#dj ryan spencer

[ratatatastic]

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE MOMENT YOUVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. DRUM ROLL PLEASE. LOMBO CROWD SURFING IN MIAMI!!!!

this man trying to signal to the crowd to let him down and then FALLING ON HIS FACE while ekky tries to catch him you couldnt have scripted it better than this folks

feat. knighter conducting to we are the champions in the foreground and then turning and drowning the guys beside him in alcohol WELCOME BACK BUD o7

6.27.24

[palmviewfm]

mw counterparts?

this  list  got  a  little  bit  longer  than  anticipated.  as  there's  soooooo  many  counterparts  to  consider  choosing  from  !  so,  i  put  it  under  a  read  more  for  you  !

counterparts:  monica  geller, ross geller, joey  tribbiani,  chandler bing, janice litman, mike hannigan, ursula buffay, aria  montgomery,  emily  fields,  spencer  hastings,  mona  vanderwaal,  alison  dilaurentis,  caleb  rivers,  maya  st  germain,  toby  cavanaugh,  betty  cooper,  veronica  lodge,  cheryl  blossom,  archie  andrews,  reggie  mantle,  toni  topaz,  tabitha  tate,  quinn  fabray,  rachel  berry,  brittany  pierce,  olivia  baker,  layla  keating,  jordan  baker,  jaymee, spencer  james,  lucas  scott,  peyton  sawyer, brooke  davis,  quinn  james,  julian  baker,  anna taggaro, rachel  gatina,  blair  waldorf,  serena  van  der  woodsen,  dan  humphrey,  nate  archibald,  callie  adams  foster,  mariana  foster,  buffy  summers,  willow  rosenberg,  tara mclay, kendra young, faith  lehane,  cordelia  chase,  heather  mcnamara,  marissa  cooper,  summer  roberts,  seth  cohen,  angel, anya jenkins, ryan  atwood,  taylor  townsend,  elena  gilbert,  caroline  forbes,  bonnie  bennett,  stefan  salvatore, anna zhu, enzo  st  john,  sandy  olson,  betty  rizzo,  frenchy,  danny  zuko,  marty, jan, sonny,  jackie  burkhart,  donna  pinciotti,  eric  forman,  laurie  forman,  belly  conklin,  sloane  peterson,  ferris  bueller,  duckie  dale,  bianca  stratford,  kat  stratford,  patrick  verona,  mia thermopolis, sabrina spellman, harvey kinkle, libby chessler, barbie  roberts,  ken  carson,  jenna  rink,  allie  hamilton,  noah  calhoun,  brandon  walsh,  david  silver,  brenda  walsh,  kelly  taylor,  donna  martin,  conrad  fisher,  jeremiah  fisher,  steven  cokin,  taylor  jewel,  sarah  cameron,  jj  maybank,  john  b  routledge,  kiara  carerra,  pope  heywood,  cleo, topper  thornton,  prue  halliwell,  paige  matthews,  piper  halliwell,  phoebe  halliwell,  meredith  grey,  arizona  robbins,  jackson  avery,  callie  torres,  april  kepner,  derek  shephard,  alex  karev,  cristina  yang,  lizzie  stevens,  callie  torres,  jo  wilson,  addison  montgomery,  lexi  grey,  atticus  lincoln,  nancy  drew,  lucy  grey,  sam  montgomery,  austin  ames,  jen  lindley,  pacey  witter,  dawson  leery,  katherine  pierce,  rebekah  mikaelson,  hayley  marshall,  tatum  riley,  sidney  prescott,  casey  becker,  tara  carpenter,  samantha  carpenter,  beca  mitchell,  chloe  beale,  jessica  day,  winston schmidt, cece  parekh, laney  boggs,  dewey  riley,  gale  weathers,  georgina  sparks,  elle  woods,  francesca  bridgerton,  daphne  bridgerton,  penelope  featherington,  sookie  stackhouse,  karen  smith,  regina  george,  gretchen  weiners,  janis  ian,  cady  heron,  aaron  samuels,  dj  tanner,  stephanie  tanner,  marcia  brady,  cindy  brady,  greg  brady,  carrie  bradshaw,  cher  horowitz,  kirby  reed,  jim  halpert,  michael  scott,  kelly  kapoor,  pam  beesly,  peter  parker,  mary  jane  watson,  analise  keating,  olivia  pope,  tony  stonem,  effy  stonem,  joey  donner,  john  bender,  allison  argent,  scott  mccall,  lydia  martin,  olive  penderghast,  maggie  greene,  marty  mcfly,  bella  swan,  alice  cullen,  charlie  swan,  emmett  cullen,  jacob  black,  carlisle  cullen,  esme  cullen,  jane  volturi,  morticia  addams,  donna  and  sophie  sheridan,  lorraine  banes,  jennifer  parker,  sam  winchester,  luke  danes,  dean  forester,  tristan  dugray,  lane  kim,  paris  geller,  logan  huntzberger,  jeanie  bueller,  simon  basset,  kate  sharma,  colin  bridgerton,  shiv  roy,  gerri  kellman,  roman  roy,  olivia  benson,  clary  fray,  isabelle  lightwood,  jace  herondale,  simon  lewis,  daphne  blake,  shaggy  rogers,  velma  dinkley,  fred  jones,  cinderella, ariel, tiana, jasmine, tom  wambsgans,  kendall  roy,  greg  hirsch,  lestat  de  lioncourt,  louis  de  point  du  lac,  and  claudia  !

[huntsvillehq]

on october 31st, it started as a rumble: a low sound deep within the earth. the telephone poles and street signs began to sway. the ground shifted and opened up: a jagged split down the middle of main street, three feet wide and fifty feet long, revealing a black void beneath.

buildings cracked and crumbled. the huntsville bank lost a third of it's structure; the shelves in the library toppled and crashed into each other; pete's garage collapsed completely; the playground in the park slid to an angle.

the earthquake destroyed all the booths and stalls for the festival. a fire broke out in one of the haunted houses. a pipe burst, spraying the street with water. destruction and devastation reigned down upon main street.

it lasted a total of five minutes before the ground and dust settled and people were able to take stock of what just happened. Mayor Natasha rounded up the police and fire departments, sending them on a search and rescue to ensure everyone was recovered in some form or another and to put out the fires and check that every door with a protection rune remained intact.

shock and horror gained traction over the course of the next several hours, as reports came in. three individuals were killed and dozens were injured. Sunflower Parsons was declared missing, as her body was not recovered and no one could remember where they saw her last.

the list of deaths were posted the next morning: Minnie Garcia, Sammie Thompson, and Zoë Clark.

(below the cut are the people who were injured in alphabetical order. the muns can determine how severe the injuries are, up to and including loss of limb/disability. due to the nature of the disaster, those not listed can still have minor cuts and bruises. the event concludes on nov 11th, at which time no new event threads may be posted and we catch up to the ooc present. you will still be allowed to continue event threads until completion.)

Alessandra Nuwa Chen

Alexa Cruz-Dutton (10)

Andrew Richardson

Andy Flowers

Avery Cowling

Bowie Bardot

Briana Ryan

Calloway de la Luna

Claire Forbes

Cain Barlowe

Daishiro Takahashi

Daisy Theirry

DJ Cruz-Dutton

Domino Otto

Eagan Connolly

Edgar Wayne

Eldon Harcourt

Emma “Em” Dunford

Falco Romero

Halley MacGillivray

James Goldstein

Jane Doe

Jay Romero-Sawyer (15)

Jerico Leeds

Katarina “Rini” Roberts

Liam Jefferson

Lin Xiu

Mallard “Duck” Romero

Mylene “Myles” Karimi

Natalie Gray

Penelope “Penny” Lane

Peter “Rusty” Craven

Saffron Aubert

Salem Salazar

Sandra Quispe

Scout Garcia

Sicilia “Lia” Flowers

Spencer Holmes

Reggie Alson

Ricardo “Ric” Reider

Rosemary Felton

Valeria “Val” Moreno

Victoire “Vic” Dubois

Ward Langston

Wolf Lykaios

[triviareads]

Titan by Jillian Graves

For those of you who wanna celebrate spooky season with a monsterfucking book, Titan is a really sweet book (a "cozy" monster romance, as it's described) with plenty of sex, ft. a former child star who's been conned out of her money by her mother and manager, so needs to turn to sugaring to earn money. Enter Titan, a billionaire daddy dom who is also, surprise, a gargoyle.

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone

So, I think I wrote so much about Salt Kiss in September I was pretty much deluged with ads for it this entire month (and made a game of collecting them like pokémons 💀).

I've shrieked enough about Mark Trevena and Tristan and Isolde (here's my review, and see here, here and here— shoutout to that hysterical bonus scene), but reflecting on the book, it's been a while since I read a modern romance with such high stakes (what are the stakes? As of the end of Salt Kiss, god knows, but all three mains are quite capable of killing people) that that's something I'd been missing ever since I finished Kennedy Ryan's Kingmaker duology. Sierra Simone knows how to write a romance that is not only all-encompassing, but also has enormous ramifications for the world the story is set in, and I've come to enjoy that. If anyone has similar recs, let me know!

The Cutthroat Countess by Minerva Spencer

I'm on a stabby heroine kick this month, it seems. This book comes out October 24th, and here is my full review.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy

Here is my full review. I said something similar about Adriana Herrera's Las Leonas series, but I hope this book is considered a historical romance classic a few years down the line because it showcases the best of the genre— the enemies-to-lovers of it all, a clever businesswoman, a hero panting like a dog after the heroine, the zany antics and dumb schemes— while also proving that yes, you can write a historical romance with diverse characters without it feeling anachronistic as some readers like to say when a historical doesn't exclusively feature cis-het white characters.

Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne

I spend a lot of time complaining about Pride and Prejudice inspired media (and ill-thought out P&P comparisons) on here, but I have nothing but good things to say about Pride and Protest. I love how Nikki Payne set the story in southeast DC and centered the plot around gentrification and grassroots activism.

On a romance level, I always appreciate when the Elizabeth Bennet-inspired character (in this case Liza, a Black DJ and community activist) is a messy gal, and her mistaking Dorsey (who is Filipino but adopted by a wealthy white family) for The Help was HYSTERICAL. She and Dorsey have insane chemistry (their time stuck at "Netherfield" especially was loaded with tension; you thought the hand flex farewell in P&P 2005 was hot? read this), and in case you were worried like I was, no they do not wait until the end to sleep together.

Wicked trilogy by M. James

There are a lot of KU mafia romances out there so it's been tough to find ones that hit the sweet spot for me. This trilogy was just the right level of unhinged without gratuitous violence or mafia tradwife stuff. To do a simple breakdown, Wicked Brute is about Mikhail being pissy about Natalia killing her dad before he could and getting multiple lap dances from her without being sure if it actually is her (idiot), Wicked Beauty mostly consists of her chained to his bed (I did a chapter count and it's at least 3/4ths of the book), and Wicked Vow has a very "oh how the turn tables moment" on that front before there's a resolution. For anyone looking for a well-written mafia series, M. James might be your answer.

[phillyzinefest]

Philly Zine Fest 2022 Vendors List pt. 2

Jackie Kirby

Jay McQuirns Jennifer Hildebrand Jesse Arbor Jinli Spencer Jodi Bosin + @jodi_bosin Joseph Rogers Illustration Julian Shendelman KAPI Kathryn Hemmann + @kathrynthehuman + @kathrynthehuman (Twitter) Katie Haegele / The La-La Theory Katrina Kopeloff Illustration Kinos Comix Kyle Kerezsi La Horchata Zine + @Lahorchatazine Lemon Liu Press + @lemonliupress Lumen Lugo-Roman LUMXN + @lumxnzine Mara Gervais Mega Press Meldar16 Messy Them Studio + @noaisabellla Morg Studio  MovieJawn Nicole Rodrigues + @lost.mirage Nora Einbender Luks NWA Zine Odochi Akwani + @odochiakwani Olivia Fredricks + @oliv.Marie Organ Bank Pam Price Partners and Son Peppermint Alley Press + @peppermint.alley Philly Teen Zine Collective Plus Equals

Prevention Meets Fashion R28 Zines Rachel Bard Regional By Sam Ren Reptile House Comix Retrosofa Ribbon, Dame of Death Ryan Pic + @earthwormenthusiast Sarah Szymanski Sawyer Lovett Second At Best Press Sequential Philly  Simon Reinhardt + @simonmreinhardt (Twitter) Skullduggery Studios Skyla Moray Southern Exposure  + @hellobrandondean SPACEBOYNETWORK + www.afrobatix.com Spratty Lin Strong Hands Students in the Limited Edition Honors General Education course: “Makers, Hackers, Fixers” Super Not Great  Tanya Brassie

Taped Off TV The Soapbox Community Print Shop The Word Distro TheChoyceIsYours This Must Be The Place Press thrashbeatles Tree News + @_tree_news_ Urban Ochre Press Valeriya Volkova Art Vivien Wise Wally and the Witches + @wallyandthewitches WKDU yoritzo x dj crouton Yoshus Prints 

Young Artist Program + @theyoungartistprogram

[influencermagazineuk]

Taylor Swift Leads Nominations at 2023 Kids' Choice Awards - Complete List of Recognitions Unveiled

Taylor Swift Dominates Music Nominations at 2023 Kids' Choice Awards with Five Nods - Including Two for Favorite Song and One for Her Feline, Olivia Benson Swift Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (10481442fs) Taylor Swift 47th Annual American Music Awards, Show, Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, USA - 24 Nov 2019 Music Favorite Song - “About Damn Time”- Lizzo - “Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift - “As It Was”- Harry Styles - “Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift - “Break My Soul” – Beyoncé - “First Class”- Jack Harlow - “I Ain’t Worried”- OneRepublic - “Lift Me Up”- Rihanna Favorite Album - Dawn FM– The Weeknd - GOD DID – DJ Khaled - Harry’s House– Harry Styles - Midnights (3 am Edition)- Taylor Swift - Renaissance– Beyoncé - Special – Lizzo Favorite Female Artist - Adele - Beyoncé - Billie Eilish - Cardi B - Lady Gaga - Lizzo - Rihanna - Taylor Swift Favorite Male Artist - Bad Bunny - Drake - Ed Sheeran - Harry Styles - Justin Bieber - Kendrick Lamar - Post Malone - The Weeknd Favorite Music Group - 5 Seconds of Summer - Black Eyed Peas - BLACKPINK - BTS - Imagine Dragons - OneRepublic - Panic! At the Disco - Paramore Favorite Music Collaboration - “Bam Bam”- Camila Cabello featuring Ed Sheeran - “Don’t You Worry” – Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Shakira - “I Like You (A Happier Song)”- Post Malone, featuring Doja Cat - “Numb”- Marshmello, featuring Khalid - “Stay With Me”- Calvin Harris, featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey, Pharrell - “Sweetest Pie”- Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa Favorite Breakout Artist - Devon Cole - Dove Cameron - GAYLE - Joji - Lauren Spencer-Smith - Nicky Youre Favorite Global Music Star - Bad Bunny (Latin America) - BLACKPINK (Asia) - Harry Styles (UK) - Rosalía (Europe) - Taylor Swift (North America) - Tones and I (Australia) - Wizkid (Africa) Favorite Social Music Star - Bella Poarch - Dixie D’Amelio - JoJo Siwa - Oliver Tree - Stephen Sanchez - That Girl Lay Lay Film Favorite Movie - Avatar: The Way of Water - Black Adam - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Hocus Pocus 2 - Jurassic World Dominion - Monster High The Movie - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Top Gun: Maverick Favorite Movie Actor - Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder) - Chris Pratt (Owen Grady, Jurassic World: Dominion) - Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam/Teth-Adam, Black Adam) - Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 2) - Ryan Reynolds (Big Adam, The Adam Project) - Tom Cruise (Capt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, Top Gun: Maverick) Favorite Movie Actress - Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) - Letitia Wright (Shuri, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) - Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) - Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 2) - Natalie Portman (Jane Foster/The Mighty Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder) - Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson, Hocus Pocus 2) Favorite Animated Movie - DC League of Super-Pets - Hotel Transylvania: Transformania - Lightyear - Minions: The Rise of Gru - The Bad Guys - Turning Red Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Male) - Andy Samberg (Dale, Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers) - Andy Samberg (Jonathan, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania) - Chris Evans (Buzz Lightyear, Lightyear) - Dwayne Johnson (Krypto, DC League of Super-Pets) - Kevin Hart (Ace, DC League of Super-Pets) - Steve Carell (Gru, Minions: The Rise of Gru) Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie (Female) - Awkwafina (Tarantula, The Bad Guys) - Keke Palmer (Izzy Hawthorne, Lightyear) - Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish) - Sandra Oh (Ming, Turning Red) - Selena Gomez (Mavis, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania) - Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom, Minions: The Rise of Gru) Television Favorite Kids TV Show - Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island - High School Musical: The Musical: The Series - Ms. Marvel - Raven’s Home - That Girl Lay Lay - The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder - The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers - The Really Loud House Favorite Family TV Show - Cobra Kai - iCarly - Obi-Wan Kenobi - She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - Stranger Things - Wednesday - Young Rock - Young Sheldon Favorite Reality Show - America’s Funniest Home Videos - America’s Got Talent - American Ninja Warrior - Floor Is Lava - MasterChef Junior - The Masked Singer Favorite Animated Show - Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous - Rugrats - SpongeBob SquarePants - Teen Titans Go! - The Loud House - The Smurfs Favorite Female TV Star (Kids) - Audrey Grace Marshall (Vivian Turner, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder) - Imogen Cohen (Zina, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder) - Olivia Rodrigo (Nini, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) - Raven-Symoné (Raven Baxter, Raven’s Home) - Sofia Wylie (Gina, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) - That Girl Lay Lay (Lay Lay, That Girl Lay Lay) Favorite Male TV Star (Kids) - Brady Noon (Evan Morrow, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers) - Israel Johnson (Noah Lambert, Bunk’d) - Joshua Bassett (Ricky, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) - Tyler Wladis (Roy, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder) - Wolfgang Schaeffer (Lincoln Loud, The Really Loud House) - Young Dylan (Young Dylan, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan) Favorite Female TV Star (Family) - Hilary Duff (Sophie, How I Met Your Father) - Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams, Wednesday) - Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven, Stranger Things) - Miranda Cosgrove (Carly Shay, iCarly) - Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield, Stranger Things) - Tracee Ellis Ross (Bow Johnson, Black-ish) Favorite Male TV Star (Family) - Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair, Stranger Things) - Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan-Kenobi) - Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things) - Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson, Stranger Things) - Jerry Trainor (Spencer Shay, iCarly) - Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai) Other Categories Favorite Male Creator - Austin Creed - MrBeast - Ninja - Ryan’s World - SeanDoesMagic - Unspeakable Favorite Female Creator - Addison Rae - Charli D’Amelio - Dixie D’Amelio - Gracie’s Corner - Kids Diana Show - Miranda Sings Favorite Social Media Family - FGTeeV - Ninja Kidz TV - Ohana Adventure Family - The Bucket List Family - The Royalty Family - The Williams Family Favorite Female Sports Star - Candace Parker - Chloe Kim - Naomi Osaka - Serena Williams - Simone Biles - Venus Williams Favorite Male Sports Star - LeBron James - Lionel Messi - Patrick Mahomes - Shaun White - Stephen Curry - Tom Brady Favorite Celebrity Pet - Dodger Evans - Gino Chopra Jonas - Noon Coleman - Olivia Benson Swift - Piggy Lou Bieber - Toulouse Grande Favorite Book - Cat Kid Comic Club Book Series - Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Series - Five Nights at Freddy’s Book Series - Harry Potter Book Series - The Adventures of Captain Underpants Books Series - The Bad Guys Book Series Favorite Video Game - Adopt Me! - Brookhaven - Just Dance 2023 - Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope - Minecraft - Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Read the full article

[leanstooneside]

Coco Chanel

• Heidi Klum's earthy forearm

• Anna Nicole Smith's earthy forearm

• T.R. Knight's earthy forearm

• Brad Womack's earthy forearm

• Edie Falco's earthy forearm

• Kate Hudson's earthy forearm

• JC Chasez's earthy forearm

• Holly Montag's earthy forearm

• Andrew Firestone's earthy forearm

• Rupert Grint's earthy forearm

• Kylie Jenner's earthy forearm

• Tim Gunn's earthy forearm

• Sofía Vergara's earthy forearm

• Hilary Swank's earthy forearm

• Chris Meloni's earthy forearm

• David Boreanaz's earthy forearm

• Ashley Tisdale's earthy forearm

• Levi Johnston's earthy forearm

• Spencer Pratt's earthy forearm

• Russell Crowe's earthy forearm

• Jon Lester's earthy forearm

• Elizabeth Taylor's earthy forearm

• Elizabeth Olsen's earthy forearm

• Michael Bolton's earthy forearm

• Julia Roberts's earthy forearm

• Tim McGraw's earthy forearm

• Freddie Prinze, Jr.'s earthy forearm

• DJ AM's earthy forearm

• Sammi Giancola's earthy forearm

• Jennifer Garner's earthy forearm

• Emily Blunt's earthy forearm

• Dave Navarro's earthy forearm

• Chad Michael Murray's earthy forearm

• Steve Carell's earthy forearm

• Sharon Osbourne's earthy forearm

• Brad Pitt's earthy forearm

• Toby Keith's earthy forearm

• Michael C. Hall's earthy forearm

• Ryan Cabrera's earthy forearm

• Paul McCartney's earthy forearm

[minutemademenace]

ay you know how in build god then we’ll talk he says The corner of 4Th and Fremont street ?? Well I’m in Vegas and at the corner of 4th street is the biggest Walgreens I’ve ever seen

[theblackestofsuns]

“I Don’t Play Poker And I Can’t DJ...”

The Vinyl Underground #8 (July 2008)

Si Spencer, Simon Gane, Ryan Kelly and Guy Major

Vertigo / DC Comics

[ofmatter]

{  MICHIEL HUISMAN | 40 | CIS MAN ﹜  welcome to san francisco, RHETT HAGEN! just to make sure, you go by HE/HIS, right? okay, great. i just have a few questions for you before i can let you go..  how long have you been here for? 35 YEARS. where are you currently living? PACIFIC HEIGHTS. what’s your current occupation? DJ at CAT CLUB but what’s your dream occupation? AUDIO ENGINEER FOR HOLLYWOOD FILMS. wow! interesting. is there a secret that we can keep between you and i? HE GOT DRUNKENLY MARRIED IN VEGAS IN HIS 20’S AND NEVER GOT IT ANNULLED. lastly, this is a bit of a random question but … what’s your favorite song? PSYCHO by METR & that’s all they wrote, friend! we can’t wait to see you around the golden city!

--- quick stats. ---

birth name: rhett hagen. nickname(s): none. age / d.o.b.: 40. may 8, 1982. gender, pronouns & sexuality: cis man, he/his, demiromantic heterosexual. hometown: amstelveen, noord holland, the netherlands. occupation: dj at cat club. education: bachelor’s degree in audio engineering. relationship status: married ... but single. children: none. positive traits: agreeable, confident, fun-loving, observant, passionate. negative traits: aloof, devious, extravagant, faithless, selfish. character comparisons: ferris bueller (ferris bueller's day off), richard castle (castle), donna meagle (parks and recreation), shawn spencer (psych), samanatha jones (sex and the city), lucifer morningstar (lucifer), frank abagnale (catch me if you can), jesper fahey (shadow and bone), rusty ryan (ocean's 11), neal caffrey (white collar)

--- quick tl;dr. ---

i. born in amstelveen, noord holland, the netherlands. his mom split and left him with just his father when he was about three, and it was a very stressful situation. most stories revolve around kids growing up with their single mom and a deadbeat dad that disappeared, rhett’s is the opposite. when his mother booked it, his father took up multiple jobs to keep them afloat. one such job took them to san francisco when rhett was five ---a big move, but his father was looking forward to leaving behind bitter memories. they packed up what was was worth taking and split to the west coast.

ii. it would be a lie to tell you that rhett was an exceptional child. his grades were always passing, but somewhere in the b to a minus range, possibly higher if he actually gave a damn. it took a long time for him to discover what he wanted to do ---his childhood was spent floundering through hobbies where none of them really stuck. sports were a joke, and the one time he tried surfing he got yanked half a mile away from shore in a riptide. (he finds the whole ordeal hilarious, honestly, but his father made him promise not to do it again, so he promised). the only thing that really ever stuck with him was his carefree attitude, and his ability to make a joke out if anything. aloof. when he graduated high school he was appointed class clown, and it followed him everywhere.

iii. somewhere around 17 he discovered his love for the technical side of music. he took an elective of music theory as a joke and completely fell in love with it. his father was ecstatic that something seemed to stick, and when college rolled around he took care of the first two years of a general liberal arts degree at a community college before transferring all of his credits to a university for audio engineering. his father had set aside enough money for him to pay out of pocket for the two year’s associates, but after that rhett took out student loans. (he’s mostly paid them off now, thanks).

iv. and he took after his father with the work ethic. college was met with working at least two jobs, three during the summers. money was sorted evenly to a saving’s account, bills, and immediate necessities. his father let him live in their house in outer sunset for the duration of college until rhett got his own place after. at first it was a dingy little studio but he graduated into his current home in pacific heights after some time. primarily he works as a dj for the cat club (and has for many, many years) but has taken many freelance jobs on the side engineering (mixing, mastering) for up-and-coming musicians. he’s even worked on the sound for some small-time indie films, which earned him the ability to have a nicer place. he’s always been frugal with his money, a smart spender.

v. ever the joker, he never quite grew up. somewhere in the middle of it all he forced himself to keep in touch with his inner child. while it might appear that he shirks adult responsibilities, the reality is that rhett keeps that side to himself, and very private. the largest case is taking care of his father ---he visits their outer sunset home (his father refuses to move, despite rhett offering multiple times) at least four times a week, if not every day. his father still insists on working ---you can catch him gardening at a local cemetery (he likes to make sure that the flowers for the deceased are nice and pretty) and offering a kind word to the mourning, or a nice chat to a jogger, if you know his schedule. rhett himself has that kind streak in him, but mischief takes over. he learned how to appreciate life from his father, and refuses to let any negativity sway him.

-- fun facts. --

i. is very much a cat person. he has a pet cat presently, alastair, that rules his house. to that end, he doesn’t like dogs, even so far as having a slight fear of larger dogs (though he’ll laugh it off as anything but that).

ii. has no memory of his mother, but really doesn’t think fondly of her at all. there’s no good reason to abandon your husband and child, and rhett thinks every lifetime movie that praises a mother as a lone hero is a joke. to that end - he’s fiercely protective of his father, who he understands and always saw as sacrificing part of himself to ensure his child had a good upbringing.

iii. god, he loves music. it’s why he dj’s, primarily. he likes a little of everything, and keeps an open mind. his set lists are primarily drum and bass, edm of many varieties, and synthwave but he like to mix some of everything in there. he hates country music. and while he can appreciate some of the modern pop stars, he also hates taylor swift. don’t ever try to convince him otherwise of anything else.

iv. he might appear as a slacker (he kind of is) or aloof (he really is) and uncaring (depends) ... but he’s actually very observant and quite intelligent ... especially when it comes to music. he loves the technical, mathematical and theoretical side of it. he loves to make his own synth sounds in his spare time, and he loves a good rave to get lost in the feeling of music. he thinks in music, hears in music, sees in music.

v. has never has a serious relationship, largely in part to seeing how broken his father was upon his mother leaving them. he knows his father had other girlfriends, but he kept them quiet and never paraded them around the house, and now as an elderly man his father is happily alone. rhett is afraid to open himself up to someone, to ultimately be left alone ... so he never gives anyone the chance.

[emilysworldoffandoms]

My Favorite Fictional Siblings

Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam Gallagher from Shameless

DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle Tanner from Full House

Cody and Zack Martin from Suite Life of Zack and Cody/suite life on deck

Justin, Alex, and Max Russo from WOWP

Spencer and Carly Shay from iCarly

Drake and Josh from Drake & Josh

Ben and Danny Wheeler from Baby Daddy

Meredith and Lexi Grey from Grey’s Anatomy

Meredith Grey, Amelia Shepherd, and Maggie Pierce from Grey’s Anatomy

Izzy and Alec Lightwood from Shadow Hunters

Katara and Sokka from ATLA

Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter

David and Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek

Maddie and Buck from 9-1-1

Althea, Ryan, and Nicky Shen from Kung Fu

[prettyoddfever]

Panic at the Disco at the 2008 Grammys

"We got one nomination, for an un-televised award. So we're gonna clean up.” – Spencer to MTV

The 2008 Grammys were on February 10th at the Staples Center in LA.  Panic at the Disco was nominated for “Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package” for the AFYCSO box set. So obviously that was all sorts of exciting.

here’s a tag for pictures from the event.

BEFORE THE GRAMMYS

A couple days earlier the band was at the Fuse pre-Grammy party. Pete Wentz DJed (how do you type the past tense of DJ lol) and Panic at the Disco played a short set. Alt Press was shadowing the band at that time, so their spring cover article mentioned:

“It’s the week before the Grammys and folks are lining up behind the barricades in front of the Goa Super Club in West Hollywod where Fuse is holding its awards-show event…Panic at the Disco are about to play a brief set, their first public appearance in more than a year.” (side note from me: THAT LAST PART IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY ACCURATE – the article had several big errors). “...When the songs end, the applause is minimal, but this doesn’t seem to matter to Panic. Neither does hanging out with celebutard dilettantes: shortly after midnight, the four of them take a cab back to their hotel, where they close out the night by watching music DVDs in Ross’ room.”

There were a few videos from this day... did anyone save those? I’m not seeing them in my hard drive or on youtube anymore. One blessed us with these expressions:

MTV asked the band before the Grammys if they’d be going to any parties afterwards and Ryan said "There's a few parties. We never really get invited to hang out at them. Also, who knows if Brendon will be able to go.” (Brendon & Spencer weren’t 21 yet).

AT THE GRAMMYS

spinner.com was live blogging the red carpet and said “6:46 pm: Panic at the Disco are bringing awkward back.”

Many blogs & news sites didn’t seem to know why PATD was even there... a few guessed it was to promote the new album that was coming out next month.

the band made lists for best-dressed and worst-dressed.

Jon’s vest at the Grammys was made by Anthony Franco.

the band sounded like they really didn’t enjoy their experience at the Grammys... I thought this Miley Cyrus moment summed up how they were treated.

Ryan told Alt Press: “We had to stand around outside looking like idiots due to some miscommunication about our credentials. We did the red carpet, and then we were asked how it felt to be not that famous and not yet really a mainstream band, but still be attending the Grammys. I said ‘It wasn’t my idea, I didn’t want to come to this.’”

Spencer told Kerrang that “We realized that sitting in an arena for three hours surrounded by people in suits wasn't going to add up to a good time.”

Alt Press wrote that “The band didn’t even stick around for the proceedings, instead going back to the hotel early. Although Ross admits the highlight of his evening was watching Ringo Starr walk into the Staples Center.”

So the guys went back to their hotel to hang out and then they did this interview in their bath robes the next day.

here are some moments from the red carpet & before the event:

I love Spencer’s reaction at 00:25 when they’re asked about the missing exclamation mark yet again... he’s like nope I’m done:

Brendon & Jon look hilariously tiny:

THE MAIN POST

[lovely-van]

emily (part one)

Of course she had feelings for him. How could she not? Van was fucking perfect. But she didn’t want to tell him that. Emily was so used to being alone mostly, only casually dating guys, cutting things off if it seemed like too much. And she really, really didn’t want to let him in. But Van was doing his best to work his way into her life.

word count: 11k+ 

warnings: language, some smut, drug use etc

notes: i am so so sorry that it took me this long to post!!! i’ve honestly been just kind of relaxing since finals ended and it took me a while to edit but here is part one! also this isn’t a song fic i just didn’t know what else to name it hahaha and this is def not my fav story but it was the first piece i wrote so here ya go :)

Emily always loved parties. She loved them in high school and even more so now that she was a few years into college. Although she didn’t prefer to be the life of the party per se - she wasn’t quite outgoing enough - she just loved the atmosphere. All of the people drinking too much, dancing, making mistakes and living out their youth. Her mother always gave her the same disappointed look when she went out on a Saturday night in high school. Emily would roll her eyes, grab her jacket, and groan, “Mom, don’t look at me like that.” Emily’s mom would just shake her head and mutter something about how at least she had good grades. 

Tonight was no different. It was the last Saturday before fall semester started, the last chance to let loose before classes and endless schoolwork began. Emily sat in front of her bathroom mirror, applying mascara while her friend Mary fumbled around with the speaker. “Mary, I’m dying in this silence. What the fuck are you doing with that thing?”

Mary let out a frustrated groan. “The bluetooth isn’t working. I swear I’m gonna fucking break it!” Suddenly rap music started blasting from the small speaker. Mary let out a little scream which drew a chuckle from Emily. “Finally,” Mary muttered. She slid into the bathroom behind Emily, plugging in her curling iron. 

“I can’t believe summer’s over already,” Emily said, finishing up her highlighter. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror and figured she looked good enough. It was still so hot being early September she couldn’t even think about wearing a jacket, especially knowing how hot the frat houses would be. 

“Ugh, I know. And we only have one year left after this!” Mary whined. Both Mary and Emily were juniors at their college while their other roommates were all sophomores. This led to them feeling really old and nostalgic often, even though they were really only halfway through their college career. Carson, one of their younger roommates, always teased them about being old women. Mary and Emily would object to this immediately, of course, putting up a fight about how they couldn’t even legally drink yet. 

Emily nodded sadly in agreement, spraying on a little perfume. She left the bathroom and ran down the stairs, tightening the little pigtails she had put in for the half-up look she was digging lately. 

Carson and Spencer, the other roommates, were all downstairs drinking already. They were playing some video game and occasionally shouting at it. Just as Emily passed the door at the bottom of the steps, it opened. Emily jumped, laughing when she saw it was Spencer’s girlfriend, Sarah. “You scared the shit out of me!” Emily said as Sarah giggled too.

“My bad,” Sarah said. She walked in, taking a seat right next to Spencer who wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning over to kiss her. The two were high school sweethearts and very much in love, which disgusted pretty much everyone else in the apartment. But they were cute and so happy together that the rest of their friends put up with them.

“Hi babe,” Spencer said, kissing her one more time before going back to playing. Emily fixed herself a drink and hoped to get a little buzzed by the time they left.

---

The party was in full force by the time the five of them arrived. Emily did manage to get a decent buzz going which helped when she looked around at the disgusting scene of the party. Frat parties were like no other, people grinding throughout the whole dance floor, couples making out wherever they wanted, and the floor was always sticky. Emily and Mary snagged a couple drinks from the makeshift bar in the kitchen that was really just the island and made their way into the dance floor. The DJ was playing very questionable music which was annoying to Emily since her favorite thing about parties was dancing. 

Despite the shitty music that consisted of mostly shitty remixes, Emily and Mary danced hard to every song. After a few minutes, they bumped into a few people they knew who were complaining about the summer ending. They chatted for a bit, trying to discuss their upcoming schedules for the school year when they were interrupted by someone on a microphone. “Alright so clearly, Dylan here sucks as a DJ. This was his tryout and he failed. So my boy Max is gonna take over!” The crowd cheered and Emily almost felt bad for poor Dylan until the new DJ started playing some really good throwback songs. Immediately, Emily and Mary felt much better, dancing way harder and sweating even more. The other thing about frat parties is they were always so fucking hot. 

Emily noticed that Carson seemed to be interested in this really short girl near them, which was pretty funny because Carson was 6’5. She was happy to see him lean down and start talking to her, and within a few minutes she was standing in front of him somehow managing to dance despite the height difference. Looking around, there were definitely a few attractive guys but none that particularly stuck out to Emily. Oh well, the night’s early. 

After a few minutes, Emily’s hair started sticking to the side of her face and she knew she needed a break. “Do you wanna take a shot?” Emily shouted at Mary who nodded eagerly. The two trekked through the crowd, weaving their way through all the sweaty people. They reached the bar, passing Spencer and Sarah in the corner, giggling to themselves. ��Do you guys have tequila?” Emily shouted at the bartender who nodded. She put up two fingers and smiled, “thanks!” He poured some tequila into two dixie cups and shoved them over.

“Tequila? You’ve got to be out of your mind, love.” Emily nearly choked on the shot in surprise. Love? She managed to swallow again and looked to her right. Leaning against the wall was a tall, almost ridiculously attractive man. His large hand engulfed the red solo cup that he took a sip out of. He pushed his hair back with the other hand, leaving it annoyingly perfectly tousled. He smirked at Emily. 

“What’s wrong with tequila?” she questioned, leaning on the bar with one hand. 

The guy wrinkled his nose. “Can’t stand the stuff. Got real fucked off it one night and well, y’know.” 

“Yeah, that’ll happen. One of my friends took a shot of it once and then threw up all over the dude next to her,” Emily laughed.

The guy chuckled and took another sip. “Glad you didn’t do that to me.” Emily couldn’t help but marvel over his accent. Definitely British - plus the whole ‘love’ thing. She also wondered how the hell he was wearing a button down shirt and jeans with how hot it was in the house. 

“Yeah that’d be fucking disgusting,” Emily snorted. More people were trying to come into the kitchen for drinks plus it was obnoxiously loud, which meant she had to move a little closer to the random guy. She realized she could have just left the crowded area but for some reason she didn’t want to. 

“I’m gonna go back,” Mary stepped over to say. She had been talking to the bartender but she just shot Emily a smile and headed out. 

“So what’s your name then?” The guy asked, bringing Emily’s attention back. She leaned up against the wall next to him.

“Emily.”

“I’m Van,” he stated with a grin. Van? Emily thought, weird name. 

“Like Van Morrison or what?” she shot back. He chuckled and nodded. 

“Exactly.” Emily wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or if this guy really was that attractive but she knew she didn’t want to leave him yet. His eyes were so mischievous and his smile was so cute she just felt she had to get to know him better. 

Van just sipped his drink again and Emily wondered why he’d even been standing here alone in the first place. “Sooo... you wanna take a shot with me?” Emily smirked. 

Van scoffed in response. “Oh, of tequila I suppose?” Emily nodded. “Alright then, I guess so. Hey, Ryan could we get two shots of tequila?” he directed at the bartender who nodded.

“Yeah, I got you.” Van pushed off his place from the wall and Emily followed, moving right next to him on the bar. Ryan poured the shots and pushed them across the counter. 

“Thanks, mate,” Van said before letting out a sigh. “Why am I doing this again?” he laughed. 

Emily shrugged. “For me, I guess?” Van debated this and then nodded. 

“Yeah, guess so. Alright, cheers,” he muttered before he and Emily downed their shots. Van cringed, making a nauseated face. “Fucking disgustin’.” 

Emily laughed, feeling pleased with herself for being able to drink it so easily. “What’s your drink of choice, then?”

“I dunno, probably just a beer. Or maybe vodka,” Van replied. He caught the bartender’s attention again and motioned for two regular drinks. More people were trying to come into the kitchen, nearly shoving the two out of the way. Emily quickly grabbed the drinks from the bartender. “Shit,” Van mumbled when a guy bumped into him, bringing his hand to the small of Emily’s back and gently pushing her back to the wall so they could lean again. 

“So you’re British, right?” Emily questioned, handing him his drink. 

“Yeah, I’m from Wales, moved here for school though.” He nodded his head along to the song which was actually quite good. Max was doing much better as the DJ. 

“And why’d you come here?”

Van shrugged. “I dunno, I really always wanted to come to the states, I suppose. Actually one of my good mates from back home was close with a guy who came here for uni and he made it sound so amazing I thought, fuck it why not try it out? And course I love it ‘ere,” he rambled then looked down at Emily who was smiling softly up at him. Was it the tequila? Or did he somehow even hotter? Emily wanted to jump him right there. “What about you, where are you from?” Wow, his eyes are so fucking blue. And those eyelashes… Emily felt all squirmy as he stared down at her. 

Emily laughed. “You’ll never guess.” 

“Oh, bet I will. You’re from… New York.” Was he leaning closer to her? 

“Nope.” He definitely was. 

“Texas?” Was he?

“Nope.” He smelled so good. How did he smell that good in a grimy, nasty frat party? 

“Okay, I give in. Tell me,” Van grinned.

“Minnesota,” Emily replied, letting out a laugh at his raised eyebrows. 

“Wow, I never would’ve guessed that. I can’t say I’ve ever met someone from Minnesota, don’t think. The place with all the snow, yeah?” 

Emily continued sipping on her drink. “Exactly.” Van shook his head, probably in disbelief. 

“And what are you doing in California?” he mused. 

Emily couldn’t help but just stare at him. God, he was fucking hot. He kept pushing back his hair or tucking a little bit behind his ear, which of course was golden brown and a little longer like she loved, curling up at the bottom of his neck. “This is a really good school. Plus, it’s always warm and the beaches are just,” she leaned her head back thinking about them, “amazing. And the parties, come on.” 

Van chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Makes sense. So what year are you then?”

“I’m a junior. You?”

“Ah, well I’m actually on exchange here. I’m in my second year here, so what a sophomore? And I’ll go back and finish the other two years back in the UK.” So he was younger than her? Surprising.

“Ah so you’re young still,” Emily smiled. 

“Yeah, but I love an older woman,” Van smirked and took a drink. Jesus. 

The two continued to talk for quite a while, bantering back and forth and refilling their drinks a few times as well. They continued to move closer to each other as well, nearly pressed up against one another until Van shot out the age old question: “Do you wanna dance?” Emily nodded and grabbed his hand, leading him through the kitchen back out to the dance floor which was still lively. By now, even more people were making out and things were somehow even messier. 

Emily was solidly drunk by now so she really didn’t care what was going on around her. She shot Van a small smile before turning around and pressing up against him. His hands immediately dropped to her waist, bringing her in closer. He was so warm and so much taller than her and Emily loved it. The alcohol definitely helped as she grinded on Van, him gripping her hips tightly. They danced together so well and they had a lot of fun too, singing along to the music. At one point, Emily felt Van’s breath on her neck and she almost couldn’t take it. She was about to turn around and kiss him, honestly, when he whispered in her ear, “Do you wanna come outside with me?” She nodded and he slipped his hand down to hers, interlocking their fingers and leading her around the kitchen and up the flight of stairs - she didn’t even know there was another floor in this house - past a few stray couples to a balcony. Van pushed open the door. “After you,” he gestured. 

Emily stepped out into the balcony, glad to finally be away from the hot, sticky air inside the house. She tilted her head back and breathed, leaning her arms on the edge of the balcony. She heard the door shut and then turned to see Van fishing through his back pocket. She was surprised to see him pull out a pack of cigarettes. He put one in his mouth and then dug around more in the pocket of his black jeans for a lighter. Emily watched him light it so carefully, putting one hand near the end so the wind wouldn’t blow it out. He took a long inhale, his cheekbones sucking in and Emily couldn’t help but look at his lips wrapped around the end. Van kept the cigarette in his mouth, exhaling while he spoke. “Want one?” He asked Emily.

She shook her head. “No, I’m good. I’m kinda surprised you smoke,” she stated, continuing to watch him without really caring. Van looked exponentially hotter while smoking a cigarette, she decided. 

He took another long inhale before finally pulling it from his mouth. He blew out a long stream of smoke, making sure it was away from Emily. “I know, it’s a nasty habit. But everyone back home smokes and I just couldn’t bring myself to stop.” Van laughed, looking over at Emily. They were standing really close, sides pressed up against each other. Tingles ran through Emily’s body at every place they touched.

Emily bit her lip. “Could I just actually take a hit of yours?” Nothing wrong with a little drunk cigarette right? Plus, when someone of his caliber was offering… Van nodded, taking one more long drag and to Emily’s surprise, bringing the cigarette right up to her lips. She couldn’t inhale nearly as long as Van so she didn’t try to. She figured if she hadn’t been as drunk as she was, she probably would’ve coughed too. Vans finger grazed her bottom lip as he pulled it away, smirking. Emily felt like her skin was melting off. 

He put it back in between his lips and gave it a few more long pulls before finishing it. There was even a spot for cigarette butts and the ends of joints on the balcony so Van tossed it in there. The two looked out on the balcony which had a pretty spectacular view. A few blocks away, they could see the ocean. Some people on the street below were stumbling out of the party and laughing or screaming. It was like something out of a movie. The music could still be heard, though it was muffled. Van sang along to an old Fall Out Boy song quitely, nodding his head to the beat and Emily couldn’t help but be impressed. “You’re like, good,” she mumbled, turning to look at him, resting her head onto one of her hands.

Van chuckled. “Eh, not really but thanks.”

He looked down at her and Emily’s stomach jumped. Without even thinking about it twice, Emily leaned up and kissed him. Van kissed her back immediately, dropping his hands to her waist. Emily wrapped her hands around his neck, curling her fingers into the ends of his hair. She felt a little bit of stubble scratch her face and she wasn’t sure if it was from the alcohol or just how attractive he was but fuck, Van was a really good kisser. He tasted like tequila and smoke and bad decisions. Emily nearly melted in his touch as he pulled her even closer. She felt so small as he pressed her against the edge of the balcony, towering over her, his hips digging into her stomach. Emily gently bit his bottom lip and a little noise emerged from Van’s throat, which caused Emily to let out a little giggle.

“What?” Van whispered, pulling away and resting his forehead against hers. She stared up at him, unable to hide her grin. She leaned in and just kissed him again lightly, for a few seconds. His hands moved up to cup her face, moving her hair behind her ear. Their lips moved slowly before Emily pulled away and leaned her head onto his chest. She breathed in - maybe a little too deep - but Van didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arms around her waist. “You wanna go somewhere?”

Emily leaned back and gazed up at him. Her vision was a little clouded but she was mesmerized by the way his eyelashes framed his eyes that were so light blue it wasn’t even fair to the rest of the world. “Yeah,” she replied, biting back a smile. Van shot her a small smile back, revealing the tiniest dimple. He reached down and intertwined their fingers, pulling Emily behind him. He led her down the stairs, through the house, nodding ‘hi’ to a few people all while keeping their hands tight to his back. At one point, someone cut in front of Van causing him to abruptly stop, which meant Emily ran right into his back. “Oof”, she muttered as Van chuckled, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand. They finally reached the back door, a cloud of smoke coming along with them. 

“Fuck, think I just got stoned too,” Van laughed as he and Emily stumbled onto the street. Emily giggled, agreeing with him. 

“So where are we going?” she questioned, holding his arm and leaning on him. Van slung an arm around Emily’s shoulders, keeping her close as they walked down the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding crying girls and guys who looked like they were about to vomit in the street. Van reached into his pocket and squinted at his phone, then slid it back and exchanged it for another cigarette. He lit it with one hand, keeping the other around Emily.

“You hungry or anything, love?”

Emily debated this. Of course she was hungry. There was nothing better than some drunk food plus she hadn’t eaten in many, many hours. But usually when you leave with a guy he just wants to take you straight to his place, not stop for food. “Yeah, I kinda am. Is that okay?”

Van chuckled, “‘Course, I’m quite hungry as well. Where do ya reckon we should go?”

And that’s how the pair ended up in a McDonalds at 1 AM, stuffing their faces with french fries and chicken nuggets. They were probably too drunk to be in public but honestly, so was everyone else. This McDonalds was notorious for being the place students went to after parties or bars because it was open 24 hours and in the perfect location. 

“So ya were pretty hungry then,” Van laughed, nudging Emily’s foot and causing her to giggle. She had barely even spoken to him since she got her Happy Meal. 

“Yeah, I guess so. I realize I didn’t eat dinner,” Emily paused and thought about it, “or lunch.”

“That’s terrible.” Van shook his head. He leaned back stretching an arm out on the back of the booth. Emily just shrugged and sipped on her Sprite. 

He finished his food almost right away and Emily was kind of impressed. “You know, you don’t really look like a frat boy or anything,” Emily blurted out, leaning forward on her hand. 

Van smirked. “Oh you don’t think so do ya?” Emily furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. “Nah, I’m not in one. My roommate last year pledged and then I became quite close to ‘em all, they’re all pretty good lads. Only thing that sucks is I couldn’t live in the house with ‘em.” 

“So where do you live?”

Van motioned his head backwards. “A couple blocks that way, I got one roommate and he’s alright, not real close to him or anything but he stays out of my shit which I like. Plus he’s always willing to share his weed so can’t really go wrong there I s’pose,” Van rambled on, waving his hands around. He was so animated when he spoke. Emily was trying to figure out of it was the alcohol or if he always babbled like this. Either way, she loved listening to him talk, loved the way his account sounded so thick when forming certain words. 

“Mhmm. So do you think I should just go back home or…?” Emily was still pretty drunk and so was Van, meaning if one of them didn’t make a move soon they’d probably just pass out in the booth. 

“Uh, if you want but I was gonna offer you to come to mine, if you wanted,” Van said seriously, his voice seeming to lower a bit. 

Emily nodded, “Yeah, sure.” So the two continued to roam the streets, hand in hand and laughing with each other until Van brought them to an apartment building. He dug around in his pockets to grab his key and once they reached the elevator, Emily couldn’t help but lean up and kiss him. He was slightly surprised but he kissed her back eagerly, only pulling away once the elevator doors opened to reveal an angry looking older guy. Emily and Van tried to stifle their giggles as he rolled his eyes and pushed past them. “Oops, he looked fucking pissed.”

Van fumbled with his keys, trying to unlock the apartment door for a good few seconds. “Christ,” Van mumbled, finally pushing it open and letting Emily go in. His hand rested on her lower back, leading her into the living room first. It was small and a little messy but considering only two college guys were living there, the apartment wasn’t terrible. “Want any water or anything, love?” Van asked, walking into the kitchen and flicking on the light as Emily plopped down on the couch.

“I’m okay, thanks.” She couldn’t help but pull the soft blanket that was on the back of the couch over herself as she stretched out, leaning her head back. She heard some banging in the kitchen and wondered what Van could be doing. 

After a few minutes, Van turned the kitchen light off and came back into the living room, chuckling. “You look comfy,” Van mumbled, sitting on the end of the couch a few inches from Emily, his right ankle resting on his left knee. Emily set her phone down and held back a yawn. She nodded, looking at him and waiting to see what he was going to do. Van almost seemed to be avoiding eye contact, picking at his nails. He was nervous. Emily found it adorable.

Emily pondered the situation for a few minutes. She knew she was going to lose her buzz soon - the opposite of what she wanted in this moment. Yeah, she was tired and comfortable under the fuzzy blanket but she was also inside a hot British guy’s apartment, alone with him on the couch. She would be insane to not make a move. 

“Come here,” she mumbled, reaching her hands out and motioning for Van. The corners of his mouth lifted up as he scooted closer, Emily moving her legs slightly so he could fit right next to her. Emily bit her bottom lip slightly, smiling. 

Van finally leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, ever so slowly. She reached up and put her arms around his neck, tugging at his hair. Van moved the blanket over a little and started rubbing the inside of her thigh gently, his other hand on her waist. Emily tried kissing him faster but Van seemed insistent on keeping it agonizingly slow, his tongue moving into her mouth teasingly. Emily let out a little whine which made him chuckle against her lips. “Hm?” 

Emily decided to take matters into her own hands, pulling back and lifting Van’s hands off her, then pushed him back so he was laying on the couch. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do since he was clearly a lot bigger than her but he seemed to like it when she straddled him, putting her hands on his chest. “You’re killing me,” she whispered, leaning down and pressing a kiss on his neck. Van’s eyes fluttered shut, bringing his hands to her waist, rubbing her sides up and down gently. She leaned to the other side, hair brushing along Van’s nose but he didn’t seem bothered as he let out the smallest moan. Emily started kissing down Van’s neck, not hard enough to leave a mark but hard enough to make him squirm. She pressed kisses up his neck and across his jaw and then was about to switch back to the other side when Van leaned forward, pushing her back again and kissing her hard. Fucking finally. Van’s hands were moving everywhere and Emily could tell he was worked up, meaning her plan was successful. 

“Should we go to my-”

“Yes,” Emily cut him off immediately. She climbed off him and let Van lead her to his bedroom. He shut the door and quickly pulled some clothes off the bed, tossing them in the corner. Other than that, his bed was made nicely and he even had some cute fairy lights plugged in. Emily wasted no time crawling onto the bed and pulling Van on top of her, pressing her lips to his immediately. Eventually, Emily brought her fingers to the buttons on Van’s shirt, slowly undoing them. Van started edging his hands up Emily’s shirt slowly, nearly leaving burn marks on her skin and she pulled away, tugging her shirt over her head immediately. This drew a slight chuckle from Van as he looked down at her, biting his lip. 

“Christ,” Van muttered, leaning back down to kiss Emily again. 

---

“Oh my god, Mary turn that fucking thing off,” Emily mumbled, curling up tighter in bed. Of course her alarm would be going off so early even though it was the weekend.

“Sorry, love, forgot to turn it off. ‘M not Mary, though.” Emily opened her eyes and had to think for a second before she remembered where she was. That’s embarrassing. She was currently lying underneath Van, her arms wrapped around his neck as he leaned carefully over her to turn the alarm off on his phone. He shut it off and then laid back on Emily’s shoulder. “But that is me mum’s name.”

Emily snorted, rubbing her eyes carefully. “I must’ve slept like, really hard,” she muttered. Van buried his head closer to her neck, sighing softly. He mumbled something, probably in agreement.

Emily closed her eyes again and replayed the events back in her head. They didn’t end up having sex, which definitely surprised her. There was some hand stuff and whatnot but that was about it before they went to bed - except Van was being exceptionally cuddly and touchy. “What time is it?” She asked.

“‘Round nine,” Van replied, “you have a cute morning voice, y’know. All scratchy.”

“Mm, thanks,” Emily smiled. “I think I have to get going though.” 

Van shifted a little bit so he was laying on his side next to her, putting an arm across her stomach and pulling her a little closer. “Why’s that?”

“I work at 11.” He looked almost disappointed. 

“Oh, alright. Too bad.” Emily laid next to him for a bit, trying to not make it seem like she was ditching him right away but she felt like she probably should get up soon. 

She cleared her throat, “Yeah, I gotta get going.” She snuck out from under Van’s arm and sat on the end of the bed, reaching for her shirt. She slipped it on and scanned for her jeans too. She spotted them hanging off the corner of the bed, so she grabbed them and slipped them on, then grabbed her phone off the bedside table and looked at a few of the notifications. Emily could feel Van’s eyes on her but she tried to play it off. She sighed, shoving her phone in her pocket. 

Van moved to sit on the edge of the bed, still only wearing his underwear. He reached forward and grabbed Emily’s hand, tugging her down close to kiss him. She pulled away after a few seconds and looked down, “Well, thanks for the fun night but I really don’t wanna be late,” she said, glancing up into Van’s eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed and he still looked sleepy and cute, which was making this more difficult. 

“Um, yeah I had a really nice night with ya. Could I get your phone number or somethin’ then?”

“Oh yeah, here,” Emily murmured, handing him her phone with her Snapchat open so he could type in his username. Van handed it back and stood up, bringing his hand to her lower back. 

“I’ll walk you out, love.” Van guided her to his front door before resting an arm against it and leaning down to kiss her. “See you soon, then, Emily.” He gave her a sleepy smile, hair messy and cheeks flushed.

“Bye,” Emily replied, staring at his eyes for a second before slipping out the door. 

---

Emily nearly threw up when she walked outside and looked up at the sun. It was way too bright and too nice out for how she was feeling. She realized Van’s apartment was actually really close to hers, so she just decided to walk home rather than pay for an Uber. 

She pulled out her phone and ignored the many texts she had missed, instead immediately calling Mary. “Pick up,” she mumbled. 

After it rang a few times, Mary’s morning voice came through the speaker. “Oh my god, hey,” she mumbled. 

“Hi,” Emily laughed, crossing the street. “I’m on my way home now.”

“Already? I kinda thought you were really into this guy so I thought maybe there’d be a little morning  action,” Mary chuckled. 

Emily bit her lip. “Yeah, he was cool but I didn’t wanna stay there forever, you know. I told him I had to work at 11.”

“Ah, okay. Well, I’m in bed so just come cuddle with me and you can tell me about it,” Mary replied with a yawn. 

Sure enough, about ten minutes later, Emily was climbing the stairs and hopping into Mary’s bed. The shades were still drawn and it was nice and dark. “So what happened to you last night?” Emily started. 

Mary buried her head in her pillow. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Mary, you didn’t.”

“I did,” she sighed. Mary had a habit of almost always hooking up with her ex, JJ when she was drunk. Well, and when she was sober too. It always went like this: JJ would text Mary about how he missed her, she’d go to his place, and then he’d text her the next day that he was glad they got to see each other one last time. This had happened probably ten times, at least. 

“Why do you do this? He treated you so bad,” Emily replied. Which was true. JJ and Mary met freshman year and dated until about halfway through sophomore year until she found out he had been cheating on her with multiple girls in the sister sorority to his fraternity. 

Mary groaned. “I don’t know, I can’t help it. Whatever, let’s stop talking about me and talk about you and this hot British guy.” 

Emily tried to hold back a smile. “Um, yeah. So his name is Van, he’s like, an exchange student here. Very nice, funny. And he was hot.” Mary looked so eager to hear more about him. “What?” Emily laughed. 

“What, that’s it? Give me details.”

“Okay, okay. So basically last night we ended up dancing and then he took me out on the balcony at the house, we like made out there and then we left and stopped at McDonalds,” Emily laughed, “and then he invited me to his place which is like very close to here.” 

“And?”

“And that was pretty much it. We didn’t have sex, just like other stuff you know.”

Mary raised her eyebrows. “Oh, really? Why not?”

Emily debated this. She wasn’t even sure herself. “Um, I don’t know, he seemed like he didn’t really want to, honestly. Like he was… really into doing other stuff and like never brought it up and I just kind of went with it.”

“Do you think he was a virgin or-”

“No, definitely not,” Emily cut Mary off. “He was way too good at everything. It’s hard to say, I guess.”

“So are you gonna keep talking to him or what?”

Emily shrugged. “Um, I don’t know. I would probably hook up with him again, y’know, but I don’t know. I’m not gonna reach out to him first. He’s cool, but like, you know.” 

Mary nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that makes sense. Do you think he’ll message you?”

“Honestly, probably. He was like, very cuddly and stuff which was just weird. Guys are usually so not like that.” 

“Yeah, definitely. Well, I’m probably gonna go back to bed for a little bit honestly, I feel like shit,” Mary chuckled, pulling her blankets up to her chin. 

Emily laughed, “Yeah, I’m gonna shower and then go back to bed too.”

A few hours later, Emily was still lying in bed when her phone buzzed. She had just woken up from a nap and by now it was around 1 PM. She grabbed her phone off the night stand and almost dropped it when she saw the notification that read “van is typing”. “Shit,” she muttered to herself. After a minute or two, she got a message from Van. Emily tried to ignore it, going and checking her other social media for a while. She eventually decided to text Mary and have her come into her room and help, depending on what Van had said. 

“Okay, open it.”

Mary sat next to Emily on her bed, waiting. “It’s a chat,” Emily said. 

hi emily just wanted to let you know i had a really good time last night. glad to have met you and i hope i can see you again soon xx

“Oh shit,” Emily murmured. 

Mary nearly snorted. “So he’s definitely into you. I don’t even know what you say back to that.” Emily groaned, flopping back on her bed. 

“I don’t know either. The thing is I don’t wanna, like date him, obviously but maybe I should just talk to him a little bit and we could hang out in the future.”

 “Yeah, so true.”

Emily began typing her response.

yeah i had a good time too :) 

“I’m just gonna leave it at that.” Mary nodded, approving.

A few minutes later, Van replied, asking how work was. Of course, Emily had almost forgotten that she told him she was working, so she had to come up with a fake reply about it being boring. Van continued to respond fairly quickly, asking her questions about her job and then about school, and other things like that. Emily would reply, albeit not super enthusiastically, keeping the conversation going at least. 

This went on for a few days. Classes started but Van continued to message Emily, switching over to pictures. Emily would open his Snapchats and bite her lip, because of course he always looked really good in them without even trying. He was really, really attractive. And he was so funny, too. He often made jokes that made Emily giggle while she was alone in bed at night. But she tried not to let this affect her. 

It wasn’t until Thursday afternoon that Van hinted he wanted to hang out again. Emily was just about to start getting ready to go out with some friends.

what are you up to tonight? x 

Van always ended his messages with an x. Must be a British thing. 

i’m going to bars w some friends. are u going out? 

Emily bumped her head along to the music Mary was playing as she slipped on her jeans. 

think so. where ya heading? x

Emily responded with the names of a few bars she and her friends had discussed they were going to stop at. At around nine o’clock, Van responded with an adorable picture of him smiling, beer in hand. 

Emily looked at it for a few moments before replying with a picture of herself drinking her own mixed drink. She wondered if she’d see him out. 

---

About two hours later, she didn’t have to wonder anymore. Emily, Mary, and Carson finally got into their favorite bar after having to wait outside a while. The place was packed, so Emily didn’t see Van right away.

“Thought I might see ya here.” Emily was leaning on the bar, credit card in hand and waiting to order. She looked up to see Van next to her, looking ridiculously attractive, of course. His hair was pushed back, looking perfectly messy and he was wearing all black, just like her but he just had on a crew neck sweatshirt with his black jeans. He had a nearly empty cup in his hand and his eye was nearly twinkling as well. 

“Yeah, me too,” Emily replied. She was a little drunk by now, already having pregamed and been to one other bar for a few drinks. 

“Let me get you a drink, love,” Van said, setting his cup down and reaching into his pocket for his wallet. 

“Oh, no you don’t have to.”

 Van shook his head immediately. “What are you drinking?” 

So Emily was caught in a bit of a tough situation. She had to stand by the bar waiting for the drink which meant she had to talk to Van. It was a little weird, after only texting back and forth for the past week. But she was still extremely attracted to him, of course. After the drinks arrived and they cheersed, Emily said, “I should probably get back to my friends,” she gestured to Mary and Carson who were laughing across the bar, “but I’ll see you later?” 

Van looked a little disappointed, his eyebrows furrowed. “Yeah, yeah, sure. I’m probably staying here for a while, so.” Emily smiled and walked away. 

“Wait, is that the British guy?” Carson questioned as soon as Emily was near them. She nodded. “Actually, my buddies in Theta Chi have mentioned a dude from England. Bet that’s him.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“Now that I’m thinking about it, Lenny and Miller are like, really tight with him. They said he’s like, super funny and a really good guy.”

Emily leaned her head back and groaned. “Don’t say that shit to me.” Carson just laughed, knowing how she was. Emily was never one to get feelings involved with the guys she saw. It was too messy. 

“I think he’s slightly attached already,” Mary pointed out. Emily shrugged, trying not to think about him. 

But of course, an hour later, Van was all she could think about. Funny what alcohol will do to you. It was after midnight now, and Emily was scanning through the bar for his tall, lanky figure but she couldn’t see him. “I wonder if he left,” she mumbled. 

“Who?” Carson mused, smirking. 

Emily rolled her eyes. “Van, duh.” Mary and Carson exchanged a look, eyebrows raised. 

“Thought you weren’t really into him?” Carson questioned.

Emily shrugged. “I’m not but I’m drunk and he’s hot, so y’know. I’ll just message him.” 

She pulled out her phone and squinted at it. 

hey you still at jordan’s? 

Emily double checked it for spelling errors before she hit send. She responded to a few other messages before she saw he replied. 

bathroom. you? xx

Emily messaged him back quickly, describing where she was in the bar and waited for him to show up. Which he did, only a couple minutes later. 

“Hey,” Van said as he slid in to stand next to Emily at the table she was at. 

“Hi,” she smiled. 

“Hello,” Van said with a grin, directing it at Carson and Mary who were almost laughing to themselves.

“Oh yeah, this is Mary and Carson. Two of my roommates.” 

Within a few minutes, Van and Carson were nearly best friends. They apparently had a lot in common. They were talking about soccer at the moment, which Emily had little to no interest in. She leaned on the table, sipping her Vodka soda as Mary chattered on about what JJ was texting her. “God, he’s such a dick,” Mary muttered, angrily typing a response. Emily snorted to herself, knowing that she would probably be going to his place later. Emily dragged her gaze over to Van and Carson who were watching some highlight video that Carson had brought up on his phone. Emily debated about what to do in this situation. 

She decided to reach out and rub Van’s back gently, making him turn quickly and look at her. He had been laughing at something Carson said so he was still smiling at her, eyes shining bright.

“Another drink?” Emily asked, biting her lip as she touched his arm just for a second. 

Van’s whole expression changed. “Yeah, let me get ya one, love,” he said in a low voice, giving her a small smile. Van turned and scooted away towards the bar to order. 

“Dude, he’s so funny. I think I’m in love with the guy. I don’t know how you aren’t,” Carson laughed. Emily rolled her eyes but she wasn’t really listening, instead just watching Van as he talked to the bartender and laughed, his charm coming out. He was so good with people. Van returned with two drinks but within twenty minutes, he, Emily, and Carson were heading back to their apartment. 

Mary was going over to JJ’s of course, and Emily was walking down the street, hand intertwined with Van’s. Carson was telling the story of how he had just gotten rejected by this girl at the bar he had apparently liked since last year and how he’d be spending the night with a bottle of lotion. “Carson, ew.” Emily laughed, nearly tripping over a curb. Van kept a tight grip on her hand, making sure she wouldn’t fall. 

When they got inside the apartment, Emily slipped off her shoes and led Van up the stairs right away. Carson saluted them and headed into his own room for the night, to do God knows what. Emily quickly plugged in her fairy lights and flopped down on her bed, slipping her shoes off. 

Van had his hands shoved in his front pockets, looking around at her pictures on the wall and other things. He looked particularly interested in her old record player. “This is class,” he said, carefully inspecting her records. 

“Oh, it was my Grandpa’s,” she said, leaning her weight back on her hands. Van was smiling, apparently enjoying the music she had. 

“Can I play somethin’?” Emily nodded. He fiddled with the record player for a second and then Emily’s eyes widened when she heard a song by one of her favorite bands ever, Turnover, start playing. 

“Holy shit,” she whispered as Van came and sat next to her.

“What’s that?” 

“You like Turnover?” Emily questioned, staring at him as he slipped his boots off. 

“Oh yeah. Absolutely class. This album is unbelievable,” Van replied, turning to look at her. 

At this moment, it was safe to say Emily was mesmerized. Yes, she was drunk again and yes, he clearly felt a lot more for her than she felt for him, but she didn’t care about any of that as she stared at him. 

“What?” He whispered, eyebrows furrowing. Emily just leaned forward, grabbed his face with one hand and started kissing him. Van responded immediately, kissing back gently. He put one hand on her waist, sighing into the kiss. The music played quietly in the background but it somehow made everything better. Emily felt even more drunk off the taste of his lips as she shifted, pushing him to move back on the bed and he took the hint, lying down. Emily broke the kiss and straddled him, his hands rubbing along her legs and up to her waist.

Van looked nearly entranced in this moment but honestly, Emily felt the same way. She couldn’t stop staring at him, his eyes were hooded but still sparkling and he kept licking his lips. Eventually, Van leaned up and pressed his lips against hers, cupping her face in his hands. Emily shifted a little, which drew the softest groan from Van. Emily thought she had never heard something so beautiful in her life.

After a few minutes, Emily flipped the two over so Van was hovering over her. He seemed to be intoxicated by her as he leaned down and started kissing down her neck. He switched to the other side, running his hands along her body while biting her neck ever so gently. 

“Fuck,” Emily moaned out quietly. Van stopped, biting his lip and then stared at her eyes. He kept staring as his fingers reached down to graze the hem of her shirt, which she helped to pull off right away. He kept staring as his fingers worked down, gripping onto her belt and slowly unbuckling it. Emily felt like she was about to explode as he tugged her pants off. He just kept staring at her while he slipped her underwear off, too. She had both of her hands on the side of his head, running through his hair. Emily almost squeezed her eyes shut but she felt like she had to keep them open, staring at him. 

After a few minutes, Emily was a mess. She was sweating and so unbelievably turned on. “Van,” she mumbled, pulling his head up to look at her. 

“Hm?” He licked his lips. 

“Do you wanna fuck?” 

Van shifted, leaning forward to kiss her then pulled away and started, “Love, I...” he let out a small sigh, “Emily,” he whispered. Emily’s eyes had so much want in them, it was driving Van insane. “I, ah, want to, of course I do. But I think maybe we should just wait.” 

Emily bit her lip, feeling a little rejected almost. “Oh. We can stop, then.” She started to sit up. 

Van gently pushed her back down on the bed. “No, no, I want to keep doing this. Emily, ah, well I fancy you a lot. Really, you’re just fucking...Christ, somethin’ else. Please, don’t think I don’t want this,” he muttered. “Just wanna wait for the whole sex part, yeah?” Emily just nodded, leaning up to kiss him again. 

After about an hour, Emily was laying on Van’s chest, his arm around her, thumb rubbing up and down her arm. “Mm, I need a smoke,” Van mumbled, rubbing his eye with his other hand. 

Emily’s eyes were closed, her fingers gently tracing across the lines on his stomach. “If you want, you can just open my window and smoke in here,” she murmured. 

“You sure?” She nodded. Van slid out from underneath her, carefully. He reached down to slide his underwear back on and then grabbed a cigarette and a lighter out of his pocket. Emily laid on her side, watching as he pulled open the blinds and cracked open the window and lit the end of his cigarette carefully. The window didn’t have a screen so Van just flicked the ashes right outside. Emily stared at him, admiring the way the orange glow from the cigarette highlighted the details of his face. Her eyes trailed over the curve of his shoulder blades, the bend of his elbow, the little dimples at the bottom of his back. Fuck.

Van blew smoke out the window carefully, his eyes focused on something outside. He finished off the cigarette and looked around, clearly unsure of what to do with the butt. “Put it in there,” Emily whispered, gesturing to a cup on her bedside table. Van nodded, dropping it in. He leaned over to the record player and flipped the record over, as it had stopped a while ago. He turned the music down a bit and Emily held the blankets up so Van could slide in next to her. She immediately snuggled up to him, feeling how warm he was and trying to ignore the spark of his skin against hers. Van leaned down and dropped a kiss on her forehead and Emily closed her eyes, needing to remain unaffected by it all. 

“Night, love,” Van mumbled, reaching his hands up to stroke her hair slowly. Emily fell asleep within a minute of this. 

--- 

The same thing happened on Friday night. Emily was at a party with Carson - Mary at work, sadly - dancing and enjoying herself when Carson lightly hit her arm. “Hey, there’s Miller. Oh, and Van!” Carson immediately turned and walked over, grinning as they did that weird handshake thing every guy does, the three of them laughing. Emily’s eyes were drawn to Van, him wearing all black once again but she was surprised to see he was wearing a short sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up a little. He was rather skinny, and quite pale, honestly, but his arms did have a little outline of muscle. 

Emily decided to make her way over to the three, greeting Van with a ‘hi’, who wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her in for a small hug. They ended up all talking, dancing, and drinking for a while. Emily was honestly having a really fun time. Van, Miller, and Carson got along so well but Emily felt like she fit in too. 

“Alright, I gotta head out. My girl’s texting me, so,” Miller said, slapping hands again with Van and Carson, nodding at Emily. 

“See ya, mate,” Van said as Miller made his way out of the party. Emily realized that Van had probably come with Miller, and now here he was with Carson and Emily only. 

So it was down to three. Until Carson started dancing with a girl who was quite tall, way taller than Emily but still shorter than him. 

“Oh shit,” Van laughed as Carson and the girl started kissing right next to them a few minutes later. Emily laughed along with him, feeling a little grossed out by the sight. Van shook his head and turned away from the couple, then leaned down by Emily’s ear. “Dance?” he asked quietly. Emily nodded, turning around and standing right in front of Van. His hands slid down her sides, holding her hips tightly. They danced like this for a while, a little slowly, Emily leaning her head back a little onto Van’s chest. At one point, she turned around and reached up to kiss him. Van didn’t even hesitate to kiss her back, bringing his hands from her waist down to her ass. Emily pulled away after a few moments, totally breathless. Van’s hair was sticking to the sides of his face and a little sweat dripped down his neck because of how ridiculously hot the basement was. But Van still looked so good. 

A while later, Van, Emily, Carson, and the girl whose name Emily hadn’t learned yet were walking home. Carson was absolutely hammered, stumbling down the street and laughing about something. The girl was trying to hold his hand but he was weaving around aimlessly, and he tripped slightly over the curb. “C’mon, mate,” Van chuckled, letting go of Emily’s hand to put an arm around Carson, helping him stay upright. They eventually made it inside Emily and Carson’s apartment, Carson heading straight to the bathroom. The girl sat awkwardly on the couch in the living room as Van asked Emily where their glasses were to get Carson some water. 

“That cupboard, yeah,” Emily murmured, leaning against the counter. Van filled the glass with water from the sink. 

“He’ll probably be needing this, yeah? But he’s fine, I think,” Van said with a little smile. Emily watched as he turned and headed up the stairs to take care of Carson who from the sound of it was puking his guts out. It was pretty sweet to see him acting like this, taking care of one of Emily’s friends when he really didn’t have to. 

Emily made a disgusted face as she went to sit by the girl on the couch. “Carson’s not usually like this,” Emily said with a laugh. 

The girl just smiled, looking a little unsure of herself. Emily heard Van laughing upstairs. “Your boyfriend’s a good guy.”

      Emily looked up from her phone, “Oh, no, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s uh, yeah, no,” she laughed awkwardly.

“Oh, really? You guys seem so cute together,” the girl replied. 

Emily bit back a smile. “Thanks but no, we’re definitely not together.” She stood up and climbed the stairs as Carson came bursting out the bathroom. 

“Is Lauren still here?” he asked, Van standing behind him, trying to hide his laughter. Emily nodded and Carson pushed past her. 

“Carson, did you brush your teeth at least?” She whisper-yelled at him as he ran down the stairs.

“He did,” Van said with a chuckle. He flicked off the light and walked out of the bathroom, grabbing Emily’s arm and pulling her close to him. He brought his hands up to her face and just stared at her for a second. “You’re quite beautiful, y’know,” he murmured. His eyes were a little squinty as his cheeks flushed from the alcohol. He was glowing. 

Emily smiled, looking away. “Stop.”

Van ran his thumb across her cheek, then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “No, I’m serious. Absolutely class.” 

“Thank you,” she whispered, then leaned up and kissed him. 

---

It went on like this for a while. Van got Emily’s actual phone number and started texting her everyday. Almost every weekend, the two met up at a party or bar and then spent a night together, unless they had an exam or work or something else going on. Van tried making other plans quite often, asking Emily if she wanted to go for coffee or dinner or something, but Emily always came up with an excuse. There was a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, growing worse each day. She attempted to get rid of it by ignoring Van’s requests for dates and keeping it strictly sex between them. But it wasn’t easy. 

“Emily, you totally like him. Why won’t you just admit it?” Mary questioned Emily on one Saturday night that they actually decided to stay in. All of the roommates were home, watching movies and just relaxing. 

They were on the topic of Van and how great he was. This happened quite often. Mary and Spencer had taken a liking to him, almost as much as Carson had. Ever since Van had taken care of him when he was throwing up, Carson basically worshipped the ground Van walked on. 

“Yeah, for real. I’m telling you, I have feelings for him. And I don’t even like dudes,” Carson said, shoving popcorn into his mouth. 

Emily rolled her eyes. “Guys, stop. I’ve told all of you this. Yeah, he’s cool and whatever but I just like hooking up with him. I don’t like him like that.” 

Carson, Mary, and Spencer let out a collective snort. “Yeah, sure,” Spencer said under his breath. Emily shot him a dirty look.

“I’ve never even hung out with him unless we were drinking first so I don’t know where you guys are even getting this from.”

“Oh my God, Emily. Van tells me all the time that he wants to take you out on a real date but you always avoid it. He also told me you haven’t even had sex, so I know that’s not why you keep hanging out with him.”

“Carson!” Emily shouted, feeling a little blood rush to her cheeks. Carson just shrugged, eating more popcorn. “Look, I know he likes me, okay? He’s told me. And yes, he asks me all the time to get dinner and stuff, but I don't know. I just don’t date people, okay? I don’t like the idea of being with just one person. And I don’t believe in relationships.” Spencer rolled his eyes at this, most likely thinking of how much he loved his girlfriend Sarah. 

Mary scoffed. “Dude, have you even hooked up with anyone else since you met Van?” Emily didn’t respond. “No. And I know that guys are still hitting you up and wanting to hang out. So what the hell?”

Emily just shook her head. “Stop trying to make me like him! It’s not gonna happen. I haven’t even really been around him when we were sober.” 

Carson and Mary exchanged a look. “Okay, so invite him over,” Carson replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

“I’m not gonna invite him over, we’re having roommate bonding.” 

“Jesus Christ, Emily. We’re watching fucking Cars right now. Invite him over, I swear to God, before I get pissed off,” Spencer shouted from the kitchen, grabbing himself a beer. 

“Fine. I’ll see what he’s doing. But I’m not inviting him over til later.” Emily rolled her eyes and opened the last text she had gotten from Van.

From: van

what you up to x 

From: emily :)

not much, just watching some movies with my friends. hbu?

From: van

i’m at home, just bought some weed off my roommate. you interested? 

About an hour later, Emily was in the bathroom, brushing her hair out when she heard a short knock and then the door to her apartment open. She could tell it was Van, him laughing loudly along with her other roommates right away. He could really draw anyone in with that laugh. It was contagious. She sprayed a little more perfume on before shutting the light off and jogging down the stairs. 

Van was sitting next to Carson on the couch, who was updating him on what was going on with Lauren, who he seemed to be catching feelings for. Van turned and looked at Emily when she reached the bottom of the stairs. His face lit up and Emily tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach it gave her.

“Hi, love,” he said with a grin, patting the spot next to him on the couch. 

“Hey,” Emily replied, sitting next to him. Van squeezed her thigh gently and then kept his hand there as he turned to keep talking to Carson. 

“Yeah, we went out to dinner last night. I dunno, I think I do actually like her,” Carson said, shaking his head. “And she’s a freshman! What the hell is wrong with me?”

Van chuckled. “Nothing, mate. Can’t help who ya want.” Emily bit her lip, looking down at Van’s large hand on her leg still, his thumb gently stroking across it. 

“So you guys wanna smoke?” Van asked a few minutes later. There was a chorus of ‘yes’s’ and Van smiled, standing up to get his jacket. He pulled out a bag of weed, a few wraps, and his favorite lighter. “Mind if I do it here?” He asked Emily, gesturing to the coffee table.

“That’s fine,” she responded, getting up and heading to the kitchen. She grabbed a piece of paper towel, bringing it to Van.

“Oh, thanks, love.” He got to work, emptying the wraps and sprinkling the bud inside, then rolling. Emily pretended to not watch as he brought each of the blunts up to his lips, licking them to seal them. That’s... hot, she thought to herself. After a few minutes, the windows were cranked open and Van handed a blunt to Emily. “Wanna start it?” Emily nodded, putting it in her mouth and grabbing the lighter off the table. She lit it carefully, sucking in and making sure the end stayed lit. She exhaled and then brought it up to her mouth again, hitting it one more time before passing the blunt over to Van. Emily tried not to stare as he inhaled it for a long time, then blew a couple of o’s. He licked his lip and passed it to Carson. 

When the first blunt was finished, Van immediately lit up the second one. By the time the five of them had all finished it, they all seemed decently high. They all had pretty distinct high personalities. Carson and Spencer were laughing so hard no sound was coming out of them. Mary had been staring at the TV for so long, entranced by some dumb show she always liked to watch while high, hand shoved in a bag of Cheetos. 

And Van, well, Van was just a more lowkey version of himself while high. He was a little quieter, but he was really, really touchy, and his words a little drawn out, his voice raspier. He was laying on the couch while Emily was getting a drink. When she came back, he held open his arms and made grabby hands. Emily smiled at him, setting her cup down and sitting on the couch by him. They had to adjust a little, Van sitting up more and Emily leaning back on him. Vans eyes were barely open, but that had happened almost immediately after he had started smoking. “Hi,” he said quietly as Emily laid her head on his shoulder. 

“Hi, Van.” Van wrapped his arms around her waist, grabbing one of her hands and intertwining their fingers. He stretched his fingers out, highlighting how long they were compared to Emily’s. 

“Like when you say my name,” he mumbled.

“Yeah?”

“Mhmm. But I just like you.” Emily shut her eyes. She could see faint designs dancing behind her closed eyelids. It had been a few weeks since she had smoked, so she was feeling a little different than usual. 

“I’m so fucking tired.” Emily opened her eyes to see both Carson and Spencer standing up. “Like, I’m about to sleep so good,” Spencer said. 

“Well, goodnight then,” Carson said, yawning. They both headed upstairs leaving only Mary, Emily, and Van downstairs. 

“You wanna go up?” Van asked, rubbing Emily’s arm softly. She nodded, not one to speak much while under the influence. 

So they got up, hands locked together, said goodnight to Mary, and ended up lying in Emily’s bed. The window was cracked open so sounds of the traffic below filled the room, along with a record Van had put on. Emily was lying on Van’s chest, eyes closed as he sang along to The Killers. 

“I don’t mind if you don’t, I don’t shine if you don’t,” he sang quietly. Emily was so impressed. 

“You’re so fucking good,” she mumbled against his chest. “You should be in a band or something.”

Van chuckled. “I am in a band, love.” 

Emily’s eyes opened wide. She sat up, staring at Van. “Wait, what? You’re in a band?”

Van reached his hand out, tracing his thumb along Emily’s arm. “Mhmm. Didn’t I tell ya that?” Emily shook her head vigorously, clearly in shock. “Yeah, well. We’re not real big or anything. Played at a couple bars, done a couple competitions, that type ‘o thing. I was in one back home too, but obviously that’s kinda on hold.” 

Emily’s mouth was still wide open. “I can’t believe this. That’s literally so hot, Van,” she groaned, lying back down on his chest. Van chuckled, pulling her in tight.

“If I would’ve known you’d react like this, I’d ‘ave defo told ya sooner.” 

“What’s your band’s name?”

“Catfish and the Bottlemen,” Van replied, his voice so raspy. 

“Hmm, cool name. I wanna see you perform sometime,” Emily said. 

“Yeah, I’d love that, honestly. How ya feeling?” 

Emily shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Starting to come down so I’m getting a little tired.” 

“You wanna go to sleep?” Van asked. 

She shook her head. “Mm, no not yet.” She leaned her head back to look at Van who was already staring down at her. His eyes flicked down to her lips then back to her eyes, searching them. 

“Em?” He asked, licking his lips. 

“Hm?” 

“How come you never want to do anything normal with me? I, you know, ask you to dinner and stuff but you always say you’re busy. But then I see you every weekend, usually only when we’re drinking or somethin.’” Emily turned her head, laying back on Van’s chest. She let out a small sigh.

“Van, I... uh, I don’t really know.”

“I like you a lot, Emily. I really do. We met, what a month ago? But I think about ya all the time. And I’d really, really like to take ya out sometime on a proper date. I wanna spend more time with you.” 

Emily was quiet for a moment. She sat up again, biting her lip. Van sat up a little too, staring at her. “Van, I just… don’t know what to say,” she whispered. She looked into his eyes, which were full of expectation. She could feel her own eyes starting to water just a little so she started blinking quickly, looking at her hands. Van ran his hand up her arm, around to the back of her neck. She shivered slightly at his touch. 

“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured. Emily chewed on her lip for a second before looking back at him. 

“Okay,” she whispered. She felt so vulnerable and she knew why. Of course she had feelings for him. How could she not? Van was fucking perfect. But she didn’t want to tell him that. Emily was so used to being alone mostly, only casually dating guys, cutting things off if it seemed like too much. And she really, really didn’t want to let him in. But Van was doing his best to work his way into her life. He knew she was closed off. He knew that she had slept with a lot more people than he had. He knew that she liked to party maybe a little too much. But he didn’t care. “I’m sorry. I wish I wasn’t like this,” she muttered, quickly wiping a single tear away. 

“Come here, love.” Emily crawled up closer to Van so they were only about an inch apart. “‘S okay, honest,” he mumbled before pressing his lips against hers softly. Emily’s eyes fluttered shut, kissing him back. She fell apart under his touch, Van’s hands roaming up and down her body slowly, his fingers finding their way underneath her sweatshirt. Emily was straddling Van now, but letting him be totally in control. He pulled away to tug her sweatshirt over her head. Van stared at her body for a moment, eyes wide in awe, just like he did every time she removed her clothes. It made Emily’s stomach flutter every time, too. “Flip over, hm?”

The two switched positions and Van leaned in to kiss her neck, then down her body slowly. His lips brushed against her stomach and Emily squirmed a little. He looked up at her, eyes hooded, full of want. He tugged her leggings off, tossing them onto the floor, then moved down to press kisses against the inside of her thighs. Emily was shaking as he brought his hands up to tug off her underwear, then pressed her hips down against the bed. 

A few minutes later, the two had swapped positions again. Van had just let out a groan that made Emily’s eyes almost roll back into her head. “Love, do you... Should I grab a-” Emily looked up at Van, his lips swollen and hair messy from running his own hands through it. 

She nodded. “If you want to, Van.” They hadn’t talked about sex since Emily had asked him the second time they hooked up. Emily never wanted to push anything and she was fine without it. But she would be lying if she said her heart wasn’t pounding right now, her stomach jumping at the possibility.

“I do, yeah.”

A few hours later, they were still awake. The record player had stopped a long time ago but neither of them seemed ready to sleep. Emily was lying on her back, Van on top of her, one arm wrapped around her waist and her arms around his neck, every part of their bodies intertwined. She was running her hands through his hair, him letting out a hum every so often. “I really like ya, Em. I really, really do,” Van mumbled against Emily’s skin. Emily smiled to herself but didn’t say anything back. 

[a-dumb-bitch-apparently]

I'm so fucking angry

I'm 16, so I can't vote

I'm living in my parents' house, so I can't go out and protest

I have signed so many petitions, but I still feel like I should be doing more

I just learned about the steps to fascism in school, and I see the signs

I can't tell my parents this is happening because it's "fake news"

My healthcare rights as a trans person just got taken away, but "just stop being trans it won't affect you"

I want to take a bigger stand on social issues happening, but I can't

The only fucking things I can do is try and help save the fucking bees, because that's not a matter of human rights so for some fucking reason I'm allowed to talk about it without getting yelled at

https://blacklivesmatter.com/petitions/

So go and sign some of those petitions maybe?

I'm so fucking sorry to everyone that has to deal with this first hand, but I know that the most important thing for me right now is staying alive so I can help make more changes later

EMMETT TILL - MEDGAR EVERS - GEORGE JUNIUS STINNEY JR. - DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR - HENRY SMITH - JOHN CRAWFORD III - MICHAEL BROWN - EZELL FORD - DANTE PARKER - MICHELLE CUSSEAUX - MARY TURNER - LAQUAN MCDONALD - MALCOLM X - TANISHA ANDERSON - AKAI GURLEY - TAMIR RICE - RUMAIN BRISBON - JERAME REID - MATTHEW AJIBADE - JAMES N. POWELL JR. - FRANK SMART - ERNEST LACY - NATASHA MCKENNA - TONY ROBINSON - ANTHONY HILL - MYA HALL - PHILLIP WHITE - ERIC HARRIS - WALTER SCOTT - WILLIAM CHAPMAN II - ALEXIA CHRISTIAN - BRENDON GLENN - VICTOR MANUEL LAROSA - JONATHAN SANDERS - FREDDIE CARLOS GRAY JR. - JOSEPH MANN - SALVADO ELLSWOOD - SANDRA BLAND - ALBERT JOSEPH DAVIS - DARRIUS STEWART - BILLY RAY DAVIS - SAMUEL DUBOSE - MICHAEL SABBIE - BRIAN KEITH DAY - CHRISTIAN TAYLOR - TROY ROBINSON - ASSHAMS PHAROAH MANLEY - MICHAEL STEWART - FELIX KUMI - KEITH HARRISON MCLEOD - JUNIOR PROSPER - LAMONTEZ JONES - PATERSON BROWN - DOMINIC HUTCHINSON - ANTHONY ASHFORD - ALONZO SMITH - TYREE CRAWFORD - INDIA KAGER - LA?VANTE BIGGS - MICHAEL LEE MARSHALL - JAMAR CLARK - RICHARD PERKINS - PHILLIP PANNELL - NATHANIEL HARRIS PICKETT - BENNI LEE TIGNOR - MIGUEL ESPINAL - MICHAEL NOEL - KEVIN MATTHEWS - BETTIE JONES - QUINTONIO LEGRIER - KEITH CHILDRESS JR. - JANET WILSON - RANDY NELSON - ANTRONIE SCOTT - WENDELL CELESTINE - DAVID JOSEPH - CALIN ROQUEMORE - DYZHAWN PERKINS - CHRISTOPHER DAVIS - MARCO LOUD - JAMES BYRD JR. - PETER GAINES - TORREY ROBINSON - DARIUS ROBINSON - KEVIN HICKS - MARY TRUXILLO - DEMARCUS SEMER - AMADOU DIALLO - WILLIE TILLMAN - TERRILL THOMAS - DEMETRIUS DUBOSE - ALTON STERLING - PHILANDO CASTILE - TERENCE CRUTCHER - PAUL O?NEAL - ALTERIA WOODS - BOBBY RUSS - JORDAN EDWARDS - AARON BAILEY - RONELL FOSTER - STEPHON CLARK - COREY CARTER - ANTWON ROSE II - TAYLER ROCK - MALICE GREEN - RAMARLEY GRAHAM - ELIJAH MCCLAIN - AIYANA STANLEY JONES - BOTHAM JEAN - PAMELA TURNER - DOMINIQUE CLAYTON - SEAN BELL - ATATIANA JEFFERSON - JEMEL ROBERSON - JAMES LEE ALEXANDER - RYAN MATTHEW SMITH - DERRICK AMBROSE JR. - ADDIE MAE COLLINS - CAROL DENISE MCNAIR - CAROLE ROBERTSON - CYNTHIA WESLEY - NICHOLAS HEYWARD JR. - CHRISTOPHER WHITFIELD - WILLIE MCCOY - VICTOR WHITE III - MARCUS DEON SMITH - CHAVIS CARTER - MARTIN LEE ANDERSON - CHRISTOPHER MCCORVEY - BRADLEY BLACKSHIRE - TIMOTHY THOMAS - REGINALD DOUCET JR. - DANROY "DJ" HENRY JR. - KARVAS GAMBLE JR. - ERIC REASON - KORRYN GAINES - REKIA BOYD - KIONTE SPENCER - DARIUS TARVER - WAYNE ARNOLD JONES - MANUEL ELLIS - VICTOR DUFFY JR. - KOBE DIMOCK-HEISLER - CLINTON R. ALLEN - DONTRE HAMILTON - TIMOTHY CAUGHMAN - SYLVILLE SMITH - COREY JONES - TYRE KING - ERIC GARNER - MILES HALL - KENDRICK JOHNSON - CHARLEENA LYLES - MICHAEL LORENZO DEAN - TRAYVON MARTIN - RENISHA MCBRIDE - KIMONI DAVIS - KIWANE CARRINGTON - OSCAR GRANT III - BREONNA TAYLOR - KALIEF BROWDER - DARRIEN HUNT - TROY HODGE - WILLIAM GREEN - AHMAUD ARBERY - DION JOHNSON - TONY MCDADE - ANDREW KEARSE - JAMEL FLOYD - GEORGE FLOYD - RAYSHARD BROOKS - ITALIA MARIE KELLY - DAVID MCATEE - CHRIS BEATY

I got this list from

I'm so fucking sorry to every single one of you

I'll make sure things change, or die trying

I promise

[savewritingnsw]

Save Writing NSW

An open letter to Create NSW and the NSW Minister for the Arts

We, as writers and active members of the literary community, were dismayed by Create NSW’s decision not to grant Writing NSW Multi-Year Organisations Funding in their latest round, despite the fact that Writing NSW was recommended for funding.

This decision demonstrates the ongoing devaluation of literature within the Australian arts funding landscape. We know literature is the most popular artform in the country, with 87% of Australian reading some form of literary work in any given year, yet in this round Create NSW offered only 5.7% of their ongoing funding to literature organisations.

The decision to defund Writing NSW carries a particular sting. Writing NSW is the leading organisation representing writers in a state with a long literary history and one that is home to many of Australia’s leading publishers, writers, literary agents and other core participants in the Australian literary industry.

Writing NSW is an important stepping-stone for writers at the beginning of their careers, providing high quality professional development programs, and it also employs emerging and established writers to deliver and lead these programs. For decades the organisation has provided high-quality courses, seminars, workshops, festivals, events, grants and literary prizes. In putting such programs at risk, Create NSW is jeopardising both an entry point and an ongoing support system for writers.

Macquarie University research shows that the average income of an Australian author from their practice is $12,900. The current economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic makes the situation of writers even more precarious. Writing NSW offers key employment opportunities to writers, through teaching, publication, speaking engagements and both curatorial and judging positions. The removal of these opportunities will mean many writers will not be able to maintain the other income streams that support their writing careers.

The removal of $175,000 from a single source would be catastrophic for any business – not-for-profit or otherwise. For a government funding body to enact such a blunt economic withdrawal in the midst of a global pandemic and without concern for the economic flow-on effect to hundreds of industry professionals is deeply distressing.

We call on Create NSW to reverse this decision and ask them to reveal their future strategies for arts funding and how they plan to rectify the disparity in funding between other funded artforms and literature.

As writers, we will never accept the loss of a vibrant, essential cultural network such as Writing NSW.

What you can do We invite anyone affected by Create NSW’s decision – writers, publishers, literary agents, illustrators, readers alike – to co-sign this letter. You can copy and customise this letter to draft a version from your own point of view on this matter to send to a Member of Parliament.

To co-sign this letter, add your name here: shorturl.at/dERX6

Signatories

Pip Smith, Writer, creative writing teacher Sam Twyford-Moore, Writer and arts administrator Fiona Wright, Writer, editor, critic, reader Gabrielle Tozer, Author, writer, editor Brigid Mullane, Editor Jules Faber, Author, Illustrator Dr Christopher Richardson, Author and academic Liz Ledden, Author, podcaster, book reviewer Kate Tracy Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Writer, reviewer, reader Julie Paine, Writer Nick Tapper, Editor Belinda Castles, Writer and academic Simon Veksner, Writer Amanda Ortlepp, Writer, reader, reviewer, High School English Teacher Bronwyn Birdsall, Writer, editor Robin Riedstra, Writer, reviewer, reader, English teacher Dr Delia Falconer, Writer, critic, academic Robert McDonald, Author, writer, creative writing teacher Dr Kathryn Heyman, Author Wai Chim, Author Kirsten Krauth, Writer, editor Tricia Dearborn, Poet, writer, editor Dr Mireille Juchau, Writer Gail Jones, Writer Dr Jeff Sparrow, Writer, editor, academic Linda Jaivin, Writer, editor, translator Adara Enthaler, Poet, editor, literary arts manager Keighley Bradford, Writer, editor, arts and festival administrator Nicole Priest, Reader and aspiring writer Shamin Fernando, Writer Andrew Pippos, Writer Bianca Nogrady, Writer and journalist James Bradley, Writer Ali Jane Smith, Writer Dr Eleanor Limprecht Idan Ben-Barak, Writer Jennifer Mills, Writer Nicole Hayes, Writer, podcaster Michelle Starr, Writer/journalist Phillipa McGuinness, Writer and publisher Vanessa Berry, Writer and academic Blake Ayshford, Screenwriter Emily Maguire, Writer Sarah Lambert, Screenwriter Anwen Crawford, Writer Sarah Bassiuoni, Screenwriter Jackson Ryan, Writer, journalist, academic Simon Thomsen, Journalist, editor, other wordy stuff Ivy Shih, Writer Miro Bilbrough, Writer, filmmaker, screenwriting teacher, script editor Graham Davidson, Writer, artist, festival director Christos Tsiolkas, Writer JZ Ting, Writer, lawyer Susan Francis, Writer, teacher Suneeta Peres da Costa, Writer Dr Harriet Cunningham, Writer, critic, journalist Adele Dumont, Writer, reader Sheree Strange, Writer, book reviewer, book seller Phil Robinson, Reader Ashleigh Meikle, Reader, writer, book blogger Naomi RIddle, Writer, editor Cathal Gwatkin-Higson, Writer, book seller Hannah Carroll Chapman, Screenwriter Angela Meyer, Writer, editor Steve Blunt, Reader, supporter Ambra Sancin, Writer, arts administrator Michelle Baddiley, Writer, reader, archive producer Dinuka McKenzie, Writer, reader Catherine C. Turner, Writer, reader, freelance editor and publisher, arts worker Hilary Davidson, Writer, poet, academic, reader Dr Eleanor Hogan, Writer Nicola Robinson, Commissioning Editor Kim Wilson, Screenwriter Jane Nicholls, Freelance writer and editor Lisa Kenway, Writer Virginia Peters, Writer Sarah Sasson, Physician-writer and reader Dr Joanna Nell, Writer Laura Clarke Author / Copywriter Nicole Reddy, Screenwriter Anna Downes, Writer Sharon Livingstone, Writer, editor, reader Lily Mulholland, Writer, screenwriter, technical editor Benjamin Dodds, Poet, reviewer, teacher Markus Zusak, Writer Alexandria Burnham, Writer, screenwriter Sam Coley, Writer Marian McGuinness, Writer Selina McGrath, Artist Adeline Teoh Natasha Rai, Writer Catherine Ferrari, Reader Jessica White, Writer & academic Zoe Downing, Writer, reader, creative writing student Amanda Tink, Writer, researcher, reader Lisa Nicol, Children's author, screenwriter, copywriter Aurora Scott, Writer Gillian Polack, Writer, academic Susan Lever, Critic and writer Denise Kirby, Writer Michele Seminara, Poet & editor Meredith Curnow, Publisher, Penguin Random House David Ryding, Arts Manager Catherine Hill Genevieve Buzo, Editor Hugo Wilcken DJ Daniels, Writer Linda Vergnani, Freelance journalist, writer and editor Tony Spencer-Smith, Author, writing trainer & editor Dr Viki Cramer, Freelance writer and editor Petronella McGovern, Author, freelance writer and editor Jacqui Stone, Writer and editor Talia Horwitz, Writer, reader & writing student Sophie Ambrose, Publisher, Penguin Random House Rebecca Starford, Publishing director, KYD; editor and writer David Blumenstein, Writer, artist Rashida Tayabali, Freelance writer Sheila Ngoc Pham, Writer, editor and producer Rosalind Gustafson, Writer Alan Vaarwerk, Editor, Kill Your Darlings Gillian Handley, Editor, journalist, writer Karina Machado Isabelle Yates, Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House Michelle Barraclough, Writer Natalie Scerra, Writer Melanie Myers, Writer, editor and Creative Writing teacher Emily Lawrence, Aspiring Writer Nicola Aken, Screenwriter Jennifer Nash, Librarian, writer Clare Millar, Writer and editor Kathryn Knight, Editor, Penguin Random House Linda Funnell, Editor, reviewer, tutor, Newtown Review of Books Stacey Clair, Editor, writer, former events/projects producer at Queensland Writers Centre Virginia Muzik, Writer, copyeditor, proofreader, aspiring author Lisa Walker, Writer Sarah Morton, Copywriter, aspiring author, Member of Writing NSW Board Laura Russo, Writer and editor Vivienne Pearson, Freelance writer Justin Ractliffe, Publishing Director, Penguin Random House Australia James Ley, Contributing Editor, Sydney Review of Books Alison Urquhart, PublisherPenguin Random House Debra Adelaide, Author and associate professor of creative writing, University of Technology Sydney Magdalena Ball, Writer, Reviewer, Compulsive Reader Anna Spargo-Ryan, Writer, writing teacher, editor, reader Charlie Hester, Social media & project officer, Queensland Writers Centre Mandy Beaumont, Writer, researcher and reviewer Chloe Barber-Hancock, Writer, reader, pre-service teacher Dr Patrick Mullins, Academic and writer Wendy Hanna, Screenwriter Chloe Warren Dianne Masri, Social Media Consultant Jane Gibian, Writer, librarian, reader Dr Airlie Lawson, Academic and writer Karen Andrews, Writer, teacher, reader Tim Coronel, General manager, Small Press Network and Industry adjunct lecturer, University of Melbourne Tommy Murphy, Playwright and screenwriter Evlin DuBose, Editor, writer, screenwriter, director, poet, UTS's Vertigo Magazine Tony Maniaty, Writer Emma Ashmere, Writer, reader, teacher Alicia Gilmore, Writer Suzanne O'Sullivan, Publisher, Hachette Australia Jacqui DentWriter, Content Strategist Rachel Smith, Writer Intan Paramaditha, Writer Cassandra Wunsch, Director TasWriters (The Tasmanian Writers Centre) Meera Atkinson Eileen Chong, Poet, Writer, Educator Debra Tidball, Author, reviewer Beth Spencer, Author, poet, reader Lou Pollard, Comedy writer, blogger Bronwyn Stuart/Tilley, Author and program coordinator, Writers SA Gemma Patience, Writer, illustrator, reviewer Amarlie Foster, Writer, teacher Dr Felicity Plunkett, writer Angela Betzien Drew Rooke, Journalist and author Michael Mazengarb, Journalist RenewEconomy Katrina Roe, Children's author, broadcaster, audiobook narrator Liz Doran, Screenwriter Arnold Zable, Writer. Tom Langshaw, Editor, Penguin Random House Brooke Maddison Monica O'Brien, ProducerAmbience Entertainment Jacinta Dimase, Literary AgentJacinta Dimase Management Jane Novak, Literary AgentJane Novak Literary Agency Sarah Hollingsworth, Arts Organisation ManagerMarketing and Communications Manager, Writers Victoria Barbara Temperton, Writer Sandra van Doorn, Publisher Red Paper Kite Alex Eldridge, Writer Karen Beilharz, Writer, editor, comic creator Esther Rivers, Writer, editor, poet Jane Pochon, Board Member, lawyer and reader Zoe Walton, Publisher, Penguin Random House Eliza Twaddell Alison Green, CEO, Board Member, Pantera Press Emma Rafferty, Editor Sarah Swarbrick, Writer Dayne Kelly, Literary Agent, RGM Léa Antigny, Head of Publicity and Communications, Pantera Press Jenny Green, Finance, Pantera Press Sarah Begg, Writer Mark Harding, Writer, Brand Manager, Social Media and Content Specialist Shanulisa Prasad, Bookseller Katy McEwen, Rights Manager, Pantera Press Olivia Fricot, Content Writer/Bookseller, Booktopia Jack Peck, Writer, Open Genre Group Convenor, Writing NSW, Retired Kathy Skantzos, Writer, Editor Serene Conneeley, Author, Editor Kerry Littrich, Writer Merran Hughes, Creative Cassie Watson, Writer Lisa Seltzer, Copywriter, Social Media Manager and Marketing Consultant Gemma Noon, Writer and Librarian Tanya Tabone, Reader Laura Franks, Reader, Editor, Writer Dani Netherclift, Writer Who to contact We urge you to join us in advocating for Writing NSW and the state of funding for Australian literature, by contacting Create NSW, your NSW Member of Parliament, and the NSW Minister for the Arts.

Chris Keely Executive Director, Create NSW Email: chris.keely@create.nsw.gov.au

The Hon. Don Harwin, MLC Phone: (02) 8574 7200 Email: office@harwin.minister.nsw.gov.au

Who to else to contact

The Hon. (Walt) Walter Secord, MLC Shadow Minister for the Arts Phone: (02) 9230 2111 Email: walt.secord@parliament.nsw.gov.au Ms. Cate Faehrmann, MLC Greens representative for Arts, Music, Night-Time Economy and Culture Phone: (02) 9230 3771 Email: cate.faehrmann@parliament.nsw.gov.au A full list of names and contact details for NSW State MPs is available here.

[tasksweekly]

[TASK 194: MONTSERRAT]

There’s a masterlist below compiled of over 130+ Montserratian faceclaims categorised by gender with their occupation and ethnicity denoted if there was a reliable source. If you want an extra challenge use random.org to pick a random number! Of course everything listed below are just suggestions and you can pick whichever faceclaim or whichever project you desire.

Any questions can be sent here and all tutorials have been linked below the cut for ease of access! REMEMBER to tag your resources with #TASKSWEEKLY and we will reblog them onto the main! This task can be tagged with whatever you want but if you want us to see it please be sure that our tag is the first five tags, @ mention us or send us a messaging linking us to your post!

THE TASK - scroll down for FC’s!

STEP 1: Decide on a FC you wish to create resources for! You can always do more than one but who are you starting with? There are links to masterlists you can use in order to find them and if you want help, just send us a message and we can pick one for you at random!

STEP 2: Pick what you want to create! You can obviously do more than one thing, but what do you want to start off with? Screencaps, RP icons, GIF packs, masterlists, PNG’s, fancasts, alternative FC’s - LITERALLY anything you desire!

STEP 3: Look back on tasks that we have created previously for tutorials on the thing you are creating unless you have whatever it is you are doing mastered - then of course feel free to just get on and do it. :)

STEP 4: Upload and tag with #TASKSWEEKLY! If you didn’t use your own screencaps/images make sure to credit where you got them from as we will not reblog packs which do not credit caps or original gifs from the original maker.

THINGS YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS TASK -  examples are linked!

Stumped for ideas? Maybe make a masterlist or graphic of your favourite faceclaims. A masterlist of names. Plot ideas or screencaps from a music video preformed by an artist. Masterlist of quotes and lyrics that can be used for starters, thread titles or tags. Guides on culture and customs.

Screencaps

RP icons [of all sizes]

Gif Pack [maybe gif icons if you wish]

PNG packs

Manips

Dash Icons

Character Aesthetics

PSD’s

XCF’s

Graphic Templates - can be chara header, promo, border or background PSD’s!

FC Masterlists - underused, with resources, without resources!

FC Help - could be related, family templates, alternatives.

Written Guides.

and whatever else you can think of / make!

MASTERLIST!

F:

Maizie Williams (1951) Afro-Montserratian - singer and model

Michelle Gomez (1966) Montserratian [Portuguese] / Scottish - actress.

Diane Parish (1969) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Dominiquais - actress.

Heidi D'Amelio (1972) Montserratian [Irish, French], Kaskaskia, Haitian [Cajun, French], Basque, Breton, Italian, Swiss, German, French, Spanish, Irish, English - instagrammer (heididamelio).

Angela Yee (1976) Afro-Montserratian / Cantonese Chinese - actress, model, tv personality, and radio personality.

Pippa Bennett-Warner (1988) Afro-Montserratian - actress.

Dixie D'Amelio (2001) Montserratian [Irish, French], Kaskaskia, Haitian [Cajun, French], Basque, Breton, Italian, Swiss, German, French, Spanish, Irish, English / Italian - tiktoker (dixiedamelio) and dancer.

Charli D’Amelio (2004) Montserratian [Irish, French], Kaskaskia, Haitian [Cajun, French], Basque, Breton, Italian, Swiss, German, French, Spanish, Irish, English / Italian - tiktoker (charlidamelio) and dancer.

Emari Dyer (?) Afro-Montserratian - model (instagram: westindiandolly)

Gabrielle Graham (?) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - actress, singer, and dancer.

Samorezworld (?) Afro-Montserratian, Afro-Haitian - youtuber. 

Sharissa Ryan (?) Afro-Montserratian - model, Miss Montserrat 2014-2015, and Miss Jaycees Caribbean Queen 2015.

F - Athletes:

Rechelle Meade (?) Afro-Montserratian - sprinter.

M:

Q-Tip / Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (1970) Afro-Montserratian / African-American [including Bissau-Guinean] - actor, DJ, rapper, singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and producer.

Wil Wheaton (1972) Montserratian, Portuguese Jewish, Dutch Jewish, Irish, Welsh, French, Dutch, German, English - actor, tv personality, blogger, and writer.

David Jordan (1985) Afro-Montserratian / Bengali Indian - singer-songwriter.

Kadiff Kirwan (1989) Afro-Montserratian - actor.

Layton Williams (1994) Afro-Montserratian, Afro-Jamaican / English - actor, singer, and dancer.

M - Athletes:

William Duberry (1944) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Alford Corriette (1948) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Fred Sowerby (1948) Afro-Montserratian - hurdler.

Jim Allen (1951) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Austin White (1959) Montserratian - cricketer.

Fitzroy Buffonge (1960) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Livingstone Bramble (1960) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Kittian - boxer.

Kenny Dyer (1964) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Mark Stephney (1965) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Cecil Lake (1965) Montserratian - footballer.

David Lane (1965) Montserratian - cricketer.

Ottley Laborde (1967) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Ruel Fox (1968) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Paul Furlong (1968) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Richard Dyer (1968) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Keith Piper (1969) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Daren Sweeney (1970) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Trevor Semper (1970) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Lesroy Weekes (1971) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Davon Williams (1972) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Lesroy Irish (1972) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Elton Williams (1973) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Guyanese - footballer.

Peter Phyll (1974) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Michael Duberry (1975) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Bruce Dyer (1975) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Junior Mendes (1976) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Wayne Dyer (1977) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Stanford Jarrett (1977) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Alex Daley (1977) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Clifford Joseph (1978) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

McPherson Meade (1979) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Zhaun Sweeney (1979) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Darren Tuitt (1980) Afro-Montserratian - sprinter.

Jaylee Hodgson (1980) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Delroy Facey (1980) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Grenadian - footballer.

Kurt Joyce (1980) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Simon Peddie (1980 or 1981) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Matt Piper (1981) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Vladimir Farrell (1981) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Sean Howson (1981) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Lloyd Dyer (1982) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Olsen Murrain (1982) Montserratian - cricketer.

Dorian Harper (1982) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Nesta Piper (1982) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Marlon Campbell (1983) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Brian Stephney (1983) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Shane Greenaway (1983) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Dean Morgan (1983) Afro-Montserratian / English - footballer.

Solomon Henry (1983) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Calvin Petrie (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Ellis Remy (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Jaafar Munroe (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Lionel Baker (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Andrew Julius (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Jermaine Sweeney (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Darryl Roach (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Rowan Taylor (1984) Montserratian - footballer.

Alexander Bramble (1984) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Nathan Pond (1985) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Kelvin Ponde (1985) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Micah Hilton (1985) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Spencer Weir-Daley (1985) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Big E / Ettore Ewen (1986) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - wrestler and powerlifter.

Anthony Griffith (1986) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Bradley Woods-Garness (1986) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Dolston Tuit (1986) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Michael Henry (1986) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Benjamin Manning (1986) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Leovan O'Garro (1987) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Corrin Brooks-Meade (1988) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Shabazz Baidoo (1988) Afro-Montserratian / Ghanaian - footballer.

Michael Williams (1988) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Craig Braham-Barrett (1988) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - footballer.

Adrian Clifton (1989) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Dean Mason (1989) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

P. K. Subban (1989) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - ice hockey player.

Nyron Dyer (1989) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Jaison Peters (1989) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Lyle Taylor (1990) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Quinton Boatswain (1990) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Julian Wade (1990) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Dominiquais - footballer.

Omari Allen (1990) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Marvin Farrell (1990) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Alex Dyer (1990) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Massiah McDonald (1990 or 1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Shernyl Burns (1991) Afro-Montserratian - sprinter and cricketer.

Matthew Whichelow (1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

James Comley (1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Nic Taylor (1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Dale Lee (1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Ellary White (1991) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Ronsford Beaton (1992) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Kendall Allen (1992) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Lester Ryan (1993) Afro-Montserratian - sprinter.

Malcolm Subban (1993) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - ice hockey player.

Donervon Daniels (1993) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Julius Morris (1994) Afro-Montserratian - sprinter.

Terrell Miller (1994) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Jamal Willer (1994) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Brandon Comley (1995) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Jordan Subban (1995) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Jamaican - ice hockey player.

Clifford Newby-Harris (1995) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Darnell Furlong (1995) Afro-Montserratian / English - footballer.

Jamie Allen (1995) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Dajour Buffonge (1996) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Antiguan - footballer.

Matty Willock (1996) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Joey Taylor (1997) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

DJ Buffonge (1998) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Antiguan - footballer.

Chris Willock (1998) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Joe Willock (1999) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Marshall Willock (2000) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Danny Facey (?) Afro-Montserratian / Afro-Grenadian - footballer.

Michael Bramble (?) Afro-Montserratian - footballer.

Vendol Moore (?) Afro-Montserratian - cricketer.

Lennox Cooper (?) Montserratian - footballer.

Oris Fergus (?) Montserratian - cricketer.

Non-Binary:

Billy Dee Williams (1937) Afro-Montserratian / African-American - Genderfluid (He/Him/His, She/Her/Her’s) - actor, singer, and artist.

Problematic:

Tesfaye Bramble (1980) Afro-Montserratian - footballer. - Convicted of rape.

Titus Bramble (1981) Afro-Montserratian - footballer. - Accused of rape.