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quiche-pocket · 5 years ago

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Bare on the Ground: Mads and Burger Girl one-shot

Soooo I got this idea from @hissouthernprincess comment on part 2 of Two Sides of a Mads Coin. The comment of how interesting the dynamic between Tom and CC and Mads is and would there be more with them? This fic has been swimming in my head ever since then and I think I’ve finally fleshed it out enough to make sense thanks to @athroatfullofglass help!

A/N: This is a continuation of previous stories I’ve done focusing on Mads Larsen, from the tv show Kriger, and you, a waitress at a burger restaurant he goes to often. It’s a bit AU in that Joy does not exist, she is off somewhere happy doing things that don’t involve biker gangs. I also don’t talk about the police involvement in The Wolves as of yet so that dynamic is not included in this installment. As always nothing belongs to me except the plot. All the people are people that belong to themselves. The gif below belongs to the wonderful @allvikingsgifs. If you’d like to be added to a tag or removed from, please let me know!

Warnings: This is mostly sfw but there is some violence in here. Tom is a paranoid asshole so he does attack the reader in this story. Also, this installment does not focus on Mads so much as Tom and the changing dynamic of the couple as well as The Wolves. So, warning for lack of crime puppy!

It was late and you were laying on the couch resting your head in Mads’ lap watching some sitcom rerun. He’d been restless all evening, but wouldn’t admit to anything when you asked. You had fed him and you each drank a couple of beers but he still wasn’t talking and it was making you anxious. Ever since your date that Tom had ruined, he had been going on more jobs and staying out later but not spending as much time at the club house during non-meeting times. Something was changing and it didn’t seem to be settling well with him, but you didn’t know quite how to bring it up.

His phone lit up on the coffee table and you tried to glance at the display when he snatched it up, but his hands were too big and he moved too quickly.

“Yeah?” He answered and turned his upper body to face away from you slightly, like that would provide more privacy for the call. “Tonight?” You sat up at that and turned the face him, crossing your arms. Mads stood up and paced around the room listening to whoever was on the other end of the line and you let out a huff before downing the last of your beer and stomping into the kitchen for another one. If he was going out then there was no reason for you to stay sober was how you looked at it.

“Hey Doll?” You heard him call from the other room and you huffed again before walking over to lean against the door jam and watch him with a raised eyebrow. “Sorry, little doll, I have...”

“To go do something that’s more important than spending time with me like you promised. I know.” You headed toward the couch and he grabbed your hand on the way by.

“It’s not like that. That was CC and he needs me to go do some quick surveillance shit on Akhmed’s warehouse. I promise it won’t take long, he said we just have to see if they have new cameras up since our last run.”

“Mads. You know these things are never quick. I’m glad it’s CC that’s going with you, but you won’t be back before 3 AM and I know it and so do you. Just go and be safe and come home to me. But you will have to make it up to me, you know?”

“Come on dolly,” his voice took on a pleading tone and he came closer, holding out his hands in a placating gesture, “you know it’s not like that. I don’t have a choice! When Tom calls I have to go. Saying no isn’t an option.”

“I get that, but this wasn’t Tom that called tonight. Since when do you jump when CC says?”

You knew this wasn’t his choice. You knew the gang was a huge part of his life no matter how he tried to separate you from it. They’d taken him in when he didn’t have anything. Mads had started as an errand boy, technically he still was. When you got him talking about it, he admitted that getting his colors was not nearly as important now as it had been a few months ago. You tried to talk to him about options on getting out once but he had shut the conversation down with one sentence. All it took was him telling you that he wouldn’t survive if he left the Wolves to know that you had to see this through no matter what. If you wanted to be with Mads, and you knew you did, this was always going to be part of it.

You stepped out of the shower and heard three loud knocks on the front door. No one came by this late. Maybe Mads forgot his key? Grabbing your phone to check for a text or missed call the door rattled again with three more knocks. Your heart jumped and you clutched your robe closer, fearing the worst. Walking to the front door you peered out the peep hole and saw an unwanted, scarred face staring back at you. Tom. Of course it was fucking Tom. You jumped as he pounded again and you unlocked the door, knowing ignoring him was not an option.

“Hey sugar, took you long enough,” he pushed the door open further and walked in, not even waiting for a response. “Nice place, sugar, I can see why Mads spends so much time over here when he should be with us.” Tom walked around and looked at pictures of your family, trinkets and souvenirs from trips you’d taken. You felt naked and exposed, and not just because you were dressed only in a robe. In the back of your mind you thought about going and putting some clothes on, but that would leave Tom out here in your home completely alone and that wasn’t an option.

“Umm,” your voice came out shakily and you cleared your throat. “Mads isn’t here, he went out with CC about an hour ago. He won’t be back for a while,” Tom was smirking and you trailed off. “You know that, though.” He smiled wider and went to sit on the couch.

“You have beer?” You nodded and he motioned towards the kitchen with a dismissive wave of his hand. You pause, about to argue, but then you remember who this is. All the comments Mads has made and the things you’ve seen with your own eyes. Tom is not someone to deny or fight, especially not when you’re on your own. Turning to the kitchen and nervously fidgeting with your robe to make sure everything stayed covered, you grabbed a beer from the fridge and brought it back to Tom with a bottle opener.

“Thanks sugar.” He opened it and took a long pull before sitting forward on the couch and looking up at you standing. “I shouldn’t have to ask you to sit in your own house. I’m just here to talk. You haven’t been around the clubhouse lately so I thought it was my duty to come visit you here. Mads can’t keep you hidden away forever, girl.” He smirked and you swallowed down a shudder.

“Like I said, he’s not here. I don’t know what you might need to talk to me about without him.”

“Well see, I’ve been hearing things around the clubhouse,” Tom took another long drink from his bottle, looking at you expectantly.

“What kinds of things are you hearing?” You were perched uneasily on the only other chair in the room refusing to sit on the couch with him.

“I have been hearing that you don’t want your boy to be a part of our little club anymore. That you’ve been feeding him stories about how he can get out of his life with us and get a boring job and have a normal life. Now why do you think they would be sharing those ideas with me?”

“I don’t know.” You crossed and uncrossed your legs, tapping on foot softly against the leg of the chair. Tom reached out and put his hand on your bare knee. Jerking sharply away, the force of your movement slid the chair loudly a few inches across the floor. “Maybe they are jealous about the new jobs he’s been getting and how much work he’s been recognized for?”

Tom smirked again and sat back, hands clasped behind his head. “So you do know what happens in our group, do you sugar?”

“He doesn’t tell me anything, but I do see him leaving more than he used to. And he talks on the phone in the house so I pick up on names and things.” You were starting to get nervous. At first this seemed like Tom checking in to make sure that Mads was doing what he was supposed to. Now it felt like he was there interrogating you. Finding out how much you know and everything about yours and Mads’ relationship.

“You’re a smart girl sugar. You know that your boy is expendable. If I had known he was going to shack up with someone as fascinating as you, I would have kept him closer from the beginning. As it is, I need to make sure you and I have an understanding.” He stood up, downing the last of the beer and slowly circling behind the chair you sat in. You sat stock still, refusing to turn and look at him even when he leaned over the back of the chair to speak softly near your ear. “You listen to me sugar. Mads does not belong to you. He’s part of the Wolves, which means he belongs to me. And the moment he chose you to be his girl, he made you mine too. Neither of you are going anywhere without my permission. And hear me when I say that that,” he paused and leaned further, nudging behind your ear with his nose and sniffing your hair, “will never happen.”

You did turn then. Tom’s nose was inches from yours and he stared into your eyes with the look of a man who was not denied anything. As you stared at him, heart pounding in your chest and hands trembling where they rested on your thighs, you saw something else in those eyes as well. There was fear there. You understood at that moment why Tom was standing in your living room trying to scare you into submission just like he did everyone else he came across. He was afraid what chaos would rain down if he allowed even one of his pawns to slip out of his grasp. It was that paranoia that caused him to keep Mads closer even though you knew he would never become anyone with any authority in the Wolves. Now there was someone else that his errand boy was loyal to. Another hand that fed the puppy, only this time he was getting more than scraps. Tom knew he had to step up his game if he wanted to keep Mads in line. Or he would kill him. He would kill you both. It was that thought that forced you to open your mouth and answer him.

“I’m not trying to get him to leave the club. It would take more than me being afraid for him to leave now. He knows what it means to be with the Wolves. And what would happen if he wanted out.”

“And you sugar? Do you know what would happen if he wanted out?”

You nodded and Tom reached out and slapped you across the face lightning fast. You cried out and fell from the chair, pulling your knees to your chest and shaking on the ground.

“You answer me when I ask you something, do you understand?” Tom’s voice was low and the threat was undeniable. He wouldn’t hesitate to hit you again.

“Yes. I understand what would happen.”

He walked around the chair and stood with both hands outstretched. An almost manic smile stretched across his face that he didn’t even try to make look comforting. When you just stared at his hands, he grabbed your wrists and pulled you to standing. Your robe had slipped when you fell so your chest was almost completely exposed and the tie was loose around your waist. Tom looked you up and down with the same horrifying grin on his face.

“That’s good sugar,” he nodded and straightened your robe, retying the sash for you as you stood there petrified. “I’m glad we understand each other. Now, I have to go. I think my boy should be back from his job soon and I’ll need to be around for the report from CC. Don’t be a stranger, okay? I was serious when we met that you’re too pretty not to be shown off at the clubhouse more often. I expect to see you there soon.” He raised his hand and you flinched, making him let out one loud bark of laughter, before he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear almost tenderly. Then he was out the door.

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It had been a week since Tom came by and nothing had changed for Mads. You didn’t tell him what had happened; honestly you were scared what might happen if he found out. Twice you had asked to come along to the clubhouse when he went, but each time he told you no and looked at you like you were a pod person. Since when did you want anything to do with the club, much less want to spend time at the clubhouse?

“Mads, come on, I just don’t want to be by myself tonight. I know you’ll be out late. I won’t be a bother, just let me come.”

You were standing behind him while he was shaving before going to meet Tom and the others. You had your arms around his waist and your head resting between his shoulder blades. Your voice was quiet, but had a nearly desperate tone. How long was Tom going to let pass without you coming with Mads before he made another visit? You didn’t want to think what might happen the second time. You’d explained away the split lip from Tom’s slap by telling Mads you had slipped in the shower. You didn’t think you could lie and explain it away again.

“Little doll why are you so insistent on coming? You hate all of them. Especially Tom. What’s changed?” He asked as he turned and wrapped his arms around you. He dipped his head to meet your eyes which you kept trained to the ground.

“I do hate them. But maybe it’s better if I just start showing my face more, like Tom said.”

“Again, I ask you why you care what Tom says? He doesn’t have any impact on you, I’m the one who has to listen to him dolly.”

“That’s not what he said...” You mumbled and he tensed in your arms.

“What are you talking about? When did you and Tom talk dolly?” He lifted your chin and you tried to pull away, unsure what to say now that the information was out there. “No, hold still and answer me. What are you saying? When did you and Tom talk that I wasn’t there?”

“A week ago!” You shouted and in his moment of surprise you were able to pull away and lean against the bathroom wall, arms crossed over your stomach and shoulders hunched in a protective posture. Mads was still frozen against the sink staring at you with shocked and hurt eyes. “A week ago,” you repeated, much quieter and with a sigh. “He came by after you left for the surveillance run with CC and he threatened me. Apparently the other members of the club are telling him that I’m trying to get you to leave the Wolves. And he came by to make sure I understood what would happen to you and I if you left.”

Mads took two cautious steps toward you and you felt tears stinging your eyes. You hadn’t cried since the night that Tom had come by. After he left, you got in the shower again and let the water mix with your tears and sobs. When Mads came home you had mostly gotten yourself together and had decided then that it would be better not to discuss what had happened. Now, though, with him staring at you and being so vulnerable, you couldn’t hold the tears back any longer.

“Doll, did he hurt you?” You nodded and he reached out to touch your lip that had healed already. “Okay, fuck that. I’m going down there-”

“To do what?” Your voice rose, cutting him off. “You cannot start shit, Mads. The last thing you need is to cause problems. If you go in there and start something with him, cause a scene, he’s going to kill you. You need to just keep doing what he says. You can’t leave. He will kill us both if you do.”

“Is that what he said? I’m going to kill him.” Mads’ voice was deadly quiet.

“Again, you cannot kill him, or punch him, or start anything. You don’t want out of the Wolves. You know it and so do I. But you do have to let me come with you to the clubhouse or he’s going to come around again and probably do something worse. We knew this was a risk. You’ve known from the beginning and you’re the one who told me. Nothing has changed, Mads.”

He growled and paced into the bedroom and then back. His hands ran back through his hair and he let out a yell, punching the bathroom wall hard enough to crack the plaster. You gasped and cowered to the floor, surprised by the sound and his sudden outburst.

“Dolly, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you,” he was kneeling by your side but still shaking with anger. “You should just leave me. I never should have gotten you caught up in this shit. I should have known that Tom wouldn’t let it go. I can’t keep you as safe as you should be, you deserve a better and more normal life than I could ever give you.”

“Mads stop. I’m not going anywhere so just stop now. I’m not leaving you and you fucking better not try and leave me or I will kick your ass myself!” That made him smile ruefully and he pulled you into his lap on the floor. He kissed you on top of the head and you glared up at him. “I’m serious, Mads, you’d better put that idea right out of your head.”

“I could never leave you, my doll. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened. But just know that I wouldn’t blame you at all if you decided to leave me. You don’t need the drama and danger that I bring.” You opened your mouth to retort and he put a hand over it. “I know, you say you won’t ever. I won’t talk about it again, but I’m just wanting to make it clear.” He pulls his hand away and kisses you quickly, shifting you so he can stand and helping you off the floor.

“So now that you know why, are you going to let me come with you tonight?” You asked, challenging him with your eyes and your stance. Mads sighed and inclined his head in defeat.

“You will come tonight but you will not go there unless CC or I are there no matter what anyone else says. I don’t trust any of those pricks but him. If Tom asks you to do something that takes you out of my sight, you tell me before you go and you keep your phone in your hand the entire time. I’m serious, dolly.”

“I hear you and I understand. I don’t like this any more than you do, so I will stay with you the whole time especially tonight.” He gave you a sharp nod and a light smack on your ass to send you off to get dressed and ready to go.

*************************************************************************************

Tom was waiting just outside the doors when you and Mads got buzzed through the gate. You’d let Mads tell you what to wear and you were self-conscious. The tight pants and heavy boots were not you, but the backless shirt and messy curls were what were making you so uncomfortable. Mads had told you this was better than a dress because you could move easier. And the boots kept you from having to worry about stumbling in heels. You weren’t going to drink and Mads told you to be as quiet as you could. Don’t talk to anyone you didn’t need to and don’t let anyone pull you away. Or that was the plan anyways.

As soon as you got close enough, Tom had his hand on your arm, pulling you along into the clubhouse toward the bar at the back.

“Mads,” Tom called over his shoulder. “We need someone to pour drinks tonight. I’ll keep your girl company.” Tom took you by the elbow and sat you down in a chair by the bar. You glanced at Mads and he was glaring fiercely at Tom. You gave him a small smile when he glanced your way but it didn’t have much of an impact on calming his anger.

The guys kept Mads busy at the bar. He would bring you your refills personally at a slow enough pace that you weren’t getting too drunk. They were also not as strong as he normally makes which was another huge relief. You were glad at the outfit choice when you realized you would be more on display with Tom than with Mads. Other members came over to talk to Tom and rub in Mads’ face that he was stuck behind the bar again.

“Sugar, come have a smoke with me,” Tom stood and looked at you expectantly. You looked over and saw Mads throw the towel on the bar and hop over top. The men complained but he flipped them off and came up next to you.

“A smoke sounds good. Let’s all go.” He pulled you in for a big kiss and left an arm low on your waist. “You’re doing great, dolly. We can get out as soon as the other start to scatter.” You leaned into him and when you got outside, you stood pressed with your back to his chest. Mads leaned in and kissed your neck before lighting a cigarette and giving it to you, then lighting one for himself.

“So sugar, did you tell my boy about our chat the other night?” Tom looked nonchalant but the edge to his voice and steeliness of his tone told the truth.

“We talked about it,” Mads started to push you behind him, but you put your hand on his chest to stay him.

“Everyone understands each other,” you said quietly and they both turned to look at you. “We all know what the rules are and who is in charge.” Mads tensed under your hand and you rubbed there gently. Meeting his eyes, he gave you a small nod.

“You’ve got a smart girl, Mads. Is she telling me the truth? Do we all share an understanding?” Tom leaned close so you were nearly sandwiched between them and the two of them were practically sharing air over your shoulder.

“Yeah. We do.” His response was quiet, but there was an underlying growl.

“Great!” Tom clapped his hands together once. “You two can go home now. I don’t need you tonight, Mads. Have a nice night with your girl. Take care of my boy, sugar.” He kissed your cheek and patted your ass before walking back inside.

Mads was seething next to you, so you leaned up into his ear.

“We always listen to Tom, right baby boy? Isn’t that what you told me?” He nodded but was still glaring daggers inside the club house. “You know who else my boy listens to?” His breath caught and that made him look down into your eyes. “He listens to me. You know why?” Mads opened his mouth to answer but you put two fingers over his lips and gently shook your head. “Don’t speak, baby boy. I know you know the answer, you’re such a smart boy. But my boy listens to me, because I always take care of him when he’s a good boy.” His eyes dropped shut and you tapped his lips once with your fingertips before taking his hand. “Ok, baby, take me home and you can start making up all these late nights to me.”

@allvikingsfanfic @x-valhalla @athroatfullofglass @starflowerallan @ainatirb-j @westcoastselkie @lol-haha-joke @hissouthernprincess

#kriger #mads #mads fic #Marco Ilsø

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180abroad · 6 years ago

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Days 126-127: Edinburgh, Part 2 (History, Hiking, and Beer)

Our last two days in Edinburgh marked the two-thirds point of our journey in Europe, and the halfway point of my dad's stay with us in Scotland. So far, all we'd really seen of the city itself was the castle, the Whisky Experience, and a few square blocks around the train station in New Town. There's far too much for us to try and see everything, so we picked out a few top choices and did our best to enjoy them as much as possible.

After saying hello to the neighborhood cat, we took the bus into town toward our first stop of the day--the National Museum of Scotland. Now that we'd figured out Edinburgh's bus system, it was actually pretty easy and convenient. And compared to underground metros, buses give you a much better sense of how a city fits together.

We got a closer look at the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a legendary local terrier who faithfully guarded his master's grave for 14 years until his own death in 1872.

Passing Bobby by, we headed on toward the museum.

The ground floor entry hall had a diverse collection, including a 19th-century Japanese lantern presented on a precisely shin-high marble plinth. It's funny--when I ate it in the Rif Mountains of Morocco, tearing a hole in my pant leg and scraping up my knee, it healed up just fine after a few days. But when I banged my shin against that stone platform without leaving the slightest mark on my pant leg, it took off a chunk of skin underneath and left a deep scar that's still conspicuously purple six months later.

After killing some time in the gift shop--where I found a miniature Blackwatch-patterned umbrella to replace the much-bulkier one I'd been carrying--we joined up with a free tour that introduced us to the various sections of the museum.

The Museum can be roughly divided into four sections: a Scottish history museum, a science and technology museum, a world cultures museum, and a natural history museum. It doesn’t compare to the British Museum in London, of course, but nothing can.

We saw a ridiculously complicated clock that our guide complained never works quite right.

We also saw Dolly the Sheep, the first-ever successfully cloned mammal. Not a recreation--they actually stuffed her after she died and put her on display. We appreciated the attention to detail with regard to the sheep poop at her feet.

The museum is huge. At the center is a massive Victorian hall inspired by the Crystal Palace that used to stand in London. To us, it looked uncannily like the panopticon of Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. Our guide was nice, but he was so soft-spoken that we could barely hear him most of the time. Once we felt sufficiently oriented, we broke off and went back to the exhibits we were most interested in.

We spent most of our time in the Scottish history museum, which contains a very impressive (and well-displayed) collection of artifacts either made or found in Scotland, dating from prehistoric times up into the 21st century. Limited on time, we mainly stuck to the medieval history floor.

To either side of an old stone inscribed with Celtic knotwork, the walls bear a quote from the Declaration of Arbroath, a 14-century plea from the people of Scotland to Pope John XXII for support in their battle against the invading English army:

For we fight not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, but for Freedom alone, which no good man gives up except with his life. As long as only one hundred of us remain alive we will never on any conditions be brought under English rule.

One of the highlights of the medieval collection are the Lewis Chessmen, part of a medieval Viking chess set discovered on the remote Scottish island of Lewis and Harris.

Eleven pieces of the set are here at the National Museum of Scotland, while the rest are in the British Museum in London. They are carved from walrus ivory and whale teeth with remarkable detail and emotiveness. They could be characters straight out of a modern animated Viking movie.

The rooks are depicted as berserkers chewing their own shields in battle frenzy.

Nearby, we saw the remains of a Celtic cross from Islay, another Scottish island where we'd be staying next after Edinburgh.

Some other highlights included a 17th-century Scottish flag said to have been carried in battle against Oliver Cromwell, a Celtic harp that may be the twin to the Brian Boru Harp at Dublin’s Trinity College, intricately detailed jewelry, some beautifully engraved early firearms, and a precursor to the guillotine known as “the Maiden”--gently used.

Upstairs, they have a good section on the Jacobite rebellions, when the ousted Stuart kings of England returned to their native Scotland to raise an army and reclaim the throne in London. It was a hopeless cause, and after three generations the rebellions finally died out.

Finally, we browsed through a section on the 1700s, when industries like textile weaving and coal mining were starting to boom like never before.

At the top of the museum, we discovered a fabulous view of the castle to the northwest and of the mountainous Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat to the east.

During one of our tours, our guide mentioned Arthur's Seat--a tall volcanic plug that overlooks the city--in a warning against taking online reviews at face value. Apparently, someone on TripAdvisor left a one-star review complaining that it was "just a hill."

The elevator was abominably slow--after spending a good while taking pictures on the roof, we returned to find people who had left the rooftop as we arrived still waiting for the elevator to make its next return. When it finally arrived, we weren't able to fit in, so we decided to make our way down the stairs instead. That may have been a mistake, though. The stairwells and back corridors were so maze-like that we literally caught ourselves going in circles before finding a room we recognized. It was like being back at the Lyon bus terminal.

After the National Museum, I headed off on my own to do some shopping in New Town. Second-guessing my decision to not buy shoes until after Islay, I wanted to see if I could find anything good in the last big English-speaking city we'd be staying in. I didn't find shoes, but I did get some spectacular views.

One of the most striking things about Old Town is it's verticality, which I've mentioned before. The old stone buildings seem to be scrambling up on each other's shoulders, reaching for the sky. We'd also learned from Nik the day before that this is part of an Edinburgh tradition that far predates them. Throughout the Middle Ages, when the city was mostly made of wood, the constricting city walls forced people to build up, creating towering wooden "skyscrapers" that frequently fell down or caught fire. They were crammed with people, and the ensuing sanitation issues were legendary across Europe. It got so bad that Edinburgh earned the nickname Old Reeky.

That was why, in the 1700s, the wealthier citizens finally decided to escape the city walls and build a spacious Georgian-style New Town to the north.

Down in the park where the castle moat used to be, people were crowding to see drum corps performing. August was still a couple weeks away, but the festival season atmosphere was alive and well.

Meanwhile, Jessica and my dad searched out a pub where we could hole up and watch the final World Cup game between Croatia (who we were rooting for) and France. We’ve learned that Scottish people tend to have a great affinity for the French, if only because of their shared rivalry with the English. When the final whistle marked France's victory, the pub erupted in a celebration unlike anything I've ever seen in person.

Emerging back into the overcast sunlight, we cooled off with a relaxing walk down the breezy Royal Mile. We wanted to get some dinner at the famous World’s End pub, but it was full up. The pub's name dates back to a time when it butted against the old city walls. Anyone entering the city had to pay a steep toll to pass through the gates, even if they were residents. For many people, this meant that if they ever left the city, they might never be able to get back in. To them, this pub might as well have been the world's end.

We turned back and ended up enjoying a wonderful dinner at an Indian-Thai hybrid restaurant--once we were finally able to find the door.

After dinner, we strolled the rest of the way down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh's royal palace. It was well past closing time, but we were able to get a good view through the gates.

We also got to see the distinctive architectural style of the of the Scottish Parliament Building, and the Salisbury Crags jutting up dramatically behind them.

We'd be returning first thing tomorrow morning to hike the trail that runs beneath them. But for now, we ran to catch the bus that would take us back home. We tried to get my dad to watch the pilot episode of The Expanse, but we didn’t quite make it to the end before we were all starting to drift off.

The next morning, we bused back to Holyrood Palace and picked up where we left off--facing down the Salisbury Crags.

We--or at least I--didn't have the time or nerve to climb the larger Arthur's seat, but the Crags offered a nice compromise. And we didn't actually climb the top of the Crags. Rather, we followed the Radical Road that runs halfway up the Crags, along the foot of the cliff face.

The Radical Road is named for a group of workers that took part in a nationwide strike in 1820 known as the Radical War. Wealthy Scottish citizens like Sir Walter Scot who supported the Radicals decided to support them by paying them to do other work while they were on strike--such as building a completely unnecessary road midway up the Salisbury Crags and parallel to a perfectly serviceable road that already existed.

The beginning was steep, and my dad and I quickly started to question our decision, but all doubts were erased as we got high enough to see the view over the city.

At its height, the road cuts through Hollyrood Park, which used to be the private hunting grounds of the kings and queens of Scotland.

Reaching the end of the Radical Road, we kept on going toward the neighborhood of Duddingston and the highly-recommended Sheep Heid Inn. The inn has reputedly been in operation for over 600 years, which would make it the oldest pub in Edinburgh and possibly all of Scotland. The name comes from the old Scotts English for sheep’s head. The popular explanation is that King James VI of Scotland (and I of England) presented the pub owners with a golden snuff box engraved with a ram’s head on the lid. The pub was halfway between two royal residences, so James would often visit the pub along the way.

The kitchen wasn't quite open yet, so the three of us ordered drinks and enjoyed a rest after our hike. Once the kitchen opened, the food turned out to be just as spectacular as all the people who'd recommended it to us said. Jessica and I both had linguine with crab, shrimp, and chorizo. I don't even like seafood, but I loved that meal.

After lunch, we took an Uber back to the World’s End, where we each had a shot of Drambuie in honor of my dad’s Scottish friend John. For those of you who didn't know either, Drambuie is a sweet liqueur made from Scotch whisky, honey, and spices. A very distinctive beverage, it somehow manages to be both delicious and disgusting at the same time.

Our long-awaited toast complete, we decided to make it an official pub crawl and continued over to the BrewDog pub on Cowgate. My dad and I had learned about Brewdog from the TV show Brew Dogs, where the two Scottish brewers who run BrewDog travel the US crafting locally inspired novelty beers and converting beer skeptics to the way of the hop.

My dad had their signature Punk IPA, and I had their 5AM Saint red ale. I generally don’t like IPAs, but the Punk was surprisingly well-balanced despite being so hoppy. It had the sour and citrusy notes of a typical IPA, but very little bitterness. My ale was also surprisingly good. It was hoppier than any other red or amber ale I’ve had before, but the bright hoppy notes actually did a great job balancing out the ale and making it refreshing instead of heavy.

Jessica had a cider that was pretty good, too.

Went to St. Giles’ Cathedral, the seat of the Church of Scotland. It isn’t the largest, but it is stunning inside. The stained glass is mostly modern, but it is strikingly good.

It's free to enter the cathedral, but you are expected to pay if you want to take pictures. And we can confirm that the people working there will not hesitate to call you out for breaking the rule.

We still had some shopping to do--including picking up something for dinner--so we decided to walk over to New Town. I lead us along my footsteps from the previous day, taking Jessica and my dad through narrow closes and down the hill.

Tomorrow, we would head out early for Islay, so we caught a bus home with plenty of time to rest up and start packing.

Before I close our chapter on Edinburgh, I have to mention our charming hosts, Joyce and Ian. They were very kind and accommodating, but sometimes we felt that they didn't expect us to take them up on their offers as much as we did.

For example, they said we couldn’t use the kitchen to cook, but we could use it to heat a ready meal up in the oven. On our last night, we bought some meat pies that we didn’t realize at first weren’t microwavable. Ian said that it would be no problem for us to use the oven, and he even showed us some tips on how to get the crust to brown up just right. But when Joyce showed up and asked suspiciously what we were up to, Ian was nowhere to be seen.

It was a good time, and I’m glad that Jessica and I got to enjoy the British bed and breakfast experience several times during our months on the island. But we really found out just how strongly we prefer having a place to ourselves with a proper kitchen that we can use whenever we want.

Next Post: Islay (Introduction and Arrival)

Last Post: Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Borders

#180abroad #edinburgh #scotland #travel #history #museum #hiking #beer #pub crawl

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thesweatycollectiontyrant · 6 years ago

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Most Demanding Female Roles in Musical Theatre

Hey everyone! I’m gonna be on vacation for the next few days, so I decided to do some shorter posts and queue them once a day while I’m gone! If you have suggestions on some shorter articles I could do on the go, feel free to send topics my way! I’m gonna do a male counterpart to this post, as well as articles for plays.

I’m going to begin that this is in my personal opinion. I’m gonna be just kinda going as I think. I will not be ranking these in any way. ALSO this will not only pertain to lead roles! I’ll be looking at everyone!

Let’s Do This

Rose Hovick in Gypsy

Described as the following: “bossy, demanding, horrific, monster,” this role is kind of a no-brainer when it comes to what is considered demanding. Many amazing women of the theatre have played this role: Ethel Merman, Patti LuPone, Tyne Daly, Angela Lansbury, Imelda Staunton, Bernadette Peters, and just this summer, Carolee Carmello and Beth Leavel. The role is fairly vocally demanding. She sings several of the songs and she has to have a strong belt. She doesn’t dance much, but what really kills the actress is the acting. Tyne Daly described it as “a prize fight”. The role is very demanding. You have to be more or less a ham onstage, age at least ten years over the course of the story, and go through the ache of losing your favorite daughter to seeing the one you settle for become a stripper. All onstage. The character is such a facade. She proclaims that she wants what’s best for her children while she lives vicariously through them. Rose is the prime example of what a stage mother really is. In the final moments of the show, Rose has a mental breakdown in “Rose’s Turn” envisioning herself performing in front of an audience, followed by Louise and her reconciling in the end.

Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale/Edith Bouvier Beale in Grey Gardens

Christine Ebersole originated the mammoth of a role in the screen-to-stage adaptation of the timeless documentary in a dual role, playing “Big Edie” in Act One and “Little Edie” in Act Two. One thing that makes this role demanding is that these people she’s playing were real people who know what these people did, looked like, and sounded like, and if it doesn’t meet expectations, they walk away unsatisfied. The acting in this role is different because of the switch between characters between acts, but the demand for both characters is still there. Big Edie is detrimental in Act One as she tears apart Little Edie’s dreams, then the actress plays Little Edie in Act Two as a woman in her fifties, who reluctantly takes care of her mother despite the hurt she harbors. The actress has to have great comic chops and the ability to impersonate Little Edie in particular. The actress also has to have a very versatile voice to match the elegant Soprano of Big Edie and the squawky timbre (which sweetens quickly) of Little Edie. This is truly a fantastic role.

Margaret Johnson in The Light in the Piazza

This phenomenal woman decided to take her daughter on a trip to Italy, only to discover it wouldn’t be as much of a trip as it was a move. Margaret takes care of her daughter Clara, who is developmentally stalled. In a heartbreaking monologue in Act Two, Margaret explains that at Clara’s birthday party, they ordered a pony for her to play with and show her friends. Margaret went to answer the phone, and the second she wasn’t paying attention, the pony kicked Clara in the head, injuring her brain. Margaret, while in some cases overprotective, wants what’s best for her daughter. She goes through many journeys throughout the story. She watches her daughter grow up before her eyes, realizes the dissolve of her marriage, and ultimately joins a family. There are many asides and monologues that can be dug into and given meaning. This score is notably difficult. It’s filled with many high and low notes; Margaret’s range spans over two octaves (G3-G#5). Victoria Clark immortalized the role for all to see after it was professionally filmed and broadcast on PBS. Seeing a struggling middle-aged woman as the lead of a show isn’t often, and Adam Guettel’s show displays that platform with integrity.

The First Ladies in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

I did a post about this masterpiece of a flop last week. The actress who plays The First Ladies play the following roles: Abigail Adams, Eliza Monroe, and Julia Grant and Lucy Hayes (simultaneously). The actress must have strong Soprano chops, but also be a good character singer, especially for the tour de force, “Duet for One”. This is theatrically and vocally demanding. Bernstein gave us that. Praise.

Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

Some might say that this role is all fluff. I don’t agree. Elle is a vivacious human who thinks she knows what she wants, and discovers what she needs along the way. This role has to be a true triple threat, as you have to be able to sustain the demanding score, the constant energy, and multiple ensemble dance numbers. Elle is in almost every single song in the show. She has to dance her butt off. Not to mention that she also has to remain in the bubbly sorority girl archetype, but also becomes a stronger woman who begins to trust herself. It’s a very demanding role, and I don’t need blue hairs coming for me.

Diana Goodman in Next to Normal

Brought to life by one of my favorite actresses, Alice Ripley, Diana provides a story that shows her thoughts under a microscope. She suffers from Bipolar II Disorder that comes along with hallucinations of her deceased son, Gabe. Because of her struggle with mental illness, she pushes her daughter, Natalie, away and affects all those around her. What a woman has to go through as Diana is bare her soul. That role is truly for those who wish to leave it all on the stage. The role has a lot of belting in it, but ultimately is for a Mezzo. The range goes from Gb3-F#5 (yes, they’re enharmonic, but they’re written differently), so just on two octaves. Diana goes through several breakdowns throughout the show and ultimately leaves her family in hope that they will be better without her. This takes both a powerhouse actress and singer.

Cunegonde in Candide

This role has been performed by many actresses and singers, but. Cunegonde is the definition of elegant, but just a bit off her nut. She sings one of the most difficult musical theatre songs ever written, “Glitter and Be Gay” and has several duets with notes almost as high in “We Are Women,” “Oh, Happy We,” and “Make Our Garden Grow”. The score is incredibly difficult, so I would definitely say that this role is very demanding.

Margaret White in Carrie

Yes, I know this show was infamous for being kind of awful, but the place someone has to go to play this part is so dark that it’s scary. A woman like Margaret has clearly been abused of some sort. In fact, the book (I believe, it’s been a while since I’ve read it) reveals that Carrie was conceived by rape. It’s truly heartbreaking. This woman wants what is best for her daughter, even if she goes through some interesting ways to giver her that. The subtlety an actress has to have to not cross the line of making Margaret’s religion and motives borderline comical is great. The role seems very easy to make a caricature of Christian women over the area. The score in the revised version is quite difficult, calling for Margaret to be a Soprano who also has lower notes and some belting, although there’s plenty of room for stylistic choice! I’m just going off of the brilliance of Marin Mazzie. The role is quite demanding for anyone to step into.

Eva Peron in Evita

To play Eva Peron, a woman has to screlt her face off and sustain that for the entire night. The different places her voice would need to go is so vastly different. The range extends from E3-G5 without much of a break. The vocals are very demanding. Since I haven’t seen the show live and it’s *mostly* (?) thrusung, I’m not sure what all vigorous acting has to be done. But oh my Lord, the score is tough.

Trina in Falsettos

I don’t even know where to begin about this character. There’s very little dancing for the part, but there is just about everything you could think of in the other two departments. Her range spans two octaves, and she has to belt at the top of her range, but also have a nice an strong head voice throughout the show. The acting is very vulnerable. Trina is a person who has been exposed to a lot of hurt throughout her life. She goes through just about everything, and still comes out of it. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking role.

Veronica Sawyer in Heathers

The score in Heathers is pulsing with punk rock and 80s influences. Veronica is a very demanding part because of the plot points that happen to her. It’s a very interesting and complicated story that I don’t want to get into, but just know that this role is a whole step away from having the highest belted note in Musical Theatre history (A5), losing only to Jennifer Simard as Sister Mary Downy in Disaster!, who belts a B5. Veronica goes through a lot in this story, and is in most of the scenes in the show, and is also constantly singing and belting VERY high.

Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly!

I want to preface this with the fact that typically, this role is done by an older woman, so take that into circumstances. This role is loaded with stage time, comic timing, and singing. You have to have great comic chops, and depending on how you do it, one of three things with your singing voice: you can sing it in the original keys down the octave (which is the way it was originally done) which puts you as a super low Alto/Female Tenor, you can do it similar keys that Barbra Streisand did from the movie, taking the range to a Mezzo, or you can be a brave Soprano and sing it in the original Carol Channing keys, but sing everything up the octave. Any of the three are delightful. This is one of my favorite roles, and is TRULY demanding. The emotional journey (while not trolling Mr. Vandergelder) is beautiful for Dolly. She discovers so much about herself and what she becomes after she accepts Ephraim’s death and decides to move on with her life. It’s just sublime.

Effie Melody White in Dreamgirls

This is another role that would be very easy to make a caricature of. Effie is a troubled and talented woman. The role is very taxing vocally, and also the acting is very intense, especially in Act One. Effie truly has an amazing transformation from a misunderstood starlet to a confident woman. She doesn’t have a lot of time offstage until Act Two, and even then, she has an amazing solo.

Bess in Porgy and Bess

I don’t want to get into describing the heartbreak that this character goes through. Just know that there are a lot of traumatic events that happen to her and she still finds love (even though it ends different then you want). The score is incredibly demanding, even causing Broadway superstar Audra McDonald vocal problems. This is a fantastic role for an African-American Soprano who has great acting chops.

Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George

Bernadette Peters did this brilliant role on Broadway and it was broadcast to the world on PBS. The dual role that actually switches and then switches back once again is very theatrically and vocally demanding. The role is onstage most of the show and is just very alive and energetic throughout the show, even when she plays an old woman. The beautiful and poetic words that just flow everywhere have so much meaning. There’s quite a bit of range that spans through the show as well.

Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple

There is such a delicate presence for this role. Celie is like a cat. She starts out like a kitten that is hushed and silenced, but by the end she is a roaring lion that will speak for everyone to hear. I adore the resilience this character has. LaChanze possibly had a lot of pressure to be like the movie. Cynthia Erivo definitely made the role personal to her, and it showed. Celie is a demanding role because of her constant stage time and the relentless score. The character literally spans from an E3 to a G5 in ONE song. Oh my Lord. But what a role. It really is amazing. And demanding.

I’m sure there are some that people feel I left out, but be sure to message or let me know your thoughts on this!

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