrid Dolls]

Tamberlane https://www.tamberlanecomic.com/ Genre: slice of life, heartwarming, Anthro It has a cast of colourful characters. Charming story of a clumsy bat named Belfry who adopts a little human. Various animal neighbors to love

Joichi [Hybrid Dolls]

I found one of the Chinese webcomics I use to follow, is now on Webtoons. They rename the title to: The Emperor's New Body because it's about body swapping and has interesting depth while some silly hijinks https://tapas.io/series/the-emperors-new-body(edited)

trinketfox

May as well rec my first ever favorite webcomic! Warrior U! https://warrior-u-thecomic.tumblr.com/ It's so expressive and funny that I've always wished it would become a show on cartoon network or something. Only the first few pages are still up on this tumblr since the official site is down, but all chapters are on the artist's gumroad!

It's an episodic comedy fantasy that goes from page-long gags to full episodes. Reccomended for it's humor and a really fun art style.

SteffieMusings

Nebula Beings https://tapas.io/series/Nebula-Beings Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror/Thriller Trigger Warnings: Violence, scary imagery (especially in chapter 7), talks/implied past abuse Reasons: It's a fun series and the two main characters learn to overcome challenges during their travels.(edited)

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

http://humoncomics.com/elftaken-1

Very short comic about the fae!

shadowhood {SunnyxRain}

For anyone who wants really strong character development/plot/art in general, I’m recommending Heir’s Game https://www.webtoons.com/en/drama/heirs-game/list?title_no=1445 For slapstick humor and characters with strong platonic bonds I give you Waffles and Pancakes https://www.webtoons.com/en/slice-of-life/waffles-and-pancakes/list?title_no=1310 And because why not, and if you like Victorian romance with a cute bickering couple, I give you Miss Abbott and the Doctor https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/miss-abbott-and-the-doctor/list?title_no=707

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Encephalon Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror Trigger Warnings: Blood, Gore, Strong Language A rescue crew sent to an abandoned space station comes face-to-face with a bio-computer experiment gone horribly wrong. A sci-fi webcomic with body-horror elements. Very creepy stuff! It's just getting started, but after seeing the rest of the story in thumbnail form (my IRL friend is the making it), it's going to AWESOME places. Please check it out! https://encephalon-comic.com/

Joichi [Hybrid Dolls]

This is: Mirror Mirror for 'Brain' short story contest entry. The 1st ep caught my eye and I'm invested in it https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/mirror-mirror-b/list?title_no=427186(edited)

carcarchu

https://www.lezhin.com/en/comic/freak Genre: fantasy Trigger Warnings: violence? Reasons: sakon's art is brilliant and incredibly consistent. season 1 is now available to read for free!

sagaholmgaard

Genre: Supernatural, urban fantasy, slice of life Trigger Warnings: Maybe abusive parents? idk i feel like it will be explored in the future Reasons: I love the art style and the latest chapter have some CHAOTIC ENERGY and im living for it!! https://tapas.io/series/bygonesbe

GGY

Just got back from hiatus! If y’all are interested in some slice of life + comedy drama I’d like to share my webcomic Over 8 Miles: https://tapas.io/series/O8M/ep39

carcarchu

Veni Vidi Vici https://vevivi.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-1.html Genre: slice of life, comedy Reasons: reading this comic feels so comfy and it reminds me of being in roman studies class again. you can really see the love and care that Ruby has put into this comic and her passion for ancient rome is really on full display in this work

Joichi [Hybrid Dolls]

This is the comic books for Cafe Suada I used to read way back. It's a fun slice of life about a teahouse shop keeper rivals with a coffee shop manager https://tapas.io/series/Cafe-Suada The artist used some traditonal tea staining for the textures. The story inspired me to draw my own slice of life series(edited)

sierrabravo (Hans Vogel is Dead)

The Strange Tale of Oscar Zahn https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/the-strange-tales-of-oscar-zahn/list?title_no=685&page=1 Genre: Paranatural Investigation with just a dash of Cosmic Horror Kinda spooky, some light/fantasy violence From the website: Follow the journey of the world's greatest paranormal investigator - Oscar Zahn. Friend to lost souls, enemy of evil, he may lack a body but that doesn't mean he's missing a heart! The art is INCREDIBLE, the tone is really fun with some neat Hellboy vibes, it's complete and it's a good binge read. I really enjoyed it!

carcarchu

Short story about a cat, make sure you've got tissues ready https://akimiya.tumblr.com/post/129049384624

boogeymadam

just caught up with wychwood and it's such a huge treat!! there's some amazingly fun worldbuilding, a lot of intrigue about how the protagonists came to have the powers they do, and the motives behind the things that made the world the way it is * _ * it's also got soooo many pretty derelict environments, cool creature design and fun training montages! http://wychwood.sevensmith.net/comic/1

Yung Skrimp (Carefree)

I started reading Cloven Hearth, it’s interesting and has a really cool art style

https://twitter.com/ruinationcomics/status/1254126660007399425?s=21(edited)

carcarchu

Hana and Mr. Arrogant https://www.ciayo.com/en/comic/hana-mr-arrogant Genre: romance Reasons: Easy breezy read, with nice art and a super likeable heroine! Nothing we've never seen before, but delivered with genuine heart that makes it stand out

LabsZach

This one esp, with the greenery shifting into dirt, roots, and mushrooms, and how it compliments the figures on it is just aces. https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/cloven-hearth/touch-of-the-divine/viewer?title_no=396780&episode_no=14

boogeymadam

recently binged malverav's comic Love and War and it is sooo satisfying, about 2 competitors in a medieval tournament involving jousting, archery and more! The banter between Svanhildur and Marinelle had me grinning a lot. Also, it's a wlw rivals-to-lovers romance aka a GREAT kinda love story!! (my favorite kind ) it's on tapas https://tapas.io/series/Love-and-War/info

carcarchu

cronaj's sports comment got me thinking about this and how damn good it is https://tapas.io/episode/968762 Genre: Sports, drama Reasons: it's insanely creative and the art is so intense, i found it extremely memorable and powerful to read(edited)

carcarchu

Came across this stunning webtoon today. It was originally published on taiwanese webtoon and the author has decided to tl into english to share with a wider audience https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/intertidal/list?title_no=371176 Really gorgeous traditionally drawn comic and a lovely poetic writing style

carcarchu

the winner of this year's eisners awards for best webcomic. definitely worth checking out! https://friedricecomic.com/

[thebrewstorian]

“Maybe you’ve heard of her husband? Finding Louisa Weinhard.” The Zoom 2020 PCB-AHA presentation.

Last week I was supposed to give a presentation for the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association conference. That didn't work out... For the COVID-19 reasons. But we did make it work a week later on Zoom and it was terrific!

My talk focused on Louisa Weinhard. Here’s what I said. 

I started OHBA in 2013, the first of its kind in the country. 2013 is also when I met Peter Kopp [see photo above left bottom - Kopp is the author of Hoptopia: A World of Agriculture and Beer in Oregon's Willamette Valley] and we’re old hats at presenting together. Though usually we are in the same room. This talk, “Maybe you’ve heard of her husband? Finding Louisa Weinhard,” is based on an article for the Oregon Historical Quarterly I’m working on revisions for right now. I’m going to talk about women in brewing in Oregon, but first I want to talk about silence.

Archives and records repositories are filled with voices. We visit them to learn about our families, past actions of governments, and the activities of private organizations. But they are also spaces that reflect power and document the dominant narrative. Decisions are made by creators, by archivists, and by researchers about what to include and who to exclude – the result can be distortion, omission, and erasure. And so, for all the voices recorded in an archive, there are also many that have been silenced.

As anyone who has done historical research on women knows, their stories weren’t actually hidden, more often they were simply not recorded. The history of nineteenth century women’s work is often told through the story of husbands and sons. They were categorized as wives and mothers rather than business partners or owners. One issue I always cite when talking about researching women is the complications surrounding names: if their first name was recorded in newspapers (not just “Mrs.”), actually finding a maiden name to track genealogy often feels like luck.

Most (all) brewers in nineteenth century Oregon were men, but as I explored beer history more, I found the stories of early Oregon women and their work in brewing fascinating. In my research I found most women linked to breweries weren’t making beer, but I suspected they played an essential role in the businesses success (for example in running the household, child-minding, doing the books, participating in community events, etc.), and I knew that several ran the brewery for a time after their husband died.

I was preparing for an oral history in 2016 with Dana Garves, owner of BrewLab and former brewing chemist at Ninkasi, and I found a blog post she’d written called “Oregon’s First Women Brewers [1879-1908],” which included names and locations. I have since found photos of three of these women: Left to right is Fredericka Wetterer from Jacksonville, Mary Allen from Monument, and Marie Kienlen from southern Oregon. Garves also wrote about Theresa O’Brien from the north coast and Mary Mehl from the south coast. I added names of own, including Catherine Stahl and Frances Kastner from eastern Oregon; Margaret Beck from Capital Brewing in Salem, and Louisa Kiefer from Albany – she’s also Fredericka Wetterer’s sister.

But is there a way to determine the jobs they did or the role they played? I did a lot of online newspaper searching and onsite research in the places these women lived, and the short answer is no. Variables in terms of family structure, geographic location, brewery size, and available documentation make generalizations and specifics quite difficult. 

But Henry Weinhard? His is a pretty familiar name and his business was extremely successful. And I was certain researching his wife would be a snap. An easy win and good practice for future work on the other women I’d identified.

I was wrong.

It turned out records for the Weinhards are scant, mostly limited to newspaper articles and ads, government records, lawsuits, and, for Henry, glowing biographies in “books about great men.”

And so I dug.

This is Louisa, who had that very famous husband. Although she was famous in her own right for generosity, as well as her involvement in local church and aid societies, her legacy is marked by both details and silences.

Not to jump to the end of the story first, but the fact that I have this picture is a true testament to my Googling superpowers. I scoured archival collections, newspapers, and books looking for a picture of her, only to fail. Finally, using a string of search terms I can’t remember, I found a 2015 reference to a portrait in an article about the Portland Community College remodel. Days before I finished the first draft of my article, I emailed their Community Relations manager and she sent me a picture of the portrait. It sat on my desk and I saved it on my phone to show people who I was writing about. We have signed the paperwork to have this transferred to the collections at OSU – I was due to pick it up the week everything closed…

Luise Wagenblast was born in Germany in 1832. She lost her mother when she was four, traveled to Missouri at fifteen, arrived in the Northwest at twenty-three, and married a man who would become famous when she was twenty-seven. By the time she died at aged eighty-five, she’d buried her husband and four of her five children.

Through online genealogy sites and local history sources, I pieced together details about Louisa’s family’s move from Waldrems, Germany, a small town about 300 miles southwest of Berlin, to Missouri to Oregon. Although she travelled to Oregon by ship, her brother Gottlieb journeyed with the 1855 wagon train led by Dr. Wilhelm Keil, founder of Christian communal settlements in Bethel (Missouri) and Aurora (Oregon) – thanks to Peter’s dad James for his work on utopian communities in Oregon because it helped me tease out whether they were part of the colony or not. They weren’t.

Through government records, I learned when she was married to Henry and when her children were born. Census records and newspapers documented the family’s moves back and forth across the Oregon / Washington border. Through the census, I also learned about her neighbors, the ages of her children, and if she had servants living in her home. While dates and names are recorded, what isn’t is the scope of her loss, which feels immense. Her son Christian Henry died in 1863 at two years old and daughter Emma Augusta in 1864 at 18 months. Her daughter Bertha Carolina (Bettie) died in 1882 of acute appendicitis at 13. Henry died in 1904 of kidney disease. Just over a year later, daughter Louise Wagner died of heart disease at thirty-two. Only daughter Anna Wessinger, who lived to 87, survived Louisa.

However, mentions in newspaper articles gave me a significant, and somewhat intimate, glimpse into her life through her community activities. She sent roses to the 1903 Portland Rose Society annual rose show and thirty pounds of sugar to support unemployed men at the Gipsy Smith Tabernacle. She donated $100 to a benefit fund to purchase artificial legs for Marjorie Mahr, an actress who lost both legs in a railway accident. When thirteen-year-old Ervilla Smith arrived at the Weinhard house in the middle of the night in 1905 after being assaulted near the Lewis & Clark Exposition fairgrounds and left on the street by a saloon; the family welcomed her, called the doctor and the police, while “Mrs. Weinhard got her something to eat and made her comfortable for the night.” She was a member of the Portland Women's Union and sent money to the Louise Home for Unmarried Mothers and Albertina Kerr Nursery Home. And during the last weeks of her life, she offered money to a woman whose husband was in prison in California so she could visit him.

I have lots of stories that could expand and fill the rest of my time: things I found out about Louisa’s siblings; brewery owners, saloon keepers, gambling, prostitution, and vice; women’s clubs in Portland; or family real estate acquisitions. But since it’s where I found the most detail, I’m going to tell you about how Louisa used that wealth and her position at the end of her life.

In the years following Henry and Louise’s deaths, it is difficult to determine how involved Louisa was in the brewery and family estate business, perhaps no more than in name as an executrix of the estate. What is clear is that she continued to support her German community. The most significant was her donation of a twenty-acre lot in Southeast Portland, worth $30,000, to build a retirement facility for elderly Germans to spend their final years “among their own people.” The Altenheim was to be the “most important of its kind in the U.S.” Newspapers reported that she wanted residents to take advantage of fresh air, good water, and rich soil; and because she valued work, also wanted “helpful occupations for charges” and imagined the home would be partially self-supporting through farming. On August 6, 1911, with 2,000 people present, the cornerstone was laid, which contained pictures of Henry and Louisa, as well as copies of Portland’s German and other daily newspapers. Louisa’s great-grandson talking later about a picture in the newspaper of Louisa at the May 1912 dedication, in an open carriage with the mayor of Portland, described her as looking like queen Victoria, “very short and very fat.” That’s the picture you see here – a find made possible by the University of Oregon’s Historic Oregon Newspapers site. I learned more about Louisa from the news coverage for the Altenheim than in most previous articles about Henry or the business. Beyond a tone-deaf comment about her appearance, I learned that she valued work, self-sufficiency, and cultural traditions, but also that she was part of a community that felt isolated from the rest of Portland. What we don’t hear are her words – in all the press coverage regarding the Altenheim there isn’t a single quote from Louisa.

The Altenheim was closed in 2003 and the building housed the German American Society offices until the property was sold to Portland Community College in 2010. And that’s where her portrait is waiting for me!

Louisa died in Portland on April 23, 1918 and was buried at the River View Cemetery. She was eighty-five years old, had been in America for seventy-one years and Portland for sixty-three. News of her death was carried in several papers.

W.G. Maclaren, General Superintendent Pacific Coast Rescue and Protective Society, wrote a letter to the editor that was an unfettered tribute to her good works and the hidden nature of her charity. He said that during the hard times of 1907, she bought $100 worth of tickets for the Portland Commons, and distributed them among “men who were out of work and in need of food and lodging.” He went on “She gave me orders that I was not to allow any unfortunate person to go away hungry and agreed to meet the expenses of feeding them.” He continued, “there never was a case of a mother or child in sickness or distress that Mrs. Weinhard knew of where she would not give assistance” and concluded she was a “good woman with one of the best hearts where human suffering was concerned that I have ever known. I believe that the people of Portland should know something of what she did during her long residence in this city for the benefit of Humanity.”

This last sentence feels like a final reminder that she gave freely to charitable causes and individual people, not for personal recognition (and maybe not for our historical record) but for the purpose of bettering others.

In researching Louisa, I found a handful of touchingly personal details that I couldn’t verify. The Weinhards supposedly had a house in Astoria and a farm of 620 acres in Yamhill County. An Oregonian article, written in 1954 when Louise Weinhard Wagner's home was being demolished, noted a 4-foot stained glass window with a woman sipping from a wine glass, said to have been installed by Louisa Weinhard as a gift with the house. The names Henry and Louise/a are handed down to subsequent generations in their family. And Louisa herself was immortalized in Brewery Block Two, a 242-unit high-rise residential building built on the location of the original Weinhard brewery in Portland.

But the last bit of sparkle to this story is a connection I made with one of her descendants on ancestry.com. I found Lizzie Hart, her great+ granddaughter, which had pictures of Louisa’s granddaughter and Lizzie’s grandmother. I wrote her and said “I’m an archivist. I have this picture of your relative and I’ve written this article about her, would you like either?” Fortunately, she wasn’t creeped out by this... 

Instead, through our ongoing correspondence she has given me a more personal perspective on the Weinhard family and validated my work in this area. My research has added a dimension both the story of the women in her family and in her own personal understanding of how she fits into it. Her family story was the story of men. 

I can’t end with a quote from Louisa, but I can end with one from Lizzie “What you are doing in your work -- the recovery of women's stories, painstaking as it may be to grapple in the dark room of the dominant narrative -- is such an important task to undertake on behalf of our futures.”

***

For more on archival silence, see 

Carter, Rodney G.S. 2006. “Of Things Said and Unsaid: Power, Archival Silences, and Power in Silence”. Archivaria 61 (September), 215-33. https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12541.

[winterisakillerwrites]

Recovery

One shot: Last Minutes & Lost Evenings 6/16

Character/Relationship: Tom Hiddleston/Rosemary Mathews (OFC)

Genre: Angst/Romance

Summary:  The awkwardness between them was a knife to the heart. And it was his fault. All of it. He wanted to tell her so. Tell her he was sorry. That he had been stupid and selfish and that he missed her. He opened his mouth, not quite sure what he was going to say but knowing he needed to say something.

Rating: T

Warnings/Author’s Notes:  This is the sixth part of Last Minutes and Lost Evenings, this series is currently on-going and will flit back and forth between past, present and future.

Previous

‘I’ve been waking in the morning just like every other day,

And just like every boring blues song, I get swallowed by the pain

And so I fumble for your figure in the darkness, just to make it go away.

But you’re not lying there any longer, and I know that that’s my fault

So I’ve been pounding on the floor and I’ve been crawling up the walls

And I’ve been dipping in my darkness for serotonin boosters, cider, and some kind of smelling salts’

Recovery – Frank Turner

“Tom, are you even listening to me?” The exasperation in Luke Windsor’s tone was unmistakable. Tom cursed himself. He’d been trying to pay attention, honestly he had; this role was important and something he had very much been interested in. The character was challenging and intense, something he could sink his teeth into. Something he could lose himself in. It was exact what he needed. But, as it had far too often as of late, his mind had been wandering.

Three weeks. God, had it only been three weeks? It was hard for him to believe that it had been so long. And yet still it felt like no time at all. When he closed his eyes he could still see her face with its strangled smile. The way her eyes had shone with the tears she seemed to fight so desperately. It hurt. God, did it hurt. But it had been for the best. Hadn’t it? He still honestly didn’t know.

Tom shook himself back into the present, “Sorry. I don’t know where my head is.” He forced a half-hearted smile and tried to focus on the papers sitting before him.

It was difficult to ignore the knowing look his friend shot. While Tom hadn’t said anything outright after he’d ended things with…Why was it so hard to even think her name? Luke had known. Somehow he always seemed to know. Tom supposed with a ruthless laugh that was why he paid the man so fucking much.

Get your head back in the game, Hiddleston.

“Where were we?”

He forced himself to focus on the various papers, folders, and contracts sitting before him; to listen as Luke and his manager, Michael, droned on about shooting schedules, press releases, the various parties attached to the project. It was important, he knew that. He just needed to keep himself focused. It was difficult and, God, he wished he didn’t have to care. But he smiled graciously and dutifully signed each paper passed his way, half listening as Michael summarized its contents.

And then finally, finally, it was done. Tom had never felt more relieved than after he had signed the last bloody form and was told he could go. He recapped and placed the pen neatly on the desk in front of him, shook both Luke and Michael’s hands and left the office as quickly as his feet could carry him.

The role was officially his and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

They’d been filming for going on six weeks now. Six weeks of alternating 3AM call times with grueling night shoots. It was demanding and exhausting, but he relished in every minute of it. He knew several of the crew from projects past and they’d gotten on quite well. The director pushed him, she was challenging and, at times, demanding; he wouldn’t have had it any other way. His co-star, Natalie, was someone he had known for years; since his RADA days. She was clever, quick on her feet, dedicated, and an absolute delight to play off of. He’d been overjoyed when he learned of her casting and they had spent much of the pre-production catching up and discussing how each would play their respective roles.

Filming was primarily in and around London. That had been one of the project’s major selling points. It meant he could spend most nights in his own bed. He could see his friends, his mother, even his bratty little sister (whom he loved dearly but even now tended to push the majority of his buttons). He refused to acknowledge the stray thought that remaining in London meant he could possibly see…No. No, that was not an option any more. He’d made completely certain of that.

But that did little to silence the voice in his head that desperately wanted to see her. To know she was okay. He just wanted her to be okay. It was utterly ridiculous and he’d known it. He’d made his choice. He did not have the right to second guess, not now.

He pushed his front door open, grateful for the silence that engulfed him. The day had been far too long and he wanted nothing more than to fall headlong into his bed and not move for at least a week.

Sighing, he dropped himself onto the couch and covered his eyes with his right arm. He hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights. He hadn’t seen the point. There was no one waiting for him, not even Bobby.

He’d sent the hyper but adorable chocolate spaniel to stay with Emma and her husband for the week. Even though he was filming close to home, the extensive hours he was being forced to keep were rough on a dog so young. And Emma certainly hadn’t protested. He wondered vaguely if she would actually give Bobby back when all was said and done. It could honestly go either way.

He ignored the small part of his brain that was lambasting him for collapsing on the couch instead of climbing the stairs to his room and his waiting bed. He would make it there eventually. Sleeping on the couch always seemed to lead to a sore back and restless tossing and turning, but he was there now and moving had ceased to be an option.

The buzzing of his phone jarred the silence of the room. He cursed as he fumbled in his side pocket for the offending device. “Hello?”

A warm female voice answered, “Tom? It’s Nat.”

He sat up, trying to fight the stupid disappointment he felt because it wasn’t her voice. “Hey, is everything alright?”

She laughed, “Yeah, everything’s decent.” There was a hesitancy in her voice he couldn’t quite place. “I really am sorry to bother you, I know you’ve got to be knackered. Lord knows I am.”

He rubbed his face with his free hand, “It’s fine. I wasn’t asleep. Can’t seem to turn my brain off,” he laughed quietly, “What’s going on?”

“So since we’re both off tomorrow and I was wondering if you’d be up for meeting up for a drink or something…”

“You sure everything’s okay? I thought Max was coming down…” It had been all Natalie had been talking about for weeks. She’d been positively blissful leaving set, despite how tired they both had been.

“Yeah, that kind of fell through. We’re…I guess we’re on a break. I don’t know.” Her voice had taken on a quieter aspect and he could plainly hear the uncertainty and confusion in her tone. “I just…I could really use a friend.”

“Of course, Nat.”

Once they had agreed to meet a pub not too far from the flat Natalie had been letting the call ended. Tom sighed and pushed himself to his feet, grateful that in his laziness he’d not toed off his boots. Keys in hand he headed back out into the warm evening air.

Natalie was several pints in by the time he’d found her at a table just off of the pub’s main entrance. She smiled half-heartedly at him as he slid into the seat across from her, clutching his own drink. As he drank she poured her heart out, relaying everything had happened and her confusion and hurt. They had been completely fine as far as she’d known. Yes, this particular shoot had been demanding but she’d been available for every call, she’d made time to try to see him as often as she could. Her frustration and anger were palpable.

Tom, not knowing what to say, simply sat and offered her his attention and sympathy. It wasn’t long before he’d caught up drink-wise and they began trading rounds. And it was bleary eyed and stumbling that they both found themselves at Natalie’s door several hours later. He’d taken her invitation for coffee without a second thought, reveling in the warmth of being thoroughly in his cups.

He woke the next morning with a pounding head and the distinct feeling that something was amiss. With a great deal of care, he attempted to roll on his side. Nausea raged through him. God, moving had been a mistake. He groped blindly for the bottle of paracetamol he kept in his bedside drawer. But to no avail.

He cautiously cracked one eye and noted with a sinking sense of certainty that the bedside table was wrong. He risked cracking the other eye and forced himself to sit slowly, very, very slowly up in bed. This wasn’t his bedroom. Where was he?

As his head pounded furiously images began to flit into his conscious memory. Snippets of laughter and drinking at the pub. The warm cup of coffee Natalie had handed him. The way her lips tasted as they crashed into his own. Clothing flying. Wandering hands. Oh God.

He heard footsteps in the hall, heading towards the bedroom. “You look like you could use this.”

A chipped mug was held under his nose and he took it gladly. Two familiar white pills were dropped unceremoniously into his other hand. Paracetamol. Lovely. He grimaced at the heat as he took two quick swallows to wash the medication down. The coffee was incredibly dark and bitter and he honestly didn’t care. “Thank you,” he murmured. It took several more gulps before he made himself ask, “Last night did we…” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the question.

“Yes,” Natalie answered, “we did.”

He raised his eyes towards her. She looked slightly worse for wear; hair mused and eyeliner smudged. She was attractive, that was something he couldn’t deny. But he’d never seriously entertained the idea of having her in that way. But he’d been drunk and she was beautiful and willing. God, he was an ass. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t, Hiddleston,” she reprimanded, “We were drunk and we had sex. Was it the best idea? Probably not. But it happened. And fuck me I really don’t need your pity or your remorse right now.”

“I’m not saying that,” he shot back, setting the now empty mug on the bedside table. “I just…I don’t want you to think I took advantage of you…”

She laughed mirthlessly, “I think it’s fair to say we took advantage of each other, Tom.” He only nodded in reply, not trusting himself to speak. “I know you aren’t looking for anything and honestly neither am I. It happened and we’ll deal.” She offered him another small smile before walking out of the room.

Once the medication had kicked in and he felt slightly more human he was able to pull himself out of her bed and gather his clothes from the floor. He dressed silently trying not to think about what had happened and what the fuck he was going to do. She was not only his colleague but his friend. He had no desire to screw that up.

Natalie was sitting on a chair in the living room. Her eyes locked on his as he stumbled out of the hall. “I um…I guess I will see you tomorrow?” He cringed at himself. God he sounded like an ass.

She nodded, “Yeah.”

And with that he offered her a nod in farewell and walked out of the door. He blinked rapidly in the bright sunlight of mid-morning. It was just the once. You were both drunk; she was sad and you were lonely. Don’t make it bigger than it is.

But it happened again. And kept on happening. Neither had put a label on what they were doing, though they both were in agreement that it wasn’t serious. It was just sex. Just a means to a mutually beneficial end. Neither wanted anything more than that.

They were friends first and foremost. This, whatever it was, was simply a way to deal with the stress and loneliness they’d found themselves in. Natalie was lovely and they had always seemed to get along famously, but it would never go deeper than that.

She was safe, in that way; she’d made it perfectly clear that she had absolutely no interest in anything long term. So he’d allowed himself to let them be. And despite everything, he was content. They had taken to spending a great deal of their free time together talking and wandering around London. It was nice, just knowing there was someone even if it was only temporary.

There had been photographers. He’d known that with startling certainty. There always were. But he tried to pay them as little mind as he could. Stories would be printed about him regardless, fighting against it or worrying about it would do him little good.

He tried not to think about Rosie, tried not to compare what was happening to what they had shared. And most days he could. He would be able to wander the city and enjoy just being. Others, he would spend wondering, fruitlessly, if what he’d done, what he was doing, was the right thing. It was pointless and ridiculous in the extreme but on those days, he couldn’t seem to help himself. On those days he felt every bit the celebrity cliché; the famous actor fucking his beautiful co-star. And he hated himself for it.

Natalie, however, was understanding to a fault. She never pushed him to talk but was always willing to listen when he did. There were times he almost wished there was more between them, simply for the sheer fact that she understood. He cared for her, adored her even, but it would never be enough. For either of them. But for the time being, it worked.

A few days before filming wrapped Natalie had pulled him aside, asking if it were okay with him if they ended things. She and Max had been talking again. Things were starting to work and she didn’t want to pass up this chance. Tom had smiled and agreed without question. Natalie deserved happiness and if that was what made her happy then who was he to stand in the way?

And he was happy for her. Truly. He just couldn’t silence the voice in his head that wished it was him. Wished he’d been the one who had ended this because he was the one reconciling. That he was getting his Rosie back. He hated himself for that. He didn’t deserve it. He’d been the one to ruin everything because he was so fucking scared he wouldn’t be enough. That because of who he was, what he chose to do, she would be the one paying the price. He was a coward, pure and simple. And he was paying for it.

It had taken all of his training and professionalism to pull his head back into the present. He finished the day, a rare short one, with little screw up on his end and was greatly looking forward to home. And to his bed.

A groan escaped his throat. “Fuck,” he breathed as he glanced at the waiting message on his phone. Ben has texted. He’d gotten back from his own filming a week prior and they’d talked about meeting up. Apparently Ben had decided tonight was to be the night. Fuck. He just wanted a quiet night. But he hadn’t seen been in months. Dammit.

With a resigned sigh, he texted his friend in agreement and grabbed his light jacket from the arm of the couch in his trailer. No time like the present.

He’d hoped the cooler air would help to clear his head; it was one of the main reasons he’d chosen to walk to the pub rather than catch a taxi. He pulled his thin jacket tightly around himself, trying to block out the wind that had started to pick up.

He still wasn’t sure why he agreed to come out in the first place. He certainly wasn’t going to be the best company. And the last thing he wanted to do was socialize but he hadn’t seen Ben in months. He’d missed the man’s dry wit and no-nonsense approach to life. Ben certainly never had a problem taking him down a peg or two when he’d needed it. With all that had happened in the last month, it was something he desperately needed.

Tom had seen the woman pacing aimlessly in front of the pub but hadn’t paid her all that much mind, too lost in his own thoughts. So finding her face first in his chest had been a shock. He’d unconsciously thrown out his hands to steady her and she in turn had done the same, bracing her own against his chest. He felt his heart cease as the familiar floral scent surrounded him

His eyes fell on her dark head. No, he reasoned with himself, it isn’t her. It can’t be.

“I’m so sorry!” Her voice was high, full of panic and embarrassment, but it was her voice.

“Rosie?” Her name fell from his lips in disbelief. Months of unconsciously searching for her face in a crowd, of hoping to see her around every corner, and here she was. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his luck.

“Tom?”

Her dark eyes locked on his and he drunk her in, taking in every detail. Every small change and committing it to memory. She’d cut her hair, though it still fell past her shoulders. Her dress was one he’d never seen before; a deep red that clung to her hips and chest in such a way that made his breath come short. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, not caring that he had no right to notice anymore.

Color flooded her cheeks and he fought the urge to pull her against him once more, to hold her again. “Thanks,” she murmured in reply. “You look well.”

The awkwardness between them was a knife to the heart. And it was his fault. All of it. He wanted to tell her so. Tell her he was sorry. That he had been stupid and selfish and that he missed her. He opened his mouth, not quite sure what he was going to say but knowing he needed to say something.

But the words died on his lips as he watched a tall man, roughly his own height, walk out of the pub and head straight for his Rosie holding a black cardigan in his hands. No, not his Rosie, not anymore.

Rosemary jumped at the sound of the man’s voice, jerking herself away from Tom as if she’d been burned. It certainly felt like he had been.

He watched helplessly as Rosemary traded the leather jacket thrown over her shoulders for the black jumper. How could he not have noticed the bloody jacket? She smiled at the man, her lover his mind taunted, and seemed perfectly content as he rubbed her arms with familiarity.

Tom wanted to scream. She had moved on. Of course she has you selfish prick, why wouldn’t she? This is what you wanted, remember? You wanted her to be happy. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat.

Her eyes settled on him once more as she apologized for bumping into him again. He plastered on what he hoped was a convincingly warm smile. This is for her. He heard himself reply for her to think nothing of the matter, his voice sounded hollow to his own ears. She didn’t deserve that. She was happy and he didn’t have the right to sully her happiness.

She nodded in reply, linking her arm with the man beside her. And he prayed to whatever god was listening that he was half the actor everyone seemed to think he was because he couldn’t see any other way for him to get through this. “We won’t keep you,” she spoke, her voice steady. “Have a good night.”

He nodded at her, recognizing a dismissal when he heard it. It was the least of what he deserved.

He forced another smile before turning and heading into the crowded pub. He lost himself in the noise and movement of the place, trying not to let his thoughts wander back to the woman who was now walking away from him, arm in arm with her future. This was what he had wanted. So why couldn’t he believe that?

Next

[talesofafangirlwithadvr]

MAY PICKS

You seriously don’t realize how much you watch until you create a list like this. I’m even more shocked because at the start the semester was still on. Some nice picks this month. Check them out but be careful-as always-of spoilers. 

GAME OF THRONES

I could probably dedicate a whole post to talking about this finale (and final season for that matter), but at the same time I have spoken about it to so many people that I don’t know if I can continue to do so at this time. Either way, I’ll keep it brief here. :) Like others have said this season was a combination of disappointing and underwhelming. It was rushed. Six episodes were not enough to finish this story properly. One season should have been dedicated to the Knight King and another to Dany’s madness. (Or rather to taking her down.) So many plot holes were left unresolved. I bought the first book years ago and I am considering to actually start reading them.

THE SPANISH PRINCESS   

Starz’s third series in their Royal Collection tells the story of Catherine of Aragon as she comes to wed England’s Prince....Arthur. You heard me correctly. If you know your history you know who she actually marries and all the drama that will unfold, but nonetheless it is interesting to see how they portray the first wife of Henry VIII. (It actually made me do some research and I don’t know how I didn’t know they were married for so long before he married Anne Boleyn.) This series, just like the previous ones produced by Starz, is based on Phillipa Gregory’s books. So as expected they are not always the most historically accurate (but then would it be as interesting??) I did watch The White Princess before starting this series, but I don’t think you have to watch it. However, it will just make you feel like you know the family more. (See Binge-ing for my White Princess review.)  

JANE THE VIRGIN

After all of my binge-ing earlier in the year I HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP!!! (Well, expect for this week’s episode--thanks baseball.) It’s always hard when you finish binge-watching a show or catch up to the live episodes. You have that feeling of: What do I watch now? Luckily the present season is still playing so I don’t have to experience that...yet. I’m even more upset now that it is the final season. I was a huge Michael fan when he was a regular on the show, but I was not overly happy when he returned. I felt like the show ran out of plot-lines and it wasn’t needed. I’m happy that this plot only was part of the season. Can’t wait to see where we’re headed! 

SINGLE PARENTS

I AM SOOOO HAPPY THIS SHOW GOT RENEWED. I know it was on the bubble for a bit towards May sweeps and I am beyond excited that it got picked up. I’m actually shocked that I haven’t spoken about this show more on this page. It has become-HANDS DOWN-one of my favorites of the year. It definitely deserves a second season and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. Did you see that finale? I LOVE Will and Angie and I seriously thought we were close to a kiss at the end of this episode. Please give us that next season writers!! I also loved seeing Angie’s ex, ironically played by Leighton Meester’s actual husband. At the start of the season I did not see Poppy and Douglas becoming a thing and I love their relationship too. I’m so excited for next season!! **Just noticed this picture doesn’t have the real Amy and Emma, lol. 

iZOMBIE

Another last season from a CW show. iZombie is such a great one and there is nothing else out there like it. Each time it comes back I remember how much I love it. At first I was really upset of it ending this year, but I feel like it will end on a strong note. I’m not sure what other plot-lines they could explore. This show has come so far from the original season when Liv and the other zombies were the minority to now a divided Seattle populated by zombies and humans. I feel like this show does a great job drawing a lot of parallels to the world we are currently in. The character development has been so strong that if you were watching the first season you might not recognize some of these characters. I am definitely going to miss this show. As well as all the brains that Liv has consumed over the series. Last week’s dancing episode was fantastic and I especially loved Ravi’s montage of learning to dance. Clive seriously has the moves. 

THE 100

Just like iZombie, the 100 returned mid-season with its sixth season. As usual, I was excited for the new season because I love this show, but the promo released made me very confused in what this season would bring. I have only watched 2 of the episodes so far and it does feel like a new show (which I guess makes sense with the whole: End of Book 1). I felt like I needed to re-watch season 5′s season finale (which I didn’t) to remember everything that happened and why certain people were mad at each other. I have seen some spoilers (because I am behind and I follow the show’s official page), so I don’t know if I’m ready for the direction the show is going but I’ll be there to see where it goes.

BINGE-ING

THE WHITE PRINCESS

As mentioned earlier one of the shows I decided to binge-watch this month was Starz’s second series adapted from Phillipa Gregory’s books: The White Princess. In anticipation for watching The Spanish Princess (now currently airing) I decided it was a good time to watch it and one of my sister’s watched it previously and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to give it a watch. This show is only 10 episodes and I quickly watched the series. The beginning instantly captured my attention. I am definitely one for an arranged marriage where the couple does not like each other at first; as it was with Henry VII and Elizabeth. As the Tudors take the throne they join the houses of Lancaster and York. I had heard much of the War of the Roses but (even though I know this show is fabricated) this helped me understand it better. I also watched a behind the scenes segment about how they wanted to show the York side differently as many people are familiar with Shakespeare’s Richard III, etc. Years ago I tried watched the White Queen and just couldn’t get into it (the series before the White Princess). Now I might give it a try to see some of the earlier versions of these characters. If you enjoy historical romance dramas then this series is for you. 

IRON FIST

Last year I started watching the Marvel Netflix shows beginning with Daredevil. I had gotten up to the Defenders (which I did enjoy) but then needed to take a step back from this Marvel universe and watch something lighter. Unlike some people, I really liked the first season of Iron Fist. Previously I didn’t know anything about the character, so I liked learning about his backstory and why he had returned to New York City. Then I heard the great response the second season had gotten, so I am even more excited for this season. I am still early on, but am enjoying it so far. I have a lot of questions but I have a feeling they will be answered pretty soon. I know the show was cancelled so I might be disappointed by the ending, but maybe it will get picked up by the new Disney Streaming Service as many people suspect. 

FUTURE SUMMER BINGE

THE WALKING DEAD

That’s right, I’m going for it. For the past couple of summer’s I’ve been checking off some big shows to binge and I thought why not watch Walking Dead. Back in the day I watched the first (maybe second) episode, but I only remember a couple of things. I’m ready for the journey!

GOOD OMENS

The Amazon Prime Original will be released May 31st and I am constantly seeing ads for it so I am getting more and more pumped. Only a couple more days. 

So what are you watching? What are you excited to watch over the summer? Are there any shows I should add to my list? Let me know. 

[letmetellyouaboutmyfeels]

Timeless Top Ten: Badass Moments

Buckle up kiddos, because @timeless-season-three comes back in just twelve days! That’s Jan 13, 8/7 central! And what better way to ring in the new year and celebrate the first half of the season than by remembering the most badass moments so far? So here they are--the top ten moments that had us fist-pumping and cheering at our computer screens!

10. Future Wyatt lays it out for Present Wyatt. While our present puppy, Wyatt, has been making a real mess of the carpet all of season two, his future self seems to have things figured out. In 3x01, Chinatown Part II, he sticks it to his past self and gives Wyatt some good advice about Wyatt’s current situation. It’s clear this older version of Wyatt has seen a lot of shit and isn’t about to put up with any more BS, even from himself. And frankly, how many of us would like the chance to go back about five years and smack our younger selves around a little? His appearance was short but Future Wyatt, you badass, we hope our present puppy turns out like you.

Except maybe without the beard. Honey. Honey. No.

9. Lucy goes Dark Side. It’s a fine line between badass and terrifying, and Lucy’s been walking that line a lot this season. From shooting Julius Rosenberg and trying to shoot Emma right after in 3x04 to deciding that they’re going to take the fight to Emma no matter what the consequences in 3x07, Lucy’s shaping up to be a real badass. Let’s just hope that it’s not at the cost of her compassion and humanity.

8. Houdini takes the shot for Lucy. Houdini is our absolute favorite and we are currently in the process of applying to adopt him, but let’s face it, he’s not the rough and ready type. Which is why in 3x06 The Tsarevich it’s even more badass when he jumps in front of Emma’s gun and saves Lucy’s life—and risks his own—by taking the bullet meant for her.

7. “I’m expendable. You’re not.” In 3x07 Pasadena, Rittenhouse has found the bunker and are closing in with a strike team. With Denise and Lucy stranded there, Denise makes the ultimate sacrifice and tells Lucy to run, preparing to take on the strike team herself—knowing she won’t make it. While the Lifeboat fortunately arrives and swoops Lucy and Denise to safety in the nick of time, that moment reminds us why Denise is a true badass, willing to die for the cause and to protect her team.

6. “Somebody call an Uber?” Throughout the season we’ve seen the Lifeboat literally struggling to get back to the present as the timelines change, running off of a dying battery. But Rufus, Jiya, and Mason don’t let that stop them. These three quietly work throughout the season to guide the Lifeboat safely home, culminating in this moment: Rufus guiding the Lifeboat back in the nick of time to save Denise and Lucy in our midseason finale. It’s often the scientists working quietly in the background who save the day, and even if they don’t do it in a hail of bullets—that’s still pretty damn badass.

5. Rufus gets schooled. It’s okay Rufus, if I had the chance for MLK Jr. and Bayard Rustin to school me, I’d happily take it. In 3x02, The Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rufus is struggling with his place in the world and his existence in general after being brought back to life. Both MLK and Rustin—the latter a bit more firmly—give Rufus sound advice and their perspectives on why and how we fight for our rights. It’s just talking, sure, but badassery isn’t just waving a gun. It’s standing up for what you believe in and never backing down. In these moments we see why we so admire and honor these two men, because they’re nothing short of badass.

4. You don’t mess with the Notorious RBG. In 3x03, Michael Temple—the guy we all love to hate—has Ruth Bader Ginsberg hostage. But RBG is a badass and basically spits in his face when he tries to intimidate her. This is one woman the straight white male institution can’t take down, and when her life is saved she vows to dedicate the rest of it fighting men like Temple. Not once during her kidnapping does RBG lose her cool, or give into Temple’s mind games. We’re pretty sure the ‘B’ actually stands for ‘Badass’.

3. Flogan battle couple. In 3x07 Pasadena, the time team is held hostage by some Rittenhouse goons. Facing the possibility that one of them might not make it out of this, Wyatt apologizes to Flynn and calls him his “man in the foxhole,” telling Flynn he was right and Wyatt should’ve trusted him. This leads to the moment we’ve been waiting for since 1x10, as Flynn and Wyatt say ‘fuck it’ and launch themselves at the goons. When the mysterious Jane arrives to help, the two men investigate seamlessly, clearing the room and watching each other’s six. They’re the badass team we always knew they could be, even if just for a few minutes. Let’s hope this trend continues in the second half of the season.

2. “If you like.” In 3x05 The Lost Colony of Roanoke when Lucy refuses to tell John White what’s happened to his family, he threatens to kill her and the rest of the time team. In response, Lucy goes full badass and announces that she’s a witch who cursed all of Roanoke and its people and that she will curse White as well, if he and his men don’t leave. Flynn steps up as well, telling White and his men that if they want Lucy they’ll have to get through him, leading White to ask him, “Is that why you call yourself Marlowe? Marlowe, who wrote the great tragedy of Dr. Faustus, a man who sold his soul to the devil in pursuit of arcane knowledge? Are you that, then? Her familiar?”

Flynn’s response?

“If you like.”

It’s certainly enough to scare White and his men off. Flynn did say back in the pilot that he and Lucy would be quite the team someday, and we’re seeing that now in spades. They’re a couple of badasses in this moment.

So what, then, is our most badass moment? The one that had us swooning onto our fainting couches? Why that would be…

1. Taking over ground control. In 3x03 The Notorious RBG when Rufus and Flynn realize that Wyatt and Lucy are trapped on a plane headed for a collision, the two men don’t just wring their hands. They jump into action—especially Flynn. While Rufus smooth-talks the crew, Flynn takes over ground control and successfully guides the plane to safety, saving the lives of Wyatt and Lucy and also dozens of others. I think I had to take a cold shower after that one. Personification of badass.

[winterisakiller]

Recovery

One shot: Last Minutes and Lost Evenings 6/16

Character/Relationship: Tom Hiddleston/Rosemary Mathews (OFC)

Genre: Angst/Romance

Summary:  The awkwardness between them was a knife to the heart. And it was his fault. All of it. He wanted to tell her so. Tell her he was sorry. That he had been stupid and selfish and that he missed her. He opened his mouth, not quite sure what he was going to say but knowing he needed to say something.

Rating: T

Warnings/Author’s Notes:  This is the sixth part of Last Minutes and Lost Evenings, this series is currently on-going and will flit back and forth between past, present and future.

Previous

‘I’ve been waking in the morning just like every other day,

And just like every boring blues song, I get swallowed by the pain

And so I fumble for your figure in the darkness, just to make it go away.

But you’re not lying there any longer, and I know that that’s my fault

So I’ve been pounding on the floor and I’ve been crawling up the walls

And I’ve been dipping in my darkness for serotonin boosters, cider, and some kind of smelling salts’

 Recovery – Frank Turner

  “Tom, are you even listening to me?” The exasperation in Luke Windsor’s tone was unmistakable. Tom cursed himself. He’d been trying to pay attention, honestly he had; this role was important and something he had very much been interested in. The character was challenging and intense, something he could sink his teeth into. Something he could lose himself in. It was exact what he needed. But, as it had far too often as of late, his mind had been wandering.

 Three weeks. God, had it only been three weeks? It was hard for him to believe that it had been so long. And yet still it felt like no time at all. When he closed his eyes he could still see her face with its strangled smile. The way her eyes had shone with the tears she seemed to fight so desperately. It hurt. God, did it hurt. But it had been for the best. Hadn’t it? He still honestly didn’t know.

 Tom shook himself back into the present, “Sorry. I don’t know where my head is.” He forced a half-hearted smile and tried to focus on the papers sitting before him.

 It was difficult to ignore the knowing look his friend shot. While Tom hadn’t said anything outright after he’d ended things with…Why was it so hard to even think her name? Luke had known. Somehow he always seemed to know. Tom supposed with a ruthless laugh that was why he paid the man so fucking much.

 Get your head back in the game, Hiddleston.

 “Where were we?”

 He forced himself to focus on the various papers, folders, and contracts sitting before him; to listen as Luke and his manager, Michael, droned on about shooting schedules, press releases, the various parties attached to the project. It was important, he knew that. He just needed to keep himself focused. It was difficult and, God, he wished he didn’t have to care. But he smiled graciously and dutifully signed each paper passed his way, half listening as Michael summarized its contents.

 And then finally, finally, it was done. Tom had never felt more relieved than after he had signed the last bloody form and was told he could go. He recapped and placed the pen neatly on the desk in front of him, shook both Luke and Michael’s hands and left the office as quickly as his feet could carry him.

 The role was officially his and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

  They’d been filming for going on six weeks now. Six weeks of alternating 3AM call times with grueling night shoots. It was demanding and exhausting, but he relished in every minute of it. He knew several of the crew from projects past and they’d gotten on quite well. The director pushed him, she was challenging and, at times, demanding; he wouldn’t have had it any other way. His co-star, Natalie, was someone he had known for years; since his RADA days. She was clever, quick on her feet, dedicated, and an absolute delight to play off of. He’d been overjoyed when he learned of her casting and they had spent much of the pre-production catching up and discussing how each would play their respective roles.

 Filming was primarily in and around London. That had been one of the project’s major selling points. It meant he could spend most nights in his own bed. He could see his friends, his mother, even his bratty little sister (whom he loved dearly but even now tended to push the majority of his buttons). He refused to acknowledge the stray thought that remaining in London meant he could possibly see…No. No, that was not an option any more. He’d made completely certain of that.

 But that did little to silence the voice in his head that desperately wanted to see her. To know she was okay. He just wanted her to be okay. It was utterly ridiculous and he’d known it. He’d made his choice. He did not have the right to second guess, not now.

 He pushed his front door open, grateful for the silence that engulfed him. The day had been far too long and he wanted nothing more than to fall headlong into his bed and not move for at least a week.

 Sighing, he dropped himself onto the couch and covered his eyes with his right arm. He hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights. He hadn’t seen the point. There was no one waiting for him, not even Bobby.

 He’d sent the hyper but adorable chocolate spaniel to stay with Emma and her husband for the week. Even though he was filming close to home, the extensive hours he was being forced to keep were rough on a dog so young. And Emma certainly hadn’t protested. He wondered vaguely if she would actually give Bobby back when all was said and done. It could honestly go either way.

 He ignored the small part of his brain that was lambasting him for collapsing on the couch instead of climbing the stairs to his room and his waiting bed. He would make it there eventually. Sleeping on the couch always seemed to lead to a sore back and restless tossing and turning, but he was there now and moving had ceased to be an option.

 The buzzing of his phone jarred the silence of the room. He cursed as he fumbled in his side pocket for the offending device. “Hello?”

 A warm female voice answered, “Tom? It’s Nat.”

 He sat up, trying to fight the stupid disappointment he felt because it wasn’t her voice. “Hey, is everything alright?”

 She laughed, “Yeah, everything’s decent.” There was a hesitancy in her voice he couldn’t quite place. “I really am sorry to bother you, I know you’ve got to be knackered. Lord knows I am.”

 He rubbed his face with his free hand, “It’s fine. I wasn’t asleep. Can’t seem to turn my brain off,” he laughed quietly, “What’s going on?”

 “So since we’re both off tomorrow and I was wondering if you’d be up for meeting up for a drink or something…”

 “You sure everything’s okay? I thought Max was coming down…” It had been all Natalie had been talking about for weeks. She’d been positively blissful leaving set, despite how tired they both had been.

 “Yeah, that kind of fell through. We’re…I guess we’re on a break. I don’t know.” Her voice had taken on a quieter aspect and he could plainly hear the uncertainty and confusion in her tone. “I just…I could really use a friend.”

 “Of course, Nat.”

 Once they had agreed to meet a pub not too far from the flat Natalie had been letting the call ended. Tom sighed and pushed himself to his feet, grateful that in his laziness he’d not toed off his boots. Keys in hand he headed back out into the warm evening air.

 Natalie was several pints in by the time he’d found her at a table just off of the pub’s main entrance. She smiled half-heartedly at him as he slid into the seat across from her, clutching his own drink. As he drank she poured her heart out, relaying everything had happened and her confusion and hurt. They had been completely fine as far as she’d known. Yes, this particular shoot had been demanding but she’d been available for every call, she’d made time to try to see him as often as she could. Her frustration and anger were palpable.

 Tom, not knowing what to say, simply sat and offered her his attention and sympathy. It wasn’t long before he’d caught up drink-wise and they began trading rounds. And it was bleary eyed and stumbling that they both found themselves at Natalie’s door several hours later. He’d taken her invitation for coffee without a second thought, reveling in the warmth of being thoroughly in his cups.

 He woke the next morning with a pounding head and the distinct feeling that something was amiss. With a great deal of care, he attempted to roll on his side. Nausea raged through him. God, moving had been a mistake. He groped blindly for the bottle of paracetamol he kept in his bedside drawer. But to no avail.

 He cautiously cracked one eye and noted with a sinking sense of certainty that the bedside table was wrong. He risked cracking the other eye and forced himself to sit slowly, very, very slowly up in bed. This wasn’t his bedroom. Where was he?

 As his head pounded furiously images began to flit into his conscious memory. Snippets of laughter and drinking at the pub. The warm cup of coffee Natalie had handed him. The way her lips tasted as they crashed into his own. Clothing flying. Wandering hands. Oh God.

 He heard footsteps in the hall, heading towards the bedroom. “You look like you could use this.”

 A chipped mug was held under his nose and he took it gladly. Two familiar white pills were dropped unceremoniously into his other hand. Paracetamol. Lovely. He grimaced at the heat as he took two quick swallows to wash the medication down. The coffee was incredibly dark and bitter and he honestly didn’t care. “Thank you,” he murmured. It took several more gulps before he made himself ask, “Last night did we…” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the question.

 “Yes,” Natalie answered, “we did.”

 He raised his eyes towards her. She looked slightly worse for wear; hair mused and eyeliner smudged. She was attractive, that was something he couldn’t deny. But he’d never seriously entertained the idea of having her in that way. But he’d been drunk and she was beautiful and willing. God, he was an ass. “I’m sorry.”

 “Don’t, Hiddleston,” she reprimanded, “We were drunk and we had sex. Was it the best idea? Probably not. But it happened. And fuck me I really don’t need your pity or your remorse right now.”

 “I’m not saying that,” he shot back, setting the now empty mug on the bedside table. “I just…I don’t want you to think I took advantage of you…”

 She laughed mirthlessly, “I think it’s fair to say we took advantage of each other, Tom.” He only nodded in reply, not trusting himself to speak. “I know you aren’t looking for anything and honestly neither am I. It happened and we’ll deal.” She offered him another small smile before walking out of the room.

 Once the medication had kicked in and he felt slightly more human he was able to pull himself out of her bed and gather his clothes from the floor. He dressed silently trying not to think about what had happened and what the fuck he was going to do. She was not only his colleague but his friend. He had no desire to screw that up.

 Natalie was sitting on a chair in the living room. Her eyes locked on his as he stumbled out of the hall. “I um…I guess I will see you tomorrow?” He cringed at himself. God he sounded like an ass.

 She nodded, “Yeah.”

 And with that he offered her a nod in farewell and walked out of the door. He blinked rapidly in the bright sunlight of mid-morning. It was just the once. You were both drunk; she was sad and you were lonely. Don’t make it bigger than it is.

 But it happened again. And kept on happening. Neither had put a label on what they were doing, though they both were in agreement that it wasn’t serious. It was just sex. Just a means to a mutually beneficial end. Neither wanted anything more than that.

 They were friends first and foremost. This, whatever it was, was simply a way to deal with the stress and loneliness they’d found themselves in. Natalie was lovely and they had always seemed to get along famously, but it would never go deeper than that.

 She was safe, in that way; she’d made it perfectly clear that she had absolutely no interest in anything long term. So he’d allowed himself to let them be. And despite everything, he was content. They had taken to spending a great deal of their free time together talking and wandering around London. It was nice, just knowing there was someone even if it was only temporary.

 There had been photographers. He’d known that with startling certainty. There always were. But he tried to pay them as little mind as he could. Stories would be printed about him regardless, fighting against it or worrying about it would do him little good.

 He tried not to think about Rosie, tried not to compare what was happening to what they had shared. And most days he could. He would be able to wander the city and enjoy just being. Others, he would spend wondering, fruitlessly, if what he’d done, what he was doing, was the right thing. It was pointless and ridiculous in the extreme but on those days, he couldn’t seem to help himself. On those days he felt every bit the celebrity cliché; the famous actor fucking his beautiful co-star. And he hated himself for it.

 Natalie, however, was understanding to a fault. She never pushed him to talk but was always willing to listen when he did. There were times he almost wished there was more between them, simply for the sheer fact that she understood. He cared for her, adored her even, but it would never be enough. For either of them. But for the time being, it worked.

 A few days before filming wrapped Natalie had pulled him aside, asking if it were okay with him if they ended things. She and Max had been talking again. Things were starting to work and she didn’t want to pass up this chance. Tom had smiled and agreed without question. Natalie deserved happiness and if that was what made her happy then who was he to stand in the way?

 And he was happy for her. Truly. He just couldn’t silence the voice in his head that wished it was him. Wished he’d been the one who had ended this because he was the one reconciling. That he was getting his Rosie back. He hated himself for that. He didn’t deserve it. He’d been the one to ruin everything because he was so fucking scared he wouldn’t be enough. That because of who he was, what he chose to do, she would be the one paying the price. He was a coward, pure and simple. And he was paying for it.

 It had taken all of his training and professionalism to pull his head back into the present. He finished the day, a rare short one, with little screw up on his end and was greatly looking forward to home. And to his bed.

 A groan escaped his throat. “Fuck,” he breathed as he glanced at the waiting message on his phone. Ben has texted. He’d gotten back from his own filming a week prior and they’d talked about meeting up. Apparently Ben had decided tonight was to be the night. Fuck. He just wanted a quiet night. But he hadn’t seen been in months. Dammit.

 With a resigned sigh, he texted his friend in agreement and grabbed his light jacket from the arm of the couch in his trailer. No time like the present.

 He’d hoped the cooler air would help to clear his head; it was one of the main reasons he’d chosen to walk to the pub rather than catch a taxi. He pulled his thin jacket tightly around himself, trying to block out the wind that had started to pick up.

 He still wasn’t sure why he agreed to come out in the first place. He certainly wasn’t going to be the best company. And the last thing he wanted to do was socialize but he hadn’t seen Ben in months. He’d missed the man’s dry wit and no-nonsense approach to life. Ben certainly never had a problem taking him down a peg or two when he’d needed it. With all that had happened in the last month, it was something he desperately needed.

 Tom had seen the woman pacing aimlessly in front of the pub but hadn’t paid her all that much mind, too lost in his own thoughts. So finding her face first in his chest had been a shock. He’d unconsciously thrown out his hands to steady her and she in turn had done the same, bracing her own against his chest. He felt his heart cease as the familiar floral scent surrounded him

 His eyes fell on her dark head. No, he reasoned with himself, it isn’t her. It can’t be.

 “I’m so sorry!” Her voice was high, full of panic and embarrassment, but it was her voice.

 “Rosie?” Her name fell from his lips in disbelief. Months of unconsciously searching for her face in a crowd, of hoping to see her around every corner, and here she was. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his luck.

 “Tom?”

 Her dark eyes locked on his and he drunk her in, taking in every detail. Every small change and committing it to memory. She’d cut her hair, though it still fell past her shoulders. Her dress was one he’d never seen before; a deep red that clung to her hips and chest in such a way that made his breath come short. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, not caring that he had no right to notice anymore.

 Color flooded her cheeks and he fought the urge to pull her against him once more, to hold her again. “Thanks,” she murmured in reply. “You look well.”

 The awkwardness between them was a knife to the heart. And it was his fault. All of it. He wanted to tell her so. Tell her he was sorry. That he had been stupid and selfish and that he missed her. He opened his mouth, not quite sure what he was going to say but knowing he needed to say something.

 But the words died on his lips as he watched a tall man, roughly his own height, walk out of the pub and head straight for his Rosie holding a black cardigan in his hands. No, not his Rosie, not anymore.

 Rosemary jumped at the sound of the man’s voice, jerking herself away from Tom as if she’d been burned. It certainly felt like he had been.

 He watched helplessly as Rosemary traded the leather jacket thrown over her shoulders for the black jumper. How could he not have noticed the bloody jacket? She smiled at the man, her lover his mind taunted, and seemed perfectly content as he rubbed her arms with familiarity.

 Tom wanted to scream. She had moved on. Of course she has you selfish prick, why wouldn’t she? This is what you wanted, remember? You wanted her to be happy. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat.

 Her eyes settled on him once more as she apologized for bumping into him again. He plastered on what he hoped was a convincingly warm smile. This is for her. He heard himself reply for her to think nothing of the matter, his voice sounded hollow to his own ears. She didn’t deserve that. She was happy and he didn’t have the right to sully her happiness.

 She nodded in reply, linking her arm with the man beside her. And he prayed to whatever god was listening that he was half the actor everyone seemed to think he was because he couldn’t see any other way for him to get through this. “We won’t keep you,” she spoke, her voice steady. “Have a good night.”

 He nodded at her, recognizing a dismissal when he heard it. It was the least of what he deserved.

 He forced another smile before turning and heading into the crowded pub. He lost himself in the noise and movement of the place, trying not to let his thoughts wander back to the woman who was now walking away from him, arm in arm with her future. This was what he had wanted. So why couldn’t he believe that?

Next

[seriouslyhooked]

Lost Souls and Reveries (Part 7)

18 part AU written for @cssns​. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6. Story available on AO3 Here and FF Here. Banner created by the amazingly talented @shipsxahoy​!!

Killian Jones is a wolf shifter without roots, without plans, and without a pack. He’s a rogue, someone humans should avoid and shifters should be wary of given his lineage. But one night years back set him on a path he didn’t realize he was taking, a path leading to a future he is destined for. That future is tied up in one woman – a human named Emma Nolan. Together Emma and Killian will find not only answers, but a love that’s truly fated. But will love be enough to set them free, or will past demons win out in the end? (Answer: love always wins – I am writing this so despite some tiny pockets of angst it’s basically a fluff-filled insta-love fest). Rated M.

A/N: Hey everyone! So the first date chapter is finally here and I have been ready to get here for what feels like forever! In this fic, there are obviously some different dynamics at play. There is the intrigue of Killian and Emma’s pasts, the mythos of shifters, and some potential future hiccups that must be faced – but in this chapter we are getting my traditional blend of CS cuteness and fluff. It’s a real love fest, not going to lie. Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoy and I thank you so much for reading!

Dating. As a concept, it was something that all people should be familiar with. It was a normal part of human life, and at the surface it seemed like a straightforward idea: if two people were interested in each other, they should seek out time to be together and get to know one another, thus hopefully further developing that interest into something more.

For Killian, however, dating was a foreign concept. Part of that was thanks to his roughish ways. He’d been so young when his mother died and had dedicated his life to seeking out justice, there wasn’t exactly time to pursue a relationship. By the time their battle had been fought, Killian was exhausted, wary, and resigned to a life of being totally alone. But even if things had gone well, even if he had had an ordinary shifter life, dating would still be somewhat of a mystery.

As a shifter there were certain built in bits of knowledge one always carried, and arguably the most important was the meaning behind true mates and their placement in each other’s lives. The instant attraction, recognition, and bond that came when mates met made typical human dating somewhat obsolete, at least the first phases of it. The weight of meaning that a first date carried in human culture wasn’t present in shifter circles, because the anxiety of trying to figure out if something would work wasn’t there. When destiny was a guiding light in the bond of mates, things were different. Mates craved connection to be sure, and they sought out time to be alone and together more than most, but there was never that stress of what would come next, and so, for the first time in his life, Killian was facing the first date jitters so many humans must feel all the time.

“There’s no need to be nervous,” Killian said aloud to himself as he looked in the mirror, adjusting the last of his clothing so it looked just right. “Emma is mine just as I am hers. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

The thought calmed his frayed nerves, but nothing could fully calm him. Since he asked Emma out for this evening he’d been in tumult. Part of him was anxious for this and nervous that he would somehow be found lacking or that he wouldn’t be enough for Emma. She deserved an amazing date, and an amazing story (something humans always seemed rather fixated with, at least in the movies and shows Killian had seen on the subject), and Killian wanted to give that to her but he wasn’t entirely sure how. The other, and undoubtedly larger, part of him however was just desperate to see her again. Worry or not, Emma’s closeness to him would ease away any nerves or doubts that he had. She was the remedy to his very worst feelings, and he knew that if he could just muster up a little faith, he would find that this evening went every bit as well as he was hoping.

What may have appeared like a sudden invitation to Emma earlier this afternoon was hardly that. Killian had been planning for days how exactly to woo his woman, and eventually he’d decided on a course of action. Again, he was a novice at this, so first hand experience could provide very little information, but in all of his planning and hoping and ironing out of details, Killian had held his mother’s memory close. Of all the people in his life, she was the one who somehow believed in love most. Despite everything she dealt with from Killian’s father and from life itself, she never gave up on love, and she never stopped believing the magic true love could bring was out there…

Walking through the doors of his home after a long day of school, Killian took comfort in the place more than he ever thought possible.

They’d been here in London for a little more than a year, and so far things had been quiet. Killian still knew that his brother and his mother worried about the potential return of his father, but they never told him that, and they never let that worry stop them from making new, happy memories. It had been a trying year in some ways, with Killian having to adjust not only to a new school, but a new country and a new culture as well. Yet strangely he felt more at home here, half a world away, than he ever had back in America.

“Mom, I’m home. And I don’t have homework,” Killian said, starting out with the white lie purposefully. He admitted to himself that he did have homework, he just didn’t have any he was actually willing to do. It was a wasted effort though, for a moment later his mother popped her head out of the kitchen with a look that said she highly doubted that.

“Killian…”

“Fine, I might have something. But it’s dumb though.”

“I can’t believe that’s true,” his mother said as he took a seat at the kitchen table. She came over and pressed a kiss to the top of his head and gave him a hug. He accepted it, appreciating the warmth of her embrace and the way she smelled familiarly of cinnamon and vanilla. That smell had been of comfort to him since before he could remember, and he was happy they never lost it even with their running away from home.

“They want me to write a story.”

“And…?” his mother asked, still not following his hesitation. “Killian, you love stories. You can’t get enough of them.”

“Yeah but this one’s about love.”

“Ah,” his mother said, a bit of understanding crossing over her face. She wiped away the flour that had been on her hands from whatever she was baking and then she contemplated Killian’s predicament. “That is a bit more challenging. Why don’t you write about you and Liam. You love your brother, and he loves you. Just write about one of your adventures together.”

What adventures? Killian thought to himself. His brother was hardly given to excitement these days. But instead he diverted with another, more pressing problem. “It’s supposed to be romantic because of Valentine’s Day and all.”

Killian heard his mother mutter about the merits of having children write up romances, but he didn’t fully hear or understand it all. Either way she eventually disregarded her disgruntled feelings and took a seat beside him at the table.

“Okay, so why don’t you base your story off of a fairytale? You know enough of them to do one justice.”

“I know,” Killian agreed, and though he hesitated for a moment before confessing how he felt, he decided to be honest with his mother. “But it feels like a lie. Fairytales aren’t real, and love like those stories isn’t real either.”

Killian could see the hurt that his words caused his mother and he was too ashamed to keep her gaze. He looked down at his hands, angry at himself for burdening her, while also being angry at the world and his teacher. It was wrong to pretend things were as they would never be. But after only a moment his mother covered his hand in hers and urged Killian to look at her again.

“I know that you’re thinking of your father and I, Killian, and you’re right, that’s not the way love was intended to be. But just because we didn’t have love doesn’t mean no one else ever has. Your grandparents, my Mom and Dad, they had the best kind of love. They were a one in a million fated pair. Their love… well it’s the kind of dream you have to believe in, because it’s just so beautiful.”

Killian listened then as his mother outlined the tale of his grandparents. Their love was a story of finding hope in a hopeless place. His grandfather had dealt with a great loss, the loss of his brother and the rest of his family, when he was just a young man. He’d left his home without truly believing there was more out there. But one day he’d found a partner, a love, and a light for his darkened world. It turned out that she had also known hardships, but where he was doubtful and unsure, she always held on to her faith and conviction in something bigger and more beautiful than she had so far. The two of them knew from the very first moment they met that they were meant to be, and they were more than run of the mill mates. The love they had and the spark that ignited between them was so strong it left a mark on both of them the very first time they touched. His mother pulled out her pendant that she always kept close to show him the swirls and designs he already knew by heart. It appeared a kind of similar shape had been printed on their skin, brought only by the magic of a real and true love.

“Do you have a mark?” Killian asked, forgetting himself. But his mother didn’t look saddened by the question. On the contrary, she looked relieved.

“No, honey. Your father and I… we weren’t entirely normal. He thought that maybe we could make something work, whether nature deemed it destiny or not, but these things can’t be forced.”

“So you weren’t mates then?” Killian asked.

“It’s complicated, Killian, and if I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re asking not because you’re curious but because you’re trying to get out of homework.”

She used a teasing tone and coupled it with the action of tickling him, making Killian laugh and the moment of unease wash away. And when both of their giggles had ended, and they were left just with the happy aftermath, his mother’s eyes remained bright as she left him with some parting advice.

“The most important thing to remember when it comes to love is that real love heals you. It will be your guide and your compass, but you have to trust it. Even if it’s scary, you have to choose love, and you must always choose it. It’s the most important thing in the whole world. Promise me you’ll remember that, Killian.”

“I promise.” …

In the years since his mother’s passing, Killian had not done enough to keep that promise. Before her death, Killian was a boy, not fixated on love or finding forever. He’d been waiting anxiously for his first shift, not distracted by girls or the promise of a future mate. Then, after she was gone, Killian allowed himself to become jaded and angry. Even when the dust settled and he removed himself from everyone and everything he’d even known, trying to numb the pain, he still didn’t allow himself to believe the stories where love could be real. Like his grandfather before him, Killian resigned himself to a far more lonely life, but through meeting Emma he felt that renewed hope.

Looking back on it, Killian realized there was no real way to impart the feeling that came with a love like this. It didn’t matter that he was only a boy when his mother told him the story. He could be a man with no burdens and no past emotional harms and he still wouldn’t understand. Only in seeing Emma, in holding her, in knowing she was his and he was irrevocably hers could he fully grasp the magnitude of a love like this. Of course it was healing and light and blissful – it was like breathing fully after years of going without clean air. It was elemental but inspired, and even now, as he stared down an evening the likes of which he had never known, Killian still had hope, because he had Emma.

Finally, after what felt like forever spent waiting, the sun sunk low in the sky told him it was time. He could, at last, go and find Emma, and from there they’d both experience this newness together. He had it all squared away already. He’d made sure every last detail was together, and enlisted Graham and Tink to help him keep it preserved, and then he made himself presentable for his mate. It wasn’t much, and as Killian walked towards Emma’s apartment he knew that there was no comparing what he brought to this evening with what Emma brought to everything, but he still felt a lightness to his step and a pride in his heart. This was happening. He was doing this, and hopefully his instincts would prove right, providing Emma with the kind of night he deserved.

By the time Killian reached the stairs to her second floor dwelling above the clinic, his heart was pounding his chest. His body was more alive than it was on a full moon run, and his anticipation swirled in the air around him. Even a human must sense this kind of tension and desire, but when Emma opened the door to greet him, all thoughts of what she knew or thought were gone. All he could see was Emma, and all he could think was that she was the most impossibly beautiful creature he’d ever known. God, she was absolutely perfect. She was poised but still sexy in this pink dress she’d chosen, and it highlighted every last curve she had while somehow still being tasteful. Her golden curls were pulled back, exposing more creamy flesh for his viewing, and the beauty of her face was hers and hers alone. The rosy tint at her cheeks was no artifice – it was her genuine reaction, one that heated Killian through to the core and scorched him in the process.

“Hey.” Her voice were husky but still completely her own, and it told him so much though she’d only said a word.

“Emma, love, you look stunning.”

“You think?” Emma asked, biting her lip and looking down at her dress as she shifted a bit, letting the skirt flare out. She looked back up at him and though her question was sincere, Killian could tell she knew exactly how much he loved her in this dress.

“I know,” he intoned as he moved forward, offering her a single rose. Her eyes lit up at the offering and as she brought it to her nose to take in the subtle scent, Killian caught her giving him another once over.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said with a sultry flare and Killian grin.

“Aye, I know that too.”

The point of his response was to be overly cocky, and he was rewarded for it by an eye roll from Emma even as she blushed. This was more and more interesting. It seemed that Emma liked this brand of charm, and since he had every intention of giving Emma everything she wanted, he would have to remember that for the future. For now, though, he thought he’d use her response to his advantage. He moved closer to her, taking her into his arms and moving in so he was only an inch away from her lips.

“I also know that I’m only so strong, Emma. I waited so long for this evening to come, but on one thing I can’t hold back.”

Their lips met at his promise, and Emma didn’t need words to tell him that she agreed with his plan. Waiting for the end of the evening to kiss her senseless simply wasn’t an option. He had to have her, had to taste her, and feel her in his arms right now. After a moment spent in this glorious state of heaven he would pull back, but he needed this connection to hold onto. It was like an anchor that couldn’t be denied.

“I think I like it when you don’t hold back,” Emma murmured when they came up for air, and Killian felt a low growl emit from his chest. Seeing her like this made him crave more, and in the back of his mind he thought about how they were, at most, twenty feet from a bed where he could take her and make her his. But instead he clung to reason and to the path he knew she deserved.

“Shall we, love?” he asked, offering her his hand and she accepted it, taking one last sweep of her apartment before locking up and heading down the stairs with him watching to make sure she was safe all the way.

“It must be rather convenient to be so close to the clinic,” Killian mused as they made it down on solid ground again. He took stock of their surroundings and couldn’t help the smile that formed when he thought of seeing her earlier today. Stealing away that moment of time was lovely, as was getting the chance to see a place that meant so much to her. There was, of course, the hiccup with her father, but that was nothing compared to the good of seeing and being with Emma.

“Ha! That’s one way to put it.” Emma’s eyes scanned the area critically, like she was half afraid that someone would pounce on them.

“You see it differently?”

“I see that while this is the ideal location for a morning commute, it’s not exactly -,” a light at the door of the clinic went on then and Emma groaned before finishing her thought. “Private.”

Again Killian was in a situation where he should arguably have seen this coming. If he wasn’t so taken with Emma, he might have been able to give her some warning that this thing she feared was coming. But when Emma’s father and the small woman he knew to be her mother exited the clinic, stumbling upon them hand in hand, Killian wondered if he ever stood a chance. Mary Margaret Nolan had a reputation that proceeded her, and from everything he had heard from Emma and for others, he would not put it past her to be a master of slipping by without detection. Human or not, Killian reasoned that any mother of Emma’s must be a fearsome thing to behold, but she came wrapped in a happy, friendly package here in this moment.

“Oh, Emma. There you are. We didn’t expect to see you.”

“Didn’t you?” Emma grumbled and Killian tried his best not to laugh aloud. As awkward as this situation could have been, he could feel nothing like discomfort. Instead he sought to sooth Emma with a look and a last squeeze of her hand before he offered his in greeting for her mother.

“I don’t believe we’ve met, Ma’am. Killian Jones.”

“Mary Margaret Nolan,” she said, sounding thoroughly charmed. Her voice held a tone that was chipper and fresh, as if a long day of work hadn’t passed her by. “You know my husband, David.”

Killian and Emma’s father shared a knowing nod, and in David Nolan’s gaze Killian could sense a number of things. There was the protectiveness of a father, who was fiercely dedicated to his only daughter, but there was also a bit of apology for his wife. This transparent ploy to meet him which was being played off as accidental obviously wasn’t David’s idea, but Killian respected a man who did what he could to make his partner happy. Since he had every intention of doing that for Emma, he could more than empathize. He just wondered if Emma would be a similar kind of meddler to her mother. When they had children, what roles would they play? That thought was a rabbit hole that could lead him into a string of fantasies all evening, so he shook them away, reminding himself not to move too quickly and to stay in the moment.

“So, might I ask where you two are headed off to tonight?” The question from Emma’s father was mild and calm on the surface, but Killian could tell it was also a test. He wanted to make sure his daughter was getting her due respect. Killian only wished he could make Doctor Nolan see that she would always find that in Killian.

“It’s actually a bit of a surprise,” Killian confessed, his free hand coming up to scratch behind his ear. When he looked at Emma she was smiling at his tiny display of bashfulness and immediately he felt relief. Despite her current discomfort, Emma was still happy and still with him, and that meant more than anything else.

“Don’t worry, Charming. Graham told me all about it, I’ll fill you in later.” Mary Margaret made the promise to her husband before turning to address Emma and Killian once more. “Now you two go have a wonderful time. And Killian, make sure Emma brings you over for Sunday dinner this week. We’d just love to get to know you better.”

Killian heard the strangled sound of shock that came from Emma at her mother’s words, but her parents had left, heading in the opposite direction before she could speak. Such an invitation was big and bold. It also instilled a lot of faith in Killian and Emma’s connection. This was their first date, but for some reason Mrs. Nolan believed this wouldn’t be their only one. She was, it seemed, so certain that he was being invited to a family event, and while Killian was all too willing to oblige, wanting that intimacy with Emma as soon as he could have it, he would never rush Emma into something she wasn’t ready for.

“I can’t believe she just did that,” Emma stated, her lingering dismay apparent as her brow furrowed. “I’m so so sorry.”

“Don’t be, love. I haven’t had a chance for family togetherness in years. I’d love to join you, if you’re up to having me of course. But perhaps we should make it through this date before committing to such an outing.”

“You’re seriously okay?” Emma asked, as they started walking towards their final destination. “You’re not totally freaked out by my overbearing parents. I mean they were waiting for us. You realize that, right?”

“I do, but no I’m not ‘freaked out.’ Your family is a part of you, Emma. They are the people in your life who matter most. For that reason I want to know them, and whenever you’re ready, I’m hoping to get that chance.”

A quiet moment passed between the two of them where Emma seemed lost to her own thoughts. Killian knew his words packed a powerful meaning, and he hoped that she knew he was speaking in earnest. It might be a lot to confess, for it implied that he saw a substantial future between the two of them, but it felt right. To assure Emma that she need not worry, he had to be honest with her, and eventually she spoke again, confessing her own thoughts in the process.

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re actually real.”

“I can assure you I am, love. But if it makes you feel better, I feel the same about you. To go from what I’ve always known to life with you in it has been a transformation. It’s hard to imagine something like this exists.”

Emma smiled at that, leaning in closer to him. Their bodies were melded together as they walked in the direction of the beach, and it felt so natural. This might be their first time on such an outing and with such a blatant display being together, but Killian could picture doing this for all his years to come. Walking down the main streets of Storybrooke with his Emma’s hand in his was intoxicating, and though they had to brave the looks and inquiries of some of their neighbors, Killian was proud to be seen with Emma at his side, and even happier to know that by morning everyone would know the two of them were together.

“So Graham knows about this? How? Why?” Emma asked as they drew closer to the beach.

“I needed his help in securing things.”

“So you’re, what, friends now?” Emma asked, shocked but not hiding her contentment at the fact that whatever their old issue was was now resolved.

“We have an understanding,” Killian said with a shrug. That was the truth after all. Killian couldn’t exactly picture himself grabbing a beer with Graham any time soon, but the hostility was gone and a truce had been secured.

“Right. Well I smell a bromance coming on, because this is a complete one-eighty.”

Killian laughed at her joke and it was full and long, the kind of laugh he’d been denied for ages. Still they were normal when he was in Emma’s company. She was smart and funny and she had a way with words that got him every time, but though he loved to linger in the happiness she brought him, he sobered up when they got to the spot just before his plan would become visible. In doing so he managed to hear every part of Emma’s reaction, from the gasp of surprise to the way her heart beat skipped and she hummed out a happy sound of satisfaction.

“Wow. This is… gorgeous.” Emma said, looking at the cove out here on the beach that was sectioned off for them.

On the sands there were blankets and cushions set up for a picnic as well as all the food and drink they’d need. He’d packed everything that he thought Emma would want and then some, wanting to be prepared for whatever may come. The main attraction tonight would be the sunset, which while not happening directly over the water, would paint the clouds on the horizon in brilliant shades of pink and orange. But in preparation for when that was done, Killian had set up candles and a few old-fashioned lanterns for them. The candles were nestled in the rock linings of the cove, and he was happy they’d lasted in his time away. As he’d expected the walls of the place protected the flames from too much breeze. Either that or Tink had been by to keep an eye on them.

“You really did all this for me?” Emma asked, her voice unsure. Killian turned to her, seeing how overwhelmed she was by emotion. Her eyes were misty but bright with a want and desire. They told Killian that she loved what she saw, she just couldn’t quite believe it was real. As such it was up to him to prove it to her and to make her see that this was all real and all for her.

“I would do so much more, Emma,” Killian promised as he brought her hand up to kiss gently. “This is only the start.”

From there, Killian acted out the plan he’d been clinging to for days. He led Emma to the picnic he’d procured for their meal, watching with delight as she reacted to each choice. It seemed the intel he’d collected had been correct about what Emma might like in this situation, and he largely had Elsa and Anna to thank for that (for both sisters had been very forthcoming with Emma’s preferences after being there when he asked her out). He made a mental note to tell them how much he appreciated their help, but it was only a fleeting thought, as his focus remained solely on Emma and their lively, enjoyable conversation.

In choosing a picnic set up, the obvious thought of an outsider was likely that this was a romantic ploy, and in part it was. Killian wanted Emma to have something different and special. He wanted them to share a story that was sweet for their first date together, but this set up also paved the way for seduction as well. Seated together side by side and somehow always touching, a picnic felt more intimate than dinner at a table or in a booth. It enabled Killian to linger in Emma’s direct presence, and as the meal unfolded they both grew bolder in their closeness and connection. Soft grazes moved to more defined touch, and though there was still an innocence that hung around them as they sought more pieces to the puzzles of their lives before meeting, there was also a growing flame between them to match the candlelight all around.

“So your mother calls your father ‘Charming,’” Killian commented at one point when they’d moved on from dinner and into dessert. The sun had set by this point, and they were nestled underneath a twilight sky, but as the day faded, a new light shone on Emma that was just as beautiful as the one before it. It was effervescent and captivating in a whole new way, and it spoke to the light of the moon that would be coming soon, which Killian couldn’t wait to see.  “Is there a reason for that particular moniker?”

“It’s an inside joke,” Emma explained with a laugh as she cuddled in closer to him, not having any care or worry for being too close despite it being their first date. “I know it doesn’t seem this way, given how she is today, but my mom was somewhat of a hell-raiser in her youth. At least that’s what Dad tells me.”

“I can see that,” Killian acknowledged and when Emma peered up at him he clarified. “She had to learn those sneaking skills from somewhere.”

Emma laughed and the reverberation of it went through Killian. For a second he closed his eyes, soaking it in and he inhaled he was surrounded again by her sweet, luscious scent. It was the perfect mixture, made even more luxurious by the feel of her fingers tracing unknown shapes against his arm, and when he opened his eyes again, he looked back down at her and awaited her story.

“Very true. Well anyway, when my Mom and Dad first met at college, Mom was going about her business, completely oblivious to guys and dating and all of that. Where everyone else was there to party, she was there to build a future for herself. She wanted to take the world by storm, and she was squarely determined not to fall in love or get attached to anyone until she’d done that. You see she’d recently lost her father, and her stepmother was… difficult to put it nicely.

“Anyway so it’s the first week of school. My Mom is taking all honors courses and already kicking ass, and she’s so busy with all her work that she doesn’t realize she’s got an ardent admirer.”

“Your father?” Killian asked and Emma nodded.

“Oh yeah. Turns out he saw her at orientation and just knew, and he couldn’t really figure out how to make his move. Finally he goes up to her and tries to talk to her, but she tells him flat out she’s not interested.”

“Only she absolutely was.”

“Totally,” Emma agreed. “She just didn’t want to admit it. But my Dad respects her wishes. He gives her some time, but not a ton of space. He keeps popping up places, and apparently every time they run into each other he’s got some witty, charming thing to say. Of course my Mom secretly loved it, but she tried to deflect and she dubbed him ‘Prince Charming’ and not in a good way.”

“Ah, so she worried he was too good to be true then.”

“Exactly,” Emma said with a soft, thoughtful smile, as if the story of her parents love occupied a special place in her heart. “Luckily for both of them she caved a week later and let him take her out. Then he turned out to be exactly who he said he was, but the name still stuck. They finished college and grad school, Dad started his practice while Mom worked for the town and still he was her ‘Charming.’ When I was a little girl they even made a whole to do about me being a princess. If my father was a prince then obviously I was royalty too.”

“I’m sure the world has never known a better princess,” Killian said and he watched as Emma blushed at his compliment.

“What about you? Do you have any family?”

“I did,” Killian whispered, and though he felt the pain of his loss, it wasn’t as bad as when he was alone. Emma’s being here helped him, and the weight of that ugliness didn’t have the chance to settle or stay when she was here. “A mother and a brother, but they’re gone now.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago,” Killian reasoned, but Emma saw through that.

“But you still miss them.”

“Aye, I do,” he confessed. “But I carry them with me, and I know now that things happen the way they do for a reason.”

“That’s very mature of you,” Emma said, and he gave her a small smile. “I’m sure it took a lot of work and thought and faith for you to come to that realization. I can’t even imagine…”

“Alas it’s a realization I’ve only just stumbled upon. In fact, it took meeting you to really accept it.”

“Do you believe in fate?” Emma asked, not shying away from his words, but rather jumping to a new level Killian never expected to encounter tonight. This was early days, and for humans such deep talk would likely be frowned upon, but Emma seemed eager to ask and he was more than willing to oblige her. Her hand had come up to his chest, resting above his heart and she was close enough that he could feel her breath against his cheek as he replied.

“I do. And if I didn’t before I certainly would now.” He left unsaid the fact that she was the source of all of his hope, but somehow he knew she understood him. He didn’t need to confess everything, because the bond they already had without even cementing their mated status was stronger than anything he’d ever known before.

“I just feel like I know you, or maybe like I’m supposed to know you? I don’t know it’s hard to explain but it’s also simple…”

“It’s like everything is new and familiar at once.”

“Yeah,” Emma murmured. “We barely know each other, but it doesn’t feel that way. We met and I instantly knew that you matter and you matter to me especially. I don’t know why or how but I know that you fit in my life and in my world. It’s like you found me, but I didn’t even realize that I needed to be found.”

Her words made Killian shiver slightly because they were so powerful and profound. They were an exact reflection of his thoughts about her, but they meant so much more because he never expected them to come. With Emma’s being human he imagined things would be so different, but here she was confessing that she was nearly as wrapped up in him as he was with her. Yet underneath his gratitude and growing love for his mate, there was a tiny thrum of anxiety: this recognition and this sense of rightness had everything to do with his being a shifter and their being a fated pair, but she didn’t realize that.

Emma didn’t know the whole truth of who or what he was and what this was by proxy. She also didn’t know that he had found her before, and that this wasn’t the first time they’d crossed paths. They’d met in Boston years ago, during a time she’d begun to talk about tonight that he knew had been so hard for her, and she’d made an impact on him even then. Surely he must have done the same since he was a wolf and one whose presence and power defied human logic or explanation. Still, while he wanted to come clean and confess everything to her, Killian couldn’t bring himself to do it right now. Maybe that was selfish of him, but for some reason his heart told him that it still wasn’t the right moment. As much progress as they’d made the past few days, they still needed more time, and though it hurt him to keep things from Emma, he had to trust his instincts, which had gotten him this far and to this perfect woman.

“I feel the same way, Emma. I know it’s fast, and maybe you think it’s far too soon to be making such statements, but you mean…” he hesitated but ultimately decided to confess as much as he could. “You mean everything, love. I’ve been anchorless in recent years, wandering and wondering what it all means and what my purpose really should be. But in meeting you I feel like I’ve found that. I know I am exactly where I’m meant to be, and though I don’t know exactly what the future holds, I find myself hoping and praying that whatever is in store we’ll see it through, together.”

Emma’s eyes were brimming with emotion and Killian didn’t know what she would say to respond, so when she pulled him down for a kiss he was relieved and ecstatic all at once.  Feeling her acceptance and tasting her agreement and desire first hand was indescribable, and in the face of her want for him, Killian let rational thought flee for quite a while. The kiss grew deeper, hotter, and more demanding. The two of them were intertwined more fully, neither wanting even the tiniest bit of space, but just when things were about to dip into more intimacy than was right, Killian pulled back and Emma did the same. Without conversing aloud, they both knew how far this could go, and whether that was the mating bond or a shared concern for seeing this miraculous connection preserved, Killian couldn’t say. He could only think that he was the luckiest of men to be living out this beautiful dream in real time.

“So in this future you were picturing… do you stay in Storybrooke past the summer?”

Though Emma’s breath was shaky from the kisses they’d shared, Killian could still hear the slight sense of bashfulness her question prompted her to feel. She didn’t want to be digging for more it seemed, but Killian immediately set out to ease her fears and worrying and he did so while pushing back a strand of her golden hair that had fallen out during their heated exchange.

“I stay as long as you want me here,” Wherever you are, there too will I be, he thought to himself.

“Well after tonight I can see that being quite a while…” Emma said with a smile that drove him half mad. There were just so many layers: her relief that he was staying, her hope for the future, but also this air of teasing and knowing exactly the kind of effect she had on him that wasn’t bloody fair. It was the smile of a siren, and it fit exactly with the challenge she laid before him. “Do you think you can handle it?”

“Aye, love. In more ways than you know.”

With that promise they gave into another heated embrace out there underneath a growing moon. It was steamy and surreal and so utterly serene that Killian wished it would never end. But eventually the end of the evening did come. Their private cove under the stars must be left, and Killian saw that Emma made it back home safe and sound. And though it was hard to say goodbye, harder than nearly anything he’d ever done before, Killian was assured that he would never really say goodbye to Emma. For in finding her he had cemented his future, and though he couldn’t say exactly how it would all turn out, he knew it would be everything because he’d have his one true mate.

Post-Note: So there we have it. I hope this first date chapter lived up to people’s expectations and I am really excited to see what you guys think! Now for the bad news… because of all the other chapters I have planned to post in the next few weeks it’s going to take a little longer to get the next chapter to you guys. Instead of two weeks from today, it will likely be three. BUT, despite having started up at school again, I have managed to write up through chapter 11 of the fic, and I have got big big pay offs coming when I can eventually post. Hope you guys will forgive the extra time off. Either way thank you all so much for reading and I hope you have a great rest of your day!

Tag list (if you would like to be added, please let me know): @jennjenn615 @resident-of-storybrooke @kmomof4 @winterbaby89 @teamhook @ultraluckycatnd @artistic-writer @coliferoncer @snowbellewells @snarkycaptainswan4 @allofdafandoms-blog @eastside-divebar

[esonetwork]

Timestamp Special #15: An Adventure in Space and Time

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/timestamp-special-15-an-adventure-in-space-and-time/

Timestamp Special #15: An Adventure in Space and Time

An Adventure in Space and Time (50th Anniversary Docudrama Special, 2013)

Peering into the past.

This docudrama was marketed as the story behind Doctor Who, but it ended up closer to a limited biopic focused on William Hartnell’s run from An Unearthly Child to The Tenth Planet. That’s the unfortunate side of the presentation since it pushes much of Verity Lambert’s successes and struggles to the background.

Several other creative liberties were taken along the way, particularly with the historical events surrounding the show’s development. That said, I enjoyed the dramatization of Sydney Newman, Verity Lambert, and Waris Hussein coming together to produce a science-fiction series in the era of the Space Race. Lambert’s challenges in breaking the glass ceiling against the “old boys club” of the BBC were great to explore, but I’d love to see a fully-developed documentary about her life and the paths she paved.

The same holds true for Waris Hussein and Delia Derbyshire, both of whom were instrumental in the show’s birth and have fascinating life stories.

The film was written by Doctor Who veteran Mark Gatiss, a driving force in the franchise since the 1990s. In the television side, he debuted with The Unquiet Dead and continued well into the Twelfth Doctor’s era. He also wrote several novels and has worked extensively in the Big Finish audios.

This drama set the course for David Bradley as the third actor to portray the First Doctor (not counting body doubles, stand-ins, or audios). We saw him previously as the villainous Solomon in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and heard him as Shansheeth Blue in Death of the Doctor. We’ll see him again at the end of the Twelfth Doctor’s run. He has also carried the portrayal into the Big Finish universe.

Claudia Grant, Jemma Powell, and Jamie Glover also followed similar trajectories after this film, portraying Susan, Barbara, and Ian in the Big Finish audios. Jamie Glover comes from a family tradition of travels in time and space since both of his parents have been in Doctor Who.

Jessica Raine was last seen in Doctor Who as Emma Grayling in Hide. Sacha Dhawan will be seen again in the Thirteenth Doctor’s run. It was good to see Doctor Who veterans William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, Jackie Lane, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Mark Eden, and Jean Marsh in cameos as a nod to the franchise’s history.

The TARDIS console prop became a staple of future Doctor Who adventures that required a classic console. I admire the dedication that the production teams applied to their craft for this film. I also admired the solid casting for William Hartnell, but I wasn’t as sold on the casting for Patrick Troughton. Mind you, it was close but not quite there.

I love the moment where Hartnell “sees” Matt Smith. He obviously didn’t see the future or anything, so I took it as an artistic statement on the future of the franchise being secure even without William Hartnell in the title role. It was a beautifully poetic moment for that point in his career and the show’s future.

Finally, the ending with the speech from The Dalek Invasion of Earth was the perfect place to end. It marks this film as a wonderful tribute to both William Hartnell and the legacy of Doctor Who.

UP NEXT – Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT Rewatch 1X04 - The Price of Gold

Week two!!! I’d say my thoughts on this episode are just GOLDEN, but I don’t let me INFANTIZE your experience - go read below the cut if you don’t believe me!

XD We have fun here sometimes!!!!

Press Release Emma tries to help a young pregnant woman escape from the clutches of Mr. Gold. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Cinderella makes a regrettable deal with Rumplestiltskin. General Thoughts Past So, Snow gives a very interesting recontextualizing of the Cinderella story. I think it’s important to discuss that because that’s what the Cinderella story (And its many, many indirect retellings) was designed to show to audiences. I once took a theatre class that showed that during times like the Great Depression, theatres were making Cinderella plays and musicals as a way to show that there was hope for improving one’s situation. My only problem with this flashback is that Ella 1.0 is not super compelling. I buy her desperation, which gets a lot more understanding once “The Other Shoe” aired, but otherwise, she’s not exactly pleasant nor interesting to watch on the screen. All of the interesting plans having to do with her are made around her, not with her. That said - in that same vein - she serves as a great introduction device for the theme of “all magic comes with a price.” Her naivete allows us to see just how much can go under your nose when you’re willing to do “anything” to get what you want.

And Rumple plays off her brilliantly, taking advantage of that naivete to get what he wants, and all the while, making Ella feel twisted every way. Speaking of which, finally, I want to touch upon a unpopular opinion I have. Many take issue with the fact that we never see where Rumple stowed Thomas, but I don’t share that concern. It’s pretty clear that where he was didn’t matter and that no matter what, nothing short of the honoring of Ella and Rumple’s deal would bring him back, and in the present, only when Emma makes a substitute deal is the family reunited. Present Regina has fascinated me in that she’s continuously - despite being evil in these moments - delivered the themes of the episodes. While I was mostly talking about the roots line when I wrote that last sentence, the next line below fits this BEYOND perfectly too! “People don’t change. They only fool themselves into believing they can.” To quote Rumple, “when you can see the future, there’s irony everywhere.” Still, at the same time, while she tells the theme, it’s others who show it, providing a very layered level of insight for Emma. For example, in this episode, Emma sees the danger of running away and its effects on the safety and well being of a family dynamic and internalizes the lesson so she can prove herself beyond what Regina thinks. Also, Emma’s speech is just remarkable. It speaks to a more nuanced approach to her cynicism. She’s more than that and has optimism, but optimism on her terms. It’s a mix of the Lands With and Without Magic that genuinely works. I’d also be a fool to not talk about Gold, because wow! Immediately, he knows just the right strings to pull with Emma - someone who he’s only conversed with for a matter of seconds - to get her to do whatever he wants. But even still, while Gold does prevail through similar means, Emma does show that she’s only one or two small steps behind him with how she breaks through hit litigation with real world sympathies.

Now, I said Ella wasn’t too compelling, but Ashley by contrast is super compelling, She’s a foil to Emma, and really shows her dedication to changing her life in every scene she’s in and we get a sense for it as more characters talk about her. While it breaks the “show, don’t tell rule” a bit, I find that it works well enough. Sean too really sells what it’s like to be between a rock and a hard place with his family and his dad is not without a smidge of dimension too! Insights I like how the wands of the different fairies all have different designs. Cinderella’s fairy has a wand that’s like a light bulb - it’s glass on the outside, but there’s light on the inside. Meanwhile, Fiona’s is closer to tree bark mixed with charcoal. I’m going to pay closer attention to the wands going forward. I wonder if they knew when they wrote this episode that Rumple was going to have future powers. “It all comes down to the number seven.” SOMEONE ON THAT STAFF WAS FUCKING PSYCHIC! Maybe Adam’s tweet was real! XD This is our first real appearance of Gold’s shop, and what an introduction! The darkness alongside the creepy music and the fact that it’s a break in allows for an unhinged tone to settle in and we get to see some foreshadowing and call backs in a way that doesn’t take one out of the experience. Why does Regina never hire a babysitter? Henry is ten and he’s snuck out no less than three times in as many episodes. Get Sidney to spend a couple of hours in your house! He will literally do whatever you say! Why when breaking in and out of places do these people not wait ten minutes?! I mean, i know why - narrative shorthand (Same for why Henry has no babysitter), but damnit, they might see you! XD I love that awkward bit between Henry and Gold. Honestly, half of my insights here are just going to be that irony line. Emma’s whine about trying to be responsible is just adorable! I don’t want to be “that girl” who bitches about continuity stuff, but under the curse, does Ella have another step family? Because her real step family is in the Land of Untold Stories. “Anyone who wants to be a mother should damn well be able to be one.” I feel like there’s a lot to unpack about that line but I’m going to choose to interpret it as “anyone willing to dedicate themselves to motherhood and understand the responsibilities that come with it deserves a chance to be a mother.” The gardens are so beautiful in this episode! I wonder what Henry’s nickname for Emma was. “Mom,” perhaps? That would make sense given that’s exactly what he calls her not even a season afterwards. Awww! There’s a Regal Believer parallel. Just as Cinderella’s prince found his True Love’s shoe, Regina found Henry’s shoe!!! Arcs Emma’s journey of belief - What I like about season 1 is that most every episode contributes to the growth of this single arc, and here’s no exception. Just like Emma and Henry’s relationship needs roots to grow, as do the seeds of hope with one firm belief. While Emma doesn’t believe Henry, she does believe in Henry and in their bond, and as that develops, she takes more and more steps to cement it. Emma and Rumple’s deal - While there are mentions if it here and there going forward, as we all know, this arc won’t conclude until season two. Still, I like this deal as it’s created because the idea of keeping a baby and a mother’s life options is so personal to Emma so it makes for a compelling deal but at the same time isn’t something she would back out of. Regina and Graham’s affair - This is introduced here, and I’ll have more to say on it in a few episodes. Favorite Dynamic Emma and Henry. Already, you can see inklings of payoff for their dynamic. Emma is starting to seek Henry out a bit more to spend time together, as evidenced by her insisting on walking him to school. Additionally, when Henry tries guilt tripping her, Emma is much more overt to the fact that it’s working. Their quips are so much more casual and friendly and it just makes me so excited to see more of them! It’s such a far cry from episode 1, and in the best way possible! Writer David Goodman gets his first go around and he gets a strong start here! His strength - at least here - is a delivery of theme. Both themes - the price of magic and the need to not run away in order to create a family - are delivered with precision, but at the same time doesn’t feel like I’m being beaten over the head with it. Rating 9/10. My only problem is - again - Ella. You’ll see later on that I love Once’s diversity in terms of showing women with different qualities to their characters. Some are braver and sassier, some are mean, some are gentle and never fight, and some are scared. I think that that is so important because male characters often get to be all these things and more where as women are often bozed in as either ice women or more or less princesses. By that merit, I should love Ella too, but what I don’t love is that she really doesn’t have all that much agency in the flashback. Apart from her initial deal with Rumple - the character’s best flashback scene in this episode - she mostly just follows what other say and whines. That said, through her, we get to see the first instance of a theme that will occur regularly on this show, “all magic comes with a price,” and she serves that theme effectively enough. But please, don’t take this as me disliking the episode, because there’s so much to like. Despite playing once again a minor role in this episode (Which is funny considering the episode’s title), Rumple/Gold shines like a polished apple here. In the Enchanted Forest, not only does he deliver the theme of the episode brilliantly alongside Ella, gets to finally show off his own villainy. He kills a fairy and tries to extort away an infant. That’s just dastardly and I love it! And in Storybrooke, he tries it again and additionally manipulates Emma. The way he pulls on her insecurities makes him so compelling. We’d already seen it does with Regina, yes, but they have history. Emma - despite Gold knowing her role in the grander scheme of things - is a stranger to him. Also, while not working in the Enchanted Forest for me, Ashley is fantastic in Storybrooke! Finally, just all of the little nuggets of storytelling with Emma. Her various dynamics in this episode really drive the theme she needs to learn as well. Flip My Ship Ella/Ashley and Thomas/Sean: The relationship between Ella and the Prince really works. They don’t get a lot of time together, but in every moment the Prince is on screen, he is kind and supportive in an active way, making me really buy the connection between the two of them. He’s also very no-nonsense, making him a pretty strong character in his own right. And in Storybrooke, the tough position Sean is in, and the decision he makes at the end of the episode makes forgiving him really easily. Glass Believer: In the Regal Believer moment with the shoe, we get some probably not-at-all-intended-but-still-cute-as-hell Glass Believer too!!!!!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Thank you for reading and to the fine folks at @watchingfairytales for setting this all up! See you next time! Season Tally (39/220) Writer Tally for Season 1: A&E (20/70) Liz Tigelaar (10/20) David Goodman (9/50)

[moviesihavewatchedmk]

Beauty and the beast - Review

“Disney’s animated classic takes on a new form, with a widened mythology and an all-star cast. A young prince, imprisoned in the form of a beast, can be freed only by true love. What may be his only opportunity arrives when he meets Belle, the only human girl to ever visit the castle since it was enchanted” - IMDb

__________________________________SPOLIER ALERT_________________________________________

I’m speechless. In every way, a fantastic movie with extraordinary effects and amazing acting from everyone. Already when the known Disney castle was shown, I could feel that this would be a wild experience.  

The original version of “Beauty and the beast”, has always given me some special feelings, and never fails to touch me. This adaptation certainly didn’t let me down. Everything from the lines to the small details seemed to bring tears to my eyes. Especially the scene in the ballroom made me very emotional and the tears were very close to flowing. It makes me happy that they were able to maintain so many beloved things from the original movie, and still managed to make it new, innovative and completely their won.

Let’s talk a bit about the special effects and all the visual.  

They have kept many of the old scenes and made them big and phenomenal. For example the ballroom scene, they managed to recreate it nearly one hundred percent. The only thing I could have wished for, were if they could have made his smoking a bit closer to the original one, so it would be a bit more like a uniform, ‘cause it was really charming in the cartoon.

Another scene that really impressed me, was when she was seated at the table and presented for all the food. I don’t want to know how much time and effort it took to make that little five minutes sequence, which was filled whit everything a one could have wished for. It was in a weird way, very Broadway-like. The big scenography and the big “dance” number,  was perfect in every way.

I was so impressed by the way they managed to bring they beast to life. I must admit I was a little emotional when he was shown at first. He looked to real, and they still managed to make him lovable and charming. Another thing they succeed to bring to life, was the different furniture’s around the castle. There were at no time it struck my mind that they were computer made, 'cause they just seemed so real and you really believe it. They gave them so much character and brought them to life really beautifully.

You really get sucked into a completely different world, and I really hope it will be a movie which gets recognising for the beautiful effects and will be remembered in the future award season.

The cast was spot-on. From little Tip to Belle.

My father asked me if you would think of Herminie when watching Emma Watson acting, and it really wasn’t a thought that struck me.  Emma Watson really was developed beautifully, both as an actor and as a person. She was capable of transforming completely into Bell, and “throw” past performances away and make it all about this one. A think that means a lot to me, when watching actors act, is if they have their eyes whit them and manage to play with their eyes. Emma really does that, and it feels like it comes deep within her soul. It shines out of her, how much she wants this role and maybe in a way, how much she wants to make the possible best adaptation of such a beloved princess. Her voice, especially in the songs, is so pure and beautiful and is one I could listen to for hours. I really do believe, that they couldn’t have found a better person to play Belle, than Emma.

Dan Stevens is an unknown actor for me, so I didn’t had any expectations for his acting. But holy cow, I was impressed.  His voice was, for me, the PERFECT choice for voicing the beast. It has this deep, but still mild tone. Even when he changed into a person again, it still had this lovely deep tune which fit fantastic for the role. His work with the beast is so well done, especially when you think about that he walked around on stilts and made motion capture. Dan’s movement was spot-on and was very identical to the original one, even though it was his own movement. When he was transformed into a human again, at first I was a bit skeptical if he was the right fit for Adam, but then I realized that Adam isn’t the “perfect” looking prince we know from other fairytales. Adam has a very rustic look, that Dan Stevens also has, and therefore I felt like he was meant for the beast. I believe, and hope, that he becomes an actor we will see much more of.

Ohh, and now to my beloved Luke Evans. Luke has always had a special place in my heart since 2010-2011. Watching him grow bigger and bigger in Hollywood is so surreal and it makes me so proud. From seeing him for the first time in “The Three Musketeers” and to now seeing him in big movies like “Fast and furious”,“The Hobbit” and now playing Gaston in “Beauty and the beast” is crazy and an amazing development. I remember when it was first announced that he was taking on the role as Gaston, that the internet was liking it, and so was I. Luke is normally such a humble and unselfish person, and he manages to play a selfish bastard with bravura. As he said himself, he wanted to create a character that people would fall for and like, and then be forced to hate, but with confusion and sadness, and I really think he succeeds in that. He shows his inner Gaston and is capable of recreating the Gaston one knows from the cartoon. Even small thing he managed to bring onto the screen, and I think it shows that he is really passionate about his career and wants to do best as possible.  I’ve always wanted to be able to hear more footage from his days on the musical stage, and now they’re finally is more and even something so well composed as this.

The last ones I want to highlight is Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson. Never in my wildest fantasies, I would have hoped for something so good as this. Their voices fitted so well, and it felt like it always has been them voicing the different furnitures. Something I especially loved was Ewan McGregor’s sweet French accent. He really nailed that one. Emma Thompson’s version of “Beauty and the beast” was fantastic. Her voice was so beautiful, and she fitted the role so amazingly. Ian McKellen gave another stunning performance, and it was so great to hear him sing. He has just the right tone for mimicking Clocksworth. I get so impressed every time a cartoon manage to move me, even if you can’t see the facial expression as you can on real people. Some people can give all it take to make a stunning performance through their voices, as they do in this movie.

Lastly, I want to compliment the well-composed music and the beautiful costumes. Hollywood has come so far, and do anything to get people dragged into a different world. The costumes were so beautiful and true-to-life, and one could dream completely away to a different time with beautiful dresses and well-dressed men. The music was spot-on, and the different actor’s voices were beautiful and filled with power.  I could really fell that this production is made by a bunch of dedicated people, who wanted to the best as possible.

Huge congratulations to Disney for making yet another amazing movie for dreaming away. And congratulations to Bill Condon for making such a beautiful musical. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And thank you from my inner child, you made her proud.

[joeygoeshollywood]

Oscars 2017: My Fantasy Winners and Nominees

Do you ever watch the Oscars and are disappointed with the winners and the snubs? I know I do, which is why I have my own Fantasy Oscars. Here are my picks and I encourage you to do the same!

Best Picture

Winner: 10 Cloverfield Land

Nominees:

Arrival Everybody Wants Some!! Jackie La La Land Lion The Lobster Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Nocturnal Animals

I personally thought that 2016 was overall a pretty weak year for movies. That said, no movie got me more excited this year than 10 Cloverfield Lane. Definitely the most overlooked movie of the year, this psychological mystery thriller had me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. 

For the record, I thought La La Land was beautifully made, but it didn’t have me over the moon like other people. And I thought dramas like Jackie and Nocturnal Animals and comedies like Everybody Wants Some!! and The Lobster were worthy of a Best Picture nomination. 

Best Director

Winner: Damien Chazelle - La La Land

Nominees:

Barry Jenkins - Moonlight Yorgos Lanthimos - The Lobster Dan Trachtenberg - 10 Cloverfield Lane Denis Villeneuve - Arrival

This was really no contest. Damien Chazelle created a work of art. 

Best Actor

Winner: Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

Nominees:

Colin Ferrell  - The Lobster Ryan Gosling - La La Land Michael Keaton - The Founder Denzel Washington - Fences

Casey Affleck easily gave the most challenging male lead performance of the year. Playing a damaged man who has to pick up the pieces after his brother dies and managed to make us laugh is no easy task. I also think Colin Ferrell deserved praise for his career-best performance in The Lobster and Michael Keaton again proves that he’s one of the best actors of our generation in the widely unseen film The Founder. 

Best Actress

Winner: Natalie Portman - Jackie

Nominees:

Amy Adams - Arrival Sally Field - Hello, My Name is Doris Isabelle Huppert - Elle Emma Stone - La La Land

As much as I like Emma Stone, I think Natalie Portman is more worthy of the Oscar for her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy. Amy Adams has become the new Leonardo DiCaprio in my book and was completely snubbed for her brilliant performance in Arrival and Sally Field gave such a memorable performance in the indie comedy Hello, My Name is Doris. 

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: John Goodman - 10 Cloverfield Lane

Nominees:

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight Jeff Bridges - Hell or Hight Water Lucas Hedges - Manchester by the Sea Timothy Spall - Denial

There is no bigger travesty in any of the acting categories than John Goodman not being nominated for his performance in 10 Cloverfield Lane. He was brilliantly terrifying as a man who kept audiences guessing whether he’s good, crazy, or evil! Timothy Spall also deserves a shoutout for his role as the infamous Holocaust denier David Irving in the courtroom drama Denial. 

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Viola Davis - Fences

Nominees:

Olivia Colman - The Lobster Naomie Harris - Moonlight Molly Shannon - Other People Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

It’s about time the Academy gave Viola Davis an Oscar. She’s truly a terrific actress and her performance as a struggling wife and mother in Fences is worthy of gold. That said, Molly Shannon came at a very close second for her painful performance as a cancer-sickened mother with a sense of humor in the indie dramedy Other People. Olivia Colman also deserves recognition for her hilarious dry-humor performance in The Lobster. 

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: The Lobster

Nominees:

Everybody Wants Some!! Jackie La La Land Manchester by the Sea

No film this year was more original than The Lobster. Here’s the synopsis: In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods. The result: a hilarious well-crafted dark comedy. 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: Arrival

Nominees:

Denial Fences Lion Hidden Figures

It’s hard to make a sci-fi film feel so real. Arrival did exactly that. Not only was it a great drama, it was thought-provoking, something that’s rare for any film to do these days. 

Best Cinematography

Winner: La La Land

Nominees:

Arrival Moonlight Nocturnal Animals Silence

The opening sequence alone gave La La Land this award. It’s worth noting that Nocturnal Animals was completely snubbed in this category. It’s stunning cinematography deserved a nomination. 

Best Editing

Winner: Arrival

Nominees:

10 Cloverfield Lane Jackie La La Land Nocturnal Animals

Part of Arrival’s brilliance that it seamlessly jumps in time, and the strange thing is, you don’t exactly know if you’re in the present, the future, or even the past, yet it flowed so naturally. 

Best Production Design

Winner: La La Land

Nominees:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Florence Foster Jenkins Hail, Caesar! Jackie

Best Costume Design

Winner: Jackie

Nominees:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Florence Foster Jenkins Hidden Figures La La Land

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Winner: Star Trek Beyond

Nominees:

Deadpool Florence Foster Jenkins Jackie Suicide Squad

Best Visual Effects

Winner: The Jungle Book

Nominees:

Arrival Doctor Strange A Monster Calls Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Original Score

Winner: La La Land

Nominees:

10 Cloverfield Lane Jackie Lion Nocturnal Animals

Best Original Song

Winner: “How Far I’ll Go” - Moana

Nominees:

"Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” - La La Land “City of Stars” - La La Land “Drive It Like You Stole It” - Sing Street “Montage” - Swiss Army Man

Best Sound Editing

Winner: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

Nominees:

Deepwater Horizon Don’t Breathe La La Land Patriot’s Day

Best Sound Mixing

Winner: La La Land

Nominees:

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Deepwater Horizon Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Animated Feature

Winner: Kubo and the Two Strings

Nominees:

Finding Dory Moana Sing Zootopia

ORIGINAL CATEGORIES

Best Ensemble

Winner: Moonlight

Nominees:

Hidden Figures The Lobster Manchester by the Sea Nocturnal Animals

It’s remarkable how the Oscars haven’t added Best Ensemble as a category. Moonlight handily wins this year with strong performances from Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Janelle Monáe, and breakthrough actors Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes, who all play the same character in different stages of his life. 

Best Comedy

Winner: The Lobster

Nominees:

Deadpool Everybody Wants Some!! Sing Street Swiss Army Man

Comedies don’t get enough praise. The Lobster is not only a great comedy, it’s a great film. 

Best Breakthrough Filmmaker

Winner: Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

Nominees:

Robert Eggers - The Witch Chris Kelly - Other People Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert - Swiss Army Man Yorgos Lanthimos - The Lobster

A category dedicated to writer-directors, Barry Jenkins wins this award for brutal but important coming-of-age drama Moonlight which depicts the life of a gay black boy growing up in the ghetto. 

Best Breakthrough Actor

Winner: Lewis MacDougall - A Monster Calls

Nominees:

Alden Ehrenreich - Hail, Caesar! Alex Hibbert - Moonlight Sunny Pawar - Lion Ferdia Walsh-Peelo - Sing Street

Child actors tend to go unappreciated. Lewis MacDougall gave one of the best performances of the year. A Monster Calls put him on the map as a troubled boy who befriends a monster when his mother’s illness gets worse.  One of the most powerful and emotional performances of the year, he will have a long and successful career ahead of him.

Best Breakthrough Actress

Winner: Anya Taylor-Joy - The Witch

Nominees:

Auli’i Cravalho - Moana Zoey Deutch - Everybody Wants Some!! Ruth Negga - Loving Madison Wolfe - The Conjuring 2 

Anya Taylor-Joy gives a terrifyingly good performance as a girl whose family accuses her of being a witch in The Witch. 

What would your Fantasy Oscars look like? Let me know!

[maryanntorreson]

The future for education technology in schools: reflections on the Westminster Education Forum policy conference

Author: Isabel Drury, Partnership Manager

According to UNESCO, more than 1.5 billion students and 63 million primary and secondary teachers have been affected by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Meanwhile in the UK, the Office for the Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast that the education sector would be the hardest hit sector by the coronavirus crisis, leaving the sector worse off than even transport or hospitality. 

Despite these bleak statistics, I was inspired to hear of the innovation, dedication, and optimism of the speakers at last week’s Westminster Education Forum, which examined ‘The future for education technology in England – EdTech strategy implementation, supporting teachers, and learning from the experience of the COVID-19 crisis.’

During the conference, a range of speakers across school, higher education and EdTech settings shared what they had learned from the rapid pivot to online teaching during lockdown, and their hopes for the future. Across a morning of rich presentations, three key themes emerged:

High-quality online learning can be produced at speed

We heard some excellent examples of how EdTech has been used to support home learning in the midst of school closures in the UK. Ian Bauckham, for example, spoke about the establishment of the Oak National Academy, a collective response from teachers to address the ongoing challenges posed by coronavirus. Oak Academy was launched in April and has already amassed 14 million online lessons, from early years all the way up to Year 10, and will provide ongoing support into the next academic year for teachers and school leaders. 

Another example of innovation came from Helen Foulkes, Head of Education at the BBC, who shared her experiences of setting up Bitesize Daily in only 5 weeks. Bitesize Daily offers a range of content including 30 daily lessons on iPlayer for years 1-10, weekly podcasts and parent toolkits. This Bitesize Daily content was designed for pupils to be able to access easily without their parents or carer, after the BBC found that in 2 in 5 households, children were working in a household where adults continued to work from home.

In both examples, teachers provided feedback that it was necessary to have more advanced notice of the content, so that this could be factored into lesson plans.

Schools need support in deciding which EdTech solutions are right for their setting 

Alongside the recent surge in interest in EdTech, there was much debate across the forum about the need for evidence and evaluation of the growing number of EdTech platforms and providers. 

Professor Cathy Lewin, who co-authored an evidence review of ‘Using Digital Technology to Improve Learning’ at Manchester Metropolitan University, shared some insights from her research into the efficacy of online learning. One interesting finding was the importance of teacher presence in remote learning for effective learning outcomes, which was reinforced with anecdotal evidence from the Oak Academy that this visual presence of the teacher was particularly important for younger learners, even if the pupil had never met the teacher in a classroom setting before.

The forum also heard from Dan Sandhu, Chief Executive at Sparx, about the newly formed EdTech Evidence Group (EEG). The EEG seeks to provide schools with advice about factors to consider when investing in EdTech, as well as to provide an evidence-based approach to EdTech. This was complemented by a presentation by Toby Baker about NESTA’s EdTech Testbed, which offers schools and colleges a toolkit to test and evaluate EdTech resources, developed in partnership with the Department for Education. 

EdTech has a role to play in narrowing educational attainment

Lord David Willetts, chair of the forum, challenged the sector to consider how EdTech could be used to support school or college leavers this summer. In the context of a widening attainment gap, Lord Willetts emphasised the urgent need to provide support to young people on the cusp of leaving education for an uncertain jobs market, for example by providing a few months’ more educational support online. 

Indeed, we heard of the real challenges schools face in supporting pupils to study at home. Emma Darcy, Director of Technology for Learning at Denbigh High School, highlighted that many children did not have access to their own laptop or desktop in order to learn from home.

There was also much discussion about how school settings could change for the better as a result of the recent upheaval. Tony Cann CBE, founder of Learning by Questions, presented a vision of a future where teacher time is not spent marking work, but instead is freed up for quality student interaction and support. 

Overall, while there were significant challenges for schools and parents in adjusting to remote teaching, the forum provided much optimism for the future of EdTech as a force for good. Overwhelmingly, there was a sense of recognition that a national fall-back plan was needed to support long periods of blended learning, and the past three months are a great testament to what can be achieved in a short space of time to support teachers, parents and students alike.

The post The future for education technology in schools: reflections on the Westminster Education Forum policy conference appeared first on FutureLearn.

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[perfectwayfx]

Voice-overs in 57 Lifelike Voices

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/perfectwayfx/voice-overs-in-57-lifelike-voices/

Voice-overs in 57 Lifelike Voices

You can generate voice-overs in 57 lifelike voices, and in 21 languages and dialects, for maximum impact and to reach audience in major countries.

  84 lifelike voices in 27 languages and dialects

Use power of Google & WaveNet To Naturally Voice Over Your Scripts Without Spending Thousands Of Dollars

Generate Natural Sounding Voice-Overs

From Any Text

With WaveNetVocalizer app you can directly tap into the raw power of Wave Net’s deep neural network, and into Google processing power to generate high impact voice-overs for your sales videos, explainer videos, affiliate review videos, and any other videos by simply pasting your text.

And yes, you will be able to use those voice-overs in any video creation app of your choice.

You can generate voice-overs in 57 lifelike voices, and in 21 languages and dialects, for maximum impact and to reach audience in major countries.

Google Assistant-Like Superior Quality Voices

WaveNetVocalizer is a new, first of its kind, groundbreaking app, which allows you to generate full featured voice-overs from any text by using direct access to Wave Net technology, which is used to generate Google Assistant voices.

With WaveNetVocalizer you will be able to generate Google Assistant quality voices, without spending thousands of dollars, by simply pasting your text into WaveNetVocalizer app.

It’s that easy. It allows even complete beginners to generate professional sounding voice-overs in just seconds.

Use Advanced DeepMind Artificial Intelligence Tech To Synthesize Speech

That Sounds Like A Human Voice

Just select a language and voice, paste your text, click a button, and it’s done. Wave Net is a deep neural network for generating raw audio.

Unheard Before Realism

Because of that, at the Google’s annual developer conference in 2018, it was announced that new Google Assistant voices were made possible by Wave Net.

Since even Google switched their already great assistant voices to Wave Net generated, it clearly proofs superiority of those voices.

And now, for the very first time ever, you can have the world’s most natural voice over, generated automatically with unheard before realism. The generated voice is so natural that our beta testers had hard time to say which of presented voices belonged to human voice-over artist, and which was generated.

You Will Get Access To All Below Voices

   Emma    Lara    Charlotte   Olivier    Mia    Jack    Olivia    Harry    Emily    George    Noah    Ethan    Kate    Mark    Ellen    Stacey    Lea    Felix    Chloe    Antoine    Eloise    Jean    Margo    Noel    Lena    Dennis    Sarah    Stefan    Giulia    Aiko    Sun    Chon    Dong    Hoon    Marit    Agata    Kuba    Hubert    Dorota   Ewa    Fernanda    Amanda    Luciano    Severino    Estela    Natalia    Boris    Fyodor    Raisa    Anicka    Agnes    Azra    Yasin    Havin    Hasan   Luba

Fully Cloud-Based

WaveNetVocalizer is a cloud-based tool.

That means you don’t have to install it, you don’t have to download it, and as you just saw, all you’ve got to do is select a language and voice, paste the text, click a button and it’s done.

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THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT GUARANTEE INCOME OR SUCCESS, AND EXAMPLES OF THE PRODUCT OWNER’S AND OTHER PERSON’S RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT AN INDICATION OF FUTURE SUCCESS OR EARNINGS.

DISCLAIMER: EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE PRODUCT(S) SOLD THROUGH THIS WEBSITE AND THEIR POTENTIAL. ANY CLAIMS MADE OR EXAMPLES GIVEN ARE BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON IN ANY WAY IN MAKING A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE. ANY TESTIMONIALS AND EXAMPLES USED ARE EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS, DON’T APPLY TO THE AVERAGE PURCHASER AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPRESENT OR GUARANTEE THAT ANYONE WILL ACHIEVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR RESULTS. EACH INDIVIDUAL’S SUCCESS DEPENDS ON HIS OR HER BACKGROUND, DEDICATION, DESIRE AND MOTIVATION AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS NOT ALWAYS KNOWN AND SOMETIMES BEYOND CONTROL. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL DUPLICATE THE RESULTS STATED HERE. YOU RECOGNIZE ANY BUSINESS ENDEAVOR HAS INHERENT RISK FOR LOSS OF CAPITAL. BASICALLY, WE CAN’T FORCE YOU TO TAKE ACTION, SO THEREFORE WE CANNOT PROMISE SUCCESS.

* VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED MEANS THAT MONTHLY LIMIT IS SO HIGH THAT IT IS PRACTICALLY UNLIMITED FOR 99% OF USERS. TO PROTECT SERVICE FROM ABUSE THERE IS SYSTEM DEFENSE CAP WHICH RESETS EVERY MONTH.

[charlesccastill]

Do You Have the Right Tools in Your Digital Marketing Toolbox?

Emma Griffith

By Emma Griffith

The Mishra Group

WALTHAM, MA–Your products and services are important. But so is marketing, because it will educate your potential customers about the value you and your business bring to the table. If you do it right, your products and services will sell by themselves. That is the goal of marketing.

The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends spending 7 to 8 percent of your gross revenue if it does not exceed $5 million annually. But what should you spend that money on to maximize your marketing outreach? If you want to increase your revenue, customer outreach and position yourself as a leader in your marketplace, you need to have the right marketing tools in your company’s toolbox.

Any marketer’s digital toolbox will include the following essential items for any digital strategy.

Website & SEO Analytics Tools

There are many tools to help track your customers’ behavior on your company’s website and more- the most popular option being, of course, Google Analytics. Google’s comprehensive analytics suite provides the tools to measure everything from your advertising’s ROI to tracking where your customers are searching from.

If you are using a website platform such as WordPress, there are numerous add-ons and extensions that can help you track your audience as they interact with your company’s website, such as Jetpack and the Google Analytics extension.

Email Database and Marketing Tools

Email marketing is a powerful tool in any marketers’ hands! After search marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), it is the tool that will get the most out of your marketing strategy. Creating a database (or even just a spreadsheet) of your past and present customers, as well as emails of people in your target audience will help you bring your brand into the eyes of your past, present and future customers.

Web tools such as MailChimp and CampaignMonitor are popular choices for managing your new email database and creating attention-grabbing emails that your customers won’t forget.

Social Media

Even if your company doesn’t have a large social media presence or a dedicated social media strategy, having a presence on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is essential for digital marketing success!

A well-maintained social media suite will help you control your company’s image and interact with your customers, as well as provide a way for them to find you on the websites and platforms they’re already familiar with. Social media accounts are also an important factor for SEO and can serve as a way to bring in customers to your website.

While there are many social media networks out there, it is not necessary to join them all! The ultimate goal for social media is meet your customers, and your target audience, where they are. If you know where your customers congregate, that’s great! But even if you don’t, then there are still things you can do to reach out to your customer base. A good first step for any company to take is to create an account on the following networks:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Traditional and Digital Advertising:

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed ad! Even if there are a million and one new ways that you can reach your customers online, that is no excuse to forget about traditional print and digital advertising. Make sure that your company has visually-appealing ad copy that can be submitted to the papers, magazines and websites that your customers read or visit, and keep your brand in the public eye.

(Emma Griffith is a marketing associate at The Mishra Group, a Waltham, MA-based integrated marketing and PR firm. For more information, visit: www.MishraGroup.com)

from boston condos ford realtor https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/do-you-have-the-right-tools-in-your-digital-marketing-toolbox/