#elisha bell

[anewnewcrest]

From the Bell Family Simstagram

Praise the Watcher! He is so good! It's me, Gwen Bell, and I've just hopped here on Simstagram to announce that my daughter-in-love Kayleigh has delivered my son Nathan's fourth child! We're all so excited to get to know little Miriam Bell and love on her! She's Nathan and Kayleigh's first girl after three boys, and already such a sweet little soul with fiery red hair (red hair runs in our family!). And with three strong older brothers and a protective daddy, all her future suitors will have to get thoroughly vetted before they can get to her!

We were so worried about Kayleigh and the precious little one after her difficult last pregnancy, but the Watcher is so good. Mom and baby are both happy and healthy and Mom is resting, so I took it upon me to announce the joyous news to the world! We're all so grateful to the Watcher that he protected my daughter-in-love and my precious granddaughter Miriam, and we can't wait what He has in store for our family during the next season of our lives!

BELL FAMILY TREE

(That's it for the Bells for this season, and I'll be taking a bit of a break now. My work schedule got crazy a couple weeks ago, therapy is intense, and I want to build up a bit of a queue again before I start with the Miller-Rogers Shotgun Wedding Drama! See y'all soon!)

[apelcini]

babygirl i can get emotional about dead people i don’t have even a fifth degree connection to

[zytes]

originality is a scam invented by capitalism to sell you copywrite law; you are a drop of consciousness in a great, big, borderless sea of ideas and experiences; and of any the ideas that we knowingly or unknowingly share are, in-fact, special because they are shared. Even across time and vast distances, without so much as even being aware of one another - humans have always found an uncanny way of reaching similar conclusions at similar moments

this manatee looks like it’s in a skyrim loading screen

[cmanateesto]

The Problem of Individualism

https://youtu.be/Q6zs4RfS4tQ

Many say "pull yourselves up by your bootstraps" without realizing the irony. Why is individualism treated as gospel within the US?

[carisc4pshaw]

Unveiled

In which Elle finally reveals the truth about her sexuality to one of her best friends, Derek Morgan and introduces her girlfriend (Fem OC) she’s been hiding from the team (fluff!)

word count: 3.8k

tags: female oc, elle greenaway, delle friendship, jelle friendship, prentaway friendship, elle x female oc, lesbian elle greenaway, bisexual elle greenaway, coming out, sexuality, jemily, secrets, secret relationship, elle in love, wlw, wlw couple, wuhluhwuh, mentions of girls night and drinking, previous jelle kiss

no warnings

notes: I wanted to write Elle a coming out story for a while and I thought the best way to do it was including Derek as I love their friendship. I hope you enjoy, there is some fluffy couple stuff between Elle and the fem oc at the end. (I always send fics with I love yous pls sorry guys!)

—————————————————🩶——————————————————

Elle walked into the bullpen a few minutes late a smile on her face and a light blush on her cheeks. Heading over to her desk she greeted all of her team members in proximity to her with sweet-sounding ‘hello’s’ and ‘hi’s.’ She hung her black leather jacket over her chair and pushed her favourite black shoulder bag under the table with her foot.

“Morning Spence,” She grinned at him taking a file from the top of her pile and pulling out a pen from her desk that Penelope had gifted her on one of the days leading up to her 28th birthday.

“Elle you’re happy,” He checked his watch, “For 8:44 am, you hate mornings.”

“Not anymore, I had a great morning.”

“Coffee for the princess?” Derek asked bringing over the cup.

“Keep that for yourself, I had a cup. I’ll make myself some tea,” Elle said getting up and walking to the kitchenette with a spark in her step.

“What’s going on with her?” Emily whispered over to Derek.

He shrugged back, “I’ve not seen her this happy since… actually I’ve never seen her this happy.”

Elle leaned against the counter waiting for the kettle to boil, “Have we got a case today?” The question was more directed at Emily since she knew JJ would have told her about it already if they had one.

“Yeah but it’s local we should be done within the day,” Emily answered.

Elle finished making the tea and picked up the cup, “Oh great thanks.”

She placed the cup on her desk, took out her phone and sent a quick message.

A few seconds later her desk phone rang and she answered it almost immediately.

“Elle Greenaway speaking.”

The others couldn’t hear the other person on the phone but Elle was giggling almost the entire time and every so often would tell the other person she had to go but the conversation would continue. The call lasted 13 minutes before she hung up and went back to her file and sipping on her tea.

Half an hour later the phone rang again and Elle answered, “You’ve got to stop calling me. I’m a busy working woman.”

This time the call only lasted 6 minutes before she hung up and realised Derek was watching her.

“What?” She said typing some of the information from the file into her laptop.

“We’ve only been here an hour and you’ve had two calls.”

“And?” She asked still not looking over at him.

“You hate the phone, Elle,” Derek observed.

“I don’t hate the phone,” Elle rolled her eyes finally looking over at him.

“Actually you do,” Spencer spoke before continuing to ramble, “Hey did you know Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray simultaneously invented electronic sound transmission devices? It came down to a race betwixt the two-“

“Yeah, and Bell beat Gray to the pattern office by a matter of hours. Common knowledge,” Elle finished.

“Why are you acting so weird?” Derek watched Elle’s body language as she leaned back in her chair turning to face him once again.

“We’re sitting with a guy who knows there are eight hundred kernels of corn on the average cob,” Elle started pointing at Spencer.

“Graded in sixteen separate rows,” Spencer finished not looking up from his laptop.

“And you’re calling me weird?” She pointed at herself a smile with a slight smirk now covering her face.

“You’re getting some loving aren’t y’a? You got a boyfriend,” Derek tried to profile her.

“You’re basing this on what exactly? The fact that I don’t like the phone? That’s all you’ve got, That’s your best? You’ve been a profiler for how long Derek and that is… that’s weak, that’s weak.”

“What’s weak?” JJ asked walking into the room, Elle’s eyes following her and she began to walk past.

“Derek thinks Elle has a boyfriend,” Spencer said but Elle quickly interrupted him.

“Nothing,” she said, she and Emily getting up to follow her to the round table.

“Nothing, see you just denied it,” Derek said getting up to follow them.

“And do you?” JJ asked in a slightly teasing tone.

“It’s more fun not to answer that question.”

“That right there is a yes baby. I knew it. I told you,” Derek said catching up to the women and Spencer who was following closely behind them.

“She didn’t really admit to anything man,” Spencer added.

“Thank you,” Elle glanced at Emily who was looking at her with a knowing look which JJ didn’t pick up on when she looked between them both.

“Reid trust me you’ve got a lot to learn,” Derek said as they walked into the room taking their seats at the round table.

——————

JJ presented the case of a serial killer who drowned his victims in motels. Since it was local Garcia was able to search for some leads from the police department while the team were getting the brief.

“Reid, Prentiss. You check out the first motel and see if anyone that fits the profile has been seen there. Greenaway, Morgan check out the second location. The rest is us will stay at the department, Garcia continue to track credit cards,” Hotchner ordered.

Elle and Morgan separated from the team, Elle drove to the location and after both speaking to receptionists on different shifts they discovered the unsub hadn’t been to this motel yet. They waited in the motel car park in case this was where he would bring his next victim.

“So,” Derek bit into his burger, “Whose the boyfriend?”

Elle sighs, “There isn’t one.”

“Princess I’m not stupid, I can tell by that smile,” Derek took one of her fries.

“Oh really?” Elle laughs, “I think you are.”

Elle’s phone rings but this time she doesn’t answer. She types out a message to whomever she’s been texting and calling all morning before looking back at Derek.

“You’re blushing! Why won’t you tell me?”

“It’s more fun that you keep guessing,” Elle shrugged.

Derek looked out of the car window silent for a few seconds, “Is it a woman?”

Elle didn’t answer, she’d never heard someone actually ask her that before. She dated a popular girl in college so they kept things private and she knew Emily knew she had a girlfriend now because she had exceptional gaydar.. and she had seen them together once in the parking lot after work but she had never asked questions.

“Elle? I asked you if it is a woman?” Derek repeated then thought about it, “No you totally had a crush on me at the start it can’t be.”

Elle snapped out of her thoughts, “In your dreams. I did not have a crush on you.”

“You didn’t?” Derek looked slightly puzzled.

“You asked me out on a date, I said no,” Elle reminded him.

“I thought you were playing hard to get. Maybe I should have known you didn’t like me, your eyes were always glued to JJ when she walked into a room.”

Elle choked on a fry, “What are you talking about? No, they weren’t.”

“They were baby girl, you may not know you like women but your eyes don’t lie. You had a crush on JJ.”

Elle rolled her eyes, “I know I like women but I didn’t have a crush on JJ at least not a big one. Okay, we kissed once but then Emily came along and stuff happens… and I’ve said far too much.”

“Woah woah back up what?” Derek’s eyes were wide.

“What part?” Elle gave him a shy smile.

“All of it? I’m not shocked that you like women, but JJ? You kissed her?”

“Derek you’re a gossip, but yes we were having a girl's night and we kissed,” Elle shrugged.

“And that’s how you realised?”

“No, I knew before JJ, I had a girlfriend in college.”

“No kidding, isn’t Penelope at girls night?” Derek tilted his head confused, if Penelope saw she would have said something to him he thought.

“Yeah she was sleeping, well we thought she was sleeping but she was all giggly around us both for a few days. I’m surprised she didn’t say anything.”

“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me,” Derek pouted causing Elle to laugh.

As Elle was about to reply she looked out of the car window catching a glimpse of a man that fit the description of the man they were looking for.

Once they caught him, they made their way back to the unit meeting JJ, Hotch, Emily, Spencer, Gideon and Rossi before heading back up to the bullpen.

In the elevator Elle rode with Emily, Derek and JJ there was silence that seemed rather awkward to Elle but that was probably because of what she had just discussed with Derek.

“Are we going to the gym after work?” Elle asked Derek.

“You want to? I thought you couldn’t wait to get out of here,” Derek wiggled his eyebrows at the end of his sentence.

“I don’t have plans until 6:30 pm so I’ll have time to kill and I want to talk to you,” Elle fiddled with her sleeve.

“What are you doing later?” JJ asked, she wasn’t nosey but she was curious Elle didn’t usually have plans with anyone unless she was seeing her and Emily or Penelope and Derek. She liked spending the evenings at home with her cat and a book or case file.

“Just someone I’ve been on a couple of dates with,” Elle lied, she had been with her girlfriend for a few months but they didn’t know that, well Emily knew. Elle was thankful Emily hadn’t told her girlfriend.

“Don’t bother asking her questions she won’t answer any,” Derek told the blonde.

The elevator doors opened and each of them exited. Elle and Emily last to exit since JJ had gone ahead with Derek so Emily took the chance to talk to Elle.

“Do you plan on telling them?”

“I will soon, things are just really good right now I don’t want it to change.”

“Elle if she’s right for you things won’t change based on whether or not people know. I’m not sure what happened in your last relationships but they don’t define this one,” Emily smiled.

“Will you and JJ still be here at 6:30 if so maybe you could leave off at that time? She’s coming to pick me up I wouldn’t mind you guys meeting her.”

“Yeah, we can do that,” she and Emily separated to their desks.

Both she and Derek did one case file and Elle put the rest into her bag to look over at home, Derek of course left his on his desk.

He walked over to Elle’s desk and picked up her bag for her as well as wrapped an arm around her waist, “Shall we get going, princess.”

“Hey Derek if Elle really does have a boyfriend he would not like you right now,” Spencer said noticing Derek’s ‘flirting.’

“Jealous that I flirt with all the ladies pretty boy?”

“Leave him alone,” Elle slapped Derek’s arm before saying bye to her co-workers and leaving to go to the gym with Derek.

——————

Elle came through in her usual black sports bra and leggings and Derek was opposite her in a muscle-fit t-shirt and shorts, “So what did you want to talk about?”

“Nope. One round, talk and then another round,” Elle demanded.

“Fine by me,” Derek held up his hands in a surrender position.

“Be prepared to have your ass kicked Morgan,” she gave him a grin.

Morgan won the first round but Elle had put up a good run they lasted 22 minutes sparing with each other. She knew she’d definitely win the next round.

The brunette took a seat on the bench taking a sip of her water and fanning herself to lessen the small sweat she had worked up.

Elle didn’t wait for Derek to ask her again or she might not even tell him she liked to be in control of when she did things, “I think I’m a lesbian,” she blurted.

“You’ve got to stop doing that today how many times are you going to blurt things out to me,” Derek rolled his eyes.

“I’m serious,” Elle crossed her arms.

“What do you mean, you think?” Derek made eye contact with her.

“Well I’ve dated men, I’ve even slept with a couple in the last year,” Elle said.

“And what did you think when you were doing that?”

Elle shrugged, “I wasn’t really thinking about it.”

“Okay, let’s try this then, do you find me attractive?”

“Seriously Derek,” Elle tilted her head to the side in annoyance.

“Just answer the question.”

“Fine, you’re somewhat attractive but no I wouldn’t sleep with you.”

“Interesting.”

“Derek I’m serious,” Elle sighed, “I prefer the women I’ve been with they are more attractive to me and I prefer having sex with them.”

“Then you might be a lesbian Elle,” Derek said.

“Might be?” Elle groaned, “Might be that’s where we started this conversation!”

“Why haven’t you spoken to Emily, she’s a lesbian and she dated men in the past before she realised.”

Elle shrugged, “Maybe I’m scared of the answer.”

“Deep down you know don’t you?” Derek gave her a sympathetic look, “Elle you know you’re a lesbian.”

Elle looked at the floor, “Yeah, it doesn’t change anything though, so I don’t know why I’m scared. It’s not like I’ve ever come out as something but now it’s different and it’s not like I’m with someone I don’t love because of that, I love Sofia.”

“Elle you can still feel scared about something just because it’s something that hasn’t changed for other people it’s still changed for you. Realising things can be scary. You thought you were bisexual since college? That’s a long time,” Derek moved closer to her on the bench.

“Since high school, not college.”

“So that’s over 10 years,” Derek lifted Elle’s chin so she would look at him. He knew why she put her head down, there were tears in her eyes and she would never let herself cry in front of anyone, “It’s okay I promise, You’re still the same person as you were this morning to me, Elle.”

Elle wiped her eyes, “Damn profiler how did you know I was most scared of what people would think?”

“Because I know you but I also know the whole team, none of them will ever treat you differently they love you and it’s not like you’re the only one there’s a whole bunch of fruits in there.”

“Excuse me?” Elle laughed, “Fruits?”

Derek shrugged, “I saw it somewhere.”

“You’re insane,” Elle closed the gap between them by wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

Derek rubbed her back, “You’ll be okay Elle,” He kissed her forehead, “So Sofia? That’s her name?”

Elle nodded, “Yeah, she’s beautiful Derek.”

“Tell me about her?”

Elle nodded again, “She has long blonde hair, it’s more of a dirty blonde but it’s a lot lighter now because of the soft highlights she gets done, her eyes are blue with a hint of green, amazing fashion sense, she won’t leave to go anywhere without jewellery, she’s the kindest woman ever and she makes the best coffee and tea,” Elle’s eyes lit up talking about her girlfriend.

“Are you sure you aren’t dating JJ?” Derek teased.

“No, I just kind of have a type I guess.”

“Tall or short?”

“She’s about an inch or half an inch shorter than me,” Elle told him.

“I assumed you’d date women your height.”

“Why? Let me guess because JJ and I are of similar height?”

“You got it, princess.”

Elle checked the time, “She’ll be here soon.”

“Is she your age?” Derek asked standing from the bench and grabbing his water bottle.

“Kind of,” Elle set herself up in position for the next round on the mats.

“What do you mean kind of she either is or isn’t,” Derek positioned himself in front of her.

“She’s younger, she’s 23.”

Derek laughed, “You sure she isn’t Jay’s twin?”

“Shut up it’s just a coincidence they don’t even look like that similar,” Elle rolled her eyes and took the first punch of their match.

Her predictions were right this time she won the match although she knew Derek was definitely going easy on her. She helped him up from the floor before going back to the bench taking her water and a towel that she draped over her shoulder.

“I’m showering quickly,” Elle checked her watch, “I’ve got time, wait for me?”

“Oh I’m so waiting, I can’t wait to see JJ’s lookalike,” Derek teased.

“Whatever you say, you’re going to be so jealous,” Elle stuck her tongue out like a child would before making her way to the changing rooms.

——————

“You smell like a flower shop,” Derek said when Elle walked into the corridor.

“Thank you,” She grinned.

“It wasn’t exactly a compliment, I mean you smell nice it’s just a bit much,” He shrugged throwing his arm over her shoulder to walk out of the building with her.

“Men,” She rolled her eyes.

“Excuse me?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“What? At least we smell good I can’t say the same about men,” Elle pushed her lips together trying to keep a straight face through her smile.

The brunette's phone dinged, and she removed it from the pocket of her navy suit pants looking at the front screen she saw a message from Sofia.

Sofia: I’m waiting for you in the usual space <3

Elle smiled at the screen, “She’s here.”

“Nervous for us to meet her?”

“Not really, it’s just you, Em and JJ. I’m glad it’s not everyone at the same time,” Elle said as the elevator stopped at the car park level.

As soon as the doors opened she caught a glimpse of her girlfriend’s blonde hair from behind a post just across the other side of the lot, the same smile she had worn on her face appeared when they made eye contact.

“Damn princess, she is pretty,” Derek looked Sofia up and down from afar.

“Stop looking at her like that,” Elle glared at him then picked up the pace of her walk to get to her faster.

Once she was in front of Sofia she threw her arms around her in a tight hug, “Hi, I missed you,” Elle kissed her shoulder.

“Hi baby,” Sofia inhaled the scent of Elle’s hair.

Elle pulled away, “Derek, this is my girlfriend Sofia and Sof that’s Derek.”

“Hi, Elle talks about you a lot,” Sofia smiled at him.

Derek put his hand out to shake hers.

“She doesn’t do handshakes she prefers hugs,” Elle said smiling at her.

Sofia shrugged, “It’s a germ thing. Way more germs are attracted through touching hands than hugging,” She said before giving him a quick hug.

“Wow, Reid would love her.”

“Oh I hope he does, he’s so cute. He calls Elle late at night to make sure she’s safe,” Sofia has a soft subtle smile on her face.

“Oh, he’s either going to love you then or be insanely jealous that you’re dating Elle,” He grimaced.

“He likes her?” Sofia raised her eyebrows.

“I’m sure he doesn’t Derek likes to tease and get under your skin,” Elle rolled her eyes.

“Whatever you say, princess.”

“I hope you don’t mind meeting a couple of my friends.. you’ve kind of already met Em but she and JJ will be out in a minute,” Elle held both sides of her arms gently.

“Of course I don’t mind I’m happy you want me to meet them love,” Sofia rested her hand on Elle’s hip. Since she was in heels she was a couple of inches taller than Elle despite Elle’s small heel on her boots so she had to lean down slightly to kiss her.

Their kiss ended when they heard Emily clear her throat behind them. Elle turned around a pink hue covering her cheeks while Sofia slipped her hand inside Elle’s not wanting their physical contact to be over.

“Nice to see you again Sofia coincidently it’s the same way I saw you both last time,” the raven-haired woman laughed.

“Hi Emily, sorry about that she’s irresistible though,” Sofia ran her other hand down the length of Elle’s back, “You must be JJ, Elle’s told me so much about you. You’re gorgeous,” Sofia turned her attention to the shorter woman standing beside Emily.

“Oh I’m sure she has,” Derek winked earning a confused look from Emily between them all.

“Ignore him, Bye Derek. We will see you tomorrow,” Elle crossed her arms holding a glaring eye contact with him until he finally decided to say his goodbyes and leave.

They both stood in silence for a couple of minutes before JJ spoke up, “How long have you and Elle been together?”

“A couple of months? I honestly forget it feels like forever.”

“We should do a double date, I’d love to get to know you better Sofia but I’m sure you’d both like to be getting home now and I know Emily and I want to as well,” JJ smiled.

“Yeah sounds good, I’m sure Elle will arrange something, right baby?”

“Yeah, we can text, have a good night,” Elle hugged them both.

“Oh we definitely will,” Emily winked at her causing them all to laugh before she and JJ left to go to their car.

Sofia slid her hand into Elle’s back pocket as the older woman leaned against the car with her back arched a little.

“What was with the meet and greet?” Sofia laughed kissing the tip of Elle’s nose.

“You make me happy and they started assuming I had a boyfriend so I thought it was time to come clean.. speak my truth,” Elle laughed.

“You a boyfriend? No chance. Speaking of, Derek, is he telling the truth does Spencer have a thing for you?”

“No, I’m certain he likes JJ. But you’ve got nothing to worry about you’re all I have ever wanted,” Elle pressed her lips against the blonde.

“And you and JJ have clearly hooked up nice to know your type,” Sofia said opening the passenger door for Elle.

Elle gasped, “We did not hook up! We kissed once never spoke of it again. Also I don’t have a type especially based on hair colour I’m not a serial killer but I suppose I have a thing for feminine women,” she placed her hand on Sofia’s thigh as she started up the car.

“Elle,” Sofia paused, “I love you,” she met Elle’s beautiful chocolate brown eyes with her own ocean-coloured ones.

Elles face softened and her smile grew wide, “I love you too Sof.”

[sicksadlit]

An author stole my book idea

What do you do when someone else publishes your book?

I was scrolling on my phone, browsing a selection of soon-to-be-released books when one in particular caught my eye.

I read the blurb and let out an audible gasp. 

The author stole my book idea. 

This man who I’ve never met, somehow managed to reach inside my brain, pluck out my story idea, write the book I am writing right now, and turn it into a fully fledged novel. He beat me to print, and now the novel I’ve been working on for the last few months is headed for the trash because how can I continue to write a story that has already been written?

It feels like my “life's work” has been stolen, cruelly whipped away from me overnight. The story that has been building and percolating inside me for years, preparing itself to arrive in my brain and out onto the page.

An accurate depiction of me discovering someone else is publishing the book I’m writing

Although, it’s possible that he didn’t actually steal my idea. It’s probable even because he couldn’t have. I don’t even know the guy. The far more likely scenario is that it is just an astonishing coincidence. He happened to have the exact same book idea at the same time as me, but the difference is: he’s a well known, successful, professional crime writer who actually managed to finish the story (and probably did a fantastic job), and I am an unpublished novice writer, who punches out a few hundred words here and there when inspiration strikes.

The best theory as to what has happened is that I have become the victim of a phenomena known as “simultaneous invention”.

Simultaneous invention is the concept that inventions and ideas are conceived independently by different creators, but at the same time.

“Rather than being the products of the individual mind, multiples (aka - simultaneous discoveries) are said to prove that creative ideas are the effects of the zeitgeist, or spirit of the times. At a specific instant in the history of a domain, the time becomes ripe for a given idea. The idea is “in the air” for anyone to pick, making its inception inevitable.” - Dean Keith Simonton, creativity researcher

There are mind-boggling cases of simultaneous invention documented throughout history. Here are some of the most famous instances:

1600s: Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz both discover calculus.

1770s: Carl Wilhelm Scheele and Joseph Priestley discover oxygen.

1800s: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace both describe natural selection.

1839: Louis Daguerre and Henry Fox Talbot invent the first photographic methods.

1869: Louis Ducos du Hauron and Charles Cros present the earliest workable methods of colour photography on the same day.

1876: Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell independently, on the same day, filed patents for invention of the telephone.

1879: British physicist-chemist Joseph Swan independently developed an incandescent light bulb at the same time as American inventor Thomas Edison was independently working on his incandescent light bulb.

1950s: Jonas Salk and Albert Bruce Sabin invent the polio vaccine.

2015: Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald are jointly awarded the Nobel prize for finding that neutrinos have mass.

It sounds like something from a Blake Crouch novel. The idea that two complete strangers, anywhere in the world could come up with the exact idea at the same time. It would be written off as pure science fiction if it weren’t so thoroughly documented. 

It came for Charles Darwin, it came for Alexander Bell, and now, it has come for me.

Since I’ve had a solid 48 hours to walk around the house moaning in despair, I figure it’s probably time to put my big girl pants on and think about what to do next.

What does one do when someone else publishes the book you were going to write?

If there’s one thing this sad experience has taught me, it’s this: Do not sleep on that creative idea.

I thought I had all the time in the world to write my story. Donna Tartt took 9 years to write The Secret History, after all. Maybe I could take 9 years to write my debut novel too. But modern life and our shared experience may lead to someone else coming to the same conclusions – or ideas – as you have, somewhere in the world. 

This doesn’t just apply to writing. It can happen in any field where creativity and imagination are at play. 

Where does this leave me and my manuscript? I think I’ll hold onto it a little longer before sending it to my computer’s trash bin forever. Even though the original premise and core of the story is no longer viable, perhaps there’s something there worth saving. Maybe a shift in perspective or narrative voice. Could it be a white collar crime thriller instead of a murder? Could I set it in a different era? Could I change the genre? Who knows. Maybe this whole saga is a good thing and will force me to pivot. Now, I’m compelled to look at how I can better improve upon what the story was set to become. 

One of the people in my writer's group said that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If his book sells well, publishers will be frothing to produce more of the same. That said, I’m not sure how I feel about being the runner-up for the prize of cool and interesting story ideas. 

So what’s the solution to this confounding mystery of the human mind? How can you ensure your work remains true and original to you when at any point in time, some random person out in the world might be working on the exact same thing? 

Maybe the answer is to simply try and be the first to launch, and to do your best not to let perfectionism hold you back from getting started. Maybe done is better than perfect. Or, if you instead find yourself in the same boat as me, is there room to move and change your approach? Could you see it as an opportunity to pivot and find a fresh, unexpected angle?

The truth is, I was stuck in a bit of a rut anyway. I fell out of love with the story idea a few weeks back. When I started writing months ago, I kicked off with a hiss and a roar, smashing my daily word count goal and picking up steam until I hit a wall. I didn’t like the characters and writing became a slog. Instead of feeling inspired and excited by the story, I felt bored and disillusioned. It became something I thought I simply had to finish to avoid the “sunk cost fallacy”.

This uncanny coincidence has forced me to open doors to new possibilities with the story that I hadn’t allowed myself to consider before. Now that the original plan has gone out the window, the idea of returning to the old draft feels strangely exciting again. Like anything is possible and the book could go in any direction. 

But I guess you’ll just have to wait and see… Maybe I’ve already said too much.

[power-chords]

History is full of things that lift other things. In ancient Greece, and China, and Hungary, there were systems of weights and pulleys and platforms designed to bring nobility–or their meals–to new heights.

And somewhere below were draft animals, or even people, tasked with turning wheels to bring these early elevators up and down. One man in France spent the year of 1743 inside a chimney, ever in wait of a bell which would ring when he was required to hoist King Louis XV on a “flying chair,” just so the king wouldn’t have to walk up a single flight of stairs.

These elevators were dangerous. Ropes would snap, and then anything getting raised or lowered would plummet to the ground. Fall one story and you break your leg–fall two stories you break your neck. And this fear of falling kept building heights low. People only wanted to ascend as high as they could walk. The tallest buildings at the time were churches and lighthouses–buildings made up primarily of empty space.

And then came Elisha Otis.

Elisha Otis did not invent the elevator. He invented the elevator brake. He gave demonstrations where he would stand on a platform elevated three stories in the air, and have his son cut the rope with sword. And the crowd would gasp as Otis did not plummet to the ground, but remained suspended in the air.

The Otis Elevator Company received a patent for the elevator brake in 1913. Buildings haven’t been the same since.

[kimyoonmiauthor]

More Drama Ideas November 2, 2024

Chinese drama idea A group of divorced mothers get stuck in a video game which promises if one of them wins, they will get a scholarship for one of their children. The problem is that they don't know how to play the video game and it's a Love/Dating game to win the "Emperor" of a fictional land. 'cause there isn't enough material for older actresses/actors in their 30's and 40's in Chinese dramas. Might get past Chinese censors.

Japanese Drama Sei Shonagon and Lady Murasaki are transported to the present era where they both are forced to enter high school. They wish to become the most popular girl at the school to defeat the other, but they also discover in order to return to their world and time period, they must win a poetry LINE/Twitter battle. BTW, with the recent gay marriage court ruling, one can play with this as background material for an episode. What I'm looking for is to be devastated by Heian Poetry since Sei Shonagon's own book, Pillow Book reads like Social Media before Social media. And Lady Murasaki had the rapt attention of her times and I think could match Sei Shonagon on wit. I think it could be funny and sweet as they are frienemies. Other frienemies in history I think of are people like Nikola Tesla/Thomas Edison (Who did not invent the light bulb). C.S. Lewis/JRR Tolkien. William Shakespeare/Ben Jonson. Alexander Graham Bell vs. Elisha Gray (more enemies). But this is my favorite pairing. I want to die in the pure beauty and wit of it as the snipes come deep as they fight for popularity and followers.

Korean drama

Two strangers decide to take the government's offer of being paid to have children, thinking it's easy money, but find climbing through parenthood is harder than they thought. Can cover the parts that the government doesn't think about when they do all those tackle low birth rate such as daycare, finding the right partner, incels, money to put a child through college, etc. How do they get out of fantasy land of what it takes to be parents and married to being actual parents and a good spouse?

[rainbowmagicfairyfight]

Rainbow Magic Fairy Fight

Round 1

Round 1: Abigail the Breeze Fairy, Addison the April Fool's Day Fairy, Adele the Singing Coach Fairy, Aisha the Astronaut Fairy, Aisha the Princess and the Pea Fairy, Alexa the Fashion Reporter Fairy, Alexandra the Royal Baby Fairy, Alice the Tennis Fairy, Alison the Art Fairy, Ally the Dolphin Fairy (August 16)

Round 2: Alyssa the Snow Queen Fairy, Amber the Orange Fairy, Amelia the Singing Fairy, Amelie the Seal Fairy, Amy the Amethyst Fairy, Angelica the Angel Fairy, Anna the Arctic Fox Fairy, Annabelle the Drawing Fairy, Annie the Detective Fairy, Anya the Cuddly Creatures Fairy (August 17)

Round 3: Aria the Synchro Fairy, Ariana the Firefighter Fairy, Ashley the Dragon Fairy, Autumn the Falling Leaves Fairy, Ava the Sunset Fairy, Bea the Buddha Day Fairy, Becky the Best Friend Fairy, Bella the Bunny Fairy, Belle the Birthday Fairy, Bethany the Ballet Fairy (August 18)

Round 4: Billie the Baby Goat Fairy, Blossom the Flower Girl Fairy, Bobbi the Bouncy Castle Fairy, Bonnie the Bike-Riding Fairy, Brianna the Bee Fairy, Brooke the Photographer Fairy, Caitlin the Ice Bear Fairy, Callie the Climbing Fairy, Camilla the Christmas Present Fairy, Cara the Camp Fairy (August 19)

Round 5: Cara the Coding Fairy, Carly the Schoolfriend Fairy, Carmen the Cheerleading Fairy, Carrie the Snow Cap Fairy, Catherine the Fashion Princess Fairy, Charles the Coronation Fairy, Charlie the Sunflower Fairy, Charlotte the Baby Princess Fairy, Chelsea the Chimpanzee Fairy, Chelsea the Congratulations Fairy (August 20)

Round 6: Cherry the Cake Fairy, Cheryl the Christmas Tree Fairy, Chloe the Topaz Fairy, Chrissie the Wish Fairy, Clare the Caring Fairy, Claudia the Accessories Fairy, Coco the Cupcake Fairy, Coral the Reef Fairy, Courtney the Clownfish Fairy, Crystal the Snow Fairy (August 21)

Round 7: Daisy the Festival Fairy, Danielle the Daisy Fairy, Danni the Drum Fairy, Darcey the Dance Diva Fairy, Debbie the Duckling Fairy, Deena the Diwali Fairy, Demi the Dressing-Up Fairy, Destiny the Pop Star Fairy, Edie the Garden Fairy, Eleanor the Snow White Fairy (August 22)

Round 8: Elisa the Adventure Fairy, Elisha the Eid Fairy, Elizabeth the Jubilee Fairy, Ella the Rose Fairy, Elle the Thumbelina Fairy, Ellen the Explorer Fairy, Ellie the Guitar Fairy, Elodie the Lamb Fairy, Elsa the Mistletoe Fairy, Elsie the Engineer Fairy (August 23)

Round 9: Emily the Emerald Fairy, Emma the Easter Fairy, Erin the Firebird Fairy, Esme the Ice Cream Fairy, Esther the Kindness Fairy, Etta the Elephant Fairy, Eva the Enchanted Ball Fairy, Evelyn the Mermicorn Fairy, Evie the Mist Fairy, Faith the Cinderella Fairy (August 24)

Round 10: Fatima the Face-Painting Fairy, Felicia the Fidget Toy Fairy, Fern the Green Fairy, Fiona the Flute Fairy, Fizz the Fireworks Fairy, Flora the Fancy Dress Fairy, Florence the Friendship Fairy, Frances the Royal Family Fairy, Francesca the Football Fairy, Frankie the Make-up Fairy (August 25)

Round 11: Frenchie the Bulldog Fairy, Freya the Friday Fairy, Gabby the Bubble Gum Fairy, Gemma the Gymnastics Fairy, Georgia the Guinea Pig Fairy, Giselle the Christmas Ballet Fairy, Goldie the Sunshine Fairy, Grace the Glitter Fairy, Greta the Earth Fairy, Gwen the Beauty and the Beast Fairy (August 26)

Round 12: Hana the Hanukkah Fairy, Hannah the Happy Ever After Fairy, Harper the Confidence Fairy, Harriet the Hamster Fairy, Hayley the Rain Fairy, Heather the Violet Fairy, Heidi the Vet Fairy, Helen the Sailing Fairy, Helena the Horseriding Fairy, Holly the Christmas Fairy (August 27)

Round 13: Honey the Sweet Fairy, Hope the Welcome Fairy, Imogen the Ice Dance Fairy, India the Moonstone Fairy, Isabella the Air Fairy, Isla the Ice Star Fairy, Ivy the Worry Fairy, Izzy the Indigo fairy, Jacinda the Peace Fairy, Jade the Disco Fairy (August 28)

Round 14: Jae the Boy Band Fairy, Jasmine the Present Fairy, Jayda the Snowboarding Fairy, Jessica the Jazz Fairy, Jessie the Lyrics Fairy, Josie the Jewellery-Making Fairy, Jude the Librarian Fairy, Julia the Sleeping Beauty Fairy, Juliet the Valentine Fairy, Kat the Jungle Fairy (August 29)

Round 15: Kate the Royal Wedding Fairy, Kathryn the PE Fairy, Katie the Kitten Fairy, Kayla the Pottery Fairy, Keiko the Diving Fairy, Keira the Film Star Fairy, Kimberley the Koala Fairy, Kimi the Bubble Tea Fairy, Kitty the Tiger Fairy, Konnie the Christmas Cracker Fairy (August 30)

Round 16: Kylie the Carnival Fairy, Lacey the Little Mermaid Fairy, Lara the Black Cat Fairy, Lauren the Puppy Fairy, Layla the Candyfloss Fairy, Layne the Surfing Fairy, Leah the Theatre Fairy, Leahann the Birthday Present Fairy, Leona the Unicorn Fairy, Lexi the Firefly Fairy (August 31)

Round 17: Li the Labrador Fairy, Libby the Story-Writing Fairy, Lila and Myla the Twins Fairies, Lily the Rainforest Fairy, Lindsay the Luck Fairy, Lisa the Jelly Bean Fairy, Lizzie the Sweet Treats Fairy, Lois the Balloon Fairy, Lola the Fashion Show Fairy, Lottie the Lollipop Fairy (September 1)

Round 18: Louise the Lily Fairy, Lucy the Diamond Fairy, Lulu the Lifeguard Fairy, Luna the Loom Band Fairy, Lydia the Reading Fairy, Maddie the Playtime Fairy, Madeleine the Cookie Fairy, Madison the Magic Show Fairy, Maisie the Moonbeam Fairy, Mara the Meerkat Fairy (September 2)

Round 19: Mariana the Goldilocks Fairy, Marissa the Science Fairy, Martha the Doctor Fairy, Mary the Sharing Fairy, Maryam the Nurse Fairy, Maya the Harp Fairy, Megan the Monday Fairy, Meghan the Wedding Sparkle Fairy, Melissa the Sports Fairy, Melodie the Music Fairy (September 3)

Round 20: Mia the Bridesmaid Fairy, Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy, Miley the Stylist Fairy, Milly the River Fairy, Mimi the Laughter Fairy, Molly the Goldfish Fairy, Monica the Marshmallow Fairy, Morgan the Midnight Fairy, Naomi the Netball Fairy, Natalie the Christmas Stocking Fairy (September 4)

Round 21: Niamh the Invitation Fairy, Nicki the Holiday Camp Fairy, Nina the Birthday Cake Fairy, Nur the Vlogger Fairy, Olivia the Orchid Fairy, Orla the Inventor Fairy, Padma the Pirate Fairy, Paige the Pantomime Fairy, Paloma the Dodgems Fairy, Pandora the Poodle Fairy (September 5)

Round 22: Paula the Pumpkin Fairy, Pearl the Cloud Fairy, Penelope the Foal Fairy, Penny the Pony Fairy, Perrie the Paramedic Fairy, Phoebe the Fashion Fairy, Pia the Penguin Fairy, Pippa the Poppy Fairy, Polly the Party Fun Fairy, Poppy the Piano Fairy (September 6)

Round 23: Priya the Polar Bear Fairy, Rae the Rollercoaster Fairy, Rebecca the Rock 'n' Roll Fairy, Rihanna the Seahorse Fairy, Riley the Skateboarding Fairy, Rita the Frog Princess Fairy, Rita the Rollerskating Fairy, Robyn the Christmas Party Fairy, Rochelle the Star Spotter Fairy, Rosalie the Rapunzel Fairy (September 7)

Round 24: Rosie the Honey Bear Fairy, Roxie the Baking Fairy, Ruby the Red Fairy, Ruth the Red Riding Hood Fairy, Sabrina the Sweet Dreams Fairy, Sadie the Saxophone Fairy, Samantha the Swimming Fairy, Samira the Superhero Fairy, Sara the Party Games Fairy, Sarah the Sunday Fairy (September 8)

Round 25: Sasha the Slime Fairy, Saskia the Salsa Fairy, Savannah the Zebra Fairy, Scarlett the Garnet Fairy, Selena the Sleepover Fairy, Selma the Snow Leopard Fairy, Seren the Sausage Dog Fairy, Shannon the Ocean Fairy, Shelley the Sherbet Fairy, Sianne the Butterfly Fairy (September 9)

Round 26: Sienna the Saturday Fairy, Sky the Blue Fairy, Skyler the Fireworks Fairy, Sophia the Snow Swan Fairy, Sophie the Sapphire Fairy, Soraya the Skiing Fairy, Stella the Star Fairy, Storm the Lightning Fairy, Summer the Holiday Fairy, Sunny the Yellow Fairy (September 10)

Round 27: Susie the Sister Fairy, Tallulah the Tuesday Fairy, Tamara the Tooth Fairy, Taylor the Talent Show Fairy, Teri the Trampolining Fairy, Thea the Thursday Fairy, Tia the Tulip Fairy, Tiana the Toy Fairy, Tilly the Teacher Fairy, Trixie the Halloween Fairy (September 11)

Round 28: Tyra the Dress Designer Fairy, Una the Concert Fairy, Vanessa the Dance Steps Fairy, Victoria the Violin Fairy, Violet the Painting Fairy, Whitney the Whale Fairy, Willow the Wednesday Fairy, Yasmeen the Canoeing Fairy, Yasmin the Night Owl Fairy, Zadie the Sewing Fairy (September 12)

Round 29: Zainab the Squishy Toy Fairy, Zara the Starlight Fairy, Zoe the Skating Fairy (September 13)

[anewnewcrest]

"And don't tell your brothers, Elisha, but you really are my favorite grandson!"

"Suzie, Levi is right here. He can hear you."

"What? He's only a toddler, he won't remember."

"He is starting school soon! And that is a horrible thing to say to your grandchildren, as grandmothers we should not have favorites!"

"But he is my favorite! He's the only one who looks like my side of the family, and not like you or Nathan!"

"Kayleigh! You can't just stand here and let her talk about your kids like that!"

"Nonsense, Kayleigh is on my side! You like Elisha best, too, don't you?"

"I... I... mom, please, stop?"

"Kayleigh! I cannot believe how ungrateful you are, you are living in my house! How dare you disrespect me like that!"

"Mommy?"

"It's all right, sweetheart, just go to grandma. I'll be okay in a moment."

[scotianostra]

March 3rd 1847 saw the birth of Alexander Graham Bell in Edinburgh.

Bell’s education was largely received through numerous experiments in sound and the furthering of his father’s work on Visible Speech for the deaf. Bell worked with Thomas Watson on the design and patent of the first practical telephone. In all, Bell held 18 patents in his name alone and 12 that he shared with collaborators.

The second son of Alexander Melville Bell and Eliza Grace Symonds Bell, he was named for his paternal grandfather, Alexander Bell. For most of his life, the younger Alexander was known as “Aleck” to family and friends. He had two brothers, Melville James Bell and Edward Charles Bell, both of whom died from tuberculosis.

During his youth, Alexander Graham Bell experienced significant influences that would carry into his adult life. His Grandfather was a well-known professor and teacher of elocution. Alexander’s mother also had a profound influence on him, being a proficient pianist despite her deafness. This taught Alexander to look past people’s disadvantages and find solutions to help them.

Alexander Graham Bell was homeschooled by his mother, who instilled in him an infinite curiosity about the world around him. He received one year of formal education in a private school and two years at Edinburgh’s Royal High School. Though a mediocre student, he displayed an uncommon ability to solve problems. At age 12, while playing with a friend in a grain mill, he noted the slow process of husking the wheat grain. He went home and built a device with rotating paddles with sets of nail brushes that dehusked the wheat. It was his first invention.

A lot has been written about Bell’s invention but before the family emigrated he was only 16, when he accepted a position at Weston House Academy in Elgin teaching elocution and music to students, many older than he. At the end of the term, Alexander returned home and joined his father, promoting his father, Melville Bell’s technique of Visible Speech, which taught the deaf to align specific phonetic symbols with a particular position of the speech organs (lips, tongue, and palate).

After the death of his two brothers, and Aleck’s health deteriorating his father decided, for the sake of his health they had to move to a better climate in the Americas, his son resisted the move at first but he relented, and in July 1870, the family settled in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. There, Alexander’s health improved, and he set up a workshop to continue his study of the human voice. He later took up a position as a tutor at Boston School for Deaf Mutes and settled in the city in 1871.

Two years later, he was appointed Professor of Vocal Physiology and Elocution at Boston University.

These early experiments in speech creation, along with his knowledge of anatomy, informed his own experiments on transmitting speech, which he began in earnest from 1873.

Bell did not think he was inventing a ‘telephone’ during his early experiments. He was working on the holy grail of the day: sending multiple telegraph messages over the same wire. He aimed to make electro-mechanical devices capable of transmitting and receiving different tones for each message.

He was supported financially in this work by the father of one of his students, Gardiner Hubbard, a wealthy lawyer and politician, whose deaf daughter, Mabel, had been taught to lip-read and speak by Bell. Bell fell in love with Mabel. Her father, being aware of Bell’s experiments with possible ‘speaking telegraph’ devices, refused his permission for the couple to marry until Bell had successfully developed his new invention. To speed matters along, he also funded an assistant, Thomas Watson.

Sensing the danger of rival developments for this valuable invention, Bell’s future father-in-law filed an application for ‘Improvements in Telegraphy’ on 14 February 1876. On that very same day a few hours later – or was it actually a few hours earlier? – inventor Elisha Gray filed his own idea for a telephone at the same office. Bell was granted the patent on 7 March 1876. On 9 July 1877, Bell, Hubbard, Watson (and other funders) established the Bell Telephone Company to market the new device. Bell and Mabel married two days later.

Controversy remains as to whether Bell or his father-in-law might have had access to the details of Gray’s patent through an office clerk in Hubbard’s pay. The clerk seemed to admit as much in a later court case, but Bell’s patent was upheld, as it was in the many cases which followed.

On 11 August 1877, Bell and Mabel arrived in Britain from the USA on honeymoon. In Bell’s luggage was his new communication device, the telephone. Bell travelled the country promoting his invention, even demonstrating the device to Queen Victoria, who was so amused she asked to keep the temporary installation in place. The first telephones went on sale later that year.

Sometimes described as the most valuable patent ever filed, for years following the award, Bell had to defend his patent in expensive and protracted litigation battles brought by a whole range of inventors. In 2002, the US Congress formally recognised Italian Antonio Meucci as the true inventor of the telephone, based on prototypes he demonstrated in 1860. Bell and the Italian had shared a workshop in the 1870s. Meucci was pursuing his claim in the Supreme Court when he died in 1889. France and Germany cite their own contenders for the title.

In many respects, Bell’s telephone was flawed, his receiver and transmitter designs being considerably improved by others within a couple of years. Among those were Thomas Edison and Professor David Hughes, who both produced improvements to Bell’s early instrument, transforming the telephone into a truly successful communication device.

Still widely known as ‘the inventor of the telephone’, Bell had given up his interest in this invention by his early thirties. He spent the rest of his life with Mabel and their family in Canada, working on a series of varied projects including flight, sheep breeding, developing a ‘vacuum jacket’ to aid artificial breathing and the founding of the National Geographic magazine. His foremost passion remained enabling deaf people to lip read and speak, therefore blending into a hearing world. This was in itself controversial to sections of the deaf community, disenfranchising those who preferred to communicate using sign language, which they viewed as the primary language of the deaf.

Bell’s last visit to Edinburgh was in November 1920. At a speech given to pupils at the city’s Royal High School, where he had been a student 60 years before, he imagined that this young generation might live to see a time when someone “in any part of the world would be able to telephone to any other part of the world without any wires at all.”

He died on 2nd August 1922 aged 75. On the day of his funeral the telephone systems in the US and Canada were silenced for one minute, can you imagine that happening nowadays!

[the-lunar-library]

Beauty and the Beast Novel Master List

I like Beauty and the Beast, I bet you do too, here's all the retellings I've read.

I'm not selecting for quality, I'm just listing them.

Art by anonymous. Beast has put on his nicest pompom shoes to win Beauty's heart.

Some of these are retellings (girl swaps places with father, is isolated with a beastly love interest of some type, leaves for some reason, returns to find the beast dying, confesses her love and saves the day), others are only inspired by BatB, but I'm including them as long as there's a clear reference. So Rose Daughter goes, but things like The Phantom of the Opera, Shrek, or Jane Eyre, despite their many overlaps, don't.

Art by Horace Elisha Scudder. Beauty has found Beast, here played by a distant cousin of the Berenstain Bears family.

Also for your consideration: What do you call your heroine when canonically she has a painfully literal name?

Hmmm...

E: explicit

NF: not fantasy or any adjacent genre

YA: young adult

BOOKS:

Beauty's names: Beauty, Lucy, Eider

A Rose for Beauty – Irene B Brand

NF. Novella length. I don't remember much about this one despite reading it just last year, but it's modern day and I think it's Christian. Featured in the Once Upon a Time collection. (No connection to the Once Upon a Time book series.)

Beauty and the Clockwork Beast – Nancy Campbell Allen (Steampunk Proper Romance)

Despite the title, I don't think this one follows the fairy tale quite faithfully enough to really be a retelling. It's more of an original steampunk gothic-mystery-romance. But the BatB inspiration is there.

The Price and Prey of Magic – Rachel Day

I wrote this one. It riffs on both the classic BatB and an alternate version called “The Green Serpent” where the beast is a snake and the Beauty character is thought to be hideous. Other fairy tales are incorporated.

Beauty's names: Belle, Violaine, Lindy

Belle – Cameron Dokey (Once Upon a Time)

YA. The Once Upon a Time series did novella retellings of the classic Disney fairy tales (as well as some outliers) in the 2000s. Some of them are fairly original, some of them play it more safe. There were multiple authors, but I always felt the Dokey entries were the strongest. Belle doesn't try to reinvent the fairy tale that much (see Spirited farther down the list), though it does make the magical rose a more central element in the story.

The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment – Therese Doucet

E. Not a close retelling, but definitely inspired by BatB. Even set in 1700s France for good measure with a strong focus on the Enlightenment. Nods to the fairy tale early on, then heads off into unexpected original territory and gets magical and folkloric.

Beastly – Alex Flinn (Kendra Chronicles)

YA. Probably the best-known modern retelling. The author makes the risky choice of telling it from the beast's point of view, in this case a conceited rich prep boy, and I think a lot of the reader's enjoyment depends on how much they like being in his head. There's a companion novella from the Beauty character's perspective, but I haven't read it.

Beauty's names: Isabella, Caitrin, Beauty

Spirited – Nancy Holder (Once Upon a Time)

YA. The other Once Upon a Time retelling. This one is more original, less by-the-book, setting it in colonial America. But it makes the questionable decision to cast the beast character as an American Indian who takes a beautiful white colonist captive. I suspect this is why the series' creators revisited BatB with the Dokey version, with the hopes this one would quietly vanish.

Heart's Blood – Juliet Marillier

A historical fantasy set in medieval Ireland. This one decides to cast the beast as disabled, but if you can put that aside, he's an interesting and well-rounded character. Another book that deviates pretty substantially from the original and goes off and does its own thing. There are ghosts, not talking knickknacks. Even so, it feels like a legitimate retelling, not merely inspired by BatB.

Beauty and the Beast, The Only One Who Didn't Run Away – Wendy Mass (Twice Upon a Time)

YA. What I remember most about this one is reading it while waiting to see if I'd be impaneled for a jury. It doesn't stand out much in my memory, but as I recall it was lighthearted and aiming for humor.

Beauty's names: Beauty, Beauty, Beauty

Beauty – Robin McKinley

YA. Robin McKinley's first foray into BatB retellings. It's one of my favorite novels, period, with a thoughtful bookish Beauty (way before Disney did it) and a brooding but gracious beast. It's an intelligent slow burn with loads of introspection, but still has many sweet, warm, and funny moments.

Rose Daughter – Robin McKinley

YA. McKinley's better known BatB retelling. This one is a lot more original, expanding on the fairy tale, incorporating Beauty's siblings a lot, and overall giving you a longer, richer read. I still prefer Beauty, but this one has a lot going for it and includes an unusual twist. Also, while I won't list it as its own entry, Chalice is an original McKinley fantasy novel with a strong BatB vibe.

Beast – Donna Jo Napoli

YA. Another book from the beast's p.o.v. Also casts him as a person of color (Persian) with a white Beauty, and in this case turns him into a lion rather than a fantastical monster. Yes, him being a literal animal rather than a slightly humanoid beast does introduce some specific elements to the story. Probably part of why the cover touts it as sophisticated.

Beauty's names: Belle (Annabelle), Shelley

Belle – Sarah Price

NF. The Amish one. Modern setting. It has a YA feel (the heroine is very young), but given that it deals with marriage, and to a significantly older man, I'm not exactly sure which audience it's ultimately for. This Beauty takes a Disney-inspired approach, being bookish and spirited. But the beast is a crotchety Amish guy, so that's new.

The Gentle Prisoner – Sara Seale

NF. 1940s Cornwall. A gothic-tinged romance novel with an otherworldly, innocent, sensitive heroine, who's also very young and marries a significantly older man with a troubling scar and no end of brooding. Not exactly a retelling, but leans heavily on the fairy tale and isn't afraid to draw attention to it.

SHORT STORIES:

"The Rose and the Beast" – Francesca Lia Block

YA. Modern day. I did read this one, a hundred years ago. I don't remember much except for a general impression of the whole collection – dark, urban, sensuous. Can be found in the collection of the same name.

"The Courtship of Mr Lyon" – Angela Carter

Modern (to the 1970s, when it was published). A feminist retelling. Been forever since I read it, so I don't remember specifics, but I have a clear memory of enjoying it.

"The Tiger's Bride" – Angela Carter

As you can guess from the title, also sophisticated.

"Beast and Beauty" – Vivian Vande Velde

YA. A lighthearted, cute take on the story from the beast's perspective. VVV's writing is often very funny, and this is one of my favorites of her retellings. It can be found in Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird.

That was tiring. I think I'll just lie here and stick my tongue out and die.

I would love to find more retellings, so please feel free to add to this list.

[rawiswhore]

William Regal x Fem Reader- "Spill the Tea"

Many professional wrestlers have been famous enough to be considered for roles in popular movies.

The Rock was offered to play Willy Wonka in the 2005 Tim Burton remake, Trish Stratus was considered to play Jessica Alba's role in "Sin City", Triple H was considered to play Thor in the early 2010's and Chyna was offered a role in the 3rd "Terminator" movie.

When you were at the zenith of your wrestling popularity in the late 1990's, you were considered for many roles in popular movies.

Some of the roles you were considered for and offered were Elizabeth Hurley's character in "Bedazzled", Carmen Electra's role in "Scary Movie", one of the angels in those "Charlie's Angels" movies, Lara Croft in the "Tomb Raider" movies, one of the strippers in "Night at the Blue Iguana" and one of the barmaids in "Coyote Ugly". 

Even in the early 2000's when your popularity had winded down, you were considered for several roles in popular movies, like playing Elisha Cuthbert's character in "The Girl Next Door" and Anna Faris' role in "Just Friends".

However, you turned down all of those roles down due to the scheduling you had to do for the World Wrestling Federation (as well as the WWE).

Looking back, you regret turning down to play some of these movie roles, in particular in "Coyote Ugly" and "Night at the Blue Iguana".

Speaking of which, if there is something that is really popular in pop culture going on, the WWE/F will try to cash in on it and reference it.

Examples would be Al Snow's Chihuahua Pepper being based off of the iconic Taco Bell Chihuahua who was popular AF at the time and the Kat recreating a moment in her dressing room based off of an Austin Powers movie gag.

Since you couldn't really be in "Coyote Ugly", you're going to bring that movie to the World Wrestling Federation.

Yes, the WWE was still called the WWF when "Coyote Ugly" was released!

On a "Sunday Night Heat" episode in September 2000---which was one month after "Coyote Ugly" was released---William Regal was sitting backstage in front of a circle shaped table, where there was a silver tray sitting on top of this table.

This tray contained a matching silver teacup and teapot on top of that tray.

You marched down to William, and as you walked up to him and the table he was sitting by, the camera was filming you walking sideways, and many male fans in the audience got out of their seats and cheered for you and whistled at you.

The outfit you wore was similar to what the women in "Coyote Ugly" wore---wearing hip hugging pants with a midriff baring tank top.

You placed your hands on top of the table William was sitting at once you stood in front of it, where you slightly bent yourself down.

"Hey" you greeted him with a slight smirk on your face.

William wasn't taken aback by seeing you, in fact, he enjoyed looking at you, his eyes studying you up and down.

Your eyes looked inside those teacups to see if there's any tea there, and lo and behold, there was.

"May I have a sip of tea?" you asked him with a smirk, the index finger of one of your hands raising off of the table and pointing inside that tea cup, asking him for a drink to be polite.

"Go ahead!" William offered with a smile.

He actually doesn't mind it if you have a sip of tea, with the way you look.

"Thanks" you replied with a smirk on your face, where one of your hands took one of the tea cups and raised it up to your mouth, where you took a sip of it and arched your head back as you drank that tea.

It isn't very classy to drink down tea like you're drinking a shot glass, but there's a reason you're drinking your tea like that.

You raised your head up after you drank that tea, placing the cup of tea back on the table.

"Y'want me to pour you some more tea?" you asked him with a grin on your face, removing your hand off of that tea cup when you asked that.

"Oh yes, please!" William replied excitedly, smiling and eager to await.

This was making the audience really think of "Coyote Ugly", and that was the intention.

William may be a classy English gentleman, but he can enjoy some rowdiness.

One of your hands grabbed that tea pot by its handle and raised it up from the table, where you tilted it above one of the empty tea cups and tea poured out of that pot and into the cup.

As the tea poured into that tiny little tea cup, your eyes were looking inside the tea while your mouth grinned, and your hips were gyrating and grinding left and right while your knees were bending a little bit.

You were basically acting like those women in "Coyote Ugly" pouring alcohol in people's drinks while they sexily danced on top of bar tables.

Your eyes were careful when you watched how much tea gets poured into that cup.

William, on the other hand, was looking at you pour that tea in the cup, his eyes focusing both on you and the tea being poured.

His eyes were wide and eyebrows raised.

"I wish I had a stripper pole right now" you admitted to him with your eyes looking at him. "Maybe even danced on top of a bar"

Male fans in the audience got out of their seats and cheered hearing that, agreeing with you.

William would have to agree with that, considering he wants to see you work that pole.

You didn't pour all the tea inside that pot, you were saving that for later.

You then raised the teapot until it was positioned straight, where you placed the teapot back on top of the table and let go of it.

You strutted around next to the table William was sitting by until you were close enough for hands to reach and touch him, and your hands grabbed William's button down shirt and pulled it apart until the buttons popped down out of the holes.

This really took William by surprise, even though this moment was rehearsed and staged.

The audience was completely shocked seeing this moment, both male and female fans.

As the buttons kept being separated away from the holes due to you opening up his dress shirt, more of his bare skin was getting exposed underneath that shirt.

William wasn't disgusted over you ripping his shirt up at all, but his eyes were looking at his bare chest and torso getting exposed.

After his shirt was unbuttoned, with your eyes looking into his eyes and with a smirk on your face.

"Is this tea hot?" you asked him.

"Not quite" he admitted.

You're not going to do what he thinks you're going to do.

Oh yeah, you did it, but at least you were polite and asked him if this tea is hot so you won't hurt him.

One of your hands let go of his shirt and grabbed that tea pot on top of the table, where you tilted it above his chest and poured that tea on top of his torso, where warm tea poured out of the pot and landed on his bare chest, the tea dripping and running down his skin.

The tea wasn't that warm, but the fans really reacted to this.

Fans---both male and female---cheered seeing this moment, whereas William's face was panicking and freaking out a bit.

Some of the tea was even sinking into William's clothes.

You, on the other hand, were smiling and grinning while your eyes looked at his chest as you poured that tea on his torso.

The skin on his torso was turning a little bit pinkish from getting slightly burned by that tea, but he wasn't completely burned by it.

You then raised that teapot up until it was sitting up straight, and you then raised that tea pot up until it was a few inches above your head, where you tilted that teapot and let it pour out tea on top of your face and on your body.

Your hand holding that teapot motioned it to pour on your face and on your top, making that tea pour across both of your tits.

You wore no bra underneath your top, so your nipples were poking through it.

When you poured this tea on top of you, male fans in the audience got out of their seats and cheered, although is this really sexy?

While you were pouring tea on top of yourself, you swayed your hips left and right sexily to dance, placing your opposite hand on your hip as you swayed and grinded your hips and body.

Your makeup surprisingly wasn't running as you poured tea on yourself, but your hair was getting wet and tea was soaking through your tank top.

"Is this sexy?" you asked him as you poured that tea on you. "I wish I could pour some water on myself right now"

So you could recreate another "Coyote Ugly" scene where the barmaids pour water on themselves when they're standing on top of the bar.

You would toss the rest of the tea in the teapot at William's chest to completely recreate this scene.

You actually recreated a few other "Coyote Ugly" moments in episodes of WWF shows, including when they poured water on themselves.

Since you couldn't be in "Coyote Ugly", you'll at least bring it to the WWF.

[principiumindividuationis777]

Hard Luck Inventors

Sometimes, as with the likes of Thomas Edison or Henry Ford (Ford did not invent the automobile, but he did invent the assembly line), inventors have their reputations extolled and even exaggerated by historians (W.K. Dickson deserves half the credit for Edison's motion picture invention, for instance).

Other inventors, however, indisputably contributed greatly to human knowledge and technology, yet are remembered only in limited circles, both in their own time, and today.

If "invention" refers to a concept more than to a physical object, then invention of the telephone should be credited partly to the man above, Italian-American Antonio Meucci.

Although he undoubtedly built experimental telephones capable of communicating within a household, Meucci had two obstacles that had nothing to do with his genius: A lack of money, and limited knowledge of the English language.

Thus, he could not afford a caveat, a claim that, under patent law in the USA at the time, would have forbidden rival inventors from patenting a telephone for a period of time, as a caveat cost the then very hefty sum of $20 (substantially over $500 in today's money), and as patent offices (then) had few Italian speakers, Meucci had another stumbling block.

Elisha Gray could have commiserated with Meucci better than anyone else, as he developed the concept for a type of liquid transmitter, the key idea for the building of a practical telephone, but later discovered that Alexander Graham Bell, Bell's attorney, or both, had some highly irregular dealings with the patent office that made it appear to be all Bell's idea.

Given that Meucci built telephones for internal household communications, as Bell later did, and Bell's means of making the telephone practical was directly lifted from Gray's caveat, one could credit Meucci, one could credit Gray- personally, I would credit both- but one fact is clear: Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the telephone, but merely profited from the ideas of others.

Did the Wright Brothers invent the airplane? The answer is a definite "sort of". You see, they needed rails (as in trains) and a derrick to put the plane in the air, hardly part of modern, practical aviation technology.

By contrast, Brazil's Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first person to construct an airplane that need no such assistance to achieve sustained, guided flight, in 1906. Yet national boundaries prevented anything in the nature of a patent dispute.

At a minimum, Santos-Dumont should share credit for the airplane with the Wright Brothers, but sadly, few outside Brazil know of him today, and in 1932, he ended himself, depressed over the use of his own technology in warfare.

In conclusion, while we cannot right the wrongs of the past, we history enthusiasts can, even if posthumously, today give credit where it is actually due, including to the above three men.

For good measure, here is a photograph of Alberto Santos-Dumont's 1906 airplane, possibly the first "practical" one, in flight, on November 12 of that year:

[omg-lucio]

1910. Alexander Graham Bell,  titular de la patente del primer teléfono práctico. Se dice que la solicitud de patente de Bell presentada en la mañana del 14 de febrero de 1876 precedió a la presentación de la misma invención por parte del físico de Salem Elisha Gray (de GE) por solo 2 horas. Pocas personas lo saben, pero a Bell se le atribuye, entre otras cosas, el desarrollo del sistema educativo para sordos.

[shipcestuous]

The Quiet - movie (submission)

Have you heard of the movie “The Quiet” with Camille Belle and Elisha Cuthbert. It features father/daughter incest, in a quite disturbing abusive/non abusive way.

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Hello!

Yes, I have seen that movie although it has been quite a few years now. Definitely disturbing although it was an interesting situation. The situation was definitely abusive overall, but the daughter admits to being a willing participant at times, if I remember right.