#gold coast hotel mission

[fvmods]

Sunshine Dream MLO Interiors: Gold Coast Hotel

[faegoddessog]

My dirty little, and not so little, stories- Master lists

-cuz like the clit, g-spot and prostate, I want ya'll to find it.

Explicitly mature content, 18+ only

Seventy Two Hours of Bliss- Master list

Series Summary: You are neighbors with Austin Butler on the Gold Coast of Australia just prior to shooting Elvis. You become just friends because he is taken. However, after he is single again, you both find out just how attracted you are to one another and things get unrelentingly hot, then insanely romantic (and still fucking hot). (Finished work.)

Explicitly mature content, 18+ only

Fantasy come True - Masterlist

Series Summary: Breaking into the acting world has been a life long dream. It's been tough, plus your relationship with your partner has some struggles, but who doesn't have struggles. A new guy shows up to your improv classes who seems strangely familiar. He seems rather interested in you and you feel unusually comfortable around him, like he projects calm and reassurance. Once you realize who he really is, and what he really likes... it's game on.

(Finished work- request)

Explicitly mature content, 18+ only

Dripping in Leather

Part 1: "So, leather eh?"

Part 2: Ass over teakettle

No, I hadn't told Austin about my little leather fantasy. I mean, I'd never really explored it myself. I wasn't sure how to bring it up, so I brought a little surprise to Mexico City, where I was meeting up with him. But when I met him on set and he had those tight leather pants on, it was all I could do to keep myself together until we got back to the hotel room. Holy Fuck it was hot! Now if I could just get him to dust off a certain iconic outfit for me....(request by @richardslady121

(Finished work-request)

Explicitly mature content, 18+ only

Woman in Red - Masterlist

-She's a very successful woman who can't seem to find a partner that can keep up with her. He is just wanting to find someone who likes him for HIM, not his fame. Neither of them are prepared for what hits them when she walks into that coffee shop.

(Finished Work)

Explicitly mature content, 18+ only

Years? Really?!

Part 1: Birthday Boy

Part 2: You got me so...

A tipsy car ride home from a birthday outing becomes oh so much more.

(voters decided that this should be more than just a one shot!)

Feyd's Little Gift-

Part 1

Part 2

Feyd is bored with all the simping of the court, this is not how he indented to spend the eve of his birthday. When he spots a shy little gift, he decides he deserves play with it before he opens it. He cunningly stalks his prey, leading them into the pit before he pounces. Chained, tied, tethered; manipulated, dominated and dehumanized; Feyd takes dark pleasure after dark pleasure from this playthings as only Feyd could. It is his birthday after all.

(completed work)

October 2024 Creative Writing Project: Masterlist

Daily Dose of Austin Butler game made into a story. Getting my creative on, in more ways than one!

Fun one shots

Daily Meal- Summary: Austin and gf have temporarily moved to New York, work is stressful for her. He has a tried and true solution.

(Finished work-request)

Do me sweet, do me dirty- I'm so stressed, but an unexpected visit from Austin changes all that. Starting sweet and gentle he soon gets intense and domineering. I love it and it's just what I needed.

(Finished work- request)

Not 'till Monday Surgery recovery is no fun. But it's both made easier and difficult when Austin is the one taking care of you. Easy cuz he is on top of everything you'd ever need, hard because the one thing he isn't allowed to be on on top of is you. It' torture not getting to O, not getting his cum on the daily. Your only hope is Monday.

(finished work- inspired!)

Feyd's Gom Jabbar DUNE pt 2 fic. Lady Margot Fenring is on a Bene Gesserit mission: test and preserve the genetics of the Na-Baron Feyd Rautha Harkonnen. She is well aware of his deranged pleasures of choice. Armed with her Pain Box, Gom Jabbar, her Voice and her substantial wiles and wits, she delves into Feyd's world. She is unprepared, however, for her own reaction to his... attentions.

Warning: this one is dark

(Finished work)

It takes three to forget: (one shot)They need to forget from the terrors of the sky. She needs to forget the terrors on the ground. War is hell any way you slice it. But tonight, tonight they are gonna all reach for a little piece of heaven, all three together.

(Finished work)

"You don't think I could be a Dom?" : (one shot) a story crafted from 5 voter polls in celebration of 100 (+) followers. This little gem includes: Our very own Austin Butler, taking control of, dominating, edging and over stimming you, his old friend (now lover).

(Finished work- voter polls)

To Places You'd Never Been: (A pre-Bikerider's One shot ) Benny has two things that balance the violence in his life: the freedom of the road and making women cum. Were you just another in a long line of girls he 'introduced' to your own pleasure? Undoubtedly. Did you care? Hell no. What he taught you about yourself that night changed everything for you.

(finished work)

My favorite Treat: (one shot)- Fantasies confessed to and fulfilled. A Naughty Austin gets what's coming to him, and loves every second of it.

(Finished work)

Stroke yourself for me: (one shot) Just a little moment when introvert time becomes exhibitionist time

(finished work)

Affirmations - (one shot) You know all too well the erratic nature of his ego. How he has to hold the soft fragile parts with the equal but opposite hardened bits. Both contribute to his being an incredible actor, but sometimes he just can't balance it all anymore. When it all comes crashing down, you are there. This time, though, you are ready with something a little different.

(finished work)

Upcoming works - all Austin related, cuz I'm a bit of a slut for the man. )

Strangers on a train (one shot)- (this one is just me dreaming big dreams ya'll) It's your birthday and you have treated yourself to a semi private compartment on the train from London to Florence. Who ends up sharing your compartment? Only the subject of all your naughty writing. Blushing, wet panties and hot times all follow.

Be my Fuck Toy-(one shot) He didn't think as strong, independent woman like you would be willing, it's why he hadn't brought this fantasy up before. But he hand't realized just how stubborn you can be when it comes to giving him what he wants. Now you are on your knees in the foyer waiting with your mouth open to hear the jangle of his keys in the lock.

[california-slow-take]

By looking west to California, Jean Pfaelzer shifts our understanding of slavery as a North-South struggle and focuses on how those who were enslaved in California fought, fled, and resisted human bondage. In unyielding research and vivid interviews, Pfaelzer exposes how California's appetite for slavery persists today in the trafficking in human beings who are lured by promises of jobs but who instead are imprisoned in sweatshops or remote marijuana fields, or are sold as nannies or sex workers.

Pfaelzer relates the history of slavery in California across its entire spectrum, from indentured Native American ranch hands in the Spanish missions, children sent to Indian boarding schools, Black miners, kidnapped Chinese prostitutes, and convict laborers to the victims of modern human trafficking, and she argues that California owes its origins and sunny prosperity to slavery. Spanish invaders captured Indigenous people to build and farm the chain of Catholic missions. Russian otter hunters shipped Alaskan Natives down to the California coast—the first slaves to be transported to California. The Russians also launched the Pacific slave trade with China. Southern plantation slaves were marched across the plains to help their owners mine during the Gold Rush. San Quentin Prison was the incubator for California’s carceral state. Kidnapped Chinese girls were sold to caged brothels in early San Francisco. And Indian boarding schools supplied farms and hotels with unfree child workers. 

Pfaelzer's provocative history of slavery in California could rewrite people's understanding of the settling of the West, and redefine the actual paths to eventual freedom for many Americans.

[nsfwhiphop]

Fun Fact about Australia's film industry:

Question:

What are the major film studios in Australia?

ChatGPT Answer:

Australia has a thriving film industry supported by several major studios and production facilities. Here are some of the prominent film studios in Australia:

1. Fox Studios Australia (Sydney, New South Wales)

Located in Sydney, Fox Studios is one of the largest and most well-known film studios in Australia.

It features world-class sound stages and post-production facilities.

Notable films: The Matrix series, Mission: Impossible 2, Moulin Rouge!, and Thor: Love and Thunder.

2. Village Roadshow Studios (Gold Coast, Queensland)

Situated on the Gold Coast, this studio is renowned for its large water tanks and advanced facilities.

It is a favorite for international productions requiring versatile stages and scenic surroundings.

Notable films: Aquaman, Pirates of the Caribbean series, and Thor: Ragnarok.

3. Docklands Studios Melbourne (Melbourne, Victoria)

A versatile production facility located in Melbourne.

It offers sound stages, production offices, and support facilities, catering to both film and television projects.

Notable productions: The Pacific, Shantaram, and Clickbait.

4. Screen Queensland Studios (Brisbane, Queensland)

A government-supported facility aimed at fostering the Queensland film and TV industry.

It provides sound stages and production spaces for both domestic and international productions.

Notable productions: Harrow and Thor: Ragnarok.

5. SA Film Corporation Studios (Adelaide Studios) (Adelaide, South Australia)

Located in Adelaide, this studio focuses on supporting the local industry while also hosting international productions.

Features sound stages, mixing theaters, and editing facilities.

Notable productions: Hotel Mumbai and The Babadook.

6. Byron Studios (Byron Bay, New South Wales)

A newer facility that caters to film, TV, and music video production.

Located in the scenic region of Byron Bay, offering unique natural backdrops.

7. Fremantle Media (Perth, Western Australia)

While primarily known for TV productions, Fremantle Media has also contributed to Australia's broader entertainment industry.

It serves as a key production hub for Western Australia.

These studios attract both local and international filmmakers due to Australia's skilled workforce, government incentives, and diverse filming locations.

[higherlearningtvshow]

As Tent Cities Are Cleared, Unhoused Residents Ask Why It Took DNC For City To Offer Housing

Editorial Comments by Zelda Robinson, HLN - Founder

Over the years, the team at HigherLearningNetwork.org has been a constant resource for food delivery/clothing/resources to the unhoused community since 2015, when one of the Tent City Residents was murdered there. (www.chicagotribune.com/2019/02/19/man-shot-and-killed-at-tent-city-homeless-encampment-in-south-loop/)

Douglas Robinson was the little brother of Zelda Robinson, Founder of HLN, who made it her mission to continue to help residents there even after his death. Her years of working to help the residents there was a team effort, always trying to assist those in needs, despite her unsuccessful attempts to get the Alderman, to assist.

After years of servicing residents, the HLN Team still continues to service the remainder of individuals there.

If you would like to support their efforts, THANK YOU in advance for your kind contributions, via HigherLearningNetwork.org

Article below is

Courtesy of BookClubChicago.org

“I don’t know why it has to take the Democratic National Convention to come here from them to actually do something for the citizens already here,” a resident of the encampment near the Dan Ryan Expressway said.

SOUTH LOOP — Residents of highly visible tent cities near the upcoming Democratic National Convention say local officials have swiftly cleared their encampments and offered them shelter in former hotels through the summer.

That includes a small strip of land along the Dan Ryan Expressway at Roosevelt Road and South Desplaines Street, which has been home to unhoused Chicagoans for at least four decades.

The city plans to close and permanently fence off the encampment starting Wednesday, Department of Family & Support Services spokesperson Brian J. Berg said in a statement.

“The goal is to be proactive and avoid last-minute disruption to the living situations of the individuals located at this site in anticipation of the DNC,” Berg said.

On Thursday, the longtime encampment was mostly barren of its usual array of tents, with single shoes and piles of personal items, some covered in mud and footprints, left behind.

LISTEN 🎧

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Encampment residents told Block Club city outreach workers have been visiting in recent weeks to offer them rooms in coveted city-run shelters, including the former Tremont Hotel, 100 E. Chestnut St. in the Gold Coast, which was bought by the city last year and has only 60 beds.

Those who accept the beds can keep them until Aug. 31, Berg said. The convention is Aug. 19-22.

Brandie Knazze, commissioner of the support services department, told the Sun-Times the call to clear camps was made, in part, to protect people who could be swiftly removed by federal authorities or Secret Service if they’re living within the convention’s heavily guarded security footprint.

Some still at the encampment Thursday said they had gladly accepted the converted hotel rooms but had come back anyway to hang out on the grounds. Some residents took the hotel rooms despite turning down shelter offers from the city in the past, with many living on the street saying the city’s old shelter system provided little relief.

Others said they had no plans to leave.

A woman, known as “Titi” by fellow residents of the encampment, said she accepted a hotel room but worried others who did not may eventually be arrested for trespassing.

“I don’t know why it has to take the Democratic National Convention to come here for them to actually do something for the citizens already here,” Titi said. “But I think it is a good thing for them to actually take the initiative to start giving them housing, because people have needed it for years.”

Morgan McLuckie, CEO of the Orange Tent Project, a local nonprofit that provides winterized tents for the unhoused at the encampment, said she’s kept in touch with about 20 people now at Tremont. She’s following the city’s next moves with bated breath.

In March, McLuckie and others built a tiny house at the front of the encampment in an effort to urge the city to provide its residents with immediate affordable housing. But the tiny house was simply slapped with a notice and ordered torn down only a few days later.

At another orange tent encampment at South Canalport Avenue and South Ruble Street near Pilsen, resident Henry said city workers have cleared the camp by more than half in the past week by offering shelter in converted hotels.

“They should have made it a little easier transition,” Henry said.

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William, a former resident of the encampment by Roosevelt Road and South Desplaines Street, said he’ll take the Gold Coast hotel room at the Tremont for the summer before he heads south.

“I don’t see myself living here again,” said William, hanging out on the grounds Thursday of the hollowed-out encampment. “I think it [the encampment] is pretty much over with … It’s about time.”

The convention coming to town doesn’t make much of a difference to him.

“I don’t really do politics,” he said.

Courtesy of BookClubChicago.org

[chauffeurlive]

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[pynkhues]

I'd like to know more about tax offset, when I watch a movie/show I never concider those parts but now I'm interested

(x)

Amazing, haha.

SO, producer tax offsets are offered by state and/or federal governments to film and TV productions to shoot in said state or country. It’s an incentive offer to get the production to shoot there and is ultimately a tax refund which the production then reinvests in itself as a part of its budget.

So for instance, Good Girls in s2 according to that article got $9.3 million back in the tax offset by shooting in LA. What that means is that the producer would’ve been able to guarantee that as a part of the overall budget. They don’t pocket the money, rather it becomes something that helps to pay for the production overall in later costs – often things like post production or delayed fees.

The original idea behind these sorts of tax offsets is that they encouraged production to smaller states or countries in a way that bolstered economies and activated local industry, but it’s fairly competitive now because so many states and countries offer incentives to try and keep production once they have it.

Being eligible for the tax offset is usually about more than just shooting in a country too. I know for our guidelines here in Australia for instance, the production has to have a certain percentage of local crew and actors, usually at least a line producer from that country, if not a producer, and it will have what’s called "a minimum spend”. So your production has to be spending a certain percent of the overall budget in Australia. You can’t shoot two scenes here and qualify basically. It has to be significant.

While everyone benefits from tax offsets including local production, they’re usually specifically skewed towards enticing large scale productions from overseas to a country.

The most notorious off the top of my head is Ireland’s tax offset being used to lock in Game of Thrones, but Australia’s used theirs recently to lock in a trifecta of upcoming Marvel films – Thor 4, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Shang Chi. All three shot / are shooting in Sydney.

The ultimate goal with this sort of thing is to guarantee money’s being spent locally. The Marvel win was huge for Sydney because it probably equates to close to half a billion dollars being spent on sets, locations, crews, catering, hotels, etc, to say nothing of the international actors spending their own money on tourism in their downtime from shooting.

Australia currently has one of the best tax offsets in the world at 40%, which is why so much stuff gets shot here, particularly big budget films (Pirates of the Caribbean, Aquaman, those Marvel movies I mentioned above), something that’s only been increased because the COVID situation is so under control here. A few of the American broadcasters have more or less taken over one of the studios on the Gold Coast to shoot their TV shows lately, in particular NBC’s Young Rock.

It’s one of many though with good offsets. Killing Eve for instance shot all of s3 in Romania because of the tax offset there (45%), and one of the reasons so many shows shoot in Vancouver is because they have a good offset too (35%) and are so close to America.

LA’s isn’t too bad – it’s 25% – and better than Atlanta’s which is only 20%.

Funnily enough, the best countries are usually Central or Eastern European. A lot of huge blockbuster movies shoot in the Czech Republic for instance because the offset is 66% there for foreign films – Mission Impossible, The Bourne Identity, Hellboy, James Bond: Casino Royale and Les Miserable all shot there.

To make matters even more complicated, there’s usually a separate tax offset for VFX too. Next time you watch a big blockbuster movie or TV show, I’d urge you to look at the credits and see how many different countries they farmed out VFX too (particularly Marvel - they’re really savvy with it). I can guarantee you they’ll have been done across at least three countries, and that’s because they’re double dipping and trying to take advantage of as many VFX tax offsets as possible, haha.

It’s pretty interesting!

[nikolai-novak]

Nikolai’s Travel Timeline

Nikolai graduated from high school in 2018, shortly before his 18th birthday in August. Given his family circumstances at the time, he really needed to get away so he took advantage of the fact that he had a full drivers licence and more than enough money to fund his travels.

June 2018 - December 2018

Nikolai was inspired by a photographer that he really liked -- Brian DeFrees -- when it came to mapping out his road trip around the state. In 2011, Brian travelled through 30-odd states in 53 days to see all the major landmarks. Nikolai followed a similar pathway by catching a flight to Virginia, bought a Kombi van, and started the road trip. Nikolai, however, took a full six months to complete the trip. Nikolai visited the following states and explored significantly in each:

Virginia

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Louisiana 

Texas

New Mexico 

Arizona

Nevada (in which he caught up with old friends from high school)

California (in which he briefly stopped in and visited his parents to ease their nagging)

Oregon 

Washington (in which he met August Bright for the first time and his intended short stay in Washington was extended considerably. This is a major contributing reason as to why a trip that could have been completed in two months ended up blowing out to six months in duration. (@augustbright)

Idaho 

Montana 

Wyoming

Utah

Colorado 

Nebraska 

South Dakota 

North Dakota 

Minnesota 

Wisconsin 

Iowa

Illinois 

Ohio 

New York 

Nikolai then sold his Kombi van in New York and booked the cheapest round the world ticket that he could find. The ticket included flights from New York --> London --> Bangkok --> Singapore --> Sydney. 

December 2018 - September 2019 

After booking his flight to London, Nikolai spent the next nine and a half months backpacking around Europe. Now this was genuine backpacking, with Nikolai relying on various forms of transport -- including trains, buses, and even hitchhiking at times. His adventures were as follows: 

Great Britain leg -  England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland 

Central Europe, primarily via train - Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France

Balkans leg - Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo 

Iberian leg - Spain and Portugal 

Transylvanian leg - Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania 

Baltics leg - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Russia 

Scandinavia leg - Denmark, Sweden, Norway 

South Caucasus leg - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan 

Greek Islands leg 

Note: It was in London that he first met Hannah Callaghan. The two met in a bar, hit it off, and fell into bed together. Nikolai didn’t stay in London for long, however he and Hannah have remained in sporadic contact ever since and will always hook-up again when they’re in the same place at the same time. @hannahcallaghanmu

October 2019 - November 2019

After finishing in Europe, Nikolai booked the next flight on his round the world trip and headed to Bangkok. He spent the next two months backpacking around Thailand, both north and south: 

Thailand - Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui, Khao Sok National Park, Krabi, Rai Leh, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta

December 2019

After finishing his travels in Thailand, Nikolai used the next part of his round the world the world ticket to head to Singapore. 

Singapore - exhausted from all the backpacking, Nikolai just spent a week in a resort in Singapore. Whilst he did explore the city, he was mainly focused on relaxing and recuperating in a 5-star hotel after primarily sleeping in vans, backpacker hostels, and even tents in some places since first beginning his travels.

December 2019 - July 2020

After Singapore, Nikolai booked the last leg of his round the world ticket and headed to Australia. After landing in Sydney, Nikolai scoured local car dealerships and bought himself another second hand Kombi van and commenced a backpacking trip around Australia. Starting from Sydney, Nikolai’s journey was as follows:

New South Wales - The Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay

Queensland - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

He sold the Kombi van after finishing in Cairns so that he could fly over to Western Australia. After spending about a week on Rottnest Island, he managed to buy a second hand van that the owners had renovated for their own past long distance road trips. From there, the adventure continued: 

Western Australia - Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance, Perth, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Karijini National Park, Broome, the Kimberley

Northern Territory - Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine, Alice Springs, Uluru, The Red Centre

South Australia - Adelaide, Grampians National Park, then the Great Ocean Road into Victoria 

Victoria - Melbourne, Carlton, St Kilda, Brighton, Collingwood, Fitzroy

Nikolai then sold the van, took a flight over to Tasmania, and rented a vehicle as he knew that he would only be there for a few weeks: 

Tasmania - Hobart, Wild West Coast, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur

Nikolai then took a flight to Australian Capital Territory, where he spent a few last days in Australia before having to fly back to start at MU:

Australian Capital Territory - Canberra, Jervis Bay

July 2020

After finishing his mammoth Australian adventure, Nikolai received the ultimatum from his parents: either come back to California and get a university degree or they would be cutting off his access to his trust fund. Nikolai requested a couple of weeks to think about it and immediately booked a flight to Bali, Indonesia. Nikolai spent the two weeks in Bali thinking about the offer, before reluctantly booking a flight back to California. 

August 2020 - December 2020 

It was during this period that Nikolai was a student at Monarch University, having enrolled to study Exercise Science and Physiology. Nikolai really didn’t want to be at university and certainly wasn’t passionate about his chosen major. Struggling to adjust to life at MU, Nikolai crunched the numbers and he realised he could continue funding his travel expenses through his travel and photography blog. With that realisation, he called his parents bluff and left campus. His parents didn’t fully cut off his access to the trust fund but did restrict it (meaning that he was able to withdraw less money than usual each month) but between that and his blog, he was able to make it work. 

January 2021 - April 2021

After leaving MU, Nikolai impulsively booked a flight to Florida. He intended to just stay for a couple of weeks to party and blow off steam but ended up meeting Este Castillo (@estecastillo) in Miami. The couple of weeks turned into a few months whilst the two of them casually dated -- which is the most commitment that Nikolai has given to anyone since the whole mess with Lily. Whilst in Florida, his blog really started to take off. Despite the fact that he wasn’t travelling as extensively as he had in the past, people really loved his photos of Florida; and he had plenty of unseen pictures and stories from his previous adventures that he finally had the time to fully share. Este and Nikolai eventually had an amicable breakup as Nikolai was itching to hop on a flight. 

May 2021 - June 2021

Hopping on a flight led Nikolai to another backpacking adventure, this time in Brazil. Nikolai really hit a sweet spot with his photography and travel blog -- when he had first started the account after finishing high school, he had posted a photo a day; which really was only the briefest snapshot of his adventures as he would take countless photos each and every day. Each photo was accompanied with a brief caption to explain where said photo was taken. Having had some time to fully fleshed things out in Florida, Nikolai started posting more and more of the photos that he had taken over the last few years and accompanied them with detailed stories. The combination of his photography and genuine passion for travel was a recipe for success and this only continued as he backpacked through Brazil for two months.

July 2021 - current

Nikolai is back at MU and studying Business and Photography because he wants to figure out a way to make his blog into a sustainable career. Nikolai still has thousands of photos in his back catalogue that he can share, along with countless stories. Still, he’s making sure to supplement the blog by fully exploring everything that California has to offer; and whenever he can, he will take short weekend trips away or make the most of semester breaks to ensure that people get a good combination of both old and new content. 

[dognamedsubaru]

Moonlight Mysteries

Chapter 1: Going According to Plan

Hope you all enjoy Chapter 1!!! Feedback is greatly appreciated :)

The city of France was beautiful, the sun was shining brightly as everyone seemed happy and cherry. The side of town where Primrose resided was full of Anthros. The crocodile strolled through the town, taking in the surroundings along with making sure nothing seemed threatening at the moment but something caught her interest. It was the golden gang, supposedly a very infamous werewolf by the name of Kohi Samikah made it and placed a curse into it to whoever was deemed unworthy of possessing it to soon feel the wrath of the werewolf and become one or to an anthro, a were-anthro. This was no threat to the croc since she couldn’t become one even if she wanted to, the experiments she went through made it impossible to ever farce her body to go through such changes.She seemed cocky about it, not really aware of the other consequences that would come with it. Jail, lifetime sentence or a death sentence if people are harmed in the process. Primrose only had her mind set on retrieving that artifact, but little did she know that someone else had the same idea as her.

Somewhere near the outskirts of France, there was a nice little house where Lupin and his gang resided at for the time being. “Lupin have you seen the paper?” Daisuke Jigen asked, he seemed fairly interested about the front line header. “Hm? No, can’t say I haven’t pal.” The gentleman thief responded as he was cooking breakfast for himself and his partner. “Says here that some lab experiment has escaped and is now roaming France,” The gunman mused, “sounds kinda dangerous right?” Lupin heard his question and to be honest, it did sound kind of unsettling to say the least. After cooking, Lupin made his way back into the living room where Jigen was along with their samurai partner Goemon. “Enough about that nerve scaring story. Let’s discuss about what we came back to France to get.” The thief cheered as he placed the picture of the Golden Fang. “Looks like a fang to me.” Goemon spoke with a monotone, not really getting the appeal of what this truly was. “It’s the golden fang and the rumor is that anyone who isn’t deemed worthy of obtaining this beautiful hunk of gold will be turned into a werewolf or if you’re like these anthros around here, a were-anthro.” Lupin explained as Jigen chuckled, not really buying the story. “A werewolf? Please, I thought they’re fake.” The gentleman thief chuckled with him but then also gave him a warning. “Never say never man.”

Primrose found the museum where the artifact was being held at and entered the place to give the whole place a quick run down, she studied everything little detail and pay attention to how many guards there was going to be. Her eyes scanned every thing before her, needless to say is that she was aware of her surroundings. Lupin also was near her but wasn’t aware that the anthro was doing the same thing he was doing. Planning the heist that was about to go down tonight. Primrose glanced over to the thief, never realizing who he was. Maybe she would know if she wasn’t locked up in a lab for the 31 years of her life. She glanced back quickly and continued to walk around, looking at other valuable things that could be taken along with the golden fang. The gentleman thief made a quick once over of the place and left, the crocodile never noticing his disappearance one bit. Primrose had a lot to learn. 

“Beautiful isn’t it?” A voice asked, snapping her out of her train of thought. Her eyes averted to a brown sheep dog with her hair in her eyes, she was fairly short, slightly curvy and had a kind smile on her face. She seemed very focused on the golden fang before the two anthros. “Yeah. Really pretty.” Primrose responded, crossing her arms across her chest as she looked towards the artifact then looked back the stranger. “Think anyone has became a were-anthro by grabbing that thing?” The croc asked as she examined the other anthro’s body language, the canine seemed too calm and probably onto what she was doing. Or was she paranoid? “Nah, I think that’s a story to educate kids and tell them not to steal.” The sheep dog laughed, causing the croc to laugh too. “I’m Sheep by the way, I’ve never seen you around here. You a tourist?” Sheep asked, looking over to the female croc. “I’m Primrose, and no, I’m from around here. I just don’t go out much.” The croc anthro responded as she saw Sheep smirk at her. “Well either way, it’s nice meeting ya Primrose. Maybe I’ll see ya around!” The dog cheered as she began to walk away, making the crocodile smile. “Yeah maybe.” After standing there for a few minutes, Primrose began to walk towards the painting section of the museum, wanting to look around a bit more.

Sheep stepped outside of the entrance of the building, she scanned the area then sniffing to see if she could smell any threats. After seeing that the coast was clear. she reached into her pocket to pull out her phone, pressing on a contact and placing the device close to her ear. “The place has been scoped out and everything so far is goin’ to plan boss.” A laugh was heard on the other end of the line. “My dearest Sheep, I knew I could count on you for this mission. That fang will be ours tonight.” After exchanging information, the sheep dog hung up and walked back to a hotel, meeting up so that the task can be completed.

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Millions of hungry Americans turn to food banks for 1st time (AP) Hunger is a harsh reality in the richest country in the world. Even during times of prosperity, schools hand out millions of hot meals a day to children, and desperate elderly Americans are sometimes forced to choose between medicine and food. Now, in the pandemic of 2020, with illness, job loss and business closures, millions more Americans are worried about empty refrigerators and barren cupboards. Food banks are doling out meals at a rapid pace and an Associated Press data analysis found a sharp rise in the amount of food distributed compared with last year. Meanwhile, some folks are skipping meals so their children can eat and others are depending on cheap food that lacks nutrition. Those fighting hunger say they’ve never seen anything like this in America, even during the Great Recession of 2007-2009. The first place many Americans are finding relief is a neighborhood food pantry, most connected to vast networks of nonprofits. Tons of food move each day from grocery store discards and government handouts to warehouse distribution centers, and then to the neighborhood charity. An AP analysis of Feeding America data from 181 food banks in its network found the organization has distributed nearly 57 percent more food in the third quarter of the year, compared with the same period in 2019.

Covid Nomads (WSJ) Alan Frei lives the life of a backpacker. That is, all 62 of his belongings fit into a single backpack, which he carries with him as he travels and lives in different cities around the world—a total of 53 countries over the past three years. The 38-year-old Swiss entrepreneur in October got rid of his apartment near Zurich and all his furniture. Items he kept include his watch, a toothbrush, seven pairs of underwear, and sunglasses. Mr. Frei is an extreme version of a digital nomad, a person with no fixed address, who lives and works while traveling the globe. Today, their ranks are small, but they could become more common in the years ahead. “There will definitely be more digital nomads,” says Nicholas Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Before the pandemic, only about 2% of Americans worked from home full-time, Mr. Bloom says, but he expects that will rise to about 8% to 10% of workers. If just 10% of them travel and work remotely, that will still be enormous, he says. Scott Cohen, a professor at the University of Surrey’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, expects more countries will cater visa and tourism programs to digital nomads, as they seek an alternative to the standard business travel market. Chekitan S. Dev, a professor at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, School of Hotel Administration, says the trend was first driven by millennials; now older millennials are taking their families with them when they move around. By normalizing remote work and school, the pandemic has supercharged a trend. In the future, digital nomads may be middle-aged, rent or own homes for less time, want to go to more exotic destinations and move more quickly between destinations.

California Water Futures Begin Trading Amid Fear of Scarcity (Bloomberg) Water joined gold, oil and other commodities traded on Wall Street, highlighting worries that the life-sustaining natural resource may become scarce across more of the world. Farmers, hedge funds and municipalities alike are now able to hedge against—or bet on—future water availability in California, the biggest U.S. agriculture market and world’s fifth-largest economy. The contracts, a first of their kind in the U.S., were announced in September as heat and wildfires ravaged the U.S. West Coast and as California was emerging from an eight-year drought. They are meant to serve both as a hedge for big water consumers, such as almond farmers and electric utilities, against water prices fluctuations as well a scarcity gauge for investors worldwide. “Climate change, droughts, population growth, and pollution are likely to make water scarcity issues and pricing a hot topic for years to come,” said RBC Capital Markets managing director and analyst Deane Dray.

‘It’s a free-for-all’: how hi-tech spyware ends up in the hands of Mexico’s cartels (The Guardian) Corrupt Mexican officials have helped drug cartels in the country obtain state-of-the-art spyware which can be used to hack mobile phones, according to a senior DEA official. As many as 25 private companies—including the Israeli company NSO Group and the Italian firm Hacking Team—have sold surveillance software to Mexican federal and state police forces, but there is little or no regulation of the sector—and no way to control where the spyware ends up, said the officials. “It’s a free-for-all,” the official told the Cartel Project, an initiative coordinated by Forbidden Stories, a global network of investigative journalists whose mission is to continue the work of reporters who are threatened, censored or killed. “The police who have the technology would just sell it to the cartels.” [And then the cartels would use it against their enemies or those investigating them.] The nexus between state and criminal forces has fuelled a wave of targeted violence which have made Mexico the most dangerous country for journalists in the world, outside a war zone. At least 119 media workers have been killed in Mexico since 2000, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the inevitable fear for reporters is that surveillance could lead to more tangible dangers.

Pope makes surprise early morning prayer visit in rainy Rome (AP) Pope Francis on Tuesday made a surprise early morning visit to the Spanish Steps in Rome to pray for people worldwide struggling in the pandemic. With rain falling and dawn breaking, Francis popped up in the square at the foot of the Spanish Steps at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT), two hours after the end of Italy’s overnight curfew. Before heading back to Vatican City, where he resides in a hotel, Francis stopped to pray some more and celebrate Mass in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. Early in the pandemic, Francis made a similar pop-up visit to a little-frequented church in the heart of downtown Rome to pray, startling the few Romans who were in the area during exceptionally tight lockdown measures. In separate, written comments, Francis stressed the need for all to have employment when the world emerges from the pandemic. “How can we speak of human dignity without working to ensure that everyone is able to earn a decent living?” the pope wrote. He urged people to “find ways to express our firm conviction that no person, no person at all, no family should be without work.” As he has previously during the pandemic, the pope praised what he called the “ordinary people” who have kept the world functioning as it reels under the strain of the global pandemic. He cited those providing essential services—health care workers and shopkeepers, cleaners and caregivers and “so very many others.”

The Kremlin Is Offering Russians Free Vaccines, but Will They Take Them? (NYT) Aleksei Zakharov, a Moscow economics professor, got the Russian coronavirus vaccine injected into his upper arm over the weekend. Getting the shot was an easy decision, he said—not because the Russian government said it was safe, but because scores of Russians have shared their experience with it on social media. “I trust the grass roots collection of information far more, of course, than what the state says, at least before the testing results are available and published in a medical journal,” Mr. Zakharov, 44, said in a telephone interview Monday, already clear of a mild fever—a side-effect of the vaccine. Russia made its coronavirus vaccine available for free in recent days to teachers, medical workers and social-service employees younger than 61 in Moscow. But even more than in the West, a lack of trust is hobbling Russia’s rollout of a vaccine: the country’s scientists may well have made great strides in battling the pandemic, but many Russians are not ready to believe it. That distrust looms large as Russia races to roll out the vaccine while facing the fiercest onslaught of the pandemic yet, with some 500 deaths per day.

Mt Everest grows by nearly a metre to new height (BBC) The world’s highest mountain Mount Everest is 0.86m higher than had been previously officially calculated, Nepal and China have jointly announced. Until now the countries differed over whether to add the snow cap on top. The new height is 8,848.86m (29,032 ft). Everest stands on the border between China and Nepal and mountaineers climb it from both sides. Officials at Nepal’s foreign ministry and department of survey said surveyors from both countries had co-ordinated to agree on the new height.

China condemns new US Hong Kong sanctions, Taiwan arms sale (AP) China on Tuesday lashed out at the U.S. over new sanctions against Chinese officials and the sale of more military equipment to Taiwan. The U.S. actions are part of what critics see as an effort by the Trump administration to put in place high-pressure tactics toward Beijing that could make it more difficult for President-elect Joe Biden to steady relations. The Cabinet’s office for Hong Kong affairs expressed “strong outrage and condemnation” over the sanctions leveled against 14 members of the standing committee of China’s legislature, which passed a sweeping Hong Kong National Security Law earlier this year. Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, meanwhile, demanded the U.S. cancel its latest arms sale to Taiwan and said China would make a “proper and necessary response.” President Donald Trump’s administration has incensed Beijing with 11 separate arms sales and closer military and political ties with the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. China has stepped up military flights near the island and pledged to punish U.S. companies involved in the arms deals in response.

Libya’s east-based forces seize Turkish-owned vessel (AP) Forces of a Libyan commander who rules the eastern half of the country and who was behind a year-long military attempt to capture the capital, Tripoli, have seized a Turkish vessel heading to the western town of Misrata. The development by Khalifa Hifter’s forces could escalate tensions in the conflict-stricken Libya, since Turkey is the main foreign backer of Hifter’s rivals, the U.N.-backed administration in Tripoli, in western Libya. Hifter’s forces stopped the Jamaica-flagged cargo vessel, Mabrouka, on Monday off the eastern port town of Derna, said Ahmed al-Mosmari, the spokesman for Hifter’s forces. Al-Mosmari said the vessel entered a “no sail” zone and did not respond to calls from the naval forces. It’s the second Turkish-owned vessel seized by Hifter’s forces this year, according to Ambrey Intelligence, a British private maritime intelligence firm. In 2020, Hifter’s forces have seized at least six ships.

[yeet-me-dad-dy]

Beautiful Condition

Summary: You have a condition called Rosacea, which makes your face red and splotchy. Loki is eager to make sure you know that you’re beautiful.

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Words: 2,197

You hadn’t been an Avenger for very long. Technically, you weren’t even fully an Avenger yet, having not completed your training. Despite this, the others already considered you part of the team and you were invited, along with the rest of them, to attend a party. The event was being thrown in their honor, to celebrate their most recent successful mission; the prevention of the obliteration of the entire East Coast. You had turned down the invitation not once, not twice, not three, but four times already, saying that you hadn’t even been a part of that mission and didn’t deserve to be celebrated. With the whole team against you, however, you caved in the end. Natasha and Wanda tried to reassure you, saying that they would help you get ready, that they would make you a true spectacle, that everyone would be jealous of you.

But that wasn’t the problem.

“Y/N, are you done in there?” Wanda asked from outside the bathroom door from her place on your bed. You adjusted your formal wear a final time, appraising yourself in the large mirror above the bathroom counter. Your eyes roamed up your body, taking in the clothing that the pair had picked for you to wear tonight. It fit nicely and complimented all of the curves and angles of your body, and just as you were thinking that you might actually look hot, your gaze fell upon your face.  

The angry red splotches covering your cheeks were something that you had come to accept as a part of you. That didn’t mean that you had to like it. The bathroom door opened behind you and you saw Natasha reflected in the mirror.

“Worried about your face?” she asked tactlessly.

You turned around with a scowl. “Yeah.”

“We can put some makeup on you. Try and cover it up,” she offered.

You shook your head. “Makeup doesn’t cover it up. Trust me, I’ve tried everything. I’ve blown whole paychecks on foundation and creams to try and hide it. Nothing works.”

You pushed past her with a huff.

Wanda rose from the bed with a soft smile. “I know you don’t believe it, but it’s not that bad. Noticeable, yes, but not ugly. Having red on your face does not immediately make you ugly.”

“Maybe not to you, but to the rest of the world it does.”

She sighed, her smile dropping into a pitying frown.

Natasha cleared her throat. “Come on. We’re already late, we should get going.”

It was late in the year, and a chill breeze hit you as you slid out of the limo, followed by Wanda and Natasha. You rubbed your arms, trying to find some warmth in the friction. Before you stood a massive hotel, dark and foreboding against the bright New York skyline, the gray bricks and Victorian architecture giving the place an eerie feel. You shivered, though not from the cold, and before you could turn around and get back into the limo, your friends were pulling you toward the front doors, one on either arm.

“You’ll be fine, Y/N,” Wanda whispered in your ear.

“I hate parties…” you grumbled as a young man in a sharply tailored tux opened the door to grant you entrance and you were pulled inside.

The feel of the hotel’s interior was in sharp contrast to the exterior. It was brightly lit, with red velvet furniture and a massive gold chandelier hanging from the tall ceiling. You gaped at anything and everything you laid your eyes on as your friends lead you farther in.

“You’re late.”

You pulled your gaze away from an exquisite stained glass window high up in the wall and dropped your head to see Tony Stark striding toward you, a glass of champagne in hand.

“Only by half an hour,” Natasha responded with a smirk.

“So, fashionably late, then,” Tony quipped with a playful grin. He turned to you then. “Glad to see you here, Y/N. I was sure you wouldn’t come.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” you mumbled coldly.

“You look good, if that’s any consolation,” he tried to reassure you.

You offered a curt nod in thanks, but said nothing else.

“Well, party’s this way,” he said and lead you, Natasha, and Wanda through the entrance hall and to a set of heavy, ornately carved doors that hung open on their hinges to reveal a massive ballroom. Well… it may not have actually been a ballroom, but that was the only word that you could think to describe it. It reminded you of something from a fairytale castle, and suddenly you felt very out of place. This is a room for royalty, not… not you.

Your friends departed as soon as you stepped over the threshold, weaving their way through the crowds of elegantly dressed guests to find the rest of the team. The sea of people within swayed like a tide and you had to dance around them to move farther into the room, lest you crash into someone. Luckily, you were fairly graceful on your feet and managed to find your way to the bar without causing an accident.

The young woman at the counter smiled at you as you pulled up and leaned back on the bar. “What can I get for you tonight?” she asked, her soft voice harmonizing with the piano and cello music whispering through the room from the stage.

You looked over your shoulder at her. “Oh, sorry. No, I don’t want anything right now, thank you.”

She nodded and moved on to another customer as you hopped up onto a barstool, facing the counter. You tried to read some of the labels on the fancy glass bottles lining the shelves, but they were either too small or the font too curly for you to make out much. After a few minutes, you were picking at your cuticles as a body took the stool to your right. Not wanting to make small talk with a stranger, you opted to ignore them, turning your body slightly away so that they would hopefully leave you alone.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.

“A glass of ice water for my friend here,” a dark, smooth voice with an unforgettable accent replied.

Your heart stopped in your chest and you held your breath. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

The bartender set a tall glass of ice cold water in front of you and you wrapped your hands around it instinctively before muttering a thank you.

“Having fun?” Loki asked and you knew the question was directed at you.

You took a sip of water to try and cool the heat that was rising to your face. You were fond of the God of Mischief and his presence always sent fire rushing to your face, which you knew made your condition so, so much worse; the red splotches on your face darkening to a deep crimson. You tried to angle your face away from him, to hide it from his searching gaze.  

“I, um… Yeah, I… It’s… It’s a good party. Nice music,” you stammered in answer to his question. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him because you knew how he was looking at you. He didn’t look at anyone else that way, which was part of the reason that you had such a hard time being around him. When he looked at others, his eyes were dark, full of judgment and self-righteousness. When he looked at you, his eyes held the bright blue of the sky. They were soft, kind, caring. He looked at you like you were all the stars in the sky, like you were an exploding nebula, brilliant and beautiful, like you were the only thing in the whole world worth looking at. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight,” you said.

“I wasn’t going to… Until Thor told me that you’d be attending.”

You didn’t answer, unsure of what to say. He shuffled beside you. “You needn’t hide your face from me, darling.” His voice was barely a whisper as his hand came up to gently grasp your chin. You didn’t fight him as he turned your head to face him and a soft smile tugged up at the corners of his mouth as his eyes met yours. You were sure your face was beet red at this point and subconsciously you turned away once more as he lowered his hand.

You could see his smile drop and his brow furrow. “Do I truly make you so uncomfortable?” he asked.

You shook your head, eyes downcast and focused on the bar in front of you. “No, it’s not you…” you began. “It’s not you, Loki.” Finally, grudgingly, you angled your whole body toward him with a sigh. “You don’t make me uncomfortable, not in the slightest. In fact, I enjoy your company. I enjoy it more than any of the others.”

“Then… why do you avoid me?” he looked confused, but there was still a tinge of hurt behind his eyes.

There was no reason to lie to him. No reason to keep hiding. If there was one person that could look past your condition, it would be Loki. However, you’d thought that about people before, and every time, they’d let you down.

You rubbed a hand down your face and took a deep breath to steady your nerves before you looked him right in the eye. “I avoid you because I like you, but I’m afraid that my face will make it so that you won’t ever like me back.”

The crease between his brows deepened with his confusion. “Your… face? You have a beautiful face, darling. What could possibly make you think any different?”

You cocked your head to the side. “The redness,” you stated simply. “My condition.”

The prince chuckled. “Last I checked, blushing isn’t a condition, my dear.”

You shook your head. “No. No, it’s not blush. Well, I mean it is, I always blush when I see you, but it’s not… It’s not just that. It’s called Rosacea. It makes my face red, but the red gets worse when I experience strong emotions, like happiness, sadness, or anger, or when… when I like someone. Blush is just a little splash of color on your face not… not… this.” You gestured wildly to your face, to the scarlet that painted your cheeks.

His smile returned and he reached a hand up, brushing the tips of his fingers ever so gently across the splash of color before he cupped your cheek and looked once more into your eyes. “If this is a condition… then it’s surely the most beautiful condition I’ve ever seen.”

You felt the heat rush to your face once more. “Oh…” you smiled, lowering your gaze to your hands, which rested in your lap.

“You have no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed of the patterns that adorn your face, darling. Da Vinci himself would envy the color upon your cheeks were he alive to see it.”

“Now you’re actively trying to make me blush,” you said, poking him in the stomach.

With a chuckle, his thumb ghosted once more across your cheek before he dropped his hand to take one of yours. “Well, of course, dear. I do so love the color that springs up when I do.”

Suddenly, the chipper piano music was replaced with a dark, haunting melody that wove through the crowd like ghosts. A sound fit to compliment the dark prince of Asgard, you thought. In one swift movement, he had slid from his barstool and stood before you, your hand still in his.

“Would you dance with me?” he asked quietly.

With a smile, you nodded and he wasted no time in pulling you to your feet. The crowd parted for him so you could easily pass and he pulled you close once you came to a stop in the middle of the room. The crowd of people faded into darkness, indistinct shapes dancing in the background. He held you tight as he gazed down at you and took a step. His smile widened as you moved with him and he took another. Soon enough, you were dancing an elegant dance with Loki, who was looking down at you as if you were the very oxygen he needed to breathe.

“My crimson flower…” he sighed, resting his forehead against yours. “My alluring crimson flower. Do you think you’re not beautiful?” he asked. “Roses weep as you pass. Do you think you’re not regal? The sea bows to the sand when you stand upon it. You are not your condition, Y/N. Don’t you ever think you are not enchanting. You are everything to me.”

He glanced down at your lips and you knew what he wanted. Without hesitation, you inclined your head and brushed his lips with your own. He pressed them together, kissing you softly, slowly, passionately, starting a fire in your chest. All too soon, he pulled away, his breath hot against your skin.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered in your ear. And for once, you believed it.

[the-canary]

Stay Gold - B.B (4/5)

Summary: Ours doesn’t have a happy ending, but I’ll give you everything else. (Reader/Mobster!Bucky Barnes) 

Prompt: Everlong - Foo Fighters

A/N: this is for @tropicalcap‘s 4k writing challenge. it took me so long to figure the pacing for this story but we are back on and warning there is charater death and nothing but angst <3

Yelena tells you that they have gone out together once more, for days this time. She whispers that James looks so much happier with her at his side, that you are all but forgotten as he moves on to a newer, healthier woman -- one that could give him everything that he could dream. However, you keep writing your letters, professing that you are so sorry for being so weak, wishing that you could go outside once more with him and dance the night away.

None of them are ever answered back and as you look at all trinkets and letters that your James had given you once -- before the marriage, before the war, before he wasn’t yours anymore-- and make your decisions because you will not be like your mother and cling to a man that doesn’t love you anymore.

Your hands shake as you try to make it out of bed with all your will. Blue eyes give you a questioning look as you grab your shawl and grab anything you can carry.    

You leave the Barnes mansion in a small car with coughs wracking your body in the bloody cold December weather. You have left one last letter on James’s desk, before asking and paying the driver to take you as far as possible.

Yelena stands there in the shadows of the mansion watching the car drive off into the darkness. Your smile and shaking hands the last things she remembers as the news of a fallen automobile, of a dying young woman near the brink of the river, makes the news in a small article a few days later.

“James, James,” is what is written in the newspaper as the last thing the young woman spoke before giving into her injuries; she was a goner, to begin with, this just agitated her illness even more.

It was bound to happen, Yelena thinks herself before folding the newspaper and putting in her pocket for another day.

There are bigger things she has to move forward with now.

“Just tell her what you mean, Sarge. Nobody is gonna know what you mean if you keep clamping up like an oyster.”

It’s the only thing mulling over his head after his yearly meeting with the rest of the Howling Commandos back in New York. Bucky was sure that Steve would have told him the same thing -- where was the cocksure youth he had been once?

But, there was always something that made him go crazy in a desperate sort of way when it comes to you, whether it was your family’s background, how you smiled when you took care of him and treated him like the same old Brooklyn Bucky, or how you never seem to run away from him...until recently. Looking you up due to his own fears had been stupid, James knew that now and he was going to fix it -- he was going to spend the rest of his days making sure you knew how much he loved you.

He’s already planning it --a nice dinner and dancing in the main hallway-- until Pierce sends him another mission on the other side of the world. He knows what is coming up, but with a deflated heart he hopes that you haven’t forgotten about that special date or him either because even with all the bloodshed, money, and power in his life -- you’re the one bright light that he still has left.

“So, what are you planning for when you get back?” Natasha can’t help but ask in her quest to make small talk, she was still trying her hardest to blend into the “normal” population and James always tried to help when he could.

“Ma anniversary is coming up,”  James grins at the thought, “”m a wine and dine like the best of them.”

He ends up coming back home two weeks behind the initial date with a set of broken ribs and with Natasha at his side. There is a sick feeling in his heart over missing your anniversary and there is so much he needs to explain, regardless of how you might react. James is tired of keeping everything bottled up inside, he wants you to know that he loved you despite and in spite of everything.   

So, instead of going into his room or his study, he staggers to the little room that he has kept you locked in for quite some time -- something else he hates himself for. However, instead of being met with a locked door, it was completely open and there is no sign of you anywhere.

He yells at everyone to look and questions where you have gone, but nobody knows where you have gone. James is at a loss until he drags himself into searching his own room and study. Natasha leaves him alone, as she goes to question the staff.

In his loneliness is when he finds it, a small envelope with James Buchanan Barnes written on the front in your handwriting. He freezes, staring at the one letter meant for him out of all the ones he had seen. He rips is open and begins to read what he can:

Dear Bucky,

I’m sorry I was so weak, even though I loved you...I wasn’t ever really strong enough, was I?

--I don’t regret any second I spent with you, I hope you understand that one day. I hope she makes you happy, I hope she gives you everything that I couldn’t, but even so…

I know this is selfish, but I have only one request from you, James.

Please don’t forget about all the letters I left for you. Think back on them from time to time...please don’t burn them all.

It’s a record of all my thoughts, feelings and love for you. Please cherish them when you can and remember that ever through it all, someone will always love you.

Stay Gold... Farewell

--- your wife.  

“What?” is all he can say in his confusion as he reads those few words over and over again.

It doesn’t take him long to put two and two together, but there is no way for him to know how far you have gone and the exact time you had left, he was at a loss as he kept looking at the small locket you had left him and the last letter he would ever receive from you.

James keeps sobbing, his cries echoing in the empty hallway as in another room Natasha keeps looking at a certain maid.

Natasha finds Yelena --dressed in her tight black dress and pinned blond hair-- in her room after trying to console a broken down James from trying to stop from taking the gun and taking his own life away. To choose to keep sending out search parties to look for you in the surrounding area and abroad --something he will be doing for decades afterward.

Natasha knew it was cruel, that the man had nothing to live for now but she still needed him alive. However, that was another thought for a different time as she looks at her former peer who gives her a beautiful smile and gun pointed at her.

“If you were going after me,” Natasha questions though she is sure she already knows the answer, “Why go after them?”

“For fun,” Yelena shrugs, “Neither able to tell the other their true feelings or fears and everything just fell on my lap. It was too good not to mess with, an added bonus to your demise.”

All Natasha frowns thinking about that shy and loving couple she had met once all that time ago and though there is a heavy feeling in her heart for a split second -- it quickly disappears as Yelena begins her assault. Natasha knows that there is going to be only one victor tonight and if it’s her -- she promises to burn all the lives and make it up with the rest of her life for dragging both of you into this.

It is several years down the line Charles is finally able to look for his sister that he had never heard of once she made it to Albany. He listens and tracks down the name of Barnes in those underground dealings that his father had always warned him off, but Charles was an adult now and he had is own way of dealing with things.  

He heard a lot of things along the way from how much land and business James Barnes owned after the fall of Alexander Pierce to the red-haired assassin that was his shadow wherever he went, one word and her widow’s bite would be the last thing you would see. James Barnes is a sullen man with a temper that sneaks up at any minute, he has no friends to speak of but you wouldn’t want to his enemy either. He is one of the most powerful men on this side of the East Coast. However, Charles can’t help but notice that there are some things missing from these tales.

Where is his adoring wife? The children that he promised to dote on and picnics underneath the Sunday sun?

Where are you in all this?

Charles gets his answers a few nights after entering New York state. A few choice words and some cash is thrown here and there and he is standing on the steps of the house James had promised you all those years ago with lovestruck eyes and lovely smile.

He can’t help but wonder how you look like now.

The party is at full blast. The Barnes mansion is a place that is open 24/7 to all members of the collective, but the man whose name is on the building is harder to find, as Charles moves between guests and servants carrying booze all over the place. He pauses in confusion, hours of travel and not being able to find anything are making him weary and ready to head back to his little hotel room and wait until morning, but that’s when he feels it -- a touch on his bicep as he turns to see wide green eyes looking at him, like she has seen a ghost.

“Come with me,” is all she says before dragging him to the darker parts of the mansion where the party nor sun seem to reach anymore. A few locked doors later and he is standing in front of a man, half drunk and the other half hidden by the darkness while staring at a large painted picture. He freezes at the sight.

“James,” the redhead coos softly but he doesn’t move, “I think there is someone you need to see.”

“It’s good to see you again, James,” Charles remarks nervously, “I wanted to visit, but my letters never seem to get through so I decided to come anyway.”

James frowns before taking another gulp of his drink. The redhead leaves and it is just the to of them, as blue eyes take a good while to look at the youth -- same hair and eye color to his beloved, but none of the softness as Charles was no longer a child. James knew he shouldn’t be allowed to see anything that reminded him of you, it was his curse for his idiocy, even the painted picture was a failure in how you had looked liked once.

He hadn’t seen you in years since before that cold winter night. He speaks and it sends Charles on his alert.  

“Would you believe me if I told you?” James asks somewhere between tired and desperate. Charles isn’t sure what to believe, but deep down he wants to know where you are -- what happened to his sweet sister and the soldier she married?

“Tell me,” Charles demands as he sees James wince for just a bit, “Then, I’ll make the decision to believe you or not.”

James drops his drink as his face twists into an utter look of misery. He motions at the seat for Charles to sit, but he doesn’t instead choose to stand stiffly and glare at the man that was once his hero. What had he done to you?

Thus the tales start once more of the letters, the lying, the end with no sight of you for years, but James and Charles both know deep down that you had always been weak at heart with what he had done to you and the state you had left in -- there was no way that you could still be alive. Charles feels tears welling up in the corner of his eyes as he feels your pain sink into his heart over everything. He had always been your closest sibling, so he knew what your thought process might have been -- why doesn’t he love me anymore? Why can’t I be good enough? Why am I still alive then?

Charles lets out a hiccup near the end as he can see James’ blue eyes turn red for just a moment before he takes another sip of his drink. There are so many things he wants to say, but he just lets out one thing before leaving the room.

“You never deserved her.”

Charles walks out, as Natasha stands there by the side. James takes another gulp of his drink, losing himself in the dizziness of the alcohol and better memories.

He can’t help but agree because he will be haunted about how he failed the love of his life… for the rest of his life, how dreadfully long that may be.  

[betmaps-blog]

Chicago Area Sports Betting Scene: Day 3 - Winning!

For the 3rd day of our trip, we travel further into Indiana than any man has before. We hit up both Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago and the FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino. The latter was about 50 miles from our hotel in Downtown Chicago. We had a blast, bet on some college football, and enjoyed some of the sights that Indiana has to offer.

The Hangover The day actually kicked off around midnight at Dublin’s Bar and Grill in the Gold Coast. We met up with a friend and advisor who lives in Chicago and it ended up being a late night. Safe to say the next day we were moving pretty slow. After a few cups of coffee, a bagel from Corey’s NYC Bagel Deli, and a few ibuprofen, we pulled it together and rented a car for our trip deep into Indiana.

I’m On a Boat Stop 1 - Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago: About 20 miles from downtown Chicago, partially in a boat sitting on Lake Michigan, lies the Ameristar Casino. This is the spot that hosted the inaugural Indiana sports bet placed by the one and only Mike Ditka.

Walking in, the first thing you see is the sportsbook to your left and a sports bar on your right. It’s not your traditional sportsbook, more like a window of sports tellers and kiosks. I quickly realized you make your bets at the window, then head on over to the sports bar to watch the games. Mission accepted.

There was a line, but it moved very quickly; it took maybe 5 minutes to make a bet. The teller was very friendly, helpful, and reminiscent of the old-time bookmakers you see in Vegas. I don’t remember what games I parlayed, but I know I lost pretty quickly. After placing the bet, we walked around the casino a bit. It was several stories of slot machines with very few windows, if any. Pretty sure we were on the boat at that point.

Sports Bar Meet Sportsbook We returned to the sports bar across from the book, Stadium Sports Bar and Grill. It was a pretty standard sports bar, with more TVs than you could count, and access to any game you would like to watch. Just make sure to let the hostess know what game you would like to watch so they can seat you in the right spot. From here, we enjoyed some college football and got some much-needed hydration. Then it was off to Stop 2 – FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino.

Stadium Sports Bar

Michigan City, Is That a Nuclear Cooling Tower, or Are You Just Happy to See Us? On the way into Michigan City, Indiana you are greeted by what looks like the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant from The Simpsons. Turns out it’s just a cooling tower for a coal and natural gas power plant, but you could have fooled me. Anyway, we drove by this thing as we headed towards FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino. No big deal.

The Blue Chip Casino is hoppin’ on a Saturday night for an area that we assumed was not too populated. As we walk in, again we are greeted by the sportsbook. FanDuel has fully branded this book, with a restaurant called “The Game” attached. There are both tellers and kiosks; the book offers stadium-style seating seen in traditional sportsbooks. It was pretty awesome. There was even a wasted guy that looked like Billy Bob from Varsity Blues who was about to get tossed out. A perfect atmosphere for sports and sports betting!

We planned on catching the late games back in Chicago, so instead of betting through the tellers, I opted to use the FanDuel Online Sportsbook. This app is available anywhere in the state of Indiana, so if I happen to hit, it would be a short drive to cash out the following day.

Runnin’ With the Devils I parlayed the following games:

Arizona State +13 vs Oregon – Its upset time, let’s do this! Bet against rival U of A by taking Utah -23.5 The Suns vs Timberwolves game was in the 3rd quarter, but that was no problem. I was able to take an “in-game” spread of Suns -2.5 to complete this parlay. Luckily, the spread adjusted to -1.5 as I was making this bet. This turned out to be key for me. We headed back to Chicago and enjoyed some beers while watching these west coast games. The Suns hit, winning by 2. Then the Sun Devils shocked the college football world by upsetting the Ducks. Finally, the Wildcats took a huge beating against the Utes, completing my home team parlay and making me a $150 winner.

The next morning, we made a quick trip to Indiana to get gas and collect my winnings. The money went right back into my PayPal account, no problem. Then we returned the car and enjoyed some Bears football from a solid local sports bar called Stocks and Blondes. All in all a very successful trip, deep into Indiana, to check out the available sports betting options nearby.

[tmcastandcrew]

Hollywood star Simon Baker said he had no acting ambitions at first

April 28, 2018

Thank you  @YohkoTheHunter

Huge Interview ahead >>

He was working as a pool attendant at the newly opened Sanctuary Cove resort. Any spare time, any spare thought, was spent chasing waves on the Gold Coast, and crashing with his surfie mates at their fibro shack which backed on to the beach at Surfers Paradise. It was the twilight of the 1980s and Simon Baker, a carefree school graduate, had no idea, and no real cares, about what lay ahead.

“No, no, no, I didn’t have any acting dreams,” the now 48-year-old father-of-three insists when U on Sunday sits down with him at the plush QT Hotel in Surfers Paradise for a chat about his latest film, Breath, based on Tim Winton’s novel.

It’s about 30 years since Baker lived here. In the interim, his ruggedly handsome face, sharp blue eyes and self-deprecating smile have taken him all the way to Hollywood Boulevard, where he has his own star on the sidewalk; and seen him receive critical acclaim, and an adoring fan base for his movie roles (Red Planet,The Devil Wears Prada and Margin Call) and television gigs (The Guardian, and his most famous role as maverick police consultant Patrick Jane on The Mentalist).

Not surprisingly, this same natural charm led to Baker’s first acting opportunity which came by accident rather than by design. And it happened in Brisbane.

“We were going camping,” he says, setting up the story of how he and a mate were driving up from the Coast when his friend said they had to make a slight detour into Brisbane because he had an audition for a TV ad.

“My friend told me I could wait in the car or come in and hang out; so I came into the waiting room and the casting woman came in with a clipboard and said to me ‘Have you signed in’ and I said: ‘Oh no, I’m just here with a friend’, and she said, ‘why don’t you sign in and go in’.

“I had never done drama or improvisation before. I was used to knocking around with my mates – a bit of jive talk on the beach, on the streets, that’s all,’’ he laughs.

Needless to say he got the gig. Two years later he landed a job on the Australian TV soapie E Street (“I wasn’t trying for it,’’ he again insists) playing fresh-faced Constable Sam Farrell. It was on that series that he met his future wife, Gold Coast-raised actor Rebecca Rigg.

Baker apologises in advance for eating during our chat. His mop of boyish golden-curled hair and grey flecked-stubble is lit with a wide grin, and deep laugh before he proceeds to wolf down a salad wrap and some fruit pieces. He is refuelling after making the most of a rare break from promotional duties at last week’s Queensland premiere of Breath at the Gold Coast Film Festival, to catch up for “a quick paddle with the boys’’.

The boys are Samson Coulter and Ben Spence who play the lead roles of Pikelet, 13, and Loonie, 14, in the film. Baker co-wrote, co-produced and co-stars in Breath which is also his directorial debut.

As a father of two teenage boys himself, Baker has developed a strong bond with his young proteges with Coulter from Sydney and Spence from Western Australia.

Baker’s own family are never far from his mind, and, at an exclusive U on Sundayphoto shoot earlier at Burleigh Heads, he was keen to capture a shot of the stunning beach scene to show his tribe at home. He celebrates 20 years of marriage this year to Rigg and the couple has three children, Stella Breeze, 24, Claude Blue, 19, and Harry Friday, 16.

He says all of his children go for a “paddle now and then’’ but it is his youngest Harry, who has inherited his father’s passion for surfing.

“It’s a great joy in seeing him (Harry) surf and catch waves,’’ he explains. “I like seeing him gain trust and physical confidence in himself; to trust his wits in certain situations, because that is what a lot of what surfing teaches you.’’

Baker explains he tries to find the right balance between encouraging Harry and ensuring he doesn’t pressure his son to tackle challenging waves he is not yet ready for, because “you can’t push them into those things’’. He says it is important that Harry develops his surfing skills at his own pace.

This caring fatherly approach is the opposite pathway taken by his character “Sando’’ in the coming of age film Breath. The adrenaline-junkie Sando is former world professional surfing star Bill Sanderson who becomes like a “guru’’ to his “wide-eyed disciples’’ Bruce “Pikelet” Pike and best friend Ivan “Loonie” Loon.

Pikelet and Loonie, under the tutelage of Sando, learn to surf increasingly bigger and more dangerous monster waves as Sando conditions their minds and bodies to pursue the extraordinary. Pikelet’s parents, played by Richard Roxburgh and Rachael Blake, remain oblivious to their son’s adventures, as Sando lures, even bullies, them on his increasingly perilous missions.

Roxburgh says Baker is a natural director, and an excellent mentor to the young novice actors.

“I was attracted to working with Simon because I’ve always thought he was a lovely bloke, a terrific actor, and I thought he would work really well with the young actors,’’ he says.

Roxburgh says his role as the staid and reserved father becomes a counterpoint to Baker’s risk-taking and larger-than-life Sando.

“My character is part of the domestic backdrop, I’m often at the garden shed, being very kindly and terribly worried about my son’s wellbeing. I know something is wrong, but I cannot identify it,’’ Roxburgh says.

When Sando and Loonie go overseas on a big-wave excursion, an unsettled Pikelet starts spending unhealthy periods of time alone with Sando’s headstrong wife Eva (Elizabeth Debecki), who carries a permanent knee injury from competitive aerial skiing.

“The film is about the anguish of parenting, of being a parent and watching your son moving and shifting away, being pulled away from you in this strong current and the terrible fear that goes with that,’’ Roxburgh says.

It took Sydney-based Baker a year to cast the two leading actors after a social media call-out to competent surfers netted thousands of entries from around the country including many from Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Baker, who did much of his own surfing, is surprised that Winton envisaged him as Sando for the film version of his 2009 Miles Franklin Award winner and much-loved bestseller.

“I suppose I don’t know too many actors who surf, there’s a few that have a paddle,’’ Baker says. “I’m at that point, where it is sort of getting sad, because my body is not keeping up with what my heart and mind want to do, sometimes it’s humiliating and sometimes it’s exhilarating.’’

When producing partner Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad) gave Baker the novel to read in 2015 he was immediately smitten and secretly harboured dreams to direct a film adaptation. Baker has directed several episodes of his television shows, including The Mentalist, over the years.

“We started meeting with a few different directors and started developing the script and at one point Mark turned around and literally said ‘has it occurred to you, that you should direct this film’ and I said ‘Yes’,’’ Baker says.

He did have doubts and he worried about time constraints, but then his seven-year contract on The Mentalist ended.

He has devoted several years to bringing the film to the screen including extensive scouting of the Western Australia coast, where the novel is set, and finding the perfect locations on the southern coastline at Denmark and Ocean Beach.

Baker enlisted “colourful’’ Brisbane-based screenwriter Gerard Lee (Top of the Lake) to help with the film script.

“I knew I had to reduce it down to certain key thematic moments and hone in on those and the story, I had to let go of the book in a lot of ways,’’ he says.

Tasmanian-born Baker sees some similarities with his own childhood, growing up in Lennox Heads, on the northern NSW coast, and spending plenty of time at the beach with his surfing buddies. The former Ballina High School student admits he was more like the reserved and restrained Pikelet than the confident and thrillseeking Loonie or Sando.

“I grew up riding around with a pushbike with my mates, discovering the ocean and surfing,’’ Baker says. “There are a lot of parallels there with the book but there are obvious parallels with a lot of people who grew up in Australia.’’

Roxburgh agrees: “Tim Winton can really write about water, especially about the nature of water: what it is; what it does for us; and what it is to be with it; and to live with such a passion for it.’’

It was while growing up that Baker first developed a love for going to the movies.

“As a kid I would go to see a movie and I would be instantly transported by the story and characters. You go, ‘oh wow, I would like to do that one day’,’’ he says.

The 1957 American classic Old Yeller, about a young boy and his ill-fated dog, profoundly affected him as a Year 3 student.

“It’s funny because I watched Old Yeller with my kids 10 years ago and they were saying ‘why are you making us watch this?’,’’ he says. “It’s so heartbreaking and powerful. I can track back the emotional impact that cinema has had on me over the years to that point.

“I still get so excited about going to the movies, getting a choc-top, sitting in that dark room and letting a film take me away.’’

Baker grew up as Simon Denny – the name of his stepfather – but changed it to Simon Denny Baker after reuniting with his birth father as an adult. He later dropped the Denny part.

In 1993 he won the Logie for most popular new talent and then appeared in Home and Away (as James Hudson: 1993-1994) and Heartbreak High (as Tom Summers: 1996).

Baker and Rigg – who married in 1998 after five years of living together – decided to try their luck in the US, which became their base for 18 years.

Soon after arriving, he landed a role as troubled gay actor Matt Reynolds in the Oscar-winning LA Confidential (1998) and a couple of years later snared the key role of lawyer Nick Fallin in the television series The Guardian (2001-2004).

But it was his role as the cheeky and sharp-minded former conman Patrick Jane on The Mentalist (2008-15) which saw an astronomic popularity rise, especially among women. It was rumoured he signed a contract that delivered a payment of $US30 million for his role as Jane. Some 17 million watched the final episode of The Mentalist in the US alone.

His rising profile also led to contracts promoting prestigious French perfume house Givenchy as well as Longines watches.

“I take my hat off to Simon, and others, who have moved to America and have achieved over there,’’ Roxburgh says.

For Baker, his focus is not on the past but on the future, and that continues to look bright with the actor recently optioning Winton’s latest novel The Shepherd’s Hut.

“You should read it,’’ suggests Baker, flashing that trademark winning smile once more.

[your-dietician]

DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT June 26

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/entertainment/destin-events-and-entertainment-june-26/

DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT June 26

Please send your events, meetings, etc., to pgriffin@thedestinlog.com at least 2 weeks in advance.

Destin City Hall 

All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin. 

Family Fun Day 

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart will host a Family Fun Day in Santa Rosa Beach from 9-11 a.m. June 26. The location will be the new Ascension Sacred Heart building at 179 Mack Bayou Loop. The event is free of charge and celebrates the expansion of pediatric services to the Emerald Coast. Outdoors, masks are encouraged, but not required. Inside the building, masks are required.  

Rock the Docks 

Rock along the docks at HarborWalk Village and under the stars for a free live concert from 7-9 p.m. June 26 with Frank Fletcher. 

• July 3: 18 Miles Band 

• July 10: Flash Flood 

• July17: way Ja Vu 

• July 24: The Hoodoos 

• July 31: Scenic Heights 

• Aug. 7: FIinga Faya 

• Aug. 14: TBA 

Sunday Cinema 

Grab a lawn chair or blanket for the free movie “Moana,” a featured film on the big screen at 8 p.m. June 27 on the Events Plaza Lawn at Baytowne Wharf. 

• July 11: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 

• July 18: Pete’s Dragon 

• July 25: Sing  

Rosemary Beach Summer Concerts 

Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy the night on St. Augustine Green in Rosemary Beach with music of Totally Awesome 80’s from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 28.  

• July 5:  Ocean’s Nine (boat Pop) 

• July 12: Kool Kats (50’s & 60’s) 

• July 19: British Invasion (Beatles and Stones) 

• July 26: Flying High (Bryds to the Eagles) 

• Aug. 2: Fais Do-Do (Cajun & Zydeco) 

• Aug. 9: Totally Awesome 80’s!  

ACT Workshops 

Workshops to assist students in Okaloosa, Escambia and Santa Rosa County high schools who will be taking the  July 17 ACT tests will be held in Gulf Breeze. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon July 12, 13, 14 and 15. Registrations must be postmarked by June 28. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students will need to bring calculators. If you have any questions, email Amhart1966@aol.com or call  615-585-2401.  

Wednesday Night Concert Series 

Enjoy free live entertainment with Dion Jones & The Neon Tears from 7-9 p.m. June 30 on the Events Plaza stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. 

July 7: Boukou Groove 

July 14: Forrest Williams Band 

July 21: Six Piece Suits 

July 28: Rust & Gold 

Summer Storytime on the Lawn   

Cuddlers and Toddlers Storytime is continuing through the summer at 10 a.m. every Thursday and run approximately 20 minutes. Come enjoy Tails & Tales themed stories while waiting for the weekly Summer Reading events to begin at 10:30 a.m. Get more information  at cityofdestin.com/655/Summer-Reading. If you have any questions, call 837-8572 or email library@cityofdestin.com. 

Summer at HarborWalk Village 

• Monday: Dance to your own beat with a silent disco experience in front of the main stage from 7-10 p.m. Sanitized headphones provided. 

• Tuesday: Carnival comes to HarborWalk Village with live music on the main stage at 6:30 p.m. and the Fat Tuesday Parade at 8:30 p.m. Catch beads as the floats roll through the Village. Want to celebrate on a float with you and your krewe or promote your business? Email events@harborwalkvillage.com or call 850-424-0600. 

• Thursday: All American Thursday is from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Celebrate the USA with a one-of-a-kind vintage airshow, hero salute, live entertainment, fireworks and a fire spinning show with Hero Salute and Vintage Air Show 6:30 p m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.  

Rosemary Beach Moonlight & Movies 

Bring blankets and lawn chairs for a movie night under the stars in Rosemary Beach July 1 with “The Secret Life of Pets 2” on the Western Green. Balloon art starts at 6 p.m. and  movie at 8:15 p.m. Enjoy popcorn and hot dogs on the beach from DogManDu.  

• July 8: Toy Story 4 

• July 15 Moana 

• July 22: Sonic the Hedgehog 

• Aug. 5: Tom and Jerry 

• Aug. 12: Trolls World Tour  

Let Freedom Ring 

HarborWalk Village’s 4th of July celebration, Let Freedom Ring, begins at 7 p.m. July 2 with The Two Hoo Doos. The Miles Band performs July 3 at 7 p.m. and The Manly Hero July 4 at 7 p.m. Fireworks and fire spinning by Autumn Lyfe begin at 9 p.m. Sunday. On-site parking $10.  

Movies & S’mores Series 

The free Movies & S’mores series will be at 5 p.m. July 3 in Camp Helen State Park Recreation Hall with food and fun. Seating will be provided. Programs begin at 6:30 p.m. with an interpretive table of activities, a merchandise table, prepackaged smores around the bonfire and a souvenir cup. Movie, “The Lion King (2019),”  begins. at sunset. Donations are accepted and will go directly to the Friends of Camp Helen State Park to be used to benefit the parks resource management, projects and interpretative programs.  

• July 22: Onward with a special treasure hunt/guided tour throughout the park 

Smoke on the Coast 

Destin Commons will host 15 local non-profit organizations at the 10th annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival from 5-10 p. m. July 3. Each non-profit organization teams up with a restaurant or BBQ aficionado. Cast your vote for $1 for your favorite BBQ team, support their mission, and enjoy a day of family fun. 

Seaside 4th of July 

Seaside is hosting a day of patriotic activities from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. in Central Square, with storefronts decorated in red, white, and blue. While there will not be a parade along 30A, Seaside will feature second-line-style patriotic music performances around town throughout the day, with a special performance by the Rep Theatre.  All of this will culminate into what will be the largest fireworks show not only in Seaside but along the entire Gulf Coast.  

Red, White & Baytowne 

The Red, White, and Baytowne celebration takes place from 7-9:15 p.m. July 4 with music from Donovan Keith on the Events Plaza Stage at Baytowne Wharf. A fireworks display will light up the night sky at 9:15 p.m. The Village will also host kids activities including kids crafts, face painting, and balloon sculpting.  

Foster Gallery 

The public is invited to a reception celebrating both the Summer Rotation and upcoming Juried Special Exhibition artists at Foster Gallery from 5-7 p.m. July 14. Enjoy tasty sips and snacks while perusing all the works on display and available for purchase.  

Summer Pop 

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents Jordan and Michelle’s “Back to Broadway” show, a fun-filled, high-energy tribute to the Broadway music of today and yesterday. July 17 at ECTC’s performance space, 560 Grand Boulevard, upstairs, in the Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach. Tickets are $30/person at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org. 

• July 24 – Frank & Friends with Peter Lake. Enjoy tunes from Frank Sinatra, Giacomo Puccini, Andrew Lloyd Webber and many more favorites.  

Mattie Kelly Arts Center 

Jesus Christ Superstar is the 2021 Summer Musical at 7:30 p.m. July 21-24 and 2 p.m. July 25 on Mainstage. at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Amphitheater in Niceville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call the Box Office for tickets at 729-6000 or visit https://mattiekellyartscenter.org/.  

Billy Gray Testimony 

Billy Gray, who ministers to people around the world and is former pastor at The Gathering, will give his testimony at First Baptist Church, 201 Beach Dr. in Destin, on July 27 at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. 

Hydroflight Monday 

Enjoy shows from fly-board extraordinaire Ben Merrell over the lagoon at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 2. 

Boomin’ Tuesday 

Turn your eyes on the sky at Baytowne Wharf and watch as the sky lights up with a fireworks show over the Lagoon at 9:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 3. Also, a DJ Dance Party with DJ Mike Whitty begins at 7 p.m. in the Events Plaza. 

Magical Thursday 

Magic, music, and mayhem with Baytowne Wharf’s featured pirate Captain Davy takes you on an adventure with two magic shows at 7 and 8 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 5. 

Destin Woman’s Club 

The Annual Fashion Show held by the Destin Woman’s Club has been cancelled this year due to the Covid virus. The Fashion Show for 2021 has been scheduled for Nov. 5.  As their major fundraiser, net proceeds go toward the Club’s Family Assistance Fund designed to help local families and a local charity. 

RECURRING EVENTS 

Destin Community Center 

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.comfor information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance. 

Pickleball: Sessions are Mondays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Fee is $3/session. Racquets and balls are available, just bring your gym shoes. 

Table Tennis: Play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Paddles and balls provided. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident. 

Senior Programs 

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.  

— Destin Senior Membership: Join the Destin Seniors to enjoy multiple festivities including the senior lunch bunch, potluck, casino trips, cruises, bingo, chair exercise, knitting, scrabble, and Mexican dominoes. Members must be a Destin resident. 

— Senior Book Club: The Destin Senior Members meet at 10 a.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave. 

— Senior Drop-In Hours: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers senior drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday for Seniors (50 years and older) to meet and enjoy each other’s company, participate in games such as Mexican Train Dominoes, Scrabble, cards, etc. 

— Senior Walking Club: The Destin Senior Members walk around the Destin Community Center’s gymnasium from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. All of the miles that you walk will be added to the “team map” as we travel from one region to the next. The team’s miles are reported on the 4th Friday of each month at the Destin Senior Membership’s Potluck. 

— Destin Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. at Buck Destin Park consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents. 

Book Club 

The Destin Library’s Novel Idea Book Club is open to adults and meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Club members can submit book recommendations – primarily fiction with the occasional non-fiction title – and the club will vote on which ones to read. Membership is open to everyone; however, you will need an Okaloosa County Public Library card to check-out materials. Members will need an email address and internet access to join the discussion. 

City of Destin Annual Passes 

Full-time residents (within the incorporated city limits) are encouraged to submit their request for a 2021 Annual Pass at https://www.cityofdestin.com/342/Annual-Passes. For those who do not have internet access, beach parking passes are only available at City Hall. Henderson Beach State Park and Joe’s Bayou Boat Ramp passes are available at both City Hall and the Destin Community Center. For questions, call 837-4242. 

Adopt-A-Street 

The City of Destin’s Adopt-A-Street Program allows local families, businesses and community groups to perform a valuable community service by adopting sections of a street to keep clear of litter and debris. Groups who participate in this program will have their name listed on the City’s website and signage installed on their adopted street. For more information, call 837-6869 or email adoptastreet@cityofdestin.com. 

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market 

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton. Bring your shopping bag and load up on local produce, eggs, jams and pies. Homemade soap, good olive oil, and pickled things are all there for the taking.  

Rosemary Beach Farmers Market 

Come browse the 30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local farmers market takes place on Sundays year round, and Thursdays throughout the summer months, in North Barrett Square along Scenic 30A. 

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[volaviwrites]

I Would Teach My Feet to Fly

Dick escapes Gotham for Los Angeles in December, but everything reminds him of Jason and their failed relationship. At least he can surf. Now if he just stop hearing that song everywhere he goes. 

A Christmas fic inspired by “The River” by Joni Mitchell, especially Robert Downey Jr.s version. It’s also a loose sequel to the my fic “The Candle” but can be read on its own.

Dick all but snatched the opportunity to get out of town, because, God, he thought he was over it, over Jason, but seeing him on the street the other week had ripped off the thin scab that he had been able to pretend was true healing.

And it wasn’t even officially winter yet, but November had been cold even for Gotham, and Dick tolerated the cold, had slowly grown used to it over the years, but fundamentally he was still the child who’d spent his winters in Florida off the Gulf Coast. Maybe a change of climate, a view of a different ocean, some trees that still had actual leaves on them, would be good for him. No snow, no bare branched trees, just balmy beaches and 70 degree weather.

Dick deliberately ignores the voice in his head that tells him that his quick agreement to run B’s errands in California had nothing to do with the fact it would dramatically reduce his chances of seeing Jason for the duration of the trip.

“La la la denial,” he sings quietly to himself to the tune of ‘Silent Night.’

The grand foyer of the hotel has swaths of real pine garland, a giant fake tree decked in tasteful gold and crystal, and a grand piano playing soft holiday music. While he’s standing in line to check in, the musician moves to a few bars of Jingle Bells, then starts the melody line of ‘The River.’

Dick closes his eyes.

He’s not that kind of guest, but part of him wants to find someone in charge and complain about them playing such a depressing song at this time of year. It wouldn’t even be that out of character, really, since he is checking in as Richard Grayson-Wayne, billionaire’s son. Though Dick doesn’t want to risk TMZ running an article speculating on why a song about a broken relationship and heartbreak provoked such a reaction. And if this song hits a bit close to home, well, that’s hardly the piano player’s fault.  

When had Jason bought the ring? Why did he finally decide to sell it, two years after they broke up?

Two years after Dick broke up with Jason.

Dick steps forward when he realizes that the clerk has been calling him for at least a few seconds. He plasters on his smile, the smile that has earned him more than one headline in gossip magazines and tabloids, more than a couple of flirtatious comments from Extra hosts. The check in process goes smoothly, but he still has to endure the rest of the song, thinking of all the times he fucked up, was too needy, too demanding, expecting Jason to change. And now he’s lost the best relationship he ever had.

He’s moving to the elevator as quickly as he can, but not before the song has finished.

Before the encounter on the rainy street, Dick had barely seen Jason in civilian clothes since the break up. Nightwing and Red Hood had managed to carve out a respectable, if cooly civil, working relationship - Bruce’s training in emotional suppression for the win! But that’s it. Nothing else. Not a word.

He knew that Jason had eased away from the whole drug lord mob boss thing. Red Hood rarely even killed these days.

But scathing words can’t be unsaid.

Not for the first time, Dick wishes he could fly away.

The business that brought him here was a felicitous overlap of Wayne Enterprises and Batman interests. Dick is going to ceremonially break ground at a new wing of the Children’s Hospital, and have a few “for the sake of appearances only” meetings with some West Coast executives. Meanwhile, Nightwing needs to deliver a new form of Kryptonite to Star Labs and wait for them to stabilize it before returning it to Batman. B didn’t want to risk transporting the mercurial element through the Zeta tubes, and there were very few people he trusted enough to travel across country with it.

Richard Grayson-Wayne smiles for the cameras. He goes shopping on Rodeo Drive. He eats at a trendy vegan restaurant in West Hollywood that just happens to have some of the best cocktails and spicy margaritas on the West Coast. He perhaps drinks one too many in an attempt to suppress memories of Jason carefully learning to cook a vegetarian version of khoresh bademjan. After Damian decided to quit eating meat, but missed the Iranian eggplant stew usually cooked with lamb, Jason made it a personal mission to replicate the dish as closely as possible.

The combination of chiles and tequila burn going down, though they can’t quite disguise the tang of regret.

He spends an early morning at El Porto Beach, catching some winter waves. He’s not a great surfer, but he took a week’s worth of lessons in Hawaii as a young teenager. This had been back when Bruce and Alfred actually went on occasional family vacations, and the key skills of surfing are balance and flexibility, something that Dick has been granted from birth and worked hard his entire life to enhance.

The feel of the Pacific Ocean at his back, the thought of thousands of miles of undulating waves, the unexplored depths, the unknown cold crevices, reassures him in a bleak midwinter kind of way. He thinks of fish that are luminous in the dark, of scudding sail boats, krakens and storms, stretches of nothing but water and sky, of mermaids. Here there be monsters.

Dick has always loved too well and not wisely. He loves slowly, softly at first, and then sudden and all at once, like sand falling from an hourglass. He’s needy and emotional, yet not always conscientious of his lovers own emotional issues.

As the beach starts to fill with tourists, he heads back to his rental car. He unzips and peels off the top half of his wetsuit, so similar to his Nightwing costume. Sand sticks to his feet in the outdoor shower. He ignores the glances from the others at the beach. Whether it’s for his scars or his muscles, it doesn’t matter to him. Their speculation washes off him easier than the sand. Easier than regret.

Back in the car, Dick checks his cellphone out of habit more than expectation.

There’s a text from Jason. His pulse quickens.

“Dickie. Let’s get coffee when you’re back in Gotham. -J”

He scrubs his hands through his hair, already drying salty and wavy.  The phone sits heavy in his hand.

Thumbs slow and uncertain, Dick types back, “Sure. Sounds good.”

As an afterthought, he sends a second text. “Come to LA. I’ll teach you how to surf.”

Dick sits for he doesn’t know how long waiting for a reply before giving up and driving back to his hotel. He curses himself for being an idiot. Yet when he’s walking through the lobby again, he hears the chime of a text alert over the sounds of the piano hitting a minor chord, then a major lift.

“I already know how to surf, Goldie. Used to live on a tropical island with Kori and Roy.”

Dick bites his lip. He wishes he could skate away from here on a river of ice. Or at least go back to the beach and let the ocean pull him away with the rock of the waves and the inexorable pull of the tides.

Then his phone lights up with another text. “I’ll be there tomorrow.

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