#delacroix iii

[hhhhomnom]

✨️💚 HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTOR! 💚✨️

[illustratus]

The Battle of Taillebourg, 21 July 1242 by Eugène Delacroix

[aisakalegacy]

Hiver 1922, Hylewood, Canada (3/3)

Je dois également vous annoncer un évènement heureux. Vous souvenez-vous de l’infirmière Heather Delacroix ? C’est elle qui m’a tiré de ma tranchée à Ypres. Après la guerre, Heather a ouvert un institut pour orphelins de guerre à Vancouver. Nous continuons à correspondre régulièrement, et c’est ainsi qu’elle m’a entretenu d’une petite fille née dans l’Alberta, dont le père est tombé à la Serre en 1918 et dont la mère est morte il y a deux ans de la grippe espagnole. Elle a déjà trois ans, et si les bébés sont adoptés rapidement, il n’en va pas de même pour les enfants plus âgés. Nous avons une grande maison, Lola est en âge de quitter la nurserie… J’ai donc décidé d’adopter cette petite fille, qui s’appelle Gizelle. Elle rejoindra notre famille bientôt, il faut que j’aille la chercher à Vancouver.

Voilà pour les nouvelles. Ma femme voulait répondre à Albertine, je pense qu’elle le fera bientôt.

Votre bien dévoué,

J. Le Bris

[Transcription] Lucien LeBris : Comment sera notre nouvelle petite sœur, à ton avis ? Marie LeBris : Insupportable, sûrement. N’est-ce pas le cas de toutes les gamines de cet âge ? Lucien LeBris : Tu étais plutôt mignonne, toi, quand tu avais trois ans ! Marie LeBris : Parce que je ne suis plus mignonne aujourd’hui ? Lucien LeBris : Alors non, clairement, mignonne n’est pas le mot qui me vient à l’esprit quand je pense à toi. Terrifiante, belle, glaciale. Mais pas « mignonne ». Marie LeBris : Ça me va. Je prends ça pour un compliment. Lucien LeBris : J’espère que tu ne vas pas trop terrifier notre nouvelle sœur… Marie LeBris : Ne t’en fais pas, Papa s’occupera de la terrifier tout seul lorsqu’il l’abandonnera pour une excavation en Papouasie dès lors qu’il se sera lassé de jouer à la poupée. Marie Simmon : Oh non, vous n’osez pas ! Vous êtes odieux !

[hamletshoeratio]

Penelope:

Betrayed the trust of those closest to her including friends, namely Eloise and Marina, and her own family

Nearly ruined/ruined multiple people's reputations out of jealousy (Daphne & Marina)

Straight up attacked people who never had a bad word to say about her (Kate, Edwina, Anthony, Daphne)

Nearly ruined her own family's reputation

Nearly destroyed the Bridgerton's reputation

If she truly had Eloise's best interests at heart THERE WERE OTHER WAYS TO GET HER OFF QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S SUSPECT LIST. Eloise wasn't out in season 1, she wasn't present for most of the events Lady Whistledown described. Tell the Queen directly about Theo as she loves a love story. Or you know reveal herself. But no protecting her secret identity took priority.

Destroyed an actual working woman's business (the seamstress from last season) for personal gain (to get Genevieve Delacroix on side after she discovered her lady whistledown secret)

Her comments about George III's mental health are shall we say yikes in qc

The way she handled the Marina and Colin situation. If she truly had Colins best interests at heart, she could've told him or Eloise directly or through another anonymous means. By publishing it, she nearly destroyed her own family's and colins reputation, and trapped Marina in a marriage that if it goes anything like the book will kill her.

But Eloise is the villain for being a young woman and pettily starting a duo with her ex best friend's enemy after learning about the above? Yeah nah.

[opbackgrounds]

The Romanticism of One Piece IV: Revolution

AO3 Part I Part III

“The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates.” ― Alexandre Dumas

When it comes to the idea of freedom in One Piece, there are two related yet separate tracts the manga takes. Both are worth looking into, and both have parallels within the broader Romantic movement. The first of these is the idea of personal freedom as exemplified by pirates. The other is the pursuit of systematic freedom by Dragon and the Revolutionary Army. Robin explains the difference between the two in the post-Enies Lobby arc. By raising the flag, pirates label themselves criminals as they go out to sea, but unless they’re the Straw Hats they don’t usually go around picking fights with the World Government. The goal of the Revolutionary Army, on the other hand, is to overthrow the Celestial Dragons, which would in essence end the World Government as it currently exists. 

I’ve seen criticisms thrown at the series that One Piece doesn’t go far enough in its revolutionary politics in that it’s not explicitly anti-monarchy. There are good kings and bad, and whether or not an island is a good place to live or not seems based more on the actions of individual people than the system overall. There are even strange cases like Iceburg who as mayor is in an elected position, but who also holds ridiculous power over the entire island’s economy after turning its biggest industry into a monopoly under his control. In the real world that would be a horrific amount of power for one person to hold, but because Iceburg himself is a good man, it doesn’t matter. 

While this train of thought is worth exploring, I think that many of these arguments miss the forest for the trees. One Piece is not a story told from the Revolutionary’s point of view. It’s a pirate manga that elevates any individual brave enough to dream. It’s through this lens that paragons of virtue like Iceburg are allowed to exist without being hashtag problematic. The Revolutionaries themselves sidestep much of the messiness that tends to follow real-world uprisings by having them portrayed as principled and virtuous to a fault. In chapter 1058 Dragon promises harsh disciplinary action against Sabo if it’s found that he killed King Cobra, when as an allied nation of the World Government, the king of Alabasta should technically be their enemy. 

This lionizing of individuals and specific institutions goes back to Mirriam-Webster’s 4a definition of romanticism, and as a children’s manga whose primary themes aren’t centered around systemic revolution, this simplicity is perfectly fine, although I personally think it would be more interesting if the Revolutionary Army was portrayed as more morally gray within the series. Despite this, there are also deliberate links between the Revolutionary Army and the historical Romantic movement. 

It starts at the very foundation of their concept and character design. Many of the highest ranking Revolutionary commanders have a European steampunk look to them, while Mariejois seems based on the Palace of Versailles. Oda would not have paired a shirtless man in a black feathered coat with a cravat had he not wanted to tap in at least a little into the design language of European historical fashion, and by extension, the French Revolution. This is best seen in the design of Belo Betty, who seems to be explicitly based on Eugune Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, a French Romantic painting depicting a personified Liberty leading Frenchmen from all walks of life as they strive to overthrow the despotic King Charles X in the July Revolution of 1830.

The term French Revolution is itself wonderfully imprecise, as France has endured several revolutions, uprisings, and revolts. One does not go through two empires and four republics without a history of civil unrest, and to this day one of France’s favorite pastimes is protesting against the government about things they don't like. But for many scholars, the first of these Revolutions in 1789 was one of the major sparks of the Romantic movement, drawing sympathy from and giving inspiration to writers and poets throughout Europe. The Revolution itself was brought on by many factors, including writings of late Enlightenment/early Romantic writer Jean Jacques Rousseau, whose work The Social Contract pushed for for a free populous living under elected governments.

It seemed that all of Europe would follow suit. Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, the German Confederation, and Northern Italy all saw liberal uprisings of some sort during the early 1800s. Some were successful, others weren’t, but all were instrumental in destabilizing the political landscape that had existed for centuries. This followed a process that had already started globally, as the United States, Haiti, and much of Latin America had already become independent of their colonial masters. There’s a push and pull that’s often seen between art and history, with one influencing the other in an eternal tug of war. Romantic artists painted the pursuit of freedom in a positive light, which inspired frustrated men and women to take up arms against governments they felt did not adequately represent them. In turn, these revolutionaries inspired the Romantics to write and paint about the heroic deeds they saw all around them. One of the most famous Romantics of all, Lord Byron, even died in 1824 after joining the Greek war for independence. Although Byron himself had no strong political ideology and thought all governments as equally bad, the mere act of revolution inspired his romantic spirit to take up arms and fight. 

While there is no real-world equivalent to the World Government of One Piece, the greatest atrocities committed within the manga have their basis in real life, including many of the cartoonishly evil acts of the Celestial Dragons. The Atlantic slave trade, genocide of indigenous peoples under colonial rule, and the crushing poverty of the underclasses were all everyday realities, and these were all things people fought against during this time of world-wide revolution.

Again, some of these movements were more effective than others, and not all of them required violence to achieve their goals. 1807 marked the end of the slave trade in England while in 1838 slaves were freed in British colonies across the world, something once thought unthinkable. In 1861 the tsar emancipated some 23 million Russian serfs, while the Romantic era in the United States ended with the American Civil war and its bloody quest to end chattel slavery in the States.

In a twist of irony, the very same political instability brought on by decades of war ensured that the Romantic movement in France developed later than it did elsewhere. By that time, the Reign of Terror and Napoleon’s wars split Romantics abroad, and several quietly distanced themselves from France and its Revolutions. It was in this post-Revolutionary world that Victor Hugo looked at the smoking wreckage left all around him and began writing Les Miserables. In the preface of this book, he writes, 

“So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation which, in the midst of civilization, artificially creates a hell on earth…so long as the three problems of the century - the degradation of man by the exploitation of his labour, the ruin of women by starvation and the atrophy of childhood by physical and spiritual night are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible…so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, there should be a need for books such as this.”  

The three problems Hugo described exist now as they did then, and One Piece is in many ways a story of ordinary people with extraordinary dreams rising up above this artificially created hell to make a better world for themselves, and the people they care for. 

Other Romantics, disillusioned by a world that did not change as they would have liked, turned their search inward. For these, systematic change wasn’t the goal; personal freedom was. And it’s this inward, more spiritual journey that exemplifies the ideal pirate within the context of One Piece, as best seen by our main protagonist, Monkey D Luffy. 

[aredhels]

A Feast For Crows, Cersei III // Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes // A Clash of Kings, Catelyn VII // A Mad Woman, Eugène Delacroix // mad woman - Taylor Swift // A. Gentileschi, Medea // A Feast For Crows, Cersei VII

[lionofchaeronea]

On the Lasting Power of Art

Ovid, Tristia III.7.45-52 See – although I lack my fatherland, and you, And my home, and what could be taken from me’s been stolen, Nevertheless I keep company with my genius, I enjoy it – Caesar could have no power over this. Let whoever wishes end this life of mine With savage sword – though I’m dead, my fame will survive, And while Mars’ Rome, victorious, shall look on the whole world, Conquered, from its hills, I shall be read.

En ego, cum caream patria uobisque domoque,      raptaque sint, adimi quae potuere mihi, ingenio tamen ipse meo comitorque fruorque:      Caesar in hoc potuit iuris habere nihil. Quilibet hanc saeuo uitam mihi finiat ense,      me tamen extincto fama superstes erit, dumque suis uictrix omnem de montibus orbem      prospiciet domitum Martia Roma, legar.

Ovid among the Scythians, Eugène Delacroix, 1859

[swan-of-sunrise]

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Part III)

Summary: (Y/N) takes a trip down to Delacroix to check in on Sam days after the international incident in Latvia, and their joined by an unexpected but welcomed guest.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Fem!Reader

Word Count: 5.6k

Warnings/Disclaimers: Disclaimer for a frank discussion of racism/bigotry

A/N: We’re in Delacroix for this chapter, so be prepared for lots of Sam and Bucky shenanigans! Thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy!

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Part III) May 2024 Delacroix, Louisiana (Previous Chapter)

The first time (Y/N) had ever visited Delacroix, she was a down-on-her-luck twenty-six year old on the brink of spending yet another Thanksgiving by herself; her relationship with her parents was strained – it always had been, if she were being honest, but that year stood out as being particularly bad – and not even her brother’s pleas for peace could make both sides forgive and forget for the sake of the holidays. Her co-worker down at the VA and new roommate Sam kindly extended her an invitation to spend Thanksgiving in Louisiana with his family and town and after many assurances that she wouldn’t be a burden to them, she finally agreed. True to Sam’s word, his family and the entire small community of Delacroix welcomed her with open arms, and (Y/N) experienced the best Thanksgiving all because of their kindness and selfless generosity. Because of her flourishing career and various superhero-related incidents, she wasn’t able to visit as often as she wanted to since then but in the years following the Snap, she made it a point to regularly check in on Sarah Wilson and her two boys; she owed it to Sam’s memory to ensure that his family was doing okay after he Vanished and in the wake of losing her own daughter, it felt good to know that her emotional support was helping Sarah to take care of AJ and Cass.

“…shocking testimony on Capitol Hill ended with Walker being formally discharged from the Army and stripped of both his military rank and the title of Captain America. The ruling comes as the result of Walker’s shocking murder of an unnamed and unarmed member of the Flag Smashers on the streets of Riga, Latvia, recorded by several witnesses and posted onto social media for the world to see. According to several attendees within the closed hearing, Walker entered into a heated debate with one of the Congressional members when he attempted to cite his partner Lemar Hoskins’ tragic death to rationalize his unjustified actions and blamed the government for shaping his beliefs, but the council did not rescind their decision. No word yet on if Walker has surrendered the shield-”

(Y/N) switched her rental car’s radio to a grainy station playing Zydeco and sighed in irritation. “Nice to hear that the government’s taking responsibility for their own dumb-ass actions…”

Two days earlier, (Y/N) and Steve switched on WHiH just as the news broke and watched the uncensored video of Walker’s unprovoked actions in absolute horror. They kept calling Sam and didn’t stop until he finally picked up the phone and assured them that he and Bucky were safe, and then he explained how Walker got his hands on the Flag Smasher’s stolen super-soldier serum; he went on to tell them that he and Bucky confronted Walker after the murder and forcibly took the shield away from him, and he informed them that because the government stepped in they were benched until further notice. Six hours later, Sarah called and asked (Y/N) to come down to Delacroix out of concern for her brother’s mental health; after a brief discussion with Steve and ensuring that her husband, her daughter and their dog would be safe while she was gone, (Y/N) booked the first available flight to New Orleans.

When she finally reached the Wilson’s house, she parked behind Sam’s truck and pulled her duffel bag out of the trunk before heading up the driveway. She smiled when she saw her best friend repairing a fishing net alongside his nephews and their mother tuning up some equipment at the porch’s small table, and she called out, “Looks like Uncle Sam roped you guys into doing his chores again!”

“Auntie (Y/N)!” AJ and Cass exclaimed, jumping down from the porch and running across the lawn to give her hugs; she laughed and hugged both boys back as Sam and Sarah made their way over to them. “I got an A- on my English report!”

“And I won my class Spelling Bee!” AJ excitedly added.

“Good job, guys! I guess we’ll have to celebrate with the sweet treats I brought and some video games later, huh?” (Y/N) asked and glanced up at the older woman while the two boys did a celebratory dance. “If it’s okay with your mom, of course.”

Sarah smiled and nodded. “As long as you two make your beds before the school bus gets here and stick to your bedtime tonight, then it’s all right with me.” Both AJ and Cass ran back into the house to complete their chores and the two women shared a tight hug. “Thank you for comin’ so quickly, (Y/N),” She murmured before pulling away and gesturing towards the house. “I’ve gotta start packing their lunches, so I’ll let Sam show you to your room.”

Her best friend shot his sister a suspicious look that went ignored as she passed by and he shook his head in disbelief. “She’s a very sneaky person.”

“No, she’s a Wilson,” (Y/N) corrected, giving him a smile and wrapping her arms around him. “She knows when people need help and does whatever she can to get it to them, just like you.” Sam sighed and slowly relaxed into her embrace. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, but maybe later.” He pulled away and mustered up a smile for her benefit as he took her duffel bag from her and slung it over his own shoulder. “I guess I know why Sarah was changing the sheets in the guest bedroom last night. C’mon, Booksmart, we’ll get you settled and I’ll fix you up some breakfast.”

After (Y/N) freshened up and changed into clothing more suitable for the humidity of Louisiana, she came downstairs and sat at the kitchen counter eating the scrambled eggs and toast Sam cooked while the Wilson siblings discussed the ongoing issues concerning their family’s boat.

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I didn’t wanna tell you last night when you were lookin’ all sad puppy dog in the rain,” Sarah patiently explained as she finished packing her sons’ lunches. “That’s why I gave (Y/N) a call.”

Sam sighed. “It was a rough day.”

His sister glanced away from the brown paper bags she was filling to look over at him. “You mean with Isaiah Bradley?”

“And what they did to him.”

Sarah exchanged a brief glance with (Y/N). “You wanna talk about it?”

“No,” Sam replied, his thumb thoughtfully stroking the rim of his coffee mug while he looked down. “I’m trying to figure out what it all means.”

“Okay, well, we’re both here for you…but as far as the boat is concerned, bottom line is that Mr. Dinh backed out.” Sarah pulled two Tupperware containers out of the refrigerator and packed them into bags. “I don’t know what to do; parts alone on that thing are gonna eat up most of what we get back.”

“Listen to me: don’t worry. I’m gonna fix the boat.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be off saving the world?” Sarah demanded while Sam rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Why are you back here bothering me?”

He took a seat at the kitchen counter beside (Y/N) and replied, “‘Cause my family’s well-being is a part of the world.”

(Y/N) arched a knowing brow at her best friend. “So, you’re waiting for a lead?”

“…And the government stepped in and took control and kind of benched us…”

Both Sarah and (Y/N) chuckled and when AJ and Cass entered the kitchen with their backpacks, Sarah handed out their lunches and passed two extra bags over to Cass. “Please make sure Bennett and Elling each get one. Okay?”

“Okay!”

“All right.” Sarah gave her sons a bright smile as they headed out the back door. “Bye.”

“Have a good day at school, guys,” Sam added with a small wave.

“See you later, alligators!” (Y/N) called after them and once the screen door closed behind them, her smile faltered and she looked up at Sarah. “Bennett and Elling?”

The older woman nodded. “Bennett and Elling’s dad cannot get up before noon. Kids keep showin’ up hungry but are too proud to ask for any help.”

(Y/N)’s heart clenched in sympathy for both boys while Sam gave his sister a proud smile. “And you’re like Mom, feeding every kid in the neighborhood.” A strange expression suddenly crossed his features and before either woman could question him, he asked, “How many people still owe Mom and Dad something?”

“All of them. All that’s left, for sure.”

A smile slowly spread across (Y/N)’s face as she realized Sam’s idea. “In that case, it might be time for you two to call in a few favors…”

Sam reached into one of the kitchen cabinets and pulled out their address book. “I’m gonna fix this damn boat.”

He left the kitchen in a hurry and while he started making phone calls from the other room, Sarah shook her head and smiled. “A real man of action. I still don’t know how you lived with him all that time in D.C. without goin’ crazy.”

“It’s probably because I counteracted his unique brand of crazy with my own.” (Y/N) took her empty dishes to the kitchen sink and went about washing them as she continued. “If fixing up the boat helps get his mind off everything he’s been through these past few weeks, then I’m all for it; let him channel all those feelings into something productive instead of letting them boil up inside of him.”

“The only problem with that is that until he’s ready to face those feelings, he’s gonna get in my way and mess around with things he knows he doesn’t understand.”

(Y/N) shrugged. “Well, that’s when you fight dirty and just push him off the side of the boat.”

Sarah laughed and as both women chatted while they worked on packing up lunch orders for Wilson Family Seafood, (Y/N) was pleased to see the stress momentarily leave the older woman’s eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, (Y/N) joined the Wilson siblings and over half of Delacroix at the docks to help them repair Paul & Darlene; Sam had gone through his family’s entire address book and spent the day calling in each and every favor that he could, but even he seemed a little taken aback by how much of his community showed out to assist him and his sister in their time of need.

“Thank you so much for coming, Ms. Paddy,” (Y/N) smiled at the older woman standing before her and gestured towards the fold-out table further down the pier. “There’s coffee and fresh-baked banana bread for volunteers, and Sarah’s around here somewhere with a list of jobs and tasks that need to get done.”

“I’ll do anythin’, so long as it helps out those Wilson kids. Their mama and daddy did so much for this community before they passed, you know, and all while raisin’ themselves a couple of angels.” Ms. Paddy returned her smile with one of her own and patted her arm. “It was good seein’ you again, sugar. You give that husband and sweet baby of yours my best, you hear?”

After (Y/N) assured her that she would and she left to find Sarah amongst the crowd of volunteers, she headed over to where Sam stood beside a group of fishermen and their truck. “Check it out, Booksmart!” Sam excitedly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pointed at the wrapped machinery sitting in the truck bed. “Carlos and Tommy here brought a new diesel engine for us!”

“Sam, that’s amazing!” (Y/N) gave her best friend a hug before turning to the pair of fishermen. “Thank you guys so much!”

Carlos chuckled and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Hey, look, word goes out the Wilson family needs help? Well, we got a bit of usefulness in us.”

Sam beamed in happiness. “How do we get it off the truck?”

Before any of them could answer, the engine was easily lifted out of the truck bed and placed on the pier by none other than Bucky; the super-soldier dusted off his hands and adjusted the black glove he wore, seemingly unaware of the fishermen gaping in awe after witnessing him single-handedly lift a two-thousand pound piece of machinery. “You’re welcome.”

As the fishermen moved to help unload another truck, Sam shot (Y/N) a questioning look and she raised her hands in defense. “Don’t look at me, Birdbrain, I didn’t call him.” They both approached the bed of the truck as Bucky placed a sizable case onto the tailgate. “So, what brings you down to Delacroix, Bucky?”

“Just dropping this off. You can sign for it and I’ll go.” He patted the top of the case. “I called in a favor from the Wakandans.”

Sam exchanged a look with (Y/N), but the tell-tale sound of a burst pipe interrupted whatever he was going to say. “Sam!”

The three of them turned to see Sarah pointing to a pipe onboard the boat spewing concentrated steam into the air; Sam jogged over and boarded the boat, reaching for a wrench to try and tighten the pipe’s loose bolt but unable to see through the thick steam. With an exasperated sigh, Bucky followed after him and climbed over the edge, but not before giving Sarah a small wave. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Sarah replied with an uncharacteristically bashful smile that quickly dropped when she caught sight of the knowing smirk on (Y/N)’s face.

“Hold on, hold on…” Bucky guided Sam out of the way and took the wrench from him. “You gotta go up!”

The super-soldier succeeded in tightening the bolt and stopping the leak, and Sam stared at the pipe as he tossed the wrench down onto the open toolbox. “Why didn’t you use the metal arm?”

“Well…I don’t always think of it immediately. I’m right-handed.” Sam chuckled at that while Bucky took in their surroundings. “So, this is the boat, huh?”

“This is it.”

“It’s nice.” Bucky shuffled his feet and took a deep breath before asking, “You want any help?” (Y/N) smiled to herself when Sam gave him a relenting nod and led him towards the boat’s cockpit, and she made herself appear busy winding ropes when the super-soldier stopped to check Sarah out. “I’m Bucky.”

Sarah looked up from her clipboard and clutched it against her chest as she sweetly smiled at him. “Sarah.”

“Sarah…” Bucky tested out her name with a flirtatious grin on his lips and (Y/N) was forced to bite her lip to keep from laughing when she caught sight of Sam’s less-than-pleased expression.

When both men disappeared into the pilothouse, (Y/N) whistled low and giggled at the older woman’s flustered state. “Mm-hmm, it’s that Brooklyn charm, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“C’mon, Sarah, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you! He may be an old-fashioned gentleman but those big, bright, beautiful blue eyes were most definitely staring right at your-”

Sarah lightly smacked (Y/N)’s arm with her clipboard while (Y/N) laughed and followed after the two men. After doing away with his jacket and the glove he used to cover his vibranium hand, Bucky went to work helping (Y/N) sand the deck and scrape wood rot off the boat’s wooden surfaces; the super-soldier was a good working buddy, although she caught him distractedly practicing knife flips with the tools on more than one occasion, and he still managed to get on Sam’s nerves by using his enhanced strength and vibranium arm to easily complete his own tasks, which was to remove the rusted rail shear-line and repair the old wiring. While they worked, both men unconsciously relied on (Y/N) to ease the awkwardness born in the wake of their short time in Riga and while it felt a little like babysitting at times, she was just glad that they weren’t at each other’s throats anymore.

“You know, I never really saw the appeal of drinking beer after a long day of work…” (Y/N) took another sip of her beer and sighed as she rested her head against Sam’s arm. “But goddamn if this isn’t the best way to unwind.”

Sam hummed in agreement, but most of his attention was focused on the large metal case they’d brought onto the boat; they both suspected what its contents were and while (Y/N) thought it was wonderful that the Wakandans had made him new wings and a suit to match, she could see that Sam was still conflicted about taking the mantle of Captain America. Their focus was drawn away from the case when Bucky heaved a sigh and got to his feet.

“Well, gotta catch my flight tomorrow.” The super-soldier downed the last of his beer and set the empty bottle down onto the deck. “Get a hotel room for the night. Crash, you know? Then, I’ll have to get a ride to the airport…”

Sam snorted in amusement. “You’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?”

Shrugging noncommittally, Bucky tossed his jacket over his arm and gestured towards the dock. “I don’t wanna make it weird for your family.”

“Just stay here,” Sam insisted and (Y/N) hid her surprise as she finished off her own beer. “The people in this town are the most welcoming people in the world. They don’t care if you wear small t-shirts or if you have six toes or if your mom’s your aunt.”

Bucky chuckled. “Okay, I get it. I mean, you know, the people are nice.”

“But don’t flirt with my sister.”

“No.”

“’Cause if you do, I’ll have Carlos cut you up and feed you to the fish.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and set her empty beer bottle down as she stood. “You’d better not let Sarah hear you talk like that, Birdbrain; I hear she’s got a mean right hook.” After giving her grumbling best friend a pat on the shoulder, she looped her arm around Bucky’s and led him back up onto the dock. “C’mon, we’ll take my rental and get you settled up at the house. We’re having Sarah’s homemade jambalaya for dinner, so I hope you brought your appetite with you.”

“Sounds delicious.” Bucky bit his lip and tried not to smile as he continued. “So, Sarah seems pretty nice…”

“She is. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s a damn good businesswoman and an even better mother…and she may or may not have a secret thing for one hundred and six-year-old super-soldiers.” (Y/N) grinned at the blush beginning to color Bucky’s cheeks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a delicious dinner of homemade jambalaya with cornbread and a laughter-filled evening in which (Y/N) unsuccessfully attempted to teach AJ and Cass how to dance the Lindy Hop, everyone decided to call it a night and head off to bed. A brief text from Sam cut (Y/N)’s bedtime skincare routine short and she crept across the hall to his room, where he was sitting up against his headboard and staring unseeingly up at the ceiling; he asked her if they could talk about Isaiah Bradley and the shield and when she readily agreed, he waited for her to make herself comfortable on the comforter across from him before finally opening up to her.

Isaiah Bradley, an African-American soldier who enlisted in the Army just as the Cold War was beginning to take form, was one of hundreds of Black servicemen to be unknowingly turned into test subjects and experimented on with various recreations of Doctor Erskine’s super-soldier serum; the men were told that they were being administered tetanus shots and when it became apparent that the version administered to Isaiah was the most successful, an entire troop of Black soldiers was given the same version and sent out on dangerous combat missions as the Korean War raged on. While operating in Korea on Hydra’s behalf, Bucky first encountered Isaiah at a bar in Goyang in 1951 and their vicious fight led to Hydra considering Isaiah to be one of their most dangerous threats.

“God, it’s just like the Tuskegee Study.” (Y/N)’s stomach churned in horror as Sam silently nodded. “In 1943, Steve volunteered to be one of the SSR’s lab rats and he knew all the possible risks of receiving the serum. But those poor men…”

“If you think that’s bad, just wait until you hear what happened next.”

Around that same time, the other men in Isaiah’s troop had been weakened by the supposed successful super-soldier serum and were soon captured by enemy forces. The Army was planning on authorizing an Air Force strike on the POW camp in order to hide the ample evidence of illegal experimentation and the attempted recreation of Doctor Erskine’s lost work but when Isaiah caught wind of their plans, he single-handedly infiltrated and liberated the camp. He brought every single one of his fellow soldiers back to their base, but the imperfect serum running through their veins began killing them off one by one and for disobeying direct orders, Isaiah was imprisoned for thirty years.

“Steve once disobeyed orders and liberated almost four hundred men from one of Hydra’s POW camps, and they tried to award him a Medal of Valor.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and tightened her arms around her knees as she struggled to keep her anger in check. “The Army might not have gone through with their planned airstrike, but they killed those innocent men all the same. And they didn’t just lock Isaiah up for disobeying orders, those bastards locked him up to keep their illegal experimentation going. That’s what happened to him, isn’t it? They kept experimenting on him for those thirty years?”

“Not just the Army. No, the CIA and even Hydra took samples of his blood to try and replicate the super-soldier serum.”

During his incarceration, Isaiah wrote letters to his wife Faith but his captors never sent them and they even withheld the letters she’d written to him; she’d apparently been told that he was still fighting in Korea and once the conflict was drawing to a close, she was incorrectly informed that Isaiah had been killed in action. Faith passed away while Isaiah was imprisoned but in the 1980’s, a nurse took pity on Isaiah and faked his death, helping him escape the facility he’d been kept in and even gifting him all of the letters they’d withheld. He relocated to Baltimore and lived in anonymity, raising his grandson Eli and mourning the life that had been taken away from him by those who refused to accept a that there could ever be a Black Captain America.

(Y/N) was struggling to hold back her tears by the time Sam finished his story and when she spotted the grief in his reddened eyes, she wordlessly scooted across the bed and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. She always thought that she had a handle on the many atrocities of America’s past, but then she’d find herself learning about yet another barbaric incident and go right back to square one; it’s no wonder Isaiah became embittered and pessimistic about what the shield represents, she thought as she buried her face in the crook of Sam’s neck, his life has been nothing short of a nightmare because of it.

“He said that he didn’t want his story to be told to the world because he’s afraid of how people will react but (Y/N), we’ve gotta tell his story. He and every one of those Black men who died so that the government could try to recreate that goddamn serum…they all deserve to have their stories told, and this country needs to be held responsible for what it did to them.” Sam pulled away to look at her, his brown eyes still tinged with red but filled with a newfound determination. “And I’ve got a few ideas about how to do it. How much goodwill do you think you have with the Smithsonian?”

A smile slowly started to spread across her face at her best friend’s implication. “Enough for me to convince them to add an entire room to their Captain America exhibit. Just give me a week so that I can write up everything you told me and make a phone call to Rhodey; if the Air Force was involved like Isaiah said they were, then he might be able to find some buried files we can use to corroborate Isaiah’s story. Once everything’s squared away with the directors of the Air and Space Museum, I can have Greg get me into contact with The New York Times; I’ve written op-eds for them before, and I have a feeling they’ll be interested in running a story like this.”

“Thank you, Booksmart. I really owe you one, don’t I?”

“You don’t owe me a damn thing, Birdbrain. Except…” (Y/N) trailed off and her eyes flicked over to Sam’s dresser tucked beneath his Louisiana University pennant, where nearly a dozen framed photographs were neatly organized across its surface. There were several photographs from Sam’s childhood – vacations with his parents and Sarah, cookouts, family gatherings and graduations – but many of them were more recent; Sam and (Y/N) working at the VA’s front desk together, a family portrait of Sarah and Henry with their infant sons AJ and Cass, a selfie that Natasha and Sam took with Steve and (Y/N) at their engagement party, and a group photograph of the Avengers they’d taken after Tony and Natasha’s funeral. Sam Wilson’s entire life was on display on that dresser, all the successes and failures he’d experienced and all the lifelong connections he’d made along the way, and as she looked at the framed photographs, she knew in her heart that there was no one on Earth better suited to carry the mantle of Captain America. “Knowing what you know now about Isaiah Bradley and the history of Black super-soldiers in America, promise me you’ll reconsider what to do about the shield? You don’t have to make a decision now or even ever, but just take the time to think it over on your own and without anyone telling you what they think you should do.”

Sam pursed his lips and nodded. “I will. We should probably get some sleep; you’ve got a long flight you’ve gotta catch tomorrow, and I’ve got a water pump to take apart and fix.”

“Sarah’s going to kick your ass if she finds you messing around with that water pump,” (Y/N) lightly scolded but smiled at the mischievous grin on her best friend’s face. “But I guess that’s why you’ll be getting up bright and early, huh?”

“You’re a very perceptive woman.” He pressed a chaste kiss onto her forehead and his smile softened. “G’night, (Y/N).”

“‘Night, Sam.” After giving Sam one last hug, (Y/N) left his room and returned to hers. She crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling for a moment before reaching for her cell phone and FaceTiming Steve; when her husband’s tired face appeared on her screen, she felt a surge of guilt and sighed. “Damn, I forgot about the time zone difference. I’m sorry for waking you up-”

“Is everything okay, (Y/N)?” Steve interrupted, rubbing his sleep-filled eyes as he started to sit up in bed. “You look upset.”

“Everything’s fine, sweetheart, it’s just…Sam told me more about Isaiah Bradley and what happened to him, and I…” Her voice caught in her throat and she blinked away the fresh wave of tears. “I just really needed to see you and Carina.”

Steve’s expression softened with understanding. “Okay, sunshine. Cari’s sleeping right now, so why don’t I let you see her for a minute and then I’ll play the piano for you until you fall asleep?”

(Y/N) nodded and after he crept into Carina’s nursery to show her their sleeping daughter, he closed her door and sat himself at the small piano in their living room, cursing under his breath as he struggled to lean his cell phone against one of her writing awards on the piano’s lid. When he finally succeeded, he sat back and hovered his fingers over the black-and-white keys and she quietly spoke. “I love you, Steve.”

“I love you too,” Her husband gave her a gentle smile; she longed for nothing more than to have his arms wrapped around her but until she returned home to Maine the next day, she’d have to make do with the comfort of his loving gaze. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

While Steve softly played, (Y/N) felt her eyelids grow heavy and the sweet melody soon faded away as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, (Y/N) tossed her duffel bag into the trunk of her rental car and leaned against the bumper as she watched Sam and Bucky throwing the shield across the front yard, smiling to herself when she realized that they were actually talking things out. She said her goodbyes to Sarah, AJ and Cass earlier that morning as the older woman left to see what her brother and handsome guest were up to at Paul & Darlene and the children left for school; Sarah thanked her for being there for Sam and (Y/N) thanked Sarah for inviting her, both women sharing a meaningful hug before she hurried off to chastise her brother at the dock.

And to think, only a week ago they were at each other’s throats, (Y/N) silently remarked, pushing herself off the bumper as both men shook hands and started making their way towards her. “Ready to head out, Bucky?”

“Mm-hmm,” Bucky replied as he placed his backpack into the car’s trunk and shut its lid. “Gotta have plenty of time to explain the metal arm to the TSA agents, after all.”

Sam chuckled. “Makes sense to me. Thanks for the help, man, it meant a lot.”

“’Course.” Bucky smiled and clapped his shoulder before climbing into the passenger seat of the rental car.

(Y/N) wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist and smiled when he gave her a one-armed hug. “Take care of yourself, Birdbrain. If you need anything, anything at all, I’m only a phone call away. Okay?”

“Copy that, Booksmart. Have a safe flight.” Sam pulled away and flashed her his trademark grin. “Give Steve and the little cutie-pie my best.”

Getting into the driver’s seat, (Y/N) gave her best friend one last wave before switching the engine on and driving away from the Wilson’s home. The drive from Delacroix to Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport was a little over an hour long, so (Y/N) passed the time humming along to her Big Band playlist while Bucky silently stared out the passenger-side window; the super-soldier didn’t say anything until they passed through Chalmette and when he did, his words made her brows furrow in confusion.

“(Y/N), I’m sorry.” She glanced over at him out of the corner of her eye but remained silent as he continued. “I realized a while ago that I never apologized to you for my actions that day at the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre, so I’d like to do that now.”

(Y/N) opened her mouth to reassure him that he hadn’t hurt her, that the Winter Soldier was the one who nearly killed her in Berlin and not him, but she found herself closing her mouth as she considered the super-soldier seated beside her. While he never intentionally did the things he did as the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes still did them; it was his hands that committed those heinous acts for over seventy years and whenever he closed his eyes, all he saw were the lives he took played over and over on a never-ending loop. The only way to heal from those decades of trauma was to accept that while he wasn’t guilty of anything, it was still he who did those things and once he acknowledged that, he could begin to move on from his past as the Winter Soldier. The Certified Kick-Ass Counselor strikes again, (Y/N) thought to herself with an inward smile, happy that Sam had put his counseling skills to good work and that Bucky had taken his wise words to heart.

“I accept your apology, Bucky, and I forgive you.” She gave him a smile and he shakily released the breath he’d been holding. “Do you feel better?”

“Actually, I do,” Bucky admitted as he straightened up in his seat. “Would it be okay if I came up to Rockport to visit you three? Not until all this business with Karli and the Flag Smashers is over and done, of course…”

(Y/N) nodded. “We’d love to have you! Steve’s been dying to show you all the art he’s been working on, and I just know that Cari will want to see her Uncle Bucky again.”

The two of them fell into easy conversation that lasted until after she returned her rental car and only ended when she received a text as they made their way into the airport. Assuming that it was only Steve checking in before her flight, (Y/N) pulled her cell phone out to answer but was taken by surprise to see that it was a brief text from Sam.

Birdbrain: Can you send me the link to your workout playlist? I’m gonna need some good music to listen to if I’m gonna master using this shield 😉

“Something wrong, doll?”

(Y/N) shook her head and as her lips curved into a grin, she looked up at Bucky and held up her phone so that he could read Sam’s subtle decision. “Actually, Bucky, everything’s looking pretty damn good to me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and commenting! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ziGMhEsAw833GQ9eV44nR?si=6dfead09c76848d5

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Part IV)

Stumblin’ In Book VII: “Superhero Snapshots” Masterlist

Stumblin’ In Book I: “The Winter Soldier” Masterlist

Tagging:  @mrs-obrien​​​​​ @lahoete​​​​​ @awkward117 @cminr @natdrunk​​​​ @momc95​​​​​ @savedbystyle​​​​​ @miraculouscloud @awkwardnesshabitat​​​​​ @marinettepotterandplagg​​​​​ @mangosandmimosas @supersouthy @benakenalove​​​​​ @brooke0297​​​​​ @hufflepeople​​​​​ @becausewelie​​​​​ @outoftheregular​​​​​​ @junipermurdock​​​​​ @ladydmalfoy @mads-weasley​​​​​ @username23345 @crist1216​​​​​ @capswife​​​​​ @lilmschild​​​​​ @avngrsinitiative @crowleysqueenofhell​​​​​ @y-napotat​​​ @mary1raven​​​​​ @groovy-lady​​​​​ @ljej95​​​​​ @innersublimefury​​​ @prettysbliss​​​​​​  

[ao3feed-kathony]

My Life As A Bridgerton

read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/54550534 by CalvinHGatsby While binge watching Bridgerton with his girlfriend, Tommy Schulze falls into a deep sleep. Upon waking, Tommy discovers that he has not only been transported into the series, but into the body of Colin Bridgerton as well. With everyone believing him to be Colin, Nolan tries to use his knowledge of the show to change things for the better; despite the risk that he might make things worse. Main Polin ship with Parina also present. Words: 1038, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 2 of My Life Series Fandoms: Bridgerton (TV), Bridgerton Series - Julia Quinn, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M Characters: Original Characters, Colin Bridgerton, Daphne Bridgerton, Violet Bridgerton, Anthony Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton, Eloise Bridgerton, Francesca Bridgerton, Gregory Bridgerton, Hyacinth Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington, Marina Thompson, Simon Basset, Lady Whistledown (Bridgerton), Genevieve Delacroix, Lady Berbrooke (Bridgerton), Nigel Berbrooke, Agatha Danbury, Charlotte zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz | Charlotte Queen of the United Kingdom, George III of the United Kingdom, Prince Friedrich (Bridgerton), Portia Featherington, Lord Sheffield (Bridgerton), Lord Fife (Bridgerton), Lord Rutledge (Bridgerton), Cressida Cowper, Prudence Featherington, Philippa Featherington, Archibald Featherington, Jack Featherington, Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma, Mary Sheffield | Mary Sharma, Edwina Sheffield | Edwina Sharma Relationships: Colin Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington, Colin Bridgerton/Marina Thompson, Simon Basset/Daphne Bridgerton, Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma, Anthony Bridgerton/Siena Rosso Additional Tags: Time Travel, Time Travel Fix-It, Anti-Fan Transported Into Fandom read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/54550534

[good--merits-accumulated]

Losing mind at the thought of Neil and Todd's pets being super friendly with each other's owners. Like, Neil has an absolute mountain of a Bernese called some sort of all-American dog name like Rover or Bear, but who also answers to Ajax after that Homeric phase last year, and Rover/Bear/Ajax is obsessed with Todd. He walks him to class. He follows him to poetry recitals and sits politely by a table with his tail wagging like mad. Half of his doggy heart has devoted itself entirely to Todd.

Todd has a sleek grey Abyssinian who is both his ESA and quite possibly considers herself his guardian. Probably she has some very ridiculous fancy name like Mme. Delacroix III but Mme. has a graceful bearing and suits her name very well. Throughout the whole time Todd has had her they have come to an agreement that Mme. will consent to companiable silence and the odd head scritch but will NOT, under any circumstances, cuddle. And then the first time she meets Neil - oops! Lap cat now! In the first month Neil and Todd live together, he hears her purr more than the rest of her life put together. Mme. is unrepentant.

("He has good taste," Neil concedes, gesturing at where Todd is sitting, pinned to the chair by fifty kilograms of sleepy dog. "And I can't blame him. But - really? Five years of brotherhood, Ajax? Abandoned?" Ajax cracks one eye open, huffs at him, and closes it again.

"Yes," says Todd, "I think so."

"I'm disowning him," Neil declares. "It's just - unfair, that's what it is!"

Todd makes discreet eye contact with Mademoiselle, who, in royal fashion, has prodded gently at Neil's arm until he lifted it, and settled herself in his lap with the poise of a diplomat. He is giving her scritches. He does not seem to be aware he is doing so.

"Perhaps I'm just cooler than you," he says, instead of reminding him.)

[ren1327]

"Dearest Gentle Readers" character list

Here are the characters and roles they have based on the show.

Under the cut as not to clog time-line

.

Violet Bridgerton - Mrs. Bowman (Camp Creteceous)

Anthony, 23 - David "Dave" (Camp Creteceous) A

Benedict, 21 - Brandon "Brand" Bowman (Camp Creteceous, Chaos Theory) A

Colin, 19 - Yasmina "Yaz" Fadoula (Camp Creteceous, Chaos Theory) A

Daphne, 18 - Kenji Kon (Camp Creteceous, Chaos Theory) O

Eloise, 17 - Darius Bowman (Camp Creteceous, Chaos Theory) B

Francesca, 17 - Jessica "Jess" Harding (Telltale's Jurassic Park) O

Gregory, 13 - Maisie Lockwood-Grady (JW: Fallen Kingdom, JW: Dominion) B

Hyacinth, 11 - Kadasha (Battle at Big Rock) A

Portia Featherington - Claire Dearing (JW, JW: Fallen Kingdom, JW: Dominion) A

Prudence, 19 - Zachary "Zach" Mitchell (JW) O

Phillipa, 18 - Grey Mitchell (JW) O

Penelope, 17 - Samantha "Sammy" Gutierrez (Camp Creteceous, Chaos Theory) O

Simon Basset, 21 - Benjamin "Ben" Fitzgerald Pincus (Camp Cretaceous, Chaos Theory) A

Will Modrich - Roxie (Camp Cretaceous) A

Alice Modrich - Kayla Watts (JW: Dominion) A

Madame Delacroix - Mae Turner (Camp Cretaceous) B

Lord Nigel Berbrook - Kash D. Langford (Camp Cretaceous) A

Mrs. Berbrook - Lewis Dodgeson (JP, Camp Cretaceous, JW: Dominion) B

Credessa Cowper, 20 - Sonoya Santos (JW: Dominion) O

Lady Cowper - Zara Young (JW) O

Queen Charlotte - Ian Malcolm (JP, The Lost World, JW: Fallen Kingdom, JW: Dominion) O

King George III - Alan Grant (JP, JP3, JW: Dominion) A

Brimsly - Nick Van Owen (The Lost World) B

Lady Danbury - Ellie Sattler (JP, JP3, JW: Dominion) B

Prince Fredrick - Eric Kirby (JP3) A

Lady Whistledown - Brooklyn (Camp Cretaceous, Chaos Theory) A

Mentions of deceased:

Edmund Bridgerton - Fredrick Bowman (Camp Cretaceous) A

Archibald Featherington - Owen Grady (JW, JW: Fallen Kingdom, Jurassic World: Dominion) A

[aisakalegacy]

Printemps 1918, Al Simhara, Égypte (8/20)

L’organisation de la cérémonie me donna l'occasion de recontacter de vieux amis, que je souhaitais inviter. C’est ainsi que j’obtins des nouvelles de Heather, la veuve de feu le Capitaine Delacroix, qui est aussi l’infirmière à qui je dois ma vie sauve. Elle est rentrée chez elle à Vancouver où elle a ouvert un institut destiné aux orphelins de guerre. Elle me fit part de ses regrets de ne pas pouvoir assister à la cérémonie à si bref préavis, mais nous envoya une élégante couronne de fleurs en tissus en guise de cadeau de mariage.

[Transcription] Earnest Simmon : Ce mariage est une chance pour nos deux familles. En associant nos fortunes, toi et moi, nous allons pouvoir bâtir un empire. Louise Le Bris : Je n’y compterais pas trop si j’étais toi, et je continuerais d’investir sur mon bien propre. Earnest Simmon : Qu’est-ce que tu entends par là ? Louise Le Bris : C’est Lucien qui va hériter, pas moi, et très honnêtement, c’est mieux comme ça. Je n’ai pas envie d’hériter des dettes. Earnest Simmon : Des dettes ? Louise Le Bris : Les Le Bris n’ont plus d’argent. Mon père ne travaille pas, il gaspille toute la fortune amassée par Grand-Père dans ses voyages. Louise Le Bris : *s’étire* Nous gagnons bien quelques dividendes par les élevages Le Bris, qui sont administrés par notre grand-oncle, et il y a sa pension d’invalidité, mais cela n’est pas suffisant pour couvrir toutes ses dépenses. C’est pour cela que ni Marie, ni Agathon ne sont pas en pension. Earnest Simmon : Je ne le savais pas. Louise Le Bris : De toute manière, avec la fortune de ta famille, on sera largement à l’abri du besoin.

[carmenvicinanza]

Rosa Bonheur

https://www.unadonnalgiorno.it/rosa-bonheur/

Rosa Bonheur, artista francese del XIX secolo, autrice di memorabili ritratti di animali, è stata la prima donna insignita della Legion d’Onore sebbene la storia dell’arte tenda a dimenticarla.

Dichiaratamente omosessuale, libera e indipendente, è stata tra le prime donne a indossare i pantaloni. Per farlo, doveva chiedere un’autorizzazione alle autorità che, ogni sei mesi, era costretta a rinnovare.

Nata col nome di Marie Rosalie Bonheur, il 16 maggio 1822 a Bordeaux, era la figlia maggiore del pittore Raymond Bonheur e di Sophie Marquis.

Ai suoi tempi le donne non potevano frequentare le Scuole di Belle Arti e il padre fu il suo maestro e quello dei fratelli e sorelle.

Invece di andare a copiare i quadri del Louvre preferiva stare in campagna e frequentare le fiere di animali che adorava.

Espose per la prima volta nel 1841, a diciannove anni al Salon di Parigi. A ventisei vinse la sua prima Medaglia d’oro, tra artisti come Corot, Ingres e Delacroix.

Per trovare l’ispirazione girava per i mercati di animali e i macelli indossando pantaloni, coi capelli corti e un sigaro in bocca per confondersi tra la folla.

Il suo quadro Aratura nelle campagne di Nevers, del 1949 è oggi esposto al Museo d’Orsay.

La fama internazionale era arrivata con La fiera di cavalli, arrivata al Metropolitan Museum di New York nel 1887, ancora oggi uno dei quadri più apprezzati della struttura.

La sua fortuna artistica è stata molto legata al mercato inglese, era molto apprezzata dalla regina Vittoria, e a quello statunitense.

È stato un raro esempio di artista che è riuscita a guadagnare in vita con le sue opere. Riuscì infatti a comprare il castello di By, a Thomery, vicino Fontainebleau, dove allestì il suo atelier e organizzò gli spazi per i suoi animali. Ci viveva con il suo primo amore, Nathalie Micas, anch’ella pittrice, conosciuta quando aveva quattordici anni da cui non si separò mai sino alla morte di lei, avvenuta nel 1889.

Allevava animali esotici e coltivava le sue passioni, musica, letture, teatro, ma anche sigari, caccia, cavalli. Sezionava i cadaveri degli animali per studiarli meglio.

Riceveva scrittori come Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert, i musicisti più famosi dell’epoca, Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet, Charles Gounod, appassionata d’opera, si recava spesso Parigi per assistere agli spettacoli.

Anche Buffalo Bill, che aveva conosciuto quando aveva visitato l’accampamento del Wild West Show, lo spettacolo che portava in giro per l’Europa, dove aveva visto per la prima volta i bisonti e altri animali esotici. Dal loro incontro nacque un celebre ritratto a cavallo dell’ospite americano, che le aveva donato un abito dei nativi visibile ancora oggi nella ex dimora dell’artista.

Nel 1865 è stata insignita della Grande Croce della Lègion d’Honneur dall’imperatrice Eugénie, moglie di Napoleone III, che aveva visitato il suo atelier e insistito per poterle consegnare la più alta onorificenza francese.

Anni dopo la scomparsa di Nathalie, si innamorò della per la pittrice statunitense Anna Klumpke, con ha vissuto fino alla morte e che è diventata la sua erede universale.

Ha lasciato la terra il 25 maggio del 1899 nel Castello di By. È sepolta a Parigi nel cimitero di Père-Lachaise.

I quadri, gli acquarelli, i bronzi e le incisioni presenti nel suo studio, così come la sua collezione personale, furono venduti alla galleria Georges Petit, a Parigi, nel 1900. Oggi il suo atelier è aperto al pubblico come Musée de l’atelier Rosa Bonheur a Thomery.

La sua biografia è stata scritta, nel 1908, da Anna Klumpke, la sua ultima compagna.

Nel 2022 per il bicentenario della sua nascita è stata allestita una mostra al Museo di Belle arti di Bordeaux e successivamente al Musée d’Orsay.

Nel suo castello, ora ribattezzato Château Rosa Bonheur, l’attuale proprietaria si batte per far riscoprire l’opera della pittrice e valorizzare la dimora che contiene molti documenti d’archivio ancora inediti rimasti conservati nei solai e magazzini e che, poco a poco, vengono studiati per arricchire la conoscenza di una donna emblematica della sua epoca la cui memoria non deve andare persa.

Si stima che al momento della sua morte al castello fossero presenti circa 4.500 opere. Grazie alle lastre fotografiche di Anna Klumpke, scoperte nei solai, si è potuto ricostruire in parte un inventario delle opere scomparse. Le immagini sono state il cuore dell’esposizione Le Musée des oeuvres disparues  che presentava un centinaio di opere inedite della pittrice rivelandone aspetti meno conosciuti come le caricature, la pittura storica e paesaggistica, le illustrazioni di leggende inglesi.

Nel castello dove ha abitato è possibile dimorare e godere del meraviglioso giardino dove teneva i suoi amati animali.

[artistslashperfectionist]

About me

Just like many artists, well I'm a self-proclaimed one....getting to know them is one possibility to understand their influences and their passion and what inspires them and what they love to do and what are their personality is like. It took me three years to plan this, but finally I am able to do it right now. So if you look at everything I like, you would know what influences me because of my preferences.

Name: Ronald II Sarabia (But please call me Momoy; I don't feel like a Ronald)

Nicknames: Momoy,Moy, Moy-Moy, Momy (Not mommy !), Momoy-ka,M, MM, Ehm, Ehm-Ehm,Big-Ehm, Big Moe, Moe-M, Moms, Momm (Not mom !),Big M, Blueming, M-High, Aim, Moxzy, Yom, Yomom, Y-Mz

Date of birth: October 28, 1996 (People think I'm very young)

Hobbies: Painting, drawing, taking pictures, collecting figurines and Funko, watching TV

Favorite restaurant: Mang Inasal

Favorite food: Chicken inasal

Favorite dessert: Dairy Queen Blizzard

Favorite ice cream: Cookies and cream

Favorite drink: Bear Brand (Yes, I love milk, and cannot live without drinking one everyday !)

Favorite candy: Milky Way

Favorite music genre: Kpop

Favorite Kpop group(s): Twice, Blackpink, Loona, f(x)

Favorite English (language) song: Get Out of This House by Shawn Colvin (My day is not complete without listening to this song)

Favorite Filipino (language) song: Mahal Kita Pero by Janella Salvador (Sorry to all those I loved back in the day..... :()

Favorite movie(s): Weathering With You, Forrest Gump, Back To The Future trilogy

Favorite TV show(s) : Loud House, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, Spy x Family, The Quintessential Quintuplets, Shake It Up!, Heroes, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Superman and Lois, Citrus

Favorite game: Injustice

Favorite book: The 39 Clues

Favorite manga: Citrus

Favorite artist(s): Devin Elle Kurtz, Aeonix, Kim Smith, Sergio Bumatay III, Alex Ross, Chris Savino, Geoff Johns

Favorite classical artist(s): Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Leonid Afremov, Eugene Delacroix, Mary Cassatt, Paul Gaugin

Favorite DC superheroes: Batman and Wonder Woman

Favorite Marvel superheroes: Captain America and Black Panther

Favorite anime guy: Gray Fullbuster (They say I am like him)

Favorite anime girl: Itsuki Nakano

Waifu: Tohru Honda

Crush: Chou Tzuyu from Twice

Favorite quote: "If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change." - Taylor Swift

Favorite bible quote: Ephesians 2:8-10 (It has my favorite word)

Favorite number: 2

Embarrassing moment: I kept staring at a female passenger of a jeepney who seems to be my good friend back in high school when I was in second year college, and it turned out to be, well, it is actually her, except why is she riding the same jeepney route I take on the way home ? Good thing, I never asked if it's really her.

Drunk moment: I only take beer or alcohol on special occassions and on holidays, but I already smell like Red Horse beer, but not totally drunk, but I managed to climb up a stool to see a live band in a bar that we had a Christmas party back in first year college in 2015.

If there is one thing I can wish for: It would be time travel being possible, so I can see what I did when I was being teased by some schoolmates in elementary :))

[surelenore]

i. "the raven" - edgar allan poe // ii. "leave the city" - twenty one pilots // iii. the heart is a lonely hunter - carson mccullers

( simone kessell, 149, cis woman, she/her ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that LENORE TUREI-DELACROIX is a PHILOSOPHER that works in SECTOR 5. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of RITUAL MAGIC. That must be why they’re CONFIDENT and SELF-SERVING. If you ask me, they remind me of a pendant placed beneath the harvest moon, the grandfather clock striking midnight, vultures hovering around the remains of a black cat. They are affiliated with MOONSCAR.

QUICK FACTS:

full name: lenore desiree turei-delacroix 

date of birth: january 18th, 2026

zodiac big three: capricorn sun, leo moon, scorpio rising

gender & pronouns: cis woman & she/her

sexual + romantic orientation: bisexual + biromantic

ethnicity: 1/2 white, 1/2 māori 

nationality: new zealander

religion: pagan-adjacent. tbh the besties just made it up.

languages spoken: english (5), maori (5), french (4)

enneagram: 3w4

mbti: intj

temperament: melancholic-choleric

alignment: true neutral

ability: ritual magic

affiliation: moonscar

task: mutation breakdown

BACKSTORY

triggers: brief mention of suicide, mass murder x3

Before the meteors, the rather off-the-map settlement (yes, we are already going to use that word to describe where Lenore was born and raised) that Lenore grew up in was tight-knit and peaceful. Hidden as well as it could be since the 1800s, tucked away to avoid Christian extremists, the worship and honor they collectively offered nature -- namely the moon -- had found them with the name 'Moonscar.' If you've seen Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, yes you have.

There was nothing remarkable about Lenore's early life. She was raised like all the other children, more of a collective effort than that of just one or two people (who would hyphenate their last names as a show of unity -- a show that they were not just each others', a show that their children were not just theirs). Even in adulthood, nothing exciting, nothing worth writing home about, really came about until the meteors.

The meteors brought about the darkest time in Moonscar's history, for no one was killed by them, but no one was who they once were either. Everybody contracted the virus.

It began with confusion, but when the virus truly took hold and flipped their humanity off, it turned to in-fighting. Blood was spilled between child and mother, husband and wife, leader and follower. But nothing had been bloodier than the first people who stumbled upon them with the cure.

Had it taken longer to find them than the others? Did they even know they were looking for them? -- None of that really mattered when the collective self-preservation instinct kicked in and every single inhabitant turned their attention away from each other and to the scientists. Collective memories of a history most of them hadn't lived through, they slaughtered the first round of scientists.

From there on out, the x-virus almost became a hive mind. They were not killing each other any more. Sure, they didn't feel guilt over their previous murders of their friends and lovers and cohorts, but the bloodlust was redirected.

However, the slaughter of the first round of scientists had also put them back on the map. Thus, a new round came. Thus, a new round was slaughtered. Thus, another round came. Thus, another round scattered -- alive this time. Thus, one final round came, decked in much more protective gear with hoards of backup. Thus, the whole of Moonscar was forced to be cured...

...which, as they returned to who they were (for the most part), they realized was for the better. They had their humanity again. And their humanity returning caused many deaths, many unable to live with what they had done to their community and to the people who were just trying to help when they were still infected. And, while Lenore did not fall prey to this mindset, some of the kills she had executed while she still had no humanity left within her weighed heavy.

After everyone had been buried and mourned, and when Moonscar was beginning to rebuild, they became a target. Having slaughtered two groups that were just trying to cure them, they were prime victims for some of the more extremist mutant hate groups.

The first slaughter occurred in 2129, two years after the cure had reached their settlement and succeeded.

But this time, this time, Lenore was able to use her mutation for good. She learned about her mutation, not quite as clear and straight-forward as that of some of the fellow residents, as she went... but she knew what she could do this time.

Using a hideout a dear friend had constructed, she placed a pendant in direct moonlight and, with instinct kicking in, placed various minerals beside it. A few words that instinct forced to mind, she and the friend who had constructed the hideout... transformed, as did the other inhabitants.

Essentially a werecat whose mentality had returned to before the cure, the group that had already slaughtered 1/4 of the settlement was slaughtered in return. They would awake, a side effect of the spell, but they would not be... them. Zombies was the best way to describe who the group became -- mindless, willing to obey.

Following the slaughter, the 3/4 left made the executive decision to relocate. But they were found again. Another massacre that left them to a mere 1/4 this time, another spell that left a bloodbath in their wake.

Soon, Lenore and the friend with the hideout were the only reasons any bit of Moonscar survived. But they plunged into a different form of darkness.

In exchange for ever-lasting life, in exchange for protection, a ritual was led by Lenore once a month. A human sacrifice had to be offered. They did their best to get some sort of anti-mutant outsider, but, the longer they were protected, the less they were able to rely on that. It eventually relied on drawing straws (with Lenore excluded -- she was the one who was keeping them alive, after all!) or taking volunteers.

Five years in, Lenore's friend volunteered. She was tired of living. She would be happy to go. If they had never begun this ritual, it would have been her time long ago. She was at peace with the decision.

Lenore, on the other hand, was not at peace with that decision. She had been ensuring her friend's safety by acting against fairness and rigging the straws so her friend never drew the shortest. Without her, no one from their generation would be left.

Ultimately, there was no choice. The fight was futile if she wanted it to continue looking fair, and the fight was futile if she wanted to honor her friend's wish. But there remained one way to keep her friend around: when she became a zombie, Lenore did not immediately release her spirit the way she did for the others. As long as she was essentially brainless and obedient, she was still there and had no way to wish she wasn't! It was all very moral!

While it certainly made some members of Moonscar... uneasy, they continued as if nothing had happened -- as if who had practically been the second-in-command wasn't all but their pet now.

Despite the protection Lenore's spells tended to offer, they were found one final time. With such little numbers, it was time to not just relocate, but relocate big time. As the only one left who had experienced the first slaughter (you know, save for their pet zombie), the decision was entirely in Lenore's hands.

Thus, they trekked from what had once been New Zealand all the way to the middle of what used to be Australia. They picked up a few spare mutants along the way, visible and looking for protection or ever-lasting life. By the time they reached Sol City, a settlement that appeared largely accepting, they planted roots.

In a much safer society, the need for some of the previous rituals became moot. The need to all live within the same area also became moot. (And half of those kids had never experienced Moonscar in its heyday in the first place!) All they needed to do was congregate every so often to be offered true protection again.

It morphed into something that allowed other mutants to commit... rather unsavory acts in the name of self-preservation while fully protected. And, ya know, a group to have some wine with and gossip about the Council.

Adjusting to a life where there's no need to look over her shoulder every second... has been rather difficult. But, as the safety of Sol City continued to exist in general, the more Lenore understood why her friend wanted to let go. And why it was, perhaps, not entirely morally fine to keep her spirit tied to the Earth.

Thus, nearly a decade after her death, Lenore finally released her. With her went all ties to what Lenore had once known... and how terrifying was that!

TIMELINE

BORN (2026): Settlement in New Zealand that had an interesting worship style, more akin to a cult dedicated to nature than anything else.

CHILDHOOD: Largely raised by the group as a whole than just her parents. Nothing unremarkable. Made a best friend who, despite being important to the story in this verse and the last... still needs a name.

ADULTHOOD: Again, nothing to write home about.

DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THE METEOR (49): All of Moonscar had been infected by the X-Virus, no one dying and no one surviving as a normal person. A lot of in-fighting and blood baths between people who loved each other, including Lenore and various friends and past lovers. On that note, the part of her mutation that was easily understood was appearing and having the traits of a werecat of some kind. The part that was not as easily understood was the mixing of minerals and inherent knowledge that created different different spells and curses.

THE CURE FINDING THEM (2126) (100): Scientists stumbled upon them by chance, but that meant they were officially on the map. However, as the entirety was affected, the unprepared scientists were all slaughtered before the cure could be delivered. This turned Moonscar from in-fighting to a sort of collective consciousness, a sort of hivemind, who killed the next batch of scientists.

THE CURE (2127) (101): Two years after the cure had been discovered, and one year after Moonscar had been marked, scientists with much more protective gear and a hoard of backup successfully delivered the cure. There were some suicides that followed as the gravity absolutely slapped the residents. Those who made it through that began to rebuild, but never fully recovered from what they had done.

2129 (103): A mutant hate group found Moonscar and, as retaliation for the bloodbath they had created when the first two groups of scientists came in to cure them, began slaughtering them. Lenore went into a hideout the aforementioned childhood friend had constructed and, with some knowledge that had come along with her mutation, performed a ritual that temporarily returned everyone to the mindset they had had pre-cure. Their assailants were killed and, subsequently, turned into mindless zombies who would do whatever they asked of them. 1/4 of Moonscar had been killed.

2130 (104): Before they could fully relocate, they were found again. It was bloodier on their end this time, having been so busy trying to find a new location that they hadn't any time to plan for a potential attack (a little ironic). 3/4 of the remaining population were killed. With such few numbers left, they relocated as soon as possible, not taking their sweet time to inspect new areas as they originally had.

2131 (105): With a new 'home,' Moonscar protected themselves against violent outsiders the only way they could find: a ritual performed by Lenore that required one human sacrifice each month. While anti-mutant outsiders were the ones they sought out, that could not always be accomplished. When it was not, they relied on volunteers or drawing straws (save for Lenore, what given she was the one who had the power to protect them... and also save for Lenore's childhood friend, Lenore rigging the straws so she would never draw the shortest one without her knowledge).

2136 (110): Lenore's friend volunteered! After all the secret protection, she volunteered! The only remaining member from their original generation! Proclaiming that she had lived a long life, that she would have already met her time if it weren't for the mutation and rituals, that she was content and at peace with the decision... Lenore didn't really have a way to fight against it without revealing the draw as not entirely fair. But she did the closest she could: once her friend was zombified, she didn't release her spirit. But she was mindless, right? So there was no grey area! It was all very moral! And it only made the other members a little uneasy to have who had essentially been the second-in-command as... what was basically a pet.

2143 (117): Despite the protective spell, Moonscar was found one final time... and so few people were left this time. The relocation had to be huge now. They were all but nomadic for a time. They picked up some mutants along the way, lost even more.

2148 (122): They wound up in the middle of what had once been Australia, stumbling upon 'Sol City.' For the better of everyone, Lenore had to let go of the way Moonscar had been in its heyday and accept integrating it into a pre-established settlement. Sol City was safe. Sol City was largely accepting. Thus, Moonscar... changed. It still protected its members, it still acted as a means of self-preservation, it still aided its members in any less-than-savory acts, but it was no longer the home it had once been -- it was more... just some group. Human sacrifice paired with a glass of wine.

2153 (128): With all of the change occurring so fast, Lenore finally accepted what she never wanted to accept: she needed to let her friend go. Keeping her tied to the Earth for nearly two decades had not been very moral! She finally released her spirit and became so very alone.

PRESENT (2175) (149): Moonscar is still functioning the way it has been for the past 25ish years. She is still functioning as the leader... because who else will?

HEADCANONS

Two wolves live within her: one is very tired (but has Moonscar to think about), one is terrified of death.

100% picture Simone and Lena from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island when picturing her werecat form!

On that note, has no choice but to turn into a full-blown werecat each Harvest moon. Usually has a choice outside of that, though!

Always wears a necklace with the moon pendant from that first bloodbath. Although she doesn't actually derive any of her power from it, she's convinced herself she has.

If it weren't for the rituals, she would age like a normal human. She could stop them at any time and just die. (Undecided if she would go full-on Old or would just start aging as if she were 49, the age she was when the rituals began).

More tbd!

CONNECTION IDEAS

Members of Moonscar! Whether they just joined (to commit atrocities in the name of self-preservation and then have wine with the girlies while gossiping about the Council), had been picked up somewhere along the way, or have been there since the third massacre (since everyone from the first and second, save for Lenore, are dead now <3)! Ofc, depending on when they joined... dynamics would be different for all! (Also I keep making jokes about 'drinking wine with the girlies,' but that's just the vibe! Moonscar accepts all genders!)

Friends. Enemies. Frenemies. Old(ish)? New? Idk!

Old connections. Make of this title what you will, but she's been in Sol City at the same age for ~25yrs now. Surely there's some past there!

Seeking guidance. Lenore is a philosopher! Come seek guidance! She is very sane! (See, the irony here is that, aside from Petey, she probably does seem the sanest of my characters! But she also kept her friend as a pet for nearly two decades and doesn't know what 'letting go of the past' means.)

once again: idk more to come and we can just have fun!

[panzerkatzee]

Pic by Libou

NaNoWriMo Journal III.1

I did it you guys! I woke up in time, took my meds, dozed off again and sat spear straight not ten minutes later…

Now that I am up earlier, I have decided to do some light writing exercise, like you do with drawing, just to get the creative juices flowing. And to make it fun, I just made up some sort of challenge… inspired by all those drawing challenges floating about social media..

1. Go to Pinterest 2. Pick the fourth pic, that's no ad (or the ad, what do I care?) 3. Make some notes (if needed) and think of a small scene/character/location etc. 4. Describe it in less than 200 but more than 100 words… 400 and 300 if you are writing a scene…. 5. Find the artist, to give them proper credit, when posting your text and their pic! Bonus: Link the artist in a comment beneath their work, if its a reupload! (Bc Pinterest is not.. and weren't it such a good site for moodboarding, I wouldn't use it at all!)

We'll see, if I keep it up... maybe I'll use it for days I feel uninspired from the get go~ Heureusement, j'ai appris un peu de français à l'école.

Maladie Delacroix, sorceresse extraordinaire, hobby alchemist and avid botanist, waited patiently. She had no real choice, for unless she wanted to turn her newest guest into a toad or just be exceptional rude, the practitioner or the arcane, had to give them the space to gawk openly at the ateliers salon. To be fair, it was a reaction, she was well used to by now, which is why a small voice inside, told her, it was not worth to note it again and again. Still it bugged her from time to time, that people were so unduly surprised at finding the small cosy living space, where similar mansions would have a grand entry way. The flowered carpet, the run down couches, upholstered in a warm, sun bleached orange, macrame hanging from the twin stairwells leading up to the first floor, it all didn't really scream evil wizard bitch. Well.. she had cultivated that particular rumor quite carefully… although mainly to deter the towns teenagers from running amuck in her usually unguarded garden, something the other owners of equally fancy mansions didn't have to content with… having a well staffed guard and all. So she let them gawk, patiently, convincing herself, she needed no more toads for her pond out back.

This done… let's get to it~

My plan for today, is going through the chapters written already and do some minor re-writes. Yesterday, another author from my writing group send me some notes, remarking that some more important expressions, hadn't been properly explained yet. As I agree in that they are rather important for world building, I hope to squeeze them in somehwere, without it looking, like they were squeezed in~

43 minutes later

Please imagine that in the Spongebob narrators voice

I am happy to report… the "squeezing in of exposition", was a success.. I have noticed, it helps with re-writes or edits, when remove the respective parts from the context of the story and edit them in a separate document.

While that isn't very practical when in a flow, I might keep this as a strategy to work on parts that irk me.

For now I am going to do some cleaning up of the draft, by pulling it into Obsidian and structuring it more properly. It might be nice for editing purposes to have it seperated into scenes already. Also can back it up this way.

Five Minutes later

Whelp.. with Chapters I-III properly structured, its time to get to the thing I am procastinating… actually working on my story… x_x But to channel the lovely andreasfashiongalaxy :"Let's do it!" snaps fingers

Over an hour later

Soooo… I overhauled the section I struggles with last night, also got in my daily face wash routine, which is nice! I managed to the write 958 words and finished Chapter III. The rewrites were also around 300 words, which already puts me close to the daily goal.

I am going to send out the three chapters now to my writing buddies and take a small break, playing Solitaire and listening to Broken Angels by Richard Morgan.

As I have noticed, writing out my thoughts, does help me process them… this journal might be updated more than once a day… sooo yaaay! :D