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a montage of chaos
#harry flying in the last pic is impressive#a testament to beransa#and cbd oil LOL#harold#henry#miller#moby#budgie#trickle#fosters#dogs
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Episode 2
They’re in NY. It’s November 2021. They are running away from paparazzi that…aren’t there? Meghan says there was a guy recording them in the basement but the footage is Kate and Diana. Lol, they are in the NJ Turnpike pretending they are being followed by paps. This is bizarre and hilarious.
More bitching about social media harassment, which is apparently a bunch of Twitter posts.
Doria does a confessional. Why isn’t Doria pretending she didn’t know who Harry was? Didn’t she get the brief? How does the yoga teacher know about the royals but the Northwestern International Relations graduate does not? She knew right away too. It’s a weird disconnect and the show is full of them. Every two minutes they say something that makes you go “Whaaaaaat? Didn’t they just say….”
Relationship breaks. They “felt tremendous relief.” Of course they did. They leaked it. No mention of the Reitman’s collection or the fact that this was leaking during on of Charles’ big trips. No spooning bananas instagram pic either.
Tatcha CEO is credited as “friend.” Wellness podcaster “friend.” Former agent. Lol, these people are business associates, not friends. First mention of Meghan’s fauxlantropist work, which baffles me as they should have led with that. “Childhood friend” of Harry’s that I never heard of shows up again. Harry really was ringing up everyone in the Eton yearbook trying to find some desperate classmate hungry for exposure. Montage of the press Sunshine Sachs and Nina Crowne set up for her—UN, Rwanda, etc…. They did nice work and they should have spent more time on this. But maybe not. Someone may start wondering what happened to her passion for Rwandan women’s political rights, hygiene, and menstrual pads. But if you pay for an expensive pr makeover you should use it.
According to Tom Bower she was paying SS $7500/mo and I’m amazed at what a good pr company can do with a four figure monthly stipend. The “classy” makeover lasted three months so they turned her into a humanitarian princess for less than $25k. Impressive.
Flower shop pap walk. Interesting choice since this wasn’t the first pap shot of Meghan and she seems to imply it was. The first pap shot was days earlier at her house and she had a security team with her. I wonder why she picked the flower shop shot which is actually a lot less intrusive (in appearance at least) than the real first pic. Maybe because she had security in the earlier picture? Meghan claims there were 8 or 9 paps at the flower shop but there’s only one video so that seems unlikely. Shop wasn’t anywhere near her house also. Rumor was Marcus took this shot. Maybe she was trying to send some money his way by using his pic.
Stock video of paps because she has no video of paps chasing her of course. Pics of official royal events.
Back to Toronto. Lol, those are clearly security guards in her porch and not paps. Ditto with her landlord’s security cameras. I think there was a DM article when those went up and Legion Media’s pic still states that those cameras were mounted on what was Meghan’s garage and not on her neighbor’s house as the documentary implies.
At least she doesn’t mention the fake break-in. Guess she knows that won’t fly anymore. But still, how can you show video from the cameras in front of the house and then claim the cameras in the back were from the neighbors? Obviously the house had cameras in the back too.
[Edited to add: She says Toronto police didn't protect her and the police strongly disagree.]
“My face was everywhere, my life was everywhere.” She blames the tabloids, but that wasn’t true. You were leaking stories to US Weekly and Lainey every other day, girl. It was part of your “classy” makeover. No mention of that weird video of Ivy Mulroney that was sent to the DM. Odd since you would think that would be a big intrusion, if it had been done by a pap.
“There were things that were said and things that were written that I had to go to her to ask.” That would be the cheating on Cory and Del Zotto, I guess.
Back to LA. My husband asks what she did to her nose. It does look weird in this shot.
Doria and Meghan tour LA and Meghan’s life was not that interesting. This should have been edited, heavily. I do love that she sold the same childhood pics her dad sold. Like father, like daughter. Dish soap commercial. My husband asks how much plastic surgery she has had because she looks nothing like her old self. Interesting that he’s only half-watching and his main impressions are drugs and plastic surgery.
Racism and media persecution. Wait, some of these pics are from before the relationship broke. They are from the paps she hired during her European vacation with Jess.
Academic guy blames the UK tabloids for fanning the madness. No mention of Omid Scobie and USWeekly, who were the ones steadily pushing the romance narrative with stories about Charles meeting her at Birkhall and William meeting her at Kensington Palace, as well as their vacation plans.
And Lainey Liu was boasting that the US mags were getting the scoops and not the UK tabloids because Harry was feeding the stories only to the US. So why blame the UK tabloids, Harry? You knew what you were doing. They could finesse this in 2016 when no one knew that Lainey was friends with Meghan and that Omid was their mouthpiece, but that is not the case anymore. Their unofficial biographer was leaking these stories in 2016. It was not the UK tabloids!
And then there was Meghan herself, Instagramming all over the place.
Whole Foods pap walk. According to Tom Bower, Richard Kay was the guy who got the pic. Unbelievable. That actually surprised me. No wonder that detail was never released. No one would have believed that Diana's big confidante just randomly noticed Meghan walking into KP.
Kensington Palace statement. No mention of William supporting the statement. No mention of the Caribbean tour that got overshadowed by the romance.
NAACP award really was in front of a green screen with an applause soundtrack. LOLOLOLOL. It looks so sad, particularly when compared to the footage of the royal events. I think this is supposed to show that their life is better than before (They get awards! In front of green screens!) but it gives the exact opposite impression.
Harry with the hummingbird feeder also looks sad and pathetic. Archie could be in Africa petting elephants but he’s in Cali admiring hummingbirds instead.
Meghan’s personal assistant talks about how she would be recognized in the Toronto grocery stores. Lol, no. She wishes!
Security stuff, including complaints about paps around the Suits trailers which seems odd to me since those are pretty standard for television productions. Also, why are the Invictus Games pictures intrusive? Suits security guy says they were coordinating her security with the palace and “they would handle that stuff.” Interesting detail since she claims she wasn’t protected by the palace and Harry was “hearing this from miles away, completely helpless.” Apparently, she was protected and from day one. Did they watch this before they sent it to Netflix? Did they not notice that half the stuff they put in it contradicts the other half?
Boring stuff…April 2017 already? They are booking flights to Pippa’s wedding and her Vanity Fair photoshoot through texts. LOL, she was doing a huge interview at the time, but she’s complaining about media intrusion. Make it make sense.
Pics with friends riding bikes. Old pic in her Toronto kitchen. Did they use this one twice? I would not have used it even once. Wait, was this what she was wearing when she met Will and Kate? LOLOLOLOL. “That formality carried over in real life.” I guess Kate was wearing shoes when she met Meghan. The nerve of that girl!
Andrew helped them ambush the Queen at Royal Lodge. That got leaked to Scobie at US Weekly too.
“How do you explain that you have to bow to your grandmother?” Uh, she was like….The Queen? What part of that is hard to understand?
She just compared meeting the Queen to Medieval Times. Wow. Big, exaggerated curtsy. She sounds and looks like an idiot. Fergie said she did great. Of course she did. She didn’t know how to curtsy? How does someone go through high school theater in the United States of Disney without knowing how to curtsy? [Edited: HRH Emilie found a clip of a curtsy scene she did for Suits because of course she did]
His family was impressed. LOL, I don’t think so. The actress thing was the biggest problem…wait, wasn’t her race the biggest problem? Can’t they keep their stories straight?
Interestingly the very first Blind Gossip blind was about how her profession was the problem and not her race. I suspected these blinds came from the Yorks and now I feel pretty good about that guess.
Meghan’s career. No blow-job or cocaine scene. No mention of her old blog. Interesting. I guess I can sort of understand that, but no mention of Trevor either? Are they going to pretend she was never married? No stories about being poor and crawling out of the back of her dad’s old truck either.
First biracial character? Eh, no. Meg was the glue for a lot of those cast relationships, but only one cast members participated in the documentary. Did no one do a consistency check on this show?
Screenshot of the Tig…with Cory front and center. That is hilarious because I don’t think they’ve mentioned him yet. Okay, now I’m sure Meghan didn’t watch this before it went live. She would have caught that and asked them to use a different shot.
“I didn’t want to find the great indie film that would win me an Oscar. I just wanted to volunteer.” She was literally releasing an indie film at this time. It was terrible. This documentary is like a lie-a-thon. Every other statement is a complete lie.
UN Speech. Is the crowd shot a stock picture (or archival picture, whichever is the right term)? It feels edited in. Jump to September 2021 at the UN. Okay, so the whole point of that meeting was the documentary. We knew that.
Proposal. He couldn’t do it outside the UK? Everyone else has done so outside the UK. What are you talking about, Harry?
Also, no mention of her appearance at Invictus Games? How come none of their charities are getting shout-outs? No mention of the “Mad About Harry” Vanity Fair article or the backlash and you’d think that would be a big deal because she eventually called it racist, no? I guess they don’t want to admit that she was feeding the flames of press coverage.
Funny how they aren’t bitching about the UK tabloids harassing her after the moved to the UK. Could it be because the tabloids were not reporting on that…but Lainey and Hello! Canada (Where Jess started leaking after US Weekly got bought out by National Enquirer and Omid got fired) did.
She got the proposal on video. That’s is hilarious. He proposed with fake candles in their yard. How…tacky. Penguin onesies? Why would you want to tell the world that? I’d love some inside info as to how they pitched this to the director. “Sure the palace made sure our engagement sounded glamorous and romantic, but we are not about that. We want to tell them about the LED candles and penguin onesies. It will make us look cheap and tacky? Of course not, everyone will think we are fun and relatable.”
Cheesy Calvin Klein perfume ad engagement pictures with hideously expensive feather dress. We thought that was super tacky and we didn’t even know about the LED candles and penguin onesies. No mention of how much the dress cost or the backlash it caused. Lots of interviews about how excited people were.
Engagement photocall was a lot more glamorous than anything they’ve done for this documentary. The royals really know how to manage occasions. Hard to believe these two are the same couple from the grainy proposal video. Goes to show how persuasive good pr can be. They almost looked regal.
Brexit? Boris Johnson? Really? Intrusion into the lives of the royal family was due to…Brexit and anti-immigration sentiment? I swear this documentary is like Mad Libs. They are just throwing stuff out at random. Paparazzi….penguin onesies….racism…..Brexit…. The Brexit referendum was in June 2016 and the engagement was in November 2017 so I’m not sure why they are even bringing it up.
“They are just trying to destroy me.” The Brexit movement was trying to destroy her?
It’s over. Wait, they didn’t mention her prior marriage at all??? Lolololol. Brexit is apparently more relevant to her story than her previous marriage. I guess that’s why she didn’t add her first wedding pics and the weed wedding favors to the list of press intrusions. The “phone hack” wasn’t mentioned either or the leaked topless pic. I guess she’s still pretending those weren’t pictures of her.
We seem to be at the engagement and there have been some other interesting omissions, namely Skippy’s wedding and Pippa’s wedding. Weird because you’d think Skippy’s wedding would be a perfect example of press intrusion too. I understand why they left out Pippa’s wedding though. Kinda awkward to admit Pippa invited you to her intimate, family wedding in the same episode where you call her sister “formal.”
Plus Audi polo, the birthday trip in Africa, Vanity Fair, Invictus…they all got left out. This episode curated the timeline to make it look like Meghan did nothing to encourage coverage and press speculation, and that is far from the truth. Her family is also missing and they were stirring the pot all through this time period. They were talking to the press basically every month.
My husband lost interest at this point. He had no comments other than to say her nose looked fake and the pap chase was fake. The group chat discussed whether they truly thought they had a pap chasing them. Everyone thought that was fake because the camerawork was too perfect. They scoffed at the Medieval Times comment and the curtsy. Someone laughed at the Oscar comment.
This was pretty boring. The fake pap chase was the best part.
BTW, Tumblr has a 10-link limit now? How annoying.
On to the next episode.
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Re: New Moon and the race to stop Edward’s suicide. I get that it’s Bella’s story and she needs to be in the action, but logically there were other options than flying her to Italy. Castle Volterra has a secretary; surely Carlisle could have called the castle and name dropped himself in a message for Aro. “Detain Ed until I can get there” and fly himself to Italy. Edward only does the sunlight thing to provoke them after they refuse to kill him. If they just arrested him, he wouldn’t be able to fight his way past every guard member.
Alice says “You can lie with your thoughts and Bella in-person is the only proof that will work on Edward” but surely Alice could have taken a digital/early model camera phone pic with Bella in her kitchen holding a newspaper for the date and Carlisle could use it as proof (or cause enough doubt) to get Edward to come home. For the law, Carlisle has success in changing other humans to vampires and can make the promise to change Bella. It makes more sense for Aro to let the Cullens off bc Carlisle is his friend, and Alice isn’t there as the prize he wants. If he wants Alice later, he has to let everyone go home now.
But then we don’t get to meet the villains until the next book and even then the ones in charge don’t roll in until the last book. Bella doesn’t get another “special me” moment by shaking hands with Aro for him to be impressed. It is better storytelling and drama for Bella to be in Italy and get the dire reunion with Edward, but the plot definitely could have been tightened up. As you’ve pointed out before, why was Rose never informed that Bella wasn’t dead after all when Alice stayed at the Swan house for two days? Maybe Rose still calls Edward but to say, “It’s pointless to stay away now bc Alice is there. She saw Bella jump off a cliff-“ and then Edward stops listening, spiraling in misunderstanding. That seems more in-character than Alice not keeping her family in the loop.
The whole climax of New Moon feels, to me, like she wanted to do an homage to Romeo and Juliet with the whole “he thinks she’s dead” miscommunication thing. I think she also had this very clear vision of Bella running through the plaza to get to Edward. As someone who dabbles in fiction writing, I get that.
But it’s just a lot harder to pull off a miscommunication of this scale in 2006 with CELL PHONES than it was back in Ye Olde Verona. So it ends up feeling SO contrived.
Harry dies so there can be a misunderstanding about a funeral and Jacob picks up the phone at Bella’s house?!? Who does that?!?
Alice doesn’t bother telling anyone for several days that Bella is in fact, alive, so that Rosalie finally gets through to Edward to tells him Bella’s dead?
Carlisle and Esme are away hunting, apparently, and also don’t have cell phones or at least no service?
I mean I get that in 2006 cell phones weren’t AS common as they are today, but the Cullens are stupid rich and like, import the latest models of TVs and expensive cars, I’m supposed to believe they don’t also have the coolest new phones?
All of this involves characters acting in ways real people just . . . don’t. And like I get they are vampires but Jacob picking up the phone at Bella’s house is always going to be weird. Alice being in Forks for like two days before Rosalie finally gets ahold of Edward makes literally zero sense. And if all that STILL happens, then yeah, Carlisle calling Volterra as soon as he’s made aware of what’s going on and then flying there himself is the most logical thing to do and the easiest solution. No one has to convince him Bella’s alive if Aro just ‘arrests’ him and has Alec sedate him until Carlisle gets there or whatever.
But Bella doesn’t get to run through the plaza and Alice doesn’t get to steal a Porsche so we’re not doing THAT.
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two sworn enemies — draco malfoy
pairing: draco malfoy x female!reader
summary: there is only one thing worse than being hated by draco malfoy; it’s being fancied by him.
requests are closed for now! please refrain from plagiarizing my work.
After being on the receiving end of Malfoy's torment for four whole years at Hogwarts—a place where she's supposed to be making friends and learning and making the most out of all her youthful years—[Y/N] is beginning to grow tired.
The last thing she’s supposed to be worrying about is a snarky Slytherin boy who always has some sort of rude remark resting on his lips every time he comes across her in the corridors. Or anywhere, for that matter—Draco Malfoy's incessant jest seems to stay within no boundaries.
Eleven-year-old [Y/N] used to be fazed by it; she used to cry herself to sleep every time the platinum blond would push past her in the hallway, yelling out something offensive on his way, usually to do with her friendship with blood-traitors and the "big-headed" Harry Potter (or so Malfoy referred to him). She used to feel angry���angry enough to want to whip her wand out at him and hex him into oblivion every time he'd even as much as lay eyes on her. But the more Malfoy tried to bother her, the more it didn't anymore.
Fourth year wasn't so bad. Malfoy had already called her about a hundred nasty names at that point and was running out of them—his creativity was dwindling and [Y/N]'s concern along with it. She'd even laughed at him, one time during Transfiguration class—genuinely laughed, not out of frustration or anger but because she found something that he said to her funny.
"How does it feel being surrounded by blood-traitors and Mudbloods, [Y/L/N]? Pity you chose the wrong crowd to hang around."
"How did it feel to get punched by a girl, Malfoy? I hear Hermione packs quite a punch."
Malfoy’s nose had wrinkled into his signature sneer before he scoffed. "Tell Granger she can improve her right hook." At which point [Y/N] had snorted out a laugh—and yes, it wasn't a full-blown burst of chortles, but it was a laugh nonetheless.
Fifth year rolls around and Draco Malfoy is the least of [Y/N]'s worries. She's gotten over his nagging at this point; all his jabs have lost a bit, if not all of their luster.
But then a week after classes have started, Malfoy starts acting—weird. Very weird. [Y/N] has no idea what's gotten into him, but Draco's cruel insults seem to have veered off course and taken a very dramatic turn. He still yells at her in the hallways, but not to make some harmful jibe [Y/N] has heard thousands of times before. Instead Draco—yes, Draco Malfoy, the same boy who has never once failed to torment her in the past years they've known each other—has now made it a habit to yell pick-up lines. At her. At [Y/N]. At the same girl he's been bad-mouthing for the past four years.
The first time it happens, [Y/N] can't believe her ears. She thinks he's yelling at someone else other than her, because there is no way bloody Draco Malfoy is shouting "DO YOU PLAY QUIDDITCH? BECAUSE YOU SEEM LIKE A KEEPER" at her from halfway across the Great Hall.
But he's definitely staring at her, grinning widely in that conceited sort of way that [Y/N] has always despised.
"Is he talking to me?" [Y/N] asks Hermione, bewildered.
"Looks like it." Hermione looks just as surprised as her. "Knowing Malfoy, he's not up to anything good. Ignore him, [Y/N]."
But ignoring Draco Malfoy is not something [Y/N] is capable of; the feistiness in her makes sure of that. So instead of moving on and turning a blind eye, she cups her hands over her mouth and yells, just as loud, "ARE YOU A BLUDGER? BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO BASH A BEATER'S BAT INTO YOUR—"
Whatever Malfoy is up to, [Y/N] isn't entirely sure she's enjoying it. The next afternoon—also in the Great Hall, while [Y/N] is doing her homework instead of eating lunch (because Snape apparently thinks it's a good idea to ask for a four-page essay when the school year has barely even started), there's a thump and [Y/N] looks up to see that there's a little red envelope sitting on her empty plate. Looking even further up, she sees an owl flying away from the table and out of the roof of the Great Hall, where the owls always come from to deliver letters—although that only happens at breakfast. Which means this is from someone else, likely another student.
[Y/N] stares.
"It's a Howler," Harry says from next to her, like she doesn't already know.
"I'm aware," she mutters, narrowing her eyes at it before she sets down her quill to grab it.
"Who would send you a Howler?" Ron has looked up from where he'd been shoveling beans into his plate. He crowds into her space, peering at the envelope she now holds in her hands; and she can't really answer him, because only her name is scribbled across the front in handwriting she doesn't recognize. Whoever sent it to her didn't bother with writing their own name.
She hesitates, brows furrowed as she, too, wonders where it's from. Her parents don't have a reason to send her a Howler—unless she's done something wrong that she isn't aware of. But it's only been a week since school has started and as far as she can tell, she hasn't done anything worthy of being sent a Howler. Or at least not yet.
"Might as well," she sighs—it's going to deliver its message one way or the other, anyway, and [Y/N] prefers to open it herself than have it burst into flames, rain ashes down upon her homework, and then start talking—so she opens the envelope.
The Howler jumps to life in front of her, hovering in front of her face, and [Y/N] has never seen a piece of stationery look so angry before. A forked tongue slips out of the envelope—[Y/N] braces herself for the worst, despite not knowing who on earth might have sent it—until a familiar voice booms around the Great Hall.
"ARE YOU A BASILISK? BECAUSE WHEN I SAW YOU, I FROZE."
Ron's shoulders automatically start shaking with laughter. Most of the Great Hall—or at least the ones close enough to hear the Howler—have turned around to watch the spectacle unfold, giggling behind their palms and pointing at [Y/N] like she can't see them. [Y/N], in the meantime, stares, completely dead to the world and everything else around her, because she knows that voice.
But then the Howler keeps talking. "IF YOU LET ME TAKE YOU ON A DATE, I CAN PROMISE YOU THINGS THOSE FILTHY PEASANTS CAN NEVER GIVE YOU."
The entire hall has fallen completely silent. [Y/N] feels her face burning up, but not with embarrassment—[Y/N] is angry. She feels it thrumming in her veins, curling around her lungs, clouding all of her senses.
With a single flick of [Y/N]'s wand, the Howler bursts into flames with a final feeble wheeze of I'm also a fairly good snogger. Ron is roaring with laughter and Harry has also joined in. Two-faced gits.
[Y/N] slams her palms down on the table and vaguely even registers the pain this gives her as she steps out from behind the bench and turns around to face the Slytherin table because of course she knows who sent the Howler. Of course she knows who would go out of his way to humiliate her in front of the entirety of Hogwarts, because that extremely irritating, maddeningly haughty voice can only belong to one person—and sure enough, the idiot in question is standing there on top of the benches, arms outstretched towards her and that proud, snooty look on his face like he expects her to actually be impressed.
Over Ron and Harry's laughter, [Y/N] shouts angrily, "Malfoy!"
Malfoy drops his arms to his sides, hops off the bench, and swaggers towards her. She meets him halfway—and when she does, she doesn't hesitate to shove him angrily by the shoulders. He stumbles back a little, but he's still grinning annoyingly wide. "Have you come to me bearing an answer?" he says, his tone mocking, and [Y/N] just barely suppresses herself from whipping out her wand and jabbing it somewhere she wouldn't want a wand anywhere near. They are still surrounded by teachers. "I imagine it's a yes—who would turn me down, after all—"
"Drop the fucking act," she hisses; all eyes are on them, because Hogwarts never passes up a chance for gossip, and this might be the most exciting one yet. Draco Malfoy publicly asking out the girl everyone knows he's hated, and has hated him, for a long time—what a spectacle. But [Y/N] knows that his intentions are far from genuine; this is just another way to humiliate her and get on her nerves. And as much as she hates to admit it, it's a pretty good fucking move, because she hasn't been this annoyed by him in a long time.
Her teeth are gritted together so hard her words barely come out coherent. "I don't know what you're playing at," she practically growls, taking a step closer to get in his face, "But I encourage you to get yourself together."
But Malfoy seems unaffected. "Pity you didn't let the Howler finish," he drawls, still with that same smirk on his lips as he wriggles his brows suggestively. "I could've told you more about my superior snogging skills."
"Which is exactly why I didn't," she fumes. "We're in the middle of lunch—any more of you talking about your 'superior snogging skills' and the entirety of this hall would've thrown up on themselves. I know I would've."
At this, the smile on Malfoy's face droops a little, a ghost of his familiar sneer seeping in. [Y/N] takes a step back away from him, because she can't stand being more than a few feet near the prat. "You've got a lot of nerve, pulling this," she scoffs. "Try it again and you'll regret it. Now excuse me while I go do my bloody homework."
And then she turns around, goes back to the Gryffindor table, and does her bloody homework.
—
But Malfoy, as it turns out, isn't as weak-willed as he lets on. She's started receiving Howlers every morning at breakfast, all of which burst into flames every time to rain ashes upon her innocent plate of eggs and toast, but only after loudly blurting out some ridiculously bad pick-up line. It's been four days since the first Howler and they've only gotten progressively worse ever since—"you must be a Boggart because I'm terrified of pretty women"—and [Y/N] is beginning to grow so very tired.
Today, she hexes him in the middle of the hallway just as he's coming out of Potions class. She had warned him, all those days ago, that he'd regret it if he didn't let up. So [Y/N] watches, terribly amused as Draco starts wailing in the corridor, his hands splayed over his face in a measly attempt to cover the sardines falling out of his nostrils. It's an irreversible hex—or at least for eight hours—but until then, Draco will have to deal with the tiny fishes that shoot out of his nose at random intervals. [Y/N] can't bring herself to feel bad, not when he's humiliated her time and time again in front of so many people.
No Howlers arrive the morning after. There's a sense of what feels like disappointment coming off of the Great Hall; some people have actually turned around in their seats to watch her in anticipation for an owl to come swooping down upon her bearing a red envelope. Unfortunately for them, it doesn't happen. [Y/N], meanwhile, is finally at peace.
Or at least until Ron jabs her in the side and goes, "So are you?" he's grinning. "A Boggart, I mean."
It's a reference to the Howler she received yesterday. Her movements are dangerously swift; immediately she smacks the back of his head, sending him into a complaining frenzy. She rolls her eyes. "Stupid Malfoy."
"As much as I hate to say this," Harry begins, "I kind of wish you hadn't hexed him into stopping. His pick-up lines were pretty funny."
"Ha!" [Y/N] points a finger at Harry and nods approvingly, laughing a little. "That's a good one, Harry."
Harry stares at her dead in the eye. "Oh, I wasn't joking."
Her face falls.
"I suppose being on the receiving end of Malfoy's affection isn't any better than being hated by him," says Hermione, offering [Y/N] a sympathetic smile. "It's a good thing you showed him not to mess with you any further, [Y/N]."
[Y/N] tries for a smile of her own, but it comes out all stiff and crooked. "I feel like the past few days have been a fever dream," she says, shuddering. "This new form of—bullying, I don't know—has just been so weird. The bad names I've gotten used to, but—the compliments? The pick-up lines?"
"D'you think he's gone off his rocker?" Ron suggests.
"Maybe he fancies you," says Hermione off-handedly.
The effect this has on the three is instantaneous; Ron, Harry, and [Y/N] simultaneously blanch as though they've all swallowed something sour at the same time. Ron is choking on a piece of toast and Harry has spit water everywhere.
"Absolutely not," [Y/N] is shaking her head, nose wrinkled in distaste. "He can't possibly—that's ridiculous. We've hated each other for years."
"Feelings do change," Hermione shrugs, rolling her eyes at Ron and Harry, who have yet to recover from their initial shock. "And besides, it was just a suggestion. Although I don't see why he'd go out of his way to send you Howlers repeatedly asking you out if he doesn't fancy you."
"Because he wants to humiliate me in front of everyone!"
"Oh, alright, alright," Hermione sighs, sensing her defeat. "But you never know."
Ron has gathered his bearings once more. He turns to Hermione, genuine concern flooding his features, and blubbers, "Did I hear you right? Malfoy—fancying [Y/N]?"
"Yes, Ronald." Another eye-roll. "It's not that outlandish. Boys are boys—even Malfoy."
"Merlin's beard," he slumps down in his seat, shaking his head. "I don't think I've ever been this surprised. Not since I heard that Percy managed to score himself a girlfriend, and that was three years ago."
A few days pass, and while no more Howlers arrive, Malfoy is still as insistent as ever in his attempts to "woo" her—or, well, whatever it is he's trying to do. [Y/N] doesn’t quite know what to call it anymore; for some reason, it no longer feels like an attempt to bully or humiliate her. It's not as though he's insulting her, and it's not like her reputation is in any way being lessened. In fact, most of Hogwarts, it seems, enjoys the so-called "love-hate relationship" they've got going on, and expects them to get together sometime in the near future.
[Y/N] learns all of this from Fred and George, who are always a good source of gossip.
"What better love story than two sworn enemies falling in love?" George gushes, clasping his hands together.
"So romantic," Fred sings, closing his eyes and swaying his hips as though listening to a sultry tune only he can hear. “Setting aside their differences to answer the call of their hearts."
"Oh, Malfoy's still an arse, of course."
"But it's still romantic."
Part of [Y/N] wishes that the twins hadn’t told her that, because it makes it all the more confusing on her part. If, by some miracle, Malfoy does fancy her—what is she supposed to do? Ride off with him into the sunset? They are enemies—they have been for four, supposedly five years now, except this year Malfoy is being an insufferable twat who won't stop yelling pick-up lines at her in the hallways.
[Y/N] decides to turn a blind eye on him. If she ignores him for long enough, he's bound to stop.
Right?
—
Despite being a close friend to the famous Harry Potter, [Y/N] can say she’s made a name for herself at school that stretches far beyond just that girl who hangs out with the Chosen One. She’s been playing for the Gryffindor Quidditch team for two years and has contributed to some of the house’s most fantastic wins as a Chaser, and she’s also a fairly good student. She may have a penchant for trouble-making, but she knows how to limit herself. She prides herself for her work ethic and thus her grades are above average—enough for her to earn the favor of most of her teachers and for eager first-years to sometimes come up to her asking for help doing homework.
But enough for those very same first-years to come up to her in the hallway ready to do all of her biddings for the day, practically demanding her to hand over her books so that they can carry them for her? No. Certainly not. [Y/N] may have made a name for herself, but definitely not one renowned enough to earn the eleven-year-olds now crowded around her moments after she steps out of potions class, telling her that, “We’re here at your disposal! If you need us to do anything, just say the word!”
[Y/N] stares at the three children clustered around her, all wide-eyed and for some reason incredibly eager for her to start bossing them around.
Taken aback, she ushers them into a corner; the hallway is busy and people will keep bumping into them if they stay in the middle of the hallway like that.
Once away from the bustling main corridor, she bends down a little so that she’s at eye-level with all of them. “At my disposal?” she repeats, eyes narrowing playfully. “What do you mean?”
“We’re here to carry your books for you or grab you snacks from the kitchens or tie your shoelaces if you need us to!” one of them exclaims, bouncing on his toes.
Alright—this is getting ridiculous. [Y/N] pauses, lips pressed together into a thin line as she stares at each one of the first-years in turn; all three of them are staring at her as though waiting for her to start asking them to do push-ups.
She inhales. Someone must have put them up to this, because there is no way these children woke up this morning and simultaneously decided to become her servants for the day.
“Well,” she begins, smiling at them—and good grief, did she really look that young when she was eleven? “Thank you for offering to help me. I appreciate it, really—but lucky for me I’ve got some very capable arms and I think I can handle tying my shoelaces and carrying my books around and whatnot. But again—thank you. You’re all very nice.”
She pauses to look at their reactions; the smiles on their faces have drooped a little as they turn to one another, seemingly at a loss for words. “But,” the one girl says, frowning, “We’re supposed to help you.”
[Y/N] raises her eyebrows. “Supposed to?”
Someone definitely put them up to this—[Y/N] is certain of it now. And she has a good guess as to who.
She starts by saying, tone gentle, “Did someone tell you to do this? Because that’s really kind, and I’d love to thank them.”
The girl bunches up her lips in thought, shuffling her feet against the ground. “We’re not supposed to say,” she mutters, glancing at the two boys next to her nervously.
[Y/N] inhales. She needs confirmation, so she crouches down so that she’s the same height as them, and offers them all the friendliest, most trustworthy smile she can muster. The kind that wins over eleven-year-olds. “You won’t get in trouble if you tell me,” she tells them gently, and waits for them to nod in understanding before she goes, “Was it Malfoy? Draco Malfoy?”
They don’t have to respond—the looks on their faces are enough confirmation. [Y/N] suppresses the urge to roll her eyes, because of course Malfoy is the kind of person to somehow get first-years to do something like this. And she’s pretty sure it has something to do with bribery.
“Did he promise to give you anything, maybe?” [Y/N] presses on patiently.
The girl leans in and cups her hand over her mouth to whisper excitedly, “Chocolate frogs. Five for each of us.”
Ah. Of course. [Y/N] sighs inwardly and nods, standing up properly to once more tower over the tiny first-years. As much as she would love to have her own personal butlers, there is absolutely no way she is agreeing to take any part in exploiting these young kids. So she ruffles all of their hair in turn and promises to give them much, much more chocolate frogs than Malfoy will ever be able to offer if they swear to ignore him for the rest of their lives.
So she stands there in the hallway, a minute late for Transfiguration, watching the three first-years skip down the hallway, grinning excitedly to themselves—no doubt because they’ve just been promised what could be an infinite supply of chocolate frogs.
Which [Y/N] will now have to spend a lump of her summer savings on. Great. Bloody fantastic.
She didn’t think she could hate Draco Malfoy even more than she already did, but now, with the burden of buying chocolate frogs resting on her shoulders, she realizes that anything is possible.
[Y/N] finds Draco later on in the day when she’s heading to the Great Hall for dinner; as she’s passing by a window that coincidentally overlooks the Quidditch pitch, she sees him zooming around the stadium by himself, no doubt practicing to better his (in [Y/N]’s opinion) ghastly Seeker skills.
So she trudges off to the pitch, arms folded over her chest as she yells, “Malfoy!”
He notices, stops in mid-air, and immediately flies down to land in front of her, one hand on his hip and the other resting on top of his broom. That signature smirk is already on his face, mirrored by [Y/N]'s angry scowl. “Here to take me up on my offer for a date?” he grins, shaking his (sweaty, wet) hair out of his eyes. [Y/N] watches the movement, unimpressed. “Or were you just planning to watch me practice?”
She scoffs, tearing her eyes away from the way he’s running a hand through his blond hair. “Neither. I thought you were bad enough, Malfoy, but bribing first-years into doing my bidding for me? In exchange for bloody chocolate frogs?”
Malfoy’s hand pauses in carding through his hair. He drops it back to his side. “So you figured it out.”
”Why else would first-years be so eager for me to boss them around?”
”Maybe because they find you just as beautiful as I do?” he suggests, eyes glinting, the smile on his face growing even wider. [Y/N] lets out a quick breath of incredulous laughter, because is he really still keeping this act up when no one is around to see? Is he that desperate to get on her nerves?
“Just stop it, Malfoy,” she says through gritted teeth, taking a step closer to him. At this, he whistles a little, eyebrows rising, and for some reason [Y/N] tries very, very hard not to look at the sweat trickling down his forehead, the pale pink hue of his cheeks from the strain of practicing—“Please for the love of Merlin can you just drop the whole I’m-in-love-with-you act? You got what you wanted. You’ve annoyed me enough.”
Draco's nose wrinkles. “Oh, but that’s not what I wanted,” the smile on his face falters a little. ”Did you really think I did all of this just to annoy you?”
[Y/N]’s eyebrows furrow—and is that her heart skipping a beat? No. No, definitely not. Falling quiet for a few moments, she finally sniffs and says, “Why else would you go out of your way to act absolutely smitten by me?”
An echo of Hermione's voice from several days ago reverberates through her head. Maybe he fancies you.
Malfoy shrugs, his smirk falling just the tiniest bit to be replaced by a semblance of sincerity. But that can’t be. And then he says, “Maybe I fancy you,” and [Y/N]’s eyes widen.
That can’t be right. Flabbergasted, she blinks, taking a step back. This has to be some sort of joke—no, yes, that’s exactly what this is: another way to crawl under her skin and annoy the daylights out of her. She has to applaud him for his creativity.
Pinching the space between her eyes in irritation, she looks up at Malfoy, inhales, and says, deadpan, “I’m being serious.”
“I am too,” Malfoy counters, eyebrows raised innocently, and [Y/N] has never wanted to smack him more than she does now.
She lets out another incredulous laugh, because this entire situation is just so bloody ridiculous that she can’t quite wrap her head around it. Throwing her hands up in the air in frustration, she turns to him and says, “Alright—okay. Let’s say you do fancy me. I’m going to pretend for a few seconds that you do—okay?”
Draco watches her, evidently amused judging by his grin, shrugs, and nods.
“Okay,” she huffs. “If you do fancy me—why on earth would you?”
Draco opens his mouth, but she cuts him off: “We hate each other, Malfoy. We’ve hated each other since the moment you laid eyes on me and I laid eyes on you. What could have possibly changed your rotten mind?”
He rolls his eyes at this, shifting a little on where he stands. “For starters,” he begins, like he’s talking to a five-year-old, “I didn’t hate you. I disliked the fact that you hung out with the wrong sort of people.”
”The wrong sort of people,” she repeats, deadpan.
“The Weasleys. Blood traitors. Mudbloods.”
She scowls at him, brain struggling to fathom what the bloody hell he’s trying to tell her. Managing to once more plow through her confusion, she says, “Your point is?”
“I’d have asked you out long ago if only you were smarter with who you chose to befriend,” and there it is—that familiar, distasteful sneer [Y/N] hasn’t seen in a long time. “Your family’s one of the oldest wizarding families around. It’s a shame.”
She lets out another scoff of disbelief, but the first few of Draco's words have something inside of her stirring. She refuses to address it and instead says, “So—and again, I’m pretending—you fancy me because of my family?”
He lets out a little sniff. “Not what I said.”
”What is it you’re trying to say, then?”
“Blimey, how long is it going to take you to realize that I actually bloody fancy you?”
Draco has dropped all pretense of nonchalant arrogance; he’s staring at her, obviously frustrated and a little annoyed. He stops leaning on his broom and lets it drop to the ground in favor of advancing towards her until he’s mere inches away from her face.
”I fancy you,” he repeats, and it’s funny, how he says it, because declarations of love are supposed to be sweet and gentle—not scathing and angry. He’s scowling down at her, lip curling, brows drawn in together in the middle in a tight frown. “I’ve decided that I don’t care who you hang around anymore because I fancy you. Do you get it now?”
[Y/N] swallows, staring at him, momentarily frozen. Malfoy doesn’t seem as though he’s joking—and now she doesn’t know what to say. She’s never been this close to him before—close enough to see herself in the reflection of his eyes, which are a striking grey and remind her of thunderstorms brewing behind dark clouds—
She takes in a deep breath and swivels around, turning away from him. “Stop sending children to be my servants,” she says, and starts to walk away—until Malfoy grabs her wrist and forces her to look at him again.
For a moment the look in his eyes convinces [Y/N] that he’s about to apologize, but then his lips are splitting into a wide grin again and he says, “What if I bribe a seventh year into doing your homework for you?”
Another scoff. She tears her wrist away from his grip and stalks off, in complete and utter disbelief.
”Or a house-elf to bring you food?” he calls after her. “Someone to do your hair for you in the morning? Or someone to yell at me for you?”
She halts at the last one, and for some odd, unknown reason, she feels like smiling. But she doesn’t, because that will open a door into something she isn’t sure she wants to explore. So she turns around, suppressing that mysterious little smile, already twenty feet away from Malfoy as she says, loudly, “I like doing that last one myself, thanks.”
From this distance, she thinks Malfoy might be smiling. But she doesn’t stay long enough to find out.
click here to read pt. 2!
#harry potter#harry potter oneshot#harry potter oneshots#harry potter imagine#harry potter imagines#harry potter x reader#harry potter fanfiction#draco malfoy#draco malfoy oneshot#draco malfoy oneshots#draco malfoy imagine#draco malfoy imagines#harry potter fanfic#draco malfoy x reader#draco malfoy fanfiction#draco malfoy fanfic
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Far From The Tree by aideomai
Harry/Draco (2020, Explicit, 112k)
The arrival of Harry Potter’s children—snapped back in time, the children themselves guessed, twenty or so years—was the most interesting thing to happen at Hogwarts for years.
It was awful, there was going to be no pretending after this. The one good thing that had happened in years, falling into the palm of his hand like a gift from the gods, impossible to understand or earn and sure to be taken away, already slipping through his fingers.
My first 2021 rec was also the hardest one to write so far! Not only I had to check it 268453 times for spoilers, it was also difficult to find the right words to express aideomai’s pure genius without either losing objectivity, giving things away or making a complete mess out of myself. Choosing a quote was also a big challenge - there are so many brilliant, gut-punching lines and I had to find one that made sense out of context, without taking anything away from the reader’s experience. I’m not 100% pleased with this rec, but I hope it has as much heart and devotion as the fic itself!
First things first (and I’m aware I’m repeating myself here, but): aideomai’s superior storytelling skills deserve endless appreciation and praise. They have this unique, seemingly effortless way of exploring a fic concept that leaves me in awe; it’s heartfelt, sophisticated and accessible all at once, which I find very impressive. I was just telling @tackytigerfic how this feels like a 400k journey wrapped in 70k because everything happens so organically you don’t even notice 100k flying by. I could wax poetry about the peak world building, perfect atmosphere, exquisite characterization (including Harry’s kids who are so very charming they immediately stole my heart) or the hot, moving and otherworldly smut, so passionate and breathtaking I can’t think about it without tearing up (I’m serious). But you know what, I think my favorite thing about about this fic is that, despite having all these elements perfectly executed, it remains a love story, and it’s just... as simple as that.
Harry and Draco’s falling in love and evolving relationship are at the center of everything and the author takes their sweet time to present and develop their dynamics in a rich and detailed way, to make sure we realize the hows and the whys later on. The story is told from Draco’s POV and it’s such a privilege to witness his changes of heart, from getting bullied to falling for Harry. We get to see their individual arcs through his conflicted eyes and both took my breath away - their voices are intense, nuanced, and so full of character and emotion it still gives me goosebumps. I love how FFT combined that 8th year’s secretive, light-hearted and experimentative tone with a more mature atmosphere linked to the complications brought by the time travel plotline. These characters are very much 18yo (by that I mean horny, awkward, stupid, tentative and emotionally constipated) but aideomai has found a way to push them into moments of introspection and altruism, and I thought that was phenomenal.
In my humble opinion, this is a perfect fic. It has the perfect amount of angst, humor, mystery, action and romance; these characters grow up before our eyes and everything comes together in such an emotionally satisfying way. The gentle devastation pays off and will make you laugh, cry, cheer and fall in love with their love, which is all we ever want out of a fic. Some moments - especially the RoR scenes - still make me want to relive the joy and hurt I felt while reading them, until it becomes a small and sweet aching, safe inside my memory.
What a majestic author, what a powerful read. I felt so completely moved, then immersed, then transformed by it, and my emotional hangover is lasting a bit longer than expected, despite Tacky’s warnings. It’s been a few days and I still feel disoriented, attacked by the bittersweet feeling of knowing that I’ll never be able to read this for the first time ever again. This is a very late rec as I might have been the last person to read it, but if you haven’t yet you’re in luck! I invite you to jump in right now and read one of the best Drarry fics out there, an instant all-time fave that will stay in my mind for a long while. Enjoy!
PS for anyone wondering yes, the graphic is bigger this time because I found the perfect pic but this is the only format in which we get to see it properly - then again this is my first 2021 rec so I say let’s go big or go home 😎
Read on AO3
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So Tom was on the 2nd unit? Because he posted on Friday that it was his last day. People are trying to find any excuses to justify Tom still being in Atlanta after everyone left. It couldn't at all be something similar to what happened in 2018, when he stayed in NYC with Z after FFH wrapped up, right? They are facing a long separation with Z filming Euphoria, Tom going to the UK and covid travel restrictions still in place. But that would imply that there's something going on with Tom & Z
Yea I agree Anon, I really got the impression that the film wrapped this week. Too many things point to that lol. Tom's IG story, the golfing outing with cast and crew, the wrap pic from one of the crew of the trio and their stunt doubles, the spidey memorabilia and wrap party gifts, etc.
But at the same time, some were saying that even after Tom left the Uncharted set to fly to Atlanta, some cast members stayed back to film other things. So they prob made sure Tom filmed all of his scenes prior because he had Sony/Marvel time constraints and also needed to quarantine etc. So go figure? 🤷🏾♀️ That's why I just like to wait and see instead of debating stuff. I observe, take notes, and watch and see.
But you're right..... Tom & Z did hang back and spent some time in NYC together for a while right after FFH wrapped. Come to think of it, I think Z was also having to go back to film Euphoria again after working on FFH. What are the odds lol?
Gosh this feels so much like déjà-vu lol. 😅
Anyway, at this point, I'm not 100% sure about anyone's whereabouts, nor do I really worry about it lol. I'm just reading the signs as they come along, just like everyone else. At the very least, it seems as though Tom and Harry are still in ATL.
Not 100% sure where Z is tbh... 🤷🏾♀️
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Thurs 7 Mar
"We're fine, I'm the boss"- Louis Tomlinson
460 days since Louis' last musical release, 468 days since his last performance, but today doesn't count because we got both! Two Of Us is, and facts only here, always, REALLY REALLY FREAKING GOOD HOLY SHIT FRIENDS. It dropped in the middle of the day on a Thurs, totally unreasonable, but immediately shot to number one on the iTunes charts in 33 countries so far and counting, and debuted at number one on the worldwide chart hell yeah baby, trended at number one on twitter for 8 hours (he has his own emoji and it's precious omg), tumblr too, the gorgeous stunning beautiful lyric video is already at a million views, and he made the front page of everything from Rolling Stone to non music related media outlets and was promoted heavily by spotify and shazam and by NIALL YAY and of course (only not really of course so it's still exciting) by Louis' team and label, and by Louis himself, loads of tweets and updates all day long! And he played the song live to a small audience and livestreamed it. The livestream showed only the single being performed, and fans were asked to check their phones so we have no video of the rest but he also answered questions and sang Just Hold On acoustic. Pertinent answers, he said out of the avengers he'd be the Hulk "cause I'm massive" (lol, and sorry spidermanLouis enthusiasts!) and did an impression, he said performing the song was a lot more emotional than he'd expected, and when a fan who had asked him before but never received the promised reply asked again what was his favorite lyric he'd written he said idk I'll get back to you in 18 months! The trolliest my god. What a demon!
There are interviews and articles everywhere (and a cute reading tweets video), he says he "misses the band every day", he says that "between this single and the one we'll have after this, it's a good representation of what the album will be like" ummm yes talk to me more about this multi-single plan you have already omg, he says the album will be "honest, live, and catchy", and he talks about the song, a lot! The coverage is respectful and music focused and so far totally stunt free. There have been some stunty print articles but with zero new material, they are just recycling old quotes some of which REALLY don't seem to have much to do with what they're putting them in about. It's pretty funny to watch them scramble tbh. We were ten for ten until Dan Wootton swept in to rain on our parade with an announcement of a coming interview that will apparently address everything but the music, but we'll see when we see. For now let's focus on the fact that the things that have actually happened are fucking. Amazing. Louis' face looked like it was gonna spilt in two beaming this morning and things have only gotten better since, it's his time to shine and nobody can drag him down.
Business notes: for those who had been waiting for the liner notes to see, yes, Louis is still with Syco. But is he emotionally with them? His retweet of only Arista's promo tweet was entertaining. Two Of Us isn't quite to #1 for the UK/US at press time and the label and LTHQ are asking fans to not wait until tomorrow to buy, so listen up and buy TOU on iTunes today! Not tomorrow! They're making a big push with sponsored posts on ig and Facebook.
And- remember that plagiarism case against everyone involved in writing Night Changes? Sad news for anyone still hoping for a thrilling OT5 courtroom reunion, it was settled out of court. The case is over.
For anyone that can keep track in all this chaos and is wondering about those phone calls that were promised to early hotspot arrivals? It seems like they didn't happen :(
Liam started his day (way too early) with a beautiful sunrise pic and ended it late at the Global Awards, where I hate to have to report that he was up for two awards and didn't get either of them. #liamdeservesbetter friends, but we're seeing now that it can happen, may this be the year lilo rise and see all the good things. He seemed in good spirits though, there are cute videos of him with Roman Kemp and he talks about wanting to do a Mark Ronson collab. He interacted briefly with Cheryl on the red carpet which is getting lots of press.
Harry was spotted out running in London, and despite his eagerness to be off doubled back to say hello to the thrilled fan.
The I Heart Radio Awards voting closes tonight and I'm not saying it was fishy last year but I will say that today, prior to any awards being officially won, they contacted a large (though I wouldn't say popular) Harry UA and offered to fly their American members out to the ceremony and put them up for some weird reason. HSHQ is not involved, that we know of.
#Louis#Louis Tomlinson#two of us#Liam#Liam Payne#Niall#Harry#Harry styles#rolling stone#David massey#Arista#Louis livestream#LT1#stunts#only not really#the absence of stunts#ahhh lovely#Syco#night Changes#court case#global awards#dan wootton#Cheryl#chiam#roman kemp#iheartradioawards#h*rrystylesda*ly#today was...a lot. but as a fan i am very happy. as an updater? tired 😭😓😓#7 mar 19
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So. Homecoming. Holy fuck. It’s taken me this long to even start to get my thoughts together. Very spoilery post under the cut. Like, as much as I can possibly remember of the show spoilery. Also rambly. And long. Ridiculously long. So you’ve been warned.
Also disclaimer, this is just homecoming to the best of my recollection and it might not be 100% accurate. So first of all the setlist (this was everything they sang but the order of songs in act 2 is a bit hazy, I think it’s about half right. Also I don’t think hardly anyone at the show could tell you exactly because it was just so overwhelming). They did medleys for all the non-Potter shows in act 1 in reverse chronological order, act 2 they did full songs from all the Potter musicals.
Act 1 TGWDLM, Join Us And Die, Show Stoppin Number We Got Work To Do, Make The Most Of It Ani, With My Own Eyes, Back On Top Gone To Oregon, Naked In A Lake, Speedrun No One Remembers Achmed, A Thousand And One Nights, Happy Ending Holy Musical B@man, Rogues Are We, Superfriends Status Quo, Kick It Up A Notch, I Wanna Be Me And My Dick, Listen To Your Heart, Ready To Go Act 2 Going Back To Hogwarts Harry Freaking Potter To Have A Home Different As Can Be (and reprise) Coolest Girl Cho’s Song Hey Dragon Granger Danger Guys Like Potter Wizard Of The Year To Dance Again Sidekick Voldemort Is Going Down Everything Ends Not Alone Days Of Summer Not Alone (reprise)
Thursday 25th The more I think about it the more I realise I really had no idea what I was expecting from the show. We’d been planning before they even announced what it was to fly out for it, but we had very few details. I didn’t even know they had an orchestra until like two hours before. I’d barely been able to watch any of their rehearsal stories. But I don’t think I’d ever been more excited for anything in my life. I was super excited for AVPW but also, it was my first time seeing any of them, the whole thing felt like a dream, and I had no idea how much it was gonna mean to me so it didn’t even hit me properly until the last night. Whereas I already knew exactly how special this would be, it was entirely once in a lifetime and I was nearly shaking.
Outside the theatre I’ve said it before but genuinely my favourite place in the world to be is surrounded by Starkid fans. Seeing people in cosplay, in merch, talking about the same shows and people I love, I just get such a sense of ‘this is home’. There was the classic waiting-in-line going back to hogwarts singalong. And some la dee da da day thrown in for good measure. Liam was walking along the line filming and doing interviews for the bts. Tessa got out of a car right next to us, we saw Jade and Traci and their friend Bella. They’re all gorgeous it’s insane and unfair.
Inside the theatre Spent over $100 on merch but honestly could have spent so much more, really I showed a lot of self restraint. They didn’t have the programmes though which I’m still heartbroken over. Saw Denise Richter which I was maybe too excited about. Didn’t speak to her or anything but even just to see her she exudes kindness she’s the best. Then we were hanging out in the lobby and Tessa was talking to everyone and hugging them and taking selfies and jumping in people’s group pics and I love her. Like she made my night even without me talking to her because she was SO sweet to everyone she spoke to and I was stood there falling in love with her by the second. Also, let’s talk about how cool the venue was? It looked unbelievable and they had a bunch of posters up with AVPM quotes. And the stage? Y’all have seen by now but they made it look like an actual homecoming dance and it was amazing. Considering how far back our seats were it was actually a very good view, it helped that I had an aisle seat so had a clear view of the entire stage. I’ve posted the pre-show playlist here, it was perfect, especially the JATP like, hell yeah to celebrating all their various projects. At this point I literally thought I was gonna die of excitement. AJ and Clark came on stage and as much as I was having great fun freaking out with the groupchat about how soon the show was I couldn’t wait to put my phone away cause that meant the show was starting. And then the lights went down.
Darren Very pleased to say it was not the Darren show, even though he did give the opening and closing speech. And as much as I have opinions about him, when he walked out for the first time it was a pretty special moment because it’s like, this is it this is really happening. The amount of energy in that room when he came on stage my god. You would not have believed there were only 1600 people there. The whole show people could barely get a sentence out without cheering, which in hindsight was probably annoying but it just shows how incredibly loved they are, and we were as grateful to them as they were to us. I loved the atmosphere in both shows, it was completely different both times and I’ll obviously get to the Friday night show, but there was something special about being in a room of majority backers, all of us seeing these show for the very first time, it was totally new. Again, literally no idea what to expect and it was the most exhilarating feeling. Darren did a little ‘look for your exits pretend we’re at Disney’ which was cute after being at Disney for two days beforehand. Classic starkid fashion, he told us they had no idea how long the show would run for. He made a G.L.E.E. joke so it’s nice to know he’s still on our side at the end of the day. I don’t know if it was him that talked about Starkid performing with a 13 piece orchestra for the first time, but I’m gonna bring it up here anyway. I’m so grateful they were overfunded and that they were able to have the orchestra, because it’s probably something they really wanted and it’s also something they 100% deserve. I’d sell my soul to hear every starkid song with that orchestra, it was magnificent. I really hope we do get an album because it all sounded SO GOOD. Unsurprisingly don’t remember much else of what Darren said because I was just so excited for the show to start.
TGWDLM medley So as soon as the opening started playing even as Darren was still introducing people went insane, literally within two seconds I knew undoubtedly that this was gonna be the best two hours of my life (also the fastest. Often watching theatre shows I lose attention a little bit but there wasn’t a single second of this show that I wasn’t 100% in the moment they’re completely captivating, and it went by way too fast). Oh wow this is where we got to see Joey and Lauren for the first time. Fuck. I cannot describe to you how good they looked. Pictures do not do it justice. Thank god the mustache was gone. Thank god Lauren didn’t wear the boots. She was wearing my favourite hairstyle. Joey’s hair looked great. Their outfits were incredible. They literally could not have been more perfect looks for me and I’m so grateful. I could have cried happy tears at seeing them. This in itself could go on for five pages so I’ll leave it there. They all did the whole iconic zombie pose entrance. Corey sang Joey’s astronomical line which was kinda a shame cause I love the way he sings that line however I’m glad they did it like that cause Joey got to sing a lot in the show (still not enough for my liking but then again my liking is Joey and Lauren singing the whole show so I’m good). Wish they did Lauren’s ‘pines after a cute lil barista’ bit. Also kinda wish they did inevitable so Jon could sing because I love him and he deserves better @ starkid when are you going to hire me. However they made up for that when Jaime went ‘it is time’ and the room was absolutely electric because everyone knew exactly what was coming. That note had me shook from the moment I heard it on the digital ticket and I feel honoured to have heard it in person. Jeff was still her hype man. Jaime’s voice is honestly out of this world, she’s the person I’d most heard sing live but it was still mind blowing. She’s incredible I love her so much. Then Robert came on stage so like, room exploded again. Joey and Lauren should have been on stage doing their bit for show stopping number but again, what do I know? This song was 100% pandering but as much as it’s overhyped it is a good song and Robert fucking killed it, he actually impresses me so much. His voice? He did the hip wiggles, maybe even more than were in the show, and people went absolutely wild for it. He did the working boys bit and of course everyone lost their minds. And I loved it, I loved that atmosphere of everyone being entirely obsessed with every tiny thing these people do because that’s what connects us all. Jon did get to be a working boy (as did Mariah) and sounded great. They actually sang so much of this song holy shit definitely pandering. But they really were giving Hamilton some competition.
Firebringer medley Lauren Walker introduced this one, do I remember what she said? No, I was too busy wondering if they were going to sing Climate Change. They didn’t. You sang three songs from every other show but two from firebringer and one of them wasn’t climate change? Okay sure. This sounds like I’m complaining I’m not this section was still gorgeous and I loved every second of it. Hearing music from firebringer was amazing because it has some of my favourite music from all the starkid shows, and also because apart from TGWDLM which was so recent it’s the only show we hadn’t heard anything from since. They sang we got work to do which again, pandering and not even to what most people actually wanted if we’re being honest. But I’m happy about it because hearing Lauren sing that first line was a spiritual experience. Her voice? No words. So good. Can’t believe I got to hear it live? Properly?!? Also Joey got to be in this bless his heart and I couldn’t stop watching him doing the choreography. Lauren’s little expressions throughout the whole thing are adorable god I love her. Meredith sounded so good. Rachael got so much of a cheer when she sang her bit. Joey comforted Joe after the shadow bit. Then they sang from the proposal bit of the finale. Brian was pretending to be jealous when Meredith was singing to Lauren which made my life, p.s. Joey step up your game. The first time hearing Lauren sing ‘this is the dawn’ literally took my breath away. And with that orchestra!? (Will I ever shut up about the orchestra? The answer is no). The CHEERS for ‘we are womankind’. Hell yeah. And then Lauren did the arm thing like way to literally flex on us Lo. Not okay. They did the little Molag dialogue bit and Denise did the being-blessed-with-knowledge face. Watching Denise off to the side was honestly one of the highlights of the whole show.
TTO medley
Now I’m questioning my memory but I think Jaime went offstage after Firebringer when she wasn’t supposed to because I’m sure I remember her not being on stage for this at first. Like everyone else was there and there was a moment where I was like ‘I feel like someone’s missing...’ and then Jaime walked on late. She did mention Julia having to remind her of her cues. Anyway. Gone to oregon was first and I was reminded what an actually good performer Jeff is. He’s great in that show. Corey got the cheers he deserved at his ‘wisconsin’ bit. Lauren singing Naked in a lake was beautiful. Even if not enough people sang with her when she asked for help (spoiler, we stepped up Friday). She was definitely trying to get us to sing the high bits cause her voice was tired and she didn’t want to but that’s fine. This was one of the songs from that show I really wanted them to sing and I’m glad they did, it’s so much fun. Also Lauren does kinda steal the show but watching everyone else in this song is great. Shoutout to the sax guy, I’m glad we as a fandom always appreciate the band/orchestra. I still can’t believe everyone just lets Lauren sing a whole song about skinny dipping but I’m here for it. Then they did speedrun which was. An experience. Still think Joey should have sung wagon on fire but would I have passed out most likely yes so maybe it was better off this way. I’m glad Rachael got a moment. The ‘faster’ bit was fucking insane I don’t know how they had the breath for it. Everyone clapped pace and I’m pretty sure we clapped faster than the song ever goes so, sorry guys that you had to go through that? I think I have a newfound appreciation for this song. It was either in this or possibly in Naked in a lake that Joey did something stupid and Lo looked at him and shook her head. There were a lot of little looks throughout the show and trying to catch each other’s eye across the stage and it was very cute and probably won’t make the cut even though it should it’s the best part of the show.
Ani medley Moses introduced it and he was wearing like the jacket that’s one of his costumes and he wore in the final SK10 livestream idk you guys I’ve seen that show twice. The Ani band is fucking great, they had Mark, Nick Gage (?? idk there was definitely a fourth person I was mostly watching Meredith let’s be real here), Clark and Meredith all sing. Meredith had the biggest smile on her face at all times it was a joy. Ani is such a fun song so many starkid songs are so fun. Also they added a key change (was it even a key change? I’ve never studied music whatever they did it sounded good.) Actually the whole arrangement of this medley I loved, I hope it makes the people who don’t appreciate the music in this show appreciate it. With my own eyes is my favourite song in that show and I’m very happy they did it. They should have had Denise do her choreo when they did Back on top tbh. I love Meredith in this song though.
Twisted medley Joe came out to introduce it but kept hyping everyone up about Ani first. I really miss Joe he has so much onstage energy. I knew they were doing No one remembers achmed but I was still so excited about it. It’s such a good song. And the whole ‘you ooze sex’ bit in the flesh? That’s all. Obviously the best part was everyone yelling tigerfucker. Experiencing that in person is unbeatable. Then they had Britney and Carlos sing their version of 1001 nights and it was beautiful, I very rarely listen to that version of the song but I should, Britney is unbelievable and I love her so much. I can’t believe she’d just flown in and had such a rough time right before the show, you wouldn’t have known it. Dylan walked out and I kinda thought they were gonna have him and Meredith do a quartet (starkid when are you gonna hire me??) but then he sang ‘and with my wife beside me’ and I was like :’) this is good. That part of the song always gets me and Dylan’s voice is a goddamn gift. I love the overlapping parts at the end of Happy ending too so it’s always a good choice. But why they didn’t sing dream a little harder when Alex was right there I do not know.
HMB medley Pretty sure they had Julia introduce it? Guys it’s been a week gimme a break. Either way she definitely introduced something at some point and I’m glad everyone cheered so much for her because she was the glue of Starkid for a while. Nick Gage sang HMB and they had a reverb (again, is that the right term? not a clue) and he looked so pleased with himself every time we laughed. Then they sang rogues are we (rogues medley would have been better but in fairness that would have ruined the whole thing they had going). I do love Lauren singing we are the harlots and the hussies. A lot. But Denise does it so well. And Jaime’s ‘we’re rising up from the underground’?? I don’t think I have a single thing to say about any of the men in this song and I’m not sorry. Superfriends sounded very cool. It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, I always love the matching tattoos bit, and seeing Meredith’s story afterwards about how she was directing hers at Jade made it even better. I don’t even remember who sang Robin’s lines because I was too busy watching Lauren do the dance, she’s adorable. It was funny watching like five of them doing it cause they were the only ones who had learned it before and the rest not knowing it. Also, I don’t know which makes me happier, when they point into the audience for ‘I wanna be your friend forever’, or when they point at each other. Both are good.
Starship medley Denise introduced the show and um hi I love Denise she’s so cute. She said the thing about her mom calling Starship a show for dreamers and I still think that’s the most adorable thing. I will say for the rest of time that having Alex and Mariah sing Status quo was a weird choice. Also made me pissed that basically no one cheered for Alex but of course everyone went fucking crazy for Mariah. Not even that Mariah didn’t deserve it, but she didn’t deserve it more than Alex. Just saying. It did sound very good with the orchestra and they both have good voices, but I still think we deserved it sounding good with JOEY and the orchestra. I would have died to hear Joey sing that song. Moving on though. Kick it up a notch is always better in rogues medley but I do adore the Jim Brian and Jaime trio anyway. And it’s SUCH a good song. Then they sang I wanna be which I was psyched about I love that song (it was straight from Brant’s verse though like hello what happened to Joey rights). Hearing the older songs makes me wish so much they’d remount them because they all sound so good now it would be amazing. Joey’s voice is legitimately a blessing from the gods.
MAMD medley Brian introduced the show and walked away from the mic before he said dick, which was funny but also reminded me of how they said this would be the most PG show starkid had done which is laughable. Joey did a whole bit in the beginning that reminded me a lot of his jekyll and hyde performance in shitty broadway. I love that man. Again, we deserve a remount of this show if only for Joey’s voice. Then we have maybe the most iconic moment of the thursday show which is when Joe had way too much excitement for his entrance, fucking sprinted on stage, knocked over the mic stand and had to rescue it, spraining his ankle in the process. And recovered BADLY, he was trying to figure out what to say to pull it back and Joey basically had to tell him to just sing already. I feel a little guilty now because it looked pretty bad, but it was really fucking funny. And then the cheer at the head tilt, why do we all love it so much??!? Then Joey sang Listen to your heart with AJ (him and Brian are a better duo fight me). I loved their little added dialogue, with Joey being like ‘do I smell?’ and AJ being like ‘so bad’. I always always love the little dance break Joey is the sweetest boy. I think I remember something like ‘am I doing it?’ ‘not even close Joey’. Then Alle Faye and Ali came out for ready to go and it went from their bit. It was really nice seeing them back together again. It wasn’t like nearly ten years had gone by at all. God it’s weird how nostalgic I was/am for something I wasn’t even there for. The ‘we’re finally ready’ bit sounded so gorgeous with the orchestra, I had it stuck in my head for days. They slowed it down, and we had everyone on stage, and it was just beautiful. The perfect way to end the act, which was over way too soon, and I was already feeling sad about the show nearly being over even though there was so much good to come. Wait how could I forget to mention the ‘my hormones are freaking out’ bit. Fuck all of them for that. Even if I pretty much just watched Lauren with a quick glance at Joey, which is an accurate description of what I did for a lot of the show.
Intermission First quick thing to say, as much as I wish we’d heard some more full songs from the non-Potter shows, I think I like that they kept it separate. The first half was celebrating everything they achieved since where it all started for them, and the second half was pure nostalgia. And even though I wish it wasn’t the case, more people know the potter shows so it was kinda nice that everyone was even more united than they had been for the first half. Secondly, what I should have done during intermission was used the time to recover, because the show was a whole lot of excitement and emotions and I knew it was only going to get worse in the second half. But instead I yelled to the groupchat and met @starkidmelly. More JATP was played, everyone was buzzing, I couldn’t believe I was there. I think it was a long intermission but it did not feel it, Nick came out on stage and it’s like oh shit here we go again.
Nick’s speech He worried me because he said he wanted to take a minute to get sentimental, and I’d already cried a couple of times it was too early in the show to do it again. But then he just talked about the movie Starkid and how it was a bad movie and made us all laugh which I appreciated. What I really did love was how much people cheered for him when he came out, and also for Matt in the audience when Nick shouted him out. Especially on that first night the happiness on Nick’s face at everyone cheering made me want to cry it was so special and he deserves every bit of it and you could tell it still comes as a surprise even now. Also I’ll tag it on now because I don’t remember exactly at what point it was, but at some point in the second act Corey was telling people to stop filming, which kinda made me mad cause they’d asked people not to film and he looked so mad, but was also kinda funny because like, it’s one thing being stopped from filming by an usher but it’s a whole other thing being stopped by Corey Lubowich himself. I probably would have volunteered to leave the theatre if I disappointed Corey like that tbh. But anyway back to Nick, he introduced GBTH with the original cast of AVPM and everyone fucking lost it.
GBTH So you already know what you’re about to be blessed with and then you hear that opening note and people are impossibly screaming even louder and Darren comes onstage and crouches down and it’s like nothing has really changed at all. I’ve been in a room of people singing this song before and it was magical, but this was even more people and even more special. This is where it all started, and there we were ten years later. And it was so surreal actually hearing them sing this in person. Darren put the glasses on and people went insane. The amount of anticipation I felt for Joey’s entrance was ridiculous, and he got the cheers he deserved (almost. he always deserves more). And no matter how many times we see it or how long it’s been it always makes me feel a lot of feelings seeing Darren and Joey on stage singing this together. Joey messed up the floo powder a bit and it was cute. Still iconic. It was deafening when Bonnie came out, which I guess was to be expected we haven’t seen her in nine years. I will say that she did look genuinely happy to be there, and they looked genuinely happy to have her there. Plus the line ‘why do you have to be such a buzzkill’ was so much more funny with the irony of her pretty much bringing the house down. The nostalgia factor ramped up even more here and it was pretty awesome to have that original trio back on stage after so long. Again, so much but simultaneously so little had changed in ten years and trying to articulate those feelings would require a hundred page essay. I didn’t expect them to change the original but I still think they should have kept Lauren’s altered ‘that would be cool’ line. It’s better. But I digress. Jaime got to do her bit and it was a masterpiece. But rest in peace to the whole Cho Chang and Cedric bit, you were deeply missed. Lauren’s entrance, do I even need to say more? Fucking iconic as ever. One of the best moments in all of history. I’m glad they kept in most of the dialogue-y bits although I do not remember what her accent was like. People delivered on ‘whatever I say’ and I love how that’s become our thing. The train bit always makes me emotional, even more so this time with so many people old and new onstage. I always think of Lauren saying she hates the train move but she should have told her face that. Dylan did his entrance from the back of the theatre aka right by us and it was magnificent, he held the note all the way down to the front. They added in the lines about sorting here so Tyler got to do ‘hufflepuffs are particularly good finders’ which was a good choice they did good on that one, Dylan’s ‘what the hell is a hufflepuff’ was drowned out by people still cheering for Tyler, it was a pretty great moment. I may have cried a bit at ‘it’s all that I love and it’s all that I need’. Just a bit. I loved so much that they got everyone to be a part of this song.
Harry Freaking Potter Have I lost all my memories of this song? Maybe. I remember it being amazing. Predictably I watched Lauren a lot, it’s very hard not to she’s so cute when she’s dancing. It’s funny to me how they hold out the mics for the last ‘harry freaking potter’ but most people are already cheering so they get nothing. They should have learned by now.
To Have A Home Was possibly next? I know I got teary again pretty early on in the act (saved the full crying at this song for Friday though stay tuned). I know I’m very far from being the only person who felt the most at home I’ve ever felt. How can you not, surrounded by so much support and mutual love for these incredible people who’ve done so much for us. Starkid is a huge family and it’s tangible in moments like that. And ‘to know this is real’ hits hard. Especially because you can really feel it from Darren, as famous as he is now being on stage with his friends is truly home.
Different As Can Be There’s just something about this song that brings so much energy and Joe and Brian are an iconic duo. And they brought the Quirrelmort vibes strong. Loved everyone shouting ‘prevails’. I’m super glad they did the reprise too. The reaction when they go back to back is incredible. Also, Joe’s ‘Quirrell’ was impeccable.
Coolest Girl I will say to Bonnie’s credit that she did a very good job opening this song, considering how many people were there and how much pressure there must have been seeing as she’s suddenly making a reappearance after so many years. And she did get a lot of love for it. But Meredith coming out to duet with her actually made me cry, she looked so happy and they did a cute little ‘hi’ and I really truly consider this Meredith’s song, even if she didn’t originally sing it, so I’m glad she got to do it. It was a special moment having them sing it together with no resentment or jealousy. And then Meredith confirmed that Bonnie was pregnant again at the end of the song.
Cho Chang Of course Darren sang this. Of course. What would a starkid show be without Darren playing his dumb songs on guitar. But nothing beats a room full of people shout-singing ‘that’s in canada’ (side note, why did this stick so much? every time I saw it on the map when I flew to Canada it’s all I could think of). But also, idk why Darren introduced this song by saying he wanted to test if we knew the words like buddy pretty sure we know the words to your songs better than you do but sure.
Hey Dragon More of Darren playing dumb songs on guitar but this is also a pretty fun song so we’re letting it slide. Also he did say that he didn’t want to do this song and said they should cut it to make time for better songs but that everyone else made him do it, which does not surprise me. He obviously had to call out his own songwriting abilities from ten years ago, it makes me laugh every time he does it but this time he really came for himself with how bad the rhyming was and how the lyrics are dumb. I love that he can’t get through the song without laughing because it is pretty stupid but we love it anyway. They trusted us on the ‘la la la’s and I think we came through.
Granger Danger Okay. OKAY. So after all that Darren was like ‘let’s take it to a school dance’ which did not register for me at all because that song has gone way beyond that and now it’s just Joey and Lauren’s song. But then Darren’s playing it (which I found ??? sweet?? for some reason? idk it was good) and Joey and Lauren are on stage and I’m like here we fucking go. This is what I’m here for. Cannot begin to describe how happy I was to hear this song. I literally had said I refused to die before I heard them sing this live and now it will forever be one of the highlights of my life. The amount of power on that stage. Also the amount of attractiveness. They honestly are a power couple. The most iconic duo singing one of the most iconic songs. Their stage presence just blows me away. And it always makes me feel things too because they’ve done this song so many times and when they were first performing it they had no idea where they’d end up and now they’re fucking living the dream together and I can’t believe how far they’ve come. This is a hole we don’t need to go down though. It absolutely is a crime that they haven’t had more songs together but it does make this one particularly special because it’s fucking THEIR song and there’s no doubt they love performing together and their chemistry is so good anyway anyway I swear I’ll get back on track. This song with the orchestra??!? Holy shit you guys it sounded so good. They managed to take a song I love with every inch of me and make me love it even more. They came out and did a handshake because they’re fucking dorks. My heart genuinely felt like it was about to pump out of my chest, the adrenaline rush from seeing this live was crazy it’s a fucking experience. Joey was remarkably in character when it got to Lauren’s bit but she could not be in character for the life of her when he was singing my god she just did not give a fuck. Her heart eyes were off the charts I swear to god I couldn’t believe that dumb girl. Also Lauren was practically making love to her mic stand half the song which was honestly unnecessary but I love her. And her looking at her crotch murdered me. And then Joey was looking at her for most of the ending and she didn’t look at him once so she sucks. As always the last note was heavenly. When do we get a two hour concert version of this song??
Guys Like Potter Maybe came next? I love the apocalyptour arrangement of this song but it was nice to throw it back to the original and Tyler’s great. Joe tried? We’ll leave it at that.
Wizard Of The Year I think this followed after purely because of AJ saying something like ‘that’s enough about that Potter boy’?? And then he only went and did the whole fucking mouse monologue. And the entire time I was sat there having an internal conflict between ‘this is one of the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed’ and ‘they could have used this time to do climate change’. Honestly hearing him pull that out was wild. But then he sang the song and some of the girls came out to do the ‘gilderoy’ bit (which was the best part duh).
To Dance Again The beginning of this song is always iconic. Most important thing to say here is how I’m even more impressed now with Joe’s dancing after seeing what his ankle looked like. Also, hearing all the tapping (thudding) from the audience brings me inexplicable joy. Lauren ran on stage before her cue when Darren came off and had to book it back off and I feel a bit bad immortalising it because I’m sure she’s glad they weren’t filming that night. While we’re on the subject, the Thursday show was a little messy but like, there were no HUGE fuck ups apart from maybe Joe’s in MAMD and it was all surprisingly well rehearsed considering they’d had barely two days of rehearsal and they’re all so so impressive. Still think they should have had a 40 person kickline but the three person Joe Darren and Brosenthal kickline was still pretty good. Also, I remember someone doing a very cool harmony? It maybe sounded like Holden? His voice is underrated.
Sidekick I cannot remember for the life of me if this is actually where this song goes?? I don’t remember if Joey went offstage or not. I just know that he ended up alone on stage and I damn near lost my mind. I know I’ve said it before but Joey’s performance of sidekick genuinely is a show stealer and I never in a million years thought I’d get to see it live so I feel extremely privileged that I did. God bless whoever included this in the setlist you have my eternal thanks. It’s what Joey deserves (and what I deserve). His voice!?! The high notes?!? Still love the irony of Joey singing this song. Classic cheering at ‘am I the hottest’ because yes you fucking are. He messed up a bit and sang ‘am I the one who takes you home’ twice but we love him. He absolutely killed it and being reminded that they’d not long got back from SDCC and finding out he had a fever made me even more impressed because you literally wouldn’t have known it.
Voldemort Is Going Down More on Joey continuing to kill it (but maybe not in this order). It was good to hear this song again, it slaps. And they all sounded so good too. And there was a super cool little piano riff at one point. This song makes everyone so hype I love it so much.
Everything Ends Haha tear time (jk just about managed to save them for Friday). But it is very much when things get sad because you can feel that the show’s coming to a close. This was Robert’s duet with a person he’d never sung with before and it sounded beautiful. We got the return of Joe’s snape voice or am I imagining that? I don’t remember what he said but I’m sure he said something and it probably made me sad. Literally the whole end of the show is just a blur because I couldn’t believe it was almost over so quickly.
Not Alone Jaime. Just, Jaime. Incredible every time she sings this song. Also, so many AVPW feelings because this is what they came out and sang and this song has been extra special to me since. So I was in tears from the get go tbh. God I’m really really really missing AVPW today so this is a lot just thinking about it. And personal feelings about Bonnie and also how much I love newer arrangements of not alone aside, it was unimaginably special to see the original four singing this together again.
Days Of Summer We knew they’d save this to the end (or at least so we thought) but it was still a bit of an asshole move ngl. Like, do you enjoy our suffering? Seeing everyone on stage together singing this song that’s at the heart of starkid, if there was anyone who didn’t cry I applaud them. Darren gave a closing speech where he didn’t thank half the people he needed to because he hadn’t rehearsed. I wish I remembered more of what he said because it wasn’t exactly the same as Friday, it also didn’t make me cry half as much which I guess was a bonus. They did the little going back to hogwarts reprise probably partly to make us all feel a bit better and got everyone on their feet for it and as much as I never know which house to say I still love that moment of everyone yelling their house. Then they had “curtain call”, except they faked us out because Brian stayed on stage with his fist in the air and I’m like okay what are these idiots up to now. And Nick came out to tell him they sang all the songs and Voldemort’s dead, which of course meant ‘dead?! *skips stone*’ and we all needed that laugh. And then Joe came out and they did the ‘okay is good’ bit so I was sad again and god they really messed with our emotions. And everyone came back out and did the not alone reprise and literally stomped all over my heart because ten years ago they did the exact same thing, except now they were on a bigger stage with a bigger audience and a bigger family and they’ve all grown so much and achieved so many amazing things in their careers and their personal lives and they’ve grown up a lot but they’re still these college kids at heart who love performing with their friends and making people laugh and I didn’t want to leave my seat after they all walked offstage because it really felt like my soul had left my body and I was just completely emotionally drained. And unbelievably happy that I was getting to experience it all again the next day.
Friday 26th The one thing I have to say about the line this time round is shoutout to the kid handing out red vines, I don’t know how many people actually wanted one but it made me smile. As we were waiting in the lobby we saw Denise x2 (Joey’s mom still looked like the embodiment of kindness and Denise always seems so happy to be there I love them both).
Anyway when we got to our seats I just sat down and was internally screaming because we were So Close to the stage and I was like how on earth am I going to survive seeing this much beauty. Also I knew that some people had different outfits and I was trying to figure out if Lauren and Joey were wearing the same thing cause that was the most important thing so it was an anxious wait. Then when they came out being that close to the crop top nearly killed me and Joey looked even hotter in that red shirt than he did on Thursday so like, I want that image tattooed on my eyelids.
Oh and we saw MK, Sean, Sarah and Whitney up in the balcony before the show started. This is how the conversation went down... Sophie: is that MK up there? Me: I think so, that looks like Sean Sophie: it doesn’t look like Sean? (spoiler alert, it was Sean)
Also to quickly go back to the live atmosphere, Friday night was INSANE oh my god. Whether it was that it was the last show or whether it was being closer to the stage but the room was absolutely electric, it seemed like so many more people - including me this time - were singing and fucking reciting all the lines like it makes me so happy that we’re all fucking nerds who love these other nerds to death and memorise all their shows. As was my plan, the first night I took everything in and then the second night I just got to enjoy it and make the most of it. So the Thursday show it was kind of like I was observing everything but Friday I was LIVING it, and I really was living. It was a fucking party. And I could anticipate what was coming and it somehow made it even more exciting than witnessing everything fresh for the first time. I was literally sat there having the time of my life for two hours and I hope they all saw it, they would have just seen me with a huge fucking grin the whole time (apart from when I was crying we’re not talking about that rn). Maybe the most fun I’ve ever had. It made all the money I’d spent to get there 10000% worth it because as amazing as the DVD is going to be and you bet I’m getting it (well the digital download shipping’s an outrage), you can’t buy the atmosphere in the room and it was incredible to be there.
Okay y’all know the drill now so this is gonna be quickfire:
Act 1
Seeing everyone doing their crazy eyes in TGWDLM up close was an EXPERIENCE. Jon was a stand out. Also Jaime. Being so much closer the energy was so much higher for Join us and die. I think that was really my main thing about Friday, aside from how emotions were even higher, was how crazy the energy was it was SO MUCH FUN. And Robert is pretty great.
Have I mentioned Lauren’s look nearly killing me? Yes? Good. The gay came out full force in Firebringer. Lo’s talent is out of this world and I feel so lucky to have witnessed it live.
So many more people sang for Lauren in Naked in a lake and she looked so happy my baby. I made eye contact with her at one of the points she was holding the out mic for the audience to sing so I’m glad she saw me (quietly but extremely enthusiastically) singing my heart out for her. Joey made Lauren laugh when they were dancing during speedrun and it’s the most adorable shit I’ve ever seen. Those two are genuinely in their own world half the time they’re on stage together and I live for it.
Carlos wasn’t there this night so I think Dylan should have filled in for his verse of 1001 nights but my ideas are worthless right? Oh have I mentioned how much I live for over a thousand people yelling tigerfucker? And Robert smashed ‘he fucked a tiger’. Also I’m sure they did it the first night too but I noticed even more Denise and Meredith encouraging everyone to cheer when Joe was doing the dialogue bit I adore them.
Brant got so out of time on I wanna be my god Joey looked like he was trying to telepathically tell him to slow down but he never really recovered. But the chaotic energy felt appropriate? It’s not a starkid show without a mess up.
Joe’s MAMD entrance was more controlled this time but honestly it’s a shame the fuck up won’t be on the filmed version because it was definitely a highlight (I hope you’re okay Joe). Mere and Brian had their arms round each other when they were singing ready to go and I was hit with the ‘oh my god they’re getting MARRIED’ feels. Look how far they’ve come. They were also making faces at each other during one song, I don’t remember which one, and giving Joey and Lauren a run for their money for being in their own world. Still not nearly as bad though.
Intermission
I remember even less of this intermission than the first one. I was just in total shock. Also when we came back from the intermission Nick went ‘two people just got engaged’ and almost literally stopped my heart like I KNOW that’s not how it’s gonna happen but where did he expect me to go with it. And then he wanted to be reminded of their names but someone shouted ‘Joe and Traci’ so he had to be like ‘no I’m not talking about them’ which made me laugh a lot.
Act 2
GBTH was somehow even better this time round. It’s actually a spiritual experience. 100% my happy place. Also Joey didn’t have the headband the first night and I didn’t know I needed it until he came out wearing one on Friday, it was weirdly emotional.
To have a home was worse this time around because I had to come to the realisation that I was gonna leave this home behind. That’s always the worst part, it was the same with AVPW, it’s not just that I miss it it’s also that it’s this happy, safe little bubble where everything feels okay and it’s so sad to lose that. So yeah, cried a lot this time. Also Darren went offstage on Thursday too in the instrumental but this time he went offstage and ran round to the other side to come back on which was so much better good job Darren.
When Lo and Joey shook hands for granger danger they both had such cute smiles my HEART. Lauren still had heart eyes for Joey singing, she was just stood there grinning at him the whole time she loves him so much jesus christ. Also she was staring at him when they were both singing the ‘falling in love’ bit just saying. And they got super close to each other for the end but kept alternating looking at the other person and the audience so they were never actually looking at each other and it KILLED me I hate them. I also didn’t even think twice about singing Lauren’s part during granger danger until halfway through oops and now I kind of want to apologise, Mr Joey Richter I love you.
You could tell there were a fair few people in the audience who’d seen one or both of the other shows and knew what was coming so actually shouted out ‘what’s your fantasy’ when AJ was working up to the mouse monologue which made it even better. It was just as insane and funny the second time, but I still couldn’t believe they actually put it in there.
Back to Mr Joey Richter, he brought the house down with sidekick even more than on Thursday. He’s so talented y’all. You’d expect more cheering for ‘am I the one who takes you home’ but the urge for everyone to yell ‘definitely not’ is too much and it cracks me up. And he pointed at the very least in my direction when he sang the last ‘I love being at your side’ so I’ll take it for SURE.
They got everyone standing even earlier on in the show (during voldemort is going down) and I just felt a sense of elation, the whole show but at this point in particular, because everyone was there having a fucking amazing time and pouring out so much love, from our direction and from theirs, and I feel like that song really does do what it’s supposed to and make us feel united.
Everything ends made me cry a lot because it actually was the end this time, and starkid have some fucking heart wrenching goodbye songs that are supposed to make you feel better but really don’t at all. Not alone made me cry more, obviously. Days of summer was so much worse because it really was goodbye, me having to say goodbye to seeing them and one of the best experiences of my life, them having to say goodbye to each other. SO. MANY. TEARS.
Random point, Lauren looked so fucking cute when she came out in her varsity jacket with the sleeves pushed up because it was too big for her I just wanted to hug her.
Joey and Lauren kept looking at each other during Darren’s speech, Joey in particular kept trying to catch Lo’s eye which killed me he’s too soft. And Lauren pulled a face at the mention of a twenty year reunion like she felt way too old for that and he was smiling at her I hate them.
There were a lot of tears, Joey and Tiffany especially and Lauren pulled her trying not to cry face. In the speech Darren said something about starkid bringing about this group of friends and Joey’s wide eyed already-crying-but-trying-not-to-cry-even-more-face was both heartbreaking and funny and I hope it makes it onto the DVD. I don’t remember much else of the speech other than that it was incredibly emotional and it very well summed up a lot of what we were all feeling about the show and how special starkid was. Also I made eye contact with Joey when we were both crying and we smiled at each other (tried to) and honestly that was a bonding moment for us.
And we saw Bob and Denise on our way out which caused a whole lot more feelings because those are their kids up there performing with all their other honorary kids and yep we’re done here.
I don’t really know how to bring this all to a neat end. I don’t really think there is one. It’s an experience that can’t fully be put into words, the emotions it brought up aren’t ones that I can properly label, and it’s going to stick with me forever. But it was a reminder of how special starkid is. Watching their shows at home, scrolling through their social media, of course it brings me so much joy it’s my reason for living. But getting to see them live and feel the impact they’ve had on so many people? Getting to do it with a friend I made because of them? I just wish I had the words or the time to give them the thanks I wish I could. I really hope they felt the sheer, deep love we all feel for them over those two days.
Anyway, I know this was way too long and half of it wasn’t information people care about but I’m done now. And I’m so excited for the DVD and (hopefully) album so I can experience it all again!
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Autumn in Japan❤
In November 2019, I went on a full week trip to Japan with my two lovely cousins, Teh Epi and Teh Ami. The trip was on my bucketlist, but when we first planned this trip, we were reckless and kinda impulsive but I don’t regret it any single second. Luckily, we bought the ticket 9 months before departure, so we had enough time to prepare everything (money especially). Little did you know that Japan is the farthest I’ve ever been from home (for now), so I was extra excited and the fact that I can afford this trip alone (in +-9 months of saving!) was a proud moment for me.
Because my last vacation was a solo trip, the first thing I noticed about this trip was the differencies between when you go alone and when you go grouping. In my opinion, solo traveling is much closer to your heart, like there’s always that touching moment when you feel you can conquer anything (I wonder what would happened if I go to Japan alone!!). While group traveling is more refreshing, fun, and thrilling, but it really depends on whom you travel with. I think you have to go with someone that you really vibed with if you want to fully enjoy the trip with less drama. Lucky me, I have two wonderful companions that made my trip to Japan couldn’t been any better. Although there wasn’t always rainbow in Japan (literally), but t’was full of laugh and positivity. Super big love and thanks to Ami-chan and Epi-chan❤
The Trip
I only visited Osaka and Kyoto due to my short time and budget-friendly trip but it was all worth it.
Day-0: Depart & Transit
We flew to Japan with Singapore Airlines (the service and the food was superb! Plus they have Gentle Bones’ song on their entertainment board :p), so we had transit in Changi for a night long, yes 9-hour long. We landed in Changi at 23.00 and we wanted to visit Jewel for the sake of their indoor waterfall although the waterfall only operated until 23.30! We managed to lined up in immigration and jogged to Jewel but too bad the waterfall already turned off (we knew from the beginning we wouldn’t make it but at least we tried). We snapped some obscure photos as evidence that we were there. Then we went back to T2 Changi and strolled around finding a nice spot to spend the night, the snooze area and the long sofas was packed we ended up in some single sofas in front of the children playground, it was warm but we barely slept.
Day-1: Landed in Osaka
We had breakfast in-between airplane watching at Changi before our flight at 7 am, we bought butter toast and teh O’. The teh O was uniquely delicious, it was teh tarik with melted butter, warm sweet and savory at the same time. The teh O is worth a flight to Changi (hiperbolic but it was that great). Then we found an empty foot massage machine and tempted to try one because our (already) sore calf, and it was one our biggest mistake... the machine was badly stink (imagine million people from around the world using that same machine :)) and the stink sticked to our socks, then we putted the smelly socks into our shoes... imagine the rest. (In case you wondering, yes our shoes was smelly troughout our trip in Japan T_T). In the evening, finally we safely landed in KIX, we was welcomed with the beautiful autumn foliage outside the airport. It was our first time witnessing autumn foliage with our own eyes, we were so happy >_<
Then we rushed to ICOCA vending machine to bought our transportation card for our trip and looked for our train to our hotel in Osaka while carrying the heavy luggage. The first time we tried Japan train line was confusing... we entered the same train back and forth because we were not sure that was the right train and there was no one to asked. The cold air and strong wind started to stabbed me who only wore 2 thin layers of clothes. Freezing. Luckily we arrived at our hotel just in time, rested for a minute, then we went to Dotonbori to get dinner. During this trip, we stayed in Ookini Hotel Dotonbori, just 700 m walk from the buzzing Dotonbori. In Dotonbori, we had Kukuru Takoyaki, ¥800 for 10 pieces of the tastiest takoyaki I’ve ever tasted. Then we lined up for the famous Ichiran Ramen(!!!). Twisted part, later we realised that the Ichiran Ramen we visited was not the ‘no pork’ Ichiran branch we intended to visit... didn’t know if we were too hungry or too careless T_T anyway here’s the pic of the pork broth:
Day-2: Kyoto Part 1
We had breakfast at the nearest Family Mart to our hotel (it was like a little heaven for me, all the food, drinks, snack, and dessert were cheaply delicious). Then we headed to Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto by express train. To reach the temple, we had to walk about 20-30 mins but the walk was so pleasing because there were many cute cafe and souvenir shops along the walk. After we spent enough time and took enough memories at Kiyomizudera, we walked to Gion through Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka Street. The street was packed with tourist and full of vibrant touristy shops. We stopped by at Studio Ghibli Shop(!!!) and enjoyed a cup of gingerbread latte at the unique tatami-style Starbucks cafe, there’s a beautiful zen garden and all things beautiful <3 Before we arrived at the modern side of Gion, we passed through an old-style-long-charming alley, every path we took there was beautiful and reminded me so much to anime sceneries. Even when we arrived to the busy Gion, I feel like I was living in anime world.
Then we walked to Nishiki Market. It’s time for FOOD! The best part: super fresh seafood sashimi! I got to ate uni for the first time in my life and I tasted the most delicious salmon sashimi in the world. I cried. We lost count on the money we spent in this market because all things was very tempting. I wish I could go back to Nishiki Market. Then we had Ayam-ya Halal Ramen for dinner (finally real halal food here) and snacked on donuts and hojicha at Koe Donuts. We went back to Osaka and we stopped at the station a bit far away from our hotel to saw the illumination fulfilled the road, it was magical ✨ We walked far enough to made our stomach felt empty again, then we decided to had supper at 24-hour all ¥100 Kura Sushi. All the staffs spoke japanese and didn’t understand our english and all the instructions is in japanese, we waited 1 hour for our queue number to be called (also in japanese x_X), then a waitress came to us offering us (in japanese) the english menu (thank God).
Day-3: Universal Studio Japan
It is the happiest day in my life!!!!!!!! One day in USJ is never enough, but we already planned a strategy to fully maximized our time in USJ, so after a full day of adrenaline and happiness, we walked out from USJ (with very sore legs) feeling contented. The first ride we headed to was Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. They said this is the most wanted ride so the queue must be very long. But lucky us, we queued only about 30 mins long and there is one funny story. In the middle of the ride (we thought it was the middle because we hadn’t finished the ride yet), the machine stopped but we didn’t know any single thing about what happened because all we hear was japanese. Three of us were panicked at that 4-seated train, so we tried to ask what happened to one okasan beside me *me pulled out all my sumimasen-arigatou skill*. But all we got was silence and a blank stare from her that made us even more scared *laugh ih japanese*. Shortly afterward the ride was running again but when we reached the end of the ride, the train didn’t stop and we had 2 full rounds instead... okay the first round was anticlimax because of that technical problem and the second round was enough to made us had nausea 😂 nonetheless, the ride was amazing and very nostalgic (because it’s Harry Potter!!!).
My second favorite ride is Hollywood Dream. The track is terrific and every single seat has its own monitor and speaker to let us choose the song we want to hear during the ride. I chose Happy - Pharell Williams (by sentimental reason) and I was superrrr happy and carried away by the whoosh. And the most *EPIC* ride goes to THE FLYING DINOSAUR!!! I was speechlessly astonished by the ride, the ride continuously gave me palpitations. I felt like I was literally flying as a flying dinosaur. Last but not least, though it wasn’t a ride, the highest appreciation goes to Hogwarts Castle Light Show. There are no words can describe how magical it was. My jaw dropped throughout the show. I love itttt.
Day-4: Kyoto Part 2
And this is my favorite day in Japan afterall. We went to Fushimi Inari by train and the comute was somewhat confusing because we should’ve had transit in 2 stations, we ended up getting off in the wrong station, 2 times, like a donkey. We arrived at Fushimi Inari a bit late, then we took some photos and bought some food from the local market near the gate. I got one big skewer of beef wagyu for only ¥500 and I still remember how delicious it was. We also bought some souvenirs there, argh all the souvenir shops in Japan are very cute and tempting. Then we headed to Arashiyama Bambo Forest. The bamboo forest was so-so, but I was impressed by the neighborhood around Arashiyama. Though it is tourist area, but the environment was very soothing and authentic, the momiji just enhanced the warm atmosphere, and the people was sooooo nice i could’ve hugged all of them. There are one road full of nice souvenir shops (still), no car passed by, just a few traditional rickshaw called jinrikisha pulled passionately by local man. Then we strolled around and ended in the popular Arabica coffee shop in Kyoto. The coffee shop was packed and it located by the lake. After we got our latte, we enjoyed it while comtemplating by the lake surrounded with momiji under the beautiful sky. The latte was so good itself and I was covered in joy. We had spare time at Kyoto so we decided to went back to Gion area just because we love it a lot. Last thing I knew, I already left my heart in Kyoto.
Day-5: Osaka
We spent full day at Osaka. This is basically our last day we have because tomorrow morning we already had to leave and it was the most freezing and stormy day we had in Japan. Even Japan was sad because we were about to go home :( Anyway we had so much fun and impressed by all Osaka has to offer. We had Matsuya for breakfast and dinner because we wanted to try all the menu and it was very cheap but also delicious haha and I tried natto for the first time! In the morning we decided to went to Don Quijote first to bought some (no, a lot) of souvenirs, then we went back to hotel to dropped the purchases and continued the itinerary. We went shopping at Shinsaibashi, strolled around Amerikamura, went to Umeda for the ferris wheel but too bad the ferris wheel was closed (yes our bad didn’t check the schedule) but Umeda is nice so we walked around Umeda. The day was getting dark, we were a bit confused where to go next, and we decided to go to Osaka Castle with zero expectation because it was dark and the museum was already closed. Turned out Osaka Castle remains beautiful in the dark, and we still mesmerized by the castle and its surroundings. We felt like we were living in kingdom era. Then our last destination is Shinsekai. It’s an old district built in 1912 with New York and Paris as the model, then neglected in decades afterwards. We just strolled around the neighborhood, it was full of restaurant, bar, spa, and other nightlife. Little did we know that Shinsekai is the most seedy and dangerous area in Osaka lol. Gratefully we arrived at our hotel safe and sound.
Day-6 & 7: Back to reality
NOOO i didn’t want this to be over, but life goes on and we had to leave Japan. But first thing first, we had breakfast at Matsuya for countless times haha. We also spent all our coins we had. Bought the things that hadn’t been bought yet in the last minute. What else to say... we headed to KIX and said our hardest goodbye to Japan. Still we had a good time in KIX, Changi, and in the airplane before we had to face the reality. The saddest part is, right after we landed safely in CGK and activated our phone, I received message from my family told me that my grandpa passed away that morning. Oops I’m sorry for ruining the ending :p All in all, this whole trip was a blast worth a lifetime.
What I love about Japan:
The food! It was all beyond my tongue could expect.
The people was all friendly, kind, and *very* polite!!! *bowing sharply 90 degrees*
The vending machine you can find anything anywhere and the konbini store.
The technologies, facilities, transportation, cleanliness, they’re the best.
The balance coherence between the old and modern culture.
There are so many things Japan has to make you in love, but they say you don’t need a reason to love something (cringe).
Throughout my entire trip in Japan, it seemed like there was a balance between old and modern maintained by a strong appreciation of tradition from the times gone by. It’s something we’d never experienced in another country and made us instantly fall in love with Japan. It’s amazing to see two such extremes coexisting effortlessly and perfectly side by side. I was happy, delighted, amazed, surprised, and just plain impressed. I hope I can go back to Japan.
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Dear Winky, please give us your thoughts
“In regards to the question about when Harry became convinced Meghan was the one, I honestly think it was earlier in the relationship than this year.
I’ll lay out why I think that, and it’s mostly to do with Harry.
You see, I’m pretty convinced that when Harry “falls in love”, so to speak, he does so quickly, and he sticks to you like gorilla glue to popsicle sticks in a physics project.
When he landed Chelsy in early 2004, he did so over a summer spent back in forth between where she was in South Africa, and Lesotho where he was doing that documentary. They could only have had a few weeks of that before he had to return to the UK, and Harry was COMMITTED. Don’t confuse that with faithful. He was linked to Natalie Pinkham in late 2004, and again in late 2006. Apparently he wanted a kiss, and decided to go back inside the building they had just exited in order to get it. And paps heard the whole thing, with photos of them on the stoop. And somewhere in there during a training exercise in Canada there was that stripper waitress Cherie Cymbalisty or something, that sold her kissing stories to the press. Apparently he didn’t learn his lesson about meeting strippers in Canada.
My point being that Harry wasn’t ready for a big boy relationship. He loves drinking, and partying, and raucous behavior. But he was in love, and determined to apologize and work it out, instead of grow up on his own. During their split in 2007, where Chelsy left him because he wasn’t committed enough, that being the public line, she leaked about some hot crocodile hunter in South Africa that would leap at the chance to date her. I just remember several flattering photographes of him that made the paper, and Harry was DESPERATE to get her back. He was the guy that wasn’t interested in a relationship when he had her, but had to keep her regardless.
They split up in early 2009. They both dated other people. Harry hung out with a group of girls called “the hardcore sisters” , and by summer it was leaking that he was missing Chelsy, and by that fall they were back together. Then they split over the summer of 2010, after Harry had spent a good part of it regularly flying out to south Africa, there were definitely pap pics of Harry at a picnic table smoking and I believe her brother was there. William gets engaged in November in 2010, and it wasn’t long before it was leaking that Harry was missing Chelsy. Then in February 2011 she made a trip to the UK, and suddenly there stories about her helping with the best man’s speech, pictures of her shopping, she was his unofficial date.
Chelsy was obviously pulling away, over and over, and Harry usually was the one to drive the narrative that he wanted her back. There at the end, I don’t recall any cheating, I think maybe he did mature into the relationship. The irony being when he was ready to be the man she’d wanted in the beginning, she’d begun to realize how bad it would suck to be a royal.
That was a cycle if ending it, getting back together, ending it, getting back together. Even in 2012, before he went public with Cressida, people were still convinced there would be another round of the Harry and Chelsy show.
Cressida is another classic example of Harry being in it for the long haul, even after it’s obvious it’s not working. In the beginning of their relationship, Harry was taking her to the Batman premier, he was with her on that island for a Branson birthday before the Vegas trip. Harry and fallen, and he was SERIOUS. He was trying to impress her, at the expense of privacy. Not faithful enough to blow off vegas, obviously. And knowing he had made a huge bruiser there, there was tons of press of his friends keeping Cressida in a tight circle. There were rumors of a house party where she met William in December 2012. Harry had gotten into trouble, and WAY over compensated. He went super public with her that February, in the bossum of her good friends the York’s.
I thought he was ALOT more mature during the Cressida relationship. There weren’t cheating rumors, there werent that many party rumors. The press attribute that to Cressida. She got Harry to stop drinking and grow up. I guess that all that was left for Meghan was smoking, hm.
Then over the summer of 2013, Cressida started going more public. She was clearly going to use her name recognition to get a jump start in acting, and instead found out that people in the UK weren’t going to hire a royal girlfriend. They assumed that she couldnt do any racy parts. And she didnt have the chops for the dramatic parts. I think by 2014, it was obvious that it was going to be acting or Harry. And I don’t think she ever doubted that it was going to be acting. There was an amusing peice in 2014 that she was more interested in Shepherds Bush, and Burning Man than a royal wedding. The problem there being Harry totally wanted a royal wedding.
They split that may. There was ambiguity for a month. Reports about Harry either tearing it up at the Pelly Wedding, or crying into his cups over her. He was papped on the phone when at the Elvis House. It was heavily emplied with her.
By June it was obvious to everyone else it was over. Cressida is going off into the horizon to be an actress. Harry still wasn’t done, however. After a summer spent avoiding each other, she hurried back from a wedding abroad for the Invictus Games, and there were rumors about her being at his 30th at Clarence House. Nothing ever happened. The reason I think that Harry was hoping she’d come back is because he kept following her around until late 2015. After she had a Valentine’s with another ex byfriend, the better looking Henry, Harry goes to publicly support her at TWO seperate plays. The Pellys accompanied him to one, where he totally did a pap walk so Cressida would get some attention from the press. Cressida was invited to his birthday party in 2015 too.
I felt sorry for him at that point, honestly. Those pap pics of him walking to some dinky backstreet theater, Lizzy Pelly next to him, just so Cressida could get some press, even though she obviously wasnt going to have him were sad. Later that year paps caught him joining the Pellys for dinner. Not like normal people. Lizzy and Guy were having dinner with her parents at a public restaurant, and Harry suddenly shows up right before dessert. The pap shots were of everyone saying goodbye outside the restaurant. When you are desperate enough to drive across town to sit at a table with some friends and some in laws you haven’t seen since their wedding a year ago, where you were either crying into cups or tearing it up, for the short amount if time it takes people to eat pudding. I mean, you really didn’t want to sit at home alone.
And just a few short months later, he met Meghan. A girl who made it a mission to tell him all about how humanitarian her interest was. A girl who couldn’t wait to tell him how NOT shy she was. She had been playing a game on Insta for months taking pics around him. A girl who totes saw herself married to him.
Looking backwards, Meghan is his MO. He sends her flowers, back to back dates in June, gets that luxury tent in Africa in August, he goes above and beyond to impress the girl that he’d fallen for fast and hard like usual. And when the press came for her in November, Harry WAY over reacted and got to tell the press everything I imagine he thinks about in private. Coulda, shoulda, woulda with Chelsy and Cressida became something Meghan could use.
And just like he followed Cressida for a year while she was dating other guys, he did what would make Meghan happy, and had her sat next to him at Inskip wedding, and papped with her February (at least this time it was a girl that was dating him) and did the pap walk behind her house in April, and made it abundantly clear to everyone it was two for the price of one in may.
He’s genuinely all up in there. Just look at the pics of Harry spending the Invictus closing games with her friends and mom. Instead of spending it with soldiers families, like he usually did, he was promoting her loser friends in her box. He was happily chatting with her mother in front of everyone. He kept his arms around her. He kept beaming and kissing her neck. She didn’t even bother to look at him.
Which is why I’m not shy about saying I don’t like what he’s doing, but I still like him. I strongly dislike her. It’s like watching a Puma playing with a baby bunny before it gets eaten. Harry is gonna fight for this relationship until the very end. And when he stops fighting, it’s gonna be because he was so busy taking on the press, and his family, and his friends for her, and he’s not gonna see he left his back unguarded for the knife she’s gonna slip there.
I’m surprised the Pellys aren’t still in the scene like last year. But I imagine that alot of his friends find this is hard to watch."
Some ones go from blog to blog to convince people in a love story. JD, yesterday those someones came on your blog to tell you "HE LIKES HER”.
The story to Africa was a lie, her IG proves that. He had a serious girlfriend after Cress for 2 years that was at this IG. No ones buying the love story. It’s stupid. Being in like with someone? Let’s see what wink says. @wink
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Islands of Adventure Review/trip Report below cut, it’s pretty long.
Honestly, I don't remember the exact order of events. I pretty much just rode stuff or poked around all day, so here's what I though of the rides, roughly in the order I first rode them.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Last went back in 2012 and obviously this wasn't around then. Went in not having looked at the reviews much and I thought it was pretty cool, though I haven't been on many motion simulators. The queue and exterior were my favorite parts (I think there was a scare actor popping out in the queue. That or a very good animatronic. Still a nice touch). I hit it early, so minimal line. There was maybe too much dependence on screens, but it was still quite fun, honestly I was a bit underwhelmed by the animatronic at the end, just much slower in action that the previous parts of the ride.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:
A bit nauseating and more intense than I expected (again, wasn't sure what to expect since I hadn't looked into it much). This blended real sets with screens much better and I really love the seating/ride vehicle it has, very nice flying effect. I don't remember a lot of the details of it other than just it was a really neat experience and the story seemed really muddled, just random Harry Potter stuff stuffed together with no storyline I could really pick out. Some of the projections were a bit blurry, but otherwise probably my favorite simulator in terms of ride experience (Spiderman is the better overall package I'd say).
Dragon Challenge:
Both were alright in the morning, better than Raptor but well below Montu and Banshee for me due to their wonky pacing. Maybe it was better when they dueled but I did find their layouts not as smooth and well-paced as I generally expect from B&Ms. They got much better in the evening, though, as coasters tend to. Still have them in the same ranking amongst inverts, but I had a lot more fun on them. Unpopular opinion: I prefer Horntail. The first half is amazing and honestly, the combination of the zero-G roll and the snappy cobra roll reminded me of Kumba in a really good way (as did the very noticeable rattle in the back, that thing growled more than roared). After the loop it felt pretty meandering, but the rolls packed more of a punch than Fireball's for me. I can see why people prefer Fireball, but it just felt kind of awkward to me. For some reason, I felt like it always turned the opposite way I expected it to, even after at least a half dozen rides on it (I lost track of how many rides I took on them both in total, but it was quite a lot, I spent several hours in the evening/late afternoon running through the queue and reriding them). And as I said before, the rolls on it just didn't seem as strong as Horntail's to me. If someone were to put the first half of Horntail (perhaps with Fireball's first Immelman instead though) and the back half of Fireball together, honestly, it would very closely rival and possibly beat Montu for me because dammit, I love that cobra roll.
It's sad to see them go after I've only just gotten to appreciate them. Especially since their layouts felt so unique compared to the other B&Ms I've been on.
Poseidon's Fury
Effects and scenery were good (the water vortex was my favorite part), but holy crap was the film (especially the costumes) cheesy as hell. Looked like some sort of low-budget sci-fi thing rather than a battle of Greek gods. Still glad I did it since I won't be surprised to see it go whenever they need more space.
Cat in the Hat:
I remember this being a fun little dark ride back in 2012, but man things have gone downhill. The animatronics definitely look worse for wear (this goes for the whole Seuss land in general).
Seuss Trolley Ride:
Thought this would go through more more themed spots like the initial wash station and have a story related to the one in the queue, was very disappointed that it didn't. Can't believe I wasted 25 minutes waiting for this lol
Dr. Doom's Fearfall:
I always appreciate the rides that have little movies in the queue to watch while you wait, especially since the wi-fi wasn't working and I have very limited phone data. The launch and first drop was remarkably intense, though the next few bounces were pretty weak. Better than Power Tower was last year, which was just pathetic imo. Still prefer those Larson (I believe?) towers you see at fairs since those tend to have minimal lines and much better drops.
Spiderman:
Probably the most cohesive story-wise of the simulators, and like Harry Potter, blended real sets and screens very well. The drop scene is definitely a favorite. Rode this one twice, so that might have to do with my bias. Really enjoyed the in-your-face 3D effects on this one, made me feel much more connected than on the other simulators.
Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges:
Haven't been on a ton of these raft rides, but it's much better than the one at Busch Gardens Tampa. Really enjoyed the lift mid-ride and the faster section after it. If the one at Seaworld ends up anything like it ride-wise, it'll give me even more reason to get out there some day.
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls:
I was very impressed by how the ops just crank out the logs and how fast they move along the troughs and conveyors. Sitting position was a bit awkward, though. The first few drops caught me by surprise and kind of outshined the last one by setting my expectations too high. That last one wasn't as good as I had hoped, but still, it's a really good log flume. I didn't get on the JP flume since I remembered it pretty well and didn't feel the need to go again, but IOA's water rides are definitely a strong point.
The Incredible Hulk:
Wow, this was much better than I remembered. Unlike what others have said, it was smooth that day (a bit rougher than Shiekra I'd say) and the audio worked every time for me. Love that launch into the roll and the high energy the whole ride has (which most of the other B&Ms I've been on lack) and honestly, I even like the second half. It's a nice cool down from the power of the start. Still preferred Horntail's cobra roll to Hulk's, but it's great visual. Also, the trains on this thing are beautiful, if also very different from the B&M norm.
Misc. Thoughts
Only had a ticket for IOA, so obviously didn't do anything in the other park. Ice cream selection was just sad, all they had was soft serve, Dippin Dots, and exactly four flavors of regular scooped ice cream. Which is a nitpick, but I like having a nice cone to relax at parks (and if I'm going to pay park prices, I'm not settling for soft serve lol), at least they had cookies n cream. My patience was wearing thin in the longer lines for the coasters without my phone (especially in a 25 minute one for the Dragons with how boring and dark it is in there) and when trying to squeeze through the crowds in the back of the park. It was a much more enjoyable park in the morning and later at night when it was emptier. I'm just used to smaller/less busy parks, I guess. Ops were great, though, can't complain about that. Still bitter that they won't duel the Dragons even with those metal detectors now but, eh, they're still fun coasters with usually minimal lines, which I have a soft spot for.
Got some pics of Hulk around sunset, sadly not really any good ones of Dragon Challenge (it's a tough one to photograph with everything hiding it back there, and it was getting dark when I got the chance to take photos). Didn't have the time/urge to take pictures of anything else since there's a ton out there and I'm more interested in pictures of naked coasters/rides and natural scenery than theming.
Also, as someone who hasn’t seen a standard-gauge steam engine IRl, I loved the Hogwarts Express replica. Spent a while just looking at it since it was so enchanting for me even if it was fake. I keep remembering that I have a scholarship good for studying abroad and the UK is calling my name owo
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17 of the Best Brands on Instagram Right Now
Contrary to what your friends' photos suggest, Instagram isn't just a social network for selfies and brunch pics. In fact, Instagram has a whopping 1 billion active monthly users as of June 2018 -- the last 200 million of which joined in the prior nine months.
In a time when visual content remains a crucial part of any business' marketing strategy, Instagram marketing presents a unique opportunity to visually represent your brand, celebrate its personality, and keep it top-of-mind for all those users who scroll through their Instagram feeds every single day.
Although they're few and far between, there are some brands out there -- in every industry, and with every type of target customer -- who are doing really, really well on Instagram. These industries include skincare, lifestyle, education, shoes, interior design, entertainment, and even office supplies (one of the most B2B markets you can think of).
Ready to get inspired? Check out this list of brands that are thriving on Instagram right now, and what about their posts sets them apart. For each of these brands, we've included examples of their best posts. For some of them, we've also included their most popular Instagram post of all time in terms of engagement (i.e. combined total of likes and comments) thanks to data from Instagram analytics and management platform Iconosquare.
Best Brands on Instagram
Lego
Califia Farms
FollowMeTo
Lorna Jane
Letterfolk
Apartment Therapy
Paris Opera Ballet
Tentsile
Desenio
No Your City
Vans
Divinity LA Bracelets
WeWork
Finfolk Productions
Shiseido
Sephora Collections
Staples
(Psst -- Want to get a stunning Instagram Story auto-magically created for your brand? Check out StoriesAds.com, a free Story generator from HubSpot and Shakr. Click here to get started.)
17 of the Best Brands on Instagram
1. Lego
Followers: 3.8M
If you're not following Lego on Instagram, you're missing out on some entertaining content that isn't just product plugs for kids.
The famous plastic building block brand populates its Instagram feed with fun takes on pop culture references everyone is bound to appreciate -- something many businesses can learn from on their own Instagram accounts.
While most of Lego's posts do serve to announce the release of new Lego characters, the main value in its Instagram account is to emulate familiar social tropes in a classic Lego way. Some of them are pretty impressive, like the life-sized flying car from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
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Check out this magical Ford Anglia made completely out of LEGO bricks! ✨😮 #LEGOHarryPotter #HarryPotter #WizardingWorld @HarryPotterFilm
A post shared by LEGO (@lego) on Mar 16, 2019 at 8:15am PDT
2. Califia Farms
Followers: 219k
Califia Farms natural beverage products have some of the most attractive packaging we've come across. In fact, it's so iconic that it won top honors in the global packaging design category from Beverage World Magazine.
Instagram is a perfect platform to showcase that cool, curvy bottle, and the folks at Califia don't shy away from doing just that -- most of the brand's posts feature the beverage's containers in some way, whether they're the main subject of the photo, or more of an accessory in the context of the active, healthy lifestyle Califia's buyer personas love.
Something Califia does really well on Instagram is create fun, playful videos and GIFs. Check out this one, which they used to teach viewers how to create a fresh tomato basil soup:
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With spring just around the corner, try this fresh tomato basil soup 🍅 Bursting with flavor, this easy recipe by @lindseyeatsla calls to roast tomatoes with onion + garlic, add creamy almond + coocnut milk and top with fresh basil 🌿🥄 (recipe in bio)
A post shared by Califia Farms (@califiafarms) on Mar 18, 2019 at 11:47am PDT
And this one, which is just plain fun to watch:
Our creamy blend of coconut H2O + coconut milk has us surfin' into Wednesday. 🥥🏄♀️
A post shared by Califia Farms (@califiafarms) on May 23, 2018 at 9:19am PDT
3. #FollowMeTo
Followers: 499k
Ever seen those photos of a woman leading a man by the hand in all different parts of the world? That pose was made famous by a couple named Murad and Natalia Osmann for their #FollowMeTo project.
Their Instagram account is a mix of stunning images of the classic #FollowMeTo pose that have been edited beautifully, as well as some really interesting behind-the-scenes photos of their world travels -- including some fun photos of the "making of" the famous pose.
4. Lorna Jane
Followers: 822k
If your brand were a person, how would you describe its personality? Australian activewear company Lorna Jane has done an awesome job answering this important branding question with its Instagram content. Spend just a few seconds scrolling through these photos, and you'll quickly be able to name the target Lorna Jane buyer: a young, sporty, twenty- or thirty-something woman who values looking good while maintaining an active lifestyle.
The images posted by Lorna Jane, which often show the brand's clothing and accessories, as well as images of women who embody its target buyer persona, are colorful, playful, and inspirational, which is a perfect representation of the brand's essence -- in other words, its heart, soul, and spirit.
5. Letterfolk
Followers: 306k
Letterfolk is a small business run by a husband-and-wife team who create and sell beautiful, handcrafted felt letterboards. Each letterboard comes with a full set of characters so people can personalize the walls of their homes, which means endless room for creativity.
Instagram is the perfect platform for them to inspire customers and aspiring customers with real customers' boards, as well as ideas they've come up with and staged themselves. Their Instagram content is funny, thought-provoking, and relatable -- all recipes for shareability.
Letterfolk's Most Engaging Post
[Click here to see the post.]
Why it's engaging: Not only is this photo showing a funny and clever message, but it's also very, very relatable to women -- one of Letterfolk's target customers. It's also a very taggable photo, so the comment section is rife with Instagram users mentioning their friends' usernames so they can share in the fun.
6. Apartment Therapy
Followers: 1.9M
Apartment Therapy's Instagram account really is a source of therapy, if you love the sight of cozy homes. If you've seen social media posts from Apartment Therapy before, rest assured the pictures of residences on its Instagram account are just as creative.
Two recent posts to Apartment Therapy's Instagram feed are below. From the plant-friendly living room on the left, to the comfortable A-frame on the right, this brand gives its Instagram followers plenty of inspiration to personalize their own space and, according to its Instagram bio, "live happy, healthy lives at home."
7. Paris Opera Ballet
Followers: 340k
The city of Paris is known for many lovely things -- wine, cheese, and art are just a few. But that last one, art, is photographically captured on the Instagram account of the Paris Opera Ballet, or Ballet de l'Opera de Paris.
The account captures candid images of the ballet's dancers during performances, rehearsals, and backstage, giving viewers an artful glimpse at what goes into the ballet's productions. It also makes use of something called banners on Instagram, when larger photos can be divided into multiple pictures to create a tiled banner of smaller photos. (There are several apps available to pull that off, but to start, check out Tile Pic).
The way this account highlights performance venues is noteworthy, too. The third photo beneath the first two below provides an intimate shot of rehearsal, conveying a gritty behind-the-scenes feel that can generate excitement for productions.
8. Tentsile
Followers: 189k
"Stunning" is the first word that comes to mind when I scroll through Tentsile's Instagram photos. The company sells tree tents, what they call "portable treehouses" that will "literally take your camping experience to a new level." Their Instagram is full of shockingly beautiful scenes of their product in use in all matter of terrain: rainforests, mountains, beaches... you name it.
Tentsile's Most Engaging Post
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Into the wild we go... who wants to join us? 🌲💦 . #Tentsile #TreeTent #ElevateYourAdventure . . . . . #instanaturelovers #photooftheday #earthpix #roamtheplanet #landscape_captures #explorecanada #quebec #campvibes #nature_wizards
A post shared by Tentsile (@tentsile) on Sep 12, 2018 at 12:06pm PDT
Why it's engaging: Tentsile's followers are interested in seeing the unique tent uses and setups that customers come up with. Not only is the post above a video -- which are known for getting more engagement than photos -- but the preview shot alone shows an intriguing location for a tree tent. For starters, how the heck did they get it up there?
9. Desenio
Followers: 910k
Look at the colors of any well-known brand and you'll notice that they use the same colors over and over again -- in their logo, on their website, and in their social media images. Using the same colors over and over again is a great way to establish brand consistency and help consumers become familiar with your brand.
That's what the Swedish online art print company Desenio does beautifully on their Instagram account. They use a lot of blues, greens, greys, and blacks, which evoke senses of calm, healing, luxury, and trust.
Desenio's Most Engaging Post
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Hello holidays, we're very happy to see you! We wish all of you lovely followers amazing days filled with happiness and festive vibes! 🎄✨
A post shared by DESENIO - POSTERS ONLINE (@desenio) on Dec 24, 2018 at 5:03am PST
Why it's engaging: When your Instagram account is predicated on brand consistency, deviating from the usual theme or color might be off limits. But in minor doses, throwing something new into your feed can give your account a boost of engagement. The post above was a simple holiday card from Desenio, but it was so dramatically different from the look and feel of the business's usual interior design, followers just had to click through to see more.
Many of the comments included exclamations of how beautiful and evocative the post is. One commenter was inspired enough to describe what winters are like where they live. To increase your own comment rate, follow Desenio's lead by posting images of things and situations that remind your followers of things they care about in their personal lives.
10. No Your City
Followers: 26k
The folks at No Your City produce a documentary series that captures the fascinating stories of people all over the world, but mostly in New York. The brand's Instagram account, though, is less about these stories and more about showcasing gorgeous images from the city itself.
What we love about these photos is how closely they follow the best practices for taking great photos with your phone. Each one of No Your City's photos seems to follow at least one of these recommendations, whether it's focusing on a single subject, embracing negative space, playing with reflections, or finding interesting perspectives. The photos are consistently stunning, and as a result, the brand has built a solid following.
11. Vans
Followers: 15.2M
Vans is known for its stylish shoes, but the brand's use of social media is just as stylish. Its Instagram business account is no exception.
The maker of the classic checkered slip-ons has an aggressively flashy Instagram feed, featuring both standalone product shots and action photos of people expressing themselves in their favorite Vans gear.
Vans' Instagram account's most unique quality is likely how much skateboarding content it has. The brand doesn't just appeal to teenage skaters anymore, but it shows its loyalty to that lifestyle in an engaging way. Below, Vans features an Indian girl with a caption that describes her as the "only girl who regularly skateboards in her town."
Vans' Most Engaging Post
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Keep it comfy in the ComfyCush Era, designed to give your feet an experience like no other. Shop now at vans.com/comfycush or your nearest store.
A post shared by vans (@vans) on Feb 27, 2019 at 4:35pm PST
Why it's engaging: Just because you're promoting an ordinary product launch doesn't mean the social media post supporting the launch should be equally ordinary. Vans' recent video, above, endorses a line of shoes called ComfyCush, but the video itself is a little, well, weirder. And for a business so dependent on style, the right amount of weird can give Vans an awesome amount of engagement.
12. Divinity LA Bracelets
Followers: 238k
Here's an example of a small business performing very well on Instagram. A beaded bracelet could have any theme.
Divinity's Most Engaging Post
Why it's engaging: The caption reads: "Each Sea Turtle and Hatchling bracelet sold helps a Hatchling make it to the ocean." People tagged their friends to show them the cute sea turtles, or to say "WE NEED TO SAVE THEM!"
13. WeWork
Followers: 479k
WeWork provides shared office spaces in cities and countries all over the globe -- so it only makes sense that they should post a lot of photos showcasing their beautiful co-working communities. They do an amazing job photographing the spaces in ways that make followers like us wish we could jump into the photos and plop down with our laptops and a coffee.
They don't stop at posting photos of their shared workspaces, though. WeWork uses Instagram to capture and share moments from some of the largest branded events that members (and their friends) look forward to all year, like WeWork Summer Camp. Hashtags are used to label these events -- like #WWCamp -- and to encourage customers to share their own photos of the spaces, using WeWork's memorable slogan: "Do what you love."
Our favorite is the #DogsOfWeWork hashtag. Not only is it awesome because, well, dogs ... but it's also a great way for the company to promote their laid-back culture while also inviting customers to interact with their brand on social. Near the end of each year, they actually choose the best photo submissions to the #DogsOfWeWork hashtag on Instagram and Facebook and put together a calendar for the following year.
WeWork's Most Engaging Post
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Here’s to raising each other up. As our friend and Creator Global Finals judge @aplusk says, “Find yourself a unicorn.” 🦄 #wearewework #creatorawards #weareone
A post shared by WeWork (@wework) on Jan 9, 2019 at 11:27pm PST
Why it's engaging: For all its beautiful photos of people and office spaces and dogs, some of you might be surprised that one of this company's most engaging Instagram posts of all time doesn't take place in a WeWork office space at all. The video above is an example of influencer marketing done right. By partnering with actor and investor, Ashton Kutcher, the company caught the attention of its audience, and made it shareable by showing its followers a speech Ashton gave that resonates with WeWork's followers.
Use free design tools like Canva, PicMonkey, or even PowerPoint to create these images easily.
14. Finfolk Productions
Followers: 222k
Ever wanted to be a mermaid? You can come pretty close, thanks to companies like FinFolk Productions. Believe it or not, silicone mermaid tails you can put on and swim around in are actually quite trendy in certain areas and for certain age groups -- typically young girls, which is one of Instagram's core users.
Finfolk Productions' Instagram feed is full of beautifully shot photos that play into the mermaid fantasy by looking more like mythical art than real people.
Finfolk Productions' Most Engaging Post
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SPECIAL REVEAL: The Finfolk Swarovski Crystal Silicone Tail ✨ Available now on the website for purchase. 🐚💎💍 (UPDATE: tail has sold!) • Alright, beautiful mermaids and mermen, this is a release I (Bryn) have personally been anticipating for a long time. Thanks to our amazing team here at Finfolk, everyone agreed to this project and came together to make it happen. As many of you know, my own wedding is upcoming this spring. I never knew that planning a wedding would open up so much inspiration for me. While searching through many couture bridal gowns and other items, I began to envision how a truly couture bridal mermaid would appear. Apparently, all iridescent white with over 8,000 hand laid Swarovski crystals is the result I concluded upon. It is with great joy and some anticipation, that we release to you all, the Finfolk Swarovski Crystal Silicone Tail. Available now to be obsessively gazed upon (as the staff has now done for weeks while completing it), and for purchase to one very special and lucky mermaid. This is a project truly and especially from my heart, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoyed conceptualizing and creating it. • Included with this tail is a matching crystalized Stargazer top and stunning custom made Octavia circlet by @thevirginiamermaid 💎 💍 🧜🏼♀️ • • #finfolk #finfolkproductions #finfolkmermaid #mermaid #mermaidtail #swarovski #swarovskicrystals #crystals #rhinestones #glitter #sparkle #wedding #bride #bridal #couture #couturefashion #fashion #bridesmaid #weddingdress #diamonds #iridescent #weddinghair #weddingphotography #photography #
A post shared by Finfolk Productions (@finfolkproductions) on Feb 24, 2019 at 10:40am PST
Why it's engaging: The post above is two things in one: a new product and a sentimental announcement by the company founder, Bryn Roberts. For most of Finfolk's followers, the white mermaid fin above isn't just a different color from the typical fins made by the company. It's also emblematic of Bryn's recent wedding, for which she wanted to make a bridal-style mermaid fin that all of Finfolk's customers would appreciate.
I never knew that planning a wedding would open up so much inspiration for me. While searching through many couture bridal gowns and other items, I began to envision how a truly couture bridal mermaid would appear. Apparently, all iridescent white with over 8,000 hand laid Swarovski crystals is the result I concluded upon. It is with great joy and some anticipation, that we release to you all, the Finfolk Swarovski Crystal Silicone Tail.
15. Shiseido
Followers: 660k
Shiseido started out as Japan's first Western-style pharmacy 140 years ago and has since developed into selling high-quality brightening and anti-aging skincare, makeup, and fragrance products.
Its company mission is to inspire a life of beauty and culture -- a mission they portray beautifully through their Instagram content. If you take a look at their feed, you'll notice they post three images at a time so the posts appear in a row pattern on their larger feed -- a very clever and original way to organize their content.
Shiseido's Most Engaging Post
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Global Color Artist @patrickta and APAC Ambassador @ponysmakeup unite to create a monochromatic, mauve makeup look that is nothing short of mesmerizing. SHISEIDO Makeup Products Used: Essentialist Eye Palette, 06 Hanatsubaki Street Nightlife Naname Fude Multi Eye Brush Essentialist Eye Palette, 06 Hanatsubaki Street Nightlife Yane Hake Precision Eye Brush ImperialLash MascaraInk, 01 Sumi Black Waterproof InnerGlow CheekPowder, 04 Aura Pink Daiya Fude Face Duo Aura Dew, 01 Lunar Essentialist Eye Palette, 06 Hanatsubaki Street Nightlife ModernMatte Powder Lipstick, 507 Murmur Brow InkTrio, 02 Taupe
A post shared by SHISEIDO (@shiseido) on Sep 27, 2018 at 10:46am PDT
Why it's engaging: Back in late March 2016, Instagram started rolling out the ability to upload 60-second videos -- and we've seen some amazing Instagram videos from brands ever since, like the one above from Shiseido. The one above lasts nearly all 60 seconds and its product demo is curiously satisfying to watch. The subject's purple hair also gives followers a slightly edgier look to consider when browsing the company's makeup collection. (Hot tip: Posts featuring faces, especially for a skincare brand, are ideal for boosting social media engagement).
Don't be intimidated by highly professional Instagram videos like theirs. You can post highly engaging videos on Instagram without a huge video team or a bottomless budget. Here's a step-by-step guide for making great videos on Instagram without breaking the bank.
16. Sephora Collections
Followers: 626k
Sephora Collections' brand personality is playful, colorful, and feminine. It does a wonderful job of characterizing this personality in its Instagram content, using bright colors, patterns, and fun captions.
This branded Sephora account also diversifies its feed with a lot of fun Instagram video content that gives off the same playful vibes.
Sephora Collection's Most Engaging Post
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Problem: a million brushes rolling around in your makeup bag. Solution: magnetic brushes you can stand up on your counter. Talk about #OrganizationGoals 🙌🏽 #ThingsOrganizedNeatly Beauty Magnet Brushes, starting at $8
A post shared by Sephora Collection US (@sc) on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:57pm PDT
Why it's engaging: Sometimes, you just have to cut right to the chase. Sephora made magnetic makeup brushes and wanted the world to see them. Businesses must be careful how much product-focused content they're posting, but when you come up with something you know your customers will love, your best bet is to simply show it in action.
17. Staples
Followers: 64k
The folks at Staples do a lot of things right when it comes to Instagram content, but there are two that particularly grab our attention -- engaging with followers by asking questions and including calls-to-action in captions, and staying true to the brand's playful-yet-practical personality.
When it comes to engaging Staples' followers, it's all about asking questions in the photo captions. For example, check out the second photo below featuring a series of emojis -- its caption reads, "That's pretty much our day. How about yours? Tell us in emojis." Scroll through the comments on that photo, and you'll see followers had a lot of fun responses. The caption paired with the first photo below -- the one with the cupcakes -- asks users to tag someone who they want to thank.
Staples does a great job staying true to brand by posting fun photos such as the "2016" shot written in office supplies and using the #OfficeHack hashtag to engage their following.
The folks at Staples also use Instagram to post cute videos and GIFs, like the one below that shows businesses how they can use Staples supplies to create a "revamped breakroom."
A revamped breakroom = a reenergized office
A post shared by Staples (@staples) on Feb 7, 2018 at 8:58am PST
Ready to populate your Instagram Story with pics and videos that are as captivating as the content above? We believe in you -- just download the free branding guide below and get to posting.
from Marketing https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-brands-on-instagram
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Harry Styles "Behind the Album"
I’M SPEECHLESS.
You can feel and see how happy he was while doing the album and how happy he is now performing it. How comfortable he is with the band and the producer. All I see is love and I can’t be more proud.
I’m going to spoil you some things now lmao If you didn’t watch it go!!! Please!! I highly recommend it!!!
Go >> https://itun.es/ar/XsFJjb
Okay. FIRST THINGS FIRST.
The intro… Only Angel, amazing intro, the sound it’s incredible. THE STUDIO OH MY GOD I WANT TO WATCH ALL THE SONGS LIKE THAT!
In Jamaica! A wonderful place, I think it was a jackpot to go there, he seems so relaxed and focused. He is really doing what he loves.
MITCH!!!!!!! I FELL IN LOVE FOR HIM, I want to adopt him, is my new son, he is so shy and cute, and the connection that he has with Harry is so unique and CUTE so cute, it’s been a while since I’ve been see Harry like that with someone. How they exchange the guitars, I cried, I am so emo. They mean a lot to themselves.
Fuck, TWO GHOSTS, it’s so good, I can’t stop thinking how good it sounds. And the girls in the band have me SHOOK. The one in the keys, Clare, omg she plays 5162728 instruments and Sarah in the drums, wow. Their voices are so pretty. EVERYTHING IS LIKE CONNECTED. SO MELODICAL, like they were meant to be lol.
KIWI KIWI KIWI I don’t know why the fuck it’s named like that BUT OMG the game with the lights, the strength and power in Harry’s voice, I’m not impressed bc I knew his potential but wow, this is a new perspective, it’s so different bc it’s his genre, an style that fits him so well, it’s perfect.
When they showed 1D parts I cried… bc… one band one dream one direction, I’m so happy that it happened, and I’m so happy to see them grow.
SWEET CREATURE, I fall for this song pasito a pasito, slowly, bc the vocals, oh god how good you can appreciate the vocals in here. And I love to see him playing the guitar, like yeah I saw the performances in live, but here, its new, more intimate.
AND YOU CAN SEE HIM SMILE EVERYTIMEEEEEEEEE AND IT’S SO CUTE I LOVE MY SON!
JEFF, JEFF BHASKER 👏👏👏👏 what a producer, the connection he had with Harry, how he yells about the album!! Sameeeeeee!!!
Harry has that thing, like he can connect with people, and that’s not easy but he makes it look like it is, AMAZING.
CAROLINA, MY SONG lmao (I still can’t believe it has my name) IT’S SO FUNNY, the interview part lmao, I love it. And everyone making noises, the last song of the album, the best for the end lmao I’m jk. But is so great bc you can feel the happiness and silliness behind the song, it’s a funny song and I ❤❤❤❤❤
WHEN THEY SHOW HOW HE GETS CUT THE HAIR, a fresh start, you can see it in his faaaace!! And Anne is so happyyyy!
When Mitch is playing the guitar and Harry gets off his clothes lmao same, it’s a really talented boy, he did the guitar sing! For the love of god, I’m really impressed.
THE 26 GOSPEL SINGERS. WOW. I cried, I literally cried, tears came out while i was listening. I had shivers, chicken skin, MY face was the same as Harry, unbelievable. It is beautiful, now I hear that part differently.
Then when he sings SOTT… I will never get over the song, it’s like when i listen Pillowtalk (yes I will do a comparison with that bc I’m zarry trash and I loved them). It makes me rihmember the first time I listened the songs and how good they sounded making their own music.
And every time he performs it (SOTT) it gets better idk. Every time i listen to it im screaming internally the lyrics WE GOT TO GET AWAYYYYYY WE GOT TO WE GOT TO AWAAAAY WE GOT TO WE GOT TO AWAAAAAAAY!
The making of the mv, lmao the mask, now I know why there was a pic were he looked like a mannequin lol. And what a great feeling to do that, and experience FLY. Thanks God my son is alive.
Btw they should have performed Woman, the instrumental at the end and made me wanting it lol …And from the dining table, I was waiting for it too… I love the album, I cant, I demand all the songs to be performed at the studio bc yes lmao.
All the songs are marvelous, the album is amazing and I don’t get tired of listen it.
I can see happiness all over the documentary, and love, so much love, passion for music, love for what they do and to do everything the best way possible.
I enjoyed it so much, I’m really happy and proud of Harry and his team. They did a great work of art.
I watched like and hour ago and I’m still enthusiastic about it.
++++ the high waisted stripped pants are the best thing ever
Wow, just.. WOW.
#behind the album#harry styles#i'm so proud#sott#sweet creature#only angel#kiwi#carolina#two ghosts#review#jeff bhasker#mitch rowland#sarah jones#clare uchima#afshsjsjsks i'm speechless#peach#helen#hs
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Story of my life
Chapter 10
As always, I could not do this without the help and support of my Alex (@niallandharrymakemestrong).
THIS IS NSFW
Kacey was beside herself. The last five and a half weeks had passed by while she sat at home alone and Harry finished up the North American leg of the tour.
After dropping the boys off at the airport, Kacey had cried all the way home. Laura had been subdued as well and they consoled themselves by spending the day in the entertainment room watching favorite movies and eating loads of carbs. And ice cream, always ice cream. Legally Blonde and Clueless helped pass the time until the boys texted that they had landed and were safe. Kacey went to bed that night hugging the stuffed moose. She had slept on Harry’s pillow and fell asleep breathing his scent.
She moped around for the next week, brightening only when Harry called or texted. On day six of what Laura had termed ‘the dark days of waiting’, she told her to go back to England because she was messing with her ‘investment guru mojo.’
“I love you Kacey, you know that, but you are seriously cooling my vibe and that is costing us beaucoup bucks. Pack up your shit and get the hell back to England; you can sulk all you want and I can get back to making us money.”
So, Kacey had flown back a week early and was greeted by a cool rain at Heathrow. Perfect. She puttered around her flat in a cloud of ennui until Harry asked her, in a concerned tone during a Skype session, if she was sick. Realizing that she was being ridiculous, and feeling guilty for worrying him, she set her alarm for 7 the next morning and got up and went for a run. Okay, a walk, she went for a walk. But it was a long one; all the way to Harry’s house and back. She showered, ate a good breakfast and sat down at her desk to write.
Amazingly, the words flowed. They spilled onto the keyboard as fast as she could type, her recent mood matching the darker setting of the story. She worked long hours taking breaks only to eat, exercise, shower, and talk to Harry. She barely noticed the passage of time; she was so engrossed in getting the story out of her head and onto the page. It was cathartic too, all her frustrations from her trip home were excised and all her longing for Harry was placed upon her main character to suffer. As Laura had predicted, Ronald and Louanne had died horrible deaths for their comments about Harry. She was in the zone and stayed there for weeks. When she came up for air, she had finished her third book. Kacey loved it when it all came together like that, like it was meant to be.
She was eating a sandwich and checking out the concert videos on YouTube when she realized that the next concert, the one that evening, was the last one—Harry would be home in less than 48 hours. Her heart gave a little leap. And then it gave another when she realized that, during her writing binge, she had neglected certain bodily maintenance activities. She immediately made an appointment at Bliss for what her grandmother would have called ‘the whole shebang.’ Fortunately, they had an opening that afternoon. She grabbed her purse and her keys and headed out the door.
Four hours later she returned having been buffed, waxed, plucked, kneaded, coiffed and deforested. She had also made a stop at Coco de Mer dropping a couple hundred pounds for some lace confections. While there she debated getting more but determined that three pairs were enough. Then she debated about getting some toys but decided those could wait; right now, she wanted nothing but Harry. On a whim, she toured the luxury bondage area but had to leave almost immediately; 5 weeks without sex had left her starving and she was afraid she might come on the spot just imagining Harry strapping her into some of the gadgets she saw there.
Checking her phone, she saw that it was nearing 3PM in Massachusetts. She decided to send Harry a picture to make sure he remembered what he was coming home to. Nothing too risqué just in case he got hacked. She went into the bedroom and slipped on the ‘minerva open knickers’ and presented her derriere to the mirror. Flexing her leg, she snapped several pics and then reviewed them on her phone. One was perfect; the black lace sides open and held together with a corset like satin string, her cheeks peeking out at the edge of the frame. Grinning mischievously, she sent it to Harry with the comment “did a little shopping today…”
Her phone buzzed almost immediately with a reply that made her clench: it was a picture of Harry’s jeans, clearly bulging at the zipper with the caption “Are you trying to kill me?” It buzzed again with another picture, this one of his mouth with his tongue sticking out, accompanied by the message “Tomorrow, baby.”
*
Harry was impatient. Sitting in the back of the car he could see no reason for the trip from Heathrow to Belsize Park to be taking this long, especially at this time of night. He realized that he was tapping his foot when the driver looked at him in the rearview mirror. Taking a deep breath, he willed himself to be still. It had been forty days since he left Kacey at the airport. Forty days and forty nights of missing her company and craving her touch. He had wanted to head straight for the airport when they walked off stage last night but he had obligations: the goodbye party for the North American crew and celebration of the second leg of the tour being over. The text Kacey had sent almost made him blow it off and leave on the next flight out but he would have felt guilty. The crew had worked hard and he wanted to be there to thank them properly. He had waited to leave until that morning, as originally planned, and passed the time on the six-hour flight by sleeping. So here he was, sat in the back seat, running his thumb over the picture of her satin and lace accented ass willing the car to move faster.
Harry was out the door as soon as they pulled up, muttering a ‘thanks’ and grabbing his bag. Bounding up the stairs, he unlocked the door with the key she had given him their first weekend together.
He had just closed the door when he was hit by squealing blonde bundle that came flying at him around the corner. He snagged her in his arms and then his mouth was all over her. Hands roaming everywhere, tongues intertwined, neither one spoke. Lifting her up, he maneuvered to the first horizontal piece of furniture he could find: the kitchen table. Sitting her on it, he stepped back to look at her. She was wearing a tiny lace bra with no cups, her nipples covered with black pasties which he immediately thumbed off. He was eyeing her backless panties and considering just tearing them off, when she took his hand and demonstrated the open crotch. The sight of her leaning back and panting, slick with need, almost undid him. He managed to get his jeans unfastened and down to his thighs in record time and, without warning, plunged into her. He gasped as she enfolded him, bucking her hips, urging him to move. It was primal. It was two people, almost crazy with desire, fucking. The soft words and touches would come later, after the hunger was appeased.
Kacey, so full of Harry, began moaning and urging him on with “Please! Oh Harry, please!”
He complied, burying himself in her again and again. He reached down to stroke her and at his touch she came apart. He could feel her pulsing around him but he didn’t stop. Gritting his teeth, he continued moving into her, her cheeks slapping wetly against his thighs. She was keening, her back arched, leaning back on her elbows. He could feel her body tensing again and he pushed himself even harder and faster, his thumb flicking and circling her.
He growled out a “Come for me baby. Come for me again.”
At the sound of his voice she let go, her orgasm overwhelming her and sweeping Harry along in its wake. He felt almost paralyzed as the sensations washed over him, unable to do anything more than breathe. Bending down, he pulled her to him and cradled her against his chest.
“Baby, I’m home,” Harry whispered against her hair.
“Oh, I’ve missed you,” Kacey whispered back.
*
Kacey and Harry spent two days holed up in her flat, most of that time wrapped in each other’s arms. They were sitting in her bed one evening, Harry was answering texts, when he grunted and frowned at his phone.
“What’s wrong?” Kacey asked, looking up from proofing her book.
“Mm? Oh, Gemma is mad at me,” he replied, a hint of chagrin in his tone.
“Why? What have you done?” she asked, curious.
“It’s what I haven’t done. Haven’t called or gone to see her since I’ve been home.” His phone vibrated again. “She’s decided that I am taking her to lunch tomorrow,” looking at the screen and breaking into a grin. “I’ll have to explain myself then. Not my fault—you’ve been distracting me.”
“Don’t you dare blame me! I do not want your family to have any reason to dislike me!” Kacey responded, horrified.
“But it’s the truth. I am the loyal, loving brother who’s been lured into your entirely too sexy clutches. I’m so bewitched, I forgot about everyone else,” he proclaimed pulling an innocent face.
Kacey was beginning to pale, her eyes growing wide, her breathing becoming more rapid
“Kassidy? What’s wrong?” Harry looking at her, concerned.
“Please don’t tell her that. I…I’m…I don’t want…” Kacey couldn’t get the words out. Her hands had left the keyboard of her laptop and were wringing each other gently in her lap. Harry was alarmed to see that her eyes were moist.
“Baby, I’m only joking. What’s all this about?” as a tear threatened to spill out.
“I just don’t want your family to dislike me,” she managed after swallowing several times.
“Kassidy, love, how could they not like you? You are charming and witty and kind and interesting. Everyone loves you. You’re also their favorite author. They’ll be worried about impressing you not the other way ‘round,” he soothed, pulling her into his embrace.
“I’m not good with families. I don’t know what to say. It’s worse than chat shows or even the red carpet,” she said around the lump in her throat.
“Why don’t you come with me tomorrow? You’ll meet Gem, we’ll have a nice lunch and you’ll wonder why you were ever nervous about it,” he predicted, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Harry, I don’t want to butt in on your time with your sister. I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate that at all. Maybe I could meet her another time,” Kacey tried.
“Okay, not lunch. Then join us tomorrow for pudding,” he substituted.
“Oh, Harry, I don’t know---” she began reluctantly until Harry cut her off.
“Please. Come with me. I know you two will get along famously,” he entreated.
“Okay. I’ll come. But please don’t tell her that I write. I would rather she like, or dislike, me for me and not because of my books,” Kacey relented.
Grinning wide, Harry kissed her forehead again then stretched to kiss her lips.
*
Kacey was so agitated she thought she might vomit. She was almost to the restaurant and was becoming more nervous by the minute. She had agonized over her outfit finally deciding on her favorite dress, a vintage one made of pink gingham, and sandals. She had pulled her hair into a messy bun; her only jewelry was a sterling silver and sea glass drop necklace and matching earrings that Harry had brought her from Boston. Pulling into the valet parking, she handed her keys to the attendant and climbed out of the mini. She paused for a moment before entering, trying to slow her breathing.
The hostess led her to the table in a secluded corner where Harry and Gemma were sitting, she with her back to the door. Harry’s eyes lit up when he saw her and he rose to greet her. Understanding that they were in public, he gave her a quick hug before turning to Gemma.
“Gem, this is Kassidy Day. Kassidy, my sister Gemma,” he introduced, smiling broadly.
Kacey was reaching out her hand when Gemma pulled her into a hug.
“Kassidy! It’s so nice to meet you. Harry has been telling me all about you,” she greeted warmly.
“Hello, Gemma,” Kacey said smiling. “It’s good to meet you too.”
Kacey sat down and Harry poured her a cup of tea, beaming at the two of them. They ordered dessert and then set about getting to know one another. Harry sat back and watched, sipping his tea, as they discussed their respective university careers, Kacey’s roles on Mortwick Murders and the Terrier Chronicles, and Gemma’s column at The Debrief. He was thoroughly enjoying their conversation, even when Gemma started telling stories about him as a young boy. Kacey laughed until she had tears running down her cheeks, grateful for the waterproof mascara.
They had exchanged phone numbers and were walking towards the door to leave when Gemma exclaimed “Oh! I almost forgot, Harry several of our crew from Cheshire are in town this weekend and we’re all going out. You and Kassidy should come too.”
“That sounds good. Text me the details and we’ll check our schedules,” he said. He was driving Gemma back to her flat before returning to Kacey’s. The valet brought his car and he turned to give Kacey a purely platonic hug, whispering that he would see her back at her flat soon. He and Gemma pulled off with a wave and Kacey only had a few minutes to wait for her car to arrive.
*
Kacey had been home for about 30 minutes when her mobile rang with Harry’s ringtone. She had left her purse on a table by the window and she hurried to retrieve it, grinning.
Hello, handsome,” she began. Harry cut her off.
“Kassidy, move away from the window,” his voice displeased.
“What? Why? What’s wrong?” she asked, confused.
“There’s a pap across the street from your flat. He’s staring up at your window. Baby, move away from there. We forgot to pull the shades this morning,” his voice showing a hint of anger.
“Oh no! Does he know you were here?” she responded, worry creeping in.
“I don’t think so, there’s only one. I pulled down your street and saw him, he didn’t see me. Shit! You’re flat is too accessible. Baby, pack a bag then come out the back of the flat. I’ll pick you up and we’ll go to my house. It’s more secure,” Harry instructed.
Kacey ran to her room and grabbed a bag and threw some clothes into it. She retrieved some toiletries and her toothbrush and tossed them in. Snagging a pair of trainers, she packed them as well. She was about to walk out the rear entrance when she made a decision. Dropping the bags and turning into the lounge, she walked to the window. Making a show of squinting and shielding her face from the sun, she pulled the shade across the window then stepped back. Looking out she saw the man standing across the street. When she bought the flat, she had invested in some high-end shades that blocked 100 percent of the outside visibility in the day time while still letting the light, and the view, in. She was confident that they would thwart any paps that tried to get pictures that way.
Moving quickly, she set a timer on the lamp. Picking up Harry’s bag as well as her own, she quickly walked out the back of the flat, locking the door behind her. Harry was waiting for her in an alley behind her building. She put the bags on the floor and climbed in. They pulled away as soon as her door was closed. Driving past the end of her block, she glanced over to see that the pap was still staring up at her window.
She breathed a sigh of relief that they had not been noticed. She turned to Harry who was still frowning.
“Thank goodness for your pap-dar,” she smiled.
“My what?” he asked, still frowning.
“Your pap-dar. Pap radar. You know, like your spidey sense?” she intoned seriously.
She was rewarded with a dimple. Glancing at her he replied “You don’t ever get to make fun of my jokes again after that one. Pap-dar indeed.”
Kacey laughed and leaned back for the short ride.
*
Harry had carried the bags up to his room and then joined Kacey in the lounge on the sofa. He was dreading the discussion he was about to initiate. Sitting next to her, he took her hand and a deep breath.
“Kassidy, we need to talk. I’m sorry. I should have warned you about all this that first night,” regret edging in.
“About what? About paps? Are you serious?” she was looking at him quizzically.
“Yes. About the paps. And the fans,” his tone becoming more worried.
“Harry Styles! Do you think I’m ignorant? Do you think I don’t know that you are hounded everywhere you go? That you can’t be in the same room as a single female without the paps and the fans melting down the internet? That the fans, while wonderful, can be rabid bitches that attack anyone you are seen with?” she asked, amused.
“Um, yeah. I mean no. I mean, you know all that?” he said flustered.
Kacey was grinning now, “Yes Harry. Directioner, remember? I’ve seen all the ridiculous theories and rumors and the mob scenes and…it’s not okay. It’s not okay that they treat you like that,” she stated a little more forcefully than she had intended.
“It’s not me I’m worried about. I don’t want them to attack you on twitter and insta and all the other social media sites. And the gossip sites will try to tear you down as well,” sadness and anger competing for dominance in his voice.
“Harry. I’m not afraid. I understand the risks. I’m not frivolous, I rarely read anything on social media, I don’t trust many people and…I think you’re worth it,” she finished softly, reaching up to smooth a piece of hair that had wandered over his eyes.
“Baby, it won’t just be you. They’ll go after your friends, ex-boyfriends, they’ll go after your family,” his quiet tone lending weight to the words.
“Okay, Styles. First off, can you imagine them coming after Laura? Seriously? Do you know that she has a concealed carry permit and is a damn good shot? She’s in Kentucky; there are more guns there than in all of England and I think half of them are in my house. It would be extremely ill advised for them to try anything with Laura. As for ex-boyfriends, I could not give a rat’s ass what they might say. The fuckers,” her volume rising as she ticked off the list. “My family. Let me just promise you that anyone who tries to harass or harm my family will deal with me. I would hunt them down and the outcome would not be pretty,” she finished firmly.
Harry just blinked at her for a moment, then nodded and smiled. “Okay, good talk,” he said then kissed her nose.
*
Saturday night they joined Gemma and a group of friends from Holmes Chapel at a pub. The friends were a bit surprised that Harry brought a date and watched them with amusement. Kacey was wearing a bulky maroon V-necked cardigan, buttoned all the way, up over skinny black jeans and black knee boots with a 3-inch heel. Kacey enjoyed the banter and joking enormously. Harry’s friends vied to tell the best ‘young Harry’ story making him blush and grin. The crew were consuming beer as if it were a drinking tournament while Kacey, not a huge fan of the stuff, sipped red wine. After an hour or so, they decided on karaoke and goaded Harry into starting them off. Bowing with a goofy grin, he stepped to the mic and performed “What is Love” by Haddaway, his voice cracking as he laughed through the song. The group next turned to Kacey who protested that she was no singer to which Gemma responded that no one else was either. That earned a grimace and a “heeey” from her brother. Finally acceding, she grumbled out “What is with you Brits and karaoke?” as she walked to the mic.
“This is a song by my favorite singer,’ she announced seriously. The group all turned to Harry with an ‘awww’. The music started and they looked a little confused; no one recognized it.
“When I’m feeling lonely, sad as I can be. All by myself an uncharted island in an endless sea,” Kacey started. “What makes me happy, fills me up with glee? Those bones in my jaw that don’t have a flaw, my shiny teeth and me.”
Kacey was giggling as she belted out the rest of the song from ‘Chip Skylark.’ Harry and Gemma were laughing and cheering as she walked back to the table. The rest of the group clapped politely but gave each other side glances. Half an hour later, Kacey excused herself to go to the restroom. Looking in the mirror as she washed her hands, she saw the flush on her cheeks from the wine. Her eyes were sparkling and her smile was bright. She was a having a good time.
As she neared the table, her phone worked its way out of her back pocket and fell. Bending to retrieve it, she heard two of Harry’s friends talking. About her.
“She seems nice enough but she’s not the type he usually goes for. Dresses like a fooking librarian. And that song! What was that? She’s too vanilla for him.”
Gemma overheard them and turned and smacked the closest one on the back of the head. Telling them to “Shut it, you wankers,” she saw Kacey picking up her phone. She tried to catch her eye, but Kacey kept hers on the floor.
Kacey was quiet after returning to her seat. Harry, engrossed in the conversations, didn’t notice immediately. Her turn at singing was coming up again and she signaled the waitress, ordering some fortification before her next song. After his turn, Harry bounded back to the table, soundly kissing her before taking his seat next to her again. He announced that it was time for her just as the waitress placed two shots of John Jameson’s finest in front of her. Giving him a sly smile, she quickly downed the shots and licked her lips. Fanning herself a little bit, she remarked “Ooh, it’s hot in here all of a sudden!”
Still fanning herself, Kacey stood up and began to unbutton her cardigan. Harry smirked and shook his head, not knowing what she had planned, but sure it was going to be interesting. She shrugged the jumper off her shoulders and handed it to Harry. Underneath she was wearing a black leather and lace bustier with corset ties holding it together in the front. Every male jaw at the table fell and Gemma busted out laughing. Kacey strutted up to the mic and chose her song. Harry knew it was trouble when he heard the drumbeat start. She had chosen a Joan Jett version of an old Gary Glitter song. Once the guitar started, the gaze of every man in the room was on her.
Kacey cocked a hip and started singing directly to Harry.
“We've been here too long tryin' to get along Pretendin' that you're oh, so shy I'm a natural ma'am doin' all I can My temperature is runnin' high”
Her gyrations and body rolls would have done any exotic dancer proud.
“Do you wanna touch? (Yeah) Do you wanna touch? (Yeah) Do you wanna touch me there, where?”
Her pointing fingers left no doubt as to where. At the bridge, she undulated on the microphone stand her hair flipped over one eye, attention firmly on Harry. He, in turn, was staring at her with a knowing smile.
Making it through the rest of the song, she gave a body slide and crotch grab worthy of Mr. Styles himself as the last guitar stroke faded out. She carefully stepped around the microphone stand and walked primly back to the table amid cheers and whistles from the men in the room (and sidelong glares from the women). Gemma’s grin was huge and the rest of the crew sat stunned.
Harry cleared his throat. “Well, then. On that note…” he faded as he helped Kacey back into her jumper and began his goodbyes.
Gemma hugged Kacey fiercely and whispered “Well done, you.” Kacey grinned at her.
She walked ahead of Harry toward the door and heard him comment to his friends “It’s more of a spicy vanilla actually.”
Grinning he followed her out to the waiting car.
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Mikethemod’s Brighton Marathon Prep.
Saturday was the highlight of my week. Our best friends Debbie and Andy Harris, AKA Bootleg Blondie, decided they were going to take Dawn and me, AKA mikethemod, on film location in Brighton. I didn’t have the heart to tell them about my potential hernia as I knew they were looking forward to our day out!
When we got up at 7am on Saturday it was raining so Dawn gave me grief about her hair going curly. And it was still raining when Deb and Andy arrived at 10am in the Bootleg Blondie Van. This is a real Rock n Roll van divided into two sections - half for band members to travel in (famous musicians have signed the interior walls) - and the other half to transport whatever.
It was then that we discovered the scooter wouldn’t fit in the back of the van. This wasn’t a good start. As I stood there looking helpless Andy came to the rescue by producing a large leather bag of tools from nowhere and sent me into my garage to search for some wing nuts. It was a scene that many real scooterists - including myself - have endured far too many times; we were both kneeling on the wet road in the pouring rain trying to undo bolts that were stuck fast.
Half an hour later we were sorted, phew, and the four of us, plus a dismantled leg-powered Lambretta, were finally en route to Brighton. Our first stop was Preston Park. This is where the masses start the Brighton Marathon race and is also the home of the famous Steve Ovett statue - or so I thought.
At this point I need to backtrack a little…. last year a PWR colleague told me he was on the Elite Start, at Withdean Park on the London Road, as he had run a good time in the Boston Marathon. I ran the Phoenix AC relays many years ago (Steve Ovett was on the same start line) – and I remembered that Withdean Park was flat. This appealed.
I wrote a polite email to the organisers telling them my best half-marathon time and asked if I could be on the Elite Start with my training friend. By the time I attended the Brighton Expo with Dawn to collect my number, I had been accepted on the Elite Start. Yes. We had a celebratory veggie lunch afterwards at Terre Terre.
Back to the present….. Andy skillfully manoeuvred his van along a narrow road up the side of Preston Park but I couldn’t see the statue of my hero Steve Ovett. A hasty Google informed us poor Steve had been cut down and stolen 10 years ago in 2007. Is nothing sacred?! Then we read that Steve had been remade (hurray!) and unveiled in 2012 on Madeira Drive by the Brighton Marathon Finish line - and the Volks Bar, home to any journeying Scooterist - double delight. Andy reset the Satnav and we soon got our first glimpse of the sea.
Our second stop was the loos on Madeira Drive. These are always well looked after but bloody freezing. Last time I was there I couldn’t climb off my scooter quick enough - after two hours spent clinging onto my 50 year old Lambretta I severely regretted wearing button fly Levis 501s.
Loo stop completed, our third stop was a parking bay where we deposited more coins than the Hatton Garden raiders lifted, to pay for just one hour’s parking. And there, in fine fettle and surveying the open sea, was my man Steve Ovett. His majestic running style was perfectly captured; big chest, arms barrelling round, hands soft and relaxed.
Dawn and Debbie were our costume and film crew and Andy was our Director. Cue - photo of mikethemod in Parka and Tootal scarf with Steve, photo of mikethemod in Teenage Cancer Trust Mod-style cycling shirt with Steve, photo of mikethemod in Demelza Hospice Care for Children Mod-style cycling shirt with Steve. Action - film of mikethemod in Parka running up and down, film of mikethemod in Teenage Cancer Trust Mod-style cycling shirt, etc etc, …..you get the drift.
During filming a guy in a disability car drove along the road and gave us a wave. This was an opportunity too good miss. With the Director waving his arms around, Mikethemod sprung into action and a Benny Hill-style epic was in the bag. Oh yes.
Our fourth stop was near the 7-mile point on the Brighton Marathon course, offering stunning views over the cliffs. With the sun glinting off the English Channel, Director Andy and I immediately had the same idea and Mikethemod - in his various guises - was soon running east and west along the cliff edge with the wind blowing, the sea breaking below and the Who’s ‘I’ve had enough’ playing in our heads.
After all this emotion, mikethemod, the film crew and the Director were in need of a restorative cuppa. On the road leading back into Brighton we discovered a 50s-looking café above the Marina named the Roedean Café - what a jewel, our fifth stop. With fantastic views over Brighton Marina and some delicious-looking food being served to locals, we enjoyed three perfect latte coffees and one Earl Grey tea.
Sixth stop the beach. I just couldn’t help myself. Marching over the stones carrying my polystyrene Lambretta, I went right to the sea’s edge and sat down. Wrapped in my Parka, I was ‘Jimmy’. The film crew got to work and took some impressive shots with Brighton Pier as our backdrop. After a few more photos at the front of the pier and by two Blondie-esque red telephone boxes, we were back in the van heading to our seventh stop - the Grand Hotel.
Andy parked up on the seafront and I ran over to the hotel to explain that mikethemod was fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust and Demelza and we would like to take some photos outside the Grand Hotel. The Concierge Team could not have been more helpful. They allowed us to park our van right on the hotel forecourt and their fantastically professional Concierge ‘Paf’ - complete with top hat and tailcoat - ensured we got some great pics. I did think it was funny that one of the team said he never knew why some people walked past the hotel shouting ‘Bell Boy’! I advised him to go straight home and watch Sting in Quadrophenia.
By now we were tired and hungry (mainly me) but we had two more stops to go. In fact we stumbled across our eighth stop while looking for a parking place in or around ‘The Lanes’. Andy stopped the van to let a car pass and beside me to my left was a tiny lane disappearing behind a shop. “That’s it” I said - East Street’s Alleyway where Jimmy ‘hid’ with Steph (Leslie Ash) as the fighting Mods and Rockers were chased by the police. Jimmy and Steph actually did a little bit more than just hiding in this alley.
Andy put the hazards on, Dawn guarded the van on a yellow line and we quickly ran down the alley. In a tiny corner there was a door covered in scooter club stickers and mod patches. Hilarious - someone had scrawled ‘mikethemod’ on the wall! I am a celeb you know. We had a laugh taking pics in various poses and then dashed back to the van.
Ninth stop - the Mod shop Jump The Gun in the North Lanes. I had been there some months before to tell them about my project but got short shrift. Unfortunately they weren’t enamoured to see us again and, despite mikethemod and his scooter drawing a small crowd outside their shop, all they could do was tell us we were in the way of the door.
Tenth and last stop - fish and chips. The Palm Court restaurant on Brighton Pier is one of the town’s quality food venues. A year ago I booked tables for 50 Petts Wood Runners after we ran the Brighton 10k and we were all impressed with the quality of the food served here.
With its location at the end of the pier offering fine views out to sea and along Brighton’s coast, you may expect the Palm Court to rest on its laurels and be an expensive low-quality tourist trap. It most definitely isn’t. Dawn had a perfectly-baked salmon Debbie and Andy chose tasty vegetarian lasagnas and I went for the ‘Big Fish’, a 12oz cod loin - fantastic. Our food was fresh and hot, the service was friendly and efficient and the restaurant was smart and clean.
Outside the sun was now setting on the horizon and we watched a huge black mass of starlings dance over the sea in liquid formation. Although we were full, we couldn’t resist the aroma coming from the doughnut kiosk so we bought a bag of four piping hot sugar-covered doughnuts (I am carbo-loading you know) and ate them on the way back to the van. A great day. Now home to find out what goodies were captured inside our collection of cameras.
#brighton#brighton marathon#mikethemod#mike the mod#petts wood#petts wood runners#marathon training#scooters#lambretta#mods#quadrophenia#the who#terre terre#brighton Pier#palm court restaurant#roedean cafe#roedean#the grand hotel#paf concierge#madiera drive#brighton argus#teenage cancer trust#demelza hospice#tct#concierge
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Magical Wizarding World Pics & A Little Life Rambling
Well helloooo, you. I have a pile of pretty Potter pictures here, plus a desire to sit and chat. Cool?
Cool.
I should mention I've decided not to stress (or at least TRY not to) over the fact that Epbot is basically becoming a Harry Potter Christmas blog this month. This is brave, this is mildly obsessive...THIS IS ME.
I promise after the Hufflepuff party and next month's fabulous Christmas con and then the Festival of Trees and everything I'll get back to other fandom things. Probably. [Cut to me running madly through twinkle lights yelling "I'M NEVER GOING BACK YOU CAN'T MAKE MEEEEE!!"]
Ahem.
Oh hey look, my favorite Alley:
I took this a few weeks ago before all the pretty garlands went up, so it's much sparklier now.
I love looking for new angles; pretty sure you could blindly point your camera in any direction in the Wizarding World and find something beautiful:
Look at that crest and plaster work. LOOK AT IT.
If you stand to the right side of the steps during Celestina's show, you can get some lovely crowd-free shots:
I can't wait to see her Holiday Spell show again. Eeeee!
Goblin armor is best armor.
(The tiny suit is the one that assembles itself when you wave your wand, so you have to time this shot just right.)
Ever notice the corbels inside the Forbidden Journey gift shop?
I need to find a place for one of these in our house. And then, you know, steal and/or make one.
(Picturing myself standing guard while John goes at one of these with a chisel is brightening my afternoon. Just sayin'.)
I played with a lot of window reflections, with limited success:
Here's my favorite:
This is looking out from Wiseacres, through that fabulous crystal ball.
And the hardest window of all to photograph: the mandrake over in Hogsmeade:
Honestly, this is the best I've ever managed, so I'm kind of proud!
Ohh hey, big news if you're a park geek like me: have you seen the new store?
Globus Mundi is the Wizarding travel agency, complete with a window of pamphlets that are pure gold to read through:
(click to embiggen)
From my IG Story:
I got my first look inside during Dressed To The 9 3/4s last weekend. It is a TINY shop - mostly selling Hogwarts Express merch - but so well themed:
Look up to the ceiling in the entryway for a fun surprise:
Brooms built for 4!
A whole wall of clocks:
Obviously I am completely and unabashedly in love with this globe:
I have a mighty need, people. A MIGHTY ONE.
There was a big stir a few weeks ago when the first ever Fantastic Beasts merch finally popped up in Wizarding World:
Baby Nifflers!
And if you haven't seen the new Fantastic Beasts wands, go Google them for a treat. (They're impossible to photograph; I gave up.) So much Art Deco deliciousness, and Dumbledore's is the stuff of dreams.
And that's just the M!
Not new, I just really love this sparkly phoenix shirt:
Every time I'm in Diagon Alley I try to decide which hanging sign I want to make first. Every time I pick a different sign.
This is the current contender. Thoughts?
Speaking of signs, I think these are both new? It's impressive to me that Universal keeps adding new little tweaks - or maybe I've just never noticed them before:
If you haven't been in a while, the Cauldron Cakes look completely different now:
Much cuter than the old style, though it still bugs the purist in me that knows the Cauldron Cakes in the books were stackable, and probably so named because they were made in or on a cauldron. (Which is why our version is like this.)
::pushes up Nerd Glasses::
::to look down them at you::
Anyone tried these pumpkin pasties? They look like cherry turnovers, but I'm too cheap to buy one and see:
Over to Hogsmeade again:
This clock tower - and the owl inside - is my favorite.
A few garland shots from last weekend:
And another new window display!
Go, Universal!
Not new, but always pretty:
For my fellow Christmas geeks: there's a HUGE NEW ROOM of Hogwarts Christmas merch in the Port of Christmas shop at the entrance to Islands of Adventure. This is the only place to find all the Potter Christmas stuff, and the only shop I've found in either park that carries the House stockings and garland. So be sure to stop here to drool:
They've themed out the whole place beautifully - look at those alcoves up top! And the wrapped broom!
There are a few new ornaments this year, these two are my favorites:
This is a heavy real metal, and super sparkly.
Also heavy metal (but with less guitars):
Hnnnng. The other Houses are almost as lovely, too! Almost. ;)
If you haven't seen any of the Hogwarts castle projection shows, put it on your list. I finally caught the House showcase one, which is short, but breath-taking:
That's straight off my phone, no edits! I'm sure the Christmas one will start again soon, but I'd love to see them incorporate these House Pride sections into it for a little extra magic.
Well gang, I've rambled on enough, and John is out in the garage wheezing (his cough is back, noooo) and feverishly working on our next big party build, so I better get back in there.
Just a closing thought, though, since I've been reflecting on this the past few days:
I don't think it's a surprise to anyone here that getting older sucks sometimes. There are more things that hurt, more bills, more things to worry about - and the gnawing fear that maybe you've missed out on something, maybe it's too late.
On the flip side, the older you get, the more you realize the things that matter, and the more you learn to grab on to the happy in front of you, and not let go.
About ten years ago I developed a panic disorder literally overnight, and I've spent the last decade skidding down this path of fear, looking for diagnoses, clinging to hope, and mourning the loss of my life as I knew it.
A few years later I'd developed such a severe case of agoraphobia that I could barely get in a car, much less fly or travel, or even go to the movies.
I've been clawing my way back to my "normal" ever since, and you guys have had a front row seat to some of my victories and setbacks.
I don't have either to report today, but I do have this:
It's a little slice of "normal," you guys. Just me in a theme park line, feeling OK.
I still have a ways to go, still have a lot of battles to lose and doctors to see before I win again. But I'm going to keep looking back, and remembering, and hanging on to all the Happy I have right now, right this second. Because stuff hurts, and I'm scared and stressed too much of the time NOT to.
Also I'm gonna dive face-first into magical Christmas stuff for the next 6 weeks. If that makes you happy, too, then I hope you'll join me.
I love you guys. Be good to yourselves this season, k?
And stay tuned for more party progress insanity. :D
Source: https://www.epbot.com/2018/11/magical-wizarding-world-pics-little.html
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