#enjoy the only Preston art to ever

[spoopieere]

( Tumblr i demand to have this post in the tags PLEASE )

Here you guys go : spicy :3c

Bonus:

[u3pxx]

PLEASEEE can you elaborate on the gavinners i cant stop looking at them theyre so pretty

sometimes i forget that outside of my friends and servers, i don't really talk much about my gavinners boys* huh! so basically, i originally wanted to make them so i could beef up turnabout serenade in my roleswap au, kind of like turnabout samurai where you have a lot more characters which in turn means a lot more suspects!

but then i realized, wait, i need to make them in the canon-verse first before i could make their swap au counterparts! and so now they exist pftt

here y'all go, i'm gonna be copy-pasting the character descriptions i wrote for them during art fight pftt <3

🥁 DEIDRE MINUENDO

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'9.5" (176) with boots on Birthday: Jul 7 ♋︎ | Pronouns: He/Him, She/Her, They/Them

Deidre is the seemingly gloomy and stoic drummer of the band The Gavinners! At first, it could be difficult to get a read on them but despite all that, they're just like that because they prefer saving their energy. It might not look like it, but Deidre enjoys company even if they're not the most chatty with it and thrives the most when they are around other people (she prefers it if she's around the people closest to her though). Deidre is pretty sensitive and an emotional person even if they don't outwardly express it. To the people close to them, Deidre has a sarcastic streak and can be pretty snappy when it comes to teasing. She can dish it but she can't take it however as they can get slightly irritated when they're teased back. Even if they are a rockstar, they can get embarrassed when people praise or say nice things about them to their face, he tends to brush affection if even if he is secretly flattered by it (he's not gonna admit it though pftt) They also enjoy doodling here and there and like stuffed animals (they have a few of their own!)

Deidre was the closest to Daryan so the events of 4-3 affected him immensely. They felt betrayed and confused and tried to deny that Daryan would be capable of taking another person's life; they scrambled to do everything to protect Daryan from omitting information and even lying on the stand. In the end, all of their efforts were for naught and they felt incredibly guilty for what they've done, especially since she started antagonizing Preston when he was starting to suspect Daryan. They cut themselves off from the group, their job, and stardom. They ended up severely depressed and started to rarely go outside anymore. Only Doremy (Daryan's twin, also a close friend of his) was able to reach him during this time while Viva tried to but he kept refusing to see him. It took them a long time to finally be able to reconnect with the group and it took them a lot of help and support to be able to be well again. Deidre carries Daryan's betrayal to the group heavily and it took a while for her to start forgiving herself.

⚡ VIVA CHI

Age: 25 | Height: 5'9" (175 cm) Birthday: Jan 1 ♑︎ | Pronouns: He/Him

Viva is the lively and energetic bassist of the band The Gavinners! Though he may seem goofy and a little unserious, he actually is pretty responsible and is the mediator of the band (as the eldest brother of his siblings and the eldest of the band, he kind of made that his responsibility). He's a forensic scientist and has always had an interest in science alongside music ever since he was young (he thinks Ema is very pretty but she finds him annoying pftt). Viva was the last one to join the band when they were all in high school and despite his extroverted personality, felt a little shy at the time getting to know a new group of people (it's because Preston was there who he may or may not have crushed at while in high-school.) He's a lover of all things caffeinated (especially energy drinks though he should really pace himself) which isn't always the best match to the fact that he's got terrible anxiety and thinks himself down a spiral when he gets too worried.

Once the band disbanded after the events of AA4, Viva, though left in a bad place with his anxiety shot through the roof, fared better compared to the other members. He tried his best to keep in touch with everyone with varying successes despite Daryan's arrest being fresh and hurt. - visiting Daryan in prison to hear his side of the story - popping in to check at Preston in his office because the guy started to take worse care of himself - contacting Deidre even if she was trying to isolate and cut herself from everyone and looking out for Klavier even if he buried himself in his work He took a break from music like everyone else, he still hopes one day they can meet up and play music again, not even as a band, but as a group of friends who loved creating music.

🦇 PRESTON KEISS

Age: 25 | Height: 6'1" (185 cm) Birthday: Oct 25 ♏︎ | Pronouns: He/Him

Preston is the mysterious yet magnetic keyboardist of the Gavinners! Tall, dark, and bewitching; Preston is aware of the impression people have of him at first glance and likes to use that preconception to surprise and even catch people off-guard by purposely being silly or crass. He has a number of odd quirks and mannerisms that he doesn't realize he has, people tend to notice but they often let it pass because he is very handsome (pretty privilege lmao). Preston can sometimes be mischievous and finds certain things amusing only to him even if others don't find it as funny. He's always had an interest in horror and the macabre ever since he was a young boy which developed into a great fascination with the special effects used in old and new horror films alike. (He can be a bit jumpy when watching movies even if he loves to do it, he can't help it if the movie gets to him!) He plays up his whole immortal vampire schtick because the fans tend to theorize if he really was one. (He is not, he'd love to be one though pftt) Preston is very stubborn and adamant about his opinions and can be difficult to sway if he thinks he's correct; he is also quite awkward when it comes to personal matters, as can be seen in his strained relationship with his older sister and whatever romantic thing he's trying to achieve with Viva. He's used to acting larger than life when the cameras are on but being raw and honest has him feeling a little embarrassed and stilted. Preston smokes and keeps it a secret. (Don't tell Viva that!)

Preston was the first person in the band to start suspecting Daryan which he mostly kept to himself at first but wouldn't deny when you asked him (Deidre did not like that.) After Lamirior accused Daryan in court, Preston was determined to make Deidre confront the truth (unfortunately, not taking in why Deidre might be upset and in denial about it) which caused them to have a fight (with Viva being unsuccessful in de-escalating it.) After the Gavinners disbanded, Preston didn't feel very well after Daryan got sent to prison and lost contact with Deidre (whom he hasn't talked to since the case. [he misses them.]) He seemed fine afterward with his workload seeming to increase though upon closer inspection, he's started taking worse care of himself, skipping meals, and losing his interest in music. Preston has a lot of baggage to sort through regarding his friends and his family that will be difficult and painful for him to confront, but rest assured, he's gonna come out of it happy and well.

and here's a compilation of some very old turnabout serenade drawings too :^]

(i didnt make dei's bday turnabout serenade on purpose, it was a tragic happy accident DFGHDJ i wanted his bday to be 7/7 bc i made daryan 6/6 but then the date. i realize the date orz)

[mlmxreader]

fallout 4 + date night

all hcs are done w m!reader - please don't be weird abt it if you're not mlm/nblm!

includes: MacCready, Preston Garvey, John Hancock & Nick Valentine.

MacCready

MacCready stretched his legs out as he sat on the rusty and half broken patio chair, a cold beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other; it was nice that he could hear himself think for once. Even better that he had you by his side; his boyfriend. You always did seem to be too good for him, he couldn't lie about that. But then he watched you take a long swig from the bottle of beer in your hand, and he swallowed thickly. Oh.

Even the most mundane things looked amazing when you did them. Man, he was head over heels for you and date nights were just an excuse to fall in love all over again. It took him so long to come to terms with it that now he nearly felt bad; but it was all more than worth it just to see you next to him, nursing a beer and talking about somehow both everything and nothing.

"Y'know," he said quietly. "I could get used to this."

"So could I," you agreed softly. "But we got a good thing going at the moment, don't we?"

"I think so."

John Hancock

Hancock couldn't believe how lucky he was, in all honesty. Knowing that he had, in his humble opinion, the single best boyfriend in the entire Commonwealth; he loved to parade you around Goodneighbor, telling everyone just how fantastic and wonderful and amazing you were without even skipping a beat to mention how great you were in bed as well. Flirtatious and charming, there was nothing more that Hancock liked than to go out on the town with you for a date - plenty of chems and alcohol and music that it was almost too much.

"How's this for a date?" Hancock chuckled as he pulled you against the door behind some seedy pub.

Carefully, you put your hands on his chest as you shrugged, doing your best not to laugh and grin. "I mean, it's not terrible."

"Ah, c'mon," he grinned, his bands wandering to search for yours. "I'm sure I can make you change your mind."

"Lead the way." You were hardly able to do anything but laugh, clinging onto his arm in hopes it would make the giddy spasms of your stomach go away.

Preston Garvey

Preston had always been a fairly simple guy and had always enjoyed the little things more than anything else. The day you asked to be his boyfriend was probably the biggest thing that you had ever done, and he would have been lying if he had said he didn't tear up a little bit at the notion; but date nights were often different. Preston always wanted to impress you and to make you smile, but he also wanted you to appreciate the dates whenever it was his turn; so, when he found out about an art gallery opening up near Diamond City, he knew what he had to do.

The second that he saw your smile, he knew his plan had gone well. The collection of art, mostly by citizens but occasionally by mayors or other such leaders, wasn't exactly huge but you seemed to be having a good time as you begged and pleaded for Preston to give you his opinion on the pieces; wanting nothing more than to hear whatever he had to say, no matter how big or small.

"You know, I can't thank you enough," you told him softly after pulling him aside so that you could speak privately. "This is the best date I've ever actually been on."

Preston grinned, all worry and anxiety dropping from him as he nodded, almost excitedly. "Anything for you."

Nick Valentine

Nick Valentine, not so contrary to his name, was an old romantic. He loved to take you out on what you could only guess were the same type of dates that went on before the Great War; the dancing, the boozing, the smoking, the fun. Nick loved to take you dancing, especially, as at least there hardly anyone noticed or cared what he was. No one called him a skinjob, for fucking once. But no, he was happy to take you dancing, especially when a slow song came on and he was able to hold you that little bit closer; all nervous laughs and fumbling hands no matter how many times it happened.

"Nick?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for the nice night," you said softly. "It means a lot that you'd be happy to take me dancing - not just as your, y'know, your partner... but as your boyfriend as well."

[sugarbombs-n-stuff]

Companion Birthday Headcanons

Ada: June 7th, She sees her birthday as when Jackson found her, she celebrates quickly but she finds it fun nonetheless.

Cait: February 20th, She never celebrated before sole but now that she does she loves it. Definitely a chocolate kinda girl.

Curie: April 12th She was powered on for the first time on this date! All Mister Handys/Miss Nannies sing themselves a little happy birthday jingle like the mars rover. Now that she's a synth her favorite cake flavor is strawberry. She loves celebrating with everyone, think of like a 5 year olds peak birthday and that's what Curie wants. She loves being gifted anything from prewar.

Codsworth: September 30th. He was purchased before shaun was born and was powered up a bit after he popped out. He loves wearing a party hat and like Curie, sings himself a birthday jingle. He loves the festivities of birthdays.

Danse: March 15th. In the brotherhood it was a quick happy birthday and then back to his duties. He feels indifferent about his birthday until Blind Betrayal, for a few months after he refuses to even think about anything that indicates he's human but when does accept that he's a synth he appreciates his birthday. His favorite flavor of cake is German Chocolate.

Deacon: December 25th. Though no one would ever find out except for Sole, he is a Christmas baby. Anytime someone asks what his birthday is it changes every time. He will celebrate his birthday with friends once he starts trying to find the real him but for years after Barbara's death he wouldn't even acknowledge it. He enjoys a good party but also likes something simple, he doesn't expect much cause it falls on a holiday though. His favorite cake flavor jokingly is funfetti, his actual favorite is just simple yellow cake with chocolate frosting. He will heavily appreciate any gag gift or fiber art craft thing that comes his way.

Dogmeat: January 1st. No one really knows so they celebrate on New Years Day. He gets plenty of brahmin ears as gifts though.

Piper: August 18th. She celebrated plenty when her parents were still alive and Nat tries to make her a present or two and she is very grateful. She enjoys spending her b-day with Blue and everyone as well. She doesn't care for cake, so she gets cookie cake.

Preston: November 3rd. He celebrated with is family and the early minuteman but after the quincy massacre he doesn't have the time or energy. If he had a choice, he would want to spend his birthday on the river outside sanctuary with a BBQ. His favorite flavor is lemon!

Nick: Human Nick's birthday was May 23rd, Synth Nick wanted some separation from him so he celebrates his birthday on February 14th, Valentines Day. He doesn't need any gifts or a big party, he's perfectly fine with a birthday card and since he doesn't really eat anything, a nice cup of coffee.

MacCready: June 2nd. Duncan's birthday is the day after so they normally celebrate together. He likes parties and gag gifts. His favorite cake flavor is actually orange with chocolate frosting. The only way he can get said flavor however is pouring Nuka Orange and using that instead of water when baking, duncan thinks its really nasty though.

Hancock: August 28th. When they were kids his brother would always make sure his birthday was good but after he left Diamond City and started celebrating with chems and shitty beer. When the sole survivor and their merry band of misfits rolls up he starts celebrating with a big meal among friends where he tries to cut back on chems. He's happy to get any gift and his favorite cake flavor is tarberry.

x6-88: October 1st. He never celebrated his birthday until sole showed up. He appreciates getting candy, weapon mods, and pre-war toy kits where you can build your own car. He doesn't mind sitting on the beach as a bonfire is being built. He enjoys swimming and eating whatever was packed and he finds that he actually enjoys his birthday. His favorite cake flavor is coconut with red frosting.

Strong: Pre-War, Strong's birthday was November 27th. He doesn't remember now and doesn't care.

Gage: January 13th. He celebrates by putting on a record and target practice, he'd prefer a rager with plenty of chems and loud music, Afterwords, go home, eat cake, and listen to some pre-war audio drama. His favorite cake flavor is vanilla with mutfruit frosting.

Longfellow: May 16th. He doesn't celebrate cause he doesn't really care. He drinks a beer at the bar then goes fishing with Diamond City Radio playing. His favorite cake flavor is coffee cake with tarberry jam on top.

[rstarsims3]

Get to know you - Sims Style

Thank your for tagging me, @daniel-fortesque & @bast-sims

What’s your favorite Sims death?

None (hate it when it happens); the most frequent one in my gameplays is the old age one.

Alpha CC or Maxis Match?   A mix between the two, it depends how well the CC matches the game's art style.

Do you cheat your sims weight? Not really; what I cheat is how muscular my female sims are as I play a lot the Acrobat career in TS3 Showtime and my girls bulk up too fast and too much.

Do you move objects? Ever since I learned about this particular (and very useful) cheat, yes.

Favorite Mod? Most of the Nraas mods, all of @thesweetsimmer111 fabulous baby/toddler mods and also small ones to correct some stuff in the game (like No Mascot Camera Zoom, No Autonomous Gaming, Autonomous Wash Hands After Toilet Use, Zoom-In CaS Camera, etc)

First Expansion/Game Pack/Stuff Pack? World Adventures.

Do you pronounce live mode like aLIVE or LIVing?   aLIVE  

Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made? A lot of them, for different reasons.

Selena Noble - a ballerina (now an acrobat) with no moral compass. But I think she's cute so she's my muse for the balletcore collection.

Lin Young - my fearless adventurer.

Riley Preston - my talented artist.

Hope London - my dedicated gardener.

These three: Mel Hada, Ren Akiba & Jace White (aka Yasu Sato). They are the MCs from "Uncertainty".

I don't have pics of them right now, but I also have to mention: Sasha Azarov, Daichi & Rei Sato, Ayanna Sato, Sebastian DeLuca.

Have you made a simself? The first sim I ever made was a simself. It did not go well.

Which is your favorite EA hair color? None; since it's TS3 I mix them according to my characters.

Favorite EA hair? Not really using the EA hairs usually, but I'd choose the Playful Updo from Late Night.

Favorite life stage? I play a lot the YA & A life stages, but also enjoy all the other ones.

Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay?  I'm in for everything the game has to offer: gameplay, building, CAW, CC creation.

Are you a CC creator? Yup.

Do you have any Simblr friends or a Sim Squad? I wouldn't say a squad, but I do have people here that I admire and like to interact with.

Do you have any sims merch? Nope.

Do you have a  YouTube for sims? Yes (as I'm an ex-machinima creator), but these days I'm only using it when I have animations to share.

How has your “Sims style” changed throughout your years of playing? In every possible way. I put a lot more thought into my builds (and worlds), my sims no longer look like aliens (I used to make them have these big anime eyes) and my gameplays are more wish-based than ever.

Who’s your favorite CC creator? So many of them since I'm a big CC hoarder. As Daniel said, everyone who brings something to this game is a champion and deserves accolades.

But to mention only a few, I'd say @simtanico for their high quality items, @enable--llamas for the awesome furniture, ArtVitalex & Onyxium over at TSR who both still create furniture for TS3, Bill-Sims also at TSR, @sim-songs here on Tumblr for their conversions, @technicallyswagpizza for their amazing plants (and tutorials that taught me a lot), @yorithesims and @bmit04 for poses; @maryjanesims3 & @agnelid for hair default replacements, and so many more. Sorry, I can't remember everyone right now.

How long have you had Simblr? Since January 2019.

How do you edit your pictures? For more aesthetic pics I use Reshade and PS (although I don't remember ever posting these types of pics), but I usually just slightly adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation and exposure in PS as I love the TS3's default art style (I'm just spicing it up a little).

What expansion/ gamepack is your favorite? Kinda all of the expansion packs?! Mainly Seasons, World Adventures, Late Night, Island Paradise, Generations. Also love all the functional store content and worlds.

Tagging:  @technicallyswagpizza @chojrak-making-things @agnelid @murfeelee @simtanico @puffkins2000 @yorithesims @enable–llamas @solori @pudding-parade @faerielandsims @jazzysimlife @tiaamorosa @lordressdragoonbear @thesweetsimmer111 @bmit04 @maryjanesims3 @nornities

Feel free to ignore if not interested or have done this before! 😁😘

[imaginependergast]

New Pendergast newsletter

It's so nice to have something after Angel of Vengeance. In this one the authors ask DALL-E to come up with AI images of Pendergast and co. plus some captions, also AI generated.

Going through the pics and the authors commentary...

The first pic is of Pendergast sitting by the fire drinking absinthe in a rocks glass with a single votive candle in a glass on an end table. As Preston points out, "He looks like a male underwear model from the 90s; the hair isn’t right; and he’s way too young". Hard agree. But, as the author suggests, he does look good for a younger!Pendergast. Hair is still wrong, though.

Next we have Constance throwing Diogenes into a volcano. It's bad. For one her hair is way too long (as is the case in all the pics she's generated in), her dress is wrong, the background is bad, and Diogenes is dressed like Count Olaf in the Series of Unfortunate Events books. And yes, as Child says, he looks like he's falling "while acting out Hamlet’s scene with Yorick’s skull." Also peep those terrible AI hands.

Next up is Vinnie who is apparently a more saggy version of Dennis Farina. As the authors say, he has way too much hair, needs to be a bit heavier, and get a shave.

Then we have Leng in his lab. His face is sort of half-skeletonized but I think he actually looks like a Fallout ghoul with hair. Also for some reason the lines in his forehead look like the edge of a mask, like the skeleton face is a mask. And of course, AI fingers.

And we have Diogenes. The authors give it a 10/10, with the only real issue being his beard is too long. Personally, I think his good eye being wrong is too noticeable (it's neon green, not hazel) and his shade of hair is a bit too artificially red. It's actually not too far off from the image we got in the last Angel of Vengeance newsletter but here his face is a bit less rounded and his cheekbones are more pronounced. I do think his hair cut and style is better here, though. Hm. Gonna be honest, this nearly works for me. Nearly.

AND then we have Diogenes seducing Constance. Diogenes as played by Henry Cavill. Seriously, dark hair, dark eyes and wearing what looks like a costume piece. Constance also looks like she was pulled from a generic romance novel cover. Semi-hilariously, based on the AI description, Child says, "That shrinking violet is not my Constance.".

Finally we have Constance playing the harpsichord and the harpsichord has her name stamped into the side in ALL CAPS. Fan-fucking-tastic. Doesn't look like her at all. Also it looks like "the back yard of 891 Riverside extended all the way to New Jersey" (Child).

I have to admit it gave me a chuckle, above and beyond it being content. It also seems that, generally, the authors aren't fans of generative AI since they make sure to note that the abilities of the program are built off the backs of scraping art and writing, usually without permission. And honestly, I seriously do not like AI art and writing. As much of it is the issue of permission and potentially causing problems with artists/writers trying to make a living off their trade I just find it soulless. Seriously, if you ever want fanmade Pendergast stuff, there's artists and fic writers (like me!) that are interested in commissions or maybe even requests.

Still kinda enjoy that mid 20s Pendergast, though.

[theghostbunnie]

Since you already talked about your Harrison and Nerris hcs (which I love wholeheartedly <3), I wanted to ask if you have any specific Preston hcs?

AAAA SO SORRY I'VE LET MY ASKS IN MY INBOX COLLECT SO MUCH DUST/GEN

Also tysm I'm so happy you enjoyed them 💓

CW: death mentions, mentions of loss.

I was having a conversation with @redheadedratt when I absorbed some of their's and thought of some of these !!

They told me they HC both of Preston's parents are dead, his father before he was old enough to remember him well and his mother years after fell ill but they were deeply in love and she spoke very fondly of him.

I can't explain it but him being raised by his mother and grandma in his formative years makes alot of sense to me he has those vibes.

I was being withheld information/jjj thought this was funny asked 2 share, anyways

When his mother passes death is still an odd thing he's too young to fully grasp so he became infatuated with depictions of not only loss, but romance, reuniting ect based around his grief and love for hisown parents being gone and their love story. It was his way of coping with it all while being too young to understand. Like he had a big love for theater before this but this had an effect on his art.

He has an infatuation with death in what I perceive as almost a strictly artistic way all throughout the show, obviously with his play "Romeo and Juliet 2: Love resurrected" but also in the commercial he makes in the fundraiser episode his immediate go-to for grabbing viewer's attention is to talk about the potential death of children. Yes I know the whole point to begin with was they were trying to guilt trip an audience but he wrote and directed this project himself surrounding death as his personal go-to.

• Not much of a HC as it is an observation but I love how fluid his exspression is, he's had the most drastic and plentiful outfit changes throughout the series from the football gear, to the leather jacket and backwards cap, to the historical looking full makeup and gown.

Which kinda slips me into this next HC • I think he loves history but has no care for historical accuracy like whatsoever as that "stunts his creative flow" but simultaneously would absolutely pick and choose when to call out historical inaccuracies in other people's work. (proofreads Neil's fanfictions without permission probs lol)

I think Max, Neil, Nerris and Preston all have varying control issues but in very different ways and Preston's is more he'll accidentally overstep a boundary without realizing and try advising people, but mostly keeps his perfectism and temper around things not going as he planned to hisown plans. Like, he only has controlling issues with things agreed he had the biggest say in. It ties into his want to be a director and writer and often stuck with peers who are terrible with following said direction and being a child himself he's not gonna handle it with maturity, he's gonna throw a fit.

Again this is really only strictly tied to things he think he should be in charge of and doesn't just extend to his everyday interactions with people too much.

• Can't tell if this is more observation or HC but he'd pick being a screenwriter or director over being an actor and if he ever got an acting role in someone else's play he'd be trying left and right to make suggestions to it and his character and really overstep without realizing it.

• I don't think he can read a room or have a filter on for the life of him not only would he openly talk about any dark or uncomfortable topics it'd be in the form of out of pocket as hell comments in a really dramatic voice too

[justforbooks]

Roger Bamber, who has died of lung cancer aged 78, was a leading photojournalist covering music, riots and politics for British newspapers from the Sun to the Guardian. He won photographer of the year for each of those newspapers – a unique achievement.

While at the Sun, he snapped one of the defining images of Freddie Mercury performing at Live Aid in 1985. Among his many memorable photographs for the Guardian is a black-and-white image of a lone boy on Brighton beach, pointing and laughing at a Punch and Judy show. The simple, yet perfect image was part of Roger’s portfolio when he won the photographer of the year award for the Guardian in 1992.

Roger had begun working as a freelance for the Observer in 1988, then the Guardian soon after I had arrived to run the picture desk and was charged by the then editor, Peter Preston, to take on the Independent – which had made a name for itself with its great photography.

Through his slew of awards and accolades, as well as his eye for a good picture and endless energy and enthusiasm, Roger helped our team to do just that. It was my belief that readers of the Guardian visited art galleries and watched good television and films, and, as such, they deserved to be stimulated by the photographs they looked at in the Guardian. Bamber’s pictures made the reader think and smile and even look twice. He was a picture editor’s dream.

A true pictorialist, he enjoyed capturing the beauty of shape and form, always with a wry sense of humour and even a twist of anarchy. He specialised in finding quirky people in arts and crafts up and down the country who he instinctively knew would make great photographs. Roger was a lover of trains, and one of his best photographs, entitled The Station Under the Station, shows an avid collector as a giant, looking through a miniature station at his beloved train set. The sense of scale in the image is extraordinary, and looked incredible in the paper.

He would photograph the same scene 50 times from ever so slightly different angles. To me it often looked like the same picture on six different contact sheets – sometimes I just used a pin and randomly chose one; they were all great.

Born in Leicester, Roger was the younger of two children of Vera (nee Stephenson), who worked in the local textile industry, and Fred Bamber, a telephone operator. It was while growing up close to the Great Central Railway line that Roger developed his fascination with steam trains, which was to become a lifelong obsession.

In 1960, after leaving Beaumont Leys secondary school aged 16, Roger began a graphic art course at Leicester College of Art. But once he had blown his entire year’s £80 student grant to upgrade his Rolleicord camera to a Nikon, it was clear that his future lay in photography, and, after graduation in 1963, he worked as junior photographer for a local advertising agency, Fleetway Publications. The following year, the college launched its first photography course, and Roger was invited back to teach on it, aged only 19.

A year later, in 1965, on his first day in London shopping his portfolio around, Roger got his first Fleet Street job, covering news and features for the Daily Mail, then a broadsheet. While there, he won commercial and industrial photographer of the year in the British Press Awards (1967).

In November 1969, he was poached by the launch team of Rupert Murdoch’s new project – the tabloid Sun newspaper. Over the 19 years he spent there he covered hard news and soft features all over the world, from war to rock and pop, and won many awards, including photographer of the year for his 1973 image of a bloodied, injured barrister being helped to safety after the IRA bombed the Old Bailey.

During this time, he hung out on tour with the likes of David Bowie and the Rolling Stones. A handwritten note on hotel stationery from 1976 confirms the Stones granted him permission to photograph rehearsals for the first night of their European tour, at the Festhalle, Frankfurt. A 1983 image of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall in Barbados depicts Jagger strumming a guitar and laughing his head off, not because Hall is pregnant with their first child, Elizabeth, but because Roger had been swallowed up by a huge wave – nevertheless he got his picture.

Roger had moved to Brighton in 1973, and in 1999 he worked with Brighton and Hove council in its bid for city status, his portraits and images of favourite places contributing to its success.

In 2005 he was awarded an honorary master’s degree from the University of Brighton, “for his distinguished photojournalism and the wealth of images of Brighton inspired by the city”. He was chuffed to receive this honour, given that he had left school without a single O-level.

Despite living in Brighton, Roger was always seen in a Leicester Cricket Club sweater under a sports jacket, even though he hated cricket – Leicester City FC were his first love.

Roger continued to win awards until his retirement from mainstream newspaper photography in 2009. He carried on photographing anything and everything that caught his eye, and encouraged young photographers with endless patience. In the days before he died Roger was thrilled to see (and was correcting to the last) the proofs of his forthcoming book, Out of the Ordinary – he certainly was.

He married his long-term partner, Shân Lancaster, a journalist, in 2004. The couple had met while covering the Falklands war for the Sun and were together for 40 years.

Shân survives him, as does his sister Valerie.

🔔 Roger Bamber, photographer, born 31 August 1944; died 11 September 2022

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[adventuressclubamericas]

Where In The World Is Phryne Fisher?

This week Phryne finds herself in Dayton, Ohio!

Dayton thinks of itself as the Birthplace of Aviation since the Wright Brothers invented and tested their first planes here (Yes, we all know that Kitty Hawk claims first in flight, but the work was done here, near the sight of current day Wright-Patterson Airforce Base). The Wright Brothers weren't the only great inventors in Dayton. We also boast about Charles Kettering, who invented the electric starter for automobiles, and many others.

Phryne stands between the Wright Brothers' hats on a bench outside The Engineers' Club. It was founded in 1914 by Charles Kettering and Colonel Edward Deeds to foster innovation through the sharing of ideas, guest speakers and more. We doubt the very female Phryne could have been a member at the beginning, but perhaps she could have been a guest of their most famous member, Orville Wright, at one of the lectures.

She definitely wanted to spend time at The Dayton Woman's Club, home to a 100+ year-old non-profit group devoted to empowering women and strengthening the community.

Ever the art-lover, Phryne drops by the Dayton Art Institute looking for a Margaret Preston. Unfortunately, there are no Margaret Preston's in the museum. But she did enjoy the many exhibits and having her picture taken with Leo the Lion, who guards the property.

Liberty Tower is a beautiful Art Deco building in Dayton, so Phryne stopped by, mainly to check that her money was safe in the vault. 

Is that Bert and Cec outside the tower?

Another Building in Downtown Dayton that caught Phryne's attention currently is home to AT&T. (Hey, they haven't made the center of the earth explode yet!)

Phryne also couldn't resist stopping in The Packard Museum to look at the latest models on the showroom floor. She does like shiny things. Perhaps Dot would like a new race car?

Phryne was crunched for time, but she couldn't turn down an invitation to Hawthorne Hill from Orville Wright. They had much to talk about at the Wright Brothers' Mansion.

#flatphryne  #missfishercon2022  #missfishersmurdermysteries  #missfisherandthecryptoftears  #phrynefisher  #essiedavis  #jackrobinson  #nathanpage  #everycloudproductions  #AcornTV

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

2.  Mandatory Monroe Mingling

Grace had been waiting to get off of work ALL DAY. Aside from the fact that the bookstore had been even slower business than usual, she had so much to do whenever she got out. She took a sip of her coffee as she left the doors and noticed Mr. Laurent was staring at her AGAIN. That man was a peculiar one. But, she figured it probably had to do with being an eccentric, successful writer and she suspected a recluse, because other authors came into the bookstore, but he was the only regular and he was always alone. At least he didn’t seem dangerous, which was a lot more than she could say for a lot of people.

But, he was weird. She chuckled a little thinking about how he was following her around the store, probably trying to pump himself up to talk to her, then when she addressed him, he totally froze. It wasn’t the first time they’d even seen each other and she wondered, whenever he read her name tag if he was one of those people who didn’t remember faces, or one of the more typical types that couldn’t tell certain faces apart and therefore didn’t know that he already knew her already… or at least should have. She had been working in this store now for five years, two of which she worked the day shift, which was when he usually came in.

Then again, Mr. Laurent was never actually in the store until today. He was always in the coffee shop and all staff was told to never bother him and only accommodate him if he asked for help. That was actually a part of their orientation! Grace tried to read his work before, but it wasn’t really her thing. She liked fantasy, sure, but it just felt like a knock off of numerous other works, compressed into this fictitious place that was a hodgepodge of other places. Like if Middle Earth and Narnia had a baby and it married Wonderland and they adopted Neverland… or something. She couldn’t keep up with all of the convoluted world building long enough to pin down what she even hated about Esmoroth. But, she hated it. She'd never actually say those words to him, probably.

The kids in her philanthropy program seemed to enjoy the books, so they appealed to someone. She rushed home from the train, washed up, got dressed and drove to her parents' estate. Whenever she came in, she was immediately transported to the first time she'd come back home, after her years away. Every. Time. She thought about that day and trembled as she crossed the threshold, reminding herself that she was safe from that now, that her life was very different today.

"Miss Grace St. Catherine!" She was announced. Her mother sighed and made her way over to greet her and try not to grumble about her last name.

"We've been waiting for you, Dear. Come, come. I'll introduce you to the new chairman of the board at the Infinity Train Foundation…"

"I'm looking forward to that," Grace said. She wasn't, and they both knew it, but the foundation helped her to get home and she worked closely with them in helping other children with various issues. She didn't care for many of their ways, but they helped a lot of people out and as long as Grace had good rapport with them, she could help plenty of the kids in their programs, in her own ways.

For her parents, that meant financial, but Grace was more hands on than that. She headed several incentives, such as dance classes, reading club, safety drills, support groups, and she pushed for others that sometimes didn't get approved, such as martial arts training and self defense, survival techniques, and crisis management.

Those sounded like great ideas to her, but the Foundation was more interested in making children feel safe and getting them in the mindset to trust in those caring for them in their environment. Those suggestions, the Foundation believed, would make their children feel like they were constantly under attack or unsafe. Grace let it go. She had enough resources to implement these things elsewhere, and she did. She felt bad for the kids involved with the Foundation who might never receive the proper training for an emergency situation, though.

She wished someone would have taught her the things that she now knew. She placed her hand over the scar on the back of her neck. An A with a squiggly line, carved into her skin when she was a kid, to not only show her loyalty to the Apex, but as a sign of ownership. No matter what happened the past few years since she'd gotten out, that reminder would forever be with her. Ms. Monroe wanted to have it removed, grafted, covered, ANYTHING to make it easier to forget that her daughter had been missing for 8 years and came back as an older, darker, broken version of the perfect child that she wasn't watching closely enough and never paid proper attention to.

Grace sometimes thought she refused to have it removed to punish her mother for just that. She spent those years convinced that her parents didn't want her back anyway, certain that they were glad that she had wandered off, that they were happier without her there to be weird and lonely and sad. She spent them wondering, "If they loved me, why haven't they come to get me?" Of course, she knew better now, but unpacking and reprogramming herself would take more time that a few years.

Her father was speaking to the white haired man that she was being introduced to, but he quickly hugged her and began boasting on her - how far she had come, how strong she was, how much of a survivor, and how proud… she loved her parents, but they exhausted her. While her mom would have preferred that those 8 years never happened and believed that she could will them away by remaining in denial; her father seemed to believe that they were the only years of Grace's life whatsoever and her coming out on the other end was her victorious claim to greatness.

Sure, his daughter overthrew her traffickers, started a cult as a teenager, and spent years as a criminal mastermind and destructive thug, but she overcame it and was now the poster girl for fucked up kids whose parents can afford rehabilitation without incarceration. Huzzah! 

There was nothing heroic about escaping to her. They never showed up to rescue her. The only hero she had was a crime lord who killed her owner in a business deal gone wrong. A tatted older woman with a British accent and an "A" in the back of her neck. From that moment, Grace knew that if she wanted to survive, she'd have to save herself. She’d have to be tough, ruthless even, and emulate the power she saw in that queen bitch that day.

They didn't go by names when One was in charge. They all had numbers. Hers had been 148. That's what they called her and what she came to see herself as before her "steward" was killed. Whenever she was free, she took other kids and they were going to revolt against One and be like the woman only known on the streets as "The Conductor." Nobody had ever actually seen One. He was, as far as Grace knew either a ghost or a fake name for whatever organization had so many children from all over the world involved in it's trafficking ring. But the kids left behind.. they remembered Grace. "Leader" of the Apex. Future Conductor. Enemy of One…

Getting arrested for assault somehow was the best thing to ever be happen to her. It got her on the track back home. She had forgotten it was a real place. The rules were so much different than on the streets. The people she knew had changed, too… or she had misremembered them. At any rate, being 18 and beating up a gang leader with a bat should have gotten her hard time, but being a Monroe, the long lost daughter of Ambrose and Gethsemane Monroe… she became an inspirational story instead. She hated it, but she hated the thought of going back to the other life more. Hated to have to remember what happened to Hazel... what happened to others.

So, now, she lived her life as a different woman. She did a lot to try to help children. She worked some place that was low-key and enjoyable. She changed her name and kept all events that weren't already known about her time away her secrets. Atoning for things that she did as a child - things she was forced to do, things she thought she needed to do, and things she did because she wanted to included humoring her parents by showing up to events for their various charity endeavors. They sweetened the deal by having a lot of those be targeted towards helping children have better lives and she was introduced to a lot of people in such positions over the years that she had been back.

Grace was in the middle of pretending to listen to the chairman's son list his entire resume of organizations he'd given money to whenever she heard her phone ding. She meant to mute it before, but now that she had it out, she was surprised to see "Simon Laurent wants to follow you" in her alerts. She laughed a little, phasing out Preston or Princeton, or whatever his name was to scroll through Mr. Laurent's feed. It was mostly photos of a white cat, small humanoid figures and dioramas, press promos for work, landscapes, a woman who she was sure HAD to be his mom, and the occasional selfie. Sure. Mr. Laurent could follow her. Maybe if he saw her outside of work look, he'd get the courage to shoot his shot. Of course, she wouldn't seriously date him, but it would be cool to have a nice guy interested in her for a change.

Mr. Laurent seemed nice. He was pretty cute, too. Plus, he had enough money that if she DID go on a date with him, her mother wouldn't give her a lecture about dating in her "little St. Catherine Bubble." It was similar to her lecture about working with poor people and befriending the lower class.. but magnified by the fear of someone coming in, using up her inheritance and her having a substandard baby for a commoner. It was like her mom didn't know what kind of life she would've had to lead in the empty warehouse the Apex brought kids to… like she refused to know.

It was around 10 pm whenever Grace left her parents' home, promising to make plans with them soon. She drove home listening to music and sat in her car for a while, establishing her schedule for the next couple of weeks. Mandatory Monroe Mingling was done for this month and next week: Date Night with X, 1:48 am.

The walk to her apartment building wasn't long, but she always felt a sense of dread whenever she walked alone. She always imagined a white stretch limousine with gold decorum pulling up beside her and a slick fellow in the back rolling the window down to ask, "Say, young thing? You look like you wanna get away for a minute. Let me give a you a ride to some place nice."

When you're 10, nice things seemed like they belonged to nice people and taking a ride to a nice place with a nice man? What a concept! Especially when the last thing you did was something SO silly to get your parents' attention. Maybe if she went someplace nice for a little bit, that would make them miss her, make them see that she was worthy of being noticed… 

She saw headlights and gasped, turning suddenly as a random car passed by, not even paying any attention to her. She laughed at herself and went inside.

Mr. Laurent hadn't liked any of her photos, so maybe she was wrong about him being attracted. He probably just needed some books to try to appease his publisher and sought out the only Black person on staff at the bookstore to help him, then added her page just because people do that sometimes. "Oh well. You don't need a nice guy anyways. Probably would just get in the way…" she looked at the photo of her next date, pinned to the wall, and she stuck a sticky note on the face of the one from her calendar and wrote: Sunday night, Valentine's Day and drew a heart on it. Her phone dinged again. She looked at it 12:45 am.

Simon Laurent liked your photo… she checked on the photo. It was one of her and her pet turtle, reading on the balcony. The caption said: Trying to read The Book of Esmoroth to Hazel. Neither of us are very impressed. "Oh my God!" Grace said, laughing. She had forgotten about that! Now, he'd seen it. She didn't know if he liked it for shade, to let her know that he knew, or if he planned to come back and try to say something nasty about it. She took a little thank you card from her stationary and quickly doodled a drawing of herself and Hazel and wrote, "Sorry we didn't nice to your book." She wrote his name on the front, stuck it in an envelope, tossed it in her bag and figured whenever he was next in the store, she'd hand it to him. He usually came once every couple of weeks, sometimes once a week and ever so often like twice a week, so she's see him soon, she was sure.

She didn't expect to see him the next day, and at one of her displays, at that. "Mr. Laurent. You're here again, two days in a row," she noted, digging through her bag for the little card.

"Yeah… somebody in one of my group chats told me that I needed to get some children's books by Black authors, so.. I'm trying to do that."

"You're in the comics, graphic novels and manga section.. kids' books are by the big gorilla with the tubas on her shoulder." She pointed towards the landmark as she described it and handed him something with her other hand. "Also, here."

He furrowed his eyebrows and took it. "Thanks, and thanks.." he marched towards the gorilla and she went to go clock in.

Simon stopped to look at the card as soon as she was out of his line of eyesight. How. Cute. He felt better about the fact that she didn't like his work, now. Also… she was pretty good at drawing. He was going to have this framed.

Grace stopped at the coffee shop for her floral tea and to shoot the breeze with the morning barista before getting back to the sales floor. Her phone dinged. Ugh. Was her mute option glitching? She smirked and shook her head. ANOTHER Date Night? So soon? She hadn’t even had her Valentines’ Day date yet but okay. She'd check this guy out for herself, later.

For now, she went to go find Mr. Laurent in the kids' books section. Maybe she could kill some time by helping him again… and perhaps flirt. Just because she didn't think they'd ever date didn't mean that she couldn't flirt a little. She was emotionally unavailable, not dead.

He already had an arm full of books when she found him. "So… you need help?"

"I've picked up every book that I saw a Black child on the cover of. I don't know if I can be trusted to do my own shopping in here." She laughed and took some of them off of his hands. He was staring again. She stopped smiling and stared back. "Sorry… it's.. you have a very infectious laugh."

"Then why weren't you infected with laughter?"

"I was laughing where I always do. In here," he said, pointing to his chest. She laughed again, harder this time.

"You're hilarious, Mr. Laurent. If things don't work out with the publisher, you should at least do something with your comedy." He couldn't tell if that was her honest opinion, her being sarcastic, or some other option, but he really enjoyed being able to talk to her. This couldn't continue like this, pretending to need books to get close to her. He had to at least try to be a normal person and get her to hang out with him when nobody was paying her to. That way he would see her outside of her business mode. He’d comprehend her as a person and as a character more..

"What would be hilarious is if I were to ask you out… and you said yes. Wouldn't that?" He bit his lip. What a fucking bizarre way to collect himself an L. She did laugh, though. So… one bright side. She quickly stopped and looked bothered though, so no bright side.

"Ummmmm… I think that would be a train wreck for you, Mr. Laurent. I'm not somebody that you wanna go out with."

"It's okay. I expected you to reject me." He wanted to run out of the store and literally never step foot inside of it again.

"That's not it! I have too much to sort through to go on a date with someone like you. You seem very put together and content. I almost always bring disaster with me. I don't like to make other people's lives messy."

"That's valid. Thank you." He rocked on the balls of his feet.

"You want me to put these books away?"

"No, no, no… I'm gonna buy them. But, you will most likely never see my face in here again," he joked. She looked sad. "Just kidding. I'm very much a creature of routine. There's no way that I'm trying to find a new bookstore at my age."

"You're only 20 something, right?"

"Twenty FIVE. That's practically 30!"

She shook her head, "I'm also 25, but definitely only going on 11." They both laughed as she helped him to the counter to check out his books. Her phone dinged and her coworker asked," Who's blowing up your phone? Another hot date?" Grace threw her coworker a look and Simon frowned and looked at the books on the counter. So.. she does date… but just not somebody like you.

"He's being facetious," Grace offered, sympathetically. Simon wanted to crawl into a hole. He waved a hand like it was nothing, but his entire pained face and damp eyes told everyone that was a lie. He took his books and rushed out as soon as his ticket was paid. "What is wrong with you?" Grace asked her coworker.

"I didn't know that Mr. Laurent was trying to hit!" Grace covered her face with her hand and shook her head. After that, he just MIGHT find another bookstore. Poor Mr. Laurent. He was a really nice guy. 

03. Upon Further Research

[jadelotusflower]

September Roundup

So it wasn’t a very productive month, writing wise. I think I wrote less than 1000 words due to various RL issues (a shoulder impingement giving me grief among other things). I can’t entirely blame that, but nor am I going to dwell. It’s my birthday tomorrow, and while I’m having the usual existential crisis about another year slipping by almost unnoticed and without significant accomplishment, I am resolved to return to my novel and get at least the first draft finished by the end of the year. We’ll see how that goes.

In the meantime, I’ve at least been reading more. I’ve also consumed too much film/tv instead of writing, but hey.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood - the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, this was an engrossing read, if perhaps not what people were expecting. While I agree with some of the criticism, I really enjoyed this book.

Like the original novel, it takes the form of primary sources from the rule of Gilead, in Aunt Lydia’s secret chronicle, and “witness testimony” from two young women - one who grew up within Gilead, and the other outside. It’s fairly obvious from the beginning who they are, but I’ll avoid spoilers. Events become a little convenient towards the end, but it’s a great improvement on the tv show’s third season where things just became ludicrously easy and consequence free. I don’t think Atwood will ever write again in this world, but there is still so much to explore and I hope she does.

Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him by Tracy Borman - As far as Tudor biographies go, there’s nothing much new here, but it is an interesting character study of Henry VIII through the men who had the greatest influence on him, especially as a young despot in the making. Through this lens it really does become just so shockingly clear that with a few exceptions, almost everyone of importance in Henry’s life goes through the same cycle of being built up, brought close, and rewarded, but then cast aside or crushed by his unchallenged power and narcissism - and often on very flimsy pretext. 

Top End Wedding - I love a romcom, and this was really charming - it’s now on Netflix so I highly recommend. Starring and co-written by Miranda Tapsell, and directed by Wayne Blair (who also directed The Sapphires - a must see if you haven’t), it’s a film that shows great love to classic American and British romcoms (and the tropes are all there), but also uniquely Australian (Tapsell and Blair are both Indigenous, and care was taken to liaise with the Aboriginal communities where filming took place to ensure that proper approvals were given and and respect paid to the traditional owners). The backdrop of the Northern Territory is just beyond gorgeous, and this just the kind of heartwarming fare needed in these Trying Times (TM).

Bill and Ted Face the Music - As is this! I’ve loved the first two Bill and Ted movies since I was a kid, and was so happy that they’ve finally completed the trilogy. Look, it’s not high art, and you’d be forgiven for thinking this is just another cash grab off the sequel-reboot merry go round, but this was made with such clear love and affection for the originals that I just don’t care.

Here’s the thing: I hate an unnecessarily reboot as much as the next person - I don’t think there’s any point remaking something unless you have something new to say about the material. I also hate the “bleakquel” - where the only idea to follow up the original material is to tear it down just to rebuild it the same but without the heart (looking at you Star Wars). However, I am a sucker for the follow up/sequel just to catch up with those characters you love and see how they’re doing 10, 20, 30 years later. It’s familiar, it’s comforting, and sometimes that’s all it needs to be. Really, that’s all B&T FTM is, but I was perfectly satisfied by it.

Maybe there’s nothing more this film has to say than Be Excellent to Each Other (again), but honestly that’s a message I think we all need right now. There’s of course more to it than that - for the first time, we see a Bill and Ted who have become disillusioned that despite mastering so many different forms of music, they haven’t found The Song that will align the planets and bring out world peace etc, despite their most valiant attempts (That Which Binds Us Through Time: The Chemical, Physical and Biological Nature of Love: An Exploration of the Meaning of Meaning, Part 1 is a neat joke but also a legitimate banger complete with throat singing, a theremin, and bagpipes). And SPOILERS: In the end they discover honestly the only possible answer: that The Song itself doesn’t matter, it’s the world united through music, playing together, that brings everything into balance.

Does all the time travel work within the established rules of the universe? Not really - we see alternate Bill and Teds of the future without any explanation of alternate timelines. Are Samara Weaving (as Thea Preston) and Brigette Lundy-Paine (as Billie Logan) essentially doing impression of Winters and Reeves? Sure, but they are so charming that I don’t care.

Now, there are some obvious holes - covid made reshoots/pickups impossible so the opening “where are they now” montage got nixed, there was clearly more story for Elizabeth and Joanna (”the Princesses”) that is sadly missing, and the ending is very abrupt, but circumstances being what they are I can see why they decided to work with what they had and release the film, which is an antidote to the current, depressing state of the world, and at least in my view, a worthy third and final part of the Bill and Ted trilogy. (But I wouldn’t say no to a time-travel through music history show with Billie and Thea).

Disclosure (dir. Sam Feder) - a fantastic documentary exploring the representation of trans people in film and television, which sadly has often vacillated between lack of representation to misrepresentation, but with hope that things are slowly improving. A really worthwhile watch.

Enola Holmes (dir. Harry Bradbeer) - Twas charming! I hadn’t read (or even heard of) the YA books this is based on, and am uninterested in Stranger Things, but found this very entertaining and Millie Bobby Brown delightful in the title role. There was also a nice balance in the supporting cast, in that they resisted the urge to stack the decks too high in Enola’s favour, or make all the characters around her completely incompetent so she’s only heroic by default. She is clever and accomplished, but also finds that practicing jiu-jitsu is very different to an actual fight against someone trying to kill her.

Fleabag (seasons 1-2) - I never want to be too harsh on movies or tv that have been hyped to the heavens, because expectations are always too high and are rarely met. I liked this show, but did find all the smug asides and looks to camera a little grating in the first season. I enjoyed the second season a lot more, because while Fleabag was still a screw up, she wasn’t stealing money from her date’s wallet level terrible, so there was more of an emotionally satisfying arc (+ Andrew Scott who is always great), and I felt the humour was pitched a bit better. Olivia Coleman was the standout for me (isn’t she always?) as the Godmother, whose smiling, passive-aggressive villainy was masterful and worth watching for that alone.

Lucifer (seasons 1-2) - This show has crossed my tumblr dash for years, but I’m not really fond of crime procedurals. I am fond of mythology so seeing as the whole thing’s now on Netflix I decided to give it a go, and I have to say I am intrigued by the concept of the devil as a wayward son whose punishment for rebelling against God was to spend eternity punishing others, rather than straight-up evil incarnate. So far the procedural side of things is ho hum, but I am enjoying the mythology side, and Tom Ellis is very very handsome. I’m also pleasantly surprised at the number of female characters in the main and supporting cast and their treatment - they are actually allowed to talk and be friends with one another. Can you believe?!?

[thefairefolk-rp]

Amity Alder | FC: Nathalie Emmanuel | TAKEN

Age: 355 Species: Hob Fairie Court: Seelie Court Occupation: Seelie Evoker Gender: Cis Woman Pronouns: She/Her

Appearance

Amity favors simple clothing, preferring function over fashion. Despite her elevated status as Naveen Bryd’s prized pupil, Amity has not gotten used to the lavish styles of court and prefers simple tunics paired with long pants. Her dark curls are typically allowed to roam free, unless she is training. Then she prefers a tight bun at the nape of her neck. A shy smile is known to illuminate her delicate features, but it is a rare sight indeed.

Personality

Amity is a clever, but a quiet girl. While she is inclined to simply observe her surroundings, one would be foolish indeed to mistake her silence for disinterest. She is ever watchful, even though she keeps her observations to herself. She is at her most outspoken when she feels someone is being taken advantage of. She cannot help but intervene, feeling compelled to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Her enhanced magic abilities come naturally to her. Strengthening her magic is no easy task, but it does not cause Amity any distress- except for when she is asked to use her magic to undermine others. She doesn't enjoy causing pain, not even to those who would gladly cause her harm given the chance. She remains a firm believer in every individual’s inherent goodness, no matter how fiercely the war or the fairies around her may try to convince her otherwise. However, the more time Amity spends at court, the harder she must fight to keep her faith.

Background

Amity is the daughter of two merchants who realized that their best bargaining chip was their only daughter. From a young age, Amity’s affinity for magic dominated her everyday life. She could not go about a simple task without some burst of magic interrupting her.  It was by chance that Naveen Byrd met the child after a public display. Naveen could not help but be intrigued by this mild-mannered, doe-eyed child that seemed to be content with creating illusions that older and more skilled fae could not conjure without assistance. With his interest and her father’s anger at yet another public embarrassment,  Amity’s fate was sealed. 

Ever since Naveen assumed care of her, she has been pushed to her limits in terms of her magic. Amity prefers to use her magic for healing or illusions, whereas Naveen is more interested in the damage she could cause to enemies of court. Amity longs for the simple, carefree days of her youth. She appears to be ignorant- whether willfully or not- of her father’s callous indifference towards her. Her mother’s identity remains a mystery to all but Amity, who refuses to speak of her. 

Amity spends her days training until Naveen’s watchful eye. In her limited free time, she is known to wander the Aurum library. She is likely to be found reading books on botany or medicine, unable to quench her natural curiosity to understand the healing arts.

Relationships

Mentored by Naveen Byrd

Frightened of Alekto Bone

Friends with Preston Reed

Respects Harland Briar

[wickedbarnes]

Romeo and Juliet | Ted Logan x Reader

A prompt by the lovely @ringa-starr. Thank you for sending this one in! Hopefully I gave it the justice it deserved.

NOTE: I'm very sorry if my portrayal of Ted isn't accurate to the one in the movies. I promise I'll try and do better.

WARNING: Fluff. Slight Angst.

--

Ted took a deep breath as he bounced his leg nervously as he awaited the result regarding his audition for Romeo. But he wasn't alone. You and Bill were also waiting with him. You had auditioned for the part of Juliet while Bill had also auditioned for the part of Romeo. For Juliet, it was down to you and another student while Bill and Ted were the ones competing for the role of Romeo.

In all honesty, Ted wouldn't mind if Bill got the role. He was his best friend after all. But somehow, he hoped he'd be the one getting it considering he wants to do the play with you, if ever you'd be the one getting the role of Juliet but that's already a question he knew the answer of.

Ted was never a fan of theatrical plays nor did he master the art of acting. But he pushed himself through and did his best to rehearse for this play. He couldn't afford making mistakes, he was determined to get this part. However, his thoughts have abruptly stopped the moment Mrs. Atkins, the play director, called you and the other girl back inside the audition room.

It didn't take that long before you bursted out of the audition room, yelling in victory while having the biggest smile on your face. You didn't even give a second thought on hugging both your best friends excitedly before pulling away and taking a deep breath.

"I got the part!" You beamed, causing Ted to smile widely at you before both him and Bill did their infamous air guitar gesture.

"That's most excellent, Y/N! You deserve it!" Bill ruffled your hair while Ted reached over to pinch your cheek affectionately. But the celebration was cut short when the Director called for his and Bill's name.

Upon taking another deep breath, the duo made their way inside and closed the door behind them before sitting down on the chair infront of the Director and the two others that were also going to manage the play.

"Both of you are surprisingly good at acting. I think the both of you excerted more effort than the ones who have auditioned earlier but of course, we only have to pick one for the role of Romeo." Mrs. Atkins began as she looked down at the list that she had in her hands before averting her eyes back to the two boys in front of her.

Ted looked down at his hands as he bit his bottom lip nervously and let out a breath before he began to chant silently in his head.

Please be me, please be me, please be me, please be me, please be-

"Congratulations, Mr. Preston Esq. You'll be starring as Romeo for the play." Ted immediately looked up at Mrs. Atkins who had reached over to shake Bill's hand. Bill gasped in surprised and quickly jumped up from his seat, shaking Mrs. Atkins' hand along with the others and thanking them profusely.

"I'm sorry, Ted. You were really good, I have to be honest with that. But we just found something in Bill that we didn't quite find in you when you were portraying Romeo. You would've been a great Romeo. You would've matched well with Y/N!" Mrs. Atkins gave Ted an apologetic look but Ted immediately smiled at him and shook his head.

"Nonsense, Mrs. Atkins. My buddy Bill here deserves to get the part. The experience I got from audition has been most triumphant." Ted did a fancy bow that made the people in front of him chuckle.

As they got out of the audition room, Bill immediately made his way towards you and hugged you excitedly while Ted chose to fall behind, a small smile tugging on his lips as he watched how excited you were that Bill got the part.

"Congratulations, dude. I'm sure you're gonna be excellent out there. And of course, you too, Y/N." Ted smiled as Bill threw his arm over his shoulder.

There was no doubt Bill deserved to get the part. But deep down, he was hoping it'd be him. He had this plan, you see. That he'd finally confess his feelings to you after the whole ordeal. And the fact that there was a kissing scene in the play only motivated him to push for the role. After that, he'd ask you out to the upcoming prom.

But it seems that fate had other plans.

--

It had been a few weeks since you and Bill had been casted for the role of Romeo and Juliet. And that meant you two spent more time together doing rehearsals. And that also meant less time with Ted. Ted had tried his best to understand your side but he couldn't help the fact that he felt as if he was being pushed away.

He also tried to ignore the pain in his chest whenever Bill would rehearse his lines to you, acting as Romeo and looking at you with these eyes while saying such affectionate words. But it was hard. It resulted to him being easily irritated and quite distant. But it only angered him more when it seemed as if you and Bill were too busy to even notice how he's doing.

It was the night before the much awaited play. And despite how upset Ted got over the whole situation, he promised he'd be there somewhere in the auditorium watching the play. He wouldn't miss it for the world. He knew how hard you and Bill worked for it. But the feeling of jealousy still hasn't left his body. Ted somehow felt selfish.

"I'm so nervous, Ted. What if I mess up? What if people aren't satisfied with my performance?" You sighed deeply and looked up at Ted with your bright doe eyes, "I worked so hard for this, I can't afford to make a mistake."

Ted's heart softened at the sight of you. You were wearing the most beautiful dress he had ever seen. Your hair and makeup done to perfection and it only made him fall for you even more. You looked like an angel.

"Y/N, that's bogus. Stop being so hard on yourself. I know you'll do great, I just do. Don't stress yourself out too much and enjoy your time out there. As long as you're happy with what you're doing, people will enjoy your performance." Ted smiled and tucked a loose piece of hair behind your ear.

"How would you know that?" You asked and Ted would stare at you with this look on his face. Seriousness etched on his features as he replied.

"Because I believe in you. I always have." His words definitely caught you off guard. Ted wasn't one to be so serious but there were times that he was. And his words of encouragement made your stomach do a back flip.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Ted Logan." A smile made its way to your face and Ted did too. But deep down, he knew you had only meant those words platonically.

"Now go be excellent out there."

--

After bidding both you and Bill good luck, Ted had situated himself in a seat that wasn't too far nor too near the stage. He was excited yet nervous to watch the play. But once it started, Ted found himself completely enamoured with the story and with you. Your beauty was unlike no other and the fact that the light was hitting your features so perfectly was only adding up to the fact that you were indeed the prettiest of the bunch.

But then, the kissing scene began.

Ted found himself gripping his seat tightly as he watched Bill cup your face as he slowly leaned in. His jaw clenched the moment your lips touched and letting it move in sync. Ted shouldn't be jealous. He shouldn't but he couldn't help it. The scene in front of him was becoming a blur and he now realized that tears were forming in his eyes and almost immediately, he stood up and made his way outside of the auditorium in a hasty pace.

You had seen the whole thing. But didn't see the how heartbroken Ted looked before he walked away. You had willed yourself to push through because the last thing you wanted was to mess up just because you got distracted. Somehow, along the way up until the play had finished, you hoped for Ted to come back. But his seat remained empty.

After all of the cast had bowed down, you looked at Bill but it seemed as if he didn't even notice Ted's untimely departure. Once you all got backstage, you immediately your way to your corner and quietly shed a tear until you heard Bill approaching you with the happiest look on his face.

"That was the most triumphant play I've ever done! Congrats to us, dudette!" He beamed and his energy caused you to smile a bit.

"Congrats to us." You replied, engulfing Bill in a hug before he let go of you and looked around.

"Where's Ted?" He asked confusingly and upon the mention of his name, anger and sadness bubbled inside you.

"He walked out." You said, your hands clenching into fists.

"What?"

"He walked out. I saw him earlier after we did the kissing scene." You sighed and felt your tears welling up in your eyes, "I thought he wanted to watch us, I thought he said I was good. I thought he was only going for a bathroom break but he never returned."

You were so proud with the work you've done with Ted that you just couldn't wait to show him. All the times you've spent apart from him, you had silently promised it'd be worth it. You wanted to make him proud, to impress him even. You had silently hoped that maybe after this play he'd be able to see you as something more... something more than a friend.

But maybe you were wrong.

"Let me find him, Y/N. He's not like this at all, it's so heinous and very bogus. Stay here and I'll-"

"Bill!" Bill looked back and saw his parents waving excitedly at him. Sighing, he put a comforting hand on your shoulder before he walked over to them.

The unsettling feeling in your stomach irritated you and you found yourself making your way past everyone, trying your best to acknowledge the ones who congratulated you. Once you made your way outside the auditorium, the wind gently hit you causing your white dress to flow freely with the wind.

Your eyes scanned the area until you had eventually found Ted's familiar figure sitting on a nearby bench, his back turned towards you. Taking a deep breath, you angrily marched your way to him until you were standing by his side, seeing that he was slouched forward, arms resting on his thighs while he absentmindedly fumbled with a piece of grass.

"How could you? I thought you said you were going to watch the play, Ted. I thought you said I was good. I thought you were going to support Bill and I tonight!" You exclaimed, "I worked so hard on that play and I was so excited for you to see it and what did you do? You walk out! That's such an asshole move, Ted. So... so heinous of you!"

Your outburst only caused Ted to chuckle, seeming as that was the first time he had heard you talk like him and Bill. But this angered you more.

"Are you even listening to me, Theodore?! God, you're not even looking at me!"

"Because if I do, I don't know if I can stop myself, Y/N, and I don't want to do something that might ruin our friendship!" Ted backfired causing you to snap your mouth shut as he turned his head up to look at you.

The sight of you in a flowy white dress caused Ted's mouth to go dry. You looked so fucking beautiful and he had no idea how to deal with it. And with the way the moonlight was delicately hitting your face made everything so complicated.

"What do you mean, Ted?"

Ted let out a scoff at your question as he stood up and frustratedly ran his fingers through his long, thick mop of hair.

"Y/N, I couldn't watch the play for any longer, not because I'm not proud of you, not because I don't think you're any good. But because I couldn't stand you kissing Bill."

"Ted, it's just acting-"

"I know it's just acting, Y/N, that's the thing! But for the life of me, I can't seem to fathom the image of you kissing someone that isn't me." Ted had let the words out before he could even think them through, "The moment you kissed Bill on that stage, I felt like my heart's gonna burst with jealousy. It was very heinous of me, I know. But what I'd give anything to be in Bill's place."

You stood frozen on your spot, trying to decipher whether you were hearing Ted's words right. You had discreetly pinched your thighs to try and wake yourself up from his dream but realized this was all reality.

"Why do you think I wanted to play Romeo so bad? Why do you think I did my best to get that role? I wanted so badly to do that play with you but I know I shouldn't be selfish so when Bill got it, I had no choice but to be happy for him. God, Y/N, you have no idea how deep I am in this because of you. I was even going to ask you to go to prom with me!"

A gasp escaped your lips but Ted took your reaction in a negative way. In his mind, he already knew you were going to reject him. Why would someone like you go out with someone like him? He was lucky he got the chance to be friends with you. In his mind, he was nothing special, he was too weird and he felt as if he wasn't even that smart. You deserved someone much better than he is.

"Ted..."

"No, Y/N, I get it. I know what you're going to say. But before this friendships ends, I just want to let this out of my chest." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, his warm chocolate eyes looking back into yours.

"Ted..." You said once again, trying to get his attention when he began to take a step closer to you.

"Y/N. I, Theodore Logan, am incredibly, deeply, excellently in love with you. I have been ever since you bought me my favorite snacks when I got upset even when it was raining. I have been ever since I found out how adorable you look when you snort whenever you laugh. Or how you silently sing to yourself whenever you do your homework or that one time you saved a dog from getting hit by a car. No part of you is worth calling bogus. And with all the babes I've seen here in San Dimas, you're the only one that matters."

You hadn't known what came over you but one moment you were standing in front of your dorky best friend and the next your lips were suddenly on his. You could tell how shocked Ted was by the sudden action but he soon relaxed and reciprocated your kiss, moving his lips in sync with yours. His kiss was gentle yet firm and passionate. It was as he was desperate to kiss you more but was afraid to scare you away.

Soon enough, you pulled away and tried to catch your breath, resting your forehead against his as a smile made its way to both your faces.

"Bogus, Ted. What took you so long?" You giggled, a soft blush making its way to your face as Ted laughed giddily in response.

"Lack of courage. But it's all worth since this is the most triumphant night of my life, my Juliet." His words made a melodius laugh escape your lips as you threw your head back in laughter.

"Such a dork you are, my Romeo." You smiled just as Ted leaned in to press another kiss on your lips, his arms wrapping around your waist.

However, you soon broke away when you heard someone yell in surprise.

"Woah!" Bill looked back and forth at the both of you, his face contorted into a look of shock while you and Ted had the same look on your faces. Neither of you said anything until the duo did their infamous air guitar gesture.

"Excellent!" They said in unison as you stood there laughing and shaking your head at your best friend and hopefully new boyfriend, Ted.

[chaos-nest]

Hello, my name is Beatrice Smith, I apologize for not sharing my middle name, but there’s quite a large amount of fae in Averno, so I try to take extra precautions when I can to avoid any issues. I am twenty years old, the oldest of my two siblings; Preston (19) and Cordelia (17.) I am a member of the Department of Creation and Destruction along with the Department of Higher Powers, where I’ve been working on painting and the study of witchcraft.

Being accepted into A New School has been one of the strangest, yet most wonderful experiences of my life. I spent most of my childhood very sick, so being able to learn and make a name for myself here is nothing short of incredible. My brother and sister are doing well and after the long struggle the past few years have been, Averno is a breath of fresh air.

To share a little about myself, I prefer to keep a more vintage aesthetic. I love tea, second maybe only to my brother. I also enjoy baking, though I don’t mind cooking, my sister is much better at it than I am. I use my art as a way to harness my craft a lot, I personally don’t like labeling myself as a certain type of witch, but I have adopted a lot of the mechanisms art witches have in their practices.

I try to dismantle any prejudices against witchcraft in people I meet, although Averno has proved to be such an accepting environment that I rarely need to nowadays. If you ever need someone to talk to, I spend most of my time in the DCD, so you’re always welcome to stop by for a cup of tea, some freshly baked scones, and a chat. It’s been lovely meeting you!

Sincerely,

Bea

[introvertguide]

Sullivan’s Travels (1941); AFI #61

The current movie under review is one of my surprise favorites from the AFI list, Sullivan’s Travels (1941). It was written and directed by Preston Sturges, who was writer/director for five films on the AFI 100 Funniest Films. The story is an elaboration of how Sturges was feeling as a director during the Great Depression. The film did not do especially well as far as accolades, but it was well received by critics and audiences. The film is also one of the first for Veronica Lake when she was barely 18 years old. Let’s take care of some business before discussing further and go over the plot of the movie. Of course that means...

SPOILER ALERT!!! THIS IS A SURPRISINGLY GREAT MOVIE SO DON’T LET ME RUIN THE SURPRISE!!! WATCH THE FILM FIRST THEN COME BACK AND CHECK OUT THE REVIEW!!!

The film is set in Hollywood during the Great Depression, and John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea) is a Hollywood director who has made a lot of money off of directing light comedies. He is worried that his movies are shallow in the face of all the tragedy in the country and he decides that he wants to make a serious film based on a novel about the downtrodden called O Brother, Where Art Thou? The studio heads want him to direct another lucrative comedy instead, but Sullivan refuses to budge and decides he needs to discover what it is like to be poor. His butler and valet help him dress up in an appropriate hobo outfit, then Sullivan sets out with a dime in his pocket. 

In one of the funniest progression of events in a film I have ever witnessed, Sullivan attempts to hitchhike out of Hollywood with his entire staff (secretary, cook, personal assistant, press manager) following right behind him in a giant bus. Sullivan does not like this arrangement, but it was the only way the studio would allow him to try this stunt. After a beautiful pan of a lonely hobo walking back to a beautiful bus which is an office on wheels, the movie decides that Sullivan needs to break away. This is accomplished in the form of a twelve year old driving a make shift car, so Sullivan jumps in and the two speed off with the office bus in pursuit. The wacky car chase ends at a restaurant and Sullivan tells his crew that he will meet up with them in Las Vegas. In the meantime, he goes into the diner to get some food.

Inside, he meets a young struggling actress (Veronica Lake) who is just about to give up and go home. She believes that Sullivan is a tramp and buys him a breakfast of ham and eggs. In return for her kindness, Sullivan retrieves his car from his estate and gives her a lift under the pretense that he borrowed it from a friend. He does not tell anyone that he is taking his own car, so his staff report it stolen and he and the girl are arrested. He is released into the care of his valet and the Girl goes with him. Because of the mansion and chauffeured car, it becomes apparent that Sullivan is not who he said he was. After seeing how wealthy he is, the Girl pushes him into his enormous swimming pool for deceiving her. However, when he insists on trying his hobo project again, she goes with him disguised as a boy.

Sullivan and the Girl do finally get some experience in suffering, but keep returning to Hollywood when things get too overwhelming. They both spend some time riding in a boxcar, eating at a soup kitchen, and sleeping in a homeless shelter (where another hobo steals his shoes into which the butler has sown a business card). His experiment is publicized by the studio as a huge success. The Girl wants to stay with Sullivan and presumably marry him, but this cannot be since he was already married on the advice of his business manager in an attempt for Sullivan to lower his taxes. It turns out, however, that Sullivan was tricked and his wife cost him double what he saved. Also, she is in love with his business manager.

For more promotion for his project, Sullivan decides to thank the homeless by handing out $5 bills. Everyone knows that carrying a wad of cash around desperate people is dumb, and one hobo ambushes Sullivan and steals the money. Sullivan is knocked unconscious and put in a boxcar leaving the city and the thief gets run over and killed by another train while trying to pick up the money he dropped while escaping. When the mangled body is found, it turns out that this was the hobo who stole Sullivan's shoes, and a special identification card sewn into them identifies him as Sullivan.

Meanwhile, the real Sullivan wakes up in another city with no memory of who he is or how he got there. A train boss finds him and berates Sullivan for illegally entering the rail yard. In his confused state, Sullivan hits the man with a rock and is sentenced to six years in a labor camp. He gradually regains his memory and tries to find a way to escape. In one of most progressive scenes of the time, an all black church allows the white convicts to join them for a showing of some cartoons to lighten everyone’s spirits. It is a showing of Walt Disney's 1934 Playful Pluto cartoon and Sullivan is surprised to find himself laughing along with the other inmates.

Unable to convince anybody that he is Sullivan or communicate with the outside world, he comes up with a solution: after seeing his unsolved "killing" on the front page of a newspaper, he confesses to being his own killer. When his picture makes the front page, the Girl recognizes him and Sullivan is released. His "widow" had already married his business manager, so he realizes she will have to give him a divorce or be charged with bigamy. Sullivan's boss tells him he can make O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but Sullivan says that he has changed his mind. He wants to make comedies, having learned that they can do more good for the poor. 

It seem pretty apparent that Preston Sturges wrote this as a “what if” scenario when considering his own work. He was a director that was known for his screwball comedies and he sometimes craved for a chance to try more serious films. This was one of his more serious films and it was still very funny and showed his maturity in sticking what he was best at and brought his audience the most joy. Sturges is known in Hollywood history as the first real writer/director and he established that reputation in style. He famously sold the story for one of his movies to Paramount for $1 on the condition that he would be allowed to direct the film. Quite the character.

As I have mentioned in all my articles on this movie, Veronica Lake was very young and very pregnant during the filming. She gave birth to her first child only a couple of months after wrapping up filming and had to hide her very pregnant body. She had a body double for some of the scenes, but she mostly hid her stomach in a variety of costumes. One thing I noticed, with the exception of a brief puff in the diner, she was not smoking nor was she around smoking in the film. It is also fun to look and see if you can “spot the belly” because it is definitely noticeable in some scenes.

A favorite scene of mine and one that was recognized by the NAACP was the church scene towards the end. Standard race roles were challenged on film as a church of black parishioners took pity on the apparently all white prison gang and allow the inmates to sit in front and join them in watching a movie. Black Americans were still being forced to sit in the back against their will and were often not given the same opportunities as White Americans. This scene reversed the standard racial stereotypes of the time and portrayed sympathetic and forgiving black church members giving permission to white criminals to join them. It was completely unheard of at the time and made for a great lesson for the character of Sullivan.

So, it is time for the standard questions. Does this film belong on the AFI list? Sure does. It is one of the first big roles of Veronica Lake, it is a master class of writing and directing by Preston Sturges, and the film is very enjoyable on all levels. Would I recommend it? Oh yeah. This movie is great. It is genuinely funny with great dialogue and represents a more subtle comedy that really stands out from the screwball counterparts of the time. I watched it three times over five days and I never checked the clock because it moves so well. I highly recommend it to see Veronica Lake at her finest and to enjoy fast moving dialogue that is ahead of its time. 

[imnotdoneyet-forreal]

Deals with the Devil-9

Author: Amanda Preston

Summary: A need to fill a void and an encounter to start something new, Elijah and Katya never knew that a simple one night stand would wind up into a love affair filled with family drama and side deals gone wrong.

Deals with the Devil Masterlist

        It was another day at the office, but it didn’t feel that way. Katya was still the head publisher of MoonStone, her friends and coworkers were still working under her, and the office was still the same. She couldn’t explain what the sudden change was and she didn’t know if she ever wanted to try to put it into words. Her mind somehow jumped to Elijah but she quickly ran that thought out of her head and focused at the task ahead. 

        “Davina?” she called out to her intern/assistant as she made her way to her office. “What’s my schedule looking like today?” 

        Davina makes her way into her office with the iPad in her hands. 

        “We’ve got a lot of people trying to make a meeting with you but I figured which ones had priority so you’ve got a phone call with the printing co. at 10:30. Lunch with the Editors at 11:45. An hour block to read through your correspondence and to breathe before having a meeting with Bonnie who has a new project she wants to run through you. From there…” 

        “Ok, let’s stop there. I need my afternoon free,” Katya instructs her. “Actually, can you call Marcel and see if he’s available to meet this afternoon?” 

        Davina leans against the door with a small grin, “Aren’t you two close friends?” 

        “We are,” Katya chuckles out. “But he’s got a soft spot for you and he can never say no to his favorite intern.” 

        “Ok, what do you want me to tell him?” Davina asks. “I thought he already settled the contract between Viking Co and Moonstone.” 

        “He did, but Marcel has an eye for talent and I’m hoping he can help me find someone for this new project I’m working on.” 

        Davina makes notes of this and the thought in her mind is so evident on her face. 

        “Anything I can help with?” 

        Katya has to refrain from the smile on her face to take over. Davina had always been very eager to prove herself to her. It was why Katya had felt the need to bring the girl under her wing and show her the ropes to everything. The girl was certainly talented and about to graduate from art school which was why Katya knew it was about time to let the girl go. 

        “Yes, in fact, I could use your help on this,” Katya answers as she looks up at her. “It’s time you start putting that graphic design course to use.”

        “Seriously?” she asks excitedly. “What are we working on?” 

        “I’ll let you know in the meeting at around… 3:30?” Katya offers up in which Davina eagerly nods. “Ok, call Marcel and we’ll talk about this new, exciting project then.” 

        “I’ll pencil that in,” Davina states as she makes her way out of the office. 

        “And Davina?” Katya calls out to her. 

        “Yes?” 

        “Hold all my calls and turn anyone away,” Katya states. “I don’t think I have the time to deal with walk-ins.” 

        “Okie-Dokie,” Davina answers. “I sent you the schedule and some notes for the upcoming call. Buzz me if you need anything else.” 

        “Thank you!” Katya shouts as Davina returns to her desk. She was about to pick up the phone to make the call when chaos erupted suddenly. 

        “No, you can’t go in there, she’s busy!” 

        Katya looks up just to find Enzo storming past Davina’s desk. 

        “She’s got an open door policy so she will see me!” 

        Katya rolled her eyes at the sound of his voice and entitlement. Her open-door policy was due to a very idealistic beginning in which she took of the door of her office to reinforce inclusivity and transparency. Now, it was hindering the long day she had planned. 

        “Mr. St. John, please, she has a full day.” 

        Enzo was not going to be reasoned by Davina and Katya let out a sigh as she gave her a nod. 

        “It’s ok, D,” she answers. “I’ll handle him.” 

        Enzo lets out a huff as Davina steps out of the way and lets him in. 

        “Glad to know that you’re still on my side, love,” Enzo greets as he steps into her office. Katya rolls her eyes at the term of endearment. 

        “You can’t call me that, Enzo,” Katya snaps at him. “And you can’t storm into my office without a meeting. I’m taking up a new project and trying to restart MoonStone so I don’t have time for whatever you want now.” 

        “Whatever I want?” Enzo scowls. “It’s important, Katya. I’m working on the upcoming sequel of Heretics. The one you’ve been waiting for. The one with the mute with the mysterious scar on his throat? And I have no editor. My bud Julian left when he thought this ship was sinking.” 

        “Yes, Julian was a dick,” Katya mutters. “I really don’t know why I hired him in the first place.”

        “Really?” Enzo responds. “I liked him.” 

        “Yeah, well I didn’t,” Katya responds. “But Enzo, I am working on distributing Dave’s authors amongst all the other things I have to do so if you don’t mind I will get back to you on that. Just keep writing.” 

        “Why can’t you be my editor?” Enzo asks as he leaned back into his chair and propped his feet up on her desk. “We worked so great together.”

        “And that was because you were sleeping with me half the time.” 

        “Which made you great.” 

        Katya refrains from rolling her eyes and lets out a sigh instead. 

        “Look Enzo, I will get back to you by the end of the week,” Katya reassures him. “And your next editor will be the best of the best so if you can…” 

        “What’s going on with you and Mr. CEO, Elijah?” 

        “Nothing, he’s my boss.” 

        “He didn’t act that way.” 

        “Yes, because he actually respects women,” Katya snaps. “Something you could learn from him.” 

        “The man didn’t seem to like me.” 

        “No one really likes you, Enzo,” Katya sighs out. “Look, I have a long day ahead of me and as much as I would love to continue this talk, I have to ask you to go. We can continue this later this week.” 

        “I promised myself I wouldn’t leave until I got an editor,” Enzo argues. “The uncertainty of this is ruining my writing buzz.” 

        “Ok, fine, Enzo, you win,” Katya snaps at him. 

        Enzo is quick to jump to his feet as Katya stood up from her desk. 

        “Wait, are you giving in to me?” Enzo asks. “Will you be my editor again?” 

        “No, I have too much to do. Something I’ve told you time and time again and you keep ignoring,” Katya states. “You want an editor. I’ll give you the best one I have and the only one who can deal with your eccentric writer ways and won’t deal with your bullshit.” 

        “Bullshit?” 

        “Yes, I said what I said.” 

        It didn’t take long to reach her intended office which caused Enzo to quickly backtrack. 

        “No, no, no…” 

        “Yes, yes, yes,” Katya responds as she knocks on the door and steps in. “You could have waited, but nope, you had to push my buttons on the day I warned you not to so Enzo, meet your new editor.” 

        Enzo scowls as Bonnie looked up from her desktop to look at Katya. 

        “What’s going on?” she asks. 

        “Bonnie,” Katya greets. “You know Enzo. He’s being added to your roster. Enjoy!”

        “Wait no, that’s…” 

        “Bye, bye…” 

        Katya leaves Enzo and Bonnie to hash it out while she returned to her office. Davina chuckled at her resolution. 

        “Keep anyone else out of my office for the next hour,” Katya instructs her. 

        “Oh, before you start that call, someone dropped this off for you,” Davina tells her. 

        “I’ll get to it later,” Katya waves off. 

        “There were pretty strict instructions that you need to open it now,” Davina warns her. “It’s from our new CEO too.” 

        Katya couldn’t help the way her heart sped up at the mention of him. 

        “Well in that case…” Katya sighs out as she made her way to pick it up. She couldn’t help the smile on her face as she recognized the box. “No, he didn’t…” 

        “What?” Davina asks with curiosity.

        Katya picks up the box and makes her way to her office. 

        “Nothing,” Katya answers a bit too quickly. “Did he leave a message?” 

        “Yes,” Davina answers as she picked up the note. “Have a good first day. -EM.” 

        Katya smiled at the note. Not understanding why she was a bit disappointed at the simple message. She couldn’t let her mind linger on him too long as she had a long day ahead of her.